//------------------------------// // Spike's Resolution // Story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// At a hidden cave whose entrance was guarded by two big dragons, Garble approached and landed. “How you doing, buddies?” Garble asked to the two guards. They didn’t answer, simply grunting to him. A little unease, the teenage dragon just passed by them and entered the cave. He advanced through the inside the cave until he found the Dragon King. He bowed before him and then he said: “Your Majesty…” “What do you want?” the Dragon King asked. “The Alliance is starting to get the advantage” Garble said. “They have defeated Kraken and they also sealed some powerful reincarnated beings. Some of these acts were made by those traitors who follow that disgusting pony-lover.” “Those dragons will learn that they are serving the wrong king” the Dragon King replied. “It’s time for them to learn who is the true Dragon King.” “Finally!” Garble exclaimed. “I’ll be able to get my revenge! But, my king, Spike has Lord Torch at his side, not counting with a lot of powerful allies. Those ponies may be disguting, but we cannot ignore they have a lot of power.” “Yes, I know that perfectly” the Dragon King replied. “But you’re right about something. It is time to end this dispute between the ones of our kind. The dragons can’t have two kings.” Back at HQ, Spike was waiting along with Aspen, Celestia and Ingrid for news at the battlefield, when suddenly a great headache started to cause him pain. Seeing that, Celestia asked: “Spike, are you okay?” But he didn’t answer. Spike knew that touch on his mind very well, as it had happened to him once years ago. It was the Dragon King, he was trying to get in his head again, probably to control him again. But, this time, he would be able to fight back. Then, he noticed that the Dragon King hadn’t gone too deep in his mind, only enough to give him a message: “Dragon King Spike, listen to me very carefully. I think we share the same opinion that our kind shouldn’t have two kings leading factions against each other. It is time to end that. Here’s my deal: you against me with our respective dragons, the winner becomes the indisputable king of our kind. I meet you at the Dragon Lands, unless you want to do this in the middle of the war and put the lives of your little pony friends in danger.” And Spike heard his evil laugh before feeling the Dragon King leaving his head. When he regain the awareness, he realized that he was kneeling at the floor with everyone looking at him. “Spike, what happened?” Celestia asked, approaching him. “Is everything okay?” Spike took a few minutes before answering: “The Dragon King contacted me. He wanted to make me a deal.” “Are you sure about that?” Aspen asked. “I know that, like you, the Dragon King can control dragons. He may be trying to control you.” “Since I became the new Dragon King, my mind became stronger than before” Spike replied. “He can’t control me, but he can still get inside and see my thoughts. Don’t worry, I was able to shield them.” “And what was that deal he did to you?” Ingrid asked. “He wants to face me and my followers to decide who is the solo Dragon King” Spike said. “He wants to face me at the Dragon Lands.” “That would decrease our power” White Light replied. “Your dragons are one of our main forces. They were the ones to defeat Kraken and their flying and fire-breathing abilities are very important.” “But, if Spike doesn’t go to the Dragon Lands, the former Dragon King will bring the battle to him and maybe ruin all the advances we did to get the upperhoof at the bay and with the sealing of powerful adversaries” Celestia said. “Without talking about they could also attack the HQ” Ingrid said. Aspen thought about what for a moment and then he said to Spike: “You’re the Dragon King, Spike. You’re the one who decides what your kind must do. But I have to advise you to do what is best both to your kind and the Alliance.” That suggestion made Spike to think about what to do and then he said: “Then I’ll go face the Dragon King, leaving some dragons to help in the war. I can’t allow the Dragon King to undid all the progress we made this far. Beyond that, if I and my dragons defeat the Dragon King, it’s another enemy to not worry about.” That made a smile appear on Celestia’s face and she said: “You have all my support Spike. I know you can do this.” “Well… thank you, princess…” Spike said, blushing. “This is your opportunity to prove yourself as a king” Ingrid said. “We’re counting with you” Aspen added. “I won’t disappoint you” Spike replied, nodding respectfully is head. He then headed to the exit. “I think it is better to let all the units with dragons to know what is happening” Wight Light said. “Diamond Glow!” “On it” she replied. Taking flight from the balcony in direction to the Dragon Lands, Spike, using his telepathic power, reached all his followers and said to them: “My fellow dragons, listen to me careful. The Dragon King challenged me to face him in a ultimate battle