During the Age of Tambelon
A small and remote village sat nestled in a valley surrounded by seemingly endless forest next to a fast-moving river. The ponies that lived in the village weren't rich, but life there was relatively peaceful. No one died of starvation or unnatural causes. Crime was virtually nonexistent. And it was all thanks to Emperor Grogar.
Besides the ponies of the village, there was also a small garrison of Grogar's Imperial soldiers. Armed monsters of different shapes and sizes guarded the village and maintained order among the population. Sure, the ponies of the village were afraid of them, but there was no trouble as long as they followed the Emperor's rules.
Among the ponies of the village was a small Earth Pony colt with a bright green mane and blue fur. His amber eyes shone with the life, love, and innocence of youth. He ran through the village with reckless abandon as he made his way towards the house he shared with his mother. His father died soon after he was born, so he never knew who his father was. He ran to the house and threw open the door with all his might.
The throwing open of the door startled the poor adult Earth Pony mare on the other side. She spilled a large pot of what looked like a form of vegetable stew. Broth, carrots, potatoes, and celery bits spilled all over the floor. The colt's mother turned to her son with a terse look on her face.
"Son! Don't scare me like that! You made me spill dinner! I spent all afternoon preparing it, too!" she said crossly.
The young colt flattened his ears and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Mother. I was just so excited to see you".
Mother softened a bit at that. "I know, son. But you've got to make sure you won't startle me so much again".
Her son nuzzled his mother's chest. "I promise, Mother. I'll help you make more stew, if you want".
"That would be very helpful, dear. It would be nice to have some help around here", Mother said.
The door to the house once again shot open to reveal three Earth Pony stallions with menacing looks on their faces. The one in the middle was a stallion botht the colt and his mother knew all too well.
It was Brickbit, a local bully of the village and two of his thugs. Brickbit was well-hated by everyone in the village, especially by the young colt. He was known for using violence and intimidation to get what he wanted. Every other night or so, Brickbit and his thugs would barge into he and his mother's house and cause trouble. They'd sometimes beat the colt and then hurt his mother. Brickbit stood there with a wicked smile.
"Hello, dear dove," Brickbit said with a deep voice.
Mother tensed up and looked down. "Evening, Brickbit. Can I help you with something?"
Brickbit and his thugs walked into the house as if they owned the place. Brickbit walked over to Mother and started to stroke her right shoulder. The sight of this bastard touching his mother made the colt feel sick to his stomach.
"I wants to have a little... chat with you. May we talk privately in your room?" he asked with a sinister tone.
Mother stood and calmly followed Brickbit to her room. The colt sat at the table with Brickbit's thugs and glared at them with as much hatred as he could muster. After a few minutes of sitting and glaring, he heard hurtful sobbing coming from his mother from behind the bedroom door.
He tried to go to the bedroom door to help his mother, but the thugs stopped him before he could even touch the door. One of them knocked him to the ground and the two of them started beating and kicking him. The thugs repeatedly hit his face, chest, and back. Some of his teeth came out whenever he was struck in the face. Blood began to splatter from lacerations he got from the beatings. He could feel some of his bones begin to crack.
Once what felt like an eternity had passed, the two thugs stopped beating the poor colt and left him in a small pool of his own blood. He was left to lie just outside his mother's bedroom door, hearing nothing but the sounds of his mother crying, a bastard laughing, and what sounded like loud creaking.
He hated hearing his mother being hurt like this. He hated getting beaten up by those bigger than him for no reason at all. But most of all, he hated not being able to do anything for his mother at all.
At the Crystal Empire - Stadium
All of the different leaders of the different species sat in their respective box, eager to watch their nations' athletes give it their all. Twilight sat on her throne with Spike standing next to her.
"Ooooh! These Games are going to be just amazing, Spike. Our united kingdoms competing together in the Equestria Games is giving me tingles of excitement!" Twilight exclaimed.
"I'm excited to see the Changelings compete in these events!" Thorax said with eagerness.
"Yaks will prove that Yaks are the best at Games!" Prince Rutherford gloated.
"I think the Dragons will pull out on top! Or at the very least, earn more gold medals," Ember said.
Twilight was happy to see everyone so excited to see the Games begin. Spike looked over at Ember's throne. There were two bodyguards there with Ember, but not his new friend Spine. That struck Spike as a bit odd. Twilight must have noticed Spike's expression.
"Spike? Are you alright?" Twilight asked in concern.
"I was just wondering where my new friend was off to. He said he didn't want to miss the Games," Spike said.
"Maybe he got sick," Twilight said.
"I think I'll go look for him and check on his health," Spike said before flying off.
"Okay, Spike! Just make sure you'll be back before the first event!" Twilight called after him.
...
