Friendship Castle
After helping all of the ponies with cleaning up the messes around Ponyville, the heroes all returned to Friendship Castle, where Spike took the moment to catch up with some more of his forgotten friends. Mostly the armored dragon, who revealed herself to be a Dragon Lord.
"Nice to see you again, Spike," the dragon greeted, before she took her helmet off.
"EMBER?!" Spike and Mina gasped. In appearance, Ember is a brilliant cyan dragon, with moderate blue pthalo spikes, brilliant red, narrow blazing eyes, light and dark blue diamond-shaped markings on her forehead and around her eyes, and long white horns that curved downward on the sides of her head.
"Omigosh!" Mina exclaimed, as she ran up to Ember. "It's so red rubies to see you again!"
"Um, likewise," Ember replied, before she turned to Spike and smiled. "Though, it's actually more red rubies to be seeing you again, Spike."
"Feeling's mutual, Ember," Spike smiled. "So, how've you been?" he asked, while eyeing the dragoness up and down, "You've been working out?"
"I'd say the same for you," Ember smirk in reply. "You're definitely not that same old runt I knew back then."
"You can say that again."
Just then, a loud groan broke out through Friendship Castle, as Gilda dizzily walked in, "Hey everyone," Gilda groaned.
"GRIFFON ATTACK!" the Knights screamed.
"PILE ON HER EVERYONE!" Button shouted.
"NO WAIT!" Gilda shouted, as the Knights pounced forward, only to be caught by Sunset Shimmer.
"Boys, it's okay!" Sunset began. "Gilda's cured now. She's safe."
With that, Sunset released the boys, as Rainbow galloped forward, "Gilda!" the pegasus exclaimed happily
"Dash!" Gilda shouted, as both girls both did a secret hoof, and claw shake.
"What happened to you Gilda?" Dash asked. "I haven't talked with you for three years! And when I saw you again, you were all-" Rainbow went on to mimic Gilda's roars and growls.
"I don't know," Gilda replied, as she rubbed her temple. "Last thing I remember, I was spying on some Shadowbolts in the Everfree Forest when I got captured. And next thing I know, some red smoke came flying by, and I just kinda breathed into it. And from there, it was like my mind was on fire, and I could barely think straight."
"Three guesses on what that red smoke is," Sunset added, as every pony all had an epiphany. "Anyway, Zecora was able to exorcise it from Gilda, so she's okay now."
"So how does it feel to be back with us, Gilda?" Rainbow asked with a smile.
"Great," Gilda replied gruffly. "Just a little," With that, Gilda clenched her fist, as she threatens, "When I get my claws on one of those Shadowbolts! They're gonna wished they never messed with me!"
The girls and boys both looked at the griffon, eyes widen in fright.
"Then might I suggest you save it for the Shadowbolts?" Sunset asked. "Besides, in case you haven't noticed, Spike's back!"
Gilda's anger quickly evaporated, as she exclaimed, "What?! He is? Where?!"
"Right here, Gilda!" Spike called out. "Nice to see-"
"Hey, Spike!" Gilda exclaimed, as she pounced on the boy and pinned him to the ground. "What took you so long?"
Spike chuckled sheepishly, as he answered, "Sorry Gilda. I had to wait ten years to remember I'm part dragon."
"And did you also remember you had an awesome griffon for a friend?" Gilda asked, with her eyebrows raising up and down, her beak inching in close to Spike's lips, much to Rainbow and Gabby's raised envy.
"Hey!" Ember called, as she broke up the moment. "Hugs and kisses later. As I recall, we've got something important to concern about."
"Oh yeah, that's right!" Gabby exclaimed, as she pulls out the puzzle box. "Good thing those witches didn't take this from us."
"Thank Bahamut for that," Ember said, as she takes the puzzle box. "If those crazy witches, or any of the Shadowbolts had taken it, then we'd come here for nothing."
"What's so important about the box?" Twilight asked.
"Well, first off, princess, it's a puzzle box," Ember replied. "And second, it's not just any puzzle box. It's the Fucanglong Box."
"For real?!" Twilight and Sunset all exclaimed, as they both held the box in their auras, for closer inspections.
"Omigosh!" Twilight exclaimed. "I can't believe I'm actually looking at the legendary Fucanglong Box, itself!"
"Oh, I can just practically taste the magics within already!" Sunset squealed.
"Yeah," Rainbow began, breaking the two unicorns from their fan girl moment. "Care to explain what this Fu-kong, Fu-kung-lung Box is and what it does?"
Slightly annoyed, Ember explained, "The Fucanglong box, Rainbow Dash is a magic box that, once activated, can point the way to the remaining pieces of the Armor of Heroes."
"Does it really?" Spike asked, as he and Fleur got interested. "Hey, how did you know we were looking for the armor's pieces?" Spike asked.
