Spike walked out of the portal and found himself in what looked like…

“Where am I?” Spike asked, looking around the place which looked like the inside of a castle but it looked… Rundown almost.

“Wait… is this the Everfree castle?” Spike asked.

“Yes, we often come here for solitude,” Luna said.

“Ok, where do I go?” Spike asked.

“Towards the throne room, where the elements were found, and be quick! The Shadow will catch on soon” Luna said.

“Okay!” Spike wasted no time and ran into the main hall. As he came upon a gap, he paused.

“What do I do here?” Spike asked.

“Remember, Spike. You have us,” Cheese said.

“Oh yeah, how does this inheritance thing work?” Spike asked.

“Try it,” Luna suggested.

“Ok,” Spike said before focusing on his connection to the trio of ponies and suddenly he glowed.

Spike watched in shock as a pair of ethereal wings appeared out of his back and a see-through horn appeared on his head while energy surrounded his limbs.

In the end, he looked like an alicorn but as a baby dragon.

“COOL!” Spike said before flying into the air.

“Amazing. It has incorporated the traits of all three tribes into one, making you a dragon-alicorn of some sort,” Luna said in awe.

“Can I use magic now?” Spike said his mind aglow with regained childlike wonder.

“Later, Spike. For now, focus on your objective,” Luna said.

“Aw.” Spike flew over the gap, somewhat shakily due to this being his first time, but he managed to get to the other side before his power timed out.

“Whew!” Spike hurried on ahead and found himself in a series of corridors.

“No shards here?” Spike asked.

“No, this is our dream realm, not one of the Shadows' nightmares,” Luna stated.

“Ok.” Spike wandered the halls, looking for the throne room. “Am I close?”

“Yes, just make a left at this next fork,” Luna said.

“Has Discord sent the power yet?” Spike asked.

“Not yet, but you must get there before the Shadow-” Luna said before gasping.

“What? What is it?” Spike asked.

“HE’S COMING! HURRY!” Luna shouted.

“Crap!” Spike said before running to the fork and heading left. A few steps later, he entered the throne room and looked around.

“Luna! It’s not here!” Spike said.

“We have alerted Discord to our situation. He is trying but it will take a while,” Luna said, audibly panicked.

“Not good!” Spike panicked, but before he could find a hiding spot, he heard loud hoofsteps and he turned around to see the Shadow standing in front of him.

“Hello again, dragon,” the Shadow sneered.

“Not you again!” Spike backed away.

“So, instead of sending her pet into another nightmare she practically gift wraps him for me,” the Shadow said before giving a grin. “This is practically too easy. I do wonder, Luna. Have you grown senile while you were on the moon?” The Shadow laughed

“I’m just here on an errand, that’s all. Feel free to use the exit,” Spike said, hoping to buy some time with some idle chit-chat.

“That isn’t happening, young dragon!” The Shadow waved his hand and shut the door behind him, then approached with his expression turning into a glare. “My humiliation is finally over. Now I have you right where I want you.”

“S-so, uh, what monster are you sending at me this time?” Spike said, still grasping at straws.

“Monsters? Oh no, I'm through with relying on minions. If you want something done right… DO IT YOURSELF!” With the suddenness of a lightning bolt, he shot forward and threw a punch.

Spike narrowly dove out of the way.

“AAH!” Spike cried before running around the throne room. As the Shadow turned and tried to stomp on him, Spike evaded by rolling and then activating multiply.

It didn’t work nearly as well as he had hoped. The giant minotaur lit his horns and fired a magic blast that destroyed his copies and sent Spike flying from the explosion.

Spike hit the wall and looked up at the Shadow who was stomping up to him. In a flash, he used Pinkie’s power to dive behind some rubble. The Shadow smashed the rubble aside.

But Spike wasn’t there…

“Your tricks won’t work on me!” The Shadow turned to the rest of the room and lit his horns to scan for Spike’s soul.

Spike was hiding behind the throne chair, trying to catch his breath.

“He’s too powerful! What do I do?” Spike whispered harshly.

“Discord is almost done. Just last a little longer,” Luna whispered back.

Suddenly, a blast tore a hole in the chair above Spike's head and he peeked out from the smoldering hole.

“There you are…” The Shadow growled before forming a large sphere of magic between his horns and launching it at the chair.

“AAH!” Spike yelped before using inheritance to sprout wings and avoid it by flying.

“So you have gained a new power? It matters not, you are NOTHING! Just another mortal for me to enslave!” The Shadow fired more spheres at Spike who dove and ducked to avoid them.

Spike looked to his horn and had a thought about how he could make use of it.

Spike went on to dodge around the magic shots that the Shadow fired and when he was close enough he focused his magic and fired.

He’s seen Twilight do it a hundred times. How hard could it be?

Turns out, very hard.

Spike wound up propelling himself into a wall from the force of his own magic blast, while the Shadow merely grunted from the impact of Spike’s magic.

“Spike! Are you okay?” Trixie asked.

“Ow…” Spike said, crawling out of the hole he made.

“Spike! Look out!” Luna yelled and Spike looked up to see a boulder flying at him. He dove out and hit the ground as the boulder broke a bigger hole in the wall.

