Spike just lied down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling, thinking if he could be a pony, then he can be accepted. Spike's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching his room. He looked up to see Solaris standing in the doorway, concern etched on his face.

"Spike, are you alright? I noticed you came back earlier than expected," Solaris said gently, stepping into the room.

Spike wiped his eyes and tried to put on a brave face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just didn't feel like staying in Canterlot."

Solaris sat down next to him. "I can tell something's bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?"

Spike hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply. "It's just... Sassy Saddles didn't want me at the boutique. She said a dragon didn't fit in there. Twilight and the others didn't really stand up for me, so I left. And then, I ran into Diamond Tiara, and she... she said some really hurtful things."

Solaris's expression darkened with concern. "Like what?"

Spike's eyes filled with tears again. "She said my parents abandoned me because I was weak. What if she's right, Solaris? What if they really didn't want me?"

Unexpectedly, Solaris wrapped his arms around Spike, hugging him. "I just have two things to say about that. The first thing is that I know for a fact that it isn't true, and second, I ought to turn that filly into a donkey."

The second part confused Spike. "Why a donkey specifically?"

"Because she sounds like an ass."

Spike caught on and snickered, but then something else caught his attention and decided to ask, "Solaris, did you know my parents personally? If so, can you tell me about them?"

"I actually do know what happened to your parents. I was actually one of their friends. I was there when they laid your egg, and they loved you with all their hearts." Solaris told Spike

"If they loved me, then why were they not there for my hatching." Spike asked.

"The answer is King Naeus. He attacked many places with his monster army and the town your parents lived in was one of the first."

Spike's eyes widened in shock. "King Naeus attacked my parents' town? What happened to them?"

Solaris sighed, his expression filled with sorrow. "Your parents fought bravely to protect their home and your egg. They managed to hold off the monsters long enough to ensure your egg was safely hidden away, but... they didn't survive the battle."

Tears filled Spike's eyes as he processed this information. "They died protecting me..."

Solaris nodded solemnly. "Yes, Spike. They loved you more than anything and gave their lives to keep you safe. They didn't abandon you because they didn't want you; they sacrificed everything because they wanted you to live."

Spike wiped his tears, feeling a mix of sadness and gratitude. "Thank you for telling me, Solaris. It means a lot to know the truth."

Solaris smiled gently. "You have their courage and strength, Spike. And remember, you have friends who care about you deeply. If you ever feel alone, know that we're here for you."

Spike nodded, feeling a bit better. "Thanks, Solaris. I really needed to hear that."

"On another note, I got another note from some creature, they didn't sign their name." Solaris said while giving Spike the letter to read. Spike looked at it and saw that it read,

Dear Solaris
I want you to be in the castle of friendship with your friends Spike and Shooting Star tomorrow around noon. I have something you might want to know.

Spike's curiosity was piqued as he read the letter. "Do you know who this could be from?"

Solaris shook his head. "I have no idea. But given the request, it seems important."

"Should we tell Shooting Star?" Spike asked.

"Shooting Star is still spending the day with Derpy and the Doctor. I think it's best we tell her tomorrow morning instead of now. The sun is starting to set." Solaris pointed out

"Yeah, you have a point." Spike said. "Anyway, I think Twilight and her friends are going to spend the night in Canterlot tonight, so it may be just us."

"Well, would you like to try something new for dinner?" Solaris asked. "It's called a pizza, its just round shaped dough, with a tomato sauce and some cheese."

That caught Spike's attention. "That actually sounds nice." he answered.

Solaris snapped his claws and spawned a small square box. He opened it and a fantastic aroma of ingredients filled the room. Spike basked in the aroma before grabbing a piece of the pizza. He put the pizza to his mouth and took a bite out of it. Spike's pupils dilated almost instantly and he snarfed down the pizza in one go.

"That is one of the greatest things I ever tasted." Spike said as he took another slice. Solaris smiled and took a slice of his own. After 10 minutes, the pizza was gone. "Boy Solaris that hit the spot. I'm feeling better already."

"I'm glad. So, shall we get sleep?" Solaris suggested. Spike nodded and Solaris was about to go to his room, but Spike had other plans.

"Solaris, wait." Spike called out and Solaris turned to face him. "You know you don't have to do this, but you can stay with me for tonight." Solaris thought for a bit and nodded, he climbed into the bed and put a barrier of pillows between them, leaving Spike a little bit confused.

"What's with all of these pillows?" Spike asked.

"They're here to make sure we don't do anything in our sleep, such as canoodling and spooning."

Spike blushed, embarrassed but nodded in understanding. Neither of them would want to wake up and see the other spooning them, because that would be awkward for a lot of ponies, not including Spike and Solaris. So they tucked themselves in, shook claws with each other through the barrier, said goodnight and went to sleep.

