Set to Burn

by MellowSoul

Rating: mature
Tags: Thriller, Spike, Adventure, Violence, Princess Celestia, Death, Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 6794

Spike is sent to investigate a disturbing energy pattern.

When Celestia discovers an unusually large quantity of evil energy in an alternate dimension, she sends a request for Spike to locate its origin.

Published 2020-10-28 12:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-11-05 01:53:31 UTC

Breaking Point (Part 2)

Pinkie knocked Spike down the stairs of the basement. The fall shattered his snout.

"What happened to all that bluster a minute ago?"

"She's stronger than I thought. This is Pinkie Pie we're talking about here. Maybe I did get carried away..."

"Starting to realize you made a mistake? Oh well. Too late for regrets now."

Spike rose to his feet. He was down, but far from out.

"Do your worst."

"If you insist. No takesies backsies."

"You may look like Pinkie, but you're nothing more than a defective clone."

"You'll tell me what I want to know, one way or the other."

Twilight paced around the room. Her anxiety was beyond measure. She kept thinking the same thing over and over.

"Will I ever see him again...?"

"I'm sure he's safe, Twilight," Celestia reassured, "Dragon scales are all but impenetrable. It'll take far more than brute force to fell him."

"That's what I'm concerned about. If this evil is as dangerous as you say, who knows what tricks it has up its sleeve."

"It is an unnerving possibility. Even still, it will take time for them to analyze his weaknesses. You have my word: should anything happen to Spike, I will personally see to it the source is hunted down and destroyed once and for all."

"Don't forget, we're behind ya too, Twi." Applejack reminded her.

"Anyone who harms my little Spikey Wikey shall receive no mercy." Rarity concurred.

"Don't forget, you have my Pinkie sense on your side," the true Pinkie voiced, "If anything happens, you'll be the first to know!"

"Yeah, and I'll buck this thing's face in for good measure!" Rainbow added.

Twilight gave a soft smile.

"Thanks, guys..."

The evil Pinkie strapped spike to a surgical table. His body was too fatigued to resist.

"Did I ever tell you I studied to be a doctor? The salary was exceptional, but after a while, the stress took its toll. After I resigned, I moved here for a simpler life."

"Doctors are supposed to save people." the dragon argued.

"I thought that was the only use for medicinal skills too for a long time. Shortly after I was employed here though, the store began to go under. I was trying to find a way to keep it afloat when an idea crossed my mind: what do ponies taste like? I started adding my own blood to the batter, but it was still too bland. From there, I surmised the only way to concoct more unique flavors was to experiment."

"You drugged unsuspecting victims and harvested their organs for food. You're nothing more than a serial killer with a cannibalism fetish."

"Let's not pass judgement before I hear your side of the story. Don't forget, you're the one who barged in accusing me of being a fake. Given that you're dead either way, you may as well start talking."

"If I die, you'll join me soon enough."

"Why's that?"

Spike gave a confident grin.

"I have friends in high places."

"Oh? You mean those dainty little flowers Celestia and Luna? They wouldn't harm a fly, let alone another pony."

"Maybe they're not the ones you're familiar with."

"Now you're just spouting nonsense."

"Am I?"

Pinkamena paused.

"You thought I was the one who should've been afraid. I came here knowing full well death was a possibility."

"I'm intrigued. You mean to tell me there are other dimensions beyond what we can see?"

"If you're thinking about killing my friends, you can forget it. "

"You had this planned all along."

"Sorry to rain on your parade."

"I guess I was going to be found out sooner or later. Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to savor this while you're here."

She began sawing through his wings. Spike growled in pain. He felt the blood begin to drip away from him.

"It's up to you now, Twilight..."

Pinkie's body tensed. She began to shake viciously.

"He's in danger!" she warned.

"I'll inform the troops immediately!" Celestia exclaimed. The sun princess galloped out of the room toward the balcony.

"We're coming, Spike," Twilight thought to herself, "Just hang on."

Any effort Spike could have made to resist was quickly snuffed out by the brutal torture. His limbs were stretched to their limits. His mouth was mangled beyond comprehension.

"You've given me a lot of lip through this whole ordeal," Pinkamena rebuked, "Maybe this will shut you up: your home isn't any safer now than when you arrived."

"Mm...Ugh..."

"What makes you think I'm the only one like this? Maybe murder doesn't exist in your world now, but sooner or later, someone will find your friends. What will you do then? Nothing, because you'll be long gone.

