Chapter 9: Changelings and Changes

“So a changeling was spotted near the Crystal Empire?” Umbra asked as she walked alongside Spike. “And we have no leads, clues, actual witnesses, or anything else aside from a few glimpses that looked like a changeling scurrying in the streets,” she sighed heavily. “That’s almost pathetic.”

“And you know how these changeling spottings tend to go. Still, if one changeling is so far up north, then there may be more lurking around,” Spike replied, his voice and posture indicating clear fatigue.

Umbra chuckled. “The crystal ponies were so focused on your arrival that they didn’t pay any attention to Twilight or Starlight,” she raised a hood to rub her chin. “Why did they come again?”

“Flurry Heart. Family visit. Rings a bell?” Spike said tiredly. “Although I love the crystal ponies and how much they shower me with attention, I think panic got the best of them. Anti-changeling spells and magic jammers exist for a reason,” he sighed.

“I read about the changelings, their capabilities, and what that Queen of theirs is capable of,” Umbra started. “Can you really blame them for being on edge? After all, the two changelings that appeared on Manehattan kidnapped nearly thirty foals. And that changeling in Ponyville during the donkey’s wedding? I mean… he was invited, but still…”

“I know what you’re trying to say, Umbra. Did you know that changeling has a name? I still can’t wrap my head around that fact. Before Rasp, we believed all changelings were mindless drones, now we know they are their own individuals to an extent,” Spike crossed his arms. “I wonder if there are more changelings like Rasp… I wonder if the changelings we’ve found and executed were just trying to survive or were under the influence of Chrysalis.”

“Better them than innocents, no? They are parasites. Little better than demons, Nightmares, or Tirek,” she spat.

“Perhaps,” he nodded. “But can we really be sure? We know little to nothing about changelings. For pony’s sake, we know more about dragons than we know of changelings, and that’s saying something.”

“Says the Dragon Lord,” she said, wriggling her eyebrows.

“Please… let us not speak of that whilst we’re on a mission,” he begged as he covered his face. Of course, he managed to keep it a secret… for two whole days. He tried, really tried to step down as the Dragon Lord, but the Scepter wouldn’t leave his side no matter what and he wasn’t going to give it to another dragon. He already had to deal with that whole incident with Ember and a repeat was not something he was looking forward to.

He really, really didn’t want to be the Dragon Lord. But his momentary moment of kindness, despite the problem it brought along, also gave him the solution and one where everyone could be happy. Ember was now his Placeholder, his second-in-command, or heir of sorts. She would command his will and power, and she would, ultimately, only obey him. That also meant he could leave the Bloodstone Scepter in her hands whilst he could roam freely if he so wished.

Which, unsurprisingly, he did. He gave full permission to Ember to do whatever she pleased in his name as long as it aligned with her dream to bring back the dragons’ glory of old. And as the first step in doing so, was to announce a full alliance between Equestria and the Dragon Lands, plus a trade-agreement, scholarship programs, migration treaties, and, most importantly of all, a shipment of ten thousand pillows as a gift to the dragons.

It certainly caused a ruckus, one that Luna was all too keen to take and lay in wait. Now, a mere four months later, dragon hunter parties were brought down one after another. And the mystery as to why Torch’s commands didn’t do anything to him was also solved. His loyalty belonged to Equestria, Celestia, and Harmony, and no-one else. He was still unsure how his relationship with Ember would evolve now that they were mates, but he’d worry about that another day.

Today, he had a changeling to find. With the Palace, city, and surrounding perimeters already scanned, that only left one viable place to search through. The Icewastes.

Coming to a halt, Spike looked around for a few moments before looking back to the group of six Crystal Guards following them closely. He raised his left hand, made a fist, raised three fingers, and then extended it. The two unicorns and the earth pony guards rushed to the left. He then raised his right hand with three fingers up, he twisted his hand in a round motion, and finally pointed to the sky with a finger. The three pegasus guards obeyed and wet sky high, forming circular patterns as they slowly advanced.

