As Spike was walking through the castle, he was prepared to head inside the hallway. Just then, the creature intervened.

“What is it?” Spike asked, seeing the creature grab his arm.

“We have other matters to attend. Matters concerning the pink pony.”

“We don’t have time for this. The Royals require my presence and if I don’t-”

“While you were swooning over that female dragon, I have already sent for several hippogriff servants to keep them entertained. The real matter is unlocking the power behind that suit. You wish to destroy your enemies, do you not?”

The Creature looked Spike dead in the eye as he stood silent. Looking downwards deep into thought, Spike was unsure of what to do next. While it was right in trying to study this power, Spike didn’t want to run the risk of jeopardizing his campaign against the Crystal Empire. Most importantly, his own subjects and the Royals, especially Ember. To his reluctance, Spike said,

“Fine. But if we are doing this, you will be doing the talking. The last thing I will do is show myself to her.”

After thinking it over, the creature said,

“No.”

“What?” Spike said in a low voice.

“How about you speak to her?”

“You’re not suggesting that-”

“I am. And you will do it.”

“If I reveal myself to her, then we’re-”

“There is nothing she can do. If I wished, I could turn her brains into yolk.”

“Even so, do you really wish to take that chance? There’s always a chance she could escape. If we’re not careful, she could do everything within her power to-”

“Ah… but you forget yourself. I was the one who helped spread my influence to those pathetic creatures. I was the one who gave you the power to vanquish the Princess of Life. Lastly, I was the one who gave you the strength to destroy the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. Do you really believe yourself to hold a bargain with me?”

“If you think you can-”

“She was already captured by the Shadows. You may as well come clean with the pink pony.”

Growling at the mere thought of Pinkie seeing her, he couldn’t go a moment without listening to the mere thought of being blackmailed. He knew that the Creature was right to reveal himself to Pinkie, but he felt it too soon show himself without giving her the idea of using that knowledge against him. To his bitter reluctance, he growled,

“...Fine. But when we’re finished, I am not to be interrupted tonight. Do we have a deal?”

“You have my word that she will be disposed of when we’re done with her. Now head to the dungeon.”

“No. Not without a mask, at least.”

“I see…”

The next moment, the creature proceeded to shroud its substance around Spike’s face into a makeshift mask.

“Will this satisfy you?”

“I won’t show myself until it’s time. Let’s go.”

The creature dissolved itself back into Spike and he proceeded to walk towards the underground.

***

One hour later, Spike was in front of an elevator. Stepping inside it, he noticed the level buttons on the panel. Pressing the ground zero button, he proceeded to head downwards into solitary. On his way, Spike thought to himself,

“I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve seen her? That suit she was wearing… I never heard anything about it. It’s amazing, yet dangerous. How was she able to obtain this power?”

“That is what we are going to find out.” the creature said without taking form.

The creature’s voice was clear as day and Spike was clearly annoyed.

“Am I never allowed to have my thoughts in peace?”

“Peace is for the weak. Everything you share inside or outside, I always listen.”

“Was this always your way of cooperation with King Grogar?”

“Yes. No matter how much I trusted him or he trusted me, I always paid attention to whatever he said behind closed doors. The moment you shut your doors, treachery will ensue. I never miss out any detail on what my host has to offer.”

“If you can call being long-winded detail.”

“One can’t be too careful. It will not end well for you if anybody conspired against you.”

Spike grunted in annoyance as the elevator went down. The two remained silent while the elevator continued downwards. Spike continued to wonder how long it was since the last time he has seen the pink pony. He felt nervous, but the years of focusing his goals on taking over Equestria made him feel more than ready to see her again. The creature, however, wanted know what the secret was behind the suit. But it was even more curious to see what Pinkie’s reaction would be when she sees Spike again. After making it down towards the lower level, they were greeted by two guards in the front door, who bowed before him in the process.

“Your Highness, she is untouched. But there’s something off about the suit. Whatever she touches, it suddenly disappears. I made sure that everyone kept clear of the area.” the Griffin captain said.

“I see. Captain, make sure your arrows are trained on the pink pony. I want to make sure she… gets the hint.”

“Yes, Sire. Everybody, circle the perimeter! The king wishes to speak to the prisoner!” the Griffin captain said, turning to the guards.

Just like that, the griffons surrounded the perimeter and aimed their crossbows at Pinkie, so that she couldn’t attempt any escape. The captain proceeded to open the door for Spike and joined him. But before Spike went inside, he turned to the Griffin and said,

“No. Stay behind the door. I want no visitors coming in here.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Turning towards the cell, the Creature surrounded its ooze around Spike’s head to disguise his face. When Spike entered the room, he saw the griffins aiming their crossbows at Pinkie. The room inside the cell was completely void and dim, save for the lights pointed directly at her. Pinkie was completely held down by heavy chains with a metallic muzzle put on her face, hiding the misery she held on her face in her slumber. After the door was loudly shut, she immediately woke up. She looked around and saw nothing but darkness surround the room. Just then, she heard footsteps in the front. She looked upwards and saw the creature approaching her.

“Mmph! Mmph!” Pinkie muffled as she tried to back away.

She tried getting as far away as she could, but the chains holding her down made her process futile. She was quivering with fear and helplessness as it approached her. After it got closer to her, it moved its claws towards her. Pinkie closed her eyes, afraid of what would happen next. Just then, she felt her muzzle undone by it.

“How is your room downstairs?” the creature chuckled in a dark manner.

“What do you… think… buster?” Pinkie weakly said as she breathed.

“No need to resort to petty insults, pony. I just came to chat with you. Or is there another word you ponies call it…?”

