Royal Problem

Mind of Spike

After a blinding flash Twilight, Celestia and Luna were inside Spike's mind but where they were was a surprise to all of them they were in the ruins of Canterlot. There were many dead ponies in the ground with wounds that looked like, they were made by something big. What was most puzzling all the dead were males. Females were just unconscious with smaller wounds here and there.

"Is this Spike's nightmare it sure looks like it to my eyes." Said Twilight

"It is and it isn't. It has the normal marks as a nightmare but I sense lots of Dark Magic coming from Castle's main courtyard. It's like his mind is fractured split in half you could say." Luna answered.

"Then that's where we must go." Said Celestia and dashed past Luna and Twilight.

"Wait Sister we can't run in without a plan!" Luna yelled but her warning did not affect Celestia. "Damn it I shouldn't have taken her with us if there is Dark Magic at play who knows what is happening and here she runs in without a plan again. No point trying to sneak in now come Twilight we need to help her." Twilight nodded and started following Luna towards the courtyard.

As they arrived at the courtyard they noticed Celestia chained to the ground. She also had an inhibitor ring on her horn to block her magic. "Twilight, this doesn't look good. You stay behind and secure our rear. I will go and see if I can get Celestia out of those chains." Luna told and Twilight just nodded.

Luna arrived at her sister's side "Sister, are you alright?" Celestia's eyes widened when Luna arrived and removed the robe around her mouth to allow her to speak. "No Luna, you must leave this is..."

Without a warning, chains erupted from the ground and wrapped themselves around the Princess of the Night and, an inhibitor ring appeared at her horn blocking her magic. Luna immediately noticed whose magic this was.
"Sombra! I should have known!" Luna gritted her teeth angrily while speaking. With a flash, a shadow appeared in front of Princesses, but it wasn't Sombra. It was Spike. Or at least it looked like him only with darker scales, and his eyes were crimson red.

"I knew if my "mother" is here, so would my aunt. Who better to get inside my head." Shadow-Spike told Luna with a sick wide grin.

"Where is my son you monster! What have you done with him Sombra!" Celestia yelled with a glare.

"Whatever do you mean, mother. I'm Spike, isn't it a wonder what a mad Dark Mage can do with a dragon egg." Shadow-Spike told Celestia with a smirk.

Luna cut in "Wait, are you telling that Sombra..."

"Yes, my egg is or rather was pretty old already before "mom" found me. Sombra experimented in secret on my egg. Trying to corrupt it with Dark Magic. The thing is, it's pretty hard to corrupt a creature who has a strong link to Light Magic. But Sombra did manage to do something because without him I wouldn't exist."

"So you're like Tantabus, a parasite! Feeding on my nephew's strength!?" Luna asked with a small interest showing on her face.

"Well, I don't see a point to hide it anymore since soon I will be Spike. I'm not a parasite. I am part of him, and I couldn't have done anything before, but thanks to him awakening his magic energy, I was set free, and "your" Spike is somewhere here. Once I kill him and absorb his energy, it's me who is in control after that. Before you plan anything against me. I can let you on a little secret you have no power in here. This is my realm. Yes, you could use magic, but thanks to my rings over your horns, you can't cast any spells. Only a certain dragon could stop me here, but he has no strength left anymore. He started hiding after our last battle. Now that he is losing and knows what happens when I win. He is just delaying the inevitable."

During Shadow-Spike's explanation, Twilight was hiding and listening in. Upon learning that Spike is the one who can defeat this Shadow-Spike she started to search for him with her magic. Once again villains gloating causes their downfall typical she thought. "There I found him now to just teleport there. I will be back soon Celestia, Luna just hang on." She whispered to herself before vanishing in purple light.

At the courtyard, Shadow-Spike was entertaining his guests. "What is you will do after winning?" Celestia asked small smile on her face told Luna that she too had somehow felt Twilight's magic and was now playing time. Unfortunately, that was their only card to play right now. "Yes, we would like to hear what does it includes?" Luna retorted.

Shadow Spike was smiling at this. "Well, where to start how I'm going to conquer Equestria or my favorite part breaking you two in with the Element bearers, after all, I need strong offspring and who better to give them to me than heroes on Equestria and its two rules." Celestia and Luna's faces were red as tomatoes upon hearing this and without a care, in the world, Shadow-Spike started to tell his plans.

At the same time, Twilight had tracked Spike into their old quarters in Canterlot Castle when she was still Celestia's student. She noticed Spike laying on the bed with deep wounds on his chest, and his wings were both broken. "Oh no, Spike! Are you okay! Can you hear me!" Twilight yelled while running towards the bed.

