*Author's note* I had not originally thought of this idea, I had merely copied (if you might say I did) the concept from a clopfic by Starkie called 'The Seven Spikes' and asked him to use his idea to which he agreed happily.
As many stories begin we shall start on a usual day in Ponyville, where Twilight Sparkle the long time protege of Princess Celestia and bearer of the Element of Magic was studying spells in her library home; researching a way to magically sort things in a matter of instances, recalling the time she and her friends worked on a cherry orchard where they had much trouble with that very task. "Hmmm... mhm... yes!" She said with a smile, putting down the book still glowing with her magic. "All I have to do now is try it... Spike! Spike! Can you get the bucket I have in the hall?"
"You mean the one filled with rocks?"
"Yes I need you to get it and bring it over here."
"You could at least say please." He replied under his breath while walking towards the bucket, having just got down from the step ladder.
It took Spike only a few seconds to bring her the bucket, but she still gave him a sour look while waiting for him to place it down. "There's fine..." A slight silence waited on her as Spike stood next to the bucket, waiting for any gratitude. "I think the shelf over there is getting dusty, can you go dust it?" With a deep sigh he mumbled to himself and made his way to the shelf in question, grabbing the duster on the way. "Now I'm going to need to concentrate very hard to get this spell right so could you keep silent for just a little bit, Number One Assistant?"
It calmed him a bit to hear her say that, "Okay Twi, but you know I'm usually very good at that."
She turned back at him with a glare, "Yes but you remember what happened last week!"
His face flushed briefly, looking down at the floor. "Oh... Well at least we got it all cleaned up..."
"Yes, but it took the whole week... and this experiment may be even more dangerous. Nopony has ever tried a spell like this before. Who knows what might happen!"
"Alright, alright, just let me know when you're done." He replied hastefully as he continued to dust the shelves.
"Okay, now let's see..." Twilight stated, looking back over her notes. She seemed to have everything she needed for her experiment: Something inanimate to test, enough magical power to preform the spell, as well as many notes and data on the subject (though most are sketchy at best). So with one last look at the bucket of lifeless stones she shut her eyes in concentration, feeling for the power needed for the spell as she imbued the magic onto it. As her horn glowed brightly, a beam of magic short forth and covered the bucket, seemingly ready for the spell to work. But something happened... A spark flew from her horn and threw off her already dwindling concentration, she tightend her closed eyes in an attempt to bring back control, but a burst threw her back.
It wasn't until an hour later that Twilight awoke, shoving books off her as she stumbled to her hooves. "Ugh... what happened?" The entire library was littered in books, huge piles were in front of every book shelf, but one in particular had well over twice the number, maybe even four times the size by her estimate. "Spike? Are you okay?"
A grunting noise bellowed from the pile, it sounded like it wasn't Spike under the books until he actually said something. "Twi?" "What happened?" "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." "So am I." "Me too."
She shook herself off, thinking she heard something strange. "Spike? Are you alright? Can you get up?" Her horn shined again, this time tossing off all the books impeeding her from moving, then once she could get up she managed her way to Spike, tossing text after text off of him. She gasped at what she saw. Not one Spike- but six. All dazed and barely conscious. But she could not pause, she knew she had to make sure that he was fine. She pushed all the books away and lifted them each, inspecting for anything that could be wrong with them.
She took note of each Spike, all just barely different, only noticeable if you stare at them next to each other long enough. The one that was still awake and standing next to her, above the other unconscious Spikes, was the closest to the original Spike, maybe a bit more purple. The others, still unconscious, were slightly off hue. One was slightly closer to yellow, another slightly pink, while another was closer to white, there was one slightly orange, and the last was even stranger than the others. Not because his body's light blue but because he'd grown wings (Albiet barely distinguishable, they were still very much present). "Wh- What do you think happened?" Spike asked, looking down to the other hims. "Do you think the spell might've fractured off the metallic bucket due to the combination of it's properties offset by your material concentrate and a fluxation in power from a possible attention fault?"
Twilight was stunned! She didn't know Spike even knew all those words, let alone how to use them to form a hypothesis as to why her experimental spell failed. It took a few moments for her to regain composure and notice his words held a possible truth. "Maybe Spike, but what gave you that conclusion?"
"Well I did read Starswirl the Bearded's book "Intricate study of the magic of magic" that magic affects different materials at different rates and at different intencities..."
"But...I haven't read that book since you were just a hatchling, barely a year old..."
