The Dragon Knight of Canterlot City

After Shadow Storm landed in that tanker of what some called Radiation X, he crawled out and limped away into hiding discovering that the chemical he fell in changed his physical appearance into a purple oozey being, with his body dripping of the stuff and even his limbs kept falling off and splattering only to regrow again.

After the horrible realization of what happened to him, Shadow ducked into an abandoned building and walked around before once again seeing his horrible reflection in a mirror. He frowned before punching the mirror shattering it as pieces of the mirror landed on the floor. When Shadow looked down seeing his reflection in the pieces he growled.

“Look at me, I'm a freak!” he stomped around, “I can't go back to school or even home anymore!” he busted up a table close by out of frustration.

He continued to stomp around in pace as one thing was on his mind. Seeing Spike Obsidian's happy carefree face and laughing, “And it's all his fault! He will pay with his life for doing this to me! HE WILL PAY!”

The next day at Everfree Academy, the students were being let out as the final bell rang. Spike, Twilight, and the girls stepped outside the building.

“No practice today, which means we got a free afternoon.” Rainbow said excitedly.

“What does everyone feel like doing?” Sunset asked.

As the girls started voicing their own thoughts, Spike was in deep thought over what happened last night between him and Shadow Storm. He was so angry at Shadow for years of bullying and threatening Twilight finally crossed the line he ended up slugging him so hard he literally went flying off. He wasn't sure where he landed or if he even survived.

“Spike? Spike? SPIKE!”

Spike snapped out of his thoughts seeing Pinkie in front of him while the rest of the girls had been looking upon him concerned.

“What?” he asked.

“We decided to to grab a milkshake, you in?” Pinkie inquired.

“Sure, I'm in.” he confirmed.

“Are you ok?” Applejack asked concerned.

“Fine, why do you ask?”

“You just looked out of it for a moment there.” Rainbow noticed.

“Just had something on my mind.”

“What kind of something?” Pinkie asked slyly.

“Pinkie Pie, don't be rude.” Rarity scolded her.

“Sorry.”

“It's fine. Just had a lot to think about.”

“After what Twilight told us about last night, we can imagine it.” Applejack replied smiling.

“You really make it a habit of rescuing people, don't you.” Rainbow chuckled.

“Couldn't be helped,” Spike explained, “That creep was the worse tormentor from my old school. And I had it with him. Threatening Twilight pushed me past my tolerance point.”

“Well, it's good you sent him running,” Twilight said happily, “I only wish I was awake to see it myself.”

As they left the school grounds two voices called out, “Spike!” Spike looked and saw running down to him were Belle and Violet.

They pulled to a halt before him and the girls panting, as Spike spoke to them, “You two?”

“Oh, good. You're alive.” Belle said in relief.

“Well, of course I am. Why wouldn't I?”

“Spike, who're they?” Fluttershy asked.

“This is Black Belle and Violet Shiver; old classmates from my previous school.” Spike squinted.

The girls noticing Spike's tone looked to the duo with frowns, “So you two treated Spike like dirt before he came here?” Applejack accused.

“Admittingly yes.” Belle confessed.

“But we're not here to do that!” Violet assured.

“Then why are you here?” Twilight crossed her arms.

“And why're you surprised to see me alive?” Spike wondered.

“Because we knew Shadow was coming after you last night.” Violet answered.

“You knew?” he asked.

“Yes. He told us himself,” Belle added, “He said he was going to end you once and for all.”

“But seeing you here means you survived.” Violet noted relieved.

“Yeah. Why did Shadow not tell you what happened?” the boy inquired.

“He didn't show up in school today.” Belle explained.

“What?” Spike asked, as he started feeling nervous.

“He wasn't at school, and not even his parents knew where he was.” Violet explained.

Spike thought to Drakon, 'Oh shit! Maybe I did kill him!'”

'Relax, Spike, if that were the case we would've heard about it on the news.' the spirit replied.

“Spike, what happened between you two?” Belle asked concerned.

“Why should he tell you two anything?” Rainbow asked rhetorically as she confronted the pair.

“Especially if you two gave him nothing but grief before.” Sunset added.

“Because we never would've actually wanted death upon anyone!” Violet cried, “Not even anyone like Spike here used to be.”

Spike blinked upon hearing Violet's words, and seeing her and Belle so concerned made him wonder if they truly were as bad as Shadow Storm is.