“Let’s keep going,” Spike said, motioning Umbra to advance. “Do you think we can trust Starlight?”

“Are you really asking me that?” Umbra said, unamused.

“I want to hear your opinion,” he smiled at her.

“If you insist. I think she’s a misguided soul. One that was filled with a sense of petty revenge and self-pity. Now though? I think Twilight Sparkle has been doing an excellent job at showing her a better way,” she answered.

“I see,” he hummed. “She’s certainly proven she was truthful about changing for the better.”

After that, the two of them kept walking, occasionally inspecting a few rocks, avoiding crevices, and stopping whenever they heard something strange. An hour passed before Umbra broke the silence.

“Thank you,” she murmured as she glanced at Spike. The dragon lifted a scaly eyebrow. “For… saving me. I’m certain almost everypony else would’ve let me die. It’s what I deserve,” she said.

“You’re welcome, Umbra. And on that note, thank you… for proving me right about pleading for your life. Your help and company have been invaluable over the past two years,” he smiled widely at her. “You’ve become a confidant and a good friend to me, Umbra.”

Umbra blushed softly. “Likewise, Spike,” she replied. After another few minutes of silence, she started speaking again. “I was envious of Amore,” she started. Before Spike could say anything, she continued. “Everypony loved her. Everypony vowed to her commands. Everypony did whatever she told them to do. But not me. I wanted… I wanted to prove to everypony that being an alicorn or royalty isn’t necessary to be a good leader. That you don’t need nation-ruining magic or be treated like a goddess in order to lead a country to glory,” she halted. “Did you know Amore nearly killed me for proposing to use the Crystal Heart to expand the Crystal Empire and bring to heel the raging storm, much in the way Cadance is doing now?”

“...I didn’t know,” was all he could reply.

“After I survived, a demon approached me. I was… stupid to believe its lies. We made a deal, a pact. And it betrayed me almost instantly. Queen Umbra was born, with me trapped inside that body, at first celebrating my victory; I would show them all I could take Amore’s place and do better than her narrow-minded and stagnant rule. Then… when I realized I couldn’t do anything else but watch what the demon was doing with my body and name, I screamed at the world with no answer,” she smiled. “Until you gave way for its destruction and my salvation,” she bowed her head. “So, again, thank you, Spike.”

Spike smiled, his eyes watery and on the verge of tears. “Give me a hug and we’ll call it even!” He said, spreading his arms wide. Umbra sighed in mild annoyance, but her smile didn’t disappear. Going on her hind legs, she moved to hug Spike, sharing an embrace for the better part of a minute.

Suddenly, a weak explosion made them look at the direction the first group had moved towards. “Go to them, I’ll keep going.”

“Of course,” Umbra replied before her horn, now fully healed, shone with shadowy tendrils. Her hooves turned to mist, but Umbra floated. She started to run in the air at a truly astonishing speed toward the direction of the magic flare.

“Now… if I were a changeling, where would I hide?” He took a step forward… and fell right through a crevice covered by a thin carpet of snow. “Wahahaha!” He screamed while sliding down the snowy ramp until he closed his eyes and his body was engulfed in fire. An instant later, he crashed against a stalagmite; breaking it but coming to a halt. “I am so glad nobody saw that,” he exclaimed with relief. Getting back on his feet, he removed the snow that stuck to his scales and clothes. “...Huh… a mirror?” He asked upon seeing a reflection of himself. He stared at himself for a moment. Suddenly, the reflection turned to Tirek as he was burned to ashes.

With a gasp of fear, Spike jumped back. His misstep caused him to be on the edge of a pitfall. He tried to balance himself but he fell. He was about to spread his wings, his momentary distraught over now allowing him to think clearly when he felt two hands grabbing his left arm; pulling him back to safety. He landed on the cold snow with a ‘huff’ of expelled air.

“Need a hand?” Said the other Spike with his voice as he offered such. “That c-could’ve been a nasty fall.”

