Path to Infinity

Spike was standing in-between two pillars that rose up into an infinite sky. Following the pillars of marble upward into the sky would only cause him to go mad from such insane implications. Perhaps if he had more time to study the delicate flower petals carved into their surface, the hours to spend attempting to figure out the runic marks which adorned the shape, he might figure out what they meant.

Cold was the only thing the pillars were willing to give up; an overbearing feeling of coldness. Secrets untold might have possibly lay within these constructions, but only one was given up. They had an arch between them which hung tiny bells and beads, and were connected to a larger structure.

Stained glass shrank behind the pillars that seemed to hold up the sky, a cathedral of marble and granite sat atop the water with little relation to anything around it. Walls and structure was huge in scope and size; a place of gods. Trees from the sides of the lake grew over the water toward the building.

Canopies of green and blue surrounded the pearl cathedral encasing it in a pure block of nature. From afar it seemed as if the entire thing rose from the forest which surrounded it. Cracked spires and wonky helices clawed upward from the structure of gods, a city of gods, falling apart.

Spike made his way inside through a shattered pair of doors; not even a frame to them. The interior of the cathedral was surprisingly bright considering the size. Sunlight streamed in from empty window frames and nearly blinded him. Before him were row upon row of pews facing nothing in particular.

Capitulating the sense of loneliness this place gave off was a revolting effigy that twisted and bubbled from where it stood. Seemingly screaming and clawing at its rocky flesh the statue was placed in the centre of the building. It gave off a feeling of coldness as the air whispered sorrowfully.

"What are you thinking about?" said a voice from somewhere. It had a sweet sound that seemed to drape itself across his arm. "Where are you going?" It trailed up his arm and latched to his shoulder before being blown away by the midsummer breeze. Walking toward the statue with a slump in his step, Spike placed his hand up against it with a plain expression.

Turning around slowly and pressing his back up against the effigy, Spike allowed his legs to slide outwards as he slumped against the cold obsidian. His stationary figure was drawn into the statue by claws that didn't exist. Light humming filled the air as he let out a tired sigh. The voice stroked against his cheek as the wind died down, filling his ears with the sweet sound of love. "You've been wandering so long..."

Spike didn't bother to respond as he pulled a packet of cigarettes from his pocket, flicking the lid of the packet open with a claw. Worn out card held a precious few sticks of lung cancer within. Plucking one up with no amount of haste the capricious dragon put his packet away with a small struggle; having to wiggle it back into his pocket.

Taking the small rolled pipe of organic decay between his left ring and index fingers, Spike brought the tip up to his mouth and let out a small yet of green flames. Flames leaped up and across the front of the wad before sinking in deep and beginning to slow-burn the fag.

It met his lips with the taste of maturity yet stank of disgust. Breathing in deep through the tight-fag Spike allowed his emotions to lose themselves for a moment. For a split second he was absorbed and rejected by the plume of decay that wriggled around his lungs.

Breathing out the poison with a bored expression he watched the black smoke filter and flow between his eyes, before drifting off on an invisible wind. Ponies and griffons didn't smoke a brand Spike had discovered, he had to buy his fags from minotaurs. It was strong stuff. Bringing his left leg up close to his body the purple wanderer rested his left hand on his knee.

The cigarette burned down slowly as he stared at the embers that slid off the tip. Spike eventually brought the fag back up to his mouth and took in a deep breath from the plume within, closing his eyes and letting his body slide closer to a back-to-front prone position.

Whispering in the distance made him freeze up momentarily, the delicious smoke escaping him as the tension got the better of him. He probably should have expected it to happen so soon but he'd deluded himself. Opening his eyes once more he found himself lost amongst a writhing mass of grubby black hands clawing for salvation. The effigy behind him was bubbling and convulsing in a disgusting manner.

What had once been a cathedral on a lake of pure blue had become a flat open expanse of nothingness. Scraggly white trees with needles for branches sprung up here and there, whilst a multitude of decrepit hands and screaming faces formed the landscape.

