A very special creature.
Spike felt time had come to a halt. He watched his life replay before his eyes in slow motion. Hatching to the care of one Twilight Sparkle in the unicorn's entrance exam room. Growing up under her care as she studied and matured from a curious filly into an intelligent and well gifted mare. Leaving Canterlot to stay in Ponyville while the mare was to learn from her mentor to make friends and learn about friendship. The meetings with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie... twice. The adventure into Everfree Forest to find the Elements of Harmony to stop Nightmare Moon's plans for Eternal Night. Many adventures, many lessons learned, the magic of friendship growing stronger with each day.
"Strange isn't it? When one stands at Death's door, they see their life being relived from a different point."
The dragon struggled to move, yet found his body would not respond. Even trying to turn his head wielded no results. He felt nothing, could not stand on anything. It was if he was suspended in mid air as though Twilight was in the middle of magically carrying him to rest on her back. Yet there was no tingling sensation of a magical aura around him, no sight of his mentor/sister bringing him closer. Just his life before his eyes and the voice who spoke just now.
"Am... am I dead? Is this where dragons go when we die?"
"Maybe. A dragon's perception on death and the afterlife has varied greatly throughout the generations. Each draws in his or her views on what awaits them upon the moment of their end. Nay Spike, you stand on an event that will forever change the face of Equestria. You can thank Spyro, Cynder and the undead known as Malefor for it."
The dragon tried to move again with no results. The voice felt everywhere and yet no where at once.
"What do you mean? Spyro never meant to come to Equestria. He was pulled in. Malefor was here before him, though I don't know how he got here. And Cynder... Princess Celestia and Luna brought her over to help find Spyro when he was taken."
"As noble as his intentions have been, Spyro and Malefor has started a reaction. The elemental magic of Avalar clashes with the magic of the whole of Equestria. The balance has tipped unfavorably which unless can be stabilized will tear your world apart. Much like what nearly befell Avalar." The voice replied.
"Who are you? How do you know what is going on?"
"I am the Chronicler. Strange as it may be, you have been pushed outside the boundries of Equestria in part to the moment in time where everyone is rescuing you. The surges have whirl pooled out of control and you, my dear boy are having what one would sort of call an out of body experience."
A snap of fingers and the world went dark. Spike floundered as he felt himself fall only to land on nothing. Yet his scaled feet informed him it was solid enough to stand on. As he looked around in the inky blackness, a gray being stood across from him. The dragon from the look of his appearance was tall, his horns tarnished and cracked. Satchels hung from his sides, where various scrolls peeked out from under the covers. A cloak bore on his back, hiding his great wings which looked tattered and useless, yet the dragon did not seem bothered by it at all.
"Your the Chronicler? The one who helped me get to my friends? I don't get it. You said due to us being on different worlds, that it was difficult to transport me from one spot to another. How am I and you here? Where is here?"
The Chronicler looked around then gazed back at the small dragon. He could only offer a small shrug, ignoring the groan rising from Spike's throat,"Even I am unsure of where we are. I was watching from the safety of my keep the outcome of the conflict between your rulers and Malefor. When the magical surge hit, everything around me went dark. Stumbling about in this blind void I thought the worst had happened, until I found you. It's clear to me now that my duty extends beyond the borders of Avalar. Young Spike, I have a task to give to you to complete."
Spike pointed to himself,"What is this task you have for me?"
"You must awaken your own dormant abilities and set right what has been wronged on your world. Malefor presence must end."
Spike was speechless. Him? Possessing powers? It was a joke right? Clearly the Chronicler was playing a game with him. The baby dragon waited for the moment when the grey dragon would burst out laughing and tell him it was all a joke that it was just folly. Yet the longer the two stood, the expression on the Chronciler's face never changed. Spike started to feel dizzy. He would have fallen had he not plopped down on his rump and sat there, baffled by what was just said.
"I... I can't. You must be joking. I'm not the right dragon for this. There's got to be other, better dragons out there that could take on the task. Me? I'm just Spike. Spike the Dragon, number one assistant to Twilight Sparkle. I'm not magical like unicorns or can fly about like pegasus. Heck I'm not strong enough like earth ponies to knock down apples from their branches."
Spike leaned back as the Chronicler lowered his head, till their snouts barely touched,"You are a purple dragon. Like Spyro, you are a very special creature. Your birth was different from the others. Unlike the lava pools where dragons are normally hatched, your mentor Twilight Sparkle's own magic released you. How many other dragons were born the same way?"
He did have a point. The unicorn entry exams for the school was never truly intended to hatch dragons eggs. It was merely a test to see how strong a unicorn's magic was, sort of like a seating arrangement. Twilight had been the first and so far, the only unicorn to hatch a dragon with magic. Spike did feel different. He never let it go to his mind that he was special. Maybe a little, due in part that he lived with ponies while working and studying with Twilight. Sure he can breath green fire and send letters, but it never really occurred to the dragon that he was capable of so much more.
