What are you willing to Sacrifice?

Heavy panting and grunting rang through the immediate area of the Everfree Forest. A small trail of blood was smeared into the ground by an overly heavy tail. The dragon continued trying his best to just remain awake.

“This is by far, the worst way to start the day,” Spike said panting. He spat lightly. A nice wad of blood shot from his mouth and hit a nearby tree. He sighed and grunted, holding his stomach.

SNAP!

“Oh Celestia, not now,” he said, looking to his side. Thick growls sounded through the brush. Wood clanking against wood was steadily growing closer and closer. Spike's half-closed eyes glanced at the bushes. A creature he could only describe as “environmentalist nightmare fuel” walked steadily towards him. Wooden fangs bared at wounded pray. “Timberwolf,” Spike said in a huff. He let out a growl of his own to try and intimidate the lone wolf. It seemed to work for a moment or two, until more stalked into view. Each one oozed a purple saliva from their mouths as they licked their chops. The roars and growls surrounding him, the drake had little choice to make. He inhaled sharply and bolted into the trees. He moaned in pain as he maneuvered through the trees, the barking and howling of the wolves constantly at his heels. Through heavy huffing and puffing the barking got quieter and quieter. The drake sighed a breath of relief as he slowed his pace. His back and legs were burning from pain. He looked back to check his progress. Now clearly off the beaten path, he tried to form some kind of plan.

“Running won't save them,” the whisper called on the wind. Spike slammed his eyes shut and pressed his claws to his head once again.

“Why are you doing this to me!? ANSWER ME!!!!” he shouted to the whispers in his head.

“You really want to know that badly, wyrm?” the whisper came again. Before Spike answered, the voice simply whispered one last thing: “Watch your step.” Spike opened his eyes just in time to feel his footing fall out from under him. He had come to a cliff while his eyes were closed. With that one step he saw the world rush downward as he fell. He screamed in terror and attempted to fly. His wings rebelled against his will, remaining tightly clamped to his back. He willed them open, but at a terrible price. The strain of forcing them out snapped his wings out of their sockets. The pain of the dislocations were almost too much to bear. With his last bit of energy, he reached for the cliff near him. Claws sank into stone as he realized what was about to happen. His body swung mercilessly into the rock face. The last thing he felt was his head striking a jagged stone. His world went black as he plummeted to the unforgiving ground below. With a sickening thud he made contact with the gravel below. Blood slowly escaped from the back of his head. He lay motionless, breathing softly.

Canterlot

Around the bustling city, ponies went about their daily lives. Many were going about normal lives. The rather mild hustle and bustle was quite charming in its own way. A rather busy place for this time of day was the fabric store. Several large bolts of fabric were levitated by the clerk.

“These colors are exception for you new line miss,” he said with a smile. He rubbed his hooves together as the mare in front of him examined the fabric. Her azure blue eyes glanced over the cloth with a critical eye. She stroked her chin with her ivory hoof.

“Hmm, I'm not sure. Have you anything in amethyst and emerald?” she asked. He looked at her cocking an eyebrow. He looked about and pulled the closest colors he could find.

“The closest we have seems to be violet and a forest green. Are these enough for you?” he asked. The mare sighed lightly. She looked at the colors and simply nodded.

“They will have to do sir,” she said with slight lament. She placed a small satchel of bits on the counter and levitated the bolts above her. She trotted out with her new bolts and smiled softly. She looked towards the sky. “Such a lovely day,” she mused to herself. She continued her trot back to her boutique. She looked up at the two story building. The large sign in the front which simply read “Rare Fashions”. She smiled to herself as she entered the shop. Setting the newly acquired bolts in racks near her work table. She looked over some designs. They were elaborate and very well constructed to emphasize traits of mares and colts alike. As she went over them, she felt her eyes draw towards a picture frame that she kept on the corner of her table. She smiled softly and felt her heart ache slightly. The image contained in the frame was of her, wearing a gold necklace with a heart shaped fire ruby. Standing next to her, with deep crimson colored scales on his cheeks stood amethyst dragon as if frozen in place. His eyes wide as he had pursed white lips press against his cheek. She smiled remembering that day

Ponyville: 1 year ago

Rarity stood in the center of her boutique. Bolts of cloth and lace zooming around her head as she used her levitation spell. She was packing. After quite a bit of chiding on the end of Fancy Pants, she had finally came to a decision to move her business to Canterlot. Though one thing kept tugging at her heart strings. She lowered her head slightly and the spell faded. Causing quite the loud thud to ring out in the almost empty room. Her luggage was almost packed except for a few things. She looked around, just taking in what she was leaving behind her when she would inevitably depart. She trotted over to her desk and placed a hoof on it. Running it across the finished surface. Her trance was broken when a knock on the door assailed the room. Her ears perked and she trotted over rather quickly to the door.

