"Do you know what day is today?" A feminine voice asked.
"It's hard not to know with all the mourning and the festivities going around." A deep, baritone male voice said. "Mmmm... two years already have passed. It feels like it was only a few days ago I was under the spell of the caribou."
"Is something on your mind, Doctor?" The female voice asked noting the heavy tone of the male's voice.
"Not a brainwashing dark spell, thankfully." He sighed followed by a throaty hum. "By any chance, do you know about my work regarding those most heavily afflicted by the caribou's taint?"
"Of course, Doctor Shine. I myself use your methods and have found them quite... enlightening, to say the least." The female said.
"Thanks to my degree and being a Corrupted, the caribou tossed me into a laboratory to run several experiments, mostly on the Rape Vines and the Harvesters, to increase their productivity and such. Shows how stupid they truly were, huh? They sent a psychiatric to do the job of a biologist. But I was spared from suffering and inflicting most of the vast horrors they hammered into Equestria, so I can count myself as being extremely lucky. Humm, Equestria, my home. Strange for a Diamond Dog to call Equestria his home and have a proper education, job, and career, am I right?" Shine laughed for a moment before humming again.
"Not that it really brings solace to my heart in the end. So many...," he shook his head. "It doesn't really matter now. What matters is to help those that have to struggle to survive. Each waking moment a living nightmare for them."
"Can you tell me more?" The female said in a softer tone. "Are there any that you remember more than others?"
"Hundreds. Each one of them unique in their suffering, but all of them coming from the same source. As it stands, everything is relative and we, as rational beings, tend to judge things in accordance to what we remember experiencing: cold, warm, pain, hunger, love, you name it. It's not the same to have knowledge of things than to actually experience them. And all of my patients since the Rise started now have more experience than I care to understand. For their safety, not mine. It's horrible that in my field of work I can't allow myself to get emotionally attached to anyone, yet my heart goes to everyone that had to endure the regime of the caribou."
A few seconds of silence fell between the two before Shine hummed again.
"I had the pleasure to evaluate several prominent figures during the first months after the caribou were brought down in their homeland. Can you believe that my very first patient was none other than Spike Solaris himself? I can still feel his green eyes piercing my soul every second he watched me. He... didn't allow me a chance to question him about his fillings of thoughts on specific points, and when I did he dodged the question with cold nonchalant humor. He didn't give much to work with during our first and only appointment, but despite that everything he did tell me the truth: emotionally, he was a walking corpse." Shine hummed.
"On the other side of the specter, we have Commander Soarin. He was an emotional time bomb, having to resort to special zebra drugs to remain stable most of the time. He was filled with hate and anger, the fact that the caribou had been driven to near extinction didn't seem enough for him. Worst of all, his intense guilt and volatile self-hate had turn him into a completely different stallion from what he was in the past before the Fall. Understandable. At one point I asked him if he had ever thought of suicide. To this day his answer still sends shivers down my spine."
"What was his answer?"
" 'Death is too good for me.'" Shine replied.
"Divine Creators..." The female whispered.
"Indeed. Many of the then called Blood Hunters were incredibly similar, maybe that explains why they work so well together. But Soarin? He's in another league altogether, if I may be so bold." Shine hummed once more before chuckling. "Although... there is this special case, one that almost made me retire from my services." Shine fell silent for a few seconds. "There's this mare by the name of Grim Night. Completely crazy beyond help but still, well, I'd say rational but I think the word 'obsessed' would be better. Crazy but obsessed enough to not be a danger to anyone but herself, the caribou, and anyone stupid enough to incite her rage."
"What do you mean by that, Doctor?"
"For what I was able to gather, Grim Night was the sweetest, most caring, most devoted mare to children anyone had ever known. Before the Fall she ran a private orphanage where she took care of any children fortunate enough to arrive there. She funded it via public donations and by performing in public as a dancer and singer. No, not that kind. She had the talent and fame to be as great as Sapphire Shores or even Coloratura, but her real love belonged to the children. She cared for them, loved them, educated them, guided them, encouraged them just like a good mother should." Shine went silent, humming occasionally. "Some called her a living Saint, others called her deluded. Her children called her mother."
"Doctor Shine..."
"But then... The caribou came. She was forced to watch how her daughters were raped in front of her eyes by the caribou and even by her turned sons. She was raped for weeks on end and in such brutality that left her barren. She was tortured, beaten, and re-educated to an almost daily basis because she was a black collar and she refused to bow down to the caribou and their bastard of a king. That is... until a caribou, her master at the time, decided to teach her a lesson by ripping away her left eye and doing something I rather not say to both the eye and the socket."
The female made a gurgling noise.
"After that, her will and fortitude shattered completely. The motherly and pure pegasus mare was no more, her children forgotten. She became cold, methodical, maniacal, bloodthirsty, and completely unpredictable. She was exchanged and moved all over Equestria as some sort of exotic, dangerous pet, but eventually, she was sent to a dirt farm to be blanked for being uncontrollable, the same day the barrier fell. According to the Saddle Arabian forces that arrived in Mexicolt, Grim Night had killed with her bare hands more than two hundred caribou, several dozens of completely turned stallions, and many male children already corrupted by the caribou's taint. All of them had their eyes removed while she played with them with glee."
The female vomited.
"The saddest part is that she's far outside any kind of help I or anyone else can possibly offer. That loving mare is no more thanks to the caribou. And just like Grim Night, hundreds of thousands will never be the same again, despite our efforts. All we can do is understand them... and hope that at least some solace comes to them." Shine hummed. "I believe that's all for the day?" Shine asked getting up. "Same time next year, Doctor Jasmine?" The Diamond Dog asked to the Saddle Arabian mare as he made his way to the door.
"W-wait," Jasmine said half-recovered. "Doctor Shine, are you certain there's nothing we can do to help them."
Shine shrugged. "Maybe in the future, but now? No, child. Wounds are still too fresh and open. The scars they shall leave will be deep, ugly, and permanent... if they ever close up. Pray, child, that they do."
"I've done many things in the last ten years," Soarin said from his seat watching the ground and his hooves while he fiddled with his thumbs. "I'm a Captain of the Scaled Units. I hunt down scu--those depraved enough to believe the caribou were on the right and wish to emulate their ways. I am loyal to the Princesses and to the Equis Alliance. I will gladly give my life to protect my home from anything and anyone wanting to hurt it," Soarin went silent for several seconds.
"But before that, I was a Commander in the army Spike took to Hraljord to deal our justice upon the caribou. I was the leader of the Blood Hunters charged with the task to find any caribou scouts and follow them to one of their hidden villages, camps, or whatever. I had a lot of fun those days," Soarin smiled. "When I have trouble falling asleep, I remember the screams and close my eyes to see myself there as thousands of caribou die under our rage," his wings flapped involuntarily.
"Before that, we were forced to fight the caribou in our own homeland under the ever watchful eye of Dainn and that wicked barrier until Spike destroyed it. I and my Blood Hunters were the right hands of Spike: charged and tasked with the most dangerous missions the rebel alliance could come up with. We never once said no, never backed down, never failed. Our proudest moment was when Spike asked us, on his knees, to lead the operation to rescue Princess Celestia and Princess Luna right from under Dainn's stinking muzzle. I have no doubt he himself would've lead that mission if he wasn't so tempted to fight Dainn there and then."
Soarin let out a heavy sigh, his fiddling fingers stopped and his arms started to tremble a little. "Before Spike burned the tainted Ponyville to the ground. Before I struck at Cloudsdale following his plan. Before we left Ponyville under his orders. Before showing our true intentions, we were Spike's personal bodyguards: The Shadow Hunters. Loyal dogs of 'Marshall' Spike that did his bidding and followed him blindly," Soarin chuckled. "Well, that part about following him blindly is true. My brothers and I never once questioned his motives or ideas. He knew the caribou and Dainn better than any of us, and he had the trust and permission to act however he saw fit. He was getting shit done in the caribou's eyes, but in reality, everything he did was but another gear to bring the caribou down. So everything he asked us to do, we did. Even if at one point we had to follow him into Solitude itself to fight a real, living Windigo. I... we lost good friends there."
Soarin's arms trembling increased. "I remember the first day I met him during the 'Guys Night' Big Mac's group of Fakers in Ponyville had every two or so weeks. I knew of him, the best female trainer in Equestria. Who didn't? He had the reputation of being capable of training into proper pets and break any but the most stubborn and violent of black collar females. I was also aware he knew of me... and the things I did to my old female teammates, those that weren't Corrupted or Enslaved by the caribou's Sickness and switched, and most importantly, Rainbow Dash," Soarin sighed almost choking on it. "I saw the hate he had for me in his eyes. I saw the utter repugnance and the want to rip me to shreds for everything I did up until that point. But then, when he came close to me, the hate vanished and I saw sympathy and pity. "You're among friends, Soarin." He said to me."
Soarin gritted his teeth and took a shaky hold of his knees. "Before the fall I was the Second in Command of the Wonderbolts, right after Spitfire. I was happy with my position and my life! But the caribou had to come and fuck everyTHING AND EVERYONE UP! I was Corrupted by those motherfucking assholes, brainwashed into believing they were like gods and were the wisest beings on the planet. I believed practically everything they said and I did my best to do everything they did. I raped, beat, and tortured my former teammates almost daily. Their pain and suffering was funny to me. Why wouldn't it be? They were just lowly, stupid, worthless, females," he said spitting venom with each word. "I killed some of them with my bare hands while 'playing' with them! Traverse, Wing Sharper, Thunder Strike, Cloud Walker... I killed them and all I did was laugh, complain how weak and useless they were, and then tossed them into the Dumpster. I never found their remains."
Soarin shaking stopped. "It's been eight years since the Fall ended and the Rise began. And ever since I broke free from their corruption, I have found no peace with myself. Food has no taste. Alcohol does nothing to me. Salt is useless. There are nights in which I don't sleep for fear of waking up in that shithole again. Whenever I'm alone I can see their faces staring at me, accusing me of being so weak, for all the pain I caused when I was a Corrupted. I often wake up at night... sick, and sweating, and crying."
"I know what I did. I know I was mind-controlled by the caribou. I understand it was their doing that led me to do every bad thing I did during those two horrible years. But I can't forgive myself. How could I possibly forgive myself for all that? I have to take regular special potions made by zebra shamans just to stay under control and have a clear head so I don't end up hurting myself... again." Soarin let out a remorseful sigh.
"I can barely look at a female without wanting to beat myself to death. Whenever I touch one... I... I want to cut my hand off. More than once I've caught myself entertaining the thought of ripping my penis and testicles, just so I don't have to see them again. Creslin once told me she could switch me if being a male was so repugnant to me, but I refused. I don't deserve to be a female. I don't even deserve death," a hand landed on his shoulder but Soarin didn't look up to see to who it belonged. "Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Rainbow Dash, Solar Flare, Hurricane Stream, Nebula Crescent, my friends and comrades to whom I caused so much pain forgave me. The females I had as my pets, whom I raped, tortured, and beat daily, forgave me. I guess... I guess that's what hurts the most. To know I don't have their strength."
Soarin looked up to see about twenty faces staring at him, all sitting in a circle of chairs. He looked to his right and saw Shining Armor smiling and nodding softly at him. He looked around the rest of those males and females hearing to him; ponies, zebras, a diamond dog bitch, two cervids, a male changeling, two griffon hens and a griffon rooster, and mareling looking at him with sympathy and more than half with tears in their eyes. All of them wearing casual clothes with the exception of a unicorn mare wearing a Followers of the Grace of the Dragon's robe sitting almost directly in front of him.
"A good friend of mine has been trying to get me to come here for years, but I never listened until now. My name is Soarin... and I need help."
"AAAAHHH!" Shining Armor screamed as he woke up tossing the bedsheets away and illuminating his horn with magic.
"Shining!" Cadance called immediately from the bed next to his.
Shining Armor looked at his wife's direction and saw her worried expression. His eyes then traveled down her body and behind her to find she was dressed in a large nightgown, her mane was pulled into a bun, her wings flexed on her back, and there were no traces of chains, shackles, bruises, burns, or scars anywhere. Shining's magic faded enough to just partially illuminate his wife and himself before he sighed in relief. Almost immediately after he punched his bed.
"Another damn nightmare," he said tiredly. "I'll have to speak with a Mind-Mender later, it seems. Damn it, it's been two weeks since my last-"
Shining was cut off when he felt his wife's embrace. She didn't seem to mind his damp fur or slightly trembling limbs.
"C-Cadance..."
"Shhhh, I'm here, Shiny," Cadance whispered in the dark.
"You... you're shaking..." Shining said with a raspy voice as if there was a lead ball in his throat.
Cadance didn't answer right away, instead, she shifted until they were both laying on the same bed with her head pressed against his chest hearing his rapidly beating heart and her arms embracing him tightly.
"It d-doesn't matter," Cadance said pressing herself more against her husband.
"Of course it matters," Shining rebuked. "I don't want you to feel... uncomfortable," Shining said in that same raspy tone.
"You're my husband. I'm your wife. We have each other," Cadance nuzzled his bare chest. "It was only a nightmare, Shining. I'm here. We're safe."
"I... I know," Shining replied as he slowly shifted himself until he was facing Cadance, his arms shakily around her back as hers were around his. "I'm scared."
"Me too."
"I don't want to lose you again."
"I don't want to lose you either."
"I'm sorry for waking you up."
"It's okay. I'm not really tired."
"You're too good for me, Cadance."
"And you are more than you give yourself credit for, Shining."
Seconds of silence passed for the couple and before long the magic on Shining's horn went off.
"I've missed this. You and me, like this."
"C-Cadance..."
"I... I know I'm asking too much... and I know I'm not fully ready... I don't know if I'll ever be. But... Shining, can we stay like this, at least for tonight?"
"...Yeah."
"A-are you sure?"
"Are you?"
"..."
"..."
"I think this may actually be good for us, Caddie."
"Caddie? You haven't called me that since our wedding." Cadance giggled.
Shining chuckled. "Oh sorry, I forgot you don't like that nickname."
"I used to. But I think it's kind of adorable now. Brings up memories when we started to date."
"Ha! I remember. We were so scared Celestia would find out about us we only saw each other during the night."
"Until Celestia saw us under the Oak tree. I can still feel my cheeks burning in shame!"
"I know! And it turned out that Celestia already knew we were seeing each other. She just wanted to tease us."
"That's Auntie Celestia." Cadance giggled again. "Shining... I think you're right. I think we both need this. We've been apart letting our fear control us for far too long."
"I just... I just don't want to hurt you again, Cadance."
"You've never hurt me, Shining. And you never will." Cadance shuffled. "Well, except for throwing me out of a balcony that one time."
"Hey now, that was your idea!"
The couple laughed for several moments until their room became silent once more.
"I love you, Mi Amore Cadenza. My wife. My love."
"And I love you, Shining Armor Sparkle. My husband. My love."
In the darkness of their room, the couple inched forward until their lips met in a shaky, nervous kiss. It lasted for scant seconds before they parted. A moment later their lips met again, this time with more confidence.
Many more followed until husband and wife fell asleep in each other's embrace. Safe, warm, secured, and most importantly, loved.
A dark blue coated unicorn stallion with light blue mane and bright blue eyes stood in front of a door, unmoving. It was late already with the moon shining brightly in the sky, yet there were lights coming out from the windows at each side of the door he was standing in front of.
He let out a sigh before taking out a letter from within his robe. He looked at it for several seconds until he finally decided to knock at the door. Several moments later he heard the sound of approaching hoof steps.
"Who is it?" A mellow, sweet voice belonging to a mare asked.
"It's me, Yellow Moon." The stallion replied. The door was then hurriedly open to reveal a yellow coated unicorn mare with silver colored mane and tail and blue eyes dressed in a simple sundress.
"Blue Moon?" She whispered is disbelief. "B-Big brother!" She exclaimed before throwing herself at her brother in a tight hug.
Blue Moon struggled at first to not fall back but managed to stay standing while his sister hugged him as if life itself depended on it.
"Blue Moon is here!?" Another similar sounding voice but a bit more melodious was heard from inside the manor. Soon enough a set of hoof steps were heard before two more unicorn mares stood in front of Blue Moon. Similar to Yellow Moon, the two new mares had healthy shaped bodies. One had a white coat with pink mane and tail, the other had a similar shaded blue coat but lighter, her mane and tail were a leaf-green shade. And just like Yellow Moon, both mares had bright blue eyes.
"White Moon. Aunt Eclipse Moon." Blue Moon said before the two mares wearing similar sundresses joined in the hug.
Seconds, minutes, years, millennia passed for the four of them as tears run the cheeks of the three mares freely. Eventually, the hug was broken.
"It's so good to see you again after all these years, Blue Moon," Eclipse Moon said gesturing the door. "Please, come in, we have much to talk about!" She said cheerfully.
Blue Moon merely nodded and walked inside while Yellow Moon and White Moon cling to each of his arms refusing to let go. Once inside, the door was closed and the four of them made their way to the ample living room and sat down with Blue Moon and his sisters taking the biggest couch while Eclipse Moon sat on the single couch at their right.
"How have you been? Oh, what am I saying, of course, you've been fine! You're the leader of the Followers! But have you eating well? Do you have a nice place to stay in for the night? Have you--"
Blue Moon interrupted his aunt's onslaught of questions by raising a hand. "Aunt Eclipse, please stop. I shall answer you as best as I can, but not right now. Sisters, may you release me, please?"
His sisters did so although reluctantly. He then pulled a letter out of his robe again.
"What is that, Blue?" White Moon asked pointing at the letter.
"It's the letter you sent me. As you requested I have come. Now, tell me, what do you need my help with?" Blue Moon asked with a serious expression.
The three mares exchanged confused glances.
"Blue... we didn't send it. We don't even know what happened to you after you left to form the Followers," Yellow Moon said softly. "We only ever saw you in the newspaper."
"Yellow is right. Heck, we barely even saw you after what happened with Red and him," White said almost spitting the last word.
Blue Moon nodded in acknowledgment. The four of them had agreed to erase every trace of Waterfall Lines, their bastard Embracer of a father, from the family records with the aid of their aunt while Red Moon, their brother he had killed out of mercy, remained as a hero and a victim of the family.
The blue coated stallion looked at his aunt and saw her shook her head. He then looked at the letter again.
"But if you didn't, then who did?" Blue Moon asked a moment before the lights went off. A second later a magical blue shield appeared around himself and his family. "Whoever you are, know that you cannot win!" He yelled.
There was a flash of magic on the other side of the room and then the lights returned.
"Happy birthday, Daddy!" The chorus of half a dozen fillies and colts wearing pajamas was heard while they held a poorly made cake before them with their hands.
The group of adult ponies blinked and stared at the group of foals for several seconds. Blue Moon noticed that four of them were fillies and two were colts. He also noticed they all were around eight and ten years old and all of them unicorns with bright blue eyes and with coats similar his or his sisters and aunt.
"You were all supposed to be sleeping already, children!" Yellow Moon scolded. The foals, however, didn't apologize.
"You told them?" Blue Moon asked looking at the floor.