"N...N..."

"This is just depressing now. Let's put an end to this, shall we?"

Spike descended into an endless void of shadows...

"...Spike..."

"Huh!?"

"Good. You can hear me."

"Who's there!?"

"Calm your mind. I am not your enemy."

"Am I dead!?"

"Not yet, but you're teetering. Your soul has separated from your physical body. You're in the spirit realm."

"The spirit realm? You mean it's real?"

"Yes. My name is Orion. I am a servant of the divine order."

"The divine order?"

"An alliance made up of gods and goddesses. I am an archangel, an elite soldier under their command."

"An archangel?"

"More specifically, I am the archangel of manifestation. Everything you've ever dreamed and desired has been guided by my hands."

"So...Rarity...The gemstones...All of It was your doing...?"

"Yes."

"Why...?"

"Without sorrow, regret, or anger, true strength cannot be attained. We needed you to understand sacrifice so you could put an end to evil once and for all."

"So this was all a plot to force me to fight..."

"The choice is yours alone to make."

"And if I don't, I'll die, right?"

"Yes."

"What's the point of living if I have nothing to look forward too?"

"That assumption is also of your own making. You believe you've lost everything, but even if that were true, what about what you have to gain?"

"Gain...?"

"You can't control destiny, but it can guide you in the right direction. From the day you were born, you were fated to wage war against the demons hiding among you. You yourself are a warrior of the divine order, and one day, you may even be more."

"I can be a god?"

"Given proper time and training."

"Woah..."

"Now I'll ask you again, will you fight for peace and justice?"

"What the heck. Beats being food for a deranged psycho killer."

'"Use my power, and end this madness."

Just as Pinkamena prepared to drive a stake into the dragon's throat, a burst of smoke materialized around his body. The murderer coughed and wheezed. Her face was then struck by a black bolt of lightning. She screamed in agony.

The straps on the table were split in two. The smoke conformed to Spike's body, transforming into dark clothing. In his right hand, he held a sword with a golden handle crafted in the shape of an angel's wings. A teal stone was welded in its center. The dragon levitated off the table. His severed wings sliced through the air like boomerangs, reattaching themselves to his body. He opened his eyes, pointing the blade at the maniacal figure before him.

"My turn."

Born of You

Celestia assembled a small platoon of troops in the mirror room. She briefed them on their mission.

"Your goal is to rescue Princess Twilight's assistant, a young dragon by the name of Spike."

She showed them a photograph.

"This is his face. Remember it well."

"That won't be necessary..." a hoarse voice echoed throughout the room.

Everyone frantically searched around. Twilight's eyes stopped on Pinkie.

"Pinkie...When did you stop shaking...?"

"Huh?"

Pinkie looked herself over.

"Holy cranberries! I did!"

Spike stepped through the mirror. Twilight instantly recognized something was different.

"Spike, what happened to you!? Where did you get that sword!?"

"I'm okay, Twilight. I'm just...A little tired..."

The dragon looked up at his friends. His smile was sad and broken.

"I'm glad you guys are all right..."

He collapsed on the floor,

"Spike!"

Twilight galloped toward her fallen friend.

"Take him to the nearest hospital," Celestia instructed, "Hurry!"

Spike awoke to the beep of a heart rate monitor. An oxygen mask was settled over his face.

"Where am I...?"

His thoughts were cut short by a pair of purple hooves squeezing him in a tight hug.

"Oh, thank the goddesses!"

"Twilight...?" he groaned.

"You had me so worried!"

Spike returned the hug. His body ached, but otherwise, his condition was stable.

"Sorry."

Twilight shook her head. Tears of relief streamed down her face.

"It's okay," she laughed, "I'm just glad you're alive."

"What happened? I remember dragging myself back through the portal, then everything went dark."

Twilight let go of her companion.

"You collapsed. I teleported you here."

"You saved me...?"

"Of course I did! I'd be heartbroken if something happened to you!"

"What did the doctors say?"

"Half of your blood supply was gone. They couldn't figure out why."

"I guess you're curious too, aren't you?"

"Obviously."

Spike told Twilight everything about the other Equestria, Pinkie's evil counterpart, the torture he endured, and the spirit realm.

"You were chosen to travel to other worlds and fight against murderers?"

"Orion told me it was part of my training to become a god."

"That name...It sounds familiar..."

"He said he was the archangel of manifestation."

