Back at the Crystal Empire, the gang went back to their rooms to get their swimwear. They intended on trying out the pool. Rarity was already on her blow up raft with a smoothie. Fluttershy was wearing spring green water wings on her hooves. She dipped her front hoof into the water and backed away slowly, squeaking a bit.
“Relax, Fluttershy”, said Twilight, putting a comforting hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “It’s just water. It’s not going to hurt you.”
“But Twilight,” squeaked Fluttershy, “I just saw my reflection in the pool water, and I realized how adorable I am! What if somepony notices this and their heart explodes twice just by seeing me doing something cute?”
“No one’s heart is gonna explode twice just because you do something cute, sugarcube”, said Applejack. “I don’t think it’s even possible for something to explode twice.”
“You all know how adorable Sweetie Belle is, right?” asked Rarity. “Well, nopony’s heart has exploded just for seeing her be cute. So there’s nothing to worry about, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy felt great relief upon hearing this and slowly dipped into the pool.
“It’s cold when you first get in”, she shivered. “But you get used to it after a few seconds.”
On the diving board, Rainbow Dash was getting ready to jump.
“Who’s ready to get splashed?” she called down.
“You couldn’t get all us wet even if you did a Sonic Rainboom before diving!” laughed Applejack.
“Want a bet?” Rainbow Dash’s eyes squinted with determination. She positioned herself carefully before taking actions. Slowly, she began to jump. Her jumps became higher and higher before finally she dove into the air! Her wings allowed her to reach the ceiling.
“CANNON RAIN-BALL!!!” she cried. Before anypony could react, Rainbow Dash curled into a ball and spun around at a great speed with her wings before zooming down towards the pool with a rainbow streak right behind her. The impacting soaked everyone that near the pool at the time. This included Rarity.
“Rainbow Dash!” she snapped. “You get me wet!”
Rainbow Dash couldn’t control her laughter. “Well what did you expect was going to happen at a pool?” she laughed.
Pretty soon, the gang got out of the pool and went back to their room. When they got to the door, a bellhop was waiting for them. On his back was a long, rectangular package.
“Excuse me”, he said. “Which one of you is Spike the Dragon?”
Spike looked up at the confused pony. “Isn’t it obvious?” he said.
The bellhop gave Spike the package and Spike gave him a couple coins.
“What do you think it is?” asked Fluttershy.
”Maybe it’s a giant chocolate cake with strawberry frosting on it!” Pinkie Pie bounced in excitement. “It’ll also have ‘Congratulations’ on it in whipped cream and…”
“Pinkie,” interrupted Twilight, “the box is too small for that kind of cake.”
Spike looked at the box. There was a letter on the side and he began to read it.
Dear Spike,
Congratulations on your marriage to 7 mares. Please consider this a late Wedding/Birthday present.
Spike looked back at the letter. There was no signature.
“That’s odd”, he said. “It doesn’t say who it’s from. Oh well.”
Spike took the package into the room and began opening it. With the wrapping paper gone, Spike slowly opened the box, and could not believe what he saw. Inside the box, was a sword. The handle was golden and had the initials “D.F.” inscribed in it. The scabbard that held the sword was a bright purple color painted to look like dragon scales. Spike appeared mesmerized by what he saw. The other ponies looked over his shoulder.
“What did you get?” asked Fluttershy.
“It’s a sword”, said Spike, still mesmerized. “I got a sword.”
Twilight peered closer at the sword.
”That’s not just a sword”, she gasped. “That’s the sword of Drago Fangtooth!”
Spike and the other ponies looked at Twilight with confusion.
“Who in tarnation is Drago Fangtooth?” asked Applejack.
Twilight went to her bookshelf and pulled out a large book. On the cover was “Historical Encyclopedia of Equestrian Heroes”. She flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for.
“Aha!” she cried. “Here we are. Drago Fangtooth.” She showed the page to the others. On it was a picture of a purple stallion with a green mane and tail. He had dragon-like features, such as his eyes, wings, and tail. His cutiemark was a “D” consisting of a curved dragon shooting a downward flame. Twilight cleared her throat and read.
“Drago Fangtooth came from a race of ponies that had the ability to transform into dragons. These ponies were referred to as dronies. According to legend, Drago used to live in Canterlot long ago. But because of his power, he and his family were feared by normal ponies and despised by normal dragons. However, he was able to prove his worth by aiding Princess Celestia in many battles, including the defeat of Nightmare Moon. When he was full grown, Drago traveled to the land of dragons and ridded them of their previous ruler; Count Lucius, a coldhearted dragon who saw the dronies as an impure breed and wanted to exterminate them all and take over Equestria. After this he was never seen again.”
Twilight closed the book. The others looked at her with surprise.
“Whoa,” said Spike. I never even knew there were ponies that could turn into dragons.”
“Neither did I until I got bored and eventually found this article,” said Twilight. “None of my other books contain anything about Drago Fangtooth or his species.”
