Dark Deception: Friendship is magic

Chapters

How it all began
A new threat
Ripper Rampage
Crusader Craze
Diamond Doom
Flutter Fear
Pink Peril
Medical Menace
Animatronic Anarchy
Ramifications
???
Grievous Galleria [read author's note please]
Trailer for DD [read authors note]
Beastly Brood

How it all began

To conquer death, you only have to die.

-ALANE FERGUSON

Spike stood upon a dark precipice, struggling against the powerful gale forces trying to send him into the void below. Ice chunks bit into his scaly skin like tiny knives. The rings on his hands glowed with the power of his friends who bestowed their strength to him in the hopes that he could save them all. The wails of the to-be condemned ponies screeched in the distance.

And yet, all the powers he gained could not prepare him for the beast before him. He stood with every ounce of defiance in his being.

"You continue to resist, yet you know you can't win!" the shadowy minotaur-like being snarled.

"I don't care who you are! I came this far for my friends, and I'm not backing down now!" Spike shouted back, despite his injuries.

"Such courage from such a small dragon. Are you really that same dragon from before?"

"I've been through a lot on this journey… and I won't fail my friends now! Not after everything!"

"Then come if you dare! The nightmares shall consume you just like the rest of your friends."

“I WILL SAVE THEM!”

Spike bolted upright in his bed, ready to fight back, only to find... his bedroom. Spike startled himself when he saw the determined look in his reflection in the mirror, and he looked around in confusion.

Huh? Where did-... Wait… that was all, a dream wasn’t it?” It was a disappointment to be just himself again instead of the hero of his dreams. Spike hopped off his bed and walked to the bathroom, but he could not help but think about the dream while brushing his teeth.

“It was so vivid and real… I need to lay off the late-night gemstones… I really do… After breakfast!” After washing up Spike went downstairs and began prepping breakfast.

---a half an hour later---

Spike could hear Twilight and Starlight talking together on the stairs long before they reached the kitchen. Both mares gave appreciative sniffs as they came through the doorway, which was only fair since Spike had spent so much time on his hay pancakes and fruit bowls this morning.

"That smells great, Spike." Twilight sat down on a chair, although Starlight merely grabbed a banana and headed for the door.

"I'm going to find Trixie and see how the preparations for the upcoming festivities are going,” Starlight said.

“Good idea. We need to make sure everything is prepared for the princesses when they arrive.” Twilight took a bite of her pancakes.

“I can’t wait to light the torch,” Spike said. After all, it was the first holiday the princesses had declared for Twilight and her friends because of their repeated saving of Equestria. Both princesses were going to be in Ponyville along with all of their friends, which was going to make it all a grand celebration.

“We have a lot of prep before that, Spike,” Twilight said.

“I know,” Spike said, pausing with a spoonful of gemstones held above his bowl. "Hey, Twilight? Can I ask you about a strange dream I had last night?"

“Sure,” Twilight said.

“I was in some fiery dimension and there was this flaming minotaur guy and I don’t know why but I felt like a lot was riding on me defeating him…”

“Dreams can be pretty surreal. What did Luna say when she arrived?” Twilight asked.

“That’s the thing, she didn’t appear at all.”

“What?” Twilight frowned with a speculative look. “But Luna always shows up when somepony is having a nightmare.”

“It felt too real, like I really was there,” Spike said.

“Hmm, odd. Well, Luna is going to be over shortly with updates for the coming celebration. You can ask her about it then,” Twilight suggested.

“Sounds like a plan,” Spike said, resuming his eating.

The next few hours were filled with sorting books, rearranging furniture and preparing tea. Just when they had gotten the castle in presentable form, a knock sounded at the door.

“Ohmygosh, she’s here! Did I get everything together right? Is the tea made? Where’s the happy snacks?!” Twilight panicked a little before Spike managed to calm her.

“Twilight, please calm down! I know you both started dating a month ago but you don’t have to panic every time she arrives at the door,” Spike said and Twilight blushed.

“I know, it’s just… things didn’t work out with Flash due to the fact that he lives too far away and… I just don’t want to mess this up,” Twilight said with a hint of sorrow.

“Is that why I saw you cuddling that picture of him while you were taking a power nap?” Spike said jokingly, hoping to defuse the tension.

“Spike! What do you mean! You saw that?” Twilight’s sorrow was replaced by fluster when she suddenly heard the knocking intensifying. “Oh! Sorry, Luna! I’m coming!” Twilight galloped to let her marefriend in.

As Spike reclined on a nearby chair, he looked up towards the ceiling and was thinking of taking a small nap when he saw something odd.

The corner of the ceiling... flickered, just like the TV set had done in Sunset's world once.

“Huh? Wait what?” Spike said while standing up. He scrutinized the spot where he had seen the glitch with prejudice but saw nothing.

"That was weird… must have imagined it." Spike gave a shrug and walked away.

---later---

The living room of Twilight's castle was fairly large, but most of the space was unneeded since both Luna and Twilight were curled up on the same couch. Spike had avoided the cuddling because he was busy taking notes over his upcoming responsibilities for the ceremony.

"Remember," said Luna firmly. "Only set fire to the torch after my sister gives the word."

"And there's no need to make it big or flashy,” Twilight added

“Aww, can’t I show off my fire just a little?” Spike begged.

“We will see what is acceptable,” Luna said.

“So… Um Luna, do you want to…” Twilight muttered nervously.

“Of course, we will accompany you to the ceremony. You’ve only asked multiple times by now,” Luna chuckled.

“S-sorry, it’s just that dating is new to me. Because of Flash’s work, we never got a chance,” Twilight sadly replied.

“Well we’ll always have time for you,” Luna playfully said.

“Ugh, gross.” Spike watched the couple nuzzle lovingly.

“You may not mind one day,” Luna chuckled.

“Ok, going to my room,” Spike said, hopping off the couch and heading up the stairs much to the amusement of the two alicorns.

***

Finally, the lights were set up and the festival was nearly ready. Celestia had just laid the sun down to rest and Luna brought up the moon, and the two alicorns were taking a brief break while waiting for events to continue.

“The town looks lovely tonight, don’t you think Lulu?” Celestia said.

“Tis a perfect night indeed,” Luna said, using her magic to aid a couple of earth ponies with hanging the last lights.

“Now if only my student and your lover would arrive by now,” Celestia joked.

“Celly!” Luna admonished despite her blush.

“Oh, come now. Is making a jab at my sister’s choice in partners so wrong?”

“Princess! Luna!” The two diarchs turned their eyes to the sound and saw Twilight running to them, dressed simply.

“Oh, hello there, Twilight,” Celestia said, giving her student a nuzzle.

“Hi there! So ready to begin our date, Lulu?” Twilight said with a playful wink.

Luna’s expression turned speculative before becoming annoyed.

“It’s you, isn't it, Discord?” Luna said.

“Aww… Darn it.” Twilight turned into Discord in a puff of plaid smoke. “How’d you know?” Discord asked.

“Twilight knows I only like to be called ‘Lulu’ by my sister,” Luna admonished.

“Well, you can’t blame a guy for trying.” Discord snapped his finger and poofed the Mane six and Spike to their location.

“Huh?!” was the collective response save for a few.

“What the!?” Rainbow said in surprise.

“Discord, ah was in the middle of baking!” Applejack snapped.

“Oh, you have plenty. Nopony will notice a single burnt pie. In any case, the festivities are about to begin and I refuse to let my best buddies miss a second of it!” Discord cheered.

“I really need to finish getting ready, Discord,” Rarity admonished. While they argued, Twilight approached Luna.

“Hey,” Twilight said nervously.

“Hello, Twilight. Are you well?” Luna asked.

“Y-yeah, just nervous,” Twilight replied.

“Then follow my lead and hopefully thine jitters will cease,” Luna assured Twilight, calming her down.

“Luna, your Old Equestrian is showing again,” Celestia teased again.

“Oh hush now Celly.” Luna gave her sister a playful jab with her wing.

***

Starlight was placing some decorations when she turned and saw Trixie setting up her stage.

“Hey! Trixie!” Starlight waved her friend over.

“Ah, Starlight! Are you here to watch the Great and powerful Trrrrrixie’s show?” Trixie boasted.

“No, I'm just wondering how you're doing, and how the stage is going.”

“Well, Trixie is doing fine and so is her stage and her stage assistant!” Trixie exclaimed.

“Stage assistant?” Starlight questioned. A loud bang was heard and a figure cartwheeled through the air before landing next to Trixie.

“Taaaa Daaaa!” Cheese Sandwich exclaimed.

“Ah!” Starlight stumbled back a little in surprise. “Where did you come from?”

“My cheesy sense told me that there was a stage magician who needed help, so I offered and she said yes,” Cheese sang.

“Um… that’s good,” Starlight said, a little weirded out by the eccentric stallion.

“Run along now. Trixie is preparing a show that will wow you to the end of your days!” Trixie said with a flourish.

“Yeppers! Be seein ya!” Cheese said before he somehow bounced up to a rafter with one jump.

“He’s like a male Pinkie Pie,” Starlight pointed out.

“Yes, but he was the only one that would take the job.” Trixie shrugged.

***

Twilight was walking close to Luna and was heading towards the stands surrounding the torch that would signal the beginning of the festival.

Then she heard galloping noises and turned in time to see Shining Armor close in and hug her.

“Aaah!” Twilight cried in surprise

“Hey there Twiley!” Shining said as he spun her around and set her down.

“Hey there, Shiny!” Twilight hugged him back when she recovered from her shock.

Cadence approached and they did their ladybug song together before hugging. Twilight backed off and looked around but didn’t see Flurry.

“Where’s Flurry Heart?” Twilight asked

“Sunburst is watching her. The last time Shiny here took her to a festival, the loud noises made her cry and she deafened three ponies with her Canterlot voice,” Cadence said with a wince.

“Are they okay?” Twilight asked concerned.

“Yes, but we’ll wait on bringing Flurry to another party until she’s older.”

Suddenly, a speaker sounded.

“Can everypony gather at the torch for the lighting?” the voice of the mayor called.

“Well, best we get going then,” Shining said.

“Indeed,” Luna agreed before the group went off to the bleachers.

“Okay, Spike. Today is the day,” Spike told himself as the festivities were beginning. The small dragon carried a flower over to Rarity, who was wearing a silky red dress. “Hey, Rarity?” Spike meekly asked.

“Hmm? Oh, hello there Spikey, darling,” Rarity said with a smile.

“C-can I tell you s-something,” Spike said nervously.

“Sure darling, anything,” Rarity replied, wondering what’s got the little drake so nervous.

“Well you see-” Spike began before he was teleported away. “I-I like you Rarity! Can we go on a date tonight!” Spike blurted out with all his remaining courage.

“Sounds like a good confession there, champ. Better save it for later.” Discord's voice rang out, startling Spike.

“Huh?! Discord?! Where’s Rarity?” Spike said with frustration that the one time he finally worked up the nerve to confess, Discord interrupted.

“Time to light the torch, kid. You can confess your currently unrequited love afterwards.”

Spike looked over and saw his friends gathered in the stands next to the torch. Looking farther up he saw Cadance and Shining Armor as well as some Wonderbolts. Spike could feel a little bit of nervousness creep into his mind as he saw the important figures in the crowd, but swallowing his nervousness, he turned back to Discord.

“Okay,” Spike said, moderately disappointed he didn’t get a chance to tell Rarity he liked her.

As Spike walked past his friends, he saw their encouraging looks and the princesses silently wishing him luck for his second torch lighting.

“Okay Spike, you can do this, just ignore the crowd and focus, no stage jitters.” Spike approached the torch and after a moment of waiting Celestia teleported on stage.

“Ladies and gentlecolts! We are glad to have you here today! We have this celebration for the ones who have protected the peace and harmony in this land. And I would like to acknowledge my niece and nephew in law in the crowd who-”

As Celestia prattled on, Spike got a weird feeling and looked over to Celestia just in time to see the air ripple and distort like it had back in the castle.

“What?” Spike said and he turned and saw more of it happening throughout the area, and yet it seemed he was the only one noticing. “What’s happening?” Spike asked.

“-and with that speech out of the way our local dragon shall now light the torch to begin the festivities. Spike! Take it from here!” Celestia said cheerfully.

Spike continued to watch the world ripple and distort some more, looking like some kind of malfunctioning tv.

“Um, Celestia?” Spike said nervously.

“Go on, Spike. The crowd is waiting,” Celestia urged.

“Celestia, something is wrong… The world is...” Spike tried to put it into words but couldn’t.

“Spike? Are you okay?” Celestia asked, getting worried. Meanwhile, the crowd began to murmur.

Luna suddenly tensed as she sensed something… it was a feeling almost like an old enemy was approaching.

“Get a hold of yourself, Spike,” Spike said, convincing himself that it was just a hallucination because of stage fright. He turned to the torch, took a deep breath, and let loose his flames.

The crowd cheered, thinking he finally worked up the nerve… before they as well as the dragon noticed something. His flames flowed upwards instead of hitting the torch.

“Huh? What the?” Spike saw his flames going up and he followed their path until they dissipated. What really caught his attention was that the sky itself was warping in ways that was almost disorienting.

“Ok, this is getting really weird,” Spike said before something else began to happen.

He felt a pull, like something was digging into his very being and yanking him upwards.

“Huh?” Spike staggered back a few paces and when he looked he saw the crowd beginning to panic as they were likely feeling the same thing.

---In the crowd---

“What’s going on?” Twilight said, feeling queasy all of the sudden.

“Luna, do you know what is happen- LUNA!” Twilight cried when she saw Luna laying on the ground unconscious.

Before Twilight could question it, ponies began collapsing around her, including her friends and family.

“Oh no! What’s happening” Twilight cried before seeing Spike amidst the chaos. “Spike! Run! I don’t know what’s happening but-” Suddenly a powerful feeling struck Twilight like her very being was being torn away from her and she was out before she hit the ground.

---on stage---

“Twilight!” Spike cried as he saw his sister collapse. “Princess Celestia, we need to-” Spike stopped when he saw Celestia had collapsed too.

“Oh no! What’s happening!?” Spike said before the feeling intensified and he felt his body go limp.

He knew nothing more when he hit the ground.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...

….

……...

………..

….Wa-

Wake-

Wake up!

Wake up Spike!

SPIKE!

“Gyaaaah!” Spike shot up on his bed in a panic. After calming down he put his claw to his chest to check his heart rate. “Another dream? It...It was just another dream… Thank goodne-” Looking around, Spike saw that he was in fact not in his room.

In fact he had no idea where he was… it looked like…

“A ballroom?” Spike hopped off the bed and walked around.

“Don’t tell me I'm in a dream that’s in a dream,” Spike grumbled.

“Yes and no,” a voice behind him said.

“AAAH!” Spike yelped and whirled around, seeing Luna. She had a look on her face that carried a great sorrow and dread.

“W-what?” Spike stammered.

“Hello, Spike. It seems that we’re both in for quite a few long nights, aren’t we?” Luna said wryly.

“L-Luna? Wh-where-” Spike said, trying to calm down.

“All will be answered. Come.” Luna gestured for him to follow as she trotted away.

Spike’s mind—unusually sharp for his age— ran a mile a minute on all the possible bad scenarios where Luna was an imposter who kidnapped him but he ultimately decided on two things.

One he had no other choice but to follow her because he didn’t know his way around.

And two.

These probably are going to be a long few nights...

Author's Note

And here it is! My newest story, to hopefully make up for the loooooooooong wait for Friendship is absolute chaos two.

I made this, but we're only on the tip of the iceberg here.

The real meat is coming soon. :pinkiesmile:

Till then!

A new threat

“Sit down. You must have many questions,” Luna said, conjuring up a couple of chairs.

“Yes I do,” Spike said sitting down “What happened? Where are we? And what happened to Twilight? What happened to every-”

Luna put a hoof on Spike's mouth to shush him. “We can answer your questions but not the very moment you ask them. To start, we aren’t fully sure how it did this, but an old foe of ours has returned.”

“Again? How many 'old foes' do you and Celestia have?” Spike said with some exasperation.

“More than we’d like to admit,” Luna said with a sheepish look. Spike was about to follow up on that when a thought struck him.

“Can I ask you something else?” Spike asked.

“You may,” Luna responded.

“I had a nightmare last night,” Spike said.

“Is this really quite the time Spike?” Luna said.

“No, listen. I had a bad dream and for some reason, you weren’t there. That’s strange because you usually monitor my dreams closely along with all the other friends of the elements,” Spike said.

“This is true.” Luna gained a speculative look on her face.

“So where were you?” Spike questioned.

“To answer that there is first something you should know, Spike,” Luna said suddenly.

“What?” Spike said tilting his head

“You didn’t have a dream last night.” Spike’s eyes widened, but before he could speak Luna continued, “In fact, your mind was not only quiet but we couldn’t find you. Perhaps you weren’t sleeping at all.”

“That-... that doesn’t make any sense,” Spike said, trying to contain his shock.

“Agreed, but that is another mystery for another day. For now, we need to focus on this." Luna gestured to her environment.

"Al-... alright," Spike said, a little disappointed.

"You see, Spike. We had sensed its approach and promptly escaped before we could be captured, using a spell our teacher Starswirl taught me and my sister to temporarily separate our souls from our bodies. In doing so we could distance ourselves from the soul absorption field long enough to do what was necessary." Luna explained.

"Wait, ‘soul absorption field?’ What's that?"

"A devious method of stealing multiple souls from a town’s worth of ponies. Used solely by our enemy."

"Who is this enemy you keep speaking of?" Spike questioned

Luna's eyes grew distant as she spoke.

"A monster, and a parasite who lives in the dream realm. It is usually harmless unless it somehow finds a host. We simply call it The Shadow."

"And this… 'Shadow' found a host?"

"Yes. We know not who it has chosen. But whoever it is, they are powerful. Stronger than its previous host."

"Who was its previous host?" Spike said, getting used to the conversation now.

"A unicorn named Nightshade. He desired to rule Equestria and the Shadow aided him. Whomever the Shadow found, they are clearly stronger than Nightshade. Twas lucky that my sister and I were able to stop him. Now it seems to be your turn."

"Wait! My turn?!" Spike panicked.

Luna waited for the drakeling to calm down before resuming.

"We do not like it any more than you do. In fact, were it up to us, we would be the one to do this. But the situation is against us," Luna explained.

"What are you saying?"

Luna sighed and gazed out at the ballroom. "Tell me, Spike. Do you know what this place is?"

"What did you mean before Luna?" Spike said a little curtly.

“We are answering your question with a question and we would also like to remind you of your tone," Luna said sharply.

"Sorry…" Spike flinched.

"Very well, so the answer to my query is that this place is a space that we formed when the souls were in the process of being abducted by The Shadow. The Shadow seeks to take these souls and turn them into his minions, fueling their existence with the innocent souls that he stole."

"Wait, so the Shadow and its host want to mind control everyone?" Spike asked, sounding a little confused.

Luna shook her head. "Not just mind control. He's using their very souls as fuel to create his own minions. In other words, he is shaping nightmare creatures out of their soul energies."

"That's… bad, very bad…" Spike said, looking a little pale. "And I have to beat this guy? Why can't you?"

"As we have said, the situation is against us. You see, this dimension is the only thing preventing those monsters and demons from reaching the portal to the waking world."

"The waking world?" Spike said.

"Yes, the Shadow opened a portal to the dream realm to suck up all the souls in Ponyville. It stands to reason that it is still open, and it plans to release the monsters it has made into the waking world. The casualties throughout Equestria will be catastrophic," Luna said grimly.

"But… You can still-” Spike tried but Luna interjected.

“We must remain to hold up this dimension. If we were to even try confronting the Shadow while the souls are still in danger of falling into its clutches, then they would be released into the waking world before we could subdue it again. That is why our sister needed to retrieve the souls in my stead back then and why you must do so now.”

“But-... B-but why choose me?! Why didn't you pick Twilight or your sister or… somepony who can actually fight?!” Spike said while panicking again.

“You think we didn’t try!?” Luna barked back, stomping her hoof and startling Spike. “Do you think that we would intentionally put an innocent child through this Tartarus? We had only enough time to grab one soul during our escape. Your soul was accidentally retrieved instead of my sister.” Luna quieted near the end. “We are sorry, young one, but by accident or not you are here and thus you are the one to inherit the duty of retrieving the souls from The Shadow.” The room went quiet after these words were spoken.

“I have no choice then, do I?” Spike finally said.

“If you ever wish to see your loved ones again then you must.”

“So what do I have to do?” Spike said, worry etched on his features but his expression also bore the grim acceptance that he could not get out of this.

“Each of the strongest souls are trapped in nightmares, being tortured until they are broken and fully submit to the transfiguration into its minions. You must enter these nightmares and retrieve the souls from within. Doing so will free them and weaken The Shadows' influence, until eventually I can break its hold on the remaining souls.”

“So I just need to retrieve souls?” Spike perked up a little, thinking this was going to be easier than he thought.

Luna winced. “Not quite. The souls are protected by barriers, and we mean no offense but your soul isn’t quite strong enough to breach them. However, if you can collect enough soul shards you should be empowered enough to breach them.”

“Soul Shards?” Spike asked.

“Fragments of pony souls. Simply run through them and they’ll be absorbed into your very being to strengthen you. The souls will separate from you once this is all over,” Luna assured.

“That still doesn’t sound as bad as I thought,” Spike said.

Luna looked forlorn at these words. “We are sorry to say, but there is more. Monsters, the very minions The Shadow seeks to use to conquer the waking world, guard the souls. You will need to get by them if you wish to survive.”

“Oh…” Spike deflated at these words and dread filled him again.

“We can extend some influence and save you from death… but not every time so do not get careless,” Luna assured.

“When I woke up this morning I thought I was simply going to a party and then I was going to do some sleeping…. Guess not…” Spike dryly stated.

“I'm afraid there is worse news. At the most we have three or four days before this dimension gives out and the monsters reach the portal.”

“It gets better,” Spike said, feeling defeated before he even started.

"We understand that this is a lot to take in."

"A lot to take in? No, this is too much to take in. How do you expect one dragon to fix all this?"

"We don't know… but us doing nothing is what The Shadow would want." Luna leaned in closer. "This is a tall order, Spike. I understand if you need a little bit of time to decide. Every pony you know is in danger and only you can save them."

Spike gave a dry laugh. "You know, I always dreamed of hearing those words. I never thought I'd hear them so soon. It makes it pretty hard to be optimistic."

"Can we or can we not count on your help?"

"I... Yes, you can. If there's no one else who can do it then I guess I'll do my best," Spike said, trying to sound brave and failing.

Luna nodded slowly, seeing the fear in the young drake and understanding.

"Very well then. Come along." Luna stood and trotted over to a dark corner.

"Where are we going?" Spike asked, following behind her.

"You will see in a second, young one." Luna closed her eyes, bowed her head, and muttered, "aperta sesamae."

Suddenly, something resembling a portal opened in front of them. It was quickly followed by another, and another, until there were eleven total.

"Whoa, are those… portals?" Spike wondered out loud.

"Yes, I have linked us to the nightmares where the strongest souls are trapped. When you are ready, you must enter, but remember, not even I know what new devilry the Shadow has cooked up. Be careful!" Luna warned.

"I'll t-try" Spike shivered as he approached the portal and it flashed red.

And a familiar apple cutie mark appeared on it...

Author's Note

Info is learned, and the Shadow is the one responsible.

As a treat to all those who are watching I'll post a surprise chapter later today! :pinkiehappy:

Next chapter we're getting into the first level.

Can Spike survive his first venture into the shadows? Or will his journey end abruptly right out the gate?

Ripper Rampage

Luna was proud of Spike. The young dragon had an unyielding determination to save his sister and friends, despite his obvious fear and confusion. Courage such as that was rare, and her nervous anticipation of the dangers he faced was made easier by his honest acceptance of the risks.

“Whenever you are ready Spike,” Luna assured.

“If it’s like you said, we’re on borrowed time, so it’s gotta be now,” Spike said.

“Temper your eagerness with caution,” Luna warned. “Rushing in blindly could get you killed.”

“R-right.” Spike took a deep breath and stepped forward to the portal where one of his friends was trapped. “Here goes nothing.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ripper Rampage
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Spike exited the portal and stumbled onto the ground.

“Are you okay, Spike?” Luna asked.

“Yeah, I’m… wait. I thought you couldn’t-” Spike looked around but did not see Luna.

“You needn’t be alarmed, Spike. We are communicating through the bond I have in the dream realm.”

“Oh… Ok.” Spike was a little disappointed Luna didn’t say all those things just to test him.

“Where are you right now?” Luna asked.

“It… It looks like… Applejack’s house? But at the same time not?”

Spike looked around the farmhouse-like environment, which was far different than he remembered. This one had a long hallway and a large apple cart overflowing with apples parked to one side. In addition, there were several vaguely disturbing pictures hung on the wall that detailed creepy-looking ponies carving apples.

“It’s bound to look different, Spike. This is the nightmare realm. It distorts what you remember about places,” Luna explained.

Spike got up and walked through the room, and since he was feeling a little snackish, he grabbed an apple out of the cart. He only took one bite out of it before spitting it out moments later.

“Blech! It tastes like Pinkie’s homemade mane conditioner!” Spike gagged

Luna’s voice said thoughtfully, “It makes sense considering the Apple family values quality. The nightmare obviously made their stock taste bad as a result.”

“Great…” Spike moved on, not noticing the pile of apples shifting a little, followed by an orange almost reptilian eye staring at him from there.

At the end of the hallway, Spike turned the corner and saw a large room with a dinner table. The walls around him had several barn doors, and at the back of the room there was an elevator.

“An elevator?” Spike said before remembering Luna’s words on how nightmares work. As Spike approached, the elevator dinged and opened.

Spike froze. The being in the flickering elevator light stood there, it was too dark to see the creature itself but its glowing orange eyes stared right into his soul. Its legs were digitigrade and pointy, its head had an odd oval shape where the mouth was. The creature looked so bizarre but at the same time, it looked vaguely familiar.

“Applejack?” Spike said looking scared

“HOWDY!” The creature said in a creepy mechanical version of AJ’s voice. “Ah’m Ripper Jack. You’re trespassin, partner,” the creature said with clear hostility.

“Applejack, who did this to you?!” Spike said

“Nopony but mah master The Shadow,” the creature called Ripper Jack said.

“Look, AJ. I just need to get your soul back and you’ll return to normal…. I think.”

“Don’t bother reasoning with her. That thing isn’t her, it’s a puppet controlled by the Shadow,” Luna informed him.

“Oh…” Spike said with dread.

“Your princess is blockin mah master from taking over the mortal world. Kindly ask her to undo it and submit to us Spike, or else this could get real ugly,” Ripper Jack warned.

“I can’t do that AJ,” Spike replied.

“Then come and try to take the soul if ya can, but know this, if ya use this here elevator ah’m gonna leave ya in a world of hurt,” The creature said before the door closed.

“...Can I go home now…?” Spike almost begged.

“No.” Luna sighed.

“Dang it…” Spike said as he walked around the table and pressed the button. Suspecting she could be waiting in there he hid under a chair until the door opened revealing an empty elevator.

“Whew,” Spike said before scurrying into the elevator. He went to press a button but saw they were a jumbled mess of shapes.

“What kind of language is this?” Spike said looking confused.

The elevator closed and went up anyways and Spike stood back trembling nervously.

“You’ll be alright, Spike. We believe in you,” Luna assured Spike, sensing his unease.

“Easy for you to say,” Spike said, trying not to be harsh.

“We are sorry,” Luna said sadly.

The door slid open and Spike found himself in some kind of mini lobby with boards up on the exits.

What caught Spike's notice was a strange orange sphere floating about.

“Is that Applejack's soul?” Spike asked.

“Yes,” Luna confirmed, without missing a beat. Spike tried to run up and grab it only to bounce off of a barrier.

“Ow…” Spike said, getting up.

“We told you, you must collect soul shards to strengthen your soul enough to breach the barrier and claim the trapped soul.” Spike was about to reply when a loud crash echoed through the lobby and he turned to see a figure tearing its way through the boards.

“AH WARNED YA, YA FILTHY VARMINT!” the unmistakable voice of Ripper Jack roared.

“Ah! Wh-what do I do?!” Spike said, panicking.

“RUN!” Luna called out and Spike took off, narrowly avoiding a swipe of what he could see was a metal blade attached to her limb.

“AH’M MAKIN APPLE DRAGON PIE TONIGHT!” Ripper Jack said as she tore through the boards and charged at Spike. Spike dove at the bottom set of boards on the other side of the upper lobby but his spines got caught on the wood. Spike strained with everything he had and managed to squeeze through just as Ripper Jack drove her bladed legs right where Spike was a moment ago.

“Stay away from me!” Spike yelled, running away from the monster as it shredded at the boards with her large triangular teeth.

Spike rounded a corner and collapsed panting “Whew…. I think I lost her..” Spike said.

“Spiiiiiiiiike” her creepy voice echoed about.

“Uh oh.” Spike whimpered as he looked around the corner and saw her walking into view.

“If y'all let me kill you ah’ll make it painless. Ah don’t lie, remember?” the monster snarled.

Spike continued down his hallway at a good clip, but paused when he found a floating purple crystal.

“Is that a soul shard?” Spike asked.

“Yes, collect them all quickly!” Luna urged him and Spike got to it, running through the crystals, making them vanish as he did so. Spike was making good progress when he heard a startling screech and looked to see her running for him.

“Oh no!” Spike yelled running as fast as his legs could carry him.

“Get back here, Spike!” The creature swiped its blades at him.

“Not a chance!” Spike yelled back as he rounded a corner… and stopped right where he was.

“Wh-what the?” Spike said, seeing her in front of him. “How did you get ahead of me?” Spike demanded.

“Did ya think ah was the only one?” Ripper Jack said from behind him, he looked back to see another behind him and a shadow around a corner meant there was more.

“Uh oh…” Spike said crumpling into a defensive ball as the two descended on him.

“TIME TO DIE!” they shouted in unison.

Spike waited for a painful death but when it didn’t come, he looked up to see he was back in the lobby.

“Huh? How did I-”

“We saved you, Spike,” Luna said.

“Luna?” Spike looked around for her when he remembered she was in his head.

“We told you we can save you a few times should you be caught, but not every time. Be careful,” Luna assured the shaken dragon.

“You never said there was more than one of them!” Spike complained.

“We know, and we humbly apologize,” Luna said, sounding embarrassed.

Spike was about to scold her some more when he heard metallic shrieks elsewhere.

“FIND THAT VARMINT!” Ripper Jack yelled to her fellow Jacks.

“You must get moving, Spike!” Luna shouted to him.

“Alright,” Spike sighed exasperatedly, running out of the lobby and searching for more shards.

Spike rounded a corner and saw some more shards. He began to collect them when he heard the sound of bladed legs skittering across the carpeted floor and he bolted down another hallway to avoid an encounter.

“Keep calm Spike! Keep calm!” Spike repeated to himself as he rounded a corner and collected more shards. He paused when he heard a growl and he dove behind a nightstand and held his breath as a Ripper Jack came around the corner and stared down the hall for a few seconds before leaving. Spike let a long exhale out and got up and ran down the other way only to run right into a solid figure. Looking up he saw a Ripper Jack smiling down at him with its wide mouth before she spun on her blades and bucked out.

Spike rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding a double puncture through his abdomen, and ran for it.

“I’m not going to be anypony’s lunch!” Spike yelled as he ran before a lasso suddenly wound itself around his waist and he felt himself get yanked back.

“AAAAH!” Spike yelled as he looked back and to his shock saw that the lasso had come from the Ripper Jack's mouth.

“Surprised?” The monster gave a laugh as it dragged its meal back towards it.

“NO! LET GO OF ME!” Spike flailed, spouting flame in an attempt to keep the creature back. Luckily his flames burned the rope and it snapped, allowing him to get up and run.

Spike’s victory was cut short however when he ran headlong into another Ripper who pounced on him before he could get up…

----

Spike woke up next to the elevator again.

“Ugh… not again…” Spike groaned.

“My power wanes, Spike. You must be more careful,” Luna worriedly said.

“What am I supposed to do?! These things are crazy!” Spike said, throwing his hands up.

“Try this, Spike. Keep them lined up,” Luna instructed.

“Lined up? Why?” Spike asked.

“So you know where they are and can avoid them,” Luna said.

Before Spike could ask another question, the sound of steps could be heard. Spike knew he had to try it so he ran down the hallway as a Ripper Jack rounded a corner to pursue him.

“YOUR PRINCESS CAN’T SAVE YA EVERYTIME!” Ripper Jack bellowed.

“I'M OVER HERE!” Spike yelled as he ran through some more soul gems. This worked as some Rippers came from other hallways to pursue him.

“This better not backfire, Luna!” Spike panted as he ran with everything he had, collecting shards as the monsters charged behind him, Spike panted heavily as he ran for his life, occasionally knocking objects over to trip them up. However, the Ripper Jacks simply cut them up or scaled the walls to avoid them.

Spike turned another corner and collected more shards. As he ran past another hallway, he narrowly avoided a Ripper Jack who tried to cut him off.

“I gotta lose them eventually!” Spike shouted as he ran around another corner.

A clank could be heard and Spike narrowly dodged down a hallway to his left as several lasso’s flew by.

“Close shave!” Spike said as he dove behind a door. Holding his breath he listened to the creatures run past his hiding spot.

“A-are they gone?” Spike wondered exiting the door when a voice startled him.

“Spike!” Luna called to him.

“Agh! Geeze gave me a heart attack…” Spike said, taking a breath.

“We are sorry, but we have some good news. There are only a few more soul shards nearby and you can collect the soul.

“Thank goodness…” Spike said.

“It’s in a kitchen area. Just turn the corner and you’ll find it.

“Okay,” Spike said, doing just that. Spike came to a pair of sliding doors and he pushed his way in.

The smell was immediate and horrible.

Spike gagged and took a step back. Looking at the countertops, he saw something that made his stomach turn.

“By the moon…” Luna said while audibly gagging.

“I’m gonna be sick…” Spike said.

Meat, PONY meat was stacked in bloody piles on the counters.

“Press on, Spike. The last couple of shards should be here somewhere,” Luna assured Spike through her disgust.

Spike walked into the kitchen and found a few more shards by looking in cubbies and drawers.

“Did I get them all?” Spike asked with hope.

“No, there is one more,” Luna said.

“Where?” Spike asked.

“We do not know. Keep looking,” Luna said.

“Ah wouldn’t do that, partner…” a chilling but familiar male voice growled from behind Spike.

“Don’t tell me.” Spike turned around. “Big Mac?”

Looking behind him he found Big Mac… dressed as a chef?

“Eeyup,” Big Mac said, though his tone lacked more emotion than usual.

“Please tell me you're not one of those Ripper Jack things,” Spike pleaded.

“Eenope,” Mac said, coming out from behind the counter he was standing behind and Spike could see he had normal legs.

“Ok good, so wha-AAH!” Spike yelped, hitting the floor just in time to avoid a buzzsaw attached to a mechanical arm that sprang out of a compartment on Mac’s chest.

