//------------------------------//
// The Day a Hero Fell 
// Story: A Tale of Noble Spirits 
// by Commando-Scarecrow 
//------------------------------//

Spike stood above the cellar door that he had sealed Twilight and the others in. He'd never seen anything like those black guards before. What's more was that he saw Princess Celestia leading them. He couldn't stand telling that to Twilight, though. Princess Celestia was like a second mother to that mare. She'd taught her almost everything she knew about magic, so naturally hearing about her leading a small army of black pegasi would be disheartening.
Then he looked to Scootaloo, who was standing to his right. She had pushed her boyfriend, who was holding a princess on his back, ten feet down into that hidden basement level. That probably hurt a lot. "Why are you here?" He finally asked as he turned his back and made his way outside.
"One of life's great mysteries, isn't it? Are we all here by accident, or is it the divine plan of Galaxia? It keeps me up every night thinking about it." She began to follow him through the libraries rooms and corridors.
Spike just ignored that bad joke. "You could have stayed hidden with the others, with Noble, but you didn't," he looked at her as he spoke, but she didn't return his gaze. She stayed focused on the walk. "Why?"
She only shrugged. "Maybe you're not the only one who has somepony they want to protect." If it were anyone else, then Spike would have been surprised at what she was doing.
Spike said nothing in response as knew he couldn't really add anything to that. He was doing this to protect Rarity and Twilight, after all, so she had every right to do the same for Noble.
Finally, after only a little more that a minute of walking from the cellar, they both stood at the threshold to the home of Twilight Sparkle. It was one of the longest walks that either of them had ever taken. They both looked at each other, each registering the fear in the others eyes, but both knowing that there was no turning back now. Whatever happened next could not be taken back. Ever.
The teenage dragon gulped and then opened the door to the outside. What he saw was just a a settling of what he saw earlier. Forteen solid black pegasi, adorned in golden armour, lined up from right to left, preparing for the arrival of Princess Celestia. Spike and Scootaloo both looked around Ponyville to see how everypony was taking the arrival of their princess. Spike wasn't really sure how to describe what he saw. Nopony was in town to greet her, which was strange.
She walked up to Spike, and as her guards stood at attention, he felt his heart racing with fear. Even though he was her height, she still scared the hay out of him for what he knew she could do if she wanted to. He remembered back to the wedding of Princess Cadance and Twilight's brother, Shining Armour. Queen Chrysalis won in her duel with Princess Celestia, but only because she was taken by surprise. But back to now, the dragon saw his princess walk ever closer to him with her infamous smile and showing of just one eye.
Spike gulped and Scootaloo stood firm. Finally, the princess stood directly before to two of them. She gave them a mischievous grin and began talking. "Why hello, Spike and... Scootaloo, is it?" she greeted the two of them with her infamously warm demeaner. "I'm so happy to see that you found my younger sister. I hope she wasn't to much of a bother!"
Spike forced a smile for Twilight's mentor. " Princess Luna was great, Princess. And we're always happy to help, Princess." He was lying through his teeth and he knew it, but he didn't care.
"Well, thank you, Spike." The great, white goddess horse looked around, as if something were missing. "Would you mind telling me whe she is so I may take her home?"
Spike wished himself good luck. "She's, ah... She went to go wash he hair!" Smooth, Spike. "Rarity and Twilight thought she looked really stressed out and stuff and they went to the salon!"
Then Scootaloo decided to help the distressed dragon out as much as she could. "Yeah! And they won't be back until the end of day!"
Princess Celestia gave them a wary stare. Spike knew that in 1000 years of ruling Equestria, few things would get past the alicorn standing before him. "Spike?" That was when the violet dragon knew that the jig was up.
Spike had to try his best to keep his cool now, no matter how close he was to failing extravigantly. "Yes, Your Highness?"
"Are you lying to me?" Then she did something that scared the living hay out of both Spike and Scootaloo. She moved her head closer and closer to the young dragon's, until her mouth was right next to his ear. Spike was barely holding himself together. "Because that wouldn't be very nice to do to your princess, now would it?"
"No, Princess, I-" He stammered his words out of pure fear and trepidation, ruining what little illusion he had been able to craft.
"Guards?" She called to her soldiers, still standing firm. "Search the area!"
And then Scootaloo lost control. Her fear of the princess was quickly replaced by anger and fear of loss. She flew as fast as she could in a burst that was almost impossible to track. "NO!" She shouted as she rammed the princess full-force. Princess Celestia was sent flying only maybe ten yards, though, before she extended her wings and regained control of herself.