"I see. I'll have to check the library back at the castle."

"How did I survive, anyway? Losing half your bodily fluids isn't exactly a walk in the park."

"That's easy, silly. We donated some of our blood for a transfusion."

"'Our'?"

"Unicorns and Alicorns all carry type O blood. We can donate to anyone."

"Blood cells carry genetic material, right? Does that mean I'm...!?"

"You really are our family now."

"Woah..."

"You know what else? I bet you can use magic now."

"Really?"

"Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing."

Spike did as he was told.

"Let your body relax."

He sank into the bed.

"That's it. You can do it."

A green aura surrounded the dragon's body. Little by little, his soreness subsided.

"How do you feel?"

"I...I feel amazing! Even better than before!"

Spike ripped the mask off and jumped out of the bed.

"Your first healing spell."

"With this, I'll be unstoppable!"

"Don't get too crazy yet. You still have to study the fundamentals."

"Oh yeah." the dragon chuckled.

"I'll let the others know you're awake, but can you do me a favor?"

"What's up?"

"Don't tell them about the Pinkie from that world. I don't want to scare them."

"I don't blame you. I'm still shaken up myself."

"Your clothes are on the chair. They look good on you."

"Thanks."

"By the way, I left your sword at the crystal empire. I wanted Shining to take a look at it. He was impressed with the craftsmanship."

"Guess that's to be expected from a higher power."

"That's true. If you talk to Orion again, be sure to thank him."

"I will."

"I love you, little brother."

"Love you too, sis."

Under Orion's Sword

A week later, Spike was summoned back to the mirror room. A pair of guards cleared the way for his entrance.

"The evil I'm sensing is just as strong as before." Celestia informed him.

"Then this won't be any fun at all."

"I beg your pardon?"

"It won't be like last time."

"He's right," Twilight added, "This time, you're going in with backup."

Flash stepped next to the dragon.

"I see," Celestia noted, "Cooperation will certainly make things a great deal easier."

"You should let Flash hold on to the sword," Twilight recommended, "A little kid carrying a sword would probably seem strange."

"Good thinking." Spike concurred. He gave the sword to his partner.

"You ready to go, man?" Flash inquired.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Come back safe." Twilight told Flash.

"I will. I promise."

He gave her a brief kiss and rejoined his brother in arms.

Rain descended over the world. Again, everything appeared the same as before.

"Great," Flash grumbled, "Now I'm gonna be soaked all night."

"Hang on."

Spike held out his arm. A purple light materialized above Flash before vanishing. The droplets deflected away from the Pegasus.

"What was that?"

"A barrier spell. Twilight taught it to me a few days ago. It should last long enough for us to find some shelter."

"She's a genius. That's why I love her."

"Come on. Let's go."

"You're the boss."

On the other side of town, Flash and Spike found an inn. Flash paid for a shared room. They discussed their next move in private.

"Things seem quiet so far." Flash observed.

"You can't trust what you see. They work in the shadows away from prying eyes."

"It's just another form of camouflage. Nothing I'm not familiar with."

"This isn't something to take lightly. The last monster I fought was an imposter. They can look the same as our friends and family. The only difference is how they fight. They're savage and cruel. The only way we can beat them is to stay focused."

"So they're like changelings, but more violent?"

"Not exactly. The only way for you to know is to find them. It won't be easy."

"You watch my back, I'll watch yours."

"That's the idea."

"We'll have to wait for this storm to pass before we can do anything. May as well get comfortable in the meantime."

"You hungry?"

"Food sounds amazing right about now."

"Let's grab something to eat. At least it'll give us something to kill time."

When the pair finished their meal, they returned to their room. Spike asked Flash to write a letter to Twilight informing her of their situation. When it was done, the dragon sent it off.

"I hope this works."

"Hey, wasn't your fire green before?"

"Shining said the same thing. We figured it must've been an effect of the transfusion."

"The captain, huh..."

"You look gloomier than me."

"He's been riding my ass harder than ever since me and Twilight started dating."

"He's just being protective. You know how that old song and dance goes."

"I know. It's just exhausting."

"You're gonna gain a ton of respect for helping me out on this one. I wouldn't worry too much about it."

"Ya think?"

"Don't tell him I told you this, but he was scared too after Twilight told him about last time."

"Guess even the bravest men have something they're afraid of."

"When you're dealing with freaks of nature that prey on people's vulnerabilities, there's no such thing as being too cautious."