“It could be because of how much everypony was afraid of him at the time,” said Trixie. "That’s the only explanation I can think of."
“You make a very good point Trixie,” put in Twilight.
“Of course I do,” boasted Trixie. “After all, I am The Great and Powerful Trixie!”
“And right now you’re giving me a Great and Powerful migraine,” muttered Rainbow Dash, rubbing her hoof on her forehead.
Suddenly Fluttershy looked out the window and screamed. “Dragons!” she cried.
Everyone else looked out the window as well. In the skies, they could see a large pack of dragons soaring.
“That’s odd,” said Twilight. “The Great Dragon Migration isn’t supposed to happen yet.”
”Um, I don’t think they’re part of the migration Twilight,” said Spike, hiding behind Rarity.
Down below in the town, the Crystal Ponies saw the dragons and began to panic.
“We’re under attack!” they cried. They all ran off in terror to avoid being eaten by the dragons. Shining Armor came outside when he heard the commotion and saw the dragons.
“Oh no you don’t!” he called. With that, Shining Armor channeled his magic and shot a magical beam at the dragons, causing them to be binded with magic chains.
Inside the hotel, Cadance burst into Spike and the Girls’ room.
“Quick, get out!” she cried. “We’re under attack!”
The gang quickly got out of the hotel. Shining Armor was doing his best to keep the dragons from attacking. Unfortunately a couple of them were able to get out of their chains and continue their pursuit. During the chaos, a Crystal Filly was trying to find her mother but got grabbed by the short fat dragon. He looked mighty hungry. He was about to go in for the kill when he was stopped by Darkblaze.
”Put her down, Tubbo,” he said sternly. “We’re on a mission, not for food.”
“But I’m hungry!” wimpered Tubbo.
“You’re always hungry!” snapped Darkblaze, slapping the glutton upside the head. This allowed the little filly to escape. Shining Armor soon caught up with the dragons. He was weakened from his earlier move.
”I’ll never let you harm the Crystal Ponies!” he declared. And he aimed his horn at them.
”We don’t want your stupid Empire,” retorted Darkblaze. “We’re looking for a dragon by the name of Spike. Now where is he?”
”Even if I knew where he was, I’d never tell you,” Shining Armor replied, bravely.
Darkblaze glared at the stallion. “Big mistake,” he said darkly. He readied his claw and was about to strike when…
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you!”
Darkblaze looked around. Behind them was a mysterious stallion. He wore a black robe and his hood kept them from seeing his face. The dragons all laughed at the stranger.
“Oh no,” mocked Darkblaze. “Some pony with a robe is gonna beat us up? Whatever shall we do? Teach him a lesson, boys.”
The remaining dragons circled the stranger menacingly. The stranger just stood there, unfazed by what was about to happen. Just as the dragons went in for the kill, he leaped into the air just at the last second! Then he kicked one of the dragons upside the head with his back hooves and sent him soaring straight into the ground. Next he grabbed another one’s tail, swung him around and threw him at two more, knocking them down as well. The Shining Armor just watched in amazement. He had never seen a pony fight like that before. Suddenly remaining dragons decided to end the fight by roasting the stranger alive with their fire breath. But just before the flames hit, a shield of green flames surrounded him, protecting him.
”What kind of pony is this?” asked Darkblaze. “Forget him, let’s just go search another land.”
The dragons took off and left. Shining Armor was very pleased.
”Thank you very much…” but the stranger had disappeared. At that moment Cadance arrived.
“Are you alright, honey?” She asked, placing a hoof on Shining Armor’s forehead in worry.
”I’m fine,” said Shining Armor. “Just a couple of scratches and bruises, but besides that I’m fit as a fiddle. Where’s Twilight and the gang?”
“I got them out before the dragons could try and attack them. The Palace Guards say that the dragons didn’t try to attack the castle.”
Shining Armor looked at her worriedly. “They weren’t after the Empire,” he said, grimly, “they were after Spike. He’s in danger.”
Meanwhile, Spike and the 7 Mares were still running.
“What do you think those dragons wanted?” asked Pinkie Pie.
”I’m not sure,” replied Twilight.
”Why are we running away?” retorted Rainbow Dash. “I say we go back there and fight them!”
”I agree with Rainbow Dash,” said Trixie. “The Great and Powerful Trixie could easily defeat those evil dragons!”
“I… I think it was best that we ran while we had the chance,” squeaked Fluttershy.
“I can see the Train Station up ahead,” called Spike. “We’re almost there!”
But suddenly the winds began to pick up.
“I don’t remember the winds around here being this strong,” commented Rarity, trying to avoid being blown away.
Suddenly, the wind lifted all 8 of them off the ground and carried them off into the distance! Where they were going, they had no idea. But it was bound to become an adventure. Unknown to them, the stranger who had assisted Shining Armor earlier, was watching this and followed off in the direction the winds had blown.