"Yes, we did." Eclipse Moon confessed without hesitation. "We also told them why you left and what happened during the Fall."
"Why?" Blue Moon asked, his fists shaking in anger.
"Don't be mad at mommy Eclipse, Daddy!" One of the fillies said stepping forward. "We asked them."
Blue Moon raised his head to see the cute little filly that shared his mane and a lighter version of Yellow Moon's coat.
"Why would you want to know something like that... daughter?" He asked tentatively.
One of the colts stepped forward grasping the filly's left hand. "We know the tales of Spike the Brave and Glorious, but we wanted to know the truth. Why so many adults hate those things called caribou so much? We just wanted to know."
"And why you left us, Daddy." Another filly said as the remaining four foals stepped closer. "We--We thought you didn't love us."
"Of course I love you and your mothers! You're my family!" Blue Moon snapped as he got up and walked up to the foals. "It's because I love you I left."
"Now we know, dad," the oldest filly said with a smile.
"Can you stay with us, please?" The other colt asked.
Blue Moon kneeled while his sisters and aunt slowly moved from their seats.
"I can't stay here. This isn't my home anymore, children. My home lays with the Followers of the Grace of the Dragon; our duty is to spread the Teachings of Spike and to purge the world of the depraved caribou and those that act and think like them. Until that task is complete, I cannot return." Blue Moon felt his heart ache when he saw the saddened faces of his children. "But... I think I can stay for a few days with my family if you will have me."
His answer came in the form of six foals tackling him to the ground. Eclipse, Yellow and White soon joined the pile in merriment. Moments later the launched and forgotten cake landed on Blue Moon's head covering entirely.
He licked some of it. "Not bad, children. Though I prefer vanilla. Thank you." Blue Moon said with only his mouth being visible.
Laughter spread across the Moon's Manor that night.
"This is so much bullshit!" An ursa clad in armor and holding a great warhammer called out loud. "I didn't join the army to die in vain!"
"No, you joined the army to follow orders, so now shut up!" Another ursa said a couple of meters away.
Captain Ragepaw merely watched in silence as his troops, begrudgingly, took formation to face the opposing army at the other side of the field. He really couldn't blame them given everything that was happening. It all began roughly a year after the Trial of Spike Solaris. His Queen began amassing funds and stockpiling equipment for what he knew would be a hard-fought war; a logical decision since the formation of the so-called Equis Alliance. He was placed to maintain a vigilant watch on one of the borders with Equestria and to keep a close eye on their military movements.
During his first three years, he feared the worst. He saw how the military might of the griffons, saddle arabians, and changelings grew. More worrisome was the fact that the ponies were quick to adapt and soon formed a mighty military force that had never been seen before. Worst of all was the creation of three specific groups dedicated to hunt down and murder any they deemed as 'tainted' or 'depraved'. Out of those three, the Spike Scaled Units were the ones that actually made him question if Ursanis could even survive the inevitable coming war. They were the most fanatical, ruthless, and merciless of the entire Equestrian military if the reports and rumors were to be believed.
Still, there were also some aspects that didn't add up. The Equestrians and the rest of the Equis Alliance nations didn't close their borders to the rest of nations, although security was highly increased. Worse was when one of his cousins decided to take a trip to the Crystal Empire to see if he could open a market there for his berry business. To say he was surprised to what his cousin told him would be an understatement.
Ragepaw snorted at the memory. According to his cousin, after crossing the border and some initial tension everything was perfectly fine. The deal was made, no backroom policies or deals were threatened, and now he had a branch of his business in the Crystal Empire. What he couldn't believe was that everything looked so peaceful despite the massive efforts of rebuilding and construction going on all around Equestria and the Crystal Empire.
That made him pause. It didn't sound like the ponies were preparing for war. Could they be worrying over nothing? No. Of course not. Their military increase and their ruthless behavior were evidence to the contrary.
During his fourth-year, things got even more sketchy. He didn't notice any increment of border patrols on the Equestrians for months aside for the usual ones. Heck, there wasn't even a single report of intrusion or expansion from their part. Yet his Queen still maintained the high taxation, increased military training, and the production of weapons and war equipment. Was there something he was missing? Why were they preparing for war when the Equis Alliance didn't look like it aside from reinforcing key positions every now and then?
It wasn't until the sixth year when he finally learned the truth: they were the ones preparing to attack the newly formed Equis Alliance instead of defending themselves from it. And not only them; Zebrica, Cervidas, Minotauria, the Diamond Dog Empire, and several other minor nations had prepared themselves for the task. And when the truth finally came out, unrest followed.
It was no secret what the caribou had done to the Equestrians during the Fall after the Trial and the tales of those that visited Equestria or the Crystal Empire. Some didn't believe them, others ignored it, but many felt pity and sympathy for those that had suffered under the caribou regime. He personally believed the tales, but he didn't believe what Spike and his followers did to the caribou was justice. To him, it was simply genocide. Point is that riots occurred all around the kingdoms demanding to not go to war for one reason or another.
Then, martial law was implemented to control the population and after that, the armies began to march.
So, here he was. Captain Ragepaw of the Ursanis Kingdom marching to face an army that was at best a tenth of his own... as an invader.
"I should've listed to Silverpaw and moved when he asked me to," Ragepaw muttered to himself remembering his cousin had moved his entire business to the Crystal Empire months before martial law was implemented. " 'You could retire and help me run the business. Think about it, we'll make a fortune, my business is booming like never before, Ragepaw.' " He muttered again imitating his cousin's voice.
"HALT!" He heard the commanding officer shout behind him and his unit.
Ragepaw watched in silence at the opposing army using his binoculars. Unsurprisingly, most were regular pony soldiers of all kinds, although they looked well equipped. He also saw Royal Guards, also mainly ponies, but he noticed changelings, griffons, saddle arabians, buffaloes, two dragons, a few minotaurs, and even a couple of fellow ursas! He clenched his jaw when he saw a small group of about thirty in the middle of the army wearing purple armor: Scaled Guards.
"This is crazy. Why are they even attempting to fight when they are clearly outnumbered?" The commanding officer said loudly.
"Outnumbered but not outmatched," Ragepaw muttered. "Sir, may I speak freely?" He asked turning back and looking back at a rather tall ursa sitting on a reptile looking steed. The commanding officer nodded. Ragepaw gulped before finding his voice. "Sir, I think we should retreat."
"Why do you think that, Captain Ragepaw?" The commanding officer asked in an annoyed tone. "Are you perhaps afraid of such a small force facing our mighty power?"
"No, sir. But what if this is a trap? Those in the middle are Scaled Guards, but there are only around thirty of them. And they have never been known to travel in numbers lower than a full battalion. Where are the rest?" Ragepaw asked. "That's not all, didn't Spike Solaris warned us about this during his Trial? And those Scaled Guards are known for their ruthlessness towards their enemies. Who knows what they are planning." Ragepaw steeled himself gripping the pole of his axe tightly. "And why are we at war with them? They have not attacked us and there have been no conflicts with them or their alliance since it formed. Why attack them now and not before?"
"Mmmmmm, you are correct, Ragepaw. But it matters not. I care not for their reputation or their numbers. Our Queen wishes to conquer those lands and so they shall be conquered." The commanding officer said glaring at Ragepaw. "Next time you show cowardice or question the orders of our Queen, you shall be executed, understood?"
Ragepaw stared at the officer for several seconds. "Fine then. I'll execute myself." Without another word, he turned back, grabbed his axe, and advanced alone towards the enemy lines. Once he was a good two or three meters in front of his unit he started to run, ignoring the voices of his unit and fellow soldiers.
Ragepaw saw the pony army looking at him and saw archers behind the first line and unicorns ready to skewer him. Once he was close enough, he stopped and turned back to face his unit looking at him perplexed.
"I WILL NOT FIGHT FOR A TYRANT!" Ragepaw roared before tossing his axe away and taking off his helmet and pectoral armor. He then turned to face the pony army and raised his arms and began walking towards them. Several moments later he heard the buzzing of arrows getting close. He closed his eyes and sighed. As he continued to walk he heard the arrows crack and shatter against something. Opening his eyes and looking back he saw a magic shield had protected him. After several tense moments, he made it to the first line of the pony army and was greeted by a thestrals Scaled Guard.
"Welcome to Equestria, friend."
Ragepaw nodded before looking back. His eyes went wide when he saw many ursas dropping their weapons despite the orders of the commanding officer and other captains. Most were making their way back while others were walking up to meet the Equestrian army. He also saw that from above, entire squadrons of Scaled Guards were now diving to subdue the remaining soldiers and officers that wanted to fight.
Ragepaw then turned to face the thestral once more and saw she was stretching a hand to him.
"You're going to attack Ursanis now?" He asked.
The mare shook her head. "We just want to defend our home, not take it away from others."
Ragepaw smiled. "Then pleased to meet you." He said grabbing the mare's hand.
"Who wants cupcakes~?" Pinkie Pie sang while she appeared from behind a couch causing her five friends to yelp in surprise, or in Rainbow's case jump to the ceiling. Only Spike remained mostly unaffected, still, he was holding a pillow in front of his face, just in case.
"Gosh darn it, girl! How many times do we have to tell you to not do that!" Applejack reprimanded before taking a cupcake from the tray Pinkie was presenting.
"I'm glad you got your Pinkieness back, Pinkie Pie dear, but I'm afraid I'll need some time to get-- Could you pass me the strawberry one, Applejack?-- used to it again, darling." Rarity finished receiving the cupcake and then take a dainty little nom on it.
"Sorry," Pinkie said with a giggle. "You can come down now, Dashie!"
Rainbow landed on her spot on the couch watching as Fluttershy and Twilight received their cupcakes before glaring at Pinkie. "I am so pranking you for that."
"Just don't let it become a prank war, okay? Ponyville is not yet ready to withstand that." Spike said taking his emerald infused cupcake. He put it in his maw and chomped for a few seconds. "Ofh mah gosh, thisshh ish shou good!" He swallowed. "I actually forgot what eating felt like!" Spike said slurping his lips. "My compliments to the chef." He said bowing his head to Pinkie.
Pinkie giggled before handing him another cupcake out from her mane. "Here, I made you an extra one, just in case!"
"Can we focus on the show again? It's about to get to the good part!" Twilight said before nibbling on her cupcake and Pinkie taking her seat once more.
The group of seven turned their attention back to the crystalline screen and saw a pony wearing leather armor and a thick black back fur cloth. The stallion had in his hands a bastard sword with the pommel ending in the head of a white wolf. He then abruptly cut a rope and four other ponies; three stallions and one colt got hanged and began to squirm for air. The scene then showed several ponies, griffons, and zebras looking at the four dying stallions for several moments until they were dead and unmoving.
"Heck yeah, they got what they deserved for killing Hoof Snow," Rainbow whispered with a satisfied grin.
"A bit unrealistic though, it takes a long while to be hanged like that," Applejack commented.
"Shhh, just enjoy the awesome," Twilight muttered, her grin wider than Rainbow's.
The group kept watching as Hoof Snow talked with another pony. Spike glanced at the six girls seeing them wearing their warm pajamas; wings and horns recovered and fully healed. He himself wore nothing except for the iron collar around his neck; both because he didn't want to and because he now felt comfortable without them. He smiled lightly seeing his closest and best friends huddled together enjoying something from way back in the day.
"My watch is ended." Hoof Snow stated before walking down a stone tunnel while many others watched him go. Then the credits rolled.
"Oh C'mon! They ended it there?" Pinkie complained crossing her arms. "Pinkie not happy! Put the next, put the next!"
"That was the last episode to come out before, you know," Fluttershy said standing up. There was a moment of silence before she turned to her friends. "But I heard that they are planning on continuing the show later," Fluttershy added with a sincere, warm smile.
"I hope those rumors are true. I really want to see what's going to happen next!" Twilight exclaimed while she stood up and stretched out. "It's still early enough, do you want to play a game? How about Mono--"
"No." Six voices called at the same time.
"B-But--"
"No." The six voices called again.
"I was just suggesting--!"
"No." Again, the six voices called.
"Ughhhh, fine then! Spike, do you still have your Ogres and Oubliettes game?"
"Suuure have it!" He smirked. "Buuuut we are not going to play it. You're no guys. Ogres and Oubliettes is for Guys Night and guys only. Sorry, dudette."
"... Do you want us to start a makeover session with you as our test subject again, Spike?" Twilight asked with half closed eyes. The remaining five mares looking at him with almost mocking expressions.
Spike, defiant, crossed his arms. "Do your worst."
*Half an hour later*
"I have made a huge mistake..." Spike lamented as he saw his face covered in makeup. His eyelids were now heavy with eyeshadow, fake eyelashes, cheeks had a faint pink blush cover, his lips covered in red lipstick, and Rarity had even managed to get a set of earrings on his ear-fins.
"Pish-posh, darling. You brought this onto yourself," Rarity said barely holding back her giggling. "Such a shame you don't have a mane, I know the peeeeerfect style that would fit you," she then flicked her mane.
Spike was about to say something but decided to keep the secret that he could alter the shape of his crest at will for short moments.
"You look so pretty like that, Barbara!" Applejack called.
"B-Barbara!?" Spike half-yelled. "Twilight! You promised not to tell them!"
"Uhmmmm.... sorry?" Twilight offered without much honesty.
"Relax Barby-Waby, it's not your fault you dressed like a filly when you were just a little hatchling!" Rainbow said before erupting into a fit of laughter and wheezing. Pinkie soon joined her, hugging each other trying to control their laughter.
"Fine then, laugh it up for all I care!" Spike called crossing his arms while his face was struck by a heavy blush.
"I think you look really pretty, Barbara. But I think I like you better as a male," Fluttershy said with a little giggle of her own.
"Et Tu, Fluttershy?" Spike deadpanned before looking at the clock. "Oh, would you look at the time. I better get over to the kitchen before the cookies burn. Be back soon," Spike got up and walked out of the royal bedroom where the rest of the girls were now trying to make Rainbow and Pinkie stop laughing. He smiled widely as he made his way to the kitchen.
Soon enough, he entered the kitchen in time to hear a chiming sound coming from one of the many ovens. He walked up to it, opened it, and then pulled out a tray fresh of cookies. He smelled them and his mouth watered.
"Perfect," Spike whispered to himself watching his rich chocolate creations with pride. He then walked to the nearby table and put the tray on it. "Nnnggghhh!" He grunted in pain as he took a hold of his chest and leaned forward on the table, there he saw his reflection and his flickering eyes changing from green to white. "N-not yet, please." He grunted again. "Not yet." He whispered pressing his chest. After a few agonizing seconds, the pain stopped and he sighed in relief.
"Spike?" A somewhat worried voice called. "I-is something the matter, dearest?"
Spike turned to face Rarity, the mare wearing her white, furry pajama, and his eyes focused a moment on the S shaped mark on the side of her neck before drifting up to meet hers. He then smiled widely showing her his fangs.
"Dandy! I was afraid the cookies weren't done yet. Turns out they are more than perfect!" Spike let out a throaty laugh. He watched as Rarity visibly relaxed and she walked up to him.
"Do you need any help, dearest?"
"Nah, the cookies just need a while to cool off enough for you girls. How are the rest of the girls doing?"
"Twilight and Applejack managed to calm Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie down and Fluttershy went to the ladies room. I decided to see if you needed any help, Spikey."
"So thoughtful of you, thank you, Rarity. No wonder you're the Bearer of Generosity," he chuckled. "But as I said before, I think I can manage on my own here. Although, there is one thing you can help me with if you want to."
Rarity smiled. "Of course! I'll do whatever I can to help you, Spikey."
Spike smiled back before his expression turned a little bit more serious. "Listen, Rarity, we all know I won't be around for much longer-- let me finish--" Spike interrupted raising a claw before Rarity could protest. "And well, I don't want to leave before making sure a few loose ends are taken care off. And I only have one more to tie down." Spike turned for a moment to see the cookies. He picked up the tray and turned back. "Rarity, would you... take care of Peewee when he comes back? I think he's going to take a couple of years more until he matures, and I don't want to leave him alone like that."
Rarity looked into his eyes for several seconds, her posture unmoving and her expression firm. Finally, she slowly nodded. "Y-yes, a-anything for you, precious scales. I'll...I will take care of poor Peewee for you, d-d-dearest."
"Rarity, please, don't cry," Spike begged.
Rarity shook her head and wiped her forming tears away. "You're right. This night is supposed to be a happy event!" Rarity smiled at him. "C-come on now, Spikey dearest, the girls must be eager to eat your scrumptious looking cookies!" She then turned around, using her magic to grab Spike's left wrist and gently pull him.
They traveled in silence until they heard the voices of their friends coming from the only partially illuminated room left in the castle.
The seven friends enjoyed themselves with jokes, memories, short games, and a pillow fight-turned-war for a couple of hours more until the mares were all but spent. Spike was ready to leave and let them rest when a magical aura picked him up and tossed him onto the ample bed.
"Ouufff!" Spike said upon landing.
"Where do you think you're going?" Twilight asked sitting next to him. "Did you honestly thought you were getting away that easily? Oh no, you're sleeping with the rest of us, Spike."
"B-But..." Spike stammered, but otherwise the usual repugnance he felt when a female was near... it simply wasn't there for some reason. He looked at the six pairs of eyes looking at him, silently pleading him to stay. "Okay. But only because I don't want to leave you unprotected."
"Dragon Snuggle Pile!" Pinkie cheered before taking a hold of his tail and hugged it close. "Good night!" And just like that, she was asleep the next second.
One by one, the mares carefully picked a spot to sleep on: Twilight and Rarity snuggled at each side of Spike. Applejack and Rainbow moved until their heads rested at each side of Spike's head whilst laying on opposite directions. And Fluttershy slept close by holding in between her hands one of his hands.
"Sleep tight, Spike. We have a big day tomorrow," Twilight yawned and snuggled a little closer to the drake.
"I'm not going. I'll be of more use here helping to rebuild than sitting over at Canterlot. Besides, I don't even need to sleep anymore." Spike said before a yawn escaped his throat.
"Just sleep already, Barbara." Rainbow let out a chuckle before yawning, too. "Dang, I'm pretty beat. Great cookies, though."
Spike smiled and closed his eyes. He yawned once more and for the first and last time since merging with th Crystal Heart, he allowed himself to fall asleep; surrounded by his best friends. Knowing too, that they would sleep peacefully with him being near them. Just like in his cherished memories.
And a peaceful slumber passed for all seven of them.
The sun was shining brightly in the sky. Birds and roosters signaling the early morning all across the land of Equestria.
Ponyville, like any other town, village, and city, was blustering with activity. But unlike the rest, this activity was not attributed to the tireless reconstruction efforts going across the land. No, this activity was due to the final preparations of one Spike Solaris's symbolic funeral.
Many delegates of other nations coming from the recently formed Equis Alliance had already arrived days prior or were arriving at the village. Most of them had been welcomed to stay in the Castle of Friendship while some others preferred to stay in Canterlot.
Males and females coming from a multitude of species were working all around the town in whatever was needed to set everything in motion whenever the event began.
