Author's Note

Spike is on his way to the Crystal Empire. The collector will make himself known and gathers what he wants.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Comment if you please.

Have a nice day/night reading.

Crystal Empire

Spike is flying towards the Crystal Empire. Halfway there, the collector of worlds begins to plot on his coming. Who to possess when he arrives. Deep within Spike's consciousness, is waging war for control. Spike versus the parasite that's in possession. He is losing badly while getting weaker by the second. The parasite haves the upper advantage as it took out Spike cleanly making him vulnerable. Spike's only solace is Twilight and Starlight. Hopefully, they can stop the parasite from taking control of him permanently.

Twilight and Starlight are making their way towards the Crystal Empire. The collector tapped into Spike's eyes to see everypony bowing down and clapping their hooves on his return. By tapping into his memories once more, he found out that Spike is a legend among the ponies. Now he found his army to cease control over. Just need to find a suitable host within the Crystal Empire.

"So many followers...Spike has..." The collector chuckles as he's plotting ahead. "So many creatures to possess for eternal life. Day of reckoning...coming close."

Spike lands in front of the Crystal Heart; he uses Spike to see it at hand.

"I can feel a powerful presence within the Crystal Heart...I need a close analogy of the Heart and this Tree of Harmony to determine the history and power of the two. Spike."

The creature within Spike heard the collector speaking to him telepathically once more.

"Find me a temporary host powerful enough for me to seize control."

Spike nodded for the collector's command and began searching the Crystal Empire. He searched aimlessly as other ponies in the Crystal Empire gather around and took pictures with him. Despite Spike's total silence, the ponies didn't mind as long as there with Spike the Brave and Glorious. Shining Armor and Cadence were walking around their kingdom when they notice Spike.

"Spike?" Cadance asked.

Spike remained silent.

"Hey, Spike?" Shining asked.

Spike is silent once more.

"Something wrong with you?" Cadance asked once more.

The collector is seeing through Spike's eyes observing the two to see who shall he possess. Spike then points his finger at Shining Armor.

"Uh, Spike?"

"Come with me; I have something to tell you in private," Spike said emotionlessly.

"Where are you taking me Spike and what's going on?"

"All in good time Shining Armor, all in good time."

Spike and Shining Armor walked off in a different direction. A Crystal Guard trotted towards Cadance to alert her that Princess Twilight and Starlight are here wanting to see her. Cadance took flight heading towards the train station outside of her kingdom. Spike and Shining Armor went into the Crystal library to begin their talk.

"I have found something very intriguing. Ever heard of eternal life?"

"Eternal life? What you mean by that Spike?"

"I'll show you," Spike said as he shot a parasite straight into Shining's eyes with his fire breath.

Shining Armor screamed in agony while being possessed. He ran into the walls as his eyes are changing form blinding him of sight. He's succumbing to the parasite as his will is depleting fast. It's worse when Chrysalis drained him of his love and magic many years ago. Within moments, the collector now seizes control of Shining Armor as his subconsciousness renders outside of his mind.

"So, this is what it feels like to walk on all fours...Very interesting...Spike read the books here in this library.., I have other priorities to attend to." The collector said as he trots out of the Crystal Library.

Moments ago when Spike and Shining trotted off, Cadance flew towards the train station to meet with Twilight and Starlight.

"Hi girls. How are the two of you doing?" Cadance asked.

"Not well Cadance. Have you seen Spike?" Twilight said with a worried expression on her face.

"Yes, he's with Shining Armor having a private discussion. Why? What's wrong?"

"Something is troubling Spike, have you noticed something different about him?" Starlight said.

"Well, I noticed that he's quiet and emotionless. That's about it. Why you ask?"

"Starlight and I witnessed a new fond of strength he possessed. Spike threw me two flights in anger as he flew off. Mentioning about finding information but he never said what kind of info. We can only assume the info he's looking for is coming from the egg/pod that Celestia sent us days ago."

"Why would he do that to you Twilight?"

Twilight sighs as she couldn't think of a straight answer.

"I think it is safe to say that Spike may be going through a metamorphosis. Dragons differ to ponies. We do not understand a full dragon's sprout." Starlight said reassuring Twilight.

"That is a good possibility Starlight," Cadance said.

"Well, whatever it may be, Spike is in need of attention. He hasn't slept and been going off aimlessly. Will you help us Cadance?" Twilight said.

"Of course Twilight. I'll have my husband form a squadron to observe Spike's behavior."

"Perfect. In the meantime, Twilight and I should see Ember. She's with Sunburst this week. Maybe she has some knowledge of a dragon's behavior during their growth stage."

