//-------------------------------------------------------// The Greed Of Spike -by Regal25- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: Prologue //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: Prologue Darkness was covering the skies that hovered over the lands, the only light emerging and shining upon the guest of these lands were of that of Princess Luna’s moon. Even though this dark element was plaguing the skies, the moon was still as bright as ever, the cold dark space not enough to quell it. But then again, you know the saying, don’t you? “There’s not enough darkness in all of the world to quell even a single candle’s light.” In every being, there is something that burns deep inside of us that gives us the will to live. It’s a fire of some sorts, it containing your will power, your strength, everything about you, is based on how large this fire burns. And there are some beings fire’s that just burn bigger and brighter. Now, while I said darkness could not consume light, there’s still a way for it to get what it wants. There’s two ways the darkness accomplishes its goals. The first way, is that the darkness takes a form, and it distinguishes the fire in a physical way. Or, the darkness grows inside of you, and once you succumb to it, it take’s control of your light. There’s a lot of evil beings out there, making the first option very possible. But it’s the second that most won’t see, especially if you're a pony. But, if you're a dragon, it isn’t just a possibility that you’ll meet this darkness, it’s a guarantee. The only thing is, it isn’t a darkness, it’s something else called greed. Greed is something most, even ponies, will sucumb too. While it may not affect dragons while their young, it’s still there lurking in the back of their mind. But once you become older, like a teenager, it’s going to become a hard fight, that you’ll eventually, lose. But, then again, who would want to win? By losing, you gain power, you become bigger and stronger, and anything you desire is yours. By just saying “I want,” you’ve already got the means of getting what you desire. So the question remains, why would you want to win? Why waste all that time and stress trying to fight it, why not just give in? Somethings in life, you can’t just acquire with power. Spike the dragon, knows this, and to has also experienced what greed feels like, and what it could do for him. Once on his birthday, he accidentally triggered a small portion of his greed, changing his size and strength humongously. He was eventually turned back to normal, but the memories of what he did stayed with him, as well as that voice. Luckily, for Spike, he barely ever heard it, nor ever let it take control of him. Until later in life, where he would do something he’d regret for the rest of his life, something, causing him to fight his inner-self, to have to fight his friends, and something to put him on the run, to run away from all the ones he loved, the ones he called friends. Greed is something Spike has always hated, and will continue to hate and fight  against, but, eventually, greed will take possession of him. Spike, all this fighting is useless. You know something, I always thought I was useless to others. Exactly, so just come over here and make yourself useful. I’d rather not, because instead of being a useless item to them, I’d become an enemy not to only them, but to all throughout the land. You won’t hold out long Spike, eventually you’ll be begging for my power. Then that’ll the day, wouldn’t it? Spike released a small sigh, this mental argument taking a toll on him. Although that wasn’t the only mental condition that was bothering him, the past week of events was doing an even better job of making Spike just want to lay dead. He could hear their voices, the voices of his friends, and the things they said to him. Some words are just as sharp as daggers, luckily, Spike had thick scales, but yet the damage was still there. “It has been one big week… hasn’t it?” Spike asked no one, no one but himself. Spike looked up to the darkness covering sky, his tired baggy eyes appreciated the practical brightness that is the moon. While staring at the beauty, Spike released one small yawn, both his mental and physical body telling Spike he needed sleep, much to his dismay. Spike brought head down and placed his claws on his hips, as he took a quick gander around his environment. “So, there’s a lot of trees, not much of a hint to where I’m at. But after all the running I did, I guess I can say that I’m deep in the Everfree Forest… spooky.” I can’t just fall to the ground and sleep here, there’s gotta be a cave or something somewhere nearby. Looking at the ground, Spike found a long discarded branch. Stomping his foot down at the beginning of it, he launched it up upon the air, and caught it with his right claw, before lighting it with his specialty green flame. I guess if there is something I should thank you for, is this new size. Why thank you! But you know- No. Spike released one more small sigh, before trudging through the forest with new torch, in search of a cave to rest his head. Spike had changed quite a bit recently, his size was much different for starters. He had awoken one morning to a broken basket, crushed under his massive weight. He was quite shocked when he awoke to a roughly eight and a half larger body, and once he had shown Twilight, he had feared she was going to beat him to death, and search all his belonging for a horad. Although, luckily for him, he was able to show her he was still in control of his body and he was normal, at least for the meantime. His attitude and personally changed a little bit, but yet his some-what helpful and whimsical side stayed. Also, did I forgot to say he had this new voice in his head? “Ah, I think I found a place!” Spike exclaimed in enjoyment, as he had found a rather small cave that he could hopefully rest his head in. He slowly approached the cave,  uncertainty washing over him as he couldn’t be certain on what the cave contained. When Spike felt he was near enough, he tossed his torch into the cave, eliminating most darkness the cave contained. Spike looked physically relaxed, as the cave was completely empty and all to himself. He embarked inside the cave, doing a quick doubled check, just to be sure before dropping to the ground, and releasing a breath of relief. “I hope you don’t mind me spending the night, and don’t mind the snoring.” Spike said as he distinguished the torch's fire with his clawed fist, the darkness returning to the cave, but Spike didn’t have time to witness it, as his eyelids beat the darkness to it. Spike felt at peace in his sleep, his body and mind was finally relaxing. But his mind proved to be be bored, and decided to give a dream to Spike. But you really couldn’t consider it a dream, rather memoires of the past week Spike was forced to witness. Let’s take a look, shall we?