War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade

by Michael_Ravencroft

Chapter 21 (Sparity Arc: End)

Rarity wasted no time, she galloped at high speed. "TOPAZE!" the yellow crystal flew off towards Spike. Topaze immediately created the healing pyramid around the baby dragon and Rarity's mind was instantly transmitted the condition of his body. Spike had dug deep into his chest, severing many arteries, both major and minor. His claws also raked close to the heart chambers, making his blood pump outwards through the open wound. Rarity was the first on the scene; her hooves were stained in dragon blood as most of it had spilt all over the rocky terrain. She had to stay calm; she had to let Topaze do its work, although judging by the amount of blood it may already be too late. Fluttershy had dispelled her Drakon avatar and hovered next to Rarity, too scared to step into Spike's blood.

Ballista and Pinkie Pie eventually joined there friends, forming a ring around the severely injured baby dragon. "By Celestia – what the hay happened!?" asked Ballista.

Rarity didn't speak, she was concentrating, putting as much power and focus into Topaze's healing effects as possible. In the end it was Fluttershy who explained what happened, surprisingly enough Fluttershy's animal mind reading power allowed her to hear much of what went on while Rarity was inside. It was a shock to them both, especially the part about Spike practically ripping his heart out. "Rarity…will Spike be alright!? How's he doing!?" asked Pinkie Pie.

Still Rarity said nothing, her mind was too preoccupied with keeping Spike alive and healing him.

"Well that was anticlimactic," a voice rang out. The four mares looked around for the source of the voice, but three of them knew exactly who that voice belonged to. "I was expecting something more heart wrenching, get it, 'Heart Wrenching!?' You know, since he ripped his heart out!" Boisterous laughter then followed.

Pinkie Pie's senses were tingling, and with an angry look she summoned forth her Giga Party Cannons. The four cannons pointed in the opposite direction of the army. In a flash of light, he appeared, Discord, Spirit of Chaos. "Discord!" said Rarity, the name almost being forced out of her mouth.

"Poor Spike, he's in sooo much pain and you four are in hot water with your princely commander, and you were forced to attack and subdue your own soldiers! Now this is some delicious chaos," said Discord amused.

With fury in her eyes, Rarity called on the red jewel, "RUBIS!" the red crystal shined with violent red light. "ANNIHILATE!" Rubis unleashed a beam of power that could've been second to Bright Blade's Magna Blast.

Discord put up his hands in order to block the attack, the beam pushed him back. The power and intensity forced him back, burning his paw and claw. Rarity stepped forward, inch by inch, forcing Discord back, pouring all her rage and fury into the blast. Discord couldn't take it anymore; concentrating his own chaotic power to his hands he forced the beam upwards and away from him. Discord then began to blow on his smoking paws and claws, a searing pain throbbing within them. "Why you!?" Discord gathered a sphere of chaos energy between his hands and was prepared to unleash it, but before he could get the chance he was assaulted by a blur of blue and silver. By the time Discord came to his senses he was staring at a cerulean pegasus. "Who the buck are you!? You're not an Element!" said Discord.

"The name's Ballista, Captain Ballista!" With that Ballista delivered a flying round kick to the draconequesses face, chipping his one long fang, and making him retreat back a few feet.

"Now I'm mad!" Discord then found himself shadowed by something. When he looked up, all five of Pinkie Pie's Giga Party Cannons were now hovering over him. Their open barrels burning, ready to release their multicolored ordinance, "Oh…" Discord then created an inverted umbrella and held it over his head in a sad attempt at protecting himself.

The cannons fired their attacks in a single shot creating a multicolored explosion, of sparkling proportions. Luckily, or rather unluckily, Discord managed to escape but quickly found himself on the receiving end of another blitz assault. And, of all things, it was a kangaroo, a milky blue kangaroo. The roo delivered jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts in multiple combos that made the Spirit of Chaos's head spin, literally. The whole time the roo was screaming, "How dare you, how dare you – HOW DARE YOU!" The roo then jumped, flipped in the air, and whacked Discord in the chest with its powerful legs. The kangaroo then shifted forms, showing Fluttershy for a brief moment before changing into another avatar. Fluttershy's new avatar was a gorilla, and with its strong arms brought down a two-handed hammer fist on Discord's head, creating a crater twenty feet wide and ten feet deep in the rock.