"L̴͇͖̪͎̗̼̙̫̣͕͌͂͑̐̀i̵̙̱̩̥͉͈̗̯͈̳̯̝̝͕̟͇ͧ͗ͤ͛̋̑̏ͩͮͣ̇͑̄ͨ̚͘ͅͅê̸̡̆̿͂́̽̔̑ͧ̽̌ͧ͐͛̐͡͝͏̪͈̻̻̗͈͚̫̭͙̻s̮̮͇̟̟̮̜͕̹̲̮̦͙̪̝̥̯̾ͣ̋̏͗ͭ̕͜͡͠ ̱̹͉̙̟̥̗̺̤͕̜̮͍̫͕̥͊̿ͨ͛̿ͭ̑ͮ̽͒͆͠͠ͅlͪͭ̄̍̈́̄̈̔͒͏̵͉͚̠̺̘͉̖̥͈͍͘i̵̵̶̹͚̲̖͈͉̫͔͎̱̻̱̱̙̩̯ͣ̊̍ͭͬ͢ͅe̵̎̑ͫ̆̈́͒ͫ̏̃̀ͨ͘͟҉̷͇̲̝̫̥̮̱̯̰̼̯͓̦̩̫͓͙s̛̹̲̗̖̣̝̮̫̯̓̊ͯ̌̏̄̊̓͟ͅ ̶̧̮͓̗̰̰̳̱͍̰͔͈͎͐̄ͮ͌͂͘͟͝s̥̺͈̯̳̘̺͓̲̯ͦ͛͌͗̅ͩͤ͗͑͛̃̅̽͂ͤ͛ͨ̕͝o̶̡̯̣͓ͦͨ̄͗̿̎̉̃̒͆̏ͣͫ̓͜͞ͅ ̷̷̧̞̩̱̥͙͕̠̰̍̂̎̎̃ͪ́ḿ̵̨̩̥̰̪͍̼̦̩͇̠̜̯͎̥̋̋̀̄̈́̇̂ͯ̏͝â̢͎̫͉̖̦̺̩̜͈̥̼̪̱͕͔͓̙̹͋̏͂ͩ̄̔̌̎̇̋̓ͩ͑ͫ͆̽͢n̸͚̟͎̹͓͙̩̰̩͖͔̬̖̗͈̹͛̾͊̋ͩ̽̀̿̍ͧ̈̐̌ͥ̿ͩͬ͜ͅy̡͈͚̩̼͉̭̬̜͚͎̮̳͇̣͓͕̹̞ͫ̏ͣ̑̍̈́ͦ̈ͪͮ́͘͟ͅ ̨̅̽͑̽ͩ̒̀͆̚̚͏̨̤̭̻̪̹͕̻͍̭̝̙͓̳͉̫̳͎l̢ͥ͂͑̒̌͢͝͏̱̱̯͚̼̺̱̗ͅͅi̛̯͔̭̥̭̗̤̎̏ͣͮ̏̿̈́̿ͮ̿̔́ͭ̌̋̉́̀͞ẽ̵̆̋̌ͨ҉̷̶̲̙̘͚̜̤̭̞͖̱͕s̡̙̮̯͖̠̍̂ͯ͐̑ͩ̏ͯ͑ͫ̚͝ ̷͑̌ͩ̈́̈́͛̍͠͝͏̩̺̳͖̼̩̞̤̻̳̻͜g̑̾̎ͣͤ̿͆̊͂͏̷̩̠̮̺̰̩̞̗̼̻̣ï̸̪̪̟̳͖͉̂ͦͯͥ͗̒̌̐ͦͮ̅̒́̒̎̌̐́͠͝v̵̹̱̟͔̦̻͖͔̻͇̾ͪ̊̄͊͐͌ͣ͗̎̇̑̓̇̽̒́̚͟͟e̪͈͈͇̘̻͔̰̣̣͇̼̼̲̺̎̔͒̆ͫͤͩ̉ͯͣ͒ͦ̓ͦ́̕̕n̷̨ͩ̇ͤ̃̆̌͒̑ͩ̌̅ͧͭ̿̕͠͏͉̙̻̟̣̯͍̭̼͕̤̖̪̼ͅ ̈̑̂́͗ͯ͛̀ͤ̋ͨͬ̅̅͑͆͊̆̚͢͏̥̫͔̼̤͔̺͔̭̥͘t̷̠̝̝̝̝͎̪͎̂͌̓͗̓̋͆ͬ͒̃̉ͣ͊ͫ̆̽̀͜͞o̴̊͑̃̇҉̛҉̮͓̯͉̫̳̺̗͈̻͙͓ͅ ͇̲͓̝̈̈̎̌̄̏ͭ͋̀̒ͯ͜͞uͦ̂ͦ͑̋͋̄͌̋ͣͨ̈̑̇̊̚̚͏̙͙͈̰͔̱̤̭̠̦̞̲̝͙͎̭͟s̢̨̾͛͐̓̋̾͂̀̉ͩ̇͏̼͓̥͉̮ͅ ̵̢͔̹̩̪̞̞̜̹͈̳̟͔̯̲̤̰̞̽͂͊̉ͤͩ̿͂͗͂ͧ̅̚͘̕͞b̧̰͍̱̼ͯͩͩ͛ͤ̄̓̔y̢̢̘̹̼̩̤͍͓͈̭̰̤͕ͦͫ͌̂͒͗͐̉̿̀͠ ̴̵̧̙͖͎̳͇͈̬͈̏̓̅͊͗̆̇́ͧ̃t̸̷͉̖̗͈̬̯̗ͮ͊̄͆ͬ͛͒ͪ̐́͊̈ͮ͝ͅh͚̤͚͙̭̘̮̙̞̝͕̣̩̞̩͆̔ͬ͞ͅe͈͉̙̦̯͖̖̦ͥͮ͋̒̉̑̊̓̎̀̀͢ ̜̼͕͖̻̫̤̥͕͙̤̮̫̖̒ͧͪ̒̊̾ͭͮ͌̈̅̌̆̎ͣ͑̄͝g̛̰̪̻̘͆̋̔̃̎͛ͪͯ̔ͦͯ̅̾́̀͞͞͝o̡̢͇̼͖̠̼͎̰̟͓͂͌ͭͧͨ͂̈ͫ̃͌̐͜͡ͅd̷̢͕̻̙̤͍̜̈̋ͮ͆͑͆̕ ̛̦̰̙̖̯̝͕̬̲͎̜̗̣̮̥̟͚̖̫̑ͦͫ̇ͥ͂͛̇̚͟hͤ̓͌͊͆ͬ̉̈́̓̆ͩͦ́̉̎̕̕҉̤̺̙̦͍̀i̸͖̺̻̦̤̰͊́̀͑̇̊ͫͧ͘̕͢͜m̴̢̛͉̖̯̟͖͖̜̻̹̭̩͎͕͚̗̜̄ͭ́͂̔̿̎̓͊̔̂̅͜s̴ͬ̈ͮͥ̽͂͛ͯ̔̾͆͘҉͙̰̠͚̗̰̠̱̲̞͕̩̦̩̝͈͙͘ę̵̸̛̫͕̤͈͂̉̑ͧ̇ͯ̔̀l̸̴̘̱̳͓͔͕̳͉̖ͤ͗̋ͨ̏͛ͭ̆̅̔f̛̛̖̗̣̟̲̜͌̃̚͜͞ ̷̷̤̪̣̟̣͖̦͖ͬ̐ͣ̓̒̐ͥ̓̔ͭ͊͆͆ͧͯ̿̀̚̕͟ͅw̶̗͍̰̯ͦͧ̊ͭ̌̅ͩͤ̒͝hͣ̓̑͂ͭ҉͙̟̥͖̝̣͖͇̭̦͕̙̼o̓ͥ̿̒̃͋ͬͭ̒҉҉̵̷̘͚͙͈̟͇̝̘̫ ̵̦͓̫̼͔̣͖̥͍͎͙̯͕̜̓̽̒̇̓ͯ̐̆͐̍̎͝ͅs̷̢͔̲̗̱̲̠̘̗̍ͭͭ̆̈̇͋̄̊͑́̄͆ͥ͐̈́ͬ́͋͢t̵̨̘͉̦̠̺̳͈̦͎̪͖̘̦̣̲͍̤ͪͥ̇̒̀̽̿͌ͥ͒͢͝͞a̵̢̤̝̮̦̘͎͖͉̩̙̰̝̩̗͉̼̫̜̯̓͊̐̐ͩ̈̊͊̓͒ͫ͛͐ͪ͒ͨ̏n̸͙̠̰͈̼̟͇̥̱̗̟͚̳ͬ̋̏̃͐ͩͮ͒͌͡ͅd̛̩̖̱̝̑̃ͣ̏̐ͧ̂̎̎̓̈́͐͞s̢͙̣̮̲̹̘̺̘̠͙̝̤̮͙̙̉̓͐̏̉̽̄͐͟ ̴͉̫̤̦́ͨ̃̂̊ͯ̑͒̈́̄̆͛̚͟͜͞ǔ̞͉͙̠̼͇͕̮̩̏͑ͦ͋̊̀̚͟͞ṕ̴̖̠̖͔̟̺̻̝̮͕̟̣̼̯͇̒͑͌ͬͦ̍̄͞ò̫͎̻͈̬̤͖̰ͪͩ̈́̏̽ͬ̀̚n̴̴͎̱̜͚͖̯̮̘͙͔̬͍̲͆̑̍͐̀̕ ̸̛̮̗̲̫̗̜̭͎̓̓͒̂ͣͣͭ̾̌ͧͅt̄̀ͭ͌͐ͪ͑ͤ͊̑̎̀͗̉ͩ̃ͦ͏҉̢͔͇̦̖͍̹̹̤̣̖̟̯h̷̡͉̥͍̠̰̼̫̲̬̗̬̖̠̭͖̥̰ͨͫ́̑̍́ͬ̎ͫ̈́̽ͪ̓̚̕͟aͣ͒̋͋͋̏ͥ̓ͧ̌͆̌ͨ̒̔̉͏̛̛̥͎͙͓̰̣̗̖t̴̵̨͈̪̝̥̗̣̙̰̝̞̥͚̲̼̰̤͈ͪ͊ͮ͒͋̆ͫ̓̈́̑̈́̊̃̄́͠ͅ ̒̄́̏͌̎̌͆ͦ̓ͧ̋̑͂̚͏̘̗̬̮̺̼̪͕̹̙̘̺͞c̷̣̟̤̳̺͔̞̝̬̮͓̫͚̩̆̓ͭ̅ͩ̈́̓ͫ́͡ŗ̸̸͈̜̻̮͍͊̿ͩ͒ͩ̉̊̊ͬ͘yͮͭ͂̃̀͏̶̹̹͍̣̦̕s̨̡̡̰̜̥̫͓̰͙͕̦̞̭̤ͩͫ̆͐̍̃̏͒̅̔̆̎̇͂t̵̢̮̱̪̲͎ͮ̅̋ͮ̃͋͒̆̓̅͊ͩ͜ȃ̵͕̤͇̬͓̮̩̻̪̘͉̯̺͚̏̐ͪ̌͂͌͗ͭ̄̽͗́͞͝͠l̵͈͖͓͎͓̠̺͒̽̾ͯ͆ͯͮ̀ͨ̓́ͭ́̎̕͜ ̢̛͉̱̹̘̺̜̱̱͙̩͓ͨ͂͑͌ͫ̚͟͞ṫ̿͗̏́͏̨͏̷͇̩͙̝̖h̴̭̫͓̭̝̉̇̎̅̾̌̍͆̑̌́͞͞r̴̸̛̖͕̦̘̭̥̮̀̃ͣ̎͑ͫ̿̿͑̍ͮ͗̈́̋͜ŏͯͭ̽̑͌ͫ̈̎̆̋̍̆͢͠҉͚̜̰̮̙͙̤̜̻ͅǹ̨̗̙̖͇̪̯͈͕̹͙̘̫͊͒̂̎̈́̒ͭ͊͝ͅe̸̘̠̤͍͔͗̂ͥ̇́́͝ͅ ̸̭͙̼͇̫̗͕̜̼̠̞͓̼͑̎ͫ́ͣ̍̓͐̂ͦ̓͐ͯ̍̔͘d͆ͫ̐͑ͣͧ͐ͫͫͨ́͒̌͑ͯͬ̽ͣ̚҉̧̖̺̻͇̭̫̗̭͔̙̥̹̯̹̗͓̟̺̕͟͡ͅe̡̢̞̯̻͎̖̝̰̟͇̠̭̹͎͕̦͈̮͍̓͐́ͧ̆̓̃̏͋ͩ̂͞v̴̝͖̗̳̲̹̱̣͇͕͋ͮ͑̄ͪ͋̂̔̾ͦ́͟͞͞o̧͚̼̣̼͚̝̟̺̫̪ͧ̔ͨ̂́͜͝͡ͅȗ̴̴̴̠͙͍͓̼̣̙͇͙̘̻̥̩̗̭ͧͥ͊́r̵̛̥̭͚̹̗͎̱̥͙͙̰̯̙̞̰̠̐͆̽́͢͝ẽ̵̷̹̰͚͒̉̿ͮ̽͋̓̓͗̂͛̈́ͤ͌̌̚ͅd̴̺͙̱̼ͨ͆̉͌̋ͫ͊͞ ̶̶̿ͣ̌́̏̄̓̈̆̔͟͞҉̬̹͇͔͉̰̘̪͖̺̹̘̜ͅḅ̨͓͖̥̻̭̱̘̹͖̫͔̻̓̂͋ͥͮ̂̆̾̆̎ͤ̍̆ͨ̎ͥ̓͆̕͢͠ỵ͇͈̼͓̖̪̤̮̭͙̺͕̱͖̤̜̄̊͌̐͒̒ͣͪ̀̚̚͟ ̤̗̗̫̣͔̞̭͖̖̩̳̓ͨ̐̾̈́ͮ̇̂̈ͭ͋̒͐͒ͪ́͞ͅt̵͕̬̟͈̙̦̘̫̀͌̄̽̇̋͂ͦͭ̐̆̅̌̂̏̆͌̅́̀̚h̵̨̜͙̲̻̭͇̩̺̭̹̦̙̤̳͎̾̐̿̒͞e̴̗͉̘̥̫̮̰͚̮̙̙̞̲̝̹̔͆̌͟͠ ̮̘̻̲̮̟̣̲̰͉̪͓̥͎͉ͣ͂͋̏̓̂͌̀ͦ̐̅ͭ́̌ͥ̀́͞͡ͅm̵̢̛̜̮̯̱̎ͣ̒̿̏̾͌͒̀͡ͅa̻͚̻͎̠͚̭͗͂̈́̑͞ẘ̧̰͔̝̥̎̄͒́̌̔ͭ̔͘͡͠ ̈́̏̽̋͑͗҉̢̨̦̖͉̠̟̖̺͘o͆ͦ̐̍͆ͮ̀̈͊̄̒̓ͪ̈ͮ̚҉̴̯̘̫̖͟ͅf̙͇̺̗̻̦̠͓̖̰̱̟ͦ͊ͭ́̿̅̀̌̏ͬ͐ͫ̇̅̾ͭ̐̀͆͜͞ ̷̷̖͇̘͕̰̳̦͎̱̮̖̫̮ͪͮ̔͊ͨ̐̑͂ͩͧ̏̍ͪ̆ͫ̚͢ͅiͯ̔̂ͨͬ̏̃ͨ̍̂ͬ̌̃͒͗͢҉̶̧̮͍͎̼̼̮̟̹̝̝ņ̸̨̰̞̮̩̬̜̗̬̟̙̜̟͍̅̂ͮ̎̂́͒ͣ̋ͮ̅̎ͥ͌ͨ̿̋ͨ͟͢f̷̵̷̻͉͕̹ͪͮ̍̏̅ͭͨ̃ͭ̚͜i̸̧̟͈͍̫̤̦̰̩͍͚͉͖̯͓̤͙͚͆̀͐̀ͬͫ́͟ͅṋ̤̣͖̫͈̻̯͒̌͒̂̂̈ͥ͛͊̾͒̈́͜͜͜͡͞i͐ͬ̄̈͗ͩ̅ͤͬ̍̈́̓̋̊̍̓̂́̓҉̨͎͕̤̭͓̝̳̀̀t̢̯̺̫͍͎̮͇͍̬̙͖͚̼̻̘̼̝̍ͮ̌͛ͨͬ͑ͩ̐̅͆ͨͥ͂̀̚̕ͅŷ̸͂͊̀͛̇͜͢͏̯̘̲̜̱̝̰̼.̷̛̝̞͈͍̦͖̝̳̙̗̗̗͓̽͂ͩ͊̓̽̆͋ͩ͗͑̉ ̡̤̗̻̗̣͔̰͚̮͎͉͖͚͇̬͔͍ͯͤ͊̈́͌̇ͦ͗ͬ̑̑̇̔͋̔ͫͨ̂ͦ͟͞ͅͅPͩ͋̐̓̉̊͋ͨͯ̚͏̵͙̫͚̗̪̣̜̫̩͖̕͡r̶̲̰̙̱̟͔͓̹ͯͪ̿͛͋̃ͭ͊̉ͥ̅͋́̚͞͠a͌ͤ͌̊ͤ͏̸͇̯͔̻̙͍̫̫̯̩̮͕̗̫̖ḭ̶̡͇̭̙̱͍̲͖̭̜̫̠̝͙́̄̾͌ͦͮ̐̆̿̈̈́̿̑̍̀s̷̭͔̹̗͖͉̠͇͓̺̣̞̪̯̰̩̼̅̐̾̐̆̍͑ͭ̊̓̏͒̈́̌̌̎̀͠ͅe̶̷̽ͧ͑̏ͭ̾͒ͯ̍̀̽ͨ̈̿̚̕͢҉̘̱̣̻̯̜͔̰̼͓̼̰ͅ ̸̵̦̞̳̘͖̓ͣ̃̒̉͛ͩ̓̑͒̚b̸̷̡̡̞̮̝̝̖̼̱̘̻̦͉̖̱̪ͪ̏̊̓ͨ̌́̎ͧͭ͂̀ͅë̲͇̰̮̘͙͉͉̩͓͓̖̹̪͈͎̭̻́̒͐ͪͦͨ̂ͭ́͟ͅ ̧̼̘̜̣̥͎͆̃͆̅̅̃̏̍͊͞h̾̈ͣ́ͨ̐͌͐̓̆͒̓̆̐̒̂͊̒҉̛̱̩̞̭͎̘͘͘͡į̫̜̣̯̰̱̩̥̘͉̼͉͐͂ͥ̋͠m̵̵̆̔͑͛ͬͩ̓̉͜͏̝̗̭̱̜̥̯̱͔̰̯̳̥͔̮,̢ͮ͛͌̈́ͯ̓͋̒͑ͦͭ̅ͪ̀̕҉̼̟̗̭͎̦̠̲ ̴̡̰̥̫͙̻͖͈̥̪̲̞̉ͬ͛̌̄ͤ̍̓́̔̆̐̌͆͌̇̕p͎̞̬̙̩͉̞̰̻̗͉̰͇̦̳̭͕ͦ̋̄͛͐ͧ́͗̋ͨ͗̆͋̍ͪ̾͞r̛̊͌ͯͫ͋̿̈ͮ̏̾҉̥͔̤̫̹̫̥͍͇͍̜̰͈̰̞̮͡ͅa̴̡͎̱̮̫͉͇̫̲̰͓̦ͫ́ͥ͒̒̀ͤ͛̀̃͊̕͢i͉͇͖͔̩͉̼̝ͩͭͭͯ͂̓͒̊͒̃̑̀͘͘͜͠s̛̩̖̩̳͙̝̫̜̗̏̔̑ͪͭ̿ͫ̈́̿ͤ̋̉͊̓̔͂́̕͟͡ĕ̈́̂͂ͥ̈͒̊̃ͪ̈́͊͑̿͛͐̓ͨ҉͏̴̨͍͍̰̹̮̫͚̙͚͚͡ͅͅ ͨ̓̿́̿͌͌̓ͩͧ̇͏̸͖̻̠̱̫̬̭̰͓̺̺͖͜͟b̏ͮ̇͗͋̉̄ͥ̉̆̽ͤ̈́͗̔̇̚̚҉̷͟҉̝͔͈͙̦͕̫̣̲̰̕e͎̺̥͓͎̩̱͋͆̃̅ͦ͗̿͂͑̓ͥ̑͊ͨ̿͑ͦ̓ͭ̕͠ ̴̦̘̞͖̣̙͙̯͕̰͍̗̯̻̳̞̰̙̈́̀͆̆͊̋ͪͭ̂̏ͬ̏̇̆̕͟ͅh̵̛̞̼͕͎̥̱̖̪̗̹̒͂̈͢͞iͪ͗̄̿̾ͤ͋ͬͦ̓ͪ͑̏ͩͩ̾̚͏̡͉͎͎͙̖͕͚̗̙͉̻͝m̸̩͍̩͓̞̜̏͆͛̑̊̽ͫ̾͊͑ͧ͑̋̅ͥ,̡̡̠͓͕̆̋ͩ͆̽ͥ́̅ͫ̌͢ ̵͑͊́ͦ̚͘҉̳͕̖͙g̃̓ͫ̀͏̨̪̹̯̥̯̞͉̤̞̣̣̣̰̯̩̲o͍̯̭̯͓͕̼̼̜̱̭͔̠̫̥̗̹̙̣ͤ́̎͐̌͐͐̍̄̓̊̂ͯ͐͘͞d̢̗͓̲̙̱̰̫̠̣̩̜͍̮̯͓̖̩͔̳̒̾̓̈́̐́̅̔̾̋͗͗̽̋͛͂̀͠ ͙͙̠͉͓͇͖̤̱͙̝͂̇̈́̈́́͟s̵̴ͥ̀̌̓ͧ̾ͦͮ̾̓ͪ̚͢҉̜̻̫͉p̨̢̺͎̺̮̫̉ͯ̎͑̓̅̅ę̴̶̞͖̳̜͖̼̥̳̪̒͌̽ͪ͗̔̓̎̽̀̌̽ͭ̿̔ͭͬ͜ȩ̨̠̙̜̱̜̦̳̟̱̹̳̟͙̜͒ͮ̾ͧ͗ͭ̂͑ͬͣ͗ͮ̏͊̑̒̕͜ḑ̰̝̖̱̂̆ͧ̄̾͛͒̎͗͗̐̉̊̈ͥͧͪ̕ͅ ͐̐͌̾ͩͯ̿̑͋͜͜҉̩̥̻̲̟̩̣͠͡y̶̶̧̲̖͚̮̟̞̆͛̍̂͊ͨͭ̀͞ͅͅȱ̷̴̦̞͈̳̠̲̺͍͌̇ͣ̚͟u̠͈͚͚̬̠̱̲̲̞͖͙̭ͭ̏̊ͮ̂ͯͤ́ͮ̅͂͒̌͘͟r̶̸̵̻̰̤̱̺̫̱̣͙̘̼̞̝̝̦͐͊̉̃ͪ̑ͦͨͨ̊͋ͫͯ͛̅̇ͩͪ͡ ͋̒͂ͯ̃̌̇ͮ̃ͯ͋̓̃ͯ̂ͩ̚͞͠͏̱̹̳̩t̶̨͖̜͇̥̗̥̟͕̖͍͕͒̉̎̃̈ͨ͝ͅͅi̷̳͈͖͕̳̼̫̥̝̘̹͚͙͔̪̹͑̈́ͨ̂̔ͣͭͣ̀̕n̶̻̫͉̫͇̖̜̱̊͂̎͗͑͛͢͢͝͠y̴̳̪̲̲̰̙͐̓̎ͬ̔ͨ̽̅́̓̐̉͛̀͢ ͍͈̳͔̮͙͕̱͇̯̞̖̻͖̹ͣ̉̏ͣͤ̋ͧ͌́͝ͅf̷̨̤̗̗͈̣͓͓̳͚̘̩̈́̒̃̀ͪ̕͡ͅį̯̞̮͇̥̱͕̜͈͇̳͙̪͖̲̳̗ͮͨ̈̉̾͛͑̽͞ŝ̷̛̼͈̭̮̪͇̳̜̤̩̳͖̇ͯ̿̅͑͒̆ͪ͑̀́͟t̸̹̞̝̯̲͌ͨ͌̉ͭ͞s̷̷̨̛̳̱̩̻͖̮ͪ̿̔̃̈́̋̀̍̿̂ͫ͗̅ͥ̈́"

