Learning to Cope

by numberoneassistant

Rating: mature
Tags: Sad, Main 6, Spike, Tragedy, Twilight Sparkle, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 7374

Changes in Spikes life effect those close to him. Now they must cope with these changes.

Spike matures into a monster, guided by his own mentor he attempts to lay waste to those he once considered friends. Twilight is skeptical of his facade but appears to have gone insane in worry. When a choice arises herself and those around her must pay for her mistake.

This is a one-shot turned into a chaptered fic. Also incredibly violent and gory at times, and will eventually involve a plethora of disturbing content and murders. You have been warned

Also as a side note, If you can think of a better title, whether for chapters or the whole story, please let me know cause I'm not quite sure what i have fits.

Published 2012-07-18 02:34:09 UTC
Last updated 2012-07-20 07:15:20 UTC

One Mistake

Learning to Cope
Chapter 1
One Mistake
A/N: This was once a One-shot but it was turned into a full story cause... well i wanted to.

________________________________________

Spike's P.O.V.

"You're growing up Spike!" Twilight said happily as I was having growing pains for the millionth time that week. It was true, I had talked to her about growing up and as per usual she turned to her books. Unfortunately we didn't find anything.

'Spike this is great, when your fully grown you can exact your revenge on those who oppressed you,' I heard the sinister voice in my head tell me. It's been there since my birthday.

"Shut up, I'm not hurting anyone!" I yell angrily at the voice forgetting Twilight was there.

"What was that Spike?" she asked puzzled at my sudden outburst. "I'm not asking you to hurt anyone," she said in a concerned tone. "Are you ok Spike? You've had outbursts like that for a while now."

"No I'm fine Twilight," I lied trying to hide my insanity from her. I really didn't wanna worry her with my problems; she had too much to worry about as is. "I thought I heard someone speak is all."

"Oh, ok Spike, I'm here to lend an ear if you need me to okay?" she sounded like she bought my lie. "I need some herbs from Everfree, you mind going to get some for me. "

"I'm cool with it, what herb, where and for what?" I asked confused at her vague request.

"Just some basil, there's a field of it just north of Zecora's place. We just ran out and no shop in Ponyville sells it"

"Oh that, ok ill do that," I said grabbing. "Need anything else while I'm out?" I asked in a helpful mood.
"Nope that's it."

"Ok Twi, I'll be back soon," I said walking out the door. I walked quickly through the forest, not stopping for any reason. I came to the clearing where Twilight told me to go. I found a group of ponies there. I recognized them as citizens of Ponyville, they were having a picnic amongst the herbs and trees.

'Oh look Spike they're having a little picnic.' The voice said, tone dripping with murderous intent. 'You can easily slaughter them you know, no one will miss them." It said persuasively.

"Stop it," I reply, "I'm just here to get the herb, that's it,"

'Fine I'll do it then,' he said sarcastically. I felt a touch on my shoulder and all of the sudden I felt detached, like I wasn't moving my body.

'What did you do,' I asked my voice not resonating

"I took control, so I can do what YOU can't," the voice said, his voice replacing mine. He took a sharp, full inhale before letting out a jet of fire, normal color, not green like mine, igniting and destroying the herbs and spreading to the trees. The picnicing ponies didn't notice in time and got burned to death in the blaze.

"Stop!" I yell, my voice back in my own body. I saw the burnt landscape in front of me, I look down to see the burning corpses of the ponies convulsing as if they were still alive. I couldn't stand what I saw and ran, all the way back to Ponyville. I couldn't return without the herb though, so I decided to ask around see if anyone knows others places I can get some.

"Excuse me!" I yell running up to a random passerby. "Do you know any place I can get some Basil?" I ask, panting because I had just run her from the forest.

He shook his head no and walked off. In fact everypony either didn't know or told me to go look in the forest. I was beginning to lose hope, the last pony I asked told me that he had some and that I looked desperate so he lead me to his house. He was a unicorn pony, short height, green body, black mane. "I-I have money if you need me to pay." I said hesitantly following him

"It's ok little guy," he said kindly. "You look desperate so its free of charge."

'Desperate!' the voice raged. 'Spike kill this moron, show him what happens to those who insult us!' it said menacingly.

I chose to ignore it as I followed the stallion into his house. He levitated a bag into my hand. "There you go little guy! Take care," he nodded while talking

I felt a tap on my shoulder again and got the same detached feeling. 'Oh no,' I silently pleaded. 'Please don't! Please!' I pleaded as I involuntarily pounced on the pony, bared claws cutting open his neck as he fell to the floor gasping for air.