“You know how to project magic at least…” The Shadow said as he approached “But you are no master.”

“Maybe not, but I’m not giving up!” Spike said as he staggered to his feet again.

“Enough! I’m ending this!” The Shadow said as he began charging a massive ball of magic.

“Um, Luna?” Spike said with growing franticness since he did not hear anything in response. “LUNA!” Spike called out.

“It’s here, Spike!” Luna shouted.

Spike turned to see a large yellow sphere appear in front of the throne and he wasted no time in running to grab it.

“A magic sphere?” The Shadow thought for a second before his eyes widened in realization.

“Got it!” Spike said before grabbing the sphere and turning to escape, only to run right into the Shadow’s leg.

“You plan to use the Lord of Chaos’s power to restore Luna’s magic!” The Shadow said with a sneer. “This is good. This means she is weak right now! And breaking into her dimension will be easier than I previously thought!” The Shadow barked out a laugh. “Too bad she won’t ever get that magic!” The Shadow raised the sphere and prepared to cast it.

“Luna! Can you pull me out?!” Spike asked.

“W-we are trying! Too weak… you must escape on your own!” Luna said

“Alright!” Spike used inheritance to sprout wings and he flew to the door, but couldn’t open it.

“C’mon!” Spike demanded. When he saw the Shadow was about to drop the magic sphere he took a chance and dove at the hole in the wall caused by the boulder from before. Jumping through the hole as a massive explosion shook the entire building, Spike flew along the walls as the building around him was collapsing.

“Go right!” Luna shouted.

“Ok.” Spike hung a right as the fiery explosion was gaining on him, but thankfully it soon began to lose pace.

“I think I’m almost there!” Spike burst into a hallway and flew through it, finding himself in the main hallway. As Spike did his best to avoid the crumbling ceiling, his wings suddenly dissipated.

“AAAH!” Spike yelped in a long tumble to the ground.

“Our power has timed out!” Trixie cried.

“It’s fine, we’re close enough to the portal!” Cheese said.

“Ok.” Spike noticed a wall collapse and saw the Shadow coming through.

“YOU’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” The Shadow growled as he fired a smaller red beam at Spike who couldn’t avoid it in time. Spike gave a scream as it hit him and sent him skidding.

“OOOWWW!” Spike screamed because it actually hurt.

“Spike! Get up and run! He’s coming!” Rarity said as she appeared.

“Ok!” Spike got up and ran towards the portal, using his healing ability to make the pain go away.

“NO!” The Shadow roared as he fired another beam at Spike.

Spike saw the beam coming and knew he had one chance. He dove down and slid on his stomach underneath the beam.

When the beam stopped, Spike got up and dove into the portal waiting for him.

“This isn’t over!” The Shadow swore.

Spike stumbled through the portal and found Luna staring up at him from the ground.

“Thank goodness! We thought you were finished back there,” Luna said, struggling to her hooves.

“I got the magic, Luna!” Spike said.

“Very good, bring it here.”

Spike did just that. When Spike handed it over, she began drawing magic from it with her horn.

“How long will this take?” Spike asked.

“Just a few minutes,” Luna said, having regained some color. “Your bravery in facing the Shadow was astounding, Spike. We are beginning to sense victory!”

“Me too!” Spike said. “I can’t wait to get home and just forget all this happened.”

“The same goes for me,” Luna chuckled.

“Well, if this is going to take a few minutes, could I get some shut-eye?” Spike said.

“Do so, you’ve earned-” Luna began before a sudden echoing laugh resounded through the room.

“What?!” Spike exclaimed.

“Impossible… His presence cannot be here!” Luna said, getting to her hooves.

“...Do not celebrate so early, pathetic mortals…” a familiar voice came.

“YOU CANNOT BE HERE!” Luna shouted, stomping the floor with enough force to crack it while Spike got ready for anything.

However, what he wasn’t prepared for was the portal to suddenly gain the Shadow’s face on it, followed by the evil being emerging with a smile.

“I told you… This isn’t over,”

“H-how…” Spike asked.

“Ask Luna,” the Shadow said.

“What does he mean?” Spike asked, looking at Luna.

“We have no clue,” Luna said.

“Oh? So you didn’t even bother to examine that red beam I shot the whelp with?” the Shadow said with a raised brow.

“What do you mean, demon!” Luna said.

“It was a tracking spell, allowing me to trace the dragon’s magical signature descending through the portal. In other words, he led me straight to you!” the Shadow said with a laugh.

“No!” Luna backed away and managed to put up a shield around her and Spike when The Shadow fired a blast.

“You may have regained some strength, but you're still weak!” The Shadow raised a hoof and planted it on the shield while making the beam stronger.

Eventually, Luna’s shield could take it no more and broke, sending the two skidding into walls.

The Shadow wasted no time and darted forward to grab Luna by the neck and dragged her across the floor before slamming her up against a pillar.

“I’ve waited for this for so long! Ever since you locked me in that forsaken dimension, I have waited to wring the life from your body!” The Shadow laughed.

“No…” Luna gasped out.

