//------------------------------// // The New Generation // Story: The Fall of Spike the Dragon // by Wrangle Wolfe //------------------------------// I frowned at how many homeless and parentless foals I had found. In front of me were fifty children, all looking up at me with curiosity and fear. Some were crying, others sat with a disturbed look on their face, but most only stared, wondering what I was going to do with them. I stared back, also wondering what I was going to do with them. I knew my long-term plan, but right now I had a large group of foals that I had to take care of. I closed my eyes, thinking of a plan. I could use an extra set of hooves... "What in tarnation? How'd I get here?" "Why am I in Canterlot?" "What the hay?!" In front of me were four mares, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. I raised an eyebrow at the missing mare. Where was Fluttershy? I shook my head. I would worry about that later. For now, they were going to help me out. "Girls... I have a job for you all." I told them. "W-what is it, Spike?" Rarity asked. "In front of you is a large group of foals that I saved from around Equestria." I motioned towards the curious foals. "You're going to get them all a room in this castle. I'm sure they're tired. After doing this, tell them the rules." The rules are to do as I say and don't run away... The four mares nodded and began to walk the children to the large amount of guest rooms in the castle.I grinned as they followed my orders immediately. They knew not to mess with me. I'm too powerful. At any moment, I could crush them into nothing. It felt so great to be in control. "Mister monster..." The little filly that I had saved first came up to me. "Please, call me Darkness." I said to her. "U-um... Mister Darkness. I just wanted to ask, why are you helping us?" She asked, looking up at me with a confused look in her eyes. "Because, it was the right thing to do. I couldn't let you all die out there. I care about you all..." I lied to her. "You do? Then why did you destroy so many ponies?" She asked. "Because they all hurt me. I had to get back at them." I said. The filly frowned. "But you children didn't do a thing. That's why I'm helping you all." "Doesn't that make you just as bad, Mister Darkness?" The filly asked, then shook once she realized what she had said. "I-I mean... I..." "What is your name, little filly..." I asked her "L-love Charm." She stuttered. "Love Charm... There's a lot of stuff that I went through. It didn't matter how bad I became..." I told the filly. "Now, why don't you go find yourself a room, Love?" "O-okay." She nodded and began walking away from me. I looked down at my claws. Was I really just as bad? No, no, these ponies were harsh, cruel monsters. They were obviously worse. They all deserved this pain. I did what I had to do... what Spike couldn't bring himself to do. Stop lying to yourself. You know what you're doing is wrong. No. What I am doing may be harsh and possibly evil, but it's the right thing to do. You're hurting the innocent... how is that the right thing to do? The princesses and your friends are the ones who hurt you, not all of Equestria. All you're doing is taking out all of your anger on ponies who didn't do a thing to you. Silence... I'm just showing them what happens when they fuck with the wrong dragon. You better not hurt those children... I wouldn't dream of it, Dying Hope. Don't call me that! Too late, Dying Hope. Just go find the surviving ponies who hid in this castle. You almost sound like you're giving me orders. I walked around the castle, slowly making my way to the survivors. I could sense a group of ponies in really low section of the castle. Soon, after going down many staircases, I found myself in front of a door labeled "Safe Room". It was obvious that the ponies would pile up in here. I burst into the door, hearing the screams of scared ponies. I smiled, looking around in the dark room. There was a large group of ponies huddled together. Some were crying while the rest tried to be brave. I could smell all of their fear. "I want every single one of you to step out of this room. Now." I ordered. Some hesitantly made their way out of the room while others rushed out. A few staying in place. "Move it!" I yelled at the few who stayed behind. They ran out as fast as they could. I counted 35 ponies. "Wh-who are you?" one stallion dared to ask me in a shaky voice. "My name... is Darkness." I told him. "What are you gonna do to us?" Asked a mare that was beside him. "Oh nothing much, just force you so be my slave and never allow you to leave." I told her. The ponies looked at me in horror as I laughed. "Not on our watch!" Said a deep voice behind me. I felt a spear bounce off of my back and fall to the ground. I looked behind me to see ten Royal Guards and fifteen Lunar Guards. I laughed at their weak attempt to stop me. "What are you gonna do? Slay me?" I howled in laughter at how ridiculous that sounded. That's when a spear hit me in the eye. "AAAAAGGGGHHH!!! