Chapter 19: Is The Enemy My Friend or My Enemy?

The two of them walked in silence under the full moonlit night. Rarity was staying ahead, with Spike close behind, but far enough to give her some distance. Everything had gone wrong in the worst possible way, and now Spike wasn’t sure how to talk to Rarity. He wasn’t even sure if she would even listen. The two of them stopped at the edge of the village before the path that took them to the fort. Rarity turned around and faced Spike; he kept his head low not wanting to make eye contact with her. “Spike,” she finally spoke, “I don’t know what kind of magic you used to become like that, but end it now. I want to talk to the real you.”

Spike did as she commanded, his unicorn form flickering in and out, till, with a wisp of green dragon fire, Spike had returned to his original form. The tux had fallen, bunching at his feet. The little purple dragon rubbed the back of his head, not knowing where to begin to explain. “Rarity I – I…”

“I can’t believe you would do this Spike,” said Rarity. “You tricked me, lied to me, and pretended to be someone you’re not!”

“W-was this all a game to you!? For the love of Celestia Spike I know you have a crush on me, but to take it to these extremes!? Why would you do this,” asked Rarity.

“Because I love you!” shouted Spike. “And because it was the only way you could love me back!”

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean!? You know full well that I love you Spike,” retorted Rarity.

Spike scoffed, “No you don’t, not the way I do! As Fire Heart I could be with you, really be with you, as more than just friends!”

“Let’s face it; you wouldn’t give me the time of day because I was a dragon, but as another unicorn I had a chance! I mean it’s pretty obvious no other pony knows you like I do, your likes and dislikes, the way you think, everything!”

“Spike you have to understand, you’re a baby dragon, and to be honest even if I wanted to pursue such a relationship with you others might see it as unbecoming,” said Rarity.

“Yeah, I’m a baby dragon out here, but in here,” Spike pointed to his head for effect, “I’m just as smart as you or Applejack, or Twilight, or anypony else! Or maybe you can’t just accept the fact that I’m a dragon, and that it is wrong for a pony and dragon to be together, I’m right aren’t I,” argued Spike.

“How dare you! I am not in the least bit prejudice against such things! What other ponies do behind closed doors or in public is their own business!” Rarity let out a frustrated sigh. “Now we have to get back to the fort, by now I’m sure Blueblood has put two and two together. We need to come up with an explanation for what happened, and it won’t be easy,” said Rarity.

“Excuse me, you most certainly are! Even if I have to drag you back kicking and screaming.”
-mumble-

With a fierce look in his eyes Spike stared directly at Rarity, “I HATE YOU!!!” he screamed.

That one statement hit her with more force than any magic based attack could ever muster. Spike then took off into the woods, taking advantage of the stunning effect his words had on Rarity, not even looking back. Once she got over the initial shock Rarity galloped after him. Rarity couldn’t make it through the woods, her dress got in the way and he didn’t respond to her calls. She had eventually lost track of the baby dragon in the darkness of the woods, with a frustrated grunt Rarity stamped her hoof on the ground, turned around and headed to the cart that taxied soldiers to and from the fort. “Fine then be that way! Go and see if I care! Honestly Spike you’re as stubborn as a mule!”

The driver then began to pull the cart and Rarity went on her way, angry, and finding herself sneaking glances back to the tree line where Spike disappeared.

That morning Pinkie Pie gathered Ballista and Fluttershy to go and visit Rarity. Partly to see how the date went, but mostly to see if Spike kept his end of their promise. Pinkie Pie knocked at the door to Rarity’s room and yelled, “Rarity wakey, wakey!” No response. She then began to knock more furiously with her hoof becoming a pink blur as she did so. Finally they heard movement from the other side. The door opened and Rarity was greeted by three mares, each with a varying reaction of surprise at her appearance.

Rarity was a mess, and that’s saying something. Her eyes red and puffy, her mane uncombed with stray hairs going in any direction they pleased, and zero make up. She only groaned in response to Fluttershy’s question.

