Chapters Twenty years ago, a purple dragon was hatched from a spotted white egg. Over the course of his development, he made many close friends with the equine creatures who ran the show. However, the older he got, he began to question who his parents were, and what their motivations were for leaving him behind. Now, as he helped his adoptive mother reorganize her castle library for the hundred thousandth time, these thoughts crossed his mind once again.
"Twilight?"
"Yes, Spike?"
"I think...I'm ready to find my family."
"Oh?"
"Are you...upset?"
"Should I be?"
"You've taken care of me for so long. I didn't know if you'd be hurt when I decided to leave."
"I knew you would want to find them sooner or later. You know you're always welcome here."
"I know."
"When are you wanting to leave?"
"Sometime next week."
"I'll help you get what provisions you'll need."
"Thanks, Twi."
"Don't mention it."
Just then, a book began to fall from the top shelf.
"Uh oh!"
"I'll get it!"
Spike flew to the top of the room and caught the book before it fell too far.
"That's going to be my main problem without you here."
"Guess you'll just have to be more careful."
"I guess I will."
"Let's finish up so we can get some food. I'm starving."
"Agreed."
When Spike left, all his friends gathered in front of Twilight's castle to wish him off.
"My spikey-wikey's all grown up."
Spike flexed his muscles as a callback to his childhood crush.
"Oh my," Rarity blushed.
"I made this for you," Fluttershy spoke softly.
When spike opened his palm, there was a small stuffed rabbit toy.
"I love it. Thanks Fluttershy."
"Take care of yourself, kid," Rainbow said
"I learned from the best."
Spike gave his rainbow-maned companion a thumbs up.
"Well, I'm gone. See you guys again someday."
"Hopefully I won't be an old lady by then," Twilight joked.
"You're old now."
"Hey!"
Everyone laughed.
"Bye, guys."
"Bye," spike's friends said simultaneously.
Spike flew off into the sky.
Spike went into hiding after the Sugarcane Valley forest debacle. He couldn't understand how his own hands had brought down a place that never wronged him. Imagining the look of disappointment on Fluttershy's face broke his heart. He couldn't focus on searching for his family anymore. All he could do was lead a solitary life on the run. He shut himself off from the world inside a cave. For many nights, he had nightmares about whatever evil was living within him destroying everything. However, eventually, the nightmares stopped. Instead, he found himself craving that power again. No villain he'd ever encountered was capable of doing so much in so little time. Now alone and on the run, he made a decision that would forever change him into the monster the world believed him to be for so many years: he would let the evil force that lived in his body take over.
Two months later, the evil being is the only trace of Spike to be seen. With deadly force at his disposal, the monster is determined to put an end to Equestria. The final showdown between him and the three princesses of harmony is fast-approaching. One can only guess who will emerge victorious.
The first day of Spike's search went as expected. There were no leads for the whereabouts of his family yet. He yawned and lied down on a nearby tree in the forest.
"Wonder how long it'll take to find 'em..."
He drifted off to sleep. A dark purple aura began to emit from his body...
Twilight was studying the last DNA sample spike left for her before his departure. She would be able to compare the genetic material against other dragons and see if they had already come across Spike's parents without knowing. So far, here was no luck in that department.
"Wait...What's this...!?"
An eerie purple glow surrounded Spike's sample. It wasn't Twilight's magic. The glow grew brighter by the second until it was almost blinding.
"Sweet merciful Celestia...What's going on here...?"
When Spike awoke, he was flat on the ground. He looked around. The forest had been completely destroyed. All that remained were a few tree stumps few and far between. When he came to the realization that he was unharmed, he put two and two together.
"Did I...Did I do this!?"
He looked around a little more, staring in terror over the horizon.
"This is horrible!"
Twilight entered Canterlot castle with a sense of intense confusion. The events of the previous night were something she couldn't wrap her head around.
"Twilight? What a surprise," Celestia greeted her.
"Hi, princess."
"Are you alright? You seem disturbed."
"Have you heard about Spike leaving to search for his parents?"
"No. So he's departed?"
"Yes."
"Are you...okay?"
"Yes, but I'm concerned about something that happened yesterday evening."
"Please, continue."
"Before he left, I asked him for a DNA sample. I thought maybe I could use it to help him track his family down."
"I see."
"I was examining it last night when something strange happened."
"Strange? How so?"
"It started glowing without magic."
"Oh dear..."
"What's the matter?"
"Luna and I began receiving reports of a forest that was destroyed near Sugarcane Valley this morning."
"Who would attack Sugarcane Valley?"
"I was wondering the same thing."
"You don't think...Spike could've done it...Do you?"
"I highly doubt he would have done it intentionally. It must have been some kind of accident."
"That would make sense. He was known for accidents like that growing up."
"We were planning on taking a trip there to see for ourselves what the damage is. Would you like to accompany us?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Let's find Luna and we'll be off."
"Sister," Luna mourned, "Never in our lives did we expect to see such destruction."
"There's nothing left," Celestia commented in shock to herself.
"Spike did all this!? It can't be," Twilight yelled.
"Twilight," Celestia spoke apologetically, "I'm afraid we must find Spike and detain him for questioning."
"I understand..."