Three years ago, fourteen year old Spike Lupin was busy running an obstacle course in the rain. The one overseeing his training was an old thieving rival of his dad's, Arsène Leblanc. After running the course, Spike was soaked from the rain and covered in mud. But he didn't succumb to exhaustion. Instead he kept on his feet before presenting himself to Leblanc, “Finished, sir.”

“Not bad. You've come a long way since you began under my tutelage.” Leblanc admitted.

“Coming from you means everything,” Spike answered, as he took a seat on a bench under a gazebo, “Though I'm still surprised you agreed to train me, what with your rivalry with my father and all. Even Grandpa Starswirl had his reservations about you training me.”

“Believe me, I was surprised when old man Starswirl came to me asking me to train you. Still, I owed it your father. There was a time he saved my life, even though I told him to piss off. From parents to heirs, that's how things were done in the Lupin family. Sadly, you're the exception to the rule. Plus you're the youngest to take up the Dragon name from what I understand.”

“Why did you and dad have a rivalry?” Spike asked curiously.

“Because we were usually after the same things. We faced each other so often that it became a contest to see who could take the prize. Hell, whenever I heard that Dragon was in town, I couldn't resist taking him on. I did things differently, though. Things neither your mom and dad wouldn't have approved off. If my teaching methods have taught you anything, then you know that I can be ruthless. Unlike your father, I never hesitated to take a life when there was no other option. I even made sure to take extra precautions to ensure my identity would remain a secret.”

“What kind of precautions?” Spike asked nervously.

“You don't wanna know,” Leblanc warned him, and Spike shook at the idea, “Now let me ask you something, Spike.”

“Yes?”

“How far would you go so that your face remains hidden?” he began, “Who can you really trust with your secrets? If someone with ill intentions towards you were to know your face, what would you do to ensure the safety of yourself and those you love?”

Spike sat there unable to answer. These were a lot of questions Spike hadn't even thought of during his training. Unable to give him an answer he just remained silent.

Leblanc taking Spike's silence as uncertainty laughed and said, "I would have thought that would be obvious, Little Lupin. Don't think that I don't know of you going out at nights for some fresh air. My men follow you everywhere you go and they have told me some very interesting things about what you do in your little excursions."

Spike had a worried look on his face to which Leblanc took as an admission.

"From what they said, you have been taking my teachings to heart. Your father never had a mean streak, but you do. If you're willing to do what you do for people you don't know, It will be interesting to see what you're willing to do for people you actually care about."

Back in the present, Celestia and Cadence drove up to the Tartarus Industries building with Spike sitting in the back recuperating as much as he could. He finished drinking a bottle of water for hydration and looked up at the building, “So this is it?”

“Yes, Master.” Celestia confirmed.

“How're you feeling, Master?” Cadence asked in concern.

“Like hell, but I've gone through hell and back before,” Spike admitted, “There have been so many times I was tempted to do the unspeakable that no other Dragon that came before me ever resorted too.”

“It's true.” Celestia confirmed to Cadence, “There have been times I'd see this darkness in Master's eyes. I feared he was on the verge of losing himself. I don't know what I ever would've done if Master truly lost himself.”

“But it was you who pulled me out of the darkness, Celly,” Spike reminded her, “And I will always be grateful for that. The last thing I ever wanted to do was scare you, Luna, Cadence, even the girls.”

Spike started suiting up in a fresh new costume and mask before speaking to the two, “Whatever happens in there I want you all to know you are more than my servants. You're my friends, and my family. And I love you all.” he got out of the car and headed for the building.

Cadence and Celestia watched from the car while shedding tears, “We love you too, Master.” Celestia said, as Cadence held onto her for comfort.

At Luna's monitors, she and the girls had been listening in on their conversation and were equally concerned about Spike as Celestia and Cadence were. They prayed Spike would be ok.

In Tirek's office, the mobster sat patiently at his desk, until his right hand man entered, and spoke frantically, “I just received word, Mr. Tirek. Dragon has escaped. Your men at the Beer Factory are being slaughtered by Byakko and the thief himself is right outside the building. Shall I have the guards engage him, sir?"

