Author's Note

Hey, everyone! It's me, Zet Rock! This is Chapter 5 and for everyone who have read up to this chapter. You Rock! Now, I'm really grateful because you comments help me. From chapter 1 to now, I have been learning how to write better. It's a struggle, and I never stop learning. Yes, I don't have an editor, and people still read my work. So I'm grateful. It felt great writing something for you all to enjoy. Now this chapter has a couple of new things I'm learning to help my writing. I hope you like it. Pls drop a comment to let me now!

Chapter 5

Spike’s Heart Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don’t own My Little Pony and its characters, but my OCs are mine.

Spike’s Heart

Chapter 5

The Cure may be Worse than the Sickness

As the first morning rays reach the sky, Spike wakes up feeling slightly sick and heads into the bathroom. Projected on the mirror, the reflection is bizarre; his purple scales look dull and pupils are huge, far too large to be normal. Preparing to wash his face, a painful, twisting feeling puts him to his knees as he places his claws instantly covering his mouth. Retching sounds and tears fall as his claws stop his screams from being heard. A mess of blood cover his claws and the floor when the pain stops. He is left gasping for breath, his back laying across the ruin tiles.

I saw my bloody claws, and my instincts told me one thing: “THIS IS NOT GOOD! THIS IS BAD! VERY BAD!”

Smelling something burning and seeing smoke rising from my chest, my claws rip off the bloody shirt: revealing an ugly patch of red scales at the center of my chest. Hissing steam escapes though the scales leaving the skin very dry. I place a hand on the fester wound…

“OUCH! THAT WAY TOO HOT. IT HAS TO BE ON FIRE!” Rising on wobble legs reaching the edge of the bathtub “LILY! DAHLIA! I NEED SOME HELP!”

Soon sounds of feet hitting the floor reach me as I hold myself steady. Not wanting to fall back on to the floor. The door bursts open, and a scare sprite and fairy are in front me.

“SPIKE WHAT HAPPEN! You look terrible! This room looks terrible! Lily, you help Spike, and I start to clean this up…” Dahlia flies to the cabinet for some towels.

‘I feel terrible’, I thought. “I don’t have a clue; what’s wrong with me! I-I feel hot!” I watch as a gray, glaze begins to replace the purple on my scales starting at the limbs. Vines coming out of the walls and floor, lifts me up placing me into the tub. Lily reaches and turn on the cold water. “Ahhh! Thank you, Lily, I’m burning up so hot. It’s making me dizzy.”

“I’m scare Spike! You look like you’re going to die.” Lily says, holding my hand.

“D-Don’t worry… I’m not going to die” I smile back trying to cheer her up. It works for a second until she feels some of the grayish scales loose in her hand. As the scales fell, her tears flow increase as the truth is exposed to her and me. My life is slowly leaving me. Dahlia sits on the edge of the tub, feeling useless. Until Dahlia is at full strength, she can’t use much magic.

“It’s okay. I know someone who can help. She even lives in this forest.” I say as my only hope.

“Zecora!” “Zecora!” They both said at the same time.

“Yes, but you, Lily, must bring her here-” I lightly laugh, feeling sheepish, and saying, “- I can’t seem to move my legs anymore.”

“And I’m powerless if Spike not close by.” Dahlia declares.

“Lily, I seen you practicing magic, and I’m beginning to see my flame within you. I know you can do it, believe in yourself. Y-You’re something special…” I pass out after saying those words.

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As Spike closes his eyes, Dahlia looks to me.

“You must go and retrieve Zecora. I will stay and watch over him.” As fairy places a towel on Spike’s forehead, I watch as my master breathing slows, and fear struck my heart.

“I will be back soon, Master.” I run down the stairs, as I reach outside the clouds soaking the morning rays glow.

Hurrying pass my gardens and rows of flowers, I can feel the life upon the land and the magic within. Reaching a patch of clear, sunny bare ground, I have found the perfect spot. I close my eyes to focus. Remembering the times, that I practice with the same magic that gave me life. A magic that was given to me from my master. A magic that can move mountains.

Where Lily’s silky, plantlike body stands, bright sunlight covers her completely. Her leaflike dress starts to glow and became undone from the bottom to top. As the two leaves move from her chest, they reveal the bright blue light at the center. Two branches emerge out of her back which dark leaves sprout as well. The two appendages look more like black wings instead of branches. Soon, rays hit the black leaves filling her with warmth, causing the blue light to become blinding. As each leaf fully absorb the solar energy, the wings change from black to gold, casting everything in a golden light. As her body turn complete golden in color, Lily’s eyes finally open. Her golden eyes are indistinguishable as a blinding blue light surround and overpower them. As she raises her arm, she points out into the woods. Her once flower petal-full hair turns into countless thin golden vines which move like serpents, burrowing into the ground. As if in a trance, her spell continues to take in sunlight, catching all the rays and channel them into the golden vines. Considering the horizon’s sun, she begins to speak as she sees the paths the vines take…

Images of trees flash by and multiple creatures are seen in seconds. As time goes on, her voice echoes in the clearing’s surrounding lands.

