Control

It had been several days since Spike last saw the dragoness. He had went straight to bed after eating a crystal.

He had tried to put the whole thing out of his mind. It wasn't as easy as he had hoped. His thoughts seemed to always wonder back to her.

Well, here's to a new day he thought dryly.

The baby dragon climbed out of his basket, scratching.

He went down stairs to see if Twilight was home. She was, reading a book on something that would have put Spike to sleep in seconds.

"Hey Twilight." he greeted.

"Hello Spike." she greeted without looking up "You slept pretty late, are you feeling okay?"

Spike looked out the window and saw that it was at least noon. How long was I out?

"I feel... fine." he answered "Just a little itchy."

"Well then go take a bath." Twilight advised "You could use one."

"Oh ha ha." Spike gave a sarcastic laugh. He couldn't deny that a nice hot bath would be nice.

After taking a nice and, scolding for ponies, long bath Spike was still itchy. He went through a whole bar of soap in the process, nothing helped.

Maybe if I use... he searched for a solution in his thoughts. Before he could come up with an idea, he was stopped by a scream. It was followed by the sound of something exploding and a second scream.

Oh no! He thought in a panic. He didn't think, he just ran.

He stopped in the library section of the house. He took one glimpse and instantly calmed down.

It was just Pinkie Pie. The rest of the mares were there but he had a feeling that whatever happened was Pinkie related.

That's when they noticed him.

"Spike, you're positively soaked!" Rarity stated "What happened?"

"I heard a noise and scream." he answered "I just..."

"Ahh" Rarity cooed "You were coming to the rescue."

"Ha, you were going to be a hero?" Rainbow Dash mocked.

"I think it's sweet." Fluttershy whispered.

"Well we could use a hero." Rarity stated gaining Spike's attention "Opal won't come down."

"Down?" Spike asked as he looked up. On the ceiling was was the cat Opal, her claws were locked in deep. Spike looked straight at Pinkie Pie who gave him an innocent smile. "Why is there a cat on the ceiling?"

"There better question is." Pinkie began "How can we make it into a type of party?"

Always a party on her mind he thought. "Explanation please."

"Well I was bringing Opal over when Rainbow Dash" Rarity spat, glaring at the Pegasus "Decided to mess with her. This caused her to claw out making Rainbow Dash throw her into Pinkie's party canon." I knew it Spike thought "It shot her all the way to the ceiling and now she won't come down."

"She keeps resisting Rarity and I, so we can't use magic on her without hurting Opal." Twilight stated.

"Can't Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy bring her down?" Spike asked.

"I'm not going near that thing's claws." Rainbow stated.

"I don't...uh...well..." They decided to take that as a 'no'.

"How am I supposed to get up there?" He asked.

"Easy." Pinkie stated "The same way."

Before Spike could ask what she meant, the pink mare was on him. She had stuffed Spike into the party canon and too aim.

Why Pinkie? was the last though he had before she fired.

-Boom-

Spike was blown to the air with a lot of speed and power.

He should have been dizzy and disoriented from the blast. The momentum should have thrown his entire body out of his control. He should have been scared at the whole situation.

But he wasn't.

Everything felt... natural to him, being in the air.

Everything slowed down, in his mind at least. Outside it everything was just a blur.

Spike knew that if he continued at this pace he'd crash into the ceiling.

Then it happened, Spike felt his instincts.

The baby dragon raised both of his hands, claws extended. They raked across the ceiling before he clenched them, hitching his upper body. His lower body continued on swinging toward the ceiling. He locked his hind claws into the ceiling as well.

Spike removed one clawed hand and placed it forward, one of his legs copied. He repeated this process over and over, getting closer to the cat.

I'm coming for you he thought.

The cat saw him and seemed to read his mind.

Opal hissed loudly at Spike. Her fur stood up and her fangs bare.

When Spike was within reach he grabbed for the cat.

Opal raised one of her claws and swiped at the baby dragon. Her finely manicured claws raked across his scales. They didn't even leave a mark on him.

Spike latched his hand around the cat's neck. He gave it a small squeeze forcing the car to release the ceiling and thrash around. Not one claw swipe made the baby dragon even flinch.

"That's good Spike." Twilight stated unaware of Opal's state. "Now just hold her and we'll lower you down."

As soon as he heard those words, Spike released his claws. Not the one holding the cat, just the other three.

"SPIKE!" The mares shouted.

The baby dragon fell to the ground, landing feet first. He stood right side up, as if he didn't fall from a two story height.

The mares stared at Spike, mouth agape.

