//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 // Story: A Growing Fire In My Heart // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// Lord Redskull knew that if his father or grandfather were still alive they would be demanding to know what he was doing. Of all the actions he had taken in his life, perhaps there was no worse one then betraying the Dragon Lord, leaving her to die, and seeking to have a replacement that will hopefully be his nephew. Ever since he was a drankling, he had always followed the standards and traditions of their people, hoping to serve as a paragon for all others to follow. Even he, like many others, hoped to be Dragon Lord. When Torch was Dragon Lord, despite disagreeing with some methods of his, he still respected him for his courage, honor, and strength. He was a Dragon Lord worth following. His daughter on the other claw? She was unworthy of the title. The idea that they would make peace with ponies alone was treasonous in his eyes. They who had taken over as rulers of the world when they once had an empire that stretched from sea to sea. Holding the world hostage with the raising of the sun and moon. Promoting change from traditions that stood still for thousands of years for the benefit of each race. Not to mention always sticking their nose in everyone’s business. Yet, he was not stupid enough to go to war with them. At least not yet. Unlike other dragons, he read his history including the wars they had fought against Celestia and Luna. The former who summoned lances of light to piece the scales of dragons skulls as their bones lay bear in the aftermath of the Battle of the Macintosh Mountains. The latter who assassinated Dragon Lord Rigor in his sleep despite having a thousand dragons watching him. Not to mention there were two more alicorns. One who ruled the Legendary Crystal Empire and another who not only defeated Princess Luna, but Discord and Tirek as well. Even taming the former into becoming a friend. No, war with the ponies was suicide for now, but he would be damned if he let them become... friends. Their ancestors and the gods themselves would never allow it. “How much longer do we have to wait? I’m getting bored,” the changeling queen said on his shoulder. She was yawning without a care that he was barely allowing her presence despite their alliance for the past few months. “Just unleash the damn brat onto the ponies. I want to hear some screaming already!” “Patience. This must be done at the right moment,” he replied, checking out the setting sun in the distance. Nightfall was best to unleash their plan on having a drugged up Spike let loose his blind rage in Ponyville. “You should be glad that the teleportation glyph I created for my invasion when I was last here was still working. Idiot King Thorax didn’t remember where I put it,” Chrysalis said, stretching her legs. “Otherwise it would have taken us longer to get here.” “What are you going to do now that your rival ruler is dead?” He asked, curious. He had no desire to keep their alliance longer than necessary. You couldn’t trust changelings. Especially the rumors of this one. “I intend to retake my throne with blood,” she replied, grinning with excitement. “All those who sides against me shall be put to the sword, along with their families. I’ll force them to return to our ways, or else they will perish just like their dearly departed King.” “And if they all resist?” “Then I kill them all,” she shrugged, “I’ll find someway to get my revenge on Equestria another way. They exist to serve me. I guided them. I gave them love. I am who they should serve. If they refuse to do so then so be it. It’s there funerals.” Witch, thought Lord Redskull, growling. He wanted to kill her right here and now, but no doubt she was planning for that just in case. Lord Redskull hated to admit it, but subterfuge and deceit were not in his nature. He prefer to tackle his problems head on like a true dragon. When Crystals approached him, offering her service to get her revenge, he accepted with hesitation. After all, this was the one who had once brought Equestria to its knees almost twice. If anything, she had a better streak of getting close to killing the Princesses then any Dragon Lord in history. Accepting her help was a given, but trusting her? No doubt she has a backup plan if I try to attack her. I’ll let her live for now. He glanced at his fellow dragons who were guarding a large steel cage that held a fuming and glaring Spike. He had done nothing but swear they would get up regretting kidnapping him since day one, but now he was just standing in a silent rage. He had told the dragon of what had happened to Ember, Princess Twilight, and the others, hoping to see some kind of response from him. He just looked at him and growled, “They’ll come for me. And when they do, you’ll be regretting it.” His faith that his friends were alive was admirable, but futile. They had tested the crystal before springing their trap, not even he could resist against its power. What hope do they have? By now, they had to be dead. He had ordered his guards to eventually take the bodies and bring them to the territory of the behemoths to be devoured with no traces. Still, even with Dragon Lord Ember dead there was still much to do. Already Tyranus, his nephew, was preparing their alliance to strike down at the most vocal of Dragon Lord Ember’s supporters. Including those of Clan Blitz and Oceanvale. Afterwards, it was merely just waiting for the next Dragon Lord to be chosen. Hopefully, the Gods will pick my nephew rather than that failure I once called son. Garble had been his biggest failure in life. His son was more into fighting and eating jewels then learning how to be a proper head of their clan. No, when he died it would be Tyranus who would lead them. “Is it time already?” Crystalis whined, pointing to the setting sun. “There is barely any dawn left!” Sighing, he nodded his head. “Yes, let’s get this over with.” He rose from his position and walked over to the cage, nodding to two junior members of his clan who dragged a struggling Spike out. One of them held the potion that would turn this little dragon into a furious terror that would burn Ponyville and Canterlot to the ground. With only death as the solution to stop him. “So what’s that going to do? Poison me?” Spike growled as he stared at the bottle. “I suppose I can give you some kind of lesson of your kind considering it will be the last clear moments of your life,” replied Lord Redskull. “Long ago, during times of war, we dragons would create potions that would increase the rage in our bodies. Making us juggernaut berserkers who burned anything in our way. We also had growth potions to help young dragons age up to a proper age to help fight in our war at the cost of some of their lifespan. You will be drinking a combination of both so that not only you will be a proper size dragon capable of violence, but you will also be driven to destroy everything and anything around you. Until you are dead.” Spike’s eyes widened as he realized what they were planning on doing at last. “Please! Those are innocent ponies! My friends! You can’t do this!” “I can, and I will. You weren’t much of a dragon anyway, consider this your taste of our true power,” Lord Redskull replied before nodding to the younger dragon. Despite his efforts, Spike’s mouth was forced open and he gulped down the potion before he was released. Coughing, he held his claws to his throat and struggle to stand up, but found himself suddenly holding his stomach. Everyone stepped back as a red aura began to overcome Spike who screamed in pain as his entire body slowly began to stretch. The entire group watched with curiosity as the once tiny dragon began to grow bigger and bigger, his roars deeper and angerier. In the distance in Ponyville, all suddenly felt a terror in their hearts as a loud roar echoed throughout the valley.