"I'm just glad we know our enemy this time around, no pun intended."

"The question is, who is it?"

"We'll find out soon enough."

Twilight read over the letter. Relief washed over her like a cleansing downpour.

"They're safe." she voiced.

"It seems those lessons in friendship paid off in more ways than one." Celestia replied.

"Spike is sharper than I gave him credit for. He was always so unmotivated, I just assumed he didn't care."

"Perhaps that's what makes him so formidable. He only exerts energy on what he needs."

"I remember growing up how I was exhausted all the time from studying. Looking back, I probably would've benefited from a more laid-back approach."

"We all have our idiosyncrasies."

"Since you brought it up, I did some digging into Orion's background. The angel of manifestation is one title he goes under, but a more fitting alternative is the angel of dreams."

"Does he possess similar powers to Luna?"

Twilight shook her head.

"Not those kind of dreams. His abilities pertain more to life goals and desires."

"Interesting."

"He's sort of a mental guide to steer people in the direction of their destinies."

"That would explain Spike's change in behavior and appearance. You and Shining Armor must be the catalysts to help him fulfill his role."

"I guess there are some futures even you can't predict."

"Indeed."

It wasn't until the next day that the storm passed. After breakfast, Spike and Flash set their plan into motion.

"Let's split up and look around," Spike advised, "We'll cover more ground that way."

"Where should we meet?"

"We'll reconvene behind town hall in two hours."

"Roger."

"Be careful."

"Same goes for you."

When the agreed upon time elapsed, the dragon and the Pegasus seemed no closer to finding answers - that was, until they arrived at their rendezvous.

"You find anything?" Spike questioned.

"Something weird's going on around here for sure. I went to check on Twilight at her castle, but it wasn't there."

"The castle's gone!?"

"More like it never existed. There wasn't even a trace of the foundation."

"That means we're in a timeline where Twilight never became the princess of friendship!"

"Now I know why captain Armor was so worried."

"Damn it! Now what do we do..."

"Stay calm. We just need to gather intel."

"How?"

"Let's start with the paper. Any common threads should be easily linked together in the headlines."

"Right."

The team strolled to a nearby store a few blocks away. Just as Flash expected, a shelf of papers were neatly stacked out front.

"Look at this. A number of disappearances have been reported recently."

"Is there a list?"

"Right here."

Spike examined where Flash's hoof stopped.

"Holy shit..."

"What is it?"

"It's Scootaloo. She's one of the ponies reported."

"Scootaloo?"

"A filly I know back home. Her wings were stunted when she was born."

"She can't fly?"

"According to this, she was last seen at the Cloudsdale flight exams, but how...?"

"You might want to check the date."

"We're...In the future...!?"

"Now I know something fishy's going down. This has cover-up written all over it."

"We're already too late to save her..."

"And it's unlikely we'll get any information from the other ponies. This is bad."

"We have to search Cloudsdale ourselves."

"We should go now. If we try to sneak around in the dark, someone might spot us. It's not uncommon for guards to patrol the area. We should blend in without raising suspicion."

"If we only had a motive, something tells me we'd be one step closer to catching the killer."

"Then let's find one."

Between the eight year gap from Spike and Flash's world to this one, Cloudsdale had become considerably more industrialized. Steel pipes lined the sides of the city, and through them, streams of multi-colored light sprang forth.

"This isn't right. Rainbows are produced as a consequence of light mixing with rain. How are they making them artificially?"

"There must be some kind of factory further in." Flash reasoned.

"From here on out, we'd better keep a low profile. It's unlikely they'll let us waltz right in."

"We'll stick to the shadows."

Just as Flash predicted, a large factory composed of reinforced metal laid at the edge of the city. Spike couldn't believe his eyes.

"It's heavily fortified," Flash spoke, "There's clearly something in there they don't want us to see."

"How do we get in."

"Hm..."

Flash looked around for a blind spot in their defenses.

"There, up on the roof. We can sneak in through the central pipeline."

"I guess this is the point where nightfall becomes advantageous."

"You got it. We'll go back to the room for now. We should send another letter to Twilight. She's probably worried sick."

"I'll need my sword."

"It's all yours."

"I'm counting on you, Orion..."

The steam from the pipe left an enormous amount of residue underneath Flash's coat. He shook himself off.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a little wet behind the ears."

"I'll reactivate the barrier. It should keep you safe from any nasty surprises."

