//------------------------------// // Chapter 22: Betrayal // Story: Darkness of Ages - Book 1: Greyhield // by YoungQuillMaster //------------------------------// Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, the shuffling clicks as a soldier adjusted his stance in his heavy armor with the occasional cough or sigh being the only sign of anything truly alive inside the darkened halls as the lone figure took yet another turn in the endless maze of prison cells. The light sounds of something singing caught to creature’s ear, mostly because he recognized the voice. He almost went over towards where he heard it, but he decided that it would be better not to. The voice continued, fading as he continued walking, hitting the high notes with ease and easing over the lower ones. The voice was too far to make out words, but he knew the tune by heart, the words echoing in his mind as the voice faded into obscurity. The dragon walked up a flight of stairs, his visit canceled for the day, just as it had been for the last several days. He made his way to the gigantic double doors, the two heavily armored guards saluting as he approached. He nodded in return. “Spike, his lordship Greyhield has been expecting you.” One of them stated, stepping towards the set of smaller doors. Spike nodded with a sigh as the guard pushed one other the doors open, letting him in before closing it behind him. The massive, dark dragon and the end of the hall stirred from his throne, apparently having been resting before Spike had entered. “Welcome, Spike, I’m sure you’ve been able to settle into your new quarters well over these last few days.” Greyhield stated as he stepped off of his thrown and onto the gem tapestry that had been expanded into a more detailed painting across the throne room’s entire floor. “Yes, the guards have shown me every courtesy in helping me acclimatize to my new surroundings.” Spike replied in a normal conversational tone. Suddenly he felt his right knee being struck from behind, causing him to fall into the arms of something behind him as a dagger’s point hovered above his neck. “I could end you for your disrespect.” Glenn’s rough voice spat near his ear. Spike offered no resistance, fearing the slightest movement would get him killed. “Glenn, let him go.” Greyhield commanded in a calm tone, betraying no emotion that he might have felt at that moment. “He has not even made a motion of respect to you! He ought to die for his insolence.” Glenn retorted his blade shifting closer to Spike’s neck. “He is not a common reptilous, Glenn, he is a maturing dragon. As such he has certain honors bestowed upon him by me, including being on less formal terms than with any other soldier in my ranks.” Greyhield stated, taking a step closer, which gained him several meters in distance. Glenn finally released Spike, sending him sprawling onto the gem mosaic before quickly standing back up, turning to face the General of the stealth divisions, who stood still, his dagger still gripped firmly in his claws. “As you wish, My Liege,” Glenn replied before turning towards the exit, “But I suggest he show certain honors to you so another reptilous doesn’t end him.” The General cautioned as he placed his claws on the door. Spike turned back to Greyhield as Glenn pushed the door open and left the room, the guards quickly closing it behind them. “He does make a point,” Greyhield said in an even tone, “Certain reptilous might react has he did without as much hesitation.” Spike nodded slowly, feeling his neck fearfully. “To prevent further misunderstandings, I suggest when you enter into my presence with salute with an arm across the chest while bowing your head and refer to me as liege or lord when in the presence of others.” “Very well, My Lord, I will.” Spike replied, crossing his right arm across his chest while lowering his head as a practice run. Greyhield nodded in response. “So, have you taken time to see what has become of the ponies?” Greyhield asked as he turned towards his throne. “I have passed near their cell, but have yet to actually draw close enough to see them.” Spike replied, visibly stiffening at the mention of his old friends. “May I ask why not? Surely there are certain feelings that linger between you and them?” Greyhield continued, lying down on his throne with a dull thud. “Or is the thought of their eventual betrayal enough to kill all friendships that there might have been?” Spike swallowed, unsure what to say. “Eh, I… guess I still have certain feeling towards at least… one or two of them.” Spike admitted. “But, our friendship has taken a substantial backwards step in light of what was to come.” Greyhield nodded in understanding. “Such lifelong friendships die quite hard, even after having their ending so plainly revealed.” Greyhield said in a low, understanding tone. “Why don’t you go and talk to them. I’m sure they’d appreciate a familiar face to comfort them.” Spike cocked his head, not understanding why Greyhield would say such a thing. “Before their betrayal… were they close to you?” He asked. “Y-yes, we had a… a