It had been two entire weeks since the death of Spike and while all of Equestria and the Crystal Empire were mourning the loss of the dragon, there were many others that had taken his death harder than most. Six of such individuals were sitting around the Cutie Map in silence, all of their eyes locked on the empty, markless seat next to Twilight's throne.
"Is Big Mac back, Applejack?" Twilight asked all of the sudden shifting her gaze to the farm mare. They were dressed in ceremonial clothes made by Rarity a few days after Spike's passing. Her spark for creating and designing seemingly back. The design was similar but outfitted to each and every single one of them to a personal degree. But instead of being of traditional black, Rarity had colored themed them in a light purple shade and adorned the edges with green stripes and a few emeralds.
Applejack looked at Twilight, then at the empty seat, then at her stetson hat sitting on the table, and then at Twilight once more before replying. "He's back alright." She said with a solemn tone.
"Last night?" Twilight asked.
Applejack shook her head. "Before sunrise. Granny was still patching him up when Ah left a while ago. Applebloom left early to meet with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo."
"Speaking of them, do you have any idea what are they doing, Applejack?" Rainbow asked.
"Somethin' about making a present is all Ah know." She replied leaning back in her seat. "How about you, Rarity?"
"I'm afraid I know as much as you do, darling." Rarity replied while she stroked the 'S' shaped mark on her exposed neck with her right hand's fingers. She then turned to face Fluttershy. "Fluttershy dear, do you by any chance happen to know where Discord is?"
"He's in Canterlot keeping some company to Celestia and Luna," Fluttershy answered while she stared at Spike's seat.
Silence fell between the six mares once more. Pinkie Pie, being the quietest of the bunch, kept on petting Gummy. Aside from her silence, the strangest part about her was that her mane and tail remained fluffy and messy, and her coat was bright as ever.
The sound of gates opening caught their collective attention as they turned to see who had entered the room. Twilight stood up when she saw all her family making their way inside the room. Shining Armor was wearing his usual military suit, proudly displaying the symbol of Equestria and the Crystal Empire on his chest. Cadance was wearing a pristine dress suited for a Princess; she could barely see the baby bump in her belly. Next to her brother and sister-in-law side, her parents followed. Twilight Velvet was wearing a similar dress to Cadance's but in light purple; the baby bump in her belly being a bit more prominent than Cadance's. And finally, Night Light was wearing a deep blue and khaki colored suit.
She walked up to the four ponies meeting them halfway through and they all shared a big embrace.
"Did you sleep well?" Twilight asked her mother once the embrace was broken.
"Like a filly, dear," Velvet answered while her husband held her right hand lovingly. "But did you sleep well? You didn't stay up late again, did you?"
Twilight smiled as she shook her head. "I went to sleep early for today." She then turned to face her brother and his wife. "How about you two?"
"I couldn't sleep at all, to be honest. Too nervous, I guess," Shining said, shrugging.
"I slept nicely enough. Thank you, Twilight," Cadance said idly rubbing her belly.
Twilight stretched to the side to look past them to see two Blood Hunters standing guard outside the still wide open doors and an empty hallway.
"Do any of you know where Chrysalis is?" Twilight asked moments later.
"She left before sunrise to oversee something with her changelings. And the rest of the delegates are either still preparing themselves or are already in town." Shining answered.
"Ah, yes. I forgot she said something about that yesterday," Twilight said as she turned to face her friends once more. "We should head out and oversee the final preparations. Want to come along?" She asked sending a glance at her family. Her response was a collective nod from the four ponies.
The group left the Map Room in silence broken only by their hoofsteps. Soon enough, they reached the main doors of the castle and four Blood Hunters opened them. Alongside the rays of early morning, a familiar looking pegasus was standing at the end of the stairs.
"Everything is secured, Princess Twilight," Soarin claimed without making direct eye contact with anyone, especially Rainbow Dash.
"Thank you, Soarin," Twilight said once she was close enough to him. Soarin backed away before spreading his wings and taking to the skies distancing himself from the group. "Applejack informed me that Big Macintosh arrived this morning. Maybe you should visit him?"
"An excellent suggestion, your highness." Soarin bowed his head and then flew away at blinding speed.
The group stared at the parting Soarin for a few seconds before resuming their advance. As they made their way through town, the group saw frantic activity all over the place with decorations, adorning walls, placing Equestrian banners, pictures or drawings of lost loved ones, and even some brave enough to rise high the banner of Spike when he was Marshal of Dainn. The closer they got to the town center, they began to see bowls of gems, stacks of quills and parchment, broken shackles and ripped collars, splintered (burnt or even adorned) caribou antlers, and other items scattered around while forming roads to walk through the place where the funeral was to be held.
It took them a few minutes to reach the very center of town and when they arrived they saw an open golden colored coffin, a picture of a young pre-Fall Spike at it's left, a picture of Spike dressed in his 'Royal' Marshal armor at it's right, and a bigger one depicting him with a warm smile while his eyes shined of pure white and the Crystal Heart was displayed proudly on his chest in the center and behind the coffin. They also noticed an odd stack of various shaped and sized hats below the nearby banner of the self-proclaimed Rise of Equestria temporary army banner.
A sudden flash of magic caught their attention and they saw Discord, Celestia, and Luna appear alongside several delegates and other rulers of the Equis Alliance such as Blood Talons, Sebastian, Shifting Sands, Creslin, and Blueblood. The last one wearing not a formal suit, but instead his dented, dirty, slightly bloodied, and scarred battle armor alongside his massive bastard sword strapped on his back.
"I see everything is almost ready," Celestia said in her usual calm, warm tone. She was wearing a pristine white dress while Luna was wearing a virtually equal one but in deep blue, the same as her mane and tail.
"...Yes, almost." Twilight replied hearing the distant shouts of everything being finally set properly up for the upcoming event.
Celestia turned to face Rarity and walked up to her. "Rarity, my dear, I believe I have something for you," Celestia said before conjuring with her magic something.
Said something made the fashionista gasp and tear up as Celestia handed her the item.
"I-I-I thought it was destroyed...th-that I had lost it forever. Where did you find it?" Rarity asked looking at the same Fire Ruby Spike had given her years ago. There was no mistaking it, it even had the same gold holders, chain, and the few scratches alongside it.
Celestia smiled seeing Rarity look at it as tears fell from her eyes and slowly put it around her neck. "It wasn't easy, but my accountants were able to find it amongst the thousands of confiscated treasures stored away in the mines below Canterlot."
Rarity traced the Fire Ruby with her fingers a few times before looking at the Solar Princess. "T-Thank you, Pri-...Celestia. Thank you so much." The two mares smiled warmly at each other until Rarity wiped her tears away and summoned a small box with her magic. "I was going to wait until after the ceremony to give you this, but I simply cannot wait any longer."
Celestia took the box with her magic, unwrapped it, and gasped as she picked out from the inside a simple but beautiful silver collar with a large, polished, and exquisite amethyst in the middle that had a golden 'S' in its center. Without wasting too much time, Celestia took the collar and put it around her neck. Mimicking Rarity, the Sun Princess traced her fingers over it several times before looking at the white unicorn mare with teary eyes.
"It is beautiful, Rarity," Celestia said. A moment later both mares closed the gap between them and hug each other close for several moments. Once they parted Celestia wiped away a tear from Rarity's cheek. "Thank you."
"I hate to interrupt you, sister, but it seems we are ready to begin. We should give the signal," Luna said with a warm smile.
"You are right, sister," Celestia agreed, broke the embrace, and stepped back enough to allow her and Luna to shoot a combined beam of magic up to the skies.
For the next twenty minutes ponies, changelings, griffons, zebras, cows, donkeys, sheep, saddle arabians, and a few other species arrived at the center of Ponyville taking their seats. Most of the present were either original inhabitants of Ponyville prior or during the Fall up to its destruction by Spike himself, or those that had followed Spike to Hraljord. Meanwhile, family, friends, and the delegates and rulers of the nations conforming the Equis Alliance sat closer and reserved sections near the coffin and the podium. At various angles and placed in strategic positions were Projecting Crystals similar to those used during the Trial.
Suddenly, everything darkened for a moment followed by the buzzing wings of changelings. A few seconds later the darkness diminished enough to be able to see again though not too clearly. Then, green, purple, and white orbs of light began to fall down from seemingly nowhere but that helped everyone present to see with enough clarity a small group of changelings holding instruments, and in front of all of them stood seven figures known by most of the present at least to some degree.
Those figures were Chrysalis, Coloratura, Sapphire Shores, Songbird Serenade, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom. All of them, with the exception of Chrysalis, were wearing matching dresses of light purple and misty blue. Meanwhile, the Changeling Queen was wearing her usual a dark green elegant dress but adorned with pieces and bits of chitin armor.
Before anyone could really question what was going on, music started to play.
At first, it was the slow, calming sound of an arp and a piano playing some notes, but it soon grew in volume and other instruments joined in promoting any other sound to cease. After nearly a minute of ever subtle increase in volume and complexity, the music suddenly dropped back for an instant before the voice of Queen Chrysalis was heard.
Her firm yet gentle singing voice.
"Fear not this night, you will not go astray. Though shadows fall, still the stars find their way~"
As Chrysalis continued to sing, all the present were taken aback by her voice, the music, and the lyrics. A few seconds later two more voices joined Chrysalis's in perfect unison adding their own beautiful part to the mix.
"Darkness spreads through all the land and your weary eyes open silently. Sunsets have forsaken all the most far-off horizons~" Coloratura and Sapphire Shores now sang alongside Chrysalis.
"Nightmares come when shadows grow. Eyes close and heartbeat slow~" The trio sang while Scootaloo and Applebloom joined in as backup.
If the audience wasn't wowed before, they sure were now. The song was powerful, but gentle and warm at the same time; it almost felt like a warm blanket no one knew they needed. This went on for some time until the last two mares, Songbird Serenade and Sweetie Belle joined in, the latter doing so with a nervous step while the former encouraged her gently.
"Pleading, sighing arias; gently grieving in silent misery. Darkness sings a forlorn song, yet our hope can still Rise up~!" Seemingly finding her courage, Sweetie Belle joined in full. A few seconds later the horn of Chrysalis lit up with intense magic as they reached a new verse.
"And though the night sky's filled with blackness~" Her horn shot a bubble upwards as the music turned grimmer and darker. It then exploded showcasing the Crystal Heart covered in green flames. "Fear not, Rise up, call out and take my hand~!" It then morphed into Spike holding out his arm for a few moments while the music turned chipper, brighter, and forceful before the image of the dragon disappeared.
The seven mares continued to sing in their roles with more vivacity and intensity, but never losing the essence of the song while the music shifted and moved alongside them in perfect unison for almost an entire minute.
"And you can always be strong~. Lift your voice with the first liiight of daaaaaawn~" At this moment, the music chimed down and return to its original tranquility. "Dawn's just a heartbeat awaaaay. Hope's just a sunrise awaaaaay~" This last part was sung by Chrysalis only while the six remaining mares stepped back. The music then entered its outro, which in contrast to it's intro, it faded slowly over the course of nearly a minute until it finally came to a satisfying end.
The remaining darkness vanished but the light orbs remained albeit weaker.
Not a moment too soon after did the clapping of all the present was heard for several seconds as the changeling playing the instruments bowed their heads and the seven mares in the front bowed their heads once or twice. It took a couple of moments, but the clapping came to an end and with a command of their Queen, the changeling flew off and the seven mares went to take their respective seats. Though it took longer for many to clean away the tears rolling down their cheeks.
"That was fantastical. I knew you could sing, but nothing like that." Cadance said to Chrysalis as she sat down next to the pink alicorn. Cadance noticed a small green blush on Chrysalis's cheeks.
"I can't believe I ever agreed to do that," Chrysalis said ignoring Cadance's remark. "You should be thanking those brats over there," she said pointing at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "They came up with the song and somehow managed to convince us four to sing it alongside them."
"Ah," Cadance exclaimed. "And the changeling orchestra?"
"...My subjects insisted on it. And all you saw was also their idea," Chrysalis said while her blush slightly intensified.
Cadance merely smiled and dropped the subject.
A few moments after emotions had finally settled, Celestia got up from her seat and walked to the podium, but she was then abruptly stopped by none other than Night Light.
"Your Highness, please, if I may?" Night Light asked rushing to her. The two of them exchanged glances for several seconds until Celestia stepped aside. "Thank you... Celestia."
Making his way to the podium Night Light felt his throat tighten and then he stood in from of hundreds of present. The momentary afterthought that tens of thousands were watching him through the projecting crystals only served to strengthen his resolve.
"Hello, my name is Night Light Sparkle of House Sparkle, husband of Twilight Velvet. Many only know me as the father of Prince Shining Armor Sparkle and Princess Twilight Sparkle," Night Light went silent for a moment and looking straightforward. "In a sense, I was also the father of Spike, but I think my own son did a better job at it than I ever did. I've known Spike since the day he was hatched by my daughter," Night Light looked down at the podium before taking a quick glance to his family and the royal family before looking forward again. "When my daughter first brought Spike to our house, under the protection of Princess Celestia herself, I at first saw nothing more in him than a pest. A dangerous pest."
Night Light sighed at the silence he heard. "Then, as months went by I began to see him as an annoying pet that burned and chewed anything and everything he could get his little claws on. Then, when my daughter-in-law began babysitting my daughter Spike finally left my household, but my daughter would bring him home at every opportunity she had, and my vision of him became ever more hateful. That is until he began to develop more and more and showcase what I even forgot he was: a dragon."
"Each time I saw him all I saw was a potential killer and a monster biding his time to hurt my baby girl. But... but I began seeing Shining and Twilight playing with him so peacefully. Cadance treating him just as she treated my Twilight. Celestia doting her protection over them equally. At how my own wife treated the nasty, ugly, ghastly little reptile no different than her own children. And how the bond between him and my daughter grew each day... I came to the realization of the immense mistake I had made with Spike. And by the time I tried to fix the damage, it was already too late. My son left for the Academy and my daughter was given her own tower in the Castle, and so where she went, Spike followed. After that, I was lucky to see them about three times per year for the following ten years. I tried to get close to Spike, and to some degree, I succeeded."
Night Light stopped for a moment to take a deep sigh. "He would always call me 'Uncle Night', never Dad. Not even once.Not even by some slip of the tongue or by accident, unlike with my dear Velvet whom I caught him call her Mom or Auntie Mom a fair number of times when he was but a hatchling and during his early years as my daughter's assistant. And when they moved to Ponyville I knew I had lost any chance there was to be the father figure Spike always lacked," Night Light frowned. "To think that absolute bastard dared to call Spike his one true son...," Night Light took in a deep breath. "... and that Spike had to call him father even if he had to keep his cover... I cannot begin to tell you how wrong that is to me."
Night Light turned his attention to the open coffin to see it empty.
"And now all I can say is... I'm sorry, Spike. I'm sorry I was never the father you deserved. I'm sorry it took me so long to see past my own mistakes. And I'm sorry... I'm sorry to have never called you 'Son'."
Night Light left the podium and walked over to his seat and sat down, refusing to cry even as tears were glistening in his eyes. He saw Celestia now take the podium and he looked at the picture of the young Spike. Two trickles of tears made their way down and past his cheeks.
"Cadance couldn't make it?" Luna asked from her seat. She was wearing her usual regal attire, much like her sister, while the newly arrived princess, Twilight Sparkle, wearing some loose pants, a yellow shirt, a dark green jacket with a hoodie, and her crown atop her head.
"She sends her regards though," Twilight answered sitting next to the lunar princess. "Chrysalis isn't coming either. She's leading an assault near the border of Cervidas against a presumable caribou force that is calling themselves 'The Male Superiority Faithfuls'."
"It would seem some managed to hide and escape at the end," Celestia said before taking a sip from her tea. "Twilight, it is good you managed the time to come," Celestia said with a smile.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Twilight replied as she looked around the mostly empty room. Aside from the table, seats, snacks, tea set, and a very old looking book atop said table, there was nothing else on the desolated, ruined room. "What is this room, Celestia? I've never seen it before."
"There are many secrets still left in this old castle of ours, Twilight. Some which we hold dear to our hearts, such as the case of this room," Luna answered before taking a quick sip from her tea. "Our nephew Blueblood and our niece Cadance know of this room already, shame they couldn't come join this day. Chrysalis shall also be missed, but I believe we can share the tale with her on a later date."
Twilight nodded, her eyes drifting down to the book. "Is that what you wanted to show us? OH! Is it a missing book from Starswirl the Bearded!?"
Celestia stifled a giggle. "Not this one I'm afraid, Twilight. This book is a family photo album of sorts, although back in the day only sketches could be made to fit the pages of a book," she said taking the book with her hands, open it, and then go through the pages for a few moments until she found what she was looking for.
Wordlessly the sun princess handed the book to Twilight. The Princess of Friendship looked at the surprisingly well-kept sketch, first noting that while the book looked old it felt good as new in her hands. She stared for a few moments at the sketch before looking at the alicorn sisters. "Are they... you?" Both sisters nodded. "Wow... You look even smaller than when we used the Elements of Harmony to cleanse the Nightmare out from you, Luna. And you, Celestia, you look so..."
"Young?"
"You said it, not me. I was going to say tiny; you look smaller than the average adult mare. Even your manes look like normal ones here," Twilight frowned a little looking at the third figure in the sketch standing in between the sisters. The third alicorn, bigger than the sisters, had pale blue, almost silver colored coat, flowing yellow mane, and bright blue eyes and was male. He was wearing a set of armor with a sword and a scabbard on his side. Tiny Luna was holding his right hand while Celestia was resting against his side while he laid a hand on her left shoulder.
Looking up to the sister once more she asked. "Is that... is that your brother, Blueblood?"
"Prince Blueblood Solaris the First," Luna answered putting down her teacup. "Divine Creators... what would he say if he was here with us now, Tia?"
"Probably something depressing and sad, reminding us yet again about the futility of one's hopes and goals," Celestia smiled sadly taking back the book.
Luna giggled. "Yes, I can see him doing just that. 'Prince of Pessimism', father used to call him in jest if I remember correctly."
"Ah, yes! He was always such a pain to hear when he got his 'creative strikes' and started reciting poem after dreadful poem," Celestia groaned. " 'In hopes of light I render my soul to waste, for in darkness I can see only it erased'. Gods, he drilled that poem into my skull," she laid the book open in the middle of the table.
There was a moment of silence before the sisters sighed in unison.
"I miss him so much, Tia," Luna said looking at the sketch. "I wish I could hear him sing his awful, sad song just one more time..."
"Me too, Lulu, me too," Celestia shared a sadden gaze with her sister as they looked at the sketch. "It's funny, is it not? How painfully similar Blueblood and my son were at the end... or in general for that regard."
Twilight looked at the sketch one more time for a few seconds. "Can you tell me more about your brother, Princesses?"
