I do not own 'My Little Pony'

Changes

Spike had made it back to Ponyville with little to no trouble. Just as he had hoped, the rain washed away the blood. Just as he had feared, it didn't wash away anything else.

As he continued through the storm he came upon Sugar Cube corner. Inside chatting away were Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. They turned their attention to him when he entered.

"Spike, your back." Twilight spoke happily.

"Did you get the gems?" Rarity asked.

Spike wordlessly handed the basket to Rarity. She happily examined the pieces for her work.

"Spike, these are simply amazing!" she spoke in delight "Where in Equestria did you get them?"

"I... knew a place." Spike answered without his usual confidence.

"Well Spikey-wickey" Rarity spoke "These are more than I need, so here you go."

Rarity handed Spike a small cut of the gems that she didn't need. He looked at the crystals without his usual passion.

"Pinkie, could I get a doggy bag?"

"Sure" the pink mare handed him one "But wouldn't you rather a dragon bag?"

"Aren't you going to eat them?" Twilight asked.

"Not now." he answered shocking all three mares "I'm not hungry" that shocked them further, actually he was starving but the gems just didn't appeal to him I can't tell them what I really want.

"Are you feeling well?" Twilight asked cautiously.

"Actually... I was wondering if I could head to home?" Spike spoke "I think I'll just sleep."

"But it's only mid-afternoon" Pinkie spoke "There so much to do in a day to just sleep." she paused "Then again there's too much to do in any day." she began to think heavily "I wonder if I could make a days worth of fun in a single party." she perked at the idea "Then I could throw several parties a day, I could call it a..." she was cut off by Twilight

"Sure Spike." Twilight spoke "Just don't sleep too much, you'll end up awake all night.

Spike gave a snort at that. "I never have sleep troubles."

"WAIT A SECOND" Pinkie hopped toward the baby dragon and began sniffing him "Why do you smell like regret and saliva?"

"...That has a smell?"

"Everything has a smell to my Pinkie nose" Pinkie Pie answered happily.

"I uh..." grabbing his gems Spike made a mad dash for the library.

He wasn't very tired, but the days event was catching up with him. I can't believe I ate meat. Spike had went to a fitful sleep as soon as he climbed into his basket. His last thoughts were I hope no pony finds out.

Why can't I go back to sleep? Spike had always loved to sleep and was a very hard sleeper. For him it was easy to sleep but hard to wake. There was no pony who would, or even could, deny that. It was rare for him to have any sleep troubles.

He felt truly awful, both physically and mentally. This is probably from eating meat, I knew it was a bad i... A wave of nausea washed over him cutting off his thoughts. I haven't felt this bad since Twilight's last spell backfired on me.

He looked over to Twilight to see the Unicorn sleeping peacefully. You just had to be right. He envied the purple mare more than ever. Probably dreaming of books.

I need some fresh air.

The baby dragon climbed out of the basket as quietly as possible. He didn't want to wake the purple Unicorn from her peaceful slumber. It was ironic, he lost count of the number of times she ruined his. He chuckled dryly You should feel lucky that I'm so forgiving.

He made his way down the stairs without a peep.

"Who."

Spike felt as if his heart was about to explode. He turned to the one who made the sound. It was Owlicious, Twilight's number two assistant.

"Shhh" he hushed the owl "You'll wake Twilight."

"Who?"

"Twilight."

"Who?"

"Don't you start that again." Spike growled, he made his way to the door until only for the owl to start again. "I'm just going on a walk."

"Who."

"Look, just let me go and... I'll add a little to your meal." he bargained.

"Who."

"Later"

Spike had made it to one of the many parks when it started. He didn't know what it was, but it hit hard. It was a good thing the park was empty.

It started small and barely noticeable. However, like anything small it began to grow. It began to wash over Spike in wave after wave. He resisted for a moment before doubling over in pain.

What is this? The only way to describe it was warm, that meant one thing. I'm... burning, but... Dragons don't burn... Another wave ran through him.

Dragons were naturally heat resistant and actually comfortable in lava. When dragon were sick they just got colder, never warmer. Only a dragon could burn another dragon, even then it was under certain circumstances.

The heat was too much for the baby, he lost consciousness.

As Spike slept he dreamed of a hoard, his hoard. It was glorious, even for a dragon. It was made of hundreds of gems, even the rarest types were mixed in.

On top was massive figure.

Him.

Spike snapped awake from pain.

The heat was still there and growing.

Spike's body began to experience an intense pressure. It was as if his body was being pulled in every direction. He felt his muscles stretch under his scales as if they would tear.

He neck and tail elongated on his body.

His bones began to crack under the strain of it it all. Growing at an unnatural rate just to keep up.

His mind couldn't keep up and shut down.

