//-------------------------------------------------------// Rise of the Dragon -by ThatOneCrossover- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Darkness Within //-------------------------------------------------------// The Darkness Within I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EagleWings FOR EDITING THIS STORY.WITHOUT HIS HELP,I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS STORY OUT.THE QUALITY OF THIS FIC IS ALL THANKS TO HIM.HECK,HE EVEN DID A BETTER JOB THEN I DID.SO CHECK OUT HIS STUFF RIGHT HERE https://www.fimfiction.net/user/EagleWings *******???????******* "Run! RUN YOU IDIOT!" "FASTER! THEY'RE ALMOST HERE!" "SPIKE! WAIT! PLEASE, COME BACK!" Twilight was panting heavily as she tried her best to keep up with her number one assistant. The one in question was trying his best to run as fast as he could as he continued to decend deeper into the dark Everfree Forest. He was not being chased by just one individual; no,it was more like six multi-colored ponies. A purple unicorn. Pupil of the Princess, star A++ student: Twilight Sparkle. A highly questionable energetic pink earth pony who was also known as a master of baked goods: Pinkie Pie. A white, elegant unicorn. Knows fashion better than any pony else: Rarity. One of the fastest pegasi alive.The blue blur of sorts. A heavy reputation of being a renowned prankster follows her as well. She loves the sky more than anything else, (except for her friends, of course): Rainbow Dash. A shy and timid yellow pegasus known as Fluttershy. Loves animals like they were her foals. An oranged coated cowgirl who ran an apple farm and favored family more than anything else: Applejack. These six girls were known as the Elements of Harmony. The element of Kindness: Laughter, Loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, and last but not least, Magic. These elements protect every living thing in the land of Equestria. They are Special. "Gosh darn it, Rainbow. Why'd ya have ta break your wings TOADAY?! You could have easily caught up ta Spike by now." Applejack spoke to the rainbow colored pegasus. All six were running through the Everfree Forest, careful not to trip over trees or become Timerwolf snacks. "What?! Don't blame me! Your dumb apple baskets were in my landing zone! I was training for the Wonderbolts! You know that, AJ!" Rainbow spoke the truth. She had to go to the pony clinic to get a cast for both her wings. So sadly,she wasn't able to fly for the next couple weeks or so. "Well, YOU know that apple bucking season already kicked itself in overdrive last week! Why didn't-" "GIRLS,STOP IT!" The two bickering ponies turned their heads to see their beloved friend Twilight, who had been crying for the last couple hours. "Please! Focus on catching Spike! We can't lose him!" The two ponies who had been fighting only moments ago now looked at each other with guilty spirits. "Yeah, Twilight's right guys! We have to search for Spike! Who knows how big this forest is? So turn that frown upside down!" Pinkie exclaimed. Fluttershy spoke up, with worry in her voice, "I agree with Pinkie." Rarity shouted as she put her foreleg in front of her, "Spike-Wikey! Wait!!" She could almost reach spike. Spike recoiled once he saw they were gaining on him. He shouted back at them on the verge of tears, "Go away! Please! I don't want to hurt you guys!". Spike the baby dragon was no taller than his adult friends. He was about as tall as a 5 year old foal, while the others were just a bit taller than him. So, needless to say, he was quite big as a baby. One could only assume how giant he'd be once he would reach maturity. "Gotcha!" Rarity had grabbed on to Spike's arm with the use of her purple magic. Holding tightly, not wanting to let go, she spoke up. "Spike, sweetheart, that's enough. Come on let's go!" Rarity tried her best to not part ways from Spike. He was squirming and trying his hardest to break from Rarity's grasp. "Lemme go!" Rarity looked at him with sympathy, yet a certain amount of sternness seasoned her words, "No Spike, this has gone on far enough." Rarity's tone was not the gentle, elegant demeanor Spike grew accustom to. "I said...LET ME-" Spike's voice began to darken and change, "GO!!" SCRATCH Blood trickled down Rarity's beautiful face. Her right eye closed with pain as three large scratch marks forbade her from opening it. . Spike Scratched her. Spike had scratched her. Rarity let go of Spike, and put her hoof on her blood-soaked fur that covered her eye.She was in shock. Tears began to pour out of her good eye. Spike looked at her with a look of regret, then looked down at his claws. Rarity's blood was clearly visible on the once clean claws. Spike Slowly stepped back in horror; he too was crying. "Just leave me alone" Spike said in a low and barley audible voice. And, with that, he was off. Just in time too, as his "friends" had just caught up with Rarity. Spike wouldn't look back. He couldn't look back. He heard what sounded like a waterfall in the distance. He didn't care if he fell into the water's grasp and was never seen again. He closed his eyes and began to ponder over the past few days: How did all this happen? He no longer felt grass under his feet. How could he be eating a bowlful of gems and reading a good comic book...Then the next be the equivalent to the devil? He felt wind rushing past him as he fell. Why him? He had a good, simple life. Why did that book have to take it away from him? He heard the cries of his friends. Now Spike was a monster. A harmful disease. At least, that's what everypony called him. With a huge splash, he now felt water surround him. Spike had to leave. He didn't want to hurt anypony, especially not his friends. But, it was too late for that now. The world began to fade and blacken as Spike began to slowly but surely pass out. Thanks to the fog of the night, Spike was lost. Never to be seen again...?