“Zecora, Zecora. My master needs thee!” The images still to a scene of a chimera sleeping over its kill. ‘Not Zecora.’ The vine continues…

“Zecora, Zecora. My master calls thee!” The image of a hydra leaving the river waters came to view. ‘Not Zecora.’ The vine continues…

“Zecora, Zecora. You cannot hide. For my master’s sake, I will find thee!”, Lily says as she put her all in the spell.

Many images and scenes pass until a cabin is found. The single vine moves below the floors to reach the bedroom, where a sleeping zebra rests. The vine spots a weak point and burst through the floor startling the zebra awake. Looking towards a golden vine which golden flowers beginning to form. As if hypnotize, the zebra watches in wonder, but she snaps out of it.

“What is thee, and what you want with me?” The zebra questions backing away from the strange vine.

“Oh Zecora, Zecora. No questions. We don’t have time for Spike needs thee!” The vine replies.

“Spike? Do you know where he is? How far is he? Please take me to him.” Zecora says as tears began to fall and new hope blossoms.

“Oh Zecora, Zecora. It is too far to walk. It is also too far to fly. But don’t be heartbroken I will take thee. All you need to do is, yet this golden vine wrap thee up.” The words leave the vine as it inches even closer.

“How will wrapping me up, will take me to Spike?” Zecora says with an untrusting look.

“Oh Zecora, Zecora. No more questions. We don’t have time… Oh, my other golden vines have arrived! Finally, we can start. Now you get wrapped up nice and tight-” The talking vine whips around Zecora covering her up before she can protest. Countless golden vines flare out of the ground, surrounding the entire cabin in a tight golden twine. “- Oh, what are my manners, I believe I didn’t tell thee my name? You can call me Lily. Now let get you to my master. Hahahaha!” The sounds of crazed laughter echo around as the wrapped cabin glows to a bright gold, which vanish into a cloud of golden petals.

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In front of Lily, a mass of golden vines begins rising from the ground. In a golden flash, Zecora’s cabin takes the place of the golden vines, with a confuse Zecora along for the ride. As the golden vines retreat to Lily, her form gradually absorbs the golden wings and regains her natural colors. As her clothes finish reforming, Zecora exits the hut with her travel bag stock full of potions and herbs.

Zecora asks, “I-if you are Lily, can you lead me to Spike?” Lily points toward the massive tree house, causing a shock expression to appear on Zecora.

“Yes, it’s very important you see master quickly. Now follow me…” Lily says as she runs, towards the towering tree.

“Who is your master?” Zecora questions, galloping behind Lily trying to keep up.

Looking back, Lily states, “Well Spike of course.” Seeing Zecora confusion, Lily remembers an important fact. “A lot had happened the last two months you hadn’t seen him.” Lily looks back ahead, “You must prepare yourself and help him. Then your questions on all you see here will be answer by Spike, Dahlia, or me.” Reaching the door, Lily opens it heading straight for the bathroom upstairs.

As they enter the bathroom, they witness a sight of an ill dragon; the water was about ready to boil, and the gray scales have complete cover the limbs, slowly covering the chest. Zecora quickly pull out of her bag, some smelling salts in her hoofs. She places them close to his snout. Slowly breathing it in, Spike opens his eyes and Zecora replaces the salts with another concoction. The creamy liquids were pour in to the water, causing the gray scales to recede and the hot spot that covers his chest to cool. Zecora tenderly brushes her hoof across head. Tears began to finally release. She smiles as he sighs feeling the relief from the pain.Still she brushes his head scales, Zecora speaks…

“This is the second time I seen you grow so fast, this vice you suffer, it cannot be greed? This I’m sure.” Zecora questions.

“No, this is nothing like any vice or greed will cause.” Spike says.

“Zecora, do you remember the inferno from two months ago? Well that was Spike’s magic awakening, and when his body grown to his current size.” Dahlia says while revealing herself. “My name is Dahlia.”

“W-what have he been eating? Can you bring it to me?” Zecora questions, slightly shock to see another strange being.

“Yes, there is some dinner leftover.” Lily leaves, heading to the kitchen. She returns with a small plate of cooked, season fish. Seeing the fish, a look of understanding shows on Zecora’s face.