“Alright, I'll tell you both,” Spike said deciding to enlighten them, “It's true Shadow came to try and kill me while I was out with Twilight. I held my own against him, but when he knocked Twilight out I let him have it. The cocky prick ran away like a coward.”

The two gasped while blushing, “Wow.” they gasped.

“And you're saying he didn't show up today or go home?” Spike wondered.

“Precisely.” Belle confirmed.

“Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do further. Not that I even would do anything for that dickweed.” Spike replied.

“We understand,” Violet replied, “We just wanted to see if you were still alive.”

“Well, he is.” Twilight said.

“So if you girls don't mind, I have plans right now.” Spike said, as he was about to leave with his friends, until screams could be heard.

“What's going on?” Fluttershy asked worried.

“Don't know, but it can't be good.” Applejack replied as they heard the terrified screams.

“Maybe we should check it out?” Rainbow suggested.

“Rainbow, when you hear screams you don't run for the source.” Twilight noted.

“I agree.” Spike replied, as he ran ahead.

“Spike!” the girls called, as they all ran after him.

“What could be causing this kind of commotion at this time of day?” Spike asked, as Drakon flew at his side.

“No clue, but it must be something really bad.” he replied.

Spike made it past all the screaming pedestrians running past him before he stopped in place and saw what was causing trouble. Stomping around leaving oozey foot prints was Shadow Storm.

“What in the? Drakon?” he asked his spirit guide.

“I don't know what the hell that is.” Drakon replied.

“Spike Obsidian!” the creature roared much to Spike's shock.

“It knows me? Wait a minute, that voice. It can't be... Shadow?” he asked in horror.

Squad cars surrounded the ooze man formerly Shadow Storm and drew their guns aiming at the creature, “On the ground and hands in the air!” Shining Armor called to the beast.

“Stupid cops!” Shadow swung his arm around unleashing globs of ooze covering their guns.

“Spike!” the girls called as they arrived, before spotting the creature.

“What the hell is that thing?” Sunset asked in shock.

“Whatever it is it's ugly as shit.” Rainbow answered.

Spike looked to Belle and Violet, “Girls. I think we just found Shadow Storm.”

“What?!” they asked collectively.

“That's Shadow Storm?” Twilight asked Spike, “But how?”

“I don't know.” Spike answered equally confused.

Shadow suddenly spotted Spike with the girls, “Obsidian!” he stomped over in their direction as Fluttershy fainted in Sunset's arms.

“Shadow?” Belle asked.

“Wh-what happened?” Violet asked.

“He happened!” Shadow pointed accusingly at Spike.

“Me? What did I do?” Spike asked playing innocent.

“You turned me into this!” Shadow continued to accuse him.

“Spike, what is he talkin' about?” Applejack wondered.

“He's delusional,” Spike covered, “Whatever happened to him must've warped his mind.”

“It's because of you I'm this hideous beast!” he shouted.

Spike frowned not even caring how he turned into this monster, “Don't go blaming me! You were always a hideous beast! Now it's all on the outside!”

“Spike, you probably shouldn't have said that!” Twilight warned him.

Shadow roared, as he tried to attack them, only to dodge his oozey arm swat, “Close one!” Pinkie gasped.

“Shadow, stop it!” Belle pleaded.

“Whatever happened I’m sure someone can fix it!” Violet added.

“Shut up, sluts!” Shadow ordered, as he punched them against a wall covering them in his ooze.

“Oh, this is so gross!” Violet gagged.

Shadow turned back to Spike, “Now for you!” He was cut off, as he was getting shot at from behind by some of the cops who got the ooze off their guns.

Unfortunately all the bullets went right through Shadow who started regenerating. He looked back at the cops and roared, before Spike and the girls tugged Belle and Violet off the wall even with their clothes covered in ooze.

“Oh, this is gonna need several wash cycles.” Belle gagged.

“You guys gotta get out of here.” Spike ordered the girls.

“Not without you.” Twilight replied.

“It's me he wants!” he reminded her.

“Obsidian!” Shadow roared, as Spike knew the girls wouldn't run, but knew there was something he cold do.

“You want me ugly? Come and get me!” Spike ran off.

“Spike!” the girls shouted, as they watched him run before running around a corner.

“Get back here!” Shadow roared, as he tried to follow.

Before Shadow could go anywhere, Spike as the Dragon Knight dropped in and kicked him hard enough to break off from his ooze legs. Shadow landed on the street before growing new legs, while Spike stood before him.

“Dude, no offense but you're as fugly as fugly goes.” Spike joked.

