Shadow in the light

Everyone suddenly sat in shock, their eyes locked and the muzzle's wide open. "So," Fluttershy began. "You seriously never knew she was the princess?"

"Not a clue."

"And you're not surprised at all by this?" Twilight added.

"Um...not really. Even if I had known, I probably would've treated her with the same amount of respect I do everyone else."

Kiki shook her head as to return to reality before jumping to hug spike from behind. "So you're seriously not fazed by the fact that I'm princess?"

"I mean if you want me to do the basic stuff like bow, I'm not against it."

"No no, it's actually a bit of a relief. Getting the royal treatment 24/7 is a bit of a buzzkill."

"I promise that you won't get that issue with me." Spike said before he felt another smack to the back of his head."

"It's against the rules to treat the princess so casually Spike." Twilight scolded.

"Before you hit me again, she just said it's ok to treat her like a normal person."

"I refuse to break tradition Spike, nor does anyone else here."

Spike sighed. "I don't think you're going to get that kind of casual atmosphere here Kiki."

Kiki shook her head and giggled. "I guess this was expected especially after what happened to that last guy who did that."

"Last guy? What guy?"

"Nothing terribly important Spike."

"What did he do?"

"Let's just say he's been in jail for........10 years maybe....maybe more."

"For doing what though?"

"I'm going to save you the trouble of not letting you know."

"I see where this is going so fine, i'll drop it."

"Thank you. So big sis, I see you've been doing well."

Twilight quickly jumped up from her bow and spoke. "I'm g-glad you noticed y-your majesty. The b-business has been quite busy i-indeed. As of late however, things have s-slowed down."

"Why are you so nervous big sis?"

"Just b-being p-polite your majesty."

"None of that formal craziness sis, just call me Kiki."

"As you wish your ma....I mean Kiki."

"Funny as ever big sis. Aunt Fluttershy and Aunt Pinkie, you seem to be doing well for yourselves."

Fluttershy smiled and nodded before retreating behind her cute blush. "Um.......indeed I have Ms. Kiki. The animals were oh so delighted to see you at the gardens last year."

"Really?!" She said with a bit of fear inducing enthusiasm. "They missed me? They really missed me?!" Fluttershy nodded. "Oh I can't wait to see those cute little bunnies again. What about you Aunt Pinkie?"

"Me? Well....I've been doing great so far i'm teaching alot of kids this year who are really enthusiastic about learning although they get in trouble alot and I have to punish them with the cupcake treatment and I've had dozens of parents come in on account of their kids getting a fear of sugar and me being the cause and...."

Before Pinkie could say another word, Spike threw a hand over he mouth which surprisingly didn't stop her muffled continuation of the current long running sentence. Kiki giggled and made her way over to the table where everyone followed suit and sat down. "So Twilight.."

"Yes your majest.....I mean Kiki."

"You are one to follow the rules aren't you? Anyway, could we talk....privately...later?"

"Of course. Excuse me for not asking permission to ask this but.....how exactly did you and Spike meet?"

Well...I was having a bit of trouble drawing something and Spike was first on the scene to see if their was danger afoot."

Spike gave her the most annoyed look and sighed. "I came to see if she was in trouble. It was a simple gesture of being a good person, stop making it sound like a superhero movie."

"But it's way more interesting that way. Anyway, we got to talking and quickly became friends. Here, I even drew him." she said as pulled out a notepad and flipped through it. "See?"

Fluttershy gasped looking as if she might shed a tear right then and there. "Wow, it's beautiful. Everything is so detailed even Philomena."

"I had to make sure it was perfect, even the bird had to be. Where is that little birdy anyway?"

Spike pointed to the top of the room to where she was sitting atop a large bookcase. "She flew up there after Kiki arrived, that trip must have taken alot out of her."

"Awwwww, she's so cute when she's sleeping."

Suddenly Pinkie appeared behind Spike with massive hug. "So Spikey Wikey, what do you plan on doing now that you've caught up with everyone?"

"For the last time, stop calling me that and I don't know exactly. I was thinking of staying here maybe."

That's when Twilight lit up like a candle and rushed to hug Spike. "Oh my little Spike is coming home!"

"Hey calm down Twilight. You didn't let me finish, I said maybe."

"I want nothing more than my precious dragon to return to my side."

"Ok, save that thought. Actually, I was thinking of traveling the world."

Suddenly Twilight's beaming attitude became dark and dim. "..........Hahahaha, I could've sworn you said traveling the world, my Spike's become a jokester."

"Not a joke Twi." Suddenly Twi let go of Spike and took a few steps back. "After spending so much time in the Gardens, I realized how confined I stayed during my life. Not once did I ever leave the village when I was there and that got me thinking. There's alot to see and do out there so why not go see it all."

