Enter The Dragon: Fighting Is Magic

Twilight was in her office, looking over some important documents, regarding to her school, when the doors to her office opened up, and her friends, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, walked in, "Hello girls," Twilight greeted. "What's going on?"

The two pegasi looked at each other for a moment, before Fluttershy started, "Um, we wanted to talk to you about Spike," The bashful pegasus whimpered.

"What about him?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head, "Well, do you notice anything different about him, lately?"

"What? That Spike's got wings?" Twilight asked, dismissively. "I'm kinda used to that now."

"No, not that!" Rainbow shook her head. "Different as in the fact that he's a lot more....stronger."

"And faster!" Fluttershy added.

"Huh? Stronger? Faster? How?" With that, both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy began sharing stories about how Spike acted earlier, in their respective classes. Twilight could hardly believe her ears, "What? Are you serious? Because all of that does not sound like Spike!"

"I wished we could say it was a joke, Twilight," Rainbow frowned. "But believe us, we actually saw it with our own eyes! During the dodgeball game, he was all, hi-yah! Wha! BASH! CRASH!" Rainbow exclaimed, mimicking a few fighting moves.

"And when Gallus sent several tea cups flying in the air, he was all-" Unable to find the words to describe it, Fluttershy simply moved her front hooves in a blur of motions.

Twilight continues to shake her head in disbelief, when the doors burst open again to reveal a changeling, who was breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath, "Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight!" The changeling panted. "Thorax sent me! He found Spike! In the Everfree Forest! He was attacked!"

"WHAT?!" Twilight exclaimed, sharing Rainbow, Fluttershy, and some eavesdropping students' shock.

Spike and Thorax were at the Ponyville Hospital, where Spike was sound asleep, while the doctors checked him over. In the meantime, Thorax was waiting anxiously outside of the room, waiting to hear results from the doctors, hyperventilating and buzzing his wings like crazy.

"Um, are you okay sir?" A little passing filly in a patient's dress asked.

"What?" Thorax asked. "Oh, yeah! I'm fine! Great! Why wouldn't I be? I'm just waiting outside for me friend in there! No need to worry. Why? What makes you think I'm worried? Do I look worried to you?" Thorax asked, trying to put on a fake smile, which only creeped the little filly out as she walked away.

"Whatever," She said.

Thorax took an even deeper breath, struggling to calm himself, "Come on, Thorax. Calm yourself! Spike will be alright. Besides, he was okay when we got him back from that other world. Isn't he? Yeah! He's a strong little guy! He can take care of himself. Why else would these ponies make him the Great and Glorious of the Crystal Empire, right?"

"Thorax!"

"AAAAHH!!!" Thorax screamed, jumping in the air where his pincer-shaped antlers got stuck in the ceiling.

"Oh! Sorry! We didn't mean to scare you!" Twilight apologized.

"Don't ever do that to me again!!" Thorax berated angrily, upon freeing himself. "You nearly gave me heart attack!! You happy?!!"

Twilight and her girls, plus Starlight, shared the same confused looks before the alicorn repeated, "I said we were sorry!"

After a moment of collecting himself, Thorax sighed, "No. I'm sorry. I'm just a little worried for Spike."

"Same here, Sugarcube," Applejack replied. "We came as soon as we heard. Where's the little fella?"

Before Thorax can answer, a loud scream filled the air, "RAAARRRRGGHH!!" Spike screamed.

With newfound worries, Thorax and the girls burst into the room to find Spike, hanging from the ceiling, from a lantern, screaming, "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!!"

"Easy there, little guy," The first doctor began. "We're not going to hurt you. So just come down from there, nice and easy."

"Spike! What is it? What's wrong?" Twilight asked, concernly.

Spike slowly blinked his eyes opened, "Oh, hi Twilight! Hi girls! Hi Thorax!" He greeted casually, before he took a look at his surroundings, "Uh...where am I? Where are we?"

"Don't you remember darling?" Rarity asked. "You were attacked! And-"

"Whoa, whoa! Who said I was attacked?" Spike asked, as he gently flapped his wings for a soft landing.

"HI!" Pinkie chirped, jumpscaring Spike.

"HI-YAH!!" Spike screamed out of impulse, thrusting his leg out, kicking Pinkie Pie in the nose.

"OW!" Pinkie groaned, putting her hooves over her inflicted schnoz. "Oh yeah! Ow, ow, ow. Right in the schnoz....ow."

Realizing what he just did, Spike instantly went paled as he frantically apologized, "Oh my goodness! Pinkie! I-I-I'm so sorry! Really! I didn't mean to kick you!"

