Rarity watched Spike come through the door and hope spread through her, then she felt the tap on her shoulder. She turned and came face to face with a covered face.
A dexterous paw covered her mouth. "Shh, we're the infiltration unit of the Poison Wings. We were asked to come help Spike in the war. Our job is to get you outta here. Come on."
She looked around and saw the drakos guards were still standing, but the knives in them told her they were dead.
She heard a grunt of pain and turned to Spike. He was hurting. "Spike!"
The monkey's paw covered her mouth again. "Shut up! We have to go!" He did not get the chance. A giant purple claw slammed him into the wall.
Rarity turned and gasped in shock and horror. There stood Spike on three claws. He was massive, and his features were angular. His scales were almost black, they were so dark. Two massive wings sprouted from back, and a set of ebony antlers stood upon his head. His eyes are what scared her. Black, completely black. No pity or remorse in them.
Sombra's demented laugh filled her ears. "Looks like he had a lot of pent up anger. Now, kill the girls also. Leave their heads though. I want those mounted."
He turned his eyes on Rarity and looked across the room. Big Macintosh, that Burns fellow, and was that Flash Sentry, were chained to the ground with black magic. When she looked back, there was a softness in Spike's eyes. She bit her lip and hoped this worked.
She lifted a hoof and placed it on the side of his mouth. "Spike, dear, can you hear me."
Sombra laughed again. "Knock knock, nopony home."
Spike growled but stayed still.
"I want you to remember when I thought everypony would forget about me. When the Nightmare took over me. You turned down your greatest wish because it was not the real me. You saved me. Remember your birthday, you learned what was worth taking, and what to leave alone. You learned to fight your fears and to control yourself. I need you now. You have saved me numerous times. You saved me from Bloody. Remember who you are. Let me save you this time." She kissed him lightly on the end of his nose. "I care for you more than you know. Come back to us."
His eyes widened and returned to their normal color, but they were still primal. He turned his head and faced Sombra. A bestial roar escaped his mouth as he charged the dark pony.
"You will not defy me whelp." Sombra let loose a stream of dark magic. Spike let loose a flurry of purple and green flames.
The two forces met and exploded, sending everybody back.
Spike dove for Sombra who grew two black wings and took to the air. Spike lashed out with his jaw, catching the evil king. Sombra shot magic into his mouth and dove out. He shot a burst of magic at the ground and four giant pony statues rose from the ground.
"It seems I must leave, but I warn you. I will be back. Next time I will be ready and the rising will happen." A flash of his horn, and Sombra was gone.
The four pony statues stepped towards Spike, advancing closer to him.
Twilight gasped. "Golems." Spike took no heed.
In moments he had ripped them apart and stomped the pieces. He blew a burst of flame on the shreds for good measure.
He turned and stared softly at Rarity until steam began to come off his body. His body began to shrink and color returned to normal, the wings on his back faded away. When he was in his original state, he fell to the ground.
A claw tentatively touched an ebony antler. "Man, I thought I cut these off." He looked up into the crying blue eyes of Rarity, and smiled, before jumping up ready to fight. "Are you ok Rarity! Where's Sombra?!"
Rarity pounced onto his back, squeezing him in a hug. "I thought we had lost you! Don't scare me like that!" Soon the rest of their friends joined in.
Rarity looked up as he looked down at her. He had a confused, but joyful look on his face. "It's been awhile since I've had this many pretty mares hugging on me. Still feels good." A tearful laugh escaped their lips. They were together again. No war, just seven friends, back together.
"Sorry to break up this heartfelt moment, but we are still behind enemy lines." They all turned and faced the six monkeys in black and grey outfits. One of which was rubbing his chest. "Can we leave now?"
Spike stood next to Shining Armor and the red griffin Skrilla. They looked out at the drakos warriors as they placed their weapons in a pile. They all knew that a drakos was still strong without them, but it was symbolic. Spike knew that the drakos would die before they went back on their word of surrender. "Thanks for coming Skrilla. Didn't know you cared so much."
Skrilla smiled and looked at his once enemy. "Don't, repayment of honor, and a new contract with Celestia. Turns out ponies are a lot more forthcoming with payment than drakos. Plus the benefit of a better concise. I never did thank you for sparing my idiot brother."
Spike scratched his throat. "Hmm, I thought I killed that birdie."