“I know what is wrong with you, Spike, but you will not like knowing why… When dragons are young they don’t eat meat until they five to begin earning their wings. Normally, this ritual is done by five-year-old dragons, and the child will go out into the woods alone, and hunt down there first prey. For young dragons the rite is easy. The prey will mostly match a might of the dragon who kills it for the ritual to work. The problem is, Spike, that your body was repress at the 3rd year stage. You could never perform the rite, because you were just too young. For eighteen years, Spike, your wings never came. Now you are eighteen physically, fish will not do. It is time for you to earn your wings.” Zecora took out a green potion which she mixes in some fish and gave it to Spike to drink. “The potion will suppress the symptoms at least, but you cannot stop eating flesh until you earn your wings. You must go into the forest to perform the ritual. I can make a potion that can help you, but you will become a feral beast unable to speak. The reason I will give you such a taboo concoction is simple. You will die in that godforsaken forest without it. You not an ordinary dragon. No dragon has magic like you do, nor any other dragon will start the rite at eighteen. Sadly, the Everfree is the only place a dragon like you can earn your wings. However, the Everfree is no ordinary forest, and to earn your wings you must become one with your instincts. This potion will help you to survive! I can’t imagine a prey that you can find that can match you. But when you get your wings, it will burn the potion out of your system!”

“I guess there’s no choice. I know I can trust you, Zecora. I will die if I don’t earn my wings.” Spike says drinking the green potion. His condition swiftly recovers, as he raise out of the tub, back to normal. ‘That works quickly…’ Watching the evening sun through the window, time is running out. “Zecora, prepare the potion I be ready to go in a moment. And thank you for always helping me.” Spike says somberly.

Tears falls as she replies, “Ok. I will seek thee when it’s ready.” Zecora turns and leaves to her cabin.

Spike asks, “Lily, please read my mind for a new ring, I need you to create.” Lily nods and places her forehead against his. She creates a green wooden ring. “Ok, now if I get close to here or Ponyville, it must produce an electric shock. Only when you hear me speak can you bring me back.”

“O-Ok, Spike.” Tears began to form from Lily’s golden eyes

Spike is striding out towards the grassy pasture trying to capture everything he is seeing. He feels as if he may never return to see it.

“How long do you think the ritual will take?” Dahlia asks, landing on his shoulder. As a strong wind came, it slightly blows Spike’s back spikes.

“I don’t know that will depend if I can find the right prey, but will you be okay without my presence?” Spike turns to her.

“If I’m very close to Lily, I can still recover, but you really need to worry about yourself. You can die out there.” Dahlia frowns, “I cause this to happen to you…”

“Now, you can stop right there, you gave me a chance at life. Don’t forget that I sucked you dry.” Spike looks to Zecora and Lily coming to him. “Of course, I need to help fix you back up. I’m not some dragon who will take something without paying back.” Dahlia nods and flies towards Lily’s hair disappearing. Lily stands aside as Zecora continues to the drake.

“Spike, I never thought, I be preparing such a potion for you to drink. It’s more of a poison than a potion.” Zecora looks over the reddish liquid before letting Spike attach the flask to his belt. “The potion is ready, and I’m staying here until you return. Coming to this place and finding you after all this time. How can I leave here after giving you such a potion? I was so worry after Twilight and Pinky discover you missing. For weeks, I help searched for you. There were even rumors that you perished in the ‘Terrible Inferno’.” She headbutts his chest and then she hugs him tightly with her forehooves. She rests her head on his shoulder, and says, “I just knew you were alive, but I was worry, thinking about you. Your visits became very important to me, and when you disappear… I was even more lonely. Now that I can see you… fate forces you to go. Please just come back okay!” She quickly turns, fleeing across rows of flowers and disappears into her cabin. Leaving Lily with Spike at the pasture.

“Lily can you watch those two for me. If something happens they are likely to blame themselves.” Spike says looking back at the tree line. Spike hands her his amethyst ring and says, “Also watch over this too.”

“I will.” Lily replies, looking down at his feet.

“When I reach a suitable location, I will activate this ring…” Spike stops speaking as Lily holds him. Hugging him tightly, she feels the flame within his heart. She feels his breathes hitting her back. She stops thinking for a second to remember this feeling.

After a moment, Lily speaks while looking at his eyes. “You are very scare right now?”

Spike sighs, “Yes, I’m very scare.”

Lily places his hand in middle of her chest “Master, do not be afraid. You will not be alone. We are connected by our flame.” Taking his hand to whip off the tears on her cheek, she smiles. “Go Master! Master Spike go before it’s too late.”

