Betrayal of a rockby DracoAntares6ChaptersPart 1Part 2Part 3Epic battle sceneChangePart 1"This is the WORST, POSSIBLE, THING!!!!"Rarity ungracefully flopped into the mud bath next to her spa buddy, tears storming from her eyes. Fluttershy tried her hardest to comfort the depressed mare, but nothing seemed to work beyond a pat on the back. "Shh, Shh. Calm down Rarity. I..Its okay. I'm sure it'll work out alright. You just need to step forward and ask him what the secret is. I..If thats alright with you. Squeek!" Rarity had been going steady with Tom for almost five months already, and she was expecting a proposal any day now. But something was off, and it wasn’t the fact that her coltfriend was a rock, although many ponies of high society that she knew had looked down on it. Tom was hiding a secret. Rarity didn’t know what it was, but she could tell every time he looked at her. He had become quieter, and tensed up every time Rarity came near. It had started only a week or so ago when Rarity had returned from the Canterlot wedding... "Oh Tom! I didn’t realize you were here so early!" Rarity blushed. "Let me just finish getting ready then we can go." Rarity rushed back into her room and her magic lit up, makeup and cloths flying all around her as she attempted to get ready as quickly as possible. This was the first date she was going on since before her trip to Canterlot for Twilight’s brother’s wedding three months ago, so she had to look her best. Tom had gone traveling for his job for three months, missing most of the excitement in Ponyville. The last time she had seen him was in the crystal empire at the equestrian games, but only momentarily. Five minutes and eight seconds later she opened the door back up and walked towards Tom, her mane and coat sparkling. She had put on a simple gown with a purple color that complimented her mane and tail. She had made a last minute decision to leave her high heel shoes there, for she didn’t want to be tripping over herself the whole date. " ..." Rarity blushed. "Why thank you Tom. As ever you are such a gentlerock. Shall we depart?" Rarity and Tom made their way to a taxi and hopped in. The drivers quickly took them to the Cafe, one of the few restaurants in Ponyville. The restaurant was a simple, small one, but surprisingly crowded despite the lateness in the day. It would be perfect for an afternoon meal. Rarity and Tom went in and took a seat they had reserved the day earlier. The window next to her gave a great view of the Everfree forest, a beautiful sight as long as you weren’t to close to it. Rarity tried her best to ignore the curious and disgusted stares pointed towards the two as she usually did on their time together. A waitress came over, obviously trying her best not to stare at Tom, and asked for their orders. "I will take...The salad with strawberry dressing. What about you Tom?" " ..." “He would simply like a glass of water.” "A very fine choice sir." The waitress scurried away to give the orders to the chef. In the meantime Rarity turned to Tom, excited to tell him about her adventure in Canterlot. "Well, it all started when Twilight was invited to her brother’s wedding..." As Rarity recounted the tale, she could tell that Tom was growing more and more uneasy. At first it didn’t bother her, but when she finished her story Tom stayed unusually quiet. Before she could bother to ask him what was wrong the waitress walked up to the table, food in hoof. Rarity thanked the mare kindly; handing her the necessary bits, and began to eat her salad. Tom continued to sit quietly, quite out of his usual talkative mood, not even touching his water. Later he had dropped her off back at the boutique with only a small farewell. Rarity poured her heart out to Fluttershy. The poor Pegasus mare wasn’t one for giving advice, so told Rarity she should inquire in Rainbow dash. "Thank you so much Fluttershy darling. You don’t know how much this means to me! Rainbow has had so much...experience... She must have an idea of what to do!" Rarity raced out of the Spa, leaving a befuddled Fluttershy to pay for the spa bill. Rarity trotted back and forth across the cloud home deep in thought as Rainbow hovered awkwardly next to her. "You know there’s a couch, right?" Rarity looked up momentarily and scowled at Rainbow. "No offence darling but I doubt anyone would want to sit on that." She raised an accusing hoof towards the couch. It was covered in empty water bottles, snack bar wrappers, and workout equipment, and smelled distinctly like sweat. Rainbow sniggered at that and took the seat herself. "Okay Rares, you better have a good reason for teleporting up here and making me stop my workout." Rarity looked at Rainbow and rolled her eyes. "Yes, Laying on the floor snoring is such a good workout." Rarity deadpanned. Rainbow just muttered under her breath. "But criticizing you is not why I am here! I need advice on-" "NO! Don’t tell me!," Rainbow cut in, "You finally decided that you want to try my work out! YES!" Rainbow shot into the air off the couch in her joy, but was quickly yanked down by a purple glow around her tail. "Sorry Rainbow, but I’m not interested in your workout. I am here on relationship matters." Rarity held her head high with her eyes closed. "Yes, of course Rarity. I'd love to help you with your rocky relationship." Rarity peeking out of one of her eyes when she heard a giggle from the cyan mare. "RAINBOW!!" Rarity fumed. "I’m sorry! I just couldn’t help myself!" The giggle turned into a full out laughing fest, tears rolling down Rainbows face. Despite her anger, Rarity couldn’t help but crack a smile at the joke. When everything settled down, Rarity told Rainbow how Tom had been acting odd. Rainbow smirked. "Maybe Tom...IS A CHANGELING!!!" Rarity gave a fake gasp at Rainbows words and then stared blankly at her. "Sorry Rares, but I can’t give you any advice there. I'm not good with that whole "long stable relationship" thingy that everyone is so crazy about. I'm like the wind and change direction all the time. Go ask Pinkie Pie. She sneaks around enough and knows all types of crazy weird secrets. Not to mention she worked on a rock farm. She might know one of Toms family members." Rarity sighed, rolling her eyes again, and thanked Rainbow for the help. She teleported, landing smack dab in the middle of town. Right were a certain pink pony was sitting. Part 2BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!! Rarity sat on a chair shivering, her coat drenched in chocolate milk and her hair in complete ruins. When she suddenly landed on Pinkie Pie in her teleportation, the pink pony had been working on a little project sitting under Dash's house. Pinkie had somehow made a cotton candy cloud, resembling that of Discord’s, and was about to pull a prank on Rainbow Dash. Rarity had somehow 'activated the prank' as Pinkie said, and the cloud had started chasing after her, chocolate milk spraying like a storm. The cloud had disappeared as Rarity fell off a cliff, as she had not paid attention to where she was running, and the only thing that saved her from a certain death was a random pink portal opening. Then suddenly she was sitting in the Cake’s living room in a chair, a towel wrapped around her. Pinkie had apologized for almost three minutes straight before disappearing into the kitchen to bake an "I'm so sorry that I got milk all over you" cake. Of course Rarity was slightly disturbed and curious as to why baking a cake would need such loud banging. "RARITY!!!!!" "WHAT!!! What happened Pinkie!" Rarity almost jumped out of her skin when Pinkie entered. In her hooves was the Biggest cake EVER. It was so big that Rarity was surprised Pinkie could carry it above her head with two hoof let alone one like she was doing. "So Rarity, do you like it!?!? I was going to put ice cream in it, but I know how you don’t like messes and oh my goodness that would be such a huge mess, especially if we didn’t eat it fast enough, so I didn’t put ice-cream in it, and so I was like why don’t I make the cake bigger since we don’t have to eat it super fast, that way there’s more, but then I was like oh my goody goodness since we have so much cake lets have A PARTY!!!!!" At that moment Rarity’s head was spinning from how fast Pinkie was talking. Pinkie jumped into the sky, somehow hanging there in the air before dropping back down to the floor on all four hooves. "I'll just go get the decorations, and send out my emergency party invitations for last minute par-" Rarity stuck her hoof in Pinkies mouth, flinching slightly at the uncleanness. "Um, Pinkie dear?" Rarity quickly removed her hoof and wiped it on her chocolate milk soaked towel. "Yes Rarity?" "Can we...not have the party?" The unearthly loud gasp that came from Pinkie made Rarity stick her hoof back in the pink mares mouth before a fountain of words could drowned out her own. "Darling, when I knocked into you in town I was actually coming from Rainbow’s house, and was on my way to talk to you. I have an urgent and kind of serious matter. So, I’m going to take my hoof from your mouth now. Please let me talk?" As Rarity had been talking, Pinkie had had on a blank stare, and now she nodded her head vigorously. For the second time in the last two minutes, Rarity removed her hoof from the mouth. She quickly noted that she would have to disinfect it later. "Okay Pinkie. I...I need your help." "Oh! Are you starting