> Dragonfire 🐲 Enter The Dragon Hero 🐲
>  by Phantom-Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Spike's Beginning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since the beginning of time, a legend has been passed down for generations, of a great force of power that only comes once in a lifetime, in the Year of the Dragon. This power is called, Dragonfire. Only the noble of spirits and pure of hearts are blessed with this magic, giving them the power of the dragons.

But there are those who would seek to take the power for their own selfish gains. Countless potential vessels have all been hunted down and were enslaved by the forces of evil. Very few were able to escape, and have faded into legend over the years.

Now, a boy has been born with the gift of dragons. And it shall be his destiny to fight a great evil with the aid of his friends and family. 


[Trish Thuy Trang - The Year Of The Dragon]









It was a dark and stormy night. A hooded figure arrived at the doors of a church, with a basket, containing an infant child, wrapped in blankets. The figure looked at the child for a moment and hugged him, before with a heavy heart, she left the child crying on the doorsteps of the church.

As the child cried throughout the night, calling endlessly for his mother, a shadow of a great hulking beast looms over the boy. The creature is a gargoyle, with the mane and tail of a lion, the face of a baboon, the body of a gorilla, and wings of a bat. It's only attire is a gold studded belt around its waist. The gargoyle leaned forward, staring at the baby curiously, before it wiggled its finger over the baby. The baby giggled in delight as it played with the creature.

Looking around, making sure they were really alone, the creature picked the baby up in its claws, opened up a portal and flew in. Emerging from the other end of the portal, the two found themselves no longer on Earth. They are now in Equestria, a land of harmony, populated by ponies and all sorts magical creatures.

As the gargoyle flew on with the baby in its clutches, a castle built on the side of a mountain soon came into view.

Inside the castle, sitting on top of a huge throne, is a tall white alicorn, with a flowing blue, green, and pink mane and tail, and the mark of the sun imprinted on her flank. Her only attires are a golden peytral with a purple gem embedded in the center, a small crown with a matching gem, and golden shoes. She is Equestria's fair, powerful, wise, but lonely ruler, Princess Celestia.

Suddenly, the doors opened before her, as the gargoyle walked in with the royal guards at his sides, while still holding the bundle in his claws. The creature bowed to the princess, before presenting to her the child.

Astonished and amazed, Princess Celestia stood up from her throne, stepped forward for a closer look at the child. The child has green blazing eyes, a small tuft of green hair, and even with his mouth closed, Celestia could still see a bit of sharp fangs growing in. 

The baby looked curiously at Celestia before it giggles, holding its hands out for her. Celestia complied as she levitated the baby close to her face. The baby smiled as he touch Celestia's muzzle and hugs her. Touched by the warmth and affection from the baby, Celestia, for the first time in a long while, smiled as she nuzzled the baby affectionately, earning some giggles in return.




5 years later

The boy, now named as Spike Draco, has grown since he was brought into Equestria. He was officially adopted by Princess Celestia and henceforth was dubbed the Dragon Prince. Over the years, Princess Celestia taught him everything he knew about his powers, with which he would use for good. Her right hoof gargoyle, Scorpan, taught him everything he needs for self-defense, preparing the young boy for the challenges in which his powers won't be enough.

Although frightened and skeptical by the adoption of a powerful, unpredictable dragon-like being, the ponies in time grew to love and adore the young prince, charmed by his kindness, his nobility, and his courage. Though he doesn't know it yet, Spike did attracted many attentions from a lot of mares. Much to the ire and envy of another prince.





Spike was sitting at the base of a huge alicorn statue, at the top of a tall mountain, while looking at the sunset, over an endless sea of clouds. The boy's hair has grown long and spiky with his matching green eyes burning ever so brightly. His outfit consists of a purple t-shirt, with brown shorts and brown shoes.

"Three.....two.....one," Spike counted as the sun completely vanishes out of sight. "We have sun down."

With a smile, Spike let out a cheerful whoop before he ran to the end of a cliff, jumps off, and into the clouds.

Spike smiled as he thrusts his arms out, turning his head to see that he was getting closer to the ground. Concentrating hard, Spike's eyes changed to a reptilian form, and in a burst of green fire, he became a dragon. His dragon form is a small, purple dragon, with green frills on both sides of his face, with matching underbelly and crests that started big from the top of his head before growing small to the end of his tail, which bears the shape of an arrowhead.


[Owl City-Shooting Star]


Spike, now a dragon, did a flip as he landed on a patch of cloud, and started to fly around, using the cloud as a makeshift aircraft. Spike has always enjoyed the feel of flying, despite not having his wings yet. However, the flight he is experiencing on his cloud is perhaps the best and closest thing he has to flying on his own.

As Spike flew on with his cloud, he started descending to a river beneath him. Sticking his claw out, Spike touched the cool surface of the water, feeling the ripple running through his fingers. Spike began to fly toward another mountain, flying upward along its walls, before reaching the top of the mountain, doing a 360 as he did so. Taking it up a notch, Spike slowly stood up on two legs, with his arms out for balance. 

"Whoo hoo!" Spike cried happily, echoing throughout the mountain range. "Whoooo hoo!"

"Enjoying yourself, Spike?" a gentle voice called out.

Spike nearly fell off as his cloud came to a quick stop. After a moment of collecting himself, Spike looked behind him to see Princess Celestia herself.

"Hi mom," Spike smiled sheepishly.





The two were later flying through the night together, laughing and playing in the clouds.

"Wow," Spike panted. "I'm surprised at you mom!"

"Why's that sweetie?" Celestia asked.

"I thought with the Grand Galloping Gala coming up, you'd be all too busy to play with me, like before."

Celestia giggled as she replies, "Nothing's better than being with you Spike. You're special, more ways than one. Besides, Prince Blueblood will take care of the preparations."

"Are you sure it's a good idea to leave Blueblood in charge?" Spike asked.





"For the last time!" Prince Blueblood yelled. "We didn't order a trampoline!"

"Well you could've said that BEFORE I set it up!" a mail pony yelled.

"Don't you raise your voice to me pea-" Blueblood was interrupted when a pigeon pooped on him. "I thought I told you fools to get rid of the pigeons!"

"We were," a guard replied. "But Fluttershy's pigeon coops aren't ready yet!"

"Then buy some bird cages and-" Blueblood was cut off, when he spotted some mares walking by. "Well hello ladies," Blueblood smiled, before he got electrocuted by a storm cloud.

"Oops, my bad," a certain wall-eyed pegasus said.





"I'm sure he has everything under control," Celestia smirked mischievously.

Spike looked at his adopted mom worryingly, "Sometimes you scare me mom."

Celestia chuckled, "That's because nopony messes with your mom," With that, Celestia pulled Spike into a tightening grip. "Come here you!" Celestia then gave the young dragon a noogie.

"Oh no!" Spike cried, struggling to escape.

Once freed, mother and son both laughed happily as they run around in the clouds, until Spike tackled his mother.

"Got you now!" Spike grinned, before he was grabbed by Celestia's magic.

"Who's got who?" Celestia asked before she blew a raspberry into Spike's belly, tickling him and causing him to lose control of his powers as he changes repeatedly between a dragon and a boy.

After they had their fun, the two were later walking and hopping from clouds, before they settled and looked down on Equestria from above.

"Wow," Spike gasped in amazement. "Equestria's really pretty at night."

"I know," Celestia's smile shifted into a frown. "If only Luna was here, she would be so happy. And she would've loved you," Celestia sighed.

Spike hugged Celestia's leg, "I'm sure she will," he replied, trying his best to comfort Celestia.

Spike and Celestia both looked up at the moon and stars for a while.

Spike looked down to see the ponies in their bed, sleeping and dreaming, while some others were out playing and observing the night. Spike smiled, seeing the magic of love and friendship in Equestria being shared among the ponies, donkeys, griffins, and for him, dragons and humans alike.

Soon a waterfall of tears escaped from Spike as he got up and hugged Celestia around the neck.

Surprised, Celestia asked, "Spike? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Spike cried happily. "I'm just so happy to be here in Equestria. I love you mom!"

Celestia smiled, returning the embrace with her wings, "I love you too, son."





"MOTHER!!" Spike screamed, followed by the sound of thunder cracking.

"SPIKE!!!" Princess Celestia screamed.





Spike was later seen in bed, in human form, with his head wrapped in bandages. Princess Celestia, stood at the side of his bed, keeping a long vigil over him. Just then, Scorpan came flying into the room. The gargoyle was quickly engulfed in a fiery aura of yellow, before emerging as a well groomed man in a brown suit and a big bushy mustache.

"I came as soon as I heard Celestia," Scorpan panted. "How is he doing?"

"Barely alive," Princess Celestia replied solemnly. "He was struck in the head, but that's about it. His life is hanging on a very thin thread as it is."

"I see," The man replied as he placed his hand over the boy's head. "Poor kid. So young, to be struck by dark magic. Thankfully, it wasn't the heart as that could've been fatal, and much more devastating. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the head. There were so many precious things we wanted for him to remember, and the lessons he needed to learn. Now he no longer remembers who he is, his powers," The man then turns to the alicorn. "And even more, he no longer remembers anyone close to him, counting you."

Sadden, Celestia swallowed, trying her best to look strong, "It's only for a while. In time, he’ll get better. The same for his memories and powers. And then we can be a family again."

Scorpan shook his head, "Your highness," He began. "While it's true that Spike's memories and powers will return, it would also mean the same for the ones who attacked him earlier."

"It was me they were aiming for. Spike was trying to protect me."

"And that's the problem. You and I both know precisely what they're after, and only Spike has it. And the only way to get to him, is through you. Everyone in Equestria all know the love you and Spike have for each other. And seeing Spike like this has confirmed my fear. They're using your love to their advantage. If they were to return, I doubt it'll be the head next time."

Celestia didn't say a word. She knew Scorpan was right. She had loved Spike as a son since the day they met, but now, her son was in grave danger, because of her.

"That's why, Spike must return to Earth," Scorpan suggested.

Celestia's eyes widened at what the man had just said.

"It'll be the last place those hunters would think of looking," Scorpan explained. "Spike will remain safe until he is ready to return to Equestria."

"Then, what can I do for him in the meantime?" Celestia asked worryingly.

"There's nothing you can do, your highness."

"What? But he needs me, I'm his mother!"

"But you're also a ruler of Equestria! The ponies here need you more than Spike does."

"How could you say that?" At this point, Celestia's voice began to grow louder. "Spike's part of the family! He's one of us! Doesn't his care count as the same as every pony's? Do you not care for him than you do for the ponies?"

"Of course I care for him!" Scorpan replied. "I wouldn't teach him the martial arts if I didn't care for him! I'm only thinking what's best for him! Like you should be right now!"

"You dare to doubt my concerns for him?"

"Celestia! Please, be reasonable, he's no longer safe in Equestria! He has to return to Earth!"

"NO!" Princess Celestia cried,using the Royal Canterlot Voice, while holding the boy close with her magic. "Not him! Not now! Not after losing Luna!" A waterfall of tears escaped her eyes, "I can't stand the thought of losing him too! Spike's been the best thing, since Luna's banishment! I don't care if he's a dragon, a human, or if he has the Dragonfire! He's my son! To lose him, it's unbearable! You're taking away my little sunshine!" Celestia cried more into Spike's unconscious form, soaking his bandages with several drops of her tears.

"You won't lose him, Celestia!" Scorpan assured, comforting the princess. "It's only for a while. Maybe a year or two, until he is restored. But he won't be if he stays here. The best we can do for him is to let him live among the humans, before he is ready to come back." Celestia, sobbing lightly, looked at the man.

"He's family to me, just as much as he is family to you. But do not forget, the ponies of Equestria are also our family, and as princess of Equestria, they too are also your responsibility." Again, Celestia was silent as she cradles her unconscious boy closer. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll go with him," Scorpan assured. "I'll watch over him until he is ready. As long as I'm around the boy, I'll never let anything happen him."

Celestia was hesitant. She has known Scorpan for many long years, and knew he is meaningful to his words. She doesn't like the idea, but she trusts Scorpan. She only hopes he knew what he was doing. Reluctant, she nodded, while sharing some last, tearful nuzzles with her boy.





The Next Day


Celestia and Scorpan later stood before a portal to Earth. The royal guards came with a still comatose Spike, along with some ponies saying farewells.

Using her magic, Celestia carefully levitated the boy over to her. Taking one last look, Celestia kissed the boy on the forehead, "Good luck, Spike," Celestia shed a tear. "Be safe, my son."
> Familiar Faces? Part 1: The Bashful Butterfly and the Crystal Bookworm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


10 Years Later



[Joe Esposito-You're The Best Around]


Since their departure from Equestria, Spike and Scorpan have been living a normal life on Earth as humans in New York City. Over the years, Scorpan has raised the child well, like any surrogate, loving uncles would.

Scorpan of course knew Spike's life is in grave danger and is also aware that someday, the evils who had once tried to steal the young dragon's flame would return, and until that day comes, Spike must be ready. Therefore, every morning, they would wake up early to do some excruciating trainings of parkour and martial arts, so that Spike would learn to be adaptive to his surroundings and to be ready at all times. 

In time, Spike has grown into a handsome, resourceful, strong, compassionate, and courageous young teenager, who feels he is ready for anything. However, despite all of his uncle's precautions and intensive training the man had put the boy through, the two weren't even prepared for what was about to befall on the young boy, on his first day in Celestial High School.





Spike, dressed in a purple jacket with a hood, green flaming designs on the sleeves, matching green shirt with Chinese dragon decorations, black jeans, and carrying a large black backpack with blazing red dragon designs, was on his way to start his first year at a school called Celestial High School as a freshman, when two boys about his age came up to his sides.

One boy was fat and short, with brilliant scruffy orange hair, while the other one was tall and skinny with freckles and neatly combed moderate turquoise hair. For attires, the short one wears a black t-shirt with a picture of a white scissor imprinted on the front, dark blue baggy pants, and green sneakers with yellow stripes, while the tall one wears a green jacket over a red shirt, tan jeans, and red sneakers.

"Hey Snips, hey Snails," Spike greeted respectively. "Ready for us to begin high school?"

"Heck yeah!" the boys answered as all three of them bumped their fists out to each other.

"We can hardly wait all summer," Snips smiled. "Especially since we know we're going to have drama class!"

"Yeah," Snails replied. "We're going to be stars in movies, musicals, and so much."

"Yeah, and if we're lucky, we'll be famous and get to go to Hollywood and hang out with Sapphire Shores!"

"The Queen of Pops!" the boys squealed dreamily, while envisioning the woman in their thoughts.

"Baby steps you guys," Spike assured. "Nobody's lucky enough for that to happen."

"Says the boy who is lucky with the chicks," Snips retorted.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb with us Spike," Snails said, nudging the boy by the shoulder. "You've practically got all the girls drooling over you! And that was back when you're 7!"

"6," Spike corrected.

"Whatever!" Snails exclaimed. "It just shows that you've got something that we don't that wins all the girls over! And you've had that since you first came into town!"

Spike looked at his watch and gasped, "Guys, how about we put a pin on this subject! We're going to be late, and on our first day!"

With that, the boys all broke into a run.





At last, Spike, Snips, and Snails arrived at Celestial High School just in time. The school looked almost like a castle, with three huge towers, the middle being a large clock tower, flags flapping at the top, and a giant statue of a majestic horse planted before the main gate. Spike looked up, marveling at the beautiful details of the statue. Spike stopped when he noticed something in the glass at the base of the statue. Spike stepped up for a closer look to see......

"Spike!" Snips called, snapping the boy out of his trance. "What're you doing?"

"I was-"Spike turned back to see nothing but his reflection. "Just looking at myself." He muttered unsure. 

Spike shook his head before walking back to meet his buds, as they entered the school. Upon walking inside, the boys gasped in amazement at the beautiful interior designs of the school. To Spike, it looked as if they had just walked into a majestic city with elegant designs.

"Wow!" the boys gasped in amazement.

"It's like we're in Paris or something!" Snips said.

"I think it's England,," Snails countered. "What do you think Spike?"

"I-I-I think...." Spike looked around, hesitantly answering, "This all looks familiar. Like I was here before...."

A group of girls were passing by when they noticed the boys, Spike most of all.

"Hey, is that guy a freshman?" a girl's whispered.

"I can't tell, he's too cute!" another whispered.

"He's not cute, he's handsome."

"Yeah, he kinda is."

Their whispers didn't go unheard since Spike has excellent hearings and couldn't help but blush at what the girls had said about him. A girl was just passing by, when she took notice of Spike. She was so captivated by his appearance that she didn't look to see a "Wet Floor Sign" in front of her and slipped. Her cry didn't went unheard, as Spike all of a sudden was a blur of purple and green, and next thing he knew, he was holding the girl's hand, saving her from the fall. Needless to say, this action didn't go unnoticed as all of the students presence were all staring at the two.

"Whoa!" Snips gasped in amazement. "Did you see that?"

"Yeah," Snails replied in equal shock.

"You okay?" Spike asked in concern.

"I am now," the girl smiled, straightening herself out.

"Good," Spike smiled. "I like your hair."

"Aw, thank you," the girl smiled.

Suddenly the bell rang, signaling the start of the day.

"Gotta run!" Spike said, as he took off, leaving an infatuated girl behind.

"Hiya!" Snips smiled, attempting to flirt with the girl.





Spike breathed a sigh of relief as he finally arrived to his first class, Calculus, tired but triumphant. After a moment of composing himself, Spike took a seat at his desk in the far back, close to a window. Seeing how there's still some time to kill before class starts, Spike took out a book from his backpack and read.

While Spike was doing this, a shy girl was entering the room. She was a sophomore, with a long pink hair, moderate opal eyes, and light violet eye shadows. For attire, she wears a white tank top, a light green mini skirt with translucent pink frills at the bottom and butterfly designs that range from dark to light pinks, matching green boots with elegant white designs at the bottom, long pink socks with white polka dots, and a butterfly barrette rested in her hair.

The girl timidly made her way to her desk, which was in the back, but a few desks away to the right from Spike's. While the girl made her way to the desk, the boys in class were all gawking at her grace and beauty. However, this only made the girl even more nervous. At last, the class's teacher arrived. The teacher is a tall woman with freckles on her face, beautiful grayish harlequin eyes, with a long moderate cerise hair with lighter cerise strips that is curled at the top and bottom. For attire, the teacher wears a white dress shirt, a brown vest with yellow trimmings over, a small jade pendant, a long green skirt decorated with yellow and green flowers, and brown boots.

Seeing the teacher in class, Spike quickly put his book away, as the teacher spoke, "Good morning class."

"Good morning," the students greeted.

"Now, to those of you starting your first year at CHS. My name is Cheerilee. And I'm your teacher for this class. Any questions?" Cheerilee looked to see none of the students were raising hands before she continued, "Now before we begin with the lesson for today, let's start off by introducing ourselves, shall we?" Cheerilee asked, scanning the room. "Let's start with you."

"Me?!" the shy girl squeaked.

"Yes Ms. Shy," Cheerily answered with a nervous smile. "Please, introduce yourself to the class."

The girl gulped as she stood up from her desk, shaking nervously from all the eyes looking at her.

"Go on, young lady," Ms. Cheerilee encouraged. "Introduce yourself to the class."

"Um, hello," the girl greeted meekly. "I'm Fluttershy.

"Hello Fluttershy," everyone, including Spike, greeted loudly.

The girl jumped in fright in response to the loud greeting. Seeing how much pressure Fluttershy was in, Cheerilee nervously chuckled, "Okay, maybe that's enough for you now, Ms. Shy," Cheerilee said. "You may be seated."

Fluttershy didn't hesitate to take her seat, with her face blushing a shade of red, which she covered with her hands.

"Anyone else would like to introduce themselves?" Cheerilee asked, to which Spike responded with a raise of his hand. "Oh good, Mr. Draco."

"Draco?" Fluttershy whispered curiously, lowering her hands slightly. "Can it be?"

Spike stood up from his desk, clearing his throat, "Hey everyone," Spike greeted, while Fluttershy turned in his direction with wide eyes. "I'm-"

"SPIKE!!" Fluttershy cried happily, jumping from her seat to his.

"What the-" Spike exclaimed, as he suddenly found himself embraced by the formerly shy girl.

"I can't believe it's you!" Fluttershy exclaimed happily. "I'm so happy that we're in the same class!!"

Spike blushed a bright color of red, considering how close Fluttershy was holding him. Not to mention the many glances he was receiving from his fellow classmates and teacher.

"I take it then you two know each other?" Ms. Cheerilee asked.

Before Spike could respond, Fluttershy answered, "Uh huh, I've known Spike since we were kids! I'll never forget the time he once saved me from an awful gang of thugs."

'I did what?' Spike thought, incredulously.

The whole classroom gasped at this new piece of information. Spike could hear the male students muttering, "Whoa! You hear that? That freshman's a hero!" 

"Oh man, now we're never gonna stand a chance for her."

"Why couldn't it have been me?"





After their tenderly "reunion," the class was in session. However, while Spike was busy taking notes, he couldn't help but feel as if Fluttershy is staring at him. He doesn't recall meeting her before, yet somehow she remembers him.

'Fluttershy, Fluttershy,' Spike pondered. 'Doesn't seem to ring a bell. Yet, she seems to know me.'

Fluttershy in the meantime, confirms Spike's suspicion. While she was busy writing some notes down, she did on some occasions stole a glance at Spike, thinking, 'I can't believe it's actually him. He's grown so much, and still so cute.'

After awhile, class came to an end. All of the students were quickly packing their stuffs and were on their way for their next classes. Spike was the last to leave the room, along with Fluttershy. Just as Spike was about to exit the room, Fluttershy stopped him.

"Spike?" Fluttershy called.

"Um, yes...." Spike replied, hesitantly. "Fluttershy, was it?"

"Mmm-hmm," Fluttershy replied with a nod. Hesitant at first, she asked, "What class do you have next? Um, if you don't mind me asking."

"I just have Chemistry next class," The boy shrugged. "It's not good or anything, but...."

"Oh great! That's where I'm going next!" Fluttershy beamed, as she clasped Spike's hand with her's. "Why don't we go together?"

Enchanted by her beauty, and seeing how much she really wanted it, Spike couldn't find it in himself to say no.

As the two walk down the hall together, some other students were giving them weird looks. Intimidated, Fluttershy would cling onto Spike for protection.

'Really?' Spike thought. 'A sophomore girl like her hiding a freshman boy like me for protection?' Spike thought for a moment and mentally smiled, 'Then again, it's not half bad.'

Suddenly, a senior boy walked by and flashed a flirtatious grin at the girl, resulting Fluttershy to tighten her grip on Spike's shoulder.

"Hey!" He shouted, flinching away from her tight grip.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Fluttershy apologized, releasing the boy. "Did I hurt you?"

"I'm alright," Spike replied, looking at the girl, who looked as if she was close to tears. "How about we just hold hands. Is that alright?"

"Definitely!" Fluttershy chirped with wide eyes, eagerly grasping Spike's hand with hers. "It's nice to walk together with you, Spike!" She smiled.

'Wow, she must really like me,' Spike thought, while pondering, 'But how does she know me? And since when did I fought some thugs?'





At last, Spike and Fluttershy arrived in Chemistry Class, to see it very crowded. Class hasn't started yet, so some of the students were standing out of their desks, chatting with one another, while the rest were all in their seats, looking at their schedules, phones, and for one in particular, reading a book. Spike quickly took notice that Snips and Snails were also in the room, chatting with each other, not noticing Spike holding hands with Fluttershy.

"Thanks for walking with me Spike," Fluttershy smiled, before giving Spike a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving the boy stunned.

After a few seconds, Spike shook the shock away as he went to find his desk. Just as he was about to take a seat, a voice called out to him.

"Spike?"

Turning to his right, there sitting beside him, with a book opened on her desk, was a girl with a long moderate sapphire blue hair, with moderate violet and brilliant rose streaks, tied in a ponytail. For attire, the girl wears a light blue buttoned shirt with a pink bow tie, a dark purple mini-skirt, decorated with a large pink star, surrounded by five smaller white stars. Furthermore, for footwear, she wears black shoes, with purple leg warmers. She also wears a pair of thick glasses, framing her beautiful moderate violet eyes.

"Uh, hello...." Spike returned the greeting. "Who are you?"

"Twilight Sparkle," The girl answered, with a hopeful look on her face. "Remember me? At the library? When you....."

Suddenly, the door flung open, and a tall man dressed in black clothing stepped in. In appearance, the man has sallow skin, a large hook nose, a long, shoulder-length, greasy black hair, that framed his face, and cold, black eyes. For attire, he wore a long black coat over a black dress shirt with matching pants and shoes.

"Everyone take your seats," the man said in a quiet, yet stern voice, as he made his way towards his desk.

All of the students complied as they took their seat.

"For those of you with the faint of heart, I'm Professor Flintheart," the teacher said, eyeing down at the students, as if he was a hawk. "And to those of you, who have just started your first year at CHS, pray that you do well in my class, if you wish to stand a chance of graduation, or better yet, advance to the next level of science."

Professor Flintheart then turns his attention to Twilight, who shifted uneasily from the professor's gaze.

"However, I know for a fact that at least one of you have already hold the potential for such feat," Professor Flintheart said directly to Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle, I presume."

"Yes sir," Twilight replied nervously. "How do you know-"

"Your brother," Professor Flintheart interrupted. "Shining Armor, the fiancé of Crystal Prep's Dean, Mi Amore Cadenza. He has spoken highly of you, saying how you've maintained a perfect record of straight As in all of your subjects, before transferring here from Crystal Prep."

This resulted in a gasp and murmurs from all of the students in the classroom, to which Professor Flintheart quickly silenced with a simple, "Quiet," the professor turns his attention to Twilight again, raising his eyebrows a bit. "Well then, let's see if what he says are true. Tell me, does an Alkaline Earth Metal have a plus 2 charge?"

Hesitantly, Twilight nervously answered, "Yes, it does, sir."

"And what would I get if I mix Oxygen together with Carbon Monoxide?"

Again, Twilight stutters, "CO2."

"And what is the difference between H20 and Hydrogen Dioxide?"

Twilight thought nervously, before she answered, "Um, is that a trick question? I mean, there's no difference at all. They're exactly the same thing. And they're both the chemical formula for water."

"And speaking of, when water assembles its three forms of solid, liquid, and gas, what becomes of the molecules?"

Twilight thought for a moment, and answered, "The whole molecules in water are based on Hydrogen Bonding. When water is frozen in its solid form, the hydrogen bond causes its molecules to freeze in place, forming crystalline structure. Then, when water is in its natural state, its molecules would move around a bit, because in this state, the hydrogen bond is constantly forming and breaking apart. And lastly, in its gaseous state, the hydrogen bond is broken completely, since the molecules would keep moving around at a fast pace."

Impressed, a small smile formed on the professor's lip, "Perfect," he said, still holding his stern tone. "It appears your brother isn't at all exaggerating, Ms. Sparkle. Clearly, you've demonstrated the example of a student, passionate in her studies for success," This resulted a shy smile to form on Twilight, before Professor Flintheart's smile disappears as he continues, "However, you sounded a bit hesitant to answer. A good student must always be shown with confidence when they answer their superiors, if they are to be taken seriously."

Twilight nodded in agreement, while frowning slightly.

Professor Flintheart's eyes scan around the room as he frowned, "Well," he called, raising his voice slightly. "Why aren't you all copying this down?"

With that, all of the students complied as they pulled out their notebooks and pencils, writing down whatever they could remember of Twilight's conversation with the professor. Professor Flintheart then turns around to pull a screen down, and grabbing a remote control, turning the monitor on to display his class syllabus. While this is all happening, Twilight took the chance to look at Spike again, finding comfort as she did so. Fluttershy, who was sitting just a few desks, behind Twilight, saw this and couldn't help but feel envious.

Spike once again felt eyes glancing at him, but paid no mind to that, as he was busy scribbling away to what he had just heard. He also couldn't help but overhear Snips, three seats away from him, whispering to Snails, "Wow, what are the odds? Twilight Sparkle, a former student of Crystal Preps?"

"Very little," Snails replied, who was sitting next to Snip. "CHS and CPA don't get along so well. Just ask the guy who once tried to flirt a girl from Crystal Preps."

"Yeah, well I also hear the girls there are smoking hotter than the ones we've got here. Besides Twilight of course. I wonder why-"

Unfortunately for the two, their gossip didn't go unnoticed, as Professor Flintheart came, "Do the two of you have something you would like to share with the class?"

The two boys snapped out of their gossips and turned their head to see the disapproving look on the professor's face.

"No, sir," the boys whimpered.

The professor got in close to the boys' face. 

"Then you will do well from now on to hold your tongues til' the end of class," Professor Flintheart's voice began to raise, as he went on, "Otherwise, the both of you will get more than a month's detention. Am I clear?" The two boys nodded their heads, as the professor went back up to the desk. 

'This is one teacher you don't want to mess with,' Spike thought.

"Now then," Professor Flintheart began. "If you're all done with your notes, then let us start off the class today by taking attendance, and see who is here and who isn't," He looked down at a clipboard, "Minuette?"

"Here!" a chirpy girl with a long moderate blue hair, with a light persian bluish gray stripe, called.

"Moondancer?"

Once every students were all present and accounted for, Professor Flintheart went on giving lectures to the class requirements in accordance to his syllabus. He was strictly clear to the consequences of coming in late, as well as not accepting late homework.
> Familiar Faces? Part 2: Dragon Dodgeball
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Chemistry class, it was time for lunch. Spike was sitting at a table, eating his meal alone, when Snips and Snails came over.

"Hey Spike!" Snips called as he and Snails sat down across Spike. 

"Hey guys," Spike replied. "How've you two been?"

"Just glad to be out of that class," Snails exclaimed. "Professor Flintheart's is just evil, even for a teacher!"

"Yeah," Snips added. "You really don't want to make him mad. At least he's shown interest in Twilight."

"Yeah, lucky for her," Snails agreed. "Cause then she wouldn't have to worry about Professor Flintheart giving her that look that can just pierce through your soul," the boys shuddered, remembering the piercing stare the professor gave.

Deciding to change the subject, Spike asked, "So, besides Flintheart, how's first day treating you guys?"

"So far, it's alright," Snips began. "Although I wished something exciting would happen."

"Like what?"

"If it's not too much, then maybe some pretty girls come walking right up to us and ask if they could sit with us."

"Could we sit with you?" a quiet voice asked.

Surprised, the boys looked up to see Twilight and Fluttershy, standing before the boys, holding their food trays, and smiling, specifically towards Spike.

"Whoa! Your wish came true!" Snails gasped, before grasping and shaking the shorter boy, "Okay! Say a million dollar come raining from the sky!"

Shaking his head, Spike got up and pulled a chair for each of the girls, both of them gratefully accepting the boy's generosity.

"So," Spike started. "How've you girls been? First day of school treating you ladies well?"

"It most certainly is," Fluttershy beamed. "Even more now that we get to see you again."

Once again, Spike looked confused. Snips and Snails on the other hand were curious.

"You know Spike?" Snips asked.

"Definitely!" Fluttershy replied. "I've known him once when he saved me from a group of bullies when we were kids, and later a whole gang of thugs."

"No way!" the boys, besides Spike, shouted.

"I did what?" Spike asked.

"Well, I've known him when we first met at the Public Library of Canterlot," Twilight added, while Spike looked confused. "I was carrying so many books, I was having a hard time seeing where I was going. Suddenly, I just bumped into Spike and the books all just scattered. Spike's been a big help in finding all of the lost books, and later, he offered to help me carry some back home." Twilight pulled Spike close, much to Snips and Snails frustration and jealousy as well as Fluttershy's. "Since then, Spike's been my #1 Assistant, and I couldn't ask for anyone else."

"He was your what?" Snips and Snails shouted, catching attention from all the other students.

"Guys! icsnay-on-the-outburst-nay," Spike said through his teeth, before he turns to the girls. "I'm sorry to burst your bubbles girls, but I think you might've mistook me for someone else."

"No way," Twilight exclaimed. "We know for a fact it's really you."

"Definitely!" Fluttershy agreed. "Who else can do martial arts and look like a cute little puppy?"

Spike's face glowed a shade of red, which only grew as bright as a tomato when Fluttershy pulled him close for a nuzzle, "Wait!" Spike quickly broke away as he looked at Fluttershy, puzzled, "How do you know I study the martial arts?"

Twilight looked at Spike, puzzled, "Spike.....it's us," She explained. "We've known you since we were kids. Don't you remember?"

Before Spike could answer, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch period.

"Talk later," Spike quickly replied, carrying his lunch tray away, leaving the two girls and boys at the table.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy looked to her friend in concern.

"...He still can't remember us," Twilight said sadly.

"Hey girls!" Snips called, doing a fighting stance. "Spike isn't the only one who can do kung fu!"

"Yeah! Look!" Snails added, doing an awkward pose. "We're white belts!"

With that, the two boys threw out some kicks and punches, before they accidentally launch their lunch trays up in the air and onto the other students. Everyone glared angrily at the boys, before they proceeded to beat them up, while Twilight and Fluttershy escaped, unnoticed.





Spike was later at the school's gymnasium for P.E. He was  still thinking about Twilight and Fluttershy, puzzled over what they had said.

'I can't seem to remember meeting those girls,' he thought. 'Yet, those two seem to remember me. On top of that, they both knew I've studied martial arts. But since when have I ever used them in an actual fight? And where have I met them? And what is Canterlot? It sounds like a blend of Camelot and canter.'

Spike didn't have time to think when more students started flooding into the gymnasium. Among them were five boys who were all about his age. They are Button Mash, Rumble, Featherweight, Tender Taps, and surprisingly, Pipsqueak.

Button Mash is a nerdy boy with a moderate scarlet hair with moderate orange streaks, moderate vermilion eyes, light brown skin, and speaks with raspy voice. For attire, he wears a moderate orange jacket, over a minecraft t-shirt, white tanned baggy pants, black socks, red and white sneakers, a yellow, white, and red striped beanie with a green propeller, and on some occasions, a fake, bushy, Luigi mustache.

Rumble is a young athletic boy with two shades of dark grayish sapphire blue for his hair color. For attire, he wears a light bluish gray jacket over a dark blue shirt, gray cargo pants, and dark sapphire sneakers.

Featherweight is a thin boy with a low cut, light brown hair with a lighter streak, and buck teeth shown. His attires are a simple white shirt, long blue jeans, and red sneakers.

Tender Taps is a thin boy with a smooth, grayish and moderate mulberry hair, and moderate purple eyes. His attires are a brilliant orange shirt, black short jeans, and black shoes with long white socks with red stripes.

Pipsqueak, the shortest of the five, has matching hair colors with Featherweight, has deep reddish brown eyes, and speaks with a Cockney accent. For attires, he wears an open, dark blue vest, over a white shirt with the picture of a red tailed hawk imprinted on the front, short brown pants, and matching shoes with white socks.

"Spike!" Rumble called, followed by the boys.

"Hey!" Spike replied happily, running over, exchanging fist bumps and high fives.

Snips and Snails later arrived, covered in foods, something to show for their clumsy feats of martial arts.

"Whoa!" Button exclaimed. "What happened to you guys?"

Snips and Snails only reply were a grumble as they took a seat, away from everyone else. The rest of the gang shrugged before getting back to catching up with another.

"So how've you guys been?" Spike asked.

"Brilliant!" Featherweight replied. "The New York Times Article has never been better with me on the job," Featherweight reached into his backpack and pulled out a rolled up newspaper, unrolling the article to show, "Black Rhinoceros escaped from zoo. Jeweled Thief: Rough Diamond caught and currently behind bars, courtesy of one Bad Seed. Assistant paleontologist Petunia Paleo discovers 1,000 year old Deinosuchus fossil in New York sewers."

"Wow!" the boys exclaimed.

"These are great stories, Feather," Spike said.

"How did you get them all?" Pip asked.

"Eh, I have my sources," Feather winked.

As the boys continued to fill each other in on what happened with each of them over the summer, Spike suddenly hears a raspy voice whispering, "AJ, look! It's Spike!"

Another voice spoke in a southern drawl accent, followed, "No way! It's the little fella himself."

"Well, he's not so little anymore."

Curious, Spike turned his head around and sees two girls, whispering to each other, while staring at him. The first one has a rainbow colored hair, with beautiful moderate cerise eyes. For attires, she wears a dark blue jacket over a white t-shirt with black trimmings and a cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt imprinted on the front, a pink mini skirt with white stripes over black shorts, long rainbow stockings under the boots that matched her jacket, and rainbow bracelets.

The other has blonde hair, tied in a ponytail with a red band, a light brown stetson hat, freckles on her face, and beautiful moderate sap green eyes. For attires, she wore a simple white silk shirt with green patches on the shoulders, a mini jean skirt with pockets at the side, a brown belt with the buckle shaped like an apple, brown cowgirl boots decorated with apples.

When the girls noticed Spike looking at them, they smiled as the waved their hands to him. Spike uneasily waved back, before turning his attention back to his posse.

"How about you Spike?" Rumble asked. "Anything happened to you as of late?"

Before Spike could answer, the school bell suddenly rang and the floor shook, with the students all bouncing in their seats to the beating sounds of heavy footsteps, before walking through the door was a really tall, buffed man, with buzz cut hair.

"Whoa! That's Iron Will!" Rumble gasped.

"Iron Will?" Snip asked. "The Iron King? The wrestler? No way! He's a legend!"

"He's a monster!" Rumble replied. "Just ask the guy who broke his own leg when he first kicked the man! He's got bones made of steel!"

"What'd you expect from the man who gets all his teachings from Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris?" Button asked. "He practically invented the famous falcon punch!"

"Oh yeah?" Pipsqueak began. "Well I heard, that while serving in the military, he rescued some hostages from a band of terrorists, using nothing, but his own bare hands! And when the terrorists tried to behead him, their blades broke!"

"Oh d-d-d-d-dear," Featherweight stuttered frighteningly.

[Survivor-Eye Of The Tiger]

"ATTENTION!" the coach hollered. "FALL IN!"

The students complied as they got up from the bleachers,walked down and stood on the gym floor.

"Alright troops, listen up!" Iron Will began. "Coach Iron Will don't want to hear no cry or cheer, til Iron Will say," Iron Will quickly whipped out a ball, "DODGEBALL!!"

"YEAH!!" Bulk Bicep, a really buffed junior who's almost as big as Iron Will, hollered.

"Iron Will like your spirt soldier!" Iron Will said to the student. "But it takes more than muscles and 'YEAHs' to impress Iron Will!"

"YEAH!!"

"So, Iron Will will divide you students into teams of two! Rookies vs Goodies!"

"Hey coach!" a senior jockey called. "Can we get extra credits for hitting those two?" He said while pointing accusingly at Snips and Snails. "My girlfriend's told me about them, and I'm aiming to show punks like them what happens when they peep on my girl!"

"YIPE!" the boys in question screamed, as disapproving glances, mostly from the girls, were being shot towards them.

Spike and the rest of his gang shook their heads, shameful at the two.

"Why did we ever risk our neck for those two at Crystal Prep?" Button asked.

"They just never learned," Spike muttered.

"Very well," Iron Will replied. "Like you, Iron Will has respect for the ladies. But peep on the ladies, IRON WILL GIVES YOU THE HAZIES!!" With a blow of his whistle, "HIT THE PIGS!"

With that, a rough game of dodgeball has just begun.

Snips and Snails both ran around the room, frantically trying to dodge the balls.	

"C'mon guys!" Spike called out. "Just do what Tender Tap is doing!"

The said boy was listening to some music in his headphone, while dancing and skillfully dodge all of the balls thrown at him.

Snips and Snails tried to do the same, but no matter how hard they danced, they kept getting hit in the chest, the rear, the stomach, and worst of all, their tenders.

Iron Will stood, glaring disapproving at the boys, "Iron Will's seen London. Iron Will's seen France," Iron Will began. "BUT IRON WILL'S NEVER SEEN A CLUMSY DANCE!! GET UP AND GIVE IRON WILL 20 LAPS! NOW!!!"

The two boys complied as they got up and jogged around the gym.

"You know Snips," Snails panted. "I think I'd rather have detention from Professor Flintheart right now!"

"Me too!" Snips panted.

Rumble in the meantime was having a one on one fight with a senior athlete boy, who happens to be his brother, Thunderlane. Thunderlane threw several balls at his little brother, who dodge them all with some skillful evasive moves he learned from the former. Thunderlane smiled, "You sure ain't a squirt anymore."

"Not today brother of mine," Rumble smirked. "I know all your tricks."

"Oh really?" With that, Thunderlane threw two balls. One was at a basketball hoop, and the other at Rumble who leaped backwards.

"You missed!" Rumble blew a raspberry, only to get his words eaten when the Ball from before rolled from the hoop and conked him on the head, knocking the boy out of the game.

"Not all my tricks rookie," Thunderlane laughed, before he was hit in the stomach by a ball, courtesy of Button Mash.

"He who laughs last!" Button smirked, just before he spotted a beautiful girl about his age with grayish mulberry hair with light, grayish rosy streaks don up in curls, sparkling harlequin eyes. For attires, she wore a white t-shirt with pink strips, red velvet jacket, a long yellow skirt, and red boots. Needless to say, Button was smittened.

"Wow," he sighed lovingly. "Who's that girl?"

Before Button knew it, a ball was heading in his direction.

"Button look out!" Rumble called from the stands.

Just as the boy was about to be struck, Spike quickly ran in and shoved the boy out of the way.

Button gasped, "What happened?"

"I just saved ya from a nasty hit, that's what," Spike answered, helping the boy up.

Spike quickly grabbed some nearby balls as he he threw some of them at his opponents, while keeping one as a shield. As he did so, Spike took notice of the girls from before watching him with smiles as they chased him down with balls.

"Easy there girls! Why are you only interested in me?" Spike asked, dodging their attacks.

"We've been wanting to see you again since you left," the rainbow headed girl smirked. "We haven't seen you for like ten years, Spike."

"10 years?" Spike asked.





The game went on, until at last, Spike was the only one left of his team, while on the other side were only the girls and Bulk Bicep.

"We've got you now, Spike!" the rainbow haired girl smirked. "You're going down!"

"Bring it on!" Spike said challengingly, while thinking, 'Whoever you are.'

Bulk Biceps threw a ball that nearly got Spike had he not jumped out of the way in time.

The rainbow girl threw a ball up in the air, jumped up, did a flip and kicked the ball, causing it to fly as a flaming cannonball at Spike, who stepped to the side as the ball zipped past him and smashed into the wall, leaving a slight dent.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. "That could've been me!"

"Easy Dash!" the blonde girl said. "Remember what Twilight said. He's still a bent out of shape."

"Relax AJ," the girl named Dash replied. "I'm only getting him warmed up."

'So those girls are friends with Twilight and Fluttershy!' Spike thought. 'Guess that explains how they know me,' Another ball was lobbed at him, which he dodged. 'But why do they keep acting like they've known me?'

Spike picked up another ball and threw it, while kicking another towards the girls, but they were skillfully blocked by Bulk Biceps who was using some other balls to knock the balls away.

"YEAH!" the junior hollered.

Spike reached out for another ball, only to see he was out.

"Uh oh!" Spike whimpered, as the girls and Bulk Biceps lobbed more balls at him.

Spike narrowly dodged all of the balls thrown at him, with only one touching him by the hair.

'This is a loss cause,' Spike thought. 'There's only me and three of them. On top of that, one of them is about Iron Will's size and strength. Who do I top that?'

"It is not the greatest strength that wins," Scorpan's voice echoed. "But the strongest will."





A younger Spike was being lobbed with tennis balls, courtesy of his uncle Scorpan.

"Thrashing your arms around isn't blocking Spike," Scorpan lectured. "It's showing you have poor aiming. The enemy doesn't tell you where they're going to strike."

"Well, it's hard to protect yourself from tennis balls without a racket!" Spike yelled in frustration. "I mean, how can I block against a barrage of a thousand tennis balls with just two arms? It's impossible! I can't win!"

"You can't win with that kind of thinking," Scorpan replied calmingly. "An angry mind is a narrow mind. Whenever you're angry, you're only thinking about what you can do to somebody. But not what could happen to you."

Spike looked at his uncle in confusion, "But doesn't anger make me strong?"

Scorpan shook his head, "No it doesn't. It makes you think you're strong, when in reality it's burning out your mind. Wherever your mind goes, your body follows. And when that happens, it's the perfect chance for your enemies to strike you down."

Spike nodded, understanding what his uncle is saying, "But how does that help me against a barrage of tennis balls thrown at me?" he asked.

"Rather than using your aggression to fuel your fight and take your enemies head on, you need to let your mind flow freely. It'll allow you to adapt to the situation better and you'll find the solution," As an example, Scorpan brought young Spike to an overflowed stream of water, filled with dead leaves and broken twigs, where a rock was the source of the clogging. "Like this clogged stream of water, your mind is so pent up with rage that it could hardly think clearly, making the answers unclear. However, if you are willing enough to let it all go, your mind is more clearer and has more room for you to think when you're adapting to the situation you are in. That's why we say 'go with the flow.'" To prove his point, Scorpan removed the rock, releasing the clogged water, relieving the other side of twigs and leaves.

"Yes Uncle," Spike nodded as he resumed his training, only this time, Spike remained calm as he dodged the tennis balls being fired at him, until at last his Uncle ran out of tennis balls.





[The Seven Deadly Sins OST-1 Perfect Time]


'Go with the flow,' Spike repeated his uncle's words in his thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, Spike calmed himself as he felt more relaxed and stabled.

"He's suddenly looking calmer now," AJ spoke.

"That's what they say about cobras before they strike," Dash replied.

Bulk Biceps threw another ball toward Spike.

Spike reacted quickly as he ducked his head down and lept to the side, dodging another ball from the girls and Bulk.

"Get him!" Dash shouted as she, AJ, and Bulk all threw their balls after Spike, who kept a clear mind as he dodged the balls before spotting an opening. As Bulk Bicep threw his ball, Spike dodged to the side and threw another straight to the boy's knee.

Dash turned to Bulk, "Sorry Bulk, looks like you're out."

"Oh man!" Bulk groaned as he sat down on a bleacher.

"C'mon, Dash!" one of Dash's teammates called from the stands. "Hit him!"

The girls kept on throwing tirelessly, while Spike kept on skillfully dodging them all.

"Get him!" Rainbow shouted, as she threw more balls at Spike, who repeatedly dodged every one of them.

Applejack kicked a fast ball at Spike, who blocked it with another ball, while still being forced back about seven feet away from where he once stood. Seeing Spike disoriented from the impact, Dash took the chance to get him, but Spike rolled to the side, before he spin kicked a ball towards Dash. Dash dodged to the side as the ball flew past her, and knocked AJ's hat off. As the girl bent down to pick her hat up, Spike, aiming for Dash, threw a ball which missed the rainbow haired girl and got AJ in the rear, which resulted in a surprise yelp from the girl. Spike gasped, along with his boys, Dash, Iron Will, and the rest of the students present as the girl turned her head, looking at Spike with a surprised look on her face.

"Oh I'm so sorry," Spike stuttered. "I was aiming for her, but she-"

The girl surprisingly smiled as she put her hat on and walked back to the bleacher, without another word.

Dash looked back at Spike, "That was a clever move on your part kid," she said. "But you've made a big mistake. Cause now, you're left to face me!"

With that, the girl tossed some balls up in the air as she jumped up, did several spin kicks, and launched the balls at Spike, who narrowly dodged some of the balls, while blocking most of them with two balls he used as shields. Remembering a trick his uncle once taught him, Spike bounced a ball on the floor, before doing a roundhouse kick and sent it flying towards the rainbow girl. Dash stepped to the side, dodging the ball before looking back at Spike with shock as the boy look back at the girl, tired but confident. Suddenly, unknown to Spike, his eyes shined a blazing fire of green and his pupil became reptilic.

'There you are Spike,' Dash thought happily.

"HIT HIM!" one of the athletes shouted at Dash.

Snapping back into reality, Dash quickly hurled one last ball at the boy, who surprisingly caught it. Suddenly, in his subconscious state, Spike spun around in a tornado, before launching the ball as a flaming cannonball towards the girl. Dash tried to block the ammo, but it was so strong that she was launched back into the bleachers.

"I'm okay," Dash groaned.

Spike's boys ran up to him,"Spike! That was awesome! What was that? How do you do that?"

"I don't know....." Spike groaned, his eyes turning normal, before he went over to Rainbow Dash, holding his hand out.

The girl gratefully accepted it, as he helped her up.

"Good game, Dash," Spike said.

"Same to you Spike," Dash smirked. "I'm glad you still remember some of your mad skills."

Before their talk could go on any further, Iron Will blew his whistle.

The students all lined up in a singled filed lines.

"Alright troops!" Iron Will lectured. "From your performances today, Iron Will has seen better! But on a brighter note, Iron Will does see some great potentials in some of you!" Iron Will said, shooting looks at Spike, Dash, AJ, Bulk Biceps, and some others. "And for the rest of you," he towered over Snips and Snails, both looked as if they're about to soil themselves. "IRON WILL HAS NEVER SEEN THE SADDEST BUNCH IN HIS LIFE!! If you wanna pass this class, SHOW IRON WILL YOU'RE NOT MADE OF GLASSSSSSS!!"

"Yes sir," Snips and Snails whimpered.

Everyone, including Spike, all resisted the urge to laugh at the two's misfortune.





After collecting his backpack, along with Iron Will's class syllabus, Spike was walking out of the gym after his posse, when two voices called out to him.

"Spike!" he turned around to see the girls from before running up to him.

"Oh, hey girls," he greeted. "What's up?"

"Nothing but my hat," the AJ joked.

Spike chuckled sheepishly, "Listen, about what happened-"

"Oh  it's alright," the girl replied. "It's all in good fun, right?"

"Yeah," Wanting to change the subject, Spike began, "So um, who might you girls be? I don't think I got your names, yet you already know who I am."

"Shoot yer right," the blonde girl gasped, before clearing her throat. "My name's Applejack. And it's a pleasure to see you again Spike."

"And I'm Rainbow Dash," Dash said. "And like AJ here said, it's awesome to see ya again buddy!"

Spike looked at the two in confusion, "Have we really met before?" he asked. "Because I'm sorry, I don't remember seeing either of you girls before."

"We've known you more than you know, Sugarcube," Applejack replied sadly.

"Yeah, we've been....." Rainbow Dash was interrupted by the ringing of the school bell.

"Yikes, gotta go!" Spike exclaimed as he took off. "Bye now!"

The two girls looked sadly as the boy left.
> Familiar Faces? Part 3: Discord, Drama, Disguise, and Dance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike arrived at his next and final class of the day.

"Drama class," Spike smiled. "I can't wait to show them all my stuff."

"Spike!" a voice called, causing Spike to turn and see a tall boy walking over to him.

Judging by his height, the boy was initially thought to be a senior, but in reality he's really sophomore with an extra growth in his steps. The boy's hair were a mixture of blonde and brunette. For attires, he wears a long brown robe with blue feathers covering some purple frills at the shoulder, over a white dress shirt with frills at the end of the sleeves under a brown buttoned vest, a glove that resembles an eagle on the left hand, a cat glove on the right, long red pants with white patches, a green dragon boot on the right foot, and a brown normal shoe on the left. He is Drake Von Equestrius, or as his friends call him......

"Discord!" Spike exclaimed happily.

The two shared a high five, before doing fist bump, followed by a secret handshake. While the two were doing this, a hooded figure in blue robes with stars snuck into class.

"So, you ready to put on a show to knock 'em dead?" Discord asked, punching Spike's shoulder.

"You know it," Spike smiled, taking a seat. "Hey what the?" Spike exclaimed as his seat began to move. The desk soon stood up, before revealing itself to be a boy, about Spike's age, with spiky black hair, icy blue eyes, dressed in a black jacket, over a gray shirt with a vector image of a scorpion, black jeans, and matching shoes.

"Thorax!" Spike cheered.

"Spike!" Thorax greeted, as he and the boys went in for a tenderly embrace.

"I was wondering when I would meet the Master of Disguise again," Spike smiled.

"Yo bug man!" Discord greeted as he and the boy shook hand. "Haven't seen you in many moons, give me some appendages!" Thorax complied as he and Discord share a high five. "Yeah!"

While the two boys were getting reacquainted, Spike sat down in his desk, to find a letter that reads, "Look up."

"SURPRISE!" A flash of confetti went up in Spike's face and a girl appeared before him.

"BWAH!!" Spike yelled, as he fell out of his chair, before he got back up, repeatedly beating his chest.

The girl was a sophomore with a brilliant cerise, bouncy, puffy, cotton candy-like hair, and pale, light grayish cerulean eyes. For attires, she wears a light blue jacket over a white t-shirt with purple trimmings and violet heart imprinted on the front, matching mini skirt with three balloons, two light blue and one yellow, a dark purple silk ribbon tied into a bow around her waist, light blue boots with white laces, each with pink bows at the top.

The girl let out an adorable giggled before she sang, "I'm the P to the Inkie, to the P to I to E. And while I'm at it Spikey," the girl quickly grabbed Spike by the shoulders and shook, "WON'T YOU PLEASE BE FRIENDS WITH ME?!!!" the girl took a moment to catch her breath before she finished, "I'm Pinkalicious!"

"Um, nice to meet you," Spike began. "Pinkalicious."

The girl giggled, "No, no silly. I said I'm Pinkalicious. My name is Pinkie Pie!" the girl smiled. "But you can also call me Pinkamena Diana Pie if you want me to make you into a cupcake," Pinkie giggled again as Spike looked at her disturbingly, "No that's silly! I'll make you a cupcake if you call me Pinkamena Diana Pie."

"Well then," Discord smirked. "Pinkamena Diana Pie, I command you to make me a chocolate cupcake, wth cotton candy icing, peppermint sprinkles, raspberry juice for the fillings, and a pastry from Abyssinia."

"Sold!" Pinkie smiled, presenting the said cupcake and pastry before a baffled Discord.

"Whoa!" Thorax and Spike gasped.

Discord shrugged for a moment as he accepted the cupcake and pastry from Pinkie and ate them to his heart's content, "Mmm, not bad," Discord muffled. "You're alright girl. You might make a decent assistant for moi."

"I like you too Discord," the girl squealed. "I can never get enough of your cotton candy chocolate milkshakes!"

"You two know each other?" Spike asked.

"Oh sure," Pinkie answered. "Next to Cheese Sandwich, Discord's a brilliant party planner and a great magician to entertain the partygoers!"

"Not as brilliant as the Great and Powerful Trixie!" In a puff of smoke, a girl dressed in a purple, starry magician robe and hat, appeared.

The girl is also a sophomore with silver hair and dark grayish violet eyes. For attire, the girl wears a purple star barrette with gold trimmings in her hair, blue hoodie with light blue stars and gold frills at the bottom and end of her sleeves, purple mini skirt with light aqua blue sparkling trimmings at the hem of her skirt. For footwear, she wore blue boots, with the tops colored purple with a single yellow stripe, the toes colored with the matching purple and a white star. 

"Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by human eyes!" the girl named Trixie declared dramatically, as she waved her cape and a box suddenly appeared and two life-sized puppets dressed in clown suits jumped out.

"She truly is the great and powerful," the tall puppet said.

"And the whole world!" the short one said.

Trixie soon noticed Discord and scowled. "Why Drake Von Equestrius..." she said begrudgingly.

"Trixie Lulamoon," Discord replied in an equal tone.

"Snips and Snails?" Spike asked, taking notice of the "puppets."

"Help us!" Snips whispered.

"What happened to you guys?"

"We were just passing by the girls locker room when she jumped out of nowhere, kidnapped us, and forced us in these silly costumes!" Snails explained.

"Be silence!" Trixie commanded, while Spike shook his head in shame, knowing what really happened to those two. "So you must be Spike Draco." Trixie said, looking flirtatious at Spike.

"Yes," Spike answered, while looking nervous as the girl walks around him, eyeing him up and down. "What're you doing?"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie likes what she sees," Trixie smiled. "Trixie can tell that you would make an excellent assistant for her in her show biz."

"I'm flattered, but I've already had another thespian role in mind," Spike smiled. "Oh and as deserving as it is for those two, I'd appreciate it if you would let them go."

Trixie pondered for a moment and shrugged, "If that is what you wished. Then Trixie shall abide." Trixie clapped her hands as she said, "Slaves begone!"

"Thank you Spike!" the boys said, before they bolted out of their costume and into their desks.

"Now with those two gone," Trixie began, draping over Spike's shoulder, much to Pinkie's envy. "Care to reconsider?"

"Sorry, but answer's still no," Spike replied.

"Ooh! How about me!" Pinkie smiled. "I'd love to help out in your magic shows! I love to make the audience smile! And I even one time made Twilight smiled after Spike left us for a new home."

Spike, not bothering to ask, thought, 'Now five girls remember me, but I don't?'

Trixie turned to the pink haired girl, "Oh, you're a friend of Twilight?" she glared. "Well, Trixie can clearly see that you're a no good for nothing nobody like Twilight Sparkle ever was."

"Hey, y'know what? Just leave her alone!" Discord said. "Gosh, you haven't changed since the time I beat you in that game of Magic Off at Magi-Con." Trixie scowled as Discord continues, "Hey Spike, Pinkie, don't pay any attention to Trixie Pixie."

"How dare you speak that name!" Trixie growled, putting her face close to Discord's.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again! You always have been and always will be, a Wheezie! You know why? Because you've got a Wheezie laugh!"

"No I don't!"

"Yes!" With that, Discord surprisingly did a perfect imitation of  Trixie's voice as he goes around laughing like the said dragon from PBS's classic Dragon Tale.

Trixie with her face red in embarrassment protested, "No stop it! Stop that! Stop that at once!"

"Hey everyone!" Discord said, still doing Kathleen Barr's voice. "I'm Trixie! This is my laugh and I LOOOOOOOOOOVE it~!"

"No I don't!" Trixie continued to protest. "That doesn't sound anything like my laugh!"

"Hah! Not so 'Great and Powerful!'" Discord said, returning to his normal voice. "Are ya?"

"Alright!" Trixie shouted. "We're in high school now! I demand you stop acting like a child or I'll tell Principal Raven Inkwell on you and have you expelled."

"I don't think so, Trixie," Discord retorted. "I'm a grade above you. I'll just expel you. In fact, you're expelled! There, I just expelled you!"

"What?! That's absurd! You can't expel Trixie! We can't expel each other! Can we?"

"I won't pretend to know," Discord replied with a smug grin.

"Well, then I will," Trixie huffed. "Trixie vanish!" With that, Trixie threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared.

"She's gone!" Pinkie gasped. "Oh wait, there she is...." she said when she spotted Trixie hiding behind her desk.

Knowing Trixie's out of earshot, "You know you're only a sophomore, right?" Spike whispered to Discord.

"I know that," Discord smirked. "But she doesn't know that." Discord winked as Spike took his seat, in front of Discord's and Thorax's, to read his book, when entering the room was beautiful girl with a purple hair done up in elegant curls, light blue eyeshadows, and beautiful blue eyes. Her outfit consists a light blue fleecy shirt, a purple skirt with three blue diamonds on it, a purple belt on her waist with two blue crescent moons decorated at the front, gold bracelets on her wrists, purple boots with fuzzy fabrics at the top, each adorned with a diamond.

All of the boys, in the room were captivated by the girls's appearance. Spike could hear all the boys saying, "Whoa check that girl out!"

"She's an angel!"

"She's got a crazy figure."

"I'd give her 90 points."	

The girl looked, before she spotted Spike in the crowd. She smiled as she made her way towards him.

"Whoa, her smile's the treasure from heaven."

"She's heading my way!"

However, much to the boys' dismay, she went up to Spike.

"What the-why him?"

Spike didn't took notice, until the girl cleared her throat, snapping him out of his reading as he turns to see the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.

'Am I in heaven or am I really seeing an angel?' Spike thought.

"Hello, Spikey-Wikey," the girl greeted.

Confused, Spike turns his head around, to see no one but Discord and Thorax, "She's talking to you," Thorax whispered.

"Me?" he mouthed, pointing to himself.

"Of course, you," the girl giggled. "I could never forget the face of my hero."

"I'm your hero?" Spike asked, with his heart beating rapidly. "Hold it!" he said, snapping out of the moment. "How'd you-Wait, don't tell me. We were friends once?"

"Yes, we were," the girl replied. "I'm Rarity. You and I once had a dance at the..."

Before any of them continue their conversation, the door flung open and a woman in a white dress walked in, singing, "Good Morning class!"

"Sapphire Shores!" a girl shouted. "The queen of pops!"

Soon, the whole room was filled with gasps and fan girlish screaming, mainly from Snips and Snails, as the popstar herself walked to her desk.

"Take your seats please," Sapphire Shores sang.

"Talk later?" Spike asked, turning to the girl.

"But of course," Rarity replied. "Duty calls darling."

With that, Rarity flashes a flirty wink at Spike before she left, sashaying to her desk, next to Pinkie's.

"Damn Spike!" Discord exclaimed. "You're a magnet for chicks!"

"Why didn't that work when I dressed up as him?" Thorax asked sarcastically.

"I don't know guys," Spike muttered. "The way these girls interacted with me, clearly I'm missing something."





After the classroom was settled, Sapphire Shores resumed lecturing to the class of her reasonings for teaching the class, it's syllabus, and the shows that the school would be holding in the following weeks.

"So starting today, you will address me as Ms. Shores!" Sapphire Shores announced. "And I'll be sure to teach y'all everything you need to know about being a thespian, so that one of these days, you will have the chance to star in the school's shows we'll be having this year!"

With that, a chorus of opera was played, when Sapphire Shores directed the students to some musical posters.

"What was that?" Spike asked.

Discord simply shrugged as the teacher went on, "Now then. How's about we start by introducing ourselves and our special talents?" Sapphire Shores looked before she picked, "Let's start off with....."

"Me?" Discord asked hopefully.

"Discord?" Thorax asked.

"Um, yes," Sapphires replied. "Seeing how eager you are, please come on up and introduce yourself."

Everyone clapped their hands as Discord walked up on stage.

Discord cleared his throats as he introduces himself dramatically, "Hello everyone. First off, I'm Drake Von Equestrius. But you can all call me, Discord, Magician of Magicians, Man of a Thousand Voice, the Master of Chaos, at your service! What do you wish of me?" In a flash of light, Discord was dressed as a wrestler, "The ever impressive!" Another flash of light and Discord was inside chest, "The long contained!" Another flash of light and Discord was sitting in a chair with a puppet of himself, "And often imitated, but never......"

With a snap of his finger, multiple Discords randomly popped out of nowhere, all the while saying, "duplicated."

The spotlight shines on the real Discord, with a cane as he said, "the one and only Lord of Chaos!" Then, Discord did his voice impersonation of Ed Sullivan while all his duplicates clapped and whistled, "Right here, direct from the chaos. Right here for your enjoyment of magic performance, thank you."

"Yes very good Discord," Sapphire Shores smiled. "Your performance clearly shows your talents and enthusiasm befitting for a magician."

"That's absurd!" Trixie shouted. "Everyone around here knows that I am the best. For nobody is greater than the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

"Oh yeah?!" Discord asked, conjuring up a hat. "Try pulling a rabbit out of the hat why don't you?"

"Fine!" With that, Trixie cleared her throat and declares, "Behold as I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, pull out a white rabbit." Clearing her throat, Trixie chanted, "Fruita, voota, zoot!" She placed her hand into the hat, "And observe, a ra-"

MEOW

"Ah oh my god!" Trixie and Discord screamed, with an angry white cat, clamping its jaws on Trixie's sleeve.

"Opal!!" Rarity screamed as she ran up on stage to retrieve her pet. "Oh my darling Opal!" Rarity soon noticed the looks she was getting from both her classmates and Sapphire Shores. "Sorry," she blushed as she went back into her seat, with her cat, whom she stowed back into her backpack.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Discord announced while holding up Trixie's hand. "The Self-Absorbed and Below Average Trixie may not have pulled out a white rabbit. But she did manage to pull out a very angry, white tiger from the hat. Let's give her a round of applause."

With that, everyone all clapped their hands. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to quench Trixie of her ire, as she was still steaming with her face turned red and looking angrily at Discord, who gave her a trollish grin.





After Discord and Trixie's introduction, the rest of the class had their turns to introduce themselves, putting lots of passion and pep while showing off their talents. Thorax even did a little musical number while showing off his talent as the Master of Disguise.


Master of Disguise - Stefan Karl


However, when it comes to Snips, Snails, and a fellow procrastinator, Zephyr Breeze, the three were too busy ogling at all the girls and Sapphire Shores that they couldn't get their acts straight and they failed miserably to impress the class.





Soon, it was Rarity's turn to introduce herself to the class.

"Hello, I'm Rarity, pleased to meet you all," Rarity greeted. "My speciality would be designing clothes and costumes. As I always say, fashion is a way to start showing what's in your heart."

With a smile, Rarity broke out into a musical number of her own. Sapphires Shores and the whole classroom, besides Trixie, were all captivated by the girl's voice, as well as her passion of dressmaking.


Life is a Runway - Rarity


During the song, Pinkie came and threw some sparkling confetti over Rarity, and the girl did a quick change and stood before the audience in a purple áo dài with pink cherry blossoms at the end of the sleeves, sparkling purple gems that decorated the top of the dress, pink clouds at the hem, and white pants decorated with a purple dragon. Needless to say, all of the boys were all staring loves trucked at the girl, but not as much Spike was.

"I hope my dressmaking skills appeal to you all." Rarity smiled, while directing her eyes toward Spike, who's jaws were left hanging in awe.

"Very good Ms. Rarity," Sapphire Shores smiled, while clapping her hands. "Your songs and clothing designs have clearly said it all. I can tell you, I'm already recommending you to all of my fellow thespians. They'll be looking forward to working with you."

"Thank you Ms. Shores," Rarity smiled, walking back down from the stage and into her desk, but not before she shot another flirty wink at Spike.

Spike's face went completely red as hearts began to magically appear around him.

"Spike?" Thorax called worryingly for his friend, while Discord rolled his eyes.

"Pinkie Pie," Sapphire Shores called.

"Okie-dokie-lokie," the girl cheered as she skipped all the way up on stage, pulled a boombox out of her hair, turned a music on, and sang her musical number.


Smile - Pinkie Pie


Everyone in class couldn't help but smile and dance along with her song.





Many students later

"And last we've got Spike Draco!" Shores sang.

Everyone all turned their eyes on the boy as he makes his way up on stage.

"Hey everyone," Spike greeted casually. "I'm Spike, and my speciality would have to be dancing. Breakdancing, tap dancing, hip hop, you name 'em."

Rarity and Pinkie smiled, as the both of them recalled having a dance with the boy before.

"Really?" Sapphire Shores asked. "Care to show us some moves?"

"Okay," Spike complied. "But first, someone give me a beat."

"Ooh! Let me!" Pinkie exclaimed, pulling the boombox from her hair and played a song. Feeling the music, Spike started to dance with the beat, while, surprisingly, sang fluently with the Cantonese lyrics.


Aaron Kwok - Para Para Sakura 


"Come and dance with me," Were the only english lyrics Spike sang.

When Spike sang those words, Rarity, Pinkie, and some of the girls in the room couldn't help but blush, while feeling the urge to comply.

Rarity sighed, 'Oh how I've longed to dance with you again.'

This went on until the music stopped abruptly, snapping Spike out of his dance mode. Startled, Spike lost his balance and fell off the stage. However, Spike quickly saved himself by landing on one of his hand, launching himself off the ground, before doing a flip, and landed on his feet. Everyone gasped at his last performance.

"Spike!" Sapphire Shores asked in surprise. "What was that?"

"I don't know. I didn't mean to fall off the stage, I was..."

"No, no, I mean that last stunt you pulled off. What was that?"

"Oh, just something my uncle taught me," Spike smiled. "I saw it at an Asian show, with my uncle, and saw one of the actors doing a stunt like this. Inspired, I practiced it with my uncle to get it right and hopefully, I could use it on stage. And it also helps to save your life when you fall off the stage too."

"Well I'd have to say Mr. Draco, that your uncle has taught you well," Sapphire Shores smiled. "You're more of a dancer than you think. You've got quite the talent there."

"Thanks ma'm," Spike smiled as he walked back to his desk, while getting positive compliments from his peers as well as loving stares from the girls, mainly two in particular.
> The Dragon Awakens
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The school bell rang, signalling the end of the day as the students all flooded their way out of class and straight for the exit.

"Until we meet again," Discord bowed, disappearing in a flash of light.

"Well, good riddance with him!" Trixie scowled, before she handed Spike a card with a smile, "My card." With that, the girl took her leave in a puff of smoke.

"See you around Spike," two girls smiled as they left the room.

"Call me!" a senior girl smiled, before she took her leave.

Snips, Snails, and their new acquaintance, Zephyr Breeze, a fellow freshman who is a tall boy, about Discord's height, with a blonde hair don up in a bun, wears a jean jacket, over a green shirt, brown cargo pants, orange socks, and red shoes. The three all looked on in envy at the young boy.

"What is it that little guy have that we don't?" Zephyr Breeze whined dramatically. "I mean it's just not fair!"

"Well for one, he's got an uncle who's been training him kung fu since he was four!" Snails replied.

"Five," Snips corrected.

"Whatever," Snails dismissed. "And second, he's already been acquainted with five girls...."

"Six, if you count Rarity," Snips interrupted.

"WHATEVER!!!" the other boys shouted.

"And somehow, he's done something to win their hearts," Snails continued. "Although, on a brighter note, he doesn't remember them. So sooner or later, the girls might give up on him and move on, and they'll be right there for the taking!"

"Sounds like a plan," Zephyr smirked. "But for the record, leave Rainbow Dash to me. Cause I ain't losing her to the likes of Mr. Blackbelt Fancyshoes!"

"I'm with ya brother," Snips agreed, followed by Snails.

"Boys," Zephyr smirked. "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."

With that, the three shared a fist bump. Unbeknownst to them, their scheming didn't go unheard.





Spike hadn't gone far when Rarity and Pinkie Pie both stood outside of class, waiting for the boy. Once they saw him leaving the classroom, they quickly walked over to him.

"Oh, hello again ladies," Spike greeted when he took notice of the girls.

"Hello Spike," Rarity smiled, along with Pinkie. "I, um, I mean, Pinkie and I were wondering if you'd like to walk with us. We're going to meet up with the others outside of school."

"Others?" Spike inquired. "Others who?"

"The other girls, silly!" Pinkie giggled. "Twilight and the rest of the old gang!"

Though hesitant at first, after seeing the sincerity in their eyes, and sensing a good vibe from the girls, Spike couldn't find it in himself to say no.

"Sure, okay," Spike nodded and walked together with the girls on their way out, with three certain troublemakers following them close behind. Deciding to chew the fat, Spike was the first to break the silence.

"So how've you and the rest of the girls been over the past.....ten years was it?" Spike asked.

Rarity and Pinkie were hesitant at first to answer the question. But Rarity eventually answers, "Oh we've been better Spike. A lot has happened to us since you left with Scorpan."

"Have they now?" Spike asked curiously.

"Yeah!" Pinkie cheered. "Like Rarity succeeding in opening up three fashion stores in different parts of the world."

"Did you really?" Spike turned to the fashionable girl, who nodded her head in confirmation. "Wow, you're quite the savvy business girl to be in high school."

"Oh, I wouldn't say I'm savvy or anything," Rarity blushed, before deciding to steer the topic away. "However, one thing's for sure, it's nothing compared to seeing you again Spike," With that, Rarity pulled Spike into a loving embrace. "I've missed you so much."

"Me too!" Pinkie added before joining into the hug as well.

Spike was clearly blushing up a storm as he was being sandwiched between the two girls, much to the ire of some boys passing by.... three in particular. Suddenly, Spike's ears perked up when he hears someone crying, "HELP!"

"Pipsqueak!" Snapping out of the moment, Spike broke away from the girls as he dashed away towards the exit.

"Spikey?" Rarity called out. "Where are you going?" Spike was too far out of earshot to reply.

Knowing something is up, Rarity and Pinkie started to chase after the boy, with Pinkie Pie making a few calls along the way.

"Now's our chance," Zephyr whispered.

"Good afternoon gentlemen," a familiar voice called.

The boys froze in fear, turning around to face a suspicious looking Professor Flintheart.

"Now what would two freshman and a repeater, such as yourselves, be doing at a time like this?" Flintheart asked in his usual calm, stern tone.

"W-W-We're...." Snips stuttered, intimidated by the professor's cold stare. "We're just leaving sir."

"Yeah, what he said," Snails nodded, along with Zephyr.

The professor glared, raising his eyebrows slightly, "You ought to be careful," he said. "People will think you're up to something."

"Yes sir," the boys whimpered before they took their leave.





Spike was running, jumping, and climbing over fences, stairs, and lampposts, before finally arriving in Central Park to see Pipsqueak, along with Rumbles, Button, Tender, and Feathers, being carried off by some figures wearing dog masks.

"You miserable cowards!" Pipsqueak shouted, struggling to escape. "Let us go!"

"Pipe down will you?!" one of the thugs grumbled.

"Let them go!" Spike shouted, getting in front of the thugs in a fighting stance.

"Get lost Squirt!" one of the thug retorted.

Undeterred, Spike growled, "I said, let them go!"

"Oh, looks like we've got a hero," another thug laughed, as he and the rest of his comrade threw the boys in some cages, before they surrounded Spike. "You wanna fight? Let's dance."

"Bring it!" Spike growled.

The leader of the thugs, who wears a pit bull mask, raised his hand, "Give it to him boys!" he snapped his fingers.

[Fighting is Magic - Rainbow Dash Stage Theme]

The thugs all jumped at Spike, who cleverly ducked beneath their legs, before he stood up and kicked one of them in the rear. The thug rubbed his sore butt for a moment, turning around, staring angrily at the boy, before he and two of his comrades at his side all charged after Spike. At the last moment, Spike jumped over the first thug, doing a split and kicking the other two in the face. One of the thugs ran up to Spike with a stick. Spike didn't hesitate to charge toward the thug.

"Dragon sweeps his tail!" Spike said, sweeping the ground with his leg, tripping the thug, causing him to fly into a garbage can.

"Yeah!" the boys cheered for their friend.

"Way to go Spike!" Rumble cheered. "Whoo whoo  whoo whoo!"

"Quick! Give 'em the falcon punch!" Button Mash shouted.

Spike turned to see another thug running up to him with a stick in hand. With a quick roundhouse kick, Spike effectively knocked the stick out of the thug's hand, before he spins around and landed a strong sidekick to the thug's chest, knocking him back slightly.

Rarity and Pinkie soon arrived with the rest of the girls to see the fight going on.

"C'mon, we gotta help him!" Rainbow exclaimed, preparing to charge in.

"No wait!" Twilight exclaimed, holding the girl by the hand. "Charging into a battle before you're really needed only makes it worse."

"But...." Rainbow protested, only to be met with more denials. With a loud groan, Rainbow and the others looked as Spike continued his fight with the thugs.

One of the thugs grabbed Spike from behind, and got him in a death gripping bind as three of the thugs advanced upon Spike. Thinking fast, Spike thrusts his leg upward from behind, right into his captor's crotch, forcing them to let go. Spike turns around to threw a punch, only stopping midway, psyching his opponent out as they shielded their face, before he kicked them in the crotch again, and then the face after it was left vulnerable.

Rainbow couldn't help but snigger at the trick, "Good one Spike."

The others tried to seize Spike, but Spike quickly jumped to the side as he grabbed the another goon who was about his size by the hands. Spike swung the thug in between him and the others, shielding himself from the others.

"Sorry Scruffy," one of the thugs apologized, before he was met with a kick to the face.

Another thug came and threw several punches at Spike, who didn't hesitate to block their punches, while catching their hands. He was about to strike back, but instead, he blocked another goon's attack, which went back slapping into one of their comerade's face.

"Sorry," the thug apologized to his comrade.

Another grabbed Spike by his jacket, but Spike cleverly slipped out of his jacket, before he jumped up, did a spinning roundhouse kick, and landed a powerful blow to the thug's head, causing them to stumble into a garbage can, and dropping the boy's jacket. Spike picked up the article of clothing and with it, he caught the some of the other attacking goons in a tangled mess of legs, arms, and hands, before they all stumbled and crashed into another.

The girls smiled, seeing how well Spike was able to hold on his own.

"There's our dragon," Twilight smiled, envisioning a much younger Spike sparring with Scorpan and some of the royal guards.

The girls soon turned their attention to Pipsqueak, who continues shouting, "Yeah! Give it to him Spike! Show them wieners what for! And could you hurry it up? It's really starting to stink up in here, just sitting next to this stinking gorilla with a face like a dog!"

The leader growled impatiently, "I've had about enough of you!" he growled, pulling out a knife.

Rainbow Dash was about to charge in, "NOOOOOO!!!!!!" Spike screamed, his eyes changing reptilic as they burned a blazing green color, before suddenly, a stream of green fire exploded from his mouth, frightening the leader away from the cages. The girls gasped at what they had seen, along with some other eyes in the trees and bushes.





Elsewhere, Scorpan was drinking coffee at a Starbuck Cafe when he heard Spike's scream, "Spike!" he exclaimed in worry.





"Let's get out of here!" with that, the thugs all retreated from the scene in fright.

"Whoa!" Rumble exclaimed from his cage. "Did you just breathe fire dude?"

Spike shook his head, trying to process everything that happened, "Did that really just happened?!" He asked in shock. 

"Spike!" the girls cried, stepping out of the trees.

"Girls?" Spike asked. "What're you doing here?" Looking back around, seeing only himself, with the girls, and boys, he asked. "Did you see what happened?"

"Yes Spike," Twilight answered. "We saw the whole thing."

"And so did I!" a voice called from the trees, revealing itself to be an elderly woman in red robe with a walking staff. "So this is where the Dragonfire's been hiding!" the woman cackled hoarsely. "It's taken me many moons to find it. And now, it shall be mine!"

"You want the Dragonfire?" Twilight exclaimed as she and the girls shielded Spike. "You have to go through us first!"

"I thought you would say that," with a tap of her staff, the trees shook and monkeys with wings flew out. 

"What the hay?!" Spike exclaimed, before he turned to the boys. "You guys seeing this?"

"Uh huh," they all nodded.

"Now my precious pets," the woman began. "Fetch me the boy, but tear the girls limb from limb!"

With that, the monkeys all flew at the girls and Spike. 

"Girls!" Twilight began, taking her glasses off as her eyes glowed pure white. "Let's do this! Protect Spike!"

With that, the girls began to glow in a coat of sparkling, blinding lights as they started to transform. Soon after, the glow died down and Spike and his posse noticed a big difference in the girls. Their ears have morphed into pony ears, as well as having their hairs grown long, tied in a ponytail. However, a big difference between all of the girls were the change in the color of their skin, as well as gaining some different features. Twilight's skin color was turned lavender, Rarity's was white, Fluttershy was buttercup yellow, Rainbow Dash's was light blue, Applejack's was orange, and Pinkie's was pink. Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy have gained matchings wings on their back, Applejack and Pinkie Pie both have pony legs in place of their human legs, Rarity had gained a horn on the forehead, while Twilight had acquired a horn, angelic wings, and pony legs.

With these new forms, the girls all leaped into the air and engaged the flying monkeys in a close combat. Spike and his boys meanwhile looked on, further bewildered. Pipsqueak pulled his hair back, shaking his head repeatedly, burbling from his lips as he did so, but nothing changed for him.

"Tell me I'm not seeing this!" Spike groaned, rubbing his head in shock.

"You're not seeing this," Button said.

"Really?"

"No, but you asked us to tell you," the boys all gave Button a stern look, "You're right," Button muttered. "Not helping."

"Anyway, if we're all done flapping our lips here," Rumble began. "GET US OUT OF HERE!!"

"Oh right!" Spike quickly went to work as he breaks a lock off with his hand, freeing Rumble first.

"Yay!" the boy cheered. "I'm out! I'm out! I'm out!" Suddenly, a flying monkey landed and it hissed, showing off its sharp teeth, scaring the boys, "I'm in! I'm in! I'm in!" Rumble screamed, frantically running back into his cage, shutting the door before the monkey could get to him.

"Spike!" Pipsqueak began. "How's about you take care of those monkeys before you start freeing us?"

Unfortunately, some monkeys had grabbed ahold of Spike and started carrying him away.

"Let me go!" Spike struggled to break free.

"Breath fire on them!" Rumble called.

Spike took a deep breath and blew, but nothing came out. Luckily, Rainbow Dash and Applejack saw the boy in trouble and came to his rescue.

"AJ!" Rainbow said, grasping the cowgirl's hand. "Tuck and roll!"

With that, the rainbow haired girl flung the cowgirl, who rolled into a ball, at the flying monkeys, knocking them away like rolling pins, before she catches Spike with her hands.

"You okay Sugarcube?" Applejack asked, inspecting the boy.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Spike replied. "Look out!" Spike quickly shoved Applejack out of the way, just as a monkey swooped down at them. The monkey made a sharp turn, as it flew towards Spike, who ducked down in time, grabbing the monkey by the tail, before he spins around in a tornado and launched the monkey into the rest of its pack.

Pinkie Pie was bouncing around, giggling to her delight, as the monkeys all tried in vain to catch the hyper pony-girl.

"I'm over here," Pinkie shouted, popping out from a tree, "Now I'm here!" she said from a bush, "Here!" she called from a garbage can. Soon, it became a new game of whack-a-mole for the monkeys, starring Pinkie Pie. Soon enough, the monkeys were all left in a dizzy state, before Pinkie came and threw a banana pie to each of their faces.

"I came out of retirement for this?" the witch grumbled.

"Give up Somnambula!" Twilight shouted, as she and Rarity flew up to the witch. "You're not taking the Dragonfire from him!"

"While I'm not above all about fighting a miserable old lady such as yourself, I'll gladly resort to brute force if you hurt one hair on his cute little head!" Rarity threatened angrily.

"Oh don't worry," Somnambula grinned evil. "I'm not interested in his head," With a wave of her staff, a green lightning bolt was shot out and nearly struck the girls, had Rarity not conjured up a magic shield in time, "I want his heart!" With that, Somnambula fired another green lighting bolt at the two girls, and like before, Rarity conjured another shield. With a glow from her horn, Twilight fired a ray of purple magic at the witch, who quickly deflected it with a wave of her magic staff. Rarity's horn glowed as crystal gems came sprouting from the ground and were fired at the witch, who quickly shielded herself within a shell made of rocks. Suddenly, the witch appeared in a flash of fire behind the girls and fired an explosive fireball that sent the girls flying into some nearby trees. Somnambula quickly waved her staff around, manipulating some clouds nearby before she fired a lightning bolt directly at the trees Twilight and Rarity were in.

"Heads up!" Rainbow shouted as she tossed a flying monkey towards the lightning bolt, intercepting its path to the girls. The monkey dropped out of the sky, scorched and twitching uneasily.

"Oh dear," Fluttershy whimpered, as she came to inspect the monkey. "I'm so sorry about Rainbow Dash."

Meanwhile, Spike and Applejack were still busy fighting the other flying monkeys. Little did they know, Somnambula was sneaking through the trees, setting her sight on Spike.

'I've got you now dragon,' Somnambula sneered, preparing to fire another spell at Spike.

"SURPRISE!" Pinkie shouted, jumpscaring the witch, causing her to misfire her spell, almost hitting Button Mash in his cage, leading the both of them patting their chests, easing their rapid heartbeats.

Pinkie's sudden outburst also caught Spike and Applejack's attention as they turned to see the witch, angrily firing her spells at the pink girl, who repeatedly jumps out of the way.

"Stay down Sugarcube," Applejack insisted. "I'll handle her!"

"No way! I demand an explanation first!" Spike protested.

"Spike, listen to me!"

"Look out!" Pinkie cried, after she was launched from the witch and collided with Applejack.

"Now without any interruptions," Somnambula growled, pointing her staff at Spike, "Time to take the Dragonfire!" With that, she fired several lightning bolts at Spike, who jumped out of the way, rolling and jumping behind trees, bushes, and some benches, all the while dodging the lightning bolts being fired at him. "Hold still!" Somnambula growled.

"Get away from my nephew!" a voice shouted.

Somnambula turned around and was met with a scratch at the sleeves of her robe, by a gargoyle.

"Scorpan!" Somnambula growled, before she was kicked away by the said gargoyle.

"Uncle?" Spike exclaimed, staring at the gargoyle in disbelief. "Is that you?"

"Yes Spike," Scorpan replied, before he was enveloped in a burst of yellow fires as he changes back into a human. "It's me."

At this point, it was so much for Pipsqueak to take it all in that he fainted in his cage.

"Uncle!" Spike frantically began. "What's going on here? Why is that witch and those flying monkeys after me? Who are those girls? Why do they all have wings, horns, and those weird legs? Why are you a bat monster? Why-"

"Look out!" Scorpan shoved Spike to the side, just as a beam of dark magic came and nearly struck the two.

"Uncle!" Spike cried out.

"Don't worry Spike," Scorpan replied, before he changed back into a gargoyle again. "I'm alright."

"But not for long!" Somnambula growled furiously, preparing to fire another spell.

Rainbow Dash suddenly came flying in, and with a burst of speed, she landed a powerful punch to Somnambula, in the face.

"How dare you strike an old lady!" Somnambula growled, fixing her jaws before she waved her staff again, shooting a ray of lightning bolts at the rainbow haired girl, knocking her out of the sky and into the nearby lake.

"Goodness!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she flapped her wings, hovering above the water, helping her friend out.

"Nobody hurts Dashie and gets away with it!" Pinkie growled, jumping at the witch and dumping a whole bucket of waters with ice cubes.

"What was that?" Somnambula asked.

"You're not melting?" Pinkie asked incredulously. "But that worked in the Wizard of Oz," Applejack, Scorpan, and Spike all face faulted to the ground at Pinkie's attempt.

"Fool! You shall be destroyed for your stupidity!" With that, the witch quickly grabbed her by the tail with her magic, before spinning her around in circles.

"I'm going to feel sick!" Pinkie groaned.

"Hang on Sugarcube!" Applejack called, racing to the rescue, only for the witch to throw Pinkie at her as well.

Twilight and Rarity came in, firing several bolts of magic at the witch, who retaliated by firing back magics of her own. Rarity conjured up another shield as she pushed her way towards the witch, while Twilight continues firing her magics at the witch.

"Stay here Spike," Scorpan ordered, as he jumped into the fight.

Scorpan made a quick lunge for Somnambula, who doesn't hesitate to fight back. Somnambula fired several lightning bolts at Scorpan, who dodged them all, before he grabbed the lid off a nearby garbage can, shielding himself from the lightning as it was redirected back to Somnambula. Before the old witch could react, she was electrocuted by her own attack and her gray hairs all stood on end.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the humorous sight, including Pipsqueak, who had just woken up.

"Enough!" Somnambula shouted, tapping her staff into the ground, sending a powerful shockwave which knocked the girls and gargoyle off their feet.

Somnambula walks up to Twilight, firing several lighting bolts at the girl, who screams repeatedly in agony.

"Twilight!" the other girls tried to save their friend, but they were all being held back by the flying monkeys.

Scorpan tried to save the girl as well, but Somnambula had fired a spell at the gargoyle, leaving him stunned for a long while.

Spike looked on in horror to see Twilight being tortured repeatedly by the witch. His eyes glow even more green as he felt something hot and burning coursing through his body. And before he knows it, Spike's body was surrounded in a green fiery aura of magic.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Spike roared, blasting a huge fireball from his mouth to the witch, which exploded upon impact. Somnambula was sent flying off her feet, over about a 100 yards away from Spike, the girls, and the boys. However, the kickback from the fireball was so strong that Spike was launched back, straight into a tree, knocking him out cold.

"SPIKE!!" the girls and Scorpan, reverting back to human forms, all got up and ran to an unconscious Spike.

"I've had enough fighting for one day!" Somnambula groaned as she left the scene with her flying monkeys.

"Is he?" Rarity asked worryingly.

Twilight held Spike close, placing her ears close to his chest, "He's still alive," she sighed  in relief. "But we have to get him back home safely."

"Then let's move!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Um, hello?" The girls and man turned to the rest of Spike's posse, besides Rumble, still trapped in cages. "We're still in cages here," Pipsqueak said. "Care to help us out first?"
> The Dragonfire
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

'.....Spike....' a voice called. '......Spike......'

Spike slowly opened his eyes and the first thing he could see was just a blur of white.

".....Who's there?" He asked.

After he blinked his eyes for a couple of seconds, his vision became clear and he finds himself staring face to face with a tall white alicorn, with half of her face shrouded by her beautiful, flowing mane of pink, green, and blue.

"Rise and shine, my little sunshine," she smiled lovingly at him.

Perplexed, Spike turns around to see a small crib with a baby, wrapped in a purple blanket. What's shocking was the fact that the baby looked a lot like Spike himself, only smaller. Spike watched in bewilderment as the mare levitated his younger self from the crib, with a glow of her horn, and rubbed her nose with his.

"Who's my little sunshine?" she asked, covering her face with her wings. "You are!" The baby giggled in delight.

Spike smiled as he watched the event playing out, 'Little sunshine,' He thought. 'Sounds kinda familiar. But I like it.'

Spike watched the dream unfolds with the alicorn and the baby spending quality time together. The alicorn and the baby first had breakfast together, with the alicorn, being the loving mother she is, playfully feeding the baby.

"Here comes the pegasus," she sang as she fed the baby his porridge.

The baby opened his mouth, happily accepting the food. The alicorn giggled, while Spike watched the scene with amusement. Later, it was around sunset when the alicorn and the baby were playing together in the clouds, then in a huge hedge maze, where they played a game of peek-a-boo.

"I see you!" the alicorn would say, earning a giggle from the baby in return.





Soon it was nighttime, when Spike finds himself, the alicorn, and the baby, back in the same room from before. The alicorn was rocking the baby to sleep with her magic, before she sang to him a haunting lullaby.


[Sleepsong ~ Lullaby from a Secret Garden]





The baby slowly drifted off to sleep, while Spike felt more at peace, once the song was over.

The alicorn kissed the baby on the head, before she tucks him in bed, "Sweet dreams, little sunshine." With that, the dream started fading away.



	

Spike slowly opened his eyes to see he was back in his room, 'I'm home,' he thought. 'Oh, it's just a dream. All of it. Guess there's no flying monkeys, witches, and there's certainly no....' He suddenly smelled cotton candy and turned to his left, "Hi!" Pinkie Pie greeted happily.

"BWAH!!" Spike screamed, falling out of his bed, and was caught by magic.

"Careful Spike," Twilight said, using her magic to set Spike on his feet, who turned around, facing the two girls and was even more shocked.

Not looking where he was going, Spike bumped into someone, "Easy there, Sugarcube," Applejack said, as she caught the boy. "That was some kickback you had back there."

Spike quickly turned the lights on, "You girls again?!" Spike exclaimed, backing away, while all of the girls look at him with concern.

"Were you expecting, maybe, Tara Strong, Ashleigh Balls, Tabitha St. Germain, and Andrea Libman?" Pinkie joked.

"What? When? How?" Spike stammered, just as Scorpan and the boys walked in.

"I think you'd better sit down," Scorpan said.





After things got settled, Scorpan and the girls spent the rest of the afternoon explaining the situation to Spike and the boys.

"I'm a dragon?" Spike asked.

"And a darn good one too!" Applejack exclaimed.

"And ya still are!" Rainbow added. "Though, you'll be 20% cooler once we get your dragon up!"

The boys looked to each other, "That would explain the fire breathing," Featherweight noted.

"I wasn't lying to you when I said you were born with a gift, Spike," Scorpan explained. "The Dragonfire is a very special power that only comes to the pure of hearts and noble of spirits in the Year of the Dragon. But without proper training of self-defense and mastery of this magic, the wielders of the Dragonfire are easy to capture by forces of evil."

"So that's why that crazy woman was so determined to get Spike," Rumble stated, recalling the battle with Somnambula.

"Catch, enslave, steal him," Scorpan explained. "For past generations, many potential hosts of the Dragonfires have always been hunted down by the forces of evil, with the intention to take the powers for themselves and use it for their own selfish gain. Once they've got what they wanted, only then would the hosts finally be killed," Spike gulped, while the girls all crowded close to the boy. "Afterwards, the Dragonfire would be in possessions of the thieves for only a few hours before it is completely extinguished."

"The Dragonfire? Extinguished? How?" Spike asked.

"The Dragonfire is a type of magic that only works for the vessel it was given to," Twilight explained. "It doesn't work for anyone but its chosen host. Therefore, once it's been taken and used by someone else, then it's only for a few hours before it destroys the thief, and then it escapes to return to its rightful owner. But if the owner is already dead by then, the Dragonfire will go into a dormant state until the next potential host is revealed."

"Basically, the Dragonfire's pretty much a gift that you just can't trade away for something else!" Pinkie explained. "Which is why there's also the option of enslaving for the bad guys."

"Yikes," Spike groaned.

"Don't worry, Spike," Fluttershy comforted the boy. "We won't ever let that happen to you."

"Yeah," Dash joined in. "Not like what happened ten years ago."

"Ten years?" Spike inquired.

Before, the girls could answer, Scorpan got the teens back on track, "You can catch up for lost times later Spike, " he said. "We've got bigger problems now that we know for a fact, Somnambula's finally tracked you down. And if she's here, then without a doubt the others aren't too far behind."

"Others?" Spike inquired. "Others who?"

"It's best that you don't know for now Spike," Scorpan explained. "Just be fortunate that all those years of training haven't been in vain. Otherwise, you're likely to suffer a fate far worse than a long-termed amnesia."

Spike shuddered as the girls hold him even closer, "No!" Fluttershy whimpered. "Not after all those years of being without him!"

"Girls, it's alright," Spike assured as he got out of their tight embrace. "Like uncle said, it's thanks to his training that I'm okay," Spike smirked, "Besides, if Somnambula ever tries to get me again, I'll just-Hiyah!" To prove his point, Spike threw out several punches and kicks, before Scorpan caught him by the foot.

"I'm afraid the martial arts alone won't save you again the next time Somnambula attacks," the man explains. "The reason you're still alive right now Spike, is because of your Dragonfire. While it's true Somnambula is after it, she was clearly hoping to steal it from you when you're still oblivious of your own power," Scorpan sat down in a nearby chair as he smirked, "But now that you've seen firsthand at what you're capable of, not to mention that direct hit she took from your fireball, it's likely she'll cease her attacks for awhile until she is fully recovered." At this point, Scorpan's expression shifted to a concern look, "By then, she'll be ready in another attempt to steal your powers again. And it won't just be the flying monkeys the next time."

"You're not suggesting to move again for Spike's safety, are you?" Twilight asked worryingly.

"Please don't move!" Fluttershy  pleaded. "We just got here from Equestria!"

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash added. "We've just got ourselves reacquainted with Spike after ten years! Ten years! I can't take another ten years without him!"

"Neither would I," Applejack said.

"Here here!" Rarity said, getting up and holding Spike's hand.

"And we enjoy having Spike around! He's our friend! Our brother!" Rumble said, followed by the agreements from the other boys.

"Calm down," Scorpan said. "I didn't say we are moving again," the man turned to the boy as he began, "There's more good news for you young dragon," Spike looked at his uncle, anxious at what he was about to say, "Starting this Friday, we're taking your training to the next level. It's time to unleash the dragon within you."

"For real?" Spike asked, to which Scorpan answered with a nod as the girls all cheered happily, before they once again pulled the boy in another loving embrace.

"Isn't it wonderful darling?" Rarity asked.

"You're finally going to be a dragon again!" Rainbow Dash smiled. "I mean, you're kinda already a dragon, but still, you're coming back!"

"Yay!" Fluttershy cheered, quietly.

"YEAAAAH, Spike!" Pinkie Pie cheered, while blowing a noisemaker.

Spike was clearly at a loss for words, "Aren't you the least excited, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked, taking notice of his silence.

"Well," Spike began hesitantly. "This is still a lot for me to process. Me? A dragon? A fire-breathing dragon? I've always liked dragons and all, but to actually become one it's...it's...I don't know if I'm even up for it."

"You can do it, Spike," Twilight smiled reassuringly, "You can do it. You're a very special dragon, with so many potential. And what's more, you're our little dragon!" Twilight then rubbed her cheek together with Spike's, "And we've finally got you back!" Spike chuckled sheepishly at Twilight's action. Soon the girls all joined in as they showered the boy with affection.

Scorpan looked, smiling to see how happy the girls are with Spike, remembering a time when he witnessed a such a moment, a long time ago, with Princess Celestia.
> First Day of Dragon Training
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Gorillaz-Dirty Harry-Schtung Chinese New Years Remix]

Spike, his posse, and the girls have spent their first week of school attending classes, getting homeworks done, hanging out with their friends,  and sometimes, with each other, all the while not having any trouble from Somnambula, or anything out of the ordinary. The only excitement they did experienced were mostly from the troubles caused by Snips, Snails, and Zephyr. Their attempts, mostly Zephyr's, to humiliate Spike and win most of the girls' hearts have all failed miserably, due to either the timely arrival of Professor Flintheart, or Principal Raven Inkwell, some meddling from Thorax and Discord, Button Mash and the boys, and sometimes, Spike and the girls themselves. It was also a shocker that Zephyr Breeze is Fluttershy's little brother. 

Pretty soon, the three have all earned the title as, The Three Celestial Stooges.





Meanwhile, somewhere in the darkest parts of New York.....

"I've always dreamed about the Dragonfire, since it disappeared years ago. You've certainly gone through a lot to find it."

"And now I've found it! And I need hunters!"

"I got three kids. They ain't old school."

"Three will do."





At last, it was Friday. 

When the school bell rang, the hall was flooded with students who were all towards, excited to begin the weekend. None however, were more thrilled than the Three Stooges, who were content at the fact that they had just escaped receiving detention, from Professor Flintheart. Or did they?

Anyway, Spike was walking out of Drama Class, hands to hands with Rarity and Pinkie Pie.

"Great job on that disappearing and reappearing trick Pinkie," Spike laughed. "And I still can't believe you were able to play ten instruments, all at once like that."

"It's a talent," Pinkie squeaked.

"And Rarity," Spike said, turning to the girl. "As always, your dress is a sight to behold!"

"Oh flatter!" Rarity blushed, while several boys passing by were captivated by her beautiful pink dress.

"No, I mean it," Spike smiled. "It makes you look just like a princess!"

Rarity giggled some more, "And you sounded just like Prince Charming!" she smiled. 'Not like a certain royal pain I know,' She thought in disgust.

As the three walked on through the hall, the Three Celestial Stooges poked their heads out of a box, quivering.

"Why is it that Spike always gets the girls?" Snails stuttered. "And all we get is trouble from Professor Flintheart?"

"I don't know, and I don't care!" Snails quivered. "I just want to be out of here so we can spend the weekend to ourselves, without having to look over our shoulders for Professor Snape!"

"Well, we ain't getting detentions today," Zephyr muttered as they begin crawling their way towards the exit. "So let's just keep moving, reach the exit, before anyone finds us!"

"What the devil is going on here?!" Joe Mose's voice sounded.

"RUN!!" the frightened boys shouted, losing the box and running for dear life, not daring to look back.





Soon, Spike, Rarity, and Pinkie met up with the rest of the girls outside of school.

"Hi girls!" Spike called.

"Hi Spike," Twilight returned the greeting, as she and the rest joined up with the three. "Ready to get started on your first day of training?"

"Am I ever?!" Spike exclaimed. "I'm getting to be a dragon!"

"That's what I like to hear," Rainbow smirked, playfully punching the boy's shoulder.

"So c'mon!" Spike exclaimed. "Let's head for uncle's."

"Actually Spike," Twilight began. "Your training is somewhere else."

"What do you mean?" the boy inquired.

Looking around to see no one in sight, Twilight held out her hand, "Take my hand," the girl instructed, as the others joined in. Once the task was done, Twilight's eyes glowed pure white, as a star appeared on her forehead, before they disappeared in a flash of light.





Fall Out Boy-Immortals

The gang later reappeared, inside what appears to be a dojo.

"Whoa!" Spike muttered dizzily. "Head rush!" He shook the dizziness off as he looked around. "Where are we? Are we in Japan?"

Twilight chuckled, "No, this isn't Japan," she said. "It's one of my best spells I've worked on. I call it, the training dimension!" The girl announced proudly. "It's a place where we can study, practice, and train ourselves to best sharpen our skills. And this is the place where we'll help you get into shape with your Dragonfire! It was some of my best work!" Twilight smiled, feeling proud of herself.

"Best indeed!" Spike gasped, marveling at his new surrounding. "Does uncle know about this?"

"Of course I do!" Scorpan called, as he came through a door, dressed in a black and yellow karate outfit. "Shall we begin?"

"Heck yeah!" Spike exclaimed as he excitedly jumps in place. "Where do we begin? Fire breathing? Flying? Do I sprout a tail? Do I get to have wings?"

"Settle down, Spike," Scorpan said. "You'll get there soon enough."

"You don't mind if we join in on Spike's training?" Twilight asked. "Do you sir?"

"Not at all girls," Scorpan smiled. "We could use some assistance in the training."

The girls nodded as they sat down on the mat, while watching the boy's training begin, "So, what do we start off with uncle?" Spike asked eagerly.

"We start off with meditation," Scorpan replied.

"Meditation?"

"The use of magic requires a complete connection between the body and mind. When these two forces are synced in perfect harmony, only then will you be able to achieve complete focus for the use of magics, such as this."

As a demonstration, the man closed his eyes, concentrating his magic, before he was engulfed in a fiery yellow aura and emerged in his gargoyle form.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped in amazement, before he closed his eyes, taking in several deep breaths as he did so.

"Good," Scorpan began. "Now, I want you to clear your mind of all things. Feel the power that rested in your heart. Let it take form."

Doing as he was told, Spike concentrated, feeling something familiar within him. 

As he did so, the girls took notice of his body glowing in a light shade of green aura, green flames starting to form around him, until finally, Spike's whole body was engulfed in a burst of green fire.

Scorpan and the girls watched in anticipation as the fire gave off the silhouette of a dragon, with a long slender body, muscular arms, a large Mohawk-like crest at the top of the head, rows of spines along the back, and a long tail that ends in the shape of an arrowhead. Suddenly, the silhouette started to shrink, until the fires exploded and Spike fell flat on the floor.

After the smoke cleared up, the boy looked to see Scorpan and the girls towering over him, and giving him surprised looks. "How did you guys get so big?" He asked in a slightly higher voice. "Is that my voice? Is that my voice?"

"AWW!" Fluttershy squealed happily, as she picked the boy up and rubbed noses with him. "My Little Puppy!!" Fluttershy quickly pulled the boy in a tightening hug. "You're back! And still so cute!!!"

Pulling his head out, gasping for air, Spike asked, "What do you mean I'm cute? And what's with my voice? What's going on?"

Rather than answering, Rarity took out her makeup kit and showed Spike her mirror to reveal....



"I'm a dog?!!!" Spike barked in outrage.

"A very cute little dog!" Fluttershy smiled, setting Spike down and pulled out some dog biscuits. "Go on! Eat up little pup!"

"Excuse me?" Spike inquired, "I do not-" Spike was interrupted when his nose took a whiff and his newfound dog instincts took over as he happily munches on the biscuits. "That was humiliating," he muttered, before Fluttershy picked him up in another cradle and scratched his belly, much to his enjoyment, "I could get used to this."

Scorpan quickly cleared his throat, getting the teens back on track.

"Sorry Fluttershy," Scorpan began. "But we still have some training to do. Spike apparently has a lot of training to get in touch with his inner dragon." Fluttershy looked as if she was about to cry. "You'll get a chance to play with Spike as a dog some other day."

Fluttershy nodded as she reluctantly set Spike back down on the floor, "Be good, Spike," she smiled as she petted him on the head, before rejoining the girls.

Spike turned to his uncle and asked, "Uncle, what happened? Why am I a dog? I was focusing back there!"

"It's nothing Spike," Scorpan explained. "It's one of your dragon powers: Shapeshift."

"I can shapeshift?" Spike asked. "I didn't know dragons can shapeshift! Except for the ones in Asia of course."

"Well, like all magical creatures, dragons also have a magic of their own to camouflage themselves, to avoid attracting attention, and to escape their enemies unnoticed. Your dog form is one of those camouflages."

"So how can I really change into a dragon?" Spike asked.

"Concentrate," Scorpan answered. "Focus your power. Feel it. Think as a dragon and you'll become the dragon."

With that, Spike closed his eyes as he begins to concentrate. He was once again surrounded in a green fiery aura. His eyes burst open to reveal reptilian pupils, and his body was once again engulfed in burst of green fire. Once the flame died down, there stood Spike, in his dragon form that has grown considerably to match his age. In appearance, he is covered from head to tail with purple scales, his crest colored green with matching spines, frills, eyes, and underbelly.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped, falling on all four as he looked at his new body. "Check me out! I'm really a dragon!"

"And how does it feel?" Rainbow asked.

"You have to ask? Awesome!!" Spike exclaimed, giving his tail a flick. "I've always dreamed of being a dragon!" Spike stood on his legs and made a leap, reaching the top of the ceiling and landing on the beams. "I can jump good!" Opening his mouth, Spike let out a stream of green, sparkling fire. "I breathe fire!"

The girls smiled, seeing the boy getting back in touch with his dragon powers, reminding them of a younger Spike being just as enthusiastic.

"Very good," Scorpan began, flapping his wings, joining the boy on the beams. "Now we can truly begin your trainings."

Spike bowed his head in respect to the gargoyle, "So what's on the roster, uncle?" he asked.





Chores

"This is not what I had in mind," Spike mumbled.

Doing houseworks in the dojo was obviously the last thing Spike expected to be in Dragon Training. Spike was ordered to sweep the floor with his tail, trim the hedges with his claws, pop the corns with his fire breath, jump on the beams to dust the cobwebs off, and worst of all, clean the toilet with his tongue on the brush.

Furthermore, the girls too have tasks for him to perform, through different doors in the dojo. Spike had to help Twilight re-shelve some books in a library. Fluttershy had him fluff several bunnies' tails, though one in particular was very resistant. Pinkie Pie had him bake the cakes and pies with his fire breath and stirring up the batters. Applejack had Spike smelling the difference between a healthy apple and a rotten apple. Rarity had him posing as a mannequin as she tried on several different attires on him, while also using his tail as a pincushion. Lastly, Rainbow Dash had Spike mopping the floor, using only a wet towel and his legs to propel himself across floor from the walls, all the while wiping the floor clean.

'Then again,' Spike thought. 'I should've half-expected something like this from uncle.'





10 years ago

After settling into their new home, Scorpan had a five year old Spike move the boxes and doing a lot of works around the house, from dusting the shelves, sweeping and mopping the floors with his hands and legs, washing the dishes, etc.

Finally, Spike has had enough, "You promised me that you'll teach me karate!" Spike protested angrily. "But so far, all I've ever been doing is playing the role as your errand boy! Why did my mom ever trusted you with me?!"

"Well, because I'm a man of my words," Scorpan replied calmly. "Show me how to sand the floor."

Spike let out an exasperated groan, "Uncle! I'm not-"

"Sand the floor!" the man repeated, sternly.

Spike rolled his eyes as he crouched down, "No, no, no," Scorpan stopped. "Stand up," Spike complied as he looked at the man in confusion. "Show me, sand the floor," Getting the message, Spike did his arm gestures for the said command. "No," Scorpan shook his head before he correct the boy's arm movements. "Now, big circles. Sand the floor," With that, Spike did as he was told.

"Now, show me wax on, wax off," Spike got down and was about to do the said command, "No, remain standing," Scorpan said, as the young boy got up and did, "Wax on, wax off."

"Wax on, wax off," Scorpan mocked. "No. That's what a snobby kid would do. You can't be snobby," With that, the man corrected the boy's arms, guiding the latter's hands into the former's. "Wax on," Spike's right hand went to the man's left hand. "Wax off," Spike's left hand went to the man's right. "Concentrate," Scorpan instructed. "Look at my eyes. Not the hands. Wax on, wax off." With that, Spike did the said command correctly.

"Now, show me reshelving, top and bottom," Imagining he was holding a book in his hand, Spike moved his arm up and down, before Scorpan stopped him, shaping his hand so that the top part would be facing up, as he directed the boy's hand to smack into the palm of his hand, before guiding it down and smacks into the palm of his hand.

"Now show me, dust the shelf," Spike was about to do the said command, "Look at my eyes! Always look at my eyes! Dust the shelf!" With that, Spike kept his eyes on Scorpan, doing the said command, as Scorpan correct by, "Keep the wrists locked." With that, Spike did the said command, while keeping his wrists locked.

"Now, move the box," Scorpan instructed, as Spike held his hands out, imaging a box he was pushing. Scorpan quickly fixed the boy's hands, keeping the fingers together while keeping his palm open, holding his hands out before he instructed, "Strike!" The boy clapped his hands with the man's, who repeatedly yelled, "Harder!"

Soon, both the boy and man were engaged in a close combat together, as the boy used all of the blocking skills he had, unknowingly, learned, while striking the man with only the "Move the box" method, until finally, they stopped to catch their breathes.

"Remember Spike," Scorpan began. "Martial arts is apart of everything we do. It lives in all of us. It's all around us. Everything is martial arts."

"Yes uncle," Spike bowed, before he got a smack on the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

"A wise lesson from Bruce Lee," Scorpan answered. "Don't take your eyes off an opponent. Even when you bow."

"Yes uncle," Spike nodded as he bowed, without lowering his eyes.





Spike smiled nostalgically, knowing his uncle means well.

"Oh yeah," Rainbow smirked, looking at herself in the floor. "Looking good."

Applejack soon walked in, carrying a tray of foods, when she slipped. Out of impulse, Spike quickly came to her rescue, launching himself off a wall, aiming in her direction, sliding under to break her fall. Seeing the foods in the air, Spike quickly grabbed the tray, as he catches a bowl of salad, two sandwiches, an apple fritter on the tray, three glass cups wrapped in his tail as he catches the blobs of waters from hitting the floor, two apple pies balanced on his left claw, while the last one landed on his face.

Applejack looked at the dragon with concern, while Rainbow Dash failed to stifle a laugh.

"Spike?" Applejack asked, worryingly. "You okay Sugarcube?"

Spike licked his own face with his tongue and smiled, "Mmm, delicious!"

Applejack smiled as she and Rainbow Dash walked over to get the foods and drinks off their friend.





The three were soon at a table, eating their snacks. While Rainbow and AJ had their chat, Spike looked around the dojo, smiling nostalgically as it brought back some memories he had with Scorpan.

"What are ya smiling about Sugarcube?" Applejack asked, snapping the boy out of his trance.

"I was just thinking about the times when I was learning martial arts from uncle," Spike answered. "It's hard to believe that doing some chores around the house would get me started on martial arts."

Applejack smiled, as she picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth, "I hear ya Sugarcube," she smiled. "Ya may not believe it. But all those years of working on Sweet Apple Acres has done wonders for my body. Why just look at me. I'm practically stronger than ten bulls put together." Proving her point, Applejack flexed her arm and beckoned Spike to feel them.

"Wow! You ain't kidding!" Spike awed. "Even when you're human, you've got strong arms, and legs" Applejack blushed, which glowed even brighter when his hand touch her legs. 

Rainbow Dash, not liking the attention Applejack was getting, get in between, "You want muscles?" she smirked. "Check out my set of feathers," With that, Rainbow Dash's wings sprouted from her back, through some small holes in her jacket. "Go on Spike," Dash smiled. "Take a good feel."

Doing as he was told, Spike rubbed his hand on the girl's wings, feeling the strong muscles beneath the soft feathers, "Wow, no wonder you can fly so fast!" Spike exclaimed.

"What can I say?" Dash smirked, with a soft blush. "I'm awesome."

Applejack was about to give the girl a piece of her mind, when Scorpan called, "Spike! It's time for your next lesson!"

"Coming uncle!" Spike replied as he quickly left the two girls behind.





Scorpan was sitting in the middle of a large room, surrounded by a huge white mat, when the door slide opened as Spike walked in.

"So what's this next lesson going to be?" Spike asked as he walked up to the man. "A ten mile lap for a cup of coffee? Balance an egg on my nose? Or-" As soon as Spike stepped on the mat, a flying disk was shot out from one of the doors nearby, which didn't go unheard as Spike quickly hit the deck. Just then, a pillar was dropped down from the ceiling and nearly squashed Spike, had he not rolled out of the way. As Spike stood up, his foot stepped on another hidden switch beneath the mat, trigging several flamethrowers to randomly spew out from the floor, the ceiling, and the walls, but not far enough to reach Scorpan.

The girls, having heard the commotion, rushed into the room to see Spike dodging, blocking, escaping, and fighting the traps being thrown at him.

Suddenly, a net was shot from a seemingly empty flower pot. Spike breathed fire on the net, but learned too late that it can't be burned as the net entraps him, and in multicolored glow, he was forced back a human. Spike tried to change back, but no matter how hard he tries, his power wouldn't respond, "What is this?" he asked as he struggled to free himself.

"Hold on Sugarcube," Applejack called as she and the girls made their way to the boy, around the mat, while Scorpan got up and deactivated the traps.

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, looking the boy over after he was freed.

Spike concentrated and in a flash of fire, he was a puppy, "I meant to do that," he said before he changed himself back to human. "But overall, I'm okay."

"For now," Scorpan began solemnly. "You should be glad it wasn't Somnambula who fired that net on you Spike." The man walked over to pick up the said object as he continues with his lecture, "This is the ultimate trap for all magical creatures, and vessels of the Dragonfires are no exceptions."

"Yes, I've read about these dreadful things in one of the Restricted Section's books," Twilight cringed, examining the net. "They were first created as a product of dark magic by one of Star Swirl the Bearded's most promising apprentice. Apparently, he was too impatient in his studies for magic that he decided that the quickest way to achieve great magic is by capturing other magical creatures, draining them of their magics to further increase his own. It's horrible, and just looking at these things is enough to make me sick." Twilight then turned to Scorpan, "Though, how did you manage to come across this thing? I thought Princesss Celestia had banned the use of these things thousands of years ago."

"Thousands?" Spike exclaimed. "Wow! She must be very old! No offense!" Spike stuttered at the last part, so as to not sound rude.

Hesitant at first, Scorpan answered, "I've had my shares of enforcing the law," he looked at the teens as he resumes solemnly, "But this is something all of you should prepare yourselves for. The next time this happen, it could be the last for each of you."

The teens nodded in understanding, "So what can we do to defend ourselves against this thing?" Spike asked in concern. "I can see that it's fireproof. Any sort of magic that can just destroy it?"

"There is," Twilight explained. "But it's very complicated. Only a handful of elite unicorns were able to pull of a spell, just to destroy one of these nets. They're enchanted with a powerful dark spell that drains all kinds of magic. Basically, it's like the only way to destroy these nets, is practically overloading it with too much magic."

"Correct as always Twilight," Scorpan nodded. "Luckily, I know of a way to counter these objects. And the best part is, it was invented by me," Scorpan smirked.

"You can teach me how to deflect these things?" Spike asked in amazement.

"Don't have to," Scorpan replied. "You've already learned it. Clean the toilet!" Scorpan shouted as he threw the net at the boy.

Thinking fast, Spike's dragon tongue shot out, 'First clockwise, then counter-clockwise!' and just like that, the net flew back and trapped the man.

"Whoa! It worked!" Spike cheered, before he quickly apologized, "Sorry uncle!"

"Not to worry Spike," Scorpan replied, freeing himself unscathed. "I'll live. Make sure you remember this technique Spike, because your very life may very depend on it."

"Yes uncle," Spike bowed his head to the man in acknowledgement. "I will."

Twilight walked over and as she and the girls each placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulders, "And you won't have to do it alone Spike," Twilight smiled assuringly. "We're here to help you every step of the way."

Seeing the honesty and sincerity in their eyes, Spike felt they can be trusted, as well as feeling something familiar about the girls. Nevertheless, Spike smiled, "Thank you girls."

Seeing Spike is in good hands, Scorpan was about to take his leave.

"Wait, uncle!" Spike quickly ran over and got in front of the man. "So what time for tomorrow's lesson?"

"No lesson for tomorrow, Spike," Scorpan replied. "For you that is. I've already promised your boys that I would train them in the martial arts, starting  tomorrow."

"Huh? Since when?"





In the previous chapter

During Spike's affectionate moment with the girls, after their battle with Somnambula, Scorpan was approached by Pipsqueak and the other boys.

"Um, Mr. Scorpan, sir?" Pipsqueak began. "We may not have magics or anything. But would it be alright if we could still get some trainings from you, and help Spike anyway?"

"Yeah," Rumble added. "Spike's our friend. Wherever our friend goes, we go with him. We want to still be able to help him anyway we can."

Scorpan narrowed his eyes at the boys, scratching his chin, "This is no place for mortals, such as yourselves," Scorpan replied. "It's dangerous! You boys won't last a second, should you continue to get involved."

"So what?" Rumble asked. "We're not afraid!"

"Yeah! We're Spike's bros." Button added. "And we're bros. for life!"

Sensing the honesty in the boy's words, as well as the boys' loyalty, Scorpan did sense something else in the boys' hearts. Reluctant, the man nodded, "Be here at 6:00 AM, Saturday Morning, bright and early!" he instructed. "Don't be late."

"Yes sir!" the boys saluted eagerly. 





"Ah," Spike answered, enlightened.

"Besides," Scorpan smirked. "Your trainings will now be with the girls, considering magic to be their department. And trust me, you'll enjoy it." The man pulled the boy close and whispered, "You've got a lot of catching up to do tomorrow." Scorpan winked as he takes his leave through a door.

Spike turned to the girls, who smiled happily at the idea. Spike couldn't help but smile back.
> A Weekend to Remember Part 1: Morning Training
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

That night, after training, Spike and the girls were turning in for the night. The girls were given permission, by Scorpan, to stay over for the night. All seven teens were sound asleep in Spike's room, with the girls sleeping in their sleeping bags, while Spike was in his bed, dreaming.

Spike was in the hallway of a large castle at night.

"Where am I?" he asked, looking around, marveling at the marble structures of the castle, and the many windows displays of unicorns, horses, pegasi, and alicorns.

Suddenly, a woman's voice was heard, along with the sound of a baby crying. Wanting to check it out, Spike followed the voice before he finds himself in a huge garden, with various animals running by. He looked again and was astonished to see the alicorn from before, sitting on the ground, with the baby crying in her front hooves.

'It's this dream again,' he realized.

"Don't cry," the mare gently shushed. "It's alright. I'm here," the mare began to sing a soothing song to the baby. The baby stopped his fussing upon listening to the beautiful melody from the mare's voice.



Both boys listened, mesmerized by the alicorn's beautiful voice, feeling the warmth, comfort, and love from her.

'Wow, that was so beautiful,' Spike thought. 

The baby let out a yawn as he slowly drifted to sleep, while wrapping himself within the alicorn's flowing mane. The alicorn smiled as she lowered her head, giving him a kiss on the forehead and whispered, "Good night, my dear." Curling herself up and draping a wing around the baby, the alicorn closed her eyes before she spoke, "Sleep tight, my little sunshine." 

With that, the alicorn fell soundly asleep as the whole scene ended.





Spike slowly wakes up to see that it was morning.

"That was some dream," Spike yawned, trying to stretch his arms out, only to feel something, or someone, holding him down. Struggling to break free, Spike finally pulled his arms out, as he lifted the blanket off to reveal Fluttershy and Rarity, snuggling on both sides of him.

"Girls?" he gasped in shock, before he noticed that it wasn't just them. Looking down, Applejack and Rainbow Dash, were snoring on top of him, at his midriff, with Twilight sleeping on Rarity's midriff, while holding Spike close. Spike darted his eyes, trying to locate Pinkie. It wasn't long before he smelled the familiar scent of cotton candy that he shivered, "She didn't," he turned his head to see that Pinkie, somehow, switched places with his pillow and was laying his head on her chest. Still in a state of surprise, Spike took the moment to observe, and could see that all six girls were in their pajamas.

Twilight and Fluttershy were in average pajamas with Twilight's yellow with little pink hearts decorated, and Fluttershy's was green with little butterflies decorated. Applejack was wearing onesie pajamas colored blue with apples decorated on it, Pinkie was wearing a nightgown colored pink and blue with balloon designs. Rarity was also wearing a nightgown colored purple with her favorite three diamond design and a blue ribbon. Rainbow Dash's sleep attire was blue sleep shorts, and a white shirt with red sleeves and her fave rainbow lightning bolt design.

Rarity, still in her sleep, kissed Spike on the cheek, leaving the boy stunned.

'Whoa,' Spike thought. 'It's Saturday, and I've got six girls sleeping all over me? This feels.....nice,' Spike smiled sheepishly, before he started to feel lightheaded. 'But I think I'm due for some air,' With that, Spike tried to wiggle himself free from the tangled mess of arms and legs, while trying not to wake the girls. However, the girls in their sleeps would have none of that, as Rarity instantly hugged him tighter, along with Fluttershy who moaned, "No! Stay! Don't leave again!" Pinkie, smiling in her sleep, held his head even closer, and tighter.

"I've got to get out of here," Concentrating into his powers, Spike was engulfed in a flash of fire as he changes into a puppy. His transformation didn't go unnoticed of course, as the girls all woke up and looked at the boy turned dog, "Um, morning girls," Spike smiled.

"Aw," Fluttershy squealed, grabbing the dog into another tight embrace. "You're even cuter in the morning."

"Fluttershy!" Spike blushed from close contact.

"Hey! Share some love for the rest of us!" Pinkie exclaimed, grabbing a hold of Spike by the tail, only for Fluttershy to pull him back.

"No!" Fluttershy exclaimed, slightly louder and a tiny bit scary. "I love my puppy! And I'm not letting you take him away from me!"

"C'mon now Fluttershy," Applejack assured. "We ain't taking Spike away from any pony," Spike's eyes widened in confusion at the last part. "Spike's our friend too. And we've got some love for him as well."

Fluttershy looked at the rest. A part of her wanted to shout, "He's going to love me!!" but seeing how the sincerity in the girls' eyes, Fluttershy nodded, reciprocating the feeling they had endured since Spike left them. Not that he'd remember of course. With a sad sigh, Fluttershy reluctantly handed Spike over to the rest of the girls, who all embraced him together.

Spike smiled, enjoying the feel, before he changes back into a human. Spike quickly snapped out of the moment, "Hold on!" he began. "Why were you girls in bed with me?"

Hesitant at first, the girls chuckled sheepishly until Twilight broke the silence, "Admittedly, we were having a hard time falling asleep. So we all kinda thought about using you for comfort."

"Why me?"

"Why not?" Pinkie smiled. "You're so cute and cuddly as you are very warm and cozy!"

"What Pinkie meant to say is," Applejack began. "We've really missed you Sugarcube. It wasn't easy for us to get some shut-eyes, all those years. Having ya back is the happiest thing that's ever happened to us."

"Has it now?" Spike asked, looking at the girls confusingly.

"Spike," Rainbow began. "When Applejack tells ya something. You better believe her. She's the honest one in our group."

"Oh really?" Spike asked, looking at Applejack, who nodded in confirmation. "Okay, I'll take your words for it." 

The girls smiled, before Twilight began, "Well, let's get ourselves cleaned up for breakfast. Then after that, we can begin the day with your training Spike," The girls and boy all cheered as they all headed for the bathroom.

"Ladies first," Spike bowed his head, instinctively acting like the gentleman he is, while holding the door.

"Why thank you, my prince," Rarity giggled, as she and the girls walked into the bathroom to get changed.

After the girls had finished their business in the bathroom, they walked out, fresh and clean. Spike couldn't help but feel slightly flushed at their appearance before he walked in, getting himself ready for the day. Soon, Spike walked down into the kitchen to see the girls having breakfast, with Scorpan nowhere in sight.

Spike looked at the clock to see that it was 5 minutes passed 6.

'Looks like Uncle and the boys have already gone out for training,' Spike thought. 'So I guess it's just me and the girls for now.' Taking an empty seat, Spike took a bite out of his pancake, smiling as he salivated the soft, appealing texture, of the food, along with the maple/blueberry syrup draped over, "Mmm, delicious," he said in delight.

"If you think that's delicious," Applejack began, handing over a plate of apple fritters. "Then take a bite out of my family's special apple fritters."

With that, Spike took a bite and his eyes burst, as fireworks were mentally being lit up.

"Where've you been all my life!!" Spike cried, as he happily ate the whole pieces, clean off the plate.

Applejack smiled, 'Just like the time we first met at the Grand Galloping Gala.'

"So Spike," Twilight began. "After breakfast, let's begin your magic training on the roof."

"Sounds good to me," Spike replied.





[Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground]

After breakfast, the girls were on the rooftop of the house with Spike, who was doing some warm ups with Pinkie Pie.

"Mountain pose! Downward dog! Upward dog!" Spike did the said commands, while keeping up with Pinkie Pie. "Now it's time to bring it around town. Bring it around town."

Later, he was doing push-ups with Applejack, who was putting her foot on his back to force him down.

"C'mon Spike!" Applejack exclaimed. "Just fifty more push-ups! C'mon! Ya got it!"

"I'm giving it all I got," Spike groaned.

Afterward, Spike was having a parkour race with Rainbow Dash across the rooftops.

"This is the life, huh Spike?" Dash smiled.

"Yeah," Spike panted. "My favorite!" Rainbow Dash rounded the next chimney with Spike following. Soon the two of them were running towards the rooftop of the next building, both doing dramatic flips to reach across the gap between them, and landed on the rooftop, in a roll, while resuming their race.

"You're not half bad for a runner Spike," Rainbow smiled, as Spike was running neck and neck with her.

"Thanks," Spike panted. "I have uncle to thank for that."

After what felt like an hour of parkour, Spike was relieved that his next training, with Twilight in the Training Dimension, involves some meditation. The two of them sat, crisscrossing their legs, on separate pillows, eyes closed, with two candlesticks, lit with fires that matched their magics' colors, levitating before them.

"Clear your mind of all the things," Twilight instructed. "Breathe to the rhythm of your heartbeat. Focus the magic inside of you."

As the two continue with their meditation, Spike and Twilight were soon floating in midair, to which they paid no mind to. The fires on their candles shifted, big and small, in sync with their breathing. Soon, the fire on Twilight's candle began to take shape into that of a star, while Spike's sprouted wings and a serpentine head was formed, along with some dark chains being formed all over the flame. The girls, minus Twilight, took notice of the chains and looked worried for Spike.

After some meditation done, along with a quick change, the teens were back in the real world, on the rooftop, where Fluttershy was helping Spike get in shape with his forms, his dog form mostly, much to her enjoyment.

"Sit," Fluttershy instructed. "Lie down. Roll over. Stand up. Beg. Shake hand." Spike, much to his annoyance, obeyed every commands given. "Good boy!!" Fluttershy smiled, petting the dog affectionately.

"Um, Fluttershy," Rainbow began. "When Scorpan told us to train Spike, I don't think he meant training him as a dog."

"Oh, but he's just so cute when he's a puppy!," Fluttershy whimpered.

"DUCK!!" Spike shouted, pouncing on Fluttershy, just as a water balloon almost hit her.

"Who's there?!" Rainbow shouted, only to see some shadows retreating.

"You saved me again!" Fluttershy squealed, hugging the dog. "My hero!"

"How'd ya know they were there Spike?" Dash asked.

"I have good hearing?" Spike shrugged.

"Is it because you're a dog right now?"

"Come to think of it, no," Spike quickly changed back into a human. "Even before all this, I've always been able to hear so well. I just thought I've always had a good sense of hearing."

This gave the girls an idea as Spike later stood with a blindfold on him, and Pinkie Pie jumping around.

"Marco!" Spike called.

"Polo!" Pinkie replied, as Spike ran toward to tag her. Pinkie jumped out of the way as Spike ran past her and bumped into a wall.

"Marco!"

"Polo!"

And just like before, Spike bumped into a wall.

"C'mon Spike!" Applejack called. "Just because you're blind, doesn't mean you're prone to crashing like Rainbow Crash here."

"Hey!" Rainbow scowled, giving a death glare at the country girl.

"Stay calm Spike!" Twilight instructed. "Don't think too much on where you heard Pinkie's voice."

Getting the message, Spike listened carefully for Pinkie's footsteps, "Marco," he said.

"Polo!" Pinkie shouted from the right, before she stepped on a twig, snapping from the left. With that, Spike quickly lunged towards the sound of the twig and tackled her to the ground.

"You got me!" Pinkie giggled, before she flipped Spike to the side and got on top of him. "Now I got you!" Pinkie pulled Spike's blindfold off, giving the boy a chance to see the mischievous grin on the girl's face. "And you know what you're getting?"

"Do I dare ask?" Spike whimpered.

"You get tickled!" With a smile, Pinkie's fingers flew, tickling the boy at the stomach.

"No, don't!" Spike yelled, failing to suppress a giggle. "Stop! T-T-That tickles! Get off!" Spike was in such a fit of laughter, he lost control of himself as he changes randomly between a dog, a dragon, and a human.

After the two had some laughs, it was time for Rarity's part in the training.

"It's not just about speed and strength Spike," Rarity lectured. "Elegance and grace is also what you need to be flexible in combat." As a demonstration, Rarity twirled around like a ballerina, sticking her foot out, kicking a nearby dummy the girls had placed.

"I know what you mean," Spike said, while doing spin. "Uncle's always been telling me that, ever since our last trip to a Capoeira tournament in Brazil."

"Did you really?" Rarity inquired.

"Yeah," Spike sighed nostalgically. "I'm surprised how they can turn dancing and music into another form of martial arts. It's like you're dancing, but at the same time, you're fighting."

Rarity smiled, getting out her phone to play a music, before grabbing Spike by the hand, "Then let's dance darling." She flirted.



Feeling the music, Spike moved his body to the rhythm of the song. Rarity meanwhile was lip-syncing with the song as she danced around and flirted with Spike, much to the envy of the others. Then, at the part where the song's tempo started to turn up, Rarity's hair glowed, assuming itself into a long ponytail, as she quickly spins around, almost whipping Spike in the face. Soon Rarity was dancing around on the rooftops, waving her hair, her body, her hips, in a smoothing and graceful flow. Spike couldn't help but blush slightly.

"Let's go," Rarity lip-synced, as a diamond shimmered on her forehead. "Let me see what you can do."

With that, Spike did a few dance moves, while acting on instincts, using some of his martial art skills to perform them. He and Rarity started holding hands together, and danced together.

'This feels fun,' Spike thought. 'And kinda familiar.'

Rarity in the meantime thought happily, 'Yes, just like the dance we've had years ago.'

The rest of the girls watched in envy, watching how much fun Spike and Rarity are having. Although they wanted to 'cut in' they decided against it, so as to not look bad in front of Spike.





After awhile, it was time to take a break.

"Phew," Spike panted. "And I thought uncle's a tough coach for me." Applejack walked by and handed the boy a cup of water, "Oh thanks, Applejack." Spike gratefully took the cup and chugged it all down.

"No problem, Sugarcube," Applejack smiled, before she took a seat beside the boy. "Feels great to be using your powers again, ain't it?"

"Honestly, it feels kinda...." Spike hesitated for a moment, searching his thoughts for the words, "I don't know. I wanted to say it's awesome, and exciting on a new level. And yet, it actually feels familiar, like I've done this before. Strange, isn't it?"

"Not at all," Applejack glanced at the boy with sad eyes. "It's just like old times." The other girls all nodded in agreement.

"Right, so you've said." With a solemn look, Spike decided to ask, "So what really happened years ago? Why can't I remember you girls? Who are you? And what's going on?"

The girls look at each other, before they nodded in agreement, "Let's head back inside. We'll explain everything from there." Twilight suggested, as the group followed. 

After making sure the curtains were closed, along with all the doors and windows, Twilight slowly took her glasses off, her eyes begin to glow pure, sparkling, white, as she held her hands out, with the girls, floating in mid air before they were once again engulfed in a flash of white. Once the light show has died down, there they stood before him, as ponies. But not like the ones he's seen them before.



"Whoa!" Spike gasped, after his visions cleared up. "You're ponies?!" Spike took a look at each of the girls in their pony forms. "Rarity, you're a unicorn!" Rarity blushed. "Rainbow, Fluttershy, you two are pegasuses?"

"The plural form for pegasus is pegasi," Dash corrected.

"Applejack, Pinkie Pie, you're.....normal ponies?"

"Nope!" Pinkie smiled, popping out of nowhere, jumpscaring Spike from behind. "We ain't normal ponies. We're Earth Ponies! We may not have wings or horns like Rarity, Dashie, and Flutters do, but we have magics of our own."

"It's true," Applejack answered. "We can understand living creatures, we have the power to tend the land, and grow plenty of foods that would last us all winter."

"But as for me!" Pinkie smiled, while bouncing around the room. "My specialty is throwing parties! Birthday parties! Welcome parties! Holiday parties! You name 'em! They don't call me the Pinkie the Party Planning Party Pony for nothing!"

"Interesting," Spike pondered, before he turned to Twilight, seeing how she has a horn, wings, and appears to be slightly taller than the rest of the girls. "And what exactly are you Twilight? A Pegacorn? Unisus? Or..."

"I'm an alicorn," Twilight answered. "I'm basically a hybrid of a unicorn's magic, a pegasus's flight, and the heart of an earth pony."

"Also, she's a princess," Pinkie added. "All hail, Princess Twilight Sparkle! The Princess of Friendship!!" With that, Pinkie got out several instruments from nowhere and played a one pony marching band.

"Pinkie!" Twilight exclaimed. "Not in front of Spike!"

"Why not?" Pinkie asked. "He's bound to know you're princess sooner or later. I'm just saving you the trouble of telling it to him yourself."

"You're a princess?!" Spike baffled, before he quickly bowed his head. "Please forgive me, Twilight! I mean, Princess Twilight! I mean-" The sound of laughter filled the room, as Spike looked up, seeing how the girls were laughing in amusement. 

"Oh, Spike," Pinkie laughed. "You're still as funny as you were back when!"

"Besides, if Twilight wanted you to bow, don't you think she would've said so earlier?" Rainbow added. 'That and the fact you were a royal yourself,' She thought in amusement.

After a few chuckles, Twilight walked over to Spike, "Please, no need to be so formal, Spike," Twilight reassured. "Just Twilight will do. We are friends after all."

Still confused, Spike complied as he got up, "Okay, Twilight," He answered, before he looked at the girls around him. "Still, I kinda find it hard to believe I'm friends with ponies, let alone a princess."

"The Princess of Friendship, to be precise!" Pinkie reminded, popping from the side as she bounced around Spike. "It's her destiny! Plain as the cutie mark on her flank!" Pinkie said, pointing to the lavender alicorn's flank, where a mark of a six-pointed red star, surrounded by five smaller white stars are located.

Spike, blushing in embarrassment, immediately looked away, "I didn't mean to stare, or anything," He replied.

Applejack couldn't help but chuckle, "It's alright there, Sugarcube," Applejack reassured. "There's nothing to be ashamed of about looking at some pony else's cutie mark on their flank."

"Totally!" Pinkie chirped. "It's not like you're looking at someone butt-naked or anything. Oh, wait. It kinda does, because in Equestria, we don't normally wear clothes. So we're kinda always walking around nude."

"PINKIE!!!" The girls berated the pink pony.

Rainbow quickly took over, as she explained, "Look, Spike. Cutie marks aren't anything to be ashamed of looking at. They're actually kinda awesome."

"Oh?" Spike asked.

"Sure, I mean, look at mine," Rainbow pointed to a picture symbol of a thundercloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt, imprinted on her haunches. "Pretty cool? Don't you think?"

Spike could only blush, "Yeah, if I can understand what's so awesome about it."

"It's a symbol for how awesome I am!" Rainbow proclaimed, proudly.

"I think he means, what makes our cutie marks worth looking at," Applejack clarifies.

"Our cutie marks are the symbol of our special talents," Twilight explained. "They're basically symbols of our talents that set us apart from every pony else, and symbolizes how special each of us are."

"Oh," Spike nodded in acknowledgement, before he looked at the girls' cutie marks and guessed, "So your talent is astronomy, Applejack's talent is apples, Rainbow Dash's is making lighting rainbows, Rarity's is making beautiful gems, Pinkie's is balloons, and Fluttershy's is catching butterflies?"

Twilight and the girls all giggled in response, "Close," Twilight answered. "Applejack's represents honesty and her devotion to her family, Pinkie's is laughter and her love to spread joy, Rarity's is her love of art and generosity, Fluttershy's represents her kindness and her love of animals, Rainbow Dash's represents her loyalty and speed-"

"And my awesomeness," Rainbow added, boastfully.

"Yes," Twilight rolled her eyes, before she concluded with herself. "And as for mine, it's my talent of magic."

"That's why she's the Princess of Friendship!" Pinkie added. "It's her destiny! She was born to be the Princess of Friendship!"

"Really?" Spike asked. "Wow, the boys would never believe it when I tell them I'm friends with a princess."

Twilight blushed, "Actually, I wasn't always a princess." Twilight frowned as she recalled the traumatic event. "At least, not before we met."

"Yeah," Applejack grumbled. "Way before them varmints attacked ya and tried to take yer Dragonfire."

"And then you and General Scorpan were forced to leave us and Equestria for who knows how long!" Rainbow added with a snarl.

Spike shook his head in confusion, "Equestria? Magics? Ponies? Princess of Friendship? Can someone please fill me in on what's happening?"

The girls all closed their eyes, before they shot sad looks in Spike's way, "It's a long story to tell," Twilight began.

"And not a happy one at that," Pinkie added.

"I'm listening," Spike pulled a chair, eager for some answers.





After about an hour, the girls had finished telling Spike about Equestria, how he was brought there, how he lost his memories at the hands of Somnambula and her fellow villains, and why he and Scorpan came to New York, while leaving some parts out.

"And you know the rest," Twilight concluded.

Spike could hardly believe his ears, "This is crazy!" he exclaimed, clutching his head. He looked up at the girls who had all changed back into human forms, "You girls mean to tell me that there is this place called Equestria, where you all came from. I was there before? And because I was born with this Dragonfire inside of me, I was hounded by that crazy witch? And the reason why I can't remember is because of her?"

"Afraid so," Twilight replied, taking a seat beside the boy, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Oh Spike. There were so many things we wanted for you to remember."

"But to be struck down and lose it all at such a young age!" Rarity began tearfully. "It's just awful!"

"Yeah," Rainbow added. "Cause then you wouldn't remember all the good times we've had as kids."

"Or the parties I've thrown for you!" Pinkie added, with her hair deflating slightly.

Looking up, Spike could see the sorrows on the girls' faces. The very sight just made his heart ache, "Why? Why now?" He asked, scratching his head. "Why couldn't I remember any of this sooner?"

"We've been asking that question for many years, Sugarcube," Applejack replied. Feeling a tear escaping, Applejack pulled her hat over, so as to not let Spike see her cry as she continued, "We would've liked it better, if you hadn't been gone for this long."

Fluttershy, unable to hold her tears back, pounced on Spike and cried, "I'm so sorry we weren't there for you, my poor puppy!" Fluttershy cried even harder at the last part. Soon, the girls all joined in, hugging the boy, while exchanging apologies, and tears.

Spike, still having unanswered questions, returned the hugs, "I'm sorry girls," The girls looked curiously at him. "I wish I could remember my life ten years ago," A small smile appeared on Spike's face. "But if you girls really were my friends then, I'm honored to have all of you as my friends now." At that point, the girls all smiled, and shedding tears of joy, at the boy's words of comfort, returning the hugs. "I know!" Spike broke up the hug as he explains, "Let's go out and make some new memories. We're together again, so let's go out like old times."

The girls smiled even bigger as they and Spike made a quick change in their casual attires and walked out of the house.
> A Weekend to Remember Part 2: A Day Out With Friends Forgotten
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike and the girls were out and about in the busy streets of Times Square, looking at all the places they could go to. Their first stop, Twilight's pick, was at Barnes and Nobles, where Rarity was browsing through all the books on fashion, Fluttershy checked the encyclopedias on animals, Pinkie Pie and Applejack on cookbooks, Rainbow Dash on sports magazine, comic books, and some books of Indiana Jones, and Twilight was basically going through the whole genres.

Twilight was looking at a book that showed her pictures of the fantastic landscapes around the world, from the Grand Canyon to Stonehenge, when Spike came to see what she's reading, along with a huge pile of books she was hoping to purchase.

"I see you're quite the bookworm," Spike said amusingly.

Twilight smiled sheepishly, "I know books aren't all that interesting to you and everyone, but-"

"Oh don't get me wrong Twilight," Spike interrupted. "I think it's great that you have a passion for books. It shows how smart you are, and how dedicated you are to your studies."

"Thanks Spike," Twilight smiled, while blushing a light shade of red. "But I really wouldn't have been able to learn everything around me, if it hadn't been for you."

"Huh?" he inquired. "What did I do?"

Twilight sighed nostalgically, "Let's just say you showed me a whole new world." With that, Twilight gave Spike a playful wink, before she went up to the counter and made her purchase.

Afterwards it was Fluttershy's pick. The seven teens were passing through Central Park, before arriving at the Central Park Zoo, where Fluttershy made several animal imitations of the animals they were passing. Fluttershy was making barking noises that got the sea lions' attentions, some cute squeaks that got a sea otter to look at her. However, what's even more surprising for both Spike and the girls was when they came to the snow leopard exhibit. The big cat was growling and roaring behind its fences, glaring and scaring away all of the visitors. All, except one. Fluttershy boldly stepped up to the fence, the big cat bared its fangs, hissing and growling at her, before it was taken by surprise when Fluttershy bared her teeth and growled at the cat. The two had what most people perceived to be a stand-off, between a girl and cat, until finally, the snow leopard grew calmer and purred lovingly toward the girl.

"There, there, Mr. Snowy," Fluttershy smiled. "There's no need to be afraid. No one's going to hurt you."

All the visitors and employees gathered around, amazed at the interaction between the two. The zookeeper even offered Fluttershy the position of being the snow leopard, Mr. Snowy's personal keeper. Soon after, it was time for the teens to take their leave.

"Good-bye Mr. Snowy," Fluttershy said to the leopard. "I'll be back next week to come and visit you."

The leopard let out a light roar as it watches the kindhearted girl leave with her friends.

"Wow, Fluttershy!" Spike exclaimed. "That was incredible with what you did back there! Where'd you learn that?"

Fluttershy blushed a bright shade of red, as she answered, "Well, I have traveled to a lot of places, rescuing poor animals who can't help themselves. And, I guess I may have learned to speak with them along the way. Y'know, to let them know I wasn't going to hurt them."

"Sounds like to me you're a hero to the whole animal kingdom," Spike smiled, patting the shy girl on the shoulder.

Fluttershy hid her face behind her hair, as she blushed, "I guess I am," she smiled as she thought, 'But you'll always be my hero.' With that, the two quickly caught up with the rest of the girls to look at all the other animals in the zoo.





The seven teens were once again passing through Central Park, when Rainbow looked to see an empty soccer field nearby. An idea quickly came to her as she nudged Spike on the shoulder, "Hey Spike!" she began. "Ya up for a little one on one? First to 5 goals wins. And we do it, without magic."

"Is that a challenge?" Spike asked.

"If I say yes?"

"Challenge accepted."

"Then game on!"

With that, friendly game of soccer between the boy and girl ensued. At the start of the game, Spike was about to take the ball, but Rainbow beat him to it when she quickly steals it with her leg, brings it in the air behind her, before bending her head down as she flexed her leg, kicking the ball straight into Spike's goal.

"One's in!" Dash smirked.

1-0

"Wow!" Spike exclaimed. "That's a neat trick!"

"What can I say? I'm awesome!"

Twilight, sitting on the bleachers, thought, 'She pulled that same kind of trick on me before, in our first soccer match.'

The two quickly resumed their game, as Rainbow dribbles the ball towards Spike, who was guarding his goal. Suddenly, Rainbow pulled the ball back in the air, before she spun herself around in a perfect 360 and kicked a flaming fast ball. Spike tried to stop it, but the ball flew right past him, scorching his right ear slightly, and into the net.

2-0

"Hey!" Spike called. "I thought we agreed no magic!"

"We did!" Dash smirked proudly. "That's a natural talent of mine."

"No way," Spike sighed in disbelief as he resumes the game with Dash.

Dash was dribbling the ball, until Spike manages to steal it from her, when he pulled the "Dragon Sweeps His Tail," maneuver and stole the ball, before kicking it into Dash's goal.

2-1

"Clever move Spike," Dash smirked. "Now we're really having fun!"

"Bring it!" Spike smirked.

With that, Spike and Rainbow were evenly matched on the field, with Dash using her speed and agility, while Spike relied on his martial arts skills. The two kept it up, until at last, Rainbow Dash kicked the last goal to win.

5-4

"That's game," Dash smirked.

"Wow!" Spike panted breathlessly. "For being human, you've got some mad skills."

"You ain't bad yourself Spike," Dash smiled as she helped the boy up. "I'm impressed that you can at least keep up with me. Of course, you've always been able to keep up when we were kids."

Spike's looked at the girl curiously, "Really?"

"Yeah!" Dash confirmed. "I mean, when we first met, you were the only boy who was impressed and respected my talents and skills. Most other boys just acted like they're all better and that I should try to be more like a girl."

"That's not cool. They shouldn't tell you that!"

"I know! But then you came, and ya told them off and otherwise. Since then, you've got my respect. And in turn, I've got you for an awesome pal!" Dash pulled the boy in a headlock, before she gave him a noogie.

"Hey!" Spike groaned, as he manages to slip through the girl's grip and fixes his hair. "I'm all that much to you?"

"Yeah," Dash replied as she embraced the boy. "And you're always going to be awesome to me buddy. I wish you could remember that."

"I'll try," Spike returned the embrace.





Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, later took the group to the Westfield World Trade Center Mall. The whole place was crowded with costumers coming in and going out, for all the products sold at the many stores within the facility.

"Ooh, isn't it wonderful darlings?" Rarity squealed. "We're in fashionista's dreamland!"

"Dreamland for you perhaps," Applejack muttered.

"I just can't believe we're walking on the grounds of what used to be the terrorist attack site in 9/11," Twilight said.

"Yeah, dark day for America," Spike shuddered.

"Now now darlings," Rarity began. "Let's not be living in the past." The fashionable girl quickly seized Spike by the hand. "Spike you must come! There's a 15% off on the sale for fashion! We can't let it pass by!"

"Rarity!" Spike exclaimed, before he was dragged away. The rest of the girls looked on in amusement, yet a little irked, while some mysterious figures were walking by.





Rarity soon arrived to one of the fashion stores, with Spike in tow, and the two didn't waste a second to pick out some new threads to try on. After they've made their choices, the two brought their chosen articles of clothing into the fitting room to try on, before they came out, examining and analyzing each other's choice.

Rarity was wearing a strapless, purple spring dress with an open back, pink gloves, and matching high heels, while Spike came out wearing a black tuxedo with matching pants and shoes, and a red tie.

"Rarity," Spike commented in a suave tone. "You're looking beautiful as ever."

Rarity placed her hand over her heart, "Oh darling," she smiled. "You're such a prince."

The two went back into the fitting rooms to change into their next styles, before coming back out. Rarity stood, wearing a sparkling purple fleecy jacket, over a white, long sleeved shirt with an amethyst imprinted on the chest, a violet beret, a short jean skirt, black leggings with matching heels with a heart decorated. Spike later came out wearing a black buttoned shirt with a gold asian dragon decorated on the front and behind, a dark blue jean, and a dark grey shoe with sliver stripes.

Finally, they came down to their last choice. Rarity walked out in a long magenta flowing dress, with a white lace across the neck and shoulders, pink ribbons at the bottom, and pink slippers. Spike walked out wearing a white tuxedo, a black bowtie, red pants with orange stripes, and black dress shoes. The two looked at each other and both couldn't help but feel smitten.

"Wow!" Spike gasped. "And I thought you were already beautiful!"

"I'd certainly say the same to you," Rarity smiled, twirling around in her dress, until she accidentally stepped on it, and started to trip over.

"Rarity!" Spike shouted, catching the girl, resulting the both of them to fall on the floor.

Rarity looked up, blushing, and smiling, finding herself lost in the boy's blazing green eyes. Spike in turn finds himself lost in the girl's dazzling sapphire eyes.

"Rarity?" Spike asked. "Are you alright?"

"I am now darling," Rarity sighed lovingly. "Even more so, since I'm now seeing those beautiful eyes of yours again."

"Gosh, I think your eyes are beautiful too," Spike smiled.

"Oh flatterer," Rarity giggled, before she pulled the boy into a loving embrace, "Always the charming, courageous, and noble prince you are."

"Well you're one to talk," Spike grinned. "You're talking like I'm Prince Charming or something."

Rarity giggled, "Well, prince or no prince, you'll always be my hero." With that, Rarity cupped Spike's cheeks, slowly bringing the boy into a.....

"Whoa!" a random costumer exclaimed. "Am I interrupting something?"





After being forced to make their quick purchase, Rarity and Spike met up with the others at a Starbuck Cafe in the facility.

"So how'd it go?" Rainbow began.

"It was alright," Spike answered, being careful not to reveal too much details. "Me and Rarity had a good time together," As he said that, Spike secretly flashes a grin at Rarity, who blushed in response.

Just then, a song was played, which got Pinkie excited as she grabbed the boy, "Oh yeah?" Pinkie smiled. "Then let me have a turn to show you a good time." With that, Pinkie grabbed Spike out onto the floor, and started moving her body to the rhythm of the song. After bobbing his heads and tapping his foot to the song, Spike joined in as well.





"Uh huh," Pinkie sang. "Show me what you got now, come on make it worth my while."

Taking that as a request, Spike did a few dance moves with Pinkie, who smiled, 'I knew you still have that party animal inside of you Spikey!' the girl thought happily.

The rest of the girls watched happily, seeing how happy Pinkie is with Spike again. At last, when the song was over, the two got back to their table.

"You two looked great out there!" Twilight smiled.

"Thanks Twilight," Spike panted. "I haven't danced that much in years."

"I'll say!" Pinkie smiled. "That was the best dance I've had with Spike ever!" Confetti flew out of the hyperactive girl's hands when she made her happy declaration.

Another song start up again, this time of the country genre. Recognizing the lyrics, Applejack got up and pulled Spike out of his seat.

"C'mon sugarcube," she smiled. "Now it's ma turn to have some fun with ya."

Though a little tired, Spike wasn't in the mood to turn down Applejack, "Lead the way partner," he joked, causing the girl to laugh.





At first, both boy and girl clapped their hands and tapped their feet before they really began to "shake it." Applejack did a few dance steps, shaking her hips to the beat of the song, while Spike also shook his hips, as well as his arms, with the girl. Then without warning, Applejack grabbed Spike by the hand, pulling him close, putting his other hand around her waist, before she draped her other hand around his neck. Getting the message, Spike started to dance together with Applejack, while gingerly trying to not step on her feet.

'That was a close one,' Spike thought, looking up to see Applejack smiling at him.

"No need to worry sugarcube," she said sweetly, before she spins Spike. "Honestly, you're making me want to dance with you even more."

Spike smiled, as he spins Applejack, and did another dance round with her, before they ended their dance, with a dip.

Afterward, a slow song was started. Recognizing the song, Rarity quickly got up from her seat and pulled Spike on the shoulder, "Come dance with me darling!" she smiled.

Spike, unable to find it in himself to object, replied,"Okay. Maybe a slow dance wouldn't hurt." Spike and Rarity walked out onto the dance floor, as the boy placed an arm around her waist, and the two begin their dance.





Unlike his last dances with Pinkie and Applejack, Spike was glad he didn't have to do anything fancy to please Rarity. Rarity, seeing how content the boy is, asked, "Enjoying yourself, darling?"

"Yeah," Spike smiled. "This is relaxing. How about you?"

"Oh it's absolutely marvelous darling," Rarity sighed lovingly. "It's just as I've always dreamed of for ten years."

Spike smiled, "Well, I'm glad I could make your dream a reality."

"Oh darling," Rarity smiled as she pulled Spike into a hug, whispering in his ear, "You're my dream, Spikey- Wikey." She shed a small tear of joy when she said it.

Spike couldn't help but blush, while returning the embrace. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Twilight, who hadn't danced with Spike yet, couldn't help but feel envy at the sight.

'I'd like to dance with Spike right now,' she thought.

After awhile, the song came to an end as Spike and Rarity walked back to the table with rest of the girls to enjoy their drinks.

"Phew," Spike breathed, taking a sip of his chocolate frappucino. "I haven't dance that much in my life."

"Do tell," Pinkie smiled, quickly drinking her strawberry smoothie. "Did you have fun?"

"Sure did," Spike smiled. "You girls are a whole lot of fun."

The girls all smiled, "I'd say the same for you," Rainbow smiled, with the girls exchanging agreements.

"Yeah, I'm glad you girls came," Speaking of, the said song was played. "Whoa," Spike said. "Did that just..."

"Want another dance?" Rainbow asked.

"Hey!" Twilight exclaimed. "I was going to ask him that!"

"Um, I'd like to have a dance with Spike," Fluttershy said quietly.

The three quickly got into a squabble, before Spike blew a whistle, "Girls! Calm down!" he said. "How about I dance with all three of you together?" The remaining girls looked to each other before they nodded in agreement as they walked out to the floor with Spike.





Spike, once again, was dancing with Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy. Rainbow started showing off some breakdance, as she did the windmill, a headspin, a baby spin, and the jackhammer. She got up and pointed her fingers to Spike, beckoning the boy to show off his moves. Complying to the girl's command, Spike got down and did the baby spin, the windmill, a hand hop, and some flares.

Rainbow clapped her hands, before Spike was snatched away by Fluttershy, who suddenly looked brave, "Let's tango," she said. 

Getting the message, Spike and the formerly shy girl both begin their dance, linking their hands together and did a few tap steps. Spike spins Fluttershy around, before the girl got behind the boy, and took his hand when she got to the other side. Spike spun Fluttershy around for a while, before doing a dip. Fluttershy stood up and both she and Spike spun each other around, before they ended their dance with another dip. 

"Having fun, chiquita?" Spike joked.

Fluttershy giggled, "Definitely."

Rainbow clapped her hands as she walked over to the two, until the three looked to see Twilight, on all fours, kicking and thrusting her arms and legs out. Spike looked at the two girls, who could only shrug in response. Looking around to see the stares Twilight was receiving from the bystanders, Spike couldn't let Twilight have the kind of attentions alone. Without a second thought, Spike got on all four as he joined in with Twilight, followed by Rainbow and Fluttershy. Twilight looked and smiled to see her three closest friends dancing to her pony dance. Twilight looked to her side, seeing Spike, awkwardly kicking and punching his arms and legs out. The sight of this brought back some memories as the girl envisioned a younger Spike, dancing with her at a party once.

At last, the four came to the end of their dance.

"The fun has been quadrupled," Spike cheered.

"Quadrupled?" Twilight asked.

"It was just fun with Pinkie Pie. Then it was doubled with Applejack. Tripled with Rarity. Then quadrupled with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and you." Spike explained. "Oh wait. Come to think of it, maybe it was fun, sixfold." The girls smiled in agreement. However, little did they know, some suspicious characters were walking overhead, when they got out some ammunitions and prepared to drop them on the teens. Luckily, their attempt didn't go unheard, as Spike quickly looked up, "Look out!" Spike screamed, shoving the girls away, just as a bomb landed and went off.

"What the hay?" Rainbow exclaimed. "Who'd-" Rainbow didn't need to ask further, when she looked up to see several hooded figures, shooting guns overhead.

The teens looked to see there were also some hooded figures, shooting guns at their level. Without hesitation, the friends quickly got under the table, flipping it over, and using it as a makeshift shield.

"What the hay is going on?" Rainbow asked, while keeping her head down.

"I don't know," Spike answered.

Suddenly, a hooded man came from behind a grabbed Fluttershy. The shy girl let out a scream, as Rainbow quickly jumped up and kicked the man in the face, forcing him to release the girl. The man got out a gun and was about to shoot the girls when....

CHOMP

The man let out a girlish scream, "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! LET GO!!" He yelled, running around with a dog clamping its jaws on his butt. The girls couldn't help but let out a laugh, recognizing the dog to be none other than Spike himself. The other hooded figures came, swinging some clubs, attempting to knock the boy turned dog off. But instead, they accidentally spanked their comrade by mistake.

"Yuck!" Spike spluttered, blowing a raspberry. "That's nasty!" Suddenly, the little puppy finds himself surround by more figures, pointing their guns at him.

Fluttershy gasped, before she looked with anger stamped on her face, "Don't. You. DAAARRREEEE!!" she roared, sprouting wings, and literally flying at the figures, punching and kicking in blind fury, "You would hurt a little puppy, just because he saved me and my friends?" she ranted. "Why you're all just a bunch of big, dumb, MEANIES!! WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE?!!!"

Spike and the girls looked at their angry friend, with their pupils shrunk to the size of a dot. Spike looked up to see some more hooded figures, pointing their guns at the girl.

"Fluttershy!" Spike barked. "Look out!" Luckily, the rest of the girls looked in the puppy's direction. Just as the figures pulled their trigger overhead, Rarity jumped in between, projecting a shield, saving Spike, Fluttershy, and herself from the bullets.

The figures quickly began to reload their weapons, only to have their guns stolen by Rainbow Dash, who had sprouted wings. The girl looked at the figures with disapproving glares, before she flew and landed several punches and kicks, "THAT! WASN'T! VERY! COOL!!" she screamed, breaking the sound barrier when she kicked one of the madmen, sending him flying off his perch and into a fountain below. 

Rainbow turned to the other figures, who tried to run away, but slipped on a wet floor and landed in a trashcan nearby. Pinkie picked up the trash and sent it sliding down an escalator, "Enjoy your trip!" Pinkie grunted, as the figures had a bumpy trip down.

As the fight went on, Spike suddenly hears the crying sound of a baby. Turning his head in the direction, Spike looked to see a lone stroller, and the mother was no where in sight, and a bench was pushed by some more of the hooded figures, from the upper level and was about to crush the child. Without wasting a second, Spike, changing into human form, ran as fast as he could, diving in, pushing the stroller out of the way, just as the bench nearly landed on him and the baby.

Looking in, Spike was relieved to see that the baby was okay, "Oh thank you!" A young couple sighed in relief, as the mother picked up the baby and hugged him. 

Just then, the sound of a gun was clicked from behind. Without hesitating, Spike spins around in a blur, kicking the gun out of the man's hand, and did another spin kick to the face. A little bit dazed, the man swung a fist, only for Spike to block it and kicked the man in the groin, followed by a powerful punch that knocked the man out cold.

"SPIKE!!" The girls called, only to be intercepted by more hooded figures who opened fire, had Twilight and Rarity not quickly conjured up their magic shields. Spike looked to see a discarded bowling ball, picked it up, and threw it at one of the madmen, in the head. The inflicted man and his comrade looked at the boy, who blew a raspberry, before changing into a dog and ran away, with the angry terrorists giving chase.
> A Weekend to Remember Part 3: The Gauntlet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Spike, still in dog form, was running through the mall, with a group of angry terrorists running close behind. 

The men were firing their guns at the dog, who narrowly dodged the bullets, before he noticed a puddle of water. Grabbing a discarded food tray, Spike jumped on the board, using it as a makeshift skateboard, sliding across the puddles, while the terrorists slipped on the floor, and one of them fell, headfirst, into a custodian's bucket of soap and water.

"You hoodlum!" The custodian grumbled, whacking the terrorist on the head with a mop, while Spike got away.

A madman jumped out and caught the boy in a big brown bag. But Spike breathed fire, burned his way out, revealing himself in his dragon form, growing angrily at the man. The terrorist let out a girlish scream as he tries to run, but crashed into a building structure and knocked himself out.

"Ah! A monster!" a woman screamed, followed by some other people who were sent in a blind panic.

"Wait! Calm down!" Spike began. "I'm not going to eat you!" The people failed to hear his words over their screams, forcing Spike to change into his dog form and escaped unnoticed.





Meanwhile, the girls were looking for Spike, when they ran into one of the terrorist. The man tried to open fire on them, but Pinkie jump scared the man, giving him such a fright that he dropped his gun, and the party girl tackled him to the ground.

"Get off of me!" the man grunted.

"You ain't going anywhere buster!" Pinkie spatted, exerting more weight on the man.

In his attempt to get the girl off, the bad guy's hand accidentally landed on the girl's breast, causing the girl to stop, as well as getting gasps from the rest of the girls.

"You touched my melon?!" Pinkie began, glaring at the man darkly. "You just made a big mistake there mister!" Pinkie said, in a demonic tone. "Nobody touches my melons and gets away with it!" At the last words, the man broke out into a sweat.

"Poor guy!" Dash whimpered, while holding Fluttershy close.

"He knows not what he's gone and done!" Fluttershy whimpered frighteningly.

In a fit of blind rage, Pinkie flew at the terrorists, screaming and scratching his face repeatedly, "She used Fury Swipes Attack!" Dash whimpered.

"Emphasis on 'fury,'" Fluttershy added in equal whimper.

Pinkie delivered the final blow, with a flying kick to the terrorist, in the gut, sending him into a pillar, while screaming, "KNOW YOUR PLACE!!"

"She used an unstoppable High Kick!!" Dash whimpered.

"And highly effective!" Fluttershy added.

The terrorist was down for the count, before Pinkie walked over to pick him up by the collar of his robe,"Come here you!" Pinkie growled. "I'm gonna make you a cupcake!"

"WAIT!!" the girls called.

"Let the authorities take it from here!" Twilight shouted. "We have to save Spike!!"

"Spike?" Pinkie asked, before her happy demeanor returns. "Oh yeah! Let's go save Spikey!" She shifted a threatening glance at the terrorist, who looked as if he was about to soil himself. "You stay right here! Or else!!"

"Yes ma'm," he whimpered. "Cross my heart and hope to....die."





More terrorists were firing their guns at innocent people, from overhead, when Spike came and stopped them. He punched one of the gunman, disarming him of his gun with a roundhouse kick, while the other gunman aimed his gun at the boy.

"No!" the disarmed gunman shouted, flailing his arm around. "Don't shoot!" Doing a flip, Spike grabbed the other gunman's gun, and did a sidekick to the gunman's face, all the while disarming him of his weapon. Without their guns, the two madmen were forced to charge after the boy, flailing their fists, all which Spike was able to block, before grabbing them by their hands, and forced them to crash into each other.

Just then, a big, hulking man, wearing a hockey mask, carrying a rusty machete, jumped out at Spike, screaming. Luckily, Spike heard him coming as he quickly changes into a dog and slipped between the man's legs, changes back into a human and kicked the man in the rear.

The man grunted as he swung his machete at the boy, who quickly took several steps back, before he grabbed a chair nearby, holding the object by its leg and using it as a melee weapon against the machete. Throwing the chair at the man, Spike jumped behind a table and kicked it towards the terrorist, before grabbing another chair from behind and throws it. The terrorist was able to deflect the chair with his machete, while kicking the table back, as he spins his arm, swinging his machete at the boy. Luckily, Spike ducked down in time as he grabbed another chair, spinning it in the air, spins around and landed a blow to the man's shoulder, dropping the blade. The man tried to pick it up, but Spike kicked it away, forcing the man to punch the boy, who quickly blocked and grabbed both his hands, as his eyes suddenly turned blazing green and reptilic, two sharp fangs extending and sharping, striking fear into the man. Before he knew it, Spike let out a concussive roar, blasting the man away and into a pillar, knocking him out.

The girls, along with some of the terrorists, have heard the roar and ran in the direction of the source.

Spike took a moment to catch his breath, "What just happened?" he asked, turning to look at his reflection in the window, startled at the sight of his blazing eyes and his sharp fangs. After a moment of inspecting his reflection, a scream was heard. 

Spike looked to see a little girl, being held at gunpoint, to the head, by one of the terrorists. The mother desperately pleaded for the man to not shoot her daughter, but the terrorist doesn't appear to be fazed. Before Spike knew it, he was a blur of purple and green, punching the man away from the girl. The man was caught by surprise, and the force from the punch was so strong, that the man was sent flying, ten yards away from the spot.

"Run!" Spike ordered, as the mother and child took their leave, just as more terrorists arrived and they quickly opened fire on the boy, who escaped.





"Spike?" Twilight called. "Spike! Where are you!"

"He's over there!" Rainbow pointed to show Spike, running down an escalator, with some terrorists running after him.

"Why them no good for nothing varmints!" Applejack picked up a nearby basketball ball, threw it with such force that the ball went flying like a flaming cannon ball, striking at one of the gunmen. Before the terrorists could look up, Pinkie Pie had dumped several ice buckets on their heads.

"Take this!" She got out a small bag of sprinkles, throwing it at the terrorists, exploding upon impact.

Rainbow looked and saw more terrorists coming in their direction, "Reinforcements are coming!" she alerted.

"Split up!" Twilight exclaimed. "They won't catch all of us and we'll find Spike much quicker that way!"

"Okay!" Pinkie replied, getting out a bag of flour.

"Ready?" Rainbow began

"BREAK!!" With that, Pinkie threw down the bag, exploding into a cloud of dust, giving covers as the girls ran in separate directions, each being chased by the madmen.





'Wow!' Spike thought, still running with super speed, while knocking out some madmen on the way. 'This is amazing!' Jumping on an upcoming building structure, Spike kicked off, flying back to the terrorists who were after him, curling up into a ball and landed a kick on one of them, at the head. The others turned and pulled their triggers, only for Spike to take off, running behind a pillar, changing into a dog. The madmen stopped, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Did that just happened?" the only answer he got was a shrug from his comrade, before they both got jumped on by Spike, who pulled them by the end of their heads, forcing them in a collision of headbutts, knocking themselves out.

Spike turned at the last terrorist, who dropped his weapons, ran away in fear, and got himself arrested.

"Leave her alone!" Spike turned his head to see a girl fighting off some terrorists, while protecting another behind her. Not wasting a second, Spike sped up to the thugs and forced them off the girls. After landing several punches, chops, and kicks, the beaten terrorists retreated. "Thank you," the girl gasped in shock, as soon as she got a good look at his face. "Prince Spike?!"

"Huh?" Spike looked at the girl in confusion, until a gunshot sounded off. "Take cover!" He quickly flipped a wooden table over, shielding himself and the girls.

"Omigosh! I can't believe I'm really talking to you after all this time!" the girl squealed.

The girl has moderate cyan eyes, a moderate cobalt blue hair with light fuchsia stripes that ends in curls at the top and bottom. For attire, the girl wears a white frilly dress with yellow stripes and blue ribbons, a belt at the waist with a ribbon in the shape of a wrapped candy, long white knee-high socks, and light blue slippers.

Her companion has brilliant gold eyes, scruffy pale, light grayish opal hair, with a red headband, decorated with a beautiful rose. For attire, she wears a gold necklace, with a bling in the shape of a heartstring, a magenta sleeveless top, frilly aqua blue short, orange socks, and rosy boots.

A tall muscular man broke through the table, towering over the three teens. He picked up a piece of the broken table and snapped it in half with his knee.

"Boards don't hit back!" Spike spatted, standing his ground.

In response, the man yelled as he threw several punches at the boy, who dodged and blocked them with his hands, before he lunges in for a punch, stopping midway to psych his opponent out, before he kicked the man in the tenders. To make the man more even with his height, Spike quickly kicked his legs, forcing him to bend his knees, before he punched the man in the face, got on a table, spins on his hands and landed a kick to the head, sending the thug flying and tumbling down a set of stairs.

"Incredible!" the girls clapped their hands.

Suddenly, a grenade was heard flying, before it landed near Spike, exploding upon impact. Spike had jumped out of the way, but the rush he had experience had literally made his life flash before his eyes. Among them where some partial memories of his childhood in Equestria. Spike landed behind a building structure, breathing heavily, trying to process on what had happened.

"Spike!" the girls exclaimed, running over to the traumatized boy. "Are you alright?"

Before Spike could reply, more terrorists arrived, firing their guns at the teens, who quickly ducked down.

"Hold on!" the girl in magenta exclaimed, focusing her magics, conjuring a heartstring symbol on her forehead. 

Seeing what her friend was doing, the girl in white quickly brought out a smoke bomb, provided some covers, as a flash of light went off, and the three were gone.

"Find them!" the terrorists scattered, searching for the teens. 




Meanwhile, outside the Trade Center

Four figures, cladded in robes, stood on top of a building, just outside the Trade Center as chaos ensues. One of them was Somnambula, while the other three are teenagers about Spike and the girls' age. Two females, and one male. The boy, Decepticolt, has smooth, shoulder-length, black hair with light blue highlights, which framed his face with black eyeliners beneath his piercing amethyst colored eyes. One of the girls, Zappityhoof, has a long, smooth, light blue hair that covers half of her face, on the right, while the left only reveals her having gold colored eyes, and freckles on her face. The second girl, Goldcap, the leader of the trio, has a huge, messy, flaming orange hair, and piercing imperial purple eyes.

"Behold mistress!" Goldcap exclaimed, showing the chaos before the elder witch. "As you can see, our mind controlled slaves have done their work, to separate the boy from Twilight and her friends.

"Excellent work apprentices," Somnambula cackled. "Perhaps the three of you aren't as incompetent as I thought you were."




Flashback 

The Three Magicians, as the trio were called, were lounging in their penthouse, when Somnambula arrived, out of their fireplace.

"Somnambula!," the magicians gasped.

Somnambula scanned around their home, to see nothing but posters, merchandises, and signed autographs of the magicians.

"So," Somnambula began, unamusingly. "This is what the three of you have made of yourselves with your magics."

"Yep," Zappity cheered. "This is our gig. Our name's up in light! We're making a lot of money! And we're-"

Losing her temper, Somnambula blasted some nearby plush dolls, with a tap of her staff, "Did you ever see Nightmare Moon, pull a rabbit out of her hat to rule the world?" she asked angrily

"Hey!" Goldcap began. "Give us a break! Our magics were cut in half moons ago! No thanks to Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

"Yeah!" Decepticolt added. "All we wanted was to become Alicorns, just like her! How were we suppose to know that we were stealing wings right off the back from one of her friends?"

"So we improvised!" Zap added. "We moved here in the human world and made a living with the magics we still have."

"Well the time for improvisation is over," Somnambula replied. "Because apprentices, we are going to hunt something far stronger than the power of an alicorn. The Dragonfire!"

The magicians gasped, "You've found it?" Goldcap asked excitedly, to which Somnambula answered with a nod. "Then what are we sitting around here for? Let's go hunting!"




Present

"You shouldn't have doubted us," Somnambula's neck extended to a great length, as the elderly witch glares angrily, with flaming eyeballs, at a frightened Goldcap. "But of course, you know better."

Somnambula retracted her head, looking back at the Trade Center, "Let's see if your servants can do their works."





Rainbow and Pinkie ran into a sports store with some terrorists running after them. The terrorist ran into the store, turned around, sees Rainbow Dash, and shouted, "Gotcha!" Rainbow quickly threw a baseball at the man, who quickly ducked his head. "You couldn't even hit an elephant in the butt with a bazooka." The man got his words eaten when he got hit in the nose by a tennis ball, fired from a launcher, courtesy of Pinkie Pie. With a golf club in hand, Rainbow hit the man on the head, knocking him out.

Another terrorist grabbed a metal baseball bat, and swung it at Rainbow Dash, "Whoa!" Rainbow dodged the attack, and the terrorist swung the bat again, "Nuh-uh uh," Rainbow taunted, before he swung again, "Three strikes! You're out!" With that, Pinkie fired several tennis balls at the terrorist in the face, leaving him in a daze and toothless, before Rainbow comically blows on him, causing him to fall flat on the floor.

"Nice shot Pinkie," Rainbow shares a high-five with the girl. "Now let's go and find Spike!"

"Okie-Dokie-Loki!" Pinkie replied.





Rarity was running with Applejack, into a music store. The terrorists walked in, but were met with a strong kick from each of the girls. They accidentally hit a music box, switching the song to a Mariachi song.

[Spongebob Squarepants Movie-Mariachi]

The girls and terrorists found themselves moving to the music. Shrugging their shoulders, Applejack and Rarity went into the groove with the music, as they fought off the bad guys.

Rarity pulled out some castanets, before doing a quick spin change and stood wearing a mariachi dress, the top being white and frilly, the skirt being black with the traditional white, red, and green stripes, and a red ribbon tied at the waist.

"Really?" Applejack muttered. "Ya had to make a quick change in clothing?"

"Applejack," Rarity scoffed. "You really need to learn how to fight with style." Showing her example, Rarity clapped the castanets in her hands as she dances around in the room, throwing out punches and kicks to the terrorists who were distracted by her beautiful dance. She even stole the belt off of one bad guy, revealing his red boxers with white polka dots.

"Nice boxers," a random dude laughed, at the embarrassed terrorist, who's not so terrifying at the moment.

Impressed, Applejack tries to dance to the music, stumbling around as she does so, before Rarity grabbed her hand and the girls danced around; fighting the terrorists off as they did so.

"Watch out!" The girls shouted, pointing to the terrorists behind their backs, before they spun each other around and fought off the said terrorists. "Olé!" they concluded.

One of the beaten terrorist stood up, only to be kicked away by Applejack, sending him flying at the music box and switched songs.

[Fighting is Magic-Rarity's Theme]

"Ooh, I love this song," Rarity exclaimed, as before she does another quick change of costume, returning into her casual wear, pulling out a pink ribbon and did a graceful dance.

The terrorists tried to grab the girl, but everytime they try to, the girl would grab their fists with her ribbon, and made them punch each other and themselves.

"Sorry!" the terrorists would say to each other, until at last, there was only one, whom Applejack knocked out with a pair of cymbals.

"Ladies do not start fights," Rarity said proudly. "But we can finish them."

"C'mon!" Applejack exclaimed. "We gotta find Spike and the others!"





Twilight and Fluttershy quickly ran into a book store, with a terrorist following close behind.

"Twilight! What'll we do?" Fluttershy whimpered.

Reaching into her bag, Twilight pulled out her doll, Smartypants, "I have an idea," she said. "Close your eyes." Fluttershy complied, while Twilight, focusing her magic, projecting a glowing star on her forehead, Twilight hexed the doll with a certain spell. Poking her head from behind a shelf, Twilight blew a whistle, before she threw Smartypants at the man.

Upon looking at the doll, the man, along with all the bystanders within the vicinity fell head over heels for the doll, "MIIIIIIIINNEEEE!!!" they shouted, tearing each other apart for the doll, which vanished mysteriously, along with the spell. Everyone looked to see the beaten terrorist, completely stripped of his weapons, "GET HIM!!" someone yelled, and they all piled on the guy, while Twilight and Fluttershy teleported, unnoticed, with Smarty Pants, unhexed.

"Nice work with the Want It Need It Spell Twilight," Fluttershy whispered.

"What can I say? Works every time," Twilight said proudly. "Now let's meet up with the others!"

"Definitely!"





Meanwhile, in an antique store, Spike and the girls were hiding behind a counter, while getting themselves acquainted.

"I think we're safe for the moment," the girl in magenta said.

"I hope so," Spike panted heavily. "So who might you girls be?" the boy asked. "Friends of Twilight and the girls?"

"Yep," the girl in white answered. "Name's Sweetie Drops. But my friends call me Bon Bon."

"Nice meeting you Bon Bon," Spike shook the girl's hands.

"And I'm Lyra Heartstrings," the girl in pink greeted, eagerly taking his hands. "And I must say, your hands are even more beautiful than ever before!"

"Um, thanks?" Spike replied hesitantly, before he shushed the girls, "Someone's coming!" The girls stood defensively over the boy.

"Don't worry Spike," Bon Bon assured. "We'll protect you."

The two girls hid behind some structures, as the footsteps grew louder.

"1,2," Bon Bon counted, and on "3" the two girls piled on the figure.

"Easy girls!" Applejack exclaimed. "It's only me!"

"Applejack?" Lyra and Bon Bon exclaimed in unison as they helped the country girl up.

Rarity soon came in, "Spike! Are you al-" the girl looked to see he wasn't alone. "Oh! I see you've met Lyra and Bon Bon."

"Hey Rarity," Lyra greeted with a smile. "Glad to see you and Applejack!"

"I'll say!" Bon Bon added. "When Spike came to our rescue, running at the speed of light and everything, we just know you girls had something to do with him getting his magic back."

"I'll say," Applejack's smiled quickly turned serious as she said, "C'mon, y'all! Let's get back with the others."

"On it," Rarity replied, making a call with the rest of the girls.





"Oh no!" Decepticolt exclaimed, looking through a pair of binoculars. "The girls have found the Dragon Prince!"

"Then it's time for Plan B!" Gold commanded. "Summon the beast!"

"You got it!" Zap replied, with a tap of her wand and the ground started to rumble.





"What's happening?" Spike asked, feeling the tremor. Then, bursting out of the ground, is a giant worm-like creature covered in purple scales, with red scarlet plumes around its pink face, which has black eyes with red lightning shaped stripes running behind them. When it roared, it let out a blooding curdling shriek, opening its tripartite jaw to reveal numerous rows of sharp teeth and black tentacles.

"What the?" Rainbow asked in shock, turning to Fluttershy. "Is that?"

Fluttershy quickly whips out a book, skims through some pages before she answered, "Afraid so. It's a tatzlewurm!" The tatzlewurm soon looms Spike and the four girls he was with. "Look out!" Fluttershy screamed quietly.

Spike heard Fluttershy's quiet cry, turns around to see the worm before him, shoving the girls out of the way, just as the worm lunged its head, clamped Spike's in its jaws and proceeds to chew him.

"No!" Goldcap exclaimed telepathically. "You can't eat him! We need him alive!"

There was a green flash from the worm's mouth, as Spike changes into his dragon form, breathed fire, causing the tatzlewurm to spit him out, "Ick," the young dragon groaned in disgust, quickly jumping away, as the tatzlewurm gave chase.

"Girls!" Twilight began. "We need to get these people to safety! We can't risk losing any lives!" In a flash of light, Twilight changed full pony, casting a spell into the air, which exploded into countless sparkles, raining down on the civilians. "And we can't risk the exposure of magics!" She turned to the girls and ordered, "You girls Fluttershy! Pinkie Pie! You two go and help Spike with the tatzlewurm! Rainbow! Applejack! Round up the criminals! Lyra! Bon Bon! You girls get the people out! And me and Rarity will fix the damages around here!"

The girls all exchanged agreements, before they went and did their given tasks.

"Here wormy wormy wormy!" Pinkie called out, only to be swatted away by the tatzlewurm's tail. Luckily, Fluttershy quickly opened her backpack, and a bear jumped out, catching the girl. "Good catch there Harry!" Pinkie smiled, earning a bear hug from the said bear.

The tatzlewurm, meanwhile, opened its mouth, whipping its black tentacles at Spike. Spike jumped out of the way, breathing fire as he kept the tentacles at bay, before the tatzlewurm angrily lunges forward, snapping its jaws, narrowly missing him. Spike did several flips, before he kicked off from a building structure, launching himself towards the worm, rolling into a ball, and landed a powerful kick to the head, knocking the worm back with such force, it stumbled and crashed into a store.

"Easy sugarcube!" Applejack cried out. "We're trying to stop that thing from wrecking the place, not cause more damage with it."

"Sorry," Spike apologized, before he was tackled by the tatzlewurm.

Fluttershy looked, before she spotted some of the discarded grenades, left behind by the terrorists. An idea formed in her head as she whispered her plan with Pinkie Pie. Spike was still sparring with the tatzlewurm, until he heard Pinkie shout, "Spike! Get out of the way!" With that, Spike jumped back, just as a bomb went off, scaring the worm.

While Pinkie kept on throwing bombs and sprinkles at the tatzlewurm, Fluttershy got out her backpack and shouted, "Spike!" Spike turned his head, looking at Fluttershy who threw her backpack to him. "Catch him with my backpack!"

"Catch him?" Spike asked incredioulesly. "With this?"

"Just trust me!" With that, Spike complied, as he unzipped the backpack and holds it out to the frightened tatzlewurm. As he did so, a vortex was magically projected from the backpack, sucking the worm in, shrinking it down to size. While this was happening, Spike felt another rush of adrenaline, as his experienced a series of rushing flashbacks from his forgotten past.





In the past, Spike could see a young Fluttershy, as a pegasus filly, tugging on a saddlebag from a gruff looking stallion. Next thing Spike saw was a fire breathing bull with golden horns and hooves, a wolf that appears to be made out of sticks, a giant grayish dinosaur with a long tail, all snapping, slashing, and roaring at him. In one of the flashbacks, Spike could see some armored ponies running by his side, capturing the beasts.

"Prince Spike! Look out!" a deep voice called out, as the next thing Spike saw was a pair of violet eyes.

Bon Bon was seen, chasing after what appears to be a Bugbear, with a giant net.

"I'm doing this for you because I'm your friend," Spike said in the past.

"Thank you, your highness," Fluttershy smiled happily, embracing the boy.





After experiencing the flashback, the tatzlewurm was completely sucked in, and Spike fell to the floor.

"Goodness!" Fluttershy exclaimed, running to the boy. "Are you okay?"

Spike shook his head, composing himself, before he answered hesitantly, "I think so."





After the whole commotion was settled, the police forces arrived to take in the arrested terrorists. The girls knew they had to get out somehow, to which Bon Bon came up with a solution.

"Hey!" the police chief called to the girls and Spike, disguised as police officers and dog. "What've you got down here?"

"Just the same as before chief," Bon Bon replied, in a deep, gruff voice. "Some deranged terrorists running lose, trying to stir up trouble, striking fears in our hearts. Luckily, nothing but scratches and bruises."

"We just got swamped with calls saying there were some magic girls, a dragon, and a giant, rampaging, grab-something, here," the chief replied.

Bon Bon faked a laugh, along with the rest of the teens, before replying, "Between you and me chief, but I think some of these folks still got a few screws loose. You know how fear does to people."

The chief thought for a moment, before he nodded, "Carry on."

With that, the teens took their leave, before they were in the clear to teleport away to safety.





Somnambula was clearly not happy, as she stood before the Three Magicians, and glare angrily at them.

"Um, we'll get him next time?" Goldcap asked frighteningly.

In response, an angry scream was heard, followed by a blast of lightning.





The nine teens were later at Spike and Scorpan's residency.

"Phew," Twilight panted. "I'm glad we could make it out in one piece."

"Yeah," Spike breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought I was a goner with that worm for sure. What was that thing called again?"

"It's a tatzlewurm," Fluttershy explained. "They're subterranean creatures that can cause sizable earthquakes and can navigate their way underground by feeling vibrations on the surface. They're attracted to smaller vibrations, but are easily frightened by larger ones."

"So was that why you girls were throwing bombs at?" Spike inquired, to which Fluttershy and Pinkie replied with a nod. "I'll have to remember that the next time we go up against any of those things again."

"Still, what's a tatzlewurm doing there in the first place?" Twilight asked.

"What are ya getting at Twilight?" Applejack inquired.

"I don't think that tatzlewurm was just there by coincidence," Twilight replied. "Last time I check on this world's records of living creatures, there's no such details of an actual living tatzlewurm. It must've came here from Equestria, somehow."

"Come to think of it," Fluttershy added. "When that thing attacked, it didn't paid any interests with us. It only went after Spike. And that's saying something, since tatzlewurms don't normally come to the surface to attack people. Or dragons."

"So, in the meantime, what're we going to do with it?" Spike asked, pointing to Fluttershy's backpack.

Twilight thought for a moment. Then, with a serious look on her face, the girl answered, "Fluttershy, you keep the tatzlewurm under control, and do some studies on it. It might have some clues for it."

"Oh, okay," Fluttershy said worryingly.

"Bon Bon, Lyra," Twilight looked at the two girls. "Fluttershy might need some assistance. So could you-"

"Say no more Twilight," Lyra smiled. "We'd be happy to help out." Bon Bon joined in with a nod.

"In the meantime, let's get back to your training Spike," Twilight added.

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed, as she playfully punched the boy's shoulder. "The way you took on those madmen and that tatzlewurm, you've clearly got the moves down." Spike smiled sheepishly at the girl's compliment. "But if you're gonna stand another chancing of living in the future, we gotta keep you in shape." 

Spike nodded in agreement, "Then what're we waiting for?" he asked. "Let's do it!" With that, the friends, minus Fluttershy, Lyra, and Bon Bon, returned to the Training Dimension to resume the boy's training.
> The Dragon Prince and the Bashful Butterfly
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

That night, the girls were once again spending the night at Spike and Scorpan's place.

Spike was sound asleep, when his ears perked up, upon hearing a commotion in the kitchen.

Deciding to investigate, Spike changes into a puppy, quietly walked out of his room and down the stairs. Once he arrived into the kitchen, Spike slowly peeked behind a wall, to a see a huge bird – roughly the size of a swan – rummaging in the fridge, 'What the heck?' Spike thought, watching as the bird pulled out a huge bucket of Cookies N' Cream Ice Cream, used its beak to pry the lid off, and wolfed into it.

As the bird eats the ice cream, Spike took the occasion to have a closer look. In appearance, the bird almost resembles a cross between a hawk, and a peacock, with the head and wings of a hawk, but the crest and tail feathers of a peacock. It is covered in beautiful, bright scarlet feather, with yellow flaming patterns on its chest, and with its face a brilliant shade of sunset orange.

"Peewee!" Fluttershy exclaimed, running into the kitchen, in a green average pajama with pink butterflies decorated, while scolding the bird. "How many times have I told you? It's past your bedtime! Back into-Oh! Spike!" Fluttershy gasped, once she took notice of the dog.

"Hey Fluttershy," Spike greeted, changing back into a human. "Is he one of your pets?"

"Oh no," Fluttershy chuckled. "Actually, he's yours."

The bird squinted his eyes, before he let out a joyful chirp, flying out of the girl's arms, and tackled the boy, nuzzling him affectionately.

"Aw," Fluttershy cooed. "He remembers you!"

"So I noticed," Spike replied, struggling to get the bird off. "Wow, he sure is strong."

"He's grown into quite the phoenix since you left," Fluttershy giggled. "The two of you go way back."

"A phoenix?" Spike asked, looking at the bird, incredulously. "You're a phoenix?" Peewee nodded as he flapped his wings, flying around as a blazing comet, before he spreads his wings out, and in a flash of light, he disappears, before reappearing on Spike's head. "Wow," Spike gasped.

Fluttershy’s expression resumes its stern demeanor, “Again, it's pass your bedtime, Peewee!" Fluttershy said sternly, holding out her backpack. “Go back to bed!”

The phoenix squawked, as it grabbed Spike by the collar of his shirt and pulled him into the backpack.

"Oh dear," Fluttershy whimpered, jumping after the two.





"Whoa!" Spike screamed, as Peewee continues to fly with him in his talons, down a long tunnel, before the phoenix came to a quick stop, and dropped the boy on a sofa. "What was that for?" Spike asked the phoenix angrily, until he took notice of his new surroundings. "Where are we?"

"Oh, I'm sorry about that," Fluttershy apologized, as she quickly came down a long staircase. "Peewee's never behaved like this before."

"Really?" Spike grumbled, before getting up to see that the two are now in a cottage of some kind. "Where are we?"

"Sanctuary," Fluttershy answered. "My magical creatures' sanctuary. Wanna see?"

Spike shrugged as he and Peewee followed the girl out the doorway and gasped in amazement, seeing another world, full of creatures.

"Whoa!" he awed. "This is better than the zoo!"

"I know," Fluttershy smiled. "I've been rescuing these poor defenseless animals, and I've been caring for them until I could find them a brand new place to live."

"Wow! How did you manage it all?"

"From my professor: Newt Chimera!" Fluttershy smiled proudly. "He's a brilliant unicorn, and an excellent Magizoologist and zoologist. He's fascinated with animals and has made it his life mission to study animals, both magical and normal, up close and in pony, so that everpony would learn to live and understand those creatures better."

Spike looked to see a whole galore of animals, from a giant blue whale to the cutest bunny.

There were pods of orcas, dolphins, and other kinds of whales, swimming and playing inside a series of huge, expanding, floating bubbles of water. There were also a herd of elephants, black rhinoceroses, and bisons, roaming in safaris. Spike was even more shocked to see some animals that were long thought to be extinct: Thylacine, Dodos, New Zealand Laughing Owls, and the mighty Wooly Mammoth.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. "I thought these guys died out years ago."

"I know," Fluttershy said. "It was awful for them. Their homes were lost, along with some of their family members. But thankfully, Professor Chimera was able to rescue some of the ones that survived, and took them here where they'll be safe for the moment."

"Fascinating," Spike replied.

Spike turned, and to his amazement, saw some creatures in cages and tanks. They are Bigfoots, Mothman, Owlman, Jersey Devil, El Chupacabra, Jackalopes, and some lake monsters.

"Oh my god!" Spike gasped. "The cryptids! They're all here!"

"Oh, I see you've met Nessie and her friends," Fluttershy said, walking up to the boy with a bucket of fish, squids, and some other foods. "These poor creatures. They used to live in Equestria, until something dreadful happened that separated them from home," Fluttershy explained, as she threw a fish for Nessie to catch in her jaws. "Since then, my teacher, Professor Chimera, has made it his mission to rescue all of them, so that he can bring them home. And now, I'm finishing his noble work."

Spike smiled, watching as Fluttershy petted the lake monster affectionately on the nose. Spike slowly reached his hand out for the beast, only for it to snap its jaws defensively at him, causing him to quickly retract his hand.

Spike fell flat on his butt, patting his heart repeatedly, while Fluttershy glared at the monster, "Nessie! I'm ashamed of you! Spike wasn't doing anything to hurt you!" Nessie whimpered, eyes looking sadly as the girl's stern look softened. "I know you were scared around other humans. But you should at least learn to give some people a chance to know you." Fluttershy turned and beckoned Spike to come over. With Fluttershy's assistance and encouragement, Fluttershy was able to get Spike to pet Nessie on the nose, bonding with the monster.

Later, the two came across the tatzlewurm from before, who was currently tied up in chains and was struggling to break free.

"How long are you planning on keeping that thing?" Spike asked worryingly.

"Not for long," Fluttershy answered. "I'm still conducting some research on it, with Lyra, and Bon Bon. But once we're finished with it, we'll be able to release him back home in Equestria."

Just then, Peewee came back as he flew around the two, before he perched on Spike's shoulder.

"So," Spike began, as he pet the bird's stomach. "How long have you been caring for Peewee?"

"Since you and Scorpan left," Fluttershy answered sadly. "Poor Peewee. He was only a hatchling when he lost you. It was hard, taking care of him. He was very disobedient whenever I tried to get him to cooperate, and whenever I get assertive with him, he just flies away," Fluttershy walked over and gently patted the bird on the head as she continues, "But eventually, both he and I came to terms with our longing for you. And he's been such a sweetie ever since," Peewee blushed a shade of pink, while letting out a happy chirp, "Isn't that right, Peewee?" Peewee squawked as he nodded his head in agreement.





After awhile, the teens both went back into the cottage to have some midnight snacks. Fluttershy was eating a daffodil sandwich, while Spike was having a PB&J Sandwich.

"I'll admit, this is amazing!" Spike smiled, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"It definitely is," Fluttershy turned and looked at Spike, lost in a trance as she envisioned him as a puppy. Then, out of impulse, Fluttershy started scratching the boy behind his ear.

"Hey!" Spike exclaimed, jumping out of his seat, away from the girl.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy apologized. "I don't know what came over me. I mean, I kinda do, but I couldn't help it. I-I-" Fluttershy started to tear up.

"Fluttershy, it's alright," Spike replied, hugging the girl before she could get into a crying fit. "I was just surprised. That's all." The girl started calming down at his words, as she returned the embrace. "Though, I honestly don't know what that was all about."

Fluttershy looked sad for a moment, before she answered, "I was thinking of you as a puppy," she looked at Spike as she continued. "It felt like it was only yesterday; the day we first met."




Past

A young Spike was walking down the streets of Canterlot, socializing with all the local ponies. It was a part of his duties as prince to have a better understanding to the ponies and the different roles they play in life, so that he would learn how important they are and how they all form the proud kingdom his mother rules. Furthermore, whenever Spike was making a public appearance in Canterlot, casual attires was never an option. He was wearing a long sleeved purple coat with elegant golden asian dragon designs on the front and shoulder pads, white pants with black stripes, black gloves with green flaming designs, a belt with the royal crest, and a pair black boots.

He was just leaving Donut Joes's shop with a box of donuts when he heard the sound of a girl, crying. Deciding to check it out, Spike quickly turned himself into a dog, with the box in his mouth, peering around the corner to see what's up. He looked to see a small yellow pegasus filly with light pink mane and tail, trembling before three pegasus colts. The first colt has a light gamboge coat with brilliant sea green eyes, covered by grayish tangelo mane and a matching tail. The second colt has a persian bluish gray coat, his face completely covered by a reddish brownish gray mane, and a matching tail. The last colt, the leader, has a dark grayish brown coat, with a light amberish gray mane and tail, and moderate azure eyes.

"Please, leave me alone," the girl cried.

"Aw, look she's gonna cry," the leader laughed cruelly.

"What are you going to do now, Clutterfly?" the second colt taunted. "Go cry your eyes out to your mommy?"

With that, the boys broke into another fit of laughter, with the girl crying even harder. At first, Spike would normally walk away and not get involved, but after taking one last glance at the girl, he knew something has to be done.

"Hey!" he shouted, walking to the boys, catching their attention. "Leave her alone!"

The boys turned around, but were dumbfounded to see nopony, "Who said that?" one of the colts asked.

"Down here," the colts looked down and were shocked to see a purple dog before them.

"Did that dog just talk?" the persian blue colt asked.

"A talking dog?!" the girl exclaimed, ignoring the boys as she squealed in delight. "Aw, he's so cute!" With that, the filly picked Spike up and rubbed her nose together with his, earning a blush from the boy turned dog.

"Boy, when dad said that Canterlot's gone to the dogs, he wasn't kidding," the leader muttered, earning a laugh from his posse, which didn't go unheard from both the girl and Spike.

"Hey, I may be a dog," Spike began. "But it beats being a pony who's blinded by his own mane style to see anything good before him."

The leader flinched, his eyes twitching in anger, while his comrades stupidly laughed at him, "Ooh, he got you there Dumb-bell!" the two colts were each met with a punch by the leader, now identified as Dumb-bell.

"He's talking about us!" Dumb-bell roared, before he looked at the dog. "No pony talks smack at me and gets away with-"

"Hey! I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Spike threatened, before turning himself back into a human boy.

"Prince Spike?!" the colts and filly gasped.

"That's right!" Spike began. "I'm the Dragon Prince, and I do not like the way you boys are treating this sweet little lady here!" the girl blushed a shade of pink, as Spike continues, "And if you don't want me to tell my mom on you, then you'd better start apologizing to her if you don't want a trip to the moon!"

The colts gulped in fear, "We're sorry!" they wailed. "We'll never do it again!"

"That's better," Spike began. "Now be off!"

The colts bowed their heads in respect, as they took off. Once they're gone, Spike turned to the girl and asked, "Hey, are you alright?"

"Why yes I am," the filly smiled meekly. "Thank you, your highness."

"No problem," Spike replied. "I can't just let that happen, now can I?"

"No, I guess not," the girl smiled. "I'm Fluttershy by the way. And it's an honor to meet you," she said with a bow.

"Feeling's mutual m'lady," Spike replied, returning the gesture.

"Fluttershy!" a full grown unicorn stallion called, running over to the two kids. In appearance, the stallion has reddish brown mane and tail, a light brown coat, an image of a chimera on his flank, and speaks in a British accent. For attires, the stallion wore a long dark blue robe, over a white dress shirt, with a red bowtie, a yellow and black striped scarf.

The stallion stopped when he took notice of Spike, "Oh your majesty," the unicorn bowed. "I see that you've met my student, Fluttershy."

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. "Newt Chimera! You're a legend!" the boy turned to Fluttershy. "And you're his pupil?"

"Indeed she is," Newt said proudly. "And I must say, she's the best student I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. Top student in all my classes. Straight As on all my tests, and is a natural with the beasts. And that's saying something, considering her age."

"Professor! You're embarrassing me," Fluttershy blushed.

"Now this is what I liked about her," the stallion continued. "Always so modest." The professor quickly cleared his throat as he explained, "Anyway, I'm sorry for my untimely arrival, but I must borrow Fluttershy for something very important."

"But of course sir," Spike replied. "It was a pleasure of meeting her, and you of course. Have a good day sir." Spike waved. "Hope to see you around."

"Good day your majesty," the unicorn bowed, before he directed the young filly away. When Newt wasn't looking, Fluttershy took a glance back and couldn't help but smile at Spike.





For the next few days, as Fluttershy continues her studies with Newt Chimera, on some occasions, she would catch a glimpse of Spike, seeing the young prince, going about his days, greeting the ponies of Canterlot with a smile and acts of kindness. She would watch in admiration as the young boy spreads some cheers from ponies to ponies, as well as being quick to offer those most needed a helping hand. Needless to say, his act of kindness has truly captured her attention.





One day, Fluttershy was leaving school, when suddenly she saw Professor Chimera being ambushed by a group of brutish unicorn stallions.

"For the last time!" Chimera growled. "You're not having them! Not a single one! And that's final!

"Then, I guess we'll do this the hard way!" one of the stallions grunted. "Give it to him boys!"

With that, the rest of the thugs all blasted offensive magics at the professor, who quickly shielded himself with a quick defensive charm, before he counters with some offensive spells of his own. Fluttershy, meanwhile, watched in fright, as her favorite professor fought off the thugs to a stand, until suddenly, one of the spells struck him to the side, sending his saddlebags flying. Fluttershy quickly flapped her wings, caught the bags in her hooves, whimpering in fear as the thugs all turned their gazes on her.

"Run Fluttershy!" Chimera shouted.

With that, Fluttershy quickly flew off, with the stallions running after her, "Stop her!" the leader shouted, as one of his henchmen shot a spell, striking Fluttershy at one of her wings, causing her to fall, screaming, to the ground. Thankfully, she landed in a cart, full of hays. Just then, the thugs arrived, grabbing the professor's saddlebags with their magics.

"Let go!" Fluttershy struggled, holding onto the magic saddlebag.

The unicorns refused, as they pulled even harder, until the saddlebags' covers were torn open, and several creatures came running and flying out and into the city.

"The creatures!" one of the stallions exclaimed. "They're loose!"

"I know idiot!" the leader roared, before he turned his attention back at the frightened filly.

"Leave her alone!" a voice shouted, to reveal Spike, cladded in a suit of armor, over a black jumpsuit, adorned with a long red cape with orange flaming designs at the end. Standing by his side was a tall silver armored, unicorn colt, with light gray coat, and short dark purple mane and tail.

The two boys jumped in, standing defensively before Fluttershy, holding their blades towards the thugs. Unfazed, the unicorns charged at the boys, who didn't hesitate to fight back. One thug shot an offensive spell at Spike, who deflected it with his rapier, before his partner counterattacked with an offensive spell of his own. A thug jumped out from a rooftop almost tackled the boys, had Spike not heard him coming, warned his unicorn partner, allowing the boys to dodge the attack, thrusting their blades into the stallion's flank, causing him to jump up, screaming.

The boys kept it up until Scorpan arrived, with the rest of the royal guards, to arrest the crooks. 

"Excellent work Flare Heart," one of the guards saluted to the young colt. "We'll take it from here Prince Spike," the guard bowed his head, before they proceeded.

Spike turned his attention to Fluttershy, "Fluttershy! You okay?" Spike asked.

"I'm okay your highness," Fluttershy answered. "But Professor Chimera's creatures! They're loose!"

"Then let's get them back," Spike replied.





[Jump5 - Aloha, E Komo Mai feat. Stitch]

Though at first it looked hard, catching the creatures wasn't as hard as it seems, since all Spike had to do was sniff the ground, either in dog or dragon form, and he instantly picks up the scent, follows it, with Fluttershy and the royal guards behind him, and all of the creatures were captured and put into the professor's saddlebags. 

Once, they managed in catching several vampire fruit bats in a nearby farmer's market, just as they were about to devour a whole crate of apples from Appleloosa, as well as saving a young Applejack from a ravenous timberwolf. They also managed to capture a whole flock of parasprites, by playing some tunes to draw the magic insects back into the saddlebags. Scorpan and the royal guards, succeeded in catching a rampaging manticore, after they pulled a thorn out from one of its paw of course. They even managed to capture a whole ursa minor, along with its ursa major parent. More escaped creatures, which includes the fiendish Red Bull, the rampaging Blue Rhino, and the cunning Pink Panther, were later captured and returned to the professor's saddlebags.

Soon it was sundown, when the two had succeeded in capturing all of the escaped creatures and were on their way to the castle, with the royal guards close by for protection.

"Thank you so much for helping me save the creatures," Fluttershy smiled, carrying the saddlebags. "Now all I have to do is bring this back to Professor Chimera and he'll be sure to keep it locked up."

"I just hope he has enough bits to pay for that cabbage merchants' destroyed cabbage patch," the two laughed.

Fluttershy looked at Spike for a moment, before she leaned in and started scratching him on the head.

"Hey!" Spike exclaimed. "What're you doing?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Fluttershy whimpered. "It's just that, you looked so cute when you're a puppy, that I just couldn't help but...." Fluttershy's eyes began to well up with tears as she slowly walked away. "I'm sorry!"

"No wait!" Spike cried out, as he hesitantly changes into a dog. "Is this better?"

"Oh, I don't mean to impose it on you."

"Fluttershy, you're not imposing. I'm doing this for you because I'm your friend. And if you want me to be a dog, then just say the word and I'm a dog for you."

Fluttershy smiled as she picked the little puppy and hugged him tightly, "Thank you, your highness."

"Hey!" Spike exclaimed. "I said we're friends. No need to be so formal. Just Spike will do."

Fluttershy blushed, "Okay, Spike."

The two were later in Canterlot Castle, where they told the whole story before Princess Celestia, along with some other officials of Equestria. Needless to say, every pony were all impressed at the performance of the Dragon Prince, together with one of Chimera's promising students. As a reward, Chimera awarded Fluttershy by entrusting the care of his creatures to the filly, as well as presenting the young prince with a phoenix egg, all which the two happily accepted.




Present

"And that's the story," Fluttershy finished.

Spike could hardly believe what he was told.

"Spike?" Fluttershy inquired. "Are you okay?"

Spike shook out of his daze, as he replied, "Sorry. I'm just surprised. I'm a prince? My mom's a princess? And I fought off thugs and helped you capture all of, this 'Chimera guy's, creatures?"

"It's hard to believe, I know," Fluttershy answered, before she grasped Spike's hands with hers. "But it's true. You really were a prince. And better yet, you're a hero to Equestria. And to me," she whispered at the last part, which didn't go unheard. "I'm just really happy to see you again, Spike," Fluttershy smiled, embracing the boy in a tight hug, before she kissed him on the cheek. Her action left Spike stunned, his face turning red, smiling silly, eyes flashing a quick aura of Flutttershy's color, and sprouting a dog's wagging tail. Fluttershy giggled lightly at his face, before it increases when she took notice of his tail, "Oh my," she laughed.

"What's so funny?" Spike asked, looking behind his rear to see his tail, causing him to blush even harder. "Oh!" He exclaimed, trying hard to regain control of himself.

Fluttershy giggled as she placed her arms around Spike's shoulders, "Spike!" she smiled. "It's okay. I'm actually happy that I can make you happy," Spike's face started to simmer a little, as a small smile started to form. "Though, if you could make me happy," Fluttershy began. "Could you maybe turn yourself into a puppy again? I just can't get enough of your cuteness!"

Spike complied, bursting into flames before emerging as a puppy, still wagging his tail.

"There you are my little puppy!!" Fluttershy squealed in delight, picking up the boy, holding him close to her cheek.

Peewee flew back into the cottage, before he took notice of the two's loving embrace. Not wanting to be left out, he joined in, wrapping his wings around them.
> Rarity and the Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After helping Fluttershy with some of the animals in her magic backpack, the two left her magic sanctuary to get some shut-eyes. After collapsing in bed, Spike was once again having another dream of his forgotten past. 





Spike finds himself inside a throne room, with the alicorn from his previous dreams, sitting on top of a huge throne. Standing next to the door of the room, was none other but his uncle Scorpan, as a gargoyle.  

Just then, the door opens up as a tall white unicorn colt entered the room, with his head held high. The colt has blonde mane and tail, both appearing well groomed and all. When the colt opens his eyes, Spike could see they are blue. There also appears to be a compass imprinted on his flanks. For attires, the colt appears to be wearing only a white tuxedo. Though Spike couldn't put his fingers on it, there's something he doesn't like about the colt.

"Good morning auntie," the colt greeted.

"Good morning Blueblood," Princess Celestia replied.

"Checking in with the morning report."

"Fire away."

With that, Blueblood went on with the status regarding to the ponies' current relationship with the yaks, griffins, zebras, donkeys, and a lot of others. Unexpectedly, Blueblood breaks out into a musical number, resulting a slight grin of from his aunt.


The Morning Report — The Lion King


Spike looked and noticed his past self, as a three year old, running into the room, chasing after a tiny parasprite.

Scorpan took notice and asked, "What're you doing Spike?"

"Pouncing," Spike replied, after a failed attempt to catch the bug.

"Let an old pro show you how it's done," Scorpan whispered, as he begins on instructing Spike on what the boy needed to do.

Blueblood was still singing to notice what Scorpan and Spike were doing when.....

*POW!!!!*

Spike jumped on a surprise Blueblood, resulting a laugh from Scorpan, older Spike, and Celestia. Spike soon took over the song, while a displeased Blueblood got up, dusting himself before he was repeatedly jumpscared by the boy, who keeps changing between a dog and a dragon.

"That's very good," Scorpan chuckled.

"Very good?" Blueblood exclaimed in outrage. "How could you encourage such a behavior to the likes of him? Not becoming of a prince I'd say!"

"Now Blueblood," Princess Celestia giggled. "You should learn to have some fun once in a while."

Blueblood looked, seeing his aunt expecting an answer from him, "Sorry auntie," Blueblood began. "I've just don't do well with this 'fun' sort of thing." With a huff, Blueblood took his leave.

"I hope you will someday," Celestia looked solemnly, while older Spike nodded in agreement.

'He's quite the ray of sunshine,' Spike thought, before his dream ended.




Early morning....

The sun has yet to come up, when Spike started to stir himself awake. His heightened sense of smell, picked up the sweet scent of tea brewing, which got him awake.

"Mhmm," he sighed, as he followed the sweet scent, back into the kitchen and sees Rarity, in a purple nightgown with her cutie mark and blue ribbon, making a cup of tea. "Rarity?" Spike asked quietly.

"Oh, good morni-" Rarity turned and was shocked at what she saw.

"What?" Spike asked, before turning to the refrigerator, looked at his reflection to see.... "AH! Dogface!" Spike screamed, before concentrating and turned himself back to normal. "Oh, I'm so embarrassed." Spike moaned, covering his face with his hands.

"Oh, come now darling," Rarity comforted the boy. "It's not that bad."

"Really?" Spike asked, peeking through his fingers.

"Really," Rarity smiled, before she pulled a seat for him to sit in. "What're you doing up so early by the way?" she asked.

"I was just sleeping," Spike answered uneasily, "When I smelled the sweet scent of the tea you're making."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Rarity apologized, before she quickly went over to turn the boiler off. "I never knew you had such a strong nose."

"Oh, it's fine," Spike assured. "I mean, I could use a cup of tea to start the morning."

Rarity smiled as she poured them both a cup of tea, and they sipped, while conversing, "So darling, how are you feeling as of late? Anything coming back to you, Spikey-Wikey?"

"Just slowly," Spike replied. "I mean, I'm starting to remember meeting Fluttershy for the first time, and the time we rounded up all of Newt Chimera's creatures. But so far, that's all I can recall."

"Really?" Rarity inquired. "How come?" Spike explains the whole story, about how he first saw Peewee, in the kitchen, for the first time in ten years, and how Fluttershy took him down into her magic backpack and such.

Rarity nodded in acknowledgement, before feeling a little jealous when he told her about Fluttershy kissing him on the cheek. Then, an idea struck, "Wait here darling," the girl said. "There's something I want to show you," Rarity took her leave, before she came back with a purple velvet box. Sitting beside the boy, Rarity opened the box, revealing a glittering, glass slipper, with a heart-shaped ruby embedded on it.

"Wow!" Spike gasped in amazement. "It's so pretty!"

"It's certainly," Rarity smiled. "And do you know what makes it more beautiful?" Spike shook his head. "It was our gifts to each other," Rarity smiled in nostalgia. "My most cherished possession. It feels like it was only yesterday."




Past

It was during the Grand Galloping Gala, when a young Rarity was attending with her parents, and by chance had a first run in with Prince Blueblood. At first, Rarity thought it was true love staring at her in the face, however, she learned the hard way that not all princes are charming than the ones in fairytales, for the next few hours of mingling with the prince, she learned that the only thing royal about him was that he was a royal pain.

It wasn't long before a crestfallen Rarity was, tearfully, running through the halls of Canterlot castle, covered in cake frosting and all. She didn't look where she was going when she crashed into a younger Spike.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed, "Are you al-" Rarity simply ignored Spike as she got up and made her tearful exit. "right?" Spike looked down to see that a glass slipper was left behind. "HEY!" He called. "You forgot your shoe! Hey!" But it was no use. The pony had already disappeared without a trace.

Just then, Flare Heart arrived, "Prince Spike!" the colt cried. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah Flare," the boy replied. "I'm okay. I just found something that was lost."




The Next Day

A saddened Rarity was out and about in the busy streets of Canterlot, buying a few knitting supplies, along with some fabrics, when she took notice of Prince Spike, helping a donkey with a broken cart.

'Oh my,' she thought. 'Is that, Prince Spike? And is he....helping?'

Spike had just fixed a wheel in place, before the donkey made a few test pulls, satisfied with the outcome, "Good luck with your search for Matilda, Mr. Cranky," Spike said.

"Thank you young prince," the donkey smiled lightly. "And good luck with your search for that mare."

"Will do," they exchanged hoof and hand shakes, before they both went their separate ways. Needless to say, Rarity was a little surprise at the kind gesture Spike was giving to the donkey.

'Oh get a grip Rarity,' the little filly said in her thoughts. 'Prince or not, he's still not one of your kind. And you simply cannot be seen socializing with the likes of him,' She took another look at the prince, seeing how kind he is to the ponies around him, despite some giving weird looks behind his back. 'Still, he is rather nice and all.' She looked at some of the ponies he just passed. 'And no pony seems to have a problem with him. Well, a few that is....'

Rarity decided to follow Spike around, seeing the young prince, treating every ponies with kindness and equal respect as he greeted the morning with them. Spike stopped by, seeing a younger Applejack, and bought an apple fritter from the stand, when a skinny, homeless little filly came up to him, begging for food. She watched in surprise, to see Spike generously giving the filly the apple fritter he had originally planned on eating, before he turned to buy another one.

"No need sugarcube," Applejack said, before she pulled out a hot plate of apple fritters. "This one's on me."


"You sure?" Spike asked, looking hesitant.

"Absolutely." Applejack confirmed. "Your generosity to that filly is payment enough for me."

"Okay," Spike said, taking the food with him, before he grew a tail and cleverly tossed some bits into Applejack's tip cup. Applejack chuckled in amusement as she watched the Dragon Prince leave, while Rarity stood aghast at the prince's generous motive.

Rarity continued to follow Spike around, secretly watching as the young prince made every pony's days, simply by greeting them, or helping them with certain problems. For instance, a little filly was falling from a tree while trying to get her cat, when Spike came running and caught the filly just in time, before he jumped into the tree and got the filly's cat down. Another incident in which Spike's proven his heroism, again, was when a pony, named Hayseed Turnip Truck, was falling while cleaning windows, after the ropes of his harness snapped. Spike jumped on a nearby wall, kicked off, rocketing himself beneath the falling pony, and caught him.

"Phew, my very life just flashed before my eyes," Hayseed groaned, before he turned to the prince. "Thanks for the save your highness."

"No problem," Spike groaned, before his legs gave way and he collapsed beneath the pony.

Rarity smiled as she continues watching Spike, treating every pony equally, as opposed to how Prince Blueblood had once treated her at the gala. Spike's last stop was down the streets of Restaurant Row, when he happened upon a homeless pony, who was shivering from the cold, and starving to death. Rarity smiled even wider as she watched Spike giving up his royal coat for the homeless pony, leaving him with only a white dress shirt on with frilly laces at the sleeves, before he went into a nearby restaurant called, The Tasty Treats, and came back out with a cup of soup for the said pony. 

Rarity turned around, leaning against the wall, placing her hoof over her heart, sighing dreamily for Spike, 'Oh how could I be so blind?' she thought. 'He may not be a pony. But he's ten times the stallion I've dreamed of.' Rarity looked back to see Spike and the pony exchanging friendly talks, and laughs, along with Spike telling the pony that he is welcomed, anytime, in the castle of Canterlot.





Spike later met up with his mom and cousin in the center of Canterlot.

"Any luck with your mysterious pony?" Princess Celestia asked.

"No, not yet," Spike replied, slightly disappointed."But every pony else are all well and taken cared for mom," Spike smiled with pride.

Celestia nodded, before Prince Blueblood rolled his eyes, "Oh I still don't understand why you keep wasting your times around these commoners," he groaned.

"Hey, it beats sitting around in the castle all day and talking to yourself in the mirror!" Spike countered, before turning to his mother, "Oh, and speaking of, there's a new restaurant that just opened up on Restaurant Road. It's called the Tasty Treat, and the food there are grrrreat! You've got to try them tonight, while they're still hot!"

"Oh please," Prince Blueblood began. "The last thing a high caliber equestrian official, such as I, would do is enjoy a foreign peasant dish."

"Blueblood!!" Celestia scolded.

"Forgive me auntie. I was just voicing my opinion."

"Well, you will also do well to keep some of your opinions to yourself," Celestia scolded, before she looked back at Spike.

"So what do you say mom?" Spike asked eagerly.

"I'd love to try it out sometimes, Spike," Celestia frowned. "But I'm afraid I have a lot of work to do and can't make it tonight."

"Oh," Spike frowned, while Blueblood flashed a smug grin in his way.

"I wouldn't mind accompanying him!" a voice called, revealing itself to be Rarity, herself.

"Well well well," Blueblood smiled, stroking his mane back as he went up to the mare. "M'lady, I'm-"

"I wish to speak with Prince Spike, if you please," Rarity said, walking past the shocked Prince Blueblood, and stepping forward to a lovestrucked Spike. "Good afternoon, your highness," Rarity bowed, before she looked up with a smile. "I am Rarity. And I don't mean to intrude. But I couldn't help but overhear your desire of a special outing at this Tasty Treats. So if it's no trouble, then may I be of your acquaintance this evening?"

Spike, snapping out of his loving trance, stuttered, "I-um, well I-"

Celestia smiled, "I think that's a splendid idea." With a push of her wing, she nudged Spike forward. "Have a wonderful time with your filly friend, Spike." Celestia teased.

"Mom!" Spike tried to protest, but finds himself blushing upon staring into the filly's beautiful sapphire eyes. "So," Spike began hesitantly. "Shall we?"

Rarity giggled, as she magically pulled the boy's hand, "We shall," With that, they took their leave, while an irritated Blueblood watched them leave.





The two kids were later at the said restaurant.

"Welcome to the Tasty Treats," the restaurant's host, Curiander Cumin greeted. "Ah, Prince Spike!" Curiander Cumin exclaimed. "Returned so soon?" the stallion quickly took notice of Rarity. "And I see you've brought a guest."

"Indeed I have," Spike smiled. "Allow me to introduce you to, Rarity."

"Pleased to meet you sir," Rarity smiled.

"Ah, such a pleasure to meet you too," the stallion smiled, before he directed the two to a seat. "Now, for today's special, we have a curried oat cake."

Spike licked his lips, smiling, "We'll take one."

"And a grass sandwich that has been marinated overnight in a mustard dijon dressing."

"Sounds interesting," Spike said, though a little disgusted about eating grass.

"And for you young lady?"

"I'll have whatever he's having, thank you," Rarity replied, as the stallion walks into the kitchen.

"Jasmine! Saffron!" Curiander called. "We need a curried oat cake and marinated grass sandwich!"

While the two were waiting for their meal, Rarity decided to strike up a conversation, "Ooh, this is a splendid rose," Rarity smiled, directing Spike's attention to a rose in a cup, on their table.

"You mean, this rose?" Spike asked, picking the flower up from the cup. "Yeah, it is," Spike smelled the flower, before he turned to the girl. "And do you know what else is splendid about it?"

"What?" Rarity asked, slightly frighten as she recalls a similar incident from before.

"It goes well, with your eyes," Spike answered with a smile.

Rarity giggled in relief, "Oh darling."

"Here let me," With that, Spike careful placed the rose in Rarity's mane, before he looked, marveling at the mare. "Fabulous."

Rarity giggled lightly, until their dinner came, courtesy of a beautiful mare named Jasmine, and a filly around Rarity's age named Saffron Masala, and the two ate.

"So," Spike began. "How long are you staying in Canterlot?"

"Just only for a few days," Rarity answered, before her eyes widen, "How do you know I'm not from around here?" she asked.

"I kinda memorized the faces and names of all the ponies living in Canterlot," Spike answered, scratching the back of his head. "It's part of my training to being a prince."

"So is that why you were walking around, greeting and talking to the ponies?" Spike nodded his head in response. "And I thought you were just being nice."

"I am being nice," Spike replied. "Mom and uncle have always been going on about how every pony plays an important role in life. Big and small. And that every pony in Equestria are all family, and as the Dragon Prince, it will be my job to make sure that every pony's well and taken cared for."

"How noble of you," Rarity smiled in admiration.

"Heh, that's me," Spike chuckled, munching on his oat cake. "Prince Spike, the noble dragon, following his dragon code of honor." The two chuckled.

After a while, the two were done. Spike paid for their meal, before they left the restaurant.

"Well, thanks for spending the afternoon with me, Rarity," Spike smiled. "Hope to see you around?"

Before Rarity could answer, a scream was heard, "What was that?" Spike asked, as a light grayish cerulean unicorn filly with brilliant vermillion mane, a little taller than him, came running. "What's going on?" Spike asked the girl.

"My-my home," the unicorn panted. "My family! We were attacked! By a creature! A monster!"





It wasn't just any monster, it was the work of Beezen, one of Equestria's most wanted criminals. In appearance, Beezen was a tall, green-skinned man, with a long pointed nose, gray hair, red eyes with slit pupils, and long fingers that almost resembles spider legs. For attires, he wears a long, flowing, black robe with red trimmings, a long purple cape tied by a ruby, golden ornament at the front.

The evil wizard, had just brought a piano to life and turned it into a ravenous monster, with fangs growing from the inside. The monster piano repeatedly chomped it's "mouth" furiously at the ponies it was chasing, as the wizard laughed evilly with glee.

"Stop right there!" a voice called out, revealing to be Scorpan, and some of the royal guards. "Surrender Beezen! You're surrounded!"

"Same for you," Beezen smirked, snapping his fingers, to reveal a pack of furnitures, instruments, and clothes turned monsters, surrounding the gargoyle and guards. "Now my monstrous minions! ATTACK!!" With that, the monsters all pounced.

[The Myth - 03. Battle Preparation]

Scorpan, roaring like a lion, charges forward, leading the royal guards into the fray. Scorpan made the first strike, as he kicked a flying hat monster away, before he was grabbled by a scarf that became more snake-like. Luckily, Flare Heart shot an disarming spell, knocking the scarf off, before he shot a fireball, burning the scarf into nothing. Suddenly, an enchanted disembodied fencing uniform appeared, holding out a sword, and challenges Flare Heart to a duel.

With a smirk, Flare Heart levitated a sword of his own from the scabbard, hanging on the side of his armor, "En Garde!" the colt challenged the uniform, clashing their swords together.

Spike and Rarity soon arrived, seeing the event unfolding before them.

"Oh my!" Rarity gasped. "What should we do? Prince Spike?" Rarity turned and sees the Dragon Prince was nowhere to be seen. "Young prince? Your highness?"

Scorpan was busy tussling with the monster piano when Beezen entered the fray, preparing a dark spell on the gargoyle, from behind.

"Heads up uncle!" Spike, in dragon form and clad in his suit of armor, called out, using a clothesline as a zip-line, and kicked the wizard in the face.

Angered, Beezen was about to fire an offensive spell on the dragon, only for Scorpan to grab the wizard from behind, thrashed him around and tossed him into some crates nearby, "Good move Spike," Scorpan smiled, as the dragon gave him a high five.

"My," Rarity gasped. "He's certainly quick on his feet. That and the way he changes costumes. He certainly has a nice sense of style."

Uncle and nephew, together fought the monsters off. An accordion with lobster claws tried to grab Spike, but Spike fought its claws off with his rapier, before Scorpan squashed the monster with a sofa monster. Suddenly, a giant oven, with the furnace as its mouth, and frying pans as its eyes, pipes for the arms, jumped out of a store, breathing fire and all. The monster jumped after Spike, who rolled out of the way, before he parried with the monster's arms with his rapier.

Flare Heart had finished his duel with the enchanted uniform, before he noticed Spike's battle with the monster. Thinking fast, a jet streams of water shot out form Flare's horn, dosing the monster's fire, as well as causing it to rust. Suddenly, the boys found themselves surrounded by pony mannequins, with open cuts on their faces resembling jaws with jagged teeth, and angry red eyes. The very sight of these monsters were enough to make Flare and Spike yelp, but still they stood their grounds.

[Undertale OST - Dummy fight]

One of the mannequins jumped at Spike, but the little dragon blocked its attack with his rapier, before he forced it away. Then, another jumped at Flare Heart, but the colt was able to catch it in mid-air with his magic, giving the rest of its comrades a chance to get the jump on the colt.

"Flare!" Spike called. "Behind you!"

The colt reacted by levitating his catch before its pack members, which resulted in several rounds friendly fires being shot. The mannequin got mad at its comrades for hitting it by mistake, that it spoke something gibberish to its members. Flare and Spike could only look at each other in confusion, shrugging their shoulders in response.

Then, as if things couldn't get any creepier, a pony doll, with a knife in its mouth, snuck up to the boys from behind, and throws itself at Flare. Luckily, Spike had heard it coming and quickly shot a fireball, stopping the doll in its track, giving Flare the chance to strike it with his magic, disarming the doll of its weapon, before it was, accidentally, stomped on by one of the mannequins.

"Watch where you going you fool!" the doll shouted angrily.

The boys kept on battling the mannequins, while at the same time, using some of them as shields against the attacks from the whole packs, thus earning some more angry gibberish from the dummies. "WATCH OUT!!" the boys shouted, pointing to some mannequins behind each other. With that, the boys quickly blasted magics at their targets, throwing several kicks and punches, literally saving each other's backs.

Soon, the angry pony doll from before got up, and was about to pounce on Flare when, "Behind you!" Spike shouted, causing Flare to leap and did a spinning, blazing kick to the doll.

"Can we be real?" the doll asked the readers, in a daze. "If I were a random dude named Charles Lee Ray and I have his soul, I'd totally win over these two. I would, I know I would."

As the fight went on, Rarity, watches in awe, making mental notes at Spike's unique fighting style, as he fought alongside the royal guards, and his gargoyle mentor, 'This battle not only shows how brave he is,' Rarity thought. 'It shows, he cares for the well beings of others.'

[End of Mad Dummy OST/ The Myth OST Resumes]

Suddenly, Beezen appeared behind the filly in a flash of fire, "Well, what have we here?" the wizard smiled evil, grabbing the filly by her tail.

"Unhand me you crook!" Rarity screamed, flailing her hooves, smacking the wizard square in the mouth.

"You're going to be sorry for that!" Beezen threw the filly into a wall, had Spike not leaped forward to catch the filly. Beezen pointed his wand at the two, preparing a dark spell with a glow of crimson magic, only for Flare to fire a magic bolt, blinding the wizard, causing him to misfire, blowing up a chunk of a building nearby.

Flare quickly fired a disarming spell at the wizard, only to be blocked by an umbrella monster, causing the spell to rebound, knocking the unicorn off his hooves, as his helmet flew off. After regaining his vision, Beezen was about to fire another spell, but was interfered when Spike breathed fire, scorching the wizard's face, giving Flare the chance to recover his helmet.

Furious at the heroics of Spike and his friends, Beezen fired a spell at the young Dragon Prince, which exploded upon impact with his armor, sending Spike flying into Flare Heart, and causing the glass slipper to fly out of his cape.

"The slipper!" Spike shouted, flying forward, catching the slipper in his hands.

"What slipper?" Flare asked.

"Is that my-" Rarity was interrupted when Beezen fired an offensive spell at Spike, which missed him by a hair, as the spell struck the slipper instead. The reflective structure of the slipper caused the spell to split up into various beams, conveniently striking the monsters, returning them to normal.

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!" Beezen screamed in defeat, before the guards quickly handcuffed the wizard in magic restraints, "I really should've made my escape, instead of yelling...." he admitted in defeat.

The guards later escorted the wizard to prison. The unicorn mare, named Sassy Saddles, was reunited with her family, while Scorpan, as a human, was left to contend with Spike and Flare, "Excellent job, you two," the man smiled. "You've never ceased to amaze me."

"I live to serve and protect Equestria!" Flare Heart saluted, while Spike looked at the colt, proudly.

Scorpan soon took notice of Rarity, who slowly came out from her hiding spot, "And who's this young lady?"

"I'm Rarity," Rarity smiled. "And it's an absolute honor to meet you, General Scorpan, as it is to meet Prince Spike, here." the filly bowed her head in respect, as the dragon and man both chuckled lightly, taken in by her mannerism.

"And what am I?" Flare Heart asked, feeling neglected. "Chopped liver?"

Rarity turned to the colt and answered, "Oh, but of course," she smiled. "How silly of me. You were wonderful too darling."

"That's Flare Heart," Spike smiled, placing his hand around the colt. "Royal guard in training, and my trusty sidekick."

"Yeah," Flare chuckled hesitantly. "Sidekick," he muttered.

 Scorpan soon brought the kids out of their meet and greet moment, "Now, if I'm not mistaken," he began. "The two of you must've been in the middle of an outing of sort. Or was fighting Beezen part of your plan?"

Spike and Rarity both retold the whole story about their outing with the gargoyle, who couldn't help but listen in amusement, even more when Rarity revealed how much she would like to spend more time with Spike for the day, which surprises Spike, his mentor, and his best friend.

"I see," Scorpan responded at the end of their story. "Well kids, you two go on ahead with your evening. But be sure to be back in time for dinner, Spike." The man warned, before he changes back into a gargoyle. "You know how Celestia gets when you're out too late."

"Will do uncle," Spike replied, as the gargoyle flew away.

As Spike left with Rarity, Flare had a look of envy, concealed by his helmet.





Soon, Celestia's sun was barely over the horizon, when the two arrived at the top of a cliff, overlooking the sunset beauty of Equestria below.

"What'd I tell you, huh?" Spike inquired. "Ain't it a sight to behold?"

"Oh, it certainly is your highness," Rarity smiled.

"No need to be so formal with me," Spike smiled, turning to the filly. "Just Spike will do. We're friends, right?"

Rarity looked at Spike, eyes glimmering, "Do you truly mean it?"

Spike nodded, "Absolutely."

Rarity blushed, "Then, is it alright if I could also refer to you as, Spikey-Wikey?"

"Spikey-Wikey?" Soon it was Spike's turn to blush. "If that's what you want, then Spikey-Wikey it is then."

Rarity smiled, before she recalled the glass slipper she saw earlier, "By the way," she began. "That glass slipper that fell out of your cape. If I may ask, where did you get it?"

"Oh," Spike pulled the slipper in question out to show it. "I found it when some pony crashed into me, at the Grand Galloping Gala," Rarity winced, knowing whom Spike was referring to. "They were in such a rush, I didn't get a good look at their face or cutie mark. But they left this behind, and I've kinda made it a personal mission to find its owner and return it to them."

"Oh how sweet of you," Rarity smiled. "But how do you plan on finding this pony in question?" she asked.

"Well, the last thing I remember seeing, was that their color was white and purple," Spike answered. "Kinda like yours. And judging by their size, the pony I'm looking is a girl.....kinda like you....and they smelled like....cake frosting. Not to offend or anything."

"Oh, no hard feelings, I'm sure," Rarity dismissed. 'Clearly, Prince Royal Pain is to blame,' she thought, before she inquired, "But, by chance, were you expecting something in return once you've found them?"

"Nope," Spike replied honestly. "Just the satisfaction of returning a pony's lost belonging is rewarding enough for me."

'He's not only sweet and brave, but he's also selfless and valiant!' Rarity squealed mentally. 'He really is a true prince after all!'

"Hey Rarity?" Spike asked. "I hope you don't mind but," Spike held the glass slipper out for the filly. "Would you mind, trying on?" 

Rarity smiled, while blushing, but complied as she raised her front hoof as Spike slowly put the glass slipper on in a perfect fit. "Whoa!" Spike gasped. "It was you, this whole time?!" Rarity couldn't help but giggle as she nodded in her head in confirmation. "Well I feel sheepish." With that, Spike comically turned himself into a sheep, before he quickly changes back, resulting in a burst of laughter from Rarity. "I mean, wow! Who'd thought, my new friend today, is actually the same pony I've been looking for?"

"As silly as it is for me to say this," Rarity blushed. "Maybe it was destiny that brought us together."

Spike chuckled, blushing equally, "Yeah. Must be." Spike suddenly found himself embraced by a joyful Rarity.

"I really don't know what to say, but thank you," Rarity smiled. "Thank you, Spikey-Wikey."

Spike blushed at the girl's pet name for him, as he returns the embrace, "You're welcome."





The sun was completely set, as the moon was slowly rising up, when the kids were later walking down a street in Canterlot, which was in the middle of a festivity. Feeling the groove, Spike started to tap his feet to the music, before he started to shake his whole body with the song. Rarity looked and giggled in amusement at the boy's enthusiasm before she started shaking her body to the beat of the music as well.

Spike took notice, and smiled, "May I have this dance?" he asked, being the gentleman he is.

Rarity giggled, "You most certainly may," With that, she accepted the boy's hand.

Meanwhile, Princess Celestia and Prince Blueblood were walking down the streets of Canterlot, with Scorpan and some Royal Guards, including Flare Heart, close by, when they came across the festivity going on. It didn't take long before they came across a crowd of ponies. Curious at what the fuss was all about, Celestia and Blueblood looked, and watch in surprise to see Spike, dancing with Rarity in perfect sync, and singing along to the music.



Princess Celestia watched in pride, seeing her son, dancing and making some pony, besides her, happy, while Blueblood could only scowl in jealousy, recognizing Rarity to be the mare he once "courted" at the gala. Furthermore, some of the royal guard, Flare Heart included, couldn't help but sympathize with the prince, since Spike was dancing with a beautiful mare. Scorpan in the meantime, smirked, "Well done, Spike. Well done."

By the end of the song, Spike and Rarity both struck a pose, as the ponies around them all clapped their hooves in applause. Spike and Rarity both took a moment to catch their breathes, before Celestia, Blueblood, Scorpan, and some of the guards trotted over. Seeing the officials, the ponies all bowed their heads in respect.

"Mom!" Spike greeted, running up to the alicorn princess.

"Afternoon sweetie," Celestia smiled. "That was quite the show you and Rarity put on."

"Oh, it was nothing," the kids replied, modestly.

"Rarity!" two voices called, revealing itself to be a unicorn couple, trotting over.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Rarity greeted.

In appearance, Rarity's mother, Cookie Crumbles, has a pale fuchsia coat, with a grayish indigo mane don up in a bun, light cornflower blue eyes, and three broken cookies for a cutie mark. For attires, she simply wore a yellow handkerchief. Rarity's father, Hondo Flanks, has a light gray coat, with a well groomed dark brownish mane, and a big bushy mustache, similar to Scorpan's as a human, brilliant cerulean eyes, and three footballs for a cutie mark.

"Sweetheart," Cookie Crumbles smiled. "That dance you did with Prince Spike was incredible!"

"You certainly learned a thing a two from me," Hondo Flanks smiled. "I'm so proud of you honey." The stallion soon turned to look up at Spike and bowed, "And I can't thank you enough for showing our daughter such a good time, your highness."

"Feeling's mutual sir," Spike replied. "Your daughter is quite the lady, and a good friend too, I might add."

"Hmph," Blueblood huffed in disagreement. 'Why couldn't she be the same with me?' He asked mentally.

"Oh Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity giggled, playfully shoving the boy.

"Spikey-Wikey?" Celestia asked with a smirk. "Who's that?"

"Why Prince Spike of course," Rarity answered. "He's given me permission, as a friend, to refer to him as Spikey-Wikey!"

"Is that so?" Flare Heart asked, nudging the prince on the shoulder. "Spikey-Wikey?" the colt joked.

"I think it's adorable," Celestia smiled, before she pinched her son's cheek with her magic. "I should've called you Spikey-Wikey years ago!"

"Come on you guys!" Spike whined, turning himself into a puppy, covering his face, as it turned red in embarrassment.

Everyone, except for one, couldn't help but laugh the night away as they enjoy teasing Spike, with his new nickname. Or should we say, "pet" name.





After a few days later, it was time for Rarity to return to Ponyville with her parents. Spike was there, along with Princess Celestia, Scorpan, Flare Heart, and Prince Blueblood.

"Before you go Rarity. I want you to have this," Spike said, presenting the girl a beautiful ruby in the shape of a heart. "It's a fire ruby. I've been aging for quite some times, and I'd like for you to have it now."

"Thank you Spike," Rarity smiled. "I'll treasure it, always," She quickly gave the prince a peck on the cheek, before she left with her parents.

Spike rubbed his cheek, where Rarity had kissed him, before he sighed, "I'll never wash this cheek ever again," Princess Celestia chuckled in amusement, along with Scorpan, while both Blueblood and Flare Heart looked on in jealousy.




Present

Rarity sighed in nostalgia, while Spike looked at the Fire Ruby in bewilderment, "Wow!" he gasped. "That was from me? And I gave it to you?"

"Indubitably," Rarity nodded, as she continues, "I was so inspired by your act of generosity, to me, and to all the ponies of back home, that it drove me to become the generous girl I am today."

Spike chuckled, looking away, "Wow. I'm quite an inspiration to you, huh?"

Rarity smiled, before it disappeared, as she recalled the day, when tragedy struck.





A bolt of dark magic was shot, aiming straight for Princess Celestia from behind.

"NO!" Spike shouted, jumping in between the spell and Princess Celestia. "MOTHER!!!!" With a crack of thunder, Spike was struck to the head, fell to the ground, as a human, unconscious.

"SPIKE!!!!" Celestia screamed, while several ponies stood, horrified at what had transpired before them.





On the day when Spike was leaving for New York, with Scorpan, Rarity was among the ponies bidding farewell to the comatose boy, just as some other creatures arrived to pay their respects. The guards were carrying the boy on a flatbed, when Rarity ran out, to hold the boy by the hand. She was quickly instructed to go back in line, with the rest of the younger mane six.





After she arrived home in Ponyville, with the Mane Six, a crestfallen Rarity was beside herself, crying into the sheets of her bed, sobbing, "Spike...no! It's just not....fair!" she looked up, seeing a picture frame of herself, with the Dragon Prince, as kids, hugging and smiling together. "Why did you have to leave? It's just not fair!" With that, she continued to cry even louder and harder in bed.

After several hours, her mascara looked beyond repairs, her eyes were stained red, and the filly was drowning her sorrow in a bucket of strawberry flavored ice creams. A gleam from the moonlight, caught her attention, as she looked to see a glass display, containing her glass slipper, together with the Fire Ruby Spike had given her. The filly walked over, and looked at the items, and sniffed, "Well.....at least a part of you... is still with me.....Spikey-Wikey."





Present

A waterfall of tears were flooding out of Rarity's eyes, as the girl held the Fire Ruby embedded glass slipper, closed to her chest, while Spike sat beside her, looking at the girl's sudden change in mood. Thinking fast, Spike pulled the girl in a loving embrace, as whispered some words of comfort, "Rarity, it's okay. We're together again. You don't have to worry about losing me ever again."

Rarity sniffed a few tears, before she returned the embrace, tighter, "Thank you Spikey-Wikey. I needed to hear that," Rarity smiled slowly, cupping her hands on his cheeks, Rarity brought Spike closer to her face. "Come here you," With that, Rarity kissed Spike on the nose, causing the boy's face to turn red, and his eyes flashing the color of the girl's magic.

"Well, I'm definitely not forgetting this one," the boy said dreamily, resulting in a chuckle from Rarity, who shed a few tears of joy.
> Flight of the Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Snap-I've Got The Power]

Early Sunday morning, the sun was rising as Spike was doing some morning exercises with Scorpan, up on the roof, while the girls were sleeping in. It's still early, so not many people were awake. Therefore, it's safe for both uncle and nephew to assume their gargoyle and dragon form respectively.

The two were doing some parkour runs, before they both made tremendous leaps across some gaps between buildings.

Scorpan decided to chew the fat, "So Spike," he began. "How're you and the girls doing?"

"Doing okay, I guess," Spike answered hesitantly.

"Okay?" Scorpan asked, skeptically. "Aren't you enjoying their company?"

"Don't get me wrong uncle," Spike replied. "I like them. They're a lot of fun, they're very nice, and all. It's just.....," Spike stopped for a moment to recall. "I still can't seem to remember everything. The girls were always talking about how I was some kind of Dragon Prince, and that I was a hero to them, and all the ponies back in Equestria, and how I've once been their friend," The two came to a stop, next to a water tower as the dragon continues, "Some of it sounds kinda familiar, but it sounds more like they're referring to someone else, and that's what worries me"

Scorpan flew over and comforted the young dragon, "Do not force yourself to remember Spike," the gargoyle said calmly. "Your memories will return to you in time."

Spike slowly nodded, "I know," he replied sadly.




Training Dimension

After his exercise with Scorpan, Spike was later in the Training Dimension, with Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, while Scorpan was out to train with Spike's posse, who had later arrived. Meanwhile, Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight, Lyra, and Bon Bon went to work with the  creatures and the tatzlewurm in Fluttershy's backpack.




Rainbow Dash

Spike's first training of the day, takes place in a magic room with Rainbow Dash, "What's a dragon when it can't fly?" Rainbow Dash asked, as she and Spike were standing atop a mountain, over an endless sea of clouds. "A downed dragon! That's what!" she answered. "When a dragon is down, it can't get away! Therefore, it's dead meat!"

"Well lucky me," Spike replied in sarcasm. "I can't fly, yet I'm still here."

"You're alive because you can jump good," Dash replied. "Plus, your speed, strength, and skills of the martial arts were all what kept you alive in battles. The hunters who are after your Dragonfire relied solely on their magics. But if you're ever cornered, say on the top of a building, a tree, or something, here's my recommendation for a quick get away." Rainbow inched her head closer to the boy, as she answered, "Fly."

"But I don't have wings," Spike replied.

"That's never stopped you before!" Rainbow replied. "When we first met, you didn't need wings to fly. Not since you've got magic at your disposal."

"I can fly by magic?" Spike gasped, as the first thing that came to mind were the Asian Dragons. "No way!"

"Yes way!" Rainbow chuckled. "But, before you think about jumping off the cliff and go plummeting and crashing through the clouds, there's something you should know first," Rainbow began. "According to Twilight's egghead knowledge, and through Pinkie's translation, the magic of your Dragonfire works in different ways, depending on your emotions."

"How so?"

"Well, think back to the time you were saving your guy friends at Central Park," Rainbow began. "How did you feel, when you were fighting off those punks in dog masks?"

Spike closed his eyes, as he recalled the incident, "That day, when I saw my friends in danger, I was scared to lose them, but determined to save them."

"And how about when your friend Pipsqueak was about to be met with a dagger's end by that gang's leader?" Rainbow inquired. "Or when you first saw Twilight being tortured by Somnambula later on? I'll bet those made you really mad, huh?"

"Of course it did!" Spike replied. "I just couldn't let my friends die like that!" Spike's eyes widen, as he realizes where Rainbow was getting at.

"That's right Spike," Rainbow began, as she jumped around the boy, throwing a couple of playful punches at the boy. "That's how we're going to get you off the ground and into the sky!"

"Okay," Spike smiled. "So what do I need to do?"

Rainbow smiled as she instructed, "First, you close your eyes," Doing as he was told, Spike complied. "Now think of something that's made you really happy. Let the positive feel of that memory flow through your body, and you'll start to feel yourself floating off the ground." Spike, with his eyes still closed, thought long and hard until he finally settled on a happy thought. As he did so, Spike was soon lifted off the ground by an invisible force, "You can fly!!" Rainbow smiled.

Spike opened his eyes and looked to see that he was at least a foot off the ground.

"I can fly?!" He exclaimed excitedly. "I can fly!" With a cheer, Spike kicked his legs and pumped his fist, unintentionally causing him to fly out of control. "Hey!" he exclaimed, rocking and flying in random directions. "How do I steer?"

"Turn your head to the right!" Rainbow instructed. "Turn right!"

Spike did as he was told and made a sharp turn to the right, nearly crashing into a mountain, but he was still going too fast. "How do I slow down?" Spike exclaimed, as he kept flying in circles, nearly crashing into several more mountaintops in range. "In fact, how do I land? How do I stop?" In his state of panic, Spike quickly started to descend to the bottom, "No, wait! I don't mean to go down, now!" As Spike fell through the clouds, he closed his eyes, and felt himself landing on something taken aback at the fluffy texture of the cloud, and the fact that he's on it.

"Whoa," he gasped, rubbing the surface of the cloud a couple of times. "I'm on a cloud?!"

"That's right, Spike," Rainbow answered, having changed in pony form, wings spread out as she slowly descended to Spike's level.

"How's this happening?" Spike asked. 

Rainbow pulled up a tuft of cloud as she explains, "From where we come from, all creatures that can fly have the innate ability to stand on clouds. And you're obviously one of those creatures."

"I see," Spike nodded in acknowledgement.

"By the way," Rainbow began. "Just curious. What kind of memory did you choose? Cause after your little air show there, it must be really good."

Spike, hesitant, answered, "It's hard to tell. At first, I was going to think about this time I first got my black belt. But then it just changed to you girls," Rainbow smiled, as Spike continued. "For the past few days, all I could think about was you girls. How fun you are. All of you."

Rainbow Dash smiled, before she felt a tear coming up, "Anyway," Dash began, before Spike could notice. "Let's give flying another go."

Spike looked hesitant, but was willing to keep trying. Concentrating on his happy thought, Spike leaped up, off the clouds, before he became airborne again, still having a few stumbles along the way.

Then, ahead was a stray cloud. Spike braced himself, crashing onto the cloud and did a few spins, before he found himself, standing on the cloud, and surfing through the air.

"Hey," Spike exclaimed. "This feels a lot better." Turning his head, Spike directed the cloud to fly around a mountain, before flying up to the top, and did a 360 spin.

"That's it! You're getting the hang of it!" Rainbow smiled. "Now, kick with your legs. That's how you once did to go fast!"

Doing as he was told, Spike kicked the air with his right foot out, causing himself and the cloud to move at a burst of speed.	

"Whoa!" Spike smiled. "This is amazing!"

Rainbow laughed, 'There's the Spike I remember,' she thought, before she flew after him.

Spike was truly having the best time of his life. The wind blowing in his face, the adrenaline, and the rush, it was all he had dreamed of before. Spreading his arms out wide, Spike cheered, "Whooo!! Whooooo-hoooo!!" Unfortunately, Spike was so caught up in the moment, he didn't look where he was going and crashed into the side of a mountain, with the cloud dispersing upon impact.

"Spike!" Rainbow shouted, as she flew to the dragon. "Are you alright?"

"I think so," Spike groaned, rubbing his snout and his head.

Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief, before she pulled up another tuft of clouds, and patted a spot for Spike to sit on, which the dragon complied.

"So whaddya think?" Rainbow began.

"I think it was awesome!!" Spike exclaimed. "The feeling of the wind blowing in my face! The rush! The adrenaline! I loved it! It was like a dream come true!!"

"A dream, eh?" Rainbow inquired. "What kinda dream?"

"Well, it was back when I was a kid. On some occasions, whenever I go to sleep, I'd find myself sitting on clouds, and I would just spread my arms out and fly." Spike's eyes quickly widen in realization. "Or was that just one of my memories?"

"Who knows," Rainbow shrugged, before she looked in nostalgia. "But y'know what this reminds me of?"

"What?"

"The time you and I first met."




Past

It was a boring day of Junior Speedsters Flight Camp, as a young, filly Rainbow Dash and her griffin fledgeling friend, Gilda, were resting on a cloud when something green and purple zipped past them. Surprised, the two looked to see a little dragon flying on a patch of clouds.



"Whoa! Did you see that?" Dash asked her griffon friend.

"Yeah," Gilda replied. "Was that, a dragon just now?"

"Yeah," Rainbow replied. "And he's flying, without wings?!"

"How's that possible?"

"I don't know. Let's go check him out."

With that, the girls flapped their wings, to investigate the mysterious flyer.

The girls tracked him down, into a valley, surrounded by huge mountains, and they watched as the young dragon, flew on his cloud in the shape of what appears to be a board, and doing some tricks with it. The young dragon was flying up to the top of a mountain's peak, before he did an ollie, followed by a kickflip. The dragon flew back down the base, along the mountainside, before pulling up at the last time to do an ariel 360 rotation and breathed fire, creating a remarkable display.

"Wow!" Rainbow exclaimed. "He's awesome!"

"Yeah! Look at him go!" Gilda chirp, before they flapped their wings to meet the dragon.

The young dragon had done a handstand, on a tree, with his cloud, before he flew over, screeching to a stop, just as he nearly crashed into Rainbow Dash and Gilda.

"Whoa!" the dragon exclaimed. "Sorry girls. I didn't see you there."

"No biggie," Rainbow replied casually. "We still managed to see you though. And we just have to ask-"

"How can you fly without wings?" Gilda asked.

"Magic," the dragon replied with confidence.

"Magic?" the girls inquired.

"Yeah, my mom taught it to me. If I think positive, I'm able to fly on my own, until my wings start to grow in. But it's much easier for me to fly on a piece of cloud." As a demonstration, the dragon kicked his leg, propelling himself and his cloud around the air, doing several tricks, before he flew back down to the girls.

"Wow!" they awed in amazement.

"You're awesome!" Gilda exclaimed.

"Thanks." the dragon smiled. "So who might you girls be?"

"Rainbow Dash's the name," Rainbow Dash introduced herself. "Speed's my game."

"And I'm Gilda," Gilda added. "Who might you be?"

"Spike Draco," Spike introduced himself. "At your service."


"Spike Draco?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "As in Prince Spike? The Dragon Prince?!" Spike nodded his head, before Rainbow and Gilda quickly bowed their heads in respect. "Your majesty! Please forgive us for not recognizing you!"

"No hard feelings," Spike replied. "Please, rise up."

Both Rainbow Dash and Gilda complied, just as another griffon popped out from a tree.

"Dragon Prince Spike!" the griffon squealed excitedly, before she tackled the dragon, on his cloud. "I can't believe it's really you!" The griffon let out several giggles of delight as she hugged Spike, tightly.

"Uh, nice to meet you," Spike groaned, escaping form the cheerful griffon's grip. In appearance, the griffon is smaller and younger than Gilda. She has arctic bluish gray feathers and furs from head to tail, ending in a dark azureish gray tuft, matching wings, head colored in cyanish gray feathers with lighter markings, and a white patch under her chin. "Um, who are-"

"Gabriella!" the griffon smiled. "But call me Gabby, 'kay?"

"Okay, Gabby," Spike extended his hand out. "Pleased to meet you."

Gabby let out another excited squeal, as she grabbed Spike by the hand, shaking him violently, "I can't believe I'm actually meeting the Dragon Prince!"

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Spike replied, before Gabby released her grip on him, leaving him in a daze. "So, what brings you here?"

"I need your help!" Gabby exclaimed.





The young griffon brought the trio to a trio of pegasi colts, three whom Spike was very much familiar with. The colts were carrying with them a brownish, plush griffon doll with red buttons for the eyes.

"Those three!"Gabby explained. "They took my favorite doll, and they won't give it back!"

Before Spike could step in, Rainbow Dash interjected, "I'll handle them!" she growled, as she leapt towards the bullies. "Hey Dumb-bell!"

"Well looky here boys," Dumb-bell sneered. "If it isn't Rainbow Crash."

"It's Dash!" Rainbow snarled. "And I suggest you give that doll back, it ain't yours!"

"So? It ain't yours either?!"

"Oh wait," Hoops began. "Don't tell me. You Rainbow Crash, have finally accepted to being a filly?"

"And just what do you mean by that?" Rainbow inquired suspiciously.

"I mean, c'mon Crash!" Dumb-Bell began. "The way you think you're some kind of hotshot. The way you talk. It makes us sick! You think just because you love sports and you can fly fast, it makes you think you can play by colts' rules!"

"You need to remember your place, Crash!" Hoop exclaimed. "You ain't a colt! And if you're looking for a fight, you gotta play by colts' rules! Which you can't, since you're just a girl!!"

"Hey don't talk to her that way!" Spike shouted as he stepped, along with Gilda. "She may be a girl, but she's a girl with a lot of strength and courage! And if you're telling her to act her own gender, then shame on you guys! She's twice the pony, the three of you put together!" Rainbow Dash couldn't help but smile in admiration at the prince's words.

"Well, well, if it isn't Prince Spike," Dumb-bell sneered. "You think just because you're royalty, you can boss everyone around?"

"That's precisely what he is!" Rainbow growled defensively.

"Y'know, he really lives up to his name as 'Dumb-bell,'" Spike joked, which resulted in a fit of laughter between him, Rainbow Dash, Gilda, and Gabby, and quite stupidly, the rest of Dumb-bell's posse.

"He got you good, Dumb-bell!" Score laughed, before he and Hoop were met with a punch to the nose.

"Quiet idiot!" Dumb-bell growled, before he turned to the dragon. "You think you're so funny, eh? Well you wouldn't think it's so funny when my father hears about this!"

"Is that a threat?" Spike asked in a suspicious tone.

"And if I say yes?"

"Oh you asked for it!" Rainbow growled, defending the prince. "Nopony threatens Spike and gets away with it! How about we settle this with a race! My team, against yours! And if we win, then you guys are going to apologize to Spike and give Gabby her doll back!"

"And what happens if we win?" Dumbbell asked, before Hoop whispered a suggestion to him. "Perfect," the colt smirked to his comrade, before he turned back to Dash. "How about this. If we win, then we'll give Gabby her doll back, but then you Crash will have to apologize to Prince Spike for failing him in the race. And to top it off, we'll then have you do a dare for us!"

"What kinda dare?"

"Just lose the race and we'll tell you!"

"Deal!" Dash spit on her hoof, before she shook it with Dumbbell's, who also spit on his hoof. "Tell you what. To raise the stakes higher, I'll also have you do a dare if I win!"

"Fair enough!" Dumbbell spatted. "High noon! Castle of the Two Sisters! Don't be late! Got it?"

"High noon it is!" Dash growled.




Later

"Oh no!" Dash panicked. "What have I done?"

The four were all back in Dash and Gilda's cabin, as the rainbow headed pegasus was having a panic attack.

"What do you mean what you'v done?" Spike asked. "You stood up to a pack of bullies, you challenged them to a race, and you're doing it all for Gabby here."

"And to defend your honor, your highness," Gabby added. "She's also doing it to get those bullies apologize to you."

"That too," Spike replied.

"Um, guys?" Gilda called out to the two, directing their attentions back to the frightened filly.

"What am I going do?" Dash asked. "What if I lose? What kind of dare will I have to endure? I hope it's nothing humiliating that would ruin my life forever!" Dash could only dread at the possible dares the boys would have her do. 

"Get a grip on yourself!" Spike slapped the filly back to her senses. "Look Dash. Remember, we're in this race together! And remember what we're doing this for! And if you're going down, then we're all going down together! Understood?" Rainbow nodded her head, as Spike continues. "Besides, as Scorpan once taught me, it ain't over until the fat pony sings."

"YEAH!" a random said pony exclaimed.

"Whoa Nelly!" Gilda exclaimed, before she turned her attention to Spike, who continues lecturing.

"Besides Dash," Spike explains. "The girl I saw back there, it took real courage and real loyalty to truly speak up to those bullies. And up until the end, I want to see that girl again, now and forever!" Spike exclaimed. "So Dash, are you with us?"

With her confidence renewed, Dash smiled and replied, "I'm with ya."

"What's that?" Spike asked. "I can't hear you!"

"I'm with ya!" Dash shouted.

"Pardon?"

"I'M WITH YA!!"

"That's what I want to hear," Spike replied, while rubbing his sore ears. After regaining his composure, Spike exclaimed, "C'mon team! Let's move out!"




Castle of the Two Sisters, High Noon

The time came for the three to begin their race against the bullies. The race will start at the Castle, then it cuts through the Everfree Forest, Ghastly Gorge, Canterlot, and then back up to Cloudsdale.

As both teams took their position, Hoop took the moment to mock, "You're going down, Rainbow Crash!"

"In history perhaps," Dash countered. "See you at the finish line!"

Gabby soon came the scene with a whistle around her neck.

"Take your position," Gabby said, as the teams all got into form. "Ready, set," With a blow of her whistle, Gabby shouted, "GOOOOO!!!!"



Both teams kicked their feet, launching themselves in the air. Well, except for Spike, who started off by running on the ground.




Everfree Forest

Both teams entered the treacherous thickets of the Everfree Forest, braving the dangers of the forest's unexpected traps and horrible monsters.

Rainbow and Gilda both flew together side by side, ducking tree branches, leaping over boulders, and evading snapping jaws of a huge timberwolf, an angry manticore, and a giant spider's web.

Spike, meanwhile, was leaping from tree branches to branches, until he landed on a dead branch and almost landed in a field of Poison Jokes. Fortunately, he quickly grabbed a nearby vine, and swung himself back up, and continues to leap from branches to branches, as he quickly catches up.

"Whoa!" Dash exclaimed. "You jump good!"

"Thanks," Spike panted, before bouncing off another tree branch. "Dash! Low bridge!!"

Rainbow looked up and quickly ducked her head in time, nearly crashing into a tree's branch, "Thanks," she panted, while patting her chest.

Eventually, the three heroes took the lead as they emerged the Everfree Forest, followed by the bullies, who had just escaped with their lives from an angry Ursa Minor.




Ghastly Gorge

Both teams were later entering the Ghastly Gorge. From there, Spike quickly grabbed a puff of clouds and started to surf on it.

The first part they race through was a long windy tunnel, that forced some of the racers back. But they pushed on through.

"I have an idea," Spike exclaimed, as he grabbed onto Rainbow Dash and Gilda, before he turned back, and breathed a jet of fire, rocketing both himself and the girls out of the cave.

"Good thinking there Spike," Gilda exclaimed, before they resumed racing.

Eventually, the boys finally broke through, as they flapped even harder, trying to catch up.

The next leg of the race in the gorge was through a field of cacti. Spike was about to breathe fire, when Rainbow stopped him, "Wait! Don't make it easy for those three!" She said, pointing to the colts who were catching up.

Getting the message, Spike nodded as he and the girls carefully made their way through cacti, careful not to get prick by the thorns. Spike, still in dragon form, flew on his cloud, through cacti, unaffected by the sharp thorns, courtesy of his dragon scales. Dash was leaping, and gliding through the branches, while Gilda flaps her way through, narrowly evading the branches, before one of her wings got caught by one of the cacti's branches.

"Help!" Gilda called, causing Spike and Rainbow to fly back and freeing their friend, before they got out.

Meanwhile, the boys were speeding fast, as they struggled to catch up, "WHOA!!" Dumb-Bell shouted, noticing the cacti, frantically flapping his wings to a complete stop, and breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, Hoops and Score didn't stop in time, and both colts crashed into their leader, forcing him into the cacti. "YOW!!" Dumb-Bell shouted in pain, jumping out, covered in thorns and all, while his two comrades laughed at him.

Meanwhile, the heroes were passing through a nest full of quarry eels, when an avalanche gave way and buried Rainbow Dash in it.

"Help!" Dash shouted, before she was completely buried.

"Dash!" Spike exclaimed, turning his cloud around to help the pegasus.

"Where are you going?" Gilda asked.

"Dash's in trouble!" Spike pointed to the rumbles. "We've got to help her!" Gilda looked and could see a bit of cyan feathers, sticking out of the rocks. Not wasting a second, Gilda flew back, helping to dig her friend out.

The boys soon got through the cacti fields, passed the quarry eels, before they rounded the corner, to see the heroes digging Rainbow Dash out.

"Now's our chance!" Dumb-Bell exclaimed, as he and the boys quickly took the lead.

"Oh no!" Gilda exclaimed. "They passed us!"

Spike, clearly was more concerned with the filly, than the race, "Rainbow," Spike asked. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Rainbow coughed. "But why? You could've just left me to win the race."

"Well, as uncle Scorpan once told me, winning together as a team, is more special than winning alone," Spike replied. "Besides, what kind of friend would I be, if I left you to die?"

"Friend?" Dash asked in surprise. "We're really friends?"

"Til the end," Spike smiled, helping the filly up, while Gilda hid her face behind her wings, as she shed a tear.

"Thanks Spike," Dash smiled, before she shifted to a look of determination. "LET'S DO THIS!!"

With that, the heroes flew out of the gorge, catching up to the bullies.




Canterlot

Prince Blueblood was out and about, walking his pet dog, Bunny, a fluffy orange puppy, when both teams were passing through.

"What the Tirek?" Blueblood exclaimed, as he ducked his head down, evading the passing teams.

"Blueblood!" Spike shouted. "Get out of the way!"

Prince Blueblood and Bunny both let out a girlish scream, and broke off running, "Please don't hurt me!" Blublood quickly hit the deck, as Spike flew overhead, followed by Gilda, then Score, who crashed into the prince and sent both of them flying into a cabbage cart, and then a cart of manure.

"My cabbages!" a random pony exclaimed. "You're gonna pay for this!"

Princess Celestia, meanwhile, was standing atop a balcony, looking through a pair of binoculars, munching on some popcorns as she smiled, "Go get 'em, my son."




Cloudsdale

Soon, the three heroes were able to make it pass the remaining bullies, and looked as if they were going to win, when Hoop flew and shoved Rainbow Dash to the side, followed by Dumb-Bell, who pulled Gilda by the tail and both boys sent the two plummeting to the ground, had Spike not build a huge bed of clouds in time.

"Hey!" Dash shouted, as she flapped her wings, after the boys.

"See ya at the finish line, Crash!" Hoop taunted, as he and Dumb-Bell both laughed maniacally.

Rainbow Dash, at this point, pushed herself to the limit, trying to catch up.

"Gilda!" Spike exclaimed. "Give me a boost!"

With that, the griffon grabbed the dragon by his hand, spins him around in a tornado, before she launched him straight towards Rainbow Dash, allowing him to push her forward with extra momentum, and launched her straight past Hoops and Dumb-Bell, breaking the sound barrier in the process, resulting in a Sonic Rainboom.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped in amazement, before he was literally blown away by the phenomenon, while Gilda hangs onto a stray cloud.

"WHOA!!" Dash screamed, as she flew out of control, broke through the finish line and crashed through several puff of clouds, before she flew back towards Cloudsdale.

"Everypony!" an adult pegasus shouted. "The nets!" With that, a team of pegasi quickly pulled out a huge fishnet, spreads it out, catching the young filly, slowing her down to a complete stop.

"We did it," Dash said, before she fainted.

Every pony all applauded for the pegasus's performance, and cheered, "You did it Rainbow Dash! You won!"

"Rainbow Dash won!" Gabby exclaims, while jumping around in a cheerleader's uniform.

"I won?" Dash asked.

"She won?" Hoops and Dumb-Bell asked in outrage.

"We won!!" Gilda cheered, as she tackled Dash into a hug. "We did it Dash! We won!"

"Yeah," Dash panted. "I guess we did. Thanks to Prince Sp-" Dash soon noticed the dragon was nowhere to be seen. "Hey! Where's Prince Spike?" She asked, as every pony all looked around.

"Over here!" Spike waved his hand from a cloud.

"Spike?" Rainbow called. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Spike replied, before he looked to see the weird looks he was receiving. "What?"

"Nothing," Dash smiled nervously. "It's just..." 

"Your hair!" Gabby squealed.

"What about it?" In response, Gilda held out a mirror. Spike gasped, seeing his hair, all spread out, and blown back. "My hair!" he exclaimed. "It's-it's-"

"It's not so bad," Gilda smiled.

"Yeah," Rainbow added. "It looks good on you."

"I know," Spike replied. "It's awesome! And I love it!"

Rainbow Dash smiled, before they noticed Hoops and Dumb-Bell landing besides them.

"Alright, alright," Dumb-Bell grumbled. "A deal's a deal." With that, he pulled the doll out from inside a vase nearby. "Here! You can have your stupid doll back!" the colt then turns to face the dragon and bowed. "I'm sorry I threatened you back there, your highness." He hissed at the last part.

"Apology accepted," Spike confirmed, before pointing to Rainbow Dash. "Now, I think Dash's still got a dare with your name on it." The said filly bore an evil grin, with a matching laugh, as she rubbed her hooves together.

"Fine," Dumb-Bell grumbled. "Let's just get it over with!" 





"I can't believe we're doing this!" Dumb-Bell complained, while he and his posse were scrubbing pigeon poops off of the Weather Factory, with their tails, while wearing t-shirts that reads "Rainbow Dash is 20% cooler than me."

"Put a cork in it, Dummie," Hoops grumbled. "We're not gonna get this whole place clear of poops, with you whining non-stop!"

"I'm not whining!" Dumb-Bell retorted. "I'm complaining!"

"Shut up you guys," Score grumbled. "Just be glad that you don't have to face charges with Equestria's Council and Supreme Court, for vandalism of cabbages, manure, and a supposed assault on Prince Blueblood."

"Oh, I'm gonna get Crash, one of these days," Dumb-Bell growled. "And after her, that dragon is next."





Meanwhile, the three heroes were seeing Gabby off with her parents.

"Thanks again for getting my dolly back!" Gabby squealed, pulling the three in a tight hug. "You are all amazing!"

"No problem," Gilda groaned, before she, along with the two were released. "I'll see you back in Griffonstone."

"I can't wait!" Gabby squealed, before she turned to Rainbow Dash and Spike. "I hope I'll see all of you again, someday! Especially you, Prince Spike." With that, Gabby bowed her head.

"Just Spike will do," Spike smiled, before he was pounced on by Gabby, and received a lick on the face, much to the surprise of her parents, along with Gilda and Dash's ire and envy.

"Good-bye!" Gabby squealed, before she left with her parents, just as an elderly griffon, with a bald head that resembles a vulture, a blind left eye, and a red fez.

"Gilda!" the cranky griffon called out.

"Oh, it's Grampa Gruff," Gilda got up and flapped. "Bye guys." With that, Gilda dashed off, before she came back and smiled, "So Spike. Since you and I are friends now, be sure to look me up. Y'know, whenever you're in Griffonstone, that is."

"Duly noted," Spike smiled, as Gilda flew off, before she came back and licked him on the nose, and dashes off before Dash got the chance to pummel her.

Spike shook the shock he received from the griffons, as he turned to Rainbow Dash and asked, "You up for a flight?"

Rainbow Dash and Spike were later flying through the air, while enjoying a friendly chat with each other.

"Hey Spike?" Dash began. "I just want to say...." Dash blushed as she tries to find the right words. "That I think you're the coolest guy there ever was."

"Aw shucks," Spike scratched his head in embarrassment. "I think you're cool too."

Dash smiled, before she continued, "I'm really happy I got the chance to meet you. You're an awesome friend. And it ain't because you're a prince, or a dragon."

"Same here," Spike smiled, as he reclines in his cloud. "I'm sure any guy would be a fool to not have a girl like you for friend."

Rainbow Dash smiled, before she leaned in to....

"Spike!" Princess Celestia called from Canterlot, which didn't go unheard for Spike.

"Oh, that's my mom!" Spike shouted, as he started to fly away. "Well, it's nice meeting you Rainbow Dash. Gotta go."

With that, Spike flew off on his cloud, leaving a sadden Rainbow Dash behind, "See ya," Dash replied glumly.




Present

"Wait!" Spike interrupted. "You tried to kiss me, when we were kids?"

"Why not?" Dash inquired. "Gilda and Gabby had their go, so I wanted to take my chance as well."

"And did you ever get another chance to kiss me?" Spike asked.

Rainbow Dash's smile soon shifted to a frown as she answered depressingly, "Never, for ten years." Dash then recalled the traumatic event she witnessed, followed by the miserable years she endured, without Spike.

Spike looked and could see a small tear dropping from Rainbow Dash's eyes.

"Dash, c'mon," Spike said. "Please don't cry on me now."

"I'm not crying," Dash lied. "It's just my allergies," Rainbow looked and could see that Spike wasn't buying it, "Who am I kidding? Of course I'm crying! It's been 20%, no! Make it 90% less cool without you in Equestria! It's been like that for all of us, counting me, for ten years straight! Ten years! Seeing you again, it's like seeing you back from the dead." Dash turned to the boy, exclaiming, "You don't know how much it means for us! How it means to me," Dash whispered at the last part.

Spike looked at the girl in sympathy. Spike thought for a moment, trying to cheer her up. Suddenly, Spike began recalling something long ago. It felt familiar, like someone having sung it to him once. Wanting to give it a shot, Spike took Rainbow by the hoof as he began singing to her a song.



As Spike kept on singing, Rainbow soon joined in as well, brightening her mood, and restoring her spirit as they kept on singing with much passion. Once they've come to the end, Rainbow pulled Spike into a hug, as the tough athlete whispered, "Darn you Spike! Now you've got me all sappy!"

Spike let out a chuckle, smiling as he returned the hug, "Sappy or not, you're still, as you say, 20% cooler in my book."

"And you'll always be 20% cooler to me," With that, Rainbow Dash gave Spike a quick peck on the cheek, causing the boy to turn red, and his eyes to flash a cyan light.

Then, his watch beeped, "Oh, whoops." He said. "How time flies. Well, it's been nice talking to you Rainbow Dash! But gotta go."

With that, Spike got on a puff of cloud, kicked off from the mountainside, and flew off to the exit, leaving behind a much happier Rainbow Dash.

"Finally!" she smiled, satisfied with her kiss.
> We Are (Apples) Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After his training with Rainbow Dash, Spike's next training in the Training Dimension is with Applejack. The country girl was bucking some apple trees, in pony form, when Spike walked in, as a human.

"Howdy Spike!" Applejack greeted.

"Hey AJ!" Spike greeted, before he took notice of the girl's action. "What are you doing?"

"Apple bucking," Applejack continued to buck the trees. "Quickest way to harvesting apples. And it really does a number to strengthen the horsepowers. Y'know, if yer a pony that is."

"Apple bucking?" Spike turned to a tree nearby, before he shouted in a war cry and kicked the tree. This action left an imprint of a shoe on the tree's bark, while causing a whole pile of apples to rain down on Spike.

"You okay there Spike?" Applejack asked, as she dug her way through the apples.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Spike replied, shaking the apples off, before he kicked another tree to harvest the apples.

After awhile, all of the trees were clear of apples. Applejack turned back into a human, as she took her hat off to wipe the sweats off her brow, "Well Spike," Applejack began. "From the looks of it. I'd say you've got the chops, and the form of an apple. We'll be having lots of apples for dinners tonight."

"So, is this all for today?" Spike asked.

"Nope," Applejack answered, as she brought Spike over to a barn. Once inside, the lights dimmed down, before the girl turned and asked, "Ready to get started?"

"Yeah! Let's do this!" With that, Spike concentrated, before he dragons up in a burst of green fire.

In a flash of light, the girl changes back in pony form, "Yee-haw!" Applejack hollered, before she stepped on a hidden switch, and the two were surrounded by chains, all which formed a giant cage around them.

[Fighting Is Magic - Applejack Theme]

The two both charged at each other, with Applejack throwing a flying kick, while Spike ducked down, slithers beneath the pony, jumps up and spins his tail around for a whip, which Applejack blocked. Applejack retaliated with a stomp of her fore hooves, resulting in a slight tremor that knocked Spike off his feet, before she rocketed herself towards the dragon, while screaming, "YEEEE-HAAAAAW!!" landing an impact on his chest and forced Spike a few feet away.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed, catching his breath. "You're strong!"

"Sorry," Applejack frowned. "Should I take it down a notch?"

"No, no!" Spike shook his head. "I'm up for a challenge!"

Applejack smiled, as she resumes her fighting stance, "Now that's what I like to hear from the Dragon Prince."

With that, the two resumed their fight. Spike breathed a jet of fire from the mouth, before Applejack pulled out a rope from her hat, and lassoed his jaw shut. In retaliation, Spike grabbed the rope with his claws and swung Applejack around, until she got really dizzy and lost her grip on the rope. Applejack flew to one of the chain bars, kicked off and flew back at Spike, throwing a punch, which Spike managed to block. Spike then retaliated as he spins and sweeps the floor with his tail, tripping Applejack, before lunging towards the mare and pins her down. With a smirk, Applejack kicked her leg into Spike's stomach, forcing him off, did a flip, and was engulfed in a flash of light. Once the lights died down, there she stood, in her anthro form.

"Ok, before we can resume, what do you call this?" Spike inquired about the girl's new form.

"Oh right," Applejack scratched her head. "Guess we forget to explain you about our battle forms."

"Battle forms?"

"Yup," Applejack nodded. "They're basically the kind of forms we take to have enhanced senses, and reflexes, when it comes to fighting."

"Fascinating," Spike commented, before he got into his fighting stance. "Well, show me what you got!"

Applejack complied, as she threw out several fast punches, to which Spike blocked a few, while receiving the majority to the chest.

"Oh," Spike groaned. "That smarts."

"Told ya how strong I could be," Applejack replied.

"Now the fun can really begin."

"Bring it partner."

With that, Spike and Applejack resumed their fight, landing several punches, chops, and kicks. While sparring, Spike decided to chew the fat.

"So, about your battle forms," he began, while blocking a punch. "How'd you girls learn to fight like this?"

"About 9 years back," Applejack replied, while also blocking a strike. "After you and Scorpan left, Twilight got us all together with the princess. And during the talk, we've all agreed that while you're staying on Earth to recuperate, the least we can do is get stronger, for Equestria, and for you."

"Me?"

"But of course sugarcube. You've inspired us all with your heroism and friendship, that we ended up becoming heroes in your honor." Applejack stopped sparring for a  moment to catch her breath and looked up in nostalgia. "So with Princess Celestia's approval, we started training together, learning how to fight, use magics, and we've had many adventures together. And that's how our battle forms were made."

"Wow," Spike awed. "The girls have told me how much of an impact I've made on them, but I never knew it would go that far."

"More than you know," Applejack said, as they continued with their sparring session.





After about an hour later, Spike and Applejack were both lying on the floor, exhausted and back in human forms.

"Well now," Applejack began. "Looks like ya got the forms to fighting there Spike."

"You've got good forms too," Spike panted. "And I don't mean pony or battle forms." Applejack smiled, until they both hear the sound of Spike's stomach growling. "Wow, all that sparring's really worked up an appetite."

Soon, it was Applejack's turn to have a grumbling stomach. "I'll say, c'mon sugarcube. I've got some apple treats for us, over here." With that, the two walked over to a door nearby, opening it to reveal a small dining room, with only a few chairs surrounding a square table, and a refrigerator. Applejack walked over to the fridge, before she pulls out a various apple treats for her and Spike to snack on.

"Here you are sugarcube," Applejack smiled. "Eat up."

Spike took a whiff and smiled, "Don't mind if I do." With that, he happily munches the foods away. While snacking, Applejack looked lovingly at the young boy, who took notice.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm just remembering the first time we met, sugarcube," Applejack sighed.

"And that would be?"





Past

It was back at the Grand Galloping Gala, when Applejack came with the her brother, Big Mac, and cousin, Braeburn, in hopes of promoting their business. Their only costumer was a Wonderbolt named Soarin, who immediately bought an apple pie. Since then, the three didn't have much luck in selling anymore of their apple products.

"AJ," Big Mac began. "Not gonna ramble on or anything but, I'm afraid no pony else is gonna buy our food."

Applejack groaned miserably, "As much as I hate to admit it, you're probably right. What was I thinking? Selling our apples here."

"There there cuz," Braeburn comforted. "At least ya tried."

"We all did," Big Mac added.

Just then, a young Spike came passing by, "Phew, greeting the guests with mom sure is tiring," he sighed, just as his stomach growled. "Oh, I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole mountain of apple fritters right now."

Hearing this, Applejack instantly perked up, along with her renewed hopes, as she smiled before the prince, "Did I hear ya hankering for some apple fritters? Because we've got just the thing for ya!"

Spike looked at the foods on display, which clearly made his stomach growling even louder, "I'll eat just about anything right now," After paying his meal, Spike took a quick bite from an apple fritter which sets off some fireworks in his mind. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "This is really good!" He ate the whole fritter. "Where've you been all my life?" He moaned.

"Just down in Ponyville, working day and night at Sweet Apple Acres," Applejack answered.

"Oh! You guys must be the apple families! Mom's told me a lot about you ponies. She said the foods you made were great!"

"Why thank you," Applejack smiled. "Name's Applejack by the way. And this here is my brother Big Mac and my cousin Braeburn."

"Howdy," the boys greeted.

"Nice to meet you all," Spike smiled. "I'm Prince Spike. But...."

"Oh mah stars!" Applejack gasped as she bowed. "Forgive us your highness! We didn't know it was you!"

"Yeah," Braeburn panicked, as he and Big Mac both followed AJ. "What she said."

"Eeyup."

"Don't worry," Spike replied forgivingly. "I get that a lot from new ponies in Canterlot. Please, rise up."

The three little ponies complied, as Applejack began, "Again, I'm really sorry, yer highness. I know you're a Dragon Prince and all, but I was kinda expecting-"

"What? That I'd look like this?" Spike asked, changing into his dragon form for visual aid.

"Yeah." Applejack frowned ashamedly.

"It's okay. Like I said, I get that a lot." Spike smiled cooly. "Though, I would like to ask for you ponies for a favor."

"But of course, anything your highness!"

"Well, is it alright if I could have an apple pie, some apple fritters, and a couple of your apple fries?" Spike asked. "I'm gonna share them with some friends of mine. And I'm sure they'll pass the words off to their friends."

"Sure thing, Sugarcube," Applejack smiled as she got the said foods, put them in a bag, and gave them to young Spike, who paid the bits. "Oh, no need young prince," Applejack smiled, handing the bits back. "These are on us."

"No, I insist," Spike replied, handing the money back. "I have a feeling you folks need it more than me."

"How do you know?" Applejack asked.

"I've seen a lot of families working really hard for a living, in all of Equestria," Spike replied. "Yours included. And mom has always been telling me that we're all family, and families look out for each other. So, I want to look out for you guys."

Touched by his words, Applejack smiled, "Thanks, your highness," she said, finally accepting the money.

"Please, just call me Spike," With that, Spike took his leave, just as Prince Blueblood arrived, with a miserable Rarity in tow.





Spike and a young Pinkie Pie were in the ballroom, putting on a show, when Applejack, Big Mac, and Braeburn all wheeled in a cart, with a huge cake on top.

"Okay, all you high-class ponies," Applejack said. "Here's a highfalutin apple cake for your hoity-toity taste buds."

Just then, Pinkie Pie jumped off the stage, shouting "Stage diiiive!!"

Pinkie ended up landing on Applejack's cart, causing the country pony's cake to be sent flying in the air, and almost landed on a unicorn, named Fleur-De-Lis, who was conversing with some other ponies, named Fancy Pants, Sandalwood, Trenderhoof, Lemony Gems, and Taralicious. Luckily, Spike intervened with a tremendous leap, followed by a flip, and caught the cake in mid-air.

"Phew," Spike breathed a sigh of relief. "Every pony okay?" he asked.

The ponies in the room all cheered as they stomped their hooves, applauding for the young prince's heroics.

"Whoo-wee, Spike," Applejack smiled. "You've got some springs in your steps there sugarcube!"

"HE DEFINITELY DOES!!" Pinkie cheered, jumpscaring the young prince, causing him to repeatedly beat his chest, while also sending the cake to fly in the air again, out of the ballroom, and onto a certain unhappy couple.

"Pinkie!" Spike panted. "Don't do that!"

Applejack let out a light chuckle, "I see you've met Pinkie Pie."

"Oh, you two know each other?" Spike asked.

"Oh sure," Pinkie smiled. "We're both from Ponyville. We're best friends. But who knows? I could possibly be Applejack's fourth cousin, twice removed by a fifth cousin. But it's exactly like being a sister!!! IT'S THE BEST SINCE CHOCOLATE MILK RAINING FROM COTTON CANDY CLOUDS!!!" She answered with a squee.

Speechless, Spike turned to Applejack, "Don't ask," Applejack advised the prince.

Composing himself, Spike was on his way out of the ballroom, "Well, I hope you girls have a good time for the rest of the evening. I'll go and check up on the other guests. Good night."

"Good night Spike," Applejack and Pinkie Pie waved happily.

Applejack couldn't help but blush, "Y'know, for a prince who lives in a society of hoity toities, he's certainly a decent kind of a fella."

"Yeah," Pinkie smiled. "And he's a lot of fun, too!"





For the next few days, after the Gala, Applejack, Big Mac, and Braeburn began to drum up some apple businesses for their family, during their stays in Canterlot. Then, one fateful day, a horde of magical creatures were lose in the city, and the three Apple ponies were caught in the middle of it.

"What the hay is going on here?" AJ asked, before she noticed a swarm of Vampire Fruit Bats, diving in for their food.

"Eenope!" Big Mac said, as he started to buck the bats in vain. "Shoo! Shoo! Get off, go away! Go on! Shoo!"

"Get out of here!" Braeburn struggled, swatting at some of the bats with his hat.

Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, the three ponies smelled a horrid stench, as a giant timberwolf appeared. The wolf let out a bloodcurdling howl at the three frightened ponies.

"RUUUUUUUNN!!!" Big Mac screamed, as the three took their leave, with the wolf running after them.

Applejack wasn't looking where she was going and tripped over a slingtail's tail, and into a huge spider web. Big Mac and Braeburn stopped in their tracks, turned around to see Applejack entangled in the web.

"AJ!!" the colts cried, running back to free the filly.