“Oh, ho, oh, you have no idea…!” Rarity then ushered her friends into her quarters. Once inside she regaled them with all the exciting details of the magnificently, romantically, catastrophic rendezvous. Including the telling of the untimely arrival of Prince Blueblood and how Fire Heart, or Spike in this case, completely overpowered him. Now that she recalls it, that had been one of the highlights of the night, seeing Bluebloods pathetic and scared face was amusing. But that was overshadowed by the fact that her date was a dragon, not just a dragon, one that they all knew well. Sufficed to say it came as a shock to at least Ballista and Fluttershy, but Pinkie Pie seemed to cringe as if it were something she had expected. Rarity attributed it to her imagination, how could Pinkie Pie know anything.

“I’m going to go check on Spike,” said Fluttershy, flying out of the room and quickly heading off to comfort the baby dragon.

“Dang, all things considered I have a new found respect for the little guy,” said Ballista.

“My personal views aside, this was a pretty elaborate plan, even for just a crush. Going to these lengths to prove his love, I gotta say I wish some stallion went through that much trouble to ask me out on a date.” Rarity looked at Ballista quizzically, she had pegged her as a regular tomcolt, much like Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but never expected her to defend the actions of another’s attempts of gaining love. “W-w-what, is it a crime to admire a little romance,” asked Ballista, slightly blushing.

“Maybe you could give Spike another chance, you know, talk to him,” asked Pinkie Pie.

“That didn’t sound like talking, more like you two were arguing. I think if you gave him a chance –”

“GIRLS!!!!” Fluttershy came storming into the room, out of breath, with fright and worry present in her eyes.

After getting over the shock that Fluttershy actually barged into a stallion restroom, the four mares then began to systematically search the fort. Looked in every obvious place Spike could be hiding or sulking, after which they moved on to places that weren’t so obvious. They searched high and low, every nook and cranny, but still they could not find neither scale nor claw of the baby dragon.

They reconvened in the courtyard of the fort. All four of them were worried sick; they couldn’t find any trace of Spike’s whereabouts within the fort. Which led them to a startling thought, what if he never made it back, what if he was still wandering the woods? “These woods are thick, with many trees, and unfamiliar. Spike could easily get lost or hurt out there,” said Fluttershy.

Rarity was starting to panic, hyperventilating, and cursing herself for not pursuing Spike when she had the chance. “This-this is all my fault…If only I had gone after him – I should’ve gone after him! But I was too caught up in my own anger and frustration to care and now…now…Twilight will never forgive me if something happened to him, I’ll never forgive myself,” cried Rarity.

Ballista put her hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, making the white unicorn mare stare up into her eyes. “Hey, you listen to me; everything’s going to be alright. I’ll gather some of my flyers together and we’ll sweep from the air, meanwhile the three of you see if you can get some help from some of the Mage and Brawn Corp. troops under your command. We’ll search the last place that you saw Spike and we’ll bring him back. Okay?”

Rarity smiled with tears running down her face. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy offered a comforting hug, to which she accepted gladly. “Thank you,” she said.

Just then a pegasus stallion flew into the courtyard, tired and out of breath. “C-Captain B-Ballista, I have a message from the ADL,” he managed.

“Commander Blueblood sends orders for the Calvary Division to suit up and aid in the holding of the ADL, ma’am!”

As if to exacerbate the situation now this gets dumped on them. “And why must we, I thought his royal highnesses troops were the best of the best, and that the Daemoni wouldn’t be able to break through the absolute defense line,” said Rarity.

The news hit them like a ton of bricks. There was no way that the ADL could be broken through, the only way the Daemoni could get through was by air, and they were sure that their side had air supremacy. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity had a horrible thought, one that they were dreading since the beginning of the war. “I-is it…Discord!?” asked Rarity.

“No ma’am, it’s – it’s the damndest thing! It’s a dragon, a big, dark scaled, red eyed dragon!” said the stallion in disbelief.

The four mares looked at each other, then back at the stallion. This was an unprecedented turn of events.

Reluctantly they called forth their Elemental Armor, moving with great haste towards the Absolute Defense Line, with their Calvary Division close behind and Captain Ballista’s 502nd squadron flying overhead. Their militia finally reached the hill where Commander Blueblood was surveying the battlefield through a telescope. Captain Ballista landed next to Rarity and, sparing her the trouble of addressing the Commander, spoke first to Blueblood. “Captain Ballista, along with Commanders Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie reporting in sir,” she said, saluting.

Blueblood turned slightly, and then returned to look through the lens. “Took you long enough, that deranged creature is tearing through our forces,” commented Blueblood.

