//------------------------------// // The Rainbow Pearl: The New Rainbow // Story: Rolling in Beaches // by Bico //------------------------------// ROLLING IN BEACHES ~ BICO PART II: THE RAINBOW PEARL ACT III: THE NEW RAINBOW “This is not good… how are we going to deal with eight crazy dragons,” Spike said to himself. “Seven crazy dragons,” Wavedancer said, suddenly at the purple dragon’s side. “And now you have me and the Tritons at your side!” “Six crazy dragons,” Scales said, looking rather beaten, but the king looked worse, unconscious and with his limbs splayed in several odd angles. “No, I’m still counting seven,” Wavedancer said with a smirk at the dragon princess. Scales gave the green hippocampus a wry look. “Well, all you hippocampi can take down one dragon, so you’re not totally useless. Spike and I will just have to take the rest of them.” “Why are you bringing me into this?” Spike protested. He wasn’t exactly a fighter. He hadn’t been able to win one test of strength against the other dragons last autumn, after all. He had nothing at all that could stop his crazed friends. “Hey, Scales, you’re a princess, right?” The blue dragon scowled. “Yeah.” “Maybe you should call for some back up?” Spike suggested. “Hmmm,” Scales looked the six dragons over, who whose dark gems were radiating power and who were glaring angrily at them. “Well, it might be overkill, but…” she put two claws to her muzzle and whistled sharply. In seconds a swarm of dragons burst from the caves. “Dragons!” Scales shouted. “Destroy those six invaders and shatter the jewels they wear!” “Wait, ‘destroy’?” Spike said, eyes widening and pupils shrinking. “Tritons!” Wavedancer said. “For now the Scaly Backs River Clan will be our allies in this!” She shot a glare at Scales. “After the Rainbow of Darkness is destroyed, things will go back to normal.” “Agreed,” Princess Scales said with a dangerous smile on her face. The dragons and Tritons charged the six bearers of the Elements. They were easily brushed aside by flames and brute force. Even the largest and fiercest of Scales’ dragons seemed to be little challenge for the six as they tossed them around. Then they took to the air, even the wingless ones, as darkness issued forth from their gems and wrapped around them menacingly. In a burst of dark, a monochrome rainbow washed over a large swathe of dragons and ponies, transforming them into crazed beasts, themselves, who turned on their former allies with a vengeance. “It’s like fighting a zompony plague!” Spike said. “Our fallen only adds to their number. Game over, mare, game over!” “We have to stop your friends,” Scales said firmly. “They are the ones who spread this plague.” Wavedancer snarled. “The Rainbow of Darkness is chaotic and unfocused on its own. Dangerous, but it can be avoided or contained like any force of nature. Only by corrupting beings with a powerful will can it become a force that could bring about Darkness Eternal.” She looked accusingly at Scales. “Thanks for that.” “I wasn’t the one who brought them here,” Scales said in her defense. “You abducted their friend,” Wavedancer said. “Of course they would come after Spike.” Scales scoffed. “Only because he had the Rainbow Pearl… which someone delivered right into his claws…” Wavedancer looked away guiltily. “Now, now, ladies,” Spike said. “This is no time to be fighting each other.” “Right, we should be fighting them, first,” Scales said. “Then we can go back to fighting each other.” “Do you know how many times they can… do that?” Wavedancer asked, gesturing to the six Elements who were blasting another dark rainbow into the crowd of dragons and ponies. “I have no idea,” Spike said. “They’ve only ever had to do it once. Besides, they were ponies and those were the Elements of Harmony. It might be different for them when they’re dragons with these Dark Elements.” “Well, we’ll just have to assume they have unlimited capacity for now,” Scales said. “If we can reach them, we might be able to get that jewelry from Tartarus away from them at least.” “How about we use the turned as meat shields,” Wavedancer suggested. “You’re not a bad strategist,” Scales considered. “I’ll have to remember that, later.” The gold-spined dragon princess and the violet-maned hippocampus charged the army of darkness and ducked and weaved through the horde. They kept an enemy between them and the six Bearers at all