No matter how many times Spike woke up in Golden Oaks Library alone, he never got used to it. He’d technically done it before Twilight and their friends disappeared months back, but it’d felt weird then, and now it was just painful. The first two nights and days, he’d assumed they were taking longer to deal with Sweet Apple Acres bat problem than expected. But on the third, he became worried, and so went over, but Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Applebloom had no clue where they were, and Spike felt his heart seize up and stay that way since.

Of course, he’d contacted Celestia, who assured him she and Luna were looking into things. When Luna didn’t report back, though, Celstia insisted he return to Canterlot, both to discuss things and for his own safety. He’d told them everything he knew and was ready to brave the Everfree Forest, if not all Equestria, to find Twilight, Rarity, and the others, but they’d both insisted on caution, as whatever they were up against was strong enough, seemingly, to defeat two alicorns.

Of course, Spike was scared, but he knew Twilight and the others were alive. Celestia and Shining Armor wanted him to stay with them, but he insisted on going back to Ponyville in case they returned, and to be with his other friends. Before he left, Celestia pulled him aside and gave him a speech about how he would be seen as an authority once he got back to Ponyville, and today was his next step toward his destiny as a massive noble dragon with a thousand times the power and a million times the responsibility.

He didn’t know how right she was until he got back. Several ponies, including Mayor Mare, had gone missing. He and Big Mac had been practically hauled before the town hall to reassure ponies, and Mac was even quieter than usual, only telling Spike that their farm was having serious problems. Spike had said all he could about all Ponyville had lived through, and swore that the Elements of Harmony were alive.

But from then on, he’d mostly stuck to the library. Almost nopony came by. Last he’d stopped by Sweet Apple Acres, the trees all looked barren, and Apple Bloom said Big Mac wasn’t ready to see him.

Just a few days ago, the entire Apple family vanished, but Spike was almost the only one to notice, as even in broad daylight, the once thriving streets and markets of Ponyville now seemed barren.

Obviously, whatever was snatching ponies would come for him soon. Spike partly wished he’d stayed in Canterlot, but something told him he’d have answers soon. He’d sent Celestia one last letter before bed (he still slept in his basket to honor Twilight) tonight, telling her to be ready for either his next letter or lack of one. Changelings? Zomponies? Invisible Discord weeds? No way to tell.

So he’d woken up… in the middle of the light. He’d heard a noise, he was sure of it. He got up and peeked downstairs; nothing out of the ordinary. But sweat seeped out between his scales, and he recalled the sound- like a sudden burst of air - from outside the windows.

He crept over and peered out. Under the moonlight, he saw them. Two equine figures walking towards the library. Both had horns, one had wings, but they weren’t folding in like pegasis’ normally did.

Or Alicorns.

Twilight? Rarity? He thought he recognized their silhouettes, but they weren’t moving like them. All his dark theories flooded back through his mind, but then they looked up at him. Their eyes seemed to defy the rules of light to show up as blood red even in the darkness. But despite that, they were familiar. The voice that came next was likewise in the uncanny valley.

“Spikey Wikey…”

The young dragon fell back on his spines. Twilight and Rarity were back. Maybe. No, had to be. Changelings wouldn’t take inaccurate disguises. But they were vamponies, or something similar, and coming for him!

What was he supposed to do? Garlic? Stakes through the heart?

No. He was scared, but he couldn’t hurt the two ponies he loved most like that, at least not until he was sure there was no other way. And what if they weren’t vamponies?

There was a knock at the main door, and he jumped back onto his feet.

“Spike? It’s me, Twilight,” he heard. Her voice sounded normal compared to Rarity’s, but how could they have gotten around the house so fast? Twilight tried the door, but it was locked; a rare practice before the disappearances. “Open up. We’re sorry it took us so long.”

“We’ve just been having the most fabulous time with Fluttershy and our friends, and it’s high time you joined us,” said Rarity.

Spike almost instinctively thought of opening the door for them, but pushed it aside, and thought fast. No way the door would hold them, nor could he fight them. But Celestia could; that was the plan. He just needed to get her a letter. Where was the ink and paper?

On the floor below. He could see it on the desk. Twilight and Rarity were two floors down, though, so he had a chance.

Spike dashed down the stairs, almost falling down them. He expected a crash of breaking wood, but it never came. He made it to the desk and grabbed the ink quill.

“Hello, number one assistant.”

Spike froze, and gulped. He didn’t know how they’d gotten through the door or up the stairs so quietly, but now they were right behind him.

“Uh… h-hey Twilight,” Spike said, shaking, but not daring to turn around. “Where have you been?”

He then realized the two unicorns must know what he was doing, and could easily snatch the pen out of his hands, or him across the room. So he wrote whatever words came to mind.