“Ah’m Chef Ripper Mac!” Big Mac growled, his pupils turning red. He raised the saw and slashed it at Spike who narrowly tucked his tail to avoid the rotating blade.

Big Mac stepped towards Spike who crawled backwards frantically “Ah’ve been ordered to serve th’ master up a heaping plate of well-done dragon, and the Apple family always delivers.” Mac’s red-pupiled eyes locked onto the scared dragon, who bolted behind a countertop.

“I CAN’T DO THIS!” Spike yelled as Chef Mac was sawing the countertop in half.

“Come on out, Spike! Make this easier on yerself!” Chef Mac said.

“No!” Spike ran in front of a fridge and Chef Mac chased after him. He slashed his buzzsaw at Spike who ducked it, making Mac wind up cutting the door in half, which revealed the soul shard that was hidden in there.

“There it is,'' Spike said, running forward and grabbing the shard before being punched in the side by Chef Mac’s forehoof.

“Ow….” Spike said, lying up against the wall.

“TIME TA DIE!” Chef Mac raised the saw, stalking forward slowly. Despite his terror, Spike had an idea.

“Luna! Pull me out!” Spike yelled.

“But you have only one more left!” Luna shouted back

“Trust me!” Spike yelled as the buzzsaw came down on him. When Spike opened his eyes he saw that he was back at the elevator.

“We….cannot do that again Spike, We are sorry…” Luna said the exhaustion was apparent in her voice.

“It’s alright, I’m almost out of here,” Spike said, approaching the barrier and finding that he could walk through it now, smiling he grabbed AJ’s soul.

The moment he did that…

Metallic shrieks rang out throughout the halls and the sounds of destruction echoed about Spike.

“What the?!” Spike cried

“Oh no! The monsters have entered a frenzy! You must escape Spike! NOW!” Luna panicked.

“NO ARGUMENTS HERE!” Spike yelled as he ran to the elevator and opened it, as it closed; however, a pair of bladed arms drove through the door and pried it open.

“YA’LL WILL NEVER ESCAPE!” Ripper Jack roared, her appearance darkened and her eyes were red as blood.

“SWEET CELESTIA!” Spike yelled, behind the abomination Chef Mac appeared in a similar state.

“DON’T LET EM’ GET AWAY!”

“I promised I'd never do this but…” Spike took a deep breath and unleashed a gout of flame into the Ripper Jack’s face, earning a shriek of pain from the creature. She fell backwards as the door closed and the elevator lowered.

“Whew….” Spike slumped to catch his breath.

“DO NOT RELAX, RUN!” Luna yelled and Spike jumped up seeing the door opening. Without another word, he sprinted through the opening and ran around the table.

As he left the room however, suddenly all the barn doors flew open and a dozen frenzied Ripper Jacks flooded out of them.

“GET HIM!” one of them shouted as they pressed down the hall after him.

“Almost there!” Spike shouted to himself. As he rounded the corner and saw the portal, his hopes that he was home free were dashed when a Ripper Jack burst from the apple cart and blocked his way.

"Goin somewhere?!" the Ripper Jack said, gnashing her teeth.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS!?” Spike said with exasperation, his mind running a mile a minute he knew he had one chance as the Ripper Jack in front of him lunged.

He dove.

His momentum allowed him to slip under the creature, its blades narrowly missing him. The result was the Ripper Jack crashing into the ground behind Spike and causing a pile-up.

“I'm out of here!” Spike yelled, leaping for the portal.

“NO!” The Ripper Jacks yelled as he made it through.

YOU ESCAPED!

Spike walked back through the portal, took a few steps, and collapsed from exhaustion. Knowing nothing more than seeing Luna running to him, his vision went dark.

Author's Note

Whew, looks like Spike narrowly made it.

He got the first soul, but it's only the beginning...

Stay tuned for our next update.

Crusader Craze

Spike woke to see Luna leaning over him while casting a healing spell.

“Please tell me that it was all a dream…” Spike said hopefully.

Luna just shook her head. “I am afraid we are still in danger.”

“Darn it…” Spike said, letting his head fall back.

“Come, you’ve rested long enough.” Luna gestured for Spike to follow.

“Just five more minutes...” Spike began to close his eyes.

…

….

…..

“UP AND AT ’EM SPIKE!” a familiar country voice spoke out loudly.

“AAAH! OH NO! THEY FOLLOWED US HERE!” Spike flailed in a panic. Luna had to rush back over to calm him down.

“Calm yourself Spike! It’s just Applejack! You saved her, remember?” Luna said.

“Wait… I did?” Spike said, beginning to calm down.

“Eeyup, ah appreciate it.” The voice came again and Spike turned around to see Applejack. From what Spike saw she was back to normal, but she was faded like a ghost.

“Applejack?” Spike asked.

“Yes, she is still but a spirit,” Luna confirmed.

“Ah’m alright, Spike. No need to worry,” AJ said as Spike walked up to her.

“Where’s Big Mac?” Spike asked. Applejack looked at Luna as if to ask the same question.

“Unfortunately you couldn’t retrieve his soul, but you needn’t worry. The nightmare has collapsed and he has joined the rest of the souls to be saved.”

“Needn’t worry? Mah brother’s the prisoner of some nightmare monster and ah shouldn’t worry?!” Applejack shouted.

“Calm yourself. We will save him eventually. For now, let us continue.” Luna gestured over to the next portal which was adorned with three cutie marks.

An apple, a music note, and a thunderbolt.

“No… mah sister is…” Applejack said, her legs shaking.

“I'm afraid so,” Luna confirmed.

“NO! Doing it to me is one thing but to innocent fillies!?” Applejack exclaimed.

“The Shadow force cares not for its puppets, only how useful they are.”

Applejack turned away in sorrow, unable to accept it. “Ya don’t understand! Ah remember everything! How those things nearly killed ya Spike, the horrible things ah was gonna do to you… Ah don’t want mah sister to go through that, nor Sweetie and Scoots.”

Luna trotted up to Applejack and patted her shoulder comfortingly.

“We know. That is why you and Spike must rescue them as soon as possible,” Luna assured Applejack.

Applejack still looked down but she turned back toward the portal.

“Then failure ain't an option,” Applejack said resolutely while approaching the portal.

“Hold on there, Applejack. Before you leave, we must show you your new… set-up.” Luna said.

“The longer ah wait the longer mah sister is a slave to that thing!” Applejack barked.

“If you go through that portal you’ll be its slave again!” Luna barked back.

“What?” Applejack paused.

“You're just a spirit now, Applejack. If you venture into a nightmare without a physical anchor you’ll just be reclaimed by The Shadow,” Luna explained to her.

“And so ah sit and do nothin’ while Spike risks his own life?” Applejack asked.

“As we have said you need a physical anchor, and Spike is that anchor,” Luna said.

“What? Me?” Spike said incredulously.

"Yes, you. Now that Applejack needs a tether to remain free of the Shadow, she can lend you her power and strength to save those fillies," Luna explained.

"I'm gonna get superpowers?!" Spike said, getting excited.

"In a sense, each spirit you link yourself to can grant you different powers, but only for a short time," Luna said.

"And how do we do that?" Spike asked.

"Leave that to us. Now, stand closer together," Luna instructed, the two did as was asked. Luna charged a spell and a flash washed over the area.

When the light died down, Applejack had vanished.

"Applejack?" Spike said, looking around.

"Ah'm down here, partner." Applejack's voice came out of nowhere and Spike nearly jumped out of his skin at the suddenness. When he looked down at his hand, he saw a ring with an apple-shaped gem on it.

"Are you in the ring?" Spike asked.

"Ah think so," Applejack's voice said.

"Yes, she is. she is now linked with you, so long as you wear the ring." Luna trotted to the portal.

"So, what power did I get?" Spike asked, walking alongside her.

"The power of Applejack's strength, perhaps greater than your own," Luna said.

"Awesome," Spike cheered. "So how do I activate it?"

"Simply focus on your connection to Applejack and you can use her power to fight back, but use this power only in self-defense. These monsters cannot truly die, because they are connected to The Shadow's power,” Luna warned.

“Use only in self-defense, got it,” Spike said, feeling a little more confident this time.

“Ah’m not going to be stuck in this ring forever, am ah?” Applejack asked.

“No, you can project yourself at will.” As Luna spoke, Applejack appeared next to Spike.

“Alright, I’m feeling a bit more confident this time around,” Spike said.

“Do not get cocky, Spike. It will be your undoing,” Luna warned.

“Ok.” Spike took a step back from her sharp tone.

“C’mon! Before mah sister is lost forever!” Applejack said impatiently.

“Ok, ok!” Spike said, getting tired of being yelled at.

“Once more, Spike. Be careful. Things will only get more difficult from here on,” Luna said.

“I’ll be careful,” Spike said, managing to shake off the remnants of his previous exhaustion.

“Good luck, then.” Luna waved him off as Spike went to his next destination, Applejack in tow.

“AH’M COMIN TO GET YA, AB!” Applejack yelled.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Crusader Craze
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Stepping through the portal was less disorienting this time. When Spike and Applejack got through the portal, they stumbled onto a tiled floor.

“Tiles?” Spike said, looking around and seeing a rather familiar sight.

“Wait a sec… is this Mrs. Cheerilee’s schoolhouse?” Applejack said looking at the familiar classroom, the only real difference is that a door was where the chalkboard would have been.

“Heh, maybe the monster is homework this time?” Spike joked but a sharp look from AJ put a stop to that. “Just trying to lift the mood...”

“AB! SWEETIE! SCOOTS! HOLLER IF YA CAN HEAR ME!” Applejack shouted.

“Calm yourself, Applejack. Even if they heard you, they're not in any condition to listen!” Luna snapped.

“Mah sister wouldn’t hurt-”

“No offense Applejack, but wasn’t it you who almost ate me like several times?” Spike said, hoping to get her to realize Luna’s point, but all it did was make AJ look sad.

“Darn it, Spike…” Spike scolded himself. “I meant that Luna is right. We need to save them first.”

“Al-alright... “ Applejack said. As the two walked on, Spike noticed arrows scrawled in crayon pointed to the door.

“Something tells me we need to follow the arrows,” Spike said with a sinking sensation of dread.

“Eeyup. Good luck Spike,” Applejack said, returning to her ring.

Spike opened the door and carefully peeked in, making sure that nothing was waiting for him.

“Hello?” Spike stared down the long dark hallway at the flickering lights and creepy drawings on the walls, but he walked down it anyway.

Child-like laughter echoed down the hallway and sent chills down the spine of the baby dragon.

And behind him the shadows of fillies followed, being cast from nothing the shadows pranced along the walls following the little drakling.

“H-h-hello?” Spike stuttered, feeling more scared now. Eventually, he came to a pair of eerie double doors that filled him with more dread.

“Not getting anywhere standing here,” Spike said before slowly pushing the door open……

And a blast of confetti hit him in the face.

“AGH!” Spike yelped, jumping back. When he managed to clear all the confetti off of his face, eyes, and from his mouth, he saw an auditorium with a bunch of empty chairs and a banner that said:

WELCOME NEW CRUSADER

Which was also in crayon…

“What the?” Spike said as the shadows behind him pranced across the walls and stopped at the stage.

“Howdy there new crusader!” one of the shadows said.

“We’re happy to have you,” said another shadow.

“Let’s see what your cutie mark will be!” the third shadow chimed in. Suddenly, a warbling black mass flowed from the shadows and formed into three pony shapes.

Applejack came out of Spike’s ring. “Apple Bloom?” she said with hope.

“Sorry sis, it’s Zombloom now.” As Apple Bloom left the warbling mass, Spike and Applejack couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of her.

As her name suggested she looked like a zompony. There was rotten flesh on her body, her mane a mess, and her cheeks were gone, exposing teeth and gums which were also rotted. And she had only one eye, the other eye socket being without an eyeball.

“Oh AB… What has he done to you…?” Applejack said with tears in her eyes.

“He made us better than ever! Sweetie Doom, at your service!” Overall, Sweetie Belle looked similar to her old self except for the fact her unicorn horn had become a pair of devil horns, and her tail was feline-like with a barb at the end. Her eyes were black and red, while her teeth were sharp.

“Why not join us as a fellow crusader?” Scootaloo came out licking her lips with a forked tongue, looking like a vampony, with bat-like wings and fangs as well as blood caking her mouth.

“Easy, Scootabat. We don’t want to rush things too much,” Zombloom reprimanded.

“Ah shut up! I'm just eager to eat… uh I mean meet a new crusader!”

“You better save some fer me at least,” Zombloom teased.

“ENOUGH!” Applejack shouted, getting their attention. “AB, look what he’s done to you! Ah get what you're going through right now. You feel like you need to obey the Shadow but you don’t! Ya have to fight it!” Applejack cried

“Oh, save it sis. Ah like the new me, and as soon as the master gets Spike, you’ll be back to being under his control where you belong. As will Spike.” Zombloom laughed.

“We’re going to have so much fun!” Sweetie Doom said.

“Yeah, we could even be friends! And friends share everything, right?” Scootabat looked at her friends.

“That’s right! They share their joy!” Zombloom said.

“Their regrets!” Sweetie Doom added.

“And their fears. Don't you agree, Spike?” Scootabat finished.

“U-um, well I-” Spike stammered.

“Tell you what, let’s find out if you have a cutie mark in running for your life, or perhaps screaming your lungs out, or even… bleeding to death!” Sweetie Doom said with a mad chuckle.

“Good idea. Come through those doors when you're ready to go find your purpose,” Scootabat said and with a trio of laughs, the three fillies disappeared.

"Apple Bloom…" Applejack fell to her knees and sobbed. Spike, seeing Applejack's distress, patted her on the shoulder.

"It's okay, we'll get her back," Spike assured her.

"Promise me…" Applejack said out of the blue.

"I promise we'll save her," Spike said.

"No, promise me we'll make that Shadow thing pay for what it did to my sister and her friends!" Applejack snarled.

"We’ll do that too, but for now, Apple Bloom needs help," Spike said with a mix of determination and nervousness at her vehemence. With a nod, Applejack went back into the ring and Spike approached the double doors and opened them. Upon traversing a hallway or two he came to a red wall of energy.

“Uuum, Luna. There’s a big red wall in my way. How do I get through?” Spike asked.

“Simply use your strength power to force your way through,” Luna informed him.

“How do I do that again?” Spike asked.

“Concentrate your magic and focus on your bond with Applejack,” Luna said.

“Uum…” Spike said clearly not getting it.

“Just tense your muscles and think about your objectives and how Applejack can help you.”

“Ok.” Spike did as Luna had mentioned and he felt a tingle overcome him, as though he was the strongest baby dragon ever.

With a blow from his fist, the red wall shattered and disappeared.

“Let the record show I didn't let this go to my head…. Much,” Spike said, barely hiding his joy.

“Ready or not, HERE WE COME!” three haunting voices suddenly sang, shattering Spike’s jubilation.

“Oh great,” Spike mumbled before hurrying through a set of doors and finding himself amidst several hallways, soul shards lined the hallways and he wasted no time in collecting the shards.

“Where are ya, Spike?” Spike heard Zombloom call out and saw a shadow around the corner. Spike quickly ducked behind the corner as the deformed filly rounded the corner. Bloody saliva dripped on the ground as she looked.

“Ah've always wondered what dragon meat tastes like,” Zombloom said, licking her rotted lips.

“She’s only tryin to psych you out, Spike. Get moving,” Applejack whispered.

"Ok," Spike whispered back

“AH HEARD THAT!” Zombloom rounded the corner and lunged at Spike.

“AAAH!” Spike yelled as the two of them tumbled across the ground. Zombloom pinned him, and only his claw around her throat was keeping her snapping jaws away from his neck.

“IT AIN’T KIND TO DENY A GIRL A KISS, SPIKE!” Zombloom said as she snapped her maw at Spike's face again.

“GET. OFF. OF. ME!” Spike tapped into his strength boost and he was able to lift her up into the air and throw her against a wall hard enough to crack it. Zombloom just got up and shook it off.

“Not bad, but it’ll take more than that,” Zombloom taunted.

“Mind if I tag in?” Spike heard a voice behind him and he spun to see Scootabat standing there.

“Uh oh!” Spike said as the usually ground-bound pegasus took to the air and swooped at him. He narrowly ducked it and saw her rebound off of a wall. When he jumped out of the way, she u-turned and dove at him again. Meanwhile, Zombloom charged, unfortunately timing it so when Spike jumped out of the way, the two collided with each other.

“Whew, Spike said as kept moving while the two were picking themselves up off the ground.

Spike ran along the hallways of the eerie school, collecting soul shards as he went, he was getting more confident of his ability to handle this until he heard Scootabat and Zombloom running after him.

“Go away!” he yelled as he rounded a corner.

“You're only delaying the inevitable!” Scootabat said as she swooped for his head. Spike ducked and paused at the corner, swinging a locker door just in time to make it collide with the vampony.

“Oof!” She grunted as she hit the ground.

“Ya varmint!” Zombloom ran around her downed friend and punched at Spike who ducked it and her punch dented the lockers.

“I gotta run!” Spike yelled as he ran off and when Zombloom helped her friend up they pursued him around another corner.

They ended up running past Spike, who was hiding in a locker.

“Whew… Lost them” Spike said, getting out and running on. He seemed home free as he collected more shards on the other side of the school, he made some good progress and hid in a locker when one of the CMC came near, he finished one side and worked his way over to the other side when he suddenly heard a poof down the hall and he saw Sweetie Doom grinning widely with her sharp teeth.

“Hey, Spike!” Sweetie fired a magic blast from her horns which blew a hole in the wall next to Spike.

“What the? Ah know for a fact she isn’t that strong!” Applejack spoke out.

“Maybe the Shadow empowered her, I don't know! But I need help, AJ!” Spike shouted, avoiding another several blasts.

“Ok” Applejack and Spike concentrated to use the strength boost. Spike picked up a bench and threw it at Sweetie Doom who made no effort to dodge and she took the bench right to the face snapping her neck backwards.

“WHOA!” Spike yelped.

“That was too hard, ya idiot!” Applejack said in horror.

“........Teehee” Sweetie gave a creepy giggle and she reached back, grabbed her head, and snapped it back into place. “That tickled”

“...That is messed up on so many levels.” Spike bolted away as Sweetie fired several more magic shots.

“Coooome baaack Spiiiiike!” Sweetie Doom sang as she pranced down the hall after him.

Spike collected more gems while he was fleeing and when he couldn’t see anymore shards he dove behind cover. It was just in time, as Sweetie nearly took his head off with another shot.

“Spike! Be careful!” Luna cried.

“I’m pinned!” Spike said frantically.

Suddenly a strange tendril snaked out of a nearby vent, before Spike could react it whipped out and grabbed his leg and tugged him out into the line of fire.

“AAAH! WHAT THE?!” Spike cried as he was set up and all he saw was Sweetie’s horns flash when he blacked out.

When he came too he was back in the classroom. “Uugh… what hit me?” Spike said looking around.

“You have collected all the shards in this area but the barrier is still too strong. You need to explore further in the school to find the rest.” Luna informed Spike

“I'm trying, they're too strong, Sweetie has strong magic, Scoots can fly and AB can nearly out muscle me. The situation is against me.” Spike remembered the tendril as well. Where did that come from?

“You must try, Spike!” Luna encouraged.

“I know…” Spike said getting up and hurrying back out into the hallways.

He proceeded on, listening for the Cutie Monster Crusaders. He got to the playground without encountering any of them and went across it to see three souls floating about.

“I’ll save you three, don’t worry.” Spike continued on, entering what looked like a gym.

“Yer doing good so far, Spike,” Applejack assured.

Just then they heard an earsplitting shriek.

“What the?!” Spike said when he saw a vent launch from the wall and something black crawl from it, scaling the wall like a spider.

“What is that?!” Applejack cried out in horror.

The creature in question resembled Miss Cheerilee but she looked like some kind of black gecko-like monster with a cone shaped face that bobbed back to stare at them. The tip of a long tongue slithered out to whip at the air before the creature climbed into a hole in the ceiling.

“I guess we know what the tendril came from now…” Spike said, trying to conceal his fear.

“We call her the substitute creature…” a voice from behind Spike said and he spun to see the three gruesome fillies staring at him coldly.

“But more importantly you’ve proven to be a bit of a challenge to catch Spike,” Scootabat said with a growl.

“Looks like we’re gonna have to step up our game if we want to catch this varmint,” Zombloom said.

“Hear that Spike? We're not playing around anymore. New crusader or not, we don’t tolerate persistence from our prey. Prepare for a real test!” With that, Sweetie Doom’s horns glowed and they teleported away.

"Oh great, now they’re getting serious," Spike groaned.

“Then we need to as well,” Luna said. Spike nodded and ran into the second area only to pause at the burnt and run-down atmosphere of the school. There were giggling sounds and he saw shadowy fillies and colts clawing at the windows of classrooms, then a vent opened slightly-

“Nope…” Spike said going back into the playground.

“Ya can’t give up now Spike!” Applejack yelled.

“Did you see that back there? I'm traumatized enough as it is!” Spike deflected.

“Get back in there or ah’m coming out of this ring!” Applejack scolded and Spike sighed and went back. Carefully he opened the door and saw no sign of the substitute creature. Moving quickly, he rounded a corner, collecting some soul shards. Spike opened a set of doors and found some more gems, but as he moved in to collect them, a tongue wrapped around the baby dragon and lifted him into the air.

“AAH!” Spike cried as he looked up and saw the black gecko-Cheerilee monster holding him with her tongue.

“Let me go!” Spike thrashed before hearing some giggling.

“Look what the creature dragged in.” Scootabat trotted in, flashing her fangs.

“A big ole meal is what,” Zombloom said while closing in.

“Let’s eat!” Sweetie Doom cheered and the three dove at Spike, who shut his eyes.

He found himself at the playground again.

“We… cannot do that again Spike… next time is the end…” Luna panted audibly.

“O-ok, no pressure.” Spike took a deep breath before running back into the second zone, this time hitching a right instead.

Spike found more gems, but had to pause at a corner when he heard Scootabat flying through the hallways giggling mischievously.

When the coast was clear he continued on only to hear a teleport sound behind him. Not pausing to look behind him he continued on running hearing the clopping of hooves behind him.

“GET BACK HERE, SPIKE!” Sweetie Doom yelled.

“Nope!” Spike said back.

“Spike! The strength! Use it!” Luna shouted.

“Ok!” Spike said pausing and using his strength boost. Sweetie Doom lunged only to be caught by Spike and thrown through a door, causing it to break.

The filly lay broken on the floor before her body began repairing itself.

Before Spike could think about it, the Substitute Creature crawled through an opening in the wall and ran at Spike, who fled down an adjacent hallway.

“Ya going somewhere partner?!” Zombloom lunged at Spike as he ran through an intersection in the hallways. Spike ducked the attack and continued running as the zombie pony resumed chasing him.

He did a good job of collecting soul shards while fleeing his enemies, until he rounded a corner and was tackled by a flying Scootabat. She snapped her fangs at Spike’s neck.

“GIVE ME YOUR BLOOD!” Scootabat growled.

“No!” Spike yelled trying to tap into his strength to throw her off but there was no response. Instead, he had no other move but to bonk heads with Scootabat to throw her off and make her crash.

Spike wriggled out from under her and ran off.

Spike ran into a cafeteria and across food trays swirling through the air, collecting more shards. A magical shot nearly took his head off and he saw Sweetie Doom entering the cafeteria at the same time he left.

Spike rounded a corner and avoided another blast from the persistent unicorn devil filly. Sweetie Doom pursued him, firing off shots from her horn.

“You're nearly there, Spike!” Luna said as Spike entered a classroom with objects levitating all over the place. He saw gems floating around so he ran around collecting them, although when he grabbed the last one, the school bell rang and he bolted just as Sweetie Doom entered.

“That’s all of them, Spike! Hurry to the playground!” Luna shouted.

“Ok!” Spike said, running through the hallways.

“Skreeee!” The horrible noise was the Substitute Creature exiting a vent and pursuing him, Spike ran as fast as he could but the gecko-Cheerilee wasn’t giving up. She climbed on the walls and leapt at him several times before Spike entered the gym. He nearly made it to the playground before the creature pounced on him and pinned him.

“NO!” Spike said, turning to see the creature's face split open vertically to reveal a maw of sharp teeth, then it lunged down to eat him.

“SPIKE!” Luna cried seeing the dragon in danger.

Spike managed to grab the creature's mouth and hold it back. Although the long tongue whipped him in the face a few times, Spike didn’t let up. Years of being Twilight's assistant had given him enough strength to resist this creature.

With a yell he shot flames into the mouth of the creature and it reared back bellowing in pain. Spike took the opportunity to grab it and use the strength power to hurl it through the doors.

“Spike! You ok?” Applejack said. Spike laid there panting heavily, shivering.

“I can’t… this is too hard…” Spike whimpered.

“Don’t lose yer will now, Spike! Yer almost out!” Applejack frantically said.

“Why?.... Why did it have to be me?” Spike droned, meanwhile the creature outside was getting up.

“SPIKE! YOU’LL LISTEN TO ME! GET UP OFF YER REAR END RIGHT NOW!” Applejack yelled

“O-okay, I’m sorry it’s… I don’t know how much more I can handle…” Spike said, breaking out of his traumatic stupor. After getting up he ran through the park past the Substitute Creature and grabbed the souls. As he ran for the other door, it shut in his face and he heard a crash of thunder.

“So… you don’t wanna be a Crusader do ya?” Zomblooms voice said behind him. Spike stiffened and turned to see the creature hurriedly fleeing back into the building through a window, and three frenzied monster fillies standing there and glaring at him with their red eyes.

“Yeah, he just wants to steal our things!” Scootabat growled.

“Well fine, if you don’t want to be our friend we’ve got a different plan for you then,” Sweetie Doom said with a sneer. “Girls, let’s teach this loser how we deal with disobedience at our school!” And with that, the three melted into the shadows again and the shadows merged.

“What now?” Spike said with dread

A giant figure emerged from the shadow, a monster that was bigger than Big Mac and looked more powerful as well. And its head… it had three! Zombloom on the left and Scootabat on the right with Sweetie Doom in the middle.

“Time for the teacher’s pet to come in! The Crusaberus!” the three-headed monstrosity growled.

“Seriously?! A three-headed monster?!” Spike exclaimed.

“Cutie Monster Crusaders! Dragon slayers!” The three heads yelled before the beast charged forward. Spike leaped aside with a yelp as it plowed through the door.

“GO NOW!” Applejack hurried Spike along as he ran through the opening presented and ran around the beast before it could get up.

“YOU WON’T ESCAPE US, SPIKE!” the monster roared as it charged after Spike.

“I’M GONNA DIE!” Spike screamed as he ran.

“No, you won’t if you just keep running!” Luna urged Spike.

The monster fired some magic shots at Spike who swerved around them the best he could.

The two continued running through the hallways, Spike barely keeping out of the reach of the monster. As Spike made a sudden stop at a hallway intersection and changed direction, the Crusaberus missed the turn and Spike managed to lose the hybrid.

“The auditorium is just up ahead! Luna said

“Finally!” Spike said as he ran.

Suddenly the Substitute Creature dropped down from the ceiling in front of the door and hissed at Spike, who stopped.

“Well great…” Spike said, wondering how he’ll get around this creature. Suddenly, a crash was heard behind him and he turned to see the Crusaberus.

“OH, COME ON!” Spike exclaimed

“Do somethin, Spike!” AJ ‘helpfully’ said. Spike had an idea but didn’t like it.

“Let’s hope this works!” Spike activated his strength boost again and ran towards the Substitute Creature. As it dove for him, he grabbed it and hurled it at the hooves of the other monster. He was shocked to see the Crusaberus not even pause as it just stepped on the creature’s head, crushing it.

“OUT OF OUR WAY!” the monster’s middle head roared.

“Good work, Spike!” Luna said.

“Don’t thank me yet!” When Spike ran into the auditorium, the door back to the portal shut itself, and he paused.

“This is getting tiring.” He turned to see the Crusaberus standing there and glaring at him with their red eyes.

“ENOUGH OF THIS! You're ours now Spike!” The creature said, Spike was beginning to wonder if this was it when suddenly the doors glowed with a midnight blue aura and were forced open.

“NOW SPIKE!” Luna shouted, getting an affirmative nod from Spike as he ran through the room at his best speed, much to the shock of the creature behind him.

“LUNA! STAY OUT OF OUR ROOM!” The monster bellowed, chasing after Spike with a trio of feral screams.

“Hurry!” AJ shouted.

“I’M RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN!” Spike screamed as the Crusaberus tore through the narrow hall after him, collapsing the walls and ceiling as it rampaged past.

“ALMOST THERE!” Spike burst into the classroom and at the same time, the Crusaberus tore through the doorway.

Time seemed to slow for them, the monster was in mid lunge, and just as it was about to reach Spike, he jumped through the portal.

YOU ESCAPED!

Author's Note

Spike managed to escape the haunted school with his life, can he continue to press on despite the trauma?

Thanks ever so much for tuning into this long worked on project.

Look forward to next time.

Diamond Doom

Fire and darkness all around, screams in the distance

The 'minotaur' is the one responsible.

What is his identity?

Not all is as it seems. The rings bear their power!

Beware Spike, it all ends with you.

Save them

….
……
………………..

WAKE UP SPIKE!

“GYAH!” Spike yelped bolting up on his bed,

“What the- wait… I’m in bed? Was that all-” Spike said before Luna appeared next to him.

“No it wasn’t,” Luna said.

“AAH!” Spike fell off his bed, but when he got up, saw he was in the ballroom again. After looking around he turned to Luna, feeling annoyed.

“Stop doing that, please,” Spike said.

“Forgive us,” Luna responded, looking somewhat amused.

“So did I do it then? Where are they?” Spike asked as Luna’s amused expression quickly turned somber.

“They are with Applejack over there.” Luna gestured to a faded group of ponies, Applejack comforting three shaking fillies.

“There, there… It’s fine, just let it out,” Applejack said, doing her best to channel Fluttershy’s natural kindness.

“It was so scary…” Apple Bloom whimpered.

“I’m never sleeping again!” Sweetie Belle cried. Scootaloo just remained silent, looking as if she was struggling to accept what happened.

“Oh…” Spike said, realizing how traumatizing this must have been for them.

“Indeed, we have done our best to soothe their trauma, but the rest is up to them. They remember everything they did to you.”

“Will they recover?” Spike genuinely asked.

“No doubt. We’ve seen far worse cases.”

Spike was about to ask but Luna gave him a look that told him he was better off not knowing. It took a few minutes but Applejack helped the fillies off of her and they seemed to have calmed down enough that they could walk on their own.

As he got closer, Spike could see that the fillies couldn’t look him in the eye.

“Girls, it’s alright,” Spike said, trying to get them to calm down.

“It’s just that we almost killed you, Spike. Don’t you resent us a little?” Scootaloo asked.

“Not at all. From what Luna told me, you weren't in control back there,” Spike assured.

“But…” AB was cut off with a thump to the head by her sister and she looked surprised.

“None of that, sis. Ya know he forgives ya, so that’s enough self-pity. That goes for all of ya,” Applejack added.

“Ok...” the three fillies said.

“So then, who’s next?” Applejack asked.

“Next? Don’t I get to rest?” Spike asked.

“No, Spike. The longer we wait, the closer the souls are to falling into the clutches of the Shadow. Besides, you already rested, remember?” Luna said, sounding like a mother.

“Ugh…” Spike groaned.

“The next is… oh my…” Luna said with some surprise.

“What?” Spike said before he saw who it was…

Three diamonds…

“RARITY!” Spike exclaimed, leaping towards the portal before Luna caught him with her magic.

“CALM YOURSELF YOUNG DRAGON!” Luna yelled as she yanked the struggling dragon back.

“Rarity needs me!” Spike said.

“Only after we give you more powers to aid you! Otherwise, you could be killed!” Luna scolded Spike who stopped struggling.

“Good point,” Spike said, looking sheepish.

“Next time, think before you leap,” Luna said, sounding annoyed before turning to Applejack who was explaining what Luna was going to do to the CMC.

“We’re going to become rings? Will that hurt?” Scootaloo asked.

“Enope, but it’ll help Spike out,” Applejack said looking at Sweetie Belle who looked concerned.

“Will my sis be okay?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yes. Yer gonna help Spike with savin her, along with me,” Applejack said.

“Alright,” Sweetie Belle said, looking determined.

“Very well, girls. If you would gather around Spike,” Luna announced and they did so. A quick spell later and Spike had two rings, the most recent with all three of their cutie marks on it.

“Cool,” Spike said “What did I get this time?”

“The power of replication, Those three will control copies of you that will aid in confusing your foes.”

“Sweet!” Spike said before turning to the portal with a determined expression.

“I’m going to save you Rarity, just you wait!”

With that, he jumped in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Diamond Doom

--------------------------------------------------------------------

There was no disorientation this time when Spike walked through the opening. Spike looked around and saw that he was in a garden, full of flowers and a fountain.

It was night time and a distant howl could be heard in the distance.

“Am I in Canterlot?” Spike said, confused as he walked around. “This is almost pleasant compared to the last two places.”

As Spike walked forward he took a step back when he saw the large pony statue.

It was in a pose of pure elegance and crafted out of chiseled diamond, matching Rarity down to a T.

“Focus, Spike!” Applejack snapped, making Spike jump.

“Sorry.” Spike walked up the steps to the right of the statue and noticed a plaque.

“Only nobility may trot beyond this point. I am always watching,” Spike read out before looking Applejack in the eye.

“Not like ya have a choice there partner.” Applejack shrugged.

“Yeah,” Spike said with a nod. He continued up the steps and entered through the doorway.

Not noticing the statue turning its head in his direction….

As Spike continued through a pathway he noticed writing on the walls saying things like “Don’t look away” or “Heed the plaques.”

“I can’t help but wonder if these are hints,” Spike said

“I bet they are!” a higher-pitched voice said.

“Huh?” Spike turned and saw the CMC with him.

“Oh yeah, you guys are here too,” Spike said.

“How did you forget?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I dunno.” Spike opened the next door to the courtyard.

“The landscaping isn’t bad here, we must confess,” Luna admitted.

“So much space! I bet we could have an entire hoofball game here!” Scootaloo said, running around with childish enthusiasm.

“Calm down, Scootaloo! It’s dangerous here,” Luna warned.

“Aw...” Scootaloo said. Spike walked to the statue in the center, another Rarity statue, smaller than the first but still made of diamond.

“Another diamond statue? The ones who live here must be crazy rich,” Spike joked before noticing another plaque.

“Hmm… Beware of the Diamond Watchers. Trespassers and non-royals shall tread no further than the hedge maze gate, or else...” Sweetie Belle read.

“Ain’t Spike technically a prince, considering he’s the brother to a princess?” Apple Bloom said.

“Not really, I'm more of a squire, because I haven't gotten the ‘royal initiation yet’ or something.” Spike walked around the statue and towards the front gate.

Before hearing a lady-like chuckle.

“Huh? Rarity?” Spike said, whirling to look in the direction of the noise only to jump when he saw the statue had rotated itself all the way around to look at him.

