Just outside of Ponyville a small dragon sat underneath a large oak tree. Its legs were curled up into its chest; its tail halfway curled around its body, and its face buried into its knees. Its body language showed that it was in extreme emotional distress; but it was not only its body language that showed it. It was also the tears that flowed down its face like rivers. The young drake was none other than Spike the dragon. Celestias adopted son, Princess Twilight's number one assistant, Hero of the crystal empire, and friend of dragon lord Ember and King Thorax. Many would believe with that kind of resume; one would be smiling constantly. But, no for some reason something was eating away at his heart.
He sniffled loudly as he used one of his arms to dry his tears. He then pressed his back up against the tree trunk; gazing upwards at the trees leaves. Some of Celestias afternoon sun found its way through the leaf's. He released a sigh full of nothing but pure sadness. Before he reached over to his right side; where he lifted up a small photo. Inside the photo was him and standing next two him were six ponies. He smiled happily before his smiled turned into a frown. He then crumpled the photo in his claw and tossed it aside; just like a piece of trash. It was then carried off by a small breeze that blew through the land.
“I'm going to be just like him,” He spoke in a voice that dripped with sadness, “I'm going to be just like Stygian.” He finished.
Earlier in the day; Spike had a dream, or a terrible vision of the near future. He saw himself standing over his friends; but they lay on the ground bruised and broken. He could see horrified looks on their faces; as he felt his mouth stretch into a wicked grin. He felt his fire breath climbing up his throat. Only to be unleashed onto them as a dark mass of flames and fury. Before awaking from his dream; he could hear them screaming. He knew what all he had seen was; it was a warning. A warning of what was to come. Just like the ones that came before them; he was the one who had no special talent. And just like the one before him; he knew he was going to turn and harm the ones he called friends.
“I don't want this destiny,” He growled out as both of his claws balled into fists; he stood up turned around and punched the tree. Yes, his claw he had used stung with pain. But the pain in his heart was greater than any physical pain, “Why am I destined to destroy my friends?! Why?!” He yelled as he grabbed both sides of the tree and started to headbutt the tree.
Multiple time his forehead slammed into the tree trunk. It got to the point where he had started to bleed. Eventually he did stop only to fall to his knees; he then started to weep heavily once more. With a angry growl he stood up; wiped his face of both blood and tears. He then started to march towards the Everfree forest; but he was heading in the direction of a very old castle. Where he knew a certain tree grew.
It took him a good thirty minutes to reach the tree of harmony. But, by the time he had reach the tree. He was fuming with both anger and sadness. He stomped towards the tree and came to a stop just a few feet in front of it. He glared at the tree and with a growl he spoke in a voice filled with anger.
“Listen you stupid tree!” He yelled while pointing one of his talons at it; almost as if it was another living being, “If you are so powerful and magical; like the pillars say you are! Then tell me how do I stop myself from becoming like Stygian!?” He asked only to hear silence as an answer; which fueled his rage, “ANSWER ME!” He finished with a scream; which echoed through the canyon where the tree sat. the reply was the low hum of energy that came from the tree. He feel to his knees again and started to cry once more, “Please,” He begged as tears feel from his eyes like rivers, “I don't want to hurt my friends or worse,” He sobbed loudly as he wiped the tears from his eyes, “Please, please,” He fell onto his stomach while burying his face into his arms, “Please.” Spike whimpered out in a voice that would rival Fluttershy's quietest whisper. Too exhausted from all the pain and the tears; he fell asleep right there at the roots of the tree.
He woke a few hours later; a dirty mess of dried tears and dirt. He gazed up at the tree of harmony; cursing it quietly as he got up off the ground. Dusting himself off as he walked away from the tree. It took him a little longer to make it back to his home in Ponyville; not only because it was dark, but also he was kind of dragging his feet. As he walked through the barely lit streets of Ponyville; his head was hung down low. Thankfully nopony was around to see him like this; really he did not want to see anypony now, or ever.