"I didn't," Ember replied. "The Fucanglong Box has another purpose, besides being a magnet for pieces of the armor. But that doesn't matter now, since your Five Knights friends over there had informed me about the mission you guys were on. So I decided to tag along and help you guys out."
"Which goes double for me!" Gabby chirped happily.
"Wow," Gilda began, directing her attention to Spike. "You've just got back from Earth, and already you're on an adventure?"
"Well, I owe it to Fleur," Spike replied, speaking on the unicorn's behalf. "She and the girls here have been through a lot to bring me back to Equestria, and I'd like to return the favor by helping her find her parents," With that, Spike filled Gilda in on all that has transpired, and how Fleur's parents were involved.
"Well, what're we doing flapping our beaks for?" Gilda asked, before she turned to Ember. "Let's crack that box open already! We've got some missing heroes to save!"
With a nod, Ember twisted and turned the puzzle box, until it clicked. With that, the box glowed in a blue aura, before a magic beam of the same color was fired, displaying an image of a helmet that slightly resembles a samurai's helmet, with ornaments in the shape of wings at the top, adorned with a crystal in between.
"Whoa!" Button exclaimed. "What is that?"
"It's the Helmet of Wisdom!" Twilight gasped, as the magic projection of the said helmet began to float around, before it hovered over a specific spot, just above the crystal map in the throne room. "And if I'm not mistaken, the box is saying the helmet is in Griffonstone!"
"That's the capital of the griffon homeland!" Gilda explained.
"Then that's where we're going!" Spike declared.
"Maybe later Spike," Twilight said. "For now, it's getting late. You should get some rest first, before you can go on another adventure."
"Oh c'mon, Twilight," Spike tried to protest. "I'm not a bit sleepy," Spike however got his words eaten, when a yawn escaped his mouth. "Well, maybe just a little."
"Actually Spike," Button yawned. "I think Twilight has a point. We do need to go to sleep. Besides, as much as I don't like it, it's also a school night for us."
"Oh yeah," Pinkie added, as she and the girls all recalled. "It's still a school night for all of us."
Spike looked around, before he questioned, "We're talking about CHS here, are we?"
"What other school would we be talking about?" Button asked. "CPA?"
"Okay, okay," Spike replied, before he let out a sigh, "Guess it was sweet to be home, while it lasted."
"Don't worry Spike," Pinkie comforted. "You're only going back to Earth for a few hours or so. It's not like you're going away for another year or two."
"Darn tootin," Applejack smiled. "Besides, with the gate opened. We're free to travel between both worlds, whenever we want."
"Oh, right," Spike smiled.
Gilda and Gabby meanwhile looked uncertain.
Later That Evening
Spike was walking down the castle halls, trying to find his way back to his guest room, "Twilight should really put a map around here," he said.
Then, his ears perked, as he hears Starlight talking, "Now hold still Trixie. This won't hurt a bit."
'Trixie?' Spike asked in his thoughts, as he shape-shifted into a dog, as he went to investigate.
The door to Starlight's room was opened, just ajar, allowing the dog to peek in, to see Starlight, firing a spell at a jar, containing Trixie, as a pixie. Spike watched as the magic show went underway, before it subsided, and Starlight fell to the floor, exhausted.
"Sorry Trixie," Starlight moaned. "I'm afraid I can't restore you back to normal."
"But you have to!" Trixie cried. "I can't spend the rest of my life as a little pixie! I can't be Great and Powerful if I'm stuck in a jar! How will I ever enchant Spike, if I'm like this?" the girl whispered at the last part, which didn't go unheard for Spike.
Not wanting to see the girl looking sad any further, Spike composed himself as he changes back in human form, and knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Starlight asked.
"It's me, Spike," Spike answered.
"Spike?!" Trixie gasped.
"Come in, Spike," Starlight smiled, as the boy entered the room.
"Oh, Spike! Am I ever so glad to see you!" Trixie beamed.
"Hey Trixie," Spike replied, as he bent down to look at the shrunken girl. "Huh, guess my ears weren't lying when I heard you calling."
"Please, you've got to help me!" Trixie begged. "I've been kidnapped and turned into a pixie against my own will, and all I asked now is for your help!"
"How'd you end up like this?" Spike asked, which led to Trixie explaining her story, of how Discord was turned into a draconequus, how he came and interrupted her show, and how she was captured and turned into a pixie against her own will, before she met Starlight. "Oh, I see."
"Now normally, the Great and Powerful Trixie would free herself in these kinds of situations," Trixie said. "But as you can see, this is out of my league! I'm just a performer, an illusionist, not an actual magical being like you!"
"How'd you know about-"
"I told her that," Starlight answered. "Along with the fact that you're in possession of the Dragonfire."
