Betrayal of a rock

Rarity 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.