Rainbow’s workout that she wanted you to do?!?! It’s about time! Now you can go in the same gala dress as last year without it ripping!!!" "Are you implying that I am...Fat?" Rarities eye twitched as she tried not to slap Pinkie’s grin onto the floor. "Pinkie, i wasn’t talking about Rainbow’s workout. I am having trouble with Tom." "Why? Did he tell you your fat?" "PINKIE!!!" Rarity jumped at the pink mare with the ferocity of a tiger. Pinkie squealed in delight. "Yay! Tag your it!" She suddenly disappeared and Rarity hit the ground, no Pinkie under her. Once Rarity found Pinkie in the kitchen they proceeded to play tag, Rarity eventually giving up her anger as they both burst into giggles. "You know," Started Pinkie after the two had collapsed on the floor in exhaustion, "If you think about it, Tom doesn’t wear cloths. He doesn’t even have fur. How do you know which way his head is?" Rarity's face turned so red it could have put a Tomato out of business. Pinkie burst out laughing, tears once again streaming down her face in joy. "So Rarity, what did you come here for in the first place?" Pinkies large curious eyes met Rarity’s after she had calmed down. "Well Pinkie..." Rarity proceeded to tell Pinkie the story about Tom’s secretive attitude. All the while Pinkie scratched her chin. "That is interesting. Maybe Dashie’s right and he's a changeling. Now THAT would be weird." Rarity and Pinkie got up and began to walk towards the front door as they talked, both silently agreeing that it was time for Rarity to depart. "Well Rarity, the best advice I can give you is to ask him outright, but do it while he's happy. If he isn’t truthful with you then he isn’t worth your love. Then we can have a PARTY!!!! That would make him happy so you can ask him!!! That is, if a rock can smile. You know, I’ve worked on a rock farm almost my whole life and I’ve never seen a rock smile?!?!? Of course I’ve never known where their face was…" Rarity shook her head in wonder at how long Pinkie could continually talk without taking a breath. But it would have to wait for another time because now she was hungry, and not for sugary sweets that Pinkie sold. After saying her farewells, Rarity began to make her way to Sweet Apple Acres. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS APPLEBUCKERS!!!!" Rarity flinched slightly at the cheer as she made her way down the path through the apple trees. The beautiful sunny day was interrupted by protests of three little fillies and a cow mare. Rarity soon came upon the clearing in front of the barn. There Applejack was being jumped on by three little fillies towards the apple orchards. "I told you galls I ain’t gonna teach ya ta buck them apples! You could hurt yerselves." Applejack turned to face down at the ground. "That or yer gunna hurt me." Rarity could barely hear her mutter. "Please sis! I promise if ya teach us real quick we won’t bother ya anymore!" Three squeaky Pleaser’s were cut short seconds after it started. "Now girls! That is no way to treat Applejack!" "RARITY!!" Rarity was tackled by a bundle of white fur also known as Sweetie Bell. The filly blushed and jumped away again, not wanting to get scolded from getting her sisters coat dirty. To her surprise no such thing happened. "Thanks so much Rarity. I don’t know what I’d do if they hadn’t stopped-" "Girls." Rarity cut into Applejack’s blabbering. "Yes Rarity?" All three girls looked up to Rarity, curious as Rarity put on a seemingly evil grin. "I know how to make Applejack help you." After playing with Pinkie, Rarity had been put in the playful spirit, and now she had ideas for another one of her friends. When Applejack saw Rarity walking towards her with that look on her face, the cowgirl coward and tried to get onto her hooves before Rarity got to her. "No Rarity!! You better not do tha-HA HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!" Rarity giggled as Applejack squirmed around in a fit of laughter at the tickling. Soon the fillies had joined in and every pony was having a good time. "Pass the fritters please!" Sweetie Bell shouted to Rarity, who was in fact sitting right next to her. She pushed the tray of fritters down the table to her little sister as she took a bite of her own, apple juice running down her face. "So Rarity," Applejack swallowed her fifth fritter and wiped her face off before addressing the mare again. "What brings ya to the acres besides to tickle me ta death?" Rarity blushed momentarily as the three fillies next to her giggled. "I was just coming to pick up some apples. My kitchen has mysteriously began to run out of food ever since mom and dad went on vacation." it was Sweetiebells turn to blush as Rarity eyed her. AJ grinned, disappearing into the kitchen and reappearing with a basket of apples. "Oh, thank you darling. How much do you want for them?" Rarity held out her bit bag just for it to be pushed away by an orange hoof. "On the house Rares. Think of it as a present to get your mind offa yer colt- er, rockfriend troubles." "You know about that?" Rarity's grin deflated into a frown at the mention of it. "Not much goes on around here without Rainbow Dash blabbering bout' it. Element of loyalty my plot." Rarity grimaced at the language and the fillies giggle. "Girls, yall go outside an play while me an Rarity talk, okay?" Her words where met with a rush of little hooves leaving the room. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADER DANCERS!!!!!" Rarity waited until her ears stopped ringing to uncover them. "So AJ, what do you think I should do? Pinkie thinks I should confront him at a party while he's happy, Rainbow just thinks he's a changeling. What if it turns out he has a girlfriend? What if he's....married? I mean, he wouldn’t hurt me like that would he?" Rarities ears fell back and she fought off tears. "It’s just, he's the best rockfriend I’ve ever had, so hard and well mannered, I don’t want him to go!!!" Rarity burst into tears. Applejack awkwardly patted her on the back; much like Fluttershy had been doing earlier that day. "Sugar cube, first of all he’s the only rockfriend you’ve ever had, and all I can say is that Pinkies right. If he ain’t truthful to you then he don’t deserve you. And hard as it is to believe since he's a rock, he has feelings to. Maybe he's scared of the same things right now. You just gotta ask and get it over with, like a band aid. If it comes to the worst you know you got us girls to fall back on." Rarity grabbed AJ into a huge bear hug. "Thank you for your support Applejack! I think I may go by and ask Twilight though. Besides I want to get the idea that Tom is a changeling out of Rainbows head. I'll get Twi to cast that changeling spell on him." Rarity said her goodbye to Applejack and reminded Sweetie to be home before dinner before walking out. Her path took her down Mane Street and through the market. She stopped by the boutique quickly to freshen up, grabbing her overdue library books in her magic grasp. It was when she stepped out of the boutique that chaos erupted in her mind. There across the street was Tom, sitting in a chair at the cafe. She just couldn’t face him now, not before she saw Twilight! Rarity ducked her head and rushed through the crowded street, quickly slipping into an abandoned alleyway when the crowd thinned out to much. She let out a breath that she found she had been holding. The breath caught in her throat again as a voice spoke behind her, making her drop her books. "Well well, if it isn’t the fair Rarity." The voice sent shivers down Rarity's spine, and it was made even more terrifying in the dark alleyway with no pony to save her from a possible mugger. Rarity spun around to face the culprit. The shadowed figure loomed above her, a grin plastered onto their face. Rarity closed her eyes in fear, praying that she would be safe. Part 3The attack she had been bracing herself for didn’t come. Instead it was a deep, friendly voice, laughing, and a hug. "It's been forever Rarity!!! I’ve been trying to find you all day!!!" Rarity’s breath came out in a relieved sigh as she wrapped her hoof around the scaled figure to return the hug. Her young drake friend had had a growth spurt recently and now stood almost a foot taller than her. His wings had also begun to sprout on his back. "Yes Spike, but what is a gentle drake such as yourself hiding in a scary alleyway to scare innocent mares?" Rarity fluttered her eyes and pretended she would faint. Spike laughed again in the deep voice that he had acquired to match his taller frame. "I didn’t exactly expect any noble mares such as you to enter a creepy alleyway. I was just trying to hide from Twilight. You know how she gets on shelving day, this time its like doubled. She even refused to use magic!!! I swear, ever since that girl turned into an alicorn she's gone a bit loony. So what about you?" "I was actually on my way to see Twilight, but it seems that I’m between a rock and a hard place." Rarity giggled at her play of words and motioned to where Tom was sitting. She flinched slightly when Spike’s face covered with a crushed look, but it quickly disappeared when he noticed her watching him. "How are things going with...him." Spike motioned in the direction and Rarity sighed. "That is actually what I wanted to ask Twilight’s opinion on. He seems to be hiding something... Do you think she has time to spare with the cleaning? I should go check, would