Twilight began to nervously chuckle, a twitchy smile upon her face. "It's time to stop the joke now Spike."

"It's really not a joke Twilight."

Her expression grew even more worrisome, even the fake smile she projected disappeared from her face. "No....."

"What?"

"I said no!"

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I.........I....forbid it."

"I'm sorry did you just say I can't?"

"You're not allowed to leave the city."

"Hold up. It's been ten years since we've seen each other, and instead of pushing me to try different things, you're still controlling me like i'm a little baby....no no no, you can't do that."

"Yes I can Spike. You're like a son to me, I won't just let you leave after all this time."

"Twilight I know you're a little against me leaving after finally coming back but as my motherly figure, you should be supporting me on this."

"You're not ready."

"I'm 15 years old."

"That doesn't make you ready!"

"Yes it does! What's your issue?!"

"I don't want to see go Spike! I just want you here with me!"

"Yea right, you just want to fix your little failure don't you?!" Everyone in the room gasped including Twilight. "What was I huh?! Was I just your little experiment?!"

"Spike no, nothing like that."

"Quit telling me lies Twi! I know you, if you can't do something right then you regret ever taking on the responsibility! That's what I was huh?!'

"Spike please...I had to send you away. This place was unfit to raise any child you have to understand."

"What I understand is that I was failure and you just couldn't have that around could you?"

"Spike you were my greatest achievement, you know that."

"More like your greatest mistake!"

"I love you!"

"Tell it to somebody else!" Spike said before his eyes shone brightly like green emeralds.

"S-spike?" Suddenly he bent forward grunting and panting, his hands glued to his gut as if their were some unspeakable force holding them there. Everyone took a step back expect for Twilight who instead approached him. Encasing her forward movement with a magical barrier, she slowly approached the dragon as if to approach a wild animal. "Spike?"

Just as she reached out to comfort him, Spike's eyes shot up within a split second. "Back off!"

Suddenly the imprint of claws could be seen across the center of the barrier as Twilight felt her entire person jump back and slam against the wall opposite the initial attack. Philomena as well as Pinkie and Fluttershy both rushed to aid the unicorn to her feet as they watched spike continue to growl and grunt opposite of them. Just then, Spike's appearance began to effectively change. His once small snout now extended outward accompanied by a set of sharp teeth as opposed to his two cute little fangs. His body effectively grew twice its size while his clothes seemed to fade away. Now standing a few feet above everyone in the room, he finally let the straining come to a rest as his eyes shot up to look at them. They stared at the purple and green dragon whose eyes stared them back, but like a glitch in reality, one blink and suddenly spike's vibrant colors were replaced with a pure darkness. He had no discernible features besides the spines along his back and tail. Like looking into a void, as if he was a 3d shadow. He finally took a moment to stand straight up, although with unusual motion as if unbalanced. It was obvious he was looking straight at them but it was still hard to say without anything to go by. That's when his eyes and mouth began to glow like a luminescent sun, pure white.

Fluttershy let tears streak down her face as she cowered behind Twilight. "What.....what's happening to him?"

Twilight raised her arms to protect both Pinkie and Fluttershy as she spoke. "I...I don't know. Spike, can you hear me?"

Spike didn't respond to this, instead he let out a almost demonic chuckle. Kiki finally took her place behind Twilight as well. "I've never seen anything like this before? Is it some kind of latent dragon ability that only his particular type can obtain?"

Twilight shook her head. "Latent dragon ability is different than this. This is something much darker. Quickly, everyone upstairs now!"

No hesitation was shown as they bolted up the stairs within seconds leaving Twilight to face this being of shadow alone.

What a unique set of events. While dragons do contain a natural latent strength, no dragon in recorded history has shown such a transformation like this....well actually, they never really had the chance to, of course because most of them were primal dragons, big and scary with wings and lots of teeth, that sort of thing. Fearing their imaginary assault on major cities around the land, the dusk sisters, Celestia and Luna, ordered their immediate extinction just before the war of Noella which in their eyes was successful despite the hundreds that lost their life in what was an assured victory until dragons unleashed the dormant potential. What? How did the sisters issue the order 100 hundred years ago? They may be beautiful on the outside but they are beings in which they have been bestowed great power and slowed aging processes, it's quite funny really. The real question is, how did Spike come along after their apparent extinction? I think I may have given something to think about. Enough of that however, back to the scary dragon in front of us.

Twilight stared this ghostly eyed figure as it returned it's own stare. "S-Spike? Are you....."

"Grrauuuh...."

"You're not a wild animal Spike, please speak to me."

"Auuggggg......."

"What...have you become?"

She took one step forward and that was all it took. Spike almost mimicked her movement as he cocked his head to the side as if he were curious yet confused. "Grrr......"