"Next time, don't call me desperate," the voice spat before igniting the Pony's tail on fire. It slowly spread up and pretty soon he was completely burning. It ran out the back and into the forest. It decided to stop running at a few points, usually to create even more gruesome scenes using wildlife, ponies or anything it came across that was killable. I regained control of my body soon after, and I found myself behind the library. I lost my composure. Tears streaming down my face, innocence broken by what I saw. "Why," was all I was able to say.

'Oh come on Spike, they were going to die anyway, I just brought it sooner,'

"T-That's not what I meant you psycho!" I choke out between sobs.

'You're words hurt Spike.' It mocked. 'Besides, no one will know its you. Your fire is green, and it was normal fire that burned them,'

"I don't care,"

'I promise I won't hurt any of those close to you, ok?'

"P-Promise?"

'Yes Spike, I DO worry about you,'

"Ok I trust you, for now," I regained a little composure, enough to walk into the library.

I walked immediately to the bathroom to clean myself off. I saw Twilight reading something downstairs as I walked out, she instantly hopped up and ran over. "Spike, what happened, you look awful, are you ok?"

"I'm fine Twilight," I said trying to put on a happy mask. "Sorry I couldn't get the herb, I got a little lost," I say rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment.

"Spike," she said in a stern tone. "I can tell you've been lying to me. I had hoped you'd tell me by yourself." Her tone changed from stern to concern. "Please Spike just tell me, I won't judge you."

"I-I'm just irritable because of these growing pains. It's nothing to worry about Twi," I lied once again trying to get away with it.

'You can tell her Spike,' the voice said, its tone dripping with venom.

"I don't know if I can believe that," Twilight said, stern tone coming back.

"Really?" I say in a relieved tone, completely ignoring Twilight.

'Of course Spike, I'll just have to kill her if she finds out!' it said sinisterly just trying to irk me.

"Yes Spike I know these things," Twilight said still in the stern tone. "Now tell me please."

"NO!" I yell at the voice in resentment. "YOU CAN'T HURT HER! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T HURT THOSE CLOSE TO ME!"

'I lied,' it said maliciously.

"Spike," Twilight said now really concerned. "There's something not wrong with you, I don't know what it is, but I know it's not
natural." Twilight's tone changed to motherly as she placed a hoof on my shoulder. "Please Spike, let me help you."

I felt the touch she placed on my shoulder and panicked. Every time the voice took control I felt the same feeling. "GET OFF!" I yell breathing out a jet of flame.

The flame narrowly missed Twilight and singed a few Books. "Spike, I'm not going to hurt you. What's wrong!" Twilight yelled slightly panicking.

"SHUT UP SHUT UP!" I yelled jumping back. "I don't trust you; you wanna make me hurt innocents ponies!" I yelled lunging at Twilight with my claws bared. She tried to dodge but was too slow. My claws made a fresh gash open in her side. "I won't hurt anypony ever again!,"

"S-Spike," Twilight stuttered with tears in her eyes. "Y-You did hurt somepony,"

'YOU hurt her, not me!' it said maniacally laughing.

"T-Twilight," I said snapping back to reality. I saw the gash on her side and the blood on my claws. "No," I mumbled feebly. Tears fell down my face as my sanity started waning. I stood shaking in the same spot, not daring to move.

Twilight slowly walked over to where I was standing. "Spike, I want you to know." She started calmly. "I still love you. Nothing will ever change that."

I looked up to meet her eyes expecting anger. Instead I was met with warm forgiving eyes, showing that all was forgiven. I lost my composure and backed away, stumbling a bit as I stepped backwards. "Get back please Twi," I managed to say. "I-I don't wanna hurt you. I'm just a monster." Tears now freely falling from down my cheeks. "I-I'm a murderer, I don't deserve to live!" I wail, now hysterical.

As soon as I said that I was met by a hoof slapping my across the face, "Don't ever say that again Spike." Twilight said in her stern voice again, "You aren't a monster. The Spike I know would never willingly harm anypony. He definitely wouldn't be feeling sorry for himself and avoiding everything." She said pulling me into an embrace.

"Dear Celestia, Twilight what's wrong with me," I shakily speak, slowly becoming hysterical.

"That's what I need to know Spike. Now, we are going to clean up this mess, sit down and talk about this ok? And you're not going to hurt anypony and everything will be back to normal ok?" She said lovingly as she ended to embrace.