"Actually I've read it a few times, as well as other books you used to read to me as a hatchling, for... nostalgic purposes."
"Well that explains that but, what are we going to do about these... um... yous?"
"Well it's not so much as what we're going to do to them, as it's where are we going to keep them?"
"I know... it's not like we can just afford to house five more of you... no offense."
"Actually, I'm on your side on this one. But we can't just leave them, we need to study them and make sure that they're alright, you know what I mean?"
"I doubt they'll be much different from you but... I have been wrong before..."
"Alright Twilight, they're all on the spare bed. Did you finish the letter you're going to send to the Princess?"
"Thank you Spike, and yes I have. Plus we need to see if you can still send letters, if not I do have a spell that can do it."
"Just give it here." Spike said with his hand out as Twilight levitated the letter into his hand. He quickly blew his normal green flame and the letter burned off to the Princess, noticing it was a bit faster and with a slight humm.
"Looks like that still works... Let's just hope Celestia knows something."
Just as Spike opened his mouth to reply he started to choke on an incomming message, where just coughing it up a bright light flashed the whole room and Princess Celestia appeared in front of the two. "I came as soon as I read your message. Where are they?"
Twilight pointed towards their bedroom. "Most of them in there but one is right here."
"I can see that, and I think I know why he's the only one conscious but I need to make sure." And with that the princess with into the bedroom, stopping either of them from entering as she investigated.
The Princess took nearly half an hour with the other Spikes, running tests and confirming her theories. "Twilight, Spike, it seems as though you have accidentally split Spike into the six Elements of Harmony."
"Wh- What do you mean?" Both Twilight and Spike said in unison.
"Because Spike was hatched from pure magic that came from the bearer of magic, the most mysterious element, it appears that he has... become part of the Elements of Harmony..."
"But what about when Spike grew from greed?" Twilight interrupted.
"He is still a dragon, that fact will never change. But because he is a dragon he absorbs magic very easily, especially as a hatchling."
"So, why didn't the other Spikes wake up?" Spike asked, concerned for his other selves.
"That is because they aren't near the Elements that they represent."
"So... why didn't I need to have Twilight or any of the others near me at all times? Like when I got captured by the buffalo?"
"I can only guess that because you had all of the Elements in you, so you did not need to be near any of the actual bearers. And in case you are wondering, they all have the same knowledge that Spike did before this incident, but their personalities will be different.
"And you know this how?"
"Because I had simulated the presence of the other Elements, confirming everything I am telling you. But there is some thing that surprised me..."
"It was the Rainbow Dash one right?" Twilight interrupted again.
Celestia paused in a daze before coughing back to her normal composure. "Well yes but, it was because his wings grew to become adequate for flight when I had the Element of Loyalty near him."
"And how far doe it have to be to affect him that way?"
"I can't be too sure, it is almost all new information to me as well. So I shall return to my study and find all the information I have on the matter, in the meantime I want you to take each Spike to his Element and have them raise him."
"And that's why I need you all to take care of them, so can you?"
"Well I don't really see much of a choice in the matter darling, but what are we going to do about their accommodations?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah, ya'll expect us to give him a bed most of us don't got?" Applejack interjected.
"I've got that all covered." Twilight responded as she levitated five bed-baskets towards them. "And I made sure yours can sit on clouds Rainbow."
"Thanks Twi... But how do you even know if HE can walk on clouds?" Rainbow replied.
"Well I guess we'll find out now won't we?" RD's Spike replied, flapping his wings and flying towards the nearest cloud over head, landing without a hitch. "Well? Any problem now?"
"I guess not." Rainbow answered, not liking being proved wrong like that.
"Now I know that this will be a major adjustment for most of you but the Princess assured that they will be your assistant just like the old Spike was to me."
"Hey! I still am!" Twilight's Spike interjected.
"Oh, sorry... Yes you still are..."
"Well that's all well and good but how do you know if he's good enough to be my helper?" Applejeck asked with good reason.
"If I may" Rarity intervened. "Every time he comes over to assist me he's not only a darling little helper but pulls more than his fair share around."
"That's all well and good too..." Applejack replied. "But I don't really think his weight is nearly enough to pull his own on the farm."
"A...And I don't think he's able to help me either..." Fluttershy said as politely as she could.
"I know, I know you all have your doubts but like I said, the Princess asked me to ask you to take care of them...please?"