Within the Crytsal Palace - Top Floors
Spine was getting everything ready. He was lucky there were very few guards in the palace apart from the ones that guarded Flurry Heart. Spine snuck into the palace with no issue.
Though he did have to wait a while for the majority of the city to be away from the palace in order to sneak in. He held a long leather case next to him and removed several items.
Spine began to fit the items together to form one long cylindrical object. Once he was done, it formed a form of deadly weapon. It was wide in the back and ended with a long metal tube, with a grip and trigger in the middle. He pulled out a small scope and held it up to his eye.
It worked beautifully. Spine was able to see everyone in the leaders' box and singled out Ember. He smiled in anticipation for his dark task. He pulled out a black ring and slipped it on his finger. Spine reached into the case again and fished out a small box. Opening the box, Dusk pulled out the weapon's ammo.
The ammo was long cylindrical objects with a pointed top. They had metal casings surrounding obsidian points. The obsidian points held carefully carved runes in them which gave off a red glow. He loaded the ammo into the tubular weapon, attached the scope, and pointed it out of the window towards the stadium. He moved the scoped weapon until he could line up Ember with the barrel. Spine was about to pull the trigger when he heard the sound of a sword being drawn next to him.
"Excuse me?! Spine, what are you doing?!" a familiar voice demanded.
Spine looked to his right and saw Spike glaring at him with a drawn sword. Spine tried his best to keep his composure.
"Spike, my friend! I thought you'd be down there in the stadium enjoying the Games," Spine said with fake sincerity.
"I was concerned when you weren't there. I thought you were sick so I came to check on you," Spike replied. "That's when I saw you sneak into the palace with that case. I followed you here and watched you assemble that weapon there".
"You know, Spike, you sound like you're disappointed," Spine said, dropping the act.
"What are you trying to do, Spine?" Spike asked seriously.
Spine, sensing that the jig was up, stood up and looked at Spike. He gave Spike a glare. But not a normal glare. It was intense psychotic glare of a determined fanatic. That look sent a shiver down Spike's spine.
"All you really need to know is that I'm helping this world change for the better. I intend to see a new world rise from this one," Spine said.
"What are you talking about?" Spike asked.
"My master. He has a great plan. Plans to bring about harmony for this world," Spine replied.
"But the world is already in harmony. All species are united in friendship!"
"Are you sure about that? Me and others like me were cast out because of your idea of harmony!"
"What?"
"What if there was a Dragon? A Dragon that had a Pony friend? And what if the Dragon Lord and the other Dragons hated and bullied you for it? What if the Dragon Lord wanted to set an example?! What if he kills your Pony friend and your parents and banishes you from your homeland?! What if every Pony and creature turned you away when you needed help?! What if you were without hope and on the verge of starvation?!"
"That... all happened to you?"
Spine wiped away the tears of pain and anger. He stood facing Spike, but was backing towards his weapon.
"I was starting to like you. Really, I was. But I've made my decision," Spine said.
Spine grabbed the weapon and pointed it out the window. Spike rushed towards him, but Spine had already pulled the trigger and fired. A loud bang sounded from the weapon, causing Spike to clench his ears in pain.
Spine looked through the scope and smiled at his completed task. Ember was sitting in her throne with the top portion of her head missing. Her blood, skull parts, and brains splattered on the back of the throne and her body was slowly falling to the floor. The leaders and several bodyguards were swarming the body while everyone in the stadium descended into utter chaos.
Once Spike's ears stopped ringing, he looked out the window to only see the stadium in bedlam. He glared at Spine with fury.
"What have you done?!" he yelled.
"For the Tambelon Empire," Spine said before using his fire to completely destroy the weapon and other evidence.
Spine then jumped out the window to fly away. Spike followed suit. The two Dragons flew away from the palace with great speed.
Spike tried his best to keep up with Spine, but he was faster and more maneuverable. He definitely did some intense training if his flying ability was this good. Rainbow Dash joined him.
"Spike! Did you see what just happened?! Ember's dead!" Rainbow said.
"I know! And I'm currently chasing the guy who killed her!" Spike replied.
"What?!" Rainbow asked.
The two looked over at Spine, who was getting further and further away from them. Rainbow, with a spout of determination, began to increase her own speed to catch up to Spine. Soon, she tackled Spine in mid-air, holding him in place. Spike joined Rainbow in tackling Spine, sending the three of them spiraling to the ground below.
"You'll pay for this!" Spike yelled over the rushing wind.
Spine managed to wrestle his arms free before they all hit the snowy ground. The three of them stood up and glared at each other. Spine smiled at the two.
"Are you sure you want to continue chasing me?" Spine asked.
"You murdered Dragon Lord Ember! You have to answer for that!" Rainbow cried.
"But what about the Crystal Palace? Remember when I used my fire to destroy the evidence, Spike?" Spine asked Spike.
