“HHH-HH-EELPPPP,” said Spike, crying at the top of his lungs in terror. Step by step, slowly as if enjoying itself, that thing approached with a glare on his face, or was it a smile?

‘’Spike??’’ A voice echoed.

‘’Spike, where are you??’’

That voice… It sounds familiar..? TWILIGHT??

‘’TWILIGHT!!’’
‘’SPIKE! WHERE ARE YOU??’’
‘’HELP TWLIGHT, I’M OVER HERE!’’

Gasping and panting like a worried mother would, Twilight finally managed to find Spike.The moment Spike turned his head to see his savior, the monster was gone and out of sight.

‘Spike! Where have you been? I was worried!’’

‘’Didn’t you see it Twilight? That thing, it was chasing me!!’’

‘’What thing, Spike? All I heard was you screaming outside about something to go away?’’

Spike turned around, but the crooked pony was nowhere to be seen for it had gone deeper into the thick forest of the Everfree. Spike stood in silence, hoping that it wouldn’t return.

And then it happened, all the horror, the madness of that night, the sheer terror that Spike felt as he ran for his life finally broke the dam, and he began to cry his eyes out, clutching to his surrogate mother for protection.

Spike was speechless. He knew Twilight hadn’t witnessed anything that had happened at all. Teary eyed and sobbing like a child, Twilight apprehended Spike into a warming and affectionate hug. The surrogate mother Twilight, now also crying with her baby dragon. The two remained in that position for quite a while. Spike was unable to comprehend anything that had just happened in the past 15 minutes of madness.

‘’Spike… I know what you think you may have saw was, disturbing… But please, don’t run off like that again! You know how much I worry about you when you go missing in the middle of the night!’’

‘’I-I’m… I’m sorry Twilight… It was just so scary… I couldn’t take it!’’ Spike said with a wobbly voice.

“Ohh, Spike… Don’t cry! Don’t worry, I’m here now, I can protect you!” said Twilight as she tightened her embrace around Spike, which seemed like he was never going to stop crying. After a short while, Spikes crying ceased. The intense beating of her heart and her warmth made him feel calm and safe.

As the two finally settled down from the turn of event, they slowly made their way out of the Everfree forest. Although it took a while for things to cut in and happen, it was still night. The darkness surrounded them like paparazzi, it was persistent on blocking their vision, and even caused the pair to trip up on a vine. The two shared a quick nervous laugh, and hurried on out of the forest before anything else could happen. Upon arrival, the two calmed down, had a quick lecture to give Spike some reassurance, and then went to bed. Finally, it was morning. Spike had been waiting so long, to finally be able to see a glimpse of light. He was safe. It couldn’t get him anymore as long as he was in the daylight. The two, quickly made off with the days chores and tasks that were set ahead of them. But before he knew it, the night had already begun its descent. The two slept another peaceful night.

It was morning again. Spike was in urgent need to go and babysit Fluttershy’s animals, it was with little warning towards Twilight that Fluttershy was going out. Spike was kind enough not to refuse. Being Twilights number one assistant, he could never refuse an earnest request from his dearly loved.

It was just a few days ago, that Rarity had given Spike a gem, as a token of gratitude for helping her out with a Canterlot order mess up. The designers there messed up the numbers on an order, and ordered 9 less than what they were supposed to receive.

Spike couldn’t help but bring along the gem, given to him by the element of generosity. After all, he did have a crush on Rarity!

Finally having made it to Fluttershy’s cottage, Spike opened the door, only to be greeted by the troublesome little bunny, Angel. Angel was prepared for this; he had the whole thing set up, all just to piss off Spike, and to prove to Fluttershy that Spike was an irresponsible caregiver. The white flurry lunged up, and seized Spikes prized gem.

And so, the chase began. Unaware of Angel’s devious plans, the whole interior of the cottage was in havoc. Animals were throwing a party as if tomorrow was never to be seen again.

Spike, compelled to chase down Angel, that evil little bunny. He led Spike into the Everfree. Spike was too careless to even notice where he was heading.

‘’Angel, get back here! Gimme back my gem, you pest!’’

The bunny only hopped faster and laughed at the unfortunate drake. Soon, Angel was out of sight. Spike was lost, again.

‘’Thank Celestia it’s not night time yet.’’

Having said that, the day quickly transitioned into the night.

‘’Well… This won’t end well.’’ Spike said, with an annoyed expression on his face.

What was Spike doing in the Forest, again? Had he not heaved Twilights warning? Did he not learn anything from Twilights superior lecturing skills? He was much too angered by the pesky bunny, Angel. Spike was now wandering the Everfree, again. In the darkness of the night, again. Spike, soon to afraid to go deeper into the Everfree, began backing away. He tried making his way out, cutting vines that entangled him, wrestled a cockroach, and even had to solve a puzzle, just to try and find the exit, to this labyrinth. Surprisingly, Spike actually found the way out, without encountering the Crooked Pony. He could see the light, poking through and just teasing him.

