Deep in the darkest part of the sister continent of Equestria in a dark and deadly forest only know as the ‘Hellslands’ two voices echo out. One young with a tough grit to it and the other strong and knowledgeable.

“Form the cast and then mold it, once it’s molded find the shape.”

“I’m finding but it’s not molding!”

“You’re almost there just keep trying.”

A loud grunt was heard and then a flash of green light brightened the dark forest. The light dimmed until it lit the two talking figures. “I…I did it…I DID IT!!!”

“I knew you could!” The knowledgeable voice cheered. “And with this the final lesson has been learned. Of the basics of course. You’ve come a very long way my friend.”

“After all the time I spent doing this I’d better have, so…we can…”

“Yes…we can go home, back to them. But first you need to sleep, it’ll be a long trip back after all.”

“I’m all over that, let’s sleep.”

A dim morning light crawled over Ponyville and shined against Twilight’s castle as it continued on its way. The castle was almost dead quiet besides the silent sounds of the maids Celestia sent to Twilight to help her care for the castle. A purple glow surrounded a marker as it lifted from a placeholder and floated over to a calendar. A swift ‘X’ was drawn on it and the marker was put back into place.

“Three years, 1 month, twenty-one days…” A soft sigh escaped the lavender colored alicorn as she walked down the hall the throne room she and her friends shared. “And another day without word…as always…” Twilight mulled over the events that had passed since Spike left with Astral. The day after Spike left Twilight showed her friends the note and got exactly what she expected out of Rainbow Dash. During the first few months she had tried at least three times to fly off and find Spike somehow. However thanks to Celestia’s guards she was promptly returned home.

Rarity reacted in a more silent way than Rainbow Dash and tried to use her contacts to find out where Spike was, only to find he had left the continent. Rarity reported this filled with despair after three weeks of Spike having left. That was around the first time Rainbow tried to follow him.

Applejack and Fluttershy missed him dearly but both accepted this was something he needed to do alone. Pinkie missed him as well and almost lost her mind when she realized they’d miss his birthday. So instead on Spike’s birthday they held a small party for themselves in honor of Spike.

As for herself, Twilight missed Spike more each day and had reached a point where she was only wondering if he was getting enough sleep and eating well. Early on after his leaving she had been a mess, she assumed the worst happened to him and would be promptly calmed down by one of her friends. She counted everyday Spike was gone for more than just to keep record, but to feel close to him in this absence.

She trotted into the throne room and sat in her throne. She looked over at Spike’s chair, it hadn’t grown this whole time. She had no idea what it meant.

The sound of flapping wings filled her ears along with a shout. “Yo Twilight! Looks like that big bruiser is back on the edge of the border,” Rainbow Dash reported. Over time the rainbow tinting on her wings became a bit more prominent. Actually between her friends and herself only she had grown anymore, she now stood head for head with Fluttershy.

“That makes it the first of this year…the beast seems to not have any interest in trying to be peaceful...” Twilight turned to the hovering Rainbow. “Dash go and gather the girls. I think this time we should tackle this together, we might have to use Fluttershy’s stare for this.”

“Gotcha. Be back in a flash!” She sped off out of the window she came in.

A short time later Rainbow came back with the other Elements and they all waited as Twilight’s own pegasus chariots were being prepared.

“Oh I do hope we can reason with that foul…thing. These constant scuffles are becoming an annoyance.” Rarity spoke out carrying two suitcase in her magic, she had learned her lesson from Spike almost being crushed to death.

“I just hope we don’t need to fight it…that would be nice.” Fluttershy quietly chimed in as well.

“Ah don’ know Flutters, it’s a pretty mean customer. Doesn’t seem ta understand a lick of what we say to it.” Applejack shuffled the bags on her back. “An if we do manage to talk to it, we need to give it a bath somethin’ fierce! Cause woowhee, does that thing smell bad!”

“Your highness?” A pegasus guard trotted over to Twilight. “We’re all ready. The trip will have three stops so we can rest.”

“Three days then. That’s plenty of time. Let’s go everypony.” Twilight called out. The six ponies gathered together on two chariots pulled by three pegasi each and took to the skies.

“Remind me to never do that again!”

“I think you held up well for such a long flight.”

“I’m not flying over the ocean ever again…ever!”

“You will if you plan to keep up with you friends.”

“…you just had to hit the sore spot huh?”

“It’s one of my finer qualities. We should rest for tonight. We’ll be home in two days at least.”

“Okay…hey…I feel like…something’s wrong…”

“Hmm…then shall we check on this feeling?”