"Of course. That is the reason we invited you here today, my most faithful student," Celestia smiled at the lavender alicorn. "Blueblood, unlike my Spike, was, for as long as I can remember, always a pessimist. Always expecting the worst out of everything, always doing his absolute best to never stand out, to just complete a task with the minimal measure of success possible. Father lectured him so many times about his duty and purpose that I think in the end he just gave up. And mother always tried to push him onward, cheering to be more open to things and be not so gloom... until the day Grogar came."
"Father and mother fought against Grogar with everything they got but that soulless lich was evenly matched against them. In the end, they sacrificed themselves to send Grogar to the deepest pits of Tartarus where his powers meant nothing. Before passing, our parents wished to pass on the mantle of the Sun and Moon to Blueblood, but even then he rejected it as he dimmed himself unworthy, so with their last breaths they passed it on to us," Luna said holding an arm out of caress the sketch.
"Blueblood did what he could to rule over the Old Kingdom, and he did a surprisingly good job, too. He spent all the time he could with us playing games, teaching us how to properly control the Sun and Moon, reading Lulu bedtime stories--"
"--Always ending in the tragic death of the heroes or with a bittersweet ending." Luna interjected.
"--or just trying to be our big brother over the ruler of a nation. Sadly, with our parents passing, the Warding fractured until it collapsed and then the Windigoes came. The Three Tribes blames the other for what had happened, despite Blueblood's efforts on trying to maintain our subjects united. In the end, the influence and malice of those ice demons served to strengthen the petty old grudges the tribes held against the other from before the rule of Father and Mother."
"In the end, we had to flee from our home while those demons chased us. When we first arrive at the land we now call Equestria everything seemed fine, but Blueblood, ever the pessimist, stated that it would be futile to keep running from the Windigoes. They were too powerful and their influence only served to drive us ponies apart further," Luna said with a solemn expression. "My nephew Spike and dear big brother Blueblood were quite skittish... no, they were cowards, always running away from danger. But when we needed them the most, they became the bravest souls we have ever known. And just like Spike walked into the abyss, as Blueblood would say, our brother pushed us and our subjects out of the way and confronted the Windigoes on his own."
"Careless for his own safety. Suicidal in his goal. Uncaring for survival. That's how Blueblood fought against the Windigoes, but there were too many of them and only one of him. Before those demons could end our brother, it was the united will and unity of our subjects and ours that ended the Windigoes instead. For the longest time, we thought all had been wiped out, but my son even faced one in his quest... in a way, and this may sound incredibly silly, but I believe that in a way Spike finished what Blueblood started against the Windigoes."
"D-Did he die during that battle?" Twilight asked.
Luna shook her head. "He survived, but it had cost him dearly. Even an alicorn can't survive for long after fighting on his own against hundreds of demons as powerful as the Windigoes were. Blueblood was crippled and his health was rapidly degrading; his body poisoned and damaged beyond measure."
Celestia closed the book. "Blueblood died a few months after. He begged us to leave him out of history, he didn't want to be remembered as a failure... or remembered at all, for that matter. We promised him he would always live in our hearts and that we would take care of his family from that moment onwards. He died a day after his son, Blueblood the second, a unicorn, was born. Even in his last moments, he did what he loved doing the most... being his insufferable pessimist self," she ended with a chuckle. " 'I wonder if mom and dad will let me inside their castle? Probably not... but if they do... I wonder if Father will like my new poems? Will Mother find them worthwhile at last? Maybe. Perhaps. I'll find that out soon enough. Tia... Lulu... the abyss... it beckons to me. Sing me the song, please.' " Celestia said those last words of her brother.
"If I die in this world, who will know something of me? I am lost, no-one knows, there's no trace of my yearning~" Luna sang with a low, somber tone.
"But I must carry on. Nothing worse can befall. All my fears. All my tears. Tell my heart there's a hole~" Celestia continued in the same manner.
"I wear a void, not even hope. A downward slope is all I see~" Luna followed taking a hand of her sister.
"As long as breath comes through my mouth, I may stand the slightest chance~" Celestia squeezed gently at Luna's touch.
"A shaft of light is all I need... to cease the darkness killing me~" They both ended in chorus at the same time, humming a melody for a good few seconds after the end.
Several seconds passed between the three alicorns until Twilight broke the silence.
"I... I had no idea," Twilight stammered out. "You were really close to him, right?"
"Very. I more than Tia because I clung to him at every chance I got," Luna confessed. "I regret not approaching Spike after my return and subsequent recovery. We spent so little time together, I barely got to know him at all before Fall began. It is grueling that we came to grow closer during the Fall."
"I can't claim to know how you feel, Luna, but I do understand to some level. Despite Spike being my little brother, there were times I honestly forgot that. The resurgence of the Crystal Empire reminded me how important he is to me, and how important I was to him," Twilight sighed. "I can see some similarities between your brother and Spike. But we both lost them in the end to their cause."
Celestia clutched her necklace, gifted by Rarity, with a shaky hand. "After his trial he and I had a little chat about everything he had confessed. He...," Celestia took a deep, calming breath. "He cracked down. He was so angry that he wasn't put to death. He said to me he had wished to die like that; hated but free after saying his part and the ultimate 'Go Fuck Yourselves' to our so-called allies that left us to suffer under the caribou regime," Celestia stopped for a moment, gripping her necklace tighter. "He confessed why he vomited each time a female touched him without his permission or wasn't wearing his gise during the Fall. He couldn't bring himself to say it during the trial."
Twilight looked down at the table. "It's because he enjoyed the sexual activities, correct?"
"Yes," Celestia answered not surprised at all. She already expected Twilight to know. "A little over two years as an Enslaved, having sex almost daily programmed his body to enjoy it out of instinct the same way females were broken." She stated softly.
"He didn't tell me, if that's what you're thinking," the lavender mare clarified looking up to Celestia. "Discord, Big Mac, and almost every male have similar effects. Discord closes up. Big Mac becomes stoic and emotionless. Soarin hates himself. Shining is actually pretty similar to Spike but doesn't vomit as often. Button Mash... Button Mash won't leave his mother and daughters side outside from his work. And many, many others."
"Each has their coping mechanic despite suffering from the same source," Luna said almost in a whisper. "It is sometimes easy to forget that our stallions, colts, and males suffered as much as we females did with us outnumbering them almost eight to one," Luna shook her head. "It's almost funny now that I think about it," her fellow princesses looked at her with curiosity. "My dear nephew Spike had no regards, reservations, nor limits for his vocal expressions. Yet he still felt enough shame to never openly admit the reason he eluded females like the plague if at all possible. He, who had embraced his darkest desires in full and spearheaded the Rise, I do admit to being terrified by what he did, but I am thankful at the same time. So much for the 'Heartless Monster', those Tartarus damn idiots in Minotauria are spewing."
"I guess it is kind of funny, in a twisted, ironic way," Twilight added with a small smile. "Now that we are speaking about monsters. Celestia, remember that time you, Cadance, Spike, and I were playing 'Save the Dragon?'"
"AH! How could I ever forget that!" Celestia said with a beaming smile, slightly confusing Luna. "You two chased me all afternoon trying to save fair Spike from the clutches of the Evil Pony Princess! You three looked adorable with your makeshift cardboard armor and weapons!"
"Oh gosh, I totally forgot we used to wear those all the time and that I wanted to become a Royal Guard while also being you Student!" Twilight laughed. "I also remember we ransoming you with a ton of cake for Spike's freedom!" She said making Celestia blush a little.
"Now THAT I have to hear!" Luna said leaning forward.
"Okay! It all started after Cadance finished reading us a bedtime story the night before..."
As the lavender alicorn began to tell a happy little story from their infancy, they relished on the moment, enjoying this small window of tranquility and understanding.
Diamond Tiara walked around Banyard Bargains, the Rich family emporium. In the old days prior to the Fall, back when she was still a filly, she looked at the store like nothing more than the place her father managed and owned. She quite never understood why her father had so little time for her or why on Equis did he have so much respect and adoration for the Apple Family as a whole. To her, Applebloom and her family were nothing more than peasants, rube; lowly farmers that should be kissing her father's hooves for letting them sell their produce at the well respected and profitable store.
But now? She no longer thought that. Fall or not, this is what she was being prepared for by her father and in a minor way by her mother. This was her family's legacy. Banyard Bargains was all that remained of her family aside from her. And only now she came to understand the full weight of actually owning the damn thing and came to a simple conclusion: it was hard.
Managing the bills, proving new resources, haggling and fighting for contracts with farmers, lumberers, factories, and others to gain the right to sell their products, propaganda campaigns, checking with the employees, checking that everything was working and was well stocked, diverting funds to pay for previously made loans (thankfully frozen and heavily diminished once the Rise liberated Equestria), securing merchant spots, having to put up with ever-shifting resource price change.
The paperwork.
Diamond Tiara sighed in defeat. If only she could go back in time she would smack her younger self for going on her usual shopping sprees while she neglected her studies. More so she would bleed her own ears out until her old bullying died out. She had been a naive, spoiled brat to the core; there was no denying that. Only now she understood that despite her work was hard, it was nothing compared to the kind of dedication and hard-work the Apple Family, and pretty much every farmer out there had to put into maintaining their crops and livelihood. She also understood that is was HER shop that depended on the produce provided by those she once belittled. It was a matter of simple logic.
No produce = No business.
Diamond Tiara sighed again, eyes landing on the portrait of her parents proudly hanging from the wall atop the cashier. Filthy Rich was smiling while Spoiled Rich looked serious and slightly condescending as ever. If she had to confess, she would easily say that she felt closer to her father than she had ever felt towards her mother. A mare that from the get-go had pushed to be a less-than-honest pony. Her intentions were good, in a way, but her methods were not. Her father, on the other hand, did his best to teach her through example and when push came to shove, force her to do learn many a lesson. Her smile faltered a little when she remembered the few times she had rejected her father wanting to spend time with her just so she could party with her 'friends'.
Looking at her father, Diamond felt the coldness of his absence but also felt a surge of pride knowing all he had done and his crucial part on the eventual liberation of Equestria.
"Everything is almost ready, Tiara," Silverspoon said stepping out of the main office a story above. "You okay?" She asked seeing the expression of her friend.
"I'm fine, Spoon. Just remembering the past a little," she said never parting her gaze from her father's smiling face. "Gosh, I was such a nasty little brat back then, wasn't I?"
"No doubt about that, Tiara. But, then again, so was I," Silver Spoon said while walking down the wooden stairs. "I still can't believe this and the Apple Household were the only places Spike didn't burn down."
"The fire burned half of it though, thankfully it was only the storage area and unloading zones," Diamond Tiara replied with a chuckle. "Hey, Spoon, do you miss being around the camps?"
"Hmmmm, sometimes, yeah. Polishing weapons and armor, tending to the younger ones, learning how to cook was really fun for me, and training when we were old enough. I miss tending to the changeling nursery chambers. Changeling grubs are sooooo cute!" She gushed holding her cheeks. "Do you miss it too?"
"Ha... not with your same enthusiasm, but yeah, I do... Hard to believe we finally grew up there." Diamond Tiara said folding her arms.
"I hear you. At least we grew up in relative safety, Tiara, thanks to Mister Dad," Silver smiled looking at the picture while she stood next to her friend.
"Yeah... all thanks to dad," finally looking away from the picture, Diamond Tiara turned to see her friend. "Everything ready up there?"
"Yup, everything's in order, clean, and ready to receive the new owner tomorrow morning," Silver Spoon looked around for a moment. "You sure you really, really, reaaaaally want to do this, Tiara?"
"Never surer," Diamond replied without hesitation. She then turned to the exit and grabbed a rather hefty looking rucksack. "Applebloom will take care of the place better than I ever could now that their farm is thriving more than ever before," Diamond stopped near the exit and waited for her friend to reach her, also carrying a similar rucksack. "We have to hurry if we want to reach the Crystal Empire by tomorrow morning along with the festival."
Silver Spoon smiled. "Ready to become a Scaled Guard and make Mister Dad proud?"
Diamond Tiara took a last glance at her father's picture and smiled. "Ready!" She then pushed Silver out of the way and ran out the exit. "Last to reach the train station's polish both armor sets for a month!"
"Why you no-good cheating mare!" Silver Spoon yelled before darting after her friend.
Both childhood friends laughed all the way through to the train station.
Canterlot was falling into complete and utter chaos.
Mere minutes ago he was overseeing a new shipment of females ready to be milked. Then a white light came out of nowhere, and instants later an earth pony stallion cried out so loudly it was a miracle his vocal cords weren't ripped to shreds then and there. He saw the pony tackle one of his 'fellow' caribou brothers before tearing his antlers with a mighty pull. He watched, dumbfounded, as the pony was brought down by several spears coming from more of his brothers and a few ponies.
Then he heard another scream, then another, and then another. It took scant seconds for the entire city to be drowned in screams of anguish and hate, soon followed by those of pain and the orchestra of battle.
In that moment he dismounted his warbeast and ran inside the milker mill he had been working almost ever since the Fall started.
A place he hated with all his might.
Before entering, he saw a green, powerful barrier of sorts surround the castle. He gave it little bearing and went inside. The scene that greeted him was all too familiar: mares, does and females of other species were bounded, shackled, and strapped on contraptions meant to retain them on a painful, uncomfortable kneeling position as a vibrator came in and out of their privates. Their breasts, large but firm, were being milked for their valuable milk: a delight for many a caribou.
The females had to be red collars or nearly broken blacks to achieve the grade his superiors demanded, so they were always complacent. But aside from the caribou cows and does, almost every other female was thrashing around trying to free themselves.
Olaf gritted his teeth until it hurt him, his head pounding with anger.
"What the fuck is going on outside, Olaf!?"
Olaf turned to the side to see his superior and a couple of his fellow workers coming from the basement where they stored the females.
"...Revolt," he replied hissing the word. "Revolt against Dainn and the caribou," he said a bit louder. "The entire city is in chaos."
"The damn rebels dare to attack us and our almighty King!?" His superior shouted as he pulled the warhammer strapped on in back.
"The Barrier is gone," Olaf said turning to see the females once more, fists clenching hard.
"The Barrier our King made... broken?" One said incredulously.
"It can't be! Nothing is more powerful than King Dainn; much less so than male superiority!" Another added outraged.
"Was it that light from before?" Another asked but no-one replied.
"Fucking shit!" The superior shouted. "Everyone, we must secure the sluts before going out there and teach those rebels who their Master is! Maybe we can get some more stock for free along the way!" He laughed. The others joined in.
Olaf glared as he saw the females struggling against their restraints. He focused on one in particular: a pegasus mare, a teenager according to ponies, with blueish coat, yellow mane, and tail, with an open book cutie mark, and vibrant honey colored eyes.
"Those bitches will finally understand the true power of male superiority!"
Olaf felt his arms shake as the mare stopped struggling and looked at him, her eyes wide.
"Ha ha ha! YES! Those worthless cunts dragged their asses to us in this petty, insignificant attack? Good, I say! I've been wanting to add a few more holes to fuck for my collection!"
Olaf felt his anger diminish a little while he looked deep into the eyes of that mare. He didn't know her name, but he knew she had arrived a few months back. He recognized her, he had been tending to her alongside virtually every other mare currently in the mill and those that had been discarded to the dumpster when they stopped producing milk like the superior wanted.
"You may want that, brother! I for one just want two or three. Buying a toilet is very expensive, but training costs practically nothing! My last one broke a week ago, I need a replacement fast."
Olaf took a quick glance around to see the other females, almost a hundred of them, before focusing his gaze once more on the mare. She took notice of him staring at her and froze. It lasted for a second, and then she looked at him with a pleading stare. Deep. Strong. Longing. She was begging him to help her.
It was no secret he was far tamer when compared to his fellow caribou around the mill. Some females had even been bold enough to truly thank him and not because he was a 'Master'. Fury, anger, loathing, and hate returned the moment he grabbed his twin battleaxes from his back.
He knew it was stupid. Pointless. No one could stand against Dainn. Not the rebels. Not the Liberators. Not the Forest of Death. Not even a God such as Discord could stand against Dainn. Fighting back against male superiority was useless and only served to please the caribou when they were opposed, so their victory would be all the greater.
He had given up hope so long, long ago to escape from the Tartarus he was in he simply accepted his fate as a Heretic amongst his own kind.
"RRRAAAAAHHHHHH!" He shouted as loud as his lungs allowed him before throwing himself at his stunned and confused fellow caribou. With a swing of his left axe the head of the superior rolled to the ground. His right axe followed suit to sever the hands of another, the stag stumbling back and screaming in pain. Before the remaining three could properly react, he did a mid-spin and lopped the head of another of his brothers. Still driven by his momentum, Olaf twirled his axes once before driving them through the unprotected chests of the last remaining two caribou.
He fell to the ground along with them, his axes stuck in their chests. He quickly stood up, retrieved his axes, and moved to finish off the still screaming and cursing stag on the floor.
When he was done, he looked at the females. All of them with the exception of the caribou ones, had stopped their struggling and were now wide-eyed looking at him.
"..." He didn't say anything to them and he made his way to the control panel and shut everything off. Pulling on a leaver, their restraints came off minus their shackled hands and their gags. "I'm going outside. I'll lock the door... and you better pray that anything but a caribou comes back in." Olaf said before doing as he said. Before closing the door, however, he looked at the mare one last time to see tears, happy ones, falling from her eyes.
Once outside, Olaf saw several of his fellow caribou currently engaged against a minor rebel force formed by many males and females from several other species. It appeared that the caribou forces were pushing the rebels back. A nearby scream made him turn his attention to see a changeling female, a mareling if he was correct, struggling against a stag who was preparing himself to rape her on the spot as most of her armor was removed on her lower half.
Olaf felt his rage surge once more, and so he tossed one of his axes at the caribou; the blade impaling itself right in the middle of his head, then he fell. He ran towards his latest victim to retrieve his axe, moving the body aside to see if the mareling was alright. She was scared and confused as she saw him pull out his bloodied axe from the skull of another caribou.
"HERETIC!" A shout came from the side.
Olaf watched as a stag, a calf near adulthood really, charge at him with a spear.
Olaf moved to the side at the last moment, giving him enough space and time to cut the head of the calf with a brutal, vicious swing of his axes.
"Y-you..." the mareling stammered.
"Are a Heretic? Yes," he said with a scowl and lips pursed in anger. "And I have never felt freer in my entire life than right now, fema-- lady." He said offering the handle of his right axe to help the mareling stand up. She took it, still slightly puzzled, and he brought her to her feet with a strong pull. "Can you walk or fly?"
"KILL THE HERETIC AND THAT CUNT, BROTHERS!"
Olaf turned back to see a group of twenty or so caribou and a few 'Guard Bitches'. Holding his axes tightly, he stood in between the mareling and the group. He took a quick glance to the side to see rebel reinforcements had arrived and they were now fighting to a standstill the caribou forces on the other side of the street.
"GO!" He shouted as he charged against the group. The mareling obeyed and flew away to meet her allies. Olaf took a low-guard stance with his axes spread to the sides as the group sent their females guards first. "DEATH TO DAINN!" He shouted with all his might before charging forward on his own. His axes fell upon two of the female guard's chests and an arrow struck his shoulder.