"O-ok" I said feebly walking to the singed bookshelf as Twilight went to the bathroom to clean her cut.

"Now," Twilight started after the library was cleaned. "Tell me what's wrong Spike, please."

'Don't tell her Spike!' the voice interjected. 'You know what'll happen.'

"No, I'm not letting you control me," I say trying to remain calm. "I have a homicidal psychotic voice in my head that coaxes me to kill and destroy things. If I don't follow it, it takes control and does it itself. I'm tired of it controlling me. Please Twilight, I want my sanity back."

'YOU BRAT,' the voice screamed in my mind. 'You WILL obey me!' It said trying to sync with my mind.
I felt my head throb as I involuntarily leapt up from the chair I was sitting in. "Twilight run!" I yelled hastily trying to get control back.

"Spike stop please." Twilight pleaded stepping back.
"I can't control my body Twilight, I can't stop." I said back beginning to panic as I involuntarily breathed flame at Twilight who managed to dodge barely.

"Spike, I'm going to attempt to fix this, just remember that I will always love you, even if this goes wrong." She said sending a wave of telekinesis to pin me against the wall. "Spike, my precious Son. I'm sorry for what I'm going to do." Twilight said with tears in her eyes.

"Please Twilight; I don't wanna live like this. Whatever you can do please do it quickly!" I manage to choke out desperately.
"I'm sorry if this doesn't work." Her horn started to glow. "Just know I did this for you. Mind, Break…" She paused and took a deep breath, trying to gain composure. "NOW!" I felt a snapping feeling in my head as I lost consciousness, I smile graced my face as I fell to the floor, I knew the voice wasn't there anymore.
________________________________________

Twilight's P.O.V.

Its been 2 hours and Spike is still unconscious. I was in the kitchen contemplating what I'd just done. Based on what he told me, I used the mind break spell. Whatever consciousness was dominant at that point would be broken, considering the "voice" had control, it should work.

I heard stirring upstairs and the door open. A few seconds later Spike appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. He looked… blank, which was the only word to describe it. He walked over to me and looked blankly at me. I heard his stomach growl as he walked over to the pantry, grabbed a plate of gems and sat down across from me. "Spike, are you feeling better?" I asked confused at his current state.

He just blankly stared back and shrugged.

"You don't know? Anything hurt? Do you feel lightheaded?" I ask trying to get some sort of answer.

He just blankly shook his head. I was starting to worry about him so I decided to ask more questions. "Can you talk Spike?"
He nodded, followed by a long awkward silence.

"Do you want to talk?"

He shook his head.

"So you want to be quiet,"

"No,"

"Ok… do you want to go back to sleep?"

"No,"

"Do you want to go see everyone?"

"No,"

"What DO you want to do?"

He shrugged.

I was beginning to worry, and become a bit annoyed. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better. You gave me a scare Spike. I love you very much Spike."

"Ok," he said blankly. He continued eating his food.

"So, you continue eating I have something I need to attend to ok?"

He flashed thumbs up half heartedly

I walked out of the kitchen over to my desk. I needed to ask the princess what to do. I quickly wrote a letter explaining everything that had happened: the voice, Spike's behavior, his pains, and even his current situation. I asked Spike to send the letter off and he did it, very blankly. It was like he didn't feel anything, like he lost all feelings and all caring. I decided to try and find an answer, surely the library holds something.

I heard a knock on the front door a few hours later. "Come in, its open!" I called out halfheartedly. I heard the door open and someone walk into the room. "Can whatever this is hold on for a bit? I'm a little busy." I said without looking up from the book I was reading.

"My dear student, I'm aware your busy, I'm here to help," I heard someone familiar chuckle behind me.

"Princess Celestia!" I freaked turning around. "You didn't say you were coming over."

"I wanted this visit to be casual. I needed to check on things in person." She said walking toward me. "Where is Spike?"

"Spike? I think he went to the bedroom. I'll get him." I said beginning to run upstairs,

"No need. I'll just go up there myself," she said walking up the stairs. I hastily followed her not wanting to be left behind.

"Spike! The Princess needs to see you!" I called out to the bedroom.

I see his silhouette get up from his basket and walk over. "Spike, sit down please I need to check something." He sat down where he was and Celestia kneeled down to his level. Her horn started glowing. A few minutes later she stood back up and walked out of the room. She beckoned me to follow her. We walked down the stairs to the main room and stood in silence for
a minute.

"Why didn't you come to me before acting my student?" The princess said finally breaking the silence.

"Princess, I," I began hesitantly.