Spike weakly lifts his head to see Twilight running towards her with tears in her eyes. "Twilight? Is that you or is this another illusion?" Spike asked with a low voice.

"Just hold still I'll heal those wounds." Twilight casts a powerful healing spell and it had an immediate effect. Spike's wounds started to close up and his wing bones started to mend.

"Thank you, Twily. I can't say how much that makes my day feel better." Spike told her with a wide smile on him.

"Your welcome, but you have something to tell me, what is that Shadow-Spike out there and where did it even come, how does it know Dark Magic, how..." Twilight's mouth was shut by Spike.

"Whoa easy there, I'll answer all your questions, but I don't have all the answers." Spike took a more comfortable position on the bed before he began his side of the story. "So I take you faced of my, well I don't know Evil Side? The moment we went to sleep after our training I met him. And we have been fighting all the time. During our fights, he told me how he came to be and how he has gained strength through my negative emotions. He is just too strong. And every time he strikes me, it feels like part of me disappears, and he becomes even stronger. He is always gloating that I'm not worthy of the power that I possess and, I should just give up. I have no idea what power he is talking about. Sure I'm stronger now than before, but it's nothing compared to you or other girls. But he is getting desperate during one of our fights. He told me about his plans for you girls and all of Equestria. But he also let it slip that if neither of us comes victorious over the other. My body will just die off after a certain amount of time. So I hatched a plan that I should die rather than let that thing conquer and enslave all of Equestria." Spike finished his explanation, and Twilight had a look of sadness in her eyes, and tears were forming on them too.

"How could you plan something so reckless and stupid." Twilight yelled and slapped Spike on the cheek

"Ouch! Twily! What's wrong with you. I can't let that thing hurt you or others. You know this is the only solution now that I am this weak. Our next fight would mean doom to all of you. All of the friends I care about and you girls who I love." Spike yelled.

"But there is a chance we can get out of this. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are here too. We came to help you. If we can manage to get you to tap into your magic and with our help, you can manage to win him." Twilight told Spike.

"No! If it's similar power my Evil side is using then you can forget about it." Spike told her while crossing his arms.

"Spike I'm not talking about that thing. I spied it while it gloated to Luna and Celestia. Yes, it's part of you but there is so much more to you than what your dark side represents. The reason why it gained form was of Sombra he did something to your egg and infused it with Dark Magic or at least I think that's what he did. But there is more in you. You have your own magic inside you. We learned your something called a Divine Dragon you can use magic of your own. And even better. Your kind should have a great affinity towards Light Magic, which is counter to Dark Magic. There was a book explaining about your kind behavior when hatchlings unlock their magic for the first time. But long story short, with our help, it should be possible for you to access your magic." Twilight explained fast without taking in oxygen.

"Breath Twilight. Are you sure this will work? If there is even a slight chance for failure. I will not risk your or other's safety." Spike retorted.

Twilight didn't like it, but she needed to use a little white lie she wouldn't lose her number one assistant. "Yes, Spike it is a sure way to win this." Spike nodded and asked "Okay, I believe you. So what I need to do?"

"I'm not as good as Celestia is on this, but close your eyes and focus and feel what is in your center." Twilight placed her hand on Spike's head and started to reach inside his magic reservoirs to free them and allow Spike to use them.

After a while, Twilight could feel Spike's magic. And it was just asking to be released. So she did what she had learned from Celestia about this and released it. Opening her eyes Twilight noticed that Spike's aura was different. It radiated warmth, and his magic aura felt strong."How do you feel Spike?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know it's hard to describe all I can say it feels calm." Spike responded.

"Your aura feels way stronger than before, now we need to get back you have to distract your dark side while I free Luna and Celestia. Are you ready to go I will transport you behind him are you ready?" Twilight asked with a small worry on her face.

"As ready as I ever am. You go free Celestia and Luna I keep the ugly one distracted." Spike answers with a wide smile and giving a thumb up sign. With a flash of purple magic, they both disappear.

At the courtyard, Shadow-Spike and Princesses were still having their conversation. "If I didn't know better you two are waiting for me to train you." Said Shadow-Spike with a wide grin.

Celestia just smiled "Well, it has been a long time since I last had a dragon. Maybe we are a little bit interested." Celestia retorted "I second that" Luna told from her sister's side.

