Just a heads up this chapter is Spike Centric. Its not filler, but just to give you guys a heads up to get you in the right mindset as well as promise his return will be epic.

Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x ?

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Story Start

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It was still fairly early, but the town square was in full bloom, with ponies out and about shopping for food and flowers and other things that would tickle their fancy. The dragon walked into the street. Spike knew he was being a hit hopeful that maybe some of the town was willing to forgive him, but nearly everywhere he turned was met with a glare or look of fear.

He had wanted to avoid going to Canterlot to shop for Pinkie's gift, seeing as her birthday was coming up soon, but looked like that wasn't going to be an option.

"Hey Spike!" Lyra called out. She was sitting at a small café next to her was Bon Bon. "Over here!" she called out again.

Spike walked over to the two. "Hey Lyra, Bon-Bon."

"So where are you off to today?" Lyra asked him. "We haven't seen you around town recently."

Bon Bon grimaced a bit at Lyra's lack of tact. "What Lyra means we haven't seen you by the shop lately." Kicking Lyra's shin under the table causing the Unicorn to yelp. "Right Lyra?"

"Yeah." She grounded out with a sour expression as she rubbed her poor shin.

"You mean…you two don't hate? Aren't you afraid of me?"

"No way Spike, I mean its not like you meant to go on a rampage…" Lyra let out another yelp as once more her shin was abused.

"We do not hate you Spike," Bon Bon began in an attempt to smooth over Lyra's statement. "I do admit I was not one of your biggest supporters after the incident, but Naruto and Twilight have made it quite clear their stance on the matter. Not to mention during our morning training session Naruto explained to us that it was an ingrain dragon instinct and you weren't in control of yourself."

"Yeah its all cool with us. Just ignore those jerks in town giving you a hard time. Just give it time and they'll come around, if not, auntie Lyra will give'em a swift kick in the flanks."

"Time…they just might get that time away from me after all." He said with a resigned sigh.

"What do you mean?"

With that Spike began to explain the events of what happened not too long ago. "…and now I have until then to give my choice. I'm not sure…I really want to know who I am and what it means to be a dragon, but I have to leave. It could take years and that means saying goodbye to everypony."

"Unfortunately we can't give you that answer. Nopony can but you Spike." Bon Bon explained.

"Hey so when you get back...if you grow wings by then do you think, I could know, ride you?" Lyra asked with a hopeful expression.

Spike couldn't help but blush. Crush or no crush Lyra was an attractive mare. Who let out yet another yelp. "Oh come on, what did I say that was wrong this time?" she whined. "I might have to go find a new best friend if you continue to be so a grump Bon Bon."

Bon Bon snorted. "Oh please, you're just as committed to this as I am. Maybe if you think a bit before talking that wouldn't have happened."

Spike left the two bickering mares to their own devices. He needed to go somewhere far away and think about this. A place he couldn't be disturbed. Unknown to him he was currently being shadowed.

Spike walked across town towards the rocks where most of the gemstones were hidden. He had spent hours just trudging around, hunting for gems as he pondered his choice. That was then he picked up the sound of steps. Someone was watching him.

His danger sense kicked in. Spike immediately jumped to the top of the boulder and bear his fangs only to retrieve a shriek in return. "Sweetie Belle?"

There on the ground wearing dark blue skirt , white sleeveless blouse with a tied red kerchief surrounding her collar was none other than Sweetie Belle. "You almost scared the life out of me you know." The filly affixed him with an annoyed.

"How did you even get here? How did you find me?"

"Well I told Rarity I was going to hang out with the Crusaders and I saw you. I, we never got to talk about what happened and well…I wanted to talk with you. I just didn't know what to say." She said as she cupped her arms and looked down at the ground with an embarrassed expression and red hued cheeks. It wasn't like she planned out or thought about what to say to Spike.

"About what I said… " What was there to say? He had only confessed because he thought they were done for. On top of everything that happened Spike didn't think he could take Sweetie Bell's rejection on top of things.

"You're not taking it back are you? That would mean you were insincere or at least that was Applebloom tells me about ponies who say things and take it back. You weren't lying to me were you spike?"

"What? No!" He blurted out. "Sweetie Belle I'm a dragon. I'm dangerous. I could hurt you."

Sweetie Belle shook her head. "But you didn't. Even when you didn't remember me completely you never tried to hurt me. I know you won't try to. You're strong Spike. I believe in you. That you'll never give in and become a monster that destroys everything. "

"And if I go away that definitely won't be a problem." He said as Sweetie Belle tilted her head quizzically.

"Go away? What do you mean?" the curious filly asked.

"Naruto. He went and found dragon Elders. One of the Elders is a purple dragon like me. Purple Dragons are supposed to be really rare and powerful and he's offered to train me, but I have to leave. I have to leave everypony behind if I decide to go and it could be years before I see any of you again. That's why I'm out here trying to decide whether I should go or not."