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"Hurry! He's here!"
Olaf opened his eyes to see a blurry image of a mareling and a few others he couldn't recognize.
"He's a caribou, Skiak!"
"He saved me, Lago! He's a Heretic, like the Liberators!" The mareling, Skiak, said back angrily as she knelt beside him. "H-Hey... how are you feeling?"
"...Tired...," Olaf answered watching his blood-stained hands, his axes nowhere to be found, and three spears latched on his abdomen along with a broken leg and a missing antler. "...Cold..." He looked at Skiak. "F-Females... Milking Delights... I left them u-unbound but shackled and locked... for their s-safety."
"A team already stormed it. They couldn't believe when they said a caribou stag saved them," she said trying to grab one of his hands.
Olaf pushed her away. "This is fine...," he said looking at the nearby burning buildings and at the corpses of at least a hundred caribou and some ponies laying all around him while he was sitting on the ground, leaning his back against a wall. "This is fine...," he began to close his eyes.
"Hey, HEY! Don't you dare die on me now! What in Chrysalis's mucus are you waiting for!? Help him!" Skiak ordered. Her fellow rebels finally reacting and doing as she asked.
"No need...," Olaf replied. "Is it over? Is it truly over?"
Skiak gripped his hand tighter. "Yes, it is over. The Fall is over. Dainn was defeated by the Element Bearers after Spike and Queen Chrysalis wore him down enough," she revealed.
Olaf smiled, blood running down his mouth. "Male... superiority... huh? Wasn't as... invinci... ble as that... monster... claimed," Olaf closed his eyes. "This is fine." He said one last time and his breathing stopped.
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*Nine years after the end of the Fall*
Captain Skiak of her Royal Majesty Queen Chrysalis Royal Guards, stood in front of one of the many monuments built in Canterlot's graveyard that commemorated the fallen heroes of Equestria, and those that had suffered and perished under the caribou regime in the span of those four torturous years; their names engraved in the purest slabs of marble shaped in the form of flame. At her side stood her husband, Noteworthy, and Silky Feather, her best friend, and the reason they could come every year to visit this monument in particular.
"Thank you, Olaf. Thank you," Silky said tracing her fingers over the engraved name that almost seemed impossible to believe it was there:
'Olaf the Caribou, silent hero of Equestria, may you rest in peace.'
"Can you tell us anything about your new project, miss Brilliant Draw?" A mare holding a microphone and wearing a cosplay of Wonder Amazon asked.
Brilliant Draw, an earth pony mare with brown colored coat, pale yellowish mane and tail, green eyes and wearing a simple deep purple summer dress looked at the audience sitting in front of her. There were around three thousand or so ponies, griffons, saddle arabians, changelings, and others in between the crowd, most of them wearing some sort of cosplay depicting a superhero. She smiled seeing a few wearing Power Ponies ones.
"..." She leaned in making the entire room silent. This wasn't her first convention, she had been in that same spot many times over the years, but she always relished on doing that small tidbit, just for good old times. "I'm glad that you ask, Clover Lace. First of all, I would like to thank each and every single one of you, fans of my work, for your support once more. Now then, regarding my newest project, I'm sure all of you know my mother's work, the Power Ponies, was left inconclusive. A year into the Rise I tried to continue the story, but I failed to deliver expectations."
Brilliant Draw smiled.
"It pains my heart to say this, but I believe no-one other than my mother, Sketch Draw, could ever conclude her beloved series," her smile faltered a little. "Sadly, my mother is not with us anymore and thus the Power Ponies will remain as they are," her smile returned upon hearing several groans and murmurs of disappointment. "I have strived to live up to my mother's legacy with my own works."
"Faster than a striking lightning, more powerful than an Ursa Major, capable of jumping any castle with a single jump: Super Drake!" Someone in the audience chanted earning cheers of approval.
"Philanthropist and play colt by day, agent of vengeance, fear, and justice by night: Batpony!" Another chanted.
"The changeling of a thousand and one faces, able of being everywhere and nowhere at once: Bug Pony Hunter!"
"Will and honor are his weapons, humbleness his greatest trait: Apple Lantern!"
"Be it with words or with scythe in hand, her justice and honor shall be done: Wonder Amazon!"
"Half Sea Serpent, half pony; mistress of Aquatopolis and protector of the seas: Aquamare!"
"No criminal can escape justice's arm, for he shall get them in the blink of an eye: The Flare!"
The audience cheered in unison once the final superhero introduction was chanted. For several moments this continued until Brilliant Draw tapped her mic creating some static and gaining their attention.
"My mother used to tell me that why tell something when I can show it?" The lights in the room dimmed out while a crystal projector began shooting a black screen behind Brilliant. "Yes, the Power Ponies may never reach their conclusion... but that doesn't mean their mantle is dead," she raised her hand as the audience shushed themselves trying to calm squeals of excitement.
For a couple of seconds nothing happened, but soon a tone of music could be heard. It grew in volume as it turned inspiring and firm. A few seconds later the black screen was being slowly replaced by a sunrise with seven obscured figures walking forward as one.
Squeals, cheers, and some screams of excitement and approval were heard but were quickly silenced by their fellows. As the sun rose up in the back more and more, the shape of the figures, while still blackened, revealed who those seven figures were. The music increased in volume as the sun consumed the figures forming the word 'JUSTICE' in bold, silver letters and the word 'FRIENDS' appearing below it.
The scene lasted for a few seconds before it turned to a set of white eyes only to reveal it was Batpony before he threw one of his trademark Batarangs. When it 'hit' the screen, a flash of light was seen and was replaced by Wonder Amazon blocking magic blasts with her bracelets, each hit momentarily showcasing a gorgeous changeling mare. The last block sent out the brightest flash of light right before it was moved to the side to reveal a griffon holding an apple shaped lantern shining intensely with green energy. It turned to the front of the screen and in a flash of light, an apple shaped ring appeared in one of the finger claws of the griffon that had a determined look in his green eyes.
The screen went black for a second before it was brought down by two punches by a dragon wearing a cape before he leaped forward and flew away. The background turned orange and red as a minotaur stood in the middle of the screen, it quickly morphed into a diamond dog, then to a pony, then to a dragon, and as the camera approached him it finally morphed into a changeling with red eyes. The camera panned into the eye before a flash of yellow and red changed into a saddle arabian running at what could be perceived as incredibly fast leaving a trail of dust and sand behind him. Once the dust trail covered the screen, a waved washed it over to reveal a mare with a dragon tail stand on top of a rock holding a trident up high and giant tentacles emerging from the water behind her.
A few moments later the screen went black for a split second before the obscured face of Super Drake appeared. The camera then quickly panned out to showcase the seven superheroes standing side by side at the top of a cliff.
Then the screen turned black and the lights returned, the title 'JUSTICE FRIENDS' now showcased in the screen behind Brilliant Draw. The entire room was silent.
"Ladies and Gentlecolts, I proudly present to you my newest project: The Justice Friends! The spiritual successor to the acclaimed Power Ponies!"
The room erupted in cheerful uproar as Brilliant Draw closed her eyes and smiled wider than ever before.
"The land is green, the forests wrought. And hearts around are fire-hot~" Chrysalis sang softly, her voice gentle and caring like one singing a lullaby. She stood tall and proud in front of the Crystal Heart as it spun around slowly, shining with dim blue and purple light. She was wearing a beautiful rose-colored dress that fit her like a glove and served to accentuate her figure. A gift from Cadance a few weeks ago.
"The music rings, they sing out loud. The darkness fades from souls unbound~" She sang staring at the Heart. It was late and dark with no guards guarding it upon her request. Yet in the air, she could smell merriment and the intoxicating fragrance of delicious love. Love she no longer craved every waking second. Love her subjects were now given freely and in such abundance that many had come to truly understand it and start giving it back in return.
"Their freedom lies upon His throne. From Canterlot to Griffonstone~" She closed her eyes, allowing herself to wonder where would she and her subjects be if the Caribou hadn't come. If she had fallen during their first meeting. If Spike had not been freed from the Corruption to become the one spearheading the Rise. If Dainn hadn't been stopped.
"But still the land is yet unclean. With pain in heart and soul between~" Chrysalis smirked shooking her head slowly. It didn't matter in the end. They had won and ten years after the Rise, the land had become almost entirely cleansed, and any evidence that the caribou had ever enslaved Equestria and the Crystal Empire only existed as dark memories and in secluded history books. The real and complete story at least, no kid born after the Rise was allowed to know the complete horror of the Fall, and everything in between, until they were old enough.
"There lies His soul in Crystal Case. His friends wanting to see His face~" The changeling Queen hummed for a few seconds after. She opened her eyes, vision partly clouded by tears.
"I never got a chance to know you more, Spike. We were so focused on what we were doing that we barely got to know each other, and yet we became allies, comrades, and later on friends. I never questioned my own motives, never regretted my actions; always telling myself it was for the best of my Hive, and they were. Always." Chrysalis cleared away her tears. "Yet it took the Fall to show me I was lying to myself... never opting for anything less than domination. I was stupid back then. Ignorant. Never gave a chance. Never cared to be given one."
"And now? My Hive is growing in prosperity. No longer my children starve, no more they fear that agonizing end. We are welcomed and respected all thanks to our actions and our victory," she went silent for a moment. "You showed me something beautiful, Spike. Your devotion... your connection... your love for your friends and family. A love I came to taste when you directed to me more than once... my friend," Chrysalis took a step towards the Heart. "The same kind of love you showed for them and only them, your friends and family. And now? Now I have so many friends and a family beyond my hive."
The wind whistled for several moments until the sound of teleportation was heard.
"Auntie Chrissy! Auntie Chrissy!" Two loud, cheerful voices said in unison before tackling the changeling Queen.
"Shouldn't you two be in bed by now, Flurry, Skyla?" Chrysalis smiled as the two fillies hugged her torso tight and she patted their backs.
"Can you tell us a bedtime story, Auntie Chrissy?" Skyla looked at her with puppy eyes, both sisters dressed in dragon-themed pajamas.
"Pleeeeeease?" Flurry added her own set of puppy eyes.
Chrysalis shook her head, her smile never wavering. "Alright, alright you two. But only because you should be sleeping by now!"
"YAY~" Both sisters chanted in unison as they nuzzled their beloved aunt.
"Can we go tomorrow to the Grub Nursery, auntie?" Flurry asked as the Queen's horn began to glow.
"I want to cuddle ALL of the grubs! They are so adorable!" Skyla squealed.
"We'll ask your parents tomorrow, little ones," Chrysalis said smiling. Suddenly, both sisters turned to the Crystal Heart and waved at it.
"Goodnight, Uncle Spike!" They said smiling from ear to ear.
A heartbeat later the three mares were gone in a flash of green light, ignorant to the Crystal Heart shining brighter in response for only a short-lived moment, right before a series of flashes appeared revealing Scaled Guards taking up their positions around the Heart once more.
Every Zebra in the Tribe's Chief tent was silent and dumbstruck, except for two. One was wearing a simple brownish robe while the other was dressed in tribal armor sitting in front of the robed zebra.
"Zezil... I should throw you to the scorpions for uttering those words." The zebra in tribal armor said holding his spear's pole tightly.
"Then do it, Zhaka. It won't change the fact that what I said is true," Zezil countered opening his arms wide.
Several seconds passed in silence until Zezil dropped his arms.
"Why should I believe you, Zezil. You, who were exiled from your tribe and roam the land preaching those lies about our glorious King."
"Glorious King my flank, Zhaka!" Zezil stomped the ground. "That fucking bastard was going to hand Zebrica to Dainn on a silver platter if it meant keeping the throne, and you know it!" Zezil huffed. "Don't believe me, Zhaka. Believe the warning of Spike during the Trial. If Zebrica goes to war against the Equis Alliance we are going to lose; half the tribes are against it to begin with!"
"..." Zhaka stood up. "You want me to believe the idle threats of a genocidal maniac that drove an entire species into the brink of extinction and killed thousands by his own hands?"
"Zhaka...," Zezil growled. "You know what the Male Superiority Faithfuls do... what they did to your sister---"
"If you dare to talk about her like that, I will rip out your heart where you stand, Zezil," Zhaka said with fury in his eyes.
"Do you think I believe the lies the King spewed about her? No. I know the truth. She was not an agent of those sick fuckers, she was taken... and made to suffer the same countless females and males turned females had to suffer during the Fall, Zhaka."
The fury in Zhaka's eyes diminished. "Is that why you have come here, to my tribe's tent, to ask me to betray my King, whom the Zhulu have served his Royal Bloodline for five hundred years as their greatest and most loyal subjects?"
"Yes," Zezil said firmly. "Do you want your daughters to suffer the same fate as your sister? Because I assure you, they would have and probably even worse at the hands of the caribou if your oh so glorious fucking King had given Zebrica to Dainn," Zezil took a step forward. "I was there, Zhaka. I saw and did countless atrocities in the name of the caribou and of Male Superiority. You have no idea how depraved those fucking assholes were like. I do... Divine Creators, I do know," he then fell to his knees. "Please, Zhaka, you're the only one strong enough to take the crown from that cowardly asshole."
"It would be treason!" Zhaka barked.
"IT WOULD BE SALVATION!" Zezil countered with such force that Zhaka took a step back. "Yes, you would betray everything the Zhulu Tribe have fought for, but you would save Zebrica, too. Half the tribes don't want this war and most of the others aren't too sure about it either; only the Dhurri, Kinmo, Xakala, and the Yorihamu are backing the King in full. Zebrica would be in debt to you, Zhaka," Zezil inched closer. "The Equis Alliance would thank you for dethroning that fucking mule sitting on the Throne. Please, I don't know about the other countries, but if they somehow manage to punch through their borders... do you really think the ponies and the changelings are going to risk another Fall?"
"..." Zhaka sighed sitting on his throne again. "The ponies are weak, Zezil."
"The ponies are strong, Zhaka. They are peace-lovers, that much is true, but now they have been bloodied beyond reason and imagination... that's an entire nation ready to cut the head of whatever dares to think can take their peace away from them again. And you know it," Zezil chuckled. "The Matriarchs of the Sun and the Moon, the Element Bearers, the Changeling Queen, the might of Saddle Arabia, the air dominance of the Griffons, the power of the Yaks, the loyalty of the Buffalo... the God of Chaos himself, that's what you are facing, Zhaka, if you allow that idiot to continue with his delusions of grandeur and blind conquest. Not even our scaled brothers and sisters are thinking to join that fight; they know it is futile. A suicide."
"Please, I beg you, in the name of Zebrica, kill the King and take the throne."
Zhaka closed his eyes and breathed slowly for a few minutes. When he opened his eyes, he turned to see his daughters and his most trusted chancellors and shamans... all of them nodding. He then turned to see the gathered warrior in the lounge, all of them nodded. Lastly, he looked at the servants all around the tent, all of them nodding.
"Very well, Zezil... I, Zhaka the Zulu, shall end this madness before it begins. For Zebrica. For the Zhulu," he then stood up as he chanted something. His eyes turned black, runes appeared all over his body, and his spear began to shine slightly. "Drop the enchantment."
The moment the order was given, the frantic sound of troops preparing and moving all around them was heard. Zhaka moved outside the tent, followed by his loyal warriors, eyes focused on the King's tent a hundred meters in front of him.
"Zhu’l kar-iji, Koptaka zu hawarudo." He muttered increasing the intensity of the marks and runes all over his body and armor, his eyes now two black pearls.
A moment later he sprinted towards the Royal Tent when he saw his King step out of it flanked by two of his guards.
The theatre went silent and most lights died down except for the ones illuminating the ample stage. Silent went the idle talks and eyes turned their focus to the illuminated stage.
It didn't take long before a changeling, morphed as a naked Spike Solaris, walked to the middle of the stage in almost complete silence.
The changeling in disguise bowed before the crowd, a few times in different directions. Once he was done, he began to speak. "I thank you all for coming to this the fifth annual festival that commemorates the Rise of Equestria and the birth of the Equis Alliance," the dragon brought a hand up in front of him, remaining silent for several seconds.
"My name is Spike Solaris, but I'm sure you all know that by now! But wait, isn't Spike Solaris in the Eternal Fields now? Well, maybe, maybe not, who knows?" At that several soft and merry giggles were heard throughout the crowd. "I'm sure many of you have heard stories about me, right? How I can fly without wings. How I can shoot lasers out from my eyes or roar lightning. I didn't know I could do that!" Spike chuckled earning several more giggles, chuckles and a few laughs. "I can't fly, I don't have wings, but I can jump good!" Spike proceeded to jump about twenty meters above the stage at the sound of many 'whoas' and 'oohhhhhs'. Then he landed as if nothing happened.
"I can't shoot lasers out of my eyes... though I wish I could, zzapp zzapp!" He said using a finger to 'shoot' as the crowd. "And roaring lightning? Only when I drank a little liquid rainbow. Kids, don't do it, I know it looks tasty but liquid rainbow is very, very spicy and leaves your tongue like fhviiiisssss!" He said rolling out his rainbow-colored tongue earning a mix between 'eewwwws' and 'awesome!''s.
"But, there are many more things that are true about me. How I saved the Crystal Empire by giving Princess Cadance the Crystal Heart the evil King Sombra wanted. Or that I saved thousands of lives by melting a giant cloud turned to ice during the old Equestria Games. Or how I fought against the dark and evil caribou that made us slaves."
"Ah! You know those titles! Then surely you must know others? Prince of Equestria! Leader of the Rise! Princess Twilight's Number One Assistant! Great and Honorable, Spike The Brave and Glorious! Most handsome dragon ever?" Several laughs and giggles were heard. "I know, I know. I'm pretty great. But do you want to know a little secret? I wouldn't be who I am if it weren't for Laughter, Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, Honesty, and Magic." As he said each Element, their respective symbol appeared above the stage. "All of them make Harmony and Harmony makes Friendship. That's why I am so strong and why I was able to be a great hero when I had to. I owe everything I am and everything I learned to my wonderful friends and my family, never forget that, kids, for they are more precious than every gem and all the gold in the world."
Spike folded his arms. "Look around you and you will see ponies, changelings, yaks, griffons, saddle arabians, and many, many more. We, all of us, are part of the same family. A family I started without realizing. A family I look over and smile each time I see one of you wonderful little rascals follow the path of Harmony and fight to protect and live by it."
He then extended his arms. "Enough with the boring stuff! Do you want to know where I come from?" Shouts of agreement were heard; enough to make the dragon flinch at the volume. "Settle down, boys and girls, because this is my story, of how I came to be Spike Solaris, The Dragon, The Reaper, The Lightbringer." He cleared his throat. "I began as a solitary egg when Princess Celestia found me," behind him a pony dressed as Princess Celestia walked like she was strolling through the park when suddenly a paper mache egg landed in front of her. "'A dragon's egg, alone? That's impossible!' she thought. She looked and looked and looked for the dragoness who had laid the egg, but couldn't find her!"
Upon the grades, Princess Celestia, her sister, and her closest family and friends watched as the Celestia on the stage faked looking for someone like the changeling in disguise told.