“We’ll get our troops down there and attack immediately,” said Captain Ballista.

“No, no, that won’t be necessary. This is exactly the kind of situation our three new ‘Commanders’ are here for,” he said with a sly mocking tone. “Go down there and take care of that filthy dragon before they have a chance to send in more Daemoni,” ordered Commander Blueblood.

Before anything could be said Rarity took off with great haste, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie galloped after her as fast as they could. Alright, first we take down this dragon, second we locate a baby dragon, and thirdly – thirdly…

Rarity lost her train of thought when they got near the battlefield and saw what exactly they were about to fight. The dragon was as tall as the hydra from a month ago. The dragon had pitch black scales and violet underbelly scales, dark green spines that ran the length of its body. On its chest was a glowing green jewel, it pulsed with energy, seemingly attached to its body. The Dark Dragon swiped its claws, sending the Brawn Corp. soldiers flying into the air and sprawling into their comrades. Mage Corp. unicorns fired one magic bolt after another, what bolts didn’t already harmlessly bounce off its scales was absorbed by the green crystal in its chest. The Dark Dragon roared, he seemed to grow, getting bigger with each magic bolt that was absorbed. The Dragon reared back its head and bellowed out a stream of violet fire, incinerating the unicorns who weren’t able to get out of the way in time, and those who were got badly burned.

“I’ll attack from the front. Pinkie Pie I want you to follow up once I have his attention, and Fluttershy I want you to attack from the sky if you can. We’ll end this as quickly as possible then we’ll get onto more pressing matters, like locating Spike!” ordered Rarity.

Her friends nodded and went to work. Fluttershy flew up high into the sky, “I’ll need something fairly big, fast, and powerful. But what could I – ooo I know!” Fluttershy’s pearl orbs began to release their magical power, wrapping her up in a ball of light. Her avatar began to take form and in a flash it filled out. The avatar had a long beak, large wings, flowing tail feathers, and frills around its face and head, forming a makeshift crown. With each flap of the bird’s mighty wings it created thunder, lightning arcing off its body, the heavy smell of ozone perforating the air around it.

“It’s like a phoenix, except three times as big, and instead of fire it uses lightning and thunder,” explained Pinkie.

“Riiiiiight…” Rarity reminded herself to ask Pinkie Pie how she knew that later. Rarity then broke into a full gallop, charging straight at the dragon. Magic seems to bounce off that thing, if it doesn’t absorb it first! The clear diamond crystal floated beside her head, as if telling her that it wanted to help. “Diamat!!!” shouted Rarity. The crystal floated into position above her head and started to glow with white light. A large magic circle made of the same white light appeared before her, rune markings littered the inner and outer perimeter, with Rarity’s diamond shaped cutie mark in the center. The Diamat angled itself with its sharp pointed end pointing at the circle. The end then fractured and splintered into dozens of tiny shards. The shards then fired in rapid succession, the shards then passed through the other end, appearing a hundred times bigger and longer, they flew like spears at the Dark Dragon. Some of the spear shards pierced the dragon’s hide, smoothly and easily. The dragon jumped back from the sudden pain that emanated from its right shoulder, scarlet red blood started to flow down its arm. Rarity continued her barrage, having several of her spear shards embedding themselves at different points of its body, roaring in pain with each impact.

The Dark Dragon had finally had enough, unleashing a torrent of violet flames at Rarity. “Émeraude!!!” The green colored gemstone broke off from the orbit of the others, and then positioned itself in front of Rarity. Creating a shield that made the flames smash harmlessly against the barrier, Rarity barely felt the heat around her.

Pinkie went into action. Bouncing up and down, hopping around the Dark Dragon, too busy to notice the pink party pony sneaking past him. With one mighty jump Pinkie Pie propelled herself into the air. With a wave of her mysterious shoulder cape Pinkie summoned forth her Giga Party Cannons. “FIRE!!!” shouted Pinkie Pie. The large floating cannons discharged their firework blasts, hitting the Dark Dragon from behind. The Dark Dragon doubled forward from the impact and searing pain of the cannon fire. The Dark Dragon brought up its sword like arrowhead tipped tail and began to whip it back and forth. The dragon’s tail sliced through one of Pinkie’s party cannons, eliciting an angry frown, “Hey, don’t go breaking other pony’s stuff – WHOA!” The Dark Dragon’s tail whipped back again, Pinkie Pie directed her cannons up and outwards, putting some distance between them and her. Once she and the cannons were a safe distance away Pinkie Pie unleashed more destructive blasts.