"How many times can you cast it?"

"Until I run out of energy, which means we have to make every second count."

"Can you see?"

"Yeah. It's really dark here. Stay close."

"Now I know how it feels to be the damsel in distress."

"We'll get you a dress on the way back."

"I'll be the prettiest girl at the gala."

A few rooms in, Spike's nostrils flared again. The same pungent odor as before invaded his sinuses.

"I smell blood..."

"Looks like our hunch was right after all."

"If something happens, you run, got it?"

"That's a no-go. Twilight would kill me if I left you behind."

"I've been ready to die from the very beginning. You still have a life to live and love to share. Don't throw it away for me..."

"I'm not leaving Twilight with a gaping hole because you don't feel worthy of life. That's bullshit, and you know it."

"I know who we're fighting now..."

"So do I, but remember, she's not your friend. Your friends are home waiting for you. They all are."

"...Yeah...You're right."

"Let's finish this and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."

Spike opened the door to the extraction room. Corpses littered the floor. Just like with Pinkamena, their organs had been removed.

"Come out, Rainbow. We know you're here." the dragon commanded.

A haunting laugh filled the room. With a loud crash, the cyan Pegasus revealed herself.

"Hey, Spike. How long's it been? Seven, eight years? You're still a midget."

"What happened to you?"

"Guess you could say I moved up the corporate ladder."

"You stole their hopes, their dreams, and all for what? Convenience?"

"The world was bound to change sooner or later. Had to keep myself employed somehow. It was nothing personal."

"Why didn't you ask anyone for help?"

"Who was there to ask?"

"Rarity? Applejack? Do you remember any of them?"

"Relationships dissolve over time. You shouldn't be this naïve anymore. You're all grown up now, or is this not what you wanted?"

"No, it isn't, and you're wrong."

"Enlighten me."

"I'm not the Spike you knew before. I've changed, and you know something else? You're not Rainbow Dash."

"Are you blind or just stupid?"

"Twilight left and everyone went their separate ways. You shut yourself off from the world in exchange for a shallow life of despair. The only way you could cope was to revel in the bloodshed and wait for death to claim you."

"You don't know me at all!"

"I know you better than you can possibly imagine, better than you know yourself even."

"You're starting to piss me off!"

"The feeling's mutual. You're not the element of loyalty. You're a wounded animal. It's time to put you out of your misery."

"I hope you and your little friend have said your prayers."

Spike unsheathed his sword.

"That's how we got this far."

Spike and Rainbow crashed through the ceiling of the facility. The rain had begun to fall again.

"How does it feel to know pain?"

"Fuck off!"

Rainbow used her hind legs to kick Spike back. Flash rushed past him. The guard tried to punch the mare, but her incredible speed overwhelmed him. She swept him away.

"Eyes on me, Dashie."

Rainbow evaded a direct hit, but she couldn't salvage the feathers under her wing.

"How did you get this strong!?"

"Good foresight."

"Enough with the mind games!"

"You like cool stuff, right? Wanna see a new trick I picked up?"

Spike summoned a green ball of fire.

"Big deal. You're not the only dragon who can use fire magic."

"Watch."

The flame changed color from its original green to a bright purple.

"How!? Dragons can't use more than one element!"

"Half dragon."

"What are you!?"

"The real future."

Spike shot the spell at Rainbow. She blocked with her forelegs. The flame blackened her torso. Before she could react, the dragon swung the sword over their heads. Flash pushed the blade down from the tip. Their combined momentum sliced through her skull, cleaving it in two.

"Why...?"

Her decapitated body fell through the clouds, hitting the ground with a sickening crunch.

"Sweet dreams, little pony..."

Between the Top and the Bottom of Existence

Ten years. Ten years of fighting. Ten years of killing his friends over and over on top of everything else. Spike was at his rope's end. All the power in the world couldn't shove down the guilt he felt inside, all the self-loathing. All he wanted to do was sleep.

A shadow cast itself over the dragon's form while he rested beneath a tree near the castle.

"Spike...? Are you okay...?"

He opened his eyes.

"Hey, Twilight."

"You look down."

"Sorry..."

Twilight sat next to him.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"I don't know..."

"Keeping everything down will only kill you sooner."

"Maybe that wouldn't be so bad..."

"Spike..."

"I'm a weapon of death, Twilight. That's been my purpose this whole time. How am I supposed to feel?"

