Green Eyes in the Night

Chapter 3; Broken heart and soul

As much as Spike didn't really want to admit it, there really wasn't very much for him to do. With the royal guard around there wasn't anyone really stupid enough to take a swing at any of them, and try as he might he simply couldn't get a scent. 'Too much blood and foliage...' he thought.

It took everything that Fluttershy had not to throw up. She had seen creachers mauled before but never like this. "I don't think I have ever seen anything like this." she said as she gently prodded the body, with a stick of course, "the cuts and gashes I can tell are from an animal of some sort, a tiger of a wolf I'd say just on a glance. But I can tell that what ever did this it was out of anger. She was ripped apart but nothing was eaten."

Twilight wrote down everything that Fluttershy was saying. "So she was attacked by something angry?" she asked. When Fluttershy nodded she continued, "I just don't understand why. I know that Spoiled wasn't the nicest pony in the world but for something to come into Ponyville just to attack someone, and how did they get into town without anyone seeing?"

"Judging from the depth of the cuts and the obvious broken limbs, what ever did this had to be large, at least the same size of Spoiled herself." Spike said as he looked over the body.

"And just how would you know Spike?" Rarity asked, doing her best to keep her snarky side to a minimum in front of the others.

Spike gave Rarity a flat look, more than a little annoyed at her comment. "As much as I'd like to say that I'm a vegan dragon, I do still need proper nutrition. I do have to occasionally hunt, and as such I can tell that what ever did this was large, very large."

"Very large, sharp claws and fangs," Rainbow Dash said, "What kind of animal could have done this? The only bears around here is Harry and he's over by Fluttershy's. Timber wolves are way too big to just waltz into Ponyville unnoticed, and there really isn't anything else around here that really could be doing this."

Seeing an opportunity than she just couldn't pass up, Rarity spoke up loud enough for everyone around them to hear but not enough to seem like she was trying to, "What about a dragon?"

Applejack went from her calm orange to blood red in a matter of seconds. But before she had a chance to ring the prissy pompous unicorn's neck Twilight, every bit as angry, spoke up. "Just what are you saying Rarity? We've already figured out that it could be anything that big."

"What about Spike?" she said evenly, the workings of a smirk etching it's was onto her face. It was a dirty and underhanded move and she knew it but she also knew that this was probably the best opportunity she had to rid herself of this great annoyance. "He had a motive, having just had a fight with the victim. Plus he just admitted that he has had to hunt in the past so he would have the skills to kill without being discovered."

This time Applejack didn't hesitate to lung at Rarity and though she was caught again it was Twilight that caught her, though judging by the dark look in her eyes Rarity wasn't in much better of a boat. "Rarity, how could you say that about little Spike?" Pinkie asked as she wrapped her fore legs around Spike's neck, Said drake's eyes darkening.

"He ain't the only one in town that had something against that annoying little twat." Applejack hissed. "There's hardly anyone in town that didn't want to wring her neck for one reason or another. You, me, hell even Filthy had to have had trouble not taking a swing at her a time or two. It ain't fair to try and pin this all on Spike!"

"While it may be true that many may have had a grudge, Spike was the only one who would be able to do so with a far amount of ease." Rarity said calmly, looking right into Applejack's eyes. It was honestly taking all she had not to start laughing at the situation. Rarity knew full well she had the village on her side, if the whispers and murmurs were anything to go by. "And as much as you'd like to forget this Twilight, Dragons are carnivores. So long as he is here we could all be in danger."

"I don't eat ponies..." Spike snarled to Rarity, "I have had it up to my crown spine with all your crap Rarity! Listen and listen good you pompous pain in the ass, what ever your problem with me is not worth the time you've invested in tearing me apart. This all started when I started wanting to be treated like more than some kind of hired help and if that's the reason you're acting like this then you're even more shallow than I thought!" Smoke rose from his nostrils after he finished his rant as he turned and stormed away.

Once Spike was gone Rarity turned her nose up and made to leave when she came face to face with Fluttershy. She was not happy. "Just what was that Rarity?" she asked in an angry tone. Rarity hesitated for just a moment and Fluttershy took this as an invitation. "Is what Spike just said true, are you acting like this just because he is no longer your little slave?"

All of Rarity's features hardened as she once again held her head high. "And what if it is?" She took in the shocked gasps and enraged growls calmly. "Oh don't look at me like that. Like I care how that beast feels, especially sense it's obvious that he is the one that attacked this poor mare. And Twilight darling," Rarity said as she turned to the alicorn in question, "You can burn all the hole you want in my head but you know that the rest of the town will agree with me."

Twilight found Spike sitting on one of the branches of the giant tree shaped castle, one look was all that it took for her to tell he was depressed. Spike was lying on the branch and watching as all the ponies around the area went about they're lives. The only indication that Twilight had at all that Spike was angry was the way his tail flicked back and forth below him. Gently flapping up to him she asked a rather obvious question, "Want to talk about it?"

Spike's response was just as obvious, "Not really."

