Where is Everypony

Chapters

Chapter 1: Dragon's Oblivious
Chapter 2: Dragon's Concerns
Chapter 3: Dragon's Utter Denial
Chapter 4: Dragon's Tiredness
Chapter 5: Dragon's Sorrow
Chapter 6: Dragon's Careless
Chapter 7: Dragon's Frenzy
Chapter 8: Dragon's Desire
Chapter 9: Dragon's Crash
Chapter 10: Dragon's Temple

Chapter 1: Dragon's Oblivious

Early morning was met with an intense cold. Spike timidly opened his eyes and spotted the clock. It was nearly noon, far too late for his liking. He groaned and stood up, tapping on his sister's bed. When there was no answer, he shrugged and assumed she must have already woken up. This was strange since she was usually the over-sleeper, not him. He walked over to the dresser only for the next oddity to catch him off guard.

All of Twilight's supplies were gone. Her morning books, noon books, and even evening books. The massive assortment of reading glasses for every hour and even her eyedrops used to ensure she wouldn't miss a wink of reading. It was all gone, save for a few small things that she rarely touched at all.

"Twilight?" he called out, wondering where she went.

There was no response. The door to her room was still shut, but her window was wide open. That at least explained the coldness in the room. Running over to the bathroom, he checked inside but found nothing there either. Her toothbrush was gone, but not the fresh paste he bought yesterday. Weirder yet, random objects like a hairbrush, and her deodorant was missing. All old, nothing new had been taken.

He rolled his eyes at the strange occurrence and went about his business. He needed to relieve some morning pressures and take a bath. No, just the business and a quick shower considering how far into the day it was already. Either way, it took about an hour to get all that done. Soon enough, the dragon stepped out and looked around, hoping his sister was back.

She didn't seem to hear him in the shower. Thinking it was strange as ever since he became an adult she would become offended at the mere idea of him using her bathroom. It was strange that she wasn't yelling at him to stop or to use his own. She never showed up at all.

"Maybe she left the castle without telling me?" Spike mumbled. It didn't seem likely but as he moved through the halls it quickly became clear that had to be the only option. He was her number one assistant and she was a bit too obsessive about her work. Just running off without a word wasn't too strange, yet there was even a message tagged to the fridge.

The dragon went about his day as normal. He made himself breakfast, ate, and then went to work. Taking most of the day cleaning up the castle from top to bottom. This was where he noticed another oddity. Starlight's room was also empty. Her stuff is in the same state as Twilight's with all newer objects left in place and everything else missing.

Sure, she barely visited the castle ever since she started bedding with Sunburst. But Twilight always told him to keep her stuff tidy up and current. Just in case she had to come back to stay, or if Sunburst needed a break from her... friendship. There wasn't even a letter, or a sign, or anything. It was just empty, just like the rest of the castle.

"Okay, just a little concerning."

As the hours ticked by, the dragon began to grow a bit anxious. He was almost done with his chores and it was getting late. It was nearly evening and Twilight wasn't home yet. Odder still everything outside was eerily quiet all day. Normally he could at least hear ponies moving about, chatting with each other and just living their lives.

Instead, it was just... silence. It was at this point he noticed the birds weren't chirping. He opened the window and saw no movement on the streets or anywhere. Twilight's pet owl wasn't even flying about. Everything was just... dead silent.

Ignoring the rest of his work, Spike rushed to the front door and threw it open. Only to confirm the roads were empty. Leaning out, he could feel a coldness, but no wind. Not a breeze, no movement, nothing. Looking up, he could see clouds in the sky but they weren't moving either. It was like the whole world had stopped. Yet the Sun and Moon were still moving. This wasn't some sort of time spell or illusion. It was the real thing.

"What is going on?" Spike wondered, slowly stepping outside and closing the door behind him. His steps were soft and careful as he walked down the road. His concern turned to mild panic as he headed to Rarity's boutique. His mind was no longer on his chores at all but on the strangeness going on around him.

The dragon needed to find answers and soon. He couldn't explain it, but there was something deeply wrong. His body tensed up as his walk slowly turned to a full sprint. As his pace quickened, so did his heartbeat. A nervous feeling overtook him causing his breathing to quicken.

******

Maybe it was luck that Spike stopped his chores halfway. He had yet to reach the Room of Friendship. Maybe then he would have gotten his answers far sooner. He could have stumbled upon the blood-splattered table. He would have known what had happened to Twilight. Seeing her wings strew over the walls with all her feathers plucked out. Her head was firmly smashed to pieces in the center of the bloodbath.

Spike was completely unaware of it all. Unknown a long bony beast dropping down from the ceiling. The disfigured monster was draped in the bloody flesh of other ponies. None of the decay ever reached the dragon at all, due to the glowing barrier around its body.

Lowering to the table it slurped up the bloody mess so fast like it never happened. Licking up every bit of spilled fluid, before adding Twilight's corpse to its collection. As soon as the table was spotless, the creature stood tall and took a deep breath. Swinging over its tail, it looked at Starlight. Her head gripped shut in his stinger claw. Barely alive, she struggled and whimpered silently.

Her eyes glared at the monster spotting Spike in the distance. Her horn glowed in an attempt to charge one final spell. Maybe to stop the beast or to get Spike to safety. Her hopes shattered as the monster bit off her horn with ease. She fell silent, blood spraying over her face. The creature followed this ripping off her arms and legs just as violently and fast. Before the life in her eyes faded, the monster splattered her skull on the table too, right in the same spot Twilight had been previously.

This was slowly followed by the same actions of slumbering up all her blood and absorbing her corpse. The process was swift, clean, and quiet. It never said a word at all, just simply went about its work. Once finished, it realized it was too late to take out Spike too. The dragon was already out of sight. It tilted its head, making a loud crack. It was the only sign of emotion it showed at all. Crawling over to a tiny gap in the ceiling, it squeezed its massive bony form into the tight space. Gone, like it was never there at all.

Spike was running on his own. Completely unaware of the horror that he had woken up to. He was oblivious to the monster, the murders, and the deaths that were just outside his sight. He was still blissfully ignorant of all that had happened before he awoke.

******

Chapter 2: Dragon's Concerns

Spike ran into the boutique. His breath was so heavy and it felt like he was being chased. Yet, even after looking back for the tenth time, there was nothing there. Still, his heart was beating faster than it ever had before. He had run faster than any other time in his life. His mind was racing a mile a minute as he tried to figure out what was going on.

He turned his attention back to the building. The doors were open, and the lights were on. But just like the castle, it was silent. Walking inside, his gaze shifted around. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. At first glance, it appeared the same as ever, but he could sense a subtle wrongness to it all. He couldn't tell what was off, but his gut told him something was amiss.

"Rarity?" he called out, expecting his friend to answer back.

Just like before no answer came. Only utter and very unnerving silence. Her being away did make more sense than Twilight. She had multiple shops to run, and customers to meet, in town and out of town. But she also had a sister who had a habit of being dropped off at her doorstep without warning. Even as a full-grown adult, Sweetie Belle would find herself just as alone as Spike was currently in the boutique.

However, he could hear a single note of her soft music playing. Alone the mare wouldn't hesitate to fill the place with her songs and voice. Yet as Spike stepped inside, he found a lack of this presence too. It was all just as empty as everywhere else.

The further he wandered inward stranger and more familiar things got. All the newest dresses were perfectly in place, but all the older ones were gone. There were still some of her works in progress, but none of the completed products were older than a month, especially a year. Clothing wise that wasn't too strange as Rarity was a generous mare, often giving away any clothing that didn't sell.