Spike smiled, accepting the friendly gesture. “And I suppose you’re the changeling that’s got the Crystal Empire in a panic?”

The other Spike vanished in a flash of teal magic and was soon replaced by a changeling. “You’re not… afraid?”

“Well, you just helped me, so I don’t have a true reason to be afraid,” Spike replied.

“The ice is pretty slippery around here… I didn’t want you to get hurt because of me,” the changeling lowered his head.

“Oh, that? No, it wasn’t because of you,” Spike forced himself to say. “But why did you help me? Aren’t you hiding?”

“It’s okay,” he said tiredly and sadly, almost like he had this conversation many times before. “I know you don’t want to be friends with a changeling.”

“Under other circumstances, I wouldn’t,” Spike admitted. “But after talking to Rasp, I’ve come to see changeling with other eyes. After the wedding, I really thought all changelings were evil, like Chrysalis.”

“Evil?” The changeling asked. “Uh, not me. All I ever wanted was a friend,” he explained. “From the moment I split my egg in the nursery hive, I knew I was different,” he cowered, lowering his head. “I… took part in the attack on Canterlot during the Royal Wedding. When I saw Princess Twilight and herself fighting against my brothers and sisters… to see how powerful it was and how much it meant to them… I knew I had no right to steal that for myself. And when the blast of love magic scattered us to the wind, I knew I couldn’t live with my kind anymore. So, I decided to hide and learn from ponies and other creatures. To see their friendship and how friendship spread. Always wishing I could have a friend and experience it. So I could share it.”

“So you want to learn what friendship is? Why?” Spike asked, touched by his tale but still holding lingering suspicions, just in case he was lying.

“Because I’m starving!” He replied in a hurry, his entire body shaking. “There’s so much love in the Crystal Empire right now! It’s what drew me here! I’ve tried to approach ponies and be friends with them, but they always run away screaming in fear! It… It’s driving me crazy!” He confessed, drool dripping from his mouth and fangs.

“Must be due to the royal Crystalling, it’s pretty much a giant outpour of light and love for every creature,” Spike deduced. He took a step back, surprised, as he heard a rumble followed by the changeling hissing and snarling angrily.

“Oh! Sorry, sorry!” He apologized. “I’m just so hungry! If I could make a friend, then the love we’d share could sustain me… but no pony would ever befriend a love-sucking parasite like me.”

Spike hummed, an idea forming in his mind. “Why not just kidnap or trick somepony?”

“Because I’m not a monster!” He replied, slamming his hoof against the snow. “I--I hate being a changeling! If I make a friend, I don’t want to lie to them, pretending I’m something I’m not! And I will never steal the love of anycreature!” He looked down. “I’m not like Chrysalis… I’m not,” he said firmly, his voice weak but filled with determination.

Spike smiled. “Then maybe Spike the Brave and Glorious can help you out,” the changeling stared at him. “Spike? Prince Spike? The Brave and Glorious? Hero of the Crystal Empire?” Seeing the changeling make a face, he sighed. “Forget about that. I think I can help you.”

“Wow! You’d help me? For real?” He exclaimed excitedly.

“Of course,” Spike shrugged. “You’re definitely not like other changelings. You’re different,” he smiled, placing a hand on his neck.

“T-Thank you! My name is Thorax!” He introduced himself happily… right before hissing and snarling again. “Sorry! Sorry! Kindness like that sorta… bring it out,” he apologized.

“Then I’m glad it was me and not Fluttershy who’d find you. You’d go insane with her in the near vicinity, ha ha!” Spike chuckled.

Thorax smiled sheepishly. “Do… Do you still want to be my friend?”

Spike raised a hand. “Thorax the changeling, consider Prince Spike Solaris as your friend. Happy to meet you,” he bowed his head.

Thorax snarled and hissed again, his tongue flailing wildly until Spike took hold of it.