Spike was walking around Canterlot, taking in the sights of the city. He saw the boutique in the distance, so he decided to pay another visit.

As he approached the boutique, the elegant sign above the door confirmed he was in the right place. With a smile on his face, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The interior was as lavish and inviting as he had imagined, filled with beautiful dresses and intricate decorations. But something felt off. The shop was eerily quiet, and there was no sign of Rarity or any of his friends.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Spike called out, his voice echoing through the empty store. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind him, and before he could react, he was seized by several elite ponies. They were dressed in dark uniforms and moved with precision, dragging him out of the boutique and into the streets.

Spike struggled and cried out, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The ponies dragged him to the town square, where a crowd had gathered. Spike's heart sank as he realized that no one was coming to help him. He was thrown to the ground, and the elite ponies began to beat him mercilessly. Pain shot through his body with each blow, and tears streamed down his face.

"Help! Please, someone help me!" Spike cried out, his voice breaking with desperation. But the crowd remained silent, watching the brutal scene unfold.

After what felt like an eternity, Spike's vision blurred with tears and pain. Just when he thought he couldn't endure any more, he saw a group of familiar figures approaching. Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Relief washed over him, and he tried to call out to them.

"Twilight! Rarity! Please, help me!"

But as they drew closer, Spike's heart shattered. The expressions on their faces were cold and unfeeling. Twilight stepped forward, her voice devoid of the warmth he had always known.

"Spike, this is something we planned," she said, her words cutting deeper than any blow. "You needed to die. It's for the greater good. You needed to learn your place."

Spike's cries grew weaker as the beatings resumed, this time led by the very friends he had trusted with his life. He couldn't understand how everything had gone so wrong. His body was lifted off the ground, and he saw one of the elite ponies holding a spear.

"No, please... Twilight, don't do this," Spike whimpered, his vision fading.

With a final, devastating thrust, the spear pierced through Spike's neck. His body went limp, and darkness consumed him. The last thing he saw was the cold, unfeeling faces of the friends he had once loved.

Spike woke up and started panting hard. This went on for a few minutes before he calmed down. He looked over to his right and saw Solaris still sleeping. His breathing was still heavy, but at least he knew he was safe. Still, it took him a while to get back to sleep.

Spike woke up the next morning, still a little tired, but still ready to get on with the day. He went downstairs and he smelled something absolutely delicious. When he turned the corner into the kitchen, he saw Solaris busy at the stove, cooking breakfast. The table was already set with an assortment of fruits, pastries, and a large stack of pancakes. Solaris turned around and smiled warmly at Spike.

"Good morning, Spike. I thought I'd make us a nice breakfast to start the day."

Spike's stomach growled in response, and he couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks, Solaris. This looks amazing."

As they sat down to eat, Spike couldn't shake the memory of his nightmare. He picked at his food for a moment before Solaris noticed his troubled expression.

"Did you sleep well, Spike?" Solaris asked gently.

Spike hesitated but decided to share his thoughts. "I just had a bad dream. I don't think it's anything to worry about."

Solaris was skeptical. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Nightmares often reflect our deepest fears and insecurities," Solaris said. "It's important to talk about them because it helps to remind ourselves of what is real and who we can trust."

Spike took a deep breath and smiled. "Thanks, Solaris. You're right."

The two finished their breakfast in peace before they decided to go into town. They wanted to find Shooting Star and see if she was still hanging with Derpy and the Doctor. So they went to their house and knocked on the door.

This time, the Doctor answered. "Hello my dragon friends. How are you guys doing?"

"We're doing pretty well, and we actually want to talk to Shooting Star about something." Solaris told him.

This got the Doctor intrigued. "Really, well then, come on in. Shooting Star is helping Derpy make breakfast."

Spike and Solaris stepped into the Doctor's home, where the cozy atmosphere and the scent of fresh muffins welcomed them. They followed the Doctor to the kitchen, where Shooting Star was busy mixing batter while Derpy pulled a tray of muffins out of the oven.

"Hey, Shooting Star," Solaris greeted warmly.

Shooting Star looked up and smiled brightly. "Hi, Solaris! Hi, Spike! What brings you two here so early?"

Spike held up the mysterious note. "We got this letter last night, asking us to be at the Castle of Friendship around noon today. We thought it might be important."

Shooting Star took the note and read it over, her expression shifting to curiosity. "Hmm, interesting. Do you have any idea who it could be from?"

Solaris shook his head. "No, but it seems urgent. We wanted to make sure you knew about it."

"Well, it's definitely intriguing," Shooting Star mused. "I'll finish up here and then we can head over to the castle together."

Derpy smiled at them all. "Would you like some muffins to take with you? We made plenty!"