Fluttershy, in her Thunderbird avatar form, swooped down angling downward towards the Dark Dragon. The Thunderbird avatar opened its beak and released lightning as it cried out. The lightning bolt surged down and shocked the large reptile. The diamond spear shards that were still stuck in its body conducted the electricity like rods, making it surge through every muscle in the creature’s body. The Thunderbird pulled out of its dive and hit the Dark Dragon with a concussive thunderclap from its wings, sending the dragon flying backwards and making it shutter with pain. The creature started to rise, slowly, eyes burning with fierce rage. Fluttershy pulled up and circled around, she never particularly liked dragons, but she remembered how the Hydra felt when it was corrupted. I won’t let you suffer anymore, thought Fluttershy. She built up the power within her avatar, thunder rumbled and roared, lightning crackled and arced wildly. Fluttershy nosedived once more, preparing to blast the Dark Dragon with everything she had. As she got closer Fluttershy began to hear something, a familiar voice.

“No it couldn’t!” Fluttershy used her powers to concentrate hard on the voice, amplifying it, straining to make sure her own ears and senses weren’t deceiving her. It hurts, it really hurts! Please, help me, anypony please!!!! Fluttershy gasped and pulled out of her nosedive. She immediately discharged her attack firing it straight into the air, violent thunder shaking the ground beneath their hooves and the air for a good ten miles.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie were confused as to why Fluttershy would avoid delivering the finishing blow; the Dark Dragon was still incapacitated and wide open for attack. The two mares regrouped further away from the dragon and waited for Fluttershy to join them. Fluttershy flew down to them, shedding her Thunderbird avatar form and returning to normal as she landed. “Fluttershy what were you doing!? We have to finish this quickly or else –!”

The two mare’s brains froze in that moment; they couldn’t comprehend what Fluttershy had said. They looked to the downed dragon, trying to recover from the blitz assault; they stared at the creature whom Fluttershy had claimed was Spike. The Dark Dragon stared back at them, its black scales stained with scarlet blood, and its crimson red eyes looking straight at them. Rarity unconsciously started to trot towards the beast, her azure eyes locked with the Dark Dragons, looking past the exterior. It was brief, but in that instant Rarity could swear that the dragon’s eyes changed from red to green slit eyes. “SPIKEY!!! No it can’t be!” Rarity began to sob, almost collapsing from the realization that their enemy was their dearest friend.

“No…Spike,” Pinkie Pie’s usually cheerful demeanor had left the moment Rarity confirmed it for herself.

“T-this is all my fault! If only I had gone after him, done something, oh Spike!”

Just then the Iris Caller on Rarity’s collar began to blink, and an all too familiar voice spoke out. “Would somepony tell me why is that dragon still alive, he’s wide open finish the dirty beast so we can reform the ADL,” ordered Blueblood.

“B-Blueblood, you have to listen to me that dragon is Spike, Private Spike!” shouted Rarity.

“I don’t care; he’s the enemy, attacking UEA troops! Now this is an order, either kill that beast or I’ll have you all arrested for insubordination,” warned Blueblood.

That was it, she had had enough. Rarity could only put up with so much of Prince Blueblood’s –! “WILL YOU JUST SHUT YOUR TRAP AND LISTEN TO SOMEPONY ELSE FOR ONCE YOU ARROGANT, POMPOUS, MANNERLESS, MOST POOR EXCUSE OF A PRINCE IN THE HISTORY OF EQUESTRIA!!!!!!!!!” Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie’s jaws dropped. “Now I know we’ve had our disagreements, but please, I beg you, don’t let our past discrepancies cloud your judgment. My friend is lying there, hurting in both body and soul, give us a chance to at least try and save him. If there’s no other way then I promise you, on my life, that I will personally end it. Please…”

Silence hung in the air for what felt like an eternity. No words were spoken, by Rarity, or her friends. The only sounds that were audible were the ones coming from the Dark Dragon, formerly known as Spike. “Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy…” the three mares held their breath, “…By order of the UEA, under Article 10 of the Military Code of Ethics, I hereby place you three under arrest for insubordination, and suspicion of treason. All UEA soldiers are to slay the dragon immediately and to take the three commanders into custody.”