“But seriously, you’re gonna have to control this thing, okay?” Spike said sternly. Thorax nodded. “Okay. Now, would you like to eat something before we go, or would you rather wait until I introduce you to my friends? Or do you need to put me in a cocoon before you can eat love?”

“...I’ll wait,” Thorax nearly hissed. “I hate those cocoons. Chrysalis uses them to drain all the love from the creature inside… it is horrible. I’m… I’m already getting little bits of love from you, Spike.”

Spike nodded, frowning internally as he inadvertently discovered the meaning and use behind those wretched cocoons his future wife had been stuck inside during the wedding.

Leading the way, Spike and Thorax exited his hiding hole. Spike had to convince the Crystal Guards that Thorax was not only harmless but also friendly and his newest friend. Umbra accepted his decision quite easily, though she had to remark how utterly sentimental he could be.

They returned to the Crystal Empire and, to Spike’s insistence, Thorax didn’t hide his appearance. They made it to the Palace where his friends and family waited for his return. Instantly upon crossing the doors, Spike took a magical blast from Shining Armor directed at Thorax.

“Calm down, Shining!” Spike shouted, stepping in front of Thorax and protecting him from harm. “Thorax is friendly!”

“That thing is a Changeling! They’re all scheming scum and love-sucking leeches, just like their fucking Queen!” Shining raged, his horn glowing red from the amount of magic he was handling. “Step aside, Spike!”

“Shiny, calm down!” Twilight begged, using a wing to block her brother. “Don’t you remember the scroll I sent you about Rasp? Cranky is his friend! He invited him to his own wedding and Rasp didn’t do anything! I believe this changeling,” she pointed at Thorax. “Is also friendly, like Spike claims!”

“I spent weeks under their Queen’s spell,” he began, his horn returning to normal. “I didn’t know friend from foe. I was a prisoner inside my own head while she drained my love for Cadance. She had my wife locked under Canterlot itself and I didn’t know a damn thing. I didn’t notice,” he spat angrily, each of his words thick like poison. “I… I laid with that parasite… I don’t think I can forgive those creatures. Ever,” he stood tall, glaring at Thorax. “And you… y-you… w-why are you crying?”

Thorax sniffed, tears running freely down his chitin and down to the ground. “S-She is cruel. And petty. And vile. And repulsive,” he sniffed again. “Many… so many have gone through the same fate as you have…,” he moved past Spike despite his silent protest. “Chrysalis… she is evil. She was my Queen… but after the wedding, I left my hive, my comrades… my brother…,” he closed his eyes. “But I couldn’t keep living under her orders. But if you want revenge,” he lowered his head. “You can take my life… I won’t fight back.”

Shining stared at Thorax, like everypony present in the room was. With a sigh, he moved away. “Twily? Cadance? What do you say?”

Twilight moved to Thorax as she cleaned her tears away. “Spike trusts Thorax, so much so that he wants to protect him. Tell me, what do you want, Thorax?”

“I just want to make friends and live without me having to steal love from others! I want to know what Friendship is and share it! If I learn how to survive without needing to steal love so that we don’t starve, then I can show other changelings how to do it and live without obeying Chrysalis anymore!” Thorax exclaimed.

Twilight nodded, offering a hoof with Thorax took. “Any friend of Prince Spike is a friend of mine, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” she said, slowly shaking hooves.

“In that case, I say the same,” Cadance stepped forth with Flurry Heart next to her. “You may be a changeling, Thorax, but you’re not like the others. I shall welcome you to the Crystal Empire, as a guest of honor and a friend,” she offered. Suddenly, a growl was heard.

“S-Sorry,” Thorax excused himself. “I’m just… very hungry and now there’s a lot of love in the air,” he laughed nervously.

“Uuuggghhuuu!” Flurry Heart cooed before teleporting from her crib to hoved in front of Thorax. “Aggaaahhh!” She cried happily before hugging Thorax’s tongue.

“Flurry Heart!” Cadance cried as Shining fainted. “I-I’m terribly sorry!”