Twilight Rarity back not them he

Sure enough, the pen flew out of his hands before he could finish the next word. But they’d made a mistake not grabbing him or the paper. So still without turning around, Spike breathed transport fire harder than he ever had in his life straight onto the desk.

Too hard. The paper blew up into the air as the top of the desk burned and teleported away at the same time. Spike watched it dance in the air, but grabbed it before it fell down into the pile of burning table legs.

Spike grabbed one of the table legs, still burning at the top. With this improved torch, he finally turned around.

The green firelight illuminated Twilight and Rarity, but like he’d never seen them before. He’d seen Twilight naked, but never in anything resembling her form-fitting red and black ensemble. And with bat wings?! And Rarity…

“Spike, let’s be reasonable,” said Twilight, but noticed her brother was more focused on Rarity. Or at least, certain parts of her that her finely crafted combination of lingerie and a nightgown allowed him to see more of than ever.

“Hand-stitched, Spikey-Wikey,” said Rarity, striking a provocative pose. But that only served to dash away what attraction he was feeling, and he backed toward the stairs.

They sauntered after him.

“T-Twilight, Rarity, what’s–”

“Vamponies, Spike,” said Twilight as he started to back up the stairs. “We know it’s a little scary, but just set down that letter and we can–”

The letter! Spike had almost forgotten he had it. It wasn’t complete, but it was his and his friends' only hope. He breathed magic fire on it again, this time, more controlled, like the countless letters he’d sent on behalf of Twilight.

“No!” Rarity abruptly shouted.

Then, faster than Spike could blink, she bolted up the stairs and grabbed him, pinning him to the top floor. Being knocked down hurt a bit, but he stared up into her crimson eyes, transfixed, unsure whether to feel afraid, tempted, or nothing at all at what seemed like a void into death, and beyond. “What did you say? What have you told them!”

“Enough of this,” said Twilight, coming to kneel beside Spike. “This is in everypony’s best interests, Spike. And every dragon. You’ll just have to trust us.”

“Twilight, wa—ahh!” Spike cried out as Twilight bit into his shoulder, her studies of his biology serving her well. Her fangs easily pierced his scales, and he felt the blood rush to and out of the wound.

A chill gripped him at once. This was it. The two ponies he loved most, or what was left of them, were going to drink his blood and kill him.

“Phheeuuuufffff!” Twilight spat, recoiling away so fast that blood splattered Rarity’s cheek.

“What’s wrong, darling?” Rarity asked, but then curiously wiped a speck from her cheek and put it in her mouth. “Pffff!” she tried to spit it back out, releasing Spike.

As both mares recovered from the potency of dragon blood, Spike scampered back. He clutched his bleeding shoulder, but couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t easy being a dragon in Equestria, but it had its moments.

“Dragon blood doesn’t taste so good, does it, vamponies?” he asked, clearly trying to imitate his comic book heroes.

“It’s like a… like…” Twilight said.

“A thousand vintage congacs at once!” said Rarity, though her voice has a disturbing bit of enthusiasm to it. Both mares stood and looked to Spike, whose confidence faded as he was cornered again.

“Definitely warrants further study,” said Twilight. “But we’ve clearly acted rashly. Maybe put all mistress’s plans in danger if that letter got to Celestia.”

“Mustress?” Spike asked. There were many different versions of vampony lore, but the concept of a brood leader felt familiar. But who?”

“We’re not the only ones who’ve had an upgrade, darling,” said Rarity, then used her magic to pull the sheets off Twilight’s bed and roll them up into ropes. “You’ll see all our friends again, soon, and then Mistress Flutterbat can explain how we’re making everypony longer lived and stronger than you. And you can join us when you’re older.”

Before Spike could say another word, the two mares wrapped and bound him with the sheets, blinding him and rendering his teeth and firebreath useless. Rarity took him downstairs for a trip straight back to the castle, while Twilight opted to stay and collect some books she’d missed.

This whole story was written by deadguy1234(5?) and the image was commissioned by him.

Thaaat's right, we're back. Shadowdath normally commissions these but he, like many others, has fallen on some rocky times and need to prioritize other things. That's cool. But our story guy, deadguy1234(5?) on deviantart wanted to see it continue. So he funded the next part. There's still gonna be box tied ponies, Shadowdath would want it that way, and let's be honest so would the rest of us.

Yes, this is a scene reference to the Shining. The "give me the bat" scene. Spike was pretty sure a baseball bat wouldn't do here, so he opted for a torch. Not a bad call when dealing with the undead, so good on him!

I would like to bring this series to a conclusion in the near future. We've had fun over the last ten years, beholding busty bloodsuckers in beautiful bondage, but every road has to end. There's still work to do here, and I want to do both endings.