Spike laid there, knowing there were eyes upon him. Almost afraid to look up, he cocked his head to the side and watched the darkness. Echo shifted in Spike's peripherals.
"Uhh..." Echo moaned. "Fuck."
Spike saw the night slither, Light buzzing of wings heard closing in. The sounds stopped just out of the light's reach. He felt the shadows watching him now. His claws quickly went to work on the threads that where binding him. Spike tried to stay calm, panic would only bring death.
"Well, look what the hoard has brought to me now." A voice hissed. Spike recognized her growl from anywhere.
"Sorry for ruining the mission, boys," She spoke again, "But you're services are needed elsewhere."
"I know It's you, Chrysalis." Spike grunted from beneath the heavy ropes. " Show yourself when you speak."
The Queen laughed beyond sight. "Oh, come now. Is that any way to talk to your soon to be queen?"
"Fuck.. Y-you." Echo managed to chuckle. "Do you think we would ever serve-"
"Silence, bat!" She interrupted. Her voice was firm but nonthreatening. Echo did not move. " It has come to my attention that you two 'warriors' are on a quest for peace, you will not find it. This nation WILL go to war, I'll see to that."
Spike sawed through the net unnoticed, link by link he could feel the rope start to give way. From out of the darkness queen Chrysalis emerged. She looked just as evil as she did all those years ago. She smiled down on them, looking first to Echo.
"I need somepony to run a little errand for me." She said. "Somepony to start a little uproar..."
"What are you talking about?" Echo spat. He struggled under the ropes, once again failing to break free.
Chrysalis grinned and her crooked horn flared up in green. "Equestria is on the brink of all out war. Tensions are high... All it need is a little push." She emphasized as a ghastly glow wrapped itself around Echo.
He jolted in pain, clenching his jaw to fight the urge to scream. A headache crept slowly in. He was losing control. Then he saw the queen's plans play out, over and over as if being brainwashed. But he couldn't give in just yet, he had to warn the only one stronger than him.
"S-Spike...!" He breathed through throbs of pain. "You. MUST... St-stop. M-Me! I'm. HEAD-ing.. EAST! STOP ME!" His words became less and less coherent, sentences replaced with muffled screams and pained gasps.
Spike watched in horror. His effort to break free doubled. Suddenly the screams stopped, concluding Echo's self control. Chrysalis bellowed with laughter as her horn brighten again. The net holding Echo down came undone, letting him rise to his feet. His face held little emotion. Everything was gone other than his eyes were wide, giving him an almost frightful look.
"Fly, my little puppet." The queen snarled. "And don't stop until the job is done."
Echo's eyes flashed, he shuddered slightly. "Yes my queen." He spoke solid, in a voice that wasn't his.
Echo turned away from her and spread his wings. Spike, frantically breaking the last of his ties, shot to his feet and dashed to tackle him from the sky.
"DOWN, DRAGON!" Chrysalis shrieked. A bolt of magic flew from her horn and hit Spike straight in the chest, throwing him to the ground once again.
The pain from the bolt instantly enraged him. He shook out of the tumble and planted his feet on solid ground. Rearing back, he let his anger out in the form of liquid fire, spewing into the darkness. The heat illuminated the mob of shocked changelings, setting the front lines ablaze. The untouched hoard took to the sky in fear. Although the mob was in dismay, their queen remained calm and smiling.
"Come, my children. Our work here is done." Chrysalis mocked from a safe distance. "Let the timberwolves sort out the rest."
With that the changelings were gone, leaving the burnt brethren and Spike alone in the flickering light. Spike quickly turned his attention to the direction Echo took off but he was nowhere to be seen in the night sky.
Spike huffed, things were going wrong in a hurry and there was no way he was going to keep the piece on his own. He hopped up to the wrecked train cab in search for some ink and a piece of paper.
Twilight woke to the faint sounds of a familiar voice. In her weakness she couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Call... Help." She croaked, barely able to lift her head to see who it was.
"TWILIGHT!" Rainbow Dash screamed in panic. She quickly kneeled to her side. "Oh my gosh, what happened?!"
Twilight lost a lot of blood. Other than that and her horn was missing, she was perfectly fine. Good thing her sense of humor was intact...
"W-water..." A low groan escaped her lips.
Rainbow didn't wait around for and more instructions, zooming off and returning not even twenty seconds later. "Here ya go, Twilight. Sorry for the wait." She dropped a small bucket of water next to her friend's head. "Can you move at all?" Worry sept into her words. Rainbow knelt again.
"I think so." Twilight groaned. She tried her best to sit up but her body was a lot heavier than she remembered.
"Here." Rainbow Dash held the bucket up, allowing Twilight to drink. She got a few good gulps before Rainbow spoke up again. "Twilight, what happened to your horn?"
There was a pause while she swallowed. "Sombra... He's back... I don't know how." Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up at the name. She had questions but they could wait. "Help me up, please."
"Twi," Rainbow started. "You're in no shape to move. You could hurt yourself even more."
"I'm fine." Despite her protest, Rainbow still helped her friend to her feet. "Equestria is in trouble, we need to warn the princesses." Twilight took another drink of water. "I need to get the girls together. I'm going to bandage myself up."
"I can't leave you here alone." Rainbow stated firmly. Twilight pushed off to get to her first aid kit.
"Go, Dash." Twilight said hoping her stubbornness outweighed Rainbow's. "We have no time for you to be worrying about me."
Rainbow Dash sighed. She was right, if King Sombra was back, Equestria was in extreme danger. "Fine. But be careful, I'll be back in a flash."
"Thank you, Rainbow." Twilight smiled. She watched as Rainbow bolted out of the castle. Turning and continuing to slowly walk to the supplies she thought of Spike.
I hope he's doing alright.
Spike rummaged through the remains of the destroyed cab. He managed to find his bag untouched, a role of scrolls, and some ink Echo was taking with. He donned his gear and made a fire with the scraps of wood. Sitting down in the dirt to begin writing his letter.
Dear Princess Celestia
I am sorry to inform you that our mission to the east coast was compromised. The Queen of the changelings has returned and has successfully brain washed my partner Echo. Before his turning, Echo informed me to stop him before he gets to the trench. His words and the queen's indicate a potential assassination, leading to outrage and war. I am currently stranded in the middle of the Everfree forest and requesting an extraction. I will hold out to the best of my abilities and await for further instruction. Be wary, the queen still lives.
~Spike
Spike rolled the letter in his palm and casted his fire onto it. The letter whisked away into the night sky. All he could do now is wait for a response. He watched the darkness intensely, ready for something to attack. He could only see the shadows of trees dancing with the flames. Something about the woods was alive. It watched Spike just as he watched it. He listened closely, but the forest was deafening.
The crackle from the fire was the only sound to accompany him.
The balcony of the castle was the best for views. Luna could look upon her subjects as they gazed at her night sky. She made it beautiful every night, highly skilled in her art. Her inner peace would not last for long, though... It never did.
"Sister." A voice called to her. It held a nervousness that she hadn't heard in a long time.
"Yes, dearest?" Luna turned to face her big sister. Celestia stood before her, a tattered scroll in hand.
Luna didn't need to hear Celestia say anything. The look on her face was enough to know it was bad news.