you like to come?" Rarity put a fake grin on her face and said farewell when Spike said he wouldn’t. "Sorry Rarity, but I’m not risking going back there. Good luck." Rarity rushed out of the alley way and down the street towards the library. She felt bad leaving Spike in such a rush, but talking to him was just so awkward. Soon enough she came upon the Golden Oaks library, home to princess Twilight, commander of magic and stars. Rarity remembered when Twilight had found out that she could control the stars, she was so excited. Luna had taught her how to grant wishes made on shooting stars, and from then on rarity had always kept an eye on the night sky. Twilight kept the night sky organize, and even made a constellation for each of the elements of harmony. It was too bad she couldn’t keep the library as organized. Books were flying out of the windows so that Rarity could see the damage even before she walked in the door. She was prepared for the mess when she opened the door, but she wasn’t prepared for the avalanche of books that buried her alive. "muph...mrp..." Rarity tried to shout for Twilight, who quickly came to the rescue. The books lifted off the startled unicorn in a violet glow. The books where thrown to the side of the room with countless other messy piles stacked around it. "Rarity! What a pleasant surprise that you dropped by!" Rarity stood up, noticing Twilight opening and closing her wings. "Hello dear, are your wings okay?" "Yes of course. Why-" Twilight looked startled to see her wings moving without her permission. "Twilight." "Yes Rarity?" "*sigh* Please come with me." "But Rari-" "Come." Rarity said it with such a commanding voice that Twilight closed her mouth and quickly followed the white unicorn out of the library. Rarity saw the obvious signs of stress on Twilight and she couldn’t stand around and let her friend suffer like that. The two walked in silence, Rarity leading a disgruntled Twilight. Rarity continued until they made it to the cafe. Rarity looked around; making sure Tom had left before taking a seat at one of the tables. Twilight sat across from her. "May I take an order from you you’re highness?" A waitress came up to them and bowed quickly, a grin plastered on her face. Rarity ordered the two fresh lemonade before looking to Twilight. "Rarity. You know I should really be getting back to the library. Spike left so I have to reshelf everything by myself and-" Rarity waved her hoof, signaling Twilight not to make a fuss. "I'll help you with your shelving later. It’s the least I could do for taking up your time, but for now I have something I have to talk to you about." Twilight sighed, waiting for Rarity to continue. "I'm sure you've heard the news about me and Tom from Rainbow." Twilight nodded her head to confirm it. "Well, first of all I want your opinion on what I should do. I’ve gotten great advise from the other girls but maybe you read a book on it or something??? I don’t know. Second I want you to cast that changeling detecting spell on him." "You think Tom, a rock, is a changeling?" Twilight giggled momentarily before covering her mouth when Rarity gave her the look. "Not me, Rainbow. I know it’s not that big of a deal, but I know that if I don’t put this to rest, she will go on and on about it until I’m in the grave!" Rarity waved her hoof around to emphasize her words. Twilight looked away, and Rarity felt bad about bringing up the subject of death. Ever since Twilight had become an alicorn, she struggled with the thoughts that she would long outlive her five friends. "Darling, I’m sorry. It was only an expression." Twilight looked up and gave a sad smile. "I know Rarity. It’s just a bit difficult to process. But I shouldn’t be going on about my problems when you have much more immediate ones." "Here you are your highness." The waitress set the lemonade on the table and bowed before scooting away to deliver more food. Twilight just rolled her eyes at the gesture and tried to remember where she was in the conversation. "Well, my opinion on Tom is like Pinkies. Try to confront him about it, but do it in an inconspicuous way. So he won’t notice it right off the bat. I mean, you don’t want to scare him away." Twilight winked at Rarity who started to sweat, gave a fake smile. "He, he. yeah. don’t want to scare him..." Rarity and Twilight sipped their lemonade in awkward silence for a moment before being interrupted by a commotion down the street. Both mares looked towards it to see a dis-shelved Fluttershy galloping towards them. "Rarity! Twilight! Come quick!!!" The shy mares face had tears streaking down it. Twilight and Rarity jumped from their chairs. "What is it Fluttershy! What’s wrong?!?!" "Please tell us darling." Fluttershy tried to catch her breath. "Spike... Tom... They’re going to fight!!!" Epic battle sceneRarity almost fainted at the sight of her friend and her boyfriend circling each other in the street. A crowd had made their way around the two, some shouting for a fight and some staying quiet. No pony was brave enough to break up the two. The feeling of anger and tension in the air made Rarity’s coat stand on end. "Boys, please! There’s no need to fight! Someone could get hurt!" Fluttershy called in her soft voice, almost drowned out in other noises. "I must say I agree. You two need to stop. now." Rarity sighed in relief as many of the ponies around shouted their agreement. Surely Spike would see sense in ending this? "Sorry guys but this needs to be settled. Now." Rarity looked to Tom for help, but at the moment he ignored her. She couldn’t read his expression as usual. She sighed and watched, a hopeless feeling crawling into her chest. “Boys!!! If you don’t stop I will never speak to either of you ever again!!!” Rarity screamed. She was a generous, king pony, and if there was going to be a fight it wasn’t going to be caused by her any time soon. To her dismay Tom didn’t take kindly to her words. “….!!!!....” Rarity gasped at his crude language. He had never spoken to her like that before. “Fine! If you’re going to be like that then we. Are. OVER!!!! You can fight to the death for all I care!!!!” Rarity huffed, tears streaming down her face, and watched in bitter silence. ******************* Spike shuffled in a circle watching the rock who was at the moment rolling in the same motion as him. To tell the truth Spike was terrified. He knew Tom could crush him instantly, but he also knew he wouldn’t get a chance at that. As Spike had grown, he had become more agile with his feet and claws, even facing Shining Armor in dueling battles they once had. Of course he had never been in a real battle before, but he had a feeling he could do it. Spike really had only gone to the cafe to get a snack, but Tom had decided to call him over to his own table. Spike hadn’t wanted to be rude, so he made his way over there. Tom had spilt out a secret to Spike. He didn’t really love Rarity anymore. He said things had become too awkward between them for some reason. Spike had become angry that Tom had gone all this time playing with Rarity’s feelings and demanded answers. One being this fight. Spike began to tire of circling and decided to throw the first blow. Green fire lit up the street as it shot from Spike’s mouth in a torrent. The wall of heat hit Tom head on, and Spike smiled at his victory, only to be put back down. The flames had barely scathed Tom, only leaving a few marks of black soot. Spike grunted in anger and continued to circle. Before he knew it Tom decided to move his own chess piece, flying into the air and coming down straight towards Spike. The blow was obviously off, most likely just to land on his tail instead of crushing him. Spike easily maneuvered out of the way, rolling under the flying rock and jumping back up into a predatory position where Tom had stood moments before. Tom landed, making the ground shake and a few ponies fall over, but Spike kept his footing. As soon as he had a target Spike jumped towards Tom. He closed his fist, hoping this wouldn’t break his hand, and smashed it into the rock. The crowd gasped in awe. To his surprise his fist came out without pain, but the rock would say otherwise. Spike had a job away from the library helping to form jems, and in return he got some as pay. One of his tasks where breaking them into pieces with his fist. It seemed that his experience and his dragon scales really paid off here, for the rock had its side cracked now from the impact point all the way to its corner. Spike acted on instinct and jumped back, ready for any counter attacks Tom might throw. When it seemed the rock was still trying to get over the blow, Spike whipped around, swinging his tail full throttle. This time the impact was a little painful, but again his blow came with success. Now the rock was cracking like glass, a spider web of cracks going from one side of him to the other. "Give up yet rock?" Spike sneered at Tom. ".... " Spike was taken aback by Toms maniacal laughter and his harsh language. It seems the crowd agreed with him as they gasped at the words. Then Spike saw why he had laughed. The cracks that covered Tom seemed to glow with a bright green light. Those lights became so bright that ponies and dragon alike had to look away, but as soon as they turned back they saw something crazy. All of Toms injuries, gone. At the unveiling of this a scream sounded, and Spike instantly discovered it to be