The timberwolf soon towered over the little ponies, about to swallow them in one gulp, when a bolt of magic was shot, hitting the monstrous dog in the snout. The wolf turned its head to see Spike and Flare Heart, running towards it. Angered at the interference, the timberwolf turned its attention and lunges towards the boys, claws stretched out. Conjuring up a rope, Flare Heart tossed the other end to Spike, and together, the boys both tripped the wolf, causing it to fall on the ground, losing a few pieces of itself in the process.

Spike quickly ran to Applejack, breathing a bit of fire, burning away the spider's web, freeing the filly.

"Thanks Spike," Applejack smiled, grateful at the dragon's heroism.

"Don't thank me yet," Spike replied, shoving the filly away, just as the timberwolf got up and snapped the boy in its jaws.

"SPIIIIKE!!" Applejack screamed.

"Release him at once, you cur!!" Flare Heart roared, jumping up and did a blazing spin kick to the timberwolf's jaw. But the wolf could only smack the colt away.

Applejack, with a look of determination, looked around and spotted a pile of ropes lying around. With an idea, she filled it in with Big Mac and Braeburn, and together, the three apples all tied the wolf's legs together with the rope, forcing it down, before they repeatedly bucked it's stomach.

"Let him go!" Applejack demanded angrily, until the wolf complied, spitting the boy out.

"Yuck," Spike groaned. "Guess Fluttershy wasn't exaggerating about a timberwolf's breath." Turning to Applejack, Spike gave her a thumb's up. "Thanks AJ."

"Don't mention it sugarcube," Applejack smiled, before the wolf came at them again.

Spike and Flare both got out their shields, and started beating them repeatedly with their blades, producing an irritating sound that made the giant timberwolf backing down. Just then, a young Fluttershy jumped out with Newt Chimera's magic saddlebag and caught the monstrous canine.

"Got him," Fluttershy panted.

"Is every pony alright?" Spike asked.

"Yeah," Applejack began. "We're alright. But can some pony explain what's going on here?"

"Long story short," Flare Heart began. "Newt Chimera's beasts got lose and we're trying to get them back."

"And we're currently missing a red bull, a blue rhino, and a pink panther," Fluttershy stated.

"Then let's get going!" Spike began.

"Well, if ya got some critters that need rounding, then let us lend some helping hooves," Applejack declared.

"Me too," Braeburn said.

"Eeyup," Big Mac agreed.

Spike nodded, along with Flare and Fluttershy, "Thanks you guys. We'll need all the help we can get."

"Then let's ride!" Applejack hollered.





After all of the creatures were captured and put back into Newt Chimera's saddlebag, Spike was later walking Fluttershy out of Canterlot Castle, with the rewards they had received from Newt Chimera. On their way out, there stood Applejack, Big Mac, and Braeburn. 

"Hey AJ," Spike greeted.

"Howdy Spike," Applejack smiled as she and the boys trotted up to the young prince and filly. "Listen, I just wanted to say, thank you for saving me and my kins back there."

"Ya really saved our flanks," Braeburn exclaimed.

"Eeyup," Big Mac agreed.

"Oh, it was nothing," Spike replied modestly. "Besides, if any pony deserves the credits, it's Fluttershy right here. She caught the creatures. We're just only making it easier for her," the said pegasus couldn't help but blush a light shade of pink, hiding behind her mane.

"Oh, I don't know," Fluttershy replied modestly. "I mean, I-I did caught all of the c-c-c-creatures. But I couldn't have done it alone."

Spike smiled at the pegasus, before turning his attentions back at the apples, "Well, see you around." Spike hadn't gone very far, when Applejack stopped him.

"Wait Spike!" Applejack began, earning his attention. The country pony began to stutter, as she draw circles around with her front hoof, "I-I-I was wondering...since y-ya liked our apple treats so much, t-t-then....p-p-perhaps ya could...." Applejack quickly lost her voice, and failed to bring herself to say it.

"What?" Spike asked. "If I could what?"

When Applejack was incapable of answering again, Big Mac took over, "AJ was just wondering if ya could come over to our home in Ponyville, at Sweet Apple Acres, whenever yer free. We'd love to have you over."

"Eeyup," Applejack blushed, which she hid behind her hat.

Spike pondered for a moment, before he asked, "Will I get apple pies?"

"Eeyup," Big Mac answered.

"Apple fritters?"

"Of course," Applejack smiled. "And apple fries, caramel apples, apple dumplings, and our famous Zap Apple Jams!"

Spike licked his lips in delight, before he answered, "Well I'm there!"

Applejack and the boys smiled happily at the prince's answer, while Fluttershy looked on with jealousy, concealed by her mane, along with Flare Heart, who was secretly spying on them from the shadows. 





Since then, on some occasions, whenever Spike's in Ponyville, he would come over to Sweet Apple Acres, either for a friendly visit, or to lend the apple family a helping hand. During his time there, he would take the occasion to bond more with Big Mac, as well as getting himself acquainted with Applejack's little sister, Apple Bloom, and their grandmother, Granny Smith. Their family dog, Winona, too took an immediate liking to the prince. Needless to say, Spike hit it off quite well with the Apple Family, both in Ponyville and beyond. Applejack even considered Spike to be a part of the family.

Spike and Applejack were later sitting on a hill, looking over all of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Spike," Applejack began hesitantly. "I was, just wondering...." Applejack started to blush a storm. "That is....when you're not too busy....would you...consider...comingtotheAppleFamilyReunionthisweekened?" Applejack spoke too fast at the last part.

"What's that?" Spike asked. Applejack repeated it, but was still too shy to speak it loudly and slowly enough. "Pardon?"

Taking a deep breath, Applejack asked, "Would you like to come to my family's reunion this weekend? Y'know, if you're not busy then?"

Spike pondered, before he replied, "A chance to try out all the apple treats? To mingle with the Apple family? To spend a day with you?" Applejack looked on in hope as Spike answered, "I'm there." 

Applejack smiled widely, "Ya mean it?!" she asked excitedly.

"On my honor," Spike raised his hand. "Cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." He recited the chant Pinkie Pie had once taught him.

Applejack was nothing but a blur of orange as she tackled the Dragon Prince in a loving hug, "Thank ya, Spike," she smiled.

"Anytime AJ," Spike smiled, returning the embrace. Just then, Winona jumped out of a bush and tackled both the Dragon Prince and her owner, licking their faces affectionately.




Present

"Whoa, whoa, wait," Spike interrupted. "Pinkie promise?"

Applejack chuckled, "It was something Pinkie made," AJ explained. "And trust me," she began in a frightened tone. "You do not want to break it!"

"Why?"

"Because ah said so!" Applejack exclaimed, scaring the boy out of his seat.

"Okay okay," Spike repeated, getting back up. "No breaking a pinkie promise. Got it!"

Applejack took a deep breath, before a certain event came to her mind. Applejack looked glumly as she said, "Though, Pinkie and I don't blame ya if couldn't keep that promise you made back then."




Past

Before preparations of the reunion could even take place, tragedy struck. When words of attempts made on Spike's life, reached Applejack in Ponyville, she, along with Pinkie Pie, took the next train to Canterlot. However, much to their dismay, they arrived too late, and were greeted with sight that can make any mothers and loved ones cry.

Applejack just stood with looks of dreads on her face, before she collapsed on the floor, and cried, no matter how hard she tried to suppress it. Pinkie soon followed, with her mane deflating completely, and her color losing its radiance.

After seeing Spike and Scorpan off, Applejack returned to Ponyville, along with Pinkie Pie. Once back in Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack locked herself in her room to cry. Lying before her, on her desk, was a single pie with rainbow fillings, slices of apples circling around a syrup writing engraved on the crust which reads: "To Spike, the Noble Dragon."

Applejack cried harder, with her tears soaking into the pie, "I made this just for him." She continued crying throughout the night, with the sound of Winona's mournful howl, echoing through all of Sweet Apple Acres.




Present

The former tough girl was hiding her face behind her stetson hat, so as to not let Spike see her cry.

"Our family didn't got the chance to meet you in person," Applejack cried. "You were lost to us, and to me. All because I couldn't be there for ya."

"It's not your fault, Applejack," Spike replied.

"Yes it is. Like you said, we're all family. You've looked out for us, but I just couldn't do the same for ya, when you needed it the most."

"But I'm sure your family needed you more than I did at the time."

Applejack stopped for a moment, feeling even more confused, and stricken with grief.

Not wasting another second, Spike got out of his chair and went over, pulling the girl in a comforting hug, "It's okay AJ," Spike said, tightening his hug with the girl. "We're together again." The girl stopped her uncontrollable crying, as she listens to what the boy had to say. "The stuffs that happened to us in the past just doesn't matter anymore. For now, I'm looking forward to the future, with the friends who're helping to complete me."

Applejack smiled, with tears of joy, as she returned the embrace, "Thanks Spike," she sighed. "I really needed to hear that." 

Spike was blushing up a storm, considering how close Applejack was holding him, not to mention how strong her grip is making him close to faint from his lack of air. The country girl brought his face up, and kisses Spike on the cheek, resulting in an even brighter blush, and his eyes to flash orange.

Applejack failed to suppress a giggle at the boy's face, "Shoot! I almost forgot!" Applejack looked in the fridge and pulled out a slice of pie with rainbow fillings in it. "I've been saving this for ya." She handed the plate over to the boy, who looked curiously at the slice.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Zap Apple Pie," Applejack answered. "Made it for ya. Well, after the last one got spoiled that is." She pushed the plate, beckoning for the boy to try it. "Go on, it's delicious."

Taking her word for it, Spike picked up the slice and ate a piece of it. His reaction was just as priceless as the first time, years ago. Spike's eyes widen with his pupils shrunken to a dot, fires bursting out of his nose, and fireworks cracking in his mind.

"OMIGOSH!!" Spike screamed, as he happily wolfs the whole thing down. If he can turn himself into a wolf, that is.

Applejack laughed at the boy's reaction, until his watch beeps, "Oh, sweet apples!" Applejack exclaimed. "It's time for your next training with Pinkie Pie. Don't keep her waiting."

"I won't," Spike replied, opening a nearby exit. "See ya, AJ!" Spike called, as he left.

"Bye," Applejack waved. Once Spike was out of sight, the country girl got up and leaned against a wall, putting her hands over her heart, "Oh Spike. If only you knew what you did to me."
> Pinkie's Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pinkie Pie was in a kitchen, baking several cakes, cupcakes, pastries, and all kinds of sweet treats. She had pulled out a tray of freshly cooked cupcakes, when Spike walked in.

"Hey Pinkie," Spike greeted.

"Hiya Spike!" Pinkie greeted, popping out of a cake nearby, jumpscaring the boy, resulting in another frantic heartbeat.

"How do you keep doing that?" Spike asked.

"It's a gift," Pinkie squealed, before she hold out a cupcake for Spike. "Here! I made this for you."

"Oh, thanks Pinkie," Spike said, about to eat the sweet, before he stopped midway, and burned the cupcake to a crisp. "Nice try Pinkie."

"Very good, Spike!" Pinkie clapped her hands. "So tell me, how did you know?"

"A lesson uncle once taught me," Spike replied. "There's nothing more innocent than a cupcake. Anything can have soporific, like that cupcake I just burned." Pinkie looked even more amazed. "That, and uncle's trained me to remember the smell of soporific, whenever I eat something."

"Wow, Scorpan's better as a teacher than an uncle, huh?" Pinkie smiled.

"Yeah, he is," Spike smiled in nostalgia. "He's the best uncle any guy like me could ever have."

"I'll bet," Pinkie smiled. "But uncle's not the teacher here, is he?" she asked, giving Spike an evil-looking grin.

"Nope." Spike shook his head.

"So who's really in charge here?" She asked, changing her evil grin to a cute grin, while leaning over the counter.

"You?"

"Correct!" Pinkie exclaimed, with a flash of confetti.

"So, what kind of training are we doing now?" Spike asked.




[Electrokaplosion - Pinkie's Sugar Rush! (Feat. ChiChi)]

"Should've guess," Spike said, while following Pinkie Pie's recipe for baking cupcakes.

"Don't forget to bake the cookies Spike," Pinkie instructed, as she finished decorating a cake with flowers.

Spike complied, taking a tray of cookie doughs, puts it in a cook stove, and breathed fires on the woods at the bottom.

"Can you help me with this mix, Spikey?" Pinkie asked, batting her eyes the way Rarity would.

Spike complied, before Pinkie instructed him to mix the bowl, with his tongue on the mixer.

"Well this is much better than cleaning the toilet," Spike said, while mixing the bowl.

"I'll say," Pinkie smiled. 'Cause when I finally get to kiss you, I'll taste the sweet taste of cake dough!!' she thought happily.

Spike was later helping Pinkie with decorating some cupcakes, donuts, and cakes with sprinkles, as Pinkie tells him, "C'mon Spike! Shake those shakers! Shake 'em like they're maracas! Shake 'em like how Taylor Swift shakes it off!"

"How's this part of my training to be a dragon?" Spike asked.

"Uh uh, Spike," Pinkie said. "Never question your teacher's training method."

With a pout, Spike complied. Later, Pinkie had Spike blindfold, and was holding out certain foods to his nose, testing his knowledge of each food, based on their scents, "Orange," Spike answered. "Banana, apples, coconuts, spinach, tomato, potato, pe-pe-pe-pe-PEPPER!!!" he sneezed a burst of fire, when Pinkie Pie held a shake of peppers, too close to his nose.

"Gesundheit," Pinkie said, before she blew a fire out of her hair.

Still blindfolded, Pinkie was later throwing several fruits towards him. Using his acute hearing, his sense of smell, Spike was able to locate the incoming fruits, slice and diced them with his dragon claws and tail, while avoiding some of Pinkie's sprinkle bombs.

'This is like playing Fruit Ninja at the arcade,' Spike thought. 'Only this time, it's for real.'

Pinkie smiled, seeing how Spike was getting back in shape with his dragon senses again. After while, Spike was sitting on a chair, panting, while Pinkie was happily decorating a huge cake with all the fruits Spike had sliced.

"You did good Spike," Pinkie smiled. "You've learned plenty."

"So I've noticed," Spike said. "So, the whole point in this training was so you can make a huge fruit cake?"

"Yes sire," Pinkie smiled. "Think of it as a reward for all your handwork today." Pulling up a chair, Pinkie beckoned the boy to come over, to which he happily complied. "Here, have a slice." She said, handing him a plate.

"Don't mind if I do," Spike happily took a piece with his fork, and munched on the cake, and sighed in satisfaction. "Mmm, delicious."

"Mmm, indeed," Pinkie agreed. "That's the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness with All the Fruits Spike Chopped Using Ninjutsu for ya."

"That's quite the mouthful."

"It's a working title," Pinkie winked, before she looked at Spike happily.

"Lemme guess," Spike began. "That's the look of something special between us ten years ago. Is it?"

"Eeyup," Pinkie replied. "I remember like it was a Tuesday," Pinkie smiled. "Oh wait! I didn't meet you then, but it kinda felt like I met ya, because that was the day I first saw you and became really happy!"




Past

Tuesday

On a depressing rock farm, a family of earth ponies in dull colors were out in the field, working day and night, pushing rocks from one field to the next. The black sheep, or in this case pink, in their family is none other than a young Pinkie Pie herself. Pinkie was simply pushing some rocks one day, when the sound of explosion filled the sky.

[AKB48 - Sugar Rush]

BOOOOM

The little filly looked up, to sing a Sonic Rainboom, the most beautiful thing she has ever seen in her whole life. The explosion was so fierce, that it brightens her pink color, and made her mane and tail turn frizzle and puffy. Pinkie Pie looked up and could see a beautiful rainbow, painted across the sky, courtesy of a young pegasus filly with matching mane and tail, a griffon, and a purple dragon on cloud. The three all did some dance moves in celebrations over their victory, while Pinkie watched with a smile on her face, for the first time in life.



Present

"Whoa, you saw the Sonic Rainboom?" Spike asked.

"Who didn't?" Pinkie smiled. "No pony hasn't seen a Sonic Rainboom in a really long time. And when they did, they just burst out with a smile on their face! You, Rainbow Dash, and Gilda brought smiles to all the pony in Equestria! I wanted to do the same thing too! So, after I threw my first party with my family, I moved to Ponyville to work close with Applejack and throw tons of parties for all the little ponies in Ponyville! And then, when it was time for the Grand Galloping Gala, Applejack got her golden ticket, and she and her brother, Big Mac, and cousin, Braeburn, all invited me as their guest. And that's when you and I meet for the very first time!"




Past

It was during the Grand Galloping Gala, when Pinkie first arrived, per as a guest of Applejack and her family.

Pinkie was trying to encourage the ponies to have a fun time, which backfired as all of the Canterlot elite ponies were too stern and too stuck up to comply.

Pinkie was later at a table, trying to drown her sorrow in a glass of bubble tea, "I'm at the Grand Galloping Gala..." she said gloomily. "And it's not what I dreamed."

Just then, young Prince Spike came to the scene, accompanied by Scorpan, a young Fleur-De-Lis, Fancy Pants, and a unicorn cadet named Shining Armor.

"Everyone's well taken cared for uncle," Spike reported.

"You did a good job Spike," Scorpan smiled. "Like how a prince should care for the well-being of his people."

"Yes, I'd certainly vouch for that," Fancy Pants agreed, while looking begrudgingly at Prince Blueblood, who was "courting" a young Rarity nearby. "Unlike a certain some pony." Fleur stuck her tongue in disgust at Blueblood, unnoticed, before she and Fancy caught up to the group.

"I think I can take over for now," Shining Armor said to the young prince. "Why don't you take a break and mingle with the guests for awhile?"

"Yeah sure," Spike agreed. "You do that SA." With a bow, Shining Armor left the scene, leaving Spike to sit at a table, close to Pinkie Pie, both sighing sadly.

"I say," Fancy Pants began. "Is something the matter young prince?"

"Other than being bored out of my mind?" Spike replied. "Just peachy. I wish something exciting would happen."

"EXACTLY!!" Pinkie exclaimed in a burst of confetti, jumpscaring the boy.

"BWAH!!" Spike screamed, falling out of his chair, and beating his chest repeatedly. "Who-"

"I'm the P to the Inkie to the-" Pinkie's greeting was interrupted by Fleur-De-Lis who pinned the pony to floor.

"Who are you?!" the mare ordered. "And what business do you have with the prince?"

"I'm just giving him a Pinkie greeting," Pinkie smiled innocently.

"It's okay, Fleur," Spike assured, as he stood up. "I'm sure she meant no harm."

"Are you sure?" Fleur asked, before she whispered, "This one's got Cupcake killer written all over her."

"Now now darling," Fancy Pants calmed the mare. "Let's not get too hasty with the guests."

After some tensions were settled, Spike and Pinkie exchanged greetings, along with Scorpan, Fancy Pants, and Fleur-De-Lis.

"You too, huh?" Spike asked, when they came on the topic of how boring the gala was.

"Yeah," Pinkie sighed. "I know the gala's a party and all, but I thought parties are supposed to be fun."

"Same here," Spike agreed, followed by his friends and teacher. "Except for this one."

"You're not the only one," Scorpan added. "I've looked over the Grand Galloping Gala with Princess Celestia for a thousand years, and it has always been this dull. Except for the shows performed by the Wonderbolts."

"As much as important as it is for us to keep up a public appearance, ponies like us do need some fun every now and then," Fancy spoke, followed by a nod from Fleur.

Without warning, an idea came to Pinkie, "I got it!" turning to Spike, she asked, "Can you dance?"

"Yeah?" Spike replied.

"Then come on!!" Pinkie exclaimed, dragging Spike up on stage.

From there, Pinkie asked some musicians to play the musics for a song, to which they reluctantly complied.





Though hesitant at first, Spike soon got into the grooves with Pinkie Pie, tapped his foot a few times, and started to dance. During the show, Scorpan smiled proudly at his youngest student, before he left the scene. Meanwhile, Fancy Pants and Fleur-De-Lis watched the scene with a mix of amusements, and slight jealousy, on Fleur's part.

'Wish I could be up there with him now,' Fleur thought bitterly.

Seeing the look on Fleur's face, Fancy cleared his throat and asked, "May I have this dance, my dear?"

Fleur nodded with a curtsey before she accepted the colt by the hoof.

As Spike and Pinkie continue to dance and sing together, having a good time, the rest of the guests began to join in the dance as well. Just then, Princess Celestia walked in with Scorpan. Princess Celestia was taken by surprise, to see her son, dancing together with another pony, and having a good time.

Celestia couldn't help but smile, with pride, at the scene, along with Scorpan.

After the song came to an end, the kids received a few applauses, before Spike whispered for the musicians to play another song, to which they happily complied.

Upon hearing the song, Pinkie gasped as she squealed, "It's my favorite song!! Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!!" With that, an even hyper Pinkie Pie grabbed Spike and spins him around, before the boy regains his balance and resumed dancing and singing.





"It's always a good time!" the kids sang.

"WHOOOOO!!!" Pinkie cheered.

With that, they resumed dancing, while singing, with every pony following along. Celestia even got into the groove, along with Scorpan.

"We don't even have to try, it's always a good time," the ponies all sang.

The ponies all clapped their hooves, applauding for the two, when Applejack, Big Mac, and Braeburn all wheeled in a cart, with a huge cake on top.

Since then, whenever Spike's in Ponyville, together with Twilight whom he later met, Pinkie, along with Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, would always be the first ponies to welcome them excitedly. Pinkie even had a Welcome to Ponyville song and wagon put together to show for it.

During their stays in Ponyville, Spike and Twilight would be engaged in all the pastimes with the girls, from flying with Rainbow Dash, apple bucking with Applejack, trying on some new attires designed by Rarity, caring for the animals with Fluttershy, and making cupcakes or having a party with Pinkie Pie. Each of these moments were captured and preserved, courtesy of Pinkie Pie, who would later compile them all together in a photo album.




Present

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Spike interrupted. "You girls have a photo album?"

"Sure do!" Pinkie smiled, reaching into her hair and pulled out the said journal. "Here, see for yourself!"

Spike opened up the album, and was shocked to see himself, ten years younger, in a group shot with the six girls, in their true pony forms, all huddling around the boy in a loving embrace. Spike couldn't help but smile at the scene, before he looked to see some more moments captured. One of them showed himself, standing side by side with Twilight Sparkle, while holding a book in one hand and a quill in another. Another picture showed him in his casual wear, playing a game of horseshoes with Applejack and Rainbow Dash. One photo shows him, feeding ice cream to his pet phoenix, Peewee, next to another that showed him feeding chickens, with Fluttershy feeding some rabbits and a jackalope with carrots. Another picture showed him, wearing a fake bushy mustache, while Rarity was fitting him in another fancy attire, with Pinkie in the shot, making a duck face.

Spike kept looking through the pictures, until he spotted one, that showed him, embracing the alicorn he had been seeing in his dreams.

"Who is that?" Spike asked, pointing to the alicorn.

"Who is that?" Pinkie asked. "WHOO is THAT?! That's Princess Celestia!"

"That's her?" Pinkie nodded as Spike continued to look. "Wow. For a princess who's thousands of years old, she certainly looked like she's in her prime. And she and I looked very close."

"Yep," Pinkie smiled. "That was the time when you and I threw her a Happy Mother's Day Party."

"Why would I...." It finally dawned on Spike. "No....it can't be..." He turned to Pinkie and asked. "Are you saying, Princess Celestia is....my mother?"

"Yup!" Pinkie confirmed. "The best mommy there ever was! Or at least, that's what you said."

Spike looked perplexed, "How can she be my mom? How are we–"

"Adoption."

"Oh, right," The dragon flustered, feeling stupid. "That makes sense."




Past

Spike was leading a blindfolded Princess Celestia through the giant hedge maze, right into a secret party he and Pinkie had planned for her.

"Now can I take them off?" Celestia asked.

"Okay mom," Spike replied. "Now."

Celestia did so, and was greeted with, "SURPRISE!!" the ponies shouted.

"Happy Mothers Day mom!" Spike cried, holding out a chocolate cake, covered in strawberry frosting, with vanilla writings that spelled, "To the best mommy in the whole world!"

Touched by the gesture, Celestia levitated the cake, before she wrapped a wing around Spike and pulled him close to rub her cheek with his, affectionately, "Oh sweetie, this is wonderful! Thank you!"

"Don't thank me yet mom," Spike pulled away, as he walked up to a medium size, wooden stage, and stood behind a microphone on a stand. "I have a special song that I would like to sing for you."

On cue, Pinkie Pie gave the signal to Flare Heart, whose horn glowed in a light magenta aura, as he levitated a spotlight on Spike. Clearing his throat for a moment, and giving a few test taps on the microphone, Spike started to sing.





As Spike continues to sing, no words could describe the feeling between son and mom. The girls in the crowd can feel the love as they turned to their respective mothers and held them close. All, except for Applejack, whose mother, regrettably, couldn't make it to the party. Applejack felt lonely, until Twilight came and invited her to join the celebration with her and her mother, Twilight Velvet. Touched, Applejack accepted the invitation.

"You don't know how much this means, Twilight," Applejack said.

"It means we're family!" Twilight smiled.

Hiding behind a statue of an armored unicorn, Flare Heart took out a burnt family photo from his armor, of him as a young foal, standing in between two married unicorn parents. Through his helmet, the young unicorn shed a single tear.

"You're my mom, and you know I love you too," Spike sang with passion to his mom. "You're my mom...." Princess Celestia was shedding tears, while putting a hoof over her heart.

At the end of the song, Spike ran over to embrace his mom in a loving hug.

Pinkie smiled happily as she took a picture of the moment, before she went around back, where several firework rockets were in place. Little did she know, Prince Blueblood had snuck in, and stole one of the rockets.

As a result, when the fireworks went off in the sky, and spelled some words, to Prince Blueblood's delight, they read: "Happy Mother's Day, Molestia!!"

Luckily, Pinkie quickly saw the mistake and quickly pulled out her party cannon, and fired the missing M into the sky, to correctly spell: "Happy Mother's Day, Momlestia!!"

Pinkie breathed a sigh of relief, while Blueblood grumbled, "Foiled again!" And the rocket blew up in his face.




Present

Spike just sat very still in his seat, with his face blushing a deep shade of red, eyes widen with shrunken pupils, while Pinkie Pie was rolling on the floor, laughing her heart out, while repeatedly changing between a pony, a human, and a cross between the forms.

"That's the story of how Molestia Day was made," Pinkie laughed, before she noticed how unamused Spike looked. "Oh c'mon. That was funny."

"Yeah, I'm laughing so hard," Spike replied sarcastically. 

"Aw lighten up Spikey. It's not like Princess Celestia gave you a time out for that or anything."




Past

"GO TO THE CORNER!!" An angry, and humiliated Princess Celestia shouted. "YOU'RE IN A TIME OUT!!"

"TIME OUT?" Prince Blueblood exclaimed. "I'm a grown stallion!!"




Present

Deciding to change the topic, Spike began, "So, my mom's Princess Celestia...."

"Yup," Pinkie confirmed. "From the moment she first laid eyes on you, she adopted you in a heartbeat! Didn't Scorpan ever tell you about her?" she asked.

"No," Spike replied. "He never did. Whenever I asked him about her, he would just try to change the topic, or make some excuses like how busy she was," Pinkie looked sadly at the young prince. “Then again, I’d probably find it hard to believe if he told me, ‘Your mother is a powerful alicorn princess from a world called Equestria, and you’re a dragon!’" Spike said, imitating Scorpan’s voice, before he frowned. “Still, I wished I had known, somehow.”

Pinkie couldn't help but shed a few tears. She reached into her hair, and pulled out a few photos, each depicting of a certain dreary event in Equestria. She remembered how sad it had been, for her and the girls, to lose their best friend, Equestria's beloved prince, and Princess Celestia's favorite son, and all because of Somnambula and her forces of evil. Then, an idea came to her.

"Hey, Spike?" she began.

"Yeah?" Spike asked, turning his attention to the girl.

"I was wondering. When you’re ready, then maybe I could go to Equestria first? Y'know, so that way, I can get every pony there to throw for you a Welcome Home Spike Party. And I could even invite Princess Celestia to come over."

Spike smiled, "I'd like that."

"Then cross my heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye," Pinkie smiled, before she landed a kiss on Spike's cheek, causing his face to blush, and his eyes to flash pink.

"I love cupcakes," Spike grinned, earning an adorable giggle from Pinkie Pie.

Just then, Twilight's voice rang out, "Girls! Spike! Dinnertime!"

"C'mon Spike!" Pinkie smiled, grabbing the boy by the hand. "Let's bounce!" With that, Pinkie changes into pony form and bounced her way to a door that reads "Exit". Spike shrugged as he follows, bouncing his way out.
> The Shadows of Twilight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The girls, Spike, and Scorpan were later having dinner together.

"So," Scorpan began, turning to Spike. "How've you been, Spike? Training went well, for you and the girls?"

"Yeah," Spike replied. "I can see why you trust me with the girls here."

"And what might that be?" Scorpan asked.

"We have something magical between us, ten years ago," The girls, counting Lyra and Bon Bon, couldn't help but blush.

"Good," Scorpan then turned to the girls, "And how about you, young ladies?"

"Oh, Spike was simply marvelous," Rarity smiled. "Still the chivalrous prince he is."

"Not to mention awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed. "You should've see him fly!"

"Ah," Scorpan smirked. "So my nephew has finally learned how to fly again?"

Spike chuckled sheepishly as he replies, "Well, I had a few stumbles, but I've managed."

"Well stumbles or not, you're still getting the hang of it," Rainbow said.

"Not only that," Applejack began. "But I think your styles of fighting are all in good shapes."

"Not to mention your dragon senses too!" Pinkie smiled.

"Sounds to me, the seven of you have made some progress," Scorpan smirked.

The said teens all bowed their heads in response. Then, Lyra remembered something very important, and whispered it to Bon Bon, who whispered it to Twilight.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Twilight gasped as Lyra and Bon Bon both conjured a film projector and a portable screen. "We've been doing some research on the tatzlewurm, and we found this."

Turning the projector on, the girls showed a snapshot of a glowing symbol, which resembles a letter S, with the top curve in the shape of a serpent, the bottom curve in the shape of a lightning bolt, and a bat-like wing sprouting from the middle.

"What the hay?!" Applejack exclaimed. "Is that?"

"It's the Shadowbolts!" Rainbow Dash growled. "They're back!"

"And they had the poor tatzlewurm under their control," Fluttershy stuttered, "Which c-c-c-could mean they've got other poor, innocent creatures enslaved. Oh d-d-d-dear."

"No doubt, Somnambula must've got herself reacquainted with them already," Scorpan began grimly.

"And they're gonna try and get Spike again!" Applejack growled.

"Over my dead body!" Rainbow Dash declared bravely, before she noticed Fluttershy preparing to cry. "Which means they would have to get me first." Rainbow assured.

"Um, guys?" Spike asked. "Who're the Shadowbolts?"

"They're the most corrupted and evil of all magic casters to ever walk on the faces of Equestria and Earth," Twilight began. "Their leader is Somnambula." With that, Twilight brought up a portrait of the said sorceress, as she went on to explain, "The Shadowbolts were founded years before you first came to Equestria, Spike. They were an evil cult, who were in league of Nightmare Moon, the fallen princess." With that, Lyra brought up another picture, of the said princess.

In appearance, the princess is an alicorn, almost resembling Princess Celestia, with the exception of her coat, colored black, with a flowing mane and tail, both resembling the starry night sky, reptilic blue eyes, snake-like fangs, a purple splotch with a light blue crescent moon on her flank, all the while cladded in a light blue suit of armor, covering her head, her hooves, and chest.

"Scary," Spike shuddered, as Twilight continues.

"After they learned about the Dragonfire, they targeted you, in hopes of stealing it, so as to use it in some kind of ritual that could free Nightmare Moon, earlier from her prison in the moon, and increasing her power, tenfolds. So that way, she could defeat and overthrow Princess Celestia."

Spike's chatted his teeth together, as Scorpan placed a comforting hand around the boy's shoulder, "Luckily, they failed, and Princess Celestia is fine," the man's stern expression quickly shifted to sadness as he sighed, "But at a heavy cost."

"I'll say," Applejack nodded grimly, looking to Spike and Scorpan. "When they came for your powers, Spike. You just wouldn't go down without a fight. From what some ponies have said it, you fought bravely, trying to protect Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence, even Twilight and Rarity were there." Spike's eyes widened at the revelation, turning his head to the princess who shifted uneasily. 

"But during the fight,"Rarity began angrily. "A certain one of those ruffians played a dirty trick, and tried to do the princess in." Rarity's eyes started to tear up. "You jumped in and tried to save her. But in the end.....you know the rest."

Spike frowned, as he clutched his hairs in his hand, as Scorpan placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, "It's all my fault. I wasn't around to save you then. Both you and Celestia. We were still in the middle of your training when it happened." Spike held his surrogate uncle's hand, assuring him otherwise.

"Ever since the two of you left Equestria," Applejack took over. "We've been trying to bring those varmints to justice for many moons. We even run up against them, when Nightmare Moon returned."

"You mean, Nightmare Moon's back?" Spike asked in fright. "Now?!"

"Afraid so," Twilight replied. "It was about a year ago, during the Summer Sun Celebration when Nightmare Moon made her first move. Princess Celestia was supposed to show, when only Nightmare Moon appeared. She intended to conquer all of Equestria, and plunge it into a night of eternal darkness," Lyra and Bon Bon projected an image of the said event, in which Nightmare Moon, along with the Shadowbolts, cladded in black and purple, ninja-like uniforms, were seen attacking a village of frightened ponies. "She nearly succeeded, with the Shadowbolts, until me and the girls located the Elements of Harmony, and used them to relieve Equestria of Nightmare Moon's spell," Lyra and Bon Bon projected the said objects, appearing as six colorful jewels, bearing the shapes of the girls' cutie marks, with Twilight's was embedded into a crown. "But before we could use them to defeat Nightmare Moon herself, she and the Shadowbolts escaped, and haven't been seen or heard, ever again. Until now."

"And this is the part where we came in!" Bon Bon began. "We've been tracking down the whereabouts of the Shadowbolts, and our resources have pinpointed their hiding place, here at Crystal Prep Academy." With that, Bon Bon pointed to the said school.

"Crystal Prep Academy?" Spike asked, turning to Twilight. "Hey! Professor Flintheart once mentioned you were transferred from there. What-"

"I was there to spy on them," Twilight quickly answered. "I went undercover as Melody Ravenclaw to find out some valuable information on the Shadowbolts. Though, I'll admit, Lyra and Bon Bon both make better spies, since I had to transfer to CHS before they found out, I was onto them."

"Goes to show ya," Bon Bon began. "You just can't trust some double agents."

"Wait a minute," Spike began. "If you went there as 'Melody Ravenclaw,' then how does Professor Flintheart even know who you really are?"

Silence quickly filled the room.

"Come to think of it," Fluttershy began. "He did mentioned about your brother, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence. Or in this, Crystal Prep Dean Cadence. Do you suppose they may have told him?"

"It can't be," Twilight replied. "My brother and Cadence have swore, not to speak of this to any humans. Unless..."

"Questions for another time!" Scorpan interrupted. "Given to the lights of these events, it's clear that some extra trainings must be done, tonight!"





Later that evening

After having dinner, Spike was back in the Training Dimension, with Twilight and Scorpan. The three were inside a room, that was filled with purple flaming torches, huge arrays of bookshelves with magic books, flying from places to places. In the center of a room is a huge circle, filled with multiple magic symbols, courtesy of Twilight.

"So Spike," Twilight began, looking at a clipboard. "It seems you've got flight, self-defense, super strength, reflexes, and senses down. But let's see how you fare in a magic duel."

"Bring it!" Spike challenged, while changing into his dragon form.

[MLP Fighting is Magic - Twilight Sparkle Stage Theme]

Twilight complied as she, once again, took her glasses of, and changes into her alicorn form. With a pink glow from her horn, Twilight fired a bolt of magic in the dragon's way, who jumped to the side, dodging the attack. Taking a deep breath, Spike breathed a huge stream of fire, which Twilight blocked by conjuring a stream of water from her horn, extinguishing the flame, and filling the room with smokes. Spike looked, trying to locate Twilight, while listening to the beating flaps of her wings. Then, he hears a hum, followed by the sound of explosion, before a bolt of lightning zipped past him. Spike quickly retaliated, firing a stream of green fire in the direction the spell came from. Twilight saw the incoming fire, and quickly flapped her wings, creating a gust of wind, causing the fire to disperse, and shielding her from the fire. Closing her eyes, Twilight focused a spell in her mind.

'Accelero!' Twilight thought. With that, she was a blur of purple and pink, and landed several punches on Spike, who quickly gave chase, jumping from walls to walls, ceiling beams to beams, and blasted several streams of fires, trying to catch her.

"Be still Spike," Scorpan advised. "Do not waste your stamina on a speedy enemy. Let her come to you," Getting the message, Spike took several deep breathes, calming his mind, while listening to the sound of Twilight's wing beats and hoof steps.

Twilight kept on flying, and running, fast, passing Spike, until he stuck his foot out, tripping her up as he did so. After a few stumbles, Twilight shook her head a few times, before firing a magic fireball, which Spike ate.

"You're not half-bad, Spike," Twilight panted. "But can you handle this?" With that, Twilight fired a spell that forced Spike into a frog.

"Oh ha ha," Spike said in sarcasm, before he concentrated his magic and turned himself into, "A pony?" Spike tried again and turned himself into a puffer fish, a platypus, a parrot, a dinosaur, before he finally reverted to human form. "What did you do to me?"

"Sorry Spike," Twilight apologized. "But this is one of the things you have to be prepared for. This spell is used to knock your shape-shifting ability out of loop, for about an hour. When this happens, you won't be able to go dragon properly."

"So what am I suppose to do in the meantime?" Spike asked.

"Simple," Scorpan began. "You must rely on your other abilities to aid in your battles. For example, duck!"

Without hesitation, Spike quickly ducked his head, just as Twilight blasted a bolt of magic from behind.

"That was a cowardly move Twilight!" Spike exclaimed.

"You're going to fight the Shadowbolts," Twilight replied. "First thing you need to know about Shadowbolts, is that they never play fair." With that, Twilight conjured a bola rope, and fired it at Spike, who quickly ducked his head in time.

'Similo Duplexis,' Twilight chanted mentally, making multiple copies of herself.

Spike's eyes widen in bewilderment, as he looked around, seeing many Twilight Sparkles, all readying their horns to fire him.

"Trust your instinct, Spike," Scorpan advised. "No one knows her better than you do."

"But that's all in the past," Spike replied, narrowly evading several magic bolts from the Twilights.

"Search your feelings Spike. Your mind may have been wiped clean by the forces of darkness, but I'm certain your heart still holds the feeling you've had long ago."

Though a little doubtful to his uncle's word, Spike decided to give a try, scanning each Twilight, until he felt a spark when set his eyes on one of them. With that, Spike made a tremendous leap, catching the real Twilight off guard, causing all the others to disperse.

"Good guess Spike," Twilight said. "But, what gave me away?" she asked.

"I don't know," Spike replied. "When I looked at you, I felt....a spark, I guess."

Twilight smiled, as she and the boy resumed their magic duel, "Everete Statum," Twilight shouted, firing a spell that knocked Spike in the air, doing a flip, and landed on the hard floor, a few feet away from her. "Oh, goodness!" Twilight exclaimed, flapping over to the boy. "Are you alright?" She asked, inspecting the boy.

"I think so," Spike groaned, as Scorpan helped him up.

"I'm sorry Spike," Twilight apologized. "I must've gotten a little carried away."

"Perhaps it would be prudent, for us, to first teach Spike how to block unfriendly spells, young princess," Scorpan said sternly.

Twilight nodded in agreement, "You're right.

Without hesitation, Twilight's horn glowed in a magenta aura as she touched his arm, fixing it upon contact. "Whoa," Spike gasped, giving his arm a few stretches, "Thanks Twilight."

"No problem," Twilight replied, as Scorpan changes into his gargoyle form, and walked back to the circle, together with the teens. "Now let's get started on the blocking maneuvers."

Spike nodded as his lesson begins.





After some times have passed, the three were all exhausted, panting heavily, and back in human forms.

"I think, that's enough practice for tonight," Scorpan panted, followed by agreements from Twilight and Spike. Scorpan looked at a clock nearby, "It's time for bed you two. You've got school tomorrow, and I've got work to do."

Nodding their heads in agreement, the two teens exited through a door, back into the real world. Being the gentleman he is, Spike lets Twilight get first dibs on the bathroom, before she walked out in her sleepwear. Afterwards, Spike walked in to brush his teeth, and changed into his own sleep wear. As Spike walked into his room, he passed by another magic door, courtesy of Twilight, and opened it to reveal most of the girls, minus Lyra and Bon Bon, each sleeping, and stirring, in their own beds. Spike quietly walked in, and gave each girls a peck on their cheeks, causing them to blush and smile in their sleeps, before he quietly walked out and into his room.

No sooner had he got undercover, when there was a creak at his door, and there stood Twilight, in a yellow average pajama, with pink trimmings and pink hearts.

"Twilight?" Spike asked.

"Sorry, Spike," Twilight said, quietly. "I was just wondering....that is, if you're alright with it....could I maybe sleep with you for tonight?"

Hesitant, Spike looked at the girl, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, as well as some hope, "I don't know," Spike answered, scratching the back of his head. "I mean, you sure uncle won't think we...."

"Not to worry," Twilight quickly replied with a blush. She quickly cleared her throat as she explains, "I've asked him about it, and he's completely okay with it."

"Just like that?" Twilight nodded in response. "Alright, if you say so." With that, Spike patted a spot next to him, which Twilight eagerly complied. "Comfy?" He asked.

"Very," Twilight smiled. "Just like old times."

"Like old-we've done this before?" Spike inquired.

"Yes," Twilight replied nostalgically. "During our schooldays in Princess Celestia's School of Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures."

"Princess Celestia's School of Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures?" Spike asked. "My mother owns a school? Or was it just named after her?"

"She's the headmistress of the school," Twilight answered.

"Wow! She's a princess, a mom, and the headmistress of a school?!" Spike whistled. "I hope I wasn't too much of a handful for her back then."

Twilight couldn't help but giggle lightly as she answered, "On the contrary, you were quite helpful, as a hero, a son, a prince, and an assistant," Twilight twirled a piece of her locks, as she started to blush. "And that's saying a lot, considering how young you were back then."

"How come?"

"Well, Princess Celestia has always been answering that it's a part of your Dragonfire. It speeds up your intelligence, and maturity, far beyond any regular humans' at your age. Even dragons aren't normally that intelligent at your age then."

"Well, lucky me."

"Yeah, lucky," Twilight chuckled, looking nostalgic at the boy. "And I'm even luckier with you as my number one assistant, and best friend."

'Here's another story of the past,' Spike thought.




Past

"Before I was even a Princess of Friendship, especially an alicorn, I was quite a loner, prior to meeting you," Twilight narrated. "I felt rather content, didn't thought I would ever need to make a friend. Except my brother, Shing Armor, who was my BBBFF."

"BBBFF?" Spike asked.

"Big Brother Best Friend Forever," Twilight answered. "But all of that changed, when you and I met for the first time."

A young, unicorn Twilight Sparkle, roughly around age 6, with a blank flank, was passing by some ponies, reading her book without a care in the world, until she arrived at her destination, the Public Library of Canterlot. She went in to check out some books, on the matters of magics, and was carrying a huge stack with her magic, that she wasn't seeing where she was going and crashed into someone, causing her books to fly all over the place.

"Oh, sorry," Twilight apologized. "I wasn't looking where I was....going." Twilight looked shocked, to see a young Prince Spike, lying before her, with a Power Ponies Comic book on his head, and some of her books piled on him.

"No, by all means, it's my fault," Spike replied. "I should've looked where I was going."

"No, really," Twilight exclaimed frantically bowing her head. "A thousand pardons, your majesty."

"Uh...you're pardoned?" Spike replied hesitantly.

Twilight looked up at the prince, before she noticed the mess around the library, "My books!" Twilight exclaimed, using her magic to pick up a few.

"Here, let me help," Spike replied, picking up a few books, and handed them to the filly, before he later helped to locate the rest in the library.

"Wow, thanks," Twilight smiled, after all of her books were recovered.

"Is that all?" Spike asked.

Twilight took the moment to quickly scan the sides of the books, before answering, "Yes, that's all of them." She looked up at the young prince and smiled gratefully, "Thank you."

"No problem," Spike smiled. "Hmm, quite the scholar of magic I see."

"Yep," Twilight nearly lost her focus as some of the books nearly fell over. "Phew, that was close one."

"Here," Spike said, taking half of the loads. "I'll take half, and you take the rest."

"Oh, I don't know. I wouldn't want you to trouble yourself over me."

"No, really. I insist."

Twilight smiled as she and Spike walked back to her place. On the way, Spike decided to struck up a conversation, "So, who might you be? I don't think I got your name."

"I'm Twilight Sparkle," Twilight answered. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, young prince."

"Feeling's mutual," Spike replied. "So, if I may, what do you need all of these books for? I don't think I've ever seen a pony carrying this many books before."

"I'm going to enroll in Princess Celestia's School of Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures," the filly answered. "So I need to study a lot, if I'm going to pass an entrance exam in order to get in."

"You too, huh?" Spike inquired. "That's me as well."

"You're taking the entrance exam as well?" Twilight gasped.

"Yep," Spike answered. "Uncle Scorpan and I have been studying for the past weeks. He told me that, if I want to go to this school, then I need to study more than just the martial arts."

"But, why couldn't you just get yourself enrolled without taking the exam? You are the Dragon Prince, and the son of Princess Celestia's, aren't you?"

"I may be a prince. But I still have to play by the rules of getting into the academy. I have to prove myself worthy enough to get in. You think I'd stoop to Prince Blueblood's levels of getting in?"

Twilight was silent for a moment, before she replied, "Good point."

Finally, both kids made it to Twilight's home.

"Well, best of luck to you, Twilight," Spike shook hand and hoof with Twilight. "I hope we'll be classmates."

Twilight smiled, "It would be an honor, your highness," she bowed.

"Oh please, just call me Spike," the young prince replied modestly. "We're friends. Aren't we?"

"Friends?" Twilight looked hesitant. "I don't know. I've never had a friend before."

"Well, now you do," Spike smiled, before he changed into a dragon and took his leave. "Good-bye!" With that, he pulled out a tuft of cloud from his cape and flew off, leaving a bewildered Twilight behind.





Throughout the coming weeks, Twilight was busy studying by herself, and grew more anxious with each passing moments.

One day, she happened upon Spike and Scorpan, quizzing each other, out on a balcony of the public library. Scorpan was reading some questions off of the notecards, while Spike, thought carefully and answered the questions, either correctly and incorrectly.

"You're about to cross a bridge that's guarded by a troll," Scorpan began. "The troll will ask you, how many questions?"

"3 questions," Spike answered.

"And how do you answer the third question?"

"Uh...." Spike was clearly stumped. "I don't know that!"

Scorpan shook his head, as he explained, "You don't answer the third question. In order to get pass him, you ask him with a question of your own, regarding to his third question. For example, if he asks, 'what comes first? The chicken or the egg?' You will ask him, 'where does the chicken come from?'"

Twilight watched, as Spike looked anxious for a moment, before he took a deep breath, and became more calmer. Intrigued, Twilight mimicked the technique and suddenly felt calmer.

'Wow!' she thought. 'I actually feel much better.' She watched Spike and Scorpan studied some more, listening and smiling as she hears Spike correctly answering the questions he got incorrect the first time.

However, her secret presence didn't go unnoticed, "You know, if you wanted to study with us, no need to hide," Spike called out.

Twilight flinched, "How'd you know I was there?"

"You were breathing kinda loud," Spike replied. "Plus, I can hear you a mile away."

Twilight came out, rubbing her foreleg in shame, "I'm sorry. I haven't been feeling so good, with the whole studying and everything," Twilight bowed her head in shame as she left. "I'll be out of your hair for a moment."

Spike and Scorpan looked at each other, before Scorpan inches his head towards Twilight.

Getting the message, Spike called out, "Wait!" Twilight stopped in her track, as the boy ran up to her. "Why don't we study together? I could use some extra hands-er, hooves." Twilight smiled as she joined the study session.





 Soon, the big day came for both Twilight and Spike to take their entrance exams into the school. Spike was able to pass, thanks to his uncle's teachings, while Twilight was able to pass, thanks to the calming technique she secretly learned from Spike and Scorpan. As a final part of their exam, both kids needed to amaze the judges with something truly spectacular. Spike succeeded by putting on a fire performance, and creating a fiery image of the sun, finishing it off with a loud roar that made the sun burst into a beautiful display of fireworks. Meanwhile, with Twilight, the young unicorn managed to create a sparkling display of the constellations: Draco, pegasus, taurus, Aquila, Scorpius, and Lyra, before condensing them all together to create a dazzling firework-like display of a supernova. In the process, Twilight not only got herself accepted into the academy, but she also got herself a cutie mark.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!" she cheered, jumping around and out of the room, where she met young Spike.

"I did it!" they cheered. "I passed!" They both stopped to look at each other, incredulous. "You did? Me too! Stop copying what I'm saying! You stop it now!" Both kids looked to each other and shouted, "Jinx! Double jinx! Triple jinx! Quadruple jinx! Infinite jinx!"

The two kids shared some laughs as they congratulated each other.

"But I'm telling you! I did it!" a voice whined. Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance, while Twilight looked to see a whining Prince Blueblood, pulling Princess Celestia in vain by the tail. "Come on auntie! You can't do this to me! I'm too handsome! The ladies love me! I'm begging you, auntie! Please! Don't send me to Magic Kindergarten!!"

Having enough, Princess Celestia teleported the prince away, much to every ponies' relief.

"Finally," another voice sounded. "I can hear myself think again." The voice revealed itself to be a unicorn filly, somewhere around Twilight's age, with bright yellow coats, blazing red mane and tail with yellow streaks, jade green eyes, and a blazing sun for a cutie mark.

"You're telling me," Princess Celestia grumbled, before she looked and smiled upon seeing Spike and Twilight. "Ah, Spike! How did it go?"

"I did it mom!" Spike exclaimed, holding out his acceptance letter as proof. "I'm in the school!"

"Well done Spike," Celestia smiled, before turning to Twilight. "And who's your friend here?"

"Mom, this is Twilight Sparkle," Spike said, while the young filly stood, shock to be in the presence of the Sun Princess. "And Twilight, I'm sure you already know mom."

"H-h-h-hi!" Twilight said, breathlessly.

"Hey!" the fiery unicorn shouted. "Show some respect! Bow your head!"

"Now, now, Sunset," Princess Celestia shushed the unicorn, placing a gentle wing on the filly's shoulder. "No need to fuss over me."

"Sunset?" Spike inquired, looking at the unicorn in question. "As in Sunset Shimmer? My mom's star pupil?"

"That's me," the unicorn answered proudly. "So you're Spike the Dragon Prince," She looked at the prince suspiciously. "Somehow, I pictured you to look more...dragon-like."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Spike scratched his head, before Sunset sniffed him.

"You may not look like a dragon." Sunset began in disgust. "But you certainly have a dragon's scent."

"Sunset!" Princess Celestia scolded.

"What?" the unicorn began innocently. "I'm just curious to why he's called the Dragon Prince, that's all."

"I understand your thirst for knowledge, Sunset," Princess Celestia began. "But you should at least be more respectful to others. Especially, if they're not ponies."

Sunset looked, and could see they were expecting an answer from her. Swallowing her pride, Sunset began, "I'm sorry, your majesty. Normally, I don't socialize with dragons. I don't know any pony who would." With that, Sunset took her leave, "Now, with all due respect, I've got some studying to do."

Princess Celestia watched solemnly as Sunset left, before she turned to Spike and Twilight, "I'm sorry about Sunset Shimmer. She's kinda new to the whole concept about humility."

"So we notice," Spike replied. "But for some reason, I can't help but think she just needs a friend."





Spike didn't have time to ponder on that statement, as he and Twilight began their first day of school the next day. Since the beginning, the two were inseparable. Both have been study buddies, and would always be found, taking notes, and quizzing each other. Eventually, Princess Celestia permitted Spike's stay with Twilight, in the filly's dorm room. For the next few weeks, both have made excellent scores on the quizzes and exams. With Spike's help, Twilight  even managed to make some friends, in the form of Minuette, Lemon Heart, Twinkleshine, Lyra Heartstrings, and lastly Moondancer. At some point, Sunset Shimmer started to open up, and joined in the friendship circles, much to the suspicion of every pony, given to how the unicorn's been known to have a fascination with the dark arts. Spike on the other hand, was willing to give the unicorn the benefit of the doubt.

"You think that's all your fire breath can do?" Sunset asked, levitating one of Twilight's book for demonstration. "Check this out," With that, Sunset breathed a stream of fire from her mouth, and the book disappeared.

"SUNSET!!" Twilight screamed, before the book reappeared above her head. "What? But you-how did you?"

"Fire Transportation Spell," Sunset answered proudly. "I read about it in some old books. Saves carrier pigeons and some working birds the troubles of flying through strong weathers. And helps to deliver messages twice as fast."

"Wow!" Spike exclaimed. "Can I learn some of that?"

"Anything that breaths fire, can learn this spell," Sunset smiled, showing the boy the spell, on a specific page in the book.

From then on, Spike's had study partners, in the forms of both Twilight, and Sunset. With Twilight, the two would study some basic spells of teleportations, levitations, transfigurations, and a studying spell designed by a brilliant unicorn named Hayscartes. Meanwhile, with Sunset, the both of them would practice offensive and defensive spells, covered in Scorpan's class.

One day, during a fall break, Spike was flying on a cloud, while Twilight was busy reading a book. The young prince looked, to see the book showing pictures of famous landscapes of Equestria, from Mt. Everhoof to Neighagra Falls.

"You know, just because we can see places from the books, doesn't mean we're actually there," Spike said.

"Well, not all of us can fly you know," Twilight replied.

"Then come on," Spike invited. "Fly with me."

"What?"

"We can get out of the city," Spike explained. "Go see the world.

"Is it safe?"

"Sure!" Spike replied. "Do you trust me?"

"Huh?"

"Do you trust me?" Spike repeated, handing his claw out.

"Yes," Twilight answered, as she casted a Walk-On-Cloud Spell on herself, before she gingerly took his claw.

With a burst of speed, the two flew out of the city, traveling to different parts of the world.



Spike and Twilight flew to Yakyakistan, where the yaks all blew their hair up, watching the kids, bewilderingly. Their next stop was Manehattan, where they circled around the Statue of Liberty(Pony version). Rainbow Falls where they both touched the rainbow waterfalls, watching as the colors rippled through their hands and hooves. Lastly, the two flew over the oceans of Seaquestria, where the sea ponies rose up to greet the kids, including the magnificent, Queen Nova.

After several trips of flying, it was nighttime, by the time the kids returned to Canterlot.

"So, what did you think, Twilight?" Spike asked, as he dropped her home.

"That. was. AWESOME!!" Twilight exclaimed. "Even better than reading from the books!"

"I told you so," Spike smirked, before he was tackled in a hug by the enthusiastic filly.

"Thank you, Spike," Twilight smiled. "Next to Cadence and Shining Armor. I'm glad to have you as a best friend."

Spike smiled as he returns the embrace, "I'm the one who's glad to be here, for ya."




Present

"Wow," Spike smiled. "We actually went flying around the world in a single day?"

"Yep," Twilight smiled. "If it weren't for you, then I'd never learn to be more open to the world around me."

"I'm so glad I went from prince, to study partner, and then a teacher for you," Spike smirked.

"That's why I picked you as my number one assistant," Twilight's smile soon faded, as she recalled the tragic event. "That was also when...when...."

"When what?"

"When it happened..." Twilight replied, as she recalled the event. "It all happen so fast."




[14 Sun (Vocals By MEMJ) - Pony Empires]

"One moment, you and I were just studying for an upcoming test," Twilight narrated. "The next thing I could remember, we were fighting of the Shadowbolts, I was taken prisoner, and you were left to fight off on your own."

"If I can't have your powers," Somnambula turned to Princess Celestia. "Then I'll have your mother instead!"

Waving her staff, a dark lightning bolt was shot out, from a nearby cloud, aiming towards the princess, "MOTHER!!" Spike screamed, jumping in between the bolt and his mother, taking the full hit to the head.

"SPIKE!!!" Celestia screamed in pure horror. At that time, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy arrived at the scene, too late.

"Spikey-Wikey!!" Rarity wailed, crying her eyes out, besides Princess Celestia.

Twilight Sparkle, in chain, looked with shock, and horror at the sight of her best friend, injured, and unconscious. Then, something snapped inside her, as her eyes turned flaming blue, with narrow red pupils. 

"SOMNAMBULA!" Twilight screamed demonically, as she was shrouded in smokes of dark magic. "YOU WILL PAY!!!" In that moment, Midnight Sparkle was born.

In a fit of anger, Midnight Sparkle lashed out at the Shadowbolts, sending waves of magic in their way, cutting down structures of the castle, breathing fire, swallowing a whole barrage of arrows with a blackhole, before she fired them back. Her eyes, burned even more intense, as she caused several parts of the castle to explode, with her mind.

"Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!!!" Midnight roared, hurling a whole tower in Somnambula's way, nearly crushing the witch.

"Shadowbolts!" Somnambula shouted. "Disappear!!"

"But what about the Dragonfire?" another Shadowbolt asked.

"Forget about it!" Somnambula replied. "We have to get away from that monster!!"

With that, the Shadowbolts all started to disappear in a puff of smoke.

"You're not getting away!" Midnight Sparkle roared, preparing to fire another destructive spell.

"Twilight!" Applejack called as she and the rest of the girls piled themselves on top of their friend. "That's enough! They're gone!"

"Let them go Twi!" Rainbow groaned. "They ain't worth it! We've won the fight!"

"Won?!" Midnight hissed.

"Spike needs our help!" Fluttershy said.

With that, Twilight reverted back to normal as she and the girls returned to a crestfallen Princess Celestia, cradling a comatose Spike, with her magic.




Present

'So that explains everything,' Spike thought, before he found himself embraced by a tearful Twilight.

"I'm sorry Spike," Twilight cried. "I'm so sorry. I had all the knowledge about magic. But in the end, I failed to protect you from the Shadowbolts." With that, the girl cried even harder. "I'm such a failure, as a friend, and as the Princess of Friendship."

Spike, out of impulse, hugged Twilight, as he whispered, "Twilight. It's okay. It's all over now. We're together again. You, me, and the girls. Well, most of them anyway," he said, still unsure of what became of Sunset Shimmer, and some others. "Please, Twilight," Spike started to tear up as well. "Don't cry. I hate seeing good girls, like you cry. You're not a failure. You tried the best you could, and that's all that matters," Spike looked at the girl again, trying his best to put on a reassuring smile, "I may not remember everything yet. But what matters is, I'm here for you now. Forever, and for always, no matter what happens."

Twilight smiled even brightly, as she tearfully resumes hugging Spike, even tighter, "Oh Spike...thank you," Twilight sobbed. "Please Spike. Promise me you won't ever jump into danger, and that you would never leave us again."

"Don't worry, Twi," Spike replied, still hugging the girl. "I promise you, I won't. Never again."

With that, Twilight kissed Spike on the cheek, causing his eyes to flash a purple light, concealed by his eyelids.

"I love you, Spike," Twilight cried.

Spike smiled, "I love you too, Twilight," he said. "You, and the girls."




Elsewhere

In a hidden campsite, Somnambula was pacing back and forth, with the Three Magicians, scorched and tied up in ropes, with the flying monkeys watching over them. Just then, the sound of leavings rustling was heard, as a tall woman appeared, followed by a group of hooded figures in dark robes.

"Somnambula," the woman greeted.

"Abacus Cinch," Somnambula greeted.

In appearance, Abacus Cinch has a long dark fuchsia hair with streaks of light fuchsia, tied in a bun in the back, with a long elegant curl at the top, light grayish blue violet eyeshadows painted over her piercing, grayish fuchsia eyes, moderate raspberry lipstick, and a beauty mark, located on the upper left of her lips. For attire, she wore a dark blue coat with matching skirt, over a light blue sweater, dark mulberry pantyhose, and dark blue high heels. The only accessories she wore are three pearls for earrings, and a fiery jeweled necklace around her neck.

"It's been many years," Abacus began. "So, how goes your search for this 'Dragonfire?'"

"I've found it," Somnambula answered bitterly. "Though, I lack the muscles required to secure it." Just then, Somnambula felt a burning sensation, as she and Abacus both looked at their wrists, each bearing the symbol of the Shadowbolts, glowing and flashing.

"Somnambula! Abacus Cinch!" a voice called out from the lake, the water spun before  they took on the shape of an alicorn.

[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle(2003) -  The Shredder's Theme]

"Your highness," Somnambula gasped, before she bowed her head, followed by Cinch and the rest of the group. "I knew you would return. I've been hunting for the Dragonfire, for you, for the day in which you would perpetuate your face upon Equestria, once more. But Twilight and her friends..."

"Twilight Sparkle?" the alicorn exclaimed. "You mustn't let them interfere! I will claim the Dragonfire and resurrect my glorious empire! The bearers of the Elements of Harmony, must be destroyed!"

"As you wish, Mistress Nightmare Moon," Somnambula bowed, followed by the Shadowbolts.
> A Prince's Lullaby and Parting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

That night, Spike, once again, was having another dream of his forgotten past.

In his dream, he was startled by the sound of trumpets, and drums beating, before he noticed he was in a crowd of ponies, all stamping their hooves to the ground in applause. He looked up to see Princess Celestia, appearing before the ponies on stage, with Prince Blueblood, his younger self, and a young pink alicorn standing beside him and the princess, followed by Scorpan, as a gargoyle.

Spike took a moment to see the younger alicorn, to see she has beautiful, sparkling, light purple eyes, moderate violet mane and tail with moderate rose and pale gold streaks, both don up in curls at the end and tied up with light blue ribbons, purple feathers the tips of her wings, a crystal heart surrounded by gold bearings for a cutie mark. Unlike Prince Blueblood, Spike sensed a positive vibe from the alicorn.

Spike watched as Princess Celestia's horn glowed in a shimmering yellow aura, and with a flap of her wings, the sun was raised from behind. Spike watched in awe, taken in by the beautiful display of the sun, as it illuminated his mother's figure from behind.




While the ponies were all smiling and cheering for the princess, Spike couldn't help but notice a hint of sadness on the mare's face.


Aithari Ar Neamh - Enya


Soon, the whole scene started to change as Spike suddenly finds himself, going through a tunnel, surrounded by a series of flashbacks of his forgotten past. Finally, emerging from the other end of the tunnel, he finds himself inside a tower, at night, with Princess Celestia, crying. Just then, the door to her room opened, as a young Spike enters the room.

"Hi mom!" Spike greeted happily, before he notice his mother sobbing. "Mom? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Young Spike asked in concern.

The alicorn rubbed her eyes before she turned to the boy, "I miss her, Spike," She cried, while levitating a picture of a dark blue alicorn, with a big smile on her face. "I miss Luna."

"Auntie Luna?" Spike asked.

"I have an aunt?" Older Spike asked.

The alicorn nodded as she looked at the moon, with a unicorn's face, "Tonight's the night she was banished to the moon," The alicorn sobbed. "Every year, when I lower the sun to raise the moon, I would come here and remember all those times when Luna was so happy and full of life. And I would ask myself, why did this have to happen? Why couldn't I save her with the elements of harmony? Where did I go wrong? And can she ever forgive me?" At this point, more tears flooded from Celestia's eyes. "And still no answer! .........I'm a failure! I don't deserve anyone...I'll just fail them in the end too.....I hate myself!"

With that, the alicorn collapsed in bed and cried even more hysterically, burying her face into her hooves. Both Spikes looked on, shedding a drop of tears as they watched their mother crying. Young Spike walked up to the alicorn and hugged her. She ceased her waterworks and looked at her boy.

"Spike?" She asked quietly.

"Somepony once told me that we all need a hug to let the sadness out," Spike said as he tightened his hug. "Nopony hates you mom. We love you. We all know you tried your best, and you cared for the good of Equestria. And I'm sure aunt Luna knows that too. And I'll wait by your side, until aunt Luna comes home." 

Though unsure of his words, the alicorn smiled and wrapped her wings around the boy, "Spike," She cried, happily. "Thank you," Young Spike smiled, as he returned the embrace, while having his hair drenched in more of his mother's tears. Older Spike was welled up with tears and couldn't help but join in the hug as well. Sadly, for the amnesiac older boy, he couldn't as he simply phased through.

"Spike?" Celestia asked.

"Yes mom?"

"Can you sleep with me tonight?" She asked, while wiping a tear away with the tip of her feathers. "Mommy's feeling lonely to sleep right now."

"Okay," Spike smiled, as he eagerly got under the cover. "Mom? Can you sing me that song? You know, the one you and grandma used to sing, when you and aunt Luna were little?"

Celestia smiled as she complied. As she sang the lyrics, Young Spike slowly drifted off to sleep, happily, with Older Spike listening intently, "So that's why she called me her little sunshine," He realized. "It's in honor of her mother's song. Grandma's song."


Little Sunshine - An Original MLP Song 


"Little sunshine, little sunshine," Celestia sang, while letting out a yawn. "Let your kind heart glow." She finished, laying her tired head, besides an already sleeping child Spike. "Goodnight, little sunshine." She kissed him on the forehead, "Sleep tight." With that, Celestia drifted off to sleep, draping a wing across the young prince, while older Spike lies down on the bed, across her, and next to his past self. Older Spike smiled, seeing how cute the scene looked.

Suddenly, everything disappeared into a black void around him, followed by the sound of a woman screaming, "SPIKE!!!" Before long, Spike, once again, sees his younger self, with his head covered in bandages, being carried away on a flatbed, by several armored ponies, towards a sadden Princess Celestia and Scorpan, with a portal opened before them, and several ponies crying as they all bid goodbye to the boy. All, except for a particular unicorn in the crowd. 

It didn't take long for older Spike to spot the younger Mane Six, since Rarity was the first to ran out of the crowd, and held the boy by the hand, refusing to let him go. As Spike looked in the crowd, he could see Twilight, crying and hugging tightly to the pink alicorn next to her, while an older, white unicorn stallion with moderate sapphire blue mane and tail, stroked her mane repeatedly for comfort. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both hold each other, while releasing some tears. Pinkie Pie was seen, for the first time through Spike's eyes, with a flat mane and tail, and her color being darkened to match the mood. Lastly, Applejack was hiding her face behind her hat, with Big Mac draping a leg around her shoulder, along with an elderly pony.

Spike watched as his unconscious form was brought up to the portal, and his mother walked over, levitating him up close and kissed him on the head, "Good luck, Spike," She shed a tear. "Be safe, my son." 

Older Spike reached out for the alicorn, "Mom!" He shouted to no avail. Soon, Spike felt himself being pulled away from the ponies, and the world around him was consumed by darkness. "MOOOOOOMMM!!!" Spike screamed as he disappears in a flash of light.
> Missing Equestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[A Long Way From Equestria - Mandopony + AcousticBrony]


“MOM!” Spike shouted, as he woke up with a start, which also snapped Twilight, awake.

“Spike?” Twilight asked, rubbing her tired eyes, “What’s wrong?”

After a couple of deep breaths, “I just had a dream,” Spike replied, uneasily. “About mom. Well, me and Princess Celestia, that is.”

Twilight looked at the boy sadly, “You’re starting to remember her, aren’t you?”

“Yes. And now, I’m missing her,” A single tear trickled its way down his cheek, which Spike quickly wiped away. “For the first time in ten years.”

With that, Twilight pulled Spike in a comforting hug, which he didn’t hesitate to return. They stayed that way, until….

“Breakfast time!!” Pinkie shouted, popping up from left of the bed, resulting both Spike and Twilight shouting, “BWAH!!” as they repeatedly patted their chests, to ease their rapid heartbeats.





After breakfast, Spike and the girls all left to begin another day in high school, together. On the way, Spike couldn't help but look around, seeing all the people going about their days. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything flashed before Spike, and the people were replaced with ponies, and the surrounding busy city setting vanished, with a small town of small houses in its place.

Surprised, Spike closed his eyes as he shook his head, and was greeted with the sight of New York City, just as he remembers it.

"What was that?" Spike asked himself, placing his hand to his head.

"Hey, Spike!" Rainbow called as she ran back to him in a blur of rainbows. "What's the hold up? You okay?"

"Uh," Spike looked around, but failed to see anything out of the ordinary, yet. "I think so."

"Well c'mon!" Rainbow said as she grabbed the boy by the hand. "Let's go!"

"WHOA!!" Spike shouted, as he was pulled away at super speed.





Calculus class went smoothly with Ms. Cheerilee going over some new forms of mathematics, while Chemistry class was once more a battlefield for success and failures, with its daily morning pop quizzes, and Professor Flintheart scanning from his desk, like a hawk awaiting its chance to pounce. Afterwards, it was lunchtime, where Spike was enjoying a meal together, with Twilight, Fluttershy, Snips, and Snails. Both boys were trying, and failing, to impress the girls.

“Y’know Fluttershy,” Snails began. “I’m just wondering, do you shower a lot? Because you certainly smell good, eh.”

“Um, thanks?” Fluttershy replied, feeling a little disturbed.

“What Snail means to say,” Spike began, shooting a death glare at Snails. “Is that, you have a nice aroma.”

“Thanks,” Fluttershy blushed.

Deciding to change the topic, Spike asked, “So, Snips, Snails, how’ve you two been? Got a nice weekend?”

“Oh yeah,” Snails replied. “We’ve done lots of stuffs, here and there.”

“We’ve been out looking for some pretty girls,” Snips answered. “Pretty girls who are single, hot, and...and…um,” Snips struggled to find the right words at the last part.

“Nice and smoking, like your six girlfriends,” Snails answered, earning an agreement from Snips, and a blush from Spike and the girls.

“They’re not my girlfriends!” Spike exclaimed, blushing a storm, before he stuttered. “I-I-I-I mean...they kinda are....I mean, th-th-th-they’re g-g-girls a-a-and they’re m-m-m-my friends, but w-w-w-we’re all j-j-j-just friends.” Both girls blushed, trying to suppress a giggle at the boy’s predicament. “But we ain’t exactly….um…,” Spike turned to Twilight and Fluttershy. “Back me up here girls.”

Twilight twirled a piece of her lock, as she answered, “It’s true. We’re just friends. Even though we’d like it to be more,” she whispered at the last part.

“So then, you girls are singles?!!” Snips and Snails asked, both with love strucked eyes, as well as big, wide smiles. “Then would you be interested in dating me?!” Both boys quickly gave each other death glares, “Dating you?! They’re going to date me!”

“You want to fight for that?!” Snips asked, as he got into a fighting stance.

“Bring it on, eh,” Snails replied, before both boys charged at each other and wrestled on the floor.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. With that, Spike and the girls quickly took their leaves, while the boys were left to create a scene for the cafeteria.

“Saved by the bell,” Spike sighed, followed by an agreement from Twilight and Fluttershy.

Snips and Snails were still at it, with their tussles, when…..

“What is going on?!” the boys stopped their fight, as they looked up to reveal....

“Principal Inkwell!!” they panicked, as they were meant with the stern look on the woman’s face.





Later, in P.E. Spike was catching up with the other boys on their days over the weekend.

"So, how're you guys with uncle?" Spike asked.

"Boring!" the boys exclaimed.

"All your uncle ever did was make us hang up our jackets," Button scowled.

"And waxed the car!" Rumble grumbled. 'Even though it's cool that it was a Dodge Challenger.'

"And clean the windows, up and down!" Tender Tap added.

"Oh, and don't get me started on sand the floor!" Pipsqueak complained, while Featherweight nodded his head in agreement.

"How can you learn karate from all that?" Button asked.

Seeing as how they still have plenty of times to kill before class, Spike brought the boys out on the floor and gave them all a demonstration, the same way Scorpan once did for him before. Eventually, the boys all have a better understanding to the meanings behind their training, as they were engaged in a friendly combat with each other. The rest of their classmates were soon walking into the gym, when they took notice of the boys.

"Waddya know?" a random junior began. "Everybody's kung fu fighting."

"Take his head off Rumble!" Thunderlane cheered.

"YEAH!!" Bulk Biceps hollered.

Snips and Snails walked in, when they saw their friends engaging in their combat.

"Oh come on, eh," Snails moaned. "Now the guys know kung-fu? That's not fair, eh."

“C’mon Button!" Snips cheered. "Kick Spike’s butt for us!"

Rainbow and Applejack soon came in, and like the other students, they all sat down and watched the show.

“Guess Spike’s posse are coming along just fine,” Applejack smiled.

“I’ll say,” Rainbow agreed. “C’mon Spike! Give to him! Show 'em you're the boss!” Rainbow cheered, receiving looks from some nearby athletes.

Spike had finished his round with Button Mash, who was tired and exhausted, "Whoa," Button panted. "I'm sorry we ever doubted your uncle."

"Don't worry," Spike replied, while helping the boy up. "I also didn't get it, the first time around."

"Attention!" Iron Will hollered. The boys quickly got back in their seats, waiting to hear what their coach had to say. "Double time to the lockers and get change! Move it! Move it!" With that, the whole class ran off into the locker room to get changed into their new gym uniforms.

After they came out, Iron Will instructed everyone to all run 20 laps around the gym for warm ups. During this time, Spike took the chance to chew the fat with his posse.

“So, besides uncle. Anything else happened with you guys?”

“Well, we were training together with your uncle, when some people texted us another S.O.S.” Rumble grumbled, nudging his head to Snips and Snails, few miles behind them.

“Don’t tell me,” Spike muttered. “Caught trespassing on CPA, while trying to peep on the girls there, again?”

“Yep,” Button replied in monotone. “Must’ve been the hundredth time now.”

“I counted hundred and one,” Featherweight pointed.

“They just never learn,” Spike rolled his eyes. “So how’d you guys rescue ‘em this time?”



Past

“Those two owe me big for this!” Rumble scowled.

“Ditto!” Button followed, as they, together with Tender Taps all blew whistles to the CPA girls.

Once they had their attention, the boys all turned a boombox on and a song was played, and they danced.


The girls at first just stood with looks of confusion, while Pipsqueak and Featherweights snuck up from behind to rescue Snips and Snails, both bound and gagged.

“Hey, sexy lady~” the three boys lip-synced, which caused some of the girls to blush, along with the boys. 

‘I can’t believe I just said those words,’ Button groaned in his mind.

All was going well until, “What the devil is going on here?!” Principal Cinch asked, before she noticed the boys.

*disc scratch*

“Uh, hi!” Button smiled sheepishly, his fake mustache almost falling off.

Pipsqueak and Featherweights nearly got their friends to safety, when Pip accidentally stepped on a stray twig.

“HEY! THEY’RE GETTING AWAY WITH OUR PRISONERS!!” Indigo shouted.

“RUUUUNN!!” Button shouted, as he and the boys all made a run for it, with the girls giving chase.

[ Benny Hill Theme - Chase Music ]

“Come back here!” a girl shouted. “We won’t hurt you, much!” she growled at the last part.



Presents

“Wow,” Spike replied, wide eyes in disbelief.

“We barely escaped with our lives,” Rumble shuddered.

“I thought for certain we were goners for sure!” Tender Tap shivered.

“Don’t ever mention that tsundere again,” Pipsqueak added.



Later, the whole P.E. class were out in the field, doing various drill exercises. During that time, the boys took the chance to chew more of the fats with Spike.

“So Spike,” Rumble began, while doing some push-ups. “How did your weekend go with the girls? Did you have lots of fun with them? Got any chances to get your dragon game on?”

“Careful, Rumble,” Spike shushed, while doing some sit-ups. “We're in school. Don't mention anything about e-may, being a agon-dray.”

"Gotcha," Rumble whispered, followed by the boys. "But still, you and the girls?"

Spike looked over to see Applejack and Rainbow Dash, both in a friendly competition of push-ups.

Spike smiled, as he turned to the boys, recounting the stories the girls have told him. He made sure to leave the parts about Equestria, ponies, and magic out, so as to avoid raising suspicions from the crowds, in case anyone was eavesdropping on them. Needless to say, the boys have never heard such passionate story, while a little jealous when he told them how he got kissed on the cheeks by each of them.

“Spike, you lucky bastard,” Rumble smirked as he whispered. “You’re not only born with a gift, but your mom is a princess, and you’re friends with six hot girls? And on top of that, you received a kiss from each of them? It’s like you’re living the story of a hero with magical girls or something.”

“Other than that, you’re a prince?!” Pipsqueak gasped. “That must make us your, uh….” Pipsqueak snapped his fingers a couple of times before it clicked, “Your royal guards in training, or something.”

“Wow!” Tender Tap gasped. “It kinda does, doesn’t it?”

"Why not?" Spike asked. "After all, you guys do look like royal guard materials." With that, Spike's mind flashed as he recalls his former best friend, Flare Heart.

"Spike!" Button called. "You alright? You just zoned out there for a moment."

Just then, Iron Will blew his whistle.





Later in Drama Class, Sapphire Shores made an announcement of their upcoming musical show of Singin' in the Rain, in which they will soon be performing. With that, the whole class went down to the auditorium for the auditions.

Half an hour later

After all of the students have had their chances to perform on stage, Sapphire Shores announced that the results will be posted, after she has made her decisions. Just then, the school bell rang, and the whole class flooded their way out of the auditorium.

“Excellent work you guys!” Spike applauded, making his way up to Discord and Thorax. “Incredible as always with your voice impersonation, Discord.”

“Thank you,” Discord replied, doing Elvis Presley's voice. “Thank you very much.”

“And Thorax,” Spike began. “That disguise you had as Cosmo Brown. You looked almost like the real McCoy back there.”

“Thanks,” Thorax smiled.

“Yoo-hoo!” Rarity sang as she, and Pinkie Pie, walked up to the boy. “Spikey-Wikey!”

“Hey Rarity,” Spike smiled. “Hi Pinkie. What’s up?”

“Well, we just wanted know, what do you think of our performances?” Rarity asked. “And more specifically, what do you think of this dress I’ve made for the musical?” With that, Rarity twirled around, doing a quick change in wardrobe, before she stood before the boys and girl, cladded in a pink frilly dress, that looked exactly like Debbie Reynold’s original costume. Needless to say, everyone were impressed.

“Rarity,” Spike broke the silence. “I’d have to say, your dressmaking skills never ceases to amaze me.

“Why thank you, Spike,” Rarity smiled. “Oh, I almost forgot something,” Reaching into her backpack, the girl pulls out a long, flaming red cape from her backpack. “It took some times, but I was able to fix up your cape, reinforcing it with some of the latest fabrics I can manage to get my hoo-erm, hands on.”

Spike gratefully took the cape from the girl, marveling at its beauty, the soft texture of the fabrics, and the intricate designs of the flames on the edges.

‘Wow,’ Spike thought. ‘I used to wear this thing?’

“I’ve also added some extra details, on the underside,” Rarity whispered.

With that, Spike looked under the cape to see all of the girls’ cutie marks, surrounding a serpentine dragon, holding a sword in one of its claws and a shield in the next, while standing before the blazing sun, in the background. Spike quickly found himself lost in the design of the sun, while hearing Princess Celestia whispering, “Little sunshine.”

“Mom,” he sighed sadly.

“Spike?” Rarity asked, snapping the boy out from his trance. “Is everything alright?”

“Uh, yeah,” Spike cleared his throat. “I’m alright.” He looked up at Rarity, who continues to look at him with concern. “I just-thank you for the cape Rarity. It’s beautiful, really. It makes me feel close to mom. I mean, mom and you and the girls-I mean.”

“He means that he loves the gift you made for him,” Discord started “It was very generous of you Rarity, which isn’t a surprise since that is your main department for the Elements of Harmony. The cape you’ve made is clearly to show your sign of affection you have for him, since childhood. And it is also quite generous of you to add the rest of the girls' mark on the cape, together with that of his mother, so as to symbolize the love of family and the Magic Of Friendship you have for each other,” With that, Discord ended his assumption with a confident grin, followed by a look of bewilderment from the boys and girls.

“How’d you know?” Spike asked.

“How do I know?” Discord asked in disbelief. “Honestly Spike. I thought we were good friends and that you know me better. Need I remind you, that I’m a certified mind reader.” Discord then pulled Spike close, “And trust me when I say this, I’d pick Fluttershy if I were you.”

“So what’s been going on?” Thorax asked.

“Well,” Spike began. “Have we got a story to tell you guys.”



Outside of school

The girls, and the five boys, were all sitting and waiting by the horse statue. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were playing a game of poker. 

Applejack made the first move, “Full house!” she smirked.

“Hah!” Rainbow laughed. “I got four of a kind!”

“Read’em and weep girls,” Pinkie smirked, holding out a royal flush.

“Oh man!” Rainbow groaned, as she and Applejack both started to pay up.

Twilight in the meantime was looking at the school’s clocktower, tapping her foot impatiently, “What’s taking them so long?” she asked.

“Well, knowing how Rarity does things,” Applejack began. “That gal probably wants to make some sort of grand entrance.”

“Like this?” a voice asked, followed by a flash of light. There, standing before them, was Spike, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, together with Discord and Thorax.

“Told ya,” Applejack suddenly did a double take. “What in tarnation? What’re they doing here?” She asked, pointing to Discord and Thorax.

“Oh yeah,” Spike began. “I guess some introductions are in order.” With that, Spike began to introduce Discord and Thorax to the girls, and vice versa.

“At your service,” Discord bowed his head, followed by Thorax.

“Spike?” Twilight began. “How could you bring them into this scenario? We’ve already had five of your boys as our human allies enough already.”

“I didn’t bring them on purpose,” Spike replied.

“That would be my part,” Discord explained. “I was simply reading Spike’s mind, and I’m quite surprised to hear, we were standing in the presence of royalty. Not to mention that there’s a bounty on my best bud’s head, by none other than CHS’s mortal enemy. Now what kind of a friend would I be, if I don’t play a contribution of some sort to aid in your heroic endeavours?”

“I’d like to help Spike as well,” Thorax pointed. “After all, it’s the least I can do, after he helped me to make some friends. Not to mention for saving me from falling in with a wrong crowd.” the boy muttered at the last part.

Twilight looked uncertain at the boys, before she looked at Spike, “They’re okay, Twilight. These guys are fine by me. Plus, they do know how to take care of themselves.”

“Yeah!” Rumble joined in. “We’d certainly use some help from the D and T mans.”

“Especially with a couple problems of our own,” Button muttered.

“Don’t tell me,” Thorax mutterred. “CPA again?”

“Yup,” Button replied begrudgingly.

Steering the topic away, Spike began, “So what do you say girls?” Spike asked.

Twilight pondered for a moment, along with three of the girls, while Rarity and Pinkie Pie both nodded their heads, reassuringly.

“He’s right darlings,” Rarity said. “Discord maybe be a little….unique, but he’s a talented magician. You never know when you need one, such as him.”

“Yeah, and Thorax’s the master of disguise!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Who knows, we could use some disguises of our own, when we’re dealing with the Shadowbolts, someday.” She whispered.

“They make some good points, Twi,” Applejack said, followed by Rainbow, and Fluttershy.

With that, Twilight turned to the two boys and shook hands with them, “Welcome to the team then.”

“Alright!” Discord cheered, before in a flash of light, he was cosplaying as Arsenio Hall, whooping several times, before reverted back to normal and exclaimed in a fast speedy voice, “Yeah! Alright! Okay we fight the bad guys, we ride the ski boats, climb the walls, and swing the windows, secret agent style. Right! Yeah!”

The girls slowly turned their heads to Spike, who explains, “You have to understand, he’s such a troll.”
> The Rising Sun
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Central Park: Midnight

Two men were passing by a lake, after robbing a bank.

"What did I tell ya?" one of the thugs asked. "It's like taking candy from a little kid."

"Wah," his partner grunted. "We are number one!"

With that, the two men both broke out into a dance, celebrating their recent robbery. Unknown to the men, they were watched with disapproving glares from the bushes. Before they knew it, they were all in a tangled mess of vines, dangling by the foot, and their bags of money, lying on the grass.

"What just happened?"

"Wah, I don't know."

The two men remained tied up in the trees, until a patrolling police officer arrived, followed by the sound of galloping hoof steps.




Next Day

Spike was at the park, with the boys, playing a game of soccer. The boys were divided into two teams, each of them with three field players and a goalie.

Team 1
Rumble (Kicker)
Button Mash (Kicker)
Tender Taps(Kicker)
Snails (Goalie)

Team 2
Pipsqueak (Kicker)
Featherweight (Kicker)
Snips (Kicker)
Spike (Goalie)

Meanwhile, Thorax played as the referee, and Discord as a bystander. With a blow of the whistle, Pipsqueak was the first to steal the ball from the center, before Rumble could, and quickly dribbled it towards the other goal and kicked it in. 

However, Snails, surprisingly, stopped the ball in mere seconds. When it comes to soccer, Snails is surprisingly a natural. It's because of that, the boys considered him to be a secret weapon.

"C'mon kid!" Discord lectured to Pipsqueak, in Edward G. Robinson's voice. "See? Gotta score a goal, see? Gotta past the goalie, gotta get tough, gotta go fast, like a hedgehog, like a cannonball, see?"

After stopping the ball, Snails threw the ball towards Rumble. With that, Rumble dribbles it around some more, with Pipsqueak running after him, trying to steal it back. Just as Pipsqueak sweeps his leg out, Rumble stopped the ball, and himself, in the nick of time, before he passed it to Button Mash, who quickly dribbles, before he passed it to Tender Taps, just as Snips tried to take it.

"Go little warriors!" Discord cheered, doing Tara Strong's voice, while wearing a blonde wig and a strawberry lollipop in his mouth. "Go, go, go! Score us, score us, score us some goals!! YEAH!!!" He yelled in Bulk Biceps voice at the last part, causing Thorax to rub his sore ear.

With some fancy steps in his grooves, Tender Taps skillfully kicked the ball towards the goal, only for Spike to catch the ball with some of his fancy moves of his own. With a loud Bruce Lee-like cry, Spike threw the ball towards Pipsqueak, who quickly dribbles it back and forth with Featherweight and Snips.

"Look at this incredible performance between these teams of players," Discord exclaimed, cladded in a news reporter's attire. "What do you make of this Bill?" He asked, to another conjured up look-a-like of himself, as a really buff wrestler. The counterpart said something really fast, and gibberish, to be properly understood, leading Discord to reply, "Whatever you said, I'm a 100% with ya."

The boys were having their fun, when Spike heard a cry for help.

"Help!" a girl shouted.

With that, Spike ditched the soccer game and raced off to the rescue.

"Yo, Spike!" Rumble called out. "What's the rush?!" With that, the boys all ran after their dragon friend.





Spike was once more using some skills of parkour, as he skillfully jumped from rocky structures, swings from tree branches, and doing some flips, before he arrives at the scene, to see a young teenage girl, running for dear life from a group of thugs. 

In appearance, the girl is estimated to be about the same age as the Equestria Girls. She has a long, brilliant scarlet red hair with yellow fiery stripes, and green jaded eyes. For attires, she wears a black leather jacket, with studded jewels at the collar, over a purple top with a red and yellow shimmering symbol of the sun imprinted, orange mini skirt with yellow and purple stripes, and black boots with red flames at the toe.

The girl kept on running, until she tripped and crashed into a tree, and fell to the ground, had Spike not caught her in time.

“You okay?” Spike asked as he helped the girl up.

“Yeah, I’m-Fine!” the girl looked at Spike with widened eyes. "Spike?" the girl gasped. "Is that you?"

Before their conversations could go any further, the thugs finally caught up to the girl and pulled her away by the hair. In retaliation, the girl swung her fist, before bringing it down into a chop on the thug's arm, forcing him to release her. Then, another thug ran after the girl, shoving her into a tree, and tried to drop a kick, had she not rolled out of the way.

[Snap!-The Power]

Not liking the scene of some punks ganging up on a girl, Spike joined in the fight. Flying towards one of the thug, Spike swung his leg into a flying roundhouse kick, hitting the thug, square in the jaws, knocking some teeth out, before he spins and lands a sidekick to the thug's stomach. Just then, another thug jumped out from behind and grabbed Spike in a death gripping bear hug. Two other thugs came running towards Spike, but the young boy thrusted his legs out, kicking them in the jaws before they could reach him, and bit the thug who was holding him, on the arm, forcing him to release his grip on the boy. With that, Spike jumped towards a tree, before he leaps off, landing a kick to the thug, in the stomach. The thug held his stomach tightly, cringing in pain, before he was met with several rapid punches and chops to the head, before he was knocked out cold.

Just then, the rest of the boys finally arrived at the scene.

"Oh yeah!" Rumble cheered. "Now there's that fighting Spike we saw the other day!"

Snips and Snails, however, had their eyes on the girl Spike was protecting.

"Whoa! What a babe!" Snips exclaimed.

"Yeah," Snails agreed. "She's quite the hottie, eh?"

The boys weren't very pleased with the two boys voicing their opinion, "Yes, gawk at the girl first," Discord muttered. "Watch your friend fighting for dear life later."

"What? Spike's a fighter," Snips brushed it off. "He can take care of himself."

Just then, more thugs started to appear on the scene, riding on motorcycles, and scaring several other pedestrians out of the park.

"Okay," Rumble began. "We're going in for our friend!" With that, Rumble made the first charge, with the boys following. All, except for Snips and Snails, both who simply went to get some hot dogs from a nearby cart to watch the show.

Spike was blocking several punches and kicks from some of the thugs, before he counters with strikes of his own. Then, one of the thugs on motorcycle came and almost ran over him, had he not jumped out of the way in time. The thugs on motorcycle all pulled out some clubs as they circled around Spike, until Rumble and Button both came in and held a single rope at head level, causing the thugs to fall off their motorcycles. The thugs quickly got up, and were met with several punches and kicks. Spike tried to punch one of them, only to recoil in damage, upon hitting the thug's protective helmet.

"Here Spike!" Pipsqueak said, as he jumped on the thug from behind, pulling up his helmet, exposing his face. "Get him now!" With that, Spike punched the thug, right in the nose, before Pipsqueak jumped off, as Featherweight came and used his whole body to trip the thug over, and into a trash can.

The girl meanwhile, was panting heavily as she watched the scenes playing out before her, 'They're all fighting so hard for me,' she thought.

"Hello there," the girl jumped, and out of impulse, kicked Snips and Snails in their stomach, causing them to groan in pain.

"Oh, sorry," the girl quickly apologized.

"Apology accepted," Snips groaned.

After a while of fighting, the thugs were all beaten, and taken into custody by the police, who had just arrived, with Discord and Thorax staying behind to explain everything to the officers.

Meanwhile, Spike and the rest of the boys were getting themselves acquainted with the girl they rescued.

"So, you already know me," Spike began, as he introduces the rest of the boys. "The guys who're talking to the police are Discord and Thorax. The guys here are Button Mash, Rumble, Tender Taps, Pipsqueak, Featherweights, Snips, and Snails." With that, the boys all exchanged greetings to the girl.

"Pleasure to meet you all," the girl smiled. "I'm Sunset Shimmer."

"Sunset Shimmer?" Spike asked, before it dawned on him. "Hey, my friend Twilight once told me about a Sunset Shimmer. You wouldn't happen to be that Sunset Shimmer, would you?"

"Yep," Sunset smiled.

"Omigosh!" Spike exclaimed, as he happily shakes hands with the girl. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you again, in person, and here in New York of all places!"

Sunset couldn't help but giggle at the boy's enthusiasm, "Feeling's mutual."

Just then, Button's phone rang, leading him to check its message, "Oh, gotta go you guys," he said. "I promised Sweetie Belle I'd treat her to some milkshakes at Starbucks." With that, the boy took his leave.

Soon, Rumble's phone rang, as he pulls out to see a text from Scootaloo, "Oh, see you around guys. I've got a date at the skatepark."

Afterwards, Tender Taps, Featherweight, and Pipsqueak all received messages that called them away. Tender Taps was called away for dance class, Featherweight was called by his boss for the photos of the thugs, and Pipsqueak was called by his uncle for some errands. Spike was then left with Sunset, together with Snips and Snails.

"So," Spike began. "You need us to walk you back home or anything?"

Before Sunset could answer, Snips and Snails quickly shoved the boy to the side, as they each got into the girl's face, "Heck yeah!!" they exclaimed. "Let us walk home with ya!"

"We'd certainly not want another bad guy to hurt that pretty face of yours!" Snips smiled.

"So, let us protect you, eh," Snails added.

Sunset, feeling some negative vibes from the boys, cringed in disgust, before she walked over to Spike, "Actually, I'd like to catch up with Spike on some lost times." With that, the sound of glass breaking can be heard from the two, heartbroken, boys.

"Sorry guys," Spike replied. "It's her choice." With that, the two walked away, leaving the two boys in envy.

"How many girlfriends does that guy have anyway?" Snails asked.

"I don't know," Snips replied. "But I'm betting ya he's got so many, it's no wonder why he forgot the other six at school."

"Um, Snips...."

"Don't you start!"





[Smiles DK - Tokyo]

Sunset and Spike were walking their way out of the park, discussing on lost times. 

"No way!" Sunset exclaimed, when Spike began telling her about a trip he, with Scorpan. "You went to Japan? Get out! I've always wanted to go to The Land of the Rising Sun!"

"Yep," Spike confirmed. "The birthplace of bushido, karate, and ninjutsu." As Spike recounted all the experiences he had from learning the martial arts of Japan to the festivals he and Scorpan attended to, Sunset listened with interests, nodding her heads whenever he said something enlightening, and laughed at the funny parts.

After he was done telling his part, Spike asked, "So Sunset, how've you been for the last ten years? According to Twilight, you just, kinda, disappeared."

Sunset looked hesitant for a moment, before she answered, "I've been better. I mean, I've got a job here, in New York, I've been going out with some friends, and if you count today, I finally got to see you again for ten years." Spike couldn't help but smile at the last part. "Though, I never thought I would be missed that much, with Twilight that is."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you may not remember Spike, but back when we were kids, I was a lousy friend."

"You? Lousy?" Spike asked in disbelief. "How can you be lousy? We were study partners at my mom's school, in my uncle's class of Self-Defense."

"Yes, but you know about my passion for the Dark Arts?" Spike nodded his head in confirmation. "That's the thing. Whenever we had the chance to practice our offensive and defensive maneuvers, I'd always get a little carried away," the girl then got in close to the boy's ear, "I'm trying to forget, but I once nearly destroyed half the school."

"Yeesh." Spike cringed. "I hope you're just exaggerating."

"You and me both," Sunset muttered, while recalling what the Equestria Daily newspapers said about her.

"Well, we're here," Spike said, once they arrived at the girl's home.

"Thanks for escorting me back home, Spike," Sunset smiled lovingly. "And again, thanks for saving me back there. Still the brave and glorious Dragon Prince, I see."

Spike blushed as he scratched his head, "Oh, I'm just glad to see you're alright." Before Spike knew it, Sunset planted a kiss on his cheek, resulting a bright red blush to appear on his face.

"I'm just glad that after ten years, you haven't lost your charm," Sunset said, brushing herself past him. "See you soon, Spikey-Kun." Spike watched, as the girl walks up the steps to her door, watching as her hips sway, before she disappears.

Shaking his head of any thoughts, Spike turned around and calmly went back home.





Next Day, in school

The next day, in school, Spike was in his first period class: Social Studies, with the Three Stooges and Pipsqueak, and its teacher, Ms. Harshwinny.

Just then, the door opened up, and Spike, along with the boys, all looked in surprise at the arrival of Sunset Shimmer.

"Attention class," Mrs. Harshwinny announced. "This is Sunset Shimmer, the new student to our school, and starting today, your new classmate."

"Um, hello everyone," Sunset greeted quietly.

The classroom all exchanged greetings. Afterwards, Sunset was instructed to take her seat, between Snips and Snails's, on her left and right, respectively, along with Spike's and Zephyr's, from the front and behind, respectively.

"Sunset? So soon?!" Spike smiled, offering his hand. "Guess you weren't kidding then."

"Nope," Sunset smirked, as she shook his hand. "I wasn't."

The two quickly turned their attention back to Mrs. Harshwinny, who continues with her lecture. During class, Sunset couldn't help but feel eyes staring at her. Turning to her left, Snips was smiling at her, with bedroom eyes. Turning to her right, Snails was also smiling, with bedroom eyes, while cocking his eyebrows up and down. Needless to say, Sunset felt, uncomfortable. Luckily, Mrs. Harshwhinny saw this, and with a harsh yell, Snips and Snails quickly turned back to the board, where their eyes were glued to for the remainder of class.





Later, during lunch period, Sunset was walking out with a tray of sushi rolls, some bowls of salads, and a cup of water. A lot of the boys were all crowding around, asking her to join them. However, her mind was already set on one boy, who quickly called out.

“Hey Sunset Shimmer!” Spike called. “Over here!”

Sunset smiled as she walks over, joining Spike and his posse.

"Hi Sunset!" Pipsqueak greeted. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Why didn't you tell us you were a new student to our school?" Rumble asked.

"You boys never asked," Sunset replied.

For the rest of the lunch hours, Sunset bonded with the rest of Spike's posse.

"Really?" Sunset cringed in disgust, when they warned her about the Three Stooges, mainly two in particular. "I knew there was something I didn't like when those two were eyeing me up and down in art class."

"Sorry about that," Spike groaned, shaking his head in shame. "I don't even remember why we ever risked our lives for those two, at Crystal Prep."

"Jeez," Rumble began. "We've rescued them so many times, it must've been lost during the chases."

"What?" Sunset asked, before the boys quickly filled her in. Sunset couldn't help but laugh, "No way! You dressed up like a chicken? You used an ice bucket? And you did the Bugs Bunny?"

"Yeah," Spike chuckled sheepishly. "Same old routine. Distract the angry mob first, sneak in, rescue the two peepers, run like little boys screaming for our mommies later."

"And every time, the girls are only getting scarier," Pipsqueak shuddered.

"Too bad it's never stopped them," Button grumbled.





Later, after classes ended, Spike and Sunset both left Study Halls, with the rest of the students.

“Thanks again for helping me with those math problems, Sunset,” Spike smiled. “You’ve really helped a lot today.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Sunset smiled.

“Hey, I’m going to meet up with the others outside of school. And since you’re an old friend of Twilight and the girls, why don’t you come with me? They’ll be happy to see you again.”

Sunset hesitated, before she answered, “Um, about that Spike, I’m kinda busy with something else right now. So, I’m afraid I can’t make it today.”

“Oh, okay,” Spike replied, disappointed. “Maybe some other times?”

“Yeah,” Sunset replied. “Some other times."

With that, Sunset pulled out a piece of paper and wrote some numbers and a dash, before she hands it back to Spike. “Call me.” With that, she took her leave, hiding a despondent look on her face.





Spike soon walked out of the school, “Spike!” the girls called as they ran up to him.

“How’ve you been, darling?” Rarity asked.

“I’m great,” Spike smiled. “In fact, better than great. I’ve met another old friend of ours.”

“Really? Who?”

“Sunset Shimmer.”

“Sunset Shimmer?!”

“She’s here?” Rainbow asked. “I was wondering why we haven’t heard from her in moons.”

“Where is she now?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know,” Spike replied. “All she said was that she’s busy and then she just disappeared.”





Central Park

Sunset Shimmer was walking through the park, until she came across some trees. Looking around, seeing no one coming, she quickly dives into the trees. After awhile of navigating through the groves, Sunset finally arrived at a hidden cave.
> The Shadowbolts Strike Part 1: Enter the Shadowbolts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coney Island: Underground

“Shadowbolts!” Somnambula announced, before a whole army of hooded figures. "The time at hand approaches. The Princess of the Night has spoken. She has looked into his dreams. His powers are slowly returning, and the girls who had come here for him are slowly restoring his memories. She has made it clear, find the Dragon Prince, stop him before he is fully restored!" With a slam of her staff, the witch conjured up a huge image of the said prince.

"That's our guy?!" one of the robed figures exclaimed.

Somnambula jerked her head, eyeing directly at the person who spoke up, "Is there something you'd like to say, Sugarcoat?"

"Yes," Sugarcoat answered. "Some friends and I happen to know that guy. Green hair, green eyes, and purple jackets, can't miss him. Plus, I know for a fact that he hangs around with those other boys who helped rescue those peeping toms we've caught at our school, many times."

"Yeah!" another hooded figure exclaimed. "Same here! He and I once fought each other to a stand, when he and those boys tried to rescue their friends. I almost had him, until he got away." She coughed at the last part. "I'd like to have a rematch with that Bruce Lee wannabe."

"I'd like to get him," another girl spoke, before she snarled, "For revenge!!!"

It didn't take long for more agreements to follow from the hooded figures in the crowd.

"Then it is settled then," Somnambula began. "The six of you, shall hunt for the Dragon Prince. Bring him him back to me, alive. And should any of those girls get in the way, dispose of them!"

With a bow of their heads, the chosen six all left the room, with gazes of evil, and concerns, following them. 





[Princess of the Night - The Shake Ups In Ponyville]

Spike was once again, having another dream, as he opens his eyes to find himself, as a child, in a dark room, hanging in the air, by a web of dark chains, with locks, and hooks, all holding him by his arms, legs, and around his waist. Spike tried to break free, but to no avail. He tried to use his powers, but they wouldn’t respond. He began to call out for help, “Help! Somebody! Please! Let me out!” His cry for help echoed through the halls of the dungeon.

“Poor little dragon,” an eerie, quiet, female voice called out. Spike turned to his right, and felt himself turn cold in fear. Standing before him, on all four, was a tall mare’s silhouette, with piercing white eyes. The mare grinned, showing its vampire-like fangs, “So young, and so small, to be taken from your mother.” the mare grinned, as she changes into a puff of smoke, and slithers around Spike. “How does it feel? To have had everything a person like you could  ever ask for? A family? A mother? And friends whom you’ve found a special place in their hearts? And how did you repay them? You left them, in misery.” With a glow from her horn, the mare projected several windows, each playing a scene of nightmares. 

Spike watched as every ponies, the girls included, were going about their days, suffering. He looked and sees some homeless ponies, begging for foods, only for their cries to go unanswered. Next he looked, to see fires engulfing millions of houses, and filly crying out for her parents, while holding onto a burnt teddy bear. Lastly, he looked to see Pinkie Pie, once more, with a flatten mane, dull colors, and acting completely crazy. Insanely crazy that is.

The pink pony was bouncing around, laughing maniacally, "Hiya! I just need a dash of rainbows to my cupcakes! I also need dot of butter to some cups. Oh where, oh where has my little pony gone? Ha ha ha ha."

"Help us!" Spike turned to see several foals, calling out for him, begging him to return.

Next image he saw, was the worst of all. A gravestone, of Princess Celestia. Spike’s eyes widened in shock as he reads “R.I.P. Princess Celestia-Beloved princess, died from a long-termed heartbreak.”

“MOOOOM!!” Spike wailed, trying desperately to deny what he had seen.

“Poor little dragon,” the mare hissed. “Here, let me end the pain and suffering for you.” With that, the mare's horn began to glow, preparing to fire a spell.

“NO!” Spike screamed, feeling the spell taking hold on him. He yelled in agony, trying to escape, but to no avail.

“.....Spike…..” a voice called. ".....Spike....."





"SPIKE!" Scorpan called, causing Spike to woke up with a start. "Are you alright?" the man asked with concerns.

After taking a few deep breaths, Spike calmed himself, "Yes uncle. I'm alright. Just had a nightmare."

"I can see that," Scorpan twirled his mustache. "Want to talk about it?"

Spike nodded, as he reveals the whole story to Scorpan. Needless to say, the old man was beyond disbelief, and worries.

"I'm worried, uncle," Spike muttered. "I've just started to remember mom, and Equestria. I'm worried that if I ever got the chance to return home, I might find mom-"

"Don't go that far, Spike," Scorpan began. "I can assure you, Princess Celestia will be there to greet you, and welcome you back in her open wings. She is a strong alicorn, and she'll always be waiting for you."

"How can you be sure, uncle?" Spike asked.

"I'm sure. Have ever lied to you?"

Spike shook his head, knowing his adopted uncle well, "No, you haven't."

"However, I'm more concerned about this dream you had," the man stated sternly. "It's clear, this is the work of Nightmare Moon." Spike shuddered as the man continues, "If she's able to infiltrate your mind, then it's possible that she might've found you at last. Meaning you must be more cautious, for the Shadowbolts won't be too far behind."





Spike was later walking through the streets of New York, with Scorpan off to work, and the girls were also out to do their own things. Twilight was busy studying for the upcoming tests and quizzes. Fluttershy has to take care of the creatures, inside her back pack. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were both practicing for some upcoming games. Rarity was busy making some costumes for their upcoming show of, Singin' in the Rain. Pinkie Pie was busy, hosting a kid's birthday party, with Discord. 

The boys also have their own things to do. Button Mash was at the arcade to beat some high scores at Fruit Ninja. Rumble was at a skatepark with his brother, Thunderlane. Pipsqueak and Featherweight were out, finding stories for the New York Times. Tender Taps was at a spa, getting a foot massage. Snips and Snails, sadly, were serving detention, after Professor Flintheart caught them, attempting to throw water balloons at the girls soccer team. Thorax, with Lyra and Bon Bon, were busy spying in Crystal Prep Academy.

At last, Spike came to a Starbuck cafe, where he bought a light mocha frappuccino and was sipping away, trying to relax. Unknown to him, trouble was just around the corner, literally.

Five girls, in dark colored hoodies, were walking into the cafe, when they noticed Spike. One of them looked at a piece of paper, before looking back up with a smirk, "That's our guy," she whispered.

"C'mon," the other whispered. "We're going in!" With that, the five girl, acting as casual they can be, walked up to the counter to order their drinks, before they walked up to the boy.

"Hello there," one of them greeted, catching his attention.

Spike looked up, seeing five beautiful girls standing before him. The first girl had a long, light opalish gray hair with light arctic bluish gray streaks, tied in curly pigtails. Orange glasses that frames her grayish, orchid eyes. The second girl has a short, grayish mulberry with light raspberry streaks, with a sunflower hairpin, two strands of hairs that frames her face, and piercing, moderate cerise eyes. The third girl has a long moderate rose hair, tied in a ponytail by strawberry beads, with lighter moderate rose, and grayish aquamarine streaks, matching eyeshadows, freckles beneath her moderate indigo eyes. The fourth girl has a wild dark cornflower blue hair, with lighter streaks, goggles above her brilliant gamboge eyes, and wears lightning bolt earrings. The last girl has a long, wilder, light pistachio hair with light green flaming streaks, pink headphones, and grayish arctic blue eyeshadows over her light brilliant amber eyes.

"Uh, hello ladies," Spike began. "Something I can do for you?"

"Yes there is," the third girl began sweetly, before she said darkly. "Give us your life!"

"What?!" Spike yelped, taken aback by the girl's sudden mood swing.

"Sour!" the fourth of the girl scolded, smacking the girl on the head.

"Please forgive our bad tempered friend here," the second girl began. "Clearly she doesn't know a thing or two about manners." As she said this, she shot a disapproving stare at the said girl. She turned back to Spike, composing herself, "We were just wondering, while we're waiting for our drinks. May we join you?"

Spike, getting a bad vibe from the girls, hesitantly answered, "Uh, sure why not?"

"Because you're suspecting us for something," the first girl said bluntly.

"What?"

"Sugar!" the second girl scolded, before she apologizes on her friend's behalf. "Sorry about Sugarcoat. She just doesn't know how to keep some of her thoughts to herself." With that, the five girls all took their seats, around the table, with the first and second girls sitting on both sides of him.

"I'm Sunny Flare by the way," the second girl introduced herself, before she went on to introduce the other girls. "You already know Sugarcoat here. The girl with the bad temper is Sour Sweet. That's Indigo Zap, and that's Lemon Zest."

Spike looked, at the said girls, all giving him a mix of cold-welcoming stares, "Nice to meet you all," he greeted. "Name's Spike Draco."

"Spike Draco?" Lemon began loudly. "No way! The Spike Draco? I've heard about you!"

"Really?" Spike asked. "How?"

"Yeah," Sunny grumbled. "How? And need I remind you, inside voice?" She hissed at the last part.

"Oh don't be such a ray of sunshine, Sunny!" Lemon joked, before turning to the boy. "Anyway, to answer your question little dude. I've heard words about you from your friend, Melody Ravenclaw."

'Twilight,' Spike thought, knowing the girl's cover name.

"She kept going on and on about you," Lemon continued. "She kept talking about how you were her number one assistant, that you're the best friend she could ever have, and-"

"And that fact that you never asked for anything in return," Sugarcoat interrupted. "Which is saying how, noble you can be."

"Yes, noble," Sour Sweet began. "If only I'd had a guy like that." She sneered at the last part.

Spike whimpered at Sour Sweet's change of expression, "Sour!" Sunny growled.

"So, is it also true?" Indigo asked, as she linked her arms with Spike's. "That you can do karate? 'Cause Melody did mentioned before that you study martial arts. Are you blackbelt?"

"Um, yeah," Spike muttered, trying not to blush from the close contact the girl was giving. "Black belt, third degree. Why'd you ask?"

"I thought I should, because I happen to be a student of martial arts myself," Indigo smiled. 'That and I saw how you drop kicked on one of my football players,' she thought.

"Really?" Spike asked, starting to get interested in the girl. "So what belt are you?"

"Same color as yours, with the same degree," Indigo answered with a smug. "But I'm confident that my skills are better than yours."

"How come?"

"Well, I'm holding your arm right now, in a lockable grip, and only a true black belt master of third degree can escape with-"

"Like this?" Spike asked, as he did the said technique with ease, surprising the girl, and her friends.

"Whoa!" Indigo gasped. "You're good than you look!" She smiled.

"As the old same goes," Spike smirked. "Big things can come in small packages."

"I'll say," Sunny exclaimed, as she grasped Spike's arm with her hands. "Wow, you're so strong!"

"Thanks," Spike blushed, before he notices a marking on the girl's right hand. "Wow, that's a cool tattoo," He said, getting a closer look, much to his horror. 'Shadowbolts!' he thought, dreadfully.

"Oh, why thank you," Sunny smiled. "Want to have one as well?"

"Uh, it's not permanent, is it?" he asked, slightly frightened.

"Don't worry dearie," Sunny replied. "It doesn't heart much. It's only temporary."

"Unless he really wants a tattoo, then I don't think there's any point in convincing him on getting one," Sugarcoat said.

Spike, knowing he's in deep trouble, tries to think of a way to escape.

Thinking fast, Spike got out his phone, looking at the clock, before he began, "Um, nice chatting with you girls. But I gotta go now. Bye." With that, Spike quickly went for the door, only to be blocked by Indigo.

"Hey, what's the hurry?" she asked. "We were just starting to get to know you."

Looking back, Spike could see the other four slowly approaching him. Thinking fast, Spike began, "Hey nice goggles! Mind if I have a look at them?" With that, Spike quickly grabbed Indigo's goggles, before he released them, causing them to snap into her face, before he dashes out of the cafe. "Thanks!"

"Why that little..." Indigo growled, rubbing her sore eyes.

"After him!" Sunny shouted, as they all gave chase.

Spike quickly got out his phone to make some calls, "Girls! Help!" Spike called. "It's the Shadowbolts! They're after me!!"





Meanwhile

The girls were meeting up together, at the school's soccer field, when their phone rang. Once they heard Spike’s call for help, they quickly  raced off to the rescue.

“Spike! Where are you?” Twilight asked, only to be answered with statics. “Spike? SPIIIIIKE?!!”
> The Shadowbolts Strike Part 2: The Most Dangerous Game
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Jackie Chan - Drunken Master II Theme Song]

Spike was running for dear life, calling for help on his phone, "Girls, help! The Shadowbolts are after me!" Suddenly, one of the Shadowbolts had thrown a shuriken that pierced Spike’s phone out of his hand.

"Hello!" Spike exclaimed, as he kept on running, with the five girls hot on his tail. Reaching into his backpack, Spike pulls out a skateboard and quickly skateboarded away from the girls and through the crowded streets. "Out of the way!!" he shouted to the pedestrians.

"You girls, to the bikes!" Sunny commanded Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap. "Sour, roof! Lemon Zest, you're with me!"





Coney Island

While the five girls were out, dragon hunting, Somnambula, alongside Abacus Cinch, were overlooking the training of the Shadowbolts. The Three Magicians in the meantime, were busy serving their punishment. Bored out of their wits, sitting in their chairs, the Three Magicians were playing a game of Go Fish. 

That is, until Goldcap snapped, "That's it! I ain't spending another hour, here in this forsaken place!" Donning on her hat, and robe, Goldcap made her way out the door.

"Goldcap!" Decepticolt called. "Where are you going?"

"What do you think?" the girl asked. "I'm going dragon hunting."

Zappityhoof and Decepticolt both look at each other in worry. Then, Zap started, "But Somnambula said-"

"Who cares?!" Goldcap shouted. "Look, if we're ever gonna get our magics back, then the least we could do is gain some favors around here." The lead girl pulled her two comrades close as she whispered, "To start, let's help those Shadowbolts catch that Dragon Prince, and they'll be begging us to work together with them!"

The two magicians pondered, before they smirked, and joined in with their leader. With that, the Three Magicians escaped Coney Island, after they stole some teleportation crystals.




CHS: Detention

Snips and Snails were sitting in a room, working on some of the homeworks they've missed, along with making up some quizzes, while Professor Flintheart was patrolling the room, reading a book, when a figure appeared in the room.

"What the-" Professor Flintheart was interrupted, when the figure fired a blast of magic at the professor, before abducting Snips and Snails and disappeared in a puff of smoke.




Meanwhile

Twilight and the girls, were racing to the rescue, "C'mon girls!" Twilight panted. "We have to save Spike! If the Shadowbolts get to him, all will be lost!"

"Don't worry Twi," Pinkie replied, bouncing to her side. "Spike's a fighter, he can handle himself," Pinkie began to have second thoughts. "At least, I hope he can when we find him."

"Then let's pick up the pace!" With that, Rainbow ran like she never ran before.

The girls hadn't gone very far, when an explosive fireball came flying and stopped them in their tracks, "What the-" Twilight exclaimed, before she and the girls dodged another flaming fireball. They looked up to see a masked figure. 

In appearance, the figure wore a dark purple and black jumpsuit, with yellow lightning bolts, and armor pads on her shoulders, chest, and legs. Her mask is purple, with red flaming designs over the eye sockets, and a red-yellow blazing sun on the forehead.

"You're not going anywhere," the figure growled, as she conjures up some more fireballs in her hands.




Back with Spike

Spike kept on skateboarding through the crowded streets of New York, trying to escape from the five Shadowbolts who were after him. He looked back to see Sunny Flare and Lemon Zest, on rollerblades, catching up fast. With a frightful yelp, Spike kicked the ground even harder, picking up speed as he did so.

Sunny and Lemon were both rollerblading, jumping over tables, skillfully grinding on some fences and other building structures, as they closed in on the boy. Reaching out with her hand, Sunny made a quick lunge to grab Spike, only for the boy to screech to a stop, ducked his head down in time, as the girls flew past him. Seeing a lamppost coming up, both girls grabbed it and spun themselves around, propelling themselves back at the boy.

With kick flip, Spike soon skateboarded into the car-filled streets, avoiding the cars and trucks that were driving and honking past him. A pickup truck was passing by, when Spike quickly grabbed its rear, and pulled him away on his skateboard. Worst still, Spike looked to see Indigo and Sugar, riding on motorcycles, and catching up to him.

"We got him now!" Indigo sneered, as she puts the petal to the medal.

Spike turning back to the front, and lets out an exasperated groan to see a sudden red light. With little choice, he kicked his skateboard into the air, puts it back in his backpack, and climbs into the pickup truck, before he got onto the roof. The driver poked his head out of the window, "Yo, what're you doing? Get off!"

Spike saw a passing bus and made a leap onto it, only for Indigo to grab him by the leg.

"AAH!!" Spike screamed, almost falling to the ground, grabbed onto the ledge of the bus's roof. "Let go of me!" Spike grunted, trying to pull himself free of Indigo.

"Not gonna happen!" Indigo grunted, trying to keep a firm grip.

Meanwhile, Sour Sweet was on a building's roof, with a bow and arrow, ready and aiming for Spike. With a single release, the arrow flew, before it exploded into a net. Luckily, this didn't got unheard. 

Spike surprised the girls, as his dragon tongue quickly shot out, 'First clockwise, then counter-clockwise!' he remembered, repelling the net and causing it to land on Indigo.

"Get him!" Indigo grunted. "Not me!"

"I'm trying!" Sour shouted back, pulling out another arrow.

Spike quickly got one leg up, before he fully pulls himself on top of the bus. Just then, the light turned green, and the bus started to move, causing Spike to fall back on its roof. Sour fired another arrow at Spike, who quickly rolls out of the way and jumps onto another passing car, changing into a puppy as he did so, before he made another leap and ran off. With a kick, Indigo and Sugar both got their bikes revving up, for another run after the boy.




Mane Six

Back with the girls, and their mysterious adversary, things weren't looking so well. The masked figure has proven herself, a force to be reckon with, even with the girls in their battle forms.

Rainbow flew around the figure at an intensive speed, creating a tornado, in an effort to trap the figure. But the masked adversary simply conjured an explosive fireball, so powerful that it knocked Dash off course, causing the tornado to disperse. Luckily, Pinkie Pie was able to break Rainbow Dash's fall, with a giant pillow she had pulled out of her hair.

"Thanks Pinkie," Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief.

"Anytime Dashie," Pinkie chirped, before she ducked her head, just in time to avoid another fireball.

Twilight quickly flew in, and blasted a beam of magic, catching the masked figure by surprise, "I don't know who you are, or what you want from us," Twilight growled. "But if you think you can stand between us and Spike, then you've got another thing coming!"

With that, Applejack came charging, doing a flip in the air, dodging another fireball from the figure, "Take this!!" Applejack hollered, thrusting a leg out, landing a powerful kick, knocking the figure's mask off.

The girls looked at the discarded mask for awhile, before they looked up, in shock.

"Sunset Shimmer?" the girls exclaimed.

"In the flame," the girl smirked.

"No, it can't be," Twilight gasped, trying to deny the sight. "You said you changed. You said you're no longer in cahoots with the Shadowbolts."

"Yes," Sunset replied darkly. "You girls had helped me out from the dark side. But you also forced me back!"

"But what about Spike?" Rainbow asked. "He told us you and he are friends again."

"Me? Friends with a dragon like him?" Sunset asked. "The brave and glorious Dragon Prince?" she mocked, before she laughed in a taunt. "FOOL! I cared nothing for him! All I want is his power! And once I get it from him, I'll unleash my fury, upon your friendships' magic, tenfolds!"

"Sunset," Applejack began. "We're sorry. We didn't know-I mean, we didn't mean to brush you off like that and give you the cold shoulders."

"Oh is that so?" Sunset sneered. "Then was it an accident then that you all shut me out, and banished me from Ponyville?"

"So this is it?" Twilight asked. "Simple revenge?"

"I though it would be fitting," Sunset snarled. "How the princess of friendship, and her friends, should all be destroyed by their biggest failure of all. You're so lucky, Twilight. Most of us get to live with our mistake. But you will all get to DIE by yours!!" With an evil laugh, dark auras began to surround Sunset Shimmer as she hovered in the air. "Prepare to meet your maker! And I don't mean, Lauren Faust!" In a burst of dark fire, Sunset stood, with a huge bat-like wings, with red interior structure and black exterior, long pointed ears, a flaming fox-like tail, and long sharp nails.

With a burst of speed, Sunset flew toward the girls, slashing her claws, and cutting some nearby structures, cleanly.

"Whoa!" Rainbow gulped. "She cuts them as if they were butter."

Twilight looked up at Sunset, questionable, "How did you became like this?"

"Well, after you all left me in the dust, I had nowhere to go," Sunset explained. "I took refuge in the Castle Of The Two Sisters. The Shadowbolts found me, and took me back, and through Somnambula's magic, she looked deep into my memories, seeing all the hatred and angers I've had to endure. It was only a matter of time, when she used her magic to turn those feelings, into powers. Strong dark magics that made me faster! Stronger!" To prove her point, Sunset lifted up a car, and threw it at the girls.

"Yeah, I can see that!" Rainbow said, with wide eyes.

"Sunset Shimmer," Applejack began. "We're sorry, we had no idea. But it's all over now. We captured the real crook, we've cleared your name. All that's left is for you to come home, so that we can properly set the scores right, sugarcube."

"DOES IT LOOKED LIKE I WANT TO COME HOME?!" Sunset screamed, angrily. "I WANT YOU TO SUFFER!!"

"Darling, please listen to reasons!" Rarity pleaded.

"Yeah!" Pinkie jumped in, holding a cupcake. "If you come home with us, then you can have this delicious cupcake, and an 'I'm sorry for falsely accusing you Sunset!'" Unfazed, Sunset burned the cupcake to a crisp. "Would you like to have yours with Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie asked, holding cupcake, and Rainbow Dash out in front. However, like before, Sunset burned the cupcake, and nearly singed Rainbow Dash. "Sheesh, you don't have to be such a hothead!"

With that, the angry girl continued with her assault.

"Twilight, what do we do?" Rainbow asked. "The more time we waste with Sunset, the less time Spike's probably going to have with those Shadowbolts!"

"If we can't get to Spike, then I might as well have to make some calls for help," With that, Twilight got out her phone, only for Sunset to blast it out of her hands.




Spike

"Puppy legs, don't fail me now!" Spike, still a dog, was running as fast as he could, with the Shadowbolts in hot pursuit.

Many civilians all jumped out of the way, avoiding the boy turned dog, and the girls pursuing him. Then, without warning, he was picked up by the scruff of his fur, by Sunny Flare.

"Gotcha now, little pup," Sunny smirked, before her words got eaten, when Spike changes back into a boy, and flipped the girl into the crowd of bystanders.

Then, Indigo came in, leaping off of her back, and tackled Spike from behind. Sliding beneath the girl's legs, Spike flipped the girl, who was able to land on her feet. Spinning around, Indigo sweeps her leg out, only for Spike to dodge the attack, jumping in the air, doing a flip, before he drops an ax kick, which Indigo manages to block. Both she and Spike both spun around and landed a spinning back kick to each other's shoulder. 

"Wow," Spike panted, rubbing his shoulder. "And I thought you were bluffing when you said you're a black belt third degree."

"Feeling's mutual," Indigo smirked.

Meanwhile, Sour Sweet was readying her arrow once more at Spike, before at the last second, she lets the arrow fly. Spike once more heard it coming, and with that, he quickly pulled his skateboard out, shielding himself from the arrow's hit. However, what's even more surprising was that icicles began to form, from where the arrow struck.

"What the-" Spike gasped, shocked at what had become of his board.

"Oh come on!" Sour shouted in frustration, as she angrily got out another arrow and shot it, nearly hitting Indigo, by the hair.

"Hey! Watch it!" Indigo shouted.

The bystanders, meanwhile, thinking it was all a show, all applauded as the fight continues. Just then, the rest of the girls arrived, with Sugar dismounting from her bike in a fighting stance. 

"Yahoo-hoo!" Lemon cried, coming in too fast and crashed into Sunny, who had just gotten up. When the dusts cleared up, there laid Sunny Flare, tapping her fingers on the ground, unamused, and a dizzy Lemon Zest on her back.

"Lauren Faust," Lemon moaned. "Did you catch the license on that flying pig?"

"GET OFF ME!!" Sunny shouted, angrily shoving the girl off.

Sour Sweet soon climbs down from the roof, as she folded her bow into a portable object, before storing it away in her backpack and joins with the rest of the girls.

"Whoa," a random dude began. "Get the cameras ready. I think there's gonna be some badass kung fu fights coming here!"

Pipsqueak and Featherweights were passing by, looking for some stories, when they saw the crowd.

"Hey, what's going on?" Pipsqueak asked, before he and Featherweight gasped in shock, seeing Spike, fighting the girls. "Whoa! There's a serious streetlight, involving our friend, and five girls!" Pipsqueak exclaimed, as he got out a notepad. "Now this is a scoop!"

"And not just any girls either!" Featherweight said, slightly scared. "Take a closer look!"

Pipsqueak complied, before he yelped, "It's the tsundere!!" With that, he and Featherweight hid themselves in the crowds, while watching their friend fighting the girls off.

During the fight, Spike had blocked a strike from Sour Sweet, before he quickly counters with two fists, striking at Sour Sweet's well-endowed chest.

Spike and the girl both stared at each other in shock, followed by the crowds, with some amused gazes from some of the men in the crowd.

"Dude! Did you see the way they bounced?" one random dude asked, another.

"Those are some fantastic tits!" the guy replied, before Sour shot a death stare, silencing them. Indigo was trying her best to suppress a laugh, Sugarcoat's glasses nearly fell off, Lemon's headphone played the sound of a disc scratch, before it short circuited, and Sunny's eyes twitches.

“Sorry,” Spike chuckled sheepishly, blushing up a storm.

Unfortunately, the girl was far from forgiving, as she straightens her breasts and started to attack the boy furiously, “Say sorry,” she lunged forward to pounce, “IN HEEEELLLLLL!!!!”

Without hesitation, Spike ducked his head, dodging the attack, before he dives beneath a table, and came out, as a dog, yipping as he runs off, in fright.

"Did anyone else saw that?" one of the bystanders asked, before Sunny knocked him out.

"Let's go!" Sunny ordered, as all five girls resume their chase.

After they left, Pipsqueak and Featherweights all came out of hiding, as Feathers quickly dials up his phone, "Hey boss!" Feathers called. "Have we got a story for you!"

"Guys!" Pipsqueak called on his phone. "Emergency! We've got a dragon emergency! Our bro is in trouble!"





A girl was in her room, reading a book, when the news on TV caught her attention. Upon seeing Spike, and his pursuers, she quickly got herself ready, before heading out.

NYCPD HQ

Scorpan was finishing up a report on a criminal he had caught, when the girl came in.

"Sir!" She cried. "Your nephew needs help!"

"Spike?" Scorpan exclaimed. "What happened?"




Back with the girls

The fight with Sunset and the girls took them, somewhere in the Bronx, into a shopping district, and into a huge bathroom. During the fight, Sunset had called in some reinforcements, in the form of Snips, Snails, and Zephyr Breeze, all who've been hypnotized and were given special powers. Snips received the power of earth, Snails got the power of thunder, and Zephyr, the power of wind.

"Zephyr!" Fluttershy exclaimed, holding on to her brother. "Don't you remember me? I'm your sister! Fluttershy!"

"Destroy," Zephyr droned, as his cheeks became inflated, and he blew a gust of wind, blowing Fluttershy away. "Destroy."

Rainbow Dash soon flew in, and landed a kick to Zephyr's cheek, "Snap out of it, Zephyr!"

Zephyr looked at Rainbow for a moment, and smirked, as he drones, "Please, hit me harder."

Disgusted, Rainbow pulled Applejack in, "Here, he's all yours AJ."

Snips burrowed through the ground, tunneling around as he did so, before he came up, pouncing on Rarity.

"Ah! Dirt!" Rarity shrieked. "Get your filthy hands off me!"

"Pretty girl," Snips droned, before he was knocked off by one of Pinkie Pie's sprinkle bomb.

"No, that's a pretty girl," Snails pointed, to a teenage girl, nearby.

"FOCUS BOYS!!" Sunset roared, snapping the boys back into the battle. "Destroy the Mane Six first, then oggle at some girls later!"

"Yes ma'm," the three stooges droned, as they resumed the fight.

"Oh goodness!" Fluttershy whimpered, until she noticed her backpack stirring up. "I know, I know. You want to come out, but it's-" Then, as if an unseen force had taken control, Fluttershy's backpack flew from her back, unzipped itself, and Peewee flew out. "Peewee, no!" Fluttershy shouted, trying to grab the phoenix. "Get back in the backpack! Where are you going?!" The phoenix flew off, and disappeared, out of sight. Fluttershy tried to fly after him, but was grabbed by Zephyr.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zephyr asked, tossing his sister back into the groups.

Twilight kept on blocking every one of Sunset Shimmer's attacks, "Fight back!" Sunset angrily demanded. "Why won't you fight back?!"

"Because you're our friend, Sunset!" Twilight replied. "I don't know what Somnambula did to you to make you this way, but we can help! You can come back home to Equestria with us! And you'll get the apology you truly deserve!"

"I don't need your help!" Sunset snarled, breathing another stream of fire. "And I don't want any apologies. I want the Dragonfire! And I'll scorch anyone who gets in my way!!"

"No! You can't do that!" Twilight protested. "The Dragonfire is Spike's and his alone. Even if you manage to steal it from him, you'll never keep it. It will never be yours!"

"Perhaps," Sunset said angrily. "But this is sure to make a difference!" With that, Sunset pulls out a small object, from her jacket, which has left the girls in nothing but fear.

"No," Twilight muttered. "It can't be!"

Holding in Sunset's hand, is what appears to be a simple, round pendant, with Twilight's mark on the center.

"That's right, Twilight," Sunset sneered. "It's your old toy. Your very first creation, between human technology and the magic of Equestria. And soon to be your instrument of doomsday. This device not only tracks down magic, but it will also take it!" Sunset smirked, seeing the look of fear on Twilight's face. "Yes, Twilight. I shall use it to take the Dragonfire from Spike, and become truly invincible! But not before I take yours first. FOOL!!" Sunset let's out another evil laugh, as she continues, "How fitting indeed, for you to be destroyed by two of your greatest failure! Now prepare for your destruction!"

"Not so quick, Sunset," a voice started, as Snips, Snails, and Zephyr were thrown across the room.

Sunset Shimmer looked, to see a tall man, clad in a huge trench coat, and a gray fedora. With a wave of his hand, the man, magically, forced Sunset Shimmer off of Twilight. The man helped the girl up, before he waves his hand at a nearby mirror, causing its surface to ripple, as if it was water. With that, he began to force Sunset in.

"Been awhile, since I've seen a Crystal Mirror Trap!" With that, Sunset broke free, and started to force the man into the mirror.

"Then forgive me for being old fashioned," the man broke free as he resumes forcing Sunset into the mirror.

Just then, Snails began to charge up a thunderbolt.

"Goodness, look out!" Fluttershy shouted, as the man rolled out of the way in time, as Snails's thunderbolt flew past him, exploded on Sunset Shimmer, and blasted the girl into the mirror. Meanwhile, the man got up, snapped his finger, and sent the Three Demonic Stooges, into separate stalls, unconscious.

"Thank you," Twilight panted, "Whoever you are."

"Don't thank me yet," the man replied. "Come with me, if you want to see your friend, alive."

Hesitant, the girls all complied, as they followed the man, disappearing in a puff of smoke.




Spike

Spike, changes back into human form as he runs through a mall, and into a fashion store, with the girls following.

"Spread out!" Sunny ordered. "He's got to be in here somewhere." With that, the girls all separated into different direction, searching for their prey.

Sunny looked through a section where perfumes are being sold. Indigo searches through the section on sportswear. Sugarcoat looked through the section for fancy attires. Sour was looking through section of attires for men. Lemon was looking through a section for punks.

Unknown to the girls, Spike was actually hiding in plain sight. He was posing as a dog, in a poster, pulling a surprised beach girl's bikini bottom, exposing her butt. Given to the situation he was in, he's clearly struggling to pull off his camouflage.

'Don't wag,' Spike repeated mentally, with his tail twitching lightly. 'Don't wag. Just think something scary.' With that, Scorpan appeared in his head.

"RANDORI!!" Scorpan shouted, waving a wooden sword and knocked Spike back to his senses.

'Thanks uncle,' Spike said his thoughts.

'Anytime.'

Just then, one of the staffs came and moved the poster, unintentionally blowing Spike's cover, "Ruh roh," he whimpered.

Lemon was the first to notice, "Dog!" she exclaimed.

"Dog? Where?" Spike asked, playing Scooby Doo. Sour Sweet leaned in, scowling, "Who am I fooling?" he asked.

"I outta slug you!" Sour growled, throwing her fist at the dog. Luckily, Spike dodged the attack, and counters with a kiss to the girl's face, "AUGHH!! I'VE BEEN KISSED BY A DOG!!" Sour screamed, as she ran around in circles, shouting for hot waters, disinfections, and iodines.

Spike, meanwhile, sputtered several times, "I think I know why she's called, Sour Sweet," he said in a shudder.

Sour Sweet, angrier than ever, pounced after Spike, who quickly jumped out of the way, and she ends up crashing into a mannequin. Indigo and Lemon both threw down some butterfly nets at him, only to end up catching each other.

"I don't know why I hang around you nitwits," Sunny grumbled, as she helped Indigo and Lemon out of the nets. "If you want something done right, you just gotta do it yourself." With that, Sunny took one of the nets, as she chases after Spike. "C'mere boy! Be a good dog, and sit!"

"You ain't the boss of me!" Spike barked, before he was caught.

"Gotcha!" Sunny's words got eaten, when Spike grabbed the net's handle, and shook the girl.

"More like he got you," Sugarcoat commented.

"Don't just stand there!" Sunny ordered. "Help me out!"

With that, the girls all piled on top of Spike, trying to hold him down. Spike, however, was able to get out of the net in time, and slipped through the girls' legs, unnoticed.

Sneaking behind a garbage can, Spike turned himself back in human form, and tried to walk casually away, whistling innocent. Sour Sweet, however, got wise with him.

"Did we just order our captive to go?" Sour asked.

"No, why?" Sunny inquired.

"Because THERE HE GOES!!" Sour shouted, pointing to Spike, making a break for it.




Sunset Shimmer

A random guy walked into the restroom, when he heard a tap and turned to see a girl.

"Wake up those idiots in stall 3, 9, 4 for me would you?" Sunset Shimmer asked, as the boy nodded in fright before he fainted. "Oh, my life."





Spike and the five Shadowbolts kept it up with the chase, which had taken them to the rooftop of a tall building.

"Give it up dragon," Indigo panted. "You can't run forever y'know."

"Maybe not," Spike panted. "But I'm willing to try, knowing I'll live another day, for my friends and families, here and back home, in Equestria."

"You've got some nerves," Indigo smirked. "I like that."

"You're quite the adversary," Sugarcoat said. "Even though some of your tactics to escape our clutches were a little unorthodox, and somewhat crude, yet perfectly executed."

"Even though I'll never forgive you for your earlier action," Sour began sourly, before she smiled sweetly. "I'll gladly cherish these last moments with you."

Spike looked at the girls confusingly, "Either you girls are giving me compliments, or sugarcoating the situation," he began. "It all sounds nice, coming from you three."

"Sorry dearie," Sunny smirked, while secretly dispensing a weapon from her sleeve. "But in this game of cat and mouse. It's not all about being nice." At her last word, Sunny threw green tipped kunai at Spike, who quickly reacted, as he caught the kunai in his hand.

At the same time, Sour Sweet fired another arrow at Spike. Luckily, like always, Spike heard it coming, and flicked the kunai at the projectile, causing both objects to clash together.

Indigo Zap soon charged in, with two pairs of katana, slashing at Spike repeatedly, who leaped over the girl, at a tremendous height.

"Whoa!" Indigo exclaimed. "You can fly?!"

"No! Jump good!" Spike smirked, as he changes his hands and legs into dragon claws, lands on a chimney, kicked off from its wall at high speed, and landed a kick to the girl's stomach.

Though a little disoriented from the blow, Indigo still kept on going with her blades, while Spike, skillfully, dodges all of her attacks, and blocked a few of them with his claws, and his tail, which he had just sprouted. The other girls soon joined in the fight, with Sour, changing her bow into a staff with blades on both end, Sunny Flare getting out a tessen, Lemon Zest arming herself with a kusarigama, and Sugarcoat arms herself with a pair of shuko claws.

All girls charged after the boy, who quickly jumps, and perched himself on a pole, before he fully assumes his dragon form.

[Bruce Lee - Main Theme - Enter the Dragon]

"So, this is how you look as a dragon," Indigo mused. "Though, I half expected you to have wings."

"I may not have wings, yet," Spike flipped off his perch, as he land on all four, before he got into fighting stance. "But I've got fires and speed to make up for it."

"We'll see about that," With that, Indigo leapt forward, slashing her swords, both which Spike was able to dodge, and blocked with his equally sharped claws, while still receiving a few cuts on his chest, his arms, and on his cheek. Lemon spins the chain ball of her kusarigma, before she thrusts it forward, snaring Spike by his right arm. With that, Lemon lunges forward, ready to slice Spike, with her sickle, at the same time when Indigo lunged in, with her blades.

Luckily, Spike jumped out of the way, narrowly evading the combine attack from both girls, before he pulled on the chain, spins Lemon around, causing her to crash into Indigo. Getting back up, both girls charged at the dragon, with their blades, but were stopped when Spike leapt in the air and breathed fire. The two girls jumped out of the way, as Sunny Flare threw her tessen at Spike, who ducked his head in time, losing a few of his hair in the process, before he hears the ninja fan coming back and dodged it once more. After reclaiming her fan, Sunny pulls out a kunai from her fan, and threw it at Spike, who quickly jumped to the next pole, dodging the blades.

"Hold still!" Sunny growled, still firing her blades.

"Um, Sunny," Sugar began.

"Not now, Sugar!" Sunny replied, reaching for more kunais, only to discover too late, she was out.

"I tried to tell you," Sugar mumbled.

With a frustrated shriek, Sunny stomped her foot, before she pointed to the dragon, "GET HIM!!"

Soon, Indigo climbed up on the telephone pole, followed by Sour Sweet, and Lemon, as they all fought the dragon.

"Now you're really gonna get it!" Sour snarled, jumping into a flying kick, only for Spike to leap, and flip, over her. Sour nearly fell off, had Spike not grabbed her by the hem of her hoodie. Pulling her back up, Sour ended up falling into Spike's arms. "Y-You saved my life?" she asked.

Before Spike could reply, he hears Lemon thrusting her kusarigama's chain, which he reacted by ducking his head, flipping downward on the wires, by the leg, before he flipped himself onto another building's roof. Sour meanwhile, nearly fell off, as she avoided the chain, grabbing onto the wire in the nick of time.

"Cowardly move, y'know!" Spike scolded.

"You're fighting the Shadowbolts," Lemon replied. "What do you expect?" Realizing what she just said, the girls all face faulted at the girl's remark.

"Comeback quotes aren't your specialties y'know," Sugarcoat said bluntly, before she jumped after Spike, slashing him with her claws.

Spike kept on blocking the girl's claws a few times, before he retaliated, by whipping his tail at her repeatedly, followed by a jet stream of fire, which Sugarcoat shielded herself, with her hoodie.

Spike gasped in shock, seeing the girl stood, unfazed, and unscorched, "How?" he asked.

"Fire proof hoodie," Sugarcoat answered. "Did you think we'd be foolish enough to hunt you without them?"

"Uh, kinda," Spike replied. "I mean, I didn't think such a thing existed."

"Well they're real," Indigo smirked, as she spins her sword. "Which means your firepowers won't save you this time."

"Then let's do this the old fashion way then," Spike said, reverting back to human form.

The girls gladly complied, as they surrounded the boy, sheathing their weapons, on Sunny Flare's command. Indigo threw a kick, to which Spike blocked, along with a punch from Lemon. Sour, fueled by rage, lunged forward, repeatedly clawing at the boy.

"Wow," Spike commented. "For someone who's trying to kill me. You're quite the tiger." Sour stopped, at the boy's words. "A very beautiful tiger."

"Aw, thank you!" Sour blushed sweetly, before she growled, "NOW PREPARE FOR MY REVENGE!!!" With that, Sour jumped at Spike.

"Repulse the monkey!" He shouted, flipping Sour away from him, and into Indigo.

"Repulse the monkey?" Lemon asked.

Sunny soon took over as she and Spike engaged each other in a hand to hand combat, "Very good, Spike," Sunny smirked. "You must've been a real A+ student."

"Actually, B+ in school," Spike replied. "A+ in the dojo."

"Enough talk!" Lemon exclaimed. "Let's rock and roll!"

"Bring it!" Spike replied.

With that, the girls and boy resumed their fight. Meanwhile, the Three Magicians were observing the fight from a higher building.

"Okay you guys!" Goldcap began. "Ready the trap!" With that, Zappityhoof and Decepticolt both began on loading a huge cannon ball, into a cannon, before aiming it at Spike.

During the fight, the sound of a bird's call was heard. Both sides looked up to see a beautiful phoenix flying in their direction.

"Peewee?" Spike asked, before the phoenix swooped in, grabbed him by the back of his jacket, and flew off with him. "Whoa!" The boy exclaimed, as he felt the rush and the adrenaline of being taken in the air.

"DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!!" Goldcap shouted. "FIRE!!"

With that, the Three Magicians aimed the cannon, straight for Spike. Luckily, for Spike, Peewee emitting a radiating flash of light, blinding the magicians, causing them to misfire, and snare the Shadowbolts, and they disappeared in a flash of light.

After the lights cleared up, the dragon, phoenix, and Shadowbolts were nowhere in sight.

"Hooray!" Goldcap cheered, as she and her comrades danced around in circle, celebrating. "We got him! We got the dragon!"

"We're gonna get a promotion for sure!" Decepticolt cheered.

Unfortunately, their celebration was cut short, when Somnambula appeared in a blazing flash of fire, furious at the magicians.

"IDIOTS!! THE THREE OF YOU!!" Somnambula roared, as she grabbed the Three Magicians with her magic, and teleported away.

Just then, the door to the stairs on the roof opened up, and Spike's posse jumped out, busting some karate moves.

"Don't worry Spike!" Button exclaimed. "We got your....back?" The boys noticed that Spike was nowhere in sight, same with the girls.




Later

"Thanks Peewee," Spike sighed in relief. "You really saved my life back there."

Peewee squawked in reply, before he flew Spike to a building, where Scorpan was waiting for him.

"Spike!" Scorpan exclaimed, holding the boy by the shoulders. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah uncle," Spike replied. "I'm fine. Thanks to Peewee here."

"Oh it wasn't just Peewee," Scorpan said. "Thank, oh?" Scorpan looked around, to see no one else, but him, his nephew, and Peewee. "I could've sworn, another of your girlfriend was here."

"Gosh, I wonder who it was," Spike asked.

Scorpan shook his head, "Perhaps they prefer to keep their identity a secret. Come nephew. Let's go home."

With that, Scorpan and Spike both walked away, with Peewee on the boy's shoulder. Watching from the distance, was Sunset Shimmer herself, accompanied by another girl, wearing a long trench coat, and a white fedora over her long, pink hair.




Coney Island

The Three Magicians were standing before a furious Somnambula, Abacus Cinch, and an unamused Nightmare Moon, who stood in a huge mirror.

"We were just trying to help," Goldcap explained. "Besides, those girls were never gonna catch the dragon anyway."

"Yeah!" Zappityhoof exclaimed. "You should've seen them! They were all 'Come back here!' or 'I got him!' and he was all, 'Uh uh, no way Jose!' and-"

"SILENCE!!" Nightmare Moon roared, as the sound of thunder cracked.

"Your highness," Goldcap began. "I apologize for our actions today. But I promise, we won't fail again."

"Oh, I know," Nightmare Moon hissed. "You won't fail me again. Ever!" The furious alicorn glanced at Somnambula, who nodded, as she tapped the floor with her staff.

Getting the message, the winged monkeys grabbed the Three Magicians, and dragged them away.

"No, wait!" Goldcap pleaded. "Where are you taking us?"

Once the magicians were disposed of, Sunny turned to the Shadowbolts's three leaders, "So, with all due respects, what should we do now, your majesties?"

Nightmare Moon pondered for awhile, before she answered, "Since the young prince is all so dedicated to fighting for his friends, then perhaps we should work that to our advantage."

Somnambula smirked, "Yes, perhaps we should."

Abacus looked with worry, "But Somnambula! Remember what happened the last time? We almost got ourselves killed by Twilight!"

"Don't worry," a voice called, revealing itself to be Sunset Shimmer, holding the device. "I've got a backup plan for that."
> Help from the Shadows Part 1: Attack of the Nightmares(Beware of My Little Amnesia)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike, Scorpan, and Peewee, returned home, where they were greeted by the girls.

"SPIKE!!" the girls exclaimed, all jumping on the boy, and exchanged some greetings.

"Darling, we're so happy that you're still alive!" Rarity cried.

Wincing slightly from his battle wounds, Spike smiled as he tries his best to return all of the girls' affections, "I've never been happier to see you girls again," he smiled, before he took notice of the bruises, scratches, and the burns inflicted on the girls. "Whoa, what happened to you girls?" He asked. "Are you alright?"

"We're fine, Spike," Twilight assured, as she looked behind her. "Thanks to-huh?" Following her confused gaze, the girls looked to see nobody in the room, besides themselves, Spike, Scorpan, and Peewee. "Where'd he go?"

"Who?" Spike asked.

"Our mysterious savior," Twilight replied, with confusion.

Scorpan, on the other hand, knew what's up.





Nighttime

Spike was already in his dark purple pajama pants and lighter t-shirt with asian dragons, when he was brushing his teeth. Once that task was done, Spike walked into his bedroom, changed into his puppy form, jumped on the bed, spins himself several times, before he started to settle down.

SCREECH!

Spike woke up with a start, as Peewee flew into the room, circled the boy turned dog for a while, before he flutters down and squatted down, next to the boy. Spike smiled, finding warmth, comfort, and familiarity with the bird, before they both went out like like bulbs. Fluttershy soon came to the room, obviously, trying to get Peewee back, when she saw the bird, sound asleep, together with his owner. The very sight pulled Fluttershy's heartstring, as she quietly left the two friends to sleep together, before hearing a few groans from Spike.





Spike was once again having another dream, of Equestria. Spike finds himself inside Canterlot Castle, at night, with his whole body, blue and transparent, and covered from head to toes in dark chains, padlocks, hooks, and shackles, as he was in his previous dreams.

"Where am I?" Spike asked, looking at his surroundings. "Wait a minute. I remember this place. It's home." Then, he heard the sound of hoof steps, and some night guards came walking in, with rays of lights illuminating from their horns.

Spike watched as the guards walked past him, and down into another hall. "I wonder if one of them's Flare." He said, before he caught a glimpse of something glowing around the corner. Squinting his eyes, Spike gasped, "Mom!"

[Fluttershys (Fluttershy Cover) II Owl City Ponified^2-By Pinkie Rose]

Upon seeing the benevolent sun princess, the guards all bowed their heads in respect to the princess. Princess Celestia simply nodded her head in acknowledgement, before she continues to be on her way. Spike stood, watching in awe at his adoptive mother walking past him. She had a stoic look imprinted on her face. Spike, however, could see the look of sorrow and longing in her eyes.

As Princess Celestia walked around a corner, Spike tried to follow, while dragging the chains around him.

"Why am I even wearing these things?" He asked, as he struggles to follow. However, Spike hadn't gone far, when he heard a voice.

"Feeling sentimental, Dragon Prince?" the voice asked.

[Fluttershy's Lullaby(Creepy Version)]

Spike felt himself turning cold with fear, as he slowly turns around, and stared face to face with the Shadowbolt's top boss.

"Nightmare Moon," he breathed.

"In your dreams," Nightmare Moon smirked, before she stomped the floor with her hoof. With that, Spike's whole dream was instantly shattered like glasses, as he falls into the endless void of darkness below.

"You're quite lucky you know," the mare said. "Very few have ever escaped my Shadowbolts and lived to tell the tale." Then, appearing as a wisp of smokes, with her face visible, Nightmare Moon continued. "But then, you've always been lucky."

"What are you talking about?" Spike asked.

"Oh, don't try to deny it," Nightmare Moon conjured up an orb, which projected an image for Spike to see. "Did it not occur to you, how lucky you are?"

Spike looked at the orb, to see many of his forgotten moments. In one memory, he was seen playing with Twilight and the girls. In the next, he was helping Sunset Shimmer, who appears to be catching a cold. In another, Spike was singing a song to a unicorn filly, causing her to smile in encouragement. The last memory he saw was when he was a toddler growing up, with Princess Celestia holding him close.

"You had it all," Nightmare Moon hissed. "You've had a loving mother, a caring uncle, and you've made the best of friends, any pony could ever ask for. You were so lucky, it's just not fair!" At that point, Nightmare Moon breaks the orb, as she turns to Spike, with anger burning in her eyes. "How did you do it? How is it that the Dragonfire chose you, before you were even born? And how can you escape, with your memories gone, while my forces were forced into hiding and scattered like rats? And how is it that after ten years with you gone, the girls' feelings for you continued to grow even stronger?"

"Believe me," Spike replied. "I've asked myself that question a lot, for the past few weeks." Shifting his frightened face to a determine look, Spike stood his ground. "But I do know one thing. The girls have come a long way for me, and I'm not going to let it all be in vain for them. Which means there's nothing you can do to stop it!"

"Not unless I stop you first!" Nightmare Moon neighed, blasting several rays of lightning at Spike, who dodged them to the side, with some difficulties. "Foolish dragon. You can hardly jump. Your powers won't save you this time. Somnambula's curse on you did more than just give you an amnesia, you see."

Spike looked at the chains that were on him, 'What? This is another part of the curse?' he thought, before he was blasted away by Nightmare Moon's thunder strike.

"You cannot fight me," the mad alicorn ranted. "You cannot hurt me. But I can do all those things to you. And when I do, your powers will be mine. And Princess Celestia, and all the little ponies whom you left behind will mourn for you, each time I breathe your breath."

"NOO!!" Spike shouted back, ducking his head from another of Nightmare Moon's attack. Turning around, he broke into a run. "You're gonna have to catch me first!"

Nightmare Moon cackled, as she simply walked after the boy, "You can't run forever," she said, with her voice growing more eerie and more darker. "We will find you. And we will sssslay you, for your power."

Spike kept on running, until he hears Fluttershy's voice, only creepier.

"No, stay! Don't leave again!" Fluttershy sounded.

"Fluttershy?" Spike asked, turning around, to see a gruesome image of Fluttershy.

Standing before him, was Fluttershy, covered in blood, with scars running all over her body, her eyes missing, and was draped from head to toe with chains, similar to Spike's, and an iron wheel around her neck.

"Is that you? My love?" Fluttershy called, limping towards Spike. "Where did you go? Please, come back!"

Spike backed away, before he hears Pinkie Pie, "Come here! I want you!" she laughed maniacally.

Spike turned his head, horrified to see the usually happy Pinkie Pie he knew, was once more in the form of the depressed Pinkie Pie, only like his nightmare version of Fluttershy, Pinkie too was covered in blood, with her eyes missing, iron wheel on her neck, and with the same chains.

"I seeeeeeee you," Pinkie giggled maniacally, causing Spike to back away. "Bonjour!!" She shouted, jumpscaring the boy.

"BWAH!!" Spike screamed, patting his chest.

"GET OVER HERE!" Rainbow's voice sounded. "You thought you could get away, didn't you?"

"Get away?" Spike asked, turning to see the nightmare image of Rainbow Dash. "Why-"

"I have you now!" Rainbow growled, baring her teeth that have turned sharped and covered in blood. "Don't forget! I found you once, and I'll find you again!"

Summoning the strength in his legs, Spike kicked Rainbow off, "I didn't ran away from you girls! Honest! I-"

"What nonsense!" Applejack's voice sounded. "You dare speak of honesty? You promised me that you'd come to my family reunion, but you never made it! You promised! Do you know how much effort I put in to making you those apple treats you loved so much?"

Spike looked, seeing himself surrounded by nightmare images of the little ponies, all crying out for him, pleading him for help, to stay, and questioned him angrily to why he wasn't there for them. Spike in the meantime, felt himself, all alone, trying in vain to talk some senses, while Nightmare Moon was laughing, watching in amusement at the young dragon's suffering. Fortunately, the mad mare's fun was cut short when a bright light was illuminated from Spike's eyes, causing all of her nightmare images to disperse into smokes, and forced Nightmare Moon to shield her face.

"The light!" She screamed. "The light!" Soon, cracks started to appear on her wings and hooves, forcing her to retreat. "This is not over yet!" With that, the mad mare disappeared in a puff of smoke.





Peewee was looking at Spike with concern, while Fluttershy continued to rub Spike's back, until he woke up with a scream.

"A-Am I awake?" he panted, turning to his right and lets out a startled yelp, changing into a mix-match of his dragon and dog forms as he did so. "Oh, it's you Fluttershy." He breathed. "And you're alright."

"There, there Spike," Fluttershy cooed, picking up the boy turned creature, in her hands, and gently stroked his back in comfort, while lulling him back to sleep.




The Next Morning

Spike, the girls, and Scorpan were in for a rude awakening, courtesy of Lyra and Bon Bon.

"C'mon girls!" Bon Bon exclaimed. "We gotta burn rubber! Monsters are loose in the city!"

"Okay, we're coming!" Twilight said, as she and the girls quickly changed into their pony forms. "You can explain the details on the way."

"I'll help!" Spike volunteered, before he was stopped by Scorpan.

"Not you, young prince," Scorpan said. "You have some special trainings at Starbucks."

"Awww," Spike groaned.

With that, the girls left with Lyra and Bon Bon, into Chinatown, while Spike, Scorpan, along with Peewee, left for Starbucks cafe, where they are to meet with Spike's mentor. Taking a vacant seat, the two waited, until Sunset Shimmer appeared, with a tall woman, cloaked in a dark brown hooded robe.

"Spike!" Sunset greeted, before she bowed her head in respect. "And General Scorpan."

"Sunset Shimmer," Scorpan returned the greeting.

Peewee lets out a chirp as he flapped his wings around the girl and nuzzled his cheek closely to her's.

"Good to see you two, Peewee," Sunset smiled, petting the bird.




Secret Place

In a brilliant flash of light, Spike, Peewee, Sunset Shimmer, and the hooded woman, appeared in secret cavern.

"Oh man," Spike groaned, disoriented from the teleportation. "I don't know how you ponies can get use to that." Pulling himself together, Spike looked around the place, which appears to be a cave, with sparkling stones, and magic symbols, decorating the interior, along with some mysterious masks. Decorated on the floor, is a magic circle.

"Where are we?" Spike asked.

"A secret place,"the woman began, before she pulled her hood down. "Our secret place." In appearance, the woman has dark skins, a long black and white hair done up in a mohawk, silver paints that decorated her face, while framing her strong cyan eyes. For attires, the woman wears gold rings on her neck, her left arm, and as earrings, along with a traditional African dress, decorated with black and white stripes, resembling the styles of zebras, underneath her cloak. Spike looked, and noticed that the woman was barefoot.

"Who are you?" Spike asked.

"I am Zecora," the woman began. "A fellow enchantress, sorceress, and witch doctor of trades from Equestria."

"Equestria?" Spike asked. "You're from Equestria too?"

"Ah, so it appears, your mind is becoming clear," Zecora smiled. "And in the days that follows, your powers will grow."

"What?"

"You have to understand," Sunset explained on Zecora's behalf. "It's Zecora's way of speaking."

"The words I chanted were from olden times," Zecora explained. "Something you call a nursery rhyme."

"That, and it just makes her sound wise," Sunset added.

"Fascinating," Spike nodded, before he remembered. "Anyway, uncle told me that I'm starting a new training with you guys. So what exactly am I training for?"

"Mind Blocking," Sunset replied. "And you're going to need it, now that Nightmare Moon has looked into your dreams, and found out about your trainings with the girls and Scorpan. Though, she didn't mentioned anything about where you live, so just be fortunate the Shadowbolts haven't found out where you two live, yet."

"Are you sure? How do you know about all this?" Spike asked. "And what about now? Can she look into my mind, even while I'm awake?"

"Don't worry," Sunset replied, before Zecora could have the chance. "I've studied dark magics with Zecora for awhile. So we know how they work from the inside out." 

"And as a safety measure," Zecora began, directing Spike's attention to the symbols. "The paintings upon the walls are for safety procedures." 

"These markings act as a counter-spell to repel Nightmare Moon," Sunset explained. "You'll be safe in here, while we train you. But if you step outside the safety of these barrier spells, Nightmare Moon will look into your minds again, and it just might be the last she'll ever do." 

Sunset walked over to a hidden bookshelf, rummaging through some old books and scrolls, before she pulled out a burnt book with her symbol on it, "Used properly, the power of mind block will help you shield your mind from influence and access. In this lesson, I will attempt to penetrate your mind. You will attempt to resist," Pulling out a small red crystal, Sunset looked at Spike. "Prepare yourself!" With that, Spike took a few deep breaths, trying to ready his mind.

Levitating the crystal above her head, Sunset's eyes glowed white as they fire a beam of magic at Spike's head, allowing her to enter his mind. At first, all Sunset could see was a web of dark clouds, linked together by a series of dark chains and locks. It looked that way, until she came across some memories of Spike, with his boys, the girls, and Scorpan, before she came across his recent nightmare.

"Come on, Spike!" Sunset struggled. "Concentrate! Focus! Wall up your mind!"




Meanwhile

Twilight, Lyra, and Pinkie arrived in Chinatown, to see several houses and streets with scorch marks.

"You're absolutely sure this was the work of a dragon?" Twilight asked.

"From the looks of it, yes," Lyra replied. "That, and Thorax was our star witness." With that, Lyra pointed to the said boy, who was having a breakdown, while dressed in a scorched sheep costume, due to it being the Year of the Sheep at the time.

"I've seen it!" Thorax panicked, while Button and Rumble carried him away. "I've seen with my own eyes! It was big! It was black! It had red eyes! And it tried to eat me! And I saw hell in its mouth!" With that, Thorax broke out into a fit of hysterical tears."





Fluttershy, Rarity, and Bon Bon arrived in the Central Park Zoo, where they find utter chaos.

Many animals were loose; an ostrich was running away from a hungry cheetah, a rhino was breaking down a brick wall, and to make matters worse, there were lions, tigers, and bears.

"Oh my," Fluttershy whimpered, before she noticed the snow leopard, fighting off a chimera, that was cloaked in dark clouds, and the Shadowbolts's symbol on its forehead. "Mr. Snowy!" she cried, running to the snow leopard's aid. Bon Bon meanwhile leapt into battle, as she wrestled a Bugbear. Like the chimera, it too has the same cloudy coat and symbol.

Rarity was left alone, to look at the chaos around her, "If Shadow Spades was here," She began. "Then without a doubt, she'd say the Shadowbolts are behind this." 

Just then, she hears a lion's growl. Turning her head, she was greeted by a manticore, with the same enchanted charms.





Lastly, Rainbow Dash and Applejack, arrived in the Bronx, where Lyra and Bon Bon had reported a disturbance, caused by a pack of gremlins, and a griffon. The two arrived at a fish market, where the said creatures were rummaging through the contents. Like the chimera, bugbear, and manticore, previously mentioned, they too were shrouded in clouds of darkness, while bearing the symbol of the Shadowbolts on their forehead.

"Alright ya varmints!" Applejack began. "Stop what y'all are doing and come quietly."

"Yeah!" Rainbow barked. "So put down that pufferfish and come-OW!!" Rainbow screamed, when the griffon pelted her with the fish before it pounced on her and the two tussled.

[Ram Jam-Black Betty]

Soon, the gremlins all joined in as they all piled on Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

"Get off of me!" Rainbow growled, struggling to get the gremlins off, changing into her pony form as she did so.

"Hang on Dashie," Applejack called out, bucking a gremlin off. "I'm coming!"
> Help from the Shadows Part 2: The Cursed Life of Sunset Shimmer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After what felt like hours, Spike and Sunset continued to face failure.

"I've told you many times already," Sunset groaned. "Control your emotions. Discipline the mind! Again!" With that, Sunset repeated her spell, and like before, the outcome was still the same.

Zecora and Peewee in the meantime watched in anxiety.

"Stop it!" Spike growled in frustrations. "We've been at it for hours! If I could just rest-"

Rolling her eyes and shaking her head in frustrations, Sunset magically forced Spike back to the floor, "The Shadowbolts aren't resting! Every seconds pass, they're out there, searching for you. And they're not going to stop, until they find you and have your powers! Until then, you're better off staying here, than out there."

"But I can't be here forever!" Spike proclaimed. "I've got a life!"

"And it will be over, sooner than you'd think. If you can't improve, then you might as well kiss any chances of going back to Equestria good-bye then. And that goes double with seeing Princess Celestia again."

Spike's eyes widen, his pupils becoming slits as he recalls the sad look on his mother's face, when he and Scorpan left.

"So unless you want to go back to Equestria safe and sound and in the open wings of your dear mother, then do exactly as I said!" With that, Sunset once again blasted Spike with her spell, even more aggressively. And liked before, she succeeded in peering through Spike's minds.

"Sunset enough!" Zecora shouted, stopping Sunset. "Not so tough! Did I not warned you, about letting your anger flew the coup?"

Realizing what she was doing, Sunset's eyes began to water, "I-I-I-I'm sorry."

Zecora took a deep breath, before she said, "Perhaps it is best, for the three of us to take a rest."




Meanwhile
Chinatown

Twilight, Pinkie, and Lyra followed the trail of scorch marks through Chinatown, which lead them into a firework factory.

"Judging from the warmth of this mark," Twilight analyzed. "I'd say our dragon is close."

"Here dragon!" Pinkie called out. "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

"Pinkie!!" Twilight hissed, shushing the enthusiastic pony. "Keep your voice down! You're gonna get us killed!"

"I am?" Pinkie asked.

"We're trying to find the dragon," Twilight replied. "Before it finds us."

"We are?"

"Yes. So do us a favor it get serious! Remember, we're dealing with a dragon here!"

"Um, Twilight," Lyra whimpered. "I think, I've found our dragon!"

The girls looked and gasped.

Central Park Zoo

Fluttershy, Rarity, and Bon Bon succeeded in capturing the chimera and manticore in Fluttershy's backpack, leaving the bugbear left for capture.

The said creature was hovering nearby, following the scent of honeys, when Fluttershy came out, wearing a bee costume.

Remembering a lesson she learned from her professor, Fluttershy blew into a bear whistle, creating the sound of a bear's growl, catching the bugbear's attention. Turning its head in her direction, Fluttershy did several buzzing sounds, along with a few dances steps, and hip shakes, which further aroused the creature, much to Rarity and Bon Bon's bewilderments, as they watched from behind a tree. Soon, the creature was buzzing calmly, as Fluttershy quickly took out her backpack.

"That it's," she whispered. "Into the nice, safe, backpack you go."

However, just before the bugbear could get in, a piece of honey dripped from a hidden beehive and onto Bon Bon.

"Yuck," Bon Bon groaned. "What the-Oh, honey!" the girl exclaimed, which didn't go unheard.

The bugbear turned its attention to the girl, taking in the scent of the honey, mixed together with the girl's natural sweet scent of sweets.

"Oh dear," Fluttershy whimpered.

"Run," Rarity whispered.

Bronx

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were still in their fight against the gremlins and griffon. One of the gremlins had hijacked a big truck, filled with gasoline, and tried to run the girls down, had Applejack not stopped it dead in its tracks. However, one of the gremlins took this as a chance to jump on Applejack from behind, covering her eyes, while another pulled on her by the hair.

"Get off of me!" Applejack growled, struggling to get the gremlins off.

One of the gremlins pulled her belt off her skirt. Holding one end, with the other end held by its comrade, the gremlins tripped the girl down on her back, before they all piled on top of her.

Rainbow Dash meanwhile, continued her tussle with the griffon. The two had taken their fight onto one of the nearby subway station, during which an upcoming subway was heading in their direction.

"Get off of me or die!" Rainbow growled, as the griffon jumped off, followed by Dash, just as the subway flew by. Once the train passed, the griffon pounced onto Rainbow Dash, who kicked it off with her leg, before she flew in and landed several punches and kicks to the creature. "You're finished!" With that, Rainbow Dash launched the griffon through several trees, before it passed out on the ground.

Rainbow Dash was about to regroup with Applejack, when she noticed something happening to the griffon. The dark clouds that surrounded it started to disappear, revealing its true form.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in shock, "Gilda?!" she exclaimed, as the griffon snapped her eyes open, revealing them to be red with hatred. "What?!" With a loud screech, Rainbow Dash was met with a punch to the nose, causing it to bleed, while being launched into the Bronx, landing on Applejack, knocking the gremlins off in the process.

"Dash?" Applejack groaned.

"Hey AJ," Dash replied, while covering her bloodied nose.

Both girls heard an angry screech, as Gilda came flying after them, at top speed.




Secret Place

Some times of silence have passed, since Zecora had given Spike and Sunset some spaces from each other. Peewee was sleeping, while Spike was sitting in the magic circle, trying to meditate, attempting to clear his mind. But the nightmare he had continues to plague him, out of his concentration.

"Your thinking needs to readjust," Zecora stated. "Total concentration is a must."

Spike sighed, "I'm sorry Zecora," he apologized. "I just can't seem to do it. Maybe I am better off just staying here."

"Do not be so dour," Zecora replied, patting the boy on the shoulder. "It is an immersive power. You can't expect to master the skill, just yet."

"I wonder how long it may be til then," Spike said, feeling more despondent.

"In time, you'll know," Zecora replied. "But first, there's the matter of helping Sunset quell her inferno."

Spike looked at another cave entrance, covered with leaf curtains.

"I don't know," Spike replied, uneasily. "The way she was acting with me, during our practice. I don't know if I should."

"Make amends with her," Zecora replied. "Like many others, no pony is more heartbroken than Sunset Shimmer."

Spike thought, before he reluctantly nodded his head. Getting up from the floor, he walked through the curtains, finding a despondent Sunset Shimmer, in pony form, and lying in a bed of leaves. This is actually the first time--at least in ten years--that  Spike has seen Sunset as a pony. In appearance, Sunset is a unicorn, with the same mane style as a human, and matching tail, brilliant amber coat, and the same sun symbol as her cutie mark.

Deciding to make his presence known, Spike spoke lightly, "Sunset?"

"Hey Spike," Sunset replied, sadly.

He finally spoke, "Sunset. I'm sorry if I didn't meet your expectations. And I'm sorry that I couldn't-"

"No Spike," Sunset interrupted. "I'm the one who should be sorry. For everything."

"What do you mean?"

Sunset took a deep breath, and in a flash of fire, she turned herself back in human form, "I'm the reason you're here, and not Equestria. I'm the reason the Shadowbolts tried to attack you before. I'm also the reason why you're taken from your mother. All because I am, or was, a Shadowbolt."

With that, Sunset pulls down her right sleeve to reveal the symbol, on her wrist.

Spike could hardly believe his eyes, "Sunset, why?" Spike asked.

Closing her eyes; face etched with guilt, Sunset replied, "It's a long story. And like yours, it's not a happy one."

Spike took a seat before her, "I'm listening."




Past
[Still Alive-Lisa Miskovsky]

"Unlike you or any other ponies, I don't have a family or friends as a little foal. I grew up in an orphanage, never knowing my parents, or what kind of ponies they are."

A young Sunset watches bitterly from behind a desk, as many orphaned fillies and colts all got adopted by the visiting mares and stallions. Sunset Shimmer went back to her bed, where she wrote some words in her only precious possession from her unknown parents: her journal.

Later, Sunset Shimmer began attending Princess Celestia's School For Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures, where she passed her entrance exam, by performing a pyrokinesis spell that allowed her to breath fire, on some multicolored sands she brought for the exam, creating a stained glass portrait of herself; impressing the judges.

Since then, Sunset Shimmer became Princess Celestia's star pupil, and as such, has proven herself, time and time again, that she was a talented unicorn, which eventually sparks a sense of pride and a thirst for power in Sunset Shimmer. As a result, Sunset Shimmer shunned herself from every pony, believing friendship and family isn't worth her trouble, and that it has no value than the dark arts she had grown fascinated with. On some occasions, however, Sunset would be seen having a fit of jealousy, which she takes it out on certain ponies, to the point of driving their friendships apart.

Eventually, rumors of Sunset's fascination of the dark arts caught the attention of Abacus Cinch, who was one of the professors of Princess Celestia's school at the time.

One day, Sunset Shimmer was out in the courtyard, practicing a spell she had invented in her journal, when she was approached by the professor, herself.

"Sunset Shimmer," Abacus Cinch greeted.

"Professor Cinch," Sunset returned the greeting. "How are you?"

"Good, thank you for asking," Getting back on topic, the professor began. "But I would like to discuss a certain matter with you."

"And what's that?"

"Follow me."

With that, the professor lead the young unicorn through the school, before they arrived at the end of a hallway, with a broken light. There, Abacus arrived at a locker, where she turned the dial on the lock in a certain way, before it opened up, to reveal a brick wall. Abacus stepped in, tapped the bricks in a certain way. Then, without warning, the bricks shifted and turned, to reveal a door, which opened up.




[Professor Snape(Harry Potter song) By Shane Blair]

"Run along, Dumb-Bell," With that, the guard shot a spell that forced the pegasus colt out, and forced the door shut.

"Colloportus and anti-Alohomora," Sunset stated. "Nice."

Abacus Cinch continued to guide Sunset Shimmer, down a set of staircase, before arriving at a gathering of ponies and all sorts of magical creatures, clad in dark robes of purple and black, and wore masks over the faces. Sunset Shimmer was given her own, as she took a seat, next to some fellow Shadowbolts. Eventually, Somnambula made her appearance.

"Greetings, my little Shadowbolts," Somnambula cackled. "We are a gathered here tonight, for the achievement made of one, Starlight Glimmer."

With that, a unicorn filly, wearing a mask, similar to Sunset Shimmer's, with the obvious exception of the cutie mark, stepped forward, bowing before the elder witch, who casted a spell on the filly's right hoof. Sunset can easily sense the discomfort on the filly's part, during the process, until it came to an end.

"Money can never buy the honor you have earned, tonight," the witch said. "You make us all proud."

With a bow of her head, Starlight went back to her seat.

"Only through efforts, ambitions, cunning, and resourcefulness, earns the a place among the ranks of the Shadowbolts!" Somnambula lectured. "You are here because the outside world rejects your very existence, just as it did to our beloved mother. This is our sanctuary, our kingdom, and Nightmare Moon is our mother, our princess of the night! I want you all to prepare yourselves, and become full members of the Shadowbolts, for the day when our dear mother returns from her life-long imprisonment. There is a force that is vital for her return. We are her eyes and ears. Find it! Together, we shall capture this force, and use it, for our dear mother. For we shall forever be, her children of the night! Find the Dragonfire!"

It was from that moment on that Sunset Shimmer became intrigued with the Dragonfire.





At some point, Sunset finally pinpointed the vessel of the Dragonfire to be Spike Draco himself. Seeing an opportunity, the Shadowbolts chose Sunset Shimmer to play a part in the assassination of Spike, in order to claim his power. Sunset would've succeeded in her mission too, had it not been for one fatal flaw in the plan.





One day, while tailing a young prince Spike, on his way home from school, it started to rain.

"Arrgh," Sunset growled. "Those pegasi have got the worst timing, ever!"

The young unicorn looked, and saw no sign of Spike. She galloped through the rainfalls, trying to locate the young dragon, when a crack of lightning pierced through the sky, startling Sunset Shimmer into a frightened gallop. In her state of blind fear, Sunset bumped into several crates of barrels, causing them to fall on top of her, and knocked her out cold.

By the time Sunset finally came to, she finds herself, in bed, wrapped in a blanket, closed to a fireplace.

"Wuh-What?" Sunset asked, looking at her surroundings. "Where am I?"

"Hey Sunset," Spike greeted, entering the room. "Took you awhile to wake up."

"Spike?" Sunset inquired, before letting out a sneeze. "W-Where-achoo!"

"Whoa, take it easy Sunset," Spike replied, gently setting the unicorn back down in bed. "You've been in the rain more than you should be. And that's one nasty cold you got there." Spike soon brought in a bowl of soup for Sunset to eat.

At first, Sunset was a little hesitant of eating it, "It's okay," Spike assured. "It's just tomato soup."

Darting her eyes back and forth at the Dragon Prince and the soup, Sunset accepted the food, before her eyes lit up, "Wow, this is good," Sunset smiled, eating some more of the soup.

"That's Fluttershy's tomato soup for ya," Spike smiled, as he watches the young unicorn eat.

"But why?" Sunset asked, display a mix of confusion and distrust. "Why did you save me?"

"Well, I couldn't just leave you out in the cold like that. Can I?" Spike asked.

"Don't get me wrong," Sunset replied. "I'm not ungrateful or anything. It's just that, I've always been told it's every ponies for themselves."

"Well I've always been told that we're family," Spike replied. "And family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten."

Sunset was silent for a moment, before she shifted her gaze in another direction.

"Sunset?" Spike asked. "What's the matter?"

Snapping out of her trance, Sunset replied, "Sorry, it's just that, I've never had a family. And I've always been content with just living by myself."

Spike looked at the filly, sadden to hear a sad background of a pony whom most students at school feared of.

"Well, y'know," Spike began. "If you give friendship a chance, you'll find something better than just isolation."

"How?" Sunset asked. "All I've ever done since being in school was drive everyone apart. I don't know the first thing about friendship," Sunset soon curled herself up, while letting out a faint sneeze. "And I'm not sure if I'll like it."

"Oh contrare," Spike replied. "You'll love it. And I know some good ponies who can teach it to you." He said, pointing to a picture of himself with the girls, Flare Heart, Princesss Celestia, Scorpan, and a grumpy Blueblood, with an equally grumpy Bunny.

Sunset thought for a moment, before she asked, "If I join your little 'friendship' circle. Then would you be my friend then?"

"I don't see why not," Spike replied.

An evil grin began to form on Sunset as she thought, 'How can I pass up an opportunity?' With that, Sunset puts on a smile, pretending to accept Spike's friendship.




[Equestria Girls-A Friend For Life]

At first, Sunset's "friendship" with Spike, was one of her means to get closer to him, in order to claim the Dragonfire. But as time grew, Sunset grew more and more closer with Spike, the more she started to abandon the mission, as she began to realize the value of friendship, even opening herself up to Twilight and the rest of the friends, while apologizing for all the wrongdoings she had done in the past. However, despite the changes in Sunset's heart, there are those who still hold some distrusts towards Sunset.

"I don't care what the ponies say," Spike smiled. "You're special, Sunset, in your own kind of way."

Sunset blushed, "I don't know about that, Spike," she replied. "I mean, you're a human with a gift of the dragons. I'm just a regular old unicorn who's only good with pyrokinesis and dark magics."

"That's not true," Spike replied. "You're anything but that."

"Oh, really? Like what?"

"Well, let me think," Spike pondered. "You're a good friend. You're my mom's prized pupil, you taught me that fire transportation spell, and you're an excellent study partner for self-defense," Spike quickly glanced around, before he whispered, "But don't tell Flare I said that. He gets very jealous with that sort of thing."

"Your secret's safe with me," Sunset replied.

With that, the two friends breathed a content sigh, resuming watching the sky together. "Hey, Spike," Sunset began.

"Yes, Sunset?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For showing me what friendship is really about. I'll admit, I didn't quite understand the value it holds, even with Princess Celestia's guidance. But with you," Sunset hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I guess, I'm not as perfect as I thought I was." She said, with a despondent look. "I'll admit, whenever I see the friendship between you and the girls, and in some other ponies, I may have been, completely and utterly jealous."

Spike placed a comforting hand on the unicorn's shoulder, "Y'know, if you needed help on making friends, just ask."

With a glow of her horn, Sunset pulled Spike in a loving hug, "Thank you for being my friend," She smiled.

"Um, you're welcome," Spike groaned, at how tight her magical grip has on him.







One day, while attending another meeting with the Shadowbolts, Sunset was shocked and dismayed to hear their plan on attacking Spike. Sunset quickly teleported in a flash of fire, and hurried to warn Spike. Unfortunately, one of the Shadowbolts was already onto her, and intercepted her. Together, the two engaged each other in a magic duel, while the Shadowbolts carried their plans in Canterlot Castle, trying to claim the Dragonfire.

Both fillies were evenly matched. Heaven and earth shook, as the two unicorns clashed their magics against one another. Then, with an earth shattering blast of magic, Sunset released a fury of fire magics in her opponent's way. The magics exploded upon impact with Sunset's opponent's shield magic, while Sunset was launched, off her hooves, and into a tree, knocking her out cold. By the time Sunset woke up, Canterlot was set ablaze. Setting her sight on Canterlot Castle, Sunset became a puff of smoke, flying towards one of the towers, into the throne room, and collapsed to floor, upon seeing Spike, unconscious, battered, and cradled by a heartbroken Princess Celestia.

 And like all the little ponies, who've came to love the young prince, Sunset was distraught when Spike and Scorpan fled to Earth, for who knows, how many years.

Sunset was even more beside herself, when her association with the Shadowbolts was, somehow, revealed to the public. With that, Sunset was constantly marred with hatred and anger from all the ponies of Equestria. All, except for a few.

At first, Sunset was content with just having the Mane Six, Princess Celestia, and some others as her trusted allies, and being the only ponies who forgave her. Or so she thought.




[Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name]

Sunset was waking up one day, before she found herself in an open field of flowers.

"What the hay?" she asked. "How did I end up here?" Then, Sunset sniffed the air, smelling the burning scent of fire. Turning around, Sunset's eyes widened to see Ponyville in flame.

Without hesitation, Sunset galloped into the village, and helped to put out the fire, by using a powerful spell to absorb the heat from the flames, into her horn. Once the fires died down, Sunset looked, expecting a big thank you. But on the ponies' faces, she saw only horror.

"That's her!" one of the ponies cried, pointing accusingly at Sunset Shimmer. "That's the unicorn who set this town on fire!!"

"What?" Sunset asked. "What are you talking about?"

"Sunset!" Twilight, as a unicorn, called out, as she and the girls galloped up to her. "What happened to you? Why did you do all this?"

"I didn't do all this," Sunset replied uneasily. "I swear."

"I beg to differ!" one of the ponies shouted. "I saw her, setting my house on fire!"

"I saw her burning my cabbages!" the random cabbage merchant exclaimed.

"She turned me into a newt!" one of the ponies shouted, causing all of the ponies to look at him in bewilderment.

"A newt?" Twilight asked.

"I got better!" the pony replied. "And then she turned my sister into a cupcake!"

The ponies looked to see an empty plate, before they looked at Pinkie who was eating a cupcake, "What?"

"Cupcake killer!!" one of the ponies screamed, before Twilight blew a whistle to get every ponies back on topic.

"Look Twilight," Sunset said. "I didn't do any of this. I wasn't even around when it happened."

"I believe you Sunset," Twilight replied.

Just then, a pony arrived, screaming, "The library! It's been ransacked!!"




Later

The ponies were all at the library. Twilight was most upset, to see the state the library was.

"I just had these books re-shelved!" she exclaimed.

"What could they be after?" Applejack asked, while Rarity and Pinkie were busy rummaging through the wreckage.

"Whatever they were looking for," Rainbow voiced. "They must've gone through a lot of trouble just to find it."

"And I think I know what it is," Rarity replied, levitating Sunset Shimmer's saddlebags.

"How did that get-" Sunset was quickly silenced by Rarity, who levitated the contents.

"Hey!" Rainbow exclaimed. "That's my chest of embarrassing secrets!"

"And my diary!" Rarity shouted, levitating the said book.

"AH!" Fluttershy screamed. "My secret passion exposed!"

"HEY!" Pinkie shouted, picking up the book. "I've been trying to hide this book from the public! How did this darn thing get into your saddlebag?"

"My book of working in progress spells!" Twilight shouted.

"My mom's diary!" Applejack shouted.

Sunset grimaced, as more items she had no knowledge of obtaining were spilled from her bags and onto the floor. Once the task was done, the girls, except Twilight, and ponies of Ponyville all glanced at Sunset Shimmer, angrily.

"How could you do this to us?" Applejack asked.

"It wasn't me?!" Sunset repeated.

"We trusted you Sunset!" Rainbow growled. "We thought you were our friend!"

"How could you do this?" Rarity sobbed. "After all we've been through together?"

"I didn't do this!" Sunset replied. "I could never hurt any of you!"

"But you did!" Pinkie sobbed. "You must've just been pretending to be our friend, when all along you were after our secret! Just like you did with Spike!" At this point, Pinkie's sad face shifted to anger. "I knew you're still a bad guy! You secret stealer!"

"No! No!" Sunset protested. "I would never-not after Spike left. I'm not like that anymore!"

"But you are!" Fluttershy screamed with tears in her eyes. "You're still the pony we thought you weren't anymore. You're not our friend!"

"But I-" Sunset's voice cracked. "I am your friend. I promise!"

"Sorry Sunset," Applejack retorted. "But you've taken advantage of us far enough. You did this to us! You can tell whatever secret you want, but we don't have to listen to anything!"

At that point, Sunset eyes watered, and the pipes broke.

"Hold on!" Twilight shouted, standing before Sunset. "Just listen to yourselves! I thought you girls were better than this. I thought you all understood the magic of friendship! Don't you remember all the time Sunset's been through with us? She's family!"

"What a bunch of nonsense!" Applejack replied. "Don't give us this big talk about how Sunset's been a family to us! She's anything but after all this!"

"Applejack!" Twilight exclaimed. "I can't believe you!"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have to agree with Applejack," Rarity voiced.

"Rarity!" Twilight exclaimed. "Not you too!" Horrified, Twilight looked to see the rest of the friends giving their agreements, against Sunset and Twilight. Trying to stand up for Sunset even more, Twilight voiced, "But what about all those times Sunsets been for us? All the times she's worked so hard for us? How she's tried to-"

"I just don't feel like any of that matters now," Applejack replied, followed by agreements from the girls.

Twilight could hardly believe what she heard, "Fine! Be that way!" Twilight angrily spatted. "If you girls aren't going to help clear Sunset's name, because you're too ashamed of yourselves, then I will!"





[Beauty And The Beast-Piano]

For the many moons that follow, the ponies continue to mock, gossip, even going as far as hissing at Sunset Shimmer wherever she goes. Twilight and Princess Celestia were her only allies at the time, but despite their assurance, doubts continued to follow, even in Sunset Shimmer herself. During this time, many of the girls' secrets were posted in the Ponyville Chronicles, and the Equestria Daily newspapers, discouraging the girls, and making them a laughing stock, and further enforcing their initial accusation of Sunset Shimmer. Twilight and Princess Celestia, on the other hooves, remained loyal with Sunset Shimmer. Finally, having been fed up with futile endeavors to clear Sunset's name, the fiery unicorn fled from Ponyville and escaped into the one place where no pony would ever try to find her: the Everfree Forest.

There, Sunset Shimmer discovered the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters, the original home of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Once inside, Sunset casted several charms to conceal herself within, while hexing a mirror as her only window to the outside world. And during her time in self-exile, Sunset would pour her emotions out, into her journal. Dark emotions that would eventually warp her mind in favor to the forces of darkness, for she would often be heard saying horrible things, such as:

"Rainbow Dash: Lazy. Arrogant! Fluttershy: Weak! Rarity: Forever whining about how unfair life is. The Apple and Pie Families are a pack of swines!"

Present

While Sunset was busy telling Spike all that had happened, Zecora eavesdropped on them, frowning as she remembered witnessing one such incident with Sunset losing control on her anger, on Hearth's Warming Eve.

Past
[Miraculous Ladybug Christmas-Cat Noir's song]

Angered and driven mad at the accusations from the ponies she thought were friends, Sunset sought revenge. Arriving in Ponyville, wearing a dark robe that made her look like an overgrown bat, while wearing her Shadowbolts mask, Sunset was a puff of smoke, peering through the windows, watching bitterly as ponies were all celebrating together, as a family. Something she had lost for so long, all because of a crime she didn't commit. Sunset soon arrived in the center of Ponyville, and prepared herself to succeed in stealing destroy Hearth's Warming. Embowered by the Windigo's dark influence, and her burning grudge, Sunset was about to destroy the Hearth's Warming tree, when memories of Spike flashed into her mind.

"I can't do it! I CAN'T DO IT!!" Sunset sobbed, looking around and released her anger, in the form of a fireball, surrounded by a dark aura of lighting, into the sky, where it exploded into a huge display of fireworks.

Once the task was done, Sunset felt herself burned out, retreating back into the Everfree Forest, took shelter in the Castle of the Two Sisters, dropping her mask, and herself to the floor, and cried.

Zecora, meanwhile, was watching from the tree, and couldn't help but empathize the feeling of misunderstanding and mistreatment. Just then, Zecora's ears flicked, as she turned to see a group of Shadowbolts.




Present

Sunset Shimmer was curling herself up, crying into her hands.

"Sunset," Spike muttered.

"They were right about me," Sunset cried. "I am a menace. A freak of nature. A she-demon."

"Don't-"

"It's been that way. No matter how hard I tried to do good, I only ended up making things even worse in the end."

"That's not true!" Spike shouted.

"Yes it is!" Sunset cried. "I Just can't do anything right, no matter how hard I tried. I failed to be a talented unicorn as I had always dreamed of, I failed to be a friend, and worst of all, I failed to be your ally! I couldn't even help you learn to block your mind from Nightmare Moon's magic." Sunset looked down, turning herself back into a pony as she sobbed, "What kind of a friend am I? How can you call me your favorite study partner for self-defense, if I can't help you learn to block your mind?" Burying her face into her bed, Sunset sobbed, "I'm sorry, I can't help you get back to Equestria. I think I'm better off as a prisoner, here in this world, than I am in Equestria."

Spike, watched as the formerly bad girl, cried. Walking up to her, changing into a puppy, Spike licked Sunset's salty cheek, catching her attention.

"Spike?" Sunset gasped in confusion, as the boy continued to lick her face. "W-What are y-yo-"

"It's okay, Sunset," Spike replied. "I forgive you."

"Huh?" She gasped. "You've forgiven me? After all I did?"	

"Of course," Spike replied. "If anything, the girls should be the one to say they're sorry. With what you've told me, I'm really disappointed in the way they treated you, except for Twilight of course. I can't believe they would do that to you, just for some beans being spilled." Sunset looked down, only for Spike to put his hand under her cheek, urging her to look at him. "But don't you worry. Things will work out." Spike smiled, in encouragement. "We started this together with the Shadowbolts, and that's how we're going to end." With that, Spike changes back into a human, as he hugged Sunset Shimmer for comfort. "I promise." He added, while stroking the unicorn's mane.

Sunset smiled, as she changes in human form, and returned the embrace, "Thank you." Quickly, Sunset's smile disappeared, "But what are we going to do now?" she asked. "The Shadowbolts are still out there. Nightmare Moon will try looking into your mind again, and you still haven't mastered mind block."

"Then let's give it another go," Spike replied, with determination.

With that, the two resumed their training. With Zecora watching, with a smile. Peewee woke up from his nap, and watched in awe, to see his owner back in training.



Though Spike continues to struggle against Sunset's mind reading spell, he knew he can't give up. And he certainly can't let Sunset down, not after all she's been through for him. With that, Spike pushed on.

"RANDORI!!" Scorpan exclaimed in his thoughts.




Many Hours Later

Spike and Sunset were lying on the floor, panting from exhaustion.

"How did I do?" Spike asked.

"Better," Sunset replied. "Not nearly as perfect, but better." Spike shrugged, satisfied with the girl's answer. "Come on, let's have some lunch," With that, Sunset Shimmer brought Spike over to a hidden storage of food supplies, levitating some plates of salad, sushi rolls, and sandwiches.

"Y'know Sunset," Spike began. "For a girl who used to be a Shadowbolt, you're not such a lousy friend at all."

Sunset smiled.

"Indeed she is," Zecora smiled. "From a protege of the dark arts, she has truly become a wonderful apprentice with a big heart."

Spike smiled, before he turned his attention to Zecora, "So how did you come into this?"

"Since you have left, dear Spike. I was certain I had sensed the presence of what every pony thought had taken a hike. When I went to find what the fuss was all about, who should I found, but Sunset Shimmer, alone with her anger out."




Past

Sunset Shimmer was writing in her journal to vent out her latest anger tantrum, when she was set upon by the Shadowbolts.

"Well, lookie here," one the Shadowbolts sneered. "The former Phoenix Princess of Darkness!"

"So good to see you," another smirked.

"I'm afraid the feeling isn't mutual," Sunset frowned. "And how did you find me?"

The Shadowbolts ball broke into a fit of laughter, as Somnambula stepped forward, "Have you forgotten who you are?" the witch asked, pulling the unicorn's hoof out, with the mark imprinted. "You're one of us. You have the mark! So we'll always find you! And we'll always know where you are! You can run, but you can never hide!"

With a blast of magic from her staff, Somnambula had Sunset tied to the wall, in black vines.

"What do you want from me?" Sunset asked.

"Nothing much," one of the shadow bolts smirked. "Just all the darkness in your heart!"

"You're wasting your time!" Sunset spatted. "There's nothing dark in me. I've left that life behind!"

"Oh really?" Somnambula asked. "Then I take it then that display of hatred you displayed back in Ponyville was not you acting out on the dark instinct inside of you?" As much as Sunset wanted to remain defiant, there was no point in sugarcoating it. "Oh, don't be ashamed of yourself, Sunset. Not every pony are strong enough to resist the dark forces of their magic."

"Yeah," another Shadowbolt smirked. "All it took was just one bad day, and you eventually became just like us." The Shadowbolt broke out into a raspy laugh, as he bragged, "But then I guess the day I framed you for it, was that day, wasn't it?"

Sunset's eyes instantly turned red in anger, as she struggled to break free, "So it was you!!" she roared. "You'll be sorry you ever messed with me! You won't get away with this!"

"Oh contrare, Sunset," the colt smirked, cupping her cheeks with his magic. "I've already have." With that, the colt smacked her across the face, before he joins back in the ranks of the Shadowbolts.

"Now what we came for," Somnambula began. "Since you've developed such strong feelings for the Dragon Prince, it's quite clear that you're useless to us. Your magic on the other hand-"

"No," Sunset retorted. "You wouldn't!"

"Try us," Somnambula sneered, before she snapped her finger. "The girl's journal!"

With that, Sunset Shimmer's journal was produced in a puff of smoke. Opening the contents, Somnambula read all the dark emotions Sunset had tried to conceal for most of her life, while chanting a series of ancient spells. With that, dark fires started to burn from the pages of the books, as they all formed into a dark storm cloud in the air. Sunset watched, as the cloud swirled above her, before suddenly, it was swallowed up, into a jar, courtesy of a zebra, wearing a long brown robe.

"Hey!" one of the Shadowbolts shouted. "Who are you?"

"The name is Zecora, for ya," Zecora answered, before she pulled out a bag of sparkling green dusts, blew on it, creating a smokescreen of green clouds. Once the clouds disappeared, Sunset and Zecora were gone.





"The Shadowbolts tried to take your power?" Spike asked, to which Sunset and Zecora both replied with a nod.

"After the Shadowbolts were defeated," Zecora began. "I quickly took Sunset in to be treated."




Past

Zecora was busy treating Sunset's wounds with some potions.

"Now, now, be still," Zecora said. "Or you'll always be ill."

"But why did you save me?" Sunset asked. "I'm a Shadowbolt."

"You only bore their mark," Zecora answered. "But that is nothing compared to the mark, within your heart."

"My heart?" Sunset, initially confused, immediately realized what the wise zebra was getting at.

"Despite your checkered past of the dark arts," Zecora began. "I did however sensed a hint of love within your heart."

The last words strucked Sunset, as she looked up at the wise zebra.

"It is quite rare you see," Zecora continued. "For a Shadowbolt to feel the love they try to conceal. And it is that kind of love you've treasured for moons, that makes you resistant to the dark forces of Nightmare Moon." Zecora turned, to see Sunset Shimmer silent. "Do you not have some pony to love? Or is it merely just a dove?"

With a shimmer of her horn, Sunset projected a fiery aura-like image of dragon that appears to be a mix of western and eastern variety. The dragon slithered through the air, flapping its wings, before it flew around, and out through an open window in Zecora's hut.

"Prince Spike?" Zecora asked. "After all this time?"

"Always," Sunset replied, with a small tear.

Since then, Zecora took Sunset under her wings, helping her further with her knowledge of dark magics, as well as helping Sunset having better coping strategies with her troubled feelings. Then, came the day when Sunset sensed the Shadowbolts, making their moves into Earth. Without hesitation, Zecora and Sunset both opened up a portal to Earth, while unknowingly picking up a hitchhiker.




Present

Sunset blushed, as Spike looked at the girl.

"Oh dear," Zecora smirked. "It appears, I've made poor Sunset Shimmer here, fluster."

"Zecora, stop it!" Sunset blushed. "Getting marred with hatred is one thing, but don't embarrass me in front of Spike."

"Actually, I'm quite flattered," Spike smiled. "I know I'm charming with girls and everything. At least, from what the girls have told me, but I never knew it would actually go this far." Sunset blushed, before Spike decided to change the topic. "So, what's it like to live with Zecora?"

Sunset smiled, "It feels great, to live with Zecora as her apprentice," Sunset replied. "She really helped me a lot with my magics, and teaching me how to cope with the negative feelings I've had since you left. I'm surprised she never worked in Canterlot, let alone applied for the job of a professor at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures. She'd make an excellent professor."

Zecora smiled, "You're such a flatterer, Sunset Shimmer," she said. "But believe me, I'm much content with my life of potion-making and sipping tea." With that, Zecora took a sip of tea from her cup, before she shifted her gaze to a solemn look. "But there is an even more serious matter, concerning with your power, and Sunset Shimmer's anger."




Past

One day, while Zecora was out in Ponyville for some errands, along with the captured Shadowbolt, who framed Sunset Shimmer, the young unicorn was left to attend the states of the hut. Sunset was dusting the shelves, when an arrow flew in, and broke the bottle which contained her dark magics.

"NOO!!" Sunset cried, as the cloud was released, before it formed itself into another Sunset Shimmer. "W-Who are you?"

"Don't be such a fool!" the other Sunset Shimmer replied. "I am you!"

"If you're me, then who am I?"

The other Sunset Shimmer growled, "You are so stupid! Just like Pinkie Pie! You are you also!"

"Enough!" Sunset replied. "You are my mirror image! Yet your speeches are filled with evil and disrespect!" Sunset's duplicate smirked, seeing she touched a nerve with the original Sunset. "Who are you? And how are you like this?"

"I am the daughter of Somnambula's magics!" the other Sunset replied. "I am a product of Nightmare Moon's hatred towards Princess Celestia, and your own burning hatred of the ponies. I am your anger, hatred, and sorrow, made flesh! Your dark side! And I possess all the powers that you wield! And I was created by the Shadowbolts for one purpose! To hunt the Dragonfire, and exact my revenge!!"

"No!" Sunset screamed, before she shifted to a look of determination. "You'll have to get past me first!"

With that, both unicorns galloped through the Everfree Forest, blasting each other with their offensive spells, while countering each other with their defensive spells. Sunset kept on going, for the love of Spike, but eventually, she pushed herself to the point where she can't go on.

"Pathetic," Sunset's anger hissed. "Just like Twilight. Now, prepare to meet your maker!"

"Not so fast!" a voice shouted, revealing itself to be an armored unicorn, who casted a defensive shield, which reflected the angry counterpart's attack.

"Flare Heart?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"Hello, Sunset," the unicorn guard greeted. "Need some help?"

Sunset nodded, as she was helped up. With that, the two unicorns continued their fight with Sunset's anger, until Zecora returned. Seeing the zebra, Sunset's anger quickly retreated as a puff of smoke.

"I'll get you yet, Sunet Shimmer!" it screamed, as it flew away.




Present

Spike was beyond shocked and surprised, "W-Whatever happened to this anger of Sunset?" he asked.

Zecora looked solemn at first, before she replied, "The anger of Sunset Shimmer fled, before we presumed it to be dead."

"I don't know," Sunset replied uneasily. "I have a bad feeling that she's still out there, somewhere."

Spike pulled Sunset close in another comforting hug, "Don't worry Sunset," he said. "Whatever happens, you won't be alone to deal with it."

Sunset smiled, as she pulled Spike even closer, "That's why I love you," she said, planting a kiss on his cheek, which result in his face to turn completely red. Not to mention his eyes catching on fire.

Zecora and Peewee watched the scene in amusement, before another voice sounded, "Sunset? Zecora?" a voice called out. "I'm back! And how is our little prince?"

"He's doing fine," Sunset replied.

"Huh?" Spike began. "Who's there?" he asked, while hearing the faint sounds of dirts falling lose, and the sound of hoof steps echoed through the cave. Spike looked, before he gasped at sight of the newcomer. Standing before him, was the tall unicorn, cladded in a dark purple armor.

"Ah, yes," Zecora smiled. "Do not fret. An old friend from the past, has finally got the chance to see you at last. Give us the pleasure, to reintroduce you to one known as, Fleur."

With that, the unicorn's horn glowed in a light pink aura, lifting her helmet off, before she looked at Spike and smiled, "Bonjour, Spike."
> Help From The Shadow Part 3: The Legend of Fleur-De-Lis
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Tìm về chốn cũ: Written and Sung by Nguyễn Phi Hùng.]
Alt. Female Vocals

Long ago, in a small village in Equestria, there lived a unicorn couple who were known for their past achievements and heroism to Equestria, including their triumphant victory against the evil King Haggard. However, unlike the pompous nobles whom they were often compared to, fame and fortune meant nothing to them, compared to their most treasured possession of all: their daughter, whom they named Fleur De Lis, after a beautiful flower.

She was beautiful, smart, and to a degree, a bit of a stuck up. It is no surprise that many colts have gone crazy for the filly, much to the ire and jealousy of some other fillies. It was the life of a dream for Fleur, as she simply enjoys the attention she was receiving, both from her peers and her parents. But even dreams, can come to an end. 

One day, tragedy struck, as the filly, came back home from a school field trip, to find her village in flames. Everywhere she looked, she could see devastations, destructions, and carnage. The life she once knew was plagued with nightmares, as ponies and magical creatures in black and purple all attacked countless of villagers, and set many houses ablaze. During the chaos, Fleur saw her parents fighting the attackers off. It wasn't long before one of the attackers set their sight on her. With that, Fleur broke into a run, trying to get away, before she was struck from behind, and was knocked out cold. By the time she woke up, her home was in ruins. Her parents, missing in action. The life she knew it, gone, burned to the ground.

Weeks have passed, and still no sign of her parents. Eventually, Fleur couldn't stand it anymore and decided to go and look for her parents, asking for help from the local ponies. However, much to her dismay, her "friends" refused to risk their lives for her, saying how their lives aren't worth risking for a "pampered princess." Even the colts failed to find it in their hearts to play the role as a hero for her. And the pain doesn't stop there, as she was marred with hatred by some of the elder ponies, who blamed her for the loss of her parents, saying how she should've been the one who had been taken, not her parents.

Depressed upon realizing the truth of her life from the ponies she lived with, Fleur was beside herself, heartbroken at the loss of her parents, and at the deception of the love she once thought was real.

[Mulan OST - Short Hair]

Finally, Fleur decided to take matters into her own hooves. With that, she went and cut her mane and tail short, putting on a fake cutie mark, before she takes a few samples from her father's armor, to create one that is just about her size, while giving herself the appearance of a colt, so as to hide herself from the attackers. Obviously, they must've been interested in her for a reason. Once the tasks were done, Fleur took her first step to finding her parents, and an adventure of a lifetime.




Present
[Evening Star - Fleur-De-Lis]

"Bonjour Spike," Fleur smiled.

In appearance, Fleur was a tall white unicorn, with a long pink mane and tail, both which ended in curls, light purple eyes with matching eye shadows.

Spike sat still, gazing in awe at the unicorn before him, and not just because of her beauty, "Um, bonjour?" Spike hesitantly greeted. "Fleur?"

Fleur giggled, finding the young boy's confusion adorable, "Fleur-De-Lis, to be exact," Fleur stated her full name. "But as we were friends before, Fleur works too," the mare smiled as she bowed her head in respect, "And permit me to say, how happy I am to finally meet you again, after so many moons, my prince."

Spike, still not remembering the unicorn, scratched his head, "Please, no need to be so formal," he assured, as the unicorn stood up. "Though, I wish I could return the feeling."

Nodding her head in understanding, Fleur answered, "Then, allow me to tell you the story, of our friendship together." Spike nodded, as both he and Fleur got comfortable. 

Zecora, Sunset Shimmer, and Peewee looked to each other, knowing they should leave the two be. With that, the zebra, unicorn, and phoenix took their leave, as Fleur began her story.




Past: Before Spike met the Mane Six and Sunset Shimmer.

A young human Spike, roughly at age four, was out and about in Canterlot. Everywhere he looked, he could see the ponies all setting up decorations, preparing for an upcoming event. Coming up in a few days, as the Chinese would say, it's his Shēngrì. In other words, every ponies are all preparing for his birthday. It had taken Scorpan awhile, but he was able to locate Spikes birth certificate in the human world, and with it, Princess Celestia and all the ponies are all making preparations for the young prince's upcoming birthday.

Spike was walking through the busy streets of Canterlot, on his way to meet his uncle and cousins at the training grounds, close to Canterlot. Scorpan had suspected that dark forces would use the boy's birthday as a chance to get close enough for the Dragonfire. Not willing to take any chances, Scorpan had begun preparations with the royal guards, setting up defenses around the city, as well as initiating excruciating trainings with the recruits he had called for, and those who joined willingly. Furthermore, Scorpan had even suggested for Spike, Prince Blueblood, and a young Princess Cadence to begin their training of self-defense as well, much to Blueblood's dismay.

Spike was on his way to meet up with his uncle and cousins, when he bumped into a pony, and they both fell to the floor.

"Sorry," they both said. "My fault."

Spike looked up, and was surprised to see Fleur-De-Lis herself, in her disguise, cladded in a suit of silver armor. Fleur, meanwhile, looked at the boy in astonishment, and curiosity.

Wanting to break the ice, Spike greeted with a friendly, "Hi," Fleur continued to remain speechless. "I don't think I've seen you around here. What's your name?" Spike asked.

Just then, a tall unicorn colt, came galloping to the two. In appearance, the colt has a white coat, light azure mane and tail, with matching eyes and hooves. For attires, he wears a black tuxedo over a blue dress shirt, a purple bow tie, and monocle.

"Fleur-De-Lis! There you are-" the colt called, before he took notice of Spike's presence. "Oh, good afternoon, young prince."

"Hi Fancy Pants!" Spike replied, as both he and Fancy Pants shook hoof and hands.

"Prince Spike?!" Fleur asked, realizing she was in the presence of the Dragon Prince. With that, she quickly bowed her head in respect, "Oh dear! Forgive me, your highness! I didn't know. I-I-I-"

"It's okay," Spike replied. "I don't like being called 'your highness,' so much. Though, if I may ask, why are you dressed in a suit of armor? I didn't think Uncle Scorpan would allow girls into the army."

Fleur quickly froze up, and turned pale(If she can get any paler that is), realizing she had forgotten to put on her colt persona.

Luckily, Fancy Pants was there to help, "Perhaps it would be best for you to sit down, young prince," With that, Fancy Pants and Fleur all explained the situation to the Dragon Prince. "And that's where we are now," Fancy Pants concluded.

Spike could hardly believe his ears, "Gosh, I'm sorry to hear that, Fleur," He said in sympathy, before he shifted to a look of determination. "Well, if you want to find your mom and dad, then let me help you."

"You mean it?" Fleur asked.

"As the Dragon Prince, and as part of my Noble Dragon Code, yes," Spike answered with pride.

"Oh, merci," the filly exclaimed, pulling the prince in for a loving embrace.




At Training Camp

"What's your name?" a young Shining Armor asked Fleur. Shining Armor was also there, working as Scorpan's assistant. He is in charge of training the fillies and colts for self-defense, while Scorpan was in charge with training the adults.

Fleur stuttered, while putting on her colt voice impression, "I-I-uh-"

"Your commanding officer just asked you a question!" Prince Blueblood stated bitterly.

"I have a name," Fleur replied. "And it's a boy's name too."

"And what might it be?" the prince inquired.

Thinking fast, Spike and Fancy Pants answered, "Flare Heart!"

"Flare Heart?" Shining Armor asked.




Present

"You're Flare Heart?!" Spike asked in shock.

Fleur giggled in amusement, "So you've heard of me. But by a different name."




Past

"Yes!" 'Flare' answered sternly. "My name is Flare Heart! Son of Sir Lir and Lady Amalthea."

"Sir Lir?" Shining Armor asked. "The Sir Lir?"

"Is that so?" Prince Blueblood pondered. "How curious since I don't recall Sir Lir and Lady Amalthea having a son."

Spike, Fancy Pants, and 'Flare' looked to each other, sweating a storm before Spike came up with an excuse, "He doesn't talk about Flare much."

"Yeah," Flare replied, nodding 'his' head frantically, trying to spit the ground, but only manage a sloppy drool.

"I can see why," Blueblood whispered, to Shining Armor. "The boy's an absolute, lunatic."

Spike glared at Blueblood, before he continues, "But still, he's a really good guy. Right Flare?"

"Right, Spike," Flare winked.

"Excuse me," Blueblood began, walking up to Flare. "But where do you get off acting so 'casual' around royalty?"

"Hey, take it easy Blueblood," Spike said, standing up for Flare. "Flare's a friend of Fancy Pants," Flare was taken by surprise by what 'he' was hearing. "And a friend of Fancy Pants is a friend of mine. And a friend of mine is okay to call me however they want."

Prince Blueblood rolled his eyes, "Whatever," Then, with a huff, Blueblood walked away, while saying, "If you'll excuse me. I have important matters to contend with."

"Yeah," Spike whispered to Flare and Fancy, "Himself." This resulted in a few laugh from the two.

"I heard that!" Blueblood shouted.




Later

The three friends were later setting up Flare's tent, along with Spike's which is next to the former.

While setting up the tents, Flare decided to chew the fat, "I can't think of any words to say how grateful we are of your assistance, Prince Spike." 'He' said, while Fancy Pants nodded in agreement.

"Oh don't mention it," Spike smiled. "After all, that's what friends are for. Right?"

"Friends?" Flare asked, with a hint of doubt in his voice. "Are we truly friends?"

"Well yeah," Spike looked at the 'colt' confusingly. "Don't you have any friends?"

Flare looked away and answered, "No. I've never had a friend before. Not even one," Flare gazed sadly at a park, seeing a group of foals, out and about, playing games together and sharing some laughs. "From where I come from, all I ever was to every pony in the village, was a looker. They don't care much about who I really am. Only for the fact that I'm the daughter of a couple of heroes. I guess, I've become such a prima donna, that I hardly ever noticed how lonely I really am," At this point, Flare started to shed a tear, which Spike and Fancy could tell, even with the helmet concealing it. "I wonder if I'll ever see my parents again."

"There, there darling," Fancy said, comforting the mare in stallion's armor. "Everything will be alright."

Spike looked sadly at the two. Then, out of impulse, he walked over and pulled the girl in a hug.

"Prince Spike?" Flare asked. "W-What are you doing?"

"Something I would do for a friend of mine," Spike answered. "Whenever they're sad. A hug is all it takes to make them feel better."

Touched by the boy's warmth and affection, Fleur smiled as she returned the embrace.




That night

[The Last Unicorn- Man's Road]

Fancy Pants went back home, while Fleur and Spike were left to spend the night, in their tents, at the training camp.

Spike was sound asleep, while Fleur-De-Lis was having difficulties doing so, due to a nightmare she was experiencing.

In her dream, she finds herself, back in the village, before it was destroyed. She watched, as young foals would run by, flying kites, playing games of balls, and such. The very sight would bring smile to Fleur. Suddenly, lightning struck the village, and everywhere Fleur looked, all of the little ponies were burning, screaming in agony, and crying for help.

In response, Fleur broke into a gallop, trying to find water. But everywhere she goes, she was only met with the gruesome images of ponies on fire, screaming, and begging for help. Furthermore, the fires and smokes would all form into the appearance of skulls, laughing and taunting at her.

Fleur quickly woke up with a scream, panting heavily, before she got up and walked out of her tent. Luckily, none of the recruits heard her, so no one didn't see Fleur in her natural appearance. Well, except for one.

Spike, half awake, parted the tent's opening to see Fleur, glowing in the moonlight. This was enough to make Spike's tired eyes to snap fully awake, in awe at the unicorn's beauty in the moonlight. Spike watched as the young mare went to the river, levitating a scoopful of water with her magic, and drank some to calm her nerves.

Even at a distance far away, and in human form, Spike could hear the unicorn whispering, "Mom. Dad. Wherever you are. Please hold on. I'm coming."





The next morning, it was time for the cadets to begin their training. Spike was the first to be awaken, along with some other cadets. After doing some morning stretches, Spike was about to be on his way, before he stopped, remembering Fleur, and went back to waker her up.

"Alright, rise and shine, Flare," Spike gently nudged the filly.

With that, Flare complied, as he dons up his armor, along with Spike, before they went out. Halfway to the training grounds however, Flare hesitated.

"Feeling nervous?" Spike asked.

"Of course I'm nervous," Flare replied. "I mean look at me. I can't, pass off as a colt."

"Don't worry Flare," Spike assured. "I'm here to help you! I'm the Dragon Prince! Noble is my name, and helping others is my game! Just remember, this isn't about you! You're doing this to save your parents!" Fleur smiled as the boy kept going on, "And the most important thing you need to know is: It doesn't matter who you are, it's what others think you are!"

With that, Spike started singing in a suave voice as he does a musical number. Even at such a young age, Spike's got a set of pipes.



While Spike does his singing, Fleur couldn't help but smile in amusement, as well as a look of encouragement and confidence appearing on her face.

"So what do you say?" Spike asked.

With a look of determination, Fleur shook her hoof with Spike and answered, "Let's keep 'em guessing."





Soon, the two later arrived at camp, just as soon as Shining Armor arrived.

"Attention!" Shining Armor shouted, in which the recruits: stallions, minotaurs, satyrs, and all sorts of creatures complied. "Salute!"

"Yes sir!" they shouted.

Shining Armor looked, before he pointed, "You! Front and center!"

An anthropomorphic pig walked out, "M-M-M-M-Me?" he stuttered.

"Yes you!" Shining replied. "I said salute!"

"Y-Y-Y-Y-Yes sir!" the pig stuttered, as he saluted again, only to be met with several smacks from Shining's commanding stick.

"Put some backbone into it!" the unicorn ordered. "You're in the army now! A real soldier never stutters! And keep your stomach  in! Shoulders back! Keep it in!" Shining Armor then pointed to another part of the area, as he instructed the pig, "Go over there and repeat it 500 times!"

"Yes sir!" the pig quickly replied, before he marched away. Afterwards, Shining Armor went back to his lecture.

"I don't care how sloppy you boys were in the boy scouts!" he barked. "You're here for the purpose of learning self-defense. And as such, you'll behave like a discipline soldier should be when on duty! Any sloppy behaviors of yours will not be tolerated!"

As Spike listened to the unicorn's lecture, he couldn't help but overhear some of the recruits whispering, "Hey Roger! Look at that chick over there!"

"Oh, she's got a crazy figure!"

"I'd say she's 20."

"That's not so hard to figure."

Unfortunately, their gossip didn't go unheard, "You two! Front and center!" Shining Armor shouted, as the two complied. "What's all the talking about?" The two soldiers repeated what they said, to which Shining Armor replied by saying, "Go back there and repeat it 500 times, and louder!"

"What?!" the recruits exclaimed.

"Alright! A thousand then!"

"A thousand?"

"Do you want it 10,000 then?"

"No, sir! Yes, sir! I mean, a thousand times sir!" With that, the two marched away, repeating what they had said, much to their embarrassment, and resulting in a fit of laughter from the other recruits. 

"Who's making all that noise?!" Shining Armor inquired, causing the recruits to cease laughing.

"I did sir!" a brown anthropomorphic wolf answered, before he was called up to Shining Armor.

"You admit to be laughing in the rank?" the unicorn asked.

"Yes sir, I admit it sir," the wolf replied.

"What's your excuse for this?"

"I'm part hyena, I guess."

"And what do you think is a fitting punishment for you?"

"Do I have to go back there and laugh a thousand times?"

"Take a stick!" Shining Armor ordered. "Bash him dead!!"

"YIPE!!" the wolf shrieks in terror, before he was taken away for his sentence.

In the meantime, Shining Armor ordered the rest of the recruits to give him 20 laps around the field. Just then, Shining Armor's colleagues returned.

"Reporting, sir!" one of them began. "The prisoner fainted before we could bash him."

"Let his fear serve as an example then," Shining Armor replied.





Later, the recruits were tasked to retrieve a single red flag, surrounded by several armored fighting dummies, and living suits of armors. Obviously, it's not an easy task, as none of the recruits, including Spike, Flare, and most of all, Prince Blueblood, could retrieve the flag.

"That could've been my leg!" Spike whimpered, almost getting his foot crushed.

"That could've been me!" Flare exclaimed, nearly getting her heart pierced by an arrow, at an exposed part of her armor.

"That could've been my hair!" Blueblood shrieked. "I think I've had enough training for one day." Blueblood left, with his head held up high.

"We've got a long way to go," Shining Armor grumbled, before he resumed the rest of the day, training the rookies.



Fleur initially faced several difficulties throughout the harsh trainings received from both Shining Armor, and the cadets. 

During the first training session, one of the cadets played a joke on her and poured some ants into her armor, causing her to jump and buck her legs out aimlessly getting the ants out, and knocking the cadets down like domino. Luckily, Shining Armor came and stopped the young mare, as well as getting the ants out of her armor, without having to remove the armor, thankfully.

Later, Professor Inkwell, or Mad-Eye Inkwell as she was known for, was also at the training camp, assisting Scorpan and Shining Armor, with magic self-defense. For creatures that specialized in magic, she taught them how to conjure up magic shields, to protect themselves from offensive spells, while Scorpan taught non-magical creatures in using certain special techniques to avoid, or counter, offensive spells.

Flare, for some reason, was unsuccessful in performing a simple basic shield spell, and nearly got lobbed by an offensive spell, had Spike not jumped in and took the hit, causing him to fly back, and into a tree.

"I'm okay!" he called out, while the mad-eye unicorn veteran looked at the young guard in training, with disapproving glare from her one good eye. Princess Cadence, however, succeeded in projecting a shield spell, impressing Mad-Eye Inkwell, and Shining Armor.

Fleur didn't do so well with close combat either, as she always comes out with a black eye, a bloody nose, and cracked hooves. Spike in the meantime, would always impress the recruits, with his natural prowess and skills of the martial arts, courtesy of Scorpan, much to Fleur's admiration, along with Blueblood's ire and envy.

With that, Blueblood tried to steal the spotlight, by chopping a piece of brick with his hoof, only to end up punching himself in the face and knocking a few teeth out, "Boy was I fool in school for cutting gym," he moaned, before he collapsed.

Later, the recruits were out in some open fields, where the adults were learning the proper methods of firing some military rockets from their cannons, while Shining Armor's recruits learned the use of powerful offensive spells.

Flare, focusing on a nearby rock, got her concentration broke by one of the recruits, causing the spell to be misfired, as it flew back into Canterlot, and exploded Prince Blueblood and Bunny, causing them to be covered in soots.

The next day after that, the recruits were all tasked to go through a long run, approximately a thousand miles, while carrying a shoulder pole with rocks weighing more than 400 lbs. each. At last, it was all so overbearing, that Flare collapsed from exhaustion. The recruits, including Shining Armor and Scorpan, all shook their heads in disapproval, taunting her to pack up and go home. Humiliated and dejected, Flare was about to quit, when a certain Dragon Prince stopped her.

Spike invited the mare to do some private sparring with him, and with his help, they were able to help her perfect some moves, both which would become her signature moves. With that, Flare was able to prove herself the next day, to Scorpan, Shining Armor, and the whole royal cadets, by retrieving the flag from their first training session, before improving and succeeded in the last training sessions she had failed in, impressing the recruits, earning their respects, and serving as their role model.

Spike watched happily, seeing how he was able to help Fleur accomplish her goal.




Present

"And I couldn't have done it, without you," Fleur smiled, magically pulling the boy close before she hugged the boy with her forelegs. "Merci, Spike."

Spike smiled, blushing, and groaning from how tightly she is hugging him, 'Wow, she's very strong,' he thought.

Had Fleur turned herself human at the moment, and loses the armor, then this is how the scene would've looked.



Give credits to Cogbrony for drawing the picture, and WildCard25 for commissioning it.



After their tender embrace, Spike asked, "So anything happened after that?"




Past

Since then, both Fleur and Spike have been the best of friends.

Both Spike and Fleur would go on fun-filling adventures, from exploring Griffonstone with Gilda and Gabby, to braving the dangers of Dracasia with a dragoness named Princess Ember. 

Sometimes, whenever danger occurs in the areas that occur, they wouldn't hesitate to answer the calls for help, after Fleur dons up her Flare Heart persona, of course. One time, they even worked together on rescuing some elder ponies escape from a burning building. Another time was when they stopped a band of terrorists from crashing an airship into a building in Manehattan, courtesy of the inside work from Gilda. However, their heroic deeds were nothing compared to the time when they both saved many lives, during a paper dragon's parade, after it was enchanted into a real dragon, on Spike's birthday. And if anything can top off that particular incident, it would be the time when they both worked together with Fluttershy on recapturing all of Professor Chimera's escaped creatures.

There are also time, when they're not working as heroes of Canterlot, the two would sometimes play hide and seek together in the maze, and with the royal guards. It was also worth noting how difficult they made for the guards, considering Spike's ability to shape-shift, along with Fleur easily posing herself as a statue.

They even, at times, pulled some pranks on Prince Blueblood. Which are stories for another time, regrettably.

However, on some rare occasions, Fleur-De-Lis does tend to go out as herself in public, together with Fancy Pants and Spike, to mingle with most of the Canterlot Elites. Like the colts from her village, the ones in Canterlot have also taken an instant liking to the young mare, obviously because of her appearance, which she no longer took to mind. Some times later, Fleur even managed to hit it off well with the Mane Six, Sunset Shimmer, and some others, as herself of course, seeing how quick they were to welcoming their new friend. 

As time goes by, Fleur started to develop some feelings for the young Dragon Prince, having been captivated by his courage and noble intentions. Though, like most of the girls, she too felt a twinge of jealousy, whenever she sees Spike having a good time with the others.




Present

"You as well?" Spike asked, to which Fleur replied with a nod. 'Either I'm just that good with the girls, or there's something else about my powers.' he thought, before he shrugged mentally. 'Oh well.'

"Well, can't we help it if we simply find you too irresistible?" Fleur asked. "You're just so cute, so brave, and above all, too kindhearted to not be loved." With that, Fleur nuzzled Spike's cheek with hers, causing the boy to blush once more.

"Yeah," Spike replied. "I've been getting that a lot from the girls." It didn't take long before Spike senses a twinge of sadness within Fleur. He broke away, to see a despondent look on the mare's face. "Fleur?" he asked. "What's wrong? Or do I dare ask?"

Fleur shifted her gaze on Spike, taking a deep breath and replied, "Forgive me Spike. I was just thinking about that tragic event. How you were attacked, and how I wasn't there to protect you. Honestly, losing you was the most heartbreaking moment of my life, next to the loss of my parents."




Past
[Mulan OST - The Huns Attack]

During the Shadowbolts's attack on Canterlot, in an attempt on Spike's life, Flare Heart was racing to the rescue, before she was confronted by several Shadowbolts. Without warning, the Shadowbolts all fired several dark spells and weapons at the lone unicorn, who countered with a shield spell, before she disappeared and reappeared in a flash of fire, before firing a magic bolt that exploded at one of the Shadowbolts. Her ears perked, as she heard another one jumping from behind, which she countered with another of her fiery kick.

Then, as if things weren't overwhelming enough, strange dark creatures started to appear form the Shadowbolts's shadows, in the forms of humanoid creatures, in ninja garbs. Seeing how dire the situation has grown, Flare changed into her battle form, unsheathing her rapier, "En garde," she challenged.

With that, the ninjas all came out her, with several kicks and punches, along with strikes from their katanas, sais, nun-chucks, and spears, all which Flare parried with her sword, along with deflecting all of the shurikens being thrown at her.

"Impressive," one of the Shadowbolts smirked. "You've got your mother's looks. But you've got your father's skills."

"What do you expect, from the son of the heroes of Equestria?" Flare asked.

The Shadowbolts all broke into a fit of laughter, "Did you really take us for a bunch of fools?" one of them, a female, asked. "We know for a fact you're not really the son of Sir Lir and Lady Amalthea. There never was a son," Flare remained stoic as the Shadowbolt continued. "And we should know, because we saw it first hoof, when we attacked their village, intending on capturing their beloved daughter, who was fated to possess an amount of immeasurable magics, which her mother had passed onto her, after her victory against the evil King Haggard."

Flare's eyes became darkened with rage, as she screamed, "So it was you!!" With a burst of speed, Flare leapt into the air, in a flaming cartwheel, striking the Shadowbolt with her enflamed blade, which the former countered with a shield spell. "What have you done to my family?!" Flare asked angrily.

"I see you've also got your father's temper," the Shadowbolt taunted, dodging another blow. "Not to mention his fire."

"Answer me, knave!" Flare screamed, managing to land a cut on the Shadowbolt's shoulder.

Though in pain, the Shadowbolt went on, stating, "You'll have to fight for your answers first."

With that, Flare did just that, as she and the Shadowbolts continued their magic duels, until Midnight Sparkle stopped their fight. From one of the castle's towers, a large chunk of the tower was hurled from the air, nearly crushing Flare and the Shadowbolts. Frightened for their life, the Shadowbolts ran for their life, dodging hails of fires, and magic lightnings, as they disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Fleur looked in the direction, of where the magic was coming from, before she broke into a gallop, determined to save Spike. But by the time she arrived, it was too late.

"No," Fleur gasped in dismay.





[Mulan OST - The Burned-Out Village]

Spike was later being carried away on a flatbed, by the royal guards, towards a portal, where Princess Celestia and Scorpan were waiting. After Princess Celestia had said her tearful farewell, Flare Heart came up, levitating the young prince's suit of armor, cape, and rapier.

"No Flare Heart," Scorpan said, handing the items back to the armored mare. "Spike won't be needing those, for awhile." With that, the items were surrounded in Princess Celestia's magic aura, as the heartbroken alicorn levitated them up, before they all watched as the portal closed behind Spike and Scorpan. With that, Princess Celestia let loose another waterfall of tears, seeing her precious child, vanishing out of sight.

"I'm sorry," Flare Heart apologized, in her real voice, bowing her head before the princess.

Silent, Princess Celestia turned around, on her way back to the castle. But not before she placed her wing on Flare's shoulder, assuring the young unicorn that it wasn't her fault.




Present

"Mom," Spike whispered, remembering the distraught look on his adoptive mother's face, in his dreams. Looking at first his best friend, Spike asked, "How's mom doing? Is she doing alright? Is she still waiting for me?"

Fleur slowly nodded, "Oui, she is doing fine, mon'amie." She smiled faintly, before it resumed to a frown, "Though not as happy as she was when you first came Equestria. But nonetheless, she's feeling better," Fleur smiled as she recalled some fond memories.




Past

After Spike and Scorpan left, the Mane Six, and most of their friends and families had joined together to help fill the void in the sun princess's heart, longing for her son. Princess Cadence, opposed to the stuck Prince Blueblood, acted more like a dedicated niece, if not a daughter. Twilight continues to be the faithful student she's always has been since she had enrolled in Celestia's school. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie would throw the princess numerous parties and fun activities for her to enjoy. Rarity would show off her designs for upcoming events. And Applejack and Fluttershy would help the princess feel a part of their family, by inviting her to social events in which they would get together. As for Fleur, the young mare, along with some other mares, would do some dances to cheer Princess Celestia up.

All of these activities worked, making the princess smiled. Just a little.





One day, a festival was taking place in Canterlot. Fleur-De-Lis at the time, had bloomed into one of the best dancers of Canterlot, from all the dances she had performed for Princess Celestia. However, like all of the mares who fell for Spike's charm, she was still to discontent with his absent. Unable to focus on her tasks, and failing to reignite the desire of finding her parents, she retired from the royal guards, and lived with Fancy Pants, working as his bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Princess Celestia and the Mane Six, plus Sunset Shimmer, were on their way to Canterlot Central, when danger struck, in the form of a huge, fat pink pig, with huge wings, brown hair, red eyes, a small crown, and a long sparkling, blue cape.

[A Very Potter Sequel - Stutter]

"Princess Porcina?!" Princess Celestia exclaimed in shock, along with the girls.

"Yes!" the said princess snorted. "It is I! The beautiful, loving, and charming, Princess Porcina! And I'm here to take what's rightfully mine!"

"You still haven't changed since our last battle," Princess Celestia scowled.

"Same for the ponies," Princesss Porcina growled. "They should've been worshipping me, instead of you! The all so fairest pony and creature in all of Equestria and beyond!" the angry pig snorted in disgust and jealousy.

"Enough!" Princesses Celestia shouted. "This ends now!"

"With pleasure!" the mad pig princess smirked.

With that, the two princesses charged into battle, clashing their magics together. At first, Princess Celestia looked as if she was going to win, when Princess Porcina's magics overtook the former, defeating the sun princess.

"But how?" Princess Celestia groaned.

Princess Porcina laughed, like a crazed maniac, as she gloated, "My magic cape feeds off of the power of your sun and moon. I now have all your powers, including your sister's, plus my own!" With that, the pig princess flew in, and attacked the princess mercilessly.

Elsewhere, Fancy Pants and Fleur-De-Lis were at a party, when Fleur saw the commotion, "NO!" she yelled.

The mare's cry caught Fancy Pants, and some of the elites' attentions, as they all looked, and gasped.

Princess Porcina was thrashing Princess Celestia all over Canterlot, along with the Mane Six.

Fancy Pants turned to the mare, "Fleur?" he asked, before he noticed the mare running to the scene. "Fleur!!"

[Snap-I've Got The Power]

In a flash of fire, Fleur arrived as Flare Heart, confronting the pig princess. Though Spike wasn't there besides her, like he used to, she did know one thing, "Nobody hurts my friends and my princess!"

"Get lost, kid!" Princess Porcina snorted, blasting an explosive fireball at Flare, causing him to fly away, and for his helmet to fly off, revealing himself to be Fleur-De-Lis. Needless to say, the ponies, Porcina, were all surprised at the revelation, besides the Mane Six.

"Well, well, well," Princess Porcina smirked. "The faithful sidekick of Spike Draco is nothing more but a mare in disguise!" Fleur looked around in shame, seeing the mixed reactions of shock and disgusts from the elites.

"What are you going to do now, princess?" Princess Porcina taunted. "Are you going to try and stop me with your pretty face?" the pig lets out a fit of snorting laughs.

Humiliated, Fleur nearly considered giving up, when memories of her adventures with Spike flashed into her mind. Reminding her of the kind feats. he performed with her, during those adventures, along with his support and belief in her abilities, Fleur's warrior passion was instantly renewed.

"I may be pretty," Fleur began, standing up. "But I also have heart of flare. And if you think you're so pretty. Then lets put your bits where your mouth is!" With that, Fleur shot a magic bolt, which Porcina quickly shielded herself with her cape, before she was met with a flaming kick to the face. With that, a battle between Fleur and the mad pig took place. Though at first, it seemed as though Porcine would win, Fleur-De-Lis pulled through, as she succeeded in disarming the mad princess of her cape, before she tore it in half, causing the pig princess to lose all of her powers as her wings disappeared in a puff of smoke, her vibrantly pink skin turned dull and sickly gray, and her eyes turned completely white.

"You were quite the adversary," Fleur smirked, as she casted a spell that hogtied the pig. "But now, I must bid you adieu!" With that, Fleur had Porcina tied to a tree, before she slingshotted the pig, out into the night sky.

Fleur then turned around, and was greeted by the surprised look on the ponies' face. A moment of awkward silence followed, until Pinkie was the first to break it.

"WHOO-HOO!" Pinkie cheered. "Way to go, Fleur!!" Soon the ponies all erupted into cheers. "Who's got the flare? Fleur's got the flare! F to the L to the ARE! Ain't no other pony's like Fleur-De-Lis!! She's Fleurdelicious!!"

"YEEEEAAAAAHHH!!!" A young Bulk Bicep shouted in agreement.

The ponies all clopped their hooves to the ground, applauding the young mare's heroism. Fleur couldn't help but smile, as she bowed her head, in gratitude, while thinking, "If only my parents were here to see this. And I do wish that Spike was here to see this as well."




Present
[Endless Love - Jackie Chan, Kim Hee Seon]

"Wow," Spike said in awe. "I'd sure wish I've been there to see it." The boy smiled.

"Oui," Fleur smiled.

Meanwhile, hiding behind the walls, eavesdropping on their conversation, was none other than Sunset Shimmer herself, with Peewee. The phoenix was crying his eyes out, while hearing the whole story between the two friends, in which Sunset finds it a good opportunity to collect them.

'Hey!' Peewee exclaimed in his thought, at the unicorn.

Just then, Zecora came running into the room, carrying a basket of all sorts of herbs, "Excuse me," she called. "I hope I'm not interrupting Fleur-De-Lis."

"Not at all Zecora," Spike replied. "She just finished telling me the whole story."

"Oui," the unicorn confirmed.

"Good to hear," Zecora replied, readying a fireplace. "Because your Uncle Scorpan is here!"

"Uncle?" Spike asked, looking around for the said man. "Where?"

Once the firewoods were in place, Sunset quickly came in, and effortlessly started a fire in the fire place. Zecora then took a handful of magic dusts of sort, threw it into the fire, causing it to explode in a yellowish inferno.

"How is my nephew doing?" a voice called, revealing itself to be none other than Scorpan, who's face appeared in the fire.

"Uncle?!" Spike exclaimed, looking at the fire. "Is that really you? How are you doing this?"

"Magic stuffs, kiddo," the man replied. "Something you'll learn later on in Equestria. When you're ready to go back that is."

"And when is that?" Spike asked, anxious to see Princess Celestia again.

"Patience, young one," Scorpan replied. "As the wise Aristotle once said, 'Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.'"

"Huh?"

Shaking his head, Scorpan replied, much clearer, "Soon Spike. When you've proven yourself to be ready, is the day we'll return to Equestria."

Spike groaned in frustration, thinking, 'I am ready.'

"You still haven't fully mastered Mind Blocking, y'know," Sunset Shimmer stated, having read the boy's mind.

"Sunset!" Spike exclaimed.

"However, if it makes you feel any better," Scorpan began. "You're nearly there."

"Forgive me if I withhold my enthusiasm," Spike muttered.

"I'm sorry nephew," Scorpan replied. "But I'm not willing to take any chances of you going back to Equestria on your own, unprepared, with the Shadowbolts awaiting in an ambush. And speaking of, the Shadowbolts are growing even more relentless, tearing up New York for you. And until the heat's off, you're spending some times with Zecora."

"What?!" Spike exclaimed. "You mean I can't come back home with you?"

"It's for the best, Spike," Sunset said, comforting the boy with a hand on his shoulder.

Reluctant, Spike nodded, "Alright uncle. I hope you know what you're doing for me. But please, can you at least let the girls and the boys know I'm okay?"

Twirling with his mustache, Scorpan nodded, "Very well. I'll let them know. Be safe, nephew." Scorpan then turns his attention to Zecora, "I know it's a lot to ask, but I-"

"No need to speak, Scorpan," Zecora interrupted. "Just happy to have lend a helping hand, on getting this dragon back to his homeland."

With a bow of his head, Scorpan disappeared.




Comedy Shorts

Meanwhile, with Princess Porcina. The evil pig was flying through outer space for eternity, like a shooting star. Then suddenly, she crashed through a bass drum head!


> Help From the Shadow Part 4: A Mother's Tears
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, with the girls

After a long day of fighting monsters, the girls returned, covered in bruises, scratches, and scorch marks. Fluttershy and Rarity succeeded in capturing the bugbear, while poor Bon Bon herself has a stung butt to show(not in public) for it. Rainbow Dash and Applejack managed to capture Gilda, securing a mask on her beak, and putting her in a straight jacket before putting the mad griffon in Fluttershy's backpack, along with the gremlins. Twilight, Pinkie, and Lyra on the other hand, were a different story.




Previous Encounter

The three girls all jumped out of the way, just as a stream of fire was blasted from the ceiling. The girls looked, seeing a huge black serpentine dragon, with blazing red eyes, and golden fins that resembles a hood, giving it the appearance of a cobra.

The dragon slithered through the railings in the ceilings, before it lunged forward, snapping its jaws at the girls. Twilight shot a beam of magic at the rails, causing the dragon to fall to the ground. Upon impact, the dragon, surprisingly, shattered in a puff of smokes, into several pieces of papers, woods, and fabrics, save for the head.

"Huh?" Twilight said in bewilderment. "It's just a puppet?"

"Not entirely," a familiar voice stated.

With that, the pieces all floated in the air, before they pieced together, restoring the dragon. With that, the dragon roared angrily, as Sunset Shimmer stepped out from the shadows, along with Snips, Snails, and Zephyr.

"Sunset Shimmer?!" the girls exclaimed.

"You're out?!" Twilight asked.

"And that dragon is yours?" Pinkie asked, receiving weird looks from Twilight and Lyra. "What? Just asking."

"Seeing as how I've got some time to kill, before I kill the three of you," Sunset began. "I might as well elucidate your sweet infested head."

"Hey!" Pinkie exclaimed. "No need to rub it in."

"SHUT UP!!" Sunset screamed, her eyes blazing in a burst of fire, along with her hair, scaring Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Lyra. "Without any interruptions. The dark magics Somnambula had taught me have brought this simple paper dragon into a real dragon." Sunset's face then went with a frown as she explained, "Regrettably, this dragon is only an imugi."

"A what?" Pinkie asked.

"An imugi," Twilight explained. "Basically, a dragon prototype from Korean legends that resembles gigantic serpents, but with potentials of becoming true dragons through different feats."

"Perceptive as always, Twilight," Sunset smirked. "So just think of what I could do with the Dragonfire. I can assemble a whole army of dragons at my commands!"

"NO!!" the girls shrieked. "You can't do that! We won't let you!"

"I'd like to see you try," Sunset sneered, before she went over to her creation. "Now my pets. Dinner time!"

[Sword Art Online OST - Swordland]

With a hiss, the dragon lunged forward, snapping its jaws at the girls.

Twilight leapt in the air, transforming into her battle form, and blasted a beam of magic at the dragon, causing it to lose a few of its skins, revealing the wooden skeletal interior within. Pinkie was zipping around, throwing a few of her sprinkle bombs, giving her a chance to escape the dragon in a puff of smoke, before she reappeared on top of its head, holding it by a tuft of fur on its head.

"Yee-haa!" Pinkie hollered. "Riding cowgirl!" Unfortunately, Pinkie's joy was cut short, as the dragon manages to coil itself around Pinkie, and started to squeeze her tight, suffocating the girl.

"What's the matter?" Sunset asked, while bearing an evil grin. "Don't you like hugs?"

"Sunset please," Pinkie groaned, tears coming out of her eyes, either from sadness, or from the hug. "Don't do this! I beg you, please! With sprinkles on top!"

"Why should I?" the red haired girl asked bitterly. "So that whenever I look at you, I'll always be reminded of how you and everyone were so quick to accuse me of a crime I didn't commit? To remind me how you never really did looked past my dark history?" With every words Sunset spoke, the dragon tightened its grip on Pinkie even harder, while the three Demonic Stooges kept Twilight and Lyra at bay. "I'd rather watch you be the cupcake for a change, than to live another day in exile and of torment you girls inflicted on me!" Pinkie's hair deflated a little, at the mad girl's words, as well as the grip from the dragon's grip.

"Dispose of them!" Sunset ordered, snapping her fingers. "NOW!"

With that, the dragon turned its head at the pink girl, licking its chops, before it lunged forward, jaws wide open.

"PINKIE!!" Twilight cried, before she threw Snips and Snails at the dragon, forcing it off the party girl. "Pinkie!" Twilight exclaimed, running to the girl. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Pinkie groaned. "I'm okay. It's just Sunset Shimmer I'm worried about." The girl looked sadly at what their friend(Or what they thought was their friend) had become.

Whipping the boys off with its tail, the dragon lunged forward, snapping its jaws at the girls, who jumped to the side.

"LYRA! DUCK!!" Twilight called.

Lyra, who was fighting Zephyre Breeze, quickly ducked down, just as the dragon flew overhead. With her horn still projected, she ripped through the dragon's fabric underbelly. The dragon lets out several groans of pains, before its wound sewed itself together. The dragon looked angrily at the minty colored unicorn, who quickly galloped away, neighing in fear. Twilight and Pinkie quickly jumped in, and threw a combination of magic bolts and sprinkle bombs together at the dragon, forcing it back, and causing more of its pieces to be blast open.

During the fight, Sunset took the opportunity to absorb some of Twilight and Pinkie's magic, before Lyra jumped in and kicked the device out of Sunset's hands, which flew into another pile of puppet dragons, nearby, bringing them to life.

[Kung Fu Panda 2 - More Cannons! OST]

"Big mistake," Sunset hissed in Lyra's face, before she turned around, to see a pack of living paper dragons. Sunset smiled, dropping Lyra to the ground, who crawled away, back to Twilight and Pinkie.

After finishing the first dragon, the girls looked and were horrified to see more paper dragons brought back to life.

"KILL THEM!!" Sunset ordered. "KILL THEM!!"

With that, the dragons all snapped their jaws as they slithered after the girls. One of them snapped its jaws at Pinkie Pie, scratching her arm in the process.

"Ouch!" Pinkie groaned. "Paper cut!"

"There's too many of them!" Lyra said.

Twilight looked, and agreed, seeing how dire the situation has become. With that, her horn glowed, as she took hold of everyone with their hands and hooves.

"Not so fast!" Sunset roared, throwing a fireball at Twilight's horn, interrupting her teleportation spell.

"Ow, my horn!" Twilight groaned.

"Sorry princess," Sunset said bitterly. "But I can't have you leave dinner so soon!"

"Maybe not!" a voice called out. "But I like to skip straight to desert!" Turning their heads, the girls were surprised to see Applejack, carrying a huge crate of anvils, which she threw at Sunset and the dragons.

"Applejack!" the girls exclaimed happily.

"C'mon y'all!" Applejack panted. "This way!"

After the stooges dug Sunset out from the debris's, the angry girl looked, to see the girls, disappearing in a flash of light.

"NOOOOOOO!!!" Sunset screamed.




Present

The girls were soon regrouped in Central Park, where they met up with Scorpan. There, they learned from Spike's surrogate uncle that the boy had been taken to a secret location for further training. While feeling relieved for his safety, at the same time, the girls felt disheartened as they were restricted from knowing his location, should they risk Nightmare Moon finding him. Furthermore, the girls had also informed Scorpan of their recent encounter with Sunset Shimmer, which troubled the man greatly.

Nevertheless, the girls knew that as long as Crystal Prep Academy and the Shadowbolts's Coney Island hideout thunders with Nightmare Moon's wrath and frustration, the mad alicorn can no longer trouble the young prince in his sleep.




Secret Place

That night, Spike was getting himself ready for the night. After brushing his teeth, and changing into his pajama, Spike walked into the guest room of Decor's hideout, where Sunset Shimmer, in pony form, had finished making his leaf bed.

"You're sleeping here?" Spike asked. "But I thought you already have some place to sleep. At that apartment I walked you to."

"Well, normally I would be sleeping there," Sunset began. "But other times, I like to come here and sleep with Zecora and Fleur. It beats than sleeping alone, you know."

"Good point," Spike soon laid his head down, trying to settle in. Feeling a twig poking him, Spike got up, finding the pesky plant, and disposed of it, before he resumed trying to get back to sleep. Even after turning himself into a dog, Spike was still not finding any comforts.

Sunset smirked, "I take it you've never slept in leaf beds before," she said.

"Obviously," Spike replied.

"Here, let me show you a trick I've once did, during my self-exile," With that, Sunset took a deep breath, and breathed a stream of fire from her mouth, circling around the leaf bed, before she patted them with her hooves.

Unsure of the unicorn's tactics, Spike snuggled into the bed, and was taken in by the warmth of the leaves, "Wow, this is amazing," he said, curling himself up into a ball. "This beats sleeping bags by a long shot."

"When you're pyrokinetic, that is," Sunset smiled, before she left the room. "Well, good night Spike."

"Good night, Sunset," Spike replied, before he felt himself drifting off to sleep.

Sunset smiled, while whispering to herself, "Sleep tight. Dream of fireflies tonight."




Meanwhile, with the girls

All six girls were staying at an apartment they had rented, during their stay in New York. Courtesy of Twilight's magic, each girls have a separate room of their own. Twilight was currently in her room, sitting in her bed, looking out her window, "I sure hope Spike's doing alright," Twilight said.

"Who?" a voice called, revealing itself to be her owl, Owlicious.

"Spike, that's who," Twilight answered, before she remembered that's just his way of talking.

"Who," the owl hooted, as if saying he's been acknowledged.

"I'm just really worried for him," Twilight continued. "Can you blame me? It's already been ten years since we last saw him, and already, he's being targeted by the Shadowbolts, moments after we're reunited. It almost feels like the world, if not the universe, is against us of being together with Spike. And every chances we have of being together again, something always comes up, trying to force us apart again."

Owlicious nodded in understanding, "Who, who," he hooted, flapping his wings over to a photo album, opening it up, skimming through a few pages, before he settled on one picture in particular.

Twilight looked, seeing a picture of herself, the girls, and Princess Celestia, embracing the young boy, when he was prince.

"You're right," Twilight smiled, with a determined look. "We've come too far to turn back now. We can't let Princess Celestia down. We have to do this, for every pony, for Spike, and for the Magic of Friendship! It's not over yet!"

"WHO!" Owlicious hooted in agreement. His way of saying, "YEAH!"




Meanwhile

"Aye me!" Zecora exclaimed, as she had another conversation, via meditation, with Scorpan, who was in astral projection. "This is most tragic I see!"

"What do you have to say about Sunset Shimmer, Zecora?" Scorpan asked. "I thought you say she can be trusted."

"Before you jump to conclusions, let me first dispel the confusion," With that, Zecora explains, in her own rhyming way, about the backstory behind Sunset Shimmer's darkness. "And that my friend, is where I say the end," Zecora finished.

Scorpan nodded, having been brought up to speed, "I see," he said, while stroking his mustache. "Very well, I'll have to inform the girls about this. In the meantime, I hope the real Sunset Shimmer will recover, as well as my nephew is doing."

"Don't you fret," Zecora assured with a smile. "No need to be upset, for Sunset. She is doing more fine, with Spike as her sunshine."

"Fantastic," Scorpan smiled, before he began returning back to his body. "In the meantime, good night."

"Good night, and sleep tight."

With that, the gargoyle took his leave.





Meanwhile, Spike was once again in another dream, as he finds himself, sitting in a lush, green meadow. Once more, he finds himself, blue and transparent, with the dark chains around him. Turning around, he spotted his mother, standing before him, slowly lowering the sun with her magic. Spike looked and could clearly see the sadness on her face. The sun vanished completely, making way for the night. The alicorn started singing herself a song, as she walked back into the castle, with an astral projected Spike following her, struggling as he did so.



Princess Celestia walked through a long hallway of stained glasses. She stopped for a moment to look at one in particular, depicting a younger alicorn, with light blue coat, short matching mane, and tail done up in a few curls, and a symbol of a crescent moon, surrounded by dark clouds, for a cutie mark. The next one she looked at brought more tears to the alicorn's eyes, for it depicted of herself, holding a human child close. Spike didn't need to guess who it is, as well as who the alicorn was.

"So that's my aunt Luna," Spike gasped, looking at the blue alicorn.

Turning his attention back to his mother, Spike struggled to catch up, as she continues on her way down the hall, and into a library. Scanning the bookshelves, Princess Celestia's horn glowed in a yellow aura, pulling out an old book, engulfed in the color of her magic. Sitting down on a couch, the alicorn opened the book, skimming through all the pages, just as Spike finally arrived. Sitting besides his mother, he leaned in for a closer look, and realized, he was looking into a photo album.

Looking at the pictures, Spike could see captured memories of himself, as a baby, up to when he grew into a happy, energetic, young child, smiling, hugging, and playing with the alicorn, and the girls. One picture was of him and Applejack, bopping for apples, before they raised their heads out of the water, to reveal they both got the same apple. Another picture was of him, in dragon form, spraying water from his mouth, and onto a startled Rainbow Dash, while Pinkie Pie was laughing from a balloon, in the background. Princess Celestia turned the pages, to show a picture of Spike, as a dog, playing with the fireflies.

The memories made Spike and Celestia smiled a little, before the sad princess levitated the photo album back to the shelves.

Finally, the alicorn walked up to a tower, entering a room that looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in ages. Spike looked at all of the objects in the room and started seeing several flashes of memories from his past. Spike realized from then and there, that without a doubt, it's his old room. Spike watched as Princess Celestia levitated a small piece of blanket up to her face and cried into it.

"Spike," she sobbed. "How much longer must I have to wait for you?" Looking at the moon, with the unicorn face missing, Celestia cried even harder. "How much can my aching heart take?"

"Mom," Spike started shedding some tears, as he walked over and tried in vain to let his mother know he was there. "I wish you could hear me right now. I'm sorry it took me this long to remember who you are. Who I am. And who my family are. I wish I could let you know right now, I'm trying my best to be stronger, for you, and every pony back home. I'm with the girls and Uncle Scorpan right now, and they're helping me every way they can to help me get strong. I promise I'll be home soon. And I'll never let anything keep us apart ever again." Sensing the world disappearing around him, Spike ended with, "I'm on my way. I promise."

The alicorn looked up, and turned around. The look on her face pierced Spike, as if she's finally seeing him.

"Spike?" she asked breathlessly, before she and the world around her vanished completely.
> Dragon Metamorphosis! Part 1: Morning Breakout and Meeting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"It's incredible!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed, with a burst of lightning. "One moment, I was able to locate him. And then nothing!" She roared, as another crack of thunder echoed. "He couldn't have just vanished into thin air!"

"Well, ranting ain't exactly going to help us find him, is it?" Abacus asked, before she was met with a glare from the alicorn, face to face. "But of course, you knew that as well, your majesty," the woman quickly said, with fear written on her face, as the alicorn resumes her ranting.

"Find him!" Nightmare Moon growled. "Now!"

"Yes, your majesty," Somnambula bowed her head, before she turned to the Shadowbolts and the flying monkeys. "You heard the princess. Find the dragon!"

"But ma'm," Sunny voiced. "We have school."

Somnambula instantly became a puff of smoke as she grabbed the girl by the scruff of her collar, "Then take absolute care Ms. Flare. Perfect tests scores will not save you." the witch threatened, holding the staff, pulsing with electricity, close to the girl.




The Next Morning

After his recent dream with his mother, Spike woke up with a start. With that, he went to the restroom, courtesy to one of Sunset Shimmer's spell in the cave. Washing his face, Spike felt himself feeling more calm, until he looked in the mirror and screamed.

Later, Spike was getting himself checked out by Zecora, along with a tired Sunset Shimmer and Fleur-De-Lis, both still in their pajamas. Sunset Shimmer's was a purple average pajama, with her cutie mark on the chest, yellow and orange stripes at the bottom of her pants. Fleur's was a pink nightgown, with white sashes at the waist, tied into a bow in the back, a mud mask on her face, and her hairs tied up in hair rolls.

The wise african woman was checking the young boy out, who is currently not looking too well, as he is covered, from head to toe, in numerous zits, his skin having been turned a dull color of gray, and his hair becoming a mossy shade of green.

"What's happening to me?" Spike asked frantically. "What's going on? Am I sick?"

"Hush!" Zecora said. "Don't make me rush! I can't give you guidance, if you won't be silence!" With that, Spike did as he was told, while Zecora continued with her examination, until at last, she came to a conclusion.

"So, what's up doc?" Spike asked.

"Aside from your little joke," Zecora began. "I'm pleased to know you won't croak."

Still confused, Spike asked, "Meaning?"

"You're not sick, Spike," Sunset answered.

Spike breathed a sigh of relief, as Zecora nodded, as she continued, "He is starting to mature. For this fact I'm sure."

"Wait, so I'm just growing up?" Spike asked. "So, what does it have to do with my skins like this?"

"Every ten years or so, a dragon must shed its skin to grow," the wise woman answered, as she walked over to the cauldron in the cave, throwing in some dusts into the content, causing the cauldron to spew out a cloudy image of a baby dragon. "From a hatchling to a fledgling, your Dragonfire is getting higher." As she explains, the image of Spike, as a baby, grows into his current state, before curling up into a ball. "It is only a matter of time, before you are in your prime!" With that, the ball burst into a huge burning sun.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped, alongside Sunset and Fleur. "So, you're saying, that'll be me, after I shed my skin?" Zecora nodded in reply. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get this over with!" With that, Spike tugged at his skins, trying to pull them off. But to no avail.

Zecora walked over and whacked Spike's hand with her stick, "Don't rush it!" she said sternly. "Your skin doesn't just split. It needs to come off natural, or the result will be unnatural." As Zecora said this, the sun image turned itself into a skull, before it disappeared.

Getting the message, Spike stopped what he was doing, "So, how long do I have to put up with this?" he asked.

"In order for you to advance to greater powers," Zecroa began. "You must wait to the witching hour."

"Witching hour?" Spike asked.

"That's midnight," Sunset answered.

"I know what is," Spike replied. "I'm just asking, what am I going to do until then?"

"Well, today's a school day, obviously," Sunset replied.

"There's no way I'm going out in public with my face looking like this!"

"Don't worry old friend," Fluer began. "I've got this." With that, the girl left the room, before she came back with a bottle spray. After a quick shake, she sprayed it on Spike, who quickly went in a coughing fit.

"What was that?" he asked.

"See for yourself," the girl replied, holding a small mirror for the boy to see.

"Whoa!" he gasped, reaching up to touch his reflection. "I'm normal?" However, when he stretched his hand out, he could still see his hand's current condition.

"Just a cloaking potion I've applied to you," Fleur smiled, as she puts the cap back onto her sprayer. "While you're out in public, the only thing the people will see is you, looking exactly the way you are. Uh, before this, I mean," she corrected at the end.

Spike breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, while we're up," Sunset began. "Let's get ourselves ready for the day.

Before the three could go out, Zecora stopped them, "Before you go," she began. "There's something you should know."




Meanwhile

From the Shadowbolts hideout, Nightmare Moon was brooding, when she felt a disturbance in the air, "Hmmm," she pondered. "Something powerful is happening. Something that's occurring tonight, at midnight. How curious," With that, the alicorn rubbed her chin, as she continues to ponder on what she had felt.




CHS

It was still early, so the school has yet to be crowded with students and staffs. The only one at the school at the time, are the janitors. Speaking of, Spike, Sunset, and Fleur both walked out of a janitor's closet and into the main lobby, courtesy to a magic spell on Sunset's part.

"Wow," Spike said. "I'll admit. This beats catching the bus by a long shot."

"I know Spike," Sunset smiled, closing the door after the three of them got out. "Though, it's kinda a one way trip if you don't reuse the spell again in the next few hours or so."

"C'est magnifique!" Fleur exclaimed, looking around the interior of the school they were in. "This does make me feel at home, again!"

"I know, right?" Spike and Sunset said in unison. "Jinx!" They said to each other. "Double jinx! Triple jinx! Quadruple jinx! Infinite jinx!"

Sunset laughed, while Spike fumed, "What do you expect? I'll know your moves before you can make them," the girl smirked.

'I really need to learn how to block my mind,' Spike said in his thoughts.

"You sure do, Spike," Sunset smirked.

Deciding to steer the topic away, Spike turned to Fleur, "Aren't you taking a risk being here, Fleur?" He asked, referring to the Crystal Prep School uniform the girl was wearing. "Not that I have a problem with your choice of attires, I mean, you look cute and all," Fleur blushed at that comment, while Sunset fumed in envy, as Spike quickly stammers, "I-I-I mean, it's just that, dressed like that, you're kinda walking in the lion's den, here."

"That makes two of them, mon ami," Fleur replied. "I too have been taking quite the risks of being in Crystal Preps, knowing that Abacus Cinch and the Shadowbolts run the place."

"Really?" Spike asked. "But isn't it a big risk to be that close to the Shadowbolts?"

"Now, now, don't you worry about me Spike," the girl assured. "You know I can take care of myself. Besides, I'm willing enough to give my life to secure yours." With that, the girl flashed Spike a flirty grin, resulting a blush from Spike, as he shyly looked away, along with sparking a look of envy on Sunset's face. Even in human form, Fleur's quite the sight to behold.

Just then, the boys suddenly came into school.

"Yo, Spike!" Rumble called. "You're al-AH!!" The boys stopped in their tracks, when they spotted Sunset Shimmer and Fleur-De-Lis.

"C'mon guys!" Button began. "To action!"

"We surrender!" the boys exclaimed, holding their hands in the air.

"No! Not that! The kung fu fighting thing!"

"Oh!" With that, the boys all got into fighting stance, while Tender Taps got out a boombox and played the song.

[Kung Fu Fighting-Carl Douglas]

The boys all charged at the girls, throwing kicks and punches, which both Sunset and Fleur had no trouble blocking and dodging.

"Hold it!" Spike shouted, stopping the music, and the boys. "What're you guys doing?"

"Saving your life!" Button replied. "What else?"




One explanation later....

"Oh," the boys all said, after Spike and the two girls explained the situation.

"Sorry for attacking you Sunset," Rumble apologized. "We thought you were.....well, y'know, you. But angrier."

"No hard feelings," Sunset replied, while frowning. "I wouldn't blame the girls if they see me now, and attack me, again."

The boys then turned to Fleur, "And we're sorry we attacked you, um Fleur was it?"Pipsqueak apologizing, while the said girl nodded her head in confirmation. "We thought you were a Shadowbolt, because you're a Crystal Prep Student."

"Ça va(trans: It's okay)," Fleur replied. "But I can assure you, not all of us students at Crystal Prep are Shadowbolts."

"If you say so," Rumble replied, while he and the boys find themselves slightly smitten at the girl's beauty. Spike couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of jealousy from the looks the boys were giving to Fleur.

"Anyway," Spike began, wanting to change the topic. "Now that apologies have been accepted, and everyone's been forgiven. What were you guys doing here, so early? This isn't like you guys?"

"Well normally," Button began. "Like you said, we'd be up, one hour before school starts. But then we had a strange dream about you last night."

"What kind of dream?" Sunset asked.

"Well," Featherweight took out a journal, skimming through his pages, before he comes across what he was looking for. "Last night, we were simply dreaming our respective dreams. Pipsqueak was dreaming about being Robin Hood, Button Mash was fighting together with Kirito and Asuna, Rumble being a famous athlete, Tender Taps dancing, and me being a famous detective."

"Those are your dreams about me?" Spike asked.

"Hang on! I'm getting there!" Featherweight looked back in his journal. "Suddenly, we dreamed of meeting together, and then you appeared as a dragon, in chains, with that crazy witch laughing evilly, and a crying white alicorn."

"What was that about a crying white alicorn?" Spike asked, anxious since he has a good feeling to who the boys are referring to.

"Oh, just some white alicorn who's crying her eyes out for you," Button replied. "Saying stuff like you're her baby, and...that..she's.....Oh, wait. That's your mother, wasn't it?"

"Adopted mother, that is," Pipsqueak corrected.

"Yeah," Spike replied, feeling more depressed than before. "That's my mom."

"Oh," Button replied, while sharing a look of sympathy with the gang.

"So, did she say anything?" Spike asked.

Featherweight looked at his journal again, before replying, "Only that she sensed you're in terrible danger, and that we should meet you right away."

"That's about the exact same time we woke up and headed our way to school for ya," Rumble added, while yawning a bit.

"It wasn't easy explaining to our folks," Button added. "Believe me, my mom still thinks I couldn't take care of myself, after those dog face thugs tried kidnapped us."

"I see," Spike replied. 'Mom's really worried about me,' he thought, before he turned to the boys, "I appreciate your concerns boys. But I'm okay now."

"Yeah, so we noticed," Rumble replied. "So, what do we do in the meantime? It's still a bit early for classes to start."

Spike pondered for a moment, before Fleur spoke, "I personally would like to take the opportunity of getting to know you boys more."

"Say what?!" the boys, minus Spike, exclaimed.

"Oui," Fleur smiled. "Sunset's been telling me a lot of good things about you boys. How close you are with Spike, how you've considered him a brother, and how you're all so willing enough to become fighters just to help protect him."

"Well," Button chuckled, while blushing a storm. "It's nothing really. We were just looking out for him. After all, he'd do the same for us."

"It's true," Spike replied, feeling proud of himself, while the girls looked at him with admiration. "After all, we're good buddies, and that's what friends do for each other."

"But that never would've happen if you didn't came to town," Pipsqueak added. "Because we've been best friends since the day we met you!"

"Really?" Fleur asked, as she and Sunset got comfortable. "Please, tell us more."

"Oh, please," Spike tried to brush the topic off. "It's no big deal."

"IT MOST CERTAINLY IS!!" the boys shouted together.

"BWAH!!" Spike shouted in fright, turning himself into a dog in the process, and patted his chest, while the boys complied to the girls' wishes.




Meanwhile, with the Mane 6

At the same time, the girls were meeting, just outside of CHS, close to the horse statue.

"This better be good, Twilight," Rainbow Dash yawned. "I was just dreaming of myself graduating and becoming a full-fledged Wonderbolt."

"And I was having a sweet dream," Pinkie Pie added.

"Pinkie," Applejack began. "With you, every dreams you've had are sweet."

"What can I say? I'm sweet!" Pinkie said with a squeak.

Wanting to steer away from the topic of Pinkie Pie, Rarity began, "Twilight, darling. What is so important that you needed the attention from all of us?"

With a look of determination on her face, Twilight turned to the girls, while holding a picture of the girls, together with Spike and Princess Celestia, "Girls," Twilight began. "You remember this?"

"Aw!" Rarity and Fluttershy squealed.

"I forgot how cute he looked when he was that small!" Rarity said happily, while looking at the picture.

"I thought he's cute when he's just a puppy!" Fluttershy smiled, before Twilight got their attentions again.

"So, was that all you wanted to call us for so early?" Rainbow asked, slightly irritated. "Just to show us a picture?"

"No, more than that," Twilight replied. "It's just, you girls know about how Spike's been taken to some secret place, yesterday, for more training?" In response, the rest of the girls all nodded their heads. "It's just that, it feels as if we're being separated from him again."

"Oh darling," Rarity got up and give the girl a comforting hug. "This is different. It's only for a day or two. He'll be alright."

"I know," Twilight said. "All I'm trying to say is, no matter what happens, we should remember that it will all be worth it in the end. So whatever comes our way, like the Shadowbolts, Sunset Shimmer, monsters, Spike getting sent to some secret place for about a year or so-"

*Disc scratch*

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Pinkie interrupted. "Spike's going to stay missing for another year?!"

"I can't stand another year!" Rainbow moaned. "I've already waited for ten years! I can't have another year of agony, for him! Please! Say it ain't so!!" the girl said dramatically at the last part, which earned her weird looks from the rest of the girls. "What? Can't a girl also like some drama?"

Taking a deep breathing, keeping her sanity together, Twilight continued, "I didn't say Spike's going to be gone for a year."

"Oh, okay," Rainbow and Pinkie replied in relief.

"I'm just saying, no matter what happens, we will always be there for Spike."

"Except when we've got tests to study for," Pinkie added. "Remember Professor Flintheart?"

"Yeah, besides that," Twilight grumbled. "But still girls, no matter what happens. We're there for Spike! Just as he was for us when we were kids! So, are you all with me?"

"Friends till the end," Rainbow smiled. "That's what he says."

"We're family!" Applejack joined in. "No matter what comes, we will face it together! We're apples to the cores!"

"Absolutely!" Rarity added.

"Yes, indeedly!" Pinkie cheered.

"Yay!" Fluttershy quietly cheered.

With that, the girls walked into the school building to see Spike, laughing and having a good time with his posse, and much to the girls' surprise and shock, "SUNSET SHIMMER?!!"

"Girls?" Spike exclaimed.

"Spike?!" Pinkie Pie called.

"Fleur?!" Rarity asked.

"Rarity?!" the girl replied in equal shock.

"Argh!" Twilight groaned. "What are we doing?"

"Well I know what I'm going to do!" Rainbow began, as she changes into her pegasus form, "You're not taking Spike's Dragonfire that easily!" With a burst of speed, Dash charges towards Sunset Shimmer, who didn't hesitate to cast a shield spell, while being knocked back slightly. Before Rainbow could charge again, the boys, except for Spike, all piled on top of her, holding her back.

"Let me go!" Rainbow growled. "Lemme at her!"

"Rainbow please," Sunset began. "Let me explain!"

"Explain what?!" the pegasus growled, still trying to break free. "How you plan on stealing Spike's Dragonfire to make yourself feeling better again?"

"That wasn't her!" Rumble said.

"What? But we just told you! It was her!"

"What the sam hill is going on here?" a voice called, revealing itself to be a janitor, who was more shocked to see Rainbow Dash, in pony form, with wings shown.

"You didn't see anything!" Button said, just as Rumble snuck up from behind, and attacked the janitor with a chop to the head, knocking the man out.
> Dragon Metamorphosis! Part 2: The Shadowbolts Strike Back!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestial High School

After awhile of calming some tensions between the girls, some misunderstandings were being cleared.

"We've been duped!" Applejack groaned.	

"Duped!" Pinkie repeated.	

"Bamboozled!"	

"We've been smeckledorfed!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Arrgh!" Rainbow growled. "I can't believe we were so stupid! We fell for another one of the Shadowbolts' tricks!"

"And worst of all," Twilight began. "You let Sunset's past blind you from seeing the truth! When you should've all known better!"

"I'll say," Applejack replied sadly, before she looked at Sunset Shimmer. "Sunset," Applejack was the first to start. "I honestly can't tell you how much it bites me, to realize we've been barking up the wrong tree. And again. What we did was inexcusable, and I'm sorry we haven't been there for you, like how a family should."

"Yeah, that goes for me too," Rainbow added. "I represent the element of loyalty," the rainbow haired girl looked down, despondently. "But how can I call myself loyal, when I was so quick to turn my back on you, just like that?" Swallowing a lump in her throat, Rainbow looked up and said, "I'm really sorry, Sunset."

"Me too!" Pinkie cried, with her hair deflating slightly. "I was suppose to be looking at the glass of chocolate milk half full. But instead, when I saw that cupcake book in your backpack, I looked at you half empty," Pinkie started to sob uncontrollably again as she sniffled, "I understand if you don't want to smile with us again. And you can hate me for as much as you want, knowing you were right. I really am a Pinkamena Diane Pie."

Fluttershy was hiding her face behind her hair, as the pipes broke lose, "I've never felt so guilty," she cried, before she tackled the red haired girl in a hug. "You poor, poor thing! I'm sorry! I really am!"

Rarity sniffed as she too joined the hug, "Feeling guilty for driving you away was one thing. But I can't bear to see Fluttershy, cry!"

With that, the five girls all hugged Sunset, while the others looked on, with a mix of sympathy and satisfaction, until they finally broke away. At first, a small smile was forming on Sunset's face, before it quickly disappeared.

"Sunset?" the girls asked, confused at her expression.

Taking a deep breath, Sunset replied, "What choices do I have? You girls are the only family I've had left," the girl turned her face away, avoiding eye contacts as she states, "But my trust is something that'll have to be earned back." The girls, minus Twilight and Fleur, nodded their heads in understanding.

"Understood," Rarity said solemnly, as she and the girls watched the fiery headed girl walking away.

"See you girls later," Spike said, as he ran off to catch up with the girl.

"Au revoir, mon ami," Fleur said her farewell, before she walks into the janitor's closet and disappeared.

The boys later went their separate ways for their respective classes, while the girls were left in silent.

"Do you think she'll ever forgive us?" Applejack asked.

"She will," Twilight assured. "She just needs some time to herself, that's all." Looking at her watch, she said, "C'mon girls. It's almost time for our next class."

With that, the girls too went their separate ways for their respective classes, just as a zombie Snips, Snails, and Zephyr walked in.




Meanwhile, at Crystal Prep Academy

It was during lunch period, when Sunny Flare was meeting with the other four girls of the Shadowbolts.

"Girls," Sunny Flare greeted the girls.

"Sunny," they returned the greeting as Sunny took her seat.

"So, any luck on locating our dragon?" the leading girl asked.

"I'm no Melody," Indigo replied, while holding a device that has a monitor, displaying a sonar, and a map of New York. "But I can tell, this thing is worthless, now that we can't find our dragon!" Just then, the device went off, as its screen was blurred out before it shut off completely. Frustrated, Indigo tossed it in the nearest trash bin.

Sour Sweet lets out some irritated screech, as she hissed, "We have to find him! I want to find him so I can make him pay for what he did to me!!"

"Oh, you're not still mad about how he made your boobs bounced and got away with it," Indigo laughed. "Are ya?"

In response, Sour Sweet grabbed Indigo Zap by the throat so hard, that Indigo felt the winds literally knocked out of her, "Does my humiliating defeat amuse you?" Sour asked threateningly, tightening her grip. "Does it?"

"Nope," Indigo replied, with her voice turned high and squeaky, before Sour released her.

"I just want to play with him for a little bit!" Sour squealed with sparkles in her eyes. "Can't you see how cute he looked as a puppy? He's so small, so round, and above all, he's so fluffy!!!!" She roared at the last part, earning some weird looks from the girls. "And then we take his Dragonfire to please the masters," she said gloomily.

Clearing her throat, Sunny got the girls back on topic, "He's got to be hiding somewhere!" she said. "And once we find him, we'll show him no mercy."

"So any ideas where he may be?" Indigo asked.

"Well, I've got one," Sugarcoat stated.

"Oh, really?" Sour Sweet began sweetly, before she growled, "Spit it out!"

"You need to control your temper," Sugar said bluntly.

"Is that all?" Sour screamed, before she quickly calms back to normal, upon seeing the weird looks being shot from the students in the room. "What are you looking at?" She asked, as the students all went back to eating their meals.

"That wasn't my idea," Indigo said to Sour bluntly. "That was my suggestion on your bad temper. My idea is, if we can't find Spike. Then perhaps we should make him find us."

"Find us? How?" Sunny asked.

"Well, we don't know where he is. But we do know where the girls are."

"But what does that-" Indigo stopped, realizing where Sugar was getting at.

Unknown to the girls, Fleur, disguised as another student, was listening to their conversation.




Celestial High School

Later, during lunch hours, Sunset was once again, in the cafeteria, enjoying her meal with Spike and the boys.

"So Sunset," Rumble began, while avoiding the topic of her early morning conversation. "How've you been? From what Spike's told us, you're actually helping him with some secret, special training."

Sunset was a little bit hesitant on answering, "If we told you guys what it was, then it wouldn't be a secret anymore," Spike answered on the girl's behalf.

"Oh c'mon!" Button protested. "You know we can keep a secret."

"Not unless you're facing some evil demented alicorn who has the power to look in your mind," Spike said.

Button was about to protest again, before he thought about what Spike meant, "Good point."

"So besides that, what else happened?" Rumble asked, before he remembered, "Oh, could you tell us how you became friends with a Crystal Prep-ow!" The boys elbowed Rumble as they pointed behind him, showing zombie Snips and Snails passing by. "I-I-I-I mean, a transfer student who c-c-c-came from France to study here," he stammered, as the two stooges walked away. "So, how long have you been friends with a girl like Fleur-De-Lis?" Rumble whispered.

"Well it's kinda a long story," Spike smiled sheepishly.

"Do tell!" Feather insisted, getting a notepad ready.




Meanwhile, with the girls

The girls were later meeting together, during Study Hall, which was currently being overlooked by Professor Flintheart. At the same time, a zombie Zephyr Breeze was in class, ogling at Rainbow Dash from behind, before the strict professor came and forced the boy's face, back into his book.

"Ow, my nose," Zephyr groaned, as the professor walked away.

The girls in the meantime, were writing to each other, back and forth, with the use of magic journals, similar to Sunset's.

After finishing one of her algebra homework, Twilight took the chance to write to the girls.

"What shall we do after school today?"

It didn't take long before she received some responses.

"I don't know, sugarcube. I'm more concerned with Sunset Shimmer."

"Same with me, darling. There must be something we could do to make her know she can trust us again, as well as we trusted her."

For a moment, the page remained blank, until Pinkie wrote, "How about a party? After school today! We can throw a big party for Sunset Shimmer! We'll call it, 'We're Sorry and Please Forgive Us Sunset Shimmer!!!'"

The girls thought about the party girl's suggestion. Just then, Professor Flintheart came passing by, and they quickly got out their homeworks and pretended they're really working on them, though the professor doesn't seemed to be fooled. After awhile, he continued on his way, while taking out a book to read.

"Phew,  that was a close one," Rainbow sighed, before she resumes writing, "Are you sure a party's all we've got for Sunny?"

"Why not? Everybody loves a good par-tay! And nobody likes parties than Sunset Shimmer! Right?"

"I don't know Pinkie. Even if a party would make Sunset feel better, how are we going to pull it off?"

"Just leave it to me! Oh, hi Professor Flintheart!"

Confused at the last part, Twilight turned her head to see the suspicious professor, looking at her coldly, "Ms. Sparkle," he began, in his usual tone.

"Professor!" Twilight chuckled nervously.




Meanwhile

"WHAT?!" the boys exclaimed, when Spike told them about Fleur.

"Your best friend, royal guard in training, and faithful sidekick, was a-a-a-a-a girl?!" Button asked, while whispering at the last part.

"And a hot one at that!" Tender whispered to Rumble.

"Yeah, big surprise for me as well," Spike replied.

"Dang it, Spike!" Button whispered. "What is it with you and girls?"

"Why you asking me?" Spike asked, pointing to Sunset.

"Well," the girl blushed. "The thing we loved most about Spike was that, he's been good to us in more ways than one. And we all loved him for it." With that, the girl couldn't help be recounted the life she's had with Spike. The boys could hardly believe their ears.

"Spike," Button smirked, nudging to the dragon's side. "Who knew you'd have a way with bad girls."

"Yeah," Spike chuckled nervously, while Sunset blushed. "Who knew?" Spike asked.




Later that day

Spike and Sunset, along with the boys, walked out of the school, to the horse statue, where they expected to meet the girls, only to see they weren't there.

"Huh? Where are the girls?" Spike asked, before his phone rang. Taking his phone out, he reads, "Gone for some errands. Meet us later at our place. ;)"

"Hmm, sounds like they're up to something," Feathers pondered. "The question is, what?"

"We'll find out later," Spike said. "In the meantime, me and Sunset have some training to do. Catch you guys later."

"See ya!" the boys shouted, before they went their separate ways.




Party Tree

Meanwhile, the girls were out to get some party supplies.

“I can’t wait to see the look on Sunset's face!” Pinkie smiled. “This is going to be the best surprise for her yet!”

“Don't get yer hopes too high, Pinkie," Applejack said. "Remember what Sunset's been through. It'll still take a while before she could come around for us again."

"Oh, now we wouldn't want that to happen. Would we?" a voice called out, to which the friends flinched. Walking from behind a stand, was Somnambula herself and more of her accomplices. "How fortuitous that I should find you girls here," Somnambula cackled. "For once we’re disposed with all of you, the Dragonfire will be ripe for the taking!"

The girls readied themselves in fighting stance, as Somnambula shouted, "ATTACK!!"

[Fighting Is Magic - Rainbow Dash's Theme]

With that, the forces of evil charged towards the heroines, who all quickly dropped their stuffs up, as they began their fight.

"Sorry!" Twilight said to the clerk. "We'll pay for the damages later! Thank you!"

Twilight was blasting magic beams at the Shadowbolts, as well as casting magic shields, saving herself from the arrows they were firing, before she clashed with Goldcap.

"I see you still haven't learned your lessons, Goldcap!" Twilight growled.

"I don't need lesson to learn that I can be a princess like you!" Goldcap spatted. "I could've become an alicorn, if you had just let me!"

"The power of an alicorn is a magic that is earned!" Twilight growled. "Not stolen! The act you and your friends committed was illegal! That is why you've been stripped of your unicorn magics!"

"And why we've been reduced to work as magicians in the human world just for a living!" Goldcap fired another spell, which Twilight blocked. "But once we get the Dragonfire! We'll become the most powerful witches and wizards in the world!!"

"As if!" Rainbow growled, as she kicked Goldcap away. "It's payback time!"

"I couldn't agree more!" Indigo shouted, as she landed a flying kick to Rainbow Dash. "So you must be the famous Rainbow Dash I've been hearing so much about from Melody."

"Gee, what gave that away?" Rainbow asked rhetorically. "The hair? The awesomeness?"

"Nope," the equally competitive girl stated. "Just your clumsiness is what I've noticed."

"Clumsy?!" Rainbow growled. "No pony calls Rainbow Dash, clumsy, and gets away with it!" With that, Rainbow changes into her battle form while saying, "You're gonna eat those words!"

"Bring it!" Indigo sneered, unsheathing her swords. With that, the two girls charged at each other.

Applejack, in the meantime, was fighting Sugarcoat, in her battle form, while the Crystal Prep girl was armed with her shuko claws.

"As much as I hate to say it," Applejack panted, as she thrusted her leg out in a sidekick. "You've got some good forms."

"You're not so bad yourself," Sugarcoat replied, rubbing her arm. "For a country girl who smells of apple cider."

"Hey! Ya got a problem with that?" Applejack asked.

"Well, it's a little too sweet for my taste. Too much alcohol, and not enough vinegar. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know."

"Why ya snooty, blunt, arrogant-"

"Oh don't even go that far. You're far off worse than you think, Piggly Wiggly."

Applejack blushed a shade of red at the mention of her childhood nickname, before she was met with a flying kick to the face by Sugarcoat. Shaking the blow, as well as the embarrassing feeling off, Applejack resumed the fight.

[MLP: Friendship Games - Dance Magic]

Pinkie Pie and Lemon Zest were having a fun dance-off.

Pinkie rapped: "Doesn't matter what style you've got!
Just keep dancin' on that spot,
Friends like you for who you are,
Dance queen, on the scene, superstar!
Crystal Prep, you've got the moves,
Rainboom bringin' all the grooves,
Put it together and make it fit,
Crystal Rainbooms, dance magic!"

*disc scratch*

"As you were?" Sunny glared, at Lemon Zest.

"Uh, meep meep!" Pinkie said, followed by a raspberry, while Lemon Zest gave chase.

Rarity in the meantime was fighting off, with Sunny Flare, and Sour Sweet.

"You know this is really bad form for you girls!" Rarity said, while holding her shields up. "I mean really, don't you know you've got me at an unfair advantage? Two against one? Do you know anything about fighting fair? Or is that how they teach at Crystal Preps? Do you cheat at every games you play?"

Sour Sweet, irritated, swung her staff furiously, "WILL YOU SHUT YOUR TRAPS?!!" she screamed.

"Well, I never!" Rarity continued. "Never in all my years have I ever had the misfortune of meeting someone with terrible manners. How does your family raised you?"

"Enough!" Sunny Flare shouted. "You will cease your whining! Or die!"

"Whining?" Rarity asked. "Whining?! I'm not whining! I am complaining! You want to hear whining? This is whining!" Rarity whined at the last part. "Ooh, it's not fair! Why do you have to pick on poor misfortunate me?"

Irritated, Sunny growled, "Sour! You take Whiny! I'll take Doormat!"

"Why am I stuck with the Whiny pony?" Sour asked. "Why can't you take her? The two of you are kinda the same person!"

"You take her because I say so!! I'm the boss here!!"

"Why can't I be the boss?"

"Because you're impatient! Hot-tempered! And above all, I'm better than you!!"

"You want to bet on that?!"

"STOP IT!! BOTH OF YOU!!" Somnambula shouted, firing a lightning bolt that the two girls ducked, as it flew overhead and struck Zappityhoof.

"Hey!" Zap groaned. "Just because I'm named Zappityhoof, doesn't mean I have to be zapped." With that, the inflicted girl fainted.

Meanwhile, with the rest of the magicians, Decepticolt came running to Gold's aid, "Similo Duplexis!!" the boy chanted, creating several duplicates of himself, surrounding the girl. The boys all jumped at the brainy girl, who quickly shape-shifted into her alicorn form, forming a shield, and blasting off the boys.

"You should know better than to face me!" Twilight growled. "You can try and throw whatever spells and card tricks you've got. You'll never beat me!"

"Then try me!" a voice announced, as Twilight turns around, eyes widened upon seeing a huge imugi, hissing and glaring hungrily at her.

"Oh, goodness!" Fluttershy whimpered, as the girls all turned at the new arrival.

"No!" Applejack gasped. "It can't be!"

"Rage Shimmer?!" Pinkie gasped.

"Rage Shimmer?" the girl pondered. "I like it.......NOT!! That name sucks! And I'm going to make you PAY FOR IT!!"

"Uh oh," Pinkie whimpered, as the angry counterpart of Sunset Shimmer charges forward, on the back of her imugi, with snapping jaws, had Pinkie not been pulled out of the way, by....

[Tim ve Chon Cu Loan-Female Vocals]

"Flare?!" Pinkie exclaimed. There stood, Fleur-De-Lis, cladded in her suit of armor, completed with a knight's helmet.

"Fleur," Fleur replied. "Fleur-De-Lis." With that, Fleur unsheathes her rapier, and charged into battle against Sunset Shimmer's dark half's army of living paper dragons. "En garde!"

One of the dragons lunged at Fleur, snapping its jaws at the girl, had she not jumped up and slashed her sword at the dragon, tearing a hole in its neck. Another circled its coil around the girl, trying to squeeze the life out of her, had she not slashed it in half.

Angry at the interference, Rage Shimmer threw a huge fireball, which Fleur was able to block with a shield she magically conjured. In retaliation, Fleur fired a magic bolt, from her sword, in the air, causing it to explode in a blinding light, stunning the Shadowbolts momentarily. Using the distraction to her advantage, Fleur flew at high speed, cutting all of the paper dragons into little pieces, before she sets her sight on Rage Shimmer.

"You're mine!" With that, Fleur charged forward, sword ready, only for Rage Shimmer to pull out the device at the last second.

"On the contrary!" Rage smirked, "Your powers are mine!"

"NO!!" Fleur groaned as she felt her powers being drained, before she collapsed to the floor, slightly weakened.

"Yes!!" Rage hissed, after the power was collected, and she felt herself growing stronger.

"Um, did we forget to mention that Angry Sunset Shimmer stole the device that we originally used to find Spike?" Rainbow asked.

"Would've been helpful," Fleur muttered, while the Three Magicians laughed.

"Yeah!" Decepticolt laughed. "How does it feel now to be the one drained of power?"

"How the mighty has fallen!" Goldcap laughed, before she and her comrades were silenced by Somnambula.

"Very good, Sunburn Shimmer," Somnambula smirked. "You've done well."

"I have you to thank for it," Sunburn bowed her head.

