//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: The Spike Who Loved Me // Story: Equestria Is Not Enough // by Canon Fodder //------------------------------// Chapter 19 The Spike Who Loved Me "Alright! Listen up!" Nova shouted from his office window, addressing his minions out in the production room. "It has come to my attention that Mr. Comet was compromised. I have called you all here to announce a sudden change in plans...project: meteor is to be completed in double timing. I do not care for what it costs, we MUST have the missile launched within the next 36 hours. So...Dr. Know?" Know waved from the crowd of Sparks' loyalists. Nova nodded, "Ah! Excellent. You will begin programming immediately. This is of the up most importance. Our intentions are being threatened..." Nova levitated over a glass from his desk and sipped his strong drink. He continued with a dead serious expression in his voice, "You will all be on your top guard! If my instincts are correct, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash are on their way here with a hit squad against me. All of you are obligated to fire at will towards anyone who approaches this facility. We are extremely close to finishing this project and it is too crucial to have foiled. I am making it official that Twilight, Dash, and Applejack are to be shot on site. I do not care to meet with them. It is better to have them killed, the sooner the better." Sparks turned to Bradshaw who stood in the door way. He pointed to a switch box on the wall and Buckingham nodded back with a half-smile. The southern stallion lifted the glass case covering the switch and Nova halted him for a moment. The Tyrant looked upon the crowd of black and white striped uniforms with a cunning smile, "Gentlecolts! Stand away from the middle if you could. I give you...project: meteor!" His army men dispersed from the center of the room and Nova gave Bradshaw the signal to flip the switch. A loud siren then began, followed by the flashing and spinning of red alarm lights. The cavern started to tremor and the steel floor in the middle of the production room parted in the middle and slowly opened downwards. Below the floor, a large platform simultaneously begun to raise. The floor of the platform was grated with water gushing from underneath. Placed on the stage along the sides was a series of computers and technical controls with the words "project: meteor" engraved on the siding of each monitor. But standing out above everything else...The missile. Hunched over ominously in it's launching chamber. A 21 foot long missile with a green shaft and black tip. "Project: meteor" was also printed in white across the shaft with Nova's cutie mark branded on the opposite side. While the platform stabilized, an opening in the ceiling of the cave formed. Made with a slightly larger diameter of the missile for it to fire out of. Nova smiled deviously, "My life's ambition is only on the horizon now... Everypony can return to their stations, and remember to investigate anything that seems suspicious. Well...Get to it!" Dr. Know and few scientists amid'st the armada got to work on the missile while the rest headed back to either the refinery station, Supernova, or patrolling the facility. Sparks shut the window and sat back down in his desk. He rubbed his hoof over his forehead and called over to Buckingham in the doorway, "Bradshaw I want you to remove some of the refinery workers and put them on guard duty. I want to maximize our security division as much as we can." The security head nodded gladly, "I'll see it done Mr. Sparks." Trixie was still sitting in the chair across from Nova. She used her horn to pour him another drink, "So...Do you want me to brainwash them or not?" "Absolutely." Sparks answered after sipping his scotch. Trixie rose from her seat and Nova held his hoof up to gesture a halt, "Wait. I want to be there too. But first I'm going get Captain Khan Quest to move the ship behind the mine. I don't want those girls to have any clues to where we are. Stay here and wait for any messages." Nova got up and trotted through the door, leaving the self-proclaimed "Great and Powerful" one in charge of his office. He climbed down the stairs and glanced over at Dr. Know and the other physicists. He asked curiously, "How fast can get you that programmed Doctor?" Know looked up at his superior with a small smile and spoke with his soft voice, "The fastest I can probably have it done is eighteen hours. Calculating the trajectory will take another twelve. So you'll have another six hours to launch it. I hope that is satisfactory to your schedule sir." He nodded, "It's fine Dr. Know. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to deal with. Carry on..." ----- Back on the outskirts of Canterlot, Twilight and the others were prepared to hit the road. Rainbow Dash scurried around the shops in Canterlot to pack food while Applejack was motivating a team of twenty ponies they'd be travelling with to take out Nova and his army. She spoke loud and proud like the Apple she was, "Tonight my fella Equestrians, is the final chapter of Sparks' evil story. By this time tomarrow we'll be face to face with an army of Nova's dogs and ponies...They were once rebels that took our great land. Now were the rebels takin it back! Now I understand that Aspen provided each of you with yer own what-cha-ma-call-its...N-Techs? Yeah N-Techs. Anyways he explained some of the neat functions on this here do-hicky. Like uhhhh twisting it brings out this little needle thingy that apparently has a neuro-toxin which will cause death within 12 seconds. Be careful cuz it's only good fer one shot so make it count. Now there's this little button here on top to activate a high powered laser. Then a radio fer when ya'll need to talk to each other. I don't know if we'll be needin it. After all it's just the twenty of yous comin along. Now were gonna take it to this Nova guy right?" "RIGHT!" "Were gonna stop this missile right?" "RIGHT!" "Were gonna avenge Princess Celestia right?" "RIGHT!" "Were gonna take back Equestria right?!" "RIGHT!" "THEN LET'S GET TO IT!" The inspired team cheered and stomped the ground. Applejack galloped around, and high hooved everypony, then hugged her brother. She asked him, "Now are ya'll sure ya wanna come Big Macintosh? I've already lost you once. I wouldn't want to lose ya again." Big Mac assured her sister, "Eeyup! Don't you worry AJ. I ain't gonna let them get to me again." "Ya sure?" She asked nervously. "Eeyup!" Meanwhile, Twilight was organizing her contents of her saddlebag one more time. Filling it with the map of the mine, a map to the mine, schematics to the missile, a map of the Supernova, the three other apple slices, a mirror, and one more item she had to look at before packing it. The syringe of silverblood that she took from the mine the last time. She held it in her hooves and examined it and thought to herself, "Just incase, I'll take it...But hopefully I won't have to use it." She packed the last item and Aspen came by holding the crate he picked at before. Twilight heard him and looked behind her, "Hey Aspen. What have you got?" He put the crate down and un-clamped the hatches keeping it shut, "Well after a few hours trying to pick this damn lock, I finally managed to unlock it." Twilight laughed, "That's great. What's in it anyway?" The dog smiled, "Something that Nova's scientists have been working on for a while. I figured you, Applejack and Rainbow could use one each." Twilight became anxious and laughed again, "Well hurry up." Aspen opened up the lid and reached inside, pulling out three cylindrical, mechanical rods. Twilight looked at it perplexed, "Uhh What are they?" He chuckled and put down two of the rods and examined the other, "Well if you just push this button down here it...should..." A beam of white light shot from the top of the base and extended out about three feet. Twilight was greatly intregued and Aspen explained, "This is a beam sword proto-type. The real name for it is E-Sword. As you can see..." He slashed a nearby a tree, leaving a searing cut, "As you can see while it cuts the wood, at the same time, it burns it as well. Now to turn it off, it's just another flick of the button." Aspen turned it off and tossed it over to Twilight, "Thanks Aspen. This will come in handy...Do you know what time it is?" She asked curiously. The canine checked his watch, "It's 6 o clock." Twilight sighed then smiled. She raised her hoof to her forehead to see the figure of a Pegesus flying in, "Well I can see Rainbow heading towards this way now so I guess we'll hit the road..." She extended her hoof out towards Aspen, "Thank you Aspen, for everything. We wouldn't be here if you hadn't helped us out." Aspen gladly shook her hoof, "Hey you just make sure to take this guy out, and don't worry. I'll make sure these folks in Canterlot stay safe...I think your friend Dash wants you." "Hey Twilight! I got all the food we need!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed holding a large sack of food. Twilight laughed and packed the E-Swords in her bag, "That's great Rainbow. We'll spread it out among everypony later. You better get ready to go...Ok everypony let's pack up and head out!" "Good-bye Aspen." Twilight concluded. Aspen smiled down at her, "Here's looking at you kid..." Before Twilight could ask, Aspen bent down and kissed her. He walked away right after, leaving Twilight astonished. She shook it off and smiled back at him. Then threw her saddlebag over her flank and left to meet up with the girls and the team who were waiting for her to lead. She trotted out in front with Rainbow and Applejack, "You girls ready?" They nodded and had a look of determination. Applejack confirmed, "Let's do this Twi." Twilight nodded back and began to trot forward, signaling the group to begin as well. As the girls lead on, they knew that this was the last confrontation with Nova. The last fight. The last hope...and very last chance. ----- Later that evening, Spike and the other girls were locked in the lower levels of the cavern. This time they had their own individual cells. Pinkie and Fluttershy were sleeping while Rarity and Spike remained awake, sitting in the corners of their cells, staring at the water drip from the stalactites on cave ceiling. Each cell was the same, nothing in it. Although there was one light in the middle of the room that allowed just enough light to see each other. Not much light came from the window in the door. The dungeon