//------------------------------// // Affairs with the Crystal Empire // Story: Spike Dorcha // by Dragon-In-Black //------------------------------// Vux thought she had heard wrong. The Pony Of Shadows? How? Wasn't he supposed to be in limbo? She had a million questions going through her head, and she didn't know whether she would get the answers or not. The Griffin looked down. She felt ashamed that his majesties took it, and that she didn't do anything to stop it. His majesties though, had a look that simply dared any creature to say otherwise. "The Pony Of Shadows? Are you absolutely sure?" Vux asked, making the Griffin nod. "What is your name?" "Wingly." Wingly said, making Vux nod. There was silence between them. Wingly didn't know if she should start a conversation or not. Vux was having the same thoughts and didn't say anything. Wingly decided to break the ice. "Is there anything you want to know?" Wingly asked, making Vux nod. There were still millions of questions she wanted answered, but she decided to ask something relatively simple. "How did you know it was possessed. How did you know it was The Pony Of Shadows?" Vux asked, making Wingly look down ashamed. She knew this was the questions that would be asked. She didn't blame commander Vux either, they should know everything about the safety of his majesties. "I knew it was possessed because it radiated a dark type of presence. It would sometimes speak quietly in a demon-like language. How I know it is The Pony Of Shadows is because it said so itself. It spoke to me from time to time. That is how I know." Wingly explained, making Vux look at Wingly angry. "Why in the name of Lord Dorcha would you do that for!?" Vux asked, angrily. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!" Wingly sighed, as she had expected this. She didn't know if she should say it out loud or anything, but it was worth a shot. "You know how his majesties is. He gave me a look that dared me to say anything otherwise. You may not have noticed it, but he can scare some creature simply by looking at them in a frightening way. His majesties is in grave danger!" Wingly explained, making Vux stop to think for a second. Wingly wasn't lying, lord Dorcha had a tendency to scare other creatures of with his stares. 'Is it The Pony Of Shadows doing so?' Vux though, to herself. "I'm sorry Wingly, sometimes I forget he has that effect on creatures." Vux said, making Wingly look at commander Vux. She didn't expect that at all, but then again, this is Badlands nothing that happens here is ever expected. "No, i should be sorry. I was so set in getting rid off it, together with his majesties stare that made me go to cowardice." Wingly said, surprising Vux. Not many creatures would admit that. Then again, it is about his majesties their talking about so that might effect what they think and feel about the situation. "So, how do we get rid of the possession of his majesties?" Vux asked, looking at Wingly with determination. Spike was sitting in a interesting object. The object was called 'helicopter' and could fly to places without any trouble. It ran on magic so it wasn't a problem for Spike about refueling as it had said on a manual. It would run on magic, and they wouldn't need to 're-fill' it. Spike was sitting in the back while, two of his soldiers sat in the pilots seat. They were gonna fly to the Crystal Empire and start trading with them. He had two soldiers on either side of him in full armor. The helicopter was made out of metal, and had propeller on the top that swing to the right and it fly up. The inside was made out of metal and had weapons stashes for soldiers. Spike was waiting for his ambassador to come. He had decided to have an embassy in the Crystal Empire. He had sent a letter to princess Cadance and prince Shining Armor and he had gotten the green card for it. Finally, a pegasus with the name of File Writer flew into the helicopter and sat at the opposite said as she was facing Spike's direction. Her coat was grayish purple, and her mane was blueish red. Her cutie mark was one of a black cloud and red lightning bolt. Her eyes were turquoise and she looked a bit wary of her lord. He hadn't been mean to her or anything, but that armor made him look terrifying. "So, is every creature ready? We will be gone for a few hours." Spike said, making the others nod in understanding. They didn't say or ask anything. The ambassador didn't say anything since she was quite afraid to ask anything that might offend her lord. The soldiers were pretty much mindless, only existing to serve their Lord. "Let's go!" Spike said, making his pilots start the engine and fly upwards. The helicopter was around twenty hoofs in the air and the pilots started flying towards the Crystal Empire. There wasn't much talk about, and Spike was zoning out of the quietness. Spike was looking forward to meeting Cadance and Shining. It had been a few days since he last saw them. Or was it a month? Spike had no idea. He had started to lose count on the days... but that was probably not important. Spike looked around the landscape that showed the beauty of Equestria. Spike scoffed. Badlands were a lot better. They could use magic to make everything perfect of its production. The landscape turned into mountais, snow, ice, crystals. They were closing in on the empire. Spike smiled. He was almost at the place where he still had die hard followers and believers of him. He was hoping to give the Crystal guards some of his military knowledge on weapons and fighting. He wanted to give the civilians his new knowledge that he had gotten from the human world, and share it. He knew that Cadance would be interested in it without a doubt. Princess Cadance and prince Shining Armor were waiting for Spike, and noticed the odd object in the sky. Shining was about to order his guards to shot an warning arrow, but remembered that Spike had written something about 'massive unexpected entrance' and he suspected that this was it. "What is that thing?" Shining asked, out loud. Cadance just gaped at the thing. She didn't know where Spike had gotten that thing, but wherever he got it. He was a ruler of a nation that was definitively more powerful than any other nation in Equestria. "I don't know Shining, but he is definitively more powerful than we thought. I wonder where he has been for the last few days?" Cadance asked, Shining who didn't know what to do but shrug. They saw as the thing landed in the middle of the empire. Spike's pilots landed in the middle of the empire, and Spike got out of the helicopter. He saw several Crystal Ponies look at it afraid. Spike looked at them and waved. They waved back carefully. Spike then realized that he still had his helmet on. He pulled it of. It revealed a handsome faced dragon with eyes that are still green but has started to lose its colour. He placed the helmet on his back and waved once again. The Crystal Ponies rushed towards him and hugged him. They chanted 'Spike The Brave And Glorious!' Spike smiled at them and hugged them all back. 