"How do you feel now?"

"Sad. Sad and angry. That's all I've felt for a long time."

"...Do you remember when Starfall was born? You were so happy."

"Yeah...She was so small and frail. You guys thought she'd never stop crying."

"Yet when you held her in your arms, what happened? What does it say when a newborn foal trusts you with her life more than her own parents?"

"What are you trying to get at?"

"It's because of everything you've done that her birth was possible, the births of all our children."

"It's funny. You sound a lot more like Celestia these days."

"She's a wise teacher. She knew right away who the most worthy protector of our planet was."

"I'm scared, scared because I like that feeling. Having power over someone else's future is a rush like nothing else."

"There's a reason you feel that way."

"There is?"

"Around evil, you no longer have to restrain yourself. They're not fighting for beliefs or ideologies. Their only purpose is to kill as many people as possible. Letting yourself redirect their own bloodlust towards them is what makes you so strong. In a kill or be killed situation, guilt will only weigh you down. It's when you harm the innocent that it becomes a problem, and I seriously doubt you would ever take it that far."

"So that's why..."

"We all have darkness inside of us. It's how you use it that makes the difference."

"But where does it end? When should I show mercy?"

"Have you met a single enemy that's begged for it?"

"Now that you mention it...No."

"Mercy can only be granted to those with intent to change. Once someone's crossed the line into murder, rape, and torture, there's no going back. You have to give mercy to receive it."

"Maybe you're right, but still..."

"Show me."

"Show you?"

"The depths of your power. I want to see what you can really do."

"I can't."

"Don't worry about me. My magic is strong enough to keep me alive."

"What if it's not?"

"Then I died for a worthy cause."

"Sometimes you're a little too invested in your research, you know that?"

"You know I won't stop bugging you until you listen."

"All right. You asked for it."

Spike stepped away from the tree and closed his eyes. The wind gained pace as clouds gradually engulfed the sky.

"You've grown fond of the lightning element, I see."

"I'd move out of the way if I were you."

Twilight shot away from the tree. A single strike of black lightning incinerated the plant.

"This was the first magic technique I ever used, even before the transfusion."

"So this is the power of an archangel."

"Lightning is faster than water or fire, and just as destructive as both, but there's a secret variation even you weren't aware of."

"Dark electricity."

"All the speed and force of a black hole. Even light can't escape."

"Maybe I did get a little over my head on this one."

Spike vanished, rematerializing behind his sister.

"Told ya."

"I think I get the picture."

The clouds cleared without a trace.

"You should go back inside. Flash probably is probably freaking out right now."

"What are you going to do?"

"It's time I came clean to the others. They deserve to know what I've been up to all this time."

"Are you sure that's really the best idea?"

"Maybe not, but it's been weighing on me for a while, and it's not fair to hide it from them. It'll take longer than my lifetime to finish what I started. Maybe one of their kids will pick up the slack when I'm gone."

"Somebody will have to."

"Not a prayer in the world will save those monsters from the hell we'll rain down on them."

"We'll wipe them out one day."

"And an eternal utopia will begin."

Breaking Point (Part 1)

It started with a letter. Twilight was in the midst of her usual daily activities when her assistant belched a massive ball of green flame. It was so sudden and out of the blue it even startled Spike himself.

"What's it say?" she asked the little dragon.

"'Dear Twilight Sparkle, I am sending this letter as an urgent request to you and your friends. The very balance of the universe could well be at stake. Please come as soon as you are able. Signed, Princess Celestia.'"

"'Balance of the universe'? What's going on?"

"Sounds like trouble."

"I was hoping to finish shopping for supplies, but it looks like it'll have to wait."

"We'd better hurry. By the looks of it, whatever we're dealing with is more dangerous than anything we've seen before."

"Right."

The pair rushed off to find their friends.

"Princess, what's going on?" Twilight inquired.

Celestia stood before the dimensional mirror. The look in her eyes conveyed it was no laughing matter.

"Thank goodness you've come."

"Please, tell us what's happening."

"Do you remember when I first sent you into the human world to retrieve the crown?"

"Of course."

"Well, when you returned, I found myself curious about the possibility of multiple universes. Upon further examination, I discovered my hypothesis was correct."

"Multiverse theory is true...!?"

"I used my magic to scan for other life forms, and to my surprise, I found them. I've come to regret my decision."

"Why?"

"Tell me, have you ever felt something so evil, it made you sick to consider the possibilities of what it could be?"