But there was one thing Rarity would never part with. Spike's eyes widened and rushed through the backroom. He ripped open the door and looked around the record room. This left him utterly shocked. There wasn't a single blueprint left. All her greatest designs, both big and small are gone. There were a few recent notes that could have been written up not but hours ago, but everything else was gone.

"That's impossible," Spike muttered, "Why would she move them? All those pieces were filled with so many memories..." He slowly walked over each empty slot, and his memories played. From all the hours the two would spend on each piece to the many cuts and stabs he would heal in helping her.

The mere fact that all of it was gone left him in a flood of emotional confusion. Why would she remove them all? Where was Rarity and Sweetie Bell? Why didn't either of them answer when he called out? These questions filled his head, causing his chest to ache.

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Yet his feet carried him to the deepest end where a chest stood untouched. It was their greatest shared memory. Something Rarity held close to her heart. She wouldn't let anyone near it, not even Sweetie Belle. The only one allowed near it was him, for he was the one who gave it to her.

If she took all this stuff away without warning why was this still here? It was a question that shook Spike the hardest. His claw trembled as he reached forward, slowly lifting the lid. His eyes widened upon seeing what was inside. Much to his confusion, despite how long she kept this, it was still here. This completely broke the pattern, but that was what left him in utter horror.

Pulling it out revealed the Fire Ruby. A gem symbolizing Spike's ever-lasting love for the mare. It was abandoned by Rarity's disappearance. And the worst part, it was completely shattered. Nothing more than pieces and the chain they were barely held onto.

"No, no, no!" Tears tipped in his eyes as his legs kicked back. He wanted to throw it away, deny its shattered and destroyed form. yet it would never leave his hand. This was his symbol, his proof, and now it was nothing more than pieces.

Spike was lost in a whirlpool of confusion consumed by ever-growing sorrow and neglect. It carried him out of the room, through the halls, and out the door. His feet moved on their own, taking him further and further from the boutique. The tears blinded his vision, his breath became shallow, and his mind raced with thoughts and emotions.

Yet his body refused to stop. It continued to carry him away from the shop and toward the center of Ponyville. The tattered remains of the Fire Ruby dangling from his fingers. His mind was in such distress and unaware of the shadowy figure trailing from house to house. Watching him, stalking him, and waiting for a chance to pounce and snap away his life too.

It only stopped upon seeing the Fire Ruby in his hand. Echoes of Rarity's gruesome demise played in its mind. It could feel her bones struggling within its black mass of corpses. Somehow, it could sense her desire to protect Spike even from beyond the grave. The creature tilted its head, a cracking sound coming from its neck. This silence the memories of her last words and her attempt to fight them off as they devoured Sweetie Belle right in front of her. With a shrug, the monster slithered away. The dragon, still completely oblivious, stumbled back until his back hit a tree.

He leaned against it, slowly slipping down. His eyes came upon a treehouse. He could feel his heart tightening at the sight of the structure. This was the CMC's clubhouse. His hand loosed on the broken gem. His tears dripped down his face, his sorrow fading in the denial and hope that somewhere he could find somepony. The Fire Ruby's remains fell out of his hand as he climbed up the ladder.

******

Chapter 3: Dragon's Utter Denial

Reaching the clubhouse, Spike felt his hope drain away. Inside, much like the previous two places, was empty. Random stuff scattered about, but not a soul to be found. All that greeted him was silence and loneliness. He slowly looked around, spotting a pile of blankets, pillows, and snacks. New posters and ideas for cutie marks and friendship missions were all over the walls.

As he searched the area, Spike couldn't help but feel a sense of worry and unease. The CMC clubhouse was their special place, and it was highly unusual for them to just disappear. He knew the three fillies, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, would never leave their beloved clubhouse behind without a good reason. And Spike was determined to find out what had happened.

However, another similar moment to the other places with several objects missing. Everything within his sight was new, nothing old. This was especially strange for since the CMC always kept all their mementos and gifts from their previous missions. Even if it was as small as a single note... all of it was gone.

Their giant chart which contained testimonies of their previous lives without cutie marks stood in the center of the room, but all the words had been shredded off the board or outright ripped off on the corners. Walking closing revealed these damages were so plain and simplistic, yet also devastatingly powerful in destroying all evidence of the words' existence.

Spike dragged his fingers over the removed words and found no indents of any kind out of place. It was like they were shaved off with perfect precision. There was no trace or signs of the words that once stood upon it. Everything was telling him this felt like it was brand new, but Spike knew it wasn't.

This was a place that meant everything to the CMC. It was a place where they could go when things were at their lowest. When nopony was there for them, they had each other. And he was free to visit any time he wanted. They wouldn't just abandon it. So the question remained the same.

Where were the three crusaders? Where were Rarity, Twilight, and Starlight? What happened to them? Did they all choose to leave at the same exact time? Was there a reason? If so, why did they all leave the castle, the boutique, and now even the CMC clubhouse. Why was every old object and item of value taken with them, yet all the newer items still remained?

He started with the shelves, seeing that they were filled with all kinds of new junk. There were plenty of knick-knacks, pictures, and a bunch of other stuff. All of which were relatively new and didn't show any signs of aging. None of them gave him the answers he sought. It didn't take long for him to stumble across a photo album. Upon opening it, all the images were gone, nothing but blank pages.

He checked the date of the book, but it had been rubbed out. It was like something didn't want anypony to know when the pictures were taken. If this picture book was ever used at all. He put it back and went to check the drawers. All of them were empty of old stuff, but there were plenty of new things inside.

There were no answers to these questions here either. All Spike could do was look around and try to find clues. Maybe something here could possibly explain what was happening. His gaze shifted over the room, hoping to spot something, anything that could help. As his eyes drifted lower in doubt, his sight came upon the window.

Outside the Sun was already setting. How long had he been searching? It would be night soon, and the prospect of wandering around in the dark, utterly alone, scared him, even as an adult. Yawning, he walked over to the pillows and the blankets. His exhaustion was finally catching up to him. It would be wise to rest and recover here.

"Maybe this is just a nightmare I need to wake from..." he spoke out loud as he lay down, his eyes staring at the ceiling, "I'm just having a really bad dream. Tomorrow I'll wake up and everything will be okay. Everypony will be back..." With that final word, he wrapped himself up and slowly closed his eyes. His breath slowed down and his body grew more relaxed. His senses shut down, so he didn't notice the shadowy figure crawling under the treehouse. Spike drifted away into sleep's embrace, oblivious to the fact the creatures rolling around the tree like a constriction snake. Slowly it came to a stop as well, noticing night's arrival. It lay on the grass, staring at the sky with blackened lifeless eyes.

It turned its attention away from the fading light and the dragon above it. Leaning upward, its mouth popped open and its bony tongue wiggled about. Its cheeks spread open like a curtain, showing thousands of teeth. Once it's jaw was fully open, it reached inside and pulled out the chunks of meat that were once Starlight and Twilight Sparkle.

It checked the limbs over to see how much of the acid had eaten away the muscle tissue and fat. It didn't take long for it to finish its analysis. With a gulp, it swallowed the arms, legs and heads. It was a messy process, but a quick and simple one. The beast was done in seconds and returned its attention to the sky. Its stomach churned and gurgled softly and it's blackened orbs closed shut.

It fell asleep, awaiting the next morning's light. The night was just as silent as the day. Not even the crickets had escaped its slaughter. Spike's snores echoed out of the treehouse and filled the void of nothingness in the town. The moon rose high into the air, watching over the town. Its light was a gentle glow filling the land. But even after that light reached the beast, none of it could shine upon it. Its form was just as blackened during the night as it was during the day.