Until now.
"What if I can't? What if I fail?"
"Your friends are there with you, young Spike. When the worst should be fall you, they will be there to guide you on the right path. Do not doubt yourself. Spyro too was in the same spot you are before he realized his potential."
The baby dragon looked up,"You think I could do it? Be just like Spyro?"
"Training, guidance with the right mentors and teachers perhaps. Only time will tell."
Spike closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. This was a huge job for him, bigger then any errand Twilight Sparkle or any pony else had sent him on. This was bigger then the biggest gem he found with Rarity one day. Deep down he knew it would be tough. Taking that path will not be easy. Like Twilight and the other Bearers to the Elements of Harmony, Spike will always be looked upon differently. He just hoped that the other ponies would not fear him because of this change.
"I'll do it. I won't let you, Twilight and her friends, Princess Celestia and Luna OR Equestria down."
The Chronciler smiled. Spike had a long journey ahead of him after this. But with help, the dragon would grow into something grand. Grand and amazing, something Equestria had not seen in centuries. As Spike stood up, the Chronciler slipped behind him. Spike felt two massive fore paws resting on each side of his face, the sight of those large talons looked to engulf his small body completely.
"Close your eyes and focus on your fire. Let the wild, aggressive nature of your love for your friends fuel it. Stoke it with the need to protect and defend all you hold dear to your heart. When the bell tolls, set yourself free."
Spike closed his eyes. In the darkness he sought where his fire sat within his chest. Heeding the Chroniclers words, he started to fill the brazier where the green fire sat with his love. He stoked the growing flame with the urge to protect and defend. Greed of any form would not be allowed for this would snuff out the flame and he would lose that warmth within growing.
Growing.
Rising.
Surging.
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When the bell tolls, free yourself.
A lone bell far off in the distance, chimed the hour. Every pony that was either getting off work or starting the late shift paused to listen to the chimes. The last one caught every pony off guard. The last chime rang loud and echoed off the walls and mountain side, the sound almost deafening. As every pony covered their ears while wincing, the unicorns felt a great surge of magic rising to the west where Draconis lay. Something was gathering, growing, rising. It had reached its peak. With the bell tolling the last hour, that peak was now unleashed.
Spyro was the first to notice the change. His time manipulation started to warp and twist as a different magic came into play. The heat was almost unbearable. Rather then try and grab Spike, he aimed for the next closest thing: Princess Celestia. Cynder too, felt the licking of the flames against her scales even before it was unleashed. Her flight pattern altered to intercept Princess Luna before she was be burned to ash. Both dragons snatched the alicorns and flew straight up. Both princesses were taken by surprise as their attempt to port in to save Spike before he was devoured was thwarted by Spyro and Cynder. Celestia did however, manage to port Twilight to land upon her back the moment they shot upwards. The heat that erupted below was as hot as the very celestial body she rose and lowered each day. As for the other pony, royal guards and one dragon mage, they sought immediate cover.
Malefor was the last to feel it Course it was hard to not miss that great surge he felt building in that tiny morsel of a baby dragon he sought to snap up on his jaws. The last thing the lich saw before his world erupted was those green eyes the dragon had when he stared back up. Gone was the terror and fear he had felt, that froze him into place ripe for the eating. Instead new emotions took hold: Anger along with a burning desire to defend and protect what he held dear to him.
Spike braced his feet upon the ground and glared up at the lich, even when his jaws started to close around him. The bell in the distance rang the hour to which he had been building his special come back for this monster who ran rampant all over Draconis and had destroyed much of the landscape and Castle Canterlot.
Retribution.
His small muzzle opened wide, revealing two small sets of sharp dragon teeth and a long forked tongue. What followed next, some ponies claimed, were the very fires of Tartarus itself coming to claim an escaped soul.
"Rrrrrraaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwr!"
The cry was deafening. The great river of green fire that spewed from the baby dragon was even worse. Malefor felt his body sear and burn as he was enveloped by these mighty flames. It was so powerful and overwhelming, the lich had no time to act or defend himself. The pain was unbearable. Whatever screech of agony that rose from his rotting throat was burned away in part due to the intensity. Much of his upper body, wings and forelegs were gone in the blast. In a span of perhaps a mere few seconds, Spike had very nearly incinerated the lich dragon Malefor right where he stood. The brightness of his flames were so great, Spike worried he might have gone blind. He shut his eyes and continued to exhale, intent on completing the task given and tipping the scales in favor to Equestria once again.
Silence fell across the land of Draconis. The smell of burned flesh and bone wafted in the dry parched air. The ground where the lich stood was charred to the point where some of the rocky landscape had melted under the high temperature. Spike held his breath, his eyes shut tight. Carefully he opened one then the other. His vision was blurry, but it cleared with a few blinks. Before him stood the remains of Malefor, which was not much. A seared tail, charred bones blackened and cracked, brittle to the touch. Lastly the upper half skull of the monster himself, shocked and stunned by this defeat while he smouldered from the heat.