"I told you when Spike was put into your care to come to me if something troublesome developed with him." She said in a stern tone. "Dragons are mysterious creatures my student, a lot of developmental stages they go through seem strange or common ailments to other creatures." She stopped speaking and looked up toward the bedroom Spike was in. "Any harmful magical experience could stunt or completely halt the process."

"W-What exactly did I do Princess?" I asked fearing the Princesses possible actions.

"My student, are you aware that adult dragons have 2 personalities?"

I meekly shook my head. I was beginning to have an idea of the damage I had caused.

"They have their normal personality and a sort of temper personality. When a dragon begins to mature, another side of the dragon will form. The kind varies from dragon to dragon, but it is almost always violent. I could be murderous or mischievous and everything in between. The more violent the other side is, the stronger the dragon will become." She said walking over to the window and looking at the sky. "This phase of a dragon's maturation process resembles a mental ailment known as schizophrenia." She paused before looking back at me with a warming gaze. "Or at least that's what I've read, you're the only student I've ever let raise the dragon they hatch." She said chuckling in a warm tone.

"So I just," I said pausing for a second. "Broke Spike's actual mind?" I felt awful for what I had done. I ran through every possible scenario before attempting the spell. I never thought of this possibility. My gaze fell downward and tears began to well up in my eyes.

Celestia placed a hoof on my chin and brought my eyes to hers. I expected to see an angry or disappointed gaze, but I only saw forgiveness. "Twilight," she began. "You are still a student; you're expected to make mistakes." She said giving me a warm smile.

"So what's going to happen to Spike?" I ask crestfallen, but not feeling as lousy.

"The maturation will not continue until his 2 consciousnesses have merged into one. Unfortunately, there is no known reversal spell for the Mind Break. Fortunately however," she paused. "The spell wasn't completed; the caster has to be in a calm state when casting it. From what you told me, you were under a lot of stress when casting the spell. Spike is still in there, just dormant, just bring him through his usual routine and expose him to as much as possible. He should wake up if you do that, eventually." She ended and walked for the door.

"Wait Princess, I still need you." I called to her has the opened the door.

"I trust you Twilight, you know Spike better than anyone. If anyone can bring him back it's you." She stated before leaving the library and leaving me standing there, alone. On my desk was a foreign book that wasn't in the library. Raising a Dragon, a Beginners Guide it was called. "Thank you Princess." I say out loud.

I needed to figure out how I was going to get Spike back to normal, but I knew I couldn't do it alone. I left the library quickly to find everyone. I needed to let them know about Spike's condition, and to treat him like they usually treat him. I told them my mistake and about the voice. As much as I knew they now know. I had a plan, a plan to correct my mistakes.

The next day was didn't go as planned. I thought if he saw everyone and how they normally act that he'd naturally come out on his own. It didn't work though; he remained in his usual state. Not even Pinkie Pie got him to show anything but indifference.

I was beginning to give up hope and it was beginning to look like I was losing progress. "Spike," I say to him back at the library. "I tried Spike I really did." I confess to the shell of my closest friend and child. "If you're still in there Spike I want you to know that I never meant you any harm. I made a mistake Spike, please come back to us." I lose strength and fall to my knees. I lay me head against his chest. I hear a heartbeat, but I know now that the Spike I know is dead.
________________________________________

Spike's P.O.V.

Darkness, darkness was all I could see. I floated in this endless space for what seemed to me like an eternity. Eventually a wall of sorts, I couldn't move forward, but it looked like nothing was there. I see another me form on the other side of the wall.
"Who are you?" I ask hesitantly.

"You," it stated.

"Me… you're not me, I'm me."

"I'm you too, the other you. Don't you recognize me?" it said pretending to sound hurt.

"You're the voice!" I exclaim angrily.

"The voice is I as well." He said laughing.

"What are you doing here, where are we even?" I ask looking around.

"You know I was wondering the same thing." He stated looking behind him.

"Why did you do all of that stuff?" I ask him. "You killed innocent creatures, Why?"I keep a steady tone and expression
throughout this.

"I went a little overboard; we have a lot of power between us, you and I."

"But why, you didn't have to kill anyone?"

"I guess I was just drunk with power." He stated plainly.

"That's no excuse," I said with a commanding tone, like a parent lecturing a child.

"Spike… I apologize, for real this time. I wanted you to see our power first hand."

"You went about that the worst way possible"

"I know"

"I can't except your apology"

"You can't forgive me?"

"I can't forgive myself"

"So you accept the fact that we are the same"

"Well we are the same aren't we?"

