Harmony Lost

“Hey, watch it!” Spike shouted as he narrowly avoided Twilight’s rogue spell. As soon as she got home she had been casting the spells in her new book non-stop. Spike could tell that the spells she was casting were dangerous. “Maybe you should stop.”

“I can’t Spike,” retorted the faintly glowing unicorn, “Princess Celestia is depending on me to find ways to counter Beelzehoof’s magic. She gave me this spellbook to study. Why would she do that unless she wanted me to learn these spells?”

“Those spells seem to be the kinds of spells that Beelzehoof would cast! Are you sure you were supposed to learn them?” Spike pleaded.

“Maybe this is how I am supposed to identify his work. I need to be vigilant,” Twilight stubbornly replied. Spike knew trying to reason with Twilight like this was pointless, so he left the library to get some fresh air.

Upon going outside, his face was met with the cool kiss of the night air. Spike knew from Twilight just how dangerous it was to go outside, but the sun had only just gone down. How dangerous could it be? In the distance he thought he saw a figure leave Rarity’s boutique. He decided to go investigate to see if Rarity was alright, maybe see if she needs anything. He regretted that decision. He got halfway from the library when something swooped and knocked him on his back. The pegasus that had side tackled him had pinned him to the ground.

“Rainbow Da-” he got halfway through saying when he realized that this wasn’t Rainbow Dash pulling some poorly timed prank. He was face to face with a predator, with him playing the role of prey. This is the end!

“Oo lookie here,” the pegasus began taunting, “a little baby dragon out for an evening stroll. Don’t you know it is dangerous after dark?” The pegasus laughed a chilled, relaxed laugh. She spoke softly with a coolness that suggested a calm peace of a vast frozen expanse. “It has been a long time since I have feasted on dragon, and never a baby dragon. Do you know what this is?”

A cloud that had been covering the moon had been blown away with the dark silent wind of the night. The street was now bathed in pale moonlight, and  Spike was able to get a good look at the mare. Her coat, mane and eyes all matched her voice. They were dark yet oddly peaceful. Serene was a word that could be used to describe her entire being. “Your lucky day?” Spike replied hesitantly believing that if he made her laugh, she might let him go.

The mare laughed, but this time her voice contained traced of malice and intent. “Yes, it is my lucky day little dragon, or rather, my lucky night. Tonight I feast. I am tired of this petty exchange. I never did like noisy food.” Her fangs seemed to shine in the dim moonlight. Spike closed his eyes. He did not want the neck of this clod mare to be the last thing in life he saw.

“What are you doing? Get out of here!”THMP The vampony that had Spike hostage suddenly high tailed it and ran. Spike open his eyes to see a friendly looking unicorn with a black face standing over him. “Are you alright little dragon?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Spike answered relieved.

“I am glad to hear it,” Spike’s saviour said smiling. His smile was warm and inviting as opposed to the cool distance his attacker had. “It is dangerous at night. The Princess has a curfew in place after dark. What are you doing outside?” he asked.

“I was going to check on a friend. I think she may have been attacked in her own house last night. I was going to check on her,” Spike answered.

        “I doubt she was unless she invited the attacker into her home,” replied the unicorn knowingly.

“What? How would you know this?” Spike asked suspicious of this stranger.

“Creatures of the night such as these are my devoted life’s study. For you see, that is why I am out at this night. The vampony who attacked you is one of the more notoriously cruel and bastardly resourceful vamponies I have ever encountered. Her name is Serenity, and I fear that she has taken up Ponyville as her hunting grounds.” answered the unicorn.

“Wow,” said Spike amazed with the stranger, “I wish I could know so much.”

“Oh but you can,” replied the stranger with a smile. He claimed control of the verbal exchange, though Spike wouldn’t realize it until later.

“How?” asked Spike. If I knew half of what this pony knows I can be a great help to Twilight! Desire was starting to well up within Spike. It was the kind of desire that dragons get when they want something regardless of the cost. This made him vulnerable to the black stranger’s suggestion.

“It would be merely one of the things you would be able to do as a Seniorem Draconus.” Seniorem Draconus. Elder Dragon. Spike had not expected to hear some dragon lore among ponies. Every dragon dreams of being an Elder Dragon. Elder Dragons are immortal unless killed, which is very hard to do. Seniorem Draconus possess terrible power far greater than even alicorn magic.

Spike’s voice faltered when he spoke, “But... I’d need to be marked. There are few who possess the knowledge let alone the power to pull it off.”

“Luckily for you, I do possess both. It is your choice, do you want it, or not?”

 “I...” Spike did not know what to do. The desire for power was strong but he was still able to think somewhat rationally. A small part of him was throwing out doubts toward everything the black faced unicorn had said. Sadly this voice did not scream loud enough. “Do it.”

Magic pulsed out of the unicorn’s horn and engulfed Spike. His whole body went numb and an image of clouds seared into Spike’s mind. Weather! I am going to be a master of the weather! The magic died down shortly thereafter and realizations came to Spike like a whirlwind.

He remembered Twilight’s warning about Beelzehoof’s meddling. The voice of reason he ignored before returned with a vengeance.

Wait, if that vampony was so dangerous, then why would it be scared of some random unicorn? Isn’t it also convenient that he happens to know about the most well protected secret in dragon lore? Sure, he claims to be a scholar and a scholar may have learned about it, but how many scholars know how to actually perform the ritual, let alone have the power? All this seems to add up to one fact.

“Beezlehoof, I presume,” Spike said. His voice sounded the same, but felt different in his throat.

“Yes, Spike?” The unicorn removed a cloak he was wearing to reveal a pair of wings. To Spike, Beezlehoof did not look like Twilight’s description. Instead of evil his face displayed sport.

“What did you do to me?” Spike asked calmly (much to his own surprise.)

“Exactly what I said I would. You are now Seniorem Draconus, though you will have to grow into the whole wisdom and master of the elements thing. You are, however, rather observant. That’s cool,” Beelzehoof taunted. Spike smiled realizing what this could mean.

“Now I can notice where you have been meddling. I can really help Twilight,” Spike said triumphantly. He was actually naive enough to think he cheated the devil.

        “No, you can’t tell Twilight anything. Remember when she warned against my meddling? You not only have fallen victim, but did so out of your own free will! Oh dear, how will dear old Twilight Sparkle react when she finds out her number one assistant betrayed her? Can you really guarantee your own safety, especially with Twilight practicing those advanced magics?”

“Twilight would never hurt me! She’s my best friend!” Spike retorted. The very idea was inconceivable to the baby dragon.

“Can you be sure? I mean a hundred and sixteen point seven six percent sure, that Twilight would let something like this slide. She was assigned the role of sentinel from Princess Celestia. What is more important to her. I wonder? Will it be her assignment, or the friend that just stabbed her in the back? It’s your tail on the line here. Is it really worth the risk?”

“I-” Beelzehoof had Spike trapped, and Spike had to admit defeat. His own greed and lust for power had gotten the best of him. I’m only dragon, Spike told himself in effort to deceive himself to the gravity of the situation. It was to no avail.

“What am I supposed to do!?” cried Spike in desperation.

“Find a friend you can trust. I am sure you will find them in short supply in the days to come,” Beelzehoof said, then disappeared into shadow...