The Destroyer of Worlds

Applejack scratched her chin with her hoof as she looked around the road, noticing the waterfront and giving a hum. The gentle lapping of the waves surrounded them, the cry of seabirds echoing out as they relaxed in the breeze, and crabs skittering to and fro as they did their daily business.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Applejack was shocked out of her thoughts by Fluttershy, before nodding in agreement. The group of mares murmured their agreements, Rainbow Dash stretching and punching the air with her hooves, giving a determined look.

Luna stared at the warehouses, her wings rustling as her eyes landed at the door. She looked at Twilight, who nodded at the map and looked back at the building. She raised a hoof, ready to knock, but hesitated a moment. Was she ready for this? Were they ready for this? If what they planned was true, they could wipe out all life on accident, or their weapons could fall in the wrong hooves.

The door opened to a brick wall of a minotaur, Obelisk, the bipedal creature staring at the group. He noticed Princess Luna and Princess Twilight, before bowing in respect, both princesses sharing a glance.

"Princess of Tsuki, princess of Yūjō. I am Obelisk, one of the scientists, I apologize, but you have come at an inopportune time." Obelisk spoke, looking around for a moment, before nodding. "I apologize, but we must cancel this demonstration."

"Oh? Whatever for?" Luna asked, staring at the minotaur, her eyes narrowing as she stared at him.

The minotaur gave her a panicked look and whispered, "One of the beasts that we had captured earlier within the week has been freed. I am duty bound not to let harm come to you or your party and must seal this area off, for everyponies safety." He started closing the door, giving an apologetic look as it clunked shut.

Applejack stared at the door, squinting as she heard his hooves stomp away, her eyes scanning the door a bit. The others turned, conversing amongst themselves, wondering if they should intervene or if they go get Princess Celestia first.

"Well, we are here, what shall we do?" Rarity asked the others, adjusting her mane with her hoof. "We should help him restrain the creature, shall we not?"

"I'm not sure...perhaps we should go get Princess Celestia." Fluttershy offered, Princess Luna giving a soft hum as she watched the group.

Twilight gave Fluttershy a soft look, her voice barely above a whisper, "Well, nothing has gone wrong yet, and I'd rather not."

"Besides, we can beat up any monster they could throw our way!" Rainbow Dash punched the air with her hooves, her wings helping her hover there. "Heck, we should just lure the monster out and beat it up!"

Luna scanned the group with a bit of concern, before her eyes landed on Applejack, who was standing in front of the door, still staring at it. Princess Luna walked around the group of friends talking, before looking at the door. "Applejack."

"Huh?" The farm pony was snapped out of her trance, before adjusting her hat, looking at Luna. "Oh, sorry Princess, did ya ask somethin?"

"I wish to know what is on your mind, my little pony."

Applejack looked back at the door and gave it a squint. "There's somethin' that Minotaur ain't tellin' us. I say we take a gander on what exactly that boy is hidin."

Princess Luna hummed in thought, before using her magic. The door shuddered loudly, interrupting everypony and making them stare, before the door opened up, the lock bent and broken.

"Well, the door seems to have opened by itself. I think, as concerned ponies, we should make sure there is nothing wrong with this situation." Princess Luna spoke, walking in, Applejack staring at her in surprise.

Applejack smiled and walked with her, trotting along side the lunar mare, before speaking, "I like tha way you think, Princess."

Spike stared at the walls of the hot spring, the drake flicking his tongue out, tasting the air. He looked at the stones around him, before Celestia nuzzled him, drawing him out of his thoughts.

"Come Spike." Celestia said, before sinking into the warm water. Spike stopped for a moment, his back aching a bit, stretching out in the water, relaxing. It was nothing like a lava bath, but it was a little relaxing, and he was able to share it with the mare he saw as his mother. "So, my little dragon, you seem to have a lot on your mind."

Spike gave her a confused look, sitting up a bit, "How can you tell?"

"I'm your mother, Spike, I can tell when something bothers you." Celestia answered, slowly pulling Spike into a hug, squishing him into her fluff, making him smile. However, unknown to them, two mares watched them through a door, curious at the sight of the dragon nuzzling into the Princess. "Now, would you mind telling me what is bothering you?"

The young dragon gave a soft noise, before rubbing his cheek, "I'd rather talk about much happier stuff."

"Spike..." Celestia began, before hearing something behind her, making her quirk her head, seeing two mares behind her. She was curious, before giving a soft smile as they waved her over. "We'll continue this conversation in a moment Spike, it seems I am needed. Just a moment, okay?"

Spike looked at her, quietly thankful for the distraction for the moment and smiled, nodding a bit. Celestia stood up, the water droplets landing on his head and making him giggle a bit. She lit her horn, making her mane fluff out and billow in the wind. He watched her disappear around the corner, before turning to the water, scratching his back a bit, feeling the scales on his back, itching at them more and more. He shook his back a bit, his scales falling off onto some rocks and giving a happy sigh as the itch finally stopped.

He was shedding, it seemed this warm water helped him lose his loose scales. Though, if he had a sort of magical mirror, he would have noticed the extra rows of spikes tunning down his back, the dragon snorting out some steam into the misty air.

Had he been paying attention, he would have noticed a bright flash where Princess Celestia disappeared to, quiet mumbles of apologies being whispered out, before a peaceful silence slid throughout the area.

He allowed himself to float a little, his tail lazily pushing him away from the wall, before lying on his belly, giving a deep, happy rumble, his eyes closing. The flap opened for a moment, before quiet flittering echoed throughout the springs, Spike, however, was far too relaxed to even notice, as he was lazily swimming in the pool. He only noticed something when he opened his eyes and saw something glowing in the mist, his pupils slowly rounded as a sense of familiar calm washed over him.

The glowing object came closer and closer, before landing on his bose, finally close enough that he could see: a giant silk moth! It was glowing a soft orange as it flapped its wings, beautiful blue eye patterns on each wing. A mixture of oranges and yellows were painted along the wing, giving the feeling of a beautiful sunset, and its adorable fluffy body tickled Spikes nose. It would have been such a beautiful moth to see in nature...however, the one thing that stuck out to Spike was that it was glowing!

Spike blinked a bit, before the moth took off in front of him, flapping its wings as he watched. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was actually seeing what he was, before giving a confused noise. "You...you aren't dreaming, Spike." He spoke to himself, before seeing it give a few flaps ahead of him, before waiting for him, turning and watching him.

Spike felt a pit in his stomach, looking back to see Celestia had not returned, his worry growing a bit in her absence.

"スパイク."

Spike froze, his eyes widening a bit, looking back at the glowing moth. "Uh...hello?"

"Come."

Spike felt calm whilst the voice spoke to him, though he spared another glance backwards, towards the door. He waited for a moment, before looking back at the moth, obeying the voice, knowing she meant him no harm.

"We must hurry. Your friends will need your help, and soon...so will the world."