******

Chapter 4: Dragon's Tiredness

Spike slowly awoke. His eyes blinked rapidly as he took a deep breath. As he did, his hopes shattered again. He didn't wake up inside the castle of friendship. Twilight wasn't there to greet him, nor Starlight. He was still inside the clubhouse where he feel asleep in. With a heavy sigh, he got up and stretched. His hands and back popped, making him shiver. With his bones feeling a bit looser, he made his way to the window. His gaze shifted, scanning the outside for any sign of life.

Just like yesterday the streets were empty. There was no ponies walking along the road, no voices, nothing. All there was, was silence and emptiness. Spike turned his head, looking around the room once again. Just as before there was no sign of the CMC. The only thing that gave him hope was that the sun was shining and the sky was clear. It was a beautiful sight that would bring smiles to many faces. Yet, there was no faces for him to see, or ponies for him to speak too.

He slouched down and his stomach growled. Grabbing one of the nearby snacks, he munched down and leaned against the framing of the window. He stared out, hoping to see even a glimpse of somepony, but no such luck. He didn't have the strength to move, and didn't even try to leave the clubhouse.

Had Spike even attempted escape though, he would have finally saw the monster. It was still firmly asleep twenty feet under him. Its eyes were shut and its tongue was sticking out. Its body constricted around the tree like a tight vice. The stomach slowly expanding and contracting as it breathed in and out.

However, upon hearing Spike's voice above, the blacken eyes slowly opened. Its head tilted upward ever so slight to see Spike's head out the window, looking over the town. The creature gave no emotional response to see the new prey. Instead, stretching its tail out.

Its tip slowly slithered around the treehouse and approached Spike from above. This was to ensure the dragon would have no idea the source was actually coming from below him. The creature remembered that it had used this very same trick in the same place before. It was used then to take out an unexpecting Scootaloo, who was looking through the same window. She didn't notice the tip either until it ripped through her skull.

Spike didn't even notice her hoof marks dug deep into the underside of the window rim. Her blood was long gone thanks to the creature's tidiness and acid. But didn't have time to remove every detail of her demise back then when fighting off Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon. Those three put up a mild fight only because Apple Bloom's strength was greater than the beast suspected. It had to splatter Scootaloo's brains all over her before her guard finally broke. Once her legs were snapped in the distraction, taking out the two spoiled brats was an easy feat.

It wouldn't make the same mistake with Spike. A quick and precise stab to the back of the head. It was all that it needed to do to win against this survivor. With a swift motion, the tip of the tail shot forward, aiming for the back of his neck. Yet just before it could penetrate his scales, the sunlight glimmered over the Fire Ruby.

The shattered gem was still lying on the ground where Spike had dropped it. Its reflective surface caught the sun's rays, casting its shine in the creature's eyes. It winced in pain and stopped the attack. Its tail retracted from taking out Spike and quickly returned under the tree.

It slithered around in pain, trying to dodge the burning light. Why was it suffering now? The sunlight never bothered it before. What could have changed this time? Then its mind flashed back to the boutique and all the blueprints in the record room. Those two from before screaming in agony. Rarity's last breath, urging for her dragon to find that cursed gem. At the far end of it was a chest containing the... Fire Ruby. The strange object was impossible to pick up for some reason the beast couldn't understand. Even odder was the effect light had upon it, blinding the monster even now.

Its eyes widened at the sight of the shattered remains of the gem. The head tilted and popped a loud cracking sound. This disruption of the town's silence so close to the dragon threw him for a loop. His head fell off the window frame as his body crashed to the floor. In the same motion, unknown to Spike, the creature twisted and twirled around the tree like a snake and shot upward until it was towering over the Fire Ruby and far from the shine that it cast back.

Its black orbs locked onto the broken gemstone and felt a strange sense of rage and malice. The head of the beast rammed down upon the gem, barely missing it as the light hit the eyes again. Tearing through the ground, the monster reeled back and curled around the tree once more. The anger within reached a boiling point as its head shot down multiple times. It couldn't understand the gem, why would it hurt it so much?

Each one missed until there was enough force to crash its head firmly into the dirt. Now trapped, a deep growl erupted from the creature, the sounds damped by the rocks and stones. All Spike heard was the multiple crashes outside, which shook the tree. His head popped out the window, trying to see the source of the noise. Yet before he could see the body, the whole floor of the clubhouse tilted back.

A different cracking sound echoed around them. The beast's weight and bony body had torn and cut into the tree just enough to rip it loose from the stump. The whole building was leaning downward with each passing second, increased with the beast's attempts to break free from the ground.

With a final growl, the beast's head shot upward, sending the tree back into place tossing the treehouse into the air, flying across the town. Spike screamed in utter terror, not knowing what just happened. He held on to the windowsill, barely keeping him inside the building. Yet a final bump sent him falling out of the window.

Spike rolled around the floor as the treehouse as it flew for several seconds. Things around him slip and slide, revealing objects he hadn't noticed before. In particular, there was a single grey feather. Spike quickly snatched it and looked up to see the building crash into the Apple Farm. He was knocked unconscious upon hitting the ground. The Fire Ruby landed just inches beside the clubhouse as it fell apart around the dragon.

Author's Note

Yes, we will be getting minor flashbacks, purely from the monster's POV through the series. I can't have Spike learn too much, too quickly, but I can provide the reader with quick glimpses of each character's gruesome demise. One more chapter after this and then we are taking a month-long break to let everything settle before jumping into season 2.

Chapter 5: Dragon's Sorrow

Spike's head throbbed, his body was sore, and his muscles were stiff. He was laying in the remains of the CMC's clubhouse with a giant branch hovering above him. Unsure if he should move or just let it crush him. His breathing was shallow and rough like he needed a drink of water. But that was nothing compared to the sheer panic bottling inside him.

He couldn't understand what had just happened. Did something attack him? What happened the clubhouse? And how did it crash into the Apple Farm of all places? Was it just happenstance or intentionally a direct attack on him? Was this place even safe for him? If he was attacked once, would he be attacked again?

The only thing stopped his racing thoughts was the shine from the Fire Ruby's remains. It pulled him away from the branch and over to the feather in his hand, being held out in the same direction. Slowly it took him a moment to remember why he grabbed it.

"What... no..." His eyes widened upon the feather's shape not matching that of a pegasus at all. The tip was too long and pointed just like a griffin. "Gabby..." He pulled it close to his chest out of reaction. The tears formed in his eyes again. "She was here too... but now she's gone!" His heart raced, his hands shaking as he gripped the feather tightly. "First Twilight, Rarity... now Gabby." The other names almost didn't matter anymore.

The griffin met just as much to him as Rarity did. The mare always a little jealous of his relationship with the bird. His emotions were so strong for the two of them that he couldn't choose just one and they both understood that. But now she was gone too.

Seeing the feather in the same view as the Fire Ruby made things all the harder to deny. All the pieces were right in front of him, but he didn't want to accept the truth. He rolled out from under the tree branch and slowly out of the rubble. The dragon crawled over and picked up the fire ruby, clutching it in the same hand as the feather.

"Where did you all go..." Spike's voice shivered and cracked. "Did you abandoned me? Were you tired of me?" His words were barely louder than a whisper. "Were you trying to get rid of me?" His gaze turned over to the castle. This was the home he shared with his sister Twilight. But it wasn't the first home they had. A library, long burned down was their former home. "Am I being replaced just like that was?"

Tears flowed freely from his eyes, soaking the grass and ground below. Spike's mind was racing. Trying to find some kind of explanation for everything but the more he thought about it the worst it got. Fears turned into assumptions and slowly into facts. They did abandon him, there was no doubt about that. The Fire Ruby was proof. A symbol of his love for Rarity, destroyed, just like his hope in this moment.

