Enter The Dragon: Fighting Is Magic

"No!" Spike breathed heavily, backing away from the dark figure who looms over him. "It can't be! You can't be here!"

The creature chuckles darkly, "Young dragon, you can never truly escape from us," The predator snarled. "We are what we are. And we are predators. Just like you. We are you! And you're a predator, as the little ponies in this world are prey. Don't you know it's bad manners to play with your food?"

"My pony friends are not food!" Spike spatted.

"You keep telling yourself that, little dragon. But it's futile to deny it. Eventually, when you grow up, you will know when to answer the call of the wild. And soon, you will know, the gratifying taste of raw meat is too much to resist. We are predators by nature, you and I. When we're hungry, we hunt. When we smell blood, we kill it," The creature licked its chops hungrily at the mention of blood. "You will know that soon, when you kill your first pony. I'm sure that marshmallow unicorn friend of yours will be just as delicious."

"Never!!! They're my friends! They're my family! And I'll never eat them!!"

“Don’t be a fool!! Why do you continue to deny yourself of the truth! Has it ever occurred to you, how often these 'friends of yours' have left you out on certain occasions? How much less of a value you hold for each of their social gatherings?” Like a bolt of lightning, several memories of when Spike was completely sidelined by Twilight and her girls came rushing back to him.

It began with the pranks Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had pulled on him. Then there was also the time when Spike first fell into the freezing water of the lake, during Winter Wrap Ups, and nopony wasn't there to save him. Instead, they all laughed at his misfortune. Following that event, was during the Grand Galloping Gala, in which Twilight and the girls immediately ditched him. Then there was when it was Twilight's birthday, and he wasn't invited at the party when the girls moved their party to Canterlot, and he was left behind in Ponyville. Then, there was also when Princess Cadence didn't invite him to the Crystal Empire to assist in the preparations of the upcoming Equestrian game.

"Hurts doesn't it?" The creature growled. "How unfairly they treated you. You are only a baby, and a fledgling now. Pity it doesn't change the fact that you're a dragon. And the ponies are afraid of you. Afraid of what you are, and what you will become! A predator, like me!"

Spike opened his mouth to deny the creature's words, but once more, nothing came out. Another memory he recalled was when he first experience a double dosage of greed, following his first birthday in Ponyville, and how it turned him into a rampaging dragon. Luckily, no pony was hurt....much. But the memory continued to haunt him, together with the thought of how close he was to killing the ponies, his friends, and those whom he has regarded as family from the day he first hatched.

"Yes....it's sad, but it's true. The only reason you are still free and living, is because your dearly devoted 'friends' were there for you. But what happens when they're not around to support you? Eventually, they'll see you as a threat, and they'll lock you away, just like they did to us predators!"

Deciding he's heard enough, Spike shook his head, as he screamed, “Never! I’ll never be like you!!”

With an angry roar, the creature slammed his massive paws, pinning Spike to the floor, before he inched his mouth closer to the dragon's face, breathing the smell of fresh blood from his mouth, "Heed my words, young dragon. Whenever there's prey, there's a predator. And when your time comes, it will say 'thus perish, my little pony.'"

Spike's eyes snapped open, as he bolted up in his bed, breathing heavily, when the door creaked opened, and Twilight slowly stepped in, "Spike?" Twilight asked quietly. "What's wrong? I-I can hear your screaming from-" Twilight was interrupted, when Spike flew up to the alicorn and tackled her to the ground, tightening his arm around her shoulders, not daring to let go, for fear she would leave him, again. "Spike?" Twilight asked with concern, noting his heavy breathing, and how much he was quivering against her.

"Twilight! You're okay!" Spike sobbed. "You're okay...."

"Of course I'm okay, Spike," Twilight replied, wrapping her wings and hooves around the little dragon for comfort. "Shhh, it's okay. I'm here. I got you."

"No, Twilight," Spike began. "I got you," He tightened his arm, while nuzzling his cheek against Twilight's, at the thought this may be the last chance he'll ever have with her, 'And I'll never let anything bad happen to you. Not like last time. Not ever again,' He thought grimly, recalling how he wasn't entirely there for her, every step of the way during the royal Canterlot Wedding, or how he wasn't much help in protecting Twilight from Tempest Shadow.

