[Creamy - Help! I'm A Fish!]
At first, all Spike could see was darkness, before he groggily opened his eyes to see a blur of white, followed by a burning sensation on his cheek, and a throbbing pain on his head.
"Ow!" Spike hissed, clutching the spot, struggling to get up, before he felt a soft touch of a feather on his hand.
"Shhh, slowly sweetie," Turning to his right, Spike's visions cleared up as he looked to see his mother, looking at him with a mix of concerns and reliefs. "Slowly."
"Mom?" Spike squinted, his visions becoming clearer, allowing him to see his mom, with her sun illuminating behind her head, giving her the appearance of an angel. "Are we dead?"
Celestia shook her head, "No," She answered sweetly. "But thank goodness you're not, my little sunshine."
Getting up, sitting up straight, Spike looked around to see he was sitting on a huge leaf bed, inside a cave room with a single opening in the wall as a window, which let in some of his mother's lights. Spike's nose twitched to the scent of salty sea air. Just then, a hippogriff entered the room, "Hey Spike!" The hippogriff chirped.
Spike turned to the hippogriff, "Sky?" Spike asked in bewilderment. "Is that you?"
"Yep! It's me!" Sky smiled, while flapping her wings enthusiastically. "Surprised? Because I sure am! I'm so happy I finally get to flap my wings again!"
Princess Celestia smiled, "I think you look lovely."
"Oh, I-uh, t-thank you, Princess Celestia," Skystar blushed.
"No need to be so formal, Skystar," Princess Celestia insisted. "We're both princesses here. Just Celestia will do."
"Okay," Skystar beamed, before she was suddenly pushed aside, "Omigosh! The Dragon Prince!!!" Several female hippogriffs squealed in excitement, as they charged into the room and swarmed the boy, while completely ignoring Princess Celestia and Skystar.
"Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh!" Silver Stream squealed excitedly, zipping around Spike at a speed that rivals Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash put together. "I can't believe it's really, really you!! So is it true? You got hit in the head by a lightning when you were ten? What's it like in this other world called E-arth? What is martial art? Is Kung Food delicious? Is it good for you? Is it your source of powers? And does it makes you go all hi-yah! Yah! Yah!" Silver shouted, while throwing several kicks and punches with her claws and legs, before she accidentally bonked one of the hippogriffs on the nose.
"Ow!" The poor unfortunate soul groaned.
"Oops! Sorry!" Silver Stream quickly apologized.
"Oh wow! So cool!" Haven smiled as she and Salina both danced around Spike. "You're really are amazing! Even for a dragon!"
"So cool!" Saline added, blushing a shade of red when she looked directly into Spike's eyes.
Cassie soon appeared at the window, together with Coral, greeting Spike, brushing one their fins on the back of his head, catching his attention "Hey," The kelpie greeted.
"Hey yourself," Spike returned the greeting.
"ENOUGH!!!" A voice boomed, petrifying the hippogriffs and kelpies as they turned to see Queen Novo entering the room. Like her daughters, niece, and most of their subjects, she too have gained a pair of wings, her flippers have been turned into claws, and gained hind legs. "Give the poor thing some space. Can't you see he's been through enough as it is?" Turning her attention back to Spike and Celestia, Novo began, "Princess Celestia. You have raised yourself an outstanding son, and he did a good deed for both me and my subjects. And for that, you both have my thanks," With that, the wise and powerful hippogriff bowed her head in gratitude, with Celestia and Spike returning the gesture.
Then with a blur of yellow, Skystar pounced Spike, holding him by the arms as she twirls him eagerly in a tornado, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Skystar sang, as she spins Spike around, before she pulled him in a death gripping hug.
"Can't breathe!" He wheezed.
"Hey! Save some for the rest of us, Sky!" Cassie insisted, as she pulled them both in the water for a loving hug.
"Got room for one more?" Coral asked, as she joined in the hug. Just as Cassie has always been a kelpie, Coral has always been a hippocampus.
"Hey! What about us?" Haven asked, as she and Salina both jumped into the water.
"Me next!" Silver Stream chirped, as she joined her girls, as they all smothered their favorite Dragon Prince in affections.
Princess Celestia and Queen Novo looked at each other, before they all shrugged their shoulders, and chuckled nervously.