"Why... why would you all do this to me?!" Spike screamed as he smashed his fists into the dirt. His tears turned into rage. "What did I do wrong? Am I really not good enough for anypony? What did I do?!" His voice echoed, the only sounds that filled the town. No pony answered his questions. His cries fell on deaf ears, not a soul around.

"You were my best friends..." He whispered softly, rising off the ground. "I loved you all..." His legs wobbled under him. His balance was barely holding together but he didn't care anymore. "I wanted to stay with you..." His stance straightened toward the crops. "And you took my happiness away..." He wrapped the chain of the Fire Ruby around his neck, the broken gem hanging off his chest. Taking the feather firmly in his hand, he ran forward. "All of you abandoned me!" His pace was slow at first, but soon he was sprinting through the massive farmland, not even caring to look back.

******

Once he was just out of sight again, the monster fell from the sky. It's massive body tore up the ground on impact and destroyed the remains of the CMC clubhouse. The debris went flying into the air only to be quickly grabbed by the tail. The monster never wanted its presence to be known. It's tail moved at incredible speed, taking even the smallest particles to rebuilding the CMC clubhouse into a nearby tree.

The smoke from the crater settled and both it and the mess was gone like it never happened. It didn't care if this wasn't the original spot for the treehouse. As long as its presence in the world seemed unaffected. Leaning back, it seemed to admire it's near perfect work. The place looked brand new. New was how the monster preferred thing to always be. It turned its gaze back over the apple crops, searching for Spike.

It's black orbs shifted left and right, but the dragon was nowhere in sight. Somehow this dragon had evade it once more. It couldn't understand how this dragon was so clever or lucky. It had done this routine several times with other ponies that had stumbled upon it, but this target kept escaping. It's neck cracked out loud again, showing it's only sign of emotion.

"Frustration... Good." A strong voice echoed behind it.

The monster turned around, the black abysses widened at a stallion charging at it. It was Big Mac, somehow he also escaped the assault on Ponyville. Clearly due to his lack to speak much at all, Not really a problem in the end for the monster.

"For Applejack--?" he was stopped as his pitchfork broken against the surface it's skin. The weapon was useless against it. It's tail swung around, impaled the heavy stallion into the base of the tree. The new CMC clubhouse shaking from the force of the hit. As quick as Big Mac appeared to show the ponies hadn't been defeat, he was silenced once more. This time far more permanent as the strike was so exact and fast he didn't even react to the penetration of his heart.

All Big Mac did was slouch over as the creature's tail retracted. His body fell to the ground, motionless and his face showed no pain, not even a chance to be shocked. Usually the creature showed no emotions toward the torturous demise, but the dragon's whereabouts were still unknown. It needed to make sure that just like with the treehouse, it gave no appearance that it was ever here.

Walking over quickly, it opened its jaws so wide that it swallowed the large stallion up with ease. It's stomach wasn't used to holding such a big meal, but that didn't matter. The belly would have to work fast to digest Big Mac as quickly as it could, making sure to leave behind the best pieces for it's collection. Meanwhile, it slurped up any blood stains, the last remnants of the stallion gone in seconds, just like all its victims.

Now finished, the beast turned away from the treehouse and leaped into the air, leaving the area. Such a sized meal only a day after the alicorn and unicorn would prove troublesome in the hunt for the dragon. It would come back for the dragon in a week or so. For now it knew exactly where to rest.

Seconds later it landed on Rainbow Dash's cloud lot on the far side of town. Once there, it stretched its tail into the home, giving it one more check-over in case it missed another pony. But it's efforts proved fruitless. There wasn't even a single item that belonged to a living pony. Just like the other houses, all the old stuff belonging to Rainbow Dash had been removed. Only the new stuff remained, leaving it with relief.

Pulling the tail back it clawed into the cloud fluff, able to walk on the surface just fine. It's body curled up, forming a tight ball. Closing its eyes, the beast entered a state of mild hibernation, allowing its body to process the multiple meals. Its belly was already showing signs of shrinkable back to its boney form.

******

Author's Note

Yeah... I did consider killing Thunderlane here, but this point of this season finale is just how overpowering and ultimate the beast is. Spike is realizing that everyone is gone, not just the joke characters.

Beside, I kill Thunderlane later on... :pinkiecrazy:

For now, this confirms, much to Spike's dread. Not everypony is gone... just yet. Can the survivors find him in time before he is truly alone? Find out next season. It will be dropping in September.

Chapter 6: Dragon's Careless

Author's Note

The point of these next two chapters is for Spike to hit rock bottom. Yeah, where other chapters have just been gruesome, in these two I will be dipping into physical, mental, and sexual depravity.

I've stated Spike is an adult multiple times throughout this story for this very reason. This is not meant section is not meant to kink or shame, but to show his self-destruction side without his friends... before he first confrontation with the beast.

As for those wondering if I'll do the classic joke of talking to people who aren't there... Nah, I've got a Trixie one-shot for that later this month.

Chapter 6: Dragon's Careless

The once vibrant world of Equestria, where friendship is often painted in pastel hues and laughter echoes through sunlit valleys. No, this wasn't that reality anymore. Everything ever so cold and silnce he once knew so vivid. Spike found himself wandering through a shadow cast by abandonment and heartache. With no goal or real destination, The dragons footsteps long became aimless, leading him away from familiar haunts and into the depths of his thoughts. The weight of those he had once held dear pressed heavily upon him, threatening to crush the spirit of the dragon who had always believed in the magic of companionship.

He once had everything that could say even the darkest of souls could: unwavering loyalty, boundless love, devoted friends, a good and simple family. All of it was gone, utterly so, nothing left in this hateful visage of this empty town. His mind screamed, his soul wailed, and the dragon could only stand and stare blankly into the vast void. So many homes empty, so many businesses deserted. No birds in the sky, not even a single drop of rain over his face. Something, anything to break this shroud and nothing came. The only sobering came in the cold drink with a fine burn down his throat.

Three long days passed after his departure from Sweet Apple Acres. The farmland, once a sanctuary of laughter and camaraderie, now loomed as a bittersweet memory, filled with ghosts of moments shared and promises broken. Spike, cloaked in a silence that screamed of his inner turmoil, clutched the bottles of apple cider he had pilfered from the farm—their crisp, sweet aroma offering a form of reassurance in the midst of his emotional tempest. Each bottle was a brief respite, a fleeting escape from the relentless ache that accompanied his loneliness.

Drunken laughter echoed in the silent recesses of his mind. Each gulp offered a momentary escape from reality, a reprieve from the heartache of friendless nights. The cider intoxicated him, wrapping him in its warmth and dulling the sharpness of his anguish. For a brief moment, he could forget the hurt, the betrayals, and the unfulfilled promises. In those blissful seconds, he could almost convince himself that the joyous memories of laughter and companions still lingered close, like the fading scent of freshly baked apple pie.

But in the quiet aftermath of each consumption, reality crept back in, a chilling reminder that no amount of cider could fill the void within him. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the shadows grew long, the bittersweet truth became evident: Spike was merely prolonging the inevitable. His escapism through drink would evoke temporary joy, but it could never mend the fractures of his heart nor replace the warmth of companionship he so desperately craved.

In the solitude of the empty town, amidst a haze of apple cider and fading memories, Spike grappled with himself with his suffocating desperation. The battle between wanting to forget those hateful ponies that left him behind and yearning to remember their kind faces just long enough to push way his rage.

His body was swaying back and forth as he wandered through the empty town. The bottles in his fingers trails all over the dirt. Some were smashed, others were cracked. He was glad to have some sounds echoing through the place, not realizing the beast sleeping above him. The smell of booze was so strong, his mind was numb to the world around him.