“All I want is to be with my friends,” He whispered to himself as he slowly walked up the steps of Twilight's castle, “But....i know that is impossible,” He continued as he reached the door; gently placing one his claws on the door, “I have to keep them safe,” He sobbed silently as he pushed the door open, “Even if it means........I stop existing.” He finished as he finally entered the castle and shut the door behind him.
As soon as he entered the castle he immediately started walking towards his room. He knew that in his room was something that could help; something that could keep the horrible future from coming true. A few days ago while he was out gem hunting with Rarity; he had found a very rare and dangerous gem. It was a blood ruby; a poisonous gem to all dragons. Just one bite could kill a fully grown dragon. So, swallowing the gem whole would make sure that his destiny would never come to pass. It did not take him long to reach his room; he paused for only a second before gently pushing on his door.
“Spike.” A gentle voice called to him.
Spike gave a surprise yelp as he quickly turned around. Standing behind him was none other than Twilight Sparkle; who had a worried look on her face. Spike released a small sigh as his head slumped down a little; that way he would not be looking at her eye to eye. He felt to ashamed of knowing what he was going to do to her and the others. He didn't deserve to be standing in front of her.
“Spike,” The mare spoke again in a worried voice, “Is everything okay?” She asked.
“Yes, Twilight,” He lied hoping that she would believe him and just walk away, “I'm sorry for being out for long and for so late. But, right now I'm just.” He never had a chance to finish his sentence. For Twilight had used her magic to pull him into a gentle hug.
Spike was surprised completely by this sudden action; but he felt unworthy of her affection. He tried his best to break out of her hug; but that only caused her to hold him closer. With a sigh he returned her hug. Although he didn't deserve it; he was happy to experience it one more time. In fact he wished he could just have one more moment with all of he friends. He wished he could help Fluttershy with her animals again. Trying a new recipe that Pinkie pie had made. Watching Rainbow dash performing a brand new stunt. Helping Applejack carry some apples to her apple cellar. He even wished he could be Rarity's pin cushion again. But, he didn't want to feel greedy right now. After all that could have jump-started his destiny; and that was the thing he was going to stop.
“Spike,” She began as she wrapped her wings around him, “I need you to come to the map room.” She finished as she placed him on her back and started walking towards where the map was kept.
Spike began to wonder why she need him there. His spike's weren't glowing; so he knew he was not being called. Maybe she discovered a new area on the map and wanted him to take notes on it. Or maybe her an the others were about to embark on another journey; one to a far off land, and all of them wanted to let him know. It made him feel a little happy about what may happen. But, what was to come he did not expect. When they had reached the room; he saw all of his friends sitting in their respective chairs around the map. Each of them looking at the two with a smile; but he saw something behind their smiles. Almost as if he was looking through a see through mask; he could see their looks of worry.
Twilight used her magic to place Spike in his chair next to hers. She then sat down next to him and looked at him with a gentle smile; while he gave her a confused look. He was about to ask her what was going on; he never had the chance for all of them had gotten up from their chairs and started to walk towards them. Which caused him to grow more confused.
“What's?” He began.
“We know Spike,” Twilight interrupted just as everypony got next to them. With her magic she levitated him into her hold and hugged him again. Only this time all of their friends joined him; giving him a very large and loving group hug, “We know everything.” She finished with a sniffle before she started to cry.
Spike's eyes when wide in realization with what she meant. The map must have shown them his destiny; which meant they knew how he destroyed them, and they were going to stop it before it happened. With tears in his eyes he buried his face into Twilight's chest; crying heavily out of fear and happiness. Although he was still young; he was ready to accept his fate. With a sigh; he waited for his end, but it never came.
“Well,” He began as he looked up at all of them, “What are all of you waiting for?” He asked.
“Huh?” All of them replied in voices filled in confusion.