“Let her go!” Spike yelled running forward and using Applejack’s strength boost to land punches on the Shadow. The Shadow merely swatted him away with a flick of the wrist.

“You can wait your turn. Besides, once I kill her, there will be nothing to prevent this dimension from collapsing and my minions from reaching my portal to your world.” The Shadow turned to Spike. “If you want to surrender to me, now is your chance. Otherwise, you’ll meet the same end as her.” The Shadow tightened his grip on Luna, making her gag.

“No! As long as I have my friends, I can do this!” Spike activated Inheritance and flew up to the Shadow, getting ready to fire another massive spell burst. The Shadow simply raised his fist, and before Spike could dodge it properly, he was slammed onto the ground.

“YOU'RE A WEAKLING! If it’s death you want, then that’s what you’ll get!” The Shadow shouted.

“Ungh… Luna!” Spike immediately used restore to patch up his injuries but a big hoof came down on his back, making the dragon scream.

“Spike!” Luna choked out.

“Get off of me…” Spike gasped.

“Only after you die. But first, you have something that belongs to me,” The Shadow raised his hand and used magic to break Luna’s enchantment and pull the rings off of Spike.

“NO! GIVE THEM BACK!” Spike shouted as he struggled.

“Now that that is settled, where were we, Luna?” the Shadow said.

“You will never win, My sister and I shall imprison you once more!” Luna shouted.

“I already have won,” The Shadow said. “And don’t worry about Celestia. She’s making a fine puppet, as will you.”

“M-my… sister?” Luna wheezed.

“Yes, Celestia, or as she’s called now, Daybreaker! I cannot wait to see the looks on everycreature’s face as their beloved diarchs are the ones who will bring their world to ruin.” The Shadow said, giving another laugh. “Now die, Luna. Die knowing that you came all this way and failed…” The Shadow said before tightening his grip.

Luna’s eyes were beginning to roll to the back of her head.

“LUNA!” Spike cried.

…

……

………

“No…”

“Hmm?”

“NO!” Luna suddenly shouted with the full force of the Canterlot voice and her horn ignited.

“What’s this?” The Shadow said.

“We still have enough strength to do THIS!” Luna shouted before she glowed.

“What?” The Shadow said, covering his eyes from the light. Then he suddenly noticed that Luna wasn’t drawing magic from the sphere. It was going inside it, and it began taking shape.

“What the? What have you done!?” The Shadow demanded.

Luna didn’t answer as she passed out and the orb became a pony-shaped creature that looked like it was made of stars. Before the Shadow could properly respond, it fired a powerful beam that struck him and sent both him and Luna careening into a portal.

“NO!” The Shadow yelled as he vanished into the portal.

The creature approached Spike, who lost consciousness as it stared down at him.

---

Spike woke up hurting all over, but he was sure that-

“LUNA!” Spike shot up in his bed and looked around.

He hopped out of bed and looked around but didn’t see any sign of the Princess of the Night. Before he could call out again, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He turned to see a familiar creature.

“THE TANTABUS!” Spike shouted, skidding away from the creature.

“Wait! Spike, I mean you no harm!” Tantabus said

“Yeah right, I remember you’re- Wait, you can talk?” Spike said briefly, forgetting what he was saying.

“Obviously. Thanks to Luna’s spell, I was able to obtain sentience. Now, we can continue her mission together,” Tantabus said.

“You mean you're not going to kill me?” Spike said hopefully.

“No, the darkness of my past is behind me,” Tantabus said. “What matters right now is getting the souls back.”

“What do you-” Memory came roaring back and Spike looked at his bare hands “THE SOULS! Rarity! Applejack! Pinkie! EVERYPONY!” Spike began to panic but Tatanabus smacked him to stop his freakout.

“Panicking will not save them! Now listen!” Tantabus said.

“Tanta-” Spike said before she cut him off.

“Luna, please. Call me Luna. Half her soul is inside of me now, anyway.”

“Ok… Man, that's going to get confusing. Can we try a different name?” Spike asked.

“Alright…” She thought for a moment and Spike spoke before she could.

“Star?” Spike offered.

“Hmm, very well,” Star said.

“Alright then, tell me Star, am I going to have to visit all the nightmares again?” Spike asked, hoping the answer is no.

“You won’t. When you removed the souls, the nightmares collapsed. Until the Shadow can repair them, he cannot resume creating new minions.”

“Then… where are they?” Spike asked.

“If I had to make an educated guess, they are in the next nightmare. The Shadow needs to keep them in a nightmare to be able to hold onto them.”

“So basically I’m facing the next nightmare completely powerless, aren’t I” Spike asked

“I’m afraid so…” Star said

“Great, let’s hope they're all there.” Spike turned to the next portal…

And what he saw made him curious but also nervous

Three cut carrot cakes and three cupcakes…

Not waiting another minute Spike ran and jumped into the portal.

“May the stars be with you Spike… may they be with us all,” Star said.

And now we're back on track, Spike has survived yet another encounter with the Shadow thanks to Luna.

And introducing the newest character...

Star

[Credit again to Derpibooru]

Spike must get the souls back, and to do so he must confront the deadliest foes yet.

Tune in tomorrow for the chapter.