There once was an abandoned castle in the middle of the Everfree forest. Everypony left it alone as it was occupied by a great and powerful sorceress known as Rarity.
Rarity, the queen of the night sent out a letter to all of the knights in the realm:
“If anypony can defeat me, I will resign as queen of the night and they shall have my hand in marriage. If they cannot, you will be shamed!”
I held the scroll in my claw and scrunched it up. Turning around to look at my three trusted helpers, I cough and say, “Come, we must defeat Rarity and save Equestria!”
They look at each other and shout, “To battle!” Scampering around me and towards Queen Rarity’s castle.
We walked for a couple of hours, making our way to the front gate. I could feel my trusted helpers anticipation for the nights activities grow as they remembered what Rarity promised she would do if we won.
"Spike?" Sweetie Belle asks, "Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?"
I turn to my girlfriend and kiss her on the cheek, "I am, let's go."
Together, we enter the castle as quietly as we can. At any moment, we could wake up the dreaded Rarity of the night and it would be our downfall.
I look around and frown. It wasn't usually this untidy in here, she must have fed recently.
Strewn across the floor were various books, fabrics and accessories; one of which was owned by Twilight. I race forward and held the bright blue hairclip that Dash gave Twilight for her birthday.
"Ooh Spike!" Rarity's voice echoes throughout the building, she’s close. "My little Spiky has come to me... shame about you other three."
I grip the hairclip and jump back as a fabulous bolt of energy slams into the ground, burning the carpet. "Oh Spike, join me and together we will rule this country!" Rarity's voice was close, too close.
I back away from the charred mark and hold out an arm in front of the fillies. "Don't worry girls, I'll protect you."
"Oh Spike..." Sweetie swooned and held onto my waist. Behind her, the other two cutie mark crusaders were gagging.
Feeling Sweetie Belle shake from fear, I wrap my tail around her waist and pull her close. I see a faint blush appear, but choose to ignore it as it wasn't the time nor place.
Slowly moving backwards towards the door, I trail my hand across the wall until it reached the light switch. I try to push it up onto the 'on' position, but blush in embarrassment as I realise that it was already on.
"Well, that was dumb..." Applebloom comments as she face-hoofs.
"Agreed," Sweetie nods. Her chest making me feel all warm inside.
I glance around and see very few things in the vicinity that were usable. I think about using Sweetie as a weapon, but it is doubtful Rarity would be okay with that.
Looking over at the other crusaders, a small stray thought made its way into my brain. 'Maybe I can throw Scoots... She always wants to fly...'
I walk over to Scootaloo, and with a small grunt pick her up.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" She shouts as she thrashes about in my arms.
"Improvising..." I whisper.
'She must be here somewhere...' I think to myself. Scootaloo squirms in my claw, but ultimately gives up and decides to snuggle into a comfortable position.
"What are you waiting for?" She asks, glancing at me with a glare.
"I... Let's go in, Rarity won't slay herself!" I shout, hopefully making myself out to seem more gallant than before.
I reach back and attach the hairclip to the end of my tail, so it doesn't get broken or lost. Walking forwards, I keep my eyes peeled for any sign of movement in Rarity's lair.
I walk forward, taking a step around the charred carpet. I feel Sweetie move around on my back and loosen her, so she can get lay comfortably.
"Are you ok?" I ask her, concerned.
"Y-yeah, Just a little warm," she replies, looking away.
Scootaloo sighs and looks at us, "Dear Celestia, get a room."
I blush and decide to focus on our mission: to slay the dreaded Rarity of the night. Stepping into the kitchen, we were met with a sight so horrible that my children's children will have nightmares about it.
"So the rumours were true," Applebloom mutters, receiving nothing but nods from the rest of us.
I walk into the room and survey the horribleness. Plates and cutlery were stacked in the sink, multiple piles of clothes were on the floor and I swear I could see some of them stained with food...
Suddenly, Rarity’s voice blasts from nowhere; almost as if she was watching us the whole time, "Mwahaha, that is nothing but child’s play to me." Rarity laughs, "Now watch as I take your precious Sweetie as a snack!"
Sweetie lifts up into the air, then vanishes in a puff of smoke.
I fall to my knees, look up to the ceiling and hold my claws up to the sky, "Nooo!"