Screaming voices tore at his ears as the entire landscape reverberated with the sound of the ones left forlorn. Tossing the fag aside with a flick of his fingers, Spike pulled his hood up and stood to leave. A hand grasped his ankle as a face appeared below him.

"S̽̿̒̿́ͧͬ̀̒ͪ͐ͫ̚͏̨̢̪̥̙̩̰͎̼̲̝̭͖̮̼̖̝͔̳ͅͅa̡ͯͪͥ̓̄̓ͦ̂̋ͮ͆͏͘͡҉̱͔̙̟̼͚̱̮v͚̝̩̭͈ͭͦ̾͐ͥͭ̿̀͠e̛̜̠̲̟͚̖̩̩̦̭͉͈̻͛ͥ̋̊ͯ͐͌̾ͩ ͭͨ͌̓̈̅ͫ͏̶̹͈͔̳̺͢ͅu̷̗̣̳͇̓̓ͪ̆ͮ͒̔͑̉ͩͯ̍̍̎̚͢s̖̥̞̣̤͔̼̗̞̠͍̩̗̀̆̀̌ͣ͛̆͐̈̑ͮ͐̄ͫ̓̓͂̍̇͟͝ͅͅ ̨̨̛̤̱͎̯͍͇̦͓̣̻̲̜̼̼̝͋ͤ͂ͬͯͯͪ͋͂̓̈ͣ̾ͯͨͫ͠y̛̺̮̜̱̤̙̘̞͈̼͚̦͇̓̑̒͆̀̾ͤͫ͒͋̂͒ͥ̂̓ͬ̊͝ŏ̴̷̻̫͓̻̘̘̖̩͈͐̾ͪͤͤ̎͂̈͆̒͋̓ͣ̀ͅu̷̸̘̝̰̫͓͇͕̻̹͈̫͈͚̦͇͔̍ͪ̓͐ͧ̔͜͜͡r̸͔͙̺̞͖̉̋ͦ̓̏ͥͬ͗́ͣ̍̂̊ͨ͛͝ ͍̗͙̥͙̬̳͕̪̠̖̳͇̤̦̞̔ͪͮ͢͜͝g̷̸̣͚̺͙̟̗̫͕̳͕͉̱̤̜̪͖͒̊ͨ͂ͭ̑͑͗̄̇̊͊̄̀̚̚͟͡ŗ̵̸̡͚̜̦̦̥̣͎̥͒̽ͪͣa̵͍͔̲̟͚̘̺͕̙̙̝͋̈͋ͯ̓̉̔̉̎ͧ̿͋́̚͜͡c̛̺̙̤̞͉̙̯̳̯̙̰̻̙̎̆͑͊̽̾̎̕e̷̡̗̬̥͓͈̪͚̤̗̥̽̌ͮ̋ͮͨ͗̂̔͟͟ ̷͍̲̺̝͇̼̟̮̝̞̗̟ͦ̇̒̑̊̄ͪ̈ͣ̎̀͞s̛͈̮̥̩̘̻̰̱̘̖̤͔̩͕̭͎̮̅͂̅͒̿͆͌ͭ̎̑͑ͭ͐̓͂̑͂̌͝å̽̍̂̈́̅ͣ̅̍ͯ̿͊̈́͊ͧ͝҉̸̷̨̥̻͓͓̺v̴̖͕̲̝̖͉͙̘̝̗̣̞̱ͬ̉̈̓̑̉ͯ̀ͣ̓ͣͯ͛̇̐͒͗̊̂͟͜e̸͕̫͔͙̞̜̜̯̼̯̳͕̞̥͌̋͌ͮ̋͌̎ͫͤ̾ͭ̾͌́̐ͮ͠ͅ ̸̸̧̦͙͙̮̜̦̺̗̗̹̭̤̖̂̍͆̈̔̀̅ͥ̆͒ͦ͂̓̽ͧ͛u̷ͭͤ̓ͣ͋̓̋̔̊̒͐̉ͮ͂ͩ̐̂ͥ́̀̚҉̘̤͔̪̦̝͎̞͔̠̜̹̭̼́ͅś̸͇̹̰̭̙̹̹͎͈̥̙̯̟̟̝ͨͨ͗̎ͮ̚ͅͅ ̘͙̜͉̗̰̗͍̩̝̜̟͉͖̽̎̓ͪͬ͌ͤͯ̌̒͌ͨ͘ͅͅf̌ͭͥ̾̎ͯ̀҉̵̡̙͔͕̼͝r̒̎ͧ̊ͦ̇̚҉̷̡͍̮͙͎̘ͅo͊̈́̐ͦͫͤ͐ͧ͌͋ͤ҉̳͕͇̤̲̫̹̗͍m̛̮̲͔͇̥̂ͨ̿ͣ͂ͯ̑ͤ̉̽́ ̸͔̥͇̭̫͚̮̠͖͉̳͚̯̙̝̱̟̃ͧ͋̽̐͟o̶̶̝̭̮̬̙̠͉͖̝ͬ̾̈́ͥ͛ͫ̓̽ͨ̏ͣ͜͜uͦͩ̇̾̓͆̀͏̸̟͓̥̫̠́r̴͂̉ͦͩ̐ͮͥ͛̒͛́ͫͫͬͩ͗́̚̕͏̢̱͔͕̥̗͓̰̹͙̥̻͍̯̝̘ͅs̵̾̿̄̆͛ͫ̌͜҉̶̩̩̯̰͖̙͙̮̠̟̳͞ͅͅḛ̡͓̻̮͈̜͍̫̪̗̰ͩ̔̅͐̔͑ͥ̓̈̚̕l̔̽͌ͭ͏̶̶̡̛̼͍͕͖͇̖̮̘͖̙̜͙̞̹̮̙v̋̽͂͂͆̒͑̎̽͛̾͗̓̅ͤ͂̂͘҉̴̶̞̣̝͠e̢̡͓̦̖̖̅͐͛ͨͮͫ̂͌̏̏̌̽ͪ́̀̚͢ş̸̧̠̪͙̩͈̩͎̬̩̦̙̬̄͊͛́̈͆͐̀́͢!̧͋͑ͪ́͆̈ͩͫ̑͋̾̇ͩ̀ͤͣ̍͛̑͡҉̸̦̖̼͎͈̦͖̬̜̯̗͎̯̯͉"