Pinkie Pie was the first to recover. "And he sticks the landing!" She shouted holding a '10' sign.

"What?" Rainbow asked outraged "That was clearly an six at best."

"Now sugar cube, he earned top score." Applejack spoke trying to calm the Pegasus "He was the only one to get that cat."

"I could have done it in ten seconds flat."

"But you didn't darling." Rarity spoke "Spike-Wikey did."

The white Unicorn made to retrieve her cat when she noticed something. Spike was squeezing Opal pretty hard and even ignored the scratches she was giving him. The look he was giving her cat didn't make her feel any better.

"S-Spike." she called, when he didn't react she tried again. He seemed to shake out of some kind of trance. "Are you okay?"

"F-fine." Spike answered

He tried to hand Opal to Rarity, only for the cat to scratch her. The cat's claw didn't leave any serious damage to Rarity, but there was still damage. The scratch was shallow but long and dripping a bit of blood. It was plainly visible through her perfect white coat.

Spike both lost and gained focus.

He lost focus as he dropped the cat and let it scurry off. He no longer noticed his irritating itch. He no longer noticed the other mares in the room.

All he noticed was Rarity. To be more specific, her wound. There was nothing else to him. Nothing else but his hunger.

Spike grabbed her hoof and brought it to his face. He tongue snaked out around the cut.

The first drop touched his tongue. It was so much like the Diamond dog's but different. The only way he could describe it was exquisite, just like the mare it seeped from.

Even her blood is amazing Was the only focused thought he could muster.

For Rarity, it took only a second to register what happened.

"SPIKE!" She shouted in disgust "You're licking me."

Spike didn't seem to hear the distraught mare. He felt Rarity try to pull her delicate hoof but Spike's grip was too strong. He just continued to lick her fresh cut.

He wanted to stop, he knew he had to. But he couldn't, he just couldn't. Finally the dripping stopped, but it wasn't enough. His throat was burning and his stomach was empty. He needed more, to satisfy his thirst and hunger. He needed to...

No.

He couldn't.

Not to her, not to Rarity.

Spike used will power he never knew he had. He gently released his grip on the mares foreleg.

"Spike, what the hay were you doing?"

Spike looked at the mares surrounding him. They were each giving him a stare that demanded answered.

Come on Spike think fast He needed a way out.

"I was licking her wound." Spike answered on the spot "It's supposed to keep the wound clean until it's bandaged."

"Where did you learn that?"

"In a book." Spike answered.

"Well that's... nice and all." Rarity spoke in a strained tone "But please, next time, just use... something that doesn't involve... spit." The words seemed to be sour on her tongue.

"Sorry." Spike apologized.

"It's quite alright deary." Rarity assured him "You were just looking out for my health."

It took all of Spike's will not to look away in shame. He had in fact, been thinking about the opposite of her health.

As the beautiful mare leaned in to kiss Spike she noticed something. It caused her to turn away and blush. She was not the only one who noticed.

"Oh... my..." Fluttershy mumbled timidly.

"Bwahahaha" Rainbow Dash didn't even try to hide her laughter.

Oh no, not now! Spike prayed it wasn't happening, but his prayer wasn't enough.

"Ain't nothing to be embarrassed about sugar cube." Applejack tried to assure. "It's just that y're growing up."

Spike's spines were standing again.

"Spike that's highly inappropriate." Twilight chastised.

"I-It's quite alright Twilight" Rarity spoke trying to suppress her blush "As Applejack said, he's growing up." She sent Rainbow Dash a glare "Something that comes with maturity."

"I can be mature!" Rainbow snapped.

"Yeah, f'er ten seconds flat" Applejack added.

"Exac-Hey!"Rainbow quipped. "For get it, maturity smaturity."

"Ooh, are we having a rhyming contest?" Pinkie asked.

Spike took this moment of their distraction to leave.

I can't believe it! He roared in his head. Of all the things! Of all the times! And to Rarity! He truly felt it was truly one of his worse experiences.

"Hello young Spike." A familiar voice spoke "Still pretending to be a tyke."

"Zecora?" He was shocked to see the zebra out of the forest "What are you doing here?"

"I was on a long walk." she answered "But I fear we should have a long talk."

What does she want to talk about He thought to himself already having an idea. "Okay."

They walked for quite a bit. Well Zecora walked, Spike was sitting on her back. When she finally stopped, they were inside a forest. Thankfully it wasn't the Everfree forest. She sat the baby dragon down and looked him in the eyes.

"You did not heed my warning of the coming storm." she spoke "Now the beast in you can take form."