“.................Did that statue move?” Spike asked, rooted to the spot with fear.

“M-maybe we turned around on accident?” Sweetie Belle offered. Spike decided to test this by moving around the statue, but he noticed it didn’t move with him.

“Heh, guess I was imagining things,” Spike said, turning to look at the gate.

“Snk!” The voice came again and Spike whirled on the spot to see the statue was facing him again.

“Ok! Now I’m starting to get what’s off about this place!” Scootaloo said getting behind Spike.

“Okay girls, let’s just… back away slowly.” Spike backed away and kept his eyes firmly locked on the statue. Eventually, Spike felt his tail touch the gate and he jumped a little.

“Okay, I assume this is where we go?” Spike said, looking at the gate while the girls continued watching the statue. Then Spike noticed the plaque on the side of the gate.

“Hmm, ‘Tread beyond this gate and you’ve sealed your fate’.... Well, that’s a bad omen,” Spike said with a shiver.

Despite every nerve in his body screaming at him to leave, he forced himself to open the gates and the CMC trembled as they creaked open. Behind them lay a massive hedge maze.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” a terrifying laugh echoed around the courtyard making Spike and Apple Bloom comically jump and scream and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo run around in a panic and crash into each other.

“Ooof!” The two fillies grunted as they fell down.

“What the hay was that?!” AB said, shaking.

“Guys… look.” Scootaloo pointed back towards the statue… or lack thereof.

“I'm starting to realize what kind of monster we’re dealing with,” Spike said.

“Good luck, Spike!” Sweetie Belle said as the CMC returned to ring form.

“Wha- don’t leave me out here alone! Girls?...” Spike sighed and turned to see the interior of the hedge maze he was about to enter.

Mustering his courage Spike walked in and the gate closed behind him.

“Gulp!” Spike audibly said.

As Spike walked through the initial pathways he saw more plaques.

“Whoever lives here must really love plaques,” Spike said before reading what the plaque said.

“‘You failed to take heed, now you shall bleed’?... Not a fan of this plaque” Spike honestly said, before jumping with a scream as a thrown ax embedded itself in the plaque, narrowly missing his head.

“What the?!” Spike said, turning to see who threw that.

All he saw was a statue standing there.

“Was that there before?” Spike said approaching it, now that he got a closer look at these things he could see that the eyes seemed different. Like they were crystal balls in the statue’s head instead of being part of it.

“That’s odd… why would they design it like-” Spike jumped when the eye darted in his direction, a second later the statue moved, pulling an ax out of nowhere and swinging it down at Spike.

“AAAAAHHH!” Spike cried, jumping back and narrowly avoiding an ax to the skull. He skittered back, keeping his eyes on the statue the whole time.

“IT MOVED!?” Spike cried, and suddenly he heard more hoofsteps and whirled to see more statues. And he knew those weren't there before.

Suddenly more steps were heard and Spike looked to see the one that almost killed him was closer now. Disoriented, Spike could tell he was gradually being surrounded so he picked a direction and ran.

“Twilight always told me to get more exercise! Well how’s this?!” Spike said with exasperation. Spike looked back and saw the statues had moved again but weren’t as long as he was looking…. Wait.

Spike paused upon that thought. Could it be? Spike stood and watched them carefully and he slowly turned his gaze away. As soon as they left his sight, he heard hoofsteps and turned to see the Rarity-like statues had moved again but had ceased moving the moment they entered his sight.

“So that’s how they work!” Spike said

“Good job there partner,” Applejack said coming out of her ring.

"Well I am pretty smart," Spike said, sounding flattered which got an eye roll from AJ.

"We need to get moving," Applejack said.

"Right," Spike responded, running from the statues, glancing back at them every now and then.

Spike found some more Soul shards but found that instead of being bunched together, these ones were scattered.

Spike paused when the hoof steps got louder and turned to see them.

"Not getting the drop on me," Spike said with an air of cockyness.

Chnk!

"Huh?" Spike said at the random sound before turning to see some long spears stab out of the ground. “Gya!” Spike said, stumbling back against the statue away from the trap. Spike looked up and the statue swung its ax down.

Spike dodged and used Applejack's strength boost.

“TAKE THIS!” Spike yelled, punching the statue in the face….

“.......OOOOWWW!” Spike yelled, clutching his hurting hand in pain.

“They’re made of diamond, remember?!” Applejack yelled.

“I know!” Spike said before the statue pinned him with a hoof. Spike was panicking and before he knew it the statue's face distorted into an impossibly wide smile when it lunged for his head.

“Well, that didn’t work…” Spike said as he got up, back at the front gate.

“You could try eating them,” Applejack suggested.

“No way. I tried an apple back in your nightmare and it tasted awful.” Spike checked around a corner.

“Just suggestin,” Applejack said with a shrug.

Spike scurried along looking around corners and finding a soul shard or two, but it wasn’t long before he heard the hoofsteps again and Spike paused as he turned a corner and saw a Diamond Watcher.

“Great,” Spike muttered as he turned and saw two more gathering to his left.

“What am I going to do here?!” Spike exclaimed before an idea came to mind.

“Girls, we need to multiply!” Spike said.

“Got it!” The CMC came out of the ring and then a glow overcame them. The next thing they knew there were four Spikes. The four scattered in different directions and when the statues were free to move they glanced from side to side, confused as to who to chase.

“This is working!” Spike said as the Diamond Watchers were being led astray by the fake Spikes. He began to think he was going to breeze through this when the copies suddenly vanished.

“Of course they have a time limit!” Spike said with a sigh as he collected another shard. The statues moved after the real Spike as he turned to look ahead of himself to keep a watch for traps.

Spike turned a corner, avoiding another thrown ax and grabbing the last Soul Shard.

“That’s all of them! Hurry along to the other side of the maze,” Luna instructed.

“Ok,” Spike said, making his way through the maze. Interestingly, the statues seemed to have disappeared.

When Spike made it to the edge of the maze he looked up at what laid before him.

A mansion, not nearly as big as Canterlot Castle but far bigger than most mansions.

“Wow,” Spike said.

“Indeed, not a bad design, but now isn’t the time for sightseeing,” Luna said.

“So is Rarity’s soul in there somewhere?” Spike said, going up to the door.

“Yes, we can sense it,” Luna said.

“Ok.”

Upon entering the building, Spike found himself in a ballroom, not unlike the one on the other side of the portal. There were stairs and a single white soul drifted helplessly through the room.

“Wait for me, Rarity! I’ll save you!” Spike ascended the stairs and entered through the doorway to the left.

As Spike ran along the corridors, he came upon a room with more Soul Shards, this time together not separate, and he ran about collecting them. It wasn’t long before the hoofsteps were getting louder so Spike ran while occasionally glancing over his shoulder.

This cost him when he didn’t see a swinging ax trap coming.

---Back at the entrance---

“Are you serious?!” Spike said with exasperation.

“Gotta pay attention to your surroundings, Spike,” Scootaloo said.

Spike was about to give a rebuttal when he heard laughter from a doorway and he knew that the Diamond Watchers were going to be upon him soon.

Spike hurried down the other way. As he rounded a corner he saw the statues trying to box him in.

"Not this time!" Spike said with determination. The small dragon used his multiply power and his copies ran back the way he came while Spike continued collecting shards. When he was done with that room he saw that several of the statues had broken off to chase them.

With that done, Spike carefully maneuvered around the statue that remained and scurried off to a hallway. Spike had to pause and go when the spear traps jutted in and out of the ground.

"Carefully…" Spike said before jumping past the spikes.

"Psst," Spike heard a statue say and spun to see a statue right behind him. He ducked an ax swing and fled onto an area full of swinging ax traps.

Spike carefully maneuvered around them, dividing his attention between the statues and the swinging blades.

Having sensed his clones had already vanished, Spike hurried as the hoofsteps got louder again.

Spike ran into a living room-like place and jumped over the couch and collected some more shards as the statues pursued Spike around the furniture.

Spike fled the room as the Statues got in and he came into another area with swinging axes. Spike saw a statue ahead, standing still until he got closer, Spike had one chance and slid on his knees under a swing for his head and he managed to perform a roll that bypassed a swinging ax.

“Wow! Good job Spike!” Scootaloo cheered as they ran.

“Yeah, I did pretty good back there!” Spike said, feeling proud of himself.

Spike ran through another room and glanced about seeing several statues coming from the left and right.

Spike managed to avoid them as he ran through several more rooms collecting shards, until he was making a loop around a corner hallway and he paused when he saw them crowding the escape routes.

“H-hey! That’s not fair!” Spike tried to run around them but a few swings of an ax kept him back.

“Luna, please tell me I have another chance,” Spike said with a gulp, but keeping an eye on the statues so they did not move.

“No, Spike. We’re trying but our strength is exhausted. We cannot save you again!” Luna said, panicking a little.

“WHAT DO I DO?!” Spike shouted as he laid against the wall, penned in, feeling hopeless.

“Spike! Ah have an idea,” Applejack said coming out of the ring.

“Well? What is it? Spike said making the mistake of looking away and hoofsteps advanced on his position. Spike yelped as he narrowly avoided an ax blow.

“Use the strength boost and get to the light fixtures up there!” Applejack pointed up to a dangling light fixture above the Diamond Watchers.

“Ok!” Spike was willing to try anything at this point and used his strength power to leap onto the back of the Diamond Watcher who bit at him and he leapt at the wall fixture. Avoiding an ax blade, he jumped onto the light fixture.

“Ah! What do I do now!?” Spike yelled as he dangled.

“Swing to the other side!” Applejack called from ground level, Spike noticed a Diamond Watcher trying to ax her but failing as the ax went through her. “Ah'm already a ghost ya varmint!” Applejack angrily said to the statue.

Spike swung and launched himself over the crowd of statues, landing on the other side of them with Applejack following closely behind him.

“Run!” Applejack yelled, galloping past Spike who followed shortly after.

“We have them all, right?” Spike called to Luna.

“Almost. Head down that hallway to your left.” Spike went down the hall and found the last set in a room with two big Rarity statues. As he grabbed the last one he saw a Diamond Watcher trying to corner him and he ran down another hall.

“You can collect the soul now, Spike!” Luna informed the baby dragon.

“Ok!” Spike said as he turned and ran down the hallway to his right and continued on until he was back in the main lobby.

But as he looked down the stairs he saw something odd…

A shadowy creature that looked like-

“A minotaur...” Spike said stepping back a little in shock

“So… you are the one that is collecting my souls? I expected something greater than a mere whelp.”

“W-who are-” Spike said but Luna finished for him.

"The Shadow," Luna said with a hint of fear.

"To think you're the one Luna chose this time? She must be desperate," the Shadow said with a grin.

"Y-your not real! You were just a nightmare!" Spike cried.

"You speak nonsense. This is our first meeting and evidently, our last," the Shadow growled, taking a step forward and making Spike flinch.

“You have been lucky so far but your princess cannot save you here, not while I’m around at least. GET HIM!” The Shadow called out and suddenly Spike was scooped off the ground and thrown down the stairs by a statue that blindsided him.

“Spike! No!” Applejack yelled

“Finish him”

The Rarity statue approached the downed Spike and picked him up before pinning him to a wall and raising its ax.

“Watch Luna, as your little champion is killed!” The monster laughed.

“NO!” Luna cried.

Spike stared into the glowing red crystal eyes with fear “RARITY! PLEASE STOP! IT’S ME, SPIKE!” Spike cried, hoping she’d hear him.

As he shut his eyes expecting death, he instead noticed the hoof was…… trembling? Spike looked up and he was surprised to see tears coming out of the crystal eyes.

“What are you waiting for? Kill him!” The Shadow growled, getting impatient.

“You heard me, didn’t you Rarity?” Spike said, feeling hopeful for a change.

“S-Spike…” Spike faintly heard the Statue say.

“Kill him now, you foal!” The Shadow yelled.

“Rarity, I-if this is it I just wanted to say that….” Spike forced himself to keep going knowing this could be his last chance. “I LOVE YOU! And I forgive you for this, it’s not your fault, I-I just… I love you…” Spike said with as much bravery as he could before shutting his eyes waiting for death.

“Spike…” Applejack said in awe.

“As amusing as that was, I command you to finish him off!” The Shadow shouted.

The statue glanced between the Shadow and Spike looking conflicted

“KILL HIM!”

The Statue's eyes glowed redder and it raised its arm… and swung…

CLANK!

...But instead, she paused mid-swing, and the ax hit the ground, with Spike being dropped immediately afterward.

“Rarity?” Spike said in awe as the Shadow stepped back in shock.

“What? Impossible! I have control of her!” the Shadow shouted in disbelief.

“Apparently, their bond is stronger,” Applejack said, trotting down the stairs.

“Ignorant mortals, you’re messing with the wrong demon!” The Shadow growled before he bellowed out “COME, TITAN!” and then he vanished. Suddenly the mansion shook as though something massive struck the building.

“What is it now?!” Applejack questioned.

“I don’t know but we need to leave!” Spike frantically ran over and grabbed Rarity’s soul and dashed for the exit, with Applejack returning to her ring form.

When Spike got outside, he saw what was causing the rumbling.

A crystal statue, bigger than the mansion itself rose above the building.

“...I’d say are you kidding me… but that really doesn’t do this justice…” Spike said, stepping back as the giant Rarity statue looked down at him with its red crystal eyes.

“RUUUUUUUN!” Spike yelled using the multiplication power in time because the creature hurled a giant ax at him and it wound up hitting the wrong one.

Spike ran to the hedge maze but found that the gate was locked. On the other side of the gate, a statue was giving him a warped smile, showing the culprit.

“Oh great! Where do we go now?!” Spike said before Sweetie called him.

“OVER HERE!” Sweetie called pointing down a pathway.

“OK!” Spike ran down to her and along the path she indicated. Spike continued running as the Ursa Major-sized statue pursued him, destroying the manor and crushing its way past the hedge maze in the process.

“When I get home I’m never making fun of a statue again!” Spike screamed as he made it back out into the courtyard. If only it were possible for him to double the size of his eyes in alarm like Pinkie could because that’s what he wanted to do right now.

Statues, too many to count, were littered about in the yard with all of their red eyes locked onto Spike.

Hearing the rumbling of the Titan behind him, he bolted forward and hoped for the best. Since his multiplication power was spent already, he had to, as RD would say, wing it.

Spike bobbed and weaved as he ran around the statues, the closest ones taking swings at him with their axes. A giant ax flew through the air and demolished a group of Diamond Watchers to Spike’s left. Spike continued running through the army of statues until he could make out the gates up ahead.

When Spike made it to the gate and opened it, he was blindsided by an ax swing that cut into his arm, spilling some blood.

Spike screamed in pain as the shallow wound bled and he fell down. Looking up, he saw a statue waiting for him on the other side of the gate.

“Oh no! Spike!” The CMC cried running up to him.

"Are you alright?" Luna frantically asked.

“I’m f-fine…” Spike said getting up as the statue swung its ax down at him and he dodged to the left and ran around the Diamond Watcher and ran to the door on the other side.

Meanwhile, a giant ax sailed through the air and smashed the wall next to him.

Spike got through the door and ran for the stairs leading to the portal.

Spike ducked as the big statue stationed at the garden stairs took a swing at him with its diamond hoof and he tumbled down the stairs.

Mustering what strength he had left he got up and limped towards the portal.

“Spike! You're almost there!” Luna frantically called.

Spike looked up and saw the statues surrounding the portal. With a cry of determination, he summoned his copies and they ran forward to distract the statues.

Spike hurried to the portal as the Titan peeked over the garden and slammed a massive hoof down on the ground behind Spike.

The impact wound up launching Spike into the portal.

YOU ESCAPED!

Author's Note

The manor of evil has been cleared, and Spike managed to reach Rarity despite it just being a golem made of her soul.

What could this mean?

Look forward to next time. :pinkiehappy:

Flutter Fear

Spike's eyes cracked open and he groaned in exhaustion as he looked around for Luna.

"Ugh… Luna?" Spike groaned sitting up. He took a moment to check his arm for damage, and to his surprise, saw no signs of scarring or injury. "I'm okay?" Spike said, feeling baffled.

"Yes, it was indeed a close one back there," Luna said, trotting over to Spike.

Spike was used to this song and dance by now, so he didn't react with surprise.

"Did I save her? Is Rarity okay?" Spike asked, looking worried.

Luna smiled. "Ask her yourself." She stepped aside, revealing Rarity.

"Oh Spikey, dear!" Rarity hugged him closely with tears in her eyes. Spike allowed a goofy smile to creep onto his face as he hugged back.

Luna eventually had to make Rarity let go and she wiped her eyes.

"Are you ok, Spike? Your arm, I mean." Rarity asked.

"Surprisingly yes, there's no injury." Spike showed them his arm.

"Yes, we performed healing spells," Luna said.

"Thanks, Luna." Spike hopped off of his bed and walked up to Rarity. "Look, Rarity. You don't have to be sorry. I understand that you couldn't control yourself."

"It still doesn't make it right," Rarity murmured.

"It's alright, Rarity." Applejack trotted over with the CMC in tow.

"Yes, I suppose we should get a move on then, but first…" Rarity leaned forward and placed a smooch on Spike's cheek.

Spike blushed. "What was that for?”

“For saving me like a true knight, and who knows considering the distance you went.” Rarity leaned in. “There may be hope for us yet.” Rarity trotted away while Luna had to shake Spike out of the mushy state he was in.

“Think yer pulling his leg a little too hard there?” Applejack said this with a raised brow.

“I was entirely serious, Applejack. He saved me like a valiant knight and…” Rarity trailed off remembering Spike’s heartfelt words.

“Just remember, yer gettin his hopes up, so don’t let him down,” Applejack said with a serious tone.

“I won’t,” Rarity said as they approached the portal.

“Very well, Spike. We are sure you remember the process by now,” Luna said. Spike nodded, standing next to Rarity.

One horn flash later and he was wearing a third ring on his hand.

“You now possess the power of precise vision, a power that allows you to see even the most minor details that are hidden. No deception will get past you while using this.”

“Aw, I was hoping for levitation or teleporting or laser eyes at least,” Spike grumbled.

“This power may be invaluable in the near future, Spike.” Luna turned and activated the next portal.

Spike got nervous as he saw who it was.

Three butterflies...

“For some reason, I’m extra scared this time,” Spike said with a shiver.

“Indeed, there is something different in this nightmare. Be careful, Spike,” Luna said.

“I will,” Spike said with a nod before he walked in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Flutter Fear
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Sewer water was the first thing Spike experienced as he stepped through the portal.

“Blech!” Spike said as he looked down at the gross water “Ugh! This looks and… smells like a sewer! Why would you send me here?” Spike said, feeling upset.

“It’s where the portal leads,” Luna said most likely with a shrug.

“Ugh, this is most… filthy,” Rarity said, coming out of her ring and sounding grateful that she was simply phasing through the water.

“Agreed. The sooner we get out of here the better,” Spike said, moving ahead in the thigh-deep sewer water.

Spike continued forward until he reached a giant door and when he interacted with it, it opened, slowly. Spike saw the next door further down the corridor and continued walking.

Suddenly a noise echoed through the corridor… it was hard to describe, it was like a bird call, but it was a kind of honking sound that had a slight hiss to it as well.

“What was that?” Spike asked looking around until his eyes centered on a hole in the wall, next to the hole was some writing,

“Beware of the big one…”

“The big one? What does that-” Before Spike could finish, a pair of eyes appeared in the hole.

Those eyes… they were so dark, so creepy, and at the same time mesmerizing, so mind-breaking that the longer he stood there watching the less of his own existence he could feel. He forgot himself, he forgot the world, those eyes were all that existed now, his heart felt like it was going to explode from the gripping fear he felt but there was nothing he could do- stopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopstaringstopSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP-

“WAKE UP SPIKE!” Rarity’s voice shouted in his ears.

“GYA!” Spike yelled shooting off the ground in surprise “RARITY? What- I don’t-” Spike said, panicking a little.

“Calm yourself, Spike!" Rarity said as Spike was gasping for air before he managed to calm himself.

“What… What happened?!” Spike said, looking from right to left.

“A pair of eyes appeared in the hole over there, you froze, and suddenly you collapsed, shaking as though you were having a seizure,” Rarity said the worry was clear in her voice.

“The stare… It was using the stare on me, no… it was like the stare on steroids! Rarity I don’t want to go through that again.” Spike could not stop trembling.

“It will be alright, Spike.” Rarity said to comfort him. “We must get going.”

“O-ok…” Spike got up and activated the next door. As it fully opened, they froze as they saw something floating on the water.

“A...A Swan?” Rarity said confusedly.

It looked like a large yellow Swan, its long neck angled like an S and its eyes were closed. It had a familiar pink mane and the Swan looked dirty from the sewer water.

“I cannot tell whether that is beautiful or disturbing,” Rarity said honestly.

“Is it like the statues? Will it move if I look away?” Spike said not taking his eyes off of the swan.

“I doubt the same tactic would be used twice,” Rarity replied.

To test this theory, Spike took a few steps backward and then quickly looked away then back to the Swan to see if it moved.

It was right where it was before.

“Ok, so not a red light green light monster. Gotcha,” Spike said with an exhale.

“We should still steer clear of it because we don’t know its intentions,” Rarity said cautiously.

“Agreed.” Spike walked around it, only to pause in shock “On second thought, that might be a bit hard.”

“Why- Oh dear!” Rarity exclaimed when she walked to where Spike was and saw multiple Swans floating about.

“We’ve gotta find out what these creatures can do or we’re toast,” Spike said while backing away. He yelped with fright when he accidentally bumped into the Swan they had seen when they were coming in. Spike opened his eyes upon realizing he still had his entrails.

“Huh? It didn’t attack?” Spike said, turning to the Swan, carefully reaching forward.

“Be careful Spike,” Rarity warned. Spike’s hand touched the soft feather-covered plastic surface but the Swan didn’t react.

“I’m confused. Maybe this one is a dud?” Spike wondered.

“Perhaps. Come on, let us hurry so we can be out of this wretched place,” Rarity said walking ahead.

“Agreed,” Spike said following her.

As the two moved through the sewer collecting the occasional Soul Shard Spike carefully approached the Swans up ahead, keeping an eye on them he walked through a group of three.

“Maybe there is no monster?” Spike said with hope.

“Don’t let your guard down,” Luna cautioned.

As Spike grabbed another Soul Shard while leaving the three Swans behind him…

One of them moved…

It began slowly following Spike across the water…

Then, it began a startling transformation…

It slowly stood up on four hooves coming out of four holes in its underbelly, its wings began to flare out, and its neck gradually uncurved and arched up. Its beaked mouth opened and revealed pointy teeth.

Spike noticed the light dimming as the shadow loomed over him and he paused.

“Did it get darker in here?” Spike asked before slowly turning and going rigid at the sight behind him.

The creature’s eyes opened…

Its black eyeballs with red irises, so beautiful, so terrifying…

“SKREEEEEEEEE!” The monster screeched in Spike's face, earning a terrified scream from the dragon.

“RUN!” Rarity cried while dashing away from it. Spike followed as quickly as he could in the water while the demonic Swan snapped at his tail.

Spike ran around a corner and activated another door, but it was opening too slowly.

“Come on! Come on!” Spike urged the door.

“SKREEEE!” The Swan rounded the corner and pounced. However, Spike was beginning to adapt to fighting these monsters and he dove to the side, then ran around the monster.

The Swan got up and craned its long neck up to look at its surroundings more thoroughly. It gave a few honks and beat its wings a few times before returning to how it was before it attacked.

“I-is it safe?” Spike asked, peeking out from behind a concealing pipe.

“Yes, it seems to have gone dormant again.” Rarity watched it floating in the water as if it hadn’t turned into a monster a moment ago.

“We sure don’t want to wake that thing again,” Spike gasped. “So it was like the Statues after all. It waited until my back was turned!”

“Not quite, darling,” Rarity said.

“What do you mean?” Spike responded.

“If that were the case, then why didn’t they surround you while you weren't looking at them? No, it seems as though it waited for you to get close. Let us be sure. Throw something at it.”

While Spike was tempted to say ‘hay no!’ Instead, he picked up a small rock and threw it at the Swan. The rock bounced off of its head and it didn’t even react, although when the rock splashed into the water next to it, the eyes of the Swan sprang open. Its creepy eyes darted from side to side as if looking for the disturbance before shutting.

“As I predicted, they are proximity sensitive,” Rarity said.

“Wow, smart,” Spike said, genuinely impressed.

“Did you think that looks were all I had?” Rarity said with a wink, making Spike blush. Afterward, Spike stepped out and carefully walked around the Swan making sure to keep his distance. As Spike continued to move down the corridor to collect the remaining Soul Shards, he noticed that some of the Swans seemed docile.

After bumping into one and finding that it just floated lifelessly on the water he decided to voice his thoughts.

“Hey, how many duds do you think there are?”

“It is possible they are all meant to look identical, leaving you unable to tell which are dangerous or not.” Rarity studied the Swan closely.

“That very well may be,” Luna said.

Spike meanwhile opened another door, revealing more shards and Swans. “How do we tell who’s dangerous and who isn’t?” Spike asked.

“I’m not sure.” The two walked down the pathways carefully approaching another Swan. With a sudden jump, the creature sprung onto all fours and became hostile.

Spike yelped in surprise and got ready to run but then suddenly the creature locked eyes with him and he found himself frozen. Staring into those eyes, he couldn’t move, he couldn’t think. Meanwhile, the Swan beast honked and bobbed up and down.

Rarity tried frantically to snap Spike out of the stare but he was transfixed. Reaching for a solution, any solution, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and immediately Spike snapped out of it.

“Wha-” Spike said before Rarity grabbed him.

“Don’t talk! Just run!” Spike did so when the monster lunged for him. He ran until he found a door, as he ran by another Swan however it sprang up as well and chased him alongside the other one.

“Are you serious! Two of them?!” Spike made it to the door and it began to open, once again at a snail’s pace.

“Come on! Come on! Come on!” Spike tried to hurry up the process by grabbing the door with his claws and tried to lift it, but it availed nothing. He was suddenly, forcibly turned around to meet the gaze of the Swan.

“NO!” Rarity cried. Before she could do anything, the other Swan tackled Spike down and stomped on his head with a hoof.

Spike woke up floating in sewer water.

“Ugh, that was not fun,” Spike said.

“Careful, Spike. Our powers are still weak from the previous nightmare. We cannot save you many more times,” Luna said.

“Those doors open so slowly! How am I going to outrun these things if I can't escape?” Spike said while getting up.

“Perhaps opening the doors all at once would work,” Luna suggested.

“That-... is a good point,” Spike said with a sigh.

“But how are we to know if one of these creatures is docile or not? It makes progression in this area quite risky,” Rarity said.

“Have you tried your new power?” Luna asked.

“What? The enhanced detail thing?” Spike asked.

“Enhanced perception, and yes,” Luna responded.

“No,” Spike said.

“Then try. It may help you in this situation,” Luna said.

“We will.” Rarity turned to Spike. “We should give it a chance.”

“Ok.” Spike gave a shrug before walking out and doing what Luna instructed by opening every door. When he came upon two Swans, he focused on his connection to Rarity. He didn’t notice anything different until he blinked, then everything faded in color to black and white.

“Whoa!” Spike said, looking around and shocked about his vision.

“Everything alright there?” Applejack's voice echoed in Spike's head.

“Yeah, everything’s just- wait a minute.” Spike noticed that one of the two Swans was giving off a reddish aura while the other didn’t. Wanting to test this, Spike backed up behind a corner and threw a rock. The rock splashed in front of the Swans and suddenly the red one’s eyes flew open and it looked from side to side for a second before closing them.

The other didn’t even move.

“You were right, Luna! It’s helping me see which one is which!” Spike looked further down to see at least one more red one in a corner before the power timed out.

“You see? You shouldn’t doubt a power until you’ve used it,” Luna teased.

“Ok, ok. I admit it. This could be useful,” Spike said with an eye roll. Afterward, Spike began to use the power as he began opening doors left and right. He also made sure to pause when his power had run out and proceeded when it was recharged.

“This is seemin’ easier than the last one,” Applejack said, having temporarily replaced Rarity.

“Yeah. So long as I stay out of their range, they won’t attack me,” Spike said before sneaking past another hostile Swan.

“Jus don’t get cocky,” Applejack warned.

“Psh, me cocky? I’m not-” Spike stopped paying attention for one second, and he bumped into a Swan which unfolded into attack form.

“...You were sayin?” Applejack said with a raised brow.

“Alright, maybe I did get a little- OOF!” Spike grunted as the monster pounced on him and reared up its head to give a hiss.

“APPLEJACK!” Spike cried.

“On it!” Applejack and Spike activated the strength boost and Spike grabbed the head that plunged downward for his neck and wrestled it off of him. As it was getting up, Spike jumped onto its back and grabbed it by the neck.

“I got it!” Spike yelled before he saw the creature turn its head to look at him. Thinking fast, he shot flames into its face, making the creature screech and fall down. “Let’s go!” Spike said, running away from the Swan.

“Yer getting better at handling this. You’ve grown a little since the beginning,” Applejack said as they ran.

“I guess a long series of horrific encounters can desensitize someone,” Spike said with a smile at the compliment. Applejack frowned at this, however, thinking Spike may be developing a new mentality on this situation.

It worried her.

“I think we’re almost done here,” Spike said, collecting the last soul shard he could find. “Is the soul nearby?” Spike called.

“Yes, it is in a chamber not far from here, but be wary. The barrier is still too strong. We fear this means more shard collecting,” Luna said.

“I’ve come to expect that…” Spike said, sounding disappointed.

As the small dragon sloshed his way through the sewer, he made it to the other end without any problems. He came upon a spike trap but he carefully walked around that, then when he reached the door and opened it, he was greeted with the sight that all-around disturbed him.

Countless Swans with empty eyes were piled high, stacked atop each other in some kind of large room with pillars and a strange red light that gave the room an eerie feel.

Spike carefully stepped through the room when he saw something drifting in the middle of the room, a soul, yellow in color.

“Fluttershy’s soul! It’s here-” Spike said before the whole room rumbled and a barely audible roar could be heard.

“W-What was that?” Spike said nervously

The CMC came out of their ring. “I don’t know, Spike. We should get movin’ before we find out,” AB stated.

“Yeah, I want out of this creepy place,” Scootaloo said looking scared

“Agreed,” Spike said, hurrying across the room. When he opened the door and crept out into the deeper part of the sewer, he winced.

“Whew! This place stinks even worse!” Sweetie Belle commented.

Spike looked around and he was surprised to see even more Swans. What shocked him more was he saw a shape dart into the shadows.

“They're hiding in the shadows… Girls, they're changing tactics,” Spike said, turning to them.

“Then we’ve gotta be careful!” Sweetie commented

As the group stuck to the original strategy of opening doors and pausing every now and then to recharge the perception power so they know which Swans were hostile, collecting shards the whole time. Spike came to an impasse when the path was blocked by two hostile Swans.

“I need to get around here.” Spike looked and found an adjacent door. After opening it, he resumed collecting soul shards.

“Look out!” Scootaloo called when she spotted movement in the dark.

Spike didn’t see the pincer attack coming…

Two Swans rushed out of the darkness and Spike could only widen his eyes in surprise as he was struck and sent tumbling. Spike slowly got up and when he saw the one that hit him bobbing up and down and honking while the other one hissed and charged at him. Spike tensed and used his multiplication power. The copies ran around the confused bird monster, the second one pounced on one but the copy vanished.

Spike and his copies continued running and the two copies split off into two different directions. One followed the left one but the other kept on Spike’s trail. Spike glanced back but made sure to avoid eye contact.

Spike pushed into a big room with more pillars and had to circle around and collect several more shards while avoiding his pursuer. Spike turned on his perception ability and saw several Swans in the room were hostile. In order to grab one shard, Spike had to get close to a hostile one and as a result, he now had two scary honking pursuers.

“Do these things ever quit!?” Spike moved along and opened another door and he crawled underneath it. By the time the door opened far enough for the two Swans to get through, Spike had hidden behind a large pipe. The two birds ran past him, thankfully not seeming that bright.

Spike continued through the area he was in, moving down a hallway and he had to carefully maneuver on the edge of the water to avoid disturbing one Swan.

Spike managed to open a door while keeping his eyes on the Swan when he noticed another drifting towards him.

“Oh no you don’t!” Spike shouted running as soon as the door opened, but then he tripped and as he was getting up he looked up to see that he fell in front of another hostile and he locked eyes with it.

It was by sheer force of will that Spike was able to wrench his eyes away and run around the Swan. Spike let out a cry as he felt something bite down on his tail. And he turned to see the Swan had bitten down on it while the other continued to drift towards the two.

“APPLEJACK!” Spike shouted and he called upon his strength power, using it to fling the Swan with his tail. Spike ran past as it was getting up.

Spike continued running and avoiding swans until he was sure he lost them, then he then collapsed onto his back and panted. "I can't catch a break in this area," Spike wheezed.

"Come on Spike! You cannot give up now," Luna encouraged.

"I just need a second," Spike said, sitting up. When he did so he noticed three swans had surrounded him.

"Uh oh," Spike said with dread as the Swans turned hostile.

"Sweetie Belle! Scoota-" Spike said intending to use multiply but before he could get the word words out one of the Swans had captured him in its gaze. The other two pounced before he could snap out of it…

"Oooww…" Spike said, floating in the water at the beginning of the second zone.

"You must not let your guard down, Spike!" Luna scolded.

"Sorry! I just needed a small break. I've been dodging monsters left and right a lot lately."

"Very well, just keep going. You nearly have them all in this area," Luna said.

“Ok ok…” Spike said with a sigh.

Spike wasted no time and got looking, sticking to the original strategy of using his perception power to spot the real Swans. He checked on the right side of the second zone and found nothing.

"The other side, Spike. You need to stay where the shards are," Luna said

"It's not like I have a tablet-like device that can tell me where they are!" Spike complained

Using the path in the middle of the zone, Spike found a room with the last set of shards.

"That's the last of them Spike! Hurry back to the center of the nightmare," Luna said

"Finally!" Spike headed back, only to find the exit was guarded by a swarm of swans. Using his perception ability, he saw that only four of them were hostile while the other five weren't.

“They attempted to lay a minefield,” Spike said out loud.

“We can distract them, Spike,” Sweetie said.

“Yeah! Bring them on!” Scootaloo said, throwing some air punches.

“Thanks, girls,” Spike activated multiply and watched as the copies ran out, stirred the wasp's nest, and ran off, drawing the attention of the Swans. With them out of the way, Spike ran past the lifeless Swans and into the room with Fluttershy’s soul.

As Spike ran over and collected the soul he heard a strange sound and turned to see a familiar shape.

“Oh no,” Spike said as he saw the Shadow.

“That’s far enough, mortal. Credit is due, I am impressed you made it this far, you’ve effectively got my full attention now. A mere baby dragon has managed to pilfer six souls from me. How vexing… Nevertheless, your streak ends here, You see, the Death Swans aren’t the only threat you have to watch out for… the Doom Swan will finish what they couldn’t. Savor these last few minutes mortal, for they will be your last!” The Shadow laughed and vanished.

