//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: The Ultimate Enemy 2: Return of Harmony // by LoganRyder //------------------------------// Dark Spike was again in Ponyville in disguise and continued to scope out anything that was amiss or reminded him of his past. As he did, he thought "Alright now, which part of my past is happening now?" Dark Spike continued to scope out the skies and ground in case anything stood out. He eventually noticed a flying carriage with Crystal Guards. "A carriage from the Crystal Empire? I'll need to see this." Dark Spike said with curiosity Dark Spike managed to fly his way discreetly and made sure nopony noticed him following the carriage. As soon as the carriage landed, he hid and used his invisibility. He looked and saw Cadance and Shining were physically exhausted and were carrying Flurry Heart with wearing down smiles. "Hmmm, if I'm not mistaken, this is the time where Flurry Heart was sent by Prince Armor and Princess Cadance to be babysat when her parents were tired." Dark Spike thought as he looked at the two Crystal rulers with their child. As Dark Spike watched, he began to slowly remember the times he spent with Flurry Heart, as he did, the love radiating from her reached him and made him look on at the young alicorn. "Was it a mistake to kill her parents and aunts and leave her when she needed them the most? They wronged me and made my title feel slandered. Not only that, but because of them and their selfishness, I never got a chance to find my potential." Dark Spike said to himself. "Are you sure it was your potential you lost?" An familiar female voice said "Or was it your last chance to make things right both for Equestria and your friendships with the others? " Another familiar female voice said Dark Spike gave a look of confusion and turned around and gave a look of confusion. He saw it was none other then the spirits of Future Cadance and Shining Armor along with the Future Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in his timeline. Future Princess Celestia was more taller and her mane had grown more regal, but she had scars on her body and her horn was broken. Future Princess Luna was taller as well and was a foot shorter then her sister and she had a eyepatch on her right eye and one of her wings was replaced with a metallic one. Future Princess Cadance relatively looked the same, but her horn was broken like Celestia's and she had a scar on her neck and a rather protruding one on her lip. Future Shining Armor had grown a bit and had a beard and 3 scars on the middle of his face and he was wearing his signature royal guard armor, but it was heavily damaged and some parts were cracked or missing. "Well well, look who shows up." Dark Spike said in annoyance "Hello to you too 'Hero of the Empire'" Future Shining said to Dark Spike with slight cynicism "Gee thanks, Mr. I throw my sister away for a stupid wedding and not knowing about a dumb bug posing as my wife." Dark Spike mockingly responded. The spirit of Shining only frowned in dismay, but sighed and accepted it. "What are you all doing here?" Dark Spike asked. "We were just about ask thee the same question dear Spike " Future Luna asked "What do you intend to do now that you managed to gain more magic and ensure you remain present?" Future Celestia questioned "You all know, it's a start and maybe if possible, I can make your guards mine and even raise Flurry better." Dark Spike boasted This statement only left the Future royals a bit fearful and threatened. Dark Spike wasn't just going far to threatening their subjects and kingdoms, but to threaten the life of an innocent child? He was only telling them more then he wants. As they continues their staredown, Dark Spike only gave a look of glee as Shining and Cadance gave looks of fear for the safety of their only child. "Your revenge and anger have no end. Yet I'm already beginning to wonder if I was wrong trying to save you." Future Luna said "Save me? You never bothered to save me at all when you had a chance before Nightmare Moon." Dark Spike condescendingly responded This statement only chilled Future Luna at her past being remembered when she was banished. The others began to comfort Luna as they gave frowns at him. "Spike, we were wrong to treat you that way! We are all sorry." Future Celestia tried to apologize to appeal to Dark Spike "See?, now you care about me! Because I'm a threat to you! And honestly with you hypocritical 'Heroes of Equestria', it turns that's always the way it worked to get respect." Dark Spike responded unconvinced "Spike, please! We never wanted to hurt you your whole life! We were just trying to find ways to save you and make up for what we did!" Cadance tried to justify This however, did not convince the dark dragon in the slightest at all as he only gave an frown and said in contempt "Save it Cadance, I don't need to be lectured by a phoney excuse of a monarch who only uses love as a way to make others happy when they really aren't. You only showed that with your love, Celestia's sun, Luna's Moon and Shining's honor that you are all nothing but false signs of hope and fake virtues of light." The words of Dark Spike cut the Princesses and Shining's hearts in pieces, the words of the dark dragon made them realize that they not only failed him, but also failed in believing in friendships with others when they needed it the most. Future Luna only gave a look of guilt and said "Very well dear Spike." "We hope you find your happiness." Future Celestia added with remorse. "I'm sorry we weren't there when you needed us the most.....little bro." Future Shining's spirit said in sadness. And when you have the chance or even will....keep our daughter safe." Future Cadance begged Dark Spike. With this said, the future monarchs faded and returned to the afterlife, leaving Dark Spike alone. The older Spike only gave a look of annoyance as he silently managed to hide and reach the back of Twilight's castle. He then looked around and said "Perfect." Dark Spike closed his eyes and made his hand materialize an object in red magical light. After the light dissipated, it showed an Alicorn Amulet but in a dragon like form. "Find my present and ensure my future." The amulet disappeared and Dark Spike soon teleported away. (A few hours later) Spike was heading back to the castle and said in relief "Wow that was exhausting. Those foals are really jumpy." Spike only went to the castle and walked his way to his room and saw his bed. As soon as he got in his room, he closed the lights, went in his bed and pulled in his blankets and went to sleep. Unbeknownst to him, an mysterious dark object went through his window and landed on his chest. It glowed a dark light and stopped after a few seconds, nowhere to be found.