The ground rumbled and quaked as Discord moved below them. He then burst forth from the solid bedrock and rose into the air, spitting out pieces of rock and shaking out pebbles from his ears. "I *cough* think that's *cough* enough chaos for one day – I can't believe I just said that!?" With a wave of his paw Discord disappeared from the battlefield. Not to be heard from again.

Several minutes past since the brawl and Spike's wound had healed. Rarity was carrying the unconscious baby dragon on her back, going slow and steady, afraid that one misstep would undo all her work. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie flanked their friend staying close by while Ballista, in a Rainbow Dash like fashion, hovered above them, every so often sneaking glances at the still unmoving Spike. Rarity kept making many silent prayers, to Celesita, to Luna, even their long since dead mother Epona. Calling out to any demi-deity or goddess that would answer… and it appeared someone was listening. Rarity felt a stirring on her back, groaning and moaning. The four mares stopped and listened, watching for any sign of movement. His claw twitched, Spike's tail began to wiggle. "Spike…!?" Rarity dared say.

The baby dragon's eyes began to lazily open, drifting from one face to the next. Spike then gave them a weak smile, "Did…did we win," asked Spike.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were crying tears of joy, Spike had recovered! Ballista flew down to them, making sure she was in Spike's line of sight. "That was good work out there today Private Spike, I'm honored to know a dragon as brave as you," said Ballista, giving him a quick salute.

"Thanks Ballista…" said Spike, his voice hoarse.

Rarity then turned her head and began to nuzzle Spike's head with her cheek. Spike was obviously embarrassed, but was too weak to do anything about it. Rarity whispered into the dragon's ear, "Thank Celestia you're alright…I love you, Spike."

He said nothing, but Spike returned the sentiment by rubbing his head against her cheek. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Ballista smiled. Unfortunately the warm moment was short lived. Prince Blueblood, along with four guards, two earth pony stallions and two unicorn stallions, came waltzing up to them with the rest of the UEA troops close behind. The looks on the UEA ponies seemed to be a mixture of emotions, wondering how this would play out. They knew Commander Blueblood had given the order to arrest them, but after what they just saw, most were reluctant or too scared to challenge the mares.

Prince Blueblood, despite everything that had happened seemed to still have a chip on his shoulder. "Don't think that this changes anything, you are all still under arrest! Believe me when I say that I will personally see to it that –!"

Before Blueblood could finish he was interrupted by an Ursa Major roaring in his face. The Prince cringed and became very small. "Don't you ever threaten my friends, how can you even think about wanting to kill Spike – and accuse us of treason!?" Fluttershy smashed her right paw into the ground, creating a mini-earthquake below their hooves. "You've been nothing but a complete jerk to all of us ever since we've arrived, wait till we tell your Aunt on you, I'm sure she'll be very disappointed to hear how her nephew has treated his guests and allies!" Prince Blueblood gulped, the kind, but harsh words of the timid pegasus coming out of a giant Ursa Major was more than unnerving for him, especially when she brought up telling Princess Celestia about his conduct. "Now if you'll please excuse us our friend needs some rest, and we would like to return to the fort," Prince Blueblood stepped out of the way immediately, as well as the other UEA troops, making a path that led directly to the keep. Fluttershy then dismissed her avatar. "Thank you very much," she said in her normal happy kind tone.

Rarity and the others trotted along unhindered, the troops seemed to have all come to a silent consensus upon which they all stood at attention and saluted them.

Great laughter could be heard echoing through the stone halls. Queen Chrysalis was sitting on her haunches, hugging her stomach as she laughed at Discord, who only moments ago reappeared within the base, looking completely beat up. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA – Oh, oh, oh my sides hurt! I just got forced out of Canterlot by a Princess and a Royal Guard Captain, but you got your tail handed to you by three of Twilight Sparkles least combative friends and they literally made you eat dirt! HA HA AHA HA!"

Discord grunted and growled, extremely perturbed at having been beaten by four ponies – him – the Spirit of Chaos! Part of him really wanted to do something to the Queen, maybe mess with her changeling powers, reduce her size to that of a fly then squish her, or just vaporize her. Discord contemplated this, but decided against it, since Chrysalis and Tikara Balak have become close as of late, and he didn't want to incur the wrath of the dark alicorn. Nor was he in a hurry to return to his stony prison. "Ha, ha, ha, that was so funny I forgot to laugh. But don't forget that plan was your, ugh, lovers idea! Maybe if he had thought that through a little more then it probably would've worked!" snapped Discord.

