//------------------------------// // Shadows in the Empire // Story: Spike of the Talismans // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// On board the train was Spike and the girls heading for the Crystal Empire, “Oh, I can't wait to see Shining Armor and Cadence again.” Twilight said feeling all excited. “Especially, since they got a little one on the way.” Applejack noted. “I just hope Cadence is doing ok,” Pinkie said, “When Mrs. Cake was pregnant it was tough for both Mr. Cake and I to help her and run the shop.” “As long as Cadence has Shining Armor, and all of the attendants, I'm sure she'll manage.” Twilight assured Pinkie. “We're here!” Rainbow said looking out the window. The train pulled into the station and the passengers got off. As Spike and the girls walked through the empire's arch entrance, Rainbow spoke to Spike. “Now might be a good time to use that invisibility power, Spike. You know to avoid the fan mob and all?” “Actually, I don't think I'm going to go in disguise or make myself invisible.” Spike replied, as he continued to walk. “But you always have before.” Fluttershy reminded him. “Another change up in my life.” Spike replied, as they walked through the town. As they strolled, Spike casually waited, until a pony's voice called out, “It's Spike the Brave and Glorious!” suddenly the girls were bumped aside as several crystal ponies surrounded Spike. “It's so good to see you!” one of the crystal ponies held his claws. “What brings you to our kingdom?” another inquired with excitement. As more crystal ponies continued to bombard Spike with questions or words of admiration, the dragon played it cool and answered, “Alright. Alright, take it easy, everypony. I'm just here visiting friends. Nothing too big.” “Oh, you're amazing Spike.” another crystal pony beamed. “I am what I am.” Spike replied, as he made his way out of the mob allowing him and the girls to press on. “Well, you handled that well, without getting a big head.” Twilight noted. “Considering how you'd boast about your accomplishments here.” Rainbow put in. Spike shot her a dry look, “Like you've never boasted about your own?” Rainbow suddenly looked embarrassed, “Ok, you got me.” As they approached the castle, they were greeted by two crystal guards, “Princess Twilight Sparkle, welcome.” one began, as the second spoke to Spike. “And a big welcome to you too, Great and Honorable Spike.” “Thanks, guys.” “Please, right this way.” the guards showed the group inside. Once inside they were shown to the throne room where Shining Armor and Cadence were waiting, “Shining Armor, Cadence!” Twilight cheered, as she trotted over and embraced the two. “Twily, it's so good to see you.” Shining hugged his sister. “And how's your foal to be?” Twilight motioned to Cadence who was already starting to show signs of pregnancy. “Coming along just fine.” Cadence assured her. “And how about you?” Applejack asked Cadence. “Oh, I'm doing just fine. Although Shining Armor won't stop insisting he helps me with every solitary thing.” Cadence playfully squinted at her husband who looked sheepish. “Just making sure my wife and child to be are all right. That's what being a good husband and dad is all about.” he replied. Cadence turned to Spike, “And, Spike, we learned from Twilight you've obtained some new abilities.” “Did you now?” Spike squinted at Twilight who grinned sheepishly. “Well, I may have said something about the talismans to them in my last letter before coming here.” “Based off what she told us you were capable of now, you're like a one dragon army.” Shining said. “Indeed so,” Rarity confirmed, “If you had seen the way Spike dealt with those ninja brutes, you would be in awe just as I was.” “I'm just glad Twilight was able to put a spell around our castle to keep them from entering should they decide to come back.” Spike said in relief. “Well, as long as we have the Crystal Heart in place, no outside threat like them could get inside here.” Shining Armor assured them. “Come on, let's go break for lunch, I am famished.” Cadence said. Shining whispered to Twilight cheekily, “You won't believe how much she's been eating as of late.” “What was that, Shining?” Cadence asked overhearing. “Nothing, dear!” Shining replied nervously, as he followed his wife, as Spike and the girls chuckled to themselves. Outside the Crystal Empire, the Shadowkhan appeared holding the seeking device out indicating the talismans within Spike was right there. When one tried to step forward into the Empire, it was repelled. Another tried but got repelled as well. The Shadowkhan felt the barrier around the empire and knew trying to get in was not going to be easy. When one Shadowkhan saw another pony heading to the entrance, it jumped into the pony's shadow and hid. When the Shadowkhan saw the pony walk past the barrier and into the empire, the Shadowkhan