Twilight stirred in her sleep and rolled over a few times and groggily sat up. Giving off a cute yawn, she glanced drowsily over to Spike’s bed and noted he was gone.

She chuckled sleepily, “Must’ve gotten hungry…,” her eyes snapped fully open when she heard a very faint yelp followed by a crash.

“Spike?”

*

Spike backed up slightly as the mare known as Vida tittered at his reaction. The snacks strewn about the floor from Spike’s yelp of fear.

“Such wasteful behaviour,” she stated as her emerald magical aura engulfed the snacks and deposited them in a nearby waste basket, “for shame.”

Spike nervously shuffled as he stared at the mare. Her grace and beauty mixed with the refined way she carried herself almost reminded him of Rarity. Her voice carried an intoxicating sweetness to it, like a soft yet ear catching melody.

“W-well Vida, my name is Spike,” Spike stated nervously, “If you need some help, I-I’ll help anyway I can.”

“Aw, such a good drakeling,” Vida said with a sweet smile, “well you see, I’m in need of tracking down a certain book that has left my grasp since I was last among other ponies.”

Spike’s tenseness relaxed as she spoke, her voice seemingly calming him, “Well if it’s a book your looking for, I’m your dragon,” he waved a claw in the air, “I mean I AM the assistant to the Princess of Friendship who used to live in a library. Books are practically my bread and butter,” he paused in confusion as he realized how casually he had stated that to this total stranger known as Vida.

Vida’s eyebrow cocked at the mention of the Princess, “Oh really? Well that is indeed interesting,” she tapped her chin and leaned forward with that same sweet smile, “And where is she now?”

Spike looked to the side as his mind became fuzzy, “Uh…well….I mean…..”

Vida tilted her head. She noted that her influence was indeed affecting him, but it seemed like it was….being blocked on a subconscious level by some sort of force.

“Is something the matter Sir Drake?” Vida questioned as she approached him, “I thought you said you would assist me.”

“OH! No I will it’s just…..that…..,” he became nervous as she backed himself out into the hallway, “I don’t even know what the book your looking for even looks like Vida.”

One of Vida’s eye’s twitched but her sweet smile remained, “Ah yes. Well you see, the book I’m looking for is made of stone. It’s has some powerful magics written on it’s pages and I so do miss it. And you see the reason I am asking for your assistance is because most recently,” he horn glowed softly, “I searched out it’s magical aura and it seemed to lead me here to these royal halls and then strangely,” Spike was levitated into the air slowly as she stared into his eyes, “to you.”

Spike’s eyes over the course of her speaking widened from realization to shock, and then to mild fear. He knew EXACTLY what book she was talking about for he had retrieved that very same book from the depths of the Princesses old castle and given it to Rarity.

Rarity….

Vida’s eyes narrowed as she noted her influence being driven off once more, “Tell me young one, where is my book?”

Spike shook his head as the fuzziness dulled to a dim feeling in the back of his mind, “It’s kind of gone.”

Vida raised an eyebrow, “Gone? Surely you jest.”

“No it’s true,” Spike stated with a clearer voice and mind, “See, a while back, a friend of mine named Rarity who I….care about got into a bit of trouble,” he leaned over slightly, “a bit of creative block,” he then leaned back, “And I thought maybe there would be a spell that might help her.”

Vida, though intrigued somewhat by the story, narrowed her eyes in steadily growing annoyance.

Spike was placed on the ground as he continued, “And I found your book in the Old Castle of the Two Sisters. But oh man was that a bad idea, the magic in there drove Rarity bonkers and she started to run wild in town. So…..I….”

Vida leaned forward, her smile gradually decreasing, “Yes?”

Spike nervously tapped his claws nervously together, “I kinda…..ate it to save Rarity?”

Vida’s expression went blank as she heard those words.

“But I learned a pretty big lesson that day,” he nodded in recollection but then noted Vida’s expression, “Uh….Vida? I’m sorry about your book, if I knew it belonged to somepony else I might’ve tried to find you. But I knew that thing had to be destroyed.”

Vida’s eyes fixed on Spikes, her irises started glow dangerously as a cold tone escaped her lips, “That was a poor choice on your part.”

*

Twilight knocked on Baen’s door last as her friends came out of their rooms sleepy.

Rainbow Dash yawned noisily, “Twilight, it’s late. What’s the damage?”

Rarity nodded groggily, “Indeed darling.”