Rainbow Dash. "QUICK TWILIGHT!!!! UNCOVER THE CHANGELING ROCK!!!!!" The talk of changelings stopped Spikes heart with fear. The group of ponies crowded around them began to scream in terror and run in all directions, some even running into Spike. "STAND BACK EVERYPONY!!!" Twilight's voice rang out and a group of purple beams shot towards the fighters. As soon as the contact was made with Tom a bright green light flashed. The purple beams had reflected off of the rocks hard surface it seemed. Spike only had time to gasp and open his eyes wide before he felt an impact in his stomach. Then another impact on his back when he was flown backwards into a building. Before he blacked out he saw parts of his feet, and was hazily startled to see that they where completely black, as if soot had covered him. His vision began to fade out as six angered looking ponies came towards him. Then nothing. ChangeSpike could usually be described as helpful cute, kind, generous, fun, sarcastic, and at times a bit lazy. Now he could be described as confused worried, and very possibly terrified. The reason for the fear happened to be right before him in the form of six mares. They looked down at Spike with anger and hate. Spike himself was tied up with a chain wrapped around his arms, legs and one at his midsection to hold him in a sitting position. Looking around Spike noticed he was in the familiar room known as Twilight’s basement/laboratory. He also took into notice the dramatic change in appearance he had undergone when he looked into a mirror that sat near him. It made him gasp in surprise. "Finally awake changeling?" Spike swiveled his head towards his adoptive sister. "Twilight... What happened???" "DONT YOU CALL ME TWILIGHT MONSTER!!!" Twilight jumped into his face, her voice growing to a threatening whisper. "You will not speak my name, you are not Spike. You will tell me where he is and you will tell me if there are any more of you. If you don’t answer me truthfully we have a lie detector", she motioned her hoof to Applejack,” And a pretty good torture machine if you don’t cooperate." She motioned to Pinkie. "But Twi!!!" A hoof connected to Spikes black chitin jaw. He barely noticed the punch under all the pain of emotional hurt. How could Twilight hit him like that? Twilight was scared. A dragon shaped changeling sat in her basement claiming to be her LABBFF (Little adoptive brother best friend forever). Twilight was scared that something had happened to her little Spike, and she could tell all her other friends agreed. The only one who was agreeing with the changeling was Applejack. Now all six mares were gathered in the front room. "What are you talking about Applejack!!??" "Really!" "Darling, you do understand there is a changeling, right? That... THING just couldn’t be Spike!" Everyone continued to pressure Applejack until she seemed to explode. "Yall just settle down now!!! I didn’t do nuthin wrong, ya hear! All I did was state my opinion about the changelin, nothin more." "And why, pray tell, would your opinion be so thick headed?" Rarity said in her sweetest voice, her eyes showing how she had forced it. "He's not lie'n." The rest of the girls groaned and the farmer scowled. "There’s no proof that he told the truth!" Twilight growled. "I am the element of honest. I will choose who is tellin the truth or not." Apple jack held her stubborn head high. Twilight understood the feeling of her element, for she had been able to sense magic in everything since she had become an element of harmony. She guessed the same of the others. Pinkie sensed happiness, Rainbow sensed if some pony was loyal, Rarity could tell if some pony was being generous with just a look, Fluttershy could sense kindness, and AJ could sense truthfulness. The only difference with this situation was that it was impossible for Spike to be a changeling. Wasn’t it? Twilight excused herself from the room, trotting down the basement stairs in a huff. Once at the bottom, her hooves slowed to a walk. She came to the wall that held the changeling. Hanging on the wall, he looked pitiful. Black chitin covered its body, a strip of pale green scales going down over his belly. His chained up legs and arms were covered in holes. A pair of limp translucent wings graced his back. His head held a set of translucent ears, and a set of horns. A line of green scales, the same colored as Spikes, lined from is head to his tail. At the moment the changeling’s eyes were looking straight into Twilights, the green depths begging her to see the truth. Twilight ignored his silent plea; already sure that she knew the truth. "I have a few questions changeling." Twilight was ready to get some answers to prove Applejack's opinion false. "If you don’t answer correct then you aren't Spike, therefore the logical thing to do is to destroy the infiltrator. If you are somehow Spike....I'll let you go." A that Spikes eyes light with hope, and Twilight's lit with anger. "But don't expect to get into my head with your changeling magic!" Twilight spit out. Her breath had grown heavy and she quickly tried to calm herself down with cadence's method, lifting her arm to her chest and moving it out as she released the breath. Then she started questioning. "Who is Cadence?" "The princess of the crystal empire, your old foal sitter, and the wife of your brother Shining Armor. She is also your cousin now that you are a princess." Spike couldn’t help the smirk on his face as he watched Twilights scowl deepen. This was going to be too easy. "What was my first friendship report about?" Spike thought back to the day they had defeated nightmare moon. Celestia had given Twilight her new mission to discover the magic of friendship. Twilight hadn’t actually created a friendship report until later when Celestia had given her tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. All of Twilights friends had wanted to go, but Twilight could only choose one. Spike could even remember Twilight’s specific words. Dear Princess Celestia, I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings. But when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. Although at the time it wasn’t much of a report as a ticket return, but Spike thought it counted. When he re-laid the information Twilight huffed and stomped her hoof on the ground. "Listen Twi-" The look she gave him made him shudder. "I mean, uh... Just listen. I am Spike and no matter what you think it’s true!!! I don’t know how it happened. The bolt you fired shot off tom and hit me... That monster might have done something though!!! You should make him come here and-" "ENOUGH!!!" Twilight shouted and Spike cowered in fear at his former friend. "Last question! Are you Spike!?!?" Twilight had backed away from him a few feet, and now watched him like a cat, and he was the mouse. Spike started to sweat in fear. If he said yes, she would undoubtedly believe he was lying and 'destroy the infiltrator' as she had put it. If he said no, she would kill him for being the infiltrator. He decided his best interest would be to tell the truth. "Yes, I am Spike." He braced himself for a death spell, but felt nothing hit him. It seemed like hours before he decided to look up. What he saw made him want to run. Twilight stood there as she had before, but a sudden shadow had descended over her as well as the whole room. It was like tentacles of darkness where growing out of Twilight, crawling away onto the floor, walls and ceiling all headed towards Spike. He struggled with all his might, unable to break the chains around him. Twilight had also seemed to grow in size, and her eyes had become crimson red. Her wings spread out their full length like an angel of darkness. "Your answer…. is wrong." Her voice was as cold as ice, burning into his mind. It didn’t even compare to the agonizing pain that followed. Spike heard a scream, barely identifying it as his own. His mind felt like it should be dead and yet something was forcing him to stay awake, the look on Twilights face gave him every reason to suspect her. Other screams joined in on his own and Spike could pinpoint who's they were. Five mares had rushed into the room upon hearing spike’s scream, and had been shocked by the terror Twilight had done to Spike. Spike watched Rainbow dash smash into Twilight’s side and three of the mares hold Twilight down while Fluttershy and Rarity raced over to him. The pain ended. Then nothing. A mysterious figure watched from the side window. Its bulky form looked on at the scene of a lavender unicorn held to the ground by three of her closest friends. On the other side of the room it saw two other figures standing over something on the ground. One of the ponies struck the forms emotions, but not enough for it to care. The ponies moved away, tears rolled down their cheeks, and obviously shaken. Once they moved away a small shape was revealed on the ground. It was a pile of bones lying in a puddle of shadow. This also struck the forms emotions making it happy that the illusion of the dragon being a changeling had held until its end. The form looked back towards the winged unicorn. It had stood up and was shuddering while the other ponies yelled at it. The form turned from the window it had been looking through, a green flash going over its body, removing much of its bulk and giving it a pony form. Translucent wings fluttered quickly lifting the form off the ground, and with that, Tom, the changeling, flew away.