strong bond of friendship beforehand.” Spike replied simply. “But in the light of their betrayal I can’t see why I should extend any courtesy to them, no matter how minor.” “I believe that seeing them in their current state will reaffirm their true feelings towards you.” Greyhield replied. “Seeing you as the wiser, more able dragon you are and at the same glance seeing how they have fallen so quickly will doubtlessly uncover any feelings that may have lain dormant while you were their lesser.” Spike nodded slowly, still unsure about the whole situation. “You may leave, and take time to talk with the ponies that raised you to where you are now, even if they had no such intentions.” Spike turned and left the hall, pushing the door open, turning back only as the guards closed the door. As the door closed, he caught a glimpse of Gylom walking up to the throne from a direction that showed he hadn’t entered through the main doors, but Spike turn again, not caring too much since he was a general and probably knew other methods of entering the throne room. Spike entered the prison area, the silence that hung thick in the air completely absent of all liveliness. The singing had stopped, leaving only the occasional clinking of the reptilous adjusting their stances in their armor along with the coughs and sneezes of the ponies in the cells around him. As he walked past several cells, he recognized several professors from his days with Twilight in Canterlot, as well as some of Twilight’s classmates, not to mention some of the high level politicians that they had had run ins with on a few occasion. He shied away from the cells, walking along the middle of the pathway, so that he wouldn’t be near enough for the ponies he was knew to recognize him. Eventually he came to the cell of the Council of Friendship, which, unlike all the others, had a preceding metal door with no windows to see through that gave even more security to some of Greyhield’s most dangerous prisoners. The door had two guards on either side, who upon seeing Spike, began to undo the massive system of locks that barred the door from being opened, ranging from conventional locks to metal rods that ran the length and height of the door. Finally the last security measure on the door clicked open, two of the guard immediately entering to the other side of the door, stopping on either side of the door, their back to the wall while facing their two comrades that stood on either side of the barred off cell. Spike stepped through the door, looking at the surprisingly well kept cell that was actually quite clean, with proper beds and a platter that contained the remnants of a rather decent meal on it, showing the conditions they lived in were actually rather good ones. The ponies inside were sleeping rather soundly, judging by the fact they hadn’t stirred since Spike had entered. The two guards that had entered step back outside as soon as Spike was inside. “You two can step out as well.” Spike said to the two guards that stood on the sides of the cell’s door. The two guards didn’t budge an inch, and showed no signs of thinking about it. “Did you hear me?” “Yes, sir, but we have been ordered to stay here at all times to guard these prisoners.” One of the two replied frankly. Behind the guards, Twilight stirred from her sleep, looking was with tired eyes. “Their resourcefulness is no secret to us, and we must be prepared for all eventualities.” “Is this cell no fitted with magic absorbing material to nullify any attempts and casting spells within this room?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, but-” The guard replied, but Spike again cut him off. “And isn’t the door leading into this cell extremely well fitted in security measures that would make it hard for even a manticore to get out?” Spike continued. “Yes sir, but even so-” The other guard began, but again Spike interjected. “So why in the name of Greyhield are you still worried about them escaping when I’M inside the same room as them? Even if they can overpower me, you can call for a whole detachment of guards to come down here and be able to deal with them with little trouble.” Spike retorted, the rest of the ponies coming back into the waking world by the time he finished. The guards were silent for a few second, but finally moved out of the cell, the door locked firmly behind them, leaving Spike alone with the ponies. “Spike, is that you?” Twilight asked, rising from her bedding while the other ponies only began to shrug off their sleepiness. Spike knelt down to be on eyelevel with the ponies. “It is you!” She exclaimed pressing up to the bars, looking the dragon up and down. “Are you alright, have they hurt you? I swear if they have I-” “I’m fine, Twilight, they’ve been more than kind to me.” Spike reassured her. “And yet they only just gave you visitation rights. You’d think if they were kind they’d let you see your friends.” Twilight seethed. “They might be nice enough now, but they must have other motives.” “Or maybe Greyhield believes you’re no longer a threat and so see no reason not to give