"Now then," With a wave of her staff, "Seize the girls!!"

"With pleasure!" Sunburn smirked, showing her fangs, as she restores her paper dragons. "Dinner is served boys!!"

With a roar, the imugi all lunged forward.





After finishing his shift as a police officer, Scorpan was on his way to Starbucks for a well-deserved cup of coffee, when he felt a disturbance in the air.

Focusing his thoughts on the disturbance, Scorpan gasped, "No! It can't be!"

Elsewhere, Discord was putting on a magic show, with Thorax, entertaining some children, when suddenly, "Uh oh!" he gasped. "My chaos senses are tingling."

Lastly, Spike and Sunset were in the middle of their mind blocking training, when they too became interrupted by the disturbances being felt. Spike was meditating, as he tries to mind block, when his eyes suddenly turned white, while snapping open, as he sees random images of the Shadowbolts, the girls being defeated by Sunset Shimmer's angry half, lightning claps being sounded, Somnambula and Nightmare Moon cackling in triumph. Sunset meanwhile, lost focus with her spell, when her wrist started to burn intensively.

Lifting up her sleeve, Sunset looked, to see the Shadowbolts' mark on her wrist glowing brightly, as it burns her skin.

"What was that?" Spike asked, before he took notice of Sunset's wrist. "Oh no. That can't be a good sign."

"It's never a good sign," Sunset replied.

"It's a sign of trouble!" Zecora said, as she walked in, with an injured Fleur-De-Lis, and the boys at her sides. "Meaning we are in a time of muddle."

"Fleur!" Spike gasped, as he ran over to the girl. "What happened to you?"

"The Shadowbolts!" Fleur cringed. "They struck again! And they've got my powers!"

"We were on our way, back home  from the skatepark, when we saw the commotion!" Rumble began. "When we rushed in, the crazy witch was there, along with the Shadowbolts from Crystal Prep, and some others we've never seen before."

"We were only able to rescue Fleur," Button continued. "But when we tried to save the others, we were attacked by some serpent dragons, controlled by Sunset Shimmer's angry half!"

"I thought we were goners for sure!" Pipsqueak shuddered. "But then, Zecora came, and poof! We're here!"

"Nice decor by the way!" Feathers commented, as he snapped some pictures.

"What about the girls?" Spike asked. "Are they alright?"

"Don't know," Button replied. "Last time we saw, they were fighting off those dragons, before we came in."

Just then, Spike's phone rang. Checking the Caller ID, which reads: "Twilight!" Without hesitation, Spike tapped the call button, as he answers, "Twilight?"

"Twilight can't make it," Somnambula answered.

"Somnambula!" Spike gasped.

"Yes, I'm pleased you can remember again," the evil witch cackled. "Feeling homesick?"

"What have you done to the girls?" Spike asked angrily.

"They're fine, for now. And I'll play Ms. Nice Witch for the moment to release the girls unharmed, Mr. Draco."

"What's the catch?"

"An exchange of goods," Somnambula answered. "Your precious girlfriends from your forgotten past, for the Dragonfire you've been gifted since the day you were born. Should you decide your decisions for the lives of the girls, then you may rendezvous with us at Battery Park, at precisely 11: 30 PM. And come alone, or else the girls will get it!"

"NOOOO!!" Spike exclaimed.

"We'll be waiting!" With a cackle, the witch hung up.

“Spike? What’s wrong?” Button asked.

“The girls are in trouble!” Spike replied. “I have to go and save them!”

“Then we're coming with ya!” Rumble stated.

“No!” the boys were taken by surprise at Spike’s response. “I have to go alone. If Somnambula catches me with you guys, she’ll hurt the girls!”

“But Spike! This could be a trap!” Pipsqueak said.

“Yeah, and you need us to be back you up!” Button stated.

"I know it's a trap!" Spike replied. "But the girls are already in it! I have to get them out!"

"Spike!" Sunset stopped him. "As much as I respect your courage and act of heroism, you don't stand a chance against the Shadowbolts! You haven't even mastered the Mind Block!"

"Then it’s a risk I gotta take!" Spike replied. "For the girls.”

With that, Spike concentrated in his powers, before his whole body was surrounded in a green aura, his eyes burst open with reptilic green eyes, as he begins his transformation.



His whole body was engulfed in a burst of green fire, as he stood before the girls and boys, in his dragon form.

"Whoa!" the boys exclaimed.

"So this is what you looked like as a dragon!" Button gasped. "Though, I expected you to be less dull and lumpy."

"What?" Spike looked in a nearby mirror, to see his cover was literally blown. "Oh man!" Shaking his frustration and humiliation off, Spike regained his determination, "For my friends!" Just then, Peewee came in and latched onto the dragon's back, "Gotta fly!" With that, the two flew on through a magic door, disappearing upon entering.

"So, what do we do in the meantime?" Button asked.

Pipsqueak thought for a moment, before he answered, "We go in! For our friend!”

The boys looked at the younger boy, questionably, "But Spike just said-"

"Hey! This is what we've been training for! Spike's looked out for us since the day we met! Now we've got to do the same for him! No matter what happens, we're friends till the end!"

The boys thought about it for a moment, before Rumble nodded in agreement, "You're right!" he said. "Let's go, brothers!"

With that, the boys all fist bumped together, before they cheered, "Let's do it, to it!" With a cheer, the boys all ran after their friend, leaving Sunset alone, with Zecora and Fleur.
> Dragon Metamorphosis! Part 3: Chaos in Chinatown
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[TMNT Background Music Original Shredder Theme]

"Yes," Nightmare Moon said in satisfaction, while contacting the Shadowbolts via mirror. "The young dragon has taken the bait. He is on his way now."

"It won't be long now," Somnambula replied. "The Dragonfire will soon be ours!" Nightmare Moon arched an eyebrow at the witch, "I-I-I mean, yours, your majesty. You know I'm only taking all of our interests at heart."

"Secure the Dragonfire, for me," Nightmare Moon instructed. "And your interest shall be your reward."

"Of course, your highness," Somnambula bowed, as the communication ended.

Turning around, Somnambula walked through a portal, and into the park, to see the Shadowbolts, securing the restraints on the girls in place, along with a younger one. Rarity was tied in chains, with her wrists in the air and her legs on the ground, with Applejack being restrained the same way. Rainbow Dash was tied to a tree with Twilight, Pinkie was hanging upside down, and Fluttershy was trapped in a cage. Lastly, the young captor, by the name of Sweetie Belle, the girl whom Button had a crush on after he laid eyes on her in gym, and Rarity's little sister.

"Rarity, I'm scared," Sweetie whimpered.

"There, there darling," Rarity assured. "Everything will be alright!"

"Well, well, well," Abacus smirked, as she walked to Twilight Sparkle. "If it isn't my former prized student, 'Melody Ravenclaw.'"

"Or should we say, Twilight Sparkle," Sunny added. "The 'Princess of Friendship!'" the girl mocked at the last part.

"I see you haven't changed since I've left the academy!" Twilight frowned.

"I could say the same thing to you!" the girl replied. "You really make me sick with your whole philosophy on the 'magic of friendship.' It's not magic, it's just a word that defines a series of relationships. Nothing more."

"Then you know nothing about friendship than you thought!" Twilight replied.

Sunny growled, about to give the girl a piece of her mind, only to be stopped by Somnambula, "Enough, Sunny!" the witch ordered, raising her staff, and catching the girl's hand with her magic. "One scratch, and you'll ruin the deal!"

Swallowing her pride, Sunny bowed her head, "Sorry ma'm," With that, Sunny took her leave.

"You won't get away with this, Somnambula!" Rainbow growled. "You'll get exactly what's coming to you!"

"Indeed I will, Rainbow Dash," the witch smirked. "For once the Princess of the Night obtains the Dragonfire, not even your Elements of Harmony, or Princess Celestia can stop her when we return to Equestria!" Somnambula cackled, "Yes, little ponies. Soon, it will be Princess Celestia's turn to be banished! After her, you, her faithful student, will follow! And the five of you will make decent slaves to the Supreme Princess of the Night!!" The girls kept on putting their brave faces, as the witch continues to cackle. Just then, they noticed the sky turning dark, causing them to look up to see the sun being blocked out by the moon, and dark clouds forming from the latter. "It has begun!" Somnambula cackled.

Just then, Indigo came, "In case you girls miss your precious dragon, while we wait," Indigo smirked. "Here's a little show for you. Enjoy!"

With that, the girl left behind a projector of some sort, which projected a video, showing Spike, in dragon form, with Peewee carrying him, on their way to for the rescue.

"SPIKE!!" the girls exclaimed.

"Omigosh!" Sweetie Belle gasped. "It's really him!"

Somnambula grinned deviously, while the Shadowbolts girls smiled in amusement, and in respect.

"Wow," Sunny commented. "Such chivalry, such persistence." Smirking in admiration, Sunny blushed, "As much as I hate to hear myself say this, but he's not that bad. I'm starting to like him."

"You're telling me," Indigo smirked. "I'm going to enjoy another chance for a rematch with him!"

"Yes, of course," Sour Sweet began sweetly. "You girls have your fun with him, and I'll have mine!!" she said demonically at the last part.

"Hey Somnambula!" Some Shadowbolts called, arriving with some creatures in cages. "Check out what we've found in the shy girl's backpack!"

Fluttershy gasped in horror, while Somnambula cackled, "Don't you hurt my creatures!" Fluttershy yelled, with tears in her eyes.

"Oh don't worry," Somnambula grinned. "They're just the escorts," as the evil witch raises her staff, and casted a stream of dark magic on the creatures. "And they'll hurt Spike, more than he and I would hurt them!"

The girls watched in horror as the animals' horrible mutation takes effect.

From the Previous Chapter

The boys all fist bumped together, before they cheered, "Let's do it, to it!" With a cheer, the boys all ran after their friend, leaving Sunset alone, with Zecora and Fleur.

"Wow, they weren't kidding about that whole 'friends till the end' thing," Sunset mused.

"Indeed," Fleur agreed, before she gets out her phone. "Though, I think it'd be best if they had some backups."

"So that you do," Zecora said, before she took some potions and walked to the warrior girl's side, "Now let's see what we can do for you."





The boys soon jumped from the magic door, "Hang on Spike!" Button exclaimed, as the boys quickly got in their fighting stances. "We got your.....back?"

The boys realized too late, they had jumped right into a demolition zone.

"MAMA MIA!!" Button cried. "MOMMY SAVE ME!!"

*Super Mario Death Sound*




[TMNT 2003 Soundtrack - The Foot Clan]

Spike and Peewee, in the meantime kept on flying, when they both noticed the change in weather and the sky, "Bad day," Spike muttered, as he and Peewee kept on flying.

Suddenly, a winged monkey, posing as a gargoyle, leapt off from its perch, and tackled the dragon. Caught by surprise, Peewee struggled to keep a firm grip on his owner, who didn't hesitate to fight back with the monkey.

"Let me go!" Spike growled, before he breathed a huge stream of green fire, burning the monkey away.

Before long, Spike and Peewee looked to see a whole pack of winged monkeys flying towards them. To make the situations even more dire, the monkeys were accompanied by strange looking creatures that appeared to be made of smokes, with piercing red-yellow eyes.

One of the shadow creatures flew at Peewee, and knocked the bird, causing him to lose his grip on his master. Spike was sent plummeting to the streets below.

"SPIKE!!" the girls screamed.

Doing a flip, Spike straightened himself, as he landed on a flag pole, and launched himself up to a building, rocketed himself off its walls, and onto the rooftops of another building. The Mane Six, let out a sigh of relief.

Spike continues on his way, only to be intercepted with more shadow creatures. Among them, were a group of ninjas, clad in the Shadowbolts' color.

"Should've suspected the Shadowbolts pulling a stunt like this," Turning himself back into human form, and getting in fighting stance, with Peewee flying close by, Spike bravely said, "Bring it!"

With that, the ninjas all jumped after Spike, throwing kicks and punches, which the young boy was able to block and dodge, before he rolled beneath them, and kicked one of them from behind. After recovering from the stumble, the ninja unsheathed a black sword, with its comrades doing the same, as they lunged at the dragon boy, slashing their blades at him. In retaliation, Spike's hands shifted into dragon claws, as he blocked their sharp blades. With that, Spike jumped over their heads, flipping in the air, while letting out a stream of fire, before he landed on a all four. One of the ninja charged in with his sword, but Spike blocked it, before he lets it slide, and elbowed the ninja in the back. Then, some other ninjas followed, equipped with naginata: long wooden poles equipped with long curved blades at one end. Spike ducked, getting a few of his hairs cut off by the bladed poles. Then, grabbing the poles with his arms, he broke the tips of with a quick chop of his elbow, before he threw the blades at the ninjas, who all quickly dodged the projectiles.

"Yee-ha!" Applejack cheered. "That's how ya wrangle them varmints!"

The ninjas soon pulled out their shurikens as they all threw them at the dragon boy, who quickly ran, jumped, and hid behind an electric box, trying to avoid getting hit the stars thrown at him. Peewee soon swooped in, and snatched a discarded katana, and dropped it into Spike's claws. Getting the message, Spike jumped back into the fight, with the sword in hand, and used it to skillfully deflected the ninja stars. With that, Spike finds himself engaged in a close combat with the ninjas, blade to blades. 




Meanwhile

Sunset had finished patching Fleur's wounds, "Aye me!" Zecora exclaimed. "How could I let it be? I forgot to inform, of a critical condition to Spike's changing form!"





Spike was fighting off the ninjas, with the sword in hand, when suddenly, he started to feel a spasm in his hand.

"What?" Spike looked, as his right hand twitches, as plates of jades started to form. "What the?!" Spike gasped.

"What's happening to him?" Rainbow asked.

"It can't be," Twilight gasped. "Is it?"

The Shadowbolts meanwhile, were fascinated, "Interesting," Abacus scratched her chin. "Very interesting."

"Perhaps this news would be of some interests to the mistress," Somnambula said, as she walks away, and back into the tent.

Spike quickly retreated from the ninjas, and jumped to another rooftop, examining his hand. Just then, the winged monkeys arrived, as they landed on the roof, and flew after the boy.

Seeing the growing number, Spike quickly changes himself into a dog, before Peewee grabbed him by the collar and flew off. Suddenly, the two were quickly ambushed by a whole swarm of flying monsters. Looking around, Spike got an idea.

"Sometimes, what goes up, must go down!" Spike said, as he and Peewee swooped to the streets below, with the monsters giving chase.

Flying through the cars and trucks, Peewee made several sharp turns, turning his whole body to the side, as he and Spike flew through, while some of the monsters continue to give chase, while the shadow creatures crashed into some of the vehicles and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Just then, a bloodcurdling scream was heard. Spike turned his head to see a now possessed Jersey Devil, flying right on their tails.

"Bad day!" Spike's eyes widen in fear, as Peewee flapped his wings even harder.

The Jersey Devil flew after the boys, snapping its jaws at them, and slashing its claws, trying to catch them. Peewee quickly emitted a flash of light, blinding the devil, causing it to fly out of control, before crashing into the back of a huge truck that was pulling a flatbed of pipes, causing the pipes to come lose and spill on the creature. Several cars made a quick stop, as the pedestrians all gathered, and witnessed in shock, to see the Jersey Devil, bursting out of the rubbles, lets out an angry howl, as it resumes its chase.

The chase didn't stop there, as the Mothman and the Owlman, joined the chase. Looking around, Spike directed Peewee, "Go that way!" With that, Peewee complied, as he took Spike down in the streets of Chinatown.

[Chinese Battle Music - Xian]

From there, Spike and Peewee flew threw a stand, selling kites, before emerging as a runaway dragon kite. The winged monkeys, shadow creatures, and the three big flying monsters all gave chase, as the phoenix cleverly flew through an ally, a noodle shop, and through a firework storage area, where the phoenix lit up one of the fireworks, resulting in an explosion that took out most of the shadow creatures in pursuit. Finally, one of the flying monkeys grabbed one of the kite's string, and pulled it, revealing that Spike's gone.

The creatures shrieked in frustration, realizing they've been duped, as Peewee flew off, laughing. Just then, Gilda appeared before the phoenix, cladded in black, spiky armor, and her eyes glowing redder than before.

Spike meanwhile, in human form, and with a bamboo hat over his face. More jade plates were forming on his cheek, and he didn't want anyone to see it. He was walking casually through the streets, until a kanai flew his way, from behind. Luckily, despite all the noises and the clatter, Spike's ear perked, hearing the blade coming, and dodged to the side, catching it by the tail, moments before it struck a little girl. Glancing back, Spike could see the ninjas catching up, and immediately broke into a run, trying to get away.

Then, ahead was a still, selling gardening equipments, which includes shovels, picks, and rakes, and there wasn't enough room run around it. Taking his chance, Spike jumped at the last second, doing a split, before he landed safely on the other side. From there, he kept on running, with the ninjas still hot in pursuit. 

Making a sharp turn into an alley, Spike knocked on a window he just passed, "Who is it?" the person called, opening the window and bashed one of the ninjas in the face.

Back in Battery Park, the girls couldn't help but laugh at their friend's clever move on the ninja.

"Good one, Spike!" Rainbow laughed, together with Pinkie and Applejack.

Rarity laughed, until she groaned, "Oh my sides."

Back with Spike, the boy kept on running, until some ninjas finally got ahead of him, and attacked by slashing their swords at him. Luckily, Spike ducked his head down, before sweeps his leg, tripping the ninjas, before jumping on a large table, thrusting his legs out at the same time to knock a ninja, on the other side, away before he rolls to his sides, dodging the blades being thrusted down on him. Then, rolling to his left, he kicked one of the ninjas at the head, before he flips himself back up, narrowly evading a sword being slashed his way. The ninja slashed his sword at the boy again, but Spike did an impressive backward ariel flip, dodging the attack, before he landed back on the table, in a front split. From there, Spike did a Flare Breakdancing move to kick the ninjas around him, as well as disarming them of their swords. Then, a flying monkey swooped in, but was kicked in the face, by the dragon boy's spinning legs. Getting up, he noticed more ninjas coming and jumped away, just as more shurikens and kunai blades nearly got him.

"Wow," Rainbow squealed. "He's just so awesome!! /) ^3^ (\." Zombie Zephyr Breeze flashed a smile, "Not you! Him!"

Spike suddenly screeched to a stop, as he made a quick purchase for curry powders, while keeping his hat over his face. With that, he went on his way, running, and flipping over some ninjas and their creatures, and over some cars that were passing by. Suddenly, a truck was backing out, and out of impulse, Spike changed into a dog as he slid beneath the vehicle. Once he was on the other side, Spike kept on running, until he came across a wall, with a mural painting of a Chinese dragon doing battle with a tiger, with the sun in the center. Suddenly, Princess Celestia's face appeared in the sun, causing Spike to stop dead in his track.

"Mom?" he asked breathlessly.

"Spike," Princess Celestia said sadly.

Spike held his hand out, walking towards whom he believed was his mom, until he hears an arrow flying. With that, he quickly dodged to the side, as the arrow flew past him, and struck the sun, freezing into a coat of ice, upon impact. Realizing what happened, Spike turned his head, to see more ninjas, shadow creatures, and flying monsters catching up to him. With that, Spike breathed a stream of fire, melting the ice, before he struggles to scale the wall. Unfortunately, at that time, his right hand started to spasmed violently, causing him to lose his grip, as his whole hand was coated in jade.

"Spike!" a voice called, as he was grabbed by someone.

Spike looked up, "Fleur?!"

"Quick! This way!" Fleur exclaimed, as she pulled him up over the wall. "Follow me!"

With that, the two started a run of parkour, down a street. While running, Spike took notice of Fleur's new change of attire, which consists a black jumpsuit with dark purple armor paddings on the shoulder, chest, back, legs, and arms, with her hair tied in a ponytail with a purple ribbon.

"Nice style!" Spike mused, while running over some bicycle stands.

"Merci," Fleur replied, as she made an impressive leap through a cart stand that was selling kites. 

"So what are you now?" the boy inquired. "A ninja?"

Fleur chuckled, as she and Spike both skillfully scaled up a building's wall, "As Sunset would say, a kunoichi is more like it."

"Well, you certainly look like one. Look, fight, and run like one I mean," Spike said with a blush.

"Flatterer," Fleur smiled. "And I too must say, you've certainly grown stronger."

"Thank you," Spike quickly did a flip, over a table, and used it as a shield against some arrows being shot. "So, how long have you been doing parkour? And what brings you here?"

"Well, we french invented parkour," Fleur ducked her head, dodging a punch from a ninja. She quickly grabbed the ninja by the hand, before she flipped him into the others. "And don't forget. You made me like this before I joined the army," Fleur smirked, "And I'm willing to give my all for you, even without magic." Spike smirked, as Fleur turns her attention back to the matter at hand, "Now come. We've got some friends who are waiting for us."

The Shadowbolts, mostly the boys, whistled in amusement, "Wow. That girl's dynamite!"

"I'll say," another smirked. "Can't believe she's wasting her times with a punk like him."

The Shadowbolts girls, scowled, resulting in some whimpers from the boys, as they all resumed watching.

The Mane Six, and Sweetie Belle, meanwhile watched, in admiration, and anxiety, for their friends.

Spike and Fleur kept on running, until Spike felt another spasm, this time coming from his foot.

"Spike!" Fleur exclaimed, as she returned to the boy's side. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know," Lifting up the hem of his pant, to reveal jade plates forming on him. "Is this a part of my metamorphism?"

Before Fleur could answer, they both look up to find themselves surrounded by a whole army of shadow creatures, flying monkeys, and ninjas.

"What now?" Fleur asked, pulling out her rapier.

"You take the shadows on the right," Spike said, as he conjures up his dragon claws and tail. "And I'll take the one on the left."

"Oui," Fleur replied, as the two leapt into battle.

One of the ninja swung his sword at Fleur, only for the girl to parry with her rapier, before she kicked him away. Then, another ninja threw a kusarigama, snaring the girl's arm, pulling her towards him, with a sickle ready. Fortunately, Fleur blocked the sickle, before she slashes her rapier at the ninja, causing it to disappear in a puff of smoke.

"Spike!" Fleur said. "The ninjas! They're not real!"

"Great!" Spike said, blocking a strike from a ninja. "Then I guess I don't have to hold back!" With that, Spike breathed a stream of fire at the ninjas that were jumping towards him, causing them all to disappear in a puff of smoke.

"It also means, there's more where that came from!" Somnambula smirked, flicking her staff.

From the shadows, more shadow creatures arrived, in the form of giant samurais on horseback.

"Uh oh!" Spike exclaimed. "Reinforcements!"

With a kick, the samurais galloped into battle, spears ready, as they charged towards the two heroes. Spike and Fleur both jumped to the sides, as the samurais rode past them, all the while fighting off more of the ninjas. Picking up a stray kusarigma, Fleur through the chain ball end to Spike, who caught it.

"Get ready, mon ami," Fleur said, as the samurais returned on their horses. "Now!" With that, the two pulled hard, tripping the shadow horses, causing them to disappear in puffs of smoke. The samurais however, were a different story. The two giants landed hard on their feet, before unsheathing their magnificently large katana and charged after the two.

[Sword Art Online OST - 25 Fight!]

With a mighty war cry, Fleur charged in at high speed, dodging to the left, before she thrusted her sword out, making a direct hit to the samurai's chest plate. Still, the samurai was far from defeated, as it slashed its sword relentlessly at the girl, as she dodges and parry with it. Then, after another successful block, using the momentum, Fleur spins her rapier in one of her hands, as she backstabbed the samurai, hard in the abdomen, causing the samurai to disperse into smokes.

Spike, meanwhile, was fighting off the other samurai, who was being aided by the ninjas and shadow creatures present. One of the shadow creatures snaked around the dragon hybrid, before they lunged, trying to strike the boy down, but missed on a broke a huge chunk of a brick wall down. The samurai lunged forward, and swung his sword, but missed as Spike dives through its leg, before leaping up, and did a spinning kick to the samurai's head, causing it to fall forward and crushing some of the ninjas beneath it, causing them all to disperse into puffs of smoke.

"Guess it's true," Spike smirked. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." Then, Spike noticed a winged monkey, sneaking up to Fleur from behind. "Fleur! Behind you!" Spike shouted.

Fleur quickly saw the monkey and kicked it away, "Merci, Spike."

The two kept on fighting, until Peewee came flying, with the flying monsters on his tail. 

"Peewee!" Spike shouted, as the phoenix came and perched on the boy's shoulder. The two teens looked, to see they were outnumbered.

"Enough already!" Fleur said, feeling fatigue.

"Somebody help us!!" Spike shouted.

Then, as if luck was once more smiling down on him, and Fleur, help did came, in the form of a certain gargoyle, coming to the rescue. 

Roaring like a lion, Scorpan successfully struck fear in most of the creatures' hearts, before he leapt forward in a flying kick, and knocked the one of the creature out, causing it to disappear in a puff of smoke. Then, one of the winged monkey leapt up from behind, and grabbed him in a chokehold, only for the gargoyle to ram the monkey into a wall, knocking it out cold. Another shadow creature made a move on the gargoyle, but Scorpan heard him coming, and stepped to the side, before he grabbed the creature by its tail, spinning around, smashing the creature into one of its comrades, causing them to explode in several puffs of smokes. Just then, the ninjas arrived, as they leapt in the air, throwing a smoke bomb, blinding Scorpan for the moment. Luckily, it didn't stop the gargoyle from honing his hearing senses on their movements, as he grabbed one of the ninjas by the leg, moments before it tried to grab Spike. With the ninja in hand, Scorpan used it as a makeshift shield, and weapon against its fellow comrades, up until his eyesights returned. Then, tossing the ninja away, causing it to disappear in a puff of smoke, Scorpan started to summon all of his strength, as he punched the ground, creating a shockwave, defeating all of the creatures, stunning the winged monkeys, and all the ninjas and shadow creatures disappeared in puffs of smokes.

"Obviously, Nightmare Moon's forgot one thing," Scorpan smirked. "I'm the Dark Knight."

"Awesome moves Uncle Scorpan!!" Spike gasped.

"Then I hope you like this one," Scorpan replied. "I call it, the Vanishing Scroll!"

With that, Scorpan got out a small piece of paper, with written spells, glowing in a yellow aura. With a karate yell, Scorpan casted the spell, blocking Shadowbolts' visions. Now, the only thing they can see was an old man, telling them, "One more thing!" before blowing a raspberry, over and over again.



"Meddlesome gargoyle!" Somnambula snarled.

"So much for that little 'escort' of yours," Sugarcoat said bluntly, before she quickly ducked her head, as Somnambula shot a bolt of lightning in her way.

“Careful Somnambula,” Abacus Cinch began nonchalantly. “If you charbroil one of my students, the school boards will question me for one of my students suffering severe burns.”

Regaining her composure, Somnambula went back to make some preparations.

"Aw man!" Rainbow groaned. "It was starting to get good!" This earned her some weird looks from the girls and the Shadowbolts. "I mean, good as in Spike going all Jackie Chan/Bruce Lee/Jet Li and stuff."

"I'll say!" Pinkie cheered, before she turns to a Shadowbolt. "Pay up!"

"Oh darn!" the Shadowbolt groaned, as he gave the girl a $100.





Spike, Fleur, and Scorpan, in human form, were later at a tea shop, catching their breath. Peewee meanwhile, was perched outside on a lamppost, keeping a sharp lookout.

"I think we've lost them," Spike panted. "Thanks again for the save, uncle! You really saved our bacons back there!"

"Don't thank me yet, Spike," Scorpan replied. "Apparently, there's still the matter of rescuing the girls."

"You know about that?"

"Of course. Zecora and some friends have been keeping me posted on the progress of your training. Unfortunately, the Shadowbolts have decided to strike back, and at a most crucial time for you." The man said, referring to the changes made on the boy's skin.

"Then I'm afraid I've got no choice uncle. I'll just have to rely on everything I've learned so far and do whatever it takes to save my friends."

"Very well, Spike. The least you could do now is try. The girls are heroes of Equestria, just as much as you were. If anything happens to one of them, the fate of Equestria will be sealed. The very end of harmony as we know it."

"Yeesh, no pressure or anything."

"But before you go Spike, I must teach you one last technique," the man said solemnly. "One that would prove most vital against some cunning adversaries."
> Dragon Metamorphosis! Part 4: Helping Equestria's Girls Save Spike
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Battery Park || 11:30 PM

After awhile, Spike and Peewee, finally arrived at the entrance of Battery Park.

"Thanks Peewee," Spike said to the phoenix, "I'll take it from here." While reluctant at leaving his master, the bird nodded as he flapped his wings and flew away.

Taking a deep breath, Spike calmly walked into the park, before he heard a whoosh.

Without having to turn around, Spike ducked his head in time, just as a net flew overhead. Then, from behind, a ninja stepped out as he lunged towards him from, only for Spike to somersault in the air, evading the ninja, before he retaliated, with a flying kick to the assassin's head. Then, more ninjas appeared from the shadow, as they all threw several bolas, nets, and arrows to capture the dragon boy. Spike, however, dodged them all, with only a chain ball, snaring him by the arm. With that, Spike quickly turned the table, as he pulled the ninja and used him as a makeshift flail. The ninjas all disappeared in a puff of smoke, as the sound of clapping was heard.

"Impressive," Somnambula said in amusement. "Very impressive. You've certainly learned a lot from our last encounter." The witch then took notice of the boy's current conditions, "Hmm, is jaded facial a new trend today?"

“Where are the girls?” Spike asked angrily.

Pointing with her staff, the witch directed Spike’s attention to the left to see the girls, still in restraints.

“Girls!” Spike cried, as he ran over, only to be barred by two brutish Shadowbolts. Spike quickly got into fighting stance.

“Now, now,” Somnambula began, as she walked over. “No need for violence.”

“Let the girls go!” Spike demanded angrily.

“First, the Dragonfire,” Somnambula demanded.

“Ladies first!” Spike pointed to the girls.

“Don’t annoy me, young prince,” the witch began, starting to lose her patience. “Give yourself to me, and then we’ll release the girls!”

"Let the girls go first! I don't trust you!"

"Obviously," Sugarcoat muttered. "I know, I know, shut up," the girl grumbled, as she was receiving some glares from her fellow Shadowbolts.

“Don’t do it Spike!” Rainbow Dash pleaded.

“We aren’t worth it!” Fluttershy cried.

“But you are,” Spike replied, looking at the girls, with sympathy. “You girls are the bestest friends I’ve ever had. I can’t think of anyone else as kind, generous, loyal, honest, funny, and magical than you girls and the rests, put together. I’ll gladly die, than to live with the loss of one of you,” The girls couldn’t help but shed a tear at the boy’s compassionate words of friendship, even some of the girls in the Shadowbolts’s ranks couldn't help but feel touched.

"Ah, star-crossed lovers," Somnambula mocked. "Fine! How about this. We'll release the girls first, then you give us, the Dragonfire. Now do we have a deal, or not?"

"First, how do I know you won't use the Dragonfire on the girls, after I give it to you?"

"Driving a hard bargain, eh?" Somnambula asked.

"ARRRGH!!" Sunburn growled impatiently, as she makes herself known. "Enough of these questions!! Give us the power, NOW!!"

Spike, surprised at the sudden appearance of Sunburn, remained stoic, "So you must be Sunset's angry self," Spike said.

"Yes, Dragon Prince," Sunburn sneered. "It is I. How incredibly observant you are," the apparition said, rolling her eyes, while pointing accusingly at the Mane Six, "Far more observant than these six put together!!"

"Here we go again," Rainbow groaned.

"DON'T YOU START TO TO COMPLAIN BEHIND MY BACK, RAINBOW CRASH!!!" Sunburn roared. "YOU ONLY HAVE YOURSELVES TO BLAME!! YOU HAVE ALL SEALED YOUR FATES THE DAY YOU ALL TURNED YOUR BACKS ON SUNSET!!"

"Then why are you bringing Sweetie Belle into this?" Rarity asked. "Surely, she hasn't done anything wrong to you. Has she?"

"What?!" Sunburn asked, as Sweetie Belle shirked in fear. "She hasn't told you?"

"Told me what?" Rarity inquired.

"Tell them, little girl," Sunburn sneered. "Tell them how you felt, after Sunset was pardoned for her past crimes as a Shadowbolt. Tell them, how Ponyville was set on fire! Tell them how those books ended up in Sunset's saddlebags! Tell them the TRUTH!!!"

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asked.

The said girl sobbed, as several tears welled up in her eyes, "It was me," the girl cried. "I-I-I didn't mean for it to go that far. It was that Shadowbolt! He made me do it!"

"Oh, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said despondently.

"Are you sure, he's to blame, Sweetie Belle?" Sunburn sneered. "Who else would go around town and wish out loud for Sunset's banishment, and for a cutie mark?"

"He tricked me!" Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"You've got no pony to blame but yourself!" Sunburn growled, before she pulled out the device from her pocket. "And for that, you will pay!" Sunburn's hairs then bursted in a blazing inferno, "YOU WILL ALL PAY!! WATCH AS I TAKE THE DRAGONFIRE FROM YOUR PRECIOUS DRAGON PRINCE!!!" With that, Sunburn opened up the device, laughing maniacally, along with the Shadowbolts, which quickly subsided when nothing happened, "WHAT?!!!" Sunburn shook the device, before she noticed tag that reads, "Made in MEXICO?!!!"

Then, the mad girl, along with the Shadowbolts heard the sound of a twig snapping, to see Discord, dressed in a fox costume, with a burglar's mask, and the device in hands. "Zoot! You're too late!" With that, Discord made a run for it.

With an angry shriek, Sunburn shouted, "AFTER THAT CRAZY MAGICIAN!!" 

With that, some Shadowbolts ran after Discord, with the latter laughing, "WHOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO!" Discord then froze in place, as he speaks to the readers, "I'm not crazy. I just don't give a darn!" With that, he resumes his laugh, and chase.

Spike, in the meantime, concentrated, and changes into a dragon, as he kicked Sunburn to the side, dodged a lightning bolt from Somnambula, and flew towards the brutes, as he quickly, and effectively knocked them out cold, before he went for the girls, and freed them from their restraints.

"Spike," Rainbow smirked. "You sly dog."

"Though, is it true that jaded facial is becoming a thing for you?" Rarity asked, before she took further notice, "Come to think of, how is that you-"

Before Rarity could question any further, a fireball was thrown, which Spike shielded the girls from, receiving a few burns as he did so.

[Skillet-Not Gonna Die]

"Big mistake, dragon!" Sunburn growled, as she was surrounded in dark aura. "Now I'm really MAAAAADDD!!" With that, she sprouted wings, a tail, and grew claws, while her ears became pointy. "I'm going to take everything Twilight and the girls have ever liked," she began. "AND BURN IT ALL TO THE GROUND!!" With that, the angry girl breathed a stream of fire at the little dragon, who quickly blocked it with his own fire breath. The demonic girl swoops in, and slashes her claws at the boy, who quickly jumped overhead, "You're fast!" Sunburn exclaimed.

"Or maybe you're too slow!" Spike said, as he grabbed the demon by the tail, throwing her in the air, jumped up, and landed kick, sending the demon flying through several trees. Though a little disoriented, Sunburn shook the blow off, as she took flight.

"RUN!" Spike ordered, as the Mane Six, and Sweetie Belle, took their leave.

Just then, a light spear was thrown, which grazed some jades on Spike's shoulder.

"Ow-Oh?" Spike flinched, as he rubbed himself. "That doesn't hurt at all."

"Maybe I just need to hit something more soft!" Sunburn called out, as she flew at the dragon, aiming for the exposed areas on his head, chest, abdomen, and any other part that weren't covered in jades. "Hold still!" Sunburn growled, as she breathes a stream of fire in frustration.

Spike kept dodging the demon's fire attacks, and blocked some of her strikes, before he did a backflip, landing a kick to the chin, followed by a  spinning tail whip. Sunburn groaned, as she shook the blows off. Afterwards, Sunburn blew a whistle, calling her paper dragons.

"Seize him!!!" Sunburn roared.





Twilight and the girls hadn't gone very far, when some ninjas stopped them. Then, Abacus Cinch stepped forward.

"Seize the girls!" Abacus Cinch commanded. The ninjas complied, before they were stopped, be a blast of magic.

"Don't you dare hurt my sister!" a voice called, revealing it to be a Shadowbolt, with a hood over his head.

"I'll second to that!" another Shadowbolt said.

"Eeyup!" the last one said.

"Who dares?!" Abacus Cinch angrily asked.

The three Shadowbolts took off their cloaks, to reveal themselves to be three boys, older than the girls, in suits of armors, carrying weapons. The first boy has a long, well groomed, moderate sapphire blue hair with moderate cerulean and dark phthalo blue streaks that frames his matching eyes. In appearance, he wears a suit of dark purple suit of armor, with gold trimmings and paddings, while carrying bulky longsword in one hand, and a huge shield on his back. The second boy has a long hair, the same style as Rainbow Dash's, while having moderate gamboge hair. In appearance, he wore a dark blue, sleek, suit of armor, that looked almost like something from the Sci-Fi genre. The third boy has brilliant orange, messy hair, over his moderate sap green eyes, with freckles beneath them. His armor gave him the appearance of a black knight from the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, with silver horns of a ram on both sides of his helmet, and a huge, dark, buster sword.

"Shining Armor!" Twilight smiled.

"Blaze!" Rainbow gasped.

"Big Mac!" Applejack exclaimed.

"What's this?" Abacus asked, enraged to see the boys. "Spies? Impossible!"

"Not probable!" Shining Armor smirked. "You always were too high and mighty to see passed the end of your nose. We've been undercover, and we're here for my sister and her friends!"

"Eeyup!" Big Mac agreed.

Abacus groaned, as she rubbed her temple, "Nightmare Moon is not going to let me hear the end of this," she shook her head, as she regains her composure and smirked evilly. "No matter. I'll redeem myself, by offering your hides to her as tributes. AFTER THEM!!"

With that, the ninjas all jumped at the boys, along with some flying monkeys.

"C'mon Wondercolts!" Shining Armor said. "All for one, and ONE FOR ALL!!"

With that, the boys all charged towards their adversaries, while the girls, plus Sweetie Belle, sneaked away. Abacus Cinch, got out a smoke bomb, and disappeared, in a puff of smoke.

"That was close," Applejack panted. "So what do we do now?"

"Run away and let the boys handle everything?" Pinkie asked.

"No way!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I didn't came this far just to ditch Spike! He's fighting the Shadowbolts, and we gotta help him!"

"And do you plan on us doing that?" Applejack asked. "We don't have our powers anymore. Sunburn's got our powers! And we can't help Spike without them."

"That's never stopped me before," a voice called, revealing itself to be none other than Fleur, standing together with Sunset Shimmer, Zecora, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon Bon, and the boys.





Back with Discord, the crazy magician was running for his very life, while outsmarting the Three Magicians.

Discord took off his top hat, and threw it at Goldcap, who caught it in her hands, and looked at the hat, questionably. Discord then got out another hat, and thrusted a fist in it, which appeared from Goldcap's hat, and blasted the girl with a burst of water, from a fire extinguisher. Discord's head then appeared from the hat, as he talks in Daffy Duck's voice, "You're possssitively, ravissshing, dear," With that, he planted a kiss on the girl's lip. Once they broke contact, Goldcap spluttered in disgust, while Discord bounced around, laughing. Then, Decepticolt came up from behind, and was about to catch the eccentric boy with a net, until Discord stopped him.

"Hey just a minute there bub! Just a minute!" With that, Discord punched the boy in the nose, before he resumes laughing, and running.

Discord dives through a bush, where Spike was waiting, before he came running out of the bush, and up into a tree. The irked Three Magicians all climbed after Discord, who later reappeared in a flash of light at the bottom. The Magicians realized too late, they've been duped into climbing a prop tree.

"That'll be 36 cents, please!" Discord grinned, as he kicked the tree, causing the magicians to fall. "Thought they can outsmart the old master, eh?" Just then, Discord was piled on by some Shadowbolts. Once the scuffled was settled, one of the Shadowbolts was holding Discord down, "Ooh, couldn't keep your hands off me, eh?" Discord smirked, while the Shadowbolt scoffed with disgusts, as she looked through his coat, trying to find the device.





Spike, too, was running for his dear life, as the paper dragons gave chase. The boy had assumed the form of a dog, as he dove into a bush, hiding from the dragons that were pursuing him. At the same time, Discord had passed through the same bush, dropping the device he had stolen from Sunburn, and into Spike's possession.

Spike later emerged from the bush, still a dog, with the device around his neck. However, before he could find the girls, he quickly jumped back in fright, just as an arrow was shot, and landed in front of Spike. The little dog looked up, to see the five Shadowbolts, and Somnambula, as they all lunged towards him.

Sour quickly shot another arrow, which Spike was able to evade, "Stop moving!" the girl growled, as she continues to fire more arrows at the little dog.

"Not an option for me!" Spike replied, as he continues to dodge behind trees, bushes, rocks, and other structures he could use as shields.

"It doesn't have to be this way," Somnambula said, as she readies her staff. "If you surrender yourself, no pony gets hurt. The Night Mistress will make you bigger! And not so fluffy!" With that, the witch fired a stunning spell at the dog.

"I like fluffy!" Spike retorted, before dodging another blast from the witch, followed by several more, as he climbed into the trees. "I'll bet some bits, yo mama was so old, she died when she acted her own age!" The dragon said to the elder witch.

Somnambula gasped, "I'd say the same for your mother!" the witch retorted, just as the dog blew an explosive fireball, which Somnambula quickly blocked with a shield spell she projected. Once the fires cleared away, the witch looked, and sees the young dragon getting away.

The witch prepares another spell, only to be stopped by Sunny Flare, "Allow us, mistress," Sunny insisted. "We have unfinished business with the dragon!" With that, Sunny and the girls all gave chase.





Twilight, the girls, and their allies, kept on running through the chaos, before they find Spike, who had changed into his dragon form, as he got into fighting stance, and fought the five Shadowbolts.

"Why are you girls doing this?" Spike asked, while blocking a strike from Indigo's sword. "What do you from me? What did I ever do to you?"

"A lot of things we can do with your powers!" Indigo smirked. "From what Somnambula has told us, once Nightmare Moon has it, she'll be able to withstand the light of the sun! And on top of that, she'll reward us for our loyalty to her! We'll get everything we've ever wanted! Every dreams made real! Every wishes fulfilled! I can be an all powerful warrior!"

"I'll be loved by many," Sunny added.

"I'll have immeasurable knowledge of the universe," Sugarcoat answered.

"I'll destroy anyone who gets in my way!" Sour sneered.

"And I'll never get tired!" Lemon smirked, earning some weird looks, which she clarified, "When I celebrate our victory with endless rock n roll concerts."

"Wow," Spike began. "Can my powers do all that?" He asked, before he backflips into a tree branch, dodging an arrow in time. "On second thought, I'd rather not have that question answered."

"So that was a rhetorical question?" Sugarcoat asked.

"If that's what you think," Spike answered.

"ENOUGH TALKING!" Indigo shouted. "More fighting!"

"And much more destruction!" Sour grinned.

With that, the girls all pounced on the dragon, who continues to fight back, jaded limbs and all.

Indigo flew in, and landed a kick to his chest, only to recoil in damage, when more jade plates started to cover his chest.

"Ow!" Indigo groaned, as she held her foot, and hopped all over the place, while the other girls continued their assaults on the dragon.

Sour Sweet changed her bow into its staff form, and swung the blades at the dragon, who manages to block them, with his newfound jaded plates. Sugarcoat lunged towards Spike, with her shuko claws, try to scratch the dragon, at the exposed spots that have yet to be covered by the jade plates growing on him. Spike, however, changed himself into a dog, evading the girl's claws, before he jumped from behind and kicked her, causing Sugarcoat to stumble into Lemon Zest, causing the latter to ensnaring Sour, Sugar, and herself, by mistake, with her kusarigma. Sunny continues to use her tessen fan, who continues to dodge, as well as catching some of the kunai blades being thrown at him, while the others nearly got Indigo.

"Hey! Watch it!" Indigo shouted.

"Enough!" Somnambula shouted, as she steps into the fight. "Dragon Prince. Prepare for a historical repeat!" With that, she readied her staff and fired a bolt of dark lightning from her staff, straight towards the dragon.

"NO!!" Twilight and the girls screamed.

Remembering the technique Scorpan had taught him, Spike quickly struck his arm out, got himself forced back a few feet away, as he took the lightning in. While this is happening, Spike felt an excruciating pain, coursing through his body, as more than a billion volts of electricity was pulsing through his body, and his very life flashed through his mind. Among them, Princess Celestia's tear stained face appeared, "Spike," the alicorn called out, longingly.

The young dragon's eyes snapped open, burning brightly with determination, and his pupils became slits, once more, "Not this time!" He growled, before he struck his other arm out, projecting the lightning from the other end.

"What? How did he-" Before Somnambula could finish, she was struck by the lightning, and was thrown back, and into a tree, and was knocked, out cold.

The girls gasped at what they had seen, before they all let out whoops and cheers for their dragon friend, "Whoo-hoo!"

"Way to go, Spike!" Rainbow cheered.

"Yeah!" Spike cheered, before he took notice of the girls. "Girls?"

"Hey Spike!" Pinkie waved her hands.

"Don't forget about us buddy!" Button called out.

"Guys?!"

"Where?" Discord asked, as he popped his head out from a bush.

The Shadowbolts later got up, as they, along with some flying monkeys, and shadow creatures, angrily charged towards the dragon.

"Talk later!" Spike said, as he resumes the fight.

The monkeys all swooped down from their perch, swiped their claws at the dragon, who didn't hesitate to fight back. One monkey grabbed him by the tail, but Spike whipped it away into the others. Another flying monkey jumped on Spike's head and pulled him by the frills. In response, Spike jumped into the branches overhead, knocking the monkey off, after it collided headfirst into one of the branches. Spike quickly climbed into one of the tree branches, with the monkeys climbing after him, before they all came out on top, and piled on the dragon.

"Repulse the monkey!" Spike screamed, throwing the monkeys off.

"You rock!" Fluttershy cheered, quietly. "Whoo-hoo!"

The Three Magicians then ran towards Spike. Goldcap pulled out a bola from the inside of her hair, and threw it at the dragon. But Spike quickly ducked his head down, as the bola flew overhead and snared one of the monkeys instead.

"Throw it at him, you idiot!" Sunny Flare scowled.

"I'm trying!" Goldcap talked back.

Zappityhoof and Decepticolt both pulled out their magic hats, shooting out a rope, made up of several multicolored handkerchiefs, lassoing the dragon.

"We got him!" Decepticolt's words got eaten, when Spike grabbed the ropes and started to swing them around.

"You mean, he's got us!" Zappityhoof screamed as she and the boy were spun around, before Spike released the rope, and sent them flying into a tree.

"Alright, that's it!" Decepticolt snarled. "No more Mr. Nice Magician!" With that, the boy concentrated on a dark spell, creating several duplicates of himself. The duplicates all charged after the dragon, who quickly breathed fire at all the copies, while receiving a few hits at the exposed areas of his body, on the back, tail, and stomach.

"Don't suppose you've got room for one more!" Zappityhoof said, as she joined in, throwing a few smoke bombs at the dragon.

Blinded, Spike began to rely more on his hearings, listening to the sounds of the wind blowing, crickets chirping, monkeys chittering, wings flapping, and the footsteps of the Shadowbolts, along with some weapons being thrown at him, allowing him to dodge from side to sides.

"Spike!" Twilight called. "Pick up your jacket!"

"Huh?" Spike replied questionably, but complied, nevertheless. As he did so, a ninja flew overhead, missing the boy.

The girls realized what Twilight was doing, as they joined in.

"C'mon Sugarcube!" Applejack instructed. "Left hand up! Right hand up! Left leg back!"

"Play dead!" Fluttershy shouted, causing Spike to lay down on the grass, just as two of Decepticolt's duplicates crashed into each other. "Roll over!" With that, Spike rolled to the side, dodging Indigo's katana, as the girl was swinging it down. "Good boy!" Fluttershy smiled.

"Keep it up Spike!" Twilight shouted. "Wax on! Wax off! Re-shelve the books!"

"Buck them apples!" Applejack shouted, as Spike thrusted his legs out, kicking some Shadowbolts away.

"Quick! Give them the Flying Crane Kick!" Rainbow shouted, as Spike kicked one of the Shadowbolts, a boy, in the groin, and smacked two Shadowbolts at his sides, in the face, with his hands.

"Sweep the floor!" Rarity called, as Spike whipped his tail, successfully tripping Decepticolt and all his fake doubles, sending the magician flying towards a tree. 

"Heads up!" Pinkie said, causing Spike to duck his head down. "No! I mean the other heads up!" With that, Spike stood up, as Pinkie threw a glass of water at Spike, clearing his vision.

"Thanks, Pinkie," Spike said in relief. "I needed that."

"No problem," Pinkie smiled. "NOW BAKE HIS COOKIES!!!" Pinkie shouted, pointing at a disoriented Decepticolt.

"Bake his cookies?" the girls asked in confusion.

With that, Spike grabbed Decepticolt from behind, pantsed him to reveal a white boxer with chocolate chipped cookies, burned it with his fire breath, before pulling it up into a flaming wedgie, "YOW!!" the boy shouted in pain, jumping so high, that he came right out of Battery Park, and landed on a telephone wire, electrocuting him.

"I taught him that," Pinkie smiled.

Just then, Shining Armor, Big Mac, and Rainbow Blaze arrived, "What did we missed?" Shining Armor asked.

"Oh just Spike opening a can of kick plot kung fu!" Rainbow said in excitement.

"Really?" Rainbow Blaze asked, as he sat next to his sister, to watch the show.

Goldcap, Zappityhoof, along with the rest of the Shadowbolts, and their creatures were left to contend with the dragon. One of the paper dragons lunged, snapping its jaws at Spike, who had turned into a dog, as he leaped onto the dragon's head, and pulled on the tufts of furs on its head.

"Yee-haw!" Pinkie cheered. "Ride 'em Spike!"

The dragon shook its head, menacingly, and furiously, trying in vain to shake the dog off. The rest of the paper dragons, along with the monkeys, all tackled after the dog, who slid down the paper dragons' bodies, jumped through some gaps, evading from the monkeys claws. Before long, the paper dragons and winged monkeys were all in a tangled mess of bodies and limbs.

Soon, it was Sunny and the Shadowbolts' turn, along with the two remaining magicians.

Sunny, obviously, made the first move, as she threw several kunai blades, and shurikens at the dragon, who was able to block a few, with his jade plates, while catching a few, by the tails, 'Hmm, maybe this metamorphosis of mine isn't so bad,' he thought, before he quickly blocked some arrows the girl shot at him.

"What?" Sunny asked. "You think Sour Sweet's the only archer on our team? Where did you think she learned it from?" With that, Sunny readied another arrow, which exploded into a giant net.

Spike's tongue shot out, as he did the, "Clean Toilet Bowl," maneuver again. However, as he did the technique, he saw Indigo running at his side, with her katanas in hand, and swung them at his tongue. She would've succeeded, had Spike not retracted his tongue back in time, and caused the net to fall on Indigo.

"Indigo, you idiot!" Sunny scolded. "I almost had him, until you got in the way!"

"I almost had him too!" Indigo snarled in return. "Had it not been for your net!" The competitive girl soon got her collar pulled, as Sunny brought her, face to face.

"Need I remind you I'm the leader of this team?!" Sunny snarled.

"Oh, forgive your highness," Indigo replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes, before she felt Sunny tightening her grip. "I mean, sure! You're the boss! You're the boss!"

While Sunny and Indigo argued, Spike continued his fight with the others.

Sour Sweet made the next move, as she menacingly waved her staff furiously, as well as throwing a few kicks, all of which Spike was able to block, with his jaded claws, and some kicks of his own. Eventually, Sour grew impatient, and ran forward, in a flying kick, which Spike was quick to catch her.

"Release me!" Sour roared, trying to smack the dragon in the face, which Spike arched his head, back in time. Before long, the dragon reverted back in human form, as he comically spins the girl around, knocking the other Shadowbolts in the face. In appearance, the two looked almost as if they're professional dancers. Spike was clearing enjoying it, while Sour speaks otherwise, as she moaned in discomfort. Then, Spike flipped the girl over his back, causing her to fall towards the ground, dropping her weapon, nearly letting her land, had he not caught her in time.

"Let's dance," Spike grinned, as he and Sour continue to spin around.

The rest of the Shadowbolts, and magicians, recovered, before they took notice of the display. They honestly don't know wether or not to laugh at their friend's misfortune, along with the winged monkeys, after they freed themselves from the paper dragons. The rest of the heroes on the other hand, had no trouble at all.

"This is the best thing I've ever seen!" Rainbow laughed herself to tears, along with Applejack, whose face was turning red.

"And they say I'm the element of laughter!" Pinkie laughed uncontrollably, eventually breaking herself into pieces.

Sunset Shimmer too couldn't keep it together, as she was hugging with Twilight, both laughing themselves to the brinks of tears, "P-P-Poor Sour Sweet!" Twilight laughed.

Elsewhere, Sunburn was trying to find the dragon who got away from her, when she felt some cracks forming on her body. Concentrating on her mind, she realizes what was going on, "Stop laughing!" Sunburn demanded to Sunset Shimmer. "I don't care how funny you think he is! And I could tell better jokes!"

Meanwhile, a zombie Snips, Snails, and Zephyr were sitting on some benches, as they watch the fight going on.

"No fair!" Zombie Snips droned. "How come he gets to dance with her?"

"Not fair," Snails droned.

"Yep," Zephyr moaned.

"Slackers!" Sunburn roared, when she finds the zombies. "Get over there and stop the dragon!" The zombies all gave her some salutes, as the demon threw them away.

Soon, Spike flipped Sour on his back, released his hold on her legs, before he grabbed her hands beneath him, pulling her up, and spins her around, leaving the girl in a dizzy state. Sour was so dizzy, everywhere she looked, she's seeing Spike. She looked at Snips, Snails, and Zephyr, and thought they were all Spikes, and charged, dizzily, towards them. The boys, being the dimwits they are, weren't so fortunate enough to defend themselves from the girl's attacks. Sunburn face palmed, angrier than ever.

"Olè!" Spike exclaimed, earning some whistles and applauses from his friends. Then he remembered something, "Oh! I almost forgot," With that, Spike held up the device. "Girls! I have your-" Suddenly, Spike felt himself spazzing all over again, "Oh no! Not now!" With that, more jades started to form all over his body, on his chest, legs, and his hand started to become more stiff. Then, out of impulse, the hand holding the device, crushed the said object, releasing several multicolored orbs, flying from his hand. The orbs flew around the boy, dancing around him, before they merged into one orb. Spike looked at the orb, and was shocked, as he swore he saw Princess Celestia's face. Next thing he knew, the orb flew into his mouth, and forced its way down his throat.

"AAAAAAAHHH!!" Spike screamed, falling to his knees, and clutching his stomach. To him, it felt like a thousand needle has been shot, directly at his heart, and from there, his whole blood vein was caught on fire.

"Oh, goodness!" Fluttershy cried, running up to his side. "Are you alright?"

"I-I-I don't know!" Spike's whole body glowed in a shimmering rainbow coat, before he was completely encased in jades, "Wh-What's happening to MMEEEEEEEEEEE?!!" Spike screamed, snapping his eyes open, to reveal it was glowing in a rainbow aura, as he was forced back in dragon form, and roared in pain. Fluttershy quickly backed away, along with the girls, and the Shadowbolts, as they all watched the young dragon, contorting himself in an odd manner. Then, in a flash of green light, standing in the young dragon's place, was a jade dragon statue, in a coil.

"Spike?" Fluttershy said in concern, as she and Rarity both ran up to the statue. "Spike, what's wrong?"

"Spikey-Wikey?!" Rarity asked, tapping the statue. "Are you alright? Speak to me!"

"Twilight!" Rainbow asked. "What's happening to him?"

"I don't know!" Twilight replied.

"I do!" Sunset explained. "He's going through metamorphosis."

"Meta what?" the rainbow haired girl asked.

"He's changing!" the fiery girl answered. "Like how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, he's going through a similar process!"

"Oh my!" Rarity exclaimed. "I never thought I'd get the chance to witness such an event!"

"Neither would we!" Abacus Cinch grinned, as she made herself known. "Shadowbolts! Now's our chance! Seize the dragon before he completes his transformation!!"

"No!" Sunset shouted, as she stood, defensive before the changing dragon. "You want Spike? You have to go through me first!"

"Oui!" Fleur said, as she too joined in. "That makes two of us!"

"Don't count us out yet!" Bon Bon stated, with Lyra joining.

"Don't forget about me!" Discord announced.

"With pleasure!" Sunburn sneered, as she, the magicians, and the Three Stooges, pounced the girls and boy.

"Then I guess the dragon's ours then!" Sunny smirked as she and her comrades prepare for the kill.

"You want Spike?" Button asked, taking out a styrofoam Minecraft pickaxe, and too stood defensively for his friend. "You gotta go through us first!" The rest of the boys soon came out, as they all exchanged agreements.

"Who are you suppose to be?" Abacus asked.

"Who are we? Who are we?!!!" Button Mash asked. "Tendertaps! Roll the music!" 

With that, Tender Taps pulled out a boom box and pressed a button.

[Spirit Squad Titantron]

"Kenny!" Button announced.

"Johnny!" Rumble followed.

"Mitch!" Pipsqueak said.

"Nicky!" Featherweight exclaimed.

"Mikey!" Tender Taps shouted.

"And we are!" The boys together flashed a smile and a thumbs up. "The Spirit Squad!"

*DJ Disc Scratch*

"Dude! You played the wrong theme song!" Button Mash grumbled.

The girls, the boys, the Shadowbolts, even Abacus Cinch, all face faulted, incredulous at the boys' performance.

"Okay, let's try this again, from the top," Button stated.

[Let's Get Ready To Rumble - Jock Jams]

"Button Mash!"

"Rumble!"

"Tender Taps!"

"Pipsqueak!"

"Featherweight!"

"And together, we are!" The boys once again did their dramatic poses. "The Five Guys!!"

"Lame," Sugarcoat said bluntly.

*DJ Disc Scratch*

"What'd you say?" Button asked angrily, followed by the boys.

"I thought it was pathetic, the way you boys screwed up your intro. But it's even more pathetic, how you boys named yourselves after a fast food restaurant," the girl explained, nonchalantly.

"Now that really hurts," Featherweight mutters. "We like Five Guys for a reason!"

"WAIT A MINUTE!!" Sour Sweet exclaimed. "I remember you boys now! You were those meddling hoodlums who keep rescuing those peeping toms from us!!" With that, the girl's face grew even redder with anger. "Well now, it's time for sweet, sweet, sweet, REVEEEENGGGEEE!!!" the girl said the last part demonically.

"I thought you wanted revenge on Spike for-ACK!!" Indigo was interrupted when Sour gabbed the athletic girl in another death grip by the throat.

"First the boys!" Sour began sweetly. "THEN SPIIIIIIIKEE!!!" she said in a demonic tone.

The boys in the meantime, watched with shrunken pupils.

"See, this is why she never has a boyfriend," Button whispered, which unfortunately, didn't go unheard.

"I heard that!!" Sour Sweet roared. With an angry tantrum, she lunges towards the nerd boy, while her comrades took the rest of the boys.




Button Mash vs. Sour Sweet
[Mad Dummy Battle OST]




*Angry Sour Sweet is glaring!*
*She's scary....*

Options
*Fight
*[Act]
*Item
*Mercy

Act
*[Check]
*Talk

*Button checks Sour Sweets out.
*She's really not happy about it.

Sour Sweet: "HEY PERV! DON'T BE LOOKING UP MY SKIRT!!"

*Sour glares at the author.

Sour Sweet: "AND WHO ARE YOU CALLING A DUMMY?!"

>>Sour Sweet attacks Button Mash with arrows. 
>>Sour Sweet missed. She's not too happy about it.
>>Obviously.

Options
*Fight
*[Act]
*Item
*Mercy

Act
*Check
*[Talk]

*Button talks to Sour Sweets.
*......
*She's not too happy with anything he says.

Sour Sweet: "Why don't you go talk with me.......IN HELL!!!"

>>Sour Sweet attacks Button Mash with arrows.
>>Sour Sweet missed. She's really losing it.

Sour Sweet: "Hey! You're making me look like a fool! What's that? Oh, you're saying I've always been a fool?"

Options
*Fight
*[Act]
*Item
*Mercy

Act
*Check
*[Talk]

*Button talks to Sour Sweets.
*.......
*Yo mama jokes?
*Really?

Sour Sweet: "DID YOU JUST CALL MY MAMA UGLY?!!!"

>>Sour Sweet attacks with slashes.
>> Sour Sweet missed.
>>She's passed the point of no return right now.

Options
*Fight
*[Act]
*Item
*Mercy

Act
*[Check]
*Talk

*Button checks Sour Sweet.
*She's boiling mad!

Sour Sweet: "Will you quit annoying me?"



"Alright, I quit. All you gotta do is stop Button Mash from doing this!



>>Sour Sweet attacks relentlessly with arrows.
>>Sour missed......again.

Sour Sweet: "Now just for that I'm going to tear you limb from limb! Limb from limbs!"

Options
*Fight
*[Act]
*Item
*Mercy

Act
*[Check]
*Talk

*Button checks Sour.*
*She's really losing it.*

Sour Sweet: "ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHH!!!!"

>>Sour attacks with arrows.
>>Sour missed again.....and

Sour Sweet: ".....I'm.....I'm all out of arrows."

Options
*Fight
*[Act]
*Item
*Mercy

Act
*Check
*[Talk]

*Button talks with Sour Sweet.*

Sour Sweet: "Hey! Quit rubbing it in!"

>>Sour attacks with slashes.
>>Button's mustache got trimmed.
>>Meh! It was a costume.

Options
*Fight
*Act
*[Item]
*Mercy

Item
*Super Beanie
*[Luigi's Mustache]
*Mario's Mustache
*Applejuice Box
Page 1

*Go Luigi!
*Sour Sweet doesn't like the song.

Sour Sweet: "It's like you're trying to get me to blow my stacks!"

>>Sour Sweet attacks with slashes.
>>Bonus: Button counters with Death Stare.



"Ooh! So angry! Be careful Sour. So much stress will give you a heart attack. Ooh, what am I saying? Please, continue. Never mind what I said."



Sour Sweet: "Ooooh, I'm warning you!!"

Options
Fight
[Act]
Item
Mercy

Act
[Check]
Talk

*She's gonna blow!*

>>Sour Sweets self-destructs.
>>.......Well, well, well
>>If it ain't the the little flower!

Sour Sweet: ........((*0__0;*))....I-I-I gotta go.......

>>Sour Sweet fled.

Options
Fight
[Act]
Item
Mercy

Act
Check
[Talk]

*Button Mash laughs his heart out.*
*Stop laughing!!*
*Don't laugh behind your enemy's......*
*.....Welp, too late....*
*Sour Sweet's back. And is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, infinite very, mad!*

Sour Sweet: "Laugh at me....IN HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLL"

Options
Fight
Act
Item
[Mercy]

Mercy
Spare
[Run]




Rumble vs. Indigo Zap
[Naked Weapon - Maggie Q vs. Andrew Lin]

The young athletic boy, was currently engaged in a rumble of his own, with Indigo Zap. The even competitive girl was showing no mercy, as she relentlessly slashed her swords at the boy, who parried with a metal bat and a hockey club.

"I'm curious," Rumble began. "How does a Crystal Prep athlete like you became a swordsman?" Indigo growled, "Oh, sorry. I mean, swordswoman."

"Well, how does a boy like you get involved in this?" Indigo asked. "Your friend is a dragon from another world, he's got powers that the master of our principle is seeking, and you're practically risking your own life for him! Why are you getting in our way?"

After blocking another slash from Indigo's katana, Rumble replied, "Dragon or not, Spike's our pal! And we never leave one of our own, behind!" Rumble blocked another sword, as he continues, "And I'm saying that, not because of his powers; something all you Shadowbolt creeps ever cared about. We owed Spike a lot of things! We owed him our lives!"

"Really?" Indigo, irritated, slashed her swords at the boy's bat. "What did he do for you? Helped you win a trophy for you and your team?"

"Ha! Even better!" Rumble replied. "He helped me win back my brother's medal!" This got Indigo interested, "Before Spike came to town, I was just an average, everyday runt, living in my brother's shadow. Thunderlane was the only friend I've ever had. He was there to give me emotional support, telling me that I'm special, more ways than one. And as proof of his confidence within me, he gave me his prized medal," Rumble then brought out the said object from his pocket as proof. "This thing meant everything to me, because it carries my bother's passions, his victories, and his respect. And he entrusted its care with me!" Rumble then puts the medal back in his pocket, as he continues, "Then, one day, some punks went and took the medal from me. They said they'll only give it back, if I can beat them in a game of basketball, 2 vs. 2. I'm not one to back down from a challenge, but I was without a second player then, and all of the kids at school were afraid to help. All, except one." Indigo didn't need to guess who it is, "That's right, it was Spike himself. Spike just showed up, out of the blue, and with his help, we were able to beat the punks, and win back my brother's medal. Since then, Spike and I have been the best of friends, and we've been brothers in arm, ever since."

"Really?" Indigo asked, sounding interested. "I know he's good and all, but not that good."

"That's because, you don't have a heart, like he does!" Rumble spatted. 

Indigo could hardly believed what she was hearing, "Hey! I have respects for the dragon too, y'know!"

"Then why are you and your friends trying to kill him, huh? Why can't you just leave him be?"

"Well, I'm a warrior. And warriors live by fighting. What's a warrior when they've got nothing to fight for? And I fight to win!"

"Then, you have no honor!" The very sentence alone struck Indigo to the core. "If you think you can win, then I'm sure you wouldn't fight someone like me with double katanas!" With that, Rumble puts his bat and stick away, as he beckoned, "C'mon! Fight like the warrior you really are, unless you're scared."

With a scowl of determination, Indigo sheathed her swords, as she charges at Rumble, "You're gonna eat those words!"

She threw the first punch at Rumble, who quickly blocked it, with the 'Paint the house,' maneuver, before he threw another punch, which the girl was quick to block as well. Then, the young boy sweeps his leg out, only for Indigo to evade with a backflip, before she was hit in the face, with a sidekick that was followed, from the boy. Luckily for Indigo, she was wearing a helmet for protection. Nevertheless, Indigo continues her fight with the boy, throwing several more kicks and punches, which Rumble was able to block, before he retaliated with a double slap, to the girl's stomach. Angered, Indigo continued to throw several chops, while defending herself from some of Rumble's counterattacks, before she was able to spin him around and slapped him hard on the back, between the shoulders. Disoriented to the slightest, Rumble continued, as he swings a roundhouse kick to the girl, only for her to dodge the attack, before she did a front snap kick, to the boy's chin.

Rumble shook his head, as he fixes his jaws.

"What's the matter?" Indigo taunted. "Too rough from the warrior you expected me to be?"

"Nope," Rumble replied, as he spits the ground. "Just getting warmed up."

The two athletes charged at each other, throwing several more kicks and punches, blocking, and catching each other's strikes. Indigo jumped and did a flying kick, while Rumble rolled forward, thrusted his legs out, knocking the girl's legs, causing her to fall to the ground. However, before impact, Indigo landed on the ground, with her hands catapulting herself in the air. With a flip, the girl landed on the side of a tree, and catapulted herself, back at the boy. Rumble stepped to the side, as the the girl flew past him, and thrusted his palm out in a strike. However, Indigo had the same idea, and both athletes were forced back.

Before Indigo could recover, she was run over by a scooter.

"Hey Rumble!" the rider smiled. "Heard you were in the middle of a rumble."

"Scootaloo?!" Rumble exclaimed. Standing before him, wearing a purple helmet with white stripes, with matching paddings on the arms, knees, and gloves, was the girl herself. "Look out!" Rumble shouted, as he shoved Scootaloo to the side, saving her from a surprised punch from Indigo.

"Hitting my friend from behind?" Rumble asked. "Now isn't that like a coward?"

Rumble then threw a punch at Indigo, but recoiled in damage when he struck her helmet, "Hang on, Rumble!" Scootaloo exclaimed, as she pulled the girl's glass cover up. "Get her now!" With that, Rumble struck the girl in the face, before Scootaloo tripped her, causing the Shadowbolt girl to fall over landed on a rock.

Indigo groaned, as she got up, just as Discord arrived, dressed in a classic salesperson attire, while speaking in the said costume's typical persona, "Yes ma'm, I've just the little article you need!" he said, holding a bottle of aspirin. "Guaranteed to cure all headaches! Now I'll tell you what I'm gonna do!"

"I ain't got no headaches," Indigo replied.

"Oh yes you have sister!" With that, Discord pulled out a giant hammer from his pants, and bonked the girl on the head.

Rumble and Scootaloo both shared a high five, when a scream was heard.

"HEEEELPPP!" Button shouted, with a derange and angry Sour Sweet behind him.

"Button!" Rumble called.

"SOMEBODY HELP!!" Button screamed.




Tender Taps vs. Lemon Zest
[Michael Jackson - Beat It]

The boy and girl, meanwhile, were having what appears to be a dance-off.

Tender Taps was doing the moonwalk, before he shook his hip, and thrusted his arms around, shaking to the rhythm of the song, before he spins on his head, while attacking some of the Shadowbolts who tried to get the jump on him.

In retaliation, Lemon did some spins, rolls, and flips, to the rhythm of the song, "They'll kick you, then they'll beat you, then they'll tell you which's fair, so beat it!" When Lemon did the dance moves at that verse, she realized too late, she had accidentally landed blows on some of her fellow Shadowbolts. The boys mostly.

Tender Tap couldn't help but laugh, as the girl quickly changes another song.

[Britney Spears - Hit Me Baby One More Time]

Tender Tap stopped his laugh, as he watches Lemon Zest shaking her hips, side to side, and waving her arms around, the same way Britney Spear did, followed by a shimmy with her chest, resulting a blush from Tender.

"Hit me baby one more time!" Lemon sang, bumping Tender with her hip, knocking him off balance.

Shaking his head, and regaining his focus, Tender quickly changed the music.

[Madagascar - I Like To Move It]

"I like to move it, move it!" Tender sang. "I like to move it, move it! I like to move it, move it! You like to...."

"Move it!" The three stooges sang.

Lemon watched, as Tenders, and the Three Stooges, still in zombie states, danced to the beat of the music.

"Oh no!" Snails moaned. 

"The groove is too much to bear!" Snips groaned.

"I've got to boogie!" Zephyr said, ripping off his shirt, to reveal himself wearing a gold jacket and pants.

The boys kept on dancing, until Snips and Snails came to their senses, and attacked Tender Taps. Snips picked up a small mud pie, and threw it at the dancing boy, following by Snails, who shot a bolt of thunder. Tender, however, being the clever dancer he is, was able to evade their attacks, before he retaliated with a backfist, knocking Snails into a tree.

Snips then burrowed through the ground, and jumped after Tender Taps, only to be kicked away, by the boy's breakdance.

"Uh oh!" Zephyr shrieks, holding his hand out. "Can't touch this!"

Tender Taps attacked with, "Hammer time!" Defeating the last of the stooges.

Lemon smirked, "Wow," Lemon exclaimed. "Groovy. And that's saying a lot from me!"

"You're not half bad yourself," Tender Tap replied, before the music changed.

[Meghan Trainor - I'm a Lady]

Once the music was playing, Lemon started to wave her hips, along with some bopping with her head, as she sang and dance around Tender Taps, to the rhythm of the song.

The girl then spins herself around, as she spins herself on the ground, kicking her legs out in a flare.

"I'm proud to be a lady," Lemon sang, ending the song, before the next one was played.

[Justin Bieber - Never Say Never ft. Jaden Smith]

"Oh no!" Lemon exclaimed. "Not Justin Bieber! How did you know he's my only weakness?"

"I heard girls can't resist the Bieber!" Tender replied, as he did some dance moves, effectively beating Lemon's. Turning his head to the rest of the boys who were gawking at him, "What? It worked didn't it? Besides, Jackie Chan taught him some moves." Crickets continue to chirp, "We don't have time for this. C'mon! Change the song already!"

"I couldn't agree more!" Lemon growled, before she changed the song.

[Fame - Irene Cara]

Once the song started, Lemon started tapping her foot to the beats, before she started to shake her hips, and danced around, to the rhythm of the song. Lemon moved her whole body, fluidly to the sound of the song, flicking her hair around. Tender once more, couldn't help but felt drawn by the girl's display, though he kept himself more in control this time. Then, Lemon came walking up to Tender, swaying her hips side to side, before she swung her hip, attempting to knock Tender off his feet, had he not jumped out of the way. With a spin, and a sweep of her leg, Lemon tripped Tender off his feet, before she caught him by the collar of his shirt.

"Baby remember my name!" Lemon sang, holding Tender Taps close, before she spins him.



Though he doesn't understand cantonese, Tender danced to the song nonetheless, shaking his hips around, taking some steps now and then, along with some spins, and kicks, dancing almost like how Aaron does for the song.

Lemon smiled, shaking her head, 'He's got spunk,' With that, she walked over and grabbed the boy's hands, "Let's dance."

[Rosario Vampire Capu2 - Discotheque sung by Nana Mizuki]

Before anyone knew it, even Tender Taps, the boy was dancing with the girl, and strangely enough, was having a good time. Tender Taps smiled, as he and Lemon Zest danced together, until....

"HELPP!!!" Button and Rumble screamed.

*disc scratch*

"Guys?" Tender Taps asked.

"Save us!" Button screamed. "We're being chased by a crazy dragon girl!"

Tender looked, and could see Sour Sweet, running with bloodshot red eyes, and smokes coming out of her nose. In other words, she looked scary beyond all reasons. Tender Taps feet revved up, as he too broke into a run. After Sour Sweet passed a bewildered Lemon, the latter shrugged her shoulder, as she played a comical number.

[Benny Hill Chase Theme]




Pipsqueak vs. Sunny Flare

The five girls' ringmaster was relentlessly throwing kunai blades, at the smallest member of the Five Guys.

"Why are you even involved in this fight?" Sunny asked. "You're gonna get yourself hurt, really bad."

"I may not be big!" Pipsqueak began. "But I've got friends, who make me ten feet tall."

"Oh really?" Sunny asked. "You look short to be ten feet."

"I meant emotionally," Pipsqueak replied. "And I owe it to Spike for helping me build some confidence." Sunny's eyes widened, as she listened with interests. "I've always been so short, and because of that, girls have always picked on me. And since then, I've always been too scared of even going near one, let alone look at one, without having a breaking down." Pipsqueak paused for a moment, as he clarified, "Well, except maybe mom, since she's my mom after all. But even she wasn't enough, since she moved away with dad, after he got a job transfer, back in London."

"What?!" Sunny exclaimed. "Your parents left you alone?"

"Not completely," Pipsqueak answered. "Since I'm living with cousin Feathers, and his family."

"Oh," Sunny looked at Featherweight, who was currently in a fight with Sugarcoat. "Oh yeah, I see the family resemblance." Turning back, she asked, "So what does that have to do with Spike?"

"He stood up for me!" Pipsqueak answered proudly. "He wasn't as big as the girls who bullied me. But that never stopped him from saving my life once! And when the girls started to turn on him, he stood his ground, as he continues to fight them off. And because of that, I owe my life to Spike, and we've been the best of friends since."

Sunny took the moment to absorb everything the boy told her, "Wow," she said. "You're...so lucky," the girl looked away at the last part, which got Pipsqueak curious.

Just then, Button, Rumble, and Tenders came running out of a bush, with an angry Sour Sweet behind them.

"Someone save us!" Button screamed.

Out of impulse, Pipsqueak grabbed the angry tsundere by the ponytail, leading him to shout, "I got the tail!"

Sour stopped in her track, before she turned around, and smiled threateningly at the little boy.

"Who's got who?" Sour asked, as she towers over the boy. The other boys ceased their running, as they looked at the scene, remembering a similar event they witnessed when they were kids.

"Boys," Button whispered. "Slingshot on three!" With that, Button and Tenders both grabbed Rumble by the leg and foot, before they all spun themselves around. Then, at the last count, the boys threw the young athlete at Sour Sweet, knocking her away from Pipsqueak.

"Thanks guys!" Pipsqueak thanked, as Rumbles helped him up.

Sour Sweet soon got up, angrier than ever, "You dared to interfere?" She growled.

"We're bros!" Button said, standing up to the girl. "We look out for each other!"

"Yeah!" Rumble added. "You mess with one of us!"

"You mess with all of us!" Tenders and Pip said together.

Sunny and Sour looked at each other, before they resume their fighting stance, "Then you will all die together!" Sunny said, as she and Sour charged at the four boys.

"Not so fast!" Discord called, making himself known.

"Oh, not the freak again!" Sour groaned.

"Are you talking to me?" Discord asked.

"Uh oh!" Button moaned. "You called him a freak!"

"Are you talking to me?"

"You shouldn't have done that!"

"Are you talking to ME?!"

"Now they're in for it."

"They called me, Mr. Freak!!" With an angry yell, Discord was nothing but a spinning tornado, like the tasmanian devil, as he makes his way towards the two girls.




Featherweight vs. Sugarcoat

Elsewhere, Sugarcoat had Featherweight cornered, when she, along with some Shadowbolts heard the commotion. It didn't take long for them to see the scuffle between Sunny, Sour, and Discord. Before long, the two unfortunate girls were running for their lives, completely scared out of their wits, with Discord, and the four boys taunting after them, and catching their breaths.

"Hey, guys!" Featherweight greeted, before he snapped a picture of Sugarcoat.

"Ah, my eyes!" Sugar moaned, blinded by the flash of light.

Featherweights rejoined the boys, as they all gave each other a high five. Sugarcoat then came, with a score to settle with Featherweight. The boys, however, stood defensive over their pal, as they put their fists up, ready for another fight. Frightened, Sugarcoat took off, running.

"C'mon guys!" Button said. "We gotta get back to Spike!"




[Skillet-Not Gonna Die]

Speaking of, the said dragon was still in the form of a statue, as it glows in a shimmering green aura. Twilight and the girls were still close by, as they kept watch over the dragon.

"It's okay Spike," Fluttershy whispered. "I'm here."

"We're all here for ya," Rainbow said.

Just then, the boys arrived, "Did we missed anything?" Button asked.

"Not at all Sugarcubes," Applejack answered. "It's still early."

"Way to go boys!" Twilight smiled. "From the looks of things, you've been busy."

"Well, we had Discord to thank for it," Button Mash smiled, as the said magician smiled and waved.

Just then, the statue cracked, "Oh, it's happening!" Rarity squealed.

Soon, both sides, gathered around, to see the event unfolding before them.

"C'mon, Spike!" Rainbow said, as she kicked one of the Shadowbolts away. "You can do it!"

Fleur clasped her hands together in anticipation.

"You got it," Sunset whispered.

At last, the statue cracked open, to reveal a new Spike, shrouded in dark smokes, and chains. His eyes snapped open, to reveal they were burning white.

"Spike?" Twilight asked.

"Not entirely!" Nightmare Moon's voice sounded.
> Dragon Metamorphosis! Part 5: Exit the Nightmare. Enter the Dragon Hero
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Nightmare Moon?!" Twilight gasped, along with the girls, while the Shadowbolts all bowed their heads in respect.

"In the dragon," the evil alicorn cackled, through the now possessed Spike.

"No," Sunset gasped. "It can't be...."

"Oh, but it is," Nightmare Moon sneered. "Somnambula's curse did more than robbing the young dragon of his memories, you see. It has also granted me full access to his mind. And with that, he is now under my control. Meaning the Dragonfire is now in my control."

"No!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Oh yes," Nightmare Moon replied. "You have all played into my plan, and for that, your fates are now sealed!"

"How?!" Rainbow inquired.

"You see," Nightmare Moon began. "Thousands of years ago, I had a dream of the Dragonfire, another force of magic that plays an instrumental role in my return. I knew this was no mere dream, but a premonition. I had to obtain it. But I've later learned that the Dragonfire is only half as powerful, unless it is united with its brothers and sisters, the Elements of Harmony." The girls' eyes widen upon the revelation, "Yes, my little ponies. You, the Bearers of the Elements, are the keys to unlocking the young dragon's full potential! And who should I thank, but you Twilight Sparkle? The device you had created to seek powerful magic, is also the instrument of that unity!"

"No!" Twilight fell to the ground, trying to deny what she had heard, with Shining Armor rushing over for comfort.

"And next, who else should I thank, but you foals?" Nightmare Moon sneered, directing her attention to the rest of the Bearers. "The ponies who were so quick as to turn their backs on Sunset Shimmer!! The pony whose anger would play an even essential role, in uniting the powers from the insolent foals, who drove her away!" With that, Nightmare Moon lets out a taunting laugh, that struck shames in the hearts of the ponies responsible. "You ponies were only the first steps to my plan. After I had been informed by Somnambula of the young Dragon Prince's time of metamorphosis, I knew it was time to put the unity in action. Initially, I planned on having the Dragonfire drained from the boy, in order to merge it together with the powers of the Elements of Harmony, contained. But nevertheless, it worked. Now that the Dragonfire's full potential is unlocked, and under my control, the time has come for my return to Equestria, where I shall have my revenge on Princess Celestia, and show the little ponies who is master! But first, I believe it's dinnertime for the Dragon Prince, and you little ponies are the main course! FOALS!!!"

"No!" Pinkie Pie whimpered. "My worst nightmare has come true!!"

"Yes, Pinkie Pie," Nightmare Moon laughed. "How tragic indeed. You little girls have come a long way for your precious Dragon Prince, but now he shall be your executioner! Now, prepare for your destruction!"

[Nights Journey of Dreams Music: Nights vs Reala]

With that, Spike's whole body was enveloped in a burst of black fire, before he stood before the girls, clad in a black suit of armor, with sharp blades on the shoulder pads, a helmet in the shape of a dragon's head, dark purple feathery wings on his back, and a long dragon tail. Upon the completion of the transformation, Spike lets out a wicked laugh, combined with Nightmare Moon's, echoed throughout Battery Park.

"Spike," Twilight whimpered. "No!"

The dragon looked at the girl, "Spike? What a pathetic name for a dragon," the possessed dragon sneered. "I'm now, MIDNIGHT DRAGON!!!" With that, the dragon lets out a burst of fire, in the air. With that, his hand glowed in a green fiery aura, projecting a sword.

Midnight Dragon then lunged forward, slashing his sword at Twilight, before he sets his sight on Pinkie Pie, who quickly jumped out of the way, running for dear life, with the possessed dragon, behind her. Pinkie kept running, until she tripped on a rock, causing her to fall flat on her face, in a puddle of mud. As Pinkie got up, she was quickly grabbed by the hair, and was brought up to the dragon's face.

Taking a sniff, Midnight Dragon licked his chops, "Cotton candy!" 

With that, he opened his mouth, preparing to devour the girl, only to be interfered with magic beams, projected by Sunset Shimmer, and Lyra Heartstrings, both girls in pony forms. Distracted, the dragon dropped Pinkie to the ground, who was rescued by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Angered by the interference, Midnight Dragon charged after the two ponies, before the boys jumped on him.

"Spike! No!" Button shouted, ducking as he nearly got his head chopped off.

"Get out of my way!" the dragon roared, projecting a spear of light and tossed it at the nerd, who fortunately dodged it.

"Spike! It's me! It's us!" the boy continued to reason. "Your brothers!"

Unfortunately, the boy's words were met with deaf ears, as Midnight Dragon swatted the boys to the side. Before he could move on, however, Big Mac, Shining Armor, and Rainbow Blaze all threw lassos, made of chains, on the dragon, trying to restrain him. In retaliation, Spike turns himself into a Foo Dog, grabbing the the chains with his fangs, and thrashed the boys around, before he ran around the park, dragging the boys in tow. The boys couldn't hold on much longer, and were thrown off.

Sunset soon came back, as she fired several fireballs at the mad Foo Dog, who opened his mouths wide, swallowing each and every last of the unicorn's projectiles. The giant dog ran up to the unicorn, who quickly disappeared in a flash of fire, escaping from the dog, before she reappeared in another flash of fire, inside a tree.

"Believe me, Spike," Sunset said sadly. "This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you." With that, her horn glowed in a light brilliant amber aura, as she fired a spell towards the boy turned dog. Unfortunately, Midnight Dragon stopped her before she had the chance.

"Foolish pony," Midnight Dragon sneered, as he pounced after the unicorn. "You can't stop me! You can't stop the darkness within me! I AM THE DARKNESSS!! It is futile to stop me!" With that, Midnight Dragon's eyes glowed in a shimmering bright light, as he blasted Sunset Shimmer of her hooves. "I will destroy every remaining lights in existence, just as I will destroy the sun of this world, and later, the sun of Equestria!!"

Sunset Shimmer shook the blow, as she looked at the Foo Dog, "Spike!" she called out. "I know you're in there! You have to fight her!" Sunset jumped, narrowly evading a blast of fire from the Foo Dog. "Please, Spike! I know you're in there!"

"FOALS!!" Midnight Dragon roared. "Your prince is gone! Your magic of friendship is dead! I WILL DEVOUR YOU ALL! I SHALL DEVOUR EVERY LAST PONIES IN EQUESTRIA!! I WILL MAKE PRINCESS CELESTIA'S END MOST TRAGIC AS I FORCE HER BELOVED SON TO EAT HER PRECIOUS LIGHT, BEFORE HE CONSUMES HER WHOLE!!!" With that, the possessed dragon let out a wicked laugh.




Spike's Mind

Inside his head, a young, human Spike was all by himself, surrounded by darkness, with chains and shackles on his arms, legs, and on his collar.

"I can't do it," the child whimpered. "Not alone! I just can't do it alone!"

Just then, a beacon of light broke through, shining down on the boy. He looked up to see a white alicorn, with a rainbow flowing mane, singing to him in a familiar, haunting, motherly voice.

[You Know Who You Are - Moana]





The alicorn dispersed into the girls from his forgotten childhood, standing before him, all embracing him in a tender hug, "You know, who you are," the girls sang, before they surrounded him in multicolored auras, before they merged together into the orb from earlier.

[Steve Jablonsky - Yeouijoo]

The orb danced in the air, before it floated into his hands. Then, appearing in the orb, where the images of the ponies in Equestria. Spike watched, as the little fillies all played happily, and sharing the magic of friendships together, and with others, while singing a song of, "Healing the world."

Spike watched, smiling as he watches harmony in effect. Then, appearing before him, was Princess Celestia, and himself.

"It's so beautiful," Princess Celestia smiled. "Isn't it Spike?"

"It sure is," Spike smiled, as the looked over the kingdom, from their balcony. "You are the best princess Equestria's ever had mommy."

Princess Celestia smiled, before she turned solemn, "Perhaps," she began. "But no pony's perfect. Even me." The princess then turns to her son, as she explains, "There are many things in the world that even I alone can't handle. And that is why I'm counting on you to help me, Spike, to one day play the role, as a hero of Equestria, and preserve harmony."

"Why me?" Young Spike asked. "Why couldn't it have been uncle? Or anyone else with powerful magic?"

"Because it's your calling," Princess Celestia answered. "There's a reason as to why you are born with the Dragonfire. And creatures who are gifted with this magic all grew to become very important figures, in the worlds they served."

"But why did it chose me?" Spike asked, worryingly. "Why couldn't it have chose you? And what if I make a mistake, and make things worse? I don't want to be like the dragons that once attacked you before."

Princess Celestia smiled warmly, as she wrapped a comforting wing, and held the boy close, "Don't worry, Spike. You won't. I know you won't. Only the noble of spirits, and pure of hearts can wield the Dragonfire. And I know you'll make me proud."

Young Spike, still nervous, hugged his mother, "Then I won't let you down, mom."

Older Spike smiled, before his face shifted in determination, "I won't let you down, mom!" he repeated.

Then, in a flash of light, the orb merged with Spike, before he stood, restored to the form of his current age, clad in a shimmering, crystal Samurai armor. Unsheathing a katana of light, Spike slashes his way, freeing himself from the dark chains that were holding him. 

The broken chains all formed together, into a fearsome winged serpent, hissing and flapping its wings. Spike slashed his sword, cutting off the snake’s wings, before cutting its head off. With that, the decapitated serpent exploded in a burst of light, and a huge stream of rainbow came flooding out of the snake, and into Spike’s head, as a series of memories flashed in his eyes.

"I remember now!" Spike exclaimed.

[Woman's vocalization]



[Steve Jablonsky - Dragon War]

In the real world, Spike was preparing for the kill, when his eyes flashed a rainbow aura, and cracks started to form on his darkened skin, with every thunderous beat of a drum. With a mighty yell, Spike broke free of Nightmare Moon's dark control. Furthermore, upon breaking free from his dark skins, a new Spike was revealed, with a large pair of green bat-like wings, two long curled green horns on the top of his head that resembled antlers, green fins on his elbow, and long green whiskers on his snout.

“No! It can’t be!” Nightmare Moon exclaimed, before she was forced out of the dragon's mind, and into the physical world.

“But it is,” Spike replied, turning his head to the alicorn. "I'm back! I remember! And I'm fired up!!" With that, Spike arched his head upward, letting out a piercing roar, and a burst of green flame from his mouth. 

The girls couldn't believe their eyes, along with the boys, who were all shocked to see their friend, as a new dragon, and overcoming the evil of Nightmare Moon.

"Way to go, Spike!!" Sunset Shimmer cheered, along with Fleur, Lyra, and Bon Bon, who all gave the dragon a series of whoops and whistles.

"Wow!" Rainbow gasped. "He's 20, no 100% cooler!!!"

"I'll say!" Applejack smiled. "I never thought I'd see the day little Spike would grow wings!"

"He's never ceased to amaze me!" Twilight gasped.

"We've all been given a great honor to take part in this transformation," Scorpan said, appearing from the trees. "Let us hope it was not all in vain."

Spike gave his wings some stretches, before he folds them, "Now," Spike began, looking directly at the alicorn. "What was that you said before?"

Caught off guard, Nightmare Moon growled, "I said, good night!"

With an angry neigh, Nightmare Moon galloped towards Spike, who did the same. Then, at the last second, Spike changes himself into a dog, sliding beneath the alicorn, narrowly dodging a blast of dark magic from her horn, before he came out the other end, jumped on Nightmare Moon's flank, and bit her.

"AAAHHH!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed in agony, while Spike released her, and blew a raspberry.

"Yuck! Ptooey!" Spike spitted, licking his tongue on the grass. "Tastes like blue cheese!" The little disgusted dog soon found himself enveloped in a dark blue aura, as he was levitated, face to face with an angry Nightmare Moon.

"I'm going to eat you for that!" Nightmare Moon snarled.

"Then I hope you like me extra crispy!" Spike replied, as a burst of fire exploded form his mouth, scorching the mad alicorn.

Distracted Nightmare Moon released her hold on the dog, as he changes back into a human, did several flips, before he landed on the side of a tree, kicks off, launching himself, and landed a flying kick to Nightmare Moon's face. The mad alicorn shook her head, as she angrily pursue the boy, before he quickly transformed back into a dragon, flapping his new wings, and took flight.

"Hey Moony!" Spike called. "Can you fly? Let's fly!" With that, the young dragon took off, with the mad alicorn giving chase.

"C'mon! We have to help him!" Rainbow exclaimed, as she ran up to Sunset Shimmer. "Sunset! You still have magics! Give me wings!"

"No!" Scorpan interjected. "This is his fight! He must do this alone!"

Rainbow groaned in frustration, "I hate it when people say that."

"I know," Applejack voiced her honest opinion. "But all we can do now, is hope our Spike can pull through."

"We don't have to hope," Pinkie explain, as she got out the projector from earlier. "We can watch it for ourselves!"

The girls quickly gathered around, watching anxiously as their friend fought the demonic alicorn.





Spike and Nightmare Moon were both flying around Manhattan, blasting streams of green fire, and dark magics, at each other. Nightmare Moon's horn glowed, as she manipulated some clouds into thunderclouds, as she fired several bolts of lightnings at the dragon. Spike took the shots, as he redirected the blasts of electricity at the alicorn, through his mouth. But the alicorn was quick to shield herself, with her magic, and remained unscathed.

"Scorpan's taught you well," Nightmare Moon sneered. "Too bad he didn't teach you what I know!" With that, Nightmare Moon's eyes glowed in a menacing aura, "Behold! My mastery of gravity!" With that, the water beneath the two churned uneasily, before a high tide was formed, behind Spike.

"Spike!" Pinkie screamed. "Behind you!"

"Can it, Pinkie!" Rainbow said. "He can't hear you!"

Spike watched Nightmare Moon questionably, before his ears hear the sound of waters splashing behind him. He turned around, and his eyes widened in surprise, "BWAH!!" he screamed, before he was swallowed whole, by the water.

"SPIIIIKE!!" the girls screamed.

Nightmare Moon laughed triumphantly, as she used her magical hold on the water to hold the dragon down, "I shall drown you, before I flood your worlds!" Nightmare Moon lets out another evil laugh, before she noticed something.

Spike, still in dragon form, was swimming in the water, 'Wow,' he thought. 'Who knew, I could breathe underwater?'

The dragon was moving his body, in a slithering motion, as he continues to swim through the water, flapping his wings for extra momentum.

"Yeah!" Rainbow cheered. "Flap those wings, Spike! Flap those wings!" the enthusiastic girl notice the looks she was receiving, before she cleared her throat, "I mean, nice move bud," she said, before blinking one eye opened, followed by a slight grin.

Nightmare Moon's horn glowed, as she fired more dark spells at the dragon in the water. One of the spells struck him, forcing him in the form of a fish.

"Aw!" Fluttershy squealed. "So cute and cuddly!"

Sunny Flare, along with her posse looked at the girl in bewilderment, "She calls that cute and cuddly?" she asked, receiving some shrugs in response.

"Oh man," Spike moaned, before he finds himself trapped in a bubble of water. "Well, as Dory would say. Just keep swimming!" With that, the little fish moved his tail fin, as he escapes the bubble, and back into the ocean, only to be swallowed by a whale, launched out of its blowhole, as a human, and straight onto Nightmare Moon.

"Get off of me!" Nightmare Moon growled, trying to grab the boy with her magic.

"Get your telekinesis grip off me!" Spike replied, while holding a firm grip on the alicorn's horn.

Their constant struggle caused Nightmare Moon to fly out of control, as they flew through Times Square, crashing through buildings, tearing up traffics, destroying billboards, causing the civilians to scatter in fear. Eventually, the two crash-landed in the middle of the street.

Spike got up, shaking the bruises off of him, while Nightmare Moon got up, charging her horn, as she angrily blasts her magic at the young dragon, trapped in human form. Spike recoiled in damage, with each hit. Still, he remains undeterred.

"Bothersome brat!" Nightmare Moon growled, as she blasted a bolt of lightning. "Why won't you die already?! Why are you still standing? I've blocked your Dragonfire! What could you possibly have that keeps you going?!"

Spike closed his eyes, as he thought his choice of words, before he calmly replies, "Friendship."

"What?" Nightmare Moon inquired.

"The magic of friendship," Spike replied. "Something Twilight and the girls have always been telling me about for the past few weeks of my recovery." Spike smiled, "You're right, my Dragonfire alone is only half as powerful, when it's by itself. Though, somehow, the girls knew about that and beat you to it, since I've been getting these strange feelings from them, before you even had the chance to make your move."

"We did?" Pinkie asked. "I mean, we did!" she exclaimed. 'I guess,' she thought in confusion.

"These last few weeks," Spike continued. "I was reminded for all the magical moments I've had with the girls, and all the little ponies back home. And I have mom to thank for that," the boy said in nostalgia, at the mention of the said alicorn. "I guess she too was onto something about me, making some friends. Perhaps she too saw some potential in my powers, and wanted me to unlock, through friendship. And what do you know? It actually works."

Nightmare Moon growled in irritation, while the girls had an epiphany.

"Friendship is amazing," Spike continued. "It may not always be easy, but like the girls, and all the ponies back in Equestria, it's without a doubt, something worth fighting for! And I'll gladly die fighting for them, for my people, for my mother, and for the magic of friendship!"

The girls couldn't help but smile in admiration to the young boy's speech, along with Scorpan and Zecora, the two adults who smiled in respect, along with the Shadowbolts, some starting to have a change of heart.

"INSOLENT FOAL!!" Nightmare Moon bellowed angrily. "I will destroy you ALL!!"

"NO!!" Spike roared. "You will NOT!!"

"AAAAAARRGGH!!" Nightmare Moon screamed, as her horn glowed in an aura of dark magic, and blasts of several magic beams were shot at the boy, who stood his ground, thrusting his hands out, feeling the intense heat from the magic. Suddenly, his hands glowed in a shimmering, gold aura, dispersing the dark magic.

"WHAT TRICKERY IS THIS?!" Nightmare Moon asked. The alicorn looked, to see, on the boy's hand, an image of the sun, "Princess Celestia?!" the mad alicorn exclaimed. "How can it be?!"

"I don't know," Spike replied, before he got into fighting stance. "But I'm going to use it to destroy you!"

"BAAAHHH!!" Nightmare Moon roared, as she once more blasted beams of dark magics at Spike, who suddenly assumes the form of his dragon again.

"Great!" Spike smirked. "At least my power's back!" After dodging another blast of darkness from Nightmare Moon, the young dragon flew around the city, before he returned, and scratched Nightmare Moon on the side.

"AAAAAAAAAH!!" Nightmare Moon screamed in pain, as her skin burns away, before it was regenerated.

Nightmare Moon soon transformed herself into a mist, as she gave chase, before she turned into a dragon, representing the constellation, Draco. In this form, Nightmare Moon snapped her jaws, trying in vain to eat the young dragon.

"AAAAAAAAAARRRGHHH!!!" Nightmare Moon roared in frustration as she continues to fly around, chasing after the dragon.

Nightmare Moon's eyes glowed in a shimmering aura of white light, as she altered the earth's gravity, causing more vehicles and some objects to float in mid-air. Spike, caught off guard, changed into a dog, as he leapt from one floating object to another, all the while, avoiding the maws of the angry alicorn.

Soon, Nightmare Moon snapped her jaws, catching Spike, only for him to burn his way out of her maws, "AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed, before she once again became a mist, until she turned herself into a giant scorpion, representing Scorpius.

"No matter what form you take, Nightmare Moon!" Spike declared. "You will never defeat the magic of friendship!"

Nightmare Moon frowned, as she snapped her claws at the dragon, and flicked her stinger towards him. Spike swatted the claws away, while dodging the stinger, until he caught it, and burned it. Cringing in pain, Nightmare Moon became a mist, as she surrounds Spike, and tries to enter his mind again.

Spike struggled, as his mind was once more plagued with nightmare visions of the ponies.

"No!" Spike groaned, as he struggles to focus. 'C'mon Spike,' he said in his thoughts. 'They're just nightmares! They're not real. Not real.' With that, Spike started to grow calm, as the nightmares in his thoughts, started to disappear. In place, all he could think about, were his pals, his uncle, and best of all, for him, the girls, and their beautiful smiles, and...."Randori!"

With that, Nightmare Moon was literally knocked out of the boy's mind.

"NO!" Nightmare Moon neighed. "How?! HOW?!!" Spike, turning back into a human, kept his eyes closed, not moving as a statue. Nightmare Moon growled in frustrations, "No matter! If I can't have your powers, then I can still save face with your demise!!" With that, Nightmare Moon charges her magic, as she charged towards Spike, who remained standing.

"Spike! What are you doing?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "MOVE!!"

Nightmare Moon kept on running.

"MOVE YOUR LEGS SPIKE!!"

Nightmare Moon's eyes were darkened with the intent to kill.

"SPIKEY-WIKEY!!" Rarity screamed.

With a loud war cry, Nightmare Moon fired her attack, only for Spike to snap his eyes open, as he leapt into the air to evade the attack and shot streams of multicolored fires, from his mouth. The fires swirled into flaming serpentine dragons before they joined together to form a sword, which Spike quickly grasped his hands onto the hilt. Nightmare Moon watched in horror, as the fully restored Dragon Prince brought his sword down on her, cutting across her body. From there, the sword split itself into several multicolored little ponies, running around Nightmare Moon, before they struck her, on every sides of her body, forming cracks of light upon impact.

"NNOOOOOOO!!!" Nightmare Moon wailed, as streams of dark magics leaked through the cracks.

"YEEEEAAAH!!" the friends cheered.

"Direct hit!" Pinkie cheered.

"Your majesty!!" Somnambula shouted, watching as the dark alicorn became a puff of smoke, as she flew into the night sky, before she came crashing down in the waters of the East River.

With the defeat of their top leader, the Shadowbolts watched as her magical hold on the animals were exorcised, gravity was restored, and the storm clouds dispersed. With that, the Shadowbolts all retreated. 

"STOP! Come back and fight, cowards!" Somnambula ordered, before she turned to the girls. "You! You insolent little ponies! You will all pay for this!" With that, Somnambula made a desperate lunged towards the girls, only for Scorpan to intervene, as he kicked Somnambula away. "This is not over yet!" With a tap of her staff, Somnambula disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Why that old-" Rainbow began, preparing to give chase.

"Let her go, Sugarcube," Applejack said. "We'll get her next time."

"Yeah! We gotta go and get Spike!" Pinkie said.

"Oh, right," Rainbow said. "Where is he now?"

"Look!" Applejack called, turning their attentions back to the screen.


Arirang - Steve Jablonsky


Satisfied with his victory, Spike, in dragon form, flew back to CHS, where he landed before the horse statue.

In a flash of fire, the dragon turned himself back into a human, before he felt something coming up in his chest. With a loud burp of green fire, the orb appeared before him, floating in mid-air, before he held it close to his face. Spike looked deep within the orb, as the smiling faces of the girls appeared within the magic ball.

"Thank you girls," he smiled. "I couldn't have done this without you." 

With a faint hum, and a pulse of flashing light, the orb glowed, as several multicolored auras were projected, and flew away from him. The auras flew into the sky, as the girls looked up, to see their magics returning. Once the task was done, the orb burned into a blazing green fire, as it re-enters Spike's body. Exhausted, Spike fell to the floor, his world was soon clouded out, but not before he saw Princess Celestia, through the glass base of the statue.
> Friendship is Magic(Celebration)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Japanese:Passion-Utaka Hikaru]
[English:Sanctuary-Utaka Hikaru]

At first, Spike could only see darkness, before his ears perked, hearing a faint voice singing. Spike looked, before he notices a mirror, in the shape of a horseshoe. Walking up close, at first, Spike could only see his reflection, before Princess Celestia joined in, followed by some ponies, griffons, dragons, etc.

Reaching out, Spike touched the glass. Then, without warning, the mirror exploded, and Spike was thrown off his feet, and spun in midair. Shaking his head, Spike looked to his astonishment, seeing pegasi of all shapes and sizes, flying by, pushing clouds, and breaking some, all the while not taking notice of Spike.

Spike looked at himself once more, and was shocked to see himself, in his newly evolved dragon form, with his newfound wings, horns, and whiskers.

Spike jerked his head up, as he once more hears the voice, which he turns around, and was greeted with the dream apparition of his mother. The motherly alicorn princess, standing on top of a lone cloud, sang with the passion from her heart, while the pegasi all flew around her, displaying a colorful scene. The alicorn looked up, with half of her face shrouded in her mane, while her exposed left eye pierced Spike's soul. The alicorn smiled, as she walked over to the dragon, midair and all.

Spike watched, anxiously, as Celestia placed a hoof beneath his chin, bringing his face up to look into her loving eyes. The alicorn continued her singing, while her horn glowed in a gold aura. Next thing Spike knew, both he and his mother were warped to Canterlot Castle, his former home, where he finds himself, surrounded by armored ponies, all banging their drums, loudly. Both Spike and Celestia kept walking down the hall, before they arrived in a courtyard, where Celestia stomped her hoof on the ground, and in a flash of light, many girls all appeared, in human forms, dressed in beautiful attires, as they did their graceful dance around the princess and prince.

Some of the girls were the Mane Six, Sunset Shimmer, and some he's familiar with, while some others are those he has yet to see again. Spike looked, taken in by the beautiful performances of the girls, until he felt a tug on his whisker, causing him to turn his head in the direction of the tug, to see a well-endowed girl, with freckles, and tribal paintings, that framed her fiery red eyes, and scruffy blue hair. The girl smirked, as she breathed a jet of purple fire, which took the form of a dragon, as it flew around her, while she does a graceful dance.

Spike felt smitten, as his face was heating up, followed by an erection from his wings. Then, three more girls came and got his attention. The first girl, possibly the leader, had a big, orange, poofy hair, tied in a ponytail, with a spike purple band, and curling locks that framed her beautiful face. The second girl, had a purple hair, with green highlights, tied in pigtails, with two bands in the shapes of stars, and had straight locks that framed her face. The third girl, simply has a light blue hair, with darker stripes, tied in a ponytail. The three girls, swayed their hips and arms around. If they're trying to cast a hypnotic spell on Spike, then it's definitely working, as he couldn't take his eyes off of them. 

Joining with the three girls, was another well-endowed girl, with dark grayish indigo hair, and moderate opal highlights, tied in a ponytail. The girls smiled flirtatiously, as she swayed her hips around, and flicked her hair in Spike's direction. The young dragon thought he felt a breeze, blowing his way, from the girl's hair whip. Then, another girl appeared, out of the sky, surrounded by an aura of light turquoise. Waving her hands, the girl conjured a long staff, with the tip in the shape of a horseshoe, as she created a wave of waters that formed in the shape of fishes, as they flew around him.

Feeling flattered, Spike smiled, before he suddenly turned himself back into a human. Spike took the moment to collect himself, before he noticed that he was clad in a purple hanfu, with gold trimmings, along with a golden Asian dragon decorated along the front and back. Furthermore, Spike looked to see he wore purple silk pants, over a pair of white socks, and black shoes. Furthermore, looking at his reflection in a nearby pond, Spike could see his hair, done up in a bun. In appearance, Spike looked almost like a young traditional, imperial prince of Asia.

The girls all gathered around the young prince, all embracing him closely, and each of them expressing their love for the Dragon Prince. Spike smiled, as he returns the embraces, while his mother continued to sing beautifully. Speaking of, Celestia's whole body was engulfed in a shimmering coat of bright light, as she suddenly takes the form of, what appears to be a human being, with a flowing hair, and angelic wings, surrounded in a blinding light.

Spike could hardly make out his adopted mother's appearance, but he did managed to see that she was holding her arms out, welcoming him for another hug, like any mother would. Spike smiled as he walked over, and felt himself, tenderly embraced, close to his mother's chest, feeling the warmth of her love.




Real World

Spike was still in bed, as he hugged whom he thought was his mother. Then, his nose twitched, as he picked up the scents of strawberry, cotton candy, apples, marshmallow, skittles, mints, and bacon.

'Wait, what?' Spike thought, before he slowly opened his eyes, to find himself, in bed, and with the girls, Sunset Shimmer, Lyra, Bon Bon, Fleur included, all over him. 'Wh-how did this happened?' he asked, until he felt a pair of arms, holding him closer. Spike turned his head, to see Fluttershy, happily holding him close, along with Twilight, Pinkie, and all the other girls in bed with him.

'Either this is another dream I'm having,' Spike thought happily. 'Or I must be the luckiest guy there ever lived!' Spike smiled, feeling content in the state he's in, until he felt the girls, tightening their grips on him, making it hard for the boy to breathe. 'Then again, maybe it wouldn't be so bad, if I'm not being smothered with affection!' With that, Spike tried to squirm his way free from the girls' loving grips. But each time he makes a move, the girls only hold him down, even tighter. It didn't take long, when Spike felt two soft mounds pressed into him, that out of impulse, his new wings burst out of his back, knocking the girls off him, and woke them up.

"Morning already?" Rainbow groaned, as she wipes the sleep out of her eyes. It didn't take long for her and the girls to see the young dragon, with his new wings flared out. "Oh, morning Spike," Rainbow smirked. "I didn't know I could turn a switch on you."

"What?" Spike looked back to see his wings opened. "Oh, that. I honestly have no idea how that happened," he said, while trying to get his wings under control. "Wait a minute," He took another look at his new wings, "I actually did it?"

"You sure did!" Pinkie cheered, as she jumped on the boy, and shook him violently. "You fought Nightmare Moon! You beat the Shadowbolts! AND YOU SAVED US ALL!!"

"You're a hero!" Fluttershy cheered, loudly.

"And to top it off!" Rainbow added, as she held out one of Spike's wing. "Spike's got wings! Which means, a new flying buddy!" She smiled, as she pulled Spike in a loving embrace.

"This calls for a celebration," Rarity added, which Fleur, Lyra, Bon Bon, and Sunset all voiced their agreements to.

"DRAGON PAAAAAAAAARTTTTTTTYYYYYY!!!" Pinkie cheered, before she blew a noisemaker. "AND AN APOLOGY PARTY TO SUNSET SHIMMMMEEEEEEEERRR!!! DOUBLE PARTY!!!" With that, Pinkie blew two noisemakers.

"But first things first," Twilight began. "We've got school."

With that, the gang all let out exasperated groans.

"Oh, Twilight," Rainbow groaned. "You're such a buzzkill!"

"Sorry girls," Twilight began, before Spike cleared his throat. "And boy. But I'd rather arrive to class on time, than to try and come up with an excuse with Professor Flintheart." With that, the girl shook her head, as she shuddered in fright. Knowing their friend had a point, they decided to get themselves ready.

After they had a quick waking spell of course.




[William Temptation - Forgiven]

During the weekdays, Scorpan was out of town, leaving the house all to Spike's. Of course, the boy was never alone, since he's get some chances to hang with the boys.

Meanwhile, the girls, per Spike's suggestion, took the time to once more socialize with Sunset Shimmer, in an attempt to earn the fiery headed girl's forgiveness. But none were more determined to earn her forgiveness, than Sweetie Belle herself. Turns out, Sweetie Belle was sympathizing with Rarity, who at the time, was still heartbroken at Spike's departure. Sweetie Belle, believing her cutie mark would be to make ponies happy, had tried numerous accounts to cheer her sister up, all of which ended in failure. Wishing to find a way to make her sister happy, the Shadowbolt entered the picture. Giving her a small booklet, said to contain instructions to making Rarity happy again. As proof, Sweetie Bell showed them the now destroyed booklet, with a hole pierced through, and its covers covered in burnt soots. Turns out, the booklet had a magical grip on the girl, brainwashing her to do the Shadowbolt's every commands. In other words, the Shadowbolt had Sweetie Belle in a trance, which she later broke free from. When Sweetie Belle tried to get rid of the booklet, the booklet exploded, resulting in the fire.

With that, Sunset forgave the little girl, partially. While it is understandable that Sweetie Belle fell victim to the Shadowbolt's mind control, the fact that she didn't inform the authorities earlier, following the fire that nearly destroyed Ponyville was inexcusable. For that, the girls, mainly Sunset and Rarity, were highly disappointed. As punishment, once they return to Equestria, Sweetie Belle will be grounded, as well as being sentenced to a series of community services for all the ponies in Ponyville, and a series of scrolls she will be writing to Princess Celestia, regarding to how she will have better rationale thinking, and be able to tell the truth in the nearest future. All which the young girl accepted.

Furthermore, the Three Stooges were freed from their hypnotic trances. However, they had no recollection of their actions, during their times as slaves of Sunburn and the Shadowbolts.




Few Days Later

At last Friday arrived. Spike, joined by the Five Guys, all flooded out of the school, eager for some R&R.

"Y'know boys, I've been thinking," Button voiced. "The name five guys isn't as cool as we all thought. I mean, when people say it, they're just gonna think about the restaurant and not us."

"That's the idea, isn't it?" Feathers added. "That was the place where we first got together and formed our team."

"Yeah, but nobody's interested in that," Button replied.

"So, got any ideas for our team's name?" Rumble asked.

"I was thinking maybe, the Five Knights!"

The boys all thought about the name, taking a liking to it.

"Sounds cool," Spike replied. "Though, what gave you the idea Button?"

"Well, just think for a moment," Button explained. "You know how Spike here, is a prince from another world?" the boys all voiced their agreements. "And we were trained to fight besides him? And not because he's a prince, but because he's our friend?" the boys all exchanged agreements, as Button continues, "So, we're fighting together, with our bro, as a team!" The boys all nodded their heads, in acknowledgement.

"Y'know, it's got a nice ring to it," Tender replied.

"No kidding," Spike smiled.

"Yeah!" Rumble cheered.

"Yeah!" Feathers and Pip joined in.

"YEEEEAAAAH!!!" Bulk Bicep cheered, out of nowhere, earning some bewildered looks from the boys. "Sorry," the athletic boy apologized. "Just heard someone cheering and joined in," the boy chuckled before he took his leave, "Gotta go."

Spike soon turned to the Knights, "Oh yeah!" With that, the boys all shared each other a series of secret handshakes, high-fives, chest bumps, and other moves.





At last, the boys all made it to Spike's resident. Upon entering, however, the boys were all greeted with the lights turning on, and a series of noisemakers, and streamers.

"SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE!!!" Pinkie cheered, along with the girls.

"BWAH!!!" the boys screamed, as they all rapidly beat their hearts.

"Welcome home, Spike!" Fluttershy greeted, as she ran up to the boy, only for Pinkie to beat her to it.

"HAPPY RETURN TO EQUESTRIA DAY!!" Pinkie cheered.

"Happy Return to Equestria Day?" Spike asked. "Since when is-wait, am I?"

"Definitely!" Fluttershy smiled. "We're all going back to Equestria! It's so exciting, I could just scream! Yay!" the shy girl cheered, quietly and happily.

Spike could only believe what he's hearing.

"Look at him," Applejack smirked. "He's so surprised, he could hardly talk."

"How does it feel big guy?" Rainbow smirked, nudging the boy to the side. "Excited to be going back?"

"I-I-I," Spike stammered. "You have to ask? To go back home? Back with mom? With you girls? To a land of harmony, magic, and adventure? It's a dream come true!" He smiled, before he looked around and asked, "Though, where's Uncle Scorpan? Isn't he supposed to be here, celebrating?"

"Well, General Scorpan's already left to make some preparations for your return," Fleur explained. "He said that, even though you've succeeded in defeating Nightmare Moon and the Shadowbolts, he's still not taking any chances for your life."

"She's right," Lyra replied. "And so is General Scorpan. The Shadowbolts may have been defeated, but not permanently."

Spike nodded in agreement, before Applejack lifted the mood, "But no matter what happens, and whatever comes our way, we'll be ready for them!"

"And don't forget Spike," Button added, as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You've got us to back you up."

"Yeah!" Rumble added. "We're in this fight, just as much as you are."

"That makes all of us!" Twilight smiled, as she and the rest of the girls all voiced their agreements.

"Thanks everyone," Spike smiled. "Let's get this party started!" Spike declared, resulting in another cheer from his friends.





As the party was being thrown, Spike and the girls all took the chances to catch up on lost times, while the boys enjoyed some party activities with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, along with some new arrivals, in the form of some girls, named Moondancer, Minuette, Lemon Heart, and Twinkleshine.

Moondancer and Minuette are the girls from chemistry class, along with Minuette. In appearance, Moondancer looked almost like a striking resemblance of Twilight, including the glasses, framing her dark purple eyes. The exception however, would be that she has brilliant amaranth hair with moderate purple and grayish violet highlights, with the bangs tied up in a knot, by a pair of pink beads. For attires, she work a black sweater, a red plated skirt, secured by a belt with a buckle that's decorated with a crescent moon and stars, purple knee socks with red stripes, and black boots.

Minuette has moderate sapphire blue eyes, matching long, scruffy hair with persian bluish gray stripes. For attires, she wore a light cornflower blue t-shirt, decorated with an image of the hourglass on the front, dark blue jean mini-skirt, white knee socks, and purple shoes.

Lemon Hearts has moderate raspberry eyes, moderate cerulean hair done up in curls at the top and bottom. For attires, she wore a white t-shirt, a light brilliant yellow skirt, tied with a light pistachio ribbon at the waist, yellow knee sock with white stripes, and cerulean shoes.

Lastly, Twinkleshine has arctic blue eyes, and pale cerise hair done up the same style as Lemon Heart's. For attires, she wore a light goldish gray dress with pink sleeves, violet socks and white shoes.

"So Spike!" Minuette spoke happily. "Is it true? You finally remember again?"

"Um, yes Minuette," Spike replied. "Though, I remembered you had braces the last time we met.

Minuette squealed in delight, as she happily embraces the dragon boy, "You remembered!!"

"Amazing," Lemon Hearts smiled.

Moondancer smiled, as she shyly stepped forward, "Hey Spike," the girl began. "I just wanted to ask: Do you remember the gift you gave to me? When I threw my first party?"

Spike closed his eyes, as he remembered, "On that day, in Canterlot, I arrived, with a teddy bear that I won at a carnival in Ponyville. I had it wrapped, together with a portrait of you, Twilight, Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and Lyra." Next thing Spike knew, he was embraced by a happy Moondancer.

"You finally came back!" the girl smiled.

Spike chuckled sheepishly, "Sorry it took so long."

"No need to apologize Spike," Minuette smiled, as she joined in the hug. "We're just glad you're okay."

Soon, all the others girls joined the hug. Spike, blushing up a storm, felt another burst from his back, as his wings flared out and wrapped around most of the girls.

"Aw!" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo awed, at the sight.

The boys, some feeling envy, smirked in respect for their friend.





After that loving moments, the girls' friend, Vinyl Scratch, or DJ Pon-3, came over with a turntable.

Vinyl Scratch, another girl from Equestria, and another friend of Spike, is Ponyville's resident DJ. In appearance, she has a scruffy moderate cobalt blue hair with brilliant cyan stripes. For attires, she wore a white, zipped up, jacket with blue stripes on the shoulders and at the hem, white skirt with a music note, dark purple pants, decorated with light purple lightning bolts, and shoes that matched the theme of her outfit. The girl's defining trait of all, is a pair of purple shades, concealing her moderate cerise eyes.

Following the DJ, is her boyfriend, Neon Lights, who is also a resident DJ of Ponyville, and a friend of Spike and the girls. In appearance, he has a dark gray hair, don up in a mohawk. For attires, he wore a black jacket, with a white neck tie, over a gray t-shirt that is decorated with stars, long black pants with checkered patches on the side, and black shoes. And like Vinyl, Neon also wear a pair of dark shades that concealed his moderate cerulean eyes.

"Hi Vinyl!" Pinkie cheered, as she bounced over to the two DJs. "Hey Neon!"

"Hey look who it is!" Neon smiled.

"Pinkie Pie~" Vinyl smiled, as she and the party girl shared a secret handshake.

With a smile, Pinkie turned around as she pulled Spike over, "Spike!" Pinkie began. "It's my pleasure to re-introduce you to Vinyl Scratch!"

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"And Neon Light!"

"Sup!"

"Long time no see," Spike replied, as he exchanged handshakes, and fist bumps.

"I'll say," Vinyl smiled. "So awesome to meet you again, Spike! Pinkie's told us the whole thing, and boy were we surprised to hear the news about your battle with Nightmare Moon!"

"And just in time, too!" Neon added. "We've been composing a surprise for ya."

"Really?" Spike asked. "What is it?"

With a nod, Vinyl said, "Hit it!" With that, Neon quickly plugged the systems in, and some beats were turned on.

Pinkie gasped, "It's my favorite song!" she cheered. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, YEEESSSSS!!!" With that, she dragged Spike out onto the dance floor, "C'mon Spikinator! Let's party!" With that, Pinkie waved her body and danced to the rhythm of the song, along with Spike, who later complied after he felt the groove.



As the DJ couples worked their magic, Spike and Pinkie both rocked it out like it was no tomorrow. Spike stopped his dance, as he watched Pinkie Pie busting out some breakdance moves. First, she did several headpins, with her hairs looking like it grew some legs, before she flipped herself in the air and did some baby spins, then the jackhammer, before she ended with a head slide. After she did another flip, Pinkie pointed her fingers to Spike, "Show me what you got!" Pinkie smirked.

Not backing down from a challenge, Spike tapped his foot, and waved his arms, getting himself warmed up, before he really starts to groove it. Getting down on his hands, while keeping his legs up, Spike spun himself around in the baby spins, before he did the jackhammer. Taking up a notch, Spike thrusted his legs out, doing a series of air flares, before he brought his legs down, to do the deadman float. Soon, Spike ended his dance, as he pushed the ground, launching himself in the air, and did a flip, and landed on one leg, with his arms stretched out, like wings.

The boys and girls all clapped cheered for the two performances, right when the song ended.

"Awesome moves, Spike!" Neon said in a microphone. "Nice to see ya still got the moves."

"I blame Pinkie and Tender Taps for them," Spike replied, as the two said friends smiled.

"Hey! I've got a song for you," Twilight called out. "It's the song you once wrote for us."

This got the party goers' attentions, "Did you really?" Applejack asked the boy with interests.

Spike scratched his head, as he replied, "It's kind of a work in progress."

"Well, by all means Spike," Applejack smiled. "Sing it."

"I don't know," In response, the girls, and boys, kept on urging the dragon to sing, until finally, "Okay, okay." With that, Neon Light and Vinyl Scratch both played the music for the song. Though, Spike made some mental adjustments to it.

MLP FIM(Spike version)


My Little Pony, My Little Pony,
What is friendship all about?
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Friendship is magic!~

(My Little Pony)

I had forgotten the friendship that used to be.

(My Little Pony)

Until you all reminded its magic with me.

When I was young I've strived to make lots of friends.
Then darkness clouded my vision when I tried to defend.
But my little ponies, you reopened up my eyes
And now the truth is crystal clear, as splendid summer skies.
And it's such a wonderful surprise.

(My Little Pony)

I had forgotten the friendship that used to be.

(My Little Pony)

Until you all reminded its magic with me.

No pony is as smart, and magical, as Twilight Sparkle,

Days can never grow darker with Sunset Shimmer.

A pony with a heart of flare, Fleur-De-Lis is the mare,

When danger makes me wanna hide, you'll Rainbow Dash to my side,

Kindness is never in short supply, once smitten twice Fluttershy.

For honesty no pony can deny, you are the Applejack of my eye,

A heart that shines so beautiful, a Rarity to come by

And you all make fun and laughter as easy as Pinkie Pie!

(My Little Pony)

I've finally remember the friendship that used be.

(My Little Pony)

You've all reignited that magic within me.
Our friendship's magic and it's growing all the time.
A new adventure waits for us, each day is yours and mine.
We'll make it special every time!
We'll make it special every time!

(My Little Pony)

What a wonderful wonder friendship brings

(My Little Pony)

Do you know you're all my very best
(Friends!) Friends, you're my very best
(Friends!) Friends, you're my very best
(Friends!) Friends, you're my very best
(Friends!) Friends!



The girls, Twilight mostly, were all smiling(fangirling perhaps) to hear such wonderful word, from their dragon friend. With that, the girls all jumped on him, and smothered him with affection.

The boys looked at their friend with pride.

"Way to go, Spike," Button smirked, before he noticed a crestfallen Sweetie Belle nearby. Wanting to cheer her up, Button went over to the girl, "I heard what happened."

"Guess you're gonna hate me for causing Sunburn's birth, aren't you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nope."

"You're not?"

"Nope."

"I don't understand."

"It wasn't your fault Sweetie Belle. Not entirely that is. Mostly it was that Shadow jerk's fault. Though, the fact that you were holding some valuable informations that would clear Sunset Shimmer's innocence, that's kinda stupid on your part."

"Thanks for rubbing it in."

"Look Sweetie Belle. The thing is, you've finally told the truth. Which is better late, than never. And if it helps, then I'll come with you and help you clean your messes."

"That's sweet of you Button," Sweetie Belle smiled. "But this is something I have to do by myself." The girl then pulled the boy in for a loving embrace, "But thanks for the offer."

Button blushed as he returned the embrace.




[Diddy - Dirty Money - Coming Home ft. Skylar Grey]

That night, the Mane Six, Lyra, Bon Bon, Sunset, and Fleur, were once more, sleeping together with Spike, in his room. The Knights in the meantime, were sleeping in some sleeping bags, in the lobby, with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Moondancer, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and the DJs. As Spike entered the room, boy changed himself into a puppy. The girls were more content with embracing a cute puppy in their sleep.

"You're like an adorable little teddy bear!" Fluttershy smiled, holding the dog close, along with the girls.

Spike smiled, feeling the love around him. Afterwards, both he and the girls started to settle in, as they got under the covers.

"Hey girls," Spike said, catching their attentions. "Thank you, for not giving up on me."

"Shoot Spike," Applejack smiled. "We never stopped, hoping to see you again."

"Definitely," Fluttershy added. "I've always dreamed that I would hold you, as a puppy, in my arms again."

"Princess Celestia made sure of that," Twilight added. "

Spike smiled even more, at the mention of his mother's name, "Guess my mother knew who to put her faith in. You, uncle, and all the others at CHS." Fleur quickly cleared her throat, on her, Lyra, and Bon Bon's behalf, "And Crystal Preps," Fleur smiled, before Spike continues. "And I'm glad she did. Cause now, I'm coming home. Back where I belong, and back to you girls." The girls smiled brightly, before the young dragon concluded, "I love you girls."

The girls gasped, before Spike quickly covered his mouth, too late. 

"Oh, sugarcube!" Applejack began. "The truth is...." the country girl smiled, as the others followed.

"We love you too, Spike!" the girls answered, as they all gave him a kiss, causing him to transform out of control, between a boy, a puppy, a dragon, a frog, a fish, with his wings sprouting, and his whiskers standing on ends.

"Do these whiskers make me look old?" Spike asked.
> The Story of Spike Draco
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

[I Will Always Return - Bryan Adams]

That night, Spike was soon having another dream, of his past. In his dream, Spike could see his younger self, being tucked in bed, by Princess Celestia.

"All snugged?" Celestia asked softly.

"All snugged," young Spike yawned. "Mommy?" he asked. "Can you tell me a bedtime story? Tell me the one about me, uncle Scorpan, you, and the Dragonfire again!"

"But sweetie," Celestia replied. "I've told you that story at least about a hundred times already."

"But it's my favorite," young Spike replied. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaase?"

"Alright, alright," Celestia chuckled, as she complied, while igniting her horn in a golden aura, projecting several images as she narrates:

"It was a dark stormy night. A newborn child was left on the steps of a rustic church. Nobody knew, why he was left there. It was very dangerous at that time of night, but the boy was born with strange, but powerful magics, that kept him safe. Then, as luck was smiling down on him, a kind, and gentle gargoyle, named Scorpan, found the boy. Having sensed the power within the child, and fearing for his safety, Scorpan took the boy to Equestria, the land of harmony, of ponies, and magical creatures."

"Scorpan took the child, to Canterlot, where......"

"Where I met you for the first time!" Young Spike giggled.

"Hey, who's telling the story here?" Celestia smiled. "You? Or me?"

"Sorry mom."

Resuming where she left off, Celestia continued, "The child and Princess Celestia, met for the first time. Both the child and Celestia took an instant liking to each other, so she adopted him, as her son, the Dragon Prince, and called him, Spike Draco, after the green hair he was born with, and after the constellation of the mighty dragon.

'Wow,' older Spike awed, learning the meaning of his name, and watched as Princess Celestia projected the said constellation that flew around and lets out a mighty roar, before it exploded into millions of sparkles.

"Princess Celestia was very lonely, despite the guards who kept her company, so she was happy to have met the boy. The little boy loved Princess Celestia very much. They would play together, learn magic together, and he helps Princess Celestia work."

"However, it wasn't enough. Princess Celestia knew about the power the boy was gifted, and knew that it can never be unlocked to its full potential, if he didn't learn to let another powerful magic into his heart. The magic of friendship. To do that, the young prince has to know how to make some friends, which wasn't an easy task, since all the ponies of Equestria were afraid of him, for being both a dragon, and a human."

"Spike was initially hurt at first, and it made him feel more alone. But he never gives up, as Princess Celestia urges him to keep trying. In time, the prince showed the ponies just how kind, and noble he is, by helping them with their daily lives. He helped the pegasi bring rain, to harsh barren lands, which in return, helped the earth ponies grow a bountiful harvest. He even helped to capture bad ponies and creatures, who seek to do harm on others. Soon, the ponies all grew to love him. As a result, the seed of friendship has been planted into his heart, and was ready to make his powers grow."

Older Spike smiled, seeing how his mother was right, and that he's done her proud. Then, the whole scene shifted, and Spike looked, to see himself turning blue and transparent, but without the chains on him. After the whole scene stopped changing, Spike looked to see he was now inside a house. He looked, to see he was in the room, with a mare, reading a storybook, to a filly in bed.

"Spike Draco had found love, from the ponies of Equestria," the mare read. "But none loved him more than Princess Celestia herself. She loved him, as any mother would, just as Spike would love her in return, as any loving sons would. For he gave her joy, each day, and comfort, after every sunset and moonrise. To her, Spike was her little sunshine. But vengeful Nightmare Moon, speaks otherwise. The jealous alicorn of the night, sent her evil forces, the Shadowbolts, to attack the young prince, intending on stealing his power for herself. Spike refused, and he wasn't about to go down without a fight."

"Spike fought bravely, and honorably, against the forces of nightmares. But through their dishonorably, and cowardly way, the Shadowbolts attacked Princess Celestia with dark magic. Spike got in between, and succeeded in protecting his mother from the attack, but at a terrible cost." 

"From that day onward, Princess Celestia was left, heartbrokened, for she lost, not one, but two loved ones: the sister she lost to Nightmare Moon, and the son who lost his memories, and was forced to leave in order to recover. She cried so hard, and so long, that even the heavens above would cry with her, as she waits for the days, when her beloved sister, and precious son, would return, home."




Present

Spike moaned in his sleep, "I'm coming mom."

The next morning, bright and early.....

"Good to see Pinkie Pie's getting a head start," Applejack yawned, as the gang all made their way to CHS.

"Well, you know Pinkie," Twilight replied. "When she makes a Pinkie Promise, she really means it."

The girls, Spike, joined by the Knights, soon arrived at the horse statue outside of CHS.

"I should've known this statue had something to do with Equestria," Spike smirked. "Though, are you sure I have to wear this?" Spike asked Rarity, referring to his current state of attires, which comprises the traditional asian dragon robe, which was colored purple, decorated with golden dragons along the front, back, sleeves, Princess Celestia's sun on the back, and black silk pants beneath the lower portion of the robe, matching belt tied at his waist, and matching shoes, with golden flames at his toe.

"Oh come now, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity replied. "You've been gone for ten years, from Equestria. What better way to make an astounding return to your people, and your mother, when you do it with fashion?"

"I hate to say it," Applejack voiced her opinion. "Rarity's right," the country girl then flashed a flirty grin. "And while I'm not into fashion, I honestly think ya look good there, Spike," With that, Applejack flashed a wink, which resulted a blush to appear on Spike's face, as well as a series of envious looks.

"So," Button began, getting everyone back on track. "How exactly is this statue gonna take us to Equestria?" Button soon had an epiphany, "Oh! Please tell me, is it really some kind of rocket ship in disguise? Or is it some kind of inter dimensional doorway?"

"Um, kinda," Twilight replied, before she explains to Spike. "Okay, Spike, the portal's only opened for awhile, so I'll make it quick and easy enough for you to understand. Simply walk straight through the mirror, and you're in Equestria."

"Though, to make it more fun," Rainbow added. "I recommend you start with a run."

Taking their words for it, Spike did a few stretches, before he broke into a run, and dove straight into the mirror. As he did so, Spike finds himself flying through a long wormhole, surrounded a by multicolored lights, before he later emerged on the other side, at the top of a tall mountain, surrounded by an endless sea of clouds.

"Spike!" Twilight smiled, as she and the girls appeared, in pony forms, followed by the boy, still as humans, as they all emerged from the statue, which became an alicorn in Equestria. "Welcome back to Equestria!"
> Welcome to Equestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Evening Star - Land of Equestria(Orchestral Anthem)]


At first, Spike could see nothing but an endless sea of cloud. But after Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy helped clear the clouds, Spike marveled at the scene before him. Pass the clouds, and beyond the mountains that surround him, was the beautiful land, he's been seeing in his dreams.

"I'm home," Spike smiled, close to the brink of tears.

"Don't cry just yet, Sugarcube," Applejack comforted. "We've got a surprise for you."

With that, Twilight focuses her magic, and they were all gone in a flash of light.





Soon, they were all in Ponyville, where, as Pinkie Pie had promised, Spike's Welcome Back Party is being held.

"Ah," Applejack said happily, breathing in the town's atmosphere. "Home sweet home."

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle said glumly. "Sweet home."

"Wow," Spike said, looking around to see the whole town was decorated in banners, balloons, and such for the party. "Pinkie's really out done herself."

Speaking of, the party pony herself appeared in a flash of confetti, with a wagon some sort. Before they knew it, a musical jingle was played and Pinkie started to sing.





"Wait for it," Pinkie smiled, when she came to the end of her song.

"Duck!" Rainbow cried, as she jumped on Spike from behind, just as a blast of confetti was shot from the oven, followed by cake batters from some cannons. The girls and Spike were able to evade the projectiles, but the Knights weren't so fortunate to react in time.

"Oh silly me," Pinkie giggled. "I must've put the confetti in the oven, and the cake in the confetti cannons, again," With that, the pony lets out a giggle.

Spike soon got up, and dusted himself, "Bloody Tartarus!" a random pony cried. "IT'S SPIKE DRACOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

"SPIIIIIIKKEEE!!" many more ponies shouted together.

"BWAH!!" Spike screamed, before he patted his chest again.

"Welcome back home to Ponyville, Spike!!" Pinkie cheered.

"Great whickering stallions!" a brown earth stallion smiled, as he went over to shake hands and hooves with Spike. "Welcome back young prince! Welcome back!"

"Hey! What's up doc?" Spike replied to the stallion.

"Thank the ancestors, young prince!" an elderly mare smiled. "I can't tell you how please I am to finally meet you at last!"

Soon, a lot of ponies all crowded around the young prince, all exchanging their welcomes and greetings.





[Evening Star - Land of Equestria(Orchestral Anthem)]


After the whole welcome was in order, the party began. Courtesy of Pinkie Pie, many of the ponies all danced around town, in lion costumes, as they did the lion dance. Furthermore, some unicorns performed the dragon dance, with long dragon puppets. Spike even joined in the performances, with some unicorns, who were skilled pyrokinesists, as they conjured flaming apparitions, to which the boy would dance with, in human, dog, and dragon forms. Though, a certain unicorn performer, in particular, was putting a lot of passions to entertain Spike, with a firework that changed itself into a huge dragon.

Afterwards, Spike was given a tour, just to get himself familiarized with the town, as well as getting some updates. 

Sunset Shimmer, in the meantime, was getting her name cleared by some officials, with Rarity and Button Mash for support, and Sweetie Belle giving the full confessions. After the records were set straight, the proper punishment, for withholding valuable evidences, was given to Sweetie Belle, as she was sentenced to a series of community services around town, along with scrolls she will be writing to Princess Celestia, all which the young mare, willingly, accepted. Afterwards, Rarity and Sunset were free to return to the group, while Button Mash stayed behind to watch over Sweetie.

The rest of the Knights in the meantime, went to check the place out, with Scootaloo as their guide. Fleur, Lyra, Bon Bon, together with Moon Dancer, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkleshines went off to join the festivity with the other ponies.




Sweet Apple Acres

"Wow," Spike gasped, as he looked across the acres. "This whole place looks bigger the last time I was here."

Applejack chuckled, "Darn tootin. A lot has happened since ya left. Business booming, land expanding. Why, I thought for sure Sweet Apple Acres was  growing faster than little Apple Bloom herself was growing."

"Really?" Spike asked.

Just then, a dog was passing by, before it took notice of the gang. Upon seeing Spike, the dog's tail wagged as it ran over, and pounced on the boy, and gave him several licks.

"Winona?" Spike spluttered, as the dog continues to kiss him.

"Well looky there," Applejack chuckled. "Looks like Winona still remembers you after all this time."

"So I noticed," Spike replied, as Winona continues her licking. "Okay, okay, Winona. I'm happy to see you too."

Girls kept on giggling, until another voice called out, "Winona! Here girl!" emerging from the trees, was a young mare, around Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo's age, with pale, light grayish olive coat, brilliant gamboge eyes, brilliant amaranth mane and tail, with a light, crimson bow in her hair.

Upon seeing Applejack and the girls, the mare let out a delighted squeal, "Applejack!"

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack shouted in equal delight, as the two mares shared a loving hug. "Good to see you again, sis," Then, joining the two sisters, was a huge red stallion, with scruffy orange mane and tail, a huge rusty yolk around his neck, and big green apple marks on his flanks. He's, of course, Big Mac, in pony form, "Big Macintosh!"

"Howdy Applejack," Big Mac greeted, before he, and Apple Bloom, took notice of Spike.

"SPIKE!!" Apple Bloom shouted in glee, as she too ran over and embraced the boy.

"Hey Apple Bloom," Spike greeted, returning the embrace. "So good to see you again."

"You and me both!" Apple Bloom smiled.

Spike soon took notice of the mare's flanks, "Hey! You got your cutie marks!"

"Oh yeah," Apple Bloom smiled, showing the said marks. In appearance, it resembles a shield of pink, lavender, and violet, with the emblem of an apple and a heart. "Would you believe it? I finally got my cutie mark, seven years ago, with Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle!"

"It's true," Applejack smiled. "They've really come a long way sugarcube. You should've seen it."

"Eeyup," Big Mac agreed, catching Spike's attention.

"Hey Big Mac!" Spike greeted. "Thanks again for lending some extra hooves in saving me during my metamorphosis back on Earth," Spike smiled. "So, how've you been?" Spike asked. "Doing good?"

"Eeyup."

"Busy?"

"Eeyup."

"Granny Smith doing well?"

"Eeyup."

"......Anything unusual happened to ya?"

"Nope."

"You have to understand Big Mac, sugarcube," Applejack began on her brother's behalf. "He's not much of a talker, nowadays."

"Nope."

"Really?" Spike asked, to which Big Mac nodded in reply. "That's funny. Last time we met, you were quite the chatterbox."

"Guilty," Big Mac chuckled. "Until I learned to talk less and listen more."

"Really?" Spike asked, to which Big Mac answered with his usual answer. "When did that happened?"

"Oh, about the same time when Applejack told a lie once," Big Mac smirked.

"What?!" Spike exclaimed, looking at Applejack, who was blushing up a storm. "Applejack? Lie? C'mon, Big Mac. You gotta be pulling my legs."

"Nope."

Apple Bloom let out a giggle, "Just ask my sister, Spike!" she insisted.

"Applejack?" Spike began. "Did you really?"

Applejack hesitated, as she failed to find the words, "Come on, Applejack," Rainbow nudged her shoulders. "Tell the truth!~"

Breathing a sigh of defeat, Applejack answered, "It's true."

Spike gasped, "What happened?"

"Well," Applejack chuckled. "It's a long story."

"I've got time."





Later, in Ponyville, Spike, the girls, joined by the apple siblings, were at a place called Sugarcube Corner, laughing as the story was unfold with Spike.

"I can't believe you did that!" Spike laughed. "You of all ponies, would tell a lie, about Granny Smith being sick?"

"Not only that, but you all ended up in the hospital?" Rarity asked.

"I can't believe Big Mac was that close to getting his leg chopped off," Rainbow laughed.

After the laugh subsided, Spike continued, "But seriously, I can't believe you told all those lies!"

"Well, it ain't exactly a story I'm most proud of," Applejack replied. "But it did taught me a valuable lesson about being honest. Plus, it did taught Apple Bloom and a lot of other ponies a valuable lesson."

"Sure did," Apple Bloom replied. "I learned that no pony's perfect, and you've got to make a few mistakes to find out who you are."

"Eeyup."

"Got to make a few mistakes to find out who you are," Spike repeated to himself.

"Something wrong, Spike?" Twilight asked, taking notice.

"Huh?" Spike replied. "No, I'm fine. Just sounded like something.......something mom once told me," the boy answered glumly at the last part.

The ponies took notice of the boy's change in moods. Before they could do anything, Pinkie Pie arrived, "Here's your order Spike~"

"Oh, thanks PinkIEEE!!!" Spike yelped at the last part, falling out of his chair, and fell to the floor, knocking himself out. Pinkie stood before the ponies, in anthro form, wearing nothing but an apron.

"PINKIE!!" the girls exclaimed, while Big Mac went over to help Spike up.

"What?" Pinkie replied casually.

"Pinkie, what in Equestria possessed you to do such a thing?" Rarity scolded. "Unbecoming of a lady!"

"And on top of that, we're in public!" Applejack added.

"Well, you're one to talk," Pinkie countered. "Besides, you said," With that, Pinkie changes her mane style to match Applejack's, complete with another stetson hat she stashed in her apron. "We don't normally wear clothes," she said in Applejack's voice.

"I meant when we're still ponies," Applejack replied.

"Well technically, even in this form, we're still considered ponies."

"But not in front of humans, like Spike!"

"Spike is partially human. Besides, you did tell a lie once, so how can I be sure you weren't kidding about the whole clothes thing?"

Applejack was at a loss of words, "Touché."

"But seriously Pinkie," Twilight began. "Can you please just put some clothes on? Or at least, turn back in pony form? What do you think Celestia would say if she sees you doing that to her son?"

"Aw, do I have to?" Pinkie pouted.

"YES!!" the girls replied.

"OW!!" Spike yelled, clutching his forehead as he woke up.

"Oh, we're so sorry!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "Too loud for you?"

"I'm fine," Spike replied, before he took a look at Pinkie Pie, who quickly changed back into a normal pony. "Um, wasn't Pinkie....."

"I was what?" Pinkie asked, acting oblivious.

"Um.....nevermind," Spike replied, not wanting to make things awkward.





Later, the friends were back out in Ponyville, resuming to enjoy the festivity of the party. However, Spike continues to get mobbed by the ponies, mostly girls, asking for his autographs, as well as asking him if he's available. Luckily, Spike and his friends were able to provide some quick getaway.

"Boy, that was close," Spike breathed a sigh of relief, while in the form of a dog.

"I know," Fluttershy replied in equal fright.

"WWWWWHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" some screams were heard, before it revealed itself to be Tender Taps and Pipsqueak, running and laughing, around town, at high speed.

"What's got into those two?" Spike asked.

Just then, the rest of the knights, followed by Scootaloo, and a light brilliant gamboge stallion, with a yellow shirt, dark brown mane and tail, and a grilled cheese sandwich, appearing as an accordion, for a cutie mark, arrived.

"Man, how many sugar did you put in that lollipop Cheese?" Rumble panted.

"Just enough for them to run over a whole mountain," the stallion replied.

"Guys!" Spike called.

"Oh, hey Spike!" Rumble greeted.

"What happened back there?" the dog asked.

"Long story short," Feather began. "Cheese Sandwich here-"

"Yellow," the said stallion greeted.

"Created a giant Strawberry Lollipop! Tender Taps and Pipsqueak both ate it, and are on a sugar hype!"

"Omigosh!" Twilight exclaimed. "A giant Strawberry Lollipop?!!" the alicorn scrunched up her face, with her eyes lit up, "It's a dream come true!" The alicorn then grabbed Cheese Sandwich by the collar of his shirt, as she asked, "You wouldn't happen to have anymore around, do you?"

"Uh, Twilight," Rainbow began. "You do know that too much lollipop, won't do you good for your figure, right?"

"Oh, but they're sooooo yum!" Twilight whined.

"Maybe some other times, Princess Twilight," Cheese Sandwich replied. "But for now-"

"COME BACK HERE YOU GUYS!!!" Rumble called, as he and the rest of the knights resume chasing after their sugar hyped friends.

The next thing the gang heard, was the sound of explosion, and screams:

"My cart!"

"My cabbages!"

"My leg!"

"My pants!"




Meanwhile, Outside of Ponyville

Fleur-De-Lis was meeting with some royal guards, Shining Armor, and Scorpan, with a huge chariot, guarded by the guards. The guards soon parted, as they all gave their salutes, making way for three figures.

Fleur bowed her head, "Greetings, your highnesses," the unicorn greeted respectively. "Any troubles, getting here?"

"No trouble at all, Fleur," Princess Celestia replied solemnly, before she took notice of the ruckus going on in Ponyville. "Though, it appears my little ponies are quite excited for my visit."

"Oh, you know," Fleur began, fidgeting slightly. "It's the same. Every pony in Equestria, just can't get enough of their favorite Princess Celestia," Prince Blueblood cleared his throats, loudly. "And their Prince Blueblood," Fleur grumbled.

Prince Blueblood smirked, as he pointed his noise up in the air, while the pink alicorn rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I'm flattered of the compliment, Fleur," Celestia smiled, just a little. "But I'm afraid I can only spare a few minutes or so, before I return to Canterlot."

"Of course, your highness," Fleur bowed her head as the alicorn walked away. Looking to her right, Scorpan gave her a thumbs up, while Shining Armor and the pink alicorn both smiled, with glee.




Back in Ponyville

"So that's Canterlot," Spike said, as he marveled the city from a distance, sitting on a puff of clouds, in dragon form. "So close, yet so far." He sighed, longingly, reaching his claw out for it.

"It'll be okay, Spike," Rainbow said, comforting the dragon. "You'll see Princess Celestia again, before you know it."

"I know," Spike sighed.

"In the meantime, let's continue our trip down memory lane," Rainbow  dash suggested.

"Alright," Spike replied, as he changes back in human form, did an ariel flip, before he landed perfectly on the ground. A lot of ponies saw his performance, and all gasped in awe, before they stomped their hooves to the ground in applause.

"Do you really have to be so dramatic?" Rainbow asked, with a smirk.

"Ask the pegasus who's awesome as she wants to be," Spike replied.

Rainbow shook her head, smiling in amusement, while some mares nearby watched, bedazzled at the boy's move.

"So, where's the Golden Oak Library?" Spike asked, looking around for the said library. "I've had so much memories there. In fact, we've all had great memories there, and I'd like to relive some of them."

Twilight frowned, "Actually about that...."





After an hour of telling the story, while standing in a huge crater, of where the library once stood, Spike was shocked to hear what happened, during his absent.

"And that's how the library got destroyed!" Pinkie ended.

"Gee, I'm sorry I asked, Twi," Spike apologized, scratching the back of his head.

"It's okay, Spike," Twilight replied. "You didn't know."

"So where do you sleep now?" the dragon asked.




Friendship Castle

"Wow," Spike marveled at the castle before him.

In appearance, the castle almost resembled a tree, made up of crystals, with a castle being held by the branches at the top, with Twilight's symbol at the top.

"Yeah, wow," Pinkie repeated, before she grabbed Spike by the hand. "And wait till you see the inside!" With that, Spike finds himself being given the ground tour of the castle, from the bottom to the top.

"This is the kitchen!" Pinkie explained. "This is the bathroom! This is the library! This is the recreational room! This is the living room! This is the throne room! Or friendship headquarters as I call it! This is Twilight's bedroom! And this is the guest room! Guest room number 2! Guest room number 3!"

*Several more guest rooms later*

"And guest room......whose number escaped me!" Pinkie finished, as she and the girls both tried to catch their breath.

"Wow, Twilight," Spike began. "Your castle is a lot bigger than it looks on the outside."

"Well, as they say," Twilight began. "Don't judge a book by its cover," the alicorn let out a light giggle at her own joke.

Just then, Spike felt something coming up in his throat, before he lets out a loud burp of green fire, and a scroll appeared, "Whoa!" he gasped, before he looked at the girls. "Twilight! I swear! I didn't eat it! I don't remember eating scrolls!"

Twilight and Sunset giggled, as she levitated the scroll, "Spike, it's okay. It's part of your powers."

"Yeah, remember fire transportation?" Sunset asked.

"Oh, yeah," Spike replied, before he turned his attention to the scroll. "So, what does it say?" Twilight opened up the scroll, as she read its content. She and the girls all gasped, before they all started to fidget. "Girls?" Spike asked. "What's wrong?"





Elsewhere in the castle, a pale, light grayish heliotrope unicorn was walking through the castle halls, carrying some books and scrolls in her saddlebags, and a book levitated in front of her, when the girls came running past, dragging Spike behind, startling the unicorn out of her concentration, causing all of the contents in her saddle bags to fly out, along with her book.

Spike, hearing her cry of distress, came running back at high speed, as he caught all of her books, and scrolls, before he hands them back.

"Oh, thank you," the unicorn smiled, before she gasped, "Spike?!" she smiled even more widely.

The first thing that came to Spike's mind, when he noticed the unicorn's eyes, was the girl, holding the staff, from his dreams. Before Spike could reply, Rainbow Dash came, and dragged him away. The unicorn, shaking out of her daze, quickly followed.




Meanwhile

Tender Taps and Pipsqueak, were laughing and running, inside a mulberry magic bubble, courtesy of a dark unicorn, wearing a black fedora, and a long black robe. Next to the unicorn, were Button Mash, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and the rest of the Knights, and a donkey, holding his hooves over his long ears, is Cranky Doodle Donkey.

"Ugh, when are these sugars going to wear off?" Cranky asked, before the boys passed out, much to his relief. Once the task was done, both the unicorn and the donkey were on their way.

"Whoa, what happened to us?" Tenders asked, shaking his head.


[Evening Star - Land of Equestria(Orchestral Anthem)]


Before their friends could reply, the sound of trumpets was heard. Everybody all turned their heads in the direction of the trumpet, as an orange pegasus, in gold armor came out, and announced, "Announcing the arrival, of the fair and beloved ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia!" the guard announced, as the alicorn came into view, with her wings held out, as the ponies all bowed their heads in respect. The boys quickly followed suit.

The guard then felt a tug at his wing, as he looked back to see an irked Prince Blueblood.

"And the handsome Prince-" the guard was interrupted, as Prince Blueblood levitated him close, and whispered something in his ear. Annoyed, the guard cleared his throat, as he begrudgingly announced, "The handsome, suave, talented, courageous, and beloved, Prince Blublood," the guard looked ready to puke at the last part.

Prince Blueblood smiled, smugly, as he waved his hoof in the air. But nobody said anything, much to his irk.

"Well, I never!" Prince Blueblood huffed, as he walks away.

"Who's that guy?" Button asked, Sweetie Belle.

"That's Vlad Blueblood!" some random pony whispered to the boy. "He's evil!"

"I heard that!" Prince Blueblood shouted, causing the pony to run away in fear. "And that's Prince Vlad Blueblood to you!"

Princess Celestia, along with the pink alicorn, rolled their eyes, in annoyance. Just then, Celestia took notice of the Knights. Button, who took the chance to look up, quickly darted his head back to the ground. Out of curiosity, Princess Celestia, and the alicorn, walked up to the boys, who were all shaking in fear.

"Stay calm, boys," Button whispered. "She can sense fear."

"Please, no need to be afraid," Princess Celestia said.

"Apparently, she can hear you talking to us," Rumble muttered.

"It's okay," the pink alicorn insisted. "Please, stand up."

With that, the boys quickly got up to their feet, and saluted to the princesses, like trained soldiers, "Yes ma'm!" the boys shouted.

"My, you're all quite the enthusiastic bunch," Princess Celestia commented. Just then, Scorpan arrived.

"Ah, boys," Scorpan greeted. "So good to see you here."

"Yo, Master Scorpan!" the boys greeted, as they bowed before the gargoyle.

"Wait, Scorpan," Celestia began. "You know these five?"

"But of course," Scorpan smiled proudly. "I trained them myself."

"You trained them?" Celestia looked at the gargoyle, curiously. "For what?"

"For protecting of course!" Button answered enthusiastically. "We're Spike's friends! And we serve to protect, and fight beside him!" The boys all voiced their agreements, which got Blueblood and Celestia's attention.

"Spike's friends?" Princess Celestia asked. "You know my-"

"Boys!!!" Twilight called, as she, the girls, the apple siblings, Spike, and their newcomer arrived.

"Hello girls! Hi Spike!" the boys greeted their buddies. "Where've you been?"

Before Spike could answer, he looked up, and stopped, dead in his track, Celestia doing the same. Soon, the whole town ceased their festivity, as they watched in anticipation. At first, Spike and Celestia were speechless, as they stared at each other, both looking as if they've just seen a ghost.

Finally, Celestia made the first move, as she stepped forward, "Spike?!" She asked breathlessly.

"Mom?!" Spike asked in equal shock, eyes welling up with tears.

"SPIIIIKEEE!!" Celestia exclaimed tearfully, galloping towards the boy.

"MOMMY!!" Spike happily shouted, running and jumping onto the alicorn, arms around her neck, holding her tight, while the alicorn returned the embrace with her wings and leg, and she spun herself and her boy in a twirl. "I've missed you so much!!" Spike cried.

"I've missed you too, my little dragon!!!" Celestia cried, before she took another look at her son. "Look at you! Look how much you've grown! You're so big!"

"Guess I'm not your little dragon anymore, huh?"

"No," Celestia smiled tearfully. "But you'll always be my little sunshine."

With that, mother and sun embraced together again, while everyone around them looked on, touched by the scene. Well, all except for Prince Blueblood, obviously.

[The Wanted - Glad You Came]

"Oh, mom! We've got so much to catch up on!" Spike said, as he looked back at his adopted mother.

"I'd like that," Celestia smiled, before she turned to the boys. "But first, why don't you introduce me your friends here."

"Oh, right!" With that, Spike complied, "Mom, Button Mash, Rumble, Tender Taps, Featherweight, and Pipsqueak! Pipsqueak, Featherweight, Tender Taps, Rumble, Button Mash, mom!"

"Your majesty!" Button Mash said, as he bowed before the princess. "I gravel at your feet!" With that, Button kissed Celestia's hooves.

"Nice to meet you," Princess Celestia replied, while feeling a little bit embarrassed.

"Button!" Rumble began. "It's not gravel, it's grovel! And it's hooves! Not feet!"

"Well technically, hooves is the same as feet for animals like ponies, right?"

Spike shook his head, feeling slightly embarrassed, "Sorry about Button, mom," Spike explained, on his friend's behalf. "He's quite the enthusiast when it comes to meeting royalty." He chuckled at the last part.

"It's quite alright, Spike," Celestia replied, before she looked at the boys. "I'm just glad that my son has faithful friends like you boys."

"No problem, your majesty," Button replied, as he and the boys bowed their heads.

"Twilight!" the pink alicorn shouted, as she ran up to the said alicorn.

"Cadence!" Twilight exclaimed.

The boys, and Celestia, looked to see the two alicorns embracing each other, as they chanted, "Sunshine! Sunshine! Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" The two alicorns laughed, before they noticed the looks they were getting.

"Cadence?" Button asked. "Wait, wait, hold on a second!" Button said, catching the two alicorn's attention. "Cadence? As in, Crystal Prep's Dean Cadence?"

Princess Cadence laughed, "Surprised?" the alicorn asked, before she noticed Spike. "Oh, Spike! Lovely to see you again!"

"Likewise, Cousin Cadence," Spike smiled. "I'm surprised that Crystal Prep's Dean, is actually from Equestria, and on top of that, my favorite cousin!"

Princess Cadence smiled, before Princess Celestia came over, before the group, "Girls, and boys, I'd like to say thank you," the sun princess thanked. "For everything. If not for all of you, then I'd never get to see my son again."

"Actually, your highness," Applejack began. "I think we should be thanking you."

"Oh? How come?"

"Well, honestly, the fact that you let us go off to Earth, to find and help Spike, you've actually helped him reconnect with us, and his powers!"

"Applejack's right," Spike replied. "And it's thanks to them, that I've unlocked my power to its potential! Watch!" With that, Spike concentrated into his powers, to reveal his new dragon form. Princess Celestia, Cadence, Blueblood, and some of the guards, could hardly believe her eyes.

"You-You've actually done it!" the princess smiled proudly at her son.

"I know!" Spike replied, while stroking his whiskers, "Though, no one told me that I would get some caterpillar lips."

"I think they look quite fetching on you," Rarity smiled, which got Blueblood even more irked.

"You're just saying that Rarity."

"Oh no, I mean it," Rarity smiled, as she stroke one of his whiskers close. "It really compliments your heroic stature."

"I'd second that!" Dash added, as the girls all soon followed in agreement.

"The girls are right Spike," Button added. "They make you look super! Like Super Mario!"

As the ponies all gathered around and complimented the dragon's newfound transformation, Prince Blueblood looked on in jealousy, "Where can I get me a mustache?" he grumbled to himself.

Princess Celestia smiled, even more brightly, and even more proudly at her son's accomplishment. Then, she noticed that the ponies haven't resumed the festivity.

"Come on every pony!" Celestia shouted. "The day's still young! Let's party!" With a whoop from the princess herself, the ponies all let out another cheer, as they resumed the festivity.




[Friends Are Always There For You]

As the party went underway, numerous activities occurred. Spike got acquainted with the pony he met earlier, who revealed herself to be Starlight Glimmer, and like Sunset Shimmer, was a former Shadowbolt who turned over a new leaf, after she witnessed Spike's selfless action to save Princess Celestia's life. Though, doubtful at trusting her, Spike sensed a good vibe from the unicorn, along with learning all of the good deeds she performed to prove her reformation. However, one such deed stood out to him the most, mainly because it involves Starlight Glimmer going back in time, attempting to save Spike's life, resulting in several outcomes that didn't work out in her favor, for some reasons unknown.

"No way!" Spike exclaimed, looking around his surroundings. "So, which reality is this then?"

"Just the same, unaltered reality," Starlight replied, with a chuckled. "One in which, you were struck by Somnambula, and one where I was once a Shadowbolt," the unicorn said, despondently.

Meanwhile, the boys continued their party going, while staying clear of Strawberry Lollipops, this time. Button Mash was at a shop, with Sweetie Belle, purchasing some packs of chocolate, each with a card of famous ponies and magical creatures. Sweetie Belle was on breaks anyway.

Rumble, meanwhile, with Scootaloo, was showing off some skateboard, and scooter tricks, to some ponies.

Tender Taps, while doing some dance steps, by chance, got acquainted with Apple Bloom.

Pipsqueak and Featherweight in the meantime, walked around, taking pictures of the town.

"Wow," Pipsqueak said. "The boys back home will never believe this!"

"I'm right here," Featherweight said, as he took a few more snapshots. "And I don't believe it!"

Meanwhile, Prince Blueblood tries to win some of the mares' hearts, with a fake mustache he had purchased from a nearby costume store.

"How you like me now?" the prince sang, while trying his best to dance, to impress, which failed miserably, as the mares could only laugh at him, along with some other stallions. Irked, Blueblood threw the mustache away, which landed on Button Mash's lip.

"Wow, Button Mash," Sweetie Belle smiled. "You really do look super with a mustache."

"I told you so," Button smirked.

Just then, a dance music was heard, which got Spike's feet moving.

"Dance with me mom," Spike beckons.

"Oh, I don't know Spike," Celestia blushed. "I haven't danced in years and....."

"C'mon mom," Spike beckoned. "Dance like you know you can."

Celestia looked around to see the ponies cheering for her on the dance floor. With a smile and a chance to be with her son again, Celestia complied as she got out, dancing and singing together with her son.



During their show, Princess Celestia's horn glows, and she was engulfed in an blinding flash of light, before she appeared in human form.

"Wow!" Spike gasped.

The boys, stallions and colts included, dropped their jaws. Celestia stood before them, in a long flowing white dress, with wrapped off-the-shoulder sleeves, a gold belt tied at the waist, adorn with her cutie mark at the front, opera gloves that matched her dress, a skirt with a slight slit on the right to allow more movements, and gold slippers.

After the transformation was finished, mother and son both danced together, hands in hands. Soon, Spike called out for the rest of the girls, and they too got out, and danced. The girls complied, while changing into their human forms, as they danced together with Spike, and Princess Celestia.

Button Mash then turned to Sweetie Belle, "May I have this dance, m'lady?" he asked.

Sweetie Belle giggled as she changes in her human form, and accepted his hands, "You may."

Soon, Rumble followed as he too got out and danced with Scootaloo. Tender Taps and Apple Bloom soon got out, though they had some troubles, since Apple Bloom hadn't fully learn the skill to assume human form. Featherweight and Pipsqueak in the meantime, stacked on top of each other, while wearing a huge overcoat to make themselves looked taller, as they shared a dance with two pegasi sisters named, Cloudchaser and Flitter.

Prince Blueblood, was trying to have a dance with Fleur, only for the unicorn warrior, to jinx him with a curse that made his legs to collapse. Later, Prince Blueblood tried to have a dance with Princess Cadence, only for the alicorn to cast a love spell on the prince, that made him fall for another pony. By the time, Prince Blueblood came to his senses, a scream was heard, "WHOA NELLY!"




Later

"It's time to go now, your majesty," Kibitz, a mustached unicorn, and Princess Celestia's advisor, said.

"Aw? Do you have to go now?" Spike whined. "I just got to see you, again after ten years!"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Celestia replied. "But duty calls."

Knowing he can't argue with that, Spike nodded, "Okay," the young prince watched as his adopted mother takes her leave. "Good-bye mom."

Celestia stopped, as she turned to look at her son, "This isn't a good-bye, Spike," Celestia smiled. "This is a see ya later, alligator." Celestia winked.

Spike smiled, "After a while, crocodile." Celestia turned and was about to walk back to her chariot, when Spike quickly catches up, tackling his mother, and hugged her. "I love you mom."

"I love you too, Spike," Celestia smiled, returning the embrace.




[Jackie Chan & Kim Hee Seon - Endless Love]

Spike was later sitting on a tuft of cloud, watching the sun setting over the horizon.

The young dragon kicked back as he enjoys the beauty of the sunset, when his ear perked up to the sound of wings beating. Turning to his right, he smiled to see Twilight joining him.

"Hey Twilight," Spike greeted.

"Hi Spike," Twilight greeted, before she took a seat besides him. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Spike nodded, "Yeah, it is," the young dragon turns his head from side to side, seeing the land of Equestria, as far as his eyes can see. "Although, it's still too hard to believe I'm really here. To come back home from Earth, after ten years! It's like a dream come true."

Twilight turned to Spike, "Speaking of home," she began. "Why didn't you go back?"

"Pardon?"

"Why didn't you go back to Canterlot?" Twilight asked, more clearly. "I mean, for many weeks now, since you've started getting your memories back, you've been longing for Princess Celestia for quite some time. And now that we're back, you could've gone home to Canterlot with her. And yet, you stayed," Twilight looked back up at Spike again, as she asks, "All I'm asking you is why?"

Spike stroke his new whiskers, before he replies, "Because it feels like home with you and everyone here," Twilight's eyes widened with surprise. "Uh, sorry if it sounded weird, I-"

"No, no," Twilight reassured. "It's okay. In fact, I'd like to hear more, if you please."

Spike complied as he continues, "It's not that I prefer Ponyville over Canterlot. I mean, yes I'd be more closer to mom, in Canterlot," Twilight nodded in acknowledgement. "But Ponyville's my home as well, just as New York is when I was still living and training with Uncle Scorpan. Mainly because, they're also the homes of my friends," Twilight smiled, as she placed a hoof over her heart, "I think I'd like to stay awhile, if that's okay."

Twilight's eyes were watered with tears, "I'd like that too," she said, as she pulled Spike in a loving embrace. "Because then I don't have to feel alone again, knowing my Number One Assistant is really here, and for real."

Spike smiled, as he nuzzled his head in Twilight's mane, as well as draping a wing over the alicorn, "Don't worry Twi. For you and everyone else, I'm not going anywhere soon."

"I love you, Spike," Twilight smiled, as she tightens the embrace, holding Spike close, not wanting to let him go.

"I love you too, Twi," Spike replied, as he returns the embrace, and melts into the wave of memories it brought. In truth, it made him feel as if he was a kid again, hugging a younger Twilight.

Soon, the two broke apart, "Come on, let's head back," Twilight said. "There's still approximately twenty minutes left before the party ends."

Spike smirked as he followed Twilight back to Ponyville, "Whatever you say Twi," he replied.
> Dragon's Second Flight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

??????

Somewhere, at the top of a tall, snow covered, mountain, a hooded figure was meditating, with only a small ray of sunlight, shining on her face, before it turns to moonlight. Suddenly, a cold wind blew its way, through her cavern, snapping her out of her concentration.

"You're back...." the figure said, before she looked to her left, to see a set of armor. She walked over to the armor, with a puzzle box next to it. "Time to return your birthday gift."




[Treasure Planet OST - 03 - 12 Years Later]

After the party ended, Spike was later sitting on top of a cloud, watching as the sun sets, "3...2...1." He counted, before the sun disappears out of sight. "We have sun down!" With that, Spike jumped up in the air, concentrating his powers, before he was surrounded in a coat of green fire, before he emerged in his new and improved dragon form. With a flap of his new wings, Spike became airborne and flew up into the night sky.

"Whooo!" Spike hollered, as he flapped his wings, granting him a burst of speed. "Whooooo! Whooooo-hooooo!"

Before long, Spike was flying so high up, that Ponyville was nothing but a dot, beneath him. Looking down, seeing how high up he is, Spike closed his eyes, as he reverts back to human form, and plummeted back down to Equestria. While doing this, Spike spins his whole body, doing flips, and several spins, before at the last second, before hitting the ground, he changes back into a dragon, spreads his wings out, catching himself in the nick of time, and continues to fly onward, through a valley he had flown into.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!" Spike hollered, echoing off the walls of the mountains, as he kept on flying.

Soon, pillars of rocks started to come into view. Spike spins his whole body, shifted his wings from side to side, as he narrowly weaves his way through. Evading the rocky structures, before he chipped a chunk off, with his feet, and used it as a surfboard. With that, Spike started to fly towards some mountainsides, surfing on them with his makeshift board, doing several skateboard tricks, such as the kick flip and heel flip on several rock structures on the mountains, followed by some grinds.

"WHOOOOO!" Spike screamed.

Taking it up a notch, Spike spotted a nearby cave, with waterfalls flowing from its mouth. Flapping his wings, and cracking his tail, Spike accelerated, as he flew towards the cavern. Once inside, Spike changes into his dog form, while keeping his dragon wings, claws, and his board, and his eyes glowed green, granting him night visions. Spike surfed on, within the cavern, grinding on the floor, together with some hand flips, from the stalagmites and stalactites. Soon, Spike saw a ray of moonlight, through a small opening, guiding him out of the exit.

Breathing a burst of green fire at the opening, Spike made a flaming exit, as he fully assumes the form of his dragon.

"WHOO! Ha ha ha ha!" Spike laughed, as he spreads his wings out, and continued to surf on the mountains.

"Did you always have to make a grand entrance like that?" a voice asked.

Spike screeched to a stop, as he quickly turns around, smiling to see Twilight herself, along with Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity, with beautiful butterfly-like wings, and a floral dress.

"Hi girls," Spike returned the greeting. "Beautiful night for flying. Don't you think?"

"Oh absolutely darling," Rarity smiled, giving herself a twirl, as she flew closer to Spike. "By the way, Spikey-Wikey. What do you think of my dress darling?"

Spike blushed, as he finds the words, "You look, absolutely stunning Rarity," he replied. "I like the way your wings glisten in the moonlight, and how your dress compliments the colors."

"Aw, thank you, darling," Rarity smiled, while the girls looked on with envy. "And which way do you prefer? As a pony?" Then, in a flash of blue light, Rarity turned herself in human form, "Or as a human?"

"I honestly don't care," Spike replied bluntly, resulting in a gasp from Rarity. "I-I-I-I mean, I don't care if you're a pony, or a human, or heck even a dragon. You're still beautiful in your own way, Rarity. I-I-I-I mean...." Spike was cut off, as Rarity tackled him, in a hug.

"Oh, my knight in shining armor!" Rarity smiled, tightening the hug. "You say the sweetest thing!"

Spike blushed, and smiled, as he changes back in human form, and returns the embrace.

Rainbow, not liking how close they are, snapped them out of their loving embrace, as she got in, "So, Spike," Rainbow began. "Since you've gotten in touch with your old ariel tricks, and you're getting the hang of your wings. Care to show us some more?"




[Celine Dion - I'm Alive]

Spike was later, standing on top of a cloud, before he leaps off, and nose dives towards the ground. As he does this, Rainbow Dash, Starlight Glimmer, and Twilight Sparkle all flew at his sides, as they circled around him, before they pulled up at the last second. Using their magics, Twilight  and Starlight manipulated some clouds nearby, reshaping them into two series of floating rings, which both Spike and Rainbow flew through.

Once they came through the other ends, both Spike and Rainbow Dash linked their arms together, as they spun each other into a blazing, rainbow tornado. Finally, they both released their hold on each other, resulting in a sparkling blast of multicolored sparkles. Rainbow kept on flying, rounding up all of the sparkles, while Spike spins himself, before he did a nose dive, breathing fire as he did so, living a twin trail of spinning flames behind him.

'Now this is what I call a Fire Drill,' Spike thought, before he pulled up at the last second, and joined in with Rarity, and Fluttershy. Pulling out her backpack, Fluttershy released a whole flock of colorful, magical creatures, that glowed brightly at night, Peewee was one of them.

"Hey, Peewee!" Spike said, seeing his pet phoenix. The bird squawked, returning the greeting, before both he and his owner flew together.

Rarity flew high up, in the sky, with the moon behind her, allowing its lights to illuminate her wings, causing them to shine their radiant colors, across the valley. Peewee soon flew behind the girl, as he shines his whole body, illuminating her wings even more brightly.

Starlight Glimmer, in the meantime, focused her magic, projecting the staff from Spike's dream, and with a wave of the staff, she manipulated some waters, in the valley's river, and with it, formed a huge tornado made entirely of water. The tornado picked Starlight off the ground, as it propels her into the air, where she joined in with Spike and the others.

Spike watched, as Starlight waves the staff around, manipulating the water's structure, as it formed into a bubble beneath her. Before long, Starlight tapped the bubble, with the bottom of her staff, causing it to morph into a manta ray. With that, Starlight sat down on top of it, as it flew around.

The friends kept up their performance, laughing and having a good time, until it was time to turn in for the night, as they flew back to Twilight's castle.

"See you in the morning girls," Spike said, landing in his guest room.

"Goodnight, Spike," Twilight smiled, before she and the other four embraced him, tightly.

"Sleep tight," Fluttershy smiled.

"Dream of cupcakes, tonight," Rarity added.

The girls then took their leave, along with stealing a kiss from the dragon, before they left. The young dragon changes back into a human, got into bed, and closed his eyes. Just then, Peewee flew into the room, and perched next to the sleeping boy.




????

Within the darkest depths, of a mountain, another hooded figure, was stirring up a cauldron, while chanting some incantations in an ancient language. While doing so, the water in her cauldron started to churn, as an image of Spike came to view.

"Ah," the figure cackled. "The prodigal son has returned," The water churned again, as it reveals the boy in his new dragon form. "Ah, so the Dragonfire has reached its state of maturity," the figure cackled evil, as she continues, "No fear of that. The Dragon Prince has yet to unlock his other new abilities. And by the time he starts with the first one, it'll be all too late. Now, tell me more," the water churned, before it projected an image of.......
> Discord's Chaotic Debut
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a beautiful quiet night in New York City. Well, for everyone, except one.

Singing in the shower, surrounded by multiple mirrors of all shape and sizes, while wearing a yellow trunk with orange dots, a red and black checkered swim shirt with multicolored zigzags, was none other than Discord himself.

"Who's got trouble?" Discord sang.

"We got trouble!" His reflections sang.

"How much trouble?"

"Too much trouble!"

"Well don't you frown, just knuckle down, and knock on wood!" With that, Discord took out a mallet and knocked it against the wall, before he resumes singing.

While the eccentric magician continues with his singing, a mysterious figure, magically, opened up the window to his bedroom and slipped Discord's robe with another, before they disappeared.

Discord soon came out, wrapped in a towel, with his swimsuits still on, walked behind a changing screen, before he walked out in his usual attires, while lacking his trademark robe. Discord soon picked, what he believes to be his robe, off its rack and puts it on, "What the?" Discord exclaimed, as he feels the robe taking control of him, before he suddenly became a tornado, with the sound of revving motors. After a while, there stood a creature with the head of a pony and mismatched body parts of all kinds of creatures.

"Smoking!" the new Discord exclaimed happily, before he looked at himself in the mirror with a smile. "It's party time! P-A-R-T-Why? Because I gotta!" With that, Discord's feet revved into wheels, as he dashes out of the room.

Discord was walking casually, stopping as he reads a tag on a door knob that says, "QUIET PLEASE!" Looking at the readers, Discord shushes the audience, before tip-toeing past the door. Suddenly, an alarm clock jumped out of Discord's ear, and bounced all over the place, laughing as he tries to catch it. Discord then pulls out a large mallet, from a pouch. He lets out a maniacal laugh, and swings it all over the place, trying in vain, until he finally smashes the clock.

"Smooze," Discord grinned.

Just then, an old lady with a green mud mask, covering on her face, came out and screamed at the sight of Discord. In return, Discord two lets out a bloodcurdling scream, before the lady pulled out a gun, and tried to blast him. Discord evaded the bullets, by bouncing around the halls, while letting out several of Daffy Duck's whoops, before he finally jumps out of the window, and smashed into several pieces, upon landing on the ground.

Discord's mouth and eyeballs soon jumped out of the piles, as the mouth exclaims, "Look, ma! I'm roadkill! Ha ha ha!" With that, Discord literally pulled himself together, off the ground, in human form, before a random taxi driver came, blaring his horn at the boy.

"Yo! Get out of the road you freak!" the driver shouted, as he continues honking his horn.

"I think he wants us to communicate," Discord said, conjuring up a small bicycle horn, with the words "Squeeze me gently."

"AAAAWOOOOOOOGAH!!” the horn, literally, screamed, before Discord blows on it, like a traditional cowboy in some classic western movies.

The taxi driver was left in a daze, as he drives away. Discord resumes minding his own businesses, when a thug came out in front of him.

“Hey!” the thug grunted. “You got the time?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Discord pulls out a pocket watch from his chest, exclaiming, “Look at that! It’s exactly 15 seconds before I honk your nose and pull your underwear over your head!” With that, Discord did as he just said, before he made a run for it. Furious, the thug blew a whistle for the rest of his comrades, as they chased the young magician.

Discord kept running for his life, until he screeched to a stop, "Hocus!" he said, pulling one of his sleeves down, before going to the next. "Pocus! Presto!" With that, he conjured up a magic pencil, with which he used to draw a door. Eyes on the back of his head, Discord screamed, seeing his chasers catching up, lifting the door up, and entered through.

The thugs soon caught up with to the door, and tried in vain to open it.

"Yoo-hoo!" Discord called from a window, dressed like a lady, waving to the thugs. The thugs jumped up, and climbed into the window, before they were knocked out, by a boxing glove.

Later, a group of terrorists were setting up some bombs at a church, ready to detonate, until Discord came along, picked up the dynamites, and ate 'em. The dynamites exploded in his stomach, resulting him to belch up fire from his mouth, "Ooh, that's-a one spicy meat-a-ball!" Discord remarked in an Italian accent.

The terrorists poked their heads out, and looked in bewilderment, at the magician, and the undamaged church.

The terrorists watched, further bewildered, when Discord spins into a tornado, and changes into his draconequus form.

[Daffy's Rhapsody]

"Greetings~" he sang, in Mel Blanc's voice. "My name is Discord. There's no other magicians, like me, because I'm the cause of discords.~" Discord continues his rhapsody, as he sings about his name, and how he wanted to be adored and appreciated for his love of chaos.

Snapping out of their bewilderments, the terrorists tried to kill Discord with their guns, only for the draconequus to somehow remain alive, as he sang, "And I'm so full of bullets, that I'm lit up like a christmas tree." The terrorists continued their antics, trying in vain to catch, and kill, the creature, as he continues to teleport, and outwit them all.

All the while, Discord continues to sing, about Bronies, Cupcakes, Rainbow Factory, Story of the Blanks, Turnabout Storm, etc.


"Daffy! They drive me daffy! Those bronies with their great big numbers by the tons
They're all uncles, cousins, fathers, sons
Crazy! They make me hazy
With all that rootin'-flootin'-hootin'-tootin'-high-falootin' noisy shootin'
Closer! They're getting closer
With just downright crazy, creative ideas for their fan arts, fanvids, fanfics,
Songs, and other deadly slapsticks


When Discord sang those lyrics, he teleported in a flash of light, before he reappears, with The Living Tombstone, AuroraDawn, Drecker Jones, EileMonty, and many other bronies, as he forced them all to do the Can-Can with him, while inadvertently aid their favorite draconequus in foiling the terrorists, as they repeatedly kicked them in the booty.


"Good night~"


"Look there he is!" Discord looked to his right, to see some angry thugs resuming their chase after him.

With a rev of his feet, Discord took off, and ran past Trixie, who struggling to entertain some audience.

"Behold, the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie declared, before Discord appeared on stage, and kissed the girl on the lip, causing her to scream in disgust, and ran off the stage.

Discord laughed, as he explains to the audience, "I love that girl!" Before long, he quickly took off, into an ally.

The thugs gave chase, only to stop as they saw Discord, dressed as a carnival man, on a stand, with a sign that reads 25 cent.

“Step right up!” Discord hollered, imitating Edward G. Robinson, tapping his cane on the stand. “Don’t be shy! Nobody likes a bashful leather head. MOVE IT!!!” With that, the thugs all complied, as Discord did some tricks with a balloon he pulled out from his pocket. "Our first trick," he began. "We have a giraffe! There ya go son, now get out of here, you bother me.” The thug complied as he takes the balloon animal away.

Discord then reaches into his pocket and pulls out-

“Sorry, wrong story,” Discord grinned cheesily, before he reaches into another pocket and pulls out another deflated balloon, inflates it, before he once again did some more tricks with it, before presenting, “A french poodle!” But before a thug could have it, Discord popped it. “Sorry son, the dog was rapid. I had to put it down,” The thug frowned, before Discord announced, “And last but not least. My favorite!” With that, Discord blows up a black balloon and did several unusual tricks with the balloon, before it suddenly changes into, "A tommy gun!" Discord smirked, as he open fires on the thugs, who all took cover.

"Amazing!" Discord said. "With these powers, I could be.....A SUPERHERO!! I'd fight the criminals, protect the innocents, WORK FOR WORLD FREEDOM!!!" He declared dramatically, while sporting a superhero costume, before the whole scene froze, as another Discord appears, in draconequus form, grinning, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some chaos to wreak." With a snap of his finger, Discord disappeared in a flash of light, followed by the sound of his laughter.

"WHOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO!" Discord laughed.

"Get back here!" Trixie screamed, while wearing an amulet. "Now I'm really, really mad! Heee heeee he ha ha,"Trixie laughed, wheezingly, before she casted a red lighting at the audience.
> Armor of Heroes part 1: The Start of Trouble
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Somewhere in Equestria

In the darkest depth of a massive jungle, the sound of frighten yelp, chirps, and growl was heard, as trees were being knocked down, and swarms of dark arrows were fired. Emerging from the trees, were a herd of weird pig-like creatures, followed by a small yellow bird.

The bird flapped its wings hard, trying to escape the arrows being fired at it, as it made several sharp turns, through the trees of the jungle, until finally, a rainbow net was shot, and captured the bird. With that, a triumphant cackle was heard, as the bird's captor stepped out from the bushes.




Castle of Friendship

Spike was sound asleep, before he finds himself, dreaming.

In his dream, Spike sees the Mane Six, facing off against Nightmare Moon, herself. Spike looked, to see the difference, mostly in Twilight Sparkle, is that she's a unicorn. Furthermore, the Mane Six were all wearing six magic jewelry, five around their necks, while the sixth was worn at the top of Twilight's head. 

"You think you can destroy The Elements of Harmony just like that?" Twilight asked. "Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are right here."

"What?" Nightmare Moon asked, enrage.

With that, Twilight begins her lecture, "Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of... honesty! Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of... kindness! Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of... laughter! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift represents the spirit of... generosity! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire represents the spirit of... loyalty! The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."

Spike smiled, upon learning this newfound information, "You still don't have the sixth Element!" Nightmare Moon spatted. "The spark didn't work!"

"But it did!" Twilight replied. "A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all... are my friends! You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic!"

Spike watched, as a huge rainbow was shot out from the girls, aiming directly at Nightmare Moon. The rainbow struck Nightmare Moon, forming some cracks into the evil alicorn's skin. Spike watched as a chunk broke off, revealing a skin of light blue beneath her dark skin.

"What the?" Spike exclaimed, before Nightmare Moon quickly turns into a puff of smoke.

"You will all pay dearly for this!" Nightmare Moon roared, as she escapes through the window. "Mark my words! I will have my revenge!"

"She's getting away!" Rainbow screamed, as she tries to give chase. But by the time she got out, the evil alicorn was nowhere in sight.

"Dang nabbit!" Applejack groaned. "That night varmint's got away!"

"Yes, but at least she won't be bothering Equestria for now," Twilight replied. "Not as long as we have these. The Elements of Harmony."

"And with them," Rarity began. "We'll defeat those ruffians! And avenge Spikey-Wikey!"

Soon, the whole scene changed, as Spike later finds himself, in a valley, surrounded by tiny pony-like creatures, with insect wings and antenna, flying around. Spike turned his head, to see all the creatures exchanging chirps and squeaks to each other, while looking at the boy.

"Um, hi there," Spike waved his hands. In response, the creatures all let out frightened screams, as they flew away. "Hey, wait! I won't hurt you!"

"It's not you they're frightened of!" one of the creatures spoke, in a high-pitch voice, with a foreign accent. "It's that!"

Spike looked up, to see a huge pillar, consumed by dark smokes, snaking around before it reaches the glowing yellow stone at the top.

"Don't just sit there!" the creature screamed frantically. "Stop it! Save the Sun Stone!"

With that, Spike concentrated his powers, as he flew towards the said stone, breathing fire at the smoke. The smoke dispersed, evading the blast, which struck the said stone, causing it to explode in several rays of crimson lights.

Spike's eyes opened up, as he woke up with a start, and breathed heavily. Looking around, Spike was relieved to see that he's still in Twilight's friendship castle. Turning to his right, seeing Peewee still asleep, Spike tried to go back to sleep, but was too troubled to do so.

"Perhaps some quick midnight snack would do some good," With that, he quietly got out of bed, and walked out of the room.





"Which way is the kitchen again?" Spike asked, trying to navigate his way around. He didn't look where he was going, when he bumped into Fleur, who had just came around the corner.

"Oh, pardon me, Spike," Fleur quickly apologized, as she helped the boy up.

"No, I'm sorry," Spike replied. "I should've heard you coming."

"Though, if I may, what were you doing out of bed?"

"I just had a weird dream," the boy replied. "I dreamt I saw the girls, with the Elements of Harmony, Nightmare Moon, and some weird pony-like creatures. I thought some midnight snacks could ease my tensions. Trouble is, I'm kinda lost."

"Well, then allow me to guide you," Fleur smiled, as she guided the young prince to the kitchen. On the way, Spike struck up a conversation.

"So, what are you doing out of bed, Fleur?" Spike asked.

Fleur took a quick glance at the boy, before she replies, "I too have a troubled dream."

"About what?"

"My parents."

"What?!" Spike exclaimed, which Fleur quickly shushed. "You still haven't found them yet?" he whispered.

"Afraid not." Soon, the two arrived at the kitchen, where they both treated themselves to PB&J Sandwiches. "After you and Scorpan left, I guess I just decided to put the search for my parents on hold."

"Why?"

Fleur took a deep breath, before she answered, "Ever since I saw Princess Celestia, so distraught, all I could see was myself, when I first lost my family. Perhaps, in some ways, I felt guilty, for not being fully there for you. If I had, then I would've saved you, and Princess Celestia would never have to feel the sadness that I've felt long ago. And from that moment, I was wiling to give everything up, just to help another pony reunite with the loved ones, they've lost," Soon, a tear escaped Fleur's eyes, "But at the same time, I had to endure the guilt of forsaking my parents. Since then, I've been having these horrible dreams of my home, the ponies of my village, and my parents, all calling out for me. But everything were all burning, and dying." At this point, the pipe broke, as Fleur sobbed, "Whenever I have time, I would try to find my parents, even with Sunset Shimmer, Lyra, and Bon Bon, playing the roles as spies on the Shadowbolts. But still nothing."

With that, the unicorn hid her face behind her mane, as she cried, while Spike looked on, sympathizing the unicorn mare. In truth, he sees Princess Celestia in Fleur. With that, he walked over, and embraced the unicorn. Fleur, recognizing the gesture, returns it, feeling calmer, before she looked back at Spike.

[Off To See The World - My Little Pony Movie]

"Fleur," Spike began. "What'd you say I help you look for your parents?"

Fleur gasped, "Spike?"

"Uncle once taught me something about karma," Spike replied. "You do some good for someone else in the past, and later in the future, that good will repay you somehow."

Fleur, catching onto what Spike was referring, replied, "Merci, Spike. But I couldn't possibly-"

"Hey, it's okay! What're friends for? I mean, are we best friends? Or are we best friends?" Spike asked, nudging the unicorn on the shoulder, resulting a smile. "Besides, you and I have helped each other in the past lots of times, so let's do that again!" With that, Spike reached his hand out, "What do you say, Flare?"

Fleur looked at the boy's hand for a moment, before in a flash of light, she turned herself in human form, don up in a pink nightgown, as she walked over, and shook the boy's hand, "Oui," Before Spike could react, Fleur pulled him close, "And merci." With that, Fleur pulled Spike in a passionate french kiss, just as the sun came up.




The Next Morning

"SPIIIIIIDEEEEEER!!" Button screamed at the top of his lungs. "SPIIIIIIDEEEEE-Ooh! Flash Magnus!" the nerd boy commented, taking notice of one of the local colt's trading cards, before he resumes, "SPIIIIIIDDEEEEERR-Her-her!"

Just then, Spike, and the girls arrived, "Button!" Spike called. "Calm down. It's just a little spider."

"This ain't no ordinary spider!" Button panted. "It's a big one! Really big! Almost the size of an elephant! And it came from the Everfree Forest!"

"What were you doing there?" Fluttershy asked. "Didn't I tell you it's dangerous in there?"

"Me and Rumble were helping Zipporwhill find and rescue her puppy, Ripley, after he got lost, chasing a squirrel. Then all of a sudden, this spider jumped out at us! Ripley peed on my shoes! Featherweight's never looked more terrified! It took all of Fluttershy's rabbits to calm him down!" Button soon composed himself as he finishes with, "We have a giant spider catastrophe on our hands!"

With that, the ponies all entered a frightened panic, as they run around, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Quiet!" Mayor Mare tried to command. "Every pony please!"

"EVERYPONY FREEZE!" Twilight shouted, casting a spell that made all of the little ponies frozen in place. "Every pony please, don't panic!"

"Yeah," Rainbow began. "We'll go and check it out."




Meanwhile
[Darkwing Duck Opening]

In a small town of Fillydelphia, a hooded figure in black, was running through the street, leaping, and sneaking behind several structures, before she arrived at an ally.

"Well, well, well," a voice echoed. "If it isn't, the Mysterious Mare Do Well," another hooded figure stepped out. "Punctual as ever."
> Armor of Heroes Part 2: Legend of the Armor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Somewhere in Equestria

In a huge temple, a ceremony was taking place. Some tribal ponies were chanting, as they prepared a sacrifice, in front of a huge stone idol, to appease their gods, when a treasure hunter intruded the place.

This was no ordinary treasure hunter. She is a pegasus, known as Daring Do. In appearance, Daring Do looked almost like Rainbow Dash, with the obvious exception of her coat, mane, and cutie mark, which are colored gold and dark shades of grey, respectively, and the cutie mark resembling a compass. For attires, she wore a pith helmet, with exactly twenty arrow holes, a green cargo shirt, and a light brown tan saddlebag.

While remaining unseen, Daring Do spreads her wings, as she slowly glides down, behind the idol, with the intention of claiming one thing: a huge two handled sword, that rested within the idle's hands. All was going according to plan, until Daring Do landed behind the statue, and accidentally knocked its head off. Daring Do quickly head behind the statue, before the tribes noticed her, as they exclaimed in bewilderment upon seeing their god, missing his head. With little choice, Daring Do stuck her head up, pretending to be the head.

The tribes noticed, as Daring Do started to speak in a foreign language, convincing the tribes that she's their god. Well, most of them anyway, since their shaman wasn't fooled. The shaman saw through Daring Do's guise, as he investigated behind the statue, and alerted his tribesmen. With that, Daring Do kicked him away, as she pulls out her whip, used it to snatch the sword, caught it in her mouth by the handle, and flapped her wings, frantically making her escape.

Unfortunately for her, one of the tribes threw a spear that scratched one of her wings, causing her to crash land back in the ruins. With that, Daring Do was forced to fight off the tribes, hoof to hoof, before she bucked her legs into a wall, causing one of the shields to be knocked lose. With it, she rolled behind it, while remaining protected from the projectiles being thrown at her, until she reached the exit, changes into anthro form, giving her hands, as she climbs up, through an open window, and made a tremendous leap across a deep chasm, barely reaching the other end. However, our adventurous hero was far from safe, since she was ambushed by more of the tribal ponies, all pointing spears at her. Thinking fast, Daring Do reached into her saddlebag, and threw the tribes a can of soda.

"C'mon, it's delicious," Daring Do smiled, while taking another one out. "See?" she asked, opening the can, courtesy of a small lever, and drank the bubbling liquid content, within. The tribal ponies did the same, only instead of a delicious beverage, what they got was far more surprising, in the form of hissing, yellow smokes.

With that, Daring Do got away, escaping through a long hallway, picked up a shield, used it to slide her way down, before she flew out through a window, and landed outside, and makes her escape, with the sword in her mouth.

????

"Yes, my little pet!" the dark figure sneered, as she watched through the enchanted water within her cauldron. "Go! Strike fear into the hearts of the little ponies! Give them reasons to fear a demon sorceress, such as I!"

Just then, the door bursts open, "MASTER!!" two figures, one short and the other tall, shouted, startling the former.

"You insolent bumbles!" the figure, growled. "How many times have I told you not to interrupt me, when I'm ranting?"

"But master!" the tall one began. "We have good news!" With that, she received a bonk on the head.

"What did I say about good news?!" the dark figure growled.

"I mean bad news...." the tall one groaned.

"TOO LATE!!" the dark figure roared. "Now I feel a song coming up!"

"Oh no," the short one began. "Here we go again."



"Now that that's over," the dark figure began. "What do you bumblers have that should be of interest?"

"Well, you see," the short one walked over, as she whispered into her master's ears.

"What? Really? Where?" the master began, before she received her answer. "Excellent!" the evil figure cackled. "Excellent! Quickly! Ready my flying machine! We must get it before they do!"

"Yes, master!" the two figures saluted, before they ran out the door, only to get stuck.

"I came out of retirement for this?" the dark figure asked the readers.




Meanwhile

Spike, and the girls, both ventured through the Everfree Forest, investigating the early report of a giant spider, from Button Mash.

While investigating, Spike struck up conversation with Fleur, who was clad in her armor, "I'm sorry our quest was kinda put on hold Fleur," Spike apologized, sensing disappointment from the girl.

"No need to apologize Spike," Fleur replied, glumly. "After all, duty calls. No?"

"No," Spike replied, before he stammered, "I mean yes. I mean, duty calls. But not for long, right?"

"Oui," Fleur replied. "Besides, we do have a lead."




Early That Morning

Spike and Fleur were in the library, with Sunset Shimmer, Lyra Heartstrings, and Bon Bon, discussing over the topic of Fleur's missing parents, and the Shadowbolts.

"I'm sorry Fleur," Bon Bon apologized, while looking through some files. "We've done our best, but we just couldn't find anything on the whereabouts of Lady Amalthea, or Sir Lir," Lyra shook her head, in agreement with Bon Bon.

"But there's got to be at least something we can use!" Spike replied, while looking through the files. "There's got to be at least a clue or something you girls may have overlooked," Spike then looked up to Sunset Shimmer. "Wait! Sunset! You can read minds! Did you by chance find anything from the Shadowbolts' minds about Fleur's folks?"

"Sorry Spike," Sunset replied sadly. "I wished I had, but even I couldn't find anything on those two. All I know is that informations regarding to the whereabouts of Sir Lir, and Lady Amalthea are concurred with the Shadowbolts' Elites."

"And who are the elites?" Spike asked.

"Well, Somnambula is one of them, obviously," Sunset replied. "Then there's Abacus Cinch, and some others. Unfortunately, even I couldn't find anything from them. Not directly, that is. They aren't called the elites for nothing, without mastering mind block."

"Darn!" Spike groaned, as he face palmed in frustration.

"It's okay, mon ami," Fleur comforted the boy. "You tried."

"But we can't give up!" Spike replied. "I promised I'd help you find your parents Fleur. And I intend on keeping that promise!"

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Sunset asked. "It's not like you can just sniff Fleur, and pick up Sir Lir, or Lady Amalthea's scent right away!"

"Did some pony say, Lir?" a voice asked.

The friends turned their heads, to see Starlight Glimmer, standing in the doorway.

"Starlight?" the group asked.

"Sorry," Starlight apologized. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I thought I heard you guys mentioned Lir and Amalthea, and I got curious."

"We're trying to look for them, Starlight," Spike explained. "And I don't suppose a former Shadowbolt like you would know anything. Do you?"

"Well, actually," Starlight began, as she walked into the room. After a deep breath, the unicorn began, "I don't know where Fleur's parents are exactly. But I do know why, 'we' took them in the first place."

"I know why," Spike replied. "The Shadowbolts believed that Fleur had some gifts that were passed down from her mother, and it made Shadowbolts like Somnambula believed she was a threat."

"No," Starlight shook her head. "There's more than that! It has something to do with the Armor of Heroes!"

This got the whole group interested, "The Armor of Heroes?" Sunset asked. "As in the Armor of Heroes?" Starlight nodded in reply, as Sunset continues, "But, I thought it was just an old filly's tale."

"Apparently, the Shadowbolts have reasons to think otherwise," Starlight replied.

"What is this Armor of Heroes?" Spike asked, earning some shocked look from the ponies in the room. "Why are you girls looking at me like I'm crazy?"

"Sorry," Bon Bon replied. "It's just that, the Armor of Heroes, is one of Equestria's legendary relic, next to the Elements of Harmony. And hearing you say you've never heard of it, no offense, it's kinda....unheard of."

"Well, I may have heard the name," Spike replied, before he turned to Starlight. "So, care to fill me in one what it is exactly?"

Starlight Glimmer nodded her head, as she explains, "Long ago, when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were still little fillies growing, dark forces have ruled Equestria, spreading fear, chaos, and hatred across the land. The only thing, standing in between these dark forces, and total world domination was a group of heroes, led by a powerful unicorn wizard, named Starswirls the Bearded. As the legend would say, Starswirls and his team of heroes eventually defeated these dark forces. Since then, many of the heroes' armors and weapons would pass down, through generations, which brings us to present time. Only six pieces of the armor now remains."

"But what does all of this have to do with Fleur's parents?" Spike asked.

"By chance, do you remember the story of their heroics?" Starlight asked.

"Yes."

"Then I'm pretty sure you remember the piece of armor Prince Lir used to aid, Lady Amalthea in their final battle against King Haggard, the ape king?"

"He used something called the Chestplate of Valor," Spike recalled. "Didn't really helped much, since he got run over by the red bull anyway." Then, Spike had an epiphany.

"That's right," Starlight replied. "He had only one piece of the Armor. And because of that, the Shadowbolts believed he was descended from one of the heroes, and knew the whereabouts of the other pieces," Starlight then turned to Fleur. "I'll bet you anything, they took your parents, in hopes of finding the other pieces."

"But why?" Fleur asked. "What would they want with the armor?"

"I'd like to know that too," Sunset voiced her opinion, "Hence it's name, I don't think the armor is the type to be fallen in the hooves of evil."

"Well, they say that the armor carries great magic within it," Starlight answered. "Great magics, from Starswirls himself. And the Shadowbolts believed that if they can get all six pieces of the armor, and destroy them all at once, then they would obtain great powers from Starswirls himself."

"Then we better find all of those pieces first!" Spike declared. "If it isn't too late already. And hopefully, they could lead us to your parents Fleur."

"Oui," Fleur answered. "But where do we start?"

Before the group could have a chance to ponder on their options, a bloodcurdling scream from Button Mash was heard, outside of the castle walls.




Present Day

"As soon as we get this over," Spike replied to Fleur. "The sooner we'll get back to looking for those pieces, and your parents."

"Oui."

"Hey guys!" Pinkie jumpscared the two, resulting in Spike comically jumping into Fleur's arms, as a dog, who changed in anthro form, out of frightened impulse. "What are you two talking about?"

"Pinkie!" Spike frantically breathe, as he got down from Fleur's arms, and changed back in human form. "Don't do that! You almost gave us a-"

"LOOK OUT!" Fleur shouted, as she shoved the two down, just as a giant, spindly leg came crashing down to the ground, and almost got the three. 

The friends looked up, to see a giant black wolf spider, roughly bigger than an elephant, with two big red eyes, a line of four smaller eyes beneath, and an eye on each sides of its head, large blood red pincers, repeatedly snapping at the friends. 

"Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. "What kind of spider is that?"

Reaching into her saddlebags, pulling out a book from her professor, Fluttershy quickly skims through the pages, "Oh my!" Fluttershy yelped, upon finding the spider. "It's an acromantula! And according to this, it-YIPE!" Fluttershy jumped, just as a tree nearly fell over her. 

The spider let out a bloodcurdling scream, before it lunged forward, snapping its pincers.

Spike, Pinkie, and Fleur, quickly ducked down in time, just as the pincers flew overhead, and chopped one of the trees.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed. "This spider means business!" With that, the boy changes into his dragon form, as he lets out an explosive fireball at the spider.

The fireball exploded upon, impact, but it didn't do much to stop the spider, as it continues swat its legs out at the dragon, who immediately took flight. The spider, surprisingly, made a tremendous leap, jumping from trees to trees, trying in vain to catch the young dragon, with its pincers, and palp.

"Looks like Shelob's cousin here too can jump good!" Spike commented, as he continues to flap his wings.

"Hey Aragog!" Pinkie called, as she takes out her party cannon. "EAT SPRINKLES!" With that, Pinkie fired the sprinkles, all which exploded upon impact.

The spider stumbled backward, as Twilight charged towards it, "Arania exumai!" Twilight shouted, casting a beam of magic, that blasted the spider a few feet away.

The spider landed on its back, before it turned itself back up, and let out an angry shrill.

"Yikes!" Pinkie shrieked. "Now he's really mad!"

"Let's take this varmint out for a rodeo!" Applejack said, as she charged forward, and thrusted her legs out, smacking the spider in the face. Before the spider could make another move, Rainbow Dash flew in, with a thundercloud, kicked it, shocking the spider. In retaliation, the spider jumped in the air, grabbed the pegasus by the leg.

"OW!" Rainbow groaned, as she was dragged back to the ground, as the spider held the struggling girl down to the ground.

"DASHIE!" Pinkie screamed, as she threw more sprinkles at the spider, exploding in puffs of purple smokes.

The spider suddenly shot a string of sticky webs at Pinkie Pie, snaring the pony to a tree. Rainbow quickly changes into her anthro form, as she quickly kicked the spider off of her. After landing on a tree, the spider was about to jump after the girls again, when Spike breathed fire at the spider's abdomen, causing it to jump, yelping in pain. Turning its eyes, the spider shot another string of web at Spike, making a direct hit to his face, blinding him.

"Ew!" Spike groaned. "Now I know how flies must feel." The spider soon jumped at the blinded dragon, and was on top of him, had Spike's senses of hearing and smell located the spider, enabling him to dodge the attack. After landing on another tree, the spider jumped after Spike again, only for it to be knocked away, by the fiery entrance of Peewee.

The phoenix turned to the dragon, before it landed on top of his head, and started to peck the webs away.

"Careful Peewee!" Spike said, almost getting one of his eyes poked. Just then, the spider jumped off a tree, shooting a string of web at Spike's tail, before he dragged the dragon back to the ground. Spike landed, on his feet, as he grabbed the web, and spins the spider around, before it loses its grip, and was flung away, where the girls all piled on top of it.

"Now Fluttershy!" Rainbow called. "Your saddle bags!"

"Uh, right," Fluttershy said, as she pulls a string on her saddle bag, causing a vortex to come out, as it sucks the giant spider into her bags.

"Phew," Spike panted, just as Peewee finished taking the last string of web off his face. "Glad that's over." Suddenly, the angry spider broke free from Fluttershy's saddlebag, screaming even more angry. "Or not," Spike whimpered, as he turned himself into a dog. The spider swiped its legs out at Spike, who quickly jumped out of the way, and ran off, yipping in fear, with the spider right on his tail. "RUN AWAY!" he barked.

"SPIKE!" the girls called out to the dog.

Spike kept on running, with the spider right behind him, before it chased him into the ruins of an ancient castle. After running through several halls, Spike tip-toed out of a suit of armor he hid in.

"I think I've lost him," he said to himself. "AAAAHHH!!" Spike screamed, as the spider appeared before him.

Spike once more broke into another frantic run, as he tries to escape from the hungry spider.

"Spike?" Fluttershy called out. "Where are you?"

"Over here!" Spike barked, as he ran towards the girl, who quickly caught him, in a loving embrace, just as the spider arrived, when suddenly, Fluttershy lets out a lethal whimper.



The arachnid peril, was no more. The quest for the Armor of Heroes could continue.




Few Hours later

"Aye me!" Zecora exclaimed. "Is that an acromantula I see?"

"Yup," Sunset answered. "A dead one too."

"Dear Sunset, how did you managed to kill without fret?"

"Oh, it wasn't me," Sunset answered. "It was Spike and the girls, who did the work," Sunset lets out an amused chuckle. "Though, mostly it was Fluttershy who did the whole thing." Zecora pondered, as she examined the spider corpse, before she took out an empty flask. "Um, what are you doing Zecora?"

"I see before me, a once in a lifetime opportunity," the zebra answered, as she unplugged the flask, and started to milk some poisons from the spider's pincers. "Acromantula poisons hold great value for both potions and bits. But if I were not quick, a waste it becomes in a swift."




On the Outskirts of Ponyville

"Ah, Ponyville," the hooded figure said, before she turns to her companion. "C'mon, let's go and say hello, to the Dragon Prince."




New York

In the middle of a nearly upside down Times Square, sleeping on a wrecked car, was Discord himself.

"Draconequus!" a voice rang in his head. "This is your master! The all-powerful, Nightmare Moon! Listen closely, this is what you must do. You will go to Equestria. There you will go to...."
> Armor of Heroes Part 3: Going Down to Dragon Town(The Sword of Honor)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canterlot

Prince Blueblood was out, once again, acting all high and mighty, as he walks with his dog, Bunny. On the way, he happened upon a conversation between three unicorn mares, known as the Canterlot Trendsetters. 

The group consists of Cayenne, who has a light pink coat, four-tone red mane and tail, purple/cerise eyes, and a cutie mark of two red peppers. North Point, who has a light blue coat, pink and gray mane and tail, deep orchid eyes, and a cutie mark of a drawing compass. And Citrus Blush, who has a yellow coat, two-tone orange mane and tail, cerise eyes, and a cutie mark of a compact mirror.

"Hey girls!" Cayenne called. "You will not believe what I've heard from Sassy Saddles, who told me that Saffron Masala told her, that Fancy Pants told her, that Princess Cadence told him, that Princess Twilight to her, that Prince Spike, his Knights, Rainbow Dash, and Fleur are going on another heroic adventure to find and rescue Fleur's parents!"

Upon hearing the news, the girls all swooned, while Blueblood had a look of shock on his face.

"Oh that Prince Spike," Citrus sighed lovingly. "Isn't he just a dream?"

"More like a nightmare!" Blueblood said to himself. "That little pint sized, spike-haired, runt of a cousin! No doubt, he's just doing it to boost his chances with the ladies! Well, if he thinks he can just get away with it, then he's got another thing coming!" Blueblood grinned deviously, "It's hero time for Prince Vlad Blueblood!" With that, Prince Blueblood was off, dragging Bunny with him.





*Knock Knock*

"Hello?" Twilight answered the door, before she gasped in surprise.

"Hi Princess," the hooded figure greeted, along with her companion. "Can we talk? It's about Spike."




Somewhere in Equestria

"Step right up fillies and gentle colts!" Discord hollered. "Everyone's a winner in Discord's famous Three Shell game! And now, assisting me in this game, will be the lovely, Trixie Pixie!" With that, Discord pulls out the said girl, who had been shrunken to the size of a mouse, with translucent butterfly wings, and much to her chagrin, was clad in a sparkling, blue floral bikini. Before Trixie could protest, Discord puts her down on the table as he places the shell over her. "We place Trixie under the shell, and all you have to do is keep your eyes on the shell with the pixie!" While Discord says that, he moved the shells randomly at a fast pace, that seemed too impossible to keep up.

Meanwhile, Snips and Snails, once more hypnotized, and dressed yellow and purple, respectively, together with crooked mustaches, were laughing themselves behind a box, until Discord's tail conjured a mallet, and whacked them on the head. Realizing it's the signal, the boys quickly saluted to their new boss, as they sneaked around, and stole some bits from the bystanders.

"Imagine yourself being rich beyond your wildest dreams!" Discord declared. "Why just the other day, on my way down her from Los Pegasus, a fellow pony became the proud winner of a new mansion! A new wagon! And let's not forget all of the ladies he won their hearts over. Eh, Snips and Snails?"

"Yes, sir!" Snails replied in a gruff voice. "No one is arguing that! Wah!"

Discord turned his eyes to an elderly stallion, "I believe that fine gentleman over there would like to place a wager?"

The stallion looked for a moment, before he replies, "Oh why not?" With that, he placed a bit in Snip's hat, before the latter went to collect more wagers, with Snails.

"How about the rest of you?" Discord asked. "Anyone else care to place a bet? Come, come now! Surely, you believe in your eagle eyes friend here! No hard feelings!" With that the ponies all complied, "Oh dear boys. We stand to lose a fortune to these fine ponies," Turning back to the elder stallion, Discord asked, "So, what shall it be, you little clever champion of chance?" 

"The middle one!" the stallion answered with confidence.

"THE MIDDLE ONE?!" Discord gasped in fear, before he looked at the said shell, then back at the stallion, before he snapped the shell up in the air. Trixie was clinging on to the roof, avoiding herself to be seen, before she lost her grip and fell to the floor. "MOTHER OF FAUST!" Discord screamed, putting the shell back over Trixie, before any pony would notice. "LOOK! SUNSET SHIMMER IS ON A STREAKING SPREE!"

Falling for the trick, the ponies turned their heads in confusion, while Discord snatched Trixie out of her shell.

"Oh, wait," Discord chuckled. "You ponies don't wear clothes. You're always streaking," Discord grinned trollishly, while the ponies gave him angry looks. "Now, without further ado. Let's see, what's under the middle shell. Snips, Snails?" The two boys quickly did a drumroll, as Discord levitated the shell to reveal, "Nothing!"

"Can I change my guess?" the stallion asked.

"Maybe next time, my friend," Discord replied, while his disembodied eagle claw snuck up behind the stallion, and pulled him away. "But do keep in touch."

Trixie, finally having enough, screamed, "Somebody help! I've been kidnapped by this crazy monster of a magician!"

"Quiet you!" Discord growled, as he grabbed the pixie, before he noticed the ponies staring at him. Realizing he's been caught, Discord asked, "Hey Snips! Snails! How do you boys feel about having a stretch of the old legs?"

"I'd certainly second that!" Snips answered. "Have a rotten day!"

With that, Discord, Snips, Snails, and kidnapped Trixie, all beat feet, as they escaped from the angry ponies.

The boys and girl kept on running, until they ran into Ponyville, and into Sugarcube Corner, where they stumbled into Pinkie's Party Cnanon. Seeing the discarded cannon, Discord got an idea, "My stooges," Discord grinned. "I think it's time we go up in the world."

Catching onto what the draconequus was saying, Snips and Snails chuckled, "Nice offer," Snips replied. "Maybe I'll give you my answer in about a month or two! Wah!"

The boys tried to escape, but Discord stretched his arm, catching them with ease, "No need to thank me! In you go!" With that, Discord threw the boys into the cannon, before he pulls out a rubber chicken, and squirted fire from its beak. With the cannon lit, Discord quickly hurried into the cannon, just before the mobs arrived.

"I don't like big noise!" Snips whimpered, just as the cannon blasted the four into the sky.

*Goofy scream*




Meanwhile

A flying ship was just flying overhead the Everfree Forest.

"How much further until we reached Ponyville?" the dark figure asked, while resting on a pile of pillows.

"Duh, probably about fifty more miles before we reach it," the tall one said, while stupidly looking through a telescope, the wrong way.

"That's funny!" the short one replied, from a crow's nest. "It looks so much closer from up here!"

"Duh, that's because everything looks closer to you, up there!" the tall one replied, before she noticed something. "Oh my!"

"What is it?" the dark figure asked.

"Duh, I spy, with my little eyes, a flying draconequus, coming straight towards us. Thirty minutes before impa-" Before she had a chance to complete her sentence, Discord crashed into them, exploding upon impact.

"Oh, D'raggle!" the dark figure moaned. "Whyyyyyyyyyyy?"




Twilight's Castle

"What?!" the hooded figure exclaimed, banging on the crystal table, startling the girls, present. "Where's he going?"





The answer is, Spike, together with the Knights, Rainbow Dash, Fleur, were on the train, heading towards Fillydelphia.

Spike whips out a newspaper called the Equestria Daily, "Let's see," he read. "It says here that the Sword of Honor was recently recovered, and is currently at an antique shop, in Dragon Town."

"Of all the places to look for a magic relic," Button began. "Why did it have to be an antique shop?"

"Why are you complaining?" Rumble asked.

"Sorry. It's just that, I've been playing a lot of adventure games to know that these kinds of adventures usually start off at an ancient temple, and such." The boys and girl turned their attention at the nerd boy, "What? I was kinda expecting for something exciting to happen."

"I get ya Rumble," Rainbow replied. "I was kinda hoping we'd go on some awesome adventure, like Daring Do!"

"Who's Daring Do?" Button asked.

"The most super-ultra-extreme-awesomazing pony adventurer there ever lived!" Rainbow fangirled. "Next to me, of course. But still, she's so awesome! /)^3^(\"

"You don't say," Spike asked, before it hit him. "Wait, Daring Do as in, the Daring Do from the Daring Do books?"

Rainbow quickly froze up, before she chuckled, "Yeah. That Daring Do."

"Why Rainbow Dash," Spike smirked. "I'm surprised at you. Didn't you told me before reading books is egghead stuff?"

Rainbow Dash blushed, as she replies, "Okay, maybe it's not entirely for eggheads. But still-"

Fleur quickly cleared her throat, "Pardon me for interrupting," the unicorn began. "But need I remind you all, why we're on our way to Fillydelphia?"

The rest of the group nodded, "You're right, Fleur," Spike replied, before he turns to Rainbow Dash. "You can fill me in on Daring Do, later."

"Ditto," Dash smiled.




Canterlot

Prince Blueblood was busy packing up his suitcase, with all the not so bare essentials, as he prepares himself to embark on his heroic "quest."

"Bunny!" Blueblood called. "Fetch me my nobel questing pants, with the stripes."

Bunny growled, as he begrudging complied. Just then, Princess Cadence took notice, "Well, well, well, cousin," Cadence began. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Why, I'm going on a heroic quest of course," Blueblood smirked smugly.

Cadence looked at the prince, suspiciously, "And since when have you been on a heroic quest?" she asked.

"Why, since the day I was born of course!" Prince Blueblood smiled smugly. "Surely, you remember the time where I helped rescue all of those filthy, chaotic creatures of Newt Chimera. Or the time when I rescued those old, miserable, elderly ponies from that burning retirement home, and when I went to Dragon Town, and saved the day, by ridding the fair city of Fillydelphia of the savage dragons."

Cadence, unfazed, shook her head, "You didn't do any of those things," the alicorn frowned. "All of those heroic deeds, where done by Spike, and some other heroic ponies!"

Prince Blueblood grumbled at the mention of the Dragon Prince's name, "Well, yeah," he replied. "But I did help."

"No you didn't. You never helped at all."

At this point, Blueblood was at his limit, "There you go again!"

"There I go what again?" Cadence asked.

"Leaving me out, like you always do! Ever since that spoiled brat, Spike Drake comes to Equestria, I suddenly became Mr. Nobody!"

"Ah-ha! I knew it! You are jealous of Spike!"

"Jealous? Me?! Pfft! I'm not jealous!" Blueblood denied. "I'm the oldest, the handsomest, and the noble of all the prince there ever was. The ladies adore me! Up until that dragon hybrid freak comes in, and stole my spotlight! Now he gets to be the hero, and I'm always the goof-up!"

"Well listen to you!" Cadence replied in disgust. "You've even gone as far as to deceiving yourself, with a childish lie! You've never done anything that's noble and heroic! All you ever do is constantly look at yourself in the mirror all day, while Spike actually does some things worth being noticed for. And we all loved him, because he's everything you're not!"

Growling in annoyance, Blueblood shouted, "HE'S NOT!!" With that, Blueblood shuts his suitcase, while putting on his pants, with Bunny still holding onto it, creating a hole in the process, showing his cracks, "I'm going out there to prove every pony once and for all, I'm every bit the hero he is! Maybe even better!" With a huff, Blueblood was on his way out, with an annoyed Bunny and Cadence following.

"I can't believe I'm related to him," Cadence sighed, while Bunny barked in agreement.

"Oh Bunny~" Blueblood called.




Dragon Town

After their train arrived in Fillydelphia, the group of heroes got off, as they entered the city, before walking towards a district called Dragon Town. Upon arrival, the Knights and Rainbow Dash were amazed, while Spike and Fleur looked on in nostalgia.

"Wow!" Rainbow Dash and the Knights marveled, seeing dragons as far as their eyes can see.

"Dragon Town," Spike smiled in nostalgia, along with Fleur. "My kind of town."

"You've been here before?" Button asked.

"Story for another time," Spike replied, before turning to Fleur. "C'mon. Let's go get the sword."

"Oui," Fleur nodded. But before the heroes could take a step, someone called out.

"Spike?!" a female voice called out.

"Who's there?!" the Knights jumped, quickly getting into fighting stances, ready to defend their friends.

Turning around to the source, getting into fighting stances, the heroes looked to see a female red dragon, with long pink hair, aquamarine eyes, blue horns, matching underbelly, and wings, running up to the group.

"SPIKE!" the dragon greeted.

"MINA!" Spike replied, as he and the dragon both embraced each other, happily.

Mina looked up, to see Fleur-De-Lis, and too greeted, "Flare Heart!"

"Bonjour Mina," Fleur greeted, as she shook the dragon's claw. "But it's actually Fleur. Fleur-De-Lis. And you know, I'm not really a colt."

"Yes, but I liked the name," Mina replied with a smile, before she noticed Rainbow Dash. "You must be Rainbow Dash! Spike's told me all about you!"

"Did he now?" Rainbow asked. "Did he tell you how awesome I was?"

"Yes," the dragon replied. "That, and your big ego." Rainbow Dash's eyes twitched, before she looked at Spike, who smiled sheepishly, along with a shrug. Mina looked, before she noticed the Knights, "And who are you guys?"

"Oh right," Spike began as he introduces his posse. "Mina. The Knights: Button, Rumble, Tenders, Pip, and Feathers. Knights, Mina."

"Nice to meet you!" Button smiled, as he and the boys exchanged handshakes with the dragon.

"Likewise," Mina smiled, before she turned to Spike, Rainbow, and Fleur. "So, what brings you all to Dragon Town? I've heard you just got back from Earth, but I didn't know you'd come here so soon!"

"Well," Spike began. "Let's just say, we're on another heroic mission."

"Really?" Mina asked. "Back in action so soon?" Mina smirked, as she looked at him flirtatiously. "I'm listening."

"Uh, sure," Spike blushed, while Rainbow and Fleur rolled their eyes in envy, seeing how close the dragoness was getting to Spike. "But maybe later. Right now, we need to get to the antique store. It's important."

"Well, what a coincidence!" Mina beamed. "I was just on my way there to visit Uncle Mako!"

"Mako?" Spike exclaimed. "As in, Mako the Dragon of the West? He's alive?!"

"Uh huh!" Mina quickly grabbed the boy by the hand. "C'mon! He'll be glad to see you again!" With that, the friends left, together with their new companion.




Twilight's Castle

"Arrrgh!" the hooded figure growled in frustration. "I can't believe he just ran off like that! It's so like him!"

"Well, can you blame him?" the hooded figure's companion asked. "He is the Dragon Prince. Isn't being a hero what a prince does?"

The hooded figure thought, as she recalled an incident that involves him performing another deed of heroism, "Yeah, you're right," she replied. "I'll give him that." After a quick deep breath, she calmly replied, "But still, I wished he would just stick around by the time I came here. I mean, it's been many moon since I last saw him."

The hooded figure's companion placed a comfortable hoof on her shoulders, "We can all second that," Applejack replied. "Why else did we became heroes in his absent, and in his honor?" the rest of the mane six all voiced their agreements.

"And why else did we turn over a new leaf?" Starlight spoke on behalf of herself and Sunset.

Taking another deep breath, the hooded figure replied, "Well, I came here to return this gift to Spike," she replied, holding out the puzzle box. "And that's what I'm going to do!"

"Then might I suggest a faster way to reach him?" Sunset added.

But before they could begin, a commotion was heard outside of the castle's walls.

"Now what?" the hooded figure groaned in frustrations.




?????
[TMNT Background Music Original Shredder Theme]

"Ah, perfect," Nightmare Moon sneered, while looking through a glass orb. "The draconequus has done his work. While the reinforcements are delayed, from aiding the Dragon Prince. The Sword of Honor is ripe for the taking! And it shall be one more of the armor's pieces in our possession! Find it! And secure it, fast!"

"As you wish, master," Somnambula bowed, before she takers her leave, and into a dojo, where all the Shadowbolts were sparring and training. "Shadowbolts!" she called, resulting the soldiers to bow their heads in response, and respect to the witch, "Our princess has spoken! Retrieve the Sword of Honor!" With a tap of her staff, the sorceress produced a hologram of the said sword, before revealing its current whereabout. "I don't care how you do it! But get the sword, and the Dragonfire!"

"Oh come on," Goldcap groaned. "Haven't we got ourselves burned by that dragon hero and his friends a thousand times before?"

"I beg your pardon GOLDCAP?!!!" Somnambula roared, pointing her staff threateningly, at the girl turned unicorn.

"I-I-I-Uh, what I mean to say is that, hunting the Dragon Prince is um, fun galore!" Goldcap stuttered, before she ended it with a nervous chuckle.

Still keeping a stern glance, Somnambula pulled her staff away, "The mistress of the night has made it clear!" she said. "There will be no rests until the Armor of Heroes and the Dragonfire is ours!" With a bow of their heads, the Shadowbolts prepared themselves, while Somnambula turned to a caged bird, with a muzzle over her beak.

"And you are going to help, wether you like it or not!" the sorceress glared, as she brought her staff, closer to the bird, with the end pulse with dark electricity.
> Armor of Heroes part 4: Classic meets Modern
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fillydelphia, Dragon Town

"Hello?" Mina greeted, as she opens the doors. "Uncle Mako? It's me, Mina."

"Ah, my favorite niece," a thick, gruff voice was heard. "So nice of you to come in for a visit." Just then, an elderly man, with sallow skin, short gray hair, mustache, and goatee, appeared. For attires, he wore a black kimono with red trimmings. The man took notice of his niece's companions, "Oh, I see you've brought guests."

"Yes, uncle," Mina smiled, before she introduced the group. "This is Rainbow Dash. And those are the Knights: Button Mash, Rumble, Tender Taps, Featherweight, and Pipsqueak. And I'm sure you remember Flare Heart and Spike."

"Hello sir," the Knights greeted, along with Rainbow Dash.

"Konnichiwa," Spike and Fleur greeted, as they both bowed their heads in respect.

"Ah, Spike-San, Flare-San," Mako smiled, as he returned the gesture. "So good it is to see you two again."

"Likewise, sensei," Spike replied. "But as much as I'd like to sit down and chat, over some cups of tea, we came here on an important matter."

"You came here for the sword," Mako said, while stroking his goatee, confidently.

"How did you know?" Spike asked in amazement.

"Nothing gets past a wise dragon, like me," Spike, Fleur, Rainbow, and the Knights looked on in bewilderment, "That, and a little birdy told me," Make replied, moving to the side to reveal....

"Peewee!" Spike exclaimed, as he ran up to the phoenix, and stroked its head, affectionately.

"Very smart bird you got there, my prince," Mako said. "He's told me a lot about you and Fleur, going on another mission. A mission to recover the Armor of Heroes, and rescue Sir Lir and Lady Amalthea."

"You can speak birds?" Button asked in shock.

"Yes," Mako replied, as he eyes the boys with his eyes turning reptilic. "And I can also smell the bloods of non-magical creatures," the Knights both quivered, as the old man began to sprout large fangs, and a forked tongue, "And it just so happens, that I have a taste for humans!"

"Uncle!" Mina exclaimed, as Spike prepared to defend his friends, but stopped when the old dragon reverted back to human form and chortled.

"You should see the looks on your faces," Mako laughed. "Priceless! I haven't scared humans in a long time."

Spike breathed a sigh of relief, while Mina pouted and flew in her uncle's face, "Uncle! Honestly, you're acting like a little kid!"

"Come now, my niece," Mako replied. "I'm only 5000 years old, once in awhile. As you youngsters say, got to live it."

"Ahem," Rainbow cleared her throat. "No disrespect or anything, but can we get back on topic?"

Peewee squawked in agreement, as the old dragon's face shifted to a solemn look, before he walks towards a cabinet, with the door knob, decorated with ornaments in the shape of foo dogs. The dragon opened up the cabinet, to reveal the Sword of Honor, sheathed in a large scabbard, adorned with laces of golds and sparkling gems. Lifting the sword from its stands, the man turned as he unsheathed the sword, showing it off, before the heroes.

"The Sword of Honor," Mako began. "One of the missing pieces of the armor. The Sword of Honor, hence its name, represents the heroes' code of honor, for it takes a true hero to display, and obtain, a high esteem of respect, for the people they serve." Once his lecture was over, Mako sheathed the sword, before he presented it to the heroes. "Take it, young seito."

Spike bowed, followed by the rest of the heroes, as he accepted the sword, "Domo, sensei," he replied, before suddenly, his ears perked, as a hook, with chain, flew in, and lassoed around the sword. With that, Spike held onto the sword, as he pulled it back towards him.

The rest of the heroes, meanwhile, all grabbed ahold of the chain, and with their combined strength, all pulled the user in, revealing himself to be a Shadowbolt ninja.

"You dared?!" Make roared, as his eyes turned reptilic, and fires spewed out from his mouth.

Just then, more Shadowbolts ninja flood the place, surrounding the heroes.

"The Shadowbolts!" Rainbow shouted, as the heroes all surrounded Spike and the sword.




Everfree Forest

"Who are you?!" the dark figure asked angrily.

"The better question is," Discord began, appearing in a flash of light, startling the dark figure, as he appears as a blue caterpillar, while talking in Alan Rickman's voice, "Who are you?"

"Hydia!" the dark figure answered. "Countess Hydia to you!"

"Hydia?" Discord asked. "You mean like this drug?" He asked, conjuring up the chart of the said drug, "Oh wait!" Discord conjures up a flashlight and shines it on the said figure. In appearance, Hydia is a short, squat woman resembling a large pale toad, with a large hunchback, a long crooked nose, a sharp fang like Discord's that sprouted from the lower lip, and her eyes were bulgy and pouchy. Long description short, she bears a striking resemblance to Dolores Umbridge. For attires, she wore a dark, worn and patched, purple robe, over a blue gown, a gold necklace with the bling in the shape of a crescent moon, a viking helmet, and a blue bow that looked almost like a butterfly perching dangerously on her head.

"Ah!" Discord smirked, before he conjured up a folder of several files, before he pulled one out. "Hydia! You are one of the oldies! Another villain resurrected from the dead I see. And given to your profile, you've been given a dosage of becoming 20% cooler! Or in your case, 20% badder. You're the witch who attempted to steal the Sunstone from the Breezies, in a cooperative take over with Queen Chrysalis and Queen Bumble! And top that off, you've once attempted to kidnap Princess Skystar from Seaquestria in order to steal her energy, as part of your ingredients to create the Smooze."

"Yes," Hydia cackled. "That is me." Hydia then went over to Discord, "Now you on the other hand. You seem to be of fresh blood, yet the vibe of chaos I sensed from you are clear! You have committed various diabolical crimes, in just a few days already!"

"Yes, it's quite the grocery list of chaos!" Discord smirked, as he conjured up a list, that seemed to roll endlessly. "Not bad for the Master of Chaos, am I right? Or am I right?"

"Wow, you hear that D'raggle?" the fat one asked. "We're in the presence of a Master of Chaos!"

"Duh......." D'raggle droned.

"And who are these riff-raffs?" Discord asked.

"The banes of my existence," Hydia groaned, as she introduced, "Reeka and D'raggle."

Reeka is a fat witch, with misshapen teeth showing, and wears a frying pan over her short black hair that was don up in pigtails, with red bands. For attires, she wore a red dress that was worn and patched, with matching shoes. D'raggle is the tall witch, with flaming red hair, that was tied by a torn pink bow, with green polka dots. For attires, she wore a green turtleneck sweater, an overall jean, and purple patched up socks.

"Wah!" Snips and Snails cringed in disgust at the sight of the two girls.

"And who are those two boys?" Hydia asked.

"Oh just my two trusty henchmen," Discord began. "A tradition that all new villains like me should start out with, at the start of our career. May I present to you, Snips and Snails!"

"Wah ha ha!" Snips laughed.

"We are number one!" Snails laughed.

"Somebody please let me out!" a voice cried, from Discord's goatee.

"Who's that?" Hydia asked.

"No one," Discord smirked. "Just my pixie prisoner. She's nobody."

"Hey!" Trixie screamed. "Who are you calling a nobody?"

Snips then pulled out a jar, containing the girl turned pixie, "Hey! When boss says quiet! You stay quiet! Wah?!" With that, Snips shook the jar violently, before he puts it back under Discord's goatee.

"Anyway," Discord began. "With introductions aside, I'm in the mood for some chaos to wreak. How about you?"

"After you wrecked my flying ship?" Hydia asked. "Yes. I'm in the mood."

"Duh.......are we in the mood?" D'raggle asked.

"Hmmm," Discord pondered, as he eyed the girl. "Depends. Are you a real villain?" Discord asked.

"Duh, technically.....no," D'raggle answered.

"Have you ever casted a spell? Like one of the Unforgivable Curses?"

"Duuuuuuuh, no?"

"Yeah," Reeka added. "Believe it or not, she's still in magic kindergarten."

"Have you ever captured a pony before?" Discord asked.

"Duh, no, no."

"You see what I had to put up with?" Hydia asked.

Discord stroked his goatee, before he answered, "Then we'll just have to give them, bigger lessons on how to be villains!"

"Great," Reeka moaned. "Another song."

Discord conjured up a trumpet, as he played a tune, "WAH!" Snips and Snails shouted, scaring Reeka and D'raggle. "We're-a number one!" the boys sang. "We're-a number one!"


We're Number One - Lazytown


As Discord and the boys continue with their musical performance, they went into Ponyville to wreak some havocs, with the witches following. During the mayhem, all Reeka and D'raggle managed to do, were simple stuffs, like turning over Big Mac's apple carts, or squash Pinkie Pie's cupcakes, resulting in the two girls to get captured, locked up in a stockade, and repeatedly spanked by the ponies, as well as getting vegetables being lobbed at them.

Discord and the boys on the other hand, were more violent. Snips ran around, as he crazily throws several of Pinkie's sprinkle bombs all over the place, damaging various houses and properties. Snails, with a tennis racket in hand, ran around, as he repeatedly stomped several ponies into the ground with his foot, before he hits them on the head with his tennis racket.

Discord in the meantime, was spinning himself into a tornado, as random chaos events ensued. He turned a rabbit, and a squirrel into monsters, turned Applejack into a cereal box, Big Mac into a burger, made Owliscious into a cuckoo clock, the list just keeps going.

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible," Discord grinned, as he peddles on a unicycle, without a unicycle. "Hold your seats folks!" Discord began. "Here we go again!" With another Daffy Duck laugh, Discord bounced all around Ponyville, as he, the boys, and the witches wreak some more chaos.

A gray pegasus, with blonde mane and tail, and distinctive wall-eyes was about to walk into Sugarcube Corner, for muffins, when suddenly, Discord stopped her, as he breaks into Danny Kaye's scat singing style as he tells the story of Pinkie Pie kidnapping ponies, to make cupcakes out of them, and uses pony cutie marks to decorate her evil dress, unicorn horns for her necklace, and pegasi wings for her skirt. The pegasus, Derpy or Ditzy Doo by the way, took off screaming, while Discord remains oblivious to an angry Pinkie Pie, in anthro form, holding a crowbar behind her. His eyes appeared in the back of his head, as he finally notices the angry girl, and he too took off screaming.

The angry party girl chases after the draconequus, throughout town, until she corners him.

"Alright buster!" Pinkie growled.

"Alright buster!" Discord mimicked.

"Hey now-"

"Hey now-"

"Cut that out-"

"Cut that out-"

"Hey wise guy!" the both said. "Oh yeah? Yeah!"

"Sugar!" Discord started.

"Sugar!" Pinkie copie.

"Pepper!"

"Salt!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Friendship!"

"Witchcraft!"

"Turnip!"

"Storm!"

"Rated-Ponystar!"

"Dashie!"

"Sunset!"

"Miles!"

"It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" Pinkie sang, "Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough
You'll always sound precocious!" As the girl continues to sing, Discord holds up a sign that reads, "Silly isn't she?" Before snapped his finger and cotton candy cloud started to rain with chocolate milk on her.

"We are number one~!" Discord sang, snapping his fingers, and freeing the D'raggle and Reeka, before he gave them the boot.

"Waluigi number one!" Snails sang. "WAH!"

"Have a rotten day!" Snips sang.

Hydia cackled in enjoyment, "Discord," she turned to the draconequus. "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."




[Snap!-I've Got The Power]
Meanwhile, in Dragon Town

"Bring it!" Spike growled, changing into dragon form, as he and his friends fought the Shadowbolts off.

One of the Shadowbolts lunged forward, throwing a kick at Rumble, only for the boy to block it, as his opponent threw another kick, which Rumble dodged from, before he blocked another, which slightly dislocated the Shadowbolt's leg, as he takes out a sticks and swung it, at Rumble. Thankfully, Rumble blocked it, together with a punch to the assassin's head, before he spins and knocks the Shadowbolt out, with a side fist to the head.

Another Shadowbolt jumped at Spike from behind, with a long staff, as he attempts to pull the dragon away, until Spike twists himself free from the grip, and lobbed the staff, in between the assassin's leg in the process, before the dragon uses the stick to smack the assassin several times, before he kicked him out of the store. Peewee assisted his owner, by grabbing one of the thugs, by the collar of his jacket and flew him out, before he returns to assist the heroes.

Rainbow Dash, together with Fleur, both girls in anthro forms, were fighting back-to-back, before they linked their arms together, as Fleur spins Rainbow Dash around, while the rainbow haired girl rapidly kicks at the Shadowbolts.

"Wow!" Mina gasped, as she marveled at the dragon and his friends' fighting styles. Suddenly, she looked up, to see a Shadowbolt, crawling on the ceiling, with a long chain, and a claw at the end. "Spike! Look up!" Mina shouted.

Spike did so, and was quick to react, as he dodges the chained claw, and grabbed the chain, pulling the assassin from his perch and knocked him out cold, "Thanks Mina," Spike replied, before he did a back kick.

"It's getting crowded in here!" Button said, as he took notice of more Shadowbolts flooding into the shop.

"Perhaps it's time to stretch the old bones," Mako said, as he cracked his knuckles, as he leapt into the fray, and threw several punches, kicks, and flips at the Shadowbolts, while breathing fire to further assist his fights. "Go!" the old man shouted. "I'll hold them off! Take the sword! Find the pieces! Save Fleur's parents!" the man then turned to his niece. "Mina! Take our friends around back!"

"But uncle!" Mina began.

"Don't worry about me! I'll be fine! Just go!"

Mina wanted to protest, but knew that her uncle was right. With that, she called to the heroes, "Quick! This way!"

The heroes ran around back, through a kitchen, where some Shadowbolts had flooded. One of the Shadowbolts reached out for Spike, had the young dragon not quickly opened up a refrigerator in time, smacking the brute in the face, followed by a kick. Another jumped out, after Button Mash, who quickly reacted with a scream, as he pulls out his foam pick axe and smacked the assassin in the face.

"Not cool!" Rainbow Dash said, as she blocks one of the Shadowbolts's punch with a high block, and rapidly punched him in the chest. Soon, the Shadowbolt grabbed Rainbow Dash by the hair, as he forcers her head down on a counter. Noticing a sink nearby, with some hose sprayers, Rainbow quickly grabbed a sprayer, trying to hit the Shadowbolt in the face, only for the hose to reach its limit.

"Ha ha," the Shadowbolt laughed, only to get hit in the nose by another sprayer.

"Ha ha," Rainbow mocked, as she lassoed the thug around his neck, and pulled him towards the counter, banging his head, knocking him out.

Fleur, meanwhile, was grabbed from behind, as she was being brought onto a table. Thinking fast, Fleur grabbed a bowl of gems with her legs, flexibly bent her waist, as she brought the bowl onto the the Shadowbolt's head, before she kicked him, on the head again. Enraged, the assassin threw the gems at Fleur, whose horns quickly glowed pink, stopping the projectiles before they could touch her.

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend," Fleur smirked, before she fired the gems back at the Shadowbolt, who quickly conjured a shield to protect himself.

Meanwhile, with Tender Taps, the boy was struggling to fight off a Shadowbolt that was holding him by the throat. Grabbing a nearby frying pan, Tender tried to hit the thug, only for the Shadowbolt to catch his hand, before he forces him to a wall. Looking around, Tender noticed another frying pan, and kicked its handle, making it fly in the air, before he catches it, and uses it to force the thug to release his grip on the boy. Once released, the boy proceeded to beat the Shadowbolt, senselessly, with the frying pans.

"C'mon!" Mina called. "This way!" The young dragon led the heroes into a living room, when suddenly, the fire place erupted with green fire, as the hooded figure jumped out, with her companion.

"And I thought everything was messed up from-Spike?!" the hooded figure exclaimed, taking notice of the boy.

"Who?!" Spike asked.

"Reinforcements!" Button shouted, as he and the boys lunged towards her. "Get 'em!"

"NO! WAIT!" the hooded figure screamed, before she was piled on by the boys.

"Go you guys!" Featherweight shouted to Spike and the girls. "We got this!"

With that, Spike, Fleur, Mina, and Rainbow Dash all escaped through the backdoor, leaving then boys to deal with the hooded figure.

"Get off of me!" the hooded figure growled, as she forced the boys off her.

Grabbing a nearby staff, Button shouted, "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!" With that, Button slammed the staff to the ground. "......That usually works in the movies."

Rumble and the boys all fell to the floor at Button's action, while the hooded figure rolled her eyes as she tries to run after Spike. However, the rest of the boys grabbed her by the end of her cloak, as they hold her back.

"We will not let you hurt Spike!" Rumble growled, before he and the boys were pulled away, by the figure's companion.

"We're not hurting him!" the hooded figure growled.

"Yeah! We're his friends!" the figure's companion replied. Just then, Peewee flew into the room. Upon noticing the two figures, who let out a friendly squawk as he perched on the companion's shoulder, and nuzzled her affectionately, "Hey Peewee," the Mysterious Mare Do Well giggled. "Good to see you again."

The boys looked at the two figures questionably, "Who are you guys?"

The hooded figure pulled back her hood to reveal.....
> Armor of Heroes part 5: Forgotten Faces Revealed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, on a train for Ponyville

“Isn’t this exciting, Bunny?!” Prince Blueblood asked. “I can just see that horrified look on Speck’s face, when I finally prove that I’m much of a hero than he will ever be!” Prince Blueblood smiled evil, as he rubbed his hooves together in glee, ‘Soon, I’ll be getting what was rightfully mine! I’ll have fame, fortune, the mares, and I’ll get my own show!’




My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Theme(Prince Blueblood’s Version)





My little pony, my little pony,



Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh....



My little pony,



I used to wonder what friendship could be


(My little pony)


Until I found a mirror and found it was meeeee!



Boring lectures,


Loved by none!


...wait, what?


I am a work of aaaaart,


I’m the star of this song!...but I disgress,


It’s an easy feat!


And magic helps me be elite!



(My little pony)



You have my little ponies


Do you know you’re....


In my way.



(My little pony)



Seriously! Backup!



(My little pony....ME!)


Bunny looked, unamused, while Blueblood had a smug grin on his face, as he gloated, “Good-bye, dragon. How do you like me now?” Blueblood gasped, as he had an epiphany, “Whoa. How do you like me now? How you like me now?~” Blueblood sang to himself, before he broke into another musical fit.








[Dead or Alive 5 - Purity]

Spike, Fleur, Rainbow, and Mina, were all running and flying through the streets of Dragon Town, with some of the Shadowbolts right on their tails.

The four ran into an alley, where a barred fence blocks their way. Spike, Mina, and Rainbow flew over the fence, while Fleur simply concentrated her magic and teleported to the other side. Afterwards, the four continued their way, until the found themselves surrounded, once more by Flying Monkeys, Shadow creatures, and the Shadowbolts. Spike, Rainbow, and Fleur, all got themselves in fighting stances, while Mina did the same.

"So, what's the plan?" Mina asked.

Rainbow looked at the dragoness, questionably, "Um, you can fight?"

Mina looked at the pegasus, offended, "Is there a problem?" she asked, with a raised brow.

"No," Rainbow replied sheepishly. "Just asking. He he," the pegasus chuckled nervously.

"C'mon, girls," Spike began, catching their attentions. "Let's do this!"

"En garde!" Fleur shouted, unsheathing her rapier, as both forces charged into battle.

Fleur charged forward, thrusting her rapier, piercing through one of the Shadow Creatures, causing it to disperse into smokes. Suddenly, one of the Shadowbolts’ ninjas jumped at the girl from behind, but Fleur was able to flip the ninja off, and into a wall, causing it to disperse into a puff of smoke. Just then, several Flying Monkeys all swooped in, as they attempted to pounce Fleur down, only for the girl to jump in the air, spinning herself in the air, before she appeared in her unicorn form, bucked her legs out, kicking the monkeys away, followed by a blast of magic bolts from her horn, before she finished the monkeys off with a flaming kick. Well, most of them that is. One monkey tried to grab Fleur from behind, but the unicorn’s perspective sense of hearing picked him up, leading her to backfist the flying primate.

Up on the roofs, some Shadowbolts were readying their arrows, and some blasters, aiming for Spike and Fleur, when Rainbow swooped in and stopped them. The speeding pegasus was able to catch all of the arrows being shot, as well as deflecting all of the flaming projectiles with her combined flying kicks and super speed.

“Take your best shot!” Rainbow insulted, followed by a blast form the Shadowbolts. “You’re gonna have to do better than that, Shadowbutts,” After another missed shot, by the Shadowbolts, Rainbow Dash continued to fly around, until a Shadowbolt poked his head from the top of a roof, and swings a machete at her. “Whoa! Uh, uh, uh. Three strikes and you’re out!” Rainbow joked, after she evaded all strikes from the Shadowbolt, just as a flaming cannon was shot past her, and exploded the Shadowbolt in the face.

Just then, several Flying Monkeys swarmed around the cyan pegasus, “Rainbow, heads down!” Spike called out, as he breathes a huge burst of green fire, scorching the monkeys, while Rainbow evaded the attack.

“Thanks Spike!” Rainbow called out.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Spike replied, as he turns his attention back in the fight. One of the Shadowbolts made a desperate lunge for the sword on Spike’s back, but the dragon had heard him coming, and made a huge flip, before he came down from behind, and karate chopped the Shadowbolt on the neck, knocking him out cold. Then, some shadow creatures surrounded Spike, before they dove in, trying to overpower the dragon, while taking the sword away from him. In retaliation, Spike grabbed onto the sword with his tail, his claws, and lastly, his mouth, as he fought the creatures off with several swings, punches, and chops from his claws, kicks with his legs, whips from his tail, bashes from his head, and his fire breath.

“Hey Spike!” Rainbow called, as she flew to the dragon’s side. “Remember that trick we worked on in the Training Dimension?”

“Let’s do it, to it!” Spike replied, as he and Rainbow linked their arms together.

With that, they both spun themselves into a ball, that almost looked like a rotating yin-yang symbol, of blazing rainbows, until they released each other and flew all over the street, bouncing from walls to walls, off of buildings, before they rocketed themselves back at the Shadowbolts, at high speed, and in a flurry of punches and kicks, defeated the Shadowbolts, winged monkeys, and shadow creatures on the spot, just when more came to take over.

Suddenly, a blood chilling screech was heard, causing even Rainbow’s hairs to stand on end, “Oh no,” Rainbow moaned.

Then, in a blur of brown, gold, and white, Rainbow was tackled, by a still angry possessed Gilda, “Payback time, Dash!” Gilda growled, as she snapped her beaks at Rainbow, who moved her head, evading the attack.

“Gilda!” Rainbow called out. “It’s me! Dash! You’re bestie!” Unfortunately, Rainbow’s words fell on deaf ears, as Gilda continues to slash her claws at Rainbow Dash, menacingly. Luckily, Spike and Fleur came from both sides of the griffon, as they slammed their arms together, sandwiching Gilda, knocking the wind out of the griffon.

“Sorry Gilda,” Spike apologized to the griffon. “It’s for your own good y’know.” The angry griffon’s eyes snapped open, as she quickly gets up, and pounces after Spike, who quickly flipped on his back, and kicked the griffon off. Shaking the blow off, the griffon was about to pounce again, only for Mina to intervene, as she jumped to the griffon’s side, and landed a flying kick. Gilda got up, as she glares angrily at the dragoness.

“Bring it, pussycat!” Mina growled, challenging the griffon with a wave of her claws.

Taking the challenge, Gilda lets out a lion’s roar, as she ran towards the dragon, in a blur of brown and gold, as she lunged forward, slashing her claws, only for Mina to duck her head in time, before she lurched upward, and head butted the griffon in the stomach. Catching herself in the air, Gilda made a sharp turn, before she pounced forward, while Mina leapt backward, putting some distance between herself and the angry griffon. Gilda, standing on her hind legs, ran at high speed, lashing her claws at Mina, who countered with a sweep of her tail, tripping the griffon up in the air, followed by a spinning air kick, that launched the griffon into a fishmonger’s stand of fishes.

“Alright, Mina,” Spike smiled, giving the dragon a thumbs up.

“Wow, I’m impressed,” Rainbow smiled.

“Oui,” Fleur added. “Tu es incroyable! Where’d you learn that?”

“Uncle Mako taught them to me,” Mina smiled. “I’m one of his students. Remember?”

“Oh,” Fleur said, as she started to recall. “Oui, I remember now.”

Meanwhile, looking from another building, “Our forces are losing, mistress,” one of the Shadowbolts explained to Somnambula. “What should we do?”

Somnambula walked over to the cage, containing the bird, surrounded by the Three Magicians, “Now Kyrie!” the witch commanded. “SING!”

“No, please,” Kyrie chirped in protest. “Don’t make me!”

“SING!” Somnambula shouted, with a blast of lightning from her staff.

“You heard her bird!” Goldcap shouted. “Sing, or we’ll roast you for dinner!”

Swallowing a lump, Kyrie did as she was told, and let out a haunting song.

Meanwhile, with our heroes, Rainbow and Fleur continue to assist Spike and Mina, fighting off the Shadowbolts, when they heard Kyrie’s song.

“What’s that.....sound,” Rainbow droned at the last part, as here eyes suddenly turned blank, and the pegasus finds herself in a zombie-like trance. The same happened to Fleur, despite her initial resistance.

Spike, together with Mina, heard the song. However, they weren’t affected the same as Rainbow and Fleur were, “What’s that sound?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know,” Mina replied, before she took notice of their friends’ states. “Uh, Rainbow? Fleur? You girls okay?” However, rather than answering, Rainbow and Fleur lunged forward, and attacked the two dragons.

“Hey!” Spike exclaimed, while evading an attack from Rainbow. “What’s gotten into-” Spike was interrupted, as he blocked a kick from Fleur, followed by another kick, to the stomach that sent him flying backward.

Meanwhile, the hooded figure, accompanied by the Knights, and the MMDW, were running and jumping across the rooftops of Dragon Town, as they follow Peewee, searching for their friends. It didn’t took long, before the hooded figure came to a quick stop, as she listens, and hears Kyrie’s singing.

“Oh no!” the hooded figure gasped in fright.

“What is it?” the Mysterious Mare Do Well asked, worryingly.

Back with Spike and Mina, the two dragons fought together, against their brainwashed friends.

“Rainbow!” Spike shouted, as he struggles to block most of the pegasus’s speedy fury of flying punches. “What are you doing?!”

“Must get the Dragonfire,” Rainbow droned.

“Must get the Dragonfire,” Fleur repeated, raising her rapier, preparing to stab the dragon from behind.

“NO!” Mina shouted, catching the blade, mere seconds before it made an impact through Spike, with her claws. “Flare! Have you lost your mind? You tried to kill Spike! Your best friend!”

“Ridicule,” Fleur replied, still in zombie state. “Why would I socialize with a reptilic freak?”

Though insulted, Mina knew that wasn’t like Fleur, “When he’s your best friend?”

“That’s absurd,” With that, Fleur slashes her rapier at the dragoness, who repeatedly dodges the sword, while receiving a few cuts at her arm, and at her hair.

"It's working!" Somnambula grinned evilly, before she turned to a nearby Shadowbolt, who nodded in understanding, and blew into a horn.

Upon hearing the sound, the Shadowbolts who were engaging combat with the dragons, quickly pulled out some nets, pulsing with dark magic, and threw them all over Spike and Mina. Spike tried to deflect them, both with his tongue, and with the Sword of Honor, but there were too many, and both he and Mina were trapped, and the boy felt his powers slowly draining away as he reverts back to human form.

"At last! The Dragonfire is ours!" With that, Somnambula, and the Shadowbolts all laughed in triumph. "Now, without further ado!" Somnambula tapped her staff to the ground, forming a magic circle, while chanting an incantation. Just then, Peewee flew into the room, and slashed his claws at the witch's hands, stopping her from performing the spell. "Meddlesome phoenix!" With that, Somnambula waved her staff, attempting to blast several spells at the Phoenix, who flew circles around her.

At the same time, a small black horsefly flew into the room, and buzzed next to Decepticolt's ears. Irritated, Decepticolt tries to swat the fly away, but missed, and ended up smacking Goldcap in the face.

"What's that for?!" Goldcap asked angrily, slapping Decepticolt in the face.

"Sorry," the boy apologized. "I was trying to get the fly." Just then, Zappityhoof, smacked Decepticolt behind the head. "What's that for?!" Decepticolt asked the girl angrily.

"Sorry," Zappityhoof apologized. "I was trying to get fly off-THERE IT IS!!" With that, the girl took her hat off, and a blast of confetti went off in Decepticolt's face.

The fly soon, flew circles around the Three Magicians, as they chased after it, before they collided into Somnambula.

"Get off of me you idiots!" Somnambula growled, shoving the magicians off. Peewee then flew to the cage, containing Kyrie, and with a peck of his beak, the phoenix broke the lock on the bird's cage.

"Oh, thank you," Kyrie chirped gratefully.

"Not so fast!" Somnambula shouted, preparing to fire another spell, when Zappityhoof saw the fly again. Fixing her gaze on the fly, Zappityhoof could've sworn she saw it blew a raspberry at her. With that, Zappityhoof angrily pulls out a hammer from her hat.

"ZAP! NO!!!" Gold and Decepticolt shouted, but too late. Zappityhoof swung the hammer, hitting Somnambula's staff, causing her spell to misfire, and struck some of the Shadowbolts that were flooding into the room, as well as causing the two birds to escape.

"YOU IDIOT!!" Somnambula screamed, as she glared menacingly at the Three Frightened Magicians.

Without Kyrie's spell, Rainbow and Fleur snapped out of their trances, as they took notice of Spike and Mina, trapped in nets.

"Wuh-what happened?" Rainbow asked. "What's going on?" Before Rainbow's question was answered, the hooded figure appeared, and picked up Spike and Mina. Then, in a flash of green lights, they disappeared without a trace, just when the others arrived.

"Don't worry, Spike!" Button shouted, as he got into fighting stance. "We got your.....back? Oh come on! Not again!" the boy groaned.

"I think this is what they called a 'running gag,'" Pipsqueak muttered.

"Um, guys," Rainbow called, catching their attentions, and pointed to the Shadowbolts, Winged Monkeys, and Shadow Creatures surrounding them.

"Great...." Decepticolt moaned. "We've got to deal with those punks again!"

Somnambula staff projected a magic blade from one end of her staff, as she points it threateningly at the boy's throat, "Who'd you mean 'we?'"

"Um, aren't we going to go and stop them?" Decepticolt whimpered.

"After your early bumbling mishap, cost me my slave?!"

"Would it hurt to say we're sorry?" Zappityhoof whimpered, to which Somnambula responded, with a blast of her staff, sending the magicians flying off their feet, and into a wall. The wall suddenly came to life, as it sprouted chains, securing the magicians.

"You three have botched up the plans of the Shadowbolts, one time too many!" the angry witch hissed. "And now, you're no longer of any use to us!" Not wasting a second to hear the magician's plea of mercy, Somnambula's eyes glowed, as the three unicorns' magics were drained from their body and into the witch's staff. Once the task was done, the Three Magicians collapsed to the floor, with their cutie marks gone, and their eyes turned blank, as they stared endlessly in the air.

"What do you wish us to do with them now?" one of the Shadowbolts asked.

"Take them back to Midnight castle. Hang them up on the walls. They will serve as examples for what happens to those who fail Nightmare Moon, one time too many!" Somnambula answered bitterly, before she turned to some other Shadowbolts. "You others! Track down Kyrie! She is still of some use to the Shadowbolts! The rest of you, find the Dragon Prince! He cannot be far! Do not let him escape! And should any of his friends interfere, destroy them!" The witch then took her leave.

"What about you mistress?" one of the Shadowbolts asked. "What will you do in the meantime?"

"I will go and find some more effective mercenaries!" Somnambula answered. "Some who are of more worth to serving the master!"

With a bow of their heads, the Shadowbolts all complied to their given tasks.





Spike and Mina were soon freed from the nets, courtesy of the hooded figure.

"Phew," Spike breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought we were goners for sure. Thanks again for the save," he said to the hooded figure.

"No problem, Spike," the hooded figure replied. "Just looking out for a friend, like you always have."

"Then I guess that means we can trust you," Mina replied. "Whoever you are."

"Who are you?" Spike asked.

Looking around, the hooded figure asked, "Promise you won't freak out?" the two dragons look at each other questionably, before they nodded their heads.

With that, the figure took of their cloak, revealing himself to be a creature that almost resembles a Thestral. In appearance, the creature has a curved horn sprouting from the center of its forehead, long snake-like fangs showing from the upper jaws, round vivid opal eyes, sparkling matching translucent wings, sea greenish black body, dark arctic blue carapace on his back, and dark arctic bluish gray mane and tail. Furthermore, his wings, tail, and noticeably, his legs appeared to have holes in them.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. "Who are you?"

"More importantly, what are you?" Mina asked.

"Spike!" the creature replied in a different voice that has a distorted, echoing quality. "It's me! Thorax!"

"Thorax?!" Spike exclaimed, looking at the creature closely. "No! It can't be! You can't be Thorax! I know Thorax! And he's not a...a..."

"A changeling?" the creature finished. "Well, I tried to tell you that, Spike. Long ago, but I kinda....hesitated," the changeling looked up, to see Spike, still doubtful at his words. "I'm telling you Spike. I really am Thorax!"

"Well, you may have his voice," Spike began. "But how do I know for sure you're really him?"

Lifting one of his forelegs up, Thorax began, "Remember when we made this?" With that, the two both did a secret handshake.

"Thorax!" Spike gasped. "It really is you!" With that, both boys ran towards each other, and embraced. "Wow! What are the odds! My best friend, the Master of Disguise, a changeling!" Spike then bore a questionable look, as he looks at Thorax, "What's a changeling by the way?"

"Something I'm not proud of being born as," Thorax replied solemnly. "As far as I know about my own species, we changelings are ancient creatures of dark forces. We prey on love. It's food for us, as it is a magical bond for all other creatures. Though, it's kinda contradicting for me, since all I've ever wanted was to share love, not steal and feed on it. Because of that, I was considered an outcast to my kind, so I set off, looking for love to share, but..."

"But what?" Spike asked.

"I was starving!" Thorax yelled. "There was so much to love in Equestria, it drove me crazy! And it's all because of you!"

"Me?!"

"Yes!" Composing himself, Thorax calmly answered, "Believe it or not, Spike. Before you and Scorpan left for the human world, you and I were friends back then," Spike looked at the changeling, in confusion. "I'm sure you still remember this little dragonfly you've once played with in the garden? A dragonfly you named, Shadow?"

"Oh yeah," Spike replied, as he remembered. "I haven't thought about that little bug in years," Then, Spike had an epiphany, "Whoa! Wait, he's you!!"

"Yup," Thorax smiled in nostalgia. "It felt like it was yesterday. Back then, a lot ponies were weary about seeing a changeling like me. So I disguised myself, keeping myself hidden from pony eyes. Then, I heard something about the Dragon Prince, living in Canterlot with Princess Celestia, and being a hero to all ponies and everything. Sensing how strongly the ponies love you, I knew it would be enough to feed me for many moons. Of course, being the more clever imposter I am, compared to my kind, first I need to know more about you, in order for my disguise trick to pull of, effectively. And you know the rest."

"Whoa," Spike replied, along with Mina. "So, how are you as of late? Still feeding on love to survive?"

"Nope," Thorax replied. "Ever since I've made friends with you, along with some others, and the girls, I guess I kinda forgot about it. Which brings to how I ended up in the human world with you! I wanted to keep experiencing this friendship of yours. So, the moment you left, I kinda hitched a ride with you and General Scorpan. After that, I made myself at home, and both you and I became friends once more!"

"Does anyone else know about your secret?"

"Nope. I've been keeping it to myself until now."

"Why now?"

"I don't know. It may have something to do with your Dragonfire reaching its state of maturity. Because since then, I've been feeling a really strong force of love, emitting from you and the girls, and my powers just kinda stopped working. I can't even change into a proper a human!" Spike nodded in acknowledgement, before Thorax shook his head in frustrations, "Wait! WHAT AM I DOING?! WE'VE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS!!" With that, the changeling puts his cloak back on, as he levitated the dragon, and started running back out in the streets.

"What? What's the problem?" Spike asked, as he escaped the changeling's magic grip.

"Well, you know how I've been helping Lyra, Bon Bon, and Fleur, spying on the Shadowbolts?" Thorax asked.

"Uh, I guess we kinda forgot we had the Master of Disguise on the team," Spike chuckled sheepishly. "But what do you know about the Shadowbolts?"

"Ponyville's under attack!"

"WHAT?!!" Spike exclaimed, along with Mina.




Speaking of....



"Oh yeah!" Discord said, as he dances to the rhythm of his own theme songs. "This is my jam, y'all!" With that, Discord snaps his finger, and conjures up a pair of sunglasses, and puts them upside down, on his face.

"Yes!" Hydia cackled evilly. "This is what I'm talking about! Chaos, and misery upon the little ponies of Equestria! This is what I've been wishing for! No thanks to the imbeciles of daughters I've been forced to suffer with!" the witch growled, as she looked at the two girls in disgust.

"Ah, forget about them!" Discord smirked, snapping his fingers, causing both Reeka and D'raggle to be eaten by some trash cans that were turned into monsters. "They're nothing compared to me, and the boys!"

Snip and Snails both were playing a dangerous game of tennis, which involves Pinkie's stolen party cannon.

"FIRE!!" Snips shouted, as he lit the cannon, causing it to shoot several random objects at Snails, who swiftly swatted them away with a tennis racket.

"Wah ha ha!" Snails laughed, in Waluigi's voice.

Many of the ponies were all hiding beneath some benches, or any other forms of shelter they could find, as objects all rained down on them.

"Chaos, is a wonderful, wonderful thing!" Discord chortled, as he drank a glass of chocolate milk, before he threw the chocolate milk away, resulting in an explosion.

"My cabbages!" a random pony shouted.

Just then, Prince Blueblood arrived, wearing a bell bottom pants, with purple stripes, and a red cape, "Never fear citizens of Ponyville!" Prince Blueblood declared, loudly. "Your incredibly handsome, talented, courageous, suave, and friendly neighbor, Prince Blueblood is here to save you all!" However, the only response Blueblood received, were some crickets chirping. "Once again, my reputation eludes me," Blueblood sighed.

"Who are you?" Discord asked.

"I am Prince Blueblood!" Prince Blueblood introduces himself. "I'm the hero of this story, and I'm going to banish you back to whence you came!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Discord yawned. "I think you're kinda lost, because I'm kinda expecting someone else at the moment. Come back later when you've got some new materials," With that, Discord stretched his arms, preparing to take a nap, before he snapped his finger, and a cake came flying out, hitting Blueblood.

"Ew!" Blueblood moaned. "I've been caked! I just had myself groomed! Where's the spa? WHERE'S THE SPA? I can't save the day looking like a mess!"

"See, this is why we prefer Prince Spike over you," one of the ponies voiced their opinions.

"WHAT?!" Blueblood exclaimed in outrage, while Discord's ears perked in interest.

"Spike isn't afraid of putting his own life, before others!" Fluttershy answered. "He's willing to give up his life, to secure our own!"

"Well that sounds foolish," Blueblood replied.

"It's being selfless!" Fluttershy replied angrily, in defense for Spike. "Which is the opposite to how selfish you are!"

"I agree with Fluttershy," Rarity added.

"What?" Blueblood asked. "How could you be so quick as to betray me, for some dragon?"

"Spike isn't some dragon!" Rarity answered. "He's the most, bravest, charming, and the most generous dragon I've ever known! He's willing to give others their needs, over his own. And he's not afraid of getting himself dirty when it comes to saving the day!"

"Then I guess that makes him a living mess," With that, Blueblood flicked his mane, while trying to flash a smile, "Unlike me."

"No! It makes you the pompous prince you are! Why, I wished that I had met him first, instead of you! Because I'm certain he wouldn't use me as a shield against a flying cake!"

"That happened ten years ago!"

"I'm still upset about it! And you've never even apologized for it!"

"ME?! Apologize! Apologizing is only for the weak and wrong! Which you should do, because you're weak and wrong! And you still smell like cake frosting!"

"Well listen to you!" Applejack began. "Being all high and mighty, while Spike treats us all as equal, because in his book: We're family!"

Prince Blueblood laughed, as he sheds a tear, "Oh that's rich. Royalty, considering the lowly peasants family! That's a joke!" Prince Blueblood continued laughing, while the ponies looked at him, unamused, even Discord doesn't find that funny.

"Hey," Discord began. "Now that I think about it. I do remember having a pal named Spike, being a lost prince of Equestria and all." Then, Discord had an epiphany, "Hold it! Are we talking about the same Spike here?"

"Depends," Rainbow began. "Who are you?"

"What? Don't you remember me? I'm Discord! The Master of Chaos! The purveyor of pandemonium, lord of lawlessness, earl of turmoil, bringer of bedlam, the father of a thousand voices!"

"Wait! Discord?!" Pinkie exclaimed, as she zipped by and looked at the draconequus over. "Wow, you certainly look different. What happened to you? A new haircut?"

Before Discord could answer, a blast of magic was shot, nearly hitting Pinkie Pie, while singing Discord's goatee.

"WHOA!" Pinkie shouted. "That almost got me!"

"What's your problem, bub?" Discord asked. "We were just getting reacquainted."

"I'll prove to every pony in Equestria, I'm as much of a hero than Spike ever was!" Blueblood said angrily. "And I'll start by defeating you!" With that, the angry prince blasted several bolts of magics at the draconequus, who dodges them all, as he moved his hips to the side, and took flight. "Hold still!" Discord didn't comply as he spins himself in a tornado, and appeared in a matador's costume, waving a cape.

"Toro!" Discord hollered, as the bolt of magic flies threw his cape, and he spins himself again, and appeared in a Russian Dancer's costume. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" He said, dancing and dodging the bolts being shot at his feet, before he spins again, "Thank you very much," Discord said, in Elvis Presley's voice, and dances to the side, dodging the bolts shot at him. Finally, Discord spins himself into a cowboy's costume, and pulled out a gun, only for Blueblood to shoot a disarming spell, knocking it out of Discord's lion paw, before he shot another spell, that struck Discord, reverting him back to human form, "My wieeeeeeeenneeeeeeeeerrr!" Discord groaned in agony, as he collapsed to the ground, and the jar, containing Trixie fell out of his pocket.

With a grunt, Trixie kicked the lid off, as she escaped, "Finally! I'm free!" Trixie said, as she scurried away. "Now, if only I can find some clothes around here! I'm freezing!" Trixie hadn't gone very far, when she bumped into Starlight Glimmer.

"Hey, who are you?" Starlight asked, levitating the the pixie turned girl up close. "What are you?"

Back to Discord, the boy was lying in Pinkie's fore hooves, as he coughed hoarsely, "Hold me close Pinkie. It's getting dark," Discord lets out another cough, as he continues to speak, in a South accent, "Tell Auntie Em to let Old Yeller out," Discord let out another cough, before he looked at Pinkie Pie, who was on the brink of tears, "Tell Tiny Tim I won't be coming home this Christmas," he said in a British accent, before he coughed again and talks in Rhett Butler's voice, "Tell Scarlette, I do give a damn," After his final plea, Discord dropped down to the floor, raising a rose up on his chest, while Pinkie bawled. Then, a hand came out, presenting an award to Discord. "You like me!" Discord grinned, as he batted his eyes. "You really like me!"

"Enough games!" Blueblood began. "Hooves up!"

With that, Discord complied, as he raises his deer leg up, and kicked Blueblood in the nose, making a honking noise. With a flash of light, Discord disappears, taking Reeka's pot hat off, and brought it over to Snips and Snails, placing the pot over their heads, before he conjured up a ladle, and bangs it together with the pot. Both boys' heads were shaking and ringing together, before their feet revved up, and they raised a fist, before they took off, screaming, "WHOO HOO HOOO HOOO HOOO HOOO!!!"

Both boys charged at Prince Blueblood, tackling the stallion to the ground, as they beat him senselessly with tennis rackets.

"Yooo-hoooo!" Snips called, as he and Snails stood at a distance, from Blueblood. Blueblood picked up a baseball and threw it at the boys, only for Snails to hit it back at the stallion, with a baseball bat.

"WHOOO HOOO HOOO HOOO HOO HOOOO HOOOO!!" the boys laughed, as they ran around the unconscious Prince Blueblood.

"SAFE!!" Discord exclaimed, as he appears in an umpire's outfit. "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10! You're out!" Discord said to Prince Blueblood.




Dragon Town

"Where are you going Spike?!" Thorax called. "The train's over that way!"

"I know!" Spike replied. "But our friends are this way! And they need help!" Spike wasn't looking where he was going, when he crashed into someone.

"Oh, sorry about that," Spike replied, as he helped the person, or pony up. "I wasn't...."

"I can't believe it!" the MMDW exclaimed. "SPIKE! It really is you!!" the mysterious pony pulled Spike in a death gripping embrace, forcing the boy to changing himself into an octopus, to slip free, before he changes back in human form.

"And who might you be?" Spike asked.

"Who might I be?" the MMDW asked. "Who might I be?! It's me," With that, the mare took off her mask to reveal her true identity.

Spike could hardly believe his eyes, "Hey Spike!" the Knights called out, as they ran up to boy, with Rainbow and Fleur following.

"I see you've got yourself reacquainted with Gabby!" Rainbow smiled.

"Bet you didn't see this coming, right?!" Gabby asked enthusiastically, before she noticed something was up. "Speaking of, where's-"

"LOOK OUT!!" a voice shouted, before a blur of black came flying and intercepted a streak of purple and blue.

"Oh, there she is," Gabby smiled.

The heroes looked to see the hooded figure, fighting off a Shadowbolt. The Shadowbolt unsheathes his sword, as he slashes it towards the figure, who flipped in the air, and unsheathes her own sword, and collides it with the Shadowbolts. With that, the two engaged each other in a sword fight. The hooded figure slashes her sword at the Shadowbolt, who parried with his own, before he spins around and swings the sword at the figure's head, only for the figure to duck down in time, and slashes the sword at the Shadowbolt's feet. The Shadowbolt was able to jump off the ground, evading the attack, as he flipped in the air, over the figure's head, and thew several ninja stars at the figure.

The figure swiftly slashes the sword, deflecting the stars, before the Shadowbolt jumps towards her, in a flying kick. The figure counters the attacks, by rolling beneath him, thrusting her legs out, and knocking him out of the air.

"Wow, she's good!" Spike said in admiration.

"She's gonna be outnumbered!" Gabby shouted, pointing to some more on the way.

"Then let's help her out!" Rainbow said, as she cracked her hooves together. "It's payback time!"

With that, the friends all jumped into the fray, assisting their mysterious friend.

"Spike!" the hooded figure called. "Long time no see!" Before Spike could reply, a kunai with chain came flying and snared the Sword of Honor, and pulled it off his back.

"The sword!" Spike shouted, alerting the others.

"I got it!" the hooded figure replied, as she sprinted forward, grabbing the sword, and engaged in a tug of war with the Shadowbolt.

"Let go!" the Shadowbolt growled.

"I don't think so!" the hooded figure said, as she spins the Shadowbolt by the chain, and thrashed him around. Just then, a Shadowbolt jumped out, and kicked the hooded figure from behind.

The figure rolled to the sides, as all of the Shadowbolts unsheathed their swords, and attempted to cut her.

"NO!" Spike shouted, as he grabbed the figure, by the hem of her cloak, and pulled her away from their blades.

"Thanks Spike," the figure replied, as she kicked another Shadowbolt away from both him and her.

"WATCH OUT!!" the two said to each other, before they spun each other around and swung their fists, punching the Shadowbolts, before they lunged towards some incoming Shadowbolts from behind, and kicked them away.

Soon, the heroes looked to see more reinforcements on the way.

"They just keep coming!" Rainbow groaned in exhaustion.

"We can't keep this up," Rumble voiced.

"But I can!" a voice called, revealing itself to be a huge black and red celestial dragon.

"Uncle Mako!" Mina smiled, seeing her uncle was alright.

The Shadowbolts all fired their arrows, some magic bolts, and nets, as they fought the elder dragon, along with the Flying Monkeys, as they swarmed all over the elder dragon. However, Mako shook them off, as he flew into the air, slithered around, before he came back down, and breathed a huge gust of wind, blowing the Shadowbolts away.

"Thank you sensei," Spike said, as he gratefully bowed his head to the elder dragon.

"Happy to be of assistance, my prince," Mako bowed his head in return, as he reverted back in human form. "Now go and resume your mission."




Meanwhile, back at Midnight Castle

Indigo was sparring with a fellow Shadowbolt, when she suddenly sprained her wrist. The Shadowbolt took notice, as he walked over, inspecting the girl, only for Sunburn to intervene.

"What are you doing?" the angry girl asked. "FINISH HER!!"

"But she's hurt..." the Shadowbolt replied.

"So? A real Shadowbolt never shows mercy! DO IT!!"

Reluctant, the Shadowbolt kicked Indigo to the side, before he walks off, whispering, "Sorry."

Indigo winced in pain, as she struggles to get up, “Pathetic," Sunburn sneered, as she puts her feet on Indigo's back, and forces her down. "A real warrior, never feels pain!” Sunburn growled. "If you were fighting the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony right now, they'll do you in, before you could even say 'ow!'" Sunburn pulled Indigo up, as she forces her against the wall. "Now, as for your punishment, let's see if you can endure this, in half an hour!" With that, Sunburn attacked Indigo relentlessly.

Later, Indigo returned to her quarters, covered in bruises, and burns.

“Indigo!” the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts called, as they ran up to the injured girl. “Are you alright?”

“Does she look okay?” Sugarcoat asked.

The girls all helped their injured friend to her bed, “I’ve been training nonstop, breaking my own bones, and fighting endlessly against magic ponies, dragons, and karate kids, just for the promise of becoming an invincible warrior,” Indigo groaned. “And what do I have to show for it? Nothing but bruises, burns, and cuts received from my trainings and fights.”

"Tell me about it," Sunny replied. "I've got bruises that have got bruises."

“Y'know,” Sugarcoat began. “Maybe joining the Shadowbolts wasn’t all that’s cracked up to be.”

"Yeah," Indigo replied. "I joined because I want to beat CHS! And I want to become an all-powerful warrior! Not this!"

"I joined, because I like winning!" Sunny added. "Though, I don't feel much like a winner, as of late."

"Me two," Lemon added.

"Me three," Sour said.

"Agreed," Sugarcoat answered.

“As much as I hate to admit it,” Sunny began. “Maybe we’ve joined the wrong team. I mean, I wanted to join to get back at Twilight, for being the Princess of Friendship.” Sunny took another solemn look at the injured Indigo. “But if this is how we treat our friends in the Shadowbolts, then it’s a team I wouldn’t want to be a part of.”

“You’ve got to admit it,” Sour Sweet began. “Spike’s really got a way with words. You hear how passionate he is, about fighting for Equestria, the girls, and Princess Celestia?”

“Yeah!” the girls answered.

“I think I now see what those girls saw in him,” Indigo smirked. "He's tough."

"Full of energy!" Lemon added.

"And he's kinda cute," Sour swooned, before she received some weird looks from the others. "Y'know, when he's not fighting that is."

"Even after he stole a kiss from you and punched your boobs?" Sugarcoat asked.

Sour Sweet blushed, before she swallowed her pride, and replied, "Well, maybe it wasn't intentional. I mean, why did he do it? Because he was fighting us. And why would he fight us? Because we were trying to kill him."

Sugarcoat nodded in agreement, before they all turned to Sunny, "Do you have something to say Sunny?"

"Well," Sunny looked at the girls, before she answered. "I guess I don't know friendship as much as I thought I did."

"Saying that had to hurt," Indigo smirked.

"More than you are," Sunny replied. "I'm just saying, maybe it's better if we were helping Spike more, instead of fighting him. I mean, I'll admit, he's kinda cute. Not to mention, very charming."

"If it's not too late, already," Sugarcoat voiced.




Elsewhere

In the darkest district of Equestria, in a bar called the Broken Horn, many gruff looking ponies, minotaurs, griffons, and other sorts of creatures were all engaged in lively discussions of various topics, playing games of pokers, or simply trying to have a peaceful meal, when Somnambula appeared, in the facility, out of the fireplace. The lively atmosphere immediately disappeared, after the witch's presence was known. The patrons all looked at the witch in fear, as she made her way to the counter.

"Ah, Somnambula," the bartender began. "So nice to see you again, mistress. What shall it be today? Are you interested on hearing-"

"I'm not here for dinner," Somnambula began. "I'm here for some mercenaries."

The bartender looked at the witch for a moment, before he asked, "What's the job?"

"I need a hunter," Somnambula replied. "An effective hunter, who can capture the Dragonfire!"

Upon hearing the last words, the patrons all gasped in shock, as they looked at the witch.

"The Dragonfire?" the bartender asked. "Don't tell me. You and your Shadowbolts are still hung up on capturing the Dragon Prince?"

"Is there a problem?" Somnambula asked, with her grip tightening on her staff.

"No, no problem at all. It's just, I know one man who might deliver the goods for you. But I must warn you, he ain't human."

"Where is he?"

Later, Somnambula entered a dark room, where another figure stood, by a window. In appearance, the figure is a man, and he appears to be in his late twenties and he has a dark red shoulder length hair, a black t-shirt with a bullseye on it, dark grey jeans, and a maroon overcoat with a bleeding skull symbol on the back.

"Are you the marksman known as Bloodshot?" Somnambula asked.

"Depends," the man replied. "Who wants to know?"

"I am Somnambula," the witch answered. "And I was told that you're the hunter to see. One who has the skills necessary to capture a certain Dragon Prince."

Bloodshot smirked, "You're told correct. However, I don't work for free. You want my service? You've got to show me the golds!" With a sneer, Somnambula tapped her staff on the floor, and a huge black chest appeared before Bloodshot. With a wave of her staff, the chest lid flew open, revealing the valuable contents within. Bloodshot bent down, picked up one of the bits, and bit one of them to make sure they were real, before he looked up at the witch.

"Any questions?" Somnambula asked.

"Where's the dragon?"




> Armor of Heroes Part 6: Discord Town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragontown

The heroes returned to Mako's antique shop, or what's left of it, before they entered the ruins, and made their way into the living room, where the hooded figure reached into her cloak, and brought out a pouch, containing some sparkling sands. Pouring an amount into her claw, lifting it up to her mouth, she blew on it, emitting a stream of purple flame as it travels into the fireplace, igniting into a wall of green fire, before it forms a mouth, projecting an image of Ponyville, and the state of chaos it's in.

"Whoa! What happened to Ponyville?" Button asked. "It wasn't like that when we left!"

"And it's probably going to get worse if we don't get back!" Spike replied. "Let's go!" With that, the young dragon jumped into the fire and instantly vanished without a trace, followed by Rainbow, Fleur, Mina, and the rest of their friends, including Peewee and Kyrie, and a blur of brown and gold, who was hitching a ride.




Friendship Castle

In another burst of green fire, the heroes all jumped out of the fireplace inside of Friendship Castle, much to the surprise of Twilight, and the rest of the girls who were all waiting.

"Oh, thank Celestia you're alright," Fluttershy smiled.

"Omigosh!" Twilight exclaimed, as she levitated the Sword of Honor off of Spike's back. "I can't believe it! The Sword of Honor! You actually have it!"

"Believe us, Twilight," Spike groaned. "It's no picnic."

"I thought for sure our geese were cooked that time," Pipsqueak moaned. "No pun intended," he said to Mina and the hooded figure.

"Geese?" Fluttershy exclaimed. "What geese? Are they-" the kind pegasus was interrupted, when a loud lion's roar was heard, scaring her and all of the girls in the room.

"Stand back every pony!" Rainbow exclaimed. "It's Gilda!"

"And she's angry!" Fleur added, as she readies her rapier.

"Gilda?!" Gabby exclaimed, as she poked her head out, to see the angry griffon herself. However, unlike everyone else who would cower in fright, Gabby simply pounced on the griffon, into a death gripping embrace. "OMIGOSH, OMIGOSH, OMIGOSH! I can't believe it's really you after all these years!"

"Lemme go!" Gilda growled, shoving the younger griffon off, before she turns her attention back on everyone else, and cracks her claws together. "It's payback time!"

"Gilda?" Gabby asked. "What's going on? What's gotten into you?"

With a loud eagle screech, Gilda leapt towards the ponies, only to be caught in a multicolored aura of red, lavender, and turquoise, courtesy of Twilight, Sunset, and Starlight respectively.

"Fluttershy!" Twilight called. "The serum!"

With that, Fluttershy reached into her saddlebags, as she pulls out a small dart, and a tube. With the dart in her mouth, she raised the tube up to her mouth, taking her aim at Gilda, she fired the dart straight at Gilda's neck. After several struggles, Gilda soon started to grow weary, until finally, she was out cold.

"Oh, Gilda," Rainbow began, as she looked over her griffon friend. "Whatever happened to make her act like this?"

"I don't know," Sunset got down to sniff the griffon. "But I'm smelling the work of dark magic here." With that, Sunset telepathically picked Gilda up, as she prepared to leave the room, "I'm gonna take her to Zecora. She'll know what to do."

"You do that!" Spike called out, as he, the Knights, Mina, Gabby, and the Hooded figure took their leave. "We'll go and take care of Discord."

Twilight and the others looked at them with surprise, "How did you know about Discord?" Twilight asked.

"I told him," Thorax answered, as all eyes turned to him.

"AH! A CHANGELING!" Lyra screamed.

"Let's get him!" Bon Bon added, as she pulled out a giant net.

"Wuh-Wait! Don't!" Thorax screamed, as he buzzed away, avoiding the net.

"Hey! Wait! Calm down!" Spike said, as he got in between Thorax and the girls. "It's okay! This is Thorax! Our friend!"

"Thorax?!" Just then, the castle shook, as another explosion went off, followed by Discord's laugh.

"Can we talk about this later?" Spike asked.




[The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down - Looney Tunes Theme]

At an opera theater, a spotlight was moving, before it shines on the curtain, while an announcer stated, "And now, the mane event, live on stage, another oldies from the first generation of MLP, put your hooves and hands together for, Princess Porcine of Porkorea!"

The curtains on stage parted to reveal an anthro pig, dressed in a frilly dress, while wearing a mask, as she sang, "Look at me, look at me! Soon the entire world will look at me! My reflection will be all the people see!~"

"And nobody has to worry about Bloody Marry!" Discord shouted from the crowd.

*disc scratch FX*

"WHAT?!!" Porcine screamed in outrage, while dropping her microphone. "I demand to know who said that!" Porcina was answered with a tomato to her mask, knocking it off, to reveal that she is still green, gray, and with long misshapen tusks, courtesy of her last battle with Fleur.

Discord couldn't help but burst out laughing, as he jeers in Dr. Doofenshmirtz's voice, "You should see yourself! You're so ugly!"

"How dare you-" Discord continued to fire some more vegetables at the angry pig. "Well, I never!" Porcina left in a huff, just as a tomato came flying and hit her in the butt.

Hydia too enjoying the misery inflicted on the pig, until D'raggle came, "Duuuuuuuuuh, mother?" she began.

"What did you call me?" Hydia asked, as Discord snapped his finger and conjured up a TV and a remote control as he rewinded what D'raggle said.

"That's no way to speak to your mother!" Discord scolded the stupid witch, as he snapped his finger, and threw D'raggle into a garden. It wouldn't be so bad, if the garden wasn't full of Whomping Cacti.

Reeka winced in disgusts, as she watched D'raggle getting pummeled by the cacti, "Do you have anything else to say, Reeka?" Discord asked, as he snaps his finger, conjuring a bag of jellybeans, and loaded them into a gun who conjured, "Do you want some more cupcakes? With Cloudsdale's Every Flavored Rainbow Beans?" He asked, readying his gun, threatening to shoot them down into Reeka's throat.

"Um," Reeka frowned, looking ready to puke. "No really, I can't eat that. I just wanted to let you know, the Dragon Prince is here."