"I shouldn't have killed all of those creatures"

"It was wrong"

"We are a dragon right?"

"Right"

"Let's be the strongest Dragon we can Spike, Deal," I stuck my hand out to the wall.

"Of course Spike, Deal," I brought my hand to meet my own.

We reached our hand together and a light shone from the meeting point. We closed our eyes as our bodies fused into one.

'We'll have one nasty temper,' both of me said at once. "SPIKE!" I heard Twilight call.

I opened my eyes quickly and found myself in the library. Twilight was crying on my chest, her body shaking as she sobbed. I
hold her close and stroke her mane. "It's Ok Twilight I'm here." I say to her hushed.

"Spike, you're, you" she stuttered in between sobs.

"Just let it out Twi. I'm back, and everything will be ok."

"I was so worried. I thought I had lost you."

"I was lost Twi, but I found my way back."

I released her from the embrace and she backed up. The tears had stopped and she looked relieved. "So the voice; is it still
there?" she questioned warily

"We worked things out. He isn't there anymore." I stated not wanting to confuse her.

"The Princess gave me a book, I think you should read it if you're confused about anything."

I smiled warmly, 'Back to her old self I see,' I thought happily. "N-not now Twi, maybe tomorrow."

"Well we have the book if we need it. Its late Spike, we should go to bed." Twilight said walking up next to me.

"You're right!" I said jumping down from the chair I was standing on. Twilight and I walked into the bedroom to go to sleep.
As i lie down in bed i couldn't kick a bizarre blood lust that crept its way into my mind
________________________________________
A/N: You're supposed to lose track of which Spike is speaking btw.

Dealing With Mistakes

"word" Pony Language

"word" Dragon language

It was late at night, roughly a week after Spikes second "episode" and about a month since his first. Although the town and all of his friends have forgiven him for what he had done, there was someone whose forgiveness just couldn't be given… his own. Every night for the past week he's been alone outside the library trying to decide whether or not to run away. He hated himself; he hated who he's become.

He looked down at his claws; he resembled himself the morning after his birthday, a tall almost lanky lizard with sharp fangs. Although the greedy impulses haven't returned, he is tormented by another and more sinister evil, bloodlust.

He noticed the sky begin to lighten, the sun was coming up and Twilight would be up soon. He began to walk back into the library, prepared to endure another day of hell, but something stopped him, like he was being called by something, coming from Everfree Forest, without a second thought he ran into the forest.

His search led him deep into the forest to a cave… the same cave he'd run away to when he thought Twilight replaced him with an owl. He stepped back in apprehension. "I came like you asked now show yourself," he called without a hint of confidence in his shaky voice. His voice had gotten deeper over the week.

There were some stomping noises and the ground started shaking in time with the noises. Just as Spike was about to run a familiar green dragon walked out of his home and stared at Spike who was unable to move under his paralyzing glare. The adult dragon lifted up a claw, Spike flinched in fear expecting an attack. However, it never came he opened his eyes to find a claw placed on his head.

He looked up to see an approving look on the elder's face. "I'm proud of you whelp, you've proven your prowess as a dragon," he said, his deep voice resonating softly with a guttural quality to it. It wasn't any language Spike knew, but he could understand it nonetheless.

"So you know what's happening to me?" Spike asked, attempting to speak the language the elder spoke.

"You can speak in dragon tongue, as expected," he said as if not hearing Spike's question "I knew I made the right choice when I chose to track you"

"Track me? So you know of the events that transpired this past month" he found it easier to speak and pronounce words in this language than in Pony Language, it felt natural to him.

"Correct, I know of your actions, and quite frankly I would have even I wasn't tracking you," The older dragon stated in a light tone. "You made quite the commotion, I was afraid you weren't going to snap out of your greed trance."

"Greed Trance? What does that mean? Tell me…" Spike paused shrinking back as the older dragon stared at him looking flustered.

"My name is Vice, come into my cave I'll explain everything," Vice calmly stated walking into his cave. Regaining his senses, Spike ran after him.

"Vice, please tell me what you know, why have you been trailing me and what's happening to me anyway?" Spike asked accidently slipping out of Dragon Tongue.

