Spike knelt on the floor of the Princess Celestia's royal court room, starring off into space as the room was flooded with sunlight once again. "I'll let your friends go…If you leave and join your own kind and stay there... forever!"

Discord was no where in sight... and neither were any of his friends. Spike's thoughts were all over the place. He didn't know what he should do; should he stay and try to get his friends back? Or should he do as Discord said and leave Pony civilization to join his own kind.

Spike trembled at the thought of going back to other dragons. He remember his quest that he had taken to find himself and how all the other dragons treated him... he really didn't want to go back to that kind of life. Spike knew though that he didn't have a choice; he couldn't risk his friends getting hurt on his account.

Determined to free his friends, Spike rose up from his kneeling position and slowly made his way to the door.

Later in Ponyville

Spike had just finished packing his things when a thought occurred to him. "Discord!" Spike looked around the room trying to find any sign of that deformed being anywhere. "Discord, I know you're here. You've been following me all the way back here." The sound of fingers snapping was heard and things began to rotate around the room and then were suddenly changed into a throne... of sorts. He almost looked as strange as the person sitting on it. "Discord, how do I know that you will let my friends go once I leave?"

Discord had a twisted smile plastered on his face. "Well lets see... you don't." That wasn't the answer Spike was expecting. "W-well then why would you expect me to leave if you can't guarantee the safety of my friends?" Spike then folded his arms in front of his chest as if to show some sort of resistance to Discord.

This only made the 'lizard' being laugh at Spike's efforts to look tough. "You are such a riot little guy, you know that?" Discord had let out another chuckle before he cleared his throat and began to act serious with his own goofy twist. "I'm not LEAVING until you assure me that you will let my friends go!" Spike stomped one foot on the ground and his arms were by his sides as they shook from clutching his fists too tight and fear.

Discord watched with some amusement as the little dragon struggled to remain strong. "Fine little one. I promise that you're friends will be set free..." Spike interrupted, "how do I know you'll keep that promise?"

Discord appeared a bit irritated by the sudden interruption; which made Spike tremble a bit, but he held his ground. "Mmhmm... good question... how about this!" With a snap of Discord's fingers there was a bright light in the room. Spike quickly covered his eyes as the light grew brighter.

"Uh what happened?" "Why are we at the library?" Spike's heart stopped and he looked back to where the light use to be. He's friends stood there looking quite baffled as to what happened and why they were here.

Spike's eyes sparkled with delight and he made a dash towards his friends, but as he reached Twilight to give her a hug, he flew right through her and fell into the bookshelf. "Ow... Wha-?" Spike rubbed his head and looked back at where his friends stood then back to Discord. "These aren't my frie-" "Oh but they are, Spike. Take a closer look." Spike was confused but he got up and walked towards his friends and looked close. "They aren't here!" Spike took a step back away from the projected image of his friends.

"No they aren't. They are back at the Castle. You see they never left. I never sent them anywhere, I merely cloaked them." Spike starred in disbelief and his heart was full of hope. "...But, if you stay any longer. They will no longer be in the castle or anywhere in this pony civilization. They will take a nice visit over to the dragon community." A sly grin crept formed on Discord's face as he spoke each word.

Spike's head whirled around to meet Discord's eyes. "You... you wouldn't!" Discord just stood there towering over Spike with the same grin still on his face. "Would you like to wait to find out?" Spike's heart fell to his stomach; he feared for his friends safety. Nearly tripping over his feet, Spike scrambled to get his sack of belongings and quickly walked towards the door.

He stopped as he opened the door and took one glance to the image of his friends talking to each other, tears threatening to break free. "Goodbye.." That was all Spike said as he made his way out the door and in the direction of the volcano where his 'fellow' dragons migrated.