"What?" Spike didn't like what he was hearing.

Zecora pointed to the necklace. For the first time Spike noticed a crack in it. What in the hay? He knew for certain that it wasn't there at first.

"Inside you the beast waits." she continued "Before it comes, your inner darkness we must sate."

"Please" Spike moaned "Make it simpler."

Spike shrunk under the glare Zecora gave him before speaking. "You have an inner beast." she started "We must let it out to feast."

"W-what, why!?" He asked in fear. He never wanted to lose control of himself, not like last time.

"If it frees itself through your anger." she gestured around "Many lives will be in danger."

"What do you mean anger?" Spike never saw himself as angry.

"You saw what greed did to you." She stated causing him to look away in shame "Imagine what rage will do."

"There is no way that's happening." Spike stated firmly "I'm never taking this thing off, so every pony's safe, right?"

"You are a misguided dimwit." Zecora snapped "You will simply push the medallion to it's limit." She then gave an annoyed sigh "I guess I am the one who started this." she continued. "There is only one fix."

"What are you..."

Quicker than Spike could act the Zebra snatched the necklace from Spike's neck. For a second it felt as if Spike's mind went blank. When it restarted Zecora was gone. For some unknown reason Spike thought of Pinkie Pie.

Then it began.

Spike fell to his knees in intense pain. This is worse than I remember. He thought.

Spike was in agony, his body twisting and changing into a different form. His claws, no longer dull, sprang forward sharper than razor. The bones cracking and muscle shifting. His skull stretched as his teeth elongated. His body throbbed in agony as if grew.

Even then it was there.

Under his agony, in his very body, it was there.

The raw, intense power.

But it wasn't his.

There was something else there.

It was completely savage to the baby dragon. It was also very familiar. He felt it once during his greed growth, and again when he tasted flesh.

It was in control.

It looked nearly the same as Spike, minus one difference.

The eyes.

While Spike's eyes were a dark emerald green. IT's eyes were an electric green that actually seemed to glow. Spike's feline like pupils usually took up most of his eyes. These were like pinpricks of a focused glare. Usually they were full of innocence, but now they were full of one thing and one thing only.

Hunger.

That was what it felt, an intense hunger. It needed to eat. No more pony food. It thought. It needed a dragons meal.

No more of that stuff that he- No, Spike ate. Spike was practically a pony.

IT was a dragon.

The dragon looked back toward the pony filled town. Mouth water in anticipation, he took a step forward...

NO! The dragon fell back grabbing it's head in pain.

It could feel it.

The pony side of him was still there. It was fighting, trying to escape.

No, I'm in control! It roared in it's mind.

It tried, it tried to fight against the pony. The one called Spike was clawing at it's mind. Trying to stop him from eating the ponies. Trying to take control of the body.

No! It thought This body is mine!

The pony side was finally pushed down, for now. It had to get away from the town. That was how he lost during the greed growth. He knew his weaker half would fight to then end for those ponies.

That's the only thing dragon about that half. It thought bitterly

This time would be different. Those ponies wouldn't stop him, not even the white one. He would take her as well.

NO! The pained started again.

He had to leave.

Had to keep control.

Had to get rid of this hunger.

It just as suspected. The dragon didn't care about the direction, just distance. Why? The further from the town, the weaker Spike fought.

The dragon stopped, something jogged a memory IT and Spike shared.

The one of the few time when the two became one. It was when Spike felt the call of his true nature. The instincts of a dragon.

Those instincts were telling him something important.

If only he could place his claws on...

IT realized what it was!

There's a hoard near by!

IT was already off, down a familiar path.

He had arrived to an empty dragon's den. Well, it wasn't completely empty. There was a MASSIVE hoard of gems just lying around.

Just here for the taking. He thought as he intended to do just that. Mine!

As the dragon started enjoying the gems it noticed something. There was a familiar surge rushing through his body. It wasn't one of pain, it was of pleasure and power. It was one of the things that made it so addicting. It was the greed growth.

As he grew he had only one thought. More!

When it was finally over, he was disappointed. Like always it felt as if the growth ended too fast.

Something's wrong. The dragon thought.

With the size of the hoard he took, he should be bigger. He should be as tall as he was when he grabbed Rarity. The size he was now equaled the pony called Big Mac. He wasn't even as big as the dragoness.

It makes no sense.

No matter IT thought as IT enjoyed another crystal.

IT would reach the adult size IT wanted in time. Just as he would learn to use the wings on his back.