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

The first two days were uneventful. Nonstop flying will do that. The Elements were closing in on their destination, the Equestrian border. Rainbow Dash had given up on flying and decided to nap in one of the chariots. Fluttershy and Rarity were sleeping alongside Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie and Twilight were simply talking about what they had been up to the past month. They arrived at the border rather quickly and after of schedule.

“Lookie Twi!” Pinkie pointed towards a tower of smoke rising from one of the outposts.

“Guards! Take us down there!”

Following orders the pegasi landed just in front of the border outposts and Twilight flew over to a unicorn guard. “Dawn Treader!”

The unicorn named Dawn Treader turned around, over the past year Twilight and her friends had come to know Dawn Treader as a friend. His mane and tail a dark yellow and his coat a dirty gray, his eyes shined a bright orange. Dawn removed his helmet and bowed to Twilight, any other day he’d have a calm smile, but today he looked at Twilight with a distraught glance. “Hello princess, I’d like to be happy to see you again but right now we’re in trouble.”

“I understand.” Twilight smiled and Dawn nodded. “I’ll take a guess that the beast has been more aggressive this time? From the damage done it looks like its get bold…”

“You are right in your guess. Just a few nights ago the beast appeared and attacked us, two of my men were harmed but managed to escape with their lives. The beast didn’t get past the border but it did leave a large dent in our defenses.” Dawn led them to them the destroyed tower. “We’re rebuilding but we don’t know how long it will be before-,”

A loud grotesque roar echoed from the forest. “It’s here!” Dawn ran off and began shouting orders.

Twilight and her friends looked towards the forest. The sound of the earth breaking could be heard as something began to run towards them. Fluttershy stared in awe as the beast finally appeared under the sun’s light.

It was big, at least three times as tall as Fluttershy’s bear friend. Its body was covered in bleeding gashes and wounds that look years old. It stood on all fours had a long cut off tail. Its claws were bloody and covered with any matter of mess. Its body was a sicken dark green and it had glowing red eyes. The scent coming off of it was almost unbearable to all of them. It smelled like death itself. The beast opened its mouth and revealed its disgusting mouth, skin and blood wrapped around it teeth. Smoke fell out of its open maw as it stared Twilight and her friends down. It seemed to remember them.

“Yo Flutter, think you can talk to it?” Rainbow whispered to Fluttershy. This wasn’t her first time seeing it, but it’s been a long time since she’s seen it.

“H-honestly…I don’t think so…” Fluttershy took a step back as Rainbow stood in front of her ready to fight. “Its so…angry…”

“So talking is out…do we try to restrain it again? It almost worked last time…” Rarity herself was already prepared for a fight, even lighting her horn up.

“Ah don’ think it’ll give us another chance…” Applejack scrapped her fore hoof against the ground. “Ah recon it’ll be a mighty tough fight, its look right ready ta fight to the death…”

“I hope it won’t come to that, no matter how monstrous, it’s still alive. We can’t hurt it too much…” Twilight looked to her friends, “Try to detain it but don’t harm it too much.” Her friends nodded and she looked back to the beast.

The monster crouched and with a sharp glint of its fangs charged at them. Twilight reacted immediately and formed a shield around the outpost towers. The beast slammed into the barrier and clawed at it, Rainbow and Applejack went around the shield and got on either of its sides. Applejack slammed her hooves into the ground, in a few moments large vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around the beast. Along with becoming stronger, Applejack’s earthpony magic exploded, giving her a power over the earth itself.

The beast claw and bit at the vines, even biting into its own skin to free itself. Fluttershy gasped loudly and Twilight flew over to Applejack. “Throw it into the forest before it hurts itself even more!” Applejack followed that order and used the vines to swing the beast back into the forest behind them. Rainbow flew after the beast and watched as it rose back to its feet, she gather a bit more speed and flew straight down into the beast. The creature had a moment to look up before Rainbow slammed into its side sending it flying a short distance.

Twilight and Applejack ran over to Rainbow as she landed. “Yuck! I got…whatever it is that’s all over that thing on me!” Rarity ran over and gasped, she used her magic to clean Rainbow off, before either could say anything the beast was upon them again. It raised its claws and swung at the girls, but was stopped by two pink hooves planted in its face. Pinkie bucked the beast face just hard enough to dizzy it.

“Take that you big meanie-weanie!” Pinkie growled at it as Applejack and Rainbow both rushed at it. With a double-hoof buck from Applejack and a strong right from Rainbow the beast rose to its hind legs and fell on its back, seemingly unconscious.

“Oh thank goodness it’s over.” Fluttershy sighed but was pulled behind Rarity by her magic.