"I recommend speaking in our native tongue, it'll get harder to speak in other languages as you age, so get used to it," Vice said with an authoritative tone "Every dragon, at least the ones I know, go through an episode of extreme greed where they age rapidly, then come to their senses and revert to normal, like you did. Those who don't, they go insane and end up getting killed, but I digress. After that ends, the dragon starts maturing, but at a slower rate, and without the greedy impulses… Questions?" He paused expecting a response

"What about this bloodlust?" Spike asked confused "Why do I feel the need to rend things limb by limb, or slowly burn them alive, or…" Spike's voice began to take on a lustful tone, but he noticed and slapped himself trying to snap out of it. "You get the gist of it"

"That young whelp is your primal side. It is the outward manifestation of your rage and greed, you'll gain control of it as time goes by. If that's all then you may go, I expect to hear from you soon"

"O-ok umm bye then" Spike waved as he walked outside the cave and began to walk back to Ponyville.

Back at the library Spike walked into the still dark main room. He looked around the room looking for the entrance to the bedroom. The light clicked on around him and he flinched at the change in brightness.

"Spike, would you mind informing me where you've been all night?" Twilight sternly asked, obviously knowing that Spike had snuck out.

"I just took a walk in an attempt to clear my head, I've been really stressed lately" Spike replied not realizing he was still speaking in Dragon Tongue.

"Come again?" Twilight asked confused by the language she didn't understand. "You're speaking gibberish Spike"

"Oh… I'm sorry Twi. I was taking a walk trying to clear my head cause I'm stressed by all these changes." Spike said with minor difficulty. "I didn't tell you cause I thought you were asleep."

"Well okay Spike, you have been through a lot, just let know next time you go out at night so I don't worry ok?" Spike nodded meekly, eyes cast toward the ground. "Good, I'm just glad you're alright," she said walking over the dragon whelp. "And that you're not all grabby like you were last time you looked like this"

Spike laughed in response to her statement. "I'm here for some help if you need it."

"Please do, some rowdy colts came by while you were gone and threw the library out of order. I need your help to put it back in order." Spike smiled slightly and nodded, quickly moving to do his requested work.

The next night, Spike was beginning to feel anxious. He went to bed early that night hoping he would feel better, but he only felt worse lying alone in that big dark room only strengthened his urges. He walked out into the main room to see Twilight at her desk. "Twilight, I'm going out," Spike said walking for the door.

"You want company Spike? It worries me when your out alone," She asked him with a tone of concern her gaze moving back to the book she was reading.

"No… I would like to do this alone" Spike said rather slowly, as if having trouble forming the words

"Do what alone?" Twilight asked confused about his word choice.

"The…w-walk" he stuttered.

"Ok… please be careful Spike" She looked toward the door to see that Spike was gone.

Spike ran silently through the Everfree forest on all fours to reduce noise. He appeared as if he was hunting. He came to a hut in the middle of the forest and stared in the window, an evil sadistic smile graced his face showing off his shard fangs.

Against what her mind was telling her, her body's fatigue had forced Twilight to head to bed before Spike got back. She woke up that morning assuming that Spike was home. She looked toward where he usually slept only to see that he wasn't there. "Spike! Are you home?" she called through the library getting only silence as a response. She panicked and jumped out of bed and ran into the main room of the library. The dragon was nowhere to be found. "Ok think Twilight, where would Spike go walking that late," She pondered to herself. "He went to Everfree Forest last time so there's a good chance he went there. I'll go ask Zecora if she's seen him, she knows that forest better than anyone." With those last words Twilight ran out into the forest toward Zecora's hut.

When she arrived the door was left open a crack and there was no sound coming from the hut, usually she hears something coming from the hut like a rummaging noise or some chanting, but it was almost eerily quiet. "Zecora are you home?" she called poking her head into the hut. She stepped into the hut, which looked as if a hurricane tore through the living room. The air smelled of blood and decay, the cauldron was knocked over and all of her trinkets here broken. Upon closer inspection there was what appeared to be blood splattered all over the hut. She walked into the back room and saw something that horrified her. She saw a stripped carcass of who she guessed was once Zecora with black and white hair splayed throughout the room. Behind the corpse was a reptilian shed skin colored purple and green and covered in blood. "This is Spike's shed," she said under her breath. She began to feel disoriented she ran out of the hut to get some air

"What have I done?" she heard a voice call from behind the hut. It spoke with difficulty and sounded like a deeper version of Spike's voice.

"Spike? Is that you?" Twilight called out to the voice. Earning no response she walked behind the hut. She saw Spike curled up behind the hut, staring at his blood-soaked claws. He had grown significantly since he'd left the library. "Spike! What happened?" she said running over the dragon as he looked over to her, his eyes wide with fear.