"You don't say?" Discord asked, as he projected his eyeballs into binoculars, adjusting them a little, before his visions became clear. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my old friend, Spike Draco," Discord smirked.

Hydia, too, whipped out some binoculars of her own, as she looked to see the dragon himself, before she noticed something else, "And a couple more of his friends, too!" Hydia took immediate notice of the hooded figure, as she noticed, "THE BOX!!"

"What about it?" Discord asked.

"Well....let's just say that box holds the key to something very important. And I need it!"

"Well by all means, take it from her," Discord replied. "Surely, it'll be like taking candy form a little foal."

"With pleasure," Hydia replied, as she took her leave via broomstick.

"Wait for me, master!" Reeka called, as she ran after her mother, followed by D'raggle, who was covered in needles and bruises.

Discord's eyes flashed in a light blue glow, as he cackled menacingly, "This is going to be fun!" With a snap of his finger, Discord projected a recorded video for the readers.





"Let the chaos begin!" Discord smiled.





Spike and his friends kept on running down the roads of chaos, making their way towards Discord, when suddenly, the ground shook.

"Whoa!" everyone screamed.

"EARTHQUAKE!" Button screamed. "We're doomed! Doomed!"

"Keep it together man!" Rumble exclaimed, after he slapped Button in the face.

Just then, tall walls of stones and magics were formed, dividing the gangs into four groups: The Mane Six are group one, the Five Knights are group two, the hooded figure, Gabby, Thorax, and Mina are group three, while Spike, Fleur, and Peewee were all group four.

"Is everyone alright?" Spike called out.

"We're fine, sugarcube!" Applejack replied.

"Same here!" Button called out.

"We're all here and accounted for!" Thorax answered. "Anyone else with you?" Peewee squawked in reply.

"I'm here, with Spike," Fleur answered. "So what do we do now?"

"We'll just break these walls down!" Applejack said, as she bucked her legs out, only to have herself electrocuted.

"Don't worry!" Rainbow began, as she took flight. "I'll fly out and-OOF!" Rainbow grunted, after she crashed into an invisible forcefield, and plummeted to the ground.

"Oh goodness!" Fluttershy exclaimed, as she and the girls ran over to help their friend up. "Are you okay?"

After shaking her head a few times, Rainbow replied, "Yeah, I'm okay. I guess."

"So we can't break the walls, and we can't fly over them," Applejack listed.

"Maybe we can try to dig under!" With that, Pinkie's tail formed itself into a jackhammer, as she tries to dig her way out, only for the ground to remain very still, and very thick, resulting in her tail to be bent out of shape. "Dang it!"

"Now what do we do?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight looked around, before she replied, "We're just gonna have to go our own separate ways for now. We'll find our way to Discord, and there, we'll regroup!"

"Sounds like a plan," the hooded figure replied.

"Just be careful!" Thorax called. "Discord is very unpredictable with his newfound powers! He can turn a whole building upside down, he can break the fourth wall, and he can do all sorts of stuff in the name of chaos!"

"Do tell," Discord smiled, making himself known to Thorax's group. "Do tell."

"THAT'S HIM!" the hooded figure screamed, as she and Gabby all pounced after the draconequus. With a snap of his finger, Discord teleported away in a flash of light, causing the figure and Gabby to crash into a Wanted poster of Prince Blueblood.

"EWWW!!" Blublood in the poster groaned, as he desperately wipes his tongue with his hooves. "I've been kissed by a pigeon hybrid freak, and some unknown creature I don't want to know!"

"Oh, get over yourself!" the hooded figure replied, as she surprisingly breathed a stream of purple fire at the poster, frying Blueblood, before it morphed itself into Discord.

"I honestly don't know why he was even a wanted stallion," Discord said begrudgingly, before he resumes his screwy persona. "Ta-Ta! Good luck finding your way to me!" With a snap of his finger, Discord disappeared in a flash of light, with his laugh echoing.

Then, peering from behind a wall, was the evil Hydia, and her two clumsy daughters.

"Alright girls," Hydia began. "What we came for is right there!"

"Then let's go get it!" Reeka said, ready to charge in, along with D'raggle, only for both girls to be grabbed from behind.

"IDIOTS!" Hydia berated. "WE DON'T JUST CHARGE IN THERE LIKE BRAINLESS LUNATICS!! WE'RE WITCHES! USE THOSE CONNIVING BRAINS OF YOURS!!"

With that, both Reeka and D'raggle both leaned against a wall, as they try to brainstorm an idea.

"Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh," D'raggle began. "We turn them into ducks?"

"Forget it, D'raggle!" Reeka replied. "The last time we tried that, you created duckbilled dinosaurs and we almost got squashed!"

"Duuuuuh, well you told me to cast that spell. And I can't read."

"Then you shouldn't have tried casting it, you pea brained witch!" With that, Reeka pulled D'raggle's bow, causing it to fly back and smacked in the tall witch's head. "I swear, you're nothing more than a filthy squib!"

"Duh, yeah? Well you're a fat, know-it-all shrimp!"

With that, the two girls broke out into a fight, until Hydia broke it up, "ENOUGH!" Hydia shouted.

"Hey, what was that?!" Gabby asked.

The three witches quickly hid themselves inside a trashcan, as Thorax, and his group came over to investigate.

'It's a wonder how I'm number three of most villainous villains of MLP,' Hydia thought.




[The Five Knights]

The five boys were walking down a street of the distorted Ponyville.

"Wow, I gotta tell you guys," Button began. "This has been one heck of a weekend."

"Yeah, I know," Tender Taps replied. "Our folks back home will never believe what we're seeing."

"Or what they're missing out on," Rumble added.

"Yeah, no doubts about it!" Pipsqueak exclaimed. "Equestria is amazing! Except for the part where we're being chased by man-eating spiders, ninjas, and-" Just then, Snips and Snails made appeared before the Knights.

"Wah ha ha!" Snails laughed, in his Waluigi voice. "We are number one!"

"Snips?!" Pipsqueak asked in shock. "Snails?!"

"Not again," Button grumbled, before he took notice of their new attires. "Hey! How come you guys are dressed as Wario and Waluigi? I didn't know you guys were into cosplaying."

"Wah! Snips, number one!" Snips replied gruffly. "And it's-a Snips time! I'm a-gonnna win!" With that, Snips flexed his arms, showing off his muscles, which are surprisingly buffed.

"Wow, you've been working out lately," Button commented, before he shifted his face in determination. "But seriously, can you just move out of the way Snips? We haven't got time for this!"

"Wah, what's the matter, loser?" Snips asked, touching a nerve in Button. "Afraid of me?"

"Or me? Wah?" Snails asked.

"I'm not afraid," Button replied. "And can you please quit it with the whole Wario and Waluigi impressions? It's really starting to annoy me."

"Wah ha ha! Afraid to fight?" Snips asked. "You're a chicken! A big, fat, clucking chicken!"

"Hey! Not cool!" Some random chickens spoken.

"I'm not a chicken!" Button frowned.

"Wah, he's right," Snails replied. "Button Mash is a mama's boy!" With that, Snips and Snails all broke out into a fit of laughter, while the Knights frowned with their comrade.

"Hey no problem!" Button began, as he whips out his Luigi mustache and dons it on his face. "Let's a-go!" Button said, as he challenged Snips. The Knights looked, flabbergasted at their friend.

"He did not just do that," Rumble muttered.

"Well, it takes a video game nerd to provoke another nerd," Pipsqueak added.

"I'm-a Snips!" Snips continues in Wario's voice. "I'm a-gonna win!" With that, the boys both had a stare down for a moment, before Discord appeared as a referee, as he counted, "3, 2, 1, GO!!!" With a blow of his whistle, the battle commenced, before he disappeared in a flash of light.

Snips vs. Button

"Hey! That was-" Button was met with a punch to the face, by Snips, and was thrown across the ring. "Hey! That was a cheap shot!" Button quickly dodges to the sides, as he avoided several more punches from Snips, before he did a sweep kick, tripping the fat boy up. Angered, Snips charged after Button, even faster, throwing out a punch, only to be blocked by a side block by Button, who counters with a spinning back kick, followed by another, which sent Snips flying back slightly.

"Oh it's on!" Snips growled, as he took out two pairs of huge garden scissors. "They don't call me Snips for nothing!" With that, the Wario cosplaying boy chases after Button, with scissors in hand, as he charges after the nerd, attempting to cut him.

"Hasn't your mother ever told you it's not safe to play with scissors?" Button whimpered, as he narrowly dodged another snap from the scissors, resulting in a loss of a few hairs.

Looking from the stands, Rumble noticed something, "Button! To your left!" the boy shouted.

Darting his eyes to the left, Button looked to see a small pebble, lying in the arena. With that, Button ducked his head, and made a quick flip to the side, picking up the little pebble, just as Snips came after him with the scissors.

"Well, as they say," Button began. "Rocks beat scissors!" Button screamed as Snips came after him with the scissors, "Rock don't fail me now!" With that, Button tossed the small stone at Snips, hitting him directly in the nose, before it miraculously bounced back into Button's hands.

"Oh, right in the schnoz!" Snips groaned, as he rubbed his sore nose.

"Wow, rocks do beat scissors," Tender said.

"Go Boulder," a voice called, revealing itself to be a mud pie.

Back in the fight, Button threw the rock again at Snips, disarming him of his scissors, before he threw several punches at the boy, in the softest spots he know.

"Arrrrrgh!" Snips growled, after receiving several hits after another. With that, Snips started to lose his cool, as he thrusted his fist into the ground, causing the ground to shake, making Button fall to his feet, as Snips charges again, and shoves him to the edge of the arena.

"You okay, Button?" Tender asked, as he helped his friend up.

"Yeah," Button groaned.

"Hub, hub, hub, hub!" Pipsqueak said, as he comes into the picture as a water boy. Whipping out a towel, the boy waves it before Button, fanning him, before he took out a water spray and sprayed it on the nerd boy's face, before he took his leave, "Hub, hub, hub, hub."

"Okay, I'm ready!" Button said.

"Okay Button Mash!" Tender said, as he pushes the boy back into the ring. "Let him have it!" With that, Button whips out his foamed Minecraft pickaxe, which magically turned wooden. Giving the weapon a quick spin, Button laughed triumphantly, before he hits himself in the head by accident, causing him to whimper in pain, slightly.

Snips, after reclaiming his scissors, chases after Button, who parried his opponent's weapons with his pickaxe, before he spotted an opening, and landed a kick to Snip's stomach, knocking him off balance slightly.

Wiping his forehead, clear of sweats, Snips growled, "Snails! Hurry up! Will ya?"

"Oh yeah!" Snails complied, while taking out a baseball bat, as he joins his partner in the arena.

"Hey that's not fair!" Rumble shouted. "That's two against one! That's cheating!" However, Rumbles words fell on deaf ears, as Snips and Snails continued to gang up on Button.

"We gotta do something!" Tender exclaimed. "Button's gonna get killed out there!"

"Got any ideas?" Pipsqueak asked.

Just then, a lightbulb appeared over Featherweight's head, as he shouted, "I got it!" Reaching into his backpack, Featherweight pulls out rolled up poster, as he shouted, "He Snips! Snails!" With that, Feather unrolled the poster, revealing a pin-up photo of Carmen Electra.




Click the Picture for full shot.



Upon seeing the poster, both Snips and Snails instantly dropped their Wario and Waluigi personas, as they all went wild for the bombshell model, whooping and giving wolf whistles, before they were all bonked on the heads by Button.

[Paper Mario: TTYD - Battle Won]

"Nice going with the poster, Feathers," Button replied, before he too gave a quick wolf whistle at the model.

"Though, pray tell," Rumble began. "Where'd you get that poster?"

"Um, let's just say I met her by chance, at photographer shop I work part time at," Feathers answered, while smiling sheepishly, as he blushed up a storm.

Just then, an eerie wind blew their way, as the boys looked to their right, to see a man, wearing a ghostface mask, and brandishing a killer's dagger, "Hello boys," the man greeted.

In response, the boys all emitted some girls screams, "MERCY!!!" Pipsqueak screamed, holding the Carmen Electra poster like a shield.

"No, no!" Feathers said, as he frantically took the poster back. "Not Carmen! Here, use this one," he said, as he switches the poster with another celebrity. Nevertheless, the killer slashed his knives at the poster, shredding it to pieces.

"YIPE!" Pipsqueak screamed, as he took off running.

"Me too!" Button added, "YIPE!" With that, the rest of the Knights took their leaves, as the killer gave chase.

The killer paused for a moment, as he took his mask off, revealing he's really Discord. Bouncing his eyebrows up and down to the readers, before he shushes the audience, and puts his mask back on, resuming the chase.

Snips and Snails both soon came back to their senses, when they took notice of Discord in killer disguise, chasing after the Knights.

"WAH!" Snips and Snails screamed in fright, as they too joined the Knights.

"Uh oh, run away!" Snails screamed.

"Split up!" Rumble suggested. "He can't catch all of us!"

"Divide and conquer!" Pipsqueak hollered, as he and the rest of the Knights all ran in different directions, while Discord was left to chase down Snips and Snails.

Ahead, were two signs, pointing left and right. The left sign reads "Safety," while the other sign reads "Death."





Confused, Snips and Snails repeatedly looked in both directions, before they shouted, "THIS WAY!"

Snails quickly jumped into the safety direction, before he notice Snips going the other way, "AH! Wait for me!" He said, as he caught up to Snips in the death direction, with Discord right on their tails.

Soon, Discord chased them into the safety direction, before they were chased back into the death direction. Snips and Snails kept on running, until they came across a door.

"In here!" Snails said, as he and Snips jumped into the door, only to find out too late, there was no floor.

"AHHHH!!" the boys screamed, as they fell to the dark void beneath them.

"Ow!" Snips groaned, once he reached the bottom, where he finds himself on a treadmill. "What the heck is going....what?" He looked as the treadmill took him back, where a hungry cragadile was waiting for him. With a frightened scream, Snips started running on the treadmill, for dear life, avoiding become the cragadile's dinner.

Meanwhile, Snails was chained to a machine that forced him to repeatedly bend his back, painfully.




Meanwhile with the Knights

"Boy that was a close one!" Button breathed deeply, poking his head out from a garbage can.

"Now all we have to do is find Discord, and then Spike," Pipsqueak said.




The Mane Six Prince Blueblood



*Dun dun DUUUUUUUUN!!*

"Hey!" Rainbow exclaimed. "What gives?!"

"Now, now!" Discord began. "I still have some special tricks I've been saving for this joker." With that, the story resumed, to Prince Blueblood, coming back to his senses.

"Here, your highness," Discord said, as he poured some pills into the stallion's mouth. "Take these aspirins!" With a snap of his finger, Discord poured a glass of chocolate milk, down into the stallion's throat.

"Ugh!" Blueblood groaned. "Chocolate milk? Of all the liquid refreshments you could give me with aspirins, you had to give me chocolate milk?"

"I know, I know," Discord began. "As you would say," With that, Discord shifted his face into Blueblood's face, as he quote, "My royal lips has touched common carnival fare," Discord shifted his face back to normal, as he asked, "Though, how's the headache?"

"Well, as much I'd like to see it's worse than before, I ain't got any," Blueblood replied.

"Oh yes you do, brother!" Discord replied, before he conjured a mallet, and whacked it on the stallion's head. With a screwball laugh, Discord revved his feet up, as he took off running, with an even angrier Blueblood behind him.

While chasing him, the sound of the lone ranger can be heard playing in the background, until it got stuck on repeat, causing Discord and Blueblood to be stuck, doing the same thing over and over, with the Mane Six, standing in the background. Twilight looked as if she was repeatedly slapping herself, Rainbow Dash tapping her hoof repeatedly, and Pinkie Pie laughing as she rolls backwards on her back, and reverse.

Discord gave a shrug, as he walks over to a record player, readjusting its needle, resetting the music, before he and Blueblood resumed the chase. Discord soon came to a quick stop, as he whipped out a fly paper, and smacks into Prince Blueblood's face. With a strong tug, Discord pulled the paper, taking Blueblood's face off in the process.

Discord looked back, at the now faceless Blueblood, and his eyes literally flew out of their sockets, along with his skull, and his tongue, as he screams, "AH! SLENDER MANE!!" With that, Discord tossed the paper to Blueblood, as he disappears in a flash of light, screaming.

Blueblood placed the paper back on his face, restoring his face. Almost.

Upon removing the paper, Blueblood's face was upside down, resulting in a fit of laughter from some nearby. With that, Blueblood struggles to readjust his face, only to make it looked even more messed up, until Discord came back, and threw a pie into the stallion's face, which magically restored him back to normal.

Blueblood continues to chase Discord around, before they jumped into a barrel. A struggle ensued within the barrel, until it titled and roll down a hill. At the bottom, Discord was doing a drumroll bit, before he ended it with a big bang, just as the barrel crashed into a tree. Discord then played a slide whistle, as Blueblood flew up in the air, before he bang on the drum again, just as Blueblood crashed back down. At the end, Discord blew into a bird whistle, emitting the sounds of birds chirping.

"Oh yeah!" Discord sang. "I'm bad! I did it! Discord, Discord! He's the man! If he can't do it, no one can!"

Soon, a whistle is heard, as Prince Blueblood points to a camera he conjured. With that, Discord snapped his finger, and appeared, neatly groomed, and wearing a black tuxedo.

"AH-HA!!" Blueblood shouted, revealing the camera was really a machine gun.

Discord screamed, as he conjured several gold medals, roses, anything to get on Blueblood's good side, but to no avail, as the angry stallion shoved him away, and into the wall. With that, Discord bawled like a baby, as he hangs himself, points a gun to his head, threatens to drink some poisons, before he changes back in human form, wore a blindfold, and smoked, awaiting for his upcoming death.

With that, Prince Blueblood opened fire on the magician, before he ceased fire and laughed triumphantly, "I did it! And I'm glad!" Just then, the sound of slurping broke the silence, as Blueblood looked to see Discord, unharmed, reclining in a beach chair, sipping on a coconut with satisfaction. With that, Blueblood finally lost it, as he burbles his lips like a baby, and he lost his colors as he runs around in circle, while singing himself a catchy tune, which sounds something like this:



Just then, Princess Porcina returned to the picture, as she continues to sing, "Look at me, look at me!!~"

"Oh brother!" Discord and Blueblood exclaimed. "Not that!" With that, everyone all pounced on the pig, and beat her up.




Spike's group

"LOOK OUT!!" Spike shouted, as he shove Fleur out of the way, just as a huge blob of chocolate milk came falling down from the sky, bounced on the ground for awhile, before it exploded.

"Merci, Spike!" Fleur breathed, as she caught her breath.

Peewee squawked, as he guided the two down a path in the labyrinth, and into an upside down hut.

"Sorry again about the quest for your parents being put on another hold, Fleur," Spike apologized.

"No need for apologies, mon ami," Fleur replied. "It's not easy being a hero." Fleur surprisingly smirked, as she added, "And yet, it's part of the fun."

"Fun?" Spike asked.

"Oui. Though the role of a hero is excruciating work, it is at the same time fun, as we would go on many adventures, through different places around the world, facing danger, rescuing ponies, and protect the innocents. It's all very exciting," Fleur smiled in nostalgia, before she turned to the young prince, "Don't you agree?"

Spike closed his eyes as he thought for a moment, recalling the first time he met the girls again in ten years, and how from there, his whole life took a turn, into a life full of magic, adventure, and most of all, romance.

"Yeah," Spike smiled, sympathizing with the mare. "It is."

"Oh, how touching," Discord's voice rang, snapping the heroes out of moment.

"Discord!" Spike exclaimed. "Show yourself!"

"Now, now, Spike," Discord replied. "No need for violence. Besides, is that anyway to greet an old friend of yours?"

"Not when I know he's under the control of the Shadowbolts!" Spike replied. "Besides, look at what you're doing to Ponyville!"

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Discord asked, before he made himself known. "This is the new and improved Ponyville! And these are my first of changes."

The three heroes looked, but could only shake their heads in denial, "There's nothing beautiful about it," Spike replied. "It's all confusing, and too much to take it all in. I mean, why's it up when it's down? Why does the calendar say Christmas in April? And what's with the chicken?" Spike asked, pointing to a chicken that was repeatedly turning into an egg, then back into a chicken, and so on.

"Meh, he just can't decide the order," Discord replied with a shrug. "Besides, what do you expect from me? I'm Discord! The master of chaos! Disharmony is my game. Don't you remember? I thought we had an agreement."

"We did," Spike replied. "We agreed that peace is good and all, but once in awhile there needs to be a little bit of chaos to liven things up."

"Exactly! Just look around you! Isn't this spicy enough for you? Or would do you prefer that I added another pinch of ghost pepper?" the draconequus asked, while conjuring the said pepper in his claw.

"Don't get me wrong, Discord," Spike replied. "I agree on your view on chaos and peace, and stuff. But we also agreed that there can also be too much of something, and how bad it can be for everyone around us."

"Oh, right. It's that whole yin and yang stuff you've once taught me, wasn't it?"

"Well, yeah! Look around you Discord. What do you see?"

Discord complied, as his eyes popped out of their sockets to see Ponyville, becoming a wacky world of chaos, with mutant animals running amuck, the whole grounds decorated in checkers, and the sky covered in cotton candy clouds, raining chocolate milk.

"My town," Discord answered. "My work of chaos, obviously."

"Take a closer look," Spike replied. "What do you see happening to everybody in Ponyville?"

Discord looked, seeing the ponies running and screaming, panicking from the entire disarray of disharmony inflicting on their homes; houses coming to life, random animals mutated with bizarre features: Like a mouse with a door for a body, a shark with the body of a tiger, a pony with the head and wings of a fly, and so on. Furthermore, he could see ponies slipping on a road he had turned into soap, and crashed into some huge bowling pins. At first, Discord wanted to laugh them off, but something inside him speaks otherwise.

"They're not enjoying your chaos, are they?" Spike asked.

".....No," Discord moaned. "Apparently, they don't."

"And knowing you, Discord. You just wanted them to enjoy your chaos, not suffer from it. In other words, you wanted friends, above all others, right?"

"Well, yes. But hey, I still have you and Thorax for buddies, right? Oh, and what about the boys? We're still friends, aren't we?"

"I don't know, Discord. The way you're using your magic with us, it's more like you're siding with the Shadowbolts, rather than us."

"Well, can't I help it? They gave me these powers. They're pure chaos! I can't just pass up an opportunity like this! Besides, just think of all the possibilities I can do with this kind of power! Look!" With a snap of his finger, Discord conjured a block of silver, and turned it into gold, before he went on to show off all sorts of feats with his powers, including manipulating the weathers to make it rain to sunny, then night and day. "I can just do about everything! And it's all at my fingertips! Isn't that awesome or what?"

"I'll admit, it's kinda awesome," Spike replied. "But what if you can use chaos for good?"

"Chaos? Good?" Discord asked.

"Yeah, I mean, think about it. With you on our side, it'll make fighting the forces of evil a walk in the park!" Spike soon had an epiphany, "Plus, with your newfound powers, it can really help us in our quest to find Fleur's parents, and the Armor of Heroes!"

"What?" Fleur asked, as she walked up to the young dragon. "How so?"

"I don't know," Spike whispered. "It's just a suggestion for him."

"Hmmm," Discord pondered, as he stroked his goatee. "I don't know. The idea of chaos and good going together's never crossed my mind before. Are you certain it would work?"

"C'mon Discord," Spike replied. "You're talking to the guy who actually enjoyed your antics of chaos. And that's back when you were human. Um, back when we were both just humans then, I mean-"

"Okay, okay, I get what you're trying to get at," Discord replied. "But are you sure we can work this out? I mean, I am an agent of the Shadowbolts, y'know," With that, Discord raised his claw up, revealing the mark.

"And so were Sunset and Starlight," Spike continued. "But we still managed to work things out, together. And the same can be done with you Discord. If you can tone down the whole chaos shenanigan, that is," Reaching his claw out, Spike asked, "So, what do ya say?"

Discord looked back at his dragon friend, then his claw, before he shrugged, "Well, here's hoping," Discord was about to shake the dragon's claw when, "ARRRRRRGH!" Discord groaned, as he felt a burning sensation in his head.

With that, Abacus Cinch appeared in Discord's head, as she snarled, "Infidel! You belong to the master! And to belong to the master, you obey me! Body and spirit! Capture the Dragon Prince, NOW!!"

"No!" Discord replied.

"Discord?" Spike asked. "What's wrong? What's happening to you?"

"You will obey me!" Abacus Cinch roared inside the draconequus's head. "Capture the dragon!"

"No!" Discord replied. "I can't! I won't!"

"Very well then," Abacus Cinch frowned. "I'll have to do it myself!"

"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGHHHH!!" Discord roared, before he was engulfed in billows of black smokes, as he spins himself into a tornado, and charged towards Spike, who jumped out of the way.




The Mane Six

"You hear that?" Applejack asked, as she too had heard the scream.

"Oh dear," Fluttershy whimpered. "I hope nothing bad has happened to Spike, and the others."

"Then let's pick up the pace already!" Rainbow shouted, as she flew away from the others at top speed.

"Rainbow! Look out!" Twilight cried, but too late.

A huge portrait of the artists: Salvador Dali's painting The Persistence of Memory appeared in a flash of light, and Rainbow Dash flew right into the painting.





"Rainbow!" Fluttershy shouted. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know," Rainbow said in a low tone, as she began to feel herself adapting to the painting's style. "Well this is surreal."

"Hold on Dashie!" Pinkie shouted. "I'm coming to save you!" Without any second thoughts, Pinkie jumped in, and retrieved Rainbow Dash, out of the picture.

"Thanks Pinkie," Rainbow thanked, before both she and Pinkie ended up falling into another painting. This time, it's a painting drawn by a brony, by the name JJ, who titled it, Imaginary Friendship.



"Whoa, where are we now?" Dash asked, before she heard a sob, and turned her head to see Pinkie Pie, having lost her color, and her mane and tail turned flat.

"Nopony likes me anymore!" Pinkie sobbed, as she talks to the objects around her.

"That's absurd!" Sir Lince-a-lot replied.

"That is downright, despicable!" Madame Le Flour answered.

"Oh c'mon!" Dash began. "Not this again, Pinkie! Snap out of it!"

While Dash tries to help Pinkie out, some of the other girls got sucked up in some mores paintings, done by artists of the past and present.

Twilight was struggling, as she navigate her way around in the the Relativity portrait, drawn by M. C. Escher.



Rarity meanwhile, was in human form, when she fell into painting, drawn by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, titled La Troupe de Mademoiselle Eglantine.



Rarity was dressed in a matching dress, as all the other dancers, as she was forced to do the cancan with them.

"This would simply be marvelous," Rarity began. "If I can just get out, right now!"

Applejack was in a drawing titled appleboots, by a brony named egophiliac.



Fluttershy, in another JJ drawing, was dressed as a maid, hence the title Maid Fluttershy.



"Oh my," Fluttershy blushed. "Oh, at least no pony's looking at me." Fluttershy's words got eaten, when in a flash of light, some ponies appeared out of thin air, and started taking picture of the embarrassed pegasus. "Oh, please! Don't!" Fluttershy whimpered, before she was rescued by a pink hoof that dragged her into the next painting.

After awhile of random scenarios of jumping into paintings, the girls finally emerged, with different designs.

Twilight, much to her embarrassment, was dressed in a skimpy bikini, courtesy of Ta-Na. Fluttershy came out, appearing in one of MegaSweet's early style of art. Applejack appeared, wearing Mona Lisa's dress. Pinkie Pie emerged, with a crazy face that looks something like this:


Rarity emerged, in a anime/manga-like style, courtesy of Pia-sama.

"Darlings!" Rarity exclaimed. "Whatever happened to you all?"

"Probably the same thing that's happened to you," Applejack replied.

"C'mon girls!" Twilight whistled. "Let's go! The sooner we get this over with, the happier I'll be!"

"I couldn't agree more," Rainbow replied, as she was seen, having trouble getting out of a cheerleader costume she was dressed in.





I blame this guy!






Thorax's group

"Here they come!" Hydia said. "Hurry! Do something!"

Reeka and D'raggle were skimming through a spell book before they settled on a spell. With that, the two witches began to chant the spell's incantations, which conjured a rope, as it lassoed around the hooded figure.

"Gotcha!" Reeka sneered, before her words got eaten.

"On the contrary," the hooded figure replied. "I got you!" With that, the figure pulled the fat witch, by the rope, and thrashed her all around town.

"Duh, don't worry Reeka!" D'raggle called. "I'll save you!" With that, D'raggle ran out of hiding, as she tries to save her sister, only to bump into Thorax. Draggle stared at Thorax for awhile, before she emitted a loud scream, and took off, running.

The hooded figure finally released her grip, as she threw Reeka into the air, and the fat witch landed on Draggle. Both witches got up, and looked to see Gabby, looking at them with curiosity.

"Gr-gr-GRIFFOOOOOON!!" Draggle screamed.

"AHH!! MAMA! MAMA!" Reeka screamed, as she jumped into Draggle's arms. The two idiotic witches ran off in blind fear, before finally, they crashed and fell into a trash can.

"Morons," Hydia grumbled. "If you want something done right. You've got to do it, yourself!"

Mina gasped, when she took notice of Hydia, "Great Celestia! You're Countess Hydia!" Mina exclaimed.

"Why, I'm flattered you know me," Hydia sneered.

"Well, who doesn't?" Mina frowned. "You're that crazy witch who made that paper dragon come to life, in an attempt on Spike's life! That's how you got kicked out of Canterlot!"

"Marvelous, ain't it?" Hydia cackled. "But enough talk. I came here for your precious puzzle box, and I'm not leaving without it!"

"You won't take it from me that easy!" the hooded figure said, as she flew at the witch, in a flying kick. In a puff of dark purple smokes, Hydia teleported, as she waved her hands, and shot bolts of lightning at the hooded figure.

[Genji Music (Overwatch)]

In a blur of black, the hooded figure darted around the chaotic landscape, all the while still a little disoriented, since when she climbed over the rooftop of a house, and tried to jump across to another, she suddenly plummeted to the floor, and became as flat as a pancake.

"You can't escape me!" Hydia cackled. "Thanks to Discord, I reign supreme! Or as you kids now say it, I'm 20% cooler!" With an evil cackle, Hydia fired more bolts of lightnings at the figure, who was rescued by Thorax.

Just then, Gabby came flying in, "Flying Crane Kick!" the griffon in pony clothing said, as she landed a kick to the toad-face witch's face. "Lion Claws of Fury!" the griffon screamed as she slashes her claws at the witch, "Eagle Pecks-"

"Enough!" Lydia screamed, as she stomped her foot down, sending a huge shockwave that knocked Gabby back.

"Wow," Thorax mused. "You must've been working out."

"Well what'd you expect from the Mysterious Mare Do Well?" Gabby asked with a smile.

Thorax looked at the griffon in confinement, "But you're not even a mare...."

"I know, right?" Gabby beamed, before she and Thorax ducked their heads down, just as Hydia shot a ball of darkness at them.

Hydia looked back, seeing Reeka and Draggle still struggling from their trash can prison, "Here's a taste of 20% cooler, girls!" Hydia growled, as she fired a bolt of lightning at her daughters. "Don't waste it!"

The two girls looked, before they were hit by their mother's dark spell. Both girls were consumed by smokes of darkness, as their whole appearances were altered. Once the transformation was finished, there stood Reeka, as a red-skinned gargantuan with stubby arms and legs, orange rocky features around her body, red eyes, long eyelashes, and dark hair don in pigtails. For D'raggle, she appears to wear a large bamboo hat, colored black and gold, with matching robes.

"You will be no match for our powers, little creatures!" Reeka roared, in a low, demonic tone. "We shall grind your puny bodies to dust!"

"Yeah! Ha ha ha ha!" Draggle laughed maniacally, with her tongue, extended, and sticking out.

With that, Reeka gave herself a hop in the air, before she body slammed to the ground, sending a huge shockwave that can be felt, all over Ponyville, before she rolled around, attempting to squash the group of heroes. Meanwhile, Draggle waved her hands around, as she floated around and fired several lightning bolts at the heroes.

"Wow," Thorax whimpered. "She's not kidding when she said 20% cooler! Or in this case, 20% darker."

"Then I guess the cloak's off!" the hooded figure said, as she took her cloak off, revealing herself to be a dragon, like Mina, with the exception that she wore a golden armor, over a brown jumpsuit. Reaching behind her back, the dragon pulls out a bow and several arrows, and fired them towards Reeka. Irritated, Reeka turned her head in the dragon's directions, before she raised her foot up and stomped it back down. But the dragon spread her wings out, revealing their membranes to be a gradient of indigo and cobalt blue, before she flapped them, and flew around, as she continued to fire her arrows at the colossal, demonic witch.

"Pesky little dragon!" Reeka roared. "You may be fast, but in comparison to me, you're like a little, pesky fly!" With that, Reeka raised her fist up, as she tries in vain to swat the dragon away. In retaliation, the dragon breathed a jet of purple fire, straight into the demon's face, as she continues to fire some more arrows.

Meanwhile, with Draggle, the dark magic empowered witch took her hat off, as a flock of bats flew out and went straight towards Mina, who countered them with a burst of blue fires. The bats disappeared in puffs of red smokes, as Draggle suddenly appeared from behind, preparing to land a kick on the young dragoness.

"Not so fast!" Gabby yelled, as she clamped her beak on the witch's hand, causing her to scream in pain.

Draggle's hands were engulfed in a fiery aura of red, as she zapped the griffon off, before she reached into her robe, and pulls out a long chain, with a spike ball on one end, and a scythe on the other. With a spin, Draggle throws the ball towards Mina, who dodged the attack, as Draggle retracts the ball back, and gives it another spin, before she tries again, and manages to snare a nearby lamppost. With a grunt, Draggle pulls the lamppost, and spins it around, nearly hitting Gabby, who had just gotten up.

Hydia, perched on top of a house was laughing with glee, as she enjoys the chaos she and her daughters are now spreading, when suddenly...

*CHOMP*

"YOW!" Hydia yelped in pain, before she looked behind, to see a mosquito injecting its needle into her butt.

"Blech!" the mosquito groaned, before it revealed itself to be Thorax, spitting and drooling, as he groaned, "What nasty flavor..."

"Why you-YOW!!" Hydia screamed, as she felt her butt bitten again, this time, by Gabby.

"Yuck!" Gabby spatted, "It tastes worse than Grampa Gruff's soup of frog legs! Ugh!"

"How dare you," Hydia began. "How dare you bite me on the butt!" With that, Hydia chanted an incantation as she summoned several gold pans to come falling from the sky, nearly hitting Thorax and Gabby.

"Ha! You missed us, you missed us!" Thorax and Gabby taunted. "Now you gotta kiss us!"

"Ha ha ha," Hydia laughed, as she replies, "That's just the beginning. Now the real magic begins!" With that, Hydia snapped her fingers. With that, purple fires erupted from the pans, as numerous monsters were conjured to do Hydia's biddings.

"Oh dear," Thorax moaned, before he was grabbed by Gabby. "Hey! What are you-"

Cartoonishly, Gabby messed around with Thorax, until he was changed into a pair of nun-chucks. With Bruce Lee's war cry, Gabby charges toward the monster packs, and fought them off with Thorax, much to his humiliations.

"What are you doing?!" Hydia screamed in outrage. "Fight! FIIIIIIGGGGHHHTT!!" Turning to her daughters, Hydia called, "Reeka! Draggle! Help me! Stop that griffon!"

"Don't worry master!" Draggle said, as she prepared a spell. "I'll stop her!" With that, Draggle fired a ball of magics, straight towards Gabby.

"Quickly Thorax!" Gabby said. "Into a bat!"

Thorax, begrudgingly, turned himself into cute looking bat, with a hamster-like body as he screeched, "Hey every pony! Did you miss Ko-chan? Wheee!"

"No!" Gabby shouted, as the ball was almost upon them. "I meant the other bat!"

"Oh, sorry," Thorax replied in his normal voice, as he shape-shifted himself into a baseball bat.

With that, and the baseball organ theme playing in the background, Gabby swung the Thorax bat, hitting the magic ball, back at Draggle, who dodged out of the way.

"It's outta here," the armored dragon said.




Elsewhere

Prince Blueblood was waking up, as he looked around the chaotic Ponyville, "Did I win?" Blueblood asked, before he was hit by the deflected spell ball and was immediately transfigured into a frog, and sang:


 "Hello my baby, hello my honey
Hello my ragtime, summertime gal
Send me a kiss by wire, by wire
Baby, my heart's on fire, on fire
If you refuse me, honey, you lose me
And you'll be left alone, oh baby
Telephone, and tell me, tell me
Tell me I'm your very own, oh~"


Just then, one of Discord's clone appeared, and he smashed the frog with a mallet, which magically turned him back into a unicorn.

"Which way did he go George?" Blueblood asked, dizzily, and in a different voice. "Which way did he go?"

Discord stroked his goatee, "Hmmmm, that way!" Discord answered, as he pointed his arms in random directions.

"Oh geez, thanks a lot George!" Blueblood said, as he shook the draconequus's lion paw. "Thanks a lot!"

With a spin, Blueblood fell, face flat on the ground, before Discord opened his eyes to ask, "What's the matter your majesty? Speak to me! Why won't you say something?"

"I'm only 3 1/2 years old!" Prince Blueblood answered, in a baby's voice, before he burbles his lips again.

Discord laughed, as he explains to the readers, "I like him! He's silly!" With that, Discord pulls Blueblood's tongue out, before he released it, causing it fly back into the stallion's mouth, as it rolls around like a curtain's blinder.

Angrier than ever, Blueblood picked up a discarded wooden plank, as he gave chase, after what he believed to be Discord.




Back to the fight, Gabby continues to use Thorax as a baseball bat, as she combatted against all the spells Draggle was firing at her.

"I got it! I got it!" one of the monsters shouted, before he was hit, and was forced into the ground, as a gravestone was sprouted, reading: "He got it!"

Eventually, Reeka was hit by her sister's spell, and was knocked off her feet, and landed on her back, "Master!" Reeka called. "I have fallen! And I cannot get up!"

Draggle was preparing another spell, only for the armored dragon to get in between, and fired an arrow, tipped with purple fires, as it collided with the witch's spell, exploding on impact, and reverted Draggle, back to plain old D'raggle.

"Now, it's your turn-" the armored dragon looked to see the toad witch gone. "Where'd she go?"

Before anyone could answer, both Reeka and D'raggle disappeared in puffs of smokes. Then, everyone heard the sound of thunders rumbling in the distance.




Meanwhile
[Fracktail Battle - Super Paper Mario OST]

Spike, in dog form, watched, as his cursed friend was spinning nonstop, and was rapidly snapping fingers, wherever he goes, causing random objects to come falling from the sky, and straight towards the young dragon.

Fleur jumped in, as she projected a shield spell, saving herself and Spike, after an anvil nearly crushed the two.

The two friends looked to see the crazy, mind controlled draconequus of their friend, coming to a halt, as face suddenly morphs into a TV, as it projected the face of Abacus Cinch.

"Prince Spike," Abacus Cinch sneered. "We meet again!"

Spike frowned, upon seeing the cruel woman's face, "Let Discord go!" Spike barked.

"Sorry, young prince," Abacus Cinch replied. "But your friend works for us now!" Abacus's face had an epiphany, as she smirked. "Of course, I may consider freeing him."

"What's the catch?" Spike asked.

"Your friend's release, for your precious Dragonfire!"

"Don't give it to her, Spike!" Discord yelled mentally.

"Spike no!" Fleur pleaded. "You mustn't!"

"Fat chance, Moony!" Spike replied. "You'll never get it from me!"

Annoyed, Abacus replied, "Perhaps you'll reconsider, after my new slave levels Ponyville to the ground! Have at it, Discord!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Discord screamed, as he continues to spin himself into a tornado, and created several duplicates of himself.

One of the Discords threw a jar, containing blue powders at Spike, who jumped out of the way, and changed himself into a dragon, as the jar exploded in a puff of blue clouds. More jars were thrown, as they all exploded into clouds. Soon, it was all too much for Spike to keep on dodging the clouds, until Fleur arrived, and projected a spell, encasing herself and Spike in a protection bubble.

"Magic health bubble," Fleur explained.

"Good thinking, Flare!" Spike smirked, as he gave the unicorn a thumbs up. "Look out!" Spike shouted, as he and Fleur jumped out of the way, just as Discord fired a blob of chocolate milk at them, which exploded.

Just then, the girls arrived.

"Spike!" Twilight shouted. "Are you alright?!"

"Twilight?" Spike asked, as he turned to look at the girl, eyes widened to see the state she's in, and comically turned himself into a puffer fish, as he bloated himself up, his dragon wings spread out, and his dog tail wagging.

Discord stopped his action, as he took notice of the situation, and couldn't help but laugh his heart out, literally, "That's the most funniest thing I've ever seen!" Discord laughed.

Snapping out of the moment, while blushing a shade of red, Spike snapped is eyes shut, as he regained his focus, and turned back into a dragon, slightly, as his face was still partially fishy.

"Don't try to deny it, Spike!" Discord grinned. "You like seeing Twilight like that, do you?" Spike struggled to keep focus, as he felt himself losing control of his form. "Ooh, getting shy are we? Well, I happen to have heat visions, and I can sense your temperatures are getting high! Or, are you just having a fever?"

Taking a deep breath, Spike cleared his mind, as he regains his focus and continued to fight Discord. Spike spins around, and whipped his tail at the draconequus, who blocked the attack with a shield he had conjured, before Spike strikes with a karate chop, slicing Discord in half. Discord pulled himself together, before he disappeared in a flash of light, and fired several bolts of lightning towards Spike, who took them all in, before he redirected them back at the draconequus, courtesy of Scorpan.

"Scorpan's taught you well," Discord mused, before he holds out a poster, "But did he taught you how to defend yourself against this?" With that, Discord unrolls the poster, revealing it to be a pin-up photo of Rainbow Dash.

"Hey!" Rainbow exclaimed. "How'd you get-" Dash soon noticed the looks she was receiving, as she blushed, "I mean, where'd you get that picture of some pony who's not me!"

Spike, quickly snapped his eyes shut, as he did a roundhouse kick, and struck Discord to the side. Discord continued to show off some more photos of some girls in some sexy attires, though Spike continues to fight, all the while keeping himself under control, barely.

"You just don't let yourself enjoy much, do you?" Discord asked, with an amused grin.

"Says the magician who's a slave of the Shadowbolts, and who's fighting me, his best friend," Spike replied.

"Touché," Discord replied. "Though, can't you blame me for trying to attack you that doesn't involve the spill of your blood?" Discord asked, with a bat of his eyelashes. The rest of the friends arrived, to see Spike and Discoord resuming their fight. Luckily, for Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity quickly acted as human shields, as they quickly covered their friend up, saving the rest of the boys from experiencing the same awkward phase as Spike did before.

"Well, it's all fun and games and all Spike ol'chum," Discord began. "But I really must be going. Ta-Ta."

"Wait!" Spike called out, but too late. Discord disappeared in a flash of light, restoring Ponyville back to the way it was, along with the girls.

"Oh, thank goodness that's over," Twilight smiled.

"You did it, Spike!" Pinkie cheered, as she bounced over to the boy, who turned himself back to human. "You saved Ponyville!" Spike, however, didn't say a word, "Hey, why the sad face?"

"I saved Ponyville alright," Spike replied sadly. "Too bad I couldn't say the same for Discord."

"Oh, there, there darling," Rarity comforted, as she went over to hug the boy. "I'm sure he knows you tried."

"Besides, you'll save him next time," Rainbow added, as she tries her best to comfort her friend.

"Maybe," Spike replied, still not convince.

"Hey Spike~" Pinkie called. "Look at me~"

[Equestria Girls (California Girls Parody)]

Spike complied, as he looked, to see a stage was somehow set up, so quickly. The lights turned on to reveal Pinkie Pie, in human form, and wearing nothing but a blue and yellow bikini, as she sang the song, and danced.

"GAH!!" the boys, including Thorax, yelped, as they stared, awestruck at Pinkie's display.

"PINKIE!!!" the girls exclaimed.

"What?" Pinkie asked casually, as she stopped the music.

"What are you doing?" Applejack asked, blushing at her friend's bold move.

"I'm just trying to cheer Spike up," Pinkie replied, looking to see Spike, sprouting wings, hid his blushing face from behind. "Aw? Are you shy, Spikey?" Pinkie asked, as she tried to pry Spike's wings open.

Just then, Prince Blueblood arrived, and his jaws dropped as he took notice of Pinkie, "What is that bizarre, creature?" Blueblood asked.

Spike, changing into a penguin said, "You didn't see anything!" Before Blueblood could reply, Pipsqueak karate chopped him, knocking the stallion out cold.

"I did it!" Pipsqueak cheered.




Midnight Castle

Within a the throne room, the Shadowbolts have reported their failure to their princess, who is obviously not happy.

"Another mission marred with the sickening stench of defeat!" Nightmare Moon growled. "You have not only failed to capture the Dragonfire, but you have also failed to retrieve the sword!"

"Forgive us, your majesty," one of the Shadowbolts pleaded. "We will not fail you again."

The mad alicorn turned to the Shadowbolts before her, "I will hold you to your words!" she said. "Because next time, the price for failure shall be your lives, and another addition to my wall!" Nightmare Moon said, referring to the wall behind her, with the lifeless bodies of the Three Magicians. The very sight struck fear in the Shadowbolts' hearts as their master continues, "The task ahead is very grave. I can afford no further blunders. Prepare yourselves, and your men! Now begone!"

"As you wish, your majesty," the Shadowbolt answered, bowing his head, as he and his comrades took their leaves.

After she was left alone, Nightmare Moon went towards one torches close by. Using her magic, the fire erupted in a blue inferno, as it formed into a huge sphere, projecting an image of Somnambula.

"Somnambula!" Nightmare Moon began.

"Yes, your highness?" the evil witch replied.

"What is the progress on your part?"

"I have returned to the Griffonstone, as instructed your majesty. Our excavation is currently underway, even as we speak, my princess."

"And what of the helmet? Have you found it, yet?"

"So far, not yet. But I can sense its power close by. Rest assured, your highness, we will find it."

"Very good," Nightmare Moon small, just a little. "And what of the Dragonfire? And this precious Kyrie of yours?"

"The last time Kyrie escaped, she was with the young dragon's pet phoenix. And knowing him, he is probably back with the Dragon Prince by now. 

"And what steps have you taken to retrieve the bird, and the Dragonfire?"

"I've hired a bounty hunter, m'lord. A professional one."




Fillydelphia, Dragon Town

Bloodshot arrived via train, as he makes his way into the wreckage of Dragon Town, courtesy of Spike and his friend's previous battle with the Shadowbolts. He got down to his knees, as he scanned the street with his hands, looking for signs of tracks left behind by his preys.




Elsewhere

Discord was simply dancing and singing himself a merry tune he made up for himself, while painting mustaches on every ponies he passed.


(Wacky, Daffy Duck)



Call me wacky, daffy Discord, daffy Discord, daffy Discord,
Call me wacky, daffy Discord, the greatest draconequus in town~!

(Call him wacky, daffy Discord, daffy Discord, daffy Discord,
Call him wacky, daffy Discord, the greatest draconequus in town!)

Call me wacky, daffy Discord, daffy Discord, daffy Discord,
Call me wacky, daffy Discord, the greatest draconequus in town~!

I can disappear in a flash, take out the trash, make a cash,
I'm so cool without a mustache, and I don't wear false eyelashes~!
I'm a newbie, so you can plainly see, why I ski, with a glee~!
I'm what makes MLP cooler, as Rainbow quotes: 20% cooler!

"Thought you can outsmart with the ol' master, eh?" Discord asked the readers.

Just then, Princess Porcina returned, only for Discord to stop her with a trashcan lid, as he painted a mustache on her face.

Porcina is the perfect fool! As a rule, she's not cool! All she does is slobber and drool and say: Look at me~!

"Hey!" Porcina exclaimed, as Discord resumes singing.

"SO! Who's ready for my big reprise?" Discord asked.

(Call him wacky, daffy Discord, daffy Discord, daffy Discord,
Call him wacky, daffy Discord, the greatest draconequus in town!)
Call me wacky, daffy Discord, daffy Discord, daffy Discord,
Call me wacky, daffy Discord, the greatest draconequus in town~!(x2)


"Adios!" Discord said to the readers.




> Armor of Heroes Part 7: Enter the Sapphire Dragon, a Griffon, and a Magician
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friendship Castle

After helping all of the ponies with cleaning up the messes around Ponyville, the heroes all returned to Friendship Castle, where Spike took the moment to catch up with some more of his forgotten friends. Mostly the armored dragon, who revealed herself to be a Dragon Lord.

"Nice to see you again, Spike," the dragon greeted, before she took her helmet off.

"EMBER?!" Spike and Mina gasped. In appearance, Ember is a brilliant cyan dragon, with moderate blue pthalo spikes, brilliant red, narrow blazing eyes, light and dark blue diamond-shaped markings on her forehead and around her eyes, and long white horns that curved downward on the sides of her head.

"Omigosh!" Mina exclaimed, as she ran up to Ember. "It's so red rubies to see you again!"

"Um, likewise," Ember replied, before she turned to Spike and smiled. "Though, it's actually more red rubies to be seeing you again, Spike."

"Feeling's mutual, Ember," Spike smiled. "So, how've you been?" he asked, while eyeing the dragoness up and down, "You've been working out?"

"I'd say the same for you," Ember smirk in reply. "You're definitely not that same old runt I knew back then."

"You can say that again."

Just then, a loud groan broke out through Friendship Castle, as Gilda dizzily walked in, "Hey everyone," Gilda groaned.

"GRIFFON ATTACK!" the Knights screamed.

"PILE ON HER EVERYONE!" Button shouted.

"NO WAIT!" Gilda shouted, as the Knights pounced forward, only to be caught by Sunset Shimmer.

"Boys, it's okay!" Sunset began. "Gilda's cured now. She's safe."

With that, Sunset released the boys, as Rainbow galloped forward, "Gilda!" the pegasus exclaimed happily

"Dash!" Gilda shouted, as both girls both did a secret hoof, and claw shake.

"What happened to you Gilda?" Dash asked. "I haven't talked with you for three years! And when I saw you again, you were all-" Rainbow went on to mimic Gilda's roars and growls.

"I don't know," Gilda replied, as she rubbed her temple. "Last thing I remember, I was spying on some Shadowbolts in the Everfree Forest when I got captured. And next thing I know, some red smoke came flying by, and I just kinda breathed into it. And from there, it was like my mind was on fire, and I could barely think straight."

"Three guesses on what that red smoke is," Sunset added, as every pony all had an epiphany. "Anyway, Zecora was able to exorcise it from Gilda, so she's okay now."

"So how does it feel to be back with us, Gilda?" Rainbow asked with a smile.

"Great," Gilda replied gruffly. "Just a little," With that, Gilda clenched her fist, as she threatens, "When I get my claws on one of those Shadowbolts! They're gonna wished they never messed with me!"

The girls and boys both looked at the griffon, eyes widen in fright.

"Then might I suggest you save it for the Shadowbolts?" Sunset asked. "Besides, in case you haven't noticed, Spike's back!"

Gilda's anger quickly evaporated, as she exclaimed, "What?! He is? Where?!"

"Right here, Gilda!" Spike called out. "Nice to see-"

"Hey, Spike!" Gilda exclaimed, as she pounced on the boy and pinned him to the ground. "What took you so long?"

Spike chuckled sheepishly, as he answered, "Sorry Gilda. I had to wait ten years to remember I'm part dragon."

"And did you also remember you had an awesome griffon for a friend?" Gilda asked, with her eyebrows raising up and down, her beak inching in close to Spike's lips, much to Rainbow and Gabby's raised envy.

"Hey!" Ember called, as she broke up the moment. "Hugs and kisses later. As I recall, we've got something important to concern about."

"Oh yeah, that's right!" Gabby exclaimed, as she pulls out the puzzle box. "Good thing those witches didn't take this from us."

"Thank Bahamut for that," Ember said, as she takes the puzzle box. "If those crazy witches, or any of the Shadowbolts had taken it, then we'd come here for nothing."

"What's so important about the box?" Twilight asked.

"Well, first off, princess, it's a puzzle box," Ember replied. "And second, it's not just any puzzle box. It's the Fucanglong Box."

"For real?!" Twilight and Sunset all exclaimed, as they both held the box in their auras, for closer inspections.

"Omigosh!" Twilight exclaimed. "I can't believe I'm actually looking at the legendary Fucanglong Box, itself!"

"Oh, I can just practically taste the magics within already!" Sunset squealed.

"Yeah," Rainbow began, breaking the two unicorns from their fan girl moment. "Care to explain what this Fu-kong, Fu-kung-lung Box is and what it does?"

Slightly annoyed, Ember explained, "The Fucanglong box, Rainbow Dash is a magic box that, once activated, can point the way to the remaining pieces of the Armor of Heroes."

"Does it really?" Spike asked, as he and Fleur got interested. "Hey, how did you know we were looking for the armor's pieces?" Spike asked.

"I didn't," Ember replied. "The Fucanglong Box has another purpose, besides being a magnet for pieces of the armor. But that doesn't matter now, since your Five Knights friends over there had informed me about the mission you guys were on. So I decided to tag along and help you guys out."

"Which goes double for me!" Gabby chirped happily.

"Wow," Gilda began, directing her attention to Spike. "You've just got back from Earth, and already you're on an adventure?"

"Well, I owe it to Fleur," Spike replied, speaking on the unicorn's behalf. "She and the girls here have been through a lot to bring me back to Equestria, and I'd like to return the favor by helping her find her parents," With that, Spike filled Gilda in on all that has transpired, and how Fleur's parents were involved.

"Well, what're we doing flapping our beaks for?" Gilda asked, before she turned to Ember. "Let's crack that box open already! We've got some missing heroes to save!"

With a nod, Ember twisted and turned the puzzle box, until it clicked. With that, the box glowed in a blue aura, before a magic beam of the same color was fired, displaying an image of a helmet that slightly resembles a samurai's helmet, with ornaments in the shape of wings at the top, adorned with a crystal in between.

"Whoa!" Button exclaimed. "What is that?"

"It's the Helmet of Wisdom!" Twilight gasped, as the magic projection of the said helmet began to float around, before it hovered over a specific spot, just above the crystal map in the throne room. "And if I'm not mistaken, the box is saying the helmet is in Griffonstone!"

"That's the capital of the griffon homeland!" Gilda explained.

"Then that's where we're going!" Spike declared.

"Maybe later Spike," Twilight said. "For now, it's getting late. You should get some rest first, before you can go on another adventure."

"Oh c'mon, Twilight," Spike tried to protest. "I'm not a bit sleepy," Spike however got his words eaten, when a yawn escaped his mouth. "Well, maybe just a little."

"Actually Spike," Button yawned. "I think Twilight has a point. We do need to go to sleep. Besides, as much as I don't like it, it's also a school night for us."

"Oh yeah," Pinkie added, as she and the girls all recalled. "It's still a school night for all of us."

Spike looked around, before he questioned, "We're talking about CHS here, are we?"

"What other school would we be talking about?" Button asked. "CPA?"

"Okay, okay," Spike replied, before he let out a sigh, "Guess it was sweet to be home, while it lasted."

"Don't worry Spike," Pinkie comforted. "You're only going back to Earth for a few hours or so. It's not like you're going away for another year or two."

"Darn tootin," Applejack smiled. "Besides, with the gate opened. We're free to travel between both worlds, whenever we want."

"Oh, right," Spike smiled.

Gilda and Gabby meanwhile looked uncertain.




Later That Evening

Spike was walking down the castle halls, trying to find his way back to his guest room, "Twilight should really put a map around here," he said.

Then, his ears perked, as he hears Starlight talking, "Now hold still Trixie. This won't hurt a bit."

'Trixie?' Spike asked in his thoughts, as he shape-shifted into a dog, as he went to investigate.

The door to Starlight's room was opened, just ajar, allowing the dog to peek in, to see Starlight, firing a spell at a jar, containing Trixie, as a pixie. Spike watched as the magic show went underway, before it subsided, and Starlight fell to the floor, exhausted.

"Sorry Trixie," Starlight moaned. "I'm afraid I can't restore you back to normal."

"But you have to!" Trixie cried. "I can't spend the rest of my life as a little pixie! I can't be Great and Powerful if I'm stuck in a jar! How will I ever enchant Spike, if I'm like this?" the girl whispered at the last part, which didn't go unheard for Spike.

Not wanting to see the girl looking sad any further, Spike composed himself as he changes back in human form, and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" Starlight asked.

"It's me, Spike," Spike answered.

"Spike?!" Trixie gasped.

"Come in, Spike," Starlight smiled, as the boy entered the room.

"Oh, Spike! Am I ever so glad to see you!" Trixie beamed.

"Hey Trixie," Spike replied, as he bent down to look at the shrunken girl. "Huh, guess my ears weren't lying when I heard you calling."

"Please, you've got to help me!" Trixie begged. "I've been kidnapped and turned into a pixie against my own will, and all I asked now is for your help!"

"How'd you end up like this?" Spike asked, which led to Trixie explaining her story, of how Discord was turned into a draconequus, how he came and interrupted her show, and how she was captured and turned into a pixie against her own will, before she met Starlight. "Oh, I see."

"Now normally, the Great and Powerful Trixie would free herself in these kinds of situations," Trixie said. "But as you can see, this is out of my league! I'm just a performer, an illusionist, not an actual magical being like you!"

"How'd you know about-"

"I told her that," Starlight answered. "Along with the fact that you're in possession of the Dragonfire."

"Why would you do that, Starlight?" Spike asked.

Starlight chuckled, "Slip of the tongue, I guess."

"What's going on here?" Twilight asked, as she made herself known.

Some explanations later

"YOU WHAT?!" Twilight exclaimed, to a slightly frightened Starlight.

"Would it hurt to say, I'm sorry?" Starlight asked, frighteningly.

"Hey, shrunken girl over here," Trixie called out.

After a long exhale of frustrated groans, Twilight took a deep breath, before her horn glowed, and she fired a spell at Trixie. Trixie was engulfed in a coat of magenta as she slowly started to change shape.

"Starlight," Twilight groaned. "I'm gonna need help on this one!"

With that, Starlight concentrated her magic, as she too joined in with Twilight. With a burst of sparkles and lights, there stood Trixie Lulamoon, restored to human form.

"I'm normal?" Trixie asked, as she began to look at herself.

"HERE PUT THIS ON!" Spike exclaimed, handing the girl his jacket, before he darted out of the room.

"What's the hurry Spike?" Trixie called, before she heard some snickers from Starlight and Twilight. "What?" she asked.

It didn't take long for Trixie to feel a sudden breeze, that she looked down, blushing to her embarrassment when she sees she was missing some coverings. There she stood, wearing only a yellow bra, with matching panties, and white stockings.







With Spike

Spike was blushing a storm, and was changing out of control, as he was turning from a bloated puffer fish to a turned on wolf, and a mix of both, with his dragon wings sprouting, "Oh man!" Spike said, as he finally composes himself together. "Get it together Spike," he panted, before he took a deep breath. "I didn't see that purpose. I never saw that," he said to himself. 'Though she looks-No! Bad Spike! Bad! What would your mother say?!' he said in his thoughts. 'Perhaps some meditations should clear things up.'

With that, Spike was on his way, down a hall, when he heard the Knights, Gabby, and Gilda, having a talk, in a library. Spike walked in, while the two sides sharing a civil conversation.

"Aren't you happy to go back to your home?" Rumble asked. "Griffonstone is your home, isn't it?"

"Not our favorite kind," Gilda replied.

"What's going on here?" Spike asked, making himself known.

"Gilda and Gabby didn't want to go back to Griffonstone," Rumble answered.

"It's still that bad?" Spike asked.

"Yeah, you better believe it," Gilda replied.

"Care to share with the rest of the class?" Rumble asked.

"You see, the thing is," Gabby began, as she scratched the back of her head. "Besides me and Gilda, griffons aren't the most friendliest of magical creatures. Most griffons don't pay much attention to each other. And even if they do, it's not, y'know the good kind of attention." Gabby frowned, along with Gilda, both feeling ashamed of the bad reputation their own kinds. 

"So, what about you two then?" Button asked.

"I'm just the little mail delivery griffon, who likes to spread a little bit of griffony sunshines on my rounds, which makes me feel different from all the other griffons. And I'd do anything for any old griffons in need."

"And I was just a sales griffon, selling out griffon scones to work up some moneys for my grandpa," Gilda answered. "That, and being Dash's friendly griffon neighbor. Y'know, up until the Shadowbolts got away with me."

"And the harder we try to do some goods, the less we fit in," the boys frowned, before Gabby perked up. "But it wasn't until I heard stories about Spike the Dragon Prince who helped the ponies in Equestria, despite being a dragon, or a human. Then I realized some creatures actually like helping each other, and I saw something so awesomely awesome – how helping spreads from pony to pony and griffon to griffon! And I'll admit, I was so inspired by his dedication to helping others as a hero, that after he left Equestria for ten years, I created my very own super hero alter-ego, the Mysterious Mare Do Well!"

"Which is where you're entering the gray area," Gilda added. "Because you're not even a mare!"

"I know!" Gabby squealed. "Which is the first thing all evil-doers would suspect! They would never suspect the MMDW to be a griffon!"

Spike couldn't help but smile, hearing the positive impact he had left behind, "Wow," Rumble mused, as he turned to Spike. "You're quite the hero, huh?"

"It was nothing," Spike replied, modestly.

"NOTHING?!" Gabby exclaimed. "NOTHING?! It was something alright! I'll never forget how you, Gilda, and Rainbow Dash fought Dumb-Bell and his gangs to get my dolly back!"

"Or the time when he and Flare Heart once foiled a terrorist's plan to crash an airship into a building in Manehatten," Gilda added.

"Only because we had your help, Gilda," Spike reminded.

"Well, yeah," Gilda grinned. "But you talked me into joining."

"Heh, that's nothing," another voice sounded, revealing itself to be Ember, without her armor. Joining her, was her fellow dragon, Mina, "You think all of that makes Spike a hero? Then you clearly haven't heard this one."

"Really?" Rumble asked. "Then by all means, enlighten us."
> Armor of Heroes Part 8: Dragon Legend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Past

It was back when Fleur-De-Lis was Flare Heart, and some times before Spike's fifth birthday. During which, news from Fillydelphia have reached Canterlot, concerning about a colony of dragons, inhabiting Dragon Town have started to go on a rampage in the city of ponies. Wanting the situations to be settled, Princess Celestia sent both Spike and Flare to Dragon Town, to resolve the conflict.

Unlike some of the ponies in Canterlot and Ponyville, the ponies in Fillydelphia weren't so welcoming when they first saw Prince Spike. Nevertheless, Spike and Flare made their way to Dragon Town to converse with the local dragons. However, only two were a welcome for the two heroes. And those two, where none other but Mako and Mina themselves.

After some discussions, and some investigations, it didn't take long for Spike and Flare to find out that the 'dragon rampages' were actually infestations of some bothersome creatures called fire snails. However, before Spike and Flare could have the chance to alert the authorities, a fire broke out at a retirement home. With that, Spike bravely jumped into the burning building, to save the elder ponies to  safety, while Flare Heart ran off to Dragon Town, appealing to the dragons to help save the ponies. With Mina's help, Flare was able to win the dragons over, as they aided in the rescue. Many lives would've been lost on that terrible night, had it not been the heroics of the Dragon Prince and his faithful sidekick.

From that day forward, Spike and Flare not only won the favor of the ponies in Fillydelphia, but the dragon colonies as well. Eventually, Mako offered to tutor Spike the dragons' martial arts, Dragon Kata, having seen the good spirit in the young prince's heart.

Meanwhile, words of Spike and Flare's heroic reached Dracasia, the homeland of all the dragons. It didn't take long, before they all reached Torch, who was Dragon Lord then, and his daughter. Both of their curiosity were piqued, upon learning of a Dragon Prince living in Equestria, and playing the role as the hero of ponies. With that, the two decided to journey to Equestria to see the Dragon Prince themselves.




Canterlot

Mina and Mako were visiting the capital city of the ponies, when Torch arrived, accompanied by several of his imperial guards, and his daughter. Using the power of the Bloodstone Scepter, Torch changed himself, and his companions in the forms of humans, as they walked through the streets of Canterlot, before they arrived at the castle. In appearance, Torch appeared to be a tall man, clad in a heavy suit of armor that matched his draconic appearance, the same which goes for the others.

Once they made their way to the castle's throne room, Torch roared, "We have come to seek, the one called Prince Spike. May he present himself to me, at once!" his loud voice was enough to make some of the guards tremble in fear, while Prince Blueblood, screaming like a girl, hid behind Princess Celestia for protection.

"No need to roar, Torch," Princess Celestia said. "I'm sure we can all hear you, loud and clear."

"I am Dragon Lord!" Torch growled. "And I will say however I want!"

"Well, this isn't your land!" Princess Celestia replied in a higher stern voice. "Therefore, you will not act in such manners!"

The two powerful leaders kept on staring each other down until, "Did someone call my name?" a young Spike asked, as he flew into the room, on his cloud. "Prince Spike, at your service!" Spike panted, as he changes in human form, got down to the floor, and bowed before Torch and his mother.

"You're the Dragon Prince?" Ember asked, as she took notice of his human form. "But you don't look anything like a dragon."

"That's because I'm not in dragon form," Spike replied, as he shape-shifted himself into a dragon, surprising the dragons in the room.

"Sorry," Ember quickly apologized.

In comparison to heights and sizes, if counting his crest, younger Spike stood about to younger Ember's neckline. The same also goes for Mina.

"No hard feelings," Spike replied, before Torch towered over him. "Um, may I help you sir?"

"So you're the legendary Dragon Prince we've been hearing back in Dracasia?" Dragon Lord Torch asked.

"Legendary's kind of an exaggeration," Spike replied modestly, before his eyes widen. "Wait! Did you say you're from Dracasia?" Taking notice of the scepter Torch was carrying, Spike quickly realized who he was talking to, "You must be the Dragon Lord!"

"Yes, that's me," Torch chuckled at the last part.

"How incredibly observant you are," Ember said with a roll of her eyes.

"So, what brings you to Equestria, your lordship?" Spike asked.

"And what business is it of yours that concerns my son?" Princess Celestia asked, while standing protectively close to her son.

"If you must know," Torch began. "We've been hearing some interesting pony tales about a dragon prince, living in your domain, helping the ponies. And we got curious, since this the first time we've heard words of another royal dragon. Especially, when he's adopted by you, and living with the ponies."

"So we came here to see the Dragon Prince for ourself," Ember said. "Didn't expect him to be some runt."

"Runt?" Spike exclaimed in outrage, while Blueblood couldn't help but snicker in the background.

"Careful there, Princess Ember," a voice called, revealing itself to be Mako, in celestial dragon form, as he flew into the room, along with Mina, before he changes into a human. "Believe me, when I say, you do not want to insult the Dragon Prince, in front of Princess Celestia. She's very overprotective of her son, y'know."

"No I'm not!" Celestia scoffed.

Ignoring the alicorn princess, Mako turned to Torch, and bowed, "It's been many years since I last saw you Torch. You've certainly grown, even for a dragon," Torch remained stoic, before Mako continues, "Now that you've seen the young prince, what do you plan to do with him?"

With that, Torch expresses the interests, on behalf of the majority of dragons back in Dracasia, all stating their interests in an alliance between dragons and ponies, since Spike was living proof of a friendship between ponies and dragons. Not to mention, it was thanks to Spike and Flare that none of the dragon colonies in Equestria were lynched by some false accusations.

"And so, after much debate, I decided to carry out the interests of my people," Torch replied. "But first things first, Prince Spike needs to have a better understanding to the ways of dragons in Dracasia. Therefore, he has to come with us."

Princess Celestia pondered, before she turned to her son, "What do you think, Spike?"

Spike thought about what Torch had said, before he answered, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, mom! If the dragons want to form an alliance with us, we should take it!" With that, Spike turned to Torch as he replies, "I'll do it!"




The next day

Spike, together with Scorpan, Flare Heart, and quite surprisingly, Prince Blueblood, left with the dragons. The dragons and Scorpan left via flight, Spike on clouds, while Flare, much to her chagrin, in a chariot, pulled by pegasus guards, and Blueblood.

"Why are you coming with us, cousin?" Spike asked.

"Well, I smell adventure, and I want in," Blueblood said, raising his snooty muzzle in the air. "Besides, no pony is better at forming a diplomatic relationship than I!"

As much as Spike wanted to argue, he begrudgingly agreed, since diplomacy is Blueblood's specialty. He just hopes Blueblood doesn't blow it up, not only for Spike, but for all the ponies back in Equestria.




Dracasia
[Epic Chinese Music - Chinese Dragon by Derek & Brandon Fiechter]

After a long hour of flight, the group made it to Dracasia. Spike gasped in amazement, to see the land of dragons in person. As far as the eyes could see, the land was full of tall, rugged mountains, with all sorts of building structures built on the sides. Everywhere he looked, he could see dragons, of all shapes and sizes, flying and running, as they all go about their days. Like the ponies of Equestria, there were different kinds of dragons. There were sky dragons, land dragons, and water dragons, swimming in some bodies of waters close by.

"It's not Equestria," Ember said. "But it's home."

"I think it's brilliant," Spike replied.

"Omigosh, omigosh!" Mina exclaimed. "I can't believe it! We're home!" Mina then grabbed Spike by the hand, as she said, "Spike! There's so much to show you in Dracasia! Oh! I can't wait to show you my family!"

Spike grinned,"Lead the way Mina."

"Not so fast there, young's'," Scorpan said, as he stopped Spike by the cape. "We're here on an important royal business. Not for a holiday."

"Oh, right," Spike frowned, along with Mina. "Maybe some other times, Mina."

Blueblood had a smug grin on his face, until Torch turned himself back in full dragon form, much to Blueblood's fright. In appearance, Torch is a colossal dragon, of bluish green scales, razor sharp yellow teeth, orange-red long horns curving downward on the sides of his head, orange blazing wings, with a matching arrowhead at the end of his tail. His only attires is a dark suit of armor, a gold ring on his left horn, and a crown of three pointed red crystals at the top of his head.

"Let's go," Torch roared. "The Imperial Dragon City is this way!"

With that, the groups followed the Dragon Lord, before they arrived at the Imperial Dragon City. In appearance, the city was all a huge palace, surrounded by huge walls of red jagged crystals, rooftops decorated with rows of golden tiles, surrounded with statues of dragons.

"I must say," Blueblood began. "You dragons certainly have a unique taste of decorating."




Imperial Dragon City

"SAVE ME!!!" Blueblood screamed, while hanging on a stalactite for dear life. The group hadn't been in the palace for about an hour, and already Blueblood had gotten off on the wrong foot with the royal dragons' favorite pet, a Foo Dog.

The lion-dog hybrid roared, as it bites menacingly at Blueblood, who struggled to prevent from being its next meal. Luckily for Blueblood, Spike turned himself into a dog, as he communicated with the hybrid, succeeded in talking some reasons with the hybrid. The Foo Dog snarled at Blueblood, before it threateningly pointed the stallion as it left.

"What you do to make him so mad at you?" Spike asked, as he turned himself back in dragon form.

"I don't know," Blueblood answered. "I was just petting it on the head, and it tried to eat me!"

"Foo Dog training 101," Ember began. "Never pet a Foo Dog, on the mane. They're very vain about it." Suddenly, a gong was ringing throughout the palace, "There's the dinner gong!" Ember said. "C'mon, let's go!"

On their way, Spike took the time to look and marvel at the interior of the palace. From the inside, the palace looked almost like a cave, with the theme of asian imperial decorations. The stalactites and stalagmites within were decorated with golden dragon statues that snaked around the rocky structures. In the center, appears to be a huge stony throne, decorated in a variety of jewels. Decorated on the walls are paintings of mighty dragons, in fierce battles.

The young dragon and his companions finally made it to the dining room, where Torch, Scorpan, and Mako were waiting. For dinner, the dragons, and Scorpan, were having fishes, and much to Blueblood's shock, and Spike's surprise, gems. Meanwhile, Flare and Blueblood were having some fruits called Dragonfruits, Fire Snapdragon fruits, and some other vegetables that can be grown in Dracasia.

"You barba-um, I mean interesting creatures eat gems?" Blueblood asked.

"Yeah," Ember replied. "It's a delicacy for us dragons, as it is a currency, or decorations for you ponies."

"Fascinating," Spike said, picking up a red gem and looked at it curiously.

"Go on, Spike," Mina beckoned. "Try it! It's delicious!"

Looking at the dragoness, sensing the honesty from her, Spike took a quick nibble of the gem, before his eyes widen in shock, and fireworks lit up in his head. With that, Spike happily munches the gems away, much to the amusement of the dragons in the room, while Blueblood looked as if he's about to faint, before he quickly composes himself.





Present

Everyone in the room all looked at Button Mash in surprise, "Sorry. Big Otaku for Ace Attorney," Button apologized, before he turned to Spike. "On a serious note, you eat gems?!"

Spike chuckled nervously, as he replied, "Y'know, I don't remember when I last had one."

"Anyway," Rumble began. "Please, continue."




Past

"So, young prince," Torch began. "What do you think of my kingdom of Dracasia?"

"Well, I must say-" Prince Blueblood began.

"I wasn't talking to you," Torch interrupted. "I was asking the Dragon Prince. Besides, you're much too old to be referred as the young prince."

Prince Blueblood looked insulted, while Spike answered, "So far, I think Dracasia's awesome! Or as you dragons say, it's red rubies!" Mina smiled, while Ember looked at the prince with a raised brow. "And it's probably because Dracasia, and it's dragons have had a red rubies Dragon Lord, such as yourself, Lord Torch, sir."

Torch smiled, "It's true. My reign has been extraordinary. Isn't that right?" Torch asked to the dragon guards in the room. After a long awkward silence, "AGREE WITH ME!!!"

With that, the guards all quickly, and frighteningly voiced their agreements.

"I see that all those centuries have done nothing to silence that extreme loudmouth of yours, Torch," Mako grumbled, while rubbing his ears.

"That's Dragon Lord Torch to you, Mako!" Torch growled. "You may have been a hero to Dracasia. But I'm still Dragon Lord, until it's time for me to step down!"

"Which shouldn't be too long now," the celestial dragon noted.

"And until then, you will give me respect!"

The conversations between the two mighty dragons piqued Spike's curiosity, as he turned to Scorpan, who was sitting next to him.

"Uncle," Spike began. "What are they talking about?"

"Just Dragon Lord business," Scorpan replied, as he sipped a cup of tea. "It's nothing for you to be concern about, yet, young prince. What you do need to be more concern about is to make a good impression here in the land of dragons. Not all of them are like your friend Mina, y'know."

"I'll try, uncle," Spike replied, feeling nervous about himself.

Scorpan looked solemn at the young dragon, before he placed his hand on the young dragon's shoulder, "Remember, always be strong!" With that, Spike bowed his head in response to the gargoyle, while Ember watched with curiosity.





After dinner, Ember showed Spike, Mina, Flare, and Blueblood to their sleeping quarters.

"Ugh," Blueblood groaned. "Not exactly, first class. But it'll have to do, I suppose."

"Who are you to start complaining?" Ember growled. "You're the ones who can sleep on pillows, while we sleep on rocks!"

"Oh, forgive me, Princess Ember," Blueblood replied. "I didn't know. I'll-uh, have to look into this matter with auntie Celestia when we get back."

"Whatever," Ember grumbled, as she continues to guide the remaining three.

"Sheesh," Spike whispered to Flare. "She's quite the ray of sunshine."

"Oui," Flare whispered in reply.

"Don't take it personally you guys," Mina explained on the princess's behalf. "Ember's been through a lot, from being Dragon Princess, to having some interests at heart."

"Like?" Spike asked.

"Like proving to all magical creatures around the world, that there are better things to do as a dragon, than being big and strong, and that she's not just some princess."

Spike pondered at Mina's answer, before he replies, "I'd second that."

"That makes three of us," Mina replied, answering on her, and Mako's behalf. "Still, not all dragons can agree with us," Mina muttered. "Ember's only hope now is the Gauntlet of Fire."

"The Gauntlet of Fire?" Spike inquired. "What's that?"

"HEY!" Ember called out. "You boulder-heads coming, or what?"

"Best not to keep her irritableness waiting," Mina suggested, before she whispered, "Let's just say it's a game of thrones for dragons."




Later that night

While Spike would normally be asleep, the young dragon was far too anxious to get any sleep for tomorrow. With that, Spike was out of bed, meditating to calm himself.

As he does this, Spike felt the weight of the world lifting off him, and he enters a state of mind, when suddenly, his ears perked, along with his nose twitching, respectively detecting the faint sound of rocks coming lose from the ceiling, and a faint whiff of brimstone, mixed with a tiny distinct scent of sapphires. 

"Princess Ember?" Spike asked.

The said dragoness slides the door open, as she walked into his room, amazed, "How'd you know I was there?" she asked.

"I can hear you coming a mile away," Spike answer proudly, as he turned around, facing the dragoness. "That and I can smell your distinct scent to know it was you."

Ember looked at Spike, with a mix of amazement and insult, "I smell?"

"In a good way," Spike assured, before he asked, "So, what brings you here?" 

"I just want to talk," Ember answered, as she stepped into the moonlight, revealing she was no longer wearing her armor. To Spike, she looked dazzling, with the moonlight reflecting off of her sapphire scales. "What are you looking at?" she asked.

"Um, sorry," Spike apologized. "I just couldn't help but notice how good you look, in the moonlight."

Ember blushed slightly, but remains in stoic as she replies, "Thanks, I guess."

Wanting to change the subject, Spike asked, "So, what do you want to talk about?"

Looking around, to be sure they were truly alone, Ember began, "I was going to ask, what's it like to be a Dragon Prince? But now, I'm more curious to what exactly are you doing? The whole sitting and breathing stuff?"

"It's called meditation," Spike replied.

"Meditation?"

"Yeah, uncle Scorpan taught it to me. He said it helps to relax the mind, and to create some life forces within."

"Fascinating. Can I try it?"

"Sure. Meditations good for everybody."

With that, Ember sat down on the floor, trying to cross her legs as she mimics Spike's sitting posture. After the small task was done, Spike explains and showed the techniques he was taught by Scorpan when it comes to meditating.

"Wow," Ember said, feeling amazed. "I do feel a bit calmer now."

"Told ya so," Spike smiled with pride.

"So, what other neat tricks this gargoyle of an uncle of yours taught you?"




The Next Morning
[Hero OST #7 - In The Chess Court]

Spike and Ember woke up early, and were out in the palace courtyard, where Spike showed off some of the martial arts techniques he had learn so far. 

Unlike most of the areas of in Dracasia, the courtyard was one of the only place in the palace where everything was green, connected to a huge forest of bamboos, with a small pond of waters, filled with beautiful koi fishes, a large stone platform where Spike showed off his skills to Ember, and her Foo Dog, Fluffy.

Ember and Fluffly watched, impressed at the display of martial arts, all in one small package. It didn't take long, before Ember decided to challenge the young dragon herself, as she wanted to see how good and powerful they are. Not one to back down from a challenge, Spike accepted.

The two dragons started off, by standing one side of the platform at a certain distance, before they got into fighting stances. With a shout, Ember started the fight, as she and Spike charged towards one another. Spike tucked himself into a ball, as he rolled between the Dragon Princess's legs, before he breathed a stream of green fire at her face. Luckily, Ember spreads her wings out, shielding herself from the attack, before she spins, sweeping her tail to the ground, tripping Spike up. Spike quickly picked himself up, as he did several sweep kicks, before he launched himself up, flipping in the air, and landed on Ember's head, before he jumped off, and onto a bamboo tree. With a flap of her wings, Ember flew after Spike, slashed her claws, chopping some of the bamboos, while Spike jumped off, and onto another. As Ember flies after the little dragon, Spike surprisingly outmaneuvered her, with several flips, swings, and spins on the bamboos, before he launched some counterattacks of his own against the sapphire dragon, who was quick enough to block them, and evade them.

Ember breathed a jet stream of purple fire when she spotted Spike, only for the dragon to breath a burst of his own green fire. Both fires exploded upon impact, creating a huge burst of clouds, and purple and green fires. Blinded, Spike closed his eyes, as he began relying on his hearing and sense of smell. Ember did the same, as she tries to locate the younger dragon. It didn't take long before the two detected each other's unique scent, when they resumed their fight, eyes closed and all. Soon, the two were out of the forest, and back in the courtyard, where they took the moment to catch their breath.

"Not bad," Ember smirked. "For a runt."

"Thanks, I guess," Spike replied, unsure of the princess.

"No, I mean it," Ember assured, before she took a deep breath. "I don't like to talk my feelings. But you're really lucky, y'know that?" Spike and Fluffly looked at Ember as the dragoness continues, "You're not only adopted by the princess of Equestria, but you've also got two teachers of the martial arts, and one of them is your uncle, who is also the general of the army, while the other is a hero of Dracasia. I'd give just about everything to have what you had."

"Is this about the whole 'showing every other dragons, that you're not just some princess?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Mina told me."

"Oh," Ember sighed, as she reply, "Yeah, something like that. I mean, c'mon! Look at you! You're no bigger than me, yet you're already taking lessons in magic class, fighting, and all sorts of cool stuffs that I couldn't get, just because everyone here thinks I'm some little princess!" Ember nearly shouted at the last part, before she quickly composes herself and asked, "What makes you so special anyway?"

Though a little frightened, Spike hesitantly answered, "Um, maybe it's because I was born with the Dragonfire. And the fact that there are some bad guys out there who would try to take it from me."

"I know that!" Ember said, slightly irritated. "But it's still not fair! Just because you're the target of some hunters, doesn't mean you get to have all the best of the best treatments to yourself! What if I wanted to be Mako's student? What if I wanted to have adventure? What if I wanted to be the hero for a change?"

Frightened, Spike slowly backed away from the steaming princess, while Fluffy turned himself into a statue for protection.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel that way," Spike whimpered, as he turned himself into a dog, with his tail tucked between his hind legs.

Seeing that she was making a bad impression of herself, Ember calmed herself, "I'm sorry. I'm just tired of all this. I mean, you! You're born with some powerful magic, and every ponies back in Equestria all looked up to you, seeing as how you're not only some prince, but also a hero. And you've got some elder ponies, and some formerly accused dragons to vouch for you. When all I'll ever be to my father and all the guards here, is just some pampered princess who's just helpless on her own."

Spike and Fluffly stopped feeling scared, as they resumed their true form.

"Y'know Ember," Spike began. "The way we fought. I didn't think you're some helpless princess."

"Yeah I know," Ember replied sadly.

Spike then scratched his chin as he tries to think of something to cheer the dragoness up. Then, it hit him, "Y'know," Spike began. "The day is still young. And I still have some times left before I return to Equestria. And until then, maybe we can go on and have some adventures of our own in Dracasia."

"What are you talking about?" Ember asked.

"Well, like you said. You're tired of being some helpless princess. And you said you wanted adventures. And just walking out through those gates of the Imperial City is an adventure. Besides, I came here to learn all about Dracasia. And what better way to learn, than having an adventure with the Dragon Princess, herself?"

Ember pondered, "Well, the obstacle between me and the gate is dad himself. He almost never lets me out of his sights."

"Well, that's alright, I guess," Spike began, as he started to walk away. "You probably wouldn't last a day outside."

"Whoa, whoa, hold it!" Ember began, as she flapped her wings and got in front of Spike. "Are you saying I couldn't handle myself outside of the palace?"

"Hmmm, can you?"

"Well, the question is, can you keep up?"

"It's on!" the two dragons smirked competitively.





"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!" Lord Torch roared. "No daughter of mine is going to leave the walls of the Imperial City! Even if she's with the Dragon Prince!"

"Well, couldn't you just make a tiny exception, this once m'lord?" Spike asked. "Ember kinda promised me. Besides, she said she knows Dracasia as well as anybody, and it can really be a big benefit for me and all the ponies back home! Y'know, if we're ever given the chance to visit this glorious kingdom again."

"He's right, Torch," Mako spoke. "It could give the kids the chance to know each other, better. And it will give the prince the chance to know his way around the land, should he ever return to us."

With a huff, Torch begrudgingly replied, "Very well, little dragon. Ember, show them the ways."

"With pleasure, father," Ember replied, as both she, Spike, and their companions bowed their heads, before they took their leave, leaving the grown ups alone.

"You know, you can't keep her locked up in the palace forever," Mako said to the Dragon Lord.

"I know," Torch grumbled. "I just hoped she doesn't hurt herself, like before."





In the meantime, the friends were passing through a town called Fucanglong, as Ember showed all the stops the town has to offer. They stopped by at a spa shop, where Blueblood was getting the "royal spa treatment" involving the Extra-strength-hot-stone-deep-tissue massage.

"When it comes to massages," Ember began. "We dragons are known for our hot stones. They really do wonders to relax the muscles, y'know. Though, it's never been done on ponies before, so we don't know how it-" Just then, a loud scream of agony was heard within the store.

"Welp, now we know," Mina commented.

As they waited for Blueblood to get his treatment completed, the dragons, and pony were at a tea store, and were having some cups of tea. However, much to Spike's surprise, it was spicy to the core, and he ended up breathing a burst of green fire, "Wow, that's hot!" he noted, even as he is in dragon form.

"Why did you think it's called Red Tea?" Ember asked. "Besides, it's good for your fire. Makes it 20% hotter."

Flare, not wanting to disrespect the dragons, took a few sips of the tea, while making the same face as Spike did, before he breathed a puff of smoke.

"Guess we'd have to change your name to Heart Burn, huh?" Mina joked.

"Hardy har har," Flare grumbled.

After they had their teas, Blueblood walked out of the spa, looking bent out of shape. The companions kept on touring the town, before they came across a theater, where some dragons were singing a song, in a foreign language Spike doesn't understand.





"Ember?" he asked. "What are they singing about?"

"They're singing about a dragon soldier's desire to return to his home, to see it the way it was before the Great War of Dracasia," Ember answered.

"Great War?" Spike asked.

"Yep," Ember answered. "Long ago, Dracasia wasn't just one land. It was made up of multiple land of dragons, all waging wars against one another, in an attempt to conquer one another and expand their territories."

"Yikes," Spike replied, as he can just picture himself being there, to see dragons fighting one another, with billows of smokes, blocking the sun.

"Yeah, dark days back then," Ember answered grimly. "During those times, most of the dragons have all died, fighting for their countries and their families. And the soldier of this song was no different. So every year, on this day when the war was over, we sing the song to honor him and all the soldiers who have perished fighting for their loved ones."

With that, Spike took a seat, as he continues to listen to the song. As he does, Spike suddenly found himself being there, in a battlefield, littered with bodies of soldiers, pieces of armors, blades, and pieces of fires. Looking up in the sky, Spike could see a whole variety of flying dragons, all biting and clawing at each others, as well as spewing fires. Some crashed into each other, as they plummeted into the fight. Soon, the whole scene burned away, to reveal an endless sea of dead dragons. The very sight made Spike sick to the core. Just then, a lone dragon soldier, clad in black armor stood, holding up a flag for his people. The soldier looked at Spike, before Spike finds himself, surrounded in a huge green field of rape flowers.

"Spike?!" Ember's voice sounded, snapping the young dragon out of his trance. "Spike? You alright? You zoned out for a minute there!"

"Uh, yeah," Spike replied. "I'm fine. I guess."

"Well c'mon, let's go!" Ember beckoned, as the group were on their way, when they ran into a group of some bigger dragons.

"Well, well, well," the leader began. "Look who it is. It's the Sapphire Princess herself." In appearance, the leader is a  teenage dragon with dull red scales, yellow underbelly, pinkish freckles, and yellow spikes which end in a webbed crest on his head. His eyes are yellow with purple pupils, and he has yellow, slightly torn wings.

"Garble!" Ember hissed venomously.

"Oh c'mon, you're still not mad after I left you with the Raptorians, did ya?" Garble asked, to which Ember responded by shooting a death glare at the red dragon. "Okay, okay, maybe you're still mad."

"I'm not just mad!" Ember growled. "I was forever scarred!" With that, Ember turned her back, revealing a large scratch mark, somewhere between her wing joints. Spike nearly lost his lunch, seeing a large scar, having been seen unnoticed. "You left me for dead!"

"Hey, what can I say?" Garble replied nonchalantly. "It's every dragons for themselves. Everyone knows that."

"Ember could've been killed!" Mina shouted, as she stood up for her friend.

"But she isn't!" Garble said as he got in the red dragoness's face. "Which you should be glad about!"

"Ugh, you're so heartless!" Mina said in disgust.

"Ooh," some of the big dragons said to each other.

"Oh yeah?" Garble said, as he reaches his claws up. "Well, you're gonna be faceless when I'm done with you!" Garble was about to slash his claws at Mina, had Spike not got in the way.

"Leave her alone!" Spike roared, as he was a blur of purple and green, and landed a flying kick to the red dragon's snout.

Shaking the blow off, Garble growled as he stared Spike down, "You've got some nerves shorty! Nobody hits Garble and gets away with it!" With that, Garble slashes his claws at Spike, who quickly dodges the attack, by rolling between the bigger dragon's legs. Garble quickly whipped his head around, as he snapped his jaws at Spike, who was able to jump up in time, before he came back down and landed an ax kick on the dragon's head, before he did a backflip and jumped on the dragon's wing joints.

"Get off!" Garble roared, as he succeeded in shaking the dragon off. "So, you take kung fu classes, huh?"

Before Spike could answer, Ember got in between, "Yeah! That's right! They don't call him the Dragon Prince for nothing! He's been taking lessons from General Scorpan and Mako himself!"

"Dragon Prince?" Garble inquired, before it hit him. "Whoa, wait. This is the nampy-pampy-dragon pony prince we've been hearing about? What a joke!" With that, Garble entered a fit of laughter, followed by his gang.

Spike continues to stand his ground, as the big dragons continue to mock him. After some laughs, Garble and his gang all stopped, as they shot dirty looks at Spike, before they all pounced after the young dragon.

"SPIKE!" Flare shouted, as he jumped into the fray and fought some of the dragons off with his magics.

Mina too joined in the fight, while Ember stood, watching the battle taking place, before she noticed Blueblood taking his leave, "HEY!" Ember shouted. "Where are you going?"

"Going to get help?" Blueblood answered, before he galloped away.

Back to the fight, Spike was pinned down, when Flare came and bucked the dragon off, before he shot another with a powerful fireball attack. Spike soon jumped onto the rooftop of a hut, with Garble joining. Garble surprisingly showed off some punches, kicks, and tails sweeps, before he struck a pose.

"Tiger's fury!" Spike noted. "Impressive," With that, Spike did some moves of his own, before he also did a pose.

"Alicorn blasts the dragon," Garble noted. "Not my favorite, but not bad." Garble soon did some more moves, with Spike doing the same, while engaging each other in another combat.

"Cupcake slash rainbows!" Spike shouted, as he performed the said move.

"Cupcake slash rainbows?" Garble asked, before he was hit in the stomach and knocked off the roof.

Angered, Garble blasted a huge fireball at Spike, which exploded on impact, and sending Spike flying onto the streets.
"Let him have it Clump!" Garble called out to a fat brown dragon.

"You got it, G!" Clump replied, before he inhaled and lets out a volcanic fire breath that was heading Spike's way.

"MOTHER OF TIREK!!" Spike screamed, before he was quickly swallowed up by the flame.




Present

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!" Button wailed. "SPIIIIIIIIIIKEE!! WHY?!""

"What are you crying about?" Rumble asked.

"Spike got killed! That's what!"

"Button," Spike said. "I'm still here. Remember?"

"Oh, right," Button began. "Or, are you really Spike's ghost? Or were you dead, but somehow resurrected as a demon?"

Spike shook his head, while rolling his eyes, "You've reading way too many comic books!"

"Well mister self-denial. We've seen dragons, ponies, crazy witches, and magic girls. Anything else not to expect that seems like it's from a Japanese-"

"Enough!" Gilda roared, smacking both Spike and Button on the back of their heads. "Please, continue Ember my girl," Gilda ushered.




Past

When the fires cleared up, there was no sign of the young dragon. Ember, Mina, and Flare looked, horrified to see a black scorching spot, where Spike once stood.

"Ha ha ha!" Garble laughed. "That outta teach him."

"Teach me what?" a voice asked, revealing itself to be Spike, in dog form, and standing next to a hole in the ground.

Garble and his gang looked dumbfounded, as Spike changes back in dragon form.

"How? When? Where? What?!" Garble asked.

"Easy," Spike began. "Before your friend's fire breath could hit me, I was quick enough to use some puppy powers to dig my escape. Don't underestimate dog and dragon powers put together!" Spike smirked at the last part.

The two girls all giggled at the last part, while Ember looked surprise, as a twinge of respect grew on her. It didn't take long, before they noticed Garble and his gang, angrier than ever, charged after the young dragon, who knew it was time to go.

With that, Flare concentrated in to her horn, as the four friends disappeared in a flash of light, causing Garble and his gang to crash into a stall, selling snapdragon plants, just as Blueblood arrived, with Mako, and some dragon guards.




Elsewhere

"Phew," Spike panted. "I thought for sure our gooses were cooked that time."

"Oui," Flare agreed, followed by a nod from Mina.

"Wow," Ember began. "The way you guys fought. It was amazing! You've all risked everything to save each other from Garble and his gang, and Mina's the one who started it!"

"Well, we had a saying back in Equestria," Spike began. "You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!"

"And why would you say that?" Ember asked.

"Because that's what friends do!" Mina replied.

"Friends?" Ember asked. "Dragons don't do friends."

"Well these dragons do!" Spike said as he held Mina close. If he had been paying close attention, he would've seen a blush on Mina's face.

"Friends, hmm?" Ember looked irked, as she asked, "Is that what you call when you thought you found somebody you thought you can trust, before they backstabbed you to fend for yourself against some Raptorians?"

"No," Spike replied. "Is that what happened to you?" he asked.

"Don't make me talk about my past, okay?" Ember growled.

"But if you don't-" Spike was quickly silenced by a death glare from Ember.

"Ember!" Mina said, as she got in between. "That's not nice! Spike was just trying  to help you!"

"Well, dragons don't do helping!" Ember replied, as she turned her back on the group, further displaying her scarred back.

"Well listen to you!" Mina growled. "If it hadn't been for me, you would've been killed, then!"

"I never asked for help!"

"You tried calling out for Garble! But he didn't help! So you ought to thank me for saving your ungrateful scales!"

"Don't push it, Mina! You may have saved my life! But I'm still princess, so you should start showing respect!"

"I'll show respect, until the Gauntlet of Fire!" Both female dragons looked as if they're about to lose it.

"ENOUGH!!" Spike shouted. "What happened exactly? Look, I want to help! I may be a stranger to Dracasia, but I'm here to learn all about this place. And I'm only asking, because I want to help. And I want to help, because I care about you Ember. But I can't help, if you won't tell me what happened," Ember looked bewildered at the young dragon. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. But I won't be around for long."

Ember breathed a sigh, as she sadly answered, " long time ago. Me and Garble were good friends back then. We did everything together, going to the Dragon Bowl, Tail Wrestling, Belching contests, all the dragons' favorite past times. Though, Garble does tend to play things a little rough. Maybe too rough. One day, he and I were crossing over the Great Wall of Fires and into some Raptorians' territories. The Raptorians weren't very friendly. When they saw us trespassing on their land, they chased us all over the place. My wings got hurt when one of those hyenas tried to grab me. And that's how I got this," Ember said, pointing to the scars on her back. "Garble, however, managed to fly away, leaving me to die. And I'll never forget what he said to me."

'Help yourself!' Garble said in the past.

"So, how did you made it out alive?" Spike asked.

"That's where I came in," Mina voiced. "I was fetching waters for my uncle, when I saw Garble and Ember flying over the wall. I sensed trouble, so I went to tell uncle Mako about it. If it hadn't been for uncle, Ember would've died that day."

"And after that, both me and Garble got into trouble for crossing the wall," Ember snarled. "I was forbidden to leave the city, without my dad or any guards with me, while Garble was given the same treatment with his folks. Since then, he and I have stopped seeing each other, and I've just stopped trusting everyone who claimed to be my friend.

Spike looked sad at Ember, as he walked over and placed a comforting claw on the dragoness's claws, "Ember," he began. "Believe me when I say, I would never, ever leave you to die like that."

"That makes two of us," Mina said.

"Oui," Flare added, as she too stepped in.

Ember looked at the trio in surprise, but smiled, just a little.

"So," Spike began. "What else do you dragons do in Dracasia?" With that, Ember guided the friends around the land.




Presents

"And we've been friends since then," Ember smiled in nostalgia.

"Wow," the Knights all said in awe. "That's quite the story!"

"And it's a good thing too," Mina said. "Because if Spike and Ember hadn't been friends, then Ember would never have been Dragon Lord!"

"Oh? How so?" Gilda asked.




Past

During Spike's stay in Dracasia, the Gauntlet of Fire took place. Torch had called all the dragons to Dracasia, to compete in the Gauntlet of Fire, a tournament that decides who is fit to rule as the next Dragon Lord, since Torch is stepping down, due to an ancient law of dragons. Former Dragon Lords, such as Mako, were forbidden to compete, and the tournament is exclusive to dragons only, meaning Scorpan can't help Spike out. And Spike is allowed to complete, but is restricted to shape-shifting only in dragon form.

"Whomever has the strength and fortitude to retrieve this bloodstone scepter from the heart of the flame-cano will be crowned Lord of the Dragons!" Torch bellowed, as he flicks the scepter into the said island. "The Gauntlet is dangerous, for I designed it myself! Only dragons with my ferocity, strength, and determination will be able to finish. We will gather at the cliff when the sun is at its peak!" With that, the dragons were dismissed to prepare themselves for the tournament.

"Glad that's over," Spike said in relief. "Now my skins aren't so itchy, and burning."

"Amen to that," Mina agreed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Torch's voice sounded, causing the two young dragons to turn their heads, to see Torch having a talk with Ember in his massive claws.

"To prepare for the gauntlet," Ember replied.

"No, you're not," Torch growled. "You're not much bigger than Prince Spike!"

"But I'm smarter than most of these boulderheads and you know it!" Ember protested angrily.

"Being smart won't help you win this Gauntlet!" Torch roared. "It was designed for a big, strong dragon to win, because it takes a big, strong dragon to lead! Besides, I said no!" Torch shouted at the last part, which blew Ember away.

"I hate when he does that!" Ember grumbled, as she flew away.

"Uh oh, I smell trouble," Mina said, as she flapped her wings after Ember. "C'mon, Spike! Let's go!"

Spike was about to leave, when he overheard Garble talking with his gang.

"Once I became Dragon Lord, the first thing I'm going to do is get revenge on those puny ponies! Spike will be sorry he's ever crossed Garble!"





Spike was out in the palace courtyard, sparring with his Scorpan, while Mina was doing the same with Mako.

"So, the Bloodstone Scepter," Spike panted. "Whoever retrieves it, will be crowned the Dragon Lord. Anything else I need to know?"

"Torch is true to his words," Scorpan replied. "Flame-cano is full of traps, and horrible monsters. Me and my old friend, Star Swirls the Bearded had once gone into that horrible place, and the two of us barely made it out in one piece. Of course, we were only exploring the island when the Gauntlet of Fire wasn't taking place. Who knew what else Torch could've added."

"Well whatever they are," Spike began. "I have to do it! I must compete, to save the ponies back home!"

"That's what I like to hear from a spirit of determination, Spike," Scorpan replied. "But that won't be enough to save you. You must empty your mind of all things, and focus."

Spike bowed his head, "I won't let you down uncle."




Later

The dragons were all at the cliff, where Torch was waiting for them, "All dragons are welcome to compete, but they do so at their own peril!" he said. "Flying to Flame-cano Island is the first of many challenges you will face in your quest to find the bloodstone scepter!" With a mighty roar, Torch lets out a volcanic blast of fire, starting the competition.




Present

"What is going on here, mon ami?" a voice called, to which the group turned to see Fleur walking into the library.

"Ember was just telling us an awesome story," Button replied.

"Yeah!" Rumble said. "It's the one where you, Spike, Mina, and Ember were in Dracasia. Now she's telling us about the Gauntlet of Fire!"

"Is that so?" Fleur asked, before she smirked. "Well, here's a better way to telling a story." With that, Fleur concentrated into her magic, projecting a magic dome of moving pictures, playing the events of the said story.

"Wow!" the Knights exclaimed.

"This beats storytelling by a long shot!" Feathers gasped.

"Ooh! This is awesomely awesome!" Gabby chirped. "I gotta go get some pop corns!" With that, Gabby left the room, with Gilda following.

"Hey! Kitchen's that way!" Gilda shouted, before she poked her head back in. "Oh, and can you put the movie on pause? I don't want to miss out on anything!"



"Okay, we're back," Gilda said, as she and Gabby came in with a bucket of popcorns.

With that, Fleur resumed the motion pictures.




Past

Flare Heart in the meantime, was forced to sit back, with Blueblood, Scorpan and Mako, as they watched Spike participating in the tournament via a magic pool in the palace called, the Pool of Visions. Luckily, Torch wasn't there to see it.

"Come on, Spike!" Flare Heart said. "You can do it!"

Spike, in dragon form, was flying on a piece of cloud that Mina had helped him get. The two were currently flying across a body of water, in their attempts to reach the Flame-cano Island. Surrounded by a school of sea worms, spewing geysers of waters at the dragons flying overhead. All was going well, when Garble got hit by one of the geyser, knocking him back slightly, causing hime to crash into a green, armored dragon, who soon crashed into one of the geysers, before plummeting into the water.

"Dragon down!" Spike shouted, as he dives into the waters below.

"SPIKE!" Mina shouted, as Spike disappears into the waters below. It didn't take long, before Spike resurfaced, with the unconscious dragon.

"C'mon!" Spike shouted. "Let's get to shores!" With that, Mina helped Spike and their mysterious dragon to the island, before they noticed something, "Huh? What the?" Spike exclaimed, as he noticed his claws were colored green. He then looked back, to see a patch of blue scales. "Hey! This dragon isn't green!"

Mina looked, knowing the jig is up. But nevertheless, she answered, "Spike, help me carry her to shore, and I'll explain everything."

With that, the two dragons helped save the mysterious dragon to shore. There, Spike was given the whole explanation. Spike nodded, understanding the situations.

"C'mon!" Spike said, as he takes the dragon's helmet off. "Ember's gonna need all the helps she can get!"

With that, both dragons went straight work, reviving their fallen friend. Mina helped unbuckle Ember's armor pads off, as Spike went to work, applying some CPR on Ember, courtesy of Scorpan.

"Whoa, wait!" Button began. "You learned CPR, as a kid?"

"Yeah," Spike began. "Uncle told me that it can help save some lives. That and it would help me a lot as the Dragon Prince. And he's right."

"Hmm," the Knights looked up, to see Spike doing the mouth-to-mouth with Ember.

"Mmm! Minty," young Spike commented.

In the present, Ember looked at Spike with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, while Spike sheepishly shrugged.

"HuH?" Ember groaned, before her vision was cleared. "Spike?! What are you doing?"

"Saving your life, that's what," Spike replied, while Mina nodded in agreement.

"Um, thanks," Ember replied as she puts some of her armor's coverings back on. "I guess. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a gauntlet to win."

"Hold it!" Spike called out, stopping the sapphire dragon from leaving. "Mina's told me about your plan to compete, and the reason, and I was thinking, why don't I help you out?"

"Help?" Ember asked, before the trio heard a scream, and a dragon plummeted out of the sky, courtesy of a boulder, launched by some dinosaur-like creatures with huge tails, known as Slingtails. "Yikes! That looks tough. But that's what makes it a challenge." Ember said, as she composed herself, only for Spike to stop her.

"Are you kidding?" he began. "Those boulders are huge! Hey, what if we worked together? You fly me up there, and I'll help look out for boulders, like a second set of eyes!"

"That sounds like a good idea, Spike!" Mina voiced her agreement, before she turned to Ember. "What do you say? We could really use all the helps we can get."

"Okay," Ember said as she turned her back on Spike. "Hop on up, runt."

"Alright!" Spike said, as he jumped onto Ember's back, much to her discomfort.

"Easy!" Ember groaned. "That's where the Raptorians scratched me!"

"Sorry Ember," Spike quickly apologized, before both dragons took flight, followed by Mina.

The three dragons flew in the air, dodging several boulders being launched, along with all the other dragons falling out of the air. Suddenly, from behind, a Slingtail caught sight of the trio, and with a whip of it's tail, fired more boulders at the three dragon heroes.

"Pull up!" Spike shouted. "There's one on your tail!" With that, Ember flew up, dodging the flying rock. "Go left!" Ember complied, dodging another. "Mina! Do a barrel roll to the right!"

"What's a barrel roll?" Ember asked, before she looked, seeing Mina rolling in the air, dodging another boulder launched at her.

"Thanks, Spike!" Mina smiled.

"No problem!" Spike gave her a thumbs up.

Soon, the heroes arrived at some moving stalactites, and stalagmites, all clashing together. Some of the dragon competitors were all crushed in between the moving rocks, while some like Garble and his gangs were trapped within. With a nod of determination, Ember, Spike, and Mina safely navigated their way, evading the rocks biting at them.

"NO!" Garble shouted, as the three made it to the next exit. With a mighty roar, Garble broke free, as he dashes after the dragon heroes.

"C'mon gang!" Garble shouted. "Let's go!"

With a swing of his club tail, Clump broke out of his and his gang's stone prison, as they caught up to their leader.





Spike, Mina, and Ember were in the next leg of the gauntlet, with red, sharp crystals jutting out of the walls, floors, and ceilings. The three were doing some flips, rolls, and jumps, as they avoided the crystals flying at them.

This kept on going, until Mina tripped on a stray crystal, causing her to fall on her chest.

"Mina!" Spike shouted, before he noticed a crystal falling down on her. With that, Spike could darted back, as both he and her rolled out of harm's way.

"Phew," Mina breathed a sigh of relief. "That was a close one. Thanks Spike," Mina smiled.

"Aw shucks, it was nothing," Spike chuckled, before he was grabbed by Mina.

"It was something alright!" Mina smiled, as she embraced Spike. "I'm so glad I've got a friend like you!"

Spike blushed, from how close Mina was holding him, while Ember felt a twinge of envy from within. The sapphire dragon looked up, and noticed Garble and his gang catching up.

"Okay, sappy moments over," Ember broke up the moment. "Come on! Let's go!" With that, the three dragons resumed their race, as they flew into the next leg of the race, which involved a whole series of caverns.

"Now what?" Spike asked, before he and the girls split up, and took different caves, with Garble and his gang doing the same.

Spike went down through one cavern, but quickly came out screaming, nearly getting himself eaten by some cragadiles that were living inside. Mina too narrowly escaped a cavern that was infested with bothersome electric bugs called twittermites. Ember narrowly escaped from a whole forest of plunder seeds.

"There's thousands of caves!" Mina said. "How are we going to find one that has the Bloodstone Scepter?"

"They all look the same," Spike pondered, 'But do they smell the same?' Wanting to give his theory a try, Spike sniffed the air, and smelled a whole variety of scents from each caves. 'If I knew anything about that scepter, it was in Torch's possession for a very long time. So it's got to have his scent on it.'

Spike kept on sniffing the air, until he smelled Torch's scent, "This way!" he instructed, as he ran down one path and into another cave, with the girls following, along with some dragons in the shadows.

Soon, the trio arrived at the final chamber, with a huge ruby crystal statue in the center, "We made it!" Spike exclaimed happily.

"YEAH!" the Knights, Gilda, and Gabby cheered in the present.

"I can't believe we're the only dragons to have made it this far!" younger Spike said happily, as both Mina and Ember were about to put their claws on his shoulders, when a voice called out.

"You're not!" Garble growled, as he steps out of the shadows, along with Clump, Vex, and the rest of their gang. "And I'm not about losing to a puny pony loving dragon like you!" Garble said, as he picks young Spike up by his crest and prepares to drop him down in a deep abyss.

"Claws off!" Mina shouted as she tackles Garble from behind, forcing him to release Spike, only for the little dragon to be saved by Ember.

"Whoa, Ember!" Spike gasped. "You saved my life!"

"Well, yeah," Ember replied. "That's what friends do. And I am. I mean, we are. You're right about-aargh! Please don't make me talk about my feelings."

"Okay then," Spike smirked. "I won't." Ember smiled a bit, before Spike shouted, "LOOK OUT!"

The two jumped out of the way, just as a fireball flew past them, and exploded on the statue, causing the Bloodstone Scepter to come flying out, and became embedded in a wall nearby.

"THE SCEPTER!!" Mina shouted.

"Every dragons for themselves!" Fume shouted, as he makes a desperate lunge for the scepter, only to be stopped by Vex who pulled on his tail, and threw him back.

Vex flapped his wings and was about to fly for the scepter, only for Fizzle to jump on his head, and flapped his wings for the scepter. Soon, Baff and Clump came as they crushed Fizzle on both sides, knocking the white dragon out. Then, two boulders came flying, courtesy of Garble, knocking the last two dragons out.

"Sorry punks," Garble growled. "But there can only be one Dragon Lord. And that lord will be ME!" Garble shrieks at the last part, when he saw Spike, scaling the walls for the scepter. "Oh no you don't!" Garble shouted, as he flew after Spike, only to be stopped by Ember and Mina, as they dragged him away. Desperate, Garble shot a huge fireball at Spike.

"SPIKE!" Ember shouted. "Look out!" But too late, the fireball struck the wall, exploded on impact, causing the wall Spike was scaling to break apart, and the little dragon fell to the ground below. "SPIKE!" Ember cried.

Spike was falling to the ground, before he was able to grab onto a nearby stalagmite, saving himself from the fall.

"That was a close one," Spike panted.

"I'm sick and tired of you three helping each other!" Garble growled, as he fought off the two girl dragons. "Dragons don't do helping!"

"These dragons do!" Ember growled, before she flipped in the air, and threw Garble off, with a karate yell.

"Then as they say," Garble snarled. "The dragons that plays together, burns together!" With that, Garble inhales and lets out a burst of fire at Ember and Mina, both girls jumping out of the way. Soon, Garble made another lunge for the scepter, only for Ember to hold him back by the tail.

"Sorry about this Spike," Mina said, as she flew up to the little purple dragon.

"Hey! What are you-" Spike was picked up by the dragon girl, as he was stretched and pulled against his own will, before he was seen, curled, and folded in the form of a ball.

"Hey check it out!" Button began. "Dragon ball!" With that, the Knights entered a fit of laughter, while Spike looked unamused. Ember in the meantime failed to suppress a laugh, while Mina giggled.

"Ember!" Young Mina shouted. "Heads up!" With that, Mina threw Spike at Garble, bouncing off of the red dragon's snout, before he flew and collided into the scepter, knocking it out of the cliff. Soon, the scepter dropped into another cave.

"THERE IT GOES!" the dragons shouted.

Garble broke free from the girls as he flew after the scepter, "That scepter is mine!" Garble roared.

Spike looked around, before he kicked a large red crystal, nearby, breaking a chunk off, and jumped on it, as he surfed down the cavern, and chased after Garble.

It didn't take long, before he finds himself and Garble, in a long river of flowing lava, with the scepter floating in front of them. Garble was chasing after the scepter via flight, while Spike was surfing on the lavas.

"You've got spunk, kid!" Garble said. "But it's time you learned your place!"

"I already know my place!" Spike replied, as he kick flipped himself in the air, avoiding some oncoming stalagmites. "It's right in front of you!"

"Really?" Garble inhaled, before he lets out several blasts of fireballs at Spike, who quickly countered with a small red crystal, using it as a sword.

It didn't take long, when the scepter was within Spike's reach.

"Almost got it!" Spike strained, as he reached out for the scepter.

"NO!" Garble screamed, as he lunged forward, knocking Spike off his crystal, and into the lava.

"SPIKE!!" Mina and Ember screamed, when they finally caught up. At first, all they see was Garble, searching for the scepter.

"ARRRGHH!!" Spike's scream was heard.

The three dragons looked, seeing that the river had led to a huge lava fall. With that, Ember and Mina quickly beat their wings rapidly, to see a huge lake of lava. The two circled around, when a burst of red light came flying out at a certain spot. With that, Spike emerged from the lava, unharmed, with the scepter in his mouth.

"What?!" Garble exclaimed in disbelief. "You? You have the scepter? But that means you're-"

"The Dragon Lord!" Ember finished, as she bowed her head. "Dragon Lord Spike." Mina soon followed.

"Dragon Lord Spike," Garble grumbled as he too bowed his head.

"That's right," Spike answered. "Now go start your long journey home. And bow your head to kiss every dragons' toes on the way. Don't tell them why!" He commanded to Garble.

"Aw, but that'll be super embarrassing!" Garble moaned.

"I command you to do it!" Spike repeated himself.

Grumbling with indignity, Garble begrudgingly complied, "I can't believe this!" he muttered, under his breath.

"Dragon Lord Spike," Ember mused. "Hmm, has a nice ring to it."

"Dragon Lord Ember sounds better," Spike said, as he handed the scepter to Ember.

"What?! No!" Ember said, as she tries to hand the scepter back. "You're the Dragon Lord now."

"The Dragon Lord is whoever brings the scepter back to your father," Spike replied, as he urges Ember to keep the scepter. "Besides, you'd make a great leader. I was just doing this to protect the ponies. But I know you'll protect them, just as well as I would've."

"You sure about this?" Ember asked.

"Absolutely. My home is in Equestria with my friends and family."

Ember smiled as she replied, "Well, you'll have at least one friend here too," With that, Spike happily embraced Ember at her waist, "What are you doing?" the bewildered dragon asked.

"It's called a hug," Spike answered.

"Oh. I don't know if I'll like it," Ember blushed a shade of red, as she slowly smiled, "But okay." With that, Spike tightens the embrace, as Ember softly patted him on the head.

Mina, not wanting to be left out, joined in the hug as well, "Big bear hug!" Mina joked.

From the pool of visions, Flare had a look of envy, but smiled, knowing that Equestria now has gained a new, powerful ally.




Later

At the Imperial Dragon City, Torch, Mako, Scorpan, Flare, and Blueblood awaited for the arrival of the new Dragon Lord. Just then, bright crimson red glow showered from the sky, as the clouds parted to reveal Ember, with the scepter.

"Ember?" Torch gasped. "YOU?!"

"I know you didn't think I could do it," Ember replied. "But I did."

Torch frowned, "I expressly told you not to do it, because you're not—!"

"I'm not big and strong. I know," Ember replied. "But you know what? I won anyway. So maybe it takes more than just being big and strong to be a good Dragon Lord!"

"She's right!" Spike said, as he supported Ember. "Besides, you let me compete, even though I'm not much bigger than her either!"

"Whatever happens to all dragons are welcome to compete?" Mina asked.

Seeing they were right, Torch sighed, "I was wrong, Ember. You might not be big, but you are strong and smart, and perhaps that counts for more than I thought. And you will make an excellent leader," Torch smiled at the last part.

"Thanks dad," Ember smiled, before she turned to the rest of the dragons. "AGREE WITH HIM!!" 

Taken by surprise, Spike alone quickly clapped his claws together, "Yeah! Yeah! What he said!" He shouted random agreements, "Whatever you say, Torch, man, I-um, dragon lord, uh, I mean-"

"Just kidding," Ember laughed. "That's not going to be my thing."

"Oh, he he he," Spike chuckled, followed by some dragons, and Torch. "Good one," Spike smiled sheepishly.

"Dragons, hear me!" Torch roared. "I present to you our new Dragon Lord, Ember!" With that, the dragons all let out some cheers. Just then, Garble flew in, bowed his head, and kissed the former Dragon Lord's toes, "What is the meaning of this?" Torch asked.

"I can't tell you!" Garble moaned, while Ember laughed in amusement.

From that day onward, Ember and Spike were the best of friends. And even more so, during Spike's fifth birthday, when Ember gave Spike a suit of armor as his birthday present, along with the Fucanglong Box, since the box was enchanted and could only be activated in the presence of the Dragonfire.




Present
[Sayonara - Gina T]

"And that's the end," Fleur concluded.

"Wow!" the Knights, and griffons all gasped in amazement.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Ember exclaimed, as she reached into her cloak and pulls out a silver suit of armor, with a black jumpsuit beneath.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. "Is that-"

"Yep," Ember answered. "Your own suit of armor, and my old birthday present to you. I've been keeping it safe, and I've made some minor adjustments to it, until the day you would return to Equestria."

"Why do you have to do that?" the Knights asked.

"Well, you see," Ember began. "Not long after I heard words of the Shadowbolt's attempts on Spike's life, I tried to reach to Canterlot to save him. But as you all know, I was too late. I stuck around to see Spike off, of course. But at the same time, I noticed some suspicious characters in the crowd, attempting to make off with Spike's old suit of armor."

"What's so special about the armor?" Gilda asked.

"It's not just any suit of armor, y'know," Ember replied. "Spike's armor is made of rare metallic ores, that can't be found elsewhere, but in Dracasia. It's very tough, but very valuable in Equestria."

"Oh, I get it," Pipsqueak began. "You were just keeping it safe so no thieves would dare steal it and sell it for high price."

"Correct," Ember relied, before she turned to Spike. "Now that you've returned, it's time to return it to it's rightful owner."

With that, Spike gratefully accepted the armor, as he dons it up, "Wow," Spike said. "It still fits me, after all these years."

"Like I said," Ember noted. "Minor adjustments."

"How do I look?" Spike asked.

"Like a knight in shining armor!" Pipsqueak commented.

"Even more," Fleur said as she walked up to him, in human form. "A hero. A true hero," Fleur smiled flirtatiously, as she draped herself over Spike's shoulder.

"Fleur," Spike blushed. "Not in front of our friends."

"Hmm, let the look," Fleur smiled, as she nuzzled close to his cheek.

Ember's eyes twitched, along with Mina, Gilda, and Gabby.

"No fair, Flare!" Mina said, as she got in. "Don't hog Spike all to yourself! Give him here!" With that, Mina pulled Spike close.

"Why should it be your turn?" Gabby asked. "I'm the one who's been helping Ember find him, all over Equestria! It's my turn!"

"Buzz off, will you?" Gilda growled, as she shoved Gabby aside. "I've been a slave to those Shadowbolts for many moons so far. It's time I get my pride back by redeeming myself with him!"

With that, all of the girls, in the room, minus Fleur and Ember, all fought over Spike, as the boy secretly turned himself into a puppy and sneaked his way out.

"Damn, Spike," Button said. "What is it with you and girls?"

"I don't know," Spike replied. "It's like I'm gifted, or curse, or something."

"Well Spike," Ember began as she walked up to his side. "Mind if I give you another gift of my own?"

"Uh, sure," Spike replied hesitantly. "What is it?"

Before Spike knew it, Ember cupped his face, as she gave him a full passionate kiss, on the lips. As a reaction, Spike was shape-shifted in full dragon form, his wings growing stiff, his whiskers waving in the air rapidly, and even more so, when Ember's fork tongue snaked into his mouth, fighting for dominance with his.

The display made the rest of the girls cease their fightings, as they all gasped and looked as if they're having a heart attack, while the Knights' eyes bulged wide, while Fleur, despite feeling jealous and all, smiled, "Well played, Ember. Well played."

Just then, Rarity was walking by, when she noticed the two dragons making out, "Hey! Claws off my Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity shouted, pulling Spike away. "Spike?" Rarity asked. "Speak to me, Spike?! Are you okay?"

Ember giggled, "Looks like I've got some competitions, besides the gauntlet."

"So, um your lordship," Feathers began.

"Call me Ember," Ember insisted. "We're friends now, aren't we?"

"Okay, Ember," Feathers replied. "Is it alright if I could take a picture with you? Y'know, to show off to our friends here that we've really met a Dragon Lord?"

Ember smiled, "I'm flattered."

"Oh, and can we also, or maybe, take a picture of you with Bloodstone Scepter?" Feathers asked. "That way, everybody would know for sure you're really the Dragon Lord!"

At the mention of the scepter, Ember's smiled instantly vanished.




That Night

Spike returned to his sleeping quarters, where he finds his jacket, neatly folded, and placed on his bed. He also finds a note that reads:


Dear Spike,

Thank you for lending me your jacket, for cover. I am forever in your debt.

Your Great and Powerful Admirer,
Trixie

P.S. I hope you liked the show.



At the last part, Spike's face grew red, before he shook his head, clearing his mind of any naughty thoughts. With that, Spike changed out of his casual attires and into his pajamas, before he plopped into his bed.

Just then, there was a knock at his door.

"Spike?" Fleur asked. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah, Fleur," Spike replied, as the girl, in human form, wearing a pink nightgown walked in. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if I could, maybe sleep with you," Fleur whispered, with a faint blush.

"Oh?" Spike replied, with a blush on his face. "Another nightmare?" Fleur looked to the side, blushing even more, before she nodded her head in reply. "Oh, sure, why not? Come on in."

"Merci," Fleur smiled faintly, as she walked over to the bed, and laid down.

"So, I take it it's the same as before?" Spike asked.

"Oui. And every night, it just keeps getting worse," Fleur closed her eyes as she continues, "I'm really worried, Spike. My parents are out there, and every night that passes, they could be worse."

"Fleur, if your mother and father are anything like you, then my guess is they're strong enough to see you for another day."

"Do you really think so?"

Spike wrapped his arm around the girl, as he finished, "I know so."

"Merci, Spike," Fleur smiled, as she pulled Spike close, smothering him in her well-endowed chest.

Spike blushed from close contact, before he pulled his head free, before returned the embrace, as he comforted Fleur. For further comfort, he sprouted his wings, as he tenderly wrapped one closer to Fleur.

"Goodnight, Fleur," Spike yawned. "Sleep tight."

"Goodnight, Spike," Fleur replied, before she too fell asleep.




Meanwhile
[More Than A Runt - By Ice Gaze]

Ember was in her room, when Mina walked in.

"Bet you enjoyed that, didn't you?" Mina asked.

"Obviously," Ember blushed. "What's it to you?"

"I'm just surprised," Mina answered as she walked up to her friend. "That's actually the first time I've seen that side of you. And you've always been saying you didn't think of Spike that much. You're always saying that he's like a little brother to you."

Ember blushed, as he replies, "Well, I guess over time, I've started to see him in a different light. I see that he's more than just a runt. He's more than a pipsqueak. Even before seeing him today, I've always thought he was more than a runt. He was so brave, so kind, strong, and smart....even more than me."

Mina smiled in agreement, "Even after he left, he's certainly gotten through to you, hasn't he?"

Ember smiled, "Yeah, he has. He's helped me through a lot. And now, it's time I return the favor. By helping him and Flare find the Armor of Heroes, and Flare's parents."
> Armor of Heroes Part 9: Freeing Griffonstone (The Helmet of Wisdom)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You sure this is a good idea?" Indigo asked.

"We've already agreed to this," Sunny replied. "There's no turning back now, remember?"

"I just hope we don't get caught," Sour whimpered, just before she was stopped by a hand. "Who's there?!" she demanded.

"Shush!" the other girls shushed harshly.

"If you're planning on sneaking out, I'd half-expect you girls to do better than that," a low voice sounded, before the figure revealed itself to the girls.




That Night

Spike was sound asleep, with Fleur, when a small blue mist flew into the room. The mist circled around the two, until it settled on Spike and embraced him.

Before long, Spike had a dream, where he finds himself, walking in the halls of a castle hall. It didn't take long, before he hears a voice.

"Spare?" the voice asked. "Am I really just the spare?"

Spike turned to the source, and finds himself, staring in shock, to see a young, blue alicorn, whom he knows very well, "Auntie Luna!" he gasped.

His younger aunt continues to question herself of her existence, before she began to sing herself an uplifting song to herself.



Spike smiled, as he followed the alicorn, as she continues to sing, feeling the confidence within her growing, for every passing lyrics.

Then, for some reason, Spike couldn't help but sing along with his aunt, serving as her back up vocal. As he does so, he failed to notice another Princess Luna, watching the scene being played. She smiled, happy to see her adopted nephew has taken an instant like towards her.

In the real world, Spike was humming in his sleep, which stirred Fleur awake. Fleur looked at Spike for a moment, before she shook him awake.

"Spike, mon ami," Fleur grumbled.

"Sorry," Spike, and younger Luna, apologized.




The Next Morning

Spike, Fleur, Thorax, Ember, Mina, Gilda, and Gabby were up, bright and early, and were on a train, taking them to Griffonstone. Ember once again, dons up her hooded figure persona, while both Spike and Fleur had on their suits of armors.

"Wow," Thorax said. "I can't believe we're actually on a school day off!"

"You and me both," Fleur added.

"And we all know who to thank for that," Spike replied.




Earlier

Spike, the girls, and the boys were having breakfast, as they were ready to head for school. Spike was enjoying a flapjack, when he suddenly burped out a scroll that reads:


School Notice

Due to unknown circumstances, involving the excessive usage of petroleum jellies and plumbing troubles, Celestial High School is hereby closed for some repairs.




However, through the usage of some magics, it also reads:


From the desk of Princess Celestia, and notifications of Principal Raven Inkwell

Due to the destructive usage of chaos magics, Celestial High School and Crystal Prep Academy are hereby closed for some repairs.


"WHAT?!" everyone all exclaimed, as they crowded around Spike to read the messages.




Presents

"Maybe Discord being turned into a dracone-draco-equs? Draco-whatsis? Draco Malfoy? Whatever Discord is now, maybe it's not so bad," Thorax suggested.

"Besides that, how does Principal Inkwell and mom knew each other?" Spike asked.

"That's not important now," Ember noted, bringing everyone's attention back to her. "Remember, you may be off from school, but that doesn't mean we're on vacation now."

"Don't worry," Spike replied. "I didn't mention anything about a holiday. Besides, it's quite convenient for the other girls too, since they've got a friendship problem alerting them."

"Still, it's going to be boring without Dash joining us," Gilda grumbled.

"Well, what're you gonna do?" Gabby asked. "You can't stop friendship problems from happening."

"No we can't," Spike replied. "Of course, not everyone can live the life of adventure calling to us," Spike said, referring to his Knights, having gone back to Earth for their own businesses.

Button, still helping Sweetie Belle serving her sentence, was working with her at a Sushi Shop, where Sunset Shimmer was called back to work. Featherweight was back to working on the New York Times, with Pipsqueak. Tender Taps was attending dance class, while Rumble was out practicing with his soccer team.

"Oui," Fleur agreed. "Though, I'm actually quite surprised Abacus Cinch would go as far as to have Discord wreck her whole school, just to cover her and the Shadowbolts' tracks."

"Like they say, expect the unexpected," Spike replied. "Oh, hello Lyra. Hi Bon Bon."

With that, the team of heroes quickly turned their head around, to see the two said mares, failing to hide themselves behind some Equestria Daily papers.

"Hello," Bon Bon chuckled sheepishly.

"What are you girls doing here?" Gilda asked suspiciously.

"We're here to back you up," Lyra answered. "We thought you might need some help."

"She's right," Bon Bon added. "Besides, this is the Armor of Heroes we're talking about. And knowing the Shadowbolts, they can't be too far behind. And you're going to need some help getting past them."

"Let's not forget they also have Discord on their side," Thorax pointed out.

"Anyway," Spike began, as he turns to Ember, "What's the status on the box, Ember?"

Ember pulls out the Fucanglong Box, revealing that it is glowing even more brighter, "Not far now. Which means we're getting close."

As the groups were busy conversing, Prince Blueblood was not too far behind. The jealous unicorn stallion was chasing after the heroes via pump cart, with his forced dog sidekick, Bunny.

"Oh the indignity," Blueblood grumbled.




Griffon Gorge

At last, the team of heroes arrived at the train station, where they disembark, as they began their trek, up a series of mountain paths. Spike got the birdcage from the conductor, and opened the door up, allowing Peewee to fly out and perched on the boy's shoulder.

"C'mon," Gilda said as she and Gabby guided their friends up. "Griffonstone's this way. And watch your steps! These paths are very treacherous to non griffon creatures."

"Why don't we just fly all the way there?" Ember asked. "We can fly, y'know."

"Not all of us," Bon Bon spoke, on herself, Lyra, and Fleur's behalf.

"That and you need to keep up your appearance, Ember!" Mina added. "You can't reveal too much of yourself."

"And for good reason too!" Thorax noted, as he pointed up to the sky, directing the team's attention to a fleet of dark zeppelins, hovering above the mountain tops, around Griffonstone.

Gilda and Gabby, being part eagles, used their keen visions to hone in on the zepplins, before spotting their flags, bearing a certain symbol.

"Shadowbolts!" Gilda growled. "They've beaten us to Griffonstone! And no doubt, they're already tearing it apart just to find the helmet!"

"Hopefully, they haven't found it yet!" Mina said worryingly.

"We'll find out, if we get up there!" Ember said. "C'mon!"

With that, the heroes were on their way up the mountains. However, their trips didn't go unnoticed.

Spying from the distance, was Hydia via telescope.

"Ah," Hydia smirked. "If it isn't the Dragon Prince himself. And he's not alone! There's that dragon who foiled our plan in Ponyville! And she's still got the box!" Hydia then tucks her telescope away, as she turned to the other two witches, "Get ready girls! We have to get that box! NOW!"

"Yes, master!" Reeka saluted.

"Duh, yeah, yeah," D'raggle followed, as she too saluted. "We'll get the box." With that, both girls quickly beat feet, only to trip on some rocks, and rolled all the way down a series of mountain steps.

"And you're related to them?" Discord asked, appearing in the form of a butterfly.

"I've been asking myself that question many times," Hydia answered.




Meanwhile, back at the train station

Blueblood finally arrived, "Made it," he gasped raspy, clearly out of breath. After a quick pause of composing himself, Blueblood announced, "Onward and yonward to Griffonstone!" With that, Bunny hopped off the cart. However, due to Blueblood carrying too many bags on his side of the cart, and less on Bunny's side, Blueblood unfortunately, slid away on the cart. "HELP ME BUNNY!" Blueblood screamed.

Bunny just watched Blueblood slide away, before he gave off a shrug, and walked away. Just then, appearing in a flash of turquoise light, stood Trixie and Starlight. 

Trixie, now fully clothed, with the addition of her hat and robe, stood burnt and dizzy, "Oh head rush," Trixie groaned, before she shook it off, and looked to see both herself and Starlight, at the station. "Whoa, I can't believe it! It's really magic! And you've really teleported us all here!"

"Awesome, right?" Starlight asked, before she checked her hoof again, revealing the Shadowbolt's mark was glowing and flashing. "Come on! Let's go! Spike's going to need some help!"

"Don't worry, Spike!" Trixie cried. "The Great and Powerful-" Starlight quickly enveloped Trixie in a Magic Bubble of Silence.

"Trixie!" Starlight hissed harshly. "Quiet! We're not going to be much help if the Shadowbolts were to hear you shouting your name like that!"

"Sorry, force of habit," Trixie then thought to herself, 'Don't worry, Spike. I'll save you!'




Meanwhile

Spike and the heroes hadn't made it very far, when the whole mountain they were on started to shake.

"What's going on?" Spike asked. "An earthquake?"

"Landslide!" Gabby shouted, pointing to several rubbles of rocks rolling straight towards them from the top.

"Fly away!" Gilda shouted, as she, Peewee, and Gabby took flight, followed by Thorax.

"Get on, Fleur!" Spike shouted, as he changes himself in dragon form, and Fleur jumped on his back, before he beats his wings and flew away.

Ember and Mina, meanwhile, got Lyra and Bon, as they flew away.

"D'oh!" Reeka groaned. "I forgot! They can fly!" With that, Reeka skimmed through her spellbook, as she desperately searched for a better spell. "Let's see, something to shoot them down with. Ah ha!" With that, Reeka tried the spell, which resulted in a series of lightning bolts to come flying out of the clouds, directing towards the heroes.

"Heads up!" Gilda shouted.

With quick thinking, Fleur concentrated in her magic, in the form of a glowing fleur symbol on her forehead, as it projected into a horn, before it casted a magic shield around herself and the heroes. However, when the lightnings struck, they merely bounced off the shields, as they appeared to be nothing more but mere screw bolts.

"Sacrebleu!" Fleur exclaimed.

"What the-" Gilda said, as she reached her claw out, and caught one of the bolts. "Hey! These aren't real lightning bolts! They're just yellow bolts, with shocking accessories!"

It didn't take long, when Mina took notice, "It's those crazy witches again!" Mina exclaimed, pointing at the said witches.

"Guess they still haven't learned their lessons!" Ember growled, as she got out her bow and arrow, while still holding onto Lyra, by the tail. Breathing a puff of purple fire on the tip of her arrow, Ember readied her shot. At the last second, Ember released her grip, letting the arrow fly towards the witch, as it exploded upon impact, and sent Reeka and D'raggle flying.

"What happened?" Reeka asked.

"Duh, I was doing what you told me to do," D'raggle answered. "I casted the spell to make lightning bolts, like you said."

"More like just plain bolts!" Reeka grumbled. "But it doesn't matter now, since we're blasting off!" With that, the two imbecilic witches disappeared in a single sparkle.

Back at her hideout, Hydia was more than furious, as she was hopping mad, up until she heard movements, causing her to hide behind a rock.

Meanwhile, Ember, Mina, and Spike too heard some movements.

"Quickly, hide!" Ember said. "Someone's coming!" With that, the heroes quickly hid themselves behind some tall rocks.

"What was that?!" a male voice called out. "I think I heard something over here! Have you checked over there?"

"No, not yet," another voice answered.

Spike and Fleur peeked from their hiding spot to see two passing, humanoid dogs, both clad in suits of armors with Shadowbolts jumpsuits beneath. One resembles a doberman, while the other looks like a St. Bernard.

"Well then get over there and check it out!" the doberman commanded, before the two dogs took their leave.

"Hold it!" the St. Bernard said, as his nose twitched. "I smelled something over here." With that, the dog walked over to where the groups were hiding.

Thinking fast, Peewee flew out of hiding, and made a sharp turn around some mountainsides.

"Oh, it's just a bird," the St. Bernard said, before he and his comrade were grabbed from behind and the sounds of beatings were heard. It wasn't long, before Gilda and Spike emerged, in Shadowbolts' uniforms, followed by the others. Fleur, Lyra, and Bon Bon, being spies, were all dressed in Shadowbolts uniforms that had brought along, Thorax, simply shape-shifted himself into a Shadowbolt's ninja, while Gabby once again dons up in her MMDW costume, Ember remains in her hooded figure persona, while Mina emerged in a Shadowbolt's uniform the three spies conveniently brought along.

"Ugh, " Gilda groaned. "Typical Diamond Dogs! Never heard of the concept called 'bath.'"

"I know I can change into a dog and all," Spike began. "But even I know these guys need to shower more often. That, and I'm getting fleas all over!"

"Come on, you guys," Ember called, getting Spike and Gilda's attentions. "The sooner we get the helmet, the sooner we can go home. And then you can both take bath, shower, or whatever it is you do to get clean in Equestria."

With that, the heroes were soon on their way to the city of Griffon. On their way, Spike could hear from the distance, a small struggle with a squadron of Shadowbolts. Turning his head to look, Spike could see some Shadowbolts, chasing after Hydia, as the evil toad faced witch blasted several spells at the ninjas, while trying to escape.

Then, Spike heard a screech, and he looked up to see Peewee flying back to him.

"Stay out of sight, Peewee," Spike said to the phoenix, who nodded his head in confirmation, before he flew off, and into the clouds.




With Blueblood

The tired, jealous, but determined Prince was out of breath, by the time he climbed back up to the station.

"No way," Blueblood huffed, "I'm....not....gonna.....let.....him.....get the glory......that easy." Blueblood soon collapsed on the ground, and lied on his back, as he tries to catch his breath, "I just need ten minutes of rest, and I'll be up."




With Trixie and Starlight

"This is so cool!" Trixie smiled, as she skimmed through a book. "Trixie could use some of these spells in her magic shows, that will put Trixie's name up in light, and Trixie can be truly be Great and Powerful!"

"Yeah, 'great and powerful,'" Starlight muttered. "But can you please be more silent and careful? We're on a mission here, remember? And judging from the sound of the ruckus above us, I'd recommend we pick up the pace, if we're going to help our friends!"

"Gotcha," Trixie replied, in a quiet voice, as she and the unicorn quickly beat feet, as they ran up the mountain paths. It wasn't long, before the two collided with a certain witch. Before long, the three were surrounded by Shadowbolts soldiers.

"Well, well," one of the grunts began. "Look what we've got here."




Griffonstone

Back with Spike's group, the dragon and his squad were able to reach the griffons' city. In appearance, Griffonstone was a huge, run down city, littered with broken branches, twigs, and feathers. The city was built around a great tree, where a tall castle rested on top.

"Geez," Spike muttered, as he observed his surroundings. "I was hoping Griffonstone would be, as Rainbow quotes '20% cooler,' by the time I got back."

"We wished," Gilda muttered. "But so far, the only progress we've ever made here is me, Gabby, Greta, and-Get down!" Gilda exclaimed at the last part.

"Get down?" Gabby asked, before she was pulled behind a wall, along with the other heroes.

Carefully peeking from around the wall, Spike gasped, "Somnambula!"

"And more Shadowbolts!" Ember added.

The heroes watched, as the Shadowbolts ran up to the elder sorceress, reporting their progress.

"Nothing?!" Somnambula grumbled. "Keep searching!"

With that, the Shadowbolts and Somnambula took their leave, to continue their search, before the heroes emerged.

"Sounds like they haven't found the helmet yet," Thorax replied.

"Which means, there's still a chance for us to find it first!" Spike replied. "Ember? You still have the box?"

"Yeah, Spike," Ember replied. "I've got it right here." With that, the sapphire dragon held out the puzzle box, glowing even more radiant than ever. "And from the looks of it, we're close!"

Unfortunately, the box's light didn't go unnoticed, when two Shadowbolt thugs came passing by, and noticed the group.

"Hey you!" one of the Shadowbolts shouted. "What've you got there!"

"And what're you doing here?" the other demanded, directly towards Ember.

"Ancient proverb," Ember replied in a deep voice. "Mind your bees wax!"

"Oh yeah?!" the thug said, angrily. "Well here's another proverb for you! You're on Shadowbolts' turf! And whoever's business is on our turf, is our business! Now give it to us!"

"Hey, take it easy!" Spike said, as he jumps in between the thug and Ember. "It's nothing special!"

"I'll be the judge of that," the thug said stubbornly. "Now get out of my way!" Spike stood his ground, as he refuses to let the thugs get near Ember. "I said get out!" With that, the thug grabbed Spike by the scruff of his collar, as he brought him up. In retaliation, Spike flipped his whole body, thrusting his leg out, and landed a kick to the thug's chin, while freeing himself from the thug's grips.

"Oh, so you want to fight, eh?" the thug asked.

"Bring it!" Spike said, as he challenged the both of them.

With that, the thugs all ran after Spike, throwing their fists out at him, which he was able to catch them all, before he jumped over their heads, while doing another flip, and bent their arms, causing them to scream in agony. Without hesitation, Gilda and Ember both thrusted their fists out, silencing the thugs, and knocking them out cold.

"Slick moves, runt," Ember smirked in respect.

"Back at ya, hothead," It didn't take long, before Spike's ears perked, when the sound of movement was heard. "Quick! Help me hide the bodies!" With that, the girls, and boys, all picked up the unconscious Shadowbolts, and stuffed them inside an abandoned, giant bird's nest. Once the task was done, the heroes were on their way, just as some more thugs arrived.

The heroes soon took shelter within a run down building that appears to have once been a library.

"Phew," Spike sighed. "That was a close one."

"Psst," a small voice sounded. The heroes turned to the direction of the source, perplexed to see nothing but a broken statue of a former griffon king, King Grover.

"Who's there?" Gilda demanded, flaring her wings threateningly. The figure came from behind the statue, revealing themselves to the heroes.




Starlight Glimmer and Trixie

"So," Trixie began, as she whispered to Starlight. "How did you go from Shadowbolts to what you are now?"


"And that's the story," Starlight finished.

Trixie placed her hands over her heart, "Oh bless that Spike."




The Heroes

"Grandpa!" Gilda exclaimed, as she ran over to the elderly griffin.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming back home, this late, Gilda!" Grampa Gruff grumbled, before he went into a coughing fit, and struck Gilda on the head with two fingers. "You forgot to make me my morning coffee. I had to do it, myself!"

"Geez, sorry grandpa," Gilda grumbled. "Forgive me for being enslaved by the Shadowbolts, and not coming home sooner."

"Don't you sass me young lady!"

"Excuse me, sir," Spike cleared his throat, getting the elder griffon's attention. "If I may, how did you manage to get away? And are there still any griffons left?"

"Those are simple questions I can answer," Grampa began, as he eyed Spike, with his one good eye. "If you've got any bits!"

"Bits?" Spike exclaimed. "But we're in a matter of life and death here!"

"I'll tell you what's a matter of life and death," Grampa replied. "AND IT'S YOU NOT PAYING ME BITS!" After his outburst, Grampa went in another coughing fit.

"Take it easy, grandpa," Gilda muttered.

"Please, Grampa!" Gabby pleaded, pulling down her mask to reveal her face, and showing some puppy eyes. "You've got to help us! Or Griffonstone is doom!"

"Oh, well TOUGH TAIL FEATHERS! BITS OR NO ANSWERS!" Grampa roared.

Sighing in defeat, Spike brought out a small pouch, as he got out some bits, "Good thing Twilight's been paying attentions to griffon histories."

After Grampa got the bits, he turned to the statue, and pressed one of the toes on the hind legs. With that, a trapdoor opens up, and Lyra nearly fell in, had Bon Bon not saved her.

"That's how I got away," Grampa replied, as he walks down some steps. "And a few others who were lucky enough to escape."

The heroes followed the griffon, and were later in an underground cavern, filled with nests, and tents, occupied by the griffons that got away.

"Wow," Spike marveled, taking in the surroundings of the cave. "I didn't know you griffons can bunk, underground."

"We don't," Grampa replied. "We live in trees. And this cavern you see, is part of the Great Tree of Griffonstone! And it's the last place those ruffians would ever expect to look for us!"

"So I noticed," Spike replied.

"It must've been awful," Fleur commented, seeing some mother griffons struggling to feed their hungry chicks.

Suddenly, one of the griffons took notice of the heroes, in their disguises, "SHADOWBOLTS!" he squawked, as some others  soon followed. "SHADOW BOLTS! THEY'VE FOUND US!"

"No wait!" Gilda shouted, as she took her disguise off, followed by the others. "It's only us! We're friends!"

"Gilda?" one of the griffons exclaimed, as the others soon took notice.

"Greta!" Gilda exclaimed, as she and the griffon ran up to each other.

In appearance, Greta is a female griffin, with arctic grayish blue eyes, grayish scarlet fur, and light malachite greenish gray head with pale, light grayish emerald green edges and dark amaranth wings. For attires, she only wore a bluish green scarf around her neck, with a gold pin in the shape of a crescent moon.

"What're you doing here?" Greta asked. "This place is a mess! Then again, it's always been a mess, but still."

"Hey don't worry, Greta," Gilda replied casually. "Everything's gonna be okay. Look who's back."

With that, Spike stepped out, and presented himself before the griffons, "Hello," he greeted.

"It's the Dragon Prince!" one of the griffons exclaimed, as the others all soon exchanged their surprises.

"Spike!" Greta exclaimed, as she happily pounced on the boy. "Omigosh! I can't believe it's really you!"

"Right? RIGHT?!?" Gabby exclaimed, as she joined in.

"Nice to see you again, Greta," Spike said, as he struggles to get up. "Boy, you've gotten stronger!" he commented, as Greta was still keeping him pinned down.

"Ahem," Fleur cleared her throat, getting the boy and griffons back on topic. "As much as-"

"FLARE HEART!!" Greta and some more griffons exclaimed, as they all flew forward and pounced the unicorn.

"Wow!" one of the griffons squealed. "You're even more awesome up close!"

"And pretty!" another squealed.

"Can you please get off?" Fleur strained, nearly succumbing to the overwhelming weight off all the griffons on her.

It didn't take long, before a loud roar filled the cave, courtesy of Ember, Mina, and Gilda. Afterwards, the heroes explained themselves to the griffons.

"And that's why we're here," Spike finished.

"Hmmm," Grampa Gruff pondered. "The Helmet of Wisdom? Where have I heard it before?"

While Grampa Gruff was in his thoughts, Gilda turned to Greta, "Besides that," she began. "What happened here Greta? Where are the other griffons? I know I haven't came back in Griffonstone for long, but I know there's more of us than this."

"Well, you see," Greta began. "They showed up out of nowhere, a few months ago, and attacked us, from the sky. We tried to fight them off, but there so many of them, and they've got some weird, crazy, magic weapons at their disposals. Only a few of us were able to escape, and made it down here. And we've been stuck here, while they're up above tearing Griffonstone apart, just to find your helmet. And we've never even heard of it!"

"Well that's going to end, right now!" Spike said. "Because we'll be the ones to find the helmet! Find Fleur's folks, and drive the Shadowbolts out of here!"

"And how do you plan on doing that?" one of the griffons asked.

"With this," Ember answered, as she presented to them the Fucanglong box, which was still glowing.

Grampa Gruff was in deep thoughts, when he took notice of the box, "Great Grover!" the elderly griffon gasped. "Can it be?! Is that, the Fucanglong Box?"

Soon, everyone in the cave all turned their heads to the griffon.

"You know what this is?" Ember asked.

"As sure as my eyes first saw the rising sun, shining down on the Idol of Boreas!" Grampa Gruff answered, before he had an epiphany. "Oh yes! I remember it now!"

"What is it gramps?" Gilda asked.

"For a couple of bits?" the heroes, and griffons, all face faulted, incredulous at the demanding griffon. "Hehe, just kidding, youngsters," Gruff chuckled, before he turned serious. "Long ago, before King Grover discovered the Idol of Boreas, we griffons have once before plundered several lands, stealing our enemies' greatest treasures. And among those treasures, was a helmet of great magic! We didn't know it then, until some unicorn, by the name Starswirls the Bearded, and a pegasus named, Flash Magnus, arrived with the intention of getting it back! King Grover tried to fight them off, but in the end, both he and the bearded fella came to an impasse. And since that fateful day, the two had an agreement. That the Helmet of Wisdom is to remain safe here in Griffonstone, until it is needed, once again!"

"So, do you know where the helmet is?" Spike asked.

"Listen carefully, young prince! And that goes for all of you youngsters as well!"




Later
Castle of Griffons

A suit of armor was moved to the side, as Spike emerged, once more in his Shadowbolts disguise.

"Okay," Spike whispered. "Grampa Gruff told us that the clock tells us where the helmet's chamber is."

"Too bad he doesn't tell us where the clock is," Ember said from behind.

"Well, with the Shadowbolts swarming the place, it's a little too risky to simply let the box guide us," Spike said to the sapphire dragon. "I'm gonna ahead and scout the place. Meet you guys back in six!"

"Be careful Spike," Mina said, as the boy took his leave.

Just then, Gabby came to the girls, "Hey! Have you girls seen Flare?"

"Yeah she was right-huh?" Ember exclaimed as she noticed the unicorn wasn't in sight. "Where'd she go? And come to think of it, where's Gilda?"




Gilda

'Like Tartarus I'm letting Spike have all the fun,' Gilda thought, as she too was sneaking around the castle, in her disguise.

Grampa Gruff had informed Gilda off some griffons having been captured by the Shadowbolts, and were planning to be used for some experiments by Somnambula, on a spell that would make them into slaves, like Gilda was before.

'Grampa told me the griffons were locked up in a dungeon, somewhere in this castle. Question is.....'

"Hey you!" a voice barked, to which Gilda could tell by sniffing the air, it was a Shadowbolts thug. "What do you think you're doing? You're supposed to be guarding the dungeon!"

Gilda paused, as she came up with an excuse, "Um, I was," Gilda replied in a deep voice. "But you see, one of the prisoners was whining nonstop, so I was getting some snacks to shut them up."

"Whining prisoners eh?" the thug scoffed. "I'd just beat them, until they couldn't speak again. But whatever works for you."

"Duly noted," Gilda replied, before both she and the thug went their separate ways.

Gilda hadn't gone far, when she saw a door, guarded by some griffon guards, both appearing to be under some hypnotic trances. Thinking of a plan, Gilda silently climbed up the walls, before she scaled the ceilings over their heads, while remaining out of their field of visions. Once she was directly over their heads, Gilda dropped down, grabbed them by the heads from behind, and bonked them together, knocking them out. Once the task was done, she turned to the door and picked the lock open and entered the room.

With her natural night vision, Gilda scanned the room, to find nothing but heavy crates of weapons and all sort of equipments.

'Guess this isn't it,' Gilda thought as she quickly made her way out. But not before she stole a bag of grenades.

After making a quick dash out of the room, Gilda was on her way, when she was stopped by a Shadowbolt who asked her, "Password?!"

"Get lost creep," Gilda replied.

Nodding their head, the Shadowbolt told her, "Pass!" With that, they were on their way.

'That's right,' Gilda smirked in her thoughts. 'Mess with the griffon, get the claws.' Suddenly, Gilda heard a scuffle breaking out somewhere from behind. Curious, Gilda went to investigate, but when she did, she was grabbed from behind.




Starlight

"All hail, Nightmare Moon!" Starlight Glimmer saluted.

"Starlight Glimmer!" one of the Shadowbolts pointed his blade threateningly at the unicorn. "What are you doing here?"

"Got tired of being on Twilight Sparkle's lap?" another asked, to which looked at him questionably. "I oughta have your horn for a trophy right now, traitor!"

"Don't be goofy with me! I need to see Somnambula!" Starlight replied.

"How do we know this isn't some of Princess Twilight's friends' practical joke?" the Shadowbolts continued to question Starlight. "I thought you deserted the Shadowbolts after you were frightened off by Midnight Sparkle. Or were you always a spy for Princess Celestia? Trollestia? Molestia? I thought you had your shadow mark laser surgically removed!"

"Oh," Starlight began. "Well if you know so much about me, then you should write a biography," With that, Starlight Glimmer lifted up her 
right hoof, revealing the mark that was still imprinted on her. "Starlight Glimmer, the double-agent!" The Shadowbolts all looked at her in disbelief, "That's right, I've always been a servant of Nightmare Moon. I've simply been working undercover, finding valuable informations, such as the inner workings of Canterlot, the roster of the of the royal guards, and finding out exactly what makes me and Sunset Shimmer so special anyway. I've seen things no Shadowbolts should see, so if you're both done putting each other's feet in each other's mouths, I'd like to see Somnambula at once!"

"Of course," the Shadowbolts answered. "Right away."

"Good!" Starlight replied. "I'll be in the castle, escorting my prisoners to the dungeons where they belong." Starlight said, referring to Trixie and Hydia, both bound and in chains behind her.

"Dungeons in the East Wing, by the way," the Shadowbolts replied, before they left.

With that, Starlight took her leave, while dragging Trixie and Hydia in the tow, before they made it into the castle.

"Okay Trixie," Starlight began, as she puts on her old Shadowbolts uniform and mask. "I'm gonna go and look for Spike and the others. You keep an eye on toad face here."

"No fair!" Trixie whined. "I want to go and look for Spike, too!"

"Well, we're not gonna be much good to Spike, if we get caught!" Starlight replied. "I know how to handle the Shadowbolts. So just wait here, until I get back with Spike."

"Fine," Trixie sighed in defeat, as she sat behind a pillar, with Hydia. "Just be quick about it, okay? It's disgusting enough that I have to sit next to toad face here!"

Starlight was soon on her way, navigating through the castle halls, when a voice called out.

"Hey, you!" one of the thugs shouted, stopping Starlight. "Password?!"

With a smirk, Starlight began, "A dummy borrowed the trumpet from a llama. But the llama doesn't understand the dummy. He tells the dummy to speak louder. And he gives the dummy a pumpkin. But the dummy tries to say 'No! The Trumpet!' And in turn the llama gave him a rooster. And now the dummy is getting mad, very, very, very mad! He swears at the llama. And the llama's upset."

"And then what?" the thug asked.

"It's the password dummy!" Starlight replied, as she quickly snatched the Shadowbolt's weapon away and sweeps her legs out, tripping the thug, followed by a blast of magic. Once the task was done, Starlight dragged the knocked out thug away, and hid him inside a closet, before she was on her way.

Starlight hadn't gone far, when a Shadowbolt thug was passing by, 'I'll ask her the password this time,' she thought. "Password?!" she demanded.

"Get lost creep," the thug answered.

Starlight nodded her head, "Pass!" she replied.

Starlight then went down a hall in the castle, when she was stopped by a Shadowbolt, who asked, "Password?!"

With a smug grin, Starlight answered, "It's get lost creep!"

"No problem!" the thug answered. Starlight quickly turned around and was met with a punch to the stomach, followed by a chop to her neck, causing her world to black out.




Spike

'Grampa Gruff should've just given me a map or something,' Spike said in his thought, as he ran down a castle hallway. 'If I were a clock, where would I be?' Spike asked in his thought, when suddenly, a Shadowbolt thug stepped out from behind a door.

"Password?!" one of the thugs demanded.

"They taught me only hand signals," Spike replied.

"What do you mean?"

"This," With that, Spike demonstrated the 'hand signals,' making several pincer gestures, and fists, distracting the thug, before the boy punched him in the nose, followed by a spinning roundhouse kick, knocking the Shadowbolt out cold. 

"Slick moves, Spike," Thorax said, revealing himself to be a pair of goggles on Spike's head.

"Thanks, Thor," Spike replied, before he proceeded to hide the body.

One the task was done, Spike and Thorax were on their way, down a hall, and into a room, that looked as if it had once been an astronomy. Spike was about to leave, had Thorax not stopped him in time.

"Spike, look!" Thorax pointed to the floor, which resembled a giant sun dial.

"Yeah, so?" Spike asked.

"It's a sun dial!" Thorax replied. "A sun dial is a type of clock, isn't it? Could it be the clock we've been looking for?"

"Maybe. Let's head back to the others," With that, Spike and Thorax both made their way down a hall, when they passed by another Shadowbolt.

Thinking fast, Spike asked, "Password?!"

"It's get lost creep!" the Shadowbolt answered.

"No problem," Spike replied, before he punched the Shadowbolt in the stomach, and landed a chop to their neck, knocking the thug out cold. "Idiot. What kind of password is that?"

Suddenly, both Thorax and Spike's ears perked up, when they heard some movements coming from behind. Thinking fast, Thorax changed himself into a box, as he hid the body, while Spike changes into a puppy and hid underneath a cabinet. Soon, another Shadowbolt thug appeared in the hall. In appearance, the thug was a griffon, who was sniffing the area. After the griffon passed his hiding spot, Spike came out, shape-shifted into his human form, and tackled the griffon from behind. In response, the griffon flapped her wings, as she took to the air, trying to slam Spike off of her, when Thorax changed back into his true form, and shot a green goop at the griffon.

"Ew!" the griffon groaned. "I just had my wings cleaned this morning!"

"Wait a minute," Spike pulled the griffon's mask, to reveal, "Gilda?!" Both he and Thorax exclaimed.

"Spike? Thorax?" Gilda replied.

"What are you doing here?" the three all asked at the same time.

"Me and Thorax found a possible clue to the helmet's hiding place," Spike answered.

"I'm just trying to find the dungeon where all the other griffons were held captive," Gilda replied.

Just then, Thorax felt a presence, as he suddenly sniffed the air, detecting a newfound scent, "Hey guys?" Thorax said. "Someone else is here."

With that, the three all popped their disguises back on, as they looked around some nearby pillars, to find.....

"Trixie?!" Spike gasped.

"Spike, it's you!" Trixie squealed as she happily embraced the boy.

"What're you doing here?" Spike asked, while trying not to blush. It didn't take long, when he spotted a bound and gagged Hydia, "And what is she doing here?"

"Her?" Trixie asked, while pointing to Hydia. "Oh she gave me and Starlight a bit of trouble, on our way here to help you. But not to worry. We got her."

"Starlight? Starlight's here, too?" Spike asked.

"Yeah. She went off to look for you," Trixie answered.

"She did?" Spike asked, before he recalled the previous Shadowbolt he had knocked out. 'That must've been her,' Spike thought. "Trixie, you come with us," Spike said.

"With pleasure!" Trixie squealed happily, after she succeeded on escaping out of her chains from Hydia. "You stay where you are, or else!" Trixie threatened the witch.

Speaking of.....

"Now at least I know, that's not the password," Starlight groaned, before she spotted another Shadowbolt thug passing by, and grabbed him in her aura. "What's the password?"

"I wish upon a star!" the thug answered, before he lost consciousness.





Spike, Trixie were running through the halls, when they spotted a Shadowbolt thug up ahead, "Tixie, you take left! Gilda, up! And Thorax, right!" With that, the three all complied, as they surround the thug, while Spike went up to the thug directly.

"Password?" Spike asked.

"I wish upon a star," the thug answered.

"Nope that's not it!" Spike answered as he charges after the thug.

"Wrong again?" the thug asked herself, before she spins around, trying to hit Spike, only for Gilda, Thorax, and Trixie to tackle her from every directions.

"Hold it! It's only, Starlight!" Trixie exclaimed.

"Yeah," Starlight replied. "Don't you guys know a pal when you see 'em?"




Later

Spike, Thorax, and Trixie, later rendezvous back with others, while Gilda was off, with Gabby, Greta, Lyra, Bon Bon, and Starlight to the dungeon.

The rest of the heroes were all in the astronomy room, as Ember pulled out the Fucanglong box. The box glows brightly, as it reacted with the gnome. Before long, the gnomon sank into the ground, as the dial started to turn around in circles, before it shifted itself into a set of stairs.

"This must be it," Thorax commented.

"Then let's go!" Fleur insisted, as she was about to take the first step.

"No, wait!" Spike stopped her. "There's no telling what's down there, protecting the helmet! So I'll go first. Don't follow until I give a sign. But if something bad happens, get yourselves out," The others nodded, though a little reluctant in letting Spike go off on his own.

Not waiting for a second opinion, Spike quickly went down the stairs, which grew darker the further he went down. 'Eyes of the dragon,' Spike said in his thoughts, causing his eyes to become green and reptilic, as he got a good look in the dark.

By the time he reached the bottom, Spike saw a torch, which he lit up, with his breath. This started a chain reaction as all the other torches were soon lit up.

"Spike!" Fleur called, are you alright?"

"I'm fine Fleur!" Spike called. "You guys can come down now."

With that, Fleur arrived, with Thorax, Trixie, Mina, and Ember following. The heroes continued to walk down a lit up hallway, only for Spike to stop them, as he sniffed the air, and out of impulse, his whiskers sprouted, waving in the air in various directions.

"What is it Spike?" Fleur asked.

"Traps!" Spike replied.

"Are you sure?" Trixie asked.

"I think so," Spike replied. "I mean, I'm sure of it."

"How do you know for sure?" Thorax asked.

"I don't know. In a way, it's like the wind was just telling me, there are traps right here."

Ember took notice of Spike's whiskers, "I think, we can trust him on this," Ember voiced her opinion, to which the others all looked at the sapphire dragon, questionably. "Look, questions later. But if Spike says there are traps. Then there are traps. So we must proceed with cautions." 

Smiling that Ember believed in him, Spike was the first to go, as he leapt from walls to walls, while doing flips, and spins, before he made it to the other side, unharmed, courtesy of his whiskers.

"Wow, Spikey," Trixie swooned, to which the other girls all rolled their eyes in annoyance.

Fleur followed Spike's lead, while Thorax flapped his wings to fly across when-

"Thorax! Stop!" Spike called, but too late. The changeling tripped a thin string, resulting some walls to fly out. Thorax would've been squashed, had Spike not jumped in between the walls, stopping them, with his dragon legs and claws.

"Get going Thorax!" Spike groaned. "Now!"

Thorax was uncertain, "But I can't-"

"Move, or I'll squash you!" Spike threatened, causing Thorax to beat his wings and fly away.

"Hold on, Spike!" Ember said, as she, Mina, with Trixie riding, came over and took hold of the walls, enabling Spike to go freely.

The dragons, and girl, all made it to the other side, in one piece.

"That was too close for comfort," Spike panted.

"Um, Spike?" Thorax asked nervously. "Would you really squash me?"

"Of course not, Thor," Spike replied. "But if I would, it would be when I let those walls crush you."

"Oh," Thorax nodded in understanding.

With that, the heroes were later on their way, down another hall, which lead them to a long viaduct, with strong currents of winds blowing across.

"Looks like we're in, what Grampa Gruff and all the other griffons called, the Abysmal Abyss," Spike said.

Trixie looked down from the viaduct, as she whimpered, "Wonder what gave that away?"

Ember took out the Fucanglong Box, checking to see it's aura glowing even brighter. Unfortunately, the box's glow didn't go unnoticed, as several eyes within some caves on the walls opened up, followed by some faint growls. Fortunately, Spike's ears perked up, as he heard the source.

"Girls! Behind you!" Spike called to Ember and Trixie.

Hearing what Spike said, Ember turned around, and quickly jumped out of the way, while carrying Trixie, just as a quarry eel nearly snapped its jaw at them.

"What the devil?" Trixie exclaimed, before more eels starting poking their heads out, and all lunged towards them.

One eel lunged after Thorax, only for Spike to land a flying kick to its muzzle, shoving it off course. The eel fell towards the bottom, only to be picked up by the wind, as it started gliding away.

"Quarry eels may not have wings," Spike began. "But whenever there's a windy day, they're the wind's best friend."

More eels started to glide after the heroes, snapping their jaws. Ember breathed a jet of purple fire, only for it to be blown away by the wind, "It's too windy to make a direct fire shot!" Ember groaned.

"Then it's a good thing I'm here!" Fleur said, as she fired a magic bolt in the air. The bolt exploded in a flash of purple light, blinding some of the eels, causing them to crash into some of the walls of the abyss.

"Come on!" Thorax said, as he made it to the other side of the viaduct. "Let's go!" With that, the heroes all made a mad dash for the other side, which takes them to a large door. Suddenly, the Fucanglong Box came flying out of Ember's cloak, projecting a small, magic key blade form one of its faces, and inserted itself into the door. Reacting to the box's power, the doors slowly began to creak open, granting the heroes entrance.

"Hurry!" Spike shouted, as he and everyone all jumped into the room. Ember quickly took the box, of the doors, causing them to shut tight, narrowly shielding our heroes from a quarry eel. 

"Boy, that was close," Thorax panted. "Anymore traps, or monsters, we need to worry about?" the changeling asked.

"Not for now," Spike replied, tapping on Thorax's shoulder and directing his attention to a huge statue, in the shape of Starswirl the Bearded. Floating before the said unicorn, was the very helmet the heroes came for.

"The Helmet of Wisdom!" Spike gasped.

"Oh my goodness!" Trixie gasped in awe, as she walked to the pedestal.

"NOOOO!" Spike shouted, as he pulled Trixie back, just as a spell was shot from Starswirl's statue. Spike got in front of Trixie, shielding the girl from the spell, as it struck his armor, forcing him back.

"Spike!" Trixie gasped. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Spike groaned. "Just barely. Though, how are we going to get the helmet?"

Just then, Ember felt a burning sensation in her cloak, as she took out the Fucanglong Box, revealing that it was flashing rapidly, before it fired a beam of sapphire aura, at the statue. The heroes watched, as they could see what appears to be an invisible force field, shattering to pieces. Once the task was done, the box dropped to the ground, no longer glowing.

"What was that all about?" Spike asked.

"I don't know," Fleur answered. "Maybe it means it's safe to get the helmet now?"

"Well we're not going to find out if we just stand around, asking each other questions, are we?" Ember asked rhetorically 

Nodding their heads in agreement, the heroes all stepped forward, and were relieved that no traps have been activated, as they retrieved the helmet.

"Wow," Fleur said in awe. "It is so, c'est magnifique. We actually did it mon ami!"

"And best of all," Spike began. "We've got two pieces now to find your parents, Fleur."

Just then, the statue of Star Swirl's eyes flashed in blue, as it zapped the heroes.





In a flash of light, Spike and his squad stood, in the castle, with the helmet.

"Wow," Spike marveled. "We're back!"

"Well c'mon!" Thorax began. "Let's go find the others before-" Thorax was interrupted, as they were suddenly surrounded, by the Shadowbolts. "Before that happens," Thorax moaned.

"Well, what do we have here?" Somnambula asked, as she made herself known. "I was expecting one of my hunters to go after you, and low and behold! You came to us for a change! And you've saved us the trouble of finding the helmet!" Somnambula cackled, followed by the others.

"Well, you're not welcome!" Spike replied.

"Enough talk!" one of the Shadowbolts began. "Hand over that helmet, nice and easy."

"You want the helmet?" Spike asked, as he dons it on his head. "Come and get it!"

[MLP Fighting is Magic - Rainbow Dash Stage Theme]

With that, the Shadowbolts all lunged forward, as they try to snatch it away from the young Dragon Prince. One of the Shadowbolts, flew in a flying kick, only for Spike to grab their legs, as he flings them away. Another Shadowbolt came running up to Spike, with double katanas, and slashes them at Spike, only for Spike to do a backflip, over the Shadowbolt, dodging their attacks, and sweeps the floor with his leg, tripping his opponent, followed by a tail whip, which knocked the Shadowbolt away.

Two more jumped in, armed with a kusarigma, and shuko claws. The first Shadowbolt hurled the chain ball from his kusarigma at Spike, who ducked his head down, as the Shadowbolt leapt towards him with the scythe, ready for the kill. Spike took notice as another Shadowbolt jumped forward with his shuko claws. At the last second, Spike leapt away from the two Shadowbolts, as their attacks missed him, while bumping into each other. After collecting themselves, the Shadowbolts were about to strike again, when Mina flew in, breathing a jet of red fires, that exploded into fireworks, in their fire-proof masked face. Blinded, the Shadowbolts crashed into a wall, knocking themselves out.

"Save some fun for me, Spike," Mina said, as she, Ember, Fleur, and even Trixie joined the fray.

"I've always wanted to kick, Crystal Prep's butt," Trixie smirked. "Never thought it'd be like this."

With that, the girls all charged after the Shadowbolts, aiding their favorite in the fight. Fleur was fencing with a Shadowbolt, until another tried to grab her from behind. Luckily, Ember swooped in, stomped the Shadowbolt on the head, causing him to groan in pain, which Fleur quickly heard, as she back fisted him in the face. Just then, one of the Shadowbolts threw net at Fleur. Luckily for the girl, Spike jumped in, and miraculously, managed to catch the net with his claws, and turned it into a whip, as he used it to snare the Shadowbolts who attacked Fleur.

"Care to do the honors, Flare?" Spike asked, as he held the captive Shadowbolts in front of Fleur, who changed into her unicorn form, and repeatedly kicked them, with her flare kick technique.

Meanwhile, Ember, having ditched her hooded figure persona and into her armored dragon appearance, was charging after a Shadowbolt, who was backing away in fright, until Mina came from behind, crouch down, causing him to lean backward, enough for Ember to land a powerful kick that sent him flying backwards.

Seeing how dire the situation was becoming, Somnambula tapped her staff to the floor. With that, her flying monkeys arrived. The winged monkeys all swooped towards the heroes. Two flying monkeys were flying after Trixie, who threw down a smoke bomb, enabling her escape, as the two monkeys flew in, and crashed into each other. Ember rolled to the side, as she shot several explosive arrows at the monkeys, knocking them out of the skies, before more arrived to fill their places. Mina was fighting off some of the Shadowbolts, when more monkeys arrived, and overwhelmed the red dragoness.

"Mina!" Spike called. Feeling an intense rage, erupting within him, Spike's whole dragon form was surrounded in a green, fiery aura, as he roared, "GET OFF OF HER!!!" With that, a loud roar erupted from Spike's mouth, as it blew the monkeys off of Mina.

"Thanks, Spike," Mina thanked.

"Don't thank me yet!" Spike replied, as he continues to fight off the monkeys, while trying to keep the helmet on.

One of the monkeys tried to catch Spike, only for a curtain to come to life, and snagged the monkeys, before the flying beasts were covered in green slimes. The curtain began to change shape, revealing itself to be none other but Thorax, himself.

"Slick move, Thorax!" Spike smiled.

"Thanks," Thorax replied modestly. "I don't usually fight, but I'll help the best way I can." Thorax looked up, before he shoved Spike out of the way. "Look out!" Just then, a flying monkey came crashing down on Thorax.

Spike tried to run over to help his changeling friend, but was barred by more Shadowbolt thugs. Looking around, Spike quickly grabbed an iron staff, from a nearby suit of armor, and like the martial art fighter he is, Spike changes himself back in human form, as he spins the staff around, blocking the Shadowbolts' attacks, while landing a few blows on their necks, heads, and jab to their stomachs. Another Shadowbolt came running and swung his sword at Spike, only for the boy to quickly block the blade with his weapon, before he made a few strikes of his own to the Shadowbolt's head, shoulders, knees, and toes. The Shadowbolt in the meantime, moved his arms and legs, trying to block the strikes, but Spike was going to fast, until finally, Spike stopped, and the Shadowbolt was so caught up in the moment that he looked as if he was doing a crazy dance. It wasn't until another Shadowbolt came, and bonked him on the head, did he finally realized, Spike stopped, and was mentally mocking him.

Enraged, the Shadowbolts pounced after Spike, while Thorax continues his scuffle with the flying monkey. The girls too weren't making much progress.

"There's too many of them!" Fleur said, as she continues to fight with her rapier, while blasting some magic bolts.

"Then it's a good thing we're here!" a voice called out.

The heroes, and the Shadowbolts, all turned their head in the direction of the source, revealing Gilda, Gabby, Greta, Lyra, and Bon Bon, and all the griffons, freed.

"Looks like the calvary's here!" Spike smirked.

"C'mon griffons!" Gilda began. "Let's show them who rules Griffonstone!"

With a loud war cry, all the griffons charged forward, as they did battle with the Shadowbolts, and the flying monkeys.

One of the flying monkeys had Trixie pinned down, when a bolt of magic struck it, forcing the flying primate off. Trixie looked, and was bewildered to see Lyra, and Bon Bon, both girls stood, dressed in tuxedos and shades. Lyra was holding Bon Bon close, as the girls had a moment of looking at each other, before Lyra continues to fire more bolts of magics.

All of this made Trixie even more bewildered, "Trixie!" Starlight called, as she ran up to the girl. "Come on! Snap out of it!" Soon, both girls found themselves, surrounded by more Shadowbolts, and flying monkeys. Concentrating into her magic, Starlight conjured up a wand, with a blue star at the tip, as she levitated it to Trixie, before she morphed in her own battle form. In appearance, Starlight wore a suit of armor, with her Shadowbolt mask, and a long staff, sheathed in the back of her armor.

"Ever participated in a magic duel?" Starlight asked, as she pulled her staff out.

"I've once had a magic off with Discord," Trixie answered.

"Well watch and learn," Starlight replied. "Cause you're with the big boys now!"

With that, Starlight charges into the fray, as she shot a beam of magic from her staff, at a flying monkey, repelling it away. Another Shadowbolt came and shot an arrow at Starlight, who quickly transfigured them into flowers. With a spin of her staff, Starlight skillfully blasted several beams of magics at the surrounding Shadowbolts, transfiguring them into a mix of animals, as well as making them confused, and disoriented.

"What's going on?" one of them asked. "Why do I have a sudden craving for pickles?"

"Why do I feel like I'm small?" a big one asked.

"Why do I feel hungry, all of a sudden?"

Trixie looked astonished, before she waved her wand and shouted, "Bibbidi bobbidi boo!" Nothing happened however.

"That only works at night," one of the Shadowbolts explained.

During the fight, Spike's ears perked, as he hears a projectile flying from behind, and he jumps to the right, evading the ammo.

"Hello!" Spike exclaimed.

Spike turns around to have a good look at his attacker, and sees an attractive young woman with jade eyes, while having a slender body. She had a long silky black hair down to her hips and possessed two black bat-like wings. Her attires consists of black, strap-like, risqué objects around her body, gloves that ran right up her arms with small lengths of chains hanging from them, shoulder guard-like objects on her shoulders with three large spikes sprouting from her right shoulder, and black thigh-high heel boots.

"Hello, Spike," the girl said, in a deep, haunting voice.

Spike finds himself strangely turned on, as he immediately lost control of his powers, and turned his head turned into a wolf's head, as he lets out a literal wolf whistle, before he later turned himself into a puffer fish, with his dragon wing straightened, "What is happening?" Spike asked, as he finds himself floating in the air, and bloated.

The Shadowbolts were just as shocked at the girl, as Spike is, as some of the boys in the group couldn't help but get slightly turned on.

"Sunburn?" one of the Shadowbolts began. "I didn't know you're into ecchi anime cosplay."

"......./////0____0;\\\\\\......." In response, Sunburn's face grew red with embarrassment, as she took the hair off, revealing it to be nothing more but a wig, "YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO STRIKE FEAR!!" Sunburn growled angrily.



"Wait for it!" Discord grinned trollishly.

"Hey, Spike!" Thorax called. "Everything o-AH!!" Thorax screamed with fright, as he ran behind Spike, while momentarily turned himself into Button Mash. "YUUMA!!"

"Yuuma?" Spike asked.

"It's Japanese for sunset," Thorax explained. "Also, AHHH!!! WE'RE GOING TO DIE BY A FALLEN ANGEL AND REBORN AS A DEVIL!! I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME!"

"-_-;......You've been hanging with Button, way too long!" Spike said to the changeling.

"See, what did I tell you?" Discord smirked to Sunburn, before he took notice of Spike's condition. "Ooh! Spike! Did you just put on some weight?"

Just then, Hydia, and her daughters arrived, via door, "Fools!" Hydia cackled. "No prison can contain-Uh, what did I just missed?" the elder witch asked, upon taking notice of Spike.

"Oh, nothing," Discord began slyly. "It's just that I discovered Spike's greatest weakness, which involves sexy dames!"

"Say what?!" Reeka began. "All this time, the mighty Dragon Prince's weakness, is pretty girls?"

"Duh, that's me!" D'raggle exclaimed. "I'm very pretty!" With that, D'raggle tries to put her heads beneath her chin, as she batted her eyelashes.

The boys in the Shadowbolts, however, speak otherwise, "Ew!" one of them said. "I feel disgusted just by looking at her!"

"Oy, vey!" another one added.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Spike said. "But I agree." With that, Spike suddenly deflated, back in human form. "Hey! I'm back to normal!"

"Oh yeah?" Discord began, as he whipped out a poster. "How about now?!"

"NO!" Spike said, as he resists the temptation to look. "No, wait!" Discord didn't listened, as he snapped his finger, forcing the boy's eyes to stay open.



"Oh no!" Spike began, as he feels himself losing control of his powers, and turned into a puffer fish.

The Shadowbolts couldn't help but burst out laughing, while some of the girls, both Shadowbolts, and heroes, couldn't help but blush, with their eyes twitching.

"Oh, hardy har har," Spike began. "You've had your fun. Now just-hey! Hey, stop it!" Spike cried, as Discord bounced him around like a beach ball. "Cut it out!"

"Ooh, this is too rich!" Discord laughed. "I've always known you were a shy boy! But to see you get turned on like this! It's too-hoo-hoo, rich!"

"Come on Discord!" Spike groaned.

"Hey!" Sunburn growled. "Are we just going to discuss about the dragon's weakness? Or are we going to take the helmet?!"

"Pishposh and tut-tut, my good girl!" Discord replied. "I've got the helmet, right here!" Discord grinned, to which the heroes took notice that it was no longer on Spike's head. "Now, you can have your fun with Spike. Ciao!" With that, Discord disappeared in a flash of light, while dropping the helmet in Somnambula's hands.

"The Helmet of Wisdom is ours!" Somnambula cackled triumphantly, as the Shadowbolts all joined her. "Now, without further ado, capture the Dragon Prince! Do what you want with the others, but the dragon belongs to the master!"

"With pleasure!" one the Shadowbolts began, as he unsheathes his weapons.

"Let's have fun," Sunburn added, as she grew her claws on one hand, while projecting a spear of fire in her other hand.

"Spike!" Ember called out. "Get ahold of yourself!"

"I'm trying," Spike groaned, as he tries to regain his focus.

"Here," Thorax said, as he turned himself into a blindfold and wrapped himself around Spike's eyes. "Now you won't have to see Sunburn when you fight!"

"Thanks, Thorax," Spike said, as he deflated back in human form, and began relying on his ears to navigate his way, through the fight.

Sunburn slashes her claws at Spike, while throwing an array of fireballs, and spears, at the boy, who continues to evade her moves, blindfolded and all.

"Hold still!" Sunburn growled impatiently, as she continues to throw her attacks at Spike. Then without warning, Thorax changed himself into a giant spider, and jumps on Sunburn's face, "GET OFF OF ME!!"

"Thorax! Jump!" Spike shouted, as he breathed an explosive fireball at Sunburn, knocking the girl backward, while Thorax leapt into the air, and changed back into his true changeling form.

"Good thinking there, boys," Gilda smirked, as she continues her fight with the monkeys.

"That's the power of teamwork, Gilda," Spike smirked, while giving a thumbs up, and a wink, before he and Thorax took their leave. "Now let's go get that helmet back! Thorax! Fleur! You're with me!"

"Oui!" Fleur replied, as she followed the boy.

"Okay!" Thorax answered.

Meanwhile, in the rumbles, an even angrier Sunburn burst out.





After his long nap of regenerations, Prince Blueblood was back on his hooves, as he struggles to scale the mountains, with Bunny pulling him along, by the leash, until finally, they made it to the top.

"AH!" Blueblood exclaimed happily. "Yes! I made it! I finally made it!" With that, Blueblood broke into a run, as he blindly charged through Griffonstone, while saying, "Have no fear, Griffonstone! For I, your friendly, talent, handsome-" Blueblood wasn't looking where he was going, when he tripped over a stone, and landed in a puddle of mud. "Ew! I just groomed myself this morning!" It wasn't long, when he took notice of the ruckus going on, in the castle, at the top of the Great Tree. "I don't know what's up, but I don't think I should be involved. What the-?" Blueblood looked up, to see some zeppelins moving in. "I think that's my cue to take cover!" With that, Blueblood turned, and crashed into someone.

"Watch where you're-" Somnambula gasped. "I know you!"

[The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly]

"You!" Blueblood replied in equal tone.

"Vlad Blueblood!"

With that, Somnambula punched Blueblood aggressively, who grabbed her telekinetically, and the two rolled around the floor, in a wrestle. Blueblood tried to jump on her, but Somnambula did a flip on her back, as she kicked the unicorn prince away.

Blueblood then ran up to Somnambula and bucked her repeatedly in the face, "How do you like-" Blueblood was interrupted, when Somnambula landed more punches to his face, which he retaliates with several more punches, before he spits a tooth out, and landed an even stronger punch to Somnambula. In response, Somnambula spat out her set of fake teeth, as she lands a spinning kick to Blueblood's head, followed by a 540 kick, knocking Blueblood down on his back. Taking out her staff, Somnambula was about to strike it down on Blueblood, who quickly grabbed it, as he pulled her down to the ground, before he levitated a huge boulder off the ground, and over Somnambula.

"Witch takes kidney!" Somnambula shouted, as she jabbed Blueblood's underside, causing him to yelp in pain, while losing his focus on the boulder as it drops down on his head. Somnambula was about to walk away, when she came back, and kicked Blueblood, very hard.

"Ooh!" Spike grimaced, as he, Fleur, and Thorax arrived on the scene. "Right in the batteries!"

"You think an old lady can't take care of herself?" Somnambula asked, before she puts her teeth back in. "Next time, I won't go so easy on you!"

"Wait a minute!" Spike began. "What are you doing here, cousin?"

"I'm here for the griffon's excellent, griffon scones," Blueblood moaned in pain. "I'm here to find the Helmet of Wisdom, so I can be the hero of this chapter!"

"Well you're too late," Somnambula sneered. "The helmet is ours!"

"No!" Hydia shouted, as she desperately ran out, and grappled with the helmet. "It's mine! My daughters and I have come a long way for the helmet!"

"Yeah, that's right!" Reeka said, as she joined in the struggle, with D'raggle.

"Let go!" Somnambula growled.

"Monkey steals the peach!" Spike said, as he jumped in, and snatched the helmet out of the witches' hands.

"STOP HIM!" Somnambula and Hydia shouted, as Reeka, D'raggle, and the Shadowbolts ran after Spike.

[The Myth - 03. Battle Preparation]

Spike ran with the helmet, back on his head, with the Shadowbolts running after him.

"Spike!" Fleur shouted, as she galloped, in unicorn form. "Get on! Quick!"

With that, Spike jumped on Fleur's back, holding onto the armor plate, on the back of her neck.

"Hi-ho, Fleur! Away!" Fleur looked back at the boy, questionably. "Sorry. Caught up in the moment." Fleur continues to gallop through the streets of Griffonstone, as Spike held on, while blasting some fireballs at the pursuing Shadowbolts.

It wasn't long, when more Shadowbolts surrounded the two. One of the Shadowbolts threw a chain ball at Spike, who quickly heard it coming as he ducked his head, catches the steel ball, and pulls the Shadowbolt towards him, before he punches the ninja away.

Then, out of the shadows, were more shadow samurais and ninjas. The samurais, on horsebacks, galloped towards Fleur, who quickly fired magic bolts in retaliations. The bolts bounced off, as they did little efforts in slowly the samurais and their horses down. One samurai swung his katana at Fleur, and nearly chopped her horn off, had Spike not intervened, in dragon form, as he caught the sword in his mouth. Spike leapt off of Fleur's back, as take flight, and kicked the samurai off of his horse, while Fleur projected a magic shield, and had it floating around her, defending herself from the other samurais.

Luckily, fate smiled down on the two bestie once more, as Lyra and Bon arrived, in a floating aircraft they had stolen from the Shadowbolts. The two girls, in human forms, fired some missiles at the samurais, causing them to disappear in puff of smokes. Lyra and Bon Bon jumped off, as they landed at Fleur's sides.

"Merci mon ami," Fleur panted.

"No problem, Fleur," Bon Bon smiled. "Any bestie of Spike, is a bestie of ours!"

"Besides," Lyra added. "You're not the only one who'd be willing to give her life to secure his." The two girls swooned dreamily, as they watched Spike fighting off the Shadowbolts, and their shadow creatures. They marveled at his display of courage, and skills, as he fought off the ninjas with an impressive display of martial arts. Fleur blushed in agreement, but scowled in envy.

Spike grabbed a nearby flag pole, as he used it to fend himself form the Shadowbolts' spears, katanas, and even arrows. Just then, D'raggle and Reeka arrived. Reeka was rolling around, while D'raggle came jogging after her sister.

"Body slam!" Reeka hollered, as she tried to crush the life out of Spike, only for the boy to jump out of the way, along with all the other Shadowbolts.

"One word of advice," Spike began. "Diet and exercise!"

"Hey! That's three words!" Reeka roared, as she jumps after Spike, only for the boy to jump roll to the side, dodging her attack, before he breathed fire on her butt. "OW! That's smart!"

"Well, y'know what they say," Spike smirked. "Mess with the dragon, and you get roasted."

"Duh, I got him!" D'raggle said, as she grabbed Spike from behind, only for Spike's tail to sprout, as it grabbed her, and throws her off.

"Who's got who?" Spike asked, as he resumes his fight with the Shadowbolts.

With the flag pole in hands, Spike used it to skillfully block their punches, along with their blades. Spike quickly turned to one Shadowbolt, and thrusted one end of the pole, in between the ninja's legs, before he brought it up, flipping them in the air. Just then, another Shadowbolt came running after Spike, with an axe. Spike blocked every strikes from the axes with the pole, until it broke in halves. With that, the Shadowbolt tries to strike Spike, at his chest, only for Spike to jump to the side, and the Shadowbolt swings the axe in his direction, which Spike was able to block in time, with his bare hands. Spike then forced the Shadowbolt's arms down, only for the ninja to bring it back up in another attempt to strike Spike, only for the boy to block it again, and held it down, as he lands a punch to the bolt's face, and another to his chest, before he does a spinning heel kick, to the head, knocking the Shadowbolt back.

"Very impressive," Sunburn's voice sounded, as she landed in front of Spike. "You fight well, against these pitiful forces of evil. Now, you will face me!"

"Bring it!" Spike said competitively, while trying to keep himself together.

With that, both the boy and demonic spirit charged after each other, until they clashed. Sunburn grew her nails long, as she slashes her claws at Spike, who dodged to the sides, ups, downs, and blocks them, before he retaliated with a flying kick to the demon's face.

"Oh, we're really having fun," Sunburn grinned deviously, while fixing her jaws, as she projected a spear of light, and thrusted it towards Spike, who was quick to catch the projectile, before it spins in a tornado, and throws it back. Sunburn cocked her head to the side, as the spear flew past her, scorching a part of her hair in the process.

Projecting two more spears in hands, Sunburn flew after Spike, as she slashed her twin blades at Spike, who quickly moves to the sides, dodging the blades, while getting a few scratches in the process.

"Yow!" Spin groaned, as he was pierced in the right leg, and felt it burning from the inside and out.

With that, Sunburn thrusted the second spear towards Spike's abdomen, only for the boy to catch it with his right hand, mere seconds away, before he twists his body to the right, pulling the second spear with him, as he uses his left good leg to link with Sunburn's right arm. Sunburn tried to chop his leg with her left hand, but Spike's left hand intervened, as it jabbed the demon's hand, in the form of a praying mantis gesture. With a snarl, Sunburn continues to slash her claw at Spike, who continues to jab her hand with his hand, before he made a strike to her throat, forcing her back, as she lost her grip on her spear, and Spike fell into a backflip. Taking the spear out of his leg, Spike groaned, as he sprouted his wings, and took the flight to the air. Sunburn soon followed, as she fired more explosive fireballs at Spike, who deflected them away with the other spear he took from her.

"Give me the helmet!" Sunburn roared, as she flew after Spike, and made a desperate lunge for the helmet. Spike stopped her claws from touching the helmet, before he realized they were plummeting towards the ground. "Give it to me, or die!"

In response, Spike breathed fire into the girl's face, forcing her off, as he crashed back down to the ground. The helmet rolled out from the impact, before it rolls to the side of a cliff.

"The helmet!" Sunburn shouted, as she flew after it, only for someone to hold her back by the leg.

"It's our master's!" Reeka drooled, while D'raggle ran to get it.

The tall witched tripped on a stone, causing the grounds of the cliff to shake, and the helmet fell off, into the Abysmal Abyss.

"NOOOOOOO!!!" everyone shouted.

Spike ran to the cliff, and dived into the abyss, changing into his dragon form, in his attempts to retrieve the helmet.

"Spike!" the girls shouted, as they ran after the boy.

"Welp, I think that's my cue to get outta here," Blueblood said, as he and Bunny retreated.

The girls watched anxiously, when in a flash of fire, a phoenix appeared, flying with the helmet in his talons.

"Peewee!" the girls gasped.

"Get him!" Somnambula ordered.

With that, the flying monkeys flew after Peewee. The phoenix tried to escape, but he was soon overwhelmed by vast numbers of the monkeys, as he dropped the helmet, into Somnambula's hands.

"Yes!" Somnambula cackled. "At last! The helmet is ours!"

The Shadowbolts all laughed triumphantly, as they all disappeared in puffs of smokes.

"Mommy!" Reeka called, as she and D'raggle were dragged away, in chains by the Shadowbolts.

The girls, and the griffons, in the meantime, were left to mourn for their lost comrade. Or so they thought.

"Girls!" Spike's voice sounded.

"It's his ghost!" Lyra screamed, as she hugged Bon Bon close. "He's back to haunt us!"

"No, wait!" Ember said, as she took her helmet off, and peered into the abyss, to see Spike, scaling the rocks, with the helmet in one claw.

"SPIKE!" the girls all shouted happily.

"Hold on, sweetie!" Trixie said, as she took her hat off, and conjured up a rope of handkerchiefs. "Here, grab on!"

"Lower, lower!" Spike said, as he changes back into a human, with the exception of his claws and legs, before he grabs ahold of the rope with his free hand. "I got it!" With that, he was pulled up, and back to safety.

"Spike!" Bon Bon said sweetly. "Thank goodness you're safe!"

It wasn't long, before Spike was piled on by Fleur, Starlight, and Trixie, as the girls all kissed him on the face, while affectionately chiding, "Don't scare us like that!"

"Sorry," Spike replied, before he picks up the helmet, as Peewee came and rested on his shoulder. "You did good, Peewee," Spike smiled, as he pet the bird's stomach.

"How? When? What?" Starlight asked, flabbergasted.




Up on the Shadowbolt's Zeppelin

Somnambula and the Shadowbolts were enjoying themselves, as they laughed triumphantly, "At last! We have the Helmet of Wisdom."

"I still say we should've do the others in, when we had the chance," one of the Shadowbolts said.

"Not to worry," Somnambula replied. "Soon, the Dragon Prince will fall to Bloodshot, and soon his powers will be in the possession of our master. And soon, his will be nothing but insignificant insects to us."

"Hey! I resent that remark!" The helmet shouted in outrage.

The Shadowbolts all turned at the helmet, questionably, "Sunburn?" Somnambula began. "Did that helmet just talk?"

"Yes, ma'm," Sunburn replied.

"Sunburn. Fire at will."

With that, Sunburn fired a ray of magic at the helmet, revealing itself to be Thorax.

"AAAAAAAAHHH!!" the Shadowbolts screamed. "How did you tricked us?!?"

With a frightened yelp, Thorax took off, with an angry Sunburn chasing after him, as she fired several fireballs, and spears of light at the cowardly changeling. Thorax fluttered throughout the zeppelins, while dodging the flaming projectiles being thrown at him.

It wasn't long, until Thorax jumped off to the side, as he screamed, "Geronimo!"

"NO!" Somnambula screamed in outrage, angered that she and the Shadowbolts had been duped. The sorceress turns her attention, back to Hydia and her daughters, all being held by the Shadowbolts. "Someone's going to pay for this!"




Later
Friendship Castle

"Boy, we've had some adventure to day," Spike remarked. "I'm bushed."

"Me two," Mina added.

"All of us are," Fleur added, on behalf of all the girls and boy who had came along.

"It'd be nice to just get some shut eyes for the night," Spike said, as he went for the door. However, upon opening the door, just an inch, a foul scent was detected.

"Spike?" Fleur asked, as she took notice of the boy sniffing the air. "What is it?"

"Shh!" Spike quickly shushed. "Someone's here!"

"Don't you think it could've been Twilight and-" Trixie was quickly silenced, as Gilda and Gabby covered her mouth with their claws.

Moving the door just ajar, Spike turned into a dog, as he jumps into the castle, sniffing the air. Spike's ears suddenly perked up, as he hears the faint sound of footsteps, running at a level above him. Spike turned his head, in the direction of the sound, only to see no one there. Spike slowly walked forward, as he tries to smell and listen more to his surrounding.

"Spike?" Trixie whispered, which was enough to give Spike a jumpscare, as the boy spins around, changing in human form, and got into a spin kick, almost hitting the girl. "AH! It's only me!" Trixie panicked, as she puts her hands out.

"Trixie!" Spike panted breathlessly, as he quickly patted his chest. "Don't-" Spike then noticed something shining in the distance. "GET DOWN!" Spike yelled, as he pounced forward, shoving Trixie out of the way, just as a bullet came flying and almost hit them.

[Empire - I'm Your Hitman]

The two didn't have time to catch their breath, as more bullets were fired, from a balcony. Grabbing Trixie, Spike rolled to the side, with the girl, as they hid behind a pillar.

"Hang on Spike!" Ember called, as she jumped into the fray. The sapphire dragon reached into her cloak, as she pulls out her bow and shot an arrow at the figure, who was quick to deflect it with a well aimed shot, resulting in an explosion of purple smokes.

Before the smokes cleared up, Gilda charged in, slashing her claws at the sniper, to find, he's gone. Spike however had been listening, for the figure's movements, and could hear the figure was swinging across the ceilings via the banners that were hanging overhead. With that, Spike breathed a burst of green fire at one of the banners, cutting of the figure's quick getaway, as he fell to the floor, and landed on his feet. Spike and friends watched, as the figure reached into his coat and pulls out a vial of red liquids. The man popped the cork off the vial, and pours it into his hand, as it became a pistol, which he used to fire some shots at Spike and friends.

Everyone all took cover, as the man continues to fire them with his makeshift gun.

"Who is that guy?!" Ember asked.

"I don't know," Spike replied. "But whoever he is, he's got some mad water crafting abilities! He just mad a gun, out of some strange liquid, or something."

"We gotta do something," Trixie said. "We can't just hide behind these columns all day!"

Spike looked around the halls, before he turned to Starlight, "Psst, Starlight! You've been Twilight's roomie for the last ten years! You know the insides and out of this castle?"

"Sure do," Starlight replied.

"Okay, then you're with me!" Spike said, before he turns to the rest of the heroes. "You guys, keep him busy!"

"You got it!" Gilda replied, as they all put their plans into action.

Ember fired another flaming arrow at the person, who shot it again with his pistol, which resulted in another burst of purple smokes. The man popped another vial, which projected into a another pistol, as he blindly searches through the smokes, looking for his preys.

Then, without warning, a heard the sound of claws scratching on the floor, which he fired one gun at, before he hears the sound of wings flapping, and shot another bullet in that direction. It wasn't long, when a burst of purple fire broke through the smokes, the man rolled to the side, and jumped into a nearby room, where Spike was waiting, and the young prince landed a flying kick to the man's face, causing him to stumble out of the room. At that exact moment, Gilda jumped behind the man, bent herself down, tripping him up, and caused him to fell over, while dropping his pistols, all which turned into puddles upon touching the floor.

"You've got a lot of nerve, breaking into my friend's home, just to try and shoot us!" Spike said, as he walked out of the room, with Starlight and Trixie at his side.

"It's the mark of a professional in my line of work, young prince," the man said, as he reaches into his coat again. "And I was paid to do you in!" With that, the man pops another vial, conjuring up a gun, which he whips out to shoot at Spike, who quickly ducks his head down, only to find he didn't have to, since Starlight formed a shield that protected both him, herself, and Trixie.

Just then, Ember fired another arrow at the man, who quickly opened a door, in between himself and the arrow. The arrow exploded upon impact, blowing the door up. At that moment, Gilda swooped in, slashing her claws at the man, who ducked his head down, before he grabbed the griffon by the tail. Summoning all his strength, the man swung the griffon around, knocking her into Gabby, Mina, Lyra, and Bon Bon, before he released his grip on the griffon, into a nearby room.

The man was about to shoot the griffon, when his gun was blasted out of his hand, courtesy of Starlight. The man turned to face the unicorn, but was met with a kick to the face. Spike was about to land another, when the man caught his leg. Spike surprised the man, as he twists his whole body, and land another kick, with his right leg, injured and all.

"You fight well," the man replied. "Even more impressive, as you are fighting on a wounded leg. Very few have ever put up a fight in your conditions, you know!"

"I like to play hard to get!" Spike replied, as he continues his fight. "And I've got some good friends to back me up!" the boy added, as Fleur, Thorax, Trixie, Starlight, and Ember came to his sides.

"C'mon, everyone!" Ember began. "Let's show this jerk, what we're made of!"

With that, the six warriors all leapt forward, throwing kicks and punches at the mad man. The man, however, didn't have trouble fighting all of the heroes at once, as he surprisingly managed to block most of their attacks, while receiving a few hits, along with some counterattacks he made.

Ember thrusted her leg out for a flying kick, only for the man to grab her foot, and spun her into Fleur. Starlight shot an offensive spell at the man, who simply took it in, like it was nothing. Trixie threw a smoke bomb to his face, blinding him momentarily, as she fired some fireworks at him, but he surprisingly remained, unscathed. Fleur later got up, as she went in with a flaming kick, but the man was able to block her attack, causing the unicorn warrior to recoil in damage.

"Who sent you to attack us?!" Spike asked, as he and Thorax tried to fight the man, by themselves. "Who do you work for?"

"Now what makes you think I'm the type to rat out my employer?" the man asked, as he popped another vial, and conjured up a machine gun, and opened fire on the two boys.

In a flash of green magics, both Thorax and Spike changed into a dragonfly and dog, respectively, as they quickly took cover. Fleur and Starlight quickly joined their magics together, as they formed a shield, protecting them from the bullets. Then, with a loud screech, Peewee flew in as a flaming comet, diving towards the man's face. The man swatted his hand at the phoenix, knocking him to the side.

"Peewee!" Spike exclaimed. "You okay?"

The phoenix got up from the ground, and nodded its head, before it made another attack at the man.

"Get out of the way, you flaming peacock!" the man growled, as he tries in vain to swat the phoenix away.

With the man distracted, Thorax changed back in changeling form, as he lunged forward and made a grab for the gun, only to be smacked in the face, when the man quickly opened one of the doors in between himself and the changeling. Just then, Peewee pecked the man's face, which the man defended himself by pulling his overcoat over his face. In the process, Spike noticed something falling out of the man's coat. Prowling with caution, Spike picked up the object, to see that it was a picture of a little girl, who appears to be around the age of six.

Just then, another set of doors opened up, revealing Spike's posse walking in.

"Yo Spike," Rumble greeted, before both he and the others took notice of the scuffle going on.

"C'mon you guys!" Button said, as he took out his minecraft pickaxe. "CHARGE!"

After fending himself off from the phoenix, the man turned to see Button, charging after him, with the pickaxe, which the boy used to bop him repeatedly at the head.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" the man asked. "From a video game?"

"Um, no?" Button asked, before he was kicked away, and into a wall.

*Mario lost a life*

"PILE ON HIM BOYS!!" Pipsqueak shouted, as he and the boys all pounced on top of the man.

"Get off of me!" the man roared, as he forced the boys off him.

"Who is this guy?" Featherweight groaned.

"I don't know," Rumble replied. "But I don't think he's even human."

The man panted heavily, before he too notice of Spike, getting his wounds healed, by Starlight, and Peewee. The man was about to intervene, had Fleur, Thorax, and Trixie not got in the way, holding him back. With a frustrated grunt, the man forced the three off.

Fleur, Starlight, Thorax, and Trixie, all made another lunge for the man, only for the man to leap out of the way, tricking the four to crashing into each other, before he pops another vial, turns to Spike, who didn't hesitate to run for dear life. Spike kept on running, while dodging the bullets being fired at him, and with Peewee flying at his side. The man's gun suddenly changes into a bazooka, and fired a missile. Spike, hearing the missile coming, did a backflip, dodging the missile. The missile exploded behind the boy, launching him forward. Using the momentum, Spike did a front flip, before he landed an axe kick, which the man was able to block. From there, Spike did a backflip, as he sprouted his wings. With a flap, Spike dashed forward, throwing several flying kicks, before he landed on the ground and did a flare breakdance move, which the man avoided as he jumps back. With another flap of his wings, Spike flew into the air, and breathed a huge explosive green fireball, which the man shielded himself with his coat, along with a flying kick from Spike, which smashed more of his vials in the process. From there, Spike did a backflip, before he dashed forward, spinning into a tornado, as he landed several spinning kicks to the man, who was able to block them all. Spike then threw a punch, only for the man to catch it, and with it, he forced the Dragon Prince to the floor, as he placed his foot on Spike's back. With a triumphant roar, Spike jolted up from the floor, forcing the man off.

"All those hours of push ups with Applejacks really pay off," Spike commented.

Just then, the other heroes in the room began to gain their second winds. Then, as if fate is smiling on the Dragon Prince once more, Twilight and the girls arrived.

"What is going on?!" Twilight hollered, taking notice of the mess.

"This isn't over yet, Dragon Prince!" the man growled, as he leapt up onto a banner, climbed up to a nearby balcony.

"I oughta press you into jerk cider!" Rainbow roared, as she flew after the man.

With quick thinking, the man opened another door, and banged it into Dash's face, as he makes his escape.

"Why you-" Dash was about to give chase, when Twilight called out.

"Let him go, Dash," Twilight said. "We'll get him next time."

"Yeah, just be glad, Spike's alright," Applejack added, before she, the girls, and the heroes, turned to the said boy. "So, how'd it go, Sugarcube?"

As an answer, Spike nodded to Fleur, who nodded in response as she pulls out the Helmet of Wisdom from her saddlebags.

"Omigosh!" Twilight exclaimed. "I don't believe it! The Helmet of Wisdom! You've actually found it!"

"Thanks to some help," Fleur added, gesturing to Ember, and the rest of the heroes who came along.

"No need to say it," Trixie began, with a smug grin. "The Great and Powerful Trixie was happy to be of service! And the Shadowbolts would've gotten away with Spike too, had Trixie not been there to save him."

"Shadowbolts?!" the girls and the Knights exclaimed.

"Have we got a story for you guys," Spike began.




Midnight Castle

In the throne room, Nightmare Moon stood fuming, over a frightened Abacus Cinch.

"I grow tired with all this waiting, Abacus Cinch!" Nightmare Moon hissed. "I trust your students were able to locate the helmet, in a simple archaeologist expedition?"

"Rest assured, your irritableness," Abacus Cinch replied. "We shall be hearing some results momentarily."

Just then, a shadow creature appeared in a puff of smoke, "Your majesty," the creature said, as he bowed his head before Nightmare Moon. "I came with reports!"

"Speak to me at once, Shadowfright!" Nightmare Moon commanded.

"Gratitude, master," Shadowfright replied. "The Helmet of Wisdom! It has been taken, by Prince Spike, and his friends!"

"What?!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed in outrage. "The Dragon Prince was in Griffonstone?! What was he doing there?"

"He was there, searching for the helmet, as much as we were. We had the helmet, and we almost had him too. But there were some....interference," With that, Shadowfright pulls out an orb, which projected an image of Hydia and her daughters, all in chains.

"The three witches?" Nightmare Moon hissed in disgusts. "And they dared to interfere in the businesses of the Shadowbolts?!"

"Shall I dispose of them at once, your majesty?" Abacus asked.

"No!" Nightmare Moon replied. "I'll take care of them, later! I should like to know why they dared to interfere with our affairs!" Turning her attention back to Shadowfright, Nightmare Moon continues, "What's the status on the other pieces?"

"I regret to inform, your majesty," Shadowfright replied. "We are still searching for the other pieces. Unsuccessfully, your highness."

Nightmare Moon fumed, as she ranted, "We only knew three of them. The Sword of Honor, in Dragon Town. The Helmet of Wisdom in Griffonstone. And the Chestplate of Valor we stole from Sir Lir. That means there are only three pieces left out there! And we WILL have them! Keep searching for them, so that the Dragon Prince and his allies won't beat us to the punch!"

"As you wish, your highness," With that, Shadowfright bowed his head, before he took his leave.

Nightmare Moon then turned her attention to Abacus Cinch, "Your majesty?" the woman asked.

"I don't think it's a mere coincidence that dragon and his friends were in Griffonstones! They somehow knew the helmet was there, and came to Griffonstone to retrieve it from us! The question is, how do they know it was there?"

"What would like us to do then, your highness?" Abacus asked.

"Listen well, Cinch!" Nightmare Moon began. "I want you to keep a close watch on what those heroes do from now on!"

"As you wish, your majesty," With that, Abacus bowed her head, before she took her leave.
> Armor of Heroes Part 10: Old Tricks, New Fighting Styles
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ponyville

Princess Twilight, and some of the police forces were skimming through some pictures, before they found a match, to the man in the picture Spike had found during their last scuffle.

"Bloodshot!" a pegasus cop read. "Bounty hunter, and a meta human!" he gasped at the last part.

"That's not the worst part," a minotaur cop added. "It says here, he specializes in the use of Hematokinesis"

"Hema what?" a griffon asked.

"Hematokinesis!" Twilight as she explains, "It's the power to manipulate the bloods of oneself, or their enemies." Twilight then scratched her chin with her hoof, as she thought, 'Which would also explains the bloods found all over the halls, when we came.'

"And this guy's got one heck of a shopping list!" another cop noted. "And he does it all, with that power of his!"

"Doesn't matter!" Twilight said in a commanding authoritative manner. "He tried to kill Spike and our friends! He broke into my castle! And he'll be brought to justice!"

"So, what do you want us to do in the meantime, princess?" one of the cops asked.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight began, "Send a letter to Princess Celestia! I'm sure she'd know what to do, when there's a meta bounty hunter going after Spike! In the meantime, we should post some guards around Ponyville, in case that meta human ever tries to come back."

"Yes, your highness," the cops bowed their heads.

"That won't be necessary," a voice called, as the cops and princess turned to the source. "Might I suggest another kind of approach?" the figure said, holding out a scroll.





Meanwhile, back at Friendship castle, Fleur had finished retelling her, Spike, and their friends' recent adventure in Griffonstone, via her Motion Pictures Spell. At first, everyone, besides the heroes in the movie, were all watching in awe, seeing the actions being played, as well as laughing at the part where Spike accidentally attacked Starlight Glimmer, thinking she was a Shadowbolt. However, at the part where Sunburn came into the picture, needless to say, the boys couldn't help but look at the demon girl in arousal. Well, all except for a few.

"RAYNARE!!" Button Mash screamed, as he leapt into Spike's arms, and screamed like a little girl. "Oh save me, Spike, please! Don't let her get me! Spike, please! Don't let her get me! Please!"

Rolling his eyes, Spike shook his head, "Get a grip on yourself, Button!" Spike berated. "Raynare only exists in the manga."

"Yeah, this ain't like one of your Japanese manga, or anime," Rumble added.

"Oh, of course not," Button began in sarcasm. "Spike having a harem of girls, fighting monsters, bad guys, and sexy she demons is so not like in any manga or anime, I know."

"Ok, Button," Spike began. "First off, the girls aren't in a harem. Never had that idea!" Unknown to Spike, the girls couldn't help but blush, while feeling somewhat sheepish about the idea.

"You say that now," Button continued. "But sooner or later, this story is going to feature you with a harem. NOW PUT ME DOWN!!" Button yelled at the last part, to which Spike gladly complied, dropping  the nerd to ground. "But not that bad."

Seeing the Spike wanted to change the topic, Fleur resumes her spell, before they reached the end.

"Well, Sugarcubes," Applejack smiled. "You fellas have had quite the adventure there." 

"Definitely!" Fluttershy agreed, before she looked at Spike, grimly inspecting his leg. "And thank goodness you're okay, Spike. That was some hit you took from Sunburn."

"It's nothing," Spike replied, trying to brush it off. "Besides, Peewee took care of it with his tears?"

"Definitely. That's another wonderful thing about phoenixes like Peewee," Fluttershy smiled. "Their tears have healing powers, and can cure just about everything."

"Too bad they don't cure worlds of evil, like the Shadowbolts," Ember said, grimly. "Cause then it would save us all the trouble of fighting for our lives, and others."

"Well if it were that simple, that would put heroes like us out of the job," Button smirked.

"Um, how are you guys heroes again?" Gilda asked. "I mean, it's not like you helped rescue some griffons from their cages or anything."

"True," Rumble replied. "But we did fought with honor to save our buddy from the Shadowbolts, when he was going through his metamorphosis."

"Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you guys about that!" Pinkie said, to Ember, Gilda, Gabby, Mina, Starlight, and Trixie. "It was a blast! Spike was turning himself into a jade dragon statue in order to grow wings, horns, and whiskers, when he came to rescue us, and when the Shadowbolts tried to catch him again. But then, the Knights came and helped us fight the Shadowbolts off, like the team of heroes we are!"

"Really?" Ember asked, as she looked at the Knights. "The five of you, no magic and all, simply jumped into the fray, just like that?"

"Well, we've been getting lessons from Scorpan," Rumble replied. "But yeah, magic or no magic, we fight with honor, besides Spike."

"Spike's our friend too, y'know," Button began. "Just like how Mario has Luigi, Batman's got Robin, Alfred, and Batgirl, or Jackie Chan had Jade Chan, Uncle, and the rest of the J Team, Spike's got, well you girls...."

"Ahem," Thorax cleared his throat.

"And changeling," Button added. "But still, he's also got us. Spike's our friend. We're friends for life!"

At that exact moment, both Rumble and Button found themselves surrounded in a shimmering aura of lights, "What's happening to us?" Rumble asked.

"Button? Rumble?" Spike began. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know," Button looked up, and sees the nearby display case, where the armor's pieces were stored, suddenly started to shake, and the Sword of Honor, and Helmet of Wisdom, came flying out, heading towards the boys.

Everyone in the room all watched in anticipation, as the helmet dons itself onto Button's head, and the belt on the sword's scabbard tied itself around Rumble's waist.

"Whoa, what gives?" Rumble asked, looking at himself and Button.

"I don't know," Button replied, as he checked himself out in one of the castle's reflective walls. "But I look kinda good."

"Call me crazy," Applejack began. "But I think those pieces chose you fellas to be their bearers."

"It's possible," Ember added. "I mean, Rumble, you seem to be all big on the concept of honor and everything. And Button, despite being rather, eccentric, you did say a lot of good words when it comes to making a big talk on fighting, and unity."

"Fascinating," Rumble replied, as he checks out the sword.

"Who'd thought, these were meant for us?" Button remarked, as he looks at himself in the mirror.

"Perhaps a friend of Starswirl would've known," a voice called out.

Everyone looked, to see Twilight, standing in the doorway, with Scorpan, wearing a brown dusty satchel around his shoulders, before he quickly changed back in human form, in a flash of yellow aura.

"Uncle Scorpan!" Spike exclaimed, as he ran up to his surrogate uncle, and hugged him.

"It's good to see you again, young dragon," Scorpan replied, as he returns the embrace. "And thank goodness that you're okay, considering you just had your first battle with a metahuman."

"Oh, you heard about-" Spike stopped, as he questions, "Metahuman?"

"Oh thought those guys only existed in DC Comics," Button said, before it hits him. "Oh wait, Spike, you're kinda like a metahuman. No wait, what am I saying? You are a metahuman! I mean, sure you were already born with superpowers. But after you got struck by Somnambula's lightning, your powers remain dormant for a while, until we got captured by those thugs, was when they were reawakened! Am I right? Or am I right?"

There was a long pause of awkward silence, before Twilight was the first to break it, "Something like that."

Wanting to get back on topic, Spike turned to his uncle, "So what brings you here, uncle?"

"Let's just say I got back from an important business trip," Scorpan replied, as he reaches into his satchel, pulling out a series of dusty scrolls, each with a pin that bears the mark of swirls, and stars. "Mako had informed me of you and Fleur's quest to finding the pieces of the Armor of Heroes. So I decided to do a bit of research on my part, to aid you in your mission."

"Thanks uncle. We'll need all the help we can get."

The heroes all crowded around the man, as he unravels some more scrolls, "I recognize these writings!" Twilight squealed. "This was written from Starswirl the Bearded! These are his scrolls! Where'd you get these general?"

"Where I got them is not important," Scorpan replied, as he unrolls some scrolls, depicting stick figures performing various techniques, be it magic or physical. "These will be most helpful in your fights against the Shadowbolts, or any other forces of darkness out there, waiting for you young heroes," Scorpan turned to the Knights, as he unravels another scroll, which is about the Armor of Heroes.

"According to Starswirls, the Armor of Heroes was created, using a sample of magics, from the Tree of Harmony. In other words, the armor's pieces are the siblings of the Elements of Harmony."

"So how does that explain why the helmet and sword chose Button and Rumble?" Pipsqueak asked.

"Well, just like how each of the elements represent a subjective aspect of harmony, the pieces each represents a specific aspect of a hero," Scorpan explained. "Furthermore, they are only activated if their bearers possesses the corresponding traits. All the reasons why the helmet and sword so far chose Button and Rumble."

"But Button's not even wise," Featherweight added bluntly.

"HEY!" Button exclaimed in outrage.

"Yeah," Rumble began with a smug grin. "You sure that's a wise thing to do?"

"Oh, hardy har har," Button grumbled. "Though, perhaps you should try and preserve your honor some more."

"What do you mean?" Rumble looked down to see that Button managed to unbutton his pants, and he was left standing in a white boxer shorts with red chickens. "AH!" Rumble screamed, as he pulls his pants back up, buttons them up, before he stared angrily at Button. "Of course you realize, this means war!"

"You want to get wise with me?"

"I'll get wise with you, when you get wise with me!"

"KNOCK IT OFF, YOU TWO!" Spike shouted, breaking up the fight. "Stay focus. We've got missing ponies that may need rescuing, and more armor pieces that needed to be recovered. Remember?"

"Sorry," the two boys quickly apologized.

"Ooh!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Check this out! Passion boost!"

Twilight levitated the scroll, as she read the said technique, "By focusing on the one thing the user is most passionate about, their powers will be doubled with each ten seconds counting, further increasing their magical and physical prowess," Button was about to say something, when Thorax stopped him.

"Sounds like it can come in handy," Applejack said.

"Yeah? What about this one?" Rainbow asked. "The Thundering Wind Hammer? This looks awesome!"

"Hmm," Starlight mused, as she looked at one of the scrolls. "This one sure looks like it could take out a whole army."

"The Great and Powerful Trixie shall have her powers increased tenfolds!" Trixie declared as she picked up some of the scrolls. "C'mon, Starlight! Let's try some of these out!" With that, the girl and unicorn took their leave, as they left the room.

"Wow," Scorpan began. "She's quite the magic enthusiastic."

The rest of the teens all nodded their heads, while Spike looked back at some of the scrolls, intrigued by the benefits they would have for him and the girls.




Elsewhere in Equestria

Bloodshot was out in the woods, restocking his "weapons," when a hooded figure came up from behind a tree.

"I thought you were supposed to be home, watching over my little girl," Bloodshot said bitterly.

"And I thought you said you were reconsidering on leaving the life you've gotten yourself into!" the figure talked. "Find a real job for once!"

Bloodshot turned to face the figure, "I did!" he said. "I mean, I was. But things have taken a turn, and now I'm being called to hunt the Dragon Prince."

"The Dragon Prince?!" the figure exclaimed. "Are you out of your mind?! You're signing a death contract!"

"Don't try and stop me, Aqua!" Bloodshot spatted. "In fact, why can't you just stop being there for me? You were never there for me, since you and mom abandoned me with dad!"

"We didn't abandoned you!" Aqua shouted. "It was all mom's fault! She forced our separation!"

"Whatever! I didn't need you to live my life! I've gotten along just fine without you!"

"Oh, and this just qualifies as just fine?! Working for the bad guys? Risking the life of you and your daughter for a couple of bits? I mean, c'mon! What were you thinking?!"

"Don't push it, Aqua! You can't leave me and come back, expecting for me to take orders from you, like your little servant!"

"Hey! I was trying to find you! I abandoned mom the same way she abandoned you, just for you! Why do you hate me for that?!"

"And who says I want to be found?! I'm better off calling my own shots so get used to it! Now out of my way! I've got a job to do! And it'll be my last! And you can't stop me!"

With a sigh of defeat, Aqua breathed, "Good luck, Blood. You're going to need it."




Midnight Castle

Inside a room, surrounded by tools used for all sorts of tortures, tied in chains, was Hydia, and her two daughters, Reeka and D'raggle.

"Wow," D'raggle began, staring blankly through an opening in the ceiling. "Look at all those stars."

"Sure hope you're enjoying them," Reeka grumbled in sarcasm. "By the way, how many do you think are up there?"

"Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, two?" Draggle answered stupidly.

*boink*

"TWO?!" Hydia exclaimed in bewilderment. "You think there's two?" Just then, the door flung open, and stepping into the room, was none other but Nightmare Moon, Somnambula, and another figure in dark robes.

"Who are you?" Nightmare Moon hissed. "And why do you interfere with the businesses of my Shadowbolts?"

"Oh," Hydia stammered. "You are the Shadowbolts? Forgive me, I didn't know it was you."

"Don't lie to us," the robed figure said bitterly. "Lest you want a one way trip to the moon, or worse, the sun."

"Do it then!" Reeka spatted. "We'll never tell you anything!"

"Duh, yeah!" Draggle added. "We'll never tell you why wanted the Fucanglong Box!" Draggle realized too late, what she just said. "Oops."

"Fucanglong box?" Nightmare Moon asked. Just then, a bat flew into the room, and chittered in Nightmare Moon's ear, "So that's how they knew of the Helmet of Wisdom!" Nightmare Moon hissed, before she glared at Hydia, levitating the toad witch up close. "And you where there when they got away with the helmet! That must mean, you wanted the Armor of Heroes all to yourselves as well!"

"What? Me?" Hydia asked. "Oh believe me your majesty. I never dreamed-"

"You're a terrible liar, Hydia," Somnambula sneered, as her staff pulsed with dark magic, enveloping Hydia in an aura of black electricities. "NOW TELL THE TRUTH! WHY?!"

Unable to break free from the amount of dark magics, Hydia finally confessed.




Training Dimension

Spike was sitting in a room, Peewee on his shoulder, and a candle at their sides, while looking over one of the scrolls Scorpan had brought.

"Vision Sync," Spike read. "Enables one user to be able to share vision with another user, and vice versa." Spike pondered, his thought on the usage of such technique. He turned to Peewee, "What do you say, Peewee? Think we can give this technique a go?"

Peewee squawked in reply, as the two boys later walked out of the room, and into another room that magically contains an endless sea of clouds, and tall mountains. Reading the instructions on the scroll, before reading the incantations, Spike's eyes glow green, as Peewee's glowed gold. With that, the phoenix took flight through the clouds and circled around the mountains. As the bird flew, Spike was sitting on the mountain, amazed to see it all through the bird's perspective. Wanting to take it up a notch, the two were later in another room, that appears to be a huge maze, with living suits of armors jumping around every corners, trying to catch Spike off guard, which they failed to do so, courtesy of Peewee, being Spike's eye in the sky.

"Wow," Spike panted, as he finishes the last suit. "This is amazing."

"Glad you thought if that way, Spike," a voice called out, which Peewee turned his head, allowing Spike to see, from the air, that Fleur was entering the room.

"Fleur?!" Spike asked in surprise. "What are you doing here? Or better yet, how did you get in here?"

"Same way you got here, of course," Fleur answered. "I saw you walk through the door, back at the castle, carrying some of the scrolls the general brought to us. So I followed," Fleur's horn glowed in a pink aura, as she conjured up one of the scrolls. "I thought maybe we could practice these techniques together. You know, like old times, when we were still young, and when we still go to Princess Celestia's School."

Spike pondered at what Fleur said, while remembering their study sessions with Twilight and Sunset. Spike smiled in nostalgia, "Yeah," he answered. "Let's make up for all those ten years of my absent at school."

"Merci!" Fleur beamed.

"Hey! Don't hog Spike all to yourself, Fleur!" another voice called, revealing it to be Twilight, walking into the room with Sunset, Starlight, and Trixie at her sides. "He's our study partner, too, y'know!"

"Not everyone, Twilight," Trixie added. "This shall be the first he's ever had to study with the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

"And me," Starlight added. "If what Twilight and Sunset say are true, then I must've been an idiot to not study with you girls, all together, during our days at school."

Spike looked to see all unicorn girls, and magician, eagerly exchanging their interests in studying together with him, on the scrolls his uncle brought them. Spike turned to Peewee, who had perched on his shoulder, sharing looks of bewilderment.




[Evening Star - Aloe & Lotus]

For the next few hours or so, Spike, Peewee, and the girls were all looking over the ancient scrolls of Starswirls the Bearded, giving each of the techniques contained a few practice runs, once in a while.

Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset were in a room filled with an endless sea of clouds, as they practiced their teleportation maneuver. Appearing and leaping form mountains to mountains, before they raced back to the door. Later, they were in a room, filled with various objects, and fired their spells, transfiguring the objects into other random objects.

"No!" Trixie's scream was heard, which Starlight went to investigate. "I said tea cup!" Trixie shouted in frustration, as she tried in vain to turn a simple salt shaker into the said object, with her wand. Trixie turned, and noticed Starlight, "Starlight. I need your help. I can't put a trick that's not working into my act. How come it's not working?"

Starlight chuckled, "It's probably because you're just yelling 'teacup' and not picturing it, in your mind."

"Oh," Trixie replied, realizing her flaw. "Yeah, that could be it."

Starlight then gave some examples, "What does your teacup look like? What shape is it? What color?"

With that, Trixie came up with the answers in her head, as she fires another beam of magic at the salt shaker, only this time, it was effectively changed into a tea cup, as promised. With a whoop of glee, Trixie exclaimed, "Starlight! I did it!" With that, Trixie happily embraced Starlight, before she went into a transfiguring frenzy, and fired more beams of magic, while shouting, "Teacup!"

Just then, Spike and Peewee walked in with a teacup, "Did somebody asked for a teeeaaaaaa!" Spike shouted, as he got hit by the spell, and was transfigured into a teacup poodle.





"Whoops," Trixie blushed. "I guess I pictured a teacup poodle?"

"Geez, I never would've guessed," Spike grumbled, as he was engulfed in a flash of green fire, and turned himself back in human form. After a moment of composing himself, Spike asked, "So, how've you girls been?"

"It's so exciting!" Trixie replied, happily. "This is the first time in my life that I've actually performed a transfiguration spell. Real magic!"

"Besides that," Twilight spoke, on Starlight, and Sunset's behalf. "We've progressed even more on our magic skills with Starswirl's old spells."

"Yeah," Sunset began. "Like the Dragon Chi Sphere Cannon Blast he learned in Dracasia!"

"Or the Mistmane Material Amity spell, from Mistmane," Starlight said in excitement. "And believe it or not, Somnambula's Weather Abjuration spell!"

"Whoa, whoa, wait!" Spike exclaimed. "Are we talking about the same Somnambula? The Somnambula who tried to kill me since day one, and is Nightmare Moon's faithful lieutenant?"

"Afraid so," Twilight replied, as she whips out a scroll. "According to this, it says here that Somnambula was one of the heroes who took part in the creations of the Armor of Heroes, and was an old acquaintance of Starswirls. But so far, that's all it says. It didn't explain what link she has with Nightmare Moon and the Shadowbolts."

Spike, Peewee, and the girls, including Fleur who just came in, all crowded around the scroll of the said sorceress. What's quite the shocker for all of them, was the fact that it depicted Somnambula, not an evil witch, but a pegasus mare, with egyptian themed attires.

"Wow," Spike said in shock. "She's literally a different pony, according to this. I wonder what made her like the way she is now?"

"I'm sure we'll find out some other time," Twilight replied. "Right now, let's get back to training ourselves."

"Oui," Fleur replied, before she turned to Spike. "You know what would make this whole training session a little more, exciting, mon ami?"

"No, what?" Spike asked.

"A good, friendly duel," the mare suggested. "It's been a long time since we've had one. And I'd like to see the skills you have learned, from the past decade of your time on Earth, plus the skills you now know. Oui?"

Spike didn't hesitate, as he dragons up, "Bring it!"




[Trish Thuy Trang - Year of the Dragon]

In another room, Spike and Fleur took positions on a huge platform, while Sunset counted off, "Hajime!" Sunset shouted.

With that, both Spike and Fleur charged at each other, engaging themselves in combat, both using the skills they have learned, over the years. Fleur made the first move as she shot a bolt of magic at Spike, who was able to catch it in his claw, using the momentum to spin into a tornado, before he throws it back at her. Fleur quickly projected a shield, saving herself from the deflected projectile, before she stomped her front hooves on the ground, sending a shockwave in Spike's direction, knocking him off his feet. Spike quickly picked himself up, as he did a flare breakdance, and was back on his feet, taking a few deep breath, as he beckons Fleur to keep coming at him.

Fleur complied, as she broke into a gallop, as Spike too ran towards her. At the last second, Spike did a backflip, while thrusting a leg out, hoping to catch Fleur, with an upper kick, but Fleur quickly teleported in a flash of light, before she reappeared from behind, and thrust her hind legs out, striking Spike from behind. The young dragon caught himself, as he did a flip, and landed on legs. With an inhale, Spike lets out a burst of green fireballs, which Fleur countered with a bolt of magic, colliding with the fireball, resulting in an explosion of smokes. Blinded, Fleur closed her eyes, listening for any movements.

It wasn't long, until Fleur's ears perked in a specific direction, "Gotcha!" Fleur shouted, as she fired another bolt of magic in one direction, that knocked Spike at out of the air.

"Nice to know, I'm not the only one who can hear good," Spike smirked, as the smokes cleared up.

"Don't forget, we've trained together when we were kids," the unicorn replied, confidently. "So I knew almost every one of your tricks."

"Then it's time for some new tricks up my sleeves," With that, Spike focuses his power, and channels them into his claws, projecting a green fireball, that grew into the shape of a katana.

In response, Fleur's horn glowed in a pink aura, as she quickly shifted into her battle anthro form, and unsheathes her rapier, "En garde!" she shouted.

With a spin of their blades, the two warriors ran up, swinging their weapons, both clashing upon impact. Using the momentum that followed, the two warriors spin around, before they swung their blades again at the sides, clashing as they did so. After Spike swung his fire katana at her legs, Fleur leapt to the air, and flipped overhead, swung her rapier at the same time, grazing the back of his armor.

"Touché," Spike said, as he and Fleur resumed their sword fight.

Suddenly, Fleur went in to jab her sword at her opponent's chest plate, only for Spike to swing his sword upward, blocking the attack. After swings, and clashes, Spike disarmed Fleur of her rapier. With that, Spike made a quick jab at Fleur, who quickly moved to the side, grabbed Spike's arm holding the sword with her arm, before she spins around, and elbowed him on the shoulder. Just then, Spike swung his tail, snared it around Fleur's legs, and pulled her away from him, and threw her across the room from him. Doing a flip, Fleur caught herself in the air, and landed safely back on the ground.

"Well played, Flare," Spike smirked.

"I'd say the same for you, mon ami," Fleur smiled. "It's almost like you've never left Equestria, for a whole decade," With a glow of her horn, Fleur was bathed in an aura of pink lights, as she shape-shifted in human form, don up in her kunoichi attire. "But now, it's time for good old fashion hand to hand combat. No more weapons. No more magics. Fists against fists."

With smug grin, Spike changed back in human form, in a flash of green fire, "Bring it!" he said, as he and the girl both ran up to each other.

As the two fights continue sparring, the girls and Peewee in the audience all watched, and marveled at their fighting styles.

"Check those two out!" Starlight marveled. "They're really on fire!"

"I know right?" Sunset asked, while petting Peewee, who was perched next to her. "You can't expect less, from both Spike, or Fleur."

"Well, the only differences are the trainings they've gone through," Twilight analyzed. "Scorpan has trained Spike for almost his entire life, through all sorts of martial arts, while Fleur has only learned a few of what Spike knew prior to the Shadowbolts' attack on him, years ago."

"KILL HER SPIKE!!" Trixie cheered loudly, causing the others to look at the magician girl in bewilderment. "Sorry. Caught up in the moment," Trixie blushed.

Meanwhile, the two fighters were also having the time of their life, 'Wow, Fleur's really come a long way,' Spike thought. 'I can see why I'd have her for a partner.'

Fleur, too, was having some thoughts on her opponent, 'Look how far you've come, Spike,' she thought happily. 'I'm proud of you.'

Just as the two were about to land another hit, the door slid open, "Girls! Hurry!" Gabby shouted.

Caught off guard, Spike and Fleur crashed into each other, resulting in Spike on top of Fleur. When the two finally came to, they blushed, seeing the positions they were in, and Spike's right hand, inadvertently on the girl's left breast. The very sight, made Twilight, and the rest of the girls, minus Gabby, envy. Peewee in the meantime, couldn't help but squawk in laughter.

"Uh, you okay, Fleur?" Spike asked, hesitantly.

"Oui," Fleur blushed, slightly turned on, before she looked down to see where his hand was resting on. "Um, Spike?"

"What?" Fleur pointed to his hand, which Spike quickly took his hand off, while blushing a bright she of red, "Sorry," he stammered, as he and Fleur quickly composed themselves. "What's the 911, Gabby? In other words, what's happening?"

"Ember's cracked it!" Gabby replied. "And by that, I don't mean she's crazy. She's the opposite of crazy. She's smart! A little cranky, and edgy, but still she's nice, and-"

"Gabby!" Twilight shouted. "Just tell us, what's going on?"

"Ember solved the next puzzle! The next armor's piece has revealed itself!"
> Armor of Heroes Part 11: A Cold Reception
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ember was twisting and turning the Fucanglong box, until it clicked. The box floated in the air, before it projected a beam of blue magic, displaying the image of a pair of boots, with wings at the sides, "The Boots of Courage rests within the land, that is now Yayakistan, guarded by the mountains of the Frozen North."




The Next Morning

Prince Blueblood was at a restaurant, enjoying himself with some fancy cuisine, when Rarity was passing by, humming a song, while carrying a rolled up cape on her back.

"Morning Rarity!" a random mare greeted.

"Good morning, darling," Rarity returned the greeting.

"Where are you off to?" the mare asked.

"I'm off to see my prince, of course," Rarity replied. "I have a special gift for him, on his journey!" the unicorn said, while gesturing to the cape on her back.

"That's my cue line!" Blueblood smiled to himself, as he fixes his tie, and licked his hoof, which he used to smooth his mane back, before he trotted over to Rarity, "Hello, Ms. Rarity. So nice to see you again," he greeted.

"Blueblood?!" Rarity exclaimed in a mix of shock and disgusts. "What are you-"

"No, no," Blueblood interrupted, still smiling, and flicked his mane for some drama, much to Rarity's annoyance. "No need to say it. You're surprised to see me again, and in Ponyville, of all places. And I'm awfully flattered you had a gift, planned for me," he said, trying to reach for the cape, only for Rarity to project a shield.

"Keep your hooves, off Blueblood!" Rarity snarled. "This cape is for Spike!"

"Oh, forget about him already!" Blueblood groaned. "Why would you waste your time with him, when you have some pony like me?!"

"Some pony who's greedy and very, very un-prince like?" Rarity asked. "I think not!"

"Exactly!" Blueblood smiled. "Now be reasonable, and come with me!"

"I was referring to you!" Rarity frowned, resulting a gasp from Blueblood. "Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity exclaimed happily, as she zipped past Blueblood, and ran up to the Dragon Prince, who was on his way to the train.

Blublood galloped after Rarity, before he ducked behind a barrel, and eavesdrop on her conversation with the young dragon.

"Hey Rarity," Spike greeted, before the marshmallow unicorn presented to him, his new and improve cape. "Hey, I was wondering where it went," he joked.

Rarity giggled affectionately like a schoolgirl, "Forgive me, Spike. I borrowed it again for further improvements, back when we were still in New York," Rarity showed off the new features on the dragon's cape. "Now, it's further enhanced with dark magic repelling fabric, a whole array of inner pockets to provide you the excessive convenience of carrying a range of necessities you'll need, and guaranteed protections from the bitter cold, or intensive heatwaves."

"Wow," Spike marveled, accepting the cape. "All those efforts and troubles for me?" Rarity smiled, while nodding her head, "Remind me to come over and repay you some favors, when this whole armor mission blows over."

Rarity squealed in delight, while Spike covered his mouth, realizing too late at what he said. Blueblood in the meantime, was more irked than before.

"Oh, look at you, Spike!" Blueblood said in disgust. "Offering to give service to a mare, like Rarity. Why you're more of a servant than you are a prince! Unlike me!" Blueblood don a smug grin.

Spike was about to say something, when Rarity beat him to it, "Oh get over yourself, Blueblood! Spike's just being considerate," Rarity spatted.

"I'm considerate," Blueblood replied.

"Don't you mean conceited?" a voice asked.

Blueblood turned his head, but was puzzled to see no pony, "Who said that?" he didn't have time to figure it out, when hears the sound of pigeons, and looked up to see a pigeon flapping overhead. "Oh no! Get away from me! Shoo! Leave me alone!" With that, Blueblood took off, running like a scared filly. If he hadn't been in such a hurry, who would've looked back to see the pigeon, changing itself into Thorax.

"Well played, Thor," Spike smirked, giving his Changeling friend a thumbs up.

"My pleasure," Thorax smiled.

Just then, the train blew a whistle, "Spike! Hurry up!" Ember called, from the train.

"I'm coming!" Spike zipped off, leaving a Spike shaped dust cloud, and the cape which was defying gravity, and a bewildered Rarity. It wasn't long, until Spike zipped back, and took the cape, "ThanksagainforthecapeRarity.I'llcherishit.Goodbye!" He said in a fast pace, before he gave Rarity a quick peck on the cheek, before he resumes taking off, on the train.

Rarity just stood on the platform, blushing as she placed her hoof over where Spike had kissed her, and turned herself human, as she swoons.




Frozen North

It wasn't long, before the heroes arrived to their destination. Spike was the first to get off the train and onto the platform, with Fleur, Peewee, Ember, Gabby, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, and the Knights following. Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, and the Knights were all clad in their winter gears, with Button still wearing the Helmet of Wisdom, and Rumble carrying the Sword of Honor around his waist. Spike, Fleur, and Ember continue to wear their armors, with Spike wearing his cape.

"Wow, Spike!" Gabby smiled. "That cape looks good on you!"

"Like a superhero!" Button added. "Although, you should be careful with your cape. Remember what happened to all the other good super heroes, who've had capes?"

"I'm sure that only happens in the movies," Spike replied, before he turned to see Ember, still don up in her hooded figure persona. "Ember, we're off the train. You can take your cloak off, now."

"Don't be so sure, Spike," Ember replied. "Way may be far from pony eyes, but there are still some other creatures out there that I'd prefer to hide myself from."

"Don't be silly, Ember!" Pinkie beamed. "Both me and the yaks have moved on from your biggest failure then! I'm sure Prince Rutherford would be happy to see you again!"

"It's not the yaks I'm worried about," Ember replied, before changing the topic. "Can we just get going now? The sooner we get the boot! The sooner we can leave!"

The heroes looked confused, at the sapphire dragon's anxiety. Knowing better than to question her further, Spike replied, "Then lead the way, my lord."

Ember frowned slightly, while reaching into her cloak, and pulled out the Fucanglong box, showing that it's still glowing in the same blue, fiery aura. Sensing a pull, through the box, Ember guided the heroes in a specific direction. Little did they know, they were being watched from afar.





Prince Blueblood was in a sleigh, pulled by his dog, Bunny, "Mush Bunny! Mush!" Blueblood shouted. "We must beat my cousin and his friend to those legendary boots first. And then I'll show to all the little ponies back home that there's no other pony, or dragon, who is as heroic as me! Mush!" Blueblood continued.

However, Bunny could only go as far as his little legs could carry, that suddenly, the rope snapped, and Blueblood, still in his carriage, slides down the snow, before he fell out, rolled down in the blanket of snows, becoming a giant snow ball, and rolled down a hill, up a mountain, and into a yeti's cave. Disturbed from his nap, the yeti broke a piece of icicles, and swatted the misfortunate unicorn stallion away.

Prince Blueblood went flying off into the distance, screaming, "Yaaah-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooey!!!"

Bunny in the meantime, give off a trollish grin, before he spins into a tornado, and there stood, Discord, Snips, and Snails.

"Hello every pony!" Discord greeted, before he and the boys began walking away, with a fanfare playing in the background.

"We are number one!" the boys said together.



Meanwhile, with the heroes

Spike and the gang, hadn't gone far, when suddenly.....

"LOOK OUT!" Spike shouted, shoving Ember out of the way, when an arrow came flying towards them.

Reacting fast, Spike swatted the arrow away, and into a tree. The heroes watched, as icy structures began to form around the tree, from where the arrow had impacted.

"Whoa!" Button exclaimed. "That could've been us!"

"THERE'S MORE!!" Rumble shouted.

The heroes looked up to see more arrows raining down on them.

[14. Mulan OST - Save the Cannons!]

Spike didn't hesitate to dragon up, as he and Ember fought alongside, fending off the arrows, "GET OUT OF RANGE!" the two dragons shouted together.

The Knights were quick to dart off into some nearby trees, while avoiding the arrows raining on them.

"AAAAH!!" Button yelped, just an ice arrow landed close to his toe, and froze into a huge, sharp icicle from impact.

Suddenly, jumping out of the snow, surrounding the Knights, were a group of penguins. The thing odd about these penguin, was the fact that they stood up, around Pipsqueak's height, and they were clad in fur coats, with suits of armors over them. For weapons, the penguins carry bows, and ice arrows, spears, and they even wear sharp blades on their feet, wings, and even on their beaks.

One of the penguins squawked, before it pointed its blade at the Knights, before the rest of the penguins all slid on their bellies, charging fast towards the boys.





Back with the other heroes, Spike, Ember, and Peewee, all took flight, with the penguins firing their arrows after the dragons.

Reaching into her cloak, Ember pulls out her bow, and fires more of her own arrows at the penguins on the mountainsides, exploding into purple smokes upon impact. Spike concentrated into his hands, as he projected some fire shurikens, and hurled them at the penguins. The penguins quickly ducked their heads, behind some rocks, taking shelters from the dragons' fires, before they got up and tried to fire their arrows again. It wasn't long, before some penguins hauled in a huge cannon, and aimed the barrel at the dragons, when suddenly, Peewee appeared in a flash of fire, and jumpscared the penguins behind the cannon.

"SURPRISED!!" Pinkie and Gabby shouted, jumpscaring more of the penguins.

Distracted, the penguins all quickly beat their beating hearts, while Gabby and Pinkie fought them off. Gabby, in her MMDW persona, thrusted her legs, kicking the penguins off the mountain, and into the soft snows below, while using her wings to shield herself from their arrows, and fought off some more that were trying to pile up on her.

"Meanie pants!" Pinkie growled, while throwing some sprinkle bombs at the penguins. "Take this, arctic dodos!"

"Oy!" one of the penguins grunted. "We resemble that remark!"

Pinkie continues to throw more sprinkle bombs at the penguins, "Stop it!" one of the penguins tried to warn the pony. "You're gonna start an avalanche!" But too late, one of Pinkie's sprinkle bombs went flying, and exploded at one of the snow banks overhead, causing the snows to come loose, as they washed the the pink pony, griffon, and the penguins off the mountain, and back into the field below, where Fleur and Sunset Shimmer, were fighting off the rest of the penguins.

"WHEEE!" Pinkie cheered, as she rode on Gabby, down the mountain.

Spike and Ember quickly flew down, and saved their friends, while the penguins crashed into the snows below, before they poked their heads up, looking around, seeing the rest of their comrades.

"What's with these penguins?" Spike asked, while breathing a jet of fire.

"I don't know," Ember replied. "They're usually not this violent the last time I was here."

"And just what were you doing here, pray tell?" Fleur asked, as she and Sunset shot some fireballs at the penguins.

Ember, knowing that Spike and friends would have to know sooner or later, was about to say something, when jumping out of nowhere, from the snow, was a great big, ferocious monster that resembles a baboon with white fur, and a red star on its forehead. Riding on its back, is another penguin.

In appearance, the penguin appears bigger, compared to the rest of the penguins, with cold, icy blue eyes, with a penetrating stare, and matching mists the flowed from his eyes, to add the ferocity of his appearance. For attires, the penguin wears an even heavier fur coat, with pads of armor that protruded long sharp icicles over. His head gear appears to be a simple nomadic helmet, with curled horns made of ice.

[I Will Not Bow - Breaking Benjamin]

"Well, well, well," the penguin said in a low voice, that almost sounded like ices creaking, while eyeing his cold stare on the heroes, Ember mostly. "If it isn't Dragon Lord Ember!" the penguin cackled. "I was wondering when you would recover your precious Bloodstone Scepter. The yaks haven't been putting up a fight, without their life-long dragon allies to aid them!"

"Well we're here and-wait what?!" Spike flabbergasted, as he looked to Ember. "What was that about the Bloodstone Scepter?"

"Tell him, Ember," the penguin began. "Tell your fellow dragon what happened. Tell him how you lost the scepter! TELL HIM THE TRUTH!!!"

"Enough!" Ember roared. "I may not be Dragon Lord without the scepter! But I'll still give it my all for my allies! Starting with beating you, Charlatan!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Charlatan sneered, as he breathes a mist of ice from his beak, and into his flippers, forming a long trident of ice. With a kick, the yeti went charging after the heroes, who all jumped out of the way.

The yeti made a turn, as it resumes charging after the heroes. Ember took her cloak off, and threw it at the yeti, blinding the creature slightly. After the yeti took the ragged cloak off, it and Charlatan turned to see Ember flying towards them, with Spike at her side. The evil penguin's eyes pulsed with snowy mists, before he fired beams of ice at the dragons, who retaliated with combined blasts of fires, before they thrusted their claws out at the penguin. However, Charlatan evaded their attacks with a swing of his trident, before he kicked his yeti again, causing the beast to leap at a tremendous height, and onto the side of a mountain.

"Penguins! To me!" Charlatan shouted, while making a donkey-like sound.

On cue, more penguins popped out of the snow, as they fired more arrows at the heroes. Spike focused his powers into his claws, projecting some fire katanas, which he used to fend off against ice arrows, along with Ember who breathed a jet of purple fires, melting the arrows before they could hit her and Spike. In the meantime, Gabby, Pinkie, Sunset, and Fleur were left to deal with the penguins. Gabby, having acute sense of hearings, heard movements in the snow, allowing her to pounce on her hidden targets, right before they could pop out of the snow. 

"Hey, check it out, every pony!" Pinkie exclaimed cheerfully. "Pounce-a-Penguin!"

Sunset was breathing streams of fires from her mouth, while stamping her hoof in the ground, causing a strong wall of fire to erupt, between her and the attacking penguins. Fleur was firing several magic bolts, blinding, and stunning the penguins, before she used her signature flare kicks, to knock them away.

Suddenly, Charlatan, still on the back of his yeti, jumped off the mountain, and landed behind Fleur. With a thrust of its leg, the yeti kicked Fleur away, and into a tree. Fleur tries to get up, but the yeti was already towering over her, as Charlatan prepared to thrust his trident at the armored unicorn.

"NO!!" Spike shouted, as he flew in the neck of time, and shielded Fleur from the attack, with his katanas in claws.

With a screech, Peewee swooped down from the air, and knocked Charlatan off of the yeti. Charlatan looked, and his eyes widen, as Spike leapt in the air, and stomped his foot down on the penguin.

"You've got some nerve, Charlatan!" Spike growled. "Nobody does that to my friend!"

"What can I say?" Charlatan sneered. "I've got a cold hearted!" With that, the penguin blasted Spike off of him, before he conjured an ice shield and an ice sword with his breath, as he lunges forward on the Dragon Prince. Spike rolled to the side, as he parries his katana with the penguin's ice sword. "Foolish dragon! Not even your own kind can stand up against the Ice King!"

"Haven't your heard the stories?" Spike asked. "I'm not some dragon! I'm the Dragon Prince!" With a grunt, Spike kicked Charlatan away, as he and the penguin king resumed fighting. 

"Spike!" Ember called. "Save some beatdown for me!" With that, Ember too, joined the fight, as both she and Spike, fought the penguin king, who is clearly showing no sign of struggles against the two dragons.

"Foolish dragon!" Charlatan sneered. "You forget who you're dealing with! I am Charlatan! Emperor of all penguins! King of the Windigos! Master of the Frozen North! I am the Frozen North!" Ember fired an explosive arrow at the penguin, who stomped his foot, forming a huge icicle from the ground, shielding himself from the arrow as it explode upon impact. "Too fight me is to give me strength! To hate me is to give me breath! All creatures who dared to stand in my way, shall face eternal, freezing, oblivion!" With that, Charlatan blasted a beam of ice at Spike, who quickly countered with a blast of fire.

"Not unless we dragons have anything to say about it!" Ember grunted, as she grabbed Charlatan, and flew him up into the air. "Cause unlike you penguins! Some of us dragons can fly!" With that, Ember released her grip on Charlatan, allowing the penguin to plummet towards the ground. However, much to her surprise, a ghostly apparition of a horse-like being caught Charlatan, before they flew circles around the bewilder sapphire dragon.

"Did you really think I'd let you win that easily?!" Charlatan growled, as he fired rays of freezing magics at Ember, encasing her in a block of ice.

The sapphire dragon started to plummet, back towards the ground, "Hang on, Ember!" Spike shouted, as he leapt to the air, and landed a flying kick to the ice, breaking the dragoness free from her icy imprisonment.

"Th-th-thanks, Sp-Spi-Spike!" Ember shivered.

Just then, both dragons heard a scream, and looked to see Sunset, with her back leg frozen. Worse still, more penguins were readying more ice arrows on the fiery unicorn, "SUNSET!!" Spike screamed, as he jumped in, pulled his cape, over himself and Sunset, shielding them from the arrows, while receiving a few grazes on one of his wings.

"WHY YOU!!" Pinkie growled, before she throws some more sprinkle bombs at the penguins, blowing them away.

Just then, the Knights came running out of the trees, "Don't worry, Spike!" Button called out. "We got your back!"

Suddenly, without warning, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew through the battle, picking up powders of snows, and blinding the heroes. Worse still, more snows had been given away, resulting in an avalanche.

"AVALANCHE!!" one of the penguins cried.

"RETREAT!!" Button screamed, as he and the Knights turned tail, back into the trees, with some penguins following.

Charlatan got back on his yeti, "I'll see you again, Dragon Prince!" he sneered, as he kicked his yeti's side, and the beast leaped into the air, and climbed over some cliffs, disappearing out of sight.

Fleur broke into a gallop, with Pinkie, and Gabby following, while Spike flew back to pick up, Sunset, and Ember.

"Hold on tight, girls!" Spike said, as he heated his wings and flew like he never flew before, when suddenly, he crashed back down to the snows.

Ember and Spike were sent, tumbling in the snows, "Hey! What-" Ember then took notice of Spike, hissing in pain.

"Spike? What's wrong?" Sunset asked, before she took notice of his wings. "Oh no! Spike! Your wing!" she exclaimed, seeing bits of ice, frozen on the wing, along with how bent it looked.

"Don't worry about me," Spike hissed. "Let's go!" Picking up Sunset in his arms, Spike broke into a run, along with Ember, as they raced away from the incoming snows.

"We'll never get away!" Ember shouted.

"No we will!" Spike relied. "We just gotta go faster!" Looking around, Spike noticed some huge chucks of tree barks, which he quickly used to slide, faster down the mountain.

Seeing the efficiency of Spike's method, Ember followed his example, as she too started to slide down, on a tree bark.

"Whoa!" Ember exclaimed. "This is kinda fun!" Ember laughed, before she quickly caught herself, almost felling off.

"Don't laugh, Ember!" Spike replied. "We have to go fast!"

Both dragons kept on kicking the snows with their tails, as they went faster, before they started making sharp turns, and dodges, avoiding low branches of trees, and stray boulders.

Suddenly, Ember slid over a rock, resulting in a slight jolt, and the Fucanglong Box flew out of her cloak, "NO!" Ember cried. "THE BOX!"

"Never mind the box!" Sunset screamed. "Mind that cliff!"

"WHOA!!" the three screamed, as they slid off the cliff.




Meanwhile

Fleur, Pinkie, and Gabby came to a stop, taking a moment to catch their breath.

"That was close," Fleur panted. "I thought for sure, as you say, our goose were cooked."

"No kidding!" Pinkie panted. "That's nothing compared to the roller coaster ride I had in Las Pegasus!"

"Glad that's over," Gabby replied. "Right guys? Guys?" Hearing no response, the griffon turned her head, to see Spike, Ember, Sunset, and the Knights are gone.

"Hey! Where is everyone?!" Pinkie asked in bewilderment. "Spike? Ember? Sunset? Boys? Where are you?"

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Gabby added.

Just then, more penguins appeared from the snows. However, the penguins quickly turned tail, as they dove back into the snows, and disappeared out of sight.

"That was weird," Pinkie commented. "And I know weird."

"Did we scare them?" Gabby asked. "Was it something I said?" the griffon inquired, before she let out a playful growl.

Skeptical, Fleur turned around, to find her answer, "I don't think it's us they're afraid of."

The girls looked in Fleur's direction, to see they were surrounded by yaks.

"Oh look!" Pinkie exclaimed happily. "Yaks! We're saved! WHOOOOO!!!"

"Pink pony!" one of the yaks greeted, as he walked over to greet Pinkie Pie. In appearance, the yak has moderate tangelo locks that covers his eyes, and long grayish gamboge, and dark tangelo coats of hairs. For attires, the yak wore a black crown, adorned with emerald and gold jewels, blue and gold paddings on his back, gold rings on his long bluish, gray horns, hooves, and on his ears. 

"Hi Prince Rutherford!" Pinkie returned the greeting. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Wow!" Gabby exclaimed. "Thank Grover you yaks came! If you hadn't shown up, those penguins would've gotten us!"

"Though, if I may," Fleur began. "Just, what's going on around here? Why did those penguins attacked us, like that?"

"Yaks and penguins at war!" Prince Rutherford answered.
> Armor of Heroes Part 12: Out in the Cold
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yakyakistan

As the blizzard continues to rage on, Fleur, Gabby, and Pinkie were able to make it safely to Yayakistan, with the yaks. At last, the surviving heroes made it to the yak's proud kingdom, where they immediately took shelter in Prince Rutherford's castle, as they warmed themselves by the fire.

"Phew," Gabby shivered, as she puffed her feathers out, while holding her claws out to the fire. "This feels much better."

"Not without hot chocolates!" Pinkie cheered, as she pulls out three cups of the said drinks, from her mane, and handed them to Fleur and Gabby.

Fleur looked disgusted, while Gabby eagerly clicked her drink with Pinkie's as they chugged away.

"Pink pony," Prince Rutherford began. "What brings you and friends to Yakyakistan?"

"Oh, well it's a long story, your yakiness," Pinkie began. "Spike and Fleur are on a mission to find Fleur's parents, and it has something to do with the Armor of Heroes. And we have a magic puzzle box that your friend, Dragon Lord Ember brought-"

"Dragon Lord?" Rutherford interrupted. "Blue dragon, no Dragon Lord! Blue dragon's ex-Dragon Lord!"

"Well sure, but-wait, what?!" Pinkie flabbergasted, along with Gabby and Fleur. "Ember's not Dragon Lord?!"

"How'd that happened?" Gabby asked.

"Ponies want to know?" Rutherford asked. "Ask blue dragon!"

"Duly noted," Fleur replied. "Now, back on topic. We simply came here for a pair of boots called, the Boots of Courage. We were just out in the snow looking for them, when those penguins attacked us."

"And then a blizzard rolled in!" Pinkie added.

"And an avalanche gave way!" Gabby exclaimed.

"That's no blizzard!" Rutherford interrupted. "That's the Windigos!"

"Windigos?!" the girls exclaimed.

"Yes!" Rutherford answered. "Windigos!"

"If I may," Fleur began. "Why did the penguins attacked us? Didn't you say you yaks, and penguins are at war with each other?"

"I know right?" Gabby asked. "Clearly, this isn't our fight."

"Yaks knows," Rutherford replied. "But penguins very paranoid! Penguins are aware of yaks' sacred bond with dragons and ponies! When penguins sees dragons and ponies in snow, penguins attack! Penguins thought dragons and ponies are yaks' reinforcements."

"Oh," the girls said, as they exchange their understandings.

"Still, what's this war all about?" Fleur inquired.

Prince Rutherford was silent for a moment, before he began narrating, "Long ago, shortly after dragons helped fix Yayakistan......"




Earlier

"Yaks was out on frozen lake, doing what yaks do best," Prince Rutherford narrated. "Yaks mine ice for profits!"

While doing so, the yaks burst out singing, while they work.



All was going well, when suddenly, several ice arrows came flying out of nowhere, and struck some of the yaks, freezing them in blocks of ice. Prince Rutherford watched in horror, as his fellows yaks were being frozen from where they stood, before he looked, to see more penguins sliding from the mountains as they all surrounded him, with ice arrows at the ready. Then, from the mists of snows, there stood an alicorn, and King Charlatan themselves.

"King Charlatan!" Prince Rutherford began. "What is meaning of this?! Why penguins dare attack yaks?!"

"Why?" King Charlatan asked. "To take back what's rightfully ours, of course! Those ice belongs to the penguins! Everything in the Frozen North, belongs to the penguins! And all of you yaks are invading!"

"Penguin King, absurd!" Rutherford bellowed, as he stood his ground. "Yaks have lived in these snows for many moons! Penguins are the ones invading snows!"

"Well the penguins have lived in the snows, longer than the yaks!" King Charlatan snarled, as he got into the Yak Prince's face. "And now, it's time for the yaks to leave, and give their land back to the penguins! Every last snow and ice!"

"Yaks not going, without a fight!"

"Of course you realize, this means war!"

"Yaks declare war!"

"Have it your way then, hairy cows!"

"Arctic dodos!"

From that day onward, the yaks and penguins have been at each other's throats. The yaks all relied on their brute strengths, while the penguins were known for their intelligence, and resourceful cunning. It also doesn't help, that the penguins have the Windigos on their side.




Present

"And that's how yaks and penguins are at war!" Prince Rutherford finished.

"Yikes," Gabby grimaced. "Sorry we asked."

"Well, we didn't came all the way out here, just to be attacked by birds in tuxedos," Fleur said. "We're just here for the Boots of Courage. By chance, have you heard of them?"

"Boots of Courage?" Prince Rutherford pondered, stroking his beard until he came to an epiphany. "OH! Yak remember! Boots of Courage, was once worn by a legendary hero! Hero helped yaks fight against Windigos, even though yaks never asked for help! Since then, hero became friend of yaks! Hero gave yaks, Boots of Courage, and since then, yaks have watched over the boots for many years to come!"

"That's great!" Pinkie chirped. "So, where are the boots?" she inquired, looking around the castle.

"Penguins stole them!" Rutherford answered bluntly. "Boots of Courage now in penguins' Ice Palace, on top of mountain!"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Pinkie asked. "Let's go get them!"

"And not just the boots!" Fleur added. "Our friends are out there too. We have to find them first!"

The three girls were about to leave, when Prince Rutherford stopped them.

"No!" the yak bellowed. "Ponies and bird-pony no go! Blizzard still raging outside! Pony and friends must stay inside!"

"WHAT?!" Fleur exclaimed. "But we have to go! The more we wait in here, the more Spike, and the others are out in the cold! We've got to find them, now!"

Prince Rutherford stomped his hooves, "Yaks said no! Blizzard too rough! Pony and friends will wait here, until blizzard is no more!"

With a huff, Fleur lies back down, close to the fire, with Pinkie Pie, and Gabby. The two girls looked at each other, before they went over to the unicorn warrior, trying to comfort her.

"Look Fleur," Gabby began. "No one wants our friends, safe more than we do. But we're not much good of finding them, if we're frozen solid out there. So the least we can do is just wait things out."

"I know," Fleur replied sadly. "But I don't have to like it."

"I just hope our friends are okay," Pinkie whimpered.




Speaking of whom......

The Knights had been captured by the penguins, and were taken prisoners. The boys were brought to the penguins' Ice Palace, where they were presented by the rest of the penguins, and an alicorn. In appearance, the alicorn is stands somewhere about Twilight's height, with her coat being an icy blue, her mane and tail were white with specks of blue, her eyes were the color of turquoise gems, and her cutie mark was that of a big snowflake. She wore a large necklace with snowflakes lining it, and a diadem with a large snowflake on top.

"You'll never take us alive!" Button screamed.

"They just did take us alive, Button," Featherweight grumbled.

"It's a figure of speech, Feathers," Button replied. "Instead of criticizing me, why not use your big brain to think of a way out?"

"Shut up!" one of the penguin guards shouted, as he waved his flippers, smacking the boys behind their heads.

Just then, King Charlatan appeared, "Well, what have we got here?"

"To be honest," one of the penguins replied. "I have no idea, who or what they are. But apparently, they're just like the other prisoner we captured earlier. Only they're with the Dragon Prince and his pony friends," At the mention of Spike's title, the alicorn's interest was perked, as she looked curiously at the boys.

"No matter," King Charlatan sneered. "The Dragon Prince will soon come for them. Knowing him, he's not the kind to walk out on his friends. And when he does come, we'll be ready for him. And with him, and ex-Dragon Lord Ember out of the way, there will be no one to aid the yaks, when we attack them again. And we'll have fully conquered the Frozen North. And then, the world!"

With that, the penguins all burst out laughing evilly, with the Windigos flying overhead, neighing malevolently in agreement. The only exceptions were the alicorn, and a few penguins, all looking at each other with concerns.





Later, the boys were thrown in the penguins' ice dungeon, and into a single cell room.

"Oh man," Pipsqueak shivered. "We've been captured, by penguins! And we're spending the nights in an icy cold jail cell!"

"Well," Featherweights began. "Things can't get any worse, right?"

"You boys again?" a voice called. The Knights turned their heads, and looked in horror, to see none other, but the meta bounty hunter, Bloodshot.

"Bloodshot!" the boys screamed.

"PILE ON HIM EVERYONE!!" Pipsqueak screamed, as he and the boys all jumped on the man, who was able to knock them off.

"Seriously?" Bloodshot asked. "Is that the only attack you boys ever do as a group?"

"Diss us all you want, Bloody!" Rumble began. "But we will not let your hurt Spike!"

"Oh get over yourself!" Bloodshot spatted. "If you boys are here, and your friend is out there! I would've busted myself out, and killed him by now!"

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" With a scream, Button jumped after Bloodshot, throwing his fist out, only for the meta human to catch his hand, and threatened to crush it. "OW!!"

"You've got spunk, kid," Bloodshot said grimly. "Too bad you're not very smart on picking your opponents!" With that, the man threw the boy backward, before he was helped up, by Tender Taps. "You should be grateful that my power's been cut in half. Otherwise, I'd beat the whole lot of you boys into bloody pulps by now!"

The boys looked at each other, then back at Bloodshot, "Really?" they asked.

"Don't test me!" Bloodshot growled.

"Don't worry, we won't," Featherweight replied.

"Though, if I may," Pipsqueak began. "How did you end up here in the first place?"

Bloodshot looked at the smallest boy, "If you must know....." he began.




Earlier

After his talk with Aqua, Bloodshot was on his way, when suddenly, who was stopped by a certain yellow canary, who flew circles around him.

"Get out of my way!" the man shouted, as he tried in vain to swat the bird.

"I won't let you hurt my friends!" Kyrie said, as she went in to peck Bloodshot's face, only to be caught in mid air, and was thrown to a tree.

"I like your spirit, birdy," Blood said grimly. "But it won't save you!" With that, Bloodshot popped a vial in his coat, as he shapes it into a pistol, and points it threateningly at Kyrie. Desperate to stop the meta human, as well as saving herself, Kyrie opened her beak, as she lets out a haunting tune. "Nice try, Tweety. But your siren song isn't going to save you this time."

With that, Bloodshot clicked his gun, and opened fire, if Kyrie had not rolled out of the way in time. The canary quickly flapped away, and took shelter in some trees, while Bloodshot continues to open fire on her.

"Please!" Kyrie pleaded. "I beseech you! Spare the Dragon Prince, and all our friends!"

Bloodshot looked away for a moment, before he spins his pistol, and converts it back into bloods, and into one of his vials.

"Sorry," Bloodshot replied. "But I've got a job to do. And a daughter to feed. And if you don't want to become the next Thanksgiving dinner for her, then I suggest you stay out of my way!"

Bloodshot was about to leave again, only for Kyrie to chirp, "No! You mustn't! Please, Spike is helping Fleur find her parents! And if you take him away, Fleur will never find the Boots of Courage in the Frozen North, or her parents again!" Kyrie covered her mouth, horrified at what she just said.

"So, they're going to the Frozen North," Bloodshot smirked, "Thanks for the tip off, birdbrain."

"Don't go!" Kyrie cried, as she swooped down, but was shot in the wing by Bloodshot.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Bloodshot was about to fire again, when he heard someone coming. "You're lucky I spared your miserable life today, bird. But next time, you won't be so lucky." With that, Bloodshot was on his way, just as Fluttershy arrived.

From afar, Bloodshot can hear Fluttershy exclaiming in shock, "Kyrie! What happened to you?! Are you okay?"




Frozen North

After hitching a ride on a train to the Frozen North, Bloodshot found shelter in a cave, on a mountain where he took a sniping position, looking through the scope, waiting for the heroes' arrival.

"Now all I have to do is wait here for my preys to come," Bloodshot said to himself, while eating some meats off of an animal he had killed earlier.

Suddenly, the meta human's ears perked, as the sound of arrows flying was heard. With that, Bloodshot leapt into action, kicking a piece of tree bark up, and shielded himself from the arrows. Just then, a yeti came sliding from the mountain side, slashed its claws at the man, knocking him off the cliff, and into the snowy fields below. When Bloodshot got up, he looked to see he was surrounded by penguins, all readying their weapons and arrows on him.

[Born to Raise Hell ('Rock & Rule') Cheap Trick]

The penguins all opened fire on the man, who quickly leapt to the air, dodging all of their arrows, before he got behind a few, and swept kicked them. After popping another vial of his bloods, Bloodshot conjured up a machine gun, which he used to open fire on the penguins. The penguins all got out their shields, saving themselves from the meta human's bullets, while some others dived into the snows, and burrowed beneath them.

However, this didn't go unnoticed for Bloodshot, as he saw the marks the penguins made on the surface of the snow. With that, Bloodshot converted the machine gun into a pistol, as he shot at where the penguins would be coming from, while conjuring a shield to defend himself from the ice arrows from the other penguins.

Just then, the yeti from before came out of nowhere, courtesy of camouflage, and swatted Bloodshot into a tree. Slightly disoriented from the blow, Bloodshot got up just in time to see the yeti preparing to throw a huge boulder at the meta human. With that, Bloodshot fired some bullets at one of the yeti's hands, causing the creature to drop the boulder on its head, knocking it out.

At first for Bloodshot, all was going well, when suddenly, the alicorn appeared, accompanied, with some Windigos at her sides.

The alicorn stepped forward, making her presence known, and the penguins all retreated, taking cover, preparing to watch the battle that is about to unfold before them.

"I don't know who you are," Bloodshot growled. "But you will never defeat me!"

With that, Bloodshot fired his gun at the alicorn, who quickly stomped her hoof into the ground, conjuring up an ice wall, shielding her from the bullet, while still leaving a huge crack. 

With her horn glowing in a blue aura, the alicorn fired a beam of ice at the man, who quickly rolled to the side, dodging the attack, before he fired again, only for the results to be like before. It wasn't long, until the alicorn stomped her hoof to the ground, causing ice to spread across the fields, and Bloodshot slipped on them, breaking the vials inside his coats. As he tries to get up, the alicorn shot another beam of ice to the ground, causing icicles to sprout form the ground, as they pinned Bloodshot to a tree from behind.

Bloodshot struggled to raise his pistol up, "ENOUGH!!" the alicorn shouted, as she shot an ice kunai blade, knocking the gun out of the man's hand. "Take him back to the castle," the alicorn ordered.




Present
[Quest for Camelot-United We Stand]

"Wow," Rumble commented. "Just like that? You got your butt handed to an alicorn?"

The other boys couldn't help but laugh, while Bloodshot looked irked.

"Go ahead and laugh, boys," Bloodshot grumbled, before she showed several ice cuffs on his wrists and legs. "But if it weren't for these accursed devices that alicorn had planted on me, the last laughs will be on you five!"

"Yeah, well the fact is, they're still on you," Button smirked. "So you can't do anything to hurt us then," Button was soon grabbed by the cuff of his coat, as he was held close to Bloodshot's face. "Okay," Button wheezed. "I take it back!" Bloodshot released his grip on the boy, as he walks back to his bed.

"Well, forget you!" Rumble said, as he went back to the ice bars. "We just gotta get outta here! We have to find that Boots of Courage, and meet up with Spike and the others!"

"Why do you boys even bother risking your life, for some reptilic prince?" Bloodshot asked. "You're clearly mortal humans, and yet, you're all risking your necks in a world, filled with magical creatures that can eat you, the sooner you even look at them."

The Knights were clearly irked at what the man just said, "Listen here, buster!" Rumble began. "We owed a lot to Spike! Sure, we had no idea he's a really a dragon in humans' clothing when we first met him, ten years ago! But he's our friend! And we're friends for life!"

"Yeah," Pipsqueak added. "Besides, we're just as involved in this whole magic fiasco as he is, since day one!"

"When we first saw him breathing fire," Featherweights added.

"We may not have magic, or superpowers, like you!" Button added. "But we're fighters! And we've got some things worth fighting for!"

"And what's that?" Bloodshot asked.

"Friendship! Honor! Justice! Freedom!" Pipsqueak, Rumble, Featherweight, and Tender Taps, all said respectively.

"Girls!" the rest of the Knights, and Bloodshot, all turned to Button's sudden outburst, looking bewildered. "Um, I mean chivalry! Yeah, that's it!" Button frowned as the boys and man continue to give him strange looks. "We've been hanging out with Snips and Snails way too much."

Little did the prisoners knew, the alicorn had been eavesdropping on them. And she couldn't help but feel something warm inside, listening the Knights' intentions, and the friendship they have with Spike.




Somewhere in the snows

"....Spike?" Sunset shivered.

"Take it easy, Sunset," Spike replied, as he and Ember helped the unicorn up.

After their previous sledding episode, Spike, Ember, and Sunset crashed through some thin ice, and into the freezing waters beneath. Luckily, the three were able to make it out of the water, just as the ice freezes over them. Afterwards, the three had been navigating their way through the blinding snows, just to find shelter.

"Stay close, girls," Spike grunted, as he struggles to warm himself, and the girls up. "We're going to be fine."

"How can you be sure?!" Sunset shivered.

"We have to!" Spike replied.

The three struggled through the raging winds of snows, when suddenly, they came across a statue, of a mighty dragon. Spike and Sunset stood awestruck, as the looked to see a whole army of stone dragons before them. Ember, however, had a look of despondent, as she looked past the statues, and spotted a cave.

"There!" Ember shouted. "We can take shelter in that cave!"

"Are you sure?" Sunset asked.

"You've got to trust me on this!" Ember replied. "I'm the only one here who knows the Frozen North, better than any ponies, or dragons!"

"Why should we trust you?" Sunset asked, as she scanned Ember's mind. "Why should we listen to a dragon who broke her promise with Spike? Or who couldn't go back to Dracasia because she was deemed a dishonorable Dragon Lord?"

Ember could hardly believe what she was hearing. Sensing a sense of self-doubt in the former Dragon Lord, Spike knew he had to say something, "It's our only chance, Sunset!" Spike replied, surprising Ember. "If Ember says we should go in. We go in!" With that, the three were all on their way, through the dragon army.

"Spike?" Ember began.

"Yes?" Spike asked.

"......Thank you," the sapphire dragon replied.





A little later, the three were in the cave, with a fire they managed to start. Spike had his armor plates off to dry, leaving him in only his jumpsuit, and cape, as the boy held his hands out, along with his dragon whiskers, testing the fire's heat.

"Phew," Spike panted. "It's not much. But the fire's all we got for now," Spike looked up, to see how the two girls were holding.

Both girls had their gears off to dry. Ember was wearing only her jumpsuit, and cloak, and appeared to be unfazed about the fact that she's damp, and cold. Sunset, however, was a different story. The pyrokinetic unicorn was shivering to the core, and was unable to conjure a single spark of fire, despite being close to the fire they've got going.

Spike took his cape off, as he handed it to Sunset, who eagerly took it, with her magic and wraps it around herself, "I'll go outside and take first watch," Spike suggested, as he took his leave, assuming his dragon form as he did so.

"Wait!" Sunset shivered. "Please, don't go!" Spike turned around, looking at the girls.

"There's plenty of room for the three of us here, Spike," Ember added, as Sunset nodded in confirmation.

Spike was hesitant at first, but not one to refuse invitation, especially since it's from some girls he knows, he complied.

A long awkward silence followed, until Ember finally broke the ice, metaphorically, "Spike?" she began, catching his attention. "I've been wondering."

"About what?" Spike asked.

Searching her thoughts, Ember replied, "W-W-What........are your thoughts about me......now?" Spike looked at Ember, not following what she was getting at. "Be honest....are you.....disappointed....in me?"

"Disappointed?" Spike looked at the sapphire dragon in surprise. "Why would I be disappointed in you?"

"Come on, Spike," Ember began. "I mean, really? I'm the Dragon Lord, or was. And not because I won the Gauntlet of Fire, but because you trusted me, and chose me to be the Dragon Lord. No dragons would ever do that. And yet, I've lost the symbol of the Dragon Lord. Meaning I've failed my purpose. And worst of all, I've failed my father, and most of all, you. No words can describe to that amount of dishonor for a dragon, especially me."

Spike looked away for a moment, before he inquired, "Well, care to explain what happened first?"

Ember looked despondent for a moment, before she began, "Remember what Pinkie said about my biggest failure?"

Spike twirled one of his whiskers, as he recalled, "She might have mentioned it."

"Well, she doesn't know the half of it."

"Care to fill me in on the other half, first?" Spike requested.

With a deep breath, Ember reluctantly recounted the events that had transpired, "It was a few months ago, when the ponies and yaks were forming some form of alliance together. During that time, Prince Rutherford had dubbed Pinkie Pie as 'Honorary Yak.' However, what he doesn't know was that the title 'Honorary Yak,' was already made exclusive to the dragons. Because of that, most of us dragons took the yaks' action as an insult on our honor. And it doesn't help for the fact that the ponies have been making some negative generalizations about us dragons."

"What?!" Spike exclaimed. "Even after everything I've done to give dragons a more honorable image?!!"

"I kept asking myself that question many times," Ember grumbled. Spike shook his head in disappointment, "Anyway, I know I've made a promise to you, about not leading dragons to war with ponies. But the situation back then was just too much for me to handle, alone. Besides gems, and powers, we dragons pride ourselves on honor. And we'd be willing to defend that honor, no matter the cost," Looking away in shame, Ember spoke, "I almost waged a war between the ponies and the yaks."

"You did what?!!!" Spike exclaimed in outrage. "Ember! Did you even think for a moment on what the outcome may be?! Bloods could've been shed on all sides! And for what?! For some misunderstanding the yaks might've made?" Ember looked away in shame, while Spike continues. "You could've killed some pony! Maybe my mom, or Twilight, and the girls! And let's not forget! They're my family! That'll be like you trying to kill me!"

"I know that, Spike!" Ember replied. "And I'm sorry!" Taking a deep breath, Ember spoke, in a broken voice. "I'm sorry."

"Well, sorry doesn't exactly help the fact you tried to destroy the ponies who took me in, the first place," Spike grumbled, with Sunset, silently agreeing.

"But what mattered was that there was no war!" Ember spoke. "A war between dragons, yaks, and ponies would've broke out that day, had it not been for Mina," Ember smiled, as she recalled how her best friend was able to help resolve the matter. "Thanks to Mina, we were able to resolve all the problems between dragons, ponies, and yaks alike. Things were starting to look up for all of us," Ember frowned as she recalled the tragedy that befallen on her.





"The Bloodstone Scepter was lost, and my imperial Dragon Guards were all turned to stone," Ember concluded. "Without the scepter, I can never go back to Dracasia, all the reason why I've spent the last several moons, in exile, here in Equestria, waiting for your return. I knew the Fucanglong Box would help me find the scepter. But the box can only be activated, when it's in your presence. And as you can see, it's gone," Ember frowned, turning away to hide a tear that was escaping, "Along with all of my hopes of reclaiming my honor."

Spike looked confused, "If you were planning on using the Fucanglong Box to find the scepter, then why did you chose to help me and Fleur find the Armor of Heroes in the first place?"

"At first, I was going to ask for your help to finding the Bloodstone Scepter," Ember replied. "But after your friends, the Knights, attacked me, back in Dragon Town, and told me about your situation, I knew I just couldn't get in the way of your mission. But there's no certain way you guys could accomplish your mission, without my help. So I thought, I should at least help you and Flare out first, before we could move onto my problem," Ember looked deeply into the flames, as she continued, "Besides, I owed you two a favor. I'd never be Dragon Lord, and know the value of friendship if it weren't for you two. So, I thought I should return the favor."

"Wow, that's nice of you, Ember," Spike replied. "And that's a lot, coming from me," Ember darted her eyes to the side, as a faint blush was shown on her cheeks. "But what about the dragons back in Dracasia?" Spike asked. "What will they do without their leader?"

"Well, my last order for them was to stay where they are, and to not come within ten paces in Equestria. But they won't follow my orders for much longer, when they realized I'm no longer Dragon Lord. If they don't already know that by now."

Spike, and Sunset, both looked at Ember, sensing how troubled the sapphire dragon is feeling, and how much weight is being added on her shoulders.

Putting a comforting hand on Ember's shoulder, catching her attention, Spike spoke, "Look, Ember. After this blizzard passes, the first thing we'll do when we get out of here, is find the box, so we can find the Boots of Courage. And after that, the Bloodstone Scepter is next."

Ember and Sunset looked at Spike in surprise, "Are you sure about that, Spike?" Ember asked. "I don't want you and Fleur-"

"Hey, don't worry," Spike replied. "I know I promised Fleur, I'd help her find her parents. But still, helping ponies and dragons is what we do best, for Equestria and all the other lands of magical creatures. Besides, what kind of noble dragon would I be if I'm not helping the Dragon Lord restore her honor?"

Ember stared at Spike, clearly at a loss of words, "Spike's got a point, y'know," Sunset replied. "It's his duty as the Dragon Prince."

Ember turned to Spike, and smiled, "Thanks, Spike," Spike smiled, before he was pulled forward in a loving embrace, much to Sunset's envy.

Little did the two dragons know, this loving display was enough to make the blizzard outside, subside a little, as well as attracting some attentions.





Soon, it was nightfall, and the blizzard was still raging on outside. Spike and the two girls continued taking shelter within the cave. The girls were out like bulbs, while Spike was up to keep the fire running.

All was calm, and quiet, when an abrupt sobbing broke the silent. Ember woke up with a start, as she and Spike went over to see Sunset, in human form, crying in her sleep.

"Wait, no!" Sunset sobbed in her sleep. "Please don't leave me! No! You can't!"

"What's up with her?" Ember asked. "Why's she crying all of a sudden?"

"I don't know," Spike replied, before he gently shook Sunset awake. "Hey! Sunset! Wake up!"

"H-Huh?" Sunset snapped her eyes opened, as tears continued to trickle down her cheeks. "S-Spike?"

"You o-" Spike was cut off, as Sunset jumps out of his cape, tackles him in a hug, as she cries on his shoulder, "Kay?"

"Please!" Sunset cried. "Don't leave me!"

Snapping out from his shock, Spike held Sunset close, stroking her hair to calm her, "Sunset, it's okay," he said softly. "It's just a bad dream."

"I know," Sunset sobbed. "But it felt so real. Mainly because it is real," the girl cried even harder, as she held Spike even tighter. "I was so cold, and alone! And all because I wasn't there for you!" Sunset blubbered.

Spike, not needing an hour of explanation, knew exactly what Sunset was referring to, "There, there Sunset," Spike comforted the girl, as he continued to stroke her hair. "It's all in the past."

"I'm s--ugh, I'm sorry--ugh," Sunset struggled to apologize.

Spike shushed the girl, calming her slightly, "All has been forgiven, Sunset. Now you just needed to forgive yourself."

The last words struck Ember like lightning, 'Forgive yourself?' she pondered in her thought.

"Here," Spike said, as he reached into one of his cape's inner pockets. "I'm sure Rarity packed some-"

MEOW

"AHH! OH MY GOD!" Spike and Ember screamed, as the Dragon Prince surprisingly pulled out Rarity's pet cat, Opal, who was screaming, and yowling, with her jaws latched onto Spike's hand. "GET OFF OF ME!!" Spike screamed, as he manages to pry the cat off of his hand.

With a hiss, the cat angrily crawled back to the dragon's cape, where she curls up within the fabric, and started purring away.

"Geez," Spike muttered. "Maybe Rarity wasn't kidding when she says Opal just crawls in the darnedest places." It wasn't long, before Spike heard a snickers, and he turns to see Sunset, and Ember, both failing to suppress a giggle, before it burst into a fit of laughter.

"S-Sorry, Spike," Sunset giggled. "I-I-It's just-"

"That was hilarious!" Ember laughed. "I haven't laughed like that in many moons!"

Spike, pouting with his face red in humiliation, thought back at his little display, and couldn't help but join in the laughter. It wasn't long, until the laughters died down, that the three friends started turning in for the night.

Opal, after receiving a bed made of leaves from Sunset, was willing to trade Spike's cape, for the bedding that was close to the fire. Sunset and Ember were about to resume their slumber, when they noticed Spike was left without any coverings for himself. The boy assumes his dog form, as he crawls in circles, before he plopped down to the ground, trying to get some rest.

"Here, Spike," Sunset said softly, patting to a spot between her and Ember. "Why don't you come over and sleep with us?"

Spike, blushed in arousal at Sunset's request. Nevertheless, he shyly complied, as he walked over, and lays down, between the two girls.

"What're you blushing for, Spike?" Ember asked, raising a brow. "This ain't the first time you've seen a girl without her clothes on, y'know," the dragoness said, noting the little amount of clothes Sunset was wearing, so as to provide the latter some relief from the fire's heat, which in turn arouses Spike.

"That was back when she was just a pony," Spike replied. "I mean, normally ponies don't wear clothes, which I'm kinda passive about. B-B-But, when sh-she's human....it's a...a..another story," he stuttered at the last part.

Sunset couldn't help but giggle, "Well, I don't blame you, Spike," she said. "You are still half-human. So it's no surprised that you only find me attractive, when I'm human."

"What?! No, I don't!" Spike exclaimed. "I mean, I do. But you're still attractive, even in your true form-"

Sunset couldn't help but laugh, "Oh, Spike," she said. "I'm only teasing. Still, I'm actually flattered that you find me....attractive."

"Well, pony or human, you're as beautiful as a phoenix burning bright in the sky," Spike complimented.

Sunset couldn't help but smile with glee, while Ember scowled in envy, before the flame haired girl embraced Spike, further intensifying his blush, "That's the sweetest thing, any boys would ever say to me!" she exclaimed. "Thank you, Spike!"





"AAAAAAH!!" Sunburn yelped in pain, clutching her side, with cracks of lights forming. "Sunset Shimmer! The Dragon Prince!" the demon groaned.





After things started to settle down, Spike was in human form as he got comfy, when Sunset laid her head close to his, still in human form, and was draping Spike's cape, both around herself and Spike, while Ember rested her head on his chest, while wrapping herself close to Spike, with her wings. Blushing from close contact, and the warmth from their bodies, not to mention a bit of bare skins from Sunset, Spike smiled lightly, as he concentrated his Dragonfire, sprouting his wings, and used them to wrap himself around the girls.