to decide who is the true Dragon King. If I refuse, he will invade the battlefield and change the tide of war. I cannot let that happen to our friends and comrades, but I will need your help to face both him and his dragons. The choice is yours, but I would appreciate if you decide to help me, but also that you continued to help the Alliance. Like I said, the choice is yours.” And he stopped the communication, wondering how much would join him. At that moment, he could feel a light invading his mind and then he found himself surrounded by that light. “But… where am I?” Spike asked. “In a place where I can talk to you” a voice replied. And he saw the Lord of Order appearing before him. “The Lord of Order…” the dragon said, not wanting to believe that he had approached him. “You seemed surprised to see me” the Lord of Order observed. “It’s just you didn’t appear only to me” Spike said. “Well, knowing what you’re about to do, I decided to know how you’re committed” the Lord of Order said. “Dragons are one of the strongest and toughest creatures I ever created. In any reality, your kind is always powerful and noble. The dragons of the Pony Reality, due to the former Dragon King, fell into their greed and selfishness, something that didn’t change even after his first defeat. But you, Spike, along with your brothers and Princess Ember, managed to make dragons reconnect with their former nature. I’m glad that you want to preserve that.” “But…” Spike started. “What if I’m not able to defeat him? The Dragon King have powerful dragons by his side. How can I defeat something like that?” “Spike…” the Lord of Order replied. “The power of a true leader is not only resided in his or her power or in the numbers, but also in the capability to inspire others and in the desire to protect. And that, young dragon, is something that you have and, because of that, I have faith that you will succeed.” And the Lord of Order and his light dissipated and Spike found himself flying to the Dragon Lands. He thought about what the Lord of Order told him. Will he be able to do all that what he hoped him to do? “Hey, big brother” a voice asked. He looked to his side and saw Flambeau. “Flambeau?” Spike asked. “You’re here!” “Of course I am” he replied. “I wouldn’t let my big brother fight the Dragon King all by himself. We took flight as soon as you contacted us.” “We?” “He’s talking about me” Ember said, appearing at Spike’s other side. “And them.” She motioned to behind and Spike, looking, saw, with great amazement, a large number of dragons. “They all came because I asked?” Spike asked. “Well, let’s just say you were pretty inspiring” Nitelite said, appearing besides Flambeau. “Smokewing, Hardscale and Toothy remained behind with a handful of dragons to help the Alliance.” “Good, because we’ll need our full attention on defeating the Dragon King and his followers” Spike said. They all arrived to the Dragon Lands, landing at the throne rock, where Torch was waiting for them. “I heard your message, King Spike, and you can count with my help” Torch said. “And I appreciate it, Lord Torch” Spike said, bowing his head in a respectfully. “It’s hard to believe you were able to bring all this dragons with them knowing they will fight our former king” Torch said. “You must have caused them a big impression.” “Spike is like that, dad” Ember said. “He can make others be their better selves.” “Well, let’s not exaggerate” Spike said, blushing a bit. “Ember is just telling the truth, bro” Flambeau said. “That speech of yours was really amazing.” “I think inspiring is the correct word” Nitelite replied. But before anyone could say another word, roars were listened at far. They turned and saw the Dragon King approaching with his dragons. He landed at some distance from his enemies, with his biggest dragons landing behind him, while the youngest were hoovering. Spike could see Garble beside the Dragon King. “I can see that you decided to accept my challenge, Spike” the Dragon King. “For you, is King Spike” Spike replied. The Dragon King chuckle and then he replied: “We shall see about that” the Dragon King said, turning then to Torch. “I’m surprised that you, above all, decided to ally with this little brat, Torch. And just thinking you used to be my second-in-command, old friend.” “Your time of tyranny is over, Flame” Torch said. “After everything you did, do you really think we will let you be our king again?” “No one calls me by that name since my coronation” the Dragon King said. “And I’ll make sure that it is never mentioned ever again. Dragons, attack!” And his dragons advanced and so did Spike’s. It didn’t last for an intense battle between fire, claws, fangs and spikes to start. Spike should have the support of the majority, but most of the dragons at Flame’s side were older and more experienced and, because of that, they had some advantage. After dealing with a pair of dragons, Ember found herself facing Garble. “Well, well, well, look who she is” he said. “The little princess… You’re going to regret