Spike kicked the clawing hand off and sighed, looking over at the landscape. "I don't have time for this," he mumbled apathetically. Blood red sunshine streamed down on the land of black and white, and as he started up at that eye of madness, Spike could only wonder of the implications.

Brief wind danced over the fields of suffering. As quickly as the breeze came it left... Spike along with it.

Spike was awake. He had to blink a few times to check that he was in fact awake and not in some lucid state, but he was most defiantly awake. Gentle light was streaming in from the ragged blinds that covered his bedroom window and dancing among the dust. For a small while he just lay there with his eyes half open. It was... it was kind of nice.

In fact, he'd woken up in a good mood for once. For the first time in perhaps five years he'd woken up without calling out. It felt so surreal to have such a peaceful morning. Maybe it was because he'd seen his sister again, perhaps it was because he'd put his problems with Rarity to rest. Maybe even it was because he'd woken up with a woman in his—

Hold up.

Suddenly Spike snapped his eyes open and looked to his right. Biting his lip and tutting to himself he found his worst fears confirmed. Amaranth was laying next to him fast asleep and had her arms wrapped around him. Gears in his internal mechanisms stalled and began to clog up as he struggled to get the situation.

He'd... slept with his contracted Spirit? More over had he just slept with his best friend? From an outside perspective sleeping with her wasn't the worst thing in the world, but given their situation and relationship, he didn't really know how to feel. Therefore he decided not to feel anything at all and adopted indifference.

Laying back down in the bed after his short period of confusion, Spike decided to make himself comfortable and moved in place slightly. Hesitantly he moved his arm around his sleeping partner; although he didn't look at her. Then he merely closed his eyes and let out a small sigh.

It wasn't supposed to be like this and he knew that. Deep down inside he never wanted things to change, because the monotony of his old life had been peaceful. But that was part of the problem. It was a false sense of peace harboured by lies. Once he'd seen through it there was no returning to those days.

Disgruntled with his own thoughts he brushed Ponyville aside and focused on more important things. What was he going to do now that Rarity and Twilight had found him? He might be forced to switch jobs or perhaps he'd need to leave Equestria again. He didn't mind either option, seeing as he wouldn't have to complete his task for a few months.

While trying to figure out which of the two options was more likely due to Rarity's tenacity the bedsheets were moved slightly. Soft and playful yawning tickled his neck as an arm wrapped around his chest. Radiant amber orbs started up at him with the focus of a blind drunkard; obviously unable to see him clearly.

"Good morning..." she said with another yawn. Pulling herself closer to Spike she blinked a few times to clear her sleepy eyes, looking up at him a little more focused. "Did you sleep well~?"

"Yes," Spike said simply as he sat up in bed. "No thanks to you, though. You've left a bad impression on me, you know that?" Stretching his arms out and flexing his back slowly he smiled smugly. "You didn't want to let go of me, even when I tried to pry you off, no deal."

Pressing herself up against his back and placing her head on his shoulder, Amaranth whispered, "Wasn't I satisfactory, master?"

"Hey hey let's really not," Spike said hurriedly as he pushed her away. "That's seriously creepy."

Rolling over to the opposite side of the bed, Amaranth stood and had a quick stretch before playing with her hair. "Well I suppose we'll just have to sleep together from now on." Her voice was full of cheer as she aimlessly scanned a few items on her friend's shelf. "We'll become even closer~!"

Spike groaned and placed his head in his hands. "You're seriously going to kill me, I hope you realize this." Swivelling to the side and standing up slowly, he grabbed a vest off of a coat hanger and slipped it on.

"How could I kill you, silly?" she said briefly as she turned to look at him. "I'm not even wearing clothes and you think I'm dangerous?"

"You're dangerous because of the sp— Pardon me?" Spike turned around to face her, but quickly changed his mind and decided to keep looking at the manky wall. "Why are you naked, Amaranth?" he asked slowly.

She stood in thought for a few moments, playing with her hair while she pondered the question. "I think I got into bed naked. Didn't you notice?"

"No, I didn't notice. I was too busy being tired I suppose." Spike was about to tell her to put some clothes on but a sharp knock at the door made him halt. "One moment," he said briefly. "Let's see who wants me."

-=-=-=-=-=-

"Arrrrgh!" Twilight whined through grit teeth as she slumped into the book she was reading. "I keep finding all these discrepancies and the more I look into them the more... the more heretical everything becomes!" Tossing the tome aside and levitating another one over from the deep white shelf, the young Princess began to flip through the pages with increasing speed.

Rarity was sitting opposite her reading a textiles book, although she was skimming it in all honesty; her concern was Twilight. "Darling, what ever is the matter?" she questioned slowly. "I'm not sure I really get all this fuss..."

"No, you really don't!" Twilight said in irritation as she threw the heavy book aside and pulled another from the shelf. "I'm struggling to even comprehend how many laws he's breaking by being on our land, let alone how many religious boundaries he's trampling..." Falling into incoherent mumbling as she flicked through the pages the lavender unicorn didn't notice her friend pick up one of the books she'd thrown.

Reading the title of Entropy with an unchanging expression, Rarity started looking through the book. She wasn't very good with magic so she failed to comprehend half the runic markings, but it was clear that the book was attempting to teach dimensional magic. "Twilight..." she said slowly, looking up to see her friend glaring daggers at the book before her. "Why exactly is this such a bad thing? It's just some magic."