“Death Swans? Doom Swan?... What is a Doom Swan like exactly-” Spike began before stumbling as the room shook and a roar could be heard. “Uh oh…” Spike gulped as the giant door opened and he saw darkness that almost seemed to envelop the doorway.

“U-uh… h-hello?” Spike said shaking

A pair of large red eyes with black slits stare back at him, and then the creature crept slightly into the room with the darkness receding slightly to show the beast’s body.

The Doom Swan looked like a giant version of the Death Swans only with two fin-shaped wings in place of hooves and its body was peppered with holes, holes that were quickly revealed to be concealing long rotted arms with gloved hands. The creature bobbed its head out and gave a deep and menacing laugh.

“This is crazy! I can’t fight that thing!” Spike screamed before having to jump out of the way as one of the hands lashed out to squash him.

“You must escape!” Luna said.

“How?!” Spike yelled as he continued running, avoiding thrown swans as the creature reached its head down and snapped at him. Its head followed him around a pillar and bit at him but wound end up getting stuck and had to unwind itself.

“First, you must get rid of this creature. Is there a way to close the door it came out of?” Luna said, beginning a strategy.

“Um! I think… Yes! I see something in the middle, Some kind of device with turning cranks!” Spike said while at the same time avoiding the monstrosity that was pelting him with more lifeless Swans, eventually forcing him to hide behind a pillar.

“Turn those cranks then and see if it does something,” Luna instructed.

“Doesn’t that sound a bit like a gamble?” Spike yelled while avoiding the Doom Swan’s head that poked around the side of the pillar and snapped at him.

“You’ll just have to trust us. Spike!” Luna shouted. Spike ran for the device but wound up having to run for cover as several of the hands lashed out at him.

“See, I can’t even get close!” Spike said before realizing he was still out in the open. Spike turned and saw the Swan rear up before dashing its head forward at him. Spike ducked just in time and the Swan wound up smashing its head into a pillar and dazing itself.

“Hey… that could work!” Spike said. Memorizing that for now and running off to the machine, he began turning the crank. The crank gave rusted squeaks as he did so, but eventually, it clicked.

“Yes!” Spike exclaimed only to jump back in surprise, as a hand smashed down where he was a second ago. When Spike looked up, he was snatched by another hand.

“Oh, crud!” Spike yelled as he thrashed to get out of the grasp of the monstrosity. As Spike was brought to the mouth of the creature he used his strength boost to break out of its grip.

The creature growled and slammed its hands down one after another to try and catch Spike, who stumbled and ran around the slamming hands and behind another pillar just in time as the creature had lunged and it ended up smashing its face against the pillar again.

“Alright, you overgrown chicken! Time to go back into your cage!” Spike said, hoping it was a cool line and running forward to grab and turn the crank. Upon doing so, the door slammed shut just as the Doom Swan recovered.

A blaring siren turned on and Spike looked around.

“Did that do it?” Spike said looking around

“SPIKE! The nightmare is beginning to collapse! You must escape!” Luna panicked.

“Ok!” Spike said, running out of the room and into the entrance hall. After locating the exit he ran out into the sewers again.

“You haven't escaped me yet, mortal!”

“Huh?” Spike said, turning around and seeing the wall explode while the Doom Swan descended down the hallway.

"CAN I CATCH A BREAK!?" Spike yelled as he bolted down the path. He intended to take the first left but he saw a Swan bobbing and shifting in place, preventing his access.

"No…" Spike whimpered as he continued running. Everywhere he looked he saw red-eyed Swans guarding the doors, bobbing and taunting him with honks, hissing, and laughter as he ran for his life.

He ran until he saw what looked like a dead-end, then saw a door to his left that was unguarded.

"Yes!" Spike cheered as he activated the door. As it slowly opened, he risked a look to see the monster closing in on him.

"COME ON!" Spike shouted.

Spike decided to squeeze under the door when it was high enough, narrowly avoiding the Doom Swan's snapping maw.

"Keep running, Spike!" Rarity shouted.

"Maybe the door can stop-" Spike was cut off when the door exploded and the massive Swan hissed at him.

"Or not…" Spike groaned as he ran across the next hallway section, the Swans still denying him access to a shortcut.

"I need to buy myself some time. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom! I need you" Spike said and the CMC came out and nodded.

"We're on it Spike," AB said before she and her friends became copies of Spike and ran off to catch the attention of the Doom Swan, slowing it down.

This distraction proved useful as Spike had enough time to slip through the doorway. By the time the big swan got past the CMC, Spike was already at the next door.

"See you later you overgrown chicken," Spike taunted, running down the pathways that led back to the portal.

As Spike approached the outer halls, he noticed a swan floating in his path.

"Just stick to the edge and maybe it'll ignore you," Spike told himself, watching the red eyes watching him.

Spike darted the very moment the swan sprang up and began chasing him

"I'm home free!" Spike said as he closed in on the portal. He was sure that he had no more dangers to worry about, but then the wall right next to the portal exploded and the Doom Swan poked its face through, snapping at Spike.

"AAAAH! WHAT THE-" Spike cried, barely sticking to the left and avoiding it before he tripped in his distraction and tumbled into the portal.

YOU ESCAPED!

Author's Note

Spike survived the Sewers, one thing is for sure though.

He'll need a shower afterward.

As you can imagine this one was tricky to make but for my fans, I managed, :pinkiesmile:

Next time things get a little crazy and we'll have a surprise guest, can you guess who?

Pink Peril

‘Hello floor, my dear old friend. It’s nice to meet you again…’ Spike wryly thought.

For the first time since this crazy adventure started, Spike opened his eyes and found himself on the floor instead of a bed. Groaning in exhaustion Spike rolled onto his back and saw Luna and the CMC hovering over him.

“Spike! Are you alright?” Luna asked.

“Head hurts, everything hurts…” Spike said.

“Worry not, we have already activated the healing spell,” Luna assured him.

“Wh-where’s Fluttershy?” Spike asked.

“Over there,” Apple Bloom morosely said. Spike looked to see Fluttershy being comforted by Applejack and Rarity. She was pale and shaking.

“Poor Fluttershy… Such a gentle soul should not be put through such horror,” Luna said with sorrow.

Spike got up and hobbled over to her despite Luna’s protests that he should lie down.

“Fluttershy? Are you-” Spike began but halted as Rarity gestured for him to give them a minute, and when Fluttershy looked stable enough Rarity trotted over to Spike and hugged him.

“I am so proud of you, Spike. You saved her,” Rarity said and Spike hugged her back.

“It was nothing,” Spike said, trying to sound brave despite his most recent experience.

“Indeed” Rarity giggled before heading over to Luna and talking with her. Eventually, Rarity trotted back to Spike, looking slightly miffed.

“Is everything alright,” Spike asked.

“I asked Luna if we could not include Fluttershy in the next nightmare so she could recover, but Luna insisted that she could be invaluable.”

“Oh,” Spike responded.

“Gather here, everypony,” Luna said, drawing attention to herself. “It is time to begin the tethering of Fluttershy.”

“Can’t we give her more time?” Applejack insisted.

“No, the Shadow won’t wait around. Lives are on the line,” Luna insisted though she looked sad that she was forcing Fluttershy to go on.

“Listen Luna, we need-” Applejack started but was cut off when Fluttershy put her hoof on her shoulder.

“I-I’m fine… I can manage.” Fluttershy stammered as she shakily stood up. “Saving my friends comes first.”

“That is very mature of you, Fluttershy,” Luna said with a proud smile “Just don’t push yourself too much.”

“I won’t,” Fluttershy said quietly.

“Very well, now that is settled, stand over by Spike, please,” Luna said, and just like before Spike watched as Luna assimilated Fluttershy into a ring just like the others.

“Her power of the stare is now yours, Spike. Use it and your foes will be frozen stiff, beware as soon as you get far enough from them they will recover,” Luna warned.

“Cool! I’ve always wanted to know how to use the stare!” Spike said.

“It isn’t a toy, Spike,” Rarity cautioned.

“I know, I know,” Spike said with a nod before walking to the next portal.

“You're not going to rest?” Luna said with a knowing smile.

“No, because my friends need me,” Spike said resolutely. Staring down the next pony was enough to keep him on edge, knowing this could be the toughest one yet.

Because on the portal…

Were three balloons...

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Pink Peril
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike stepped through the portal and the sight of a carnival in the distance let him know what was coming.

“Should have guessed…” Spike said with a facepalm.

“Carnival!? Ah’ve always wanted to go to the carnival!” Apple Bloom cheered.

“I doubt this is the kid-friendly kind of carnival,” Spike said, getting in front of the trio.

“Well, regardless, you must trek onward Spike,” Luna said.

“Alright,” Spike said as the CMC went back into their ring forms and Spike went through the entrance doors and went down the pathways, eventually finding himself at a giant carousel.

“Wow, I have to hand it to The Shadow. He doesn’t skimp on the aesthetics,” Rarity said from within Spike’s mind.

“I d-d-don’t like this p-place,” Fluttershy whimpered and Spike turned to see her on the ground shaking.

“Calm down, Fluttershy. As long as you’re like this, they can’t hurt you,” Spike cooed, moving to rub Fluttershy’s shoulder to calm her.

“Th-thank you Spike,” Fluttershy said with a smile before returning to her ring.

Spike continued on seeing the odd sights as he walked on. All around him were booths with creepy prizes and inedible-looking food with flies buzzing around.

“Eugh, suddenly I’m glad Twilight never took me to the carnival,” Spike said as he rounded a corner and jumped in surprise when confetti shot into the air. And standing among the confetti was a terrifying-looking clown.

It’s eyes were black with yellow dots for pupils, its appearance very macabre. All in all a clown Spike would sooner forget meeting.

“H-hi?” Spike said hesitantly.

“HOWDY THERE NEW FRIEND!” the clown bellowed with a squeaky but familiar voice. Looking closer now Spike could see the curly pink mane and the bouncy demeanor of the clown.

“Pinkie?” Spike said in shock.

“EEYUP BUT AT THE SAME TIME NO!” the creature bellowed at the same volume making Spike cover his ears. “I’M A CLOWN NOW! SERVING THE MASTER AND DOING ALL SORTS OF CLOWNY THINGS! BY THE WAY, LUNA IS STILL BLOCKING HIM FROM THE REAL WORLD AND HE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU’D GET HER TO MOVE HER BIG TUSHY OUT OF THE WAY OR ELSE HE’S GONNA-” The clown shouted until Spike couldn’t take anymore.

“QUIET PLEASE! Talk normally for the love of Celestia,” Spike said, feeling dizzy from all the yelling.

“Pfffft! You’re no fun Spikey, but in any case, we’re bringing a big and fun circus to the real world ponies, and if you don’t surrender now my boss is gonna kill you, but then again he’s pretty mean so he’ll probably kill you anyway unless he’s having a good day in which he’ll probably only partially kill you. Is it possible to partially kill someone? Huh, I don’t know, It probably is but it would take-” Once again Spike interrupted.

“Pinkie! Please!” Spike said with exasperation.

“Oh! Sorry, went off on a tangerine!” The clown giggled at her own joke.

“It’s tangent…” Spike said before shaking his head and stepping forward “Look Pinkie! I just want to help you. Just give me the soul now and I can—”

“Nope nope nope! If you wanna save me you gotta play the game! My master and the plot demand it! Plus the writer is probably getting carpal tunnel just writing this part out so let’s move it along here.” And with that, the pony clown cartwheeled back into the tent.

“I’ll never understand you Pinkie…” Spike sighed before going into the tent and finding himself in a circus ring.

“So far so good,” Spike said as he continued forward, before spotting a ‘test your might’ game ahead. Feeling adventurous he approached it only for Spike to suddenly see a cage descending upon him.

“AAH!” Spike cried as the cage slammed down around him, looking up he saw the -Pinkie- Pinkill Clown (silly author)... descending outside his cage.

“Sorry, I’m late! Had to correct a typo!” the Clown stated.

“Pinkie! Let me out of here!” Spike said, gripping the bars. A car suddenly exited the giant door at the back of the ring and circled the cage several times before opening and spawning a dozen Pinkill Clowns.

“Oh no…” Spike said.

“Sorry Spikey! No can do! Instead, you’re going to be our snack! BON APPETIT!” The clown laughed dementedly.

“Not good!” Spike braced himself before Luna shouted something to him.

“Spike! Use the stare!”

“Oh yeah!” Spike called upon Fluttershy’s power, then opened his eyes and stared at the clowns who froze and gave shrieks, covering their eyes.

“MY EYES! THEY BUUUUUURN! NOOOOOO FAAAAIIIIIR!” the Clowns shouted before they disintegrated into confetti.

“......Works for me.” Spike shrugged at the odd events and used Applejack's strength to pry open the cage.

Spike went ahead into the doorway and found himself in a strange room full of darkness. Ahead of him on checkered tiles was a slide.

“This reeks of deathtraps,” Spike said, approaching the slide.

“You may have no choice, Spike,” Luna commented.

“I’m not going on a-” Spike began before he was pushed from behind by a clown.

“Let’s get a move on here. The readers are getting bored!”

“AAAAAAHHHHH!” Spike cried as he slipped and slid through slide after slide, going in loops and even flying off of the slide on occasion only to land on another one.

“MOMMY!” Spike cried as was launched through the air and faceplanted on a tiled pathway.

“Owowowow…” Spike groaned as he got up and saw his environment.

“What the?” There were many weird things in front of him from two hammers smashing together to giant jack-in-the-boxes, checkered designs dotted a series of narrow pathways, and looking over the edge he saw another set of pathways on a lower level.

"What is this place?" Spike said, feeling confused at all the bizarre happenings around him.

"Well darling, this is Pinkie Pie's nightmare, so this really shouldn't be surprising," Rarity said, appearing to Spike.

"True," Spike said before hearing familiar beeping sounds. Using his perception power Spike looked ahead and saw what looked like several cars descending on his position across the pathways. Somehow, Spike could guess that letting them near him would be dangerous.

“Come on guys!” Spike said running along the pathway to his left. He went into the zone and hung a left as a car came close to him, running through a swirling tunnel. Spike had to return to the rim to avoid more of those cars as they circled around that direction. As he ran along he noticed a red light on the ground in front of him and paused.

“Hmm? What’s thi-” Spike said leaning forward a little only to have an evil jack in the box head snap its teeth inches from his face.

“......................I think my heart briefly stopped…” Spike said stiffly walking on from the scary experience.

Spike ran down the path and saw a car trying to cut him off. He hurried and managed to barely get past the car before it stopped him. However, he heard some honking sounds and turned to see Pinkill Clowns pursuing him.

“Where ya goin Spikey!?” The clowns said with an evil giggle.

“Away from you that’s where!” Spike shouted sprinting faster, upon turning a corner to avoid a second car that was going to ram him and he paused to catch his breath when he couldn’t hear them behind him anymore.

“Whew! Take that you creepy cl-”

SPLAT!

----

“Ow…” Spike was on the ground groaning.

“Look out for the red spots, Spike. Were it not for us, you’d be dragon jelly!” Luna scolded.

“Sorry! I should have checked to see if there were swinging hammers!” Spike let out a groan but got up when he saw more clown cars heading his way. Running to the left, he made his way through a strange but colorful tunnel and grabbed more shards along the way.

As Spike circled around the edge of the pathways he noticed a car cutting him off so he retreated to go down another path. Unfortunately, he found a car coming from that side too. Looking to backtrack, Spike was surprised to see that he was surrounded.

“Uh oh!” Spike said as he saw himself being attacked from all corners. Before the cars could get him, Rarity’s voice called in his head.

“The stare, Spike! Use it!”

“Oh!” Spike said before concentrating and using Fluttershy’s power. A wave of fear hit the cars and they u-turned and left.

“I kinda wish I could do this in real life,” Spike said, patting himself on the back. Afterward he ran across the middle and took care of the other half of the stage, then ran across a pathway but he found two cars waiting for him, parked to cut him off.

“Get out of my way!” Spike demanded. The cars responded by releasing some clowns.

“Nope!” the Pinkill giggled

Spike turned tail and ran away from the pursuing clowns who bounced after him. No matter how far he ran this time they didn’t cease their pursuit.

Spike was about to wonder if he would escape their clutches when he saw a swirling green portal. His choices were creepy random portal or creepy random Clowns.

“Portal here I come!” Spike shouted jumping into the portal as one of the clowns nearly bit his tail.

He wound up on the lower level of the room.

“So this is where that portal leads,” Spike said, seeing the Clowns on the upper floor leaving.

Spike looked ahead on the platform and saw more shards and clown cars.

“Alright, round two!” Spike said with fake cheer before he rushed ahead and grabbed the first two soul shards. A car chased him from behind but Spike thought ahead and used his multiplication power to distract the car that was gaining on him.

“I’m learning how to beat them,” Spike observed, seeing the cars trying to run over the duplicates, which allowed him to retrieve more shards.

Spike hid when the clones vanished and waited for the power to recharge when he suddenly heard an engine rev. He turned around, only to get rammed by a car, sending the dragon skidding.

“Ow…” Spike groaned, sitting up quickly when he saw the Clown car getting ready to run him down.

“Applejack, can I borrow your strength?” Spike asked.

“Gladly,” Applejack said and Spike felt the power rush through him just as the car charged forward. Spike stood his ground, swallowed his fear, and caught the car as it rammed him. Spike grunted as he held back the car, its tires grinding on the floor. Spike continued to hold his ground until he heard noises behind him and turned to see another car had arrived and was spawning Pinkill Clowns. Thinking fast, Spike leaped out of the way and the car wound up careening into the crowd with a sound akin to getting a strike at bowling.

“Yes!” Spike cheered before running on, thankfully there weren’t nearly as many on this floor.

“I’m getting the hang of this!” Spike said as he ran around a corner and through another swirly tunnel. As Spike collected another soul shard he heard the sounds of blows being landed.

“Huh?” As Spike was about to exit the tunnel he yelped as a clown flew past him. He cautiously peeked around a corner and saw something that surprised him.

Clowns being defeated by… Pinkie Pie?!

“Pinkie escaped?!” Spike exclaimed, he was going to go and help her when Luna called out to him.

“STOP!” Luna cried

“What? Why? Pinkie needs me!” Spike said

“That isn’t Pinkie, it is… we are not sure, but she is more dangerous than the Clowns,” Luna said

Spike looked over and saw the straight-haired Pinkie causally overpowering the clowns and even bucking a car off the ledge.

“She looks helpful,” Spike said

“Leave and hope she doesn’t follow, Spike. We sense great hostility from her,” Luna warned.

“Ok, ok,” Spike said before turning back and resuming his collecting of shards, thankfully he had already retrieved the shards that were over there.

As Spike collected the last one he looked around.

“Where do I go from here?” Spike asked.

“There is a portal nearby, Spike. Go left and you’ll find it leads to the next area,” Luna said

“Ok.” Spike followed Luna’s directions until he found the portal.

“And this leads me, where?” Spike asked.

“We are not sure, but better elsewhere than here,” Luna said.

“Agreed. Pinkie needs my help, now,” Spike said entering the portal and he found himself in a strange purple tent.

“Wow,” Spike said, looking around until he could see a pink soul flying around in circles like it was chasing its tail. “Even as a spirit Pinkie is Pinkie.'' Spike chuckled

“Agreed…” a familiar but chillingly calm voice said.

“GYYYAAAAAA!” Spike yelled as he jumped away from the mare that was definitely not there a moment ago.

“No! She’s found you!” Luna exclaimed.

“I-it’s you! Don’t kill me!” Spike said, retreating to the far end of the room.

“Don’t tempt me then,” the not-Pinkie said.

“Who are you?” Spike asked.

“Call me Pinkamena, or just Mena.” The pink pony trotted up to the scared drake.

“Are you-”

“No, I’m just the side Pinkie represses. The Shadow couldn’t contain me.”

“Leave him be, monster, or you will suffer my wrath!” Luna shouted.

“Relax, he’s more entertaining to me alive than dead. Besides, I’ve got bigger fish to fry and he could be useful,” Mena said with an eye roll.

“O-ok,” Spike said, getting closer. “So what now?”

“Now we leave this top and get to the funhouse. Keep up or be left behind,” Mena said, trotting through an adjacent doorway. Spike hesitantly followed.

“She scares me,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Agreed. Keep an eye on her pardner,” AJ said.

“I will,” Spike said.

“I can hear you.” Mena shot them a glare.

“Eeep,” Spike squeaked.

“Sorry darling,” Rarity hurriedly said.

The two proceeded through the tunnel until they found a roller coaster cart.

“Get in,” Mena said, sitting down. It took Spike twenty seconds to work up the nerve to sit by her before the coaster began its descent.

The two move forward through a set of doors. The walls appear to be trippy and filled with swirls and distortions. The cart moved downwards, before heading through another set of doors. The two move forward through a large room, whereupon realizing it they saw something that shocked them... Well one of them.

“What the…?” Spike said, trembling in his seat.

“Ignore them.” Mena did not lose her constant scowl.

As the two moved through the room, they found themselves surrounded by four giant, enormous clowns that laughed and waved at them. The two got past them without any trouble and they go through a few more turns, before entering a room where the walls are a spiraling optical illusion. After a few more twists and turns, the two finally reached the funhouse where they got off the cart at the entrance.

“I NEVER want to go to a carnival after this!” Spike sat down to catch his breath.

“Shut up and listen. I’m going on ahead to look for the Shadow while you take care of what you need to take care of here."

“What?! But won’t it be easier if we work together-” Spike immediately shut up when she sent him a cold glare. “Splitting up! Good idea…. Yeah…” Spike said, hoping she would not knife him.

“Good luck,” Mena said, exiting the scene.

“Well, that’s great…” Spike entered the funhouse after her and found himself in a series of hallways.

Strange writings, giant plushes laying around, and pictures on the walls. Spike wasted no time running past them into the maze of corridors. As the small dragon ran through the halls collecting Soul Shards, he couldn’t help but think that this was far too easy since he had not seen any Pinkill Clowns.

As he was thinking this he ran into a room with cannons that shot giant cannonballs. He ducked under the cannons and crawled quickly to get to the other hallway.

As Spike was starting to wonder if there were any clowns here at all. He suddenly spotted one when turning a corner. It had become frenzied, with a glow-in-the-dark teal skin with black stripes and reddish eyes.

“SPIIIIIIIIIIKEY!” The Clown growled as she approached the scared drake.

“Stay back!” Spike said but his fear grew when he saw more gathering behind her. Suddenly, he felt something grip his shoulders from behind and he jumped when he realized they were behind him too.

“Run!” Scootaloo shouted.

“Good idea!” Spike responded, running down the hall while the swarm of Clowns surged after him. Thinking fast, Spike used his multiplication ability and the copies ran down different hallways. It worked in distracting some, but Spike could still see a large group behind him.

“There's too many to distract!” Spike cried.

Spike hurried down the pathways and hung a left. The clowns swarmed after him, making frenzied gibbering sounds.

"Spike! Use me!" Fluttershy said.

"Gotcha!" Spike had forgotten the stare was usable again, so he spun around and used it, which halted the clown swarm.

Taking advantage of this, Spike ran off and found himself on roller coaster tracks.

"Why are these here?" Spike asked before hearing a noise and turning to see a cart zooming right at him.

"OH CRA-" Spike didn't finish as he was rammed by the coaster and taken with it. Spike climbed onto the seat and looked up to see a Clown in the other seat who stared at him with a sharp-toothed grin. Quickly, Spike activated his strength boost and threw the clown off. Afterward, Spike used the coaster to collect the Shards faster around the rim.

“Ok, time to leave.” Spike timed his jump just right and landed in a corridor where he saw no clowns. After getting over the jet lag, he ran ahead and took a few rights and lefts until he found himself in a hall of what looked like poles.

“Spikey!!” The clowns could be heard skittering about and so Spike didn’t linger, so he gathered the shards and got out just as the clowns began to fill the room.

After he escaped them he found himself in a ball pit room. Thinking quickly, Spike hurriedly ran through the ball pit, when suddenly a pair of hooves grabbed him and pulled him under.

“AAH!” Spike yelped.

The room went quiet for a little bit.

Then Spike leaped out of the ball pit and scrambled to ground level and a Pinkill Clown chased him. Using his strength boost, he spun and punched the clown, sending her flying.

“Take that!” Spike said, feeling a little smug and proud of himself for defending himself. The clown slumped to the ground with her rib cage visibly collapsed… before she sprung to her hooves her chest cavity automatically repaired itself.

“Sorry, Spikey! You can’t kill us, remember?” The clown grinned widely.

“Darnit,” Spike said under his breath before darting away at a full sprint.

Spike ran out of the room as clowns chased him out until he turned a corner and a frying pan hit him in the face.

“OW!” Spike said, hitting the ground.

“Let’s get ’em girls!” The clowns cheered and hovered over Spike with deranged smiles.

“Oh no!” Spike cried, closing his eyes and waiting for their tearing teeth, listening to the grunts and screams as… wait… Spike opened his eyes and saw the clowns were gone and Mena was standing over him.

“Mena-”

SLAP!

“OW!” Spike’s hand flew to the cheek Mena slapped. “What the hay was that for?!”

“For being helpless without me! I can’t save you every time and frankly, it’s a bother for me to do so,” Mena said, trotting away.

Spike so wanted to chew her out, and he would if it weren't for the fact she could literally chew him up and spit him out.

Leaving this be for now, he ran along and gathered the last few that were down the hallway to him.

After doing so he ran for the exit to find Mena waiting for him.

“Took you long enough," Mena said, glaring.

"Sorry. I had to be careful about the clowns," Spike said with an annoyed look. He immediately put the look away when she deepened her glare.

"Get in the cart…" she growled.

"Yes ma'am," Spike said.

The two got in the carts and as they went back, Mena spoke.

"All right, retrieve her soul and make your way back to the portal. I'll remain here."

"You can come with us. We could use your skills," Spike said.

"No, I'm going my own way. If we meet again, then it's chance," Mena said with a tone that forbade argument.

Spike bit his lip and considered his next move as they got back to the purple tent. Upon entering the pink soul flew up to Spike and nuzzled against his cheek.

"Haha, it's nice to see you again too, Pinkie,” Spike said, collecting Pinkie's soul while Mena just rolled her eyes and trotted over to the next portal.

"Mena," Spike said.

"What?" Mena said, sounding annoyed.

"Thanks."

Mena left without another word.

Spike grabbed the soul and walked out of the tent. Upon doing so he saw that he was on a new pathway that eventually led him back to the carousel.

"That was unusually easy. I might actually get out of here without having to face-"

"Hello again, dragon," the Shadow said darkly.

"Why did I not just say that and walk at the same time….?" Spike said as he turned to see the shadowy figure.

"So, here we are again. You having retrieved the soul and me cornering you. This has become a habit I'd like to break."

"You and me both pal…" Spike said with a growl.

"If there's one thing I don't like it's losing and I've lost enough times to you already. This time will be different because I have the upper hand."

"You do? Where?" Spike said, trying to sound tough.

Only to feel the ground rumble and as he looked up he saw the four Titan-like clowns towering over them.

"That's not fair!" Spike complained.

"Deal with it, and keep the After-party Clowns laughing while you die. I will thoroughly enjoy this… Oh, and Luna. I can tell you are watching through him so you have a front-row seat to his demise, enjoy."

With that, the Shadow disappeared.

“No! Spike, you need to get out of there!” Luna shouted.

“No kidding!” Spike yelled running towards the exit only to be cut off by a giant hoof nearly stepping on him.

“SPIIIIIKKEEEEEEY!” The giant clown bellowed.

“LET’S BE FRIENDS SPIKEY!” another spoke.

“AND PARTY ALL DAY EVERY DAY,” said the third.

“AND LAUGH OURSELVES… TO DEATH!” the last one boomed.

Spike screamed and ran around in circles avoiding the pounding hooves of the giant laughing Clowns.

“DON’T YOU WANT SOME PIE!? IT’S YUMMY YUMMY!” The clown behind Spike laughed before picking up a giant pie and throwing it at him.

“A GIANT PIE!?” Spike exclaimed, avoiding it by using his multiply ability.

“This is getting ridiculous!” Applejack said.

“Tell me about it,” Rarity said.

Spike ran alongside his clones but the Clown giants pounding hooves eventually took out the copies and Spike was sent flying from the impact of one of their hooves.

“AAAH!” Spike cried as he flew to the ground with a thud

“SPIIIIIIIKEEEEY!” one of the clowns said, reaching out for him.

“Take this! The stare!” Spike said, staring the clown right in the eye, which made it flinch long enough for him to get away.

“I gotta find a way around them, but anytime I go for the exit they stop me!” Spike said, not noticing the shadow behind him. “I need a plan of attack, maybe if i- GYA!” Spike yelped as one of the clowns scooped him up and held him.

“GOOOOOTCHHAAAAAAA!” the giant clown laughed maniacally.

“OH NO!” Spike flailed in the clown’s grip as it held him over its mouth.

“DRAGON YUMMY YUMMY!” The clown laughed, obviously planning to eat him.

“OH NO! IT CAN’T END LIKE THIS!” Spike yelled.

“DIIIIIIIIIEEEEE- GRAAAAAGH!” The clown suddenly yelled in pain. Spike looked and saw it flailing its head from side to side.

“What? What’s it doing?” Spike questioned as he suddenly saw Mena clinging onto the clown’s head and stabbing it in the eye repeatedly with a splintered pipe.

“I tell ya you're hopeless without me!” Mena angrily yelled at him.

“MENA!” Spike said, feeling glad she came to his aid, again. Meanwhile, another Afterparty Clown threw a punch to nail her only to end up punching the other clown down when Mena leaped off onto the other clown.

Spike hit the ground hard but managed to stand and see the sight of Mena fighting off the giant clowns.

“GEEET OOOOOFFF!” the clown roared.

The clown was able to swat her off, but Mena landed on all fours and snorted.

“You gonna stand there all day staring or are you going to beat it!” Mena yelled before charging back into the fray.

“Oh! Ok, good luck Mena!” Spike called out to her before running back along the path to the portal. He felt rumbling and looked to see one of the giant clowns running toward him.

“OH NO! Come on, come on, come on!” Spike yelled as he was almost there.

The Clown giant lunged but Mena suddenly hopped out of its hair and plunged her weapon into its eye, making it tumble along the ground instead.

Allowing our purple drake to make it into the portal.

YOU ESCAPED!

Spike woke up on his bed, Luna standing over him with a healing spell active.

“Luna? I did it, right?” Spike asked.

The princess smiled proudly and gestured towards a group of ponies celebrating Pinkie’s return.

Pinkie was crying happily and hugging her friends.

“I’m glad.” Spike made a futile effort to stand up. "And tired. Very tired."

“You did this, Spike. Your bravery has saved half the key ponies and in half the time.” Luna helped Spike stand up, and once he was stable on his feet, walked with him over to Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, before you start apologizing, just know I don't hold any hard feelings,” Spike said.

“I’m so glad,” Pinkie whimpered before scooping Spike into a bone-crushing hug.

“Lungs…. Being…. Crushed!” Spike gasped.

“Ooopsie!” Pinkie set a gasping Spike down.

“We must make haste,” Luna said, catching their attention. “There will be time for celebrations later. For now, we must tether Pinkie to Spike.” Luna said only to not see Pinkie anywhere “W-where did she go?!” Luna said, beginning to panic.

“Silly, I’m right here,” Pinkie said.

“Huh? What the?” Spike said, realizing he was wearing a pink ring.

“Pinkie… how did… we did not even cast the spell!” Luna exclaimed.

“Nope, ya didn’t. I used my emergency tether ring, for emergency tether ring purposes.” Pinkie came out of her ring and gave a bow.

“Wha……. You are a very strange mare, Pinkie,” Luna said with a big sigh.

“So…. What power did I get?” Spike asked,

“The power of Pinkies…. Pinkieness.” Luna gave a confused wave of the hoof, obviously unsure how to describe it.

“Wow! I can do what she does?!” Spike said with joy.

“Only for ten seconds, it seems,” Luna said.

“Oh…. still cool though,” Spike said with a shrug.

“Don’t forget the Pinkie sense. That’ll be important I bet!” Pinkie said.

“I didn’t forget,” Spike assured the spirit before turning to Luna. “So who’s next for saving?”

Luna smiled at Spike’s eagerness.

“Come and see.” Luna pointed to the portal.

And on the portal...

A red cross

Author's Note

The circus of terrors has been passed.

And yet why do we have the feeling things will only get more difficult from here onward?

I may or may not be able to post tomorrow but If not then I will the next day until then stay alert. :twilightsmile:

Chapter 4 is coming to FIM.

Medical Menace

Author's Note

Can Spike survive in a hospital that wants the opposite of his well-being?

Just a heads up, there will be a bit of adult content coming up in this chapter, not enough to warrant the sex tag but I'd thought I'd give the fans a heads up.

Anyways enjoy the chapter! Luckily I had enough time before work to do the remaining edits. :pinkiesmile:

Medical Menace

“A red cross?.... I don’t remember, who has that one?” Spike asked, genuinely confused.

“Clearly they must be a nurse,” Rarity pointed out.

“OH OH I know! I know every cutie mark in Ponyville by heart!” Pinkie chirped.

“Yes, Pinkie?” Luna said.

“That’s Nurse Redheart!” Pinkie pointed out.

“Nurse Redheart? But I hardly even know her. Why is she with the main souls?” Spike asked.

“The connection is by the strongest souls not by relation to you Spike, There must be something about this Nurse that the Shadow was interested in perhaps,” Luna explained.

“Hmm, well I guess we gotta help her too regardless,” Spike said before turning to the portal.

“Be wary, Spike. The Shadow and its host become more cautious and smart as time goes on. They know you are nearly halfway to your destination, and they will stop at nothing to ensure your demise,” Luna warned.

“Got it!” Spike nodded before stepping forward into the portal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Menace
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike found himself at a hospital.

“Should have been obvious.” Spike sighed before looking ahead to the entrance.

“Be wary Spike, No matter how innocent a place seems, in the nightmare realm there’s no telling what horrors lie within,” Luna said

“Ah agree,” Applejack said appearing next to Spike “This place has all sorts of wrong written all over it.”

“I’ll be careful,” Spike said walking up to the door “I mean, what could be so shocking about a hospital-” Spike paused when opening the door.

Nurses…

Mares in Nurse outfits with bags over their heads were in a strange room full of music and prancing and the Nurse ponies making these… weird dance moves?…

“What the?” Spike said before AJ slapped a hoof over his eyes and forced Spike to exit the building.

“What the heck Applejack?” Spike complained

“Luna, there has to be another way… Those ponies in there were…” Applejack shuddered uncomfortably

“I understand what is happening in there is… above Spike's age group but he has no choice but to press on,” Luna replied, though her discomfort was clear.

“I REFUSE!” Rarity said forcefully taking control of who is speaking “There is no way I’m allowing those… those… perverts to contaminate Spike's mind!” Rarity said

“Can somepony explain?” Spike asked.

“Have you forgotten what’s at stake, Rarity!?” Luna said ignoring him

“Surely there must be another entrance or-” Rarity yelped as Pinkie replaced her.