“Don’t be fooled darling, this gruesome beast doesn’t tire so easily.” Rarity’s words were confirmed when the beast turned on its side and looked at them. It let out a sickening roar turned to face them.

Twilight charged up a spell when she noticed something. A light began to build in the monster’s mouth. She had never seen it do this before, none of them have. But it look very familiar. Twilight’s eyes shot open and she gasped. “It’s a dragon!”

Upon those words the beast let out a powerful stream of fire from its mouth straight at Twilight and her friends. Twilight and Rarity jumped forward and quickly cast a double-layered barrier around the six of them. The fire’s heat pushed through the barriers and showed the ponies how hot the fire truly was. After a moment the fire died down and the beast charged at them again.

Twilight and Rarity released the barrier and shot the monster with powerful beams of magic sending it flying again. And once again it landed on its back and groaned in pain.

Twilight panted heavily and wiped a flood of sweat from her face. “T-that thing...was a dragon the whole time? …but how? Its mannerisms are nothing like a dragons, it doesn’t even look like dragon.”

“Sure it breathes fire and is big, but that doesn’t mean it’s a dragon right?” Rainbow asked in a hurry.

“It is a dragon, I know it is. I’ve seen Spike and other dragons breathe fire before and the fire never fails to start from the throat outwards. That thing is definitely a dragon!”

“You are not wrong.” A voice called out to them. Twilight immediately recognized it and turned to face a tall white stallion. “Hello again Twilight.”

“A-agless Mentor!?” Her eyes grew, “D-does that mean-,” A loud roar cut her off as the dragon-like beast charged at them.

A blur of purple and green slammed into its side and sent it into a few trees. The blur landed but didn’t stay long enough to be seen. It jumped up and landed on the monster’s side. It raised its fists and slammed down into the beast, causing the ground under it to crack.

The six ponies watched as the purple figure jumped off the unmoving beast and walk over to them. It was clearly walking on two legs and stood slightly taller than Twilight herself. The green spines on its head and back were large and somewhat pointed. On its tail was a golden ring with symbols carved into it. A brown strap wrapped around his side and led down to a brown bag that seemed full of something. A necklace around its neck showed off five animal claws. All of these things came together to create the purple and green being stood before the girls with a big smile on its face.

Twilight felt herself begin to tremble a bit, from sadness or happiness? She had no idea. She worked her mouth until the word she had forced herself not to say lest she would begin to cry. “S-Spike?”

“Hi Twilight…I’m home…sorta…” Spike smiled and showed off his now sharp looking teeth. Twilight wasted no time in hugging her brother. She then realized how much he had grown, before she could wrap one foreleg around him to hug him, now she needed both. Two scaled purple arms hugged her back and she softly began to cry. “I’m back big sister…I’m back.”

“LOOK OUT!” Fluttershy shouted as the beast jumped at Twilight and Spike.

Spike quickly let go of Twilight and smiled at her before turning towards the open claw of the monstrous dragon. He balled up his own claws and sent both of them up to meet the claws coming down on him. The girls’ fears were destroyed when Spike’s fists clashed with the dragon’s claws and shattered them without effort.

The dragon roared in pain at the loss of its claws and stepped back away from Spike. “Astral is this one…”

Astral trotted over to Spike and nodded. “Yes Spike, free it from its torment.” As if those words were a command, Spike ran straight at the monster and took a deep breathe before releasing a large and powerful stream of blazing red fire at the dragon, covering it completely.

“Spike? What are you doing!?” Twilight shrieked as she ran towards him. Astral put out his foreleg and stopped her.

The monster broke free of Spike’s fire and charged at him. Spike crotched down on all four and his eyes took on a predatory sharpness.

“You suspicions were almost correct Twilight. That creature ‘was’ once a dragon.”

The monster slammed into Spike but could barely push him back a few inches. Spike held onto the beats and dug his claws into the beast’s body. He roared and threw the monster to the side and ran after it. He leaped in the air and slammed his fists into the beast’s head, forcing it down.

“Was? What do you mean Ageless Mentor?” Twilight looked at Astral and then back at Spike as he continued to battle the monster before him with a strength she didn’t think he could muster.

“The thing before you is known as a Corpse Wyrm. They are ugly, unfeeling monsters that are born when a dragon dies with so much hate, regret or sadness that their bodies take on life after death. The dragon’s soul is trapped within the shell of its body. Corpse Wyrms grow from devouring other dragon corpses, it seems this dragon died alone. Perhaps that is why it is here now…”

Spike dodged when the wyrm tried to bite him and punched it back a few feet. A blazing red light lit up in his mouth and Spike spewed fire on the beast once again.

Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack watched Spike’s acts intently. Fluttershy felt a sharp pain of sadness seeing the wyrm being tormented even after death but she also was shocked at how Spike took no time to burn the creature. Applejack was more regarding Spike’s fire, he had been breathing a very intense flame but hadn’t broken a sweat. Rarity was still trying to piece the purple dragon before her to Spike’s old form, she found herself coming up short. Pinkie was contemplating how many candles Spike could light at once. Rainbow was intently watching Spike, the flame he spewed looked like the very light of the sun to her.

Twilight’s thoughts were on how easily Spike had leapt into battle without hesitation…

Spike stopped his powerful fire breathe for a moment and looked at the beast. The Corpse Wyrm now was missing most of its front legs and its skin was heavily burned. It tried to crawl towards Spike with its mouth open, as if to bite him. Fluttershy nearly fainted. Spike looked back at Astral and watched as Astral nodded slowly. Spike turned back to the wyrm and red fire built in his mouth again. He covered the wyrm with fire once more until it stopped moving. He let his fire die off and the stood before an unmoving charred body. Fluttershy and Rarity covered their noses fearing the smell but were surprised by a sweet scent that rose from the wyrm’s body.

They watched as a bright light shined from the wyrm’s body. The light flew above the wyrm and grew into the shape of a beautiful looking bright green terran dragon. Its eyes opened to show nothing but white. It opened and closed its mouth and an echo sounded in all of their heads. “Oo kril goraas. Nox faal stin dii sil. Zu'u lost ont bormah do pogaan. Dii liin ahrk Zu'u lahney unaz erei vorey dovah bo fod Zu'u lost hond nir. Rok came ahrk krii dii ragnavir. Zu'u daal das mindin ahrk grah dovah. Fod Zu'u lost won grah dii ragnavir lost nusaan ahrk Zu'u lost viir nol dii ahraan. Dii hil gejahrii voth tiirazom straag zey kotin fos Zu'u los dahsul. Frolaaz zey fah fos Zu'u lost drehlaan. Ol kogaan Zu'u ofan hi suleyk wah koraav vortii vulom ahrk wah unstiid koraav ven amvit nid trun vir vul. Kos mul goraan gein. Hi lost dii pruzaan hind.”

Twilight and the others looked at each other confused. “What did he say?” Twilight looked at Astral and Astral simply looked at Spike.

“Oh brave youth. Thank you for freeing my soul. I was a once father of many. My mate and I lived happily until another dragon came when I was away hunting. He came and killed my family. I return soon after and battled the dragon. Though I had won the battle my family has gone and I was dying from my wounds. My heart filled with sadness and turned me into what I am today. Forgive me for what I have done. As thanks I give you the power to see past darkness and to always see the road ahead no matter how dark. Be strong young one. You have my best wishes.” Spike spoke without pause as if he had said the words himself. “It’s the ancient language of the dragons. It’s only spoken by those who wish to pass on gifts or knowledge.”

“’See past darkness’ …what does that mean…” Twilight whispered as she watched the ghostly image of the dragon roar into the sky and jump towards Spike. She muffled a scream as Spike opened his arms and absorbed the light the dragon emitted into his body. He glowed softly and closed his eyes. The glowing stopped and he carefully opened his eyes, Twilight immediately noticed his eyes were now slit like a cat’s and bright yellow. Spike blinked and his eyes went back to their normal emerald green.

“The gift to see beyond darkness. In simple terms Spike has been given night-vision.” Astral said as the elements turned to him. “When a dragon passes they may give their birth rite power to any dragon they see fit. Since the soul of the dragon was trapped in the wyrm it was still able to give Spike a gift.” Spike walked over to Astral and rubbed his eyes. “It will bother you for some time but you’ll get used to it.”

“I sure hope so…” Spike looked up to the mares before him and realized just how it had been. He smiled at them and tears built up quickly in his eyes. “…I…I’m back…I’m back everypony…”

Whatever thoughts the six had died with those words. They all dove for Spike and tackled him down. Astral smiled at the happy pile of crying ponies and a smiling dragon. Astral turned from them and inspected the charred corpse. He whispered something to himself and a gust of wind picked up. The body turned into ash in moments and flew into the wind. He smiled sadly and noticed Spike was talking to his friends. They were all sitting now with smile plastered on all of their faces, Pinkie on the other hoof was bounce around them.

“I missed you all so much! I spent a lot of nights just staying up think about you all!” Spike laughed a bit with a toothy grin and tear filled eyes. “It was really tough early on without you guys…but I had Astral there! He helped me so much!”