you a good portion of the food his troops can’t stomach.” Spike replied simply. “They aren’t omnivores like me, so they can’t eat fruit, vegetables, or any other vegetation without throwing it back up or just having its nutrients wasted on them.” “Spike… you’re here too?” Rainbow asked groggily as she wiped the sleep out of her eyes. She opened her eyes and saw how big Spike was. “I-I guess it wasn’t me seeing thing then?” Rainbow ventured, Spike nodding in response. “So… uh… did you bring a sword?” she asked weakly. Spike shook his head in response, much to the ponies’ relief. “I’m here to see how you’re doing.” Spike stated. “The status quo has changed, but the past is still present in my mind. Even though I’ve burnt most bridges down you might say I can still see across the gap” “Spike,” Twilight began, “You… you don’t have to do this. We still love you, and we are more than willing to forgive you for your mistakes.” “You can say that… but how do I know you mean it?” Spike asked, standing up, turning his back to the ponies, looking off towards nowhere. “In fact, in certain ways I know you only mean that because you’re in a bind and I’m the closest thing you have to an ally.” “Spike, how can you say that? We never wanted to hurt you, not even in our wildest imaginations.” Rarity chimed in. “And yet you constantly teased me for being small and cute!” Spike roared, turning around again, his teeth bared and a flame in his eyes. “Not only that, but you used how I felt as a way to take advantage of me! I would’ve run around the world for you, and you knew that, and took advantage of it for your own benefits!” The ponies shied to the back of the cell. “I thought we were equals, but now I see how much you really abused me!” “Spike, we never-” Fluttershy started but was cut off as Spike slammed into the cell’s bars, his claws wrapped in a death grip around them as his muzzle stuck between two of them. “I trusted you, but hindsight is twenty/twenty, and I can see how poorly I lived!” He shouted, before breaking down into sobs and tears, “I-I trusted you, and you treated me like… like a lesser.” Spike pushed off of the bars, turning once again from the ponies. “When you really want to talk, you tell me.” Spike knocked on the door while using his other arm to wipe his tears away. The guards quickly opened the door, four of the guards entering, two of them assuming their positions with their backs to the bars while the other two stood by the opposite wall as Spike walked purposefully out. After a moment the other two walked out as well, the door shutting behind them. Twilight fell to her haunches, tears pouring out from her eyes as the other ponies attempted to comfort her. She looked up through the tears towards the door that separated her from Spike physically as his emotions separated them psychologically. Spike entered Greyhield’s throne room, the guards saluting as he passed. Spike didn’t acknowledge them, seeing as he had become use to it over the days he had been in the castle. One of the guards opened the door, letting Spike enter. He took a few steps in, bowing his head and crossing his arm across his chest as he had been instructed to do, and as he had done for the two days that had passed since. “You summoned me, Your Lordship?” Spike asked, the formality still feeling a bit off to him. After a moment of silence, Spike looked up, and noticed Greyhield’s throne wasn’t occupied by Greyhield’s shadowy form, but by a normal shadow. Spike looked around the room, until he heard a light tap from the direction of the throne, followed by several others, at which he whipped his head around to look towards the sounds. He peered into the shadows, but they revealed nothing. Spike took a step forward, placing one of his hands on the pommel of his sword. As he drew closer, the form step out into the light, revealing a white hoof, a white hoof that was attached to a pony he knew all too well. “Rarity, what are you doing out of your cell?” Spike asked, taking his claws off of his sword. She murmured something in a low tone that was too quiet for Spike to hear. “Did Greyhield have you taken here?” He shortly got his reply when Rarity lifted her head, revealing her tear stained cheeks, her eyeliner melting away with the tears. “You used to be my little Spikey-wikey…” She muttered, loud enough to be audible. Spike cocked his head, not understanding where this was going. “You used to be my friend…,” She continued as the other five ponies emerged from the shadows, completing the Council of Friendship, “But now I can see that you are as dangerous as Greyhield. You’re a monster, a beast, a brute, and you’re now on the side of the enemy, and there’s only one way to deal with that.” Spike took a step back, tears starting to whelm up in his eyes. “Don’t say that.” He stammered. “I-I’m still your Spikey-wikey… w-we can still be friends.” Spike pleaded. Rarity shook her head, bring a hoof up to her eye, wiping away the eyeliner that streamed down her cheeks. “No, you’re nothing like my little Spike. You’re a… a traitor.” Rarity shot back. Rainbow