‘’FREE-EE-EEDOM!!’’ Spike shouted, triumphantly into the air as he made his way towards the light, the saviour, the justice that would keep him out of reaches from that monster.

It was only when he got there, he realised the light was just a fraud. The light was only a hole, that seethed through a broken tree’s leaves. An imitation that dared to provoke Spike. The dragon’s face saddened, filled with hopelessness and anger, he blew a chunk of fire that was powered by his hatred of the mocking light. The purpose of the fire wasn’t to catch onto anything, and cause damage, but to articulate what Spike was feeling. Unfortunately, the fire quickly caught onto the broken tree, only causing it more pain than from its broken branch.

Spike quickly scurried away, from the spread of wildfire, looking for safety. It was then, something caught in his field of vision. Spike tried looking carefully, but didn’t see anything except for something moving towards him. It looked rather small, it had to be Angel, the pest bunny that took his gem. It had to be, who else could it have been other than that small figure?

Spike, infuriated, charged towards the bunny in a mad dash.

The bunny gave out a raspy and rather disturbing cackle. Spike’s heart skipped a beat. A cold drop of sweat travelled down his spiny back. His hands were shaking. There was nothing else Spike could do but scream.

The Crooked Pony trailed behind him at an incredible pace, and didn’t look like it was about to give up anytime soon. Spike was huffing; he just couldn’t handle the pressure of being chased down by a maniac monster. That thing crackled as it slowly and steadily got closer to spike, making Spike’s heart beat almost to the point of a beating bass drum. It would never trip, it would never falter nor hesitate. He was getting closer, and closer, and at one point Spike could smell the rotting essence of the monster.

‘’No… NO NO NO NO NO! NOOOOOO!’’

‘’GET BACK! GET BACK!’’ Spike chanted, while picking up a nearby stick and prodding at the air as the thing crept closer.

The baby dragon was now crying even harder than he had ever. He was shouting, crying, doing all that one would do in a struggle like this, but nothing happened. No pony was around to witness what was happening. Was this the end? It all happened so quickly… Spike couldn’t recall anything that just happened. Only remembered small details, like running, seeing things and all the non-important things that just happened. Spike muttered a few prayers, and last few words, before meeting his untimely demise.

‘’I love you Twilight, please never forget me.’’ Spike whispered, as the last few words struggled to escape his mouth.

How could it all have ended so soon? None of it made sense… It all happened within the blink of an eye.

All that came from the beast, was a disturbing gurgle of blood and saliva. At last, it reached Spike. Slowly, it reached its foul, decayed hoof and felt Spikes scaly face. Spike did nothing, showed no resistance against the thing, for he knew this was truly the end. Spike could feel two bumpy but sharp hooves, trying to split his stomach open. The hooves seemed to have some sort of blade, embedded into the centre bottom of each hoof. The blades began their unmerciful decent, into the baby dragons stomach. Spike could feel his stomach splitting open. He felt his scales being pierced by a sharp cold metal, and the blades entering his stomach. Slowly and painfully, the Crooked Pony shifted one blade upwards, whilst the other slid downwards. They slit Spikes skin easily like cutting cake. The baby dragon could begin to see his own flesh, the mellow pinkish dragon flesh, accompanied by a stream of blood, flowing out from Spikes scales.

Another five minutes past. The dragon was in absolute agony, he could see his own organs now, resting helplessly in his body, while the petrifying fiend slowly dug his wretched face into Spikes completely cut in half stomach. What Spike felt was beyond indescribable. He felt the thing, just bash its face into his organs and bones, slowly feeling the sharp canines knawing on Spikes intestines. The pain was unbearable, and Spikes constant screaming for help was in vain. No one was coming to help him, he was trapped here with this, thing and have his soul slowly ripped apart.

Spike hoped for death, but it wouldn’t come. The Crooked pony was already clenching its stone-jagged teeth on Spikes little dragon heart. His vision was extremely hazy, and all he could feel and hear was true terror.

‘’S-stop…’’ The dragon muttered, as the words left his final few dying breathes.

‘’It.. It hurts.. So much…’’ The baby dragon cooed before death struck him.

Nopony was coming… They all left me here. To die. No… It was that stupid bunny’s fault, he lead me to this trap! I bet he’s working with this thing. I gotta tell everypony… But, I’m already dead..

He found a crooked bit, upon a crooked stile.

Author's Note

With good advice and help of socialdeviance!