“No time girls! We gotta move!” Pinkie got behind Spike and pushed him in there.

“H-hey!” Spike yelped as she pushed him through the doors, Spike could hear their argument in his head but he managed to tune them out.

Spike looked up and found himself in the weird club-like environment and as he walked through he found the ponies doing other dance moves.

Moves that were making him seriously uncomfortable.

“This must be one of those adult parties Twilight warned me about,” Spike said hurrying past the dancing mares.

He eventually found his way to a desk and saw a Nurse pony talking on the phone.

“Mhm, yeah, one of us saw him enter the building, he should be here any minute… understood, bye now!” The Nurse pony hung up and laid back in her chair until she heard a hesitant ‘hello?’

“Hm? Is somepony there?” The Nurse pony looked from side to side.

“Down here,” Spike said.

“Huh? Oh hey there! Twilight's little errand boy! Ain’t you just the cutest!” the Nurse gushed.

“Errand boy? Cutest? Hey! I’ll have you know-” Spike indignantly began before Luna interrupted him.

“Later Spike!” Luna said

“Ugh, fine, Listen… are you really Nurse Redheart? This all seems a little… weird for a Nurse.” Spike gestured to the club-like environment.

“Oh no, Sweetie. Nurse Redheart ain’t here no more. She’s busy elsewhere, but my associate here can take care of you.” The Nurse gestured to another Nurse who trotted over to him.

“Watcha need?” the Nurse asked.

“Uh… the soul?” Spike meekly asked.

“Hmm……… Sure! I can take you right to it!” the Nurse cheerfully said as she suddenly sprouted a pair of wheels on her hooves and skated off.

“...This is by far the weirdest nightmare yet,” Spike said following her “The monsters here seem friendly, and nothing scary has happened yet,” Spike said as she led him off through a hallway. Spike noted with some alarm that the Nurses behind the windows were making more of those weird movements… Spike honestly wanted out as soon as possible.

“It’s a real shame you're a kid. We adults have so much more fun!” The Nurse giggled.

“Seriously, is Nurse Redheart secretly a perv?” Spike said, following her into another hallway.

“Oh deep down we’re all a little kinky,” she said, glancing back at Spike.

Spike swallowed his discomfort and continued on.

“Alright! Here we are!” The Nurse stopped at a room.

“The soul’s in there?” Spike asked.

“No, but before we give you the soul we need to do a few check-ups, just as a precaution. You still want the soul, don’t ya?” The Nurse said with a tilt of the head.

“Yeah,” Spike said.

“Alright, follow me.” The Nurse went in and Spike followed.

“Spike, I don’t like this…” Spike turned and saw Fluttershy, who switched to AJ.

“Yeah, ah don’t trust this Nurse,” Applejack said.

“She said she’d give us the soul if we followed her,” Spike said.

“Just be careful who you trust,” Luna said

“I will,” Spike said going in.

“Took ya long enough,” the Nurse said.

“Sorry. So what’s going on here?” Spike asked.

“Simple. I’m just going to check your weight first. Once you are ready to begin accepting our mercy, please step up onto the scale." Spike shrugged and did as he was told.

Not ten seconds passed when suddenly a jet of flame from the ceiling struck him and he screamed and tumbled to the ground.

Thank goodness dragons are fireproof.

“What the hay was that!?” Spike yelled at the Nurse who just innocently tilted her head.

“Oh dear, must have been a malfunction. We’ll get that fixed. Meanwhile, if you'll follow me.” The Nurse left and Spike hesitantly followed her.

“Ah told you we shouldn’t trust her! Had you been a normal pony you’d be charbroiled right now” Applejack said angrily.

“What do I do?” Spike said as they paused.

“What you do is go in to give a little blood,” the Nurse said and when Spike backed away she spoke again.

“Oh don’t be a baby, it’s just a little prick. Now get in there.” The Nurse shoved Spike in and Spike found himself in a room with a bunch of holes in the walls.

“Spike, I don’t trust this! Get out of here!” Rarity demanded.

“How? I think she locked the door!” Spike asked.

“Oh! Oh! Memememe!” Pinkie said.

“That’s right if Pinkie can escape, so can you!” Luna said.

“Gotcha!” Spike used Pinkie's power and jumped out of view. He reappeared outside of the room and turned just in time to see through a window a dome of needles converging where he was standing a moment ago.

“Hey! How did you get out of there?!” The Nurse barked.

“You tried to kill me back there!” Spike shot back.

“Whaaaat, no. We just needed a little blood, but as always kids are scared of needles. If you’ll follow me.” The Nurse began to skate away but Spike stomped.

“No! Take me to the soul!” Spike yelled at the Nurse.

“Don’t be a brat, kid.” She spun around and threw a pill at Spike. As it hit him, his body suddenly went limp and he fell over.

“W-what? I can’t move!” Spike cried.

“Because I’ve stunned you. These pills sure are handy aren't they?” She grabbed Spike by the nape of the neck and tossed him into another room.

“Stay in there and accept our mercy!” the Nurse said before slamming the door. A red barrier appeared just as Spike regained feeling.

“It’s official. They're no different than the other monsters!” Sweetie Belle said as the CMC came out.

"Applejack! I need assistance!" Spike said as he saw an x-ray machine beginning to shake and glow.

"On it!" AJ said and Spike used his strength boost to punch through the barrier, and then he busted through the door, just in time to avoid an explosion.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" The Nurse skated after him as Spike ran for his life.

"You're crazy! I'm out of here!" Spike screamed.

“Nopony likes an unruly patient! Get back here!” the pony Nurse said impatiently.

“Nope!” Spike said, opening a double door before locking it and backing away.

The Nurse got to the door and banged on it a few times before stopping and looking through the little window at Spike, sighing in frustration.

"So that’s how it is. Seems Luna picked a stubborn one. Oh well, I tried to be nice about it but if death is what you want, it’s death you're gonna get! A male who refuses our salvation is another male who dies! And it’s not gonna be painless I assure you! But look at the bright side.” The mare stared down at him. “You’re never gonna see it coming!” And with a laugh, the mare spontaneously vanished before Spike’s eyes.

“What the? Where did she go?!” Spike said while backing away.

“It’s worse than we thought. Spike, be wary. They can conceal themselves,” Luna said.

“Wonderful.” Spike went through the room, opening a door and approaching an elevator.

Pressing the button, Spike stood back as the elevator opened. With an additional look around, he got in. When he arrived on the level he needed to reach, he exited into a lobby.

“Where do I go from here?” Spike wondered but jumped a little as a speaker came on.

“Attention Nurses! We have an unruly patient loose in the hospital. All Nurses are to be on high alert and the hospital is in lockdown until further notice. Full lethal mercy is authorized. That will be all.”

“Ulp, maybe they won’t know it’s me-” Spike said before the voice came back on.

“Oh and just if you're wondering, he looks like a small purple dragon so aim low if you wanna nail him!”

“Seriously! Argh!” Spike kicked a wall in frustration.

“It seems we have no choice but to venture forth and be ready for anything,” Rarity said. “You may want to use me a lot in this place if they can turn invisible.”

“Got it,” Spike said before entering the fray.

Seeing shards already he ran forward and began collecting them. As he ran around a hallway he heard roller blades scraping against the floor.

“Where are they?” Spike said, looking from side to side.

“Spike! Remember me!” Rarity said.

“Oh yeah!” Spike used precise vision to see a red shape moving to his left.

“Little cheater!” The Nurse growled and appeared wielding a giant syringe so big it looked like it could impale a pony.

“WHAT THE?!” Spike said, stepping away.

“You may feel a little PRICK!” And with that, the Nurse drove the needle forward and Spike jumped away from it and ran.

“Did you see the size of that needle?!” Spike shouted running through several hallways to avoid the Nurse chasing him but when she vanished again he had to just pick a direction and run.

“Spike! Use me!” Pinkie said.

“Ok!” Spike activated Pinkie’s power and dove through a door.

When the Nurse came through, she looked around for him.

“Where are ya? You little twerp!” the Nurse said as she looked.

Meanwhile, another Nurse came in.

“Didja find him?” one asked the other.

“Briefly, but it seems he gave me the slip,” the other Nurse said with clear disappointment.

“Don’t worry, he won’t escape our mercy! Come on!” And with that, the two left and Spike poked his head out from a ceiling lamp.

“Whew…” Spike said before hopping down and running on.

Spike collected more shards until he entered a morgue. As he was about to leave he heard voices and dove behind one of the counters.

“When we kill him, I wonder if the boss will let me stuff him and keep him,” one of the Nurses said as she skated past.

“Don’t count on it,” the other Nurse said as they skated on.

“These Nurses are hard to see coming,” Spike said as he ran after they left only to bump into a solid figure.

“Thought there was something off,” the Nurse said as she appeared.

“Crap!” Spike tried to run but a thrown pill hit him on the head and he fell limply to the ground.

“Sorry darlin, but I got my orders.” And with that, she raised her syringe and plunged it down for Spike's heart.

---Elsewhere---

Spike got up having been saved by Luna at the last second.

“Be careful, Spike. Remember Rarity’s power can counter their invisibility,” Luna said.

“I know, I know,” Spike said as he ran on.

Spike ran through the hallways collecting shards and using Rarity’s power to keep an eye peeled until he suddenly tripped. As he looked behind him to see what he tripped on, he saw a Nurse appear.

“Whoops, clumsy me!” The Nurse giggled before driving her syringe forward like a spear. Spike twisted his body a few times to avoid the needle before biting her hoof.

“OW! You little savage!” She brought out a pill but Spike moved first and used Applejack's strength to punch her and she flew into a wall.

Spitting a little blood, she looked at Spike with an implied angry glare through the bag over her head.

“You’d hit a mare!?” She got up and Spike ran for it.

As he ran through a door still collecting shards another Nurse appeared and tried to blindside him but Spike ducked the swing and she wound up hitting the Nurse chasing him.

“Ouch!” the Nurse cried hitting the ground.

“Whoopsie!” the other Nurse said.

“Hah! I’m out of he-” Spike was cut off as he ran between an electrical gate he didn’t see and he was blasted with electricity. He screamed and hit the ground twitching after it stopped.

“SPIKE!” Rarity cried kneeling beside him.

“Are you okay?!” Luna said sounding worried

“Y-yeah, thankfully you can’t burn a dragon…” Spike coughed smoke and looked behind him to see the other two Nurses recovering. he quickly got up and ran for it.

“It seems they’ve laid traps,” Luna pointed out.

“Really?” Spike said, avoiding another electric gate and the two Nurses going after him. Spike repeatedly used his precise vision ability to keep track of them and he nearly slipped on the floor when he rounded a corner.

Eventually, he couldn’t hear the two anymore. He stopped to take a breath.

“Ow, my lungs,” Spike wheezed before realizing he was at a fork in the road.

“Which way?” Spike asked.

“Left?” Scootaloo offered as the CMC came out

“THERE YOU ARE!” A Nurse shouted as she entered from the left door.

“Right! Go right!” The three fillies frantically cried.

“Ok!” Spike darted away from the pony trying to skewer him.

“Girls, time to split!” Spike said and the CMC nodded and became copies of him before splitting off to the sides.

“What the?” The Nurse paused as she looked around at the copies running through different doors.

Spike kept to the edge of the maze and collected the shards there before Luna spoke to him.

“That’s good, Spike. You have all the shards here.” Luna said as Spike collapsed to catch his breath.

“Thank goodness. But let me guess, there’s more elsewhere.”

“Yes,” Luna sadly admitted.

“Point the way.” Spike got up and Luna directed him to a door outside. As he exited he took a deep breath.

“Good to be out of that nuthouse,” Spike said.

“Hey! Who’s hospital are you calling a nuthouse!?” A Nurse angrily said hopping down from the roof, a second one joining her.

“Oh great,” Spike said, backing away.

“There’s nowhere to run, little guy. Just surrender to our mercy,” the Nurse said.

“Mercy?! Your brand of mercy involves baking me, needling me, and whatever that x-ray was going to do to me!” Spike said.

“Eh, don’t be a scaredy-cat,” the evil Nurse said before approaching Spike.

“Psst! Spikey!” Pinkie whispered to Spike.

“Gotcha,” Spike said before jumping into a trashcan next to him.

“Are you desperate or just stupid? We saw you jump into that trashcan,” the Nurse said before bucking it over.

But Spike wasn’t in it.

“What the?!” The two shouted. Meanwhile, in the background, Spike exited another trash can and quietly entered the next door.

“Whew!” Spike ran down several hallways and found himself at an ambulance. After looking around, he saw signs on the walls telling him to get on top of it.

“Sure, why not?” Spike got on the raising platform and jumped onto the ambulance vehicle.

The ambulance vehicle drove off and Spike held on tightly. It took several minutes but he managed to hold on until he arrived at another road junction. Getting off, he entered a series of hallways and found himself at a door.

“Well, here goes nothing.” Spike entered the room and found himself on a catwalk. The sight of Nurses immediately made him get down onto the ground and he snuck up to the railing.

It was a room with damaged ambulances and rubble was strewn about. And in the center of the room was a white soul.

“There’s so many here,” Spike said.

“What should we do?” Luna said.

“Well, we’re obviously going to have to sneak past them. Now how do we do tha-”

“GET TO WORK!” A booming voice echoed about the chamber and when Spike looked up his jaw dropped.

A mare at least ten times his size… anypony’s size was behind a massive counter.

She had to be at least the size of an Ursa Minor.

Her coat was black, her mane and tail was red, and sitting on the desk was a scalpel. This scalpel was massive, like big enough to cleave through a normal pony in one swing.

“We’re sorry, Nurse Blackheart. This little dragon gave our girls at the main building some trouble, and now he’s coming here!” the Nurse shouted up to her better.

“Well, assemble the Nurses here! I want that dragon captured the moment he shows his face!” Nurse Blackheart said back.

“Aye aye, Blackheart!” The Nurse saluted before skating off.

“That’s Nurse Redheart? She’s huge!” Spike said not noticing the door opening and closing behind him.

“Ah think we should steer clear of her,” AB helpfully said.

“Agreed, a Nurse that big would be-” Spike said before a sudden voice cut him off.

“It ain’t nice to call a mare, big y’know,” the voice said. Spike whirled around just in time to get the back of a syringe to the face.

“SPIKE, NO!” Luna shouted as Spike fell unconscious.

---later---

Spike woke up in a jail cell. As he looked around, he spotted the open door, and not wasting a minute he tried to bolt, only for the door to slam in his face and a Nurse to appear.

“Naughty naughty,” the Nurse said.

“Let me out!” Spike said.

“I’m thinkin, no.” This Nurse was red in color now as opposed to her previous white.

“I’ll get out,” Spike said, running up to the bars and using AJ’s strength boost, but the bars didn’t budge.

“Sorry, reinforced steel bars. I bet they could even hold Celestia at her worst,” the mare said with a laugh.

Spike sat down to catch his breath while the Nurse kept talking.

“Now that you’ve given up, listen well. You’ve caused our boss the Shadow a lot of trouble by stealing his souls, so kindly have Luna undo the enchantment on the souls and return them and we’ll put a good word in for ya.”

“Not a chance! They're not his souls to begin with!” Spike shouted.

“So unruly, what a shame. Well if you’re not going to give them back willingly, we’ll just hold you here until our boss arrives and tortures you until you cough ‘em up.” And with that, the Nurse skated away.

“I really don’t like the sound of that.” Spike shuddered.

“We need to get out of here,” Sweetie Belle said.

“I got an idea. Pinkie!” Spike said and Pinkie came out.

“Got it, chief!” Pinkie saluted

Spike glowed pink and he jumped into a bucket that was in the corner and reappeared outside the bars.

“I am so glad to have your powers, Pinkie,” Spike said, knowing he can flaunt that he figured out Pinkie's powers before Twilight later.

“Yeppers, it’s good to be partners!” Pinkie cheered.

Spike then crept along the hallways using Rarity’s power to keep an eye out for the Nurses. When he found his way back to the main room, he hid behind an ambulance.

“We need to sneak by them,” Luna said.

“Got it,” Spike said. He activated Pinkie's power again and quickly dove in and out of view, hiding while the big Nurse was looking.

“Come on, hurry!” Spike whispered as Blackheart looked down at a paper she was writing on.

Suddenly, Spike’s Pinkie Sense began to tingle and he realized he was about to be spotted. He hid under an ambulance as one of the Nurses skimmed past where he was.

“Nothin’ to report,” the Nurse said, moving on.

Spike crawled out and shuffled over to the big desk, slowly walking around the back of it to avoid the giant Nurse.

“Don’t see me, don’t see me, don’t see me,” Spike said under his breath over and over again. Thankfully, she didn’t and Spike got out of there.

“Whew, I made it without being seen,” Spike said, running on.

He had to pause briefly as he came upon a buzzsaw coming out of the ground and then he ran on to find himself in a vaguely prison-like environment with shards visible.

“What the? What kind of Hospital is this?” Spike said before hearing a siren blare.

“Attention Nurses! The patient has escaped his detention. I want him found and killed! Don’t make me take care of this myself or you’re all gonna suffer for it!” Nurse Blackheart boomed over the speaker.

“Oh crud,” Spike moaned before running on. He began to collect shards as he heard voices echoing all over the area.

“There he is!”

Spike instinctively activated his perception power to spot two Nurses descending upon him. He turned and ran around a corner as the Nurses pursued. As he ran towards a metal platform, he remembered what it did and jumped onto it. It carried him to an upper pathway while the two Nurses slung curses at him.

Spike ran along the upper pathways and found more shards but as he was running to grab them a buzzsaw came out of the ground and Spike narrowly skidded to a stop before the saw.

“Whew…” Spike’s relief was short-lived when a Nurse appeared behind him and hit him with a pill making him limply fall forward onto it with a surprised scream.

“Darnit!” Spike said back at the entrance.

“You have to be observant here, Spike” Luna scolded.

“Easier said than done.” Spike approached a pillar bearing an insulting message.

‘Stallions are weak and stupid.’

“Sheesh… how small-minded are these Nurses?” Spike shook his head before moving on. He ran through a hallway, but when he heard a whirring noise he hit the floor as saws whizzed by above his head.

“This place is crazy!” Spike got up and ran through the halls before the saws could come back.

Spike ran along and collected the shards while using the perception power to keep an eye out.

Spike paused at a corner when he saw several cloaked Nurses with perception. He waited until they left before going out to collect the shards in that area and moving on to the next.

Where he was suddenly bucked off his feet and hit a wall.

“Ow!” Spike said, looking up and seeing three Nurses standing there.

“That’s far enough, dragon!” one of them said.

“I still got a trick up my sleeve!” Spike said, getting and coughing a little blood.

“Oh yeah?” another Nurse said.

“The STARE!” Spike shouted and he used Fluttershy’s go-to move that caused the Nurses to gasp and back away.

“Now, Spike!” Fluttershy said.

Spike ran while the Nurses were still recovering and jumped onto another platform.

Now on the upper catwalks, Spike ran around while the Nurses tried to find available lifts to get up there.

Spike ran around the upper catwalks collecting shards, he made it into another area, and to check he immediately used Rarity’s power. He spotted two Nurses heading down two other paths so he took the middle one and looped around as the two nurses gave chase.

When he was done with that area he leaped down to the lower level and wasted no time running through a minefield of buzzsaws.

Spike had to pause and step around them.

“Yikes!” Spike yelped as one grazed him.

“You’ll never make it out!” one Nurse said as she skated around the buzzsaws. Spike hurried through the traps and spotted another lift. He looked back and had to duck a swing from the Nurse behind him, then spurted some flames to keep her back before running over to the platform and climbing on. The Nurse tried to leap on as well, but as she gripped the side, Spike kicked her hooves making her fall back down.

With that bad experience out of the way, Spike ran down the path in front of him.

“The last shards are down this path!” Luna said.

“Ok!” Spike said as he saw the shards he needed to collect.

After Spike grabbed the last one he could find, he paused to catch his breath.

“Luna? Did I get them all?” Spike asked.

“You did! Hurry!” Luna said.

Spike was about to do that when suddenly something appeared above him.

A Nurse was clinging onto the ceiling

“Peekaboo!” The Nurse said as Spike looked up, and he screamed when she dropped down on him.

Spike thrashed in her grip and she threw him against the wall, then stomped on his back.

“No!” Spike cried reaching for a wall to get some traction but he gave a pained scream when the Nurse plunged her syringe through his hand.

“GYAAAAAAAAAA!” Spike screamed in pain

“Aw did that hurt? So sorry, all out of Novocaine” The Nurse taunted before rolling Spike over and she wrapped her hooves around Spike's neck before trying to strangle him.

“L-luna…” Spike wheezed.

“I’m trying Spike! It’s not working!” Luna said audibly panicked.

“Yer princess can’t save you now! JUST. DIE. ALREADY!” The Nurse tightened her grip.

“LET HIM GO!” Rarity screamed trying to buck her off of him only for her hooves to phase through the Nurse.

Spike’s mind was ablaze with thoughts about this being the end, he tried to use his strength boost but his mind was growing foggy as the Nurse was strangling him.

But just as he was about to give in, thoughts about Twilight and the others being the slaves of a dream demon for eternity spurred something inside him.

“I. WON’T. DIE. HERE!” Spike yelled and he used Applejack’s strength to pry the Nurses' hooves off of him.

“What?! You shouldn’t have any strength left!” The Nurse said in disbelief

Spike blasted her in the face with fire. She pulled back in time to avoid the flames, but she fell back which let Spike get up and run as fast as he could.

He clutched his bleeding hand tightly but gritted through the pain.

He made it down to the entrance and ran through the hallways until he was in the room the big Nurse was in, only to pause when he saw she wasn’t there.

“Oh great, where did she go?” Spike asked.

“We should keep moving, Spikey. You're bleeding an awful lot.” Rarity said, looking very worried.

“Agreed.” Spike stumbled towards the soul before pausing at an ambulance.

“What is it, Spike?” Rarity asked.

“Give me a sec.” Spike crawled into the ambulance, dug through some of the supplies, and thankfully found bandages. “Guess I'm lucky they didn’t bother to clean these things out.”

Spike then wrapped up his hand and exited the vehicle.

“Smart idea, Spike,” Luna said.

“Thanks” and with that Spike grabbed the soul and left for the exit.

Spike went down a few more hallways until he found himself at a similar junction and an ambulance waiting for him.

“Convenient” Spike said before using the platform to leap onto the Ambulance and it took off.

Spike took this time to lay down and catch his breath.

“JUST WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING, DRAGON!?” A booming voice yelled out.

“Give me a break…” Spike sighed as he got up and saw Blackheart and a small army of red Nurses pursuing him.

“I repeat, GIVE ME A BREAK!” Spike said.

Nurse Blackheart held the oversized scalpel in her mouth. “I’m gonna grind you to dust!” she shouted, somehow not dropping her weapon.

“What do I do?!” Spike said looking around and he saw other ambulances ahead. Thinking fast, Spike jumped onto the next ambulance as Blackheart sliced the other one in half.

Meanwhile, a Nurse jumped onto Spike's car and pointed her weapon at him.

“You're a tough one to catch, but now that Blackheart is in on it, you're through!” She tried to stab Spike again but Spike dodged it and used the stare.

The Nurse froze up and Spike pushed her off, making her tumble back and into the big Nurse.

“Oof!” Blackheart grunted.

“Wait… Idea!” Spike said, memorizing that for now.

“GET BACK HERE!” Blackheart drove her scalpel forward and slashed the tires on the car. It overturned and Spike leaped onto another ambulance.

A Nurse jumped onto the ambulance Spike was on and tried to stab Spike but he caught the needle and held it back before staring at the Nurse to stun her and then he tossed her at the big Nurse with AJ’s strength, Blackheart grunted as the mare hit her.

“HOW DARE YOU HIT A MARE!” Blackheart roared

“You're the ones trying to kill me!” Spike said

Blackheart responded by skating up to the car Spike was on and swinging her scalpel down several times, cutting gaps in the roof of the ambulance while Spike avoided the swings. Growling in anger at Spike's evasion, she got closer, putting her forehooves on the vehicle.

“You're going down!” She tried to punch Spike, but he jumped back and landed on the hood. Blackheart leaned further over the ambulance and swung her forehooves down to try and crush Spike, but he still managed to hold on and avoid the swings at the same time.

Thinking quick, Spike used multiply and all of his copies ran up to her

“What the?” Blackheart became disoriented by all the Spikes.

The real Spike shot flames into her face, making her scream and back off as the flames lit her bag on fire.

“Take that!” Spike said.

“YOU’LL PAY WITH YOUR LIFE!” Blackheart screamed and in a blind fury she threw her scalpel into the ambulance Spike was on, making the ambulance lose control and begin to toss from side to side. Spike clutched onto the side as it overturned and slid across the ground.

“Ah, Tartarus…” Blackheart said, realizing her mistake before the ambulance collided with her, sending the giant mare tumbling.

“Spike! Get off of there!” Luna called out.

“Pinkie!” Spike yelled as the ambulance blew up.

The Nurses all paused at the wreckage.

“No way he survived that,” one Nurse said

“What about Blackheart?” another asked.

“What about her? We don’t die, remember?” The Nurses all converged to investigate.

Not noticing Spike was on another ambulance that was driving away.

“See ya,” Spike wheezed.

---later---

Spike arrived at the junction and hopped off.

“Spike, your heroics this time around were outstanding,” Luna said.

“I guess I'm getting used to fighting monsters. It’s nothing, really,” Spike said, feeling proud of himself before hearing a siren blare again and the voice of Blackheart shouted over the speakers.

“All Nurses, guard the portal with your lives! HE DOES NOT LEAVE!”

“Guess I’m not done yet,” Spike said as he ran down the halls and into the elevator.

After exiting the elevator Spike ran down the halls and into a decontamination area. He heard sounds behind him and looked to see Nurses banging on the glass trying to get through.

“See you later!” Spike said as he left that area and made his way through another door but saw two red Nurses.

“NO MERCY LEFT YOU BRAT!” One Nurse screamed as the other grabbed her, spun her and threw her, while the thrown one tried to stab him.

Spike responded by jumping to the side and avoiding the needle by a mere inch and kicking the Nurse in the face as she flew past him.

“After all I've been through, NOTHING will stop me from saving my friends!” Spike said as he ran up to the other one and used the stare on her. Then he ran around her while she was stunned and made his way back into the club area.

“GET HIM!” There were six Nurses in the room but Spike used his copies to confuse them while he ran past them.

“NO! HE CAN’T LEAVE!” One of them chased him out of the hospital and into the parking lot.

Spike was nearing the portal and just as he was almost there the Nurse jumped and drove her needle right through his back and through his heart.

"Hah! I got him!" the Nurse cheered.

"Nope, ya didn't," a country voice replied.

"What?" The Nurse said in disbelief as the Spike she stabbed vanished and was replaced by Apple Bloom, her needle phasing right through her.

"See you later!" The Nurse looked up and saw the real Spike standing by the portal.

"NO!" The Nurse cried before Spike jumped in.

YOU ESCAPED!

Animatronic Anarchy

Spike cracked his eyes open and groaned in exhaustion.

“Luna?” Spike weakly said.

“I am here, Spike,” Luna said as she knelt beside him on his bed.

“Good, that means I did it…” Spike noticed something odd. His whole body should be hurting but wasn’t.

“Your healing spells are really good, Luna. I don’t feel as much pain as I should,” Spike said.

Luna chuckled. “Actually, I merely provided the healing magic. The one who helped the medical process along was Nurse Redheart.” Luna stepped to the side to show Redheart, who smiled down at Spike.

“Spike, you saved me. Thank you!” And with that, she let a few tears loose. “I’m so sorry for the things they did to you.”

“It’s okay.” Spike tried to sit up and failed. Luna helped him up and he took a few deep breaths.

“Man, that was a tough one. How many more do we have?” Spike hesitantly asked.

“Five more and the Shadow should be weakened enough for me to break his hold on the other souls,” Luna explained.

“Good. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.” Spike hopped down from his bed and stretched out.

Before being tackled by several ponies.

“SPIKEY-WIKEY!” Rarity cried.

“Ya’ll alright there, Spike?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I just tackled you because it looked fun,” Pinkie admitted.

“Guy’s! Need air!” Spike managed to wriggle out from the pony pile.

“Sorry, dear,” Rarity said sheepishly. “But are you alright? Your hand, I mean.”

“Yeah, with Luna and Nurse Redheart’s help, I'm good as new,” Spike said.

“I’m so glad. You almost died back there,” Rarity said with a few tears in her eyes.

“You were so cool back there, Spike! Like an action hero or something!” Scootaloo said throwing some punches and kicks to demonstrate.

“Ahem,” Luna said, which caught their attention. “As proud of Spike and glad for his safety we all are, we must begin the tethering of Redheart.”

“Please let me rest a little longer” Spike almost whined.

“Sorry, Spike, but much time has passed while you were in there. We cannot extend your time much further.”

“Ok…” Spike groaned.

Luna nodded before activating her spell and binding Redheart to Spike.

“Your newest ability is to restore yourself, although the cooldown of the power is quite long.”

“I can heal myself? Sweet!” Spike said, glad he didn’t have to worry about injuries anymore.

“Do not become careless with this power, Spike,” Luna warned.

“I won’t,” Spike said back.

“Very well, then come. The next nightmare awaits.” Luna led Spike to the next portal.

And on this portal were three cutie marks…

A grilled cheese sandwich
A wand
And bubbles

“Hm… I know one of them is Trixie but who are the other two again?” Spike asked.

“Derpy and Cheese Sandwich!” Pinkie said, getting excited about getting Cheese back.

“Oh, great. Another pony with Pinkie-like energy.” Spike sighed.

“You know what you have to do by now, Spike,” Luna said.

“Yeah, let’s go save them!”

Spike walked into the portal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Animatronic Anarchy
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike found himself on cobblestones amongst buildings, lined up side by side stretching into a fog and street lights lining the way.

“Huh? Where are we?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know,” Rarity said.

“I don’t trust it, not after that hospital.” Spike walked forward, eventually coming to a castle, only it looked unfinished.

Spike shivered as an air of foreboding came over him.

“Spike, are you okay?” Rarity asked.

“Y-yeah… Yeah.” Spike hurried off to the right and found himself at an entrance to a hallway.

Spike was about to enter when he noticed a camera to his left.

“A camera?” Spike said.

“It would probably be best not to be seen by it,” Rarity said.

“Agreed.” Spike kept to the side underneath the camera’s view. After he made his way through, he found himself at a window when suddenly a light flickered on.

And behind the glass was Cheese Sandwich and Derpy, but they looked… different. They looked the same as always but there was something off about them.

“Hey, Spike!” Cheese said.

“Cheese?” Spike said, backing away a little.

“Yeppers! And this is Derpy! And together we’re H.F.W.P.W.C!” Cheese cheered.

“Whaa?” Spike said confusedly.

“Happy Friends Who Play With Children,” Pinkie said, appearing in place of Rarity.

“That can’t be it,” Spike said.

“Actually she’s spot on! GG Pinkie!” Cheese said.

“Wait, seriously?” Spike said incredulously.

“Yep! I'm also an expert at deciphering acronyms!” Pinkie said

“In any case, welcome! To Our Land Of Fun And Excitement And All Day Parties! Or O.L.O.F.A.E.A.A.D.P for short!” Cheese said.

“And muffins! Don’t forget the all-you-can-eat muffins!” Derpy joined in.

“Who names a place that! That’s so weird!” Spike exclaimed.

“Ain’t it great? Now venture forth young traveler! Our theme park of joy is just ahead!” Cheese said followed by laughter.

What creeped Spike out is that the laugh started mirthfully but quickly became sinister before the lights cut out.

Spike felt fear at those words.

Theme parks…

“Spike, are you ok?” Applejack said appearing.

“Yeah, why?” Spike asked.

“Yer shaking like a leaf,” Applejack stated.

“I’m fine!” Spike said before moving on and breaking the boards blocking his way.

“Ah can tell something is up, Spike. We’ll talk about it eventually,” Applejack said.

“I said I’m fine!” Spike said, making his way into the weirdly named park.

Spike hurried in and spotted a camera and so he ran left. He found some shards and began collecting them as he ran along the pathways.

As Spike ran he couldn’t help but notice his surroundings. A frightening memory came into Spike’s head and he had to pause.

“Spike, what are you doing?” Luna asked.

“I-i’m sorry, just got distracted,” Spike said before hearing galloping and turning to see Cheese running for him.

“Hey kid! Wanna play!?” the pony yelled running for him.

“H-hey Cheese, wait!” Spike said, unsure what he planned to do.

Things crystallized when Cheese whirled and bucked him.

“AH!” Spike yelped, tumbling along the ground.

“Didn’t I mention I tend to get rough when playing around?” Cheese said with an evil snicker.

“Cheesie! That was mean!” Pinkie scolded coming out of her ring.

“Hey, I’m just entertaining a visitor. Boss’s orders after all.” Cheese gave a laugh and leaped at Spike who got up and ran away from him.

“Hey get back here! Where’s your H.F.W.P.W.C spirit!?” Cheese yelled running after him.

Spike quickly activated Pinkie's powers and dove behind a wall, reappearing atop a roof cone.

“Did I lose him?” Spike asked

“NOPE!” Spike whirled to see cheese there before he was pushed off and he hit the ground hard.

“Agh!” Spike yelped, once again thankful for his tough scales.

“How did you find me?” Spike asked.

“Are you forgetting that me and Pinkie have the same abilities? My cheesy sense?” The pony laughed.

“Oh great…” Spike said before getting up and running off as Cheese hopped across the rooftops.

“Have a present on the house!” Cheese said throwing a bomb.

“Bombs?!” Spike yelled running from side to side to avoid being exploded. As Spike ran into another area, Spike managed to collect more shards while avoiding Cheese but when he ran into another area, he was caught by a camera and an alarm sounded.

“Oh crud!” Spike said looking around before something came down on him from above.

“Hullo Spike!” Derpy said before grabbing him by his tail and chucking him across the section.

“OW!” Spike yelped when he hit a wall. He weakly got up as Cheese and Derpy closed in on him.

“This is the guy giving the boss grief? HAH, he’s not worth our time!” Cheese said.

“I’m tougher than I look!” Spike said weakly getting up and using the stare, which caused both of them to freeze up.

“How’s that for somedragon ‘not worth your time?’” Spike ran off and collected more shards while the two recovered.

“GET HIM!” Cheese shouted as Spike left that section and ran into an area with benches. Thinking fast, Spike slid under a bench and hid as Cheese and Derpy ran past.

“Heh, lost them.” Spike climbed out and resumed his shard collecting. As he got into another area, he ran around and picked up even more shards without interference. He was about to move on when he heard something and looked up to see Derpy flying above him. She dove at him.

“Surrender, Spike!” she shouted as Spike ran through an archway and Derpy had to land to go under it.

As Spike continued running from Derpy something hard as a rock clocked him in the back of the head.

“OW! What the?” Spike looked down at what hit him and saw a muffin.

“Huh?” Spike looked back and saw her throw another muffin at him.

