Hello again my friends, sorry about the short chapter, but don't worry I will post a second chapter later today.

The next chapter shall feature a never before seen level, short but new, and a certain event will occur that will change things for Spike on this adventure.

A storm is coming, how will Spike weather it?

The two of them fell through the portal and tumbled to the ground in a heap. Spike tried to stand but his body was wracked with too much pain.

“L-Luna…” Spike said, struggling to stay conscious as he crawled to the downed princess.

The ballroom was trembling, but Luna struggled to her hooves and with a shout, she stabilized the crumbling ballroom with her magic.

“Spike…” Luna/Nightmare Moon said before falling over. She panted and trembled, then reverted to Luna.

“Redheart, is the healing power ready?” Spike asked.

“Yes, I’m activating it now.” Spike felt his injuries beginning to heal. As euphoric the healing process was in getting rid of the pain wracking his body, he was thinking more of the pony lying next to him. When he could stand again, Spike slowly got up and began to shake Luna.

“Luna! Luna! Are you okay?” Spike asked.

“I...I am… Entering a nightmare whilst sustaining this dimension took much out of me…” Luna panted before getting up and continuing, “Our power is drained. This dimension nearly collapsed upon us. When it will do so again, we do not know.”

At this point, Spike was healed enough that he could stand without much difficulty. When the healing power timed out, he was still sore all over but at least he was not in total agony anymore.

“But we made it out, and- wait! Where’s Trixie, Cheese and Derpy?!” Spike said, looking left and right.

“We’re right here.” Spike turned to see the three standing there.

“Thank you, Spikey!” Derpy shot forward and gave Spike a big hug "ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou!”

“Ow!” Spike yelped because his body still hurt.

“Derpy, let go of him! You're hurting our savior!” Trixie scolded.

“Whoops!” Derpy said, dropping Spike.

“Spike,” Cheese said as he was approaching, “thank you… and sorry for… you know…” Cheese’s mane went limp and the other two looked away with sad expressions.

“It’s fine, guys.” Spike was used to this song and dance by now

“When we get back, me and Pinkie will throw you the biggest bestest most awesomest party ever!” Cheese said as his hair re-inflated and Pinkie joined him.

“Yay!” Pinkie cheered.

“Um, guys?” Trixie interrupted.

“Yeah?” Cheese said.

“The princess isn’t looking so good.” Trixie rushed over to Luna, who was laying against the stairs looking pale.

“Oh dear! She’s suffering from serious magical overexertion,” Nurse Redheart said while examining her.

“Oh no!” Derpy said as all the spirits and Spike gathered around Luna.

“I’m fine…” Luna said only to have a violent coughing fit.

“Ya pushed yourself too hard Princess,” Applejack said.

“I’m fine!” Luna snapped, getting to her hooves briefly before having to sit back down on her haunches.

“Are you sure about that?” Applejack said.

“Y-yes… We just need rest,” Luna said.

“But what about the ballroom? Is it going to stay stable?” Spike asked.

“I’m not sure… It seems our greatest fears have come to pass. Spike was captured and we had no other choice but to enter the nightmare ourself. In doing so, we divided our power between sustaining ourself in a nightmare, defending ourself from the Shadow, saving Spike, and sustaining this dimension. As you can tell, that drastically drained our strength. As weak as we are now, our time is greatly reduced.”

“By how much?” Spike hesitantly asked.

“We have mere hours left now before the Shadow’s forces breach this dimension.” Luna bowed her head in defeat as the room went deathly silent.

“W-what?” Spike squeaked.

“HOURS!?” Pinkie exclaimed.

“You can’t be serious!” Scootaloo cried.

“WE’RE DOOMED!” Trixie cried.

“AAAAAHHH!” Derpy screamed in fear.

“BE SILENT, FOALS!” Luna shouted, silencing the panicking ponies. “The situation is dire but we mustn't lose ourselves!”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Princess, but ‘losing ourselves’ is exactly what will happen if the Shadow breaks through!” Trixie shouted.

Everypony watched, expecting there to be serious repercussions for shouting at a princess. Instead, Luna just sighed and bowed her head again.

“You are correct,” Luna admitted. “But still, there was no other way. We couldn’t let Spike’s soul and all the other souls fall to the Shadow, but in doing so, our defeat has been ensured either way.”

“There must be something… ANYTHING we can do!” Spike said, running up to Luna “I didn’t come this far just to lose!”

“There is nothing, dear Spike,” Luna said before her eyes briefly lit up. “Unless… No, we cannot risk it…” Luna quietly bowed her head again.

“What? You said something! What is it Luna?” Spike demanded.

“Never mind that, Spike. It is too dangerous.”

“Luna, if there is a chance we can still win this, I gotta try!” Spike insisted.

“Spike is right,” said Applejack. “We can’t give up if there is just the slightest hope we can avert disaster.”

Luna thought about it for a second before smiling “You have truly grown from the scared little drake you were Spike.”

Spike smiled. “Yes, I have. Now, what can I do?”

Luna sighed before looking Spike in the eye. “We need Discord’s help for this to work.”

“Discord? Was he captured too?” Spike asked.

“No, a being as strong as Discord won’t be caught that easily. He was able to resist the pull of the soul absorption field and escape. Before we formed this space, we communicated with him and informed him of what needed to be done while my sister and I fixed the problem.”

“And… What is he doing now?” Spike asked.

“He is keeping the bodies of the ponies in town alive while their souls are trapped here. This plan is risky because if it goes wrong, ponies could die.”

Spike gulped at those words but steeled his resolve. "What do I have to do?"

Luna looked away for a moment before she turned to Spike with a serious expression. "We need Discord to send us a large amount of magic and you must be there to retrieve it.”

“Ok, and where is it being sent?” Spike asked.

“Another pocket dimension of our making. We can connect it to this one, but not for long. If you can get in there, retrieve the power Discord sends, and get out, we can regain our strength at least somewhat.”

“Why can’t he just send it here?” Spike asked.

“The thaumic turbulence surrounding this dimension due to it being the sole guardian against the Shadow’s onslaught.” Luna sighed when she saw Spike’s clueless look.

“Basically, there’s too much interference in this pocket dimension,” Luna clarified.

“Ah,” Spike said.

“We shall communicate what we need and the coordinates to Discord. You simply need to collect the power once it is sent.”

“What’s so dangerous?” Spike knew there must be a catch based on Luna’s earlier reaction.

Luna looked worried but continued. “The Shadow. When he finds out, he will probably make a move to stop you himself.”

“Then I have to avoid him.” Spike nodded.

“Then get moving. Time is of the essence.” Luna lit her horn, and Spike found another ring on his hand.

“Wow! What happened?” Derpy asked.

“Hmm… Trixie appears to be jewelry now?” Trixie said.

“Your newest power is to make use of the abilities afforded by the three tribes. This power shall be called inheritance.” Luna was obviously exhausted, but focused her magic again and created another portal that appeared to be featureless.

“The portal is open, but be wary,” Luna warned.

“Ok,” Spike said before hopping in.