//------------------------------// // Green Lantern's Light // Story: The Emerald Dragon // by Onomonopia //------------------------------// "That was certainly one of the weirdest days that we've had here," Spike muttered to himself as he lifted a support beam with his ring and put it in place, the construction pony waving to him as he began to weld it in place which gave Spike the perfect moment to leave. A week had passed since the Black Lantern rampage and once again Ponyville was cleaning up the mess after another attack. But this time there were multiple Lanterns flying through the sky to help clean up the city, most of them green but a blue and indigo did help from time to time. Fortunately, most of the ponies only vaguely remembered what happened, making Luna happy since the psychological recover was under her authority. Then there was the matter of all the ponies that had come back from the dead, those killed in the Blackest Night and those that had died long ago. Luna and Celestia had spent a few days catching up with their parents again, who were overseeing reconstruction in other cities and towns. Applejack had a tearful family reunion with her parents while Gilda had left the town as soon as she had been brought up to speed. And finally Twilight had wished to speak with Star-Swirl the Bearded, but the mystical unicorn had vanished just after the Night had ended. A lot of ponies were confused, especially those that had come back from being dead a long time, but Spike put that under things he could deal with later. "I'm just glad that everything's back to normal," Spike said to Twilight as he landed next to her at the library. "Me too. I'm getting really tired of all these freaks from space trying to destroy my home," Twilight said with an angry sigh before she spotted Ganthet floating by and waved him over. "Thanks for agreeing to stay behind and help us, especially considering how busy you can be. Still not going to teach me how you and the other Guardians made such advance pieces of technology?" "Maybe when you've lived a much longer time, then I might divulge some of my secrets," Ganthet teased as he looked over the town with a sad smile. "It pains me to see so much destruction, but it brings me slight comfort to know that the Black Lanterns are gone...for now anyway. You did well Lantern Spike, not just with the Black Lantern's, but also for having to learn so much about the corps in such a short time." "Hey, I'm a fast learner," Spike said with a smile. "Just ask Twilight. After the first time she made me rearrange the books I found any way to escape it. I'm a natural." "I don't know why you keep saying that rearranging the books is a bad thing," Twilight said with an exasperated sigh, Spike beginning to go into detail about how a little dragon like him should not be expected to work so much while Twilight countered with that he had saved the world, so books should be nothing to him. And all the while Ganthet watched with a smile, glad to see that this world was at peace. Spike and Twilight stopped arguing when they saw the other Green Lanterns land beside them, who walked over to Ganthet while greeting Spike. "The buildings are done for the most part and the princesses have managed to convince the crowds that the threat is gone, so there's not really anything else for us to do here," Hal said as he spoke into his ring, the Interceptor mark five flying over to them and landing in front of Twilight's library. "But we've gotten a call from the other Guardians and they said that Sinestro's up to something near where Mogo is stationed, so we should probably be heading out." "Yes Lantern Jordan, I agree," Ganthet said as he nodded to Spike, but before he could leave Sweetie Belle flew over and landed besides the group. "Hey everypony, just called to say that all of the buildings in the northern section of town have been repaired for the most part and..." Sweetie stopped talking when she saw Ganthet and the others standing next to the Interceptor, causing her to sigh. "Aw, you have to leave already? But I wanted to learn so much more about the Blue Lantern Corps! Like who else is on the team or what our central battery looks like." "And you will in time little one, but for now your home needs you," Ganthet said as he looked down at her with a smile. "But I am simply glad to see that even with war and death raging throughout the galaxy, there is still hope in the most unlikely of places. Be strong, young Belle and Lantern Spike, maybe one day we'll meet on Oa or the Blue Lantern world. Until then, take care." Ganthet and the others went to leave, but Spike tapped John on the shoulder to stop him. "Ganthet said that there was war raging across the galaxy and I was wondering if you guys wanted me to help out?" Spike asked John, who looked at the little dragon for a moment before a smile crossed his face. "Not today Spike, but maybe one day we'll fight alongside each other once again," John said with a smile, noting how upset Spike looked by the rejection. "Look, once you've gone to Oa and trained with Kilowog or one of the other Lantern's, then you'll be ready for space combat. I'm not taking anything away from what you did here, but out there are things that you couldn't even fathom. You need to be ready for anything." Spike placed his hand under his chin as he thought about it for a moment before he looked up at John with a smile. "Alright, but when I go to Oa, I want you to train me," Spike said with a grin. "Because you're still the only Lantern I've fought that I didn't beat. I want a rematch." "Alright kid, I'll give you your rematch," John said with a good natured smile as he turned to head back to the Interceptor. "But don't expect me to go easy on you just because you’re new at this. That's not how the Lantern's train." "And I wouldn't want you to hold back, it's no fun that way," Spike retorted with a smile as John floated into the ship, him and the others waving goodbye to the Lantern's as the ship rose into the air and headed out to space, vanishing from their sight in a matter of seconds. "I'm kinda sad they're gone," Sweetie said with a sad sigh as she