//------------------------------// // The Aftermath // Story: Spike's Kingdom // by Guardian Dragon //------------------------------// The Dragons put Rarity on Equestrian soil near a train station as Twilight lands beside her friend and feels devastated that Spike, her friend, has decided to remain Dragon Lord instead of relinquishing his title to Princess Ember, a Dragon known as Royalty in the Dragon Lands. Rarity is upset that her friend Spike won't be returning to Ponyville with his new acclaim title as Dragon Lord, which is a glaring problem on her end, indicating no extra helper, carrier, and friend that understands her. Even though she lied about having a love interest with Spike, it's evident that Spike had fallen for the Princess of Dragons; she is now jealous. Twilight is unsure about breaking the disheartening news, especially to the Crystal Empire, Crystal Ponies, and, more importantly, Princess Celestia and Luna. Without Spike, Twilight has no means of alarming Princess Celestia instantly on any occasion, whether good or bad. Now, she has to rely on the mailing system to deliver letters to Princess Celestia and pray that nothing gets interrupted during the delivery. "Why didn't Spike renounce his title to Princess Ember? He could have come home with us?" Twilight speaks to herself, not noticing that she's talking more loudly than in thought. "I won't lie, Twilight," Rarity sighs. "What Spike did was selfish! I believe the power of ruling a nation will go to his little head and corrupt him!" Rarity states, imagining Spike as a dictator, hoarding all the gemstones in the world, refusing to share or allow any pony to take them away. Rarity also imagines lewd thoughts of Spike and Ember being intimate with each other. She closes her eyes and screams in frustration. Twilight sees a train arriving at the station. "Let's go to Canterlot and hear what Princess Celestia and Luna have to say about this," Twilight teleports her friend and herself to the platform to board the train. Spike rallies the Dragons behind him while Princess Ember flies to her father's location; Torch expects a proud mighty Dragon with brute strength and agility to arrive as the new Dragon Lord. Instead, he's disappointed to see his daughter with the baby Dragon on her back. "What is this?" Former Dragon Lord Torch demands an explanation of how a puny Dragon seizes control of the Bloodstone Scepter. Spike takes a deep breath, steadily his mind to speak with assertiveness. "I AM THE NEW DRAGON LORD! ADDRESS ME AS DRAGON LORD SPIKE!" Spike's commanding voice echoes throughout the Dragon Lands; holding the Bloodstone Scepter grants him that ability. Torch blinks twice and glares at the young Dragon with interest; he starts laughing. "Well, I'm impressed that a half-pint such as yourself exceeded the Gauntlet of Fire competition. A Dragon with no wings, strength, or speed successfully obtains the Bloodstone Scepter. You should all be ashamed of allowing a puny Dragon to run over you!" Torch bellows, causing many Dragons to cover their heads where most creatures would have ears. He groans and then gets agitated when Garble hugs him. "What is the meaning of this?!" "I can't tell you!" Garble complains and flies into the horizon as other Dragons laugh at his misery. "Dragon Lord Spike," Torch fixes his gaze on the new Dragon Lord. "You have my blessing. Now, lead us however you see fit." "Don't worry. I have many ideas to lead every Dragon into prosperity. Also, I'm dating your daughter." "WWWWWWWHAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Torch screeches in terror that the Dragon Lord wants to date his daughter. "It's true, Dad," Princess Ember smiles at her new lover. During the flight, Ember's heart exploded in happiness after experiencing trust and Friendship for the first time. Dragons don't help each other often, but being close to Spike reveals a new emotion to embrace. "I have..," Ember takes a deep breath. "I'm in love with Dragon Lord Spike!" Princess Ember vigorously expresses her true feelings for Spike despite knowing him for a few hours. Something about Spike's presence makes her feel more lively than before. Torch growls at the revelation; however, since he's no longer the Dragon Lord, Torch cannot install a law that forbids any Dragon from dating his daughter. He closes his eyes and sighs in defeat. "Very well," Torch flaps his wings. "I'll get going," Torch flies home. "Ember, can you turn around for me to say a speech to all Dragons?" Spike politely