//------------------------------// // The Dragon Enters. // Story: Dragon Bro Z // by MrWriterWriter //------------------------------// -----------Flashback: Six Months Prior----------- "Twilight!" the others yelled when she reappeared after the Elements zapped her away. "Twilight?" Applejack asked after she unfurled her new wings. "Ah've never seen anything like this before!" "You're an alicorn now! I didn't even think that could happen!" Rarity spoke up before suddenly looking about. "Wait, where's Spike!?" "I don't see him anywhere!" Rainbow Dash said, circling around them. "Tell me you didn't forget to bring him back with you, Twi!" "Spike? What are you talking about? He came out here with you, didn't he??" Twilight responded, her voice laced with worry. "Spike? Spike!" she cried out, looking around frantically. "No, Sugahcube. When the Elements zapped ya, he was close by and got caught in the flash." Applejack replied. "W-when we saw he was gone too, we figured he got pulled along to wherever ya'll got sent to." "No." another voice answered, causing them all to turn towards a very concerned-looking Celestia. "He wasn't with either of us." she turned her attention to Twilight. "I had hoped to be the bearer of good news, but I'm afraid it will have to wait. All of you see if he might have turned up somewhere in town, I'll return to the Ethereal in case he did follow Twilight and we simply didn't spot him." She barely finished speaking when Twilight took off running, screaming the young dragon's name. The others weren't that far behind. -----------Back To The Present----------- The following weeks went by in a haze of worry, searching, and sleepless nights as they looked for him. Especially when an upset Celestia returned empty-hoofed from her search. The group scoured Ponyville before turning their sights to other locales, praying that he was all right when they finally found him. Sadly, Zecora saw no sign of him in the Everfree, and Shining Armor and Cadence had no luck in the Crystal Empire. Luna joined in as soon as she got word and even Fancy Pants offered help via his connections when he found out, but to no avail. As time went on, however, the group was forced to consider the worst. Twilight felt dead inside when that happened; the next few days-and nights-were spent in tears. The news that she was now a princess did little to help her mood and the coronation was a more somber event than originally planned. Tirek's destruction of Golden Oaks only served to enrage her more since everything she had to remember him by; photos, books they had gotten during their time there, the various notes and letters he jotted down for her, were inside, including a small memorial she and her friends had set up for him. Now, though... "Spike...?" Her voice quavering as she looked at him. Up in the spheres, she could hear the others reacting in a similar fashion. "Twilight!" He laughed. Before she could respond, he leaped into the air, clearing the distance between them faster than she could blink. "Wha..? How'd you learn to jump like..." she trailed off when she saw him up close. It was obvious he was taller than before when he emerged from the orb, but she couldn't sell just how much; now she barely reached his waist. His build had changed massively too, the once small and slightly chubby form had been replaced with corded muscle that visibly flexed under the scales. His muzzle was several inches longer as well, and sharp claws tipped his hands and feet. "Man, it's great to see ya again, Twi!" He laughed as he scooped her off the ground, getting a surprised squeak in return, "Wow, you're a lot smaller since I last saw you." His eyes widened when he saw her additions, "You have wings! When did you get wings!?" "ENOUGH!" Tirek roared, getting their attention. "Your decision, Twilight, NOW!" Spike frowned when he saw the others trapped. 'He must be the power level King Kai warned me about. Hm, figured it'd be higher from the way he reacted. That or he can hide it.' "Who're you?" "I am Lord Tirek, the new ruler of Equestria and, once she surrenders the alicorn magic the other Princesses gave her, the world!" Tirek glared at them as if daring either to refute his claim. "Huh? What's he mean by 'surrender the magic'?" Spike asked Twilight "He's managed to steal the magic from nearly every pony in Equestria and the Crystal Empire! Celestia, Luna, and Cadence gave me theirs to try and keep it away from him, but he figured it out and wants it in exchange for the others!" She responded as he set her back down. "Oh, one of those kinds. There any way to recover the magic he stole?" "I think we have a way to get it back and stop him, the Chest of Harmony. But, we're missing the last key. And, I don't have a choice