Shadow frowned, “Stay out of this!”

“Yeah, that's what I'll do!” Spike answered sarcastically, as Shadow tried shooting blobs of ooze at Spike only to miss.

Spike got up close and punched Shadow's face only for it to reform again.

“Regeneration is a real buzzkill to fight against.” Spike said, before dodging his opponents fists that tried smashing him.

“Smashing me with ooze won't be enough!” Spike called before something clicked, “Smashing... Ooze. Yeah! From now on I'm gonna call you Smooze!”

Shadow stopped and looked confused, “Smooze?”

“Yeah. Figured a mutant like you needs some mutant name.”

Smooze roared, as he continued to fight the hero head on, while Twilight, the girls, and several others watched him from a distance along with a camera crew filming it.

“It's the Dragon Knight!” Rainbow cheered.

“Look at that fella go!” Applejack said in awe.

“So daring.” Rarity said enamored.

“He certainly looks like he knows what he's doing.” Twilight noticed.

Spike dodged more of Smooze's globs thinking, 'I can't keep this up forever. I got to stop him somehow.'

Drakon thought to him, 'Well, it's hard to fight something that doesn't exactly have a physical form and can regenerate himself.'

'I know, but there's gotta be some way,' Spike thought back until he spotted an abandoned tanker truck and saw the label on the side, 'Liquid Nitrogen. Drakon, I got an idea!'

Spike called to Smooze, “Hey, ugly, this way!” he mocked before running prompting the ooze monster to follow him.

The hero maneuvered around ahead before arriving at the truck. He quickly attached the hose to the valve at the side as Smooze got closer.

“I'll kill you!” he declared.

“How about you chill out instead?” Spike suggested, before aiming the hose at him and turned it on spraying Smooze with the liquid nitrogen from the tanker.

The mutant teen screamed as he spazzed around as the liquid took affect, and before long Smooze stood before them as an ice statue with his hands up.

Spike turned the hose off and sighed seeing he beat his opponent, “That got him.”

'Quick thinking.' Drakon thought.

“Well, I couldn’t beat him with physical attacks so much. So I had to try a different approach. And it worked,” Spike suddenly started seeing part of him glow and covering his torso area was more armor, “Whoa! My armor changed again?”

“Fighting Smooze gave you a good boost in power and now your armor is half way complete. Keep it up and you won't have to worry about wearing that makeshift mask anymore.” the spirit explained.

“Great.” Spike replied, until Shining Armor and the rest of the squad came over.

“Hold it!” one of the cops ordered.

“Easy, guys. Your culprit is contained right here. But you might wanna put him in cold storage.” he suggested.

Shining Armor approached, “We'll see to it. And thank you for your help.”

Spike noticed his badge and name tag, S. Armor, 'Shining Armor; Twilight's bro,' he thought before speaking up, “No problem at all officer.”

“But I just have to know, why do this?”

Spike hearing that question already had an answer ready, “Because someone has to help this city. And you guys can't always be there. So figured I'd lend my support.”

“I see.” Shining Armor replied.

“Well, I'll leave you all to your work. Adios!” Spike jumped high and took off.

The girls and citizens had watched cheering and applauding, until Spike after changing back returned to them.

“Girls!”

“Spike!” they cried running over to him and hugged him close.

“Where were you?” Rarity asked concerned.

“We were so worried!” Fluttershy added.

“Are you ok?” Twilight asked looking him over.

“I'm fine, really I am.” he assured them.

“Oh, you missed it!” Rainbow began, “Th Dragon Knight showed up and beat that disgusting blobs freak.”

“Really?” Spike asked acting surprised.

“He sure did.” Pinkie confirmed.

“And Shadow?” Spike wondered.

“He's on ice, literally.” Belle motioned to the frozen Smooze who was being placed into a freezer truck to keep cold before taking him away.

“Wow!” Spike gasped still putting on an act for them.

“I don't know about all of you, but after this I definitely need a milkshake.” Rainbow said.

“Same here.” Pinkie agreed.

Spike looked at Belle and Violet, “Would you two like to join us?”

“What?” Violet asked surprised.

“You're asking us?” Belle wondered, “Even after how we used to treat you.”

Spike nodded, “I can't forgive you for how you treated me before. But maybe Shadow Storm was a bad influence on the two of you. If you had better people to be around you wouldn't act so nasty. So how about starting anew?”

Violet and Belle looked at Spike as if they were looking upon a shining angel. They started shedding tears before bawling, “We're so sorry!” they cried.