times, and made use of their cunning and small size to lead the unthinking dragons to attack each other. In minutes, Scales and Wavedancer landed on a pink dragon with a black balloon gem around her neck. They began to work frantically to unclasp the necklace, but Pinkie bucked them into the air and then caught them in either hand. She gave a toothy grin and began to growl in an amused but distracted way, as if she were talking to herself. Then she mashed their heads together and began making sounds something like “muah… muah!” “Is… is she playing with us like dolls?” Scales asked indignantly as her cheek pressed up against Wavedancer’s. “I think she’s trying to get us to make out,” Wavedancer said. “Of all the humiliating things that she could possible do… this is the most… humiliating… thing,” Scales wailed. She snarled and then bit into Pinkie’s thumb. The pink dragon roared in pain and dropped the smaller dragon. Scales was about to attack Pinkie’s face, but then Fluttershy grabbed her with two claws by the wings and brought her up to her face, glaring into her eyes. She shook the index claw of her other hand in Scales’ face, growling, “Uh, uh, uhhhh.” “Stop!” The six crazed Bearers stopped and looked toward the small purple dragon who had run into the midst of the battlefield. He stepped carefully among the shards of the Rainbow Pearl that spread out around him lest his feet become lacerated, and his arms were spread out in a feeble attempt to bring attention to himself among the giants that rampaged around him. In spite of his size and his small voice, the six dragons fixated on him immediately, seeming to forget all else. “Um…” Spike hesitated. He didn’t really know what he was doing. He certainly couldn’t fight his friends, even if he wanted to do so. He didn’t have any magical items aside from the shattered pieces of pearl that lay nearby, but that was useless at this point. But they had been his friends—almost two years for most of them, and for his entire life in the case of Twilight—and they were hurting his new friends. He had to do something. “You have to… to stop this. This isn’t like you at all.” Twilight stepped forward and her gemstone began to radiate darkness. The other dragons’ gems reacted as well. “Oh, horse-manure,” Spike said. “Okay, Twilight, you hatched me from an egg. I’ve been your friend for my whole life. I was your very first friend. Do you really want to make me a mindless monster?” Twilight scratched her chin thoughtfully. Then she grinned and rose into the air as darkness twisted around her and the other five. “Okay, that didn’t work,” Spike said. “Rainbow Dash! Think of all the fun times we’ve had together. You’re the Element of Loyalty. You wouldn’t betray your brony would you?” Rainbow looked conflicted, but then waved him off dismissively. “Pinkie Pie? C’mon, this isn’t fun,” Spike pleaded. “Fluttershy, you’re not being very nice at all. Applejack, you have to be true to yourself, and you’re truly a pony! Rarity… Rarity!” He struck a dramatic pose. “Rarity, you make me want to be a better dragon. You’re why caveponies chiseled on walls because Neptune was showing off when he made you. If you blast me with Darkness, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today; maybe not tomorrow, but someday because, Rarity, I’m… just a dragon, standing in front of a pony, asking her to love him. You… complete me!” Rarity gasped and began to swoon, at which point Twilight rolled her eyes and roared at the purple-spined dragon, who looked sheepish before settling back into a serious mood. All six dragons’ eyes turned completely black and a dim gloom blanketed the entire area. “Spike!” Wavedancer shouted. “Watch out!” “Dodge!” Scales roared. The Rainbow of Darkness hit Spike dead-on, wrapping around him. He felt something cold and heavy settle in his gut and quintessential pain tore through him. His body began to elongate and his spikes sharpened. His fangs became vicious and black flame surged from his mouth. He howled and thrashed and his thoughts twisted into a jumble of sounds and images and feelings. Yeah, this is gonna be the best night ever. Y’know why? ‘Cause we’re all gonna spend time at the Gala… together? Or not… They're trying to replace me! She... She doesn't love me anymore… Twilight hates me. I'm cold, hungry, tired and lonely. Could it get any worse? Spike want! “Spike!” Wavedancer was