Sweetie Belle went silent as she processed all of this. As scared as she was, this might be her only chance. It was a good thing she went to Rarity about this who advised her being honest and going for what she wanted would be the only way to be happy.

"Spike. About your confession. I wanted to let you know that…I…I feel…" she paused upon seeing the dragon begin looking around. "…Spike…what are doing?"

"Don't you hear that? Rumbling."

"Well I don't hear anything."

The ground erupted beneath them, bits of dirt and rocks were flung into the air, raining down upon the dragon and unicorn. Sweetie hid behind the massive Spike, the debris bouncing harmlessly off his thick hide. From the cloud of dust silhouettes emerged.

The Diamond Dogs.

But not the ones that kidnapped Rarity. They looked larger, leaner, and far meaner.

"Give us the pony!" they demanded.

"Me!?: Sweetie Belle squealed. What could they want with her.

"I'm not letting you guys land one paw on Sweetie Belle."

"You don't have a choice…trash." Emerging from the hole was a canine with silver fur and deep sapphire eyes. He towered over the other dogs by a foot and his very claws looked to be sharp and smooth like steel but light blue in color. "We have no beef with you dragon, but the filly, her scent is the same of the Unicorn and her mate who has made fools of our kind. If you want to escape with your life hand her over now."

They were outnumbered fifty to one. Not to mention Sweetie Belle wasn't a fighter." Sweetie Belle, I want you to get out of here as soon as you get the chance."

Sweetie Belle shook her head. "And you leave you behind with these creeps?"

"Don't argue just run." He said as sprinted forward at breakneck speed, throwing his hand forward for a slash only for the dogs to leap out of the way. Two of the dogs leaped onto Spike's back and try to tear into his hides only to find that the dragon's scales were tougher than even solid ground.

They were shaken off and hit with a stream of fire causing them to cower away with wails. A dog trying to sneak around to flank Spike from the side met a similar fate, his body being let ablaze.

"Embarrassments." The Alpha said as he joined the battle.

Spike was baffled as the Alpha was moving faster than he could track. A yelp of pain escaped his lips as the Alpha's claws slashed diagonally down his chest drawing blood. He was soon knocked off his feet by two of the pack.

The remaining dogs quickly jumped on the downed dragon.

The leader walked up to Spike's defeated visage, a big toothy grin on his face. "You were a full to challenge us. What could a mere child hope to do?" The other dogs laughed, egging him on. "I heard your kind was proud, powerful, masters of the sky and land, but you're hardly better than a pony. A weakling like you has no place in the world of the strong."

"Go…go to Tartarus…" the dragon muttered as the Alpha stamped on his face, grinding it into the ground.

That was when Spike began to feel it. A surge of anger. A desire to rip them apart. A shriek brought him out of his thoughts. Two of the dogs had returned and they had Sweetie Belle hoisted by her arms. "Spike…please… Help me…"

"Sweetie Belle…" He weakly called out to her. Why was he…why was he so weak? Why couldn't he do anything right.

"We have what we came for." The Alpha said as he looked the filly over. "Lets go and get her probably warmed up. We want her look just right for when her sister comes for her." He finished with a toothy smile.

"Spike...help…!" Sweetie Bell's plea for help grew fainter and fainter as the pack retreated.

Spike laid there for who knew how long before his aching body responded to his command to move. Sweetie Belle was in trouble he had to go get the others and…

No.

By the time he ran and got the others it would be too late. Those bastard dogs had only one thing in mind and he had wasted enough time already.

They had utterly dismissed him as a joke. Leaving him alone as if he wasn't a threat.

He would not let them be proven right he thought as he dropped down in the tunnel and began tracking them. He kept on continuing down the dark tunnels. The tunnel continued on for a while, its monotonous structure made it difficult to tell how much time had passed.

Hearing voiced he hid behind a poorly constructed beam as a couple of diamond dogs went by. "Most of the slave ponies dead. We need new ones." It spoke, having a rough scratchy voice that seemed to be their species signature.

"Once we take care of the fighters in Ponyville we can recruit more slaves and not just male ones either."

"Yeah, the mares rather feisty. Much fun to play with."

"As expected of you Artie."

Spike got a closer look at them. Both of them were shaggy looking with a grey and black coat respectively. Both were caked in dirt wearing old tattered miner pants and vests. Both were blood houses.

"Can you blame me. Heat season. They'll be begging for rut."

"The Alpha found a filly, wants the pack to break her in."

The one known as Artie sniffed in disgust. "I no like the young ones. No ass. Rather wait for the sister. Real nice ass." He repeated with a grin.

