Path to Infinity

Spike could feel it now. It was coming closer, closer, to his heart. He stood at the edge of the forlorn chapel for one last time, looking up at the disgusting statue of himself. His scales felt cold in a world devoid of love or hope. Standing on the edge of a frozen forever, his eyes stared up at a deformed self, not caring for the shadows lingering about. Rippling obsidian portrayed a devilish and disgusting set of features, a pair of living eyes staring right back down at him.

"Finally here, huh?"

Turning to face the empty chapel the young dragon sighed, scratching the back of his neck and stepping forwards. Rotten wood creaked and moaned beneath him as he slowly walked down the aisle. Facing away from the gold and black effigy Spike stared off into the gloom. "I figured you'd turn up eventually," he said to the empty building. "Took your time, though." Looking down at one of the pews he traced a finger across the wood.

Ghastly wind blew in from the torn hole in the chapel, causing Spike to look back and shiver. Frozen ice stretched out a far way before meeting a shoreline blanketed in snow. One of the chains hanging from the rafters slowly froze before his eyes. Picking up his lazy pace the purple upstart sighed. Rotten boards cracked underfoot and groaned with protest. Their soggy forms had turned icy, becoming brittle.

Vines and flowers that had grown into the building were dead. Killed by the chill and left to rot or freeze, only the metal and brickwork remained strong. The frost had begun climbing into the chapel, too, digging its icy fingers into the walls and spreading across the floor. Nearly the entire roof was ice. Spike stumbled as he walked and cursed, listening to the snapping wood with dread. "You know, when most people come visit, they don't destroy the world."

Hollow frames that had once held beautiful glass work were now encased in ice, the metal frames deathly cold and hidden behind semi-clear frost. Books lay scattered and burned in useless piles of scraps, merely littering the floor and giving the building a smell of musk. Tapestries had once hung proudly along the walls. Lichen had died and gone grey, falling off and peeling back to reveal a painted wall. Whatever had been painted there, however, would never be known; it was decrepit and crumbling.

Stepping onto the first stair to the lower level, Spike looked back to the statue. He felt a pent up breath release itself as he stared into the cold black eyes, filled with life, filled with hatred. Slowly and carefully making his way down the curved staircase, the renegade dragon whistled a small tune. It was a very brief bout of sound. Spike had tried to mimic a song Amaranth had once sung to him, but failed horribly, and stopped once he reached the bottom of the chapel.

"I kind of wish I'd met you on better terms, honestly," he said flatly. Spike knew that wasn't possible. "Still, at least we met once. It's been worth it, I suppose." The door to his right was locked firm by the forces that be, and he had no way of leaving through it to begin with. Walking down beneath the rotten boards, avoiding the hanging mold, Spike stood before an oval depression. It was surrounded by wooden banister, decaying but still elegant.

Bringing his leg up and forcing it out sharply, he knocked out a part of the rail. It shattered easily as the rot was set free. Walking forward slowly he stopped at the edge and looked down, seeing nothing but deep water. It was the only part of the lake not yet frozen and it gave no reflection back to him. Zipping up his jacket the young dragon took out a packet of cigarettes. Clenching his fist slightly as he held the packaging, he dropped it in the water. It was devoured by shadows.

Laughing bitterly and biting his thumb, Spike started drawing something on his palm. "I don't know how this even got passed, by the way. A lake full of souls? You guys are fucking crazy, seriously." His hand burst into ethereal flame and he hissed in pain, staggering slightly and letting out a small groan. Turning himself away from the pool and facing the door, he walked backwards until he was at the edge. "I'm sure you won't mind if these souls, and this lake, disappear, right?"

Ice encroached on the water, engulfing it in the blink of an eye. Spike laughed sourly and looked off to the side, seemingly staring straight at someone. "I hate you," he said simply. "So that's why..." falling backwards into the frozen surface, he smiled as it blossomed a deep blue. Outside, the entire world snapped as the frost lifted itself instantly.

"...I'll take away everything."