Looking up, over Twilight's shoulder, Spike's eyes narrowed at a silhouette of Queen Chrysalis and Tempest Shadow, both sending smug grins his way. To further his troubled feelings, Spike's ears perked to the haunting, high-pitched sounds of laughters that frightens both Pinkie's and Paprika's, revealing themselves to be the shadows of hyenas that prowled menacingly behind Twilight's back. Spike snarled at these troubling images, while holding Twilight even closer, and defensively.

"No...no...please, no! Not my brother! Not my mommy! NOT DADDDY!! NOOOOO!!!" Silverstream screamed, jolting herself awake to catch her rapid heartbeat, before she looked around, breathing a sigh of relief to see that she is still in her room, at Friendship Academy.

Silverstream plopped her head back into her soft pillow, but kept her eyes open, just to make sure she was still safe from the Storm King.

The next morning, Spike was bright and alert, as he got up, doing what he usually does. Helping Twilight and the girls run the Friendship Academy, by checking to see how classes were going, and the welfares of the students. Though, on this particular morning, Spike was more alert than bright.

He was passing one of Fluttershy's class, when his ear perked up to hear the bashful pegasus saying, "Okay, class. Today, we'll be observing the proper etiquette, required when joining a friend for a nice cup of tea."

Ocellus simply smiled, while Gallus rolled his eyes, "Lame," Gallus scowled, with a flick of his tail, he inadvertently flipped a tray, which sent several tea cups in the air.

Fluttershy watched in horror, while Spike quickly sprinted into actions, diving into the room, catching two of the cups, tucking them under his arms, catching two more with his claws, while catching the last one in his mouth. The classroom all gasped in surprise at the little dragon's stunt.

"Oh my!" Fluttershy gasped, watching as Spike flapped his wing over to the tray, while carrying the cups in, after he stacked them in one claw.

With a flick of his tail, Spike sent the tray flying in the air, before he caught it in his other claw to set it back down on the table, and puts the cups back to their former resting place, "There. Everyone alright?" Spike asked.

In response, the students all applauded for the little dragon's stunt. Fluttershy could hardly speak, more than usual.

"Wow! That was awesome!" Gallus exclaimed as he walked over to the little dragon. "H-H-How'd you do that?"

"Um....practice?" Spike shrugged, before he said sternly, "Just watch that tail of yours from now on. Got it?"

Gallus was taken aback by the tone in the little dragon's voice, but quickly nodded in response, "Um, got it," The griffon replied.

After a moment of collecting himself, Spike too could hardly believed the tone in his voice, which prompted him to quickly take his leave, "Keep up the good work, Fluttershy!" He said.

"Oh...um, thank you?" Fluttershy stammered, after she managed to find her voice.

In the meantime, Gallus and Ocellus continued to stare in the direction the young dragon had gone to, before the griffon began moving his arms out, trying his best to imitate the movement he witnessed earlier, from Spike.

"How did he do that?" Gallus asked.

"I don't know," Ocellus answered hesitantly.

"Come on class!" Rainbow Dash hollered, while presiding over a game of dodgeball, in the school gym. "What doesn't hit you, won't hurt you! Come on! It's all about team work! Work together! Win together! That's the way!"

"Yaks strong! Yaks helpful!" Yona shouted excitedly. "YONA HELP TEAM WIN!!" With a thunderous stomp, and a thrust of her head, Yona fired a ball at the opposing team, which included the dragon student, Smolder.

"You're gonna eat those words, with a side of smoking humiliations, yak!" Smolder smirked, flapping her wings as she acrobatically dodged the balls being lobbed at her, before she breathed a burst of flame, destroying the balls aiming for her.

With a loud shrill, Rainbow Dash blew her whistle, "FOUL!!" She shouted. "Smolder! What have we talked about the use of fire breath in dodgeball?!"

Smolder rolled her eyes, "What's the point of playing dodgeball if you can't make the balls fire proof?" The orange dragon grumbled. "Besides, fire breathing is what we dragons do. And we're proud of it."

"Well we can't all breathe fire, like you!" Rainbow frowned. "So ya gotta play by the rules! And that's no fire breathing in dodgeball!"

"Well then maybe dodgeball's a lame game! And it's not meant for dragons!"

"Dragons don't play fair!" Yona grumbled. "Dragons cheat! Dragons can't play dodgeball, because dragons are weak!"

Smolder's eyes twitched, hardly believing what she just heard, "What did you say?!" Smolder snarled.

"Dragons can't play dodgeball!" Yona repeated. "Dragons are weak, without fire breath!"

"Nobody calls me a weakling and gets away with it!" Smolder snarled. "Fine! I'll play against ya! With my wings tied behind my back, and my mouth shut!"