“She throws super stale muffins… of course she does.” Spike sighed as he ran around another corner and looked ahead to see Cheese.

“Found ya!” Cheese sneered.

Thinking fast, Spike hitched a quick right and Derpy wound up crashing into Cheese.

“Hah! How do you… like… that…” Spike trailed off as Derpy got up, because one of her eyes was dangling out of its sockets… by wires?

“They’re… animatronics?” Spike said, getting scared. Derpy put the eye back in and turned to Spike with a wicked grin.

“Guess the cats outta the bag! Yup we’re machines built to entertain the Shadow and mutilate his enemies!” Derpy said before opening her mouth impossibly wide and reaching in to pull another muffin out.

“Have a muffin!” Derpy threw the muffin and Spike ducked it before looking to see the muffin had made a small crater in the wall.

“S-stay away!” Spike said backing away before running.

“Hah! He’s running” Cheese said as he galloped after Spike.

Spike ran around but this time he wasn’t even looking for shards. He saw an alleyway and dove back there to hide.

Thankfully neither animatronic noticed him.

He sat there behind a dumpster shivering before Applejack came out.

“Ready to talk about it yet?” Applejack knelt down next to him.

“You all will think I’m being a baby if I tell you!” Spike said, not meaning to be harsh.

“Yer going to fail your mission if you don’t get it out,” Applejack bit back.

“I-i… I can’t!” Spike said, and Rarity replaced Applejack

“Darling, it’s alright.” She gave him a reassuring smile and a hug.

“Do you promise not to laugh?” Spike said.

“Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Rarity said, doing a Pinkie swear.

“Al-...alright.” Spike took a deep breath and told them.

“When I was little, Twilight took me with her to a theme park, but I got distracted by a balloon and wandered off while Twilight wasn’t looking… I was lost for hours… and then I went into a tent and…” Spike tried to swallow his fear at the memory “I saw animatronics… without their masks on, I got so scared I started crying and I accidentally knocked one over and it fell on me. I know by now that it was just a lifeless machine but… It was so scary, it was like it leapt at me or something…” Spike started crying.

“Oh Spike…” Rarity could barely hold back her tears.

“A manager found me and he took me to a receptionist who sent out a call for Twilight. When she came back and we went home… I still can’t go to theme parks or look at animatronics anymore though…” Spike finished miserably.

“I had no idea you carried such fears, Spike,” Rarity said with a hint of sadness.

“We knew due to his nightmares but… we had no idea he still held onto those fears,” Luna said.

“It’s fine, thanks for not laughing,” Spike said getting up.

“Why would I laugh?” Rarity asked.

“Because I’m still scared?” Spike said.

“Darling, I’d never be so mean as to laugh for such a reason.” Rarity said “If it helps, You should know I absolutely abhor frogs,” Rarity said, shuddering at the mere word.

“Frogs?” Spike said incredulously.

“Indeed, green is not my color, and they’re just so… gross!” Rarity said.

“Heh, I guess we both have silly phobias,” Spike said feeling a little better.

“Aw, aint that sweet!” a voice said and the two whirled to see Cheese. “Sorry to interrupt two lovebirds but I have a dragon to reduce to a red stain on my hooves!” Cheese said approaching.

“Leave us be, vile apparition!” Rarity yelled.

“Luna!” Spike called out and before Cheese could get his hooves on Spike he was back at the gate.

“We cannot be careless, Spike. Our powers wane as time goes on,” Luna said.

“Sorry…” Spike really was sorry, since he mostly called in order to get out of the situation. Now that he was finally past this roadblock, Spike ran forward. He avoided the camera and hung a left this time, collecting the rest of the soul shards in that part of the zone.

Spike ran through another section and ducked under a camera while collecting more shards.

He managed to make it to the other side of the park before encountering Cheese and Derpy again, because they were guarding the last shard.

“You're getting on my nerves!” Cheese said.

“You're nothing like the Cheese I know!” Pinkie said, coming out.

“The Cheese you knew was a weak pony. As a machine, I am improved!” Cheese leaped at Spike but he dodged and ran towards Derpy who threw more rock-hard muffins at lethal speeds.

Spike used multiplication to close in, making her miss the first two shots but he got close enough to use AJ’s strength to knock her aside.

“Ouchie!” Derpy yelped.

“Don’t freak out, don’t freak out,” Spike silently repeated to himself.

Spike ran from the two and scooped the last shard up just in time to have Luna communicate with him.

“You’ve done it, Spike. Go back to the front of the castle!” Luna said.

“Got it!” Spike activated Pinkie's powers and used it to pop out of view.

“THAT’S CHEATING!” Cheese shouted after him.

“Didn’t you do that?” Derpy said.

“It’s only cheating if he does it…” Cheese explained.

“Oh.” Derpy nodded

---On the other side of the zone---

Spike panted as he made it to where Luna directed him.

“Man, this place is big,” Spike said, cracking his back.

“Go through that tunnel ahead, Spike,” Luna directed him.

“Ok.” Spike was walking through the tunnel when the door closed. A window lit up and Cheese was there.

“Huh?” Spike said.

“You know why they call me Cheese Sandwich? Because I never lose!” Cheese said.

“.....How the heck does being named Cheese Sandwich mean you never lose?” Spike said with a raised brow.

“I-.... don’t know, just felt like saying it...” The lights turned off but Cheese’s voice still came “What I do know is you better run!” Cheese said with a sinister laugh.

And suddenly the door that Spike came in broke down and a horde of Derpys and Cheeses came through.

“WHAT THE?!” Spike yelled backing away.

“Oh no! They must have found the mirror pool! Run, Spike!” Pinkie yelled.

Spike ran as fast as he could go, following a similar path he came in through. As he was running, he saw something that made his heart skip a few beats.

Hundreds... Hundreds of Derpy’s and Cheese’s blocked both pathways and they all began to converge on Spike.

“HOLY CRAP! HOW ARE THERE THIS MANY OF THEM!?” Spike screamed as he ran into the castle.

“You must get out of there, Spike!” Luna shouted.

Spike made it into the castle just before the gate closed behind him.

As Spike frantically looked around for a place to escape [or just curl up and cry,] he saw a button on the wall. He quickly pressed it, summoning an elevator.

“C’mon! C’mon!” Spike pressed the button over and over again until the elevator arrived and he ran inside, pressing the down button.

“Heh, going down huh?” the Cheese up front said, catching Spike's attention. “Good, ole Trixie’s been waiting forever for an audience. Gotta warn ya, she hasn’t mastered sawing somepony in half yet!” Cheese started to laugh as the elevator went down.

Spike was catching his breath in the elevator when he heard Luna.

"Are you okay, Spike?" Luna asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Whew, these nightmares are getting tougher and tougher."

"Don't lose heart, Spike!" Spike looked over to see the CMC.

"Because the Cutie Mark Crusaders are with you!" The three said in unison. Spike smiled at their attempts to cheer him up.

“Thanks, girls.” Spike got up when he saw the elevator open. Walking out, he found himself in some hallways which stretched in every direction. He picked a door at random and was shocked to find himself in some kind of massive room with a giant screen displaying the O.L.O.F.A.E.A.A.D.P logo.

And in the middle of the room was a computer console platform with three souls, one gray, one blue, and one brown.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” Spike said before a computerized voice sounded over the intercoms.

“Attention, power to zone three’s elevator is offline, please restore power in zone two.” Spike took that as a hint to his next move and walked over to the door leading to zone two.

Upon entering he found himself at another window and paused as the light flickered on, revealing Trixie… with his luck, another animatronic…

“Hello audience! The Great And Powerful TRRRRRRRIXIE! Welcomes you!”

“Trixie, it’s Spike…” Spike said with a bemused expression.

“Whatever. Anypony is good, considering I'm stuck down here. An audience is hard to come by- WAIT! You thought you could distract The Great And Powerful TRRRRRRRIXIE!?... With dumb questions?”

“She certainly acts like the actual Trixie,” Spike muttered before getting a questioning look from Applejack. “Well? Am I wrong?” Spike asked.

“Eh, no not really,” Applejack admitted.

“HEY! EYES UP HERE!” Trixie shouted, startling the two. “You will not ignore me! For now you shall face my mighty magic blaster! Trixie shall end your life and earn her master’s favor!” Trixie said before throwing a smoke bomb. “HUZZAH!” Smoke filled the room but It quickly dispersed before Spike and AJ saw her exiting through a door.

“Yep, like the real Trixie…” Applejack said.

“Focus you two, this is new terrain and new dangers await!” Luna said firmly to the distracted pair.

“Sorry,” Spike and Applejack said, moving on towards the next zone.

It looked like an office area.

Spike wasted no more time, running to the left and picking up shards. As he ran down a catwalk and he found himself in a room with two cameras, he stayed low to get under its sight and breathed fire to melt it.

“Gotcha!” Spike ran towards the door to the next room when suddenly the door blasted apart and sent Spike flying. When Spike looked up he saw Trixie standing there and her horn… it was split down the middle and revealing a device.

“Face Trixie’s power!” Trixie yelled before firing a beam from her horn. Spike screamed as it blasted him through a wall and he landed in the next room.

“SPIKE!” Luna shouted.

“Ow! OWOWOW!” Spike cried looking to his arm and finding it was bent oddly.

“M-my arm! MY ARM!” Spike cried.

“Spike! Use me!” Nurse Redheart appeared.

“O-ok,” Spike used Restore and he felt his wounds closing up.

“Not so fast!” Trixie shouted, appearing in the hole and firing another beam. Despite the agony, Spike had to roll out of the way and run.

He winced as the heal power snapped his arm back to normal.

“OW!” Spike grunted. “I sure don’t want to get hit by that again.” He ran into another hallway to collect more shards before the closed door behind him exploded as Trixie shot her way through.

“She’s dangerous!” Nurse Redheart said as they ran.

“At least we only have to worry about her-” Spike stopped when he ran into a solid figure and looked up to see Cheese.

“Miss me?” Cheese grinned.

“Y-you’re here? How?!” Spike demanded.

“You forgot what you saw on the surface? There’s an army of us!” Cheese made to stomp on Spike but he rolled out of the way and stood, Trixie aimed and fired and Spike ducked it and the blast wound up sending Cheese careening into a wall.

‘Ooof!” Cheese grunted

“Whoops…” Trixie said before galloping over to him to help him out of the wall. Spike of course took this opportunity to book it.

Spike ran into another room and got spotted by a camera that was looking his way.

“Oh great!” Spike said as a door was slammed open and Derpy stood there.

“Hullo! Wanna muffin?” Derpy said before producing a muffin and throwing it at super speeds missing Spike and punching a hole in the wall.

“Ack! No thanks!” Spike said, running out of the room as the pegasus chased him.

Spike ran into a room with tv monitors but suddenly Trixie blasted a hole in the wall and aimed at Spike again.

Spike dove at just the right time and the shot passed over his head and hit Derpy.

“AH!” Derpy cried.

“Darn It, again?!” Trixie cursed

“Do we have to worry about him or you?!” Cheese scolded her.

Spike wasted no time and used the stare on the two and ran as they were stunned he ran out of the room and into a hallway, he ran down it and collected more shards in a straight line.

Spike felt he was doing good this time when Cheese popped out of a corner and pounced on him.

Hey! Get off!” Spike struggled and used Applejack's strength, but surprisingly Cheese was holding his own and the two struggled for a bit.

“Hold him there!” Trixie said, appearing there and firing another shot.

“Huh?” both of them said before Spike was pulled out by Luna and Cheese got blown up again.

“...Ooops…” Trixie shuffled away as Cheese glared at her from another hole in the wall.

Spike was back at the Entrance and Rarity appeared

“Are you ok Spike?” Rarity asked

“Yeah, I need your power really quick,” Spike asked and Rarity nodded before Spike used perception and used it to peer into the next few rooms.

“All clear” Spike said, running to another door and avoiding the cameras, as Spike kept this strategy going, he made it through each of the rooms with this stealthy strategy.

He eventually found himself in what looked like a storage room and he moved quickly through the room, but unfortunately, he was unable to avoid the cameras down the middle.

“There he is!” Trixie shouted as she and Derpy entered the room, Spike had to take cover as they pelted him with laser beams and muffins.

Spike looked to his left and saw the CMC and nodded to the as he made several copies of himself and ran for the exit.

Spike lost two of them to the firing from the unicorn and pegasus but as he got to the exit Cheese jumped out and pounced on the wrong one and Spike ran ahead and collected the last few shards down that catwalk hallway.

“NO!” Cheese cried as Spike fled the area and made his way down a hall. A hole in the wall was blasted as Trixie and her two pals chased after Spike.

Spike ran until he found himself at a turn and he made his way into a room with a fusebox.

Spike looked around but he was cornered, turning Spike saw all three H.F.W.P.W.C members.

“Nowhere to run now little man” Cheese laughed

Spike backed against the wall, trembling in fear of the animatronics when he suddenly noticed they were standing in a puddle and there was a live wire next to it. Glancing behind him he saw a switch to that power issue the third zone was having and without thinking he pulled it.

“Uh, guys? I don’t think we should be standing here-” Derpy said as she just noticed what Spike was glancing at but it was too late as the three were violently electrocuted.

Spike covered his ears to block out the mechanical screams of the three and when he looked up he was shocked [and creeped out] to see they sustained serious damage

Cheese’s eye coverings had fallen out revealing his mechanical red eyes and bits of his costume were burnt off.

Derpy got the worst of it, she was missing the costume on her left hindleg, along her right side, half her face, and one of her eyes were hanging out of her head by wires.

And Trixie's cape and hat were burnt, her right foreleg’s endoskeleton was exposed and her face was completely scorched off. Her eye coverings remained however.

“I think I’m gonna throw up,” Spike said as he stared at the animatronics who were just standing there. “Why aren’t they trying to kill me?” Spike asked after a minute or two.

“Logically that shock may have fried their circuits.” Rarity said

“L-let’s go before they wake up” Fluttershy nervously said and Spike did not disagree with that claim.

Spike inched around them and ran off the moment he was clear of them.

Spike ran the whole way back to the main room and crossed the room and into the door that leads to the third zone.

As Spike entered the elevator he sat down.

“This is the last zone right?” Spike asked

“Yes, we can only feel a hoof full of shards in that next zone,” Luna assured Spike.

“Ok” Spike heaved a sigh of relief. Hoping the next zone will be easy

Spike arrived and exited the elevator, and what he saw was a pit of molten lava, cranes carrying copies of the H.F.W.P.W.C, and a metal catwalk pathway.

“Guess I gotta go that way,” Spike said carefully, stepping forward after each pass of the cranes. Afterward, he ran ahead and into the next area.

“Attention, unauthorized intruder in processing area, dispatching H.F.W.P.W.C units,” The computer voice said.

“Wonderful,” Spike sighed before running off across the bridge and into the next room. What he saw was a strange piston-like machine, a crusher, and multiple metal pathways with shards.

Having learned not to question nightmares anymore he ran around and collected the shards present before heading to the next door.

As soon as he got there…

“HEY! Remember us?!” Spike heard Cheese’s voice behind him.

“Uh oh,” Spike said, turning to see the three very ticked off very damaged animatronics.

“You little freak! LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY FACE!” Trixie shouted

“I’m ugly now! Now nopony will want my muffins!” Derpy wailed before fixing an angry glare at Spike, “And it’s your fault!”

“I-i didn’t know it would do this to you!” Spike said defensively

“Regardless… TRIXIE WILL DESTROY YOU!” Trixie roared before firing several beams at Spike who jumped in place in a panic before running off screaming.

“GET HIM!” Cheese yelled and with that the three chased him.

Spike managed to quickly lose them but he could hear their angry shouts as he was collecting the shards.

Spike ran into a room that looked like a platform with a camera, Spike didn’t notice the camera until it went off and Immediately Cheese entered the room.

“You're gonna pay you twerp!” Cheese shouted

“I liked you better when you were a male Pinkie!” Spike shouted as he ran into another hallway, as he ran he was forced to make a left when the wall to his right was blasted apart and Trixie ran out.

“Hold still! The Scarred and Powerful Trrrrrixie commands it!” Trixie fired a beam and Spike narrowly avoided it as it blew up another wall. Spike narrowly ducked into another hallway as another shot nearly nailed him.

“Can you maybe hit him just once?!” Cheese barked at Trixie

“Hey! Trixie did... Once!” Trixie said defensively.

Spike continued on his path and used the CMC power to split up and they ran down separate hallways.

“Dangit! Where did he go?” Cheese said having to pause

Spike ran until he was in a room with railings before a muffin was thrown out of the darkness of one of the doors and it hit him sending him into a railing.

“Agh!” Spike grunted

“You're gonna pay for ruining my appearance!” Derpy said, approaching him.

Spike grabbed her hoof as she brought it down on him and used Applejack's strength to heave her overhead and down the lava pit.

“Did I do it?” Spike said, struggling to his feet holding his hurting chest. To his dismay, he saw Derpy flying back up.

“Crap!” Spike said before bolting using Redhearts healing power to fix the pain in his chest.

“How many shards are left?” Spike asked

“Surprisingly not many, go down that hall to your right and you’ve finished up here,” Luna said

“Good,” Spike said

“Spike! Look out!” Rarity cried and Spike found as he was crossing another platform he didn’t see Trixie there and she blasted him with another beam sending the dragon skidding back.

“Ooogh!” Spike grunted as he laid there. “N-Nurse Redheart!” Spike cried

“I’m trying!” Nurse Readheart said as she appeared “The power is still cooling down.”

“Darnit!” Spike said getting up but when he did he regretted it because he saw three irate-looking pony machines staring down at him, he was cornered!

“Your ours now!” Cheese said as he approached.

“Take a dive!” Derpy said before spinning on her hooves and bucking Spike off the edge.

“AAAH!” Spike screamed as he fell into the lava.

“What the? Derpy you idiot! He’s a dragon!” Trixie shouted

“So?” Derpy said

“Dragons are immune to lava!” And as if on que Spike poked his head out of the lava and grinned.

“Thanks for the bath!” Spike said before activating AJ’s strength and clinging onto the wall and climbing back up quickly.

“Wow, he’s a good climber too,” Derpy said and Cheese just facehoofed.

Once Spike got up to the platform he resumed running as the animatronics pursued.

Spike continued running in the direction Luna pointed him in and collected the last few shards.

“Amazing work Spike, Now make your way to a nearby room and take a right” Luna instructed

Spike did as he was told and eventually found himself at another platform and he saw a button.

“Do we press it? Rarity asked

“Yes,” Luna responded and Spike did just that. “Alright! Now make your way back to the room with the crusher!” Luna instructed

“Ok,” Spike said and he made his way through the area carefully and found himself back at the crusher in no time.

As he reached the button he heard a trio of shouts and he turned to see the H.F.W.P.W.C galloping towards him.

“You're not getting away from us!” Cheese shouted

“Now Spike!” Luna shouted Spike pressed the button and it caused the crusher to live up to its name and the three gave a scream as the crusher smashed the three animatronics into a pile of parts.

“Good job, Spike, as messy as this was, it was necessary,” Luna said, knowing of Spike's discomfort.

“I know just… I need therapy after this…” Spike said as he turned to leave.

Then a familiar presence filled the area.

“Oh great…” Spike said as he turned again and saw the Shadow.

“Stop. Right. There. Mortal… I’ve had enough of these games! Why won’t you just die!?”The Shadow demanded.

“Guess I’m just that persistent” Spike said.

“I truly never expected for a mere baby dragon to cause me this much trouble, I’ve failed time and time again to capture you! And that won’t happen anymore! Behold, my secret project” The Shadow said gesturing to the pile of parts.

“What? You're going to send your broken animatronics at me?” Spike said, feeling a little smug.

“Don’t get cocky you insignificant reptile, You haven't even seen their final form.” The Shadow said

“Final form?” Spike said not liking the sound of that, and just as he said that, the computer voice came.

“Salvage mode active” and suddenly a beam came down and melted down the parts of the animatronics.

“Salvage complete, beginning construction of C.S.E.U. unit,” The computer voice said

“C.S.E.U? What's with this place and acronyms?" Spike said with exasperation.

Then suddenly another beam came and formed a strange creature that looked like a giant metal horse, and just like a certain three-headed pony monstrosity he faced before, it had three heads.

"HAHAHAHA I'M BACK!" Cheese said.

"Haha! Look at me! Now you're in for it!" Derpy said to Spike.

"Trixie is not happy with this set-up! Why can't she be the middle head!?" Trixie complained

"Oh quiet! Now that we are put back together we can destroy that twerp once and for all!" Cheese said

"YEAH! DESTROY HIM!" Derpy cheered.

Spike backed away, shaking as the creature laughed with all of its heads.

"Do you know what C.S.E.U. means? It means Castle Siege & Eradication Unit, meaning it is built to assault Canterlot and other kingdoms and to eradicate annoying individuals. Lucky you, you get to be its test run!" The Shadow gave a laugh as he disappeared.

"W-what do I do?!" Spike cried.

"We do not know, but this monstrosity must be dealt with now! Spike, use the crusher," Luna said.

"Ok!" Spike went to the crusher and pressed the button again. The crusher slammed on the massive pony-like machine, but nothing happened.

"No way," Spike said while backing away.

"HAH! Didja really think that would destroy us a second time?!" And with that declaration, the Trixie and Derpy heads turned and fired lasers out of their mouths that melted the crusher into slag.

"It fires lasers?!" Spike said in disbelief.

“Yeah! Now it’s your turn!” Cheese said before the three heads fired a laser that Spike ran to the left to avoid.

“Where do you think you're going?!” Trixie shouted as the three-headed horse machine galloped and leaped onto the platform in front of Spike.

“AAH! Spike yelped briefly, flying off the ground from the force of the jump.

“Crush him!” Cheese ordered.

“Squishy squishy!” Derpy laughed, raising a hoof and bringing it down towards Spike.

Spike rolled at just the right time and avoided being squished.

“Why ya running? Don’t you wanna party?!” Cheese said before firing beam shots at Spike who kept running.

“HOW DO I BEAT THIS GUY?!” Spike yelled.

“I don’t know!” Luna said, panicking.

“Wait! Do you see those consoles?” Rarity said, pointing at the consoles on each of the platforms.

“Yeah?” Spike said.

“Perhaps they could be useful.” Rarity said as Spike made it to the first console.

“Anything is worth a try at this point,” Spike said before grabbing the lever. It was difficult to pull it down but he managed, and the light on the console lit up.

“Okay three more,” Spike said before something landed behind him. He narrowly dodged a stomp but got hit when the creature swung its forehoof and it sent him skidding all the way to the other console.

Spike lay there struggling to get up as the machine walked to him.

“Hah! Down already? Let’s fry him,” Trixie said.

“Yeah!” The other two heads agreed and they began charging their beams.

“Spike! Get up!” Luna cried.

“I need to get over the edge,” Spike said crawling away.

“DIE!” The three shouted as they fired a triple beam at Spike who fell off the side of the platform at the same time.

An explosion rocked the room and the C.S.E.U. ran over to inspect.

“Did that finish him?” Trixie asked

“No, he jumped into the lava at the last second! Open fire!” Cheese said and the three shot lasers into the lava…

…not noticing Spike was at another console and was pulling the lever down, having used Pinkie Pie's power.

“So glad I have it” Spike wheezed before running to the next one and pulling that one down as well.

Spike had just about finished when a laser blast made an explosion in front of him. He cried out in surprise and pain as he tumbled across the ground, then turned to see the C.S.E.U. galloping towards him.

“HE FAKED US OUT!” Trixie yelled.

“You're REALLY annoying, you know that?” Cheese said.

Spike’s mind was racing and only one thing came to mind. The stare!

“Take this!” Spike tried it and the mecha pony paused before rearing up and whinnying.

“Ah! It’s Fluttershy’s stare!” Derpy panicked.

“Stop moving like that. I can't stay stable!” Cheese snapped

“Trixie hates that look!” Trixie cried.

“...Works for me” Spike shrugged and ran across the pathways and made it to the final console.

After pulling it down he heard a loud click and saw the piston on the other side of the room light up.

“I get it…” Spike said before running to the piston looking thing and pressing the button, making it thrust outward and move in circles.

“Hey!” Spike called getting the C.S.E.U’s attention “Your new form is lame!” Spike taunted.

“You little-”

“Trixie is NOT lame!”

“Meanie!”

After these shouts, the three-headed creature leaped over to Spike and struck Spike sending him into the wall.

As Spike looked up he saw the machine standing over him, but just as it was charging a triple shot up set to kill, the piston turned and slammed into it, knocking the giant machine pony over the side and into the pit of lava.

“AAAAH!” Derpy yelled.

“Trixie doesn’t wanna be smelt!” Trixie cried.

“AAARGH! THIS ISN’T OVER, LITTLE GUY! YOU AINT GETTING OUT OF HERE!” Cheese screamed before the machine vanished into the lava.

“I-... I did it! Whew… finally I can just calmly walk out of here.” Spike paused a moment as if waiting for something before continuing. “And nothing bad will happen… Right?” Spike said, looking around once more.

“Why aren’t you going?” Applejack asked

“I dunno, usually something else bad happens when I let my guard down-” Suddenly the whole place began shaking and an alarm blared with the computer voice speaking over and over again.

“Warning, Self-destruct sequence has been initiated.”

“There it is….” Spike sighed before hurrying out the door and across the pathways. “Blowing the whole place up seems a little extreme if you ask me!” Spike yelled out.

“Ah don’t think the Shadow cares!” Applejack said, galloping next to Spike.

Spike got in the elevator and took it up.

Spike exited the elevator and ran into the console platform room and ran up to the middle. He reached up and claimed the souls before making a dash for the door.

Only to run into it because the door didn’t open.

“Ow! What the? It’s locked?” Spike said

“Attention, unauthorized taking of the souls has occurred. Lock-down is in effect for two minutes. Security is en route.” The computer voice came again.

“Security?” Spike said before the glass screen cracked and shattered.

And a familiar three-headed robo horse jumped out.

“Miss me?!” Cheese shouted.

“Gave us a real burn back there but we’re still kicking!” Derpy followed up.

“What the?! How did you-” Spike demanded before the creature took a step forward cutting him off.

“Because we’re invincible!” Cheese laughed before approaching the scared drake. “Now, where were we?...”

Spike yelled and ran as lasers flashed all around him.

“HOW DO I GET OUT OF THIS HORRIBLE PLACE?!” Spike demanded.

“You must survive for two minutes,” Luna responded.

Spike continued to run in circles around the place as the robo pony chased him. He stopped at one point and ran onto the middle platform and the C.S.E.U. threw a punch that destroyed several monitors, Spike ducked it and crawled off and under the platform while the creature looked around for him.

“No use hiding, The great and powerful Trrrrrrrixie will destroy you regardless!” Trixie pried the machine's hooves under the platform and tore it off the ground, and threw it aside.

“AAH!” Spike yelped and ran as the three heads fired a triple laser.

Spike ran alongside the wall as the lasers dug trenches in the wall behind him.

“How much longer?!” Spike yelled.

“Just thirty more seconds!” Rarity shouted.

“Then I need to buy myself some time,” Spike said before using multiply and running around with his copies.

The three heads followed the baby dragons running around.

“One each?” Cheese offered.

“Sure!” responded the other two heads. They promptly proceeded to fire blasts at three of the copies.

Spike yelped as one of the lasers zapped him and sent him into the wall.

“Got em!” Trixie shouted.

“Any last words you little punk?” The metal horse stomped up to him.

“Yeah… times up!” Spike said before using the stare to stun the robot.

“AAAAHH! MY EYES!” Derpy wailed.

“Derpy stop thrashing the whole body!” Cheese scolded before noticing Spike was limping to the door. “HE’S GETTING AWAY!” The horse creature lunged at Spike who exited through the door and wound up crashing into the too-small exit.

“NOOOOO! THIS ISN’T OVER!” The three shouted as Spike got out of there and used his healing power to restore himself.

“I'm outta here!” Spike said as he got to the elevator.

Spike arrived on the surface level and wasted no time bolting for the portal.

“I want out of this hellish place!” Spike shouted

As soon as he got out into the open…

“GET HIM!”

“DOGPILE!”

“CRUSH HIM!”

“LET TRIXIE DO IT!”

“STAMPEDE HIM TO DEATH!”

Spike looked around in alarm and saw something that made him want to scream.

An army, an army of all three types of animatronics was en route to stampede him.

“IS IT EVER GOING TO END?!” Spike yelled as he ran with all his might to the portal.

Spike could hear hundreds of hooves stomping behind him, knowing if he stopped for a second he’d be trampled to death.

Spike was almost there, he could see the portal! Just one more push!

“So long you freaky animatronics!” Spike leaped for the portal.

Nothing would stop him! He was home free-

THWACK!

A massive hoof collided with Spike and sent him flying back.

“SPIKE!” Luna cried as Spike tumbled head over tail onto the concrete.

“Ugh… L-Luna…?” Spike looked up weakly and saw a familiar massive figure drop down in front of him.

“Told ya it wasn’t over!” the C.S.E.U's Cheese head taunted

“B-but you were just…” Spike trailed off as the three headed mechanical beast grinned down at him.

“Did you really think the Shadow wouldn’t plan ahead after all the times you outdid him? Where do you think he was while you were dealing with the Nurses?” Cheese said

“Are you planning on leaving without saying goodbye?” A Cheese clone grabbed Spike and forced him to his feet before punching him. “How hurtful!” he taunted.

Spike stumbled to Derpy who punched him again. “That’s for never accepting a muffin!”

Trixie picked up the dragon as he stumbled to her and glared him in the eye “Curtains for you!” Trixie said before throwing him at a wall.

Spike was groaning in pain as he looked up and saw the three looming over him.

“R-...Red...heart…” Spike wheezed.

“I-i can’t Spike! The power is still cooling down!” Redheart said while panicking.

Spike looked up at the trio who smiled down at him.

“Let’s show this dragon what happens when you step to us!” Cheese said.

“YAY! Mess him up!” Derpy cheered.

The next minute was agony for Spike where the three proceeded to stomp on and kick him repeatedly while laughing maniacally. His scales protected him for the most part but he still felt the pain of their hooves colliding with his body.

Spike felt something deep within him, on an emotional scale... shatter…

Spike could hear Luna and his spirit friends screaming… Crying… begging, anything to make this torture he was enduring stop.

Finally, his agony stopped and Spike blessedly passed out.

Only for a slap to his face to snap him back to conscience.

“Up up! No passing out on us! The fun just started!” the robotic Cheese sneered.

“That’s enough,” a familiar voice said and Spike mustered what little strength he had to turn his head to see the Shadow approaching through a bowing crowd of animatronics.

“Aw boss, do we have to? We just started,” Trixie complained.

“Do you wish to defy me?” the Shadow asked.

That did it. Spike was placed on the ground and the animatronics backed off.

“R-....Rari...ty…” Spike managed to croak out.

“Spikey!” Rarity cried running up to him before noticing the Shadow was approaching.

“Leave him alone! Haven't you brutes done enough?!” Rarity yelled, getting in front of Spike. The Shadow just walked through her, paying her no mind.

“Well well well… How the mighty have fallen, eh young dragon?” The Shadow knelt beside him.

“L-let… them... go” Spike wheezed.

“You're at my mercy and instead of begging for your life you beg for their lives? How brave... and amusing” The Shadow laughed. “How badly do you want your friends back?”

“Please…” Spike said.

“Well in that case, the answer is... no,” the Shadow said before letting out another laugh.

“You… monster…” Spike said, trying to get up only for a hand to wrap around his neck and hold him aloft.

“Your skills are surprising and impressive. You have my praise… annoying as it is,” the Shadow snarled. “As such, I will give you two choices, dragon. Accept your fate and give your soul to join my army willingly… or I will kill you and take it by force.”

“I’d take the offer, kid. You’re literally out of options,” Cheese said.

“Don’t do it, Spike! There has to be a way out!” Rarity cried.

“I choose… THIS!” Spike immediately used the stare on the Shadow… to no effect.

“What?” Spike said in disbelief while the Shadow gave a loud laugh at this attempt.

“That’s rich. You honestly expected that to work on me?”

“How?” Spike asked.

“That stare might be able to scare lesser creatures… but to me, it’s a simple glare.”

“Then how about this!” Spike used Applejack's strength boost to grab the Shadow's hand and tried to pry his grip… once again to no effect.

“Such futility…” The Shadow stated before tightening his grip making Spike choke and cease his struggles. “I take it this means you’d prefer to die first?” The Shadow said.

“I’ll… never… let...you...have them!” Spike choked out.

“SPIKE!” Rarity cried wishing she could do something.

“Very well… You’ve been a thorn in my side for long enough! Let’s finish this!” The Shadow said before resuming his squeezing.

Spike's eyes were practically bulging out of his sockets as his life was being squeezed out of him. Rarity and the others sobbed, hoping it would be over quickly.

“Savor these last moments, little dragon for they truly are this time!” The Shadow said with an eager grin as he tightened his grip more.

“NO!”

A beam struck the Shadow from behind, and he dropped Spike in his surprise.

“Who did that?!” The Shadow turned to see Luna standing at the portal. She had the appearance of Nightmare Moon but her eyes lacked the madness from before.

“Luna?” Rarity said in shock.

“HOW ARE YOU HERE!?” The Shadow demanded.

“BEGONE, DEMON!” Nightmare Moon flared her horn and fired off wave after wave of magic blasts which forced the enemies back.

A barely conscious Spike was levitated onto Nightmare Moon’s back along with the souls.

“NO! YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE ME AGAIN!” The Shadow built-up magic between his horns and fired a blast that connected with Luna’s.

Spike could see the great amount of sweat coming off of her which showed the exertion she was using but ultimately the clash was a stalemate and Luna used this opportunity to jump back into the portal.

“NO!” The Shadow shouted after her as she vanished.

YOU ESCAPED!

Author's Note

Spike narrowly escapes the demented theme park with his life.

But trust me, there will be ramifications for Luna going into a nightmare.

All will be explained next chapter.

Also, I know the C.S.E.U is basically a horse version of Joy Kill but I couldn't think of anything else to take his place.

I hope you all enjoyed this long and exciting chapter, look forward to tomorrow, when the plot diverts a little and unexpected things will start to happen.

Ramifications

Author's Note

Hello again my friends, sorry about the short chapter, but don't worry I will post a second chapter later today.

The next chapter shall feature a never before seen level, short but new, and a certain event will occur that will change things for Spike on this adventure.

A storm is coming, how will Spike weather it?

Ramifications

The two of them fell through the portal and tumbled to the ground in a heap. Spike tried to stand but his body was wracked with too much pain.

“L-Luna…” Spike said, struggling to stay conscious as he crawled to the downed princess.

The ballroom was trembling, but Luna struggled to her hooves and with a shout, she stabilized the crumbling ballroom with her magic.

“Spike…” Luna/Nightmare Moon said before falling over. She panted and trembled, then reverted to Luna.

“Redheart, is the healing power ready?” Spike asked.

“Yes, I’m activating it now.” Spike felt his injuries beginning to heal. As euphoric the healing process was in getting rid of the pain wracking his body, he was thinking more of the pony lying next to him. When he could stand again, Spike slowly got up and began to shake Luna.