Part 1"This is the WORST, POSSIBLE, THING!!!!"Rarity ungracefully flopped into the mud bath next to her spa buddy, tears storming from her eyes. Fluttershy tried her hardest to comfort the depressed mare, but nothing seemed to work beyond a pat on the back. "Shh, Shh. Calm down Rarity. I..Its okay. I'm sure it'll work out alright. You just need to step forward and ask him what the secret is. I..If thats alright with you. Squeek!" Rarity had been going steady with Tom for almost five months already, and she was expecting a proposal any day now. But something was off, and it wasn’t the fact that her coltfriend was a rock, although many ponies of high society that she knew had looked down on it. Tom was hiding a secret. Rarity didn’t know what it was, but she could tell every time he looked at her. He had become quieter, and tensed up every time Rarity came near. It had started only a week or so ago when Rarity had returned from the Canterlot wedding... "Oh Tom! I didn’t realize you were here so early!" Rarity blushed. "Let me just finish getting ready then we can go." Rarity rushed back into her room and her magic lit up, makeup and cloths flying all around her as she attempted to get ready as quickly as possible. This was the first date she was going on since before her trip to Canterlot for Twilight’s brother’s wedding three months ago, so she had to look her best. Tom had gone traveling for his job for three months, missing most of the excitement in Ponyville. The last time she had seen him was in the crystal empire at the equestrian games, but only momentarily. Five minutes and eight seconds later she opened the door back up and walked towards Tom, her mane and coat sparkling. She had put on a simple gown with a purple color that complimented her mane and tail. She had made a last minute decision to leave her high heel shoes there, for she didn’t want to be tripping over herself the whole date. " ..." Rarity blushed. "Why thank you Tom. As ever you are such a gentlerock. Shall we depart?" Rarity and Tom made their way to a taxi and hopped in. The drivers quickly took them to the Cafe, one of the few restaurants in Ponyville. The restaurant was a simple, small one, but surprisingly crowded despite the lateness in the day. It would be perfect for an afternoon meal. Rarity and Tom went in and took a seat they had reserved the day earlier. The window next to her gave a great view of the Everfree forest, a beautiful sight as long as you weren’t to close to it. Rarity tried her best to ignore the curious and disgusted stares pointed towards the two as she usually did on their time together. A waitress came over, obviously trying her best not to stare at Tom, and asked for their orders. "I will take...The salad with strawberry dressing. What about you Tom?" " ..." “He would simply like a glass of water.” "A very fine choice sir." The waitress scurried away to give the orders to the chef. In the meantime Rarity turned to Tom, excited to tell him about her adventure in Canterlot. "Well, it all started when Twilight was invited to her brother’s wedding..." As Rarity recounted the tale, she could tell that Tom was growing more and more uneasy. At first it didn’t bother her, but when she finished her story Tom stayed unusually quiet. Before she could bother to ask him what was wrong the waitress walked up to the table, food in hoof. Rarity thanked the mare kindly; handing her the necessary bits, and began to eat her salad. Tom continued to sit quietly, quite out of his usual talkative mood, not even touching his water. Later he had dropped her off back at the boutique with only a small farewell. Rarity poured her heart out to Fluttershy. The poor Pegasus mare wasn’t one for giving advice, so told Rarity she should inquire in Rainbow dash. "Thank you so much Fluttershy darling. You don’t know how much this means to me! Rainbow has had so much...experience... She must have an idea of what to do!" Rarity raced out of the Spa, leaving a befuddled Fluttershy to pay for the spa bill. Rarity trotted back and forth across the cloud home deep in thought as Rainbow hovered awkwardly next to her. "You know there’s a couch, right?" Rarity looked up momentarily and scowled at Rainbow. "No offence darling but I doubt anyone would want to sit on that." She raised an accusing hoof towards the couch. It was covered in empty water bottles, snack bar wrappers, and workout equipment, and smelled distinctly like sweat. Rainbow sniggered at that and took the seat herself. "Okay Rares, you better have a good reason for teleporting up here and making me stop my workout." Rarity looked at Rainbow and rolled her eyes. "Yes, Laying on the floor snoring is such a good workout." Rarity deadpanned. Rainbow just muttered under her breath. "But criticizing you is not why I am here! I need advice on-" "NO! Don’t tell me!," Rainbow cut in, "You finally decided that you want to try my work out! YES!" Rainbow shot into the air off the couch in her joy, but was quickly yanked down by a purple glow around her tail. "Sorry Rainbow, but I’m not interested in your workout. I am here on relationship matters." Rarity held her head high with her eyes closed. "Yes, of course Rarity. I'd love to help you with your rocky relationship." Rarity peeking out of one of her eyes when she heard a giggle from the cyan mare. "RAINBOW!!" Rarity fumed. "I’m sorry! I just couldn’t help myself!" The giggle turned into a full out laughing fest, tears rolling down Rainbows face. Despite her anger, Rarity couldn’t help but crack a smile at the joke. When everything settled down, Rarity told Rainbow how Tom had been acting odd. Rainbow smirked. "Maybe Tom...IS A CHANGELING!!!" Rarity gave a fake gasp at Rainbows words and then stared blankly at her. "Sorry Rares, but I can’t give you any advice there. I'm not good with that whole "long stable relationship" thingy that everyone is so crazy about. I'm like the wind and change direction all the time. Go ask Pinkie Pie. She sneaks around enough and knows all types of crazy weird secrets. Not to mention she worked on a rock farm. She might know one of Toms family members." Rarity sighed, rolling her eyes again, and thanked Rainbow for the help. She teleported, landing smack dab in the middle of town. Right were a certain pink pony was sitting.
Part 2BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!! Rarity sat on a chair shivering, her coat drenched in chocolate milk and her hair in complete ruins. When she suddenly landed on Pinkie Pie in her teleportation, the pink pony had been working on a little project sitting under Dash's house. Pinkie had somehow made a cotton candy cloud, resembling that of Discord’s, and was about to pull a prank on Rainbow Dash. Rarity had somehow 'activated the prank' as Pinkie said, and the cloud had started chasing after her, chocolate milk spraying like a storm. The cloud had disappeared as Rarity fell off a cliff, as she had not paid attention to where she was running, and the only thing that saved her from a certain death was a random pink portal opening. Then suddenly she was sitting in the Cake’s living room in a chair, a towel wrapped around her. Pinkie had apologized for almost three minutes straight before disappearing into the kitchen to bake an "I'm so sorry that I got milk all over you" cake. Of course Rarity was slightly disturbed and curious as to why baking a cake would need such loud banging. "RARITY!!!!!" "WHAT!!! What happened Pinkie!" Rarity almost jumped out of her skin when Pinkie entered. In her hooves was the Biggest cake EVER. It was so big that Rarity was surprised Pinkie could carry it above her head with two hoof let alone one like she was doing. "So Rarity, do you like it!?!? I was going to put ice cream in it, but I know how you don’t like messes and oh my goodness that would be such a huge mess, especially if we didn’t eat it fast enough, so I didn’t put ice-cream in it, and so I was like why don’t I make the cake bigger since we don’t have to eat it super fast, that way there’s more, but then I was like oh my goody goodness since we have so much cake lets have A PARTY!!!!!" At that moment Rarity’s head was spinning from how fast Pinkie was talking. Pinkie jumped into the sky, somehow hanging there in the air before dropping back down to the floor on all four hooves. "I'll just go get the decorations, and send out my emergency party invitations for last minute par-" Rarity stuck her hoof in Pinkies mouth, flinching slightly at the uncleanness. "Um, Pinkie dear?" Rarity quickly removed her hoof and wiped it on her chocolate milk soaked towel. "Yes Rarity?" "Can we...not have the party?" The unearthly loud gasp that came from Pinkie made Rarity stick her hoof back in the pink mares mouth before a fountain of words could drowned out her own. "Darling, when I knocked into you in town I was actually coming from Rainbow’s house, and was on my way to talk to you. I have an urgent and kind of serious matter. So, I’m going to take my hoof from your mouth now. Please let me talk?" As Rarity had been talking, Pinkie had had on a blank stare, and now she nodded her head vigorously. For the second time in the last two minutes, Rarity removed her hoof from the mouth. She quickly noted that she would have to disinfect it later. "Okay Pinkie. I...I need your help." "Oh! Are you starting Rainbow’s workout that she wanted you