The Princess and the Dragon
Once upon a time in a far away dimension…
Spike soared over the forest below searching for food. His vision was so sharp that he could spot a rabbit moving through the underbrush. A being as large as he required something bigger though. He was hoping for a large buck although a fox or boar would do.
Suddenly he noticed a small group of ponies being attacked by a large group of griffon soldiers dressed in black armor. He decided to ignore them. Ever since the incident he’d done his best to avoid all contact with anybody. It was then he saw a vision of loveliness standing in front of what was obviously a royal carriage. She was surrounded by a small group of pony soldiers dressed in purple armor.
His old instincts took over. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was seeing a damsel in distress.
He swooped down on the griffon brigade breathing fire. He had such pinpoint accuracy that even the nearest pony wasn’t singed. Quickly accessing this new menace a small group of griffon bowmen took to the air and fired off a round of arrows. Every single one bounced off. Spike’s purple and green scales were as tough as steel. Another gout of fire completely demoralized the remaining griffon soldiers and they fled leaving dozens of blackened corpses behind.
He was never quite sure why he landed in front of the carriage. Surely a monster like him would only receive scorn, never thanks.
The group of ponies huddled together in fear sure this creature was going to devour them. Spike sighed, shook his head and prepared to take off.
Just before he was about to launch he heard a mellifluous voice call out to him.
“Sir Dragon.” she called. “Please don’t leave. We… I wish to thank you.”
Spike turned around once again and beheld the most beauteous pony he’d ever seen. He knew she was a unicorn because of the long twisting white horn growing out of her forehead.. She was about five and a half feet tall, had long elaborately coiffured purple hair, piercing blue eyes, gleaming white fur and a long purple tail. She was wearing a gorgeous glittering purple dress that complemented her large full breasts and curvaceous figure. Spike knew she was some type of royalty because she also wore a sparkling sapphire tiara. “This is surely the sexiest pony alive!” Spike thought to himself.
The woman slowly approached the magnificent being crouched before her. He looked like he was at least as tall as the tallest tower of her castle. Twenty feet tall and nearly twice as long. He had purple scales along his back and sides and light green scales covering his breast and belly. Large dark green, triangular plates grew from the top of his fearsome head to the tip of his deadly tail. His mouth was filled with long sharp fangs and his claws looked equally dangerous. Yet somehow the princess sensed he wouldn’t harm her.
“I am Princess Rarity of Raritania. Can you understand me?”
Spike nodded.
“Good.“ she said smiling at him. He felt like was going to melt.
“I thank you for your service. This may sound strange, but I need your help.”
“You are willing to trust me?” Spike asked in a voice so deep and loud it caused everything nearby to vibrate.
“ You… You can speak?” Rarity asked startled.
He nodded again.
“I don’t know why, but I feel as if I can trust you. Besides you haven’t eaten us yet.”
“Want do you want?” Spike asked.
“War is immanent. King Griffondor, King of Griffondom plans to invade the six pony principalities. The brigade you defeated was just a scouting party. My small principality will be the first to fall if he has his way. I want you to help me defend my land.”
“How can you be so sure?” Spike asked.
“He sent me the terms of my “surrender” weeks ago.”
“Do you think I alone will be able to defeat such a large army?” Spike asked, intrigued by her offer.
“Judging by your performance here today I doubt that they have any weapons able to even scratch you.”
“What will you offer me as a reward for my services?”
“I hear dragons are enamored of gold and jewels. Due to my magical ability to locate gems, I have acquired a small hoard.”
“Perhaps I seek something… more beauteous” Spike insinuated as his glowing green gaze swept over Rarity’s luscious form.
Rarity quailed for a moment then spoke proudly. “If it is my hand in marriage you seek then I shall grant it.”
Spike laughed, a most fearsome noise. He couldn’t help but admire her bravery.
“I am sorry. I should not joke about such things. If you ever wish to marry let it be of your own free will.”
“Will you assist us?”
“I shall! In return I require only a place to sleep.” Spike was already infatuated with the glorious pony princess otherwise he would have never even considered such a plan.
“What a fool I am. Surely this will lead to only heartbreak.” he thought to himself. “Oh well, at least I will no longer be bored.”
“You are a true knight, Sir Dragon.” she replied, once again unleashing her devastating smile upon him.
“Call me Spike, Your Highness”
“Sir Spike it is then.”
“Just Spike, if you please. Sir is too high a title for a lowly creature such as I.”
“I disagree, but so be it.”
Despite himself a warm feeling pervaded his heart. Just knowing that such a glamorous being had such a high opinion of him made him feel exalted.
Spike flew overhead as the small party made their way back to Princess Rarity’s castle.
The castle was a fairly typical castle. High thick crenellated walls built in a square with one watch tower at each of the four corners. Inside the walls was a keep with one tall tower rising majestically overhead. Spike landed just beyond the reach of the catapults as Princess Rarity entered the castle to explain the situation. A short time later she appeared on the walls and waved gaily to him. There was just enough room between the walls and the keep for Spike to land and settle. He curled up like a cat and settled down.
Rarity came down from the walls and stood before him.