"Sleep tight, girls," Spike said, closing his eyes, and was out like a bulb.
> Armor of Heroes Part 13: Friendship is Witchcraft with Discord and Hydia
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Midnight Castle

"Being the cruel, sneaky, conniving witch that I am," Hydia began, before Nightmare Moon, Somnambula, and Abacus Cinch. "I believe I have spoken my usefulness, and the benefits of my plans," Nightmare squinted her eyes at the witch, who quivered, "Of course, I mean it in your interests, my princess. Shall I proceed?" In response, Nightmare Moon and Somnambula both combined their magics, as they blasted a ray of magic at Hydia, who screamed in agony, as the mark of the Shadowbolts, burn in her skin, on her left hand, "WHAT TRICK IS THIS?!"

"You have proven crafty, Hydia!" Somnambula began. "So we have decided to provide you a safety measure!"

"You are hereby, one of us, now!" Nightmare Moon explained. "The mark on your skin will keep you bound to our wills."

"A precaution so that we will know exactly where to find you, and your daughters," Abacus added. "So that you cannot escape us, or betray us!"

After rubbing her hand, easing the pain slightly, Hydia replied grimly, "I accept your terms, master," the witch bowed her head, before the dark alicorn.





"I can't believe we're now working with those witches!" Sour growled.

"I know, right?" Indigo replied. "They're disgusting, they're mean, and one of them looked as if she hasn't been exercising in a millennia!"

"Well, it could be worse, you know," Sugarcoat said. "We'd be working with him," the girls looked to see Discord, running around the room, snapping his fingers, and causing all sorts of ruckus, with Snips and Snails at his sides, "That guy's crazy."

"YOU TELLING ME?!" Discord asked, when he unexpectedly popped out of Sugarcoat's ear, and honked the girl's nose, before he took off, laughing, "WHOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO!"

Soon, Snips and Snails came, "We are number one~" Snails sang, before he and Snips both gave a double kiss on Sour Sweet's cheeks, followed by a slap to her butt, and some quick feels to her girls. "Wah ha ha!" the boys laughed maniacally, before they took their leave.

"Why do boys always do that?!" Sour groaned in frustration. "I hate it! It makes me feel....feel...."

"Like a toy, rather than a person?" Sugarcoat puts it bluntly.

"You know it!" Sour Sweet shouted, "Why me?! Why me?!" she asked, before hysterically bursting out crying, hugging Indigo for comfort.

"Um, there there, Sours," Indigo said, while repeatedly patting her friend's back. "It's not your fault that boys think you're quite the catch."

"How much longer can we take?" Lemon whimpered. "I want to be free, to rock and roll. Not be rocked and rolled around the floor, like some basket ball!"

"Come on, dearies," Sunny called. "Keep it together! We're not much good, if we keep hyperventilating like this!





"I can't believe we've been reduced to the distasteful roles as servants!" Hydia grumbled, as she paced around in her given room. "I was quite satisfied of being my own master! Then again, it's not quite satisfying since I've had two disappointments for minions."

"Duh, yeah!" Draggle droned. "We hate those minions!"

"Draggle you idiot!" Reeka said, as she pulled on her sister's hair. "She's talking about us!"

Hydia went over and "It's time we do something about this! Time for us to reclaim our reputations! Time to start living up to the family traditions! Time to step up our games! Time to be evil, and mean!"

"Duh, but we are mean," Draggle droned.

"And evil!" Reeka added.

Hydia turned and glared at her two daughters angrily, "Not evil enough!" she growled, while waving her fist. "Why can't you be evil like I taught you?"

"Oh no," Reeka groaned. "I feel another song coming up."

"An evil song?" Draggle asked.

"What else?" Reeka asked rhetorically, to which Draggle was about to answer, had Reeka not shut her up with a mousetrap.



[AVPS - Stutter]

"She's right you know!" a voice called, revealing itself to be Discord. "Why can't you be evil, like your mother's cousin here?" With that, Discord conjured up an image of Dolores Umbridge. "You should see how she runs a school! She's an absolute tyrant!"




"Ah, Discord!" Hydia exclaimed. "So nice to see you again, not!"

"Oh what did you expect from me?" Discord asked, while casually looking at his claw. "I'm the Master of Chaos. The King of Trolls. Besides, what do you expect from a villain protege like me? Help an even older villain like you?"

Hydia pointed her fingers, trying to make a statement, before she realized Discord's message, "You're in the ball park."

"Duh," Draggle began. "How can you be so evil? Weren't you the dragon's friend in the first place?"

"How can I be so evil?" Discord asked. "I'm glad you asked. And I'll be happy enough to tell it to ya. IN SONG!!"

"Oh, not again," Reeka groaned, before she started to tap her feet, and shake her shoulders, when the music turns out to be rock and roll.



The three witches were taken by the drama, the style, and the passion the draconequus was putting into his song.

"You heard it here first cause I'm the one who said it," Discord sang. "Yeah, I'm evil...."

"He's evil! WAH!" Snips and Snails sang.

"I'm evil for extra credit!!" With that, Discord snapped his fingers, as fires erupted around the room, scaring Draggle and Reeka, while Hydia stood awestruck.

As Discord continues singing, he snapped his fingers repeatedly, conjuring all sorts of disarrays of chaos, and confusions. Hydia soon got into the groove, as she was bopping her head up and down, while swaying her hips to the song, and tapping her feet.

"That's right," Discord smirked. "I'm evil for extra credits! Tell 'em all about it, girls!"

With a snap of his fingers, a group of girls, consisting of the Dazzlings, Daybreaker, Sunburn, Queen Chrysalis, Eris, Queen Umbra, Catrina, Juniper Montage, Tempest Shadow, Cupcake Slash, Cursed Word(a.k.a. TheLostNarrator), Vannamelon, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Orca, Fiona Fox, Lien-Da, Blackfire, etc. The girls all sang their lyrics, while Discord, Snips, and Snails continued with their performance, up until Discord snapped his fingers, and the girls vanished in puffs of smokes.

"We're evil for extra credits!" Discord and the boys concluded, earning applauses from the witches.

"Whoo-hoo!" Reeka blew a whistle, as she clapped her hands.

"Duh, yeah!" Draggle added. "That's us too! Duh, we're evil for extra credits."

"Then it's time for us to unleash, the Smooze!" Hydia declared, with several thunderbolts going off, courtesy of Discord.

"THE SMOOZE?!" Draggle and Reeka shrieked dreadfully. "Not the Smooze! Anything but the Smooze!! What's the Smooze?" Draggle asked.

"Allow me," Discord began, as he popped himself a professor's lab coat, and a blackboard. "The Smooze was once just a simple slime monster that first came to Equestria, in a small meteorite, thousands of years ago. It had a huge appetite, and devours anything that's shiny, making it grow bigger with every objects it had consumed. This ravenous monster would've eaten all of the world, had it not been for one meddling unicorn wizard, by the name Starswirls the Bearded, who sent the monster in a state of hibernation. That is, until Hydia first woke it up, thousands of years ago, poisoning the monster with her evil powers, forcing it to do her bidding, as they conquered the land which is now the Land of Glooms."

"Wow, mother," Reeka gasped. "That was you?!"

"Yes, indeed it was me," Hydia smiled proudly, before her eyes bulged. "Did you just call me mother?"

"I meant to say, master!" Reeka corrected herself. "Sorry, master. Slip of the tongue," the fat witch chuckled nervously.

After giving her daughter some blank stares, Hydia turned back to Discord, "It's time to re-awaken the Smooze, once again!"

"Oh, goody goody gumdrops!" Discord smiled, his head turning into Marvin the Martian momentarily, before it reverted back to normal. "Though, where do we begin to wake it up? It's not like we just get out an alarm clock and say, SMOOOOZEEE!! WAKE UP!! Am I right? Or am I right?"

"You're right about that, Discord," Hydia grumbled, as she walks over to a jar, in the shape of a skull. "Lucky for you, I have the necessary ingredients needed to wake it up!" Hydia opens up the jar, and pulls out a huge scroll, with an endless list of ingredients, and hands them to Draggle and Reeka, "Here! Get these ingredients, and don't fail me!"

With that, Draggle and Reeka looked over the ingredients, "Fungus, moss, mildew, and-" the two girls looked at the last ingredients with dread. "AND FLUME?!!"

"Duh, not the flume master!" Draggle begged. "PLEASE!! WE'LL GET EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT NOT THE FLUME!!"

"SILENCE!!" Hydia waved her heads as she levitated the two girls up in the air, "You will do as I say, or pray you don't get sent to the sun! Now get!" With that, Hydia blasted a ball of fire, and shot Draggle and Reeka out of her room. "Oh, Tirek help me."

"Welp, that's that," Discord began, before he turns to Snips and Snails. "In the meantime, we've got ourselves a Sun Stone to steal!"

"Wah!" Snails shouted in agreement. "We're number one!"

"I beg your pardon?" Hydia asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Discord began. "Whatever happened to 'nothing can stop the smooze?'" Discord sang in a mocking voice, "And then all of a sudden, boom! Here comes Starswirl the Bearded and the breezies, saving the day! And then what happens? Boom! The smooze is defeated. And forgive me if I quote, I'm just not sure how well this plan was thought through."

"Hmmm," Hydia pondered. "You know, you're right. I never thought of that."

Discord turned to the audience, "It's a wonder why she's #3, after Tirek and Grogar in Gen 1."



Discord turned to Hydia, as he raised his head up in a snooty fashion, "Now, being the more effective, and cleverer of all evil proteges, may I elect myself and my boys here, to go and steal the Sun Stone? That way, without their precious Sun Stone, the Breezies will be powerless to defeat the Smooze, as their ancestors had been thousands of years ago!"

Without hesitation, Hydia replied, "Very well then. The Sun Stone is yours!"

"SCORE!!" With that, Discord spins himself in a cowboy's attire, "Saddle up, boys!" Discord said in a western accent, "We're riding into the sunset!" With that, Discord snapped his fingers, conjured Prince Blueblood, with a saddle on his back, and a rein around his nose.

"Ride like the winds, Blueblood!" Discord said.

"Well I certainly take offense to that, draconequus," Blueblood groaned. "I am royalty after all. Not some-OUCH!!" Discord kicked into Blueblood's side, silencing the unicorn stallion.

"We're number one~" Snips and Snails sang.
> Armor of Heroes Part 14: Into the Freezer(Boots of Courage)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Somewhere in Equestria

Floating in a small rowboat, was Daring Do herself, "Let's see," Daring Do said to herself, examining a map in her hooves. "The shipwreck should be right here!" the pegasus exclaimed, as she finds herself, arriving at the entrance of a huge sea cave.

Reaching into her saddle bags, Daring Do pulls out a small glass tube, containing some fireflies. With a shake, the fireflies were stirred awake, and lit up the tubes, lighting the way for the pegasus, as she navigates her way through the cave, smelling the salty air of sea waters, while ignoring the loud series of chitters and squeaks from the local bats.

Finally, Daring Do arrived at her destination-a giant shipwreck of a huge vessel.

"At last," Daring Do smiled in satisfaction. "All my years of searching, I've finally located the lost ship of Red Eye the pirate!" The treasure hunting pegasus tied her boat to a nearby rock, as she got onto what was left of the great pirate's ship, as she examines the deck, before she walks down below, to see a huge treasure chest, filled with nothing but golds, jewelries, and all sorts of valuable artifacts.

"Wow!" Daring Do smirked. "There must be enough in here to make me richer than Princess Celestia herself!" It wasn't long, before Daring Do sets her sight on a shield that looked as if it had recently been polished, "Though, I'm quite surprised one of my clients only wanted the shield. Oh, well," With that, Daring Do picked the shield up from its resting place, and strapped it to her back, before she went to haul up the treasure chest, out onto the ship's deck. No sooner did she did, when she suddenly finds herself surrounded by several stallion goons.

Then, stepping out before them, was their leader, who appears to be an earth pony stallion, with gambogeish gray coat, a cutie mark that appears to be a gold skull with green and red jewels for eyes, dark arctic bluish gray mane, tail, and eyebrows that hangs over his grayish chartreuse green eyes. For attires, he wore tan open collared shirt, a red bandana with white polka dots.

"Well, Daring Do," the stallion began. "We meet, once again."

"Well, well, Caballeron," Daring Do began, bitterly. "It's been a long time."

"That's Dr. Caballeron to you!" Dr. Caballeron replied. "Now that we're passed the meet and greet, might I suggest you hand over the shield, and the treasures, to me!"

"Not happening!" Daring Do replied. "These treasures belong in a museum! Well, except for this shield, which I'll be-" Daring Do was interrupted, when one of the thugs kicked her to the side.

"Then perhaps I'll be taking two treasures!" Dr. Caballeron sneered. "For the price of one! Or as you pegasus would say, kill two birds with one stone!" With that, Dr. Caballeron and his goons all burst out laughing, as they prepared to escape with their loots. "Adios amiga!"

However, at the last second, Daring Do whips out her whip, which she used to snatch the shield off of Caballeron. Then, with a karate yell, she lunged forward, did a sweep kick, tripping up the goons, before reclaiming the chest.

"Stop her!" With that, the goons all surrounded Daring Do, with the shield on her back, and her whip in her mouth.

"Bring it!" Daring Do snarled.

With that, the goons all jumped after Daring Do, who didn't hesitate to fight back. One of the stallions grabbed Daring Do by the tail and pulled her backward, only to receive two kicks to the face. Daring Do noticed another goon running up to her, with a dagger in his mouth, which she jumped to the side, bumping into a cannon. Daring Do looked, to see the goon running back after her. Then, at the last second, Daring Do did a backflip, jumping behind the cannon, and the stallion fell right into the barrel, and became stuck.

Whipping out a match, Daring Do lit up the cannon, and blasted the goon, into the rest of his comrades, knocking them down like bowling pins.

"Finland!" one of the goons moaned.

Daring Do darted her eyes to see one of the goons, trying to make off with the treasure chest, "Where do you think you're going?" Daring Do asked, throwing her whip, snaring the stallion by his hind leg.

Grabbing at the other end of the whip, the stallion tried to pull Daring Do forward, only for the pegasus to do the same. It soon became a tug of war, for the two ponies, until at last, Daring Do released her hold, causing the goon to tumble out of the ship, and into the waters below.

"Idiots!" Caballeron groaned in frustration. "If you want something done right. You've got to do it, yourself."

The stallion concentrated and assumed his anthro battle form, and unsheathes a rapier from a cane, behind his back. With it, the stallion jumped at Daring Do, slashing his blade at the pegasus, who quickly ducked down in time, as her hat got skewered by the blade.

"Just like old time," Dr. Caballeron smirked. "Eh, mis amiga?"

"Sorry, doc," Daring Do frowned, as she assumes her own anthro form. "I'm not the sentimental type," Noticing a nearby pirate sword, Daring Do picked it up, as she and Cabelleron were engaged in a sword fight.

"I'll run you through!" Caballeron shouted, only for Daring Do to fly behind him, and stabbed him in the butt, catching him by surprise. "Take that!" Caballeron waved his rapier again, parring with Daring Do.

Eventually, one of the goons woke up, and saw a cannon nearby. With that, he loaded a cannon ball into the cannon, and aimed it towards Daring Do.

During the fight, Caballeron saw what his henchman was doing, and his eyes widened in fright, "Hold it you fools!" he shouted. "No! No!"

Too late, the cannon was fired, and Caballeron fell off the ship, and into the waters below. Daring Do escaped on her boat, and quickly flapped her wings, speeding out of the caves, leaving the goons to pound their idiotic comrade.

As Daring Do fully emerged from the cave, she could breathe the smell of fresh air, and became content with herself. Little did she know however, she was secretly being followed.




Meanwhile, back in the Frozen North

Celestia's sun was rising over the horizon, casting the tall mountain's shadows across the snowy plains. Peewee was flying through the sky, searching for his owner, and his friends. The phoenix had been up all night, trying to locate Spike, and the fiery bird is become more anxious with each passing minutes of not locating the Dragon Prince.

Just then, something caught the bird's attention, beckoning him to fly circles, as he came closer to see what it was.




Penguins' Ice Palace

In the penguin's ice dungeons, the Knights and Bloodshot were on the point of suffering cabin fever.

"Hush now~" Button sang gloomily. "Quiet now.....it's time to lay your......sleepy head~" the nerd boy was lying on the ice floor, curling up in a ball, while sucking on his thumb. "I want my mommy. I want my Sweetie Belle."

"Is he always like this?" Bloodshot asked, on the verge of losing his sanity.

"You should see him when he tried to play Five Nights At Freddy's in one night," Rumble muttered.

"THAT'S IT!!" Button Mash screamed. "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!! I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE!! NOOOOOWWW!!!" With that, Button Mash takes out his Minecraft Foam Pickaxe, and started banging on the bars rapidly with all his might.

"Button Mash! Knock it off!" Tender Taps said, as he and Rumble tried to get a hold of their nerd friend. "We're never gonna get out like that!"

Button Mash wasn't listening as he continued to bang on the bars with all his might.

"Stop it!" the Knights would yell. "Cut it out! Button stop! Screaming's not helping!"

"ENOUGH!!" Bloodshot screamed at the top of his lung, as he walks over and grabs Button Mash by the top of his hair. "Listen kid! I've been having a really bad day, and getting stuck in here with you boys, is just one more on my list! I may not be able to kill, given to my conditions, but if you don't want to wind up like swiss cheese, then SHUT UP!!"

Button, out of fear, complied as he slumped to the floor.

Pipsqueak went over to the ice bars, "Still, I'm with Button on this one," the athletic boy said. "We've got to find a way out! Spike needs our help!"

"Don't you mean, you need Spike's help?" Bloodshot asked.

"STAY OUT OF THIS!!" the Knights shouted at the meta human.




Yayakistan

In the guest room where Fleur, Pinkie, and Gabby had been staying over the night, the three girls were stirred awake by the rays of lights from Celestia's sun.

"Rise and shine!" Pinkie squealed, as she jumps out of bed, and bounced all over the room.

"Whoo!" Gabby stretched her back, followed by her wings, before the griffon dons up her MMDW costume. "I'm so full of pep, I feel like I can just find Spike and the rest of our missing friends in ten seconds flat!" Gabby and Pinkie both walked down a hall, as they made their way towards the kitchen in the castle. "But first, a bit of breakfast!"

"You took the words right out of my mouth!" Pinkie giggled.

Eventually, the two arrived in the kitchen, which is, as expected by Pinkie Pie, bigger than any ordinary kitchen.

"Alrighty!" Gabby exclaimed. "We just need to stay sharp, stay fit, stay fed," With that, the two girls got into position, as Pinkie got out a stopwatch from her mane, and held it at the ready. "GO!" Gabby yelled, to which Pinkie immediately start the stopwatch.

Pinkie Pie ran to a drawer, and tossed out some utensils, and a plate, all which Gabby was able to catch, with her beak, and her claws. Pinkie then found a box of oats, with which she loaded into her party cannon, and fired them at Gabby, who was able to catch them all, with a nearby bowl. The griffon didn't have time to sit down and eat, as the pink pony shot some toasts from a toaster, to which Gabby was able to counter, with a well aimed shot of two butters. Pinkie then threw two oranges at Gabby, who was able to catch, and squeezed the two fruits, earning a cup of orange juice.

"And time!" Pinkie said, stopping the stopwatch, just when Fleur arrived. "Wow!" Pinkie exclaimed. "A new record!"

"And everything a hero needs for breakfast!" Gabby smiled, before she realized, "Except the milk!" Gabby and Pinkie both face palmed themselves, "I always forget the milk," Gabby muttered.

Pinkie looked up, and noticed Fleur in the doorway, "Hi Fleur!"

"Bonjour, mon ami," Fleur smiled, walking in, and helping herself to some breakfast. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, it's just something I would do, every morning when I get up," Gabby smiled, taking a bite out of her toast. "You know, back when I was living in Fillydelphia, as the Mysterious Mare Do Well."

"It's part of her motto," Pinkie smiled, popping up from Fleur's side. "Stay sharp, stay fit, stay fed!"

"You don't say," Fleur said in acknowledgement.

"Well, c'mon, Fleur," Pinkie smiled, as she popped open an oven, and various foods came flying out, before they were neatly organized on the table. "Breakfast is served!"





The lights from Celestia's sun had found its way into the cave Spike, Sunset, Ember, and their newest companion, Opal, were staying in. Spike groaned, disturbed by the light, and was stirring awake, until he rubbed his cheek against something.

'So soft,' Spike smiled in his thoughts. 'So round. So bounce-wait, what?!' Spike snapped awake to see his head was smothered into Sunset Shimmer's breasts. 'Whoa!' he exclaimed mentally, nearly turning himself into a fish, like some other previous embarrassing moments. Fortuanetly, he quickly got ahold of himself.

The boy carefully tries to wiggle himself free from the girl's chest, only for Sunset to hold him even closer, smothering him even deeper into her firm bosom. Spike's blush intensifies, which only grew even brighter still, when something licked his cheek. Turning to his right, Spike could see that Ember was spooning him, and her head was resting on his shoulder, while nuzzling his cheek affectionately. Furthermore, Spike looked up to see Opal, purring as she was curled up in a ball, while sleeping on top of his head.

'Oh, this feels nice,' Spike smiled, enjoying the feeling, his wings itching to sprout free, along with his whiskers, and a dog tail. Spike didn't get to enjoy it much, when his rational side finally snapped him out of it, 'Come on Spike. Focus! There's no time for this!' With that, Spike held his breath, as he slid out of the girls' holds on him. Then, he carefully got Opal off of his head, before settling the sleeping cat next to the girls' winter gears.

Taking another look, Spike couldn't help but smile, seeing how content the girls are in their sleep. Walking over to Ember, he pulled the dragon's cloak over, before he gave her kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush, and smile in her sleep. Spike then walked over to Sunset, pulling his cape back over her, before he too planted a kiss on her cheek, causing the formerly bad girl to smile with content, followed by a giggle.

"Ooh, Spike-kun~" Sunset sighed in her sleep.

Spike walked out of the cave, fully dressed in his armors, and winter gears, stretching his arms, while basking in his mother's sunlights.

"Morning mom," Spike said to the sun, before he breathed in the air, "Another day, and another adventure awaits," As Spike said that, he heard a loud screech, and looked up, "Peewee!" Spike shouted, as the phoenix flapped his wings, before coming in for a landing, perching on the boy's arm, "Hey buddy! Good to see you again," Spike smiled, petting the bird on the head, as he croons, rubbing his head against the boy's gentle touch in affection. Soon, Peewee squawked, while flapping his wings, tugging Spike away, "Whoa, what's wrong boy?"

In response, Peewee looked deeply into Spike's eyes. With that, the phoenix's eyes glowed in a yellow aura, while Spike's glowed green, as both boys shared a vision. Before long, Spike could see the Knights, along with Bloodshot, taken prisoners by the penguins, and were put behind bars.

Spike could hardly believed what he had seen, "Oh no, guys!" Spike said worryingly for his posse. It was then that Spike noticed, there in one of Peewee's talon, the Fucanglong Box. The box was glowing even more brighter, and upon touching the box, with his hand morphed into a claw, Spike can feel the box burning, regardless of how long it had been in the snow during the blizzard.

Following the box's pull, up a hill, Spike could see that the penguins' ice palace is not to far from him and the remaining girls.

"Thanks Peewee," Spike said as he stroked the phoenix's chest. "Now go," the boy instructed. "Find Fleur and the others. Tell them, where we'll be," With that, Peewee flew off, to inform the others.

'Gotta wake up the girls,' With that, Spike turned, and was on his way back to the cave, when he heard a voice.

"You must be the famous, Spike Draco," the voice said softly. "You're even cuter in pony than what the stories of your heroics said you'd be."

"Who's there?!" Spike demanded, dragon up, fire katanas conjured, and at the ready.

In response, a gust of snows began to swirl around Spike, before they formed together into the alicorn and a younger penguin. In appearance, the penguin is shorter than Charlatan by an inch, wearing a suit of armor, long ruffled feathers on his head that covered half his face, piercing yellow eyes, with some more ruffled feathers, tied back by a small red band.

"Forgive me, Prince Spike," the alicorn smiled. "I didn't mean to startle you," the alicorn then did a curtsey, "I am Queen Gwyneira. Co-ruler of the Frozen North, and leader of the Windigos," the queen said, before she looked up at Spike, "But you can call me, Neira."

"And I am Prince Edgar," the penguin greeted in a deep, raspy voice, while bowing respectfully before his fellow prince. "Son of King Charlatan, and heir to the throne."

Taken by their mannerism and friendly greetings, Spike felt less intimidated by their presence, fire katanas dispersing, before he returns the greeting with a bow, "Nice to meet you, Neira and Prince Edgar," Spike said, while keeping his eyes on the alicorn and penguin.

"Please, don't be afraid of us," Neira reasoned. "Believe me, we're your friends. And we're here to help you."

Spike looked at the two in surprise, "How can you guys do that?" he asked. "I mean, you're taking a big risk, going behind King Charlatan's back to help me, you know that?"

"Believe me, Dragon Prince," Edgar began, catching Spike's attention. "Father wasn't always like this. There actually was a time when he was a benevolent ruler of the penguins," Edgar turned his head, directing Spike's attention to Neira. "He even took Neira in, back when she was just a princess of the Windigoes, after her father died."

"It's true," Neira added. "He's trained me--raised me. In many ways, King Charlatan's kinda like another father to me. Just as Princess Celestia is a mother to you, Spike," Spike couldn't help but smile in agreement, while instantly recalling some fond memories he's had of his adopted mother. The young dragon looked back, seeing Neira and Edgar both frowning, "But as of late, King Charlatan hasn't been himself lately," the alicorn answered.

"How so?" Spike asked.

"I don't know," Neira replied sadly. "Normally, he's very wise and kind to everyone, be they penguins, windigoes, or even yaks. But now, he just seems angry, all the time. I've tried to talk to him about it, but he's so angry, he holds a grudge like it's no one's business."

"And what's worse," Edgar began. "He's planning to use some sort of ancient ice elemental spell to conquer the whole world. And once that's over, he'll set his sight on your world called Earth."

"Then we better hurry and stop him!" Spike suggested. "But first, I gotta save my guys. You wouldn't happen to know where they are, would you?"

"They're being helped in the Ice Dungeon," Edgar answered. "It's beneath the palace. So I suggest the Icy Catacombs that runs beneath. The tunnels in those catacombs are a little dangerous, but they'll get you to your.....knights."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Spike said.

"Neira will take you through those tunnels," Edgar replied. "I have to get back before my father realized I'm gone."

With that, Edgar turned around, did a hop, as he slid away on his belly, leaving Spike alone with Neira.

"Shall we begin?" Neira asked.

"Not yet," Spike replied, "First, let me go and wake up Ember and Sunset. We'll need their help for this," Neira nodded her head in understanding, as Spike left to fetch the girls.




[Anh Minh - Last Drop]

Sunset was giggling in her sleep, while snuggling up to whom she thought was Spike, "Ooh, Spike," Sunset moaned in her sleep. "You're so warm, and so strong! You know how to make a girl feel so good!"

Ember in the meantime, was sighing with content, as she too was snuggling whom she thought was Spike, "You're sure not a runt anymore, Spike," Ember smiled in her sleep. "As Mina would say, you're Red Hot Brimstones."

It wasn't until the two girls started making out, when they realized, they were actually kissing someone. And when their eyes snapped wide open, the first thing they saw, was the both of them, lips locked, to each other, and cheeks burning a blazing shade of red, with Ember on top of Sunset.

*disc scratch*

Before long, the two girls screamed, waking Opal, and scaring some nearby birds to fly away.

"Ember?!" Sunset exclaimed.

"Sunset?!" Ember screamed.

"Girls?" Spike called, as he appeared at the cave's entrance. "Everything o-o-o-o-" no words could describe to the shock expression on his face, when he witnessed the scene, "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt!" Spike replied, face burning red in embarrassment, as he quickly turns tail.

"Wait, Spike!" Sunset called. "It's not-this isn't-we're not-"

French Narrator: "One Long Awkward Explanation Later."

Things finally got settled, between Spike and the two girls, as they later regrouped with Neira, who lead them through a hidden passage beneath the penguins' ice palace.

"Spike," Ember whispered. "Are you sure we can really trust Neira on this? She is the Windigo's leader and all."

"Again, I'm sure," Spike replied. "I can sense it in her. She's really helping us here. She's good, just like Edgar."

"Spike's right," Sunset added. "Though I'm not able to get much details from her memories, I can still sense some good motives from her. So I guess it couldn't hurt to trust her on this."

As Neira guided the heroes through the passage, they soon came across a huge maze, filled with reflective ice walls.

"Stay close to me, every pony and dragons," Neira instructed. "Not many creatures have ever came out of this maze at the other end, alive."

"How so?" Spike asked.

"And I'd prefer not to find out how," Sunset said, as the heroes were on their way.

At first, it all seemed okay, when suddenly a giant monster, made of ice, resembling a huge scorpion jumped out from behind a wall, ambushing the heroes. The creature lets out a loud, blood curdling shriek, as its stinger lunged forward and would've impaled the heroes, had Neira not stomp her hoof down, projecting an ice wall between herself, and the creature.

The creature angrily roared at Neira, before it started snapping its claws at the alicorn, who flapped her wings, as she took flight, and projected an ice shield, saving herself from the creature's stinger.

"Alright, some excitement!" Spike said, projecting some fire shurikens, as he joins in the fray, with Sunset and Ember.

Ember and Spike both fired their shurikens and arrows at the creature, exploding in its face, while Sunset charged in, pushing it back with several fire spells of her own.

The creature held its claws up, defending itself from the onslaughts the heroes were landing on it. As it did, the creature made a high pitch noise with one of the icicles on its back.

"Oh no," Neira said in worry, before she heard movements behind her, and all around her. With that, Neira looked around, before she flew over, bent an icicle, which opens up another passage in the maze. "Hurry! This way!"

With that, the heroes ceased their fires on the beast, as they followed the alicorn down the new passage.

"What was that thing back there?" Spike asked.

"A Frost Biter!" Neira answered. "And there's more of them down here, so keep running!"

The heroes kept on running, and weaving through every twists and turn in the maze. Along the way, more of the said creatures appeared around ever corners, snapping their claws, and thrusting their stingers at the heroes. One of the Biters thrusted its stinger at Ember, grazing a piece of her armor on her arm. The heroes looked to see ice slowly forming from the impact.

"I'm fine," Ember hissed, noticing the looks of concerns she was receiving from the others, as they fought the monster off.

"Look! The exit," Neira shouted, pointing to the said passage, with the gates closing in on it. "Hurry! The gates will close soon!"

With a last desperate lunge, the heroes were able to jump in, just as the gates had finished closing in on themselves, with the Frost Biters banging and scratching at the doors, angrily.

"That was too close for comfort," Sunset panted.

"Way too close," Spike added, before turning to Neira, "Where to now?"

"Anymore traps we should be aware of?" Ember asked.




Meanwhile

The Knights were all in a huddle, formulating their plan to escape.

"I don't know, Button," Featherweight voiced his disapproval. "The ice floor looks to think for us to simply dig through. Besides, we don't even have a shovel or a pickaxe to do the work, let alone a real one."

"What?!" Button exclaimed. "You dare to offend Sir Mine-A-Lot, here?!" the nerd boy turned to his foam pickaxe, and talked baby, "It's okay, my friend. They don't mean it."

The rest of the boys looked at Button, incredulously, "Hey, guys! Check out the meta man!" Featherweight pointed.

Bloodshot looked as if he was moving his mouth and not making a sound, "What's he doing?" Rumble asked.

It wasn't long, before they noticed bloods pouring out of his mouth. The boys cringed in disgust, before they noticed another thing coming out of the man's mouth.

"What the-" Rumble exclaimed. "What are you-"

"Shhh!" Bloodshot shushed harshly. "I'm going to pick the lock! So be quiet!" With that, the man went to the lock, as he begins his work.

"Whoa!" Button gasped in surprise. "You've had a lock pick inside of you? And it took you this long to regurgitate it?"

Bloodshot groaned in frustration, before he answered, as calmly as he could, "The though of consuming metalwares has never crossed my mind before," the man resumes his focus. "Besides, how do you explain the blood?" The Knights looked at each other, dumbfounded, "Take a closer look," With that, Bloodshot opened his mouth wide open to reveal his tongue, with the tip, all bloodied.

Needless to say, the Knights all looked squeamish, ready to lose their breakfast, "Oh man! You're nasty!" Tender Taps groaned in disgust.

"Gotta do what I must to survive, y'know," Bloodshot replied nonchalantly. "Not like I enjoyed it."

"Well, that's cool," Button said. "Gross, but cool. Though, not to pressure you or anything, but can you please speed it up?! Some of us are getting really tired of sitting on these blocks of ice! And even more, when we have to see you all blood and everything!"

Irked, Bloodshot clenched his fist tightly, which unintentionally resulted in snapping the lock pick.

Bloodshot twitched his eye, "NOW LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!!" the man yelled at the boy.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Button replied. "Juice up some more blood, and-" Button was interrupted as he was suddenly grabbed by the collar, and was held, face to face to the angry meta man.

"Do I make it look easy TO YOU?!!!" Bloodshot asked, as he angrily shook Button violently, like a doll, while shouting random things, including cursing.

Before things could escalate any further(And before this story could even be rated Gore), Pipsqueak noticed something, "Hey! Wait!" Pipsqueak shouted, catching some attentions. "These are half-pin barreled hinges!"

"So?" Rumble asked.

"So, with the right leverage, and the proper application of strength, the doors will lift free!" Pip explained, before he walked over to Button Mash. "Mind if I have your pickaxe?"

Button reluctantly complied, "What are you going to do with it?" Button watched, as Pipsqueak hooked the pickaxe, below one of the bars, and started pulling it down, "BE CAREFUL WITH MY BABY!!" Button wailed.

"Will you shut up about the stupid pickaxe already?" Bloodshot grumbled in annoyance.

"Stupid?" Button exclaimed, appalled.

"Got it!" Pipsqueak said, as the door came tumbling down.

"Hey! What's going on in there!" a voice shouted.

"Uh oh!" Featherweight moaned. "The guards!"

"I guess I didn't thought this through, long enough," Pip frowned.

"You think?" Rumble asked rhetorically, when the penguin soldiers finally barged in.

"The prisoners are escaping!!" one of the penguins shouted. "Seize them!"

"YIPE!!" Tender Taps screamed in fright.

"C'mon Knights!" Rumble shouted. "We have to fight our way out!"

"But there's so many of them!" Featherweight pointed.

"And they've all got arrows!" Button added. "Freezing Ice Arrows!"

"We're never gonna get out of here," Pipsqueak said, grimly. "Unless...."

The Knights all turned to Bloodshot, "What do you punks want now?"

"Listen," Rumble began. "How about we form a truce, for now? No shooting us! No thrashing us! No killing our buddy, Spike!"

"And definitely no shaking me like a rag doll!" Button added. 

"Yeah! What do you say?" Rumble asked, looking anxious, waiting for an answer.

"Fine," Bloodshot grumbled in agreement. "But on one condition," Blood pointed to Button, "Until we get out of this mess, he can't talk, at all! Not a single peep, from him!"

"Deal!" the Knights, except Button, all shouted without hesitation.

"HEY!" Button exclaimed.

"Starting now!" Bloodshot roared.

Button pouted as he reluctantly complied.

"C'mon, men!" Rumble began. "CHARGE!!"

With that, the Knights, plus Bloodshot, all clashed with the penguins. One of the penguins fired an arrow at Bloodshot, only for the meta human to catch the arrow, mere seconds away before it could hit him. The meta human snapped the arrow into two, before he threw them back at some of the penguins. The two pieces made impact with the penguins, freezing half of their bodies, from the feet up. More of the penguins took over, as they all slide on their bellies, swarming around the man, before they leapt into the air, landing kicks, and pecks, all of which the man skillfully blocked, with a huge tile of ice.

The Knights in the meantime were holding off on their own against the penguins, while still having a few stumbles now and then. Button Mash was trying to fight off the penguins with his Minecraft pickaxe, though the ice floor wasn't so friendly with him, as he slips up occasionally and lands on his bum. Button Mash was tempted to cry out for his mom, had Pipsqueak not stopped the boy in time, before reminding him of Bloodshot.

Rumble was landing some kicks and punches, until his foot gave way, and he too fell on his butt. The boy looked up, to see on of the penguins was preparing to drop its beak down on the boy, had he not roll out of the way, spins around and sweep kicked the penguin. More penguins began to swarm around Rumble, with their spears raised, before bringing down, trying to stop the boy, who kept on rolling and spinning around, avoiding the pointed blades.

"Rumble!" Featherweight called, throwing a shield to the said boy. "Catch!"

Rumble caught the shield, and with it, he was able to save himself from the penguins' blades, before he sat on top of it, and kicked off a wall, launching himself all around the room like a hockey puck, knocking down every penguins in his way, while shouting out some warnings to the other Knights, to which they responded by kicking Rumble away from them, and back into the other penguins.

"Seriously?" Bloodshot asked himself, slightly amused at how effective Rumble's tactic was.

Tender Taps, being the gifted skater he was, skated around the room on the ice floors, tripping some of the penguins up, with a staff that he managed to steal from one of the guards. The other penguins all slid forward, before they managed to flip themselves in the air, landed a flying kick to Tender Tap's chest, knocking him off his feet. The penguins would've gotten Tender Taps, had Button Mash not intervene, pulling the boy out of harm's way.

"Thanks Button," Tender Taps smiled, as Button could only give a thumbs up in response.

As the Knights and Bloodshot kept up the battle, it became apparent that they were going nowhere.

"Where are they all coming from?" Rumble groaned.

"There's too many of them!" Tender Taps replied, as he struggles to keep up his dance steps to dodge the penguins' attacks. "They just keep coming!"

"Any ideas?" Featherweight asked.

'Don't bother asking me,' Button grumbled mentally. 'I'm just being forced to keep my mouth shut.'

"We need a plan!" Pipsqueak said. "And that plan is we need Spike!"

Just then, several arrows came raining down into the room from above. The arrows exploded into mists, blinding the boys and the penguins. Before long, the sound of blows, and magic casts were heard. Once the mists cleared up, there stood Spike, with the girls.

"Hey guys!" Spike greeted his posse. "Didn't think you'd start this party without me, did ya?"

"Yo, Spike!" Rumble cheered, as he and the Knights ran over, and exchanged high-fives and fist bumps with their dragon friend.

Neira and the girls meanwhile took notice of Bloodshot, "THE BOUNTY HUNTER!!" Sunset exclaimed, as she and Ember both advanced on the meta human, who quickly picked up a nearby spear, and used it to keep the girls at bay. In retaliation, Sunset fired an explosive fireball that knocked Bloodshot back, while sustaining a few burns. Ember had her bow and arrows at the ready.

"Wait! Stop!" Rumble called, stopping the sapphire dragoness from firing. "We had a truce! He's not going to hurt us."

'Yet,' Button grumbled in his thoughts.

"Guess you're off the hook," Sunset began. "For now."

"No funny business, you got that? Meta human?" Ember glared venomously.

"Would it help to remind everyone that my powers are cut in half, thanks to these?" Bloodshot grumbled, referring to the ice shackles on his limbs.

"As much as I hate to say it," Neira began. "He's right," Neira's horns then glowed in a cobalt aura, as her magics began to take effect on the shackles. "But just for added measure, you're coming with us! I won't let you hurt my friends, until this is over."

Bloodshot looked at the alicorn, then at the heroes, seeing the bewildered expressions on their faces, "You're friends?" he asked, to which Neira responded by activating the shackles, causing some of the bloods in his veins to freeze up. "I mean, sure, okay. You're friends. I won't hurt any of you!"

Neira ceased her assault, "So, what now?" Featherweight asked.

"The Boots of Courage," Ember replied, holding out the Fucanglong Box. "And from the looks of things, they're close."

"I know the boots you speak of," Neira answered. "Follow me."




Outside of the palace

Fleur, Peewee, Pinkie Pie, Gabby, and the yaks, were all crouched behind some piles of snow.

"So, that's where it is," Fleur noted, looking over the ice palace's design. "I must say, those penguins really have a taste for decor."

"Yaks agree to disagree," Prince Rutherford noted. "YAKS CHARGE!!!" the Yak Prince bellowed, along with the rest of the yaks.

"WAIT!" Pinkie shouted. "We can't just charge in there!"

"Yaks can!" Rutherford replied. "Palace have no guards."

"So it would seem," MMDW said, as she acted together a snowball, and threw it towards the entrance.

The snowball landed in a soft puff of snow, which was enough to summon several penguin guards, all firing their ice arrows at the source of the sound.

"Penguins!" Rutherford growled. Before he and the yaks went to counting, "Only seven penguins! Yaks smash seven penguins easy!"

"Non!" Fleur replied. "Seven because the Mysterious Mare Do Well here tossed a snowball. If we attack the palace, we'll be overwhelmed by vast numbers of those things."

"Fine," Rutherford replied. "Then how do yaks and ponies get into palace?"

"Well....." Pinkie began. "I have an idea."

"Do we dare ask?" Fleur asked rhetorically, while Gabby looked eager to hear the plan.




Inside the Palace

Spike, the Knights, the girls, and Bloodshot, were once again sneaking through the palace, hiding from the guards, on their way to their next goal: the Boots of Courage.

"This way," Ember said, feeling the Fucanglong Box's pull, guiding the heroes down a hall, before they reached what appears to be an empty room.

"There's nothing here," Rumble said, as the heroes looked around.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Spike asked, turning to Neira.

"I'm sure of it!" Neira answered. "They must be around here, somewhere!"

Ember looked at the box, seeing it was still glowing, "She's telling the truth," Ember replied.

"Looking for these?" a voice asked, revealing to be King Charlatan, holding the said boots in wings. "Such determination of coming all the way out here, in the Frozen North, for a pair of shoes," Charlatan lets out a literal bone chilling cackle, "No matter. It pleases me to no end that you will all perish! So swears King Charlatan!" With that, Charlatan turned to a nearby lever, and pulled on it.

With that, the floor gave way, and the heroes, and Bloodshot, were all falling down a long tunnel, before they came out the other end, and found themselves in what appeared to be a huge hockey ring, surrounded by bars made of ice. The heroes looked, seeing there were opened windows, allowing some of Celestia's light in, to light up the room, and penguins sitting around the arena, clapping their wings together as King Charlatan appeared on a stand, along with a chained Prince Edgar, with the Windigoes at the young prince's side.

"Witness, my subjects!" King Charlatan bellowed. "For our enemies shall now meet their doom, at the jaws of the Akhlut!"

The penguins all let out some cheers, while throwing some fishes at the heroes, through the bars.

"Psst," Featherweight whispered to Bloodshot. "What's an Akhlut?"

"I think we're gonna find out!" Pipsqueak whimpered, pointing to some penguins guards, outside of the ring, turning a wheel, lifting a caged door up.

"No father!" Edgar shouted. "Stop! Don't do this!"

"SILENCE!!" Charlatan shouted to his son.

The heroes watched, as the door was fully lifted, followed by a loud bloodcurdling roar. Before long, something came out of the cave, in the form of a tall black fin, cutting through the ice floors, as it circles around the heroes. As the creature did that, the floor suddenly became unstable, and they nearly fell down. It didn't take long for them to realize, they were floating on water. Soon, the fin disappeared beneath the icy surface, and without warning, a huge orca came flying out, and landed on one of the ice tiles, engulfed in a mist of snow, before its appearance changed into a huge black wolf, with white underside, and streaks of white from its piercing red eyes, while still retaining its tall dorsal fin and fluke tail.

"Yikes!" Featherweight whimpered. "If I'm not mistaken, that's an Akhlut..."

"What gave it away?" Bloodshot asked rhetorically.

The Akhlut snarled viciously, showing its fangs, and licking its drooling chops, "And it thinks we're lunch!" Pipsqueak screamed.

"Not unless I have anything to say about it!" Spike said, as he gets into a fighting stance, shapeshifting into his dragon form as he did so.

"Oh yeah!" Button cheered. "It's on like Donkey Kong!!!"

Bloodshot turned to the nerd boy, annoyed, "What did I say about you talking?"

"You didn't say anything about me cheering for my pal," Button replied, with a smug grin, much to Bloodshot's annoyance.

-Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze OST - Bushmaster [World 5 Boss]-

The Akhlut came charging at Spike, and tackled him to the ground, only for Spike to thrust his legs into the wolf-like creature's underside and forced it off. Spike rolled onto his arms and legs, as he lets out a burst of green fire at the Akhlut, who quickly jumped to the side, leaping from ice tiles to ice tiles, before it rammed its head into Spike's side, knocking the purple dragon into the water. The Akhlut soon followed, as it leapt after the dragon, taking on the form of an orca as it did so. With a flap of its powerful fluke tail, the Akhlut propelled itself after Spike, who didn't hesitate to twist and turns his whole body, making a speedy swim away from the literal killer whale.

Unfortunately, the Akhlut was able to catch up, and it kept on swimming, snapping its jaws, trying in vain to catch Spike, who kept on swimming and twisting his whole body, avoiding the creature's huge snapping maws. The Akhlut let out a piercing wail that briefly stunned Spike, allowing it to clamp its jaws on the dragon's abdomen.

"AAAAAAAAHHH!!" Spike screamed in pain, as he flailed his claws, punching, and scratching the demonic whale's face, forcing it to release its grip on him.

Once freed, Spike quickly kicked his legs, making a beeline for the surface. Both he and the beast burst out of the water and back onto the ice surface, where they resumed their fight. The Akhlut, in wolf form, pounced after Spike, who quickly turned into a dog, rolling beneath the wolf creature and snapped his jaws on its tail. With a yowl of pain, the great dog ran circles as it tries to grab ahold of the little dog, who sprouted dragon wings and took flight, before scaling around the bars. Determined to catch his prey, the Akhlut dived into the water, before it flew out of the water at a tremendous height, in orca form, and rammed its huge head at the bars, causing them to shake slightly, almost forcing Spike off.

The Akhlut was about to fly again, when Ember shot another of her arrows at the beast, exploding upon impact, knocking it off course, and back onto one of the ice floats. The beast reverted to wolf form, snarling and glaring at the dragoness angrily.

"Ooh!" Button groaned. "Now it's really mad!"

With another bloodcurdling scream, the Akhlut dived beneath the ice floats, dodging arrows fired at it, before it burst out of the water, almost snapping up Ember from under, had Neira not formed a long ice bar in time and wedged in between the whale's teeth, allowing the dragoness to fly away in time. The huge whale dropped back down into the water, but not before it landed on the ice float that the Knights, Sunset, and Bloodshot were standing on.

"AAAAAAH!!!!" Button screamed, ready for the cold water he was going to impact with, only for Neira to use her power over ice to form a large boat, made of ice, for the Knights and Bloodshot to land in, though Button was still screaming, as he was holding Bloodshot close.

"SHUT UP ALREADY!!" Bloodshot growled in irritation, dropping Button on deck.

Button was about to say something, when the Akhlut came out of the water, trying to climb in as a wolf, "AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Button screamed, before out of impulse, he got out his minecraft pickaxe and repeatedly whacked the beast on the head. "BACK!! BACK!! Return to the icy watery depth from whence ye came!" Growing irritated, the Akhlut chomped its jaws on Button's pickaxe, "AAAAAH!!! PIP!!" Button screamed, as he jumps into Pipsqueak's arms. "Save me, Pip! Please! Don't let him get me, Pip! Don't let him get me!"

The Akhlut was about to lunge after the Knights, only for Bloodshot to grab it by the tail, as he spins it around and tossed it away, breaking through the bars, nearly crushing on some of the penguins.

"Whoa," Featherweight breathed, as he and the Knights looked at the meta human, astonished. "You saved our lives!"

"Only so your nerd friend would shut up," Bloodshot grumbled, as both he and Button shot death glares to each other.

The Akhlut got up, angrier than ever, let out another bloodcurdling scream. The beast was about to charge back into the fray again, before it noticed Spike, in dog form, making his way towards King Charlatan and the Windigoes. With that, the creature kicked off the ground, flying at a tremendous height towards Spike.

"SPIKE! LOOK OUT!!" Neira shouted.

Spike heard and smelled the Akhlut coming, and quickly rolled to the side, before he kicked off the ground and clamped his jaws around the wolfish beast's neck. The two dogs soon rolled around, trying to get on top of one another, until finally, the Akhlut had Spike pinned down, ready to deliver a death blow, only to be interrupted by the sound of ice being chipped away. The heroes, Bloodshot, and penguins looked to see a crack forming in a wall.

The wall broken down, to reveal Pinkie Pie standing, "Hi everybody!" Pinkie chirped. "Did I miss the butt whoop?"

"Nope, you're just in time for it," Spike and friends replied.

On cue, the whole wall came crashing down, to reveal a whole army of yaks, plus Fleur, Gabby, and Peewee perching on Fleur's shoulder.

"YAKS!! CHARGE!!" Prince Rutherford shouted.

With that, the yaks, plus Pinkie Pie, Fleur, and Gabby, all charged in, storming the fortress.

"STOP THEM!!!!" King Charlatan ordered, as a whole flock of penguin guards flooded into the room.

"Looks like the cavalry is here!" Rumble exclaimed.

With a screech, Peewee took flight, before dive bombing and knocked the Akhlut off of Spike.

The Akhlut was about to charge after Spike again, only for Bloodshot, Sunset, and the Knights to climb their way out of the ring, as they held the beast off at bay.

Spike was about to jump in to help, "Spike, no!" Sunset called. "We'll take care of this thing! You, Ember, and Neira take King Charlatan!"

With a nod, Spike complied, as he dragons up, and went to aid the said girls in their confrontation to the penguin king.

"Stay back!" Charlatan ordered, blasting beams of ice from his eyes.

"Not a chance, King!" Spike replied, avoiding the blast, as he conjured a fire shuriken and hurled it at the mad king.

Thinking fast, Charlatan stomped his foot on the ground, conjuring an ice wall, shielding himself from the dragon's attack.
In retaliation, Charlatan breathed a col mist in his wings, forming a long trident made of ice. With his majestic weapon in wings, Charlatan gave it a spin, blocking and counterattacking every attacks made on him, by the heroes. Even with his fire projected weapons in claws, Spike wasn't having much luck landing a blow on the king, who was able to jump in the air, as the dragon did a sweep kick, before the king himself did a flying sidekick, which Spike managed to avoid as he tilted his head back, before he did a backflip, giving him some distance from the penguin king, as Ember took over.

Meanwhile, Neira went to work on freeing Edgar from his restraints, only to be blocked by the Windigoes, "What's the meaning of this?" Neira asked in outrage. "Release him at once!" The Windigoes however, refused to budge, "Did you hear what I said? Release Edgar at once!"

"We're done taking orders from you, halfbreed!" the lead Windigo replied. "We've got a new master now. One much worthy to be our king!"

"Blizzard!" Gwyneira exclaimed angrily. "You dared to betray me?!"

"I'm not the traitor!" the windigo neighed angrily. "You are! You're no Windigo Queen! You're a traitor to your kind, just like your father before he died."

"He had grown so fond of you and your mother," another added. "It was right then and there that we knew he had grown soft, which is the moment he let a certain feeling, that is poison to all Windigoes, into his heart....love. Love was what made him weak, and a weak ruler isn't fit to rule, so we got rid of him!"

"YOU KILLED MY FATHER?!!" Neira screamed in outrage.

"Once he was out of the way, our next target was you!" Blizzard explained. "But for many moons, we haven't been able to find you, until we could sense your anguish and loneliness, after you were banished by the ungrateful ponies you've once protected from the Cerulean Hunters," Neira's eyes were widened with shock, as Blizzard continued, "What a pity, really. I had hoped we would find you, and kill you before your mother's eyes, just to savor the look of horror on that mortal's face. Nevertheless, your banishment was what killed her."

"No...." Neira fell to her knees, as she cried little pearls form her eyes. "Mom...."

"Yes," Blizzard sneered. "Heartbreaking, isn't it? Another example of a fallibility from a halfbreed, such as yourself. We Windigoes are elementals of the ice and storm! We feed off hatred, and we are literally cold hearted, contrary to the warm hearted ponies on your mother's side! So soft, and vulnerable," Blizzard scowled, as he continues. "We would've killed you years ago, had it not been for King Charlatan!"

"The old penguin sorcerer of ice!" another Windigo began. "He was our closest ally! His hatred for the ponies, yaks, and dragons was unlike we've ever felt before! We considered making him our new leader, until he found you! The king was taken by surprised at the powers you were given by your father! And despite that fact you were the daughter of a mortal pony, he still took you in, saying you would be of some potential use in his plan for complete domination across Equestria, and beyond! But apparently, his hatred started to melt away, from the love you and Prince Edgar had infected him!"

"Love isn't poison, y'know!" Edgar barked. "It's not our fault that you guys are too cold hearted to know what love is like!"

"And we intend on keeping it that way!" Blizzard snarled. "Before his hatred disappeared completely, we were quick enough to freeze it in time, and destroyed any hint of love that was left! Now all that's left is to get rid of you!"

With that, Blizzard lunged after Neira, landing a punch to her cheek, as the others soon followed, landing several blows all around her, while the alicorn blasted several magic beams at her attackers.

"You won't get away with this!" Neira snarled, as she conjured up some pony guards, made of ice, to defend her.

"Remember, young queen," Blizzard replied. "Charlatan has taught you everything you knew. But not everything we know!" To make his point, the Windigoes all let out a strong gust of winds that broke Neira's armies of ice warriors to pieces.

Neira then morphed into her anthro form, clad in plates of armors made of ice, on her head, chest, arms, and legs, while holding a huge ice shield in her left hand, while holding an double blade weapon in the other hand. Neira took flight, as she spins her bladed weapon, slicing at the Windigoes, hurting them slightly, while using her shield to block their attacks.

One of the Windigoes conjured some sharp pointed icicles, before he pointed his hoof in Neira's direction, directing the icicles to rain down on the alicorn, who hid herself behind her shield. Another Windigo lunged in for the attack from the other side, only for Neira to parry him with her weapon.

During the fight between Neira and the Windigoes, Spike took notice.

Neira struggled to defend herself, when Blizzard flew in, breathing a strong gust of ice, knocking Neira out of the sky.

"Foolish queen," Blizzard sneered. "We've lived ten thousands of years! We are as old as the sun and the moon! We are the masters of the ice and wind! We are the creators of the Frozen North! We are the Frozen North! Everything that is cold, was all rightfully ours!" Blizzard ranted, as he continues to deliver blows on Neira, shattering her armor, while blocking some of her attacks. "To hate us is to give us breath! To fight us is to give us strength! Prepare to join your late parents!" With that, Blizzard let out a strong blast of magic, that Neira tried to block with her shield, but was met with failure, as she was knocked off her feet, and reverted back to her true form, weakened, "You're finished!" Blizzard said, preparing to deliver the final blow.

"Not so fast, Windbag!" Spike shouted, as he got in between, shielding Neira from the blow. "You're gonna have to go through me first!"

"With pleasure," Blizzard sneered.

With a loud war cry, Blizzard flew at Spike, firing an icicle at the last minute, only for Spike to catch the projectile, spinning in a tornado as he hurled it back at the spirit, striking him in the face. Disoriented, Blizzard shook his head, before he was met with a flying kick to the head. Angered, Blizzard flew after Spike, shooting a blast of ice magic, which Spike sliced through with a fire katana in claw, before the dragon fired an explosive green fireball at the Windigo. The others surrounded Spike, trying to overwhelm him, but Spike concentrated in his magic, changing himself into a dog, slipping through their cold hard grips, before changes back into a dragon, and exhaled another burst of fire.

"FREEZE HIM!!" Blizzard ordered, trying to catch the dragon.

Neira watched in awe, at Spike's bravery, as he fought hard against Blizzard, and the Windigoes, "He's defending me," she gasped.

"That's Spike, for you!" Pinkie beamed, jumpscaring the injured alicorn, resulting Neira to quickly pat her chest repeatedly. "You must be Neira! I'm Pinkie Pie! Pleased to meet you!"

"Uh...charmed," Neira replied hesitantly, before she was helped up by Fleur and Gabby.

"C'mon, on your feet now, darling," Fleur insisted. "There we go. Let's get you out of here."

"Wait!" Neira began. "Get Edgar!" the wounded alicorn insisted, pointing to the penguin prince held captive.




Meanwhile with the Knights, Bloodshot, and Sunset

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!" Button screamed, with the Akhlut chasing after him, Rumble, Featherweight, and Tender Taps, while Pip was riding on its back. "I thought you said you were gonna hold him!" Button said to Pipsqueak.

"I am holding him!" Pipsqueak replied, holding onto the beast's dorsal fin.

The wolf-like beast continues to chase the four boys, out in the courtyard, through a clashing group of the penguins and yaks, "Look! I'm not a fan of Sea World either, so don't eat me!" The Akhlut continued snapping its jaws at Button. "Can't I help it if I'm a Gryffindor?!"

"What makes you think he cares if you're a Gryffindor?" Rumble asked. "You're not even a wizard!"

"Killer whales hate Gryffindors, because of Dumbledore once!" Button replied. "That, and I took a Hogwarts House Test online once."

"Stop being a nerd and just keep beating your feet!" Tender Taps replied, as the heroes kept running for dear life, away from the Akhlut.

It wasn't long, before some yaks got in between the Knights and the Akhlut.

"Yaks, charge!!" one of the yaks bellowed, as they all rammed their heads together, with the Akhlut and Pipsqueak caught in between. Pipsqueak was able to jump off in time, as he landed on one of the yaks, while the Akhlut leapt over the yaks, and disappeared among the battle.

Suddenly, something shiny caught Pip's attention. Turning in the direction, Pip noticed a bit of the Helmet of Wisdom, poking out of a chest.

"The pieces!" Pipsqueak exclaimed, as he got off the yak and went running through the battle, avoiding some fallen yaks, and more ice arrows flying, until he finally reached the chest, opening it to see the Helmet of Wisdom, and the Sword of Honor. "Hey guys!" Pipsqueak called. "Look! I've found the pieces!"

"Alright!" Rumble called. "C'mon men! Let's go!" With that, the Knights followed the athletic boy's lead, as they rendezvous with Pipsqueak, only to be stopped by the Akhlut, who let out another bloodcurdling roar, as it barred their way.

"AAAAAAHHH!!" Button screamed, as he jumps into Tender Tap's arms.

The Akhlut kicked off, about to pounce on the Knights, when an explosive fireball came from the side, and struck the beast, exploding upon impact. The beast was sent rolling on its sides, before it got up, only to be held down by Bloodshot, the meta human clamping its jaws shut.

"Don't just stand there!" Bloodshot growled. "Get going, before your nerd friend starts screaming again!"

The Knights, even Button, hesitantly saluted to Bloodshot, before they followed Sunset Shimmer, back into the fight.




Back with Spike

Blizzard was roaring angrily as he chases after Spike, who was skating around the ice palace with ease, before the boy transformed into a dog, as he jumped on some pillars, then to the next, before he launched back at the angry winter spirit, shapeshifting into a dragon at the last second, and landed a flying kick to his face. Shaking the blow off, Blizzard and his comrades angrily resume their chase after the dragon.

"FREEZE AT ONCE!!" Blizzard snarled, blasting a beam of ice.

"You'll have to catch me first!" Spike replied, before he lets out a mocking laugh. "Come on, step it up!" Spike skated around the palace, magically changing between a dog, a dragon, and as a human, while aiding his friends, and their yak allies, in their fights against the penguins, and their ice warriors.

"How can you fight so well against us?!" Blizzard hissed impatiently.

"Well, like you said," Spike began. "You're spirits who feed off of hatred. The more hate, the stronger you are. But if I stay positive, and think of only my friends, and family, then all you can feel from me, is love! No hatred, no powers for you! Friendship is magic!" Spike smirked proudly of himself, before the Windigoes and penguins surround him, as Blizzard advanced upon him.

"Still won't save you!" Blizzard snarled.

"Maybe not, but I will!" a voice called, revealing it to be Neira who shot a blast of ice, forcing Blizzard away. The alicorn ran over to the Dragon Prince, "I'm sorry, Dragon Prince. I never meant for this to happen!"

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Neira," Spike replied.

"But I should've keep those traitors in line," Neira scowled as she and Spike looked to see Blizzard getting up. "Now I'm going avenge my father with literal cold stone justice!"

"Don't suppose you've got room for one more?" Ember asked, as she joined the two.

With that, the vengeful alicorn flapped her wings, as she took flight, firing powerful blasts of magic at the traitors, with the two dragons at her side.

Meanwhile, Prince Edgar was trying to talk some sense in his father.

"Father!" Edgar pleaded. "I feel the good in you! Fight the evil that controls you, and stop this madness!"

King Charlatan, however, blasted beams of ice at the young prince, who blocked it with a nearby shield, "Edgar, you disappoint me!" Charlatan growled, as he held up his trident and jabbed it at the young penguin, forcing him away.

"No more than you have disappointed me!" Edgar groaned.

"It's my duty!" Charlatan growled, as he continues his attacks. "Our destiny! The world will know the full strength of ice, as we penguins conquer everything like a raging blizzard!"

"But why father? Why the world? Why couldn't we just be happy with what we already have? Up here? In the North? Why do you want to wage war with all the little ponies, and magical creatures?"

"Why not?"

"Because I know that isn't you!" Edgar's words struck Charlatan like arrows, as the king suddenly ceased his attacks. "Father, this isn't you! You've always wanted to show the world our greatness. And you wanted to show the beauty of ice, but you couldn't, because of them!" Edgar stated, pointing to the Windigoes. "The ponies were terrified of snow and ice, because of the Windigoes. But that never stopped you from trying to show the ponies that there is good with ice. That's why you took Neira in to live with us, because you had hoped that she would show how beautiful ice can be, just as you were once inspired by a blind filly who saw the good in winter once."

At that point, King Charlatan began to look trouble, as he lowered his trident, "What's got into me?" the penguin king asked.

"Search your feelings, father!" Edgar replied. "I can feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate!" Edgar held his wing out, offering for his father to join. "It's time to start anew, as father and son."

King Charlatan looked at Edgar's wing, as something warm was lit inside of him, along with his eyes that suddenly began to lose their cold aura.

Just then, the Knights and Sunset arrived at the scene, when suddenly, Sunset Shimmer yelped in pain, "AAAAAAAAH!" The heroes, the yaks, Windigoes, and penguins ceased their fights, as they turned to see Sunset Shimmer, on her knees, while clutching her right wrist, the Shadowbolts' mark burning her skin.

"Sunset?!" Spike said, as he ran to the girl's side. "What's wrong?"

"It's Sunburn!" Sunset hissed. "She's here!"

"WHAT?!" the friends exclaimed.

Speaking of whom, a ball of fire broke through the roof, melting part of the ice palace on the way. The fireball landed in the middle of what's left of the ring, before the flames dispersed to reveal the said demon girl.

"Konnichiwa, Sunset Shimmer," Sunburn smirked. "We meet again."

"Sunburn!" Sunset hissed. "How did you find us?"

"Have you forgotten?" Sunburn began. "I am you! I can feel everything you feel! Especially the sickening feeling of love you had for the Dragon Prince," Sunburn said the last part with disgust. "The tender moment you had that drew me here!"

"Wait, Sunset did what?!" Pinkie exclaimed, as she, Fleur, and Gabby looked at the fiery girl, who blushed a shade of red.

"Okay, alright then," Spike began. "You've found us. So what are you going to do now?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Sunburn began. "I'm here for the Boots of Courage I noticed, together with the rest of the Armor Pieces you've collected already," Sunburn smirked, as she continues, "With all of yours, plus the one we already have. That'll bring us a total of four pieces, which will leave merely two more left for the taking!" Sunburn grinned even more menacingly as she continued, "And while I'm at it. I'll have the pleasure of taking you, Dragon Prince! Princess Nightmare Moon's been very anxious to see you again!"

"WHAT?!" Spike exclaimed. "Nightmare Moon is.....alive?!" The rest of the friends all gasped in a mix of shock and horror at the revelation.

"Indeed she is!" Sunburn laughed. "And trust me, she's dying to meet you again. Prepare to meet your maker!"

With that, Sunburn flapped her wings, as she charged after Spike, nails sharpened, and fireballs in hands.

-Killer Instinct 2013 OST - Shatterhail-

Snapping out of his shock, Spike quickly conjured his fire katanas, as he blocked Sunburn's attacks, being forced back a few miles away. Summoning all his strength, Spike forced Sunburn away, together with a kick to her face. The demon girl fixed her jaw a bit, before she resumes her assault, slashing her claws furiously. Spike dodged the claws side to side, while blocking a few, while receiving a few scratches now and then.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" Sunburn asked rhetorically.

"Not as much as this will hurt you!" Spike said, as he took flight, throws a fire shuriken, which Sunburn blocked with a fireball, resulting in an explosion.

Spike then appeared from the smokes, "Missed me? Hot stuff?" He flirted, before he thrusted his legs out in a flying kick, which Sunburn was able to avoid, as she flipped away to safety.

"I liked ya better when you're Midnight Dragon!" Sunburn said.

"I'll bet you say that to all dragons," Spike replied.

Spike flapped his wings, taking flight again, spewing green fireballs at Sunburn, who blocked them with her wings, and her claws. Looking up, Sunburn noticed some icicles hanging over Spike. Getting an idea, the demon girl blasted some fireballs at the icicles, causing them to fall on Spike, who was able to avoid them, before he suddenly finds himself in a makeshift cage. Next thing he knew, some snows fell on him, while giving him the appearance of a rhinoceros. Sunburn couldn't help but laugh in amusement at Spike, before he broke free. Sunburn took the chance to retaliate. The demonic girl slashed her claws at Spike, coupled with a few fireballs, both which Spike blocked with his fire katanas. Sunburn then sprawled her body on the floor, thrusting her legs out, which Spike was able to jump out of the way, before he balanced himself on his tail. Sunburn then kicks off with her hands, into a flying kicking, only for Spike to catch her legs in time, before he started to spin her with his legs, and kicked her away into some blocks of ice.

"Ooh, baby!" Spike whooped. "It's good to be me!......I've been hanging with Rainbow Dash waaaaaay too much," he muttered at the last part.

Further infuriated, Sunburn made another lunged after Spike, only for Sunset to interfere, projecting a magic shield as she did so.

"Sunburn!" Sunset began. "Your fight is with me!"

"Get out of the way, Sunset!" Sunburn snarled.

"You don't have a choice!" Sunset replied. "You want Spike? You'll have to go through me first!"

"You're in my way," With that, Sunburn projected some light spears in her hands, which she hurled at Sunset, breaking through the fiery unicorn's shield, and grazing her shoulder in the process.

"Sunset!" Spike shouted, starting to run over to the girl's side.

"No, Spike!" Sunset replied. "I'll be fine!" With that, Sunset dodged another light spear, turning in a streams of red smokes, as she flew away.

"Not for long!" Sunburn snarled, as she chases after the smoke.

As the battle between Sunset and Sunburn continues to play through, the Windigoes couldn't help but feel a strong sense of hatred, from Sunburn.

"Amazing," Blizzard mused. "In all my years of feasting hatred, never had I ever had the pleasure of coming across such hatred. It's enough to keep us going for thousands of years to come!" With an evil grin, Blizzard turns to the rest of his brethren, "Come brothers! This is our moment! We'll feast on this girl, and use her powers for our coup d'etat!"

With that, the Windigoes all lunged in, surrounding Sunburn, as they begin their feasting, drawing angers from Sunset's demonic counterpart, through their mouths.

"Yes!" Blizzard began. "The power! The absolute power! ALL OURS FOR THE TAKING!" the Windigoes all hollered in agreement, as they continued their feasting on the girl, icicles forming on her in the process.

"Did you really take me for some kind of meal?" Sunburn asked, as she turns to the Windigoes, catching them by surprise. "If you did, then you are quite mistaken!" Sunburn replied, as the ice forming on her body suddenly turned blood red.

-Dragonfable - The Ultimate Orb OST by Ghost and Artix Entertainment-

Before long, the Windigoes themselves began to feel themselves being pulled towards the girl.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!" Blizzard cried, as he and his comrades were sucked into Sunburn. "We are Windigoes! We are Windigoes! WE ARE-" Blizzard was forever silenced, once he was completely sucked.

With that, Sunburn was engulfed inside an icy red crystal. Before long, cracks began to form in the demon's cocoon, before she revealed her newfound transformation.

In appearance, Sunburn looked to be a demonic alicorn with the same build of Celestia, only a bit taller. Her body was coated in jet black fur, one of her wings was covered in red icicles, while the other one was coated in blue fiery plumage.  Too further the ferocity of her appearance, Sunburn's eyes were turned jet black, with penetrating fiery pupils, slit iris, emitting red smoky trails, blue flaming mane and tail, and her hooves, head, chest, and flanks were coated in armor plates, made of red jaded ice crystals, with spike protruding.

"So, this is what it feels to have such hatred," Sunburn sneered, in a dark ominous tone, coupled with the sound of hissing.

"And I thought she was scary before," Button whimpered.

"For once, I agree with you, Button," Rumble agreed, as the Knights soon followed in agreement.

Turning her attention back at the heroes, Sunburn grinned deviously, "Now this is going to be fun."

-Killer Instinct 2013 OST - Shatterhail-

With a blazing red glow of her horn, Sunburn conjured several red icicles as she fired them at the heroes, yaks, and penguins.

"What's going on here?" Bloodshot called, arriving through the door. "What's happening?"

"Well, well, well, Bloodshot," Sunburn smirked. "Having trouble catching your prey?" Bloodshot scowled in response, "What a pity really....You had an excellent resume as a bounty hunter for hire."

"I'll have you know, I had the Dragon Prince right where I wanted him," Bloodshot replied. "If it hadn't been for some interruptions."

"Well then, what are you waiting for?" Sunburn asked. "Here's your chance! Catch him!" However, after some times have passed, nothing happened, "Bloodshot?! Didn't you hear what I said? I said catch him! NOW!!!!!"

"I heard you!" Bloodshot shouted. "I'm not deaf, you know. And I do not. Take. Orders!" He said the last part, with emphasis.

"You dared to disobey me?" Sunburn snarled, ready to blow her top.

"Well, I'm only a mercenary for hire," Bloodshot replied. "Meaning I'm nobody's butler!"

"You insolent, meta human fool!" Sunburn growled, her mane and tail blazing intensively. "YOU DARED TO OPPOSE ME?! Such feat. is considered an act of treason to Nightmare Moon herself! DO AS YOU ARE ORDERED, OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!!"

"Big talk, hothead," Bloodshot replied, crossing his arms together.

That did it, as Sunburn was finally at her limits, "Then consider yourself, FIRED!!!" Sunburn roared, breathing a burst of blue fire at Bloodshot, who quickly jumped out of the way, and started running away, "You worthless, coward!" Sunburn snarled.

Bloodshot stopped in his track, as he eyed the demonic alicorn, shooting daggers, "DON'T CALL ME COWARD!!" Bloodshot shouted angrily.

"Then prove it!" Sunburn replied.

Bloodshot looked around and saw a littered bow and arrow. Making a quick lunge for it, Bloodshot rolled to the side, before he stood up, and fired an ice arrow in Sunburn's way, who quickly caught it in a blue aura that was warm to the touch, causing it to melt.

"Is that the best you can do?" Sunburn asked.

With a frustrated growl, Bloodshot picked up some more arrows, as he fired them all at Sunburn, along with some other structures around. Bloodshot had shot a chandelier from its ceiling, and the ornament fell down on Sunburn, who quickly disappeared in a flash of fire, before reappearing behind Bloodshot, and bucked him across the room. In another flash of fire, Sunburn reappeared where Bloodshot was going to land, and bucked him again. Sunburn then fired several fireballs in his way, before she reappeared before Bloodshot, and bucked him, repeatedly into the fireballs, before she tackled him, driving him into the snows outside of the palace, and into the mountainsides. Bloodshot finally snapped back to reality, as he kicks Sunburn off, and with the bloods running out from one of the cuts he received, he formed a knife, as he made a lunge towards Sunburn, who caught him, telekinetically, before she hurled him away. With a wave of her ice wings, Sunburn fired several red icicles at Bloodshot, who quickly used his knife to cut the icicles away, while using a stray shield he found to protect himself from the other icicles that were protruding from the ground.

The yaks and penguins quickly cleared way, avoiding the icicles. Bloodshot was fighting off the icicles, until one of them stabbed him in the arm, before more started to pin him to the wall.

"You're finished!" Sunburn snarled, driving a spear of light into the man.

Bloodshot let out a scream of agony, as he fell to the ground, still.

"Whoa!" Spike said in awe. "We've had a lot of trouble driving Bloodshot off."

"And Windigo powered Sunburn just took him out in 4.5 seconds," Featherweight stated in equal shock.

"Good," Ember said. "That makes it one less enemy to worry about, after this is over."

"Wow, how optimistic you are," Spike replied sarcastically.

Sunburn was laughing in triumphant, "Impressive, aren't I?" she asked. "If I can stand up to a puny meta human like Bloodshot with only the power of the Windigoes, then imagine what my powers will be, when I have the Dragonfire as well."

"Fat chance!" Spike said, as he took a fighting stance. "It's never gonna happen!"

"That's right!" Pinkie said, as she got in front of Spike. "You want Spike? You'll have to go through me first!"

"No!" Sunset said, as she got in front of Pinkie Pie. "This is my fight. Sunburn's born from my powers. Meaning I'm the one who should stop her!"

Pinkie frowned as she looked at Sunset sadly, "But she was born from your powers, because we drove you away! I drove you away! She's my fault, so I'm the one who should stop her!"

"You don't stand a chance!" Sunset argued. "She's my dark half. She has knowledge over the dark arts. She has all my spells. And no pony knows them, but me!"

"But-" Pinkie was interrupted when Sunburn laughed maniacally.

"Go on, Sunset," Sunburn began. "Let her try and fight me. It'll be sweet revenge on a dish best served cold! She had it coming, years ago!"

Pinkie frowned, "Not a chance!" Sunset shouted, catching both Sunburn and Pinkie by surprise. "You're mine!"

"Why do you bother defending her?" Sunburn asked. "She and all those mares who you've called friends didn't believed you, when you denied being a 'secret stealer!' Why prolong the agony? Why don't you just get rid of her, and save yourself the pain of the past?!"

"That's the thing," Sunset replied. "It's all in the past. The past is not today! What matters is how we want to move forward."

The rest of the heroes smiled at Sunset's words of wisdom, while Ember, Neira, and King Charlatan were taken by surprise, as they began to ponder on what Sunset said.

"YOU'RE A FOOL!!" Sunburn growled, firing a ball of fire at Sunset, who quickly shielded herself.

-A New Era Begins by MagpiePony-

"Do you really want to go through this?" Sunset asked.

"Enough talk!" Sunburn replied, flaring her wings out. "Time for you to see the full wrath of HATE!!"

With that, Sunburn flew at a burst of speed, as she tackled Sunset, out of the palace and into the Frozen North. Sunset fired several balls of fires at Sunburn, who managed to block them all with an ice shield she had conjured. Sunburn then retaliated with an ice spear she thrusted towards Sunset, who rolled out of the way, before she became a red smoke, and surrounded Sunburn. The mad alicorn, however, knew what Sunset was planning to do, as she burst into flame, dispersing the smokes, as they regrouped into Sunset. Sunburn flapped her wings, as her horn formed into a long ice katana-like blade. The alicorn flew towards Sunset, who quickly formed a fire katana with her horn, and clashed with her demonic counterpart's magic blade. 

"You might know everything I'm going to do! But that's not going to help you, since I know everything you're going to do!" Sunset ranted. "Strange isn't it?" With a frustrated growl, the two ponies took flight, as they continued their fight, before Sunburn kicked Sunset away.

"Even with our mastery of mind reading and mind block," Sunburn began. "You still won't stand a chance against my powers of hate, fire, and ice!"

With that, Sunburn lunged in for the kill, only for Spike and Neira to intervene, both holding the alicorn at bay with their magic projected weapons.

"Then it's a good thing she's got friends, looking out for her!" Spike smirked, as he and Neira both threw their combined assaults on Sunburn, driving the alicorn back.

-Killer Instinct 2013 OST - Shatterhail-

Sunset couldn't help but smile in admiration at Spike, as she was helped up.

"He's quite something, isn't he?" Sunset smiled.

"Indeed," Neira replied. 'Is this how it feels to have your heart melt, or something?' she thought with a blush.

The two girls snapped out of their love trance, as they rejoined with Spike, in their fight against Sunburn.

Neira projected a bow and an arrow, as she morphs into her anthro form, and fired several ice arrows at Sunburn, who melted them with a fire wall she conjured from her mane and tail, creating a bit of mists, providing Spike some covers as he suddenly flew into Sunburn's face, slashing his fire katana's at her face. Hissing in pain, Sunburn retaliated as she fired more ice blades from her wing, horn, and hooves, coupled with streams of fires from her other wing, mouth, mane, and tail.

'Don't fail me now,' Spike said, concentrating in his thoughts, before his eyes glowed blazing green. "Boosted dragon!!" Spike roared, as he lets a stream of green fire that clashed together with Sunburn's, and holding her icicles at bay.

"What trick is this?" Sunburn asked, bewildered.

"What the," Neira began, equally bewildered. "Is that the legendary Passion Boost?"

"You mean the magic technique developed by Starswirls himself?" Sunset asked. "The one and only. Doubles a magic caster's power levels with each ten seconds, or so, depending on how strong their passion is."

"Fascinating," Neira smiled, further admired by Spike's prowess.

Spike's fire breath finally broke through, as it struck Sunburn. Further enraged, Sunburn prepared to fire some more magical offense, only to be struck by ice arrows from Neira, along with several light spears form Sunset Shimmer. Sunburn thrusted her wings out, shielding herself from the attacks on both sides, from both Neira and Sunset. Just then, Spike pounced from above, catching Sunburn by surprised, as he forced her to the ground. Sunburn twisted herself free, punching Spike in the face, before she got on top of him, and proceeded to choke the life out of him.

"Get OFF!!" Neira screamed, converting her bow into a scythe, slashing it at Sunburn, forcing the alicorn off.

As the four continued on with their fight, little did they know, sparks of flames from their fight were scattered all over the Frozen North. The ice and snows on the mountains around them were beginning to melt.

"The Frozen North!" Charlatan began worryingly. "It's melting!"

"So what?" Ember asked. "They're just puddles of waters now. What's the worst thing that could happen?"

"Much worse than you could possibly imagine, ex-Dragon Lord," Edgar replied. "If they keep fighting like this, they'll melt the whole Frozen North, and it'll raise the water level to a tremendous level! It's going to flood the whole world! The start of many great floods, and very end of all magical creatures, as we know it!"

"He's right, you know," Button replied. "I saw this in a comic once."

Ignoring the last statement by Button Mash, the heroes looked back, worried for their friends. Fleur, most of all, "Oh no," she whispered. "Spike! Stop fighting!"

"What?!" Spike replied, having heard Fleur. "Why?"

"If you guys keep fighting, you're gonna melt the whole place!" Ember replied, just as the palace started to came down on them. "You're gonna flood the whole world!"

Upon hearing the last part, Spike, Neira, and Sunset both ceased their fight, looking to see more waters running from their fight.

"I've got fix this!" Neira said, as she began to restore the waters back into ice.

However, the ice alicorn was interrupted, when Sunburn grabbed her by the tail, "We're not done yet!" Sunburn growled, as she pulled Neira back into the fight.

"We've got to stop fighting!" Spike said.

"Try telling her that!" Sunset said, pointing to how intent Sunburn was to keep fighting.

"We have to do something!" Gabby said worryingly. "We can't let our whole world be flooded!"

"But what can we do?" Button asked. "We've got an angry alicorn, powered up with hatred, fire, and ice. Spike is up there, fighting her to a stand, with Sunset, and Neira. And not even they can put her down!"

"And even if they can, it'll be too late!" Featherweight added.

Pipsqueak and Pinkie Pie looked around, before they found something, "Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Pinkie?" Pipsqueak asked.

"Sure Pip!" Pinkie chirped. "But how are we going to get jet skis for every pony in ten seconds flat?" Pipsqueak had a dead pan look on his face, as he stared Pinkie, unamused.

Back with the fight, Sunburn had Neira pinned down, "Time for you to join your late parents, your majesty!" Sunburn snarled, preparing to breath fire on the alicorn, when suddenly, a loud screech was heard, and she was scratched from behind, the neck.

Sunburn looked back to see Peewee, flapping away, before he came back in another dive towards her, pecking and clawing at her face.

"Get off of me!" Sunburn snarled, as she swatted the phoenix away.

CHOMP

"OW!" Sunburn looked at her flank, to see Spike, as a dog, clamping his jaws on her. With that, Sunburn started chasing Spike, trying to grab ahold of him, as he still kept his jaws clamped on her. Finally, Sunburn blasted some icicles on Spike, who quickly released his grip, dropping out of harms way, resulting in Sunburn accidentally hitting herself.

The mad alicorn screamed at the agony of getting hit with her own attack, as well as the humiliation of being tricked by the Dragon Prince, "Blech!" Spike spat. "I gotta think of a better tactic than bum biting. WHOA!!" Spike yelped, as a he dodged a light spear that was thrown at him, from behind.

The little dog quickly rolled to the side, as he changes back into his dragon form, conjuring a fire katana, blocking another of Sunburn's attack, "Boosted dragon!" Spike shouted as he fired another explosive fireball at Sunburn, knocking her off her hooves.

Just as Sunburn was about to fire another attack, a gunshot was heard, and bullet went straight through Sunburn's horn. Furthermore, ice began to form from the impact, before they covered her horn completely in ice. The demonic alicorn's magics were crippled, as her horn exploded, followed by the rest of her alicorn form. When the dust cleared up, there laid the still demonic alicorn, only with her horn blown off.

-A New Era Begins by MagpiePony-

Spike, Sunset, and Neira turned to see Bloodshot, struggling on his feet, while holding the gun that had fired the bullet, with Charlatan at his side.

"King Charlatan?" Neira exclaimed, having noticed the restraints off of Bloodshot. "You freed him?! How? Why?"

"To save you of course, my faithful student," Charlatan replied. "You, Edgar, and the Frozen North that is."

"But why him?" Spike asked.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Bloodshot asked. "Besides, we can kill each other after this whole thing blows over."

"Speaking of which," Sunset turned to see Sunburn getting up.

"You'll be sorry for that, Bloodshot!" Sunburn tried to breath fire, but only managed a few sparks. "What is the meaning of this?" Sunburn asked in outrage.

"What's the matter, demon alicorn?" Bloodshot asked. "Can't do magic without your horn?"

Sunburn snarled in frustration, "Enough is enough, Sunburn!" Sunset Shimmer said. "It's over. You're finished."

"No, it's not!" Sunburn roared. "Not until those girls pay for their past mistakes!!"

"That's the thing," Sunset said calmly. "You were born from my anger. But I've forgiven these girls already. Meaning the anger I've held against them is long gone. Thus, you do no exist! And you will not hurt them, or the love of my life," At the last part, Sunset shot Spike a loving glance, to which the boy couldn't help but blush, while the girls could only look at the fiery girl, irked.

"FOOOL!!" Sunburn screamed. "I am real! Now feel the cold reality of my cold hard nails!!" With that, the demonic alicorn's hooves extended as she charged, screaming, towards Sunset Shimmer, who stood her ground. Sunburn and Sunset kept this up, until the former clashed with the latter. Sunburn's physical body was destroyed, and the demonic alicorn was left, trapped in the form of a spirit, screaming angrily, as she could do nothing, while Sunset Shimmer proceeded to seal her away. Once the task was done, Sunset fell to the floor, panting.

"Sunset?" Spike and friends exclaimed, as they ran up to the girl's side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Sunset replied. "I'm alright. I just needed some rests."

"Here," Spike took his cape off, wrapping it around the unicorn. "Hope its comfy enough for you."

Sunset smiled, as she gratefully accepted the cape, "Thanks Spike," Just then, she felt something stirring within the cape, "Oh, what the?"

Opal soon poked her head out, looking around, before she noticed Sunset next to her. The cat just purred as she rubs her head next to Sunset.

"Hey," Edgar called. "As much as I'd like to see this heartwarming scene unfold. What are we going to do with the Frozen North, now? So many ice have melted."

"Yaks can't make profits, without ice," Prince Rutherford answered.

"Not unless I can help it," Neira said, taking a step forward.

-Vuelie (feat. Cantus) - Frozen (OST)-

The heroes all took a step back, watching as the alicorn begins her magic. Everyone looked, seeing the waters have stopped flowing, and were suddenly becoming solid, and fine powders of snow. The snows all spun around in a dazzling display, as they returned to the mountains, and trees around them. Together, with the land around them, the penguins' ice palace was also restored to normal, looking almost as if the battle never happened. After what felt like hours for Neira, everything was completed.




Later

"Dragon Prince," King Charlatan began. "And friends. I can't tell you how grateful I am, for saving me, and our home, from the evil power of the Windigoes," Charlatan then turns to Prince Edgar, Neira, and Prince Rutherford. "I also wanted to apologize to the three of you, mostly. I'm sorry I haven't been myself, lately. I should've known better than to accept those scoundrels, so quickly."

"That makes two of us, your highness," Neira replied. "I guess I'm just not ready to truly be an ice queen, yet."

"Are you kidding me?" Edgar voiced. "The way you fought off those traitors, you've actually got the spirit of a queen!"

"Indeed," Charlatan began. "Neira, believe me. Like your father before you, you'll make an excellent leader of the Frozen North."

"Really?" Neira asked hopefully.

"YAKS AGREE!!" Prince Rutherford bellowed, as he and the yaks all stomped in celebration.

"Take it easy!" Spike said, trying to calm the yaks down. "We just finished rebuilding this place!"

"Thank you everyone," Neira smiled. "But I couldn't have done it all, with all of you," Neira said, turning to the heroes, before she eyed Spike. "But most all, you Prince Spike."

Spike smiled modestly, as he twirled one of his whiskers, "All in a day's work," Spike suddenly noticed that Neira was walking closer, with bedroom eyes. "Um, Neira? You okay?" Spike asked, slightly taken by surprise.

"Thank you," Neira said lovingly, as she claimed Spike's lip.

Spike quickly shape-shifted out of control, changing into a fish, a dog, a human, and lastly, back into a dragon, wings sprouting, whiskers standing on end, and everything, with the addition of icicles forming all over his body.

Once they parted, Neira giggled like a schoolgirl, while the rest of the girls in the crowd, scowled in envy, while the boys had looks of amusements on their face.

"Wow, Spike," Pipsqueak began. "That's certainly a cold reception for you."

"Don't worry, Spike!" Sunset said. "I'll warm you up!" With that, the girl kissed Spike on the lips.

"One side there sister!" Ember said, as she shoved Sunset to the side, and claimed Spike's lips.

"Hey! We want turn!" Pinkie exclaimed, as she, Gabby, and Fleur both pounced.

"Well," Button began. "Ain't that a sight to be cold."




Later

"Before you go," Edgar began, presenting the heroes the Boots of Courage. "We'd like for you to have these."

"Merci," Fleur thanked, as she levitated the boots from Edgar's wings. 'Now it's just a piece one more to finding my parents.'

"Now that leaves us with three more to find," Spike said. "We're halfway there!"

"But you'll still help me recover the Bloodstone Scepter? Right?" Ember asked worryingly.

"Don't worry, Ember," Spike replied. "We won't forget. I promise."

"Then let's go!" Pinkie chirped, as she began to hop away.

The heroes were soon on their way, when the Button spoke up, "Hey! Has anyone seen that Bloodshot character?"

Upon mention that, the heroes looked around, before they spotted Bloodshot, who was taking his leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sunset asked.

"What's it look like?" Bloodshot asked rhetorically. "I'm leaving this place," the man then eyed directly at the Dragon Prince. "Oh, and listen up, Dragon Prince. Just because we've helped each other today, doesn't make us friends. I'm giving you a break, just for today. But next time, you won't be so fortunate."

"Then I'll be ready for you next time," Spike replied, as the meta human took his leave.





Meanwhile, watching from the distance, were eyes of a hungry beast, now determined than ever to hunt his prey, as no preys have ever escaped him, in one piece.








Elsewhere

"Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Yearling," the museum curator said, as he paid the said mare her bits.

"A pleasure to preserve another piece of history," the mare replied, before she took her leave, out of the museum and into the busy streets of the town she's in.

"Miss Yearling," a voice called out, as a unicorn stallion stepped out of the shadows, with his hat partially covering his face. "I take it you have what I requested? The shield?"

"Yes sir," the mare replied, revealing the said shield beneath her robe. "I've had to buck a few teeth out, but I got it."

"Excellent," the stallion replied, as he took the shield, looking it over. "The Shield of Purity. Once belonged to the famous Flash Magnus, before it left him. And currently, one more piece from the rest."

"So, where to?"
> Armor of Heroes Part 15: The Hunters
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Sirens - Nathan Whitehead-

It was a dark and stormy day. Somewhere, in the Undiscovered West of Equestria, in a forest, trouble was stirring.

A lone harpy was running through the woods, while clutching to a crippled wing, courtesy of a spiral mark on her shoulder. The harpy kept on running, as multiple beams of lights were shining from behind, as her pursuers continue to give chase.

"I just saw it went this way!" one of the chasers said. "Come on!"

Eventually, several tall figures in dark uniforms arrived, waving their flashlights around, searching for their prey.

"Spread out!" one of the figures ordered to the others. "It's got to be around here, somewhere," With that, the hunters all dispersed into random directions.

No sooner did the hunters leave, when the harpy dropped down from the tree she managed to hide in.

"I'm glad to be rid of those creeps," the harpy said, as she was quickly on her way. However, just when the harpy thought all her troubles are over, when a pair of lights snapped on, followed by the sound of engines roaring to life, and a loud horn was heard.

"Thought you could get away that easy, did you?" One of the hunters grinned. "Not by a long shot, you won't."

The harpy stood, frozen with fear, as the hunters both advanced upon her, in their machine. 




Past

"Yak Prince approve of new yak village!" Prince Rutherford smiled, as he, then Dragon Lord Ember, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Mina looked over the reconstruction of the village.

"Mina," Twilight began. "Were you really going to side with the dragons?"

"Against my own friends?" Mina asked. "No way! But I wasn't sure how else to get Ember to tell Prince Rutherford what happened."

"And if it helps, I am willing to relinquish my honorary yak title!" Pinkie Pie chirped.

"Yak prince agree with pink pony," Prince Rutherford smiled.

"Thanks to you both," Ember smiled. "But that's really not necessary. After all, it's about time we dragons let go of our past and look to the future. Right Mina?"

"Right, Hothead," Mina smiled, as both she and Ember fist bumped each other. "Spike would've wanted it."

At the mention of the Dragon Prince's name, Ember looked troubled, "Yeah," she replied. 'As long as he doesn't find out, how I almost messed up.'

As the day went by, the ponies returned home, leaving the dragons to finish the rest of the work, repairing the yaks' village. 

Suddenly, a lone, wounded dragon scout arrived in Yakyakistan, panting, "My lord! Dragon hunters.....in the West! A hatchling's been dragonnapped!"

"WHAT?!" Ember exclaimed in outrage, together with Mina.




-Chinese Battle Music - Xian-

The said hunters were driving in a dune buggy, while carrying a little dragon that was crying in a cage, with a muzzle around its mouth, preventing it from breathing fire.

The hunters were laughing at their capture, and were driving through the Undiscovered West, only to be stopped by a burst of purple fire. There stood Ember, with some dragon guards at her sides, and Mina.

"Alright punks," Ember snarled. "You've had your fun! Now, release the little dragon, and no one gets hurt! That's an order!"

"Yeah, well guess what!" one of the hunters began. "We don't care! This little dragon is going to fetch us some hefty price! Now move aside, Bluey!"

"You dare defy orders from a Dragon Lord?!!" Ember growled venomously. "I'll grant you one warning! Obey! Or die!"

"Big talk lizard," one of the hunters spatted. "But we'd like to see you try and rescue this one. Some of your friends from before weren't so tough. What makes you any better?"

"Why don't you come get me, and find out for yourself?" Ember said bitterly, getting into a fighting stance.

With that, one of the hunters got out of the vehicle, and opened fire on the sapphire dragon, who quickly zipped off, behind a tree, evading the bullets. 

"Did you not hear what I said?" Ember snarled, before with a heave of super strength, Ember lifted the tree, off its roots, and hurled the tree at the hunter, who quickly ducked his head, avoiding the thrown tree. "I am Ember, daughter of Torch, winner of the Gauntlet of Fire, and lord of all dragons!"

"Sure," the hunter replied, as he puts on a gauntlet, and loads a bullet into a gun. "And I'm Princess Celestia," he said mockingly, before he jumps out, and fired some bullets at the sapphire dragon, who flapped her wings, evading the projectiles.

Ember stopped, to breath a burst of purple fire at the hunter, who fired a huge net, made of pure titanium. Ember was unable to get away in time, as the net snares itself around her, tightens her up. Ember struggled to break free, even breathing fire to burn her way out, which only resulted in a series of painful jolts of electricity.

"Ember!" Mina screamed, as she and some guards flew over to help their lord out.

"This is a waste of our time," one of the hunters said. "Some Dragon Lord she is. She couldn't even stand for ten seconds or so. Though I'll admit, she's quite a beauty. We'll probably get a more cold hard cash, selling her hide though."

"You stay away from her!" Mina growled, standing defensively before her fallen friend.

The hunters, however, were undeterred as they advanced upon the dragons, trying to get claim their prize. It wasn't long, before reinforcement came for the hunters, in the form of some huge big trucks. The hunters quickly got out of their trucks, as they engaged battle with the dragons.

While this was going on, something snapped inside Ember's mind, as her eyes glowed fiery red. Before long, streams of violet fires erupted form the sapphire dragon's mouth, as she manages to break herself, free from her prison, despite the electricities shocking her and all.

"What?!" the hunter exclaimed. "Impossible! No magical creatures can escape our iron net!"

"Ember?" Mina asked. "Are you-"

Ember, however, wasn't in the right mind for the moment, for all she could think about was kill, destroy, and revenge. Ember flapped her wings, as she spewed streams of purple flames at the hunters, who quickly ducked behind some trees. However, it was only short-lived as the fires broke through the trees, and scorched the hunters.

"AAAAAAAH!" the hunters screamed in agony.

One of the hunters tried to get away, while making off with the little dragon hatchling, only for Ember to tackle him, grabbing him by the leg, and exerted pressures on it, threatening to break his bone, before she threw him away.

Ember then flew up, picked up a truck, and with a loud roar, she tossed it at another, resulting in an explosion. A small pony village was nearby, during the event of the catastrophic event. The ponies took noticed, as the battle was occurring, when one of the trucks came flying, and came crashing down on the village, resulting a fire. The villagers were all panicking and running, as the fire started to grow out of control.

"What is going on here?" a voice called, revealing itself to be Shining Armor, clad in a purple armor with gold trimmings, who was accompanied, with some royal guards. The unicorn guard gasped, in shock at the destructions that was unfolding before his eyes, courtesy of the sapphire dragon herself. "Dragon Lord Ember!" Shining Armor commanded. "Stop this at once!"

Ember, still in her state of blind fury, snarled at Shining, "Don't give me, ORDERS!"

With that, Ember lunged towards Shining Armor, breathing fire. Luckily, Shining was quick enough to teleport away in time, before he reappeared, and blasted a bolt of magic at the sapphire dragon.

"Ember!" Shining continued. "Stop this at once! You're causing more damage, as it is!" Still not listening, Ember continued to attack the unicorn stallion, who continued to hold his ground.

"You will not hurt anymore of us!" Ember snarled.

"We're not trying to hurt any pony, or any dragons!" Shining Armor tried reason, while his guards went over to rescue the hatchling. "We're here to-"

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!!" Ember roared, lunging towards the guards, scaring them away from the hatchling, breathing fire on them, as she did so. Whipping out the Bloodstone Scepter, Ember roared, "Dragons! Destroy!!!!"

With that, the dragon guards were forced against their own will, as they charged after the stallions, and did battle.

"Wait!" one of the guards tried to reason. "We come in peace!!!" It was no use, the pony guards were running and screaming for their life, as the reluctant dragons were forced to attack them.

"Ember!" Shining Armor tried to reason again.

"龍が我が敵を喰らう!Translation: Let the dragon consume you!" Ember roared, as two purple, fiery, spiritual dragons flew out of her mouth, and straight towards Shining Armor and his guards.

Shining tried to block the attack, but he was just no match against an angry, powered dragon. Flames bounced off of the stallion's magic shield, and onto some nearby trucks, as well as the trees.

It wasn't long before a series of explosion was set off, destroying the trucks, as well as sending the guards in states of panic.

"Let's get out of here!" one of the hunters panicked, bringing out a device in his hand and opened up a portal.

"But what about our capture?" the others asked, ducking just as a blast of fire nearly struck him overhead. "Never mind! Getting out is good!"

With that, the hunters disappeared out of sight, leaving Ember in her state of blind fury.

Mina, meanwhile, was able to rescue the dragon hatchling, who was then more scared of the Dragon Lord, rather than her captors, "EMBER! STOP!" Mina shouted.

Ember turned to the ruby dragon, and hatchling, both who were looking at the sapphire dragon in fright. The very sight made Ember snapped back to reality, as she looked, in horror at the destruction she had caused, around her.

"What have I done?" Ember asked herself, looking around to see the trees burning, and Shining Armor, battered, and burned, along with his guards. "Captain.....I'm so-" Before Ember could finish, a great tree crumbled, nearly crushing both Ember and the captain, had the sapphire dragon not shoved both herself, and the captain, out of the way.

As she did, however, the Bloodstone Scepter flew out from the back of her armor, and landed a few inches before her, before some burning trees fell upon it. Ember frantically moved the trees out of the way, only to find nothing but ashes.  Ember turned around, and watched in horror, as her dragon guards were all turned to stone, frozen where they now stood, with looks of fright on their faces.

"No....." Ember said to herself, unable to deny what she had seen.

Ember quickly returned to the Frozen North, and the first sight she find made her even more distraught. Her dragon soldiers. Her whole army, were all turned to stone. The sweetness of victory turned to ashes.




Present

"And you know the rest," Ember finished her story, to the group, consisting of herself, Spike, Fleur, and their travel companions tagging along: Mina, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack. Spike, having heard the story already, had his eyes closed, along with Mina, who was there, obviously. The rest of the girls, however, could hardly believe every words spoken from the sapphire dragon.

The heroes arrived at their destination, somewhere in the Undiscovered West, courtesy of the Fucanglong Box.

"Well, we're here," Spike said, as he looked around at their surroundings. "Although, it's gonna be hard finding the scepter in this place. I mean, this is the Undiscovered West. Hence it's name, undiscovered."

"Uncharted," Applejack noted.

"Unexpected," Fluttershy whimpered.

"And unexplored!" Rainbow smirked. "My kind of place for adventure!"

"Don't get too excited there, Dash," Applejack said, grabbing the pegasus by the tail. "We're not here for some death defying adventure. We're here to help Fluttershy find her missing professor."

"That too," Dash replied, before she turned to her fellow pegasus. "So, um, Fluttershy. Care to explain how this Chimera guy just up and left?"

Hesitant, Fluttershy began, "Well, Professor Chimera was out here, researching the local harpies. He and I have been writing each other letters, so we could stay in touch," Fluttershy frowned, feeling even more troubled. "Then all of a sudden, the letters just stopped coming. It's like he just disappeared. I just hope he's okay when we find him."

"I'm not even sure if we're ever going to find him," Rainbow replied. "I mean, do you even know where his camp is?"

"It's right over there," Fluttershy said, pointing at a torn up tent, with a charred up fire pit which Peewee was snuggling in.

"Oh," Rainbow said, as she, Applejack, and Fluttershy all set up camp, close to what was left of the professor's old camp.

In the meantime, Spike went out with the others, searching for the lost scepter. Ember was holding the Fucanglong Box, as it was glowing in an illuminate glow, when suddenly, the box ceased its magic.

"What the?!" Ember exclaimed as she shook the box violently, even trying to turn its puzzles. However, the box wouldn't budge.

"So, what's that supposed to mean?" Spike asked.

"I'm no expert on magic boxes," Mina began, while Ember struggled to get the box working. "But I think it means, the Bloodstone Scepter's really gone for good."

"But it's got to be here!" Ember grunted with the box. "The scepter!"

Spike pondered, scratching his chin, "I guess we'll just have to split up and look for the scepter the old fashioned way, then. We'll cover more grounds that way."

"Oui," Fleur answered. "But might I suggest we stay close? That way, if we're ever in trouble, we'll be quick enough to assist one another."

"Sounds like a plan," Ember replied, stating her approval.

With that, the four separated in different directions, searching for the scepter. Little did they know, however, they were being watched themselves.





"Check it out," one of the figures said, looking through a binocular. "Two dragons, a boy, and a unicorn!"

"Dragons and a unicorn, eh?" another figure asked. "Never thought I 'd see creatures of those two species together in one place. Besides that, they're very valuable!"

"Then what'd say we go hunting?" another figure asked, as he readies his weapon.

"I thought we were out here hunting for harpies."

"You idiot! Use your brain! Just think for a moment! If we capture these dragons, and unicorn. Then their hides, and horns will fetch us a hefty price in the magical black market! Way more valuable than some harpies dirty, smelling feathers!"




Meanwhile, back at camp

After setting up camp, Fluttershy looked through the ruins of Chimera's campsite, scurrying through his old tents for clue on where he could've gone to.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were close by, looking out for their friend, as well as looking for clues on the whereabouts of the professor.

Applejack was looking at the grounds, making mental notes on the ground's current state, seeing as how some dirts were kicked up, forming some strange markings.

"So," Rainbow began. "What makes you so sure the harpies didn't do any of this?" Dash asked, gesturing to the whole camp.

"I'm certain it wasn't them," Fluttershy replied. "Professor Chimera had been telling me all about them. They'd never attack a pony, unless they're provoked. Besides, why would they ever want to attack him? He's done nothing wrong."

"But then, if it wasn't the harpies who did this," Applejack began.

"Then who did?" Rainbow finished, while hovering over the camp. However, as she did so, the pegasus noticed something off, "Hey! Check this out!"




Meanwhile

Spike, in dog form, was sniffing the ground, intending on searching for the Bloodstone Scepter, together with Peewee, who was flying close by for aerial surveillance.

"Huh?" Spike said, upon smelling something strange. The little dog looked, to see something he never thought he'd see in Equestria, "Tire tracks?" he said in bewilderment. "What are they doing here?" Peewee flapped his wings, as he came to perch on the dog's shoulder. "They don't look like they were made by any chariots in Equestria. They looked more like tracks from big trucks?"





Ember meanwhile, was sniffing the ground, and the air, trying in vain to recover her scepter, when something strong caught her nostril.

"Ew, what's that smell?" Ember groaned, following the scent, before she came across a machine she's never seen before.

It was a big rig truck, with the head colored red, and covered in rusts, and a black trailer hooked from the back. On the sides of the trailer, was a symbol, consisting of two dogs, and an eagle. On one side there's a blue tic hound holding a chain with a bear trap attached to it, on the other side a blue nose pitbull holding a downed Dragon by the throat, and above them is an eagle holding a cigar in its beak. On one talon it's holding a shotgun and on the other a head of a unicorn.

Needless to say, the symbol was a sign for trouble, "Someone's got a 'good' taste in decors," Ember said in sarcasm.

The sapphire dragoness walked away, before Mina came from out of the bushes.

"Any luck?" Ember asked hopefully.

Mina shook her head, sadly, "Sorry Ember," Mina apologized. "But I can't find it anywhere."

Ember closed her eyes in frustration, gritting her teeth together, before she breathed and lets out an exhale of smokes from her nostrils, "Then I guess there's one other place it could've gone to," Ember looked around, seeing both herself and Mina were alone, "But first, we better find the others."





Meanwhile, with Fleur, the unicorn mare was looking through the trees, when she got the sense she was being followed.

"Spike?" Fleur asked. "Is that you, amore?" After awhile of not hearing an answer, Fleur turned around to see no one.

Fleur darted her eyes, trying to catch any signs of disturbance. Her ears perked up, when she heard something moving through the grass. But when she turned in the direction of the sound, all she saw was a streak of shadow darting behind some trees.

Realizing she wasn't alone, Fleur started to proceed with caution, taking careful steps. Before long, she heard the sound of a gun being cocked, somewhere among the trees. Before long, a hunter jumped out from behind a tree, and shot a gun at her.

"AAAAAH!!" Fleur screamed, drawing attentions from the heroes, and some hidden enemies.





"Fleur!" Spike called back. "Peewee! Find her, quickly!" With that, the phoenix took flight, eyes glowing gold, as he syncs his vision with Spike. Suddenly, something fast came flying by, and it struck Peewee from behind, nipping a few feathers, taking the phoenix by surprise, "Peewee! What's wrong?" Spike asked the phoenix, as it turned around, trying to get a good look at his attacker. 

However, neither boys could get a good look, as the thing was flying at a speed that was too fast for the naked eye.

It wasn't long, before the phoenix was attacked again, that his focus became disrupted, cutting off his and Spike's vision syncing ability.

"Peewee?" Spike panicked, losing touch of his bird. "Peewee!!"

Just then his ears perked up, at the sudden sound of a twig snapping, and a he quickly jumped out of the way, rolling to the side, before he got up to see a blue nosed pitbull, standing before him, growling, and cracking its mouth as it drools hungrily at him.

"You're rapid!" Spike asked, to which the dog responded as it runs toward him, snapping its jaws. The dog would've got Spike, had he not jumepd out of the way in time. "Either that, or you're just a bad-" the dog didn't listen, as it continues to growl, snapping its jaws at Spike, ramming its huge head into the boy turned dog's side, sending him flying into a tree. "Oh, you want a dog fight, Cujo?" Spike asked, angrily. "I'll give you a dog fight then!"

WIth that, the two dogs charged at each other, barking, and growling. 

-Big Top Bop - Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze-

The pitbull snapped its jaws, only for Spike to duck his head, as he darted between the massive dog's forelegs, rolled into a ball, thrusting his legs, kicking into the canine's stomach. The pitbull turned around, catching sight of Spike, and grabbed the little dog by the collar, and began to thrash him around like a ragdoll. Thinking fast, in a flash of fire, Spike changed into a wolf, evens up the field as he breaks free from the pit bull's hold on him. The two dogs charged at each other again, biting and clawing at each other's chest, and neck. The pit bull snapped its jaws at Spike's neck, but only managed to rip off a tuft of fur, as the purple wolf darted to the side, and bit his jaws on the pit bull's hindleg. The pit bull yowled in pain, as it twisted its whole body, ramming its head into Spike's side, throwing him off.

The two dogs were panting, trying to catch their breath, before the pitbull lets out a howl.

Spike watched in confusion, before he quickly took notice the collar around the pitbull's neck, flashing and making a sound. Before long, a strange vehicle appeared from out of the bush, and the pitbull hopped into it. Soon, the machine started changing shapes, as it forms into a mech suit.

Spike could hardly believe his eyes, "Now I've seen everything," he said. 




Back with Fleur
-Light 'Em Up - Fall Out Boys-

Fleur was quick enough to project a magic shield in time, saving her from the bullet, before she counters with a powerful magic beam from her horn, that blasted the hunter away.

"Cowardly move," Fleur muttered, before she finds herself surrounded by more of the hunters. Reacting fast, Fleur quickly morphed into her battle form, unsheathing her rapier, "En garde!" Suddenly, a gunshot was heard, knocking her blade out of her hand.

Stepping out from a tree, was a hunter holding a gun. In appearance, the hunter appears to be a man in his mid twenties, a tattoo on his right arm that says "Men Rules," and brown hair. For attires, he wore a blue shirt, light blue jeans, and military boots.

"French words make me mad," the brown hair hunter grumbled. Nevertheless, Fleur still went into fighting stance, "Oh, you're gonna fight barehanded?" the man sneered. "That's real cute," With that, the man snapped his fingers, "Let her have it boys."

With that, the hunters all whipped out their firearms as they all opened fire on Fleur. Luckily, Fleur's instinct kicked in, as she quickly ducked behind a tree in time.

Concentrating her magic, Fleur's eyes glowed, 'Accelero,' With that, Fleur came running out of the trees at the speed of light, zig-zagging across the field, dodging the shots being fired on her, confusing the shooters, as they couldn't get a clear shot on her.

One of the hunters pulled a trigger, nearly shooting his comrade between his legs, "Shoot at her, idiot!" the hunter yelled angrily.

"Sorry," the other hunter apologized, before he was kicked in the face by Fleur, who zipped off again.

Fleur came to a quick stop, before one of the hunters, before she did a flip, kicks him in the chin, sending him flying up in the air, as she jumps again, does another flip, then brought both of her feet down, stomping on his face, rocketing him straight through some trees.

"Oooh," the hunter groaned in pain.

Another hunter snuck up from behind, and shot Fleur with a bullet that sent a surge of electricity, pulsing through her body. Fleur screamed in agony, at the intensive pain she was feeling.

"I got her!" the hunter said joyfully. "I got-" He was cut off, when Fleur made a desperate lunge on him, resulting in him getting shocked as well.

The brunette hunter just stood, surprised, as well as annoyed.

Fleur was panting heavily to catch her breath, when she noticed her rapier, reflecting the sun's light off of it. With that, Fleur made a tremendous leap for her blade, while the hunters opened fire on her, barely grazing her, courtesy of the protection of her armor.

"Don't let her get to her sword!" the brunette hunter yelled.

With that, one of the hunters puts on a metal gauntlet, pulsing with electricity. The hunter with the gauntlet made a mad dash towards Fleur, gauntlet in hand, reaching out for her as he did so, only for Fleur to parry him off with her sword. With quick reflexes, the hunter manages to grab the sword with his gauntlet, resulting in a wave of electricity to conduct through Fleur's rapier, and into the girl herself.

"Sacrebleu!" Fleur groaned as she endured the pain. With an agonizing struggle, Fleur thrusted her free arm towards the hunter, redirecting some of the electricity back at him, before it resulted in a blast of lightning. Fleur and the hunter were left, lying down on the ground, blackened, and smoking.

"What are you waiting for?" the brunette hunter asked the rest of his comrades. "Someone to roast s'mores? Check them out!"

With that, the hunters slowly circled around the unconscious bodies of Fleur and their fallen comrade. Snapping one of her eyes open, Fleur grinned as she caught one of the hunters by surprise, grabbing his head into a headlock with her legs, before throwing him across the field, placing him headfirst into the ground.

The hunters backed away, and were shocked to see Fleur, not only having more than second wind, but somehow managed to pry one of their comrade's gauntlet off of him, and now wore it on her other hand. With that, Fleur threw several more punches, and kicks at the unfortunate hunters who were too close to her. The other hunters tried to shoot her down, but Fleur was able to repel their bullets with her rapier, together with a shield she magically projected. With the electrical gauntlet in her hand, Fleur was able to shock every hunters, that come her way, out cold.

The brunette hunter could hardly believe what he was seeing, "I don't know whats more depressing," he began. "The fact that my guys got owned by a magical creature. OR the fact they got owned by a freaking female!" This didn't go unheard, as Fleur looked at the hunter, scowling in disgusts, watching as he steps towards her, cracking his knuckles as he did so. "To any of you still conscious, pay a attention! THIS is how you 'handle a lady.'"

Fleur frowned, as she got into fighting stance, "As mon amour, Spike Draco, would say," Fleur began. "Bring it!"

With a smirk, the brunette hunter lunged forward, with Fleur doing the same. Fleur slashed her rapier at the man, who was able to take out a hunting rifle, blocking her sword. Both opponents spun around, putting some distance between each other. Then, the hunter pulled a trigger, blasting Fleur's rapier out of her hands again. Looking back, seeing the hunter was preparing to fire another shot, Fleur quickly blasted a bolt of magic at the hunter, destroying his rifle. With that, Fleur lunged towards the hunter, in a series of fiery kicks. First, she did a low kick that tripped him up, followed by a side kick, before she finished with a high flying roundhouse kick.

"Oh, a kung fu fighting type, huh?" the man sneered, fixing his jaw a bit, before he too got into a fighting stance.

With that, both Fleur and the man circled around each other, before Fleur made the first move, throwing a punch, which the man was able to counter with a block, before he knees the girl in the stomach. Fleur didn't hesitate to strike back, in retaliation, as both she and the man went at each other's throats.

After receiving another kick to the face, the man pulls out, what appears to be, a grenade, pulls the switch off, and tossed it to the ground, resulting an blast of dark energy, which Fleur was not so fortunate enough to get away in time. The dark energy took ahold of Fleur, as it forced her back to her true, unicorn form.

The man walked over, lifting Fleur by her horn, as he puts a strange collar, around her neck, "Huh, you manage to last thirteen minutes," the man sneered. "That's not bad.....for a girl." 




Back with Spike
-Killer Instinct S2 OST - Hatchery 09 (Riptor's Theme)-

Seeing how dire the situation had grown, along with how the dog means business, Spike quickly assumes his dragon form, ready to do battle with the armored dog.

The pit bull projected an energy axe, with which he used to slash at the dragon, only for Spike to jump in the air, spinning his whole body as he did so, before a lunged into a swallow kick, twisting his body, swinging both his legs and tail at the dog's face. Shaking the blow off, the dog got up, before it ran towards Spike, and threw a punch at him, which Spike was able to evade with a side block, following a low block to interfere with an incoming uppercut. Then, placing his leg in between the dog suit's robotic legs, Spike managed to throw him off balance, as he pushed the dog on its back.

The dog did a flip, as it got back up on two, and growled angrily at Spike. The next thing Spike knew, it pointed its wrists at him, sprouting pistols, and opened fire on him. Spike quickly took flight, flying circles around the dog, while trying his best to weave through the trees, and their thick branches. Eventually, Spike turns himself into a monkey, swinging from branches to branches, evading the bullets. The pit bull, having enough, activated some missile launchers on its suit's shoulder, and fired two missiles at Spike. Spike saw the missiles coming, and he quickly turned himself into a dragon, breathing fire, colliding with the two projectiles, exploding upon impact, resulting in a cloud of smokes.

The pit bull quickly activated its vizor, switching its vision from normal to heat sensing vision. It wasn't long before it spotted Spike via his heat signature, and quickly opened fire on him. However, Spike quickly jumped out of the way, with the dog locked onto him. Spike retaliated, as he conjured up a fire shrunken and threw it at the pit bull, landing a direct hit to the head, protected by its mechanical helmet. Not letting down, the pit bull charged after Spike again with its energy axe in hands, with Spike doing the same with twin fire katanas.

"Boosted Dragon!" Spike roared, eyes flashing green.




-Light 'Em Up - Fall Out Boys-

Ember and Mina arrive just in time to see the brunette hunter put the collar on Fleur. Just when they're about to jump to save their friend, another man arrives with more hunters. In appearance, the man appears to be in his mid thirties and is bald. His attire is the same with the brunette hunter's, except with the addition of a dark blue over coat, with white highlights

"Glad you showed up boss," the brunette hunter panted.

"Picking fights with girls again I see," the older hunter grumbled. "I swear 'shooter, it's going to be the death of you."

"Hey!!!" Shooter protested.

The older hunter suddenly noticed something was missing, as he looked around the area, "Where's Bad Dog?"

"What do I look like, his sitter?" Shooter asked. "I have no idea, probably chasing a squirrel."

The older hunter rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Just head back to the trucks 'shooter."

"Sir, yes sir," Shooter saluted, mockingly, much to the older hunter's annoyance.

"Not so fast, there!" Ember shouted, as both she and Ember came from out of the trees.

"What?!" one of the hunters exclaimed. "Dragons?! Here?!"

"And females?" Shooter exclaimed in outrage. "This day just keeps getting better, and better."

"Leave these lizards to me!" the older hunter commanded. "You others, take what you can back to the trucks!"

With that, Shooter, and most of his wounded men, left the scene with Fleur in tow, leaving the Dragon girls with older hunter and a couple dozen hunters.

The hunters opened fire on the two dragons, who quickly hid behind some trees, before they retaliated, by firing a combo of red and purple fireballs at the hunters. Ember reaches behind her back, and pulls out an arrow. After lighting the tip with her fire, Ember carefully aimed her shot at one of the trees, and fired the arrow, resulting in a explosion that broke the tree branches, as it crushes on top of the hunters. Then Mina notices a weird looking rifle on the ground and picks it up.

"What's this?" Mina asked, pulling on the trigger, which lets out a stream of electricity. Unfortunately, the gun was flailing around like an uncontrolled fire hose with the poor dragoness trying to aim the thing at the hunters.

"Sorry!" Mina cried, as she rick rocketing all over the forest, crashing into the hunters, in the process. "How do you steer this thing?"

While Mina struggles to aim the weapon, Ember went to confront the older hunter.

"Ah, I remember you now," the older hunter sneered. "Back for another humiliating defeat, Dragon Lord?"

"As if," Ember scowled. "As I recalled, you were the ones retreating, Valork!"

"Well, now I'm ready for a rematch," Valork cracked his knuckles, as he and the sapphire dragon engaged each other in a fight.

Ember started the fight, with a karate yell, as she sticks her foot out in a flying kick, only for Valork to catch her, before he spins her around, and hurls her into a tree. Valork then pulls out a gun, and fired beams of laser at Ember, who quickly kicked her feet, sprinting away, avoiding the blasts, while firing several shots of her own. Having enough of chasing after his prey, Valork, somehow conjured up an extension cord, and whips it at Ember, watched the dragoness by the tail, and pulls her back, punching her in the face, as he did so, followed by a knee to the gut, and he finishes the currently ex-Dragon Lord with a right uppercut, breaking chunks of her armor off.

"Time to put you out of your misery!" Valork sneered, ready to deliver a death blow to the sapphire dragon, when Ember jumped at him, and bit one of his arm. The man didn't flinch, as he turns and looked at the bewildered red dragon, "Pathetic little dragon!" the man growled, as he manages to shake the dragoness off.

Looking around, Mina sees a flashbang grenade and chucks it at Valork. Blinded, Valork released his grip on Ember, as Mina jumps in to rescue the badly beaten Ember, before they disappeared into the woods.




Meanwhile

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy were rushing through the woods, answering the call to help their friends. Suddenly Fluttershy stepped on something, activated a bear trap, clamping its jaws into her left hoof. 

"AAAAAAHHH!!!" Fluttershys screamed in pain.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack, both screeched to a halt, turning to their friend, with looks of dread.

"Flutters!" Rainbow Dash screamed in horror.

"Help!" Fluttershy cried, struggling to break free. "I'm stuck!"

With that, the two athletic ponies went over to try and pry the trap off. However, no matter how hard they struggled, the thing just digs deeper, and deeper.

"Stand back!" Applejack said, as she assumes her anthro, battle form, and with an exertion of her super strength, Applejack was able to pry the trap's jaws wide open, freeing Fluttershy, who quickly embraced Rainbow Dash, crying into the cyan pegasus's shoulder, who held her close.

"I may not be a hunter," Applejack panted. "But ah know it ain't bear hunting season yet!"

"You're telling me," Dash replied, as she helps bandages Fluttershy's wounds. "Although, do most of them coming with a blinking light?" Dash asked, pointing to a small light that was going off on the trap.

Before any of them had time to ponder, more of the hunters showed up, lead by a biker, who appears to be in his early thirties and has reddish blonde hair. For attires, he wears a cap, and a pair of sunglasses, a light blue over coat, a black shirt that reads: "I hate chestnuts," grey pants, and sneakers. As for his bike, it bears a resemblance to that of a Harley Davidson.

"Well, look what we've got here, boys," the biker sneered. "More of those little ponies in this world."

Applejack quickly took a fighting stance, while Rainbow Dash was preparing to assume her battle form, when the biker threw another grenade at the girls, resulting in a surge of dark energies that reverted them back to their true form.

"What the-what?!" Rainbow exclaimed, before she looked up at the hunters. "HEY! What'd you do to us?!"

"Whoa," one of the hunters began, as he talks to another. "That pegasus's got an attitude!"

"Oh, I'll show you attitude!" Rainbow snarled. "You punks ain't seen nothing, yet!"

"Dash! Wa-" Applejack was too late, as Rainbow Dash was already zipping at the speed of light, lunging towards the hunters, who wasted no time to fight back.

"Oh you want to do this the hard way?" Rainbow barked. "We'll do this the hard way!"

With that, Dash flapped her wings, flying at the hunters, throwing several punches and kicks. Some of the hunters were struggling to hold off on their own against the pegasus, while the biker started his motorcycle and drives around, shooting at the pegasus with a gatling gun as he did so. Dash, was fortunate enough to duck behind some trees, where Applejack and Fluttershy were.

It wasn't long, before more hunters were arriving on the scene, "This is real bad!" Applejack began. "Dash! You take Fluttershy, while I hold them off!"

"What?!" Fluttershy whimpered.

"I will not leave you!" Dash retorted.

"This ain't no time for anymore of your loyal mumbo, jumbo!" Applejack said. "Now get!" With that, Applejack kicked her legs at Rainbow Dash, ushering the two reluctant pegasi to take their leave. "Ol' AJ will be fine!" Applejack said, unsure of herself as she suddenly finds herself swarmed by the hunters.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, both took flight in the air, only for one of the hunters to see them flying away, and shoots a bullet, that is in the shape of a spiral, at one of Rainbow's wings.

"AAAAAAH!!" Rainbow screamed in pain, before her inflicted wing started to go numb. "Oh no!" With that, both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy plummeted, towards a raging river below. The two crashed in the water, as the currents carried them towards a raging waterfall.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" the two pegasi screamed, as they fell, along with the waterfalls, just as the hunters arrived at the scene.

"Looks like they're gone!" one of the hunters said to the biker.

"Forget about 'em," the biker replied, while turning to Applejack, who was chained, and shackled. "We've got at least, one of them, and she's quite the catch, if I'd say so, myself," With a kick, the biker started up his engine, "C'mon! Let's get back to the trucks! Valork will be waiting!"

With that, the hunters took their leave, with Applejack, kicking and screaming.




Canterlot

In her bed chamber, Princess Celestia woke up with a start, panting heavily, "Spike!"





The said dragon was lying, face down on the ground, drenched in bloods. Then, coming from the trees, was a dark apparition of a pony.
> The End of Flutter Valley but 20% cooler and 80% more Discord- Part 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Original Theme Song-


My little pony, my little pony,
What will today's adventure be?
My little po-


"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Discord shouted. "Stop the music! Stop the music!"

*disc scratch*

"I believe this is rated T for martial arts actions, comedy, and some other stuffs that are suitable for teen bronies," Discord explained. "What? Just because the new MLP Movie is coming, does it mean that we have to at least pay some homages to all the past movies of the previous generations that have build up to here? Hmm, I suppose. Though, might I suggest some changes of my own with this movie? It's nothing personal, it's just, this is the fourth generations no? We're in the 21st century. What the remake of this movie needs is comedy, tempo, modern, and most of all, ME!"





With that, Discord popped himself an Elvis Presley jacket, wig, and gold medal. Discord pressed a remote, triggering the sound of audience clapping, "Thank you," Discord said in Elvis's voice. "Thank you very much," Discord snapped his costume off, as a door materializes itself, "Okay, Griffon Door!" Discord said to the door, turning on its knob. "Time to call in the team!"

With that, five more Discords appeared from the door, "Okay chief," the one wearing glasses began. "What's the plan?"

With that, Discord starting pacing around, "What to do? What to do? What to do?" he pondered, with his duplicates following close behind, "OH!" Discord exclaimed, while all his duplicates crashed behind him. "I got it!"





While Discord and his team is at work, let's see how the witches are doing.





Reeka and Draggle were collecting the necessary ingredients for their mo-*ahem,* master.

"Ugh," Reeka groaned. "What's the rush?" Before Draggle could answer, Reeka tripped on a tree root, and fell flat on her face. "Curse these infuriating tiny legs!"

"Maybe if you didn't eat so much, you would've walked faster!" Draggle replied.

"It's not my fault I have a big stomach, while you have a brain the size of a walnut!" Reeka retorted.

Draggle screeched to a stop, as she turns and face Reeka, angrily, "My brain's not that small! It's the size of a grape!" Draggle then started to ponder, "Duh, was it the size of a grape? Maybe it's a big grape? Or was it a raisin? If it is, then was it a big raisin, or a little grape?"

Reeka couldn't help but put her face into her palm, as she groaned, "The thought of how you think makes me sick sometimes!" Reeka grumbled. "Then again, the idea of getting punished by master is even more sickening."

"Duh, sick?" Draggle began, as the sound of music began to start up. "Why sister dear! You're looking rather ill, I fear you aren't at your best."

"Oh no," Reeka groaned. "Don't start singing, please? It makes me even more sick!"

"Duh, exactly!" Draggle replied. "Perhaps you need to take a little rest!"

With that, the two bumbling witches broke out into a song.



"We'll do the dirty works, so long as someone else gets the flume!" the witches finished.

Just then, Discord appeared in a flash of light, "Hey, Sonata! Aria!" he began. "Mind if I do the dirty works, while you get the flume?!" Discord then turns to the bronies, and laughed, "Ha ha, idiots!"

"DISCORD!!!!"





Meanwhile, Snips and Snails, or the Stooge Bros. were out and about, making mischief. Particularly, stealing anything they can get their hands on. Especially anything gold.

"Ooh, look!" Snips said to Snails. "There's an old pony right now!"

Snails looked through a binocular, to see the said pony, who was carrying something yellow, inside her saddle bag.

*Cukoo!*

"Wah! There's something gold right now!" Snails exclaimed, as both he and Snips went to work.

"What does that old pony have in her bag?" Snips whispered.

"Wah," Snails replied. "I don't know. Maybe it's a gold statue."

"No, it's....." Snips replied, as he reached into the saddlebag and pulls out.

"Bananas?!" the boys asked, before they were taken by surprise.

The elder pony grabbed the boys by the arms, and did a judo throw. Before long, the olden mare started to lay several beatdowns on the two troublemakers, thrashing them about like rag dolls, before she turned them inside out, and left them, as human pretzels.

"I think she used to work in our school cafeteria," Snips moaned.

"Wah," Snails replied, as both he and Snips hopped away.






"Alright you knuckleheads!" Discord began in Edward G. Robinson's voice. "Listen up!" With a snap of his finger, Discord produced an object, covered in blankets. "We're here to talk about a very big job. One a very special interest to the big boss herself!"

"Duh, Nightmare Moon?!" Draggle asked.

"That's right, Draggle," Discord replied, still in his gangster persona. "Now, no pony, and especially no humans, have ever pulled this off, see? But with my awesome geniuses, and your dimwittedness, we'll smoke it!"

"And then we'll unleash the smooze?!" Reeka asked.

"Yeah, not only do we get to unleash the smooze," Discord continued. "But if we pull this off successfully, we'll be truly unstoppable, beyond our wildest dreams, see?!" With that, Discord grabbed ahold of a nearby rope that was hanging out of nowhere, "Boys and girls! Say hello to Flutter Valley!" Discord said, lifting up the blanket, revealing the model of the said valley.

"Duh, hello!" Draggle greeted stupidly, much to Reeka's annoyance.

Conjuring a pointer, Discord continued in his Edward G. Robinson persona, "It's a well kept secret that hidden within the heart of Flutter Valley, is the legendary Sun Stone, see? And it's our job to get it out!"

"Duh, you mean we have to get inside that little thing?" Draggle asked stupidly, to which Reeka smacked her face, before she banged Draggle's head repeatedly, emitting the sound of coconuts.

"No, you insolent squib!" Reeka snarled. "That's just a model! Not a real thing!"

"Wah! Question, boss," Snips began. "What's the importance of that stone?"

"Here's the short version, Snips," Discord said, pointing his pointer at Snips, before turning back to the model. "Long before you was born, or I was born, or even any bronies were born. The Sun Stone was kept inside this bauble, see?" Discord said, pointing to a tiny version of a tower. "Now legend has it, that it was placed there by an ancient alicorn goddess, who gave the stone special powers to control the sun's ever life-giving rays that makes Flutter Valley green and beautiful, see? Yeah. Naturally, Nightmare Moon wanted to steal the Sun Stone, so as to secure her Empire of the Night, and to destroy Flutter Valley, as it should be. And she would've gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for meddling Princess Celestia, and the Elements of Harmony, see? Yeah."

"And as legends would say, she defeated our boss, and banished her to the moon, for thousands of years!" Discord said, while pointing to the pictures that depicted of the said defeat, before he ripped the picture to reveal another, "And she summoned the generations of My Little Ponies to guard it, see? Weighty Gen. 1, Girly Stereotypical Gen. 2, and tragic Gen. 3!"

"WAH!!" Snips screamed, as he jumps into equally frightened Snails's arms.

"Duuuuuuh," Draggle droned, while Reeka looked as if she was close to losing her lunch.

"And so Gen. 1, 2, and 3, have guarded the stone for centuries, see?" Discord continued in his gangster persona. "Yeah, making it impossible for Nightmare Moon to get her hooves on it, see? Yeah, and since the big boss herself couldn't close the deal, it's been centuries since anybody even thought about it. So you see, see? You'd have to be pretty good to swipe the Sun Stone, yeah. At least, that's what I thought," Discord took the tobacco out of his mouth, before he raised his pointer at Snips and Snails. "Until me and the boys came into the picture, see? The way we turned Ponyville into the chaos capital of Equestria, and the way we've made Gen. 4, 20% cooler, and the number of bronies we've created, made me think we're just nuts enough to pull this one off!" Turning to the boys, Discord asked, "So! You boys game?!"

"For fame and riches!" Snips began. "And all the pretty girls we'll win. Let's do it! Wah!"

"Wah!" Snails added. "We're number one!"

"Alright, boys!" Discord began. "Listen up! Here's the plan!" Turning to Reeka and Draggle, Discord snapped his fingers, "Go back to doing your own, dirty works, witches!" With a snap, the witches disappeared in a flash of light.
> Armor of Heroes Part 16: More Help From the Shadows And Above
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Daddy?" a little girl asked. "Why do you work so late? Why can't you stay longer, and play with me?"

"I'm sorry, sweetie," the dad replied. "But daddy's got to work late. Or else, you, me, and auntie Aqua will be too hungry to play."

"But I want to play!" the daughter pouted.

"Daddy does too," the father pondered for a moment, before he suggested. "I tell you what. This Sunday, you and me, will go to the park, and play. Okay?"

"Pinkie promise?"

"Pinke promise."





In the camp of the hunters, the biker had parked his bike, next to some huge trucks, before he walks toward a tent, where two other hunters were talking.

"What do you mean he just ran off?" Valork asked.

"Look! It's what I told you," Shooter replied, waving his arms exasperatedly. "We were scanning the area to see if there were more harpies. Then Bad Dog suddenly just took off! Weird thing too, it was right before we found that unicorn."

"Er, hey guys," the biker said, deciding to make his presence known. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

The older hunter sighed, "No Turbine," he replied, calmly. "You're not."

The young hunter waved his hand to the biker, "Sup Mikey."

"I just got back and notice that almost half our guys are at the medical tent," the biker, named Mikey Turbine, replied. "What happened?"

"A unicorn and two dragons," Valork answered.

"And they were freaking females!" Valork and Turbine both rolled their eyes in annoyance, as Shooter continued, "But we did catch the unicorn though."

"And the dragons?" Turbine asked.

"Escaped," Valork answered grimly.

Shooter could help but snicker, "And who's fault was that?" In response, Valork shot him a death glare. "Shutting up," Shooter said, as he looks away.

"Huh," Ignoring the young hunter, Turbine turned to Valork to report, "Well I also wanted to tell you guys that we caught an earth pony. There were two pegasi with her, but~ let's just say they're swimming with the fishes," Giving Valork a questionable look, Turbine asked, "Think they were all together?"

"Hmmmm," Valork pondered. "I don't believe in coincidences, so it's a strong possibility. There was also a human boy with them from what I heard."

At the mention of another human, Turbine raised an eyebrow, "Why's a human with magical creatures?" he asked.

"Your guess is as good as ours Mikey," Shooter finally spoke. "They're definitely not like those Jack Sparrow wannabes, that's for sure."

"Sooo....should we let Big D know?" the biker asked.

"...No," Valork answered. "At least not yet. I wanna know what we're dealing with first. We'll question those two captured horses in a bit, but for know we stay alert," With that, Valork took his leave, through the tent's opening.

After the two hunters were left alone, Shooter turned to Turbine, "So Mike," the young hunter began. "Check out what our vulture nabbed."

With that, Shooter brought up a birdcage with Peewee inside, struggling to get out, with a strange collar around his neck.

"Well, well, well," Turbine smirked.




Earlier before
-Sword Art Online OST - 01 Swordland-

Spike, still in dragon form, bravely fought off the techno suit clad pit bull, to a stand. Just as the young dragon prepares to breath fire, however, the pit bull intercepted with a well fast strike to the dragon's throat, nearly severing his wind pipes.

"....That's.....smart...." Spike coughed, before he was met with a kick to the head, and got blasted by some missiles.

Seeing the pit bull closing in for the kill, Spike quickly spreads his wings, taking flight, so as to put some distance between him and the dog. But the dog still came at him, as it activated its thrusters and leapt into the air, grabbing onto the dragon's wing, dragging him back down to the ground, bending it in the process, causing Spike to scream in agony, before he was kicked away by the pit bull.

The dog quickly conjured its energy axe, ready to bring it down on the dragon. However, in the nick of time, Spike manages to catch the weapon, mere seconds away before it could touch him, with his claws. With every last ounce of strength he had left in him, Spike was able to force the axe away, before he rolled to the side, and hurled a fire shuriken at the pit bull, who blocked the projectile with one of his robotic arm. Spike quickly used the distraction to his advantage, as he whipped his tail, tripping the dog up, in his suit, and on his back.

Concentrating hard, Spike's eyes started to glow fiery green, as he prepares another blast of fire.

"Boosted Dragon!" Spike roared, firing a huge explosive fireball at the dog, exploding upon impact, which resulted in a cloud of smokes.

Spike stood his ground, anticipating for something to happen. It wasn't long, when the sound of bullets were fired, and Spike didn't hesitate to run for cover. Changing back into a dog, Spike dove behind the trees and bushes, trying to get away from the angry pit bull. The pit bull didn't hesitate to fire some more missiles at Spike, blasting him into a tree.

Spike groaned, as he struggles to get up. The pit bull slowly closes in for the kill, raising an energy ax up, ready to bring it down on the injured dragon. With every last ounce of strength, Spike rolled to the side, breathed fire into the pitfall's face, before shifting himself into a dog, as he retreated into the bushes for cover.

After fully regaining his vision, the pit bull was about to give chase, only to be stopped, when a long chain came flying out of the trees, and ensnared the dog in mecha suit.





Spike was soon hiding behind a tree, having reverted back to human form, as he catches his breath.

"Okay," Spike panted. "Cujo's no bad dog. He's a savage," Wincing as he takes a moment to look at the wounds the pit bull had inflicted on him, Spike looked, before he spotted some plants he's familiar with, nearby. Remembering a survival lesson Scorpan had taught him, during a camping trip they once had, Spike quickly used the plants to treat his wounds, wincing as he did so. Reaching into one of his cape's inner pockets, Spike pulls out roll of cotton wraps, with which he used to wrap around his treated wounds.

"Thank you, Fluttershy," he sighed, as he carefully ties up the wrap.

In the meantime, another adversary had his eyes set on Spike. Spike was just finishing his arm treatment, when his ears perked up, hearing the sound of grasses being stepped on, and his nose twitched at a foul stench of bloods. Then, at the last second, a gunshot was heard, and a bullet came flying out. And it would've struck Spike on the spot, had the young prince not been able to whip his cape up, shielding himself from the ammo, and some more that followed.

"Bloodshot," Spike frowned. "Back already?"

[Empire-I'm Your Hitman]

The said meta human bounty hunter stepped out from behind a tree, "Well I did say I'll be back next time, didn't I?" the man asked, with a rifle in hand.

"Yes, and then I said, I'll be ready for ya," Spike replied. "And I am."

"Still won't save you," With that, Bloodshot opened fire on the boy, who quickly held up his magic cape for protection.

Focusing on his magic, Spike conjured up a boomerang of fire. Remembering his time in Australia with Scorpan, and some Australian Indigenous, Spike tossed the weapon, as it spins in the air, flying around some trees, before making a turn, flying towards Bloodshot. Bloodshot however, saw the weapon before it could make an impact, and blocked it with his gun, resulting the boomerang to disperse in flames, and the gun to explode into blood, as it splatters all over him.

Using the distraction, Spike leapt forward, and landed a flying kick to Bloodshot's chest, followed by a sweep kick that tripped Bloodshot, off his feet. Bloodshot quickly spins himself in the air, as he landed on his hands, before he rolled forward, just as Spike swung a fire katana down, nearly burning him.

Reaching into his coat, breaking another vial of blood, Bloodshot produced a shot gun, as he open fires on Spike, who quickly deflected the bullets, all which popped into bloods, as they splattered onto him. Looking around, Bloodshot noticed some thick branches, hanging over Spike's head. With that, the man opened fire on the branches, as they were soon cut off, and fell to the ground, and almost crushed Spike, had the boy not jump out of the way in time.

Grabbing a nearby branch, Spike bent it as far as it can go, before releasing it, causing the branch to be swung towards Bloodshot, who quickly ducked his head down in time, evading the branch, as it swung overhead.

CHOMP!

"OW!" Bloodshot yelped, as he turns to see Spike, in dog form, biting on his butt. "And you kiss girls with that mouth?!"

"Hey!" Spike replied, while keeping his jaws clamped tightly. "I always brush my teeth before I kiss!" It wasn't long, before Spike felt a pair of hands, grabbing him on both sides.

Bloodshot grunted, while wincing in pain, as he struggles to get the dog off, "When I'm through with you!" the man grunted. "You won't be having any teeth left to brush!"

"Then I'll just keep hanging on!" However, Spike could feel his teeth losing grips, as Bloodshot exerted more strength in his arms. With that, Spike resorted to hang onto the man's pants, with his little forepaws.

*RIIIIIP*

"OOOOH!" Bloodshot winced in pain.

"Whoa!" Spike said in bewilderment. "You're wearing pinky bear underwear?"

Bloodshot's face was clearly red with embarrassment right about now. Even redder than Big Mac, or any of the apples on Sweet Apple Acres, while Spike couldn't help but explode in a fit of laughter.

Bloodshot's embarrassed expression quickly shifted to anger, as he fixes his pants, and turns to the little dog, who was laughing almost as crazy and loudly as a hyena.

"Alright, kid!" Bloodshot growled, as he conjured another shot gun. "You've had your fun! Now the last laugh is on you!"

Spike, still laughing, ends up having a hiccup, resulting in a blast of fire to blow up in Bloodshot's face.

"Oh great," Spike hiccups. "I'm still *hic* having that *hic* reaction," Spike continues to laugh, and hiccup, as he struggles to pull himself together, and continues his fight with the meta human, narrowly dodging some bullets, while a few grazed some of his furs off.

Struggling to focus his powers, Spike converted his puppy paws into dragon claws, as he quickly burrows into the ground, making a tactical retreat.

"Coward!" Bloodshot said, angrily, as he ran towards the hole. "Get out of there and fight like a-WHOA!!!" the man, quickly fell on his back, as green fires erupted from the hole. Then, another burst of fire erupted from the ground, nearly singing  the man, before another erupted directly beneath his butt. "OW!" Bloodshot groaned, as he rubs his scorched butt.

"Go away," Spike said to himself, struggling to get rid of his hiccups. "Go away!" Spike tried holding his own breaths, but it did little good, as fires began to erupt out of his ears, and his butt, randomly, "Dear mother, help me," Spike groaned, as he suddenly rocketed out of the ground, and straight into Bloodshot's crotch, in between his legs.

"OH!!" Bloodshot groaned, as he held area where Spike had unintentionally struck.

"Ow, my head!" Spike groaned, as he reverted back to human, while rubbing his newfound headache.

Bloodshot immediately glared daggers at Spike, as he conjures a huge gatling gun, and open fired on the boy, "Nobody makes a fool out of me!" Bloodshot roared. "NOBODY!!" Spike quickly shielded himself, behind his cape, as deflecting the bullets off. Realizing the protection the cape was giving to Spike, Bloodshot growled impatiently, as he continues to open fire in vain, still unable to puncture a hole through the cape.

"Man, you're on fire today," Spike commented.

"Why don't you face me like a man?" Bloodshot demanded.

"Why don't I do it my way, and you do it your way?" Spike asked. "How about that?"

"What's the matter? Too chicken to fight me?" 

"What's the matter? Embarrassed you couldn't capture a fifteen year old for your bosses?"

Irked, Bloodshot puts his gatling gun away, converting it back into its liquid state as it returns into its containment, as he ran up to the prince, and pounced on him. Spike fell on his back, while thrusting his legs into the man's stomach, and launched him straight into a tree.

In the process, the picture of the little girl from before, came flying out of Spike's cape, and started to float gently in the air.

Bloodshot got up, and was about to lunge after Spike again, when he quickly noticed the picture and snatched it, looking even more shocked, especially at the girl in the photo. In appearance, the girl has metallic blue hair and her attires are a purple shirt, gray pants, and pink shoes.

"Where'd you get this?!" Bloodshot asked.

"You dropped it, back in Twilight's castle," Spike answered. "Since then, I've always wondered, why would a bounty hunter like you, keep a picture of a little girl around. Is she someone important to you, by chance?"

"This's my little girl, alright," Bloodshot grumbled.

"You're a dad?"

"....Yeah, so what?"

"Nothing. Just hard to believe that a thug like you, would be a family man."

"Look, it's nothing personal, okay? It's just business! You've got a huge bounty on your head, y'know that? Turning your own skin in, would feed me and my daughter for many years to come! I could retire from all this bounty hunter business!"

"Retire in Tartarus, perhaps!" Spike replied. "Do you even know what would happen, if you did kill me? You'll end up becoming Equestria's public enemy number one, and no one will even care that you had a daughter. Besides, is this what she wants? Knowing that her daddy, all along, was a thug for hire? That he's working for the bad guys?"

Bloodshot stopped, as he paused, getting at what the prince was saying. "Y'know, you're better than this. Rather than using your skills for evil, you could've been a real hero, to us humans, magical creatures, and especially to your daughter. Ever thought about that?"

Eventually, the desire to kill and hunt the prince began to disappear from the man, as the only thing that now comes to mind, is the care of the little girl in the picture.

Suddenly, a loud screeched pierced the air, as a giant metallic bird came swooping from the sky, and attacked both Bloodshot, and Spike. The bird lets out a loud screeched, as it lunged forward, rapidly pecking its long, sharp, pointy beak, trying in vain to capture the two.

Bloodshot popped one of his vials opened, as he tries to open fire on the bird, but it did little good, as he was swatted away by one of its great wings, losing his gun in the process, and vials in the process, as they all splattered all over Spike.

"First, there's Cujo, and now I've become a gender swap version of Carrie, who's facing Deadshot and the Vulture?" Spike asked, rhetorically, while hiding behind a tree.

The metallic bird soon took notice of Spike, cybernetic eyes scanning the boy, before it quickly identified him as a potential target. With that, the bird lets out a screech, as it lunged after the Dragon Prince, who didn't hesitate to jump into the trees, hoping to escape.

"Hey!" Bloodshot shouted at the bird. "That's my dragon!" With that, the man conjured a shot gun, and made a direct hit at one of the bird's eye, resulting in an explosion of sparks. Half-blinded, the bird struggled to locate Spike, who quickly got away.

Enraged that its prey got away, the bird turned to Bloodshot, who didn't hesitate to assume a fighting stance. And the two forces charged at each other.

Meanwhile, back at the hunters' camp

"Consarn it!" Applejack roared, while screaming on Fleur's behalf. "You yellow-bellied humans better let us out, or I'm-a getting' nasty on ya! Let me out! You can't keep me in here!" Applejack's words only fell on deaf ears, as the hunters begrudgingly put their hands over their ears, trying to block out the angry earth pony.

In the meantime, Applejack's fellow prisoners, including Fleur, were more annoyed than the hunters are, "Keep it up, Earth pony," one of the harpies grumbled. "I think they're just about to let you out."

"LET US OUT!!" Applejack continued to roar, while desperately trying to kick her way out of her cage.

"For crying out loud!" another harpy groaned. "Will you please, just let her out? It'll give us all some peace and quiet!" When the harpy's words were ignored, the bird creature turned to Applejack, "Forget about it! They're not gonna release you, if you keep screaming like that! So just shut your traps!"

"I've wasted enough time with you buzzards!" Applejack spatted angrily.

"WHAT?!" the harpy shrieked in outrage. "You've wasted enough time with us? What about us?!" Applejack ignored the harpy, as she went back to screaming, "Hey! Listen for a sec! Hey! Stop it! Stop!" Applejack ceased her screaming, as she turned to the harpy in the cage across her. "This ain't Equestria! Okay? This is our land! You don't get to talk us around like that! And you're closer to getting us all skinned, than you are to getting us out! Okay?!"

Applejack was about to speak again, when Fleur spoke, "Applejack. That's enough," Applejack looked at the unicorn warrior, who was put in another cage, with some more harpies. "She's probably right. We can't get out, just by yelling. We have to think of a plan, or else, we're going nowhere."

Applejack reluctantly complied, as she took a few deep breathes, before she finally calms down.

"That's more like it," a harpy said in satisfaction.

"So who are you ponies exactly?" another harpy asked.

"Name's Applejack," Applejack introduced herself. "And that there is Fleur-De-Lis. Daughter of Sir Lir and Lady Amalthea."

"Amalthea?" a voice sounded, before an anthropomorphic parrot appeared, pushing her way through the crowd. "Well blow me down!" the parrot exclaimed. "Ye be the spitting image of my old friend!"

"You know my mother?!" Fleur exclaimed, as she got up and took a closer look at the parrot.

-[It's Time to Be Awesome - MLP Movie 2017]-

In appearance, the parrot stood just about Fleur's height, with the unicorn's horn surpassing the top of the parrot's head. The parrot's head was covered in white vanilla feathers, topped with lime green plumages that flowed pass her neck into three tails, two bangs that hangs over her scarlet eyes, decorated with matching lime green eyeshadows, and a beauty mark dotted on her left cheek. For attires, the parrot wore a light brown dress, with gold paddings over her shoulder, chest, and knees, with a blue-green ribbon tied at her waist, dark brown pants with her lime green tail feather protruding from the bottom, gold armor paddings on her left leg, and a jade blade, where her right leg used to be. Her only jewelry was a gold hoop earring on her left ear.

"Celaeno?!" Fleur gasped.

"Aye!" the parrot squawked. "Tis I, Captain Celaeno, leader of the Parrot Pirate Crew, scourge of the Storm King, and captain the Scarlet Swashbuckler!" Celaeno declared boldly. "Or at least, I was, until I lost my crew, and my ships, and got captured by those good for nothing hunters!"

"How did you end up in here?" Fleur asked.

"Well, tis be a tale of woe," Celaeno began. "We were just sailing after some ships of the Storm King, when our airship was attacked by some metallic bird. A good captain always goes down with her ship, I say. But the safety of my crew was my main priority. I did the best I could to save my fellow parrots, but there's only so much captain, such as I could do, before our ship crashed, and it was then we found ourselves surrounded by those cowardly hunters! Apparently, those flea bitten landlubbers mistook us for one of these harpies, so they hunted us! We tried to fight them off, but these hunters had weapons my hearty crew and I have never seen before. We went down fighting, and it was the last time I had seen my crew, before I got thrown into these stinking birdcages! And they took away my hat, and my sword!"

"Well," Applejack began. "Sounds like you've had it worse than me and Fleur," Celaeno arched her eyebrow, looking at Applejack. "Um, I mean, me and Fleur are still together, but you got separated from your crew? Sounds awful!"

"Oui," Fleur agreed. "For a pirate captain, you're quite dedicated to the safety of your crew."

"Aye," Celaeno agreed. "They're more than crews, y'know. They're family, just as our ship was our home!" the parrot looked solemnly, out of her cage. "And the only thing that stands between me and my family, are those hunters!"

Applejack and Fleur, both looked at the parrot in sympathy. In truth, they've had their shares of losing a member of their family, or two.

"But enough about me," Celaeno began. "However did ponies like the two of ye, be doing out here in the west? It ain't be a place for landlubbers like ye self."

Applejack and Fleur both began to relate all the events that they've been through for the past few days.




Meanwhile

With her whole face burning, and still dreary from all the swimming, Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes, only to quickly close them, when a blast of Celestia's light blinded her. The yellow pegasus quickly raised her right hoof up to her face, shielding her from the light.

With tears streaming, and burning on her cheeks, Fluttershy slowly turned to her side, and carefully stood up, careful as to not put much weight on her left hoof, which to her surprise, she finds it all patched up with bandages.

Fluttershy quickly looked to her right, and finds Rainbow Dash, sleeping, in a leaf bed, with a thick blanket draped across. Looking around, Fluttershy could see that both she and Rainbow Dash were in a small hut, made of sticks, leaves, tied together with blades of grass.

Just then, the sound of hoof steps filled the hut, as Fluttershy quickly turned to the entrance, and sees a pegasus mare, accompanied by a stallion, wearing a dark fedora.

"Oh," the mare spoke. "I see you're awake."

Fluttershy gasped, "Daring Do!"

"Daring Do?!" Rainbow Dash's ears perked, as her eyes snapped wide open, as she turns to the pegasus mare in question, "Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh, omigosh!" the cyan pegasus fangirled, trying to fly up to her hero, only to find that she was unable to do so. "What the? What's going on? What gives?"

"Take it easy, Dash," Daring Do ushered, walking to the wounded pegasus. "That was a nerve bullet you received from the hunters. It'll take a few more minutes before you can fully move again."

"Nerve bullet?" Dash asked, straining slightly, as she tries her best to look at her inflicted wing. "That's what hit me?"

"Yes," the stallion answered grimly. "Not quite a friendly of Equestria. Nor to any magical creatures in the magical society, for that matter," In a mulberry aura, the stallion levitated the bullet, showing that it looks more like a spiral. "All the more reason to make it, the Cerulean Hunters' best friend. Once deep in your skin, the afflicted limb will go numb in a matter of seconds, and if you're unfortunate enough to pry it out, the numbness will start spreading to the rest of your body, leaving you helpless on the spot."

"Yikes," Rainbow grimaced.

"W-W-Who are you?" Fluttershy asked nervously.

"An acquaintance of your professor, you might say," the stallion answered, keeping his hat over his face.

"You mean, Professor Chimera?" Fluttershy asked. "Is he alright? Where is he? Is he hurt?"

Daring Do looked at Fluttershy, hesitant for a moment, "Newt Chimera?" Daring Do said, to which Fluttershy replied with a nod. "You must be one of his students, then."

"His only student, to be precise," the stallion added. "Chimera was never quite the social type to begin with."

"Don't you talk about Professor Chimera that way!" Fluttershy said boldly to the stallion, who appeared to be unfazed by the pegasus's sudden boldness. "Where is he? Can you tell me?" the pegasus asked again.

"Sorry Fluttershy," Daring Do replied. "We don't know anything about Professor Chimera. We only came here, because he told us you girls were looking for pieces of the Armor of Heroes," the pegasus answered, while directing her eyes to the stallion.

"How did you know about that?" Rainbow asked. "And more importantly, how did you even know we'd be here, let alone, knew we'd be in trouble with those hunters?"

".....Yeah," Daring Do began, as she turns to the stallion. "I'd like to know that as well."

Seeing as how there's no way out of it, the stallion began by tipping his hat up slightly, revealing his face to the mares, who all gasped in surprise, "It's been my orders to watch over you ponies," the stallion said.




Meanwhile

A young Ember find herself, surrounded by three Raptorians. In appearance, the Raptorians have the head of menacing dogs, but the body of huge bird of prey, with razor sharped claws on their wings, and a sickle-shaped claws on the second toe of both feet. And if Ember had to pick, the one that is missing an eye appears to be the most menacing of the three.

Ember tried to breathe fire, to fend off the three monsters, but all she managed was a single spark of violets.

The raptorians all let out a series of maniacal laughters, which sent chills up on Ember's spine. One of the raptorians slashed its claw at Ember, sending a bolt of pain down the dragoness's back, almost feeling as if it had been struck by lightning, snapping Ember awake.

"Ember!" Mina exclaimed, as she quickly came over to the sapphire dragon's side. "You're alright!"

"Of course I'm alright," Ember grumbled. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well for one," Mina began. "You did took a heavy beatdown from that hunter," Ember looked away in shame, "Don't feel bad, Hot Head. He's not even human, so I don't blame you, or anything," Ember continued with the silent treatment. "....So, what's the plan now, chief?"

Looking around, seeing they were in a cave, surrounded by a whole army of dragon statues, with only a single Foo Dog statue, resting atop a boulder before them.

Ember couldn't help but frown, before she shifted with a look of determination, "I've got to get it back!" Ember said.

"How?" Mina replied, as Ember walked to the center of the cave, sitting on a stone platform before the foo dog, crisscrossing her legs, before she begins to meditate. "Oh," Mina said in understanding. "I guess I'll wait right here then," With that, Mina walked towards the cave entrance, as she stood guard over her friend. Deciding to pass the time, Mina concentrated in her magic, before she belched up a comic book, titled: Flashfire by Scaley Sue.

As she does this, however, Mina smelled something off, looking off into the distance, and sees some odd shapes moving through the trees.





Spike was running as far as he could, before he collapsed, exhausted from his fights and from the wounds he's been inflicted with. Little did he know, his hands started to glow in a golden aura, and the image of the sun appeared on each of them. At the same time, a blue mist, appeared, before it takes the form of a pony. The apparition walked over to the unconscious boy, before it dipped its head, touching its nose, on the boy's forehead, entering his mind.

In his dream, Spike finds himself floating, in an endless sea of clouds, and the sky was decorated beautifully with stars.

"This dream again?" Spike asked himself. "It's been awhile, I guess...." Looking around, all Spike could see was nothing but clouds, and stars. "Though, the question is, where am I?"

Just then, a voice called out, "A warm welcome to you, dear nephew."

"Who's there?" Spike demanded, getting into a fighting stance as he did so.

-Children of the Night-

Before long, an apparition of a pony made itself known, just faintly, "At ease, nephew," it assured, before it revealed itself before him. "It its only I."

In appearance, the apparition is an alicorn, but much shorter than his mother, somewhere about Neira's height. She has light sapphire blue eyeshadows over her moderate cyan eyes, framed by her very light azure mane, which curls beautifully into a bang on her right, and down to her neck, matching tail, and her coat was colored grayish phthalo blue. For attires, she wore a small black crown, encrusted with sparkling blue jewels, a matching chest plate, with the symbol of a crescent moon imprinted on the front, and sparkling blue shoes.





"AUNTIE LUNA?!" Spike exclaimed, as he tackled the alicorn, into a hug. "No way!"

"Way," Luna smiled, as she returned the embrace. "It is such a great joy for me to finally meet you at last, dear nephew."

"Feeling's mutual auntie," Spike smiled. "There's so many things you and I need to catch up on!" Spike stopped as he started to berate himself. "Wait, what am I saying? This isn't about me! It's about mom! I can't wait to see the look on mom's face, when she finally sees you again! She'll be so happy, even I or Pinkie Pie would never be able to make her smile like that ever again! You've-" Spike stopped his emotional outburst, when he took notice of his adopted aunt's sorrowful look, "What's wrong, auntie? Don't you want to see mom again?"

"Of course I do, nephew," Luna replied. "I've always dreamed for that day to come," Luna closed her eyes, failing to prevent a tear from escaping. "But regrettably, I still can't come home. Not like this," Luna said, looking at herself.

"Why? What's wrong?" Spike asked, looking at his aunt, worryingly. "Are you hurt?"

"Let's just say, I'm still a prisoner of someplace, far away," Luna replied sadly. "I am only a spirit, for now," Luna replied, much to Spike's shock. "I have become detached from my body. But that body still lives."

"Then, where are you, Luna? I'll come and help you as soon as I-"

"No, dear nephew," Luna began, stopping the dragon. "You cannot help me, yet. There are things you must do, first. The Cerulean Hunters have returned! Your friends are in great danger! And so is Equestria! Our kingdom needs its heroes. You must wake up, now!" With that, the world around Spike vanished, as the young dragon begins to wake up. "Friends cannot be neglected."

"Auntie!" Spike called desperately.

"Hurry!" Luna's words echoed, before she disappeared out of sight.





"Aunt Luna?!!" Spike panted, as he woke up with a start. 

After a couple of deep breathes, Spike looked around at his new surrounding, seeing that he was in a dank, humid cave, with a small opening in the roof, letting a few bit of his mother's light through. "W-W-Where am I?" he asked himself.

"You're in a cave!" a voice asked, startling Spike. "That's where."

The young boy turned to the source, and was surprised to see, "Sugarcoat?!" he exclaimed, before noticing Indigo Zap, and the other girls surrounding him. "SHADOWBOLTS?! NO!!!!" Spike exclaimed, as he quickly jumps into a fighting stance, dragons up, fire blades conjured, "I WILL NOT BE DELIVERED TO NIGHTMARE MOON LIKE SOME ANIMAL!!" Spike roared, as he slashed his fiery blades at the girls, who quickly dodged to the sides, evading the dragon's attacks.

"Technically, you kinda are an animal," Sugarcoat said bluntly. "With the whole, shape-shifting and stuff," the girl quickly ducked her head down, narrowly avoiding a blast of fire.

"Do you ever keep your mouth shut?" Sunny asked the girl, as they both avoided another blast of fire.

"Wait just a second!" Indigo cried, while parrying some of Spike's blades with her own katanas. "We're not here to hurt you!"

Lemon Zest hurled the ball end of her kusarigama, lassoing Spike's claw, "Yeah!" Lemon tried to reason. "We're here to-HEEEEEELLLLLP!!!" Lemon screamed, when Spike pulled her by the chain, and hurled her into Indigo.

"We're here to help you," Sour Sweet added, before she ducked her head, when Spike fired an explosive green fireball in her way. "Not to hurt you! Or your friends!"

"I'm not falling for any of your lies!" Spike snarled, as he breathes a stream of green fire.

"No! It's the truth!" Lemon insisted. "We're telling you! We come in peace! Look!" With that, the girl threw down her kusarigma, and any other weapons she might have on her. "We're not going to hurt you, alright?"

Soon, the rest of the girls followed Lemon's actions, as they all started to throw their weapons to the ground. Spike, still unconvinced, halted his attacks, while looking at the girls, failing to detect a single hint of betrayal. Applejack had once taught him a few tricks to detect a hint of lie, and apparently, he doesn't seem to be detecting anything from the Shadowbolts girls, right now.

Just then, his whiskers started to twitch, uneasily to the right, as if beckoning to look in the said direction. Doing so, he was shocked to see Luna, slightly visible, shaking her head, as if to say that the girls mean well.

Reluctant, Spike decided to give the girls a chance, "Alright girls," Spike began, fire katanas dispersing, and reverting to human form. "What is this about?"

"Well, we did say just seconds ago that we wanted to help you," Sugarcoat replied. "So it's obvious, we wanted to help."

"I know that," Spike replied. "I meant, why would you want to help me? Just a few weeks ago, weren't you girls trying to kill me?"

"Well, admittedly, yes," Sunny began, looking ashamed. "We've realized what we did back then was wrong. But we've now come to our senses."

"Oh really?" Spike continued to look suspiciously. "When did that happen?"

"After your battle with Nightmare Moon," Indigo began. "When we saw you laying some wicked beatdown on Nightmare Moon!"

"It was right then and there, for the first time, we've finally realized just how magical friendship can be," Sunny added. "Because it was thanks to that magic that saved you from us, and that same magic that aided you in battle, just to save the girls."

"Proving once and for all that Twilight wasn't kidding about how friendship is magic," Indigo added.

"Well, it's kinda obvious to why she's the Princess of Friendship," Spike replied.

"You think we don't know that?" Sunny asked, with her voice slightly cracked. "For a long time, as we've known her, we've told her that she was no good at friendship, but that's not true," Sunny admitted, shamefully. "We weren't. We were terrible at friendship. She's the one who knows how to reach out and be brave and friendly."

"All the reason, why she's the Princess of Friendship," Sugarcoat said.

"So, yeah," Indigo began. "We've realized now how wrong we are about her, the ponies, and the whole concept of friendship is magic."

"Which is why we now want to correct our mistakes," Sour spoke. "And we'll start by helping you, rescue your friends from the Cerulean Hunters."

Spike continues to keep his distance from the girls. After hearing their perspectives on the matter, and not detecting any hints of betrayal, he was beginning to stand down for a moment.

"So what do you say, Spike?" Lemon asked. "Do you trust us?"

"First, tell me what you girls know about the hunters," Spike demanded.

"Well," Sugarcoat began. "First thing you should know, is that the Cerulean Hunters are a band of magical poaching mercenaries," she explains. "Hence the 'mercenary' part, they hunt magical creatures for huge profits."




Meanwhile.....

"Take it easy Dash," Daring Do ushered, rubbing another layer of medical ointment on the rainbow mane pegasus's wing. "Squirming isn't going to make the numbness go away."

"But it stings!" Rainbow hissed, bracing herself for another painful sensation from the medical procedure.

"So, um, Shining Armor?" Fluttershy began to ask. "If you don't mind me asking, how bad are these hunters? Why would they hunt magical creatures like us?"

Shining Armor closed his eyes, looking solemn, before he looked at the pegasus, "The Cerulean Hunters are a band of magical poaching mercenaries," he began to explain. "Hence the 'mercenary' part, they hunt magical creatures for huge profits."

"That's terrible!" Fluttershy gasped.

"It's disgusting," Daring Do added. "Very few magical creatures have ever escaped the hunters, in one piece. You two are lucky."

"Too bad we couldn't say the same thing for Applejack, and possibly, the others, and Spike," Rainbow Dash grumbled, before she slowly moved her legs, so as to get back on her hooves. "That's it! I can't take it anymore! We've got to go back! AJ's in trouble! And so are Spike and the others! The more we wait out here, the longer they are with those hunters! And I'm not waiting around to see what they're going to do with them!"

"Your loyalty is commendable, Rainbow Dash," Shining Armor replied. "But those hunters are nothing like the Shadowbolts. They're organized, lethal, and highly advanced with weapons far beyond our understandings. The sooner you set hoof in their camp, they'll have you in a cage, in a heartbeat."

"Then we need a plan!" Dash replied.




Spirit Realm

After what felt like many hours, Ember succeeded in transcending herself, into the spiritual realm of existence.  In truth, Ember had been doing a lot of meditations during her exile, in the Frozen North. However, she has seldom ever been able to meditate her away into the spirit realm, mainly due to the pent up frustration she had been holding inside her.

However, none of that matters now, as Ember is finally in the spirit realm, and her quest for the Bloodstone Scepter can truly begin. Looking at her side, seeing that the Fucanglong Box, too had made the trip with her, the sapphire dragon picked up the magic box, as it finally resumes glowing, and pointing the way.

[Yello Cyclops]

With that, Ember followed the path of the box, which took her through what appeared to be an endless sea of fogs, before it parted to reveal that she was in a dark, dark forest, surrounded by beady eyes that were just watching her every move. Furthermore, there were strange looking plants that were dispersing some weird powders in the air.

Nevertheless, Ember kept on marching, until she arrives at a rickety looking bridge, suspended over an bottomless pit. Initially, Ember wanted to simply spread her wings, and fly over the pit, rather than taking the bridge. However, her wings don't appear to be cooperating, as if they were being restrained by an invisible force. With a frustrated sigh, Ember reluctantly takes a step on the bridge, before she slowly, and carefully, began her long walk across the bridge.

Halfway across the bridge, however, did it start to wave back and forth, unevenly. Sniffing the air, Ember realized she wasn't alone. A streak of shadow swooped overhead, as the sapphire dragon quickly ducks down, before she looks up, seeing a dark flying object, trailing behind a path of black smokes. Ember's eyes widened, when she suddenly picks up another sound of movements, coming from the left. The dragoness jumped forward, rolling on the bridge, before she looks up to see another shadow flying past, nearly hitting her.

Readying her bow and arrows, Ember stood her ground, preparing her shots. After feeling another shutter from the bridge, Ember quickly turns to the source, and fires an arrow, flying past a creature, cloaked in dark smoky auras.

The creature snarled, showing its pearly white fangs, as it slowly creeps up to Ember, followed by more shadow creatures, all flying, perching on the bridge, while advancing onto the lone dragoness, laughing maniacally as they did so.

Then, one of the creatures made a lightning fast dash, almost tackling Ember, who was fortunately quick enough to catch the creature, and with a karate yell, she flips it away, over the bridge, where it disappears out of sight, within the fogs. No sooner afterwards, another of the creature leaped forward, and tackled Ember to bridge's tiles, causing them to break and fall beneath the fog, disappearing out of sight. With a grunt of strength, exerting all her strength, into her legs, Ember manages to kick the creature off, before she flipped herself in the air, and stood back on her legs, in a fighting stance.

In response, the creatures all flapped their wings, as they flew at the sapphire dragon, snapping their jaws, and clawing their wings at her. Ember spins on her foot, and landed a hook kick to one of the incoming creatures, followed by a tail whip on another. The inflicted creatures disappeared in a puff of smoke, while Ember did some backflips, putting some distance between herself, and the other remaining creatures, as they continue to advance on her.

Ember fired more of her arrows at the creatures, causing some to disperse in puffs of smokes, while the others continue to fly after her. One of the creatures throws a fast punch out, which Ember was able to block with a high cross block, followed by a burst of purple flame from her mouth, the scorched the creature away. The rest of the shadow creatures flew around Ember, and slashed their claws at the sapphire dragon, who retaliated by firing her arrows at the creatures, and blowing streams of fires. However, the bridge was burned in the process, as the two forces kept on fighting. Ember soon realized too late, at the current state of the bridge. Then, with a snap, the bridge broke, and both Ember and the Shadow Creatures fell, into the fogs below.

Luckily, Ember quickly grabbed onto one of the bridge's rope, and swung herself to the other end, landing herself on the side of a mountain. With a grunt of determination, Ember scaled the mountain via the ropes of the bridge, before reaching the top, and came face to face, with a huge cave, in the shape of a dragon's head, completed with lit torches for the eyes.

Bow and arrow at the ready, Ember took several cautious steps into the cave, unfazed at the series of chitters and whispers that were going on in the cavern. After managing to navigate her way out of the cave, Ember soon finds herself, inside a void, surrounded with nothing but stars, and clouds of thunder and lightning. The only thing fortunate Ember has found, was the fact she can now fly, once again, as she flapped her wings, and flies onward, through the stormy void.

"I'm a failure," a voice was heard.

Ember jerked her head, as she looked around, trying to locate the voice.

Before long, the storm began to calm down, as Ember suddenly finds herself, flying over a huge body of water that seemed to go on for a long mile.

"What the-" Ember began, before she was taken by surprise, as the water churned, to reveal moving images.

Within the waters, Ember looked and could see an image of herself, speaking to Mako, 'I remember this!' Ember thought. 'This was before the invasion of Yakyakistan!'

"Ember!" Mako spoke, before the past sapphire Dragon Lord. "Mina had told me what you planned on doing!"

"And what's it to you, old dragon?" past Ember asked, bitterly.

"Do not forget who you are speaking to young lady!" Mako roared. "You may be Dragon Lord, but that's no excuse to be disrespectful to your elders! Especially one who is a past Dragon Lord, and hero to Equestria, and Dracasia!"

"Sorry, Mako," Ember replied, while rolling her eyes. "But this is a matter of honor! And pleasantry isn't an option!"

"You dare to speak of honor?!" Mako asked in outrage. "You're about to dishonor your promise to Prince Spike! Are you not?!"

"I'm not the one dishonoring, Spike!" Ember replied. "The ponies of Equestria have disgraced the honor of dragons! And that includes Spike! I'm just securing our good name!"

"And how do you plan to do that young dragon?" Mako frowned. "Wage war with ponies and yaks? Risk the lives of all magical creatures? Destroy the land which Prince Spike was raised in?" Ember was silent, as Mako shook his head, as he continues to berate the dragoness, "You never think these things through! This is exactly what happened, when you competed for the Dragon Lord title, in the Gauntlet of Fire!" 

Ember was shocked, "How did you-"

"Mina had told me, everything!" Mako answered, as he continued. "You deceived your own father, and several other dragons who competed, and then you risk getting yourself killed!"

"I did just fine, during the gauntlet!"

"NO! If Prince Spike, and Mina, hadn't been looking out for you during the gauntlet, you would've drowned! Or be doomed with more than just a scarred back!"

"Whatever!" Ember snarled, still refusing to back down before the black celestial dragon, "I know my own destiny, sensei!"

"And is this your own destiny, now? Or is it a destiny you feel someone else is trying to impose upon you!"

"Enough, sensei!" Ember roared, stomping the Bloodstone Scepter to the floor. "I have to do this!"

"I'm begging you, Dragon Lord Ember! It's time you look inward, and begin asking yourself the big questions: Who are you? And what do you want?"

"RRRAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!" Ember screamed in frustration, as streams of purple fire erupted from her mouth.

Ember winced at the recollection of the memory, ashamed at the way she acted with Mako. She continued to watch as the scene soon shifted to the time when Ember caves into her anger, during her fight with Valork, and in the process, destroyed many forests around her, a nearby village, nearly killing the ponies whom she had sworn to protect, and inflicting several wounds on the royal guards who have come to aid her, resulting in the loss of the Bloodstone Scepter, the petrification of her dragon army, and the title of Dragon Lord.

Ember watched, as her past self dons up an old cloak, as she makes her way, pass the towns of Equestria, with ponies hissing and gossiping of her dishonor, up until she reached the Frozen North, where she climbs her way up to the top of a mountain, and took shelter within the cave at the top.

Ember watched, as her past self decorated the cave, placing Spike's suit of armor on top of a boulder, with the Fucanglong Box resting beside it. Once the task was done, Ember got down on her knees, hood over her head, claws together, bowing her head, as she began to pay her respects.

"I'm sorry, Spike," past Ember cried. "I'm so sorry. I've failed you." After the apologizing was done, Ember bowed her head deeper, as she continues to mourn in regret for her actions.

Meanwhile, present Ember continues to watch the sorrowful scene unfold before her, until it shifted to a later scene.

"I came all the way out here, from my antique store at my niece's urgent request, and I didn't even get a formal greeting from one of my best students?" Mako asked.

"Oh," past Ember grumbled. "Forgive me, sensei."

"Hey!" Ember exclaimed, in realization. "I remember this....but from a different angle."

"So," Mako began. "How is our esteem Dragon Lord? You didn't burn anymore forests in Equestria, or nearly barbecued some ponies, did you?"

"No," past Ember replied, softly. "I guess not."

Stroking his goatee for a moment, Mako began in a calmer tone, "You know. You've been winning a lot of fights, since you took possession of the Bloodstone Scepter, Ember."

"So?"

"So, you don't learn anything when you win," Ember looked up, as the elderly dragon continues, "Losing the Bloodstone Scepter must've been hard on you, hasn't it?"

"Hai," Ember answered. "It felt like Spike was still with me. Even if he's not really there."

"Well young seito," Make began, as he walks out the exit. "You can let that one loss define you from now on, and hide in here, away from the world with your shame, and from Spike, or you can learn from it," With that, Mako took flight, as he slithered away, leaving Ember to ponder on what the wise dragon had spoken.

The whole series of flashbacks soon ended, as Ember suddenly finds herself, back in present time. What's more shocking was the fact that she was standing before a huge tower, made of clouds. Taking out the Fucanglong Box, Ember nearly winced at the burning aura of the box, scorching her claw, indicating the Bloodstone Scepter is waiting for her, at the top.

Looking back, seeing nothing but a sky that has suddenly turned blue, and an endless sea of clouds behind her, Ember was amazed to see how far she had come. Turning back to the tower, with a look of determination, Ember said to herself, "Let's do this!"




Meanwhile, back in the physical plane

Outside of the cave, three raptorians were sniffing the ground.

"Ah hah!" one of them exclaimed, picking up a scent. "That way boys! She's in there!"

"You sure Schrock?" another one asked. "We haven't smelled her in moons! You sure it's really here?"

"As sure as the day she scratched my eye out!" the raptorian snarled, while showing scarred portion of his face, where one of his eye used to be. The others all cringed in fear, and disgust, "She got lucky then. But make no mistakes, we will get her this time!"

"Not so fast, feather brain!" a voice called, which the raptorians quickly turned to see none other but Mina, who wasted no time to assume a fighting stance, as she stared them down. "First, you've got to go through me!"

The raptorians cracked wicked smiles, while letting out a few maniacal chuckles, "Well, well, well," Schrock began. "Look what we have here. It's the ex-Dragon Lord's favorite stooge."

"Like you mongrels would know," Mina scowled. "But I will not let you hurt my friend!"

"Ooh," Schrock growled. "Big talk, little dragon. We'll tear tear you into little shreds! And then we'll take those shreds and tear 'em them into little shreds!"

"Come on then, you mangy cocka-poodle-doo!" Mina replied. "Let's see if you've got the stuff!"

Taken at the dragoness's challenge, Schrock and the raptorians all let out a bloodcurdling howl, as they charged towards the dragoness.

Schrock lunged forward, snapping his jaws at Mina, who manages to take a quick sidestep, evading the attack, before she did an uppercut punch to the lead raptorian's chin, followed by a spinning roundhouse kick, knocking him away, while evading the other two that pounced towards her. Ember quickly breathed a jet of fire from her mouth, at the raptorians, as she puts some distance between herself, and the dog-bird hybrids.

One of the raptorians leapt forward, throwing out several punches, and kicks, all which Mina was able to block, and evade, while making some counterstrikes. Remembering the times when she practiced with her uncle, and a wooden dummy, called the mu ran zhuang, Mina kept on fighting against the three monsters to a stand.

One of the raptorians thrusted his leg out, with his sickle-shaped claw aiming for Mina's throat. Mina quickly anticipated this attack, with a swift high block, catching the raptorian standing on one foot, and the other being raised above. Another raptorian quickly jumped in, throwing a punch at Mina, but ends up hitting his comrade in the crotch.

"Sorry, Scratch!" he apologized, before Mina whipped his legs, with her tail, and set him flying into a tree.

Mina turned to throw a punch at Scratch, "No wait!" Scratch stopped the dragoness, before he punched himself in the face, knocking himself out.

"Amateurs!" Schrock grumbled, before he got ready to face Mina. "Looks like it's just you and me, an eye for an eye."

"Get ready to lose your other eye!" Mina replied.

With a bark, Schrock lunged forward, slashing his claws at Mina, who was able to block them from side to side, while flapping her wings, to provide some quick leaps, before she retaliates with a jet of fire from her mouth. Schrock was able to roll out of the way in time, before he scooped up a pile of dirt, and blew them into Mina's mouth, causing her to cease her fire, and cough up smokes, and dirts that got into her wind pipe. Using the distraction to his advantage, Schrock lunged forward, landing a flying kick into Mina's side, all the while managing to scratch her side with his sickle claw in the process, followed by another, to the shoulder, when he did an aerial spinning back kick. Schrock came at the dragon again, ready to plunge his sickle claw into the dragoness, in another flying kick. However, Mina anticipated this attack, and quickly performed an unblock, resulting Schrock to flip in the air, while Mina spins her whole body and landed a strong side kick that sent Schrock flying back. Schrock quickly caught himself in the air, as he flipped, and landed on his legs, and wings.

The two opponents took a moment to catch their breaths, "Uncle did warned you once, Schrock," Mina panted. "If you ever come near Ember again....it'll be your last! And that's a promise I intend to keep!"

"And I told you," Schrock panted equally. "That we raptorians never let our foods get away. That old dragon of an uncle of yours is not here to save you this time, little dragon," With that, Schrock snaps his jaws wide open, as he lunges towards Mina.




[Pokemon Mystery Dungeon - Sky Tower OST]

Ember walked up the steps of the tower, before she arrived at the gate, guarded by two celestial dragon statues, made of clouds.

On the last step, the statues' eyes quickly flashed blue, as their tails quickly came to life, blocking the gate, "HALT!!" the statues spoke, in deep, ominous voices. "Thou who approaches, does thou wish to seek passage to the top?"

Without a second thought, Ember bowed her head, "Yes."

With that, the statues' tails moved away, as they allowed the gates to open, "Then prove that you are worthy of the Bloodstone Scepter!"

With that, Ember entered the base of the cloudy structure. No sooner had she set foot into the tower, was she set upon, by a band of what appeared to be an army of humanoid guards, all assuming fighting stances, ready to do battle with the sapphire dragon, who did the same.

With that, the guards all charged towards the dragon, surrounding her, before one of them jumps in, throwing a punch, only to be caught by the dragoness, who twisted around, before she landed several flurry of punches at the guard's head, before he dispersed into puffs of clouds.

Another came at her with a long staff, tipped with a huge sharp blade. Only for Ember to evade the attack, before she wrapped her arm around the staff, breaking it with her elbow, before she spins and tossed the blade at the guard, causing him to disperse into puffs of clouds.

More of the guards charged in, slashing their claws, swords, and spears at the sapphire dragon, who moved sides to sides, evading the weapons, while receiving a few scratches on her armor.

"Out of my way!" Ember roared, as she flapped her wings, and became airborne, and breathed a huge stream of purple fire, burning the guards, causing them to disperse in puffs of clouds.

After the guards where defeated, Ember noticed a set of stairs the led to the next floor. With that, she quickly rushed over to the stairs, climbing up to the next four, and was confronted by more cloudy humanoid guards, all who are ready to do battle with the sapphire dragon, just like their fallen comrades below. However, unlike the guards from before, they're much harder, and aren't hesitate to resort to using more powerful moves on Ember. Some she's never seen before.

When Ember tried to flip one of the guards, they skillfully jabbed at her side, very hard, forcing her to release her grip, before she was at the mercy of their kicks, whips, and punches. Nevertheless, Ember refuses to back down.

Eventually, after passing through 24th floors, each with more difficult guards than the last, Ember made it to the 25th floor, which appeared to be a large, single room, with yellow floating orbs pulsing with electricity.

Standing in the center of the room, is what appears to be a tall, anthropomorphic white wolf, covered in blue strips that are in the shape of thunder. For attires, who wore a black, Tosei dou (dō) gusoku, samurai armor, with yellow ornaments in the shape of thunders along the shoulder pads, thigh guards, chestplate, and two large ones on the helmet that made him looked almost like a bug. Without a doubt, he is the guardian of the 25th floor.

"You fight well," the guardian began. "With the lower guardians of this tower."

"It was nothing," Ember replied, smugly, wincing as she tries to shake some of the early blows she received off.

"But your quest is far from over," the guardian replied. "Before I let you pass, and reclaim your Bloodstone Scepter, you must prove yourself to me, Raijū-Guardian of Thunder!"

With that, Ember got into a fighting stance, as she beckoned, "Then bring it on, Raijū!" she challenged.

Sword Art Online OST - We Have To Defeat It

With a bow of his head, followed by a clap of thunder, Raijū summoned a long staff, made of electricity, "Hajime!" Raijū shouted.

With that, both he and Ember charged at each other, as they began to do battle.





Meanwhile in the physical plane

Dark clouds have filled the skies of Equestria, flashing bright lights, followed by sounds of thunders. This raised a lot of questions for the pegasi, "What's going on?" one of them asked. "Is it storm season already?"

"I don't know," another answered. "This doesn't look anything like the ones we've made in the weather factories."

"Storms like these, would mean one thing," another began. "There's a bigger storm brewing. And it ain't in Cloudsdale."

From Canterlot, standing at the top of her balcony, a worried Princess Celestia closed her eyes, while holding her hooves together, "Dear mother," she began. "Hear my prayers, watch over my little ponies, and my little prince."

Back in Dragon Town, in the middle of his meditation, Mako felt the disturbance going on, "Be brave, Mina," he said.

Meanwhile, from Dracasia, resting in the cave, which he had retired to, former Dragon Lord Torch sensed a disturbance in the air, as he too notices the strange weather patterns in the sky, "Please come home," he began. "My daughter."

Mina was still fighting Schrock, when she felt the same disturbance in the air, 'You can do it, Ember,' Mina thought. 'I believe in you.'

With an angry yell, Schrock lunged towards Mina in another tackle, only for Mina catch him in mid-air, flips him, and pinned him to the ground.

"It's over, Schrock," Mina hissed. "Give up now, and I won't roast you for dinner!" In response, Schrock cracked a wicked grin, to which Mina quickly caught on, turning around, to see a whole pack of raptorians, all laughing maniacally, while baring wicked fangs.

"Did you think, I would try to eat your precious ex-Dragon Lord, with only two raptorians?" Schrock asked, before he kicks Mina off. "Let her have it, boys!" With that, the raptorians all charged after the red dragoness.

"Hurry, Ember!" Mina pleaded.




Back in the Spirit Realm

Raijū swung his staff forward, sending out a long wave of electricity in the air, towards Ember, who counters with a burst of purple flames. The sapphire dragon quickly sprinted forward, throwing several punches and kicks at the thunder dog, together with a whip of her tail, while Raijū blocked her punches and kicks, with hight blocks, and low blocks, respectively, while doing a flip, as he avoided her tail. Then, literally as fast as lightning, Raijū flies forward, shapeshifting into a tiger as he did so, and pounced on Ember, before he leaped off, leaving trails of scorch markings behind.

Ember, recovering from her literal shock, got up and watched, as Raijū runs around the room, before he shifted back in anthro form, and spins his staff in one hand, firing several lightning bolts at Ember, who quickly rolled on the floor, avoiding the bolts, before she got struck by one, on the shoulder.

'Is this what it's like for Spike, when he first got hit by lightning?' Ember mentally asked herself, in her thoughts, while rubbing the inflicted spot on her arm.

Ember was snapped back into reality, when she received another lightning bolt, to her arm, again.

"Lightning strikes twice, you know," Raijū said, as he and Ember resumed their fight.

With an angry roar, Ember released a long stream of purple flames at the guardian, who spins his staff, deflecting the flame, before firing some lightning bolts back, in retaliation. Soon, the dog quickly beats his feet, as he ran towards Ember, in a blinding speed that's too fast for the naked eyes, relentlessly beating Ember at every sides.

"ENOUGH!!" Ember roared, as she breathes fire, and furiously spins around, burning the whole room.

Realizing she was once more giving into her rage, Ember stopped, and taking in several deep breathes, "No, not this time," Ember hissed, trying to stay calm. "Not again. I've come too far...to lose....again," With that, Ember slowly grew calmer, closing her eyes, as she began to think. "Clear head," As a crack of thunder was sounded, Ember concentrated hard, as she began to formulate a different strategy. 'Okay, Ember, think. What can you do to defeat a thunder creature, like Raijū?' she asked herself mentally. 'Other than control lightning, he can-Wait a minute!'

Remembering a trick that Spike had once taught her, Ember began moving her arms around in a fluid motion, while taking several deep breathes, as she started to clear her mind, growing calmer as she did so.

Taking some chances, Raijū charged his staff up, before he fired a bolt of lightning towards Ember, who quickly stuck her claw out, absorbing the energy, wincing in pain, as she feels the intensive heat of the energy, flowing through her body, 'Is this what if feels to be struck by lightning?' Ember groaned in her thoughts, moving her other arm out, before she strikes it out, aiming in Raijū's direction, resulting in the lightning to be shot.

With quick thinking, Raijū quickly blocks the lightning, dispersing it into millions of sparks, flying.

"Clever move, little dragon," he began, as his staff suddenly shifted into a huge katana, with the blade pulsing with electricity. "But not clever enough!"

With a spin of his blade, Raijū brought the sword down, sending a strong wave of electricity, heading straight towards Ember, who quickly rolled to the side, before spreading her wings, and took flight around the room, firing several purple fireballs at the thunder dog, who quickly fired several lightning bolts, which collided with the fireballs, exploding upon impact, forming a wall of smokes. Then, without warning, one of the fireballs made it through, burning Raijū at his face. Next thing he knew, he was met with a foot to the face, sending him flying a few feet away, before he landed on his back.

With a loud karate yell, Ember flapped her wings, sticking her foot down, ready to stomp on the guardian. Raijū quickly shapeshifted himself into a small, lightning bug, as he quickly flies away, before he resumes his true form, and fought back.

Raijū conjured a small orb, as he throws it at Ember. With a quick hum, the orb exploded into several electrical sparks, and a flash of blinding lights. Luckily, Ember was quick enough to shield herself from the orb's blast of light, before she fired an explosive arrow at Raijū, who blocked it, with a well aimed slash of his sword, though he still got blasted in the process.

Before long, Ember leapt forward, and throws out a fury of punches and kicks at the guardian, who quickly moved from side to side, dodging the attacks, while blocking a few, but received a majority of hits from the sapphire dragon.

Then, with a loud karate yell, Ember breathed a huge purple fireball, that knocked Raijū off his feet, and sent his helmet flying off. With a few grunts, Raijū got back on his feet, panting heavily, looking at the sapphire dragon, who was still ready for more.

However, the thunder dog bowed, "Most excellent at fighting," he said, as he stood up. "Both with me, and your own aggression. You have earned victories, both against my storm, and the storm within you."

"Well, it's not easy," Ember began. "I mean, you are strong, and I admit, I-" Looking to see the dog firing a deadpanned look on her face, Ember quickly cleared her throat, as she bowed in return. "I mean, thank you, sir. You fight well, as well."

Raijū nodded, as he stood out of the way, showing the stairs to Ember, "You may proceed," He said. "However, your quest is far from finished," Raijū began. "Be warned! More obstacles will stand between you and the scepter. Even more difficult, than myself. Good luck."

Ember bowed in return, "I'll keep that in mind," she said, as she ascends the stairs.

After Ember left, the doors behind her closed. Before the doors shuts tight, completely, Ember could see Raijū shape-shifting into his tiger form.




Meanwhile

Outside of the Cerulean Hunter's camp, Spike and the Shadowbolts girls were the first to arrive, darting behind some trees, scanning the camp from a safe distance.

In appearance, the camp was as big and wide as a baseball field, with trucks on one side and tents on the other, with supply crates scattered all around. They have, what appeared to be, automated turrets around the outside of the camp. 

"Okay girls, stay sharp," Indigo began. "This place may be rigged with booby traps."

"Booby?!" Sour exclaimed, as she got in close to Indigo's face, "Why do you look at me, when you say booby?" the girl asked, while giving the athlete girl a dirty look.

"Sorry," Indigo sweated. "It just slipped out," Sour points threateningly at Indigo, as she got back, behind some others.

"She's still mad about that?" Spike whispered to Lemon.

"More than you know," Lemon replied.

Wanting to change the topic, the group got back to surveying the camp, before them, "So how exactly do we get past those things?" Spike asked, pointing to the turrets.

"Well, I'm no Twilight," Sunny began. "But knowing how the hunters work, those turrets have heat sensing abilities. So the best thing we can do, is to cover our selves in mud to hide our body heat," Sunny and the rest of the girls grimaced in disgust at the very idea of such tactic.

"Then let's get to it," Spike replied, as he turns himself into a dog, and rolls around in some muds. "Wow, now I know how most dogs feel about dirts," Spike looked up, and sees the Shadowbolts looking at him, strangely. "Is there a problem?"

The girls snapped out of their trance, "Sorry," Sunny blushed. "It's just that-"

"You're a dog!" Sour Sweet answered sweetly.

"Yeah, so?" Spike asked. "It's not like you haven't seen me as a dog, before," he said, while remembering the first fight they had, back in New York.

"Well, the fact that you turned into a puppy, and then started rolling around like that, is just asking us to rub your belly, or scratch behind your ear," Sugarcoat answered bluntly.

Spike blushed, before he shook the feeling off, "Look, let's just focus on getting in, and saving my friends, okay?" Spike asked, to which the girls reluctantly agreed, as they too got themselves, undercover.

Once the task was done, Spike and the Shadowbolts snuck past the turrets that continued to survey the area, failing to notice the sneaky intruders. Once inside, the girls and dog, who quickly turned back into a human boy, all huddled up, behind a crate.

"Okay, we're in," Spike whispered, while scanning the area. "Now where would those hunters be keeping my friends, and some other magical creatures?"

"Probably in the trucks," Sugarcoat answered. "They're obviously big enough to carry a whole cargo full of magical creatures. Probably around the weight of an ursa minor, give or take a few."

"In other words," Indigo began. "To the truck!"

With that, the six were darting, and rolling, from crates to crates, and other objects in the area, that could provide them some covers, as they made their way towards the trucks. Little did they know, however, the six were already seen, infiltrating, and are secretly being followed.

It didn't take long, before they finally reached one of the big rig trucks, where Spike went to the back of its trailer, and quietly breathed fire, melting the lock on the door, allowing both him and the girls access.

"Hello?" Spike whispered. "Anyone in here?" The response the young prince received was a flurry of feathers being blown in his face, and several screeches from the imprisoned harpies. Not wanting to attract attentions, Spike quickly shuts the door tight, as both he and the girls quickly beaten their chests.

"What were those things?" Spike asked.

"Are you familiar with the harpies from Greek Mythology?" Sugarcoat asked, while catching her breath.

"Well, either way," Sunny began. "It's obvious. Those hunters were hunting harpies in the area! Harpies aren't exactly quite the friendliest of magical creatures, but their talons do have a very high price in the magical black market."

"Well, they're definitely not for sale when we get this over," Spike replied. "Let's just keep searching through these trucks. One of them's got to have my friends in it."

"And how do we do that?" Sour asked. "There's probably about a dozen of them here, and there's only six of us."

"Why don't we just split up?" Sugarcoat asked. "Obviously, it's like the whole concept of divide and conquer."

"No need to be a smart ass, about it," Sour growled, as she got in close to Sugar's face.

"Now's not the time, girls!" Sunny said, as she broke up the fight. "Come on, let's-"

"SHHH!" Spike quickly hushed, as his ears suddenly perked up.

"What is it?" Sunny asked. "Did you hear something?"

Listening carefully to a faint sound he had detected early, which sounded familiar, Spike followed the source, until he and the girls reached the back of a truck, where he melted its lock off, before prying the door open.

"Hello?" he whispered, taking a quick peek through the door, eyes glowing in the dark. "It's okay, I'm here to help! I'm not-"

"Spike?" a familiar, southern accented voice asked.

"AJ?!" Spike exclaimed, as he rushes into the truck, and straight to the cage, holding the supposed pony. And sure enough, standing behind bars, before him, is the apple pony herself.

"Sugarcube!!" Applejack exclaimed happily.

"Mon amore!" Fleur joined, as both mares happily wrapped their arms around the boy, behind bars and all. "However did you find us?"

"It wasn't easy," Spike replied. "But let's just say I-" Turning to the opening of the truck, Spike was surprised to see the Shadowbolts were nowhere to be seen. "Had some help...." Spike said uneasily, before he turned to the girls, when Celaeno walked over.

"Well blow me down," Celaeno exclaimed. "Tis the pony tales be true. The Dragon Prince has returned!"

"And who are you?" Spike asked.

"I be, Celaeno," the anthro parrot introduced herself. "Former captain of the Scarlet Swashbucklers, and an old friend of Lady Amalthea, the unicorn hero who once saved me from a miserable witch, who made the mistake of capturing me, and my hearty crew."

"Well, nice to meet ya," Spike replied, before he went to work. "Stand back girls, and I'll have you out in a sec," With that, Spike got to work, as he breathes fire on the bars, but to no avail.

"Guess we should've known these bars are fire proof," Applejack said glumly.

"Then I'm just gonna have to pick the lock," With that, Spike's hand morphed into dragon claw, as he started picking the object.

Celaeno gasped, "Wait! Don't-"

Too late! An alarm suddenly went off, just as Spike completely picked the lock, unlocking the door. It wasn't long, before the howling sound of a dog was heard, that the young Dragon Prince, and the girls turned their head, to see the pit bull from before.

-[ZZ Top - La Grange]-

"Looks like Cujo's back!" Spike grumbled.

It wasn't long, before the mecha suit from before arrived, and the pit bull climbs into it, conjuring an energy ax, ready to do battle.

Turning to Fleur, Applejack, and Celaeno, Spike ordered, "You girls run! I'll hold off Cujo!" With that, Spike dragons up, and cracks his knuckles, "Time for some rematch!"

With that, Spike pounced on the mecha suit clad dog, while the girls got out of their cages.





"What's going on out here?!" Valork asked, as he, Turbine, Shooter, and some other hunters, came out from their tents, and saw the ruckus taking place. It wasn't long, before they saw the pit bull, still in mecha suit, flying into the campsite. "Bad Dog?!" Valork exclaimed, before Spike arrived, still in dragon form, as he and the dog continue to go all out. "A dragon?!"

"Is it one of the two you mentioned earlier?" Turbine asked.

"No," Valork replied. "This one's different. It's purple! It's green! And-"

"It's a boy!" Shooter interrupted.

Annoyed, Valork and Turbine rolled their eyes, "How incredibly observant you are, Shooter," Turbine began. "Do I dare ask, how you know?"

"Because he fights like one!" Shooter answered, smugly, while Valork and Turbine both face faulted to the ground, before they got up, to see the battle unfolding before them.

The pit bull, now identified as simply Bad Dog, managed to pin Spike down, when a long chain whipped out, and ensured him, by the neck of his suit, and pulled him off of the purple dragon. Before the dog even knows it, he was hit in the sides by katanas from Indigo Zap, shuko claws from Sugarcoat, ice arrows and explosive arrows from Sugarcoat, and kunai blades from Sunny Flare.

"Well, you girls certainly took your times on helping out," Spike said.

"Sorry, dearie," Sunny apologized, both on her and the girls' behalf. "We just can't risk being seen, helping you, by your friends," The girl quickly ducked her head, evading another missile, from the dog.

"However, given to the circumstances, and the chaos that is going on," Sugarcoat added. "Now's the perfect time for us to aid you."

With that, Spike resumes his fight with Bad Dog, with the Shadowbolts aiding him this time.

"Oh, c'mon!" Shooter groaned. "More girls?"

"Doesn't matter!" Valork replied, out of annoyance, turning back to the fight. "What I want to know is where that dragon came from! And what's it doing here!"

An idea came to Turbine, as he grinned, "Or perhaps you should ask yourself, how much does his skin cost?" he said to Valork.

"Now you're thinking," Valork agreed, before he turned to some men nearby. "What are you goons waiting for? Hustle! Move! Get that dragon!" With that, the hunters quickly armed themselves with their guns, as they joined in the fray.

Spike was the first to notice the reinforcements coming in, "Look out girls!" he warned.

"Trying to get the drop on us?" Sour Sweet quickly fired several ice arrows at the charging hunters, hitting some of them, freezing their legs, on the spot. "Think again!"

One of the hunters opened fire on Spike, "Spike! Look out!" Sunny shouted.

Hearing a flying projectile coming for him, and his eyes zooming in on a bullet, in the shape of a spiral flying towards him, Spike quickly remembered another trick he once learned from Scorpan, as he skillfully catches the bullet, in mid-air, mere seconds away from hitting him.

"Wow!" Indigo marveled. "Cool trick!"

"Efficient, yes," Sugarcoat began, while avoiding some more bullets from Bad Dog. "But not good enough," she said bluntly, pointing to the rest of the hunters, "They've got about millions of those things! And there's only one of him!" She pointed to Spike at the last part.

Shooter, got out a rifle, and was aiming carefully at Spike.

"Then shields up girls!" Sunny Flare replied, projecting a dark aura, in the shape of shield, on her arm, via gauntlet. "Wow, it worked!" Sunny gasped.

Following Sunny's example, the rest of the Shadowbolts all projected their own shields, protecting themselves, and Spike from the hunters' bullets.

"Wow," Spike marveled. "New tricks up your sleeves?"

"What did you want us to do? Leave you at the mercy of these hunters?" Indigo asked. "You're an important magical creature! You've got the Dragonfire! You'll get killed!"

"Besides, how can we reform ourselves to your friendship circle, if we let something bad happen to you?" Sugarcoat asked.

Not detecting a hint of lie in the two girls' words, a small smile of respects formed on Spike.

"Oh come on!" Shooter whined, incredulous that one of his incredible shots was hindered, by the girls' shield. "That's not fair!"

Just then, Valork heard some commotions, coming from their trucks nearby. He turned to see several harpies, escaping, courtesy of Fleur, who was unlocking their cages, with her horn.

"NO!!" Valork shouted, as he picks up a gun, and ran towards the trucks. "I'm not about to let weeks of catches go up in the air!!"

The man aimed his gun at the harpies, only for a small kunai blade to strike his weapon, causing it to explode in his face. Once the smokes cleared up, he was met with a kick to the face, by Sunny Flare.

"Meddlesome girl!" Valork snarled, as he backslapped Sunny in the face.

"And like Bruce Lee says," Shooter began, as he aims his gun at Sunny's head. "Broads don't hit back!"

"Idiot!" Spike shouted, throwing a fire shuriken that cuts the young hunter's gun, melting its cut ends, before deliver a flurry of kicks, punches, and strikes. "It's 'boards don't hit back!'" the young dragon corrected it, as he landed a strong roundhouse kick to Shooter's stomach, forcing him to the ground. "And I believe that board, will be you!" With that, Spike did a karate chop to the man's back, which emitted a loud crack.

"Ow, my spines!" Shooter screamed in pain, before he crawls away, while Spike and Sunny escaped, to resume battle with Bad Dog.

Some of the other hunters were about to join in the fight, for their injured comrade, when Valork stopped them.

"No! This dragon's mine!" he said. "You and the others will get some of our harpies back, and ready the trucks! We're moving out!"

"Yes sir!" With that, some of the hunters took off, heading for the trucks, while Valork turned to the purple dragon.

"Let's see what you're made of dragon!" Valork said, as he begins observing the boy turned dragon.





Back with Spike, the young dragon continues his fight against Bad Dog, with the Shadowbolts girls at his sides.

Bad Dog jumped forward, and thrusted his leg out in a side kick, which Spike was able to block, with a down block, pushing the dog's kick away, causing him to lose balance, which Spike seizes the opportunity to strike back, with a well executed sweep kick, tripping the dog up.

Indigo then lunged forward, screaming, two of her katanas unsheathed, ready to plunge them into the pit bull, who quickly rolled to the side, before with a growl, he fired some missiles at Indigo.

"Watch out!" Spike said, as he quickly jumped in between the girl and the projectiles, breathing fire, disintegrating the missiles. One of the missiles however, managed to get through, heading straight for Spike, "AYE-YA!!!" the dragon screamed, as he did a spinning back kick, effectively deflecting the missile, sending it flying straight into the other hunters, blasting them in the process.

Bad Dog winced slightly, seeing his owners being burned, before he sees several ice arrows, fired by Sour Sweet and flying his way, and he quickly conjured his energy axe, blocking, and slicing the said arrows away.

"Time for you to go to obedient school!" Sour snarled, as she fired a series of explosive arrows, and ice arrows.

Having enough, Bad Dog held his wrist out, and fired several bullets at the girls, who quickly projected their shields up. Sour was the last one to activate hers, but before she had the chance to activate hers, Bad Dog made a well-aimed shot at the device on her arm guard, malfunctioning her shield, as it blew up in her face.

"Oh no!" Sour stood, wide eyes in fear, as Bad Dog opened fire on her.

"Sour!" Spike screamed, as he leapt towards Sour, shoving her out of the way, all the while shielding himself and the girl, with his wing.

Seeing their friend safe and sound, Indigo and the rest of the girls turned to the dog, "Now you're really going to get it, Bad Dog!" Indigo snarled, as she and the girls all leapt towards him.

Meanwhile, Sour looked up, starred eyes, "You saved me?" she gasped.

"Well it's the least I can do, after all the helps you girls are doing now," Spike replied. 'That, and hopefully it makes up for me punching your girls, before all this,' he thought secretly. "Besides, we already did gave two of your friends, Sunset and Starlight, second chances. Or heck, even a third-fourth-you get the message."

Sour smiled sweetly, before she noticed the position both she and Spike were in, "Um, Spike?" she began in discomfort. "Could you maybe, get off, before I consider skinning you off?" she said grimly, at the last part.

"What?" Looking down, his face flashed red, "Oh! Sorry!" he apologized, as he quickly scrambled to his feet.

Suddenly, his ears perked up, when he hears the humming sound of electricity from behind, that both he and Sour rolled out of the way.

Bad Dog, with his energy axe in mech hands, swung the blade at Spike, sideways. Spike quickly disappears, in a flash of green fire, "Take this!" Lemon shouted, as she ensnare the dog, with her kusarigma, before Indigo jumped on him, and pride the dog out of his suit, with her swords.

"Hey Cujo!" Spike roared, flying up to the pit bull, as a bat. "Meet Bat Dog!" With that, Spike's head turned into a dog, as he bit the dog on the nose, resulting in a painful yelp from the pit bull, as he shakes his head rapidly, trying in vain to shake the bat off, who fully turned himself into a dog, while holding his paw out. "May Stephen King witness the power of my One Inch Punch!" With a thrust of his fist, Spike sent the dog flying, at a surprising distance. "Don't mess with the little guy!"

"Awesome, move!" Indigo marveled.

"But that comeback quote of yours makes it sound like Child's Play is scarier than Stephen King," Sugarcoat criticized.

"Way to kill the joy," Spike replied, shooting a deadpan look.

Just then, the sound of Applejack, and Fleur, screaming, was heard across the camp.

"AJ! Fleur!" Spike gasped.

Before the dragon could sprint away, Bad Dog got back in his suit, and was firing some missiles at the dragon. Luckily, the Indigo and Sugarcoat were able to intercept the missiles, projecting their shields for protection.

"Go on, Spike," Sunny insisted. "Go help your friends! We'll take care of the dog!"

"You sure?" Spike asked.

"Yes, we're sure," Sour replied. "We're not entirely helpless, I assure you," Sour grumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing!" Sour said quickly. "Just go! We'll be fine!"

Taking Sour's words for it, Spike ran off, "Be careful girls," he said.

However, before Spike could get away, he was confronted by Valork himself.

"First! You'll have to go through me!" the hunter said, as he got into a fighting stance.

"Bring it!" Spike said, as he too got into a stance.





"Consarn it!" Applejack grunted, as she bucked one of the hunters away. "Stay down ya no good, flea bitten varmint!" Applejack was acting on the role, as Fleur's temporary bodyguard, while the unicorn was at work, unlocking the cages, freeing the harpies.

"Get off of me!" Fleur grunted, punching some hunters away with her fore hooves.

Suddenly, some ropes were flown, snaring the unicorn by her neck, "I got her!" one of the hunters said, before he was punched away, by Celaeno.

"Oi!" Celaeno exclaimed, as she snatches a pistol away from a nearby hunter's belt. "My pistol!" With that, the parrot bonked the hunter on the head, before she swiped some nerve bullets, and loaded them into her gun. "Let's see how you scallywags like this!" With that, the pirate opened fire on all of the incoming hunters, shooting them at their arms, their hearts, and their legs, stopping them in the tracks.

"Thanks Celaeno!" Fleur smiled. "I don't know what I'd do with you!"

"Don't thank me yet, lass," Celaeno replied. "We ain't out of this yet," One of the hunters tried to get the jump on Celaeno, only for the parrot to hear him coming, and back fisted into his face. Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, Celaeno demanded, "Okay, you! Talk! What have ye done with me crew?"

The hunter could only laugh in response, "And I thought you were asking me to hand over your doubloons."

"ANSWER ME, HUMAN SCUM!!" Celaeno growled, tightening her grip.

"Look, Tweety," the hunter replied, still holding a smug grin on his face. "You want to find your crew? Go to Earth."

"Why you-"

"If I'm not mistaken," Applejack began. "I think he meant planet Earth."

Before the two could further interrogate the hunter, an iron net came flying out of nowhere, trapping the two.

"Nice one, Burt," the hunter laughed, as he shares high-fives with one of his comrades.

However, the two hunter's celebration was cut short, when a whip came flying, and grabbed one of the hunters by the throat. Before long, he was thrown into an open cage nearby. Then, a blur of rainbow came flying, and kicked the other hunter, into the same cage, before it was closed shut.

Then, a magic blade was conjured, as it cuts Applejack and Celaeno, free.

"What in tarnation?" Applejack exclaimed.

"Yo, AJ!" a familiar raspy voice sounded. "Save some for me!"

Applejack turned around, and sure enough, there stood the cyan, rainbow haired pegasus herself, "Rainbow Dash?!" Applejack gasped, happily.

"The Rainbow Dash to you!" Rainbow boasted.

"And don't forget about me," Fluttershy said timidly, poking her head out from behind a tree.

"Fluttershy! Mon ami!" Fleur smiled, before she noticed their new allies, standing besides them. "Sacrebleu! Daring Do, and Captain Shining Armor?!"

"Hey Flare Heart," Shining Armor greeted. "I see you're in need of some help."

"Oui, mon capitan!" Fleur replied.

Shining Armor then took notice of Celaeno, "Captain Celaeno?!"

"Aye," the parrot squawked in confirmation. "The boldest parrot pirate who once sailed the skies of Equestria, and beyond!"

"Hmm," Rainbow began. "I like ya already, Captain."

"Well, don't just stand there," Daring Do began, as she takes out her whip. "Let's do this!"

"It's payback time!" Rainbow said, as both she, and her fellow, adventurous pegasus took flight, and barreled their way, through the horde of hunters.

One of the hunters tried to shoot some bolas at the pegasus, when a blur of green streaked through the air, and cuts the ropes.

"What the-" Before the hunter could get a reply, his comrades were suddenly struck down, one by one, before he suddenly finds himself, at the mercy of Celaeno, with a blade by his throat.

The hunter tried to shoot, but Celaeno was much quicker, as she whipped out her pistol, and shot his weapon, out of his hand, "I wouldn't be doing that again, if I were ye," Celaeno said.

"Well, you're not me!" the hunter replied. "And I ain't afraid of a harpy, like you!"

"Well that's the thing," Celaeno began. "I ain't a harpy," Celaeno scans around, before she grins, "I'm Captain Celaeno!" With that, Celaeno did a spin, as she swung her sword down, cuts a rope, springing a trap that coincidentally trapped the hunter.

"Hey!" the hunter wailed. "Let me out!"

"How's it feel to be a caged bird for once?" Celaeno asked, before she opens fire, shooting all the nerve bullets at the hunter, paralyzing him completely.

Celaeno soon caught sight of Rainbow Dash, laying a beat down on some hunters, "Take this, you goons!" Rainbow shouted, as she spins a hunter in a rainbow tornado.

The hunter was about to shoot Rainbow Dash, when he got shot in the neck, courtesy of Celaeno.

"Great timing there, Celaeno," Rainbow complimented.

"Creatures of a the sky and weathers, fight together," Celaeno said, giving the pegasus a thumbs up.

"I like the way you think," Rainbow smirked. "C'mon! Let's find some more Cerulean booties to kick!"

"With pleasure!" Celaeno replied, following the pegasus.

Meanwhile, the other hunters were attempting to make their escape via trucks, with the few harpies that remained.

"Activate the teleport!" the hunter in the passenger seat ordered. "We're going back to Earth!"

The driver pressed the button for the said device. However, nothing happened.

"What's the matter?" the hunter in the passenger seat asked.

"Something's wrong! The controls aren't responding!" the driver replied, as he lost control, and steered in the wrong direction.

"MIND THAT TREE!! We're gonna crash!!" one of the hunters shouted, as their truck crashed. Soon, the other trucks crashed, and they all started to fall over, spilling the harpies, out of their cages.

"Way to go, Skipper," Fluttershy smiled, turning to a small pack of gremlins, who saluted to her in respect.




Back with Spike

The young dragon was still at it, with the leader of the Cerulean Hunters, in the area. Valork got out a small grenade, and tossed it at Spike.

Spike, recognizing what the grenade really is, quickly remembers a technique from Scorpan, and quickly catches the grenade, before he tossed it back, at the surprise Valork. The grenade exploded, causing Valork to fly backward.

Concentrating on his Passion Boost spell, Spike's eyes glowed green, 'Boosted dragon!' Spike roared mentally, before firing a huge green fireball at the hunter. Valork quickly rolled out of the way, just as the fireball exploded upon impact from the spot where he used to be, and sent him flying into the bushes.

Before Spike could pursue the old hunter any further, when his whiskers vibrated crazy. Darting his eyes in the directions of his whisker's vibrations, he sees several bullets flying towards him. With quick thinking, and reflexes, Spike dodges the bullets, while conjuring his fire katanas to slice a few. Scanning the area, through the chaos, he quickly caught glimpse of Turbine, driving on his bike across camp, firing his gun at the dragon.

"Prepare to be roadkill!" Turbine smirked, putting the pedal to the medal.

Just as the biker was about to run Spike down, the dragon reaches into his cape and throws down a smoke bomb, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"Where'd he go?" Turbine asked.

"Right here!" Spike answered, revealing he had transformed into a monkey. With that, he crawled all over Turbine, smacking the man in the face, before he makes a grab for the handle.

"HEY!! LET GO!!!" Turbine shouted, as both he and the dragon turned monkey, fought over control for the bike, while inadvertently knocked some of the hunters down like bowling pins. Before long, the two were heading straight for a tree, where the bike crashed.

Spike was able to jump clear, as he clings onto a convenient tree branch, but Turbine, covered in bruises and burns via crash, got out a gatling gun, "Now you've gone and done it!" the man hissed, pointing his gun at the monkey.

However, before he could pull the trigger, a piece of pipe came falling down, and bonked the biker on the head, "Mommy, he followed me home. Can I keep him?" he moaned, before he passes out.

Spike couldn't help but laugh, before a gun shot was heard. Whiskers sprouting, and vibrating in certain directions, Spike evaded the nerve bullets that narrowly struck him. Turning to the directions they flew in, eyes turning reptilic, and burning, Spike caught sight of Shooter, hiding among the trees, aiming his gun at the monkey.

"Oh no, you don't!" Spike said, turning himself into a dragonfly, as he zipped through the chaos.

Shooter, surprisingly, was able to keep track of the boy, dragonfly and all.

"Hold still, you!" Shooter snarled, before he foolishly looks up into Celestia's sun. "AH! My eyes!"

Spike, turning back to the sun, smiled, "Love you mom!" With that, he flies back down, turning himself back into a wolf, and grabs ahold of the gun, just when Shooter recovered.

"Hey!" the man shouted, as he quickly grabs ahold of the gun. "Let go!"

"You let go!" Spike grunted, holding the gun with all his strength.

Feeling the gun slipping through his teeth, Spike shifted back into a dragon, even up the strength with the hunter, while avoiding the barrel of his rifles.

"Gotta admit you put up a better fight than that unicorn," Shooter grunted. "Then again, she was a girl. So she wasn't much of a fighter."

Spike snorted in fury, as well as feeling his bloods boiling, "Sick sexist!" Spike snarled, as he manages to rip the rifle out of Shooter's, before he lands several fast strikes on the hunter's face, chest, legs, and sides. "Let's see how you like, living as one then!" With that, Spike thrusted his leg out in a front kick, right in Shooter's groins.

"OH!!! MY MEATBALLS!!!!" Shooter wailed in pain, before Spike spins and delivers a strong back kick, that sent him flying.

"You mess with my girls again!" Spike shouted. "You're dead!"

Then suddenly, Valork jumps out of a bush, firing nerve bullets at Spike, who once more, conjured his katanas to deflect them.

"I see you're a ladies' man, dragon," Valork said. "Such a noble characteristic, for a dragon to be that affectionate."

"It beats being a womanizer, or a sexist, by a long shot," Spike replied.

"Well, you should've fly away, when you had the chance!" With that, Valork takes out a machete, as he clashes it with one of Spike's katanas. "Cause now I'll have the pleasure of killing you myself!"

With that, another fight between Spike and Valork broke out. Just then, Applejack arrived, with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Fleur, Celaeno, Shining Armor, and Daring Do, to watch the fight breaking out.

"Hang on, Spike!" Rainbow was about to fly in, when Applejack stopped her.

"Not so fast, Rainbow!" Applejack said. "This is his fight. We shouldn't get in the way!"

Rainbow groaned, "You know, I hate it when you guys say that!"

"We'll help him, when he needs help," Shining Armor replied.

Turning back, the friends looked to see the battle still going.

Spinning around, just when Valork swung his blade at him, Spike throws a fire shuriken at the hunter's gun, knocking it out. 

Valork continues to swing his machete, clashing together with Spike's fire katanas. Flapping his wings, Spike leapt backward, giving himself some distance from the hunter, before he breathed a stream of green fire. In response, Valork spins his blade around, and slices through the stream, deflecting the fires on both sides.

"No way!" Spike exclaimed.

Valork then opens fire, and shoots some nerve bullets at one of Spike's wings, causing it to act up, before the young dragon plummeted to the ground.

"Your powers won't be enough to save you, dragon," Valork sneered. "As you can see, I've hunted many dragons in my days!"

"Then I'll do the honors of avenging them!" Spike replied, as he got up, did a sweep kick, together with his tail, which Valork was able to avoid, only to be struck with a headbutt, from Spike.

In the meantime, the Shadowbolts arrived to watch the scene, all the while, staying hidden.

"Come on, Spike!" Sunny said anxiously. "Get him!"

Valork swung his machete at Spike, who caught it, before he spins, and pries the blade out of the man's hand. In response, Valork kicks the blade out of Spike's hand, before he throws a punch at Spike, who deflected it, with an inside-outside crescent kick, followed by an outside-inside crescent kick, landing the ball of his feet to the side of the man's head, dislocating his chin slightly in the process, followed by a strong back kick, to the man's stomach.

Shaking the blow, slightly, Valork blocked Spike's uppercut, with a down block, only for the dragon to shape his blocked fist into a spear, as he jabs into the hunter's stomach, catching his opponent by surprise, and sent him flying off his feet.

"So!" Valork groaned, clutching himself. "You've been taking karate lessons!"

"Dragon Kata, from where I learned it from," Spike replied, remembering his days as a student of Mako, with Mina, and Ember.




Speaking of whom......

After braving the dangers of the last 75th trials on each floor, Ember finally made it to the top, where her final challenge awaits.

"I've finally made it," Ember panted. "The top of this tower."

Ember panted, as she quickly catches her breath, surveys her new surrounding, seeing the summit to be wide, with a statue of a celestial dragon resting in the center.

Ember walked over to the statue, checking it out, "Okay," Ember began. "I know what's gonna come up. I've seen this kind of stuff lots of time in one of Mina's comic books. I'm going to go stand by this statue, and then it triggers some ghostly voice, who will say something like, 'Halt, who goes there!'" Ember said, doing her impression of a spooky voice at the last part. "And then all of a sudden, a huge monster is going to jump out at me, and then we fight, until at last, I'm either defeated, or I've proven myself worthy enough for the Bloodstone Scepter."

However, there was nothing but silence.

"......Oh, I'm sorry. Did I spoil the ending already?" Ember asked, slightly frustrated. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? It's just that, I've been fighting my way up for the past 99 floors already, risking my neck, and scales, just to get up here! So can't I help it, if I'm tired, and that I want this over already?"

Initially, a long pause of silence has passed, before a voice spoke, "You are a bold to come here, to make such a demand," Ember turned around, and was greeted with the sight of a tall man, with big bushy hair, wearing a gold suit of armor, with black stripes.

"Who are you?" Ember demanded.

"I am Jun-fan!" the man answered. "I am the guardian of this tower's summit! Now, I ask you. Who are you?"

[Sword Art Online OST - Luminous Sword]

"I am Ember," Ember replied. "Daughter of Torch, winner of the Gauntlet of Fire, and lord of all dragons!"

Jun-fan looked at the sapphire dragon, eyeing her suspiciously, "Am I to assume the Bloodstone Scepter belongs to you, Ember?"

"Well, yes," Ember replied. "Who else?"

"Funny," Jun-fan replied, walking around the sapphire dragon. "Cause I heard different. I hear, for example, that the real winner of the Gauntlet of Fire, was some other dragon named, Spike!" Ember's eyes widened, as the man continued. "Yet, at the last moment, he forsake the title, and gave it to you, trusting you with faith that you would protect the ponies from the dragons. Is that right?"

Ember nodded her head, "Yes. That is true."

"However," Jun-fan continued. "During one attempt to overcome the prejudice you faced, from the ponies' discrimination of dragons, you attempted to launch a war against the yaks, in Yakyakistan. And in your defense, you say the yaks have dishonored the dragons, by breaking the sacred bow you had forged moons ago."

"Look, I admit! I made a mistake for launching that attack, instead of talking things through, but I've learned from it, okay?"

"Have you really?" the man asked. "Were you not aware that by attacking the ponies, and the yaks, you also risked breaking the promise you've made for Prince Spike, in his absence? Is the honor of dragons, more sacred than your promise to a friend? Is friendship not a sacred thing for you?"

"That's not true!" Ember replied. "I mean, sure I'm aware I was breaking our promise. But still, at the same time, I was just doing my duty! For the dragons! Counting Spike!"

"And what of Spike?" Jun-fan asked. "How do you suppose he would think, if he were to come home, and find Equestria, destroyed because of you? Did you ever thought about that?"

Ember lowered her head in shame, shaking from side to side, "No," the dragon replied sadly. "I did not."

"And furthermore, there was that great fire in the west of Equestria. Following your last attack on Yakyakistan, you received news of dragon hatchlings being captured, and spirited away by these Cerulean Hunters. Naturally, you answered their call for rescue. But at the same time, you threatened the lives of the ponies in the area."

"Not on purpose! I was-"

"We do not want to hear anymore excuses, Ember," Jun-fan replied, holding his hand up. "We want to hear the facts. And the facts all say that you deliberately betrayed Spike's faith in you, and that you were willing to break the promise the two of you have made, years ago, all with the intention to defend the honor of dragons. As it has shown, you cared more about yourself, and the dragons, more than you do for the ponies, and the friendship between you and Prince Spike. For that, you had dishonored yourself," the words struck Ember, like knives, as Jun-fan continues. "I'm sorry, Ember. I'm afraid, the Bloodstone Scepter cannot be returned to you."

"No! Wait! Please!" Ember pleaded. "Let me say something!"

Jun-fan looked sternly at Ember for a moment, before he nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Ember began, "It's true. I broke the promise I made for Spike, to protect the ponies, from us dragons. And I guess there's no excuse for that act I've made. But still, I wasn't lying when I said I was trying to defend Spike's honor, as well as the dragons. He is, after all, my friend," Ember paused for a moment, as a blush formed on her face. "Or perhaps, maybe more than just friends," Snapping out of her expression, Ember continued, "However, I can admit, I wasn't thinking straight, about the whole launching an attack on Yakyakistan, and that dragon rescue fiasco in the west. When it comes to defending the dragons' honor, I had to do it, whatever it takes," a small tear streamed from Ember's eye, as she continues, "But I could never forget about Spike. I could never forget the kindness, and bravery, he once showed me, decades ago. He's the one who taught me about friendship, even though we dragons knew nothing about it," At this point, the pipes broke, and tears were flooding from her eyes. "And it's not just him, but Mina, and the ponies. They put up with me, and brought me here. And that's saying something, because I thought they would be furious with me," Rubbing one of her eyes, Ember swallowed a lump, as she continued, "Instead, they've forgiven me. I don't know why, but I won't let it be in vain for them, and all the dragons back home."

Jun-fan turned, and looked at Ember for a moment. He walked over to the dragoness, looking deeply into her pink-reddish eyes. Before Ember could react, the man's eyes glowed in a gold aura.

In a flash of light, Ember finds herself, floating in outer space, among the stars, and planets. Floating around, and looking down on her, are what appeared to be millions of dragons, in different shapes and sizes, surrounded in glowing auras.

"For many moons," one of the dragons spoke, telepathically. "We have guarded the Bloodstone Scepter."

"Awaiting the day for its rightful owner to truly obtain it," another spoke, telepathically as well.

"You are that owner," a pearly white dragon finished.

With a glow of their eyes, and their mouths opened wide, multicolored flaming auras flew out of their mouths, forming into flaming apparitions of dragons, as they surround Ember in a tornado of colors. Then, in a flash of blinding lights, Ember finds herself, back in the real world, with the Bloodstone Scepter, in her claws.

Knowing what she has to do now, Ember stamped the scepter to the ground, "AWAKE!!!" the redeemed Dragon Lord roared, as the whole cave shook, and one by one, all of the dragon statues' eyes around her, lit up, followed by cracks in their shells.





Outside of the cave, Mina was pinned down by the Raptorians, as Schrock walks over, ready to deliver the killing blow.

"This ends now!" Schrock barked.

But just as the dog-bird hybrid was about to clamp his jaws down, on the young dragoness's neck, a loud roar was heard, within the cave, followed by a blast of red lights.




Meanwhile, in the camp

"This ends now!" Valork growled, pulling out a grenade. His eyes darting to the right, he looked, seeing Applejack, and the other girls nearby.

Spike, following the direction of the man's eyes, quickly darted to the side, "NOOOOO!!!!" Spike screamed, taking the blast of the grenade, and was blown backward, and into the sides of one of the trucks.

"SUGARCUBE!!" Applejack shouted, as she and the girls all hurried to the blasted dragon, who was surrounded in a surge of dark electricities.

"SPIKE!!" Sour was about to run up, when Sunny and Sugar stopped her, so as to not blow their cover, much to Sour's sorrow.

"That's for my bike!" Turbine growled, as he got a gun out at the ready. "And now, this is-" the biker was interrupted, when an explosive fireball came falling from the sky, and landed on the ground.

"WHAT THE-" Valork exclaimed, as he, the hunters, the ponies, Shadowbolts, and Celaeno looked, to see the sky, darkened.

The dragons have arrived.

[Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Boss Battle 1]

"Dragons?!" Fluttershy yelped, as she quickly ducked under one of the trucks in fear.

"Looks like the calvary is here!" Rainbow smirked, to a dumbfounded Daring Do, who could only nod in agreement.

Flapping their wings before the dragons, were Mina, and the fully redeemed Dragon Lord Ember.

"Dragons!" Ember began, raising the Bloodstone Scepter. "Attack! Show these hunters what we're made of! Aid our fellow dragon, just as he had aided us!"

With that, dragon soldiers of all shapes and sizes charged into the fray. The hunters all opened fire on the incoming dragons, only to their dismay, their guns and weapons aren't doing much to slow down the soldiers, who continued to burn the camp, and the hunters.

"YEAH!!" Rainbow cheered, as she joins into the fray.

Meanwhile, the harpies saw an opportunity, "Come sisters!" a harpy called to her flocks. "Let us strike back! Make the humans pay for our enslavements!" With a screech, the harpies all joined the dragons in their aerial assaults on the hunters.

Meanwhile, Spike was slowly waking up, much to the relief of the girls, and stallion, around him.

"Spike!" Applejack smiled, as she embraced the boy. "Thank Celestia ya alright!"

"You alright there, young prince?" Daring Do asked. "That was some blast you had there."

"Yeah," Spike replied. "I'm okay," Concentrating into his magics, only to produce nothing but small green sparks, "Just what I'm afraid of," Spike frowned. "My power's been negated!"

"Yep," Shining Armor nodded. "That's the price for taking a direct hit from a Magi Pulse Grenade like that. Luckily, the effects only lasts for a couple of days."

"And until then, I'm afraid you're stuck completely human," Daring Do added.

"Doesn't matter," Spike replied. "At least I can still fight," With that, Spike reached into his cape, and pulls out a nunchuck.

"You sure you want to do this, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked in concern. "We wouldn't want ya to get hurt."

"Yeah, I'm sure!" With that, Spike took his cape off, leaving him in just his suit of armor, as he runs into the fray.

"Spike, wait!" Applejack called, as both she and Fleur ran after him.

"Wow, he's got guts," Daring Do commented.

"Guts and moxie," Shining Armor added.

"Oi," Celaeno shouted. "Save me some booties to kick!" With that, the anthropomorphic parrot joined in the fight.

During the fight, the Shadowbolts girls seized the opportunity to join the fray, as they fought off, some of the Cerulean Hunters.

One of the hunters was about to shoot a dragon, when Lemon snatched his gun away, with the ball chain of her kusarigma, right when Indigo came speeding by, and leapt into a flying kick, landing a powerful blow to his face. Two more hunters came, only to be confronted by Sugarcoat, who slashed her shuko claws all over the hunters, slicing and destroying their guns, and clothes, leaving the hunters in just their boxers. The embarrassed hunters quickly covered themselves, before they left the scene, chuckling nervously as they did so.

Meanwhile, Shooter just recovered, and was wearing a crotch pad as he walks out of a tent, "Where's that dragon?" the hunter asked. "Where is he? I'll teach him to make a fool of out me!" However, Sour saw him coming a mile away, and she quickly shot an arrow in his butt. "YOOOOO-" Shooter's scream was interrupted, when Sour fired an ice arrow, freezing his face.

"Now that's what I call a 'face freeze,'" Sour smiled. "I've been hanging out with Lemon, way too much."

"What the hay?" Applejack exclaimed, when she took notice of the Shadowbolts. "What are they doing here?"

"I don't know," Rainbow replied. "Wait, where's Spike?"





Spike was hiding behind a tree, getting a mask put on his face.

"Do I really have to wear a mask?" Spike asked.

"Of course you do, dearie," Sunny replied. "You can't risk letting the hunters know your human identity!" With that, Sunny went back to work, before she concluded. "There! Now you look ready."

In appearance, the mask Spike wore, was that of a masquerade mask, decorated in the theme of a phoenix.

"I don't know, Sunny," Spike replied. "I feel kinda-" Before Spike could continue further, they were found by one of the hunters.

"Well, well, well," the hunter began. "Am I interrupting something?"

In response, Spike lets out a war cry that made the hunter swore, Spike was Bruce Lee's reincarnate. Before he had time to respond, the hunter was struck in the face by the nunchucks, followed by a powerful one inch punch.

"Wow, you're fast!" Sunny commented.

Soon, the two teens joined back in the fight.

During the fight, Ember and Mina caught sight of Spike.

"Hey Spike!" Ember greeted. "About time we see you again."

"Though, what's with the mask?" Mina asked. "Are you cosplaying as a superhero, or something?"

"Let's just say it's to hide my secret identity," Spike replied. "Now let me ask you girls a question. Are you girls ready to make these hunters cry?"

"It's payback time!" Ember smirked.

"Dragon style!" Mina added.

With that, the three dragons all charged into the fray, giving the hunters a fight of their life.

Ember flapped her wings, as she took flight, before diving down, and charged her way through the horde of hunters, knocking them down like bowling pins. Reaching for one of her arrows, and eyes glowing red, Ember focused her powers into her arrows, and shouted, "龍が我が敵を喰らう!" With that, two fiery celestial dragons came flying with her arrows, as they scorched the hunters, who stood no match against her powerful dragon magic.

Mina inhaled, before she exhaled a long stream of orange fire, scorching some of the hunters' butt. Then, her acute hearing picked up the sound of a gunshot, which she quickly evaded, with a flexible bend of her waist, evading a nerve bullet. Then, grabbing a nearby hunter, Mina used him as a human shield, saving herself from the nerve bullets being fired, before she tossed the unfortunate man away. With a flap of her wings, she flew up to the hunter, and landed several fast punches, and kicks.

"Comet dash!" Mina shouted, as her whole body was coated in orange, flame aura, before she head butted the hunter away, emitting a fiery flash upon impact.

Meanwhile, Spike, still trapped in human form, was fighting with the speed, ferocity, and powers, like that of Bruce Lee. One of the hunters tried to grab him from behind, but Spike was quick to elbow him hard, in the stomach, from behind, followed by a back fisted punch to the hunter's nose. More hunters tried to sneak up from behind, but Spike heard them coming, and with a quick back kick, and a swung of his nunchucks, he knocked them away, all the while, making war cries of Bruce Lee.

The three dragons soon joined together, as they fought, sides by sides, fighting the hunters to a stand.

"Where'd that kid come from?" Valork asked, taking notice of Spike's presence.

"I don't know," Turbine groaned. "And I don't care. All I want is for us to get out, now!"

"No way!" Valork replied. "I'm not going back to the boss, empty-handed."

"Which do you prefer?" the biker asked. "To go back empty-handed, or roast handed? There's too many dragons! We won't make it!"

Closing his eyes, while thinking grimly at the situation, Valork made his decision, "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!!" Valork ordered. "Let's ride!"

With that, the hunters all got away, in some of the trucks that are still working, and teleported in flashes of blue lights.

Everyone all let out cheers over their recent victory.

"Victory is ours!" Rainbow Dash cheered.

"Yay!" Fluttershy joined in the cheer.

"Freedom!" the harpies screeched.

Celaeno smiled, happy for the harpies, "You were awesome, Captain!" Rainbow smiled, as she and the parrot shared a fist bump together.

"Aye, ye be awesome as well, Rainbow Dash,"Celaeno smirked.

Spike took his mask off, as he dons his cape back on, "So," Spike began, while talking to Ember. "How does it feel to be Dragon Lord again?"

"It feels great," Ember smiled. "In fact, better than great. I feel....feel...."

"Gold sun?" Mina finished.

"Yeah," Ember replied. "Something like that."

"Well, either way," Spike placed his hand on Ember's shoulder. "Congratulations, Ember! You earned it!"

Ember smiled, "I couldn't have done it, without you, Spike," she said. Just then, a low grunt was heard, and the dragons looked to see a foo dog running up to Ember, before it tackled her to the ground, showering her with loving kisses, "Okay, okay Fluffy! I missed you too!" Ember groaned.

Spike and Mina both laughed at the sight, when they heard a loud screech, "Hey! Peewee!" Spike smiled, happy to see his beloved phoenix, safe and sound. "Where've you been? I was looking all over for you!"

"Oh, I found him!" Fluttershy answered, as she galloped over. "The poor thing. He was locked in a cage, with a collar around him. Luckily, I was able to get him out, and the collar off, thanks to Skipper and his gremlin squad over here," Fluttershy smiled, pointing to the said gremlins.

"Oh, thanks you guys," Spike said, bending down to shake hands with the little creatures.

"Hey, um, Flutters," Rainbow called. "Think maybe your little gremlin dudes, can get the collars off of our friends here?" she said, on Applejack, and Fleur's behalf.

"We're on it," Fluttershy replied, as she and Skipper got to work.

"Still, what were those Shadowbolts doing here in the first place?" Rainbow asked suspiciously. "We weren't even looking for a piece of the Armor of Heroes, and already they came here, just when we were fighting the hunters."

Spike, trying to cover up for the Shadowbolts, spoke, "Who knows? Maybe it was all just a  coincidence the Shadowbolts were in the area," Applejack, obviously, wasn't fooled, as she could tell that Spike knew something they don't. Nevertheless, she lets it slide, as Spike spoke, "But the good news is, I know where your parents are Fleur!"

"You do?!" Fleur asked, hopefully. "Where?!"

"I heard one of them saying something about a Midnight Castle," Spike lied. "No idea, where it is though. Sorry."

"No worries," Ember replied with a confident smile. "Knowing that the Shadowbolts have a piece of the Armor of Heroes, all we gotta do is solve another puzzle of the Fucanglong Box, and it'll point us in the right direction!"

Heroes all cheered in agreement, "But first, let's head back to Ponyville for some well earned rest," Applejack suggested. "After today, we all earned it," With that, the friends all voiced their agreements, as they started to take their leave.

On the way home, Rainbow took notice of the worried expression on Fluttershy's face, "Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked. "You okay? What's wrong?"

Letting out a deep sigh, Fluttershy replied, "I just hope Professor Chimera is okay," Fluttershy replied, worryingly. "Wherever he is."




Elsewhere

In a dark office, a lone figure with red eyes sits in it's chair, smoking a cigar while talking talking on the phone.

"So that's what happened?" the figure asked.

"Yes sir," Valork replied from the other end. "I take full blame for this. I should have contacted you sooner."

"That is quite alright Mr. Valork," the figure replied. "No one would have expected this, especially since you and your men had to fight an army of dragons. We'll just have to find harpies elsewhere and be more careful around the Equestrian border from now on."

From his end of the phone, Valork sighed, "I suppose."

"Besides," the figure blew a gust of smokes out, as he continues, "This hunt wasn't a complete failure," Just then, the sound of screaming was heard, outside of the office,"Ah, that must be my 'guest'," the figure sneered. "We'll talk later Mr. Valork."

"I'll see you soon, boss," With that, the hunter hangs up, when Professor Chimera was thrown in the room.

"Ah, Professor Chimera," the figure gets up and approaches the pony. The figure then blows some smoke in his face, resulting in a fit of cough, from the unicorn, "We have much to discuss," the unicorn could only scowl in defiance, as the figure leans in closer, and asked, "Where's your little zoo?"

"Go to Tartarus," Chimera replied.




Meanwhile

While Spike and the rest of his friends were on their way home, the Shadowbolts girls snuck through the trees, where they met up with Shining Armor.

"I trust you girls were successful with the task?" the stallion asked, in a different voice.

"We did," Sunny answered. "And if I'm not mistaken, they'll be heading to Midnight Castle soon."

"And we'll be waiting for them," Sour added.

Shining Armor looked up, revealing his eyes in a different color, "Good," he replied.
> The End of Flutter Valley 20% cooler and 80% more Discord-Part 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


"My little pony, my little-"


*woman's scream is heard. Followed by sounds of objects clattering, pots banging on the floor, drills drilling, hammers hammering nails in.*





Take 1

"Marker!" a Discord clone said, as he snapped a clapboard. "And action!"

Scene 1: The film opens up to Gen 1. MLP version of The End of Flutter Valley, with Gen. 1. Surprise giggling and hopping out of some flower fields.

Random ponies walked by, "Gosh, where's Surprise?" one of the ponies asked. "We don't want to lose her."

Suddenly, Surprise jumped out of nowhere, pulls her face off, "SURPRISE!!!" Surprise shouted, scaring one of the past little ponies. 

"I got her! I got her! I got her!" one of the ponies shouted, while don up in a baseball uniform, catching the little pony in a baseball mitt.

"Surprise frightened me!" the pony said.

"Sorry baby cuddles," Surprise apologized.

"Knock off the surprises, Surprise," a grumpy unicorn pony grumbled. "We have to get to Flutter Valley."

In response, Surprise smacked the unicorn in the face, before she whooped away.

"Hey!" one of the ponies exclaimed. "You can't do that! That wasn't in the script!"

Surprise could only laugh in amusement, "Don't let it worry you, Skipper," Surprise laughed. "I'm just a crazy, darn fooled Draconequus!" With that, Surprise spins in circles, before she turned into Discord, doing a few dance steps, before he took off, laughing and whooping.

Meanwhile, Snips and Snails were at work, trying to get the Sun Stone.

The boys ran towards the tower, pole in hands, and they both pole vaulted themselves all the way up, past a line of G1 ponies. However, the boys were too high up, as they still couldn't grab the Sun Stone off from its stand. The boys soon found themselves being thrown out of Flutter Valley, by G2 and G3 ponies, and into a little town of Equestria.

The boys were bouncing, spinning around, from wires, poles, and umbrellas. Soon, the boys were sent flying through some buildings, "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" the boys apologized. "Ooh, naughty....." they said, passing through a building that emitted the sound of a screaming girl.

Soon, the boys crashed into the street, and fainted.

Take 2


My little pony, my little pon-






"Smoking!" Discord finished.




Soon, the whole picture was pulled up, revealing a steaming Prince Blueblood.

"ENOUGH!!!" Blueblood shouted. "Why is it that I'm always playing the part as the clown, around here, while that dragon of a cousin of mine gets to have all the ladies, and the fun of being the hero?"

"Says the so-called 'Prince Charming,' who called for a hasty retreat, after getting splashed by a simple drop of chocolate milk," Discord countered.

"There's nothing simple about chocolate milk," Blueblood replied. "One drop of this on my coat, and it will never come out."

"Exactly that!" Discord grinned. "While Spike worries for the welfare of the ponies, and other magical creatures, you sir are more worried about your own skin. All the reason your reputation has plummeted on the scale."

"That's absurd!" Blueblood retorted. "Besides, we don't even have a scale, of the sort."

"Oh yes we do, Buster!" With that, Discord regurgitated a chart, and a pointer. "There's Princess Celestia at the top!" Discord began.

"And then there's me!" Blueblood interrupted.

"No! That's me, and my buddy Spike!" Discord replied. "Then there's the Mane Six, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer...."

"And then there's me!"

"Hold on! Let me get there!" Discord continues. "There are the Secondary Characters! Those are the Background Characters! There's pigeon poops! And then there's you!" Discord finished, pointing at a picture of Prince Blueblood, holding a mop, and a no. Rage Face meme expression on his face.

"What?!" Blueblood exclaimed in outrage, looking at the chart, before he looked up at the draconequus. "You aren't even trying to get my face right."

"You're not even concerned with the fact that you're lower than pigeon poops?" Discord asked.

"Oh no, I am concerned," Blueblood replied. "Very very concerned. It's just that, if I am going to be the most hated character, just because of my underrated awesomeness. The least you can do, is make me look good, doing it."

"Oh I wouldn't be too sure about that," With that, Discord snapped his fingers, and Blueblood was changed.

"OH NO!!" Blueblood wailed. "Now my beautiful face is ruined!"

"I don't know, you look alright to me," Discord grinned trollishly, revealing that he had transfigured Blueblood's face to that of a troll.

Take 3


"My little po-"






Snips and Snails were back on their feet, as they try another attempt to steal the Sun Stone.

Thanks to Discord, they had eliminated G1. Now they had to get past G2, and G3.

"Generation 2 I do not mean to grow some gripes, but these characters were ragging to the girly stereotypes~," Discord explained in song. "And generation 3 is just too awful and too tragic~"

"WE ARE NUMBER ONE!! WAH!!!" Snips and Snails chanted.





The generation 2 ponies were at an ice cream shop, enjoying some sundaes, when Snips and Snails came and launched a water balloon at them.

In response, one of the ponies got out a straw, and shot a spitball at the boys, which the boys responded by ducking their heads.

"Haha! Wah!" Snips laughed. "You missed me, you missed me! Now you gotta kiss me!"

The pony cringed in disgust, "Ew! Uh uh!" she said.

"WAH!!" Snips moaned.

"Have a rotten day!" With that, Snails throws a bomb, resulting in a huge explosion.

With that, the boys took off running past the ponies, before they opened a gate, and entered. However, no sooner they did, they came out, spluttering in fear.

Take 4


"My little-"






"Here are the vegetables you ordered," a G4 pony said, as she unloads the box containing tomatoes.

"No, no, I didn't say tomato, I said tomato!" Discord replied.

"It's pronounced tomato!" the delivery pony replied.

"Where do you come from? I say it's tomato!"

"I say it's tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato! Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"Tomato!"

"I say it's tomato!" the delivery pony replied. "If you don't like it, then you can pack up and leave the story!"

"Okay then missy," Discord replied, feigning defeat. "Have it your way, it's tomato!" With that, Discord took off in a flash of light, leaving the pony to smile in satisfaction, before she realized she's been duped. "Ain't I a stinker?" Discord asked the readers.

Take 5

"So, tell me, mein fraulein. When did you start hearing these voices? Was it something in your childhood, perhaps? Very deep in your subconscious mind? Search your memory." Then he got torched by her possessed breath, to which he replied, "You're blocking."

Take 6

"Duh, you sure she won't notice it's missing?" Draggle asked.

"Trust me," Reeka replied, as the two girls were bringing their buckets up a set of stairs. "Just let me do the talking."

Hydia, who was standing over a volcano pit, turned around, "About time!" she grumbled. "Did you get everything?"

"All of it," Reeka replied, as she hands the buckets over. "Everything."

"Excellent," Hydia exclaimed.



"Hold everything!" Discord shouted, appearing in a police officer's uniform, swiping the bucket away.

"Discord?" Hydia exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Everything, eh?" Discord asked, before he conjures a magnifying glass. "I'll be the judge of that!" With that, Discord help the glass over, and his eyeball switches to x-ray vision.

"Uh, no need for inspections," Reeka insisted. "Really! We got-" the fat witch was interrupted, when Discord snapped his fingers, conjuring some chains to grab ahold of the two girls, and donuts were shoved into their mouths, silencing, and torturing them.

"You have the right to remain silence!" Discord barked. "Anything you say can and will be used against you!" With that, Discord continues his inspections. "Let's see: Muck, to give the Smooze power and strength! Check! Slime, to make it slippery! Check! Fungus, for some added zips! Check!" Discord went through the whole ingredients, before he came to the last part. "And finally, the chemical X of all! The flume!" Discord looked, before he alerted, "But dost my eyes deceive me? No flume?!!"

"NO FLUME?!!" Hydia exclaimed, before she and Discord turned to her daughters.





The two girls were released form their restraints, and spatted the donuts out of their mouths, "Oh! But master! We-"

"You dare to deceive me with no flume?!" Hydia growled.

"Duuuuuh, we forgot?" Draggle shrugged.

Grabbing the two girls by their necks, Hydia threw them out, "You girls will get the flume, or GET THE BROOM!!!!" she roared. "NOW GO!! OR IT'S TARTARUS YOU GO!!!"





"This is a fine mess we're in!" Reeka grumbled. "We could've gotten away with it too! If it hadn't been for that meddling tattle-taler!"

"Well what can I say?" Discord asked, appearing in a flash of light. "It's not nice to lie to your mother."

"Ooh, you!" Reeka growled, as she charges after Discord, only to be hit in the face with cream pie.

"Don't worry girls," Discord began. "I'm going to help you get your precious flume."

In a flash of light, the three were in a mountain area, where they soon found a strange looking plant, that had moving spiky vines, and a huge red flower on top, shaped like a carnivorous jaw.

"There it is!" Reeka said. "Now, how are we going to get the-What the? What are you doing?" Reeka asked, when she noticed Discord squirting both her and Draggle with a strange liquid.

"I'm protecting you girls," Discord replied. "Whomping Willows cannot stand the smell of Heinz Horse Radish," He said, showing the bottle.

"Duh, I thought we were here for the Flume," Draggle said. "Not Whompign Willows."

"Oh, well silly me!" Discord grinned trollishly. "Horse radish is what Flumes loved best of all." With a maniacal laugh, Discord kicked the girls away. "Good luck girls!" With that, Discord disappears in a flash of light, while the two unfortunate witches were left to confront the Flume.

"Oh no!" Reeka moaned.

The Flume caught scent of horse radish from the witches, and it turned its jaws, licking hungrily at the girls.

"Duh, dinner is served!" Draggle said.

"What?!" Reeka exclaimed, before she was grabbed by the plant. "Do I look like dinner to you? Wait, don't answer that! HELP!!!" Reeka was soon swallowed whole by the plant, before she poked her head out, "DRAGGLE!!!"

Scrambling to her feet, Draggle picked up a huge stick, "Duh, don't look away Reeka!" Draggle said. "Duh, I'll-uh, uh-" Discord's hand appeared, with a document titled: Script. Draggle looked at the script, "Duh, I can't read."

"SAVE ME!!!" Reeka shouted.

"Duh, yeah, yeah!" Draggle bonked herself. "Save you! That's what I was going to say! I'll save you, Reeka!"

Reeka was keeping the Flume's jaws apart, as she struggled to escape for dear life, "AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!" Reeka screamed, after losing her grips on one of the jaws, resulting the Flume to snap on one of her stubby little foot, causing her to jump in the air, before she fell back into its hungry mouth.

Draggle kept on running to the rescue, when she tripped on a rock, and fell flat on her face.

Reeka was still wrestling for dear life, keeping the plant monster from closing its mouth on her, "OW!!" Reeka shouted, when one of its tentacles whipped her hand, allowing it to snap its mouth on her.

"GIVE HER BACK!!" Draggle shouted, dropping the club on the plant.

"DRA-" Reeka shouted, popping out of the plant's mouth, only to get bonked on the head by Draggle in the process, forcing her back down.

"Oops," Draggle said, meekly.

Take 7


"My little-"




"Oh surprise. Discord's back.





"Get those little ponies!" Catrina ordered.

"Game over flutter ponies!" Tirek added.

"Hit the road, sea ponies!" Squirk said.

"Take a hike, Pinkie!" Discord said.

Take 8

Reeka was still getting thrashed around like rag dolls by the Flume. That is, until Draggle manages to swing a pickaxe at the plant, causing it to bleed a strange orange liquid, which she was able to collect in a small bottle.

The Flume, enraged on getting struck, grabbed Draggle by the neck, before it thrashed her around as well.

Having enough, Reeka bit one of the plant's tentacle, causing it to scream in pain, as it tossed the girls away.

"Good riddance," Reeka moaned.

"Duh, at least we got the Flume," Draggle said, holding up the said bottle.

"We do?" Reeka quickly snatched the bottle away, before she looked to see the said content. "We did it! We got the Flume!"

With that, both Reeka and Draggle danced around happily. However, their celebration was cut short, when they heard a loud roar, and looked to see the Flume, uprooting itself, and walking on more tentacles, fueled with an even greater desire to eat the girls.

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!" Reeka screamed, jumping into Draggle's arm, who was surprisingly strong enough to hold her fat sister. "DON'T LET IT GET ME!! DON'T LET IT GET ME!!"

With that, the two girls beat feet, with an angry plant monster after them.

Take 9

Snips and Snails later got back up, and shot a wire at the tower, from the cliff of a mountain. With that, the two troublemakers began their next attempt to steal the Sun Stone.

"Ready for this, Snails?" Snips asked.

"Wah, I'm having second thoughts!" Snails replied.

"C'mon! Don't be a chicken!" Snips replied. "Think of all the ladies we'll attract after this!"

"Wah! The ladies," With that, Snails got out a huge pole, as he and Snips began their latest tightrope walking event.

They barely made it halfway, and already Snails was showing signs that he was going to soil himself, "Wah," Snips groaned. "I don't know if we can do this!"

"It's a-simple, Snails!" Snips replied. "Just follow the rules!"

"Rules?" Snails asked. "What rules?"

"Wah!" Snips began. "Rule #1: Keep your eyes on the wire, and have feet like monkeys!" he answered. " Rule #2:  It's always good to wear underwear when you're up this high.  Otherwise, you'll attract a sizeable crowd."

"Wah?!" Snails exclaimed.

"Now to Rule #3," Snips began, before he hesitated.

"What's Rule #3?" Snails asked.

"Wah! I don't know," Snips replied. "I always forget what rule number 3 is," Snips began to ponder, "Rule #1: Eyes and feet. Rule #2: Underwear," As Snips pondered, both he and Snails suddenly started to lose balance, as they were waving back and forth, on the rope, threatening to fall, "Wah! Rule #3 is definitely not this! Or this! Or certainly, this!"

"Wah! I figured what rule number three is!" Snails answered.  "RULE NUMBER 3 -- DROP THE STICK AND RUN LIKE HELLLLL!!!!!!" With that, both boys dropped the stick, as they run towards the tower, and lunged forward.

Both boys got up, and gasped, "Wah! We did it! We did it!" they cheered.

"I'm number one!~" Snips sang, while Snips did a little dance. "I'm number, number, number one~!"

"Wah! Let's take a picture of this moment for posterity!" With that, Snails got out his phone, as he snaps several selfies of himself.

"Hurry up! Will ya?" Snips ordered, as both he and Snails went straight to work, carefully lifting the Sun Stone, off its stand. "You're gonna buy us a harem of girls!" Snips said to the Sun Stone.

"And you're gonna buy us everything we need to turn our basement into a REC room!" Snails added.

"And you're gonna buy us xXAngeLuciferXx!!" Both boys started to heave up the gemstone, when a breezie appeared.

"HALT!!" the breezie shouted, in a hi-pitch voice. "Don't you lift the Sun Stone! Or pay the consequence!"

"Wah!" Snips replied. "And how are you going to stop us?"

"Darlings!" Generation 3 Rainbow Dash greeted.



Take 10

"WWWWAAAAAAAHHH!!!" Snips and Snails screamed, before they took off running, for the sake of their sanity.

"It's official," Discord began. "Never hire two Wario Bros. to do a draconequus's work!" With that, Discord got to work, snapping his fingers, appearing next to the Sun Stone, and was about to pick it up, when Gen. 3 Rainbow Dash appeared.

"Why darling!" the pony began. "Isn't it just a darling day, darling?"

"Blech!" Discord groaned, making a puking gesture. "What did I tell ya? Too awful and too tragic," Discord said to the readers, before he turned to the pony. "Say, I hear you always dress in style."

"Why, I certainly do darling," Rainbow Dash said. 



"Will this take long? I'm starting to get very queasy with this conversation!"



"Don't worry," Discord replied. "I've got just the cure from Rated-Ponystar himself," Turning to Rainbow Dash, Discord began, "You like to dress in style? DRESS IN THIS!!"

With that, Discord pulled a curtain down, as random sounds can be heard. Soon, the curtain lifted for the readers to see.



"WHAT THE-" Gen. 4 Rainbow Dash exclaimed, clearly having switched place with her Gen. 3 counterpart, who was standing on the sideline, bewildered.

Meanwhile, Discord stood, holding the Sun Stone in his eagle claw, while his lion paw was holding a sign that reads: "Please send your complaints to Rated Ponystar for this!"

"Discord!" Gen. 4 Rainbow Dash snarled. "What the hay are you doing?"

Gen. 3 Rainbow Dash gasped, "Why darling, I never thought I'd hear such language."

Gen. 4 Rainbow Dash turned to see her previous generation counterpart, "Who are you?" Then, she turned to see Discord tip-toeing away. "HEY!! YOU GET BACK HERE!!"

"You'll have to catch me first!" With that, Discord revved his feet up into wheels. "Adios, my darling!"

Just then, a voice shouted, "FREEZE!!" With that, Discord froze up as a statue in place.

Soon, an anthro mare, with numbers 00284 on her right cheek, brown coat, gold colored mane and tail, dressed in a black jumpsuit arrived. Furthermore, she has a very noticeable busty feature, somewhere about the sizes of DD, "Come on! Put your hands up!"

"But you told me to freeze!" Discord replied, through his frozen mouth.

"Alright, alright, unfreeze!" With that, Discord turned himself back to normal. "You're under arrest for mass vandalism of the MLP franchise."

Discord turned to face the pony, "No! It wasn't me! It was the one armed brony!" Discord pleaded. "Alright! I confess! I did it, ya hear? And I'm glad! GLAD I TELL YOU!!" Discord then got down on his knees, "What are they going to do to my sarge?" Discord then grabbed the pony by his neck, and shook violently, "WHAT ARE THEY GOIND TO DO?!!!!"

In response, the pony placed the handcuffs on Discord's hands, "Sorry, mister," the mare replied. "Not my department," Turning to the cops besides her, she ordered, "Search him!"

With that, the ponies helped Discord up to his legs, "OW!" Discord groaned. "Where's a camcorder when you need one?" Discord snorted at the last part.





"Rubber chicken."

"Weird looking sunglasses.

"Bowling pin."

*SNAP*

"OW! Mousetrap."





"Carrot!"

"A little to the lift," Discord said. "That's it. Much better."

"I don't know."





"Cotton candy."

"Chocolate milk."

"Candy cane."

"Dancing candles."

"Crumbled up newspaper."

"My snacks, if you please," Discord said.





"Invisible Spray Paint."

"Disintegrating pistol."

"Blackhole."

"Sausage."

"It's my invitation to a party with it," Discord replied.





"Fake bit."

"Fake vomit."

"Real vomit."

"EW!!"





"Funny eyeball glasses?"

"I've never seen those before in my life," Discord replied.

"Bazooka?"

"I have a permit for that," Discord said in his defense.





"Picture of Fancy Pants!"

"What?!"

"Uh oh," Discord said.

[img][img]http://fancy-pants-adventure.com/images/fancy-pants-adventure.jpg[/img]

"MY PANTS!!!" the mare looked at Discord, "You son of a bitch!"

"Geez, I figured you might have a sense of humor!" Discord replied. "After all! YOU STALKED HIM!" the mare screamed angrily, while Discord slapped her in the face repeatedly, together with Gen. 3 Rainbow Dash. "That's gotta hurt!" With a trollish grin, accompanied with raspberry, Discord took off, with the Sun Stone.

"GET HIM!!" the mare ordered, before she later finds out too late, she was handcuffed to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow!" she grumbled.





Discord, Snips, and Snails were running for dear life, before the draconequus quickly barred the gates to Flutter Valley, before he and the boys turned, and finds themselves surrounded by more ponies in black jumpsuit, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Discord screamed, with his skull flying out of his skin, his eyeballs out of their sockets, and his tongue cartoonishly extended, before they all retreated back into his head.

"It's all over now!" a pegasus named Flash Sentry said through a megaphone. "Drop the stone, then put your hands over your head, or we'll be shooting ourselves!"

"WAH!!" Snips moaned. "What do we do now boss?"

Looking around, Discord grinned, as he snaps his fingers, "Hit it!" He said, cueing some lights, before both he and the boys were dressed in mariachi costumes, together with a jazzy upbeat music playing in the background.





As the music plays, the three boys danced around, while the cops find themselves getting into the grooves. Discord started singing in a suave voice, before he conjured up some rattles to play with.

Meanwhile....

"My," Gen. 3 Rainbow Dash began. "Isn't it a darl-"

"Shut up, and get me down!" the mare grumbled. 

In the meantime, Discord, Snips, and Snails, were leading the ponies, in a conga line. Once Gen. 3 RD, and the mare got down to the ground, they looked, to see the three boys were leading the ponies in a dance. Gen. 3 RD couldn't help but get into the groove, only to be stopped by the angry mare.

"Start dancing again, and I'll blow your brain out!" the mare threatened. With that, she pulled out a gun, and pulled the trigger in the air.

"See ya!" Discord said, as he, Snips, and Snails made a run for it.

"Come on! This dance is over!" the mare barked, as she snapped all of the cops out of their trances. "Look! There he is!"

Discord blew a raspberry, as he and the boys disappeared in a flash of light.





"I DID IT!!" Discord said hysterically, as he quickly boarded the entrance with boards, as he hammers them in place. "I REALLY DID IT!!!" With that task done, both Discord and the boys got into a vehicle, as they drove away, "So long, Nihashi! You dope!" Discord laughed. "If I never see her again, it'd be too soon! WHOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO! HOO HOO!"

Just then, Gen. 3 Rainbow Dash appeared, "Our cartoon would've been cuter, darlings," Gen. 3 Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh brother!" Discord and the boys cringed. "NOT THAT!!!"

With that, the boys all pounced on the little pony, beating her up.












> Mission Rogue Diamond Part 1: Reflections
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Past
[What Dreams Are Made Of(Piano version)]

Princess Celestia was at the top of a mountain, as she lowered the sun, and makes way for the night. Celestia looked up, at the moon, and sighed longingly, upon noticing the face of an alicorn in particular on the moon.

"Oh Luna," Celestia closed her eyes, as she remembered the Luna she once knew.

"Hi auntie!" Spike's voice rang, which snapped Celestia back to reality.

Celestia looked, to see Spike, at the top of another mountain, with Flare, and some night guards, levitating a grand piano, via airship.

"Thanks guys," Spike replied. "I can take it from here," Spike was about to take a seat, when Celestia came over.

"Spike!" Celestia exclaimed. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Well, normally yes," Spike replied. "But I have song I wanted to sing for aunt Luna, before I go to bed. It is her birthday after all."

Celestia couldn't help but smile, as she shook her head, bewildered by her boy, "That's sweet of you, Spike. But still, it's past your bedtime."

"But mom. You will always get to talk to auntie, when you're up here! Besides, this'll only take a minute or two. I just want auntie to hear me, on her birthday too."

Knowing she can't talk Spike out of it, Celestia reluctantly nodded her head, "Alright, Spike. Sing."

With that, Spike cracked his knuckles, as gave the piano a few warm ups, before went on to play with its keys, and started to sing a loving, soothing song. Both Celestia and Spike didn't know it then, but Luna was practically crying her eyes out, to hear something so heartwarming from the nephew she never knew.

Still in the past.....

A little filly was sneaking out of a cabin, in the wood, she and her fellow campers were staying in. While the others were asleep, the filly went out to the dock, and marveled at the beautiful display of the night sky, and its reflections in the lake. 

The filly sniffed the air, 'Sure is a beautiful night,' the filly sighed.

Just then, she hears a haunting voice, singing, "Have you ever seen such a beautiful night?~" The filly turned her head in the direction of the voice, surprised to see a dragon, on clouds, flying circles around the moon's reflection.

"I could almost kiss the stars, for shining so bright~" the dragon sang. "When I see you smile, and I go oh oh oh~"

The filly smiled, and giggled as she continues to watch the dragon singing the night away.




Sometimes, during the previous chapter

After sensing her beloved son in dire peril, Princess Celestia quickly casts a spell, to locate Spike's whereabout. Once she got a lock on the Dragon Prince's location, she began casting another spell, healing him via the glowing symbols on his hands.

Once the task was done, Celestia had a solemn look on her face.

"Oh Spike," she muttered. "Why does it have to be so soon?" Gazing at a nearby picture stand, which holds a picture of her and Spike's recent reunion, Celestia levitated the photo up close. "Why are you always getting yourself in troubles, where I might lose you?" She asked, while holding the photo close to her chest.




Later

Princess Celestia was anxiously pacing back and forth, in the throne room, "Okay, I'll just send him a letter," Celestia said to herself. "I'll just say that it's an important-no! That won't do!"

Two of her royal guards, in the room, looked to each other, "Are we suppose to say something?" one of them asked.

"I don't think so," the other replied, before they both resumed their posts.

Just then, Princess Cadence walked into the room, "Auntie?" Cadence asked, making herself known.

"AAAAH!!!" Celestia yelped. Out of surprised impulse, Celestia blasted a beam of magic at Cadence, who was quick enough to project a magic bubble, shielding herself from her aunt's attack. "Cadence!" Celestia gasped, realizing who she attacked. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay, auntie," Cadence replied, dispersing her bubble shield. "Really."

Celestia lets out a sigh of relief, "Thank heavens," the sun princess sighed, before she pulled the younger alicorn in a loving embrace, with her wings. "Don't ever scare me like that, ever again, Mi Amore."

Cadence, finding it hard to breathe, struggled to escape the embrace, "If I may ask, auntie. What were you frantically going on about?" With that, Celestia explained the situation she had experienced with Spike's recent ordeal, through a dream she had, along with a magical link the two shared.

Cadence could hardly believe every words, "Oh dear!"

"If I hadn't sensed him in danger in time, he would've-" Celestia dared not to go any further. "I should've been there for him. I would've protected him from those monsters! And then he wouldn't have lost his powers, right now," With that, Celestia went into a state of panic, "And without his powers, how will he survive in this world of ours? What if he falls into an endless pit? What if he gets chased by a manticore and can't change into a dragon to fight it off? And worse, what if he gets a broken leg and can't walk for a year?!"

In response, Cadence's horns was surrounded in a light blue aura, as she shot a blast of water into Celestia's face.

"Auntie! Calm down!" Cadence spoke. "The important thing is, cousin Spike's safe, and sound," Conjuring a scroll, Cadence unrolled it for her aunt to see, "Twilight said so herself."  

Taking the scroll in her aura, Celestia looked, seeing it all written in her prized pupil's writings, feeling calmer with every words. Even more, when she sees a moving picture attached at the bottom. In appearance, the photo was that of her son, smiling and waving to her, before he got squished to the side, when Pinkie joined in the picture.

Celestia chuckled in amusement, "Oh, my baby's alright," Celestia quickly frowned, as she dropped the letter to the ground. "For now."

Cadence walked over, and placed a comforting hoof on her aunt's shoulder, "Spike can take care of himself, auntie," Cadence explained. "He's a fighter, remember? General Scorpan taught him the martial arts. And what's more, he's got Twilight and the others looking after him."

"I know, I know," Celestia replied. "But still, I......I really wished I could be there for him, all the way! From what Scorpan has told me about their stay on Earth, they've gone to many locations at the four corners of Earth. Making lots of friends from around the world, learning new forms of cultures, and their own styles of fighting, and earning high levels in each one. Feeling what really is an adventure," Celestia looked down, as a single tear escaped her eyes, "While I'm stuck here in Canterlot, just confined to carry out the duties of both myself, and Luna, protecting the ponies in Canterlot, and worrying something wrong could happen to Spike, Twilight, and all the little ponies of Equestria."

"Auntie," Cadence began.

"I don't mean to be selfish, Cadence," Celestia continued. "But sometimes, I wish I can just keep Spike close, and never let him go."

"But then, he won't be out there, helping Fleur find her parents, save the griffons, penguins, yaks, and all other creatures in need of his help," Cadence replied. 

"Yes, I know," Celestia answered, while looking up at an image of Luna. "I just don't want to lose him," Celestia admitted. "Not like last time, and before that."

In response, Cadence walked over, and embraced her aunt with her wings, who returned the affection. During this whole scene, Princess Luna stood in the room, invisibly, sympathizing with Celestia.

Suddenly, Prince Blueblood literally dropped in, startling both Celestia and Cadence.

"Prince Blueblood?!" Celestia and Cadence exclaimed.

"So," Cadence began. "How goes your 'heroic' adventure?"

In response, Blueblood waved a white flag, "Spike Drake can be the hero. I quit," the stallion groaned, before he collapsed on the floor.




Way Earlier

Somewhere in New York, in a small cafe, chaos was brewing. All of the patterns were arguing among themselves. And if they hadn't spent all their time arguing, raising their voices over each other's, then they would've likely heard a melodic harmonization in the air, courtesy of three hooded figures, each adorned with a glowing red medallion on their neck.

As the figures harmonized, a faint green mist appeared, before it was absorbed into their medallion.

One the task was completed, two of the figure pulled their hoods down, revealing themselves to be teenage girls. 

In appearance, the first girl had a long moderate purple hair with light brilliant aquamarine streaks done up in long pigtails, courtesy of the sparkling white stars adorned in her hair, and two long bangs that framed her moderate mulberry eyes, with matching eyeshadows.

The one next to her had a long light arctic blue hair with moderate persian blue stripes, tied in a ponytail by a blue band, and moderate raspberry eyes, with light blue eyeshadows over.

"That was barely worth the effort, Adagio," the first girl grumbled. "I'm tired of fast food. I need a meal."

"The energy in this world isn't the same as in Equestria," Adagio replied, pulling her hood, revealing she had huge luminous vivid orange poofy hair, that is tied in a ponytail, by a dark purple band with spikes, and brilliant raspberry eyes. "We can only gain so much power here," 

"Ugh! I wish we'd never been banished to this awful place!" the dark haired girl grumbled.

"Really? I love it here!" Adagio replied sarcastically, before she finishes with a frown.

"For realsies?" the blue hair girl asked. "Because I think this place is the worst."

"I think you're the worst, Sonata," the purple hair girl snarled.

Frowning in disgust, Sonata raised her head up, "Oh, yeah? Well, I think you're—"

"Argh!" Adagio growled. "I'll tell you one thing, being stuck here with you two isn't making this world any more bearable," the girl grumbled at the last part, through clench teeth.

Just then, Adagio felt a disturbance outside of the cafe. Rushing out, she and the girls watched to see storm clouds rolling in. Then, squinting her eyes a bit, Adagio could've sworn she saw a dragon, flying through New York, with Nightmare Moon flying close by. Before long, there was a loud roar, a flash of light, and a puff of black smoke flew in the air, before it came crashing down, somewhere. Afterwards, six multicolored orbs flew up, dancing in the air, before they zipped away. In response to this strange event, the medallions on the three girls' necks glowed.

"Did you feel that?!" Adagio gasped, before a menacing grin appeared on her face. "Do you know what that is?" she asked to her companions, who were initially silent. "It's the Dragonfire, and Equestrian magic!" Adagio answered.

"But there hasn't been a Dragonfire on Earth, in like, a millennia," the purple hair girl replied. "Let alone, Equestrian magic."

"There are now," Adagio replied. "And when we find them, we're going to use it to make everyone in this pathetic world, and Equestria, adore us!!"

With that, Adagio lets out a sinister chuckle, followed by the girls at her sides.




Meanwhile, back in Equestria

After their first encounter with the infamous Cerulean Hunters, the heroes returned to Ponyville, together with a fully redeemed Dragon Lord Ember, and their new allies: Captain Celaeno and Daring Do.





"WELCOME HOME EVERYPONY!!" Pinkie Pie cheered, appearing in a puff of confetti.

"BWAH!!" Spike yelped, before he patted his chest rapidly. "Pinkie!"

"BWAH to you too, Spike!" Pinkie giggled.

"Oh my!" Rarity exclaimed, trotting over, seeing the states the returning heroes were in. "Darlings, whatever happened to you all?"





The friends were later at Friendship Castle, where they told the whole story to the rest of the group.

"And that's how it happened," Spike finished.

"Goodness!" Rarity gasped. "You actually did battle with the Cerulean Hunters?"

"And you managed to escape them in one piece?" Twilight asked.

"You better believe it," Applejack replied. "Those dadgum varmints may not be all in the hocus pocus businesses. But they still do know how to play dirty!"

"Oui," Fleur agreed.

"I'll say," Spike replied. "I'm still smarten from all the fighting I had to do with them, even when I went dragon."

"Speaking of," Rainbow grimaced. "Spike's dragon is kinda out of the picture for now."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"Spike got hit with an MPG by one of the hunters," Applejack answered.

"An MPG?" Twilight repeated.

"Pray tell? What is an MPG?" Rarity inquired.

"Mass Party Gear?" Pinkie answered hopefully.

"I'd wish," Spike grumbled.

"And that's not the big surprise," Rainbow began. "You'll never believe who else was there!"





Later, Spike was out for a walk in Ponyville, with Peewee perching on his shoulder, preening himself.

After he and the others had finished talking to the rest of their friends about their recent adventure, while including the mention of Midnight Castle, from the Shadowbolts, Twilight began doing some heavy research, and insisted to be left alone for awhile.

While walking down the streets of Ponyville, Spike looked around to see every pony going about their days, smiling, laughing, and gossiping with their friends. He looked up the sky, to see the pegasi flying, pushing the clouds, making the weathers for everyone around town.

"Yo, Spike!" Spike turned around, and was greeted with his boys, the Knights.

"Hey guys!" Spike greeted, as he and the boys exchange fist bumps. "What up?"

"We just got back from New York," Rumble replied. "We just got back from New York, when we were told your dragon game was off, for now."

"Sadly, yes," Spike frowned. "Some jerks who go by the name the Cerulean Hunters have captured Fleur and the others. And when I tried to rescue them, they dropped some grenades on me, that just completely switched my powers off."

"Oh no," Tenders groaned, as the Knights all exchanged their disappointments for their friend.

"That must be terrible to lose your powers like that," Pipsqueak said. "Cause then you've go no way to fly, to breath fire."

"Or to change into a dragon," Featherweight added.

"Should've seen this one coming," Button said. "I mean, even superman has his kryptonite."

Spike nodded his head, agreeing with his boys about his current status.

"But at least you can still fight," Rumble said, trying to make things less negative for the Dragon Prince. "Right?"

"Of course," Spike smirked, lightly. "Uncle didn't just take me to Earth, and learn the martial arts for nothing. And I'm not one to let it all be in vain."

"Yeah!" the boys cheered.

"YEAH!!!" a really buffed white Pegasus stallion roared.

"BWAH!!!" the boys, including Spike, startled, before beating their chests rapidly.

"Bulk Biceps?" Rumble asked, "Is that you?"

"You bet little man!" the stallion answered, as he did some bodybuilding moves. "YEAH!" He roared, literally blowing the boys away. Then, turning his attention to a clock, Bulk gasped, "OH NO!" He exclaimed. "I'm going to be late for my job!" With that, the stallion took off running.

"Wow," Pipsqueak gasped. "Who knew, another one of our classmate is from Equestria?"

"Yeah, who knew?" Button asked, before darting his eyes to Spike.

"Don't look at me," Spike waved his hands in defense. "Even I don't know we've had Equestrian classmates."

Before the boys' conversation could go on any further, a loud scream was heard.

"Someone's in trouble!" Spike said, as he reached into his cape, pulls out his skateboard, and took off.

"Yo, Spike!" Rumble said, as he dons himself a hockey mask. "Wait up!"

The Five Knights all took off, running for their friend.





"Get away from me, you brutes!" a mare snarled, struggling to break free from some stallions, being led by a bigger anthropomorphic brute.

"Pipe down, will you?" the brute ordered. "Your struggle will only hurt you even more!" The other ponies around them were unable to help, due to being frightened at the situation, and couldn't comprehend. "Take her away, boys!" the leader ordered.

[Fighting is Magic - Rainbow Dash Stage]

Just then, Spike arrived on the scene. And with a spin of his skateboard, he collided with one of the thugs, knocking him away, before he somersaulted to the side and landed a dropkick to one of the other thugs.

Stepping on his skateboard, catching it in the air, Spike turned to the mare, "You okay miss?" he asked.

"I am now," the mare replied.

In appearance, the mare has moderate opal eyes, dark grayish indigo mane and tail, decorated with dark indigo highlights that turns moderate opal on the way down. She had light acquamarineish gray coat, covered by a dark top, coupled with a dark blue transparent skirt that slightly masks a cutie mark that resembles a gold star, decorated with multi-colored musical notes.

Upon looking at Spike, the mare gasped, "Spike?!"

"Look out!" With that, Spike forced the mare's head down, dodging a club that one of the thugs had swung.

Before the thug could swing again, a hockey puck was shot, knocking the club out of the stallion's mouth, breaking a few teeth in the process.

"Don't worry Spike!" Rumble shouted, as he skated to the scene. "We got your BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKK!!!!" the boy screamed at the last part, when he accidentally skated on a banana peel, and slid into one of the thugs, sending both of them rolling in a ball, before colliding into a cherry stand.

"My stand!!" the merchant exclaimed, before he glared angrily at the thug, and Rumble.

Just then, the rest of the Knights arrived, "Don't worry Spike!" Button said, as he held out a Minecraft pickaxe, and stood in a fighting stance. "We really got your back!"

"Do we have to say that every time we're helping Spike?" Tender Taps asked.

"Why not? It's our catchphrase," Button replied. "All superheroes and sidekicks should have one!"

The mare turned to Spike, "Who are they?" she asked, with a questionable look on her face.

"My friends," Spike replied.

"And who are we," the leader asked. "Chopped livers?"

"Who do you think you guys are?" Spike asked, as he stood defensively over the mare. "Picking on this sweet mare?"

"We'll soon becoming rich ponies, when we're through with her!" the brute said. "Now out of our way!"

"You want her?" Spike asked, while getting in fighting stance. "You'll have to go through me!"

"And me!" Button Mash added, as he and the Knights jumped in.

The brutish leader scoffed, "Alright boys," the leader began, as he snaps his fingers. "Let 'em have it!"

With that, a fight broke out between the thugs, and the boys.

Surrounding themselves in auras of dark magics, the thugs quickly shifted their forms into anthros, as they lunged towards the Knights, throwing kicks, and punches.

One of the thugs lunged after Spike, throwing some punches, while Spike grabs ahold of his cape, and waves it around, reflecting a bit of Celestia's sun into the thug's eyes, blinding him momentarily, before he punches the thug in the snout, followed by a 540 gyro crescent kick. Then, another thug ran up, and grabbed Spike's right shoulder from behind. Reacting fast, Spike spins to his right, raising both his arms to block an attempted sucker punch, before wrapping his left arm around the punching arm, and key-locks it with his right arm. Then, exerting some forces, he knocks his opponent off balance, forcing him to the ground, before the dragon thrusts his hip forward, inflicting the pain, while slightly dislocating the thug's shoulder in the process.

Meanwhile, the other Knights were having the fight of their life. One of the thugs thrusted his fist at Button Mash, before he got on the ground, and thrusted both his hoofed legs at the nerdy boy, who quickly blocked it with a cross block, all the while being forced back slightly. Button Mash looked up, as the thug jumps in the air, and did an axe kick, bringing his foot down on the boy, who rolled forward, dodging the attack. Turning around, seeing his opponent setting his sight on him once more, Button broke into a run, with the thug behind him, giving chase.

Rumble was fighting another thug, using his hockey stick to deflect strikes, while countering with strikes of his own. With another spin of his stick, Rumble struck the thug, in between his leg. With a spin, Rumble took out a golf club, and landed the club end to the thug's face, resulting in a black eye.

"AIYAAAAH!!!" Rumble roared, preparing to bring both sticks on his opponent. However, the thug quickly grabs the two sticks, before he head butted Rumble away. 

Thanks to his mask, Rumble's head didn't suffer any bruises. His opponent, more angrier than ever, took possession of the boy's weapons, as he advances on him. In response, Rumble reaches behind his back, and unsheathes the Sword of Honor. Unfazed, the thug continues his attack, as he swings the hockey stick and golf club around, at Rumble, who blocks the attacks with his sword. Reaching into his pocket, Rumble hurled another hockey puck at the thug, who failed to deflect it with the hockey stick. Distracted, the thug rubbed his sore nose, while Rumble skated forward, and punched the thug, with the sword's hilt.

"How you like that?" Rumble smirked, before his sword got blasted away via magic, by one of the thugs, who happens to be a unicorn. Giving a cheesy grin, Rumble skated for dear life, just when Button came.

"Trade opponent!" Button said, as he rolls beneath Rumble, who leaped over him.

"Me too!" Rumble replied, as he lands into a roll.

However, just as the two boys did that, the thugs who were chasing them colliding with each other, knocking themselves out.

The leader grumbled, "It's official. I'm surrounded by idiots."

The ponies in the area soon came out of hiding, watching in awe at the boys' fight. It wasn't long, when Rainbow Dash arrived at the scene, with the rest of the girls, and their allies, which includes Starlight Glimmer, Trixie, Ember, Mina, Daring Do-under the persona of A.K. Yearling, and Celaeno.

"Oh my!" Fluttershy gasped.

"Darling, be careful!" Rarity cried out to Spike.

Celaeno and A.K. Yearling, watched the boys' fights, and coordinations. They were mostly taken in by Spike's fighting style, thought the Knights' were a different story.

Tender Taps, listening to some musics playing in his headphones, was jumping, and moving to the rhythm of the song, getting himself pumped, and hyped up, as he throws a flurry of punches and kicks at the thug, who retaliated with kicks and punches of his own. The thug had Tender pinned down by his hoofed foot, only for Tender to quickly thrust his fist up, and landed a blow, between the thug's legs, causing him to scream in pain, as he lets the boy up. With that, Tender did a spin kick, which the thug dodged the first spin, only to be kicked in the side of his face by an unsuspecting spin, followed by another. With that, the thug tries to do a spin kick, only for Tender to flip to the side, as he did a gyro 540 kick, sending the thug flying.

A thug was laughing as he holds Pipsqueak away, by the head. Having enough, the short boy bit the thug's hands, forcing him to let go. With that, Pipsqueak ran up to the thug, punching, and kicking, spinning around, before he was kicked in the back, and sent flying into a wall. Drooping down to the ground, Pipsqueak rolled on his back, before he finds himself pinned down by the thug, who placed his foot on the boy's stomach. Desperate, Pipsqueak was about to call for Spike's help, only to see the Dragon Prince, already engaging in close combat with the thugs' leader. Pipsqueak watched, seeing Spike doing battle with the taller thug, just as Spike pulled a technique, by grabbing the leader's legs with his own, key-locks it, and tripping him down. With that, Pipsqueak did the same to his opponent, causing the brute to fall to the ground. Then, getting up and grabbing him by the legs, Pipsqueak kicked the stallion in the butt, causing him to slide away, underneath a merchant stand, where he got stuck.

Meanwhile, Pip's cousin, Featherweight, was fighting another thug, all the while defending a pegasus filly named Zipporwhill. The thug was taller than him, so Featherweight was standing, and balancing himself, on some fence posts to get even wit the giant's height. Featherweight throws a punch out, but the thug easily dodges the attack, before he kicks Feathers off of the stand, before he flips the boy over some more fences. Featherweight quickly got up, and throws a kick.

However, the thug was quick enough to catch the kick, and grabs Featherweight by the leg. With that, the thug pulled him forward on the fence, only for Featherweight to move along with his hands. The thug looked back, seeing what Feather was doing. With that, he pushed Feather backwards, still holding his leg, and forced Feather's arms off the fences. Without his arms, Feathers suffered a painful bumpy ride, along the fence posts.

Once they were at the end, a watermelon was thrown at the thug, forcing him to release his grip on poor Featherweight, who instantly grabbed the inflicted area between his legs, jumping and hooting, trying in vain to shake the pain off. After a moment of collecting himself, the thug turned to Feathers, who quickly looked around, before he caught sight of Spike, kicking the thugs' leader's leg, forcing him down, before he landed a punch to the brute's stomach, and then to his face.

Getting the idea, Featherweight kept his distance from his adversary, who thrusted his fist out. Taking the chance, Feather quickly kicked his opponent's knee, forcing him down, before he strikes him in the stomach, then the face several times. Noticing a nearby crate, Featherweight got on top of it, before he did an aerial kick, putting the thug in a disorienting daze. Then, spotting a nearby lamppost, Feathers quickly jumps onto it, twisted his body from the waist, and kicks the thug away.

Celaeno, impressed by the boys' fights despite their unorthodox methods, turned to Rainbow Dash next to her, "Who be the land lubbers that fights besides, Prince Spike there?"

"Those are the Knights," Rainbow Dash replied. "At least, that's what they call themselves."

"Yeah, before they were called the Five Guys," Applejack replied.

"Aye!" Celaeno replied. "They be the humans allies you ponies have told me so much about?"

"Oh yeah, that's them," Rainbow smirk. "They're real friends of Spike. And a friend of his, is a friend of ours."

Turning back, watching the fight, Celaeno couldn't help but watched the boys intently, as if she was seeing her pirate crew again.

The remaining thugs soon conjured up some weapons, ranging from hooks to knives.

In response, Spike throws his cape to the side, as he pulls out a pair of eskrima sticks. Giving the sticks a whirl, Spike held them out, "It's break time boys!" he said.

With that, the thugs all charged after Spike, who manages to disarm them of their weapons, before he landed a flurry of beatdowns to their heads. Another thug ran up and grabbed the human boy, from behind. Seeing some more thugs coming, Spike jumped out, and thrusted his legs out, kicking them in the face, before he thrusted his legs back, striking the thug behind him, in the groin, before Spike thrusted his sticks back, striking his opponent's arms, fully releasing him. Turning back, Spike grabs the thug by the head, with his sticks, bringing it down, and strikes him with the side of his knee.

Soon, the fight was over. Spike and the Knights emerged, tired, but triumphant. The ponies around them all stomped their hooves in applause, before some officers came to arrest the thugs.

"You are so awesome! /)^3^(\" Rainbow exclaimed.

"That was some forms of fighting you boys got going there," Applejack smiled, before she turned to the Knights, "Though, I can't quite say you boys were good. You're a little...."