"She did what‽" Captain Armour screamed in abhorrence. "Twilight did what‽"

"You heard me correctly, s-sir," mumbled one of the guards in the barracks. He'd been trying to play off his superior to avoid a fuss, but it was too late. Everyone was looking at them now. "Princess Twilight took Saint Rarity with her and journeyed to the Whitetail Woods." Watching the other stallion's face practically go nuclear, the guard felt a cold sweat grip him. "She intends to stop the... the dragon, most likely."

Shining Armour exhaled heavily and closed his eyes, slowly breathing back in. He opened his eyes and looked the soldier in the eyes. "You are going to give me a good reason for letting my sister walk to her death, or I will end you."

"Her death?" called a younger scout from across the room, drawing more attention to the situation. "Princess Twilight is the most powerful being in existence, how is she walking to her death?" A murmur of agreement sprung up in the barracks, with new faces slowly slipping in as the confrontation dragged on.

Glaring over at the pegasus who'd spoken up, the Captain of the Guard nearly spat. "You have no idea what she's going up against, none of us do!" Turning to face the scout fully, Shining Armour grit his teeth. "She won't just die, at this rate, she'll be wiped from existence!"

The murmuring stopped and the room fell silent. Captain Armour's voice bounced off the walls as his words died in his throat. Some of the soldiers stared at him, others turned away in disgust. "Seize him," called a voice from the corner. Shining found himself surrounded by disgruntled guards, all of whom intended to end him. "Lock him up."

"You don't understand!" he cried in frustration, knocking one of the stallions away. "If we don't stop her it's all over!"

"Seize the heretic and place him in the dungeons!" The bellowing order resounded throughout the barracks, and the men followed it. Binding the former-captain in ethereal chains the men grumbled amongst themselves. "I shall see to his imprisonment personally."

From the corner walked Major Biceps, one of the less intelligent but all-round most respected men of the Guard. His towering muscular figure and stern eyes portrayed an absolute command wherever he walked, his rippling form on-par with even the strongest of earthponies.

"Sir!" came the reply from one of the unicorns who had bound Shining. Looking back down at the heretic, he noticed a slight glow in his eyes.

"Major Biceps, sir, the prisoner is radiating."

Looking Shining Armour over with an inquisitive eye, the bulky superior laughed. His laughter resounded throughout the barracks. A stern glare snapped to his features as he looked down at the bound unicorn. "This heretic poses no threat. He lost his dignity the day he allowed his wife to be murdered." Turning his glare to the room as he scanned, the major found who he presumed was his direct subordinate.

"Colour Sergeant Featherfall, I want you to arrange a clear path throughout the city for our friend here." Sneering down at Shining, Major Biceps continued. "We're going to display him in public before we lock him up. Our ponies need to know just how effective we are at treating discrepancies."

"Of course, Major Biceps. I shall arrange a parade route momentarily," came the reply.

Major Biceps smiled for a brief moment, before turning his attention to another soldier. "You there," he called. "What's your name, rank?"

"Private Turner, sir!" the stallion said, clumsily saluting. "With the fifth exploratory platoon, currently on leave, sir!"

Screwing his face up slightly the commanding officer stepped forward. "Turner? What kind of a name is Turner?"

"Time Turner, sir! Watchmaker by trade!"

"Aaah... I see." Nodding his head slowly the major's features returned to normal, remaining intimidating none-the-less. "A clock boy, eh? I can respect that. Takes skill to make a piece of kit that'll tell the time through rain and snow." Looking back over at the Colour Sergeant, and the now bound form of Shining Armour, the white block of meat had an idea. "Tell you what. Go fetch Warrant Officer Iron for me."

The young man nodded quickly, saluting once more and running off.

"Oh, and make me a pocket-watch while you're at it!" the major called after him. "I broke my last one." Skidding to a stop, falling over, getting back up and dusting himself off, the young private saluted again. "Make sure it's good!"

By this time most of the other soldiers had trickled out of the barracks, eager to get away from Major Biceps, and his former subordinate. Featherfall was still standing at attention with a trio of unicorns keeping Shining in check. "We're ready when you are, sir," said one of the unicorns. He was a petite blue stallion. "We can have him brought to the apex for proper binding while the Colour Sergeant figures out a path."

"Good idea," grunted the Major as he stroked his meaty chin. "I'll have the dungeons notified of our special guest. I'm sure they'll prepare suitable accommodation for such an esteemed member of the Gu— oh, sorry. I mean former member of the Guard."