what you did to me during the Gauntlet of Fire.” “You’re the one who is going to regret for having join a tyrant like Flame” Ember said. “Show some respect for the true Dragon King!” Garble exclaimed. And he attacked Ember with a tail whip, but she have a jump to dodge, only to become vulnerable to Garble’s tackle, that threw her against the ground. Garble placed himself over Ember, pinning her, and then he asked cynically: “Any last words?” Ember tried to release herself, only to not avail. It was then that she looked over Garble’s shoulder and saw something that made her smile. She then said: “Yes: look out.” That confused Garble, but then a tail whip hit him, throwing him out of Ember. It was Flambeau who did that who then helped Ember getting up, asking: “Are you okay, Ember?” “Yes, thanks to you” she replied. “Thank you, Flambeau.” That made him blush a little. They heard a grunt and then Garble got up and said: “Oh, please, don’t me throw up. It’s because of that you are our kind’s shame. You look more like ponies than dragons.” “Maybe you’re just saying that because you’re jealous that you don’t have any friends” Flambeau said. That statement really upset Garble who exclaimed: “Take that back!” And he started to fight them. Spike, after dodging a missing fire in the air, looked around the battlefield. It was impossible to know each side add the advantage, but he had confidence that his would win. But that thought was blown away when he get to know the greatest battle that was happening. Torch and Flame were having a fight full of headbutts. Their fight was so intense that anyone that came into the cross-fire were shutting down, regarding the side they were. But, eventually, a winner came out of that fight. Flame and Torch should be of the same age and be close in power and strength, but the former Dragon King was able to dodge a blow from the former Dragon Lord and took advantage of that to give one of his own that threw Torch against the grown, near the stone throne. Seeing then Flame approaching him, Spike could sense what he was going to do. “No!” he exclaimed, starting to fly to help Torch. Noticing Spike flying in his direction, Flame commanded a pair of dragons to block his way, what they obeyed so promptly. Spike tried to pass through them, but they wouldn’t let him do it. With his anger and frustration growing, Spike let a roar get out, saying: “GET OUT OF MY WAY!” The roar wasn’t the only thing he unleashed, but also a psychic wave of his telepathic power that caused the dragons to groan in pain. That gave Spike the opening he needed to pass and continue his way towards Flame and Torch, but it was too late, as he saw the former stabbing the latter with the sharp tips of his crown horns. Torch released a roar full of pain. “NO!” Spike exclaimed. He landed beside Torch, while saying to the dying old dragon: “Please, Lord Torch, hold on, you will make it…” “Don’t lie to me, my king…” Torch said to him with a weakening voice. “I am no foul. I can see that my time has come… I failed to defeat Flame.” “No, you can’t…” Spike started. “What about Ember? What about us? We need you, Lord Torch…” “No, you don’t” he replied. “I believe you, King Spike. Through all your deeds, you and my daughter showed you are the rulers our kind need to return to its former glory. You may not be able to see it, but you have so much potential. Please, defeat Flame…” And, with that, Torch gave his last breath and closed his eyes, becoming then immobile. The former Dragon Lord had died. That fact left Spike immobile of shock. Flame’s laugh was heard by everyone, as he said to Spike: “You see? You can’t defeat me! I killed your best warrior and chance to defeat me. Without Torch, you have zero chances of defeating me!” The news about Torch’s death echoed, getting to Ember who, after hearing that, said: “Dad… no… NO!” And she took flight, heading to where her deceased father was. “Finally, our true king managed to defeat that old bag of bones” Garble said with a smile. It was then that he got a punch that put him out of combat. It was Flambeau who gave it to him. “Don’t forget that your king is also an old bag of bones” he replied to the knocked out dragon. And, having said that, he also took flight, following Ember. She landed beside Spike, looking to her dad, with tears on her eyes. “Oh dad…” she said. Flambeau landed behind her, followed by Nitelite. The other dragons also stopped fighting because of that. They all became silent for knowing that Torch had died. “That this served as proof of my superiority” Flame said. “I’m the real Dragon King, not this weakling that rely on the strength of one dragon instead of his own. Now, all of you, put yourselves at your rightful place and… SERVE ME!” And he unleashed his telepathic power that started to affect all the dragons. Spike, due to his status as king, couldn’t be affected by Flame’s controlling power, but the pain that he was feeling couldn’t be any less than the one the others that were trying to resist were feeling. It didn’t take long for the dragons starting to give in and going to Flame’s side. The same was happening with all the other dragons that were fighting with the Alliance. “Urgent news from all the units!” Diamond Glow said. “They all say that the dragons started to act strangely, with huge headaches and then they stopped moving.” “Don’t tell me that Spike lost” White Light said. “Not yet” Celestia said. “There is still hope for the dragons. I know that. We just have to hope that Spike is able to understand what takes to be a king.” At the Dragon Lands, all the dragons started to fell under Flame’s influence. Even Flambeau, Nitelite and Ember, who tried very hard to resist, eventually gave in and took flight to Flame’s side. “Finally, I return to my rightful place as the true ruler of the dragon kind” the Dragon King said. “And no one will ever take that from me again!” Spike couldn’t believe he failed. After everything, after all the sacrifice, he didn’t stop Flame. But then he saw his brothers and Ember. Although they were under Flame’s control, he could see how they were unhappy. He also remembered all the ones that would suffer. Flame would use the dragons to attack all the ones he loved: Twilight, Sweetie Belle, all his friends… Then, the Lord of Order’s words to him resonated in his head. After that, Spike realized he couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t let Flame enslave their kind and use it to destroy everything he loved, even more using his own flesh and blood. “No…” he said, standing up, taking flight and looking to Flame. “I won’t let you do what you want!” “You still dare to challenge me, your runt?!” Flame exclaimed. “Yes, because I won’t let you harm my friends or using my family to do so!” Spike exclaimed. “I finally realize what makes a good king. A true king is capable of inspiring others to be better and protect the ones he loves. Well, I promised I would take the dragons back to their former glory and protected every of my loved ones. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do!” And a burst of telepathic power caught Flame by surprise, sensing Spike invading his mind like he did to him. He roared to him to stopped him, but Spike roared back, with a roar similar to his. And then the young dragon shot a series of fireballs against Flame, hitting hard on his crown horns. Flame tried to counter-attack, but the fire attack and the constant mind invasions from Spike prevented him from doing so. With Flame’s distraction, his control over the dragons started to fail. Ember, Flambeau and Nitelite recovered and, seeing Spike fighting for them, they advanced to his side, followed by the others. “No…” Flame said. “What are you doing?!” The dragons who were loyal to him tried to intervene, but they couldn’t dare to attack all those dragons, mainly when their king was being overpowered by Spike. “Now do you get it?” Spike asked to Flame. “This is what it means earning and respecting the title of king. Let this end… now.” “Never!” Flame exclaimed. “Attack!” And so a battle of fire began, with Spike and his dragons subduing Flame and his dragons. It didn’t last until it was only Flame against his enemies. All the dragons shot their respective fires against him. After, Flame tried to do his biggest attack, but before he could that, Spike shot again, hitting him hard on the forehead. That last attack made his crown to break and its front just fell on the ground. Spike attacked him mentally again, this time, completely subduing him. “The king protects his subjects, he doesn’t enslave them to do his selfish deeds” Spike said. All the dragons fighting for the Alliance returned to normal, fact that was reported to the HQ. “I knew you would do it, Spike” Celestia said with a smile. Feeling himself defeated, Flame took flight and run away as fast as he could. “Come back here, your coward!” Ember exclaimed, wanting to follow him. “Let him go, Ember” Spike said. “But he killed my father” Ember said. “We can’t just…” “I understand, and we will honor his death, but we have something to do first” Spike said. “We have to help the Alliance and save this world. And I hope I can have the help of my Dragon Lord for that.” Tears covered Ember’s eyes, but then she took a deep breath and then said, drying her eyes: “You know you can count on me… Your Highness.” Spike smiled and nodded his head to her. Then, he turned to the dragons that served Flame and told them: “If you want to keep serving a crownless king who only wants to use you as nothing more than servants, then you’re welcome to join him in his outcast. But, if want to keep living in this lands and be with your kind, living with all the respect from us, then join me and fight against the Chaos.” The dragons exchanged looks and then Spike took flight, along with his followers, heading to the battlefield of the war. He then noticed that some of the rebel dragons decided to join him and that made him smile, as now they had more soldiers to fight the terrible evil that was threatening all Creation.