When Spike re-awoke he knew something was wrong. It was still dark so he wasn't sleep long. But something was different. Everything was smaller and he was further from the ground.

It felt oddly familiar.

No...

He made his was too the lake. It was a painful process since everyone of his joints screamed in protest.

He looked for his reflection and his fear became real. What he saw wasn't the familiar round face of a baby dragon. It was the elongated beak-like maw of an older dragon.

"No no no" he cried in a deeper voice "Not again!"

Think Spike, think! He needed to focus I haven't been snatching again, so why am I growing?

He needed help.

I can't go to Twilight, she'd assume I was stealing... I can't go to the other ponies either, their sleeping. Who could he turn to? No pony... THAT'S IT! No pony, but maybe a Zebra. Zecora had helped him through the first growth, maybe she could help him again.

The heat and pain seemed to redouble. They were focused in two spots specifically, between his shoulder blades. The growing sensation returned as well, with a vengeance.

Zecora...

He needed to get to her, she was his only hope.

But the pain was too intense. There was no way he could make it to her home in this condition. He needed to escape the pain, he needed away out.

The pain felt like a both tearing sensation and sensation continued to build up more and more. There obviously wasn't going to be any relief soon so he did the only thing he could.

He shut down.

Spike didn't know how he did it, but he did. He had somehow dragged himself to the edge of the Everfree forest. Now he just needed to remember the path to her home.

He looked to his back with his elongated body. He saw a pair of large and impressive wings. Unfortunately no matter how impressive they looked they were of no use. They hung limply by his side dragging on the ground.

He was still able to walk on his two hind legs. Although he was slightly hunched over.

I need to rest The former baby dragon made his way to a near by lake just for a minute.

Spike didn't know if the water was salt or fresh and he didn't care. He was thirsty! He scooped some into his claws and brought it up. The water slid down his throat pleasantly.

He couldn't hold in the sigh of content, but he wished he had.

From his sigh he unleashed a large ball of red fire, not green, red. The natural kind that burned away at things.

Spike instantly closed his mouth. It's getting worse! He was breathing actual fire, it was getting dangerous. I need to contain myself!

He tried to hold the fire in, to control it, but it was fire! The flames sat in him growing and expanding in his body. The fire built up in his chest until it was too much, it forced it's way out. The flames burst free in large balls of fire. It was like the letters, they forced their way out again and again. Only now it was wild and dangerous.

The fire scared away all the creatures that got too close. That was a good thing, now they would be safe. It wouldn't be long before he hit a tree and started a wildfire.

I need to control it He hit the lake or direct it.

He aimed for the lake as the flames flew. The water was boiling in under a minute and still going. He could tell there would be no stopping the fire like this. I need to get to the source.

Spike made his way closer to the lake...

And dived in.

As he let himself sink he opened his mouth and let the flames go freely. The water filled his mouth but didn't douse the flames. Now that he let it out freely there was a vigor to it. It was as if the flames were fighting the water.

As the flames raged and the water boiled, science kicked in.

To burn, fire needed a source of fuel and air. For a dragon that was only partly true, they created the fuel to burn. However fire still needed air...

And Spike needed to breath.

Spike couldn't take a breath of air under water.

Spike looked for the surface but couldn't see it. The water was bubbling too hard for him to see properly. He tried to stop the flames in hopes of stopping the bubbling. Even though he was low on oxygen his body continued to force out the fire.

He tried to swim in any direction but couldn't, he only continued to sink. His body was still too new and awkward for him to control.

Everything was beginning to go dark for the dragon. He couldn't feel his energy, only the weight of his body.

As he sunk he had only one last thought.

Zecora...

He never noticed his fire turn green.

When he came to again he wasn't underwater, but he was still wet. Spike was completely exhausted, even his fire had finally stopped.

He was moving- No, he was being carried.

Spike used what little energy he could muster to lift himself up. He looked down and saw that he was in a wagon. Pushing it was a hooded pony, or at least he thought. He couldn't see their face, or any part of them.

"W-what's h-happening?" Spike asked,

"Do not fret young dragon" a female voice spoke "Just lay in the wagon."

"Twilight..."

"No, I'm not the Unicorn" she stated "I am zebra born."

"Z-Zecora" he realized Only she rymes like that "I need h-help..." she cut him off with a hoof to the mouth

"I know, so sleep." she ordered "When you awake you may want to weep."

Wait "W-what?"

Zecora had managed to push the dragon to her cottage while he slept. Usually she would be patient in these kind of matters. Not in this one, not when her sleep was ruined.

She gave the wagon a powerful buck. The force was enough to awake Spike.

"Zecora" Spike spoke quickly "I need your help, I don'y know what's happening to me I..."

"Please be silent!" she hissed "or I may act violent!"

Spike was very shocked at her statement "A-are you okay?"