to do?!?! It’s about time! Now you can go in the same gala dress as last year without it ripping!!!" "Are you implying that I am...Fat?" Rarities eye twitched as she tried not to slap Pinkie’s grin onto the floor. "Pinkie, i wasn’t talking about Rainbow’s workout. I am having trouble with Tom." "Why? Did he tell you your fat?" "PINKIE!!!" Rarity jumped at the pink mare with the ferocity of a tiger. Pinkie squealed in delight. "Yay! Tag your it!" She suddenly disappeared and Rarity hit the ground, no Pinkie under her. Once Rarity found Pinkie in the kitchen they proceeded to play tag, Rarity eventually giving up her anger as they both burst into giggles. "You know," Started Pinkie after the two had collapsed on the floor in exhaustion, "If you think about it, Tom doesn’t wear cloths. He doesn’t even have fur. How do you know which way his head is?" Rarity's face turned so red it could have put a Tomato out of business. Pinkie burst out laughing, tears once again streaming down her face in joy. "So Rarity, what did you come here for in the first place?" Pinkies large curious eyes met Rarity’s after she had calmed down. "Well Pinkie..." Rarity proceeded to tell Pinkie the story about Tom’s secretive attitude. All the while Pinkie scratched her chin. "That is interesting. Maybe Dashie’s right and he's a changeling. Now THAT would be weird." Rarity and Pinkie got up and began to walk towards the front door as they talked, both silently agreeing that it was time for Rarity to depart. "Well Rarity, the best advice I can give you is to ask him outright, but do it while he's happy. If he isn’t truthful with you then he isn’t worth your love. Then we can have a PARTY!!!! That would make him happy so you can ask him!!! That is, if a rock can smile. You know, I’ve worked on a rock farm almost my whole life and I’ve never seen a rock smile?!?!? Of course I’ve never known where their face was…" Rarity shook her head in wonder at how long Pinkie could continually talk without taking a breath. But it would have to wait for another time because now she was hungry, and not for sugary sweets that Pinkie sold. After saying her farewells, Rarity began to make her way to Sweet Apple Acres. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS APPLEBUCKERS!!!!" Rarity flinched slightly at the cheer as she made her way down the path through the apple trees. The beautiful sunny day was interrupted by protests of three little fillies and a cow mare. Rarity soon came upon the clearing in front of the barn. There Applejack was being jumped on by three little fillies towards the apple orchards. "I told you galls I ain’t gonna teach ya ta buck them apples! You could hurt yerselves." Applejack turned to face down at the ground. "That or yer gunna hurt me." Rarity could barely hear her mutter. "Please sis! I promise if ya teach us real quick we won’t bother ya anymore!" Three squeaky Pleaser’s were cut short seconds after it started. "Now girls! That is no way to treat Applejack!" "RARITY!!" Rarity was tackled by a bundle of white fur also known as Sweetie Bell. The filly blushed and jumped away again, not wanting to get scolded from getting her sisters coat dirty. To her surprise no such thing happened. "Thanks so much Rarity. I don’t know what I’d do if they hadn’t stopped-" "Girls." Rarity cut into Applejack’s blabbering. "Yes Rarity?" All three girls looked up to Rarity, curious as Rarity put on a seemingly evil grin. "I know how to make Applejack help you." After playing with Pinkie, Rarity had been put in the playful spirit, and now she had ideas for another one of her friends. When Applejack saw Rarity walking towards her with that look on her face, the cowgirl coward and tried to get onto her hooves before Rarity got to her. "No Rarity!! You better not do tha-HA HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!" Rarity giggled as Applejack squirmed around in a fit of laughter at the tickling. Soon the fillies had joined in and every pony was having a good time. "Pass the fritters please!" Sweetie Bell shouted to Rarity, who was in fact sitting right next to her. She pushed the tray of fritters down the table to her little sister as she took a bite of her own, apple juice running down her face. "So Rarity," Applejack swallowed her fifth fritter and wiped her face off before addressing the mare again. "What brings ya to the acres besides to tickle me ta death?" Rarity blushed momentarily as the three fillies next to her giggled. "I was just coming to pick up some apples. My kitchen has mysteriously began to run out of food ever since mom and dad went on vacation." it was Sweetiebells turn to blush as Rarity eyed her. AJ grinned, disappearing into the kitchen and reappearing with a basket of apples. "Oh, thank you darling. How much do you want for them?" Rarity held out her bit bag just for it to be pushed away by an orange hoof. "On the house Rares. Think of it as a present to get your mind offa yer colt- er, rockfriend troubles." "You know about that?" Rarity's grin deflated into a frown at the mention of it. "Not much goes on around here without Rainbow Dash blabbering bout' it. Element of loyalty my plot." Rarity grimaced at the language and the fillies giggle. "Girls, yall go outside an play while me an Rarity talk, okay?" Her words where met with a rush of little hooves leaving the room. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADER DANCERS!!!!!" Rarity waited until her ears stopped ringing to uncover them. "So AJ, what do you think I should do? Pinkie thinks I should confront him at a party while he's happy, Rainbow just thinks he's a changeling. What if it turns out he has a girlfriend? What if he's....married? I mean, he wouldn’t hurt me like that would he?" Rarities ears fell back and she fought off tears. "It’s just, he's the best rockfriend I’ve ever had, so hard and well mannered, I don’t want him to go!!!" Rarity burst into tears. Applejack awkwardly patted her on the back; much like Fluttershy had been doing earlier that day. "Sugar cube, first of all he’s the only rockfriend you’ve ever had, and all I can say is that Pinkies right. If he ain’t truthful to you then he don’t deserve you. And hard as it is to believe since he's a rock, he has feelings to. Maybe he's scared of the same things right now. You just gotta ask and get it over with, like a band aid. If it comes to the worst you know you got us girls to fall back on." Rarity grabbed AJ into a huge bear hug. "Thank you for your support Applejack! I think I may go by and ask Twilight though. Besides I want to get the idea that Tom is a changeling out of Rainbows head. I'll get Twi to cast that changeling spell on him." Rarity said her goodbye to Applejack and reminded Sweetie to be home before dinner before walking out. Her path took her down Mane Street and through the market. She stopped by the boutique quickly to freshen up, grabbing her overdue library books in her magic grasp. It was when she stepped out of the boutique that chaos erupted in her mind. There across the street was Tom, sitting in a chair at the cafe. She just couldn’t face him now, not before she saw Twilight! Rarity ducked her head and rushed through the crowded street, quickly slipping into an abandoned alleyway when the crowd thinned out to much. She let out a breath that she found she had been holding. The breath caught in her throat again as a voice spoke behind her, making her drop her books. "Well well, if it isn’t the fair Rarity." The voice sent shivers down Rarity's spine, and it was made even more terrifying in the dark alleyway with no pony to save her from a possible mugger. Rarity spun around to face the culprit. The shadowed figure loomed above her, a grin plastered onto their face. Rarity closed her eyes in fear, praying that she would be safe.
Part 3The attack she had been bracing herself for didn’t come. Instead it was a deep, friendly voice, laughing, and a hug. "It's been forever Rarity!!! I’ve been trying to find you all day!!!" Rarity’s breath came out in a relieved sigh as she wrapped her hoof around the scaled figure to return the hug. Her young drake friend had had a growth spurt recently and now stood almost a foot taller than her. His wings had also begun to sprout on his back. "Yes Spike, but what is a gentle drake such as yourself hiding in a scary alleyway to scare innocent mares?" Rarity fluttered her eyes and pretended she would faint. Spike laughed again in the deep voice that he had acquired to match his taller frame. "I didn’t exactly expect any noble mares such as you to enter a creepy alleyway. I was just trying to hide from Twilight. You know how she gets on shelving day, this time its like doubled. She even refused to use magic!!! I swear, ever since that girl turned into an alicorn she's gone a bit loony. So what about you?" "I was actually on my way to see Twilight, but it seems that I’m between a rock and a hard place." Rarity giggled at her play of words and motioned to where Tom was sitting. She flinched slightly when Spike’s face covered with a crushed look, but it quickly disappeared when he noticed her watching him. "How are things going with...him." Spike motioned in the direction and Rarity sighed. "That is actually what I wanted to ask Twilight’s opinion on. He seems to be hiding something... Do you think she has time to spare with the cleaning? I should go check, would you like to come?" Rarity put a fake grin