With a flash of purple magic, Spike appeared behind his evil doppelganger. "Hey ugly, I heard you were looking for me." Spike taunted. While Shadow-Spike's attention was focused on Spike. Twilight started to sneak towards Celestia and Luna to free them.

"Well, it seems the lamb has finally come to get slaughtered. Saves me the time of searching for you. Our aunt and mom decided to show up. So they have the perfect view to see your defeat." Shadow-Spike taunted. At that moment. Twilight was trying to remove chains and horn rings from Princesses. "But before we continue..." Shadow-Spike snaps his fingers and chains wrap around Twilight, and a ring appears around her horn to blocking her magic. "No!!" Twilight yells in distress.

"You think I would be that stupid? That I didn't know you were, just playing time. I just let you believe so and make my job easier and let Twilight deliver original Spike to me." Shadow-Spike said with a wicked grin. "You seem different. And your aura feels different too. What did you do?!" Shadow-Spike asks with a hint of anger and interest in his voice.

A smile formed on Spike's face"Let's just say me and Twilight managed to give me some boost. Now I feel at peace, and I also feel stronger." Luna, Celestia, and Twilight smiled. They could feel Spike's new magic energy even though they had rings on their horns. His power felt similar to the Shadow-Spike, only it was emanating Light Magic instead of Dark Magic.

Shadow-Spike started to laugh "How wonderful of Twilight to do even more of my work. Do you remember when I told you that I need to absorb his magic energy? His energy was under lock and key and I couldn't access it. During our fights, I was trying to get him to tap into his magic and open the locks, but now thanks to Twilight those locks are removed and I can absorb them freely and take control of your mind and body. While it's true that Light Magic counter's Dark Magic but let me ask you. How long have you had this power 30 minutes? 1 hour? I have had time to practice my magic for centuries. Even if it was in the inside of our mind." With a snap of his fingers, a large cage formed around Spike and Shadow-Spike locking them inside. "This cage has special enchantment. The lock won't open until either of us is dead."

Their smile disappeared and was replaced with terror when they realized what his words mean. Celestia was first to speak up "If what he tells is the truth then I'm afraid that our Spike..." Tears start to flow from her eyes, and Luna continues. "He has no chance of victory. In a fight where both participants are equal of strength and magic power the one with the most experience is victorious."

Shadow-Spike formed a ball of dark magic in his hand "Now that we both have magic. I think I can use this" He throws a ball of destruction towards Spike.

On instinct, Spike hits the ball, and it's knocked away without harming his arm.

Both Shadow-Spike and Spike are surprised at what happened "How is that possible you just unlocked your magic. You shouldn't be able to do that!" Shadow-Spike yells and lunges towards Spike.

Spike blocks the attack but it was enhanced with Dark Magic and it leaves a nasty wound on his arm. "Grrrr... That hurt and it burns." Spike wails

"Hmm.. it seems it was just a moment of luck. No matter. I'm still going to absorb your essence and your magic." Shadow-Spike thought aloud.

Spike is pushed more and more on the corner, and each time Shadow-Spike hits him with dark magic enhanced strikes. Leaving bleeding wounds all over Spike. Spike tries to strike back, managing to get some hits through but not as many as Shadow-Spike. Spike's breath is heavy and irregular. Coughing up some blood and trying to speak.
"This is bad if this continues..." And at that moment. Shadow-Spike dashed forward and pushed his hand through Spike's stomach.

No Spike!!! all of the three Alicorns yell with tears flowing freely. "Please stop this madness. I beg of you. Don't take away my son." Celestia yelled.

"I told you should just give up and not delay the inevitable. Now give me all that you are so I can finish what Sombra couldn't." Shadow-Spike said.

Spike couldn't hear anything the screams of his mom, his aunt, and first mare he loved more than a friend but didn't get a chance to tell. His life flashed through his eyes all the good moments with the girls his mom, aunt, and others. "Twilight..." Was the last words that he said before he closed his eyes

"I win." Shadow-Spike said with a sick smile on his face. "That's odd the cage should have disappeared after I killed him."

Spike opened his eyes. He was at some kind of a palace, but it wasn't a palace he had ever seen before. "Where am I? Am I dead? Is this the afterlife?" Spike asked himself.

"Yes, this is the afterlife. No, you aren't dead, at least not yet." Said voice full of authority and strength.

Spike turned around to see a dragon in front of him. He was tall and black as the night, and his muscles looked like they are pure diamonds. His wings seemed to have the night sky on them stars moved around them freely. He had four long curved horns on his head, and his eyes were pure gold.