Applebloom walks over and places a hoof on my shoulder, "Don't worry, Spike I, we'll get her back."
I look over to her, "Yeah, we will." Suddenly, all the kitchen equipment turns itself on, shocking me into throwing Scootaloo up into the air.
She hits the ceiling and falls straight back down onto me, knocking me out.
I groan and feel my eyes open slowly. I am laying on something soft with my head raised slightly. 'Feels like Rarity's bed...' How I knew what Rarity's bed felt like was irrelevant, but I did.
Leaning up, I look over to the right and find Sweetie Belle lying next to me, snuggled under the covers. I smile and pull the covers up some more, to keep her warm.
I swing my legs over the edge and stand up feeling a little light headed from where Scootaloo fell with style onto my head.
'I'll have to apologise to her.' I think, as I walk over to the door. I open it and walk through to the hallway.
Creeping down the hallway, I check to see if any of the doors are unlocked. Finding the first one on the right unlocked, I open the door and go inside.
Just as I close it, I hear hoof steps pass the door down into the room with sweetie. I feel slightly guilty for leaving her there, but she's probably safer on her own than with me, who's looking for trouble.
I turn and flick the light on, light blasting my eyes from above. I hold my ears as Rarity's voice blasts out from somewhere in the room.
"I see you have found Mr-Fluffiness’ lair. Please don't stain the rug, I've just had it dry-cleaned!" She cackles for a few moments before her voice cuts off.
The room is filled with crates stacked perilously around a number of stone pillars, each getting older and more unsafe the further back I looked.
I hear a predatory growl and hide behind a few of the crates, waiting for this Mr Fluffiness.
Finding myself at a loss of what to do, I summon up the courage to inch my head out and look at what monstrosity Rarity had unleashed upon me.
I glance around the brightly lit lair and lock eyes with a beast so scary, a beast so gruesome, a beast so fluffy that Fluttershy would be conflicted whether to hug or to run from it.
It sees me and charges, smashing pillars and crates out of the way.
I run out of my hiding spot and leap as it hits the wall beside me, shaking the foundations and scraping a large section of the wall away.
Rushing up behind it, I jump into its back and grab hold of its snow white fur. I hold on for my life as it thrashes about, knocking into the wall and crates in an effort to kill me.
"Whoa there!" I shout, seeing it was about to ram head first into the wall.
It smashes through and knocks me to the ground. I raise my head and watch was as Opalescent runs away into some bushes.
Shaking my head, I run over to the window and start sweating bullets; what would Rarity say now...
I shake my head at the mess and look around to see if Rarity had come in to tell me off. Staring at the door for a few minutes, I see no sign of her and let out the breath I didn’t realise I was holding.
Sighing, I figure I could blame it on some accident later and walk over to the door.
I get back into character as Sir Spike and grab the iron handle, pulling open the door. I step outside into the dingy hallway and shout, "You will have to do better than that to stop me!"
"We'll see about that!" Rarity cackles back.
I hear a number of chains move across and doors opening. Behind me, Sweetie Belle walks out into the hallway, grabbing my attention.
"Hey, you're up. How are you feeling?" I ask as she walks slowly toward me, a blank expression on her face.
I walk forwards, slowly at first before picking my pace up into a run and slide as she falls into my arms. "Spike... I'm sorry..." She whispers as her hoof caresses my cheek.
A tear runs down my face and drips onto her coat, soaking the fur. I hold her body as life flows out of her. Her leg falls to her side as I start shaking with anger.
My blood boils as I lay Sweetie’s body down on the cold, hard ground. I look around and hear the door to another part of the castle click open, enticing me to enter. Giving Sweetie a kiss on the cheek, I step around her and summon up my courage for the journey ahead. I walk to the door and look inside, Just like the hallway, it’s dark with only minimal lighting.
There are numerous bookcases around the room, with a large run in the center, ‘Looks to be the library...’ I think, silently twisting my body around the doorframe and entering.
I constantly look around for any enemies that may ambush me as I walk in. Making my way to the center of the room, I gaze upon the capes of my other crusaders and pick them up.
Looking around, I shout, “Rarity, I’ll get my revenge for what you have done!”