Scootaloo was surprised at the way she acted on such a hair trigger impulse to save Noble, but not as surprised as Celestia was when she was sent flying. Anger was clearly visible on her pure white face as she glared upon the violet maned mare.And that was when the preverbial manure hit the metaphorical fan. "Colts!" She called out to her soldiers in rage. "Arrest these fools for treason!"
They said nothing in responce to their orders. They were silent as the grave as they all began to move against the duo defending their loved ones. Their coats were of the purest black and their armour was gold, a stark contrast to what seemed to be the uniform of the royal guards. Scootaloo shot him a look that spoke of both fear and eagerness. The young mare always did relish a challenge, although he would have prefered it if she chose a different time to test herself. Princess Celestia gave the two an evil grin as she regained her calm and as they were surrounded by all forteen of her black guards. "Come easy and your punishment might only be banishment. But if you don't..." shutters were being closed all across town. "Well then, I will hold no regrets for what happens to you."
Scootaloo looked up to Spike. They were in for it now and they both knew that. "Run." Spike didn't say, he ORDERED the pegasus to leave.
"That isn't gonna happen, Spike," Scootaloo didn't like running at all.
"Listen. You have no idea what Princess Celestia is capable of. Neither do I," Spike took in every last detail of the environment, knowing full well that it might be the last time he saw his home. "But I have a better idea than you. Rainbow Dash is still with the Wonder Bolts?"
Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah, why?"
"Get as many of our friends as you can and get them out of here. Head north to the Crystal Empire. Princess Celestia had no political power there. You and the others should be safe."
Scootaloo was astounded at how well thought out Spike's plan was. They'd known each other for years and, in fact, actually dated briefly, but he'd never thought anything through like this before. Besides that, she knew that the only way she'd be able to see Noble Spirit again was if she fled like a little filly. She swallowed her pride and nodded. No other choice, she thought to herself. "Alright."
"Then go." Spike hadn't looked at her at all the whole time they were talking. He had his eyes on the princess and her colts the whole time. "I'll do what I can against the princess." Scootaloo turned around and, for one more moment, looked back at the knight in scaley armour. It almost looked like she wanted to say something else, but then she turned around to take flight.
Princess Celestia's eyes also tracked the mare as she left to find as many of her friends as she could. "Valliant, but foolish, my friend. Seven of you!" She called out to her guards. "Bring back that mare! I want her head on a silver platter!"
Anger, now, was replacing Spike's fear, but he bit it back. He needed to save it for the fight ahead. "I don't think so. That pegasus was trained by the one and only Rainbow Dash, only living executioner of the legendary sonic rainboom." He took a look at the orange streak that traced acoss the fall morning sky. "She'll do just find."
"And what about you, young Spike? I've seen dragons and, while they ARE indeed formidable, you are far from what you could be. And besides..." and suddenly the worth possible thing happened. At first, he thought it was just a dark storm cloud, but then realized it wasn't a cloud at all. It was an army. "What makes you think she'll be able to escape this?!" They all landed in town and, as every street, road, boulivard and crossing was filly by the colours of black and gold, Spike found himself swearing. Oh clop, he thought. But he was already in to deep to back out now. "Well, Spike? What are your brilliant plans now? Will YOU try to run and hide now, like a coward? Or will you simply bow down and accept defeat like a good little lizard?"
And then Spike remembered something that gave him the advantage. He recalled something that Zecura told him on his last birthday. "None of the above." He gave himself the luxury of a sly smile and looked down to the earth below his feet. "The zebra, Zecura, once told me something. She said "Concentrate on what you want more than all, and you will see your enemies fall". At first, I didn't know what she meant. But now?" He looked up to his princess with nothing but contempt. Watch this..." Spike focused on what he wanted most, and what he wanted most was to protect Rarity. Dragon's greed was a weird thing. If left unchecked, then it would bring nothing but destruction, but in the here and now, it was his best bet to save the ones he loved. The more he thought about what he wanted, the larger he grew. First came his arms growing larger, then his legs and then his body. Within moments, the normally somewhat reserved Spike had grown into a dragon the size of a mountain. Once he grew as big as he could, he opened eyes and let out a defiant shout may have shook the very heavens themselves. "ROOOOOAAAAAAAR!" He punched the earth before the princess, causing the earth beneath his feat tremble
"Well, well, well," Celestia only gave an amused grin. "I guess it really was a good idea for me to bring an army with me." She flew up to the great dragon's eye level and squinted at him. "What say you we dispence with all these pleasantries and begin this, then?" Spike only responded by spitting a blazing green inferno into the face of the pure white alicorn.