"Why would you do that, Starlight?" Spike asked.
Starlight chuckled, "Slip of the tongue, I guess."
"What's going on here?" Twilight asked, as she made herself known.
Some explanations later
"YOU WHAT?!" Twilight exclaimed, to a slightly frightened Starlight.
"Would it hurt to say, I'm sorry?" Starlight asked, frighteningly.
"Hey, shrunken girl over here," Trixie called out.
After a long exhale of frustrated groans, Twilight took a deep breath, before her horn glowed, and she fired a spell at Trixie. Trixie was engulfed in a coat of magenta as she slowly started to change shape.
"Starlight," Twilight groaned. "I'm gonna need help on this one!"
With that, Starlight concentrated her magic, as she too joined in with Twilight. With a burst of sparkles and lights, there stood Trixie Lulamoon, restored to human form.
"I'm normal?" Trixie asked, as she began to look at herself.
"HERE PUT THIS ON!" Spike exclaimed, handing the girl his jacket, before he darted out of the room.
"What's the hurry Spike?" Trixie called, before she heard some snickers from Starlight and Twilight. "What?" she asked.
It didn't take long for Trixie to feel a sudden breeze, that she looked down, blushing to her embarrassment when she sees she was missing some coverings. There she stood, wearing only a yellow bra, with matching panties, and white stockings.
With Spike
Spike was blushing a storm, and was changing out of control, as he was turning from a bloated puffer fish to a turned on wolf, and a mix of both, with his dragon wings sprouting, "Oh man!" Spike said, as he finally composes himself together. "Get it together Spike," he panted, before he took a deep breath. "I didn't see that purpose. I never saw that," he said to himself. 'Though she looks-No! Bad Spike! Bad! What would your mother say?!' he said in his thoughts. 'Perhaps some meditations should clear things up.'
With that, Spike was on his way, down a hall, when he heard the Knights, Gabby, and Gilda, having a talk, in a library. Spike walked in, while the two sides sharing a civil conversation.
"Aren't you happy to go back to your home?" Rumble asked. "Griffonstone is your home, isn't it?"
"Not our favorite kind," Gilda replied.
"What's going on here?" Spike asked, making himself known.
"Gilda and Gabby didn't want to go back to Griffonstone," Rumble answered.
"It's still that bad?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, you better believe it," Gilda replied.
"Care to share with the rest of the class?" Rumble asked.
"You see, the thing is," Gabby began, as she scratched the back of her head. "Besides me and Gilda, griffons aren't the most friendliest of magical creatures. Most griffons don't pay much attention to each other. And even if they do, it's not, y'know the good kind of attention." Gabby frowned, along with Gilda, both feeling ashamed of the bad reputation their own kinds.
"So, what about you two then?" Button asked.
"I'm just the little mail delivery griffon, who likes to spread a little bit of griffony sunshines on my rounds, which makes me feel different from all the other griffons. And I'd do anything for any old griffons in need."
"And I was just a sales griffon, selling out griffon scones to work up some moneys for my grandpa," Gilda answered. "That, and being Dash's friendly griffon neighbor. Y'know, up until the Shadowbolts got away with me."
"And the harder we try to do some goods, the less we fit in," the boys frowned, before Gabby perked up. "But it wasn't until I heard stories about Spike the Dragon Prince who helped the ponies in Equestria, despite being a dragon, or a human. Then I realized some creatures actually like helping each other, and I saw something so awesomely awesome – how helping spreads from pony to pony and griffon to griffon! And I'll admit, I was so inspired by his dedication to helping others as a hero, that after he left Equestria for ten years, I created my very own super hero alter-ego, the Mysterious Mare Do Well!"
"Which is where you're entering the gray area," Gilda added. "Because you're not even a mare!"
"I know!" Gabby squealed. "Which is the first thing all evil-doers would suspect! They would never suspect the MMDW to be a griffon!"
Spike couldn't help but smile, hearing the positive impact he had left behind, "Wow," Rumble mused, as he turned to Spike. "You're quite the hero, huh?"
"It was nothing," Spike replied, modestly.
"NOTHING?!" Gabby exclaimed. "NOTHING?! It was something alright! I'll never forget how you, Gilda, and Rainbow Dash fought Dumb-Bell and his gangs to get my dolly back!"
"Or the time when he and Flare Heart once foiled a terrorist's plan to crash an airship into a building in Manehatten," Gilda added.
"Only because we had your help, Gilda," Spike reminded.
"Well, yeah," Gilda grinned. "But you talked me into joining."
"Heh, that's nothing," another voice sounded, revealing itself to be Ember, without her armor. Joining her, was her fellow dragon, Mina, "You think all of that makes Spike a hero? Then you clearly haven't heard this one."
"Really?" Rumble asked. "Then by all means, enlighten us."