"Ahh... this feels good." Spike hiccupped, leaning against the wall of a building. "Not having a care in the world. This is the life!" His laughter echoed through the streets. "No worries! No stress! And best of all... no one to tell me... No!!" His drunken smile was almost a bit creepy. "If they all wanted to leave me, then fine!" His tail whipped at the building, smashing a window. "I'll make my own place! A place for dragons."

His voice was so loud, that the monster stirred a little in its sleep. The tail twitched, and the head shifted but still, the eyes remained closed. None of the noise, smell, or vibrations bothered the beast. This allowed Spike free reign over the town and he would use it well.

"That's right... a new world." Spike slurred, falling forward. He slammed his palms onto the ground and pushed his body up. He winced at the glass breaking under him, his tough scales protecting him. "I'll make my own little town... full of booze, drugs, mares at my command and maybe some studs!! I'm not picky anymore!!" He roared with laughter. "No rules, no laws, no one to stop me!!"

His tail shot forward, wrapping around a street lamp. In one swift pull, he broke the pole out of the ground and held it up high. "I'll take care of this whole damn town!" He chuckled, venom lacing each word. "From now on, this is my horde!!" Spike threw the lamp to the ground and stepped on it. "It's mine, and mine alone!" He stomped on the pole, breaking it into pieces. "No one else is allowed to have this place... or anything."

With his vision blurring, he couldn't even see his own hand in front of him. His mind was running on pure instinct. "Anyone who tries will be crushed by me." Spike's body swayed back and forth, struggling to keep balance. Finally coming to a stop at the spa building. "I'll start here!"

He stumbled inside, using the lamp to break down the door. Once inside, he tore the room apart. He was throwing his bottles over the towels, and everything in between all over the place. It wasn't until his eyes caught the pool that he got the best idea. With a wicked smirk, he dropped his stuff and walked over.

"I can do... whatever I want." He whispered, his face close to the water. His reflection showed the utter madness in his eyes. He had no control over his emotions, his thoughts or even his actions. "They didn't care what happened to me, so why should I care?" Slowly his sadness cleared away as bile rose from his stomach. He dropped to his knees as puke bubbled in his mouth.

"You all made your choice and I've made mine!" He growled, the acid coming up faster. "They all hate me--" He was stopped as it all spilled over into the pool water. "And I hate them!!" The smell and taste was horrible. But he couldn't stop, puking out a full day of stomach contents into the pool.

After several seconds of vomiting, he flipped around and lifted his tail, releasing his bowels too. The waste splashed into the pool making the mess even worse. "Take that and that!! You all can kiss my ass when I'm done!!" His tail waved in the air, showing off his messy anus. "You all deserve this and more!!" Jumping back around once more he gave the horrible scene a little piss for good measure. "Ha, I'm a grown dragon, Twilight, I can piss in the pool if I want to!"

Once finished, he didn't even care to pull his cock back into his sleeve, dragging it over the floor. "And there's nothing you can do about it!" He swung it about, splashing the remains of piss over the floors as he walked over to one of the rooms to crash for the night. "I'm the adult... here, I'll show you!!" In his drunkenness, he licked his lips went into one of the mare's rooms.

Kicking open the door, he slouched over to the counter and took off the necklace. He laid it and the grey feather across from the bed. The remains of the Fire Ruby shined brightly in the dim room. "There's your proof, Rarity and Gabby..." He whispered, his mind slowing down. "You can't have my love..." He crawled over the bed laid back, presenting his member to the visage. "But I'll take yours..."

He pressed his head against the pillow and gripped his member firm. It hadn't been since he was a teenager that he had done something so disgusting, but no one was here to stop him. His drunken state anything was suggestible right now, no matter how depraved. His mind was filled with thoughts of images of Rarity and Gabby sitting around him. He loved them both with all his heart, but in this stupor, all he craved was their lust.

"That's right... give yourselves to me." He mumbled, his hand rubbing his shaft. "This is my town now. You can't resist..." His mind was slowly drifting away, his eyes closed. The only thing keeping him from dozing off was the desire to pop at least one off. He didn't care how quick it was or the mess it caused. "Let me enjoy you two... Please..."

As his mind slowly went blank, his cock started to twitch. "Yeah, just like that..." The pressure was growing fast. His minds filled with images they never got the chance to give him. Their mouths on his jaws, their legs over his arms, and their most private parts being ravaged by his shaft. "Mmm..." A moan slipped out as his climax neared. He hissed, his tongue sticking out. He could feel his release building, his whole body tingling with the sensation. The stench of the puke and shit reached his nose and field far more disgusting scenes of their visages covered in that horrid blackened sludge.

"No!" His mind tried to fight against such insult to their perfect images but it was too late. Please... I need... I need..." His eyes popped open as the words finally reached him. "I need you to come back!!" He cried out. "Rarity, Gabby!! Please, I'm begging you!!" His white seed shot out and splashed over the bed, but his pleasure had long faded away. He felt no joy in this terrible act.

All he felt was cold and vicious. The chill seemed to seep into his very bones, wrapping around him like a bitter shroud, a testament to the loneliness that consumed him. In the dim light of his cramped room, he was nothing more than a foul monster, a shell of his former self. A blackened abyss no worth even a thought or sorrow. The eerie silence echoed with the memories of laughter and companionship that once filled the air; now, they felt like distant murmurs, mocking his despair. He depraved himself solely because they dared to leave him behind, casting him into the abyss of utter isolation.

Tears flowed from his eyes, tracing paths down his cheeks and soaking the mattress beneath him. Each droplet felt like a tiny dagger, a reminder of the heartache that threatened to drown him. "I’ll do anything, just please..." His voice cracked, the desperation palpable in the air around him. The words trailed off, swallowed by the oppressive silence, his strength fading like the light of a dying star. “Don’t leave me again... all alone...” The plea escaped his lips as a mere whisper, a fragile echo that drifted into the void, perhaps to be consumed by shadows.

Spike lay in that desolate state, paralyzed by a mixture of regret and hopelessness. The remnants of his past life seemed like a cruel specter, haunting him with images of friendships long gone and love unrealized. Isolation had transformed him, morphed him into something grotesque. Every moment spent in solitude was a brick laid upon the wall that encased him, a fortress built not for protection but for torment. The coldness enveloped him further as if the universe conspired to remind him just how alone he truly was.

With his strength and energy sapped away, he couldn’t even muster the power to clean himself. His body felt heavy, as though shackled to the mattress, a prison designed by his own mind. The room grew darker, shadows creeping over the walls like tendrils of despair, wrapping him tight.

The darkness crept over him, wrapping around him like a cold and cruel blanket. The sheer emptiness of the world around him was the music that soothed him in a blackened solace. All that he had ever loved was now lost, the very world itself had turned against him. Sleeping was his only escape, a desperate attempt to slip away into a peaceful unconsciousness, hoping the nightmare would end this time, hoping for a reprieve from his relentless torment.

*******

Chapter 7: Dragon's Frenzy

Four more days of wandering the city had stripped Spike of his illusions. The streets, once vibrant, were now drenched in an unsettling stillness that screamed of lost connections and forgotten dreams. It was a city he no longer recognized, a place haunted by the shadows of those who had left, leaving Spike feeling more isolated with every step. Each corner turned revealed memories that stabbed at his heart with utter emptiness. After days of wondering the city it was clearly no pony was left, so no one would care if he robbed the hospital and maybe offed himself in the process.