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!" I roared in pain as I yanked it out, along with my eye. Blood rolled out of my left eye as I sent a death glare at the guards. I heard them all gulp and one of them actually pissed themselves as I stood up at my full height with a look of rage on my face. "I SHOULD KILL YOU ALL!" I roared in their faces. Another guard couldn't hold in their bladder. "But I am not... I need you all." Many sighs of relief resounded amongst the guards. "But you shall all be my slaves!" Yelps of fear came out of half of them as they heard that. I just loved scaring these 'tough' guys so much. "Th-th-the pr-princesses w-will stop you... a-and the e-elements of harmony!" One of the guards stuttered. "Oh. The elements of harmony, you say? Well, without one element, the rest are useless. I killed the element of magic." I told him. "B-but P-princess Celestia and-" "I tore Celestia's horn off and absorbed Luna's magic before throwing her into the middle of the Everfree forest, where she'll surely be killed by some giant monster." I interrupted him. "O-oh god... y-you're a monster! You're the worst thing to ever attack Equestria!" He screamed in terror. "You're a monster. And it's time you all learned a lesson." "U-um, Miss..." "Applejack." "M-miss Applejack... Why is Mister Darkness so angry at everypony?" "He's not really angry at ev'rypony. He's angry at me and his so called 'friends', along with himself." "But why does he hurt so many other ponies then?" "Because he has convinced himself it's ev'ryponys fault. But deep inside, he knows that it's not true. But he feels as if he needs to take that anger out on others." "Why did his friends hurt him?" "W-we hurt him without even realizing it. We just ignored the little feller until he couldn't take it any more." "Why would you do that?" "Why are ya asking so many questions?" "Because Mister Darkness doesn't seem so bad. I think that maybe if we all just try to be nice to him, we can help him." "We've already tried to be nice and make up for our mistake but... he won't accept no friendship from anypony no more. It's a lost cause, uh..." "Love Charm." "Love Charm. You can try, but you listen closely young filly. Don't get hurt. That's the last thing ya wanna do. Ya hear me?" "Yes Miss Applejack." "You can jus' call me Applejack. Now you go on in that room of yours and try to sleep tonight, alright." "Yes miss... yes Applejack." "Alright. G'night sugarcube." "Goodnight Applejack." "Why is all of this happening?" "It's... kind of complicated, Darling." "Darkness is so mean..." "W-well, darling, the only reason he's so mean is because he had friends who treated him wrongly." "I hope his 'friends' die just like my family did." "... This is your room, sweetie." "Thanks Miss Rarity." "You're welcome, Shielded Ire..." *Slam* "I want me to die too..." "I hope my little sister is okay... I never found her in the debris..." "I hope she is too, kid." "Darkness sure is nice helping us out like this. I'm sure that all of the fillies and colts wouldn't have made it out there with no home and no family." "Yeah. Nice." "What do you think Darkness is gonna do?" "I dunno, kid." "What's wrong, Ma'am?" "It's Rainbow Dash. And nothing's wrong, I'm fine." "Then why are you crying, Rainbow Dash?" "Just ignore it, little guy." "But I want to help." "You can't reverse this whole tragedy, so you can't help!" "..." "I'm sorry for yelling at ya, kiddo. You don't deserve that when you were only trying to help. It's just that a lot of things have been happening, and it's really getting to me." "It's okay. I know it's really tough. It's hard for me too. My dad is gone. So is my baby brother. They never made it after Darkness tore everything down." "I'm sorry to hear that kid." "I just wish that I can help." "Listen, Harmonic..." "I would prefer if you called me by my last name, if you wouldn't mind." "Zeal... the best thing you could probably do right now is... try to stay positive. We all need somepony who isn't always crying or frowning. We lost the one pony who's usually there for us. Maybe you could take her place." "Oh... yeah, I'll do my best!" "There ya go, kiddo! Now, you should get into the room and get some rest. You need it." "Thanks Rainbow Dash. See you tomorrow!" "See ya, bud." "U-um... Miss?" "Pinkamena." "M-Miss Pinkamena?" "Just Pinkamena." "Um... Pinkamena? If we're in Canterlot's castle, then where are the princesses?" "I don't know where Luna is. Celestia was defeated. Darkness pulled her horn off and flung her limp body to Ponyville. I don't know if she lived." "Oh." "..." "..." "..." "Why do you look so sad, Pinkamena?" "Because I am sad. All of my friends are suffering, the pony I love has died, and I couldn't do a thing to help." "Oh... that sucks." "You're right filly, it does." "My name is Midnight Jade..." "I didn't ask for your name." "But you said 'Filly' so I just let you know." "We're at your room, filly. Goodnight." "...Goodnight."