on her face and said farewell when Spike said he wouldn’t. "Sorry Rarity, but I’m not risking going back there. Good luck." Rarity rushed out of the alley way and down the street towards the library. She felt bad leaving Spike in such a rush, but talking to him was just so awkward. Soon enough she came upon the Golden Oaks library, home to princess Twilight, commander of magic and stars. Rarity remembered when Twilight had found out that she could control the stars, she was so excited. Luna had taught her how to grant wishes made on shooting stars, and from then on rarity had always kept an eye on the night sky. Twilight kept the night sky organize, and even made a constellation for each of the elements of harmony. It was too bad she couldn’t keep the library as organized. Books were flying out of the windows so that Rarity could see the damage even before she walked in the door. She was prepared for the mess when she opened the door, but she wasn’t prepared for the avalanche of books that buried her alive. "muph...mrp..." Rarity tried to shout for Twilight, who quickly came to the rescue. The books lifted off the startled unicorn in a violet glow. The books where thrown to the side of the room with countless other messy piles stacked around it. "Rarity! What a pleasant surprise that you dropped by!" Rarity stood up, noticing Twilight opening and closing her wings. "Hello dear, are your wings okay?" "Yes of course. Why-" Twilight looked startled to see her wings moving without her permission. "Twilight." "Yes Rarity?" "*sigh* Please come with me." "But Rari-" "Come." Rarity said it with such a commanding voice that Twilight closed her mouth and quickly followed the white unicorn out of the library. Rarity saw the obvious signs of stress on Twilight and she couldn’t stand around and let her friend suffer like that. The two walked in silence, Rarity leading a disgruntled Twilight. Rarity continued until they made it to the cafe. Rarity looked around; making sure Tom had left before taking a seat at one of the tables. Twilight sat across from her. "May I take an order from you you’re highness?" A waitress came up to them and bowed quickly, a grin plastered on her face. Rarity ordered the two fresh lemonade before looking to Twilight. "Rarity. You know I should really be getting back to the library. Spike left so I have to reshelf everything by myself and-" Rarity waved her hoof, signaling Twilight not to make a fuss. "I'll help you with your shelving later. It’s the least I could do for taking up your time, but for now I have something I have to talk to you about." Twilight sighed, waiting for Rarity to continue. "I'm sure you've heard the news about me and Tom from Rainbow." Twilight nodded her head to confirm it. "Well, first of all I want your opinion on what I should do. I’ve gotten great advise from the other girls but maybe you read a book on it or something??? I don’t know. Second I want you to cast that changeling detecting spell on him." "You think Tom, a rock, is a changeling?" Twilight giggled momentarily before covering her mouth when Rarity gave her the look. "Not me, Rainbow. I know it’s not that big of a deal, but I know that if I don’t put this to rest, she will go on and on about it until I’m in the grave!" Rarity waved her hoof around to emphasize her words. Twilight looked away, and Rarity felt bad about bringing up the subject of death. Ever since Twilight had become an alicorn, she struggled with the thoughts that she would long outlive her five friends. "Darling, I’m sorry. It was only an expression." Twilight looked up and gave a sad smile. "I know Rarity. It’s just a bit difficult to process. But I shouldn’t be going on about my problems when you have much more immediate ones." "Here you are your highness." The waitress set the lemonade on the table and bowed before scooting away to deliver more food. Twilight just rolled her eyes at the gesture and tried to remember where she was in the conversation. "Well, my opinion on Tom is like Pinkies. Try to confront him about it, but do it in an inconspicuous way. So he won’t notice it right off the bat. I mean, you don’t want to scare him away." Twilight winked at Rarity who started to sweat, gave a fake smile. "He, he. yeah. don’t want to scare him..." Rarity and Twilight sipped their lemonade in awkward silence for a moment before being interrupted by a commotion down the street. Both mares looked towards it to see a dis-shelved Fluttershy galloping towards them. "Rarity! Twilight! Come quick!!!" The shy mares face had tears streaking down it. Twilight and Rarity jumped from their chairs. "What is it Fluttershy! What’s wrong?!?!" "Please tell us darling." Fluttershy tried to catch her breath. "Spike... Tom... They’re going to fight!!!"
Epic battle sceneRarity almost fainted at the sight of her friend and her boyfriend circling each other in the street. A crowd had made their way around the two, some shouting for a fight and some staying quiet. No pony was brave enough to break up the two. The feeling of anger and tension in the air made Rarity’s coat stand on end. "Boys, please! There’s no need to fight! Someone could get hurt!" Fluttershy called in her soft voice, almost drowned out in other noises. "I must say I agree. You two need to stop. now." Rarity sighed in relief as many of the ponies around shouted their agreement. Surely Spike would see sense in ending this? "Sorry guys but this needs to be settled. Now." Rarity looked to Tom for help, but at the moment he ignored her. She couldn’t read his expression as usual. She sighed and watched, a hopeless feeling crawling into her chest. “Boys!!! If you don’t stop I will never speak to either of you ever again!!!” Rarity screamed. She was a generous, king pony, and if there was going to be a fight it wasn’t going to be caused by her any time soon. To her dismay Tom didn’t take kindly to her words. “….!!!!....” Rarity gasped at his crude language. He had never spoken to her like that before. “Fine! If you’re going to be like that then we. Are. OVER!!!! You can fight to the death for all I care!!!!” Rarity huffed, tears streaming down her face, and watched in bitter silence. ******************* Spike shuffled in a circle watching the rock who was at the moment rolling in the same motion as him. To tell the truth Spike was terrified. He knew Tom could crush him instantly, but he also knew he wouldn’t get a chance at that. As Spike had grown, he had become more agile with his feet and claws, even facing Shining Armor in dueling battles they once had. Of course he had never been in a real battle before, but he had a feeling he could do it. Spike really had only gone to the cafe to get a snack, but Tom had decided to call him over to his own table. Spike hadn’t wanted to be rude, so he made his way over there. Tom had spilt out a secret to Spike. He didn’t really love Rarity anymore. He said things had become too awkward between them for some reason. Spike had become angry that Tom had gone all this time playing with Rarity’s feelings and demanded answers. One being this fight. Spike began to tire of circling and decided to throw the first blow. Green fire lit up the street as it shot from Spike’s mouth in a torrent. The wall of heat hit Tom head on, and Spike smiled at his victory, only to be put back down. The flames had barely scathed Tom, only leaving a few marks of black soot. Spike grunted in anger and continued to circle. Before he knew it Tom decided to move his own chess piece, flying into the air and coming down straight towards Spike. The blow was obviously off, most likely just to land on his tail instead of crushing him. Spike easily maneuvered out of the way, rolling under the flying rock and jumping back up into a predatory position where Tom had stood moments before. Tom landed, making the ground shake and a few ponies fall over, but Spike kept his footing. As soon as he had a target Spike jumped towards Tom. He closed his fist, hoping this wouldn’t break his hand, and smashed it into the rock. The crowd gasped in awe. To his surprise his fist came out without pain, but the rock would say otherwise. Spike had a job away from the library helping to form jems, and in return he got some as pay. One of his tasks where breaking them into pieces with his fist. It seemed that his experience and his dragon scales really paid off here, for the rock had its side cracked now from the impact point all the way to its corner. Spike acted on instinct and jumped back, ready for any counter attacks Tom might throw. When it seemed the rock was still trying to get over the blow, Spike whipped around, swinging his tail full throttle. This time the impact was a little painful, but again his blow came with success. Now the rock was cracking like glass, a spider web of cracks going from one side of him to the other. "Give up yet rock?" Spike sneered at Tom. ".... " Spike was taken aback by Toms maniacal laughter and his harsh language. It seems the crowd agreed with him as they gasped at the words. Then Spike saw why he had laughed. The cracks that covered Tom seemed to glow with a bright green light. Those lights became so bright that ponies and dragon alike had to look away, but as soon as they turned back they saw something crazy. All of Toms injuries, gone. At the unveiling of this a scream sounded, and Spike instantly discovered it to be Rainbow Dash. "QUICK TWILIGHT!!!! UNCOVER THE CHANGELING ROCK!!!!!" The talk of changelings stopped Spikes heart with fear. The group of ponies crowded around them began to scream in terror and run in all directions, some even running into Spike. "STAND BACK EVERYPONY!!!" Twilight's voice rang out and a group of purple beams shot towards the fighters. As soon as the contact was made with Tom a bright green light flashed. The purple beams had reflected off of the rocks hard surface it seemed. Spike only had time to gasp and open his eyes wide before he felt an impact in his stomach. Then another impact on his back when he was flown backwards into a building. Before he blacked out he saw parts of his feet, and was hazily startled to see that they where completely black, as if soot had covered him. His vision began to fade out as six angered looking ponies came towards him. Then nothing.