“Oh Spikey! I’m just ever so happy to see you okay! I couldn’t rest well some nights thinking you could be in danger!” Rarity cooed over Spike while hugging him alongside Rainbow who she noticed was giving her a tiny glare.

“Ah wasn’ too concerned but ah’d be lyin’ if ah said I wasn’ worried about ya little guy. Though little may not be the right word anymore.” Applejack reached out and poked at his arm. “Ya done grown up good Spike.”

“It wasn’t easy I’ll tell you that!” Spike sighed at the thought of his growth training.

“W-was it…painful?” Fluttershy ask timidly. She was slightly wary of Spike’s new form but that didn’t stop her from being close to him.

“Honestly? It was the single most painful month I’ve ever weathered through.” All of the girls shot up and stared at Spike with worry in their eyes.

“A month!?” Rainbow and Twilight shouted at once.

“Yeah. Because I had forced my body smaller my scale were compacted and needed to be released…the only way to do that was to…pull them out.” Spike coughed out and watched Fluttershy sway slightly. He didn’t want to tell them this but he promised Astral that he would tell them everything, they deserved to know. “For a month I had to pull out my scales over and over because they kept growing back. But man was it worth it!”

Twilight shook her head. “How so?”

“I’m way tougher now! I don’t just mean strength wise but that too. No I mean the scales I have now are like super heavy duty armor! But super thin and light weight.” He scratched at one of the scales on his arms that was a bit loose and pulled it out. All six of the ponies watch in shock as it was quickly replaced. “Oh yeah I got that too!” He handed the scale to Twilight and she took it in her magic and examined it.

After a brief spell her eyes opened wide. “T-this- Spike your scales are stronger than the armor the guards wear!”

“I know right!” Spike smiled excitedly. “I can take hits and get back up without a problem now! Oh and that’s not even the best part! Check out what I can do!” Spike stood up and opened his mouth. A thick cloud of black smoke fell out of his mouth and covered the ponies’ feet. He looked up and smiled as a blue light covered his spines. He opened his mouth and a bolt of lightning shot into the sky. Causing all of them, mostly Fluttershy, to jump back in shock.

“You can breathe lightning!” Rainbow squealed and grabbed Spike’s face, making him look at her. “THAT. IS. SO. AWESOME!!!”

Spike smiled just as wide as Rainbow and grabbed her hooves. “I KNOW RIGHT!” He and Rainbow Dash jumped excitedly as Pinkie prodded at the black cloud at her hooves.

“What’s this stuff?” Spike let go of Rainbow and turned to Pinkie.

“It one of my new dragon breathes. I can make super thick clouds of black smoke. It’s really useful when trying to hide or run from something. But like I said I’m a lot stronger now too.”

“Yeah you broke through that wyrmy thing’s claws like they were made outta glass!” Pinkie bounced in place.

“What other skills have you learned Spike?” Twilight could feel her research mind pushing through her happiness to see Spike.

“Lots of things! I can use almost every basic magic spell there is! There are some I just couldn’t see the point of, spells that give you a frog tongue, who needs that, but I learn everything else.”

Twilight’s eyes sparkled and she hugged him tight. “Oh Spike that’s great! I knew you could do it.” She let go and looked at him. “There has to be more.”

“There is!” He lifted up his bag and Twilight blinked. “What looks like an ordinary brown bag with a single strap is actually-,” Spike opened the bag and pulled out a book that looked far too big to fit in the bag. “A small pocket space that lets me carry loads of stuff!”

Pinkie hopped over and stuck her head into the bag. “Wowy zowy! It’s like an entire room in here. There’s even a bed!”

“This was part of my more advanced lessons. Learning to read and draw runes.” Spike pulled Pinkie’s head out of his bag and stuffed the book back. He reached in and pulled out a smaller book. “This is a magic book filled with rune spells. Astral made it for me because I’m not at the point where I can draw them normally.”

Twilight didn’t notice her hoof reaching for the book before Astral spoke. “It’s not for you to study Twilight.” She froze and looked up at Astral. “The books he has are meant from his studies. When he no longer needs them and he decides you may have them, then you can study them.”

Twilight looked at Spike with hope in her eyes and Spike chuckled, “I was gonna do it anyway. By the way it’s getting kinda late.” Spike looked up and noticed the sun going down.

“Oh right! We should head back and tell the outpost guard about the wyrm. Will you two come with us?” Twilight looked at Astral and Spike.

“Do you have to ask?” Spike smiled. Astral nodded by his side and the newly reunited friends made their way back to the outpost.

Author's Note

I don't know how long it too me to finish this chapter...

Anyway back to Scales and Carapaces! Chapter 11 is on the way!