“Sorry everpony,” she gestured behind her, “I woke up just a little while ago and Spike wasn’t in his bed. I thought maybe he went to go get some snacks from the kitchens,” she then looked at everypony’s sleepy faces, “then I heard a crash and a yelp and then it got eerily quiet. I’m just worried.”

Applejack yawned as she patted her friends shoulder, “Don’t worry Twilight, Spike probably just dropped some things.”

Baen nodded, “I’m sure he’s fine.”

“TWILIGHT!!!!!! ANYPONY!!!!!! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!”

Twilight and the gang immediately perked up and whipped around.

“I’ll get my ax,” Baen said and ran into his room as the girls scrambled down the hall.

*

Vida magically gripped the drake against the far wall, “You…..ate my book!?”

Vida’s voice was drastically different from a few moments ago, venom and cold hard anger prevalent in each word.

Spike struggled in the air, “Let me go!!!”

Vida got closer to the drake, like a shark swimming up for it’s kill when she stopped at the sound of hooves coming to a halt at the end of the hallway.

“Spike!” Twilight yelled out.

“Twilight! Help!” Spike yelled back.

Vida slowly turned her head and glared at the mares who were glaring back at her.

“Put Spikey down this instant!” Rarity yelled at the mystery mare.

Vida glanced at Spike and smiled thinly, “Very well,” she extinguished her magic and turned fully to face the assembled group.

“I don’t know who you are,” Twilight stated as she flared her wings angrily, “or what you’re doing here. But attacking Spike was a big mistake!”

Vida smiled with amusement, “Oh really? And why is that?”

Rainbow landed beside Twilight, “Because Spike’s our friend, and if you attack one of our friends, you attack all of us!”

Pinkie Pie pointed at her from the back of the group, “Yeah you Greenie Meenie!!!”

Vida then started to laugh. A chilling laugh that sent shivers up the girls spines as it echoed through the halls.

Vida calmed herself, “Am I to assume that you are the defenders of this realm then?”

Applejack scraped her hoof on the floor, “Yer darn right we are!”

Fluttershy then raised a hoof, “But if you’d prefer to talk this out, we won’t have to resort to violence.”

Twilight tilted her head as she stared at the mare. It was strange, but with this mystery mare, she gave off a familiar air. An air of power, an air of….something ancient.

Vida tittered slightly as she approached the group slowly, “Well I suppose I should inform you as to why I was speaking with young Spike there,” at the mention of his name he hid behind Twilight, “you see. Spike devoured a very valuable tome of which ownership fell to me.”

Rarity’s eyes widened in realization, “You?! That ghastly book belonged to you?!”

“Yes it did,” Vida pointed a hoof at Spike, “And I demand you hand that thief over to me at once so that I might right this wrong.”

Twilight stepped forward and stared her dead in the eye with a firm scowl, “Spike stays with us.”

“Is that right little mare?” Vida challenged.

Twilight’s horn lit up, “Yes, it is!”

Vida’s horn lit up in response, “Are you sure you wish to tread down this path?”

“This path your talking about was already chosen the moment you attacked Spike,” she then sent a magic beam at Vida.

Vida then casually tilted her head as the blast hit her.

“Nice shot Twi!” Rainbow cheered as Pinkie held up a ten score card.

“How cute,” Vida’s voice rang out as everypony gasped.

The dust settled revealing a green barrier which faded as fast as it had appeared, “Such novice level magic, here,” Vida’s horn glowed bright with darker green electricity, “Have some of mine.”

A bolt of magic screeched across the gap and slammed into Twilight with such force she was hurled down the hall.

“TWILIGHT!”

Vida laughed as she approached the shaken alicorn only to be met with apposition by the rest of the group. Vida glanced at each one in turn and flicked her gaze to the left as her horn flared to life. The girls were pulled from their hooves and pinned to the far walls, immobilized.

“No! Girls!” Twilight turned to Vida with her horn sparkling in anger, “Let them go!”

“Defeat me and I will,” Vida responded as she blasted another bolt in her direction.

Twilight quickly threw up a barrier as the blast grinded against her magic like a rabid dog, “Hrrrrrn!!!!”

Vida smirked, “Impressive. You learn fast,” Vida galloped at her, “but how fast I wonder!”

A large blast of emerald magic erupted from Vida’s horn and plowed through Twilight’s barrier, to only be met with a blast of equal size from Twilight’s horn.

“I…WON’T….LET…..YOU,” Twilight spoke through gritted teeth as the two beams clashed.