...

We all heard the thrashing above us as Spike tried his best to hold off whoever it was that was hunting down Princess Luna. I'd set her on the floor soon after I was pushed into this hole by my girlfriend. Rarity and Twilight were both panicking about Spike being up there. He could hardly blame them, though. The way Rarity allowed Spike to kiss her like that, it was almost like she had been waiting for him to do that for years. And as for Twilight... she had basically raised the dragon for half of his life. Twilight Sparkle had become something between a surragate mother and sister to him. For Spike to be giving up his life for them, it must have been a wound deeper than any other that they had ever felt. I understood that pain. I was feeling the same agony for Scootaloo.
Dirt rained down from the ceiling of the basement as what was doubtlessly a bloody battle ensured. I looked at Luna asleep next to a wall and couldn't help but feel some rage at her. It was her that brought this to Ponyville and it was her that was costing the three of us the ones we loved. But anger at that point was useless, I thought. We were down there while whoever was hunting the princess of the night. I would have words with her later, though.
"Spike..." Rarity mumbled as she stared up to the cellar door that they were all placed in by the dragon. "No."
Twilight wasn't holding up so well, either. She had tried dozens upon dozens of unlocking spells and magical blasts in the hopes of freeing them and aiding Spike and Scootaloo in their fight, but nothing worked. Spike had been amazing detailed in his planning.
Vinyl Scratch seemed calm enough, though, given the circumstances. Maybe she just knew that there was nothing she could do to help OR hurt the situation. So she just leaned against the wall in her sunglasses, waiting until there was something she could do. It was the best advice I took all day.
Then I saw something in the corner of my eye. Princess Luna began to stir. She was close to waking up. Good, I thought in my anger. Maybe then we could show her what she brought here.

...