"How dare you," Queen Chrysalis rose up, "Lord Tikara knows what he's doing, you just can't see the big picture," said Chrysalis.

"Ooooohhh is that so, then maybe you can tell me what the point in that plan was, or why he spends most of his time in his so-called 'Sanctuary!'" Discord pointed his claw finger at the large stone doors.

"Well he's – he's – if Lord Tikara –!"

"What about Lord Tikara?" A flash of black magical light appeared in front of the stone doors. There he stood, still garbed in his battle armor, his glowing eyes shifting between his two generals. "Discord, how fared the plan, you look like you were put through the ringer,"commented Tikara Balak.

"Lord Balak, sorry to say, but the plan was a flop! That baby dragon ripped the gem out of his chest and then crushed it! What purpose did that serve, why didn't you just corrupt him like you did the hydra!?" Discord asked.

"Who said it was flop,"at this Discord and Chrysalis looked to each other confused. Tikara brought up his left hoof; out of nowhere an eerie green light floated down and hovered on top of his hoof and formed an orb. "Now if you don't mind I'll be in the Sanctuary."

Before either one of them could ask what the orb was, they were cut off by a wailing roar that seemed to carry on the wind. "What was that!?" asked Discord.

Tikara Balak only shrugged, "I think winter is going to be very harsh this year."

Spike was hard at work organizing as many of the documents as he could. Before he would've found this a tedious task, but after the events that had transpired, he was feeling pretty good. Spike then heard a knock at the door, not taking his eyes off the task at hoof, and afraid he would lose his place, Spike magicked the door open. "Who is it," he asked.

"Who do you think darling," asked a familiar voice.

Spike looked up and saw Rarity standing there, in all her radiant beauty. Rarity then furrowed her brow, as if she were annoyed or angry at something. "Rarity what's wrong," asked Spike.

"Spikey I thought we agreed you didn't have to take on that form anymore," said Rarity. Spike apparently was in the form of Fire Heart, having been writing and documenting using the magic of is faux horn. "In any case it's almost lunch time, so I've come to see if you wish to escort me to the mess hall," asked Rarity.

Spike put down his papers and started to trot from behind the desk, Rarity immediately put up a hoof. He knew what this meant, "Really…?" asked Spike. Rarity nodded, with a sigh Spike released the form of Fire Heart and returned to his original one. Only this time it was different. Spike was taller, leaner, and a bit muscular. His body had grown, his muzzle was square shaped, with a long neck, and he stood just a couple of feet taller than Rarity. Spike got back on all fours and stared back at the white unicorn, "Happy now?"

"Very, now come along," she said.

The whole way the troops would salute Rarity and Spike, although they seemed just a bit afraid about having a big, tall dragon roaming the halls of the keep, but when he was with Rarity their fears were lessened, "Rarity I still think I should've stayed in my unicorn disguise, the others haven't gotten used to me like this just yet," suggested Spike.

"Oh pish posh, if they can't get used to it then that's their problem, and besides," Rarity leaned up against Spike nuzzling the side of his neck, "I'd rather walk with you in your true form, my love."

Spike had to agree with Rarity on that one. Ever since the incident Spike's body had appeared to be released from its stunted growth. Apparently defeating his dark side had yielded some unexpected rewards. Since then Spike's aptitude for magic has increased, he can now become a full-grown dragon any time he chooses, and his shape shifting abilities can be held longer. Spike's unspoken wish had been granted, he was no longer a "baby" dragon. But even with all these positive's Spike couldn't help but think of the negatives. "Rarity…"

"Hmm, yes Spike."

"How…how are we going to tell Twilight and Bright about this," he asked.

"We'll tell them truth, I love you, and you love me. Simple as that," said Rarity.

"But – but I – I won't stay like this forever, eventually I'll become that full-grown version permanently! I don't think any town, much less Ponyville, will allow me to stay, and I don't want you to leave your house or anything," said Spike.

"When that happens I'll allow you to use your shape shifting powers, I shant have my lover sleep in a dingy, smelly cave," declared Rarity.

Lover, a word Spike thought he would never hear pass her lips. Spike still couldn't believe this; it was like a dream, and every time he went sleep Spike was afraid that he would wake up from it. To his relief it wasn't, especially from the reassuring kisses he received whenever he met up with his marefriend. "So what happens next…with us I mean?"

"For now let us get past this war, from there," Rarity pulled ahead and swished her tail under Spike's chin in a very flirtatious, and teasing way. She shot him a loving sideways glance, "We shall see now, won't we."