Twilight watched him closely. When she moved left, he did. When she moved right or forward or even backwards, he did exactly the same. She soon found herself walking towards him as he did exactly the same and soon, they were face to face. "Spike, can you hear me?" He just stared blankly as she repeated. "Spike, can you hear me? Give me something please?"

She reached out to touch him, the final straw it seemed. Spike suddenly let out a fearsome roar which shoved her back a couple of feet making her cover her eyes from the sheer pressure he was exerting. Quickly she removed her arms from her sight only to see Spike rushing her like wild animal. She had to act fast. With lightning speed, spike was already in motion of attempting to sink a claw deep into her. Like a water dancing goddess, she twirled out of the way of such an attack as something began to form in her hand. It rammed into the side of spike's jaw sending him reeling back."Grrrrrrauhh!" he growled as he looked back up.

"Enough of this." Twilight took her stance, left hand out to her side while another object lay under right arm, a small purple bo staff with gold plates at both ends. "If I have to subdue you," she said as the bo staff suddenly extended to a longer length. "Then I will."

Spike let out another loud roar before rushing once again. He furiously but strategically slashed at her. Each attempt was blocked each time almost a split second ahead. Spike sent his claw straight forward at her chest allowing her to simply sidestep out of harm's way. She took one step forward as she tossed the staff upward. Quickly she spun like a twister bringing her palm to meet the bottom of Spike's jaw sending flying upwards. As she returned from her 360, she grabbed the staff out of the air spinning it around her person before planting it into the ground like pogo stick and using it to deliver a kick to Spike mid-air. He crashed across the table sending dozens of cups and plates breaking along the floor. She retracted her staff and slowly made her way around the table. Her hope was that maybe that knocked some sense into him, boy was she in for a surprise. Suddenly, his claw took hold of the table for mere moment. What seemed like he was going to pull himself up unexpectedly became him slamming the entire table through the concrete wall. As the dust settled, Twilight extended her staff once more as Spike quickly made it to his feet. "Grruaaa...."

"Spike, are you in there? Please, I don't want to hurt you anymore." That same demonic laugh returned as his response becoming even more fearful as he continued with an increase in volume each second. A faint vibration began to form around him like a heat wave surrounding his body. He lowered his body to the ground as if to pounce leaving behind images of himself that dissipated as they met up with his body. It's as if he was moving far faster than what was shown that he was literally leaving himself behind. Twilight tightened her guard as Spike sat idle like a statue. Like a blur, she found herself being bombarded by his claws once again. This time unfortunately, his attacks were faster, not visually but physically. It's as if he was striking with one claw twice in two separate places at once. "How..hng..ha...is he moving so fast?"

Twilight was mustering all her skill to keep up but found herself soon overwhelmed by the sheer uselessness of physics. Where she would block one, another struck her arm, then her leg, then her cheek. His attacks were everywhere and striking every second. Finally Spike took hold of her leg in the chaos and tripped her before pouncing on her like a wildcat. She kept his snapping jaws at bay with her bo-staff but at this rate, she would give out. She prayed for miracle and so it came in the form of Pinkie's voice. "Sorry about this Spikey Wikey!"

Pinkie's foot appeared out of nowhere now entrenched deep into Spike's gut. More than a moment passed before the effects of the kick sunk in, sending Spike cashing directly through the upper floors of the clinic before dropping back down with a thud. "Thank you Pinkie." Twilight happily sighed out.

"I hope I didn't hurt him too bad. What if I hit too hard and he's dead? I'm a murderer they'll put me in jail and i'll spend the rest of my days rotting behind bars until an old mare tries to break me out and i'll become a convict."

"He's fine Pinkie, trust me."

"Oh alright!"

Once again within a blink, Spike returned to his original form unconsious. "Is everyone ok?" Fluttershy said peeking around the corner.

"For now." Twilight reassured. "May I ask a favor your majesty?"

Kiki poked her head out from behind Fluttershy assessing the situation before making her way in. "Of course."

"Could I ask you to look after Spike for a little while?"

"Hmm? Why me?"

"Well I assume Spike is more comfortable with you right now than me."

"Of course. Although, I don't think I can mend him here now."

"You can take him to my place!" Pinkie said as she rushed the key over to Kiki. "You're gonna need my key to get in though. I tried to get once without it and that did not go well. You remember where it is don't you?"

"I believe so, thanks Aunt Pinkie."

"Right then." Twilight began as she motioned Pinkie and Fluttershy to her side. "We need to do some research you two. I have a feeling that whatever just happened is a rare occasion. As one of the smartest minds in this city I know everything there is to know....Doesn't matter how long it takes, I can't let whatever this affect Spike longer than it needs to, else he may end up in even worse shape."