"Oh Spike, you never know the feeling of unrequited love! Of" Rarity started to say, but was cut off when Spike spoke up.

"You know what? I'm done."

"Wait what?" She asked, utterly confused.

"Oh I know the feeling of unrequited love very well apprently, you blind fool! And you know what? No More! I'm done with you!" He said, turning on his heel and exiting the building and Rarity stood there utterly confused at Spikey-Wikey's words.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"Stupid mare....all the hours I wasted for her....I even let her use me as a pin cushion for buck's sake!" Spike said as he wandered on the outskirts of Ponyville.

"I should have seen it coming." He said, kicking a rock, "I should have pined after someone else...."

His words trailed off as the rock bounced off a metal object and it lit up with blue lights streaming through the metal. Silently approaching the object, Spike stiffened and held his breath-as if a gust of wind would make it explode. Once he was at the object, nothing happened, except for a button lighting up.

Curiosity overriding his cautiousness, he pressed the button and a blue light blinded him.

When he could see again, he was in a strange blue room....and he was not alone.

There was an alien figure in white clothing and extremely pale skin. She had a human-like build, except for her elongated fingers and her "nose" was composed two snake-like slits. The whites of her eyes were black and her hair was grey, going into a curl at each side of her head.

"Welcome, young one." She spoke with a soothing voice. "We are within my realm. Who are you, and what is your species? I am afraid I have not quite seen a species like yours."

"I'm...Spike. I'm a dragon....and who and what are you?" Spike said, eyes, gazing around the room.

"I am known as the Librarian, I am one of the last Forerunners. We have cared for the galaxy for many generations, and where life exists, our knowledge lives on." She said, pulling up floating screens, "Currently we have become data, and this we can talk without fear of discovery."

For some reason, the fact he wouldn't be found comforted him. No chance of running into Rarity. No lecture from Twilight. Just him and the Librarian....maybe for once, he could finally vent his feelings.

"I wish I was so sure of my identity." Spike said, gaining the Librarian's attention, "I am a dragon, and yet do not fit in with them because I do not follow my instinct of greed. I live with ponies and follow their lifestyle, and yet....I do not quite fit in because, physically, I am a dragon. I cannot soar and thus do not fit in with Griffins. I am relatively intelligent and thus am not like Diamond Dogs-even though I like gems like they do....though because I am a dragon it is because I eat them....Finally, I am not extremely strong physically and thus do not fit in with the Minotaurs. At times, I feel like I am a living outcast."

"All life has meaning." The Librarian said, as seats emerged from the ground. "Now....tell me about yourself."

This was finally Spike's chance to vent his feelings.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

When Spike finished his tale, he glanced around. How much time had passed.

"I must say, you have endured a long time, a lesser being would have given up long ago." The Librarian said, "In a way you remind me of a Reclaimer I met....I believe his name was John. One of those who fell was a Forerunner himself. He was known as the Didact. He became obsessed with having our species live forever. He experimented on humans, trying to find a way to turn them to data and back...his experiments...created only abominations. Luckily, very few remain....and I give control of them to you."

With flashes of light, twenty metallic beings with glowing yellow-orange eyes and lights appeared. They had long arms and legs, holding a thick metallic glowing gun in their right hand and their left was attached to a glowing orange blade composed of hard light. Their backs were covered by metal that looked like the shell of a beetle.

"These are known to many as Promethean Knights. They were once humans....and this is what the Didact's experiments turned them into." She said, as she started pressing a few things into the screen before placing a hand on Spike's chest. Before he could ask what she was doing, his body was assaulted by excruciating pain, causing a loud roar to escape his maw. Bones snapped, muscles stretched and scales tore off and regrew. Finally, the whites of his eyes turned black.

"What...did you...is that my voice?!" Spike said, finding his voice to be deeper.

"This is your true age. What you are meant to be. I have reworked your genetic makeup so you never succumb to your greed once again." The Librarian said, as Spike stood up and a body suit covered from his toes to just below his head.

"You can remove that with a thought...but...with it on." She said, as metal plates with glowing green lines covered most of the body suit and a helmet appeared by floating metal plates over his shoulder. It slid over his head and pieces of metal extended, covering the bottom of his head below his chin. Two long weapons slowly assembled themselves and merged into his armor-storing themselves.

"From what you tell me, there is very little defending your planet. Thus, I have reworked these weapons to never run out of ammunition and your suit...." From Spike's wrist armor, blades of hard, green light emerged before retracting.

"This is highly advanced Forerunner Combat Skin. The Mantle of Responsibility of your planet falls to you, the one who found the last piece of Forerunner technology on your planet. Protect your planet's knowledge and peace, lest everything be lost."

As the room started fading-along with his Promethean Knights, the last words of the Librarian echoed in his ears.

"From this day forward, you are the Didact of Sacrifice"

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Emerging from the light with his knights, Spike removed his helmet and gazed upon the deactivating Forerunner device when he heard a familiar voice.

"That light came from this way!"

"Rainbow Dash...." Spike said, as the Promethean Knights moved around him in a protective circle. Their stance finished just as six mares he was very familiar with entered the clearing.

"What are these things?" Applejack asked.

"OH! Maybe they're protecting something!" Pinkie Pie's hyperactive voice yelled out.

"But what would they protect?" Rarity asked....oh there was that mare he didn't want to deal with. Yet, he knew he had to avoid a fight. The death of the Elements of Harmony would not be good for this planet.

"Stand aside" He commanded and the Knights stood as straight as they could before the ones in front of him stood to the side, revealing him.

".....Spike....." Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Ponyville, said in a soft voice, looking up to gaze upon him the same way she had to gaze at Princess Celestia.

"The Mantle of Responsibility to care for this planet has fallen to me by the Forerunners. I am....the Didact of Sacrifice!" Spike said, placing his helmet back on and walking up to the six mares.

As tall as Spike was, the Knights were even taller, standing about two hooves taller than him. Some held their gun up and others brandished their blades.

"Didn't I tell you to stand down!" Spike yelled at them, and they lowered their weapons.

"Didact of....Sacrifice?" Fluttershy's quiet voice asked as she gazed up at him-wings locked to her sides.

Spike's gaze went to Rarity and the glowing, green lights over his eyes reflected off her blue eyes.

"I had sacrificed much for you, and I was a fool for doing so. My past is now my title. I am the sword and shield of this planet. As long as life, knowledge, and peace exist, I am doing my job." With that, he brushed past the six mares and the Promethean Knights followed him.

Twilight's gaze followed them, and she felt unsure on what to do.

Maybe Princess Celestia would know.....but how would she send express letters without Spike's magical fire?

Author's Note

Pairing options:

1) Spike x Luna

2) Spike x Moondancer

3) Spike x Twilight

4) Spike x OC Dragoness

The ONLY way there will be a "harem" in this story is if there is an overwhelming majority vote for Spike and one of the three mares AND the Dragoness! Otherwise, I'd like to explore a single pairing.