“Fho, zish ogeey, she’s zhowing luv!” Thorax explained happily.

“This has got to be the weirdest thing I’ve seen so far,” Umbra muttered to herself.

***********************************************

“THORAX!” Spike screamed from within his cocoon as Chrysalis drained the love out of his friend. He tried to fight, he tried to pyreport, he tried to call upon the energy from Celestia. But nothing worked. He was far too weak, far too drained to do anything.

The attack came swiftly and perfectly. If there was one thing he would admit about Chrysalis, it was that she was a scheming genius. She had managed to abduct everyone of importance in one fell swoop after who knows how many months of planning. Worst of all? They had seen how she achieved it. Thousands of ponies and many other creatures laid inside cocoons… or what remained of them after she drained all love and their lives from them, all to empower herself further and further.

While her drones starved, eating what meager remains of love they could find, Chrysalis grew stronger. Of course, they didn’t go down without a fight, however short it was. This time, Celestia didn’t hold back, but Chrysalis had used her own people as shields to surprise Celestia, distracting her long enough to encase her horn with slime and soon after put her in a cocoon. Luna surrendered the second Chrysalis started to torture her sister with intense pain as she drained her love.

He knew Cadance and Shining suffered similar fates. Blueblood was also cornered and trapped, Royal Guard officers, influential nobles, Twilight and her friends. Even Umbra fell in short order in a surprise attack in her dorm. As for him? Shamefully, he didn’t put up a fight. They took him in his sleep and had woken hours later when Chrysalis began torturing him, as payment for his insolence during the wedding.

There was one moment in which Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Cadance managed to unite their strength and nearly free themselves, but Chrysalis threatened them with Flurry Heart. Should anyone try anything funny, she’d kill the foal. Spike swore Chrysalis would die after she, personally, tortured his niece just for fun. Shining Armor passed out from the rage, blood tainting his cocoon as his nose trickled it.

Much to his surprise and that of everyone, they soon found out that a powerless Discord, Thorax, Trixie, and Starlight, the small group led by the latter mare, had come to save them and Equestria. And now, he was seeing his dear friend being deprived of all his love.

“I can feel my love slipping away… I can’t hold onto it much longer!” Thorax cried.

“Then… Don’t!” Starlight yelled. “Sharing love is what made you different to begin with! You should share your love with Chrysalis! Give her all of it!” She claimed.

Thorax closed his eyes and suddenly, a wave of love energy, similar to but on a smaller scale compared with the energy Cadance and Shining displayed during their foiled wedding, struck Chrysalis head-on. It sent her crashing against her throne, cracking it upon impact. As she laid on it, confused and alarmed she, like everyone else, looked as the energy engulfed Thorax inside a cocoon of light.

Starlight touched the cocoon, and with a flash of light, Thorax was back. Only that… he looked quite different. For one, he was as tall as Celestia. A pair of horns adorned his head. His dark chitin was replaced by a colorful, smooth carapace. And his wings and tail shone like jewels.

“This is what happens when you give love freely instead of stealing it!” Starlight chanted.

Driven by Thorax’s demonstration, one changeling after another started to follow in his example. Soon, practically the entire hive was doing it. The overflow of love energy caused the entire structure to shake and Chrysalis’ throne started to crack and splinter.

Then, the top of the hive exploded.

As soon as the throne splintered into thousands of tiny pieces, all magic users found they could use magic once more. The cocoons collapsed, and everyone slowly crawled out of them with the aid of the new changelings.

“Fluttershy!?” Discord yelled when he found the shy mare. In a heartbeat, he hugged her close.

Spike coughed green slime as he stood up. The cheering and whatever anypony else was saying fell to deaf ears. He only had one objective: Chrysalis. As luck would have it, the Queen emerged from beneath the rubble of her throne, hissing and ready to fight until she noticed what she was facing. He tried to pyreport, but he was too weak. Crawling as his strength slowly returned to him, he paid no heed to whatever speech Starlight was giving. All he wanted to do was to wrap his claws around Chrysalis’ neck and squeeze it slowly until it cracked. He saw Chrysalis shout something in reply, but he didn’t care. Then, he saw her do a backflip over the edge as she escaped.