"Oh, you really clocked me there," Pinkie groaned, as she took a few sniffs, "Am I bleeding? Ow, ow..." She moaned, with several drops of blood spilling from her nose.

Spike's eyes went slit, when he saw the bloods, and he instantly felt cold, as his body was quickly coated in dews of sweat, and his scales started to tremble.

Horrific imageries of brutality and bloods filled his head once again. Even when his eyes were open, the predators were still there, feasting on the fleshes of their fresh kills, right before him. But it wasn't the blood, or the fleshes alone that frightened Spike. It was the markings, or what's left of the cutie marks of the fallen ponies that made Spike even more sick to the core.

"No, no, no!" Spike cried, trying to deny the visions, clutching his claws over his eyes. But upon touching his face, he felt something wet, yet warm, all over. He looked down, and was horrified to see his claws were covered in a puddle of blood, "AAAGGH!!!"

"Spike!! Spike!!" Twilight's voice rang, snapping the dragon back to reality. "Spike! What is it?! What's wrong?"

Spike shook his head, blinking a few time, breathing rapidly and heavily as he takes in his surroundings, before he was able to reassure himself that he is back home.

"You okay, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "You looked kinda.....spooked there."

The only answer they got from the dragon, however, was a quick tackle for Twilight, wrapping his arms tightly around her in a hug that looked as if he was desperate for it.

"Spike?" Twilight asked, looking down with concerns. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Unfortunately, the only best answer Spike can come up with are a few mumbles and sharp breathings that made his words barely audible.

The rest of the friends all shared looks of concerns. Though both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy appeared to be more confused. Earlier, they had just witnessed a different Spike, who was so competitive and determined. But now, he appears as if he was a frightened lost child.

Starlight and Thorax, however, both shared a look of concern, as if they knew what the real problem was.

After signing the paperworks, Twilight took Spike back to Friendship Castle, where he had a cup of hot chocolate, "Oh yeah, that hit the spot," Spike sighed in relief.

"Glad you're feeling better now, Spike," Twilight began. "So, if I may, what were you doing in the Everfree Forest?" She asked.

Spike's eyes widened as he began sweating a storm, "I was....uh, let me think...." Spike replied, tapping his claws to his head, before he lied, "Oh, I remember now. I was just out there for a walk."

"Just for a walk?" Twilight asked, rather skeptical. "Out in the Everfree Forest? Are you crazy?" She berated. "What were you thinking about taking a walk in the Everfree Forest of all places? And weren't you supposed to be helping the girls and I, run the school?"

Scratching his head, Spike came with another excuse, "Well, yeah. I mean, after I finished working. I was on my break, I decided to just go take a walk in the forest. It's kinda quiet, when it's not too spooky and all that."

"But still, it's dangerous. It's unpredictable and unnatural. You could've gotten hurt!"

"So? You and the girls had your friendship retreat in the Everfree Forest, and you all came out okay."

"That was different! Our friendship retreat was by the Tree of Harmony! The start of our friendship together."

At that point, Spike's eyes darkened, "Oh, I see how it's going now," He frowned. "Just because you and the girls were blessed with the Elements of Harmony, and are heroes, it means you're free to come and go wherever you want, as long as it's without me. Is that right?"

"What? No!" Twilight shook her head. "Spike! Stay on topic-"

"No, no. I'd like for this conversation to go on, if you'll please," Spike denied. "I mean, it's okay for you and the girls to go into the Everfree Forest, together, or by yourselves, because the Elements of Harmony made you special. But whenever I go in there, it's not okay. Is that what you're saying? That you don't I think I can handle myself?"

"Spike, you got attacked! By who knows what. You were in the hospital!"

"And who told you I was attacked?"

"Thorax and one his changelings!"

"I wasn't attacked. And even if I were, I had wings! And I can breathe fire! I'm not a helpless little dragon anymore. I can actually take care of myself now, Twilight."

"That doesn't exactly explain how you ended up in the hospital, or the fact you just had a panic attack when you woke up! And besides, the way Thorax described it, you looked as if you were in a fight with something!"

"Thorax was...." Spike hesitated for a moment. Thorax was right about one thing. It was a fight. But it wasn't exactly what he, or Twilight thought. "It wasn't a fight Twilight! I was never in a fight! And besides, I'm fine! Okay?"

"And what about earlier today?" Twilight asked. "Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both came into my office, saying how you were just...just not like you!"

"What do you mean?"

"How you were just...just different. You're not like yourself. They described how you were all fast, strong.....and scary."

"....It's because I'm a dragon....isn't it?" Spike asked, looking rather hurt.