"Sounds good Starlight. I'll see you girls around." Cadance said as she took flight heading north of the Crystal Empire.

Moments later, The Collector is gazing around the empire. Seeing the beauty in all creation, it makes The Collector more intrigue with adding Equestria to his collection. As he trots towards the castle, the Crystal Heart is in sight. He gets closer to the heart.

"Of course. The Crystal Heart is revealing my true form. I guess it reflects on the true aspect of oneself. Let's see what else you have in store."

As he got closer, Cadance showed up and approaches Shining Armor.

"Shining, how was your talk with Spike go?"

"It went well. Spike is gaining more knowledge as we speak." Shining said a bit emotionlessly.

"Knowledge? About what Shining?"

"Knowledge that'll help out with the cause. Something exhilarating will happen soon."

"Like what Shining Armor?"

"Well...I don't want to ruin the surprise. Spike will deliver the discovery to all creatures in this world soon enough." Shining said as he kissed his wife.

Cadance tasted something horrid from the kiss. Shining Armor trots the other way as Cadance began to spit and gag. During the kiss, Cadance tasted the power of negative energy and death. She looks back at Shining as he trots away. Something is amiss. She orders the Crystal Guards to keep a keen eye on any suspicious behavior from Shining and Spike.

As Starlight and Twilight trotted their way to Sunburst's home, they saw Ember talking with Sunburst about a mysterious pod she picked up in the dragon lands. Twilight and Starlight then approach the two.

"Hi Ember, hi Sunburst," Twilight said.

"Oh hi Princess Twilight, hi Starlight. Is everything alright?" Sunburst asked.

"No. We have a situation at hoof." Starlight said.

"Well, what's the trouble?" Ember asked.

"For starters, Princess Celestia sent us an egg for us to answer some questions of what it can be. We failed at first then a thought came to our heads. We thought the egg was part of Chrysalis' doing to take over Equestria but when we went on the Changeling hunt for her, turns out that she's not the one who created a creature for the egg. She was slowly dying due to starvation. Our next thought was Tirek since his plans failed for using Cozy Glow to use Friendship as a weapon. We made the trip to Tartarus but turns out that Tirek only had little information about the egg. Saying that the egg comes from a Draqonacuus. We highly doubt that." Twilight said.

"It sounds interesting that the egg can come from a Draqonacuus. Why do you highly doubt it?" Sunburst asked.

"Well, the egg is not random. Discord does things randomly." Twilight stated.

"True. That Draqonacuus does things that are unexpected all the time. So, what else is the issue Twilight?"

"It's Spike; he's going through a weird phase."

"Weird? Like how?" Ember said as she starts to become curious.

"Spike has shown no expressions or emotions whatsoever, he has a strong grip when Twilight and I use our magic to pry something out of his claws, and Spike used his sheer strength to send Twilight two flights down to the ground back at the Canterlot Library."

"Baby dragons and young dragons don't go through those type of phases. Their not even that strong with withstand magic from unicorns. As far as I can tell the both of you, Spike either comes from a rare breed of dragons or Spike may be infected with a parasite." Ember said.

Starlight gritted her teeth and called out Discord's name a third time.

"What now Starlight?!" Discord shouted as he rises from the crack of the street behind everypony.

"Are you messing with Spike to mess with us?!" Starlight shouted.

"NO! I already told you that I have nothing to do with that half-pint! Why would I try to mess around with my friends by hurting them huh?!"

Starlight calmed down long enough as she thought and recollected her thought.

"You are the only creature capable of creating chaos where it needs to be. You are the only creature I can ever think of causing some mischief like this."

"Well Starlight, hate to burst your bubble but I have nothing to do with this or Spike. I've been home lounging all week long coming up with new ways to give you and our friends a good laugh." Discord said. "Now, if you excuse me, I'll be sleeping in the summer afternoon."

Discord teleports himself back home as Starlight lower her head in defeat and sadness. She questions herself as a friend towards Discord and Twilight can sense the doubt that Starlight has. Silence reigned for a few moments.

"Starlight, you and Discord will kiss and make up soon. Right now, I need your help with Spike."

"What can we do to help you Twilight?" Sunburst asked.

"You and Ember go on the search for Spike. Spectate his movements. Let Cadance or I know about his doings."

"Will do Twilight."

Sunburst and Ember went off looking for Spike as Starlight and Twilight headed towards the Crystal Castle. On the way, there, Shining Armor trots passed them not noticing Twilight at the very least.

"Big Bro?"

A few Crystal Guards went with Shining Armor. Now, something seems amiss with Shining. He's not for one for ignoring Twilight. Shining always responded to her. Twilight then gets in front of Shining Armor.