hiding in its shadow made it through. Seeing this the other Shadowkhan hitched a ride on other incoming pony tourists and such by hiding in their shadows allowing them to bypass the barrier. Once inside, the Shadowkhan left the ponies shadows and regrouped on a roof top. The one holding the seeking device held it out and saw one of the dragon heads pointing in the direction of the castle. With their objective clear, the shadow ninjas took off for the castle making sure they weren't seen. When they arrived they were about to slip inside, until one stopped and saw the rotating Crystal Heart in place. Looking at it intently, the Shadowkhan had an idea. Back inside the castle, the group was in the dining hall chowing down. Twilight and the rest of the girls couldn't help but glance at Cadence who was munching away more than Pinkie Pie was. “I'm kind of losing my appetite here.” Rarity whispered to Applejack. “Well, I'm not.” Pinkie replied, as she had another helping. They continued to eat peacefully, until Rarity spoke up, “Is it me or is it starting to feel a little drafty?” “I feel a bit cold too.” Twilight agreed. Rainbow looked out the window and her eyes widened, “And that's why!” The group looked out the window, and to their shock saw the weather of the Frozen North rolling in. “The weather's coming in!” Twilight gasped. “But how?” Applejack asked in confusion. “The Crystal Heart's supposed to keep the weather at bay.” Shining Armor recalled. “Unless something's wrong with it.” Cadence suspected. “Um, we got more trouble!” Fluttershy cried, as they saw rising from from the shadows on the floor were the Shadowkhan. “Whoa nelly!” Applejack gasped. “The Shadowkhan!” Twilight gasped in shock. “How did they get in?” Spike asked in confusion. “Doesn't matter we have to deal with them.” Twilight replied. One of the Shdowkhan pointed behind the ponies and Spike. They looked back seeing another Shadowkhan holding the Crystal Heart. “It's got the Crystal Heart!” Cadence gasped. “I'll get it!” Spike dashed forward tackling the Shadowkhan only for the shadow ninja to vanish with the dragon. “Spike!” Twilight cried. “Where'd they go?” Rainbow asked. “Um, might I suggest we deal with them?” Rarity reminded them of the Shadowkhan present. “Cadence and I will provide our own barrier to keep the weather out.” Shining Armor said, as he took his wife to safety. The girls got ready as did the Shadowkhan before they engaged. Shining Armor and Cadence activated their magics and crossed their horns providing a protective barrier around the whole empire to keep the frozen weather out. “We just have to keep this barrier up until Spike can get the Crystal Heart back.” Cadence told Shining Armor. “Let's hope it's soon.” Shining Armor said, as the two watched Twilight and the girls fight the Shadowkhan. Twilight and Rarity were blasting at the Shadowkhan with blasts of magic. Some got hit and poofed, while some dodged and were ready to strike the two. Rainbow flew in and tackled them to the side making them crash into the wall. Applejack bucked a few until one came up behind her, until Pinkie popped in before it, “Surprise!” she shoved a cupcake in its face blinding it. Fluttershy floated around trying to avoid the confrontation, but shrieked while avoiding the throwing ninja stars. Meanwhile, Spike and the Shadowkhan thief exited a shadow portal and found themselves out in the empire square, were the Crystal Ponies were getting inside in fear the weather would cause their rulers barrier to collapse. The two stood in a stand off, as Spike got ready. “There's no way you're getting away with the Crystal Heart.” Spike warned the shadow ninja. Suddenly to Spike's surprise, the Shadowkhan thief's eyes glowed more red, as a raspy voice came out from it, “So, you are the dragon whelp that gave my minions so much trouble.” “Huh?” Spike asked in confusion. “You're even smaller than I imagined you'd be.” it continued. “So you guys can talk?” Spike asked. “Not necessarily. I am merely projecting my voice through my minion to communicate with you.” “Who are you?” “I am the keeper of the talismans. I am the apocalypse of which legend speaks. And I am, for once and for all... Your executioner!” he hissed. “The keeper of the talismans?” Spike asked, before it dawned on him, “No way! You're... You're Shendu?!” “Precisely.” Shendu hissed through the Shadowkhan. “But how're you alive? You lived millenia ago!” Spike said in shock. “It was my strong will and desire for revenge against Equestria that kept me going all these years in my imprisonment. When my talismans were reactivated again I sent my Shadowkhan to seek them out. And here you stand wielding power the likes of which Equestria has not seen for millenia.” Spike said nothing, as he allowed the ancient dragon to keep speaking through his minion, “Feels good doesn't it? All