Vida’s eyes narrowed as she started to approach Twilight, the alicorn having to back up as the beams crackled with great intensity.

“You have talent I’ll give you that,” the two entered the dining hall, “But you see, you lack one thing which I surpass you in all regards.”

Twilight’s eyes widened as the magic blast swirled and almost became drill like.

“Experience!”

Twilight screamed as the blast impacted her and blackened her horn. The Princess of Friendship was hurled across the dining table and rolled to a halt in it’s center. Vida levitated effortlessly onto the wooden surface.

“I’m not done yet,” horn sparkling to life but with more visible pain and effort.

Vida grinned as her eyes glowed, “Sparkles, now it truly is a party.”

Vida cackled as Twilight fired magic bolts at the mare. Vida would casually turn her head; the bolts being deflected in whichever direction she looked in.

Vida narrowed her eyes as they continued to glow emitting emerald whips of smoke, spectral green crystal-like swords appearing around her, no hint of her horn having lit up at all. The weapons flung themselves at Twilight who could only erect a fizzling barrier to defend herself as Vida advanced but then halted in intrigue.

“Tell me child, they called you Twilight,” Vida mused, “That wouldn’t be Twilight Sparkle would it?”

“What if it is,” Twilight grunted as she condensed a magical blast into a crackling ball and hurled it at Vida.

Vida caught the magic in her forehoof and crushed it beneath her like it was nothing but glass, “Well for the sake of etiquette, I am known as Vida. Take the knowledge that you lasted quite long for a novice against me to the next life with some pride.”

Vida’s horn lit up dangerously as the electricity in her magic turned black. Twilight looked on in fear as she blasted at the mare relentlessly, only to gasp as each blast hit solid magic and dissipated. Twilight grew desperate as she backed away.

“VIDA!!!! ENOUGH!!”

Vida whipped around and ducked as an ax swung for her head and Baen landed between her and Twilight, a furious look on his face.

“Baen,” Vida’s eyes lit up, “Oh my love, I knew it was you on that metal chariot.”

Baen pointed his ax at Vida in a threatening manner, “I am not your love you damned witch!”

Vida grimaced at the barbarian, “I can forgive you for that comment my love,” she stared at Twilight, “however that mare is getting between me and my query.”

Baen narrowed his eyes as Vida leaned against him and loving circled her hoof on his chest plate, “It’s been so long yet you haven’t aged a day,” her head rubbed against his neck as she got closer to his lips, “come with me my love.”

Her eyes glowed as her lips inched closer to his, her one forehoof going for the handle of his weapon. Baen then roughly shoved her to the table’s surface.

“Your enchantments didn’t work on me then,” Vida looked up with anger, “and it won’t work on me now!! Now prepare yourself!” Baen readied his ax.

Vida stood and smoothed her messed mane, “Very well,” her eyes then glanced to the doorway as the girls entered with the princesses and a squad of guards.

Celestia stepped forward, “Whomever you are, you will not harm my subjects!”

Vida glared at Celestia as a circle of green flames appeared around her and stretched outwards knocking everypony away. Vida’s eyes then snapped to Spike as a predatory grin appeared on her face. Spike was then engulfed in her magical aura as he was ripped from the ground screaming toward her. A ball of green flame appeared above her head as the air in the room seemed to get sucked toward it.

“Mark this day well little ponies! Vida of Emerald Glade has returned,” Spike stared in fear as Vida smirked at him, “and once I have extracted what I need from this drakeling. I will take this world for what it’s worth!”

Twilight went to run for Spike but Baen held her back as Vida cackled loudly. Her body as well as Spikes converting into flames and being sucked into the fire ball which then imploded.

Twilight broke down into tears as Baen brought her into a warm hug.

*

Vida appeared in the diamond dog mines, Spike still restrained a she approached Fido.

“Have you found what I requested?” Vida asked.

“Yes my lady, dogs find it in underground lake,” Fido whistled for the other dogs.

Vida stared on with a stoic look as Spike was taken and caged. The Diamond Dogs dragged in a large pony sized chunk of blue and white ice a shape barely visible within it as it was stood up.

Vida ran a hoof over the cold surface, “Who are you? How did you call to me when I awoke?”

Vida then looked to the Diamond Dogs, “Prepare for transport, we head south on the morrow.”

Fido raised an eyebrow, “South?”

Vida smiled evilly as her eyes sparked, “To my castle.”