looked at the spot where the ship had vanished. "I was hoping to learn more about what it was like flying through the stars or how big all of space was." Spike smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her, smiling up at where the others had gone. "Don't worry about it, the day will come when we go out there and help fight the forces of evil," he said with a small smile. "We just need to hope and have the will to act when the time comes." IOI The following days were also filled with many interesting events and moments that made Spike regretting that he had said aloud that everything was back to normal. A number of unplanned thunderclouds rolled in and began to destroy everything with lightning, Spike finding out that it was caused by a returning Discord who had been away on trip for a month. That ended well. Another event was that Sweetie Belle and Spike were needed to help get Luna's red ring off of her. "I'm just tired of being this angry all the time," she muttered as Spike took the red ring off of her horn in the Canterlot castle, Sweetie's ring keeping the red one from killing Luna as they removed it. "And the last time I got this angry I tried to destroy my sister and cast all of Equestria into a never ending night. I think it's for the best that I no longer wear this." "Well, in case we ever need it again, I'm keeping it in our vault," Celestia said as she placed the red ring within the box that she had kept the red and orange ring before, giving it to one of her guards to move to the vault. "But I am glad to see that my little sister is no longer forced to wear one of those rings. As strong as they are, I don't think that I would like one. But I am glad to know that we can call upon their power whenever we need to," Celestia said as she looked to Sweetie and Spike. Then she looked up to see Chrysalis, still in her violet outfit, float into the throne room with her daughter and son behind her. The guards went to engage her, but Celestia stopped them with a shake of her head. "Hello Chrysalis, it has certainly been a while," Celestia said to her as the queen walked right up to the group, looking down at Spike and Sweetie with cold, but not unkind, eyes. "Can I help you or are you trying to invade my empire again? Because if it's the latter, can this please wait till next week once we've had some time to relax. It's getting a little crazy." "No, I am not here to invade, just to tell you of my plans now that I wield one of these rings," Chrysalis said as she looked behind her to her two children. "I have decided that I will no longer need to invade yours or any other country to gather the love I need. My scientist, after much experimentation, have found a way to convert the love of my ring into a food for my people. And with a reliable food source, I will no longer need to come here and see your ugly mug whenever I get hungry." "I am glad that your people will no longer starve and I am even happier that you no longer need to see us as enemies," Celestia said as she extended a hoof to Chrysalis, but the changeling queen looked right by it and down to Spike, who looked up towards her with a curious face. "And as for you Emerald Dragon...I suppose I owe you my thanks," Chrysalis said, sounding like it physically hurt her to say those words. "For if had not been for you, I would have lost more than my son that day I allowed the Black Lanterns to corrupt me and feed on my weakness, but you have my word as a ruler that it will never happen again. And I also promise that if you ever need my help, I will fight alongside you." "Thanks Chrysalis, that means a lot," Spike said with a smile. Chrysalis bowed to him before she turned to leave, her son doing the same thing as he left with his mother. But Insectum ran over to Spike and gave him a quick peck on the check before running over to her mother, winking at Spike as he placed a hand on his check in confusion while Sweetie's jaw hit the floor. "And that is another problem dealt with and I am glad that it did not come down to a fight like last time," Celestia said with a smile before she looked towards one of the pillars with narrowed eyes. "As for you Sombra, you can come out now." The shadow by the pillar moved and Sombra appeared out of the darkness, looking at the princesses with worried eyes. "Now now Celestia, no need to be so hostile, I did help save all of Equestria after all," he said with a smile, but the faces of the princess or the Lantern's showed no such mirth. "Besides, with all the times I've been blasted into oblivion, do you really need to attack me again?" "One more time couldn't hurt," Luna growled, but Celestia held out a hoof to stop her. "What do you want Sombra?" "Oh nothing much, maybe a reward for helping you?" he asked with a smile. Celestia waved over the two Lantern's and they whispered about what they wanted to do with him in secret, the unicorn beginning to sweat as he waited their answer. "Alright Sombra, we've all thought about it and..." Spike said for the princesses, Sombra's eyes widening as he waited nervously. "We've decided to give you a reward." Sombra let a huge grin cross his face as Spike said this, but it vanished when Spike gave him one of the evilest grins he had ever seen. "We're going to give you a ten second head start." Sombra looked from him to the princesses who had the same smile as Spike before he turned and flew out of the castle, all laughing at him as he flew off. "Well, should we go after him?" Sweetie asked when the ten seconds were up. "Let's," Spike said as he took to the skies, Sweetie following him as the followed the yellow trail. IOI Deep within the Everfree forest, an owl was helping a certain zebra pack up her belongings onto the back of a large cart, sadness in the owl’s eyes as he loaded the last of the weird items onto the cart. Zecora placed the cauldron on the back before she walked over to the front and harnessed herself to the cart, smiling at Owlicious. "Thank you for helping me load the cart, but I am afraid that now I must depart," Zecora said with a smile to Owlicious as she began to pull the cart away, but the owl landed on her back and folded