“Haha, I don’t think so... I have already won, don’t you see?” She replies, her cold, dark voice creeping it’s way into my soul.
‘She’s right... she’s already taken Sweets away from me...’ I thought, my anger seething. Just about keeping my anger back, I shout, “I’ve had enough of this game, come face me like a true Queen!”
“The game ends when I say it ends!” I could hear her cough slightly, “First though, enjoy my newly recruited minions!” A door at the far end creaks open. Applebloom and Scootaloo walk out, their motions mechanical and stiff.
I could see something on their backs, but didn’t have enough light to know what it was specifically. They walked forwards, their hooves stomping with each step. I panicked, ‘I can’t hurt them... they are my friends,’ I thought, taking a small step back.
I heard Rarity’s laughter echo through my head and push my anger over the edge. Looking up at the hanging tapestry, I breath in and summon up my fire breath, setting them alight.
With my newly made light source, I take a step forward and rush around one of the bookcases. The remaining crusaders turn their heads to me and grin as they split up and go round the bookcase on either side, blocking me in.
I take a running start and jump over Applebloom, who gasps and crouches down. Scootaloo shouts, “Hey, that’s not fair!” but covers her mouth after a quick glare from Appleboom. “Sorry,” she whispers as she goes back to being mechanical.
Seizing my chance, I grab hold of Appleblooms back and with a grunt, push her down. She blushes and tries to squirm out of my grasp, but I hold her steady. Taking a look at her back, I see a small insect is attached to her back, made out of stuffed fabr- I mean gems. It had a glowing green eye and screeched at me as it tried jumping at my face.
I swat it away then took a step back, I watch it jump onto Applebloom’s back, settling into her coat once again.
Fearing that they would catch me, I rush over to the side of the bookcase and grunt with exertion as I pull it down over them. The bookcase eventually topples over and smashes into the wall, throwing books and scroll over my helpers.
I frown and walk over to where I can see both of them and let out a small tear for them, “I’m sorry...” I say. Then I turn around and make my way over to the door that held my destiny, the door where Rarity was waiting for me.
Before I could reach it though, I heard a cough sound out from behind me, “‘Bloom?” I turn around again and run over, quickly throwing books around to dig her out of the pile. “‘Bloom, talk to me!” I shout, feeling extremely guilty for throwing that bookcase onto them, ‘I didn’t know what else to do, forgive me!’
She finally pushed her head out of the pile and looks at me with a frown, “Why did you do that?!”
“Oh thank Celestia...” I mutter as I help her out of the books. She hold a hoof up and slaps me.
“Don’t ever do that again, or we won’t play with you!”
“Alright... sorry...” I mumble, feeling embarrassed, Rarity must have seen that. I hear another pile of books move and go over to help Scootaloo out.
She bursts out and knocks me to the floor, “Miss me?” she asks, grinning.
“Are you ok?” Applebloom asks, walking up to us.
“Yeah, I’m sorry for foalnapping you...” Scootaloo replies, a light blush on her cheeks.
“It’s ok, at least it was you and not some strange dragon...” ‘Bloom says, before remembering I was next to her, “Oh, no offence, Spike.”
Grumbling under my breath, I shake my head and leave them to it. They could use the room at the moment and I had more important things to deal with.
I reach the door and push it open, the hinges becoming inexplicably rusted. The squeak echoes throughout the next hallway and it seemed as if time itself stopped as I listened out for any of Rarity’s laughter or more minions.
I step through into the hallway and find that the stone floor had been replaced with warm carpet and instead of darkness, there were torches every few feet or so. Thanking Celestia for light I moved through, keeping my Sweet in mind for courage and to keep my mind from imagining whatever horrors Rarity was cooking up for me next.
I reached the end and after making sure there were no other doors, I placed my ear to the wood to listen. I could just about make out some laughter from one, no two... THREE ponies!?
“One of them must be Rarity... who are the other three?” I say out loud to myself. I think about what was on the other side of the door, ‘This room must be her chambers if I remember correctly, she had a large table in the center. Her bed was on the right and her window, which she keeps closed was on the left...’
I brace myself, digging the claws on my feet into the carpet for extra grip.