Twilight's stern gaze softened to worry and concern at what Spike just said, "What? Spike, what are you-"

"I get it, now," Spike frowned, turning his head to look at his newfound wings. "It's because I'm growing up. Isn't it? Is that why you and the girls have always ditched me, once in awhile, over the years? Because I'm a dragon?"

"Since when have we ditched you?"

"Oh I don't know. Maybe during the Grand Galloping Gala, when you girls all wanted a perfect night to yourselves, that you completely abandoned me at Donut Joe's place?" Spike listed. "Or the time when you went to Rainbow Dash's Young Flyer Competition and didn't even bother to use your Walk-On Cloud spell on me? Or the time when you left me behind on you birthday party, when it was moved to Canterlot? Don't think I didn't let that one go!" Spike frowned.

Twilight bit her lip, as all the memories came rushing back to her like a tidal wave. Had she really left Spike out that much?

"And to top it all of, you and the girls had your friendship retreat in the Everfree Forest, at the Tree of Harmony where it 'all started'," Spike said, using quote-unquote fingers. "And where was I? Did you ever asked yourself that? Was I ever a friend to you?"

"Spike, of course you're my friend! I didn't mean to leave you out!"

"I wish I can believe that, Twilight. But I just don't!" Shaking his head, Spike glared, "So let me ask you a question: Are you afraid of me?"

"Afraid of you? Why would-"

"It's because I'm a dragon, isn't it?" Spike asked. "Don't you remember? How you and everyone, including the yaks, were so...cruel, to all dragons as a whole, that you hardly cared about how I feel?"

See issue 55-56: Wings over Yakyakistan.

"I said I was sorry," Twilight whimpered. "But whatever, this doesn't have anything to do with you, Spike!"

"No! I think it does!" Spike frowned, as waters began to well up. "The way I see it, you only think of me as a friend, because back when I was just a hatchling, I'm just that harmless to you, isn't it? But when I start to grow up, you're afraid of me, because historically, dragons are known to plunder and destroy. And you're worried that I might become too dangerous to hang around with, that you don't want me as a friend. Is that it?" Twilight was silent. "Well? Is it? Tell me!" Spike demanded. "TELL ME!!!"

"I DON'T KNOW!!" Twilight shouted, before she sighed. "I...I just don't know..."

".....What do you mean you don't know?"

"I just don't have the answer now, Spike," Twilight frowned sadly. "But being afraid of you is not the answer."

Spike shook his head, as he turned his head away, "You say that now...." Getting up from his seat, Spike spreads his wings, with his back turned on Twilight. "...but I'm not sticking around, waiting to be locked away in Tartarus."

Twilight was shocked at what he said at the last part, "What?! No! I'd never-" Twilight was cut off, when Spike flapped his wings, and flies away, out the window. "Spike, wait! COME BACK!!!"

Once out in the cold night, Spike was flying through the air, feeling the cold winds cutting across his face. He felt terrible with the way he acted towards Twilight. But at the same time, he felt relieved he finally spoke up some pent up tensions he's had over the years. Even if it was the only way to get Twilight to suspect less of what he was really going through.

Though, it felt more like it was a hit to her face.

'No. It's not like that!' Spike thought, until he heard the sinister dark laugh again.

"Deny all you want, little dragon. But it's clear. You're closer than you think to joining us, after your recent falling out with that lavender pony."

"I wasn't falling out with Twilight!" Spike spatted.

"So you weren't really angry with her and the ponies for all those times they've forgotten about you? And left you behind on their little outings? We may be predators, but we and preys have high ordeals to what is considered 'family'. Predators hunt to survive and to feed the little ones. Herds of preys stand together in order to protect the next generation of preys. The ponies of Equestria are no better. Maybe that's the reason why you've been left out so much, little dragon. Maybe it is your calling to learn to hunt, and to strike out on your own."

Spike wanted to retort, but failed to find the words to deny it.

"It's just the way life is, little dragon. You're no different from us than you think. You will be joining our pack soon enough. And we'll teach you everything you need to know, for the day when the ponies completely turn their back on you. A little hunt here, some fresh kills there. Soon you'll never be alone again. Not when a dragon like you can hunt with the rest of the pack!"

And just like that, Spike groaned as another unsettling image of death, blood, and savagery filled his head, pounding his brain, that he stopped on a tuft of cloud to try and calm the tensions.

"Don't fight it, little dragon! Give in to your predatory instinct! Use it! Display it, in combat with your next competitor! Show them you're not afraid!"

Before Spike could respond, a great shadow looms over him. He looked up, and felt his blood run cold. The eyes alone were enough to instill terror in Spike. They were so bright, they killed all sense of serene from Luna's night. They pierced his soul to the core. He can barely move.