//------------------------------//
// The not so Calm Calm 
// Story: Of Dragons, Drakos, and Ponies 
// by newHelm 
//------------------------------//

	Rarity paced back and forth in front of the private suite's door. Panic and nerves ate at her insides. What was she to do about this situation. Her nerves were so bad, she failed to notice the young yellow drakos come from the door and stand before her. "Ms. Rarity. Is there anyway I may be of service to you?"

She jumped at the voice, before turning to him. "Ah, Sun Tail. Sorry, you gave me quite the start. Yes please, may I speak with Spike please?"

He shook his head in exasperation. "I'm afraid not. He has once again eluded his detail. I am truly sorry."

She smiled sweetly at him. "No worries little one. I can find him."

He began to shuffle his feet and twiddle his claws just like the Spike she use to know would do. "What is it Sun Tail?"

He dropped his claws and held them behind his back. His head lowering in shame. "He's upset and dishonored by my actions at the council. He chose me to be the next duke, yet I can't live up to his expectations. I'm a failure."

Just like the old Spike. "No dear. You are passionate about your species, there is nothing wrong with that. You just need time and experience. I am sure Spike is only upset by how you said it, and not what you said. You will make a fine duke."

He smiled and blushed. "Thank you lady Rarity. You are too kind.

She smiled as she went off to find Spike, he was too much like the young Spike she knew. The new Spike worried her. When he was young, she had only ever seen him mad two, maybe three times. Well mad enough that you could actually see his reptilian nature. These days, his face stayed in an angry scowl, sorrowful, or a facade of happiness around her and their friends. He use to never have secrets, now he was a mystery to all but two, Big Macintosh and Discord. She worried about him, but also for those around him. She knew it was stupid of her, he would never hurt a fly. Yet the image of him choking the life out of Bloody Rich kept coming to mind and reminding her that this Spike could kill without regret.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and looked around the room for him. She had made it to the bar and saw him sitting there, nursing a shot of dark brown liquor. She sighed at the sight. Spike was drinking to much now.

"Hello handsome. Would you consider putting that down and giving your attention to something better for you?"

He spun around, sorrow in his eyes with that fake smirk on his face. "Hey gorgeous. What are you doing here?"

She smiled softly at him. "Looking for this cute drakos I have been dating. I want to talk about his sudden act of suicide."

His grin vanished as he lowered his head. "Ah, the pledge I made. Sorry I didn't talk to you about that. I had hoped to never have to do that, but it was to prevent war."

She grew worried again as she put a hoof on his arm. "You something like this would happen? Why didn't you talk to us? We could have come up with a better plan then that."

"I am king, it is my job and duty to my people. My honor is on the line with this  I cannot back down, with this act, I preserve my people and my honor. It was my only course of action."

She shook her head, full of sorrow. "Walk me to my room. We will discuss this in depth in the morning."

When they reach her room, he kissed her and said good night before walking away. She danced in place, butting her lip. "Spike."

He turned around, a distant look in his eyes. "Yes?"

She chewed her lip vigorously before replying. "Would you like to come in?"

He smiled, genuinely happy, but some sorrow was still in his eyes. "For coffee?"

Seductively, she leaned on the door and smiled. "But of course."



The roof top was cold as the young red dragon laid on the tiles. He knew his mission and was more then happy to do it. Next to him laid a female griffon. He looked to her and grinned. "They are both in her room, probably having an adult conversation." He chuckled at his own joke.

She ground her teeth together. "Just capturing them right Garble? No one gets hurt right?"

He snorted. "You're soft Gilda. She'll be fine, maybe him too, but I hope he resist and we have to kill him."

"That was not the deal. If Skrilla finds us, that's my job."

A deep voice sounded behind them. "Then it's your job."

They turned towards the large scared red griffon. "What the hell is going on?"

Garble rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"

Skrilla glared at the red dragon. "An answer. What are you doing?"

Gilda fiddled and answered, shame in her voice. "We felt that if we kidnapped the drakos king and his pony escort, we could prevent the coming war."