Spike's blood ran cold. He and Rainbow Dash both looked behind them to see thick pillars of black smoke rising in the direction of the palace.
"You bastard!" Spike shouted.
"I also made sure to use a room near the room dear Flurry Heart was sleeping in. It would be a great tragedy if you abandoned her to die a painful death just to chase me," Spine said coldly.
"Rainbow! You're faster than me! Go back to the palace and get Flurry Heart out of there!" Spike cried.
Rainbow Dash took off without a second thought. Spine tilted his head in mock confusion.
"But aren't our species fireproof? You could go back there and get her out safely," Spine said with fake sincerity.
Spike grit his teeth in anger. This guy was willing to put an innocent child in danger to further his goals. Or, his master's goals from what he said.
"Your master. What exactly is he after?" Spike demanded.
"You'll find out. All I can really say is that corpses are going to pile up once he's done with this land," Spine said with a sadistic grin.
Spike ran towards Spine to stop him. But his opponent dodged and countered every punch and kick he threw. No doubt about it, Spine was indeed a well-trained fighter. Spine pushed Spike away with a disappointed look.
"That is the extent of your training? How boring," Spine said.
Spine rushed forward and buried his clenched fist into Spike's stomach, making Spike cough and nearly vomit. Spine followed up with a flurry of punches. Not only were his blows as strong as a ton of bricks, but his fists moved too fast for Spike to see. Spine delivered a roundhouse kick to Spike's jaw, sending him flying back several feet. Spine slowly walked up to Spike, drawing an obsidian dagger.
"Now, you will die along with your pathetic Dragon Lord back in the stadium," Spine said coldly.
Spike lunged forward and scratched Spine across his face with his claws. Spine recoiled in pain, covering one of his eyes with his claw. Blood was pouring down his claw and face. He looked at Spike with a newfound fury.
"You're going to pay for that!" he shouted.
But before they could continue to fight, Shining Armor, Cadence, and the Imperial Guard all gathered at the scene. Flurry Heart was safe in Cadence's forelegs. Spine found himself injured and outnumbered.
"Looks like I have to go," Spine said before glaring at Spike. "The next time we meet each other, I'll be the one who kills you".
Spine removed the black ring and threw it in the air above his head. The ring grew in size and formed a red portal. The ring moved downwards, engulfing him until he and the ring disappeared completely. The Imperial couple and Guards all ran to the injured Spike, who collapsed on the ground after Spine left.
Spike was being carried away to the Imperial hospital by the Guards. But while he was being transported, Spike had the uneasy feeling that this was only the beginning.
In Canterlot - Blueblood's Estate
Prince Blueblood was sitting in his lounge chair overlooking the entire city. It always amazed him how the lights of the city made him think of fields of fireflies. A maid stood behind him, ready to serve her master should he request anything.
A squeaking sound came from Blueblood's left. He looked and saw a black rat with glowing crimson eyes looking up at him. He turned to his maid.
"You are relieved for the evening, my dear. I require nothing else, tonight," Blueblood said.
"Have a good evening, my lord," the maid said before leaving.
Once the maid was completely gone, Blueblood continued to look out over the city.
"You may as well show yourself, Spymaster. I know you're here," Blueblood said.
The cloaked Spymaster climbed over the balcony railing and stood by Blueblood's side. He joined Blueblood in looking out over the city.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Blueblood asked the rat-like creature next to him.
"It will be even more beautiful when His Majesty destroys this city," the Spymaster replied.
"Well, we all have our tastes," Blueblood said.
"Have you gotten any new information?" the Spymaster asked.
"I have recently found out that Twilight is keeping the Bewitching Bell safely locked away in a vault hidden in the palace's upper levels," Blueblood replied.
"So when changes within the city occur, I'm going to need you to make sure there is no one in the palace at all when the time comes to claim the Bell. Besides, you have access to places to places that not even my rats can enter," the Spymaster said.
"But I already told you where exactly to find the villains and I gave you residence in my basement and I gave you all the information I have in my possession," Blueblood argued.
"And you've been more than helpful for the Prince's goals, but we still require your unique services. You are to continue to act as the Prince's mole until we no longer need a mole," the Spymaster rebutted.
"Alright. So when do I meet our master?" Blueblood asked.
"Once he arrive in Canterlot with your new coworkers," the Spymaster replied.
"Wait... he's coming to Canterlot?" he asked with slight dread.
"Yes, he is. And once he does, he's going to make some drastic changes in this town," the Spymaster replied.
"Will the Prince keep our bargain?" Blueblood asked.
"His Majesty does as he pleases. He either does or he doesn't. But he never breaks a promise," the Spymaster replied.
And with that, the Spymaster left with his rats in tow. Blueblood took one last look over the city.
"I wonder how much more beautiful the city will be stained with blood?" Blueblood wondered.