"So, Smolder no breathe fire, or fly?"

"As Pinkie Pie would say, 'Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye,' or whatever," Smolder recited.

"Good! Then play ball!" Yona stomped, thrusting her head, out to strike a ball, launching it towards Smolder, who quickly ducked her head in time.

"Oh it's on, like a volcano!" Smolder smirked, as she picked up another ball and hurled it towards Yona, who jumped over the ball, before she came crashing back down to the ground, emitting another thunderous shockwave that knocked Smolder off her feet.

"Hey, what's going-WHOA!!" Spike screamed, ducking his head to dodge the ball, before he locked to see another ball coming towards him.

"SPIKE!! LOOK OUT!!!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

Time, however, seemed to have slowed down for Spike, from his point of view, and his pupils became a slit. Then, out of impulse, Spike quickly caught the ball in his claws, before he started moving his whole body in a fluid motion, letting the ball travel around him, without breaking the speed of its momentum, before at last, he launched the ball towards one of Yona's teammate, hitting him in the head, knocking him out.

Rainbow Dash, Yona, and Smolder were all amazed at what young Spike just did, "What the what?!!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Whoa, Spike!" Smolder exclaimed. "Are you, uh....are you playing?" As an answer, Spike flapped his wings, bursting himself into the air, zipping past Smolder's cheek, as he skillfully caught a ball before it hits the dragoness in the back. Flipping himself into a front flip, Spike landed, feet first, before he threw the ball at a blinding speed that knocked another of Yona's teammate, out of the game, literally.

"Ooooh," The pony groaned, after he landed in the bleacher.

Yona turned her head from where the pony had landed, to look at the smaller purple dragon with surprise. With a determined look on his face, Spike held his claws out, in a fighting stance, "Training's over, now give me your all!" He taunted.

Yona was taken aback by his tone, along with Smolder, "Uh, Spike? Are you okay?" Rainbow asked.

There was no answer, since Yona refused to be talked down by a little dragon like Spike. In response, Yona leapt to the air, before she came crashing down, shaking the ground beneath her, sending the balls in the air. With that, Yona thrusted her head, and legs, to launch the balls at Smolder and Spike.

Time slowed down once more for Spike, as he watched the balls became fruits and vegetables, and in Yona's place, stood Paprika. With a quick swipe of his claws, Spike plucked the balls out of the air, like apples from Sweet Apple Acre's trees, before he threw them all at Yona, who didn't have time to react as she was pelted by a powerful storm of balls.

Everyone in the room were further speechless, before Rainbow broke the silence, "Uh...sorry Yona. It looks like you're out," Rainbow frowned.

Yona finally shook herself back to reality, "But...but...Yona can't lose!" She frowned. "Yona hates losing."

"Do not let defeat be the end," Spike said, as he walked over to the yak. "Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. But what really matters is whether we choose to get back up, or to stay down," Holding his claw out, Spike offered to help the young yak up. "It's your choice, Yona."

Yona looked at Spike for a moment, then darted her eyes back at his claw, before she gratefully accepted it, and was helped up.

"Wow, Spike!" Smolder gasped, running over to the two, with Rainbow Dash following. "Wh-wh-where did you learn that?"

"What was that?" Another student asked. "How'd you do that?"

"Yeah, can we learn to do that too? Or is it exclusive to just dragons?"

"Yeah, tell us Spike!" Rainbow said, looking eager. "Because that was so awesome! /)^3^(\"

"Uh, I'd like to stay around and answer your question and everything," Spike began, as he snaked his way free. "But I think I hear Twilight calling me. Bye-bye!" Before Rainbow Dash could catch him, Spike was already gone with a flap of his wings. That, and the school bell ring to begin the next class period.

Later, it was recess and the students were out and about to enjoy Celestia's light, in each other's company. Though, not many of them, that is.

Silverstream wasn't her cheerful self, as of late, "Uh, you okay there, Silver?" Sandbar asked. "You looked, what's the word, 'under the wave there.'"

"Under the wave?" Silverstream asked, while struggling to laugh. "That's funny. Ha ha. I'm not under the wave. I'm over the wave. In fact, I'm not in the wave at all. What makes you think I'm under the wave, when I'm not under?"

The only answer Sandbar had for the troubled hippogriff was a confused look, "Oookay then," He hesitantly answered, wanting to get out of the awkward situation, when he looked and noticed the little dragon Spike, walking into the Everfree Forest, pulling a wagon with a blanket covering its large content.