"And my feathers are green. Any way, seems like we came just in time."
"Dues ex machina."
Shining Armor gave Spike a curious glance. "Huh?"
"In a story, a last minute extra shows up and saves the day. Learned a thing or to with Twilight."
Skrilla nodded. "Well I did save the day."
Spike shoved him lightly. "Don't get a big head. Your ninja monkeys were just a distraction for my act."
Skrilla paused. "Speaking of. What is the Rising?"
Spike got a dark look in his eyes. "A fairytale. I'll leave it at that."
Skrilla glared for a moment before he turned to leave. "Fine." He stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Oh, after I bring the drakos back to their kingdom I have one more drakos job. What do you want me to do boss?"
Spike just raised an eyebrow. "Ok? Well there's a rebellion going on there, help them and set up the kingdom for when I show up. I'll be there in about a week."
With Skrilla gone, Shining Armor turned to Spike. "The Rising. That's why you gave me that stone. It's real and dangerous, isn't it."
Spike turned away and began to walk back towards Macintosh, and the empire. "There's two more. Given to beings I trust. Gotta go see a friend." With a wave, he left.
Shining Armor lowered his head as he shook it. "Man, Macintosh is a given, but I bet the third he gave to Discord. I hate having to talk to that loon."
Spike stood over the bed with an old set of dog tags in his claw. The tags belonged to Cliphoof, a now dead friend. Now he stood over a dying friend.
Cloudcutter looked peaceful as he looked around at his team. "Guess this the funeral I get to watch. You all are a fun bunch."
There was a slight laughter from them all. Brass sat by the head of the bed, a sling on his injured leg. "Well we were upset till you pulled a you."
Spike stepped over to Hawkeye and sat next to him on the bed next to Cloudcutter. "There's nothing that can be done right? Anything I could do?"
Hawkeye shook his head and spoke in a strained whisper. "I wish there were. The problem is deep. He had many lacerations to too many organs. We patched him up but, there's too much and every bit of it is seeping and bleeding. We can't keep him under or he stays dead, but if we take him out, it's all undone. This is the best I got. A couple of hours and a peaceful death."
"What about life support?"
"He said no. He'd need one for his lungs soon, kidneys, heart, and new blood in him at all times. I know you and all of us would pay for it, but he would be next to death for the rest of his life. We just turned off the machines he was on. I'll give him a sedative in a bit, so he dies sleeping."
Spike nodded. "Than it's time to say bye." He stood up and leaned against the wall. He looked at his team, Hawkeye, Bumble, Burns, Brass, Macintosh, and finally the dying Cloudcutter. They spent hours just talking and laughing. They told stories about the good times and good ponies they met. They talked until Cloudcutter started to have trouble breathing. Hawkeye ushered them out the door.
Spike took Cloudcutter's tags and added them to his set. Before he left, Cloudcutter stopped him. "Captain, real quick. We fought with you and died. We never regretted that. We regret not making you happy. Please don't vanish from your family. And I know nosey girl is just out the door, do as I said. It'll make it all worth it. Live for me Cap, and don't lose yourself. We won, and we saved your kind also. Thanks for it all."
Spike clutched the door frame, but his face and smile were genuine. "Thanks, and I'll never forget you. We will never forget you. Live for the dead, die for the living."
Cloudcutter smiled and nodded before nodding to Hawkeye. Spike shut the door.
Spike found himself in front of Rarity, who looked a lot better since the rescue. Her hair was still frazzled and her makeup was smeared, but she looked better. "Hello Spike, may we talk?"
He released a shuddering breath. Tears threatened to come from his eyes. "Sorry, not right now. I'll find you in a moment. I need to talk to you too." He turned and went out of the small hospital.
He found a corner of the building to sit and lit a cigarette. Drops of water fell on the paper as he puffed. The tears had finally fallen. He cried, he cried for Cloudcutter, he cried for Cliphoof, Sunrise, and all of the ones before. He cried for the ones he didn't know. He cried for Cloudcutter's little brother and all the other families and friends. He cried for the duke of the drakos and all that had died on their side. Most of all he cried because he was sad for so long but had to be strong. He didn't need to be as strong as he had been now.
When he was done, he stood and wiped his face and smiled, he felt better. He hardened his gaze, he had one more thing left to do.