Spike nods, running quickly across the clearing, passing the river, and into the bright woods. He runs nonstop. Going in a random direction, running till the trees became dark cover with thorns. He continues to run until he reaches a cliff. Huff. Huff. Huff. Stopping to catch his breath, he recovers. Looking over the vast dark forest, he stands wearing just a loose shirt, pants, and a belt. He activates the green ring causing it to turn black, and the curse ring bits into his hand as it fuses with him. Flinching a little, He takes the red flask and drinks down its contents.

At first, the spiciness of the liquid burns his throat, and next his inners will boil. The bones begin to fry along with the nerves. His body was internally being manually haywire and hijack from him. His memories, reasoning and feelings as the flood of pain hit the brain are all crush as his brain crashes. Trap inside a dark, cloudy haze. Slowly, Spike fades away at the surface leaving behind a skinny, wingless braindead dragon in his place.

The vision blurs for a second and clears. Falling to four legs, the pupils are dilated, thin muscles are tightening and releasing all over the body, but nothing seems to be happening within the dragon’s mind. As time pass, the dragon stays on the cliff, unmoved to the world, as the sun starts to set. Only as the first stars appear, did the dragon makes a move. The mind was functioning for one thing: food.

Hunger had settle in, forcing instincts suppressed over eighteen years, free. Do the dragon cares where it is? No. Will the dragon understand the meaning of staying the night, deep in the Everfree? No, but it will soon. As the dragon leap into the woods, it loudly roars for food, ravenousness for flesh. A menacing, scrawny dragon has descended upon the dreadful forest. It fears nothing as instincts don’t feel fear; the instinct to do anything to survive is present. Yet, will the Everfree let the dragon get a meal for free? Another huge roar sounded very close, heading toward the dragon. This forest doesn’t care if you’re a dragon as only one rule exists:

In this hellish forest, all the weak are meant to die as food for the strong.

To Live on, or Die in This Forest… Blood Will Fly

The Everfree wasn’t always a no-man’s-land. Centuries ago, this was a beautiful forest that cover over hundreds of square miles of land. Legends speak of ancient races of beasts that live among each other. These races were constantly at odds and rage battles for possession of the rich land. As races battles carry on for many years without end, their shed blood soaks into the land and taints the earth. This occurrence resulted to form corruption which spread to the trees, and not long after it start to affect the waring beasts as well. As the centuries past, the modern day Everfree came to be, and the forest animals are not ordinary in any way. These beasts live in the most chaotic forest in Equestria. They have never been regarded as prey in any sense. Naturally, every creature is aware of their place in the food chain, but in this forest, it’s different. After generations of corruption in this ecosystem, the food chain has no meaning to the animals. For example, a cute bunny born deep in the Everfree will turn to a vicious honey badger. The freakish rabbit will, if feels threaten, in an instant attack a three-headed viper which was just warming up for the kill. The two will battle and the rabbit may win and take the dead snake, back into its burrow for dinner. In many ways, the forest is a cursed place if any normal pony travel too far into its embrace.

Two weeks have pass since Spike disappear and his inner dragon took control. In the deepest, most barren part of the forest, near a large sluggish river, a cave was dug out. Within the cave, a dragon rests surrounded by multiple animal skins which mask his own scent and provided warmth in this cold, treeless zone. The drake learns through his struggles to survive that you’re safer when nothing is around. This barren and rocky landscape can never attract anything dangerous, and without any trees timberwolves will stay away. The day continued until night began to take hold, the dragon waked up from his slumber, feeling hungry; the hunt had begun.

The night sky was gray and muggy as rain falls through the forest canopy. Within the dark forest, an Everfree bobcat walks out of the thick bush, and it takes shelter under a conifer branches. Taking a moment to check its surroundings, the monster cat closes its eyes to rest.

Up in the tree, a pair of glowing green eyes stare down on the sleeping prey from a large crevice in the tree’s trunk. The glowing eyes focus on to the beast’s expose neck, and the cat dies in between the jaws of a black drake when a green flash ends.

Retreating through the forest, with the freshly kill cat laying upon his back, the purple dragon creeps silently through the woods. At night is when most of the predators lurks about looking for prey. It’s a very chaotic time as violence erupts across the dark forest. Walking along an untrodden path, the usual sounds of fighting spread to be heard by the dragon. Smelling blood, the dragon incidentally spies on an unusual sight. A black figure running from a large manticore. The pair makes a strange sight as they run circles through the woods around the dragon. Seeing no way to escape their encirclement, the dragon lays low on the ground. His kill wrap with a tail, a covering of black scales is put over himself.