“A more suitable shelter shall be procured shortly.” she told him.
“Thank you your Highness.” Spike replied.
Nearby was a small terrace with a table and some chairs. The princess often ate lunch here when the weather was clement. She strode regally to the nearest chair and sat down.
“Will you tell us… me about yourself Spike?” she asked.
“Not much to tell really.” he replied. “Many days ride to the east of here lie huge caverns. It is there that I usually make my home.”
“Do you have a treasure?”
“Regardless of stories to the contrary a creature such as myself has no need for material wealth.”
“Are there others such as yourself?”
“To the best of my knowledge I am the only one.”
“That sounds… lonely.”
“Is there a hint of sadness in the princess’ eyes?” he thought to himself. “Surely not for a beast such as I.”
“You seem to have quite a bit of knowledge of the Equine language and ways.” she hinted, hoping for an explanation.
Spike merely nodded.
Somehow Rarity sensed that he did not wish to speak of such things.
“Will you tell me of yourself, your Highness?” Spike asked changing the subject.
“I am twenty years old. Although I am a unicorn I possess little magical power. Less than a year ago my parents were assassinated. I believe now that King Griffindor was responsible.”
“My condolences on you loss, your Highness.”
“Thank you. Ever since I received Griffindor’s ultimatum I have been simply waiting, dreading the moment when his army finally arrived.”
“You are even braver than I believed, fair princess.”
Rarity shook her head. “Up until now I believed I only had two choices, to kill myself or surrender and become his whore.”
“A less brave person probably would have killed themselves as soon as they acquired such a missive.” Spike observed.
“My people still need me.” she replied proudly. “As long as this obligation continues I will live.”
The two of them spoke on a variety of subjects. Rarity found him to be quite knowledgeable for something, no someone who lived in the wilderness. Once again the princess’ curiosity was peaked.
Spike found Rarity fascinating. As she relaxed she stopped acting regal and spoke the way any common pony would.
All to soon a messenger arrived reporting that a suitable dwelling had been procured. Spike was shown to a large barn located on a nearby farm.
“It’s not much, but it should keep the weather off you.” the princess commented.
“Compared to my cave this is a palatial mansion.”
“Everyday as long as the weather is clear I take lunch on the terrace. I hope you will visit me there again.”
“I shall, your Highness.”
The princess left. Notwithstanding her obsession with the dragon she had royal duties to perform. Shortly thereafter Spike took off to find some sustenance of his own.
Every day for the next week Spike visited Rarity. Much to his dismay he found himself falling in love with her. Rarity’s feelings were harder to define. She definitely felt a comradery towards him. She sensed that there was a kind, gentle, caring soul trapped inside that bestial body. For the first time in her life she felt that she had found a true friend.
A messenger arrived and reported that an army was massing on the border. Spike prepared to take off.
“Be careful my friend.” Princess Rarity called.
“I will.”
The “battle” was a total rout. Not even the most powerful missile or largest boulder could dent Spike’s magical shield. Swarms of Griffondom airmen were as gnats to him. By the end of the day the general in charge recognized a lost cause and retreated.
“Is it over?” Rarity asked him.
“If they have any sense at all, it is.” he reassured her.
The next month was totally idyllic. The only cloud was Spike’s knowledge that his relationship with the princess could never be anything but platonic. Rarity too began to realize she felt something deeper than friendship towards the dragon.
“What is wrong with me?” she asked herself. “Surely I can never be more than just friends with such a being.”
She no longer thought of Spike as a dragon though.
Meanwhile in the throne room of King Griffindor:
The throne room was incredible ornate. No expense had been spared in it’s decoration. Gold and jewels glittered on every surface. Rare artifacts, beautiful artwork and sumptuous statues were situated everywhere. That wasn’t the only beautiful things decorating the throne room. One gorgeous female from each of the species inhabiting Equestria lounged on couches spread around the chamber. They were all nude.
On the equally elaborate throne sat King Griffindor. The King was a massive griffon. At least six feet tall. His head was covered in snow white feathers. He had gleaming golden eyes and a yellow beak that looked sharp and dangerous. Dark tan fur covered a splendidly muscled body. Huge golden wings grew from his back. He has a lion like tail. One look at his face and you could tell: here was a truly vicious individual.
Right at this moment there was a dissatisfied look on his visage. Even though he’d executed the general in charge of the invasion of Raritania he still hadn’t come up with a single halfway decent plan to conquer them.
“If it wasn’t for that damn dragon it’d be as easy as taking candy from a baby.” he’d thought to himself again and again.
A black storm cloud mysteriously appeared. From out of the cloud stepped an extraordinarily gorgeous female. She was nearly as tall as the King. She had long blue hair. At first he thought she was a unicorn, but he had never seen a unicorn with a black jagged horn growing from her forehead. She had enormous green eyes with huge black pupils. Her skin was gleaming black. She wore a glamorous grey dress that hugged her immense breasts and luscious figure. Growing from her back were two small translucent blue, bat like wings which were full of holes.
King Griffindor sensed that here was someone of immense power. Instead of calling the guards, he spoke courteously.