Bellowing laughter filled the room as Colour Sergeant Featherfall left to make preparations. The young trio nervously joined in with their superior, stopping only when he glared at them. Shining Armour merely looked down at the floor, his blood boiling and seething. I'll save you, Twily, he thought to himself. I'll save you from that monster, somehow....

-=-=-=-=-=-

"Oh my. So you think she's coming, then?"

Fluttershy was seated on an arrangement of large plush cushions, made of velvet and silk, with her head resting in her hooves. Rather than hide behind her hair the young mare was looking up at Spike, who was sitting cross-legged atop a small helical pillar. Amaranth was sitting on a the same pile as Fluttershy, playing with the mare's tail delicately.

"Yeah, I figure she's got about an hour or so before she stumbles into the basin." Spike shrugged slightly and took his last cigarette from a pocket on his jacket, brining it to his lips and lighting it with a puff of green flame. "Did I ever tell you how much I hate smoking?" he asked aimlessly. Sucking in a plume from the slowly burning wad, he grimaced. "I really hate smoking."

The meek yellow mare smiled softly, her cheeks turning a rosy shade. "I know exactly why you do, though."

"Don't," he said with a sigh, looking down at her. "It's not funny."

"Shining Armour used to smoke, didn't he?" she asked sincerely. "You like him more than you'd care to admit." Spike spluttered and coughed up some of his fire, causing both girls to laugh. He looked away from them in order to hide the small smile on his lips.

Amaranth was constantly fiddling with the young pegasus' tail, as she simply adored the soft texture. "Although the reason he chose to smoke is a mystery, the fact that he has to is obvious," she said simply. "Even he can't maintain his integrity for long without the herbs." She looked up at Spike sweetly, but whether he heard her or not, she didn't know. "That's the last one, right?" she called loudly.

"Yep," he said simply. Inhaling some more of the dark purple smoke his lips curved into a smile. "I would've had twenty left over if we hadn't of f—"

"No no no!" she shouted. "We promised not to talk about that, remember!" Fluttershy looked at Amaranth, and then at Spike, her smile growing larger as her blush became more profound. Spike laughed softly as he looked over the forest canopy, his eyes scanning the horizon.

Fluttershy hummed slightly and looked Amaranth in the eye. "You finally did it, hmm?"

"No we di— well yes we did, but I— no we... nono no!" Amaranth let go of Fluttershy's tail and leaned back slightly, waving both her hands in the air as a furious blush spread over her face. "We defiantly didn't. No!"

Spike laughed from his perch atop the ivory pillar, one of his hands playing with the creeping ivy that had climbed the side. "I had to smoke twenty of them after that. Twenty." He laughed again and looked down at the pair of them, a devious smile on his lips. "Who knew getting personal with a cosmic force would destabilize a person? I didn't."

From behind her silky pink hair the middle aged mare gave a short laugh, putting a hoof up to cover her mouth as she did so. "Oh, Spike, you haven't changed at all, you know that?" Amaranth was hiding behind her tangelo hair and trying to block the conversation out. "You're still a little deviant, you know that?"

Spike snorted slightly, his smile curling slightly. "Oh you know me. I was always trying to get in Twilight's way. A few misplaced quills, a couple of crumpled scrolls. Maybe a book or two out of place..." his smile turned bitter sweet as he blew out a tuft of purple smoke. "Good times. Simpler times."

Apparently having recovered from her embarrassment, Amaranth spoke up. "Well, the fun times are over, because now you have to kill her."

"Oh, that's true..." Fluttershy said sadly, looking back up at Spike. "Do you have anything in mind?"

"No, not really," he said slowly, finally snubbing the cigarette and dropping it. "I've opened the path to the basin for her, but honestly, I still haven't figured out what to do with her." He sighed and bit his lip. "Maybe I'm hesitating."

Fluttershy nodded her head slowly, her eyes darting around the glade. "However you do it, please make sure it's quick."

"I'd do it the easy way but she's bringing Rarity with her," he said with a grumble. "As much as I dislike her I'm not the kind of person to scar someone needlessly. I'll have to choose my actions carefully." Amaranth went back to stroking Fluttershy's tail with care, playing with the silky hair.