Spike finally wriggled himself free, as a fish, only to be relentless pursued by the sea girls, who still have plenty of love to give him. Looking up, Spike could see his posse, and the Shadowbolts watching the show, along with Capper, Peewee, and Celaeno, "Little help here?" He pleaded.
"Are you kidding me?" Button Mash shouted. "You're getting to the good part!"
"You're on your own now, amigo," Capper grinned, like the cheshire cat.
Later, the heroes were soon treated to a banquet on the beach of Mt. Aris, with some delicacy that the sea ponies have grown accustomed to eating, together with some foods the hippogriffs have longed to eat again.
In the meantime, Skystar excitedly retells her latest adventure with Spike, how they braved the danger of the Cerulean Hunters, Klugetown, and the shadow beasts that nearly tried to eat them, all to make it back home to Seaquestria/Mt. Aris.
"So there me and Spike were!" Skystar talked excitedly. "Trapped in the burning building! And before I knew it, Spike turned himself into a dragon and he and I burst out of the building! But then those terrible people who called themselves the Cerulean Hunters, together with these strange dark creatures, they tried to hunt me and Spike! But Spike was too fast and too strong! And he fought them off!"
This may take awhile. While looking amused at her daughter's newfound enthusiasm she has missed for so long, Queen Novo looked up to see Princess Celestia looking both relieved, and yet worried.
Sensing the princess's insecurity, Queen Novo got up from her seat, "Would you please excuse us, my dear?" She asked Skystar. "Tia and I would like to have a word, or two."
"Hurry back mom!" Skystar replied. "I'm getting to the best part!"
Queen Novo and Princess Celestia both walked down a hall, away from the festivity, to find themselves some privacy.
"Yo, Spike!" Rumble called, as he and the Knights walked in with their new friend, Terramar.
"Hey guys!" Spike greeted. "Who's your friend?"
"Spike, it's a pleasure to introduce you to our newest member, Terra!" Pipsqueak smiled.
"Dragon Prince Spike!" Terra gasped, before he bowed his head. "It's a great honor to meet the hero of Equestria!"
Spike smiled, "Nice to meet ya, Terra," He replied. "But no need for formality. Please, stand up." Terramar complied, while still looking giddy in front of Spike. Spike then remembered what Pipsqueak had said, "Wait, what do you mean, newest member?"
"Terra here is one of us now!" Button smiled. "From this day forward, he's an honorary member of the Knights!"
"Yeah!" The Knights, along with Terra, cheered, while exchanging a shared high-five together.
"So what do you think Spike?" Tender asked, together with the boys anxious to hear what their dragon friend had to say.
Spike looked at Terramar, tapping his chin for a moment, pondering before he asked, "You think you can handle the excitements of our adventures?"
"Piece of sponge cake," Terra grinned.
With a shrug, Spike held his hand out for the hippogriff, "Then welcome aboard, Terra!" Spike smiled, as he and the boys all welcomed the newest member of their gang.
"One day, I'm going to make a great guard to the hippogriffs and sea ponies here," Terramar smiled to himself. "Just like my dad is."
Later, after the celebration was out of the way, the hippogriffs, together with the heroes and Princess Celestia, went to work, cleaning up the messes left behind during the battle with the Cerulean Hunters.
First things first, the heroes, together with Queen Novo and all of their friends all paid their respects to the guards who have given their lives, protecting their home and loved ones.
Later, the hippogriffs began to work on returning their former village of Mt. Aris to its former glory. Wanting to build a trusting relation with the hippogriffs, the Knights and the Shadowbolts joined in with the restoration of the village. The survivors from Klugetown decided to pinch in and help out with the restoration, seeing as how they've taken a liking to Mt. Aris.
In the meantime, Princess Celestia and Queen Novo both discussed on the idea of forming an alliance together, thus combining their forces together against the Storm King, should the evil warlord ever show his face again to conquer the hippogriffs, and the sea ponies.
Spike was out in an open field of Mt. Aris. According to some hippogriffs, the field was once known as the Harmonizing Heights. Looking around, the land has seen better days.
A melodic screech of a bird filled the air, and Spike looked up to see Skystar flying into view, circling around the boy, before she came for a soft landing in front of him.
"Hey Sky!" Spike greeted.
"Hey Spike," Sky smiled softly, before she walked over and sat down beside the boy. "So, what do you think? Isn't it....amazing?"