"What who are you!?" Spike asked, panic in his voice.

The dragon just lifts his hand to show him to stop before he spoke up. "Be at ease Spike Solaris. I'm Draco the First dragon or what they teach in your school God of all dragons."

Spike was lost at words. Here was the First of the Dragons. He really was dead. His instincts told him to get on his knees to show respect towards his creator.

"Sigh... no need for that Spike. I hate it when people do that. It makes me uncomfortable. Again you aren't dead, but you are on the edge of life and death thanks to that thing you were battling against." Draco told him.

Spike got up and asked."So... why am I here then? What happened to my friends?"

Draco smiled "Friends? Or are they something more? I would like an answer first what, are they to you family? friends? or perhaps something more?" Draco asked, looking at Spike with his ageless eyes.

Spike scratched his head before answering."I don't know. I really don't. I would want it to be more, but I don't want to ruin what we have now by being awkward." He answered.

Draco just smiled. "Oh, how I wish there would be more dragons like you. Some of them are on the right way, but most of them are still lost. I don't know when it happened, but my plan wasn't for dragons to be selfish and greedy. Truth be told I wanted them to be like those Ponies that Faust created caring of each other." Draco said while looking at Spike.

"So did I answer correctly?" Spike asked of the deity.

Draco smiled at the young drake "There is no right or wrong answer on this matter, only your choice is what matters, but your heart is pure. I have two things for you first is a piece of advice. Always follow your heart."

Spike chuckled "Bit of a cliche but sure, what might be the second one?"

Draco took a serious look and walked towards the edge of the balcony, and waved Spike to follow him. "My help. This Shadow-Spike you are fighting is an avatar of my brother Exitium Dragon God of Destruction. You have just unlocked your power. It is a miracle you survived this long against an avatar. I can help you and channel some of my power through you. Making you my avatar, although this would only be a temporary boost, and you wouldn't be able to channel my power all the time. Be warned though this power I am offering is devastating and should only be used as the last resort."

Spike looked a little worried at that comment "If this power you are talking about is that destructive. Then I don't want it. I don't want to hurt my friends and those who I love." Spike spoke with determination in his voice.

Draco just smiled he knew this dragon wouldn't abuse his power and pressed one of his claws on Spike's forehead "Remember my first advice, and you don't have anything to worry" With those, words everything went black once more.

Shadow-Spike was trying to smash the cage with no effect "I don't get it the cage should disappear I killed the little twerp. And the magic I Absorbed from him felt odd and not right."

Outside the cage were three alicorns chained to the ground. Unable to use magic and sniffing. "Twilight, Celestia, we need to focus Spike might be gone, but we can't give up. It's not what he would have wanted." Luna yelled through her tears, trying to convince them and maybe even herself.

No one expected a pillar of magic hitting Spike's body. This woke Celestia and Twilight from their trance.
"That magic energy it feels like that of Harmony only, it's more aggressive." Said, Celestia.
Twilight too could feel the raw energy and had to wonder what was happening. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna do you have any idea what's going on?" Twilight asked.
"No." They both answered in unison.

Shadow-Spike turned around both in surprise and horror about what was happening. Spike rose, and all his wounds started to heal and close up. An Armor that was Deep Purple in color with Golden strips in it appeared around him. The armor was similar to what Ember used during Trial of Fire. In the chest, there was an emblem with a head that looked like Draco. And a helm that had four long curved horns. Then sword appeared in his hand. It has a golden hilt, and its blade was long and curved. It was deep purple of color with Dragonic runes etched into it.

Shadow-Spike roared in ager and dashed forward with claws ready and enchanted with dark magic to strike this twerp down. Spike raised his sword and did a vertical slash. Sending a beam of magical energy towards Shadow-Spike and cutting his right arm off. The beam continued through and destroyed part of the cage behind Shadow-Spike.

"You bastard. Where did you get this kind of power!!" Shouted Shadow-Spike in anger while holding the stub of his arm, and trying to stem the blood flow.

Spike didn't say anything just raised his sword and did a horizontal slash. The slash send a wave of magical energy towards Shadow-Spike's neck.

Shadow-Spike closed his eyes. "It seems I failed. I'm sorry master." Shadow-Spike whispered to himself.
The slash that Spike sent towards Shadow-Spike hit its mark and decapitated him on the spot.

At that moment, the cage, chains around Twilight, Celestia, and Luna, and their rings disappear in black smoke. Spike just looked towards the three alicorns smiling before the dreamscape started to collapse and everything went dark.