"Hey, Spike!" Sandbar called out, as he and Silverstream came up to him.

Spike turned his head and waved his claw to the incoming students, "Hey Sandbar! Hi Silver!" He returned the greeting.

"Whatchya doing~?" Silver asked.

Spike hesitated, trying to come up a good excuse, when he answered, "I'm...just visiting Zecora! Yeah, that's it!"

"Oh," Sandbar and Silver nodded in acknowledgement, before turning their attention to the wagon. Sandbar starting reaching out to lift the hem of the blanket, "What's under-"

"HEEL!!" Spike screamed, smacking Sand's hoof away. Taken by surprise, both from the shout and the strike, Sandbar held his hoof close, as he and Silver gave Spike odd looks. "Um, sorry. It's just delicate cargo I'm hauling here," Spike stammered, before he started walking away from the scene. "Anyway, have a nice day you two," With that, Spike disappeared behind the trees, leaving Sandbar and Silver alone in awkward silence.

Finally, Sandbar broke the ice, "Should we tell headmaster Twilight about this?" He asked.

"I don't know," Silver shrugged her shoulders, before she scratched her chin. "But as you surface dwellers say. Something smells fishy around here. And it's not me."

After he was about a good 15 feet away from the Friendship Academy, Spike eventually found himself in a clearing, where he lifted the blankets off his wagon, to reveal a pile of logs, sticks, and ropes, which he later used to put together a fighting dummy. Back when he was in Fœnum, Spike once had to learn how to set up a fighting dummy or two, during his trainings to become a fighter.

At last, the first dummy was finished. In appearance, it was in the shape of a pony. Then, he started setting up another fighting dummy, in a different position, in which it was standing on two legs, rather than four, and a more robust build at the upper section of its body, with a pair of sticks at the top of its tiny head, to give the appearance of horns. Then, Spike sets off to work on the rest of the dummy, while picking up a glob of mud to draw faces on the dummies, giving them somewhat intimidating expressions.

Once the first part of his work was finished, Spike took a look at his handiworks, picturing a few of his friends' enemies, in place of the dummies. Looking around him, Spike scowled, seeing the smug grins of Garble and his gang, Iron Will, the Storm King, Queen Chrysalis, even Tempest Shadow still made him mad, just looking at her smug grin.

"HI-YAH!!!" Spike screamed, with a burst of speed, courtesy of his wings, launching himself at Tempest Shadow in a flying kick to literally knock the grin off her face. "Oh! That feels good! TAKE THIS!!!" Spike screamed, as he throws another punch at Tempest, followed by a flick of his tail. "THIS is for attacking Canterlot! THIS is for turning the princesses to stone! THIS is for hounding me and my friends across Equestria and beyond!! THIS is for taking advantage of TWILIGHT!! AND MAKING TWILIGHT LOOK LIKE A FOOL!!" He ranted, after he was done attacking the dummy of Tempest Shadow, and proceeded to beat the living daylight out of the other dummies.

"BASH!!" Spike screamed, blasting a fireball at Iron Will's face, while picturing Tianhuo flying beside him. "TRAMPLE!!" He roared, when he launched himself at the dummies of Garble and his gang, whipping his tail at the last second, to land an impact with the arrowhead at the end. Spike then did a backflip, landing on his feet, before he did a tornado kick at the lead dragon's head, "Cyclone kick!!"

"Yes, Spike!" A voice echoed. "No mercy! You know you want to give it to them! Show them all your strength! Kill them all!! Unleash the PREDATOR inside of you!!! BE the predator you are!!"

"Yes!!" Spike hissed, before he snapped himself out of his trance. "Wait, what?"

"But don't waste your strength on these toys," The voice spoke again. "Trees don't hit back, they say. But for your sake, seeing as how you've been keeping up with your training, then let us test your prowess on some more moving targets."

With that, a cold wind blew through the trees of the Everfree Forest, giving Spike an eerie presence that made his scales stand stand up to the slightest. Looking around, Spike's eyes widened and his pupil turned slit when he looked to see scores of fiery red eyes staring down at him. Then, the shadows came to life as they became solid, walking on all four, glaring and snarling hungrily at the little dragon, cracking their mouth, releasing their drools as they licked their chops.

In response, Spike got into a fighting stance, ready for a fight of his life, "This is the way of life, little dragon," The voice echoed. "Survival of the fittest they say. The creature that lives must fight. But the creature that can't, gets eaten. Now, prove yourself to us!"