Something landed behind Spike. He turned to find Discord standing there, donning a chef's hat and apron. The draconequus kissed his own fingers and said,
"Now thatsa one SPICY meatsaballa!"
Discord was joined by Princess Celestia, carrying Spyro and Twilight while Lune with Cynder on her back landed beside the two. Shouts and cheers erupted to their left as the royal guards along with Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy rushed to join the group gathering. They had done it. Spike had done it. They saved not only Draconis, but Equestria as well.
Malefor was had been defeated.
Spike was tackled by the group, receiving a hoof noogie from Rainbow Dash while Applejack carried him on her back as she trotted in place.
"That... was.. AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash shouted, amazed by what she saw.
"Ya got that right. Hoooooweeeeeeee!! That was some fire ya bellowed thar, Spike." Applejack added.
"Spike, that was truly astounding! I never knew you were capable of breathing a fire breath that huge." Rarity joined in.
"That was super, amazing, stupendously crazy, wildly whooshing! Meanie Malefor was all 'Rarr Ima eat Spike up like a cupcake crumb!' And Spike was like,'No way! I'm no pony's snack time meal.' And then the RAR! And the whoosh! and the help me help me I'm melting!" Pinkie Pie rambled on.
Fluttershy said nothing, but the buttercream pegasus knew deep down Spike had saved the day. The royal guards were speechless at what the baby dragon did. Kel was just as stumped as they were. Never a dragon that small had been able to produce a fire breath that massive in all of their history. The mage knew that when things were back to normal, the kingdom would be up in wings on what to do.
There was one pony Spike had his eyes on. He shuffled on his feet, while squeezing his tail as she approached him. Tears had pooled in her eyes on the verge of crying almost. Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Spike held up a hand causing her to pause,"I know what your going to say. I'm sorry I disobeyed, Twilight. But I felt so helpless not being able to help you or Spyro or any pony else. I just wanted to something, anything, that's all."
Two forelegs wrapped around him before Spike felt himself being pressed against her chest, Twilight's nose nuzzling his head spine,"Oh hush, you." She whispered glad to have him in her embrace once more.
While the group shared the success, Spyro and Cynder stood before the charred skull of the fallen lich. The once intense red orbs were now dull and faded. They both could feel his power draining knowing in a few minutes he would cease to exist for a third time. There was no words exchanged for Malefor lacked vocal chords to speak with. Both dragons felt Discord's presence and turned to gaze up. The draconequues was grinning ear to ear.
"How the mighty have fallen. Truly I had bets placed on moi' to end your reign after all you put me through. But to be bested by a teeny tiny dragon baby. What a twist!"
The charred tail twitched, but no other movement came from his remains. Spyro was stumped. He had seen Spike breathe fire on occasion. Yet there was no mention of him producing a fire of that magnitude. Not in all his time here on Equestria. Cynder and Spyro rose to leave when a cold wind brushed against the two. The trio turned to see the lich use what little he had left to make what speech he could out of the wind.
"Can...not end... like this... H...ad you... in... my grasp. She... will pay.... dearly for... thisssss." The lich whistled.
"Who? What grudge have you now, broken thing?" Kel, whom stayed back now joined the group and wanted answers. A hollow laugh kicked the dust beneath the skull before Malefor replied.
"Sapphire."
Spyro perked,"I remember. Sapphire was working with Malefor. She was pretty much my watcher and was to notify him once I awoke. I vaguely recall her in chains, just before our fight in the castle."
Kel couldn't believe his ears. Nor did he want to. Yet her disappearance and the inability to locate her chariot once Malefor left Canterlot. It was too much a lead to not follow through. The mage made a quick mental note that once the Queen was freed, a thorough investigation of Sapphire would commence and the answers the dragons sought would finally be given. A crack brought his focus to the skull. Dragons, dragon mage and draconequus watched as the remains of Malefor crumbled to dust. They were not alone. The Princess sisters, along with the Bearers were also there, to see the end of the dragon who had caused so much trouble in both Equestria and Draconis. As his spirit faded, a once heavy presence on the lands started to lift. Eyes gazed far and wide across the landscape to see the dark storm clouds dissipate. The sun's rays began to break through, its light bathing the bleak lands.
Draconis will heal in time. The dragons would regain their home as they have done before. But for now the the only immediate thought was Spike himself. Spyro wanted to ask him about his breath, but found it would have to wait. The baby dragon was fast asleep on Twilight's back, exhausted by what he had done. So much energy unleashed from such a small dragon.
"C'mon," Twilight murmured,"Lets get Spike home and inform the rest of the world. Malefor is no more."
Every pony and dragon nodded. Together, Twilight along with Princess Celestia and Luna with their group turned towards the castle and began their trek. The Queen needed to be freed. Then the rebuilding could begin.