“I don’t know what you have… to gain… from destroying… Equestria. But you… can bet… I won’t fall… for any… of your… tricks.”

“Ah. But there is someone I brought for you to see. And he has been very eager to meet you again.”

“Yeah…? Who…?”

Chuckling upon hearing her question, the Creature slowly dissolved its ooze off Spike’s face. Seeping itself back in, Pinkie’s eyes widened in horror upon seeing who it was.

“Wha- No! You couldn’t-!”

“How have you been?” Spike asked with a dark sense of humor.

“H-How-? W-Why-? This can’t be-!”

“Surprised? That’s a first. You’re the Great Pinkie Pie and now you don’t know what to say. Isn’t this a shock. I thought you’d be more happy to see me?” Spike said, scratching the back of his head.

Pinkie was having a hard time with trying to find the right words to describe what she was witnessing. On one hand, she felt angry. But on the other, she was filled with grief. But then she said,

“H-How could-”

“Huh?”

“How could-”

“Speak up. I can’t hear you.”

“How could you!!! After everything… after all the times… you do this to us?”

“Aren't we being selfish…? Do you really think that you're any better? I've been nothing more than a mere puppet for you and the others! Always doing everything in my power to please you and what do I get in return? Rejection! My actions may be evil, but you drove me to it! It doesn't justify what I've done, but you can't play innocent either! Especially after what you and the girls pulled against me back at the castle!” Spike exclaimed, filled with anger.

Pinkie didn't understand what he was raving about. It felt as if he was playing a joke on her. “We never pulled anything against you. What are-”

“And now you plead ignorance…” Spike closed his eyes and sighed heavily. After a few seconds, he opened them, this time with a sharper look. “You're going to tell me what I need to know. Should you refuse… I think you’ll have a keen idea on what scrambled eggs look like.”

“Brainwashing me won’t help you.” Pinkie said with defiance in her voice.

“Who said anything about brainwashing?” Spike said with a demonic smile on his face.

Pinkie’s mouth dropped in horror as Spike formed a blade on his arm.

“You don’t mean-”

“Oh yes. I do…”

Thrusting the blade into Pinkie’s head, the ooze on his arm seeped into her skull and sunk into her brain. Just then, she started to feel this weird substance crawling all over. It went everywhere from her brain to all over her body. Suddenly, the back of her head was impaled. Blood started dripping down her face as she went into shock. One minute later, she started screaming. After a brief moment, the blade seeped back inside and she started regenerating. She took this moment to breathe from her reeling injury.

“You think this is worse? This was just a glimmer of what’s next to come. If you tell me the secret behind this suit, I promise I’ll make it quick.”

But before it could continue on into the body, the Creature bursted out of Pinkie’s forehead.

“What seems to be the problem?” Spike asked.

The Creature oozed itself out of her skull and dissolved into Spike without touching the suit.

"Whenever I touch her suit or I go into her body, I begin to disintegrate.”

He took a closer look and it suddenly became clear to him. Spike started to understand why it was so hesitant earlier. “Was this why you didn't want to reveal yourself earlier?”

The creature said nothing as Spike turned towards Pinkie who has regenerated.

“Are you thinking you can keep this from me? Dead or alive, you will give us what we want!”

“You… won’t-”

“Oh, spare me the you won’t get away with this medley! This moment has been coming to you since the Corruption spread and the chickens have come to roost.”

“Spike… please… don’t do this. Whatever it is that we did to you… we can fix this. You just-”

“I CAN FIX THIS!!! You just don’t get it, do you? There’s no more kindness, no more laughter, and certainly no more generosity. All there is now is rage, sorrow, and mania. All that will remain when the Corruption overtakes the Crystal Empire.”

“You’re insane! When Twilight finds out about this-”

“She’ll do what?” Spike asks before forming a blade on his right arm.

Turning around, he swiftly cuts off the top of Pinkie’s skull, making her body fall to the ground. Looking towards the door, Spike says,

“Make sure that you send her somewhere near Twilight’s position. I’ve already sent somebody to visit her.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” the griffin captain said before leaving the prison.

Looking upward towards one of the griffin guards on his right, Spike pointed towards him and said,

“You’re the captain of this prison now. If anypony attempts something, show them no quarter.”

Bowing before him, the griffin said,

“As you wish, Your Highness!”

“Speaking of quarter…” Spike as he left for the prison elevator.

As the door closed and the elevator starts going up, the Creature comes out of Spike’s body. It says,

“We must be rid of the pink pony. If she makes it back to the Crystal Empire, they’ll know who we are and-”

“I already thought ahead if we ever captured Twilight and her friends.You told me you never missed any detail, did you?”

Hearing this, the creature made a scary smile and knew immediately about what to do next.

“I’ll see to the details…” the Creature before sending a piece of itself off.

After the Creature dissolved back into Spike, he thought,

“By the time they realize the truth, it will already be too late…”

Exiting the elevator as it went back up to the first floor, the Creature seeped itself back into Spike and he prepared to head to the the castle hallway. Making it back, he made sure to keep calm. After keeping himself in check and straightening himself out, he nodded towards the hippogriff servants who immediately opened the chamber doors where the royals awaited as he thought,

“But for now… I have an engagement to address…”

Author's Notes:

Hello everybody. I regret to inform you all that this will be the last chapter of this arc. I want to continue to write more, but me and Saber have so much to do that we won't have time to work on this. But I have another Spike story that I plan on working with. Expect three chapters to hit when I publish them. And fear not. This story of woe will continue as me and Saber concoct new ideas for the next arc. Thank you all for reading this message. I'll see you on the other side.