Rarity’s eye twitched, afterwards she let loose a slew of curses and vulgar descriptions of Blueblood that would’ve made an old warhorse like Broadside cover his ears, and all this while the Iris Caller was still on. Before she was able to collect herself they were greeted by the sight of a dark cerulean pegasus in chrome armor. Ballista stared at the group; they shifted on their hooves, wondering if they were going to have to do battle with their newest friend. “By the orders of Prince Blueblood, I, Captain Ballista of the 502nd pegasus squadron, place you all under arrest…”

“…But seeing as I made Commander Rarity a promise that I would help her in bringing back her dragon friend, I am honor bound to fulfill my first obligation!” The three friends smiled widely, could it be true!? “My dad told me once, ‘Orders are orders, and they must be followed. But sometimes doing the right thing involves disobeying said orders; never lose sight of who you are.’” Ballista touched her Iris Caller and looked up to her squadron holding their position above them, ten of the fastest, strongest, pegasi under her command. “This is Captain Ballista, from here on out we will be assisting the commanders, if any of you want to leave do so now,” none of them flew away, “What do you need us to do Commander Rarity?”

With a new found strength and confidence Rarity wiped the tears from her eyes. Her face then grew serious as she heard the rage filled roars of the corrupted dragon. “Ballista, Pinkie Pie, buy me and Fluttershy as much time as you can give us, and try not to hurt any of them,” ordered Rarity.

They saluted her and went off to carry out her orders. Rarity then turned to Fluttershy. “We’ll need to restrain him Rarity, whatever you’re going to do to help him won’t work with him thrashing around,” said Fluttershy.

“Yes, but I don’t know any spell strong enough to hold him down,” said Rarity.

“There’s only one creature I can think of that can restrain Spike long enough, stand back!” Fluttershy’s armor once again went to work, building her a new avatar form. With a flash of light the avatar was completed. It stretched more than four hundred meters and taller than a hundred meters, three spines projected from the sides of its face with a light membrane connecting them. The new avatar’s mouth had four long fangs and rows of razor sharp teeth. Saw like spines started at its head and ended at its tail. Fluttershy’s newest form hissed, with forked tongue periodically sticking out, tasting the air. The white unicorn mare had to step back, surprised and slightly frightened at the size of the serpent. “Don’t be afraid Rarity, it’s still me. This is a Drakon; this is the only animal that’s strong enough to stand up against a dragon, well besides another dragon,” said Fluttershy.

“O-okay then…” The Drakon avatar slithered away, its body whipping through the battlefield, aiming directly for their friend. The Dark Dragon and Drakon avatar slammed against each other, the Dark Dragon blasted the Drakon with its dragon fire right in the avatar’s face. The Drakon didn’t flinch, not even a little; it then started to coil itself around the Dark Dragon’s legs, then its tail. By the time the Dark Dragon had stopped using its violet flames the Drakon had already wrapped the lower half of its body. He clawed and slashed at the Drakon’s hide, in a desperate attempt to get loose from its captor, the predator had become the prey. “Fluttershy’s doing a marvelous job at reining in Spike, but how am I going to help him,” asked Rarity.

Emeraude and Diamat had returned to their orbit around Rarity’s waist. A dark purple gemstone floated to the center of her forehead. Rarity could feel the power pulsing through it; the energy was almost ethereal, as if it were a key waiting to be turned. She had recognized the intangible voice; it was the voice of her Element. Rarity watched as the Drakon avatar had finally wrapped itself around the Dark Dragon, it struggled to get free, but there was no escaping the vice like grip of the serpent’s body. “For you Spike…Grenat!!!!” Rarity felt a sudden weightlessness come over her, as she felt herself rushing through a tunnel of light. She knew not what lied on the other side, but deep down she knew the Element of Generosity wouldn’t lead her astray.

Spike has become their enemy, Blueblood has ordered their arrest. Rarity must now search the dragon’s soul and bring back the caring, gentle dragon, and make amends before it is too late. The war continues on…

War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade

by Michael_Ravencroft

Chapter 19