"This was a fantastic idea, sister dearest," Luna whispered next to her ear. "To tell the children of the Fall the story of our dear nephew, during the Festival no less, is very keen of you. Necessary, too, for their future."
"Excluding the more explicit components of the story, aunt Luna," Blueblood said at her side. "But I agree with you."
Blueblood smiled watching how his cousin, Spike, was kneeling in front of his mother wearing a suit of armor that would later become the standard issue for the developing Scaled Guards. The only difference was that his armor had a golden 'S' on his chest. He watched as the Princess of the Sun, his oldest aunt, placed a crown on Spike's head. The crown was practically identical to her own, with the difference that a green flame replaced the magenta colored gem in its centerpiece.
"Rise, my son. Rise, now as Spike Solaris, Crowned Prince of Equestria, Protector of the Realm, Reaper of Darkness, Lightbringer of Justice, Blight of the Caribou." Celestia announced with a serious, firm, and authoritarian tone that clashed with her usual soft and welcoming voice.
And so, Spike raised up. Once he was standing on his legs, everyone watching erupted into chaos: cries and cheers were deafening; far surpassing the roars of the few dragons present, cotton candy clouds whistled and applauded with their rubber arms, magic casters shot color beams and explosions of magic to the sky along with fireworks, Spike's several titles were being chanted all over the place. It was a day of festivity for Equestria now that Spike had finally joined them, taking his rightful place with his family.
Blueblood felt happy for his cousin as he and Celestia shared a short-lived hug, followed by Luna, then by Cadance and Twilight, then moving to each of his present friends and allies. Even Chrysalis shared a hug with the drake. Soon enough came his turn, and he was able to see the eyes of his cousin up-close.
He was not happy.
"Spike..." he whispered his name as they hugged. "... Please... at least try to enjoy this day, for their sake," Blueblood pleaded.
"I am having a blast, Blue," Spike whispered back.
The hug ended and Spike moved to now simply handshake the heads of the noble houses. Blueblood watched until Spike finished and finally made his way back to Celestia's side. She invited him to sit on his own throne right next to her: mostly symbolic since the ceremony was held in the open fields of Canterlot; cleared out a week ago for the event.
Instead of complying, Spike turned around, took off his crown, and tossed it behind him only for it to land on the couch of his seat. He then began to take off his armor.
"I accept the honor of being your new Prince with open arms! It is something I dreamt about ever since Twilight became a Princess... to be at her side and my mother's side and my family's side and my friends side as one of them. A true equal amongst them. I honestly cannot ask for a better mother than Celestia Solaris Aeterna. She saved me, took me in after my hatching, fed me, dressed me, taught me, and loved me. I cannot express how much I love the mare I am ever so grateful to call 'Mom'," he finished by stripping out of his armor completely. Then, she shot a mighty pillar of blue fire to the sky making everyone shout in approval.
"BUT THIS IS POINTLESS!" Spike roared practically silencing them all. Blueblood, for his part, merely sighed knowing something like this was bound to happen. "So what if I'm a Prince now? Does that change who I am or what I did? Of course not! If you truly welcome me as your Prince, then get your sorry asses out of here and start fixing shit! Equestria won't repair itself, you know?" He then breathed a stream of green fire over himself and a second later a working helmet, a shovel, and a hammer appeared on him. "Dinner time shall be the feast! So for now, follow me, grab your gear, and let's work!"
"LIGHTBRINGER! LIGHTBRINGER!" The chorus of ten thousand changeling throats was heard quickly followed by tens of thousands more belonging to ponies, donkeys, cows, sheep, and many others that parted ways to allow a free path for Spike and then followed him.
Blueblood shook his head and walked to Celestia. "I believe I told you he would do something like that, auntie."
Celestia sighed while Luna, Chrysalis, the Bearers, and Discord chuckled trying to control their laughter. "Come on everyone, we have work to do, too."
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" Orestes, once an elevated Royal Guard Captain to Captain-General of the entire Royal Guard Forces in the Crystal Empire by his majesty King Dainn, cursed and shouted as he raped a crying but unmoving cervidae doe. "FUCKING ASSHOLE! DAMNED TRAITOR!"
Orestes, better know throughout Equestria as the Arch-Traitor and the First Embracer, a stallion that had helped Dainn succeed in the Fall by luring Shining Armor and Princess Cadance to him in the first place. The stallion that now grunted and raped his frustration and hate away with a captured doe for the umpteenth time that day.
"FUUUUUCK!" He cursed louder than ever as he came inside the doe. He breathed harshly and sweat glistened on his fur. "Take this slut away, throw her with the rest of those animals," he commanded. Two earth pony stallions, colts really, dragged the doe away only to toss her into an ample cage where other females were cowering in fear as they cried.
"You seem angrier than usual, Lord Orestes," a caribou said arriving at his said.
"It's that fucking traitorous lizard. Even in death, his treason knows no bounds. Look at this, Captain Moloch," Orestes tossed a newspaper at the caribou.
"WHAT!?" Moloch shouted a second later. "The Spike Scaled Guards!? And they are led by those damned traitors of Blueblood, Macintosh Apple, and Soarin!?"
"Wine!" Orestes shouted. Almost instantly three stallions and a cervidae buck came to him carrying a gagged zebra filly. The filly had her wrists tied together, legs spread apart, a black collar around her neck, a severely bloated stomach, and a something plastic covering her vulva. Once the four males were in front of Orestes, one of the stallions removed the plastic seal from the filly's pussy letting a stream of wine flow out from her and into Orestes's waiting mouth. He drank for a few moments then moved back, instantly after the stallion reapplied the plastic seal on the filly before being carried away.
"That fucking reptile took away our paradise, the rightful rule of all Malekind. Everything was going so smoothly, so perfectly. A little more time and I would've...," Orestes shook his head. "It doesn't matter." He let out a deep sigh. " Look at this, Moloch. We are forced to hide for our survival and the survival of Male Superiority. We don't even have the scraps of what we used to have," Orestes spat. "Having to drink Little Slut Wine because we don't have Mare Milk or Cunt Juice? Fucking disgraceful." He said as he watched his small hideout, one of many throughout the outer borders of Cervidas, Zebrica, and Minotauria. There were several males raping females either for fun or just to kill time. He grunted. "We don't even have proper shit cleaners or breeders."
"Worry not, my Lord, soon we shall rejoice in the promise that is Male Superiority once more!" Moloch said tossing away the newspaper. "What that bastard of a traitor caused upon us will only make us stronger and our vengeance swifter; Equis shall know that just like a rigid cock, Male Superiority cannot be overpowered."
Orestes smiled. "That's absolutely correct, Moloch. But to achieve this goal we shall need supplies, whores, and proud, true males to join this holiest and absolute task and truth," Orestes's smile turned into a dark grin.
"The bitch sisters may be relaxing now alongside that pink cunt, the bug skank, and the purple slut. But they shall soon learn that without their precious reptile, they are powerless. They will be bound to shackles once more, they shall serve as the brainless slaves that they truly are, and they shall bear my foals. I shall retake the place and task of our glorious and divine King Dainn and make every stinking, worthless, shit-eating, cocksucking female on Equis bow down to their Masters, and then, Male Superiority shall reign supreme, as is the will of nature and the universe itself!" Orestes got up in the midst of cheers from those that had heard his speech.
"You may be a pony, my Lord, but you were blessed by King Dainn, you are worthy to carry the mantle for the caribou," Moloch said with a small bow. "What are your orders, my Lord?"
"Spread out, raid caravans and regain our stocks. Seek out worthy males and show them the light that is Male Superiority, for we are the Faithful to its divine mandate wherever possible. Cervidas, Zebrica, Minotauria and any and all Equestrian trading routes shall be our main targets as we take solid roots. We shall invade Equestria slowly, making our slow hoof-hold in there. We shall build numbers up and bid our time to strike at Equestria... for it shall Fall once more, this time under my hooves. And this time, they won't have their monster to protect them. All hail Male Superiority! All hail DAINN! ALL HAIL ORESTES!"
"You think you can treat me like this? Me? Lord Orestes, future Emperor of Equis?" Orestes sneered, barely fighting against his restraints, while he glared at one of the Scaled Guards standing a few steps away from him.
"..." The guard remained silent, though that didn't stop him from glaring death upon the pegasus stallion sitting on a metallic chair in front of him. The guard watched Orestes, the cursed Arch-Traitor, faintly struggle against the bounds, shackles, and bindings that kept him on the chair at all moments. He was butt-naked and had several scars of his own doing trying to free himself when he had the strength to do so, and several more from 'love taps' he and his fellow eleven guards gave him from time to time just to shut him up. At least for a few seconds.
"All of you are a disgrace for Malekind. But I offer redemption, for I am not without mercy. All you have to do is bow and pledge your loyalty to me and to Male Superiority and your sins shall be forgiven. Throw away the damnation females bring and join me in the conquest of Equis, and together we shall bring justice and order to this cunt filled world!"
A guard hit Orestes in the gut with the blunt end of his spear. "Shut the fuck up already, traitor!" The guard yelled while Orestes grunted. "Divine creators, why can't we just gag him, Major?"
"Because we were ordered not to." Another guard, a dragon, replied. "Ah, it seems our duty is fulfilled."
He said before the metal gates of Orestes's secluded prison cell parted open revealing several figures clad in Royal Guard, Night Guard, and Scaled Guard armor, plus a few Followers and several shamans, medics, and equipment came into the fairly ample cell.
All of them lead by a changeling clad in Scaled Guard armor and wearing a helmet in the shape of Spike's face. The changeling took it off.
"Captain Yog, we have stood guard over the--"
"Yog? You, the fabled Yog? YOU!? HA! You are even more pathetic than I imagined. But what can be expected of a bug waiting to be squashed under my hooves? Release me at once, insect, and I shall make sure you join Spike in Tartarus for your crimes against Male Superiority." Orestes spat with hate.
"That won't be necessary," Yog said looking at a guard ready to strike Orestes. He then smiled walking over to Orestes. "Do you know why you are still alive, Orestes?" Before the stallion could reply, Yog grabbed his lower jaw and forced him to stay shut while the stallion grumbled and growled trying to speak with muffled anger. "You are still alive because we need you that way for what we have in mind, but your crimes cannot, and will not go unpunished, Arch-Traitor. It is my duty, honor, and infinite satisfaction to be the one tasked with making you sing, scum."
Yog smiled, his expression turning maniacal. "Your screams of agony shall make up for the first part of your punishment."
Not a moment later did Yog spit a glob of green mucus over Orestes's eyes.
"MMMMHHGGNGNMMMMMAAA!!!!!" Orestes screamed against Yog's hold.
"Can you feel it, Orestes? That right there is a mix of changeling mucus and vile; a mix that turns into a weak corrosive acid. Can you feel it burning and eating away at your flesh?" He asked while Orestes continued to scream and struggle. "Pass me number six," he ordered before another scaled guard handed him a small hammer and a set of small wood nails. "You see, Orestes, as I am sure you know by now, I am the captain of the Claw Unit. We are widely known for our work as the weapon specialists, tactical assessments, intelligence handling, and our subterfuge operations. But like every other Unit, we do something more. Something below the surface. You see, Orestes, the Claw Unit is also in charge of the interrogation and torture of criminals, deviants, and traitors. You will not believe how many of your loyal subjects gave out their secrets to us."
"FFFJJJKKK UUU!" Orestes cursed.
Yog dropped his smile and let go fo Orestes. "Hold him tight, make him watch," as ordered, two Scaled Guards took a firm hold of the stallion's head and forced him to look down at his bound left hand. "This one is a personal favorite of mine. Please, scream all you want, Orestes. Give our audience a good show!" Yog said before putting a nail in between the space of nail and flesh of his exposed index finger. Then, the hammer fell upon the wooden nail, driving it deep into the stallion's inner, extremely sensitive flesh.
"AHHHHHH! AHHHHHRRRRGGG! FUUUUCKKK!" Orestes screamed as loud as his lungs allowed him while Yog hammered the nail further into his nail. Each strike barely strong enough to drive the nail millimeters at a time. Several seconds later Orestes snarled and drooled incoherently while the two guards forced him to watch every agonizing moment through a green mucus screen that also slowly burned him.
When the nail was finally all the way inside, Yog whistled as he tore away the exposed fingernail following it up by pouring salt water upon the beating, red flesh. Orestes screamed to the heavens once more.
"One down, nine to go~" Yog sang.
Over the course of ten minutes, Orestes could do little more than scream and curse at the whistling changeling while he nailed and tore away his fingernails. By the end of it, he was almost blind; the slow working acid doing its work perfectly.
"You know what to do," Yog commanded allowing the shamans and medics the space needed to work. A minute or so later, Orestes was back in one piece completely healed.
Orestes looked at Yog with hate. "If you think this is enough to make me reveal my masterful plans, you are sorely mistaken, bug."
"Ohohohohoho! That won't be necessary, Orestes. See, this isn't an interrogation: this is torture. The reason you were healed is to let you know that no matter what I do to you, you will survive and heal right back up, only for me to do something else. Again. And Again. And Again. I will push you to your absolute limits. I will give you back a billionth fraction of all the pain, suffering, and misery you wrought upon Equestria and the Crystal Empire. I will give you pain beyond measure, push you to the brink of death and madness, only to pull you back so I may rejoice in doing so again."
Yog's horn began glowing with an eery green light and his light began to shine with an intense green, burning hate.
"I am not Spike by any means, though I think I can come to a close second of what he would do to you, Orestes. What I did to you just now is nothing more than the tamest pain you will experience for weeks before what we have in store for you come to fruition." Yog snapped his fingers. A moment later a table filled to the absolute brim with jars containing liquids, sharp, blunt, piked, and other bizarre objects, and other instruments with unclear purposes was put at his side.
"The first phase is the tamest one, though the most extensive, Orestes. Physical Torture. Then we shall move to Psychological, Emotional, and finally to Magical. Oh, I can't wait for those, Arch-Idiot." Yog gave Orestes a fang-filled sadistic smile as the doors began to close once more.
"Fucking caribou," Shining Armor hissed as he put down a sheet of paper over a small pile and grabbed another sheet from a bigger pile. "Fucking caribou," he hissed again repeating the process. "Fucking caribou," and again. "Fucking caribou. Fucking caribou. Fucking Dainn. Fucking Orestes. Fucking caribou." And again.
"You know I can hear you, right?" Chrysalis said sitting next to him on an identical desk doing a similar task minus the low hissing swearing. "It takes away my focus, Shining," she ended placing a paper sheet over a small pile. She was wearing a long blackholed dress with shoulder plates, her mane curled into a bun, and a set of red glasses adorning her face.
Shining Armor, for his part, was wearing his Royal Guard Armor. "Sorry. I don't even notice when I do it," Shining apologized with little sincerity in his voice. "How are things going on your end?"
"Surprisingly well this month so far. Granted, I've only gone through a few of my reports, but so far only seventeen breakdowns, six relapsing shocks, four Spike Syndromes, and two suicides. My Mind-Menders are proving to be an incredible help to all but the most severe cases. Even zebra potions and buffalo rituals are working better for those extreme cases. Speaking of which, have you heard about Soarin yet?"
"Fortunately, yes. That reckless idiot almost impaled himself during the last operation. Had to send him to see a Mind-Mender. At least now he has a new stock of those zebra potions," Shining hissed as he reached for a new report sheet. "Have you heard about that group of fanatics that is gaining ground? The so-called Followers of the Grace of the Dragon?"
"Ugghh, don't remind me. It's becoming particularly popular amongst my changelings."
"Do you think they might become a problem?"
"Worse than the Female Might Alliance or those idiots gearing up for war? Not a chance. My changelings informed me they follow a pacifist doctrine, though their beliefs and guidelines are worrying. They sound more like a cult or a religious sect. One dedicated to Spike. Easy to guess why their beliefs are so popular amongst my changelings, is it not? Aside from their worrying popularity and growth, they appear to be harmless."
"We should keep a close eye on them. The last thing we want is a zealous group screaming bloody murder to the four winds."
"Agreed."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Fucking caribou." Shining hissed. "..." Shining slammed his fist on his desk making it creak.
Chrysalis stopped and looked at Shining Armor, his face contorted with rage. "How bad is it?"
"Manehattan... 67%. Fillydelphia, 87%. Ponyville, 65%. Las Pegasus and Cloudsdale, 45%, each. Neighpan, 54%. Canterlot, 69%. Appleloosa, 34%. Trottingham, 71%. And you don't want to hear the results for Mexicolt, Neighbana, Stalliongrad, Prance, or Germane." Shining said with a firm tone filled with hate.
Chrysalis looked at mouth agape. "I was aware it was bad... but not that it was that bad, Shining." She said with shaking fists.
"Neither did I, Chrysalis. So far, if the rest of the reports are similar to these... we are looking to anywhere between sixty to seventy percent total."
"Fucking caribou," it was Chrysalis's turn to hiss now, her wings buzzing with rage. "Do they mention any specifics?"
"Yes. Everything ranging from species, gender ratio, casualties, birth and genetic deficiencies." Shining slammed his desk again. "Ponies, zebras, bovines, sheep, buffalo... changelings. Fucking maniacs. They... they...," Shining slammed his desk again, this time so hard he sent his papers flying as the desk finally broke. "Fucking. Caribou." He fumed. "I knew it ran deep... but these statistics? They are nightmarish, Chrysalis. Sixty to seventy percent of the total pregnancies and births during the Fall were due to inbreeding and incest," Shining revealed with a dark tone.
"What about abortions?" Chrysalis asked in barely contained raged. To hear that her own changelings had been forced, absolutely literally in their case, to commit incest made her already boiling hate grow by volumes.
"...During the Fall, only natural abortions and 'accidents' are listed. Once the Rise kicked in... it skyrocketed to 89%. Total. 96% loss if you count suicides, the parents breaking down and killing the children, amongst others. And that's the ones we know about so far." The stallion let out a dark chuckle that would've frozen the blood of a dragon had one heard him. "A little more than a third of the total number belong to Mother and Son incest... with Sister and Brother, Father and Daugther, and general line-inbreeding taking a good chunk of the rest."
"...Any Kirin we should be aware of?" Chrysalis finally said after a minute of cold silence between the two.
"Thankfully, no. Somehow Spike was unable to impregnate any females. Maybe he did something to himself."
"Knowing him, that is definitely a possibility. Though that doesn't explain his time as an Enslaved."
Shining shook his head. "Whatever the reason, at least we won't have to deal with that. Take that for whatever solace it grants, I guess." Shining slumped back in his chair grabbing his head with both hands and tugging at his mane. "I don't even want to imagine the complete hard numbers, Chrysalis. There were four hundred and fifty million citizens between Equestria and the Crystal Empire, adding two million if we count your changelings. In total, we lost nearly seventy million... seventy million, Chrysalis. And at least four-fifths belong to females. Whoever said the caribou were not committing genocide to us is nothing short of a brain-dead idiot at best," Shining let out another chuckle. "Sixty to seventy percent... that's around eight to ten million of the non-caribou young birthed during the Fall and the start of the Rise, given the breeding rate those fuckers had our people subjugated to."