He enjoyed crystal after crystal, feeling his hunger lesson. Suddenly he stopped in mid-bite. No, something stopped him.

A sound.

A growl.

He turned to the entrance of the cave and saw the cause. It was the dragoness, she was obviously unhappy.

Too bad. IT thought.

"Once chance." she growled "LEAVE!"

She no longer had the calm but mischievousness feel to her. Even the amused look in her eyes were gone. Now there was only an primal, hate filled glare.

The dragon looked at her in amusement. She was angry enough to challenge him, a dragon. She may be a dragon, but she was also female. He was a male, the outcome was obvious.

She'll make a fine addition to my hoard. IT thought. As he did he never noticed his spines start to stand. The female dragon however did, she was not pleased.

"You think you can claim me?" she asked in a cold tone.

The dragon said nothing as IT ate another crystal.

"So be it." she growled

The dragon attacked with no warning. He dived forward in a powerful lunge intent to maim.

The female simply grabbed the dragon by the wrist and held him back. It was a simple power struggle between the two. Unfortunately the female was older, bigger, stronger.

The dragon was slowly being pushed back.

"You attack without giving your name?" she asked in disappointment "Where is your pride?" The dragon said nothing, he just snapped and snarled. "You can't talk, can you?" she asked as she looked into IT's eyes "You're just a wild beast."

She released the dragon causing him to stumble before she struck him. The blow wasn't her claws, but the back of her hand. It knocked the male back, exposing and leaving him vulnerable.

She wrapped her tail around his waist and squeezed. The amount of pressure shocked the dragon, but he was unable to do anything. She simply tossed him out of her cave.

He tried to straighten himself but was struck again. This time by her tail, the blow sent him sailing into a tree.

Hurt and wounded the dragon opened his eyes. What he saw was the female diving toward him from above. He barely made it to his feet and away before she crushed him.

He tried to charge her but was knocked aside again.

He was quickly to his feet and went in again. Instead of knocking him away she jumped over him. This caused him to overshoot and fall over himself.

When he stood and turned back to the dragoness, she was there. She stood over him, her face mere inches from his.

Now that she was so close he could see that she was still larger than him. At least four time bigger or more, he was sure it was much more.

She smiled with her usual amused look.

She's toying with me! IT realized angrily.

He took a swipe at her face with his sharpened claws. She simply stepped out of reach. He took a second swipe but she didn't dodge this one. She caught it in her teeth.

With a simple twist of her neck she slammed him into the ground. With another twist, she through him high into the air.

When he reached the peak of his height gravity kicked in. The average dragon would have flown or righted itself for landing. The dragon could do none of these.

She watched as he fell and landed like a rock.

He tried to stand but he was in too much pain. When he finally did, he wished he had staid down. Every part of him ached with pain he never experienced.

Need to leave. IT thought painfully.

She began approaching him slowly, painfully slowly. There was no reason to her to rush. She was in full health while he was on his last leg.

It showed how out classed he truly was.

"No...get...away." he rasped.

"I gave you a chance." she growled. "Now accept your death like a dragon."

Death! Now he was afraid. This isn't right, I'm a dragon!

So is she. The pony side spoke A bigger, older and stronger one. The pony continued. She's coming, she's coming for you.

"NO...please." IT begged.

"You...beg!?" she asked in disgust. "Weak!"

"I...want to...live."

"You came into my den, ate my gems." She roared "You intended to claim me!" She continued "Why shouldn't I kill you?"

"I... want to live." he repeated.

She stared at the groveling beast in front of her. With speed that he couldn't follow, she struck him with her tail. The blow knocked him off his last leg and into the dirt.

Instead of getting back up, he curled into a ball trying to protect himself. If she was disgusted before she was completely revolted now.

"Get up." She ordered "Fight back. Do something, anything! You're a dragon aren't you?" He did nothing but whimper and try to make himself smaller. "You aren't one are you?" she asked "Your just a greedy and cowardly lizard."

With nothing else to say to the whimpering dragon, she moved on. To her, he wasn't even worth acknowledging.

"I won't waste my time with you." She spoke "Leave."

She didn't turn to see if he had heard her, she knew he had. There was no fear that he would attack her from behind. There was just disappointment.

The dragon could practically hear the pony side laughing.

He had fled, like a coward. I didn't even put up a good fight. He didn't feel like a dragon, he felt like a toothless worm.

Now that he had loss his size had decreased back to original height. His wings were smaller and still useless. Even his hunger had returned, then again it was never gone.

I need to eat. He thought bitterly. The gems were delicious but not what he needed, IT needed meat.