Her features were content as she spoke. "Shy, you noticed anything? You seem pretty jumpy all of a sudden."

"Oh, sorry," she said meekly, looking at Amaranth. "I just noticed that the spirits are getting flighty. I hope they're not upset, poor dears." The yellow epitome of kindness sighed and brushed her mane aside, resting her head on her hooves once more. "Maybe you've outstayed your welcome, Spike."

He nodded slowly and stood where he'd been sitting, jumping off the helical perch and landing with a light thud. "Yeah, you're probably right. We're not that far into the woods so we probably spooked them. Surprised it took so long to notice us, though."

"I can't feel the animilacus anymore, though..." she said slowly, biting her lip and mumbling something under her breath. "It's... it's probably nothing." Nodding to herself, she stood off the comfy pile and turned to Spike. Walking over to him quickly she nuzzled his hand gently, and looked up at him with a smile. "I'm ready to go."

He nodded. "Seeya' in the next one, Fluttershy." With a click of his fingers, she was gone, sent back home and away from this godly forest. Spike looked at his right hand, the one she'd touched, and smiled softly. Pocketing it and turning to Amaranth, he titled his head to the left. "We better get going too. Can't keep our friends waiting, right?"

"Your friends, you mean," she said flatly. "Fluttershy is a nice one, though. How quaint that the only mare to understand you would be the most disconnected one." She sighed in a gentle manner. "Maybe if she'd gotten to you sooner..."

"Leave it," Spike said gruffly. "It's in the past."

"I suppose you're right." Her face brightened up and she did a little twirl, wrapping herself around his arm. "Let's go!"

So they did.

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When they had entered the Whitetail Woods, Twilight had said to Rarity, "Don't look back." But Rarity wasn't the kind of woman who let others push her around, and this only added to her reasons to look back. She was deathly afraid of these woods, of not looking back, for a great many reasons. She was the kind of woman who let things happen to others, and was always ready to leap at a moments notice. So when she looked back, the moment they stepped in, she knew it was over.

Because when she looked behind them there was nothing but thick, deep forest. The moment they crossed the threshold from field to forest, it swallowed them whole. Twilight insisted they'd been walking for a good hour now, but Rarity knew better. She also knew not to push the truth to those unwilling to accept it, so she merely smiled and agreed with Twilight. "Silly me," she said.

Silly her.

Originally she'd been trying to keep track of time as they walked. It proved a useless effort. Her pocket-watch had stopped on the twelfth hour, despite them having entered on the fourth. Twilight had grown despondent as her compass began to spin in all manner of directions, before breaking entirely. The map they'd brought with them was writing itself, apparently trying to tell a story of how it came to be. They'd thrown and burned it the moment it started, however.

Despite this the two of them never got lost. The path always lead where they wanted to go, where they needed to go, and never once had it led them astray. When Twilight had wandered off into the forest to look at a certain flower in the distance, she'd arrived back on the path ahead in minutes. She thought she'd gone in a circle, and thus tried again, and again, and again. Rarity and Twilight learned the truth the moment that walking back the way they came, proved to only make them appear farther ahead and walk the right direction.

Either the forest was alive, or it had a master controlling it. In her vanity Twilight had adopted the idea that the forest was sentient and guiding them to Spike, whereas Rarity decided to believe that perhaps Spike was masterminding the path. But she had no way of knowing for sure, and in the end, she agreed with her friend. While not vehemently believing the forest was alive, Rarity decided it was folly to think Spike would lead them to him. He wasn't that confident... surely.

Although the path was leading them to Spike, it still took them time to clear the forest. It was huge after all, and no matter how straight the path, travelling takes long amounts of time. How much time neither of them was sure, as both their time-keeping spells had said ridiculous things. Rarity's had decided that their travels had taken minutes, while Twilight's had opted for years.

Signs that they were nearing their destination came in the form of ruins. Beautiful white pillars were dotted alongside the road every so often, sometimes accompanied by a decayed building or base of some sort. Soon they walked beneath a small arch of sorts. It had a single word inscribed at the peak of its form. Terminus. Neither of the girls knew what it meant, but as they crossed beneath it, both felt a majestic energy radiate from within themselves.