His eyes were full of bloodshot, barreling with all the malice and hatred in his heart. Was this reality, or merely a fevered hallucination spinning out of control? The boundaries blurred as thoughts spiraled chaotically in his mind. He had trudged through endless nights filled with torment, and now, as he stood on the precipice of oblivion, clarity eluded him. The weight of his inconceivable suffering had driven him here, to this stark sanctuary of healing that would not accept him without a fight.

The glass doors broke apart as he stormed in, not caring what happened next. His feet cut up from running over the glass, yet he didn't stop. "Just give me some damn medicine." He grumbled, opening the first drawer he could find. The metal drawers gave a loud crackling sound as he ripped it from their moorings. They slammed against the wall before crumpling onto the floor in a mess of jagged edges and clattering contents. Longing a reprieve from his internal torment, he did not pause to acknowledge the wreckage. With an urgency born of desperation, he plunged his clawed hands into the disarray.

His claws dug hungrily into plastic and glass, tearing through labels and sealing wax alike. He scavenged, hunting for something that might assuage the insatiable beast within. Identification became meaningless in this frenzy; all that mattered was the contents inside. With a furious determination, he popped the tops off the familiar containers, each release accompanied by the faint whiff of antiseptic and the bitter tang of pharmaceuticals.

One by one, the bottles surrendered their secrets as he tilted them toward his lips, pouring their contents indiscriminately into his mouth. Tablets and liquids choked down his throat, echoing the tumult inside his mind. The bitterness of the concoction cut through him like ice, a relentless reminder of his madness. But the harshness was a stimulant, fueling the fire of his delirium instead of quelling it.

"Dammit!!" he growled, a guttural sound that rose from a place deep within his chest, shaking the air around him. The source of his rage was not just the fear of the unknown that loomed ahead, but a profound struggle against his identity and the demons that clawed at him from the inside.

His claws raked violently across the countertop, wood splintering under the ferocity of his distress. It was a means of expression; a desperate plea to the universe for something—anything—to alleviate the suffocating torment that had taken root in his heart. “Give me something!!” His voice was a mix of anger and yearning, a desperate cry that echoed off the walls, mingling with the sounds of chaos that followed in his wake.

Spike turned, eyes blazing with frustration, his tail snapping behind him with reckless abandon. Objects of all shapes and sizes are scattered across the room, colliding with the walls and each other, a physical representation of his internal turmoil. At that moment, amidst the wreckage, something caught his eye—a glint of metal that promised a break from the relentless pressure mounting within.

A needle rolled out, glimmering suggestively against the dim light of the room. Without hesitating, Spike reached for it, gripped by a primal urge that overrode his better judgment. The needle pierced his skin, a fleeting moment of triumph overshadowed by the grim reality that followed. Instead of finding solace or release, the needle snapped violently before it could pierce through the hard scales that covered his arm.

“No, no, no!!” Spike roared, his voice cracking under the weight of disbelief and fury. The sound echoed off the walls, reverberating like the final tolling of a bell marking the end of an era. In that moment, he was no longer just a man; he was a storm personified, a whirlwind of pent-up rage and despair unleashed into a suffocating void.

The remnants of a shattered needle lay scattered across the floor, pieces reflecting the fractured remains of his sanity. Each shard glimmered with a cruel reminder of what had transpired. With a furious swipe of his hand, Spike tore open the needle, his actions driven by an instinct to escape the very essence of his suffocating existence. The liquid pooled before him, a dark promise of oblivion.

In a desperate bid for relief, Spike tilted back his head and swallowed the contents without a second thought. What was it? A cocktail of substances designed to numb, to obliterate the anguish that consumed him? He didn’t care. All he craved was an escape, a fleeting moment where the pain could dissolve into nothingness. His body trembled, not from the effects of the liquid but from the surge of raw anger that coursed through him, threatening to spill over like a boiling pot teetering on the edge of the stove.

In his frenzy, he turned to the empty room around him, a hollow shell that mirrored the void within him. The silence was deafening, a palpable entity that bore down upon his shoulders. “Go ahead, kill me!!” he screamed into the abyss, his voice rising in pitch and intensity. The walls seemed to close in, taunting him with their indifference to his suffering. “Take me away from this empty horror!! Take me to Tartarus, Valhalla, or any place of utter blissful end!!”

It was a cry for help, a summons for any friend that could hear him if they were ever here. It hinted at a longing not merely for death but for release. In Spike's eyes, the spark of hope flickered like a candle caught in a gale of depression. His claws scratched at his chest and neck, leaving behind long and deep wounds. His blood dripped onto the floor. But he didn't stop. His claws dug deeper, reaching down his back. He was cutting and tearing his own scales. Each drop was another sign he was losing his grip on reality. The blood dripping down his face made him look like a deranged monster.

"End it, damn it!!" He begged. "Kill me, destroy me, tear me apart, I don't care anymore!!" He fell to his knees, his breathing was getting shallow. The tears were streaming from his eyes, mixing with the blood and drool. He couldn't keep control anymore. "Do whatever you want with me!! Just do it now!!"

Spike slammed his fists onto the floor, the tile cracking under the force. He screamed and wailed, begging for an end, any end. "Somepony, please!!" He roared, the room shaking. "I can't stand this emptiness!! Take me away, just do it!!" He was going mad. Nothing was working, no matter what he tried.

The tears and snot mixed with his blood, forming a puddle under him. "Why...?" He sobbed. "What did I do to deserve this?" His words were soft and weak. "Was it really so bad to love them all?" His eyes gazed up at the ceiling, seeing the bright lights. "I did my best... but it was never enough for any of you."

He rolled onto his back, his body going limp in the disgusting mess around him. "So, go ahead, whatever you are, take me away. Do whatever you want. I don't care." His mind was fading. Whatever this place was, it was pulling him under, away from his suffering. "It was never my fault..."

Slowly drifting into a horrible high from the drugs finally kicking in, his body trembled and convulsed. It was like the pain was trying to force him awake, but he fought it off. His shaking was agonizing but a welcoming moment if it meant the end was near. "Come on, take me." He mumbled, the light fading. "I'm ready..." Foam filled his mouth and all he could do was gargle through his screams.

He couldn't hear the sounds of glass and metal crashing. But he didn't bother either way looking up. The loud crackling sound of the beast inched closer to the building and Spike didn't stand to confront it. He didn't even know what it was at this point. "Twilight..." He pleaded through the oozing mess.

The creature had already reached the entrance, the glass and doors being torn apart. Spike just laid there, not caring what happened to him. "Please... wake me up..." The more he pleaded, the more lie didn't even make him believe his denial any more.

His eyes were getting heavy, the darkness was consuming him. His voice stopped but his mind kept screaming, hoping in his endless lies that there was some sort of truth. They couldn't have abandoned him. This whole town meant everything to him. Throughout this week he never once left it. Partly because he feared everywhere else might be empty too. But also because deep down he yearned for this to be some cruel and even hateful prank.

They had to be punishing him. No, this had to be some torture by a villain to make him break. No matter the answer, he would be glad to take that final tipping point if it meant freedom. He reached out, begging for some invisible knife to push down and cut out his heart. He was willing to suffer for the rest of his life if it meant having them all back.

“Twilight... Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash... Rarity and Gabby.” Each name weighed on his heart, a reminder of his companions and their unwavering support in times of dire need. However, at this moment, all he felt was the crushing realization of his failures.

Tears streamed down his face as he uttered, “I’m sorry… I’m so, so sorry…” The words spilled from him like a broken dam, cascading into a torrent of grief. The ground shook underfoot, the beast was nearly upon him. Spike could feel its malevolent presence. A bone-chilling aura that seeped deep into his scales. Yet, he didn’t turn to confront it. Instead, he remained stoic, resigned to the fate that awaited him.