“Coming!” she shouted. Once there she used her magic to turn the knob. Before her stood a young drake who was smiling from ear to ear. He was eye level with her with a pair of newly formed wings on his back. His emerald eyes looking directly at her own.

“Hey Rarity, just wanted to see if you needed any help,” he said with a jovial tone.

“Oh Spiky, just the dragon I wanted to see,” Rarity said smiling softly. She raised a hoof and welcomed him in.

“Woah, the place looks almost new. I guess you're almost done packing then huh?” he asked looking back at her.

“Why yes. It seems that way. Though I would like to go gem hunting you one last time. The gem selection in Canterlot isn't quite as diverse as it is in the fields we usually frequent,” the fashion mare said looking over some saddle bags she used for gem hunting. Spike smiled brightly at this invitation.

“Sure thing! I'd be more then happy to go out one last time!” he exclaimed running up to her.

“If that is the case, then lets not waist anymore time,” the marshmallow mare proclaimed. The two headed out the door and in the direction of the fields on the outskirts of Ponyville. All the while conversation about how Spike was now in charge of the library and the growth of his new wings.

“Yeah, Rainbow said she would teach me how to use 'em when they grew in a little more,” the dragon said scratching the back of his head. “though I will admit, I'm a little nervous about it,” he confessed.

“Darling, there is nothing to be afraid of. I'm absolutely positive that Rainbow Dash will take excellent care of your flight training,” Rarity said confidently to help ease Spike's nerves. He smiled a little relived at her. She met his smile with one of her own. The duo made it to their normal excavation site and set to work. Rarity locating the gems, and Spike dug them up. Unlike when he was younger, he easily restrained his want to eat every gem he dug up. Loading up a cart they used often, they soon had a massive hoard of gems. The sparkled and glistened in the evening light as the sun slowly crept to the horizon.

“Well, I do believe that is enough gems, Spiky What say we call it a day?” she asked looking over her shoulder. Spike was dusting himself off as he grabbed the harnesses of the cart and pulled them over his shoulder.

“Sure thing, will this last you a while?” he asked curiously.

“Well I am sure to make good use of them all. As for how long I will have them, it all depends on the order,” she said thinking about it. Spike looked at the pile and reached in. grabbing two gems that seemed stuck together. He gazed at them. The first a very rough cut sapphire, and the other an amethyst. He studied the two gems. As if it was telling him, it was his last chance. He stopped. Looking up at the mare in front of him. The twilight sky cast its orange glow on himself and Rarity, dying her coat a radiant gold. She looked back to see him overcast slightly by his shadow against the sky. His emerald eyes shining through his darkened outline.

“Is there something wrong darling?” she asked. She stopped as she looked at him closer. His eyes were down cast. Sad and vulnerable. He looked up at her. He let the straps down from his shoulder and stepped forward. He stood not but a foot away from her. His shadow falling just shy of her.

“I love you,” he spoke softly. The words shot into Rarity like an arrow through her heart. Her eyes opened wide as if to pop out of her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a raised claw. “I love you so much Rarity. Ever since I first saw you when Twi and I moved to Ponyville. I always cared for you with every fiber of my being. And now, you're leaving. You're going away and I won't be able to see you every day anymore,” he confessed. He lowered his head but continued his confession. “I... I want you to stay. I never want to be apart from you. Without you here, my life would grow dull and mundane. And it was hard enough when Twi left to live with the princesses. But now you're leaving me too.”

“Spike, I-” the mare started, but was once again cut off.