“Luna! Luna! Are you okay?” Spike asked.

“I...I am… Entering a nightmare whilst sustaining this dimension took much out of me…” Luna panted before getting up and continuing, “Our power is drained. This dimension nearly collapsed upon us. When it will do so again, we do not know.”

At this point, Spike was healed enough that he could stand without much difficulty. When the healing power timed out, he was still sore all over but at least he was not in total agony anymore.

“But we made it out, and- wait! Where’s Trixie, Cheese and Derpy?!” Spike said, looking left and right.

“We’re right here.” Spike turned to see the three standing there.

“Thank you, Spikey!” Derpy shot forward and gave Spike a big hug "ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou!”

“Ow!” Spike yelped because his body still hurt.

“Derpy, let go of him! You're hurting our savior!” Trixie scolded.

“Whoops!” Derpy said, dropping Spike.

“Spike,” Cheese said as he was approaching, “thank you… and sorry for… you know…” Cheese’s mane went limp and the other two looked away with sad expressions.

“It’s fine, guys.” Spike was used to this song and dance by now

“When we get back, me and Pinkie will throw you the biggest bestest most awesomest party ever!” Cheese said as his hair re-inflated and Pinkie joined him.

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered.

“Um, guys?” Trixie interrupted.

“Yeah?” Cheese said.

“The princess isn’t looking so good.” Trixie rushed over to Luna, who was laying against the stairs looking pale.

“Oh dear! She’s suffering from serious magical overexertion,” Nurse Redheart said while examining her.

“Oh no!” Derpy said as all the spirits and Spike gathered around Luna.

“I’m fine…” Luna said only to have a violent coughing fit.

“Ya pushed yourself too hard Princess,” Applejack said.

“I’m fine!” Luna snapped, getting to her hooves briefly before having to sit back down on her haunches.

“Are you sure about that?” Applejack said.

“Y-yes… We just need rest,” Luna said.

“But what about the ballroom? Is it going to stay stable?” Spike asked.

“I’m not sure… It seems our greatest fears have come to pass. Spike was captured and we had no other choice but to enter the nightmare ourself. In doing so, we divided our power between sustaining ourself in a nightmare, defending ourself from the Shadow, saving Spike, and sustaining this dimension. As you can tell, that drastically drained our strength. As weak as we are now, our time is greatly reduced.”

“By how much?” Spike hesitantly asked.

“We have mere hours left now before the Shadow’s forces breach this dimension.” Luna bowed her head in defeat as the room went deathly silent.

“W-what?” Spike squeaked.

“HOURS!?” Pinkie exclaimed.

“You can’t be serious!” Scootaloo cried.

“WE’RE DOOMED!” Trixie cried.

“AAAAAHHH!” Derpy screamed in fear.

“BE SILENT, FOALS!” Luna shouted, silencing the panicking ponies. “The situation is dire but we mustn't lose ourselves!”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Princess, but ‘losing ourselves’ is exactly what will happen if the Shadow breaks through!” Trixie shouted.

Everypony watched, expecting there to be serious repercussions for shouting at a princess. Instead, Luna just sighed and bowed her head again.

“You are correct,” Luna admitted. “But still, there was no other way. We couldn’t let Spike’s soul and all the other souls fall to the Shadow, but in doing so, our defeat has been ensured either way.”

“There must be something… ANYTHING we can do!” Spike said, running up to Luna “I didn’t come this far just to lose!”

“There is nothing, dear Spike,” Luna said before her eyes briefly lit up. “Unless… No, we cannot risk it…” Luna quietly bowed her head again.

“What? You said something! What is it Luna?” Spike demanded.

“Never mind that, Spike. It is too dangerous.”

“Luna, if there is a chance we can still win this, I gotta try!” Spike insisted.

“Spike is right,” said Applejack. “We can’t give up if there is just the slightest hope we can avert disaster.”

Luna thought about it for a second before smiling “You have truly grown from the scared little drake you were Spike.”

Spike smiled. “Yes, I have. Now, what can I do?”

Luna sighed before looking Spike in the eye. “We need Discord’s help for this to work.”

“Discord? Was he captured too?” Spike asked.

“No, a being as strong as Discord won’t be caught that easily. He was able to resist the pull of the soul absorption field and escape. Before we formed this space, we communicated with him and informed him of what needed to be done while my sister and I fixed the problem.”

“And… What is he doing now?” Spike asked.

“He is keeping the bodies of the ponies in town alive while their souls are trapped here. This plan is risky because if it goes wrong, ponies could die.”

Spike gulped at those words but steeled his resolve. "What do I have to do?"

Luna looked away for a moment before she turned to Spike with a serious expression. "We need Discord to send us a large amount of magic and you must be there to retrieve it.”

“Ok, and where is it being sent?” Spike asked.

“Another pocket dimension of our making. We can connect it to this one, but not for long. If you can get in there, retrieve the power Discord sends, and get out, we can regain our strength at least somewhat.”

“Why can’t he just send it here?” Spike asked.

“The thaumic turbulence surrounding this dimension due to it being the sole guardian against the Shadow’s onslaught.” Luna sighed when she saw Spike’s clueless look.

“Basically, there’s too much interference in this pocket dimension,” Luna clarified.

“Ah,” Spike said.

“We shall communicate what we need and the coordinates to Discord. You simply need to collect the power once it is sent.”

“What’s so dangerous?” Spike knew there must be a catch based on Luna’s earlier reaction.

Luna looked worried but continued. “The Shadow. When he finds out, he will probably make a move to stop you himself.”

“Then I have to avoid him.” Spike nodded.

“Then get moving. Time is of the essence.” Luna lit her horn, and Spike found another ring on his hand.

“Wow! What happened?” Derpy asked.

“Hmm… Trixie appears to be jewelry now?” Trixie said.

“Your newest power is to make use of the abilities afforded by the three tribes. This power shall be called inheritance.” Luna was obviously exhausted, but focused her magic again and created another portal that appeared to be featureless.

“The portal is open, but be wary,” Luna warned.

“Ok,” Spike said before hopping in.

???

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???
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Spike walked out of the portal and found himself in what looked like…

“Where am I?” Spike asked, looking around the place which looked like the inside of a castle but it looked… Rundown almost.

“Wait… is this the Everfree castle?” Spike asked.

“Yes, we often come here for solitude,” Luna said.

“Ok, where do I go?” Spike asked.

“Towards the throne room, where the elements were found, and be quick! The Shadow will catch on soon” Luna said.

“Okay!” Spike wasted no time and ran into the main hall. As he came upon a gap, he paused.

“What do I do here?” Spike asked.

“Remember, Spike. You have us,” Cheese said.

“Oh yeah, how does this inheritance thing work?” Spike asked.

“Try it,” Luna suggested.

“Ok,” Spike said before focusing on his connection to the trio of ponies and suddenly he glowed.

Spike watched in shock as a pair of ethereal wings appeared out of his back and a see-through horn appeared on his head while energy surrounded his limbs.

In the end, he looked like an alicorn but as a baby dragon.

“COOL!” Spike said before flying into the air.

“Amazing. It has incorporated the traits of all three tribes into one, making you a dragon-alicorn of some sort,” Luna said in awe.

“Can I use magic now?” Spike said his mind aglow with regained childlike wonder.

“Later, Spike. For now, focus on your objective,” Luna said.

“Aw.” Spike flew over the gap, somewhat shakily due to this being his first time, but he managed to get to the other side before his power timed out.

“Whew!” Spike hurried on ahead and found himself in a series of corridors.

“No shards here?” Spike asked.

“No, this is our dream realm, not one of the Shadows' nightmares,” Luna stated.

“Ok.” Spike wandered the halls, looking for the throne room. “Am I close?”

“Yes, just make a left at this next fork,” Luna said.

“Has Discord sent the power yet?” Spike asked.

“Not yet, but you must get there before the Shadow-” Luna said before gasping.

“What? What is it?” Spike asked.

“HE’S COMING! HURRY!” Luna shouted.

“Crap!” Spike said before running to the fork and heading left. A few steps later, he entered the throne room and looked around.

“Luna! It’s not here!” Spike said.

“We have alerted Discord to our situation. He is trying but it will take a while,” Luna said, audibly panicked.

“Not good!” Spike panicked, but before he could find a hiding spot, he heard loud hoofsteps and he turned around to see the Shadow standing in front of him.

“Hello again, dragon,” the Shadow sneered.

“Not you again!” Spike backed away.

“So, instead of sending her pet into another nightmare she practically gift wraps him for me,” the Shadow said before giving a grin. “This is practically too easy. I do wonder, Luna. Have you grown senile while you were on the moon?” The Shadow laughed

“I’m just here on an errand, that’s all. Feel free to use the exit,” Spike said, hoping to buy some time with some idle chit-chat.

“That isn’t happening, young dragon!” The Shadow waved his hand and shut the door behind him, then approached with his expression turning into a glare. “My humiliation is finally over. Now I have you right where I want you.”

“S-so, uh, what monster are you sending at me this time?” Spike said, still grasping at straws.

“Monsters? Oh no, I'm through with relying on minions. If you want something done right… DO IT YOURSELF!” With the suddenness of a lightning bolt, he shot forward and threw a punch.

Spike narrowly dove out of the way.

“AAH!” Spike cried before running around the throne room. As the Shadow turned and tried to stomp on him, Spike evaded by rolling and then activating multiply.

It didn’t work nearly as well as he had hoped. The giant minotaur lit his horns and fired a magic blast that destroyed his copies and sent Spike flying from the explosion.

Spike hit the wall and looked up at the Shadow who was stomping up to him. In a flash, he used Pinkie’s power to dive behind some rubble. The Shadow smashed the rubble aside.

But Spike wasn’t there…

“Your tricks won’t work on me!” The Shadow turned to the rest of the room and lit his horns to scan for Spike’s soul.

Spike was hiding behind the throne chair, trying to catch his breath.

“He’s too powerful! What do I do?” Spike whispered harshly.

“Discord is almost done. Just last a little longer,” Luna whispered back.

Suddenly, a blast tore a hole in the chair above Spike's head and he peeked out from the smoldering hole.

“There you are…” The Shadow growled before forming a large sphere of magic between his horns and launching it at the chair.

“AAH!” Spike yelped before using inheritance to sprout wings and avoid it by flying.

“So you have gained a new power? It matters not, you are NOTHING! Just another mortal for me to enslave!” The Shadow fired more spheres at Spike who dove and ducked to avoid them.

Spike looked to his horn and had a thought about how he could make use of it.

Spike went on to dodge around the magic shots that the Shadow fired and when he was close enough he focused his magic and fired.

He’s seen Twilight do it a hundred times. How hard could it be?

Turns out, very hard.

Spike wound up propelling himself into a wall from the force of his own magic blast, while the Shadow merely grunted from the impact of Spike’s magic.

“Spike! Are you okay?” Trixie asked.

“Ow…” Spike said, crawling out of the hole he made.

“Spike! Look out!” Luna yelled and Spike looked up to see a boulder flying at him. He dove out and hit the ground as the boulder broke a bigger hole in the wall.

“You know how to project magic at least…” The Shadow said as he approached “But you are no master.”

“Maybe not, but I’m not giving up!” Spike said as he staggered to his feet again.

“Enough! I’m ending this!” The Shadow said as he began charging a massive ball of magic.

“Um, Luna?” Spike said with growing franticness since he did not hear anything in response. “LUNA!” Spike called out.

“It’s here, Spike!” Luna shouted.

Spike turned to see a large yellow sphere appear in front of the throne and he wasted no time in running to grab it.

“A magic sphere?” The Shadow thought for a second before his eyes widened in realization.

“Got it!” Spike said before grabbing the sphere and turning to escape, only to run right into the Shadow’s leg.

“You plan to use the Lord of Chaos’s power to restore Luna’s magic!” The Shadow said with a sneer. “This is good. This means she is weak right now! And breaking into her dimension will be easier than I previously thought!” The Shadow barked out a laugh. “Too bad she won’t ever get that magic!” The Shadow raised the sphere and prepared to cast it.

“Luna! Can you pull me out?!” Spike asked.

“W-we are trying! Too weak… you must escape on your own!” Luna said

“Alright!” Spike used inheritance to sprout wings and he flew to the door, but couldn’t open it.

“C’mon!” Spike demanded. When he saw the Shadow was about to drop the magic sphere he took a chance and dove at the hole in the wall caused by the boulder from before. Jumping through the hole as a massive explosion shook the entire building, Spike flew along the walls as the building around him was collapsing.

“Go right!” Luna shouted.

“Ok.” Spike hung a right as the fiery explosion was gaining on him, but thankfully it soon began to lose pace.

“I think I’m almost there!” Spike burst into a hallway and flew through it, finding himself in the main hallway. As Spike did his best to avoid the crumbling ceiling, his wings suddenly dissipated.

“AAAH!” Spike yelped in a long tumble to the ground.

“Our power has timed out!” Trixie cried.

“It’s fine, we’re close enough to the portal!” Cheese said.

“Ok.” Spike noticed a wall collapse and saw the Shadow coming through.

“YOU’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” The Shadow growled as he fired a smaller red beam at Spike who couldn’t avoid it in time. Spike gave a scream as it hit him and sent him skidding.

“OOOWWW!” Spike screamed because it actually hurt.

“Spike! Get up and run! He’s coming!” Rarity said as she appeared.

“Ok!” Spike got up and ran towards the portal, using his healing ability to make the pain go away.

“NO!” The Shadow roared as he fired another beam at Spike.

Spike saw the beam coming and knew he had one chance. He dove down and slid on his stomach underneath the beam.

When the beam stopped, Spike got up and dove into the portal waiting for him.

“This isn’t over!” The Shadow swore.

YOU ESCAPED!....?

Spike stumbled through the portal and found Luna staring up at him from the ground.

“Thank goodness! We thought you were finished back there,” Luna said, struggling to her hooves.

“I got the magic, Luna!” Spike said.

“Very good, bring it here.”

Spike did just that. When Spike handed it over, she began drawing magic from it with her horn.

“How long will this take?” Spike asked.

“Just a few minutes,” Luna said, having regained some color. “Your bravery in facing the Shadow was astounding, Spike. We are beginning to sense victory!”

“Me too!” Spike said. “I can’t wait to get home and just forget all this happened.”

“The same goes for me,” Luna chuckled.

“Well, if this is going to take a few minutes, could I get some shut-eye?” Spike said.

“Do so, you’ve earned-” Luna began before a sudden echoing laugh resounded through the room.

“What?!” Spike exclaimed.

“Impossible… His presence cannot be here!” Luna said, getting to her hooves.

“...Do not celebrate so early, pathetic mortals…” a familiar voice came.

“YOU CANNOT BE HERE!” Luna shouted, stomping the floor with enough force to crack it while Spike got ready for anything.

However, what he wasn’t prepared for was the portal to suddenly gain the Shadow’s face on it, followed by the evil being emerging with a smile.

“I told you… This isn’t over,”

“H-how…” Spike asked.

“Ask Luna,” the Shadow said.

“What does he mean?” Spike asked, looking at Luna.

“We have no clue,” Luna said.

“Oh? So you didn’t even bother to examine that red beam I shot the whelp with?” the Shadow said with a raised brow.

“What do you mean, demon!” Luna said.

“It was a tracking spell, allowing me to trace the dragon’s magical signature descending through the portal. In other words, he led me straight to you!” the Shadow said with a laugh.

“No!” Luna backed away and managed to put up a shield around her and Spike when The Shadow fired a blast.

“You may have regained some strength, but you're still weak!” The Shadow raised a hoof and planted it on the shield while making the beam stronger.

Eventually, Luna’s shield could take it no more and broke, sending the two skidding into walls.

The Shadow wasted no time and darted forward to grab Luna by the neck and dragged her across the floor before slamming her up against a pillar.

“I’ve waited for this for so long! Ever since you locked me in that forsaken dimension, I have waited to wring the life from your body!” The Shadow laughed.

“No…” Luna gasped out.

“Let her go!” Spike yelled running forward and using Applejack’s strength boost to land punches on the Shadow. The Shadow merely swatted him away with a flick of the wrist.

“You can wait your turn. Besides, once I kill her, there will be nothing to prevent this dimension from collapsing and my minions from reaching my portal to your world.” The Shadow turned to Spike. “If you want to surrender to me, now is your chance. Otherwise, you’ll meet the same end as her.” The Shadow tightened his grip on Luna, making her gag.

“No! As long as I have my friends, I can do this!” Spike activated Inheritance and flew up to the Shadow, getting ready to fire another massive spell burst. The Shadow simply raised his fist, and before Spike could dodge it properly, he was slammed onto the ground.

“YOU'RE A WEAKLING! If it’s death you want, then that’s what you’ll get!” The Shadow shouted.

“Ungh… Luna!” Spike immediately used restore to patch up his injuries but a big hoof came down on his back, making the dragon scream.

“Spike!” Luna choked out.

“Get off of me…” Spike gasped.

“Only after you die. But first, you have something that belongs to me,” The Shadow raised his hand and used magic to break Luna’s enchantment and pull the rings off of Spike.

“NO! GIVE THEM BACK!” Spike shouted as he struggled.

“Now that that is settled, where were we, Luna?” the Shadow said.

“You will never win, My sister and I shall imprison you once more!” Luna shouted.

“I already have won,” The Shadow said. “And don’t worry about Celestia. She’s making a fine puppet, as will you.”

“M-my… sister?” Luna wheezed.

“Yes, Celestia, or as she’s called now, Daybreaker! I cannot wait to see the looks on everycreature’s face as their beloved diarchs are the ones who will bring their world to ruin.” The Shadow said, giving another laugh. “Now die, Luna. Die knowing that you came all this way and failed…” The Shadow said before tightening his grip.

Luna’s eyes were beginning to roll to the back of her head.

“LUNA!” Spike cried.

…

……

………

“No…”

“Hmm?”

“NO!” Luna suddenly shouted with the full force of the Canterlot voice and her horn ignited.

“What’s this?” The Shadow said.

“We still have enough strength to do THIS!” Luna shouted before she glowed.

“What?” The Shadow said, covering his eyes from the light. Then he suddenly noticed that Luna wasn’t drawing magic from the sphere. It was going inside it, and it began taking shape.

“What the? What have you done!?” The Shadow demanded.

Luna didn’t answer as she passed out and the orb became a pony-shaped creature that looked like it was made of stars. Before the Shadow could properly respond, it fired a powerful beam that struck him and sent both him and Luna careening into a portal.

“NO!” The Shadow yelled as he vanished into the portal.

The creature approached Spike, who lost consciousness as it stared down at him.

Spike woke up hurting all over, but he was sure that-

“LUNA!” Spike shot up in his bed and looked around.

He hopped out of bed and looked around but didn’t see any sign of the Princess of the Night. Before he could call out again, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He turned to see a familiar creature.

“THE TANTABUS!” Spike shouted, skidding away from the creature.

“Wait! Spike, I mean you no harm!” Tantabus said

“Yeah right, I remember you’re- Wait, you can talk?” Spike said briefly, forgetting what he was saying.

“Obviously. Thanks to Luna’s spell, I was able to obtain sentience. Now, we can continue her mission together,” Tantabus said.

“You mean you're not going to kill me?” Spike said hopefully.

“No, the darkness of my past is behind me,” Tantabus said. “What matters right now is getting the souls back.”

“What do you-” Memory came roaring back and Spike looked at his bare hands “THE SOULS! Rarity! Applejack! Pinkie! EVERYPONY!” Spike began to panic but Tatanabus smacked him to stop his freakout.

“Panicking will not save them! Now listen!” Tantabus said.

“Tanta-” Spike said before she cut him off.

“Luna, please. Call me Luna. Half her soul is inside of me now, anyway.”

“Ok… Man, that's going to get confusing. Can we try a different name?” Spike asked.

“Alright…” She thought for a moment and Spike spoke before she could.

“Star?” Spike offered.

“Hmm, very well,” Star said.

“Alright then, tell me Star, am I going to have to visit all the nightmares again?” Spike asked, hoping the answer is no.

“You won’t. When you removed the souls, the nightmares collapsed. Until the Shadow can repair them, he cannot resume creating new minions.”

“Then… where are they?” Spike asked.

“If I had to make an educated guess, they are in the next nightmare. The Shadow needs to keep them in a nightmare to be able to hold onto them.”

“So basically I’m facing the next nightmare completely powerless, aren’t I” Spike asked

“I’m afraid so…” Star said

“Great, let’s hope they're all there.” Spike turned to the next portal…

And what he saw made him curious but also nervous

Three cut carrot cakes and three cupcakes…

Not waiting another minute Spike ran and jumped into the portal.

“May the stars be with you Spike… may they be with us all,” Star said.

Author's Note

And now we're back on track, Spike has survived yet another encounter with the Shadow thanks to Luna.

And introducing the newest character...

Star

[Credit again to Derpibooru]

Spike must get the souls back, and to do so he must confront the deadliest foes yet.

Tune in tomorrow for the chapter.

Grievous Galleria [read author's note please]

Spike groaned as he awoke on his bed, feeling sore all over.

“Ow… everything hurts…”

“Well that tends to happen when you deliberately blow yourself up,” Star said disapprovingly.

“It was the only thing I could think of at the time.” Spike sat up and cracked his back.

Star smiled. “Well, just be careful next time. More importantly, you’ve saved the key ponies, again.” Star gestured to the ponies who were standing there, smiling gratefully.

And among them was Mrs. Cake.

“All in a day’s work, I suppose.” Spike tried to chuckle but grunted because the laugh hurt.

“Don’t ever do something so reckless again, Spike. You could have died!” Rarity said seriously.

“Sure.” Spike hopped off the bed. “Hey, Mrs. Redheart? Can I have another shot of that healing magic?”

“Very well.” Nurse Redheart used her healing power to help Spike shake off the remnants of his pain from being blown up.

Mrs. Cake approached him. “Hello there, Spike. Mrs. Star filled me in. I do apologize for hurting you so.” Spike simply nodded while she went on, “Star also mentioned that my husband and children couldn’t be retrieved right now, but by helping you, I can save them, so I’ll do everything I can!”

“And I’ll do the same,” Spike said as Star approached.

“Next on the order of things to do, I need to tether Mrs. Cake to Spike,” Star said.

One horn flash later and Spike was wearing another ring.

“The power Mother coveted is now yours, Spike. You may now spawn magical copies of her… explosive offspring to aid you.”

“You mean I’ll give birth?” Spike said with disgust.

“No, no,” Star clarified. “Summon, as in they will appear before you.”

“Ok, better.” Spike sighed “With all the powers I have, this next one should be easier.”

“Steel yourself, Spike, for the worse may be yet to come,” Star said.

“Gotcha.” Spike stretched and walked over to the next portal.

“The next one is another of your close friends it seems,” Star said, trotting beside Spike.

“Yeah.” Spike looked at the portal with wary determination.

A rainbow lightning bolt...

“When you are ready,” Star said.

“Ok, hang on Rainbow Dash. I’m coming!” Spike said before entering the portal.

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Grievous Galleria
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Only to get thrown out and Spike looked around in confusion.

“What the? Why didn’t I go in?” Spike demanded.

“Because, silly. DD hasn’t updated their fifth chapter yet,” Pinkie said.

“DD? Fifth chapter? What the heck are you talking about?” asked Spike, only to have Pinkie gently pat him on the cheek.

"I can't say the full name because-" Pinkie pulled him very close. "Lawyers," she whispered. "Worse than anything you've faced before. If we say it, they will come, and the writer will get viciously mauled. But don't worry," she added, regaining her perky nature instantly. "We'll just wait around here until the next chapter is released. I brought Twister and Monopoly and--"

"Pinkie! We can't wait! Our time is limited, remember?"

"Pffft! Not when the story is on hiatus, but don't worry, folks. This story will never die, because the author Pinkie-Promised." She looked straight at the reader and turned deadly serious. "You're going to be here, right?"

Author's Note

"I know this may upset you guys but in order to deliver a positive and accurate story I/we need to wait until at least the first half of chapter five releases, but I solemnly swear that when the first half of the chapter releases I can write out the rest of the story as I already have a plan for it. Until then all I ask is for your patience while it happens. The wait will probably be long but the payoff will be awesome, I assure you all. Bless all who have stuck with me on this fun little journey through my story thus far and tune into it for things will only get wilder."

As always comments are appriciated.

"Till then my fans, I appreciate you all" :pinkiesmile:

Trailer for DD [read authors note]

...Fire and darkness is all around, with screams in the distance

Spike ran around a hallway as several Ponyquins pursued him, some in flight, some galloping on the walls and some running on the ground on their pointed legs.

The 'minotaur' is the one responsible.

Spike fell down a set of stairs, and after hitting the bottom he looked up and saw the shadow of his pursuer and heard the sound of rattling Ponyquin parts.

“Come on Spike? Can you really escape the fastest pony in Equestria?” the dark voice resembling Rainbow Dash spoke.

What is his identity?

“You must hurry Spike!” Star called.

“What do you think I’m doing?!” Spike exclaimed as he jumped from one escalator to the other, just as Ponyquins swarmed that escalator.

Not all is as it seems. The rings bear their power!

Spike quietly snuck through a room as the Ponyquins moved about the room in a sporadic fashion.

‘They can’t see me, They can’t see me, They can’t see me, They can’t see me,’ Spike whispered to himself.

Beware Spike, it all ends with you.

The floor cracked as the Shadow stomped on it and bellowed out his demand.

“COME OUT DRAGON!” The Shadow roared as he stood there in the center of the plaza, holding an orange soul.

“Carrot Cake!” Mrs. Cake cried trying to run to him but Spike stood in front of her.

“Not While they're out there, we’ll get him back, I promise!” Spike said before peeking over to see The Shadow, Rain-Doom as well as several Ponyquins.

Not noticing a looming presence behind him…

Save them

Spike dodged several spheres of magic through the air as well as a massive hand made of Ponyquin parts trying to grab him.

“I can’t get closer!” Spike yelled, panicking.

“Give up Spike! You can’t beat both of us!” Rain-Doom said as several flying Ponyquins pursued him.

“I’ll get him back!” Spike shouted with determination as he dove through the onslaught with his magic wings and activated his strength boost as the Shadow reared up his own fist.

“I WILL BURY YOU!” The Shadow roared as he threw his punch.

“NOT TODAY!” Spike yelled back.

Grievous Galleria…

Spike stood at the giant pile of Ponyquin parts, RD’s soul in hand.

“Not bad Spike, you managed to get past the boss and my Ponyquins…. I'm so sorry it has to end like this,” Rain-Doom said.

“It doesn’t Rainbow Dash, let me leave this place and you can be saved!” Spike demanded.

“HAHAHAHAHA! And who says I wanna?” The giant pile of parts began to stir… and RD emerged from the top, her lower half still in the pile…

“Time to add a new puppet to the collection…” Rain-Doom grinned.

Author's Note

Coming soon!

Word is, based on a roadmap Vincent Livings [the maker of Dark Deception] made, Dark Deception chapter five is planned for possibly the fourth quarter of this year.

Meaning Spike's journey hasn't concluded yet! :rainbowdetermined2:

I made this as a means to revive hype for the release of the chapter and the chapter of my story, once I have Greivous Galleria I'll have everything I need to make the rest.

Till then my viewers, ciao!

Beastly Brood

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Beastly Brood
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Spike exited the portal and found himself in the midst of a forest, with what appeared to be a small cabin ahead.

“What the? I was expecting a candyland or factory or something. Why is it a forest and a cabin?” Spike asked

“I’m not sure, but tread carefully. If the Shadow hid them here, then he must trust whomever is here to keep them hidden,” Star said.

“Ok,” Spike was about to go when he felt a sudden change in the atmosphere. “Something’s wrong.”

“Spike! Hide!” Star said frantically and Spike wasted no time diving into a bush.

Spike looked out and saw another portal open up and The Shadow exited, with a sack full of something in his hand.

“What is he doing here?” Spike asked.

“Shh. It seems we conveniently arrived in time to see something important. Stay hidden, Spike. We may learn something.”

“Ok,” Spike said.

The Shadow walked to the door and knocked on it, the door opened up revealing-

“Mrs. Cake?” Spike said with surprise. What shocked him more was her appearance. She looked visually the same and her shape was pony-like but he could tell that her skin was made of a burlap-like material. Worse, her eyes looked like they were made of glass as they sat unblinking in her head.

“Shh!” Star said which silenced Spike.

“How sweet, you came to visit, Dear Shadow,” Mrs. Cake said with a bow.

“What have I told you about that name?” The Shadow said, sounding annoyed.

“But I enjoy calling you that, so what can I do for you? Me and my babies are currently preparing for the invasion of the mortal realm, as ordered,” Mrs. Cake said.

“That has been put on a temporary pause due to… unforeseen interferences.”

“The baby dragon, Spike?” Mrs. Cake guessed. The Shadow growled but continued.

“As I was saying, I have reclaimed the souls but their nightmares are still being reconstructed. I need you to watch them.”

“Can’t you hide them in your own dimension?” Mrs. Cake asked.

“No! They will dissipate if I do that. I’m not wasting prime material,” The Shadow growled.

“Very well then. You can trust me to watch over them until you get the other nightmares functional again,” Mrs. Cake said, her stitched lips curling into a smile.

“Let’s hope so, and I must warn you, as puny as this dragon is, he has an absurd amount of luck and an annoying talent for finding souls. He will come and try to take them away. Do NOT let that happen!”

“Wow, it almost sounds like you admire him.” Mrs. Cake chuckled.

“...Dare to make that joke again and I will tear your home apart with my bare hands...” The Shadow growled.

“You really aren’t good at taking jokes…” Mrs. Cake sighed, the Shadow then handed her the bag.

“Hide them well and have your ‘babies’ on high alert. I want that dragon in pieces next time I see him, Mother,” the Shadow sneered

“Mother?...” Spike whispered.

“It will be done Dear-” She paused when she saw the Shadow deepen his glare “-’Master’ Shadow, He won’t leave with a single soul,” The being called Mother said with a bow.

“He’d better not.” The Shadow got in her face. “As motivation to not disappoint me like the others, if you fail, the next time I recapture the souls, your husband’s soul shall be personally purged by me!” The Shadow growled.

“Y-you wouldn’t!” Mother gasped.

“I would so kill that dragon, or your loved one will suffer for it!” The Shadow said before turning to walk away back into the portal.

“I won’t fail you, master,” Mother said before turning around and giving a whistle.

Spike heard baby sounds and saw eight small pony-like creatures crawl out of the cabin.

Like their Mother, they were wearing full-body burlap outfits but still looked like the cake twins, Pumpkin and Pound Cake.

“Do be a dear and help your mother hide these from the mean little dragon, would you?” Mother asked her offspring.

“Naaa!” The babies coo’d before taking the sack and dragging it indoors.

Then Mother did something that would give Spike nightmares. She turned and looked him right in the eye from where she was standing and grinned before walking inside.

“...I don’t wanna go in there…” Spike whimpered.

“Very well,” Star said.

“What? Really?” Spike said

“Sure, let’s just wait for the Shadow to come back and steal away the souls once more…” Star said probably with a sarcastic expression.

“Fine,” Spike sighed, not liking the sarcasm. Spike snuck between bushes and performed an action roll up to the door. When he checked in the window overhead to see if Mother was still there and saw she wasn’t, he was more surprised to see a second floor and a surprising amount of space.

“Great, it’s one of those bigger on the inside things isn’t it?” Spike sighed, having hoped this would be easy. He inched towards the door and cracked it open, his eye darted from left to right keeping an eye peeled for the creatures, but didn’t see anything.

Spike crept in and found himself in a much bigger cabin. He looked around and saw the same little creatures that look like the Cake twins in multiple rooms.

They were thankfully sleeping at least.

“I can sense a soul. Go upstairs,” Star said.

“Ok,” Spike responded while making his way upstairs, moving quietly so as to not disturb them. As Spike made his way to the bedroom he saw multiple beds with more of the sleeping creatures.

“Quietly,” Spike said tiptoeing through the room

Spike saw the door and he made his way to it. Opening and closing the door carefully Spike found himself in a hallway. After following it to another door, Spike entered and was surprised at what he saw, because it looked like a bedroom.

But what disturbed Spike was the multiple suits that looked like Mrs. Cake hanging there on the wall.

“Seriously, I had enough confusion as to why Fluttershy’s nightmare was a sewer, but what’s with the cabin environment?” Spike asked.

“Perhaps this is somehow connected to her desires and future plans. Nightmares can twist those too,” Star guessed.

“I guess,” Spike said before making his way through the room and finding himself in a series of hallways. As he turned a corner, he paused when he saw one of the baby creatures, just sprawled out on the ground sleeping.

Spike carefully walked around it and moved on, but once he was past, he looked around and found he was lost.

“This area is a maze. Where’s the exit?” Spike said before hearing a yawn and he turned to see a baby waking up. Spike dove behind cover as it looked in his direction.

The creature got up and used its wings to hover slightly off the ground before approaching the corner.

It turned the corner and saw nothing.

The baby monster yawned and flew back to its resting spot before going back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Spike peeked out from behind another corner, having hidden there to avoid an encounter.

“Whew…” Spike said before continuing on

“I think I can sense another door nearby. Keep moving forward.”

Thankfully none of the babies were guarding the door when he arrived. Spike went into the next hallway and made his way upstairs until he found himself at another door, and upon entering he found himself in an attic, but right in front of him was another of Mother's babies, a Pumpkin Cake model it seemed.

“What do I do?” Spike whispered.

“I do not know,” Star said honestly.

Spike thought about it for a moment and got an idea. Sneaking up on the baby, he got to just the edge of the baby’s vision and tapped its shoulder.

The baby turned to the right while Spike ran around her left, then hid behind some boxes when she looked back.

“Whew, glad that worked.” Spike sighed before noticing something that made him happy.

“Pinkie’s soul!” Spike approached the pink soul and collected it. The ring reappeared on his hand and Pinkie reappeared next to him, although she was crying.

“Pinkie,” Spike whispered, not wanting to alert the baby nearby.

Pinkie stopped crying for a moment and turned to see Spike

“SPIKEY!” Pinkie cheered and she leaped to give Spike a hug, but Spike put his hand over her mouth.

“Shhhh!” Spike said looking back and seeing a shadow and hearing creepy baby noises.

“Oopsie,” Pinkie said.

“Gotta hide!” Spike said before activating Pinkie’s power and bouncing onto the support beam above with a jump he couldn’t manage on his own.

The baby came around and looked before going back to her spot and Spike jumped back down.

“Whew, that was close,” Spike said.

“So it seems he got in.” Spike overheard Mother’s voice coming from a hole in the floor and Spike saw Mother conversing with a baby.

“You saw him enter the attic? I see, then alert your fellow babies. Master Shadow wants him dead, and I want as few babies to blow themselves up to achieve that,” Mother said before trotting away.

“Ulp. did she just say ‘blow up’?” Spike said.

“Yup, looks like we gotta make like ninjas and sneak our way through this,” Pinkie said.