"What did you feel?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to, but I realize it can no longer go unchecked."

"You want us to go in and neutralize it, don't you?"

"Not quite."

"I don't understand."

"It's too dangerous to send ill-prepared subjects to an uncharted planet where such darkness waits. Your last exploration was relatively safe, but this...? I can't risk it."

"Then...What should we do?"

"There is one among you who is stronger than the rest. He's standing right next to you."

"Spike!?"

Celestia nodded.

"He's the only one among you with any form of natural protection. Between the seven of you, he's the most likely to survive physical harm."

Twilight grew enraged.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Everyone in the room flinched, including Celestia.

"Twilight, please-"

"I will not let you put the life of an innocent child in jeopardy to stifle your own paranoia!"

"You misunderstand! If I could send anyone else, I would."

"No! That's final!"

"Please. I beg of you to reconsider..."

Twilight snorted hatefully. Celestia hung her head in shame.

"Twilight..."

Spike placed a hand on her foreleg.

"It's all right."

"What...!?"

"Whatever's on the other side of that mirror is dangerous. If it finds its way here, we'll all be screwed anyway. At least I can buy you some time to prepare."

"Spike, in good conscience, I cannot allow you to venture into uncharted territory alone to risk life and limb. I'm your guardian. I have a responsibility to make sure you're safe."

"I know. You would die to protect me, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would!"

"The only way to repay that love is to do the same for you."

"But...Spike...!"

"I'll be okay. I need you to trust me on this."

"...All right, Spike."

"Promise you'll wait for me?"

"Yeah."

"How much time do I have?" the dragon asked the sun princess.

"If you're unable to return within twenty-four hours, we'll launch a rescue mission."

"Do me a favor. If you have to follow me in, see if you can track down the source of the evil."

"We will."

"Make sure the civilians don't end up caught in the crossfire."

Celestia nodded.

"You'd make a fine soldier." she commended.

Spike took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"Later, guys. I'll be back before you know it."

A vortex of light appeared in an open meadow. Spike emerged from its recesses. He took a long look around.

"Everything looks the same..."

A gust of wind blew across the field. A foul stench crept into his nostrils.

"Blood. It's coming from town."

Spike began his trek into the alternate Ponyville.

Spike followed the smell to Sugarcube Corner.

"Why is it coming from here? I don't like this..."

He entered the bakery with a cautious gait. A crowd of ponies were ordering pastries at the front counter.

"It's coming from under the floor. Without my enhanced senses, I'd be none the wiser."

"Spike! Just in time!" a familiar voiced said excitedly.

"Pinkie Pie..."

The pink pony bounced toward him with the same amount of energy he was familiar with. He had to avoid raising suspicion. He simply watched as she approached him.

"I'm running low on ingredients! I was wondering if you'd mind sticking around for a bit to help out!"

"Play it cool, Spike." he thought to himself.

"Hello? Anyone up there?"

"Oh, um...Yeah. Sorry. Haha."

"Great! Just let me finish up with the customers!"

"Sure thing."

The dragon took a seat at a nearby table.

It took about half an hour for Pinkie to finish the orders. When the last customer left, Spike approached the counter.

"Before we get the ingredients, can you test this for me?"

"A cupcake?"

"I'm testing a new recipe. I need to figure out how long it'll stay fresh."

"Gotcha."

Spike raised the cupcake to his mouth. Pinkie Pie trotted to the door. She locked the deadbolt.

"Really should've thought this through better, fake."

The alternate Pinkie froze in place.

"If you'd done your homework, you'd know tranquilizers don't work on dragons."

She turned around. Spike repeatedly tossed the cupcake in the air, catching it in his palm.

"How did you know?" she grilled.

"We can smell decay a mile away. I knew it couldn't have been the Cakes' doing. Your bubbly imitation does little to hide the darkness behind your eyes."

"Imitation? What are you talking about!? Why did you call me a fake!?"

"I could tell you, but it wouldn't matter anyway. Your reign of terror is over."

"You're too cocky. I'll roast your flesh just like the others."

"You can try, but I wouldn't recommend it."

The evil Pinkie grabbed a butcher knife off of a nearby rack. She rushed at Spike. He blocked her strike with his free arm.

"Guess you're not listening. Best two out of three?" he taunted.

"Grrrgh!!!"

Pinkie jumped back. The mortal enemies stared each other down...