Spike felt sick to his stomach. How could anypony, anyone be so sick? The dogs would get theirs, but first he needed to get Sweetie Belle out of there then they could go get the others.

He continued to follow after them. If he could find a moment to take them out he would.

The two eventually lead him to a chamber lined with torches. Inside the chamber was lined with many numerous crude cells. To the side were a table, shackles, and shelves with all sorts of containers and liquids. A scream echoed from the far side of the room.

Spike rushed to the origin of the noise where the cell was wide open. The cause was a cream colored mare, what looked like an earth pony being held down as they prepared to rape her. Spike reacted without a second thought and charged. The force of the blow sent the unprepared dog into the wall with a solid impact fracturing his skull. The dumb founded diamond dog found himself rendered unconscious as Spike landed a solid blow on his unprepared face.

He turned to the mare who looked at him, her eyes filled with pure terror. The poor mare was in rough shape; she was caked in blood, she was covered in cuts; and completely naked. Throughout the cell there were many mares at least thirty of them.

He got down to make eye level with the sobbing mare. "Are you alright? Can you move?"

She nodded her head.

"Did you…did you happen to see a filly? About twelve years old? Looked like she was freshly kidnaped."

"N-No." The voice was that of a whisper. The poor mare could hardly talk. "Do you…do you think if I free you and the others you can get out of here?" He asked her.

"…Try…" she weakly responded. Spike grabbed the keys off the unconscious dog and began opening the cells.

Spike had never thrown up so much in his life. The shape they were in. The stench. There were bodies in there the dogs couldn't have been bothered to move or the waste. These dogs. They were nothing like the ones that he and the others had encountered before.

Yes they were kidnappers and brutes, but they weren't rapists. They weren't vicious killers. Greedy maybe, but not this.

'Not all species are the same. One does not represent all.'

Those words. Those weren't his thoughts, but of a memory he couldn't quite put his claw on. Either way those mares were going to be dealing with their trauma for a long time to come.

The sound of a scream. Sweetie Belle screams drew his attention. He made his way to the chamber and announced his presence with a growl. "Let. Her. Go," He emphasized with a burst of flame that sent most of the dogs scurrying away.

"Foolish…you could have live yet you chose death." The Alpha snarled as he tossed Sweetie Belle roughly to the ground. "Very well dragon if you are so quick to die than I shall oblige you."

'This isn't something you're going to pick up instantly. If you want to become a warrior you have to dedicate the time and effort Spike. For you, its better if you rely on turning your enemies strength against them. As you are now head to head fights are above what you're capable of.'

Spike twisted out of the way at the last second. He had to fight and beat Greywolf. Having waited until he could use the moment to trip up the Alpha. Unfortunately he underestimated the canine who simply landed hands first and flipped back onto his feet.

The canine not only caught himself, but launched shoulder force slamming into Spike's injury causing Spike to cough up blood. He then proceeded to slash Spike's face.

"What's wrong Dragon!" He taunted as he continued to slash at Spike who feebly tried to defend himself. "Thought you could play the hero? Thought because you were the dragon that it meant you had this fight in the bag? I am Greywolf of the Diaminum claws. It would take more than the likes of you to be a threat to me."

Spike fired a stream of fire that heated up a wall, but proved ineffective otherwise. Having leaped over the fire Greywolf brought his claw down and dug into Spike's shoulders, piercing his scales. A pool of blood began to form underneath Spike from all his injuries.

Spike forced himself to roll over only to find his throat being crushed by Greywolf's foot. "Leave him alone you monster." Sweetie Belle screamed out at him as her tears began to flow heavily. "Spike! SPIKE!" She tried to get up only to be restrained by a cocker spaniel breed of diamond dog.

"You know, Dragon Scales fetch quite the haul on the market. But before I skin you alive I think I'll let you watch in break in our newest toy. It's also better to train them when they're young, right boys?" He said as howls of agreement erupted from the dogs. Greywolf went over and grabbed Sweetie Belle who let out a shriek as her shirt was torn revealing her bra.

"No. No! Please! DON'T!"

Spike could only lay there. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't beat Greywolf. The diamond dog alpha was too strong and he too inexperienced.

Helpless.

Unable to do anything.

"Man I just don't get it. Why can't I break the rock?" Spike was frustrated. This training session was an utter bust.

"Its very simple Spike. Do you know why you can't break the rock?" Naruto asked from above said boulder. When he had offered to start training Spike the dragon obviously took to it like he once did as a kid. A speedy crash course that would make him powerful in no time. That was of course the improper way to think.

"Because I'm not freakishly strong like you?"