that powerful magic inside you.” “I'll admit it does make me feel better than I've ever felt my whole life.” Spike confessed. “And yet you haven't even begun to realize the untapped potential the talismans are capable,” Shendu said, “In order to truly use them to their full capacity, you would need the wisdom of one who has experience with them. Namely me.” “What?” “Join me at my side, little one. Together with my knowledge and your use of the talismans. We can do extraordinary things.” Shendu tempted Spike. Spike finding himself swayed by Shendu's words and tone was almost willing to comply, until he remembered what Princess Celestia told him. “Magic like that is very tempting, especially to the young. Do not let your new powers consume you and make you feel you can do anything that you please. Otherwise you will end up no different than Shendu.” Remembering his promise to Princess Celestia, Spike frowned at Shendu, and answered, “No!” “What?” Shendu asked. “I won't betray my friends and Equestria for the likes of you!” Shendu growled, “Then I will take my talismans from you by force!” the Shadowkhan and Spike fought the shadow ninja using its martial arts skills against Spike who zipped around to avoid the hits. 'I got to get the Crystal Heart from it,' Spike thought to himself, before realizing, 'Of course.' Spike concentrated and used the power of the Rooster to levitate the Crystal Heart off the Shadowkhan's possession. “You little!” Shendu hissed, as he was about to use his Shadowkhan to attack, only to narrowly miss a shot of magic. Coming over was Twilight and the girls, “Spike, are you ok?” Twilight asked. “Yeah, and I got the Crystal Heart.” Spike showed them. “Well, we took care of those Shadowkhan back there.” Rainbow boasted. “Which leaves this one left.” Applejack motioned to the last one. Shendu saw the girls through his minion's eyes and spoke, “A dragon associating with ponies? I never thought I'd see the day.” “Wow, that one's got some voice on him.” Pinkie said. “That's not the Shadowkhan talking, Pinkie,” Spike replied, “That's Shendu.” “Shendu?” the girls asked. “That's right,” the evil dragon confirmed, “The true keeper of the talismans! And mark my words, dragonling. No matter where you go I will find you. You cannot escape.” the Shadowkhan vanished leaving the group in shock. “He's gone.” Fluttershy gasped. “Uh, we might wanna get the Crystal Heart back in its place?” Applejack suggested. The group agreed, as Spike and the girls hurried back to castle. They arrived to see Shining and Cadence waiting for them, with Cadence's magic fading, “Cadence, are you ok?” Twilight asked. “Fine, but my magic won't hold out much longer due to my pregnancy.” Cadence said sounding tired. “Good thing we got this back.” Spike said, as he placed the Crystal Heart back in it's place which unleashed its magic causing all the ponies in the empire and Spike to gain that crystal shine to their bodies, while also pushing the weather back. With the relic back in place, Shining Armor and Cadence powered down their force field much to their relief. “All in a day's work.” Spike told the girls who nodded. Later on, Cadence and Shining Armor stood before their subjects with Spike and the girls at their side. Cadence announced to the crystal ponies, “Today we once again honor the heroics of my fellow Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends, but especially to our very own Spike the Brave and Glorious who successfully recovered the stolen Crystal Heart and returned it to where it belongs.” The crystal ponies cheered, while some were waving around flags and banners with Spike's face on them. Spike smiled and waved to his fans, as did the girls. When the commotion died down, the group met back up in the throne room to discuss what happened, “So this evil dragon Shendu is after the talismans that now reside inside Spike?” Shining asked. “That's correct.” Spike confirmed. “And apparently he knows how to track him.” Twilight added. “This is troubling.” Cadence feared. “So what can we do?” Fluttershy asked. “Until we figure out a way to find Shendu and neutralize him completely, we'll just have to play it carefully. Especially you, Spike.” Twilight warned her assistant. “I understand.” Spike nodded. To diffuse the tension, Shining Armor spoke up, “So, Spike, since we didn't get to see your abilities during the fight. How about showing them to Cadence and I now?” “I would like to see them.” Cadence agreed. “Well, ok.” Spike said, as he presented himself and started showing the royal couple his talisman abilities from levitation, invisibility, super speed, shapeshifting, and super strength. The group enjoyed Spike's performance using it as a good distraction from the attack Shendu recently pulled. They knew they would cross paths with his Shadowkhan again, but until then chose to stay in the moment.