calling, though it sounded so far away, he could barely understand. “I know you can beat this. Don’t let yourself be turned into a monster.” “There’s no way he can stop it,” Scales was lamenting. “This kind of thing is just like the accelerated growth of low-born dragons. No dragon can reverse it once it’s begun!” That wasn’t right. It was you who stopped... w-well you, from destroying Ponyville. And he could do it again. Couldn’t he? “I won’t believe it!” Wavedancer shouted. “Spike, you have to remember who you are. You’re the most generous…” Wait, wait. It’s not a problem, really. Wavedancer can have my room. It’s not like I’ve never slept outside, before. Actually, they have a nice spot out back… “Honest…” I have to be honest with you, though. I… I like somepony else. She probably doesn’t even know… and even if she does, I doubt she feels the same way. Still, I have to be true to my feelings. “And kindest dragon I know!” If you’re in trouble, of course I’ll get involved. Then he heard Scales shouting through the fog of darkness. “Sh-she’s right! You were the only dragon who’s ever made me laugh!” Instead of you teaching me etiquette, I’m gonna teach you how to have a little fun. “Your loyalty puts all other dragons to shame…” You know, I also made a promise to somepony. A promise that I would help get the Pearl back to her Princess. I won’t betray that promise. “I know a princess isn’t supposed to have friends,” Scales said, her voice sounding as if she were… crying? “But I just want you to know… you’re my friend, Spike.” Friend… Friends have a way of making the worst of times pretty great… Spike’s body abruptly ceased its unnatural growth and he roared again as his limbs began to reverse their progress. Within a fraction of a second he was back to his old height, though the darkness still twisted around him. He stood stoically, however, and yelled out. “I won’t let you… have my friends!” The fragments of the Rainbow Pearl were glowing, now, with all the colors of light. The Rainbow of Darkness spun faster and thicker around the young dragon until he was obscured by it, but the fragments of the Pearl lifted from the ground as well, and were swept into the dark tornado. Within moments, sparks of color began to be seen, and they spread throughout the storm of shadow until Spike was surrounded by the light of the Master Rainbow. The color then blasted outward, changing each band of darkness into its proper hue and engulfing the bestial dragons in a sea of light. Dawn broke as the six Bearers floated in the sky, eyes glowing white and the Dark Elements turned to sparkling black dust. The light of the Master Rainbow radiated out and washed over all the other afflicted, changing them back into their original form—or, for some of the dragons, an even smaller form than they were before. The six Bearers touched ground, as did Wavedancer and Scales, who had also ridden the updraft of magical energy to the ground. They all turned their attention to Spike, who lay on the ground in a fetal position, looking pained. “Spikey!” Rarity called, dashing toward him with the others close behind. The unicorn mare skid to a halt and grabbed the young dragon up in her fore-hooves. “Oh, Darling, don’t tell me you’ve made the ultimate sacrifice! You must fight back the Darkness, Dear. You have something to live for, you see… for I…” “Ohhh,” Spike groaned. “What I wouldn’t do for a big, juicy sapphire about now.” “Wha…?” Rarity said. “Yep, he’s fine,” Twilight said. “Spike!” Wavedancer cheered, bumping Rarity out of the way as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck. “You were such a… such a hero, Spike.” “Indeed!” Scales declared, shoving Wavedancer aside and grabbing the young dragons claws in her own. As she spoke, her face seemed to get closer to his. “You are truly worthy of the title ‘Valiant,’ Spike. Your blood must be the most noble I have ever seen. Truly fit for royalty…” Rarity fumed and stomped her front right hoof petulantly. “Now, see here, girls! You are crowding Spikey-wikey much too closely.” She grabbed Scales’ spines in her teeth and yanked her off. “A Princess is not to be marehandled in such a…” “My little ponies.” Everyone stopped and looked in awe as the Princess of the Sea rose majestically out of the river atop a giant open clam shell. It stopped looking quite so majestic when it came fully out of the water and four Tritons