"We get it, AJ," Rumble replied. "We're not as good as Spike is."

"Oh don't get me wrong, Sugarcube," Applejack replied. "You may not have all the skills, yet. But ya still got the job done."

"Definitely!" Fluttershy agreed.

"Yup!" Pinkie agreed.

Soon, all of the ponies around them voiced their agreements. The Knights smiled, at all the positive feedbacks they're receiving.

"Aye!" Celaeno said, as she steps forward. "You young scalawags may not look much. But I certainly see brave spirits in all five of you."

"Who are you?" Button asked.

"I be Celaeno," Celaeno answered. "Former captain of the Scarlet Swashbuckler, scourge of the Storm King, and former captain of the Parrot Pirate Crew."

"Whoa!" the Knights exclaimed.

"You guys hear that?!" Rumble asked. "A real pirate!"

"A pirate?!" Pipsqueak gasped, as he walked up to the anthropomorphic parrot. "Wow!" he gasped in admiration of the parrot.

While the boys got themselves acquainted with Celaeno, Spike looked, to see the mare from before coming out of her hiding spot.

"You okay there miss?" Spike asked, as he walks over.

"I am now," the mare replied, smiling widely at Spike. "You were amazing back there!"

"Oh, it was nothing," Spike replied modestly. "Just glad you're alright."

"Well I'll be!" Applejack exclaimed, when she came over. "Rara?!"

"AJ?!" the mare replied.

"Omigosh! I can't believe you're here!" Both mares responded, as they pulled each other in a loving embrace.

"You two know each other?" Spike asked.

"Darn tootin!" Applejack replied. "This here is Rara! My old filly friend from Camp Friendship!"

"Camp friendship?" Spike asked, before he remembered. "Oh yeah! You were that filly who made it on the front page of the Equestria Daily! 'Camp Friendship witnesses the dawn of a new pop star princess of Equestria!' You made quite the headline then," Spike smiled.

Rara blushed, "I don't know about that," she replied.

"Oh don't be so modest, Rara!" Applejack replied. "You've got the most colorful voice, I've ever heard before," Applejack then had a nostalgia look on her face, "Why it felt like just yesterday when we were competing in the talent show at Camp Friendship."




Past








Present

"Ah, the good old days," Applejack sighed.

"Wow, I wished I could've been there, and see it happened," Spike smiled.

Rara smiled, while turning away to hide a blush, 'You and me both, Spike,' she thought.

"So Rara," Applejack began. "How are things? I haven't heard a word from you in ages."

"Sorry AJ," Rara apologized, feeling ashamed of losing touch with her best friend. "I must've been so busy, I guess I kinda forgot."

"Oh? You got a job?" Applejack asked.

"Not a job per se," Rara began, hesitantly. "More like a singing career!"

Applejack gasped, "You mean, you actually made it!"

"You better believe it!" Rara smiled. "Just one song on Equestria's Got Talent, and boom! I'm a pop star!"

"Sweet Celestia! Rara! Congratulations!" Applejack exclaimed, as she happily embraces her friend. "I always knew you could make it!" 

Rara smiled, as she returns the embrace, "Thanks, AJ!"

"Can I get an autograph?" Spike smiled, holding out a notepad, and a pencil for the pop star.

"Of course you may," Rara giggled, as she went ahead and signs away.

"So, what brings you here, Rara?" Applejack asked. "Ya here for some friendly visit, and such?"

"I wish," Rara replied, with a roll of her eyes. "I-" Rara quickly stopped, as she looks around, before she whispered, "Can we go someplace private? I'd rather not be out in the open so much."




Later

"You sure it went this way?" the girl asked.

"For the hundredth time, Aria, yes!" Adagio replied. "I'm sure of it! I can sense the Dragonfire! It's close!" 

"Why are every pony looking at me, funny?" Sonata asked.

"Probably because you're wearing your hat funny, "Aria grumbled.

"Oh," With that, Sonata readjusted her sombrero. "There, how does it look?"

"You moron!" Aria growled, smacking the blue haired girl's hat, causing it to flip upside down, while surprisingly still remains on the girl's head. "Why do we even need a hat?! It's not even raining!"

"Well, I look good in it," Sonata replied, fixing her hat.

"Look good? More worse, is more like it."

Scowling, Sonata crossed her arms together, "Oh yeah? Well you'd look even worserer, wearing it!"

"That's not a word!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not, blue air headed blowfish!"

"Is too, grumpy purple jellyfish!"

With that, the two got into a fight, until Adagio walked over and broke it up.

"Enough!" Adagio growled. "We're never gonna find the Dragonfire, if you two keep bickering like little foals! Now make yourself useful, and maybe find the-"

"Hey is that him?" Sonata asked, pointing to the fight between Spike, and the Knights. "He kinda matches the description. Small, boyish, green hair."

"Do you see any other guys that matches the description, genius?" Aria asked.

Adagio walked closer, observing the boy, and the Knight's fighting styles, "Impressive," Adagio mused. "Such skills, such strength, such prowess," Adagio chuckled, as she rubs her hands together. "Yes, his powers are strong. Just perfect for us to reclaim our own."

"So what are we doing, skulking around here?" Sonata asked. "Let's just start singing already, and feed off of the negative energy of his powers, to restore ours."

"Do you think it's that easy?" Adagio asked. "Obviously, you don't know the stories of the Dragonfire as well as I do. It's going to take more than just a simple song to make the vessel to fall under our spell."

"So what's the plan, exactly?" Aria asked.




Castle of Friendship




Everyone in the room all applauded, at Rara's performance, as the Countess, on TV.

"Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh!" Pinkie chirped. "You're Countess Coloratura! You're Countess Coloratura!"

"Ooh! Real live celebrity!" Button exclaimed, as he excitedly shook the mare by her hoof.

"We weren't expecting you until a few weeks later, for the Helping Hooves Music Festival!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Sorry," Rara apologized. "I hope my sudden appearance didn't conflict with anything planned."

"Darling, why didn't you tell us?" Rarity inquired.

"Well, what would you do, if I tell you who I'm known as?" Rara asked, in which a defeated Rarity slumped in her seat.

"Well, to be honest, Rara," Applejack began, turning to the TV screen. "That doesn't look anything like you."

"You're right," Rara replied. "It's not me. Not the real me, that is," the mare looked down sadly.

The friends in the room looked at the sadden pop star, "Not exactly a dream come true, for you, I take it," Featherweight predicted.

[Reflections - Christina Aguilera]

"No, it's not," Rara muttered. "All I ever wanted was to sing to the world. Let the light inside my heart shine for all the world to see. You know, to answer the call that it's time for me to be awesome and everything," Rara frowned, as she recalled an event she wishes to forget. "But instead, I'm forced to accept the persona of another pony in order to get by," Looking into the crystal walls of the castle, Rara looked at a faint reflection of herself, "Since then, whenever I look in the mirror, all I see was some pony else. The pony every pony will forever know me as."

As Rara explains all that, she easily picture herself, wearing a long pink wig with dark purple streaks, with a dark veil covering her face, together with a purple leather jacket, and jeweled bands around her neck, and front hooves.

Applejack walked over, putting a hoof on Rara's shoulder for comfort. Spike watched, in sympathy. Wanting to cheer the mare up, Spike turned to Rarity, "Hey Rarity," Spike began. "Um, crystal shield please?"

"Um, certainly darling," Rarity complied, as she conjured a crystal for Spike, who walked over to Rara.

"Just needs a little shine up," Spike said to himself, as he polishes the crystal with his cape. "Hey Rara, look," He said, holding the crystal up for Rara to see. "Do you know what I see? I see you, exactly the way you are. Gosh, you're so darn pretty," Spike smiled, which disappeared when he sees it wasn't working. Taking a deep breath, Spike began, "Truth is, I've been there before. Before I was even a hero, or struck by lightning, no pony, besides mom, ever knew the real me."

"They don't?" Rara asked in surprise.

"Nope," Spike frowned, as he begins. "They all think I'm a freak, a nobody, or a monster, all because they think I'm an unpredictable, weird-looking, powerful freak, who will grow up to be a monster," Spike looked down as he frowns. "They judge me, before they even know me."

"Oh, how awful," Fluttershy gasped.

"It's not awful," Rainbow added. "That's just wrong! And sick!"

"But you're the Dragon Prince," Rara replied. "Every pony still gave you respect, didn't they?"

"They only gave me respect, because my mom's Princess Celestia," Spike frowned as he looked away. "But whenever they think I'm not listening, I can still hear all those hurtful gossips they say about me."

"Why of all the nerve!" Ember growled, together with Mina. "You should've just roasted those jerks, right on the spot!"

"And then risk being remembered as a monster, who loses his temper so easily? To be a killer for life?" Spike asked. "That's not me!"

"Sorry," Ember apologized, as she clams herself down.

"The thing is, not all of us can just get accepted, instantly," Spike explained. "We always did have the habit of judging others before we even got the chance to know them, properly. All the more reason why we need to at least try to show them there's more to us, than what they think."

"Is that what you did?" Rara asked.

"Yeah," Spike replied. "It wasn't easy, but let's just say I've made some friends who know the real me. Just as mom believes in me, and uncle Scorpan. Guess it pays to have friends who clearly know the real us."

"Oui," Fleur agreed, as she joined in. "I too have had my shares of false love."

"Really?" Rara asked.

Fleur nodded her head, as she tells the runaway pop star about her life in her old village. How the unicorn warrior was the daughter of two well-known unicorn heroes, and it was through their fame that she was courted and admired by the colts in that village. However, once her parents were gone, Fleur was left as nothing more than a mere shadow of her former glory.

"So, how did you manage to deal with all that negativity?" Rara asked.

"Oh, let's just say I've had some special friends who helped me show the ponies, just how much of a hero I can be," Fleur smiled, directing Rara's attentions to Spike, and most of the girls in the room.

"That's me as well," A.K. Yearling spoke.

"You too, A.K?" Rara asked.

"Well, truth is," A.K. took her guise off, to reveal her true persona. "I'm really Daring Do."

Rara gasped, "Daring Do?!"

"The one and only!" Rainbow Dash fan-girted, before Daring Do cleared her throat. Getting the message, Rainbow Dash went to the sidelines.

"My kind of work always involves secrets," Daring Do began. "And because of that, I think it's best that I never trust any pony. All the reason why I would often put on my A.K.Yearling persona, to hide myself," the pegasus said, pointing to the discarded costumes. "It may sound like a good tactic at first, but overtime, my true identity would be lost to the novel, and I'll only be remembered as a character whom every pony believed to exist in the books."

"I'll say," Rainbow added. "One time, when I attended the Daring Do convention in Manehattan. Some egghead know-it-all named, Quibble Pants, thought none of the things in the story was true. He thought it was all made up, and unrealistic. It took a lot to convince him that Daring Do here, is real!"

"And even if some ponies do know I existed, sometimes, it's not a good thing," Daring Do frowned.

"How so?" Rara asked.

"There was this time, during my trip in a town of Somnambula," Daring Do began, while Spike's ears perked, at the mention of a town named after the evil sorceress. "I made such a mess there, the ponies all thought of me as a menace, rather than being the hero. And it doesn't help that none of my books are sold there, so they don't know who I truly am," Daring Do growled, as she began the next part, "And worst of all, Dr. Cabelleron almost got away with sully my name, so he'd be free to steal whatever he wants!"

"I know how that feels," Rara frowned, recalling how a similar pony once took advantage of her name. "So, how did you overcome it?"

"I had some help," Daring Do replied, smiling to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. "From some friends, who know the real me. And helping me realize that even if I'm fighting for something good, I'm still responsible for my actions."

"And if something bad happens that you didn't intend," Rainbow added. "You should never give up hope, or lose faith in yourself."

"All you gotta do is make it right," Pinkie chirped.

Spike smiled, as he turns to Fleur, "I guess some of us in this room, all have our shares of identity crisis, huh Flare?" he asked.

"Oui," Fleur replied, pulling Spike close.

"Don't forget about me!" a familiar voice spoke.

"Who said that?" Rara asked, looking around.

"Me!" the voice said again, before in a flash of light, a nearby vase morphed itself into Thorax.

"AAAAAHHH!!!" Rara screamed.

"Whoa! It's okay!" Spike reasoned. "He's a good changeling! He's on our side."

"He is?" Rara asked.

"Yeah," Thorax replied. "Believe it, or not. I'm not like the other changelings who feed on love. Not when friendship is sustainable enough."

"For real?" Rara asked, to which Thorax responded with a nod.

"It's okay," Thorax began. "It's not everyday that ponies would see a changeling like me, and their first reaction would be," In flash of green light, Thorax morphed into random ponies, screaming, "AAH! A changeling! Get the bug spray! Begone vile beast! Go back to the dark pit of where you came!" Thorax morphed himself back, as he continues, "With changelings like Queen Chrysalis, it's not easy for someone like me to make a friend."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Rara replied.

"But it's okay in the end," Thorax said. "Because, after awhile of disguising myself, and connecting with Spike, and the Knights, we were all able to form a bond of friendship so strong enough, that in a way, it kinda draws me out of my shells!"

"Changelings have shells?" Rara asked.

"It's an expression," Thorax clarified. "Even I don't know why some of my powers haven't been working properly. But at least I now know that I don't have to pretend to be someone else, anymore."

"Yeah," Rumble added. "We know Thorax too much to be some evil, scheming horse fly to not trust him. Besides, we kinda like the idea of having a changeling for a friend," The rest of the Knights all exchanged agreements.

Rara looked around at the friends, and couldn't help but to smile in admiration for overcoming their own form of identity crisis.

"Wow," Rara smiled. "You guys are so amazing. How did you get through it all?"

"It's simple," Spike smiled. "We just stay true to our heart!" As if one cue, a music was played, courtesy of Tender Taps.





Spike was soon singing in a suave tone, as he directed it all to Rara, who smiled as she finds herself enchanted under his charm. Soon, the girls and boys all got into the groove, as they joined in the festivity the young prince was leading.

Button Mash, who was playing a harmonica, soon took the next verse:


Someone you know is on your side can set you free,
I can do that for you if you believe in me.

Why second-guess, what feels so right?
Just trust your heart, and you'll see the light


Once the boy was done, everyone all resumed their festivity as they continue singing and dancing, brightening Rara's spirit up. It didn't take long for the elated mare to join in, as she sings together with her friends. With that, her cutie mark started to glow, before it started to shimmer, giving off a spectacular display of bright lights.

"Wow," Spike said in awe, together with his boys, and the rest of the girls in the room.

"What?" Rara asked.

Snapping out of his trance, Spike stuttered, "Nothing, it's just that...."

"Your cutie mark can glow!" Starlight Glimmer exclaimed.

Rara turned her head, to look her flank, blushing as she turned back, "Does it bother you?"

Everyone in the room all exchanged denials, along with compliments.

"In all my years, I always thought 'booty' was reserved for jewels, and doubloons," Celaeno muttered to herself. "Though this kinda changes everything."

"Well, either way," Spike began, trying to make things less awkward for their new pop star friend. "Rara, you've got a very good set of pipes. You're perfect just the way you are!"

"Spike's right, Sugarcube," Applejack smiled. "Honestly, your voice is too good for any bright, flashy, loud special effects!"

"Oh, thanks you guys!" Rara smiled, as she pulled the two in a hug.

"Hey! Share some love with us!" Pinkie shouted, as she too joined in the group hug, together with some of the other girls.

"Girls! That's too much!" Spike wheezed, as he finds himself smothered in affection, once more. "Knights! Help!"

"Hey guys?" Rumble turned to the boys. "Should we go in and help our bro?"

"Nah," they all shook their heads.

"Let him suffer for awhile," Featherweight smirked.

"I think I'll go and check up on, Sweetie Belle," Button replied, as he took his leave.

"Apple Bloom's saving a square dance for me," Tender Taps said, as he left the room. "See you around."

Soon, all of the Knights were gone, leaving Spike at the mercy of the girls. Well, except one.

Celaeno was watching the whole loving display unfolding before her, "Uh, excuse me," Pipsqueak said, as he tugged on Celaeno's arm, catching her attention. "I was wondering, until you find your crew again. Could I be your first mate?"

Celaeno was taken by surprise, "And just what kind of force be sailing ya with that idea?"

"Well, it's just that," Pip hesitated, as he finds his voice. "I've always been into the life of a pirate, and I think pirates, like you, are cool, and I just thought, maybe I could grow and be awesome, just like you?"

Celaeno was silenced, as she looked down on Pipsqueak, "I don't know, little Pip. You look more fitting for the role as a cabin boy," she replied. "Either way, I can't take ya offer."

"Why not?" Pip asked, distraught.

"The life of a pirate ain't all fun and game," Celaeno replied. "The life I lead is much too risky for a boy, about yer age."

"I'm not a kid!" Pip spoke up. "I may be small, but I'm not helpless!"

"Doesn't change me mind," Celaeno replied as she walks away. "I'm sorry Pip. But I've lost me crew once. I can't risk losing another."

Pipsqueak watched as Celaeno walks down a castle hall, "I've lost someone too," Pip looked sadly at the the parrot.
> Mission Rogue Diamond Part 2: A Trip Down Astral Plane
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long Time Ago




While singing, Celestia's horn glowed golden aura, bathing the moon in her magic, before casting a spell, which brought Celestia to a series of memories that floated around her, in a cosmetic plane. Celestia looked in sorrow, seeing the memories of herself, and Luna, from when they were little fillies, educated under the guidance of the great Starswirl the Bearded.

Celestia frowned, as she watched her young adolescence self, teasing a younger Luna for failing to perform a simple spell. Celestia knew then that she would later come to regret her actions, as the next memories show of Luna, drifting further apart from Celestia, before falling for the dark side, which later leads to her banishment to the moon, and Celestia had to endure the hardship of ruling Equestria, without her sister, since.




Some Times Later

After she finished raising the sun for her subjects, a despondent Princess Celestia walked into Spike's room, and was shocked to see his crib, empty.

"My baby!" Celestia shouted, before she began to search the room, frantically for the missing baby. "Baby? Baby, where are you? Baby?" Just then, she heard the sound of sniffles, beneath a table.

Celestia looked, and was shock at what she sees before her. Instead of finding a little infant human boy, she finds a little purple puppy, with emerald green eyes.

"Mom!" the puppy barked, startling Celestia, who quickly jumped back, flapping her wings, before catching her breath.

"Spike?" Celestia hiccuped.

"Spy," the puppy barked.

Then, with a sneeze, little infant Spike blew a blast of green fire, and magically turned himself into an infant dragon. Then, with another sneeze, the baby turned himself into a fish, before he finally turned back into a human boy.

"Mama!" the boy giggled, as he ran over to the alicorn, stumbled slightly on the way, and embraced her hoof.

Celestia, further overwhelmed by the baby's love and warmth, finds herself crying in tears, "Baby....." she sobbed, picturing a little infant Luna in Spike's place.

Celestia's tears fell, drenching Spike's little head, causing him to look up in confusion. Before long, the little boy finds himself embraced in his adopted mother's aura, as she held him close to her face.

"My little sunshine," she whispered.





As the years roll by, Spike grew, along with the mother and son bonding between him and Celestia, and the love he later won from the ponies of Equestria.

However, deep in her heart, Celestia couldn't help but feel she was becoming too attached to Spike, and more neglectful of her sister. She wanted to share the love with Luna, to prove her sister that there are just as many ponies and magical creatures who loved her night.




One Night

Princess Celestia was walking through a dark forest, while carrying a little, frightened, Spike, on her back.

"Mom?" a young Spike asked in fright, holding tightly to his mother as he rides on her back. "I'm scared. I want to go home."

"Now, now, little one," Celestia assured quietly. "There's nothing to be afraid of."

Soon, the two of them made it to an open field, surrounded by dark trees, and covered in a blanket of mists.

"Okay, Spike," Celestia said, as she levitated her son off her back, and sets him down gently to the ground. "Now take a walk out there."

Spike looked at the field, uneasily, "By myself?" he whimpered.

Celestia placed a comforting wing on his shoulder, as she nudged him slightly, "Go on."

Hesitant, Spike complied, as he takes some cautious steps in the field. Suddenly, Spike stopped dead in his tracks, when a small bug flew up to him, and landed on his nose.

"Mom!" Spike whispered in fright. "Help!"

Celestia quietly walked up to him, "Calm down," she whispered. "Breathe," Spike did as he was told, while Celestia took a deep breath, and gently blew on the bug, as it lights up. It was only a firefly.

The very sight made little Spike feel less scared.

[Owl City - Fireflies]

"Sometimes, you just have to get over your fear, in order to see the beauty on the other side," Celestia explained, before she spreads her wings out, and created a gentle breeze, which stirred even more fireflies to glow, and fly in the air.

"Wow!" Spike gasped, bedazzled at the little light show the bugs were putting on.

One of the fireflies landed on his nose, to which he giggled in response, as it flies away. Before long, Spike changes into a puppy, as he runs around, barking, and playing with the fireflies around him, while Celestia stood, watching in amusement.

Little Spike kept on playing, until he rolled on his back, and took notice of the moon. However, it wasn't the moon that caught his attention.

"What's that?" Spike asked, pointing at the dark mark.

Celestia followed her son's pointing paw, seeing the moon, "You mean that dark side of the moon?" Celestia asked, making sure she understands him. Spike nodded, to which Celestia was hesitant to answer. Thinking of an answer, Celestia replied, "That's Princess Luna, Spike," she said, sadly.

"Aunt Luna?" Spike asked, to which Celestia nodded her head. "Why is aunt Luna up there?"

Celestia frowned, as she looks at Spike sadly, "Let me tell you a story, Spike," Celestia began, as she began telling her son, the story, about The Mare In The Moon.






Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her alicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies and magical creatures. 

But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon.

Having created an Empire of the Night, and an army of nightmares, she vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since.






"And so, Luna has become a prisoner of Nightmare Moon, just as the moon became their prison," Celestia concluded.

Little Spike could hardly believe every word he just heard, "My aunt is trapped on the moon, with Nightmare Moon!"

Celestia nodded, "And it's all my fault," she said, laying down on the grass, sighing miserably.

Spike, still in puppy form, walked over to his mom, and gave her face a comforting lick. Then, getting an idea, Spike ran back out in the field, turning himself into a firefly, as he began speaking to some of the others. Before long, the fireflies all formed together some words that spelled:


Come home soon, Aunt Luna.

-Your nephew,
Spike


Celestia's frown quickly turned into a smile, as she walked over, and ruffled the top of Spike's head.




Present

At the same time, Spike was just having a dream of that very memory.

He was even more shocked, when he fully remembered the whole story, about his aunt, "Aunt Luna's Nightmare Moon?" he murmured to himself.

Then, a shimmering display of blue light glowed from behind, to which Spike turns around, facing Princess Luna.

"Hello, nephew," Luna greeted solemnly.

[Evening Star - Beautiful Night]

"Aunt," Spike began. "You're Nightmare Moon!"

Luna closed her eyes, ashamed, but nodded, "I was Nightmare Moon," she answered. "In body at least."

"What do you mean?" Spike asked.

"Nephew, do you remember your battle with....me, on Earth, in New York City?" Luna asked.

"How can I forget? That was when I was experiencing my first metamorphosis," he replied. "That, and it was also when I rescued the girls from the Shadowbolts, and got my wings," Spike winced, as he looks at his back, and grumbled, "Which I currently don't have at the moment, seeing as how I'm currently--*ahem* powerless."

Luna nodded her head in acknowledgement of her nephew's current status, as she resumed, "There's more to our battle than you knew," Luna began. "You see, during your process of metamorphosis, when you absorbed the Magic of Friendship from the girls, you've also obtained the Elements of Harmony."

"Yeah, I know that," Spike replied. "And I tried to use it on you, but you just turned into  a puff of smoke, and escaped with only a few burns, from what I remembered," Luna looked at her nephew, with an eyebrow raised. "Wait a minute!" Spike's eyes widened, when he had an epiphany.

"Yes, nephew," Luna replied. "In your feat to defeat me, you've also managed to purify some part of myself, from Nightmare Moon, enabling me a chance to escape," Looking at her transparent self, Luna frowned, "Sadly, it was only a partial success, as I'm currently in my astral form, you see."

Spike nodded his head in acknowledgement, "I'm sorry aunt," he apologized.

"Don't be sorry, my nephew," Luna replied, walking over to the prince. "You were saving your friends from the darkness within me. And what's more, you were protecting our people of Equestria!" Spike looked up, seeing a small smile on Luna's face, "If anything, I'm grateful of your heroic, nephew."

"You mean it?" Spike asked.

Luna nodded, "I couldn't be anymore proud of-"

"AAAAAAAAAHHH!!!" a scream was heard, startling both Spike and Luna.

"BWAH!!" they both exclaimed, repeatedly patting their chests as they did so.

"Was that, mom?" Spike asked.

Luna, closing her eyes, conjured a small bubble, containing an image of Princess Celestia.




[Moon - Pony Empire by Carbon Maestro]

"NO!!!" Celestia neighed, as she fought back some shadow ponies that are laughing maniacally at her.

"Down with you, Princess Celestia!" the ponies shouted. "These lands belong to Nightmare Moon!"

With that, the rest of the ponies all continue their assaults on Celestia, who continues to fight back.

"Stop this at once!" Celestia grunted, as she continues to hold her ground.

Then, appearing from the shadows, cackling, was Nightmare Moon herself.

"Why must you continue to resist?" Nightmare Moon laughed. "Why do you bother prolonging the inevitable? You will fall, and I will take the throne! My empire will be resurrected, Celestia! And you won't be there to stop it!"

"Not so long as I breathe, Nightmare!" Celestia growled, projecting a shield, saving herself from a blast of dark lightning. "I will never fall to you!" With a blast of her own magic, Celestia fired a shot to Nightmare Moon, who dispersed into black smokes, "Now matter what you do! I will never let you harm my people! And all other living creatures!"

"Foolish, princess!!" Nightmare Moon hissed, as she reappears in from of Celestia, assuming an anthro form, clad in a heavy suit of armor with razor blades along the shoulders, arms, legs, and two pairs of long shuko claws on her hands. The now anthro alicorn leapt forward, as she landed a flying kick to Celestia's head. "You can't defeat me!"

"I've defeated you once, Nightmare!" Celestia replied, as she too assumes her anthro form, clad in a gold suit of armor, while holding a large shield in one hand, and a large buster sword in the other.

With a loud war cry, Princess Celestia charged towards Nightmare Moon, slashing her sword at the dark alicorn, who parries the blade with her claws. Nightmare Moon then lunges forward, slashing her claws at Celestia, who held her shield up, before she fired a brilliant beam of bright lights at Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon quickly covered her face with her claws, shielding herself from the bright light, while deflecting some of it, back at Celesetia, blinding her for the moment.

"You had the Elements of Harmony then," Nightmare replied, as she blasted lightning bolts from her eyes, which Celestia anticipated with a swing of her blade, deflecting the bolts. "But now they're gone! And you have nothing to stop me now! For once I've destroyed you in your sleep, the sun will be in my control!" Celestia screamed in defiance, as she blasted a beam of light at Nightmare Moon, who knocked her to the side. "And that's only the beginning! With the sun, your whole world will soon be shrouded in darkness, and from the shadows, my empire will be resurrected, restoring itself to the days of old!! I will soon be at my full potential, and not even your precious son will stop me, lest he risks destroying you, Celestia!!"

Nightmare Moon lunged forward, flapping her wings to build up speed, the dark alicorn blasted an explosive spell at Celestia's shield, knocking the sun princess back. Celestia remains undeterred, as she continues to fire more of her solar beams at Nightmare Moon, who raised a claw up, slicing through a beam, as she rans up to Celestia, and landed several flying kicks, and scratches to Celestia's arms, legs, and her right cheek, wherever Nightmare Moon's blades can touch her.

"Say farewell, Celestia!" Nightmare Moon grinned. "While you still can!" Reaching behind her back, Celestia quickly throws a small vial of bright lights, on Nightmare Moon, "What trickery is this?!" Nightmare Moon screamed in agony, while the content glowed brightly, as it forms cracks on her armor. Walking over, Celestia landed several punches, kicks, and slashes with her sword, before she held her weapon at the dark alicorn's throat, "No! Don't!" Nightmare Moon pleaded. "Please! Show me mercy!"

With a loud scream, Celestia drives the sword, into Nightmare Moon, "You are finished!" Celestia scowled, reverting back into her true form. "Good riddance, demon!" Nightmare Moon's helmet fell off, revealing the face of Luna. "Luna?!!!" Celestia gasped in disbelief.

"Sister," Luna groaned weakly.

"Luna!" Celestia sobbed, bending down, face level to her sister's. "I-"

Then, in puff of black smokes, Luna's appearance twisted to that of Nightmare Moon, who laughed maniacally, as she blasted Celestia back.

"As always, Celestia!" Nightmare Moon laughed. "You were always such fun to toy with! It is a shame that I must destroy you!"

With a sinister grin, Nightmare Moon's eyes glow white, as she conjures some vines to ensnare Princess Celestia.

Walking over to Princess Celestia, still in anthro form, Nightmare Moon raised one of her claws up, "Rest in pieces, Celestia!" Nightmare Moon grinned.

"Hey!" a voice called, as Spike suddenly jumped into the room, landing a flying kick to Nightmare Moon's chest, knocking her back. "Nopony hurts my mom!"

"Spike?!" Celestia gasped, seeing her beloved son.

"Hi mom!" Spike quickly greeted. "Talk later!" the boy said, as he quickly flips to the side, dodging a blast of magic from Nightmare Moon.

"So, Dragon Prince," Nightmare Moon hissed. "We meet again!"

"Likewise, Moony!" Spike snarled. "I see you're still giving ponies a bad dream!"

"And a bad image for me!" Princess Luna said, as she stands besides her nephew.

"Luna?!!" Celestia gasped.

"Ah, Luna," Nightmare Moon smirked. "I thought I was feeling lonesome as of late."

"Enough!" Luna shouted. "We started this thousands of years ago! Now, it's time we end it!"

"With pleasure!" Nightmare Moon replied, before she snapped her fingers, and several ninjas came jumping out of the shadows. "GO!!"

[Kingdom Hearts II - Vim and Vigor]

With that, the ninjas all leaped in the air, pouncing after Luna, who retaliated with some magic beams of her own, keeping the ninjas off.

One of the ninjas reached into its robe, and threw a ball chain at Luna, when Spike jumped in, and catches it. With a tug, he pulled the ninja forward, and landed a strong roundhouse kick, knocking the ninja away as it vanishes into puffs of smokes.

More ninjas came, grabbing Spike's arms on both sides, only for the boy to slip his arms free, and linked them behind his adversaries, before doing a front flip, which in turn flips the ninjas away from him. Quickly getting on his hands, Spike flipped himself up, before he was surrounded by more ninjas. One ninja swung its fist, which he ducked away from, before he did a spinning aerial kick at the attacking ninja, followed by a sweep kick to another.

Spike looked, to see the others producing shurikens in their hands, and didn't have to figure out what was going to happen next, as he breaks into a run, hiding behind some structures, avoiding the flying blades.

"How dare you throw-" Luna screamed angrily, blasting one of the ninjas into smokes. "Blades at my-" Luna blasted another, "NEPHEW?!!!" She shouted, striking a third one.

Then, another ninja came and kicked Luna on the head, from behind.

"How dare you kick at MY AUNT?!!" Spike roared, as he attacks the ninja, both throwing strikes and blocks at each other.

"My nephew," Luna mused. "Words don't do you just. You fight well."

'That's my boy,' Celestia thought proudly to herself.

Nightmare Moon then summoned more ninjas to the battle, as they surrounded the two. Both Luna and Spike looked at each other, as they fought off the ninjas together. After kicking another ninja away, Spike flipped on Luna's back to kick another, while his aunt blasted another nearby. The ninjas all unsheathed their swords, and viciously slashed their blades at the two dream heroes. Luna conjured a shield to protect herself, while Spike dodges to the sides, narrowly evading their swings. Thinking fast, Spike dodges another ninja's attack, before he makes a quick grab for its sword. Landing the back of his fist into the ninja's face, Spike knocks it out, as he took control of its arms, as he swings the sword, blocking the incoming swings from the others. Luna continues to blast strong rays of magic, at all of the incoming ninjas, before she began to feel herself, tiring out.

"Nephew," Luna panted. "We must end this now!"

"I'm trying, auntie," Spike replied. "But they just keep coming!"

"Nephew," Luna began. "You've been taught well by my sister, and Scorpan," the small blue alicorn got in close to her nephew, as she spoke, "Now, let me teach you some lessons of my own," Luna ducked her head, avoiding a blade from a ninja. "Lessons you'll need, for your adventures in the dream realms."

"Make 'em fast aunt!" Spike replied.





While this was going on, Nightmare Moon makes her way towards  Celestia, "Now, where were we?" Nightmare Moon asked, raising her claws again.

"MOM!!" Spike screamed, as he kicks the ninja he was fighting, and rocketed himself in between Celestia and Nightmare Moon, catching the dark alicorn's hand, before she had the chance to strike. "I told you, Moony! No one, hurts my mom!" With an angry growl, Spike runs up Nightmare Moon, before he jumped in a flying kick, only for Nightmare Moon to disappear in a puff of smoke, before she reappears.

"Then I'll save face of destroying you, in front of your mother's eyes!" Nightmare Moon grinned deviously, while Celestia's eyes widened in fear.

"Bring it!" Spike said, as he stood his ground.

"No!" Celestia whimpered.

[Sonic and the Black Knight - Fight the Knight by Crush 40]

Nightmare Moon began the fight by running up to Spike, slashing her claws at him, which the boy evaded, as he blocks the attacks, while avoiding the blades. Remembering everything he had learned, back on Earth with Scorpan, Spike puts them all to use, as he makes several blocks that would lead to a counter-strike on Nightmare Moon, only for some of his blows to phase through her form, as if she was a ghost.

"Ha! Pathetic, wyrm!" Nightmare Moon hissed. "You cannot harm me!"

'Right, I forgot,' Spike thought. 'What was it that, Aunt Luna taught me?' Thinking fast, Spike dodged an attack from Nightmare Moon, before he pictures himself making an impact on Nightmare Moon. As a matter of fact, Spike thrusted his leg out, and landed a blow on Nightmare Moon.

"Yes!" Spike cheered. "I got her!" With a furious growl, Nightmare Moon blasted a strong beam of dark magic at Spike, blowing him off. "Well, I had her."

Nightmare Moon lunged forward, taking flight, before she thrusts her leg out, knocking Spike back. Sprouting her wings, Nightmare Moon gave a strong flap, rocketing towards Spike, who did several backflips, before he lands on a wall, and rocketed himself forward in a flying kick, which Nightmare Moon was quick to block in time. Flipping off, while still using the momentum, Spike leapt towards Nightmare Moon again, as he did a tornado kick, which was blocked again, before coming in for a landing.

"Something's different about you, dragon," Nightmare Moon noted, as she slashed her claw at the boy. "Come to think of it, why do you not fight me, as a dragon?"

"What's the matter?" Spike asked. "Embarrassed that you might lose, fighting to a human like me?"

Nightmare Moon growled angrily, as she fired a blast of lightening from her horn, which Spike jumped to the side, but received a hot burn on his arm.

"SPIKE!!!" Celestia screamed.

"Don't worry, mom!" Spike cringed. "I'm fine!" Spike leapt up in the air, as he avoided another blast.

Nightmare Moon slashed her claws at Spike, who continues to block them, before he catches them, and holds her wrists in place. The two kept this up, until Nightmare Moon unexpectedly sprouted another pair of arms, and grabs Spike at the side, bringing the struggling boy up to her face.

Nightmare Moon opened her mouth, as a long tongue slithered out, and licked his cheek, "Ahh," Nightmare Moon spoke telepathically. "Your Dragonfire's been hindered!" the dark alicorn then lets out an evil laugh. "This just makes it easier for me!"

In response, Spike threw a headbutt in Nightmare Moon, causing her to release her grip on him, as he did several backflips, giving himself some distance from the demonic alicorn.

"Behold! My mastery of gravity!" Nightmare Moon said, holding her hands out.

Then, feeling as if his body's been turned to metal, Spike was pulled to the ground by an invisible force. Struggling hard, Spike manages to look up, to see Nightmare Moon walking over him, laughing evilly.

"It'll be some times, until your powers are fully recovered," Nightmare Moon grinned. "And until then, I can't pass up this opportunity to finish you, myself!"

"Don't be so sure!" Spike snarled, as he concentrated hard, and with every last ounce of strength, he jumped off the floor, and back on his feet. "Behold, the force!"

In response, Nightmare Moon conjured a wave of dark magic from main hands, projecting them down to her extras, creating a ball of darkness, which she hurls at Spike. Spike jumped to the side, but was sent flying, courtesy the explosion from the ball. Catching himself in the air, Spike did a flip, before he landed on his feet, and rolled beneath Nightmare Moon, when the attacking alicorn lunged at him, slashing her claws as she did so.

"How can this be?" Nightmare Moon hissed, as she fires some bolts of lightning at Spike.

"I'm top in my classes of martial arts!" Spike replied, as he bent at his waist, avoiding a slash. "Earned ten blackbelts! That's saying something!" Spike landed a sidekick, "Guess I'm better a fighter when I'm human, than a dragon, huh?"

"Humph!" Nightmare Moon grunted. "You have Scorpan's skills, but you also have your mother's arrogance!" Nightmare Moon's fists began to pulse with more dark magic, "But you forgot where you are!" With that, the ground beneath Spike crumbled away, and the boy nearly fell in, "The very ground that you stand on, is a weapon for me to destroy you with!!"

"SPIKE!!!" Celestia screamed, as she tried even harder to break free, only for the vines to tighten their grip on her, thorns digging into her skin in the process.

"In this Realm of Dreams, I reign supreme!!" Nightmare Moon laughed.

"Join the club!" Spike called, catching Nightmare Moon by surprise, when he suddenly appeared before her, in a flash of light.

Concentrating hard, Spike manages to conjure several duplicates of himself, and they all ran circles around Nightmare Moon, before they charged in at high speeds, landing several strikes at every sides at Nightmare Moon.

"How do you like that?" Spike asked.

"Very impressive, young prince!" Nightmare Moon replied, before her eyes begin to glow white. "But you will not stop me!" With that, Nightmare Moon fired several bolts of lightning, destroying all of Spike's duplicates, until there is only one left.

But by the time she found the real one, Spike landed an upper cut to the anthro alicorn's chin, followed by a strong tornado kick to face, defying the dark alicorn's helmet protection.

In response, Nightmare Moon conjured several vines to ensnare Spike, who magically conjured a kunai blade, as he slices his way free from the plants' grips. Then, concentrating even harder, Spike leapt forward, thrusting his leg out in a flying kick, only for Nightmare Moon to quickly shield herself with a huge wall she conjured.

Then, in a burst of smokes, Nightmare Moon appeared behind Spike, and punched him away. Spike caught himself, as he flips in the air, lands on his feet, before he turns around, facing Nightmare Moon. Concentrating into his powers, Spike manages to breathe fire in Nightmare Moon's way, who disappeared in a puff of smokes.

"Good riddance, demon!" Spike said.

However, a trail of smokes came out of the ground, and grabbed Spike by the throat. The boy tried to break free, but the smokes thrashed him around, throwing him into Luna, who was exhausted from her fights with the ninjas. Before the two could get up, the smokes forced them down, before they formed into Nightmare Moon, who laughed in triumphant.

"Did you honestly believe that I would let you win this time?" Nightmare Moon grinned, as she sets her hooves down on the two of them. "Foals!"

"Get your hooves off of my family!" With that, a beam of light was shot, and struck Nightmare Moon off.

Spike and Luna looked, to see Celestia, slowly succumbing to her wounds, before she collapsed.

"MOM!!/TIA!!!" Spike and Luna both ran up to the wounded alicorn.

"Shhhh," Spike shushed to the sun princess. "Mom, it's alright. I'm here."

Luna walked over, and bent down to her sister's side, "Lulu," Celestia moaned, looking at her sister's spirit form.

"Tia," Luna began, a single tear spilling from her eyes, turning into sparkles before it hits the ground. "I'm sorry. I never meant for all this to happen!" With her eyes glowing white, Luna's horn was surrounded in a blue aura, "Vulnera Sanentur," Luna recited an incantation, which sounded almost like a song.

Spike looked down, seeing the wounds on his mother, glowing in his aunt's aura, before they slowly closed up.

The young boy looked up to his aunt, who assured him, "She'll be alright."

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Spike nodded in acknowledgement, before he looked down at his mother, seeing the tearful loving glance in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, mother," Spike frowned. "I failed you."

"No, Spike," Celestia replied, as she slowly got up. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so quick as to think that Nightmare Moon would be so easily destroyed," Celestia then turned to Luna, "But at least I've reclaimed a sister."

"Only partially, sister," Luna replied. "LOOK OUT!!!"

Spike and Celestia turned, and quickly rolled to the side, just as a large billow of smoke pounced at them, while shoving Luna away. Nightmare Moon's cackling face formed, as she sets her sight, once more on Spike, and Celestia.

"As long as I live, you will never see daylight again!!" the evil alicorn declared, ready for the killing blow.

In defense, Spike held his arms out, as he stands defensively over his mother, "You'll have to go through me, first!" he snarled.

"Spike! No!" Celestia pleaded.

"Very well, then," Nightmare Moon laughed. "I'll save you the pain of seeing your mother die first!"

"NIGHTMARE MOON!!!" Luna shouted, as she leapt towards the smoky apparition of her evil counterpart, holding her in her telekinetic grip. "Tia! You have to wake up!" Luna shouted.

"Luna!" Celestia called.

"Nightmare Moon came only for you!" Luna replied. "She came to you tonight, because you didn't have enough magic left to block her out of your sleep! You must wake up! Now!"

"But-"

"Don't worry, mom!" Spike said, to the sun princess. "We'll handle, Moony!" Seeing his mother, still looking doubtful of leaving her son again, Spike smiled, as he hugs around her neck, "I'l be fine, mom. I love you."

"I love you, too," Celestia replied, as she kissed Spike on the forehead, and started to fade away.

"No!" Nightmare Moon shouted, as she shoved Luna off. "After ten centuries, I will not be denied my revenge!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed, as she lunged towards Celestia, who vanished completely. "You!!!" the mad alicorn snarled, at both Spike, and Luna. "You have been more than little thorns in my side! But now, you've robbed me of my triumph! And for that, you will pay with your lives!!" With that, Nightmare Moon conjured several bolts of lightning in the two heroes' way, only for Luna to conjure a magic shield, saving both herself, and her nephew.

"Nightmare!!" Luna growled. "Your battle is with me!!"

"No aunt!" Spike said, as he jumped to her side. "I can handle her!"

"Spike, no!" Luna replied. "You still have a purpose in the waking world! You must find and secure the last pieces of the armor! They're in Midnight Castle!" Seeing her shield is failing, Luna began to charge another spell via horn. "Use the box!!" With a flash of light, Luna shot a spell at Spike, whose vision began to turn white.

"Auntie!!!" Spike shouted. "AAAAAUNNNNTTIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!"
> Mission Rogue Diamond Part 3: The Dawn of War
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"AUNTIE!!!" Spike shouted, as he jolted awake, breathing heavily, looking around to see that he was back in Friendship Castle, it was still dark. "Aunt Luna," he muttered.

Then, a chirp was heard, in which Spike looked to his left, seeing Peewee, looking at the boy in concern.

"Morning, Peewee," Spike greeted, as he got out of bed, went over and gave the phoenix a gentle stroke on his head.

Just then, the sun rose over the horizon, and in a single flash of light, Princess Celestia appeared in the room.

"Spike?" Celestia asked with concern, looking at an empty bed.

"Mom?" Spike exclaimed, which caught her attention.

"Oh, thank goodness you're safe," Celestia sighed in relief, as she went over, wrapping her majestic wings around her son, and pulled him close.

"I told you I'd be alright," Spike replied, as he returns her affection.

"But, what about Luna?" Celestia asked. "What happened? Is she alright?"

"I don't know," Spike replied. "I wish I knew mom. One moment, both she and I were fighting Nightmare Moon, when that monster got us backed up in a corner. Aunt Luna just told me to go, even though I didn't want to leave her, and she just shot me with a spell that woke me up, and here I am."

Celestia closed her eyes in solemn, "Just when I finally got to see that loving side of her again," Looking back at Spike, Celestia asked, "By chance, did she tell you anything before you woke up?"

"Only that I should find the rest of the pieces for the Armor of Heroes," Spike replied. "Which are all in Midnight Castle. Wherever it is..."




Later

Twilight was sleeping on a pile of books, while Ember was still working on the Fucanglong Box. After many twists and turns, Ember was satisfied, when the box clicked.

"Finally!" Ember said, while at the same time, Twilight jolted awake. The two royals watched as the box floated in the air, before it began projecting another beam of translucent blue light, which enveloped the map in a coat of light.

Twilight and Ember watched in anticipation for the next piece's location to be revealed. However, much to their confusion, nothing showed up.

"What the what?" the two girls exclaimed to each other.




Meanwhile, with Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Daring Do

"You're certain that you didn't get a good look at his face?" Applejack asked.

"It's like I said," Daring Do repeated. "I didn't get a good look at his face, because of his hat! And I didn't get a look at his cutie mark, because he was wearing a long dark robe over it. All I know is that he's a unicorn."

"And pray tell, how did ya figure that out?" Applejack asked.

"Because when I gave him the shield, he was levitating it," Daring Do grumbled. "Ain't that obvious?"

"Oh," Applejack blushed, for asking a stupid question.

"Do you remember how he sounds like?" Rainbow asked.

"Well, when he talks, his voice sounded soft," Daring Do replied. "And yet contained."

"Soft and contained, " Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked to each other, finding it hard to hear some pony with a voice like that. "I don't suppose you can like, imitate it, can you?" Rainbow asked.

"Well," Daring Do scratched her head, as she began. "It's a little quiet, but it sounded kinda like this," With that, Daring Do gave her best imitation of the stallion's voice. "I trust you have the shield," she said, in a voice that sounded almost like she's having a running nose. "Sorry, best I could do at the moment."




Meanwhile

Waiting impatiently at the mouth of a huge volcano, Hydia was tapping her foot impatiently, until finally, her two daughters appeared, battered, and bruised.

"Well, it certainly took you girls long enough!" Hydia grumbled, as she snatched the final ingredient from their hands. "Eh, something seems different about you girls," the evil watched noted, to which the two younger witches looked like they were about to lose their cool. "Meh, you look better that way. Now let's get to work!" With that, Hydia reaches into the containers, as she begins to pull out the ingredients.

"A little bit of muck, for power and strength!" The evil witch said, as she threw the said ingredient into the volcano. "Then, a bit of slime, to make it ooze!" The lava below started to churn, when the said ingredient was added. "Then, some fungus for that added zip! And then, some of this, and some of that, for its dark mood! And a bit of creepy pastas, to fuel its purpose!" Then, taking out the bottle, Hydia smirked evilly, "And last, the key ingredient of all, to finish it up! The Flume!" With that, Hydia tossed the whole bottle into the lava pit.

With that, the lave below churns uneasily, as it begins to change from red to dark purple, followed by a huge tremor that shook the volcano violently around the three witches.

"Do you hear that?" Lydia asked, turning to her daughters. "Do you know what that is?" Draggle only response was a stupid grunt, while Reeka raised her hand up. "It's a rhetorical question," Hydia replied.

"Duh, oh I know!" Draggle shouted. "It's a rhetorical question!"

"You pinheaded squib!" Reeka snarled, bonking Draggle on the head. "She just said that!"

"Who are you calling pinhead?" Patrick Star asked.

"Oh, shut up you idiots!" Hydia roared, firing a lightning spell, frying her two daughters. "Now, to truly awaken the Smooze!" In a burst of flame, a book appeared in front of Hydia, as it opened itself up, by an invisible force, and the pages within turned rapidly to the sides, before it settled on a particular spell.

Clearing her throat, Hydia began to chant the spell, in an ancient language, before she was heard saying:


"Return to the surface for your purpose,
Ravage the land, like never before,
Total destruction, from mountain to shore!"


With that, the clouds above circled over the volcano's mouth, forming a vortex. Then, a single clap of thunder was shot out from the clouds, and struck the lavas within. With that, the lava formed into purple slimes.

"AWAKEN!!!" Hydia shouted for the last time, firing dark magics from her hands, and into the slimy creature.

With a final grunt, the Smooze was reborn.

"It works!!" Hydia laughed, gleefully. "The Smooze lives! The Smooze lives!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Hydia laughed, together with her daughters who finally joined in.




Meanwhile, in Ponyville

"NO!" Celestia gasped, when she felt a disturbance in the air. "It cannot be!"

"Mom? What is it?" Spike asked. "What's wrong?"

The Princess of the Sun, the Dragon Prince, and the phoenix, all ran out of the Castle of Friendship, followed by their friends, who were much more surprised to see Princess Celestia, present.

Soon, the friends were out in Ponyville, joined by the rest of their friends, and Scorpan.

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight exclaimed, as she followed. "What's going-" The lavender alicorn was interrupted, when she noticed the skies above, darkened with a long sheet of dark clouds.

Before long, a face appeared, "Citizens of Equestria," the face spoke. "Congratulations. You shall be the first to witness the resurrection of the Smooze, and the end of your world!"

"Nightmare Moon!!" Celestia exclaimed.

"No...." Spike moaned, knowing what it means. "Auntie's lost.....again."

Then, off in the distance, the ponies noticed a volcanic eruption, followed by a giant purple blob of some sort.

"Sweet Celestia!!" Rainbow exclaimed. "What the hay is that?!!"

"Is that a Mega Muk?" Button asked, only to receive some glares from the other Knights. "You're right. Not helping."

"The Smooze has been reawakened to fulfill its purpose once more!" Nightmare Moon spoke. "In moments, the Smooze shall flood your world in an endless sea of darkness and destructions, wiping out all of your pathetic existence! And bring about the re-birth of my Empire of the Night!! There will be no escape!!"

"The Smooze?!" Scorpan gasped. "But that's impossible!"

"Uncle? Mom?" Spike began. "I don't understand? What is the Smooze?"

"The Smooze was an ancient slime monster that came to our world years ago, from the cosmos," Celestia replied. "It would've doomed us all, had it not been for Starswirl the Bearded, and his team of heroes. And now, Nightmare Moon plans on using it to destroy us, and take over the world, and if possible, your world too," She said grimly at the last part, to the Knights.

"This can't be happening!" Pipsqueak muttered.

"Yeah, I mean, we're suppose to catch Pokémon!" Button exclaimed. "Not the other way around! It ain't fair!"

Ignoring Button's nerdy remarks, Scorpan turned to Celestia, "The creature's already been too stirred awake, and it's already on the move! It's too late to conjure up a sleeping spell on it! It's now become impossible to stop it!"

"Then that doesn't mean we can't delay it!" Princess Celestia replied. "I know of some old allies, who've stopped the Smooze once before. I will go to Flutter Valley alone, and enlist the help from the Breezies. In the meantime, Scorpan, you will send your soldiers out to protect our people, and save as much as you can from the Smooze," Celestia then turned to Twilight, "My faithful student. You must evacuate the villagers, to Canterlot. The Smooze can't climb up tall mountain, or reach high places."

"Yes, your highness," Twilight replied, with a bow of her head.

"Then that leaves Nightmare Moon to me!" Spike added.

"No, Spike!" Celestia frowned. "You need to be with the girls for now," Before Spike was about to reply, Celestia continued, "You can't go at it alone."

"But this is what I've been trained for," Spike replied. "I've beaten Nightmare Moon before, I can do it again."

"Young dragon," Scorpan spoke sternly. "This won't be the same as last time. Nightmare Moon will be fully prepared for you. Besides, there's still the matter of saving our people first, from the Smooze."

Spike looked around at all the ponies, with fear written on their faces, and all looking at him with hope in their eyes. A little filly went up to him, and wrapped her hooves around his leg.

"Please, save us Dragon Prince!" the filly pleaded. "You're our hero!"

Spike looked, and recalled the dream he once had, of the ponies suffering with the protection of a hero, and the girls' depression of his absent.

Changing his expression to solemn and determination, Spike complied, "Understood uncle," he bowed his head, before he turns to his friends. "C'mon, everybody! Let's do this!!"
> Mission Rogue Diamond Part 4: The Smooze-Apocalypse
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"That's it every one," Applejack directed, "Get into the train, quickly!"

"Every pony stay calm," Fluttershy added. "Nice and quietly, please," Then, Fluttershy came towards some animals that were out in the field, as she held her saddlebag open. "Okay little ones. It's not safe for the moment, so I'd really appreciate it if you could get in, quick," The woodland creatures looked to each other, unsure of Fluttershy's words. "It's okay, there's plenty of room for everyone."

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity called, as she frantically searches the town for her sister. "Has any pony seen Sweetie Belle?"

"Scootaloo!" Rainbow called. "Where are you?"

In the meantime, three certain teenage girls were sneaking their way through the crowds.

"Of all the bad timing there is to getting the Dragonfire, it had to be this?!" Adagio snarled.

"I'll say!" Sonata grumbled. "I was going to celebrate the capture of the Dragonfire, on Taco Tuesday!"

The other two simply rolled their eyes, in annoyance at their third comrade, "Let's just focus on saving our hides first, and then we can consider getting the Dragonfire, later!" Adagio said at the last part, through a gritted teeth.




Meanwhile

Bloodshot was running like he's never run before, until he made it to a small cottage. Or what was left of it.

"Aqua?!" Bloodshot called, as he ran into the house, seeing it's been ransacked. "Crystal? Where are you girls?"

A loud groan escaped, to which Blood moved some rubbles out of the way, to reveal a young woman, who has a light blue hair that goes down to the waist. Her attire is a turquoise sundress and matching sandals.

"Aqua!" Bloodshot gasped, as he held the woman up. "What happened, sis? Who did this?!"

"Shadowbolts," Aqua groaned. "They've left a message...." Aqua pointed to a message written on the wall that reads: "Your daughter will pay the price for failure."

Bloodshot's eyes narrowed, as his mouth emitted a snarl. Just then, the ground started to shake violently, as Blood helps his sister up, and the two ran out to see a huge tidal wave of purple slime.




Ponyville

"Fire one!" Pinkie shouted, as she blasted a random pony out of her cannon, and into Canterlot. "Fire two!" She fired another.

"You sure this is safe?" a nervous stallion asked.

"Sure I'm sure!" Pinkie smiled, as she dons a helmet on the stallion. "Cross my heart and hope to fly! Stick a cupcake in my eye!"

"Okay," the stallion gulped as he gets into the barrel.

"Let'er rip boys!" Pinkie called to the Knights.

Rumble quickly took out a match, and flicked it across Derpy Hoove's flank, catching her by surprise, "Fire in the hole!" Button shouted, as he and the boys lit the cannon.

"WAIT!!!" Too late, the stallion was shot out of the cannon, screaming, and flying towards Canterlot.




Canterlot

Blueblood was out, on a bench, fuming.

"Oh, the indignity," Blueblood scowled. "Me! The suave, talented, courageous, and above all, incredibly handsome Prince Vlad Blueblood, outshine by a shapeshifting reptilic freak, who I'm regrettably related to by adoption!"

Just then, a unicorn mare came running up to a unicorn stallion, "Trender!" the mare shouted. "Trender! Darling! What do we do?"

"I don't know dearest," the stallion named Trender replied uneasily. "I just hope Princess Twilight, Prince Spike, and their teams of heroes can save all of us from the Smooze, and Nightmare Moon!"

"Oh puh-lease!" Blueblood grumbled. "They couldn't even rescue a cat out of a tree!"

"And like you can do better?" Trenderhoof scowled.

"Naturally," Blueblood grinned arrogantly.

"A yeah, that'll be the day," the mare frowned. "When earth ponies learn how to fly."

And just like that, a whole herd of earth ponies came falling out of the sky, courtesy of Pinkie's cannon, and they all landed on Prince Blueblood.





"Welp, guess today's his lucky day then!" Discord remarked, watching the whole scene through his eyes turned binocular.




Meanwhile

After a long mile of flying, Prince Celestia had arrived at Flutter Valley, or what was left of it.

"What!!" Celestia exclaimed, as she begins to survey the ruins of the once beautiful valley, puzzled to see it all dank, and gloomy. "What happened here?!" Celestia whispered, looking down to see several small miniature pony-like creatures with skinny limbs, long antenna, mane, tail, and translucent wings, all lying on the ground.

"Little Breezies!" Celestia gasped, as she bent down, and carefully picked a few off the ground. "What happened here?" The even littler pony-like creatures spoke in a foreign language to the princess, who nodded in understanding, before her eyes widened in horror, "No! It can't be!"

Desperate, Celestia flapped her wings, as she flew up to the tower in the valley, and her fear was confirmed, "The Sun Stone! It's gone!"

"Princess....." a tiny, weak voice called, to which Celestia turned to see a blue breezie with pink mane and tail, and a very dark jacket.

"Seabreeze!" Celestia gasped, as she gently picked up the wounded breezie. "What happened?! Who did this to you? Where's the Sun Stone?"




Ponyville

"Is that every pony?" Twilight asked, looking to Spike, who was going over a long list.

"Yeah, that's every po-" Then, without warning, Spike's eyes began to glow white, as he finds himself in a trance.

At the same time, Pinkie's body started to shake and shudder, "My Pinkie senses are tingling!" she chirped. 

In his vision, Spike sees a crystal in the shape of a tree, Zecora, Starlight Glimmer, and Sunset Shimmer.

"We forgot three more!" Spike shouted.

"Who?" Twilight asked.




Later

Spike, accompanied by Gilda, Gabby, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Peewee, were racing to the rescue in the Everfree Forest, searching for their unicorn and zebra friend.

"You sure it was Sunset, Starlight, and Zecora you just saw?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure!" Spike replied. "It's hard to explain, but I saw them. Well, them, and some strange crystal tree. I think that's where they are."

"The Tree of Harmony!" Twilight exclaimed.

"What?" Spike looked at the alicorn. "You know it?"

"Know it?" Twilight repeated. "We're actually chosen by it! It's the resting place of the Elements of Harmony!"

"The resting place? I thought you said those things were destroyed when you gave them up."

"No. We gave them up to the tree, to replenish its magic. But they were never gone."

"So then, where is the tree? BWAH!!!" Spike yelled, as he quickly screeches to a halt, almost running off the cliff, and into a chasm below. "Too close for comfort," Spike panted heavily, while beating his chest.

"Look before you leap, y'know," Gabby chirped.

"Sunset?" Twilight called. "Zecora? Where are you?"

"Down here!" Sunset's voice rang, as the heroes looked down to see the fiery headed unicorn, standing at the mouth of a cave.

"Sunset!" Rainbow exclaimed, as she zips down to meet the fiery unicorn. "What are you doing here?! Didn't you see what's going on?!"

"I know, Dash," Sunset replied, while showing her hoof to show the dark mark burning her skin. "I didn't need a weather forecast to tell me what the Shadowbolts are doing."

"That goes double for me, as well," Starlight spoke, making herself known. "And to answer your other question, we're here because Zecora told us we need the Elements."

Everyone looked in the cave, seeing Zecora struggling to get the final element, at the top of the tree.

"Zecora!" Twilight exclaimed, as she disappeared in a flash, and reappeared close to the zebra. "What are you doing?"

Zecora, taken by surprise, nearly fell off, before she was safely caught by Sunset and Starlight.

"Have you gone mad?!" Zecora exclaimed angrily.

"We should be asking you the same thing!" Rainbow replied. "We're about to be drowned by a giant slime monster, and you're just in here, harvesting the Elements of Harmony from the tree they came from!"

"But Dash!" Sunset spoke. "Zecora has a plan to save everyone and stop the Smooze!"

"You do?!" everyone asked, eagerly.

"Not quite," Zecora replied. "The Smooze is indeed a plight. But there's still a chance to fight!" Zecora got back up, and climbs up the Tree. "From my vision, I see the fulfillment for this mission. The Elements of Harmony are a necessity," Zecora reached up for the last element, which Twilight aided via magic. "Now we must make haste! There's no time to waste!"

"Uh, too late for that, Ms. Zebra Teacher Lady!" Gilda called from the cave. "That Smooze thing's already here!!"

"Oh no!" the friends yelled, as they quickly beat their feet, and hightailed out of the cave, just when a flood of purple slime fell over a cliff, and covered the entrance.

The ponies, griffons, and boy looked up in horror, seeing an tentacle-like appendage forming, followed by what appeared to be a mouth that cracked into a wicked grin.

"Bad day," Spike moaned.

"RUN!!!" Starlight screamed, as she and Sunset quickly galloped, with the rest of the friends following.

In response, the Smooze lunged forward in a torrent of slimes, narrowly catching the heroes, who escaped it by running up a set of stairs on the cliffs. Forming a part of its slimes into a hand, which it used to throw a punch at the heroes. In defense, Twilight quickly conjured a protective bubble around herself and her friends. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as the impact made from the Smooze, resulted in a landslide, on the unstable cliff which they stood on.

Rainbow Dash, Gabby, and Gilda took flight, as the beat their wings hard. Zecora almost fell into the monster's slimy mass, had Sunset not been quick enough to save the zebra, by surrounding her hoof in her magic aura. Starlight stopped her climb, as she concentrated into her magic and fired an offensive spell at the Smooze, which did nothing.

"That was my strongest attack!" Starlight exclaimed.

"This is a tragic," Zecora added. "The Smooze can resist magic!"

"Now you tell us," Starlight grumbled. Then, after another splat of slime, the friends resumed their run as they hurried out of the chasm.

Spike was running with Twilight at his side, when the stairs started to gave way, and Twilight tripped on her hooves, and almost fell off.

"Twilight!" Spike shouted, as he quickly grabs the alicorn by her wing, as he pulls her back up. While doing this, the Smooze makes a quick lurch after Spike and Twilight, only for the Dragon Prince to quickly wave his cape, over himself, and the alicorn princess, miraculously shielding themselves from the monster's slime.

The Smooze suddenly noticed Rainbow Dash, and the two griffons flying overhead. With that, the monster hurled several balls of slimes in the air.

"Head's up!" Rainbow screamed, as she and the griffon flew out to dodge the missile. Unfortunately, the ball exploded into tiny fragments of the creature's slime.

"Yikes!" Rainbow exclaimed, as she and the griffons flapped their wings, avoiding the Smooze's flying slimes, while a few landed on their cheeks, tails, and wings.

The three flyers quickly moved out of range, while Spike and the other girls climbed out of the chasm, where they took a moment to to catch their breath.

"I thought our geese were cooked for sure," Spike panted.

"Same here," Sunset added.

Just then, another violent tremor shook, as the heroes looked, seeing the Smooze rising from the chasm, and letting out a bellowing roar.

"Break's over!" Spike spoke quickly. "Running now!" With that, the heroes all took off running, through the branches of the Everfree Forest, with the monster close behind.

The Smooze hurled several globs of slimes after its preys, all the while burying  surrounding trees, and when suddenly, a giant bear, with starry purple furs appeared out of nowhere, and roared.

"An ursa major!!" Twilight screamed.

"Ursa major?" Spike asked. "As in the constellation?"

"That, and this monster that's fighting the Smooze?" Sunset's fear turned confused, when the giant bear stomped its paws into the Smooze beneath it.

In retaliation, the Smooze slithered itself around the giant bear's arm, as it fought back, completely forgetting its preys. The heroes stopped running, as they turned to see the two gargantuan beasts going all out with each other. The Smooze snaked around the Ursa Major in an attempt to suffocate the huge beast, only for the Ursa Major to claw, and bite, its way free. The Smooze then took the form of a giant, beast-like creature, rearing up, before it brought itself down on the Ursa Major, who rolled on its back, in an attempt to shake the Smooze off as it started to revert back to its liquid form, smothering the giant bear, that continues to scratch, and bit the slime monster off.

"Whoa, what a fight!" Spike exclaimed.

"I'm betting some bits on the giant bear to take out the blob!" Gilda said.

"And I'm betting our life that we can get out, before we get squashed by those two!" Rainbow replied, as the heroes quickly took their leave from the Everfree Forest.

However, their departure didn't go unnoticed, as the Smooze started to throw several more of its slimes at the escaping heroes, splattering over some trees in the way, along with the house of Ponyville.

"Whoa Nelly!!" Applejack exclaimed, dodging some of the incoming slimes.

"Yes?" a certain mare called. 

"WHOA NELLY!!!" Button exclaimed.

"It's a Smoozenami!!" Pipsqueak screamed.

"It's a Smoozeapocalypse!!" Tender Taps cried.

"It's a Smooze-a-gaddon!!" Featherweight added.

"This is going to be a close one!" Rumble cringed, as the Knights watched their friends running after them.

Suddenly, a blob of the Smooze fell, and landed on Sunset, getting her stuck.

"SUNSET!!!" Spike and Twilight shouted, as they and the others screeched to a stop.

"Help!" Sunset cried, struggling to break free from the Smooze's slime. "I'm stuck!"

With that, the friends all raced back to aid their friend.

"C'mon!" Pipsqueak shouted. "We gotta help!"

With that, the smaller boy jumped off the platform, with the Knights following.

"What the devil?!" Celaeno exclaimed. "Oy, you boys get back here!! Boys!" The Knights didn't listen, as they continue to run off for their pal. Fleur was about to leap in, when she noticed a bright glow from the case that contains the Armor's pieces. Before long, the Helmet of Wisdom, the Sword of Honor, and Boots of Courage were flown out, and headed straight towards the Knights.

The Helmet dons itself on Button Mash, the Sword of Honor flew into Rumble's hands, while the Boots latched themselves onto Pipsqueak.

"Whoa," Pipsqueak exclaimed. "Me! The wearer of the Boots of Courage!"

"Looks good on you, Pip," Rumble replied. "Now let's go and save our pal!"

Meanwhile, Spike and Twilight were helping pull Sunset free from the gunk that fell on her, when they noticed some more slime balls flying towards them, and the Smooze appeared, as a huge tidal wave.

Sunset tried to fire a protection spell for herself, and her friends, but the Smooze's magic-resistant slime had already covered the fiery unicorn's horn, she was unable to conjure a single spark.

Twilight and Spike both stood defensively over the trapped unicorn, projecting a magic shield, and holding their cape over, respectively. Starlight soon joined in, conjoining Twilight's magic shield with her own.

The Knights soon arrived on the scene, just as the Smooze crashes down on the heroes.

"NO!!!" Fleur screamed, holding her hoof out, refusing to believe what she was seeing.

Fluttershy held her hooves over her mouth, "Please, no!" she whimpered.

"Darling...." Rarity muttered.

The Smooze, believing to have captured its prey, turned its attention at the remaining heroes, who all got into fighting stances.

Then, Pinkie felt another sensation, urging her to look up, "Look!" she shouted, pointing to a spot, that was glowing in a shimmering golden aura.

Everyone looked in anticipation, along with a bewildered Smooze. Then, in a burst of gold light, there stood the Knights, Spike, and the girls, surrounded in a golden aura, with the three pieces glowing, together with Spike's cape, being held by his hands, that were glowing with his mother's cutie mark.

"They're alive!!" Pinkie shouted happily.

"Yay!" Fluttershy started quietly before she loudly cheered. "YAAAYY!!!"

With an an agitated shutter, the Smooze made another lunge towards the surviving heroes, only to be struck by a flaming comet. The Smooze shook itself, before it turns to see Peewee, flapping his wings as he came in for another dive, and collided in another flaming impact with the slime monster, who aimlessly swatted its appendages after the bird.

"Now's our chance!" Spike said, as the others started taking their leave, while helping Sunset on her hooves.

Suddenly, one of the Smooze's slime formed into another slimy appendage, stopping the heroes in their tracks. Just before the Smooze's appendage could be brought down on the heroes, an explosive spell offense was shot, blasting the appendage apart. The friends looked, seeing Fleur, firing several offensive shots at the Smooze, holding its slimy tentacles at bay, together with Celaeno, who was slashing her blade, cutting the slimes away.

"Hurry mon ami!" Fleur shouted. " Get out while you can!"

With that, Spike and the others all started running across the Smooze's slimes, while fighting off the monster's slimes that were attempting to recapture the heroes. Spike reached into his cape, and pulls out a long katana, which he used to slash a way through the Smooze. Twilight fired several blasting spell beams at the Smooze, while projecting some occasional shields to save herself and the heroes from the monstrous slimes. A giant hand was formed beneath the heroes, snatching them up, only for it to be exploded by a combined magic explosive by Twilight, Sunset, and Starlight. Before they could escape, more tentacle-like appendages sprouted around the escaping heroes.

"Darlings, I'm coming!" Rarity shouted, as she conjured up some diamond shaped shields in her hands, which she used to block the Smooze's slimes, protecting herself, Fleur, and Celaeno.

"Hold on, Spike!" Trixie shouted, as she took out her wand. "Trixie will save you!" With that, Trixie waved her wand, and conjured several giant cards, which she used both to shield herself, and to fight back. "Prepare to be dazzled, by the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie shouted, as she conjured several clouds, and fired several thunderbolts at the Smooze.

"C'mon, Mina!" Ember spoke to the red dragon. "Let's show this Smooze thing what we dragons are made of!"

With that, Ember took out an arrow, and lit its tip with her fire, before she fired it at the Smooze, exploding upon impact. Mina in the meantime, flew around the Smooze, distracting it by breathing more flames on the beast, melting a few chunks away.

Having enough, the Smooze spins itself into a huge tornado, sucking everyone in, before it blows them away.

"Looks like we've made it mad!" Button groaned, as he struggles to hold on tight to his helmet.

"You think?" Rumble asked, before he was blown back, while still holding onto his sword.

"It's no use!" Twilight said grimly. "Even with all our efforts, we can't stop it!"

Spike looked to the sky, "Mom!" he spoke. "Now would be a good time for you to come with the Breezies now."

"Change of plan," Celestia spoke, before she appeared in a bright flash of light. "We're all going to Canterlot, now!" With that, the sun princess's eyes glowed, as everyone were all surrounded in her aura, before the vanished, in a flash of light, leaving an angry Smooze behind, as it erupted several more slimes at having its preys escaped.




Canterlot

In another flash of light, the heroes, together with Celestia, reappeared in the center of Canterlot, scared, but relieved.

"Oh man," Spike breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought we were goners for sure."

"Oui," Fleur groaned, as she laid her head close to Spike's shoulder.

"Well, at least we're all together," Applejack said, trying to brighten up the mood.

"Just barely," Dash replied, as she collapsed on the floor, with Gilda, and Gabby. "That was the most intense wipeout I've ever had."

"No kidding," Gilda added.

"Now I know how a milk kinda feels when it's being shaken," Gabby added.

The Knights meanwhile, snapped out of their tired states, when they took notice of the new location they were in.

"Wow," Button gasped. "Boys, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

"What is this place?" Featherweight asked, while taking some pictures.

"This would be Canterlot," Spike replied. "The crowned capital of Equestria!"

"And our first home, before Ponyville!" Twilight smiled, as she joined in. "It's also the place, where our stories begin."

"Fascinating," Pipsqueak replied.

"Omigosh! I can't believe it!" Trixie exclaimed, as she excitedly zips around Canterlot, taking close looks at the area's settings. "This is so breathtaking!" Trixie squealed. "It's even more majestic than what I've been told! There's so many places I can check out in here!"

Starlight couldn't help but chuckle, as she walks over to the enthusiastic girl, "Calm down, Trixie," she said, enveloping the girl in her aura. "Remember, we just escaped from slimy doom. Let's just find someplace to rest for a bit."

"Oh sure, of course," Trixie replied. "Can we get booked for one of those five-star hotels you've told me about? You know, the ones with all those fancy room services, and spas?!"

As the two left, the group could only shake their head in disbelief.

"Wow, that Trixie is quite the enthusiast," Ember noted.

"Yeah," Applejack began glumly. "But when she's an illusionist."

"She's just a loudmouth," Rainbow grumbled.

"Most unpleasant," Rarity added.

"All hat and no cattle," Applejack added.

Meanwhile, Spike went over to Princess Celestia, "Mom! What happened?" he asked. "Where are the Breezies? What happened to whole, 'getting reinforcements' and everything?"

"There's been a complication, Spike," Celestia replied. "The Breezies were already attacked by the Shadowbolts. And their Sun Stone has been stolen."

"What? What's a sun stone?"

"Not a Sun Stone, Spike," Celestia explained. "The Sun Stone. It was very important. It's how the Breezies get their powers to defeat the Smooze," While explaining, Celestia conjured an image of a large gemstone.

"Ooh," Rarity marveled. "How marvelous!"

"That's the Sun Stone?" Spike's eyes widened on realization, "Hang on! I've seen that stone before! In one of my dreams!"

"What?!" everyone exclaimed.

"You've seen this thing?" Rainbow asked.

"What? When? How?" Twilight asked.

"Spike!" Celestia began. "Is this true?"

"Well, yes," Spike replied uneasily. "But I swear, I had no idea it would lead to something like this. I thought it was just a dream. All of it. I didn't know what kind of dreams they really are. I'm sorry."

Applejack, knowing how to detect a lie, senses the truth in the young prince, "It's alright, Sugarcube," she spoke. "Ya just didn't know."

"Applejack is right," Celestia joined. "You still haven't learned your powers fully, yet," Celestia's expression turned serious as she spoke, "Now tell me, Spike. What else did you see in your dreams?"

"Well," Spike scratched his head, as he tries to recall. "I don't know. It's been awhile."

"Relax, Spike," Celestia spoke gently. "Concentrate. Think."

Spike complied, as he recalls what he saw in his vision.

"And that's it," Spike replied. "The stone was gone, just like that," the boy looked down, feeling like a complete failure, "And now, it's all my fault."

"Oh, darling," Rarity said, as she walked over and placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder.

"Now's not the time to beat yourself up, Spike," Rainbow joined in.

"Still, it doesn't help the fact that the Shadowbolts got the Sun Stone," Applejack spoke, before she turned to Princess Celestia. "So, what do we do now, your majesty?"

Celestia, after closing her eyes for a moment to think, opened up, "It's clear now," Celestia began. "If we are ever to save our home from the this slimy abomination, we must retrieve the Sun Stone, and give powers to the Breezies once more to stop it."

"Except there's just  one small problem, your highness," Ember began. "We have no idea where they are! The Fucanglong Box isn't telling us anything, let alone reveal one of the last armor's pieces the Shadowbolts got their hands on!"

"Ember's right, Princess Celestia," Twilight spoke. "Not even the map could tell us where they are! They could be anywhere!"

"Where in the world are they?" Pinkie asked.

Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer both scratched their chin, before they looked to each other, "Maybe we've been looking in the wrong places!" Sunset spoke in realization.

"What?" their friends asked.

"Well, think about it," Starlight spoke. "And as much as I hate to admit it, but we Shadowbolts are known for our cunning, and our methods of getting places that are well guarded. And to do that, we had to come up with some sort of 'red herring' to do so."

"You use a fish to get into places?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"No, Pinkie," Twilight explained. "It's an expression. It means to use something to steer our attention away from something that's very important."

"Exactly!" Sunset spoke. "Right now, the Shadowbolts had unleashed the Smooze on us, so that we'd be too busy fighting it, rather than them!"

"In the meantime," Starlight began, while Twilight had an epiphany.

"They would just wait out, and attack us when we least expect it!" Twilight realized.

"Bingo!" Sunset and Starlight said together. "Jinx!"

"But that doesn't answer where they could be," Rainbow spoke.

"Actually, it does," Celestia spoke. "As I've mentioned before, the Smooze is a monster capable of destroying our world. And obviously, the Shadowbolts wouldn't want to be caught in its path of destruction. And the only safe places for them to avoid the Smooze, would be in high places, like the mountains."

"Or the sky," Rainbow added.

Pinkie then had an epiphany, "Or maybe, up there!!!" she pointed to the sky.

Just faintly, everyone all spotted a faint apparition of a certain white ball, floating in outer space.





"The moon!" Spike gasped.
> Mission Rogue Diamond to Dragonfire Part 5: Mission to the Moon || Forgive Me?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"They're on the moon?!" everyone exclaimed loudly.

"Hmmm, go figure," Pinkie Pie spoke.

Ember held out the Fucanglong Box, and felts its pull, directing upward, towards the sky, "Well played, Nightmare Moon," Ember muttered.

"Now the question is, how do we get up there?" Button asked, as he turns to Twilight. "By chance, there wouldn't happen to be a spell that would just beam us all the way up, would there?"

"I'm afraid it's not that easy," Twilight shook her head. "Even if we could be able to teleport up there, it would require a lot of magical forces to do so, even for an alicorn, such as myself."

"Ooh! I have an idea!" Pinkie bounced. "Maybe we can just skip the majority of this chapter, and get to the part where we arrived on the moon!"

"Pinkie, this ain't the time for jokes," Twilight replied. "This is serious."

"I'm not joking!" Pinkie replied. "We can-" Seeing that the group weren't paying any mind to her, Pinkie gave up, as she decided to just go along with it.

"Think you guys," Twilight said. "How do we get to the moon?"

"If only we'd have one of those fancy rocket ships, like the ones from NASA," Spike frowned. "Then, we'd be able to fly up there."

At the mention of rocket ships, Celestia's eyes widened in realization, "Starswirl's beard!" she exclaimed. "That's it!"




Later

The heroes were later in one of the cave networks in the mountain of Canterlot, where they were amazed to see, what appeared to be, a huge spacecraft. In appearance, the vehicle looked almost like the ones seen in sci-fi movie genres that take place in outer space.

"Whoa!" the boys awed, marveling at the vehicle before them.

"It's big!" Rumble whistled.

"It's sleek!" Pipsqueak marveled.

"It's beautiful!" Button Mash squealed, with tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm in love!" Button quickly snapped out of his trance, as he turns to see Sweetie Belle, giving an annoyed look. "But I still love you more, Sweetie!" he chuckled.

"What is that?!" Twilight and Spike asked, simultaneously.

"My little ponies, and friends," Celestia spoke the last part, on behalf of the Knights, dragons, anthro parrot, and griffons present. "I give you, the Celestial Phoenix!"

"Wow," Spike gasps, while walking on the railings, checking the ship out. "It's amazing. But what's it doing here?" he asked, turning to his mother.

"It was all part of a secret project that we've worked on, ages ago," Celestia explained. "Long before you came to Equestria, Spike," Celestia looked at the ship, while placing a wing on her son's shoulder, as waves of memories washed over her.

"You see, Spike," she began. "Thousands of years ago, when I was still a young princess, and before Luna become Nightmare Moon," she spoke sadly at the mention of her sister. "Our mentor, Starswirl the Bearded, was a brilliant unicorn wizard. He was well known for his expertise in the arts of magic. He would spend tireless hours, studying magics, inventing new spells, as well as making newfound discoveries that he believed would serve as benefits to Equestria. And it was during one of those long hours, when he discovered, the world you know as, Earth."

"He discovered Earth?" Spike, and Twilight, looked at Princess Celestia, in bewilderment. "How?"

"Through a magic mirror he invented," Celestia replied. "But that's a story for another time. The fact is, he observed the technology of the humans, watching as how they advanced from the days they were considered 'primitive.' In turn, those technologies have inspired him to creating, this spacecraft you see before you."

Twilight and Spike turned their attention back to the spacecraft, with Twilight staring at it, starry eyed, "I'd expect nothing less, from Starswirl the Bearded, himself!" Twilight swooned, almost fainting, had Spike not been able to catch her.

"Looks like someone's got a crush," Sunset whispered to Starlight.

"Too bad she missed her chance for like thousands of years ago," Starlight whispered, to which both unicorns let out a faint snicker.

Wanting to get back on topic, Applejack spoke, "So, ya mean to tell us, we're gonna use this thing to get to the moon?" the apple pony asked.

"In a way, yes," Celestia replied. "Though, the problem is, Starswirl never revealed the proper functions on getting it to work. And he's been missing for over a thousand years."

"So, with all due respect mom," Spike began. "How do you expect us to pilot this thing, without worrying we might, I don't know, crash?"

"I remember long ago, that somewhere in Starswirl's private chamber, are the plans he kept for this machine," Celestia explained. "It is located, somewhere, deep, within the mountain. And only I know where it is."

"OMIGOSH!! FOR REAL?!!" Twilight exclaimed, as she appeared in a flash of light, with a wide grin on her face.

"BWAH!!" Spike and Celestia both yelped, before they rapidly beat their chests.

"I'm sorry," Twilight blushed. "It's just, I couldn't help but overhear you saying that you know the location of the brilliant Starswirl the Bearded's secret chamber, which texts of histories said have been lost for centuries!" Looking at her teacher, Twilight quickly cleared her throat, "I mean, by chance, you can take us there?"

"I was just going to suggest that," Celestia smiled nervously. "The plans are there, after all. And if all of you are ever to stand a chance on getting to the moon, and stopping the Shadowbolts, we should go and get them."

"Then let's go already," Spike spoke.

With that, Celestia left the room, with Spike and Twilight following, "Meanwhile, the rest of you should take the time to prepare yourselves," Celestia called to the rest of the heroes.

"You got it, Princess," Rainbow saluted.

"Hmm, now that I think about, I guess we shouldn't skip to the part where www arrive on the moon," Pinkie shrugged. "Gives Spike some more time to bond with his mother again."

"Ooh, this simply cannot do!" Rarity exclaimed, as she produced a handkerchief and started wiping some dusts off the surface of the ship. "We cannot go into outer space like this!"

"Honestly, Rarity," Applejack began. "Only you would make such a big deal between a stubborn dirt cleaning to the fight of our life.

"Well, honestly for you, Applejack," Rarity retorted. "It's never too late to learn how to save the day, with style."

Meanwhile, Fluttershy had released her squadron of gremlins to check on the ship, when a phoenix flew into the room.

"Oh, hi Philomena!" Fluttershy greeted the phoenix. "So lovely to see you again."

The phoenix squawked in agreement, when Peewee flew over. The two phoenixes both flapped around the room, circling each other in graceful dances, before they perched together on one of the railings.

"Aw, don't you two look cute together," Fluttershy awed. "Like mother and son."




Speaking of whom

"Stay close," Celestia whispered, holding a wing around Spike's shoulder, while her horn was lit up, as she navigated their way through the dark caves.

As the three kept on walking through the caves, Spike turned to Twilight, who was right next to him, "So, how good is this Starswirl the Bearded?" Spike asked.

"Oh, he's just the best of the best, that's what!" Twilight squealed excitedly. "He's the father of the amniomorphic spell, the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era, he created more than 200 spells! He even has a shelf in the Canterlot Library of Magic named after him."

"Wow, he sounds awesome," Spike replied.

"Awesome?!" Twilight repeated in bewilderment. "Try brilliant! He's my magical hero!" Twilight swooned, until she tripped on a rock, which Spike quickly caught her time.

"Gosh," Spike began. "I wished I could be him for you right now."

Twilight giggled in response, "Oh, Spike."

While the two were conversing, and sharing laughs, Celestia took a moment to look back, having another flashback, seeing how both Spike and Twilight were very close. It brought smile to the Sun Princess, who looked on in nostalgia, 'It's just so hard to believe, you were that little boy I've lost years ago,' she thought about Spike, with a mixture of happiness, and sorrow.

"Mom?" Spike asked. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Celestia gasped, snapping back to reality. "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just a little, distracted, that's all," she smiled nervously.

Spike and Twilight, however, didn't buy it. Nevertheless, the two let it slide, as Celestia continues to guide them through the caves, before they arrived at a huge, double sided door, with a huge swirl, adorned with stars, decorated on the front.

"This is it," Celestia spoke.

"EEEEEH!!!" Twilight squealed, and with a speed of Pinkie Pie, the eager alicorn princess broke down the doors, as she enters the room, seeing it was dusty, with a series of antiques, scrolls, and books that Starswirl had left behind.

Twilight happily zips around the room. "Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh! The candle he used to light his way through Maretania! The staff he used to tame an Ursa Major! And the Chi Spells he learned from the Eight Immortals! They're all here!" Twilight squealed.

"Remember what we're really here for, Twi," Spike remind the enthusiastic alicorn.

"Yeah, yeah, we'll get there in a moment," Twilight replied, clearly not paying attention, as she was in her own little world.

Celestia smiled in amusement as she shook her head, incredulously, while Spike rolls his eyes in amusement at the alicorn's hyperactive fangirl moment.

"Refresh my memory," Spike chuckled, turning to his mother. "Was she ever like this?"

"Usually, it's only when you brought up the time the both of you have passed the entrance exam to my school," Celestia chuckled, 'That and whenever she expresses enthusiasm of perfecting one of the magic projects you would occasionally work on,' Celestia thought in nostalgia, gazing at Spike, and couldn't help but picture a cute little infant Spike, who aged up to a an even sweeter five year old Spike, until a blink of an eye reveals the child, covered in scorch marks, and his face wrapped in bandages.

The last vision brought fear to Celestia's face, as she closed her eyes and shook the image away, and looked, to see Spike, in his current age, looking through some bookshelves, on a ladder, searching for the plans they came for.

"Spike, be careful!" Celestia called, worryingly. "You'll fall, and hurt yourself!"

"Relax, mom," Spike replied. "I've got this," With that, Spike went back to looking through the shelves, looking through some old scrolls and journals, "Hey Twilight!" he called. "This it?"

Twilight, snapping out of her fangirl trance, flies over and reads the document titled: "The Journal of Techno-Wizardry," Twilight reads. "This must be it!" With that, Twilight enveloped the journal in her aura, as she eagerly skims through the pages, reading several ideas of Starswirls. "The Memory Scanner, the Flameless Fireworks, the Unbreakable Puzzle Box, EEEEEEH, the inventions of my hero, and they're all right here!" Twilight squealed as she continues to skim through the pages excitedly.

While Twilight eagerly looks through the document, Celestia took the chance to walk over to Spike, who just got down from the ladder.

"It seems like only yesterday the two of you were busy taking notes, and researching in the library," Celestia said in nostalgia.

"I get ya, mom," Spike replied, groaning while rubbing a hand to his head, as he recalls the tragedy.

"Spike!" Celestia got down to her son, holding a wing out for comfort. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, mom," Spike replied, "It's just.......has it really been that long?"

"Sadly, yes," Celestia frowned, 'Though not as long as all the years Luna's been gone, it's still just as painful,' the alicorn princess thought, before she laid a gentle wing on Spike's shoulder, and brought him close. "Can you ever forgive me, my son?"

"Forgive you?" Spike asked in bewilderment. "For what?"

"For not being a better mom," Celestia replied, with tears pouring from her eyes again. "If I hadn't been too careless, then you wouldn't have been struck by Somnambula. I should've been more vigilant, to protect you more efficiently. I should've been the one to take the hit from that lightning spell," Spike could hardly believe his ears, along with Twilight, who finally snapped out of her crazy fangirl moment, as they both looked at the Sun Princess in disbelief.

"Mom, you can't mean that," Spike gasped.

"But I do," Celestia sobbed. "As a mother, I was supposed to take care of you, and keep you safe from harm. I've lived long enough to know a mother must guide and love her child into the person they were meant to be. But I've failed to do so, on that horrible day when the Shadowbolts attacked. I fought so hard besides you, my son. I tried to protect you, but in the end, it was the other way around. It was you who willingly sacrificed yourself, to insure my own safety. For that, I can never forget your bravery, Spike. But I also can never forget my poor judgement, and my inability to save you," At that point, the pipe broke, as Celestia cried, "I'm so sorry, Spike! I really am!"

Spike, feeling a tear escaping, turned to Twilight, who too, couldn't bear to see her teacher cry, before they both walked over and embraced Celestia.

"If anything," Spike began. "I'm the one who failed you," Celestia looked at Spike in bewilderment. "If I hadn't been so rash, and too reckless, I would've figured some other way to save you mom, and you wouldn't have to suffer this painful heartache, plus the one you've already endured from Aunt Luna's imprisonment with Nightmare Moon."

"It wasn't just you, Spike," Twilight sobbed. "I failed on that day, as well. Besides BBBFF, you were my first friend, and my BFF. Not to mention my Number One Assistant. Getting straight As, and awards for passing a test, or making an accomplishment, just meant nothing to me, when I don't have someone to share it with."

Celestia, further overwhelmed with the love from the two young teenagers in front of her, wrapped her wings and hooves around the two, as she brought the two of them close.

"Spike?" Celestia began.

"Yeah, mom?" Spike looked up.

"Can you ever give me another chance?" Celestia asked.

"Why do you ask?" Spike asked rhetorically. "I've already given the girls, and all my other Equestrian friends a chance to make up for all the years we've been apart, because of some crazy witch's lightning bolt. And for you mom, what's say after this whole Nightmare Moon fiasco blows over, you, me, Uncle Scorpan, and Aunt Luna, we'll all catch up on lost times?"

Celestia smiled, as she nuzzled her cheek affectionately to Spike's, "I'd love that very much," she cried.

"And what am I? Chopped liver?" Twilight joked, half-heartedly.

"Don't worry, Twilight," Spike chuckled. "After this whole adventure thing is done. I'm making plans on spending lots and lots of quality times with you, and all of our friends."

"Oh you," Twilight chuckled.

Spike's eyes suddenly snapped open, "Oh, what are we doing?!" he exclaimed. "We've got a planet to save! Quick! Search for the plans!"

"Got 'em right here, Spike," Twilight smirked.




Later

"It's about time!" Rainbow groaned. "What took you so long?"

"Sorry, Dash," Spike apologized, on Twilight and Celestia's behalf. "We were kinda, distracted."

"So you got the plans?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah, we got them," Twilight replied. "Right here," the lavender alicorn unrolls the parchment with her aura, "Though, the writings are a little bit too sloppy," Twilight replied. "I can't seem to make out what he's saying."

"Here, let me have a look," Starlight said, as she levitated the plans, and read them. "It's not pretty, but this word looks like it's saying 'red wire' to grid."

"Red wire to the grid," Fluttershy said to the gremlins, who gave her a thumbs up, before they did as they were told.

In a matter of seconds, the ship started to come to life.

"Amazing!" Sunset gasped. "It's working!"

"EEEEH!!" Twilight squealed. "This is history in the making! Quick! What next?" she asked happily, turning to Starlight.

"Here's something," Starlight spoke. "Es-ca-pay! I don't know what it means, but it sounds funny."

"Let me see," Trixie looked. "That's pronounced 'escape.'"

"Oh," Starlight giggled in embarrassment.

"Come on, everyone!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Let's jet it up!"

It wasn't long, before the ship was back to its former glory, and a runway was formed before it.

"I think, that's done it!" Applejack spoke, taking her hat off to wipe some sweats off.

"Okay, everyone ready?" Spike asked, to which the heroes in the room, besides Celestia, all nodded their heads. "Then here we go!"

"Not so fast!" a voice called out, which reveals to be Scorpan, walking in.

"Uncle Scorpan!" Spike shouted.

"Scorpan!" Celestia spoke. "What's the status?"

"We've managed to evacuate every pony we can save from the North," Scorpan replied. "Most of them are all taking shelters in some of the zeppelins we've provided from Canterlot, and some have already evacuated to the South. But that won't make a difference. The Smooze won't stop, until it's succeeded its worldly conquest. We have to stop it now, with the Breezies."

"And that's another bad news, uncle," Spike replied. "You see, it just so happens, the Sun Stone's been taken to Midnight Castle, by Nightmare Moon, and the Shadowbolts."

"And we're going to the moon, to storm the castle, and take it back from them!" Pinkie added.

"Is that so?" Scorpan asked. "Well in that case, I'm coming with you youngsters."

"You sure uncle?" Spike asked. "I mean, not the I minded or anything, just wondering. Any reason why?"

"Midnight Castle was once my home," Scorpan answered, much to the surprise of the heroes in the room. "If you're going into that dark, treacherous place, then you're gonna need a guide."

Knowing Scorpan has a point, the heroes all nodded their heads, "Then come onboard, uncle!" Spike replied.

"Alright!" Pinkie cheered. "Welcome back to the team, General!"

"Ooh, this is going to be scary," Fluttershy whimpered. "Blasted all the way to the moon? Fight Shadowbolts? And Nightmare Moon? I just want to stay home, locked in my backpack, with my teddy bear!"

"Aw, don't worry Sugarcube," Applejack replied, putting a comforting hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "We'll protect ya."

"Eeyup!" Pinkie cheered. "Besides, we've done daring adventures many times, during Spike's absence!"

"Only this time, I'm here now," Spike added. "And I won't let you all down, m'ladies."

"But of course," Rarity smiled. "We know you won't, Spikey-Wikey! You cared too much about us, you gallant Dragon Prince."

"And don't forget, Spike," Button began. "We got your back, all the way til' the end!"

"We the Knights have pledged our services to you!" Pipsqueak added, as the Knights all voiced their agreements.

"Well, if you young Knights are going," Celaeno began. "Then I'm coming with you!"

"Aye, aye, captain!" Pipsqueak saluted.

"That's what I like to hear!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Some real, hero spirits! This is what we signed up for! It's time to be awesome!!"

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight began. "Now's really not the time for-" Too late, Dash already started singing. "Song."

[Mashup(if possible): CHS Rally Song and It's Time To Be Awesome]



One Up-Beating, and Inspiring Song Later
[HTTYD-Flying Theme]

The heroes were all suited up, in special space suits for travels, complete with some techno-magic collars for oxygen.

"Oh yeah!" Rainbow smirked, spinning around, showing off her suit. "Am I awesome? Or am I awesome?"

"My, these suits are simply fabulous," Rarity marveled at herself.

"Now, let's get this baby flying already!" Rainbow exclaimed excitedly, taking first seat, and seizing shotgun.

"Not so fast, Dash," Twilight began, while wearing a crown. "Here, put these on," With that, Twilight levitated five golden bracelets to Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, each bracelets adorned with gems that matched their colors.

"The Elements of Harmony!" he gasped. "Besides the Armor of Heroes, the legendary artifacts in all of Equestria."

"And the only things that can insure Nightmare Moon's immediate defeat," Twilight added. "If she can stay still, long enough."

"Don't worry, Twilight," Pinkie Pie bounced. "We'll be ready for her this time. There's no way she'd give us the slip."

Applejack then turned to Rara, who was coming on board, with Gilda, Gabby, Ember, and Mina.

"Ya better stay here, Rara," Applejack insisted. "This could get dangerous."

"Just be careful, AJ," the mare replied, as she and the apple farm pony gave each other a hug.

Gilda and Gabby were about to get onboard, when Rainbow stopped them.

"Sorry, Gilda," Rainbow spoke. "I don't think there's enough room on the ship for some more."

"You're gonna leave us here?" Gilda asked, on Gabby's behalf.

"It's not that we're leaving you. It's just, every pony here needed some protections," Rainbow said, pointing down to Canterlot, showing the ponies who are taking refuge from the Smooze.

"Well, can't call myself a friendly neighbor for nothing," Gilda replied, before she nodded. "Okay! We'll make sure nothing happens to these ponies!"

"You can count on us!" Gabby saluted.

"Just kick Nightmare Moon's ass for me, Dash!" Gilda replied.

"You got it, G!" Dash smirked.

Celestia walks over to Spike, "Spike, you don't have to go up there," she said worryingly.

"But Flare's parents, and Aunt Luna's already up there," Spike replied. "And they're family. No pony gets left behind, or forgotten, right?"

Fleur, who had been listening, felt touched, together with Celestia who flared her wings out, embracing her son by his cheeks, as she spoke, "No matter what happens, I can never ask for a better son," With that, Celestia kissed Spike on the forehead.

"Thanks mom," Spike replied, as he and Celestia shared one last embrace, before they parted. As they did so, Spike's hand was coated in his mother's gold, shimmering aura, together with her cutie mark on his hands.

Setting a look of determination, Spike turned to the rest of the heroes, "Alright, guys!" he began. "Let's rock and roll!"

The heroes all cheered in response.

"Hold it!" Ember roared, catching everyone by surprised.

"Now what?" Spike asked, as he and everyone onboard looked at the dragoness, hoping it won't take long.

Ember blushed a shade of red, as she walked up to Spike, "Look, Spike," Ember breathed, while sweating a few beads. "I just....I don't.....I...I....Please don't die up there, okay?!" Ember blurted out at the last part.

Needless to say, everyone besides Spike, were all surprised at the Dragon Lord's outburst.

"Ember?" Spike began, uneasily, before Ember silenced him.

"Let me say it, okay?" Ember pleaded, while cupping Spike's face. "If this is the last time I'll ever see you again. I just wanted to say, you're amazing, okay? And that says a lot from me! You're strong, you're brave, and you're an awesome friend, and....." Unable to keep it contained anymore, Ember instantly clamped her jaws on Spike's as she passionately makes out with him.

Needless to say, everyone were all taken by surprise at Ember's bold move.

"Hey! Claws off-" Rarity, unfortunately, was stopped by Princess Cadence, who insisted that Ember has a moment with Spike. Begrudgingly, Rarity complied, with a pout.

After what felt like hours, both dragons parted, and Spike was left in a daze.

Just then, a black dragonfly came buzzing in, before it perched on Ember, "How was that?" Ember whispered, to the dragonfly.

"Nice," Thorax replied.

"Y'know, Spike," Mina began. "I'd like to give you a farewell kiss."

"You too, Mina?" Spike asked, as he got over his daze.

"Hey!" Trixie exclaimed. "Why should you give him another farewell kiss?"

"Because I called for it," Mina grinned.

"No fair!" Gabby exclaimed. "What if I wanted to give Spike a kiss good-bye?"

"Um, girls," Spike tried to speak.

"How about this," Thorax spoke, as he appeared in a flash of green light. "Any girls who won't be coming onboard, will all get the moment to kiss Spike!"

Spike looked at the changeling in bewilderment, "Geez, thanks a lot, Thorax," It wasn't long before the girls on deck all exchanged agreements, as they all gazed at Spike, lovingly. "Now, now girls," Spike began to panic. "Please don't look at me that way! HELP!!" the boy screamed, trying to run away, only for Mina to leap forward, as she pinned him down. "Help me out here, Knights!" he called to his posse.

"Sorry, Spike," Button called. "You're on your own on this one!"

"I'd count myself lucky if I were you!" Rumble said.

"Et tu, boys," Spike grumbled, before he turns back, to see Mina, smiling down on him.

The red dragoness was looking at him with bedroom eyes, "Like the Dragon Emperor from the comic series of Flashfire, you're a hunk of red rubies," With that, the red dragon, too, seizes Spike's jaws as she planted a hot, steaming, passionate kiss on the Dragon Prince.

"No fair!" Trixie pouted, as she seizes Spike. "Let the Great and Powerful Trixie enchant you," With that, Trixie gave Spike a kiss.

"One side there sister!" Gilda said, as she shoved Trixie to the side, and pounced on Spike, pinning him to the ground. "Alright, Spike," Gilda growled. "You've got your kisses from those three. Now it's my turn!" With that, Gilda, despite her beak being so sharp, carefully clamped her jaw around Spike's, and the two made out. "That was for being awesome," Gilda smirked flirtatiously, after they parted.

"And this is for being an inspiring hero! Kay?" Gabby chirped eagerly, as she too kissed Spike.

Afterwards, Spike was all red in the face, as he was left red in the face, while the girls who kissed him, couldn't help but giggle, while the rest of the girls, onboard the ship, pouted in jealousy.

Just then, Lyra and Bon Bon, both came up to Spike, who snapped out of his daze, and looked at them, confusingly.

"Uh, girls?" he asked.

"Y'know, Spike," Lyra began, as she twirls a lock of her hair. "We never did got the chance to properly thank you for saving us, back in that terrorist attack in New York."

"And before we ever forget it completely," Bon Bon spoke.

"This is our way to say, thank you," the girls said together, before they both kissed Spike on the lips.

"What was that about the terrorist attack in New York?" Scorpan asked, before turning to the Mane Six, who all shrug in response.

Lastly, Rara stepped forward, as she bashfully looked to the side.

"Hey, um, Spike?" Rara began.

"Yes, Rara?" Spike asked.

Initially, feeling unsure of herself, Rara, out of impulse, simply grabbed Spike in her hooves, as she tenderly embraced him, "I'll never forget who I am, as long as I can sing about you, my Dragon Prince," she smiled, before she quickly kissed him, on the cheek.

Princess Celestia couldn't help but smile, chuckling, while playfully shaking her head, "After all these years, he still has that effect on girls?" Celestia asked.

"As we like to say before we're older," Zecora began. "Absence does makes the heart grow fonder."

However, as much as Scorpan would like the girls to savor a moment between Spike, he quickly cleared his throat, "If we're all done yet, perhaps we can get moving now?"

Spike, shaking out of his daze, quickly turned serious, "You're right uncle," Spike replied, as he got onboard. "C'mon team! Let's do this!"

"Let's go and kick some SHADOWBUTTS!!!" Rumble shouted, as he and the boys all hopped onboard, and into the spaceship.

"EXCELSIOR!!" Rainbow cheered, as she puts the pedal to the medal, and the ship was blasted off, into space.

Changing into her anthro form, Celestia clasped her hands together, "Good luck, Spike," she prayed. "Be safe, my son," she repeated the very same prayers she spoke since the prologue. 




Later in outer space

"So far, so good," Fluttershy whimpered.

"At this rate, we'll reach the moon in no time," Rainbow smirked, as she kicked back in her seat.

Suddenly, the alarm for the spaceship went off, as the heroes looked, to see something heading straight towards them.

"OR WE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT ALL!!!" Fluttershy screamed.




Frozen North

Somnambula, Abacus Cinch, and some Shadowbolts were in a large ice cavern, with a single large opening in the ceiling.

"There," a Shadowbolt replied. "Complete to Mistress Nightmare Moon's specifications."

"Excellent," Somnambula replied. "And right on schedule, as well."

"Obviously," Abacus began. "Crystal Preps didn't receive all those 29 Best Tech. Ed. Students for nothing."

"Do not presume too much, Abacus!" Somnambula replied bitterly. "Remember, the price for failure would be, extreme."

"I'm well aware of that, Somnambula," Abacus replied. "Why else did we capture that meta human of a ruffian's daughter?"

Just then, a shadow ran past some ice crystals in the cavern. This, however, didn't go unnoticed for Somnambula, whose ear perked up.

"We've got company," Somnambula sneered. "Quickly! Secure the area! I'll deal with the intruder, myself!" With that, Somnambula stamped her staff on the ground, as a wall of ice was formed, between her, and the rest of the Shadowbolts.

Just then, the intruder made herself known.

"Well, if it isn't Queen Gwyneira," Somnambula noted.

"Well, if it isn't Somnambula, former High Priest of the Pharaohs!" Neira frowned. "What do you plan on doing with that machine?"

"Only in the business of her majestic highness, Princess Nightmare Moon!" Somnambula replied. "Nothing you should meddle around with!"

"Oh on the contrary!" Neira replied. "This is the Frozen North! These lands belong to me, the penguins, and the yaks! Whatever happens here, will answer to me!"

Somnambula lets out wicked laugh, "I was hoping you'd feel that way," the sorceress smirked, before with a stomp of her staff, she summoned a pack of flying monkeys, who all exchanged screeches, and chitters, while glaring the lone alicorn menacingly. "Have at her, boys!" Somnambula ordered, as the monkeys all pounced after the alicorn.

Elsewhere

Discord was drinking himself to some chocolate milk, when his whole body started shake violently, "Ooh, someone else is spreading chaos," he said to himself.
> Mission Dragonfire Part 6: A Trip to the Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We're heading straight into that meteor shower!" Fluttershy screamed.

"We're doomed!" Rainbow wailed dramatically. "DOOMED!!"

"Good-bye cruel world!" Rarity sighed, as she dramatically fainted into a fainting couch she produced.

"Get ahold of yourselves," Applejack shouted. "We're not done yet!"

"AJ's right!" Spike added. "I'm not going down like this! Not when we're close, and yet so far, from finding Fleur's folks and saving aunt Luna!"

"But what do we do?" Fluttershy whimpered.

Thinking fast, Twilight started to concentrate her magic into her horn, forming a protective bubble shaped forcefield around the ship, "I don't know how long it may hold, but it should keep us safe until we get to the moon!"

"Then let us give you some extra magical supports, Twilight," Sunset spoke, as she, Starlight, Rarity, and Fleur joined in.

Together, the four unicorns all combined their powers together with their alicorn friend, further strengthening the shield.

"In the meantime, we'll take care of the meteors!" Spike spoke, on behalf of the rest of the heroes onboard.

"I call shotguns!" Button exclaimed, as he quickly took a seat, and snatched some controls. "Time to show you guys what 24/7 of Star Fox does for ya!"

The boys, and girls looked at each other, unsure of the nerd boy's reasoning.

[Imperia - Antti Martikainen]

With that, Button Mash somehow, and expectedly, conjured up a target screen, as he scrolls it around, before he pressed some buttons on the controls to fire lasers, blasting many of the incoming meteors into smithereens.

"HA!" Button laughed. "How'd you like that?!"

"Button! Watch-" Rumble was cut off, when Button quickly blasted an incoming meteor. "Out...."

"Whoo-hoo! Highs score!" Button Mash cheered for himself.

Needless to say, everyone on board were all speechless.

"Button," Spike finally spoke. "Sorry we've ever doubted you."

"Meh, I get that a lot," Button shrugged.

"Um, hate to be the bearer of bad news," Rainbow began. "But we still got a long way, and more debris flying towards us!"

No sooner had Dash spoke, when the barrier surrounding the Celestial Phoenix got struck by more meteors, and what appeared to be spiked bombs that exploded on impact.

Twilight grunted, together with the unicorns on board, "Those things!" Twilight referred to the bombs. "They're breaking the shield! It's not going to last much longer!"

"Hold on! I'm blasting the best I could!" Button struggled, as he continues to fire lasers at all the incoming debris. "There's too many of them! It would be a good time for getting Power-Ups right now," the nerd groaned.

"Or perhaps, more help," Scorpan said, as he struggled to walk over to a control panel, pressed some codes in an ancient language in the form of some runic-like symbols. With that, the interior Celestial Phoenix started to change, as some extra seats were produced, each with their own control pads.

Spike looked at Scorpan in bewilderment, "Uncle? How did-"

"I'm an old friend of Starswirls, remember?" the gargoyle replied, while holding up an old paper. "Though reading his sloppy writing ain't exactly my favorite pass time."

"Well, either way," Rainbow quickly jumped towards one of the controls, "Let's blast our way!" With that, the cyan pegasus joined Button, as she began to fire more of the incoming meteorites, space bombs, and all sorts of debris that are being thrown at them.

"Save some for me, Dash!" Applejack called, taking control nearby, and she too started firing lasers at the debris flying at them.

"Good shooting girls," Spike complimented. "And boy," he added, when Button Mash cleared his throat.

"Don't compliment just yet, Spike," Scorpan replied. "We're not on the moon yet."

"At least the shield is still-WAIT!" Sunset looked at the monitor, to reveal another object flying towards them.

In appearance, the object appeared to be an asteroid, with a large gun attached to it.

"Uh oh," Starlight groaned. "That's not good!"

"Geez, since when is it ever a good thing when we're invading the Shadowbolts?" Applejack asked, bluntly, before the whole ship shook violently.

"The shield!" Sunset exclaimed, as a blast from the object, created a huge hole in the shield. "That thing packs a punch!"

"It won't be the only thing!" Button screamed, as he blasted another, only to reveal several more. "We're being bombarded by those things!"

Twilight squinted her eyes, before she gasps in horror, "Oh no," she whimpered. "It's worse than I thought. Those things are Moon Battle Stations!"

"And how do you know those things?" Rainbow asked.

"Because I made them!" everyone onboard all gasped in shock, shooting bewildered looks at the lavender alicorn.

"You made those things?!" Spike asked.

"Back when I was a student of Abacus Cinch," Twilight replied. "Back then, it was an extra credited assignment, and I only made the prototype for a class demonstration, but-"

"Never mind that!" Starlight shouted. "Do you know how to disarm those things?!"

"Maybe," Twilight replied. "I mean, they're obviously my designs! I should be able to work them telepathically on the inside-out!"

"Then work your magic, before we get blown out of the sky!" Rainbow shouted.

"But to do that, I'll have to leave my post, and leave the shield weakened!" Twilight whimpered.

"Leave the shields to us, Twilight," Sunset groaned. "You need to stop those Battle Stations, or we're all done for."

"And we'll try to keep those things off, while you work your magic," Rainbow spoke.

Hesitant, Twilight nodded her head, as she left her post, and began concentrating hard into her magic, seizing most of the battle stations in range, via her aura, before they were all shorted out.

Just then, more Battle Stations flew in, and fired several more blasts at the shield, breaking through in the process, and striking parts of the Celestial Phoenix, followed by some meteorites, and bombs.

"Oh dear! We've been hit!" Fluttershy whimpered.

"Yeah, so we noticed!" Rainbow groaned.

"Darlings, hold on!" Rarity groaned, as she, Fleur, Sunset, and Starlight struggled to maintain the shield, which doesn't look as if it was going to last much longer.

Button, still blasting some meteors, noticed a cap on one of the control sticks. Taking his chances, Button flipped the cap up, revealing a small red button. Out of impulse, Button pressed the button, which resulted in some missiles to fire out from the sides of the Celestial Phoenix, destroying some of the debris, and Battle Stations in the process.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed, as he and everyone looked to Button. "How'd you know to do that?" he asked the nerd.

"I told you, I learned it all from Fox McCloud," Button smiled proudly, to which everyone decided not to question, as they continued their flight to the moon, equipped with the knowledge of the missiles Button had unknowingly discovered.

"Alright!" Pipsqueak cheered. "We made it!"

Soon, the heroes made a quick landing on the moon's surface, before they went out.

"That was too close for comfort," Spike panted heavily.

"Yeah, but it was awesome at the same time," Rainbow cheered. "The tension, the suspense, the adrenaline, I loved it, a lot!"

"I don't!" Fluttershy squeaked, frighteningly, still clinging to a pole for dear life.

"Anyway," Twilight began. "Now all we have to do is find Midnight Castle, and stop the Shadowbolts, and Nightmare Moon once and for all."

Reaching into his cape, Spike pulls out the Fucanglong Box, wincing slightly as it burns through his glove, "Now where would we find a dark, creepy castle on the moon?" Spike asked.

"I'd suggest you look behind you," Scorpan instructed, guiding the heroes' attentions to the said castle.
> Mission Rogue Diamond Part 7: Smooze-a-geddon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Canterlot


"There goes our lunch," Aria grumbled.

"There goes our dinner!" Sonata whimpered.

"Oh let them go," Adagio replied. "We'll just save them for dessert, while we help ourselves, to a huge buffet, right here," Adagio smirked, as she and her comrades begin singing.





While singing, the ponies, who were once concerned and frightened, looked up at the three, taken by their haunting voices. Though at first, the ponies were bewildered at more human beings in Equestria, they suddenly find themselves enchanted by the girls' singing, and their hypnotic dances.





Discord, Snips, and Snails were investigating the disturbance Discord had sensed earlier.

"Look at them boys!" Discord gasped. "Those girls have stolen my spotlight!" Discord took very close notice of the trio's ringleader. "That Adagio is bewitching them with the shaking booty!"

"Wah!" Snips and Snails both said in agreement. "I know I'm bewitched!" Snips droned, staring intently at the girls' hypnotic movements.

"Yes, they're quite the looker," Discord admitted.

Just then, another feminine voice called out, "Yoo hoo~" Everybody, including the three girls, all turned their attention to the source, to see none other but.....

"Every little ponies of Equestria~" Porcina sang, while shaking her booty. "Behold! Porcina's all inspiring booty! The thing all the other booties in the Magic Kingdom must be exceedingly jealous of."

Just then, Princess Celestia, joined by Princess Cadence and the rest of the heroes quickly raced to the scene, where they saw utter disturbance before them.

"What in Issei Hyodo's harem is that?!" Ember asked, with a mixed look of disgust, and bewilderment.

"Princess Porcina," Princess Celestia grumbled. "Still as stuck up and pompous as ever..."

"Aye me," Zecora groaned, covering her eyes. "This hurts even for me, to see."

"Want me to make bacon out of her?" Gilda asked, cracking her talons.

"Um, that won't be necessary," Celestia replied. "No matter how much I'd like that," she muttered under her breath.

"Actually," a certain grayish, aloof earth pony mare spoke. "I think those guys are already taking care of her," she said, pointing the heroes' attention to a certain trio of troublemakers.

Discord, Snips, and Snails, were carrying a huge crate, before they chuck it at the pig.

"AAAAAH!" Porcina screamed. "I've been skunk bombed!"

Everyone all groaned in disgust. Soon, the boys too fell victim to their own stink bomb.

"Oh man, that's nasty!" Discord groaned, before he snaps on a gas mask. "Ah that's better," Meanwhile, Snips and Snails fainted.

From a safe distance, Celestia and her group of heroes couldn't help but laugh themselves crazy at the pig princess's misfortune.

"Now that's funny!" Gilda laughed.

"She's quite the stinker, alright!" Gabby laughed.

"And I thought Pinkie's funny," Lyra laughed, as she and Bon Bon hugged each other.

Groaning in disgust, Porcina quickly used some magics to get the horrid stench off her, before she started singing.


 Porcina: "Look at me, look at me~
Soon the entire world will look at me~"

Discord: "I look at you and say: GET OFF THE STAGE YOU MISS PIGGY WANNABE!!!"

*disc scratch*


"WHAT?!!!" Porcina screeched in outrage. "I demand to know who said that!" As an answer, the pig got pelted with tomatoes, courtesy of Discord, Snips, and Snails, who were all laughing their ass off. "How dare you-" Porcina was interrupted when the boys launched more tomatoes at the pig. "INGRATES!!!" With a huff, Porcina took her leave, only to be lobbed in the flank, with more tomatoes.

"Now, where were we, sisters?" Adagio asked the girls beside her, as they resumed singing, and the ponies all find themselves, once again entranced by their singing.

Somewhere in the crowd, a stallion in a blue business suit, and red tie, couldn't help but scheme as he listens to their singing, 'These girls may not be ponies. But they certainly have a nice set of pipes that's just as good as Countess Coloratura's,' the stallion grinned deviously. 'I'll make a handsome profit that's just as good, than I would've make on that runaway singer of mine!'





Back with the heroes


"Wow, those girls can actually sell a tune," Gilda commented, as she and Gabby couldn't help but bop their heads to the girls' singing.

"If you actually like all the sing song, and stuff," Ember grumbled, while Mina waved her head to the tunes.

Princess Celestia, however, doesn't seemed to be fazed that much.

"I can't quite put it," Celestia said, as she squinted her eyes at the girls in suspicion. "But there's something I don't like about those girls."

Rara's eyes widened in shock, "And I don't like what I see!" the mare pointed to show the stallion from before, walking up to the girls.

"Who's that?" Daring Do asked.

"Svengallop," Rara grumbled. "My manager. He's that good for nothing, money grubbing stallion I've been telling you about."

"The one who exploited your fame, and identity, for his own selfish desire?" Gabby asked.

"That's him," Rara sighed. "There's just nowhere I can go to get away from him."

Gild squinted her eyes, looking at the stallion, "Maybe you don't have to worry about him any longer," the griffon said.

"What makes you say that?" Rara asked.

"Because from the looks of it, he's more interested in those girls, than he is about you now," Gilda replied, pointing to show Svengallop, shaking hands with the girls.

"Is that so?" Rara asked. "Well, I guess I'm safe from him. That's a relief I guess," the earth pony grumbled.

Cadence then started to feel something off in the air, "Um, I think we should go and check up on the innocents we've managed to rescue."

Celestia nodded, "Do what you must, Cadence," she replied. "I'll stay here and keep a close watch on those suspicious characters," she said, referring to the girls, Svengallop, Discord, and the boys. "I sense this is just the tip of the iceberg."





Just then


Prince Blueblood had just gotten out of a spa shop, flicking his mane in the air.

"Ah, I feel like a new stallion," Blueblood said to himself, while flashing a smile.

"Ugh, if only," a goth mare said in disgust, as she and her brighter comrade passed by.

"Why should I?" Blueblood asked, while smiling at the two mares. "I'm a classic, you see?" Just then, some pony bumped into Blueblood.

"Oh, I beg your pardon," Fancy Pants apologized politely. "I didn't see you there, uh, your majesty....." the stallion grumbled, after he got a good look at whom he was talking to.

"Well, consider yourself lucky I was in a good mood today, clumsy oaf," Blueblood huffed, as he was on his way.

"Humph, my old friend Spike would simply accept, and bid us all good day," Fancy Pants grumbled.

"What was that, you said?!" Blueblood asked, turning to the mustached unicorn stallion.

"Oh, nothing," Fancy Pants replied, rolling his eyes. "I'm just saying-" Fancy Pants quickly ducked his head, when Blueblood tossed a rock at him. "I say, was that necessary?" Fancy Pants asked.

"Stop comparing that reptile with me!" Blueblood shouted. "That's all I'll ever be, is being compared to that dragon I've had the misfortune of being related to!" Blueblood whined. "It's always, 'Speck this' or 'Spot that' or 'Blueblood why can't you be more like your cousin SPOILED SPIKE!!!'" Blueblood screamed at the last part, which got some attentions.

The three girls from before looked at each other, before they smirked evilly, and started to sing.

"Um, what are you girls doing?" Svengallop asked. "We haven't agreed to-" Suddenly, Svengallop finds himself entranced, and under the girls' spell. Without evening knowing it, Svengallop starts to sing himself to Prince Blueblood.





"There's no stallion as admired as you, you're everyone's favorite guy(not)," Svengallop sang. "Everyone's awed and inspired by you. And it's not very hard to see why~"

Three bimbette ponies came, and swooned, draping themselves over Blueblood.

Soon, all of the evacuated ponies, all who were once in defiance towards Prince Blueblood, suddenly began to sing in sympathy, towards the spoiled prince, together with the hypnotized Svengallop.

"As a specimen, yes I'm intimidating," Blueblood sang.

"My what a guy that Blueblood!" the hypnotized audience sang.

With that, the ponies all continued to sing their heart out for Blueblood, who joined in the festivity. Adagio, and her sisters, deciding to take it up a notch, all started to put more powers into their voices, in which the ponies started to become twisted and menacing, to which all love for Spike Draco have simply vanished, and they all joined in with Blueblood, expressing their distaste for the dragon.

Adagio and her sisters smiled in satisfaction, as they began to feed off the negative energies the ponies now felt for the Dragon Prince. Little did they know, a bit of the Smooze, attracted by their singing, manages to climb its way up, and was listening to the girls' spell, growing as it does so.

"Who does art(like Blueblood?)" Svengallop sang, with the ponies providing backup vocals. "Steals your heart(like Blueblood?)"

"Who can make these endless refrains like Blueblood?" Blueblood sang. "I am 20% cooler than that Dragon Prince~"

"Say it again!" the hypnotized audience continued to sing, to the rest of the song.

Adagio and her sisters all smiled in satisfaction, "So much negative energy," Adagio smiled. "Enough to last us for a long time to come."

"Like that's never happened before," Aria said bluntly.

"It's not tacos," Sonata said. "But it's way tastier!"

Just then, a spinning tornado came, before it reveals itself to be Discord, Snips, and Snails.

"Let's rock this joint!" Discord declared, as he grabs a random pony, and spins them into a fancy suit, with some drums before them.

Out of impulse, the pony started to beat the dream, with the others all blowing some jazzy horns Discord had conjured.

Before long, Discord and the boys ran over to the girls, and grabbed each one of them, in a dance. Discord took Adagio, while Snips and Snails took Aria and Sonata, respectively.





Though taken by surprise at first, Adagio and her sisters started to enjoy themselves, as they danced the time of their life with Discord and the boys.

Svengallop, not too pleased, went up to the draconequus, "Excuse me, sir," Before Svengallop could continue any further, he was whisked away by another pony, "WHOA NELLY!!" the stallion exclaimed, as he finds himself dancing with the said pony.

Meanwhile, Hydia and her daughters were heaving a bucket of the Smooze over the balcony of Canterlot, when they took notice of the festivity going on.

"What's all the jazzy, sassy racket, going on?" Hydia asked, as she pushed her way to the crowds, when she took notice of Discord dancing with Adagio. Hydia could hardly believer her eyes, "Well, well, well," she grinned. "If it ain't the Dazzlings."

"Duh, Dazzlings?" Draggle asked.

"Who are they?" Reeka asked, before both she and Draggle both received a bonk to the heads by Hydia.

"Honestly, don't you numbskulls remember anything from all those evil history lessons I've taught you?!" Hydia snarled. "The Dazzlings were the sirens who served for the Demon Sorcerer, Squirk," Turning her attention back to the Dazzlings, Hydia smirked, "And compared to the two of you put together, they're much more competent, and conniving!"

"Duh, not to mention pretty," Draggle droned.

"Hydia! I thought I detected that foul stench of villainy of yours," a voice spoke, to which the three witches turned their attention, to see Princess Celestia walking up to them.

"AH! Princess Celestia!" Reeka screamed, as she leapt into Draggle's arms. "Save us mother!" Hydia turned her head, and shot a menacing glare at the fat witch, "Uh, I mean, master! Master! Save us, master!"

"You're just embarrassing," Hydia rolled her eyes, before she turned to Princess Celestia. "Well, Celestia. It's been a long time."

"Not long enough," Celestia frowned. "And I suspect you're behind all this?"

"Not all of it," Hydia grinned smugly. "As you can see, my partner in crime, Discord, stole your precious Sun Stone. But the whole rebirth of the Smooze was all my idea!"

"Duh, yeah!" Draggle added. "And the geostorm! That was Nightmare Moon's idea!"

"DRAGGLE!!!" Reeka shouted, as she smacked her sister on the back of her head.

"What are you-" Getting an idea, Celestia's eyes glowed, as she started to read the witchs' minds, mostly Draggle's being the most easy to probe. What Celestia saw, was most frightening, "No, you wouldn't!"

Hydia angrily turned to Draggle, "WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOCKING YOUR MIND?!!"

"Duuuuuuuuuuuh," Draggle droned.

"Ah forget about her, she'll never learn," Reeka groaned.

Turning back to the alicorn princess, Hydia began, "It doesn't matter. There's nothing you can do about it, your majesty!"

"Don't be so sure, Hydia!" With that, Celestia's horn began to glow, only for it to be splattered by magic repellant slimes from the Smooze. "What the-"

"Oh, I'm so sorry your majesty," Hydia said smugly. "Not! But we can't have you and your little 'heroes' go and ruin our plan for world domination! Your sister won't be pleased about it," Celestia frowned. "But before my daughters and I go, I leave you someone to play with."

With that, Hydia tossed a ball of slime on the ground, before she cast bolt of dark magic on it, causing the blob to take form into a bulky humanoid being.

It wasn't long, when Draggle and Reeka tossed more slimes all over Canterlot, and they all took form of various creatures.

With a wicked laugh, Hydia and her daughters all vanished in puffs of smokes, leaving Celestia to fend off the Smooze monsters.

The ponies, still under the Dazzlings' spell turned and noticed Celestia doing battle with the slime monsters, "Meh," one of them said.





Meanwhile


Princess Cadence was busy feeding some little fillies, with Shining Armor at her side, when she felt something off in the air.

"Cadence?" Shining Armor asked. "What's the matter dear?"

Instead of answering, Cadence turned in the direction of the disturbance, to see her aunt, fighting off the slime monsters that got in.

"Auntie's in trouble!" Cadence exclaimed.

"What?! Troops fall in!" Shining Armor shouted, as several guards quickly arrived on the scene. "C'mon men! Double time! Protect the princess! Go! Go! Go!"

With that, Shining Armor led the guards to battle.

"Hey! Save some for me!" Gilda called, as she spreads her wings, and took flight after Shining Armor and the guards.

"Gilda, get back here!" Cadence called.

"Wait for me, Gilda!" Gabby chirped, as she followed the older griffon.

"Wait up!" Ember called, as she and Mina soon followed, with the rest of the heroes who were staying behind. All except for Thorax.

"You going?" Cadence asked the changeling.

"Nah, I think I'm good with staying behind and help ya out," the changeling replied.

"Oh, thank you," Cadence and Thorax returned to caring the ponies they were looking after. "So, how are you and Spike friends, exactly?" Cadence ask, striking a conversation with the changeling. 





Later


"Well, it was nice to have a bit of some spotlights for once," Blueblood grumbled. "Before the misshapen chimeric creature came and took it away from me."

"Y'know, if you want to be loved and adored, then take my advice," Discord appeared, as a pony. "Do something bold, and daring, for a change."

"I'm bold! And I'm daring!" Blueblood replied in a huff. "And yet, that's not enough?"

"I'm talking being bold, and daring in the face of danger," Discord replied.

"Wuh-as in, have me running into danger, and risk my neck like a fool?" Blueblood said aghast. "I think not. A prince like me is way too important for those things in life. And I don't care if we're currently in a matter of life and death. It's certainly not what I'd risk my life over."

Discord frowned, before he turned to his boys. An idea formed in their heads, as they gave each other a thumbs up.

"Y'know what, you're right," Discord said. "I mean, Spike's the hero, not a cowardly, pompous prince like you."

"Yes," Blublood smirked, before he did a double take. "Wait, what?"

"Though, it saddens me to see you willing into play this particular role of a coward," Discord continued.

"Now wait just a minute! I'm not a coward!" Blueblood defied.

"No, no! Don't try to sugarcoat it. You'll always be second best to Spike. He's the hero of the story, and you're stuck playing the role as the clown."

"Why of all the nerve," Blueblood frowned. "I refuse to be treated as a clown! I'm a prince! And I deserve respect!"

"Well then don't you see?" Discord began. "You're passing up a golden opportunity here."

"I am?" Blueblood asked, with his interest piqued.

"You can be twice as famous than you already are!"

"I can?"

"But of course you can. Just get inside that cannon, and before you know it, your name will be up in light!"

"Okay! I'll do it!" Blueblood said, as he eagerly gets into a cannon.

With that, Discord got out a match, and flicked it across Derpy's butt, "Fire in the hole!"

Suddenly, Blueblood realized too late, "WAIT!!!"


Ka-Boom


With that, Prince Blueblood flew off, screaming into the sky.

"Bye-bye, Blueblood," Discord grinned. "I hope he enjoys his trip to the moon," Then, Discord yelped in horror. "OH NO!! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!!" With that, Discord snapped his fingers, and both he and the boys were gone in a flash of light.





Meanwhile, back with Porcina


Porcina had just finished washing herself clean of the tomatoes Discord and the ponies had lobbed at her from before. She was about to leave, when a piece of paper came flying and smacked her in the face.

"Why of all the insults, don't ponies ever-hello?" Porcina suddenly took interest at the content of the paper.





Meanwhile, back with Princess Celestia


Princess Celestia was still fighting the slime monsters, while the Dazzlings continue to sing in the background, unknowingly strengthening the monsters.

The sun princess looked as if she was on the verge to collapse, when a blur of brown and gold came, and sliced the monsters down to size.


[Let's Get Ready to Rumble - Jock Jams]


"Don't worry your majesty," Gilda spoke, as she got up and threw out several punches, slashes, and kicks at the Smooze monsters. "I got your back!"

Just when another Smooze monster was about to tackle Celestia, a purple flaming arrow came flying in, and exploded upon impact with the monster, causing it to explode into several blobs of slimes.

"Took the words right out of my mouth, griffon," Ember spoke, as she, Mina, and the rest of the heroes arrived on the scene, with the royal guards.

"Let the Great and Powerful Trixie, make you Smooze, disappear!" Trixie declared dramatically, as she whips out her wand from her cape, and fired an offensive magic spell that blasted some of the monsters.

Ember, joined by Mina, both fire, while at the same time, conjuring a few magic fire tricks via wings, claws, and tails.

"Spike ain't the only one who can do this sort of magic trick," Ember smirked proudly.

"Red rubies for ya, Ember," Mina replied. "Red rubies."

Shining Armor, got his troops in order, "C'mon men! Charge!" He yelled, as he and the royal guards all charged into battle, slashing blades at the monsters.

Zecora came over and quickly applied a potion to Celestia's horn, cleansing the alicorn's horn of Smooze.

"Thank you," Celestia sighed in relief.

"Don't thank yet," Zecora replied. "It's not over yet."

Gilda was punching a Smooze monster, before she did a side spin, and tossed the monster with another. The two monsters merged together, forming an even bigger monster. The creature stomped its way towards Gilda, only for Gabby to arrive, lobbing a whole barrel of wine into the monster, before she manages to create a spark with her claws, and a small pebble, igniting the content within, resulting in a huge explosion that destroyed the slime monster.

"Nice one, Gabby," Gilda complimented, to the young griffon.

The monster grabbed Gabby, bringing the young griffon up close to its angry face, when gunshots were fired, and bits of the Smooze were shot off. The Smooze looked, to see Lyra and Bon Bon, both girls in anthro form, dressed in black suits and shades, holding guns out. After taking a quick glance at each other, the girls looked back at the Smooze monster, and opened fire on it.

Zecora got out several powders in her hoof, before she blew them across the slimes, driving them back slightly.

Watching from a safe distance, Rara watched in awe, seeing how the heroes fought bravely, besides Princess Celestia.

"Wow," she awed.

Then, a new voice cried out, "Hey, girls!" In response, the heroines, and Princess Celestia turned their heads to see four unicorn mares, running towards them, with a certain red mane unicorn with a black turtleneck sweater, in the lead.

"Moon Dancer!" Lyra greeted happily, as she ran up to the unicorns. "Minuette! Lemon Hearts! Twinkleshine!"

"Lyra!" Minuette smiled happily, as she and the mares all got together in a group hug. "Wow, we are so glad to see you're okay! When we saw the Smooze swallowing all of Ponyville in one gulp, we were worried that you and Bon Bon got eaten!"

"Sorry girls," Lyra chuckled sheepishly, "HEADS DOWN!!" Lyra screamed, as she quickly projected a magic shield, narrowly saving herself, and the girls from one of the Smooze monsters' slimes. "Let's catch up another time girls. Right now, in case you haven't noticed. We're fighting for our lives!"

"Which is why we've come to help," Moon Dancer smirked, as she and the girls all shifted in anthro forms. "C'mon girls! Let's do this!"

With a loud war cry, the girls all leapt forward, blasting several magic spells at the monsters, as well as throwing several punch and kicks.





Meanwhile, the Dazzlings were still singing with Svengallop, when they finally took notice of the ruckus going on.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Adagio asked, was she began surveying the situation.

"Ponies fighting purple slime monsters?" Aria said bluntly. "I mean, it's not that hard to figure."

"Yes, how incredibly observant you are, Aria," Adagio said sarcastically, while rolling her eyes. "I'm more interested in, where'd all these-" Adagio stopped when she stepped in some of the Smooze's slimes. "Ick! And on my favorite pair of boots, too!"

"Um, actually, those are the only boots you ever wore," Aria noted. "Specifically, for about a thousand years since we've been banished."

Adagio hissed in annoyance at Aria's blunt reminder, coupled together with the fact she stepped in some slime. The lead girl was about to give the blunt girl a piece of her mind, but stopped when she felt something off.

"My, my," Adagio said in amazement.

"What? What is it?" Sonata asked.

"I...I feel....good," Adagio smiled, feeling herself, up and down. "I feel strong!"

"Well duh," Aria replied. "We are back in Equestria, after all."

"No, no, no," Adagio shook her head. "It's not that!" Bending down to touch the slime, much to her sisters' disgusts, Adagio smiled even wider, and more wicked. "It's this slime! It's actually alive! And it's full of dark magic! Very powerful dark magic!"

"Hey, now that I think about it," Sonata began. "Isn't that the Smooze thingie that face in the sky once talked about?"

"The Smooze?" Adagio looked down at the slime in her hand, seeing that it was slithering on her arm, before it reached out for her amulet necklace. In response, Adagio brushed the slime off, and watched as it grows, surrounded in dark magics that pulsed off from her jewel.

"Hmmm," Adagio pondered, before she looked over, seeing the audience she and her sisters had hypnotized. They have all been covered from head to hooves by the Smooze's slime, and have been mutated into monsters, with slimy features.

"Um, I'd like to get back to singing now," Sonata spoke, as she started to sing a warm up vocal.

Adagio then heard the sound of footsteps. She turned to the source, and watched in amazement, seeing how the slimes on the mutants pulsated in an aura of darkness, as it controls the mutants to do various dance steps.





"Hmm," Adagio pondered, before an idea sparked up in her head.






Back with the heroes


"Keep it up everyone!" Celestia said, while blasting a powerful ray of magic at some of the Smooze monsters. "We're driving them back!"

Just then, the Dazzlings started singing again.

"How can those three girls still sing at a time like this?" Ember asked in disbelief.

Zecora turned to the said girls, and her eyes widened, "Aye, it cannot be!" Zecora exclaimed, "It is the Dazzlings I see!"

"The Dazzlings?" Ember asked. "Who are they?"

"From old pony tales long passed," Zecora began. "Tales of dark creatures with the love to harass. The Dazzlings, whose powers thrives from singing live off the hate they revive," Zecora then took note of the Smooze monsters around them, "And too being a monster of hate, the Smooze's growth rates increase with every hatred it takes. I dread, the Dazzlings and Smooze are now friends!"

"Well that's just great," Gilda muttered, before she felt her whole slime covered body shake uneasily. "Wuh-what's going on?" Gilda exclaimed, as the slime started to spread all over her.

"Gilda?" Gabby spoke worryingly for her fellow griffon. "What's wrong?" In response, Gilda thrusted her claws at Gabby, and shoved the young griffon away. "Gilda?!" Gabby asked, taken by surprise at her friend's action.

"Sorry, Gabby!" Gilda apologized, as she started to attack the other heroes in range. "But believe me, this isn't me!" With a surprised yelp, Gilda grabbed Shining Armor by the horn and repeatedly banged his face at a nearby lamppost.

"Get off!" Shining Armor shouted, as he magically forced Gilda off.

"It is the Smooze!" Zecora noted fearfully. "The hatreds its been infused have made its powers grow lose. Now whoever it touches, their controls are in its clutches!"

Ember looked at the Zebra, "Meaning, if we touch it, then it controls us?"

"Mhmm," Zecora answered with a nod.

"Uh oh," Shining Armor looked, seeing many of his guards being consumed by the slimes that spread all over them.

"Captain, what's happening-" the guard couldn't finish his question, before the Smooze fully took over him.

"Spearhead! No!" Shining Armor said in dismay, as his soldiers all stood before the heroes, in their new mutant forms.

The heroes soon turned to see Gilda, too having turned completely into a Smooze mutant herself. 

"Quick! Get it off her!" Gabby pleaded.

Zecora quickly doused Gilda with her potion. But nothing happened.

"Aye me!" Zecora said. "It cannot be! The Smooze has grown strong enough to prolong!"

The mutants all set their sights on those who have yet to be mutated, before they all charged towards them.

Rara, still watching from her hiding spot, held her hoof to her mouth, as she gasps in horror at the mutations.

Then, a drop of purple slime dripped from above, and landed close to her, causing her to yelp, as she looks up, and screamed. A Smooze monster had found her, and it leapt towards her, nearly grabbing her.

"AAAHHH!!" Rara screamed as she broke into a gallop, but screeched to a stop when another monster jumped out before her. The frightened mare makes a sharp turn to get away, only for a mutant to leap out, and snapped his jaws at the mare.

Rara flinched, narrowly evading the maws of the mutant.

"HELP!" Rara cried, as she broke in another gallop. "Any pony!"

Rara tripped on a stray debris, and fell flat on her face. She looked up, and screamed at the mercy of the mutants.

Luckily for her, help came in the form of Daring Do, who lassoed her whip around the young pop star and pulled her away.

"Watch yourself," Daring Do said, as she guides the pop star to safety.

"Everyone! Fall back!" Celestia ordered, as she projected a magic shield in front of the mutants.

The mutants all banged on the shield, angrily demanding entry, "Gilda!" Gabby exclaimed, looking at her mutated friends through the barrier. "It's me! Gabby! Your friend! AH!!!" Gabby shrieked frighteningly, when Gilda punched through the shield, and almost grabbed the griffon.

"Gabby! Let's go!" Bon Bon said, as she grabbed Gabby by the wing and pulled the distraught griffon away.





Meanwhile


After getting themselves launched in a hi-tech/magical spaceship that was long invented by the great Starswirl the Bearded, and braving the danger through a field of meteors, bombs, and battle stations, our heroes have made it to the moon, where the final battle awaits them, at Midnight Castle.





On the Moon


[Paper Mario: TTYD - The Moon]


"Wow, can you believe this guys?!" Button exclaimed, as he and the Knights all jumped around at tremendous heights, courtesy of the moon's gravity. "We're on the moon!"

"No kidding!" Rumble added, as he leapt in the air, and almost floated away, before he came back down.

"Check me out!" Tender Taps spoke, while walking backwards. "I'm literally doing the moonwalk!"

"This is fantastic!" Featherweight said, as he looks around, marveling at the starry display the boys were seeing, from the moon of Equestria. "To think, we can actually make it this far!"

"I'll say," Pipsqueak added. "All of our families back home will never believe this!"

The Knights continue to fool around, as they continued to jump, having a good time, when Celaeno manages to grab them all, and headbutts them together at the same time. 

"Stay focus here, ya Scallyiwags!" Celaeno chided. "We ain't here for some fun!"

"Celaeno's right," Twilight reminded the boys, as she, Scorpan, and the rest of the girls came over. "We're here, because of the Shadowbolts! They've attacked our home by unleashing the Smooze on us, and we're going to make them pay for it!"

"Not to mention they've kidnapped Flare's parents!" Pinkie added. "Hey? Where is Flare anyway?"

The heroes looked, before they find Fleur, sitting on a hill, with Spike at her side, and the two were gazing at Midnight Castle in the distance.

"This is a lot to take in, isn't it?" Spike asked Fleur.

"Oui," Fleur nodded. "After all this time, I'm finally going to see my parents, again."

"And how does it feel?" Spike asked.

"Excited. Happy. I don't know what to say," Fleur smiled, as she placed a hoof to her chest. "But I do know this. These years of search, struggles, and dead ends, are finally over," the unicorn smiled, as she wipes a drop of joyful tears off her cheek. "I would at last, have my family back."

Spike nodded in agreement, "Y'know, that's exactly how I felt, before returning home to Equestria," the Dragon Prince smiled, before turning to Fleur, "And it's even a greater feeling to know that I've managed to return the favor to you, Fleur."

Fleur smiled, before she placed her hoof on Spike's hand. "Spike, mon amour."

"Yes Fleur?" Spike asked. In response, Fleur, still unicorn and all, gave Spike a playful kiss on the nose, catching the young dragon by surprise, face turning red in the process.

"Merci Spike," Fleur smiled, as she nuzzled close to Spike, who chuckled sheepishly.

"Um, we should head back with the others right now," Spike suggested, as he and Fleur took a leap, and met up with the others. "What?" he asked, noticing the looks on the girls' and boys' faces.

"Oh nothing," Pinkie smirked. "We've been here for two whole minutes and already it's your honeymoon?"

Spike and Fleur blushed in response, "It's not-we're not even-Pinkie!" Spike stammered.

"Perhaps we should focus on the task at hands here, nephew," Scorpan spoke.

"Agreed, uncle," Spike replied, as a look of determination was imprinted on his face. "C'mon everyone. Let's do this!"
> Mission Rogue Diamond Part 8: The Smooze-ical
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[14 Sun - Carbon Maestro]


After escaping from a near death experience with the Smooze mutants and monsters, the heroes took refuge in the castle, along with the other refugees.

"Is every pony alright?" Celestia asked.

"No," Gabby sobbed. "Gilda's gone! And all because she's been slimed!"

"It wasn't slime," Trixie muttered. "It was Smooze. And there's a lot of it out there."

"We've got to go back and rescue her!" Gabby sobbed, as she tries to leave through the door.

"But we don't stand a chance!" Lyra said.

Everyone all dipped their heads in sorrow at what the minty unicorn said.

Zecora looked out, through a window, surveying the situation that was unfolding before her.

"Actually, in light of all this calamity," Zecora began. "There's still a way, for us to save the day!"

"And pray tell, how?" Twinkleshine asked.

"The Dazzlings, whom make the Smooze strong and maddening, must be stopped or the Smooze is hardly to stop!" Zecora explained.

"If we can get to them without winding up like Gilda, that is," Gabby moaned.

Moon Dancer, looking at the heroes before her, having lost their fighting spirits, could hardly believe it. Looking out the window, seeing the moon in the sky, the look of determination quickly formed on Moon Dancer's face.

"Listen up," Moon Dancer began. "We can't give up! Our friends never did, so neither would we!" Everyone looked up at Moon Dancer as she continues. "Don't deny it. When we lost Spike years ago, we nearly lost hope," Princess Celestia nodded her head, while at the same time felt her heart ache at the mention of the tragedy.

"But even so, it never stopped us from fighting in his place!" Moon Dancer continued. "Spike lost his memories, fighting for us! And in his absence, Twilight and the others never gave up hope, fighting in his place! We need to do the same! It's not over!"

"Look Moon Dancer, we want nothing more than to save our homes as much as Spike would," Daring Do spoke. "But first, we need a plan. So unless you have one, we're better off staying in here."

"I'm working on a plan," Moon Dancer replied. "First, we need to figure out a way to handle those sirens," Moon Dancer analyzed. "As long as they keep up with their song, then we're never going anywhere with those Smooze monsters on the loose!"

"And just how are we going to do that?" Ember asked. "Do we just simply walk up to them and politely ask them to stop singing for awhile? Because they don't like they're the types taking requests, let alone, care about the lives they're risking."

"Then we're just gonna have to out sing them," Gabby exclaimed.

"But how?" Ember turned to the griffon. "Anyone here a good singer?"

"I am," Rara spoke.

"Countess Coloratura?!" Moon Dancer exclaimed, together with her posse.

"OMIGOSH!! Countess Coloratura!!" Minuette chirped, as she zips off, and stood enthusiastically close to the pony pop star. "Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh! I can't believe it! How long have you been standing there? I can't believe, I'm really talking to you, here, in Canterlot, of all places! And right when we're in the middle of a Smoozeapocalypse! Can I have your autograph?!!" Minuette exclaimed happily, while levitating a notepad, and an ink pad before the bewildered singer.

"Minuette!" Moon Dancer called. "Now's not the time!"

"Oh, right," With a nervous giggle, Minuette rejoined the group, giving space for Rara to join in.

"Okay, we got our singer," Ember spoke. "Now let's do this!"

"Not so fast, Ember," Moon Dancer spoke. "Now, we just need some equipments to make Rara sing over the Dazzlings."

Just then, a certain DJ unicorn mare just happens to be walking by, dancing to the rhythm of the music in her headphones.

"I got it!" Lyra exclaimed, as she got in front of the DJ. "Vinyl Scratch! Hey!"

Vinyl Scratch, though faintly, heard Lyra's voice through the music. Through her violet shades, Vinyl looked and could see Lyra speaking to her, to which she responded by taking her headphones off.

"Yo Lyra," Vinyl greeted. "What's up?"





The dazzlings continue to sing their song, harmonizing their voices in perfect sync, while moving their bodies in fluid motion, with the Smooze's slimes following.


Adagio: "Welcome to the show~
We're here to let you know~
Our time is now~
Your time is running out~


Meanwhile, up on the balcony of Canterlot Castle, the heroes, together with Vinyl Scratch had just finished setting up a huge machine.

"That should do it," Vinyl Scratch said, as she takes her place behind a record player. "Let's get this party started!"

After checking every last bit of details on the machine, Moon Dancerl looked to see Rara, who was standing on stage, with a microphone don on her head, "You ready for this?" Moon Dancer asked.

"I just hope this works," Rara replied nervously.


Dazzlings: "Feel the wave of the sound, as it crashes down!
You can't turn away, we'll make you want to stay!

We will be adored, 
tell us that you want us!
We won't be ignored, 
it's time for our reward!"


As the dazzlings sang the last verse of their song, they were surrounded in a coat of red lights, as they began to transform. Then, in a flash of light, in place of their teenage human girls appearance, are three hippocampus, with red jewels embedded in their chests. Adagio was colored gold, while her sisters, Aria and Sonata, were colored dark purple and light blue, respectively.


Dazzlings: "Now you need us! 
Come and heed us! 
Nothing can stop us now!"


Just then, another angelic voice interrupted their song, as the Dazzlings looked to see none other than Rara, singing loudly through her microphone.

Via Rara's harmonious singing, the Smooze monsters began to grow weak, and cracks started to form on the Smooze mutants.

Bits of the Smooze fell off of Gilda, as she looked up in surprise.

"You think you can outshine us? Us, the Dazzlings?" Adagio asked with a raised brow. "The creators of pops? The beautiful sorceresses of the sea?" Adagio grinned maliciously, "Think again."


Dazzlings: "What we have in store, 
all we want and more, 
we will break on through, 
now it's time to finish you!"


With that, the Dazzlings' jewels glowed intensely, together with their whole body. Soon, the three enchantresses started to float in the air, as they took flight, slithering around Rara and the heroes, together with the Smooze.

"Oh no!" Gilda cried, as she felt herself once more being smothered in the Smooze's slimes, and was once more a mutant.

"Keep singing, Rara!" Ember shouted. "We can't let these maniacs win!"

"I'm singing the best I can!" Rara replied.

"I don't suppose you still have room for one more," an elderly voice called, to which Mina smiled.

"Uncle Mako!" Mina cheered happily, seeing the veteran dragon hero coming in for a landing.

"Stand aside, niece," Mako spoke. "Watch your old dragon at work!"

With that, Mako slithered in the air, breathing fires at the Dazzlings, as well as spinning in the air, taking control of the winds in the air, which he used to blow away many of the Smooze monsters away, keeping them at bay.

"Go uncle!" Mina cheered.

"Save some for us!" Ember said, as she leapt off the balcony and breathed fire at the monsters, causing some to disintegrate.

"Take this!" Minuette shouted, as she, Twinkleshine, and Lemon Hearts all blasted beams of magics at the monsters.

Having enough, Adagio lets out a long piercing howl that forced Mako back, as well as overpowering Rara's vocals.

"You've got quite the set of pipes, I'll give you that," Mako grumbled.

Then, Aria and Sonata joined at their sister's sides, and they all howl at the heroes, forcing them all back slightly. Rara's microphone flew off her head, as she was knocked off the stage.

"Now, for the final curtain call for you!" Adagio grinned, as she and her sisters moved in for the kill.

"ENOUGH!!" Celestia shouted, as she got in the way, wings spread out defensively before the heroes.

Before long, Celestia fired her magic via horn, projecting a barrier between herself, and the sirens.

"Countess Coloratura!" Moon Dancer shouted, as she and the friends all gathered around the pop star.

"It's no use," Rara panted. "We need more singers, besides me."

Thinking quick, Trixie quickly took a mic, as she joined in the song. Together, Rara began to get a second wind, as she resumed singing, with Trixie.

Shaking their heads, and with a roll of their eyes, the Dazzlings resumed attacking, only to their bewilderment, their songs were hindered by the combined singing vocal of Rara and Trixie. Seeing how it's working, the rest of the girls all joined in, as they sang together with Rara.





Soon, the heroines were even with the Dazzlings.

"Got room for more?" a voice spoke, and two ponies took the stage, as they started singing together with Rara.

"Sapphire Shores?!" Rara exclaimed to the pony on her right. "Songbird Serenade!" She said to the left.

"Well don't stand there like a deer in the headlights, girl," Sapphire spoke. "Let's show these sirens what we're made of!"

With a look of confidence imprinted on her face, Rara nodded as she, and her fellow singers all joined their voices together, as they sang the song the overpowered the Dazzlings' song spell, on the ponies, and the Smooze.

The Smooze mutants were reverted back to their original forms.

"Let's get outta here!" a father spoke.

"Oh! We're gone!" his daughter cried, and the two zipped away.

Gilda was later shaking the shells of her former mutant form off, "Whoa, I thought my geese were cooked," Gilda sighed in relief. "Thanks you guys."

"Don't thank us yet," Ember replied.

"GILDA!!!" Gabby screeched happily, as she tackled Gilda in a death gripping hug. "You're back!"





"Well, as they say," Aria grumbled. "The fat pony has sung."

"Which one is the fat one?" Sonata asked.

"Ugh, it's just a figure of speech!" Aria replied.

"Girls! Not now! Look!" Adagio spoke, pointing in the directions, to see the Smooze getting back in fighting stances.

"Now, let's see how good you guys can fight, without your partners in crimes' songs!" Ember said, as she cracked her knuckles.

With that, the heroes all charged back into the fight.





After a long hour of fighting, the slime monsters all retreated over the cliff, where they jumped off, and disappear in the sea of Smooze. Together with the Smooze, the Dazzlings too were dragged away, and into the sea of the Smooze.

Every pony, and creatures in Canterlot, all cheered, feeling relieved the threat was over.

"We did it, auntie!" Cadence cheered, as she hugs Princess Celestia. "We did it! We're safe!"

"Don't be so sure, Cadence," Celestia spoke grimly. "It's far from over."

"But those Smooze monsters are gone," Ember spoke. "Your city, and everyone here are all safe and accounted for. And-" Ember didn't finish, when Lemon Hearts tapped the dragoness on the shoulder.

"Um, Dragon Lord," Lemon began. "You might want to take a closer look."

With that, Ember, and the rest of the heroes complied, as they looked down, and could hardly believe their eyes.

"No!" Celestia gasped in horror. "It can't be!"

Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, a dark flaming meteor came crashing down, from the sky, and into the sea of the Smooze.
> Mission Dragonfire Part 9: Enter Midnight Castle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Midnight Castle


Gazing through a glass orb, from her throne, Nightmare Moon smirked, "So, they managed to elude my meteorites. Such determinations. Of course, what I expect nothing less from a group of heroes, such as these," Nightmare Moon paid very close attention to Twilight Sparkle. "Especially from you, Twilight Sparkle."

Just then, Shadowfright appeared before Nightmare Moon, in a puff of smokes, "My princess," Shadowfright bowed. "You called?"

"Ready your troops," Nightmare Moon ordered. "We're expecting some visitors."

"Yes your majesty," With a bow, Shadowfright became a puff of smoke as he left the room.





Outside of the castle


The heroes had found a secluded area outside of the castle, within one of the moon's crater.

Twilight was surveying the castle via a magic spell that enhanced her visions to that of a hawk. Furthermore, Peewee, who happened to came along, was flying circles over the castle, while at the same time, remain out of sight.

Soon, Peewee flew back to Spike and the others.

"What'd you see, Peewee?" Spike asked, to which both he and the phoenix both had their eyes glowing green and yellow, as they synced their visions together.

In their shared vision, Spike could see some Shadowbolts patrolling the castle ground and hall, along with some loading some equipments in some vehicles of their own.

'What in Tartarus are they up to?' Spike asked mentally.

In the next vision, Spike can see Nightmare Moon, at the top of the castle's tower, standing before a pedestal that was holding the stolen Sun Stone.

'So that's where it is,' Spike noted.

With that, both the Dragon Prince and Phoenix's vision sync ended.

"Great work, Peewee," Spike complimented the phoenix, reaching into his cape and pulls out a cup of dibs ice cream for the phoenix to feast on, as a reward.

"So, what's up?" Rainbow asked.

"Lots of guards, that's for sure," Spike replied. "Inside and out, with Nightmare Moon at the top of the tower, with the Sun Stone."

"There's no way to get into the castle, over or under," Twilight explained. "The only way to get in is through that big gate over there. But it's well guarded." She said, pointing to the said gate, with two great, armored, shadow creatures that resembled wolves.

"Got any ideas?" Spike asked.

"Here's one," Rainbow began. "We go in, storm the castle, rescue Flare's folks, grab the last Armor of Heroes' pieces, beat the Shadowbolts and Nightmare Moon.....then we win the day, and go home."

"Oh! That sounds easy!" Pinkie cheered.

"Easier said than done," Scorpan grumbled. "We have to get into the castle first. And once inside, we'd have to overcome all sorts of perils, just to find the exact whereabout of Lir and Amalthea in the castle, and the remaining pieces of the armor."

"Wow, you're right," Pinkie spoke. "Y'know Dash, I'm not sure how well your plan was thought through," Rainbow looked at Pinkie with a blank expression.

"So chief," Button spoke, directly towards Spike. "What's the plan to get inside?"

"They like red herring," Spike replied. "So let's give 'em a red herring."

"But we don't have any fishes," Button replied.

"Hey 'wise guy,'" Rumble grumbled. "He meant a distraction."

"Oh, gotcha," Button's eyes bulged in epiphany. "Hey!"

"C'mon guys," Spike whispered. "It'll be just like those times we had to rescue Snips and Snails from Abacus Cinch."

"Yeah, right," Rumble retorted. "Except this time, we're on the moon, and we're trying to break into a castle and fight a crazy nightmare maniac."

"And her army of Shadowbolts," Tender reminded.

"And what do you want us to do this time?" Button asked rhetorically.





Later


"We'll take this shame to our grave," Button grumbled, as the Knights all exchanged agreements, before they whipped out some instruments.

Button played a ukulele, Rumble and Tenders got guitars, Featherweight was playing a xylophone, and lastly, Pipsqueak stood in a fluffle puff pony costume, and stood on a rainbow mattress, and dances. The boys were all singing a song, much to their humiliation. The guards looked at the Knights in bewilderment.

From their hiding spot, Spike, Scorpan, and the girls were watching the show, with Spike chuckling, while feeling guilty for his men, the girls laughing, and Scorpan shooting a deadpan look.

"Is it always like this?" Starlight asked, in between giggles.

"Nope," Spike replied. "One time, I dressed up as Justin Bieber to attract some fangirls, and the other time, Rumble set a chicken loose in the school, as revenge for Crystal Prep's athletic teams beating his brother, Thunderlane, in the Friendship Games."





Eventually, the canine guards turned to each other, both agreeing they've heard enough. With that, they all charged after the boys, who quickly bolted.

Meanwhile, Spike, Scorpan, and the girls all made a quick dash as they secretly infiltrated the castle. Or so they thought.

Once inside, Spike turned to the girls, and hands them a worn out map, courtesy of Scorpan.

"Okay, Twilight," Spike began. "You and the girls look for Fleur's parents, in the dungeon. Me and uncle will find the Armor Pieces, and we'll rendezvous in the courtyard."

"Sounds like a plan," Twilight replied, as Spike and Scorpan were about to take their leave. "Spike!" Twilight called, stopping the Dragon Prince, as she went over a pecked him on the cheek. "Be careful."

Spike brushed his cheek, at where Twilight had kissed him, "Hey!" Pinkie exclaimed. "I want to give Spike a good luck kiss!" With that, Pinkie went over and kissed Spike on the cheek, followed by Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Sunset Shimmer, and Starlight Glimmer.

"What about you, Fleur?" Rarity asked.

"I'm good, mon ami," Fleur replied, having already given Spike a good luck kiss.

After the romantic moment between Spike, and the girls, the two groups took their leave.





Frozen North


[Killer Instinct 2013 OST - Shatterhail]


Neira quickly took cover behind an ice stalagmite, evading another lighting strike from Somnambula. The evil sorceress stomped her staff to the ground, creating a huge shockwave, sending a wave of pillars at Neira.

Focusing her magic, Neira conjured several living snow ponies, all clad in ice armors as they charged towards Somnambula, who commanded her flying monkeys to attack.

"You should know better than to sic your snow ponies against my snow flying monkeys!" Somnambula gloated.

"Yes I do," Neira replied, before she shot a blast of ice at Somnambula, encasing the evil witch in a block of ice. "I was just doing it to get closer to you!"

With magic pulsing through her staff, Somnambula thawed herself free as she fired a powerful fireball at Neira, blasting the ice alicorn.

"Clever," Somnambula sneered. "But not clever enough," With another wave of her staff, Somnambula fired another fireball, which Neira projected a wall of ice to shield herself from.

In retaliation, Neira fired an ice arrow at Somnambula, who deflected the arrow with a wave of her staff, repeating the defensive move when Neira fired several more.

Looking around, Neira noticed a huge icicle hanging above Somnambula. Concentrating her powers, Neira telekinetically cuts the icicle as it falls on Somnambula. At the last second, Somnambula disappeared in a puff of smoke, before she reappears behind Neira and blasted the alicorn with a clap of thunder.

"Why do you fight so hard for the ponies, Neira?" Somnambula asked. "They cared nothing for you! They rejected you, the moment you've revealed your true color! They condemn you to eternal exile, out here in the cold! Why waste all your efforts on protecting the very creatures who think of you only as a monster, when you could join our family?"

"Never!" Neira roared defiantly. "I'll never join you! Because no matter what happens, I'll do whatever I can in my powers, to protect Prince Spike and the ponies, than to be a monster like you!"

"Then you will die!" Somnambula sneered, as she fires another spell.





Midnight Castle


"I haven't seen these walls in many years," Scorpan said, looking around the castle, feeling a nostalgic wave washing over him. "Hard to believe, Lulu can actually bring this whole place up here."

"Lulu?" Spike chuckled, before he looked, "Hey uncle! Look!" Spike whispered. "It's you!" The boy said, directing the gargoyle's attention to a huge portrait of the latter, who looked much younger in the painting.

Furthermore, young Scorpan wasn't alone in the painting, as he was joined by another gargoyle, in a long white dress, holding him close. Standing beside them, are two red centaur, with piercing yellow eyes.

"Ah, yes," Scorpan spoke softly. "That's me.....and mother, father, and....brother," the gargoyle spoke gloomily, while respectively pointing to the motherly gargoyle, the taller centaur with a long beard, and the other younger centaur, who appears older than Scorpan, and closely resembles a rebellious punk.

"Wow, that's your family?" Spike asked, before he took a closer observation at their garments. "Uncle! You were a prince?"

"Indeed I was," Scorpan replied. "Me, and my brother, Tirek. However, being the oldest, and strongest, Tirek was heir to the throne," Scorpan closed his eyes, recalling the events that followed. "Things were never the same since then."

Sensing a feeling of animosity from his uncle on the topic of his brother, Spike turned to the gargoyle, with a look of concern, "Do I dare ask?"

Scorpan shook his head, "It's not important now, young dragon," Scorpan said, changing the topic. "Come. We must find the  remaining pieces to the Armor of Heroes. Where to next, nephew?"

Spike reached into his cape, and pulls out the Shenlong Box, which glowed even brighter, while magically pulling the boy in a specific direction.

With that, uncle and nephew darted down a hallway. Suddenly Scorpan sniffed the air, and quickly stopped Spike in his track. Both gargoyle and boy leapt up in the air, perching stops some beams, while staying out of sight, as some Shadowbolt guards came passing by.

While remaining hidden, Spike overhears the two guards talking.

"The preparations are nearly complete," one of the guard spoke. "Soon, we'll be able to send in a whole army once the Smooze has done its job."

"To be honest, I'm not so sure this was a good idea," the other guard replied. "Is destroying the world really worth it?"

"Of course it is!" another guard spoke. "It has rejected our very existence long enough! Just as Princess Celestia rejected our princess and mother! And it shall be their undoing, for it is our turn to reject them!"

Soon, the guards were out of sight, leaving behind a troubled Spike and Scorpan.

"Did you hear what they said, uncle?" Spike asked.

"I do," Scorpan replied grimly. "It means we're running out time. Hurry!" With that, the gargoyle flaps his wings as he leads the young prince on.





Meanwhile, with the girls
 

"Pfft, are we under staff tonight, or what?" a bored guard grumbled.

"Tell me about it," the other grumbled in agreement. "We should've been throwing a party to celebrate the re-birth of Nightmare Moon's empire! I mean, when was the last time we ever throw party? Thousands of years ago?"

While the two guards were busy talking to each other, they failed to notice a puff of smoke flying overhead.

"Shouldn't take long now," the guard grumbled. "Once the Smooze's done, we'll be moving into what was left of Celestia's kingdom."

"I'll say," the other guard replied. "Even Tirek couldn't come up with a plan like this, during the first generation! And he's-"

The two guards were immediately conked out, courtesy of the smoke, which transfigured itself into Sunset, who quickly waved the rest of the girls over.

The girls stood before two huge metal doors.

"Great! Now let's get in and rescue some ponies' lives!" With a burst of speed, Rainbow flew up to the door, expecting the door to burst open.....only for the opposite to occur.

"Oh!" Pinkie groaned. "You okay, Dashie?"

"Do I look okay?" Dash groaned, as she shook her head, and pushed the door.

"Step aside, Dash," Applejack said, as she took over and bucked her legs. But nothing happened. "Dang nabbit!"

"Open sesame!" Pinkie exclaimed.

Twilight turned to Sunset and Starlight, "I don't suppose you girls can shed some lights on this?"

"Let's have a look," Sunset spoke as she and Starlight walked up to the door. Sunset placed her hoof on the door, as she and Starlight closely examined the door, "Ah-ha! Should've suspected this!"

"What? What is it?" Rarity asked.

"This door's been hexed with a powerful lock-up spell," Starlight replied. "It's very powerful, and very resistance."

"Geez, what gave it away?" Rainbow grumbled. "Know anyway to get the door open?"

Sunset was busy searching the door, up and down, with her hooves, "It should be around here somewhere," Sunset said, before a loud hollow sound was heard from the area she tapped. "Here you are!" Sunset spoke, as she lifted up a panel, revealing a small knob within. Lifting her right hoof up, with the Shadowbolt's dark mark glowing, and burning, Sunset placed her right hoof on the knob.

A burst of dark lighting erupted from the knob, as Sunset's right hoof burned intently.

"Sunset!!" the girls exclaimed.

"Stay back!" Sunset hissed. Soon, the doors opened up, granting entry for the heroines.

"Oh, goodness!" Fluttershy whimpered. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Fluttershy," Sunset groaned, while her horn glowed in a red aura, and the burn marks on her hoof started to clear up. "I'll be okay."

"What was that?" Twilight asked in shock.

"Another trick the Shadowbolts had up their sleeves," Sunset replied, before Starlight took over.

"Another security measure, to be precise," Starlight explained. "A precaution so that only Shadowbolts can enter."

"However, if you're a traitor, then there's a price to pay," Sunset spoke, as she sets her healed hoof down, wincing slightly as she did so. "Come on. Let's get in!"

With that, the girls all charged into the room, while secretly being watched, and followed.




Meanwhile, Outside the Castle

The Knights have retreated into a nearby moon crater with the wolves chasing. Soon, the beating sounds of kicks and punches are heard. Before long, the wolves all jumped out of the crater, whimpering as they soon retreated, with their tails tucked in between their legs.

"Yeah, that's right!" Rumble shouted. "In your smoky doggy butts!"

"Don't get so cocky there, Rumble," Tender Taps spoke. "Just be glad we had Captain Celaeno with us. Otherwise, we would've been dog chow."

"So, what do we do now?" Pipsqueak asked.

"We have to get back to the castle and help out Spike and the girls," Button spoke. "That's what!"

"No way, Button!" Featherweight replied. "I'm not playing live bait with those monsters again! We barely got away from those dogs in one piece!"

"Speak for yourself," Tender grumbled, as he turns to show his backside. "They just had my dignity for desert."

"Now what do we do?" Button asked.

"Might I suggest a more, subtle approach?" a voice spoke.

"WHO'S THERE?!!" the Knights screamed, as they, and Celaeno, turned to see the speaker, with the five Shadowbolt girls at their side.
> Mission Dragonfire Part 10: Midnight Assault (Chestplate of Valor and the Shield of Purity)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once inside, the girls began searching from cell to cell, looking for Fleur's parents.

"Hello?" Rainbow called, as she zipped around from door to door. "Any pony here?"

"Hello?" Fluttershy whispered, taking a peek in one of the cells. "Anyone in here?"

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Pinkie called.

Just then, a voice was heard crying, "Who's there?"

With that, the girls all dashed to the direction of the voice, where they find, to their surprise, a frightened little girl.

In appearance, the girl has metallic blue hair, and her attires are a purple shirt, gray pants, and pink shoes. Furthermore, the little girl was cuffed from her neck, to her arms and legs, with futuristic technological bands. The sight was enough to make heroines feel sad for the little girl.

"Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy whimpered, as she went up to the bars between her and the girl. "Are you alright little one?"

The girl looked up, staring at Fluttershy in fright, "Wh-wh-who are you?" she stammered in fright.

"Aw, the poor thing's scared to death," Fluttershy whimpered.

"Hey, it's okay," Sunset gently ushered. "We're not here to hurt you."

"Yeah, we're just here to rescue some prisoners," Rainbow added. "Which from the looks of it, includes you."

"R-R-Really?" the girl looked up, to see the ponies all nodding their heads in response. "Oh thank you!" the girl cried cheerfully.

"SHH!! Okay, okay, just keep your voice down," Rainbow shushed. "We're never going to rescue you if you give us away!"

"Okay," the girl smiled.

With that, Twilight and Sunset got to work, using mixed knowledge of magics, including the dark arts, to destroy the lock on the little girl's cell door.

"Starlight?" a voice spoke up, weakly. "Is that you?"

"Huh?" Starlight looked to the cell next door, which Rarity too, took notice. "Who's there?" Lighting up the darkness via horn, Starlight looked into the cell, and gasped, "Sunburst?!"

"Starlight!" a weakened unicorn stallion moaned. "It really is you!"

Laying before her, on the floor, was Starlight's long lost childhood friend, who has apparently seen better days. Judging from the markings on his skin, and the tear marks made on his green-bluish robe; they were all the signs of endless tortures the unicorn had been through. He was emaciated, the bones on his face, and hooves sticking sharply through his dulled orange coat, with vanilla white patches on his hooves and the bridge of his nose. His messy red mane, tail, and goatee, appeared duller than his coat, and dark circles are shown beneath his great blue eyes, framed by a pair of round glasses, with a crack on the left.

"Sunburst!!" Starlight gasped, and with all her might, she manages to break the door open, catching the rest of the girls by surprise, and she jumps into the room, and embraces the stallion. "Oh, Sunburst! I can't believe it! It's you!"

"Feeling's mutual, Star," Sunburst groaned.

"Sacrebleu!" Fleur exclaimed, once she and the others came over. "What happened to you?" She asked, referring to Sunburst's state.





Meanwhile, with Spike and Scorpan


Uncle and nephew, guided by the magic pull of the Shenlong Box, continued to run through the castle's halls, when Scorpan stopped Spike, and sniffed the air.

"Uncle?" Spike asked.

Scorpan sniffed the air, as he sharply turns his head around, to see nothing, "We're not alone!" The gargoyle looked around, as he continues to sniff the air, with Spike joining.

A low, maniacal, creepy laugh was heard, to which Spike's ears perked to.

"Don't lose your nerve, Spike," Scorpan whispered. "Remember what you've been taught."

Nodding his head, Spike closed his eyes, as he stays calm, and stands his ground, together with his uncle, Scorpan. While doing so, Spike's keen senses awaken, as he became more aware of his surroundings, honing in on the tiniest of footsteps, to the foul and strong stenches of smokes.

Spike's eyes burst open, revealing his pupils have become slits, "Look out!" Spike shouted, as both he and his uncle quickly spin themselves around, and kicked some shadow creatures away from each other.

More shadow creatures started to reveal themselves, as they came jumping out of the shadows, or appearing out of thin air, as they set upon Spike and Scorpan. Of course, the two fighters, didn't hesitant to fight back.


[Xian - Antti Martikainen]


The shadow creatures all pounced forward, to which Spike responded by tucking and rolling beneath them, evading as the creatures collided in a puff of smokes. Then, another shadow creature appeared from behind, in the form of a praying mantis. The mantis-like creature slashed its scythe at Spike, who had heard it coming, and quickly ducked down in time to evade its slash, before he did a backflip to dodge its second slash. The mantis monster lunged forward, with its two scythe, only for Spike to jump to the side, before he retaliated with a flying kick, thrusting both legs into the bug's face.

"Nice try," Spike commented. "But I've studied the Praying Mantis style in the Shaolin temple of China!" Frowning, the shadow creature morphed itself into a huge snake, hissing and baring its fangs. Unfazed, Spike took a stance, standing on one leg with both arms held out, "Bring it!" he said challenging.

In response, the snake thrusted its head forward, to which Spike dodged with a quick jump, up in the air. After coming back down for a landing, Spike continues to make quick sidesteps, as he dodges the snake's snapping jaws, before he landed an ax kick to the creature's jaw, followed by a strong side kick that dispersed the creature into smokes.

"Snapping snake's good for catching mice," Spike spoke. "But not white cranes."

"Focus Spike," Scorpan chided. "Even the mighty oak bends before the raging storm."

"What?"

Shaking his head, Scorpan spoke, "Be careful! And do not be overconfident!"

"Gotcha!"

With that, Spike and Scorpan both resumed the fight. One of the shadow creatures lunged at Scorpan, jaws opened wide. But the wise gargoyle stopped it in time, catching him by the maws, as he flapped his wings, and leapt backward, before he smashes the creature in the walls. Meanwhile, another shadow creature took the form of a ninja, as it does battle with Spike. The young boy quickly blocked its punches and kicks, while launching counterattacks of his own, while still receiving from blows from the ninja, and its comrade.

"They just keep coming, uncle!" Spike panted.

"Then it's time to leave," Scorpan replied. "Can you go dragon again?"

"I'm gonna try," With that, Spike concentrated into his powers, as he was momentarily surrounded in a spark of green flames. "It's no use! I still can't do it!"

"Then get behind me, quick!" With that, Scorpan raises his fists up in the air, before he brought them down to the floor, creating a huge shockwave, and a long wave of rocky pillars, jutting from the ground, defeating all of the shadow creatures in range.

"Whoa, uncle!" Spike marveled. "What-"

"Lesson for another time," Scorpan replied, as he grabs Spike by the hand. "Hurry! More will be on the way!" With that, the gargoyle took the young prince, as they flew down a hall, before coming across a huge door.

Then, as if on magic impulse, the Shenlong Box came flying out of Spike's cape, as it flies towards the door. Spike and Scorpan watched as a the door pulsed with the box's magic aura. Before long, the door opens up to reveal what Spike and Scorpan came for.

"At last," Spike said. "The final pieces of the Armor of Heroes!" Looking around the room, while sniffing the air, Spike and Scorpan both took cautious steps, as they walked up to the final pieces.

"The Chestplate of Valor," Scorpan inspected. "And the Shield of Purity," Turning to Spike, Scorpan nodded his head, "And together, with the ones you and your friends have recovered. The armor is complete."

"Yeah, cause with two of these, plus the three in our collection. It's a total of five!" Spike said proudly, before he did a double take. "Wait a minute. Five? Weren't there supposed to be six?"

"You mean you don't have it?" a voice spoke, to which both Spike and Scorpan jumped to see.....

"A draconequus?" Scorpan exclaimed.

"Spike! Old friend!" Discord cried happily.

"Discord?!" Spike exclaimed. "Snips? Snails?"

"I'm-a Wario!" Snails replied.

"Wah! Waluigi, number one!" Snips said.

"Why hello, Spike old friend!" Discord greeted in a flash, as he eagerly shakes Spike's hand, violently shaking the boy up and down. "A sight for sore eyes!" Discord disappears in a flash of light, before he reappears inside one of the inner pockets of Spike's cape. "Wow! I must say, your girlfriend's really outdone herself."





Frozen North


"There," Abacus concluded. "Complete to Mistress Nightmare Moon's specifications," With that, the evil woman and her squadron of Shadowbolts pushed the device into place, before they installed a cloaking device over it. Just then, the mark on Abacus Cinch's hand, and her squadron, all started to glow red, as they burned their skin. "And just in time, too!" With that, the Shadowbolts all disappeared in a puff of smoke.





Meanwhile, back with the girls


The girls had finished freeing the little girl, Crystal Vape, together with Starlight's childhood friend, Sunburst. The girls treated the two to some Zap Apple Pies, courtesy of Applejack, having brought along some for the trip.

"Mmmm," Crystal smiled, savoring the taste. "This is delicious!"

"Glad ya like it," Applejack smiled. "It's my grandma's best recipe!"

"Then I love your grandma, too!" Crystal beamed.

Sunburst was practically wolfing the whole thing, "Gosh, Sunburst," Starlight said in amusement. "Judging by how messy you are, you looked as if you've been treated like a wild animals!"

"Um, that's not my favorite kind of expression," Fluttershy spoke, on behalf of her creatures. Starlight immediately took back what she said.

"That's because, I was treated like a wild animal," Sunburst replied, as he continues to wolf in his pie. "And it's about time I've got some real food, like this!"

"So, what happened to you, Sunburst?" Starlight asked. "How did you wind up here? I haven't seen you in Canterlot, since I've started to attend Princess Celestia's Magic School."

Sunburst, initially frightened, swallowed a piece of pie in his mouth, as he frighteningly recalls, "It was....a nightmare. One minute, I was reading these books on Starswirls the Bearded and the Pillars of Equestria for Magic History. Next thing I knew, I was approached by Abacus Cinch, with the offer of getting extra credits in a program......But it was a trap."

"Why that good for nothing varmint!" Applejack growled.

"That's a new low!" Twilight said. "And to think she's made herself principal of a school!"

"So unbecoming of a lady!" Rarity added.

"But why?" Starlight asked. "What would they want from you?"

"They wanted information," Sunburst replied. "They've been tracking of my studies on the works of Starswirls, and the pillars. So they thought I'd know of a way for them to obtain powers."

Looking at each other, the girls exchanged glances, before Starlight asks, "And what do you know about the Armor of Heroes?"

Sunburst looked around, before he answers, "I've once read that in a dark age, Star swirls, and the pillars have once created six pieces of the armor. The Sword of Honor-Crafted by the Mighty Rockhoof and the Mighty Helms. The Shield of Purity-To protect yourself and your allies from any forms of dark magics. The Helmet of Wisdom-To pass down knowledges of heroes long passed, to the wearer. The Chestplate of Valor-To grant power to the wearer when they do battle, and to insure safety to the wearer's loved one should they be willing as to give up their life for others. And The Boots of Courage-Grants the wearer the speed as fast as their courage runs in the face of danger."

"And the sixth?" Starlight asked.

"It remains unknown," Sunburst answered. "However, it's been said that when all five pieces are united. The sixth will be revealed. Together, with the Elements of Harmony, as brothers and sisters, they bring about a new generation of heroes to come, for Equestria and beyond," Sunburst took a deep breath, as he sighed. "Though, up until Princess Twilight and her friends here, have discovered the Elements of Harmony, and drove the Shadowbolts into hiding. Very few ponies knew today, that the Armors existed."

"And do you?" Twilight asked. "Do you think they exist?"

Sunburst looked uneasy for a moment, until he looked into Starlight's eyes, seeing the sincerity and some assurance from his childhood friend's eyes. Knowing she and her friends can be trusted, Sunburst explains, "Well, it's obvious. If the Elements of Harmony existed, then there's a possible chance the armors might exist," Sunburst took another deep breath as he continues, "And they....confirmed my belief when they showed me the Chestplate of Valor, and its original owner, Sir Lir."

"That's my father!" Fleur gasped. Sunburst turned to Fleur, and like all stallions before him, gazed in awe at Fleur's beauty, "Where is he?" Fleur asked desperately. "And where's mother?"

Before Sunburst could answer, the stallion's eyes widen in fear, as he shoved Starlight and Fleur away, "LOOK OUT!!" he screamed, as a bola suddenly came flying, and electrocuted him.

Before long, more bolas, and magical nets were shot at the girls, shocking them, and draining them of their powers. Soon, the world around them were blacked out.





After what felt like hours, the girls finally came back to their senses, only to find themselves trapped in the Dark Net, hanging by a large crane, in a courtyard, surrounded by Shadowbolts.

"Ah, so nice to see you girls awake," a voice spoke. "I want you girls to take one last good luck at your world, before I destroy you!"

The girls turned their head to see Sunburst, tied to a stake, with Crystal Vape, Sunset Shimmer, and Starlight. The three ponies and girl all had their mouths muffled. Abacus Cinch, sneering, while standing before the girls, acting all high and mighty. On her right, is Hydia, cackling like a typical witch.

"Oh no!" Fluttershy moaned.

"Abacus Cinch!" Twilight scowled.

"Yeah, I know it's her, Pinkie!" Rainbow replied. "Get your arms out of my faces!"

"Yes, I'm pleased you remember me, Melody," Abacus Cinch sneered. "We have a little surprise."

With that, the Shadowbolts turned on a machine, that roared to life, as the crane started to carry the girls over.

"Oh no!" Fluttershy whimpered, as she struggles to escape the net. "Some pony, save me!"

"Girls! I'm really scared here now!" Applejack whimpered.

"I don't want to know what that thing does!" Rainbow whimpered.

"Then I wouldn't recommend The Rainbow Factory to you!" Pinkie screamed.

"Yeah right!" Twilight panicked, struggling to get both herself and the girls free.

Sunburst, meanwhile, was struggling to break free from his confinement, together with Crystal Vape, Sunset, and Starlight. However, the four all had restraint collars on them, making the chances of escape via magic, slim.

"Patience," Abacus said to the four. "First them, then you!" The evil woman taunted, to which they all struggled harder.

"Twilight!" Rainbow panicked. "This is now a good time for you to play Houdini and get us out, now!"

"Don't you see, Rainbow?" Twilight replied. "This net is made up of mana depletion fabrics! It drains away magics! I can't even teleport us all out!"

"Wait for my signal to drop them," Abacus Cinch instructed to some Shadowbolts in control of the crane.

"Spike, wherever you are! Save us!" Pinkie cried.

"If you can hear me, Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity shouted. "I love you, darling!"

"Me too!" Twilight added.

"That makes three of us!" Applejack joined.

"Oui," Fleur added.

"I'll never get to hold his cute, adorable, puppy form again!" Fluttershy sobbed.

"A little closer," Abacus instructed. "A little closer!"

"Oh, we're almost there!" Twilight said in fright.

"Get ready!" Abacus began.

"Ooh, this'll be good!" Hydia said, rubbing her hands excitedly.

Just then, an arrow, tipped with a flaming magic aura came flying and cuts the rope, dropping the girls on solid ground.

"Ten points to you, Sour Sweet," the man in dark fedora commended to the archer.

"WHAT?!!" Abacus exclaimed.

Just then, the door burst open. And there stood the Knights, and Celaeno.

"Well, well," Button began as he and the Knights stood before her. "It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies. You still have some security problems, Abacus."

"Yeah!" Rumble spoke. "Like you couldn't even catch us, for all those times we pulled pranks on you at Crystal Prep, in retaliation for all those pranks your students pulled on my brother, Thunderlane!"

"Or the times when we we had to rescue Snips and Snails!" Tender Taps added.

"Sounds quite extensive!" Pipsqueak added, with Featherweight agreeing.

"Oh yeah! That's right!" Button Mash gloated. "You're about get schooled, by school boys! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

Abacus Cinch, at this point, was clearly losing her cool.





"GET THEM!!!" Abacus ordered. With a loud war cry, the Shadowbolts all charged into battle, against the Knights, Spike, Scorpan, and Celaeno.

"Yeah! Let's rock and roll!" Lemon Zest shouted.


[Texas Faggot-Back to Mad]


Meanwhile, the girls had just gotten out of the net that hold them.

"Girls! To action!" Twilight shouted.

With that, the girls all leaped into battle. Twilight, morphing into her anthropomorphic battle form, fired several blasts of magic bolts, knocking the Shadowbolts back, while making many of the shadow creatures explode into puffs of smokes. More of the Shadowbolts came flying in puffs of smokes of their own, as they fired bolts of magic at Twilight, while others would fire projectile weapons, both magic and technological, at her.

"Watch yourself, darling!" Rarity shouted, as she projected a diamond shield, protecting the lavender alicorn.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack, both in anthro forms, were both fighting off their adversaries, with their backs up against each other. Then, getting an idea, Applejack and Rainbow both linked their arms together from behind, and Applejack spins herself around, with Rainbow Dash rapidly thrusting her legs out.

"Feet of fury!" Rainbow shouted.

"Isn't that kinda played out, Dash?" Applejack asked.

"Don't ruin the moment with your honesty, okay sister?" Rainbow replied, before she was released, and was thrown in the air. "You guys like new tricks?" Rainbow asked, while flapping her wings. "Here's an oldie called, WIND SLASH!!" With that, Rainbow Dash repeatedly beats her wings, conjuring a strong gust of wind that knocked many of her adversaries back. "And a trick I've learned from Spike, Flying Crane Kick!" With that, Rainbow did the said move, landing an uppercut kick on one of the shadow creatures, causing it to disappear in puff of smokes.

Then, a bola rope was thrown, snaring Rainbow Dash, causing her to drop from the sky.

"Dash!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Don't worry Dash! I got you!" With that, Pinkie Pie got out a huge cream pie, catching the cyan pegasus in the custard desert. "You okay, Dash?"

Dash, unfortunately, felt less than okay, "Pie," Dash shivered in horror. "You had to use pie, to save me."

Meanwhile, Applejack was left fighting several Shadowbolts, to a stand. All of them were equipped with special gauntlets and boots that matched their strength with the farm girl's awesome super strength. The Shadowbolts lunged forward, throwing kicks and punches at Applejack, who quickly blocked their attacks, before she grabbed one of them by the hands, and the two were having a stand off, struggling to overpower the other. Thinking fast, Applejack smirked, as she pulled her opponent's fist, catching them off guard, unbalancing them. Seizing the opportunity, Applejack easily tossed her opponent to the floor.

"Ya come to my town again, then we'll have throw down," Applejack gloated. 'Course, I don't mind throwing down for Spike,' Applejack thought lovingly of the Dragon Prince.

Fluttershy was hiding behind a structure of the castle, as she watched the entire fights unfolding before her. Then, in the middle of the fight, Fluttershy spotted a grotesque rabbit-like creature, scurrying its way, being caught in the middle of the fight.

"Oh, goodness!" Fluttershy gasped, as she jumps into the fray, while avoiding the crossfires between her friends and the Shadowbolts. At last, Fluttershy manages to reach the rabbit-like creature, and quickly cuddles it in her protective hooves, "There, there," Fluttershy cooed. "You're alright."

Then, rearing up its head, behind Fluttershy, ready for a killing blow, was a Shadow creature, in the form of a massive snake.

"Fluttershy! Behind you!" Pinkie called.

Fluttershy turned around, and screamed as the snake lunged towards her.

Then, at the last second, a white and black blur appeared out her hair, and kicked the creature away, before it flips off, and bounced around at a speed that's too fast for the naked eye. Next thing the Shadowbolts and shadow creatures knew, they were met with a two rabbit feet that knocked them off their feet. The bunny flipped in the air with great skill before landing with a smirk behind his ninja mask.





Elsewhere, Fleur was firing several bolts of magic at the surrounding Shadowbolts, followed by several flare kicks. Several Shadowbolts all got out some shurikens, which they wasted no time to throw at the unicorn, who quickly projected a magic bubble shield. Rearing up on her hind legs, Fleur stomped her fore hooves on the ground, resulting a strong tremor that knocked the surrounding Shadowbolts off their legs. Then, from the shadows, several dark chains, tipped with sharp claws came flying and ensnared Fleur.

"AAUGGH!!" Fleur screamed in pain, from the claws that dug into her skin.

Concentrating hard, Fleur morphed into her anthro form, and got a hold of the chains, and started to pull the Shadowbolts via chain links. Pulling on one chain, Fleur pulled a Shadowbolt towards her, before she leaped in the air, and did a spinning flare kick, knocking them away.

Meanwhile, Pipsqueak and Featherweight were surrounded by some Shadowbolts, "Can we talk?" Featherweight asked meekly, to which the Shadowbolts all responded by pouncing on the two boys, and landing several punches. "Probably not," Pipsqueak laughed, as he and his cousin both got out, unharmed. "Pitiful," he said, as he and Feathers watch the comedic scene unfolding before them.

Button Mash was fighting a Shadowbolt, sidestepping as the ninja swings a bo staff on him, before he grabs the stick. The ninja quickly grabs the staff, and pulls it back, while the young nerd struggles to pull it back. Button makes a grab, but only caught air, resulting his opponent to laugh mockingly at him.

In response, Button punched the Shadowbolt in the face, knocking him out cold, "You win," Button shrugged. Then, another Shadowbolt confronted the young nerd, who pulled out a pair of nunchucks from his sleeves, as he started to show off some spins to Button Mash. "Oh, a fellow chucker, huh?" Button asked, before he pulls out his own pair of nunchucks, and started to show them off.

The Shadowbolt, and his comrades all voiced their impressments, before he resumes showing off some more nunchuck tricks, by spinning the two sticks around the neck, the shoulders, and below the waist. Button showed off by mimicking the Shadowbolt's tricks, with an addition of his own, by spinning the nunchucks the same way as Bruce Lee once did.

Taking it up a notch, the Shadowbolt spins his nunchucks some more, while too mimicking Bruce Lee's maneuver.

"CA-CAW!!" Pinkie crowed, jump scaring the Shadowbolt and his comrades.

"BWAH!!" the Shadowbolts exclaimed, as they quickly beat their chests, before getting themselves knocked out by Pinkie Pie, and Button Mash.

"Yo, Pinkie!" Button smiled, as he and Pinkie shared a fist/hoof bump. "Nice timing!"

"Thank you!" Pinkie bounced. "You've got good chops yourself, Button!"

"Oh, please," Button began. "Showing off is the fool's idea of glory!" Button said, quoting Bruce Lee. "Whoa! Where'd that come from?"

Rumble was sword fighting with a few Shadowbolts, all armed with katanas. Rumble was slashing his sword from side to side, parrying the Shadowbolts' blades, while dodging a few of their jabs. One of the Shadowbolts slashed his sword at Rumble, scratching him on the side. Luckily, the young athletic boy was safely protected by the suit of armor Scorpan had given to him, and the rest of the Knights.

While blocking the Shadowbolts' katanas, Rumble landed some counterstrikes with his kicks and punches. A spear wielding Shadowbolt came flying at Rumble, who quickly ducks his head, avoiding the ninja's kick. Rumble quickly stood up, as he repeatedly slashes his sword at the ninja, who repeatedly ducks his head down to avoid the blade, until finally, Rumble stopped slashing his sword, just as the ninja stood up.

"Psyched!" Rumble said, before landing a strong front kick to the Shadowbolt's face.

Tender Taps was doing some flips, spins, and kicks he learned from Scorpan, who happened to train him in the martial art of Capoeira. The Shadowbolts, armed with ice and explosive arrows, all opened fire on the boy, who skillfully danced his way through their crossfires.

Then, up on a balcony, grabbing a rope, were D'raggle and Reeka.

"1, 2, duh five?" Draggle counted, before she shoved her sister, swinging on the rope, as she came in like a wrecking ball.

"Ahhh-uh-ah-uh-ah-uh-aHHHHH!" Reeka hollered, only for Tender to easily move to the side, as both he and the Shadowbolts looked on in bewilderment. "OOOF!!" Reeka groaned, when she crashed into a wall, resembling the famous halloween witch crash decoration.

"It's official," Hydia grumbled. "My daughters are the laughing stocks of evil witches and wizards, everywhere."





Meanwhile, from their hiding spot. The man wearing a dark fedora, shook his head to the side, "Clearly fame isn't everything," the man grumbled, while the five Shadowbolts girls at his side shook their heads in agreement.

"Hey! Are we going to sit here on our butts? Or are we gonna help Spike out, and kick some serious butts?" Indigo asked.

"Patience, Indigo," the man replied. "When the time is right, we strike."

"But now is a good time to strike!" Indigo retorted.

"And also a good chance to give away the element of surprise," the man retorted. "Stay back, or it shall be your last, Zap."

With a frustrated groan, Indigo reluctantly complied.





Meanwhile, Celaeno came to aid Sunburst and the girls. Unsheathing her sword, Celaeno swiftly cuts the ropes, before she takes out a pistol, and skillfully shoots their collars off.

"AAAAHHH!!!" Sunburst screamed, before he rapidly beaten his chest, easing his rapid heartbeat.

"Cutting in a little close, aren't ya, Celaeno?" Starlight asked, as she and Sunset too were trying their best to calm down.

"That's Captain Celaeno to you!" Pipsqueak spoke on Celaeno's behalf, before he took off running back in the fight.

Sunburst, after moments of recovering, quickly caught glimpse of Pipsqueak, mainly his footwear.

"No way!" Sunburst shouted. "He's wearing the Boots of Courage!"

"He's not the only one," Starlight replied, before she pointed to Button Mash and Rumble, respectively each wielding the Helmet of Wisdom and the Sword of Honor.

"So it's true!" Sunburst gasped. "But that still three of the whole piece! We need two more pieces-"

"Like these?" a voice spoke, jumpscaring the ponies, and girl, seeing Discord, Snips, and Snails, with Spike and Scorpan, holding the two pieces of armor.

"Spike!" Sunset exclaimed, as she and Starlight all jumped in and stood defensively over Spike, while pointing their horns at Discord. "Run, Spike! We got you covered!"

"Girls! It's okay!" Spike assured. "He's alright! In fact, better than alright!" Spike then turned to the girls, and Sunburst, "Besides, look what we got!" With that, Spike reveals before them, the two remaining pieces of the armor.

From the corner of her eyes, Abacus caught glimpse of Spike, and the two remaining pieces of the armor.

"THE DRAGON PRINCE!!!" Abacus shouted. "And he's got the pieces! STOP HIM!!" Abacus roared, as the majority of the Shadowbolts turned their attention to Spike.

"You want them?" Spike asked, while getting into a fighting stance, standing defensively over the pieces. "Come and get them!" Sunset and Starlight both morphed into their anthro forms, as they stood by his sides, while Scorpan flew off with Crystal and Sunburst to safety.

With a snap of her fingers, Abacus sics the Shadowbolts on the Dragon Prince, and anthro unicorns.

"Non-violence boys! Turn the other cheek away!" Discord shouted. "As a matter of fact, turn both cheeks, and run!" With that, Discord rotated his whole abdomen, showing his tail, and buttocks, "Use whole cheek boys! Whole cheeks!" The draconequus took off running, while looking as if though he's running with his legs turned backward.

Snips and Snails looked at each other, "Wah, should we run now?" Snips asked.

"Wah! Let's-a go!" Snails replied, before they took off running, after Discord.

Spike raised one of his arms up, while arching his hand in the shape of a snake's head. A Shadowbolt ninja lunged and throws a punch at the Dragon Prince, who easily deflected the attack with the snake head maneuver, while jabbing the ninja in the neck, with his other hand.

A shadow creature came and took the form of a ninja, as it throws out a punch, which Spike deflected with a swift block, before he landed several punches to the ninja's side, followed by a roundhouse kick, causing it to disappear in a puff of smokes. Two Shadowbolts came charging at Spike with spears, only for the Dragon Prince to quickly deflect the long weapons, with two side blocks, before he skillfully links his arms around their spears. The Shadowbolts struggled to pull their spears free from the Dragon Prince's grip. Using the momentum, Spike was pulled forward, as he landed two strong kicks to the Shadowbolts' chests, knocking them back, while he fell to the ground, before he flips himself back on his feet.

Starlight Glimmer, once more don up in a suit of armor, complete with her former Shadowbolt mask, unsheathes her staff, giving it a spin, before she fires a strong ray of magic blasts at the surrounding Shadowbolts. Concentrating her magic into the staff, Starlight slammed her magical weapon into the ground, conducting all of the magical forces contained into the ground, resulting in a strong tremor that forced several Shadowbolts back, as well as leaving a huge crater beneath the girl.

Nevertheless, the Shadowbolts got back, as they all reached into their cloaks, and pulled out huge guns with flames burning from the barrels.

The gun wielding Shadowbolts all aimed their weapons at Starlight Glimmer, firing multiple torrents of flames. With another quick spin, Starlight projected a huge shield of magical waters, saving herself from the fires. However, from the shadows, a Shadowbolt fired an arrow at Starlight, grazing her arm in the process.

"AAAAAH!!" Starlight screamed in pain, clutching the wound the arrow had inflicted on her.

Distracted, Starlight's shield quickly dissipated, leaving her open for the fires.

"Watch it!" Sunset exclaimed, as she jumped in between Starlight and the flames, shielding the former as she absorbed the fires through her horn, before she released the flames, in the form of a dragon's head, through her mouth, at the Shadowbolts, who quickly jumped clear.

The Shadowbolts fired their flames at Sunset, who expectedly deflected the flames, and redirecting a few, before her horns glowed, and the guns were levitated out of the Shadowbolts' hands.

"You'd dare use my own weapons against me?" Sunset asked rhetorically. "It was I who invented them. I, the Phoenix Princess!" she spoke gravely.

"Oh yeah, we'd dare," one of the Shadowbolts grinned smugly, pulling out a small grenade, before he chucked it at Sunset, who disappears in a puff of smoke, evading the grenade which went flying and exploded on another Shadowbolt, freezing them in a block of ice.

It wasn't long, when Sunset Shimmer reappeared behind the Shadowbolts, and blasted them away with an explosive fireballs.

Spike was still fighting off some Shadowbolts and shadow creatures, when Abacus Cinch suddenly appeared before him, in a puff of smoke.

"Give me those pieces!" Abacus ordered.

Picking up the Shield of Purity, and the Chestplate of Valor, Spike called out, "Knights! Dashie! Down and out! Pass battered 21! HUT!!" With that, Spike kicked the Shield of Purity, as it carries the Chestplate, to the Knights and Dashie, both quickly picking up the said objects. Tender Taps picked up the Chestplate of Valor and dons it on himself, while Dash picked up the Shield of Purity.

"Give those back!" Abacus Cinch ordered, as she raised her hands up, and unexpectedly fired several blasts of lasers at the Knights.

She then turns her attention to Rainbow Dash, and fired a huge bolt of lightning at the pegasus, "Give up, Rainbow Dash!" Abacus ordered.

"You want it?" Rainbow asked. "Catch!" With that, Dash threw the shield at Abacus, only for the projectile to be stolen by Featherweight.

"Why you!" Abacus shouted, as she fired some beams of lasers at Featherweight, who quickly protected himself, via shield.

Rumble, quickly blew a whistle to the other Knights, "Pile-on on 2!" Rumble called. "Hut! Hut! Hi-yaaah!"

The Knights all quickly regrouped, as they all tackled on Abacus Cinch. 

"Get off of me!" Abacus screamed, as she amazingly, got the boys off. "I had hoped to turn you boys to the police! But now, I realized, it's far too merciful of a penalty for hoodlums, such as yourselves. Now, this will be steeper!" With one of her hand projecting a pulse of electricity, Abacus fired a bolt of lightning at the Knights.

"BOYS!!" Celaeno shouted, as she jumped in front of the Knights, and took the full blast of electricity.

The anthropomorphic parrot fell to the floor, unconscious, "Captain!!!" Pipsqueak wailed in horror.

"You'll all be joining her, very soon!" Abacus said, as she readies another bolt of lighting.

"Leave them alone!" Sunset spoke, as she, Starlight, and Twilight appeared before the woman.

"Ah, Sunset Shimmer," Abacus sneered at the three girls. "Starlight Glimmer, and Melody Ravenclaw. It is unfortunate the three of you have chosen to quit, while you were still among us. You could've served the mistress well! And it's not too late to rejoin us, now!"

"Never!" Sunset said defiantly. "Not after what you did to me in Ponyville!"

"After what you did to Sunburst. After all those lies you've told me about our friendship?!" Starlight growled. "I'm finding it very hard to forgive you right now!"

"And I'd rather die fighting, with honor, than to betray Princess Celestia, and Spike, for a false princess!" Twilight said bitterly.

Abacus frowned, "So be it! You've chosen your fate, and now you will all perish!"

With that, Abacus took off her robe, revealing herself clad in a suit of armor of hi-tech.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Spike said, as he jumps in between the girls, and Abacus.

With that, a fight broke out between Spike, the girls, and the crazy lady. Spike, Sunset, and Starlight both charged at Abacus Cinch, only for the woman to leap in the air, and kicked her legs out to the side, striking Sunset and Starlight, before she thrusted her leg out in a front kick, which was blocked by Spike. Twilight, projected a pair of katanas, as she flapped her wings and charged after Abacus, who quickly intercepted with a flying kick, before she started to slash her claws at the alicorn princess. Twilight quickly blocked each of Abacus's strike with her katanas, and a shield she magically projected.

Abacus grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, as she threw the alicorn to the side. Luckily, Twilight was caught in a magic bubble of water, courtesy of Starlight. Sunset came at Abacus and breathed a burst of flames at Abacus, who shielded herself with a strong thick forcefield she projected from one of her gauntlets, before she fired a bolt of electricity at Sunset, who dissipated into a puff of smoke, evading the blast.

Abacus then turns to see Spike, "Don't try and stop me, Dragon Prince!" Abacus sneered. "I'm well aware of your current state! Your Dragonfire's been hindered. You have no hope of stopping us!" 

"I may not be able to go dragon, for awhile," Spike replied, as he reached into his cape, and took out a pair of nunchucks and gave them a spin. "But I'm still more than enough a fighter to take you down!"

With that, using the moon's gravity, Spike jumped from side to side, dodging Abacus's blast of lightning bolts, before he came flying back towards her, and landed a kick to the woman's chest.

"You dared to touch me?" Abacus snarled.

"Get used to it, bitch!" Spike talked back, as he dodges a laser beam she fired at him.

"Hey! Save some of her, for us!" a voice spoke, revealing itself to be Bloodshot, with Aqua joining at his side.

"Bloodshot?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Relax, Prince," Bloodshot grumbled. "I'm not going to hunt you this time," Turning to Abacus Cinch, the metahuman snarled, "I've got beef with you, for kidnapping my daughter!"

"And my niece!" Aqua added, as she opened up a bottle of water, and with a wave of her hands, she sent a strong jet stream of water at Abacus Cinch, who didn't hesitate to fire a bolt of lightning, electrocuting the waters, of course, including Aqua as well.

"Oh, now you've gone and done it, bitch!" Bloodshot snarled, as she popped a vial of blood, and morphs it into a shotgun. "Nobody electrocutes my sister and gets away with it! NOBODY!!!" With that, Bloodshot opened fired on Abacus, who projected a shield. Reaching into a holster, around her waist, Abacus pulls out a dagger, which she used to throw at Bloodshot.

Bloodshot reacted fast, as he arches his head to the side, as the blade flies past him. Then, a huge metal ring came and clamped him by the neck, followed by a strong current of electricity that flowed through his body, nearly stopping his heart.

"Any more attempts to resist, and I'll amp the currents up to 100 mA," Abacus threatened. "Enough to stop your heart, cold."

"Ouch," Button grimaced, with the Knights.

"Daddy!!" Crystal shouted, struggling to break free from Scorpan's grip. "Daddy no!"

"Daddy?" the Knights, and girls exclaimed in bewilderment.

"That's her dad?" Indigo asked from her hiding spot.

"Who knew?" Sunny shrugged.

Bloodshot was groaning in pain, as he tries to get the collar off. Aqua tried to help out her brother, only for her arms and legs to be ensnared by several chains, thrown by the surrounding Shadowbolts. The Shadowbolts all pull on the chains, followed by a shock of electricity that burned Aqua.

Abacus was laughing like a crazed maniac, only to be kicked away by Spike. Reaching into his cape, Spike pulls out a katana, which he used to cut the shock collar off of Bloodshot. Next, Spike pulls out some shurikens of his own, and cuts Aqua free from the chains.

"Your welcome," Spike said.

Bloodshot and Aqua looked at Spike, "I wasn't going to thank you, yet," Bloodshot answered. "But why did you help me? And I'm asking because, I tried to hunt you!"

"Well, us uncle once taught me: 'The enemy of my enemy is my ally,'" Spike replied. "Besides, I've had my shares of heart wrenching longings. And I don't want your daughter to feel the same," Speaking of whom, Scorpan came flapping out of hiding, carrying Crystal.

"Daddy! Auntie!" Crystal cried, as she ran over and embraced her aunt.

"Crystal! Darling!" Aqua smiled, as she hugs Crystal, and shared a moment to cuddle with her daughter. "Baby, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, auntie," Crystal smiled. "I was scared, but Princess Twilight, General Scorpan, Prince Spike, and their friends helped save me!"

Turning her attention to the gargoyle, Aqua bowed, "Thank you so much," Aqua said. "We owe you our life."

"All in a good day's work," Scorpan replied. "Now go! Get out while you can. We'll take care of the Shadowbolts," he said to the two metahumans, and child.

"No!" Bloodshot replied. "I've got a score to settle with Nightmare Moon!"

"Daddy no!" Crystal cried. "Don't go! Nightmare Moon will kill you!"

"Daddy has to!" Bloodshot replied. "Nightmare Moon kidnapped you, so she must pay!"

"Actually, you should leave," Spike replied.

"Don't you give me orders!" Bloodshot spatted.

"I'm not!" Spike replied. "I'm just suggesting you should go with your daughter. She needs protection," Spike added. "And who better to protect her, than you of course?"

Bloodshot grumbled. However, not wanting to look bad in front of his daughter, Bloodshot complied, "Fine," Turning around, Bloodshot ushered Aqua and Crystal to take their leave. "Let's go!"

With that, the two metahumans took their leave with the girl. As they did so, Bloodshot and Spike took the moment to stare each other, before Bloodshot nodded his head in respect, with Spike returning the gesture, before the man took his leave.

"Shall we get back to it?" Scorpan asked, as he and Spike resumed helping the girls with their fight.

After awhile, Abacus just got back up, when she and the Shadowbolts all heard the sound of a gong ringing. Knowing what it meant, Abacus ordered, "Shadowbolts! Disappear!"

With that, the Shadowbolts and Abacus all disappeared in puffs of smokes.

"Hey! Come back!" Rainbow shouted. "COWARDS!!!"

"I don't think it's a retreat, Rainbow Dash," Applejack spoke grimly.

"AJ's right," Twilight replied. "I don't think it's over yet."

"Astute as always, Twilight Sparkle," Nightmare Moon's voice sounded. Then, in a puff of black smokes, there stood, Nightmare Moon herself, in anthro form, don up in the same suit of armor she wore in Celestia's dream, and with an extra pair of arms, each equipped with shuko claws.


[TMNT 2003 - Shredder's Theme]


The heroes, besides Spike, all gasped in horror at Nightmare Moon's new appearance.

"Whoa! Is that who I think it is?" Button asked in fear.

"Who else did you know that can just appear, dramatically, out of black smokes?" Sugarcoat asked bluntly, as she and the girls made herself known, along with the man in fedora.

"AH!!" Button exclaimed. "It's the tsundere!" Button screamed, as he jumps into Celaeno's arms.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you," Sour Sweet began. "Not if she kills us first!"

The heroes turned to Nightmare Moon.

"Your persistence is commendable, my little ponies," Nightmare Moon began. "Your constant meddling, however, is not. You have caused me enough trouble. Now, you will face me!"

"With pleasure!" Rainbow smirked, cracking her knuckles. "I've been waiting a long time to do this to you!" With a loud shriek, Rainbow dashed towards the evil alicorn, fist thrown for a punch.

However, even faster than Rainbow Dash flies, Nightmare Moon caught Dash's fist with ease, before she pulls her to the side, and elbowed Dash on the side, throwing the cyan anthro pegasus to the side.

"Dashie!" Pinkie screamed in horror, before she glares angrily at Nightmare Moon. "Nopony hurts Dashie and gets away with it!" With that, Pinkie reached into her hair, and pulls out several bottles of sprinkles, which she tossed at Nightmare Moon. Just as the sprinkles all exploded in puffs of clouds, Nightmare Moon disappears in dark smokes, before she reappeared behind Pinkie, and grabbed the pink anthro pony by the tail, spins her around, before the alicorn tossed her away.

"Girls!" Twilight exclaimed, as she ran up to her friends, only to be blocked by Nightmare moon, who prepares to slash her claws at the frightened lavender alicorn.

"NO!" Fleur shouted, as she got in between, and blocked Nightmare Moon's attack, with her rapier. "Your forces have taken my parents once!" Fleur growled. "I will not let you take away my friend's life!"

"Your parents?" Nightmare Moon questioned, as she backs away, before she took a closer look at Fleur. "Ah, those meddlesome foals!" Nightmare Moon sneered. "So, you are their daughter," Nightmare cracked a wicked grin as she continues, "You were their daughter."

Fleur could hardly believe her ears, "You lie!!" she screamed in defiant.

"Do I?" Nightmare Moon smirked. With a loud scream, Fleur rushed towards Nightmare Moon in a blind rage, who easily overpowered the anthro unicorn warrior, who then holds one of her claws, dangerously close to Fleur's throat, "She dies!" Nightmare Moon roared, looking up at Twilight, and the other heroes. "The elements!" Nightmare Moon ordered, as Twilight and the girls, wielding the Elements of Harmony revealed them. "Now!" With that, the girls reluctantly tossed their Elements to the side. "Foals! Ha ha ha, the whole lot of you might have overpowered me with the loss of but one. Now your fate, will be hers!"

"NOOOO!!!" Spike and the girls shouted, as they ran in, desperate to save Fleur.

Then, at a speed that's too fast for the naked eyes, Scorpan lunged in, kicked Nightmare Moon off, as he saved Fleur, who quickly rejoined the other heroes.

"You dared?!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed, as she spreads her wings out, and tackled Scorpan.

Meanwhile, Twilight helped Rainbow and Pinkie up, as she casted a healing spell on the two.

"Oh, goodness!" Fluttershy whimpered, as she began inspecting her pegasus friend. "Are you alright, Dash?"

"I'm fine," Rainbow groaned. "Just smartened from those blows Moony landed on me.

"Always rushing headfirst, into a battle, Dash," the man in fedora spoke grimly. "So predictable."

"Gee, thanks, Mr. Critic," Dash grumbled. "At least I was trying to fight for Equestria!"

"And doom yourself, and your world within two seconds, or more," the man replied. "And I may not be around to save you next time."

"Save us?" Dash asked. "Since when have you ever saved us?!"

"Um, hello?" Pinkie asked, bonking the pegasus on the head repeatedly. "Back in New York? When Sunburn first attacked us? Remember? He was there, remember?"

Dash took a closer look at the hat the man was wearing, "Oh yeah," Dash spoke, taking it all back.

"Anyway," Indigo began, as she held out the Elements of Harmony. "This is your chance! Fire your Elements of Harmony on Nightmare Moon now, and destroy her already!"

"It's not that simple," Twilight replied. "The last time we tried, Nightmare Moon only got away with a few burns."

"It's kinda hard to hit her, when she can still move out of range," Dash noted.

"And don't forget, Spike's Dragonfire wasn't enough to destroy her," Applejack spoke. "Even when it was combined with our powers. All it did was put her out of commission. At least, for awhile."

"Then what do we do?" Fluttershy asked asked.

Spike looked, seeing Scorpan still going at it, with Nightmare Moon.

Turning to his friends, Spike spoke, "I'm gonna go in and help uncle hold Nightmare Moon still!"

"Spike?!" the girls exclaimed.

"I'll fight Nightmare Moon long enough for you girls to power up, and use the Elements of Harmony!" Spike said.

"Spike, no!" Twilight said in worry.

"Then I'm going in with you, Spike!" Pipsqueak spoke, as he joined in.

"Pip?!" Celaeno exclaimed.

"You can count me in too!" Rumble added.

"Don't forget me!" Tenders spoke.

"And me!" Featherweight said.

"We got your back, Spike!" Button added.

"Don't forget us," Sunset Shimmer spoke, on Starlight and Fleur's behalf.

"And don't forget us," Indigo spoke, as she and her fellow renegade Shadowbolts joined in.

"And how do we know we can trust you?" Button asked suspiciously.

"And you're supposed to be the wise one?" Sugarcoat asked.

"Look, dearies," Sunny spoke, as she got in between Button and Sugarcoat. "We don't have time for this! What we need to do is to end all of this, now!"


[TMNT 1990 - Shredder's Suite]


Spike nodded his head, as he gives the girls and boys a thumbs up, "Then let's do this then!" he began. "Let's show Nightmare Moon, what we're made of!"

With that, Spike, the Knights, and the Five Shadowbolts all charged into the fray.





"Luna!" Scorpan grunted. "I know there is still good in you! Fight it! Fight it!"

Nightmare Moon could only cackle as she tossed Scorpan to the side, knocking him out, "Pathetic gargoyle," Nightmare Moon grinned menacingly. "Your precious Luna is gone, thousands of years ago!"

"You're wrong!" Spike roared, as he came flying in, and landed a strong kick to Nightmare Moon's chest, knocking her off of Scorpan. "Aunt Luna is still there! I can feel it! And I'm going to save her from you!"

Nightmare Moon could only laugh in response, "How noble of you, Dragon Prince," Nightmare Moon cackled. "I'd like to see you try!"

Narrowing his eyes in determination, Spike reaches into his cape, takes out a pair of nunchucks, before he tossed his cape to the side. Then, giving his nunchucks a couple of spins, he lets out a loud Bruce Lee war cry.

"This tries my patience," Nightmare Moon grumbled, as she lunged forward, and throws a punch.

In response, Spike spins one of the nunchucks, catching Nightmare Moon's claw, before he runs up her body, and kicks off of her face. With a loud scream, Nightmare Moon charged forward, furiously slashing her claws at Spike, who leapt backwards, before he did several backflips, before he hits a wall, where he kicks off, curls his body up, and flies as a human cannonball towards Nightmare Moon. However, Nightmare Moon quickly became a puff of smoke, as Spike flies through her, and lands on his hand, where he flips off, lands on his feet, and spins around to face Nightmare Moon, who soon became solid, as she fired a bolt of lightning at Spike, who rolled to the side, evading the electrical attack.

Then, the rest of the Knights came in, as they attacked Nightmare Moon from all sides. Pipsqueak, equipped with the Boots of Courage, was running at the speed of light, circling around Nightmare Moon, before he stopped, and jumped at her, in a flying kick, which Nightmare Moon manages to block with one of her arms. Then, Rumble came and slashed his Sword of Honor at Nightmare Moon, barely scratching through her armor. Button came and threw several nunchucks at Nightmare Moon's leg, only for the blades on her shin guards to catch them, and pulled them down. Lastly, Featherweight and Tender Taps, wearing his Chestplate of Valor, were both surfing on the Shield of Purity, as Featherweight repeatedly snaps several pictures of Nightmare Moon, distracting her momentarily. Having enough, Nightmare Moon grabbed Button Mash by the helmet, Rumble by his sword, as she tossed the boys into the rest of their comrades.

Coming from behind, were Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer. Both unicorns attacked Nightmare Moon with a combo of water and fire attacks. Sunset Shimmer, holding one of her guns in her hand, shot several torrents of fire, while Starlight Glimmer shot out strong jets of waters, via staff. Nightmare Moon spreads out her wings, shielding herself from both sides from the blasts. Then, with a flap of her wings, Nightmare Moon conjured a strong gust of wind that blew Sunset Shimmer and Starlight off of their feet. The two girls got back up, as they resume their fight with the mad alicorn.

"Nightmare Moon!" Fleur snarled. "May my father's sword taste vengeance tonight!"

Fleur then came running at a speed that rivals Rainbow Dash's. With her rapier in hand, Fleur viciously slashes the blade at Nightmare Moon's side.

"Rick 'em, rack 'em, rock 'em, rake. Stick that sword into that snake!" Discord, having transfigured into a cheer squad, cheered.

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" Nightmare Moon hissed.

In response, Discord becomes completely deadpan as he waves a flag, "Nightmare Moon, Nightmare Moon, she's our mare. If she can't do it, WHO CARES?!!!"

Later, Fleur continues her assault with a series of flare kicks she landed on Nightmare Moon, who manages to block each and every blows from the unicorn warrior, with quick blocks, before she disappears as a puff of smoke and grabs Fleur from behind, by the mane. Nightmare Moon raises her claws up, reading to deliver fast, and sharp punches at Fleur, had Peewee not dived in, scratched Nightmare Moon, before he lights up in a blinding light.

"AAAH!! The light!" Nightmare Moon hissed, as she shields her eyes from the light.

With that, Fleur got up, as she picks up her rapier and slashes it at Nightmare Moon's side. Then, the Shadowbolt girls jumped into the fray, with Lemon Heart throwing the blunt end of her kusarigma, lassoing one of Nightmare Moon's claws, holding the mad alicorn. Then, from the distance, Sour Sweet fired several ice arrows at Nightmare Moon, together with Sunny Flare, who tossed several kunai blades at the mad alicorn. Sunset and Starlight quickly fired their weapons at the alicorn.

However, Nightmare Moon manages to catch all of the kunai and ice arrows, before she skillfully threw them in the path of Sunset Shimmer and Starlight's attacks. The kunai blades melted through the intense heat of Sunset's guns, before they sealed her barrels shut, while the ice arrows frozen the jet streams of Starlight's water from her staff.

With a loud scream, Indigo came running at Nightmare Moon, with her katanas unsheathed. Nightmare Moon quickly blocked the blades' swings, with her claws, before she slashes her claws viciously at Indigo, who was fortunate enough to jump out of the way.

"You've made a grave mistake, betraying me, Indigo!" Nightmare Moon growled. "You and your fellow rogues have made a very grave mistake! For that, your faith is sealed!"

"Not as much as yours!" a voice shouted, and the sound of gunshot was heard, and a bullet came flying. Nightmare Moon, however, became a puff of smoke, as the bullet flies through her. Then, Bloodshot jumped in.

"Well, if isn't the failure of a bounty hunter," Nightmare Moon frowned. "I had hoped the Smooze would do away with you. But it seems the pleasure to exterminate you traitor, will be an added bonus for tonight's great victory!"

Bloodshot snarled, "Let me get one thing clear, you blinded, ignorant, self-important alicorn!" Bloodshot spatted. "I am no one's servant! And nobody takes my daughter, and gets away with it! Nobody! And for that, you have sealed your fate!" The metahuman said, while pointing a finger defiantly at the last part.

With that, Bloodshot conjured a gatling gun, as he furiously fired a whole barrel of bullets, only for Nightmare Moon to disappear in a puff of smoke, before she reappeared in a different location. Bloodshot continued to fire his bullets in vain at Nightmare Moon, before he suddenly started floating in the air.

"Need I remind you that I am the master of gravity?" Nightmare Moon asked, as she materializes before the metahuman. "Which enables me to do this!" With that, she raises one of her hands up, and flicked Bloodshot away. Then, in another puff of smoke, she reappeared next to Bloodshot, as she kicked him away. This kept on going, until finally, Bloodshot was left, lying on the ground, still.

"Whoa, Bloodshot?" Discord asked, as he helped the man up. "You okay, Bloody?"

"Hub hub hub hub!" Snips and Snails said, as they came in as water boys. Snips took out a towel as he fanned Bloodshot, while Snails squirted waters into the man's face, "Hub hub hub hub hub!" They said, as they took their leave. 

"Behold! My mastery of gravity!" Nightmare Moon said, as she held her hands out, and her eyes glowed white.

With that, Spike, and everyone around him, with the exception of Nightmare Moon, all find themselves being forced to the ground, as if an invisible force was weighing them down. Peewee, who was flying up in the air, suddenly dropped down to the ground, like a recently dead bird.

Walking up to Spike, picking him up, Nightmare Moon cracked a wicked smile, as she smells him, "Ahh, the Dragonfire, within my own bare hands!" Nightmare Moon grinned. "Even in this limited state, the power stills holds potential worth to fulfill my destiny! One way or another, my empire will be resurrected! And not even Celestia will have the heart to defy me!"

"Not as long as I live!" Spike snarled, as his eyes glowed green, and he manages to backflip out of Nightmare Moon's grip, while at the same time performs a backflip attack, kicking Nightmare Moon's chin up in the process.

Hissing from the pain and frustration, Nightmare Moon rubbed the inflicted spot on her chin, before with an angry neigh, Nightmare Moon slashed her claws at Spike, who - despite being weighed by down by the altered gravity, continues to stand on his feet, and struggles to block every strikes the mad alicorn throws at him, all the while receiving a few scratches in the process.

"Why are you still fighting?" Nightmare Moon inquired. "Your power's been hindered! You can hardly stand! You don't stand a chance against me!"

"Doesn't mean I should stop playing the hero!" Spike replied. "Besides, I promised mom I'll come home with auntie Luna! And that's a promise I'm going to keep!"

Nightmare Moon paused momentarily, as a fragment of Princess Luna felt touch, "Nephew," Luna whispered.

Nightmare Moon shook her head, as she regains control, "You will not succeed!" Nightmare Moon snarled. "Even if you can defeat me, you will never see your precious auntie again!" With a fast slash, Nightmare Moon slashed her claw at Spike, scratching the chest plate of his armor, and sent him flying into a wall. "But don't worry! You'll be joining her soon, once I've consumed you, and your power!" Opening her mouth wide, showing an endless row of teeth, Nightmare Moon was about to bite down on Spike, only for a certain gargoyle to get in the way, as he stopped Nightmare Moon, before he kicks her away.

"Never again!" Scorpan frowned.





Frozen North


Back with Neira, the ice alicorn continues her battle with Somnambula. The evil sorceress waved her staff and fires a strong gust of wind, slightly blowing Neira back.

Undeterred, Neira fired another blast of ice, which Somnambula blocked, with a wave of her staff. With another twirl of her staff, Somnambula thrusted her staff into the ground, creating a strong tremor that sent several ice blocks from the ground to jut up, and knocked Neira back. Exhausted from her fight, Neira collapsed to the ground.

"Enough," Somnambula spoke. "The lesson is over," With that, Somnambula walks over to a machine, and started to type in some codes.

Just then, puffs of smokes appeared around Somnambula, as the Shadowbolts revealed themselves.





Back on the Moon


"Scorpan?!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed in bewilderment. "Back up so soon?" Nightmare Moon looked around, to see that everyone were able to stand up again. "What's this?!"

"Looks like you're not the master of gravity than you thought, Moony!" Indigo spatted.

"That, and I was playing double agent the whole time, and switched the gravity field back up," Discord whispered to Snips and Snails.

"We are number one!" Snips and Snails sang.

Suddenly, a huge beam of light was shot from the other side of the moon, has it flies straight towards Equestria, specifically, the Frozen North.

"What is that?!" Indigo asked.

"The sun's ray!" Scorpan exclaimed. "The Frozen North!""

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Nightmare Moon laughed. "How unfortunate for you! Good-bye, foals!" With that, Nightmare Moon continues to laugh evilly.

Scorpan turned to Spike, "Nephew, you remember the Phoenix Sun Kick?" Scorpan asked.

"Do I ever?" Spike replied.

"Here, let me show you what it's really meant for!" With that, Scorpan charged after Nightmare Moon, who retaliated with a blast of dark magic. At the same time, Peewee flapped in, and emits a blinding light.

Nightmare Moon shields her face with her claws, while Scorpan flapped his wing, and landed a strong thrust kick at Nightmare Moon.

Just then, Spike came flying at high speed, as he rocketed himself off a wall, and straight towards Nightmare Moon, landing a kick to the anthro demon's face, knocking her into a wall.

"Girls! NOW!!" Spike called, to Twilight and her fellow bearers.

With that, the six girls all shot an arc of rainbow at Nightmare Moon, "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed, as she quickly dispersed into a puff of smoke, and barely dodged the rainbow's light. "AAAUGGH!!" Nightmare Moon groaned, as she collapsed, into her true alicorn form.

"Oh, so close!" Pinkie groaned.

"But we're not gonna miss her again!" Applejack said, as the girls prepared to fire another shot.

"Foals!" Nightmare Moon hissed. "You think by stopping me, you can stop the meltdown?"

"Meltdown?" Spike asked.

"With control of the Sun Stone," Nightmare Moon began. "We can direct all of the sun's heatwaves to the Frozen North, to start a flood that will increase the water levels of your world to the point that mountains will be reduced to mere hills! And only then, can the Smooze be able to swallow the whole world, completely, by nightfall! And with every last bit of your kingdom gone, my Shadowbolts and I can move in, and resurrect our empire from the ashes! You cannot win!"

"The Frozen North?!" Scorpan gasped, before he turns to the girls. "Girls! You must stop the meltdown!"

"But, Nightmare Moon!" Twilight began.

"That's an order, Princess Twilight!" Scorpan shouted. "Do it! Now! Or else, nothing can be recovered from the Smooze!"

Twilight looked hesitant, while Spike looked at Nightmare Moon. Then, appearing before him, Princess Luna looked at Spike solemnly, "You'll save me next time," Luna whispered.

'But auntie,' Spike spoke in his thoughts.

"Please nephew," Luna continued. "I'll be eternally grateful, if you save Equestria for me. Continue to look after, Tia, as you've always had. We shall meet again, soon."

Though conflicted, Spike looked at the sun's ray, and then back at Nightmare Moon. Knowing what must be done, he nodded, 'Okay, aunt,' he said telepathically. "Girls! Do it!" he called. "Fire the Elements of Harmony into the Sun Stone's beam! Stop the meltdown!"

With that, the girls complied, as they used the Elements of Harmony to merge with the sun's ray.





Frozen North


The Shadowbolts were at first celebrating of the melting of the Frozen North, when suddenly, a huge beam of rainbow was shot down from the sky, and into the machine, where the Sun Stone was located.

"What's happening?" one of the Shadowbolts asked.

The Shadowbolts looked, to see the Frozen North had ceased it's meltdown. Instead, the icy structures began to grow, and the waters that were flowing from the ice mountains started to freeze up again. Furthermore, Neira woke up, as she felt her strength returning.

Looking up into the sky, she thought she saw a dragon flying, 'I won't fail you again, Spike,' she thought, as she started blasting an ice cold breath.





Back on the moon


Twilight and the girls have finished using the Elements of Harmony to heal the Frozen North from the moon.

"That should do it," Twilight panted. "Not sure how long it'll hold. But at least the Frozen North won't be able to melt again, for awhile."

"Now, it's your turn-" Rainbow's words got eaten, when Nightmare Moon became a puff of smoke, as she makes her escape. "NO!" Rainbow shouted. "Not again!"

"She's not getting away that easy!" Spike said, as he rushes out of the room, with everyone following. "Quick -- back to the ship!"

"No problem," Discord said, as he snaps his fingers, and the boys were instantly back at the ship.





Later


Space Battle - Antti Martikainen


The heroes quickly brought the ship to life, as they flew off into space, in pursuit of Nightmare Moon.

"There she is!" Spike said, pointing to a certain black smoke flying in front of them. "She won't know what'll hit her!"

"Probably because she's already hitting us!" Pinkie screamed.

"Yipe!" Fluttershy screamed.

"Quickly, men! Battle station!" Button Mash shouted, as he and the Knights all quickly made a beeline for the controls.

"Actually! We got this!" Sunny said, as she, the Shadowbolt girls were the first ones at the controls.

With that, the five renegade Shadowbolts all expertly piloted the spacecraft, all the while firing several lasers at Nightmare Moon, who didn't hesitate to fire some explosive beams, back at them.

"Since when have you girls learned how to pilot a spaceship?" Button asked.

"We've once attended space camp, in Florida," Sugarcoat replied. "It was part of our space exploration program. That, and the fact why the Shadowbolts had a fleet of spacecrafts of their own to begin with."

"That's a lot to take in, when you say it all at once," Pinkie commented.

"Girls," the man in fedora spoke. "It is essential that once Nightmare Moon is within range, you fire the Elements of Harmony upon her to ensure her defeat!"

"You got it, sir!" Rainbow replied. "Um, I don't think we catch your name."

"In fact, I don't think we ever caught your name," Pinkie Pie added.

"Who are you?" Fluttershy asked.

"Who I am not of the importance," the man replied. "However, I can tell you that I, and the girls whom you've once had quarrels with, are now your allies," Sunset tried to read the man's mind. However, all she could see was nothing but darkness.

Though she couldn't get through to him, Sunset reluctantly complied, "If you say so, sir," she replied.

As the heroes continue to steer the Celestial Phoenix after Nightmare Moon, Twilight and the girls readied the Elements of Harmony once more, ready to fire another shot at Nightmare Moon.

Unfortunately, this still didn't go unnoticed, "AAHH!! The Elements of Harmony!" Nightmare Moon gasped in fear.

Projecting the Elements' powers via cannon, several multicolored beams of magics were shot. Nightmare Moon spins to the side, as she evades the blasts, while receiving a few burns on her wings. At the same time, Sunny fired laser, which was a direct hit to Nightmare Moon, followed by a rainbow of light that struck Nightmare Moon from behind.

"AAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!" Nightmare Moon wailed, as cracks were forming all over her body, and black smokes were billowing out.

"YES!! Direct hit!" Rainbow cheered.

The heroes watched as Nightmare Moon fell towards Equestria, as a black, flaming comet.

"There!" Sunny spoke. "Nightmare Moon's down!"

"Um, Sunny-" Sugar began.

"Now all we gotta do is catch her, bring her to Canterlot, rid the Smooze, and save the world," Rainbow smirked.

"Too bad the Smooze is where Nightmare Moon crash landed!" Sugarcoat exclaimed.

After a moment of silence, everyone all screamed, realizing what they've done, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
> Mission Dragonfire Part 11: Geo-Smooze
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare Moon was nothing but a blur of black smokes, as she fell from the sky, and crash lands in the purple slimes of a Smooze flooded Equestria, with a huge splash.

The worse has yet come to pass, as a tremor soon followed, and the purple slimes erupted all over the lands, through the tops of mountains, before raining down on every screaming ponies and magical creatures as they ran in fear, trying to escape the terror. Worse still, the Smooze's slimes suddenly started to flood their way through rivers, lakes, and any bodies of water they come into contact with, before they found their way up the surface, and flooded through remaining streets of cities, towns, and other places that have yet to be flooded by the Smooze.





Frozen North


Neira stood, tired but triumphant, over several exhausted Shadowbolts, with the exceptions of Somnambula, Abacus Cinch, and Hydia. Standing in between them, was the battered and broken machine, with the Sun Stone. Standing at Neira's sides, were some snow guards.

"Give it up, you three!" Neira snarled. "You will never melt the Frozen North! Not while I can still breathe!"

Abacus Cinch and Hydia were about to fight back, when suddenly, Somnambula felt a magical sensation in the air. Somnambula cackled, "Either way," she began. "You lose!"

"What?" Next thing Neira and her guards knew, the ice beneath them began to crack, and crumble, as huge towers of Smooze slimes burst up to the surface. 





In a single night, the whole world was completely flooded with the Smooze's slimes. The sky has darkened in a blanket of stormy clouds. Mountains have been reduced to islands. Canterlot appeared to have been reduced to ground level, together with its majestic standings in the sea of Smooze.

Then, with a great burst of slimes, a huge vortex was conjured from the dark clouds above, followed by several claps of thunders. In that moment, the vortex started to take the shape of a giant alicorn head, with a curved horn that lets out a bloodcurdling roar, "THIS WORLD IS MIIIIIIIIIIIINEEEEEEE!!!!!" The monster opened her eyes, revealing her pupils to be a reptilic slit.





[Sonic Adventures - Tikal's theme]


Spike and friends have returned to Equestria, in time to witness what they've unintentionally created, and unleashed onto Equestria.

"If this isn't another dream," Spike began. "Then we've really made a real living nightmare out of Nightmare Moon."

"I'm afraid she's far from Nightmare Moon," Scorpan spoke in grimace.

"It's a Nightmare Smooze!" Rarity exclaimed.

The monster lets out a roar as she conjures up several more slime vortexes. With that, the vortexes all spun, as they attacked several nearby mountains, leveling the tall rocky landforms in the process.

"Oh my....." Fluttershy whimpered.

"Well, either way, she's not going anywhere," Rainbow said. "Besides, she's made herself an even bigger target! So let's just hit her while she's still here!"

"Unfortunately, that tactic is out of the question, Ms. Dash," the man in fedora spoke gravely. "Even with the Elements of Harmony, you'll never pierce through her thick magic repellent slime skin."

"So, I don't suppose you've got a better idea, now do ya?" Applejack asked the man.

"Look!" Pinkie shouted, pointing to Princess Celestia, flying in with some pegasi royal guards at her sides. "Looks like Princess Celestia is going to try and stop her!"

"Obviously," Sugarcoat grumbled. "I mean, what else would they be doing?"

"They're not the only ones! Look!" Rainbow shouted, pointing to the sky to show several blurs of blue and gold, flying overhead. "It's the Wonderbolts!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

"Who?" the Knights and Starlight asked together.





Rainbow Dash gasped, "You've never heard of the Wonderbolts?!" Dash asked, looking like she's having a heart attack. "Where have you been?!"

"On Earth?" the Knights replied.

"Magically enslaving a whole village of ponies, I guess?" Starlight chuckled nervously.

"Wait, what?!" Spike asked in bewilderment.

"Right...." Rainbow Dash replied dryly to Starlight.

Meanwhile, the sun princess and her flying army all flew up to Nightmare Smooze, who shot several blasts of slimes at the sun princess and her army.

A yellow Wonderbolt with a flaming mane and tail, apparently the leader, flew up to Princess Celestia, "What's the plan, your majesty?" the lead pegasus asked.

Princess Celestia looked, seeing nothing but raging storm clouds, with claps of thunderbolts, and shadow creatures raining down on them, "Clear a way for me to get to Nightmare Moon," Celestia replied.

The leading pegasus saluted, before she turned to several Wonderbolts, "You heard the princess! Clear a path!" the lead shouted beamingly. "Squad A, take out the thunders! Squad B, keep the lightnings away! Squad C, break those clouds! Let's go, go, GO!!!" With that, the Wonderbolts all did as their leader ordered. The Wonderbolts did all sorts of flips, loops, and spins, as they kept the attacks from the clouds, and the monsters at bay.

"Yeah! Look at them go!" Rainbow cheered. "WHOOO-HOOO!! C'mon, Soarin! Break those clouds! Break those clouds! Fleetfoot! Show them the angry hornet spin! Surprise! SNEAK A-" Rainbow stopped her cheer, when she noticed the weird looks the friends are shooting at her. "I mean, go Wonderbolts! Go!" Rainbow cheered.

"Don't suppose you ponies have room for an old dragon like me," Mako spoke, as he slithered through the sky, before he inhales and exhales a strong gust of winds at the clouds, blowing back the shadow creatures that were emerging. Then, doing an ariel dance in the sky, Mako generated a strong current of electricity on his body, before he fired a strong bolt of lightning via mouth. The bolt of lightning flew towards the clouds, exploding upon impact and created a sizable hole in the process.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped, amazed at the elder dragon's move. "Now that packs a punch! I gotta learn to do that!" Concentrating hard, Spike's whole body was surrounded in green sparks, as he struggles to assume his dragon form. But shrank to the form of a puppy. "If I'll ever be a dragon again," Spike pouted.

"Aw, there, there," Fluttershy cooed, as she picked Spike up, and cuddles him close in her arm.

In the meantime, Celestia flew up to Nightmare Smooze, "Luna! It's me, Celestia! Your sister!" Princess Celestia called out desperately, while dodging a blob of Smooze being shot at her. "Please, we're sisters! Do not make me fight you!"

"How could I not?" Nightmare Smooze spoke. "After so many years of isolation, and so much pain you've inflicted upon me?!" With that, Nightmare Smooze angrily hurls several slimes at Princess Celestia, who quickly conjured a magic shield, protecting herself.

In retaliation, Princess Celestia fired a beam of magic at Nightmare Smooze, dispelling one of her surrounding vortex, "You did it to yourself, Luna!" Celestia spoke, as she blocked another of Nightmare Smooze's spell. "This anger you hold inside you, it's what's controlling you! You have become it's slave! You must let it go!"

"Anger is what makes me powerful!" Nightmare Smooze roared. "And I loved it! I will never let it go!" With another roar, Nightmare Smooze hurled more slime balls at Princess Celestia, who quickly flapped her wings as she dodges to the sides. Then, with another roar, Nightmare Smooze sprouted more tentacles that all flew up to Celestia, all attempting to make a grab on all sides.

Princess Celestia quickly assumed her anthro form, clad in armor, while equipped with both a sword and a shield. With a loud war cry, Celestia slashes her sword at the surrounding tentacles, cutting large chunks of them, while using her shield to block some others.

"Always the perfect one!" Nightmare Smooze hissed. "And always Starswirl's favorite!"

"Starswirl never considered me his favorite!" Celestia replied, before she dodges more attacks from Nightmare Smooze. "He loved us both, equally!" Then, concentrating hard into her powers, Celestia and Nightmare Smooze quickly find themselves in a starry plane, surrounded by a series of memories. "Don't you remember, Luna? Our times as Starswirl's pupils?"

"How could I not?" Nightmare Smooze growled. "Those were the times when you insulted me on my progress! You've scarred me! You've humiliated me!" To prove her point, Nightmare Smooze directed to a memory that showed younger Princess Celestia teasing a much younger Princess Luna of not being able to fly properly, accidentally causing a rose bush to explode, and her inability to pop out of her bubble.



See Legends of Magic Issue 1



"So is this how you intend to make it all better?" Celestia asked. "Becoming one with the Smooze? Flood the world? Destroy everything that was left behind by Starswirls, and our parents?" Celestia looked at Nightmare Smooze solemnly. "If so, then I am not impressed!"

"NO!" Nightmare Smooze roared, while crushing a few mountains. "Nothing I would ever do could impress you! Could it, sister? In your eyes, I will always be your failure sister! Your shame!"

"My only shame was that I have been unable to heal you of your pain, Luna!" Celestia cried out. "But it's not too late! Give up this vendetta of yours, and we can work together to clean up your mess! There's still a place for you, and your children in our kingdom!"

The dark aura in Nightmare Smooze's eyes suddenly disappeared, and for a moment, they were that of Princess Luna.

"I want to believe you," Luna spoke. "BUT THE DARKNESS WILL NOT BE STOPPED!!" With a roar, Nightmare Smooze once more took over Luna, as she stamped her hooves down, causing pillars of smooze to jut from the ground, straight towards Princess Celestia.

With an angry scream, Nightmare Smooze lunged at Princess Celestia, throwing out several more slimes at Celestia, who continues to dodge, "Please sister! Do not make me do this!" Celestia pleaded.

"It is too late, Celestia!" Nightmare Smooze roared. "Your sister is dead! Your kingdom is dead! Your plan to overthrow me will never come to be!! I am the one true master of this world! I AM THE WORLD!! TIME TO DIE, CELESTIA!!!"


14 Sun (Vocals By MEMJ) - Carbon Maestro


With that, Nightmare Smooze conjured a bolt of lightning from the clouds above to fire upon Celestia, who quickly dodged to the side. Several of Princess Celestia's royal guards flew to the side, before one of them going struck by lightning, and nearly plummeted to the sea of smooze below, had Celestia not caught him with her aura. However, this was what Nightmare Smooze had anticipated, for the behemoth slime alicorn quickly fired several slime tendrils at the sun alicorn, capturing her, and some royal guards at her side. Princess Celestia was able to teleport free from the slimes, together with her guards. Unfortunately, the Wonderbolts were not so fortunate, as they were all consumed by Nightmare Smooze's slimes, and were consumed within her slimy mass. Even Mako was not so fortunate, as the great dragon was overwhelmed by the shadow creature and surrounding vortexes that forced him down towards Nightmare Smooze, who didn't hesitate to consume him.

Nightmare Smooze then stood up straight, before she spreads out a pair of slimy wings. The wings converted themselves into more slime tentacles, before they stretched outward, "COME, NEW SUBJECTS!!" Nightmare Smooze roared. "IT IS TIME TO GAZE UPON YOUR NEW PRINCESS!!"

Many ponies who have taken refuge on some islands, mountains, or any higher grounds all quickly run in fear, trying desperately to escape from the monster's tentacles. Unfortunately, no matter how hard they try, Nightmare Smooze's tentacles go faster, as it quickly grabs any ponies or creatures that tried to run from her. A herd of earth ponies and bisons were galloping as fast as their hooves can carry, only for the monster's slime to block their path, before it captures them.

Pegasi and some other flying creatures were not so fortunate either, as Nightmare Smooze had controlled the clouds, as well as her nightmare forces, to capture the flying creatures, from above. Many unicorns have tried to escape via teleportations, while others have fired several offensive magics in an attempt to repel the monster's slimes. However, they soon learned the hard way the Smooze cannot be stopped by magic.

Dragon Lord Ember, while in command with her imperial dragon armies, suddenly finds herself overwhelmed by the monster's slimes, as she, her army, and Mina were pulled in.

"Hang on!" Gilda shouted, as she and Gabby struggled to save their dragon friends. However, the efforts were in vain, as the slimes quickly took them as well.

"NO!!" Rara screamed, holding her hoof out for her consumed friends. Lyra Heartstrings, Sweetie Drops, and their friends quickly pulled the distraught mare away, before they joined with Princess Cadence, and they disappeared in a flash of light. 

Princess Celestia watched in horror, "Stop!" Celestia shouted to Nightmare Smooze. "This battle is between you and me!"

"Very well. Then it's time to decided, Celestia!" Nightmare Smooze began. "Continue your fight with me, or save the little ponies!" Celestia gasped in horror, as Nightmare's slime continue to attack more mountains, and islands.

From their location, the heroes watched as the battle between Princess Celestia, and Nightmare Smooze continue to play out, only with the ponies being caught in between. Celestia ordered many of her guards to protect the survivors, leaving the sun princess to contend with Nightmare Smooze herself. Squinting their eyes, they can see through Nightmare Smooze's slimy skin, the innocent creatures who were consumed and trapped within bubbles, inside.

"She's sucking up everyone!" Twilight exclaimed.

"They're trapped inside!" Button gasped.

Spike watched in disbelief, "Aunt Luna," he whispered.

Nightmare Smooze, having sensed the heroes' presence, turned in their directions, before she sets her sights on the Dragon Prince himself. With that, the monster directed all of her tentacles on the Dragon Prince and friends.

"And now she wants us!" Pipsqueak screamed.

"Let's get out of here!" Rumble shouted.

With that, everyone all quickly beat feet, attempting to outrun the monster. Bloodshot and Aqua quickly grabbed Crystal, as they took shelter within the Celestial Phoenix. The man in fedora quickly and magically grabbed all of the Shadowbolt girls, before they disappeared in a puff of smoke. Discord snapped his fingers as he, Snips, and Snails quickly disappeared in a flash of light.

In the meantime, the rest of the heroes, were all running, flying, and jumping through the ruins of Equestria, in the sea of Smooze.

Waving her staff, Starlight Glimmer conjured a body of water, in the shape of a manta ray, as she gets on it, and flew off with it. Sunset Shimmer turned herself into a puff of smoke. Pinkie Pie reaches into her mane, and miraculously pulls out a huge inflatable boat dubbed the S.S. Little Toot , which she was able to inflate in ten seconds flat, while taking Applejack, Rarity, Twilight, Fluttershy, Fleur, the Knights, Sunburst, and Celaeno with her. Though of course, Celaeno's jaded leg was don up with a plug, so as to avoid popping the boat.

Donning herself a sailor's hat, and eating herself a can of spinach, Pinkie shouted, "Hoist anchors Gummy! Tighten the mainsails!" In response, her pet alligator, Gummy, simply blinked his eyes and said nothing. "FULL SPEED AHEAD!!" With that, Pinkie shaped her tail into a motor, which she quickly spins, propelling herself and her boat across the sea of Smooze.

"Is everyone here?" Twilight said, as she took several head counts, before she realized too late, "Wait! WHERE'S SPIKE?!!" she exclaimed.

Rarity looked, before she screamed, "SPIKEY-WIKEY!!" Everyone turned their heads, to see Spike and Scorpan doing a parkour run across the roof of once tall buildings that were sinking, while avoiding the sludges of the Smooze that were all lunging at them.

"SPIKEY-WIKEY!!!" Rarity shouted, before she turned to Pinkie Pie. "Quickly Pinkie! Turn this thing around!"

"Aye, aye!" Pinkie saluted, as she complied.

"Hold on, Spike!" Fleur shouted. "We're coming, mon amour!"

"I don't think so!" Nightmare Smooze roared, as she conjured up a wall of sludge, blocking the girls' path.

Spike and Scorpan continue their run, when they found themselves standing on what appeared to be a floating rubble of a tower, surrounded by a wall of sludges. They were trapped.

"Spike!" Celestia exclaimed, as she flapped her wings, intending on flying for her son. However, Nightmare Moon's tentacles rose from the sea, as she held the sun princess back.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Nightmare Smooze sneered, before she was struck by a blast of light magic, in the right eye. "AAAAAUUUGGH!!" Nightmare screamed in agony, as Princess Celestia quickly blasted free from the slimy tendrils. However, as Celestia makes another flaming dash for her son, a huge geyser of sludge erupted before her, cutting her off as it knocks her back, straight into a huge hand shaped sludge Nightmare Smooze had conjured. 

"You will pay for your cleverness, Celestia!" Nightmare Smooze hissed. "Because now, your son shall taste the terrible beauty of true power! And he, along with those who dared to oppose me shall be, destroyed!!!"

With that, several slime monsters were all formed from Nightmare Smooze's slimes.

Despite their predicament, Spike and Scorpan both took a fighting stance, "Bring it!" they challenged.

With that, the monsters all advanced upon Spike and Scorpan, who all fought back. One of the monsters lunged towards Spike, throwing a fist out, which the Dragon Prince manages to evade, before he catches the monster's arm, and decapitated it with a quick elbow swing. Another slime monster lunged at Spike, swiping and slashing its arms at the Dragon Prince. In response, Spike quickly ducks his head, jumps, while blocking several strikes from the monster, before launching a counterstrike. Scorpan was quick enough to dodge a monster's slime punch, as he flexibly bent his back, while catching the monster's fist with one hand, while blocking the monster's other punch with his other hand. The gargoyle then stood straight up, as he twisted the slime monster's arms together.

"You're lucky you're an invertebrate!" Scorpan snarled, as he tore the slime monster's arms off. "Otherwise, it would've been very painful!" With a loud yell, Scorpan flew up in the air, before he landed a kick to the monster, knocking it back into the slime it came from, before he was set upon by more slime monsters.

Spike turned and sees his uncle getting overwhelmed, "Uncle!" Spike shouted, as he runs up to the gargoyle, only for more monsters to block his path. Spike was about to fight them off, when he hears the haunting sounds of singing. Turning to his right, Spike was surprised to see three heads of beautiful girls, each on long purple lumpy necks, conjoined together with the body of Smooze slimes. What's even more shocking was the fact that Spike recognized these girls' faces from a dream he had. With that, Spike's eyes suddenly turned green, as he had a flashback of the said dream.

The three girls all opened their mouth and they all vocalized together in a perfect sync, while circling around Spike.





Spike couldn't help but feel drawn to their singing, for it was like nothing he's ever heard before. In return, it moved him in mysterious ways that he cannot describe. Needless to say, Spike likes it. No, he loves it.

"Wow," he said, as he suddenly felt lost in his thoughts. "You girls can really hit a tune."

The girls all smiled seductively at Spike, while batting their eyes at him, as they continue to circle around him. Then, at the last second, the girls all.....





Meanwhile, the rest of the heroes were struggling to break through the wall of Smooze. Pinkie Pie was throwing several of her sprinkle bombs, all which exploded upon impacts, creating holes in the walls that quickly closed up. Applejack tried to punch through the wall, only for her hand to be caught in the Smooze's slime as it threatens to pull her in. Thankfully, Rarity conjured several diamond discs, which she used to cut her friend free.

"Thanks Rare," Applejack panted. "LOOK OUT!!" Applejack shouted, to which Rarity responded, by projecting a diamond shield, saving herself and the farm girl, just as a Smooze slime crashes down on them.

"Take this!" Rumble shouted, as he slashes the Smooze's slime tentacle with his Sword of Honor.

"Come on!" Rainbow grunted. "We've got to get in there and save Spike!" Just then, Rainbow Dash heard a screech, to which she turned to see Peewee divebombing in a flaming comet, making an explosive impact on the wall. Unfortunately, the young phoenix only ends up getting stuck in the slime as it pulls him in.

"PEEWEE!!" Fluttershy gasped, before she reaches into her saddlebag and pulls out what appeared to be a rope. "Hold on sweetie! I'll save you!" With that, Fluttershy jumped into the slime, with the rope she was bound to. Emerging from her saddlebag, was her pet, Angel Bunny, together with several creatures that were holding onto a giant spider that appeared to struggle desperately holding onto Fluttershy. The Knights, and girls all joined in, as they held onto the silk, struggling to pull their friend out.

"Come on, ya landlubbers!" Celaeno grunted. "Put yer back into it!"

Nightmare Smooze's voice was heard cackling, "You want your friend?" she asked. "Well go and join her!" With an evil laugh, Nightmare Smooze's slime quickly trails on the spider's web. And before long, the heroes were all grabbed by the monster's slimes, as it consumes them.

Princess Celestia, who was busy fighting with Nightmare Smooze, suddenly took notice, "NO!!" Celestia screamed, holding her hoof out.

"YES!!!" Nightmare Smooze smiled with glee, while an aura of gold magic pulsed from where she had swallowed the heroes. "Ah, the power!" Nightmare Smooze hissed in satisfaction. "I had almost forgotten! The Dragonfire! The Armor of Heroes! The Elements of Harmony! The magical forces of legends! The Armor of Heroes with which Starswirl and his heroes once used to defeat my fallen brothers and sisters of darkness! The Elements of Harmony that you've once used to lock me away, within the moon! A courtesy for which I shall gladly extend to you, Celestia! And lastly, the Dragonfire! The power that transcends across the universe, and blessed the power of cosmos upon the wielder!" Turning to an even more horrified Celestia, Nightmare Smooze roared demonically, "I AM COMPLETE!!!!" With that, Nightmare Smooze's horn glowed, and several buildings began to sprout from the sea of Smooze. "My Empire of the Night, RISES!!" Nightmare Smooze bellowed.

"I don't think so, Moony!" a voice called, followed by several ice arrows that flew towards Nightmare Smooze, and freezes over her. 

With a final grunt, Nightmare Smooze thawed out, "Who dares?!" she roared, as she and Celestia turned to see Neira, accompanied with Prince Edgar, and some guards.

"I am Queen Gwyneira!" Neira declared. "Queen of the Windigoes!"

"And Sorceress of the Frozen North!" Prince Edgar added confidently.

"Ah, I remember you now," Nightmare Smooze sneered. "You were the daughter of the Windigo King and his betrothed. So nice to make your acquaintance before I send you to your doom."

"I don't think so!" Neira replied, with her horn glowing, ready to fire an offensive spell. "I may be a Sorceress of the Frozen North. But there's still a place for Equestria in my heart! And I'm going to save this land from you!"

"It is time you pay for your crimes, Nightmare Moon!" Edgar said in defiance.

Nightmare Smooze tossed Princess Celestia to the side of a mountain, where she was restrained by several black vines.

Nightmare Smooze towered over Neira and her armies, "You foals are the only ones that will pay!" the demonic alicorn roared. "Pay with your pathetic lives!"

"Bring it!" Neira snarled.

With a blast of dark magic, Nightmare Smooze fires her attacks at Neira, who quickly retaliated with a strong gust of icy winds.
> Mission Dragonfire Part 12: Into the Nightmares
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Observing from a safe distance, are Princess Cadence, and some of the remaining survivors. Everyone had all seen how the battle was played out, and they were instantly shocked to see their favorite heroes being swallowed up by Nightmare Smooze.

"OH NO!! RARITY!!" Sweetie Belle cried tearfully for her sister.

"Applejack! NO!!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"Not Rainbow Dash too!" Scootaloo said in disbelief.

Princess Cadence, and the others were just as horrified.

"Shining Armor!" Cadence weeped, watching as a magic shield protecting a city was crushed under Nightmare Smooze's huge tentacle. Without a doubt, Shining Armor was among the unfortunate ponies getting swallowed up. "Twilight! Cousin!" Cadence sobbed at the spot where the heroes once where.

"I can't believe this," Thorax muttered, trying to deny what he was seeing. "Spike lost the fight?!"

"Twilight too!" Minuette cried, while being comforted by her posse, including Lyra and Sweetie Drops.

"Clearly, fame isn't everything," a voice spoke, to which the survivors turned to see the Shadowbolts, and the man in fedora, having appeared at their spot, moments earlier.

"The Shadowbolts!" Twinkleshine exclaimed.

"GET THEM!!" Minuette shouted, as she and her unicorn posse all made a lunge for the Shadowbolts.

"NO! WAIT!!" Sunny shouted, before a flash of light interrupted them.

There stood Sunburst, Starlight Glimmer, Fleur, Scorpan, and Celaeno.

"Whoa," Sunburst groaned. "That was way too close for comfort."

“Sorry Sunburst,” Starlight apologized.

“Starlight Glimmer!!” Trixie cheered happily, as she ran up and hugged the unicorn.

“Starlight Glimmer?” Kyrie chirped, as she pokes her head out of Trixie’s hat. “I don’t believe it! You’re alive!”

“Believe me,” Starlight shuddered. “It was no picnic.”

“Then, where’s AJ?” Rara asked hopefully.

“And more importantly, where are Twilight and the girls?” Cadence asked. “And Spike and the Knights?”

After a moment of composing herself, Fleur looked, “Zut Alor! They’re not here!” She quickly panicked.

"WHAT?!!" Scorpan exclaimed, together with Celaeno.

“Oh no!” Sunburst grimaced. “They must still be inside of Nightmare Smooze!”

Everyone around the four survivors all gasped, "I'm sorry, every pony," Starlight apologized. "But there's so many of us, and so much I can do with just one teleportation spell."

“Then, we have to help them!” Fleur said.

“But how?” Starlight asked. “What can we do? We don’t stand a chance against Nightmare Smooze, let alone destroy her.”

“Wait! Wait just a minute!” Moondancer shouted, as she arrived, while carrying a few Breezies in her saddlebags, while levitating a scroll. “There might be a way!” Walking up behind the disheveled unicorn mare, was Neira, Prince Edgar, and a few penguin guards and snow ponies, all carrying the Sun Stone.





Spike Draco

".........Spike.........Spike......"
Tranquility - Time Solitaire. Music united by Nature

Spike opened his eyes to see Princess Celestia, smiling happily at him, "Mom?" he asked, slowly getting up. Looking around, he finds himself, and his mother in a wide open field, of flowers, trees, and a calming river. Birds were chirping in fine tunes, together with some buzzing insects.

"Where are we?" he asked. "Am I dead?"

Celestia chuckled lightly, as she replied, "No, my child," she smiled. "You have triumphed over evil," Turning her head up to the sky, Celestia continued, "You and your friends have freed Luna from Nightmare Moon. You brought back the day. And saved Equestria," Turning back, and looking lovingly at her son, Princess Celestia nuzzled closely to Spike's nose, "I've never been so proud of you, my son. And now, I want to make this day, just the two of us."

Spike smiled, "I couldn't agree more mom," Spike shed a tear. "You and I have so much to catch up on."

Celestia, wrapped her wing around Spike, as she pulled him close for a kiss on the cheek, "In time, we will," Celestia's whole body was enveloped in a gold aura, as she assumes her human form. "But first, you must rest," Celestia replied, patting a spot on her lap. "You've been through so much, Spike. You deserve it."

Spike complied, as he laid his head in his mother's lap, and finds himself at peace with the tranquility that surrounds them.





Twilight Sparkle


Twilight finds herself in Canterlot Castle, where Princess Celestia was waiting, atop her throne.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed, as the Sun Princess turned her head to the lavender alicorn. "What happened? How did I-"

"Get out!" Princess Celestia hissed.

"What?!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed in bewilderment.

"You heard me!" Princess Celestia growled, as she stood up on her throne. "Begone!"

"But I don't understand! Why? What did I do?"

"What you've always been doing! You're careless! You have no respect for the power you have! And what's more, you couldn't even keep my son protected! You are dismissed forever."

"What?!" Twilight gasped, feeling her heart breaking at the last word. "No!"

"My son is dead!" Celestia continued bitterly. "The Magic of Friendship is dead! And it's all because of you!" Before Twilight could respond, Celestia's whole form bursted into flame, as the white alicorn adapted a more demonic appearance and voice. "You have forgotten your purpose! You've forsaken us!" With that, Princess Celestia and several flames around her all let out bloodcurdling shrills at Twilight, who was beside herself, while looking at a stained glass window, depicting Nightmare Moon's rise to power, and Spike's dragon form, broken.

Twilight collapsed to the floor, crying in despair.





Fluttershy 


[Nights~ Dreams Dreams]


Fluttershy opened her eyes, and quickly finds herself, on a mountain path, don up in a beautiful green floral dress.

"Oh my!" Fluttershy gasped, as she looked at herself over. "When did I wore this dress? I haven't worn it since the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Hey Fluttershy!" a voice spoke, to which Fluttershy turned to see who the speaker is.

"Spike?!" Fluttershy exclaimed happily. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you! I was so scared, and-" Fluttershy was interrupted, when Spike walked over and hugged her tightly.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy," Spike cooed. "You're safe now. I'll protect you."

"Oh, I know," Fluttershy smiled, as she blushed. "You've always protected me, and every pony else." Spike soon lets go of Fluttershy, as he started to walk away. "W-Where are you going, Spike?"

"We're gonna be late for the Grand Galloping Gala!" Spike replied, as he turned and beckoned Fluttershy to follow. "Come on! Follow me!"

"I'm coming!" Fluttershy replied, as she got up, and trotted after the Dragon Prince.

After awhile of trotting, Fluttershy can see the beautiful city of Canterlot, in the distance. The city glistens beautiful as it bathes in the moon light. To Fluttershy, the sight of Canterlot bathing in the beautiful night, from the distance, brings a sense of tranquility to Fluttershy, making her feel less scared, and yet more excited.

Fluttershy turned her attention back at Spike, who appeared to be nothing more but a dot, before he disappears behind some trees.

"Wait! Spike!" Fluttershy called, as she quickens her pace, trying to catch up to the dragon. But by the time she caught up, the Dragon Prince was nowhere to be seen. Standing before her, was a marble staircase that led her up to Canterlot Castle. On each sides of the staircase, are statues of ponies, and magical creatures. Fluttershy took careful steps up the stairs, passing the statues at her sides.





*Eerie Forest Night Ambience Effect*


Fluttershy's world suddenly turned dark, and she was no longer in Canterlot.

Instead, she now finds herself standing in the middle of a dark forest. It was even eerier than the Everfree Forest, with trees having twisted appearances that looked almost like the faces of sinister monsters.

"Eep!" Fluttershy yelped, as she frightfully backed away from the trees, before bumping into another. "Yipe!"

"You're here," an eerie voice spoke. "You're finally here!!"

"W-W-Who's there?" Fluttershy whimpered in fright.

"I'm trapped," the voice answered. "And so very lonely." Then, the voice suddenly started to cackle menacingly, when it asked Fluttershy, "Won't you JOIN ME?!!"





Rainbow Dash


Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and finds herself strapped down on a large board. Rainbow tried to break free, but the leather strap kept her head in place, the braces around her chest and limbs all kept her firmly in place.

"Huh?" Rainbow asked, as she struggled to break free. "Where the hell am I? What gives?"

"Oh goody, goody gumdrops! You're awake!" a chirpy voice spoke.

"Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow exclaimed, looking in the direction of the pink pony's voice. However, much to Dash's shock and confusion, Pinkie stood before her, mane deflated, colors dulled by a tone of gray, and smiling, menacingly. Though just barely, Rainbow Dash can see in the darkness, behind Pinkie Pie, a whole board display of tools used for cutting. 





Rainbow watched with confusion, as Pinkie Pie pushed in a cart, covered with a cloth.

"Pinkie Pie? What gives?" Dash asked. "Why can't I move?"

"Well duh, you're tied down silly!" Pinkie chided. "I didn't think you'd needed to know that!"

"But what's going on?"

"You're here to help me make cupcakes, of course!" Pinkie smiled. "Unfortunately, you see. I'm missing a key ingredient."

"And pray tell, what's the ingredient?" Rainbow asked, still slightly frighten.

"Why, it's you!" Pinkie grinned menacingly.

At first, Rainbow's eyes widened in fear, but she later burst out laughing, "Okay! Very funny, Pinkie!" Rainbow laughed. "You got me!I gotta tell you, this the best prank yet. You win, you’re the best.“

   Pinkie giggled even more. “Aw, thanks Dash. But I haven’t done pranks today, so I can’t accept your praise. “

   Dash was struggling again. “Pinkie, come on, this isn’t funny.”

   “Then why were you laughing”? Pinkie grabbed the cloth and whipped it off the cart. The top of the tray contained various sharp medical tools and knives carefully organized and ready. There was a medicine bag and several other objects next to them.

   Dash was now in full panic mode. She was starting to hyperventilate. Her mind was racing and she tried to reason with the pink pony. “You can’t do this Pinkie! I’m your friend!”

   “I know you are and that’s why I’m so happy it’s that I’ve got you here. We get to share your last moments together, just you and me.”

"But what about our fiends?" Dash asked. "Every pony will all be wondering where I am. Spike will even-"

"Oh, Dashie," Pinkie continued in a demonic voice. "I've been doing this for a long time. No one will even cared you went missing. And what Spike doesn't know, won't hurt me!" With that the lights suddenly came to life and showcased the rest the room.

“Oh god, no” Dash reeled in horror at the image presented to her. The room was decorated with a typical but twisted Pinkie Pie flair. Colorful streamers of dried entrails danced around the ceiling, brightly painted skulls of all sizes were stuck on the walls, and organs done up in pastels filled with helium tied to the backs of chairs. The tables and chairs were made of bones. Dash cringed at the center piece on the table nearest to her. The heads of four foals, their eyes closed like they were sleeping, wearing party hats made from their own skin. She recognized one of them as Apple Bloom’s classmate. Her eyes darted back and forth and then gazed up at the patchwork banner hanging from the rafters, with the words “Life is a party,” scrawled in red.

      Dash’s attention was stolen by a party horn unfurling and tickling her nose. She saw Pinkie Pie standing in front of her. The party pony was wearing a dress quilted from cutie marks. On her back fluttered six pegasus wings, all different colors. As she skipped in excitement, her necklace of unicorn horns loudly clacked together.

"Let the cupcake making begin!" Pinkie grinned, as she brandishes a knife and walks up to Dash, who was really scared right now.

"ANYPONY!!! SPIKE!!! HELP!!!" Dash cried tearfully.





Pinkie Pie 


It was a warm sunny day, and Pinkie Pie was enjoying it, as she skips happily down the road, "La la la la," Pinkie sang. Suddenly, the bright day came to an abrupt halt, when the sky was darkened, and huge storm clouds appeared.

"Oh, poo," Pinkie pouted. "That was such a nice sunny day too!" Nevertheless, Pinkie Pie broke in a trot, determined to find shelter, or risk getting a cold, out in the wet, stormy weather.

Then ahead, Pinkie Pie spotted a familiar pegasus with rainbow mane and tail, "Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie called out. In response, Rainbow Dash broke out in a fast trot, "Dash! Wait up!" Pinkie gave chase, and finds herself and Dash running back in Ponyville, and into Sugarcube Corner. "Good idea, Dash! Let's take cover in there!" With that, the two ponies all entered the bakery.

Once she was greeted with the slight cool air of the bakery, and the welcoming shelter from the storm, Pinkie shook herself free of the raindrops she got on her.

"Whew!" Pinkie sighed in relief. "That's quite the weather you had there, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie looked up, and was greeted with the exact opposite of what she knew as a welcome from Sugarcube Corner. 


iNSaNiTY - Vocaloid


Instead, she sees the room had been darkened, reducing the bakery's once cheery demeanor to match that of gloom and despair. Furthermore, everywhere Pinkie looked, she could see the same words "Life is a Party" written in red, on the walls, and the floor. Worse still, the rain drops on the floor, and Pinkie's body turned blood red.

"What?" Pinkie whimpered. "What's going on?"

"LIFE IS A PARTY!!!" a voice exclaimed, to which Pinkie turned to see a bloodied Rainbow Dash.

"AHHH!!!" Pinkie screamed at the sight. In appearance, Rainbow Dash looked almost as if she had been mauled by a bear, with her whole body covered in blood, her eyes missing, as well as her lower jaws, her wings, her cutie mark, and her chest, exposing the rib cages. "Oh.....my......god!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Rainbow Dash?! What's happening? What happened to you?"

"You don't remember?" Dash asked.

"R-R-Remember what?" Pinkie whimpered.

"Ooh puh-lease, tell me," Dash continued. "Was I tasty?"

"T-T-Tasty?"

"I can imagine my cupcakes looked very colorful!" Dash replied with a laugh.

"What cupcake?" Pinkie asked, at the point of crying in fright.

"Are you serious?" Dash asked, sounding quite angry. "You really wanna take me for an idiot? Don't tell me you can't remember my most delicious cupcakes? The ones you pour my life into making? Those cupcakes that costed me my eyes, my wings, and my whole body? Where I'm the key ingredient?!"

"No!" Pinkie cried. "I would never! I'd never hurt you, Dashie! I pinkie promised!"

"Yes, you pinkie promised!" Dash growled. "I pinkie promised that your pies will be just as bad as your cupcakes! I pinkie promised you will DIEEEEEEE!!!!" Rainbow screamed at the last part, together with several more pony corpses, all showing themselves, and crawling out of hiding, holding the hooves out for Pinkie Pie.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Pinkie Pie cried, trying to block out the screams in vain.





Applejack

Five Nights at Freddy's 3 - It's Time To Die by DAGames

Applejack shook her head, "Sweet Celestia," Applejack groaned. "What in Tartarus happened? It felt like I'm in a dungeon?!" Applejack exclaimed, when she took notice of her surroundings.

Just then, the door opened to reveal a despondent Twilight, "Applejack?"

"Twilight!" Applejack exclaimed, getting up and tried to trot over to the alicorn, only to find herself chained to the wall. "What in tarnation?" Applejack tried to break free, but finds herself unable to do so. "Twilight? What's going on? What happened?"

"You happened, Applejack," Twilight replied gravely, as she levitated a mirror to show Applejack, drenched from head to toe in bloods. Furthermore, Applejack's eyes were lined with black rings beneath, indicating she hadn't slept, and she was covered in scars, and bandages.

Applejack couldn't believe her eyes, "What happened to me?!" Applejack exclaimed.

Levitating the mirror away, Twilight began, "We've won the battle against Nightmare Moon," Twilight lowered her head, as she frowned. "But at the cost of your sanity," Twilight answered.

"What do ya mean?" Applejack asked.

"We won the fight. But as a last resort, Nightmare Moon brainwashed you with a spell. She took control of you. You wrecked everything, and every pony who crossed path with you. You turned Sweet Apple Acres into a slaughtering ground!"

"What?!" Applejack exclaimed in bewilderment. "No! That can't be! I'd never-"

"But you did!" Twilight snarled. "And in our despair to save you, you killed several ponies! You almost killed Rainbow Dash as well."

"NO!!! I didn't mean to! Twilight! I wasn't in my right mind!"

"I know," Twilight replied. "And for that, we've granted you your life. However, as a precaution, we've kept you here, so that you would do no further harm."

"But I-" Applejack pleaded, but finds that it was futile, so she slumped in defeat. "Then, why are you here then?"

"To say good-bye," Twilight turned her back on Applejack, ready to take her leave.

"Twilight wait!" Applejack called. "What I want to know is, how is Rainbow Dash? Is she recovering?"

"She's doing fine," Twilight replied gravely.

"And my family?" Applejack asked. "Is Granny Smith alright? What about Big Mac?"

"They're okay."

"And Applebloom?" At the mention of the younger filly's name, Twilight flinched, and she hurried to the door. This of course, didn't go unnoticed for Applejack, "Wait, Twilight? What happened to Apple Bloom? What happened to my sister!"

"She's in the hospital," Twilight replied bluntly. "She's had quite the shock, from you!"

"Will she be alright?"

"It's hard to answer that. Since Spike couldn't even keep her protected from you, AJ."

"What about Spike? What happened to him?"

"He's dead," Those two words struck Applejack to the core, and she felt her legs giving away. Having lost their will to stand.

"No, no," Applejack cried. "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!"





Rarity


Rarity was running through a dark forest, covered in thick, sharp vines. The mists were rising, all around her, but that doesn't stop Rarity from running.

"Help!" a little filly's voice cried out.

"Where are you?" Rarity shouted, as she continues to gallop, determined to save he filly, and to escape the shadow that chases after her. Rarity made a sharp turn around a tree, and slid to a stop, "Sweetie Belle!"

"Help me, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle cried.

Rarity quickens her trot, as she ran for her little sister, lighting up her horn's aura as she did so. However, just before she could even get close enough to pick Sweetie up in her aura, blue flames burst out from the ground, between Rarity and Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle screamed in horror, as a demonic alicorn with a wide grin, showed her rows of razor sharp fangs.





"Go to sleep, little one!" Nightmare Moon cackled, before she levitated a dagger.

With a blur, Sweetie Belle's scream came to an abrupt silence, "SWEETIE BEEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEE!!!" Rarity screamed in pure horror.





Spike Draco


Spike was enjoying himself, as he relaxes in the comforting lap of his mother, who lovingly stroke his head. Spike felt himself at peace, when suddenly his ears perked up to the sound of screaming.

Spike's eyes bolted wide open, and he looked, but sees no pony. He tries to relax again, but he hears the screaming again, but louder.

"What troubles you my son?" Princess Celestia asked.

"I thought I heard someone in trouble!" Spike replied. "I should go and check it out," Spike got up and was about to walk away, when his mother grabbed him by the hand, and held him back down.

"No, Spike!" Celestia said. "Don't leave. Not yet. Stay. Rest."

"But if someone's in trouble, then I have to help them!" Spike replied.

"If someone's in trouble, let Twilight and the others handle it," Celestia replied. "Let us savor this moment. Just the two of us."

"Well if Twilight and the others can handle it, then who am I to get in the way?" Spike complied, as he laid his head back down in his mother's lap to rest. 'Although, if they ever needed help, then I should at least be there for them,' he thought. Then, his ears perked up, when he hears the screams again, only more louder, and more dreadful. "Hang on, girls! I'm coming!"

"SPIKE!! NO!!" Celestia screamed, in a scary tone. Desperate, Princess Celestia's horn ignited in a dark aura, and a wall formed in front of Spike, stopping the Dragon Prince in his track.

Spike turned around to face his 'mother.' "WHO ARE YOU?!!" He demanded.

"Spike!" 'Celestia' began sternly. "You should know better than to talk to your mother in that tone!"

"Well, you're not my mother!" Spike snarled. "The mother I know and loved, imposter!" With an angry shout, Princess Celestia's eyes pulse with darkness, and she shot a bolt of magic at Spike. Spike rolled to the side, dodging the attack.

"How dare you speak to your mother that way!" Celestia snarled. "I knew I shouldn't have been so soft on you! Now, I'm afraid you're gonna have to be punished for this!" With a glow of her eyes, Celestia enveloped Spike in a fiery aura, that burned Spike's skins slightly. Spike screamed in agony, as he struggles to break free, while feeling as if he's being burned alive.

As Spike continues to scream in agony, he felt something stirring inside of him. It made his heart thump rapidly, almost as if it had been contained for so long, and it was finally getting a chance to break free. With that, in a great burst of flame, and a loud roar, a fiery dragon emerged from Spike and knocked Princess Celestia to the side.

Celestia got up, only with half of her face burned off, revealing a patch of dark skins beneath.

Spike was breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath. He looked up in time, to see Princess Celestia's appearance melting away, to reveal that of Nightmare Moon. With an angry neigh, Nightmare Moon lunged in to attack Spike, only for the fiery dragon to slither in between the demonic alicorn, and the boy. The dragon charged towards Nightmare Moon, slashing its claws viciously at her, followed by a whip of its tail. Nightmare Moon lunged at the dragon, only for it to disappear in a flash of fire, before it reappeared, wrapping its coils around the alicorn, and slammed her repeatedly into the ground.

Nightmare Moon was done for the count, as the dragon flew back to Spike, enters through his mouth. Spike groaned, as it felt like a ball of fire was forced down his throat, and the burning sensation on his skin was felt once more. Before long, Spike's whole body was enveloped in a flash of light.





Meanwhile


"Your little resistance is futile, Queen Gwyneira!" Nightmare Smooze snarled. "You will fall!"

"You'll have to catch me first, Moony!" Neira spatted, while surfing on the monster's slimes, with an ice board she made, all the while firing back several ice arrows at Nightmare Smooze, and her smoky nightmares, all giving chase.

Meanwhile, the rest of the heroes were on the mountaintop, with Princess Celestia, whom Princess Cadence was able to rescue.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Twinkleshine asked.

"Did the Outcast ever triumphed over Starswirl the Bearded?" Moondancer asked rhetorically. "Besides, this has to work! For the sake of the world!"

Moondancer carefully placed the Breezies on top of the Sun Stone, before she took her place, with Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Princess Celestia, and Fleur taking their place, around the stone.

"Let's do this!" With that, the chosen magic users all fired their magic into the stone, channeling their energy. While doing so, the Breezies started to feel rejuvenated.

"My.....head," an aquamarine breezie with pink mane and tail spoke. "I'm feeling.....better!"

"Keep going!" Moondancer groaned.

Nightmare Smooze, who was busy chasing Neira, suddenly felt a disturbance in the air, turned her head to see what the heroes were doing in the mountains. Narrowing her eyes, she manipulated some nearby storm clouds to attack, only for them to be deflected by a shield spell, courtesy of Princess Cadence.

"Uh oh," Thorax moaned. "I thin she's onto us!"

"What's your  first clue?" Sugarcoat asked. "The storm clouds firing lightning bolts at us, or the way she turned her head in our direction?"

"That! And we've got some angry Shadowbolts, hovering over us!" Indigo shouted, to reveal Somnambula, Abacus Cinch, and several more Shadowbolts, on dark clouds, floating overhead.

"So this is where you girls have gone off to!" Somnambula hissed. "No matter! You girls will pay dearly for your betrayal, for none of you will be leaving alive!" With a wave of her staff, Somnambula fired a bolt of lightning that was strong enough to leave a dent in Cadence's shield.

Abacus Cinch got out a small metal ball, which she used to pierce a hole in Cadence's shield. With that, Somnambula fired a bolt of lightning through the hole. The bolt would've struck the heroes, had a hand not captured the bolt in time, and threw it back at Somnambula.

"Did you forget about me?" a familiar voice asked. "Big mistake, you know!" the voice reveals itself to be Discord, and the boys.

"Discord?!" Somnambula exclaimed. "You dared to defy us?!!"

"Oh no, I don't defy anyone," Discord replied. "See, this was the plan the whole time. I'm really, a double agent!"

"WHAT?!"

"That's right! I'm Double Agent Captain Goodguy!" With that, Discord spun around as he dons up a secret agent slash superhero costume.

"We are number one!" Snips and Snails sang.

Then, before the boys knew it, they were surrounded in a red aura, as they were levitated up to Somnambula.

"Then today's my lucky day!" Somnambula began. "Six traitors for the price of one!" With that, Somnambula's stuff pulsed, as she absorbs an aura of dark magic from Discord, Snips, and Snails, with her staff. The dark magic converted itself back into a huge cloak, while Discord and the boys dropped to the ground, reverted back to the way they were.

"I should've known you were behind this!" Somnambula snarled, glaring at the man in fedora.

"You always have been the careless one, Somnambula," the man spoke. "All of that optimism you've held, regarding to hope has clearly made you the blinded fool. If I had known better, the pink annoyance bears a strong resemblance to you the most."

"You will pay dearly for your defiance, Joe!" With a crack of thunder, Somnambula fired a bolt of lightning at the man, now revealed to be Joe.





Spike, opened his eyes, as he turned to the left, then to the right. But he was only greeted with the pitch black of darkness, “Where am I?” He asked himself.

"You're in the Smooze, of course!" a chirpy voice answered.

"BWAH!!" Spike shouted in startled. "Who said that?!" He asks, while struggling to assume a fighting stance.

"Me! Over here!" the voice answered, to which Spike turned to see nothing. "Oh, right, you can't see me, of course," Without warning, an aura of light suddenly lit up, banishing the surrounding darkness away, allowing Spike to see the speaker.
> Mission Dragonfire Part 13: Exit the Luna Games || Re-Enter the Dragon 🐉 (The Sixth Armor of Heroes)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In appearance, the speaker appeared to be a hippocampus with light yellow scales, light arctic blue mane with matching fins for her arms and tail, and what appeared to be a glowing lure, acting as the bang in her mane, what appeared to be a pink flower adorned on her head, and orange-reddish collar with a pearl at the neckline, and translucent red wings on the back. She had brilliant cyan eyes, that are framed by the freckles on her face.

Furthermore, Spike finds himself floating in a bubble, along with all the other captured creatures around him.


[Creamy - Little Yellow Fish]


"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed, taken by surprise at his surroundings. "I can't believe I'm inside the Smooze!"

"Uh huh, looks like it," the hippocampus chirped, as she swam around him. "And you’re a special case, since I've never seen anyone else, besides you and some of the others, with that line of jewelry around them."

"What?" Spike looked down, to see he was once more covered in dark chains. "Oh, not this again!" Spike struggled to get the chains off, but to no avail. "Wait a minute!" Spike stopped and looked at the hippocampus. "You said some others!" Spike asked, while pressing up against the bubble between him and the sea pony. "Others who, exactly?"

"Depends," the sea pony began. "Are they six girls, wearing colorful necklaces, five boys with armor pieces, a fiery headed girl, and a red peacock thing?" Spike nodded in confirmation. Next thing Spike knew, the sea pony  held out two clams with googly eyes pasted on them. One was purple, and the other was red, "Shelly here told me, he just saw a purple alicorn and five more ponies with dark chains," the hippocampus said, gesturing to the purple clam. "And Sheldon over here, said five human boys like you just got themselves chained, the same time as Shelly did here! And they both got into a fight when they both saw an old man, and a red bird!" The hippocampus pulled Spike closer, as she whispered, "These boys just get crazy over me. Kinda like how those dazzlings got crazy over you!"

"Who?" Spike asked.

"The Dazzlings!" the hippocampus answered. "You know, those three girls who were trying to enchant you with their songs? Oh, you should've seen yourself!" the hippocampus said in awe. "The Dazzlings tried to catch you! But then you were like hi-yah! Yahoo! Ka-Kaw! And everything with the kicking and punching!" the hippocampus exclaimed excitedly, while doing her best to mimic Spike's moves and war cry. "You were defiant til the last!"








Spike was surrounded by three of the Smooze slimes, each with the girls' heads at the top. The Dazzlings were singing a haunting song, while swaying fluidly in a dance, around Spike.

Then, in a heartbeat, a long tentacle of slimes shot out form one of the girls, in an attempt to capture Spike. Spike, however, heard it coming, and instantly dodges to the side, evading the strike.

Before long, more tentacles started to shoot out at Spike, as he makes several quick sidesteps, evading the attacks.

One of the Dazzlings swung her slimy tentacle sideway, to which Spike evade with a backflip, followed by a front flip, then a 360 kick, a 540 kick, and an impressive 720 kick, as he evaded several more of their tentacles, while landing several counter-strikes.

"Stop moving!" Adagio snarled, as she aggressively makes a grab at Spike, who continues to dodge her attack by jumping in the air, spins to the side, before he lands a kick at Adagio.

Sonata and Aria all joined in, slashing their slimes tendrils at Spike, who makes several spins, and weaves his way through their assaults, while launching some chops, strikes, and kicks in retaliation.





"Which was kinda soon, since Shelly may have got in the way," the hippocampus said, while frowning at the purple clam.





Spike didn't look where he was stepping, and it was too late, when he slipped on a purple clam with googly eyes, and fell into the mass of slime, which devoured him whole.





Spike pondered on what the sea pony said, before it came back to him, "You mean those three girls outside, with the long necks? And one of them looked like she has a giant beehive?"

The hippocampus instantly burst out laughing, "B-B-Beehive!" she laughed. "That's the funniest thing I've ever heard since-well, since I got trapped in here, but still....." the hippocampus continues to laugh, with Spike finding himself laughing with her. "As always Spike, you're a lot of fun!"

"Y'know, I guess I am," Spike chuckled, before he ceased. "Wait! How do you know my name?" He asked.

"Everybody knows your name, Prince Spike Draco!" the hippocampus smiled. "That, and I know you by reputation," the hippocampus blushed, while holding her fins together and shaking herself from side to side.

"Oh," Spike said in acknowledgement. "So, who might you be?"

"I'm Princess Skystar!" the hippocampus answered. "And these are Shelly, and Sheldon!" She said, while holding up the two shells. "Go on. Don't be shy. Say hi to them."

"Uh, hi," Spike greeted reluctantly, while waving to the clams.

With an excited squeal, Princess Skystar swam circles around Spike, "This is so great! Now we can be the best of friends together! We can play the bubblefish! Write songs and sing them together! Or we can make friendship bracelets out of shells, and... picture frames outta shells, and... decorative wastebaskets out of shells... Oh, I have so many projects that involve shells!" Prince Skystar laughs, "Now I have someone new to share them with. I mean, aside from my friends Shelly and Sheldon."

"Yeah," Spike replied, nonchantaly. "Look, all of that sounds like fun and all. But-" Spike's ears perked up, when he hears several bloodcurdling screaming in the distance. "My friends are in trouble! I gotta go and save them, now!"

Before Spike could make a movie, Skystar was the first to act, "Well, then what are we waiting for!" With a flip of her tail, Princess Skystar swam around back, and placed her fins on Spike's bubble, "To the rescue!"

Just before she could shove off, however, Spike stopped her, "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" He exclaimed. "What do you mean by 'we?'"

"Well, don't you want me to help you?" Skystar asked, looking confused. "I mean, isn't that what friends do?"

"Well, yes, I mean, no! I mean," Spike breathed deeply, before he answered. "It's not that I don't want to be friends with you, or anything. I mean, you are kinda cute, I'll admit," Skystar couldn't help but blush at the comment. "And you sound like you're a lot of fun. But I'm kinda in the middle of a mission, that's a matter of life and death. And I gotta find and rescue my friends in this thing, and save Equestria as soon as possible."

"But, if you're going to go and help your friends, then I want to help out too!" Skystar smiled, as she got behind Spike and pushed him, in his bubble. "A friend of yours is a friend of mine! And if my friends are in trouble, then you and I are going  to save them! Cause ya know... one small thing can make a really big difference~" Skystar sang the last part. "Besides, how are you going to find your friends, if you don't know where ya going?" Shyster asked.

Spike tried to reply, but failed, "Touché," he admitted in defeat.

Smiling proudly of herself, Princess Skystar eagerly pushed on the bubble, down in a tunnel. During the trip, Skystar decided to struck up conversations, "So, what's it like?" she asked eagerly. "What's it like to be the Dragon Prince? Is it true you can breathe fire? And is it also true that when you were small, you still managed to fly, without wings? And what's it like to get struck by lightning, and lose your memories, only to have it all come back to you ten years later?"

"Wow, you're asking a lot of questions," Spike replied, finding it hard to keep up with the sea pony's energy, let alone answer her questions at once. In some ways, Spike couldn't help but picture her as another Pinkie Pie.