Line of Control

Spike was discharged from the hospital the next morning. The warmth of the sun stirred his newly awakened powers. He felt more energized than ever.

"Do you want to head home," Twilight asked him, "If you want to rest a little longer, the sword can wait."

"No, that's okay. We haven't seen Shining or Cadance in a while. Being stuck in bed for three days gets pretty boring anyway."

"I know you're probably excited about the idea of becoming a god, but don't let it go to your head. Take it from me, power isn't everything it's cracked up to be."

"It won't happen until after I die, anyway. I have a more important reason to get stronger now."

"What reason?"

"That other Pinkie told me there were others like her. I have to take them out before they reach you."

"How much time do you think we have?"

"Who knows? It could be all the time in the world or none at all."

"Just keep in mind she almost killed you. We can't afford to let you go in unprepared again."

"I'm surprised you're letting me go back at all."

"So am I, but when I saw that sword in your hand, I knew Celestia was right. You're our greatest asset in the war against darkness."

"I just wish I didn't have to leave everything behind..."

Twilight gave her brother a sad stare. He flew into the air, and she soon followed behind.

"Spike! It's so good to see you!" Cadance greeted.

"Hey, Cadance. Is Shining here?"

"He's showering in the other room."

"How's Flurry doing?"

"She's asleep. I'm so glad you're all right."

The princess hugged her brother-in-law.

"So I guess Shining gave me some of his blood too, huh?"

"You were suffering from severe anemia. It's a miracle you made it back at all."

"Come on, you should know me better than that by now. Twilight will tell you I'm harder to get rid of than a cockroach."

"It's true." Twilight said jokingly.

"Why don't you raid the fridge," Cadance suggested, "You must be starving right now."

"Yeah." the dragon agreed.

When Spike left the room, Twilight and Cadance conversed among themselves.

"He seems different somehow."

"Almost dying is a lot to take in. I'm sure there's a lot on his mind right now, but I know he'll be fine."

"How can you tell?"

"The potential for magic was already there, he just needed a little push."

"What did you teach him?"

"A muscle soothing spell."

"Healing magic will come in handy if he goes back to that other world."

"He will, but I have a plan to help him out at least until he's strong enough to fight on his own."

"A plan?"

"I'll be sending Flash in with him."

"Is that such a good idea?"

"Why do you ask?"

"It must feel awkward hanging around the guy dating his sister."

"Somehow I doubt he'll be too concerned about that. Spike's already proven how far he's willing to go. He'll protect everyone at any cost."

"I suppose you're right."

Shining dried his hair with his magic and walked into the kitchen. He saw Spike trying to decide what he wanted to eat.

"Hey, little man."

"Hey, Shining."

"You look like you're back to a hundred percent."

"More or less."

"That was really brave what you did. I would've been scared shitless."

"Did Twilight tell you who I fought?"

"Yeah. I know Pinkie's a handful, but a serial killer? Not in a million years."

"I have so many questions, and I'm scared to know the answers."

"I'm all ears. You're safe with us, bud."

"Is our Pinkie really the original?"

"I don't see why she wouldn't be."

"The first emotion ever felt was fear. It's not unreasonable to think laughter is just a coping mechanism to mask uncertainty."

"It can be, but it's also something else."

"What?"

"It's love, man."

"Love...?"

"You keep that in your heart, you can stare death itself in the face without fear."

"The bad guys you've fought believed they were doing the right thing, but killers are different. They have no sense of morality or conscience. All they want to do is destroy everything they see."

"That's why we have you. Your presence sends a clear message to them they're not invincible."

"Back at the hospital, I tried to put on a brave face, but there's always a chance they'll get me sooner or later."

"Not gonna happen. Dragons are the mightiest race in Equestria, and among them, you yourself are a unique breed. With me and Twilight's help, you'll be the greatest warrior to have ever lived."

"You're gonna train me?"

"Duh! You think I'd leave my little brother to die on another planet? Contrary to what my men might think, I'm not a total asshole."

Twilight entered the room with Spike's sword. It was concealed by a brown sheath.

"You guys headed home?" Shining asked.

"Yeah," Twilight replied, "I want him to take it easy for today. I'll teach him a few basic spells in the morning and drop him off after lunch."

"It's gonna be rough, but compared to nearly bleeding to death, it'll be a piece of cake."

"No kidding. Give Flurry lots of hugs and kisses for us."

"Will do."