were revealed to be struggling quite keenly under the weight on dry land. “And little dragons, I suppose,” Princess Rodi amended. “I see that all has transpired brilliantly. I am pleased that my message reached you in time, young Twilight Sparkle.” “Wait, so it was you who sent that message in a bottle?” Twilight said. “Someponies might expect that kind of thing to wash up on a beach, but…” she rubbed her head as if from a remembered pain, “One doesn’t usually expect it to fall out of the sky and hit a pony on the head.” “I warned you that my tail was twitchy,” Pinkie Pie said. She paused as her tail began to shiver. “Huh… there it goes again…” “Twilight Sparkle!” Luna boomed as she landed to one side of the lavender mare. Her older sister dropped out of the sky in a similar fashion directly afterward. “Have we missed anything?” “We brought the Elements of Harmony as soon as I felt your distress signal,” Celestia explained. “And when we felt the Darkness escape, we knew there would be trouble.” “The situation has been handled admirably, dear sister,” Rodi said. Celestia cooled as she regarded the turquoise alicorn. “I can see that.” She looked at Spike and her eyes widened momentarily before she put on a mask of serenity. “It was Spike that saved the day this time, wasn’t it? I’m very proud of you.” “Gosh,” Spike said, blushing. “Thanks, Princess.” “And you,” Celestia turned to address the king of the Scaly Backs River Clan, who was now stirring to alertness. “Did somedragon get the license plate number of the roc that hit me?” he groaned. “If it isn’t King Kenbroath Gillspotten Heathspike,” Celestia said with a smile. “I haven’t seen you for… well… it must have been a millennia by now. You’ve gotten so big.” “Princess,” King Kenbroath said with a grin. “You know that noble dragons such as myself keep growing throughout their lives, unlike these common dragons who reach adult size within three years of hitting…” he looked around, noting the smaller size of some of the dragons, and how their eyes sparked with more intelligence and conscience than before. “Why… it seems that I no longer have common dragons in my clan. Is everydragon of the Scaly Backs now a prince or princess? That never does seem to work out.” Celestia nodded. “Quite right, Kenny. But you almost caused quite the opposite to happen, I’m afraid.” “Yes,” the king said. “I do apologize about that, old girl. I suppose I’ve always been prone to jumping to conclusions on a very little information. If I hadn’t done that one thousand years ago…” “Don’t blame yourself about Wysteria, Kenny,” Celestia said. “You couldn’t have known what was coming, and it was her decision in the first place.” King Kenbroath looked away with regret showing plainly on his face. “Well, I’m a big enough dragon to admit when I’ve been mistaken.” He shot a foul look at Princess Rodi, then, and snarled. “Bigger than this one, in any case, who would have everypony believe that all dragons are twisted and evil.” The Princess of the Sea’s face became stormy and she said, “Well, I think this very well proves that. Even when trying to do the right thing you manage to accomplish nothing but wickedness.” “Hold thy temper, Sister,” Luna said soothingly. “Look around thee. See not that the Master Rainbow has cleansed these dragons of any Dark magicks that may have yet befallen them.” Her expression was far away and melancholy. “And know that even those plagued by the Darkness can still choose their own destinies.” Rodi’s rage waned with Luna’s words. “Luna, you and I have always had a very special relationship. You’ve always known how to pull me up… or lay me out flat when the situation calls.” She giggled softly at her own joke. “Very well. Perhaps we have been… overly prejudiced in this matter.” She held her hoof out to the king and said, “King Kenbroath, I do hope you can forgive me any offense I may have caused. From now on hippocampi shall be friends to the Scaly Backs River Clan.” The old dragon took Rodi’s hoof delicately between his claws and shook gently. “That sounds simply smashing, Princess. Perhaps if we had been more understanding with each other from the start, none of this would have ever happened.” “Then may such a thing never happen again,” Rodi said. “It looks like everypony’s getting along now,” Celestia said as she watched her favorite subjects splashing around in the ocean. Spike was swimming