"Rarity!" Twilight practically screamed at her friend. "It's not just magic it's heresy!"

"Yes, yes I understand that," she said with a trace of annoyance. "But I'm yet to hear you explain why."

Looking over at the pure white mare with an expression halfway between loathing and pity, Twilight closed her book and sighed. "It goes against the teachings of the Solar Throne, doesn't it?" Pointing at Rarity in a condescending manner she continued, "I understand that your parents were hicks, but for Celestia's sake, this is Harmonism!"

Turning quiet for a moment, Rarity decided to swallow her pride and push on. "So, Your Highness, what tenants of Harmonism does dimensional magic break?" Opening another book and showing it to Twilight, she spoke up again. "It all seems fairly well thought out."

"But it's all lies!" Twilight slammed the book shut with a larger magic pressure, and threw it aside. "Rarity we're facing the first religious crisis in over one thousand years, we can't afford heretics in our midst. Not now." Rarity placed down the other book and went silent as the conversation died off a little. "Misguided beliefs that other realms exist go against the core tenants themselves."

Standing from the table they were sitting at in the Royal Library the two unicorns began to put the books back. "It might be against our religion, darling, but it's not against his," Rarity said softly. "He said it himself; it's a dragon thing."

Twilight kept putting books back without saying anything. Her eyes twitched now and then as they looked set to cry, but her voice was level when she spoke. "But he's here in our land, our holy city, Rarity. Perhaps if things were calmer we could let him fly under the radar, but one of the Goddesses died, and panic is spreading."

"Yes, it was such a shock to hear that Celestia, bless her soul, was killed. Such an open display of deicide was... unsettling." Finishing their task for the moment, the two friends began to walk in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence; more of a remorseful one. Golden arches and shelves of marble filled the imposing library they were exiting.

Between four shelves which sloped towards the sky there was a helical spire of soft blue light. It shone upwards into a pure glass orb which levitated at the centre of a black dome. Golden scripture was etched into the sides of the dome and flowed down like water throughout the library, each and every word making up a very sacred message. Sadly its meaning was lost throughout time.

Both of the unicorns turned to face the pillar of magical essence as they walked past, bowing their heads as they did so. Once it was out of sight they returned to a forward-facing view and remained silent. This respectful silence lasted until they reached the exit. It was a door shaped in such a way as to appear like stone tree.

"Perhaps we should ask Spike?" Rarity said as they left the building. "Let's ask him exactly what's going on and why he returned. He's our friend, and it's our job to find out why he's become like this."

"Yes, yes that's it!" Twilight suddenly shouted as she turned to face the pure white fashionista. "The inquisition! Rarity you're a genius an absolute genius. Why didn't I think of it sooner? What better way to deal with a rogue than the inquisition?" Clapping her hooves together with a giddy smile, Twilight set off toward St Clover's Cathedral.

Rarity went from a small smile to an abhorrent griamce as she caught up with her friend. "No no no no!" she shrieked. "We need to go there with no ill intention! Twilight dear he's your younger brother, you raised him yourself; surely you're not willin—"

"No, that's exactly why I'm willing," the purple monarch said with ice. "He was born and raised a Harmonist, and now he's gone off and filled himself with sin. It's my jo— no, our job... to set him straight." Turning to look at her friend, Twilight nodded in the direction of the Cathedral. "We'll have him by mid afternoon, right?"

Biting her lip with a slight sweat Rarity looked away for a moment before looking back. "O-of course, Twilight," she said with a twitching smile.

Tied down by invisible chains and gagged with fever, the young dragon found himself in the same place once again. Shadowy figures loomed as a council above him; menacingly whispering just low enough to avoid understanding. Metaphysical traces of death lingered throughout the room and Spike could feel the evil which permeated the room.

Imbued with a sense of dread and beginning to panic he tried to move his arms. Unlike before he could drag them upwards, and in a flurry of madness sparked by false hope, he attempted to shake them off. Screaming as soon as he discovered his voice, the pressure that had existed in the room pushed down on him as he resisted. Ice flooded his mind.

Ö̴́̅ͫ̇͌͑ͣͫͦ̽ͮͬ̕͏̧̤͚̘̗͉̥͔͍̹̺̳̼̦́ͅP̈̾ͬ̒̏͆̒̈̒̚͏͏̺̣͈͍͚̞̫̱Ḙ̶̢̞̝̼͔̮͎͖͉͔͎͎ͬ̐ͬͫ̔̊̽̓̏ͩͧ̿͢ͅN̷̛̺͍̣̲̳̫͔͕͉͓ͯ̑ͪ̒̌͐ͩ̆́́ ̸̴̣̠̫̝͎̪̬͔̉̔̍̊̍́̚T̶̛̖̭̲̗̝̳̗̲̹̙͉̖̠̺̩̯ͪ͗͆͐̔ͦͧͣ̍͟͠ͅH̞͇͇͚͍̦̳̟̊̂̍̀͜ͅE̸̡̱̫͕̜̱̭̪̓̎̅͌͌̈ͪ͋ͩ̎͒̊͑̇̒ͨ͡ ̨͙̻̠͓̳̦̳̣͙̬͔͚̰́ͣ̚͠W̵̜͚̙̝̼̤̗̮ͮͪ͌̀̉̚ͅO̊̂̇ͥ̔͆̎̽͒͑̽͛ͯ̋̄̋̓͢͝҉̡͖̹̲̰͉̙̝̪͓̻͎̜̩͙̠̯̞͠ͅŲ̬͓͎̻̜̼̗̤̟̤̻̔͂ͯ͒ͬͥͮ͊̎ͯ̾̿N̵̟̝̗̞͉̦̱̝̺̫̺̮̞͚̟͈͐͐̅ͭ̄̍̌̄ͪ̀͘͝ͅͅḐ̶̷̶̒̊ͦͯ̈́ͦ͊͗̅ͩ̊̎͑͏̦̩̣̮̘̘͇͇̣͕̖̯̭̖̺

Black tendrils that fuzzed and blinked out of existence reached towards him. Black became blacker as they blocked his vision and reached inside his head. Too scared to speak, too humbled to scream, he struggled futility.

C̷̘̱̼̰͇̼̥͙̲̫͎͍̥̲̎͑̉ͦ̋ͦͩ͆̒ͭ̒̎̓ͥ͌͒̑̍́͜͡Å̯͎͈̰͖̭̗̘͎̖̲̫͚̝̹̥̗̼̠̇̔̽́́̚̕͟͠S̱̞̖͔͈͍̘͔̪̹̲͉̐̓̆͆́̀ͅT̨̛̖͔͓͈̥̤͎ͪ̃̽ͮͧ͝R̴ͪͫ̿̋̈̏͆͊̂̿ͥ͋̔̌͆̚͏̢̨̦̪̞̱̻͈̗̰̟̞̖Ą̢̂͑ͬ̅̑̾ͭ̚҉̥̘͎̼͇̥̜̹͓̙ͅT̶̵̛̻̮̻̺̣͖̟͊͐͗̒͋ͣ̃̄̃̇ͦ͢͞ͅE̸͖̪̺̯ͪ̂́ͫ̀͟͜ ͨͦ̃̑̄̈̎̊̈́ͥ̽̽̃͂ͣ͏̷̜̙͖̘̹̹̱̺̯̭͔̯̗̟͡͠T̸̋̿͗̎͑ͧͥ̉ͨ͊̎̉̇ͯͫ҉̧͍̠̻̩͍͜H̶̰͚͎͔̘̮͕͉̻̺̀͊̽ͤ́̕Ē̅ͫ́͟҉͚̟̠̖̦̝̻̬̙͈̣͝ ̵̺͚̪̮͐͌ͤͣ̈́̾̽͋ͥͩ̂̃̚̕͢͡ͅF̶̶̛̦̻̙͙̥͚́̽͋͛̓L̛̛̫͕͎̰̥̱̼̲͎̗̠͚̟̘̱̮͎̞̒ͦͯͣ̉ͨ̈́̔̈́͑̀ͭ̇̓̅̆̔̚͜͢͞ͅĖ̷̛͎̥̞̲͚̣̣̙ͧͧ̽̃͊̎Ś̢̨͈͔̭͔͎̮̼̲̽̓̆ͫͭͯ̔̆̈̀͝Ȟ̴̨̭̝̩͎̦͓͉̰̩̝̪̹̤̹ͥͧ̓̀͢͝