ChangeSpike could usually be described as helpful cute, kind, generous, fun, sarcastic, and at times a bit lazy. Now he could be described as confused worried, and very possibly terrified. The reason for the fear happened to be right before him in the form of six mares. They looked down at Spike with anger and hate. Spike himself was tied up with a chain wrapped around his arms, legs and one at his midsection to hold him in a sitting position. Looking around Spike noticed he was in the familiar room known as Twilight’s basement/laboratory. He also took into notice the dramatic change in appearance he had undergone when he looked into a mirror that sat near him. It made him gasp in surprise. "Finally awake changeling?" Spike swiveled his head towards his adoptive sister. "Twilight... What happened???" "DONT YOU CALL ME TWILIGHT MONSTER!!!" Twilight jumped into his face, her voice growing to a threatening whisper. "You will not speak my name, you are not Spike. You will tell me where he is and you will tell me if there are any more of you. If you don’t answer me truthfully we have a lie detector", she motioned her hoof to Applejack,” And a pretty good torture machine if you don’t cooperate." She motioned to Pinkie. "But Twi!!!" A hoof connected to Spikes black chitin jaw. He barely noticed the punch under all the pain of emotional hurt. How could Twilight hit him like that? Twilight was scared. A dragon shaped changeling sat in her basement claiming to be her LABBFF (Little adoptive brother best friend forever). Twilight was scared that something had happened to her little Spike, and she could tell all her other friends agreed. The only one who was agreeing with the changeling was Applejack. Now all six mares were gathered in the front room. "What are you talking about Applejack!!??" "Really!" "Darling, you do understand there is a changeling, right? That... THING just couldn’t be Spike!" Everyone continued to pressure Applejack until she seemed to explode. "Yall just settle down now!!! I didn’t do nuthin wrong, ya hear! All I did was state my opinion about the changelin, nothin more." "And why, pray tell, would your opinion be so thick headed?" Rarity said in her sweetest voice, her eyes showing how she had forced it. "He's not lie'n." The rest of the girls groaned and the farmer scowled. "There’s no proof that he told the truth!" Twilight growled. "I am the element of honest. I will choose who is tellin the truth or not." Apple jack held her stubborn head high. Twilight understood the feeling of her element, for she had been able to sense magic in everything since she had become an element of harmony. She guessed the same of the others. Pinkie sensed happiness, Rainbow sensed if some pony was loyal, Rarity could tell if some pony was being generous with just a look, Fluttershy could sense kindness, and AJ could sense truthfulness. The only difference with this situation was that it was impossible for Spike to be a changeling. Wasn’t it? Twilight excused herself from the room, trotting down the basement stairs in a huff. Once at the bottom, her hooves slowed to a walk. She came to the wall that held the changeling. Hanging on the wall, he looked pitiful. Black chitin covered its body, a strip of pale green scales going down over his belly. His chained up legs and arms were covered in holes. A pair of limp translucent wings graced his back. His head held a set of translucent ears, and a set of horns. A line of green scales, the same colored as Spikes, lined from is head to his tail. At the moment the changeling’s eyes were looking straight into Twilights, the green depths begging her to see the truth. Twilight ignored his silent plea; already sure that she knew the truth. "I have a few questions changeling." Twilight was ready to get some answers to prove Applejack's opinion false. "If you don’t answer correct then you aren't Spike, therefore the logical thing to do is to destroy the infiltrator. If you are somehow Spike....I'll let you go." A that Spikes eyes light with hope, and Twilight's lit with anger. "But don't expect to get into my head with your changeling magic!" Twilight spit out. Her breath had grown heavy and she quickly tried to calm herself down with cadence's method, lifting her arm to her chest and moving it out as she released the breath. Then she started questioning. "Who is Cadence?" "The princess of the crystal empire, your old foal sitter, and the wife of your brother Shining Armor. She is also your cousin now that you are a princess." Spike couldn’t help the smirk on his face as he watched Twilights scowl deepen. This was going to be too easy. "What was my first friendship report about?" Spike thought back to the day they had defeated nightmare moon. Celestia had given Twilight her new mission to discover the magic of friendship. Twilight hadn’t actually created a friendship report until later when Celestia had given her tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. All of Twilights friends had wanted to go, but Twilight could only choose one. Spike could even remember Twilight’s specific words. Dear Princess Celestia, I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings. But when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. Although at the time it wasn’t much of a report as a ticket return, but Spike thought it counted. When he re-laid the information Twilight huffed and stomped her hoof on the ground. "Listen Twi-" The look she gave him made him shudder. "I mean, uh... Just listen. I am Spike and no matter what you think it’s true!!! I don’t know how it happened. The bolt you fired shot off tom and hit me... That monster might have done something though!!! You should make him come here and-" "ENOUGH!!!" Twilight shouted and Spike cowered in fear at his former friend. "Last question! Are you Spike!?!?" Twilight had backed away from him a few feet, and now watched him like a cat, and he was the mouse. Spike started to sweat in fear. If he said yes, she would undoubtedly believe he was lying and 'destroy the infiltrator' as she had put it. If he said no, she would kill him for being the infiltrator. He decided his best interest would be to tell the truth. "Yes, I am Spike." He braced himself for a death spell, but felt nothing hit him. It seemed like hours before he decided to look up. What he saw made him want to run. Twilight stood there as she had before, but a sudden shadow had descended over her as well as the whole room. It was like tentacles of darkness where growing out of Twilight, crawling away onto the floor, walls and ceiling all headed towards Spike. He struggled with all his might, unable to break the chains around him. Twilight had also seemed to grow in size, and her eyes had become crimson red. Her wings spread out their full length like an angel of darkness. "Your answer…. is wrong." Her voice was as cold as ice, burning into his mind. It didn’t even compare to the agonizing pain that followed. Spike heard a scream, barely identifying it as his own. His mind felt like it should be dead and yet something was forcing him to stay awake, the look on Twilights face gave him every reason to suspect her. Other screams joined in on his own and Spike could pinpoint who's they were. Five mares had rushed into the room upon hearing spike’s scream, and had been shocked by the terror Twilight had done to Spike. Spike watched Rainbow dash smash into Twilight’s side and three of the mares hold Twilight down while Fluttershy and Rarity raced over to him. The pain ended. Then nothing. A mysterious figure watched from the side window. Its bulky form looked on at the scene of a lavender unicorn held to the ground by three of her closest friends. On the other side of the room it saw two other figures standing over something on the ground. One of the ponies struck the forms emotions, but not enough for it to care. The ponies moved away, tears rolled down their cheeks, and obviously shaken. Once they moved away a small shape was revealed on the ground. It was a pile of bones lying in a puddle of shadow. This also struck the forms emotions making it happy that the illusion of the dragon being a changeling had held until its end. The form looked back towards the winged unicorn. It had stood up and was shuddering while the other ponies yelled at it. The form turned from the window it had been looking through, a green flash going over its body, removing much of its bulk and giving it a pony form. Translucent wings fluttered quickly lifting the form off the ground, and with that, Tom, the changeling, flew away.