alongside Wavedancer—sans floaties—while Scales and even Rarity tagged along, though the white unicorn had her mane tucked away under a swimming cap and her tail similarly protected from the salt water as she floated on an inflated raft. “It’s good to see dragons and ponies living in Harmony,” Rodi said. Luna gave a sidelong glance. “And hippocampi living with land ponies in harmony, perhaps?” “I must say, Luna,” Rodi said. “I did miss you while you were away. I could feel your presence pulling at me every night, Sister.” Luna blushed and smiled softly. “Thank you.” “I can’t blame you, really,” Rodi said. “After all, seeing that cutie mark on your sister’s flank every day would have driven me quite mad.” Celestia interjected, her voice still calm but with a firmness that for those who knew her well connoted great irritation. “You are not alone in that sentiment, Sister-in-law. Though Luna raises a good point. Why not allow your hippocampi to rejoin Equestria?” “My dear Aurora,” Rodi said. “Celestia,” the Sun Princess said tightly. “Oh, yes, ever since the incident with my husband, you've been going by that name, haven't you?” Rodi said. “Well, in any case, we were never part of Equestria. Though I suppose we have kept to ourselves far too much. Perhaps, with time, some of our more… adventurous hippocampi will venture into the rivers and even onto the land. My student, Wavedancer, will surely be among the first. Especially as she’s taken quite the shine to that dragon. “Speaking of which,” the Sea Princess continued. “There is something very different about him. The other dragons were purified, but this Spike... he…” Celestia giggled. “Well, you do know why I chose Twilight Sparkle as my student, don’t you?” “Was it not because she turned her parents into potted plants?” Luna asked. “No,” Celestia said with a laugh. “That was quite an impressive backlash, of course, but there have been such things in the past from far less gifted unicorns. They were rejected due to a complete lack of control.” “Well, then, why not your student?” Rodi asked. Celestia looked at the splashing dragon and beamed. “Because of Spike. You know, we don’t use fertilized dragon eggs for our tests. It’s enough of a test for a unicorn foal to crack a magic-resistant dragon’s shell. We certainly wouldn’t want anypony hatching live baby dragons all the time in Canterlot. What would we do with them all?” “So,” Rodi said slowly. “What you’re saying is…?” “Twilight Sparkle did not hatch Spike,” Celestia said. “She created him. She created him with pure magic when she was just a filly.” “Jupiter’s Bolt,” Rodi breathed. “That explains the Darkness,” Luna said. “So that’s why his body…” Rodi asked. Luna nodded. “I sensed it as soon as we neared him. The last of the Rainbow of Darkness is being contained within his body.” “Only the added power he absorbed from the Master Rainbow fragment is keeping it contained,” Celestia concluded. “Spike has effectively been made the new Rainbow Pearl.” Rodi looked alarmed. “That… is very dangerous. Perhaps I should—” “You will not take Spike,” Celestia said. “On this, my sister and I are united,” Luna said with an icy stare. “He is Twilight Sparkle’s number one assistant after all. And her number one friend. We would never deprive her of such a one.” Rodi smile sweetly. “You two are both getting soft, aren’t you? I can only hope you know what you’re doing. The consequences of a being spawned of magic merging with the Rainbow of Darkness could be catastrophic.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other and grinned. “That is a risk we are willing to take,” Celestia said. “One of the greatest Elements of Harmony, we have learned,” Luna said. “And one that is sadly unrepresented, is ‘trust’.” “We trust them,” Celestia said. “With our very lives,” Luna added. “After what happened with Sol,” Rodi said with a pointed look at Celestia before turning her stormy gaze on Luna. “And Endymion… it’s good to see your trust so… easily restored in ponies.” “Not easy, Rodi,” Celestia said. “Never easy.” “But necessary,” Luna said. “If we are to keep moving forward.” The three princesses looked back to the beach, where they saw a purple unicorn galloping madly across the sand with two objects floating behind her. “Spiiiiike!” Twilight’s voice reverberated across the coastline. “You forgot your floatiiiiiiies!” “Twilight, nooooooooo!” End.