Off in the distance and above the scarlet canopy there were monolithic structures. Archways made of pearl and gold, covered in decay and nature, falling apart and remaining proud; standing tall for all to see. The longer the pair walked the quieter they became. Their reason for coming to the woods was lost in the beauty and mystery of the surroundings, their eyes taking in every detail as they continued onward.

It stopped. As abruptly as the forest had began it stopped, and in its place, there was a depression of otherworldly scale. Digging deep into the earth and heading straight down to the unknown, a large and perfectly circular maw awaited them. It was filled with stairs, platforms, buildings, pillars, pools, statues, doors, and all manner of other things. Both of the unicorns stood at the edge and looked down, a mixture of emotions plastered onto their faces.

"Wow," Twilight said simply. "That's... amazing."

Rarity nodded to herself more than anyone else. "It's absolutely gorgeous. Just look at how delicately constructed everything, how wonderfully decorated it all seems." Her eyes were practically glued to the structures beneath her. "Some of it's supported, and some of it is just... floating...."

"How long do you think it'll take us to find Spike?"

Tapping her hoof against her chin, the delicate white mare pondered the question. "Does it matter?" she asked sincerely. "We're here, and I doubt we can leave until we're done." Smiling at Twilight, Rarity wrapped an arm around her friend. "What was Celestia's saying, again?"

"Our longest journeys are often our easiest, and the shorter your trip, the less you learn," Twilight said with a smile.

"Exactly." Looking around the edges of the huge hole, easily the size of a lake, Rarity chirped up. "There's a staircase over there. Let's get going, darling. I'm sure Spike is waiting for us."

-=-=-=-=-=-

Shining could feel everything around him. He couldn't block it out anymore. He never should have read those books, but he read them for Twilight, or maybe he read them for himself? No, no, he read them with Twilight. Wait, Twilight? Where was she again? He was beginning to lose track of things, precious things, and he needed to keep them in.

"Look at him, snivelling and crawling around. Ha!" One of the guards outside insulted him. Shining didn't care right now because he was trying to keep everything in. "You know, I remember when I joined the Guard. That bastard told me I'd never make it past my induction. Look at me now!"

Another pony could be heard sighing. "Yeah, sure thing Private Heavy. You showed him good. Yippee."

"Are you making fun of me?" the former asked. The sound of hoofsteps could be heard growing fainter. "I made it. I'm going to keep climbing higher and higher. If I handle this right I'm on the fast-track to officer rank." He snorted and kept walking, his steps growing louder. "The Major entrusted me with this. The Major! He saw something in me, Comb, I just know it."

"Oh yes," the stallion apparently named Comb replied. "I'm sure he did. Why, everyone knows just how outstanding you are, Heavy."

Private Heavy grumbled something under his breath and walked off, shouting back at Comb. "You'll see! I'll outrank you once this is over!"

"Sure, sure," the other stallion replied with a yawn.

Shining Armour couldn't keep it in any longer. He was trying so hard but it just wouldn't stop coming out. They'd made him do it, yes. Yes it was their fault. THEIR FAULT. Even though it was their mistake he was the one tied up. He didn't like that, not one bit.

Fractious Helix Syndrome.

What did that mean again? He couldn't remember, or rather he couldn't bring himself to remember. There was something about that phrase, something about that...

"Aaaaaaaaaurgh!"

Screaming and writing in agony the stocky unicorn slammed his head against the floor repeatedly. "Out! Out! Out!" He started repeating the word as he slammed his head down, gnawing his own teeth and gums in frustration. "Out!"

"Hey... hey!" A chair fell over somewhere and a clattering of hooves could be heard. "Shining, Shining? Snap out of it!" Pounding resonated through the room as someone smacked on the barrier. "Ah, horseapples..." a tone of fear was adopted. "Uhh... Heavy. Shit!" The banging stopped and someone ran off, calling out for assistance.

It was there now. Shining could feel something building up inside his head that wanted to be set free. His screaming fluctuated between growling and groaning, as if something else was taking hold. His slamming became quicker and quicker as he started to lose breath. "OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT!"