͇̣͉̺̻͖̪̖̗̫̑ͣ͛͂͆̎̅̑͐̏̇̇͟͟͠

That which had thrust itself into his head fumbled about within his skull; seemingly searching. Ice began to radiate from the bed slowly whilst the inconsistent whispering that had previously filled the air became lunatic screaming. Suddenly the pressure within his head became unbearable and he screamed in agony.

i]͔̹̯̘̠̞̤̺̺̉ͯ̎̏ͧ͐͐͛̐̐́͢]Ḓ̸̷̸̱͈͈̘͈͇̫͉͚͈͖̋ͨ͌͆ͨ͑̅̀̏ͩ͗̌̀͋͢ͅȨ̴̹̱̠̞̓̒ͬ̔̌̏ͦ̎ͯ̍͑̂̄̾͟͢ͅV̸͓͎̘̟̗̖̺͈̦͓͙͍͕̈́̐̎͂͆ͮͤ̀͘͠O̶̴ͯ̀̔̂ͤ̉̒̒ͭ̊͟҉͉̞̩̥͙̭͙̼̥̟̻̭́ͅƯ̫̥̯̠̯̩̥̓̂͛̓̇̈̒ͧ̓̀̚̕͢͟R̯̟͇͙̥̬̺̪̤̪̾ͨ̆͋̓ͧͤ͑̈́͗ͦ̕̕͜ ̡̢̜̗̟͈̯̺̱̓̆̈ͭ̔̂̋͒̓ͨͮ̑̇ͧ͜͝T̶̮͇̱̮̹̹̣̲̝͙̮̣̤͕̗̬̭ͮ͋̈̏̓̓ͮ̆̄ͥ̔̉͐́̕͢͜ͅH̵̨̨̛͖̱͖͎̜͙̪̻͓̐͒͂̇ͫ͂̄̂̒̏̄̿̑͝E̵̢̠̩̦̫̩̦̘̭̻̋̐ͪ̈́̊̇̐̌͋ͭ̈̾͐ͪ̈́̓̌ͫ ̢̈̋͗̅ͯ̽̉ͥ͏̶̱͖̝̝̯̺̝͎̯͈͖̮̘̬Ş͔̘̗̖̝ͮͥͨ͛͗͊ͫ̒̀̉̿̄ͧ̈́̒́͒̓́͢͡Ǫ̶̢̪̬̟̗͈͉̘̬̖̠ͤͦͧ͛͠͡U̷ͧ̋͒ͬͨ̅̿ͩ̌̆̈ͯ͐̄ͫ̅̍͟҉̧͍̠̞̯̺͔ͅḶ̸̘̦̜ͤ̆ͪ̆ͦ͂͗̒͗̃͐̏̂̅̃͛̔͊͝

̸̢̞̪̹̭̲͔ͬͯ́ͤͅ

Triumphant deformed laughter filled the room as the flickering hands ripped themselves free from Spike all at once. Invasive pressure vanished as they did so with a snapping feeling and the shaking and scribble-like black figures slowly moved into focus. Even as his vision was filled with the black spots of an impending sleep, the faces still became clear. It was horrifying.

Spike went to open the door only to realize that he'd broken the lock. "Hold on a moment," he said to whomever was knocking. Moving his left hand down to the warped metal he drew a circle with his claw aimlessly. Flicking the shavings off of his claw he drew his arm back and punched the lock. It connected and ripped a hole in the metal.

Allowing the door to swing open Spike nearly laughed as the clearly shocked group of hooded ponies were stumbling about. "Are you guys here to sell something?" the purple dragon asked as he leaned in the door frame. "I'm just a humble magicsmith, I ain't got no money worth spending."

Suddenly and without warning one of the ponies jumped at Spike and grabbed his midsection. Tackling the dragon to the floor with a great heave the cloaked individual quickly cast a spell and stood up. "Clear!" he shouted to his friends, who all breathed a little sigh of relief before walking into the building.

Spike blinked once then twice and stood up slowly. Shaking eyes followed him as he stood and the unicorn who had cast the spell looked pale white. "I let you into my house, you know," he said in irritation. "You could at least have the kindness to tell me why you attack."

"The heretic is still conscious!" the leading pony said in horror; apparently deciding to ignore Spike. Looking back at the barely clothed dragon as they walked backwards slowly the group began to chant in low voices. "Behind me the darkness, in front of me the light. As the wheel turns, I know that every end is a beginning. I see birth, death and regeneration."

Blinding light enveloped the group of five presumed unicorns as they continued chanting. Spike merely stood in place dumbfounded and tired as the light assaulted his eyes. Becoming more and more irritated by the brilliant light in his hallway, the purple warlock clicked his fingers and sighed in relief as the light vanished.

"Wha— aa..." the lead figure began as he trembled. "What kind of monster are you?!"

"Oh, now you talk to me," Spike said sarcastically as he finished stifling a yawn. "I told you when I opened the door, man, I'm just a magicsmith. Are we done here? I kind of want to get dressed..." Scratching his hair aimlessly he looked past the group and spotted a certain white unicorn. "You!" he shouted suddenly.

Before Rarity could say anything in response, Twilight jumped into view with a snarl. "Spike! Prepare to face the inquisi— wait, what's going on?" Starting in fury and ending in fumble the lavender unicorn looked over her subjects with confusion. "Why are you all cowering like that?"

Sighing suddenly and dragging a hand down his face with little pleasure, Spike mumbled incoherently. "So that's what this was about, huh? Let me start over, then." Walking into the middle of the hallway in full view of all the ponies, he dropped to his knees and spoke in a patronising voice. "Oh please, please have mercy! I am not a heretic by choice, nay, nay I was forced!" Throwing his head up and slumping on the floor he let out a mocking wail. "Please Twilight show me grace!"

He then promptly stood and brushed himself off. "There you go," he said while picking at his teeth. "Are we done here?"

"How very dare you dismiss me! You foul breathed purple fleshed lizard!" Twilight huffed angrily as she stepped over the trembling forms of her 'inquisition'. "Get out of here, you useless fools!" she screeched as she flicked her tail in anger. "You have failed both myself and Celestia."

The five cloaked figures dashed off in a hurry as Spike chuckled to himself. "That was a little harsh, Twilight," he said to himself more than anyone else. "Welcome to my humble abode, I suppose. Do you want tea or coffee?"

Twilight didn't say anything as she stared Spike down. "I want you to give yourself up, heretic," she hissed. Rarity slowly made her way inside while the two former friends looked at one-another with opposite expressions. "Your being in these lands is going to cause all kinds of trouble. Turn yourself over, and after we're done, you can walk off unharmed."

"So... I take that as a no for both options?" Shrugging and walking back into his home he merely said, "suit yourself."

"Don't play with me Spike! I'm older and wiser than you!" Screaming at him in the Canterlot Voice, Twilight pushed onwards into his flat. Rarity carefully followed her without a word; she didn't want to get involved right now.

Spike had stopped walking. Twilight was about to shout something else but he turned, and in that brief instant, her words died in her throat. A thousand mile stare skewered her in its grasp and ripped her apart before him. She was no longer looking at the eyes of Spike; they were different entirely. "Older...? Yes, you're much older than me Twilight."

"Wiser? Don't be so presumptuous as to amuse the thought that your false ideals and childish morals can even hold a candle to the things I have seen with these eyes." Walking over to the unicorn who was trapped on the spot, frozen in horror, he ran a finger up her neck. "I have seen so many things."

Twilight stumbled backward and cried out. Determined not to make a fool of herself, seeing as this journey was her idea, she calmed herself. "Your heretical beliefs are nothing compared to my power! I am the Princess of Equestria, and you will respect my authority."

"Oh, but of course, Princess." Spike laughed suddenly as the word 'respect' flashed in his mind. Opening his mouth to speak once more, the feeling of warm skin against his back and a shriek from Rarity made him pause.