“But, I know you will be successful in Canterlot. And you can live out you're dream. And I have no right to tether you to this place,” he said. His body was shaking lightly as if fighting itself. He looked up at her smiling through his tears. “So with that said. Please, go and be happy,” he said softly. The fashion mare was speechless. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she listened to such a heartfelt confession of love, and release. He was releasing her from the only thing that could have made her stay. With a simple nod she silently agreed to his terms. His smile wavered as he wiped his tears. Readjusting the cart, he began to walk in silence. They said not a word to each other all the way back to the boutique. Once there, Spike deposited the gems into her bag and gave her a wave goodbye. With the dragon gone, she broke down. She had waited so long for him to say those words to her. And now, just as she was making the biggest choice of her life, he finally said it, and subsequently, let her go to pursue her dreams. The tears wouldn't stop. Her faint whimpers of sadness echoed in the empty room through out the night.

Day came soon for everyone in Ponyville. Applejack and Big Macintosh were accompanying Rarity to the train station with all of her belongings.

“Ya sure ya go it from here Rare?” Aj asked setting down one of the bags in the storage car.

“Positive Applejack. I really must thank you and Macintosh for helping me to the station,” she said with a slight smile. Mac placed the last few. “Well, I do believe that this good goodbye for now,” Rarity said lowering her head lightly. She felt Aj's hooves wrap around her in a tight embrace.

“Don't be a stranger Sugarcube,” Aj said hugging her friend tightly. Rarity opened her mouth to say something when they saw a shadow pass over. Rarity looked to the sky to see Spike, his wings extended to their full length as he slowly glided down to them.

“Thank Celestia I made it in time,” he said panting. He was winded from flying. He hunched over trying to catch his breathe. His claws pressed together holding something wrapped in a cloth. He looked up and smiled. “I have one last thing for you to have,” he said. He extended his claws and presented the object. Rarity levitated it and unwrapped the item. She gasped and pressed her hooves over her mouth. Tears immediately welling up in the corners of her eyes. In her magical grip was the amethyst and sapphire, forged together in the shape of a heart. The purple of the amethyst swirling in the middle where it met the sapphire. A swirl of sapphire blue could also be discerned within the amethyst.

“Its beautiful...I love it,” she said softly as tears ran down her cheeks. She sniffed and started to cry. Her faint whimpering halted by the feeling of scales pressing against her cheek. Spike had wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at her.

“I will see you soon,” he said softly pulling the mare into a hug. She couldn't move in the slightest. She was frozen from the over stimulation of her emotions. She sniffed back a few tears and looked over his shoulder. There was a unicorn with a Polaroid camera. She got an idea. Once Spike had let go, she straightened herself out and cast another levitation spell. Snagging the camera. She looked at Spike and smiled. He smiled back at her and noticed the camera coming towards them. He turned to look at it. With his attention diverted, Rarity took the chance. She pursed her lips together and pressed them to his cheek. His reaction was immediate. The scales under her lips began to burn like a white hot fire. His body locked upright and his pupils grew small in shock. The flash went off, immortalizing that one moment in time. Rarity pulled away slowly. Looking at the young drake with wanting eyes. He looked at her still shocked out of his mind. She smiled softly and whispered to him.

“The feeling, is mutual,” she said before disappearing onto the train. Spike looked at her through her window in wide eyed amazement. He stroked his cheek and watched as her train pulled away.

Canterlot: Now

Rarity smiled softly touching the picture. Around her neck she wore the diamond amethyst gem in a silver pendent. She closed her eyes and levitated it from around her neck and onto a hook made just for it. Hanging next to it, was a fire ruby in a gold chained pendent. The first gift of love her drake gave her.

“Oh Spiky, I hope you are doing well,” she thought aloud. She smiled at her necklaces thinking fondly of her Spiky Wikey. Her thoughts drifting back to work after her quick trip down memory lane. She prepared some bolts of various colors on her cutting board as she looked over the template she had drawn out. The dress was layed, simple, but regal at the same time. Its color scheme demanded violet and gold trimmings. “Twilight is going to love this,” she mused to herself as she began to work.

As Rarity worked on this project for her good friend, the friend in question, Princess Twilight Sparkle, was deep in her research in the basement of the Canterlot archives. With only simple candle light to ward off darkness, she was combing through tome after tome. Learning, comparing, and analyzing variant forms of magic. One tome struck her fancy after her long night of research.

“I've never seen this one before,” the magic princess said lifting the book with her normal violet levitation spell. The book was old, and was mostly damaged. The cover was written in an ancient dialect that she readily didn't comprehend. She stared at this book as if it was taunting her. As if to say “you don't have the guts to find out what I know”. Twilight decided to take this one with her, sliding it into her saddle bag she usually carried when exploring the archives. With a slightly contented sigh, the princess trotted up the stairs to the main hallway. The bright light stung her eyes with its oppressive force. Forcing her to cover her eyes with one of her hooves and hope they adjust quickly.