Anger overtook him. "What!" He yelled behind him as members of his personal guards went to action. "Save Spike and Rarity! Now!" He turned towards Garble. "There was no coming war! Not unless you've started one! As for you!" He turned to Gilda, disappointment filled him. "Aren't they friends of that Ponyville pony you care so much for? The drakos king, Spike, spoke highly of you. He said your mutual friend vouched for you."

Gilda began to cry. "I just don't want another war."

Garble sneered before yelling at the hotel. "Kill them both now!"

By the very feminine scream of pain, it seemed Garble was the only one who got his wish.



Spike was on the balcony smoking when he heard the screams on the opposite roof. He heard Skrilla and panicked. Rarity was in danger! He jumped back into the room in time to see three dragons holding Rarity captive, her eyes wild in fear. "Let her go or die slow and painfully."

They grinned viciously, than they all heard the order. "Kill them both!"

Spike looked back at the sound, but Rarity's scream brought his attention back. A dagger sprouted from her side, blood seeping out. Anger consumed him, his scales turned black, eyes green, purple flames coming from them and all around him. He raised his hands and green spears of light shot through the dragons. He stood over one of them, a purple one. "You're still alive, and you'll stay that way for about a day, but you will die, and the pain will be atrocious."

He gently picked up Rarity and ran down the hall. He had to save her. If he couldn't, life wouldn't matter anymore, and he would kill every last dragon himself.



Rarity squeezed her eyes as a bright light shown through her eyelids. Blinking them open, she looked around till she saw Spike sleeping at the foot of her hospital bed. She smiled sweetly. He was worried about her, she just wished he had slept better. She knew then, if they kept this relationship up, she would fall madly in love with her oaf of a purple drakos.

The door to her room opened up and Twilight stepped through. She looked at Rarity, tired and sad. She motioned for silence, but Twilight took no heed. "Spike wake up. I'll watch her."

Spike raised his head, apparently not asleep. "I'll stay too. I'm not leaving her."

"You have to. The drakos are causing a stir it Canterlot. You need to calm them down before a riot starts."

He looked at Rarity sorrowful. She smiled at him, but it didn't faze him. "What time does the trial start?"

Twilight hung her head. "Spike, I don't-"

"What time!" It was the first time either one of them had heard him bark at her like that, it mad Twilight tear up. "In a couple of hours."

"I'll see you there. AJ should be here by then." He stood on his hind legs and left.

Twilight took his spot and began to sob uncontrollably. When Rarity went to console her friend, she passed right through her. Spinning around, Rarity saw a sight that baffled and scared her. She saw herself, disheveled and wounded in the bed. She was a ghost.

She heard two sets of laughing voices. Both were from her nightmares. Walking through the wall came king Sombra and Nightmare Rarity.

Sombra grinned viciously at her. "You're dead darling."

Nightmare rolled her eyes. "No dear, just in a coma, but you have a choice, one that effects all of the world. Do you want to live, or pass on."

Rarity looked at them deadpan. "I wish to live, of course."

Sombra laughed. "It's not that simple. You have four days to watch and decide. After that, well, the choice is yours."

Rarity stared at them critically. "Why offer me this choice? What is in it for you?"

"Absolutely nothing. Spike gave you this choice. His magic gave you this choice. By all rights you should be dead and never coming back."

Nightmare stepped forward and quieted Sombra. She turned to Rarity and spoke softly. "We are servants of Shadowfang. Spike's magic is of our master, who discovered a way to bring the dead to life. I am a product of said magic. If too much time has passed, you either get mindless zombies, or living energy, like me. The same will happen if it is forced upon the subject. If early enough, the only way you can return as you were is to willingly take it. Spike unwittingly accessed that magic to save you."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating, loved the magic lesson, but why are the two of you here?"

Sombra's laugh shook Rarity to her core. "Already been answered. We work for Shadowfang, this is his magic. He called us here to bring you back to life."

Shivering, Rarity looked on aghast. "You can't mean!?"

Nightmare smirked. "Oh yes darling. Spike is to become Shadowfang reborn, and you have been chosen as his queen."