“My fair lady, who are you and why do you grace us with your presence?”
The woman smiled. Any weaker male than the King would have shuddered at that smile.
“I am Chrysalis, I have heard you are having problems with a dragon.”
“This is true.” he replied cautiously.
“I am a very powerful witch. I will help you defeat the dragon and conquer the six pony principalities.”
“And what do you want in return for this service?”
“Make me your queen.”
“This witch is certainly lovely enough. It will be a pleasure to bed her.” he thought to himself. “Perhaps I can even find a way to control her.”
“Very well.” he said aloud.
Once again a messenger appeared in Rarity’s throne room, stating that the Griffindom army was bivouacked on the principalities’ border.
“Something is wrong.” the princess told Spike. “He’s too smart to invade if he didn’t have a plan to defeat you.”
“I have to try.” he stated.
“No matter what you say, you are a true hero. Be careful.”
“I will my lady.”
The griffon bowmen rose in swarms as Spike approached. They fired off a storm of arrows. Intense pain was the first sign that his protective magic had failed. His shape eyes noticed a faint blue aura surrounding the arrows.
“Magic!” he thought to himself. “Someone more powerful than I is involved.”
He let loose a gout of flame hoping that at least he could rid himself of his tormentors. A translucent blue shield sprang into being protecting the bowmen. He briefly considered tearing into them with his claws and teeth but there were just too many of them. He could feel every arrow that pierced him drain him of vitality. As much as he wanted to make a futile last stand, the thought of seeing the beautiful princess one last time filled his mind. Faster than a speeding arrow he flew, quickly outdistancing his pursuers.
He crashed in the castle courtyard with a thud and collapsed. Concerned, Rarity rushed over to him.
“I’m sorry my princess, I have failed you.” he whispered. “I love you.”
He gasped, then breathed no more.
Upon seeing the dragon die before her a feeling so intense it nearly overwhelmed her filled her body.
“I love you too.” Rarity screamed, sobbing.
A blinding white light surrounded her, then two immense white wings sprang from her back. Light flooded from her eyes. Kneeling, she placed her hands on Spike’s lifeless body. A soft white glow surrounded him. Tears fell from her eyes and every teardrop that fell on him intensified the glow.
All the arrows that transfixed him vanished. He then began to transform. As he metamorphosed he shrank smaller and smaller. As he shrank he changed. Within moments a handsome, muscular humanoid ( equineoid?) lay before the princess. With a gasp he began breathing again and sprang up with a start.
Spike was now approximately six feet tall. He was still covered with purple and green scales and green triangular plates still grew from the top of his head to the tip of his long reptilian tail. His eyes were still a startling green with lizard like pupils. His long razor sharp fangs had disappeared. He still had lengthy keen claws, but he could easily retract them He had two large draconic wings growing from his back.
Noticing that Spike was naked, Rarity looked embarrassed and turned away. She then magically produced a suit of golden armor than fit him perfectly He smiled warmly at the princess.
Seeing the black swarms of griffons filling the western sky he leapt into the air and spread his wings. He then sped towards the oncoming hordes. This time not a single arrow penetrated the glowing white aura that surrounded him. Blinding white flames billowed from his mouth and tore through the shield surrounding the bowmen as if it were paper. Dozens died, their charred bodies falling from the sky. Recognizing that the advantage was lost the remaining bowmen fled.
Watching the battle in a scrying mirror Queen Chrysalis clenched her fists in anger. “We must retreat.” she told the King. “A magic even more powerful than my own has manifested.”
The King briefly considered killing her, but he stayed his hand. He had the feeling that she could easily turn him into something unpleasant before he could even get within striking distance.
“Let us go.” he growled.
Spike landed lightly in the courtyard and Rarity ran over to him. She hugged him and kissed him passionately. He savored her kiss and returned it. Finally they broke their embrace and looked at each other, love filling their eyes.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Two things. First, you have discovered alicorn magic and second, you have broken the curse placed upon me.”
“Curse?”
“Once, many years ago, I was a prince. Prince of the distant kingdom of Draco. Like all princes I was courted by many a fair maid (none as fair as you, my love). One day a gorgeous (I hadn’t met you yet so how could I truly judge, my darling?) witch came to court and sought my hand. At first I was smitten by her beauty (she wasn’t half as pretty as you are, my sweet) and her power. I… I even bedded her. It wasn’t long before I began to notice how cruel she truly was. I broke off our engagement. She was furious. She claimed that I had broken her heart. I don’t believe she had a heart. Instead I had wounded her pride. Nevertheless she turned me into a fearsome beast. I fled from my home sure I would never associate with another person ever again.”
“It must have been terrible.” Rarity said nuzzling him.
They stood there gazing longingly at each other for what seemed like ages.
Finally Rarity broke the awkward silence. “Prince Spike of Draco, I love you, will you marry me?” she asked bashfully.
“I love you too. I will marry you. You have made me the happiest dragon alive.” he replied, then kissed her.
That kiss lasted for some time until they noticed that they had been surrounded by a cheering horde of castle retainers. Disconcerted, they broke their liplock and headed into the castle hand in hand.
THE END