'I'd love to talk to all of you today, but I have ameeting in two minutes. When I'm done, I'll answer as many questions that I possibly can. Does that sound good?" Spike asked, them and they all nodded and grinned from ear to ear at them. Spike and his ambassador walked towards the palace. The guards bowed down to Spike and he gave a bow himself surprising them. He walked inside and saw the beauty of the palace. It looked quite powerful and mighty. This was the palace to the princess of Love, while Spike was a lord or emperor in Badlands. His very own nation. Spike walked to the meeting room where he would speak privately with Cadance and Shining. Spike walked with his ambassador and walked into the room. He found Cadance and Shining already waiting. The room had a long table made of blue crystal. The room was red like rubies on the walls and ceiling, and the windows were covered so no other enemy nation was sneaking a peak. Cadance and Shining was shocked to see Spike look so... powerful. He looks like somedragon who knows what he is doing, and isn't messing around. Well, he never messes around to begin with. "Hello princess Cadance and prince Shining Armor. Long time no see. This is the ambassador I told you about. Her name is File Writer. And this..." Spike said, moving his arms around and showcasing his armor. "Is the armor that i wear. I may look intimidating, but I'm still the same dragon inside." Cadance and Shining looked impressed. Shining felt a little intimidated by Spike's armor, but he knew that it wasn't Spike's intention on doing so either. Cadance felt a dark presence around the armor, but didn't comment or say anything. She knew that he has gone through enough. Besides, it looks to be ancient. Probably was used on dark purposes by its last owner.... right? "Hello Spike, I'm glad that you came. I saw that the Crystal Ponies mobbed you. Are you alright?" Cadance asked, making Spike chuckle a little. Always when he came, Cadance would say and ask the exact same thing. He doesn't know if she is aware or not but decided not to comment on it. "Yes Cadance, I'm fine. You make it sound like I'm on my death bed." Spike said, making Shining snicker a little. Cadance giggled herself. She couldn't blame Spike for being a little bit irritated with hearing the same thing everytime he came to the empire. "Now Spike, what was it you wanted to show us...?" Shining asked, and the whole meeting started. Three hours later, Spike walked out of the meeting room with Cadance and Shining who looked at Spike with a thirst for this new knowledge. Spike chuckled, and looked ahead of him. He had shown the the weapons humans used, the TV's, the radios, an all other stuff. The most interesting one was the car. It would revolutionise Equestria if they shared this knowledge. Spike promised to make replicas with different number plates. He would also colour them differently. Spike walked out of the palace together with the the princess and prince. He showed the the helicopter and how powerful it was. On both sides were miniguns and missile launchers. Yes, Spike was powerful indeed. If a war broke out between Badlands and Equestria, Badlands would win so quick Equestria wouldn't know what hit them. Shining and Cadance looked at Spike with confusion. Was he planning a war or something? Ha! Like he would do something like that. "Spike, we want to join in your allegiance. The Crystal Ponies have already demanded that I cut all ties with Equestria. And since you have to tell them where you have been, and what you've been doing, you'll have the whole support of the empire. By the way, Spike's Liberation Front and Spike Republican Youth has joined allegiance with each other. They will without a doubt be loyal to you and you alone." Shining said, chuckling a little at Spike's expression. "I didn't even do anything and I already have a small army." Spike said, making them laugh at his antics. Crystal Ponies came from the whole empire, and Spike decided to have a speech. He quickly used his magic to make everypony hear him. His ambassador was by his side and she prepared just in case she needed to say something. "Ponies of the Crystal Empire, I have returned after a few days since I was banished. I was accused of a crime I didn't commit. I was banished to the badlands. But I have news for you. I am the ruler of Badlands! I rule it along side with another creature named Vux. I will not say what creature she is because I know a lot of you fear them. Anyways, you are free to visit Badlands if you want. I will be happy to be the nation that helps protecting you along side your rulers!" Spike said, and he was greeted by cheers of the Crystal Ponies. They looked at their hero with awe and admiration. "I have loved spending my time here with you all, but I have to go. Feel free to visit me in the Spike Dorcha castle!" The Crystal Ponies cheered, as Spike bows to Cadance and Shining. He puts on his helmet and hugs File Writer and motions his soldiers to step on board. They do so, and two soldiers sit in the pilot seat. They started the magical engine and they flew upwards. Spike smiled. He had met Shining and Cadance after so long. He sat back and relaxed, and prepared for a normal dinner with Fluttershy and Pinkie pie.