room was dank, humid, water everywhere, one light, with rusty bars for each cell and one metal door with a small window as the only possible means of entrance or exit. Rarity was beginning to feel awful and responsible for everything that had happened. She figured her short relationship with Bradshaw Buckingham caused her to be oblivious to his suspicious ways. She began to slowly sob. Spike heard it but didn't react over the slightly louder sound of the dropping water. Then the sobs grew a little louder and Spike became curious. He got up and walked over to the other side of his cell where he could speak to Rarity through the bars, "You alright Rarity?" She glanced up with sad eyes, "Alright? Alright? Do I sound alright?" Spike laughed nervously, "I guess not." Rarity continued to cry, "This is all my fault Spike. I've caused all this to happen..." "Don't ever say that!" Spike told her assertively. "You've done nothing to cause this. I hate to say it but this was probably going to happen anyway." The sobbing pony shook her head, "Oh You don't understand Spike. If I hadn't invited him into my home, we wouldn't be here..." Spike was confused, "Who?" "Bradshaw Buckingham...Oh I'll never love another stallion as long as I live..." Rarity assured. He tried to comfort her, "Don't lose faith Rarity...I'm sure you'll find someone one of these days. It's just a matter of time." She snuffed, "I've been so blind. Not being able to see the truth beyond his charm, into his dark secrets. I've been such a fool..." Spike knocked on the bars to get more of her attention, "Hey now you listen. I know that myself and five other ponies can vouch that you were only being your generous self. None of us knew who he really turned out to be...Please don't beat yourself up. I can't stand to see you this way." Rarity spoke out, still crying, "Face it Spike. I'm a failure!" "NOW STOP THINKING LIKE THAT!" he exclaimed angrily. "It's not your fault and your going to find that special somebody. Maybe not now, maybe not this year, but surely you will...Maybe that someone is closer then you think..." Rarity shook her head slowly, "No. I'm sorry Spike...I'll never love another pony as long as I live..." Spike took a deep breath, and looked at her warmly, "Well, would you love a dragon?" She slowed down her emotions and looked up from her dismay, "...What?" The small dragon smiled at her, "You heard me. Would you love a dragon? A dragon's not a pony. I don't know how to exactly say this Rarity, but I've had a crush on you for a long time...I don't know why I could never bring myself to tell you this. I guess I'm just the nervous type when it comes to romance. But now with the threat of Nova standing in our faces, I figure it's time...We've been through a lot together, and I have enjoyed every second of it. For all the times we've shared, thank you for giving me the pleasure. I just want to tell you...I like you Rarity, I always will. Simply put, your my girl...This may be a long shot, but I hope you feel the same way about me." Spike's sentimental speech began to fill Rarity with slight comfort and she broke through her tears with a subtle smile, "Oh Spike...Do you really mean all that?" He looked down at the ground then back up again, "Yeah I do...If we don't make it out of this cave alive, I love you." Rarity slowly got up and wiped away her tears. She felt the weight finally lifted off her shoulders as she trotted towards him. Though Rarity did feel hesitation when she stopped next to him, "But...What if I lose you?" Spike laughed, "Ah Are you kidding? Your never gonna get rid of me!" He clutched on to her front hooves through the cell and held them up between each other, "My heart, is for your eyes only." She smiled, and he smiled back. They stared into each other's eyes and Rarity could tell, Spike would never betray her. Spike too, felt that same way. It warmed his heart and for the first time for a long while, Rarity felt safe...and in love. They began to lean their heads in towards each other slowly. Each inch closer they felt their hearts beat faster and faster. Before their lips would touch, Spike sang a verse from a song to Rarity softly, "...Were an all time high, let's take on this world and wait. So hold on tight...Let the flight...Begin..." They moved their heads in closer, then kissed. A tear streamed down Rarity's cheek. Though this time the tear was not out of sorrow, but out of happiness. That same provoked tear also streamed from the dragon's eye. Both tears seem to drift down each other's faces, and collide in the middle, as if it were an unbreakable bond between star-crossed lovers. Suddenly they heard slow applauding from the door. They pulled away from each other though still holding each others claws and hooves. They peered across the room and seen Nova in the door way, clopping slowly. He chuckled, "Well...I have seen a lot in my life but that scene tops any movie." Spike and Rarity only glared at the grey pony as he trotted near the jail cells. Sparks looked at Rarity and grinned, "I would've never guessed I'd see you of all ponies, kissing a dragon. I mean, even Mr. Buckingham only kissed your hooves. But this was definitely worth seeing." Rarity snapped at him, "What do you want? Can't you see we were