Amaranth had her arms wrapped around Spike from behind with her head resting on his shoulder. From what he could guess she was still naked and judging from this position she was on her tiptoes. "Master..." she purred in a sultry tone. "Who are the new guests~? I was... recovering, from our night together when a loud scream awoke me."

I'll kill you, Spike said to her in the back of his mind. Rarity and Twilight were both standing with their mouths agape as they stared at the scene before them. "B-b-b-b-bu," Rarity began as she tried to work out what was going on.

"Ah, Rarity! Good timing, this is my Spi—"

"I'm Spike's girlfriend," the gentle pink woman said as she looked over at the pure white unicorn. "It's so lovely to meet you, darling. Spike has told me the most abhorrent things about his time with you," Amaranth chuckled to herself and whipped her barbed tail around.

I'm seriously going to kill you, Spike said more harshly in his mind. Only the light gasp from his companion made him aware that she'd heard him. "Ahaha, yes yes, she's such a joker this one. She's actually my contracted Spirit, you see, but I still haven't tamed her just yet." The word slipped out before he realized it, and he bit his lip with a 'tch' as his mischievous friend made a 'kyun' sound.

"This changes nothing!" Twilight suddenly shouted as she pointed at Spike accusingly. "You're a heretic, I'm a Saint! We're going to crack down on you for this transgression onto holy land, drain you of your secrets, and throw you out wishing you were dead!"

-=-=-=-=-=-

Pillars of breathtaking platinum and glass swooped upward in unison and met beneath a gentle slope of golden grace. From this golden peak sprouted a series of smaller towers and arches, all of which ended before they hit the clouds. One impressively large tower, supported by numerous pillars and feeding aqueducts of all sizes, managed to just brush against the clouds.

However Spike was not in this lovely cathedral of peace, love and harmony. Rather he was sitting in a dungeon cell somewhere beneath the large and beautiful holy building. There was no sound down here besides the dripping of slimy water, the frantic shouting of condemned heretics and the heavy breathing of Twilight Sparkle.

One side of the cell he found himself in was a series of steel runes that lined all four sides of a perfectly rectangular opening. Shimmering air was all that sat between the runes yet it formed a near-unbreakable barrier; to ponies at least. The other three walls were rocky and offered little comfort besides damp. One bunk was squashed into the corner, but it was too small for Spike, so he was using it as a seat.

Because of the problem with size and the fact that the cell itself was so small, he was squashed up besides Amaranth. Seemingly enjoying herself and now fully clothed, Spike didn't mind so much but the stares from Twilight, Rarity, and the guards were annoying. "How long was I supposed to sit here, again?" he asked in boredom.

"You had the good will to turn yourself in... don't ruin it by pestering us while we work." Twilight stared at him from the hallway emotionlessly. She hadn't moved from that spot for a rather long amount of time and seemed dead set on unnerving him. So far she'd only managed to piss him off.

Stretching out an arm and feeling it brush against the cramped ceiling he kept complaining. "No seriously how long is this going to take? I only have a very short time slot to spend in Equestria before I leave again." There wasn't any real weapons to be seen around him, so if push came to shove, he'd have to rely on his companion. He couldn't use magic here for fear of the result.

"Stop playing it by the book and tell us what we want to hear, heretic," said one of the burly guards outside the cell. Spike was fairly sure he'd heard his voice before but unless he saw him he wouldn't be able to tell. Seconds became minutes as Spike made no move to speak, merely sitting in the cell.

Rarity came closer to the entrance and tried her best to smile but failed miserably. "Spike, why don't you tell us what's happened these past few years? Maybe there's something we need to clear up?"

"I thought I told you to leave me alone," he said coldly. Dragging a claw along the rocky wall as he stared off into space, the young dragon sighed. "Twilight's completely right Rarity. I'm not denying the fact that I'm a heretic in the eyes of Harmonism." He stopped his claw and looked her in the eye. "I'm denying the religion in and of itself."

"What?!" Twilight screamed as she nearly gagged. "You're denying the practices of the Solar Throne? What kind of monster have you become, Spike?"

Laughing to herself Amaranth looked over at the purple unicorn with a smile. "You're assuming being a monster is a bad thing, Twilight. I'm a bad person, horrible, inexcusable... but because of that there's so much more to me. I have looked upon all things presented to me, sought out that which was hidden, but never striven to understand everything."

"What are you insinuating?" Rarity asked with more curiosity than concern.

"Harmonism is a religion that denies everything in the world," Spike said simply. "I'm merely telling you that I'm unwilling to blindly follow a faith built upon a throne of lies." Running his hand through Amaranth's gentle orange hair the scaled warlock looked at Rarity with disinterest. "There's nothing beautiful about your religion."

Twilight slammed her hoof into the barrier and didn't flinch as it flickered and sparked in protest. "How dare you! You would speak of Celestia's teachings so disrespectfully? Why shouldn't I kill you as you stand?!" Throwing a ball of energy at the invisible shield with more remorse than anger she held back a sob. "Don't think I won't!"

"Twily there's no reason t—"

"There's every reason to kill me, Captain Armour," Spike said with a small smile. He finally recognized the voice of the guard who'd brought him here. "I stand against everything she's ever believed, I mock the Goddess who turned her into a mare and I sit here telling her that her entire world is a lie."

Shining Armour walked into fully view and wrapped an arm around his now crying sister. Burying her in his chest with a light grimace he looked over at Spike. He wasn't angry. It was that look that an older brother might give when he wants to know the full story. Spike could respect that. "I'm not particularly devout myself, heretic," he said slowly. "So I'm willing to hear you out before we make any rash choices."

"You ever meet a griffon, Captain Armour?" Spike asked genuinely.

Thinking on it for a moment before shaking his head the Captain replied, "No, I haven't."

"Why do you think that is?" Spike let the question hang in the air for a few moments before he smiled. "It's because ponies are the most disrespected race on our planet. Your society is so utterly pathetic that a lot of nations can't be asked with you. Your three races are inferior in all fields, a mere jack-of-all-trades among the world stage of masters."

"You ever hear a story of a pegasus racing a griffon? No, because they already know who would win." Twilight was visibly trembling but her elder brother was wearing a more serious look. "Ever see an earthpony challenge a minotaur? No, because they'd be crushed by such strength." Standing suddenly and earning a surprised 'meep' as his friend fell over in his absence, the snarling dragon walked up to the barrier and smirked. "You ever see a unicorn outdo a dragon?"

Twilight was about to reply but her voice died pitifully as Spike shattered the barrier with his claw. Millions of tiny magical energies exploded outwards as he stepped out and stared down at her. "No, because a dragon can kill with a thought."

Rarity looked up at Spike and mumbled something. He looked down at her with a raised brow but she remained silent. "Don't feel too bad, Twilight," Spike said with a genuine smile. "You're nothing compared to me. Pitting yourself against me is like trying to argue that stone is superior to the sun; it's absurd."

"Why are you in Equestria?" Rarity whispered under her breath. She knew she shouldn't be asking too many more questions yet something drove her on. "If we're so inferior to you then why are you here?!"

Spike looked over at Rarity and smirked. Amaranth wrapped herself around his left arm and looked over at the pale unicorn also. "You sure you want to know the answer to that?" His jade pebbles stared deeply into her eyes as he stood there. Shining Armour was about to say something but his sister cut him off.

"Tell us," she choked. "Tell us right now."

"I'm here to kill you, Twilight."

Rarity fainted a few moments after he finished whereas Twilight was still in a state of shock. Shining Armour was preparing to murder Spike and Amaranth was blushing slightly as she looked up at Spike. "Don't worry though Twilight, I'm not planning on killing you yet. I have a few things to sort out first."

"What things? What do you mean you're going to kill my sister?!" Shining Armour shouted as he shoved the dragon back harshly. "What kind animal thinks killing someone is a small matter?"

Spike laughed and bit his thumb and drew blood, using it to draw a quick rune on Amaranth's palm. "No no, I'm taking my job very seriously Captain Armour." He smiled and looked down at Twilight.

"After all I'm the one who killed Celestia."