Spike's eyes lit up at the offer. "We actually had breakfast before coming here, but I think she should bring some."

After packing a few muffins for the road, the group thanked Derpy and the Doctor before heading out. They made their way through Ponyville, chatting and enjoying the morning air. The town was bustling with activity, and they waved to familiar faces as they passed by.

As they approached the Castle of Friendship, the grandeur of the crystal structure loomed over them. They entered the castle and made their way to the main hall, where they found themselves alone. Spike glanced around, his curiosity growing.

"Do you think whoever sent the note will actually show up?" Spike asked.

"There's only one way to find out," Solaris replied. "We'll wait here and see."

Minutes turned into an hour, and the anticipation grew. It was then that they heard a chiming noise outside. Spike looked at the clock and saw that it was noon. As the chime echoed through the castle, the anticipation in the room grew. Spike, Solaris, and Shooting Star stood alert, glancing around for any sign of the mysterious note sender. The main hall remained eerily quiet, save for the distant sounds of Ponyville bustling outside.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a loud crash. The castle's front doors burst open, and a chilling wind swept through the hall. Solaris's expression turned serious as he stepped in front of Spike and Shooting Star, ready to protect them.

From the shadows of the entrance, a tall, imposing figure emerged. His dark armor gleamed menacingly, and his eyes glowed with a sinister red light. It was King Naeus, the same tyrant who had attacked Spike's parents' town all those years ago.

"Well, well, well," Naeus sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Isn't this a pleasant surprise? The young dragon and his friends, right where I want them."

Spike's heart pounded in his chest. "King Naeus! What are you doing here?"

Naeus chuckled darkly. "Oh, I've come to finish what I started. And this time, there will be no escape."

Without warning, Naeus raised his hand, and a powerful blast of dark magic shot towards them. Solaris quickly conjured a protective barrier, deflecting the attack. The force of the blast, however, sent them sprawling backwards.

"Shooting Star, stay close to Spike!" Solaris commanded, his voice filled with urgency.

Shooting Star nodded, positioning herself protectively beside Spike. Naeus advanced, his malevolent grin widening. He summoned more dark energy, preparing to strike again.

Solaris sprang into action, engaging Naeus in a fierce battle. The clash of their powers reverberated through the castle, shaking its very foundations. Despite Solaris's strength and determination, Naeus proved to be a formidable opponent.

King Naeus released more dark magic from him, and this time, he aimed it at Spike and Shooting Star. Solaris saw this and teleported them out of the way just in time. The blast of dark magic however, struck a dark pink mirror behind them and and the magic went into the mirror to another dimension.

As the battle raged on, Spike felt a surge of helplessness. He couldn't let Solaris fight alone, but he also knew he wasn't strong enough to face Naeus head-on. Desperation fueled his thoughts, and he wracked his brain for a solution.

"Shooting Star, we have to do something!" Spike said, his voice trembling.

"I can distract him with my flight strength." Shooting Star said. So she flew up and bolted straight at King Naeus from the side. King Naeus still saw this and tried to swat her away, but she was too fast and she dodged his wing just in time. While she was distracting King Naeus, Solaris breathed what looked like a giant sword that released a giant wave of energy, knocking the evil king back and making him lose his balance, making him fall over.

But the victory was short-lived. Naeus quickly regained his footing and retaliated with a devastating surge of dark energy. The force of the attack overwhelmed Solaris, Shooting Star, and Spike, sending them crashing to the ground.

Pain coursed through Spike's body as he struggled to get up. He could see Solaris and Shooting Star lying nearby, both unconscious. Naeus approached them, his malevolent presence growing stronger with each step.

"Foolish creatures," Naeus hissed. "You should have known better than to challenge me."

Despite being in a lot of pain, Spike still stood up and confronted Naeus. He walked up to him and breathed the biggest fire he ever blew. Despite the size of the flame, one it subsided, Spike could see that he wasn't even hurt.

King Naeus laughed and picked Spike up in his claws, squeezing him hard. "You know little dragon, you are just like your parents. They were weak and hilariously stupid to think they could stop me from doing anything. Nothing you will do will stop me, not even the elements of harmony that you used." So King Naeus threw Spike to one of the walls of the main hall with so much force that the force of the impact made the castle vibrate.

King Naeus chuckled evilly and looked at the defeated trio. Equestria will follow soon after you guys, once I settle back into my castle, I will find the sword and wipe Equestria off the dimensional plane, ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!"

Spike's vision was blurry, and all he saw was King Naeus chuckle evilly again before turning into a big cloud of black smoke and leaving the castle undetected. Once he saw King Naeus leave, Spike's world turned dark.

Author's Note

Whoop-dee-do, a double upload. You're welcome