Then it stopped. A strike too far. His horn cracked and screamed as it sucked in the air around him, resonating with a ground-shattering boom. Some form of shockwave radiated from Shining and blew the barrier out, extinguishing the lights, cracking and denting the age-old stone walls. His screaming continued as his skin became riddled with holes, blood pouring from the open wounds.

Soon the buds began to grow. Worming up from inside him, tiny little buds made from sinew and bone. His screaming only increased tenfold as he found himself patron to a garden show. Blood ran down from his eyes as the walls began to buckle further and further, his buds slowly opening.

"W-what the hell...." From behind him came a confused and scared voice. Then the sound of vomiting and the drawing of swords. "What in Celestia's name is going on here‽"

Fleshy flowers made from pus and skin bloomed all around Shining Armour, his eyes rolling back as his cutiemark bust into flames. He no longer screamed, he merely stood in place and turned to face the soldiers. Flowers fell off one by one, making sloppy sounds as they littered the floor. His coat was immaculate as the holes vanished. Where his eyes had been hollow, they were now full. Full of understanding.

"I see now," he said simply. In his voice. "Now I understand."

The stallion who had vomited managed to wipe his mouth clean and stand tall, looking over at Shining. He lost his nerve as the former-captain's hair started turning black, and bone began to grow on his face. "Stay right there, heretic!"

Shining could see everything in this room. Even their souls. "Sorry Private," he said to the previously boisterous soldier. "You're not getting promoted." He crushed his windpipe and let him drop where he stood, turning to face the other stallion. "Sergeant Comb, was it? Don't worry. You won't have to put up with idiotic subordinates anymore." There was a sharp crack, and the stallion's head was ripped clean off.His body dropped dead, and moments later, the head rolled across the floor.

"Don't worry Twily," Shining said as he looked off to the side. "I'm coming."

He teleported away just as the alarms were sounded.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Two pairs of eyes were staring intently at a small mechanical device set into the centre of the room. Spike and Amaranth were both glaring at a small cube, no larger than an eyeball, which was made up of delicate pieces of machinery. Somewhere held within were six very small, very special runes.

"How long did it take you to find this, again?" Amaranth asked curiously.

Spike scratched his chin and shrugged. "Probably something like fifteen years, although they were spent here, not out there." He cracked a small smile. "So I'm still pretty young." His smile grew wider as he turned his eyes towards Amaranth. "Defiantly younger than you."

"I hate you," she said jokingly as she stuck her tongue out. "It's not like I decided to spend my time like this." Spike nodded and walked over to a pile of velvet cushions, flopping down into them face first and groaning. "Speaking of time, how long until your friends arrive?"

"Uh, probably another hour or so, give or take a few." He rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes, concentrating on a tiny nub of energy in the back of his mind. "I'm leading them to us, else they'd be looking for a few years."

Amaranth slowly moved from the centre of the room, her hand tracing along the small obelisk, before dropping down to her side. She nimbly sat down besides spike, drawing her knees up and hugging her legs, sitting her head atop them. "It always comes to this, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it always comes to this," he said solemnly. "First it was Cadence, then Sombra...." He smirked and bit his thumb nervously. "That guy still gives me nightmares. He was something else."

Dragging a finger through her silky hair, the infinite maiden smiled at Spike. "It wasn't so hard was it. What did you say to him again? 'I don't care if you're the manifestation of hate, I don't care if you were once emperor of the land, and I don't care if you slew thousands of gods in the process. I need you to die' - was it?"

"Shush you," Spike said with a light blush. "I was angry, alright? I can only take being ripped apart so many times, eventually, enough is enough."

She hummed to herself more than anyone else and laid back in the pile, covering her eyes with a hand, then drawing it back and looking up at the ceiling. "It's exciting," she whispered. "To await what lies beyond the end."

Spike laughed and ruffled her hair. "I'm not sure you'll find much besides the crushing abyss, but hey, you're free to wonder." His laughter turned bitter as he held his face in both hands. Letting them slide down his face the young dragon let out an exasperated sigh. "Ponies think that Celestia looks after them in the next world, you know?"

"Really?" Amaranth asked as she looked up at Spike. "Do you think it's true?"