As he closed his eyes, surrendering to the vast unknown that lay ahead, he felt the soft crunch of hooves against the cold earth. A figure approached, and though he couldn’t discern its identity, he was grateful that in these final moments, he was not alone. The omnipresent chill whispered promises of release, and weaved through his mind, tempting him into the abyss.

“What a life it has been,” he whispered bitterly. Spike considered the friendship he had forged, the battles he had fought, and the sacrifices he had made. But now, all of that felt overshadowed by the shroud of his impending doom. Maybe this is the end, he mused. The thought of his punishment concluding brought a strange sense of peace.

“Goodbye, everyone,” he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath against the howling wind. Suddenly, the darkness closed in, wrapping him in an insurmountable grip. The jaws of the creature hovered over him, ready to seize what remained of his spirit.

However, in the last possible second, a familiar voice laced with urgency pierced through the fog of despair enveloping him. “Spike… please don’t give up!!”

As this spark of hope ignited within him, Spike felt the frost that gripped his heart begin to thaw. The burden of isolation shattered as he opened his eyes, his heart pounding in defiance of the fate that loomed in front of him. With a surge of strength and determination born from the voices of his friends, Spike opened his eyes.

******

Chapter 8: Dragon's Desire

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Chapter 9: Dragon's Crash

Spike found himself running faster than he ever thought possible. His stubby legs carried him over these empty streets, their rhythm mirroring the rapid thumping of his heart. Each thud against the earth felt like a drumbeat heralding a revelation that echoed in his mind. Twilight Sparkle. The very name sent shivers down his spine and ignited a flicker of hope in his chest.

Memories flooded his thoughts of scenes he never thought he would relive ever again. Library evenings were filled with the rustling of pages, and the gentle guidance of her voice as she droned on about friendship and magic. So much silence may have passed, but those cherished moments remained crystal clear, bonded eternally in his heart. Could she still be out there? The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.

He didn't speak a single word, instead, his mouth simply dribbled out random syllables into the void, begging for answers that eluded him. What if she had returned, broken the veil that separated their worlds? What if she could finally clear the mysteries shrouding their collective disappearance?

Every step he took reverberated with unanswered questions, a cacophony of confusion and longing that thundered in his mind. Why did they leave? Why did she run away? Why was he left to navigate the labyrinthine streets alone? Each query clawed at his consciousness, a relentless pursuit of clarity that felt more elusive with every heartbeat.

As he wandered through the empty streets, the vacant buildings around him loomed like sentinels of a forgotten era and melted into the encroaching shadows. The world he had once known now felt foreign, a ghost town haunted by memories. It was as if the very fabric of reality had unraveled, leaving only hollow echoes where joy once resided.

As he forged ahead, muscles straining and breath coming in and out in sharp bursts, Spike pushed through the confusion engulfing him. Twilight Sparkle, with her endless knowledge, could illuminate the dark corners of his mind. Hope danced like fire in his chest, fueling his determination as he dashed through the winding paths of Ponyville. Went on for hours without stopping, his eyes focused and sharp, his ears tuned to the slightest sound. He searched for Twilight and her voice. He wanted to hear it again, the confirmation, narrow the direction. His mouth was dry and his body was starting to hurt from the exertion, but he couldn't stop.

His search was becoming desperate. Spike didn't dare stop for fear the voice would never be heard again. No, that couldn't happen. If it faded away for good his will might just crumble beneath the weight of the hopelessness. He had to keep going. He had to find a way out of this horrible nightmare.

"Twilight, answer me!!" His voice cried out, his throat starting to ache. He had to find her. This had to be more than just a figment of his imagination. It had to be real. He desperately needed it to be real. The thought of this being just another delusion was too painful to imagine. "Please Twilight, speak to me!" He called out, his voice hoarse and raspy. "Where are you?! Why can't I find you?!"

Spike fought against that silence, a relentless tide of emotion surging through him. He kicked and screamed, his voice raw with the desperation of loneliness and a profound yearning. Each cry was a testament to his undying hope. And the lack of a reply was the coldest mockery ever to happen this whole week.

His legs began to falter. The fitful energy that had propelled him forward ebbed off, leaving him vulnerable. With the bitter realization that the world would stay silent, his despair sank in as the ground beneath him betrayed him. He tripped over an unseen, spinning the world around in his gaze.

The impact was jarring. The earth met his body with bloody ferocity, causing scales to shred from his skin. The pain surged through him as all his mentality turned physical. The wounds on his body mirrored those on his heart. A vivid loud tapestry of crimson agony echoed out of his mouth, against the backdrop of all this silence.

Shaking and shivering, screaming out like an infant abandoned on the road. All he could do was lay there, mixing all his physical and emotional pain. Echoing over in all directions, bouncing off of empty buildings, barren paths, and lone streets, crashing back into his frills. All of it left him gasping for breath, a fierce storm of hopes crackled in a thunderous horror of failure.

As he lay defeated on the cold ground, a world once vibrant and beautiful dissolved into a sea of hopelessness that he thought he could swim out of. This was a lie, a straight-up utter denial of the cold and heartless truth, leaving him grappling with the profound isolation at had been at the edge of his spine for so long.

The relentless pain coursing through him was not merely physical. It was a crushing emotional weight that made every breath a struggle, every heartbeat pushing away all those good memories. The absence of Twilight and their close-knit group was palpable, an aching void pressing heavily upon his chest. It all suffocated the flicker of joy that once resided there.

A gallery of familiar voices that each represented a piece of the colorful tapestry he called friendship. Twilight’s voice held the weight of wisdom, her deadpan knowledge cutting through the noise with clarity. Rarity’s open generosity was marked by her graceful charm. Applejack’s bare-to-the-bone honesty served as a reminder of integrity and strength. Rainbow Dash’s loyal pride sang of courage against even the most terrifying monster. Fluttershy’s soft, kind tones soothed the soul even in the blackest night. And Pinkie Pie’s laughter cut through all doubt and sorrow no matter the deepest pit one found oneself in.

The crying faded into plain tears streaming down Spike’s cheeks were a mix of sorrow, dirt, and the blood of his torn scales, symbols of the battles of denial he fought inside himself. Each expectation to hear the voice of Twilight Sparkle, her hoofsteps echo toward him, and picking him up was gone. The world was silent and dead. It was a cold hard truth that had been staring at him from the moment he had awoken in this hell.

He tried to find the truth, but there was no truth. He tried to deny it, but there was no point in denying it now. He tried to fight this cold reality, desperate to never cave against the urge of utter depression. However, the silence was a cruel and hateful beast. The world was empty, a lifeless shell of what it once was. There was nothing here for him, no comfort or safety, only a bleak and endless expanse of loneliness. He spent days trying to claim any possible truth, but even his assumption of their hatred.

There was no hope, and not even their hatred could comfort him. All the emotions and feelings were draining from him, leaving him a broken husk, a shattered dream that could never be whole again. His last grasp of sanity was fading fast, and there was no way to stop it.

All he could do now was... accept it. He was alone and always would be. There was no point to continue his existence in the world of denial. He couldn't escape, and he didn't want to anymore. Nothing was there to run to, or from. It was time to just give up and let it all pass him by.

However, he wasn't alone, never was alone at all. The monster that had stolen everything from him was always there just out of sight. It was watching him the entire time with confusion and curious interest. He couldn't feel its presence, a constant shadow hanging over his shoulder, but never cast into his sight.

Instead, it kept watching, wondering just what his next move would be. It opened its mouth again. "Spike...Please wake up..." The whispers of Twilight echoed from the bowls of its stomach. The meaning of these words escaped the monster, but did bring reactions from the dragon previously.