launched forward, her hooves slamming into Spike’s chest while a bolt of magic slammed into his face, sending him sprawling backwards. “S-stop, please!” He pleaded, gasping for breath. Applejack charged him, spinning on her hooves at the last second, slamming her hooves straight into his face, causing him to fly a short distance before landing on his back. Spike’s vision swam as he felt something warm trickle down his cheek from the corner of his mouth while the metallic taste of blood told his exactly what it was. Spike attempted to get back up, but before he could Rainbow jumped on top of him and began pounding him forcefully into the ground, as if he were a raincloud. Rainbow jumped off, performing a somersault, slamming right back into his chest. Spike grabbed Rainbow and shoved her off, standing up shakily. “Please, no more. I’m sorry.” Spike begged, only to have Fluttershy barrel into him with a squeak, but though it was more of a little touch, it still was forceful enough in comparison to his weakness to send his stumbling a few steps. “I’m not sorry. You aren’t my Spike, so I feel no pity.” Rarity said calmly as Twilight shot another bolt into Spike’s face. Spike wiped the soot from his face, only to have Pinkie cartwheel into him, her legs slamming into his chest. Applejack and Rainbow Dash charged in to finish the dead, Rainbow upper cutting him while Applejack bucked him soundly in the chest. Spike fell back onto the floor, his entire body aching. He slowly got back to a crouched position. As he watched, the six friends began to glow as they began releasing their inner magic. Suddenly, something snapped in the core of Spike’s being. A wave of indignation and rage flowing through him as his former friends prepared to end him. Spike drew his sword, pure rage coursing through his veins like an inferno, burning any love, inhibitions about killing, or anything that might have held him back. With a deafening roar, Spike charged Rarity, hi sword clasped in both hands as he raised it high above his head. Rarity’s eyes widened as it came screeching down at her, slamming into her magic’s shield, sending waves of pain through her skull. “And you are just a pony!” Spike roared as he lifted his sword and slammed it into the shield once more, reveling in his new power as he watched Rarity wince under each blow. “I am a dragon, the apex predator! None stand above me, and none can claim to stand as my equal!” He roared as he began to beat on Rarity’s shield like a drum. Suddenly the shield broke, leaving Rarity weak as she fell to the floor. Spike lifted his blade, intent on killing her, only to have a bolt of magic smash into his face, sending him stumbling a few steps away. Spike wiped his head around, his teeth bared as he spied Twilight with her horn still aglow. Spike charged her, only to trip over Pinkie as she slid under him. He hit the ground rolling, standing back up in an instant, only to have Rainbow slam into his head, sending his sprawling across the floor, seeing nothing but stars. He shook his head, trying to stand back up as he blinked the stars out of his eyes, only to have one of the ponies slam a hoof on the back of his head, pinning him to the ground while another stood on his back. Spike looked up, clenching his teeth as the darkness faded from his vision, showing him Rarity’s hooves. Suddenly the door at the end of the hall flew open, slamming into the walls beside them. The sound on charging reptilous, shouting their battle cries rung out through the wall, the ponies quickly tackled and restrained. Spike watched as Rarity had a magic absorbing collar locked around her neck before being drug off. Spike lay back down, his face resting the stone floor as he struggled with the horde of emotions that began flooding his being. Gylom knelt beside him, placing a claw on his back. “Should I have some guards take you back to your room?” The general asked in a soft voice. Spike slowly rose from the ground, looking up to the ceiling when he had reached his full height. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly before looking back to the ground and walking off. Gylom stood up, watching as Spike left with a sorrowful expression, the events striking a cord in his heart. Gylom looked back to the throne, watching as Greyhield slowly emerged from behind his throne. “It appears to have worked as well, if not better, than I had anticipated.” Greyhield stated with a hint of satisfaction as he lay back down on his throne. “Spike’s inner hatred for the ponies has been tapped, and not only that, but in a completely willing way.” “Indeed,” Gylom replied, kneeling before the great dragon, “The changelings plaid their part expertly, I doubt he even suspects what has happened.” Greyhield nodded with satisfaction. “We grow ever closer to the greater cause, and today’s victory has made this a day of leaps and bounds in progress.” Greyhield said. “Indeed, soon we shall take Equestria, and the ponies shall tremble under your mighty claw.” Gylom stated, though the satisfaction of those words was greatly diminished.