"At least we ponies can handle first inbreeding generation better than other species thanks to our redundant chromosomes. But others..." Shining shook his head. "How bad is it with changelings?"
Chrysalis took down her glasses. "Thankfully, not as bad as you might think. The larvae usually die before reaching the state of grub or even nymph. But when it happens only the healthy ones survive, though they are sterile and show a significant mental potency. Inbreeding for us changelings is highly frowned upon, though not completely forbidden. But being forced to it in such a way...," her wings buzzed with anger.
Before they could continue, the door to their joint workplace was opened revealing Cadance holding two bundles.
"Another desk, Shining?" Cadance smiled weakly at her husband.
"...Sorry."
"How are you doing today, Cadance?" Chrysalis asked putting on her glasses once more.
"Better now that my daughters are asleep... which both of you should be doing too. It's already past midnight."
"Already?" Shining looked at the clock. "Sorry, Cadance, I wasn't paying attention to the time. Again." Shining sighed. "You should get going then, I still have--"
"To help me with my paperwork? Thank you but no thank you. You ponies are terrible at understanding changeling reports. Cadance, take your husband out of my sight so I may finish my work in peace for once," Chrysalis said dismissing the couple with her left hand.
".... Right. I'll see you tomorrow, Chrysalis," Shining Armor said as he made his way to his wife.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Chrysalis watched as Shining Armor took a hold of his two baby daughters and feeling his genuine joy when doing so; allowing herself to smile only when the door was closed behind them.
Empress Shifting Sands and Creslin looked on from their tent as female caribou and, sadly enough, lost females from the Fall worked around the capital city of Hraljord, Maletopia, unofficially renamed as Safeguard by the Liberators. The females were naked, wearing red collars around their necks, and doing only what they were told to do: be that cleaning, helping with carrying materials to the proper Saddle Arabian workers, all of them female, or simply by staying put. All of this under the watchful eyes of the few Liberators that had volunteered to be switched into males again just for the sake of Creslin's plan.
"Hard to believe it's been ten years already," Shifting Sands said watching thousands upon thousands of lost females doing pointless, repetitive, hollow tasks.
"It's terrifying when you think about it, Sands," Creslin began. "All we had to do was to tell them the males had gone to conquer the world and had left them behind to serve the few 'Guardians'," Creslin eyes one of her switched sisters. "And that they would return eventually... it's been ten years and look at them... they are obedient and eager to do whatever we tell them to do. Not even once have they questioned why the males haven't returned." Creslin huffed. "The Insidious Sickness... a true abomination that has been ended."
"Indeed. Even without males present they are... gone. Lost. They have been doing the same tasks and activities for almost ten years now and yet they still perform them with those smiles and that glint in their eyes. To imagine Dainn envisioned... this for all females...," Shifting Sands glared at the city. "That that traitor I once called husband, High Dune, was going to accept Dainn and the caribou... I... I should've acted sooner, Creslin." Shifting Sands felt the hand of her friend land on her shoulder making her look at the cow.
"Now now, my friend, we can never know what would've happened if you had. Be glad we won in the end, regardless." Creslin smiled causing the Empress to smile in return. "And they may be lost," she said turning her attention to the city. "But let us rejoice that no more shall they be used or raped. That despite them not knowing, they are free. That they shall live the rest of their days in silence, peace, calm, and as happy as we can make them. And then, at the end, when all of them are dead, we can finally rest safe knowing we have done our task."
Shifting Sands smiled warmly. "Despite the lies and the deceit they will never know," she closed her eyes for a moment. "It's the least we can do."
The inhabitants of the heavily in-construction Ponyville all had stopped their activities as they watched in icy cold silence the large group making its way through to the Castle of Friendship. The group consisted of minotaurs, ursas, diamond dogs, a few reduced-sized dragons, zebras, cervids, griffons, changelings, and saddle arabians. The latter three were being led by General Sebastian Wing Cuter, Queen Chrysalis, and Empress Shifting Sands, they and their cohort walking separated from the main group of at least five hundred armed and armored guards led by individuals dressed in noble and regal clothes, or in the case of the dragon representative, splendid armor.
When the group arrived at the Castle of Friendship they stopped seeing the Element Bearers looking at them with hate in their eyes. Alongside them stood Big Macintosh, Yog, Soarin, several Blood Hunters, all ready to pounce at the merest provocation, and few Royal Guards moving to intercept them without blocking Princess Twilight and her friends.
The Contingent looked somewhat uneasy as the general population surrounded them; most of them sending them the same icy cold stare while others lead the children away.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave, now," Rainbow Dash threatened as she draws her sword. "We ain't too fond of backstabbing traitors here, shitheads."
"Where is him, Princess Twilight?" The zebra dressed in a fancy looking tribal suit asked ignoring the pegasus.
"You have no right coming here," Twilight replied, her horn igniting with magic. "I may have promised not to harm you... but please, give me a reason to break that promise, you traitors."
"I believe you are mistaken, Princess. Our countries provided no--" the cervidae buck was interrupted as a dozen fully grown adult dragons appeared from the sky above and landed at a safe distance behind the castle and the encircled crowd. All twelve of them letting lines of smoke flow from their nostrils; eyes fixed on their group. "--Provided no assistance nor pledged allegiance to Dainn or to the caribou."
His answer came in the form of a collective death glare all around him.
"Your anger is misplaced in us, Princess," the minotaur said taking a step forward. "We have come to deliver a message. That is all, even if some among us," he said glancing back to Chrysalis, Shifting Sands, and Sebastian. "Are deluded in their actions."
"Say that again and I shall rip your horns and shove them up your asshole," Sebastian said shooting the minotaur a glare; his soldiers and companions readying themselves to draw their swords.
"Why you insolent bar--"
A potent roar that made the blood of the minotaur and his companions freeze was heard all over the place rumbling with an unholy, ghostly, unnatural echo that rattled them to the bone. Many guards went as far to drops their weapons or fall to their knees in fear.
A moment later a figure landed in front of the Element Bearers without making so much of a rustle upon landing.
"I'd appreciate you refraining from insulting my friends and allies, scum," Spike said with a fang-filled smile and eyes shining white. He then turned to face his friends, all of them wearing their armor, robes, or regular clothes. He smiled at them. "Promise you won't do anything to those idiots?" The girls and those who have heard him nodded or pledged to honor his request. The crowd exploded into a quick wave of murmurs as the petition was passed from person to person. He then turned to face the group again while taking a few steps towards them, followed by his friends. He stopped and spread his arms a little. "Here I am. Say what you must," he smirked seeing the minotaur, and his group, doing their best to regain their composure. When the ursa, a rather large female, pulled out a golden scroll from an elegant, gem-adorned chest, Spike spoke again. "But be warned... whatever you say that is not in that scroll will be, how should I put this? Ah, yes, extremely taken into account. Is that clear?"
The ursa nodded, unable to tear her gaze from his white orbs as he said his threat. She cleared her throat when an orb appeared next to Spike. The orb then turned into cascading parasprites revealing Discord, Celestia, Luna, Blueblood, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Creslin. All of them, minus Discord, were dressed ready for war and all of them, again, minus Discord, looked at the group ready to vaporize them on the spot.
Discord merely pointed a single finger from his griffon claw to them; the tip shining with purple, chaotic energy.
The ursa once more cleared her throat.
"S-Spike Solaris, The Dragon.
We, Leaders of all Nations of Equis, have taken notice of your actions. Actions, we inform you, threaten the peace, stability, and safeguarding of all species. For you, through several motives, have led an unjust campaign of genocide against the caribou--"
The ursa stopped instantly after a beam of purple magic grazed her face leaving a nasty looking, deep scar that only mildly stung her.
"I am sorry," Discord hissed, his features turning maniac and demonic. "I am just absolutely fucking livid right now," his eyes turned into empty sockets and his fangs grew. "Becuase I thought I heard you say 'unjust' and 'against the caribou' in the same sentence. Please, repeat what you just said, scum. I can show you what I did in Manehattan first hand. First row tickets are on me~" He growled with anger.
"Discord, leave her alone, please," Spike asked. "That's just what those fucking traitors ordered those silly meatshields over there to tell us. It's not their fault they are such morons." Spike chuckled. Discord's features returned to normal but kept his arm raised. "Thank you, bro."
"You were saying?" Celestia pushed. Her own eyes shining yellow, horn glowing, and her mane flowing violently.
The ursa moved back handing the scroll to the cervidae buck.
"Spike Solaris, The Dragon. Misbegotten adopted 'Son' of Celestia Solaris Aeterna, Princess of Equestria. You are charged with the crimes of Genocide, Crimes against sentience, Murder in all Degrees, Terrorism, Mass Murder, Vandalism, Destruction and Eradication of Culture, Landmarks, and Society, Torture, Rape and several dozen more charges.
Furthermore, you are held responsible for the extinction of the caribou race as a whole in their own homeland, Hraljord.
You are to leave with us so we may take your declaration and your report of things so the data can be reviewed and judged accordingly.
Refusal to obey shall lead to your prompt capture and of anyone who helps you and shall be charged with your same crimes.
You have one minute to reply."
The cervidae buck finished by rolling up the scroll and putting it back in the chest.
Surprisingly, there was no outrage. No one was screaming. No one was cursing. No rage. No hate. No rocks being thrown. No one was attacking. Nothing... nothing but a chilling sensation that made the buck and his group nervous.
"Oh... I see," Spike finally broke the silence. "Everyone, its okay! They just want to talk with me a little, don't you worry and don't do anything stupid!" He shouted to the four winds. Spike turned to the rather confused group. "Alright, I'll go with you," he said as he walked towards them. "All I have to do is give you a report? Easy peasy, lemon squeezy," he shot a glance back to his friends and family. "I'll be back soon," he then looked at Chrysalis, Shifting Sands, and Sebastian and saw the pain and anger in their eyes. "It's okay guys... I got this aaaaaaall under control~"
As Spike walked alongside the parting group, the crowd split apart to allow them a free pass. All of them glaring at the majority of the group.
He had seen and heard nothing but the most utter and disgraceful blasphemy.
Proud males serving under worthless female rule? Willing males pledging their lives to protect the sluts that should rightfully be under their hooves? Males subjugated to lesser roles and used as cannon fodder by Unjust and Unholy female rule, which in turn was lead by Alicorn whores that hoarded power that belonged to males and males alone!?
It was complete blasphemy.
He knew Equestria and the Crystal Empire were tainted just by the mere arrival of Shining Armor and his pink bitch. The stain of that filth was made even worse by Shining's now converted and enlightened guards, who told the tales of the putrid and unnatural conditions males had to suffer in their homeland. And even when Discord, the living embodiment of Chaos and unflinching male power, a GOD in his own right, told him of his defeats, his subsequent 'reformation', and his relationship with the yellow Element Whore?
It was an affront to everything the absolute truth and light that Male Superiority brought upon the world.
And just when he had dared to think it could not possibly be worse, it did. Males courting males. Unshackled females acting as males and pairing themselves with other sluts. Males forced to do humiliating work to provide the worthless concept of what they called a 'Family', while the females enjoyed the benefits of said work. Males... males being outnumbered eight to one by filthy, useless, cock-sucking, shit-eating, worthless females that should be licking their hooves, thankful for the honor of serving their male masters.
This was not blasphemy. It was heresy in its purest form and it was everything his great ancestor, the Horned King himself had warned and fought against centuries ago.
And yet, despite everything, one story stood out amongst the others. The story of Spike Solaris, the adopted son of the sun slut herself. A male that from the very moment the sun slut found his egg he had been indoctrinated into serving the vile and despicable female rule. A male... a dragon, that willingly and happily served females that did nothing more than abuse him, use him as a toy, as a slave, as a tool, as a scapegoat, as a mule, as... as if he was less than a female. And worse, he did so with a smile on his face and eager to serve whores that by all rights should be his.
He was beyond disdain. He was beyond anger. He was beyond hate.
But despite everything, Spike was regarded as the Hero of the Crystal Empire: loved and nearly worshipped for he was the key to the defeat of King Sombra. Spike had influence and friends and access even at the highest levels of that blotch the slut sisters called their kingdom. The pink whore had revealed to him how Spike was her cousin, a so-called 'Prince in the Shadows'.
He laughed.
What an insult! What a joke!
Did female transgression and humiliation know no bounds!? Truly, Equestria... nay, the world itself had been tainted by female rule, making males blind and ignorant of the Light of Male Superiority. But he would change that. It was his duty as the Alpha Male to set the natural balance of the universe itself back to its original, rightful track.
But for all his power, for all his tenacity and ambition, he knew he could not do it alone. He needed capable, proud, intelligent males like himself at his side; a stark contrast to his four idiot sons.
Yes. He needed a right hand; a true heir to his throne; a true son whom he could trust above and beyond everything. And who better than the one who had suffered the most under the rule of the four alicorn whores?
Spike Solaris would fit that role, for he envisions it so. He would become worthy of his respect, his trust, and his pride far above his own flesh and blood. Spike Solaris would, in time, become the son he always deserved to have: brave, loyal, intelligent, clever, ruthless, ambitious, and proud much like he himself.
Dainn smiled as he made his way to Ponyville while the lavender slut deepthroated his mighty cock like the depraved, cock hungry slut that she was.
It wouldn't be today; it wouldn't be tomorrow. But in time Spike Solaris was bound to become Spike Stonehoof, Prince of the Caribou and his favored son. It was all a matter of time and patience.
For he was Dainn, King of the Caribou, The Alpha Male, The Heir of the Horned King.
Several figures clad in robes stood firm and resolute in front of another group, all of them comprised of females, clad in various types of armor and carrying just as many weapon-variety. In the middle of the two groups laid a bloodied map with two corpses laying on it, while all around them the wheezing sounds of dying males, crying females, and pleas for mercy were heard.
"You should leave, Followers," an earth pony Warlady said holding her spear tight. "This prize belongs to the Female Might Alliance."
"I'm afraid we cannot comply, Warlady Pixel Perfect. My brothers and I have been hunting this group for several weeks now. We have the right to impart justice on these bastards, in the name of Spike Solaris." Blue Moon said, his stance solid and his stare unyielding.
"In the name of Spike Solaris," males and females behind him wearing the same robes exclaimed in unison a moment after.
"Your vigil is appreciated and your assistance welcome, but the Female Might Alliance shall be the ones to render justice upon these lowly, unworthy males," Pixel Perfect stated gaining the approval of her sisters.
"Although I agree with the delivery of proper justice upon these traitors, I must again state our claim over their judgment. You are more than welcome to take the captured females and care for them, as well as take the treacherous females and deliver justice to them," Blue Moon took a step forward. "But the males and the caribou will remain under our custody so they may receive proper punishment before their public executions."
Pixel Perfect grunted. "You and your brothers are good males, Blue Moon, and for your actions, you have my respects. But this hunt belongs to us, and as such, the bounty. Relinquish your claim at once, or we shall take our rightful prize by force... if need be."
The two groups didn't stammer nor moved an inch back. They all merely eyed the other with a tight grip on their weapons and magic users at the ready.
"What in Tartarus is going on here?" The voice of Big Macintosh cut through the tense atmosphere shiting all eyes to him and his fellow Scaled Guards.
"Captain Macintosh Apple, The Red Tide, we did not expect Scaled Guard presence so soon. To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" Blue Moon said turning to face the stallion and doing a small respectful bow.
"What do you want, Macintosh? Can't you see we are a bit busy right now?" Pixel Perfect said with a small smirk.
"All Ah can see is two spoiled foals bickering over who gets tah' play with a new toy," Big Mac crossed his arms. "This is the eleventh time you Followers and you Female Might Alliance members are at each other's throats this month over the same thing," Blue Moon and Pixel Perfect were about to protest when Big Mac stomped the ground harshly. The two leaders shut their mouths while their companions flinched back. "And Ah'm just about done with your pointless bickering. Answer me, who lead the assault?"
"Warlady Pixel Perfect did so, Captain Macintosh, we provided support and information for the assault," Blue Moon answered.
"Is this true, Pixel Perfect?" Big Mac eyed the mare.
"This is true," the Warlady replied.
"Did the Followers asked for your help?"
"...Yes, they did. They wished to assault this base but were short in numbers. We provided the brawn and the force to finish this scum," she said kicking a dead minotaur.
"Did you know about this base before they asked for yer help?"
"...We...had suspicions, but nothing solid yet." Pixel admitted.
"Then the Followers get to reap the rewards and you shall conform to whatever they deem worthy to give you as a reward," Big Macintosh snorted. "It was thanks to their information and keen vigilance that you were able to strike down this shithole," Big Mac saw Pixel and her companions were not happy about his decision and the Warlady wanted to protest. "This problem between your two groups has to stop. You are not enemies!"
Both groups looked down at the ground for a moment.
"I shall leave you to resolve this issue as you can, but if this kind of situation happens again, then the group that asked help for the other gets to reap the harvest, understood?" Blue Moon and Pixel nodded. "Good. Everyone, we are moving out."
Pixel and Blue Moon, plus their companions, stood watching the Scaled Guards leave taking only the corpses of confirmed turned males back during the Fall to give them proper burial: turned or not, they had been victims. Once they were gone, Pixel let out a cough.
"I have an idea, Blue Moon."
"By the will of Friendship, I am listening, Warlady Pixel Perfect. We do not wish to seed mistrust nor malice upon our groups."
"Tell me, have you ever heard about 'First Come, First Served'?
"This is unacceptable, Lord Torch!" A dragon two thirds the size of the Dragon Lord roared, enraged, followed by several other dragons of similar size and smaller. "That... that.. that disgrace has dared to threaten and insult us, claiming to slaughter us, his own kind, just to protect those weak ponies and their allies! We must strike, now! They are weak and disorganized; their precious Reaper is chained to the land he proclaims to love."
"YES! How long has the wealth of Equestria tempted us? How long have the Two Sisters flaunted their power over the Moon and Sun over us? How long have those lesser races called us monsters and savages, thinking they are superior to us, the dragons!?" Another exclaimed gaining many approving roars. "My Lord, we must take what rightfully belongs to us now that they are--"
"SILENCE!" Torch roared with all his might, silencing the gathered dragons instantly. "I will not allow any dragon to leave for Equestrian territory unless it's for the Migration or to visit the land. There will be no pillaging, sacking, looting, slaughter nor war on my watch," Torch exhaled fire through his nostrils. "As Dragon Lord, I forbid it. We will leave the ponies and their allies in peace until after the new Dragon Lord is selected in the upcoming Gauntlet of Fire."
"You'd rather cower, Torch!? You are no Dragon Lord!" A dragoness yelled in defiance. "Equestria is weak and ruined, its riches, gold, and gems for the taking and you want to waste this opportunity?" She roared once more.
"So what if they have their "Lightbringer", after his confession the cattle he loves so much must hate him now. We can deal with him and those other treacherous fools that have sided with the Two Sisters or have sold their loyalty to them. They are no longer worthy of being dragons at all, Torch!" Another one added, unrest once more igniting in the crowd.