"Big Bro, what's wrong?"

Shining looks at Twilight. His eyes tell a different story.

"Nothing. I have to get going."

A Crystal Guard went up to Twilight letting her know that they have eyes on Shining since he spoke with Spike. Twilight thanked the Crystal Guard and allowed him to presume his duties.

"So, what do we do now Twilight?"

"We're gonna follow Big Bro. See what he and Spike may be up to."

Twilight and Starlight followed Shining from afar. For the past hour, all they did was walked around aimlessly. Then the girls went into hiding as Shining came back to the Crystal Heart.

"Finally! You are mine!"

Shining grasped the Crystal Heart as some of the Crystal Guards confronts him.

"Halt Shining Armor."

Shining Armor smiles deviously.

"You cannot take the Crystal Heart from its position."

"Why not? Why can't I preserve it? Why can't I learn the true nature of the Crystal Heart?"

The tone of Shining Armor took everyone off by surprise. Some of the Crystal Guards quiver in fear as Shining Armor has some resemblance of King Sombra. Twilight and Starlight saw from afar. They too were stunned from what they were hearing.

"Well," the Crystal Guard gulps as he sweats a bit. "we can't risk of the heart breaking again. It'll create an unstoppable winter storm."

"Y-yea," another Crystal Guard spoke. "don't you remember Shining?"

"Well, I lost track of time." Shining said as he stares into the eyes of the Crystal Guards. Each one of them as he turns to them.

As Twilight and Starlight looked from afar, they saw Shining holding onto the Crystal Heart but what made them shiver in fear was the reflection of the Crystal Heart hitting Shining Armor revealing for what he is. A green humanoid monster in possession of a pony. Starlight and Twilight spawned in paper bags as they breathed heavily into it. They couldn't believe what they are witnessing.

"Well, if you don't mind, I would like to learn the history of the Crystal Heart."

Some of the Crystal Guards moved forward. Shining smiled as he sees what the ponies wanted to do.

"Such simpletons...When do they ever learn?"

Shining took out the Crystal Guards. One by one, they took heavy blows from Shining. Cadance can hear the commotion coming from her throne in the castle. She orders the rest of the Crystal Guards to apprehend the criminal for taking on the Crystal Guards and more likely trying to snatch the Crystal Heart away. The Crystal Guards came down from the castle only to see Shining Armor taking them down while holding onto the Crystal Heart. It didn't make sense why but they went forth with their Princess's command. They fought but wind up getting knocked down pretty hard. Twilight couldn't help but watch. She can't scream or call out for help. Starlight is trying to reassure Twilight that everything will be fine. They'll find a way to bring back Shining and stop this menace from causing more harm.

Now that Shining defeated the Crystal Guards, he used his magic and levitated the Crystal Heart. Then he tapped into the Crystal Heart revealing everything it witnessed during its time of existence. His eyes glow black transmitting all the information the Crystal Heart has to offer.

"I see the umbrum. The shadow king. The first crystallization. The true nature of its magic. So much beauty, light, and power into this heart. The wars. The devastation. The revivals. The festivities. Everything in the foundation of the Crystal Empire. A nice world fitting for my collection."

Some of the Crystal Guards gasped from hearing the term collection.

"Fellow ponies, would you like to know what I know?"

They thought about it but declined the offer.

"Oh well, I'll show you anyways."

Shining released his magic of black and green auroras entering through the majority of the Crystal Guards. They were put into a deep coma as their minds and will be changing. They all bowed down in front of Shining as their eyes deformed. A red circular symbol is on their foreheads.

"Now that I have my security, it's time to meet up with Spike. Then we take siege on the Crystal Empire."

Shining Armor and his Crystal Guards trot towards the Crystal Library. Twilight saw her brother leaving thus allowing her to fly towards Cadance in the Crystal Castle. Twilight flies upward to the balcony and enters from there. She met with Candance and explained the whole situation in detail. As Shining made his way inside the library to talk with Spike, Cadance and Twilight made their plans and to pick up Starlight, Sunburst, and Ember to head towards Canterlot. Spike presents everything valuable to Shining as he gains more knowledge, power, and understanding in new fonds of magic.

"The Crystal Empire, you will be added to my collection."

Twilight, Starlight, Cadance, Ember, and Sunburst are now on their way to Canterlot. From there, they will start planning on how to get Shining back to their side. A dark thought came to Twilight's mind. If Shining is being possessed by the creature she saw from the reflection of the Crystal Heart, then Spike has to be in possession as well by another unknown creature. Hopefully, they can come up with a way to bring back their loved ones from an evil tyrant.