The Diamond

"Spike. Oh, Spike!" Rarity called out in a singsong voice.

"Coming Rarity." The young dragon eagerly called back.

The unicorn had recently received a sizable order from some Canterlot elite, but she required more jewels then usual, if she was to complete the order and get it in on time. She had once again asked the dragon to aid her in collecting jewels. The young dragon, as always, jumped at the chance to aid her. In the back of his mind, he hoped that she would return his affection for her one-day, but for now he was more then happy to help her without payment. Being with her was reward enough. The white unicorn's horn glowed brighter as it neared a patch of rock. Rarity pointed to the rocks with a pristine hoof.

"There is another group of jewels right over here, Spike. This one will be a big trove, I can feel it."

Spike stood right next to Rarity. He had been pulling the wagon, which was already filled to the brim with assorted jewels; rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and scores of others. He knew that it would not be able to hold much more, but did not mention it.

"I'll get right on it, Rarity."

The young dragon released his grip on the wagon's handle. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and jumped as high as he could towards the pile of rocks. As he began to descend, he outstretched his arms and pointed his tail as straight as he could. He then started to spin like a top. His twisting tail drilled through the rocks with relative ease. It only took him a couple of minuets to reach the jewels Rarity had indicated. It was indeed a trove, one that was scattered about in a small cavern. When he reached the floor of the cave he was still dizzy, but he called out to her anyway. His voice echoed up to the surface.

"I found them Rarity!"

Rarity's echoed voice returned his call.

"Good job, Spike! Start hauling them up, and I'll get them into the wagon!"

"Yes, Ma'am." The dragon called out with a salute.

After several minuets of climbing in and out of his tail made tunnel, Spike began to get tired, yet his strength seemed to miraculously return upon seeing Rarity's pleased face whenever he brought her another armful of jewels. He knew he had to get every single one.

"I think one more haul and we'll call it a day. Does that sound good Spike?"

"Whatever you say Rarity."

He made his way back into the cavern. He searched and searched, but found no more worthwhile jewels. He began to feel uneasy.

"Aww man. I need to find more jewels or at least one big one. I wish I could find one more jewel for Rarity."

Suddenly the entire cave began to tremble. Fearing for his safety, Spike ran for his tunnel. The wall next to him suddenly exploded outward, the small dragon was sent flying. He collided with the opposite wall and bits of rubble rained onto his head. As quickly as the sudden shaking had started, the cave was once again still. Spike's head was buzzing; he rubbed it with his claws. He could just make out Rarity's frantic echoing.

"Spikey! Spikey! Are you alright!"

He called back to her, head still buzzing, "I'm alright Rarity. It was just a..."

A marvelous sight cut him off. Half imbedded in the wall that had just exploded, he saw a jewel; but it was no typical jewel, it captivated him. He grabbed it with one claw, and jiggled it loose from the wall. He turned it over, examining it. It was a perfectly cut diamond. At first he thought the color was red; but with a closer look, he saw it was more crimson in color. He had found a crimson diamond. He knew Rarity would love it. He smiled with glee as he hugged the diamond close to his body. He climbed out of the cave for the last time and presented the diamond to Rarity. The diamond and the story of its location flabbergasted her.

"You're saying that this, wondrous, diamond was imbedded in the wall that exploded during the tremor?"

Spike smiled as he spoke, "Yeah, it was the craziest thing. I wished for... To... Um..." Spike began to blush, realizing he could not actually tell her what he had wished for.

"You wished for what Spike?"

"Nothing. It was nothing. Anyway, that diamond is for you."

Rarity put a hoof to her heart. "Aww. You are such a sweetie."

She picked up the diamond with her magic and took a closer inspection. She then looked at Spike's smiling face and she could not resist a small jest.

"Oh dear."

Spike suddenly became concerned.

"What. What is it?"

"I am so sorry Spike, but this diamond is flawed."

Spike's eyes grew wide and he started to stutter. "Bu... N-no. No it's not!"

"I am sorry dear, but I just can't use it in my line."

Spike's head drooped and his shoulders slouched forward. Rarity tapped him lightly on the shoulder. She felt bad at fooling him. An idea came to her mind.

"I know, you can have it, as a reward for services rendered. Just promise me no hoarding this time."

She smiled at him, and he straightened himself out as best he could, but he was still upset that she did not like it.

"No problem Rarity…"

"Come along then. To home."

Spike arrived at the library in a miserable mood. He appreciated that Rarity cared enough to give him the diamond, but he had wanted her to have it and it was too perfect for him to eat. He turned it over and over in his claws and he saw no flaws. He heard Twilight trot down the stairs from her bedroom. She greeted him with a smile.

"Hi Spike. Back from treasure hunting?"

The baby dragon grumbled an acknowledgment. The purple unicorn walked over to her assistant and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"Is something wrong?"

He shrugged her off. "Nothing important."

"It's about Rarity again, isn't it? You know, unless you tell her, she'll never know how you really feel."

"I know." The dragon said slowly. "It's... really hard."

"Don't worry, Spike. I'm sure one day Rarity will realize all you've done for her and..." Twilight stopped talking and nodded towards the diamond "What do you have in your claw Spike?"

"I found it with Rarity, but she did didn't want it. It's some kind of red diamond."

Spike lifted it up so Twilight could get a closer look at the diamond.

"Wow, it's almost perfectly cut." She said with surprise.

Rarity didn't think so. Spike thought to himself.

"I think I have a book about this kind of thing?" She began to look through stacks of books that were scattered around the library. "Do you know where Clear Cut Crystals is?"

"Nope."

"Great Geodes?"

"Not a clue."

"Diamonds Are A Mare's Best Friend?"

"That's a song book, Twilight."

"Shoot. I wish this library would stay correctly organized!"

"Well, maybe it would, if you would stop moving everything... All... The time..."

The dragon's words began to slow as the crimson diamond began to shake and shudder in his claw. It all of a sudden it became immensely hot to the touch. So hot that Spike dropped it to the floor.

"Ow!"

The unicorn swiftly came to her friend's side.

"Spike! Are you alright?"

Spike did not answer her question, because the crimson diamond spinning on the floor by itself distracted him. The spinning jewel levitated into the air, just above the tip of Twilight's horn. Black smoke poured out of the diamond. A deep, dark chuckle came from the cloud as it formed itself into shape. The dark mass morphed into black fur. It stood relatively tall on hind legs. It was just bigger then Twilight. The creature's long padded paws touched the ground with an echoing thud. Its long slender claws hid its head and face. It quickly whipped them to its sides and continued its dark chuckle. Its face was canine, with a pair of long ears and a long snout. Its eyes were golden in hue, slanted, and almost feline. Behind it's cruel looking lips were long, sharp teeth that shown when it smiled. The golden clothes it wore were modest; a simple wrap covering its nether region, golden shackles connected to broken chains on its wrists and ankles, and a golden pendant, which now housed the crimson diamond.

Twilight and Spike took a step away from the creature that had materialized out of the diamond. It took a moment to get over the shock, but Twilight recognized the type of canine the creature was, a jackal. It stretched itself out and inhaled deeply. It looked directly at the two smaller creatures, and exhaled. Its breath stank of rotting paper. It spoke with a raspy deep voice that slightly echoed itself.

"Greetings... Master..."