Tirek answered, “What would be the point now? Send the guards home and lead Dragon to my office. But have a sniper ready.”

“As you wish, sir.” he took his leave.

Dragon rather than sneak in decided to go through the front door. He didn't care how many guards would be in there, because with all that's happened to him he felt like he could take on anything.

As Dragon walked through the halls while following the map to where the office was, he noticed no traps or security, “Luna, the place is deserted.”

“Don't be so sure, Master. Keep your guard up.” Luna instructed.

“So this is where the magic happens behind the scenes.” Rainbow said with excitement, only for the girls to shush her.

Dragon saw up ahead Tirek's right hand man who spoke, “If you wish to see Mr. Tirek, then follow me.”

Dragon squinted at the man through his mask, but took his chances and followed him. They went to the top floor and reached the office room, “You'll find him inside waiting.”

Dragon answered him, “Beat it.” So the right hand man left.

The thief looked at the door to Tirek's office, “Time to end this.” he used all his might to kick the door open.

Inside the office was Tirek sitting at his desk minding his own business not looking startled by Dragon's break in, “Ever hear of knocking?” he asked, but Dragon said nothing.

“I got to hand it to you, Mr. Lupin. After everything you've been through, you still managed to hobble into my office. No doubt you want to administer righteous justice upon me,” Tirek said dramatically, but Dragon continued to remain silent, “Really? Nothing to say?” he received no answer again and sighed, “Straight and to the point. And here I am prepared to offer you a drink. I hear it does wonders for the pain.” he sneered.

Dragon slammed his hands on Tirek's desk and leaned closer to the mobster, “Do you have any idea what you've done??

Tirek answered, “What I've done, or what I've been trying to do, Mr. Lupin, is to teach you; a small, snot nosed, stubborn and insolent boy who thinks he's a hero a lesson. As a teacher, I thought you would appreciate something like that.”

“Your problem was with me. You didn't have to involve my friends.”

“Your friends stuck their noses where they didn't belong,” Tirek argued, “Because of your friends curiosity and your interference, I lost the Dragon gang. You cost me money when you had Filthy Rich arrested. I had to sacrifice the Maulers so I can finally have you in my grasp. You've been nothing but a thorn in my side, Lupin. It wasn't enough that I only made you to suffer. Your friends had to suffer as well.”

“What I suffered...what my friends had to suffer...it won't compare to what I'm going to do to you.” Dragon threatened him.

Tirek looked amused at his threat, “Please. You're just-”

“A thief?” Dragon cut him off, “At the age of thirteen, I went to a party full of drunk teenagers that hurt a girl that wanted to kill herself. I made them pay for what they did and even paralyzed the ringleader by throwing him out a second story window. He never walked again. A year later, tormented and chased down a cheerleader who bullied a classmate into suicide, only for her to get run over by a truck. I mutilated a guard in my first year as Dragon. Not because he was in my way, but because he wanted to violate the curator of the museum! I left a corrupt cop to die because he murdered not only a good cop and a friend, but also a father! Trust me, Tirek! I traded my halo for dragon's horns long ago!” he yelled.

At Spike's place, the girls were shocked to have heard what Spike had said he done during his earlier years. For a moment they didn't know what to say and felt that they really didn't know Spike as well they thought. Spike was already unmasked to them, but what he revealed to the mobster made them feel he was capable of a whole lot worse.

“Wow, who would've thought Spike had a dark side?” Pinkie asked astounded.

“Nurse Equistrius...he's lying, isn't he?” Fluttershy nervously inquired. "Spike isn't capable of...he's just trying to scare that Tirek person, right!? Spike is such a sweet boy and he would never-”

"When I first became his servant, Spike revealed to me what he had done before he became Dragon," Luna informed Fluttershy, "I'll admit, I was unnerved that he was capable of such things, but Spike didn't want any secrets between us. He just wanted to make sure who I was going to serve. My master is capable of a lot of things, Ms. Flutters. Being a good friend to those he loves is one of them."