sharing a very important moment?" He laughed again, "Oh I could see that. But like most movies, the destined lovers will be torn apart by an unfortunate event..." Spike and Rarity grasped each other through the cell. Spike called him out, "What do you mean Nova?" He backed away from the cells and cleared his voice, "Come on in my dear..." Then Trixie trotted in accompanied by another Unicorn carrying a saddlebag and two large dogs. A white dog, and a brown dog. She flicked her mane then talked and gestured her hooves like she was about to perform a show, "It's time for the Great and Powerful Trixie to show off her new aMAAAZing talents! But first...I'll need my assistant to give me my boost of magical confidence..." The other Unicorn used his magic to remove two syringes from his bag, filled with the manaressence that was silverblood. He levitated both needles over his and Trixie's forehead, injecting the substance at the base of their horns. Trixie felt the energy flow through her entire body and felt invigorated. Nova smirked, "I do believe it is finally time to get this show on the road. (He looks at the dogs) Open the cells, you brought the chains right?" The brown dog removed a length of chain from his side and took out a few locks from his pockets. They began with Fluttershy's cell and proceeded down the cells. Going to Pinkie Pie, Rarity, then Spike. Fluttershy awoke, startled and scared, "W-w-what's going on? What's happening? Pinkie Pie? Rarity? Spike?!" "OHH SHUT HER UP WILL YOU?" Sparks hollered at one of the dogs. The white canine took her by the shoulders and smacked her across the face. Fluttershy fell to the ground whimpering pitifully. Spike let go of Rarity immediately and lunged against the front bars of the cell, "YOU TAKE YOUR PAWS OFF OF HER! LEAVE HER ALONE!" The dogs ignored him and locked Fluttershy in the chains with a metal apparatus around her neck then dragged her out of the cell with her stumbling along crying. They opened the door to Pinkie Pie's cell. Although Pinkie did not resist or react at all. She simply woke up and gave into their orders but she tried to comfort Fluttershy as she was also locked with a brace around her neck, connected to the rope of chain. Finally, the mutts approached Rarity's cell and she backed against the wall frightened, "Just where are you taking us?" Nova laughed, "I do believe that we have some un-finished business to deal with in my office..." The canines opened her cage and walked towards her. Spike begged, "Please Nova! Leave Rarity alone. Take me! Not her!" Sparks shook his head, dying of laughter, "Absolutely not..." Rarity thrashed her hooves around, "No! Stay away from me, you filthy creatures!" "Do what you have to do to detain her." Nova stated clearly. Spike tried to reach through the bars to Rarity and the dogs grabbed a hold of her, "Let her go! I'm the one you want. Get your stinkin paws OFF OF HER!" The tears of fear burst from Rarity again as she was restrained against her will and locked in the chains. Spike, out of passionate fury, pressed himself against the bars, reaching out to Nova, "If I get my claws on you. You'll be sorry!" Sparks sauntered his way towards Spike, stopping far enough away from his claws. He narrowed his eyes and gave a cocky grin, "What do you plan to do locked behind that cell? Your pathetic...Bring them out boys!" The dogs dragged the girls out by the links, Trixie and the assisting Unicorn took control and held the chains with their magic. Then Bradshaw Buckingham trotted in from upstairs, "Uh You called fer me Mr. Sparks?" Nova turned his head and trotted up to the brown steed eagerly, "Ah Yes Mr. Buckingham, excellent timing." He looked at Trixie and the Unicorn and pointed to the door, "Bring them upstairs to my office. Maybe we'll actually get this done without anymore interruptions." As the Unicorn and Trixie strolled along with Rarity and the girls, the Great and Powerful one kissed Sparks on the cheek. Nova told her, "I'll be up in a moment. Keep them on ice for me." Trixie arrogantly smirked, "Oh Don't worry. The Great and Powerful Trixie knows how to keep her audience at full attention." They continued up the stairs and Nova shut the door behind them, leaving himself, two massive dogs, Bradshaw, and Spike in the room. Spike backed away nervously as the four others stared at him. Nova Sparks made his way over to Buckingham and padded him on the back and continued to look at Spike with his devious grin, "Unfortunately I have a very critical schedule so I'll have to leave you in the company of Mr. Buckingham and his associates." Spike looked at him skeptically, "What do you mean by that?" The grey stallion chuckled, "Gentlecolts, get him out of that cell." The burly dogs unlocked Spike's door and chased to cease him. But Spike had other plans as he evaded them and slashed their knees with his claws. The dogs yipped and fell down. He was infuriated and the pupils in his eyes shifted like the lizard he was, then he charged swiftly towards Nova. He leaped in the air but Bradshaw intervened and shoved his boss of out harms way and took the attack from Spike. They wrestled around on the ground as Spike was determined to scratch the stallion's eyes out. Sparks took action and immobilized the dragon