"Hmmm?" Spike looked and saw Sky was referring to the land they were both resting in. "Oh....yeah. Pretty good. Just need a little cleaning up and it'll be back to its heyday, I'm sure."
Sky giggled in agreement, "Oh, and I have the best idea ever! You can stay with me, forever!" Spike's eyes widened as he turned to the excited hippogriff. "We'll have so much fun together! Now that we don't have to hide underwater anymore, we can make so many things together! We can make friendship necklaces for each other out of flowers, instead of shells! And we can make crowns out of flowers! And best part is, we can invite the rest of our friends from Ponyville to come over and stay!! We'll make so many fond memories together, so no one has to feel left out! Including Shelly and Sheldon here!" Sky said, while holding out the two shells with googly eyes.
Spike looked hesitant, before he spoke up, "Uh, look Sky. That sounds like a lot of fun and all, but I can't stay here," Sky, of course, was despondent at the answer. "Me and the boys have to go back home. We've got our own lives there, just as you do here," Sky frowned as she draw circles in the dirt with her talons. "Cheer up, Sky. You're home now. And you're back with your folks. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Maybe," Sky sighed. "I don't know anymore," The hippogriff slumped.
"What's wrong, Sky?" Spike asked.
"Well, it's so strange. I'm so confused. At first, back in Ponyville, all I could think about was how far away I was from home. But now, hearing how you, the Knights, and the rest of our friends have to go back to Ponyville, I can't help but think how far away we'll be." A tear nearly escaped, which Sky quickly wiped away with her arm. "I just can't decide. It's like, I want to stay here, or stay with you. I just don't want to leave mom alone, or my sisters, or cousin Silver Stream, or even Cassie and Coral. But at the same time, I don't want to forget you, the girls back in Equestria, or even worst, I don't want you to forget me!"
"Hey, don't worry about it," Spike comforted the hippogriff. "I'll never forget you, Sky! Promise!"
"But what if you do?" Sky asked, tearing up. "What if you get hit by a lightning bolt again, and then you've lost your memories for another ten years? Or even longer?"
"Well, I can still find it again. Can I?"
"Maybe," Skystar covered her face with her talon as she sobbed, "I don't mean to be selfish Spike. I just don't want to lose you, just like how I lost dad."
"Then you won't," Spike assured. "Look Sky. I know how scary it may feel, to lose someone you loved so much, that you felt completely all alone. But if there's one thing Twilight taught us, it's that no matter what happens, we'll never be alone. Not as long as the friendship we have together lives on, in all of our hearts. So wherever we go, we'll always be together. And the magic we've had can never be taken away from us. Because there's nothing the magic of friendship can't overcome."
Sky smiled sadly, before she frowned, "But I'll miss you."
"I know Sky," Spike replied, as he pulled the hippogriff close for a comforting hug. "But don't worry. I can come back and visit you whenever I get the chance."
Sky smiled, before she remembered, "Oh! Wait here!" With that, Sky quickly dashed off before she zips back to Spike, and draped a necklace of beautiful seashells around his neck.
"W-What's this?" Spike asked.
"It's a friendship necklace," Sky beamed, while pointing to her own. "It's just like mine. That way, when you wear it, you'll never forget me, and the memories we've made on this adventure, together."
"Really?" Spike smiled, to which Sky happily nodded her head. "Aw, thanks Sky. I'll cherish it, always."
Skystar giggled, before she looked at Spike with half-lidded eyes, "Hey Spike?" Skystar began.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to say thank you, and....and...and I....I love you," Skystar blushed, clamping her beak with Spike's mouth, passionately making out with him.
Initially wincing from the sharp edges of her beak piercing his skin, Spike gradually melts into the kiss, feeling light as a feather. Taking it up a notch, Spike wrapped his hands around Sky's head, pulling her close, deepening the kiss, with Sky doing the same with her talons, and wings. The two rolled around in the field, fighting for dominance, while at the same time, not releasing their maws from each other.
Some of the Klugetown survivors were passing by when they noticed the two young royals making out, "Ooooooooh!" A random cat mused.
At last, the two parted, "Wow," Sky blushed. "That was.....amazing."
"Yeah," Spike said, equally aroused, before he quickly cleared his head. "Y'know, there's still some time left before I leave," Spike spoke. "I guess a quick flight around Mt. Aris wouldn't hurt."