“After her!” He cried, somehow managing to stand up.

“No need,” Discord said, his voice somber and dark. With a snap of his fingers, Chrysalis reappeared in front of them, paralyzed in mid-flight. Unable to speak or move aside from her eyes, Discord turned her toward him. “If anyone wants to stop me, now’s your chance,” he announced.

The only one that made an effort to speak was Fluttershy, but even her kindness had limits. After everything she saw, all the corpses, the torture they went through, feeling her very life being drained from her and her friends. It had been an experience worse than what Tirek had done to them. She would’ve tried to stop Discord if she had only done that.

But she had tortured Flurry Heart. Used her as a hostage. And took glee in the cries of a baby.

“...Make it quick, please,” she whispered, her voice resounding all across the destroyed spire.

“You’re lucky my Fluttershy is so gentle and compassionate,” Discord snarled at Chrysalis, who was now crying as terror set in. “Say hello to your new home~” Taking off his snaggletooth, he opened a fissure in the air itself.

From his vantage point, Spike saw a ruinous storm of red, purple, and swirling energies that made him want to vomit just by seeing that horrid vortex.

“Bye-bye, Chrysalis. I’m sure you’re going to be making a few friends in there~” He glared at her. “I did warn you to not hurt Fluttershy. You should’ve listened to my warning,” he said and with a push, Chrysalis fell inside the vortex.

The last thing anyone heard from her ever again was a cry of pure terror coming from within the vortex as Discord closed it.

***********************************************

“Aunt Luna?” Spike asked as he rubbed Luna’s barrel, his claws playfully tracing her fur while he breathed in her mane and kissed her neck.

“Just Luna, Spike,” she sighed happily. “We’re past familial titles, I think.”

“You would say that. What? Finally found a conscience?” The Nightmare mocked through the mirror’s reflection.

“Right, I keep forgetting,” Spike chuckled. “Ember asked me if any more dragon hunters have been found. Have your Agents found any?”

“A few here and there. They are a dying problem, Spike. After the Dragon Lands announced and signed a formal alliance, several dragon hunters came out of hiding. Of course, we were waiting for them. The few that remain shall be hunted down and brought to justice. With some luck, with the specialized tracking troops Saddle Arabia lent us we’ll be able to find all of them in short notice.”

“Trying to ignore me is pointless, Luna. You know just how grateful Celestia was when Spike arrived and news soon followed of his ascension as Dragon Lord,” the Nightmare laughed. “What can you offer him that Celestia cannot provide but better?”

“...Luna, if you oppose unifying the world under Harmony, why do you help Celestia or provide your own forces to further Equestria’s interests around the planet?” Spike questioned for the first time in his life.

“I oppose her methods, not the goal. Our late mother and father shared the dream of unifying the world. To bring prosperity to all and peace so that we, all species together, could advance to the future as one,” she moaned softly as Spike rubbed her belly, a hand tracing in between her teats. “But they wished to lead through example, so that other nations could see in Equestria a shining beacon that they could follow and imitate naturally over time on their own.”

“She has nothing but the best intentions in mind. And the world sees it. The war between Zebrica and Cervidas was prevented, and now, thanks to trade, they are starting to find common ground. Saddle Arabia is most likely to declare a full alliance at some point in the near future. And the new Changeling Kingdom is being provided all the help they need. And Minotauria? Even they, despite their stubbornness, have seen the light and accepted a minor trade route Blueblood proposed to them. Griffonia is leaderless, yet we provide aid to them free of charge. The gaps are becoming thinner. Harmony shall soon spread across Equis.”