with his magic then threw him against the hard, rough wall of the cavern. Spike fell to the ground in pain, giving the dogs the opportunity to hold Spike by the arms. Buckingham got up and took a baton that was strapped to his side, ready to pound into the dragon, but then Nova halted him, "No wait! Allow me..." Bradshaw smiled and gave Sparks the nightstick and took it with his magic and held one end of it pressed upward against Spikes chin, holding his head up, "Like I said...You'll get yours..." Nova stood back and winded the bat up. The dogs kept him still although he tried to struggle. But never tried hard enough as Sparks wailed the club into Spikes stomach, knocking the wind out of him and almost blacking out in agony. Nova dropped the club and whispered into Spikes ear, "I told you...Bloody lizard." He trotted to the exit and turned around briefly to Buckingham, "You keep him entertained for about twenty minutes or so. Then lock him back up and come upstairs." The southern steed smiled cleverly and nodded, "Oh We'll keep Mr. Spike well entertained sir...Don't you worry." "Excellent...Oh One more thing. Before you came down, Spike and Miss Rarity exchanged feelings for one another. I just thought I'd let you know." Nova said as he left the room feeling empowered. Bradshaw turned around to the weak dragon curiously, "Really? You and Ms. Rarity? I knew you were a dragon but I never knew ya'll were a snake." Spike urged to get words out of his mouth and hoarsely coughed, "What do you mean by that?" Bradshaw Buckingham chuckled, "Well I was plannin on marryin Ms. Rarity after Trixie went ahead and brainwashed her. After that there's no way she'd reject me." He felt the rage flow through him once again and he thrashed around, trying to escape, "No! I won't let you hurt her!" Spike was silenced again with another blow from the nightstick, this time from Bradshaw Buckingham himself, "Now shut yer mouth! This is gonna be the longest twenty minutes of yer life..." Bradshaw and the dogs continued to pound on him for the next while. Assuring that he'd be decimated like Nova had requested, Buckingham took great pleasure in the brutal beating of the small dragon. Spike could do nothing as he was beaten to a pulp and within an inch of his life. Tossed around by the dogs and bashed in by Buckinghams baton. Although the brutal beating from his weapon was nothing compared to his severed heart for Rarity. Bradshaw mocked him over Rarity. Taunting him about how he was much more of a man then Spike was. As much as Spike wanted prove him wrong, he could not muster the strength to retaliate after such a savage attack. Afterwards, the dogs tossed Spike back in the cage and they, including Bradshaw exited the room, leaving Spike with throbbing pains all over his body, but mostly his heart as he lied in the bitter darkness of the room, and prayed for Twilight to arrive. ----- Meanwhile, it was near midnight and Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and the rest of the team were on the outskirts of Ponyville. They could all see the lights of the town, but heard nothing. It was the cause of the enforced curfew. Everypony was tired from the long trot from Canterlot and Twilight decided to halt them for a short break. Each pony fell to the ground exhausted, especially Big Macintosh who offered to carry a majority of the supplies. Applejack offered to take some of the load, "Cmon big brother, you've been pushin yerself the whole way through. Let me help you out." Big Mac pushed her away, still panting, "Nnope! I can handle this AJ, trust me" Twilight gazed towards the glimmering town and pondered. Rainbow looked over curiously, "What are you thinking about Twilight? How far are we from Ponyville?" Twilight sighed and looked back to answer, "We may have to take a detour Rainbow." Dash was puzzled with the term, "Detour? What's that mean?" "It means we have to find another way. We can't go through Ponyville, too many guards." Twilight explained. Overhearing the statement, Applejack rushed over worried, "Whatta ya'll we can't go through Ponyville? I want to check on Sweet Apple Acres!" Twilight put her hoof over her friends shoulder to calm her down, "It's alright, we'll still be able to get there, were just going to have to go around the town. We can't risk with all of us getting caught." She turned around to alert the team, "Alright Everypony! It looks like were not going to be able to go through town so we'll just have to go around. Let's move out!" The group of ponies slowly stood up and started following Twilight, AJ, and Dash who were leading them into the edge along the border between the Everfree Forest and Equestria, to avoid trouble from Nova's soldiers. Then for some reason, Twilight could feel something in her heart, something that didn't feel right, almost sickening. She gazed up at the gleaming moon in the sky and noticed that is was hanging above the horizon of the Canyon with four stars twinkling around it. She felt the moon was trying to tell her something as the four stars would fade from time to time, which was bizarre. Twilight's worry suddenly grew and she trotted faster, encouraging the team to move quicker, she sensed that her trapped friends were in grave danger. [...To be continued]