"Oh, sorry," Princess Skystar chuckled nervously, while blushing. "I just get so excited! I mean, this is the first time I've ever been out of my room from Seaquestria, in like forever! That, and this is the first time I've ever had a conversation with someone, inside the Smooze. Aside from Shelly and Sheldon of course!" She said, referring to the two clams at the last part.

"You don't say," Spike replied. "Speaking of which. How is it that you can still swim inside the Smooze, while the rest of us, me included, are still trapped in these bubbles?"

"Um, I don't know," Skystar answered. "Not even Shelly or Sheldon knew why. But if I had to guess, it's probably because somehow, this giant Smooze monster is also a water element. Meaning some of us who are creatures of water can live on, inside the Smooze, almost as if it's another ocean. A very yucky ocean, though," Skystar grimaced, sticking her tongue out in disgust.

Spike looked, and finally took notice of some fishes swimming by, "So I noticed," Just then, the Dragon Prince's ears perked up, "Fluttershy!" he shouted, as he quickly got up, struggling to push the bubble in one direction.

"Hold on tight, Spike!" Skystar smiled. "We'll save, Fluttershy!" With a flip of her tail, Skystar pushed herself and Spike at an incredible speed that rivals to dolphins. "Who is this Fluttershy?" she asked.





Fluttershy


The yellow buttercup pegasus was frantically running down a path, trying in vain to outrun the menace behind her.

"Why do you run?" the demon's voice asked. "Is this not fun for you?"

"No!!!" Fluttershy whimpered, as she continues to run, while shedding a few drops of tears.

"This is so upsetting," the voice replied. "But that's okay. You'll have a change of heart. It's not like you can escape from me. After all," In a sudden burst of smokes, there stood a demonic filly, resembling Applebloom. "I've got my eyes on you!"

Fluttershy screamed in pure horror, as the demon advances on the frighten pegasus, "HEEEELPPP!!!" Fluttershy wailed. "SPIIIIIIIKEEEEEE!!!"





Rainbow Dash


"AAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!" Rainbow wailed at the top of her lungs, feeling the cold, sharp blade of the knife, piercing her skin and entering her body. Tears run down Rainbow's cheeks, as she endures through the tortures the nightmare specter of Pinkie Pie was doing to her.

"Stop screaming, Dash!" Pinkie giggle sadistically. "Detention, Potter!”

“Detention? You’re a big asshole than Flintheart!”

“It'll be over soon! You'll be dead then!" Pinkie cackled.

"But I want to live!" Rainbow cried. "There's so much to see! So much to do!"

"Then your life will flash before you die!" Pinkie giggled. "Every pony get that, when their time of dying is upon them."

"STOP IT! PLEASE!!!" Rainbow sobbed, as the torture continues, 'Spike! Spike! Wherever you are, help!'





Applejack


"Spike," Applejack wept. "What have I done? What have I done?!" As if answering her questions, Applejack's vision flashes, as she sees herself, working tirelessly on a hot summer day.

In her vision, Applejack sees herself looking dreadful, with her eyes darkened, her pupils having shrunken to a menacing reptilic pupil, and her hooves were bloodied red. The apple trees were coated in blood, from Applejack's hooves, the ponies whom she had killed, in her sense of madness, along with the unconscious body of her sister, lying motionless next to Spike's dead form, in a puddle of blood.

However, the image that frightens Applejack the most, was her deranged counterpart, drenched in pig's blood, standing over Spike, laughing.

“Did you really believed I was gone that easily?” Deranged Applejack laughed, over Spike, in a demonic voice. “You've made a grave mistake, thinking I was gone. And for that, you will pay dearly with your pathetic lives," The demon Applejack continues. "Let your demise be a message to all! As long as there are madness that lurks within you all, begging to be free at every moment in your deepest animal mind. I am never gone! We are what you hide from in your beds every night. We are what you sedate into silence and paralysis when you go to the nocturnal haven where we cannot tread.”

"NO! PLEASE!!" Applejack pleaded. "STOP!! STOP!! STOP!!"





Pinkie Pie


The frighten pink pony herself, was running in fear, determined to escape the menace that's behind her. Next thing Pinkie knew, she ran smacking headfirst into a glass wall. When she tries to run the other way, she ends up running in another wall. It was apparent, she was trapped in a maze of mirrors.

No matter where Pinkie goes, and no matter how hard she tried to break the computer screen to escape, the nightmare won't let her have it.

"Lemme out!" she banged on the glass walls. "Some pony let me out of here!"

Visions flashed through Pinkie's mind, as she sees gruesome images of her friends, and their untimely demise.

"No! Not the scissor! Not the scissor!" Rarity pleaded, while covering the right half of her face, which was bleeding.

"Pinkie! No!" Fluttershy whimpered, while Pinkie's hooves were holding her by the neck.

"STOP IT!!! PLEASE!!" Rainbow sobbed.

"Not my head!" Applejack whimpered, as Pinkie's hooves mercilessly beat the apple pony's face to a bloody pulp.

"Pinkie! You break my heart!" Twilight cried. "That's not you!"

Pinkie broke down, as she curled herself up on the floor, "Why? Why?"





Rarity


Rarity was crying hysterically, after witnessing what she believed to be the demise of her beloved sister. Looking up, Rarity could see the menacing grin of Nightmare Moon, still cackling at her.

Having enough, Rarity's sorrowful look burned away, to be replaced with a look of anger, and vengeance.

"You will pay for this!" With a loud karate scream, Rarity leapt forward, eager to give the dark alicorn a piece of her mind.

Nightmare Moon initially laughed in response, while blocking the unicorn's attempts to avenge her sister. Concentrating into her powers, Rarity conjured several large gemstones that sprouted from the ground, and pierced Nightmare Moon, through her armor. Then, with a final scream, Rarity kicked the dark alicorn's helmet off, to reveal her own face.

Rarity gasped, "No! It can't be!" she whimpered. "You're me!"

Nightmare Rarity cackled wickedly, before she slashes her claws at Rarity.





Button Mash


Got No Time - The Living Tombstone


Button Mash opened his eyes, to find himself in bed, and in his room.

Looking around, Button asked himself, "I'm home?"

Suddenly, a large scratching sound was heard from the left, behind the door. Curious, but at the same time frightened, Button slowly got out of bed, as he cautiously creaked the door open. At first, there was nothing there. Nothing, except for large scratch marks that ran down on his door. Button looked closely at the marks, putting his hands up to them, feeling the depth in each marks.

Button gulped, while holding his neck, fearing for the worse.

THUMP

"AAH!!" Button yelped, as he frightfully jumps around, to see that his Minecraft pickaxe had fallen from its perch, and on the floor. "Oh, it's just you, Sir Pick-A-Lot," Button sighed in relief, as he walks over to pick up the foam pickaxe, and hangs it back up on its perch, right when something cold and sharp grabbed him from behind.

Button struggled to break free, but the creature holding him had a firm grip, and sharp claws that dug into the boy's skins on his shoulders.





Spike Draco


"BWAH!!" Spike yelped, as he flashes back to reality.

"AAAH!!!" Skystar screamed. "Don't scare me like that!" the sea pony chided to the Dragon Prince, who was quickly beating his chest to ease his rapid heartbeat. "Hey! Are you okay?"

"Sorry," Spike panted. "I just had some strange vision."

"Strange, how?"

"It's hard to explain," Spike held his head close. "It was like one moment, I'm right here. Next thing I knew, I'm seeing my friends, getting chased, tortured, and attacked by all sort of monsters!"

"Oh that's terrible!" Princess Shyster replied. "Last time I ever got chased, tortured, and attacked by a monster was when the Storm King and his armies came to our home, and almost put me in a cage!"

"Spike!" a voice called.

"Sunset?!" Spike called out, as he glanced around. "Is that you?"

"Who's Sunset?" Skystar asked, looking at Spike incredulously.

"What?!" Spike turned to Skystar. "You mean you don't-"

"Spike!" Sunset spoke up. "I'm speaking to you via telepathy. But time is running out! Listen carefully!"

"Go ahead," Spike replied mentally. "I'm listening."

While Spike continues to converse with Sunset through telepathy, Princess Skystar took note of Spike's sudden silence, as  well as the shakes and nods he makes with his head, and the change of expressions on his face.

"Hmm, he's kinda strange," Skystar commented on Spike's unusual behavior. "But it's a good strange. I mean, he may not look like a dragon, or a pony, or anything I'd ever seen of the sort. But he's still a good guy. Right Shelly and Sheldon?" she asked to her two clams.

Meanwhile, deep in Spike's subconsciousness, the boy was not liking what he's being informed of, "All of these nightmares," Sunset continued. "They're stressing their minds, and it's destroying them, from the inside-out!"

"Then wake them up, before it's too late!" Spike exclaimed.

"I can't," Sunset replied. "I've only had enough power to mind block Nightmare Smooze's dark powers. But I can't get through to them!"

"But we have to do something!" Spike replied. "We can't let Nightmare Smooze win!"

"Then, how were you awake, in the first place, Spike?" Sunset asked, before she gazed further, in his thoughts.





Outside of the Smooze


"This ends now!" Scorpan snarled, while grappling fiercely with Somnambula, who was holding the gargoyle off by her staff.

"Yes! But for whom is the question," Somnambula replied, before her eyes fired explosive balls of fires that knocked Scorpan away. With a twirl of her staff, Somnambula projected a magical blade from one end, with which she aimed for Scorpan's chest, as she lunged forward.

At the last second, Scorpan caught Somnambula's staff, with the blades seconds away from plunging into Scorpan's skin. With a final grunt, Scorpan hooked one of his leg around Somnambula's neck, and he skillfully threw her off, while at the same time, disarmed her of her staff. Scorpan raised the staff up, ready to break it down on his knee, when the winged monkeys swooped in and intervened.

The monkeys all jumped, clawing and biting at Scorpan, before one of them secured the staff, and presented it to Somnambula, who gratefully reclaimed it.

"Ha ha ha ha! Where's your friend now, Scorpan?" Somnambula cackled, before she twirled her staff, with a crack of thunder. "Say farewell to this world, while you still can!"

"Not so fast, Somnambula!" a voice spoke, as a puff of smoke came and rammed into Somnambula, knocking her to the side. The smoke dispersed to reveal itself to be the man in fedora, "First, you must pay for your betrayal!"

"You are the traitor, Joe!" Somnambula snarled, as she fires several lightning bolts in retaliation. "You are a traitor of yourself, your kin, and to Nightmare Moon!" Somnambula waved her staff, and fired a blast of magic, which Joe successfully blocked. "And most of all! To Starswirls!"

"You keep telling yourself that, Somnambula," Joe replied grimly, as he disappears in a puff of smoke, and reappeared behind the sorceress. "It is a shame that you have gone so far as to deceive, even yourself, just to be spared from the grief you've tried so hard to run from," the man frowned, as he continues, "Not to mention what you and your fellow pillars have done to Stygian!"

"That little bumbling apprentice of yours?" Somnambula snarled. "He was doomed to begin with."

"SILENCE!!" Joe shouted, blowing Somnambula back.

Meanwhile, back on the mountain, Moondancer, Sunburst, Starlight Glimmer, Fleur, and Princess Celestia were still channeling their powers via the Sun Stone.

"Talk to me!" Indigo grunted, as she and the rest of her renegade posse continue to fend off some monsters that were advancing on them. "What's the score?"

"We need more time!" Moondancer groaned in response.

"Where's Twilight, when we needed her?" Lemon Zest whimpered, while dodging a bat-like monster. "Don't answer that, Sugar!" the rock girl exclaimed, just as the blunt girl was about to answer.

"Just because Twilight isn't here," Sunny groaned, as she sliced a slime monster. "Doesn't mean we should stop fighting!"

"Exactly!" Sour agreed. "Friendship til' the end!" Sour paused for a moment, as she had a look of surprise on her face. "Whoa. Did I just say that?"

"Eeyup," her friends said in agreement.

"How pathetic!" a voice spoke up, revealing itself to be Abacus Cinch, who flew in, courtesy of the jetpacks on her suit. "I've taught you girls better than that! How tragic to see that I've done nothing to mold you all into the warriors you were meant to be!"

"Oh you did a good job alright," Indigo growled. "Good job at teaching us on how to lose! And how to fight without honor!"

"We thought we were doing the right thing, for Nightmare Moon's children!" Sour Sweet began. "But no! You tricked us into taking over the world! And attempted to kill Spike!"

"Fighting a dragon is one thing!" Lemon Zest began. "But when that dragon is a good guy, and I'm automatically a bad guy? That's just a new low!"

"I thought the reason we've been fighting Prince Spike since day one, was because we've been promised of the Dragonfire fulfilling our deepest desires," Sugarcoat spoke bluntly.

"SUGAR!!!" the Shadowbolt girls shouted at their blunt friend.

"You insolent little girls!" Abacus growled, as she fired several barrels of lasers upon the Shadowbolts, who quickly ducked for cover. "It's time I teach you all, your final lesson!" Suddenly, a bolt of magic was fired, and Abacus staggered slightly in the air.

"Leave them alone, Abacus!" Princess Cadence ordered, as she flew up to the woman. "Or you'll answer to me!"

"With pleasure,  Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!" Abacus smirked evilly. "I was going to replace you with Somnambula, anyway."

With that, Abacus Cinch conjured a long staff, with huge energy blades at both ends. With a loud cry, Abacus Cinch charged towards Princess Cadence, who flapped her wings, as she flew back. Princess Cadence magically conjures a shield, saving herself from Abacus's slashes. Abacus slashed her staff viciously, before she manages to break through the shield, shattering it to pieces, while cutting Cadence's skin, at the shoulder.

"AAAAUGH!!" Cadence screamed, as she focused her powers, and closed the wound up. Narrowing her eyes in determination, Cadence took a glance at Princess Celestia, before she sets her eyes on Abacus Cinch. "Is that all you got?" Cadence frowned, as her horn glowed a blazing aura of blue, "Then I'm going to take you down!" With a loud scream, Cadence charged towards Abacus Cinch.

Meanwhile, from their spot, Hydia and her daughters were laughing evilly.

"Victory is ours!" Hydia cackled. "The world is ours!" With that, Hydia went into a laughing fit, with her daughters following.

"Yeah!" Reeka cackled. "I can just taste sweet victory!"

"Duh, what's it taste like?" Draggle asked.

"It's a figure of speech, you idiot!" Reeka snarled, as she pulled Draggle's overall straps, then the dumb witch's flaming hair over her eyes, then the nose.

"Ooh, I hate it when you do that!" With that, Draggle and Reeka both jumped at each other in tussle.

"Will you knock it off?!" Hydia barked.

"Well she started it!" Reeka replied, pointing at Draggle, who was sucking her thumb.

"Look at you girls!" Hydia groaned. "This is why all my friends are laughing at me! Even when I've successfully committed a crime!"

"You mean like the time, when you stole a dime for a lime?" a voice spoke.

Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle turned to see Zecora, with Trixie, and Kyrie.

"Why Zecora," Hydia began, looking begrudgingly at the zebra, who had the same expression on her face. "It's been many moons."

"Indeed," Zecora agreed. "Back then, you were quite the flash bees' knees."

"You just got lucky then!" Hydia frowned. "And believe me! I would've succeeded, had that yellow pegasus friend of yours not got in the way!"

"Yeah!" Reeka began. "That Fluttershy's a real pain in the butt! And we hate honeys!"

"Duh, and girls!" Draggle shouted, stupidly.

"Draggle you idiot!" Reeka snarled, banging on the witch's head. "We are girls!"

"Oh, I'm surrounded by idiots," Hydia groaned, before she turned back to Zecora, Trixie, and Kyrie. "Nevertheless. What can you possibly do to stop me?" Hydia then turned her eyes, as she took notice of Trixie. "Actually, wait a minute," the old witch walked over to Trixie, and took a whiff. "Why, there's hardly any magic in this little girl!"

"HARDLY?!!" Trixie exclaimed, out of insult. "The Great and Powerful Trixie shall prove you wrong!" Taking out her wand, Trixie waved it around, before she fired several sparkling balls of fires at the three witches.

Unfazed, Hydia took a deep breath, before she exhales, blowing the fireworks away, "Foolish little girl," Hydia sneered. "Parlor tricks mean nothing to me! Let me show you what true magic is!" With a wave of her hands, Hydia conjured an aura of cracking dark lightning bolts, before she fired them upon Trixie.

"PROTEGO!!" Trixie yelped in fright, only for Zecora to tackle the girl out of harm's way.

"Potato?" Reeka asked.

"Duh, I thought it was po-ta-toe," Draggle droned.

"Focus girls!" Hydia snarled. "Do you want us to win?"

"Duh, I thought we were already winning," Draggle spoke.

"We'll win, if we dispose of these meddlers!" Hydia snarled, as she continues her assault on the girl and zebra.

"Y'know, for a bunch of witches, they don't seem to get along," Kyrie spoke, from Trixie's hat.

"What gave it away?" Trixie asked rhetorically, before she had an epiphany. "Hey! That gives Trixie an idea!" Turning to Zecora, the zebra nodded her head, getting the message.

Turning back, Trixie taunted, "Trixie may not be a challenge for you! So why waste your times on me, and not Zecora? She's clearly the more clever! Get her!"

"That can be arranged!" Hydia cackled, firing her lightning bolts at the zebra, who disappears in a puff of smokes, before reappearing a few hooves away.

"Why of all the nerve!" Zecora began. "I'd give that girl what she deserves!"

"Sounds easy enough for me!" Reeka smacked her lips. "She's got no powers anyway!"

"Well, why not have Kyrie?" Trixie asked, showing the little canary in her hat. "She's worth more than me and Zecora put together!" With that, Hydia fired a lightning bolt at the said bird, who quickly took flight, while Trixie quickly pulls her hat away.

"I'm just a little bird who sings good," Kyrie chirped. "At least Zecora and Trixie both know how to fight."

"Oh, I hate singing," Reeka groaned.

At this point, Hydia was at her limit, "ENOUGH!!!" With a frustrated roar, Hydia angrily blasted several dark spells in random directions.

"Get her!" the three heroines said in unison, while pointing at each other.

Confused, and having a headache, Hydia had enough, "SILENCE!!!" the old witch screamed. Before she could do anything however, several nerve bullets were shot from behind, with her two daughters meeting the same fate.

Before anyone knew it, a blur of black, and the three witches find themselves captured, in sticky green webs, courtesy of Thorax and Celaeno.

“Thanks for the help, Celaeno!” Kyrie chirped.

“Don’t mention it, lass!” the anthro parrot spoke. “We birds of a feather must stick together, ya know.”

"Hey! What about me?" Thorax asked.

Zecora simply chuckled, "Oh, relax, Thorax. We humbly thank you, too."





Nightmare Smooze was nothing but a huge tidal wave, as she charges toward the Sun Stone, with Neira, Edgar, and their guards continuing their icy assault on her, trying in vain to slow her down.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!" an elderly penguin guard shouted, before he stomped his staff, into the slimes, causing them to freeze into ice coats.

The ice all flowed from where the penguin had slammed his staff, making their way up to Nightmare Smooze's alicorn head.

"I beg to differ!" Nightmare Smooze hissed, as she breaks free from her icy prison, and grabs the penguin sorcerer with her tentacles, had Neira not intervened, and cuts the elder penguin free.

Then, at the same time, the Breezie's rejuvenation was complete.

"Yes!" the little aquamarine breezie shouted. "We feel better!" With a flash of sparkling lights, the breezies all grew bigger, before they stood before the ponies, and humans, in tall alicorn forms, while still retaining their translucent wings and antenna.

"Now's our time!" the aquamarine breezie shouted, as he led his fellow power boosted breezies to battle.

"So you changed yourselves into Flutter Ponies to fight me," Nightmare Moon began, unfazed. "Really?" In response, the Flutter Ponies all flapped their wings, showering rains of magic dusts on Nightmare Smooze, causing some of her slimes to crack, before it quickly closes up. "You're nothing but insignificant insects to me!" Nightmare Smooze cackled. "And insects get SQUASHED!!!" Nightmare Smooze roared, when she grabbed a handful of Flutter Ponies, "And exterminated!!" Before she reveals they've been transfigured into bat ponies.

The flutter ponies watched in horror, as the bat ponies charged towards them. Then, Princess Celestia appeared in a flash, concentrating into her horn, Celestia fired a brilliant ray of light at the bat ponies, blinding them. The bat ponies all let out piercing screeches, briefly stunning Princess Celestia, and the flutter ponies. Then, with another vortex of slimes, most of the Flutter Ponies were knocked from the sky, and plummeted into the sea below, where they became stuck, and sank, disappearing from the surface. Eventually, the penguins were overwhelmed by Nightmare Smooze's sea, and too started to sank beneath.

"Neira!" Edgar groaned. "It's all up to you now!" With that, the Penguin Prince sank out of sight.

"EDGAR!!!" Neira screamed in despair.

"Luna! You've got to listen to reasons!" Celestia pleaded. "All our people are dying! You're going to destroy our world!" In response, Celestia was grabbed by one of Nightmare Smooze's tentacles.

"Then so BE IT!!" Nightmare Smooze roared, as she throws Celestia into one of the mountains.

Celestia caught herself, as she lands on the mountain side. With another bloodcurdling howl, Nightmare Smooze lunged towards Celestia, as a huge tidal wave. At the last second, Celestia caught the slime monster, in her golden telepathic aura.

"The playing field is almost even, Luna!" Celestia struggled to maintain her magic aura.

"You and the Breezies may have gained strength, provided by the Sun Stone," Nightmare Smooze began. "But relatively to me, all that it makes you, is a swarm of annoying ants!" With a loud roar, Nightmare Smooze broke free of Celestia's grip, as she grabs the alicorn, and began to submerge her into the ocean.

"Pity you will not live to see my reign over your world!" Luna hissed. "But don't worry, your death shall be a martyr for a new world order. One where no one will ever defy my powers in fear of death! Who will try and stop the demon sorceress who plunged into the dark of night, the dark of destruction?"





From their hiding spot, Rara, together with Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, and the others, all watched, while finding it hard to deny what they had seen.

"No!" Rara muttered. "AJ! Girls!" A drop of tear escaped Rara's eyes, and trickled down her cheek. "It can't end. Not like this."

“No! It’s not over! Not yet!” Spike’s voice echoed.

Rara perked her head up, as she and the survivors looked around.

"Just now, was that Spike I just heard?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Huh?" Minuette looked up, together with everyone else around them. "Hey! Look!" Minuette exclaimed, pointing to Nightmare Smooze, showing a faint aura of golden lights emitting through the slimy hides of the monster.

"AAARRRGGGH!!" Nightmare Smooze groaned. "What trickery is this?"





Inside Nightmare Smooze


Deep in the darkness of Nightmare Smooze, a small spark of light was glowing, and Spike's voice can be heard.

“Ten years! I’ve been gone away from this world, for ten years! And let me tell you something. That’s a long time for me to be away, from my mom, my friends, and my family!” There was a pause, before Spike resumes. “And it’s going to take more than a slime monster to keep me apart from my family again. Because for what it’s worth, my family is worth fighting for! So until the end, I'm going to protect everything that's important to me!”

"Nephew," a voice spoke, as a sparkling blue light pierced through the darkness. "You truly are amazing. I....I am....proud...."

"Aunt Luna!" Spike exclaimed.

"Please nephew," Luna spoke. "Take the last of my power....."


Nights Journey of Dreams - Growing Wings


Next thing Spike knew, he was surrounded in a coat of golden aura that broke him free of his dark chains, and bubble. The surprise, however, doesn't end there, for Spike finds himself, morphing into his dragon form.

"Whoa, check me out!" Spike exclaimed excitedly, looking over his renewed dragon form.

"Wow!" Skystar exclaimed, swimming up beside him. "So this is what you looked like, as a dragon? It's awesome! And funny," Skystar giggled.

"What do you mean, funny?" Spike asked.

"Those sea anemone stuck on your nose!" Skystar giggled.

Spike wiggled his snout, as well as stroking his lips, and sure enough, he felt his whiskers once more, "Oh yeah," he spoke. "I almost forgot about having these," Shaking his head, Spike concentrated his newly renewed magic, plus his aunt's, "C'mon. Let's do this!"

"Okay!" Skystar agreed, as she soon joined in.

Concentrating into the power his aunt had given him, Spike's whole form was coated in a light blue aura, and he breathes a huge stream of fire, that pierced the darkness around him and Skystar. Together, the two heroes find themselves flying over New York, in the night sky, surrounded by clouds, and stars.

"Wow! This is amazing!" Skystar exclaimed in excitement, bedazzled not only by the stars above, but of the city below. "Wow, it's so pretty!" Skystar smiled. "It's just as pretty as Seaquestria! What is it?" the excited sea pony asked.

"That would be New York," Spike replied, before his whiskers twitched, and he turned to see a path of sparkling lights, leading both him and Princess Skystar towards a door, with a baseball helmet, bat, and glove imprinted on the front.

Not wasting a second, the two heroes burst through the door, and finds themselves in Rumble's nightmare.

The boy was currently fighting for his life, against the main villain form all the slasher films, Jason Voorhees.


Charlie XCX Break the Rules


In appearance, Rumble don up a similar hockey mask, while equipped with both a golf club, a baseball bat, an umpire's guard, paddings, and roller blades. Rumble was clearly trying to make himself look more intimidating, which didn't appear to work.

"Stay back!" Rumble quivered, beneath his gears. "I'm warning you! I can float like a butterfly, but I can sting like a bee!" In response, Jason swung his machete at Rumble, who was fortunate enough to duck his head down in time. "Okay! I warned you!" Out of fright, and in retaliation, Rumble got out several hockey pucks, before he struck them all towards the psychotic killer, with his club. Jason simply shrugged them off, as if they were nothing, as he slowly, and menacingly walks towards Rumble, who trips and fell on his roller blades.

Just as Jason was ready to plunge his blade into the young athlete's heart, a burst of green flame was erupted, stopping the killer in his track. Then, Spike came flying in, throwing a fist, punching the masked killer away.

"Hey Rumble!" Spike greeted.

"Yo, Spike!" Rumble exclaimed. "Where'd you come from?"

"Long story pal," Spike replied. "I'll tell you later. Right now, we've got to find the others, fast!" Not wasting another second, Spike grabs Rumble, and together, the two boys, and sea pony all flew out of the nightmare, and out into the dreamy apparitions of New York.

"Whoa!" Rumble exclaimed. "That was all a dream?"

"This whole thing is a dream," Spike replied. "We're still inside Nightmare Smooze. And she's killing us, through our nightmares! And if we don't hurry up, she'll succeed with the others!"

"Then come on!" Rumble began, as he reaches behind his back and pulls out the Sword of Honor. "Let's rock n roll!"

"Rock and roll?" Princess Skystar asked.

"Uh, you are?" Rumble asked the newcomer.

"Rumble. Skystar," Spike quickly introduced and vice versa, before his whiskers twitched, and they were on their way to another door.





Button Mash


Button Mash was running for dear life from the deranged, grossly disfigured, psychotic killer, Freddy Krueger.

"Riddikulus!" Button Mash shouted, pointing his finger at Freddy, turning the man into Freddy Fazbear. "No, I made him worse!" Freddy Fazbear leapt at Button Mash, who ducked his head as the animatronic bear flies over him. When Button Mash got up, the bear got up and turned itself into the Akhlut. "AAAAH!!!! HARRY POTTER SAVE ME!!!" Button wailed, as he took off running, chased by the the now transfigured giant wolf.

Just as the Akhlut was about to snap up poor Button Mash. Princess Skystar got in the way, and sang a beautiful, calming song that calmed the beast, and putting it to sleep.

"Whoa! A merpony?!" Button Mash exclaimed in bewilderment. "Where'd you come from? Please don't be one of those cute looking evil mermaids who eat sailors!" Button requested, as he held his hands up in defense.

"Cute looking evil mermaids who eat sailors?" Skystar asked, while looking around. "Where? Where?"

"I think he's talking about you," Rumble replied.

"Wuh-me?" Skystar laughed. "That's crazy talk. Why would I eat sailors? Seaweed salad is so much tastier!"

"Yo Rumble! Spike!" Button greeted happily, as he walks up to the two boys, sharing handshakes and fist bumps. "Boy am I glad to see you guys! I thought I was a goner for sure!"

"That makes two of us," Rumble replied. "But now's not the time for idle chit-chats. We gotta go and rescue the others!"





Featherweight


The young New York Times journalist was walking down, what appeared to be, the slum part of New York. The buildings on both sides looked as if they're ready to fall apart, with broken windows still littered with shards. Many of the bricks have come loose, and fell out of place. The street Featherweight was walking on was no better. It was littered with a sea of rubbish that were blowing across the street, by the wind, giving it the appearance of an urban Wild West town.

Featherweight was walking down the street, equipped with only a large digital camera that comes auto focus, and a flash. But that's hardly enough for protection, considering the threat he would be facing in his nightmare. Speaking of whom, the sound of chainsaw running broke the silence, and Featherweight, shivering with fear, slowly turns around to see a tall man, in ragged hand-me-down clothes, holding a running chainsaw in both hands. However, the most defining, and most frightening feature of the man, is the fact he was wearing a mask, made from human skins.

Featherweight's pupil shrank to the sizes of dots, and his trembling hands accidentally pressed a button on the camera that trigged a flash. In response, the man jerked his head back in surprise, showing indication of slight blindness. After his vision was cleared, the man sets his sight on Featherweight, raising his chainsaw up with a bloodcurdling howl, and runs towards the frightened journalist.

Featherweight dropped the camera, as he quickly breaks off in a run, determined to get away from the killer.

'I've dreamed about finding the scoop for the front page!' Feather panicked in his thoughts. 'Though I was kinda hoping of finding one that's free of big time criminals chasing the reporter! Namely MEEEE!!' The crazy man jumped out from behind a wall, slashing his chainsaw at Featherweight, who narrowly ducked down in time.

Not wasting another heartbeat, chainsaw wielding murder slashed his chainsaw again on Featherweight, who was out of range by then, as he continues running for dear life.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Featherweight shouted in fear, looking back, seeing the man wasn't listening. Looking ahead, Featherweight saw a huge forest coming up, "I'll lose him in there!" With that, Featherweight makes a mad dash into the trees.

Hiding behind one of them, Featherweight took the time to catch his breath, 'I think I lost him,' Featherweight panted heavily, in his thoughts. Suddenly, the boy's words got eaten, when the chainsaw roared in his ear, and he quickly sprinted to life, while the tree behind him was cut down by the maniac, who continues his pursuit, after the boy.

Featherweight kept on running, brushing through the branches and leaves, when a hand grabbed him from above, and pulled him into the tree.

Featherweight struggled to break free, only for a familiar voice to speak, "Relax Feathers," Spike said. "It's just me!"

"And me!" Button spoke.

"And me!" Rumble added.

"And me!" Princess Skystar joined.

All thoughts of the frightful experience instantly vanished, as Featherweight was relieved to see his boys, and their newcomer, "Boy am I glad to see you guys, and gal!" Feathers said the last part to include Skystar. "Where'd you come from?"

"Well, when a mommy hippogriff, and a daddy hippogriff love each-"

"No, no, no, no," Featherweight interrupted Skystar. "Where did you guys, and gal, come from?"

"Oh!" Skystar said in acknowledgement. "We just got here from Button Mash's nightmare!"

"Nightmare?" Featherweight looked at the other Knights.

"Friday the 13th," Rumble answered.

"Freddy Krueger," Button added.

"Talk later!" Spike exclaimed, as he and the heroes narrowly avoided a butcher's knife that came flying their way.

Button screamed, before he repeatedly beaten his heart. Looking down, the boys could see the killer, revving his chainsaw at the ready, as the brute proceeded to cut the tree the heroes were hiding in.

"Leatherface?!" the Knights exclaimed, recognizing the legendary killer who started the slasher genre for all horror movies.

"It had to be Leatherface?" Rumble asked Featherweight.

"It could be worse you know," Feathers replied.

"Oh really?" Button began. "How?"

"I'd probably dream of Jeff the Killer," Featherweight replied.

"Hmm, good point," Button answered.

"Guys!" Spike spoke up. "Now's not the time!" Turning their attention back at the chainsaw wielding killer, the Knights and sea pony watched as Spike jumped off the tree, and lands on Leatherface's head, before he leapt off, just as the brute slashed his chainsaw in retaliation.

Landing a good distance away, Spike turns around to see Leatherface running after him, with his chainsaw still running. Not wasting a beat, Spike went running up to a tree, and runs up its barks, where he flips off into a backflip over the brute, who plunged his chainsaw into the tree, missing Spike, who landed behind the man and breathed fire on the man's butt.

Taken by surprise, while feeling the burnt inflicted on his butt, Leatherface angrily slashes his running chainsaw at the boy, who did several backflips, before he threw a fire shuriken at Leaetherface, knocking the chainsaw out of the man's hand. Further angered, Leatheface got out a butcher's knife as he viciously slashes the blade at Spike, who took his cape off, and twisted it, making it looked almost like a rope of some sort. Remembering a lesson he learned from Scorpan about catching and throwing an enemy off guard, Spike skillfully dodges Leatherface's slashes, before at the last moment, he skillfully catches the hand wielding the knife, ties into a knot with his cape, before he held Leatherface's arms out, and using his weight against him, together with his dragon super strength, Spike skillfully throws the man in the air, before he came back down to the ground, landing hard on his back.

Leatherface struggled to get up. However, Spike appeared before him in dragon form, catching the killer by surprise, who appears frightened behind his mask. Concentrating into his powers, Spike felt a hot sensation surging up his throat, before it erupted in a green flame that flew into Leatherface's screaming mouth, burning the killer to dust.

"Now that's what I call Texas Roadhouse," Spike taunted, while the remaining Knights and Princess Skystar laughed in agreement.

"Uh, I don't get it," Sky said.





After awhile, Spike and Skystar got the Knights they managed to rescue, together in a starry plane to explain the current situation.

"Wow, those were all dreams?" Featherweight asked, to which the boys replied in confirmation. Feathers gulped as he frightfully clutches his throat, "If you guys hadn't showed up in time, I'd be a goner for sure!"

"It's almost as if we're the new stars for Nightmares on Elm Street," Rumble muttered. "Except this time, it's not a movie!"

"And the only 'cuts' we'll be hearing, will be the last sound we hear," Featherweight added. 

"Yeah, it's Nightmares on Elms Street, plus Child's Play," Button began. "It's kinda like that movie I've once watched with my brother, Gibson. And it taught me a valuable lesson."

"What's that?" Princess Skystar asked, before the Knights could stop her from asking.

"Never trust a cupcake," Button answered.




Flashback

Gibson and Button Mash both walked out of a movie theater, during the premier of Happy Death Day.

"You see Button?" Gib asked his younger brother. "That goes to show you, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. And then that lemonade turns bitter and manifests itself into a wolf in sheep clothing. Never trust a cupcake, Button. Even if a pretty girl offers it to ya."

"You got it Gib!" Button replied. "Never trust a cupcake!"





Present


Pipsqueak


Pipsqueak finds himself, lost in a dark void. The air was frigid, and cold as death. Pipsqueak shivered as he hugs himself, panting heavily, exhaling mists from his mouth. Pipsqueak looked around, his visions failing to pierce through the darkness, while preparing himself for anything, unexpected.

"Ah, little Pip," a feminine voice spoke maternally, yet somberly. "Such courage, such spirit, in one small package."

"Who's there?!" Pipsqueak shouted, getting himself in fighting stance, feeling a presence in the air.

"Now, now little one," the voice continued. "No need for such aggressions. You are among friends, and family."

"Family?" Pipsqueak asked, clearly not buying every words. "What family?"

"My family, of course," Without warning, a pair of blue orbs appeared, piercing the darkness, eyeing down on Pipsqueak. "Where everyone can grow strong and happy. And I am their mother," Pipsqueak watched, stilling in fighting stance as the eyes floated around him, before the darkness evaporates, to reveal Nightmare Moon, herself. "I can be your mother too, little Pip. Just as Spike finds his mother in Princess Celestia, I can be yours too. Only better."

"Mommy!" a child's voice called, to which Pip turned around, seeing he and Nightmare Moon were surrounded by what appeared to be a herd of foals, all coated in black smoky auras, with their eyes glowing white.

"You see, Pip?" Nightmare Moon spoke sweetly. "I'm not as bad as I appeared to be," Nightmare Moon continued maternally. "For you see, I've been rescuing these children who are just like me. Lost, misguided, and abandoned. I am simply building a future, where all my little children can grow strong and happy. The Shadowbolts are my children's guardians. My warriors of the nights. Our protectors," Nightmare Moon turned to Pipsqueak, who slowly backed away, as she walked up to him. "Why must we fight, when you can join us, and have a family again?"

"NEVER!!" Pipsqueak shouted in denial. "I'll never join you! I've got friends with me, till the end!"

Nightmare Moon laughed, "Bravery," she chuckled. "Something to be commended of a boy, your age, despite your size. But don't try and deny it, little Pip. I see inside you, your longing of a mother's love," At the mention of his mother, Pip's gaze softened, as he slowly lets his guards down. "Yes, Pip. That's right. That's a good boy. I'll keep you safe. I'll hold you close at night. Just trussssssst in me," Nightmare Moon said hauntingly at the last part, coming closer to Pipsqueak.

Realizing what she was trying to do, Pipsqueak jumped back, away from the alicorn, "You liar!" Pipsqueak shouted. "I'll never join you! And I'll never betray my friends! Because no matter how much I missed my mum and dad, my friends are my family, and I'll never let you take that away from me!"

Nightmare Moon scowled, "Insolent welp!" She neighed, kicking her fore hooves out. "You think you can win, but all you're doing is prolong the inevitable!" With a slam of her hoof, a flash of lightning break out, and the foals disappeared in puffs of smokes. "My victory is at hooves, and my empire will be resurrected! My children will thrive!"

"Well you and your children can just go to the moon for all I care!" Pipsqueak snarled. "Because you will never destroy Equestria, as long as me and my friends have anything to say about it!"

"FOAL!!" Nightmare Moon shouted, the volume of her voice knocking Pipsqueak back. "You think you can win, just because you call yourself a hero. It may have escaped unnoticed, but not all heroes can win!"

With a flash of her light, Pip then finds himself in a burning town. Looking around, he sees millions of ponies running for their lives, with all that remains of their houses going up in smokes.

Next thing he knew, he sees a large humanoid beast with massive wings, wielding a large cleaver-like blade. Pipsqueak squinted his eyes, trying to get a good look at the beast, but was unable to do so, due to the blankets of smokes that field the sky. However, Pip did looked and spotted six ponies, doing battle with the monster. Fighting alongside them, was Scorpan in his prime, with the black and red serpentine dragon, Mako, who doesn't appear to be any younger than he was seen today.

They appeared to be the ones he recognized from a collection of Equestria Chocolate Trading Cards. Cards which his nerdy friend Button Mash had been collecting. One of them was an orange pegasus in Roman-like armors, he recognized to be Flash Magnus. Another was a huge stallion with Chuck Norris's beard and mustache, named Rockhoof. Three more were mares, with one being an Egyptian pegasus, another an elderly unicorn, and the third being an earth pony, wearing a huge yellow mask with blue stripe patterns that gave it the appearance of a bird. Lastly, leading the heroic ponies, gargoyle, and dragon, was gray coat unicorn stallion, draped in a starry blue robe, pointy hat, both with golden bells, and a big silvery mustache. For some reason, Pipsqueak couldn't help but picture Gandalf in the mustache unicorn's place.

Pipsqueak watched, as the pony look-a-like of Gandalf, leads the others into battle with the monster. Rockhoof lifted a huge rock, which he bucked at the beast, who counterstrike, with a slash of its cleaver, slicing the rock as if it was nothing. The pegasus Flash Magnus came flying in a dive bomb, only to be swatted by the beast. Next, the elderly unicorn mare concentrated into her magic, as she skillfully projected what appeared to be a dragon, made of water. The dragon flew at the beast, who slashed his weapon at the elusive watery apparition. 

The dragon was slippery, as it evaded the beast's blade, before it made contact to the monster's face, causing it to howl in pain. Then, several vines were conjured out of thin air, as they snaked all over the monster, attempting to suffocate it. Unfortunately, it was a futile endeavor, as the beast quickly slashes its way free from the vines' confinement, and continues its assault.

Pipsqueak watched, as the beast defeated Flash Magnus, Rockhoof, the elderly unicorn, even Scorpan and Mako were no match against the monster.

Meanwhile, the earth pony and Egyptian pegasus were busy attending to the wounded villagers.

Seeing he is the only one left, standing between the villagers and the beast, the Gandalf unicorn look-a-like stepped forward, levitating a massive stone orb in front of him, and began to chant a spell. Pipsqueak looked at the monster, which now had a look of fear on its face, as if it realizes what the unicorn was doing. Desperate, the monster makes a mad dash towards the unicorn, wings flapping, creating a strong gust of winds with each wing beats.

At the last second, the unicorn enveloped the beast in a huge wave of magical forces flooded over the monster, as well as shoving the orb close to the monster's chest. Desperately trying to stop the spell, the monster struggled to reach the wizard, but only succeeded in slashing his cleaver at the unicorn's neck, before it was gone out of sight, within the orb.

Once the task was done, the unicorn wizard smiles in triumphant, which vanishes in an instant, as the unicorn sorcerer collapse to the ground, just as his comrades all gathered around him. Among them, was a small blue alicorn mare.

"Professor Starswirl!" the alicorn cried. "No!"

"Luna," Starswirl groaned. "My student. Remember everything I've taught. Don't give into fear. Don't give into hate," the wizard groaned, as he turned to Scorpan. "Scorpan. My oldest and dearest friend. Please do me a favor and find a way to keep this monstrosity locked up. Make sure it can never be released," Scorpan complied, as both he and Mako nodded their heads in agreement. "But one day, it will be released. And when that happens, there must be a new, stronger force of warriors at the ready. All of you must continue your journey without me." With a final gasp of life, Starswirl's eyes slowly drooped, until they closed forever.

"NO!!!!" Younger Luna wailed, and she cried in the old unicorn's robe. "Professor Starswirl! Please come back!" The rest of the heroes tried their best, exchanging comforts for the little alicorn. Luna looked tearfully at Scorpan the most, whom she pulled the young gargoyle close, and cried into his mane. Then, walking from the rumbles, cloaked in a huge black robe was what appeared to be a unicorn colt about Luna's age. Luna looked, and wrapped her hoof around the colt.

Pipsqueak watched, while feeling a drop of his own tears leaking from his eyes, trickling down his cheeks.

"Do you see now, little Pip?" Nightmare Moon asked, as she walked up to the little boy's side. "The path to heroism will only lead to death. Even if it is the right thing to do, it will not prolong the fate, which is death. If you continue down this path, you will only bring yourself closer to your fate. A tragic end, for a sweet boy, with a tragic beginning," Nightmare Moon looked, and could see that Pip was at the brink of shedding tears. "Oh Pipsqueak. When you're with me, in my kingdom. There is no good or evil. There is only perfection. There is equality. You will be immortal! We will live forever after!" Putting a wing on his shoulder, she continues, "Come with me. And I shall forgive you, for your early defiance."

Pipsqueak looked back at Nightmare Moon, shaking under her snake-like eyes. Looking back at the dying body of Starswirl, mourned by his surrounding comrades. The very sight brought back memories of the stories he heard of heroes who've made valiant sacrifices to save their loved ones. Namely Rumble and Thunderlane's father, who went off on a military service over sea. Pipsqueak remember how much tears it brought for both Rumble and Thunder, when they heard their father died.

Even more so, when he and the boys saw how much the girls doted over Spike, after ten years of being far away from Equestria.

"You're wrong!" Pipsqueak replied, turning to Nightmare Moon. "There will be no perfection. There's still evil. Namely you!" Nightmare Moon was taken aback by Pipsqueak's response, "Sure, heroes aren't invincible. But their heroisms are! No evil can destroy that! They never die in vain! And even if they're gone, they're still with us," Pipsqueak said the last part, while holding his hand over his heart. "So is our friends, and family. And I'll never join you. And I'll never betray my friends and family!"

"Very well then," Nightmare Moon hissed. "You've chosen, and now you shall suffer the same fate! PREPARE TO DIE!!!" With a crack of thunder, and an ear splitting shrill, Nightmare Moon fired a bolt of lightning at Pipsqueak.

Remembering he was still equipped with the Boots of Courage, Pipsqueak felt the powers in his feet. With that, he took off running at the speed of light, outmaneuvering Nightmare Moon's bolt of lightning. Soon, Pipsqueak came running back, as he jumped up in a flying kick. Thinking fast, Nightmare Moon disappeared in a puff of smoke, before she reappears and fired several arrows in Pipsqueak's way, who quickly took off running, evading the projectiles. With her eyes flashing white, Nightmare Moon projected several dark chains from the ground, with which she used to trip Pipsqueak, who fell to the ground.

"You want to be a hero for your friends?!" Nightmare Moon taunted, as she flapped over the little boy, and held him in place. "Then share their weakness!" Pipsqueak felt a burning sensation, burning through his suit of armor from where Nightmare Moon was holding him. "Suffer their humiliation! Feel their pain!" Pipsqueak screamed at the top of his lung as Nightmare Moon increases the burn.

"Hey!" Spike called out, to which Nightmare Moon turned to see Spike running towards her. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?! Or two!" Concentrating into his newfound powers, Spike made several duplicates of himself, and they all jumped at Nightmare Moon, landing several blows.

"Stay out of the way you foals!" Nightmare Moon hissed, blasting several bolts of lightning at the Spikes.

In the meantime, Princess Skystar and the other Knights came and helped Pipsqueak up. After helping their buddy up, and into a portal they came from, Princess Skystar turned to Spike, who was still fighting with Nightmare Moon.

"Pip is safe!" Skystar shouted.

With that, all of the Spike duplicates disappeared, as Spike ran off to rejoin with Princess Skystar. 

Nightmare Moon gave chase, but the two heroes made it back to the portal, which instantly closed up, after their entry, "AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed in frustration, having let another of her prey escaped again.





Tender Taps


Tender Taps up on stage, tap dancing, for the audience before him. Suddenly, the audience applause quickly turned to screams of horror, and the audience left their seats. Watching the audience leave with a look of confusion, Tenders looked around, and his eyes widened in fear.

Standing before him, laughing in a menacing and demonic voice, was the clown of Stephen King's IT, Pennywise. The demonic clown cracked a grin at Tender Taps, baring its rows of yellow sharp razor fangs, together with golden cat-like eyes that looked as if they can pierce through the dark. To further add the ferocity of its appearance, the clown stood in dark clothing, and its face was painted with blood red lines that streamed from its eyes and into its mouth, with red spikes above its eyes.

"Hiya, Tender," the clown spoke, as it slowly clapped its hands. "You danced good. May I dance with you? I am called Pennywise the Dancing Clown for a reason!" Pennywise cracked a grin, which sent shivers down Tender Taps, and his hairs stood on end, and his knees trembled in fear. "Oh my. You're scared of clowns?" It asked, imitating as if it didn't mean a fright.

Tender, having his fair share of reading Stephen King novels, backed away in fear. Next thing he knew, he bumped into someone behind him.

"Oh my," the person spoke, in Tim Curry's voice. "I'd say he is," Tender looked up, and his teeth started to chatter, to see another Pennywise. Only this one appears to be more a mix of Ronald McDonald, with Bozo the clown's hair, and a bright colorful costume. The 1990 Pennywise smacked its lips together, as it grins, "And we love frighten meats!"

Both Pennywise all advanced upon Tender Taps, who quickly jumped off the stage. However, he stopped when everything turned black, before several disembodied floating heads appeared, all with eyes shining lights on Tender Taps. Tenders backed away, frightful at the heads' frightful glares, and appearances. The heads were all exchanging voices of disapproval, while looking down on Tender Taps.

"Ah, yes," One of the heads said in satisfactory.

"Fear does good for the meat," 2017 Pennywise sniffed.

"Mmmm," 1990 Pennywise joined. "It's as if I've skipped dinner and straight for desert!"

"Then let's not play with our food any longer," With a crack of its mouth. One of the head showed an endless row of razor sharp, yellow fangs, ready to lunge forward a burst of green flame stopped them, and snapped Tender Taps out of his fright. 

There stood Spike, with Skystar, and the rest of the knights.

"Hey Tenders," Spike greeted. "Having stage fright again?"

"Guys?!" Tender exclaimed, relieved to see his friends.

"Come on!" Rumble growled, as he and the Knights all got into fighting stance, while taking out their weapons, together with their pieces of the Armor of Heroes, sans Spike and Skystar.

Button Mash dons up his Helmet of Wisdom, while holding a huge hammer. Rumble was equipped with his Sword of Honor. Pipsqueak dons up his Boots of Courage. Featherweight brought out his Shield of Purity. Tender Taps got up and his Chestplate of Valor materializes over his body.

"You've got to be joking me," 2017 Pennywise muttered. "Are you trying to scare us? Or do you wish to do battle?"

"What do you take us for? The Loser Club?" Button asked. "We're gonna fight you, and kick your ass!"

"Fight me?" 1990 Pennywise laughed. "Oh you are priceless boy. I am eternal. I am the eater of worlds! And of children! And you are next!"

"Then eat this!" Button shouted, as he threw several batteries into 1990 Pennywise's mouth, causing the demonic clown to choke up, as he coughs hoarsely, and his form began to corrode, almost appearing as a skeleton.

"PILE ON HIM EVERYONE!!" Pipsqueak shouted, as the Knights all jumped on the 1990 Pennywise and landed several beat down on him.

"Here's the thing about the classics," Button began. "They're so much better to beat up, in the present."

"Then it's a bad thing I'm the remake. The 666% more frightening!" 2017 Pennywise shrieked, as it shows its rows of yellow teeth, and its hands turned into Freddy Kreuger's claws.

"OH, JESUS CHRIST!!!" Button shrieked in fear, as the 2017 Pennywise lunged towards them, and pounced on Button Mash, had Spike not kicked him away.

"Your head, it must be very thick, if you think I can fall from just one kick!" 2017 Pennywise taunted.

"Catchy," Spike cracked his knuckles as he and the clown went all out. "I may be into Stephen King's horror literature. Though I did took a fancy of his novel, The Eyes of the Dragon once!"

It grimaced, looking as if it nearly lost its lunch, "Not scary for my tastes," It groaned, before it was hit in the face by a flying kick. Shaking the blow, the monster's hands shifted into the scythes of a mantis, and it charged towards Spike, slashing its pincers at the Dragon Prince, who was able to block the attacks. The monstrous clown suddenly opened its jaws wide, releasing several tentacles to ensnare Spike, trying to pull the boy close.

In retaliation, Spike shifted into dragon form, and roared, this time, giving the clown a reason to be afraid. In retaliation, the clown shifted itself into Twilight Sparkle, bloodied with scars, cuts, and chains running all over her body. Spike hesitated, but not before Skystar came and smacked the clown from behind, disrupting transformation, allowing Spike to regain focus as he trips the clown with his tail, before he did a breakdance flare.

Having enough, the two Pennywise clowns got up, as they retreated through a door that magically appeared, "I WILL RETURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" It screamed angrily, before it disappears out of sight.





With the Knights united, they all met up at the top of the empire state building, where Spike and Skystar proceeded to fill the boys in on the situation.  

"So it's thanks to Spike, his auntie Luna's powers, and his magic sea anemone nose that we were able to find you all!" Skystar chirped.

"Well now that the team's back together again," Button began. "Then let's get started!"

"So chief?" Rumble began, turning to Spike. "What's the plan?"

"I'm still new at this whole dream magic aunt Luna had lent to me," Spike replied, as she sat down, legs crossed, and meditates. "But if I can focus on the girls' powers. I should be able to locate them, and conjure up another doorway to their dreams," Doing as he says, Spike focused his newfound powers, before his whiskers started to twitch again, and a door appeared, with Rainbow Dash's cutie mark imprinted on the front.





Rainbow Dash


Scary Horror Music


"I hope you don't mind, Dashie!" Nightmare Pinkie giggled menacingly. "But I'm going to have to wing it, now." Picking up a huge knife, Pinkie Pie walked over to Rainbow Dash's prides and joys.

She grabbed the left one and played with it for a second, much to Raibow's embarrassment. Then, stretching the wing out, she brought the blade down at the base. Instantly, Dash screamed and thrashed her appendage. The movement threw off Pinkie Pies aim. She tried to hit the mark again but missed wide and put a huge slice in Rainbow’s back.

"AAAAH!!" Rainbow screamed in pain.

“Dash, you gotta stay still or I’ll keep missing,” Pinkie chided, as she tries again.

Then, suddenly, appearing through the chimney, in a blazing burst of green flames, was Spike himself.


Black Betty - Ram Jam


"Rainbow!" Spike shouted.

"SPIKE?!!" Rainbow exclaimed, turning to the newly renewed dragon.

"RAWWWRRR!!!" Nightmare Pinkie screamed, as she swings the knife down, only for her hands to be caught, in the nick of time, by Spike's tongue.

Summoning all his strength, in his tongue, Spike impressively pulled the nightmare apparition of Pinkie Pie away, while Featherweight, Tender Taps, and Princess Skystar came over to free Rainbow Dash from her confinement.

"Don't worry Dash!" Tenders said, as he and Featherweight got to work at picking the locks. "We're here to get you out!"

"Thank Celestia you boys are here!" Rainbow Dash sighed happily. "Pinkie's crazy! She almost cut my wings off!" Turning to Skystar, Rainbow had a questionable look on her face, "Uh, who are you?"

"I'm Princess Skystar!" Skystar chirped happily. "And this is Shelly and Sheldon!" She introduced her two clams. "Say hi to Rainbow Dash boys!"

"Hello," Princess Skystar ventriloquizes for Shelly and Sheldon.

"Uh, hi," Rainbow returned the greeting.

Meanwhile, Spike, Button, Rumble, and Pipsqueak were busy fighting with the nightmare apparition of Pinkie Pie. Pinkie got out, what appeared to be a machine gun, and shot toasted breads at Rumble.

"AH!!!" Rumble screamed, dodging the projectiles fired at him.

"Rumble's toast!" Button said, as the athletic boy was doing some flips, while narrowly evading the toasted pastries being fired at him, before he got a mouthful.

"Mmmm," Rumble smiled in satisfaction.

Pinkie then turned her attention to Pipsqueak, who was running at the speed of light, courtesy of his Boots of Courage. Pipsqueak was making a beeline towards Pinkie Pie, who retaliated by firing several dough balls from her cannon. At the last second, Pipsqueak makes a quick sidestep, narrowly evading the projectiles.

Unfortunately, Featherweight was hit by the flying pastries, and finds himself stuck to the wall in the back, framed by an old picture frame, "I've been framed!" Featherweight moaned.

Spike, in dog form, jumped out at Pinkie Pie and bit her flank, "OW!!" Pinkie screamed. Then, Button Mash fired Shelly from the party cannon.

The clam flew at Pinkie Pie and-

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!" Pinkamena Diana Pie screamed.





A moment with Discord


Discord was sitting in a chair, eating a plate of creepy pastas, while watching the whole scene on TV.

"Now that's a trip to the moon," Discord joked, while taking a bite out of the spaghetti.

"DO HO HO HO HO HO HO!!!" two elderly ponies laughed.


This has been a moment with Discord





Back to the fight


"DIEEEEEEE!!" Pinkamena screeched, lunging at Spike with a knife.

In retaliation, Spike threw his cape at Pinkamena, blinding her momentarily, as he flies towards her and kicked her away. Stumbling back into a shelf of pony skulls, Pinkie fell to the floor as the whole shelf fell on her. Breaking free, further angered, Pinkie grabs a cleaver and rushes at Spike, who changes into a dragonfly, as he zips around Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie tries to swat Spike away, but ends up hitting herself repeatedly, before Spike changes back into a dragon and breathes fire on her. Pinkamena stumbled backward, tripping over Pipsqueak, causing her to fall into the barrel of the party cannon.

"Happy landing, Pinkamena Diana Pie!" Spike saluted.

"You're fired!" Button shouted, as he lit the cannon, causing Pinkamena to blast out of the room.

By then, Rainbow Dash was finally freed, and she came over to the Knights and Spike.

"Wow, thanks a lot you guys!" Rainbow rejoiced happily. "Pinkie was going to make cupcakes out of me."

"See? I told you!" Button exclaimed. "Never trust a cupcake!"

Then, in a burst of fiery aura, there stood Sunset Shimmer.

"Sunset!" Spike exclaimed, as he and his men, Rainbow, and Skystar all run up to the fiery girl, "Are you alright?" He asked, looking her over.

"I'm fine," Sunset answered. "But the others won't be for much longer! C'mon!"

"HI!" Skystar sang cheerfully, startling Sunset.






Fluttershy


Fluttershy was crying herself to tears, as she watches her whole form changing, through a mirror.

Her tears were converting to warm red blood, with dark chains snaking around her hooves, then up to her body, before meeting a big rusty yoke around her neck. Then, her cute adorable eyes began to darken, giving off the appearance that she doesn't have any eyes.





Then, a small firefly appeared before her, touching her nose.

NiGHTS Journey into dreams - Bellbridge #2

With a burst of light, and a child's voice echoing, the world around Fluttershy was brightened up, and the darkness was banished.

Fluttershy held her bloodied hoof over her dark eyes, taken by surprise at the sudden change of her vision, before she slowly lowered her hoof and gasped to her delight, seeing Spike, standing before her, as a puppy, with two paws out, as if he was welcoming her for a hug.

"Spike!" Fluttershy cried happily, not caring about her mangled appearance and embraced Spike, who gladly returned the gesture. "My puppy!" Fluttershy cried, happily smothering her face into Spike.

"It's great to see you too, Flutters," Spike groaned.

Watching from the sidelines, are the Knights, while Sunset and Rainbow were getting to know Princess Skystar.

"I don't know if I should find this cute, or creepy," Button commented, regarding to Fluttershy's nightmaric form, while having a tender moment with Spike.

"Oh, shut up, Button," Rumble grumbled.





Pinkie Pie


Pinkie Pie was beside herself, at the center of a mirror maze, surrounded by all the twisted reflections of herself. Though it's quiet common for a person to find distorted reflections of themselves in circus mirrors, what's even more twisted about Pinkie's reflection was that they all had red eyes, sharp cruel fangs, and are laughing maniacally at Pinkie Pie.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" Pinkie Pie pleaded, struggling to stop the laughter.

Just then, a tumblr post appeared, asking: "Hey Pinkamena Diana Pie! What did Granny Pie sing?"

"Huh?" the Pinkamena asked.

"OOH! I know!" Pinkie chirped, immediately regaining her happy demeanor.





"Hey Pinkie Pie!" Spike greeted, appearing as a plush dog, before he became a real dog.

"SPIKEY!!" Pinkie smiled, as she glommed Spike in a smothering hug and giggled.

"Stop laughing!" Pinkamena berated. "Detention Pinkie!"

"Oh, stick a cake in it!" Pinkie shouted at her evil counterpart, much to the latter's surprise.

Before Pinkamena could say another word, the Knights, and Skystar, literally sticked a cake in the nightmare Pinkie's mouth.

"Shhhh!" They hushed at Pinkamena.





Rarity


Rarity was on the floor, in human form and in the buff, while sobbing a waterfall of tears, and covering her left eye, where her eye was scratched by a nightmare of her cat. The cat now lies motionless on the mattress, while Rarity looks at herself in the mirror, seeing her left eye was scarred, darkened with an unmoving pupil. Her right eye was gazing at her disfigure appearance with dread, and tears falling down on her right cheek.

Rarity looked down at her bare body, seeing a bloody shape heart carved on her chest, followed by several scars that run down her body.

Rarity cried, while hugging herself in vain for warmth, and comfort, as she looked to see she was surrounded by bloody dolls of her friends and ponies, with Pinkie's being the worst of them all. The doll of the said pink pony was gazing at Rarity with a mocking sharp grin, and demonic eyes that can look into a person's soul.

Rarity cried, "I'm a monster!" Rarity buried her face into her hands, unable to contain the never-ending tears that flood from her eyes. "I'm hideous!"

"You're anything but hideous, Rarity," a voice spoke, catching Rarity by surprise as she looked around the room, trying to locate the voice. "I used to think the same way about myself, when someone wise told me that real beauty comes within." Then in an instant, Rarity felt a presence in the room, that felt warm, and welcoming.

Rarity looked, and to her astonishment, her reflection changes to reveal her true self, with Spike standing beside her, together with their friends.

"Spikey-wikey?" Rarity gasped at the reflection.

Spike nodded his head, as he suddenly emerges from the mirror, taking his cape off, draping it around Rarity for warmth and comfort. Rarity gratefully accepted the cloth of fabric, while covering her scarred face.

"Don't look at me, Spikey," Rarity sobbed. "I beg of you!"

"Rarity," Spike spoke gently, lowering her hands away from her face. "I told you before. How you looked won't affect how we see you. How I see you," Rarity looked up, to see Spike, in dragon form, smiling lovingly at her.

"Spike...." Rarity said quietly, while stroking one of his flowing whiskers.

Just then, the others all appeared behind Spike, "Your generosity is the true beauty of you, Rare!" Rainbow added.

"Um, what Rainbow and Spike said," Fluttershy said in agreement.

"Hai," Sunset agreed.

"Though, no offense. You kinda looked like you've been mauled by a tiger, or something," Pinkie said bluntly.

"PINKIE!!!" Everyone berated the pink pony, with the Knights giving Pinkie Pie a dope slap.

"Why, darlings!" Rarity exclaimed. "What are you all doing here?"

"Rescuing you of course!" Skystar said, startling the scarred girl. "We're rescuing all of our friends from their nightmares, from Nightmare Smooze!"

"Nightmare?" Rarity looked at herself, while looking around the room. "You mean, this is all just a dream?"

"Eeyup!" Pinkie Pie said in confirmation.

With this newfound knowledge, the nightmare images around Rarity all dispersed into smokes, and the girl's appearance was restored to normal. Well, somewhat.

Rarity was no longer covered in scars, or bloods anymore. Rather, she was given a more punk-like style. With her hair being a flare of purple, gold, and turquoise. She was don up in a dark purple leather jacket, studded with jewels, with matching skirt, and matching boots.

"Whoa, Rarity!" Rainbow said in awe. "Nice get up!"

Sunset whistled, "My kinda style."

Rarity looked at herself in the mirror, and was at a loss for words, "I-I-I-look..."

"Amazing!" Fluttershy finished. "You looked wonderful!"

Rarity looked doubtful, "I don't know, darlings," Rarity replied. "This really isn't my style."

"Well, either way, you're still you, Rarity," Spike said in encouragement. "You're still a diamond in my eye, from the inside out."

Touched by Spike's words, Rarity smiled, while placing a hand over her heart.

"Hey, I hate to cut this whole tender loving moment, and all," Rainbow snapped. "But weren't we in the middle of a rescue mission?!"

Snapping out of the moment, Spike ran to a door, "Dash's right! C'mon! There's no-"

MEOW

"AH!! OH MY GOD!!" Spike screamed, as Opal jumped out of the door, and wrestled with Spike on the floor.

"Pile on her everyone!" With that, the Knights, and Skystar all pounced on Nightmare Opal, while crushing poor Spike in the process.

Rarity couldn't help but laugh at the humorous sight, together with Sunset, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.





Twilight


Twilight was beside herself, crying on the floor, surrounded by the screams, and wails of the fiery apparitions of her beloved mentor, Princess Celestia, her friends, and family.

Just then, a familiar voice was heard, "Twilight!" Spike shouted. Then, in a flash of green fire, there stood the young dragon himself.

"Spike?!" Twilight exclaimed. "You're alive? How can-" Before Twilight could ask any more questions, Spike silenced her with a hug, that instantly banished all of her thoughts of self-doubts and sorrow away.

"It's okay, Twilight," Spike whispered. "You're with friends."

Twilight returned the hug, as she buries her face into Spike's shoulder, "I never doubted you, my number one assistant."





Applejack


Lastly, the heroes travels into Applejack's nightmare, where they broke Applejack free from her nightmare prison.

Applejack was more than joyful, relieved to see that she didn't kill Spike, in her dreams.





"Thank Celestia you're alright, Sugarcube!" Applejack smiled, as she tearfully holds Spike close in a loving, death gripping embrace.

"You've saved me!" Rarity joined in. "I knew you would save me! You are my hero!"

"My hero too!" Pinkie joined in.

"Choking!" Spike groaned. "Not breathing!"

"Girls!" Twilight exclaimed. "Not so hard! Yes, it's very encouraging that Spike was able to save us, to allow this reunion!" Twilight's words however, fell on deaf ears.

"HOOVES OFF MY PUPPY!!" Fluttershy screeched angrily, frightening the other girls into releasing Spike. The Dragon Prince was panting heavily, trying to catch his breath, which was short lived when Fluttershy ran up to him and happily embraced him, "My sweet little puppy! Ooh! I thought I'd never get to see you again!" Fluttershy squealed, tearfully, and happily.

"Fluttershy, you sneaky hypocrite," Rainbow smirked.

"And who are we?" Button asked on behalf of the Knights and Skystar. "Chopped livers?"

"Huh what?" Rarity asked. "Oh yes. You boys were wonderful too. And as-who are you?" Rarity asked, when she and the girls took notice of Skystar.

"I'm Princess Skystar!" Skystar grinned, as she swam happily around the girls. "And I'm so glad we saved you girls! I can tell, we're totally going to be the best of friends!" With an excited squeal, Skystar swam excitedly around the heroines, doing spinning tricks as she did so, before she came over and manages to wrap all of the girls in one big group hug.

"Wow!" Applejack groaned. "You're quite the energetic type, are ya?"

"Reminds me of a certain someone," Rainbow groaned in reply.

"I like her already!" Pinkie chirped, as she wraps her hooves around the sea pony. "I'm Pinkie Pie! Short for-"

"Pinkamena Diana Pie! I know!" Skystar chirped.

Pinkie gasped, "How did you know? Are you a psychic?"

"Nope. We ran into another Pinkamena Diana Pie, who was trying to make Rainbow Dash into cupcakes over there," Rainbow quickly paled at the mention of the nightmare.

"And it also goes to show, never trust a cupcake!" Button said, proudly.

"SHUT UP!!" the other Knights shouted in annoyance.

"On a more serious note, we're all back together again," Spike noted. "And we're still alive!"

"Thank the ancestors," Twilight breathed a sigh of relief.

"No, thank the writer!" Pinkie Pie beamed. "He wrote us out of our nightmares!"

"Speaking of getting out," Rainbow began. "How do we get out of here? We're still trapped inside Nightmare Smooze, with probably billions of other innocent ponies and magical creatures!"

"Don't worry everyone," Spike spoke, concentrating into his powers. "Leave that to me," With a deep breath, Spike's eyes suddenly turned light blue, as he breaths a mist of fine blue at his friends.

The boys and girls all looked in bewilderment at the Dragon Prince's move, as they find themselves floating, and their whole body turning translucent and light blue.

"Wait, Spike!" Twilight shouted, trying to reach out for the dragon. "What are you doing?! SPIKE!!!" In a flash of light, the girls and boys were gone, without Spike.





Outside of the Smooze


Fight the Knight - Sonic and the Black Knight


"AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!" Nightmare Smooze groaned, as cracks of lights were forming on her skin.

Then, in a burst of light, the Elements of Harmony Bearers, the Knights, Sunset Shimmer, and Skystar all flew out, and landed before the survivors.

"W-W-We're back?" Button stammered.

"We're free!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"HOORAY!!" Skystar cheered, as she flopped her way over. "We're free!"

Fluttershy's eyes widened, "But not for long!" Fluttershy screamed.

"The Bearers, and the Wielders live?!" Nightmare Smooze exclaimed. "Pathetic! I still possess the Dragon Prince! Thus, the Dragonfire! And I'll use it to destroy you all!" With a glow of her eyes, Nightmare Smooze fired several bolts of lightning at the heroes.

Featherweight quickly got in front, holding up the Shield of Purity, which held the lightning bolts at bay, saving himself and the heroes.

Rumble got on Rainbow Dash's back, who quickly took off, flying in the air as she and Rumble flew circles around Nightmare Smooze. Unsheathing the Sword of Honor from his back, Rumble trails it across Nightmare Smooze, leaving a large scratch of light in the demon's dark skin.

"AAAAAAAAAARRRGGGH!!!" Nightmare Smooze screamed, as the gap of light in her skin closes up. Angered, Nightmare Smooze's eyes glowed white, "Shadowbolts! TO ME!!!"

In a burst of black smokes, several flying Shadowbolt appeared from the sky, as they pursue after Rainbow Dash and Rumble.

"Uh oh!" Rumble grimaced. "Trouble following us!"

"Hang on tight, kid!" Rainbow replied, as she flapped her wings and the two flew through a valley. Geysers of Smooze erupted from the sea, which Rumble quickly slashes away, while Rainbow keeps on flying, avoiding the slimes.

The flying Shadowbolts were firing arrows and lasers at Rainbow Dash, when several pink clouds exploded in the air, catching some of the Shadowbolts by surprise.

"Surprise!" Pinkie shouted, as she was flying in the air, with her tail spinning like helicopter blades. With her hooves spinning like a wheel, Pinkie was launching several sprinkle bombs at the Shadowbolts, and Rainbow Dash.

"WHOA!!" Rumble shouted, as he nearly fell off, had Rainbow Dash not caught him in time.

"Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow shouted. "I'd be more pleased if you're much sharper with the shootings!" As if answering Rainbow Dash's suggestion, the flying Shadowbolts were shot out of the sky. "Yeah! Kinda like that!"

"That wasn't me!" Pinkie replied.

Rumble squinted his eyes, as he got a good look of Bloodshot, from the distance. The meta human gave Rumble the ok sign, which Rumble returned.

Back at the fight, the other heroes continue their assault on Nightmare Smooze. Pipsqueak was running across the sea of Smooze, courtesy of his chosen boots. Several slimes continue erupt around him, trying in vain to catch him. Pipsqueak kept running as he makes several sharp turns, and narrow dodges, evading the attacking slimes.

Then, swinging down on a long rope, snatching the boy up is Captain Celaeno.

"Fancy feet ya got their, Pip!" Celaeno complimented, as she and Pipsqueak landed on a nearby cliff.

"Captain?!" Pip exclaimed, with a mix of joy and surprise.

Before Pip could say anything else, Celaeno quickly swings off the cliff, just as several Smooze vortexes came at them.

"Don't gawk like a codfish!" Celaeno ordered. "What plan do ye have?"

"Um....."

"Ye don't have a plan?"

"Hey! We're making up as we go!" Pip replied. "We're just winging it, as you birds would say," In response, Celaeno shot a deadpanned look at Pip.

Meanwhile, Twilight, together with Princess Cadence, joined their magic together and fired a double alicorn magic combo at Nightmare Smooze, who retaliated by firing a beam of dark magic as a counter strike. Both magics collided and kept each other at bay.

"Just hold on!" Princess Cadence groaned, as she and Twilight struggled to push their magics further.

Focusing her magic, Nightmare Smooze conjured a bolt of lightning to fire from the sky, and towards the alicorn princesses.

"NO!!" Scorpan roared, as he got in between the alicorns and the bolt of lightning. Taking the full blast, Scorpan began to control the lightning's path, via body, when Abacus Cinch flew up and opened fire on the gargoyle. Reacting fast, Scorpan caught the missile she launched, and gracefully deflected it into the sea below, before he fires the lightning on Abacus, electrocuting the mad woman, and short circuiting her suit.

Thinking fast, Abacus ejected the suit off, just as it exploded, while the woman opened her parachute as she gently floats back down.

"I'll get you for this!" Abacus shouted. "Abacus Cinch never forgets!"

"Oh buck it, woman!" Applejack muttered, as she jumps off a crystal shield from Rarity, flies at Abacus Cinch, and kicks her in the face.

In the meantime, Nightmare Smooze continues her assault on Twilight and Cadence. The two alicorn princesses kept their magical hold on their offense. Then, the Flutter Ponies arrived, beating their wings, they joined their magics together with the alicorns, giving them enough strength to overwhelm Nightmare Smooze, and collided with her horn.

"AAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!" Nightmare Smooze screamed, once the combined magic forces struck her horn, causing her to collapse into the sea below.

"Is it over?" Pipsqueak asked. "Did we win?"

Unfortunately, the answer wasn't in Pip's favor. Nightmare Smooze's head quickly reformed from the sea.

"Now, you shall taste the terrible beauty of true power!" Nightmare Smooze snarled, as her eyes turned black, pulsing with red magic. "And you shall be DESTROYED!!!!" With a wave of dark magic, Nightmare Smooze's whole form was coated in a coat of darkness.

Then, with a loud roar, a huge stream of fire erupted from Nightmare Smooze's maw, and at the heroes.





Inside of the Smooze


If I Go Back (Feat. Alioopster27) by Electrokaplosion


Spike finds himself, wandering blindly through an endless dark void. Everywhere around him, he could hear whispers and murmurs, everywhere, and all around him.


...."monster........screw up........freak.......weak.......spare".......


Then, ahead was a familiar small blue alicorn, surrounded in a blue aura that penetrates the surrounding darkness.



"Aunt Luna!" Spike gasped, as he ran over to the blue alicorn, and held her in his arms.

Princess Luna opened her eyes, as she looks up at Spike, "Nephew?" Luna whispered weakly. "Is that you?"

"Yes, auntie!" Spike replied. "It's me! And I'm here to help you."

"Nephew, no," Luna replied weakly. "You can't help me. I've been a prisoner of the nightmares for too long. I've become one with the darkness. I can't be helped. I am the darkness."

"No, that's not true!" Spike argued. "There's still good in you! Look at you! You're living proof that the darkness hasn't taken over you completely! Look at me! I'm here because of you! You gave me a piece of your magic, and I've rescued my friends from the clutches of Nightmare Smooze!" With a look of determination, Spike spoke, "Now all that's left is to free you!"

"Your motives are valiant, nephew," Luna replied. "So does your heroic deeds. But even with your powers, combined with mine, you still cannot save me. The darkness has grown too strong, and much more persistence. It cannot be stopped."


With Me - Sonic and the Black Knights


Spike couldn't believe what he's hearing, "No!" he shouted, catching Luna by surprise. "This is not how it's going to end! I did not come this far, just to hear you give up!" Shifting in dragon form, with his claws engulfed in a blazing aura, Spike grabbed Princess Luna and flew off with her.

Just when they were about several miles away from where Luna once was, dark chains suddenly materialized, and held Princess Luna back.

"I told you, nephew!" Luna replied sadly. "It can't be done! I'm trapped. I've always been a prisoner of darkness, and I'll always will be."

"NO!" Spike struggled to break the chains, but to no avail. "I'm not leaving without you, auntie! I promised mom I'd be at her side when you come home! And I'm going to keep that promise!"

"Nephew...."

"Stop it, auntie! I'm not giving up on you! Even in the dark, mom's taught me to find beauty through it all! I want to see the beauty of your night! But I want to see it, with you!" Still struggling to break the dark chains, Spike roared, "I love you too much, auntie!"

"Nephew!" Luna gasped in surprise.





The heroes embraced themselves, preparing for the incoming fire attack from Nightmare Smooze. However, it never came.

Taking a peek, Button shouted, "Omigosh! LOOK!"

Everyone looked up to see another crack of light in Nightmare Smooze's skin forming, with Nightmare Smooze wriggling in agony.

"What is this?!!" Nightmare Smooze groaned.

"Your majesty?!" Somnambula exclaimed in worry.

Next thing everyone knew, the Knights were floating as their chosen armor pieces glowed in a golden aura. Then, a beam of light was shot from the armors, piercing through Nightmare Smooze's dark skin, and showering over Spike, and Princess Luna.

From inside and out of the Smooze, Spike and the Knights find themselves coated in golden auras, before they were coated in a brilliant flash of light. After the lights died down, there stood the Knights, as ponies, don up in suits of armor that matched their respective armor pieces.

Button Mash was transfigured into a brown earth pony, don up in what appeared to be a full orange samurai armor to go with his Helmet of Wisdom. Rumble was changed into a light grey pegasus, don up in a knight's armor colored bluish-gray, matching the boy's Sword of Honor. Tender Taps became an orange earth pony, with his arms, legs, and head covered in armor coverings that matched his silver Chestplate of Valor. Pipsqueak was also changed into an earth pony, only smaller, with a coat of pinto patterns. Pipsqueak was don up in a suit of armor with Roman-theme, to match his Boots of Courage. Lastly, Featherweight became a thin yellowish creamy pegasus, while don up in, what appeared to be, a smaller version of the Armor of God.

"Whoa!" Button exclaimed. "Check us out, guys! We're suited up like Knights! Equestrian style!" Button smirked proudly of himself.

"I'll say!" Rumble added, giving his new wings a flap. "Whoo-hoo! I can fly!"

"Me too!" Featherweight added.

"Guys, look!" Pipsqueak exclaimed, pointing to show Spike and Princess Luna, inside of Nightmare Smooze.

Spike looked at himself, to see that his suit of armor was glowing a sparkling coat of gold, before several magical changes were made to it. Long armor guards sprouted around Spike's waist, covering the Dragon Prince's lower body and upper legs. Armor paddings formed around the lower legs. Plates formed along Spike's arms, all the way to his claws, and his wings were also clad in armor paddings. Furthermore, his tail was also coated in armor plates, with a long blade at the tip. With a loud roar, several fiery dragons flew around Spike's head, before they formed together a helmet, with holes for his horns at the top, broad and curled blades at the sides, and a green visor over his eyes. 

However, the defining feature of Spike's transformation was his cape that suddenly glowed golden, before it dispersed, revealing it has grown longer, sparkles with flaming red lights, with images of a dragon, an alicorn, a phoenix, and a dog, all standing around a yin-yang symbol, with the sun and the moon.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped in amazement.

"It's the sixth and final piece of the armor!" Luna gasped. "The Cape of Compassion!"

Shaking his shock away, and replacing it with a look of determination, Spike called out, "This ends now!" With a loud roar, Spike breathed a stream of multicolored flames at the dark chains, which miraculously burned the chains away.

"AAAAARRRRGGGHH!!" Nightmare Smooze groaned, upon feeling the burning sensation within her.

The heroes looked, and could see their friend, trying to escape with Princess Luna. However, the monster wouldn't have any of that, as it struggles to hold onto Princess Luna.

"Come on!" Pipsqueak shouted to the others. "We gotta help!" With that, the Knights were the first to charge into the fray, determined to help save their buddy.

"Boys! Get back!" Celaeno shouted, but to no avail. "Boys!"

"We gotta help them too!" Rainbow shouted, as she and the other girls gave chase.

Spike was pulling his aunt with all his might, while breathing several explosive fireballs at the chains that continue to hold her. However, no matter how many chains Spike burned away, more kept on sprouting, trying to pull Luna back.

"Hold on, aunt!" Spike groaned. "I got ya! We're almost there!"

"Spike!" Twilight's voice sounded, catching the Dragon Prince's attention. Looking up, Spike sees Twilight projecting a magic rope on him, with which she used to pull him and Luna out. "Hold on, Spike! I got you!" Twilight groaned, as she pulls on Spike with all her strength.

"We got you, Sugarcube!" Applejack added, as she lassoed Spike, and pulls on him.

"We got your back, Spike!" Button shouted, as he and the Knights all joined assaults on Nightmare Smooze, determined to break their friend free.

"ENOUGH!!!" Nightmare Smooze roared, preparing to stop the heroes, when she was struck by a powerful explosive magic offense. Standing at the spot from where the magic was fired, there stood Fleur-De-Lis, Starlight Glimmer, Moondancer and friends, having combined their magic together.

"How dare you interfere!" Somnambula screamed, as she and her winged monkeys flew up to the unicorns. Only to be held back by the renegade Shadowbolt girls.

"Oh we dared!" Indigo snarled. "And we'll do it again!" With that, the five rogues strike back, together with the unicorn mares joining the fray.

In the meantime, Spike was completely pulled out of Nightmare Smooze. However, Princess Luna has yet to be freed from the monster.

"Don't worry auntie!" Spike groaned. "You're almost out!"

Then, the Flutter Ponies came flying in, and with a flap of their sparkling wings, they showered several magical sparks on Nightmare Smooze.

"WHAT?!!" Nightmare Smooze exclaimed. "NO! THIS CANNOT BE!!" Nightmare Smooze looked down and sees her slimy body coming apart. "NO! I am Nightmare Moon! I am invincible! I cannot be-AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!" With a final wail of agony, Nightmare Smooze crumbled away, as bits of her bodies were stripped away, and the world around her was cleansed of her slimes.

The heroes watched as several balls of slimes fell to the ground, and broke apart, revealing all the innocent creatures that were caught in the Smooze's wake.

Spike, the Knights, the Bearers, and Skystar, all landed in the ruins of what's left of Canterlot, where they meet up with the rest of their friends.

"We did it!" Pinkie cheered happily. "We saved the world!"

"Yay!" Skystar cheered, happily clapping her flippers together.

"Whoo-Whee," Applejack sighed in relief. "Glad it's finally over."

Looking over at the creatures they had saved, the heroes quickly spotted some their friends, free of the monster's slimes.

"Oh, I'm never going to sleep the same way again," Mina whimpered, before turning to Ember, who was still unconscious, along with Gilda, and Gabby. "Hey? Are you girls okay? Come on! Wake up!" Mina said, trying  to shake the three awake.

Pinkie hopped over, and pulled a cupcake from her mane, "I've got cupcakes~" Pinkie sang.

"NO! NO CUPCAKES!!!" Ember, Gilda, and Gabby all snapped awake, and out of impulse, they attacked Pinkamena Diana Pie.

Just then, Princess Celestia appeared, "Is every pony alright?" Celestia asked, looking over the ruins of Equestria, and all of the creatures rescued.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed, as she and her friends eagerly run up to the princess. "You're alright!"

"As are all of you," Celestia smiled, before she looked. "Where is Spike?" Celestia asked, with a look of concern.

"Over here mom!" Spike called, while carefully carrying Princess Luna's unconscious form over. "And here's aunt Luna!"

"Luna?!" Celestia gasps, as she quickly went over to inspect the little pony in Spike's arms. "Luna? Are you alright?"

Snapping her eyes open, Princess Luna blasted a beam of dark magic at Princess Celestia.

"PRINCESS!!" Sunset Shimmer shouted, as she quickly shielded the Sun Princess, while Spike threw Luna away.

"Curse you, Dragon Prince!" Nightmare Moon's voice neighed, as Princess Luna was once more consumed in dark flames, and she resumes her alicorn form.

"Oh come on!" Rainbow exclaimed incredulously. "Give us a break!"

"Writers never give their heroes a break," Pinkie muttered. "Well, except on some occasions when its a holiday special."

"Now's not the time, Pinkie!" Applejack shouted, as she shoved the pink party pony away, just as a blast of dark magic almost struck them.

Nightmare Moon fired another offensive dark magic at the Bearers, only for Spike to get in between, and waving his cape, he deflected the magic beam, which flew right back towards Nightmare Moon, who quickly projected a shield, saving herself from the attack.

"We are not through yet!" Nightmare Moon snarled.

"Just save yourself the trouble, Moony!" Button said, as he and the Knights joined Spike and the girls. "It's all over!"

"The battle is yours," Nightmare Moon continued. "But the war is far from over! Not as long as I possess this!" Levitating from her wing, Nightmare Moon reveals a small vial, containing the remaining piece of the Smooze.

"The Smooze!" Twilight gasped.

"Hand it over, Moony!" Rainbow barked.

"Of course," Nightmare Moon replied. "In small dosage, through future-"

"ENOUGH!!" Celestia shouted, as she stood before the heroes. "We finish what we started, thousands of years ago!"

Nightmare smirked, baring her fangs, "With pleasure!" After the vial magically vanished in a puff of smoke, Nightmare Moon’s horn pulsed with dark lightning bolts, Nightmare Moon fired a beam of dark magic at Celestia, who flapped her wings as she took flight. "And where do you think you're going?!" Nightmare Moon shouted, as she gave chase and fired several beams of dark magic at Celestia, who kept on evading, while counterattacking with magics of her own.

Everyone all watched, as the two alicorns went all out with each other.

"You think Princess Celestia can beat Nightmare Moon, this time?" Rainbow asked.

"It's a maybe," Applejack answered in concern. "But I wouldn't count my chickens before they hatch, yet."

"Which would be a good time for us to fire our Elements of Harmony and take out Nightmare Moon!" Rainbow said.

"But can we really do it?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, how can we be sure we'll get her this time? She's not that easy to hit."

"Then I'll make her an easy target," Spike spoke up, as he hands the girls his Cape of Compassion. "Here girls. Something tells me you'll need this."

Rarity was aghast, "Spikey, no!" She disapproves with concern. "You need this!" Rarity levitated the cape back to Spike, who returned it.

"Not this time," Spike replied. "I have a plan. Just trust me on this," The girls looked at each other, still unsure, "We can do this girls. You gotta believe me."

After a moment of exchanging glances, the girls nodded, "Just be careful Spike," Twilight said in concern.

"Kick her flank for me," Rainbow added.

"You got this," Fluttershy cheered. "Whoo-hoo~"

Rarity walked up to Spike and kissed him on the cheek, "Good luck, darling."





Celestia fired a beam of sunlight at Nightmare Moon, who projected a huge shield, causing the light to bounce off, blinding Celestia for the moment. Seizing the opportunity, Nightmare Moon fired another beam of dark magic at Celestia, who quickly hears the incoming magic in time, and quickly teleported in a flash of light. Reappearing from behind, Celestia pounced on Nightmare Moon, and the two alicorns began to plummet, back to the ground.

Dispersing into smokes, Nightmare Moon reappeared behind Celestia, as she forced the sun princess to crash first to the ground.

"Shadowbolts! ATTACK!!" Somnambula shouted, as she and the ninjas all swarmed around Celestia, tying her down with several ropes of dark magic, binding Celestia, and inhibiting her magic.

Nightmare Moon laughed menacingly as she walked up, "No mercy this time!" Nightmare Moon hissed, preparing to do Celestia in.

CHOMP


Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life


"AAH!!" Nightmare Moon yelped, looking back to see Spike, in dog form, biting her on the flank.

'Sorry auntie!' Spike moaned in his thoughts. 'But it hurts me more than it hurts you,' Releasing his jaw grip on Nightmare Moon, Spike leapt away, as Nightmare Moon fired a beam of dark magic at him.

"I grow tired of your interference!" Nightmare Moon hissed. "Shadowbolts! Hold her!" She ordered. "I wish for her to watch as I take her son's life in front of her!"

"Yes your majesty!" The Shadowbolts bowed their heads.

"NO!!" Celestia shouted, and struggled to get up in vain, as Nightmare Moon left her behind to pursue Spike.

"Don't worry Spike!" Button shouted as he and his fellow Knights all ran off to aid their friend.

"GET OFF OF THE PRINCESS!!" Rainbow Dash roared as she came flying at high speed to force some of the Shadowbolts off.

Many of the Shadowbolts quickly blasted explosive fires and magical ice arrows as the other girls came to assist their rainbow haired friend. Rarity quickly conjured a diamond shield to block the attacks, saving herself and her friends, while Pinkie Pie hurled several sprinkle bombs at the Shadowbolts, scattering them all over the place, with Applejack muscling her way through with her incredible super strength.

Sunset, as a puff of smoke was able to blast the remaining Shadowbolts off, before she expertly freed Princess Celestia from her dark bindings.

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked, as she and the girls ran up to the Sun Princess.

"I'll be okay," Celestia assured her prized pupil, before she looked at the fight between the Knights and Nightmare Moon in worry. "SPIKE!!" Celestia cried.

"Don't worry mom!" Spike replied. "We got this!" Ducking his head, Spike dodges a lightning bolt from Nightmare Moon, "Thousands of years in the moon really doesn't do good for your aims, eh Moony?" Spike taunted.

"Thy insult shall be thy last!" Nightmare Moon neighed, as she fired a blast of dark magic at Spike, who quickly leapt away, avoiding the blast. "Hold still!"

"I'm over here!" Spike called out, as he suddenly swooped in, and landed a flying kick to Nightmare's jaw.

Nightmare snarled angrily, as she fires a lightning bolt after Spike, only for the electrical attack to be deflected, courtesy of Fleur, who stood before Nightmare Moon, in anthro form, holding a rapier in her hands.

"Nightmare Moon!" Fleur said as she holds her blade up to her eye level. "May my father's blade taste vengeance tonight!" With a loud war cry, Fleur lunged forward, slashing her sword, "En garde!"

Nightmare Moon quickly shifted in battle form, as she caught the blade in her shuko claws. Then at the same time, Rumble and Button Mash came from both sides, respectively attacking the alicorn with their sword and hammer, only for both of them to be caught by Nightmare Moon's extra arms.

"HI-YAH!!" Pipsqueak screamed, as he ran up from behind, and kicked Nightmare Moon in the head, knocking her off, slightly.

At the same time, Spike came flying back, as he landed several kicks and punches at Nightmare Moon, before she finally caught him.

"STOP!!" Nightmare Moon ordered the Knights and Fleur. "Any sudden movements, and your prince will breathe no more!"

"No!" Celestia gasped in fright.

"I don't think so!" Suddenly, in a flash of fire, Spike suddenly appeared, and rescued the other Spike from Nightmare Moon's hold.

"WHAT?!!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed.

"What?" Spike asked. "Ever seen a changeling before?" With that, the other Spike transformed in a flash of light, to reveal Thorax.

"Uh, hi," Thorax nervously greeted, before both he and Spike were levitated up to the dark alicorn's face.

"Clever!" Nightmare Moon hissed, before she pinned both boys to a wall. "But not clever enough!"

"Then you probably know I'm still not Spike," Spike answered, as he melted away.

"What?!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed.

"Ooh, outsmarted by my frosty friend, Neira," Spike taunted, before he got blasted, only to reveal he was another ice clone. "Hey watch it! You almost hit me!" Another Spike spoke up, to which Nightmare Moon blasted.

Eventually, it became a real life version of Whack-a-mole, much to everyone's mix amusement, and worry, including Celestia. Finally, Nightmare Moon had enough, as she stomped her hooves, destroying all of the ice clones, knocking Thorax, the Knights, and Fleur away, before revealing the real Spike.

"I grow tired of your interference, for far too long!" Nightmare Moon roared, as she levitated Spike up close. "All the more reason your demise will be rewarding enough!"

Then, the sound of trumpets and drums caught the dark alicorn's attention, as she turned back to see the guards, and Flutter Ponies, pounding on some drums, blowing through trumpets, with the Bearers wearing the Elements of Harmony around their necks, and Twilight wearing hers on her head. Furthermore, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, together with Sunburst were levitating the Sun Stone, while chanting a spell together.

Nightmare Moon gasped in fright, recognizing the Elements, and the spell being chanted, "No! No! Not again!!" Dropping Spike, the dark alicorn fired a bolt of lightning at the Bearers, "STOP!!!" Nightmare Moon screamed in desperation. Reacting fast, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom quickly held out the Cape of Compassion, blocking the dark bolt, protecting their sisters and friends.

Knowing it is futile to attempt to magic her way out, Nightmare Moon quickly turned tail, as she begins to gallop her escape. Without hesitation, Spike leapt forward and delivered a powerful punch to the face, knocking her helmet off and the alicorn to the ground.

"Ow!" Spike groaned, shaking his fist.

At the last moment, a rainbow was shot from the Bearers, straight towards Nightmare Moon.

"YES!!" Rainbow cheered. "Direct hit!!"

"The Elements of Harmony are working!" Scorpan exclaimed.

"Is Nightmare Moon going back into the moon?" Scootaloo asked.

"Wait and see," the gargoyle replied.

"THE LIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!" Nightmare Moon screamed, as cracks began to form all over her body, from which dark smokes were leaking through, "NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" In a burst of light, Nightmare Moon was no more, and beams of lights rains down from the heavens, and struck each of the Shadowbolts, and the shadow creatures in range.

The dark clouds above dispersed, and over the horizon, the rising sun's lights shines across Equestria, banishing the coats of darkness away. Everyone all cheered, triumphant at their victory against their lifelong war with Nightmare Moon.

"We did it!" Pinkie cheered. "WE DID IT!!"

"Yeah!!!" Button cheered, as he and the Knights all danced together. "We did it! We won!"

Then, the Knights's armors' stopped glowing, and they reverted back to normal humans.

"Well that was fun while it lasts," Rumble grumbled, missing his new wings.

Celestia's worried expression quickly elevated to frantic, when she noticed something missing, "Wait! Where's Spike?" She asked, grabbing Pinkie Pie via, who quickly lost her cheerful demeanor at the mercy of a frantic mother. "Where's my baby?!" Soon, Celestia entered a hysterical frenzy, as she grabs any unfortunate creatures in the vicinity, even Scorpan wasn't quick enough to get away. "Oh no! Oh no! Did the Elements of Harmony hit him too?" She asked, tossing Rainbow Dash and Applejack to the sides like rag dolls. "Is he hurt bad? Is he banished? Or worse! HE COULD BE IN TARTARUS BY ACCIDENT!!" She shouted at the last part, at a frightened Fluttershy. "We have to find him! We have to find him!" She breathed heavily.

Just then, Spike came out from the rubbles, reverted back to his regular self, in human form, as he walks over to his frantic mother, "Mom!" He spoke, putting a gentle hand on her wings. "Calm down! I'm-" Unfortunately, Spike soon finds himself shaking like a rag doll, in the grip of his mother's magic.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Celestia cried hysterically, while blindly shaking her son dizzily. "Can't you see it's not-" She opened her eyes, and got a good look at the person she was holding. Celestia gasped, "My little sunshine!" Celestia pulled the dragon, joyfully spinning him around in her magic, before she embraced him, in another death gripping embrace.

With Celestia fully relieved, her magical hold on the others dissipated, and everyone were dropped to the ground.

"Don't scare me like that ever again!" Celestia said, while holding Spike close. "You hear me? You hear me? You hear me?" The hysterical Sun Princess asked repeatedly, while shaking Spike around like a ragged doll.

"I'll try my best, mom," Spike groaned. "If it means you won't kill me affectionately, first."

"And I thought my mom has quite the tantrum," Button groaned.

"You're telling me," Rumble replied.

Everyone all exchanged in agreement, as they watch Celestia, smothering Spike with affection. The Dragon Prince was clearly finding it harder to breathe, than it is to return his mother's love.

After Celestia released Spike, a loud screech was heard, revealing itself to be Peewee, who circled around the boy for a moment, before perching on his shoulder, "Great to see you too, Peewee!" Spike smiled, stroking the bird on its head.

"You're my hero!!" Rarity exclaimed, as she soon pulled Spike, in another happy embrace. Much to Spike's mix of joy, and chagrin, the other girls joined in. Princess Skystar, not one to be left out, flopped her way over, as she joins the hug.

"You're awesome!" Rainbow and Gilda exclaimed.

"I knew ya had it in ya," Applejack smiled.

"This calls for a Spike Victory Party!!!" Pinkie cheered, with a blast of confetti.

"You did it!" Fluttershy cheered, quite loudly. "YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT!!"

Just then, the sound of groaning was heard, from where Nightmare Moon stood.

"Oh, come on!" Button Mash and Sweetie Belle exclaimed together, incredulous.
> Mission Dragonfire Part 14: A Dream Come True
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------









The heroes quickly got into fighting stances, ready for more. However, when Princess Celestia took a closer look, she raised her wings, "It's okay," She insisted. "She means no harm....at last."

Lying in the ashes, was none other but Princess Luna, herself.





"Auntie Luna?!" Spike gasped.

"Yo, that mare is your aunt?" Rumble asked.

"She's kinda pretty," Pipsqueak commented, with the rest of the Knights all voicing their agreements.

"Sister?" Luna asked, rubbing her head with her hoof. "Is that you?"

"Yes, Luna. It's me," Celestia frowned, as she walked up to her little sister, and bent down, so she was even with her sister's height. "And it's been a thousand years since I've seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister."

Upon hearing the last part, most of the ponies, and creatures in the surrounding crowds were surprised.

"Will you accept my friendship?" Celestia asked.

Luna looked up at Celestia, tears welling in the young alicorn's eyes, "I do!" Luna cried. "And I'm so sorry! I've missed you so much, big sister!" Princess Luna cried.

"I've missed you too," Celestia replied, as she too cried with tears.

"Mother!" Small voices of children shouted, as everyone turned to see several little fillies, losing their dark, smoking auras rushing over to Princess Luna, and they all happily tackled the recently reformed Princess of the Night.

"My darlings! My darlings!" Luna cried happily, trying to embrace every little fillies she could.

Needless to say, the scene was enough to pull everybody's heartstrings. Even Applejack, and Ember, both find it hard to not cry.

Pinkie Pie was crying a waterfall of tears, before she blew her nose.

Then, everyone all started to notice some changes in the Shadowbolts. The winged monkeys suddenly lost their wings, and they reverted to a variety of normal monkeys. The smokey auras that coated them slowly dispersed, revealing their true color, and their true appearances, ranging from ponies to griffons, even to minotaurs.

Among them, stood a beautiful pegasus mare with light scarlet coat, and dark arctic blue mane and tail, with moderate turquoise stripes. For attires, she wears a transparent white dress, with a gold belt at the waist, where two holes are made for her wings to pierce through. A white hood adorned on her head, with a gold headband and the symbol of the crescent moon. 

"Whoa!" Button exclaimed, before he whispered. "Who's Cleopatra's pony counterpart over there?"

Pipsqueak's eyes widened, 'It can't be!' he exclaimed mentally, recognizing the mare to be the one he saw in his vision.

Just then, the man in fedora appeared in a puff of smokes, before he suddenly morphs into a dark stallion, still retaining his robe and hat.

"Somnambula," the stallion in fedora spoke as he walks over to the Egyptian pegasus. "It's been a long time."

"Somnambula?!" the heroes exclaimed in surprise, together with everyone around them.

The Egyptian pegasus, now revealed to be Somnambula looked up, "Who are you?" she asked. In response, the stallion lifted his hat up, just slightly for only Somnambula to see his face, "You?" she asked.

"Yes, Somnambula. It is I," the stallion replied, lowering his hat back over his face. "I have been watching over Equestria, in your absences, both physically and spiritually, by orders of Star Swirls," Somnambula looked away in shame. Even with his hat over his face, the pegasus can see the displeased look on the stallion's face, "Regrettably, I fail to deliver you any good news at the moment. Considering disasters have escalated, even in your sole presence, Somnambula," he added grimly.

Looking around her, at the ruins caused by the destructions, Somnambula looked down in sorrow, "I see," Somnambula spoke somberly. "And I wish to say, how truly sorry I am for the troubles me and my fellow Shadowbolts have caused," The pegasus apologized on behalf of herself, and the Shadowbolts. "We were originally guards, with the intention to serve and protect the ponies of Equestria, and the children whom Princess Luna had been rescuing. However, it would seem that we had done more harms than goods. We shall accept whatever punishments, befitting for us."

"As do I," Princess Luna spoke, as she joined in, much to the stallion's surprise, as well as Princess Celestia's.

"Princess Luna?" the stallion spoke, mildly surprised at the blue alicorn.

Princess Luna looked up at the stallion, as she spoke, "This is all my fault. It was I who let my anger and jealousy get the best of me, when Starswirls taught me better. And in doing so, I have not only spread my dark influence upon my children, but I've also infected it in the minds of the noble Shadowbolts, who've vowed to protect me, and my children years ago. And worse, I have nearly doomed all of Equestria," With a bow of her head, Luna continued, "I will accept whatever punishment you see fit."

"Mom!" A little filly spoke, trying to walk over to Luna, only for the blue alicorn to held her wing out, stopping the filly in her track.

Princess Celestia was hesitant for the moment, before the stallion in fedora spoke, "One thing's for certain, your highness. Someone is going to have a long time cleaning up their mess, as part of their punishment," He pointed, showing the ruins left behind, by the Smooze.

Celestia looked at the stallion, solemnly, "Sir. With all due respect-"

"It's okay, sister," Luna answered. "I accept," Standing up on her hooves, Luna spoke, "This whole mess was of my doing. And for that, I must clean it up."

"And we shall assist you, my princess," Somnambula spoke up. "Do not forget. This isn't your fault, alone. It was all our doing. And for that, we shall assist you, my princess," Somnambula bowed her head, followed by the rest of the Shadowbolts.

"We will help too, mother!" A light brown filly said eagerly. In appearance, the filly appeared to be the oldest, in comparison to the rest of the younger colts and fillies behind her. She roughly stands around the Knight's heights, with the obvious exception to Pipsqueak. The filly has light brown coat, with dark patches on her hooves, ears, and matching stripes around her muzzle, which is colored light tan, and a fluffy brownish orange mane and tail.

Luna smiled, looking down at the little filly, "That's very sweet of you, Gari," Luna replied. "But this is something I must do, with the Shadowbolts."

"Yes, but I would like to spend more time with you, mother," Gari insisted, followed by some agreements from the other colts and fillies.

"I appreciate it, my children," Luna spoke. "But I need you to stay here, in Canterlot. Something tells me, this city needs your help, more than I do."

"What?" A colt exclaimed. "But what if Princess Celestia doesn't like us? What if she kicks us out?"

"Nonsense," Celestia spoke up. "Why would I ever do that? I adore you all!" The foals looked up, slowly accepting Celestia in a new light. "The only reason I forbade you all from staying with Luna in the first place, was because I didn't want you all to be so far apart from me and every pony here. We're one big happy family. And family should stick together," the fillies and colts looked to each other, slightly agreeing with every words Celestia said. "Besides," Celestia smirked, turning her eyes to Spike. "You now have a big brother."

The foals looked at Spike, blinking at the Dragon Prince, curiously, "Hi?" Spike greeted.

In response, the foals, minus Gari, all charged after Spike, tackling him to the ground, in enjoyment.

Luna giggled in amusement, watching her children playing with her nephew, who was having a hard time escaping.

"Looks like your children will be just fine," Somnambula spoke to Princess Luna.

"I can see that," Luna smiled.

Somnambula looked, to see Joe, standing beside Luna.

"Save your pity, Somnambula," Joe muttered. "You and our fellow Shadowbolts have some work to do."





While Spike was busy keeping the children occupied, the rest of the heroes, together with the recently reformed Shadowbolts, have begun making repairs to some buildings, streets, other sorts of ruins, left behind from the destructions caused by Nightmare Smooze.

Twilight, together with Sunset, Starlight, Sunburst, and some other magic users were all combining their magics together to make instant repairs to some damaged buildings, fixing them as if nothing happened. Rainbow Dash and her team of pegasi, and Wonderbolts were all clearing away the skies, ridding them of the dark clouds that were created by Nightmare Moon. Applejack and Rarity were both clearing some fallen debris to help rescue some ponies, who were trapped during Nightmare Smooze's rampage. Fluttershy performed some medical attentions on the survivors, and the creatures they've rescued. Pinkie, together with Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and the Knights, were handing out foods to everyone. Bloodshot and Aqua were helping some repairs, while their girl, Crystal, was playing with the foals. Lastly, the renegade Shadowbolts girls making repairs to some buildings Twilight and her team of magic users haven't got to yet.

"We didn't get A's in construction class for nothing," Indigo boasted, as she continues to hammer a nail in place.

"Only when you and Twilight were partnered up together," Sugarcoat spoke bluntly, while carefully sawing a piece of wood. "But when it's individually, all you'll get are a list of F's."

Indigo winced, as she scowled at Sugar, "Give me a break, Sugar. I'm an athlete! Construction's never been my strong point. Kinda like how being a logical know-it-all is your thing!"

"Well it beats being an imbecilic fighter who's always relying on her brute strength and not brain to do the fight," Sugarcoat replied.

"Oh yeah?!" Indigo shouted, as she got down from her ladder and both she and Sugar stared down at each other.

"Enough!" Sunny Flare shouted, breaking up the fight. "We are lucky enough to not wind ourselves up in Tartarus prison. So we shouldn't waste this chance we have to redeem ourselves! So unless you girls don't want to make a scene of ourselves, then we might as well work separately!"

Looking at each other, sharing a short moment of intense stare, Indigo and Sugar nodded as they got back to work, with the rest of their Shadowbolt comrades.

Sour Sweet was putting the last finishing touches to a house she just fixed, when she looked, and spotted Spike, accompanied with the children, and Skystar. The sea pony was put in a huge magic floating bubble, so as to keep her from drying out, for too long.

"What kind of a creature are you?" An enthusiastic filly asked the equally enthusiastic sea pony.

"Well, it's quite the story, and a hard one to believe," Skystar giggled. "But get this. I'm not a sea pony! At least, not always. Once before, me, my mom, my sisters, and everyone else back home in Seaquestria. We were once a group of magical creatures called, the hippogriffs!"

"Hippo what?" the foals asked.

"No, no, no sillies. Not a hippo what. A hippogriff," Skystar answered. "Kinda like-like her!" Skystar pointed to Gilda, who was passing by. "Only our back ends are like yours," Skystar said, pointing to the foals.

"Huh?" the foals were finding it hard to understand, and to believe every words Skystar just said.

"You're a hippogriff?" a colt asked in disbelief. "No way."

"Yes, way!" Skystar replied. "I really am a hippogriff."

"If you're a hippogriff," a filly began. "Then can you fly?"

"Well, not right now. I need my mom and her magic pearl, in order to change myself back. Which unfortunately, I can't seeing as how my mom's not here, and so is her magic pearl," Skystar chuckled nervously.

"Do you like to play games?" another foal asked, followed by several more that repeated the question.

"I love to play!" Skystar smiled, to which the foals all cheered.

Spike grinned, seeing the foals taking a fancy of Sky. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and his grin instantly disappears when he sees who it is.

"Hey," Sour Sweet greeted.

"Hey," Spike returned the greeting, before he looked away.

The two were left in an awkward silence, both too nervous to start the conversation. 

Finally having enough of the silence, Spike turned to Sour, "Go ahead," he showed the girl his face, with his eyes closed. "Hit it hard," He instructed, pointing a spot on his cheek.

"What?" Sour asked in bewilderment. "What are you-"

"You heard me," Spike replied. "Give it a good smack. I deserved it."

"Um, you sure?" Sour asked.

"Just get it over with, okay?" Spike replied.

"Okay, if you say so," With that, Sour pulled Spike close and gave the young prince a long kiss on the cheek.

Spike's eyes widened at the girl's action, as he looked up at the girl, "You're not mad?" he asked.

"You mean about that fight we had in New York?" Sour asked rhetorically. "I got over it," She blushed, caressing her arms beneath her chest. "Sorta," she muttered, letting her breasts bounce lightly, which Spike was trying his best not to stare. "Besides, I kinda deserved it, since I did try to kill you, back then," Sour looked to the ground in shame. "Of course, it was also the girls' faults too!" She muttered, to her comrades.

Spike was surprised, "So, why are you here, exactly?" he asked, while keeping a distance away from the girl.

Taking a deep breath, Sour answered, "I just wanted to make amends. That and I'd like for us to be friends," Looking in her friend's directions, Sour continued, "Actually, me and the girls would all like to be your friend and ally from this time around, Spike. I mean, with no more Nightmare Moon, and no more desire on taking your Dragonfire, I'd like for us to be friends now. That is, if you would forgive us. But if you don't, then I understand."

"Who says I wouldn't forgive you girls?" Spike asked. "You've helped us out a lot, as of late. If it weren't for you girls, Flare, AJ, and Celaeno would've been the Cerulean Hunters' latest captures, Twilight and the girls would've been crushed inside that machine Abacus Cinch invented, and the Breezies and their Sun Stone would've been lost. Overall, we owe you our life!" Sour couldn't help but blush, as Spike finished, "So yeah, I guess we can hang out."

Sour Sweet smiled in response, as Spike walked up to the girl and held a hand out for a handshake. Sour took the prince's hand, before she pulled him close for a hug. Spike, taken by surprise, chuckled lightly while blushing at the surprise embrace.

Watching from the house they were repairing, the renegade Shadowbolts all smiled at their friend's move.

"Well I'll be damned," Indigo smirked.

"Hey!" Pinkie whined, when she and her fellow Bearers, plus Sunset, and Starlight passed by. "Why is she hugging Spike?"

"I don't know," Rainbow scowled. "But I don't like it."

"Well, on the bright side," Twilight spoke. "She's not hurting Spike, more or less," Twilight's words quickly got eaten when a groan was heard from Spike, due to Sour tightening the hug.

"You were saying, Twi?" Rainbow smirked, to an irritated Twilight.

Just then, a royal guard appeared, "Okay, so far everything's been put to normal," the guard reported. "Except for this one, right here, " He pointed.

Everyone turned to the direction the guard pointed, to reveal Abacus Cinch herself, surrounded by the Knights, looking confused.

"Hello," she greeted. "Who are you?" she asked Button.

"Uh....Button Mash?" Button Mash answered.

"Really? And uh....."  Abacus looked around, questionably. "W-W-Who am I?"

Button turned to the other boys as he spoke, "Looks like Cinch's got conked on the head really hard. She hasn't got a clue who she is."

Abacus continued to look at her surroundings, "This is quite the whimsical, strange place isn't it?" Abacus asked, while picking up a rock. "Do you live here?"

Button took the rock, looking at it for a moment, "No!" he answered.

"Really? OW!" Abacus shouted, when Button swung the rock, hard into her head, knocking the woman out cold.

The five former Shadowbolt rogues exchanged looks with each other, before they looked at Princess Cadence, with Shining Armor at her side, "What do we do now?" Indigo Zap asked.

"Me?" Cadence exclaimed in bewilderment. "You're asking me?"

"Wasn't Crystal Prep Dean your other occupation, aside being the Princess of Love?" Sugarcoat asked. "So surely, you must have some thoughts on running a school, with our principal suffering amnesia."

"She's got a point there, Cadence," Shining Armor said, nudging the pink alicorn on the shoulder. "The school pretty much looks up to you now."

"Uh....well," Cadence felt pressured, as she's never once looked at herself as a leader before, "I guess the first thing we do is have our doctors look her over. See how long it may take for her to get her memories back."

With that, Shining Armor manages to blow a whistle, "Medics!" With that, a group of medic ponies came, and took the unconscious Abacus Cinch away.

"In the meantime, Crystal Prep will be under your supervision, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," the stallion in fedora spoke, appearing out of nowhere.

"WHOA!" Shining Armor and Cadence shouted in surprise. "You really get around, don't you?" Shining Armor panted, as he and Cadence calmed themselves.





Vuelie - Christophe Beck · Frode Fjellheim · Cantus 


Elsewhere, Neira, Edgar, and their guards were all playing a part, with the repairs. Neira was stopping the flooding around Equestria, by freezing most of the waters in the flooded cities, before some pegasi came to pick them up, and carry them off, somewhere.

"We'll be making a lot of snowflakes this year!" one of the pegasi commented.

"In honor of Snowdrops, I hope so," another replied.

Edgar was leading his men into the waters of the flooded land, in hopes of looking for survivors. In their rescue attempts, they've been able to rescue some families who were in states of shocks, and saved some innocence who nearly drowned.

As Equestria's Frozen North's closest allies continue the work, Spike just happened to be flying by, with Mako, Mina, Ember, and a whole army of dragons.

"It's a good thing some of us can do water," Ember said, as she unsheathes the Bloodstone Scepter. "Go!" She commanded.

With that, the dragons that can swim all dove into the water, as they helped the penguins, with the rescue.

"So, sensei," Spike began. "What exactly did you want to show me, out here?"

"Another lesson in Dragon Kata, young prince," Mako answered. "One I've been saving, for when you're all grown up. And I believe now is a good time to teach it to you," With that, Mako began the lesson, "It is a little known fact, that most dragons, such as myself, can have power over water. And if done properly, we can use that power to perform incredible feats, such as this you see?"

As a demonstration, Mako slithered through the air, as he flies down to the body of water below. The wise old dragon circled around, while controlling the air around him, picking up the water as he does so. In the process, the dragon created a tornado, made of water.

"Whoa!" Spike marveled.

"Big deal," Mina mumbled. "The pegasi can do that. Even Fluttershy." 

"Perhaps they can, niece," Mako replied, much to Mina's shock, and embarrassment. "But, can they do this?" Mako soon flew in different directions, as he suddenly shapes the vortex in what appeared to be a huge ball of water. With a flick of his tail, Mako batted the ball across the distance, until it looked like a dot.

Everyone who've been watching all cheered at the dragon's performance, "It's outta here!" Edgar cheered.





Elsewhere


Garble and his gang of dragons were relax in a lava pool, when a ball of water came crashing down on them, cooling the lava, and solidifying over the dragon gangsters.

"Hey!" Clump groaned, struggling to get out. "Garble? What happened?"

"I don't know!" Garble replied, as he struggles to break free, with the rest of his comrades. Just then, a phoenix came, and angrily pecked the dragons on their exposed heads.





Later


“Phew! I’m bushed,” Pinkie panted, before she quickly perks ups, "Hey! You know what this calls for?!"

"I certainly know it!" Cheese Sandwich finished, out of nowhere.

"A VICTORY PARTY!!" the two party ponies cheered.









Later That Night


Soon, a party was underway. To start it off, a band of musical ponies were up on stage, as they sing a song, in dedication for Spike, and friends.





Everyone were all happily dancing to the beat of the music, expressing their joy of their triumphant victory over the darkness of the Shadowbolts, as well as the return of Princess Luna, Somnambula, and Luna's Children of the Night.

"I can't believe we're finally done," Spike smiled, as he lightly bops his head to the rhythm of the music, while sitting on a tuft of cloud, close to his girl friends.

"I know," Twilight grinned. "Now we can finally get on with our lives."

"Not just that, but we get to do it all, with Spike!" Rainbow added, as she pulled Spike, and gave him a noogie. "I've got a reserved seat in the Wonderbolt's Derby with your name on it, for ten years!"

"Hey! Cut it out, Dash!!" Spike replied, as he quickly escaped the cyan pegasus's tight hold. "But yeah, I'm looking forward to some down time with you girls," Breathing a sigh of content, Spike kicked back on his cloud. "Y'know girls. All of this, it just seems, I don't know, crazy."

"Crazy?" Pinkie asked. "Like, how crazy?"

"Well for one, it's hard to believe, I could go to being an amnesiac, and later, this," Spike gestured the last part, to Canterlot in festivity before them.

"We know how ya feel, Sugarcube," Applejack smiled in sympathy. "In truth, it feels like a dream come true for all of us."

"A dream that we never wanted to wake up from," Pinkie added.

"Definitely!" Fluttershy agreed.

"Oui," Fleur agreed, followed by random agreements from the others.

"To think, as kids, you were lost to us!" Rarity frowned, before she smiled. "And now, here we are, together again!"

"And with the Shadowbolts finally suffering a humiliating defeat!" Rainbow smirked proudly, before she quickly spoke, "No offense!" she smiled sheepishly.

"None taken," Sour Sweet grumbled, on behalf of herself, and all the other reformed Shadowbolts.

"Still, I find it hard to believe, Nightmare Moon was my aunt this whole time," Spike added.

"Who knew?" Twilight shrugged.

"The author, obviously," Pinkie squealed.

Speaking of whom, Princess Luna came over with Princess Celestia,"Hello nephew!" Luna greeted, jumpscaring Spike. "So good it is to finally meet you, in the waking realm!"	

"Hey auntie!" Spike smiled. "So good to see you too."

"What are you doing here?" Ember asked, still not convinced about trusting Princess Luna.

"At ease, Hothead," Mina chided, as she holds the sapphire dragon back.

"Princess Luna was wondering if she could personally meet with Spike, and asked if I could accommodate," Princess Celestia answered.

"It's true," Luna bowed her head. "And if it weren't for the heroics of that little Dragon Prince of yours, I'm afraid I'd be Nightmare Moon forever," Luna said solemnly. "So, I came here to say my thanks, to my newly adopted nephew."

Spike smiled, as he got off his cloud and walks up to Luna, "It's good to finally have you back, auntie," he said.

"Aw, he's even cuter for real!" Luna smiled, levitating the boy close, placing her hooves on the sides of his face. "I just want to pinch his little cheeks!" With that, Luna giggled, as she morphs herself in her anthro form, in a mist of blue fogs and sparkles, and playfully pinched Spike's cheeks together, with her hands.

"Good feeling's gone, Auntie Luna!" Spike groaned from the affectionate display he was receiving from his aunt.

"Lulu!" Celestia chided, as she magically pulled Spike away from his aunt. "Be careful, or you'll disfigure Spike's cute face."

"Aw, can't I help it, sister?" Luna whined. "He's so cute!"

The girls couldn't help but giggle, while the boys took the chance to observe the former dark alicorn's anthro appearance. In terms of height, she's still shorter than Princess Celestia, but stands where Spike's head is leveled to her chest. For attires, Luna wore a simple white t-shirt, with blue sleeves, a short short, and a small pair of white shoes.

"Is it wrong that we think Princess Luna's much prettier this way?" Pipsqueak asked.

"Pretty or not, she's still Spike's aunt," Rumble spoke.

"Adopted aunt," Button added. "But still....."

Just then, Scorpan came up, and cleared his throat, "Luna," he began, hesitantly. "I just want to say, it's good to see you again, and I....." With a clear of his throat, Scorpan quickly presented to Luna a bouquet of roses. "Welcome back, my princess."

"Why Scorpan!" Luna smiled, as she happily accepted the bouquet. "A sight for sore eyes! And how lovely!" she said, while taking a whiff of the roses presented.

The Knights couldn't help but feel crestfallen.

"Then again, she and Master Scorpan make a cute couple," Button spoke, as the Knights all exchanged agreements.

Mina whispered to Ember, "I kinda ship Luna with King Sombra," she whispered, much to Ember's confusion.

Spike then noticed Fleur wasn't enjoying the festivity so much. "Fleur?" Spike asked. "What's wrong?"

"I just wished that I could be with my parents right now Spike," Fleur replied. "I had high hopes I would see my parents again, right here, right now. But...."

"Fleur?" a couple of reform Shadowbolts cried, before they took their helmets to reveal...

"Mother? Father?" Fleur exclaimed.

"Goodness gracious!" Rarity exclaimed. "It's Lady Amalthea and Sir Lir!"

In appearance, Amalthea looked almost exactly like her daughter, with the exception of a light blue flowing mane, and a slim tail that puffs out into a fluffy tuft at the end. For Sir Lir, he initially appeared to be a blue eyed white unicorn stallion, with a blonde mane, tail, and goatee, when in a flash of yellow aura, he transformed himself into a tall thin man.

"Mother! Father!" Fleur cried tearfully with joy, as she galloped over to her parents, and happily nuzzled close to her mother's cheek, before she morphed in human form and happily embraced her father. Both parents happily returned their daughter's affections, glad to finally be reunited. "I thought I've lost you both!" Fleur cried.

"My darling!" Amalthea smiled, as she embraces her daughter. "We're together now. And I'm so proud to see the pony you've grown up into!"

"As have I, my little princess," Lir said, as he joined in the embrace.

Spike and friends were all happy to see that Fleur was finally reunited with her long lost parents. In truth, it's just as heartwarming as Spike's reunion with Princess Celestia, and Princess Celestia's reunion with Princess Luna, all put together.

Soon, Fleur came back up to Spike and friends, "Mon ami," she smiled. "Merci, for helping me find my family. I owe my life, to all of you," Fleur bowed her head in gratitude, to which the friends returned. "And most of all, I want to thank you, Spike," Fleur said, as she walked closer to the Dragon Prince. "For being there for me, and for giving me hope. I couldn't have made it this far without you."

Spike blushed, as he shyly looked away, "All in a day's work-MMMPH!!" Spike yelped in surprise, as he finds himself getting a french kiss from Fleur herself. Needless to say, the girls were all shocked at the unicorn's move, together with Princess Celestia, Luna, Scorpan, and Fleur's parents. However, everyone else around them all hooted and cheered loudly at the affectionate display, momentarily forgetting the bands on stage.

Once the two parted, Fleur giggled, before she went back to her parents, while Spike was left in a daze, "What a woman," he droned, before he fainted. The girls looked irk, even Skystar's once cheery demeanor was replaced with an envy scowl.





"And now, a special performance, from Equestria's three pop stars!" Twilight announced. "Give it up for, Countess Coloratura, Songbird Serenade, and Sapphire Shores!" Rara soon walked up on stage, together with Songbird Serenade, and Sapphire Shores.

"Did she say, Sapphire Shores?" Button Mask asked. "As in Sapphire Shores, the queen of pops?"

"Just a coincident, maybe she's just a pony with the same name," Rumble replied. "I mean, it can't be the same Sapphire Shores. Right?"

"Shh, quiet!" Spike shushed, as everyone all looked up, as the singers began to sing.

Rara was the first to sing, as she lead her fellow singers in the song.





Everyone were all enjoying the song, enchanted by the singing vocals of the popstar singers, while feeling their hearts melted from the love and warmth in the lyrics being sung.

Princess Celestia spreads her wings out, as she held both Twilight and Spike close to her sides.

Soon, the singers came to the end of their songs, and were met with cheers, and applauds.

"Thank you, every pony! Thank you!" Rara thanked, on behalf of herself and her fellow singers.

"And now, we have a special song we've been saving," Songbird Serenade added.

"For our best friends and favorite heroes!~" Sapphire Shores sang, before she waved a hoof out. "Spike Draco! Boys! Get up here!"

Spike and the Knights were surprised, "SHE IS OUR SAPPHIRE SHORES!!" Pipsqueak exclaimed.

"Oh no!" Button panicked. "I haven't finished reading my script for the musical!"

"Well it's your loss, boys," Discord said, suddenly popping up, together with Thorax, and a giant slingshot. "Break a leg!"

With a snap, Spike and the boys were shot up in the air, before they came landing on stage. Spike quickly sprouted his wings, as he grabbed the Knights, and they came in for a safe landing on stage. The audience all cheered, thinking it was a performance.

"Uh, hi every pony," Spike smiled, to which the mares, and to a degree, a few stallions, all cheered. Three certain mares all sighed lovingly at him.

"Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh!" a sunny mare with wild mane exclaimed. "It's really him!"

"Wow, he's so cute, I just want to hold him close, forever," a gothic mare said.

Rara soon came up to Spike, as she smiled, "And now, here's a song we'd like to sing, to pay tribute to Spike himself!" Rara announced, as the music starts playing.

"Hey now, hey now!" the three singers sang. "Hey now, hey now!"

"Have you ever seen such a beautiful night?" Rara sang.

"I could almost kiss the stars, for shining so bright!" Songbird sang.

"When I see you smiling, I go, oh, oh, oh!" Sapphire sang, before Rara and Songbird joined on the last verse.

After hearing those first lyrics, Spike's memory jogged, remembering it was the same song he once sang to Princess Luna, as a kid.

"How did you-" Spike tried to ask, only for Rara to continue singing.





Seeing as how the mare won't be able to answer his questions for awhile, and how everyone in the audience were grooving with the music, Spike and the Knights shrugged as they started dancing, entertaining the audience in their own way.

During the dance, Spike changes in flashes of fire between his human form, to a dragon, a dog, and unexpectedly, a penguin.

"Whoo-hoo! Spike!" Fluttershy cheered, finding herself overwhelmed with his animal forms. "You're so fluffy!"

Captain Celaeno, who had been silent in the crowd for awhile, couldn't help but smile with pride, specifically towards Pipsqueak.

Soon, at the end of the song, Spike breathed fire in the air, together with the sparks that blew up on stage. The audience all cheered at the final performance.

Spike and the Knights took a bow, before suddenly, the Knights were bulldozed by the three pop stars, who surrounded Spike, before they all kissed him. Sapphire Shores gave Spike a kiss on the forehead, while Rara and Songbird both did a double kiss.

Like before with Fleur, this display made the crowd cheer louder, while the girls in the crowd were shocked, and even more irked.

"I knew it!" Discord cheered, as he nudges to Thorax. "Pay up!"

"Oh, darn!" Thorax grumbled, as he gives a $50 dollar to Discord.

After the three pop star singers parted, a huge fat pony came up on stage, "Hey! Let me have a turn with him!" she neighed.

"And me!" a red earth mare added.

"And me!" a violet pegasus mare added.

"And me!" a green unicorn mare added.

"WHOA NELLY!!" Spike and the Knights screamed.

Back in the crowd, Scorpan stroke his mustache, "I don't know which threatens my nephew's life the most," he muttered. "The danger that seeks to destroy him, or the danger of love."

Celestia chuckled, "Oh, my boy's quite the ladies' man."

"Too bad he has no control over that charm of his," Thorax spoke.





??????


The sound of hoof steps broke the silence. Each steps echoed throughout the cave, the sounds bouncing off of the walls, as the source trekked deeper in the cave.

Soon, the hoof steps came to a halt, as a voice spoke up, "Master. I bring news."

Before long, a loud hiss echoed the cavern, followed by a pair of red flaming, glowing orbs that pierced the darkness.

"Nightmare Moon has been defeated," the voice spoke. "Princess Luna has returned to the ponies of Equestria, together with Somnambula, and their Shadowbolts. Therefore, Princess Celestia now holds control over the Shadowbolts via Princess Luna, making it one more force of allies for her," Another rumble of hisses filled the air, to which the figure answered, "They are currently in the process of rebuilding Equestria. Which you are obviously aware of, considering the destructions left behind in the Smooze's wake," The creature hissed hoarsely, to which the figure replied, "Understood, master," the voice finished.















Hey! Where's Blueblood?


"Hello?" Blueblood muffled from inside a moon's crater. "Hello? Can any pony here me? I'm stuck! I need help, please!" Blueblood groaned. "Can we be real, if my name was Asriel, and I'm a little lost goat kid, you'd totally help me! You would, you know you would."
> Guys' and Girls' Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been weeks after the Armor of Heroes fiasco was over, and the whole feud with the Shadowbolts is finally history. At that time, Celestial High School was finally cleaned up from Discord's chaotic outburst when he had his first taste of draconequus power, the same with Crystal Prep Academy, which is now under Princess Cadence's supervision, who is now promoted from Crystal Prep Dean to Crystal Prep Principal, after the former has been confirmed to suffer amnesia far beyond recovery.

Nevertheless, things were finally starting to calm down for the heroes, as they were able to get on with their lives.





Friday afternoon



*RING*


With the school bell ringing for the last time, for the day, the students all flooded into the hallway, eager to get on with their afternoon.

Spike was walking down a hall, on his way to his locker, eager to pack his things away.

‘Ah, Friday afternoon with just me and my friends,’ Spike thought happily.

While thinking about his friends, Spike’s mind soon drifted elsewhere, when he looked up to see a picture shot of himself, Princess Celestia, Scorpan, and the girls all crowding around him, taped on a wall inside of his locker.

Spike smiled fondly at the thought of his girls from Equestria.

“Yo, Spike!” Rumble called out, snapping the Dragon Prince out of thoughts.

Surprised, Spike jolted, looking up to see the Knights walking over, “Hey guys!” Spike returned the greeting, as he closes his locker.

“We were just thinking,” Pip began. “We finally got ourselves a weekend free of homework....”

“If you don’t count, Flintheart,” Rumble muttered, under his breath.

“And there hasn’t been anything life threatening, or any terrifying monsters on the loose,” Pip continued. “This may be a good time for us to have a guys’ night!”

“So, what do you say, Spike?” Button asked, as he and the boys anxiously wait for an answer.

Spike pondered on what the boys said, “Huh, guess we haven’t had one of those in a while,” Looking back at the Knights, he gave a thumbs up. “Let’s do it!”

“Yeah!” The Knights cheered.

“YEAH!!!” Bulk Biceps suddenly appeared, and bellowed, before he took his leave.

Soon, Spike and the Knights were on their way out, when they passed Professor Flintheart.

"Yo, Flintheart!" Button called out, when they passed the strict teacher. Of course, the only response the boy received was a cold stare from the teacher, "And uh, good bye!" With that, Button took off as he catches up with the Knights. "Sheesh, doesn’t that guy ever lighten up?"

"Don't let him bother ya, Button," Pipsqueak replied. "Besides, we've got plans of our own tonight!"

"Guys' Night!" the boys declared, before they broke out in a dance. "It's guys' night! Oh yeah! Having fun now! Oh yeah!"

Once they were out of the building, they each took their separate leave.

"Well catch ya later, bros!" Spike called.

"Catch ya later, brother!" The Knights replied.





Meanwhile, with the girls


Owl City - When Can I See You Again?


"Wow!" Starlight gasped. "So this is the place called, New York?"

"Yes it is," Applejack smiled. "Some would call it the Big Apple. Though, the humans' choice of naming that, I'll never know."

"Well I think it's beautiful!" Gabby exclaimed in excitement, with Gilda by her side.

The Harmony Bearers have agreed to bring Starlight, Gabby, and Gilda over to New York. So as to give the three girls a tour of Spike's world.

Furthermore, the three girls have been given human forms, courtesy of Twilight, to blend in.

Starlight stood around the same height, as the Bearers. Like Rarity And Fluttershy, she wore eyeshadows, only hers were pink. For attires, she wore a purple beanie with starry patterns, a greenish aquamarine shirt that has violet edges on her collar and sleeve, under an open black vest, a gray pants with a few tears, and black shoes.

Gilda’s head feathers have been turned to ruffled hairs, while still retaining their natural colors of white, tinted with purples on the edge. Her attires consists of a brown fur coat, with white feathers at the top of her collar, long purple pants, and black boots.

Gabby also retains her hair style, though she was also given a light blue cap, with white spots. Her clothing consists of a dark bluish gray hoodie, with darker pants, white plated skirt and shoes. 

“Wow, so Spike’s been living this place for ten years?” Gilda asked. “I should consider moving here.”

“And you’re not saying that, because Spike lives here?” Starlight asked suspiciously.

“No!” Gilda blushed. “Well, yeah. I mean, maybe. I mean, besides Spike, this whole place is just calling out to me!” Gilda marveled at the tall buildings. “They’re practically begging me to fly up to their tops, spread my wings, feel the winds beneath me, and feel what it means to be a griffin!”

“You’re telling me!” Gabby chirps in agreement.

Well y’know,” Rainbow began. “If you want adrenaline. There’s a thing Spike does to pass the time called parkour!”

“Parkour?” Gilda asked. “What’s that?”

“Well, it’s kinda like a race. Except you do it on foot, and if you want higher, then it’s on the roof,” Rainbow explains, only for Gilda to look more puzzled. “I think it’s better if you see it, to understand it.”

“You should check out, Spike!” Pinkie beamed. “He’s an expert! He may still be a student! But he’s got the moves like a master!”

Gabby looked, and gasped excitedly, "Speaking of who! Look!" Gabby exclaimed, as she pointed to show Spike, walking down the street. "It's Spike!"

“Huh?” Spike stopped, having heard his name called. “Someone called me?” He looked, and his nose quickly caught the definite scent of cotton candy, and his ears perked to the stampeding sounds of footsteps.

"Spike!" Before Spike could react, he was tackled to the ground by an enthusiastic Gabby. "I'm so happy to see you!" With a laugh of joy, Gabby tightly embraced Spike.

"Gabby?" Spike groaned, before he quickly frees himself. "Whoa! Is that you? I almost didn't recognize you!"

"I know, right? Right?!" Gabby smiled enthusiastically, before she twirls herself around. "So what do you think? How do I look? Do I look good?" She smiled, anxious to hear what Spike has to say.

Spike eyed Gabby up and down, before he smiles, "You're amazing, griffon or human. You know that?" He answered.

Gabby's eyes instantly turned to hearts, as she planted a quick peck on Spike's cheek, "Thank you!" She smiled.

"Oh yeah?" a familiar gruff voice spoke up, to which Spike turned to see Gilda walking up. "How about me? Am I awesome, or what?" Gilda smirked.

Spike too eyed Gilda up and down, before he gives a thumbs up, "Yeah, you're awesome," Spike complimented. "But not as awesome than Rainbow Dash."

"What?!" Gilda exclaimed, before she grabs Spike and brought him up to her face. "What's that suppose to mean?!" she scowled.

"Nothing," Spike replied. "It just means I still like you and Rainbow Dash the same way. That's all," With that, Gilda eased her grip on Spike, as she puts him back down.

"Yep. That's right," Rainbow Dash grinned, as she walks up to her griffon friend. "You're awesome, Gilda. Just not 20% cooler than me," Rainbow chuckled, as she nudged a pounding Gilda.

Spike then turned to Starlight Glimmer, and whistled, "You're not so bad yourself, Starlight," he complimented.

"Oh, thanks Spike," Starlight blushed.

"So, what brings you girls to New York?" Spike asked.

"We were just showing them around, Spike!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping up from behind, in a blast of confetti. This time, Spike wasn't so surprised, since he's had too many near heart attacks to get used to Pinkie Pie's random antics.

"Uh huh," Starlight answered, while speaking on behalf of herself, and the griffons. "We've been asking the girls a lot about New York. Since then, we've been begging to come over here and see for ourselves!"

"And let me tell ya," Gilda began. "This place makes Griffonstone look like a dump!" Gilda commented, with Gabby nodding her head in agreement.

"I see," Spike said in acknowledgement, before he took his leave. "Well ladies, I hope you have a good time. And play safe."

The girls were surprised, "Hold it, Sugarcube!" Applejack called, as she and the girls caught up to Spike. "Don't you want to join us? We'd love it if you could stick around."

"Sorry girls," Spike sadly declined. "I can't join you this evening."

The girls were dismayed, "Why can't you?" Rainbow asked.

"I've already made plans with the Knights tonight," Spike answered. "We're having a Guys' Night."

"Oh," the girls sighed in disappointment.

"Cheer up, girls," Spike said, trying to lighten the mood. "There'll be some other times I can hang with ya," The girls looked up, with a few smiling in agreement, while the rest still having looks of doubts.

"I guess," Rainbow muttered.

Twilight walked up to Spike and placed a hand on his shoulder, "We'd love that, Spike," she smiled. "Now go and have fun with your boys."

Spike nodded his head, as he took his leave, "Later girls," he waved.

"Bye," the girls bid farewell, while putting on a smile, before they quickly disappeared with sad sighs.

Spike can still hear them, and deep down, he felt his heart getting pulled on.





The girls were later at Starbuck, each having some drinks. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity all had some sweet teas. Pinkie and Gabby were enjoying themselves cups of frappauccino. And Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Gilda, and Starlight had ordered cups of coffee.

"Mmm, this is delicious!" Gabby mused, as she takes a quick slurp of her drink, and quickly recoils. "Oh! Brain freeze!"

Meanwhile, the rest of the girls were still down on some thoughts, about spending the afternoon without Spike.

"Another time, another place, without Spike," Rainbow muttered, taking a sip of her coffee. "Same as before."

Taking a sip of her tea, Twilight spoke up, "Cheer up, girls. Spike just needs some time to himself, and with his boys. It's not like he's going away again."

"I know,Twi," Applejack replied. "But still, it feels just the same."

"Oh, I can't stand the thought of letting my puppy go off on his own," Fluttershy whimpered. "After losing Professor Chimera, now this? What if he gets hit by a truck? What if he gets caught going dragon? What if he gets stuffed?"

"Take it easy, Fluttershy," Rainbow beckoned, calming the shy girl before she got the chance to hyperventilate. "I'm sure Spike will be okay. He's got the Knights with him, remember?"

"No offense, Rainbow," Gilda spoke. "Knights, or not, those boys aren't exactly bodyguard material. They're still fighters in training, y'know."

"Don't forget, their teacher is Scorpan!" Starlight spoke. "General of the Royal Army. Princess Celestia's right hoof gargoyle. And once the savior of Equestria!"

Gilda was silent for a moment, "Yeah, well, it's one thing to have some cadets as friends," Gilda sighed. "But still, would've been nice if we could participate in this Guys' Night of theirs."

"But we're not 'guys,'" Rainbow spoke. "Remember?"

"Not unless you go and have yourself a transgender surgery, and make a man out of yourself," Pinkie chirped. The girls all looked at Pinkie strangely. "What? It's Rule 63! It's a joke."

"Not helping!" Gilda screeched.

"Still," Applejack muttered. "This Guys' Night thing sounds a lot of fun."

The girls all exchanged agreements, before Gabby chirped, "In that case," Gabby began. "Let's have our own night out together! A Girls' Night!"

"Girls' Night?" Gilda asked.

"Yeah!" Gabby began. "Like Guys' Night, except y'know, it's just us gals. We hang out together, and do fun activities!"

"Why, that's simply a marvelous idea, darling!" Rarity gasped.

"Darn tootin!" Applejack answered.

"Rock on!" Rainbow agreed, followed by the other girls. Though, Twilight has some terms.

"As long as we don't do anything too extreme, I'm in," Twilight replied.

"So, what do we do?" Starlight asked.





Meanwhile, the guys


Spike had just finished the last part of his homework, as he puts it in his folder, and packs it away in his backpack.

"That's the last of it," Spike smiled in satisfaction, as he got up from his desk and walks out in the lobby.

Spike was staying at his and Scorpan's old apartment. Though he can finally return to Equestria, New York has become the young prince's second home. Therefore, while he is in New York, Spike's got complete custody of the apartment all to himself. Well, almost everyone.

Resting on a perch, was Peewee himself. Spike walks over to the sleeping phoenix and gently stroke the bird's head, without disturbing him.

"See ya later, Peewee," Spike smiled, before he took his leave to meet up with his boys.

Once outside of his apartment, Spike got on his skateboard and was skating through the neighborhood, doing flips, grinds, and all sorts of fancy tricks.

These series of acts resulted in flashes of memories to play in his head. Specifically the time when he was racing with Rainbow Dash and Gilda on his cloud.

Spike screeched to a halt, nearly crashing into a lamppost.

After he catches himself, and takes several deep breaths, Spike continues onward before he arrives at his destination. A fast food joint called Five Guys. Waiting at the front door, were the none other but the Knights themselves.

"Yo,  Spike!" Rumble greeted, followed by the others.

"Hey, Knights!" Spike greeted, and the six boys all exchanged fist bumps, high fives, and low fives. "Ah, the Five Guys," Spike sighed in nostalgia. "The place where we first met."

"Where we all met each other, for the first time," Featherweight noted.

"And it was the start of our adventures together!" Pipsqueak added.

"And now, it's another start for our new Guys' Night," Button exclaimed enthusiastically. "As Knights and Prince!" Spike and the rest of the boys quickly shushed Button.

"Quiet!" Spike whispered. "You want us to attract attention?"

"Sorry," Button apologized.

"Just, try to keep your enthusiasm to a minimum, okay?" Rumble asked. "Remember, we're here as six normal guys."

"Got it," Button gave the thumbs up, as he and the boys walked in.





The boys were soon sitting at a table, where they were enjoying their burgers, and fries. Spike in particular, was simply dipping his fries in the ketchup, while the Knights were enjoying their burgers.

"Oh man, these burgers are good!" Button Mash sighed in satisfactory.

"We've eaten McDonalds, Steak n Shakes, and Burger King," Featherweight noted. "But Five Guy's the place for us."

"Yeah, because it's where we first met each other!" Button replied, turning to the Dragon Prince. "And where we first met our bro, Spike!"

Spike looked at Button, as he took a bite of his fries, "You really like to bring that story up, don't ya, Button?" Spike smirked.

"Well it's the origin of our team, Spike!" Button Mash replied. "All team of superheroes got to have one. And the best part is, sooner our later, our story will be published for everyone to read!"

The rest of the Knights all shook their head at their nerd friend's enthusiasm, "You've been reading way too many comics, Button," Rumble muttered.

"And besides, who'd believe us and publish our story?" Tender Taps asked.









Meanwhile, with the girls


As the first stop on their to-do list for their Girls' Night out together, the girls were in Central Park, where Rainbow Dash and Gilda were having a round of one-on-one in the soccer field. Both athletes appeared evenly match as they struggle to kick the ball in each other's goals, while protecting their own.

"Not bad, Gilda," Rainbow smirked. "I'm glad that all those years of being a Shadowbolt's puppet hasn't made you any slower?"

"Slower? Me?" Gilda smirked competitively. "I'm just getting warmed up! Besides, I'm not exactly a griffon anymore, in case you didn't notice!"

Rainbow chuckled, "Don't try and go griffon on me, Gilda. Remember, where we are. You don't want to make a big headline of yourself here, and back in Equestria. Not like what happened back in Japan."

"Oh, give me a break, Dash," Gilda scoffed. "Like I'd ever make a scene," With a kick, Gilda scored a point, in Dash's goal. "Besides, last I heard, those girls got suspended for a few weeks, um Yokai Academy was it? I don't know."

"Yeah, well magical creatures in Japan do have funny ways of enforcing their laws," Rainbow commented. "But enough talk! Let's do this!"

"Bring it!" Gilda smirked.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy opened her bag up, to let some animals out, so as to stretch their legs. With some assistance from Twilight and Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy's more fantastical creatures were safely concealed, so as to not attract any unwanted attentions.

"Don't go too far, Angel!" Fluttershy said to her bunny, who simply rolled his eyes in response. "Smokey Jr. don't knock that trashcan! Nessie, no! Those aren't real-" Fluttershy winced, when the famous Loch Ness Monster chomped on some goose shaped boats, which resulted in the monster spitting them back out.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy," Twilight said, as she and Starlight got to work, repairing the boat, as well as erasing traces of Nessie's presence in the park.

Elsewhere in the park, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Gabby were lying in an open field, watching the night sky. Though finding difficulty to do so, due to the city's light pollution.

"Consarn it!" Applejack groaned, straining her eyes, struggling to see the light. "I can't see a thing with all these light shows the city's got going!"

"I'm all for living in big cities, such as Manehattan, or Manhattan in this world," Rarity began. "But even I know when there's enough lighting to at least provide some pleasure of enjoying the starry skies!"

"That and the people should really cut back on the CFC, if they want to avoid polluting Earth's Ozone Layer," Pinkie spoke up. "Otherwise, it's the end."

Gabby squinted her eyes, groaning as she rubs her eyes, "I wish we can see the stars," Gabby frowned. "Those things are the best part of the night. To not be able to see them, really takes the fun out."

Pinkie scratched her chin, before a lightbulb magically appears over her head, and she reaches into her hair, and pulls out four pair of goggles for her friends, including herself.

"There? Is that better?" Pinkie asked.

"Well I'd say," Rarity mused with satisfactory. "I can see the cosmos!"

"Shoot, Pinkie Pie!" Applejack exclaimed happily. "How'd you manage to get your hooves on these doohickey?"

"I made them!" Pinkie Pie smiled proudly of herself. "They're my greatest invention, after Spike gave me the concept of having a party at night, by planet," Pinkie then enters a fit of laughter.

Though not getting Pinkie's sense of humor, the girls all shrugged as they continue watching the night sky. At the mention of Spike, the Applejack and Rarity both couldn't help but recall some fond moments they've had as kids, with an even younger Spike. 

The girls were later exploring at a mall, where they walked around, marveling at the place, and the stores it holds. They were currently at a food court, where they ordered some plates of salads and vegetable sandwiches, while Gilda and Gabby had themselves some barbecue.

"Mmm, tasty," Gabby moaned in satisfaction, when she took a bite out of a barbecue chicken she and Gilda had bought from a nearby fast food joint.

Gilda was enjoying her chicken, before her eyes darted to see a sadden Fluttershy, eating a bowl of salad, "Sorry Flutters," Gilda apologized. "Humans or not, we're still griffons. And griffon's got to eat, y'know?"

"Oh, it's okay," Fluttershy replied. "I'm not sad about that. It is after all, part of the circle of life."

"Circle of life?" Gabby asked, with a mouthful of chicken meat.

"It's a concept Professor Chimera once taught me," Fluttershy sighed. "Just thinking about it, makes me worry about him more. I wish he was right here, right now," A drop of tear leaked from Fluttershy's eye, and dropped into her salad.

Gilda and Gabby looked at each other, before they spoke, "This Chimera guy," Gilda began. "He really means that much to ya?"

Fluttershy nodded, "In some ways, he's kinda like another father to me," Fluttershy starts to remember the moments she's had with her professor, before his disappearance. "We both love our animals. We take care of them, we learn from them, and we just love to do everything together with animals," Fluttershy sighed, as she recalls a moment between herself and her unicorn mentor. "He was the one who taught me about the circle of life, so that I would cope with the fact about predators, and prey."

The girls around her all looked solemnly, "Sounds to me he was a good stallion," Applejack frowned. 'Just like the stallion I’ll never know,' she thought sadly about her father.

The girls all got up from their seats as they walked over, and pulled Fluttershy in a series comforting hugs.

Little did the girls know, Zephyr Breeze just so happens to be close by. The slacker was initially there to check Rainbow Dash out, but when he hears Fluttershy expressing her worry about her professor, the boy had a sudden change of thought, and wasn't in the mood to flirt with Dash, as he quietly took his leave.





Meanwhile, with the boys


Found My Place - Oh, Hush! Feat. Jeff Lewis


The boys were at an arcade, where they were engaged in a heated game of Laser Tag.

Team 1: Spike, Rumble, and Featherweight.  Score: 890

Team 2: Button Mash, Pipsqueak, and Tender Taps. Score: 885

Button Mash was hiding behind a huge block, quietly stalking Featherweight. Carefully aiming his gun at his opponent's paddings, Button Mash opened fire, which resulted the lights in Featherweight's paddings to light up, signaling the journalist that he's been hit.

Team 1: 890
Team 2: 900

"I got him! I got him!" Button Mash cheered to himself, before he got shot by Rumble, from behind.

Team 1: 905
Team 2: 900

"And I got you!" Rumble grinned.

In the meantime, Spike was sneaking through the obstacle, all the while keeping his wits up via eyes, ears, and nose. His ears perked to the sound of running footsteps from his boys, the stale scent of the room making his nose twitch, and the flashy multicolors that decorated the room, piercing the darkness of the room.

'I should come here more often,' Spike thought, while scanning the area.

From a distance, Pipsqueak and Tender Taps both spotted Spike, and were whispering plans with each other.

"There's Spike," Tender Taps whispered.

"What do we do now?" Pipsqueak asked, quietly.

"We need plan. Remember, he ain't even human. He's got ears of a bat, nose of a bloodhound, and eyes of a hawk. We need to do something unexpected."

"Like what?" Pipsqueak asked.

Spike, meanwhile, heard what the two boys were whispering, and smirked, 'Unexpected, eh?' he asked to himself, mentally. 'I doubt it, since nobody can be unexpected than Pinkie Pie.'

Then, Button Mash jumped out of nowhere, and opened fire at Spike. Spike quickly ducks his head, dodging the blast, which struck a mirror from behind. The blast bounced off the reflective surface, back at Button Mash, resulting in a five point penalty score for his team.

Team 1: 910
Team 2: 900

"Nice try, Button," Spike smirked, as he rapidly fires his shots at Button and scored his team some points.

Team 1: 955
Team 2: 900

Pipsqueak and Tender Taps soon opened fire at some of the mirrors in the room, which all bounced off, onto another, before they all came in a crossfire. Spike saw the incoming blasts and did a few sidesteps, trying his best to evade the incoming shots. Spike ducked, avoiding one shots being fired overhead. Some of the shots struck Button Mash, resulting in penalty scores, while the other shots hit Spike, resulting in the opposite.

"Hang on, Spike!" Rumble and Featherweight cried, as they came rushing to their friend's aid. "We got your back!"

"You mean, we got your backs!" Pipsqueak said, as he and Tender Taps opened fire on the two boys, resulting a whopping 500 score, for Team 2.

Team 1: 985
Team 2: 1400

Just then, the horn was sounded, signaling the end of the game.

"Team 2 wins!" a loud ominous voice announced.

"YEAH!!" Button Mash cheered, as he, Tender Taps, and Pipsqueak all exchanged high fives and low fives.

"Well played, boys," Spike clapped, accepting his loss. "Well played."

Later, the boys were out of the room, playing some other games. Spike was enjoying himself to a game of Fruit Ninjas, Pipsqueak and Featherweight were playing Air Hockey, Button Mash and Tender Taps were racing together in a racing game, while Rumble was shooting hoops.

"YEAH!" Button cheered, when he crossed the finish line in first place. "I won!" Next thing Button knew, a rather attractive girl in bikini appeared on Button's victory screen, dancing, much to his arousal. "Whoa," Button whistled.

Tender Taps, also turned on, snapped Button out of his trance, "Don't let Sweetie Belle catch you like this," Tender chided. "Otherwise, I won't be surprised if she decides to break up with you."

"That's okay," Button replied with a shrug. "I can picture her in this girl's bikini," Button grinned smugly, while Tender shot a deadpanned look.





Meanwhile, with the girls


The girls were later at a fashion store, where they were trying on some new threads. Rarity came out of a dressing room to show herself don up in a long flowing white dress, with blue ribbons at the top, and around the waist.

"Darlings, how do I look?" Rarity asks, twirling around to show off her dress.

"You tell us, Rare," Rainbow spoke. "You're the one always dresses in style."

"The ribbons looked a little too long," Applejack said honestly. "And the skirt looks a bit too long. You could easily trip on them when you walk, y'know."

"Oh, honestly Applejack," Rarity scoffed. "You have no sense of fashion, do ya?"

"Well we do live in a society where we don't normally wear clothes," Applejack said, while whispering the part about clothes, so as to not attract attentions. "So forgive me if I don't get your taste of clothing and designs."

“I think you look good, Rarity,” Fluttershy spoke up meekly. “Whoo hoo,” She cheered quietly.

“I’d have to agree with Fluttershy,” Starlight added. “You pulled it off so well.”

“Affirmative,” Twilight smiled.

“Why thank you, darlings!” Rarity smiled. ‘Now if only Spikey-Poo was here.’

Just then, a door to one of the dressing room opens up, and Gilda walked out, wearing nothing but a lacy black bra and panties. "Hey girls. How'd I-"

"GILDA!!" Dash screamed, as she runs over and shoved Gilda, back in the room, while checking to make sure no boys were around.

"What gives Dash?" Gilda asked, as she got up and rubs her head. "I took my other clothes off and wore these like ya told me too!"

"You're wearing them the right way alright," Rainbow replied. The first time Gilda was trying out some undergarment, as a human, she wore them outside. "But we're in public!"

"So? It's not like I haven't done this before, back home," Gilda replied. "Besides, you and your filly friends all walk around, bare naked in Ponyville."

"Well this ain't Ponyville!" Rainbow hissed harshly. "And trust me. The last thing you want to do, while you're here on Earth, is being seen stark naked, or in your underwear!"

"Okay, okay fine," Gilda replied, before she looked at herself in the mirror. "Though, besides losing most of my feathers and furs. And having my, um.....as you girls call them 'jugs,' held close by these itchy cups you call bra, and these panties riding up my butt, I look kinda good this way."

Rainbow had a deadpanned look on her face, before she repeated, "Again, public?"

"Okay, okay, relax. I'll put my clothes on," Gilda assured, as Rainbow walks out. Looking back at her reflection, Gilda walked over to her jacket, only to pull out a small phone, given to her, Gabby, and Starlight by Twilight.  "Though, I'd like to get a quick shot of myself and send it to Spike," Gilda smirked, as she poses herself in front of the mirror. "I want to see what the dork thinks."





Meanwhile, with the boys


The boys were later doing karaoke at a cafe. And to their surprise, they see the first singer on stage is none other but their drama teacher, Sapphire Shores, together with a girl with an all too familiar hair of indigo and opal, and another with huge locks of yellow and black, over her eyes.

Sapphire Shores appears to be leading the first verse of the song, before other girls joined in, singing the rest of the lyrics.





When the three talented singers came to the end of their song, they were met with cheers and applause. Though, not as much as Button Mash.

"Whoo-hoo! Bravo!" Button applauded. "Bravissimo! Encore!" Button blew several long whistles, before he was pulled back by the rest of his posse, just as the three singers walked off the stage.

The Knights quickly took the stage, browsing through the songs, before founding the one for them. With that, the music starts to play, and the Knights all sang the lyrics.





Spike, meanwhile, was sitting on a couch, bopping his head to the rhythm of his boys singing. Once the boys came to the end of their song, they were met with applause from the crowd, as Spike took the stage, selected a song, and began singing. When the music begins, Spike starts to feel the beats and moves his body to the rhythm, while making a playful howl, before he held the microphone up to his mouth and sang.





Spike sang passionately, channeling the feeling of the song through his voice. The audience all cheered for the Dragon Prince's talented singing voice.

"Everything goes. Everything fits," some girls in the crowds sang.

"They love me at the Chelsea. They adore me at the Ritz!" Spike sang in reply, which was enough to make the girls faint.

After singing a few more lyrics, Spike came to the end, and was met with applause.

"Thank you, thank you," Spike thanked as he left the stage to regroup with his posse.

"Way to go, Spike!" Rumble complimented.

"You really killed it up there!" Button smiled.

"You guys weren't so bad yourself," Spike replied.

"SPIKE!! Omigosh!" a voice called out, and Spike finds himself embraced by the girl from before. "You and your boys were amazing up there!" Rara said enthusiastically, looking at Spike with a smile.

"Rara!" Spike smiled. "I thought it was you. I mean, no one else can sing that good," Rara giggled, with a blush on her face, as Sapphire Shores and Songbird Serenade both came over, "Oh, evening to you, ma'm," Spike greeted the two, respectfully, with his Knights following his example.

Sapphire Shores chuckled, "Now Spike," she began. "There's no call for formality."

"Indeed," Songbird spoke up. "We're here together as friends. Aren't we?"

"We are?" Spike asked, before he shook. "I mean, yeah! We are! It just feels kinda unusual to address you both casually. Especially you, Ms. Shores, er I mean, Sapphire."

Sapphire Shores couldn't help but laugh, "Now, Spike. Honestly, sweetie. I may be a teacher, but I'm still a girl. And as we say, girls just want to have fun!~" she sang, with Rara and Songbird nodding in agreement.

"Ooh, good choice of phrase," Featherweight commented.

"So, what are you boys doing here?" Rara asked.

"We're just out here for a Guys' Night," Spike answered. "What about you ladies?"

"Sapphire here's been telling us a lot about New York," Songbird answered on behalf of herself and her fellow singers. "So me and Rara got curious, and we talked Sapphire into showing us the place."

"And what do you think so far?" Button asked.

"So far, it's alright," Rara replied, before she looks down at herself. "Though, it feels kinda weird that to walk on two legs, lose my tail, the furs on my coat, and suddenly having these," Rara gestured to her breasts, which she cupped with both her hands.

In response, Spike and the boys' faces turned shades of red as they quickly looked away, so as to not look like perverts. Spike quickly held his hands to his nose when he felt a drop of blood on the verge of dropping, as well as stopping his whiskers from growing out.

Before the scene could get anymore awkward, a voice called out, "Well I'll be!" In a flash of light, and there stood Discord. "If it isn't my pals, Spike and the Knights! And the Lovely Serenities!"

"Who?" Spike and the boys asked, looking around for whom Discord was referring to.

"I think he's referring to us," Sapphire answered the boys.

Rara and Songbird both pondered on the name given by Discord, "Hmm, the Serenities," Songbird spoke. "It's got a nice ring to it."

Getting back on topic, Spike turned to Discord, "So what's cooking?" he asked.

"My cupcakes," Discord answered, magically holding out a tray of freshly baked cupcakes. "And I'm here with my date," Discord grinned, as he steps to the side to reveal an attractive girl, no older than the boys and girls, but shorter than Discord.

In appearance, the girl has a long, shoulder length, smooth lavender hair with straight cut at the bang, the bottom. Piercing emerald green eyes that are framed by dark purple eyeliners that shaped into sharp points at the corners, and swirls gracefully down on her left cheek. For attires, the girl wore a long light purple dress that hugs her curvaceous figure, with a dark purple belt at the waist with an emblem in the shape of a cat's head, and white sandals. The girl also wore bronze jewelry, embedded with jades, around her neck, wrists, and ankles.

"Hello," the girl greeted with a bat of her eyelashes. 

"Hi," Spike replied. "I'm Spike. And this is Button Mash, Rumble, Tender Taps, Pipsqueak, and Featherweight," he said, introducing the rest of his boys.

"And I'm Sapphire Shores," Sapphire introduced herself. "And this here is Songbird Serenade, and Coloratura," she introduced her girls.

"Please, call me Rara," Rara insisted.

"Pleasure to meet you all," the girl smiled. "I'm Baast. Discord's told me a lot about you boys. But mostly you, Spike."

"Really?" Spike asked, looking at the eccentric magician who suddenly appeared besides him in a flash of light.

"Oh I indeed I did," Discord smiled, before he looked up at Baast. "What I tell you, Baast? What a friendly bunch!"

"Indeed I do, Dissy dear," Baast replied. "Though, I can see why, as you say, a lot of girls fall for Spike."

"WHAT?!!" Discord gasped in horror, appearing before Baast in a flash of light. "You're considering dumping me already?!"

Baast giggled lightly, "Oh, Discord. I'm just giving a compliment. You on the other hand," Baast purred, as she drew circles around Discord's chest. "You're a lot of fun for me."

"Oh you," Discord smirked, as he held Baast close. Turning his attention back to the boys and girls, Discord asked, "So, what are y'all doing here?"

"We were just having a guys' night, when you guys walked in," Button replied.

"And we were having some girls' night of our own," Sapphire answered.

"Oh, well hope you don't mind me and Baast," Discord said, as he twirls Baast. "But we're needed on the dance floor."

"Not to worry," Spike replied. "We were just about to leave anyway."

"The same with us," Rara spoke.

"Sorry, Discord," Rumble apologized. "We've got other plans and other places to be."

"That's okay, Rumble," Discord nodded in understanding. "It was nice to see y'all. And all."

"Right," Spike, together with the boys and girls took their leave. "See ya around, Discord!"

"Okay bye boys," Discord called.

With that, Discord and Baast both walked out on the dance floor, just when some female singers took the stage and sang some lyrics, which Discord and Baast both danced to.





Outside of the cafe, the Knights were walking down the streets of New York, with the now named Serenities joining, enjoying the lights, and the flashing billboards of Time Square.

"Wow," Rara marveled. "It's even prettier at night!"

"Mmm hmmm," Sapphire said in agreement. "You ain't seen nothing yet, girlfriend. There's more to show ya at the Winter Garden Theatre!"

"Ooh, I can't wait!" Rara squealed excitedly.

Sapphire turned to the Knights, "Well boys," the singer began. "I'm afraid this is the part where we must part way."

"That's okay, Sapphire," Spike replied. "You ladies go and have a good time."

Rara smiled as she walks over to Spike, "It was great seeing you again, Spike!" She said, holding her hands together, while shaking uneasily to the sides. "Will I ever see you again?" Rara asked hopefully.

Spike held a thumbs up, and smirked, "You bet," he replied.

Rara smiled, before she turns and waved, "See ya later," she called, as she ran after her fellow singers.

"Bye!" Spike called, before he turns and leaves with his guys.

"What I tell ya, Spike?" Button asked. "Ain't this the night?"

"Oh yeah," Spike smiled. "So far, it's the best night!"

"I'll say," Pipsqueak replied in agreement.

Spike's phone suddenly rang, "Sorry, that's me," he said to his guys, as he took his phone out to see he got a text from an unknown person. "Huh? Who is-" Spike's eyes widened, 'WHOA!!' he mentally screamed. 

With a blush on his face, Spike turned to his guys, "I'll catch up with you later, boys!" Spike called, as he runs down an alley, and quickly look at the selfie shot of Gilda, in human form, posing in a black lacy lingerie. "Whoa, mama!" Spike said to himself in arousal, before he snaps out of it, and thought, 'I should save this,' Spike did so, as he saved the picture in his file. 'Though, would I get in trouble with the girls if they ever find out about this? Oh well, whatever the girls don't know, won't hurt me.'

Putting his phone away, Spike caught up with his Knights.

"You okay, Spike?" Pipsqueak asked. "What happened back there?"

"Oh, just a text from the girls," Spike spoke, half-truthfully. "They wanted to let me know they're showing Gabby, Gilda, and Starlight around."

"Those girls are here?" Rumble inquired.

"Yep," Spike replied. "They said they wanted to come and see New York. So the girls are giving them a tour of the city," The Knights all nodded in acknowledgment. "So what's next?"

"I don't know about you guys," Button spoke. "But all of these actions have got me hungry."

"Same here," Rumble added.

"Me too!" Featherweight joined.

"Famished," Pipsqueak said.

Featherweight then had an idea, "I know where we can go!"





Meanwhile


Miranda Cosgrove - Kissing U


The girls were later having dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Surprisingly, who should they run, but Sunset Shimmer, who is working as a waitress at the restaurant. 

Sunset Shimmer came walking over with girls' orders.

"Here you girls are," Sunset said, as she hands the girls their foods.

"Domo arigato!" Pinkie chirped, as she and the girls receive her order.

Twilight then clapped her hands together and said, "Itadakimasu."

"What?" the rest of the girls asked.

"That means, let's eat," Sunset answered.

"In that case, eat a duck and a mouse!" Pinkie cheered, as she wolfs down in her udon noodle soup.

"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity shrieked. "Where are your manners?"

"Oh that's okay, Rarity," Sunset grinned sheepishly. "Believe it or not, but in Japanese restaurants. Slurping sounds are compliments, not a sign of rudeness."

"In that case!" Pinkie Pie picks up a huge bowl of miso soup and downs it whole. "Deeeeelicous!" she smiled.

Just then, Spike and the Knights walked in, "Wow," Spike marveled, looking around. "It's like I'm back in Japan all over again. Except, I'm here with you guys, and not Uncle Scorpan."

"I know right?!" Featherweight asked excitedly. "I've been reviewing this place, and it's got excellent foods, together with the decorations that carries the tranquility and beautiful art of its homeland! Which is why I've picked this place for us, tonight!"

"It's also how you discredited Zesty Gourmand when you wrote the story that contradicts her reviews," Pipsqueak noted.

Soon, the boys were greeted by the restaurant's host, "Irasshaimase!" the host greeted. "Welcome to Red Phoenix Restaurant. How many people are in your party?"

"Rokunin desu," Spike answered in Japanese, surprising his posse. It means, "Six people," in English.

The host gasps, "Anata wa nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu ka?" he asked, translated: "You can speak Japanese?"

Spike nodded his head, "Madamada desu."

After a few friendly exchanges between Spike and the host, the boys were directed to their seat, where they awaited for a waitress.

While they waited, Rumble was the first to ask, "You can speak Japanese?"

"Hai," Spike answered. "I told you boys. I've once gone to Japan with Uncle Scorpan, remember?"

"But you didn't speak Japanese when you came back," Pipsqueak added.

"You guys never asked," Spike reminded.

"Spike?! Boys?" some familiar voices called, and the boys looked to see, sitting next to them are the girls themselves.

"Girls?!" Spike exclaimed. 

"What are you doing here?" they both asked in unison. "Having dinner for Guys'/Girls' Night," they paused for a moment, before they asked again. "You are?"

"Huh, what are the odds of us running into each other's night?" Pinkie asked.

Just then, Sunset Shimmer came to take the boys' orders.

"Sunset Shimmer?" Spike exclaimed in surprise.

"Spike?!" Sunset exclaimed in equal surprise.

The boys looked, and couldn't help but take in the fiery girl's new look, befitting for the restaurant she's working for. Sunset wore a sleeveless navy blue waitress uniform that reaches down to her knee, a white apron that's decorated with a green smiling octopus, a huge tidal wave that looks similar to the one seen in Japanese paintings, tied at waist by a white belt with blue stripes, which ends as a ribbon in the back, with what appeared to be a green fish's tail fin. To further her appearance to match the restaurant's them, Sunset wore white socks in a sandal, and her hair was done up in a bun, with an emblem that resembles a green pufferfish resting in her hair, a few ponytails hanging in the back, by a band that resembles a sushi roll.

"Whoa, Sunset Shimmer, you look good!" Featherweight complimented. "Or as you say in Japanese, kawaii!"

"Kawaii means cute," Spike spoke. "Though, another way to compliment a girl in Japanese is, Sunset Shimmer wa kirei desu ne!"

Sunset shyly looks away, "Thanks," Sunset blushed.

"Yeah, it's a surprise for us too," Starlight spoke.

"Anyway, what can I get you boys, this evening?" Sunset asked.

"I'll have the ramen noodle, please," Spike order. "Or as we'd say: ramen hitotsu kudasai."

Sunset simply rolled her eyes at Spike's Japanese talk, before turning to the rest of the boys.

"I'd like to have a bowl of fried rice, please," Pipsqueak spoke.

"This soba noodle of yours looks good," Tender Taps answered.

"I'll have your famous yaki udon," Featherweight said with confident.

"The nigiri-sushis look good," Rumble commented.

"What he's having," Button said, pointing to Rumble.

"Coming right up," With that, Sunset took her leave to get the boys' orders.

While the boys waited for their dinner, the skin on the back of Spike's neck started to twitch, as if he can feel the stares from the girls. Slowly turning his head, Spike looked to see the girls looking at him. In response, the girls quickly looked away.

"Oh, sorry Spike!" Twilight apologized, on behalf herself and the girls. "We didn't mean to stare."

"It's okay, Twi," Spike replied. "I get that a lot."

"And it ain't the fact he's a pr-" Button was quickly muffled by Rumble and Tender Taps.

"Shhh!" the two boys shushed their friend.

Ignoring the boys, Spike looked back at the girls, "So, what brings you ladies here?" He asked.

"I'd ask you the same thing, Sugarcube," Applejack replied.

"We're just here for dinner to put an end on our Guys' Night," Spike answered.

"Hey! Same reason to what we're doing!" Pinkie chirped.

"We're having a Girls' Night out!" Gabby added in equal excitement.

"Really?" Spike asked. "So how was it? Can you tell us all about it?"

"We'd love to tell you about our night, if you'd tell us about yours, Spike," Twilght said.

"Definitely!" Fluttershy said in agreement.

"Okie-dokie-lokie!" Pinkie smiled.

With that, both boys and girls all exchanged stories about their night out together. During which, Sunset Shimmer and gave the boys the foods they ordered. Sunset stuck around, at Twilight's request, as the conversation continues.

"Sounds to me you boys had a good time!" Applejack commented.

"I'd say the same for you girls," Spike replied. "Heh, we should have nights like this more often," Both girls and boys all exchange agreements.

"Then the fun will be doubled!" Pinkie cheered.

"Take it easy, Sugarcube," Applejack assured, trying to calm her pink hyper friend down. "Ya don't want to get us kicked out."

"Oopsie daisy," Pinkie smiled meekly.

"Well, either way," Button raised his cup up. "I second Spike's notion!" Soon, the rest of the boys and girls all raised their glasses in agreement. Sunset even picked up a glass she was carrying on her tray to join in the celebratory.

"To an awesome Guys' and Girls' Night!" Spike said, as he and his friends all clicked their glasses together.

"Cheers!" they said together.
> Super Spike's Pizza Run
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. Spike was once again, staying over in New York, at his apartment.

The boy was up on the rooftop of the building, together with Peewee. Both boys were doing some morning exercises. Spike was doing some stretches with his arms and legs, while Peewee was mimicking his owner's movements.

Soon after the stretches were done, the two boys went back to their room, where they both enjoyed themselves to plates of pancakes, and apples. 

Afterwards, Spike dons himself up a red and white jacket, with an image of a slice of pizza on the back, below the words "Mario's Pizzeria & Pasta."

The occasion is quite clear. Spike had successfully applied himself a job, at the jacket’s namesake, on the back. And today's his first day on the job.

For the past weeks or so, things have been quiet in both New York, and Equestria. Not that Spike and his friends didn't like it, as it gave them all the chance to enjoy their lives.

Twilight was visiting a university in Canterlot, with Sunset and Starlight, to give a lecture on the magic of friendship. Fluttershy was relaxing in her hut, at the edge of the Everfree Forest, with her animals. Applejack was making some apple deliveries with her family, across Equestria. Rarity was visiting Canterlot to check up on her boutique in the said capital of Equestria. Pinkie Pie was throwing a party for some little fillies. Lastly, Rainbow Dash was on a camping trip with Scootaloo.

The Knights were also doing their own things as well. Button Mash was assisting in some community services with Sweetie Belle, who is still serving her sentence. Featherweight was scoping for some big news, with his cousin, Pipsqueak. Rumble was hanging out with his brother, Thunderlane. Tender Taps was practicing his dance routine for a recital coming up.

Furthermore, Fleur was taking some times to catch up with her long-lost parents. The renegade Shadowbolts, now renamed the Crystal Prep Shadows, are currently doing community services in Equestria, together with their fellow reformed Shadowbolts, and Princess Luna. Gilda and Gabby returned to Griffonstone to help with some repairs. Dragon Lord Ember returned to Dracasia, where she and her imperial army were greeted with a hero's welcome. Mina went back to Dragon Town, together with her uncle Mako. 

Neira returned to the Frozen North, with Prince Edgar. Princess Skystar is still enjoying her time in Ponyville, all the while swimming inside her magic floating bubble. Trixie is putting on a magic show in Central Park. Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops finally had some alone times to attend to some "personal" business. Daring Do was off to explore the world once more, seeking valuable treasures, and thwarting money grubbing crooks, such as Dr. Caballeron. Lastly, Captain Celaeno was spending most of her lonely days at the Castle of Friendship. Though the anthro parrot pirate still gets visit from the ponies, considering how she did took part in the defeat, and reformation, of the Shadowbolts, it's still not enough to fill the hole in her heart, where her hearty band of pirates used to fill.

Now back with Spike, the Dragon Prince finishes up his uniform, before heading toward out the door.

“See ya, Peewee,” he called, turning to face the bird. “Be a good phoenix! And don’t get into trouble!”

Peewee squawks in response, as Spike closes the door completely. Looking around, making sure he was completely alone, Peewee quickly flaps his wings for the nearby movie sets, and pulls out a movie with the title Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.





Mario's Pizzeria & Pasta


After several runs on the roofs, Spike arrived at the restaurant, just in time.

"Spike Draco! Ello!" an Italian man in red, greeted the boy. In appearance, the man has a welcoming demeanor, with blue eyes, a large nose, and a large brown, bushy mustache. He wore a red vest, over a white dress shirt, and a long white apron over a long black pants.

"Hey Mr. Mario!" Spike greeted the man, with a handshake. "How are you?"

"I'm a-good!" Mario spoke, with a thumbs up. "Now get-a to work!"

“You can count on me, boss!” Spike saluted, as he walks into the restaurant.

Interior of the building speaks Italy. The walls were decorated with color schemes of the Italy flag, the tables covered in checkered cloths, and candles.

In the middle of the restaurant is a bar, where another man was attending to. In appearance, the man appears to be taller than Mario, with a straight, brown mustache, but also with blue eyes, and a large nose. For attires, the man wore a green bowtie, black vest with yellow buttons, over a white dress shirt, and matching apron and pants.

"Hey, Mr. Luigi!" Spike greeted the bartender.

"Ello, Spike!" Luigi greeted, while washing a crystal glass. "How are ya?"

"Not bad, you?"

"I'm a-Luigi! Number one!"

"Alright!"

Just then, a phone rang, to which Luigi answered, "Ello? Mario's Pizzeria & Pasta. Luigi speaking," Luigi answered, followed by some chatters, to which Luigi quickly took note on a notepad. "Okay! It's-a on the way," With that, Luigi hangs up, before he walks to a window to the kitchen, where he hollers to the cooks. "One large pepperoni pizza, extra thick!"

"One large pepperoni pizza, extra thick!" One of the cooks hollered to the others, who all set to work, making the pizza.

Meanwhile, some more customers walked into the facility, where they are seated by Mario. Spike then took over, as he hands them each a menu, while introducing today's special. After taking their orders, Spike rushes to the cooks to give them the costumer's orders.

For the rest of the day, Spike and his fellow employees worked together, from taking the costumer's orders to cleaning the tables, making rooms for newcomers.





Later that day


“Hey Spike!” Mario shouted, while carrying three large boxes of pizza. “We got-a ourselves another-a order from-a someone named-a Berry Twist!”

“What’s the address?” Spike asked, as he walks over.

“122 Oak-a St.” Mario answered, as he packs the pizza in a case, before handing it over to Spike. “They-a want-a their pizza in a-half an hour. So don’t-a be-a late!”

“Got it!” Spike replied, as he takes his leave with his package.

“Don’t-a forget your-a scooter-a!” Luigi called out.

“Spike-a be careful!” Mario added.

“I will!” Spike answered, as he leaves the facility.





Spike was riding on a scooter, provided by Mario and Luigi, driving towards his assigned destination, with his package safely secured in a trunk, on the back of the scooter.

Spike had stopped at a crossing, to check the GPS on his scooter, while reading the street signs, making sure he was heading in the right direction, when suddenly, his ears perked up to the sound of screaming.

“NO! LET ME GO!!” Spike turns his head in the direction of the scream, down an alleyway.

The scream sounded close, even for the hearing range of an average human. Yet no one passing by appeared to be fazed, or even cared.

Spike looked at his watch. He has only ten minutes left. But who knows if he’ll have any time left to deliver the pizzas, or if he’ll even come back in time.

'I could lose my job for this,' Spike thought, while sadly looking down the alley. 'Then again, that poor person could lose their life. What do I do?' Spike didn't have enough time to think, as he hears another scream go off.

With a deep sigh, knowing time is running out for the person, Spike turns his scooter, and burned rubbers, as he rides into the alley.

It wasn't long before the sound of a scuffle started to grow louder. Screeching to a stop, Spike parked his scooter outside, while carrying his package close. Quietly, and carefully creeps against the walls. With his eyes glowing a fiery aura of green, Spike's eyes adjusted to the faint lack of lightings in the alley, while peering around the corner.

Standing before him, were a group of four thugs, all wearing dog masks, while holding another person down.

"Stop right there!" Spike shouted, catching the thugs by surprise, as they turned to face him. "You're all under arrest!"

One of the thugs looked at Spike with a questionable look, concealed by his mask, "Who are you? A cop?" he asked.

"Uh, no actually, I'm a pizza delivery boy right now," Spike answered.

The thugs all looked at each other. Spike can clearly hear one of them scoffing, "Give me a break."

"With pleasure," Spike smirked, as he tossed the package at one of the thugs, who caught it, before he surprises them with a flurry of kicks, dropping the package, before Spike quickly caught it.

It was then that the thugs instantly remembered, "Hey! I remember you!" one of the inflicted thugs exclaimed, before turning to rest who were holding down their victim. "It's that karate kid we've been telling you about! The one who breathed fire!"

"This punk?" one of the thugs asked in bewilderment. "You've got to be kidding me. You jokers mean to tell me you all got spooked by some small version of Jackie Chan?"

"Um, didn't you hear us say he breathes fire?" One of the thugs whimpered.

"SHUT UP!!" With that, one of the thug holding the person down got up, "Hold her, Joe!" He said to his other comrade. "I'll teach this kid a lesson. Watch and learn!"

"I'm warning you, sir!" One of the frightened thugs quivered. "He's not human!"

The frightened thugs' warnings fell on deaf ears as the taller thug walked over to Spike, "Okay, tough guy!" the man growled. "Time to put you down!" With that, the man swung his fist at Spike, who instantly ducked his head, evading the strike, before he thrusted his hands out in a flurry of open palm strikes at the stomach, chest, followed by a closed fist uppercut.

Dazed, the thug stumbled back, while wiping a drop of blood from his mouth, "You got skills, kid!" he growled, before he picks up a nearby metal pipe. "Now say hello to my friend!" With a loud roar, the man swung the pipe on Spike, who quickly held up the package as a makeshift shield, blocking the pipe's struck, before Spike did a backflip, and kicked the man's chin. Shaking the blow off, the man lunged at Spike with the pipe in hand, and swung it at the Dragon Prince, who quickly caught the object.

Using the narrow structure of the alley to his advantage, Spike jumps in the air, thrusted his legs out, clinging to the walls on both sides, before he flips over the man, still holding the pipe, causing the thug's arms to bend backward.

“Down we go!” Spike shouted, thrusting his legs backward, right into the thug's backside, causing the man to stumble forward, while releasing the pipe, which is now in Spike's hands.

Rubbing his sore buttocks, the man turned to face Spike, "Eeeee-yah!!!" Spike screamed, as his eyes turned reptilic, and his dragon fangs were bared, adding the ferocity to his appearance.

"WHAT THE HELL?!!" the man screamed in fright, before he was met with a punch to the face, a strong side kick to the stomach. The man looked to see Spike was gone, before receiving a powerful flying kick from behind. Spike then reappeared before the thug, holding his hand out, with his elbow bent. Then, with an explosion of strength, Spike closed his hand into a fist, as his arm snaps forward, throwing the thug at an impressive distance.

The other thugs all looked at Spike in equal worry, though two of them have clearly soaked their pants.

"Let's get out of here!" one of the thug shouted in fear, as he and his comrades all retreated, leaving Spike alone, with the person he rescued.

Upon closer examination of their physique, Spike can tell the person he rescued is a girl, “You okay there, miss?” Spike asked, walking over to see the girl was still huddling in a quivering frightened ball. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe now."

“D-D-Do you mean that?” the girl asked in a soft, timid, stuttering voice. 

"Uh huh," Spike answered, to which the girl slowly looked up.

In appearance, the girl had light cyan colored eyes, and her hair was a mix of pale, light grayish cyan and light opals gray. For attires, she appeared to be dressed in the same school uniform of Crystal Prep Academy, with the addition of a white-bordered lavender sailor collar, with a scarlet tie, and a tri-shade hair clip in the back of her hair

When the girl got a good look at Spike, she gasped, “Oh! Prince Spike!”

“Huh?” Spike looked at the girl, confused. “You know me?”

“Of course I do,” the girl smiled. “I’m from Equestria, too!"

"That's cool," Spike smiled. "Who might you be?"

The girl blushed, as she twirled her hair, "I’m Coco Pommel,” she answered.

Spike smiled, “Pleasure to meet you, Coco," Spike winked. The girl, now identified Coco, giggled before she winces, and clutched her right leg close, "Oh, you alright?" Spike asked in concern.

"My leg," Coco sobbed, before she showed a stain of blood in her hand, courtesy of a noticeable bruise on her knee. "They hurt my leg."

"Yikes," Spike winced, looking closely at the wound. "Hang in there. I've got just the thing," Reaching into his jacket, Spike magically pulls out a roll of bandage, with Pinkie's smiling face on it. 'Leave it to Pinkie,' Spike said fondly in his thoughts.

With the roll of bandage in hand, Spike wraps the soft fabric around Coco's leg, stopping the bleeding.

"There, that should do it," Spike smiled. "Can you stand again?" he asked.

Wincing from the wound on her leg, Coco slowly and carefully got up. For a moment, Coco's legs shook, as she tries to not exert so much weight on her wounded knee. Taking a simple step forward, however, Coco nearly fell to the ground, had Spike not caught her in time.

"Whoa!" Spike panted. "Don't worry, Coco. I got ya," With that, Spike carefully wraps one arm around the girl's waist, while holding her other arm around his shoulder, as he helps her to his scooter. "There ya go," Spike said, as he carefully sets the girl down.

"Thank Celestia, you came," Coco spoke softly, with a look of worry still on her face. "You saved my life!"

"Heh, no problem," Spike replied, while giving his arms a few stretches. "Happy I could save your life in time."

"Now, it's your turn!" a voice called, as more thugs in dog masks appeared, and they all advanced upon Spike and the girl.

Spike quickly held his hands out, while standing protectively in front of Coco, "You want her?" he growled. "You gotta go through me first!"

Few of the thugs were clearly fearful of Spike's defiance, "He means it! I just beat the biscuits out of Fido over there!"

"Yes," another thug snarled. "Well, he don't look tough now that we're all here!" With a blow of a whistle, the thugs all charged at Spike, who quickly assumed his fighting stance.

Then in a flash of light, Discord appeared, in his draconequus form, don up in a commando suit, while holding Prince Blueblood, as a machine gun.

"Discord?!" Spike exclaimed in bewilderment.

"Time to rock n roll dude!" Discord shouted in John Rambo's voice, as he cocks Prince Blueblood and crazily blasted magic beams at the thugs. "Don't make me use the other end!"

Each magic beams exploded upon impact, sending every thugs flying back. This kept on going, until Blueblood emitted a sound of deflate, clearly out of power. Discord puts the powerless unicorn stallion down, before he pointed his eagle claw at the thugs, zapping bolts of lightnings, electrocuting his enemies.

"Mama always says, magic is as magic does," Discord said in his Forrest Gump impression.

Then, several more thugs came up from behind, only to step on a hidden spring that launched them all the way into Central Park.

One thug landed in a bear's habitat, where a sleeping bear was snoring loudly. Just then, Discord appeared before the thug, and unrolls a huge poster in front of the thug, revealing a large sexy pinup photo of a girl in bikini.





"Omigod!" the thug said in arousal, followed by a wolf whistle.

"SHUT UP!!" the bear suddenly snapped awake, as he angrily, and repeatedly bashes a huge club at the thug. "QUIET!! SHUT UP! QUIET!"

The other thug, strangely finds himself in the sewers of New York, surrounded by sleeping alligators.

"Barney is a dinosaur who came into New York town~ then he ran into a lamppost and it broke him down~" Discord sang, while blowing up the balloon of the said dinosaur, before he conjures up a needle. "Doggy bath?"

The thug's eyes widened in fear, "No, no, no, no!" he pleaded, but to no avail as Discord pops the balloon anyway.

The sound was so loud.....it didn't wake the alligators from their sleep.

"HA!" the thug laughed, before he gasped, and the alligators all woke up, snarling angrily at the dog man. Soon, the sound of the screaming man was heard, followed by the sound of alligators hissing and snapping jaws. 





Soon, all of the thugs were beaten, with Spike, Coco, and Discord-who was back in human form, standing triumphant and victorious over their defeated foes, just as the police came to take the thugs away.

"......Just keep us away from that deranged, demonic boy!" One of the thugs hyperventilated.

"Yeah! Those kids! They're not natural!" Another thug panicked, before they were shoved into the police cars.

Spike took the time to retrieve his package, “Ah!” Spike screamed. “The pizzas! They're gone!”

“Oh dear,” Coco whimpered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you lose your dinner.”

“That wasn’t for me,” Spike replied. “It was for my costumer, named Berry Twist,” Looking at his watch, Spike could see he had only less than a minute to make his delivery. "I'm so fired!"

Discord grinned as he spins his cane, “Fear not my friend. Thor’s got you covered.”

"What?"





The sound of bell echoed through the house, before the door opens up to reveal a tall person, in a gray trench coat, wearing a black fedora over their face.

Standing before them, is Spike's substitute, "Um, pizza-Er hem, pizza delivery!" Thorax said in his best impression of Spike's voice.

"Oh, great! I was starving!" the figure said in relief, as they eagerly took the pizza.

"Enjoy your meal," Thorax called, as the figure quickly closes the door behind him.

Once Thorax left, the figure dropped their trench coat, to reveal themselves to be a small, pug-faced, honey badger, with brilliant opal eyes, and a black t-shirt that reads, "I heart NYC."

The badger opens up one box of pizza, and happily takes a whiff of the heavenly aroma of the pizza he ordered, "Yum," he drooled.

“Grubber!!” a deep, shrilly angry voice shouted. “You ordered three pizza pies with my credit card?!”

“Uh oh,” Grubber whimpered.





Back with Spike


"Phew," Spike breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Discord. You're a lifesaver."

"Well, it takes one to know one," Discord grinned. "Though, I thought you could've just gone all dragon up, and finish them ten seconds flat."

"Well, I would," Spike began. "But I did swore to Twilight about keeping our magic existence a secret. The less people who knows magical creatures like us existed, the better."

"Spike, my friend, let me tell you something," Discord began. "Nobody would ever believe creatures like us existed under their noses. And even if they did see us, who would believe them?"

Spike scratched his chin, pondering on Discord's words, "You make a valid point," he shrugged. "But still, I'm not taking any chances."

"Whatever," Discord rolled his eyes. "Suit yourself."

"Speaking of 'suit,'" Spike began. "How is it that you're a draconequus again? I thought you were, y'know, powered down since the whole Shadowbolt fiasco was over."

"Well, I was," Discord answered. "Until Somnambula returned the suit to me, with the proviso that I were to use its powers only for good, instead of evil."

"I see," Spike said in acknowledgement.

"Until we meet again. Ciao!" With a snap of his finger, Discord was gone in a flash.

Spike then walked over to his scooter to start it up again, "Prince Spike! Wait!" Coco called, after she finished answering some questions from the police.

"Um, just Spike, please," Spike quickly insisted, looking around, making sure no one else heard the Dragon Prince's royal title. "I maybe a royal in Equestria, but here on Earth, and in New York, I'd like to be referred to as simply, Spike Draco."

"Oh, okay," Coco spoke meekly.

"So, what's up?"

"I just wanted to say, thank you again," Coco smiled. "I really don't know what I'd do if you didn't come to my rescue."

Just then, an officer came and patted Spike on the back, "You're quite the hero young man," the cop complimented. "You wouldn't happen to be related to an officer named, Scorpan. Are ya?"

"Yep," Spike smiled proudly. "He's my uncle."

"I thought so," the officer replied. "He's been saying a lot of good stuff about you kid. Says he's been giving a lot of lessons on the martial arts. And overall, you're his best student," the cop then turned to Coco, as he added, "And from what this young lady had been describing about ya, the way you handled the Diamond Dogs, you seemed to fit the bill."

"Really?" Spike asked, while Coco grinned sheepishly, blushing a storm.

"Anyway, I think it's best you let us take it from here," the cop spoke. "You kids get on home, safe and sound. Okay?"

"Sure thing, officer," Spike replied, as he and Coco left the scene, on the scooter.

After awhile of driving, Spike and Coco arrived at an apartment, where Spike helped Coco up the steps.

"Thanks for everything, Spike," Coco smiled. "It was really nice of you."

"You're welcome," Spike replied, as he continues helping Coco up the steps, and then to her room. On the way, Spike decided to strike up conversations, "So, you got to Crystal Prep?"

"Mmm hmm," Coco answered. "Though, to be honest, it's better with Princess Cadence running the place, and not Abacus Cinch."

Spike scoffed in agreement, "Tell me about it," he said. "I get that Crystal Prep has a rivalry with Celestial High. But really? Did it have to be that extreme?" Coco sighed sadly in agreement. "But the past's the past. We're all good friends now, right?"

Coco looked up at Spike, "Do you mean it?" she asked. "Are we really friends?"

"To the end," Spike answered, giving Coco a thumbs up, to which the girl responded with a friendly smile, and a blush. "Well, we're here," Spike said, after they arrived at a door, with an address labeled 394.

"Thanks again, Spike," Coco smiled, as she released her hold on Spike. "I can take it from here," Reaching into her pocket, Coco pulls out a key to her room, unlocking its door, before she carefully limped in.

"Well, goodnight Coco," Spike bid, as he turns to take his leave.

"Wait!" Coco called, stopping Spike in his track. Hesitant for a moment, while blushing, Coco manages to speak up, "Will I....that is, if you're....okay....will I ever see you again?"

Spike scratched his chin, before he spoke, "Well, by chance, do you know some girls named Indigo Zap, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, and Lemon Zest?"

"Mmm hmm," Coco nodded.

"Ask them if you can hang with them," Spike advised. "Oh, and tell them I said hi."

"Okay," Coco smiled.

"See ya later, Coco," Spike said, as he took his leave.

"After awhile, Spike," Coco replied, before she closes the door, limps over to her bed, and plops down, sighing with content. "He's such a nice guy," the girl sighed.





Meanwhile, in Equestria


Scorpan was in a dusty old library, surrounded by old books and scrolls, covered in dusts and cobwebs.

With a small candle as his only source of light, Scorpan rummaged through some scrolls, looking up on more lost, recorded details of the Dragonfire.

"I remember Starswirl putting it around here, somewhere," Scorpan muttered, while rummaging through the shelves. "I know for a fact, there's still more for my nephew to learn, before he can truly master his powers," Taking one scroll out, Scorpan held his candlelight up, to read the title on its side. Afterwards, the gargoyle would put the scroll back in its place, before moving onto the next.

Scorpan's ears perked up, as he turns to the source, and sees Mako walking in.

"Scorpan, my old friend," Mako spoke. "What brings you here? I doubt it's a simple library trip to rent a story book, for your fillyfriend."

Scorpan blushed, as he turns to Mako, scowling, "Luna is not my filly friend!" the gargoyle spatted, before he cleared his throat, and regains his composure. "I'm just here to find some old notes my friend, Starswirl once wrote about the Dragonfire. Besides the two of us, he knew the Dragonfire better than anyone. Regrettably, I'm having trouble finding it."

"And you didn't think about asking for my assistant?" Mako asked. "I am slightly hurt, Scorpan."

Scorpan then turns to Mako, "You mean, you have them?!" he asked.

"I didn't say I have them," Mako clarified, before he walks over to a round table, with a wooden bust of a unicorn. "I, however, know where they are," Placing his claw on the unicorn's horn, Mako bent it down.

Soon, the sound of old gears turning filled the room, as Scorpan and Mako looked to see a set of staircase forming on the floor beneath them. 

Scorpan was amazed, "How did you-"

"And you call yourself Starswirl's only best friend?" Mako asked, raising an eyebrow. "Clearly, that shifty unicorn wizard friend of ours, clearly puts a new meaning to trade secrets. Of course, this clearly demonstrates that one of us is more clever than the other," Mako cracked a mocking smirk, to which Scorpan is irked. "Perhaps your nephew would learn a lot better if he was my student, instead."

Scorpan simply rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Let's just go and get what we came here for!" the gargoyle insisted, taking the first step.

"You lead the way, old friend," Mako complied.





Back in New York


Discord was singing himself some merry tunes, when his whole body suddenly shuddered, "Now what's up?" he asked himself.





Celestial Highschool



Purge Games - Nathan Whitehead


A lone figure was standing in front of the mirror that leads to Equestria.

"So this is one of the portals that would lead me into the magical world?" The figured asked himself, before cracking a wicked grin. "With Nightmare Moon and her little clan of ninjas out of the picture, I think it's high time to show these 'heroes' what evil really is," With a wicked laugh, the figure stepped through the portal, disappearing in a flash of light.
> Twisted Evil Part 1: Evil Descends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a foggy day in Ponyville and poor Zipporwhill has lost her dog, Ripley, once again. She's been searching all morning and still no sign of him.

Zippor sighed, "Ripley, where are you? Where did you go?" She asked no one in particular. She sighs again. No other options now, but to ask the Knights for help...again. Though, she'll admit that Featherweight is pretty cute.


The Black Soulstone-Russel Brower (Diablo 3 OST)


"Excuse me," Said a voice behind Zippor, startling her. The voice sounded low, almost like a harsh whisper.

She turns around and what she sees pretty much shocks her. It was a human with long black hair with grey highlights tied to a ponytail. For attires he wore a long black hat, a black trench coat, black pants, and cleats. for accessories he has a necklace with a raven skull attached to it. Needless to say, Zippor felt a little intimidated by this guy. He appears to be holding something and it was-

"Ripley!!!"

"Oh, so this dog is yours then?" The stranger asked, holding Ripley by the collar. From what Zippor could tell, Ripley doesn't want to be anywhere near this guy.

"Y-yes, it is." Zippor answered nervously.

"You should be more careful you know," The stranger said. "There's no telling what might've happen to this poor dog."

"I'll keep that in mind," Zippor replied. "Now would you please give me my dog back, please?" Zippor asked.

"Well," The stranger hands Ripley over, but doesn't let the dog go, "Go on. Take it," He says in an almost frightening tone.

After much hesitation, Zippor flies up and takes Ripley from the stranger, "Th-thank you," she says before she flies off, with Ripley in hoof. The stranger smirks sadistically before he disperse into black smoke.





Later That Night


Zipporwhill was getting ready for bed. But all she could think about is poor Ripley. The poor thing hasn't been himself since she found him, being cooped up in the dog house when they got back.

She was about to hop to bed when she hears a scratching noise in her closet. It got louder and louder, then all of a sudden, a five foot long spider burst out of her closet door. The spider pounces at Zippor before she gets a chance to run to the door.

Her parents were down stairs when they suddenly hear their daughter screaming her lungs out. They galloped upstairs and burst into her room, only to find her laying on the floor screaming like a madmare.

"Zippor! Sweetie, whats wrong?" Her mother asked, no response. All she gets is more screaming.

"I'll call the hospital," Her father said, hoping they would have an answer.

They just hope they find out what's wrong with their daughter soon.





Elsewhere...



Resident evil 7- Floating in between


Spike finds himself in a very dark hallway with very little light. He felt he was walking for hours. Little does he know, however, he was being followed. 

Spike's eyes glowed a fiery aura of green, trying to see the in the dark, but it did little good. He then sees a door and was about to open it, until he saw blood dripping from the bottom and takes a step back. Next thing he knew, someone grabs him by the hair with a firm grip. He then sees a garden scythe next to his throat.

The scythe then proceed to slit his throat. 

Spike then wakes up with a huge gasp, panting and sweating. Peewee, who was stirred awake, looks at him with concern.

"I'm alright boy, just a nightmare," Spike panted. "One heck of a nightmare."





The Next Morning...


Spike and Applejack were walking down to the market district. AJ can't help but notice how groggy Spike looks.

"Uh, Sugarcube you alright there?" She asks with concern.

"I'm fine AJ," Spike replied, rubbing his eyes. "Just didn't get a good night's sleep last night."

"How come?" She asked.

"Had a nasty dream last night, and I couldn't go back to sleep after that." He answered with a yawn.

Before she could ask any further, they arrived at their destination, a pear stand.

Running the stand was an old stallion, who appears to be around Granny Smith's age. His mane and tail are white and light gray with grayish gamboge and his coat is light amber. His cutie mark is a pear, colored brownish yellow.

Applejack walked up and greeted him, "How ya doing Grand Pear?" She asked happily.

"Oh I'm doing fine AJ," The old stallion, now known as Grand Pear, replied. "You?"

"Doing fine myself!" Applejack replied happily. "Grand Pear, there's someone I want you to meet," With that, AJ pulled Spike up to meet the old stallion, face to face. "Spike, this here's my grandpa, Grand Pear," Applejack introduced, before turning to her grandpa. "Grand Pear, this is Spike."

The old stallion looks at Spike up and down, "So you're the Dragon Prince, I take it?" Grand Pear asks, in a grumbled tone.

"Y-yes, I am," Spike answered, nervous from Grand Pear's humorless expression.

"Hm, so from what my granddaughter here tells me, you're quite the hero," Said the old stallion.

"Well, I don't boast about my accomplishments, but yeah pretty much of it is true," Spike said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Hm, well good on ya. Now if you don't mind, I have to get to work, these pears ain't gonna sell themselves," Grand Pear said, getting back to work.

"Ok then," Spike said as he and AJ started walking down the district. He then turn to the farm pony, "I don't think he likes me," He told her.

"Aw shucks Sugarcube, don't hold it against him. He just ain't fond of folks from Canterlot. Just give it time. He'll warm up to ya," AJ assured him.

"I hope so," Spike replied.

They suddenly hear a mare screaming like a bloody murder, and rush over to the source.


Commencement - Nathan Whitehead


When they arrive, they see a mare, most likely the one who screamed not too long ago, curled up in a fetal position and seems to be muttering something. From what they could make out, she seems to be saying: "Rats, rats, rats everywhere."

Spike and AJ just look at each other, "We should take her to the hospital," Spike said, as he and AJ walked to both sides of the mare to gently pick her up.

"Eeyup," Applejack agreed.





At the Flower Sisters' flower stand, a stallion was getting some roses for his marefriend, when all of a sudden the roses begin to twist and turn into snakes, much to the stallion's horror.





A mare had just bought a carrot dog on a bun and was about to bite down on it when she heard a clicking noise.

She looks down to see that the carrot dog is now a centipede. The horrified mare throws the insect and runs away screaming.





A young colt was walking down the street when suddenly he hears a strange noise in the alleyway.

Against his better judgement the colt looks to see what it was and what he found petrified him. Standing before him was an eight foot werewolf and it bared it's fangs at the colt, who went running shortly thereafter.





A stallion, who's screaming and kicking, was strap to a bed in a medical room at the Ponyville hospital with doctor Stables walking out of the room.

He sighs to himself, "That's the seventh one today."

"And there's gonna be more coming," His assistant Nurse Redheart said, as she points at more ponies, who are being held down by the medical staff, screaming their lungs out.

"Doctor, what in Faust's name is going on here?" The nurse asked.

"I wish I knew Redheart, I wish I knew."
> Twisted Evil Part 2: Plague of Fear
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


At Twilight's castle


The heroes were all gathered at the library. Those who were present are Spike, the Harmony Bearers, the Knights, Sunset, Starlight, and Celaeno. They're currently discussing about the strange epidemic that's been going on in Ponyville.

"...Currently there are 32 ponies infected with this disease," said Twilight.

"This is so weird. Just were did this disease come from?" Starlight asked.

"Think it could be the work of dark magic?" Applejack asked.

"That's the weird part. We've been magic scanning several of the patients and there was no hint of dark magic, at all!" Sunset explained.

"If it isn't dark magic doing this, then what?" Celaeno asked.

"We're...still trying to figure that out." Twilight answered.

"Either way, I bet it's the Shadowbolts up to their old tricks again," Rainbow angrily said.

Everyone all looked at her, skeptical, "Um, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack spoke. "Ya do remember the Shadowbolts are on our side now, right?"

"Oh, yeah," Rainbow chuckled sheepishly, quickly retracting every accusations she's made.

"Regardless, we've gotta find out what the hay is going on here," Sunset said.

Twilight puts her hoof to her chin, "Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way." Twilight said.

"What do you mean Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't know, but something just doesn't add up here," Twilight replied. "I have a hunch, but I need to know for sure. I'm going to need some time in my lab. In the meantime, Sunset why don't you try reading some of the patients' minds and see if you could get anything out of them," The lavender alicorn suggested.

"Can do." The fiery unicorn replied.

"I just hope we'll get to the bottom of this soon," Spike sighed.





Meanwhile


Applebloom was over at Grand Pear's stand, talking with the old stallion.

"So is it true that Grand Papi Big Jon Pear took on a Berserker?" She asked excitedly.

"Well...there is some truth to that." Grand Pear replied.

"I heard he fought one head on, using nothing but twigs." the young mare exclaimed.

The old stallion sighs, "Them folk tales aren't always accurate," He shook his head. "Here's what really happened. He lured the thing off a cliff."

"So he didn't really fought it head on?" Applebloom asked, a little disappointed.

"Why would he?" Grand Pear asked, rhetorically. "At least one those bloodthirsty things is way more dangerous than a pack of timber wolves. Unless you're either a dragon or an alicorn, you see a berserker, you head for the hills, understand?" GP told her.

"I suppose," The mare sighed.

Grand Pear then notices a stranger walking toward his stand, "Good day sir," GP called out to him, bringing out a pear, "Would you like to try one of our juicey pe-" The old stallion didn't even finish as the stranger smacks the pear right out of his hoof.

"HEY!!!" Applebloom angrily calls out, "What did you do THAT for?!?"

"I hate pears," The stranger coldly told her as he walks off.

The look on Applebloom's face distorted to that of anger, as she clearly wanted to give this guy a piece of her mind, "Why I outta-"

"It's alright Applebloom," Grand Pear said, stopping the mare. "If he doesn't like pears, then he does't like pears," Grand Pear said, hoping to calm his granddaughter down.

"Yeah, but he didn't have to be a jerk about it." She said, still a little miffed.

Just then, Grand Pear notices something at the distance, and he could've sworn that it was Pear Butter, looking at him with disdain.

"Grand Pear-Pear?" Applebloom asked in concern. "Is there something wrong?"

"Huh wha-" GP exclaimed, snapping out of it.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost." She said.

"Oh don't worry, it-it's just these old eyes of mine, they ain't as good as they used to be." He assured her.





Later That Night


Celaeno was in her guest room at Twilight's castle, reading the Dark Tower by Stephen King. After reading a chapter, or two, she gets up from her chair, to get something to drink, from the kitchen. During her trek down the halls, however, she hears something behind her. She turns around to see what it was, but finds nothing. When she turns back, however, her eyes widened with her pupils dilating to a dot. Dangling before her, hanged by rope across the castle halls, is her whole crew of parrot pirates.

One of the parrots raises his head and asked, "Captain why didn't you save us?"

Celaeno was too overwhelmed with fear, to properly find her voice. All she could say was, "I-I-I..."

"We trusted you," Another parrot squawked.

"We believed in you!" An anthro macaw screeched.

They all keep repeating the same question: "Why, why, WWWWWWHYYYYY?"

Celaeno closed her eyes and covered her ears. After a minute, or so, the voices finally stopped. 

Celaeno opens her eyes and didn't see her crew anywhere. She sighs and decides to just head back to her room. Just then, she hears a door open, before her. Darting behind one of the castle's column, with one of her claws on her sword's hilt at the ready, she waited in anticipation.

However, she eases her grip on the blade's handle, when she sees it was only Pipsqueak. The small boy closes the door behind him, before he proceeds toward the lounging area. From what Celaeno could tell, he seems to be crying. So she decides to follow the boy and see whats wrong.


Hans Zimmer - A Way of Life


Upon reaching the lounge, she sees the boy, sitting on a couch, in front of the fireplace, cheeks stained with tears, and sniffling.

"Pip?" Celaeno spoke quietly.

Pip jumped up in surprise, as he looks up, "Oh, hey captain," he greeted sadly.

"You alright there lad?" Celaeno asked with concern, sitting next to him.

"I'm fine," He replied, wiping a tear. "It's just a really bad dream, I had."

"About?" She asked trying to understand. “What’s it about? C’mon, Pip. Ya can tell me.”

He sighs, "My parents." Celaeno raises an eyebrow. "I guess I should explain," Pip began. "You heard that my parents moved to the U.K. and left me at my cousin's right?" Celaeno nods, "Well that was half the story. On their way to Britain, the jet they were on crashed into the ocean. And while there were survivors, my mum and dad...weren't one of them." He finished that last part with a tear.

Celaeno was shocked, that this boy lost his parents, "Do...you have these nightmares often?" She asked, hoping she isn't being insensitive.

"Once in a great while," He replied with a shrug. The next thing he knew, Celaeno wraps an arm around him, and pulls him closer.

"I'm sorry," She said in a somber, yet somewhat maternal tone. "I didn't know."

Pip was taken aback by this strange development. Especially from someone he's grown to admire, and idolize. And above all, a pirate captain, "C-captain-"

"Please Pip, just call me Celaeno," She assured him.

"O-ok." He complied. 

"So," Celaeno spoke, wanting to get back on topic. "Tell me, Pip. Does anyone else, know about this?"

Pip looked down for a moment, before he sadly replied, "There's cousin Featherweight, and my uncle, and auntie," Pip closed his eyes, as he continues, "But it's not something I like to talk about."

"Well little Pip," Celaeno replied. "Ya can always talk to me, if ya like."

Pip looked up at Celaeno, stars trucked, "Do you mean it?" He asked hopefully, to which Celaeno responded with a tip of her hat. Seeing the sincerity in the parrot's eyes, Pip was surprised, "Gosh, thanks," Pip spoke, still sniffling a tear. "That's awfully kind of you, Captain-um, I mean, Celaeno."

Celaeno playfully ruffled Pip's hair, "Pip, I may be a pirate," Celaeno smiled. "But I know love."

"You do?" Pip asked.

"Of course. How do ya think I'm captain of my hearty crew?"

Pip was silent for a moment, before he spoke, "Gosh. I always thought pirate captains have to be scary and intimidating in front of their crews. Otherwise, there'd be a mutiny."

Celaeno chuckled, "Well, not this captain," she spoke. "Unlike these other pirate captains you spoke of, I've looked out for my crew, and they've looked out for me. Aye, I'd trade away all the gold doubloons, and my jade peg leg, just to secure their lives." Celaeno looked solemn, as she finds herself missing her pirate crew even more. "I miss them, just as much as ye miss your mama and papa."

Pip looks up to her in sympathy, "It must have been hard losing your crew."

The anthro parrot sighs, "I'll admit. There hasn't been a day gone by that I worry for them," the kind parrot took of her hat for a moment, as she continues, "They're tough birds, don't get me wrong. But still..." She stares at the dimming fireplace, before she continues, "As we'd say, birds of a feather, stick together. They're my flock, my family. The only family I have left," Celaeno muttered at the last part. "Without them, I'm just flying solo."

Pip placed a comforting hand on Celaeno's claw, "If it makes you feel better, I'd consider you a part of our family."

Celaeno looked down at the little boy, feeling touched by his attachment, "Yes, I know," She replied, with a small hearty smile.

After a few minutes of silence and just enjoying each other's company, Celaeno spoke up, "I'm off to bed," She got up. "Care to join me?"

Pip's eyes widen, "Really?" He asked, to which she nods. Without a second thought, Pipsqueak accepted the parrot's offer, as he followed her, close behind.

Once they reach Celaeno's room, Pip notices a book on the night stand. He picks it up, "The Dark Tower," He read the title. "You read?" He asked the anthro parrot.

"Every now and then," Celaeno shrugs, "Though I prefer books from Earth, as the authors there aren't scared to pull punches, especially that Stephen King fella."

"You should try books written by Jeremy Robinson!" Pip recommended.

She smiles, "I'll keep that in mind," She replied, while hanging her hat on a nearby rack, before she took her earring off, and her jade peg leg, before getting into bed, with Pipsqueak.

As they got into bed, Celaeno spoke up, "Hey Pip?"

"Yeah?"

"About you joining me crew, I'll...think about it."

Pip couldn’t help but smiles, "Thank you." While holding Celaeno’s arm close, Pipsqueak snuggles up close, feeling himself lost in the warm, and soft texture of Celaeno’s body, beneath her feathers.

In truth, it reminded him of the comfort he once had, from his mother before she left.

Celaeno, too, found herself lost in the feel of sleeping with a youth, close to her. It made her feel, good inside. She felt a strange feeling of happiness that no other words can describe it, clearly.

Lost in each other’s embrace, the two drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and sound in each other’s company.





Elsewhere...


You'll Float Too - Benjamin Wallfisch


Grand Pear was at home enjoying the fireplace, when he suddenly hears a noise outside. Against his better judgement, the old stallion decides to check outside. What he sees on the front porch shocks him. 

Standing before him was Pear Butter, the daughter he disowned and regretted it ever since.

"P-Pear Butter? Is...is that you?" He asked,  shakily.

“Who wants to know?” Pear Butter asked.

“Pear Butter....It’s me. Your father.”

"Oh now you’re my father!" She spat. "If I recall, you threw me aside like yesterday's paper, all because I married an Apple." Grand pear winced.

"Pear Butter, please I was an old fool,” He tried to assure her. “I let my damn pride get the best of me."

"Save it you old fart. The damage is already done." Every word she said was like a nail in the chest for him. But she continued,"If you hadn't threw me out like garbage, then maybe, just maybe, I might still be alive."

"I didn't mean-I-" At this point Grand Pear was at a loss for words.

"You stupid, selfish old stallion! Sooner or later, you're gonna fall down! WE ALL FALL DOWN!!!!" As she screamed that last part, she crumbles into dust.

Just then Grand Pear notices a figure in the distance. The figure was holding a scythe and smiled wickedly. It then made a mad dash towards the old stallion. Grand Pear quickly slams the door. He then opens it again, hunting rifle in hoof, and sees nothing. He sighs and decides to just go to bed.





The Next Morning


The heroes have gathered at the hall of friendship, to get a sit rep of the situation.

"I've been scanning the victims’ minds and while it wasn't easy, I did manage to get something,” Sunset explained. “They all came across a human in black.”

"A human in black? Mind being a little more specific Sunset?" Rumble asked

"I'll try to draw a picture of the guy." And Sunset did just that, as best as she could at least.

Everyone analyzed the picture until Celaeno spoke up, "So are we sure this scallywag isn't an evil magic user?"

"I'm positive." Twilight spoke up.

"How can you be sure Twi?" Spike asked.

She then pulls out a device, "What you all see here, is what I call a meta tracker. It tracks the movements of any nearby metahumans. I've been working on it ever since Bloodshot broke into my castle and as you can see the readings are off the charts right now." She explained as the device is flashing like crazy.

"Wait a minute! Twi are you saying..." Spike trailed off.

"Yes. Our culprit, the one who's behind all this, is a metahuman." She said.
> Twisted Evil Part 3: Resident Evil
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Skillet - Falling Inside The Black]


Spike, once again, finds himself in a dark hallway with little to no light. Remembering what happened last time, he proceeds with caution.

“How they cling to you like a flea to a dog,” A dark, ominous voice said, behind him.

Spike immediately turns around to see where the voice came from, but saw nothing. Not letting his guard down, he proceeds further down the crooked halls.

What seems like minutes felt like hours for the Dragon Prince. This place was a maze, at best, since he can't figure where to go in these Faust forsaken halls.

His eyes glowed fiery green, but that still does little good.

He finally finds a door and cautiously opens it. Upon entry, Spike finds what appears to be a living room, decorated with a couch, a coffee table, a tv with a VCR, and a rocking chair.

Sitting on the coffee table is a video tape, with a note on it that reads, "play me." Hesitant at first, Spike eventually complies and puts the tape in the VCR.

The video plays and he sees the Five Element Bearers, with Rainbow Dash missing, the Knights, Celaeno, Sunset, and Starlight. All of them are seen standing in front of a big mansion. Spike looked somewhat troubled at the mansion, getting a strange vibe that he’s seen this mansion before.

“All right everyone,” Twilight said. “This is where Spike was last seen. Lets search the mansion and see if we can find him."

Spike was shocked by this. They were searching for him? He disappeared?! Something wasn't adding up so he continues watching the video, curious to where it goes.

"Do we really need this camera?" Rainbow complained, as she was the one holding the said camera.

"Yes Rainbow,” Twilight replied.

“But why?” Applejack asked. “It’s not like we’re making a movie or anything.”

"No we're not," Twilight answered. "But we may still need the camera, because in case anything happens to us, then the least we can do is leave behind some sort of warning for others who would try and find us." The girls all looked at each other, still unsure of Twilight's reason, but complied nonetheless. "Now stop complaining and let's get a move on."

And so they went through the gates and entered the mansion. Spike sat down on the couch, as he anxiously watch the scene unfold before him. Upon reaching the the main halls Twilight made a suggestion, "Seeing how big this place is, I think it's best that we should split up."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...whoa!" Button exclaimed in protest. "Splitting the party is a very bad idea in this kind of scenario!"Button pointed out. "Don't you watch any horror movies? When you split up, that's what-" Button draws a line across his neck with his index finger, while imitating a cutting sound, "-happens," He finished.

"Button! This is NOT the time to go nerd on us," Rumble said rolling his eyes. "Spike is missing and we need to search every nook and cranny in this place."

Button frowned, seeing how he's not being taken seriously, "Fine. But if anything happens, I told you so." Button warned, everyone else rolled their eyes.

The party splitted into two groups: the Elements of Harmony Bearers in one group, Celeano and the Knights in the second group, and Sunset and Starlight in the third.

As the three groups went their separate ways, the Element Bearers made their way towards the kitchen, which looks surprisingly uptight and clean.

"Okay, this isn't right," Twilight said, looking around room, searching for clues.

Rarity picked up on Twilight’s suspicions, “Indeed, darling,” She agreed. “This whole room is all spit-spot, and clean as a whistle, compared to the shambled exterior of the house, outside.”

Without warning, Pinkie popped her head out from a cupboard, “Kinda out of place if you ask me!” Pinkie chirped.

“Like you?” Rainbow asked from off-screen.

“Exactly!” Pinkie agreed, with a squee.

Fluttershy looked around, before she began to speak quietly, “Um, pardon me.”

Of course, Fluttershy was ignored as the girls continue to search the place. Rainbow Dash had placed the camera on a counter, and she soon joined in the shot with the others, searching for clues.

“Excuse me,” Fluttershy spoke again.

Spike, together with Twilight in the video, both noticed something was missing.

“Where’s Applejack?” Twilight asked.

While everyone looked around, Fluttershy took the chance to speak, “She’s-“

“GONE!!” Pinkie finished.

Fluttershy sighed, “Yes,” She confirmed, clearly having known that before hoof.

“Applejack?” The girls called, as they all exited the kitchen, and began searching the mansion, from top to bottom, room to room.

From his seat, Spike’s claws dug deep into the fabrics of the sofa, watching anxiously for the girls to find Applejack.

Through Rainbow Dash’s point of view, via the camera, the girls each looked from room to room, all the while calling out, “Applejack? Applejack? Are you here?”

Suddenly, a loud shriek was heard, from above.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow exclaimed, as the camera shook violently, indicating that Rainbow has taken flight and was racing to the rescue.

With another burst of speed, the shot turns up, as Rainbow flies up a hatch, with a ladder in the ceiling, leading her to the attic.

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow called, moving the camera from side-to-side, frantically searching for the frightened pegasus. “Fluttershy? Where are you?”

In response, a small frightened squeak was heard, to which Rainbow turned her head, to find Fluttershy, curled up close in a corner, looking as if she’s just seen a ghost.

Rainbow quickly dashed over to her frightened friend, setting the camera on the floor, just as the others arrived at the scene, “Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Fluttershy could only shake and quiver, while looking off in a specific direction. With that, the girls all followed her gaze, and the looks on their faces clearly matched to Fluttershy’s look of horror.

Suddenly, a loud shriek filled the room, startling the girls. Before long, something attacked them, from the dark.

During the scuffle, the camera was sent tossing and turning, through which Spike can see Applejack, dangling from the ceiling, with the noose of a rope tied around her neck.

The very sight sent chills running up Spike's spines, and horror was clearly written on his face. But not as much as the lights in the room suddenly turned dark, and he could hear the sounds of screaming, everywhere.

"Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity called. "Where are you?!!"

"Spikey isn't here to save you this time...." A voice replied, as the screaming continues, before coming to an abrupt silence.

"Look how they became dependant on you Dragon Prince." There was that voice again, "Because of you, they would always expect you to just come in and save the day."

Though he initially refused to listen, those last words struck him hard, like flying nerve bullets that pierced his skin and stopped him. Have his friends really become too dependant of him?

Spike didn’t have time to ponder, as the darkness around him vanished. The young prince looked around him, to see his friends were all hung on wooden poles.

"Girls?! Guys?!!" Spike called to his friends. But none of them responded. Then, without warning, the poles were all set on fire, together with his friends. "NOOO!!!" With a look of dread, Spike tried to run up to his friends, but finds himself being held down by more dark chains that kept him bound to the ground. "No! Not again!" Spike quickly shifted in dragon form, as he struggles, biting and clawing at the chains in vain. But he could do nothing as he watches in horror, at the sight of his friends being burned to cinders.

"NOOOOO!!!" Spike screamed, closing his eyes, failing to hold back the tears pouring out.

"Spike....." A weak voice called.

Spike jerked his head up, as he turns around to see his mother, Princess Celestia, bound and gagged. Standing besides her, holding a large garden scythe, appears to be a human with long black hair with gray highlights tied to a ponytail, for attires he wears a black fedora, a long black trench coat, black pants and cleats, he also wears a necklace with a raven skull at the end. Raising his scythe, the human then proceeds to slit celestia's throat with the scythe much, to Spike's absolute horror. 

Then, a flash of blue light filled the room, and standing before Spike, shining like the only beacon of light, was Princess Luna herself.

"Aunt Luna?" Spike questioned.


*Kabuki Yooooo SFX*


Before Luna could speak, however, she was struck from behind by the figure, disappearing in blue mists.


[My Dying Bride - Thy Raven Wings]


"AUNTIE!! NO!!!" Spike called, holding his claws out for the alicorn, before he turns to face the figure.

"Why should you care what happens to her, after everything she did and what she putted you through." The figure said harshly who then approaches the Dragon Prince, and continued in a haunting whisper, "We all fall down."

Spike's eyes were filled with fire, "Not today..." he said as he turns into his dog form and manage to slip through the chains. He then leaps at the figure, while concentrating hard to shift into his dragon form. Unfortunately, the figure grabs him before he could transform completely and proceeds to bite off one of his hind legs.

Spike screamed in pain as he was dropped on the floor. He then notices the figure approching him and tries to escape but it did little good do to one of his missing legs.

The figure lifts him up by the collar with his scythe and takes over to the nearest garbage shoot. With a wicked grin he tosses him down where shredding saws are at the bottom.

Just as Spike is about to hit the saws, he wakes up screaming, startling Peewee in the process. He throws the covers to check on the leg that was bitten off and sees that it's still intact. With a long heavy sigh he just lays back down and tries to go back to sleep.

While trying to get comfy again, Spike can feel the concerned look from Peewee, washing over him. Even with Peewee acting as his only guard, and his only companion at the moment, it still did little good for convincing Spike to sleep soundly.


Elsewhere


There was a dark room, until a portal opened up with the figure stepping out, all the while holding a black gem.

"Did that stupid horse really thought I was a simple nightmare? She must still be regaining her strength after getting her ass kicked. Especially since she went down so easily," The figure said to himself, "Meh, no matter. Sooner or later the Dragon Prince will crack and not even mommy or dear aunt luna will help him."





The Next Morning


Elsewhere



*Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider*


The stranger was sitting in chair reading a black book, drinking some coffee and just enjoying some music from the radio next to him until the music suddenly stopped, much to the stranger's annoyance.

"We interrupt this broadcast to give you the latest update on the fear plague that has been going on in Ponyville," Said the announcer. This got the stranger's attention, "Right now there are 49 known patients at the Ponyville hospital who have this strange disease." The stranger grinned himself, sadistically.

"However," The announcer continued, "Princess Twilight Sparkle advices everypony to remain calm as she, Prince Spike Draco, and their companions are looking into this strange epidemic, even as we spe-" The announcer suddenly paused, "Wha-what! How did that manticore get in here?!?! No get away!!! Get aw-" The radio went silent for a few seconds until it cut back to the song it previously played.


*Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider*


The stranger smirked, 'Now there's 50,' he thought as he turned up the radio, and continued his morning routine.





Later


The stranger was walking around Ponyville, which is a ghost town by this point because everyone has either caught the fear plague or are scared to go outside, because of said plague.

All of the changed, when he hears...

"Stop right there!" Twilight shouted, catching the metahuman's attention, as he turns to face her. "Sir, you're coming with us!" She said while holding a device in her aura.

"You've got some explaining to do!" An officer barked.

In response, the man just shrugged, "Whatever you say, your majesty," He hissed at the last part.

Twilight had a look of suspicion, as she watched the cops take the metahuman away.





At the train station, the train just rolled in, steams fuming from the engines, and the whistle blowing. Several ponies and various creatures all exited from the cars and onto the platform. Among them are a few reformed Shadowbolts-a chimera, a griffon, and a minotaur, accompanying the reformed Somnambula.

Looking at their surroundings, while ignoring a few stares from the civilians around them, Somnambula and her guards all ventured down to Ponyville.

"Are you sure we should be doing this mistress?" The minotaur guard asked, uneasily. "I'm still a little shaken from what happened the last time."

In response, Somnambula simply patted the minotaur guard on the shoulder in comfort, "Be brave," She whispered.





At the Police Station


The man sat in a chair, hands cuffed, and a single light shining over him.

“This is our guy?” Button asked, standing behind a window screen with the rest of his friends. “Wow. He’s even creepier in person.”

Inside the interrogation room, Rainbow Dash was in anthro from, as she slammed her hands on the table, “Alright buster!” Rainbow barked, as she got close to his face. “Start talking!”

“Quick! What color is my underwear?” Pinkie asked, while giving him a stink eye.

Irked, Rainbow gave Pinkie a dope slap, “PINKIE!!” Rainbow hollered. “You’re not supposed to ask him that question!”

“I’m not?” Pinkie asked, acting oblivious.

"Of course not," The man answered. "Do I look like a peeping tom to you?"

Pinkie scratched her chin, "Well, you kinda-"

"Oh no you don't!" Rainbow interrupted. “Don't try and change the subject! Start talking mister!” Rainbow snarled. “Why are you doing all this?!”

“Do what?” The man asked. “What makes you think I’m responsible for any of this?”

“Don’t play coy with us!” Rainbow threatened. “We know it’s you! You're behind this whole living nightmare fiasco!”

"Yeah!" Pinkie joined. "We've been smelling trouble, and we put two and two and two together and it added up to you!"

"That and Twilight's been tracking you down with her fancy meta tracker, doohickey," Rainbow said.

The man appeared unfazed, "Ah, a meta tracker, very nice," He grinned. "Alright, I confess. I'm a metahuman. You happy? So what are you gonna do? Lock me up? Banish me to the moon?"

"Just watch your tongue mister!" Rainbow threatened.

While Rainbow Dash And Pinkie Pie continue with their interrogation, Twilight watched from behind a window, with the rest of the Bearers, Sunset, Starlight, Spike, and his Knights, minus Pipsqueak.

Ever since they brought the man in, Twilight has been keeping a very close watch of the suspicious man. She knows he has a motive, but wasn’t sure what.

Sunset Shimmer was of no help. Even with her gifted power to read minds, she’s unable to look deep within the metahuman’s mind.

Applejack looked, picking up on Twilight’s uneasiness, “Ya alright, Twi?” Applejack asked. “Ya seemed tense.”

"He gave up entirely without a fight," She said to herself. "I don't like it."

“Maybe he's simply being cooperative, darling," Rarity suggested. "Besides, everyone knows that if you run when you're being confronted by the cops, then you're automatically the prime suspect."

"And since when do you know so much about criminal activities?" Applejack asked.

"Honestly, don't you read?" Rarity asked. "I don't read the mystery book series Shadow Spades for nothing darling."

"That still doesn't help, Rarity!" Twilight replied. "He's up to something! I just know it!"

"I do as well," A voice spoke up, to which the heroes turned to see Somnambula, accompanied with a few Shadowbolts.

"Somnambula?!" The heroes exclaimed, as they quickly got into the defensive.

"What are you doing here?!" Applejack asked, firing a distrustful glare at Somnambula.

"Better question is, why are you here?" Spike added.

Somnambula raised her hoof up, "Please, we only came here to help," She assured.

"We never called for any help!" Starlight Glimmer frowned.

"That's because we are here by orders of Princess Luna," The minotaur spoke. "She had a vision that involves all of you ponies and creature in trouble, so she sent us here for assistance."

This got both Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer intrigued, "Princess Luna sent you?" The former fiery Shadowbolt asked.

"You bet she did, Phoenix Princess," The griffon replied. "Don't believe us? Read our minds then. We know you can."

Before Sunset could comply, Rumble stood up, "Look, we don't even care if you're sent here by Princess Celestia herself!" Rumble said, as he unsheathes his sword, with his fellow Knights unsheathing their weapons. "Get out, or we'll throw you out!"

"Works for me," Applejack added.

"Here here!" Rarity agreed.

Just before the two sides were about to go at it with each other, Twilight got in between in a flash of light, followed by a burst of magic, "FREEZE!!!" She screamed, stopping everyone in their tracks.

Sunset quickly took over, as an orange amulet appeared around her neck. With the amulet glowing in her aura, Sunset's horn lit up, and her eyes turned white, as she navigates through the minds of the Shadowbolts, and Somnambula. At last, Sunset's eyes reverted to normal.

"It's okay," Sunset answered. "They're legit."

The heroes all looked at Sunset, surprised, "Really?" Applejack asked, clearly with hints of doubts.

Sunset looked somewhat appalled at the question, "What does that suppose to mean?" Sunset asked. "You doubt me?"

Applejack realized, too late, what she just asked, "Well, I-uh...."

Spike quickly spoke up, "Come on, let's hear them out," He said. "If Sunset says they're legit. Then they're legit. Let's hear what they have to say."

With that, Twilight releases her telekinetic grip on the Shadowbolts, "That metahuman you have in the room with you," Somnambula began. "I know who he is."

Back in the interrogation room, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie continued with their interrogation, when Somnambula entered the room, "I see you're up to your old tricks again, Fear Haunter." She began bitterly.

"And who just might you be?" The metahuman questioned, before he took notice of the staff the Egyptian pegasus was carrying, behind her back. "So this is what you really look like," He shrugs, "Eh, you look better any way. Way more appealing than an old hag."

"I'm flattered..." Somnambula said narrowing her eyes at the metahuman, with the Shadowbolts at her sides following.

"Whoa-whoa! Hold on there!" Rainbow barked. "First, what are you doing here? And second, you know this guy?!"

"Yeah, Rainbow Dash," The griffon Shadowbolt answered. "We know him all too well."

"Really?" Pinkie asked. "So who is he? Friend of yours?"

Somnambula scoffed, "I'd wish."





A Few Months earlier, somewhere in Louisiana


Dark Rebirth - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders


Somnambula and Cinch have looks of pure shock on their faces as if they were insulted, or something.

"I'm sorry, Fear. But would you care to repeat that, to our faces?" Somnambula asked, her face distorting to an expression of anger.

A tall man in black, named Fear, was sitting in a chair reading a black book, rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Fine I will," He said, as he closes his book with a loud thump. "I have no interest in joining you're little group. Nor do I wanna serve some bipolar horse with family issues."

"How DARE you insult her majesty Nightmare Moon, demon sorceress of the moon?!" One of the two Shadowbolts accompanying the two women angrily asked. "And the one true ruler of Equestria?!"

Fear chuckled at this, "Boy your 'demon sorceress' is a lot of things," he sneered. "But the 'one true ruler' ain't one of 'em," he replied.

"Listen! You could be a very valuable asset to us. We could use someone with your talents against the Dragon Prince and his allies!" Cinch said, trying a more friendly approach.

"Well too bad, my answer is still no," Fear said, smugly. "I'd rather join either the Cerulean Hunters, the House of Meta, or even the Storm King, than with the likes of you."

"A very poor choice of words mister Haunter!" Somnambula yelled, slashing her staff, firing a bolt of lightning.

Reacting fast, Fear Haunter dispersed into a puff of smoke, before he reappears, standing behind the sorceress, "You know Somnambula," He began. "We all have our fears, and I'm curious to know what's your's."

"I fear nothing!" She spat.

"Tsk, tsk miss Somnambula. Lying to yourself isn't going to do you any good." The twisted metahuman said.

Everything suddenly starts to go dark around Somnambula, "What trickery is this?!" She yelled.


THUMP


Somnambula's angry expression quickly changes into a troubled look. It was a sound she heard before.


THUMP


"...No." She murmured.


THUMP


"It can't be!"

The thumping had suddenly ceased. Somnambula looked around and saw nothing, until she heard a low growl behind her. Looking over her shoulder, what she saw terrified her.


The Subway - Nathan Whitehead


Standing behind her is a silhouette of a 12 foot tall humanoid figure, with massive bird-like wings, and a long lizard-like tail. The figure also has glowing red eyes looking right at her.The beast then slams it's tail and lets out a mighty roar.

"No no no no NO NO NO NOOOO!!!!! GET AWAY!!!!!" Somnambula yelled. 

The sorceress quickly pointed her staff at the thing but no spells or anything seems to be coming out. She looks up and sees the figure bearing down on her. It raises it's cleaver and strikes her. Somnambula quickly dodges out of the way but is met with a tail to the face.

Acting fast she cast a few incantations and there was a flash of light.

With that, everything soon cleared up for Somnambula as she finds herself back in the real world and the pain she felt quickly vanished. However, she was greeted with absolute shock. Lying on the floor before her was Abacus Cinch curled up in a ball, whimpering for dear life.

Meanwhile, the two young Shadowbolts were ready to attack the metahuman, until they suddenly began experiencing horrifying visions of their own.

"Mom? Wait, what are you doing?!" One Shadowbolt screamed.

"Ahhh they're all over me!!! Get 'em off!!!" Screamed the other.

Somnambula looked on with absolute horror, the next thing she knew Fear Haunter appeared before her.

"Hows THAT for an answer?" He asked with a hint of annoyance. He then grabs Somnambula by the collar and pulls her closer, "Listen and listen well you arrogant peace of filth. If you truly think that you know fear, or that you're the baddest bunch around, then you have NO idea how wrong you are!"

Snarling in defiance, Somnambula breaks free from Fear Haunter's grip, "You will pay dearly for this!" The sorceress hissed, before she tapped the floor with her staff, and summoned some winged monkeys, together with some huge hulking nightmare beasts. "SEIZE HIM!!"

"I think not, fools!" Fear Haunter laughed mockingly as he disappears in a puff of smoke.

Somnambula stamped her staff on the ground, angrily, before she turns to see Abacus Cinch, and her two Shadowbolts, on the floor, in fetal positions.





"The nerve of those people," Fear Haunter grumbled. "Their high and mighty attidude is going to come back and bite them.HARD." He scoffed as he finds a seat, and continues reading his book, finding a moment of peace. "But still," He ponders as he puts a hand up his chin. "I wonder what this 'Dragon Prince' fear?" He asks himself grinning wickedly. "Maybe Ishouldplan a visit to Equestria to find out. But first," He said while pulling out another book, a brown one that says 'TheTrueHistory of Equestria By F' on the cover, "I had to break some bones to get my hands on you. Lets see if you're worth the read."





Somewhere


Abacus Cinch and the two Shadowbolts were still screaming, by the time Somnambula took them to safety. The inflicted Shadowbolts were being checked up, by Joe.

"How serious is it?" Somnambula asked.

"Not too fatal," Joe replied, ominously. "The fear they're experiencing will wear off in a day, or two. Give or take," He finished, before he turned to Somnambula. "And I've already warned you, many times about bargaining with metahumans."

"Metahumans, or not. They're still humans, in some ways," Somnambula replied. "And their powers are just as superiors, compared to our magics."

"And they're just as dangerous," Joe replied, gravely. "Perhaps it would be more prudent to first develop some weaponry, designed to fight meta genes. Besides, I wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of pilfering these, would I?"

Joe asked, as he showcased an array of weapons, before Somnambula. The most defining feature for each of the weapon, was the fact they all bore a logo, of an eagle with two dogs.





Present


"And here we are," Somnambula concluded, before she turns to Fear Haunter. "You've had your fun, Fear," She glowered. "Now stop all of this!"

Fear looked at Somnambula, sneering, "Still trying to give me orders?" He glowered. "Either you're still as foolish, or very stubborn, than you were, before your recent defeat. Of course, that's a common trait for all of you shadow types. Just like your princess. Weak, arrogant, cowardly-“

The chimera let out a roar through her tiger head, as she snarled, “You watch your tongue, metahuman!” She threatens. “Nobody insults Princess Luna and gets away with it!”

Fear rolled his eyes, and shook his head in defiance, “Enough!” Rainbow shouted as she once again stared face-to-face with the madman. “I’m going to ask you again! Stop this plague NOW!!!”

“And my answer to you, and your precious princesses remains, no!” Fear Haunter spatted.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Somnambula narrowed her eyes, before she tapped her staff, conjuring a certain fruit.

Fear gasped, “OH! Is that-?!”

“A pear?” Somnambula asked. “Yes, it is. And if you don’t cooperate right now, then I’ll force this down into your throat!”

Following on her threat, Somnambula levitated the pear over to Fear, with the Shadowbolts prying his mouth open. With their claws digging into his skin, both the griffin and the chimera scratched his face as they forced his mouth open, enough for the pear to enter, while the minotaur stood behind and holds him down.

As the pear was being forced into his throat, Fear groaned in disgust as he recalls a bad memory involving pears. Thinking fast, Fear bites down on the pear, while biting on the griffon and the chimera’s claws, causing them to yelp, and unfortunately, released their hold on the man, who quickly head butted the minotaur, in the nose, with the back of his head.

The heroes watched in awe as the man quickly picked up the griffon, as if it was nothing but feathers as he tossed the creature at the minotaur. Then, the chimera strikes, pouncing on the man, pinning him down, roaring in his face, and baring its larger saber teeth at him. Summoning all his strength, Fear thrusts his legs into the chimera’s stomach, forcing her off, and into Pinkie Pie. Somnambula waved her staff, before she fired a bolt of magic at Fear, striking him, exploding upon impact, before the minotaur throws a punch at him from behind. Fear fell on his hands, before he gets back up, and catches another punch from the minotaur, as he twisted the tall, muscular bull creature's arm and hurled him towards Somnambula and Rainbow Dash. Somnambula dodged to the side, but Rainbow was not so fortunate.

"Oh you want to do this the hard way?!" Rainbow asked bitterly, wiggling free from the minotaur. "We'll do this the hard way!"

"Bring it, rainbow freak!" Fear Haunter taunted.

"Enough of this!" Spike growled, as he storms into the room. "You're on thin ice, Fear! As prince, I demand you stop this at once!"

"Oh my, acting all high and mighty now are we?" Fear taunted. "I wonder if there's a hint of someone rather small and insecure, underneath all that rough exterior."

Sunset was peering into the metahuman's mind, before she spoke via telepathy, "Don't listen to him, Spike," Sunset warned. "Don't listen to anything he says."

Spike stood firm, as Fear glares at him, "Don't try and hide it, Dragon Prince," The man began. "Even with all the praises you've been getting for your heroism, and good deeds to the magical creatures, it doesn't change the fact that everyone are still weary of you, and have kept a good distance from you. Or the fact you were abandoned by your birth parents out of disgusts."

Slightly irked, Spike scoffed, "What do you know about my birth parents?" He asked.


[The Dark Knight OST - Just A Little Push]


"Plenty enough to know that the moment they looked at you, they cringed to see they didn't get a normal human child," Fear began. "Instead, all they got was a cursed child with eyes and fangs of a dragon." Spike frowned as he stood defiantly, "I know you can remember again. I'm sure you can now recall again, about how you were left on the steps of a church, by your disgusted mother, on the same night when you were found by General Scorpan and taken to Equestria."

Spike's eyes suddenly flashed a blaze of green, with a clap of thunder echoing through his mind. As if he was really struck by another lightning, Spike felt a familiar throbbing, burning, painful sensation going through his head, as he suddenly has a vision of himself, as an infant, crying and holding his hands for his biological mother, whom he can vaguely see her face.

Realizing what Fear was doing, Spike shook his head, as he glowered at Fear, "Stop it! Enough of these mind games! Stop this plague of fear! Every pony are scared enough as it is!"

"What does it matter?" Fear asked. "Even if I do stop the plague, everypony will still be afraid of one more thing. You."

"As if!" Rainbow snarled. "What makes you say that we're afraid of Spike?"

"Yeah!" Pinkie joined. "That's a load of phony-baloney! And I don't even know what baloney is!" The chimera Shadowbolt's snake head whispered into Pinkie's ear to what exactly a baloney is. Pinkie looked troubled, "Okay, now I wished you didn't tell me that."

Getting back on topic, while ignoring Rainbow Dash, Fear continued, "Oh yes, Spike. You have quite the reputation here. You can attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. The ponies are still afraid of you, despite all of your 'noble heroics.'"

"That's absurd!" Rainbow glared, only for her to be silenced by Spike, who raised his hand up.

Turning back at the metahuman, Spike snarled, baring his dragon fangs, "I'll ask you again. End this now, and you won't have to feel my wrath! Or mom, if I don't come first!"

Fear could only laugh, "Listen to yourself," He chortled. "Trying to act all tough and intimidating, and yet you still think so highly about mommy Celestia. Such a softie."

"What's there not to think so highly of?" Spike asked. "She took me in. She gave me everything. A home, a loving family, and she's helped me made some friends. I owe my life to her. Which is why you will understand that I'll do everything it takes to protect this world from monsters like you!"

"And do you know what's amusing?" Fear asked. "You swear that you will protect this world from monsters like me. But who's going to protect this world from monsters like you? You may be adopted, or a prince, or even a 'hero.' But that doesn't change the fact that you're still a dragon. And not just any dragon. You're living vessel of the Dragonfire; a legendary magical force that has the power of a thousand dragons, maybe more. Which makes you a threat."

Spike remained stoic, while trying to remember a lesson he once learned from his uncle. However, Fear's words made it difficult for him to remember, as the metahuman continued, "Accept it. Not everyone are thrilled of your return. Your surrogate cousin, Prince Vladimir Blueblood is one. But there are others besides him who share a mutual distrust to the likes of you. As I recall, that old coot, Grand Pear, is another."

While Spike would laugh at the thought of his spoiled, pompous, and arrogant cousin, the mention of Applejack's grandfather made all thoughts of denial disappear, as he recalls the elder stallion's stern attitude towards him. 

"Don't you get it? No pony loved you!" Fear spatted. "They only tolerated you, because of Princess Celestia. And your posse, the Knights. Ha! I'll bet you anything they only became your friends, just for street credits. And your beloved mother?" Fear could only shook his head. "She only cared for you, claiming you have a great destiny, when in reality, she and General Scorpan were only making you grow to become a living weapon. All they ever expect of you is some all-powerful creature, whom they can rely on to protect their kingdom, maybe themselves, whichever comes first. But at the same time, they'll be afraid of you, the moment you start to grow up, too powerful than they'd expect you to be." 

Fear laughed himself in amusement, as he continues, “You can try and deny it, but the truth is clear. No matter how hard you fight, no matter how many creatures you’ve protected, you will always be seen as a walking disaster, just waiting to happen!”

Fear's words were becoming too unbearable, one after another, and it was getting too hard for Spike to stay calm. Spike was going to give the metahuman a piece of his mind, when someone else beat him to it.

"THAT'S IT!!" Rainbow roared, as she leaped at Fear, and punched him in the face. In retaliation, Fear grabbed Dash by the wing, spins her around before he tossed her into a wall.

"You've got nerves, Dash," Fear sneered, before he unsheathes a knife. "Too bad I've got to rip it out of ya."

Upon seeing the frightened look on Dash's face, Spike’s finally had it. Loud beating of drums can be heard, as Spike’s eyes turned slit and burned a blazing green. Before Fear could react, Spike morphed into his dragon form, as he leaped towards Fear, and pinned him to the ground, knocking the knife out of his hand.

Arching his head in the air, Spike breathed a burst of green fire at Fear, who arched his head to the side, avoiding the attack. Then, with a surprising amount of strength, Fear thrusted his legs into Spike's stomach, forcing the dragon off. Spike quickly got up, as he whips his tail at Fear, who ducked his head, avoiding the attack, only to be met with a strong headbutt, to the chest.

Rainbow Dash, after recovering from a repeat of her Pinkamena Cupcake Nightmare scenario, watched in shock, with Pinkie Pie, Somnambula, and the Shadowbolts. The group watched in shock, as Spike was going all out on the metahuman.

Soon, a few cops, Applejack, and Twilight came into the room, as they pulled Spike off, and out of the room.

"Spike! Calm down!" Twilight strained, holding her magical grip on Spike.

"Let it go, Sugarcube!" Applejack groaned, even with her super strength hold on Spike, she was having a hard time holding him down.

"Oh, come on!" Rainbow groaned. "It was getting to the best part!" The girls all fired glares at Dash, who quickly shushed up, "Um, I mean, yeah let's go!"

As the group left, Pinkie turned to Fear, and morphed her hooves into hands, as she pointed them at her eyes, then at Fear Haunter, before she left.

Fear rolled his eyes, chuckling in a sinister manner, before he noticed a crack in the wall, courtesy of their early scuffle.





Outside the police station, the friends were all gathered around Spike, calming him down after his recent talk with Fear Haunter.

“Spike! Calm down!” Twilight said, as she continues to maintain her magical grip on the raging dragon.

“Deep breaths!” Rainbow struggled. “Deep breaths! Just think calm blue sky!”

“And cupcakes!” Pinkie added. “Yummy, soft, gem encrusted cupcakes with your name on it!”

After awhile, Spike finally calms down as the fiery aura around him dissipates, and he slowly reverted back to his human form.

“Are you alright now?” Starlight asked in concern for Spike.

“Yeah. I guess,” Spike sighed. "I'm just more worried for Rainbow Dash, after the way he threatened that knife on you," He turned to the rainbow maned pegasus.

"Well, I'm alright now," Rainbow replied. "But thanks for the save."

Spike then looked back down on the ground, "Still, the things he said," Spike took a deep breath, as he sighed, "Who does he think he is? What makes him think he knows everybody better than I know you? All of you?"

"That scoundrel!" Rarity frowned. “You really shouldn’t let that ruffian’s words get to you darling. They’re not true, and you know it.”

“Yeah! Like we’d ever see you as a weapon!” Rainbow added.

“Or a walking disaster!” Applejack added.

“And what makes you think we became your friend just because it would give us street credits?” Button Mash asked. “You saved our lives bro! You brought us all together! There wouldn't be us, without you.”

“Yeah! What about all those awesome times we’ve had, before any of these magic stuffs began?” Rumble added. "We thought you were awesome, without your magics! Who's the only kid to have beaten me in a one-on-one game of basketball?"

"Or Street Fighters?" Button added.

"Or all those dance-offs we've had?" Tender asked. "We're brothers, Spike. And brothers for life! And you're still one of us, dragon or not."

"What they said," Featherweight joined.

Spike looked at all of his friends, "You're right." He spoke. "I’m sorry you guys. I’m just under a lot of pressure lately. I wish I could be of some help. And I wish I could really do something to save everyone from this whole plague of fear.”

Starlight Glimmer placed a hoof on his shoulder, "Hey, we're not asking you to save everyone, right away." Starlight assured. "These things take time."

"Yeah, no pony's doubting you," Sunset added. 'Unlike some ponies,' She thought grimly, towards Applejack.

"And not everything revolves around only you," Twilight added. "Don't forget, we're all in this together. You're not alone."

“And it’s okay if not every pony likes ya, Spike!” Applejack added. “I don’t care if Grand Pear is all disapproval about ya." Applejack couldn't help but blush, as she thought, 'Because you’re the apple of my-'

Just then, a pegasus cop came bursting out of the station, "Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight!!" The pegasus cop shouted, before he came to a halt before the princess. 

"Officer Sentry!" Twilight gasped, as she gently calms the pegasus. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"He's gone!" Officer Sentry exclaimed.

"Who's gone?"

"Fear Haunter! He just disappeared!"

"WHAT?!!" The heroes all shouted, looking at the cop in bewilderment.

"How did that happen?!" Rainbow asked, getting close in the pegasus's face.

"I don't know," Sentry replied. "One second, he was just in the interrogation room. And the next, he's just gone. Vanished into thin air!"

"That's impossible!" Twilight exclaimed. "That room was rigged with the highest and the latest technologies against meta-humans, with a few powerful spells for added precautions. I can't escape, let alone use his powers!"

Just then, another officer reported, "We found out, who he got away," The officer panted. "Through a little crack in the wall. Obviously, it must've been made during the scuffle between him and Prince Spike."

Spike instantly face palmed himself, realizing he had unintentionally let a madman escape. Twilight walked over and gave Spike a pat, while the rest of the heroes all looked at each other, frightfully exchanging questions on their next course of actions.

"Twilight! Where is he?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah, where is he, Twi?" Rainbow joined.

Twilight looked at her meta tracker, but was puzzled and dismayed to see more than one trail of metahuman activity on her grid, "WHAT?!" Twilight shouted in bewilderment, as she shakes the device, out of frustration.

"What's the matter, Twi?" Spike asked.

"See for yourself," Twilight replied, showing the status on her device, to the rest of her friends.

"What the devil?!" Rarity exclaimed. "What is the meaning of this?"

"There's no way we're gonna find him like that!" Rainbow grumbled. "It's like a huge maze now!"

"How are we suppose to find him in all that tangle paths of fear?" Applejack asked.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight answered, "There's only one logical way to do this," She began. "We split up, and search for this man!"

Spike's eyes widened, as he recalls his previous nightmare, "Spli-spli-split up?" He asked.

"Yes, Spike," Twilight replied. "Split up. Is there a problem?" She asked, with a raised eyebrow.

Before Spike could answer, Button butted in, "I think Spike's onto something here," The nerd boy began. "If you've been paying attention to your horror movies, when you split up, that's what-" Button imitated a knife cut across his neck, "-happens."

"Button! Now's not the time to go nerd on us," Rumble retorted with a roll of his eyes. "We've got a madman on the loose, threatening every pony, and possibly every creatures' lives with his fear power! We have to stop him before it gets out of hand!"

Button frowned, "Fine! But don't say I didn't warn you!" He said.

"We'll help too," Somnambula spoke up, with the Shadowbolts at her sides in agreement. "We feel that this fear plague is partially our fault." Everyone appeared a bit on the fence about this, even Sunset Shimmer,.

"Look it's obvious you don't trust us or even like us at that, not that we blame you considering all the crap we pulled." The chimera explained.

"That's putting it mildly." Tender grumbled.

"Point is there's a lunatic on the loose and you need all the help you can get right now." The griffon stated.

The heroes all look at each other until Rumble spoke up, "Fine. But you better not get in our way."

With that, everyone all split up, while Spike was a little bit reluctant.
> Twisted Evil Part 4: Living Nightmares
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Tender Taps


Tender Taps was walking down the street of Ponyville. Though, with all the ponies and creatures who've been afflicted by this plague of fear by some twisted metahuman, it wasn't a surprise the street is unusually quiet.

The boy was on his way to check up on Apple Bloom, to make sure she was okay, when he suddenly noticed a huge stage, in the middle of the street.

'Huh? Where did that come from?' Tender asked himself, mentally. Deciding to investigate, he carefully walked over to the stage, inspecting it from a safe distance, until he got close enough to touch it. Without warning, the stage suddenly came to life, with a flash of fire and a puff of smokes. Tender jumped back, yelping in surprise. Getting up, he frantically beats his chest, before he looked up to see a trio of skeletons, standing before him. Furthermore, the skeletons don't appear to be ponies either. In fact, they're more humans.

Tender Taps was surprised, until the skeletons don themselves up with top hats, and started to dance with some canes, to some classic dance musics. Tender's surprised expression quickly shifted to that of wonder, as he watches in amusement to the skeletons' movements. The skeletons' dance at first, came off as cartoonish, similar to Disney's classic shorts: "Silly Symphony: The Skeleton Dance." Later, the skeletons were doing some river dances, tap dances, and even ballet dance.

This kept on going, until the skeletons came to the end of their dance, in which they took a bow, with their hats, "Bravo! Bravo! En core!" Tender whistled, while clapping his hands together.


[Spooky Scary Skeletons (Remix) - The Living Tombstone]


The skeletons all looked up at Tender Taps, and suddenly, their empty eye sockets glowed red, in which all good feelings in Tender Taps quickly dissolved. The skeletons all let out bloodcurdling screams, as they lunged towards Tender, tackling him to the ground. Tender struggled to break free, but to no avail. The skeletons are the very definite of "big bones," and "strong bones," as they all held Tender down to the ground, and proceeded to maul him; biting and clawing.

Apple Bloom was just doing some grocery shopping, when she happens upon Tender Taps, curled up in a fetal position.

"Tender Taps?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, dropping all of her groceries, and galloped over to the frightened boy. "What is it? What's wrong?" The mare asked, in which Tender's only response is a long frightful scream.





Button Mash


Button Mash was walking around Ponyville, taking every cautious step, constantly on the lookout for the metahuman, Fear Haunter.

"Careful now," Button said to himself, while armed with a nun-chuck, and his Minecraft foam pickaxe. "One step at a time. That's it. I'm gonna live," Unfortunately, Button spoke too soon, as he was suddenly set upon by a pack of deranged, demonic, disheveled animatronics of anthropomorphic animals.


FNAF 4 Game Over by Illusion100





"MOMMMA!!!" Button screamed, as he took off running in fear.

From his hiding spot, Fear shook his head, "And he's supposed to be the wise one?" He asked himself, incredulous.





Pinkie Pie


Pinkie Pie was jumping over houses, roof to roof, as she and Rainbow Dash searched for the culprit.

"I'll go high! You go low!" Rainbow suggested.

"Okie-dokie-loki!" Pinkie agreed, as Rainbow Dash flew higher into the sky, leaving Pinkie to leap back on solid ground, where she shifted her mane into a drill, and she began tunneling underground.

Soon, Pinkie Pie was popping up around town, "Here Fear," She called. "Here Feary, Feary, Feary, Feary, Fear," She even blew a whistle. "Nice metahuman, you-hoo." She continued to whistle, before she was stopped by a firm hoof.

Looking up, there stood before her an elderly stallion of moderate amber color with medium light gray mane and tail, and wears a black fedora with light gray band, with matching neck tie and collar. His cutie mark is a simple pickaxe.

"Oh, hi dad!" Pinkie chirped. "What brings you to Ponyville?"

"What brings me here?" Pinkie's dad questioned. "I personally would like to hear why you've recently been wreaking havoc, and spreading chaos and disharmony across Ponyville."

"What?!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Me? Where'd you-"

"SILENCE!!" The stallion shouted in a booming voice, blowing Pinkie out of the ground. "What has possessed you to commit such ludicrous acts, Pinkamena Diana Pie? The latest Equestria Daily reads: 'Local Ponyville Party Planner-Pinkie Pie-Leads A Bloody Killing Spree!'" As if to prove his point, the old stallion conjured up an Equestria Daily paper from his hat, and showed it to a horrified Pinkie Pie. What's even more horrifying was that Pinkie Pie was looking at herself in the picture, wearing a baby mask that is both cute and creepy.





With a mixture of confusion, shock, and disbelief, Pinkie Pie was beyond frightened. She was petrified, and couldn't find her voice, "B-B-B-B-B-But, this can't be!" Pinkie sobbed. "This isn't right! This isn't me! I would never do this!"

The stern look on Pinkie's father remains, "I wish I could believe you daughter," He frowned. "But this is out of my hooves."

"Our hooves," Another strict voice spoke, revealing a mare with an equal stern expression on her face.

In appearance, the mare has a light cobalt bluish gray coat with grayish opal mane and tail, with the mane dun up in a bun. She wears a pair of brass glasses over her weary light arctic blue eyes, a gold pendant beneath a black collar with white criss-cross patterns.

The mare glowered at Pinkie, shaking her head, in disapproval, "Mom!" Pinkie cried tearfully. "I'm telling you, it wasn't me!"

"There's nothing we can do now, Pinkamena," Her mom frowned. "So all those years of throwing parties and putting on that smily face of yours has all been a facade to cover up this newfound bloodlust of yours?" When Pinkie shook her head in denial, her mother sighed, "You fool no pony, Pinkamena. It's clear. You're no longer one of us, and your are hereby sentenced to eternal exile to Tartarus!"

Pinkie's mane and tail deflated, as her colors turned dull, "No! No! Please, don't!" Pinkie cried, covering her tear ridden face with her hooves. "I'm innocent I tell you! Innocent!"

Watching from the alley, Fear cracked a wicked grin, as he watch the once happy pony, reduced to a pink lump of sadness in a puddle of tears.





Fluttershy


Fluttershy was at her cottage feeding her animals until she hears a crunching sound from the distance. Against her better judgment she decides to investigate the noise.


[Come Join The Clown, Eds - Benjamin Wallfisch]


When she found the source of the noise, what she saw horrified her. Standing before her were a couple of Cerulean Hunters munching on some woodland critters. What's surprising about these hunters is that they look more beastly with longer claws and sharper teeth. It was then that the hunters start sniffing the air and took notice of Fluttershy.

The bashful pegasus was beyond scared, but was able to muster upsomecourage and demanded, "W-where's Professor Chimera!? What have you done to him?!"

The hunters just looked at each other before letting out a bone chilling laugh. One of them pulls out what looks like a unicorn's severed head before tossing it at Fluttershy's fore hooves. It took her a minute but she realise's that it's the head of her mentor and her eyes start to water. She then looks up at the hunters who start licking their chops and she knew that she was next.

She immediately bolted to her cottage with the beastly hunters in pursuit. She gathered all the animals outside and threw them in her home. She then locks all the doors and windows, just when she thought she was safe however she hears the hunters banging on the door...

"Little pig," One of the hunters began in a haunting voice. "Little pig. Let me come in!"

Chatting her teeth together, shaking violently against the door, Fluttershy trembled as she struggles to summon all her courage, and whimpers, "No! Never! Go away!"

In response, the demonic hunters broke through the window, as they stared at Fluttershy, hungrily with bloodlust, "It's chow time!" The hunters laughed maniacally, as they lunged at the screaming pegasus.

Kyrie was sharing some bird seeds, with Peewee, when the two birds heard screaming from inside the hut. Curious, the two birds flew into the hut, to see Fluttershy, curled up in a fetal position, screaming her heart out, with Angel Bunny at her side, trying in vain to calm her down.

"Fluttershy?" Kyrie asked. "What's wrong? What's the matter?" In response, the buttercup pegasus screamed even louder, blowing Angel and the talking canary, off their feet.

Just then, Peewee felt something off, in the distance. With a burst of flame, the phoenix spreads his wings, as he took of flying.

"Peewee!" Kyrie called out, but the phoenix was already out of earshot, as he flew on.





Applejack


[I Hate It Here - Richard Bellis]


"Now where's that consarn son of a gun." Applejack asked herself as she searched a nearby pond.

"AJ, over here!" Cried a voice Applejack hadn't heard in a long time. She turned to see the source of the voice and her eyes widened of who she saw.

Somehow standing on top the water of the pond was a stallion, with a brilliant red mane and tail, a coat that's pale, light grayish olive, his cutie mark is a half of green apple with a star in the center, and a stetson that's similar to hers. AJ knows this stallion all too well.

"D-daddy..." She stuttered. Yes the stallion before her is none other than her father, Bright Mac.

"That's right baby girl, it's me." Bright Mac said in a cheery tone.

Applejack was hesitant, one part of her knows full well this is a trick from Fear Haunter but at the same time...

"You want a balloon baby girl?" Bright Mac asked while pulling out some balloons, however AJ noticed somethings off. For one Bright Mac is now wearing Fear's hat and trench coat and when he spoke there was another voice speaking as well, "They float, they all float."

Applejack shook her head and backed of a little. When she looked up again, instead of her father standing there it was Fear Haunter chuckling darkly. He waves at AJ and then vanishes into thin air, while all the balloons he was holding floated up in the sky.

Unfortunately, while Applejack was paying attention to the balloons, something came out of the pond and grabbed one of her forelegs. She looked down and see that it was a skeletal remains of a pony covered in moss.

"We fall down, we all fall down," The skeleton said in a gurgling voice, "And very soon you'll fall down too, redneck!"

AJ's look of fear turns to anger, "Ah don't think so..." She said as crushes the skeleton's head with her other fore hoof. She then looks around, "Gonna have to try a lot harder than that, you son of a bitch." She grumbled as she trot on.





Featherweight


Featherweight was searching for Fear until he came across a burnt building. Featherweight paused at this. There was something very familier about this building. Suddenly, with a scream of agony, charred hands sticking out of a locked door, reaching out for him in vain, all the while screaming, "HELP! HELP!! LET US OUT!!!"

Featherweight's eyes widened, as his whole life flashes before him, before it all settled to a time when he was much younger, during which he had witnessed an incident, such as this, before his very eyes.

After he returns to reality, Feather slowly backed away, but was picked up by the collar, and was thrown towards the burnt door of the building, in which the hands all grabbed him.

"No!" Feather groaned, as he struggles to break free. "Let me go!"

"Why should they?" A stern voice asked, to which Feather looked up, to see Scorpan, in human form. "After all, you never did anything to help these poor people go free."

"Master Scorpan?" Feather asked. "What are you-"

"You did nothing to help them," The man frowned grimly, as he reached his hand out and grabbed ahold of Feather's camera. "Nothing! Except taking a picture, and left them all to die!" With a grunt of disgust, the man throws the thin boy's camera to the ground, shattering it into several pieces.

Featherweight was aghast, "But.....master....I-"

"Not a word out of you young man," Featherweight's father frowned, pointing a finger to his son. "You are in deep trouble and you know it. And you don't deserve the Shield of Purity!" With a slash across the face, Scorpan turned and left the boy, "Go burn in Tartarus for all I care!"

Scorpan turned his back, as he changes into his true gargoyle form, taking flight, while leaving a grief stricken Featherweight behind, pleading, "No, Master Scorpan! No! Wait! I can explain! NOOOOO!!!" Feather was silenced, when one of the hands grabbed him by the mouth, gagging him.





Princess Skystar


"Whee!" Skystar squealed as she leapt out of the air, before she came crashing back into the water with a big splash. Soon, Sky broke the surface as she started doing the backstroke, while singing herself a merry tune.

The lone sea pony had been hanging out at the Ponyville pool house, enjoying herself, completely oblivious to the events going on outside. Though the pool isn't as big, or as spacious as the ocean of her home in Seaquestria, it's still big enough for Sky to swim around, and play in.

Skystar paused for a moment, as she took the moment to look around, seeing how she was the only one, in the pool house.

"Gosh, I wonder where everypony is?" Sky asked herself, while raising one of her shells out from the water. "What do you think they're doing, Shelly?"

"Beats me," Sky said, ventriloquizing for Shelly. "I'm more concerned with what you're doing."

"Me?!" Sky ventriloquized for Sheldon. "What did I do to make you constantly glue your eyes at me?"

"Nothing. That's what. Besides, my eyes are constantly glued to you, because Skystar here had glued them onto me!"

"Why Shelly, I'm offended!" Skystar berated.

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing, Skystar," Shelly spoke for himself. "In fact, I'm glad you did, because me and Sheldon here would never get to see how cute you looked!"

Skystar giggled, "Oh Shelly, you old charmer!"

"Wow, such a pretty little smile you've got," A voice spoke.

"Why thank you?" Sky said, when she didn't see anyone. "W-Who said that?" Sky asked nervously.

"Such a pretty smile, befitting as the mask that hides a tragic tale," The voice said again.

The next thing Skystar knew, someone grabs her by the collar, lifts her up and throws her out of the pool where she lands on cold, hard concrete.

"Ow!" Sky groaned, as she struggled to get up on her front flippers. Rubbing her head, all the while wincing at the hard feeling of the rocks and soils, biting into her skin beneath her, Skystar looked up. "Hey! What was that for?" She angrily asked, only to come face to face with an intimidating looking human.

The human lowered himself to Sky's level and asked, "Tell me, are you scared right now?"

She stuttered, "N-No."

The man simply chuckled, then turns away for a second before he turns back to her with his eyes rolled up androarsat her while showing her an endless row of sharp fangs.

"AAAAAHHHHH" Sky screamed as she staggered back while the man's face returned to normal. Skystar then notice the man chuckling, "Was-was that suppose to be funny?!" She asked both angry and frightful at the same time, "CAUSE I'M NOT LAUGHING!!!!"

"Oh, it's just to show that like your smile, your bravery is also a facade," The man stated "It's not suprising since you come from a race of cowards after all."

Skystar was aghast, "Excuse me?!" She exclaimed in outrage.

"Oh don't try to hide it," The man began, "When that buffoon, the Storm King, came knocking on your door, instead of staying and fight for your home, you ran to the sea with your tails between your legs."

"Hey! We didn't run! We swam! Y'know in order to run!" Skystar corrected him.

The man was not amused, "Is there a difference?"

"I-uh, no there isn't." Sky admitted in defeat.

"The point is, you're all cowards who would run at the first sign of trouble! If you would hide in the ocean just from some bumbling yeti, then I can't imagine what would happen if the Cerulean Hunters or the Splicerbolts came to your doorstep." The man continued, before he turned his attention, back at Sky. "Though, I wonder if yours goes deeper than the Storm King."

Then, without warning, Skystar finds herself in a seemingly endless dark void, "Hey! Where am I?" Skystar inquired. "Hello? Big tall mean old man? Where are you? Is this some kind of trick? If it is, then it's not funny!"

"Oh, it's not meant for a laugh!" The man's dark and ominous voice replied. "Well, for me, perhaps. But it'll be a totally different experience for you!"

Skystar was about to ask, when a voice called out, "Sky.....My little Skystar....."


[Time To Float - Benjamin Wallfisch]


Skystar gasped, as she turns her head, and was shocked to see a familiar male hippogriff, "Daddy?!" Sky shouted, flopping herself over to her father, to see the area around her was cleared up, to reveal that she was now at the top of a tall mountain, and her father was hanging onto a cliff, preventing him from being sucked into a vortex. "DADDYYYYYY!!" Sky screamed.

"Skystar!" Her father called. "Help me!"

"DAD!!!!" Sky screamed, but winced at the sound of a dark laughter, that sent her scales standing on end. "Oh no! No! Please, don't be-" Skystar turned her head, and wished she didn't.

A flash of lightning pierced the sky, to reveal the shadowy shape of a large, terrifying creature, with piercing red eyes, long narrow wings beating to the winds, and long menacing tentacles, swaying in the wind to add the ferocity of the creature's appearance.

Sky closed her eyes shut, "SKYYYYY!!!" Her father called out.

"DAD!!" Sky screamed, crawling over to her father, holding her flipper out. "Just a little farther!" She grunted, with her father doing the same.

Just as Sky was about to touch her father's talons, "GOTCHA!!!" Sky turned her head, and was horrified to see her fluke tail, in the grip of the monster, "Poor unfortunate Skystar!" The monster hissed.

"SKYSTAAAAARRRRR!!!"

"DDDAAAAAAADDDDDYYYYYY!!!!" Skystar watched as her father was sucked into the vortex, never to be seen again. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" She wailed, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Oh dear," The monster spoke. "You're not going to cry now, are you? I know it hurts. But you must accept the truth. Nothing can stop death! Your blessed father's couldn't even prevent it from getting to him!"

Princess Skystar laid on the ground, curled up in a ball, with tears spilling from her eyes, "Stop it!" She pleaded. "Please, just stop!"

"I told you, it can't be stopped!" The monster continued. "You can run, as long as you want. But you can never hide from it! Nor will you ever hide from me!" With that, the monster quickly shifted itself into a tall, monkey-like monsters with long sharp horns protruding at the top of his head, and electricity pulsing from his piercing icy blue eyes.

Sky stared, eyes further widened in horror, "It can't be!!" She said in denial.

"Oh, but it is!" The monster cackled. "The whole lot of you are slippery little fishes, let me tell ya. Though it's strange to find you so far away from your home." Sky whimpered as the monster held her by the throat, as he continues to laugh menacingly, "Perhaps you are lost. Allow me to help you get home. And in return, you shall show me where you are all hiding, so that I can have the pleasure to destroy you all!"

"Skystar!" Another voice called, to which Sky turned her head, to see a light fuchsias gray sea pony, covered in dark chains that were dragging her down into the darkness.

"Mother?!" Sky exclaimed.

"Skystar! Come back!" Her mother called, while slowly being swallowed by the darkness. "Come back home, daughter! Come back!"

"Mom!" Sky reached her flipper out, but to no avail.

"Sky!" Two more voices called, to which Sky turned to see two sea ponies-one vanilla white with reddish fins, and the other light blue with purple fins.

"Haven? Salina?" Skystar exclaimed.

"Why did you leave us, little sis?" Haven cried. "Why?"

"I didn't mean to!" Sky protested.

"You were gone for so long!" Salina added. "You left us to the Storm King! You've forsaken us!"

Before long, Princess Skystar finds herself surrounded by her people, all crying out for her, begging her to come back and save them. Skystar was beside herself, as she laid on the floor, curled up, crying, with apparitions of the monsters hovering over her, laughing, together with Nightmare Smooze.

In the real world, the man left a crestfallen Skystar, crying in the street. A little, frighten filly was passing by, when she noticed the sadden Skystar.





Rarity


Rarity has been looking up & down for the twisted metahuman but no avail. That is until she spotted her sister curled up and lying on the streets. Fearing the worst, Rarity galloped over to her.

"Sweetie, Sweetie! Are you all right!?" She asked her little sister but no response, however does hear her mumbling something.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Sweetie said over and over.

Rarity doesn't need her detective skills to figure out what she's apologizing for, "Sweetie?"

"Rarity, the voices, they won't stop, they won't go away." Sweetie explained to her.

Just then a pebble comes flying and hits Sweetie Belle, on the head. Sweetie yelped, as she held a hoof at the inflicted spot, where a bruise was forming. Then another pebble comes and hits her in the shoulder. This causes Sweetie to curl up again.

"WHO'S THROWING THAT?!?!" Rarity demanded angrily, before another pebble comes flying and hits her instead.

After regaining her composure, she looks around and sees that it was Fear Haunter who's been throwing them from the rooftop of a nearby house. He sighs, "I have never seen someone so petty and pathetic in my whole life," Fear stated as he threw another rock at Sweetie.

Rarity fires a bolt at the metahuman, but Fear quickly turns into smoke and zips across to the other side, "I mean who would ruin someone's life just because their sibling payed more attention to that person instead of them." He continued.

"You uncouth brute!" Rarity yelled, "It wasn't her fault, it was-"

"It was the Shadowbolts, they set her up to do it," Fear interrupted the marshmallow unicorn, while doing an impression of her, "Puh-lease, what your sister did was on her. All The Shadowbolts did was just gave her the push she needed." He finished before throwing another rock at Sweetie, which Rarity fortunately conjures up a shield before it hits her.

"WILL YOU STOP THROWING ROCKS AT MY SISTER!!!!" Rarity yelled.

Fear just shrugs, "Fine then. Let's start with you," He began. "Where were you when Sunset needed you most?" Rarity didn't know how to answer that so Fear answered for her, "You and those other girls turned your back on her, thinking that she never changed." He exclaimed. "You know for someone who wields the element of generosity, you're pretty friggen selfish."

"I admit, it was not our most proudest moment, especially when we found out about the truth," Rarity said with a sigh. "But it's in the past now and the best we can do now is to do better in the future!"

Fear stares at her blankly and then gives a slight smirk, "I wonder if there is a future for you and your friends." He said as he opens his mouth wide and spiders come pouring out.

Rarity was mortified to say the least as the spiders come crawling towards her. She takes a step back and tries to grab Sweetie Belle only to see more spiders coming out of her mouth as well. Just then even more spiders come bursting out of doors and windows and they all crawled towards her. Rarity tries blasting them away with her horn, but it did little good. The alabaster unicorn screams for her life as the arachnids began to crawl all over her.

Back in the real world Rarity is lying on ground, flaying her legs around and screaming for dear life. Fear just shakes his head and sighs, "All too simple, and yet so fun for a scare," he said to himself as he took his leave, but not before throwing one last rock at Sweetie Belle.





Rainbow Dash


Rainbow Dash was flapping her wings, as she flies across Ponyville, scanning for any sign of Fear Haunter.

"Come out, come out wherever you are, freakazoid," Rainbow said to herself.

Suddenly, a loud shriek pierced the sky, and a blur of black came soaring from the sky and struck Rainbow Dash, cutting her cheek.

"OW!" Rainbow winced, before she looked up at her attacker. "What the-" The attacker appeared to be a giant sixteen foot raven with four eyes and black chains covering it's wings, as it makes a sharp turn, and makes another dive at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow flapped her wings, moving to the side, dodging the attack. Unfortunately, the raven made another turn, and Dash wasn't quick enough to dodge out of the way in time as the massive bird grabs her with it's talons and slams her to the ground, pinning her down.

"Get off of me!" Rainbow snarled, struggling to escape. Then, without warning, the raven grabs her wings by the beak...and rips them off her back. Rainbow screamed in pain as the raven lets go of her and devour her wings. "No! My wings!" Rainbow cried, tears pouring from her eyes. "My beautiful, awesome wings! Not again!" She cried, recalling how she first lost her wings, to the Three Magicians.

The difference then was that it was only temporarily, and she was able to reclaim her wings with Twilight's help. This time, however, it may be permanent, as Rainbow's wings have been devoured whole, by a demonic raven, before her very eyes.

Rainbow laid her head on the ground, as she sobbed, "My wings....gone. I'm nothing without them...."

"If you're nothing without those wings then you probably shouldn't have them in the first place!" A demonic voice coldly told her.





Sunset Shimmer


The fiery unicorn was nothing but a puff of smoke as she flies through the fear-ridden streets of Ponyville, searching for Fear Haunter.

'Of all the metahumans, does it have to be some twisted evil psychopath with powers over fears?' Sunset asked mentally, before she landed on the ground, taking the moment to rest her magic.

Just then, a stallion came walking out of his house as he pointed at Sunset, "Now there's the bad girl we loved to hate!" The stallion neighed, as ponies all came out of hiding, shooting angry stares at Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset looked around at all of the angry ponies who were all pointing and calling her, "She-demon! Anon-a-miss! Monster! Sunburn!"

"I'll never forget how you wrote those packs of lies about me in the Equestria Dailys!" An angry mare hissed.

"Or how you revealed those embarrassing pictures of me!" A stallion added.

"And the time you humiliated me, in front of my friends and family at my party!" A mare added.

Sunset, knowing this was all part of Fear's trick, tried her best to ignore them. But every words she hears being lashed out against her, unpleasant memories were flashing in her mind. Then, comes her absolute worst memory of all.

"How could you do this to us?" Applejack asked.

"We trusted you Sunset!" Rainbow growled. "We thought you were our friend!"

"How could you do this?" Rarity sobbed. "After all we've been through together?"

"But you did!" Pinkie sobbed. "You must've just been pretending to be our friend, when all along you were after our secret! Just like you did with Spike!" At this point, Pinkie's sad face shifted to anger. "I knew you're still a bad guy! You secret stealer!"

"But you are!" Fluttershy screamed with tears in her eyes. "You're still the pony we thought you weren't anymore. You're not our friend!"

"But you've taken advantage of us far enough," Applejack concluded. "You did this to us! You can tell whatever secret you want, but we don't have to listen to anything!"

"ENOUGH!!!" Sunset screamed, before she finds herself back in the real world, and looked to see that she was all alone. But not for long. Sunset's ears perked to the sound of footsteps. Walking out from the shadows, draped in darkness, was the mysterious man, "Joe?" She asked.

"Adequate, yet crude," The man spoke, before he ushered, "Follow me."





Starlight Glimmer


Starlight Glimmer was also nothing but a puff of smoke, as she travels through Ponyville, searching from top to bottom, for Fear Haunter. However, it wasn't long before she came across a little foal, huddling up in an alleyway.

"Hey, what's wrong there?" Starlight asked, as she slowly walked up to the filly, with a look of concern.

The filly looked up at Starlight, and quickly closed her eyes, "Please! Don't take my cutie mark away!" She cried.

"What?" Starlight asked. "No. No. I'm not here to take away your cutie mark."

"A likely story," Another voice spoke, revealing itself to be some stallions Starlight knew.

One stallion is an earth pony who has snow white coat with ruffled mane and tail colored light cyanish gray and white streaks, and light cobalt blue eyes. His cutie marks are three blue flowers, and a dark purple scarf wrapped around his neck. 

The other stallion is a unicorn, colored light cyanish gray with frizzy mane and tail colored moderate azure with cornflower blue streaks, and light cobalt blue eyes as well. His cutie marks are a party balloon in the shape of a dog, surrounded by streamers.

"Double Diamond? Party Favor?" Starlight gasped, looking at each of the respective stallions.

"Yes, so nice of you to remember," The white stallion named Double Diamond, frowned. "Too bad for you, we wished we could forget you!"

"But I apologized!" Starlight replied. "I gave back the cutie marks! What more do you want from me?"

"What more do we want?" Party Favor asked, as he blew up a balloon, in the shape of a unicorn. "We wished you could just go away! We wished you could just cease to exist! We wished you were dead!" With that, the unicorn stallion conjured up a needle, as he pops the balloon.

It wasn't long before more ponies all came out of hiding that they all glared at Starlight, wanting her to die.

"Please! I'm not like that anymore!" Starlight tried to reason, but to no avail. Her horn began to glow, as she grew more and more anxious, until finally, "NNOOOO!!!" Starlight screamed, blasting the ponies away in fright, causing them all to disperse into smokes.

Starlight gasped, "Oh no! What have I done?" She placed her hooves over her face. "What have I done?"





Somnambula


Somnambula and her Shadowbolts were searching in an alleyway for the twisted metahuman.

"Stay on you're guard everyone," The Egyptian pegasus warned them "There's no telling what that bastard will pull."

Just then a scythe comes flying and nearly hits the minotaur in the shoulder, had the griffon not heard it coming, and pounced on his comrade, saving him from the sharp projectile.

"Whoa, thanks!" The minotaur said gratefully, before they both got back up on their feet.

All three Shadowbolts stood defensively, around Somnambula.

"Show yourself!" The chimera roared. "He's stalking us," She whispered to her fellow Shadowbolts, when a streak of smokes zipped over them.

"Are you afraid to face us?!" The griffon roared, when another streak of shadow zipped beneath him.

"Are you afraid to fight me?!" The minotaur bellowed.

"What's there to be afraid of?" The metahuman replied. "You've never once posed as a threat. Nor were you able to capture the Dragon Prince. Except maybe that one time, when you've had your moment of triumph, by unleashing the Smooze on the world. But then it all came crashing down on you at the last second. All because you couldn't keep your arrogance in check."

Before long, the three Shadowbolts were confronted by their greatest fears, "In the end, your all doomed to fail, evil or not!" Fear added.

For the minotaur, he sees a human butcher holding two massive cleavers in each hand.

for the chimera, she sees a group of Cerulean Hunters; the same ones that took her mother from her.

And the griffon, he sees a group of other griffons in greaser attire bringing out their switchblades.

The Shadowbolts were all showing signs of fears, before they resorted to fighting back, in vain.

Somnambula watched, as her Shadowbolts were fighting nothing, but the air itself, "Are the Shadowbolts always this weak minded Somnambula?" She wasn't gonna dignify that with a response. "If so, then it's no wonder you came crying for my help." Fear said to her, while appearing before her in a puff of smoke, with his face still visible.

Somnambula frowned, "Well now I regret I ever considered you a first choice," She said, waving her staff at the metahuman, conjuring a bolt of lightning.

Fear Haunter rolled to the side, dodging the attack, before he was tackled by a monkey. Soon, more monkeys swarmed all over the metahuman, biting and clawing at him. One of them got out a small pipe, which they used to fire a nerve dart at the metahuman. Unfortunately, he was quick to dodge, as it flies past him, snips a piece of his hair, and became embedded in a tree. With a tap of her staff, Somnambula conjured several white fabrics to bind Fear Haunter's legs, arms, and his whole body, giving him a mummy-like appearance. However, Fear quickly broke free, as he quickly focuses his powers on Somnambula.

Somnambula tried to block him out of her mind, but she nevertheless finds herself in a dark void.

"Oh no this again," Somnambula grumbled, before another voice spoke up.

"Well, hello again," Somnambula turned, and was dismayed to see her evil human sorceress alter-ego.

"No, not you again!" Somnambula frowned, in horror.

The evil Somnambula could only cackle, as she spoke, "Did you really think, that I'm really gone for good? I am you! Only better! I am what you were! What you are! And let me tell you, weak pony! No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you'll always be me!"

"Never!" Somnambula yelled in defiant, before she was struck down by a blast of lightning from her evil self.

Back in the real world, Fear Haunter watched with amusement, watching how the Shadowbolts, plus Somnambula, were all fighting their own fear, when in reality, nothing was there. Just before he was about to leave, however, he was hit by a combo of explosive, offensive spells.

Looking up, he sees Sunset Shimmer walking over to him, with Joe at her side. Both the unicorn and man fired their assaults on the metahuman, with Sunset Shimmer blasting him with fiery spells, while Joe was firing some bullets that exploded into icy crystals upon impact.

"This ends now!" Sunset screamed, as she pours out all of her dark emotions, fueling the heat of her attack.

Joe reaches into his coat, before he pulls out vial of potion of sort, and tosses it at Fear Haunter. The metahuman screamed in agony, before he dispersed into a puff of smoke.

"Where'd he go?" Sunset asked.

"Not too far," Joe answered grimly. "The potion I have coated him with gives off a distinctive trail we can use to track his movements. Furthermore, it also reveals to me the whereabouts of his exact location."





Rumble


"Scootaloo!" Rumble exclaimed, as he ran over to the orange pegasus mare friend of his. "Scootaloo? What's wrong?" In response, Scootaloo lets out more screams of terror.

Looking in the distance, Rumble quickly caught sight of the metahuman he and his fellow heroes have been hunting for. Narrowing his eyes in determination, Rumble quickly dons up his rollerblades, hockey mask, as well as several paddings on himself, Rumble unsheathed the Sword of Honor from its scabbard, behind his back, and he charged after the metahuman.

Fear Haunter turned his head in the athletic boy's direction, and smirked as he took off running, with the knight in hot pursuit.

"You're not getting away from me!" Rumble snarled, as he skated even faster.

Fear Haunter made a sharp turn, into an alley, with Rumble screeching to a halt, before he turns and skated after the madman. Fear Haunter leapt over a trash bin, with Rumble doing the same. Once out in the open, Rumble continues his chase after Fear Haunter, who became nothing but a streak of black smokes as he flies across town, with Rumble still in pursuit.

At last, they arrived in a ballpark, where Fear Haunter has suddenly vanished out of thin air.

"Come out, come out wherever you are, freak!" Rumble snarled, holding his sword and hockey stick, ready for anything.

Just then, he noticed some ponies walking by, scoffing, "Who is that kid?" One of the mares asked another. "Isn't he kinda young to be playing with swords?"

"Who does he think he is?" Another asked. "Friday the 13?"

Rumble looked confused at these ponies. Don't they know they're in the middle of a fearful crisis? What are they doing out and about? And why are they talking about him that way?

"Hi every pony!" A loud, gruff voice spoke.

Rumble and the ponies all turned their attention to see a pegasus stallion with dark magentaish gray coat, light cyanish gray mane and tail with lighter streaks, both shaped in buzz cuts, and piercing light gold eyes. His cutie mark is a lightning bolts produced by a dark gray thundercloud.

The ponies all looked, and smiled upon seeing the stallion, "Thunderlane!" The mares cheered, as they trotted off, and surrounded the stallion.

"Thunderlane?" Rumble inquired in bewilderment, at the mention of a pony sharing his brother's name. "That can't be? Can it?"

"Oh, but it is," A voice spoke, to which Rumble turned to see Fear, sitting in one of the nearby bleachers.

"GOT YA!!" Rumble growled, as he sets some hockey pucks on the ground, and quickly swatted them with his hockey sticks, launching the projectiles at the metahuman, who quickly disappeared in a puff of smokes, evading the attack.

"Ooh, bad aim, boy," Fear sneered, reappearing next to Rumble.

With an angry yell, Rumble viciously slashes his sword at the man, who quickly dodges to the sides, before he quickly pulls out a large scythe, tipped with a long, dented blade. Slashing his weapon, Fear was able to knock the sword out of Rumble's hands, before he swept the floor with the other end of his scythe.

"You've got spunk, kid," Fear chuckled. "But that's not enough to surpass to that of your brother, Thunderlane, who's got the skills. Why just think, if he was here right now, the Wonderbolts would recruit him right on the spot." With that, Fear pointed to Rumble's brother, who was seen getting acquainted with some Wonderbolt pegasi, before he received a Wonderbolt uniform of his own to don up.

"Admit it," Fear snarled, grabbing Rumble by the back of his jacket, so the boy would be face-to-face with the metahuman. "You're afraid you'll never be as good as your brother! You're afraid you're not the best of the Knights! You're afraid to admit, that you're always second rate!"


