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Chapter Fourteen: Who We Are, Protectors or Murderers?

Spikes POV:

Sitting around the small fire I built by shooting a small spark of electricity into some kindling…so cool…I regaled Twilight and Stiles of how I found my Lightening Breath.

"So I was trying to figure what to think of as to fire, so I thought 'friction and heat' but apparently friction and heat also leads to lightning and BAM an arc of electricity shatters the rock in front of me to bits!" I finished laughing.

Stiles was chuckling but Twilight was still eerily silent, "That's logical, in my world where weather controls itself, dry air from below slides against cold air from above and that friction can lead to dry lightning" He sighed rubbing his cheek where Void had sucker punched him.

I saw the darkness deepen and Void step out into the fire light, summoning a chair for himself he plopped down and started to warm his hand, "I have dinner but it's a little bit more than I can handle right now"

I highly doubted that, "Um….okay says the dragon that saw you beat back a monster with one hand and the other severed"

The look Void shared with me made me remember who was really sitting there, "Well okay, wanna see what I'm really up to?" with a snap of his fingers Void separated me from the others a green translucent wall erupted around me bathing me and Void in green light, Stiles and Twilight were banging on the outside of the wall but with no effect.

Void snapped his fingers again and a massive boar, easily three times as big as me, wrapped in chains appeared by his side, a maniacal look in his eye Void petted the beast like a dog, "Say 'ello to dinna!" he said cackling at me, "You see you made a mistake" he said pacing towards me, "One you dare order ME to get you dinner, and two this is called First Blood, when a young dragon learns his first Breath he then must conquer a beast with tooth and claw, you see I want you to know what it means to be Dragoon, Dragon of Old, a true master of Breath"

"VOID THAT IS GOING TO FAR TO SOON!" I looked back at Stiles, he looked pale green from this side of the wall, he was still banging on the wall, Twilight was trying to use magic but absolutely nothing was happening.

Seeing both of them powerless while a creature I had crossed cackled louder behind me I realized right then….I was in mortal danger. I could die, and help was a hairs breath away but unable to aid me, only I could save myself and that…..froze me to the spot.

"Oh ho ho come now Spike, where was that bravado you showed only a few minutes ago, where is your heart now little dragon?" Void taunted me, I turned slowly as he raised and lowered his hand, the chains snapping from the boar, with a guttural roar the beast charged.

I stood there, the ground shaking with each pounding step as this monster bore down on me and I couldn't move, my legs trembled, my mind screamed, and my soul cowered, "Move little Thunder Drum, or your life will end here and now!" Void howled to the sky….he was mad…completely and absolutely insane!

"SPIKE YOU MUST MOVE, FIGHT, SPIKE MOVE!" Stiles screamed, shaking my head I lunged to the left just as the boar rushed past headlong into the wall, the sudden stop seemed to only make it angrier as it shook its head and turned back to me, "WATCH IT, STUDY IT, FIGHT IT WITH ITS OWN WEAKNESSES, AND SPIKE YOU MUST KILL IT, FOR YOU TO LIVE IT MUST DIE!"

"He is speaking truth little Thunder Drum, you live, it dies, you die, it lives, simple rules don't forget them" Void whispered in my ear, but I only turned to retreating shadows.

"SPIKE NO SPIKE NO PLEASE VOID DON'T MAKE SPIKE DO THIS PLEASE!" Twilight screamed at the night, her terror only made the shadows dance and writhe with happiness.

My body was cold, I was sweating and my muscles burned but I was cold, thinking back through the books of anatomy Twilight was reading back in Canterlot. Adrenaline, that was making everything cold and hot, slow and fast, super focused and blurry, there were a few articles about wild life, the skin of wild animals are tough and armor like, but the underside of the neck and belly are soft and weak.

I watched closely, the adrenaline letting me see details so small I'd have missed them before…..there was a small pause before each step on its left side, a hitch in its stride, maybe an old injury?

A weakness.

As I dodged its charge again it whipped its head sideways catching my side with one of its three-foot tusks, a thin line of blood trailed hotly down my ribcage, I couldn't feel the pain, another dangerous attribute to adrenaline. I saw its neck; I could latch on with my jaws my new teeth perfect for severing important bits…but my mind blanked at killing something that only wanted to survive itself.

A quick blow to the stomach from a flailing hoof rocketed me to the ground several yards away. Busy with my morals I hadn't seen it rear back with its hind legs, sloppy of me, but the weight was still in my mind. Could I kill to save my own life?