Fluttershy walked up to them and put her hands on their heads comfortingly, “It's ok. I know you're not as bad as you come off to be.”

The two smiled, as Spike spoke to them, “So still wanna join us?”

“Sure, but our clothes.” Belle answered, as they motioned to their ooze stained clothes.

“Don't worry, Rarity's always prepared for a fashion emergency.” Spike motioned to Rarity who approached the two.

“Never fear, my dears. I can turn this nightmare into a dream.” Rarity told them.

Soon after Rarity outfitted Belle and Violet in clean clothes they all went to Sugarcube Corner for a milkshake.

“This is good.” Belle said, enjoying hers.

“I'll say.” Violet agreed.

“I told you.” Pinkie smiled.

Twilight was pondering which Sunset noticed, “Everything ok, Twilight?”

“Yeah. I'm just curious about Shadow Storm,” she explained which got Spike's attention, “Spike said he sent him running, so how did he end up like that and blame Spike for it?”

Spike tried hiding his nervousness, as Rainbow spoke, “The cocky prick probably got himself into trouble on his way home. Don't know what kind to lead him into becoming that.”

“And ya heard that varmint,” Applejack added, “Sounded like his head was a few apples short a bushel.”

“And he always had a problem with Spike.” Belle confirmed.

“He'd say anything as an excuse to beat him.” Violet added.

“It's true.” Spike nodded.

“Makes sense.” Twilight said deciding to let it go.

Spike continued to watch Violet and Belle and knew they needed more positive influence and honest work to bring out the good girls he could tell they really were, “Say, Pinkie?”

“Yes?”

“Are the Cakes still looking for part time workers?”

“You know it. Why, you got someone in mind?” she asked.

“As of matter of fact I do. Right here.” he motioned to the two girls who looked confused.

“Us?” Belle asked.

Spike nodded, “You two need some honest work to prove you can be better than when you were with Shadow Storm. And this could be the perfect place for it.”

“Well, we do have ample free time after school than we know what to use it for.” Violet admitted.

“And we could use the money too.” Belle added.

“Perfect!” Pinkie smiled, “I'll let the Cakes know. You're gonna love working here, girls.” the two smiled.

Sunset looked to Spike, “That was a good thing you did, Spike. Giving them a second chance.”

“Well, I thought back to you, Sunset,” Spike recalled, “Some didn't think you were able to change your ways, but others did. And look where you are,” Sunset blushed, “If there's hope for you then there's hope for these two. They just need better influence.” the rest of the girls nodded.

That night at Spike's place, the boy had been watching the news that was playing footage from the fight between Smooze and him as the Dragon Knight. Drakon had also been watching, while noticing Spike looking depressed.

“Spike?”

“It's my fault, Drakon.” he replied.

“Huh?”

“It's my fault Shadow Storm turned into this.”

“Hey, you just punched him flying. It's not your fault wherever he landed turned him into this.” Drakon assured him.

“Even so I could've held back more on the punch.” Spike sighed.

“What's done is done, Spike. Besides he was asking for it. Belle and Violet had better chances to reform, but Shadow... I've seen your memories. And he was a lost cause. Besides he wanted to kill you that night and even Twilight. So let this piece of karma haunt him.”

Spike despite the guilt knowing he ended up turning Shadow Storm into the being he now called Smooze, couldn't deny Shadow was insane already. But with him on ice, perhaps he wouldn't really have to worry about him anymore.

Meanwhile inside an office room was a person sitting at a desk the the name Professor Grogar Dagger on it. He too had been watching the news between the Dragon Knight and Smooze. And after hearing about what his goons said last night spoke to himself.

“So this is what my formula created?” he asked while eyeing Smooze, “Incredible. And if that's just one outcome, then imagine all the possibilities it could do to others. I should look into finding more test subjects to use it on.” he snickered.

Somewhere else in another office the name Dr. Dillian Dagger rested on a desk, while said man had also been watching the same news footage. Unlike Grogar, Dillian, watched while frowning.

“No doubt that's my brother's handiwork! Well, if he thinks I'm gonna be second best, then he's got another thing coming!” he walked over to a window and looked down into a factory seeing robotic parts were being manufactured, “I'll prove my work is ten times better than his.”

Elsewhere at the city's prison, Smooze was placed in a special cell that was set to cold temp to keep him on ice. As it zoomed in for a up close of his frozen face. Suddenly he blinked a few times signaling he was still alive even while frozen.