“Ok.” Spike waited a moment for his Pinkie Power to recharge before using it to jump into a pail nearby and reappear behind the baby that was guarding the entrance.

“Thank goodness I got the most useful power,” Spike said before running down the hall and hearing foal sounds from the small labyrinth from before.

Spike entered and peeked around the side and was surprised to see a soul shard.

“These weren't here before,” Spike said.

“Collect them regardless,” Star ordered.

“Alright.” Spike collected it and made his way through the halls, grabbing the occasional shard… before running into a baby who was supposed to be asleep

“Uh, oh,” Spike said, backing away.

“Hm?” The baby tilted its head curiously.

“M-maybe it’s-” Spike began before the baby’s eyes turned red and it hissed at him.

“MAYBE NOT!” Pinkie shouted as the two turned and ran from the baby unicorn.

Spike ran around avoiding it, but the more he ran around the more he alerted and the more pursuers he gained.

“IT’S A BABY STAMPEDE!” Pinkie screamed as the two ran from at least fifteen babies who were making angry gibbering noises.

“Don’t let them near you! If what Mother said is true they’re likely to detonate,” Star warned.

“I know!” Spike yelled before running into a wall.

“Spikey!” Pinkie called.

The babies surrounded Spike and before he knew it he saw a flash.

Spike woke up next to the door he entered from.

“Whew, that was close,” Spike said before getting up and sneaking to the spot he was nearly blown up. Turns out Mother wasn’t lying. There were now gaping holes in the wall and floor, and burn spots everywhere.

“Wow, they really do explode… noted.” Spike focused on the remaining shards, something he noticed was the absurdly low amount here. Thankfully, there were only one or two patrolling babies left.

Spike turned a corner, avoided another baby, then ran over and grabbed the last one.

“That’s all in this area,” Star said.

“That’s it? Psh, this nightmare is easy so far,” Spike said.

“Even though you were nearly blown to bits?” Star teased.

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Spike made his way to the door, then walked down to the room with the suits. He wasted no time and opened the door to leave.

He IMMEDIATELY regretted it…

A giant version of Mother’s face was there staring down at him…

Spike and Pinkie stood there stiffly and slowly he closed the door.

“I think I just pee’d a little…” Spike whimpered.

“I actually did…” Pinkie admitted.

The two needed a few minutes to work up the courage to open the door again and blessedly, the face was gone…

“Oh thank Celestia… I thought she was still there…” Spike said.

“Let us move on before she comes back,” Star said.

As scary as it was, the two moved on through the halls and entered the baby room. Spike saw there were no babies there so he exited and went down to the ground floor.

“Go down to the basement. I am sensing there are more in a lower place,” Star informed them.

“The basement? Seriously?” Spike complained.

“Go on,” Star said.

“Ok…” Spike said before looking around, Star was thankfully able to give directions and Spike made his way down to the basement and found himself at a hole in the wall.

“Where does this lead?” Spike asked.

“Beats me but I bet this is where we need to go!” Pinkie said.

“I don’t want to go in there!” Spike complained yet again.

“You must Spike, if you want to save your friends,” Star oh so helpfully pointed out.

“I know I know…” Spike said before entering the hole.

Spike found himself wandering through tunnels, stalactites, and boulders everywhere. As Spike made it about five hundred feet he stopped to take a rest.

“Don’t rest, Spike! Remember what happened last time?” Star said

“Nopony is chasing me right now. I think I've earned a rest,” Spike said, lying down.

…Until a wall broke down and Mother came through.

“Ah, there’s our uninvited guest!” Mother said jovially.

“Ah! Not you!” Spike said getting up.

“Don’t be rude, young man, or Mother will have to discipline you,” Mother said with her chillingly calm voice. As she spoke, a horde of babies poured from the hole she made and they ran after him.

“AAH!” Spike yelled as he ran for his life. The babies were slightly faster than their mother who was simply trotting after him.

“I might actually get away,” Spike said slowing a little to conserve stamina

Once more he regretted it...

Mother suddenly sped up and her eyes began to glow.

“OH CRAP!” Spike yelled running faster.

“Mother is coming!” Mother said picking up speed.

“LEAVE ME ALONE YOU CREEP!” Spike said sprinting now.

“Such a rude child. Perhaps somepony needs a hug?” Mother was galloping now, and she was surprisingly fast now despite being twice the size of a normal mare.

“Pinkie! Do something!” Spike said.

“Uh… what kind of something?” Pinkie asked.

“I DON’T KNOW!” Spike cried before noticing something up ahead. He couldn’t believe his luck. Fluttershy’s soul was drifting near a set of planks blocking the exit.

Wasting no time Spike grabbed the soul and it became a ring again. Fluttershy appeared to Spike.

“Huh? Spike?! How did-” Fluttershy paused when she saw Mother gaining on Spike and she screamed and ran with Spike.

“Is that Mrs. Cake!?” Fluttershy asked.

“Not at the moment!” Spike said before reaching the wooden planks and breaking off the lower ones.

“Spike! They're getting closer!” Pinkie called out

“I’M HURRYING!” Spike yelled back. Finally, he made an opening and crawled through to the other side and found that he was in some kind of connected cave system.

Turning, he saw that the babies were crawling through the hole he made, he raced his mind for an idea.

Lightbulb

“Fluttershy!” Spike called out and Fluttershy’s stare came to him. Focusing his stare, the babies froze up and screamed.

“Haha! Now while they're stunned, I can-” Spike said before being launched backwards by an explosion.

Spike groaned and sat up “So… Stare equals explosion… noted…” Spike coughed some smoke as he got up and saw that the cave collapsed where Mother was about to enter.

“You may think you’ve escaped me, but you won't escape him…” Mother’s voice on the other side of the rubble chuckled for a bit before he heard her steps going away.

“Him? What’s the implication there?” Spike asked, feeling worried.

“I don’t know, Spike, but thank you for saving me.” Fluttershy gave Spike a hug and he returned it.

“We should get moving before she finds a way through,” Star reminded them.

“Yeah, where are there more shards?” Spike asked

“In the cave to your left,” Star replied.

“Hmm? Where’s Luna? That doesn’t sound like her?” Fluttershy asked.

“It’s a long story. I'll explain after this,” Spike said as he went into the cave.

It took some trekking, but he found more shards, as he was about to collect he saw a baby run past him holding a soul in it’s mouth.

It was one with triple colors… colors like-

“The Crusaders!” Spike ran after the baby who refused to slow down, although he made sure to collect shards as he ran past.

He was about to catch the baby when more of them suddenly came out of the tunnels to the sides and Spike had to pause.

"Oh, no." Spike turned and ran as the babies swarmed after him, the closest ones blowing up like bombs and Spike stumbling as the explosions nearly knocked him over.

"Should I use the stare?" Spike wondered.

"If you want to bring the caves down!" Pinkie cried.

"True…" Spike said. "Well, we need to do something! Pinkie!" Spike said using Pinkie’s power to jump into a hole and pop out another one.

Spike watched as the babies crawled into the hole after him and detonated.

Spike ran on as they attacked the wrong spot. It was a good thing babies are easy to trick.

Spike ran around and collected more shards on the rim before moving into the maze. Just when he was sure he’d make it through, he saw babies heading towards him from another tunnel and he had to change direction. Spike paused as he entered an area with rock bridges and a strange green liquid.

“I don’t even want to know what that stuff will do to me if I fall in.” Spike ran around the side, grabbing shards as the babies flooded into the room.

Spike ran on but saw babies coming in from the other entrance.

Spike looked from side to side on the bridge and saw babies swarming from both sides.

“Spike! The stare!” Fluttershy called.

“Right!” Spike used the stare on the babies to his left and they screamed and blew up.

What Spike wasn’t anticipating was a chain reaction to occur and a series of explosions to go around the room and the bridge he was on was starting to crumble.

“Ack!” Spike ran and jumped just in time to latch onto the side of the broken bridge. As he crawled onto the ledge, he turned to see more babies entering the room.

“How many are there?!” Spike demanded before getting up and running out of the room. As he made his way through the middle part of the zone, he saw a strange area with fires and tents, but he didn’t get to stare for long because he heard loud hoofsteps and turned to see Mother on the other side of a hall.

“Mother’s coming, little Spike,” Mother said before she ran towards him.

“Nope!” Spike yelled running as fast as he could down another hallway and collecting shards. He risked a glance behind him and saw Mother gaining ground.

“I gotta lose her!” Spike said before activating the stare and using it on Mother. Thankfully, she flinched and slowed down, allowing Spike to escape her clutches but as Spike rounded a corner he ran into a baby and it exploded, sending Spike flying back. Spike skidded to the ground and got up weakly.

“Spike? Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked.

“Ugh, man that hurts,” Spike said before noticing Mother had turned the corner.

“You hurt my babies!” Mother growled.

“They blew themselves up!” Spike said as he got up and ran from Mother once again.

Spike ran around the edge of the zone and thankfully he managed to get some distance from the psycho pony.

Spike went on to run through an area that had holes in the walls and when he hitched a right he ultimately found himself in a room similar to the one with the green pools. Spike wasted no time collecting the shards and thankfully he got out before any of those little… Terror Tykes got in…

“Hmmm not a bad name for them,” Spike said to himself before stopping to catch his breath. “How many shards are in this place?!” Spike asked while panting for air.

“Many, but you're almost done,” Star said.

Spike carefully peeked around a corner to keep an eye out for Mother and he saw more babies grouped together.

Spike also noticed the one holding the soul

“It’s a soul, Star. Can I use the stare on them and not destroy my friends' souls at the same time?” Spike asked.

“It’s too risky. You’ll have to trick them,” Star said.

“Ok,” Spike said before getting down low and sneaking over to the babies. Spike picked up a rock and threw it to make a noise, a noise the babies noticed, and ran off to investigate.

The one that had the souls as Spike predicted, ran away from the noise. As the baby passed, Spike leaped forward and pulled the souls from the baby's mouth.

The baby gave a screech and Spike knelt and covered the souls as the baby blew up.

Spike tumbled against the ground but held onto the souls as they became a ring.

Spike shook off the pain and ran, putting the ring on as he went.

"What happened? Spike?" Scootaloo said, noticing Spike and the other CMC galloping over.

"Spike! You're here!" Sweetie Belle said cheerfully.

"We thought the Shadow had us fer sure," Apple Bloom said.

“Glad to have you girls back too. Come on, we have to go.” Spike went back the way he came, thankfully finding the last few shards along the way. Then after some searching, he found his way out of that particular cave and back to the main cave connection area.

“Go to the middle one, Spike. There are more shards down there,” Star said.

“Seriously? I collected like a thousand in that last area!” Spike said, sounding exasperated.

“We got this, Spike,” the CMC said and Spike went into the next cave. There were ladders there, which he descended and hurried along a corridor until he found himself in a room full of holes and craters filled with green liquid.

“I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach,” Spike said before purple barriers appeared over the exits and Spike turned to see Mother standing there.

“Now I have you!” she said cheerfully. “I leave him in your hands, dear. Remember, apart from the soul, no leftovers.” And with that, she left.

“Ulp, what did she mean by dear?” Spike said before the room rumbled and something shot out of a crater.

“DINNER TIIIIIIME!” a familiar voice said.

Spike spun to see Mr. Cake, but unlike Mrs. Cake, he looked radically different.

His body was snake-like and his arms were long and ended in claws, his face looked like some kind of mix between his face and a snakes but he still had his mane.

“AAH! MR CAKE!?” Spike said backing up.

“Call me Daddy! So nice for my dear to bring me dinner!” Daddy growled.

“Any chance we can talk this-” Spike attempted before yelping and dodging as Daddy swung his arm down to crush him.

“Guess not!” Spike said before running away from the creature as Daddy went back into his pool. After a short run, Spike stopped and turned to look around for his foe's location.

Daddy burst out of the crater behind Spike and swung his arm which whacked Spike, sending him flying into a wall. Spike looked up and saw Daddy vanish into the liquid and pop out another one and drive his clawed hand forward. Spike dodged it and ran for his life as Daddy drove his hands forward, punching holes in the walls as Spike leaped and ducked under the strikes.

Spike finally got out of swinging range when a large rock fell from the ceiling and onto his head.

“OW!” Spike said before noticing the rock. “Hang on, I got an idea!” Spike said as he ran over and grabbed the rock and waited for Daddy to pop up again and when he did Spike beamed him in the face with the rock.

“AAAGH! YOU LITTLE-!” Daddy growled before opening his mouth and lunging forward, Spike twisted his body and dodged several bites before backpedaling away from the Snake pony.

Daddy lunged forward and Spike dodged again, this time using multiply to spread out while Daddy flailed his arms around to nail the copies.

Spike pulled another rock out of the wall and when Daddy went back into his hole and came out again Spike nailed him once more.

“Ooof!” Daddy grunted and retreated

“Did I get him?” Spike asked.

Suddenly the ground beneath him erupted and Daddy launched out grabbing Spike and slamming him into a wall.

“AGH!” Spike grunted before Daddy pulled him in closer.

“Bon appetit” Daddy grinned before chucking Spike into the air and Spike fell into his mouth and had to hold it open to avoid being eaten.

“I’m not your snack!” Spike yelled, breathing fire into Daddy’s mouth.

“GYAAAAH!” Daddy roared and grabbed Spike out of his mouth before throwing him, Spike saw he was flying towards a hole in the wall and so he activated Pinkie's power and went in one hole and came out another with a big rock in hand. He smashed the surprised monster in the face and Daddy cried out before hitting the ground and slumping back into the pool.

“Never throw someone who has Pinkie powers,” Spike said before high-fiving Pinkie.

Suddenly souls floated out of the green liquid, which was what Spike hoped. He collected them all, and the ponies that appeared were Trixie, Cheese Sandwich, and Derpy.

“Spike! You're here!” Trixie said.

“He saved us again,” Derpy said, looking happy.

“Focus, you three! Spike needs to save the remaining souls!” Star said.

“Sorry Luna, or wait, who is that?” Cheese asked.

“Later! C’mon,” Spike said, running into the next cave.

When Spike arrived, he honestly felt terrified of the whole place.

It literally looked like hell! Cave structures and bridges, holes in the ground, pillars, and the outside exuded a red light, bathing the environment in an eerie ambiance.

Spike looked around wondering where the souls were when he saw several souls floating in front of several sleeping babies. Spike was about to sneak up on them when suddenly they jumped up and removed their masks.

And what he saw horrified him, their faces looked like dolls but all cracked and worn and maneless, they were each missing an eye and their teeth looked rotten.

They hissed at him and then grabbed the souls in their mouths and proceeded to flee.

"Here we go again," Spike said before running after the one that ran to the left. Spike chased the freaky little guy only to have him take to the air and try to flee onto another path.

"Oh no you don't!" Spike shouted as he used inheritance to sprout a pair of wings and he flew after the baby.

Spike managed to out fly the small pony thing and he swiped the soul and he flew away before it could explode. Spike flew to ground level and waited for the soul to turn back into a ring but it didn't. Instead, it turned into a bouncing ball.

"What the?" Spike said incredulously.

"It was a fake," Star said.

"Those fiends!" AB said.

"Great…” Spike said before starting to collect shards again.

Spike ran around searching for the babies who took the souls but he couldn't find them so he instead focused on soul shard collection.

When Spike rounded a corner, several babies came running at him, so he used the stare to blow them up while they were a good enough distance from him.

Spike moved on and collected more shards down the path he was on and eventually caught sight of another Soul carrying baby and so he changed directions.

“Give that back!” Spike yelled as he chased the creature, unfortunately, his yelling drew the attention of nearby babies and when Spike looked behind him he saw several in pursuit of him.

“Uh oh!” Spike hurried along the path, looking for a way to get out of this when an idea came as he saw a long stalactite.

“Gotcha,” Spike said before jumping off the edge.

The babies all went to the side and peeked over to see where he was when Spike hopped down from the pillar and landed behind the baby that was holding the soul. With one motion, he grabbed the soul and kicked the creature at the others, resulting in a big explosion.

Spike examined the soul, but it turned into a pile of bugs in his hands.

“AH! Ewewewew!” Spike said, dropping the bugs.

“Another fake? How many fakes are there?” Star asked.

“Can’t you sense the right ones?” Spike asked.

“No, this ‘Mother’ is clever and disguised the aura the spheres give off. They all look like souls,” Star said, sounding upset at her inability to help.

“Alright, we just gotta keep trying!” Pinkie said.

“Ok,” Spike said and he ran off collecting more shards, running around a hole in the ground carefully so as to not fall in.

Spike continued down a slope and saw babies charging at him, some in the air, some with horns lowered.

“Take this STARE!” Spike said, detonating them before they could close in. Spike made it over the crest but paused when he saw Mother.

“You. Hurt. MY. HUSBAND!” she snarled, somehow she looked scarier in this light.

“Inheritance!” Spike said sporting wings and flying above Mother.

“Can’t get me up-” Spike never finished taunting as she unexpectedly jumped up to meet him and she struck Spike sending him flying into a giant floating spinning stalactite with weird writing on it.

“Ok, she can reach me… good to know…” Spike got up and darted away as Mother pounced, but he used multiply to confuse her.

“You won’t escape Mother’s wrath!” Mother said as she took out one clone at a time while pursuing.

Spike ran as fast as he could, but Mother wasn’t letting up. When his last clone was taken out he managed to regain Inheritance and used it to take off before she could grab him.

“Why do you flee from Mother!?” she called out as Spike flew higher and higher into open space.

“That should be obvious you creepy mare!” Spike said before swooping beneath the zone and flying to another platform before his power timed out.

“Oh man… that was close,” Spike sighed.

Spike heard gibbering and he turned to see that conveniently a baby holding a soul had come around a corner. With a screech, it turned around and ran.

“Get back here!” Spike yelled before chasing the baby. Not leaving anything to chance, he picked up speed and tackled the baby and pulled the soul from it’s mouth before chucking the living bomb off the ledge.

Spike sighed from his exhaustion but looked at the soul and was happy it turned into a ring.

“You found a real one this time,” Star congratulated. Spike put the ring on and Applejack appeared.

“Huh? What's goin-” Applejack asked, looking dazed.

“Later, come on!” Spike said, running off and collecting shards despite Applejack's confusion.

“Hold up!” Applejack shouted running after Spike, only to be replaced by Pinkie.

“Don’t worry, AJ. I’ll fill you in,” Pinkie said before they returned to their rings.

Spike ran around for a while collecting shards, managing to avoid the demonic babies but keeping an extra sharp eye out for Mother.

“Spike, if what Pinkie told me is true, then we’re in a lot of trouble if we don’t get the souls back,” Applejack said.

“I know,” Spike replied as he ran into a crossroads area.

Spike looked from side to side wondering which side he hadn't finished yet when he heard gibbering noises and saw babies swarming from both sides.

“Uh oh!” Spike said and he ran down the middle and fled from the babies surging after him.

Spike ran down a spikey path collecting more shards along the way. As he managed to lose the swarm, he was blindsided by Mother who was hiding behind a boulder. Before Spike could get up, she firmly planted a hoof on his stomach and glared at him right in the eye.

“I hope you realize your defiance won’t go unpunished,” Mother growled.

“GET OFF!” Spike used his strength boost to try and pry Mother off of him, but she continued to hold him down with a single hoof.

“I’m one mare you won’t want to mess with!” Mother said before applying pressure. Spike gagged and when he looked around he saw babies had gathered around the two.

“Time for punishment!” Mother said before raising her other hoof and Spike knew he only had one chance.

“Star!” Spike called out and before he knew it he was back at the entrance and he gasped for air.

“I can’t… do that again,” Star said sounding tired

“I understand,” Spike said before hitching a right and locating a few more shards hidden along the way. When Spike collected the last one he paused and looked for a second before speaking to Star.

“Hey Star! Did I collect all of the shards here?” Spike asked

“Yes, but there is one other soul in this area,” Star said

“Point the way” Spike offered

Star directed Spike to the nearest soul but when he got there he was surprised to see the baby just standing there, soul in mouth, there were a few others patrolling nearby.

“How stupid does she think I am? This has booby trap written all over it!” Spike said.

“Her intention may be to make you think that so you’ll be hesitant to go after the soul,” Star said.

“Well, I still have to go after it, but I wonder…” Spike considered how he was going to pull this little heist off.

“Spikey, I have an idea,” Pinkie said.

The baby stood there as instructed, waiting for the dragon.

Then suddenly it heard a noise and turned to see Pinkie Pie on a rocky platform.

"Hey there little babies, gather round!" Pinkie cheered and the babies did so. Pinkie glanced around and didn't see any more hiding among the tunnels, which allowed Spike to sneak behind the group.

“Time to play our favorite game!” Pinkie cheered before reaching into her mane and pulling out a door, which surprised even Spike.

“Wheeeeere's Pinkie Pie? Here I am!” Pinkie said jumping out from behind the door. “Wheeeeere's Pinkie Pie? Here I am! Wheeeeere's Pinkie Pie? Here I am!” Pinkie repeated the action again and again and eventually, the babies began to coo and squeal with laughter as Pinkie continued.

“Wow, I guess they are still babies after all,” Spike said with a shrug. He got low and snuck up to the one with the soul while Pinkie continued to entertain the babies.

Spike was about to snatch the soul when he looked up and froze as he saw a figure standing behind Pinkie.

“Hello Pinkie” Mother’s calm voice came.

“One second!” Pinkie said before pausing and looking back at Mother. “Oh…”

“I know there’s nothing I can do to hurt you, but if you’re here, then he must be here too. Babies, playtime is over. Go find the mean dragon,” Mother ordered.

Spike hid behind a rock, panting because he had nearly been caught. Taking a peek around the corner he saw that Pinkie was unsuccessful at stopping the babies from dispersing. Seeing his chance slipping away Spike had no choice.

“Why does doing the right thing always have to hurt!” Spike said before running out and swiping the baby with the soul.

“There he is my children! Get him!” Mother shouted as the babies took notice and began to converge.

Spike knew that he only had one chance now. He pried the soul off of the little creature and chucked the baby like a grenade at Mother.

“Oh dear…” Mother said as Spike used the stare on it. The baby screeched before detonating and sending Mother flying.

This caused Spike's worst fears to be realized as the other babies began to blow one after another and Spike had to turn and run amidst explosions.

“Hold on, Spike!” Pinkie said as she ran alongside him and the two were consumed by flames.

It seemed that that was it, but then the two were launched through the air and they tumbled across the ground and Spike landed against another rotating stalactite.

“Ugh…” Spike coughed some blood as he watched that part of the area plummet into the abyss below.

“Spike! Are you okay?!” Pinkie said before being replaced by Applejack

“Stay with us Spike!” Applejack shook Spike to keep him from passing out.

“I-i’m good… that just... did I get a real one?” Spike asked.

They all looked to the white glowing sphere and to their relief it turned into a ring.

“It is,” Applejack said.

“Good,” Spike said. He reached over and put it on, making Nurse Redheart appear.

“Huh? Where am- Spike!” Nurse Redheart galloped over to him.

“He took a very bad hit,” Star explained.

“Is he going to be okay, Mrs. Redheart?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“He's showing signs of internal injuries. I’ll activate the healing power,” Nurse Redheart said and Spike glowed green as his injuries began healing.

“Sweetie, was that any way to treat someponies mother?” a familiar voice came. They all turned to see Mother approaching amidst the flames.

“How did she survive that explosion!? Or not fall off the platform?” Applejack said, sounding surprised.

“Get up, Spike!” the CMC said.

“I’m trying,” Spike groaned while getting up. He still coughed blood but he was more stable now.

“Mother’s coming!” Mother laughed and began to pick up speed.

“Spike! Hurry!” Trixie said.

Spike used multiply at the last second and they all scattered just before Mother reached them.

“You can’t hide from me!” Mother said and she did something that scared Spike.

She grabbed the zipper on her chest and unzipped all the way down to her stomach, then the babies began crawling out of her.

“I’m gonna puke!” Scootaloo said in disgust.

“What? Don’t you find the miracle of birth beautiful? After all, where do you think you all came from?” Mother said before pointing at the four Spikes.

“Go my babies and kill that dragon!” Mother said, and the babies went to do just that.

Spike scattered with his copies and he ran back down the path that led to the exit. Looking behind him, he saw the babies swarming after him.

“The copies didn’t distract enough of them!” Spike said as he ran along the paths leading to his way out of here.

Spike could see it from where he was but he also saw a swarm of babies cutting off that area. Thinking fast, Spike jumped off the ledge and the babies gathered around there only to see Spike use inheritance to fly outside the paths and fly into the cave exit.

“I can’t believe I got out of there!” Spike said as he flew through the acid crater room.

“You’ve done very well, Spike. There’s just one last soul to collect,” Star informed him.

“Rarity,” Spike said as he landed due to his power timing out and he climbed the ladders.

When he got back to the connecting cave system he went towards the only cave he had not gone into yet.

As Spike got to the end of that cave, he looked down and saw a very steep drop.

“No way I’m jumping down that far. I’ll break my legs.” Instead, Spike used inheritance to fly down, and once he landed, he proceeded through the rest of the cave. Once he made it to the other side of the cave he saw Mother standing in front of a giant green pool.

“Uh oh,” Spike said, trying to hide.

“There’s no use hiding. I saw you,” Mother said.

“I can just fly back up. You can’t catch me!” Spike said.

“True, but after the cave-in you caused, the only way out is in this room,” Mother said.

“I’m getting through then!” Spike said, walking out in front of Mother.

“So much bravery… for such a foolish child!” Mother said with a glare before she jumped backwards into the pool.

“Now what?” Spike was ready for anything. He wasn’t as ready as he thought when Mother emerged as a giant with a massive tear in her stomach, a writhing swarm of babies in the tear, and one of her hooves had transformed into a monstrous mouth.

“Wow…” Spike said, backing away as she loomed over him.

“By the way, aren’t you looking for this?” Mother said, showing Spike the white soul.

“Rarity!” Spike called but she brought the soul to her mouth and swallowed it.

“Too bad. The Shadow is the only one getting her soul,” Mother said before narrowing her eyes “Your more trouble than I initially thought, I believed letting you come onto my turf would make things easier but you’ve not only stolen the souls back, you’ve destroyed many of my precious babies! You little abomination! You will learn to respect Mother! UNTIL YOU DIE!”

Spike tried to turn and run but a purple barrier appeared blocking his exit. “Hey! That’s not fair!” he said before a swing of a massive hoof caught him off guard and nearly hit him.

“Life isn’t fair,” Mother dragged her hoof back across the ground and knocked Spike off his feet.

Spike tumbled across the ground before getting to his feet and rolling to the side to avoid the second mouth that tried to eat him.

Spike used multiply to scatter himself around but Mother put her hoof on the ground again and dragged it along the ground, knocking Spike against the wall and destroying his copies.

“Agh!” Spike grunted and he looked up to see Mother actually leaving the green pool and she began waving the mouth around and snapping at the air trying to hit Spike.

Spike got up and tried to run but she was gaining on him and so he used inheritance and took to the air. Spike dodged and weaved through the air as Mother snapped her second set of jaws at him.

“Come back or you're grounded!” Mother swung her hoof at Spike who swooped low to avoid being crushed. Spike got lower to the ground and as he flew he looked back for a second before looking forward and saw that several babies had crawled out of the pool.

“Oh crap!” Spike said flying higher to avoid having unwanted hitchhikers.

The babies chased him again and just as Spike was starting to lower himself, his power timed out and he tumbled along the ground.

“AAH!” Spike yelped as he hit the ground.

“Babies, KILL HIM!” Mother shouted and the babies obeyed, closing in on all sides.

“Stay back!” Spike said as he used the stare and the babies blew up, Mother cried out because the explosion was close enough that it knocked her over.

“Hey… that could work!” Spike said before Mother climbed back into the pool.

“Naughty children get punished!” Mother growled as she swung her hoof at the running Spike, who ducked and jumped around her swings.

“Lady, you can’t touch me, I’ve had plenty of practice dodging monster attacks!” Spike taunted

“Do you treat your own mother with such disrespect?!” Mother said as she slammed her hoof down and created a shockwave that launched Spike into the air.

“WHOOOOAAA!” Spike yelped as he flew through the air and tumbled along the ground.

Mother took this opportunity to jump out of the green pool and she suddenly sprouted blades out of her body.

“What the?” Spike said while getting up.

“I’ll shred you!” Mother shouted as she curled into a ball and spun after Spike with the sharp sound of blades against the stone.

“OH CRAP!” Spike yelled as he ran. He could see she was faster so he used his regenerated inheritance and took to the air, despite his airspeed she was still gaining on him.

“There’s gotta be something I can do!” Spike said before glancing at his horn.

“Oh please work,” Spike said before turning midair as she was about to reach him. Flaring his horn, he unleashed an uncontrolled blast that propelled him away as well as knocking Mother off balance and back into the pool.

“You annoying brat!” Mother rose out of the liquid before climbing out again as Spike landed, his power exhausted again.

“Not good,” Spike said before noticing babies coming out of the pool, and he found himself between two dangers.

“I won’t fail my master! You will die here!” Mother shouted.

Spike was thinking at max speed for a solution when a baby hopped onto his back. He pried it off with his tail and threw it into the pool where it exploded.

Hang on…

When Spike saw the approaching babies and the mass of babies in her chest cavity and stomach… an idea came.

“Your babies can’t kill me! They're too lame!” Spike shouted.

“You dare insult my children!? Babies, teach him a lesson!” Mother said as she approached.

Spike heard the babies charging him from behind.

Perfect.

Spike spun and grabbed one of them before using AJ’s strength boost to hurl the baby into Mother's chest opening. Then he used the stare.

“NO!” Mother cried. The agitated baby exploded and set off a chain reaction from the other babies in her, causing a huge explosion to blast a hole in her.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGH!” Mother screamed in pain before toppling into the pool.

“Dear Shadow… Forgive me, I failed you…” she said as she sunk into the pool.

“HAH! And that’s one more win for team Spike!” He was feeling pretty good until Star called out a warning.

“Do not linger, Spike, or have you forgotten these creatures can never know death? She will be back soon.”

“Got it,” Spike saw Rarity’s soul, as well as another soul, floating out of the pool. Using inheritance, he quickly flew over the pool and got them.

Spike made it to the ground and put the newly formed ring on as Rarity appeared.

“Spike? SPIKEY!” Rarity cried running over to him and scooping him up in a hug.

“Heh, it’s nice to see you too, Rares,” Spike said, blushing a little.

“You’ve saved me yet again. If there’s ever a way to thank you, just say it!” Rarity said.

“Well-” Spike was about to take advantage of that when Star gave a sharp ‘ahem!’ “Oh yeah! We need to get out of here before you know who wakes up!” Spike said as Rarity set him down.

“Who are we talking about?” Rarity asked.

“You don’t know? It’s-” Another sharp ‘ahem!’ got Spike’s attention. “I’ll tell you later. Let’s move!” Spike said before running out of the room with Rarity.

Spike ran into an area with stony platforms, waited until inheritance was available again, and then used it to cross the gap easily.

When Spike got to a tunnel, he heard another rumble.

“What now?” Spike groaned.

His answer came in the form of Daddy smashing through a wall and climbing down the tunnel after him.

“YOU HURT MY WIFE! I’LL KILL YOU!” Daddy roared.

“Why am I getting blamed for this stuff all the time?!” Spike yelled as he ran up the tunnel from the monstrous snake pony.

Spike noticed a baby up ahead and a red wall. He avoided the baby and smashed the wall with his strength boost and ran forward, narrowly avoiding Daddy’s snapping maw. He ran up a long rocky corridor and saw two more closing in on him, using the stare he took them out and ran on until he found himself at a hole that was big enough for him to crawl through and crawl he did.

Spike found himself in the cabin once more and exited a door to find himself at the hole he used to get into the caves in the first place and he sighed.

“Never thought I would be so happy to be back here” Spike admitted before the whole place shook and a feminine roar could be heard.

“She’s coming, Spike! RUN!” Star yelled. Spike needed no further incentive and bolted for the stairs before going upstairs. When he got upstairs he saw the wooden floors splinter and break as Daddy’s claws tore through.

“They're gonna bring the whole house down!” Spike yelled.

“YOU!” Spike heard a voice and turned to see Mother, only her glassy eyes were gone. In their place were smaller but eerie-looking eyes glowing red with hatred.

“You’ve wrecked my beautiful home! You won’t live to see another day!” Mother snarled as her babies swarmed around her legs and charged at Spike.

Spike looked around and saw the roof cracking and he had an idea. He waited until the babies were beneath the crack and he used the Stare. The babies shrieked and exploded, causing a cave in from the roof.

“NO!” Mother cried as the wreckage blocked her, and Spike turned and ran out into the living room.

“HONEY! DON’T LET HIM LEAVE!” Mother cried.

As she said this, the ground repeatedly exploded around Spike as Daddy forced his claws through the floor, again and again, trying to grab Spike and pull him under.

Spike deftly weaved through the onslaught and made his way to the main room just as Daddy tore through the stairs and crawled out.

“COME BACK!” Daddy bellowed, swiping his claws at Spike as he ran out the door.

Once outside, Spike ran for the exit portal but he found himself cut off by several babies. He used the Stare to destroy them, but to his horror, more replaced them. Most of them formed a crowd in front of him while others formed a line in front of the portal.

“YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE!” Spike turned to see Mother standing there in front of her doorway, glaring at him with her freaky red eyes and with her babies crowding around her.

She then grabbed the bottom of her face mask, and tore it off… revealing her face… oh sweet Celestia… her face… Spike would never unsee it.

Her face was skinless and rotting with black tendrils writhing out of various parts of her face.

Spike had seen a creepy anatomy model once. This put it to shame in an instant.

She turned her skinless face towards Spike and laughed dementedly, having clearly lost her mind at this point.

“Babies cut off his escape! Dear, he’s all yours!” Mother said as the cabin's roof behind Mother broke apart and Daddy came out of the hole.

“Thanks hon! And don’t worry. I remember, apart from the soul, no leftovers!” Daddy said as he approached Spike with deliberate intent.

Spike’s mind raced on what he could do.

Then he spotted one of the holes the babies made to get in front of him and block him off… an idea came… he didn’t like it and it was going to hurt a lot but he had no choice…

“YOU’RE MINE!” Daddy roared as he swung his claw down to crush Spike but he jumped away and into the hole made by the babies, avoiding it.

“Get back here!” Daddy growled and shoved his arm into the hole after Spike… but he wasn’t there.

"What?" Bellowed Daddy. "How did you...?"

"Ahem."

All of the babies and Daddy turned around to see Spike standing behind them, giving a little wave... while Staring.

"Bye!"

Exploding babies detonated in a chain reaction that sent Daddy flying into the house, demolishing it flat. Spike had measured his distance well enough that the blast sent him flying in the other direction, over the remaining babies and into the portal.

"NOOOOOOO!!" Mother cried.

YOU ESCAPED!

Author's Note

And thus the level we all waited for is completed, Spike escapes with the souls and defeats Mother, Daddy, and their dangerous offspring.

And yet, the danger will only continue to build... after a news update in the next chapter regarding how the rest of the series will go.

Have a good day everyone. :pinkiehappy: