Crumbling

Spike and Twilight were in the library, Twilight reading a book and Spike just sitting there thinking. He was thinking back to that one night where he got that gem. Immortality Gem it was apparently called, he wasn't sure what that meant, but it sounded important.

"Spike?" Twilight suddenly said breaking Spike's thoughts. "Yeah?"

"Can you get another candle please?" "Sure." It was a rather dark night so it made sense. Spike got up and got the candle and brought it to Twilight. "Thanks."

He just nodded. He then saw what she was reading. It was about the immortality gem. That made him look to his bed. He had been hiding it under his little bed for the whole time he's had it. He felt a sudden tug, as if something wanted him to go to the jewel. Like some pony was calling his name.

He slowly made his way to his bed, not turning his gaze. He reached out his hand and lifted his bed slightly and carefully removed the gem. It looked just as nice as it did two years previously. He was completely absorbed in it. He was just turning it around in his claws, staring at it.

"Have you ever heard of the Immortality Gem?" Twilight asked, she didn't look up at him. Spike said yes not really paying attention.

"Apparently it's really important. In fact it does tons of stuff." She continued but Spike was still in his own little world.

"Like it gives alicorns their immortal powers and fuels strong magic sources! It mostly keeps good and evil balanced." She said as she took notice of Spike's odd behavior. "Spike?"

He didn't answer. The gem was whispering gibberish Spike couldn't understand but only he could hear it. Twilight walked over to him.

"It's also been missing for hundreds of years..." She said looking down into his claws to see what he was looking at.

"Spike!" She said noticing what it was. Spike snapped out of it and quickly jumped back. "How long have you had that!?" She exclaimed.

Spike looked down at the gem in his claws. "I don't know Twilight. I don't know..." he said staring at the gem again.

"You were going to eat it weren't you?" She asked. She didn't get a response. "We have to get this to Celestia, it is very powerful." She said wrapping it in a purple aura and pulled on it. But Spike didn't let go.

She tried a couple more times but the dragon kept his grip. "It's mine Twilight! I found it!" He protested jumping back.

"It isn't yours. It's meant to be with the princesses." "Nah, they got tons of stuff. They won't miss one little jewel." He said.

"Spike, its really important. They have been searching for it for a while. Just give it here." She ordered putting out her hoof. Spike thought for a moment. "No."

"No?" She asked surprised. "You heard me." Spike said holding his ground. "Consider this my payment." he said walking around the room with it.

"Payment?" She asked. "Yes. I'v been a great assistance for many years without asking for too much." "Too much? I give you a place to live, a place to sleep, food, and a lot of care." She protested taking a step to Spike.

"What if that's not enough." Spike said as his expression turned more fierce. "I think some pony is going through another greed spell." She said.

"Stay back Twi!" He ordered. She grabbed it with her magic but Spike pulled it back and shielded it with his arm.

"It's mine and you can't have it!" He yelled. "Spike, you better give it." She said getting angry.

Spike growled and the light seemed to dim. "You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead claws!" He said as his eyes began looking more dragon like. Twilight got frightened.

"Sp-spike, what are you doing?" She said shaky. He then shook his head and realised what he was doing.

He looked at himself in shock. But just then Twilight teleported the gem from him to her which made him mad again.

"No!" He yelled charging at her. She quickly teleported herself and the gem behind him. He turned and hissed. "Eep!" She said startled and started backing away as he advanced.

"Spike, go to your bed." She said desperately. He continued. She hovered a broom to her and blocked him with it. He simply set the broom on fire with a green flame.

"Ah!" She said as she quickly blew it out. Before she could react he tackled her with surprising strength and took the gem from it's levitation. He then lept to the window sill.

"Spike STOP!" She yelled very angry and froze him in an aura. He started resisting. They began having a tug of war over Spike's body. But Spike finally got free from her hold. But he was sent flying through the window and fell from the second floor.

He tried to catch the gem but he missed and it hit the ground with a smash. It cracked directly in two. Spike panicked as he paid no mind to his injuries. He saw the grey half and picked it up.

"Spike!" Twilight yelled from the window. He looked back to see Twilight teleport down. He got up and bolted it away. Twilight tried grabbing him with magic but he was to fast and escaped into the darkness of the night. He ducked behind a ditch as she desperately scanned the horizon.

"You better come back here Spike!" She yelled getting teary. He stayed hidden. There was a little silence. "Fine! Come back when you're willing to co-operate!" She yelled as she stomped back home. Spike smiled with glee.

"That'll be a while." He said with an evil grin as he held his precious gem.

It was a chilly night and the cool breeze was caressing Spike's scales. He held his gem tightly against his gem as he walked through the night, it was a bright one, too. The moon shined and the stars glistened making the night almost magical. But Spike didn't care, he was to involved with the jewel, or half the jewel.

Spike decided he was going to go into the Everfree, that's what the gem told him. Or at least he figured it did. He just felt an urge to travel there. But in a blink of an eye the night turned fearsome, as if someone had turned off the nice night with a switch. Rain poured down unscheduled and the wind was brutal. Spike needed somewhere to stay, he decided to go to Fluttershy.

He ran to her cottage protecting the gem from the rain. He snook in through the window and fell gently on his toes. He closed the window but realized he was caught. Fluttershy saw him.

"Spike?" She said. He put a claw to his lips. "Shhhh." he said. Fluttershy did a soft eep. He took a step forward with a wicked grin but then shook it off.

Fluttershy was creeped out. "Fluttershy, how are you tonight?": He asked casually. "Um...good." She said very quietly. Spike made his way over to her. "That's good, feeling fresh?" He asked as he stepped behind her.

He was being driven by an unnatural force. "Huh?" She asked. He twisted his body around her. She was frozen in fear. "I said feeling fresh?" He said into he ear as he flicked his tongue. She jumped back from him and hid behind her couch.

Spike acted surprise at first then smiled maniacally. "Challenge excepted." Spike hummed. "Spike, please stop." She begged.

"Stop what?" He asked blankly. "Your...being creepy." She whispered. "I'm doing my duty!" He defended. "I don't understand..."

"Master needed a host. Two years overdue. But now master needs its own form, it wants to be born." He stated. "Who's master?" She asked shaking. He paused staring her down.

"I am!" He yelled in a deep voice that was not his. Fluttershy shrunk behind the couch even more completely scared. Spike cleared his throat. He slowly walked over to Fluttershy's hiding spot. "It has a scheduled that is already behind. It must not be delayed." Spike said holding up the gem.

"Spike?" She asked desperately. "Last question." "What are you talking about? Is this a joke?" She asked. "I said only one, bad obedience!" Spike yelled. Fluttershy began tearing up.

"I will answer your second! No, this is no joke." He said. tears began running down her cheeks, Spike ignored. "We must be swift, there is so much that needs to be accomplished!"