"Well that too, but no. Spike the problem is you're thinking too much. You have the strength. You just need to draw it out. You desire power. You desire strength. You'll never get what you need from desiring it." Naruto stood up and brought up his fist. "To draw on that power you must find that trigger. Our inner strength comes in the response of a need not of a desire." The impact of Naruto's fist shattered the rock. "When it was time. When I was ready. The power came to me. So will it to you." Naruto then stamped his foot in the ground and raised a platform. "Now try again."

In response to a need. Not a desire.

All this time he wanted to beat Greywolf. He wanted to prove himself. He wanted to defeat him and save Sweetie Belle. Because if he was strong enough to do this he wouldn't have to leave his friends, but it wasn't enough. Because the bearers needed to grow stronger to defeat the likes of Discord. Because they wanted to save and protect everyone. More and more they dedicated themselves to become stronger not because they desired too, but they needed to…to protect the ones they loved.

He was going to save Sweetie Belle. He was going to protect her. Because no one else could. Because he needed to.

The roar that escaped Spike's maw caused the chamber to shake. He got to his feet. Greywolf gave the command to attack as the diamond dogs charged Spike.

Purple-white energy began to radiate from Spike. Taking in a deep breath a ball of energy in Spike's chest went from flame orange to crackling white. Lightning expelled from his mouth as he electrified the legion of charging diamond dogs. Their bodies dropping down to the ground.

Spike shot forward like a Speeding bullet as Grey Wolf charged him in return. Their claws raised as they slashed and passed right by each other. A deep cut appeared on Spike's leg causing him to drop down to one knee.

"You thi…" Grey wolf doubled over and clutched his stomach as Spike's attacked left a pretty deep gash in his stomach. "You stupid lizard! I'll rip you to pieces." Greywolf snarled as he charged Spike.

Spike trained his eyes on his enemy. His energy was bleeding fast. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take this.

He couldn't fail here. Not when Sweetie Belle was still in danger.

Letting go of his fears Spike unleashed the Dragon. Pure energy erupted from Spike turning into the form of a dragon head.

Greywolf gave out a death cry as the attack slowly disintegrated him before fading out. Spike landed on his arms and knees as more diamond dogs began to show up. He was drained. He didn't have anything left.

"You mongrels! How dare you do such filthy things to others! Especially my baby sister?"

Was that Rarity. She sounded pissed. Spike winched at the sound of searing flesh and grimaced. If there was any way to flip the switch to have Rarity ignore any pretenses of mercy was going after those she cared about.

"Spike!? SPIKE!?"'

He felt someone moving him. Was that Twilight.

"Oh man he's hurt badly!"

"We need to get him out of here!"

What in the world. Were Twilight's eyes glowing? And was Fluttershy glaring? Oh man they had gone and pissed off the bearers. He'd be surprised if there was anything left to throw in a cell. Right now he was just going to take a little nap.

"Come to yell at me too?" Spike asked with a chuckle as Sweetie entered the room. It had taken the combined force of Naruto, Rarity, and Celestia to finally get Twilight to leave Spike's side.

Spike still wasn't sure what was worse. Twilight crying and yelling at him or Celestia giving him that stern expression and 'you had us all worried and what you did was dangerous' speech.

"No way, you saved my hide. I just wanted to say thank you. If I…if I hadn't showed up in the first place you wouldn't have had to go through all that."

Spike shook his head. "No, don't blame yourself. Those dogs wanted revenge against your sister. They would have attacked the town eventually."

Sweetie Belle took a seat in the chair by his bedside. "So…did you find your answer? About whether you're going to leave or not?"

"I…yeah." He answered heavily as silence filled the room. "I…I decided I'm going to go."

"Really?" Sweetie Belle couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"I…we got lucky. But what happens if someone stronger comes along? What if someone attacks the town and the others aren't there? Right now everything is fine, but it could happen eventually. I want to become strong. I want to be ready to protect everypony when that happens. So I can my family. So I…" Can protect you. A faint blush appeared on his cheeks.

"Then…then I'll wait. I'll wait until you come back and you can take me out on a proper first date." Sweetie Belle decided with a decisive look.

"W-Wait. What?" Spike stammered his cheeks burning even redder.

"Don't what me mister. That's what all fillyfriends and coltfriends do. They go on dates and I expect you to treat me right." Her cheeks soon mirrored his. "I mean…that is…if you want to go out. I'm not trying to force you or anything."

"NO!" He blurted out. "I mean…I would like that. It's just…are you sure you're okay…waiting I mean?"

"Yeah. If it hadn't been for you Spike I would have never realized just how much I love to sing. I found my purpose in life and you helped me find that. You fought so hard and almost died for my sake. You're one of my best friends and…and it just feels right you know. So while its really going to suck that you're leaving I'll wait for you." She reached out and grabbed his hand.

"I'll come back." He promised as Sweetie Belle smiled in response.

"I know you will."

Now Spike found not only one more reason to train he found another reason to come back home as well. He was going to make them all proud.