while he has everyone..." He glanced at her before focusing back to Tirek. "Not for long he won't!" He growled out, suddenly blurring out of sight. "What!? Wh-Where did he go!?" Tirek yelled, looking around furiously. Without warning, there was a loud noise from above him, like a large pane of glass being smashed. Looking up, his eyes widened in shock and fury; somehow the dragon had gotten up to one of his entrapment spheres and drove his claws into it, shattering it and releasing the orange earth pony mare! The moment she was free, he grabbed her and vanished from sight again. He reappeared by another orb, shattering this one with a kick and grabbing the yellow pegasus. Before Tirek could properly react, he had torn through all six and made off with his hostages. Twilight almost jumped when he came back into view beside her, with the others in his arms and a surprisingly bemused Discord hanging off his shoulders. "Wha...that was..." she sputtered slightly. 'I couldn't even see him move! And the orbs, he smashed them like a rock through a window!' "Everybody all right?" Spike asked, setting them down. "My stars...!" Rarity wobbled slightly when she was back on the ground, "What did...how did you...?" Pinkie stepped towards him hesitantly, the normally cheerful pony's voice cracking significantly. "Spikey...? I-is that really you??" Unfortunately, Tirek, chose this moment to remind them of his presence, "How...HOW DARE YOU!!" He bellowed. magic crackling between his horns, "You will pay for your insolence, whelp!" "'Fraid the reunion'll have to wait, guys." Spike said, focusing his attention on the centaur. "Twi, you said this chest is supposed to let you get everyone's magic back, right?" "Y-yeah, at least, it's supposed to but we're missing the last key." "Right. You and the others go ahead and see if you can't find it." "A lovely idea for sure, but what are you planning to do?" Discord inquired. "I'm going to show him why this whole thing was a bad idea to begin with." With that, he began to walk toward Tirek. "WHAT!? Spike, NO!" Twilight screamed, "Even with the Princesses' magic I've only managed to stalemate him! You won't stand a chance!" Her horn immediately lit up as she moved to pull him back. She had already lost him once, she was NOT going to let that happen again! But before she could cast, Spike was engulfed in what could only be described as blue flame, his clothes fluttering against him like he was in a strong wind. The flare was followed by a wave of force strong enough to blow back the manes of all six mares. "Twilight, relax. Go find that key." "What the hootinanny...!?" Applejack clamped a hoof on her hat to keep it from blowing away. "Holy crap! That's a Battle Aura!" Rainbow yelled, "The physical manifestation of one's inner power!" She saw the incredulous expressions Rarity and Fluttershy gave her in response, "What? I read mangas sometimes." They watched as, still encased in the fire-like glow, Spike began to slowly rise up into the air. He was completely off the ground when he looked back at them over his shoulder, "I'll be fine." With that, he took off straight towards Tirek, leaving a glowing contrail. "No wings! That's cheating!" Rainbow yelled. Tirek laughed when Spike made his way towards him. "And that was your second, and final, mistake, runt." "Oh?" Spike asked, stopping less than a gallop's length away. "And what's that?" "Your first was daring to defy me. Your second...WAS COMING CLOSE! NOW GIVE ME YOUR MAGIC!" .e open his mouth and inhaled. Spike simply hovered in place and cocked an eyebrow at him. Tirek looked at him. "What?" He tried again, "I said give me your magic!" "I'm waiting." A third time. "You know, that's a good way to accidentally swallow a bug. Or in your case, a couple dozen." "This is impossible!" he had managed to siphon nothing from the dragon; not even a hint of magical power. "You should be in a heap on the ground by now!" Tirek glared at him a moment before sneering. "I see, so you have a way to prevent me from taking yours, eh? No matter; you're STILL no match for my power!" "And that's mistake number three you've made now." "Hm? What are you blathering about?" "Thinking I was even using magic to start with. That was your third mistake. Of course, it's nothing compared to your first two." Tirek scoffed. "Oh? And what would those be?" Spike's voice became a lot colder, "Number one was attacking Equestria in the first place." His expression twisted into a scowl, "And your second, and biggest..." Tirek's eyes widened when his field of view suddenly became filled with the image of a now furious dragon. "WHAT THE!" THOOM! His head was rocked back by the impact of Spike's right fist burying itself in his jaw. "...WAS HURTING MY FRIENDS!"