I untense and glide up to the door once again then crouch down, placing my eye up to the keyhole to peer through. It’s blurry at first, but my eyes got used to the low light in the other room fast. I could see three ponies sitting around the table in the center. Their mouths were moving, but i couldn’t make out what they were saying due to the thick wood.
I saw Rarity, as elegant as ever sitting at the head of the table. She was dressed in the finest silken dresswear. Her ‘thousand year dress’ sat on her body, accentuating her curves gracefully. She picked up her glass in her aura and tapped it against the guests in the room, then she took a sip of what I hoped wasn’t blood.
I turned my attention to the second pony and gasped as I saw Twilight take a bite out of what I guessed was meat. My body felt like vomiting, but I held strong, needing to know why they were there, eating together... ‘She must have been captured out in town, if only I looked out for her more...’
She was wearing a red and purple corset which made its way over her hips and rump, making them look larger than usual. I quickly glanced away, a fiery blush making it’s way onto my face.
The third pony in the room, which didn’t surprise me, was Rainbow Dash. ‘She must have been with Twilight when she was captured...’ I thought, imagining her trying to fight off Rarity and protect her marefriend. I saw her pick up her glass and take a large sip, ‘She hasn’t changed...’
I rush back a few steps, braced myself and rand forwards smashing my shoulder against the door. It broke off it’s hinges and fell to the floor with a crash. The three ponies of the night look over with indifferent looks and smile, showing off their fangs.
“So good of you to join us, Sir Spike!” Rarity shouts as she rises from her chair and walks over to where I currently was, laying on top of the door, groaning in pain.
“Yes, so good,” the others say, both at the same time.
I wince as I get up into a sitting position and look over to Rarity, who was slowly advancing on my position, I had to think fast, what could I do!?
I jump to my feet and dodge a swipe from Dash; she was quick, but I was quicker. Leaning down, I break off a piece of wood from the door and hold it up in front of me, warning Rarity to stop.
She looks at the door and a small frown passes over her face, before returning to indifference. “I hope you will pay for that... in BLOOD!” She screams as she jumps at me, fangs at the ready.
The other ponies prowl around us as we struggle for dominance, not wanting to get in the middle of Rarity and her supper, me. They look to each other and grin, releasing both of their wings and flying up into the air and circling the chandelier, their shadows being cast on the walls.
I fight Rarity off and she jumps back, hissing. “I see you are a worthy opponent, but how will you fare against both of my kin?”
Twilight and Dash swoop down and knock me onto my back. Twilight lands on top of me and laughs, “You didn’t think you could defeat her, did you?” She then holds a hoof up and hold it at the ready, waiting for the order.
Waiting for the killing blow, I look around for anything I could use, then remember that Twilight is ticklish. Folding my tail back, I stick it under her front legs and poke her, sending her into a laughing fit. Standing up, I keep doing it until she finally looks defeated.
I look over to Rarity and smirk, “Looks like they ain't that great after all!”
She hisses, “Dash, get him!” She orders, pointing towards me with a manicured hoof.
I duck as Dash swoops over me, trying to hit me with a hoof. I choose to ignore her in favor of defeating Rarity. ‘If I beat her, Dash and Twi will go back to normal...’ I think as I rush towards her, my feet tripping on the carpet and knocking one of the glasses off the table and all over Rarity.
She stands there for a second and looks down before screaming. “Did you just spill Blackcurrant juice over my dress?” She asks, her body shaking with anger.
I stand up, and look towards Twilight and Rainbow who stand there for a few seconds. They snap out of their trance at the last second and run over to Rarity.
“It was an accident, let’s get you cleaned up!” Dash says, taking her over to the door and exiting into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry Twilight, I didn’t mean to trip...” I say, guilt and embarrassment on my face. “I only wanted to play a game. I didn’t mean for it to end like this...”
“I know you did,” Twi replies and places a hoof on my shoulder, “Don’t worry, we’ll calm her down. Go back to the library and get some sleep, it’s past your bedtime anyway.”
I nod and turn towards the boutiques door. Just as I go to open it, I’m stopped by Sweetie Belle.
“Where do you think you’re going?” She asks, before planting a kiss on my lips.
I close my eyes and lean in, feeling electricity dance along my scales.
We pull back, both with crimson blushes. “Same time next week?”