“Aren't all of you going to stop destiny from coming true?” He asked as he looked around at all of them, “Aren't all of you going to put an end to me?” He finished his heart breaking when he had finished asking the question.
All six of them gave a gasp of horror after hearing him ask that. It caused all of them to cry heavily. Which confused him greatly, “Spike,” Twilight began in a very hurt voice, “How could you ask something like that?” She asked.
“Because,” Spike replied in a voice filled with sadness, “I know what my destiny is,” He continued as he wrapped his arms around Twilight's neck, “Just like Stygian; I'm going to embrace the darkness one day, and I will end up destroying all of you,” He continued his grip tightening a little around Twilight, “I don't want that to happen. Please, just get it over with.” He begged.
The group looked at him completely horrified by what he had just said; the young drake had just asked all of them to end him. Each of them started to cry heavily as they each began to nuzzle him affectionately.
“No, Spikey,” Rarity began her voice breaking a little, “We can't do that.” She finished.
“You have no choice,” He replied he own voice breaking as well, “If you don't then.....then....i.....will.” He finished as he buried his face into Twilight's chest again.
“Spike,” Applejack began, “Do you even realize what you are sayin?” She asked with a sniffle, “You just asked all of us to.”
“It's gotta be that way Applejack,” He interrupted her with a growl, “What one stupid dragons life.”
A loud slap echoed through the air; causing everyone around Spike to gasp in horror. Spike's eyes were wide in surprise; slowly he lifted his claw up to the cheek that had been slapped. When he gently touched the area; he quickly withdrew his hand for the area had stung a little. He looked towards the one who had slapped him; it was Rainbow dash. Who was panting and crying heavily. She then grabbed Spikes head; turned it to the area she had just slapped, and gently kissed his cheek.
“Spike,” Rainbow began as tears of pain started to fall from her eyes, “You're not a stupid dragon and you're life is not going to be thrown away like some useless piece of trash,” She cried as she gently nuzzled the young drake, “You're our friend.” She finished.
“I know,” Spike replied, “But the vision.”
“Was not real, Spike,” The gentle, broken voice of Fluttershy interrupted, “The tree showed us what you were saying to it,” She sniffled as she gently pulled him out of Twilight loving embrace; only to pull him into a loving embrace of her own, “It even showed us you're nightmare.” She finished.
“There is no way that any of that was real,” Pinkie began to speak; her voice was broken as well and her mane was flat, “Spike we are real. Our friendship is real. Our love for you is real.” She finished.
Spike wanted to believe it; oh, how he desperately wanted to believe it. But how could he believe it. Princess Celestia once told him sometimes dreams were visions of the future; and with the dream he had been having. It had to be a vision; a vision of a really dark future. One he was not going to be apart of.
“Do you want to see your real destiny?” He heard Twilight ask; causing him to look towards her. Just as the tip of her horn started to glow, “Here,” She spoke in a very gentle voice, “Take a look.” She finished as she pressed the tip of her horn to his forehead.
For a few minutes Spike's eyes glowed a solid white. At first all he did was stare in awe at his true destiny. But, then he started to cry and once his eyes had stopped glowing. He looked around at of them; smiling happily as tears of happiness fell from his eyes. All of them then group hugged him again; even though he was not big enough he tried to return their hug.
Later that night; all of his friend had returned to their homes. While Twilight helped him get ready for bed. He loved how she gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead; told him about how much she loved him, and how she was so proud of him. After she had tucked him into bed; he waited for a little while before he reached for something underneath his mattress. He pulled out the blood ruby a few seconds later; he then sat up in his bed and gazed down at it. He then smiled; stood up on his bed and moved towards his window; which he then opened, only to simply throw the ruby out. He knew what his real destiny was; it was something that was amazing and beautiful, and he couldn't wait till it was his time to fulfill it.
Author's Note
I hope I did good on this fiction. if anybody has anything they want to; please leave it in the comment section. or if anybody has any constructive criticism for me; it would be much appreciated.