//------------------------------// // New Project // Story: Spike the Fairy // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// It's been five days since the raiding at the Crystal Empire and the first fight Grogar endured with the Guardian Dragon. Grogar is in his quarters, still recovering. Battling the Guardian Dragon is one thing, but feeling the fuller effects of Sadistic Spike Knightwalker's incinerating bullet is another. The extent of the red gemstone holds an essential factor that can weaken anybody, no matter their dynamism. Grogar demands one of the medics from the Chameleon army to remove the bullet from his left eye socket after failing many times on his accord. One named Nitor comes in with medical supplies to tend to the wound. "I need you to hold still as I examine the socket." "Make it quick!" Grogar rudely commands, installing fear into the Chameleon's heart. Nitor fumbles with his otoscope and quickly turns it on. He inspects the eye socket. "Uuuh," Nitor is dumbfounded. "WHAT IS IT?!" Grogar yells at Nitor for delaying his duty. "There's no gemstone." "ELABORATE!" Grogar growls at Nitor. Nitor gulps and starts sweating in fear. "The core of your eye is overlaid in red. Like the incinerated red gemstone Knightwalker used on Moondancer the other day." Grogar snarls and shoves Nitor aside. "Stay here until I return!" Grogar grabs his Scepter and shard. Then he leaves his quarters. Lord Tirek continues training the Diamond Dogs, Lizards, and Chameleons to extreme lengths for encouragement. However, the three nations are willing to throw in the towel. Lord Tirek brutalizes those who quit and reminds the weaklings that only the strong survive. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker arrived from his patrol and captured no creature for his experiments. He asks for a willing participant for the trial of his project. Slither voluntarily participate to avoid Lord Tirek's training. "So, what kind of test I'll be running?" Slither asks while watching his kin getting tormented with weightlifting exercises. "Since it's taking you creatures longer to develop strength and agility, I thought of exceeding those expectations tremendously," Sadistic Spike Knightwalker navigates Slither to his lair. In the laboratory, there is a mechanized skeleton on a medical table. The attachments are different weaponry, such as guns, missile launchers, and blades. The back features demonic wings to portray demons. Slither comes close to Knightwalker's invention. "What is this contraption?" "An Exo-Suit. It's a mechanical skeleton that enhances strength, mobility, flight, speed, and endurance for anyone wearing it. I made three different kinds for tactical purposes. Stealth, Combat, and Aerial. This Exo-Suit enables strength fifty times more than man. Try it on." Slither is perplexed about the Exo-Suit when it scans for a host and fastens itself onto Slither. The spine of the mechanized suit infuses with Slither's back; the collar rim connects to Slither's neck as the Exo-Suit slides onto his legs and arms like sleeves. Slither sees metallic sleeves holstering different weapons; his left hand wields a mini turret while the right hand features a red gemstone sword. "Th-This is cool!" Slither imagines flapping the wings to the Exo-Suit, and it does so on telepathic command. "WHOA!" Slither couldn't help but laugh in amazement. "It appears you are a fast learner. I didn't need to instruct you on how to activate the wing spans," Sadistic Spike Knightwalker is impressed by how swiftly Slither is operating the Exo-Suit. He pulls a pillar made of the leftover metal he rationed from his experiments. "Punch it." Slither imagines the sword sheaths itself and does so on command; Slither runs to the pillar and punches it, shattering it to pieces due to the enhanced strength of the Exo-Suit. Shards of metal pierce the walls, creating a small hole from the impact. "OH WOW!" Slither jumps in astonishment. "This has to be the coolest weapon ever devised by a brilliant creature such as yourself!" "I made a few suits and need copies for our armies to wage war on United Equestria." "I'm sure Grogar or Lord Tirek can help make copies since they're potent with magic power," Slither reassures. "So, does this suit comes off?" "No. Once it's linked up to a host, the Exo-Suits doesn't come off; that way, no one can replicate or remove it. As a failsafe, if the Exo-Suits gets detached in unfortunate ways, the host obtains the strength, durability, and agility to keep going in the war. I've programmed the Exo-Suit for all possibilities in warfare." Slithers laughs diabolically. He visions every pony begging for mercy, bowing to his submission as their home gets taken. "KNIGHTWALKER!" Grogar stomps his way to approach Sadistic Spike Knightwalker in his lair. Slither backs away from Grogar's presence; despite his new enhancer suit, he's still afraid of Grogar's magic. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker observes Grogar's body language and determines he's pissed. "What?" He shows no emotions for Grogar's arrival. "FIX ME!" Grogar barks at Knightwalker. "Come again?" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker doesn't see an issue besides Grogar's missing eye. "DON'T ACT FOOLISH! YOUR RED GEMSTONE WEAKENED ME! FIX IT!" Grogar painfully admits. During his recovery process, he felt weaker. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker laughs ferally. Slither takes a step back. "Fix you?" He continues to laugh pitilessly. "My work with these gemstones is meant to be permanent. Sucks to be you!" Grogar gasps in horror. If he continues to get weaker due to the longevity of the gemstone's purpose, he will be a threat to no one. "You.., you did it on purpose!" "You weren't pleased with my progress when I tested the ability on Moondancer, a mere unicorn! Pestering about its ability to slow down a Princess, let alone a Changeling with cleansing powers. So, you inadvertently became the second test subject. I see my work succeeded exceedingly well!" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker grabs Grogar's cheeks roughly. Pulling him close to his face. "Soon, you'll be nothing but a worm underneath my feet!" "You dare betray me?!" Grogar slaps Sadistic Spike Knightwalker's hands away. "Betray you?" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker tantalizes Grogar's questioning of betrayal. "Nonsense!" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker kicks Grogar's face out of his lair. Grogar lands hard on the rough edges of the ground, creating a crater. Outside of Sadistic Spike Knightwalker's lair is another training site Lord Tirek instructs the Diamond Dogs, Chameleons, and Lizards on close-quarter combat. Everyone sees Grogar getting up while wielding the Eternal Cataclysmic Scepter and the shard encased with Fairy Law. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker comes out to confront Grogar with Slither, aiming his mini turret at Grogar since he believes Sadistic Spike Knightwalker is attempting a successful coup. Grogar glares viciously at Sadistic Spike Knightwalker. "I won't be needing you any longer!" Grogar attempts to activate the devastating force of his Sceptor; however, his eye widens in culmination when he no longer feels an ounce of his power. "NO!" He feels sick to his stomach now that magic is no longer sustainable within his body. Grogar's vast knowledge and finesse have faded. "Feeling lost?" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker senses Grogar lost the battle before it began. Grogar grits his teeth and turns to his army and Lord Tirek. "Don't just stand there! SEIZE HIM!" Grogar angrily dictums while showing fear to his minions, pointing the Eternal Cataclysmic Scepter at Sadistic Spike Knightwalker. No creature flinches at Grogar's decree. Not even Lord Tirek; he and everyone remain still and await orders from their true commander. Grogar feels isolated when no one complies with his command. It's eerie, even for him. "WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Grogar yells at his army. "They don't serve a weakling anymore," Sadistic Spike Knightwalker said while relishing Grogar's suffering. "I'M NOT WEAK!" Grogar turns to face Sadistic Spike Knightwalker. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker grins menacingly. "You can't perform the simplest spell if you wanted; the red gemstone ceases any usage of magic indefinitely. Only a specific ring can allow the victim to use magic on my authority. You're as useless as Moondancer, a shell of a creature who lost the ability to perform tedious magic." "Why? Why betray me like this?" Grogar finally asks since he believes something else is amiss. "I brought you here so you can redeem yourself and go to-" "You're a lying, conniving bastard!" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker shouts. "I overheard your conversation with Lord Tirek about fooling me into believing this place is Hell. Although I adore you for freeing me, you failed to comprehend my true nature when I'm allowed to cross boundaries my mother refused for me to access. Unlike those with a moral code, I enter paths of no return without care. I accepted the reality of not returning home; however, this world is mine to control, and no one will oppose me!" Lord Tirek, Diamond Dogs, Chameleons, and Lizards remain still while listening to their commander preach. Grogar never thought someone such as Sadistic Spike Knightwalker would topple him in his lifetime; not even Gusty the Great had the confidence to strip Grogar and make him feel lesser than a foal. "You are a legend in my youth, Grogar. Now, I have a new idol," Lord Tirek bows in respect to Sadistic Spike Knightwalker. "What are your commands, Master?" "TIREK!" Grogar bellows, feeling betrayed by Lord Tirek. "You will rue betraying me for this insolent worm!" "I regret nothing," Lord Tirek backhands Grogar, knocking him aside fiercely. The impact causes Grogar to release the Scepter and shard. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker picks up the Scepter and crystal. "Lord Tirek. When we succeed in the invasion, I'll allow you to dominate any nation you desire, and you'll be dominion over those creatures." "Excellent," Lord Tirek wants all Equestrian Ponies to worship him when he becomes their ruler. "The same applies to each nation in my control. Chameleons, Lizards, and Diamond Dogs. You'll dominate the wills of the country you choose accordingly. I'll become the Arcane Ruler of this world," Sadistic Spike Knightwalker addresses his legion. A mass blackish-purple aura produces all around his body. "What have I unleashed?" Grogar fearfully thought to himself. The once Father of Monster has become the Fatherless. He sees Sadistic Spike Knightwalker as the real villain of this story. A rampant tyrant with the sole purpose of brutalizing anyone in his way, Grogar will have to ally himself with unholy alliances. "Lord Tirek, claim your prize!" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker tosses the shard for him to devour. "With pleasure," Lord Tirek licks his lips and shatters the crystal, absorbing the raw power of Fairy Law into him, which makes him grow and become immensely stronger than before. Lord Tirek is bulkier and preponderant than he obtained all Alicorn, Chaos, and Equestrian magic. Luckily for him, the Diamond Dog caves are deeper in the ground, and Lord Tirek's horns don't pierce the ceiling that would have exposed his position to Harmony, who is still searching for the new evil. "With your newfound power, care to multiply the Exo-Suits I crafted for our armies to wear?" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker marvel at Lord Tirek's new transformation and prowess. "Piece of cake," Lord Tirek uses his newfound magic to manipulate the Exo-Suits in Sadistic Spike Knightwalker's lair to levitate and produce copies of all kinds. "My liege," Slither attracts Sadistic Spike Knightwalker's attention. "Yes?" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker turns to his warrior. "What to do with this scum?" Slither refers to Grogar. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker walks up to Grogar; Grogar is still due to fear creeping up on him. He pants heavily at being at the mercy of Sadistic Spike Knightwalker. "You will live to tell the tale that a Devil rose to conquer a new world of magic!" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker grabs the horns of Grogar. "You won't be needing these anymore!" Sadistic Spike Knightwalker presses his foot on Grogar's face and tears the horns off of Grogar's head, giving him severe head trauma. Grogar agonizing wails intensely due to the injury. "Shut up!" Slither punches Grogar's face, knocking him out with his newfound strength. "You did well," Sadistic Spike Knightwalker pats Slither's left shoulder with approval for silencing a weakling. "So, what to do with him?" Rover asks. He and everyone are now wearing an Exo-Suit with all the weapons and attachments for warfare. "Put him in confinement. We're about to embark on new training sequences to ensure that every creature will use the Exo-Suits to the fullest. That includes you, Lord Tirek." All the copies of the Exo-Suits have already been analyzed and taken by their hosts, including Lord Tirek. Lord Tirek is shocked to witness an Exo-Suit increases to fit his physique after it scanned him. "I'll put Grogar in his place," A Diamond Dog volunteers to place Grogar in a cell. He is wearing the Exo-Suit and hoists Grogar off the ground. Sadistic Spike Knightwalker goes to his lair for a few moments to construct a crown using Grogar's horns. He comes out adorning his new headwear as a trophy to install fear. He addresses his legion. "From this day forward, I am not Spike Knightwalker; for the man is dead. In this world, I am, Mongor," Mongor grasps the Eternal Cataclysmic Scepter and consumes the power within, making his magic paramountcy. An hour later. Grogar wakes up, chained to the wall; he sees Moondancer barely alive while a single Diamond Dog guarding the prison cells with much despair on his face, although he wants a better refuge for his kin but not in warfare where there'll be bloodshed across many acres. Grogar groans, alerting the Diamond Dog's attention. "Listen.., you have to get me out of here... All life depends on this decision," Grogar pleads, sounding genuine with remorse for his actions to bring forth Sadistic Spike Knightwalker in his schemes to conquer United Equestria. The Diamond Dog listens and debates what to do next. If Mongor succeeds, there'll be misery, disharmony, and death. No one will be happy, and he knows it. History has shown that a world filled with corruption leads to astray and disaster, especially with the Windigoes amid the situation.