After a moment of silence between them, Applejack spoke up. "Well looks like we've got no choice then... With the princess asking us and all..."
"Oh thank you! Thank you! I guarantee that they will not be a burden to any of you!"
"Yep! You can count on us!" The five Spikes replied in unison, each facing their Element Bearers.
"But... Something has been bothering me... Pinkie, you've been unusually quiet..." Twilight pointed out.
"Oh! Sorry if I freaked anypony out Twi..." Pinkie Pie said in her usually fast manner. "I was just thinking of some hilariously funny pranks me and my new assistant can do! And what parties we can throw with his help!"
"Ooh! That sounds like fun! I've already got a few pranks in mind that we can pull..." Pinkie's Spike began to say to her as they both turned and walked away, leaning against each other and whispering their plans, giggling at the ideas.
"I guess we should all get home... and let the Spikes know the routines you all have." Twilight remarked.
And with that, the four others and their respective dragons ventured towards their homes. "I guess we should get going too Twilight."
"Yeah..." She responded, rather down on herself. "I just hope they don't think of it as too much of a burden..."
It had only been a few minutes since Twilight Sparkle and her Spike made their way back to her house, where she quickly gathered quills and parchment. "Spike! Can you come here, I need to..."
"Run a few tests? I'm already working on one." He replied from the other room.
This caused Twilight to ponder what was happening, so she made her way over to Spike. "Wh...What are you testing?"
"I'm running a few tests on my physical form." He said while looking through Twilights microscope. "I'm seeing if there is any tangible differences between the orginal me and me, I can't very well test my psychological state."
"Well...yes...that is true..." she replied after a pause. "So what have you found out?"
"Actually, based on the scales I found in my bed I have found that my color has indeed altered slightly, aproximately 2% closer in color to your own coat Twilight, but other than that there appears to be no discernable difference."
"Did you take into account the natural color alteration in scale decay?"
"Yes, I have. So what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Have you found anything? Or are you still preparing your tests?"
"I was preparing to preform a psychological test on you...not neccessarily your memory but your..."
"Attitude and personality? Good idea!"
"Well first, if you don't mind me saying, you seem to be a lot more intellegent than you used to be."
"Everyone is a genious but if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid." Spike quoted, giving a playful chuckle towards her.
"Th-That is very true Spike, who said that?"
"A pony by the name of Albert Equinstien"
"Isn't that one of the ponies responsible for the Manehatten project?"
"That's not the only thing he did... but we're getting off focus."
"You're right." Twilight coughed, "shall we begin the personality test?"
"I'm ready when you are."
"Alright! Question one: Where do you feel you would want to spend your leasure time?"
"In a library, if we didn't already live in one."
"That's...What I would answer..." Twilight replied, thinking back to all the times Spike specifically mentioned he'd want to be anywhere but in a library when he wanted to relax. "Okay... Question 2: What do you find interesting?"
"Hmm..." he paused, scratching his chin as he looked up and towards the left. "If you think about it, everything is interesting. Even the mundane can be fascinating if you look at it in a different manner."
Again Twilight remembered contradictory events between his past and current self as well as shocking similiarities between he and herself. "Okay, question three:..." She went on asking question after question, realizing that they had nearly everything in common as she felt something inside of her, slowly growing. "Good...Last question... What do you, think about me..?"
"Well you know I've always appreciated you, but now I feel like I know you better, like I'm closer to you."
She blushed lightly, looking at her raised parchment to try and hide it. "But...Do you think I'm...pretty?"
"Twi...I've always thought you were beautiful..."
"...But not like Rarity..."
"No... You have a different kind of beauty, a more...natural one..." Spike replied, causing Twilight to blush harder as he drooped his head. "I just... I never told you because I thought it would ruin our friendship..."
"Aww Spike..." Twilight said and rushed to him with a big hug, embracing him tightly and whispering into his ear. "Actually... I've always though you were, cute too..."
Spike just stood there in shock. Not from the hug but what she said as she embraced him, causing his mind to race. 'Did she just say what I think she did...? Were all those times she said I was cute more than just a "Little brother" cute? Does she care about me that same way I have her for who-knows-how-long?' And after comming back from his thoughts he hugged her back, tightening his grip as much as he could muster while putting his chin into her shoulder. "T-Twilight..."
"Yes Spike?"
"Is that the end of the test?"
