"So wise, so young, they say, do never live long."
-William Shakespeare, Richard III Act 3, Scene 1

Spike has always felt a certain sense of distance from Twilight and her friends. As much as he loves them, he's never felt like he belonged with them.

So, when Luna and Celestia offer him a way to find himself, a way to temper his metal in the fires of battle, he takes them up on it. How was he to have known this was simply the beginning of the end?

With great fear and excitement in his heart, Spike makes a sacred voyage to the home of the ancient Dragons and learns a thing or two about himself.

*Considered uncanon with Season 6 Episode 5.

some SpikexStarlight Glimmer shipping because I'm actually just trash

The only constant in this world is change. All things must bend to change, even Chaos.

Cover art is The Garden of Death by Hugo Simberg.

Shrek has declared war on Celestia for attacking his Ogres. It's all ogre. Prepare your body.

Warning: this fic is extremely offensive. Get ogre it.

Ten years ago: the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle, the goddess of knowledge and power occurred. One year later, Spike the Dragon disappeared. Twilight Sparkle was broken. With the help of her fellow princess and bearers, as well as all of Equestria, she seems to have accepted the loss of her best friend.

On the nine year anniversary though, she, three other Bearers and Luna make a trip to the Western Badlands. Their mission? To get to Blackwater City, and arrive at an international political convention. However, things are turned upside down when they find out that their escort across the Badlands is the "Dragon Outlaw", Spike. However, he is not the same innocent child as before. Even though he is still biologically a child, the harsh world of the Badlands has forced him to grow up fast. Can Twilight help bring him back to her, or have the Badlands claimed his life as it has so many others? After all, once an outlaw, always an outlaw.