"Twilight, I'm sorry," He spoke slowly with trying not to trip on his words with blood dripping from his mouth when he talked, his red-dyed fangs clearly visible. Below his left claw was the decapitated head of Zecora

A/N: This story is meant to be psychotic so please no flames. Also expect the rest of the chapters to be shorter than chapter 1 just because chapter one was supposed to be a One-Shot and those are generally pretty long.

Insanity Spreads

Learning to Cope

Chapter 3

Insanity Spreads

“Spike, y-you did this?” Twilight asked dumbstruck, “How could you” she said barely above a whisper.

“No, Twi, I didn’t do this.” Spike paused, obviously shaken. “I came here last night, hoping Zecora could explain about what
was happening to me, but when I got here, I had found that a pack of Timberwolves had found their way into her hut and killed her, I managed to drive them off, but…” Spike paused, holding up the head. “This is all that was left.” He broke down into tears, burying his snout into the ground.

“Spike I,” she paused. Normally, she’d have no reason not to trust the words of her assistant, but based on recent events, she was doubtful. “You’re lying Spike,” she said with a determined voice. “How could you do something like this?”

Spike’s face darkened when she said that, he began walking towards her. “I’m sorry Twilight looks like you found me out, although you won’t realize that this really happened. Right, you can’t comprehend what I am telling you as you do not speak the dragon language, I suppose I can I can be charitable enough to translate it for you,” he stopped, inches away from her face; his breath reeked of blood and decay. “You’re dead Twi,” He hit her over the head with the disembodied head he’s been holding and she passed out.

"She found out about this, will she remember what happened here tonight?" a deep voice asked from the darkness

“Yes unfortunately, but I’ll make sure it’s nothing but a dream.” Spike replied slinging the unconscious unicorn over his shoulder.

“SPIKE NO!” Twilight yelled jolting up from bed. She was in the library. “That couldn’t have been just a dream, it was too real.” Twilight looked around her room, making sure everything’s in order. She saw Spike’s silhouette in the dimly lit room.
“Spike? Is that you?” she asked seeing the dragon’s smaller frame on his bed. She heard no noise coming from the figure though, not even movement. “Are you okay? Answer me please!” she yelled jumping out of bed.

The light in the room turned on, Twilight turned to see a larger-framed spike standing in the doorway. He resembled what he looked like when he was stealing Applejack’s apples during his last birthday only with a more angled face and small wings that she doubted served any function yet. His scales were blacked with ash and he was carrying small woodland creatures who looked like they were sustaining burn wounds. “Twilight!” Spike began in the deeper voice she remembered from her dream, “Hurry, there’s a fire in the Everfree Forest and everypony needs your help,” he turned around and started running toward the door. “I’m helping Fluttershy collect the hurt animals, the rest of the town needs you to help put it out, hurry!” he called as he ran out of the library in a hurry.

“Was that just a dream?” Twilight asks to herself. “It seemed so real and the fire.” Twilight left her bed and walked to the window, the fire was spreading from the center of the forest. “Isn’t Zecora’s hut around there?” Twilight wondered aloud before remembering her dream. “Spike was at Zecora’s hut when I woke up, and he’s going to Fluttershy’s,” Twilight hesitated for a second at that thought. “Would Spike really kill Fluttershy?” she asked herself, “Even after the incident a week ago, I don’t think he’d actually kill anyone.” Twilight was wracking her brain on this before she remembered what Princess Celestia had told her. “I need to contact the Princess,” Twilight said running off to write a letter.

Fluttershy was stuck under a burning branch, her back hooves and flank her pinned to the ground and her front hooves her covering cowering animals injured from the blaze. The Pegusi’s rainclouds hadn’t reached her area yet and the blaze was intense. “Fluttershy?” she looked up to see Spike standing in the flames.

“Take the animals Spike, save them… please,” Fluttershy wheezed in between coughs.

“Oh I’ll help them, and I’ll help you too,” Spike said, slowly approaching Fluttershy.

A Piercing Scream echoed throughout the burning forest, and although the rain muffled it, Twilight was still able to follow the noise. She arrived in the burning clearing Spike and Fluttershy had just been in. The rain had cleared most of the fire, but her eyes remained locked to a bloody pile of ash. “No, he couldn’t have,” she muttered to herself. “No Twilight,” she said in a maniacal tone. “It’s just a bloody pile of ash in a burning forest near one of my best friend’s house it means nothing, I bet it’s just some random animal or something.” Some of Twilight’s mane became frazzled as she began to ramble “Bones don’t just turn to ash like that, but Spike’s insane isn’t he, she decapitated Zecora then started this fire to cover up Fluttershy’s murder and he hoarded her bones as a trophy. It’s the perfect crime except I’m on to you Spike!” she yelled to no one in particular.