The wounds on the black prey cause it to weaken to which it was unable to fly. Fiercer than a lion, the manticore was massive, and the power of its venom makes a frightening predator. Watching as the prey fails to avoid a rock, and it topples, hitting against a tree. This manticore’s hunt is over. As the manticore’s nears, the beast readies to finish with another sting, but a scent of another predator’s fresh kill reaches it. Looking down at its prey, it was small and nothing but skin and bones; honesty, it can hardly be called a meal for itself. Greed within its corruption cause it to prepare for another battle. The manticore’s large two wings open and it flies up into the rain clouds disappearing.

Hiding in the thicket, the dragon is confused until his instincts scream of danger. Immediately, the drake hurdles out of his former position into the open, and the manticore crashes down from above. As soon his feet hit the ground, the drake rolls to evade the manticore’s tail that strikes down to sting. Rain continues to fall, as the manticore raises up roaring a challenge for the dragon’s kill. Roaring in return the drake races forward on instinct, feeling the need to attack first or be the first to die. Eyes glowing green, he ducks under a claw swipe to quickly reach the manticore’s back. The manticore is too massive to handle the nimble drake. The drake focuses hot flames over the tail to disable the scorpion stinger and jumps on the manticore’s back. Chomp! Crunch! He bites down on a wing as his spade-tip tail pierces holes into the other wing. Hearing the hollow bones break, the manticore shrieks as its claws grab and lacerate the dragon as easy as swiping at an ant. The drake is throw away with deep wounds in his sides.

Splatt! Boom! The lighting flashes and thunder echoes. As the two heavily wounded creatures stare at one another, the manticore charges headlong planning to use brute force to kill the smaller drake. Smoke billowing for his mouth, the drake turns and run toward a tight group of trees. With the manticore chasing him, he leads it on. As the manticore closes in, when the drake sneaks behind the tree and disappears. The manticore slams and destroys the tree completely; furiously, it looks around for the dragon. The rain stops… but the hungry manticore never notice.

Up high above the darkest clouds, a dragon appears after a green flash. Facing below himself, the dragon let loose a torrent of flames out of his mouth as he falls, spiraling back to the earth. Speeding up faster and faster, the drake turns into a flaming comet, that parts the storm clouds and crashes on an unexpecting manticore’s head and spine.

KABOOM! A deafening boom sounds as the tight group of trees disappears, and the fires are put out, by the returning rain. As the final flames die, a crater is reveal. Coming out of the crater, a dragon walks out dragging a tasty snack with his mouth. The blazing vertex’s falling force brakes its victim in two, and the heat incinerates the constricting area. All that is left behind of the manticore are the legs and part of the tail.

Walking to retrieve his first kill, the drake hears the deep cries of the manticore’s prey as it lays still prone to the tree. Curious, the dragon drops the manticore’s tail and reach the miserable creature for a closer look. The creature was completely black with four hooves that has holes in its legs. There was teal, green hair, a pair of strange wings and a crooked horn. The dragon backs up, his heart beating rapidly.

A deep sense of caution confuses and shock the dragon. This sense of danger coming from his blurred memories as he stares at the creature. As the rain falls, he turns away from the source of this confusion. Before walking too far, the drake hears as the creature’s wails desperately against the tree, as the effects of the manticore poison takes effect. "Grrrraaawr!” The drake’s claws reach his head as he cries toward the dark sky. The loud wails trigger something deep within his skull. The strange sensation was calling for him to help the creature. The dragon was stuck between leaving or helping which contradicts each other.

Turning back, looking at the creature stops wailing but shakes against the tree bark, and soon its convulsing stops as well. The drake walks over again. Standing in front of the creature, it’s green eyes glare sharply at his own. Paralysis by the venom, all it can do was hold its head high toward the drake. A fierce determination to survive can be seen in those eyes. “Huff!” As claws grabbing hold of the its throat, the creature is pull up face to face with the drake. Showing his teeth, deep growls bear down on it. The creature’s glare remains, as it hisses back showing its fangs, and a serpent’s tongue shows itself. The drake flashes his fangs and roars in dominance showing his own serpent tongue in response. Being press against the tree, the creature’s undying will to survive remains strong even when powerless within his hold. Picking up feminine scents from it, the drake snarls as he sits her down, holding his head.

A new sensation, strange yet comforting, almost like finding another dragon or similar being. The sensation to ‘help’ returns. Along with, Instincts such as ‘protect’ and ‘play’ invades his mind, and the drake always listens to his instincts. Using his tail, the drake carefully scopes up the strange creature and retrieve his two prizes from the hunt. Heading back to the cave, their bloody trail washes away in the heavy rain.

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