“I can't believe he did those kind of things...which means he was really holding back the night the Maulers attacked the farm,” Applejack said in shock.

"Who knew our teacher was so hardcore?" Rainbow commented in wonder.

“I wonder if Spike's dark side can be channeled into other things?” Rarity wondered, as naughty thoughts and desires started filling her head.

Rainbow noticing this spoke up, “Gee, Rarity. Don't get all horny on us.”

Rarity snapped out of her thoughts and answered, “I am doing nothing of the sort!” she held her head up high.

Twilight however was still lost and confused about Spike. What he had just confessed was truly unsettling and having Luna confirm it just made her tremble. If she felt that she didn't know Spike before, then Twilight felt that the boy was a complete unknown now. If what Spike said to Tirek was true, then she feared what else Spike was keeping a secret.

Luna looked at Twilight and sighed. She spoke up, "Twilight...your brother knew of Spike's double life before he was killed. We avenged his death. Just remember that before you confront him next time."

Tirek looked intently at Spike to see if he wasn't lying. A smirk formed on his lips as he began to chuckle. Tirek then whistled and said, “That is an impressive resume, Lupin. You forgot murder, though. Or is that alleged murderer? I think it's time that you prove to me what you are truly capable of.”

“How right you are.” Dragon agreed, as he flipped the desk towards the mobster who got up.

Dragon jumped over the turned over desk but Tirek punched him into a wall. The thief groaned from the previous pain, but got himself together and attacked back. They grappled, until Tirek spoke, “This office seems too small for a climatic battle, wouldn't you say?”

“I don't care about the setting as long as it's the last place you see!” Dragon roared.

“Oh, but I must insist we take our fight elsewhere.” Tirek pushed Dragon back, before clicking a button on the wall revealing a hidden passage in the wall, “This way.” he ran through the passage.

“Get back here!” Dragon shouted, as he ran after him through the passage.

The thief discovered the passage revealed a staircase leading up. He saw Tirek reaching the top before opening a door and went through it. Dragon growled and ran up the stairs screaming, “Tirek, you can't escape me! I'll chase you to the ends of the earth!” the girls overheard Spike through the monitor and got scared at the tone in his voice.

“It's ok, girls. Spike hasn't fallen into the darkness before, and he won't tonight.” Luna promised.

“How can you be so sure?” Twilight asked.

Luna turned to them and smiled, “Because he's thinking of you..all of you and us, Twilight,” the girls hearing that blushed a bit and felt good seeing they would keep their friend from ever going too far.

Dragon burst through the door at the top of the stairs and found himself on the roof of the building, while standing in some wrestling arena cage. The bars of the cage were covered in barbwire and spikes, while the sound of electrical buzzing could be heard from them.

The thief looked ahead and saw Tirek standing in the center, “Now this is much better. A death cage match between the infamous master thief and the most notorious mobster in Canterlot City. Sorry I couldn't get a film crew to record this live, but who needs an audience anyway?”

Dragon spoke up, “Let's end this once and for all.”

“Let's.” Tirek agreed.

The two fought like they did in the office with Dragon using all his training against the mobster, but Tirek's brute strength and his own quick reflexes made him a challenge for the infamous thief. Thief managed to grab Dragon and throw him into the bars resulting in him getting shocked. Dragon pulled himself off and recovered from the shocks.

“Ok. It's on now.” Dragon said, as he once again engaged Tirek, and managed to kick him right into the bar shocking him.

Tirek got off the bars and grunted, “By sunrise I'll have your head mounted in my office! Then I'll feed the rest of you to my dogs!!”

“Ok, that's just wrong.” Dragon said feeling sick.

In the midst of their fight, Dragon managed to speak to Celestia, “Celly, I'm on the roof fighting Tirek. He's got me in this electrified barbwire cage. And I got a feeling this isn't all he set up.”

Celestia and Cadence who had left the car were spying from a distance and saw someone holding a sniper rifle, aimed in the direction of where Spike and Tirek were.

“And you're right,” Celestia confirmed, “There's a sniper on the roof of the building next to your location.”