Stiles could…Stiles was resolute, he was strong, not afraid of killing, he had a purpose, something to kill for, something to live for and die for. What did I have?

I had Twilight, Rarity…I couldn't stand to make Fluttershy cry, I'm sure Rainbow and Applejack wouldn't forgive me if I just rolled over and died, and Pinkie…what would she celebrate…my death?

I can't kill, not for myself, not for my wants, but I think I could if it was for my friends. This beast's blood will stain my claws, so they may hold my friends again, "You will die by my claws, by my teeth!" I yelled as I rushed the boar as he did me, again that hitch on the left side; just as he lowered and threw his head up, trying to impale me I slid under his chin.

Throat exposed it tried to shift its momentum but couldn't, I launched up and wrapped my arms around its neck and latched my mouth around the tender underside of its throat, right over its jugular. My sudden weight on its left side threw off the boars balance and threw us to the ground; using its momentum I rolled it till I was atop it. Biting down hard and raring back I felt flesh and vein separate, hot blood spurted from the gaping hole in its neck, splashing me from head to chest.

A growl too feral to be real loosed itself from me, spitting the chunk of flesh out I latched on again as the beast still writhed beneath me. This time my teeth found its windpipe, with a crushing and whistling sound I squeezed and again tore flesh from the boar, a harsh gurgling and gasping came from this new hole. Soon I felt the boars thrashing slow…..then still…and final gasping exhale it lay still.

"I….I…" I was stammering as I slid from the animal, shaking uncontrollably I stumbled away and fell to my knees retching, nothing but bile coming up, I continued to throw up as the wall slowly faded.

Pounding hooves and feet rushed to me, I was back beside the fire, the boar next to me, the smell of blood and the dense musk of the animal itself made Twilight gag as she bent and kneeled beside me, "S-Spike?" Twilight seemed unsure as she spoke.

"Spike buddy, hay it's okay….it's okay" Stiles said also kneeling beside me and patting my back, "Void that was too far" by the sound of his voice Stiles wasn't looking at me.

I raised my head and saw Void, shadow wrapped closely around his left side, shrugging off Stiles' hand and brushing past Twilights light nuzzling I stood tall, feeling the blood of the boar drip from my jaws, and by Twilights gasp she saw the gore adorning my muzzle. I approached Void holding my right side where the boar had nearly gored me, "I….I did it" I said my voice a harsh whisper, I couldn't control my shaking, "I…k-kill…killed it…I am of Dragoon, I am of Dragons Old"

"Yes" Void said smiling kindly, wiping blood from my cheek, almost fatherly, "Yes my little Thunder Drum" he flicked my snout lightly, "But you have yet a ways to go"

Clapping his hand to his chest in a mock applause Void beamed at Stiles, "Now let's EAT!" he picked the boar up by its tusk and dragged it to a tree where black tendrils of shadow stung it up spread eagle, its head barely attached with what was left of its neck.

I nearly lost it again but I only dry heaved, Twilight doing the same, she was transfixed by the dead animal, fear permeating the air around her, Stiles was stoic, not one bit of emotion even flickered across his face, "Well…the head was going to come off any way…" Void reached up again grabbing a tusk and with a sudden jerk and squelching rip he snatched the boars head off, fresh gore spilling to the ground.

"Oh….Oh my" Twilight whispered before dropping like a rock.

"Twilight!" I yelled rushing towards her, Stiles was there in a flash…I….I didn't see him move….. "Is she okay?" I asked kneeling beside her.

"Just fainted" Stiles said, he looked up at me and did a smiling grimace, "Congratulations on your first kill Spike, I'm sorry you had to suffer through that…it was unfair and uncalled for" he looked to Void who was smiling at us, "You and I will have words Void, mark me, we will have words"

His tone was flat but the rage I felt beneath his cold calm was…..terrifying…

"I can't wait" Void said grinning like a demon, "Now while the Sister Hoof Social there is out teach this young dragon how to prepare wild game, and be quick I'm positively starved from all the fun I've had today!"

"Come on let's put her on our sleeping bags" Stiles said slowly lifting her like a small filly, "Spike…go wash up…you've got blood drying in your spines"

Standing, I slowly walked over to my pack and took a canteen out and drenched myself with its water, feeling the congealing blood loosen and slide down my new body. I felt different….I felt tainted but….