up his wings. "No my friend, you cannot come with along. This is a road I have avoided for too long. Your place is here with your friends, but for me a new journey must begin." "Hoo," Owlicious said sadly as he floated off of her back and landed in front of her, taking the ring off of his leg with his beak and offering it to her with another hoot. "No Owlicious, the ring has chosen you to be its might, so with the power of compassion you must fight," she said with a sad smile as she gently patted his head. "I was a fool when I received the ring and even now I can still feel its sting. It is the reason I must return home. I have many sins that I need to atone. But maybe one day we will meet again, but I will say farewell until then." Zecora nodded to Owlicious before she began to pull the cart away down the road that lead to the zebra homeland. She gave him one last wave before she vanished out of sight into the forest. "Hoo," Owlicious said sadly as he took the ring back and flew off towards the library, knowing that Twilight probably needed help with something. He opened the door when he reached the library and was greeted with a smile by Twilight as she let him sit on her desk next to her as she looked over her list. "Hey Owlicious, not doing too much, just seeing which buildings in Ponyville need to be repaired," she said as she showed him a list and a map of Ponyville. "The Northern part of town is doing well and the southern part is fine, but it's around the center of town that suffered the most damage. Any ideas on what to do there?" "Hoo," Owlicious said, Twilight looking back down at the map before her head shot up and she looked at Owlicious with narrowed eyes. "Wait a moment, I thought those rings were able to translate any language," she said as she looked at the ring. "So why do you keep saying what you always say?" "Hoo Hoo," Owlicious said in a teasing tone before he flew over to his perch, letting out a small yawn as he looked out the window at the sun overhead before he got comfortable and closed his eyes, getting the rest he needed. Twilight narrowed her eyes again, but decided to let it go as she moved the plans to repair the city to the side and pulled out a plan for Spike's party for saving Equestria. "I know that he doesn't need it, but I want to show him how appreciated," Twilight said with a smile as she began to write invites for all the equestrian Lanterns (minus Sombra) who had helped to save Equestria from the Black Lanterns. "And he deserves a party, since he is the hero of Equestria after all." Twilight hummed to herself as she continued making preparations for the party, Owlicious sleeping soundly on his perch. IOI "Really Twilight? I didn't need this party," Spike said later that day once Twilight had taken the blindfold off of Spike's eyes and shown him the party that she and the others had planned for him. The party was inside of Applejack's barn, but only the ponies that knew his identity were told to come. The princesses and all of the mane six were there, as well as the CMC and Owlicious. "Besides, it wasn't just me that helped save the say, it was also the other Green Lanterns and Sweetie and-" "Come on Spike, you've been working like me for the past week and that can't be healthy," Twilight said as she pushed him forward into the party, Spike deciding to stop resisting halfway there and allowed her to push him into the barn. "And besides, the party is for them as well. Some of them just can't be here right now, so you'll have to celebrate twice as hard for them." "Twilight really, I don't need...is that a giant, emerald cake?" Spike as his eyes rested upon the massive, green cake that sat in the center of the room with a whole bunch of other snacks sitting beside it. "Yup. And it's all for you," Twilight whispered in his ear, placing a hoof up to her mouth to hide her smile as he ran past everything else and threw himself into the cake, eating it from the inside out. "I have to admit, that is an interesting way to eat a cake," Fluttershy said softly to Twilight as the mane six walked over to her. "I'm thinking along the lines of barbaric," Rarity said as she pulled out an umbrella to protect her from the spray of the cake. "But I suppose that if any pony deserves it, it's him." Twilight nodded at this as the CMC dove into the food as well, all of them starting a food fight as the princesses walked over to the group with smiles. "Glad to see them enjoying themselves, it has been a rough couple of weeks," Celestia said with a sigh of calm that she had been holding in for a long time. "Yes, that is why I hope Sombra stays away for a long time," Luna muttered to herself, the ponies gasping as she said this aloud and Celestia gave her a look. "My bad. But yes, he managed to escape once again. I swear he enjoys taunting us more than he does trying to destroy us." "He'll show up again," Twilight said with certainty as she looked at Spike with pride before she laughed aloud as he took a bowl of chips to the face. 'But just as I know that Sombra will be back, I know that you will be there to protect us. You are our hero after all, Mr. Emerald Dragon.' The party was interrupted when Spike's ring began to flash, causing the group to stop fighting and allow for Spike to answer his ring, Sweetie looking over his shoulder as a small blue Guardian appeared over the ring. 'Hello, this is Lantern Spike of frontier space I believe,' the Guardian asked. "Yes this is, may I ask who's calling?" Spike said. 'I am Appa Ali Apsa, one of the Guardians of Oa,' the blue man said. 'And I have contacted you to ask that you come to Oa at once. We have need of you. The Interceptor mark five is in the space above you. Hurry.' Spike looked from him to Twilight, giving her the nod that meant it was time for work. She nodded in reply and moved to the side to allow him to run out of the barn, the green suit forming around him as he kicked off the ground and flew up towards space, Sweetie following him as he headed off. "Don't worry Appa, the Emerald Dragon is on his way," Spike said to the ring before he shot off into the unknown, ready for whatever tried to fight his light.