Zecora pulled down the hood of her robes revealing her face. There was a deep scowl and a glare aimed for him. She was missing her usual jewelry and her hair was down. She was dripping with water.

"I was sleeping you fool, then my hut became a pool!"

"What?"

Zecora bucked opened the door to her hut, inside were pools of water. Everything was completely soaked and most likely ruined.

But why is she mad at me?

That's when he saw it.

Even through the water he saw it, green fire. The green flames danced harmlessly on the pools of water. Even some of Zecora's items were doused in the flames. Strangely enough, they weren't burning.

"I did this?" he asked "How?" he looked to Zecora "How'd you know it was me?"

"Your green flame is a transporter" Zecora spoke, less angrily "It seems that includes water."

"I'm sor... wait, how did you find me?" Spike asked, he had been pretty far from her hut.

Zecora pointed her hoof toward fish that had somehow transferred. Spike had never seen anything like it. It was helplessly jumping on the little water it could get.

"There's only one place that this fish can survive" she spoke "So I guess you took a dive."

I can transport water? Spike thought excitedly What else can I transport? He'd have to remember to send a letter to the Princess when he had the chance.

"Thank you for saving me" Spike spoke "but I'm still in trouble." he pointed to himself "I'm changing again and I haven't been snatching."

"That I can see" she examined him "You're almost as big as me."

It was true, Spike had increased in size and grew wings to match. He was almost the height of a average adult pony. His body was also thin, no more baby chubbiness, and his spines were thicker.

"Do you know what's wrong with me?"

"Maybe I do, but I need some answers from you." she leaned in to study him "Tell me Spike, what is your diet like?"

Spike flinched and wouldn't meet her gaze. "Why is that important?"

"This growth is not from greed, tell me what I need."

"I've been eating gems and hay fries." he answered.

"Spike, tell me what's real" Zecora stated firmly "or I can't help you in this ordeal."

"I am" as soon as he said that she turned away "what's wrong?"

"If intend to lie, then I must say goodbye."

Spike looked away from her stern gaze "Please" he begged "don't make me say it."

"What did you eat?" she asked "was it meat?"

Spike still looked away Zecora's gaze. The guilt and shame were returning to him greater than ever. He could still fill the flesh inside him, and his craving for more.

"...Yes" he whispered "I don't know why I did it but I just couldn't stop when I started." he explained "Please, don't tell Twilight" he begged

"Calm yourself young Spike, everything is alright."

"It is?" his hope returned

"Yes, you are fine " she spoke "this would happen in time."

"What..."

"Dragons are known for eating meat." she stated "It just comes with a strange feat."

"So this happened because I ate meat?" he asked gaining a nod "Can you turn me back?"

"You... wish to turn back?" he could see her confusion "That would be a strange act."

"What do you mean strange?" Spike asked "I can't let them see me like this!" he exclaimed "Twilight would ask questions and do research." he began to panic at the outcome "She'd find out and... and..." he began to tear up.

Zecora looked at the dragon about to break down in front of her. She knew dragon's pride wouldn't actually allow it. That was when she remembered something important. Spike is pony bred, he has their ways in his head. Spike knew almost nothing of his kinds way and had no pony or dragon to tell him. He must be terrified, I guess his form I must help hide.

Zecora gave a sigh as she made her way to one of her drawers. She began rummaging through until she found what she was looking for. A small golden chain necklace, there was a green gem in the middle.

"Do not be so glum" she spoke "I knew a time like this would come"

"What?" he asked "How did you...?"

"We dragons and Zebras are close, at one time I was a host." she held the necklace up "To keep the damages minimized, they needed to come down in size."

"So this will shrink me back to normal?" he asked

"It will change your size and keep those from pony eyes." she pointed to his wings

Spike wasted no time in placing the necklace on. As soon as he did it started taking affect. His body began to convulse before being forced back into his smaller form. It was just as painful becoming smaller as it was growing, only this time he didn't get to feint.

When it was done he looked to the Zebra.

"Y-you give this to guests?" He rasped.

"Why do you think they don't return?" she asked laughing "I believe some want to see me burn."

"Right" So do I.

"I must warn you that you can hide your form, but you can't stop the brewing storm."

"What?" he asked "Pegasi stop storms all the time, right?"

"They post pone it for a time near" she stated putting a hoof on his chest "just like we did the one in here" she looked him deep in the eyes "It is something you shouldn't fear."

Spike said nothing but understood. If he kept trying to suppress his dragon side then it would fight back.

"I'll just never take the necklace off then."

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Author's Note

I understand some of you might not like the story. -Everyone one has an opinion.
Just don't leave comments on how bad YOU think it is. Or what YOU think is wrong with it. If you don't like, don't read. IT'S.THAT.SIMPLE.
Some people enjoy the story.