"RAAH!" Spike let out a mighty bellow as he picked up and threw a building at Celestia's army. She had only barely been able to raise a veridian shield in time to protect her from his ravaging emerald flames, and even then it barely held. Spike had no idea how Celestia had been able to come by so many black pegasi, but then, he didn't really care. All that mattered was saving Rarity and the others. With any luck, Scootaloo was well on her way to finding their other friends and getting them out of here.
As he mind was elsewhere, a mighty tide of the golden clad guards slammed itself in the great violet dragon. Spike staggered back, but it wasn't anything he couldn't take. He swatted them out of the sky like insects and flies, carefully keepig track of where the princess was at all times, because if he didn't, she could easily catch him off guard and over take him. That was how Queen Chrysalis beat her.
As Spike stamped out dozens upon dozens of the enemy soldiers in the air, he finally made another move against the princess. Ever moving, she made sure not stay in one place too long, lest she be crushed or smitten by claw or flame. Strange, he thought to himself. Eventually, though, he had caught her. He grabbed her with his left claw and brought her closer to his face. Her army redoubled their efforts against the great beast, but to no effect. They were as ants beneath his notice. He let out a great stream of fire at all of them, and because if it, the sky rained charred corpses. The destruction that was being caused by the battle was near incalculable. Houses and businesses were ablaze and smashed to pieces.
The dragon brought the great white mare closer to his face. Time for some answers. "WHY?!" he shouted in a great and deep voice, although he couldn't really help it. ""WHY HAVE YOU BROUGHT THIS HERE?!"
Princess Celestia only gave out an arrogant laugh at the question she was given before answering. "That is the question, isn't it?" Then she looked him straight into his giant green eyes. "What makes you think my sister is so innoscent?" Her eyes then began to glow an eerie shade of white. "What makes you think that this isn't all her fault?!"
"ROOOAAR!" He let out a shout at his ruler, not caring for her questions in the least. Maybe she didn't fully know the situation that SHE was in. Maybe it was time to remind her. "I CAN BREAK YOU LIKE A TWIG!"
"That may be so, Spike. But what would that accomplish? You would be labeled a monster and chaos would reign once again in Equestria." She gave him a sly, evil smile. What Spike didn't know was that he wasn't really the one in control here. She was. "I suppose that by now, my sister and the others would have already escaped. So I guess that there is really no more reason for me to stay. Guards?" She called out to the few remaining soldiers she had at her disposal. There were only maybe a few dozen left. "Prepare to burn everything and everypony! We are leaving!"
In anger, Spike brought the princess closer to his face, as if to see if she were just mocking him. "GRRR!" He belched another wave of flames at her, only to have it be uselessly wash over another green shield.
As the heat of his flames to disipate before the princess, she showed him only an arrogant smile. "Please. You really think you had what it took to defeat me? The mare who defeated Night Mare Night?!" Her white eyes glowed brighter and brighter as she sent a single solitary beam at Spike's forehead. In one blast, the dragon fell to the earth, crushing five buildings in the process and shrinking down to his normal size. He smiled at what he'd done as he fell unconscience. Thirty minutes, there about. He held the princess at bay for thirty minutes, which was more than enough time for Scootaloo to find their friends and make their escape to the Arctic North. It wasn't much, but it was enough. The last thing he saw was the black guards coming over to retrieve him. He didn't care, though. He'd done enough.

...

We were still in the cellar when we all heard a big and resounding crash. Some rocks fell from the ceiling along with some dirt, and we all knew what that meant. Spike was down. Only thirty minutes, I thought. For something to bring down a dragon like that, it must have been big, although I honestly didn't know at the time how Spike had gotten that big.
I looked a across the dimly lit cave to see Rarity and Twilight crying in eachothers arms. I dug my head into my own arms. We had all lost somepony we loved today. I held back my tears. There would be plenty of time for those later. It felt cold suddenly. Maybe it was because of the friends we lost, or maybe it was what was going to happen after today, but my head retreated into my arms. Vinyl Scratch placed her arm over my shoulder, though, which eased the pain if only by a little.
Losing Spike and Scootaloo wasn't even the worst of it. Earlier, we all heard a voice give the orders to burn everything to the ground. What made it worse than anything was that we all recognized the voice as Princess Celestia's. It looked like Twilight Sparkle had lost both a brother AND a mother that day.
We all heard the raging flames and the screams for hours. The crackling flames did almost nothing to silence the sounds of almost everypony we loved dying. I could only sigh and wish for the nightmare to be over as I heard the last dying shouts of my friends. Snips, Snails, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Big Macintosh, Mint Twist, Time Turner, and more than I could ever remember were all being burned alive up there. I couldn't believe it was happening. But it was, and there was nothing I could do. I tried to ignore the screams of the hundreds of ponies burning and dying, but it was no use. Ponyville was dying. We waited for hours for the ravaging flames to be over, but they just wouldn't stop. I fell asleep to the cries of the innoscent that night, and by the time I awoke, I realized something. Things had changed. Everything had changed.