"Are you deaf or simply empty-headed?" The voice of Princess Ember, the daughter of Dragon Lord Torch, was heard by all, amplified by the power of the Bloodstone Scepter carried by the massive dragon while she stood on her father's shoulder. "Did you not hear his tale? Have you not heeded his warning?" She asked half glaring the gathered dragons.
"And what would that be, Princess?" A dragon mockingly asked.
"That Equestria is not weak," she unfolded her arms, with one hand she grabbed her waist and with the other she pointed at them with a single claw, her eyes bright and glaring. "You rockbrains are only thinking in the riches and gold, but have you stopped to think what the ponies went through?" She shook her head. "Of course you haven't. So I will spell it out for you idiots. If the Dragon Lands attack Equestria, we will be killed to the last one," Ember did not wait for anyone to retort before continuing. "They are angry. They are vengeful. They are bloodthirsty. And they outnumber us a hundred to one. Not that it matters much considering they have so many powerful beings on their side: the four Alicorn Princesses, the Elements of Harmony, the Lord of Chaos, the Changeling Queen."
"We are dragons, we cannot--"
"What if the Princess of the Night decides to curse us with unending night?" Ember cut the would be boastful dragon off. "What if the Lord of Chaos decides to erase us? What if the Princess of the Sun unleashes a Solar Strike upon us? How do you plan to fight against that when they have gone through slavery, abuse, and foulest degradation? Wouldn't you do anything and everything to prevent it from happening again if you'd gone through the same as they have?"
There was silence all around.
" 'Equestria is not weak' was not a warning given to us. It was a promise of death to anyone stupid enough to attack them," Torch said in a calm tone. "Dainn was a threat far bigger than even Tirek was, of that I have no doubt. I am personally grateful that the Madness of Dainn was stopped, no matter who did it or what he said. The Dragon Lands and the dragons shall remain neutral until after my reign is ended. As Dragon Lord, I COMMAND IT SO!" Torch roared.
The hundreds of gathered dragons waited for a moment before slowly bowing their heads and leaving. Soon after, only Torch and Ember remained.
"We should've helped them." Ember bluntly said.
"Ember, not this again." Torch groaned.
"And why not!? Did you not hear the Trial? Did you not hear those that came back after witnessing what they saw behind the barrier?" Ember crossed her arms. "We could've done something, father, and you know it."
"I was not going to risk the lives of every dragon against that bastard," Torch snorted remembering the letter he received years back when the Fall started. It basically boiled down to describe the Superiority of the Caribou, the upcoming Global Reign of Male Superiority, and that he should bow to Dainn now that he could and be rewarded by stating he could keep ownership of Ember if he did so. "Remaining neutral is all I could do. It has kept the Dragon Lands alive for millennia."
"Alive but stagnant," Ember spat back. "Dad... if I become, no, WHEN I become Dragon Lord, I'm going to make a lot of changes around here."
Torch huffed. "You first need to win the Scepter to do it, daughter."
"You can bet your horns I will," Ember looked to the horizon, a sad smile appearing on her muzzle. "I wonder..."
"Hmmm?"
"I wonder... what is this 'friendship' Spike talked about so much during the trial for him to do all he did..."
Watching the panicking caribou desperately trying to fight back, flee, or beg for their lives was... odd. In a good way. Some cried, others cursed, others died before they got the chance.
"Y-you can't do this! You're one--"
*Slash*
One sword-swing, off with a head. Grab a head with one hand, squeeze and it'll pop like a ripe melon. One punch to the left, several broken bones resulted. Move to the side and kick, break the spine and split in two the attacker. Dodge a spear thrust just because, use it to impale the bastard. Let another one hit you with a hammer, smile at his stupid face when it shatters before slicing him up from head to groin.
There was no need for subtlety here: this was war in its crudest form. The only thing that mattered, the only thing that needed to be done was keep advancing, find Frost, the last of Dainn's progeny, capture him, and kill anyone in the way.
Simple.
"By the Horned King himself, we can't stop--"
*Crack*
"SAVE US--!"
*Slash*
"Motherfucking cu--"
*SPLAT*
It was a strange feeling, to let go. To simply... stop restraining oneself. To just be your natural you. It was something worth pondering about. "Is this how Spike feels?" A question that had an immediate answer. Of course it is, Spike never tried to hide it and in fact, went out of his way to explain this overwhelming feeling. But was it because of the freedom or the chance to use such freedom against the hated enemy? Most probably it was the latter. It was hard to remember the last a battle, a war where lives were lost each second, felt this good to be a part of. How long had it been since those days? How long had it been since the last time such freedom presented itself?
"No, no, no, no, no--!"
*Crunch*
"My cock will teach you to respect your--"
*Slash*
It was sickeningly easy to tear and rip and pull apart the hated enemy. It was as if they were made out of wet tissue paper and as brittle as ashen wood. Blood, bile, organs and their fluids, bones, lopped off heads, scattered teeth and antlers, entrails, piss, shit, and the foul stench of death was thick in the air, it was overpowering to the point it was hard to breathe. It did not matter. The target was close by. Frost was close by and that's all that mattered.
She stopped and looked at the door she had destroyed with a kick to see the griffon general, Sebastian, stand in the doorway with a few of his soldiers behind him. She looked at herself, covered in so much blood and other nasties she couldn't even see her armor of fur anymore. And yet... she felt excited, revolted at the fact she was excited, but above all she felt free. Was this how Spike felt? She giggled.
She looked around the room and she found Frost with a crushed leg but still alive. The only caribou alive in the room.
"Take and chain him, I want his execution as soon as possible if you will?"
"Of course, Princess," Sebastian nodded signaling his troops to take Frost prisoner.
"General, do you know where my sister is at the moment?"
"Nearing the dockyard, Princess. She doesn't want any caribou escaping onto the open sea."
She smiled and beamed before clapping her bloodstain hands together.
"Let's go then! We can't let any of them escape, now can we?" She asked in a mellow, friendly tone.
Sebastian looked at the Princess walk past him and his troops. To him it was... he couldn't even describe it or name the feeling that was coursing through his body at seeing her behave like that. It was warranted, it was understandable, and most of all, at least to him, it was justified and well-deserved whatever she did to the caribou. But it still left him speechless and shaking with hatred at those responsible for the atrocities committed against her.
"I spent my years during the Fall as a Corrupted from day one. I was stationed in Fillydelphia when the caribou attacked, heck, I was still putting on my armor because I overslept a little when the attack began. I can still remember fully and clearly the wave of magic that surged through me; the pressure and the overwhelming presence inside my head and soul. I fought back for what, ten maybe fifteen seconds? Anyways, I lost the fight pretty damn fast and my own mind warped itself into something else... and I was content with that. If you want to truly understand what the Sickness did to us Corrupted go ask the Mind-Menders."
"But what happened next?" An ursa asked in a neutral tone.
"What didn't happen is the real question. I rushed out of the barracks and was greeted with the sight of caribou running amock, fellow guards joining their ranks, and every mare... every female regardless of species and age being raped, brutalized, dragged, and stripped down on the streets. A few, both males and females, fought back but they were either brought down or captured, the females were raped on the spot. I myself took down my commanding officer and raped her. In fact, I made her one of my pets, a black collar, after the fact and she birthed three of my children."
"...I see..."
"The following years were a blur, really. I left the guard and became a worker on a beer brewer, eventually, I came to own the place three years into the Fall thanks to the deeds of Spike. And no, I never met him, but his rise to power and tactical input made it possible as a collateral effect. Divine creators, I did... so many despicable things during those years; I'm not sure how many kids I actually have... at least twelve, the ones I know I sired with my... pets... and four of them come from my cousins."
"You can stop if it is too hard for you."
"Too hard for me? You have no idea. But it doesn't matter now, all I can do is tell what I know... I owe him that much at least."
"..."
"Where was I? Ah, yes. The final year of the Fall passed fast until the Day arrived. The feeling of that wave of magic was similar to the Sickness but in reverse. I felt free, liberated from a cage I had forgotten I was inside for years. My mind and soul were fully mine once more... and with them also came the memories... the guilt... the repugnance.. the hate. I raged, sweet Celestia, did I raged... If it was a caribou, it had to die. I killed two dozens, maybe more. Stags, cows, calves, does... babies... I simply killed them. I felt no remorse, nor joy. To this day I feel nothing about those lives I took after being set free."
"Nothing at all? Not even for the young?"
"I watched enough of their 'young' committing atrocities you thankfully will never have to see. Children... can be very creative... especially caribou calves to weaker females... and babies."
"...Oh Gods... you... you mean to say..."
"Exactly what you're imagining. Anyways, after that, I cried until I had to be hospitalized. I tried to kill myself eight times. I couldn't stand myself, I couldn't live with the guilt, the pain... the forgiveness those I had brutalized as my pets gave me. I was about to do a ninth attempt when I heard the news, Spike Solaris himself was amassing an army willing and ready to march to Hraljord itself and commit genocide against the caribou in their own home. To kill them all to the last."
"You followed him?"
"Of course I did. The moment I heard that news all of my guilt turned into hate that boiled my insides. I dropped the knife and took up my sword instead. I ran to join him and his army and when I saw him for the first time... I understood that my guilt was misplaced. That my desire to kill myself would only mean a victory for the caribou. The Fall was their doing and my actions during that time their fault. I boarded one of the ships and set sail. And you know the rest, what happened in Hraljord. When their capital, Maletopia, burned to ashes it was the first time in years I was truly happy."
"..."
"After that, we came back to Equestria and I begged the Liberators to grant me mercy. I couldn't stand myself anymore."
"Do you have any regrets over your decision?"
"Of course not. I am still a stallion, a male, in my heart and soul. Nothing can change that even if my body, genes, and hormones are that of a mare, but I am still male. I am still the father of my children. I want to see them grow. I want them to know the atrocities the caribou committed when they are ready to hear it and understand it, and they will hear it from my lips. That's all I have to say, may I leave now?"
"Of course, corporal Bright Lance. Though, off the record, what is your opinion on Spike Solaris?"
"He's our bloody hero. I don't even want to know what he had to go through to achieve all he did."
---------------- Corporal Bright Lance of the ‘Rise of Equestria’ Army, Report on the Caribou and Spike Solaris ‘The Dragon’, ‘The Reaper’, ‘The Lightbringer’.------------
"So this is what Spike used to be and what he did?" The crystalline Spike asked, his arm raised and pointing at several depictions of Spike Solaris throughout his life. It started from showcasing the last remains of his eggshell, preserved via a stasis spell done by Celestia herself, passing through his years growing up alongside Twilight and Shining Armor, his time in the Sparkle Household, his time learning his duties and role from Celestia and a few choice professors, his time in Canterlot and his accomplishments.
His departure to Ponyville and everything that happened there. His role in saving the Crystal Empire. The vanquishing of Sombra.
The invasion of the Caribou, his Corruption, his liberation, the charade he set for himself as a Female Handler, rising through the ranks of the Caribou, the debauchery he had to partake in, the acknowledgment of Dainn... his earned placed as a General of Dainn.
The Slaughter of the Everfree.
His reward of the Bearers.
His meeting with Creslin and the Liberators.
His appointment as Marshall.
Spike stopped in front of a large painting depicting Spike's arrival to Solitude, the initial battle with the Windigo, the climb up the deadly mountain, the deaths of Bulk Biceps, Caramel, Pokey Pierce, and Thunderlane, and his clash with the Windigo.
"Having to go through all of that...," Spike let out a melodious sigh. Taking a few steps forward, he saw Spike's near-death encounter at the clutches of the Windigo and his subsequent victory over the demon of Cold, Hatred, and Famine. "That was a harrowing experience. It certainly pales in comparison to the real thing, but seeing it is more than enough."
"I thought you'd like to see it. To better understand yo--... his past," Twilight said a few steps behind the crystalline Spike.
"And I am grateful, Twilight," Spike said without turning. Moving forward, he came to view Spike finding the Crystal Heart and merging with it. "I was so glad he found me at last. They were truly something incredible," Spike commented. Moving past the painting, he saw a few more paintings and a few statues showcasing other important moments in Spike's life. His arrival at Chrysalis' Main Hive, his reunion with the Bearers, and the gathered leaders of the then Rebellion planning the assault on Ponyville.
"...So much wrongness, so much pain," Spike said, his voice rumbling with a hint of anger. "All because those demented Caribou were corrupted beyond salvation."
"But Spike became the hero we needed. The one we were crying outloud to receive," Cadance said mournfully.
"He never considered himself a hero. And I certainly don't deserve to be called as such," Spike shook his head slowly. "What have I done for anyone so far? Nothing. Yet wherever I go, ponies, donkeys, sheep, cows, and zebras bow down to me or kneel to kiss the ground I walked over, crying their eyes out in gratitude. Griffons praise me. Dragons roar in cheer. Changelings chant their praises. And Saddle Arabians show nothing but respect," Spike sighed. "I'm not the Spike they think I am. Nor am I the Crystal Heart. I am both, yet I am neither. I am myself, yet I am them."
"It must be frustrating, right?" Twilight replied with a small, friendly smile.
Spike moved to the next painting, one commissioned by Lyra Heartstrings, a dear former friend of Spike, and the first enslaved mare to see his true colors. Spike was walking out of a thick fog, his appearance unnatural and foreboding, dark, and monstrous. Behind him, several hundreds of shining eyes could be seen glimmering through the fog, and beside Spike was Chrysalis herself clad in armor and wielding her massive scythe.
"No. Not really. I don't deserve their praise. And Spike would've hated receiving them. Though I think he wouldn't have said anything about it just to please them," Spike's body glowed with a gentle purple hue. "What I find frustrating is... well, it's hard to explain," he then moved to past the paintings of the Ruination of Ponyville, the Cleansing of Ponyville, and the Message For Dainn. Spike stopped once again when a trio of paintings showcased a bloody hall representing his interrogation methods inside his Fun Room, the rallying cry to take revenge on the captured Caribou, and his discovery about the Sickness inside the Caribou.
"You can try to explain it to us, if you want," Cadance said, standing next to Twilight. They were the only three currently browsing the display of the museum that was going to open in but a few hours. It seemed only right to show it to Spike first.
"I have their memories," he began. "I have their feelings, experiences, thoughts, emotions. Their reasons. Their knowledge. Their motivations. Everything they were, I am. And yet, I am more than just them. Remember how I tried being your assistant and how my hands couldn't stop shaking, Twilight? I didn't know what was wrong with me... until I filtered through Spike's memories," Spike let out another melodious sigh. "Am I even alive? Or am I just the dying memory of two beings that are already gone? Do I have a soul of my own if I am made out of the soul of those two? Can I even have a life looking like this?" He asked as he walked past the Rescue of the Royal Sisters, the Attack on Dainn, The Months of Silence that Spike used to train himself, Spike writing letters to Empress Shifting Sands, warriors and valued allies gathering outside of barrier Dainn had created for the upcoming assault, and finally, Spike destroying the Crystal Cock or rather, the Alicorn Amulet.
"I can see the pain in Rarity's eyes each time she sees me. Heh... she was the first to accept I was not her Spike anymore. Or how hard it is for Celestia, Luna, and Blueblood to not call me 'son, nephew, and cousin'. I can see the pain in your eyes, all of you. Am I... am I even worthy of being here? Am I here to fill the gap they left or am I just a parading corpse?" Spike sighed. "Not that it matters, I suppose," he moved past a few other minor painting until he arrived at the main piece.
On one side was Spike in open battle against Dainn. On the next, Spike was shown fighting alongside Chrysalis against the madden King. On the third, Spike was on the ground, defeated, under a bruised and battered Dainn's hoof. On the fourth and final painting was a demonic-looking Spike holding back Dainn as the Bearers launched the Elements of Harmony upon the Caribou King.
And as the crowing set-piece, stood a statue of Spike holding the severed head of Dainn while he roared to the heavens.
"That's not what happened," Spike frowned as much as a crystalline construct body could frown, that is. "Spike dragged Dainn and tortured him relentlessly for over two weeks. I thought he asked that the truth shouldn't be covered regarding his actions?"
"We have honored his wish as much as we could, but there are still a few things that... the younger generation shouldn't know to its full extent until they are ready," Twilight replied.
Satisfied with the answer, Spike continued in silence. He saw the gathering of the 'Rise of Equestria Army', their departure to Hraljord, the butchering of the Caribou in their homeland, the burning of Maletopia, and their return. He finally stopped once more upon the painting showcasing Spike's death.
"He was afraid and glad," Spike said. "When he died in excruciating pain, his only thoughts were his dear friends and family. And when it was finally over, he just... went away. A portion of his soul remained inside the Crystal Heart, like an anchor," Spike then moved past all of the events that occurred in between, ranging from the Trial, the ensuing fallout, to the formation of the Equis Alliance, the FMA, the Followers, up until the fated day of Spike's Resurrection.
"That damn thing... the Sickness, it latched onto his soul, corrupting almost everything there was. But the Sickness was also weak, stupid, and naive. It corrupted him, but Spike gave it a sort of guidance," he moved once more past the failed resurrection, the Thing's escape, the onslaught it caused, the Battle of Redemption, Celestia's Solar Strike, the true form of the Sickness, and finally its defeat, with Spike holding onto the last remains of the Sickness as it was erased from existence.
"They were so very happy," Spike said with a tiny smile. "It finally came to a definite end. Finally, the ritual could be completed. And thus, I was created as the last bits of their souls and essence merged into one being," Spike sighed.
"I don't know what life has in store for you, Spike," Twilight said putting her hand over one of his shoulders. "But we will be with you no matter what. You may not be our Spike, but you are his legacy, in a sense. And that of the Crystal Heart, too. You cannot replace him, no matter how much everyone wishes that to be the case," she shook her head.
"We want to help you, Spike. And maybe then, you can have a life of your own with us, without us, taking his place as Spike's 'son' or 'little brother' if you want, or just living the way you want to. Whatever you choose, we will help you," Cadance reassured.
"Now I understand why he loved you all so much," Spike turned to face Twilight and Cadance. His crystalline body had refined itself over the months after his 'birth', and now it almost looked like the real-life Spike once did, even if his facial expressions were limited. "You know, there's one thing I have yet to understand. And I would like to know about it, to learn from it, and see why it drove Spike to such lengths."
"What are you talking about, Spike?" Cadance asked.
"Ah, I didn't tell you before? Spike's main driving force? What gave him all his energy and resolve?" Spike asked.
"Wasn't his thirst for vengeance and his burning hatred for the caribou what drove him?" Twilight retorted, an eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Well, yes. But that was only part of it," Spike turned to look at the very last piece of the gallery. The crowning jewel of it all. An enlarged picture of Spike, the Bearers, Celestia, Luna, Blueblood, Discord, Cadance, Shining, and the Sparkles celebrating his birthday, just months before the invasion of the Caribou. And next to it, Spike's crown, marking him as a Prince of Equestria with a few scrolls resting inside it. "Do you want to know what truly fueled him?"
"What was it?" Both alicorns asked at the same time.