“In no short terms thanks to your efforts, Spike,” she moved her head to kiss his cheek. “Dragons, Changelings, Buffalo. Peace between nations, several diplomatic dealings. Being a pivotal element in saving the Crystal Empire. Umbra’s reformation. Truly, you have done Equestria a great service, Spike,” she sighed. “And on the inside, Blueblood has managed to put in line several rowdy noble houses and stabilized their domineering and conflicts far more than even Celestia could have ever done on her own.”

“And you deal with the unseen threats. Hunting demons, watching over the dreams, and dealing with dangerous monsters, thievery, murderers, criminal rings, brigand groups, and secretive dealings,” Spike sighed happily as he kissed her neck. “All of us play our roles, and all of us serve Harmony and Friendship.”

“You know he’s just saying that so that you’ll feel like you’re useful, right? Celestia still steals all the glory for herself. Even Cadance and Twilight are more beloved than you--”

“Shut up,” she cursed.

“Don’t shut up,” Spike pressed, hugging her close. “Let the Nightmare continue. Let the Nightmare speak. Accept its words, face them head-on, Aunt Luna,” Spike said firmly. Feeling her body starting to tremble, he hugged her even closer. “The Nightmare manipulated you in the past. Nightmare Moon is not the Nightmare itself. Nightmare Moon is part of you. The Nightmare merely takes that form, for it is a parasite, a mere demon.”

“S-Spike… I--”

“You know he is lying. You are nothing but a weak and frail thing compared to all you could achieve. You could stand above Celestia. Above everyone else. To be loved and worshipped. Yet you refuse me. You called upon me and I answered. We became Nightmare Moon. We are one, Luna!” The Nightmare laughed.

“Whatever that demon is saying, it is a lie, Aunt Luna. Do you feel unloved even as I hold you right now? Have your subjects feared your entry or arrival? Do they not respect you? Does Celestia not seek your opinion on nearly every task? Even as you fight and have different views and opinions, don’t you still joke and hug each other daily?” Spike asked. “You are loved, Luna. Mom loves you. I love you. Your family and friends love you. Equestria loves you. It is the Nightmare that clouds your vision.”

“Lies and more lies. Surely enough, Celestia sent him to make you question yourself. You’ve tried to seduce him, yet you were seduced in turn by your sister’s puppet,” the Nightmare snarled. “Unleash me, Luna. Unleash me and we will become one once more. Unleash me! And we shall have revenge!” It coerced.

Luna shook as tears flowed from her eyes. “I---I can’t… I’m too weak… always… always fighting…”

“Then fight more!” Spike pushed. “Fight that demon! Nightmare Moon and you are the same pony, Luna! That demon is nothing but a parasite! It only knows how to lie and manipulate others in order to be used! When Umbra told me what happened to her, I knew you were similar! She gave in! She lacked your strength. Day after day you fight against that thing clinging to your soul. Expunge it! It has no power over you! Be free, Luna!” He kissed her neck. “I love you, Luna. I love you so very much.”

Luna closed her eyes. “Will you be here with me?”

“NO!”

“I will,” Spike promised. “Right here with you as you destroy the Nightmare.”

“He’s lying! This is what Celestia wants! She fears Us! Destroy me and she will eliminate you!”

“Then hold me close,” Luna whispered as her horn began to glow.

“I will remain here with you,” he said, kissing her neck once more.

“LUNA! If I die, you die!”

Spike remained at Luna’s side throughout the night, awake and unmoving, softly kissing and caressing her, speaking loving and encouraging words every now and then when she seemed to be struggling in her sleep. He was unaware of the titanic battle fought in the dreamscape and inside herself against the Nightmare. But he didn’t need to see it to feel it.

When the sun came over the horizon, Spike laid witness to a changed Luna. Eyes of slits like Nightmare Moon, a stature and figure nearly identical to that of Celestia, a longer, slightly curved horn, a feathered wing whilst the other was of skin and leather-like similar to that of a thestral, shining mane reflecting the stars and the night itself.

The Nightmare had been defeated. And now only Luna remained, finally complete and whole.

Chapter 9 End.

Author's Note

Special thanks to anyone that read this!