asks. He wants to address all Dragons can benefit, a future where every Dragon can live happily with no hatred. "Sure thing, Dragon Lord Spike," Ember turns around, allowing Spike to see many Dragons waiting anxiously for their leader's speech. "Dragon Nation!" Spike shouts with authority. He sounds genuine, honorable, and comforting. "From this day forth, I shall bring a new era of love and peace with ourselves and neighboring countries. We will help one another and spread Friendship to create a better tomorrow. I will bring something new for all Dragons to enjoy soon enough!" The Dragons applaud and praise Dragon Lord Spike by chanting his name. Spike relishes the Dragons chanting his name; it's like the Crystal Empire, where the Crystal Ponies worship, chant, took pictures of him. "So, Spike," Ember hopes she doesn't have to repeat the Dragon Lord title to Spike. "Yes, Ember," Spike smiles lovingly at Ember. Ember blushes slightly and shrugs it away for a few moments. "What will you do now?" "Write a letter to Princess Celestia, letting her know that my life is changing for the better; also, do the Dragons have paper and pen to write?" "Uh-uh," Ember shakes her head. "We don't have resources as Equestrian Ponies provide. We have gemstones, lava, and rock." "Oooooooh, booooooy," Spike takes a deep breath and keeps a mental note; Dragons don't have much, as Equestria seems to have everything. Since the Dragons have rocks, Spike will have to write stone tablet letters to Princess Celestia and anyone he has in mind to transport letters. "You!" Spike points the Bloodstone Scepter at a bulky brown Dragon. "Get me some stone tablets for me to write!" "Yes, Dragon Lord Spike!" The Dragon bows and takes off to a mountain to gather smooth rocks for carving words. "Is there anything sharp enough to carve words into the stone?" Spike asks every Dragon else. "Spike, my armor has a sword; You can use it to write what you need to say," Princess Ember suggests, hoping it'll please her lover. "Thank you," Spike smiles at his lover. He hopes more of Ember's love can blossom nicely. It's been a quiet three-hour trip for Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. In their minds, they replay the same sequence when Spike refuses to pass the Scepter to a worthy royal Dragoness. They feel Spike is still too young to handle responsibilities that'll drive anyone inexperienced into madness. The Royal Guards see Princess Twilight Sparkle and Rarity leaving the train and escort them to Canterlot Castle; they are curious about the missing presence of Spike. Inside Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia finishes talking with Raven Inkwell for tomorrow's session since she'll lower the sun, allowing her sister to raise the moon. The two see Twilight and Rarity strolling in the corridors looking distraught and heartbroken; also, Princess Celestia notices that Spike isn't with the two of them. "Excuse me, Inkwell," Princess Celestia needs to speak with Princess Twilight and Rarity about Spike's absence. "Of course, my Princess," Raven Inkwell trots away, leaving the Princess to take care of private affairs. "Twilight, what's wrong?" Princess Celestia asks with concern. Twilight looks up at her mentor and down on the floor in sadness. "Spike won." "He's not coming home..," Rarity sniffs; Her beloved friend, Spiky-Wikey, is gone. "Well, what did you expect?" Princess Luna strolls down the corridors and interjects herself into the conversation. "You knew?" Twilight turns to Princess Luna. Princess Luna nods. "Indeed. Spike winning the Gauntlet of Fire meant that he'll become the new ruler of Dragons, and no leader cannot leave a nation unattended." "But there was a Princess there, Luna!" Twilight barks back bitterly. "Princess Ember! Spike could have transferred his authority to her!" Twilight stomps angrily. "A Princess participated in the event?" Princess Luna and Celestia didn't foresee that outcome. "Yes!" Twilight frustratedly shouts with some anger. "Maybe he'll transfer the title to Ember in due time, Twilight," Princess Celestia ponders some likely scenarios within the Dragon Nation. One of them could be Spike teaching the values of Friendship to every Dragon and having them embrace love and unity; then he'll test Ember to see if she has the qualities that the elements of harmony represent. "Spike was being selfish!" Rarity pettily expresses. "He chose power over friends! That'll lead to corruption! You should have a talk with him about important