"That's a great idea!" Sky beamed cheerfully. "Let's fly!" Sky laughed, as she took flight, with the Dragon Prince following.
Watching from the ruined structures of a palace on Mt. Aris, Queen Novo couldn't help but laugh, watching happily as her daughter was happy, for the first time in a long while. Even more, when she sees her daughter, flying with the Dragon Prince, "What did I tell you, Tia?" Novo nudged the sun alicorn beside her. "That's quite the son you've got there."
"I know," Celestia smiled proudly.
Capper couldn't help but smirk proudly at his friend, "You done good, Draco," He said. "You done good."
[Creamy - Help! I'm A Fish!]
[Chasing the sun - The Wanted]
Klugetown, Verko's office
Verko was in his office feeling proud of himself for driving the Cerulean Hunters out of his town, with the help of the Predators, of course. Sure a few buildings got burnt down and he lost a considerable amount of men, but to him it was a small price to pay.
Speaking of whom, one of his men stepped in with a look of concern on his face.
"What is it?" Verso asked.
"It-It's your family, boss. They wanna have a word with ya." The goon replied.
Verko smiled a dirty grin, "HA, they probably wanna thank me for a job well done! Patch 'em through."
The goon gulped, "Ok, if ya say so boss." He said as he brings out an orb and places it on the ground. He then makes his leave.
The room goes dark as five figures appeared in the room via a magic projection from the orb, four of which are his brothers and the last one being his mother. His brothers were same height as humans (something that he was always extremely jealous of), while his mother is the same height as him.
The first brother wore a whole dark grey tuxedo suit with matching shoes. This was Vito.
The second wore a white lab coat and and rubber gloves, he also had a monocle on his left eye. This was Veeker.
The third wore a dark brown trench coat with a matching long fedora, pants and shoes, he was also smoking a cigar. This was Vick.
The fourth and final brother wore a white priest robe, a red vestment, and a biretta. This was Vinnie.
And the mother of all these naked mole rats is Mama V. She looks almost identical to Verko, except she wears a light pink dress with rose pictures on it, a short dark pink coat, and has grey beehive style hair.
"Mama, brothers! What a pleasant surprise!" Verko said gleefully. "For what do I owe this occasion?"
"Heard your town got attacked by the Cerulean Hunters, sweetheart." Mama V said, "But we also heard that you managed to drive them out?"
Verko grinned, "Yep and it was thanks to my new partners."
"New partners?" Veeker asked.
"Yeah, why don't you all meet 'em?" Verko said as he tapped his cane and sure enough, the Predators appeared. Verko's family members were disturbed to say the least.
"So...you drove off the hunters with the help of these...things?" Vito asked.
"Sure did." Verko said feeling proud of himself.
"And off course you only used them to protectyourinterests." Vinnie said, giving Verko a disapproving glare along with the rest of his brothers.
Verko was taken aback by this, "I don't understand..."
Mama V sighed as she shook her head, "Verko honey, did you think Klugetown was the only place the Cerulean Hunters hitted?" She asked.
Now that he thought about it, he did realize that only Blacksky's, Raider's, and bits of Shade's division attacked his base of operations.
Vito stepped forward, "Those bastards attacked my mansion in Sicily. Thankfully, I managed to escape, but I lost alotof my best men doing so."
Then Veeker spoke up, "They raided one of my top labs and stole many projects I was working on there. They left no survivors by the way."
Then it was Vick's turn, "My newly opened casino in the Prairie 'mysteriously' got burned to the ground."
And finally, it was Vinnie's turn, "They ransacked my cathedral, grabbed anything that wasn't nailed down, then they yanked the nails and those too."
Needless to say, Verko was flabbergasted by this. It was an understatement. Not only did the Cerulean Hunters attacked his base of operations, but also his family's as well.
"So yeah, the hunters strucked us hard, thanks to you!" Vick said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Wait a damn minute! How is this my fault?!?" Verko exclaimed.
"Wasn't it your idea to 'borrow' their tech?" Vinnie asked.
"Well yeah but-" Verko explained, but he was interrupted.
"While we're on the subject, who's idea was it that we should partner with the Shadowbolts, only for them to back out from the deal when they turned into goody two shoes and leaving us with FINANCIAL problems?" Veeker asked.