Twilight locked her gaze with Spike's for a moment as she said, "Will you anyway?" When he didn't respond she sighed. "I know it hurts Spike, and I know that I have no idea what you're going threw, but I still want to help..." Spike was about to reject her again when he looked right in her eyes, "...Please?"

'Damn' he thought as he sighed and began, "You're right Twi, you don't know, and I don't really think I have the words to try and explain it to you. From the moment that I really started to grow, everyone in town has started to see me as some beast, like something that could, and I quote, 'succumb to my more primal instincts'." Spike looked down to his claws, "And I can't really blame them, I mean look at me, I am a dragon. Try as I might, and I tried for so long, but in the end I still became a carnivore."

"There are a lot of carnivores in the world Spike," Twilight tried to defend, "there are bears, wolves, even the griffons eat meat. You're not alone."

Spike got up and started to walk to the window sill, "How many of them can breath fire, or have a reputation of being aggressive hunters?" Twilight didn't respond, "That's what I thought, I'm heading to bed Twilight; it's been a long day."

To any that had the misfortune of being anywhere near Applejack they would feel the earth under their hooves quake slightly with her every step. Applejack was seeing so much red that she wasn't sure whether or not she had attacked the great white bitch yet or not. 'I'm gonna rip that horn off her head and shove it so far up her ass she'll be able to cast spells with her tongue!' Applejack thought darkly, taking note that everyone was going out of their way not to cross her path, figuratively of literately.

Applejack saw her soon to be victim sitting at the train station. Rarity was calmly waiting for the train that would bring Trenderhoof when she saw the enraged orange mare approach. "Hello Applejack, is there something that you need?" Applejack was about to rear up and knock that calm smile right of her face when she was stopped by a single line. "You lay one hoof on me and I'll press charges, then the beast will have to stay at the farm to help with chores while you're in prison."

Rarity was slightly nervous as she could see Applejack weigh out the pros and cons of that decision but breathed a sigh of relief when she finally decided against it. "Ya ain't worth it." she snarled, "I just can't believe you'd stoop so low as to try and get one of our friends thrown in jail, or worse, just because you don't get free help any more."

"He's dangerous Applejack," Rarity said as she glared at the other mare, "you of all ponies should know that. Dragons have burned down many a farmland."

Applejack's teeth began to grind as she hissed out, "I smell bullshit and it's coming from you, so unless you got something you wand to tell me, I'd have to think you're lying."

"Honestly I fail to understand why your so protective of the beast. It's almost like..." Rarity looked surprised for a second before a malicious grin split across her lips. "...Oh Applejack, no... You have a crush on Spike? No wonder you're so dead set on keeping him around."

Straitening her back, Applejack's eyes locked on to Rarity's as she said, "Ain't no crush, I'm after that boy's heart. That however has nothing to do with this." Applejack heard the train coming and didn't want to have to deal with the headache that was riding on it. As she turned around to walk off Applejack's voice reached Rarity, "I ain't gonna just sit back and let you try and pin this all on Spike. And I wouldn't get your heart set on that Trenderhoof if I were you. I meant what I said to you earlier, you ain't worth it; you never were."

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

Stone Runner downed his third mug of ale at the tavern. Pure rage was running threw his veins, in all his time in the guard he had never been so humiliated, not even that time Discord had him in that "Suddenly jump out of" a cake at that bachelor party, dress appropriately of course. 'All I wanted to do was protect her from that dragon, and maybe take her out. Little honey's got a fine flank, I woulda shown her a great time. What the hell is that little bitch's problem anyway?!' "Bar tender, another."

The bar tender, a pale pink earth mare, walked up with an annoyed look. "My name is Berry Punch," she growled, "if you want to be served I suggest you use it. And as for another mug, you can have another after you pay for the last three."

Stone moaned as he dug in his saddle bag, only to find that he could only barley pay for two. "Running a bit short Berry, can't you extend some credit to one of the royal guards?"

"Sorry," she said as she leaned on the bar, "If I do for you, I have to for everyone. I start that nonsense and they'll drink me dry in no time." when Stone dropped his head on the counter Berry sighed, "Tell you what hot shot, gimme what you got and we'll call it even, the last one on the house."

Stone Runner groaned but handed her the money. It was all he had left before payday but he knew it was the best he was going to get. "Thanks, I guess I'll head home." Berry nodded as she began cleaning up his mess, giving no formal goodbye.

As Stone stumbled his way home he got lost, finding himself in some sort of alley. "Great, just perfect! I need this like I need another hole in my head." The sound of a soft growling drew his attention to the other end of the alley.

There, in the clouded moonlight stood the same figure, its glowing green eyes piercing his very soul. Or at least it would, if he wasn't so buzzed and to pissed off from earlier to care. "You got a problem with me freak?" Stone barked, the figure slowly walked forward. "Oh so that's the way you want it huh? Well that's fine with me, when I'm done with you, you'll look worse that that Spoiled Rich mare!" And with that he charged forward, ready for blood.