This time the dragon heard the sound again but didn't dare turn toward it. He kept looking upward, firmly claiming his imagination and doubt would no longer consume him. The beast knew otherwise. This source could never be her as Twilight had been dead for days now. She had long decayed in the creature's digestive tract.

This curious voice echoing from its stomach started happening yesterday when the beast nearly devoured Spike whole. It was the only thing that unknowingly saved Spike's life. The creature was unsure just how her voice escaped its prison, nor did it seem to have much control of it yet, unlike the other processes that have been at play since the dragon woke up.

It had killed so many since arriving in this dimension. Shattered the Elements and that accursed Tree to dust long ago. Bent the winds to an utter standstill, left the Sun and Moon turning as the only unphased piece of reality. But to manipulate another’s voice, to twist it and bend it to its malign purpose? Was that even possible yet?

Could it be that after wandering for so long, was the beast finally evolving? The notion sent shivers down the many pelts over its frills. Each resonated with distorted whispers of long-dead souls. The creature couldn't deny it anymore. The dragon's presence was beginning to stir something deep inside its twisted insanity. An emotion, buried and locked away, hidden behind the eon of isolation and murder. A primal instinct that once belonged to the beast's mortal form, and was lost after the endless consumption.

The cracking of its neck stopped. Its mouth opened and a mixture of millions of voices whispered out. "You... are... a very... curious... dragon!! Do... I... Know... you?"

******

Author's Note

Yeah, I am cruel. Just a classic trick of the mind, not really. Now his desire for their return has shattered completely, and he can move forward. Spike's depression arc is over. The next chapter is the season two finale and with it comes the biggest surprise yet.

Chapter 10: Dragon's Temple

Months had slipped quietly into the past since the acceptance of a heart-wrenching reality. Spike the dragon was utterly alone, there was no more choice in denying that fact now. All he could do was move on. Keep walking, keep his sanity in check and never look back.

The pain of their absence was almost intolerable at first. He would often spend days reversing and curled up in a ball, crying, and whimpering, praying for any kind of response. Any kind of acknowledgment in this empty world. But no such miracle came. Each time ended with his feverish screams turning into the silent tears of acceptance.

The pain dulled, and the memories of his friends began to fade. Spike no longer cried or whimpered, but he did still talk to the nothingness. Even when nobody was around, the dragon would often speak aloud, recounting moments when they were around and sharing the new experiences that could happen if they were right beside him. No longer expecting one day they would reappear.

As he grew used to his solitude, his mind turned to more practical things. Like a fire to warm him or a meal to fill his stomach. These needs were hard to meet, and his attempts were often met with failure. However, living under Twilight's wing had trained one ultimate thing within him, determination. He didn't stop or falter, each day was another chance to succeed.

Eventually, Spike decided to honor the profound bond they had shared. Coming upon the old treehouse, its ashy form still standing. At first, he found it rather odd compared to the rest of his empty reality. It was old, so far the oldest thing in the town that still existed. He never figured out why certain old stuff kept vanishing, nor could he understand why this was still standing.

Spike craved to etch their names upon the tree, a reminder that they had existed, that their story mattered. This caught the attention of the creature watching him from the shadows. The beast could not help but be curious about his actions ever since it questioned why he seemed so familiar to the monster. What was the purpose of carving a tree with the name of ponies long gone? Why were those names twisting the creature's stomach?

However, the creature did not interfere with the process, simply observing the dragon. Once he left it was tempted to mark the scene away, return the tree back to its previous state that it abandoned as such. Once Spike was out of sight, it looked upon the piece. The names didn't matter, each one only reminding it of each of their gruesome demises at its claws. Strange though it kept feeling an odd twisting in its stomach. The idea was quickly cast aside. Something about the action was... pleasing.

It watched as the dragon went on with his day. Observing as he scavenged for food or water. The creature found this quite amusing, no, it wasn't sure that was the right word for it. Playful, no, mildness, maybe. The creature flicked and crackled its neck, the only sign of open emotion it ever gave, pushing away the thoughts. It could not afford to grow attached, to see the dragon as anything more than an obstacle against the silence it craved.

Spike's efforts started to become a little less... pitiful, no! That wasn't the right word either. He was learning how to survive, and thrive in his loneliness. It was a bit impressed, no, that wasn't the right word either. Stop trying to put thoughts to these emotions, such effort was too painful for the creature. No! It cracked its neck again, that wasn't the right word either!!

Ever since it questioned who the dragon was, it kept finding itself so confused. Why? Why was this dragon confusing it so much? It was almost hurting it, no, that's not the right word. Stop twisting in that stomach, those souls are dead. They are all long gone.

It no longer desired a reason to interfere with the dragon. It simply let things be, Spike was allowed to make whatever changes to the town he liked. It was all new, thus not old. And the only thing this creature could accept was its hatred for the old. Anything new was tolerable, and perhaps even entertaining... No, that wasn't the right word.

The dragon's efforts became more and more efficient. He was able to live a manageable lifestyle under the monster's gaze. Spike never spotted it once, his ignorance was the only thing allowing him this. The creature didn't bother with the details, it didn't crave his flesh. Rather it wanted answers.

This dragon was the last being that remained in the entire country. Maybe he had the solution for its eons-long search. He was different from the ponies. If it could just discover why, the answer would be clear and it could finally eat him. Maybe the creature could treat him as a companion in this silence. No, no, no!! He was far too loud.

Any voice piercing through the silence would eventually become old. It would rather be alone than suffer the idea of anything old. So, the creature was left in its conflict. A desire for answers, and a need to remain alone. The latter was much more important. But the former was so close, right in its sight all the time, yet never once clear.

For the creature stalking the shadows, the decision to hunt had always been straightforward. Its predation had encompassed formidable opponents in the dimension. Each conquest brought satisfaction, a raw demonstration of strength, and a familiar thrill of victory, no, that wasn't the right word!!

This dragon on the surface seemed no different. And yet he possessed an essence that blurred the lines between dragon and pony. His scales glimmered with the iridescence of his kind, yet his spirit resonated with the values and camaraderie of his pony friends. Unlike traditional dragons who were draped in aloofness and lust for hoarding treasures, He harbored empathy, loyalty, and a deep desire to remember his friends even as their bones were trapped in the creature's stomachs. He was so starkly different from the beast, so very wrong, and yet...

The predator struggled with its primal urges. The thrill of the hunt was palpable, almost electric, no, that wasn't the right word. The prospect of sinking its teeth into this unusual prey sent shivers of excitement through its spine, no, that wasn't the right way to put this taste. Spike was unique, and his uniqueness was intoxicating, no, that wasn't the right way to say it either.

Finally, it bashed its head hard into the ground sending out shockwaves that the dragon could barely register beyond his own imagination. The creature could not put its feelings into words, the closest would be a hunger to destroy his unique essence, no, stop, quit twisting it, none of those were the right words?!

It wasn't supposed to feel anything anymore. All its emotions died away during its eons-long isolation. The only thing that mattered was its hatred, no, not quite, and its craving for the old, no, no, no, that wasn't it either!!

It was... it was... just the hunger!

******

Author's Note

Well, this had to be the hardest chapter for me to write yet. I wanted another timeskip, but I couldn't keep it in Spike's POV. I felt a need to finally show the monster's view of it all. This made things tough as it was hard to gauge things with no emotional markers. So I decided to lean into my confusion, revealing just how confused the monster is with Spike.

That's the end of season 2. We'll be skipping next month and returning in March with the infamous season 3. Yes, folks its finally comes to this.