"Well...I thought it was a good idea at the time."
"Point is Verko, any problems we have seems to trail back toyou." Vick said, "Now you've made a partnership with these things without ma's go ahead!"
"Vick's right, little brother." Vito chimed in, "How do we know we can trust 'em?"
"Look guys, this won't be anything like the Shadowbolts, I promise." Verko assured them
"I hope your right little brother. Because now you just dragged us into your pissing match with Big Daddy." Vick said.
"Don't worry, with the Predators on our side, he won't do a damn thing to us." Verko replied smugly.
"Don't count you chickens before they hatch son," Mama V Spoke up, "I know the guy better than you do. He ain't gonna take this lying down. Sooner or later he'll find a way to take this things down."
"Quit your worrying ma, I got this handled." Verko assured her.
"We'll take your word on that little brother," Vito said before narrowing his eyes, "But know this. Anymore hits the Cerulean Hunters do on the Vermin Cartel from now on will be on you, understand?"
Verko gulped as he nods.
"Good! Meeting adjourned then." Vito said as he and his brothers faze out, except for Mama V.
"Look honey, I know your trying to prove that your just as capable as your brothers," She sighed, "But your biting off more than you can chew here." She then turns to the Predators, "And these things? I don't trust em. Not one bit."
"Look mama, I know what I'm doing here." He assured her.
"I hope so sweety, I really do." She said as she fades out.
Verko was silent for a few seconds before tapping his cane and the Predators disappeared, leaving him alone in his office. He then gets up and walks toward the orb. With a loud growl, he kicks the orb across the room.
Just then, he hears a knock on the door, "What is it?" He asked with a hint of anger in his voice.
A goon steps in, "Er, well we just found out something you might be interested in hearing." He nervously said.
"And that is?"
"Well we got reports saying that Capper was in town right before the Cerulean Hunters attacked." The goon explained.
Verko's ears perked up at this, "Dapperpaws? You mean to tell me he was here?!"
The goon gulped, "Yes sir, and he wasn't alone either. A few humans, an Ornithian, and a sea pony was with him. We also believe that one of the humans is this 'Spike Drago' your looking for as well."
"You sure?"
"He fitted the description those three Diamond Dogs told us boss." The goon assured.
"Very interesting. Is that all?" The goon nodded, "Then you're dismissed." The goon then leaved leaving Verko alone with his thoughts.
Elsewhere...
A figure was in his office reviewing both the battles of Klugetown and Mt. Aris. Needless to say he was not pleased with the results.
"It would seem I may have to up Shade's training," The figure said as he watches the silent commander's fight with Daybreaker.
Just then, another figure steps in. However, unlike the first figure who has a pair of red eyes, this one has one red eye, while the other is bionic blue, "It would seem that rodent Verko has found some new friends." The other figure said in a cold robotic voice as he watches the hunters getting torn apart by the Predators.
"Yes, the Shadowbolts severed all ties with the Vermin Cartel, so of course that cowardly rat would try to find help elsewhere." The first figure said.
"Verko is an arrogant fool who thinks he can hold a candle to his brothers. His partnership with these creatures won't last forever. However, that's not what concerns me. Commander Blacksky said in his report that these creatures have FÅnum magic instead of Equestrian magic, meaning they are from the world of FÅnum." The second figure explained.
The first figure let'd all that sink in for a minute before finally speaking up, "I'll send Wild Blood and a squad of his best men to that world to find out what they can about these things."
"Baloroc, we know very little about FÅnum magic. Making a counter weapon against these creatures will take...time." The second figure said.
"Whatever it takes old friend," The first figure, now known as Baloroc, replied, "We'll also need to take care of this dragon as well as this is the second time he foiled a hunt." He said as he watched the dragon on-screen.
"Blacksky also reported that the magical readings from that dragon is unlike any we've scanned before." The second figure said.
"Hmmmm, that dragon does look familier and he seems very close to that sun alicorn as well, seeing how she went berserk when he was injured. Maybe we could use that to our advantage." Baloroc said.
"Then perhaps it is time to unveil our secret weapon: the Dark Hunter." The second figure declared.
"Sir! Sir!" A figure panted. "Oh, steps. Ahem. Reports sir, from the South! It's the Hippogriffs! They've been revealed!"
A pair of piercing blue eyes blinked wide open.