"The cost of being what we are…" Stiles said standing over Twilight, looking at her with a peaceful smile on his face, when he looked at me that smile faded and I saw a glimpse of the warrior he hid so well, "…is steep…but the good that comes from it, is what keeps us who we are"

"Without your friends my little Thunder Drum" Void voiced suddenly, "You are a murderer" my veins froze as I looked at him, "But with them…you are a protector" his eyes were somber but a blissful smile adorned his face.

"What do I do now" I asked, "I never fit in before, always too weak to help in any way, but now…I feel different….I feel…." I struggled for the word but I couldn't find it though Stiles did.

"Powerful" Stiles walked around the fire, facing me I only saw his silhouette, "You have taken life, you will never fit into their world now, they will not know that power, they will not understand it, it is a terrible power, one we must hold, so no other must suffer so" He patted my shoulder, "You have killed tonight, you will have to kill again, and again, and again, until there is no enemy left to kill, until every single soul is safe, until the day your final breath leaves you, you will kill"

I could feel my heart beating frantically, what I was becoming, what I had already become, could I still find love….could I still be with the mare of my dreams….. "You asked what now" Stiles said, I looked up to him, barely able to see his eyes, "You continue, after my mission is accomplished I plan on finding a quiet knoll and building a house, maybe try my hand at romance….have some foals if I can, just because we must do what others are not willing and should never have to do, doesn't mean we don't get a happy ending"

"Why?" I asked, "Why me, I was nothing, a pony of a dragon, unable to breath simple fire, why all of a sudden, why out of the blue do I get this responsibility, why don't I have a choice?"

"The same reason I didn't" Stiles said walking towards the boar beckoning me, "Greatness calls those who CAN not those who WANT, those who do not seek power are often the most worthy to wield it"

I was not satisfied with that, but I remember what Void said, my friends make me a protector, I remember why Stiles is here, this isn't his world, this isn't his problem, he is here because he believes life is sacred. But he knows the harsh truth, some enemies cannot be made into friends, and it is then that the value of one life over countless is called to question, and he….no WE are the ones to answer it.

Out skirts of Equestria's borders, a small settlement of ponies is watched with hungry eyes and drooling maws

"Now" came the whisper in the minds of the hive.

The attack was supposed to be quick, lives ended and bellies filled, but that wasn't what happened, no what happened opened the door, now if only it could be kept that way.

Glorious screaming and cries, the changeling drones fed quickly leaching the life from stallion and mare alike, the queen stepped from the shadows, already buildings alight with flame. She smiled and laughed as a small foal ran across her path, a sudden strike and the foal was knocked unconscious. She bent to fill the void with in her only to see black chitin of a drone, confused she looked closer, this one had a mane and tail.

" Pure….w-w….white" The queen changeling backed away, white mane and tail, crimson eyes…why him…why was he here, she rubbed her eyes and there was the foal, frozen in fear, a drone came up from behind and was about to feast on the freighted foal, a quick blast of magic melted the drone instantly.

All the commotion stopped, drones and ponies alike stopped to look at the deranged looking queen, "Leave the foals, kill the others" her orders simple but the drones didn't understand…why was their queen showing lenience to these walking bags of emotion?

Ignoring her; a drone bit into a small filly, instantly severing her spine at the base of her skull, the drone was snatched up by magic and slammed against a stone wall till green ichor splattered it. It was then pulled, dazed, toward its queen, and for all to see she consumed its soul.

"Anyone else feel like defying me?"

And thus all the fillies and colts were herded with one selected adult into a building, guarded by the queen herself, food was brought before her, but all she saw were those crimson eyes and snowy mane, "Six hundred years since the last I saw those eyes, and the power they hold over me has not dwindled" she whispered into the ear of a trembling mare before kissing her deeply as if she were her lover, pulling the last of the mares soul into her being.

The foals and their sitter cowered in fear as the screams and pleas of mercy slowly faded, soon day broke through the windows and the door was opened. The foal sitter was the first to leave, not a changeling in sight, only scattered corpses and rivers of blood.

Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings had entered Equestria.

And so it begins at last! How many villages will fall before the Changelings are discovered? Are the mane six ready for a confrontation with a Queen? What exactly is in Pinkies super-secret Cupcake recipes? What threats are closer to home then even the princesses are a aware of? Only Time knows and he's not sharing!