matters!" "Since we heard from your perspectives, what were Spike's motives?" Princess Luna knows Twilight and Rarity have not explained the whole story; they're letting their emotions speak for themselves. "Uuuuuh," Twilight and Rarity looks at each other. Then a poof noise with green sparkles flares, and a heavy stone tablet lands on them. "OOOOW!" "What the?" Princess Celestia lifts the stone tablets with her magic. "Are you two okay?" "Who would warp something heavy when there are other alternatives, like paper or a note sheet?" Rarity asks while rubbing her left side with her hoof. "I'll need a day at the spa to relieve the pain!" "Dragon Lord Spike," Princess Celestia confirms after reading the first dialog on the stone tablet. "WHAT?!" Twilight and Rarity shout. "It says: Princess Celestia. I am the new Dragon Lord in the Dragon Lands, and I want to confirm that I'm resigning my title as Twilight's Number One Assistant. I will lead my nation and show them the benefits of Friendship that I've learned with my friends in Equestria, also expressing the same passion for neighboring countries. However, as far as things are concerned, the Dragons are not affiliated with Ponies of Equestria; with that said, I want a conference meeting with you and your sister to discuss several demands we have in mind. Princess Twilight Sparkle should not be involved; I see her erratic when she sees me and would want to guilt-trip me into giving up my reign. I will arrive in Canterlot tomorrow with the Princess of Dragons, Ember. See you soon, Dragon Lord Spike." Twilight Sparkle feels betrayed that Spike doesn't want her in the conference meeting tomorrow while being left out on important matters with aligning an alliance with the Dragons, a crucial, vital achievement for the record books. "What about the Elements of Harmony? Can we be involved with the meeting?" Rarity asks the Princess of the Sun. "I'll write a response letter and send Spike scrolls for him to use; otherwise, every pony will have to wear armor to shield themselves from impending drops of stone tablets," Princess Celestia replies. "In the meantime, I'll head into the dream realm to locate Spike's door when he slumbers, to have a private discussion about his decision to maintain his role as Dragon Lord," Princess Luna leaves the group and trots to the balcony of the castle to raise the moon. Princess Celestia starts writing a response letter to Dragon Lord Spike about involving the bearers of the elements of harmony. Also, to understand Spike's situation from his point of view rather than hearing the explanation from Twilight and Rarity. Princess Celestia dismisses Twilight and Rarity, allowing them to sleep in the castle tonight since it'll be a while until Spike responds. Dragon Lord Spike is near a river where Dragons go to drink water; he sees how every Dragon uses their claw to scoop the water to slurp. Throughout the day, Spike witnessed many problems within the Dragon Lands and understood why Dragons hate Ponies. Dragons are basically living in the stone age, with no technology, no farms, no electricity, and not even a bathroom. Princess Ember taught Spike that Dragons hunt for food and gemstones; they do their business elsewhere and sleep on rocks or the ground. Equestria has all the best resources, while the Dragons are behind, dead last. Spike sticks his claw into the water and slurps what he can. He turns to Princess Ember. "Mind if I bunk in your home?" Spike doesn't know where to sleep for the night since his bed is back in the Castle of Friendship. "Of course, Spike," Princess Ember has gotten used to saying Spike and is the only Dragon who doesn't have to address him as Dragon Lord. Every Dragon else has to say Dragon Lord Spike. Spike burps a letter written by Princess Celestia. Then several more burst out of his mouth. He falls to the ground, holding his stomach. "Knock me out! Make it stop!" He continues burping scroll after scroll, feeling the excruciating pain like when Discord turned Twilight and her Friends into the opposite of themselves. Tears swell in Spike's eyes, and they become red. Princess Ember becomes horrified watching Spike endure such pain. She sees him on the verge of tears and takes the Bloodstone Scepter. "Forgive me, Spike!" Ember jabs Spike's head with the handle of the Bloodstone Scepter hard, knocking him unconscious. Ember tears up and picks Spike up. "No more." Ember growls and flies Spike home with her. Tomorrow, she'll have a word with the Princesses.