He looked around for anything that could fit that description. All he saw were countless apple trees.

Wait, apples...Something about them were drawing back pony memories. Apples...Apples...Apple...Jack...APPLEJACK!

She was a pony.

She was meat.

She was food.

She's mine!

Sweet Apple Acres, it was homes to one of those six ponies. He could feel his weaker half putting up a fight for her, though it wasn't as strong as before. He let out a cruel chuckle, it would make it all the sweeter.

The dragon was moving silently through the open paths on the farm. He could see the trail that led to his prey. He smelt them, a mixture of apples and sweat.

They're here. He thought hungrily.

He could see the ponies working on the trees. There were two of them, an orange one and a red one.

He could take them, both of them.

NO! Apart of him knew these ponies, they wouldn't go down easily. He needed to be smart about this.

If not, it would be just like with the female dragon.

At the thought of her his cold blood began to boil. He could feel the anger building in his chest, growing hotter and hotter. It was begging to be released, but not yet.

He had to wait, and he could.

"Applejack, can you check on the apples in the barn?" Big Mac asked as he prepared to leave "I'm going to go set the stall up in town."

He watched as the orange mare trotted toward the barn. A barn with closed window and only one exit.

Too easy. The dragon thought.

Slowly, slowly and quietly he made his way to the barn.

The dragon had entered the barn behind the farm pony. He had showed stealth one of an expert predator locked in on it's prey.

Applejack never noticed him enter the barn.

She did notice him close the barn door. Well, not him specifically. She did notice the door shut and the only source of light go out.

"Tarnation!" She exclaimed turning to the dark figure "Big Mac, is that you?"

She couldn't see too well in the sudden darkness. Spike however, could see her.

As quietly as ever he moved around behind her. He watched as she stumbled around calling for a pony that wasn't there.

"Applebloom, if this is your attempt at getting a ninja cutie mark again..." she began, but never finished.

Spike had chose that moment to attack his prey.

IT lunged onto her back and snaked his claws around her neck. They constricted tightly enough to stop both her breath and voice. With a strong tug he pulled her off balance so she was helpless.

The mare struggled with all her might against the claws. It was pointless in the end. The muscle in Spike's claws were enough to stop even Applejack.

Soon the mare was blacking out from lack of air.

IT was winning.

IT was beating her with ease.

This is how it should be! IT cried triumphantly. Me on top as nature intended.

IT looked at her helpless form. IT's claws had dug into her neck drawing blood. It tried to savor the smell but couldn't resist.

Time to eat. IT thought as he felt her squirm under her sharp teeth.

"Applejack." A voice called from outside the barn.

"A-A-Applebloom..." She croaked, but it went unheard by the filly.

"Applejack are y'all in there?" The filly asked "Ah want'a ask if ah could go with the crusaders." Applebloom waited for a response but got none. "Applejack?"

Another one. The dragon thought making his way to the door.

He stood there waiting for the filly. Applejack still couldn't see too well but understood what was happening. The intruder was at the door near Applebloom, her sister.

The filly tried to open the barn door but was stopped by a shout.

"STOP!" She shouted, unsure of to who. "DON'T OPEN THE DOOR!" Applejack shouted. It had taken every ounce of energy for the mare to force those words out. "D-don't...open the...d-d-door."

"A-Applejack?" the filly ask worried "Is everything okay?"

"Fine sugercube." Applejack lied "Go on an play."

"Are you sure?" Applebloom could tell when her sister was telling a lie without even seeing her. "Ah could g..."

"Just go play!" Applejack snapped.

Applebloom was no fool, she knew something was wrong "A'M GOING TO GET BIG MAC!" She shouted sprinting off.

The dragon made for the door but was stopped by a hoof on his tail. He looked back to see Applejack glaring at him. IT was about to act when she spoke.

"A'm her sister." Applejack hissed silently "She ma'h responsibility." she glared at the savage green eyes. "Y'all want to eat some pony,You. Eat. Me."

The dragon looked at the pony in shock. This pony didn't fear him or death, just for her sister. IT was brought down to a whimpering husk, yet she stood tall.

This made the dragon angry.

She stood defiantly to him like the cat, the dragoness and Rari-

Rarity...

If she saw him now she wouldn't love him. She would hate him, or worse, fear him. He didn't want her to fear him, just love him.

WHAT AM I DOING? He asked himself, he needed to leave.

Spike looked at the mare in front of him. She was standing tall with her eyes closed ready for death.

When the mare opened her eyes, she would fine that she was alone.

Author's Note

Comment below.