Spike shrugged. "Probably. All lesser gods go to the afterlife when they die. There's probably a good... fifty or so 'Celestias' in the afterlife." He looked over at the box with a glare in his eye. "The Imperium is going to fix all that. It's going to fix you."

"I suppose you're right," she said simply. "We've come a long way just to fill that little box."

"It's five down, one to go." Spike grit his teeth and turned his back on Amaranth. "I just wish it wasn't Twilight."

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Twilight had finally found the room in which Spike was residing. Somewhere along the way she'd been split apart from Rarity, but she didn't care. She wouldn't need Rarity for this, she knew it. She... knew it. So, why couldn't she open the door? Why did her hoof struggle to even near the ebony wood, trembling in place pathetically? Biting her lip Twilight forced her hoof towards the door, only for her foreleg to freeze up.

Why? She wanted to scream. Why? She wanted to shout. Why? She wanted to cry. Her frustration turned to bitter self-loathing as she struggled. Touching the door handle, she felt a moment of triumph, but it was pulled from under her as the door opened by itself. Spike was standing to the side with a knowing smile plastered on his face. "Looks like you were having trouble," he said.

Twilight flared up and made a move to use her horn, but a click of Spike's fingers stopped her in her tracks. "Now now," he said mockingly, adopting the tone of voice Celestia used. "Come along my little pony, tea, friendship, and biscuits await you."

About to say something insulting in return, the purple monarch was cut off by a sharp laugh. "Just kidding. There's none of that."

The door closed behind Twilight as she stepped inside the room, but she was too busy examining the space to notice. It was rimmed with a delicate series of runes, carvings most likely, that adorned both the top and bottom of the walls. The middle was left blank, with a strip of gold running the way around. In the middle of the room there were two obelisks. One was attached to the roof and pointing downwards, whilst another was attached to the floor and pointing upwards. In the space between them there was a small cube, made of worn gold, that was spinning slowly. It was balanced on its points in a diagonal fashion.

Both obelisks were covered with runes, although these ones glowed a faint blue. Attached to the roof was a black obelisk, whilst the one on the floor was made of gold. Five sides of the cube seemed to be radiating softly, whilst the last was devoid of any outward features. Not even the clockwork within moved. Velvet cushions were piled atop one another at the end of the room, upon which sat Spike and his succubus friend.

"I'm here to end this," Twilight said harshly as she stopped before Spike. "I want to get this matter over and done with."

"Woah woah," Spike said with apparent surprise, putting his hands up in a pseudo surrender. "Calm down Twily. Why don't we have a discussion about good friends over some hot chocolate?" Snapping his claws together, an overly feminine set of teacups appeared, followed by a teapot. Spike poured them both a cup. This would have been fine except he was pouring upside down, and the hot white chocolate was floating upwards into the cups. Also, it was white chocolate.

Seeing the look on her face, Spike once again adopted the hands raised pose, and the cups, pot, and all disappeared. "You took a while to get here, so before you try to kill me, why don't you ask some questions?" Spike spoke sincerely, and put his hands down slowly. "It's not like I'm against telling you what you need to know. I'm an open book... bar a few topics."

"Why did you kill Celestia?" Twilight seated herself opposite Spike, on the floor, and bored holes into him with her eyes. Figuratively.

"Better question: why didn't someone else kill her?" Laughing at his own joke, he made a shooing motion and grumbled. "I can't answer that. I can tell you what I did with her though."

"Shoot."

Spike pointed to the rotating box in the middle of the room. "She's in that," he said plainly. "Or rather, her soul is in that. There's no way for you to bring her back. I could, but honestly, I don't want to. It'd defeat the purpose of killing her."

Twilight wanted to scream there and then, but she held her tongue in check. "Who else is inside the... thing?" she asked accusingly. "Who else have you murdered?"

"Five lesser gods," came the reply. "And now there's only one left to go." He looked at Twilight.

"G-gods?" she nearly spluttered entirely. "What do you mean, gods?"

Spike rubbed his chin in thought, pondering how to answer. "There are lesser and higher gods in this world. Lesser gods are mortal, made by the whims of higher gods to serve a purpose. Higher gods have been around since time itself, maybe even before, and exist to shape our world as they see fit. Or other worlds." Looking over at Amaranth, the young dragon let out a soft sigh. "She's an angel. Angels are... complicated, to say the least. She's a seraph, but it's complicated, so we'll leave it there."