Twilight snapped back into reality, realizing that she was enjoying the embrace more than she intended and replied shortly after clearing he throat. "Yes, yes, that was... that was the end of the test."
"So...um...what test are we going to run now?" He asked, slightly dissapointed because he'd wanted to keep hugging her for much longer but, the thought that she might not have had the same intentions had caused him to end it.
*Author's note* Yes, I had originally intended this to be a romance (Preferably clopfic) fiction without much real plot other than the relationships of Spike with the characters of MLP;FiM... So if anyone was dissapointed by the lack of plot, I'm sorry. And if anyone wishes to make a story with an actual plot that uses this idea, please, by all means.
*Editors note* If you write your own version - I (Starkie) want to read it.
Author's Note
Long story short, I was looking over some old files I salvaged from my old computer, and I stumbled across this.
I hope you enjoy it.
Rarity
Walking home from the gathering with her friends, Rarity sighed while thinking to herself, 'I know it isn't Spike's fault, and I know he needs to be around me. But I can't stand him constantly gawking over me... every once and a while is fine, but every waking second...' she shivered. 'I'll just make him do more work... maybe teach him how to sew and ask him to design dress for dragons... yeah, that might keep him occupied,' she looked at him, but strangely he wasn't looking at her, he didn't have a blush in his cheeks, he didn't suddenly turn away pretending he wasn't looking at her, he was just watching where they were walking. She felt slightly uneasy, not really sure why when she saw he wasn't looking at her, 'well I did rush over here, so I'm not really at my best. what if... no it couldn't be... but... what if he doesn't like me anymore?'
Spike on the other hand was racing like a dragster in his mind, 'OH MY GOD I GET TO SPEND ALL MY TIME WITH RARITY!!! THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY IN MY LIFE!' 'But I have to be a proper gentledrake and treat her with as much respect and poise as I can muster. No matter how much it excites me to even be near her. One must not jump to conclusions after all.' 'But what if she does? Oh, I want to look at her, but i know I shouldn't... I'll have plenty of time when she's concentrating on her dresses.' Reaching the boutique in record time, opening the door for her and in a most sophisticated tone, "after you."
"Why thank you," Rarity gestures, entering her home and pausing for Spike to close the door behind them and tossing the basket to the side of the door for now. "Shall I give you the grant tour?"
"I would be delighted," he agreed, already knowing the layout backwards and forwards, probably able to navigate it perfectly while blindfolded.
"Well as you may already be aware of, this is the showroom, where most of the magic happens!" She happily described as she went from room to room, informing her new temporary housemate everything he needs to know, ending with the only two rooms on the second floor, "this is my study, I will ask you never to go in there unless it's an emergency or I invite you." Spike nodded his head in understanding as she opened the door to the last room in the house, "And this is my room, and your room for the time being. Which reminds me, I forgot to bring your basket with me... But it would be rude to have a guest waiting like that," she chuckled.
"oh it's no problem at all. And if I may, I shall get the bed in question and relieve you of that duty."
She was a bit shocked at his manors and tone, but agreeing none the less to his suggestion, waiting a good portion of five minutes for him to finally bring it into her bedroom. "Oh, could you put it over there darling?" Pointing with her hoof next to one of her dressers, "I think it could look smashing there."
"We'll see..." He replied passively as he placed the bed down, adjusting it, and stepping back to see it better. "I think it yould look a lot better if the sheets better matched the setting of the room. Do you think you have any bed sheets?"
She was thinking the same thing, trying to place where she had any extra ones, "check that closet there. I will see if I have any in my study." The second she closed the door behind her, she had to take a double look at the door, mentioning to herself, "There's no way this can be the real Spike... He's so sophisticated and... I hate to say it, but i miss his constant gawking." So she went to her study in search of fabric, finding only raw materials she could very well make sheets out of, but rather use some already made, she returns towards her room after a brief five minutes.
Upon arriving to her door she hears Spike, barely audibly. She leans in slowly, cracking the door as quietly as she could, listening to Spike, "pull it together Spike! It's not like you're asking her to a date. You're just staying at her place for a while... So be on your BEST behavior. She likes that kind of stallion... dragon... oh listen to me..."
She breathed a sigh of relief, 'so it isn't that he doesn't like me anymore.' pausing at her own words, 'did I just... Do I want him to like me?... No, it's just reassuring to hear that I look good.' She paused for a good few moments before knocking on the door, "they weren't where I thought they would've been. I hope you've had more luck."