“You’re on to what exactly?” she heard a voice behind her.

She turned her head to reveal Spike standing not too far from him, drenched and covered in wet ash. Twilight levitated a spear-like branch to his throat. “Where’re the trophies madman,” she yelled with her eye twitching

“Trophies, Twilight what are you talking about?”

“Where is Fluttershy?” she threatened, pressing the stick to his throat.

Spike sighed and grabbed the stick. He then breathed the spark of flame on the stick and it started to burn. “The hospital,” she said dropping the burning stick and walking off. “Maybe Twi,” he stopped calling back to her, “you should think about who exactly is the crazy one.” With that said he left leaving Twilight alone in the burnt, damp forest.

Twilight warped to the hospital and ran to the front desk. “Fluttershy, where? She asked the receptionist

“Room 312” she said started by Twilight disheveled appearance.

Twilight warped to the room and ran inside. Everyone was already there including Spike and Fluttershy was awake lying in bed. She had severe burn marks and wore an oxygen mask to help her breathing. “What happened?” was all she could ask.

“Not that you’d believe me,” Spike started in a monotonous voice. “Her lungs are damaged from all the smoke she inhaled and she has second degree burns on her lower body from the branch she has trapped under,” Spike stopped and walked to the window.

“I would have died if he wasn’t there,” Fluttershy started in a raspy voice. “He saved me and the animals; I am truly in his debt,”

“But I heard her scream, what happened there?”

Spike turned around. The wing membranes were cut and the scales on his back looked chipped. “A tree toppled over on me, I only was able to get out of it because of my recent growth.”

“Spike I” Twilight started to say but her words caught in her throat. She was beginning to feel sorry. Her jumping to conclusions and imagining the worst case scenario has gotten her in trouble in the past. She should trust her surrogate child even if he doesn't look like one anymore. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you,” She walked over to the large dragon and embraced him. “You’re my closest friend Spike and I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions." she could only hope the dragon would forgive her.

Spike returned the embrace “I forgive you Twi, I guess we’ll both have to get used to this,” he said in a lighthearted tone. “Soon, the solitary thing in your conscious will be survival as all you hold dear becomes my trophies,” Spike added under his breath in a soothing tone. Ending the embrace he looked into her eyes and smiled “I guess we’ll have to get used to that too,” he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"What is that by the way Spike?" she asked him sorta curious about his seemingly random bouts of gibberish.

"It's the dragon language," he said averting her gaze. "It's easier for me to speak in that than in pony language so I guess I starting speaking like that without knowing it."

"Well we'll definitely have to work on that, come on big guy lets give Fluttershy some privacy," she said pushing the large reptile out of the room. More of a gesture than anything else.

“Time to go to sleep Fluttershy,” Spike said approaching her bedside as she slept. He silently removed the oxygen mask she was wearing and firmly pushed a pillow against her face. Until breath forever left her body. The small white bunny named Angel awoke and saw Spike hovering over Fluttershy. He stirred slightly, running to a nearby shelf to get a better look. Spike noticed this and turned to the rabbit and grinned at the look of horror on the small creature’s face. “Don’t worry Angel, Fluttershy’s asleep,” He said slowly walking toward the rabbit. He leaned down to his level. “For Eternity,” He finished barely above a whisper as he ended the small creatures life along with his mistress.

Twilight awoke with a jolt, sweat dripping down her face. She looked around the room and noticed that Spike was still asleep in the corner of the room as he cannot fit in his basket anymore. She noticed a scroll on her nightstand. Still shaken from her dream she opens the scroll.

My Faithful Student Twilight,

I was afraid of this sort of thing happening. Dragons, regardless, of their upbringing are prone to extreme fits of violence. I’m afraid it’s time for Spike to leave Ponyville as he is a danger to everyone around him. However if you want to take the risk of keeping him and trying to neutralize his violent tendencies then that is your choice as well. I expect to to choose the correct decision.

Your Mentor,

Princess Celestia

“I have to give up Spike?” she whispered to herself looking over at where the adolescent dragon rested. “No, I can’t let him go just because of a few dreams. I’ll neutralize his violence and prove Celestia wrong.” She finished getting out of bed and approaching the sleeping dragon, “You’re not going anywhere Spike.”

Unbeknownst to her, a sinister smile crept over the reptile’s face as the unicorn left the room “I guess I’ll have my trophies after all.”