"Why am I a god?" Twilight asked sincerely, her anger forgotten for now.

"Uhh... well, you see..." Spike laughed awkwardly, turning his gaze away from Twilight. "You're not, not yet at least. Celestia would have made you into one, if I hadn't killed her." His features grew tense. "Celestia was somewhere between higher and lesser, for... difficult to explain reasons." Pointing to the floor, the purple murderer grimaced. "This used to be a lake. A very deep lake, filled with souls. It was used to resurrect Celestia every hundred years or so. You would've been turned into her, to put it bluntly."

Twilight practically exploded. "You expect me to believe that?" she cried. "I'd sooner see myself flayed alive than believe such blatant blasphemy! What do you take me for, a fool? A miscreant? I'm not going to fall for your games! I've had enough." She stopped ranting and took an aggressive stance, staring Spike in the eyes. "It's time to end this!" she screamed.

Amaranth looked at Spike with a sad smile, as he stood and opened his arms wide. "Go ahead," he said simply.

"Wh-wha— rrrrrrgh!" Partly confused at but mostly angry by being treated inferior, Twilight let lose a hail of ice in Spike's direction. He didn't move, and he didn't flinch. Instead he let each and every piece find its mark in his chest, spluttering slightly as he coughed up blood. His face remained neutral, however, devoid of his earlier manner.

"Are you done?" he asked in a disconnected tone.

Screaming louder, the purple unicorn continued to send shards his way. Each and every one sunk deep into his flesh with a sickening slice, ripping his muscle apart and painting the marble and velvet in blood and gore respectively. How long did she attack him, Spike wondered. Ten minutes? Thirty? An hour? Five? Or maybe only for a minute and a half? He couldn't tell, he didn't want to know either. Where new ice hit, it pushed the old out, ripping him wide open.

His health was immaculate, and he healed as each deathly pellet hit him. Endless streams of blood seemed to seep out from inside him, organ bits and pieces only growing back. His face wasn't spiteful, his features were not in pain. His eyes were empty, hollow, devoid of all things. His voice was despondent. "Are you done?" he asked. In fact he asked many times, again and again, until it became routine.

So it was. Twilight pumped him full of ice, ripping him apart as he allowed himself to be ripped apart. Blood, gore, organs, and sinew would fly from within him, coating the floor in viscera. Then he would ask her "Are you done?" It would begin anew. At some point Rarity walked in, standing by the door, watching her friend rip her old assistant to pieces; only for him to ask "Are you done?"

"Are you done?"

Twilight was done. Sagging her head in defeat, nearly vomiting as her eyes fidgeted upwards, the purple princess nodded her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks, bloody cheeks, splattered with gore. Spike stood in the same spot he'd been before. His chest was ripped open and splattered out behind him, already healing. The velvet behind him was stained crimson with his blood. It seemed as if behind Spike a pair of red wings had sprouted, the splattering of blood and gore immense.

"I'm done," she whispered.

"Then we're done," he responded. Rarity screamed. Spike lifted his arm up besides him and showed Twilight his open hand, then smiled. "Count to ten," he said softly. "Count to ten and it'll all be over." She nodded meekly, mouthing the numbers to herself.

Ten.

His open palm was visible to all.

Nine.

It came closer to his chest.

Eight.

Rarity was screaming. His elbow was bent.

Seven.

Amaranth turned away, she didn't want to watch.

Six.

Spike stopped smiling.

Five.

Rarity screamed louder, begging him to stop.

Four.

Twilight kept counting. Twilight kept crying.

Three.

Spike twitched his fingers.

Two.

Rarity screamed one last time.

One.

Spike balled his hand into a fist, and pulled down.

Her heart exploded in her chest, ripping a hole wide open in her front. Rarity collapsed in sobs, and Spike started chanting. A dim white glow drifted from Twilight over to the Imperium, and Amaranth looked back. Why? He wanted to scream. Why? He wanted to shout. Why? He wanted to cry.

Twilight Sparkle was dead. The Imperium was complete.