With a bark, the wolves all lunged at Spike, who quickly rolled to the ground, dodging the wolves' attacks, before he got up to breath a ball of fire that exploded upon impact with the wolves. Quickly recovering from the fiery attack, the wolves quickly got back on their feet and continued to lunge towards Spike, snapping their jaws, and swiping their paws at the dragon, who kept on ducking his head, blocking some of their strikes with his claws, before he was hit and landed against a tree bark.

Shaking the shock away, Spike quickly looked up to see the wolves running towards him. Thinking fast, Spike flapped his wings, and took to the air, with the wolves jumping and snapping their jaws relentlessly for him. Spike kept flapping his wings, when suddenly...

*HIIIIssssssss*

Spike quickly finds himself wrapped in the coils of a great big snake, flaring its hood, flicking its fork tongues as it and Spike plummeted to the ground, where the wolves all swarmed over Spike and the snake. Spike struggled to escape, but the snake tightened its grip on the little dragon, before with a loud hiss, it thrusted its head forward, and clamped its jaws, sinking its fangs into Spike's neck.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Spike screamed in agony.

"Aw, you're not going to cry, are you little dragon?" The voice echoed again. "I know it hurts. But it's a price one must pay for being too attached to the little ponies of Equestria. Your friendship for them has made you soft. You have become a prey. And as you know, we eat preys like you!" As if agreeing with the voice, the wolves and the snake surrounding Spike all laughed in their own menacing way, "Now, take one last look at this pitiful world you called home!"

As Spike continued to struggle free, memories of his friends' daily struggles in Fœnum flashed before him. The battles they fought. The bloods that were shed. The wounds they've had to endure. And more importantly, the hearts they've had to struggle through it all. How inspiring, yet intense it was for Spike to have witness such brutality, and how awe inspiring it was for Spike to have such strong friends. Friends who were willing to fight to the very end, even when things got tough. And how he's been with them through it all.

"Do not let defeat be the end!" Tianhuo's voice echoed again.

Eyes bolting wide, feeling the fire burning even more intense, driving him with newfound strength like never before, Spike clamped his jaws on the snake's coil, forcing it to release its grip on him. Then, with a yell, Spike threw the snake off, before a burst of green fire erupted from his mouth, and onto the surprised wolves.

"Yes!" The voice echoed. "FIGHT US, DRAGON!!!"

The wolves continued to run towards Spike, biting and clawing at the dragon, who retaliated with a flurry of kicks, punches, slashes, and tail whips, countering the wolves' bites, slashes, while using his wings as shields against the poisons, shot from the snake's mouth.

"Spike?"

"RAARRRGGGHH!!!" Spike lunged towards the source of the voice, stopping momentarily to see....

"AAAAHH!!! Don't hurt me! It's me! IT'S ME!!!" Thorax yelped, holding his hooves up in defense.

Spike snapped out of his trance, looking to see he had pinned Thorax to the ground, holding him by the neck with one claw, while the other one was a punch that's just inches away from Thorax's face, "Gyaahh!!" Spike screamed, breathing rapidly, processing at how close he was to attacking his best friend. "Thorax! I'm so sorry! I didn't-"

"No, it's okay. It's my fault. I should've known better than to sneak up on you," Thorax replied, as he got up. "But, what were you doing out here, all by yourself?"

"What? Didn't you see? I was attacked by..." Spike turned his head, and was perplexed to see nothing. No one but him and Thorax.

Thorax looked at the area, seeing it was littered with broken sticks, and pieces of the fighting dummies Spike had set up earlier, "You were attacked by scarecrows?" He asked.

"They're not scarecrows," Spike replied, while looking around the area a bit more closely. "They're practice dummies."

"You were attacked by dummies?"

"No. I was.....oh," Spike clutched his head, nearly collapsing to the ground, had Thorax not caught him. "I don't feel so good."

"Here Spike! I got you!" Thorax said, as he lifted the little dragon onto his back. "Don't worry little guy. I'll get you to a doctor. You'll feel much better in no time."

"Oh, thanks Thorax," Spike sighed. "You're a real pal."

"Hey, what are friends for? Besides, who am I to call myself a friend if I leave you behind, like Twilight and the girls?"

As the boys left, several red eyes pierced the darkness of the forest.

"You might have escaped us today, little dragon. But we will catch you in the future. And when we're through with you, your little ponies are next."