“Should we take it out?” Cadence asked.

“Not yet. I have a feeling he'll try to shoot should the fight turn to my favor. Be ready.”

“Yes, Master.” Celestia confirmed, as she and Cadence prepared themselves.

As Tirek continued to fight Dragon, the thief released the dragon nails from his gloves and scratched the right side of Tirek's face. Tirek looked at Dragon with five fresh scars going down the side of his face.

“I'll make you bleed!” Tirek grabbed Dragon in a tight grip and lifted him off the ground, “Now I'll crush your bones until you snap in half!”

Dragon groaned as Tirek tightened his grip, but he had another trick up his sleeve, “BURN!!” he released flames from his masks mouth piece.

The flames got in Tirek's face, as he screamed and released Dragon. Tirek uncovered his face to reveal third degree burns on the left side.

Dragon took the opening and struck Tirek making sure to take every opening he could find. He started breaking bones, striking in blind spots, before pressing him against the cage to electrocute him. Dragon himself got electrocuted for holding onto Tirek, but bared with it. Finally he pulled them off the bars and the two met at a stalemate with their outfits tattered and torn, and their bodies covered in fresh scars and bruises.

To Dragon's surprise, Tirek was the first to drop to his knees and groaned, “I can't continue. I've reached my limits,” he looked up at Dragon, “Go on. Kill me. Be the hero,” Dragon looked at him before pondering. Tirek decided to egg him on some more, “You'll never get another chance to finish me. Leave me like this and I'll eventually recover. I'll hire more mercenaries to go after your girl friends, and everyone else close to you! But you can stop me from doing that if you end me now.”

Dragon's fists shook as the temptation started to get to him. Tirek noticing this shouted, “Go on, Lupin! Do it! Do it! Kill me!” suddenly a gun shot was heard snapping Dragon out of his thoughts. He saw a bullet nailed Tirek between the eyes. Tirek's last expression was a look of shock before he fell on his side with blood pouring out through both ends of where the bullet nailed him.

Dragon looked behind him and wondered if the sniper turned on his boss. He wanted to break out of the cage and go after him, but exhaustion overtook him and he fell to the ground. Groaning, Dragon spoke, “Celly, Cadence, the Sniper shot Tirek.” he panted.

Celestia and Cadence who overheard the shot feared their master was killed, but hearing his voice left them feeling relieved. They hurried over to the roof on glider wings and when they arrived, they saw the sniper was lying in a pool of his own blood, “He's dead.” Cadence gasped.

“Look!” Celestia called, as they saw another figure dressed as the sniper. The figure said nothing, but gave them a salute before dropping off the back of the building.

The ladies ran to the edge of the building and looked down seeing their sniper impostor vanished, “Gone.” Celestia gasped.

“Who was that?” Cadence asked in confusion.

“I don't know, but we better hurry and help Master.” Celestia said, as they went back to the Tartarus Industries rooftop to see both Dragon and Tirek on the ground with one dead and the other exhausted.

The two deactivated the electric generator powering the cage bars, before using a corrosive in a can to give them an opening inside, “Master!” they ran to Dragon checking him over.

“Are you all right?” Cadence asked in concern.

“Cooked and well done...but living,” Dragon said, exhausted.

“Thank God.” Celestia said in relief.

“The sniper that shot Tirek wasn't his sniper.” Cadence explained, as Celestia continued.

“Someone killed his sniper and posed as him. We wanted to go after him, but he escaped.”

“It's ok. It's over. Tirek is gone for good and everyone is safe. Let's just go home.” Dragon panted.

“Don't worry, Master. We'll take you home.” Cadence said, as the two helped their master up.

Spike took one last look at the dead body of Tirek and spoke, “Your blood isn't on my hands, Tirek...but they would have been. After what you did to me and my friends, I wasn't going to let you walk away. I never wanted to hurt someone so bad before I met you. I never hated someone so much...but now...I can let that hate go...you no longer matter to me. My friends...are finally free.” and with that Spike finally fainted from exhaustion.