“How was your excursion Princess Sparkle?” a guard asked near the door to the archives. He was Twilight's personal guard, Dawn Bringer. A unicorn stallion who's near midnight black fur contrasted his name. His eyes, a light orange gazed down at his charge seeing her with saddle bags full.

“Why yes Dawn, I'd say it was a excellent expedition,” the purple Alicorn said cheerfully. “Especially this piece right here,” she noted. Her horn began to glow a light lavender and levitated the old book from the bag. Dawn examined it. His eyes darting up and down the tome.

“I see, this book is written in the dragon language,” he said after his examination. Twilight's eyes widened at this information.

“Dragon language!? Are you sure??” she asked. Her face now in Dawn Bringer's. He looked into those deep violet eyes that thirsted for knowledge. It was both awe inspiring, and terrifying at the same time.

“Yes, I do believe it is Dragon language. There have been many findings on Draco-culture over the past few months. And these symbols are strongly reminiscent of some of the books that have been found,” he confirmed. “The new Dragon wing of the library is also almost finished, seeing as how we have more information on the creatures,” he said looking out the window. Outside was several construction stallions hard at work building a new wing to the Canterlot library. Twilight beamed at this new information.

“I can't wait to transcribe this then! Do you know what this means for pony-dragon relations?” she asked overly excited.

“I would imagine it would help bridge the gap between the two your highness,” Dawn said rather flatly. Twilight shot him a half silly glare.

“You're no fun,” she said teasingly. The two began to walk towards Twilight's chambers. Dawn catching her up on what she missed out on while she was down in the bowels of the the archives. Simply put, castle life was not entertaining in the slightest. Twilight's thoughts however began to drift. Back to a simpler time. When she simply lived in a library with her #1 Assistant.

“You know,” she began getting Dawn's attention. “I have to wonder how Spike is doing,” she said. Her eyes half open remembering him. “It's been quite some time since I moved to the castle. I hope he and my friends are doing well,” her voice trailed on. Dawn looked down at her.

“If I do recall, you are to be going to Ponyville in a few days are you not?” the guard asked. The princess' head shot up remembering. She had completely forgotten that she was going to Ponyville. “you forgot didn't you?” he asked not surprised. The princess's lavender fur turned a nice shade of crimson and laughed lightly.

“I guess so,” she said softly in embarrassment. She was about to ask a question when a very disgruntled lunar princess ran down the hall. Twilight looked at Luna as she barreled towards the main chamber. Twilight shot a look at Dawn, and the two ran in pursuit. The doors to the main chamber slammed open by the force of the moon princess' magic.

“Sister! Has there been any word yet!?” she asked frantically. Sitting atop the throne sat the alabaster sun princess. Her eyes concentrated on a single letter that she had in her magical grip.

“I do not know what news you are looking for sister. But we have more pressing matters. King Sombra is returning,” her mauve colored eyes looked now fixed on her sister.

“But have you heard from Spike?” she asked. Her face showing more concern for the drake then the returning king.

“What about Spike?” Twilight asked from behind Luna. Luna turned to face the newer princess.

Everfree Forest; Riverbed

The sound of nature created a soothing melody in the forest. The water flowing near by lapped against the edges of the river. Continuing its flow down stream. Several birds chirped off in the distance. All these things however were simply irrelevant to the unconscious dragon. His breathing was normal now. His head was only slightly bleeding. But he had a restful look on his face. Not plagued by the constant torment of the dark king, but actually sleeping peacefully. Within his mind, he felt his body lighten and float. His eyes opened. Seeing nothing but a maroon light engulfing him.

“Where...where am I?” he asked softly. As if to answer him, a new voice called to him

“Goraan lir, aus lot faaz naal vul hokoron,” the voice called.

“Didn't catch that,” Spike called out weakly.

“Naar suleyk nol kruziik doh,” the voice boomed this time. Spike snarled weakly.

“What are you saying? I can't understand you,” he said growling.

“For you not know your true nature. You are Dovah, you carry power to face the dark,” it called in equestrian. Spike nodded slightly.

“How do I get this power? And when I get it, how will I use it?” he asked.

“To obtain this power, you will harness your fekiw. In your current tongue, it is Avarice. Greed”