You're Only Second Rate





"ENOUGH!!!" Rumble screamed, as he quickly kicks Fear in the face, before he regains his sword. Turning back to face the metahuman, however, he was nowhere to be seen.

"It's the truth, Rumble!" Fear's voice echoed. "You can't change it! It's the truth! You can't run from it!"

Rumble tried not to listen, tried to shake those words out of his head. But no matter what, he couldn't. He looked on at the pony who looks identical to his brother as the other ponies continue giving him praise.





Twilight Sparkle


[Casshern The Movie OST - Shiro Sagisu]


Twilight was galloping, flying, and teleporting from one part of Ponyville to another, with the meta tracker still in her telekinetic grip.

"You run, but you can't hide forever, Fear!" Twilight frowned, as she searches for the metahuman on the run. "I'll find you, and you're taking a one way ticket out of here, and Equestria, forever!"

"AAAAAAUGH!!!" A loud scream roared, leading Twilight to come to an abrupt halt.

"SPIKE?!!" Twilight gasped, as she took flight in the direction, nothing but concerns for the Dragon Prince on her mind.

Unfortunately, by the time Twilight got there, however, it was too late. Spike was lying face first on the ground with a large scythe sticking out of his back.

"No no no no no Spike!!! Spike please get up!!!" Twilight yelled as she ran over to him, levitating the scythe out of his back, before she rolled him over to look at her.

Spike opened his eyes, "T-Twilight?" He asked, hoarsely.

"Yes, Spike. I'm here!" She said to him. "Please save your strength!" She tried using her healing spells, but nothing seems to be working.

"Twilight, I don't think I'm gonna make it." The Dragon Prince grunted.

"Don't say that!" Twilight yelled, trying in vain to reassure him.

"Twilight, I'm sorry," He grunted. "I failed you. I-I-"

"N-No, Spike," Twilight shook her head, tears streaming from her eyes. "You didn't fail-I'm the one who should-"

"Twilight.....good-bye...." With that, Spike's eyes rolled back back, before closing them, and he fell motionless to the ground.

"Spike? Spike!? SPIKE?!?!?!" Twilight feared the worst. She touched his neck, no pulse. "No..." Tears began to form in her eyes. "No! Please....please don't leave me!" Twilight cried into his chest.

"Oh, poor little alicorn." Came a voice behind her. "To lose your first friend. The one who introduced you to the magic of friendship in the first place."

Twilight stood up and turns her head, face-to-face, with the metahuman she's been hunting, "YOU!!!!" She screamed, sadness, and grief, evaporated, leaving nothing but burning hatred, clear on her face, flapping her wings as she lunged forward, and blasted a bolt of magic.

Fear quickly dispersed in a puff of smoke, evading the attack, "He was doomed from the start," Fear's voice sounded. "Face it, Twilight. He was better off without you!" He taunted.

"Say that to my face, coward!" Twilight roared. "Fight me like a man, Fear!"

Fear can be heard laughing, "Your desire to avenge a fallen friend amuses me, princess. But it's no surprise to me," He continued. "You would do anything to avenge a friend. Even if it means taking the lives of another. I'm sure you remember don't you, how you could've prevented poor Spike Draco from leaving Equestria. Instead, you were captured, and forced to watch as he valiantly defended his precious mommy, and lost his memories and powers. It was right then and there, that you were willing to avenge him, by taking the lives of the Shadowbolts. But in the end, it doesn't change the fact that you couldn't save him, or restore his powers back."

Twilight didn't want to show that his words were getting to her. But every words he spoke, they're like poisons. Each more venomous than the last. Feeling a familiar surge of powerful magics, coursing through her whole body, all the way up to her horn, threatening to break free, Twilight winced at the burning sensation she began to feel.

"Face it, princess," Fear added. "Death is much more tragic. And the same fate shall befall on your other dear friends."

"AAAARRRGGHHH!!!" Twilight screamed, as she angrily blasts several waves of magic in every directions, where she heard Fear Haunter's voice.

"Whoa!" Fear shouted, backing away slightly, while receiving a few cuts from Twilight.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!" Twilight screamed, as her mane, wings, and tail suddenly caught fire, with her eyes becoming blazing red. "GO TO TARTARUS!!" She yelled.

In retaliation, Fear exploded in a puff of smokes, and several shady duplicates of him appeared, all around Twilight, while repeating the same thing, "Death is more tragic! Death is more tragic!"

Shaking her head in denial, Twilight continues to blast away every Fear Haunters she sees.

"Twilight!" Sunset shouted. "Twilight! Snap out of it! Twilight!"

Twilight turned in a specific direction, and blasted a Fear Haunter duplicate, revealing itself to be.....

"Sunset?!" Twilight exclaimed, before she finds herself, back in Ponyville, with the dead body of Spike gone, and the other ponies looking at her, scared. "W-Wuh-What happened?" Twilight nervously asked.

Sunset scratched the back of her head, before she hesitantly answered, "You happened," Sunset pointed, to show a pair of legs, sticking out from under a house.





Spike


Spike was flying overhead, whiskers shaking violently, ears opened, and nose twitching, all working together to locate the twisted metahuman.

Spike kept on flying, when his senses suddenly jolted, as if getting a lock on a specific location, "I've got you now, you son of a bitch," Spike growled, as he dives in towards his target.

Fear Haunter had just finished doing his business with Rumble, when Spike dives in towards the man, catching him by the scruff of his coat, and throws him into the side of a house. Spike's claws were surrounded in auras of fire, before a pair of katanas were produced. With a loud roar, Spike flapped his wings at Fear, slashing his fiery swords at the metahuman, who quickly dispersed into a puff of smoke, before reappearing behind the dragon, with a large scythe in hand. With a twist of his whole body, Fear slashed the scythe at Spike, who quickly parried the attack with one of his katana, while using the other to slash at Fear.

"General Scorpan's taught you will," Fear analyzed. "In the ways of martial arts. Though I couldn't help but detect a sense of unease, even as a dragon. Perhaps you're not much of a fighter when it comes to magic, are ya?" Spike remains silent, as he and Fear continue their assault.

Fear slashed his scythe at Spike again, only for the dragon hero to leap back, with a flap of his wings, before he breathed a huge burst of an explosive fireball at the metahuman, who quickly slashed his scythe, cutting the explosive fiery attack, which still exploded upon impact, sending Fear flying off his feet, and into the wall of a house on the side.

Growling like an angry beast, with the intent to kill, Spike slowly walks up to Fear, wielding two brands of fiery katana.

"Do it," Fear taunted. "Kill me! Kill me, and end this plague of fear! Then you can continue your reign of fear, as the monster you really are!"

"I'm not a monster!" Spike snarled, holding his katana close to the madman's throat. "Not a monster like you..."

"Of course not, you're much worse!" A voice spoke, which Spike turned in the direction to see who. Then, walking from behind a house, is Spike's annoying, least favorite, adopted cousin, Prince Blueblood.

"Vlad?" Spike called, with a hint of annoyance. "What are you doing here?"

"That's Prince Vladimir Blueblood to you!" Prince Blueblood scowled. "And I just happened to be here to check on your heroics, and I'm appalled to see you were going to take the life from another. Isn't that like a dragon?"

Spike narrowed his eyes, feeling something burning surging inside him, wanting to silence the unicorn stallion on the spot. However, at the same time, another force was in there, telling him otherwise.

Knowing better, Spike exhaled a sigh, "I'm nothing like that," Spike merely stated. "Everyone who are my friends and family all know me better than you and any pony else."

Without looking, Spike can feel a his cousin pouting, dismayed that he failed to touch a nerve.

"Is that so?" Blueblood asked, trying to figure a way to play his cards right. "Well, I am family, by adoption standards. And I do know you better, cousin. I do know for a fact that you're just a disaster waiting to happen!"

Soon, more ponies who are just as snobby and arrogant as Blueblood all came out, exchanging agreements along with hateful comments toward the Dragon Prince, "Monster! Freak! Beast!" They all pointed.

"ENOUGH!!!" Spike roared. No sooner did he screamed, however, when a burst of fire exploded from his mouth, and from the looks of it, he incinerated everypony who had insulted him. 

In their place, are the looks of fright and disgusts, on the faces of the ponies who are his friends. It wasn't long before he hears the voices of the Elements-Bearers, turning against him.

"Go rot in tartarus, varmint!"

"Horrible monster!"

"Want a party? Here's one, for your funeral!!"

"Go die in hell!!"

"You horrid dragon!! I can't believe I ever socialized with the likes of you!!"

"I can manage just fine without you!!"

Spike, knowing this was all a part of Fear's ploy, stood firm, "Nice try, Fear," Spike frowned, as he slashed his katanas at the ponies, causing them to disperse into smokes. "You'll have to do more than that to scare me!"

"You mean like this?!" Fear asked, as he snapped his fingers, and Spike suddenly finds himself in a black void.

"What the?" Spike exclaimed. "Where am I?"

Then, much to Spike's surprise, his adopted mother soon appeared. However, the look on her face was nothing like a mother's love for her child.

"Mom?" Spike asked.

"Do not mom, me young dragon," Celestia said bitterly. "How could you attack all those ponies like that? They were our people! They were your friends!" Celestia face was twisted to a look of disgust. "Then again, I should've known better than to trust a little spawn of a dragon, such as yourself!"

Spike watched, as Princess Celestia's horn was surrounded in cracks of magics, "I've made many mistakes in my time," Celestia frowned. "You are one of these mistakes." The words pierced Spike's heart like daggers, as he watches in horror at what his adopted mother began to do to him. "You're no son of mine!" With her eyes glowing green, and purple smokes trailing, she prepared a spell which she fired onto Spike, aimed directly at his chest.





The pain was nothing like Spike has ever felt before. To him, it was as if a million arrows, tipped with fire, have all struck him in the heart, and his blood was burnt, numbing his whole body, causing him to collapse.

In the real world, Spike was curled up in a fetal position, clutching his chest, while groaning, "Mom! Stop it! Stop!" He screamed, while not noticing that his hands were burning in a yellow aura, with his adopted mother's cutie marks engraved upon them.


Fear Haunter chuckled, as he took his leave, when a loud screech pierced the air, and a blur of orange, red, and yellow came blazing down, aiming at the metahuman. Fear ducked down in time, as the fiery blur swoops down, and knocked his fedora off. The blur revealed itself to be Peewee, as the phoenix makes another dive at the man.

Spike had just broken free from his nightmare, when he looked up to see Fear Haunter, swatting aimlessly at Peewee. Then, moving as fast as lightning, Fear quickly snatched Peewee, out of the air, by the neck, "Peewee!" Spike shouted.

"Oh, is this your bird?" Fear smirked. "Not anymore!" He said, as he proceeded to break the phoenix's neck, dropping him motionless to the ground.

"Peewee!" Spike screamed, with a look of horror, while Fear dispersed in a vortex of smokes. "Peewee!" Spike exclaimed, scooping up the body of the dead phoenix.

It's a well-known fact in the magical world, phoenixes famously known for their immortality; being able to reborn from the dead, so initially, Spike didn't have any reasons to fear. After several minutes of Peewee not bursting into flames, or doing anything dramatic, however, the Dragon Prince began to worry.





Later

Fear was walking down the street, enjoying himself, even breaking out into a song.


Jekyll & Hyde - ALIVE





At the end of his song, he happens to spot Pipsqueak, with Captain Celaeno.

With a sadistic grin, the madman focuses his powers on the two.

As he predicted, Captain Celaeno fell to her knees, succumbing to her fearful visions. Meanwhile, Pipsqueak, initially, looked surprised. And yet, he appears, undeterred. Fear was baffled.

'What the devil?!' Fear thought, as he focuses again on Pipsqueak. He could see what Pipsqueak was afraid of, and yet, it did nothing to deter the boy. The short boy just stood firm, resisting the frightful images that plagued him, persistently.

Scratching his chin, Fear narrowed his eyes, before he walks over to Pipsqueak. Hearing the metahuman's footsteps, Pipsqueak turned around, and quickly got into fighting stance.

"Who are you?" Pip asked.

"Who are you?" Fear asked. "Aren't you scared?"

"Why should I?" Pip asked, obliviously. "There's nothing for me to be afraid of, but fear itself."

Fear huffed, "Is that so?" The man asked. "So tell me," He began. "What are you afraid of? What do you fear?"

Suddenly, everything around Pip turned black. Pip looked around, trying to find a clue to where he is.

"Where am I?" Pipsqueak asked himself. "Hello? Guys? Girls?! Captain Celaeno?!! Anyone?!" He called.

"There's no one here, Pip!" Fear said ominously. "It's just you and me." Before long, Pip finds himself underwater, with sharks, squids, octopi, and all sorts of aquatic predators, circling around him. "And some pets. Maybe you're afraid of being submerged, in the ocean, with no way out, with predators descending, upon you!" With that, the creatures all lunged after Pipsqueak, determined to snatch him up in their masses of tentacles, jaws, and teeth. In retaliation, Pipsqueak unsheathes a pirate sword he's been using for training with Celaeno. Holding it close, and his Boots of Courage glowing an aura of gold sparkling magic, he zipped through their massive numbers, while hacking his swords at every one of them, disappearing in puffs of smokes.

"Nope!" Pipsqueak replied, defiantly. "That's not it!"

"Hmmm, or maybe you fear knives!" Then, as if he's replaced Rainbow Dash in her darkest dream with a psychotic Pinkamena Diana Pie, Pipsqueak finds himself tied down on a gurney, with the said crazed killing pony of his pink party friend, cackling on the left, with a wide, unpleasant grin.

The demonic version of Pinkie Pie licked her knife with her tongue, before she brushes it across Pipsqueak's arm, "The feel of cold steel," At the mention of those words, Pipsqueak tensed himself up, feeling the knife's cold touch on his skin, which made his hair stood on end. "Dragging across your skin, splitting it apart!" With that, Pipsqueak felt the knife, piercing into his arm, causing him to wince, gritting his teeth to keep himself from screaming.

"It's nothing," Pipsqueak groaned. "So what? I'm sure it's nothing compared to how Captain Celaeno and her crew have lost some parts of their own!" Pipsqueak gritted his teeth even tighter, feeling as if they're on the verge to break. "Or how Spike got hit by dark magic and lost his memory!"

Fear Haunter is clearly losing his cool, as he can be heard growling in the darkness, "Then perhaps you're afraid of insects," With that, Pinkamena, her knives, and gurney disappeared, in place of several creepy crawlies that crawled all over Pipsqueak. With disgusts, Pipsqueak quickly kicked his legs out, waving his arms around, struggling to get them off.

"Cockroaches, spiders, and maggots, crawling all over you; inside of you; eating you from within!"

"Yuck!" Pipsqueak groaned, before he started to stomp his feet, swatting his hands, crushing the insects. "Nasty! Get off of me!"

Even though Pipsqueak was showing a sign of discomfort, it's still not enough for Fear. With that, he played his last trump card, "Or maybe you fear, isolation!"

With that, Pipsqueak finds himself in an empty Ponyville.

"Being all alone, with nowhere to go, and no one to turn to," Fear Haunter said, in a haunting whisper. "As the walls closed in on you, the silence is deafening."

Pipsqueak looked around, seeing no one in sight. His tough guy persona quickly dissipated, replaced with a look of sadness, and longing on his face. Fear grinned himself with glee, seeing he at least got a reaction from Pip, at last.

"But there is one thing you should really be a afraid," Fear resumed, as Pip's world disappeared around him. "ME!" Fear said, in a puff of smokes, appearing before Pip, jumpscaring the boy. Startled, Pip began to breath heavily and rapidly, before he was picked up from the ground, off his feet, and was held, face-to-face with Fear, "You're not asleep! This is real!" The man said venomously, showing Pip a horror twisted Ponyville, with every signs of color and life, replaced with breaks of dreary gray, and death. "I am real!" Fear growled, as he once more held Pip to his face. "And I will not rest, until I have destroyed your life! Everyone and everything that you ever care about will be gone!"

Hearing the last words, all thoughts of fear and doubts inside of Pip disappeared, and was replaced with a newfound determination, and a will to fight, "NEVER!!" Pip screamed, as his feet were surrounded in a gold aura, and kicked Fear in the face, with rapid kicks.


Fighting Feddy (FNAF 3 Song) - Black Gryph0n & Baasik


Surprised, and disoriented, Fear shook his head, collecting himself, before he glanced at Pip, who stood a distance away, Boots of Courage glowing, with a pirate sword, unsheathed.

"You're never gonna get away with this, Fear!!" Pip growled. "Not while I can still run you through the gizzards!" With a burst of speed, Pip ran towards Fear, who retaliated with a slash of a huge scythe he conjured.

"Then I'll just have to make you bleed!" Fear sneered, with death, clear in his eyes. "FALL DOWN!!" Fear roared, slashing his scythe, with Pip ducking his head as he zips between Fear's legs and came up from behind, and jabbed into the man's rear. "OW!!" Angered, the man viciously slashed his scythe at Pip, who speedily dodges the large, sharp blade, while clashing together with his sword.

"You can't ESCAPE!!!" Fear Haunter hissed, as he slashes his scythe at Pip, who continues to outrun the man's slashes.

"No!" Pip retorted, as he parries with the man's scythe. "But I can still run, you creepy bogeyman!" With a leap, Pip flips in the air, over Fear's head, before he came back down to the ground, in his anthro pony form, sword still clutched in his hand.

"Disgusting creature!" Fear scowled, slashing his scythe at Pip.

In the meantime, Celaeno was, once more, plagued by visions of her crews, all screaming out for her in agonizing wails.

"No, no!" Celaeno groaned, claws over her ears, blocking out the sounds of screams, in vain. Then, in the corner of her eyes, Celaeno's eyes widened in surprise, and shock, to see Pipsqueak running circles around Fear Haunter, and clashing blades. "Pipsqueak?" Celaeno gasped, as she watch Pip fighting Fear to the stand.

Pipsqueak did a backflip, avoiding a slash from Fear, who quickly slashed at the boy again. Pip raised his sword up, parrying with the scythe's blade. Summoning all his strength, Fear successfully pulled the sword out of Pip's hand, disarming the boy of his weapon. With that, Fear, unfairly, resumes his assault on Pipsqueak who ducks, jumps, and sidesteps to avoid the blade, before he picked up a large stick he found lying around. After a moment of catching the man's scythe, with his arms, Pipsqueak spins to the left and smacked the stray branch into Fear's back.

Fear stumbled a moment, as he rubs his inflicted right shoulder, before he glares daggers at Pipsqueak. Slashing his scythe downward, which Pip shielded with an upward block with his branch, before he leapt at Fear, with a flying side kick, only for Fear to duck his head, as he uses the blunt end of his scythe to disarm Pip of the branch, before he resumes using the bladed end to slash at Pip. Pipsqueak leapt in the air, before he stepped on the blade, which Fear pulled away, causing Pip to trip and fell, before the evil metahuman stood over, raising his weapon up for the killing blow.

"Time to fall down!" Fear said gravely.

Celaeno narrowed her eyes, as all fearful feelings were banished. In their place, she felt only righteous indignation, as she quickly pulls out her musket, and fires a bullet, directly at Fear's hand, disarming him of his scythe.

Before the surprised metahuman could react, Celaeno came charging at the man, sword unsheathed, as she slashes viciously at the man. The man quickly dodges from side to side, evading the blade, before he was met with a sharp kick to his stomach, by Celaeno's jade peg leg, knocking the wind out of him.

In the meantime, Pipsqueak watched in awe, seeing amount of bravery displayed by the parrot. All of which she was using to protect him, from the monster that's the cause of the plague.

Celaeno leapt to the air, before she brought her sword down on the twisted metahuman, who quickly turned to smokes, and disappeared.

"COME BACK HERE!!" Celaeno squawked. "COME BACK HERE AND FIGHT!!! COWARD!!!!" Then, the sound of Pipsqueak’s voice instantly snapped the parrot out of the anger she was displaying.

The anthropomorphic parrot turned to look at the boy, eyes widened and mouth open wider than a codfish.

“Wow! Captain!” Pipsqueak said in awe. “You saved my life!”

“That I did, Pip,” Celaeno replied, sheathing her sword and gun away. “That I did.”

“You were bloody brilliant!” Pipsqueak exclaimed happily. “You were fighting him to the stand. You were cleaving him to the brisket! You were-“ Pipsqueak ceased his heartfelt enthusiasm, as Captain Celaeno got down to his level, and checked the boy over. “Ce-Celaeno?” Pipsqueak asked.

“Did he hurt ya somewhere, Pip?” Celaeno asked, with the look of concern, clear on her face.

“Just a few bumps and bruises, here and there,” Pip pointed, to which Celaeno quickly examined the areas. “But not too serious?” He asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

After checking everything, Celaeno breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank Faust yer alright,” She said, before her face contorted to a look of disapproval, mixed with a hint of worry. "That was very reckless of ya, Pip! He almost got ya killed! Don't ever scare me like that again!"

"Scare you?" Pip asked in surprise. "What did I do to scare you?"


[Hans Zimmer - A Way of Life]


"Oh like yer friend the Dragon Prince, ya put yourself in harm's way!" Celaeno answered. "That was a foolish and reckless thing to do! And yet, I'm so proud of ya for doing it," Celaeno said, in a growing calmer tone, though her worries continue to linger.

Pip looked at the parrot in surprise, "Celaeno?" He asked.

"Ya showed real courage in the face of danger there, Pip!" Celaeno began. "Truly something worthy of a pirate."

Pip couldn't help but blush, as he scratched the back of his head, "Gosh, I'm flattered." He admitted. "I always did like the swashbuckling and adventurous lifestyle of a pirate, and hearing all of that from you, I....thank you."

Celaeno smiled, as she pulled Pip close, "I was wrong about ya, Pip," She admitted. "You may not be big, or strong. But you're quick, clever, and courageous of heart. And perhaps that counts for more than I thought. You will make an excellent pirate, Pip." With that, she hugged him tightly.

Pipsqueak felt himself overwhelmed with the love washing over him. It reminded him of the love he once had with his parents before their deaths. Now, with Celaeno, it once more felt like he was in his mother’s arms.

Getting control of himself, Pipsqueak slowly returns the embrace, before Celaeno broke it up, "But don't forget, I'm still the captain," She reminded with a smirk.

Pip chuckled, "Aye-aye, captain," He saluted, before the two resumed their loving embrace.

From the shadows, Fear was watching the tender moment being played out, “Disgusting,” He groaned, before he dispersed in a puff of smokes, just as Applejack came onto the scene.

"Um, as much as I hate to interrupt this moment," Applejack began. "But Twilight's expecting us at town square!"





"YOU LEFT ME FOR DEAD!!!" A ghostly wail of a woman cried. "YOU LEFT ME!!!!"

Grand Pear kept on running, trying in vain to escape the shrieks of his deceased daughter.

Suddenly, Grand Pear came to a quick halt, in front of a run down manor, at the edge of the Everfree Forest.

Grand Pear gasped at the sight of this magnificent, and yet, crumbling structure.

“Hello old coot,” A voice spoke from behind.
> Twisted Evil Part 5: Vanquish the Demon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Saddle Arabia


After she had a formal meeting with the delegates of Saddle Arabia, Princess Celestia was shown to her sleeping quarters where she turned in for the night, prior to her long trip home.

In her sleep, Princess Celestia was dreaming happily of the times when she and Spike were still together. Even after he has returned, and after Princess Luna was freed from the darkness of her anger and hatred, both Spike and Celestia barely had any time together. Celestia would often wished that she and Spike could get all those ten years back.


[First Sign Of Spring - Michelle Lewis]


Celestia was just dreaming of herself, in a huge field of flowers, galloping and laughing without a care in the world. Celestia smiled, feeling happy and free of all the troubles in the world. Even more so, with a certain purple puppy at her side. To further the touching moment, Celestia looked up and gasped, seeing a tall gray unicorn stallion, with grayish sap green eyes, and moderate cobalt blue streaks in his jet black mane and tail, clad in a long royal purple robe, with a blue suit of armor beneath.

The stallion looked at Celestia lovingly, before he smiled warmly, which in turn made Celestia well up with tears.

"Dad?" Young Spike gasped.

The stallion nodded his head, "Hello, son," He greeted.

"Daddy!" Spike laughed, as he hugged the stallion by the leg.

Celestia smiled at the sight of young Spike, accepting and loving his newfound father. Wanting to join in the tender moment, Celestia galloped over, as she lovingly nuzzles her cheek, close to Spike's, before she did the same to the stallion she loved. Soon, the three were all running through the fields, laughing and playing, like one happy family.

Sadly, it all came to an end, as dark clouds loomed over them, and bolts of lightning rained down on Celestia, the stallion, and her son.


[iNSaNiTY - Vocaloid]


Celestia quickly casted a shield spell, but the lightning bolts broke through, shattering the barrier, and struck the stallion, causing him to disappear in a puff of smoke. Then, as if to show that lightning indeed strikes the same place twice, young Spike himself, too got hit.

"AAUUUGHH!!!" Spike screamed in agony, as he reached out for his mom. "MOM!!!" Before Celestia could do anything, he was gone.

"SPIKE!!!!" Celestia cried, pure horror on her face. "NOOOO!! Not again!" Then, everything around her stopped, as Princess Celestia fell to the ground, clutching her chest, feeling a sharp burning sensation, coursing through her heart. Before long, Princess Celestia finds herself covered from head to hooves, in dark chains, holding her to the ground.

"Well, if it isn't the wise and beloved Princess Celestia," An ominous voice spoke.

"Who's there?!" Celestia demanded. "Show yourself!"

The voice could only chuckle, "Please, spare me the formal act. It does nothing to hide the fragile entity inside you."

"I'd watch my tongue if I were you!" Celestia threatened, while still struggling to break free. "I promise you, there will be consequences!"

"Is that so?" The voice replied. "Is that what you say, before you imprisoned your own sister in the moon for a thousand years? Did you also say that, during the Shadowbolts' sneak attack on your son, that left him scarred and deprived of his memories? Including the ones on how to control his powers, and how important his friends are in more ways than one?"

Princess Celestia remains stoic, as the voice continues, "Yeah, there were consequences. But, as always, there's a price to be paid. Your heart!"

"What do you mean by that?" Celestia asked.

"You try so hard to protect your people, and the ones you hold so dearly. But in the end, it will all be in vain, and it will lead to more heartaches." The voice snickered, as Celestia tensed at what they said next, "Once, you've failed to be the sister Luna needed in her darkest hours. And the price for your failure, was a thousand years of loneliness and regrets."

Princess Celestia didn't want to relive those moments again. But the voice succeeded in triggering flashes of memories, when she would always have an empty throne beside her, how she would reminisce on all the mischievous moments she'd often get with her sister, and all the nights, when she would raise the moon, only to see her sister's sadden face, plastered on the moon's surface.

"Then, there was your precious son, who was your whole world, and the sun of your life, until his brave heroic to save you from harm," The voice continued. "What kind of a mother are you? Incapable of being there for your son. Failing to protect him from danger. And even now, you're repeating the same mistake again. You don't deserve anyone!"

Princess Celestia blast a beam of magic in denial, "I used to tell myself the exact same thing," She began. "But in the end, I'd choose loneliness over isolation. I should know, I've spent thousand years of isolating myself from my little ponies, until Spike came and opened up the doors for me. And for your information, I've actually been supportive of him than you think. It just goes to show you that I know something you obviously don't."

Celestia was certain she heard a scoff as the voice continues, "You should've just given him away to another, to spare yourself of the heartbreak that soon followed. Then, you wouldn't have to be so sad, or afraid so much! Then at least, you could've been a stronger leader!"

"And deny myself of a mother's love for Spike? I think not!" Celestia scoffed. "And for your information, I am a strong leader! But I'd like to be fairer at the same-"

"OH SHUT UP!!!" The voice roared. "Time to fall down, Princess Celestia!"





Ponyville


[Nightcore - It's the fear]


Ponyville has had dark days. Though, on a scale of 1 to 10, then the plagues that Ponyville is experiencing is simply off the chart. First, it began with a twisted metahuman coming to town. After that, from a little filly to full grown stallions and mares, all the ponies and creatures found themselves living through their worst fears. And worst of all, Ponyville is transforming into a capital of horror shows.

In the midst of this living nightmarish day, Twilight was galloping through town, with Sunset Shimmer at her side, searching for their friends. First, they found Starlight Glimmer who was beside herself, at the thought she had killed some ponies. At that very moment, Applejack arrived, with Pipsqueak and Celaeno.

"Starlight!" Sunset exclaimed, as she helped the unicorn free from her fears. "Come back! Starlight!"

"Huh?" Starlight asked, as she looked up, to see the concerned look of Sunset, Starlight, and friends crowding around her. Breaking down in tears, Starlight sobbed, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to kill anyone!"

"Kill?" Sunset asked. "Starlight, it's okay. It's just a trick. This is all a part of Fear Haunter's trick."

"Yeah," Pipsqueak added. "There's nopony here but us."

Twilight looked around her, while feeling an ominous feeling in the wind, "Twilight?" Applejack asked. "Do ya feel that?"

"I may not be Pinkie Pie," Twilight replied. "Nor do I have her Pinkie Sense. But I do know that something bad is going to happen."

"Something like that?" Pipsqueak asked, pointing to some demonic-looking imps, dancing around a bonfire, together with some fiendish-looking goblins laughing and tormenting some ponies.

Many of the civilians were all screaming at the top of their lungs, as they live through their worst fears.

The heroes were definitely not liking how this looks, "If we don't act fast, Ponyville's going to be the Fearful Capital of the World!" Twilight whimpered.

"Come on!" Sunset said, as she began to lead the party away. "We gotta find Spike, or the others. Whoever comes first."





In the town square of Ponyville, Spike was holding the body of his deceased pet, Peewee, in his hands. Anyone who knows a lot about phoenixes all knew these majestic birds have the ability to reborn after their demise. However, since his scuffle with Fear Haunter, the metahuman had done something to the bird, to hinder this ability. And for that, the young Dragon Prince was growing more anxious with every passing seconds.

"Peewee....Come on...." Spike said, stroking the bird's stomach. "Don't do this to me, man! You gotta wake up! Come on!"

Just then, Twilight arrived on the scene, with Sunset, Starlight, Applejack, Celaeno, and Pipsqueak.

"Spike!" Twilight exclaimed, before she took notice of his conundrum. "Is everything alright? What's wrong?"

"Peewee's not waking up!" Spike exclaimed, holding the dead bird up to the lavender alicorn. "Fear Haunter's done something to him."

"Oh, well just give him a few second or more," Twilight tried to assure him. "He's a phoenix. He'll come back to life."

Spike looked up at Twilight, displeased, "He's been like this for hours," Spike replied. "You think I don't know my phoenix?" Twilight, not knowing how to reply that answer, fell silence.

"Here, let me have a look," Sunset insisted as she went over and took a look at Peewee, levitating the bird from Spike's claws.

Still keeping the phoenix in her aura, Sunset concentrated her magic into the bird, searching for some clues, before she sadly came up with nothing.

"I don't understand," Sunset sighed, before she turned to Spike, handing him back his bird. "I'm sorry, Spike. But I can't seem to find out what's wrong with Peewee. I can't even find a heart beat. I can't undo whatever Fear did to him."

Spike sighed, "It's okay. You tried," With a despondent look, Spike placed Peewee inside one of the pockets in his cape. "Now what are we going to do?"

"Well, if we can't fix Peewee, then I say we find this varmint and get him to fix the bird, whether he wants to, or not!" Applejack suggested.

"Sounds like a great idea, AJ," Starlight began. "But there's just one question. Do you even know where he is?"

Applejack quickly broke out in sweats, "I do," Sunset answered. "Just a moment ago, Fear was hit with a potion that leaves behind a distinctive trail. I've got a lock on where he's hiding. Follow me!" With that, the heroes followed their fiery friend, starting their hunt for their metahuman crook.





Soon, the heroes find themselves in front of a large mansion, that looked as if it had seen better days. The structure of the house appeared to be two floors, with a few windows stained with dirts and cracks, and a few windowsills loosen, and unhinged. The walls on every sides of the house had scratches, and large gaping holes. Spike looked somewhat troubled at the mansion, getting a strange vibe that he’s seen this mansion before.

'Deja vu?' He asked himself, mentally.

"Why am I not surprised that he would choose a run down place like this as his base of operation?" Twilight asked.

"Well, he did call himself Fear Haunter for a reason," Applejack noted. "Guess it suits him well."

"That, and it's way too close to the Everfree Forest," Starlight noted. "No pony, except us would travel into this place, without getting into too much trouble."

Shifting his worried look to determination, Spike took the first step, "Well now we're looking for trouble!" He began. "And it's going to end with us kicking him out of Ponyville, maybe Equestria for good! So no matter what happens, we're taking him to justice! So are you all with me?!" He asked, with a little gusto.

Pipsqueak was the first to walk up to Spike, "I knew what I signed up for from the beginning Spike," Pip answered, putting his hand on Spike's shoulder. "Let's go kick this metahuman in the booty, down to Davy Jone's Locker!"


[Things That Go Bump In The Night - Allstars]


"Now Pipsqueak," Celaeno said, as she walked over to the boy. "Who taught ye to speak that kind of language?"

"Um, you did, Celaeno," Pip replied. "It's how you talk."

"That's because that kind of talk is my talk, ye scalawag!" Celaneo replied, ruffling the boy on the head. "That, and as Rainbow Dash would say, it's time to be awesome!" She said, unsheathing her sword. "Come on! Let's show this clown how it's done!"

"ARRGH!!" Pip said in agreement, unsheathing his own sword to clash with Celaeno's, before they charged into the mansion, while leaving the rest of the heroes in the dust.

"Um, did we missed something?" Applejack asked.

No one said a word. Suddenly, a great gust of wind blows in, nearly blowing the rest of the heroes away, as a huge shadow looms over them. They looked up, and were shocked and bewildered to see a giant raven, standing before them. In appearance, the raven appears to stand approximately 16 ft. tall, with four eyes-two on each side, and dark chains covering its wings.

With a loud screech, the raven lunged its head forward, snapping its beak at the heroes.

"LOOK OUT!!" Twilight shouted, conjuring up a magical barrier between them and the raven. The giant bird's beak slammed hard on Twilight's magical projected shield, but it did little good to deter the bird's desire to eat them, as it continues to peck at the heroes.

"I can't hold this up much longer!" Twilight groaned, feeling her strength to maintain the shield, depleting.

"Then let's fight back!" Spike said, as he and the others all got into fighting stances. Concentrating into his thoughts, Spike's eyes were a blazing green as he mentally roared, 'Boosted dragon!' With that, Spike fired a huge fireball at the raven, exploding upon impact.

Applejack, impressively, lifted a huge bolder that appeared to be 1,000 times her size, as she bucked it at the huge bird.

Lastly, Sunset Shimmer fired a long jet stream of fire, together with Starlight Glimmer, conjuring up her staff, to convert the air around her into waters, which she used to surround the raven, trapping it in a huge bubble of water.

Unfortunately, despite all of their combined efforts, the heroes were appalled to see the bird, undeterred. With an angry caw, the bird flapped its wings, as it took to the sky, before it came crashing down, behind the heroes. At the speed of lightning, the bird lunged its head, and snapped its beak on Twilight.

"AH!!" Twilight screamed, before she concentrated into her magic, disappearing in a flash of light, before reappearing back in the bird's maws.

"Twilight!" Spike screamed, as he conjures up a fire shuriken. "Drop her ya overgrown turkey! HI-YAH!!" With that, Spike fired the projectile, directly into one of its eyes, causing it to bleed black smokes, as it drops Twilight, who quickly caught herself in the air with her wings. "Are you okay, Twi?" Spike asked.

"My life just flashed before my eyes," Twilight panted. "LOOK OUT!!" She screamed, shoving Spike to the side, before she jumped out of the way, as the raven continues to peck at the heroes.

"Its eyes are its weak spots!" Sunset analyzed. "Aim for them!"

With that, the heroes launched all of their assaults on the bird, aiming directly for its eyes. Unfortunately, the bird seemed to know what they were up to as it flapped its wings, hovering out of range before it dives back for another attack, stomping the ground with its talons, while pecking viciously at the heroes.

"I haven't seen vicious pecking and scratching since that high noon showdown with the buffalos in Appleloosa," Applejack panted.

"It's no use!" Twilight groaned, seeing how dire the situation was becoming. "At this rate, we're never going to stop Fear Haunter!"

"Then let's ditch the dodo!" Spike suggested, as the heroes all made a beeline for the mansion's entrance. However, the raven caught onto what they were planning to do, as it made a tremendous leap, and landed between them, and the doors.

"Sunset! Starlight!" Twilight shouted. "Give us some covers! Quickly!"

"You got it!" With that, both Sunset and Starlight combined their fire and water powers, together to create a huge mist.

Even with three eyes to spare, the raven was finding some difficulty of locating the heroes through the blanket of mists. It was long before it hears the sound of doors shutting, that it quickly turned its head, pecking viciously at mansion's entrance, trying in vain to pull the heroes out, through the small hole. Finally, it gave up as it flapped its wings and flew off.

Spike breathed a sigh of relief, as he turns to four of his girl friends, "You girls okay?" He asked, as he walked over to check up on each of them for any serious wounds.

"Yeah, we're okay, Sugarcube," Applejack answered, before she took notice of some bloods on Spike's left arm, "Yer hurt!" She exclaimed, to which the girls all shot worried looks.

Spike looked to where they were looking, "It's nothing," He reassured, while searching through his cape for some bandages.

"Don't say that!" Twilight's horn was quickly lit up in her aura, as she casted a healing spell on the boy's arm.

Even though the wound wasn’t too big, or too deep, it didn’t take away the unease feeling of anxiety that Spike was feeling, as he looked around the place, anticipating for any surprises the madman will have in store for them.

“I’m so sorry,” Twilight apologized, once she finished patching up Spike’s cut.

“Sorry?” Spike inquired, turning towards Twilight. “For what?”

“For failing you, again,” Twilight looked up, with the expression of sadness, clear on her face. “If I had been more stronger, and more vigilant, this would never have happened.”

“Oh, Sugarcube,” Applejack pulled Twilight in for a close hug. “It’s not yer fault. Nobody’s blaming you.”

“Yeah,” Starlight asked. “I mean, how could you have predicted something like this was going to happen?”

Spike looked away, scratching the back of his head, “Actually, girls,” He began. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

The girls all turned their heads at Spike, “What is it, Spike?” Twilight asked.

With that, Spike went on to relay the nightmares he’s been having since the plague started, and why he has reasons to believe they’re all connected to the current events.

Spike even let Sunset searched through his minds, before she concluded, “There’s no doubt about it. You’ve been experiencing a series of premonitions!”

“Yeah, so I’ve noticed just now,” Spike frowned. “So Twilight, if anything, I think it’s all my fault for not acting on any of this sooner.”

Before Twilight could speak, Starlight cuts her off, “How about we take care of Fear first, then we can issue some blames, later?”

Looking at each other, Spike and Twilight nodded in agreement, before Spike asked, “So now that we’re inside, what’s the next thing we do?”

Twilight looked around the mansion, not liking the dreary and gloomy vibes the interior layouts gave off.

Sunset quickly realized they had forgotten something important, “Hey! Where’s Pip and Celaeno?”

The friends all smacked themselves, realizing too late that two of their own are now missing.





Spike and Applejack


The heroes decided the best thing they can do, for the moment, was to split up and look for clues on where Fear is, as well as searching for both signs of Pip and Captain Celaeno.

Spike and Applejack were both walking down hall, with Spike holding Applejack’s hands, as the country pony was shifted in anthro form.

Spike sniffed the air, smelling the foul stench the building gives off, while his ears perked for every creaking and squeaks the olden house structures were giving off.

“How they cling to you like a flea to a dog,” Fear’s voice echoed, causing Spike to jerk his heads in every directions.

“Did ya hear something, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked in concern.

Calming down, Spike sighed, “I’m fine,” He answered. “Just Fear getting inside my head again, I guess.”

“Another part of yer dream?”

“Yes,” Spike answered, grimly.

“Did he say anything in particular that bothers ya, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Something that I find it hard to believe,” Spike answered. “He said how you and everyone would always cling onto me, like fleas.”

"Now what in tarnation does that mean?" Applejack asked in outrage.

"It means he's trying to get under my skins," Spike answered. "That's for sure." The two were walking down a long dark hallway, with little to no light, when Spike suddenly came to a stop, in front of a door he recognized. "So it's true!" He gasped.

"Spike?" Applejack asked, with a look of worry. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Shh!" Spike shushed AJ, before he took some cautious steps towards the door, and puts his claws on the knob, carefully turns it. Whiskers waving, claws and eyes coated in fiery auras of green, Spike slowly opens the door, ready for any scary surprises Fear might throw at him and AJ, from the darkness.

However, the only surprise they get was a huge flat TV screen, on the wall, in a room that is strangely tidied and brightly lit, as if it was recently cleaned up.

"What the hay?!" Applejack exclaimed, as she walked into the room, looking around. "What is this? What the hay is this?"

Spike looked around the room, as he spoke, "Took the words right out of my mouth, AJ."

"Huh, y'know, for being in some creepy old mansion, this room looks kinda nice."

"Yeah, that's what they usually say about cobras, before they strike."

Then, without warning, the TV suddenly turned on, "Yer watching TV at a time like this?" Applejack asked, incredulous.

"I didn't touch anything," Spike replied, showing his hands up as proof.

Confused, both teens looked at the TV screen, before locating the remote, sitting on a counter, that was only a few footsteps away from both of them. Walking over to the counter, Spike picked up the remote, and pressed the power button to turn it off. However, the TV quickly turned itself back on, and no matter how many times Spike pressed the remote, the TV kept on playing.

"Come on!" Spike growled, banging the remote repeatedly, while Applejack looked at the TV, before she gasps.

"Hold on, Spike!" Applejack stopped the Dragon Prince. "Look!" Spike turned his head back on the screen, and was just as surprised as Applejack was. "It's ma and pa!" She exclaimed.

At first, the video recording was the classic black and white, showing Ponyville in its old, glory days. However, the main focus of the video are the two ponies Applejack was referring to as her parents. Before they knew it, the video was transfigured into technicolor, allowing better details of the two ponies to be seen.

Applejack's father was a tall burly stallion, with eyes that matched Applejack's moderate green eyes over his freckled face, but the same coat and mane color as Apple Bloom's. To further the family resemblance, he just so happens to wear the same hat as Applejack's, while his cutie mark was a slice of green apple with a star in the middle. As for Applejack's mother, even for a pony, she was a sight to behold, with brilliant turquoise eyes, frizzy brilliant gamboge mane and tail with the ends tied by light blue bands, and her coat of fur a pale gamboge. Her cutie mark appeared to be a simple jar of a buttery content of sort.

"Wow, that's your mom and dad?" Spike asked.

"Eeyup," Applejack smiled, with her eyes welling up. "Dad is where  I get all my honesty from. That, and his stubbornness, his strength..."

"And the hat," Spike smiled.

Applejack couldn't help but chuckle, "Yup," She frowned when she looked up at her mother. "And ma, from what Grand Pear have told us, she was sweeter than the pears that grow on his old farms. She's where me, Big Mac, and little Apple Bloom got our loving demeanors. My dad used to call her Buttercup, because whenever she held a buttercup under her chin, it would glow." Applejack titled her hat over her face to hide her tears. "Even as a pear, she's the apple of his eyes."

"A pear?" Spike looked at Applejack in bewilderment, "You're half-pear?"

Applejack nodded, "It's a big surprise for me and every pony else when me, Big Mac, and Applebloom found out."

Looking back at the film, Spike could see the love displayed between the two loving parents, "Well, I'd have to say, they do make a perfect pair," He commented. "And you must be their perfect pear, the apple of their eyes, and their diamond in the sky." Applejack blushed a shade of red, that's brighter than Big Mac's coat, at what Spike just said.

Realizing what just slipped from his mouth, Spike stammered, "Um, I-I think I've said too much. I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine, Sugarcube," Applejack reassured. "I think it's sweet of ya to think that way." Walking close, Applejack draped her arm around Spike's shoulder, holding him close, 'I'm happy to have ya as the apple of my eyes,' She thought lovingly.


[Slideshow - Benjamin Wallfisch]


Unfortunately, the loving moment between the two came to an end, when Spike noticed something off. The video began to zoom in closer and closer to Applejack's mother's face. The beautiful country mare's face was obscured by several locks of her mane. Then, slowly pulling to the side, much to Spike and Applejack's horror, in her place was Fear Haunter himself, laughing maniacally as he reaches out for the two of them.

"BWAH!!!" Spike and Applejack screamed.

"Get back!" Spike ushered to AJ, as he conjured a fiery katana and slashes it at Fear, keeping the twisted metahuman at bay.

"Fall down! Fall down!" Fear repeated, before he opened up his mouth wide, to show an endless row of teeth, and screamed in a demonic tone. "FALL DOWN!!!!"

Applejack screamed, as she picked up the remote, and like Spike did before, she pressed the power button, and struggled to turn the TV off. Finally having enough, Applejack quickly galloped forward, and kicked her legs out, unleashing her superstrength on the TV, shattering it, blacking the whole video out.

Once the task was done, Fear was gone.

"Whoa," Spike said in a mix of shock, and amazement. "You've got nice legs, you know that?" Applejack chuckled.

"IT'S HARVEST TIME!!!" A demonic voice shouted, as a tall scarecrow, suddenly appeared in the room, with bloody red eyes, and a large rusty scythe.





"AAAAHH!!" Applejack screamed, as she ducked her head, evading the blade, before Spike jumped in, and shielded the farm pony with his fire katanas. Parrying with the scarecrow's scythe, Spike leapt forward and landed a strong flying side kick to the scarecrow's chest, before he sweeps the floor with his tail, followed by a strong headbutt.

Yet, despite all the blows from the dragon, the scarecrow remains standing, even after Spike blew a green fireball that took its head off, and sets it on fire.

"You can't stop me!" The scarecrow laughed wickedly, before he slashed his scythe at Spike, knocking the dragon back.

"Spike!" Applejack shouted running over to the Dragon Prince. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry," Spike replied, pointing to the suit of armor he was wearing. "Dragon armors. Thank Ember for it."

The two looked up, to see the scarecrow, picking up his disembodied head, and reached it, with the straws in his stuffing. Turning its attention back on the teens, it laughed demonically.

"I don't think we can beat this guy," Applejack frowned, frightfully turning back into her true pony form. "I say we get outta here."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Spike said in agreement. "Let's go!"

With that, Spike and Applejack raced out of the room, and back into the dark hallways, with the sound of the scarecrow's laugh, echoing behind them.





Twilight Sparkle


Twilight was cautiously walking through the mansion's dimly lit halls, while carrying a small lantern in her aura.

Twilight's ears perked up, at the sounds of creaks and squeaks the mansion's brittle structures gave off. Walking slowly and carefully, cautious to where she steps, Twilight stepped on a loose floorboard that gave off a loud squeak. Then without warning, the whole thing snapped, causing Twilight to jump back in fright, barely avoiding her leg falling into the hole created, and ends back into the walls, breaking it down, to reveal another room.

Several eyes suddenly pierced the darkness, followed by a series of squeaks from the bats that scattered. Twilight screamed, as she disappears in a flash of light, escaping the swarm, before she galloped into another hall, and screeched to a halt, but too late.


*BANG! CRASH!*


Twilight broke down the door, and crashes into an old bookshelf. Before she knew it, the boards broke, and she was caught in an avalanche of books.

Poking her head out, Twilight shook her dizziness off, "Well, at least I didn't get attacked by heavy books, for some heavy readings," Twilight groaned, before she noticed a book that reads: "A History of Old Ponyville."


[West Wing - Beauty and the Beast]


Intrigued, while at the same time, hoping to dig up some clues about the mansion they were in, Twilight decided to take the book a table, where she cleared off some dusts and cobwebs, before she sets the book down, and started skimming through the pages.

At last, Twilight came across an interesting section, where it reads, "First outbreak of the dreaded Cutie Pox occurs in Ponyville, during the Palepony Period. Many ponies who have yet been afflicted, all fled from Ponyville in hopes of escaping the plague. Many took settlements in the Everfree Forest."

As Twilight turned the next page, she was greeted with a black and white photo of the ponies in the old days. However, one such pony caught her attention. Upon a closer look, she was baffled to see a stallion who vaguely resembles, "Starlight Glimmer?" She gasped, at the sight of her friend/student. "No, it can't be!" Then again, Starlight did once have an aptitude for tine travels. Who's to say she could do it again and this is her future?

Turning the next page, Twilight sees a copy of an article of the Ponyville Confidential, with the headline that reads: "Cutie Pox Explosion Killed 88 ponies, 102 total. Afflicted pony with dynamite cutie mark is blamed," Twilight grimaced, as she looked at the next page that has a photograph, with the subtext that reads: "Bodies of those killed in the explosion."

Turning the next page, Twilight sees an image of the mansion, caught on fire, with ponies surrounding it, putting it out on fire. Then, in the next page, was a photo of ponies surrounding a tree. The subtext reads: "A gruesome discovery in the wake of the explosion."

Twilight turned the next page, but was aghast to see the same page from before, except the image appeared to be zooming in on the tree's branches. Twilight turned the pages, causing the image to zoom in closer, each time, until finally, she got a a really good close-up, at the photo, of Starlight's disembodied head, caught in the tree branches.


[Egg Boy - Benjamin Wallfisch]


Growing squeamish, and startled at the disturbing image, Twilight slammed the book, as she took the time to take several quick deep breaths. Getting up on her hooves, Twilight proceeds to walk away, when she stepped on a littered newspaper article, with a section that reads: "Body found in Froggy Bottom Bog not Starlight Glimmer."

'No,' Twilight moaned, as hopelessness washes over her, and she felt a lump in her stomach.


*THUMP*


"AH!" Twilight screamed, startled by the sound of something landing hard on the floor, behind her.

Horn lighting up, picking up her lantern, Twilight scans the room, before she sees a thick black book, on the floor, next to a bookshelf, with a single empty slot, above.

Feeling relieved, Twilight levitated the book back into place. But no sooner she did, some books came loose and fell to the floor on the other side of the shelf. Perplexed, Twilight poked her head to the side, catching a glimpse of a shadow darting to the right, on the other end. Remembering who she was dealing with, while at the same time frightened, Twilight's horn glowed as it came to life, ready for anything that might jump out at her.

Soon, more books fell from their resting place, startling Twilight to blast her magics in random directions, at every sources from where the sounds were coming from. After her magical assault, Twilight took a moment to catch her breath, before she looked across, gazing at what was left of the library. Then, she heard faint hoof steps, in the doorway. Twilight held the lantern up, to see the pale, light grayish heliotrope of Starlight Glimmer's body.

"Starlight?" Twilight spoke. "What are you doing....here?" Twilight said the last part in fright, when she got a good look at Starlight Glimmer-without a head. Furthermore, the body appeared to be covered in soots and burns, as if it had been charred in a fire, with a few random cutie marks, plastered from the neck to the legs.

Twilight felt herself becoming still as a statue, sounds escaping from her, as all she could do was drop her lantern, petrified at the sight of her headless friend. The headless unicorn mare took a few limp steps, before it started to gallop after Twilight, who didn't hesitant to gallop away in fright.

They raced through the library, with headless Starlight Glimmer closing in, "Egghead!" Fear called, in a voice that sounded like a whisper. Looking back, Twilight could see some tendrils sprouting from the burnt stump of where Starlight's head should've been.

Twilight kept on running, until she crashed into someone, or two.

"Oh, what?!" The person groaned, as Twilight got off of them. "Come on! Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry," Twilight shook her head, as she looked and sees the person to be none other, but Spike, with Applejack. "Spike? Applejack? Is that really you?"

"We were just going to ask you the same thing, Twi," Applejack replied. "That, and what were you running from in the first place?"

Twilight looked behind her, and saw nothing. Starlight's headless body was gone, which is a big relief for Twilight, as she turns back to Spike and Applejack.

Though, just to be sure, Twilight was the first to ask, "Spike, do you remember the time when you and I were studying for our Entrance Exam into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures?"

"Yes, I do," Spike answered, catching onto what Twilight is doing with the sudden pop quiz. "And what was the calming method I taught you?"

To prove herself, Twilight demonstrated by putting a hoof to her chest, taking a deep breath, before she exhales and moved her hoof away from her chest.

"Well I got another question for ya," Applejack began. "Before the Apple Family Reunion, what kind of desert was I going to give to Spike?"

"A zap apple pie," Spike answered.

"Correct," Applejack replied.

"Oh, thank Celestia, it really is you guys," Twilight smiled, as she, Spike, and Applejack all shared a hug.

Spike's ear suddenly perked up, when he hears the sound of screaming.





Starlight Glimmer


[29 Neibolt Street - Benjamin Wallfisch]


Starlight Glimmer was searching the mansion, on the top floors.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Starlight said, while taking several cautious steps. Then, she heard the sound of fast footsteps, coming from behind. She turned her head, just in time to see a figure darting into a room.

"Pipsqueak?" Starlight asked. "Is that you?" Following the figure, Starlight finds herself in a room, filled with so many objects, draped in long white sheets. "Pipsqueak? Captain Celaeno? Are you two in here?"

Suddenly, the door behind her slammed shut. Starlight galloped over to the door, and quickly tugged on the knob with her aura, but to no avail. Next thing she knew, she heard the sound of movements behind her, and turned her head to see the sheets being pulled off, revealing their hidden contents.

Starlight was in a room filled with pony dolls in it. The dolls were...creepy, to say the least, as they all had wide eyes and it's maybe just her, but she can't help but feel that these dolls were all looking right at her.

She notices something at the end of the room covered in sheets. Against her better judgment, she trots over and pull the sheets down and soon wishes she didn't. What she sees before her is a coffin which suddenly opens up to reveal a missing poster of her at the inner lid. She looks closer and sees a small dummy of herself inside it, not helping is that the dummy has maggots crawling around in its cheeks.

Understandably disgusted, Starlight shuts the coffin.

"AAAARRRGGHHH!!!" Fear roared, as he flies out of the coffin, and landed on the top of the casket, startling Starlight.

The twisted metahuman looks up at her and grins wickedly, "Time's up, Glim Glam!"

Starlight brings out her staff, but Fear quickly uses his scythe to disarm her. Starlight then fires bolts of magic at him, but he was able to deflect them with his scythe, forcing Star back to the door.

Fortunately, Applejack breaks the door open and Spike charges in, impaling Fear in the chest with a katana. However, Fear just looks at Spike and lets out a dark chuckle before dispersing into black smokes.

"Dammit! It was just a duplicate." Spike grumbled, as heads over to Starlight to help her up, "You all right, Star?"

"Yeah, it was a close call, but I'm all right." She answered as she levitated her staff back to her.

"We really need to be more careful," Twilight warned, "Fear knows we're here and with every corner there's a death trap."

Just then there was a yell, "AAAAAHHHH! BUCK!!!!!"

"That sounded like Sunset." Applejack said.

"Come on girls, lets go!" Spike said as he and the others rush to help the fiery unicorn.





Sunset Shimmer


[Shape Shifter - Benjamin Wallfisch]


Sunset walked into what appears to be an office. Looking around she finds something that catches her eye. A crooked painting of a women with a flute. Sunset goes over to the painting and straighten it a bit with her magic.

She took a better look at the lady and is a little creeped out by it. The lady in the painting was dressed in a pale white kimono, with a long flowing jet-black hair, with only a single eye, peeking out from the curtains, as if it was staring hauntingly at Sunset. As Sunset continues her search though the office she hears a loud thump and turns to see that the painting had fallen face down on the floor.

She sighed in frustration as she walks over to the portrait to pick it up, with her magic. Once she does, however, she noticed that the flute lady was completely gone from the painting.

Sunset then hears a flute playing behind her, before it ceased and she hears another thump behind her. She turns around, slowly, and sees the women from the painting, looking down on her and smiles wickedly, while showing the unicorn a row of teeth.

With a loud shriek, the lady pounced after Sunset, with the fiery unicorn lifting her foreleg in time as the lady bites down on it.

"AAAAAHHHH! BUCK!!!!!" Sunset screamed, as she struggled to get the woman off her, but that only causes the hag to sinks her teeth further.

Sunset notices the flute on the ground. Thinking fast she picks up the instrument with her aura and rams the thing in one of the woman's eyes.

The woman screams in pain as she takes the flute out of her eye socket. She turns her attention back to Sunset, only in time to see the unicorn charging up her spell and lets loose with it. The woman completely vaporized right then and there.

Sunset winces at the pain of her leg, so she uses a healing spell on it. The pain was mostly gone, but the bite marks were still there.

Just then her friends come barging in, "Sunset are you all right?!" Twilight asked frantically.

"I'll live." She replied.

"I think we should just stick together," Starlight sighed. "Button may have been onto something about not splitting up."

"Agreed," Spike replied as they continued their search for Pip, Celaeno, and their sick little friend.





Somewhere in the mansion


Pipsqueak and Celaeno were both wandering in the dark halls of the manor, swords unsheathed, a musket at the ready in Celaeno's claw, and a flashlight in Pip's hand, while both buccaneer keeping their wits about, ready for anything that Fear might throw at them.

All was quiet, until Pip decided to break the silence, "Ever had to go in dark places, like one of these, captain?" Pip asked.

"Aye, Pip," Celaeno replied. "Usually, it'd be places like this where my fellow pirates and I would be storing our plunders, saving those valuable gemstones of ours for a rainy day. Then only the faintest of heart would dare come and seek our treasures."

Suddenly, Celaeno's ears perked up, as she hears a haunting, and familiar, rattling sound that made her feathers stand on end.


*Kayako's Death Rattle*


"That sound!" Celaeno muttered, eyes widened in fright, looking around the room, trying to locate the source.

Pipsqueak, too hearing the sound, armed himself with his sword, while keeping close to Celaeno, "Captain? Celaeno?" Pip began. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"It be the she-dog who cut off my leg!" Celaeno replied, referring to her jade peg leg. "I thought she was dead!"


*SCREECH*


Pip and Celaeno both covered their ears, at the earsplitting sound of nails scratching on a stone wall. Turning their head, their eyes widened to see a large scratch mark, cutting across the wall.

"Enough games!" Pipsqueak shouted, as he waves the flashlight around the room, trying to locate the source. "We're sick and tired of you scaring us all half to death! Come out and face us, Fear!"

"Oh look, if it isn't Pip-Tweet!" A snobby voice of a girl sounded.

Pipsqueak's eyes quickly widened, as he looked up with a scowl, at the sight of a snobbish rich girl.


[Shunkan Yuwakashiki]


In appearance, the girl had brilliant cornflower blue eyes, a long, curly pale, light grayish violet hair with white streaks. For attires, she wore a puffy yellow jacket with a thick, fluffy white collar, over a black silky shirt, a silver mini-skirt over a pair of black shorts, and yellow go-go boots with white trimmings at the top and bottom, and black straps at the ankle. For accessories, the girl wore a hair pin that is in the shape of a diamond tiara, magenta diamond earrings, with a matching diamond necklace, and silver bracelets on her wrists. She is Diamond Tiara.

Standing by her side, looking equally snobby, was another girl with moderate violet eyes framed by a pair of light blue glasses, a long cornflower bluish gray hair with light azureish gray streaks, fashioned in a braided ponytail, with a fuchsia band tied at the end. For attires, she wore a purple dress shirt with white silks at the collar, tied at the front by a pin, in the shape of a silver spoon with a small fuchsia heart embedded at the top, white rings at the sleeves, a fuchsia mini-skirt with a white ring near the hem, purple go-go boots with white trimmings at the top and bottom, and the toes colored in light blue with matching ribbons at the top of the boots. The girl's only accessories are light blue beaded necklace with matching bracelets on her wrists. She is Diamond Tiara's best friend, and sidekick, Silver Spoon.

Pipsqueak quickly got into fighting stance, with his sword unsheathed, "Go away!" He ordered.

"Aw, how cute," The girl with the diamond tiara hair pin scoffed to her friend. "Poor little Pip-Tweet, acting all big and tough!"

"And yet, he's still no bigger than he was when he was four, and still has that baby-face!" The other girl mocked.

Pipsqueak could easily feel his face burning with a mix of both anger and embarrassments, from every words the girls were throwing at him. And worst of all, to whom, they were doing it, in front of Captain Celaeno, who was watching the whole scene being played out, curious with whatever beef Pip had with the girls.

Refusing to look weak in front of his captain, Pipsqueak tightens his grip on his sword, "I may be small, but at least I didn't have large mouth!" Pip rebuffed.

"Ha! Is that all you got?" A third voice with a heavy bronx accent asked, before it reveals itself to be another girl.

In appearance, the girl had moderate spring bud eyes, with freckles underneath, scruffy brilliant amaranth-with a mix of lighter amaranth hair, don up in a mohawk-like style, with a tuft tied in the back. For attires, she wore a dark green jacket with rolled up sleeves, over a white silk top, black plaid skirt with an amaranth belt at the waist that droops down to the hip, matching knee socks beneath a black leather boot. She is Babs Seed, an old friend of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

The bronx girl chuckled, "Honestly, if that's your attempt at making a snappy comeback, then I got to say, that's the lamest ever!"

"Yeah, anything's better than that, Pip-Tweet!" The diamond tiara girl taunted.

"More like Pip's weak!" The silver spoon girl added, resulting the girls to laugh at Pipsqueak, who can't take it anymore.

"SHUT UP!!!" Pipsqueak screamed, angrily lashing his sword at the girls, only to find that his blade simply phased through them, as if they were ghost. This unfortunately, did nothing to cease their laughs, as they continue to mock the boy.

While this was going on, Celaeno watched Pipsqueak in his futile endeavor to one up with the girls who continue to laugh and mock him. Suddenly, she heard a door slamming shut, to which she went over to open it up.

At first, all she see was darkness, "C-C-Captain? Is that you?" A voice groaned. "I can't feel my legs...."

Looking around, Celaeno picked up a nearby torch, banishing the darkness, but quickly wished she didn't, when she was greeted at the sight of one of her crew mates, dangling in the air with chains from the ceilings, with his bottom half missing, as if it's been bitten off by a shark.

"AAAAH!!!" Celaeno screamed, as she quickly slammed the door shut. Then her ears perked up when she hears the unsettling sound, once more.


*Kayako's Death Rattle*


Looking up, Celaeno quickly catches sight of a swarm of jet-black moths, buzzing together, before they formed into a misshapen figure of a woman, hanging from the ceiling.

"Mommy Fortuna," Celaeno spoke.

The figure cocked her head in Celaeno's direction, eyes blazing red, "Yes, I'm pleased you remember me, Celaeno," The woman croaked, sounding in her late 90s, as she leapt down to the floor. "Of course, you remember, don't you? That night, when you left me for dead, I sound....just....like.....THIS!!!" At the last part, a creepy elderly woman dropped down from the ceiling, onto the floor, before standing straight up, and glared at a frightened Celaeno.

In appearance, the woman had long silvery hairs that flows in an ethereal and eerie manner. She also had eerie red eyes that glowed, while appearing vast in their sunken sockets, greyish skin, frail and disjointed limbs and long sharp fingers. She wears a long dark robe, which appeared more tattered and equally floated like her hair.

Without warning, the woman's hairs quickly lunged forward in an attempt to grab and strangle Celaeno. As a counterattack, Celaeno slashed her sword, slicing a bit of the witch's hair off, only to see more growing back in place. Remembering her musket in her other claw, Celaeno pulled the trigger, firing a bullet, but the evil witch disappears in a swarm of moths, before she reappears behind Celaeno, and blasted the anthro parrot with a wave of her disfigured hand.

With a loud wail, the witch lunged at Celaeno, and proceeded to hold the parrot down, by the throat.

"I told you, Celaeno!" Mommy Fortuna cackled. "I told you! You are mine! Even when I'm dead, you're still mine!"

Despite the witch's brittle appearance, Celaeno was struggling to get the witch off. Fortuna's ice cold hands felt like the iron shackles that have once held Celaeno down. Thus, unpleasant memories flashed before Celaeno's eyes, as she recalled how as a young anthro parrot, she was captured in her sleep, by the evil witch. Afterwards, she recalled how she was imprisoned in a sturdy cage, with chains binding her arms and legs to her confinements, as she watched many magical creatures before her being sold to the highest bidders. Not long after, Celaeno finally got her chance to escape. But not before she and Mommy Fortuna were engaged in a fight to the finish, in which Celaeno lost her leg, during the scuffle.

Meanwhile, Pipsqueak continues to fight off the ghostly apparitions of the girls who had bullied him in his youth.

As the girls continue to taught him, Pipsqueak can feel a small tear escaping from his eyes, as he recalled how as a little boy, and because of his small height, he'd often get picked on by bigger kids, though mostly they're girls. They'd take away his lunch, they'd knock down his sand castles, they'd steal his toys and stuff. As much as he hates to admit it, but they were so cruel to him, he was too afraid to stand up for himself.

"Aw, you gonna cry?" Diamond Tiara taunted.

"I think he's gonna cry," Silver Spoon added.

"Maybe he needs his diaper changed," Babs laughed.

"Shut up, Shut up, SHUT UP!!" Pipsqueak screamed, as he continues to slash his swords at the girls, before one of them simply shoved him to the side, with a powerful slap.

"Poor Pipsqueak," Fear's voice sounded. "Such a brave boy, to have come from such a humble, cowardly beginning." Fear laughed, as he continues. "You were so scared of girls then, that you needed Spike and your fellow Knights to protect you. To act as your shields. And to feel good about yourself, ever since your mommy and daddy died."

"AAARRRGGHH!!" Pip roared, slashing his sword in Fear's direction, but only cuts the air itself.

"It appears I've touched a nerve, haven't I?" Fear asked. "Guess there is something inside you that make you feel scared. All it takes was touching the right button."

Pip shook his head, trying hard to deny what Fear's been saying, while struggling to ignore the taunts from Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Babs Seed. Pipsqueak held up his sword, taking a moment to look at his reflection in the blade, and noticed Celaeno.

Looking back, he could see Captain Celaeno, tussling with the ghost of Mommy Fortuna, and appeared to be losing.


[Rainbow Dash & Captain Celaeno - It's Time To Be Awesome]

Or

[Superstars - Cathy Heller]


'Captain! No!' Pip thought hopelessly, before he recalled what Fear said. 'All it takes was touching the right button.' Then, as if it was a parody to Obi-Wan's "Use the force, Luke," scene from Star Wars, Pipsqueak was certain he heard Bruce Lee speaking to him.

"To understand your fear is the beginning of really seeing," Bruce Lee quoted.

With that, Pipsqueak finds himself in the past, seeing himself as a kid, crying his eyes out, while begging for the bigger kids at school to stop teasing him. In response, the kids continue to laugh as they teased Pipsqueak more. But all of that changed when a younger Spike came, and told them off, together with a younger Rumble, Button, Tender, and Featherweight. Next thing Pip knew, a fight broke out with Spike and the other boys. Though they all got into trouble, the six boys became the best of friends together, and Pip hasn't felt scared to stand up for himself since, mainly because he knew he had friends to back him up all the way.

'My friends,' Pip thought, as he remembers the fond memories he's had with his friends, the love they shared, and how it made him feel like he was a part of a family again. 'That's it!' Pip realized, before he took a deep breath, and appeared calmly.

"Huh?" Fear asked, taking notice the change of Pip's expression. "What are you doing now?" Tightening his grip on his sword, Pip's Boots of Courage started to glow, as he faces in the same direction as Celaeno and Mommy Fortuna. "Stop! NO!!!" Fear frantically shouted.

Pip didn't listen, as he took off at the speed of light, and leapt up in a flying kick, striking Mommy Fortuna in the face, knocking the teeth out of her.

Celaeno was surprised, "Pip?"

"None of this is real!" Pip said.

"How dare you strike me, boy?!" Fortuna growled, as she got up, staring angrily at Pip.

"How dare you to strangle my captain?!" Pip spatted. "Now, you'll answer to me!"

With a bloodcurdling scream, Mommy Fortuna lunged at Pip, hairs lashing in every directions and all, together with several magic slashes she sent with a wave of her sharp, misshapen nails. Pip, continues to outrun the witch, before he charges in, and kicked the witch in the mouth again. Having enough, Mommy Fortuna's hairs tripped Pip, before she catches him, and held him close to her face.

"I'm not scared of you!" Pip snarled, using his sword to cut himself free.

"But you are scared of us!" Diamond Tiara said, as she and the other girls surrounded Pip. "And you can't hurt us!"

Pip scowled, which quickly grew into a smirk, "He can't," Celaeno said, as she towers over the girls. "But I can, ye scalleywags!"

Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Babs Seed looked up, and their smug expressions quickly disappeared, "Oh, darn," Diamond Tiara moaned.

Next thing Pip knew-much to his enjoyment, Celaeno snatched up Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon by their hairs, and banged their heads together, before she repeated the same with Babs Seed and Silver Spoon, then Diamond Tiara with Babs. Even more humiliating for the bullies, when Celaeno pulled their skirts up, and spanked them repeatedly, leaving markings in their rear ends.

"I don't know what ye problem with Pip be!" Celaeno berated the girls. "But know this! If I hear you girls giving Pip trouble again, then ye be answering to me!"

"Aye! So ye behaving ye self like good dogs, and we'll make ye swab the deck, or walk the plank!" Pip threatened.

Celaeno couldn't help but laugh in amusement at Pip's attempt at pirate talk, with Pip joining in on the laugh. Watching from a distance, frustrated that he, once again, failed to strike fear into Pip and Celaeno, was Fear himself. Banging against the wall, Fear took his leave in a huff, disappearing in a puff of smoke, taking his fearful illusions with him.

After having some laughs, Pip was breathing heavily, feeling relieved and satisfied of having overcome the nightmares.

"Wow, that felt good," Pip said.

"Aye, that it is, Pip," Celaeno replied, before she asked, "Though, how did ye overcome that metahuman's trick of his?"

"Well, a wise man once taught me," Pip began. "That understanding fear is the first step to really seeing the truth. And I now see that I'm more afraid of being alone, and losing you, than I was with people bigger than me." Celaeno blinked her eyes, feeling touched at what Pip just said, "And another truth I see, was that none of these are real, and that we need each other to be awesome!"

Smiling with pride, Celaeno playfully ruffled Pip's hair, before they were on their way, and find themselves in a huge cavern.

"What is this place?" Pip asked.

"I don't know," Celaeno replied, while putting a protective claw on Pip's shoulder, keeping him close.

The two trekked deeper and deeper into the cavern, making every cautious steps, and keeping a sharp eye out for Fear Haunter, or any more of his tricks. Their exploration, however, came to an immediate halt, when they found an elderly stallion, hanging on the wall, by cold steel chains.

"Grand Pear?!" Pip exclaimed, as he and Celaeno both cut the stallion from his restraints.

The old stallion groaned a few times, before he started to wake up, "Wuh-what?" He moaned. "Where am I? Where'd you youngsters come from?" Before the heroes could have a chance to reply, a loud screech was heard, echoing throughout the cavern's structure.





Meanwhile


"Pip? Celaeno?" Twilight called out. "Where are you?" After looking in one room, Twilight went into another, where she was momentarily startled by more bats, before meeting Applejack and Starlight Glimmer.

Spike, in dog form, was sniffing the floor as he tracked down the scent of his fellow Knight, parrot, and the evil metahuman. Tracking by his side is Sunset Shimmer, who's horn glowed, as she revealed an invisible trail of chemical the metahuman unknowingly left behind, courtesy of Joe. 

Spike and Sunset were following the trail, which suddenly came to an end, and they find themselves inside a dusty living room.

"What?!" The two exclaimed, incredulous, before looking around.

"How can this be?" Sunset asked herself, while levitating a few furnitures up in the hair, as she and Spike searched for more clues to where Fear may have gone off to.

"Argh, that son of a bitch!" Spike muttered, clearly on the verge of blowing more than just steams. "He gave us the slip again!" With a frustrated grunt, Spike stomped his foot on the floor, causing it to break, and he fell through as the floor caves in.

"SPIKE!!" Sunset shouted, as she galloped over to the hole. Poking her head through, her horn lit up in a fiery yellow aura as she shed some lights, searching for Spike, "Spike?" Sunset called. "Spike? Where are you? Are you okay?"

A spark of green fire emitted from the darkness, which draws her attention the to young dragon himself, "I'm fine, Sunset," Spike replied. "But you might want to see this!"

With that, Sunset disappeared in a flash of light, before she reappeared next to Spike, to see what he was pointing at. Sunset shines some light on the floor, to see a trail of footprints, leading from where they were standing, and towards a wall with a shelf of wine bottles.

Somewhat perplexed, Sunset walked over to the shelf where the trail had mysteriously vanished. Concentrating on her magics, Sunset began to pull the wines on the shelf, before she pulled on one that seemed to be stuck in place. After several struggling grunt, Sunset pulled the wine bottle off its spot, triggering several gears to turn, and causing the shelf to rise up, off its post, revealing a hidden passageway.

"What's going on?" Twilight spoke up, as she, Applejack, and Starlight appeared over the hole Spike had fell through.

"We found a hidden passageway!" Sunset replied. "It could lead us to Fear!"

"Then let's go and give that varmint a good buck to the face!" Applejack said, as she jumps down, followed by Starlight and Twilight.

Spike quickly held his hand out, stopping Applejack, "Wait! We still don't know what could be down there," He cautioned to the girls. "I'll go first," He suggested, with a fire katana conjured in his hand.

With a few leap forward, Spike's eyes glowed blazing green, as he scans the path ahead, while sniffing the air, and carefully listens for any movements being made. Certain the path was clear, Spike ushered the girls over with a wave of his katana, to which they complied.

As the five heroes trudged on, the path began to grow darker and darker, which beckons for Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset to light up their horns, igniting some lights for themselves, and for Applejack, who is without a source of light for herself.

Spike, eyes still glowing green, was scanning ahead, when his ears perked up to the sound of rocks coming loose.

"Wait!" He spoke to the girls.

"What? What is it?" Twilight asked, before she was quickly silenced with a hush from Spike.

Sniffing the air, Spike detected a foul stench of blood, as if something was recently killed. His could also hear the sound of wings flapping in the darkness, which echoes around him, through the cavern. His eyes glowed even more fiery green, and yet, it did nothing to pierce his vision through the blanket of darkness.

Remembering a lesson he once had with Scorpan, in China, Spike closed his eyes, not trusting his eyes, as well as not trusting his ears as the sound echoed all around him. Going beyond what he sees, while sniffing the air, Spike's eyes widened.

"GET DOWN!!" He screamed, as he leapt toward the girls, just as something big came crashing down on the cave floor.

"What in tarnation?" Applejack exclaimed, as Twilight, and her unicorn friends both joined their magic together, lighting up the cave, to reveal their adversary.

Standing before them, was the giant raven from before. Three eyes burning intensely, with one eye blown out, the raven let out a loud screech.

"Oh great," Spike moaned. "Tweety's back!" The young boy, and friends, rolled out of the way as the bird lunged after the heroes, still intending on eating at least one of them.

Reacting fast, Spike dragons up, as he flies around the bird, breathing jets of green fire on the bird. Unfortunately, in its furious attempt to fight back, the bird rapidly flapped its wings, which Spike wasn't quick enough to react when he got smacked, with a face full of feathers, knocking him to the sides.

Spike rolled across the floor, in which a lifeless Peewee flew out from one of his cape's inner pocket. Getting up, Spike shook his head to clear up the trauma he received from the impact, just in time to see the tall dark bird, snatching up Peewee, in its beak.

"PEEWEE!!!" Spike shouted, desperately holding his hand out, as the raven proceeds to eat the phoenix, in one gulp. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Spike wailed in pure horror, with his mind racing to the moment he first saw Peewee hatching out of his egg, as a little baby chick, to the times he shared ice creams with the bird, and to when they had their reunion for ten years.

As if it was laughing in mockery, the raven made several caws at Spike. However, its laugh was cut short, when it got blasted in the face by several bolts of magic, and several rocks, courtesy of Twilight and her fellow magic ponies, and Applejack.

"Take this you oversized chicken!" Applejack roared, as she kicked a sharp rock, lobbing into one of its remaining eyes.

With a loud caw, the raven turned its attention on the girls, as it gave chase. Spike was left alone in the darkness, processing what had happen. The sound of Fear's taunting voice continues to echo through Spike's head, coupled with the raven's mocking caw, and the sound of screams and jeers that will continue to haunt him. Not to mention the look of disappointment on his mother's face.





Feeling a burning sensation, coursing through his heart, setting his blood on fire, Spike's breathing grew sharp, and deep, as he was surrounded in a green flaming aura. His eyes snapped wide open, revealing his pupils dilating to a reptilic slit.





Meanwhile, Twilight and the girls continue to run through the dark cavern, before they finally came upon a set of pillars, where they immediately took cover, behind the tall structures, just as the bird arrived on the scene. With three eyes remaining, and searching through the darkness, the raven crooned hungrily, as it slowly stalks through the pillars, intent on hunting down its preys.

Twilight turned to her girls, quietly shushing them, before she pointed to some other pillars where they sneaked behind, avoiding the raven.

Sunset carefully watched her hooves stepped, when she inadvertently exerted too much weight on her inflicted hoof, "Ow!" Sunset groaned.

The raven quickly cocked its head in the direction of the source, locking its sight on the four girls.

Twilight got in front of her three frighten friends, wings spread out, horn glowing, though she was unable to hide the fact that she is scared herself, as the giant bird advanced upon them.

Then, a hand reached out from the shadow and grabbed Twilight, "There you are, Twilight!" Before the figure could do anything, a loud thump was heard from behind, causing him to turn, and stared face-to-face to the 16ft tall raven. Twilight can feel the grip on her throat lifting, as she finds herself being shielded by the hooded figure before her.

With an angry shrill, the raven pecked its beak, to which the hooded figure quickly held his cloak up, and surprisingly shielded himself from the beard's sharp blade-like beak. Then, with a flash of mulberry magic, the man fired a powerful bolt of magic that struck the bird in the chest, exploding upon impact.

The bird was about to strike again, only to be stopped when Spike lunged at the bird, in dragon form.

"THIS IS FOR PEEWEE!!" Spike snarled, scratching the bird's face, and bites down into its neck.

In retaliation, the raven repeatedly slammed its head into the cave walls, struggling in vain to get Spike off. The dragon quickly slithered around the bird's neck, onto its back, where he leapt off, and rolled onto the cave floor. Getting up fast, Spike hurled a fire shuriken at the bird, cutting one of its chains, while piercing into its hide. Opening his mouth, Spike let out a burst of green fire, burning the bird's face. Undeterred, and further angry, the raven charged forward, and tackled Spike down, by the talon. Holding him down, the raven reared its head up, before plunging its beak down for the killing blow. Thinking fast, Spike quickly changes into a dog, slipped out of the bird's talons, just as the beak made impact on the ground. Spike soon took off running, with the raven giving chase.

"SPIKE!" Twilight screamed, as she runs after the raven, chasing the boy-turned-dog.

"Come back here, Princess Twilight!" The figure's words were ignored, even more when the other girls left him to go after Twilight.





Spike, still in dog form, was racing through the tunnel systems of the cave. He briefly looked back, to see the raven, catching up to him. How can a bird that size still manage to keep up with him? How can it be underground? And more importantly, where is Fear?

Looking ahead, Spike can see an opening up ahead, which leads into a huge room, spacious enough for the giant raven, and big enough for him to move around in. With another burst of speed, Spike makes a run, intending on getting there first, before he climbs up, the cavern walls, and hides among the stalactites, just as the bird broke in. The bird turned its head in every directions, searching for the Dragon Prince.

With the desire to avenge his devoured pet phoenix, still burning ever so strongly within him, Spike can feel his anger fueling the fire within him. It was so hot, Spike was certain he was going to burst into flame, right on the spot. He remembers a lesson he once had with Rainbow Dash and Twilight, on the topic of how emotions can have dramatic effects on one's magic. Furthermore, his memories flashed as recalls his lessons on the value of controlling his angers with Scorpan, back in his troubling days in elementary to middle school.

Spike felt himself conflicted, as if one side was begging him to not let his anger take control, while the other insisted that he bring justice, by killing the raven, and Fear, if they had killed his beloved pet.

Spike didn't have time to think any further, when Twilight and the girls arrived.

"SPIKE!!!" Twilight frantically shouted, before she yelped in terror, upon being confronted by the raven.

The raven let out an earsplitting screech, as it prepares to attack the girls.

"Oh no you don't!" Spike growled, as he drops down from the ceiling, changes back into a dragon, and latched himself onto the bird's back. "You're not taking one of my pony friends!" Spike roared, as he grabs onto the bird's chains.

"SPIKE!!" The girls cried out, watching as their dragon friend wrestled with the raven monster.

Claws and mouths burning a fiery green aura, Spike landed several burning attacks on the huge bird, inflicting searing burns, which did little to deter the bird. Having enough, the raven flapped its wings, taking flight around the cave, with Spike clinging onto its back.

"SPIIIIIIIKE!!" Twilight shouted.

"I'll stop it!" Starlight said, taking out her staff, ready to take aim.

"NO!" Sunset exclaimed, pulling the staff away in her aura. "Even without a weapon, it's still too risky. You could hit Spike!"

"Then I'll get Spike off!" Applejack said, taking out her rope, before she hurled it in the air, and managed to latch onto the raven. "Gotcha!" Applejack grunted, before she felt herself being pulled away, had Sunset not grabbed her in time.

"More like it got you!" Sunset grunted, as she held onto Applejack with all her strength.

Twilight joined in, as she held onto her earth pony friend with her magic, while Starlight stood to the side.

"Spike! Girls!" Starlight called. "Do you trust me?" She asked.

"Starlight?" Twilight grunted. "What are you doing?"

"When I say now, let go of the rope! And jump off the bird!" Starlight replied.

"Why?"

"Just do it!" With that, Starlight charged her magic through her horn, creating a pulse of electricity. "NOW!!" Everyone all complied, as Applejack lets go of the rope, just as Starlight electrocuted it. Using the rope as a conductor, the electricity raced up to the raven, shocking it, just as Spike leapt off.

The bird fell from the air, and landed with a loud thud on the cave floor.

After a moment of catching their breaths, Spike and the girls heard Fear laughing, throughout the cavern.

"Very impressive, heroes," Fear said mockingly at the last part. "Very few have ever resisted my powers to make it this far."

"You've had your fun, Fear!" Sunset spatted angrily. "But its ends now!"

"Stop it now!" Spike roared. "Or else!"

"Or else, what? Are you gonna call on mommy Celestia to give me a time out?" Fear asked, while baby talking in a mocking manner.

"ENOUGH!!" Twilight roared. "Why are you doing all of this? To us? To our home? What do we ever do to you to deserve all this?"

Fear was silent for a moment, as he appears before the group, in a puff of smoke, "Why not?" He asked, with a dark chuckle, "But jokes aside I want to prove to the world that even heroes have vulnerability and even they can give into fear. Your sad little town is just a bonus."


[E Nomine--Schwarze Sonne]


After hearing those words, Applejack fixed her hat, "Looks like we're just gonna have to beat you, to end it!" She snarled.

"I second that!" Spike joined in, fire katanas produced, as Twilight, Sunset, and Starlight all stood by their friends' sides, horns coated in colorful auras that burned through the darkness. "This ends now!" Spike roared.

"Not unless I end you first!" Fear sneered, as he suddenly begins to change form, horribly.

The heroes watched, in bewilderment, as Fear's eyes start to roll back and his skin began to darken. He began to grow up to 10 ft while the sound of bones breaking and rearranging can be heard during the process. Black raven-like wings have sprung from his back. And when his eyes rolled back, they became red and goat-like. Horns have also grew out of his head, giving him a near Satan-like appearance.

To further raise the stakes higher, the giant raven from before stood up, and squawked. The heroes watched, as one of its eyes was restored through a form of dark powers.

Despite the seemingly overwhelming odds, Spike and the girls had one thing to say, "Bring it!"

With an earsplitting roar, Demon Fear threw a punch, slamming his fist into the grounds, which the heroes all scattered and evaded. Spike took flight, breathing streams of fire on the demon, who retaliated by firing beams of ice from his eyes, clashing with the dragon's fiery breath, resulting in a blanket of mists. Using the mist to his advantage, Spike quietly flies through the air, hiding from Demon Fear. However, the fiendish demon was one step ahead, as he produced a large scythe in his hands, and slashed the air, cutting away the mist, before he located Spike. Setting his sight on the purple dragon, Fear inhaled a gust of air, and exhaled burst of fire from his mouth. Spike quickly closed his wings, shielding himself from the fire.

Twilight and the girls were about to join in the fight, to aid their dragon friend, when the giant raven leapt in the air, and came crashing down before them. With another loud screech, the raven thrusted its head out, snapping its beaks at the girls. Twilight quickly casted a magical barrier between herself, the girls, and the raven, grunting as she once again struggles to maintain the forcefield to protect herself and her friends.

Starlight Glimmer quickly pulled out her staff, and with a wave of it, she manipulated the waters that dripped from the stalactites nearby, swirled them around the raven, trapping it in a huge bubble. Starlight concentrated hard on her magic, as she strains to keep her magical grip on the bird's prison. The raven fought hard, as it struggles to break free.

Sunset Shimmer and Twilight quickly joined in, as they too used their magics to combine Starlight's, as they hold onto the bird. Applejack, using her super strength, stomped her hoof down on the ground, forcing a large chunk of the earth to erect from the ground, before with a strong buck of her hind legs, she kicked a huge slab of the rock at the raven.

With a burst of frustrated screech, and feathers, the raven broke free from its prison, and the girls' combined assaults.

"This is bad," Twilight whimpered.

Just then, Pip, Celaeno, together with the newly freed Grand Pear arrived on the scene, from another cave.

"Whoa!" Pip exclaimed, as he and his group took notice of the fight going on, though they were more surprised at the appearance of the demon their friends were fighting with. "What the devil is that?" Pip asked.

"That would be the metahuman abomination, Fear Haunter," A voice spoke, as Joe walked out of the shadows.

"Do ya always sneak up on us like that?" Celaeno asked.

Pip looked back at the fight, eyes gazing at Demon Fear, "So that's Fear?" Pip asked, before he sets his gaze into determination. "Well now, he's going to pay!"

Unsheathing his sword, Pip was ready to charge into battle, only to be stopped by Celaeno.

"Not so fast there mate!" Celaeno exclaimed, grabbing Pip by the shoulder. "Even I know it'd be unwise to charge headfirst into battle! We need a plan!"

"Indeed. Your courage reflects on your lack of calculations," Joe said in disapproval.

Knowing they were right, though slightly miffed at Joe's comment, Pip replied, "Aye-aye, captain. So what's the plan?"

Looking back at the fight, Celaeno analyzed the battle taking place. Spike was putting up a good fight with Demon Fear, but who's to say that he'll be victorious? The metahuman-turned-demon appeared to be much stronger, with his large scythe in hands. Furthermore, the girls aren obviously giving their all against their fight with the raven. But the raven is undeterred, and isn't showing any sign of backing down.

"I don't know," Celaeno replied, grimly. "I'd be willing to run my blade through that yellow-bellied metahuman, or walk him off a blank, but I can't if he's some powerful demon!"

"But we can't let him win!" Pip replied.

Joe then turned to Grand Pear, "Mr. Pear, sir," Joe began. "You and your granddaughter once had an encounter with this fiend, do you not?"

"How did you know?" Grand Pear asked.

"How I know is not important, at the moment," Joe replied. "Tell me. Do you know anything about him that would benefit us?"

Grand Pear scratched his chin, as he thought about his and Apple Bloom's previous encounter with the sick metahuman. Then, it came to him, "Well, only one," Grand Pear replied.





Back at the fight, Spike was parrying Fear's scythe, with his fire katanas. The demon's eyes pulsed a blazing aura of snowy blue, before he fired a beam of ice at Spike, which the dragon was able to counter with a burst of his dragon fire breath.

"You'll pay dearly for all the innocents you've inflicted, Fear!" Spike growled. "If it's the last thing I do! YOU! WILL! PAY!!!" Feeling his anger fueling his powers once more, his whole body glowing in an aura of blazing green, Spike released burst of green fire, as big as a volcanic eruption, upon Fear.

The demon sliced his scythe through the stream of flame, as well as blasting beams of ice, though he appeared to be succumbing to the wrath of Spike's fury. The demon's whole body was enveloped in a gust of smoke, while Spike kept his distance, anticipating for any sudden moves. Little did he know, Demon Fear appeared behind him, in a puff of smoke.

"My, my. Struck a nerve have I?" The demon ask, as he raised his scythe in the air, ready to cut Spike down, had the Dragon Prince not heard him coming, and caught the scythe's blade in time. Fear then got to Spike's face, "Let ask you something 'Dragon Prince.' Have you ever thought what your life would have been like without the Dragonfire?" Spike paused at that, Fear smiled as thrusted his leg out in a strong side kick, knocking Spike off his feet.

"Ten years. And this is all you have?" Fear asked. "Truly pathetic!"

"Not as pathetic as you will be!" Pip shouted, as he came at the speed of light. "Eat pear!" With that, the boy lobbed a jar of pear jam at the demon's face, splattering the jams all over.

"AAAUGGH!!" Fear groaned in disgust. "Pear jams?!! I hate pear jams!!" Fear roared, clearly pissed off.

Not long after Pip's assault on Fear, did the rest of the heroes notice a sudden change around them. For one, Fear was rapidly changing between his regular form and demon form, as if he was part of a movie scene, with the special effects having a sudden technical difficulty.

The giant raven's fearsome demeanor was replaced with fright, as the giant bird desperately flapped its wings, as if trying to escape. It was then that Twilight and the girls noticed how the bird was slowly disappearing, until at last, there was nothing.

"It's-it's gone?!" Applejack exclaimed in bewilderment.

"It's not real...." Twilight said, having an epiphany. "None of this is real!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Then that would mean...." Looking down, Sunset could see the bite mark on her foreleg was completely gone, together with the pain that came with it.

Fear rubbed the pear jams off his face, before he sends a death glare at Pip, "Kid! You are REALLY starting to get on my NERVE!!"

"Same as you are!" Spike spoke up. Fear turned his head, to see the heroes advancing on him.

"Now that the playing field has been leveled, let's see how scary you really are!" Spike said, before he cracks his fists together, together with the girls who all charged into battle.

Spike made the first move as he breaths a long stream of green fire at Fear, who rolled to the side, dodging the attack. However, the metahuman was met with a quick punch to the face by Celaeno, knocking him off his feet. Twilight and Sunset quickly joined their magics together, as they blasted Fear off his feet.

Applejack got out a rope, and she hurled it at Fear, "Yeee-Haw!!!" Applejack shouted, as she lassoed the evil man.

"ENOUGH!!!" Fear roared, as he was able to unsheathe a hidden knife, and cuts himself free. Before long, he soon began to appear in his flickering demon form again.

"Look out every pony!" Applejack shouted. "Don't let him scare you again!"

"Not if I can help it!" Pipsqueak said, as he picks up a pear, and lobs it into the man's face.

Angrier than ever, the man growled, before he was kicked in the face by Pipsqueak, before the boy slashed his sword at the man's face, "AAAHH!!!" Fear screamed, placing his hand over the area where Pip slashed him. Looking at the blood in his hand, Fear glared threateningly at Pip, "You just made a grave mistake kid!" With that, Fear slashes his scythe at the boy, who continues to outrun him. Pip raced around Fear, who continues to slash his weapon aimlessly at the brave little boy. "Hold still, will you?!" Fear roared.

"New game!" Pip called. "It's called, Hot Pear!" With that, Pipsqueak came running back at Fear Haunter, throwing several pears at the man, who slashed a few with his scythe, while getting hit by a few more, followed by several bolts of magic from Twilight, Sunset, and Starlight, as well as some pebbles Applejack launched, and some fire shurikens from Spike. Quickly spotting an opening, Pip raced towards Fear, and slashed his sword at the man's arm, leaving a bloody cut in the shoulder.

"AAAAAHH!!!" Fear screamed in agony. "ENOUGH!!" Fear roared, as he sweeps his leg, tripping Pipsqueak, causing him to fly into a wall. "This ends NOW!!!" Fear said, raising his scythe up, for a killing blow.


*BANG*


The sound of gunshot echoed, and the blade of the scythe was shot off, courtesy of Celaeno.

"I wouldn't do that again, if I were you," Celaeno said, loading another bullet into her musket, and threatens to fire it again.

Before Fear could say anything, he was struck in the rear by Pip's sword. Further angered, the metahuman pulled out a knife, which he used to hurl at Celaeno, and skillfully deflected one of her bullets into the air, while the parrot skillfully caught the blade, by the hilt, in her claw, before it could hit her in the chest.

Fear lunged at Celaeno, only to be stopped when Applejack jumped in, and bucked him away.

As the fight goes on, Spike looked to his surroundings, before he spotted a handheld mirror, lying on the floor. An idea quickly came to him, "Twilight!" Spike called.

"Yeah?" Twilight replied.

"USE THIS!!" Spike said, as he tossed the mirror to Twilight, who caught it in her aura.

In a puff of smoke, Fear Haunter appeared before Twilight, intent on using his powers on the alicorn. Thinking fast, Twilight held the mirror out like a shield, reflecting the metahuman's powers right back at him.

"What? NO! NO!!" Fear screamed, as he was struck by his own powers.

"YES! It worked!!" Spike exclaimed.

"Good thinking back there, Spike!" Twilight smiled, to which Spike blushed, while scratching the back of his head.

"Guys! Look!" Starlight pointed, seeing the state Fear was in.

He was curled up on the floor, crying, trembling, having shortness of breath, and if Twilight can feel his heartbeat, she would notice a sudden increase in pulse rate.

"Not so scary anymore, now that he's been hit by his own powers, huh?" Spike asked, to which everyone all exchanged agreements.

"Still, I wonder what he's afraid of?" Pip asked.

Sunset walked over to him, carefully using her magic, she looked into the metahuman's memories.





Fear's P.O.V.


As a child, Fear once went to a ranch, where out of reckless impulse, he jumped onto a full grown horse, rather than a small pony. Taken by surprise, the horse reared up on its hind legs, neighing loudly, and bucked its legs, trying to get the boy off. It succeeded, as Fear fell to the ground, and screamed, as he nearly got trampled by the might horse's legs.

His whole life flashed before his eyes, as the horse continue to stomp its hooves at the boy. Before look, Fear looked around him, to see horrific, demonic versions of the ponies he had tormented.



"No! NO!!" Fear yelled in fear. "Get away from me! Get away!"





Real World


After she was done, gazing into his minds, Sunset shared her findings to the rest of the heroes.

"He's afraid of ponies?" Spike asked.

"Who knew?" Starlight shrugged.

"Guess he just blamed all of us ponies for his traumatic childhood," Sunset concluded.

"Well you can be sure," Twilight began. "After pulling a stunt like this on us, he'll be going away for a long time. And by then, I hope he learns a lesson, or two."

"You have my word, princess," Joe spoke up, as Somnambula and her squad of Shadowbolts suddenly appeared. "We'll see to it that he's taken cared of."

Somnambula nodded in agreement, as she and her Shadowbolts took the frightened metahuman away.

"Guess it's finally over," Applejack breathed a sigh of relief.

"Guess so," Spike smiled, before he frowned sadly. "And may Peewee rest in peace...." He sighed sadly.

"Oh!" Pipsqueak yelped, as if he just remembered something. "Hey Spike! Look who I found?" He said, holding out a large birdcage, with a familiar squawking phoenix.

Spike could hardly believe his eyes, "Peewee!" Spike cried, as he opens the cage, and happily embraces his pet bird. "Oh, I thought I lost you buddy!" In response, Peewee crooned with equal affection.

The girls all sighed lovingly at the affectionate sight between Spike and Peewee, with Pipsqueak grinning to see his bestie happy once more, even Grand Pear, despite his initial distrust toward the Dragon Prince and all.

However, Twilight's attention was drawn elsewhere, when she noticed a strange black book, lying in the birdcage. Levitating up to her, she skimmed its pages, to see images of creatures and objects that she's never seen before and written in a foreign language that she doesn't seem to understand.





Elsewhere


Rainbow looked at her back to see both of her wings, restored, and still intact. "My wings!" If Rainbow Dash could, she would be kissing and hugging her prides and joys. "All righ-"

"If you're nothing without those wings then you probably shouldn't have them in the first place!"

Hearing those words caused Rainbow to slump. She takes a good look at her wings. Is she truly nothing without them?





Sometimes Later


"Zipporwhill!" The stallion exclaimed, as he scoops his little mare up. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, dad," Zippor replied. "I'm okay." Just then, a joyful bark was heard as a brown dog came running into the room, jumped on Zippor's bed, and showered the girl with affectionate licks. "Hi Ripley! It's good to see you too!" Zippor giggled.

Featherweight was about to enter the room, with a bouquet of flower, but stopped when he heard those harsh words yet again:

"You don't deserve the Shield of Purity!"

Feather looked at the flowers and sighed. He then made his way out, but not before he spotted Redheart, "Excuse me nurse," He called the pony to his attention and holds out the flowers, "Can you give these to Zipporwhill please? Tell her they're from Feather."

The nurse nodded and took the flowers to the filly as Feather made his way outside. He then slumps on a bench, brings out a picture and takes a long look at it.





Meanwhile, at town hall of Ponyville


"Citizens of Ponyville!" The mayor, Madam Mayor, announced. "It is with great joy, and relief that Faust smiles down upon our fair town of Ponyville! Equestria shall sleep safely once more! Thanks to our brave heroes!"

All of the ponies, magical creatures, and non-magical creatures, all exchanged cheers and applause, for the said heroes, standing before them.

"It was nothing," Applejack replied, modestly. "It wasn't easy. But we never gave up, bringing that varmint to justice."

"I agree," Twilight added. "Because we did it all together!"

"But more importantly, we owed it to Pipsqueak!” Spike voiced, as he gestured to the little boy. “He’s the guy he resisted Fear’s power. We would’ve been goners if it weren’t for him.”

"Aye," Celaeno voiced in agreement. "He's got the guts of a pirate! And he looked Fear, right in the eye!"

Pipsqueak blushed, as he scratched the back of his head, before he was suddenly grabbed by the audience, “Pip! Pip! Pip!” Everyone cheered, as they all tossed the boy in the air.

"Hip hip, hooray!" Pinkie cheered. "Pipsqueak saved the day!!" With that, a celebration was underway.

Spike looked around, seeing all the ponies and creatures, relieved and happy that the plague was over.

However, it did little good to bring a smile to his face, as he was left alone with his thoughts on what Fear had said earlier.





Flashback


“How they cling to you like a flea to a dog,”

"Look how they became dependant on you Dragon Prince. Because of you, they would always expect you to just come in and save the day."

"They cringed to see they didn't get a normal human child. Instead, all they got was a cursed child with eyes and fangs of a dragon."

"Even if I do stop the plague, everypony will still be afraid of one more thing. You."

"Listen to yourself," He chortled. "Trying to act all tough and intimidating, and yet you still think so highly about mommy Celestia. Such a softie."

"And do you know what's amusing?" Fear asked. "You swear that you will protect this world from monsters like me. But who's going to protect this world from monsters like you? You may be adopted, or a prince, or even a 'hero.' But that doesn't change the fact that you're still a dragon. And not just any dragon. You're living vessel of the Dragonfire; a legendary magical force that has the power of a thousand dragons, maybe more. Which makes you a threat."

"Accept it. Not everyone was thrilled of your return. Your surrogate cousin, Prince Vladimir Blueblood is one. But there are others besides him who share a mutual distrust to the likes of you. As I recall, that old coot, Grand Pear, is another."

"She only cared for you, claiming you have a great destiny, when in reality, she and General Scorpan were only making you grow to become a living weapon. All they ever expect of you is some all-powerful creature, whom they can rely on to protect their kingdom, maybe themselves, whichever comes first. But at the same time, they'll be afraid of you, the moment you start to grow up, too powerful than they'd expect you to be."

"Let ask you something 'Dragon Prince', have ever thought what your life would have been like without the Dragonfire?"




Present


Spike slumped, as he leans against a wall, ‘Still, why didn't my real mom and dad want me?’ He asked himself. ‘Why did they left me? And is it true that mom and uncle Scorpan took me in because of my Dragonfire?’

He lets out a long sigh, "Come on Peewee, we're going home. I got a lot to think about," The phoenix tilt his head in confusion but complies as he perched on Spike's shoulder and made their way to Twilight's castle.





Later


Twilight was in the castle lobby, reading the black book, or at least trying to as she can't seem to understand the language. 

She skims though the pages. On one page she sees creatures that appeared to be humans, but are bald and seemed to be wearing what looks like techno-organic armor. On another, were also humans, but appeared to have a look of savagery to them and their arms look like they're morphing, and one more page caught her attention, for it depicted images of a race of satyr-like creatures, covered mostly in armor.

"Twilight?" A voice called out.

She looks up and sees Sunset and Starlight, "Oh hey girls. Whats up?"

"Look what we found in Fear's hideout," Sunset said as she raises a black gem.

Twilight was in shock, "Is that...?"

"Yeah, a black dreamstone," Sunset said. "These things can help a person enter the dreamworld, physically."

"I don't wanna know where he got his hands on that," Starlight shuddered.

Suddenly, a flash of light exploded and Princess Celestia appeared, "Where's my baby?!" She asked frantically.

"He's-" Twilight tried to explain, but the sun princess bolted to Spike's guest room.

"Spike! Spike!...Spike?" Celestia called out as she enters the room, but sees no one, "W-Where did he go?"

"We've been trying to tell you princess," Twilight expained as she and her friends catch up to her, "Spike already left for Earth."

"Oh," Princess Celestia then notices a note on the nightstand. She picks it up to read:


Dear Mom,



Went back to Earth. School work and stuff.



Love Spike


She takes a long look at the note. He says that he's fine, so why does she feel that something is wrong then?





Things were starting to settle down after the fear plague incident. Pip and Celaeno were at a restaurant enjoying themselves.

"Nice to see things back to normal," Pip exclaimed.

"Aye, that it is, Pip," Celaeno replied, as she took a sip of a fruit punch she was drinking. Recalling what she had seen in the mansion, Celaeno turned to Pip, "So tell me, Pip. Have ya always had problems with them lass?"

Realizing what the parrot was referring to, Pip tried to remain calm, as he spoke, "A little. I mean, not anymore. Why do you ask?"

"I thought I'd get to know more about ya, Pip," Celaeno replied. "What kind of a captain would I be, if I don't know much about my own crew?" Pip nodded in agreement. "So tell me, Pip. What happened to ya?"

With that, Pipsqueak complied, as he relayed the whole story of his childhood to the parrot, "And you know the rest," Pip finished.

Celaeno was beyond shock, and sad, at Pip's experience, "Oh, sorry Pip. I didn't know." She apologized.

"It's okay, captain," Pip replied. "It's all in the past. And I'm just glad that I now have friends like Spike, the Guys, and you." He said, hoping to lighten up the mood.

Celaeno couldn't help but ruffle the boy's hair, "Yer full of surprises, ya know that Pip?" Celaeno said. 'All the more reason you'd make an excellent addition to my crew,' She thought fondly.

"I aim to make us all proud," Pip smiled. 'Mom,' He thought. He then remembered something, "Oh, I almost forgot! I wanted to give you this!" Pip reached for his backpack and pulled out a book.

Celaeno took it and read the title, Island 731 by Jeremy Robinson. She looked up at Pip, and smiled, "Thanks lad. I'll be sure to give this one a read."



While some bonds are being forged, others are being put to the question.

Rumble was in his room, still pondering on what Fear said to him. Just then his brother came in, "Hey little bro," Thunderlane began, "Me and a couple buds of mine are heading to the movies. Wanna come?"

Rumble thought about it for a minute and said, "Naw Thunder. I'm good right now."

Thunderlane was a little taken aback by this. Rumble never turned down a moment to hang with him before, "Are...you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah, I got a lot on my mind right now," Rumble replied, despondently.

"Well if you ever wanna talk about it, just know that I'm here if you need me," Thunderlane said as he left Rumble's room.

"Yeah." Rumble replied with a solemn look on his face.





Meanwhile


Somewhere far away from pony kinds, and other creatures, locked up behind every safety measures imaginable, inside a mental hospital, is the fearful Fear Haunter himself.

The metahuman was curled up in a fetal position, completely scared out of his wits. Then, all of that changes when his fears slowly dissolved, to be replaced with the look of rage.






> Fear Within Part 1: A Struggling Recovery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the south of the Anhui Province, which lies to the east of China, is the magnificent Huangshan mountains, standing tall and proudly, among an endless sea of clouds.

Training himself in solitude, atop one of the mountains, basking in the morning sun is Spike himself.

The young Dragon Prince was practicing his strikes, kicks, jumps, all the while spinning a long bo staff, around his waist, arms, and shoulders, like a true student of kung fu.


*Beautiful Chinese Music - Bamboo Flute*


Spike's ears perked up to the sudden sound of a bamboo flute playing its melody across the wind. Setting his staff down beside him, slowly sitting down on the soft grass beneath him, Spike closed his eyes, letting the haunting music play over him, while breathing in and out to a smooth and natural rhythm.

Spike felt himself more at peace, as he felt his mind being cleared of all conflicts and stresses, with his whole body growing still.

'This is just what I need,' Spike thought himself in content. After the debacle with Fear Haunter was resolved, Spike needed some times to himself; after all the grievance the metahuman had put him and his friends through. Now, having found peace, the young prince felt his troubles at ease. Or so he thought....

"Oh my, not running away from home, are you?" Spike frowned, scowling at the sound of Fear's voice. "Is the duty of the Dragon Prince becoming too overbearing for ya?"

"I'm not running away from anything," Spike replied. "But I do want you TO GO AWAY!!!" In a burst of green fire, Spike shifted into his dragon form, and breathed a stream of green fire in Fear's way.

The metahuman disappeared in a puff of green fire, "My, such a bad temper," Fear taunted. "So like a dragon." Irked, Spike continues his fiery assault on the metahuman, who continues to disappear in puffs of smokes. "Perhaps there is a reason dragons like you are so feared. You all have a fiery temper, so powerful, that you could easily lay waste to an entire city. Your Dragon Lord friend, Ember, is the perfect example."

"You are not fit to speak her name!" Spike snarled, as he hurled a fire shuriken in the metahuman's way, exploding into puffs of smokes upon impact. "I will not let you besmirch the names of all good dragons!"

"I don't have to," Fear replied. "The ponies and other creatures have already done that, you know. How dragons, including your own dragon friends, are just as greedy and power hungry as the griffins. How you have enough fire powers to destroy life. How you will be nothing more than the embodiments of destruction!"

Knowing what Fear was trying to do, Spike took a deep breath, as he calms himself, "That only shows what you know, Fear," Spike frowned. "But not what me and everyone else knows! Not all dragons are like that! Sensei Mako is one such example! He was a hero to both Equestria and Dracasia! He was a legend! Just ask his niece, and a close friend of mine, Mina!"

Fear could only laugh, "Oh, but that's just it," He cackled. "There's only one of him. And even he, was not enough to stop the ponies from accusing his fellow dragons, during the fire snail incident. Whose to say that you won't be any better? Who knows? Maybe a crime has been committed, and you will be framed for it. And when that happens, there will be no one to vouch for you! Not even your own mother!"

"As if!" Spike spatted in defiance.

"Don't believe me?" Fear asked, before everything around Spike suddenly changed into a big courtroom scene.

Spike finds himself shackled in dark chains, as he was being held in place, on the stand, with his Aunt Luna standing before him, levitating a mallet in her aura. All in attendance are the Elements of Harmony's Bearers, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and a group of royal guards who had their spears at the ready.

"Hail in peace to all sentient beings!" Luna spoke in a booming voice. "In the name of the great lawgiver, McCarthicus! This tribunal is now called to order! We sit in judgement over Spike Draco, for crimes and atrocities against the magical community!" With her horn glowing even more dark, the chain around Spike's body began to glow, as they burned his skin, while forcing him back in human form. "Spike Draco! Also known as the Dragon Prince! Prepare to meet the following charges!"

Standing by her side, Somnambula appeared with a long scroll, as the Egyptian pegasus reads, "Let it be known, that you stand before the court, accused of mass murders, out of cold dragon blood!"

"WHAT?!!" Spike exclaimed. "That's absurd!"

"And how do you plead?" Princess Luna asked.

"Not guilty! What else?" Spike asked. "Why would I ever murder someone?"

"We have reasons to believe that you've actually murdered, some pony," Luna replied.

"Murder someone?!" Spike scoffed. "Like I'd ever do that. Why would I ever want to kill someone?"

"Someone whom you've had an argument with, perhaps?" Somnambula replied, before she reads. "As the evidence have shown, you did willing unleashed a full wrath of your dragon power, upon Prince Vladímir Blueblood!"

"WHAT?!" Spike asked. "Why would I do that? I admit, he's a jerk and all, but still, I'd never do anything like that!"

"Then why is, when we found his corpse, it was all burnt, and it had traces of your human DNA, and magic residue all over?" Somnambula asked.

"I-I-I don't know!"

"Irrelevant answer!" With that, Somnambula continues to read the charges, each sounding more absurd than the last. "The death of Fancy Pants, for fraternizing with Fleur-De-Lis! Zephyr Breeze for flirting with Rainbow Dash! Angel Bunny for rabbit mischiefs. Granny Smith for her long-winded, boring lectures. And the death of Princess Cadence, for defending Prince Blueblood."

"We will now commune on the verdict," Princess Luna said, as both she and her councils exchanged opinions with each other, before they concluded, "In the name of the great law giver! This tribunal finds you, Spike Draco, GUILTY!!"

Spike's eyes widened in disbelief, as Twilight and her friends walked up and stood over Spike and looked down at him in disgust. Twilight was the first to speak as Princess Celestia stood in the darkness with her head held down in shame.

“I can't believe you would do something so cruel. I saw you as my closest friend. You helped me get through so much. You bring shame to me, to my title 'the Princess of Friendship,' to Canterlot, and to the royal family.”

"Twilight! I didn't do it!" Spike replied.

“No point of denying it, varmint! You're getting what you deserved!” Applejack, spoke as she looked down at him.

“I actually believed you were different from the other dragons, but I was wrong. You're nothing but a savage beast!” Fluttershy spoke as she gave Spike her stare. "You're not that cute puppy anymore! I wished you would be put down!"

"Here here!" Rarity agreed.

"Go die in hell!" Pinkie scowled.

"Can we get this over with?" Rainbow asked. "I'm sick and tired of looking at him!"

Finally, Princess Celestia stood before him, with her eyes glowing green, and purple smokes trailing, "You're no son of mine!"





With that, Princess Celestia fired a powerful spell on Spike, in which the Dragon Prince once more felt something snapped inside of him, "ENOUGH!!!" He roared, as he began to see red, and he unleashed a devastating storm of fire upon the ponies around him.

When Spike finally came to his senses, he looked around him, horrified to see the burning corpses of the dark apparitions of the ponies, who were once his friends.

"What have I done?" Spike frowned.

"A job well done, that's what!" Fear cackled, appearing before the dragon, in his demon form. "Face it 'Dragon Prince.' The worlds are better off without dragons, without the Dragonfire, and withoutyou."

With the dark chains snaking around him, Spike was restrained in place, as the metahuman raises his scythe in the air, "Time to fall down!" He growled, and strikes Spike down.





Meanwhile, back in Equestria


Equestria was coated under a blanket of Luna's night. But all of that changed instantly in the blink of an eye, when Celestia's sun slowly rose up, over the horizon, shedding its light across the land, with the night sky retreating. 

In her room, within the Friendship Castle, Twilight woke up to the ray of Celestia's light, shining down on her. Getting up from her bed, Twilight stood, basking in the light of her mentor's sun, stretching her legs, and wings, before in a flash of pink mists, she stood in anthro form.

Getting down on the floor, levitating some books, Twilight skimmed through some pages, specifically the ones on the stretches recommended to start the day.





Meanwhile


The sun slowly rose up in the east, casting its light on New York. Many of the tall buildings all stood tall as they blocked the bright lights from striking smaller buildings, shielding their occupants within, from the sun's penetrating lights. This, however, doesn't stopping two certain occupants.

Peewee was sound asleep, on his perch, when his body suddenly starts to radiate an aura of yellow, as if he can sense the rising sun. Blinking his eyes open, the phoenix violently shook his head, shaking the sleep off of him, while giving his wings a few flaps, before he flew off his perch, and into the room of his owner.

Peewee flapped his wings as he slowly came for a landing, on top of a huge mound that's draped by the long sheet of fabric and cotton. Peewee looked curiously at the mound, before he clamped his claws on the blanket, and with a flap of his mighty wings, the phoenix lifted the blanket up, to reveal Spike, in dragon form, curled up in a coil.

The young dragon was groaning, slightly shaking, until his pet phoenix lets out a loud screech, startling the boy awake.

"BWAH!!" Spike screamed, as he fell out of bed, and on the floor. Getting up, rubbing his sore head, Spike groaned, "Thanks for the wake up call, Peewee. I really need that," He muttered, before he took notice of himself. "What the-" Spike looked all over himself, to see himself in dragon form. "Huh, I must've transformed while I was sleeping," With that, Spike concentrated in his powers, before he changes back in human form. "That's better."

Later, he was just doing the same stretches Twilight was doing, back in Equestria. Afterwards, he was practicing his old martial art forms, so as to keep his skills sharp and memorized.


[Snap - I've Got the Power]


After the exercises were done, Spike quickly fixed himself some pancakes, toasts, and orange juice for breakfast. Peewee flew over and snatched one of the toasts off its plate, before taking it back to his perch to eat.

Later, Spike was practicing his strikes on a Chinese Fighting Dummy, so as to feel the rhythm of his fighting stance, enhancing his muscle strengths, speeds, and reflexes, and to further his coordinations. Then, Spike was up on the roof of his apartment, where he was spinning a long bo staff, and performing some rolls, jumps, and steps to go with his swings.

Peewee was also there, flapping his wings as he flies around the city, enjoying the morning air, and the sun's rays, shining down on his crimson feathers. The bird kept on flew through the streets of New York, around the buildings, while shedding off some of the sun's rays on the people, who all looked up, marveled at the beauty of the bird.





Equestria


After she was done with her stretches, an excited Twilight got out her long to-do list, and instantly teleported in an empty room.

"Spike! Wake up!" Twilight said eagerly, walking over to the bed. "We've got work to do! It'll be just like old-" However, upon a closer look, Twilight blushed upon seeing an empty bed. "Oh right," She smiled meekly. "Spike's back on Earth, in New York City," She sighed sadly, levitating a quill up, crossing out the activity that reads: 1. Wake up Spike.

Twilight walks out of the room, and finds herself greeted by Starlight Glimmer, and Sunset Shimmer.

"Morning, Twilight!" Starlight greeted.

"Oh, morning Starlight!" Twilight returned the greeting. "Morning Sunset! Sleep well?"

"Yep!" Starlight smiled. "Another new day, free of monsters, and crazy metahuman like Fear Haunter, and I'm full of pep!"

"How about you, Twilight?" Sunset asked.

"Oh, you know, sleep well," Twilight smiled awkwardly. "Like a baby," Twilight chuckled, which both Starlight and Sunset find to be awkward. "Right," Twilight began, wanting to get out of that awkward moment. "Well, gotta go!" With her horn coated in a purple aura, Twilight was gone in a flash.
> Fear Within Part 2: Friendship For Real and Forever?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


New York


After his morning exercises were done, Spike went back into his room to change into his casual attires, before he was out to spend the day. His shift at Mario's Pizzeria & Pasta doesn't begin until later, so he's got time to spend half the day, however he wants to.

Walking outside, breathing in the morning air, Spike sighed, "Looks like another day for me, as an ordinary human," Spike said to himself, as he begins strolling around the city.

His first stop was at the Westfield Trade Center, where he walked around, looking at the facility, while reminiscing how he had his first date with the Element Bearers, and at the same time, survived the terrorist attack that took place, and a possessed tatzlewurm, together with Lyra and Bon Bon.

As he thought about that day, Spike couldn't help but recall some fond memories he's had with the girls.



When they went to Barnse & Nobles


Twilight was looking at a book that showed her pictures of the fantastic landscapes around the world, from the Grand Canyon to Stonehenge, when Spike came to see what she's reading, along with a huge pile of books she was hoping to purchase.

"I see you're quite the bookworm," Spike said amusingly.

Twilight smiled sheepishly, "I know books aren't all that interesting to you and everyone, but-"

"Oh don't get me wrong Twilight," Spike interrupted. "I think it's great that you have a passion for books. It shows how smart you are, and how dedicated you are to your studies."

"Thanks Spike," Twilight smiled, while blushing a light shade of red. "But I really wouldn't have been able to learn everything around me, if it hadn't been for you."

"Huh?" he inquired. "What did I do?"

Twilight sighed nostalgically, "Let's just say you showed me a whole new world." With that, Twilight gave Spike a playful wink, before she went up to the counter and made her purchase.



Then they went to Central Park Zoo


"Good-bye Mr. Snowy," Fluttershy said to the leopard. "I'll be back next week to come and visit you."

The leopard let out a light roar as it watches the kindhearted girl leave with her friends.

"Wow, Fluttershy!" Spike exclaimed. "That was incredible with what you did back there! Where'd you learn that?"

Fluttershy blushed a bright shade of red, as she answered, "Well, I have traveled to a lot of places, rescuing poor animals who can't help themselves. And, I guess I may have learned to speak with them along the way. Y'know, to let them know I wasn't going to hurt them."

"Sounds like to me you're a hero to the whole animal kingdom," Spike smiled, patting the shy girl on the shoulder.

Fluttershy hid her face behind her hair, as she blushed, "I guess I am," she smiled.



Then, he and RD had a soccer game together, which Dash won


"That's game," Dash smirked.

"Wow!" Spike panted breathlessly. "For being human, you've got some mad skills."

"You ain't bad yourself Spike," Dash smiled as she helped the boy up. "I'm impressed that you can at least keep up with me. Of course, you've always been able to keep up when we were kids."

Spike's looked at the girl curiously, "Really?"

"Yeah!" Dash confirmed. "I mean, when we first met, you were the only boy who was impressed and respected my talents and skills. Most other boys just acted like they're all better and that I should try to be more like a girl."

"That's not nice. They shouldn't tell you that!"

"I know! But then you came, and ya told them off and otherwise. Since then, you've got my respect. And in turn, I've got you for an awesome pal." Dash pulled the boy in a headlock, before she gave him a noogie.

"Hey!" Spike groaned, as he manages to slip through the girl's grip and fixes his hair. "I'm all that much to you?"

"Yeah," Dash replied as she embraced the boy. "And you're always going to be awesome to me buddy. I wish you could remember that."

"I'll try," Spike returned the embrace.



Later, when they arrived at the mall, both he and Rarity went to some fashion stores to try on some new clothes


"Wow!" Spike gasped. "And I thought you were already beautiful!"

"I'd certainly say the same to you," Rarity smiled, twirling around in her dress, until she accidentally stepped on it, and started to trip over.

"Rarity!" Spike shouted, catching the girl, resulting the both of them to fall on the floor.

Rarity looked up, blushing, and smiling, finding herself lost in the boy's blazing green eyes. Spike in turn finds himself lost in the girl's dazzling sapphire eyes.

"Rarity?" Spike asked. "Are you alright?"

"I am now darling," Rarity sighed lovingly. "Even more so, since I'm now seeing those beautiful eyes of yours again."

"Gosh, I think your eyes are beautiful too," Spike smiled.

"Oh flatterer," Rarity giggled, before she pulled the boy into a loving embrace, "Always the charming, courageous, and noble prince you are."

"Well you're one to talk," Spike grinned. "You're talking like I'm Prince Charming or something."

Rarity giggled, "Well, prince or no prince, you'll always be my hero."


Lastly, to put an end to their dates, Spike and the girls all shared some dances together


"Uh huh," Pinkie sang. "Show me what you got now, come on make it worth my while."

"No need to worry sugarcube," she said sweetly, before she spins Spike. "Honestly,you're making me want to dancewith you even more."

"Oh it's absolutely marvelous darling," Rarity sighed lovingly. "It's just as I've always dreamed of for ten years."

Spike smiled, "Well, I'm glad I could make your dream a reality."

"Oh darling," Rarity smiled as she pulled Spike into a hug, whispering in his ear, "You'remydream, Spikey- Wikey." She shed a small tear of joy when she said it.

Rainbow started showing off some breakdance, as she did the windmill, a headspin, a baby spin, and the jackhammer. She got up and pointed her fingers to Spike, beckoning the boy to show off his moves. Complying to the girl's command, Spike got down and did the baby spin, the windmill, a hand hop, and some flares.

"Let's tango," she said.

Getting the message, Spike and the formerly shy girl both begin their dance, linking their hands together and did a few tap steps. Spike spins Fluttershy around, before the girl got behind the boy, and took his hand when she got to the other side. Spike spun Fluttershy around for a while, before doing a dip. Fluttershy stood up and both she and Spike spun each other around, before they ended their dance with another dip.

"Having fun, chiquita?" Spike joked.

Fluttershy giggled, "Definitely."

Rainbow clapped her hands as she walked over to the two, until the three looked to see Twilight, on all fours, kicking and thrusting her arms and legs out. Spike looked at the two girls, who could only shrug in response. Looking around to see the stares Twilight was receiving from the bystanders, Spike couldn't let Twilight have the kind of attentions alone. Without a second thought, Spike got on all four as he joined in with Twilight, followed by Rainbow and Fluttershy. Twilight looked and smiled to see her three closest friends dancing to her pony dance. Twilight looked to her side, seeing Spike, awkwardly kicking and punching his arms and legs out. The sight of this brought back some memories as the girl envisioned a younger Spike, dancing with her at a party once.

Later, after that, the terrorists attacked and put an end to it all. Nevertheless, Spike was glad he and the girls got out alive.

'Too bad for those terror-rats, they messed with the wrong dragon,' Spike thought. '...The....wrong....dragon. Huh, maybe it's good that I was blessed with the Dragonfire.'

Spike was too caught up in his memories, that he didn't look to see he was walking into a Victoria Secret store.


*Cartoon banana slip SFX*


"WHOA!!" Spike yelped.


*CRASH*


Spike makes a hasty retreat, after he accidentally bumped into one of the fashion mannequin, "Sorry! I'll pay for the damage later! Thank you!" He said, panicking, and bumped into someone, or two.

"Sorry!" Spike groaned, getting up to see that he had bumped into Snips and Snails. "Oh, hey guys."

"Hey Spike," Snips groaned, as he and Snails got up, shaking their dazes off. "Watch where you're going next time!"

"Yeah, and again, I'm sorry," Spike apologized again.

"Though, where's the fire?" Snails asked. "You looked like you were running for your life, or something."

Spike chuckled, while pulling his collar, "I, uh, may have zoned out, and had a crash course field test, with Victoria over there," He sweated, while pointing the said store.

"Oh," The boys said together. "Guess that explains why our show just got canceled too soon," Snips grumbled.

"I know, I-Wait, what was that?!" Spike demanded, looking at the boys, suspiciously.

"We had planted remote control car in their, with a built-in camera, to get an inside look at all the smoking hot babes in there, when you came and crushed it!" Snips answered, while Spike pieced together on how he slipped and crashed into the mannequin in the first place. "Do you know how much money we paid for that thing?!"

Spike, shaking his head, looked at the two boys with a disapproving glare, "Do you guys know it's not nice to peep on girls like that?" He berated. "Show some respect for them! There's a thing called privacy, y'know!"

"Hey, we live in a free country," Snips retorted. "We should be free to do whatever we want."

"Yeah, so stop putting the rain on our parades, eh?" Snails added. "You’re not our dads!"

Not bothering wasting anymore times with the two jokers, Spike rolled his eyes and was on his way.

Just then, a girl carrying some heavy shoppings came passing by, when she suddenly tripped, screaming as she fell to the floor.

Reacting fast, Spike became a blur of purple and green, as he quickly caught her in time, as well as some of her shopping bags.

"Whoa, are you okay there?" He asked the girl.

"I am now," The girl looked up, revealing herself to be Coco Pommel, who was just as surprised as Spike. "Oh, hi Spike!"

"Hey Coco," Spike returned the greeting, as he hands the girl her bags back. "Here."

"Thanks," The girl smiled gratefully.

Snips and Snails, meanwhile, where aghast, as well as envy at what they just saw, "You saw that?!" Snips asked.

"How's that possible?" Snails asked. "Nobody can run that fast! Can they?" Snips shrugged, as they watch Spike conversing with Coco.

"Here, let me take half of these loads off for you," Spike suggested, as he took some bags off of Coco, making it easier for the girl to carry.

"Thanks, Spike," Coco smiled. "You know, you're really such a nice guy." She complimented, as they walked away.

"And proud of it," Spike added, resulting the two to laugh, as they were on their way.

Just then, Snips and Snails came in front, stopping the two, "Hey! We're nice guys too!" Snips smiled. "We can help with your loads!" With that, both boys quickly made a grab for some of Coco's bags, to which Coco pulled back, while hiding behind Spike for protection.

"Um, no thank you," Coco frowned uneasily at the two boys, before she noticed something. "Hey, wait a minute! Do I know you boys?"

Snips and Snails both broke out into sweats, while scratching the back of their heads, "Um, have we met?" Snails smiled, sheepishly.

"Can't say we have," Coco replied. "Though you boys do look like a couple of peeping toms who once peeped in on me and my classmates at Crystal Prep."

'A Crystal Prep girl?!' The two jokers thought in panic. 'Uh oh!'

Wanting to get out of the awkward situation, Spike quickly spoke up, "Oh, hi Professor Flintheart!"

"AAAAHH!!!" With that, Snips and Snails all went in a blind panic, and they, cartoonishly, jumped into a trashcan for cover.

Spike and Coco couldn't help but laugh at the scene, before they were on their way, having a friendly conversation while they're at it.





Equestria


At the Friendship Castle, Twilight was in the library, reading a book in content, a little. All the same, she couldn't help but feel rather lonesome, and longing for Spike's company.

"Give him time, Twilight," She said to herself. "Spike needs his space. After all, it's not like you've never done it before." Twilight recalled the last ten years she and the girls have had, without Spike. "Then again, it's not that we've ever enjoyed those moments without him."

As she said that, Twilight remembered a time when she and her girl friends went to Canterlot, to celebrate Twilight's birthday. They went there, mostly because Rarity was there, and they didn't want their fashionista friend to miss out on it. During the party, Twilight remembered how happy she was when she was swept away in the festivity, before she saw a portrait of Spike in the ballroom, causing her happy demeanor to come to an immediate cease.

"Oh Spike," Twilight sighed, as a small tear trickled from her eyes. "If only you had been there, everything would be so different," Twilight slumped into her furniture, when all of a sudden, a knock broke the silence. "Spike?!" Twilight asked, with a newfound hope, as she races to the door, and opens it up.

However, much to her disappointment, it was only Rainbow Dash and Applejack, "Hey Twilight!" Rainbow greeted, as she and Applejack galloped to the Map Room.

"Map called us," Applejack answered to Twilight. "So, where to?"

Twilight looked at the map, seeing Rainbow and Applejack's cutie marks, floating above a specific spot on the map, "Looks like it's in Appleloosa!" Twilight deduced.

The two chosen mares looked at each other, "Ya think there's another problem between my family and the buffalos again?" Applejack asked.

"We'll see when we get there," Rainbow replied. "Besides, it'd be great to see Little Strongheart again."

"Yeah, sure, do that," Twilight sighed.

Both Rainbow and Applejack looked to each other, before Applejack was the first to ask, "Are you okay there, Sugarcube? You look a little, down in the mouth."

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine," Twilight smiled, trying and failing to lighten the mood. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Both Rainbow and Applejack, were not buying it, "You don't sound like you're fine," Rainbow spoke. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

Twilight shook her head as she made her way to the exit, "I'm just....just...I just want to be alone for now," Twilight said sadly, as she left the room, leaving a concerned Applejack and Rainbow Dash.





New York


"How they cling to you like fleas to a dog," Fear's words echoed in Spike's head.

"Spike?" Coco spoke, breaking Spike out of his trance. "Are you alright? You zoned out for a minute there."

"Uh, I'm fine," Spike replied. "Just a lot on my mind, that's all."

"...If you say so," Coco replied, though she was finding it hard to believe.

After some times walking, Spike and Coco arrived at the girl's apartment, where they unloaded her shopping bags.

"Well, I’m going to Mario’s. Have a nice day, Coco!” Spike called, as he took his leave.

"Wait, Spike!" Coco called, stopping the boy.

"Yes, Coco?"

Coco looked hesitant, before she walked up to Spike, and gave a quick peck on the cheek, “Thank you,” She smiled, before she closed the door, leaving Spike, eyes radiating a cyan aura, standing in the hall, stunned.

Spike placed his hand, over where Coco had kissed him, and smiled, before he took his leave.

Though, all the same, he couldn’t stop thinking about the times he received a kiss from the girls, on the cheeks, during his first days of dragon training.

Spike smiled, as he thought how the girls each expressed their love for him.

"Let me ask you something 'Dragon Prince.' Have you ever thought what your life would have been like without the Dragonfire?"

Spike paused for a moment, recalling Fear's words. Soon, he had a look of doubts, once more.

'Those kisses,' He asked himself. 'Where they really out of love? Or were they just because of my powers?' Shaking his head, Spike was on his way.

Once back home, he changed into his work uniform. While doing so, Spike couldn’t help but feel some sort of disturbance.

Turning to Peewee, Spike asked, “You ever get that funny feeling someone is calling out to me?”

In response, Peewee squawks, while shrugging his wings.

Shaking the feeling to the side, Spike walked out the door, “Bye Peewee!” He said, before he closed the door.





Equestria


Twilight was looking over a long scroll, as she levitates a quill to write some important responses, together with her signature.

After she got the paperworks done, Twilight walked back to her room, and slumped in her bed.

‘It sure is kinda quiet here, without Spike,’ She thought sadly.

Suddenly, her ears perked up when she hears the sound of a portal to Earth, being activated in her castle.

Sometimes before, Twilight was able to construct a teleportation device, with a mix of magic and technology, to seize control and create another doorway between Earth and Equestria. That way, any friendly visitors won’t end up at the top of a mountain, upon first entry. Furthermore, as a safety precaution, a spell was cast so that anyone with some forms of clearance can gain acess.

Twilight was racing down to the portal's gate, in the form of a huge mirror, hoping to see Spike coming through. However, much to her disappointment, it was only the Knights.

"Oh, hey boys," Twilight frowned glumly.

"Hey Twilight," Button replied, as he and the boys set down the boxes of books on the floor. "Brought some more books you might like to add to the library."

“Oh, thanks,” For the first time in her life, Twilight was less cheerful at the sight of new books.

The Knights looked at each other, before Rumble was the first to ask, “Is everything okay, Twi?” Rumble asked.

"Oh yeah, everything's fine," Twilight replied, rolling her eyes. "What makes you think everything's not fine?"

"Well for one," Button began. "You're answering us in a grumpy, angry kind of way. Like something's eating you."

"Oh, nothing's eating me, trust me boys!" Twilight grumbled. "In fact, the fact that I'm alone in this big castle, means I'm scarcely being eaten!"





New York City 


Spike was at Mario’s, bringing the costumers’ pizzas to their tables, together with some spaghetti, lasagna, and other Italian delicacy.

Just then, Mario came and showed some customers to their table, before he left.

“Spike?!” A voice shouted, followed by some others.

Looking up, Spike was greeted by the Crystal Prep Shadows, sitting in a table, “Oh, hiya girls,” Spike returned the greetings.

“Wow! You work here?” Lemon asked excitedly. “That is totally rad!”

“Y’know, he’s wearing this restaurant’s staff uniform. So there’s absolutely no need to ask the question in the first place,” Sugarcoat said, bluntly.

A busboy came to give the girls, each a cup of water, when Spike took notice of the state the girls were in, “I don’t mean to stare or anything,” He began. “But you girls looked as if you’ve just got back from a battle, or something.” He referred, to the amount of dirt, smudges, and bruises, on their sports uniforms.

“Heh, you could say that,” Indigo smirked proudly. “Soccer game with your team: the Wondercolts! We totally dominated those losers!”

“Indigo!” Sunny Flare berated. “Watch your tongue! Don’t forget who the Wondercolts represent!” She gestured to an unamused Spike.

“Anyways,” Spike began, taking his notepad out. “What can I get you girls today?”

“We’d like to have a pizza, half-meat and half-vegetable, please,” Sour ordered. “But if it’s alright, can you add some more sauce for the meat half? And less cheese on the vegetable half?”

Spike wrote down the order, before he spoke, “Coming right up.” With that, Spike left for the kitchen, while leaving the Crystal Prep girls to discuss.

“Wow, who’d a thunk?” Lemon asked. “Spike works here, of all place?”

“It shouldn’t be a surprise since we did once had a princess in disguise attending at our school, and worked part-time at a technician’s store,” Sugarcoat said, bluntly.

“We get that!” Sour grumbled. “We’re not that stupid!” She muttered.

“Still, it’s nice that we got to see him today,” Sunny added. “Though, I wonder if he’s doing anything later tonight?”

The other girls looked at Sunny suspiciously, “And just why do you ask?” Sour asked, giving Sunny the stink eye.

“Why, dearie,” Sunny frowned, appalled at Sour’s question, as well as her attitude. “I’m simply expressing my interest on having an outing with Prince Spike. Is that so wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong with that,” Sour answered calmly. “Except that we still have community service,” She added, sadly.

The girls all exchanged solemn agreement, “We still have to clean up the messes we’ve made,” Indigo sighed. “And our crimes against Spike and the girls.”

“And Twilight,” Sunny added.

Meanwhile, while waiting for some of his other orders to be done, Spike finds himself in his thoughts on the Crystal Prep girls.

'Y'know,' He thought to himself. 'When they're not trying to kill me, or any of my friends, these girls are alright,' Looking to the side, while recalling Fear's question, Spike thought, 'Though, if I never had the Dragonfire, then odds are they won't have any reasons to hunt me, or anything.' As if he can sense their emotions, Spike easily picked up on their regrets and sadness, 'Wether they're sorry or not, it still doesn't change anything. Maybe when they're done with their community services, then I guess we can hang.'

At last, the cooks in the kitchen have finished making the costumers' orders, in which Spike didn't hesitate to deliver.

"Enjoy your meal," Spike said, as he delivered the Crystal Prep girls their pizza.

"Thanks, Spike," The girls said together.

Spike was about to return to the kitchen, when Sour stopped him, "Hey, Spike?"

"Yes?" Spike asked, turning back to see Sour holding out a five dollar bill. "Uh, Sour?"

"I just thought I should give you a tip, Spike," Sour explained. "Y'know, as a way to say thank you for your service, and many more," She said quietly at the last part.

Spike waved his hand, modestly dismissing the tip the girl was offering him, "No, Sour ya don't have to."

"But I insist," Sour replied.

"Really, that's kinda too much of a tip."

"Take it, or I'll take your life!" Sour threatened, before she covered her mouth, realizing what she just said.

"You do realize we're in public, right?" Sugar asked rhetorically, while Sour covered her face, feeling ashamed of herself.

Sunny then spoke up, on Sour's behalf, "But please, dearie. Take it as a token of appreciation from all of us."

"You sure?" Spike asked.

"Totally," Lemon replied.

"Though, if it pleases you, then we'll all give you our own five dollar tips to go with Sour's," Indigo said, as she and the others all presented their own money tips.

Seeing as how the girls are serious about it, and that there's no talking them out of it, Spike reluctantly accepted the money.

'Wow, those girls are persistent,' Spike thought, before he recalls how Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were the same, when they were younger.

Just then, Mario and Luigi both came out, playing an accordion and mandolin respectively, singing a lovely song as entertainment for all the patrons in the restaurant.


Bella Notte - Ladys and the Tramp





As Mario and Luigi sang the song, Spike looked around the room, to see all the loving couples, enjoying their dinner, by the cacdlights. He couldn’t help but think fondly of the girls, back in Equestria, as well as a few, on Earth, with him.

From their table, the Crystal Prep Girls all saw the look on Spike's face, "He's got that look," Sunny spoke.

"So? He's a boy," Sugarcoat said bluntly. "All boys are bound to have that look, whenever it's a girl they're thinking about. Unless they're gay, then it's the other way around."

Sunny looked at Sugar, slightly annoyed, "Thank you for that long winded analysis of yours, Sugar. But still dearies, I just can't help but wish it could've been us whom he's thinking about."

"Oh yeah, right," Indigo rolled her eyes. "I can just say his mind. The girls he knew since childhood, before he lost his memories, including Twilight. And the other girls, namely us, who tried to kill him one time too many."

"We only tried to kill him twice," Sugarcoat pointed. "Once in Times Square, and the other in Battery Park."

"Whatever," Indigo sighed.

"Besides, I don't blame him if he doesn't want anything to do with us," Sour said quietly, stroking her hair, as a tear escaped her eye, still regretting for the way she acted towards Spike.





Equestria


Later that night, in Ponyville, Twilight was in the reading room, sitting on the couch, while looking through a photo album of her times with Spike, in Canterlot, when they were just kids.

Twilight smiled as she looked at a clip of the Canterlot Gazette newspaper, with a picture of herself and Spike, covered in pink slimes, with the article reading: "Science Lab Accident Results in Pink Yummy Slime Explosion - Caused by Twilight Sparkle and Prince Spike Draco."

Twilight smiled fondly, remembering how both she and Spike had to spend about a week to clean their mess up.

She turned the next page, to show a picture of the two, pulling a fun prank on Prince Blueblood, which involves the typical snake in a jar, courtesy of Pinkie Pie. Another was a photo of herself and Spike, playing with Princess Cadence, at the playground, building sand castles, playing balls, and other fun stuff as children.

However, upon turning the next page, Twilight's smile instantly disappeared. It was a picture of Spike, lying in bed, unconscious, with his head wrapped in bandages, with a few more wrappings on certain places on his arms. In the next photo, was a picture of Spike being carried off to Earth, with Scorpan, through a portal.

Another photo showed Twilight and her fellow Element Bearers, plus Sunset Shimmer, and her friends in Canterlot, having a birthday party for Twilight, few months after Spike's departure to Earth. Twilight felt a mixture of joy and sadness, upon looking at the photo. Mainly, because she and everyone were having a good time, but at the same time, saddened that Spike wasn't included.

Twilight even teared up more, as she recalls receiving the present that Spike was going to give her, in person. It was a new copy of the "Astronomical Astronomer's Almanac to All Things Astronomy" book. Prior to the tragedy, Spike had accidentally sneezed real fire which burned the book up, and Twilight was greatly disappointed. Following that incident, Spike had gone through some troubles to find another copy of the book for her next birthday.

Twilight rubbed her eyes with her hoof, as she turned a few more pages, depicting photos of herself and her friends, with Spike missing.

"Oh, Spike," Twilight sobbed, wishing she had her number one assistant, with her right now for comfort.

"Who," A voice spoke up, startling Twilight.

Twilight turned her head, to see it was her pet owl, Owlowiscious, "Oh, hi Owlowiscious," Twilight sobbed, while trying to wipe her tears away.

Seeing how sad the alicorn is, the kind owl leapt off from his perch, and hopped over to Twilight, and nuzzled his cheek close to Twilight's, which Twilight accepted.

"Thank you," Twilight said. "Hey Owlowisicious? Mind if I vent for a moment?"

"Who," The owl hooted, as if to say, "I'm all ears."

Taking a deep breath, Twilight began, "I know I've said it many times before, but I just can't help it. I really like Spike. Even more as a brother. I mean, it's kinda crazy, how back when we were kids, I looked at him as if he was a little brother I've never had before. But now, I've got this feeling that's just driving me crazy! I just can't make up my mind! And now, with him on Earth, it's like he's going away again, for a really long time!"

"Who, who."

Twilight sighed, "I know, I know. He's not really going away again for another ten years. He needs some time to himself. But still, it just feels like he's gone again. I don't mean to sound selfish, but I just wanted him to stay here in Equestria, always, and never leave for Earth again."

"Who, who." Owlowiscious flapped his wings, as he guided Twilight to the mirror. Twilight looked as the owl nudged his head toward the glass, as if ushering Twilight to go to him.

"Oh no," Twilight replied. "I couldn't, I mean, I don't want to intrude on him, or anything," Looking back up, Twilight could see the owl was still insisting on Twilight to go. "Well, I guess I can go and pay him a little visit," She said, earning a hoot of agreement, from the owl. "Sure, what are friends for?" With that, Twilight galloped into the portal, and finds herself falling through a long wormhole of multicolors.





New York || Central Park


After making his last pizza deliveries for the day, Spike's shift came to an end, and he was allowed to have the rest of the evening to himself. The boy finds a lone bench, where he slumped down, still feeling troubled.

"Face it 'Dragon Prince.' The worlds are better off without dragons, without the Dragonfire, and without you."

Spike sighed, "And yet, here I am," He muttered. "Chosen to wield the Dragonfire, abandoned by my birth parents, and taken away to a world of magics where I got struck by lightning that nearly killed me." Spike looked around him, seeing a few people enjoying the evening, with their loved ones, 'I wonder what would happen if I never had the Dragonfire?' He thought.

"Psst!" A voice called. "Hey! Psst!"

Spike looked around, "Who said that?"

"Me! Over here!" The voice spoke, from the bush. Spike got up from the bench, as he carefully walked over to the bush to investigate. Before long, he was greeted by a familiar pair of bug eyes, "Hey Spike! Haven't forgotten about me, have ya?" Thorax greeted, while revealing his face, partially.

"Oh, hey Thorax," Spike greeted.

"What's up man?" Thor asked. "Ya looked kinda sad."

"It's nothing," Spike replied.

"Well, if it bothers you, then it's clearly something," Thorax countered. "C'mon, Spike. Ya can tell me. What's bugging ya?...Uh, no pun intended." Thorax said sheepishly.

Hesitant at first, Spike was about to explain, "Well....."

"Um, Spike?" A quiet voice spoke, which startled Spike.

"BWAH!!" He yelped, before he got a good look at the source. "Oh, Coco. It's you," He breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry," Coco apologized. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"Hey Coco!" Thorax greeted.

"Oh, hi Thorax," Coco returned the greeting. "I didn't see you there."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," the Changeling replied.

"You two know each other?" Spike asked.

"Yup!" Thorax replied. "During your fight with the Diamond Dogs, we both got the chance to know each other, before I had to deliver your pizza," He explained. "Since then, we've been sharing teas together. She's quite the host you know," Thorax smiled.

"And for a changeling, you're welcome to be my guest," Coco smiled.

"Even more hospitable than moi?" Another voice asked. “The Great and Powerful Trixie!!” The magician girl exclaimed, before she appeared in a burst of fireworks.

Spike and Coco both fell on each other, as they were taken by surprise. Even Thorax, who was so frightened, he quickly changed out of his bush disguise.

"Trixie?!" The friends exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

With a smug grin, Trixie pulled out her wand, as she changed an apple into a teacup, "I often seek the privacy of the secluded parts of Central Park, to practice new feats of amazement. Also, I wanted to get away from Discord," She grumbled at the last part.

"Lemme guess," Thorax began. "Another cotton candy blast?"

"No. Worse than that!" Trixie fumed.





Flashback


Discord had kidnapped Trixie, and strapped her on a wheel, and made a sparta remix out of it.





"I'm stuck in a chimney!" Some random dude shouted.





Present


"The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't trust wheels!" Trixie pouted.

"Anyway, what troubles you, Spike?" Thorax asked, wanting to get back on topic.

"It's kinda a long story," Spike warned.

"That's okay," Trixie said. "The Great and Powerful Trixie's got all the time in the world."

"What she said," Coco added.

"So come on man, tell us," Thorax insisted.

With that, Spike recalled the fear plague, courtesy of Fear Haunter, and the things Fear had said that continued to haunt him.

"So that's what's been going on," Spike concluded. His friends all looked at him with shock.

"You don't believe all that, do you?" Thorax asked.

"I don't want to," Spike replied. "But sometimes, I wonder if he actually meant it. What if everyone really do think of me that way?"

"That's absurd!" Trixie frowned. "That Fear Haunter is absurd!"

"Agreed!" Coco added. "Why would we have any reason to be afraid of you? After all you've done for us?"

"That's just it," Spike replied. "That was before. But what happens later? What happens when I become too powerful? When I start to lose control of my powers? It's a common fact, isn't it? How dragons are known for their fiery tempers?" Spike sighed, as he slumps back into his seat. "Sometimes, I think it's better for everyone that I'm left alone, or gone for good."

The friends were shocked to hear what Spike just said, "But we don't want you to go away!" Coco said. "We need you! We loved you!"

"She's right, Spike," Thorax added. "Equestria needs its heroes. And its heroes needed the Dragon Prince."

"And the Dragon Prince, needs us to support him, every steps of the way!" Trixie spoke, with the others exchanging agreements.

"But what happens if something bad happens? And it's all my fault?" Spike asked.

"That will never happen," Coco replied.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we know you, Spike. And we know you would never let anything happen to us." Coco smiled, with the others nodding in agreement. “And it’s not the Dragonfire that makes you special, Spike.” Coco explained. “It’s you.”

"Agreed!" Trixie smiled. "Dragonfire, or not. It doesn't change a thing about you, Spike! You're a really good boy! From what Twilight and the others have talked about you, you've done lots of good deeds for every pony and creatures back in Equestria!"

"And in doing so, you've gained a lot of love, because you're a friend to every pony and creatures!" Thorax said. "Any changelings would be willing to go out their days, being in your shoes, just to have a taste for all that love!" The other girls all voiced their agreements with the changeling.

Spike looked to his friends, before he asked, “Still, why did mom and dad left me? My actual parents? Do you have any answers for that?” In response, the three friends were all left speechless, unsure on how they can answer that question. "Just what I thought," Spike sighed, as he got up, and took his leave.

"Wait a minute!" Thorax exclaimed, getting in front of Spike. "Look, Spike! I don't know why your parents left you, or why they didn't want you. But that doesn't matter. Because now you've got an actual family! You've got a loving mother, don't you?! And an uncle, and...brothers!"

"Brothers?" Spike asked.

"Yeah! Brothers! You know, the guys? Button Mash, Rumble, Tenders, Pip, and Feathers? Oh, and what about me and Discord? We're brothers, aren't we?"

Spike thought on what Thorax had said, "Yeah, I guess," He replied.

"You guessed?" Thorax repeated.

"Don't get me wrong, Thor. I like you, and everyone else. You're right. You guys are like family. But still, I just got to know my actual family. Who am I? Where did I come from?" Spike said, as he took his leave, while leaving his saddened friends behind.





New York || Celestial High School


"Oh! Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed. "Princess Luna! What a surprise!"

"Indeed it is, Twilight," Princess Luna replied.

In appearance, both Princess Celestia and Luna have taken the form as full grown women. Celestia's long hair appears the same, except that it's no longer flowing as it is, when she's in her true form. Luna's hair, continues to remain a short light blue. For attires, they are both dressed in long dresses, of white and black, respectively.

"I presume you're here for the same reason as we are?" Celestia asked.

Knowing what her mentor was getting at, Twilight looked up, "How'd you know?"

"I'm a mother, I know everything," Celestia looked up in the night sky, while searching for the building where her son resides. "Especially when something troubles my boy."

"I can sense it, within him," Luna spoke. "Even though the battle is yours, the scars that Fear had inflicted upon dear nephew continues to fester and poison inside him. If we don't act soon, it could-" Luna stopped mid sentence, as she felt a burning sensation in her mind, and her cutie mark started to glow, on her forehead.

"Princess Luna?" Twilight asked, before the same thing began to occur, with Princess Celestia.

"It's happening again!" Luna groaned.

"Oh no," Twilight muttered, looking concerned.
> Fear Within Part 3: Exit the Fear. Enter the Family and Friendship
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Exige - Pompeii x Our Story x Circles (Mashup)]


After taking a quick shower, and changed into his sleepwear, Spike jumped into bed and drifted off to sleep, and finds himself floating over New York City, on a starry night sky.

“Where am I?” He asked himself. “How did I get up here?”

Then, as if answering his question, a door suddenly appeared, before it magically opens up, revealing a memory before him.

Spike looked, and could see his younger self, running and playing with the Mane Six, in Ponyville.

The little fillies and boy were playing a ball game, which they were kicking, catching, and passing to each other.

Younger Spike was making catches with his hands and feet. Pinkie, being Pinkie Pie, cleverly caught the ball with her mane. Fluttershy, surprisingly and skillfully, caught the ball with her tail.

"Great save, Fluttershy!" A young Applejack complimented her, before Fluttershy returned the ball, which Applejack kicked it away.

"Coming your way, Pinkie!" Rainbow shouted, as she hits the ball toward the pink pony.

"Somersault kick!" Pinkie cheered, kicking the ball, towards Spike.

"Flying Crane Kick!" Spike yelled, as he excitedly jumped in the air, and kicked the ball.

Older Spike couldn't help but smile in nostalgia, seeing the memory playing out to him, 'I can't believe I'd forget something like this,' He thought.

Soon, a young Rainbow Dash came down, before Spike, on a puff of cloud, "Hey, Spike!" She began excitedly. "Ya up for some cloud surfing? Race ya to that mountain and back again!"

"You're on!" Spike accepted the challenge, as he dragons up, and got a cloud of his own, and together, he and Rainbow Dash were flying through the air, attempting to get past the other.

"Hey Spike! Check this out!" Rainbow called, as she began to do a kickflip on her cloud, followed by an ollie, and heel flip.

"Not bad," Spike complimented. "But not good enough!" With that, Spike repeated Rainbow's tricks, while adding in a varial heel flip, and a 180 spin.

The two flyers were so busy showing off their own flying tricks, they weren't looking where they were going, and crashed into some snowbanks at the top of the mountain. Spike poked his head out of the snow, followed by Rainbow Dash, looking at each other, and shared some laughs.

Soon, the two flew back to Ponyville, to meet up with the others, watching the sun set, over the horizon.

"Girls," Spike spoke, as enjoyed the sunset with the fillies. "This day has been amazing."

"Darn tootin," Applejack said in agreement.

"It was a lot of fun with you, Spike!" Pinkie smiled.

"Definitely!" Fluttershy agreed.

"I just wished this day would never end," Twilight sighed.

"Well, unless you can make time stand still, Twilight," Spike began, "I'm okay with playing you and the girls forever, and ever," He joked. "Then again, that would mean no more birthdays."

"Wow, you're right, Spike!" Pinkie chirped. "And that would mean, no more parties! That would be a nightmare!"

"I didn't mean it like that," Twilight replied.

Spike and Pinke couldn't help but laugh, "Relax, Twilight. We're just joking," Pinkie giggled.

"What she said," Spike added, before his ears perked up to the sound of Princess Celestia calling for him. "Oh, my mom's calling!"

"Wow, Spike," Applejack said, greatly impressed. "Ya can hear Princess Celestia's call before she can hear herself."

"It's a gift," Spike smiled, as he got up, with Twilight joining. "Well, gotta go," However, the sad looks on the rest of the girls' faces were enough to stop him. "Hey, what's the matter?"

"Must you really go?" Pinkie whimpered, with her mane deflating.

"Sorry Pinkie, but ya know moms," Spike replied, with Twilight nodding her head. "And trust me, ya don't want to keep her waiting. She's scary when I'm late for dinner," He shuddered, while older Spike looked puzzled.

"Plus, we've got a test to study for," Twilight added.

"Oh, but you'll come back soon, won't you?" Fluttershy asked, hopefully.

"Of course we will," Spike replied. "We'll always be together."

"Pinkie promise?" Pinkie asked.

"Pinkie promise," Spike and Twilight replied. "Cross our heart, hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in our eye." With a smile, the Ponyville girls all crowded around Spike and Twilight, giving them both a loving hug.

Older Spike smiled lovingly at the scene, before the whole thing changed, as it now shows the girls, having grown up, and enjoying a nice day out for picnic.

All was going fine, when the faint sound of sobbing was heard. The girls all turned, to see Twilight, rubbing her eyes, with tears running out.

"Twilight?" Rarity was the first to ask. "Darling, is everything alright? You've hardly touched your daffodil daisy sandwich."

Twilight turned to face the girls, opening her eyes to reveal how red they've become, "It's that cloud," Twilight pointed, to a cloud shaped like a dragon. "It reminded me of Spike."

The girls all looked at the cloud, and sure enough, they pictured Spike, as the young dragon they last saw him as, before he left them.

"Oh, Spike," Fluttershy whimpered.

"My darling, Spike," Rarity frowned.

Rainbow walked over, and placed a comforting wing on Twilight's shoulder, "I'm sorry we made the cloud look too Spike-ish," She apologized, on behalf of herself and her weather pegasi team.

"It's okay, Dash," Twilight sobbed. "I'd like it if you can keep it that way, for now, please."

"Though, could you maybe take out the cloud next to him?" Pinkie asked. "Cause it kinda looked like a bolt of lighting hitting him in the head."

"PINKIE!!!!" The other girls, except Twilight, yelled.

Realizing what she just said, Pinkie covered her mouth, "Oops! Sorry," She apologized.

Wanting to comfort their friend, Applejack walked over, and gently stroke Twilight's back, "We all miss him, Sugarcube," Applejack said. "But I know, he's really means all that much to ya."

Twilight looked at Applejack and nodded, "Yes, he is," She sobbed. "Spike's the one who got me into friendship in the first place," Twilight frowned. "Even though I had Cadence and Shining, it just wasn't the same. Because without Spike, I never would've done anything spectacular, like see the world, or look for a new perspective, or even meet you girls."

The girls all nodded in understanding, while older Spike continues to listen with intent. Next they knew, Twilight broke out singing.


[BBBFF]



"When I was just a filly, I found it rather silly"

"To see how many other ponies I could meet"

"I had my books to read, didn't know that I would ever need"

"Other ponies to make my life complete"

"But there was one boy that I cared for"

"I knew he would be there for me"

"My number one assistant, best friend forever!"

"Like two peas in a pod, we did everything together"

"He showed me the world on a magic cloud ride (Best friend forever!)"

"We never had a single fight (We did everything together!)"

"We shared our hopes, we shared our dreams"

"I miss him more than I realized"

"It seems..."

[Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity]
"Your number one assistant, best friend forever"

"Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together"

[Twilight Sparkle]
"And though he's, oh, so far away"

"I hoped that he would stay"

"My number one assistant, best friend"

"Forever..."

"Forever..."

Twilight stopped for a moment, choking back on some tears. She then projected several magical projections of herself and Spike, playing

“He was my number one assistant, best friend forever,” Twilight sang, before the dragon got struck by lightning, causing it to disappear into sparkles, leaving the unicorn apparition alone. “And now, he's gone from Equestria, forever.”


When Twilight sang the last lyrics, the girls all crowded around and shed tears.

“Oh, you poor thing!” Fluttershy sobbed.

Applejack hides her face, behind her hat, while Rarity teared up, "I can't bear to see Fluttershy cry!"

Even Rainbow Dash couldn't hold back some tears, “Darn it! Now you've got me all sappy!!!” Rainbow cried with what’s left of her pride.

Pinkie Pie pulled out a picture of Spike, with her colors turning dull, and her mane deflating, as she hugged the picture and cried, "Why? Why? WHYYYYYYY?!!!!!"

Older Spike felt a throbbing pain in his chest, and he couldn't help but let a single tear escape from his eyes. Though he knew it would be in vain, Spike still walked over and tried to hug the girls, but couldn't.


[Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - Illusion by Vnv nation]


The scene shifted to show some moments where the girls were trying to go about their daily lives, while trying, and failing, to not think too much about Spike.





Pinkie Pie


Pinkie Pie was trying to make some new recipes. But no matter how hard Pinkie tried to bake, all she managed was something purple and green. Pinkie frowned, as she simply discarded the recipe and started another one, which only came out like the last.

Pinkie sighed, "Spike's going to have birthday parties on Earth," Pinkie began to tear up, as she slumped her head into the batter. "And he won't remember me, because I didn't host any of them!" With her mane flattened, and her colors dull, Pinkie cried into the batter.





Rarity


Rarity was busy sowing and knitting some new dresses. However, her mind suddenly started to wander, as she turned to her glass slipper, together with the fire ruby Spike had given her. Rarity frowned sadly, as she walked over to the two prized objects.

“Idea~!” Rarity sang, as she quickly got to work, knitting and sewing a vibrant purple and hot pink cape, that went well together with a gold choker, embedded with the fire ruby. “Yes, so fabulous!” Rarity mused herself, before turning to a mannequin, wearing Spike’s old cape, in its youth.

With a giggle, Rarity dons herself up in her new cape, while levitating the mannequin with Spike's cape over, “Why hello, Spikey-Wikey! I’m so happy to see you again!” She talked to the mannequin. "Oh, why thank you darling. It is simply marvelous, isn't it? It goes well with the fire ruby you gave me, and this glass slipper you've found for me." Still in her magic aura, Rarity made the mannequin move about, "Oh, but of course. I'd love to dance with you, my prince."

With that, Rarity held the mannequin close, in her hooves, waltzing around the room, twirling, and gliding across the floor, in a slow dance. Older Spike shook his head, still smiling at the scene being played out. Deciding to have some fun, he walked up to Rarity's younger self and asked, "Might I cut in?" He asked, before he danced with Rarity, in place of the mannequin.

Though it's not for real, Spike at least wanted to have dance with Rarity. Especially since he hasn't danced with the unicorn girl a lot, as of late.

Though he had a few stumbles, and trips, Spike was enjoying himself, dancing with Rarity, even though he's technically a ghost in the past.

However, the tender moment didn't last long, as Rarity attempted to do a dip with the mannequin, in which she lost her balance, and fell to the floor. Spike, not being there physically, failed to save her fall.

"Ow, oh!" Rarity groaned, before she looked sadly at the mannequin. “Oh who am I kidding?” Rarity cried. “It’s still not Spikey-Wikey!” Tossing the dummy to the side, Rarity cried her tears into her bed sheet, sobbing, “Spike! Spike! Where for art thou, Spikey-Wikey?!”

Spike sat on the bed, and stroke Rarity's back in vain. Then, the whole scene changed once more.





Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy


Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were seen, sitting on the mountain top, with the alicorn statue, looking at clouds.

"Sure is a nice day today," Fluttershy said in relief.

"The weather pegasi really did their work," Rainbow sighed, before she looked back at the clouds. “Hey! Look at that one!” Rainbow pointed. “It looks kinda like a griffin!”

“Mmmhmm,” Fluttershy agreed. “Oh, how about that one? It looks like a bunny!” Fluttershy looked, before she spotted some more, “And that one looks like a dog!”

“And that one’s a fish!”

“That one is a turtle!”

“And that one looks like......Spike.” Rainbow frowned, as she and Fluttershy recalled the tragedy. "How long has it been?" She asked.

Fluttershy tapped her hoof several times, counting the number of days that have passed since Spike's departure.

"Never mind," Dash frowned. "Why did he have to go for so long?"

Fluttershy looked at Dash in sympathy, before she looked back up at the cloud that is in the shape of Spike. Flapping her wings over, Fluttershy spoke to the cloud, "Um, hello Spike. So nice to see you again."

Rainbow Dash looked up, as Fluttershy shook the cloud's "hand" as if she and Spike were exchanging hoof-hand shakes.

"Oh, thank you," Fluttershy said, as she stroked her mane. "I rinsed, lathered, and repeated." Rainbow Dash looked weirded out for a moment, before Fluttershy went and grabbed the cloud, stretching and folding the fluffy substance, into the shape of a dog. "Aw! You're even cuter than you were before!" Fluttershy grinned, as she spins around with the cloud dog, pretending it was Spike.

Spike couldn't help but cover his face, feeling the blush coming on, 'She really takes my shapeshifting ability for granted, doesn't she?' He thought.

Chuckling in amusement, Rainbow flapped her wings, “Hey Spike!” Rainbow greeted casually to the cloud. “Long time no see! How’ve you been? Done anything awesome and-AHHH!!!” The girls screamed, when a bolt of lightning came and blasted the clouds to pieces.

“Oops, my bad,” a gray Pegasus filly apologized, after jumping on a random thundercloud.

Rainbow looked at the remains of the cloud dragons, before the pipe broke, and Dash was wailing at the top of her lungs.

“Why?!” Dash sobbed hysterically. “He was too young and cool, to go out in style like that! Why did he have to get hit in the head by a dark lightning bolt?! There’s so much I wanted us to do together!! Now he’ll never see me become the Wonderbolt I’m meant to be!” With that, Rainbow Dash pulled Fluttershy close, wrapping the buttercup pegasus filly in an iron grip hug as she continues to bawl her eyes out.

Some random pegasi colts whispered, “And I thought Fluttershy was the big crybaby.”

“Oh, shut up!” Spike said to the colts.

"Oh, shut up!" Fluttershy said.





Applejack


Applejack was out bucking in the apple orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, when a young Apple Bloom came flying out of the trees, and landed a flying kick to a tree. The little filly winced, as she recoiled from the damage.

"Apple Bloom?!" Applejack exclaimed. "What in tarnation are ya doing?"

"Just trying to buck some apples," Apple Bloom replied.

"I know that Sugarcube," Applejack replied. "I meant, why were you bucking apples, like that?"

"Because I wanted to do it the way Spike did," Apple Bloom replied. "That and I was wondering what a karate cutie mark would look like."

Older Spike didn't notice it before, but little Apple Bloom in the past was simply a blank flank. She doesn't have a cutie mark.

Applejack sighed, "Look Sugarcube. I know you're trying to help and all, but I think it's best if you leave the whole 'karate' thing to Spike and to some older ponies. I don't want ya to get hurt."

"But Applejack-"

"No buts! I just don't want to lose you too." Applejack pulled her hat over her face, as she spoke, "Not after we lost ma, pa, and Spike." Applejack said tearfully, to which Apple Bloom looked in understanding, as she went over and hugged her sister in comfort.





Twilight Sparkle


Twilight woke up with a smile on her face, as she jumped out of bed, "Spike! Wake up! Wake.....up?" Twilight said quietly, losing her smile, upon noticing the small empty bed, besides hers. "Oh yeah," she remembered. "Spike's gone.....still," the unicorn's ears droop, as she walks over to a calendar, marks the day off.

Spike looked, and to him, it appeared as though half the calendar's days were all marked off.

Spike watched as young Twilight went through the rest of her day, in his mother's school for Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures. Though, like his adopted mother, Twilight appeared to be less enthusiastic about going through her day.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder, and Spike finds himself in a seemingly, endless dark void.


[Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice OST | Passarella Death Squad - Just Like Sleep]


"Go away, Fear," Spike scowled.

"Go away?" Fear cackled. "Get with the program. Fear can never go away. You can run, but you cannot hide from it. The truth is clear. Worlds don't need dragons, like you! Anyone who was close friends with you can say they loved you. They can say they trust you. But sooner or later, when something or someone is seen as too powerful, then they will be seen as a threat. Eventually, the world will become your enemy!"

Knowing it's another trick, Spike covered his ears, as he attempts to walk away. However, that didn't stop Fear, who remains undeterred.

"Your birth parents knew that from the start. In fact, they were wise to leave you for dead. From the moment they saw you, they-"

"That's not gonna work, Fear," Spike fumed, while feeling on the verge of going full dragon. "Even if they don't want me, at least I have a family, where I'm wanted."

"Oh do you?" Fear asked. "And will they still want you, if something bad happens to them?"

At that point, Spike wouldn't have any of it. Eyes blazing green, Spike shifted into his dragon form, as he attacks Fear, who disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Spike relentlessly breathed fire in every directions, before he was struck from the sides, by Fear.

"Did you honestly believed you stand a chance to defeat me?" Fear asked, as he continues to attack Spike, from the darkness. "Your friend Pip, was a much worthy adversary. He may be small, but I have to say, he was more than a little thorn in my side."

"Well that goes to show you big things come in small packages!" Spike spatted, before he heard an angry roar, and Demon Fear appeared before him.

"Pipsqueak is nothing but a little mouse, who got very lucky!" Raising his scythe, Fear slashed it at the Dragon Prince, who parried with his fire katana, followed by a burst of fire, which Fear was able to extinguish, with a blast of ice from his eyes. 

"Unlike Pip. You dragons continue to amuse me. Your anger is a boost for your fiery attacks! But once it burns out, so will you! And in that moment, you are vulnerable to be slain!"

Fear's words instantly struck Spike, as it sounded like the words his uncle had once taught him.

"Time to put you out of your misery, 'Dragon Prince'!" He said, as he splits up into a whole army of Demon Fears. With that, Fear and his clones all attacked Spike from every direction.

Spike lunged at one of the clones, but the demon manages to block him in time and counters the dragon with a good swipe from his scythe, knocking Spike off his feet and tearing off a good chunk of his chest plate in the process.

Before Spike has a chance to get up, another clone picks him up by the head and slams him to the ground, breaking one of the Dragon Prince's horns. Spike used one of his katanas to stab the demon's arm, causing him to scream in pain and let go of the dragon

Spike then flies up to the air to get some distance, but two of the clones slam into him. Both have an evil idea as they grabbed Spike's wings and tear them off, resulting in Spike screaming in pain as he hits the ground.

As Spike tries to get up, one of the clones rips Spike's cape off and burns it to ashes, all while the demon laughs. Enraged, Spike charged at the clone, only to get elbowed by another.

As the fight continued, Spike gets tossed around like a ragdoll and losing bits and pieces of his armor. Soon, all the multiples merged into one Demon Fear, who plunged his scythe, into Spike's chest. The young dragon instantly collapsed to the ground, as he felt his whole life-force leaving him. "It's done," Fear sneered, as he left the dragon to die.





[Past]


It was back when Spike was still a child. He had gotten into a lot of fights, and a lot of troubles with some of the bullies at school. In one of these fights, Spike attacked a bully, out of anger, after making the mistake of calling him, "Shorty."

Following this incident, Scorpan and Spike had a long talk, between uncle and nephew; teacher and student.

"The martial arts were meant to discipline you, Spike," Scorpan lectured. "They're only to teach you defense. Not for war, but to make peace, with your enemy."

"It's kinda hard to do that, since everyone are always making fun of me," Young Spike grumbled.

Scorpan looked at Spike, in disapproval, "And that, young man, is what makes you a tiger. Not a dragon."

Spike looked up at his uncle in confusion, "What do you mean, I'm only a tiger?"

Scorpan brought Spike to the center of the room, while showing Spike a ring he wore, with a tiger statue on one side, and a dragon's marking on the other.

Scorpan held his hand up, while showing the tiger on his ring, "The tiger does not think," He lectured. "Therefore it cannot act. It can only react and respond. The tiger is strong and fearless. But it cannot initiate action. That is the difference between man and tiger."

"The tiger is what I know, uncle."

Scorpan turned his hand, to show the dragon, "The dragon is also very strong, but full of wisdom. The dragon fears what it's strength can do," Spike stood still, as Scorpan got down to the boy's level. "This is the tiger," Scorpan made a quick jab at Spike, which the young boy was quick to block. "This is the dragon," Scorpan repeated his strike, while Spike also repeated his block. "The dragon always," Spike looked down, seeing Scorpan's other hand, at his stomach. "That's a choice. But the tiger, never."

Spike looked up at his uncle, eyes widened in acknowledgement and understanding.

"I've shown you the dragon, but you have not seen him," Scorpan lectured. "You will not find the dragon in any dojo. Experience will be your teacher. You must find him for yourself, in your own way. And when you do."

"I know, uncle," Spike replied. "Then I'll learn the dragon."

"Then, you will be a man," Scorpan added.





Then, at some point, the two were on a trip to China, as part of Spike's lesson in Kung Fu. Though, one such lesson Scorpan taught him, didn't involve strikes, or blocks.

"What are we hear to learn about, uncle?" Spike asked.

In response, Scorpan turned to a foggy window, on the train they were on, and drew a Chinese character, "Chi," He answered. "Internal energy. The essence of life. It moves inside of us, it flows through our body. It gives power from within."

Young Spike thought for a moment, before he had an epiphany, "Oh! Like the Force from Star Wars. You're like Yoda, and I'm a Jedi!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, while Scorpan rolled his eyes.

Soon, the two reached their destination, at a Taoist temple, in the Wudang mountains. There, Spike was taught the fundamental lessons of the yin-yang.

"Yin and yang are the dual forces of our universe," Scorpan explained, while he and some colleagues of his demonstrated to Spike. "There are positives and negative forces, inside each of us, every creatures, and every objects around us."

A monk walked over, and lectured, "A young warrior, not only needs to be strong to overcome their conflicts, but they need to learn how to be soft and gentle, and embrace the world around them. By doing so, they can achieve harmony with the Tao."

Young Spike tried to process, "So like, if someone did something to make me mad, I shouldn't just fight?"

"That's right," Scorpan replied. "There are times when you need to fight, and stand up to what's right. But there are also times when you need to back down."

The monk nodded, "As the brilliant Sun Tzu once spoke, 'The Greatest Victories Are The Battles Not Fought.'"

It was right then and there, that older Spike had an epiphany. He felt a burning sensation coursing through his body, before he burped green fire, and floating before him, is the orb of his powers. Spike gazed into the orb, as he sees the yin-yang symbol - with the elements of fire and water, being shown through the symbol, together with some dragons.

In one side - the yin - displays a fiendish dragon from the Western Mythologies, of Europe. The dragon flapped its bat-like wings, roaring at the top of its lungs, as it laid waste to the land, with its fiery breath, and hoards every treasures it can find. Spike knew that a dragon like this is a symbol of evil, the devil, and destruction.

In the other side - the yang- it displays a far more benevolent kind of dragon from the Eastern Mythologies, of Asia. The dragon appeared to be at peace, within its watery domain, before it flies up to the sky, and brought rain to the people, providing them water for bountiful harvests of their crops.

'I get it!' Spike realized.





[We're Not Flawless - Mane Six]


Snapping back into the dreamworld, Spike strained as he pulled the scythe, out of his chest. Fear turned his head, hoping to get one last look at the dying dragon. But instead, much to his shock, he saw the Dragon Prince, succeeding in pulling the scythe out of his chest, and the wound, closing itself up.

"WHAT?!" Fear exclaimed. "How can this be?!"

"You're right, Fear," Spike spoke, calmly. "We dragons do have quite the temper. But it's a good thing I had a teacher to help me overcome that flaw. A teacher whom I like to refer to as uncle." Remember some Tai Chi lessons, Spike moved his whole body in a slow, gentle movement.

Fear huffed, "So what? What difference will that make? It doesn't change the fact that you'll end up destroying everything, later!"

"Doesn't mean I can't try to avoid it," Spike replied, still calm. "Dragons like me aren't just all about fire and destructions, you know. If we can learn, we can be calm, and gentle, like the waters in a quiet, secluded body of water."

"As if," Fear scoffed. "So what? Water can still be destructive too, y'know! It can still destroy anything in its path, as a raging hurricane, or tsunami! It can level even the biggest of cities, in a flood! Water's no difference from fire, y'know."

"And that, is an example of water's strength," Spike replied, closing his eyes, and holding his hands together. "Persistent, patient; water always finds its way around, eventually wearing down any obstacle in its paths. That's how I'll keep my powers in check, and that's all I need to defeat you."

"Not if I can help it!" Fear snarled, and with a loud roar, he ran towards Spike, with his scythe raised.

Spike continues to stand his ground, not moving a muscle, with his whiskers being the only exceptions. Eventually, Fear slashed his scythe at Spike, only for the boy to duck down, dodging the attack. Fear kept slashing his scythe after Spike, who continues to dodge to the sides.

"Stop MOVING!" Fear roared.

"Get him, slowpoke!" A demonic apparition of Rainbow Dash roared. "Can't you get rid of him any faster?!"

"Don't make me cut you in half, Rainbow Crash!" Fear spatted, before he realized something. "What?! What is this?!"

"Get that varmint, ya stinkin Jim Crow!" Applejack hollered.

"What are you waiting for? Slice him and dice him!" Pinkie called.

While all of the ponies were expressing dislike towards Spike, they were also criticizing Fear as well, "Why are you attacking me?!" Fear exclaimed in outrage. "You should be attacking him!"

"Even so, I am still a lady," Rarity said, while looking at herself, in her hoof. "And lady does not dirty herself, doing peasant's work.

"You call that a killer's weapon?" Twilight insulted. "I've seen bigger blades than that!"

"You're even uglier than Spike!" Fluttershy frowned.

"Looks like everyone are more afraid of you, than they are of me, Fear," Spike said. "Go ahead. Give me your best shot."

Fear looked at Spike, pure rage stamped on his face, before he screamed, "FALL DOWN!!" With that, Fear slashed his scythe at Spike, who remains unharmed.

Fear's eyes widened in surprise, as his scythe's blade phased through Spike's body. The metahuman continues to slash his blade, repeatedly, and furiously at Spike, but the result was the same.

"HOW? HOW?!!" Fear exclaimed.

"You're not that smart, are ya?" Spike asked. "I told you. Water always finds a way to overcome any obstacle in its path. And even though my fire powers hold destruction, then I can still count on water to neutralize it. So, I'm not afraid of what my strength can do. But you will be afraid of it!"

Blinking his eyes open, Spike revealed the symbol of the sun and the moon, in each of them, while his whole body was surrounded in an aura of green, and parts of his armors started to repair itself, along with the restoration of certain parts on his body, such as his horns, and wings. Fear watched, as several fiery dragons surrounded Spike, before they all fused together into his armor, and his cape sprouted out from his back, fully restored.

Furthermore, the nightmare ponies that once hated Spike, immediately lost their dark auras, and became the ponies he knew and loved. The ponies all galloped to his sides, before they turned into multicolored orbs, circling around Spike, before they merged into a huge, spiritual alicorn, with rainbow mane and tail.

Fear's equine phobia kicked in, as the towering alicorn flailed its forelegs before him, and fired a beam of powerful magic, blasting him to dust.

"It won't change anything!" Fear grunted, as he struggles to resist. "It's futile you know! The worlds will betray you! Why fight at all? Why risk your lives for those who would persecute you later?"

Spike walked up to Fear, while conjuring a huge fire katana in hand, "If the world chooses to become my enemy, then I will fight like I always have!" Raising his sword up, Spike slashed at Fear Haunter's chest, cutting him open.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Fear screamed, before everything turned white.





Undertale OST - His Theme (Build Up Ver.) (Piano + Orchestra Cover)


In the real world, Spike was surrounded in a green and blue aura, with his mother's symbol glowing on his hands in golden aura, all the while stirring and shaking in dragon form. Eventually, the stirring stopped, and the young dragon started to grow calm, in his sleep. Standing at the sides of his bed, are Twilight, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.

Princess Luna lowered her hands, with her cutie mark fading on her forehead.

Turning to her right, the night alicorn-turned-human nodded, "He's alright, sister."

Both Celestia and Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, while Celestia sat down on the bed, and stroke her son's head.

"Oh, my son," Celestia sighed, sadly.

Spike's face stirred for a moment, before he slowly reverted back to human form, and woke up. "Mom? Aunt? Twilight?!" Spike exclaimed, waking up fully. "W-What are you doing here?"

"We came here to make sure you're okay, Spike," Twilight replied. "But when we got here, you were asleep."

"And you were fighting Fear Haunter, again," Luna replied. "But thankfully, you won."

"Yeah, I won," Spike muttered. "But I'm still scared."

"Understandable, Spike," Princess Celestia replied, with a look of concern. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Looking up at his mom, aunt, and Twilight in the room, Spike nodded his head, "There's something that's been bothering me for awhile." With that, Spike relayed the whole story to his surrogate family and friends, who all listened in sympathy, as well as shock and horror. "So, that's why I came here," He concluded. "I've been wondering how life would've been different if I didn't have the Dragonfire."

Princess Celestia was the first to spoke, "Little Sunshine," She began. "You're more than that. Dragonfire or not, it will never change the fact that you're my son."

"I know," Spike sighed. "But still, who am I, exactly? Where did I come from? Why was I left there?" Looking back up at Princess Celestia, seeing the white alicorn's expression turned sadden, Spike quickly reassured, "Don't get me wrong, mom. You're the best, and I can't ask for more than the love you've shown me, but still I just got to know."

Celestia dipped her head in understanding, "I understand, Spike," She spoke. "It's very lonely for anyone to be without a family, or any living relatives. And I'm afraid I don't have the answers to your questions, sweetie," Celestia pulled Spike close for comfort, which his eyes widened, upon the familiar motherly warmth from the sun princess. "But until you find the answers to your past, you're still my son."

Spike closed his eyes, feeling lost in his mother's love, 'I wouldn't trade it away for anything else,' He said.

"And not only that, but you're my best friend," Twilight added. "My very first friend. I wouldn't have taken my first step to learning the Magic of Friendship, without you!"

"And you were instrumental in my reformation, nephew," Luna added. "And for that, I owe you my life."

"So you see, my sun," Celestia spoke. "It's fate that you were blessed with the Dragonfire. Without you, or the Dragonfire, our life would never be full of love, peace, and most all, harmony."

"But then, what if something does happen, and I'm seen as a threat?" He asked. "Would you everyone else have to put me down, or something, for the greater good?"

Princess Celestia shook her head in denial, "No, Spike," She began. "I love you too much to put you down. I wouldn't have the heart."

"Nor would I," Luna joined in. "As I've said, I owe you my life."

"And that's absurd, for you to believe that me and the girls would be quick to judge like that, Spike!" Twilight added. "We know you too well to know that you wouldn't just up and hurt someone, let alone kill them."

Spike looked away, still having doubts.

"But Spike," Twilight spoke. "Even if you believe everyone in the world will be against you. Know that I'll always remain by your side."

"So will I," Celestia joined in.

"Agreed," Luna said. "Remember that."

Feeling the love from all three princesses, Spike nodded his head, "I will," He replied quietly, before he finds himself, embraced in a tangle of hugs, from his family.





Owl City - Beautiful Times ft. Lindsey Stirling




> A Date With Fleur
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a dull, grey, cloudy day in New York City. Spike was walking around in Central Park, watching the leaves changing colors, feeling the autumn breeze setting in. Thankfully, he was dressed up for this particular change in the weather.

It's been about three days since Spike had overcome his insecurities, and came clean to his mom, aunt, and Twilight. However, even after the three princesses had reassured him that nothing horrible will ever occur, in which Spike would be held responsible, as well as the love they all have for each other that will never diminish, Spike still wanted to have some time to think to himself.

The young boy looked around him, seeing everyone having a good time with their loved ones. The Dragon Prince smiled, recalling some fond memories he's had with the girls, before he and Scorpan left them, years ago. Even though they're now back together again, things have changed and sadly, Spike and the girls have been finding it hard to find the time to simply hang out, together.

The girls, obviously, became heroines of Equestria, using the magic of friendship to solve numerous friendship problems that calls them. Furthermore, his other girl friends, namely dragons and griffons, still have important affairs to resolve back home. Princess Skystar would've been happy to hang out with Spike, though recently, the young sea pony was less outgoing than she normally was, and everyone have one metahuman to blame.

Furthermore, the guys had some other things to do. Rumble was trying out with the sports team, Button Mash was helping Sweetie Belle with her community services, Tender Taps was rehearsing for another dance recital, Featherweight was out hunting for some scoops, and Pipsqueak was hanging out with Captain Celaeno.

Soon, Spike found a bench, and decided to just kick back on it.

"Ah, bonjour Spike," a familiar voice called out. Spike turned around to see a tall, beautiful girl in a light pink coat, black pants, red shoes, and a magenta beret.

Spike gasped, "Fleur?! Is that you?!"

Fleur giggled, "Oui, mon amour."

"Wow, I almost didn't recognize you," Spike said. "You look great!"

"Merci," Fleur smiled, before she motioned to a spot next to the bench. "May I?"

"Oh, of course," Spike offered, to which Fleur gladly accept. "Such a nice day outside, huh?"

"Indeed," Fleur agreed, before she turned to Spike, "But I can't help it, but noticed you looked rather sad, amour. What's wrong?" She asked, looking concerned at Spike.

Spike looked to the side, taking a deep breath, before he turned to his French best friend, "Do you know what happened, in Ponyville?" He asked.

Fleur nodded, while looking troubled, "Oui. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle have told me about it, when I got back from Yakyakistan with my parents," She spoke. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, Spike."

"It's okay," Spike replied. "At least you didn't have to go through that whole nightmare ordeal we went through." Spike sighed, remembering the fiasco he went through, because of Fear. "Believe me, I know."

Fleur reached her hand out for Spike's as she gently grasped it, "Spike, believe me," Fleur spoke. "Without you, I would never have found my family. I can't imagine a life, without you, mon amour."

"I know, Flare," Spike replied, as he and Fleur hugged each other. "I know." The two stayed that way, for what felt like hours, before they broke apart.

"So, Spike," Fleur began. "If I may, what are you doing out here?"

"Nothing much," Spike quietly replied. "I'm just looking for something to do. The girls are all busy with some other stuff. Even the guys are occupied."

"Really? Then, why don't you join me?" Fleur smiled. "I was just on my way out for some fun."

"You are?"

"Oui. And I'd like it if you could join me."

"That's nice and all, Flare," Spike looked away. "But I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Nonsense," Fleur grasped his arm, while holding it close to her chest. "I wouldn't mind. Besides, when was the last time we've ever spend some time together?"

Face turning red, mostly at how close Fleur was holding him, as well as some embarrassing reactions of his powers that threatened to show themselves, Spike stuttered to answer, "Well, when you put it that way. Sure, why not?"

"Fantastic!" Fleur smiled, as she pulled Spike up, by the arm, and eagerly lead him away.





[Sayonara - Gina T]

Later, the two went to Chinatown, Manhatten, where they had some fried noodles and rice in a Chinese restaurant. While there, they decided to chew the fat.

"So, Fleur," Spike began. "How've things been going on with you and your parents?"

"Oh, simply fantastic, amour," Fleur smiled. "Mother and father were so proud of me, when they learned of the pony I've become," Fleur's smiled slowly disappeared, as she spoke, "Though, father looked somewhat troubled at the thought of me as a warrior, while mother still treated me, as if I'm still a foal."

"I'm with ya there," Spike replied. "Though I don't know anything about daddy issues, my mom still treated me like a kid, even though I'm now grown up. I mean, after the whole fear thing was resolved, she insisted on checking my fingers and toes." Fleur couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the scene. "Though, I guess we can't blame them now, can we? We've been separated from each other for a long time, by the Shadowbolts."

"Oui," Fleur agreed.

After they had their full, the waiter came, in which Spike and Fleur both split the bill, before presenting them some fortune cookies for the two.

Spike cracked his cookie, before he read the content inside, "With dreams, anyone's a winner. With courage there will be miracles. With love, friendship is worth fighting for," he smiled. "Sounds convincing. What about you Fleur?"

Fleur was weeping, while holding the paper before her, "Fleur?" Spike asked. "What's wrong?"

In response, Fleur showed Spike the content of her fortune cookie, which reads: "Friendship is the greatest treasure you could have."

Spike was caught off guard when the girl grabbed him in a loving hug.

"Forgive me Spike," Fleur weeped. "I've always wanted to tell you, that you're the ultimate treasure I could ever ask for."

"Fleur...." Having a second thought, Spike decided not to ruin the moment, as he returns the affection. "You and the girls are my ultimate treasure, too. You're the diamonds in my sky," He said lovingly.

"Aw," The patrons around them sighed.





Later, the two arrived at a photographer shop.

"So, what are we doing here?" Spike asked.

"You mean, I didn't tell you?" Fleur chuckled, while twirling a lock in her hair. "Well, you see. Whenever I'm not being a hero and saving the day. I'd like to make a living as a supermodel."

"Seriously?" Fleur nodded as Spike took the chance to look at her. "Well I'd say, you've definitely got the looks of an angel." Fleur couldn't help but blush and giggle at the boy's comment. "And now that I got a better look, did you do something with your hair? It looks shinier than it normally does!"

"Oh stop it," Fleur smiled, "You're making me blush."

"How can I stop, when you and the girls keep me going?" Spike flirted, before he realized what he was saying, "Whoa, did I just say all that?" Spike shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't what came over me."

Fleur giggled, before she placed a reassuring hand on Spike's shoulder, "It's okay, mon amour," She said. "It's okay. In fact, I rather like it. It's flattering." Spike gave Fleur a small smile, before they went in.

It wasn't long, before they were greeted by the sudden appearance of an eccentric photographer.

"Ah, Fleur-De-Lis!" The photographer exclaimed in a thick Austrian accent. "You have arrived!"

"Indeed I have, Photo Finish," Fleur said, as she and Photo walked up to each other, and exchanged kisses on the cheeks.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The photographer, now identified Photo Finish, shouted for every kisses.

In appearance, Photo Finish appears to be somewhere in between Fleur and Fluttershy's ages. She has a short white hair, with the bang cut in a straight line. For attires, she wore a black dress, with white stripes at the top, fuchsia ribbon at the waist, the skirt decorated with white-fuschia rings near the hem, and pink sparkling diamonds above, and a fuchsia scarf around her neck. Her most defining feature of all, is a pair of hot pink shades, that she wears over her eyes.

"Spike!" Fleur smiled, as she turned to the boy. "I trust you're already acquainted with Photo Finish?"

Photo's shades nearly flew off, when she sets her eyes on Spike, "Halt that pose!!" With a snap of her finger, two stylist assistants immediately pounced out of nowhere, as they set up a photo shoot. It wasn't long, before at a speed that rivals Rainbow Dash, the assistants all applied make ups on Spike, as well as lightings, while Photo Finish was busy snapping pictures left and right, all the while Spike trying, and failing, to block their combined assaults.

"Yes! Yes!" Photo exclaimed enthusiastically. "Show us all your skills of the martial arts! Let your forms be the art! Show us all your strength! Your grace! Your determination to fight till the very end!"

"Stop it! Stop it!" Spike coughed, when he accidentally inhaled a bit of makeup powder, while being blinded by the lights.

"Yes! Show us the snake fists! The tiger claws! The praying mantis! And the graceful flying crane kick!" Photo said, before she snapped her fingers. "Enough! We are done!" With that, the photographer and her two assistants left Spike, who took the time to shake the shock away.

"What the hell was that all about?!" Spike panted.

"Oh, dear," Fleur spoke as she went over to Spike's side. "Please, forgive Photo, mon amour. She's always had an eye for whatever strikes her interest."

"It is a gift," Photo declared dramatically. "It is my calling to capture de magiks! Like so!" The girl said, referring to a whole gallery of her photos.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped, as he went over to marvel at the pictures. "Magics is right!"

"Indeed they are. Photo Finish's got quite the talent. That's why I'm proud to have her as my intern this year," A male voice spoke, revealing itself to be a tall man, dressed in a fancy business suit, and dark purple shades. "Hoity Toity. Pleased to meet you," The man greeted, while holding his hand out.

"Spike Draco," Spike returned the handshake. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"So, you're the legendary Spike Draco, Fleur's been going on about," The man spoke.

"Oh, legendary's kind of an exaggerate-wait, what?" Spike did a double take.

"Oh, miss Fleur here had been going on and on about how much of a gentleman you are, and how noble you can be when you want to," Hoity Toity confirmed.

"Really?" Spike asked, turning his attention to Fleur, who was blushing a storm.

"Indeed she does!" Photo Finish spoke, while making a grand entrance that caught both Spike and the man by surprise. "But enough about Spike Draco! It is time for Fleur-De-Lis, to shine like the sun!" Photo Finish exclaimed. "We must begin on capturing de magiks!"

"Oui," Fleur agreed, before she turned to Hoity Toity. "But I hope you don't mind, sir, if having Spike here won't be a bother."

"Not at all," The man replied. "After all, we could use an audience, or two."

"I promise, I won't get in the way with anything," Spike said.

"Then take a seat, and get to work girls," Hoity Toity ordered, to which the teens complied, as they head around back. But who should they meet, but Coco Pommel, herself.

"Coco?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Oh! Hi Spike!" Coco greeted, happy to see Spike. "What brings you here?"

"I did, mon ami," Fleur spoke. "Today, dear Spike is a guest of mine."

"Oh, really?" Coco asked, to which Spike confirmed with a nod. "That's great." Coco smiled.

"What about you, Coco?" Spike asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here, actually," Coco blushed. "I'm in charge of all the clothes and dresses the models have to wear during the shootings."

"You made all of these?" Spike asked, looking at all of the dresses being present in the room.

"Oui, she did!" Fleur smiled. "Coco's simply marvelous!"

"Oh, it was nothing," Coco blushed modestly.

"Oh, don't be so modest!" Fleur smiled, while patting Coco on the shoulder.

Soon, Fleur walked into a changing room with Coco, before the french girl came walking out, wearing a long flowing pink strapless dress, while showing off her gorgeous curvaceous frame.

Spike was impressed, enamored, at Fleur's beauty, "Wow," He gasped.

His reaction didn't go unnoticed. And with a flirtatious look, she struck a pose, "What do you think?" She asked.

"I think you look stunning," Spike answered honestly.

"Hold your compliments," Photo spoke, after she got the camera ready. "Let us begin to capture de magiks!" With that, Fleur began to strike several poses she was instructed to do, with the backdrops behind her, and the lightings shining down on her.

"And pose!" Photo shouted randomly. "And pose! Love the camera! Hate the camera!"

Fleur poses, as the photographer captures her looks. During some parts of the photo shooting, Fleur was given a new dress to model in, which she took with her to the changing room, to change in. Each one, is more captivating than the last.

Meanwhile, Spike watched from the sideline, seeing how much Fleur was enjoying getting her picture taken, while posing in different dresses.

It didn't take long, before he suddenly had a flash of memories, in which he finds himself, with a younger Rarity, who was busy making dresses for a school play, during his visit in Ponyville. Rarity looked as if she was on the verge to cry her eyes out, "Maybe I'm not cut out to be a fashionista, after all!" Rarity sighed.

"Don't give up too quick, Rarity!" Spike said. "I'm sure we'll think of something! If anyone can make a school play a dazzling spectacular? Then it's you!"

"Oh, thank you darling," Rarity replied.

"Spike! Spike!" Fleur said, snapping Spike out of his daze.

"Huh?! What? What is it?" Spike asked, taken completely by surprise.

"Join me in some pictures Spike," the girl smiled, dragging the boy.

"What?!"

"Ooh! Got room for one more?" Coco smiled, as she jumped and held Spike on the other side.

"WHAT?!" Spike exclaimed even louder. "B-B-But, I'm not even dressed properly for anything photogenic! I'll end up clashing your dress!"

"I can handle that," Coco said, pulling out a rack of clothes, before she pulled out a tuxedo, and a dress for herself.

Soon, Spike came out wearing the tux, while Coco stood wearing a white sparkling dress, with a blue laced ribbon on the front.

Before long, the two girls and Spike all did random poses together, from casuals to dance poses, even several random goofy ones.

"Yes, yes!" Photo ranted, while snapping the pictures of the trio. "That's it! Show us the love! Show us DE MAGIKS!"

Spike was doing a shaolin stance of the dragon style, when suddenly, Fleur and Coco caught him on both side, and the two girls kissed him on the cheeks, causing his face to go red with mixed embarrassment, and arousal.





Soon, Photo Finish hung up another picture of Fleur-De-Lis, on the gallery wall of models they've done photo shooting over the year.

"Wow," Spike marveled, after both he and Fleur got dressed back into their casual attires. "I can't tell what's more photogenic. The models, or the expertise of you, Photo Finish."

"Ack, what can I say?" Photo asked rhetorically. "I know my stuff."

With a smile, Spike looked back at the gallery, before something confused him, "Um, what the heck is that supposed to be?" He asked. "Is that a model, or a model of something?"

Photo finished took her glasses off, revealing her eyes to be colored dark indigo, "Ze photo is upside-down!" She said, before it was corrected.

"Oh, that's better," Spike answered, before he took another look at it. In appearance, the model was posing, while dressed in a costume of a disco ball, "Um, that's quite a unique look," He answered honestly, the best he can, while trying not to sound too offensive.

Soon, Spike and Fleur left, hands in hands, while bidding Hoity Toity, Photo, and Coco good-bye.

"I say, that Spike is quite the delightful chap, isn't he ladies?" Hoity Toity asked.

"Mmm-hmm," Coco smiled. "I'm glad to see he's got the glow of his again."

"Ah yes," Photo said dramatically. "He certainly has that spark! The spark of magiks!"





Central Park


[Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John]


Soon, Spike and Fleur were once more, walking through Central Park, where the simply enjoyed each other's company. The two looked up, seeing the sky turning dark, and the stars were about to come out.

"Wow, it's going to be over soon," Spike noted.

"Time flies fast when you're having fun," Fleur said. "But I do know how we can end it."

"How so?" Spike asked, before he finds himself getting pulled into the trees of Central Park, with Fleur, before they arrived in a secluded spot in the park. Concentrating into her magic, Fleur-De-Lis's cutie mark appeared on her forehead, as her eyes glowed white, and sparkles of magic came flying out of her hands.

Spike looked around him, but was more surprised to see what's above him. As if the city was turning its light off, the light pollutions were gone, banishing the glares, and clearing the night sky, allowing the two of them to see the stars, so clearly.

"Whoa," Spike gasped, feeling like he's outer space, observing the beauty of the universe. "Beautiful!"

"Oui," Fleur smiled, laying down on the grass. "It's très magnifique!" Spike soon lied down beside Fleur, watching the sky with her.

"This beats light pollution by a long shot!" Spike smiled. "I wonder if this is all Aunt Luna's work, but it's been obscured by our human light technologies?"

Fleur chuckled, "Oh, if this is Princess Luna's night, then I'm sure she'll be very displeased with the pollutions your lights have made," Spike smiled, nervously at the thought of his aunt turning Nightmare Moon, again. "But y'know, Spike? It's been said that this isn't the first time we Equestrians have crossed over Earth. Even before you were born, there've been links between our world, and yours."

"Have there now?" Spike asked. "Pray tell, these links. Have there been any problems with them?"

"Oui," Fleur nodded. "It's been said before, that we the ponies, and magical creatures have came to Earth before, hoping to build a relationship with the humans. They've succeeded in making some friends with the humans, but at the same time, they've found enemies as well. Many horrible humans have hunted down many of us, and nearly brought us all to the point of extinctions. Since then, many bridges to both our worlds were destroyed, or hidden, so as to keep us safe from any cruel humans, who would dare to hunt us down, for their own selfish gains."

"Damn, that's horrible!" Spike said in disgust, before he covered his mouth. “Um, pardon my language.”

"It’s okay," Fleur replied solemnly. "But in times, we were forgotten through the years, and we became nothing more than stuffs of legends and fairy tales. Though, there are still some humans, who still believe we exist. Unfortunately, not all of them were good."

'No kidding,' Spike thought grimly, as the Cerulean Hunters and Fear Haunter were the first unfriendly humans who fit Fleur's descriptions.

Spike was suddenly brought out of his thought, when Fleur pulled him close, nuzzling her cheek with his, "Fleur?" Spike thought.

"I'm grateful to at least, have a kindhearted human like you, for a friend," Fleur smiled, as she continues to snuggle him up close. "Or maybe more, mon amour," With that, Fleur claimed Spike's lips with her mouth, and she pushed him down on the ground.

Taken by surprise, Spike slowly succumbed to the feeling, as he and Fleur started to make out. The two kissed passionately, with their tongues battling for dominance, within their mouths, while Spike held Fleur closer, feeling her breasts pressed into his chest, further arousing him, and causing both him and Fleur to moan through their kiss.

Soon, the two parted, to catch their breath, "Whoa," Spike panted. "What just came over me?"

"That was, tres magnifique," Fleur panted.

"I know I can remember again," Spike said, while stumbling up to a tree. "But, I certainly don't recall being that passionate before."

Fleur smiled, as she looked lovingly at Spike, "I guess I brought out best of you, Spike," She said.

Spike looked at Fleur, with his mind flashing memories of her, and the girls, "Or maybe, it's the other way around," Spike said. "Maybe I brought out the best of you, and the girls," Fleur shrugged, as Spike continued. "Guess we just brought out the best of each other."

Fleur smiled in agreement, "Oui."

Spike smiled, “Well, I think we’ve had enough fun for tonight,” He said, reluctantly. “Let’s get home before we worry our folks any further.”

“Wait, Spike,” Fleur stopped the boy. “We don’t have to end the night so soon. I’m ready for another,” She said, sending a loving glance his way.

Initially, wanting to head back, one look at Fleur’s beautiful eyes that dazzled with the night sky, and Spike was under her spell.

“Eh, why not?” Spike asked rhetorically, before the two made out, once again.

This time, the two took things up a notch, as they let instincts take over, all the while having some forms of restraints, so as to not get too carried away.

“I love you!” Their voices whispered.
> Crouching Tiger (Cat), Hidden Dragon (Dog)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One day in Ponyville, Spike was strolling through the streets, with the girls, and boys.

"It's lovely that you can come over today, Spike!" Rarity smiled.

"Ponyville's not the same without ya," Applejack added.

"I'll say!" Pinkie bounced. "It's just like all those boring and dreary days we've had to suffer for ten years, when you were gone!"

"I know," Spike replied. 'I saw it,' He recalled, having seen the griefs the girls had gone through, in his absence. "And in truth girls, it's even lonelier for me, without you girls." The girls couldn't help but smile at the last statement their dragon friend said.

"Well ain't this a cat's meow?" a voice spoke, before a figure steps out from the shadows.


[I'm the Friend You Need - Capper]


In appearance, the figure is a tan anthropomorphic cat, with darker patches of fur on his face, ears, paws, the end of his long fluffy tail, lighter tuft of fur on his chest, neatly groomed bangs of indigo hairs hanging over his piercing green eyes. His only attire was a long red coat, with a few patches, gold buttons on his collar, and wore a long black cape with a top hat.

"Well, look who the cat drags in," Spike spoke. "Himself."

"Well, well, who let the dog out, I wonder?" the cat replied.

The two, soon, were having a stare off, before they both broke in a fit of laughter and hugged, exchanging pats on the back.

"Spike, amigo!" the cat smiled. "So good to see you again, my friend!"

"Feeling's mutual, Capper!" Spike grinned.

Everyone else looked as if they were missing something.

"You two know each other?" Twilight asked.

"Oh yeah!" Spike replied. "Guys, this is Capper! He and I go way back! Believe it or not, he's this swanky aristo cat guy I once met back in Panthera, Abyssinia!"

"And I'm actually where Spike gets all his 'charms' for the ladies from," the cat smirked. "No one does charming like I do. Capper's the name, charming's my game." The cat said, with a bow, while taking his hat off.

"Oh please," Rarity scoffed. "No one's more charming than Spikey-Wikey."

"Hmm," Capper went up to Rarity, checking her out. "You must be, Rarity. I guess my friend Spike was onto something, when he says you are a diamond in the sky. Such a dazzling beauty, befitting, for a lady," the cat gentleman complimented, finishing with a kiss to her hoof.

Spike couldn't help but scowl in envy, while Rarity couldn't help but giggle in response, "My goodness. You are quite the gentleman." Rarity blushed.

"And a scoundrel, at that," Fleur spoke, when she made herself known.

"Hey, Flare Heart!" Capper greeted. "Oh, wait a minute now, your name's not really Flare Heart, and you're not a colt." Fleur remained stone faced. "Now, now, Flare. I know we haven't talked since-"

"You sold me out to that crime boss in Klugetown!" Fleur replied bitterly.

"Okay, I admit, I'm guilty for that part," Capper replied. "But I did tip Verko off to the guards to save you, as an apology."

"Apology not accepted," Fleur grumbled.

"Um, what was that about?" Spike asked.

"Oh a lot of stuffs have happened while you were gone, Spike," Capper said, looking uneasily away. "Needless to say, I've done some times."

"Times? For what?"

"Oh just the usual crimes, for a simple con artist, like myself," Capper began. "The usual pickpockets for money, food, trying to make ends with my debts...."

"And selling ponies out to some naked mole rat," Fleur scowled.

"You really know how to hold a grudge, don't you?" Capper asked.

"How'd you end up like that, Capper?" Spike asked. "You weren't some petty crook, as far as I know."

"You're right, Spike. I'm not," Capper frowned. "But all of that changed when...when..."

"When what?" Spike asked.

"When the Storm King happened," Capper answered.

"The Storm King?" The friends all asked, in bewilderment.

"Um, never heard of him," Rainbow replied.

"Do you?" Capper asked. "Funny. He always did like to make a big drama of himself. But still, right after Spike here left for Earth, the Storm King, and his whole armada of storm creatures attacked our city. And long sad story short, our city was gone."

"Oh, that's awful!" Fluttershy whimpered.

"Oh, trust me, it ain't half the story for me," Capper frowned. "Me and Chummer were one of the lucky few to escape the Storm King's wrath. We ended up in Klugetown, where we used our wits to make ends meet. Eventually, we attracted the attention of Klugetown's crime boss, Verko. Having scraped enough money, Chummer and I were able to buy ourselves an airship from the rat, and we were about to leave behind the life of crimes, if Chummer hadn't bailed out on me, and left me behind in Klugetown, in order to retain his life of a thief."

Capper clenched his fist, still irked at his former friend's betrayal, "But the last laugh's on him, since not only did he leaved me behind, but he just so happened to bring with him the Misfortune Malachite."

"Misfortune Malachite?" Spike asked.

"The Misfortune Malachite," Capper repeated. "One of the most dangerous and powerful of all dark artifacts. While it possess considerable strength, it does, however, brings a curse on those who possess it. We're talking more than nine lives of bad luck, and misery."

"Yikes, sorry I asked," Spike grimaced. "So, what happened to Chummer when he left you?"

"I don't know," Capper replied. "And I honestly don't care. Because he's the last thing I want to think about." Deciding to change topic, Capper began, "So Spike. How've you been for the last ten years? And how is it that you're back?"

"Oh, well, have I got a story for you," Spike answered, as the gang made their way back to the Friendship Castle.





"Wait, wait, wait a minute!" Capper stopped. "You've got wings? You actually grew wings?!"

"See for yourself," Spike said, as he dragons up, revealing himself, with wings, horns, and whiskers.

"Wow, I'm actually digging this new look for ya," Capper mused. "Oh, and digging the caterpillar lips. If I didn't know any better, you're trying to impress a lady, or two."

"Yeah right," Spike replied. "Though, what makes you say that?"

"Well, usually, when a gentleman courts a lady without a mustache, he's just being modest. But when a gentleman courts a lady with a mustache, well that's usually a desperate move for an impression."

"Oh like you're one to talk. Charming's your game, and you got a whole set of whiskers!"

"What can I say? I'm a cool cat."

"So, Capper," Rarity began. "How long have you known, Spikey-Wikey?"

"Well, it was about some time ago, when we were kids," Capper began.





Past


Young Spike was visiting Panthera, on an important business trip, together with his mother, Prince Blueblood, and Flare Heart, while Scorpan was left in charge of Equestria, alongside Princess Cadence. Upon arrival, the Equestrian royals were greeted by the Kings and Queens of the City.

"Greetings, Princess Celestia," The King greeted with a bow, a gesture which Celestia returned, followed by Spike and Blueblood. "You grace us with your presence."

"Well, I do have that effect on every pony back home," Blueblood smiled arrogantly, while holding his head high.

"Quiet, Blueblood!" Celesstia scolded, before she cleared her throat and regains her composure. "The pleasure is all mine, King Thomas and Queen Cleo. I am more than willing to answer your calls. Though you did say it is urgent, did you not?"

"Indeed it is, your majesty," King Thomas replied, gravely. "These past few days have been very troubling for us. What with news we've been getting from the south of the Storm King, and his armada, conquering other fallen kingdoms, and news of the hippogriff's disappearances. We've got to take action before they come here."

"I understand," Celestia nodded. "Then we haven't got a moment to lose." With that, Celestia and her fellow royals went to work.





Later


Before the meeting could begin, however, Spike was denied entry, "What?" Spike exclaimed. "But I have to know!"

"This is no place for some.....child," The guards spoke sternly.

"I'm not a child!" Spike barked. "I'm Prince Spike. I'm the Dragon Prince. And I'm here with my mom! So let me in!"

"Spike, no!" Celestia said, before her gaze softens. "I'm afraid he's right. This is something far beyond your understandings."

"But mom," Spike tried to protest.

"Not buts," Celestia replied. "Just go and explore the city. Get to know a few cats, or two. And stay out of trouble."

Spike sighed in defeat, "Okay," He reluctantly complied.

"Hah, listen to mommy, Spike," Prince Blueblood sneered, smugly. "This is grown-ups' work. So only big ponies are allowed."

"And that goes double for you, nephew," Princess Celestia said sternly.

"What? WHAT?!!" Blueblood exclaimed. "Well, I never! Humph!" With a huff, Blueblood took his leave.

Both Celestia and Spike watched in annoyance as Blueblood walked away, acting all high and mighty.

"What am I going to do with that colt?" Celestia groaned.

Looking at his adopted mother's grief, Spike spoke up, "If it makes you happy. I'll still go and check out the city, mom!" Spike smiled.

Looking relived, Celestia smiled as she draped her wing over her son's shoulder, "Thank you, Spike," Celestia sighed. "The least I want you to do is to make some friends. Now go, and stay out of mischief."

Bowing his head in respect, Spike took his leave.





Spike was walking around the city, looking at all the buildings, as well as seeing some of the cat people who lived there.

"New in town?" A voice spoke, to which Spike looked up, to see a tan anthropomorphic cat, sitting in a tree. "I've never seen you around here before. Of course, we don't exactly get much visitors like you around these parts."

"I came here with my mom," Spike replied. "But she's at a meeting right now, and told me to just go and explore this place."

"All by yourself?" The cat asked, while peeling in apple, with his claws. "You're just a kid."

"I'm not just a kid! I'm Spike Draco! I'm the Dragon Prince! And I'm here with-"

"The Dragon Prince?!" The cat asked, as he jumped off from his perch, and landed perfectly before young Spike.

"Yeah! You got a problem with it?" Spike asked, getting into a fighting stance.

"No, no, no," The cat answered, waving his hands out in defense. "No problem at all. But forgive me for being blunt, or something.....but you don't exactly look like a dragon to be appropriately called, the 'Dragon Prince.'" The cat said, while making quote unquote signs with his paws.

"That's because I'm not in dragon form," As to prove his point, Spike was surrounded in a burst of green fire, before he appeared before the cat, in his dragon form. "See?"

"Oh, then I beg your pardon, young prince," The cat said, with a bow. "But I don't see dragons like you doing hocus-pocus like that. In fact, I hardly know anything about you dragon-types."

"It's okay, I get that a lot," Spike replied, before he turned himself back into a human. "Anyway, you can just call me Spike."

"Spike huh? Sounds like the name of a dog, but alright," The cat held his paw out. "I'm Capper, by the way."

"Pleasure to meet you, Capper," Spike answered, as he shook paws with the cat.

"So tell me, Spike," Capper began. "What brings you to our fair city?"

"I'm here with my mom on an important business trip about this Storm King crisis you guys have been having."

"Is she now?" Capper asked. "Who is she? Prince-Look out!" Capper shouted, as he shoved Spike to the side, just as a cart, pulled by some strange looking lion-like creatures, nearly ran them over.

"Whoa! Where's the fire?!" Capper called out to the driver.

"My tail if I don't deliver these crates on time!" The driver shouted, as he cracks a whip with his reigns, causing the lions to run faster in response.

Spike and Capper watched, as the cart made a sharp turn, around the corner, resulting one of the crates in the cart to fall out, and onto the road.

"Ooh, looks like he's going to get fired anyway, punctual or not," Capper winced, with Spike nodding his head in agreement.

"Well then, let's just take it, and return it to them," Spike suggested, before his nose twitched, as he caught scent of something that smelled both sharp and tangy, "Phew, what the heck are they carrying in this thing?" Spike cringed.

Capper took a whiff, "Ew," Capper winced, as he holds his paws over his nose. "Whoever they are, they either need to get their nostrils fixed, or their orders of catnips has expired."

Spike shook his head in discomfort, "Let's just get this thing back, and get it over with," He said.

"Be my guest," Capper spoke. "Though, if you don't mind, I'll go first. If we're gonna return any lost valuables to anyone, you're gonna need my sense of navigation through Panthera."

"Sure," Spike grumbled. 'And as a plus, you're just volunteering so you don't have to do the heavy work.'

And so, the two boys set off, following the trails of the cart from before.





It felt like hours, mostly for Spike, but at last, the two boys made it to the outskirts of Panthera, where they saw the cart, parked outside a large warehouse.

"That looks like our cart," Capper observed, before he took the crate from Spike. "Alright, I'll take it from here."

Young Spike looked at Capper, suspicious, "Geez, why now?" He asked. "Why not sooner, before my arms felt like they're going to fall off?"

"Well, the thing is, you never asked," Capper replied. "Besides, I don't think the cat won't take it too well, if they see one of their lost valuables was in the hands of some foreigner."

"Humph," Spike fumed.

Capper was on his way to the door of the warehouse, when he looked up in the window, and spotted someone.

"No! It can't be!" Capper gasped, dropping the crate, emitting a loud thud.

"What was that?!" A voice called, followed by several more, and the sound of footsteps.

Capper quickly dived into a bush, as Spike started to walk over, "No! Don't move!" Capper whispered.

"Why?" Spike asked.

Capper shushed, as he beckoned Spike to hide, "Be quiet! Keep your voice down!"

Reluctant, Spike complied as he hide in a bush, as he and Capper watched several tall, muscular anthropomorphic leopards arriving on the scene. The leopard men all scanned their surroundings, before they noticed the box.

"What's this?" One of the leopard man asked, examining the crate.

"Oh! There it is!" A nimble-looking, anthro black cat appeared, breathing a sigh of relief as he got to the crate. "I thought for certain I was-"

"What is going on here?!" A loud booming voice yowled.

Both the black cat, and leopard men instantly turned their attention to the source, as another anthro cat stepped out from the warehouse.

In appearance, the cat is female, with dark brown fur, a vanilla patch of fur around her muzzle, piercing green eyes, and a long flaming orange hair that gave her the appearance of a lion. For attires, she was dressed in a long red dress, with fluffy purple furs at the bottom, collar, and sleeves, gold studded belt around the waist, and matching bracelets around the wrists.

The black cat trembled as he spoke, "We had a slight problem, Countess." The Countess raised an eyebrow, while glowering over the cat, "One of the crate was missing. But we've found it! It must've fallen out, on the way here. But rest assured, your ladyship, the content is all here, and accounted for."

To prove it, the cat opened up the crate, to reveal a pile of plants. In appearance, they have bright-green stems and leaves and small, brightly colored and attractive flowers.

Capper looked shocked at the plants, while the countess glowered, "Don't let it happen again!" She warned the frighten cat.

"Y-Y-Yes, ma'm," The cat whimpered. "I mean, no ma'm! I mean, I promise. It won't happen again."

"I'll hold you to your words, Butch," The countess threatened, before she pointed to the warehouse. "Now, unload and get to work!"

"Yes ma'm," Butch said, as he frightfully complied with the countess's orders.

Once the countess and the leopard men left, Spike got out from his hiding spot, as he went over to Capper, "Who was that?" Spike asked.

"Countess Catrina!" Capper scowled. "She's a real pain in the tail around these parts. She's more cruel to us, than she is to her servants. And there's nothing we can do about it, lest we risk facing dire consequences from the King and Queen, her oldest and dearest friends," Capper scratched his chin, "Still, something smells fishy around here. And I ain’t referring to you, Spike."

“Huh?” Spike lifted his arm up to smell himself, but failed.

“There’s definitely more to this, than just  shipment of those witchweed plants. And I’m going to find out what it is,” Capper said, looking ready to sneak in.

"Hey, wait up!" Spike called, as he changed himself into a dog, and followed close behind.


[Mission Impossible Theme]


Both boys were creeping through the shadows of the warehouse, rolling, ducking, and hiding behind the crates that are being stacked inside.

Both boys took notice of some crates being carried into the next room, and proceeded to follow, only to see ahead that the next room was guarded by two leopard men.

"Now what do we do?" Spike asked, to which Capper looked around, before he got an idea.

The leopard men were standing guard, bored out of their minds, when a mouse suddenly appeared before their eyes. Licking his chop, one of the guard pounced forward, chasing the rodent as it disappears behind a crate. The guard followed close behind, before the sound of crates breaking can be heard, followed by a grunt.

Confused, the other guard quickly went over to investigate, and could see his friend knocked out, and with a broken crate over his head.

"Hey, come on, Spot!" The leopard said to his knocked out comrade. "No lying down on the-" The leopard was interrupted, upon being karate chopped from behind, and was punched in the face, knocking him out cold.

"OW!!" Capper groaned, as he shakes his fist.

"I told you to go for the stomach," Spike said, as he and Capper started to carry the unconscious guards, and hid them behind some crates.

With that, the boys all made their way to the door, and they entered the room, to find that it was full of huge brewing machines, together with huge vats of strange chemicals of some sort.

Both boys had to hold their noses together with their fingers, repulsed at the foul stenches of the chemicals being brewed.

"Is it ready, yet?" Catrina's voice sounded, which the two boys followed.

"Yes, your ladyship," Another male voice spoke.

Spike and Capper both poked their heads out, from behind a wall, watching as something or someone drank a liquid from a small vial. Then, the boys watched in horror as the figure suddenly dropped to the ground, clutching their stomach, as if they're on the verge to lose their lunch. Then, the figure lets out a loud yowl, which the boys realized to their horror, that it was Catrina herself.

Catrina screamed in pain, as she held her paws out, with nails jutting out, longer and sharper. Her hair started to flow, as if they were being blown by an invisible wind. Her eyes becoming burning fireballs of green, and she started to grow taller, and emits a loud roar of a lion.

"Ah! The power!" Catrina said in satisfaction, with her eyes blazing fires. "Yes! The power to create!" She meowed, creating a thundercloud in her paws, "The power to change!" With a blast of magic, she transfigured a simple stool nearby into an expensive arm chair. "And my personal favorite, the power to destroy!" She yowled, spitting a small hairball, which exploded upon impact with a structure of the building, close to where Spike and Capper were hiding.

"Whoa, now that's some serious hairball she's spitting there!" Capper exclaimed.

Catrina arched her head up, howling in the air, when she started to shrink down, back to her normal size, and her demonic appearance disappeared.

"What?" Catrina exclaimed, as she looked at herself. "What's the meaning of this? What happened to my powers?"

"Your powers don't last long," A hooded figure replied. "They only last for every amount of potions you drink."

"Then give me more!!" Catrina yowled.

"No, m'lady," The figure denied. "I've warned you how dangerous the potion can be! It's unstable! If I give you more, it will destroy you!"

"Don't lecture me, old friend," Catrina growled.

Suddenly, Spike and Capper were grabbed from behind, and were presented before the countess, herself.

"What's this?!" Catrina exclaimed in bewilderment.

"It appears we have a couple of spies, your ladyship!" One of the leopard man thugs answered.

"Well, we can't have that. Can we?" Catrina glowered at the boys. "Dispose of them!"

"No!" The two boys shouted, as they struggled to escape.

"No, wait!" The hooded figure shouted, holding his hands out. "They're just kids!"

In response, Catrina held the hooded figure by the collar, "Don't you dare start to defy me!" She threatened. "I've come too far to let months of witchweed potion-making operations to be marred by the meddling of some children!"

"Catrina, please!!" The hooded figure said in frustration. "You're being irrational! You're not thinking straight!"

As the two argued, like an old married couple, the boys looked around, as they concoct a plan to escape. Remembering an escape tactic Scorpan had once taught him, Spike concentrated into his powers, and his mouth took the form of a dragon's jaw, which he quickly clamped down on the thug's arm, coupled with a burst of green fire.

"AAAUGGH!!" The thug screamed, as he released his hold on Spike, and the Dragon Prince quickly breathed a burst of green fire in the other thug's face, forcing them to release their hold on Capper.

Catrina and the hooded figure stopped their argument, as they turned their head to see what the ruckus was all about. Upon seeing Spike taking form of a dragon, they were more shocked.

"IT'S A DRAGON!!" Catrina exclaimed, before she was hit with a flaming fireball, that sent her off her feet.

"Catrina!" The hooded figure gasped, as he ran over to help her up, only to be ungratefully knocked to the side.

"Don't just stand there you fools! CATCH THEM!!!" Catrina ordered.

The leopard thugs all growled, as they aggressively pounced after the boys who split up. Most of the thugs ran after Spike, who scaled up some vats, with the leopards following. Once at the top, Spike was struggling not to fall of the rails, as the leopards closed in on him. Fortunately, he quickly remembered another training he had from Scorpan for a situation, such as this.

With that, he quickly took the leopard thugs by surprise, as he skillfully dodged their attacks, knocking them into the vat's content, while being careful not to fall in himself.

Capper, meanwhile, quickly ran through several stacks of barrels, with the thugs giving chase. Thinking fast, Capper pulled a peg loose, from a rail that kept some barrels from rolling. It wasn't long before the thugs were bombarded by an avalanche of barrels.

"You incompetent fools!" Catrina bellowed, before Spike suddenly appeared, and snatched a vial of potion next to her.

"I'll take that!" Spike said, before he made a jump for it, with the potion.

"NO!!!" Catrina yowled, as she failed to retrieve the potion. She watched, as Spike and Capper made their hasty escape through the door. "AFTER THEM!!" Catrina ordered, as the leopard thugs all got back up on their feet and gave chase, while the hooded figure suddenly changed into a huge pterodactyl as he flew after the boys.

Spike and Capper looked behind them to see they're being pursued.

"They're gaining on us!" Spike exclaimed.

"Not us!" Capper countered. "You! They want the potion!"

"Okay then, you take it!" Spike said, throwing the potion to Capper.

Soon, the thugs set their sights on Capper, who quickly tossed the potion back at Spike, who caught it, while avoiding the talons of the pterodactyl, as he tossed it back to Capper. Apparently, this became a whole new version of the game: Monkey in the Middle.

"Capper! Go long!" Spike shouted, as he tossed a final throw towards the cat.

"I got it, I got it!" Capper said, before he caught the potion, with the pterodactyl's talons locking its grip on it at the same time. "Now he got me!"

With a screech, the pterodactyl flapped its wings, preparing to fly away, "Let him go, ya flying turkey!" With a jump, followed by a kick, Spike launched himself off a wall, and flew in the air, and breathed fire on the bird, forcing it to release its grip on Capper, who fell into a wheelbarrow below. "You okay, Capper?" Spike asked.

"Sure, if you define okay for, serious back pain!" Capper groaned, before his eyes widened. "DINO-HAWK!!"

Spike looked behind him, and his eyes widened to see the pterodactyl and leopard men closing in for another kill. Without wasting another second, Spike started to push the wheelbarrow, carrying Capper within it. With the leopard thugs following close, the boys made a narrow escape, out of the warehouse, while the pterodactyl took to the sky.

Eventually, both Capper and Spike made it back to town. Unfortunately, they were cut off by the pterodactyl, who quickly dived in for the attack. Thinking fast, Spike made a sharp turn, and into an alley, leaving the pterodactyl to crash into one of the leopard thugs, while the others chased the boys.


[Project A - Jackie Chan's Bicycle Fight]


Spike pushed the wheelbarrow down an alleyway, with Capper knocking on a side door, on the way.

"Who is it?" The occupant called, before they opened up the door's top-half, and slammed it straight into one of the thug's face.

Just then, a random siamese cat came walking out from the side, while carrying a large ladder. Thinking fast, Capper jumped over the ladder, and back into the wheelbarrow, just as Spike came out from under the ladder.

"Watch where ya going, ya fool!" The cat meowed.

"Same to you, pal!" Capper spatted back.

"Out of the way! Out of the way!" One of the thug cried, but too late. He crashed into the ladder, after the cat had inadvertently used it as a makeshift shield.

Spike and Capper were speeding down an alleyway, when Capper looked up ahead to see it goes downhill, and up to a ramp.

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!" Spike and Capper both speeded downhill, before they flew up on the ramp. "AAAAAHHHH!!!!! Both boys screamed, as they both jumped off the flying wheelbarrow, and onto the face of a clocktower, grabbing the hand that was pointing 12.

"Hey, are those two hooligans going to die?" An old cat asked the other.

"No, why?" The other old cat asked.

"Because it looks like their time is up!" With that, the two elderly cats burst out laughing.

Spike and Capper were holding on for dear life, when the clock strikes nine. With that, the bell in the tower rang nine time, emitting a loud thunderous noise.

Losing their grip, the boys plunged to the ground, and would've landed with a loud splat, had it not been for an umbrella roof that stood in between the boys and the ground. The boys bounced on the roof, and back up in the air.

With quick reflex, Capper was able to land on his feet, "Ta-da!" Capper hollered in triumphant, before Spike landed on him.

"Whoa, great catch, Capper!" Spike panted in relief. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Capper groaned.

"What is going on here?" A guard asked, arriving on the scene.




Present


"Wow, that's quite the adventure you guys had," Rainbow smiled.

"Yeah, and looking back on it, I guess that explains something for me," Spike said.

"Explains what, amigo?" Capper asked.

"Why I would often have a dream where I'm falling down, at the sound of a clocktower ringing," Spike answered, to which Capper nodded in acknowledgement.

"So then what happened?" Pinkie asked. "What did you boys do with the witchweed potion?"

"What about Countess Catrina?" Twilight asked. "What happened to her?"

"And is it true that Catrina's secretly a vampire? And that she would often take baths in witchweed potion to fuel her evil powers?" Pinkie asked.

"Well after escaped her goons, ya can just imagine how furious she was," Capper smirked. "She was so mad, ya can practically hear her screaming a mile away. We knew we couldn't simply rat her out to justice, considering her high influence as a countess, and the fact she would come after us. So here's what we did...."





Past


Spike and Capper's backs were up against the walls, as they find themselves cornered, by the thugs.

"What do we do now?" Spike asked.

Capper looked at the young prince, incredulous, "You are a fire breathing dragon, right?" he asked.

"Oh yeah," Spike replied, blushing at having forgotten the obvious.

The leopards were advancing on the two, but stopped in bewilderment, when Capper stood before them, while holding Spike, like a gun.

"Say hello to my little friend!" With a cartoonish gesture, Capper cocked Spike, making clicking noises of a gun, before the dragon started breathing green flames at the leopards, roasting their faces, and buttocks. "Ha ha ha ha!" Capper laughed like a crazed maniac.

"Don't get too excited, Capper!" Spike muttered.

"Sorry," Capper said sheepishly. "It's just, I've never had this much fun in years!"

'For you perhaps,' Spike thought.

From her balcony, Catrina grabbed the hooded figure and threw him, "Stop them, Rex!"

With a spin of their cloak, the hooded figure changed into a huge tyrannosaurus rex.

"Stay still," Capper said to Spike. "His visions depends on movements."

"......That's only a myth," Rex said bluntly.

"Apparently, he can hear you talking to me," Spike said to the cat, before the boys made a run for their life.

"Don't make me do this boys!" Rex roared, while snapping his jaws repeatedly.

"Quick! Over there!" Spike pointed to a small corner in a nearby building, where they remained out of reach from the dinosaur's jaws, and arms.

"What's going on?" Catrina yelled. "Why aren't you grabbing them?"

"I've got a big head, and two little arms," Rex replied, before he turned himself into a deinonychus, and roared, "Game's over, boys!"

"Then let's play my new favorite game - GO FISH!!" With that, Capper held out Spike, who transfigured into a puffer fish.

With a large deflation, Spike spewed hot sauce into the dinosaur's eyes, blinding him, "AH!!!" Rex shook his head violently, before he turned himself back into his hooded figure form. "My eyes! AH!!!!"

"ARRRRGGH!!!" Catrina yowled in frustration, before she leapt off her perch. "I'll do it, myself!" With a gigantic leap, Catrina landed with a loud thud, before Capper and Spike, and knocked the boys to the side. "Give me my potion, and I'll make your demise quick and painless!"

"Y'know, you really need to work on your interrogation skills," Capper said to the countess. "Because, who would want to comply with your demands, if they know you're going to kill them later? Y'know what I'm saying?"

"ENOUGH!!!" Catrina roared, sounding like a tiger.

"Why do you even want the witchweed potion, anyway?" Spike asked. "Don't you know there's a strict regulations for these things? And it's illegal!"

"Sometimes, you have to make a small sacrifice for the greater goods!" Catrina replied. "Besides, the King and Queen will thank me later, once I saved us all from the Storm King's Armada with my witchweed potions."

"But you don't know how these things work!" Spike replied. "They're uncontrollable! And the effects are unpredictable!"

"Doesn't matter! I'm doing this to protect Panthera, and all of Abyssinia! And there's nothing you boys can do to stop me!"

"You're right," Capper replied. "But I'm sure the King and Queen would, along with Spike's mom, Princess Celestia."

"Well, it's my words, against yours."

"I don't think so," Spike smirked. "Hit it, Flare!"

With that, the unicorn guard played a magical recording of what Catrina had said, "Ooh, looks like it's your words against yours," Capper snarked. "It's called a hustle sweetheart. Boom!"

Before Catrina knew it, she was swarmed with guards, both of Panthera and Equestria.





Present


"And that's how me and my buddy, Spike, defeated Countess Catrina," Capper smirked.

"Wow," Everyone, besides Fleur, gasped in admiration.

"That was AWESOME!!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"And smart," Twilight noted. "I never thought about taking a villain like that before."

"Well, we do make an awesome team, don't we?" Capper asked, specifically towards Spike and Fleur.

"Oh yeah, we do," Fleur grumbled. "Before one of us backstabbed the other!"

"Though next time, you can be the weapon, and I'll be the fighter," Spike said.

"So what happened to Countess Catrina?"





Past


Despite calls for Catrina's execution, the countess was banished from the city forever.

"Very well," Catrina glowered. "But understand this. What I did, I did for Abyssinia and its people. Mark my words, when the Storm King comes, you'll be sorry!"

In response, King Thomas pointed Catrina away, who begrudgingly complied, together with her thugs, and Rex.





Present


"Wow, that's kinda harsh," Applejack spoke honestly.

"Well if you ask me, she should be grateful that we let her live," Capper spoke. "Besides, it was her crazy idea to even consider using witchweed potions to begin with."

"Tell me about it!" Twilight slammed her hoof. "I mean, what kind of megalomaniac would even consider resorting to powerful dark magics?! They're insane!" In response, Sunset and Starlight both cleared their throats, while holding up their hooves with the Shadowbolts mark, "Oh, no offense!"

Rolling their eyes, Sunset and Starlight frowned, "None taken."

"Well I for one think it's good that you two got straightened out," Spike said, as he walked over and placed his hands on both former bad girls' shoulders, reassuringly. "Without you, we'd never have won the fight, and still have this beautiful day today."

Sunset and Starlight looked at Spike, feeling touched by his words, "Aw, thanks Spike," Starlight smiled, as she hugged Spike. "It's nice of you to stand up for us."

"You're just too sweet," Sunset joined in. 'Why would we ever want to hurt a soul like you?' She thought.

"Hey!" Rainbow barked. "Reformed or not, you don't get to hold Spike close!"

"Yeah! That's my job!" Pinkie pounced.

"No, I do a better job!" Rainbow spatted.

"Y'all are a bunch of crazy filly!" Applejack said, as she lunged in.

"Um, can we please, settle down?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh, what a bunch of immature-" Twilight was cut off, when she was hit by flying cupcake. "Oh, so that's how it is, huh?"

Soon, the girls all attacked, as they fought over Spike, who was struggling to escape. He couldn't even sneak his way out, without triggering Fluttershy's puppy love.

Fleur couldn't help but giggle, while Capper scratched his chin in amusement, "Interesting," He said.





Later, Spike and Capper were out, sitting on a wall, while gazing up at the moon.

“Wow, such a beautiful night,” Capper said. “Your auntie Luna really knows her night, doesn’t she?”

“She certainly did,” Spike agreed. “Where’ve you been during the whole Shadowbolt’s fiasco with Nightmare Smooze is the real question.”

Capper chuckled, before he explains, “Let’s just say that I was taking care of some business with the Cerulean Hunters and my old friend, Verko.”





[Star Wars Cantina]


Capper was about to leave the bar until he runs into a green furred Griffin armed with a crossbow.

"Going somewhere Capper?" The griffin asked, pointing his crossbow at the feline.

"Yes Greedo, as a matter of fact I was just about to see the big mole himself," Capper replied calmly as he was forced to sit back down with the griffin, now known as Greedo, sat at the other end of the table, "Tell Verko that I've got his money."

"It's too late," The griffin said, "You should have paid the boss while you had the chance. He's put a price on you're head so big, bounty hunters on both worlds will be looking for you." Greedo chuckled, "Luckily I found you first before bigshots like Bloodshot or Tempest Shadow did." He finished.

"Yeah but this time I got the money." Capper said, playing it cool slowly reaching for the back pocket of his jacket.

"If you give it to me, I might forget that I found you." Greedo said, not entirely convinced of the words coming out of the Abyssinian's mouth.

"I don't have with me at the moment," Capper said, while slowly pulling out what looks like a revolver out from his back pocket, the handgun looks different from the other revolvers as it's white with blue trimmings, has a longer barrel that reads Lola on it, has 10 chambers instead of the usual 6 or 8, and has a certain logo of two dogs and an eagle on the hilt, "Tell Verko-"

"Verko's through with your crap Capper," Greedo interrupted, "He's got no time for failures who would give up important packages to the Cerulean Hunters."

"Even I have my limits okay. I like to see you try to outrun 4 divisions, a flock of Cerulean Vultures,anda pack of mech suit wearing fleabags! It was either give them the package, which whatever it was in there by the way, they werereallydetermined to get their mits on it, or get a one way ticket to the Crimson Citadel, or at the very least one of their holding facilities. You think I had that much of a choice?" Capper angrily asked.

"You can tell that to Verko when I take you to him." The green furred griffin replied.

"Over my dead body." Capper said narrowing his eyes.

"That's the idea," Greedo said smugly, "I've been looking forward to this for a long time." He finished, about ready to shoot his crossbow.

"Yeah I bet you have..."

BANG

Greedo, now lifeless, falls head first on the the table. Everyone in the bar jumped at the sound of gunfire but quickly returned to their routine.

"I knew keeping you was a good idea," Capper said to the gun, before blowing some smoke from the barrel and putting it back in his pocket. He then walks over to the dead griffin and takes a bag of bits, he then tosses it at the barkeep, "Sorry for the mess." He said in a casual tone as he takes his leave.





Present


Spike looked at his cat friend, wide yes, and jaws agape, "Remind me to never get on your bad side," He said.

Capper chuckled, "Don't worry, D-Man," He winked. “You won't be seeing him anytime soon," He reassured. "But enough about me,” Capper began. “Tell me more about yourself. Words on the street says you’ve been quite the ladies’ man.”

Spike rolled his eyes, “Don’t believe everything you hear, Capper.”

“I don’t have to,” Capper smirked. “That display of affections I saw back there says it all.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So you’re either stepping up your games, or I must be contagious because you’re catching charming like it was a cold.”

“Whatever.”

“You really don’t let yourself enjoy these things, do you?”

“I enjoy! Sometimes. It’s just, don’t forget, I’ve been gone for ten years. I still have duties, and I’ve got so much work to make up for.”

“It’s not just work you need to make up. It’s the girls who are overdue for some bonding time with their favorite prince you know. They’re practically crying their hearts out for you, begging you to just sweep them off their feet, carry them off in style. And besides, after that whole fear plague y'all had to go through, then their prince in shining armor is just what the love doctor ordered.”

“Then, what do I do? Bear in mind, they’re all my friends, and I like each and every single one of them. It’s kinda hard to pick just one.”

“Who says you have to bond with only one?” Capper leapt off the wall and landed perfectly on his feet. “You can just pick the right time and place for a special outing for each of them. Or have them decide, whichever comes first. Think on that, my friend. Adios, amigo.”






A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

I couldn't see what was

Right there in front of me

Turned my back

Got my mind off track

Yeah

You saw a world that was

Something new entirely

Helped me to see

All the possibilities

Oooohhhhh....

Like a star in the day light

Or like a diamond at night

Your light was hidden

From my sight

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

Every friendship is tested

You say you're sincere

But it's all unclear now

But with a word

Everything changes

And just like that

You and I are right back

Oohhh....

Like a star in the day light (Star in the day light)

Or like a diamond at night (Diamond at night)

Your light will shine

When the time is right

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

When I put my hand out

And I thought I would fall

You knew what I needed

And you came around

To fix it all

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

Ooohh-wa-ooohh

(Like a star in the day light)

A friend for life (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

That's what you are to me (ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohh)

(Like a diamond at night)

Ah-ah-oh, ah-ah-ohhh

That's what you are to me

> New Classmates. New Clubs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[You Are My Equestria Girls ]

Ah-oh-oh(2x)
You are my Equestria Girls!

I met you when the light switched on,
It brightens up my day, like the sun,
And my friends come out running.

You were right, all along,
Got together, we’re always better!

We can turn this sketch into a masterpiece!
When you’re here, I feel like I’m complete!

You are my Equestria Girls!

End of Song


Spike’s eyes burst open, as he wakes up from his dream. Looking around, he was disappointed that it was still night time. 

Even more disappointed that he was by himself, without the girls.

“Aw man!” He groaned, flopping back down in bed.



The next morning, Spike arrived to school with the Bearers of Harmony, before they went their separate ways. On the way to his first class, he was greeted by Sunset Shimmer.

"Konnichi wa, Spike," Sunset greeted.

"Konnichi wa, Sunset," Spike returned the greeting, before he took notice of the former bad girl's new threads.

Sunset stood before him, wearing a sparkling bluish-green shirt, with a translucent yellow skirt at the bottom, teal pants, a new leather jacket over, and an orange pendant with her cutie mark of the blazing sun decorated. Spike couldn't help but find himself entranced.

"Whoa, nice threads, Sunset," Spike commented.

"Thanks," Sunset blushed, rubbing her arm shyly. "Rarity helped me with it."

"For a special occasion, or something?" Spike asked, while hoping he's not getting too personal.

"Oh, nothing in particular," Sunset grinned shyly. "Well, actually, I am going to show some new students around Celestial High School, and thought I should at least look good doing it."

"Well if it makes you feel better, I know you'll do a splendid job," Spike complimented.

"Aw, thanks Spike," Sunset blushed as they walked to their first class together.





Later, during lunch period, Sunset and Spike were enjoying their meals, with the Knights. Rumble has a special announcement to make.

"Principal Raven Inkwell has approved my idea for the Fighting Wondercolts Club!" Rumble announced excitedly.

"Did she now?" Spike asked.

"What exactly is the Fighting Wondercolts Club?" Sunset asked.

"It's just a place where we can all get together," Rumble began. "A place where we practice sparring against each other, learn a few tricks from one another, learn the history of martial arts, their use for self-defense, the moral of it, that kind of stuff."

"Sounds like my kind of club," Spike smiled.

"That's what we like to hear from you, Spike," Rumble said. "Because we were wondering if you could come over later this afternoon, to give the participants there a live demonstration at what a martial artist like you can do!"

Spike scratched his chin, pondering at Rumble's suggestion, "I don't know," Spike replied.

"Aw c'mon, Spike," Button pleaded. "All you gotta do is do more of those awesome Shaolin forms, some karate chops, falcon punches, and shout your 'Hi-Yahs!' That kind of stuff."

"I think you'll give a great demonstration," Sunset insisted, supportingly. "Besides, everybody would all love to see a live demonstration of martial arts from the Dragon Prince," She said, giving a smirk and a teasing nudge at the last part.

Spike chuckled, while rubbing the spot where Sunset nudged him, "C'mon, Spike," Rumble asked again. "It'll be a blast!"

Rolling his eyes, knowing his athlete friend will never let him live it down, Spike answered, "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

"Sunset Shimmer!" Principal Inkwell announced. "Please report to the main foyer!"

"Gotta go!" Sunset said. "I volunteered to show some new students around."

"Okay, see ya," Spike and the Knights waved as the fiery girl left.

Meanwhile, Snips and Snails secretly heard the conversation, and decided to stalk Sunset for the moment.





Main Foyer


A few new students were standing in the designated area, waiting for their guide to come.

At last, Sunset Shimmer arrived, as she walked over with a smile, "Hi! Are you three the new students I'm showing around?" They are a boy and two girls. Two of whom are siblings.

"But of course," A familiar snooty boy answered, with a flick of his hair. "Your school appears to be in need of a new student of the highest quality to bring out the beauty of it. Presenting me, Prince Vladimir Blueblood."

In human form, Prince Blueblood looks vaguely similar to how he appeared as a pony, with the obvious exception that he now appeared human, and simple wore a seemingly expensive white tuxedo, with a rose in a single pocket, on the left of his chest.

Sunset looked at the boy, shooting him a deadpan look, "Uh huh," Turning her attention to the other two, she asked, "And you are?"

"I'm Moonlight Raven," A goth girl introduced herself, flatly. In appearance, Moonlight Raven has brilliant amber eyes, with grayish persian blue eyeshadows, framed by a long dark blue hair that was don up with neat curls on all ends, and matching lipsticks. Her main attires is a black jacket, over a sparkling black shirt, with matching knee socks, and boots.

Standing next to Moonlight is her her complete opposite, "And I'm Sunshine Smiles!" The bright girl introduced herself excitably, as she grasped Sunset's hand, and vigorously shakes it. "It's such a pleasure to meet you!"

In appearance, Sunshine Smiles has moderate lime green eyes that appeared brightly lit, a long ruffled light brilliant yellow hair with paler yellows in her hair. For attires, she was wearing a hot pink shirt, with lone sleeves, with the front colored white, and displaying an image of an exploding star, a mini-skirt with a gradient of sky blue and grassy green from the top to the bottom, respectively, and white sparkling go-go boots. The only accessory she has is a single flower hair pin, in her hair.

Snips and Snails were poking from behind a column, when their eyes nearly flew out of their sockets, at the sight of the two new girls.

"It's our lucky day, Snails!" Snips smiled. "Not just one new girl!"

"But two new girls!" Snails finished, before both boys quickly ran up to the new students, presenting themselves beside Sunset.

"Snips? Snails?" Sunset asked in bewilderment.

“Do you need some guides?!” Snips and Snails asked eagerly. “Because we’d totally-“

"Volunteering alongside Ms. Shimmer?" An all too familiar voice spoke, causing the boys to wince as they turned their heads to see Professor Flintheart, standing over them. "I trust you two troublemakers won't be giving my nieces too much griefs on their first day?"

"Oh as a matter of fact, we're-" Snips stopped mid sentence, as he and Snails looked at the two girls with Sunset, and back again at Flintheart. "D-D-D-Did you say nieces?!"

"That's us!" Sunshine smiled, before she waved at the strict professor, "Hi Uncle Flinty!"

Professor Flintheart simply cleared his throat, "Don't call me, Flinty!" He muttered.

"Hello Uncle Flintheart," Moonlight greeted, flatly.

Blueblood looked up at the strict professor, "Oh my, I think I see where Moonlight Raven gets her....exotic taste of fashion."

"I'd watch my tongue, if I were you, Mr. Blueblood," Flintheart said sternly. "Your aunt has warned us a lot about you. You may behave like a prince in this school, but that does not make us all your subject."

Blueblood rolled his eyes, dismissing the man's words, "Humph. I say, this school is absolutely no place for someone as  respectable as I."

"Even as respectable as Princess Twilight and Spike the Dragon Prince?" Sunshine asked in excitement.

"Whoa, whoa, what?!" Snips and Snails shouted, while Sunset winced, hoping it doesn't attract some unwanted attentions. She tensed, as if feeling some students around them giving strange looks in their ways, because of the titles.

Blueblood looked irked at the mention of his least favorite adopted cousin.

"Twilight Sparkle and Spike Draco?" Professor Flintheart asked. "Our celebrities? Who cares?" He said dismissively at the last part, before he turned to Blueblood and his nieces. "Now while the day is still young, Ms. Shimmer and these two imbecilic bunglers shall show you around." As fast as lightning, Professor Flintheart makes a quick grab for both Snips and Snails, lifting the two boys up to this face, "I'm warning you boys now. Any words from my nieces, and your families will be hearing from me."

Snips and Snails both gulped in fear, "Y'know, on second thought," Snips began, frightful. "If it makes you feel better, professor. We'll just um-"

"Be leaving!" Snails added. "Yeah, we'll just leave your nieces with Sunset!"

Still giving the boys a disapproving scowl, Flintheart released the boys, before he pointed them away, "Get out!!" He ordered, to which the two boys frightfully complied.

“That was close!” Snails panted.

“Too close for comfort!” Snips hyperventilated. “We were that close to being related to Professor Flintheart!”

“Oh, such cruel irony!” Snails moaned. “How could two hot, beautiful, sexy chicks be related to someone so evil, cold, and cruel?!”

“Can you imagine what our life would be like, if we ever hook up with Professor Flintheart’s neices?!” Snips asked. "Our lives would never be the same again!"

"I know!" Snails moaned. "We won't ever get to do anything fun with Professor Flintheart constantly watching us, behind our backs!"

"We'll never get to have the weekends all to ourselves!" Snips frowned. "We'll never get to ogle chicks the same way again!"

"We can't even keep those magazines we've been hiding under our bed if that evil wizard of a professor moves in with us!" Snails added. 

"Or even worse," Snips moaned. "We'd have our own TV show, starring us, and Professor Snape!"





Snips n Snails n Snape!







Harry Potter boggart fans alert!





“AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!” The two boys wailed in horror.

"I don't think I'll ever fall in love again," Snails groaned.

"This will haunt me for the rest of my life!" Snips moaned. "Or yours, if I don't live long enough."

Shaking out of their funk, Snails turned to Snips, “Let’s make an unbreakable vow!” Snails began. “That until the day we die, we find the perfect girls for both of us! And they have to be sexy too! And they’ll having loving parents, like the Plastic's mom from Mean Girl!”

“And definitely not related to that guy!” Snips added, pointing to Professor Flintheart.

"Unbreakable vow?!" Snails asked.

"Unbreakable vow!" Snips agreed, as he and Snails both shook on it.









Meanwhile


"I'm sorry you have to see the way our uncle behaved back there," Moonlight apologized, flatly. "Sometimes, he's just too much."

“Oh, Uncle Flinty’s not such a bad guy!” Sunshine chirped. “He’s actually a lot of fun when you get to know him!”

"Forgive me," Sunset replied. "But I find that very hard to believe."

Blueblood simply huffed, "Humph! As long as I get some due respects, I simply couldn't care less."

Soon, the four were all walking around the school, getting to know certain rooms.

"That's the science lab," Sunset Shimmer pointed to one of the room, before she pointed to another. "Computer lab is in there."

Just then, Spike came passing by, with the Knights, carrying stacks of flyers. The two girls stopped in their tracks as they glanced at the familiar green-hair.

"Omigosh!" Sunshine exclaimed. "Is that him?!"

Sunset turned, looking in the sunny girl's direction, "Who? Bulk Biceps?" She asked, pointing to the buff athlete.

"No! Not him!" Sunshine replied, before she clarifies, "Him! Is that Prince Spike?!"

Blueblood, once more, snapped out of his snooty mood, at the mention of his hated cousin's name, "What? Spike?!" He hissed in disgust.

"Oh yeah, that's him," Sunset answered. "Though, here he's-" Too late. Sunshine Smiles was already gone, leaving a regretful Sunset behind, with Moonlight Raven, and an irked Blueblood. "Wait! Sunshine! Wait!"

"Prince Spike! Prince Spike!" The girl called out, which didn't go unheard for Spike, and most of the students present.

"What?!" Spike asked, looking back, and was greeted at the sudden appearance of a brightly, happy girl, who pounced, "BWAH!!!" Spike screamed, as he was tackled to the floor, in a death gripping hug.

"Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh, omigosh, Prince Spike!" Sunshine smiled, hugging Spike close. "I'm so happy to finally meet you! You're even cuter than all the other girls say you are!!"

Remembering an escape technique Scorpan once taught him, Spike manages slip free from Sunshine's excited grip, before he got up and dusted himself. Sunshine was about to go for another lunge, had Sunset not stopped her.

"Sorry, Spike," Sunset smiled on the girl's behalf. "This is Sunshine Smiles. She's one of the new students I'm showing around."

"Oh, pleased to meet you Sunshine," Spike greeted, extending his hand out for a handshake.

With an excited squeal, Sunshine grabbed Spike by the hand, shakes it, while letting out a high pitch fan-girl squeal.

"As you can see," Sunset winced, as she and everyone else all covered their ears. "She's very excited to meet you."

"So I noticed," Spike replied, while covering his ears. 'Curse me for having super hearing,' He thought.

"I'm also excited to meet you, Prince Spike," Moonlight spoke flatly, walking up to the boy. "I'm Moonlight Raven. Pleasure to meet you."

Spike looked at Moonlight, then at her hand, before he shook it, "Nice to meet you too, Moonlight," He greeted. "But, I'm afraid you girls mistook me for another prince. I'm just Spike Draco." He said, trying to feign obliviousness.

Sunshine simply giggled, "Oh, Spike! You old charmer!"

"It is such a pleasure to meet you, your majesty," Moonlight added, with a smile smile, bowing her head.

"It's so amazing to meet you in person, your majesty!" Sunshine smiled.

Spike shook his head, "No, seriously, I'm-"

"And cut!" Featherweight quickly shouted, before he looked to all of the students present. "It's all part of a play, you see. We're just rehearsing for a show that we're going to put on you see. It's a work in progress."

Luckily, the other students all bought it, as they resumed their routine.

Before Sunshine or Moonlight could say anything else, Spike, Sunset, and the Knights quickly brought them over to the side, with Blueblood following.

Spike quickly shushed the girls, "If you please, around here, it's just Spike Draco," He explained. "I'm kinda trying to keep a low-profile in this world."

"Too bad, since you're practically a celebrity here, since day one," Button noted.

"Not helping, Button," Spike hissed.

"Humph! Finding it hard to embrace your title as prince, are you cousin?" Blueblood huffed. "Pathetic."

"Well I see you haven't changed a bit," Spike said, giving Blueblood a deadpan expression.

"And what do I need to change for?" Blueblood asked, still holding his head high. "You can't change perfections, you know."

"I agree," Sunshine giggled. "You're perfect for comic relief!"

"Why thank you, miss," Blueblood grinned smugly, before he did a double take. "Wait, what?"

Ignoring his cousin, Spike gently brushed the two girls off, "Anyway, lovely to meet you ladies," He said, while shaking their hands. "But me and the guys, we need to get going, and put up some flyers for our new club."

"A club?!" Sunshine Smiles asked. "What kind of club?"

"The Fighting Wondercolts Club!" Rumble answered, as he brought out one of the flyers he and the guys were about to put up.

"Fighting Wondercolts?" Blueblood asked, raising an eyebrow, when the school bell rang.

"Oh! That's our bell!" Spike said, as he and the Knights simply handed the flyers to the new students. "Anyway, if you're interested, just meet us in the gym, after school! Bye!" With that, Spike and his boys took off to their next class, leaving Sunset and the new students alone.

Blueblood looked down at the flyer, before he cringed in disgust, "Like I would be willing to get my hands dirty, humph!" He snorted.

Sunshine Smiles and Moonlight Raven, however, looked at the flyer, with growing interests.



 

Later that afternoon


After the school bell rang, signaling the end of the school, many of the students all flooded for the exit, eager to get home for some plans they had for the evening. Meanwhile, most of the other students all stayed behind to participate in some clubs.

Spike, of course, is among those students, as he walked down to the gym, with his posse.


[Fatboy Slim - Kung Fu Fighting Dance(Remix)]


Upon arrival, they found more than they bargained, "Holy guacamole!!" Spike and the Knights exclaimed, to see almost half of the school’s students were there, eager to begin the club.

"Wow, I guess everybody's kung-fu fighting, huh?" Button asked.

"No kidding," Tender replied.

"Hey Spike," A few school girls greeted, as they passed the boy.

Another girl turned her head, and waved to Spike, "Hey cutie," She winked, flirtatiously.

Pretty soon, the boys realized the number of the audience consisted mostly of girls. And they've practically outnumbered the boys.

"That, or they just wanted to come, because their 'Prince Charming' would be here," Rumble said in sarcasm.

"Eeyup," Spike said flatly, before both he and the Knights made their way to the center of the gym.

On the way, they happened upon the Elements' Bearers, "Hi-ya, Spike!" Pinkie greeted.

"Oh, hey Pinkie!" Spike greeted, before he was suddenly bombarded with several greetings from more of the school girls. 

Finally, the boys made it to the center, where Rumble stood up on a podium, and spoke in a microphone, "Welcome, everyone, to the first ever meeting of the newly established Fighting Wondercolts Club!" Rumble spoke, earning a whole round of applause from the students participating. "First of all, I'm sure you're aware, no doubt to what this club is all about. It's a place where we practice sparring together, to learn the martial arts, which we will use to protect ourselves! Given to the crime rates this city has been enduring."

"They're not kidding!" Pinkie spoke up. "One time, they almost got kidnapped by the Diamond Dog Gang!" Everyone all gasped in fright, at the revelation.

"Goodness! How did you guys escaped?!" A girl named Sweet Biscuit asked.

"Well, we would've been goners," Button replied. "If it hadn't been for a pound of secret weapon, packed with Kung-Fu, butt kicking action, we liked to call, Spike the Dragon!"

The students all gasped, as they looked at Spike, who was feeling uncomfortable from the looks he was receiving.

"Whoa! Is that true?!" A Junior Athlete asked.

Spike scratched the back of his head, "Well, I don't like to brag, or-"

"Oh yeah! He beat them alright!" Rainbow exclaimed. "We were there, when it happened!"

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight whispered, harshly.

"What? I'm just being honest," Rainbow replied.

"That's my department, Sugarcube," Applejack grumbled.

"How'd you do it?" Another student asked Spike.

"Exactly what we're going to teach you guys and gals here," Spike replied. "This is what we're all here for. To train ourselves, in case we ever needed to defend ourselves, from gangsters, crooks, or any violent criminals. So that when they try to attack us, then we will strike back!"

"YEAH!!!" Bulk Bicep hollered.

"So, what's the first lesson?" An athlete asked, excitedly.

Before the boys could speak up, a loud whistle was heard, and Iron Will came stomping out of the room, "To the fields! On the double! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!"

With that, the students all complied, as they did what the coach instructed them to do.

"Coach Iron Will?" Spike asked. "What's he doing here?"

"Apparently, Principal Raven Inkwell's okay with the club, as long as Coach Iron Will was supervising it," Rumble sighed.

"Oh no, say it ain't so," Spike muttered.





The students were later changed into their sports uniforms, as they stood out in a field, full of sports equipments, and some obstacle courses.

"Now attention cadets!" Iron Will began. "In order for you to learn the martial arts, you must make your body like art!"

"Make our body like art?" A thin nerdy boy with glasses, named Gizmo, stuttered.

"That's right, cadet!" Iron Will bellowed, as he grabbed Gizmo by the arm, and held it out. "Look at yourself! You've got skinny little twigs for arms! Why, if you try blocking a brick, YOU'LL SNAP LIKE A TWIG!!" Gizmo couldn't help but look down in shame.

"So here's the plan!" Iron Will hollered. "We'll split up into groups! Group A - You're the inexperienced, and the weak. You'll be doing push-ups, pull-ups, stretches, weightlifting, bodybuilding and runs around the school ground. Group B - You're the athletes of Iron Will's eyes. You'll be working on your strikes and blocks. Sparring is recommended. Group C - You'll be making sure Group A follows Iron Will's orders, and no slacking! Any questions?" Snips and Snails both raised their hands, "Good! NOW MOVE OUT!!"

With that, everyone all split up in the groups Iron Will had assigned them in. Snips and Snails, of course, were in Group A. Though they faced some struggles, they do find some enjoyments.

"Whoa, Snips!" Snails spoke, as he was doing push-ups, and pointed to some girls doing stretches nearby. "Check them chicks out!"

Snips looked, and his expression was the same as Snail's as he couldn't help but pant at the sight of the girls' behinds, as they did some straddle stretches, together with some other aerobic exercises that showed off their well-endowed bods.

"Oh yeah," Snips moaned, enjoying the show.

"HEY!!" Iron Will shouted, snapping the two jokers out of their trance. "Keep that up, and you'll be doing fifty laps around the school!"

With that, Snips and Snails quickly went back to their exercises.

Zephyr Breeze soon came up, jogging his legs up, next to the boys, "Come on, Rainbow! Look at me!" Zephyr called. "I'm jogging for ya! Rainbow!"

Rainbow Dash simply ignored Zephyr, as she was in the middle of a spar, with Spike. Needless to say, Zephyr was slightly appalled.


[Fighting Is Magic - Rainbow Dash Stage Theme]


Both Spike and Rainbow Dash were don up in special paddings for protections on the head, chest, arms, legs, and waist, as they both stood a distance from each other, in a fighting stance.

"Okay, Spike," Rainbow smirked confidently. "Time for a little re-match from that dodgeball game!"

"Bring it on, Dash," Spike challenged, waving his hand at the athletic girl.

Moving at the speed of sound, while shouting a kiai, Rainbow Dash threw a punch, which Spike was quick to block, deflecting it to the side, before he raised his arm up to block a high kick from Rainbow Dash, before he spins to the right to sweep the ground with his leg, only for Rainbow Dash to spin in the air, as she dodge the attack, then sweeps the floor with her legs, spinning in a counter-clockwise motion as if she was doing a flare breakdance move. Spike, however, evaded the attack, doing a backflip.

"You're faster than a speeding bullet," Spike complimented.

"I race with the wind, Spike," Rainbow replied. "As I will strike you down, like lighting strikes the same place twice. Hi-yah!"

Rainbow lunged forward, making multiple jabs at Spike, who quickly blocked them, with his hands in the shapes of scythes, "Fast, yes," He complimented, before he assumed the praying mantis stance. "Faster than a praying mantis?"

"Mantis, very good," Rainbow grinned. "For catching bugs. But not tigers!" With that, Rainbow shaped her hands into claws, as she did the tiger fighting stance, and performed several strikes of the said fighting style.

Most of the students all crowded around, watching the two fighters going at it.

"Look at them go," One student complimented.

"They're so evenly matched!"

"Get her, Spike!" Rumble cheered for his friend.

"TAKE HIM OUT, RAINBOW DASH!!" Pinkie cheered, while don up in a cheerleading uniform.

Within the crowd, Sunshine Smiles and Moonlight Raven watched the battle taking place.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Sunshine grinned excitedly. "Isn't Prince Spike amazing?"

"He's amazing, alright," Moonlight replied flatly. "But not invincible."

"I honestly don't care," Another fellow classmate said in admiration. "I like a fighter who displays great skills and strength, when in battle. I like a good challenge from that fighter."

In appearance, the girl appeared to be roughly Asian, with long flaming hair blowing in the wind, giving her the appearance that her head is on fire, with piercing orange eyes to add the ferocity of her appearance, framed by lime green eyeshadows. The girl was currently wearing sports uniform, like her fellow club attendants, only her's has a jade-green flaming them, at the sleeves, and around her chest, which took the form of a longma - Chinese winged horse with dragon scales.

"Tianhuo," The girl introduced herself, with a bow to the girls. "Nǐ hǎo."

"Oh, pleasure to meet you!" Twilight returned the greeting, along with the bowing gesture.

Rainbow and Spike continued to spar, before Rainbow was able to land an impact on Spike's stomach, knocking him off his feet. Spike quickly caught himself, as he launched himself up in the air, doing a flip, and landed on his foot, with his hands held out.

Rainbow lunged after Spike, in a flying kick, "Flying crane kick!" Spike shouted, as he thrusted his other leg out in a kick, intercepting Rainbow's kick, causing her to flip in the air.

Without the need of her wings, Rainbow curled her body up in a flip, before she landed on her feet. Soon, Rumble's stopwatch beeped, signaling the end of the fight. Both Spike and Rainbow put their hands together, as they bowed to each other, in respect.

"Good fight, Rainbow Dash," Spike said.

"Same to you, Spike," Rainbow said, as she gave Spike a playful noogie. "Glad to see that fighting dragon side of you!"

"Spike! Spike!" Sunshine Smiles & Moonlight Raven called, as they ran up to Spike.

"You rocked!" Sunshine Smiles shouted. "You were amazing!"

"You rocked," Moonlight Raven said flatly. "Whoo-hoo."

"And what am I? Chopped liver?" Rainbow frowned.

"Don't worry, Rainbow Dash," Spike comforted. "You're still 20% cooler to me. Though, I hoped our little show back there taught you gals, something," He said to the two girls.

"Sure do!" Sunshine grinned. "That you're both fast fighters!"

"You two fight well," Moonlight said, while showing a small smile.

Spike shook his head, "Don't worry, Spike," Rainbow said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's still first day."

"Rainbow's right," Twilight spoke. "As the old same goes. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

"I know," Spike replied.

"Oh, you're not hurt too bad, are you?" Fluttershy asked, as she examined both Rainbow Dash and Spike, for bumps and bruises.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy. We're okay," Spike assured.

"Yeah, it's not like we're trying to kill each other, or anything," Rainbow smirked. "Not as long as we're wearing these," She referred to the paddings.

"Well, while yer still standing, it's my turn to have some more fun with ya, Sugarcube," Applejack smirked, as she looked at Spike in the eyes. "I'd like to give ya a good kick, or two, after that dodgeball cheek of yours."

"Huh?" Spike whimpered, a little bit frightened.




Meanwhile, watching from the distance, Blueblood was watching how Spike was getting along with his friends.

"Oh, that dragon of a cousin of mine!" Blueblood fumed in disgust. "Look at him, having his way with my fair lady, Rarity! He's corrupting her! He's manipulating her! He's turning her into something that's not lady-like! Oh, just you wait, Lady Rarity! For I, Prince Vladímir Blueblood, shall rescue you, form the clutches of that dragon!" With that, Blueblood lets out an evil cackle.

"Hey you!" A senior athlete shouted. "Don't just stand there! Get to jogging!"

"I beg your pardon, were you addressing me?" Blueblood asked, with a look of indignity.

"Do you see anyone else, mister?" The athlete asked rhetorically. "Now get back and jog in place, like everybody else!"

"Excuse me? Who gives you the gall to-"

"I SAID NOW!!"

Next thing Blueblood knew, he was being forced by Iron Will himself, to jog with some other athletes.

"Oh, the humility," Blueblood groaned.

Watching from a distance, Discord and Thorax were matching on some popcorns, with Discord looking through a binocular, "Sometimes, I feel so bad for that guy," Discord grinned.





After his sparring with Rainbow Dash, and a bit with Applejack, Spike stood before his group, while holding a rubber counterfeit of a killer's knife, as he gives his lecture.

"Now here's an important lesson for all of you," Spike began. "And if Uncle Scorpan was here, he would say that is absolutely essential for all of you to remember this. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir!" The attendants all shouted.

With that, Spike had Rumble come up before the students, as he hands the rubber knife, to Rumble, before he resumed, "At anytime, at anyplace, there's a maniac, waiting for his chance to strike," He lectured. "So it's important that we remain vigilant, for when that happens. So say that I'm just minding my own business, when Rumble here, comes out at me with a knife. What do I do?"

"Scream and yell for help?" Fluttershy asked.

"Duck and cover?" Pinkie asked.

"Both?" Another student asked.

"Nope!" Big Mac answered, having taken attendance of the club.

"We fight back!" Spike answered. "Observed!" With that, Rumble and Spike acted the whole scenario out, before the club.

Rumble, while holding the knife in a certain way, was advancing upon Spike, who held his hand up, as if to say, "I don't want to fight." When Rumble continues to advance towards Spike, the dragon boy lowers his hands at the level of the knife, before at the last second, he grabbed Rumble's hand holding the knife, with one arm to hold the knife away from him, before Spike thrusted his other hand, at the wrist, breaking it, before he proceeds to turn the wrist holding the knife away. With that, Spike locked Rumble's arm, as he takes a step back, and throws the athlete boy to the ground, while still holding onto the hand that was wielding the knife.

"And as you can see, he's got a tight grip on the knife," Spike pointed. "But he can't hold on. So I push the knife against his fingers, and away." Spike said, as he disarms Rumble of his weapon.

Soon, Spike and Rumble both repeated the scenario again, before they handed out some more rubber knives for the rest of their fellow classmates to practice each other with. Spike and his friends all watched, as some of the students were struggling on their first try to mastering the disarming technique. Though, one in particular seemed to have passed with flying colors, from the start.

Spike was impressed, "Not bad," He complimented the student. "Fellow Tae Kwon Do student?"

"No," Tianhuo shook her head. "I'm a student of Shaolin Gongfu, believe it or not."

"Well, seeing the way you getting the technique down and all, I'd believe you," Spike smirked.

"You're not so bad yourself, Spike," Tianhuo smiled. "After watching your duel with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, I can see you having the skill of a true martial artist. And I can certainly respect that."

"Wow, thanks," Spike blushed, before he looked back at the girl. "Hey, I don't think I quite got your name."

"Oh, how rude of me," Tianhuo blushed. "I'm Tianhuo. I came from Beijing, China, with my parents after my father got a job  transferred here."

"Wow, in that case," Spike held his hands together, before he bowed in respect to Tianhuo. "Nǐ hǎo, Tianhuo."

Tianhuo couldn't help but smile, before she returned the gesture, "Nǐ hǎo, Spike."

Looking around, seeing the rest of their classmates continue with their sparring, and lessons in disarming knives, Spike turned back to Tianhuo, "Well, it's been nice meeting you, Tian," Spike began. "Um, is it okay if I call you, Tian? Y'know, as a sign of friendship, and affection. I mean, it's okay if you don't-"

"I'm okay with it," Tianhuo smiled. "In fact, I'm flattered," Blushing to the side, Tianhuo spoke, "Do you mind if I call you, Shenlong? You looked like a Shenlong."

"Hmmm," Spike thought. 'The spiritual imperial dragon of Chinese mythology, and the bringer of storm and rain,' Spike nodded his head, "I like that," Spike soon took his leave, "Well, again. It's nice knowing you, Tian. But I gotta go. Hey! Maybe we can spar with each other, some times later."

"I'll be waiting, Shenlong," Tianhuo smiled.
> A Day With The Bashful Butterfly
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


First a Message From Jackie Chan







This has been a Message From Jackie Chan






It was a bright sunny day. Fluttershy had just left her cottage to an animal sanctuary, named Sweet Feather's Sanctuary, all the while carrying a saddlebag of animal foods.

Upon arriving at the sanctuary, Fluttershy flapped her wings, gently coming in for a soft landing, “Come and get it!” Fluttershy called out to her animals, who all came running up to her, eager to receive their meals.

While feeding the animals, some birds came chirping up to Fluttershy, “Oh, good morning little friends," Fluttershy smiled. "Your singing is oh so pretty," In response, the birds all flew around, as they continue their chirping. "Yes it is a very beautiful day, today. Certainly something worth singing about,” Fluttershy said in agreement with the birds.

Before long, Fluttershy broke out, singing a lovely melody of her own.


There's Music In The Treetops





The animals all cheered, applauding when the buttercup pegasus came to the end of her song.

"Oh, thank you," Fluttershy blushed. "You're too kind."

"Bravo! Bravissimo! Encore!" a familiar voice called.

Fluttershy yelped in surprise, as she jumped around, and sees no pony, "W-W-Who said that?" Fluttershy asked in fear.

"Me! Down here!" The voice spoke again, to which Fluttershy complied, and saw it was only Spike, in dog form.

"Oh, Spike!" Fluttershy smiled, as she happily picked him up for a hug. "I'm so glad you could come over today!" Fluttershy smiled.

Spike returns the hug, as he morphs back in human form. "Like I’d pass up a chance to be with you?” He asked.

Fluttershy smiled, as she too morphs into her human form, resting her chin on Spike’s soft hair, while holding him close to her chest.

“And I’m always happy to see you again, my puppy!” She cooed, stroking his hair.

Aside from enjoying the tender feel of the shy girl’s loving embrace, Spike blushed from Fluttershy’s choice of nickname(Or in this case, pet name) for him.

‘I should be in dog mode more often,’ he thought, in arousal. That is until his rational side kicked in. ‘Keep it together, Spike!’ He berated himself. ‘Now's not the time!’

After having enough smothering, Spike and Fluttershy broke apart.

“So Fluttershy,” Spike began. “What other animal troubles do you need help on?”

Looking around, Fluttershy scratches her chin in thought, “Well....”





Spike was soon pushing a great big rain cloud, before he gave it a kick. In response, a huge shower of raindrops fell from the cloud, refilling a pond of water for some otters, ducks, geese, and swans to swim in.

After the job was done, Spike flapped his wings, gently gliding to the ground for a landing. At the same time, a sifaka lemur just leapt by, after eating a garbanzo bean.

Though it happened so fast, Spike could’ve sworn he heard the lemur screaming, “ZOBOOMAFOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Spike shrugged, as he flew off to continue his task on the animals’ care.

He changed some paddings for the animals' resting place. Later, he coaxed some bees in order to get the honeys, which he later gave to a bear named Harry. Just then, several wolf pups arrived, tugging on the dragon's tail, while showing a chew toy.

Before long, Spike, in dog form, was engaged in a tug-of-war, with the wolf pups.

Summoning all their strengths together, the pups all pulled on the rope, pulling Spike off his feet. Then, seizing their chance, the pups all crowded around Spike, showering the boy-turned-dog with affections.

“Wait! Stop! Wait!” Spike laughed, struggling to escape from the pups.

Watching from the distance, Fluttershy was laughing in amusement, charmed at the sight of the playful pups, while looking lovingly at Spike.

‘How can someone so brave and strong, be so cute and beautiful?’ She thought lovingly.

Then, a loud screech was heard, and Peewee came swooping in, rescuing Spike from the pups.

“Oh! Peewee!” Spike greeted the bird, before he looked up, seeing the young phoenix was followed by two more big ones, just like him. “Oh, I see you’ve been catching up with your mother and father,” Peewee squawks in agreement, as he hops over and nuzzles lovingly with his parents.

Soon, all three birds got around Spike, as they all embraced the boy together in a loving, and scorching, embrace.

Peewee even gave the dog boy a tiny nip on his floppy green ear.

“Ow! Hot!" Spike groaned, even when he morphed into dragon form. "Okay, okay. I love you guys too." It wasn't long, before the wolf pups all crowded around the boy and phoenixes, and they all continue their sloppy assault.

Fluttershy giggled, seeing how Spike was keeping some of the baby animals entertained. Fluttershy took the chance to fly back to her cottage, to continue the rest of her daily chores.





Fluttershy was singing herself a merry tune, while dusting the bookshelves. Fluttershy took the chance to read some books' titles, from the sides.

Book of Imaginary Beings, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fearsome Critters, etc.

All of these books were gifts and memories she received, from Newt Chimera. Looking at these books, Fluttershy couldn't help but display a look of worry, and concern for her missing professor.

"Professor Chimera," Fluttershy murmured.

After she finished dusting, Fluttershy got out, what appeared to be, a purple laptop, given to her by Twilight.

"Amazing what informations human technology can hold, in a single portable computer," Fluttershy said in amusement, as she began typing away. "Twilight really knows her stuff."

The first thing Fluttershy did to try out the laptop was to google up some animals. To her delight, images and videos of animals have appeared.

"Ooh, this is so amazing!" Fluttershy squealed, clicking on some videos, and reacted to every videos of animals.

From laughing to funny cats to squealing in delight of a surprised kitty, Fluttershy was enjoying herself as she watches some animal videos, with captured moments of the animal stars displaying something cute and enjoyable to watch-all the while having looks of concerns when some of the animals did something that looked dangerous and painful.

Fluttershy was surfing through YouTube, when the buttercup pegasus happened upon something. "Ooh, what's this?" Fluttershy clicked on a video title, "The Dog," Fluttershy read. "This must be about a dog. Ooh, I think I'll enjoy this one," With a smile, Fluttershy clicked on the video, eager to watch it.


The Dog - INSPIRED Studio


Once the movie was over, Fluttershy was speechless, shaking her head, trying to deny what she had seen. The pipe broke, and the waterfalls were poured, followed by the rising sound of sobs.









Spike was out in the field, taking a nap with Peewee perching on his head, when his ears perked up to the sound of Fluttershy crying. Spike jolted awake, together with Peewee. The two boys hurried back into the cottage, just to see Fluttershy, in human form, crying tears into her hands.

"Fluttershy?" Spike asked out of concern. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Looking up, with her eyes stained red, Fluttershy rushed over and hugged Spike, "It was awful, Spike!" Fluttershy cried. "Awful!" With another cry, Fluttershy held Spike even closer.

"What happened?" Spike asked. "Is one of your animals sick? Did Angel got lost? What is it?" Rather than answering, Fluttershy guided Spike to her laptop, and showed him what she had seen. "Oh," Spike said in understanding. "First time watching?" He turned to the heartbroken girl.

"Mmm-hmm," Fluttershy confirmed, as she continues to cry harder.

"Fluttershy, it's just a movie for awareness," Spike tried to reassure.

"But it's still just awful!" Fluttershy cried. "The poor dog only wanted to help. But nobody understands him and....and...." Fluttershy cried another waterfall, as she wailed. "It's such a sad movie!" Fluttershy sniffled, as she continues, "It makes me wish I could save him! I could've translated for him! I wished Professor Chimera was here!" With that, Fluttershy wept even more, and even loudly. "Why does this have to happen to good animals like him?"

As Fluttershy continue to wept, Spike looked at the shy girl, sadly. He looked back at the laptop. In truth, he understood the feeling very well.

Spike looked over, to see a still sobbing Fluttershy. Scooting over, he wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close for a comforting hug.

"There, there, Fluttershy," Spike said. "It was just a movie."

"But why?" Fluttershy sobbed. "Why would they make it? Why does it have to be so sad? Who could write such a sad movie?"

"Well, not all stories end with a happy ending, Fluttershy," Spike answered. "Some can end sad. And they serve as a way to teach us, for some things that are out of our control."

"So, what is this movie trying to teach then?" Fluttershy sobbed. "That all dogs that tried to help, all end up getting killed?"

Spike shook his head, "No. It's to teach us that we need to be more sympathetic with animals and we should at least try to understand them, if there is a problem.” Spike paused, as he once more recalled a lesson he learned from Scorpan. “And above all, we should never let our anger take control. Because if we do, we'll end up doing something we'll later regret. And that will be very hard to live down with." Fluttershy began to calm down slightly, as Spike continues to speak. "I know it's sad, Fluttershy. But those are the lesson we have to learn in life." Recalling what his uncle had once taught him, Spike spoke, "I've had to learn this lesson many times, too."

Fluttershy looked at Spike and asked, "You did?" Spike nodded, as he relays the past lesson to Fluttershy.





Ten Years Ago


It was a few months, after young Spike and Scorpan had escaped from Equestria, and went into hiding on Earth. It was during that time, when Spike was having a hard time, socializing, and above all, controlling his anger. Before he even met the Knights, young Spike would often get picked on by all the bigger kids in school. They'd teased him about his fangs, or height, and would call him names, or alienate him from their group. Therefore, in response, Spike would often lash out, striking his tormentors with all the martial art moves his uncle had taught him, which would later get him into trouble with his teachers, and the school principal.

While sitting on the bleachers, with his uncle discussing with the principal, Spike would catch a glimpse of the fearful and hateful looks from his tormentors, and their parents.

Finally, when Scorpan walked out, Spike turned his head, avoiding the stern and disapproving look on his uncle's face.

"Spike," Scorpan spoke, clearly wanting his nephew to look up at him. "We're going to have a long talk about this, at home."

"Yes uncle," Spike bowed his head, as he quietly followed Scorpan as they returned to their apartment.

Scorpan and Spike were both sitting on the couch, "Spike, I'm very disappointed in you!" Scorpan began sternly.

"I know," Spike replied softly.

"You could've killed someone!" Scorpan replied. "You deliberately attacked your own classmates! And worse still, one of them was found tied up, in a swing set!"

"But they were all laughing at me, and calling me names and stuff," Spike replied in his defense. "It hurts!"

"In spirit perhaps," Scorpan replied. "But never in body," Spike looked up at Scorpan, confused, "Nephew. Whatever mean things those kids have said about you, doesn't give you the right to fight back with your fists."

"I just wanted them to stop," Spike replied.

"Then ignore them," Scorpan advised. "I've told you before, to just ignore their words. Let their hateful comments wash over you, like a river over stone. Remember Spike, it is you who let them make you mad. It was you who let your anger take control."

"I had no choice," Spike frowned.

Scorpan's stern gaze softened, as he stroke his mustache, "There's always a choice, in our action, Spike," Scorpan began. "A very powerful king learned this, a long time ago."

"And who was that king?" Spike asked.

"Genghis Khan," Scorpan answered. "Let me tell you a story, nephew." 

With that, Scorpan spent the rest of the afternoon, telling young Spike the story of Genghis Khan, and his pet hawk. Spike listened with interest, as Scorpan narrated the tales of Genghis Khan leading his powerful army against China, with his hawk flying at his side. Spike's awe suddenly turned to sadness, when Scorpan told him the part, where Genghis Khan killed his hawk, out of rage.

"The hawk was trying to save him," Scorpan concluded. "But in the end, Genghis Khan had let his anger blind him from the truth. The sweetness of victory turned to ash." Scorpan looked, to see his nephew, now feeling ashamed of himself, as he looked at his hands. "I hope you have learned something, today nephew."

"I do, uncle," Spike replied. "And I promise, I won't forget it."





Present


"And that's the lesson I learned," Spike answered.

"Oh, Spike," Fluttershy whimpered, as she hugged the boy even tighter. "If only I had known-"

"How could you?" Spike asked softly. "You and the others couldn't come to Earth for years, until my mom allowed it."

"But to experience such dreadful event when you're all so young, and little. It must've been hard on you."

Spike nodded in reply, "Tell me about it." He said, solemnly. "But, there is another lesson I just remembered," Spike spoke. "From mom."

Fluttershy sniffled a bit, before she asks, "What's that?"

"If you're really sad, then it's good to have a loved one's shoulder to cry on," With that, Spike pulled Fluttershy close, who gladly returned the embrace. And with that, all fearful thoughts of the Cerulean Hunters, poached animals, and such, are banished, replaced with the love she feels for Spike.

"Thank you, Spike," Fluttershy cried. "I love you," She whispered. "Spike?"

"Yes, Flutters?"

"Would it be okay, that is if you don't mind. Can you turn into a puppy again?" Spike complied, as he morphs into his cute puppy form. "Puppy!" Fluttershy sobbed, as she held Spike closer, crying into his purple coat.

Peewee was perching nearby, as he and Fluttershy's pet, Angel Bunny, were watching the heartwarming scene unfolding before them. Angel, despite being a tough bunny, couldn't hold his tears back, as he cries into Peewee's feathers, and blew his nose into the bird's wing. The disgusted bird slapped the bunny's face in response.





Later


Because I'm Shy (Feat. ChiChi) by Electrokaplosion


After awhile, Fluttershy finally calms down as she and Spike went outside, breathing in the air of the day that is still young.

"Feeling better, Fluttershy?" Spike asked, still in puppy form.

"Mmm-hmm," Fluttershy said, as she dries her tears. "I'm okay."

"Great! Because it's a nice day outside," Spike gestured to the amount of sun his mother was shining down on her kingdom. "Let's not waste my mom's day by spending indoors!"

Fluttershy gave Spike a small smile, "Definitely," She agreed, as she joined the boy-turned-dog.





The two were out running in a huge field of flowers, with flower petals flying off, and sailing through the breezes blown by the two friends. Spike was running as fast as he could, catching up to Fluttershy. Fluttershy giggled, seeing Spike chasing her, looking like a playful puppy, eagerly running after his owner. Fluttershy kept on galloping for a moment, as Spike, concentrating his powers into his feet, manages to catch up, dog form and all. Fluttershy turned her whole body around, morphing into her human form, holding her hands out for Spike to jump into.

Spike complied, making a tremendous leap into Fluttershy's opened arm, as she welcomed him with another heartwarming embrace. Fluttershy looked, and sees the sun, shining behind Spike's head, illuminating his cute, puppy-like features. Fluttershy was captivated with Celestia's light on her son, before she was met with a series of loving kisses from Spike.

"Spike! Stop! That tickles," Fluttershy giggled adorably.

Later, Fluttershy and Spike came to a nearby pond, where Fluttershy was throwing some bread crumbs to feed the ducks, fishes, and turtles. Fluttershy was feeding the fishes, when she was splashed in the face. Turning to her left, Fluttershy could see Spike acting all innocent. Fluttershy didn't buy it, as she morphed into her anthro form, and picks up a handful of water.

Reacting fast, Spike changes into a puffer fish, trying to escape from Fluttershy. Flapping her wings at the speed of a humming bird, Fluttershy hovered over the waters, as she makes quick grabs for Spike. The other faunas in the pond soon sided with Fluttershy, as they manage to corner the slippery boy-turned-fish, who was soon caught by the tail, and pulled out of the water, facing a triumphant Fluttershy.

"Okay, you got me," Spike admitted, changing back in human form for Fluttershy to splash some water into Spike's face.

After a moment of splashing and swimming, Spike and Fluttershy finally went back to shore where they dried up. Afterwards, the two were just lying out in the middle of an open field, gazing up at the clouds above them.

"Doesn't this bring back some fun memories, Spike?" Fluttershy smiled.

"Sure does," Spike replied in equal nostalgia. "Strange how for me, it still felt like only yesterday I was visiting you girls in Ponyville, having picnics, sharing our favorite past times, and watch the clouds all day."

"Mmm hmm," Fluttershy said in agreement. "And back then, Rainbow Dash would shape the clouds into random objects, and have us playing guessing games at what they are."

Spike nodded his head in equal nostalgia, "I remember this one time, she made a cloud looked like it was a sundae," He smiled. "And that made Pinkie Pie hungry for an actual sundae."

Fluttershy giggled, "Definitely. And then we all joined her, and we all ate the ice cream together."

Spike licked his lips, as he recalls the mixed flavors of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mint, grapes, and all sorts of ice cream flavors, mixed together in one huge package. "Can't believe I'd ever forget that entree of Pinkie," He sighed, looking back up at the sky.

Fluttershy looked at Spike, and for a moment, her memories flashed to see the boy's head, wrapped in bandages.

Fluttershy gasped, as she closed her eyes, and shook her head, dispelling the dark image away, before she looks again, to see Spike, exactly the way he is, looking at her with worry.

"Are you okay?" Spike asked in concern.

Fluttershy collected herself for a moment, before she scooped up the boy-turned-dog, and held him close, "I'm okay," Fluttershy replied. "As long as you're here." Knowing what Fluttershy was getting at, Spike reached his paw out, stroking her mane, hoping to calm her, "Spike?" Fluttershy began.

"Yeah, Flutters?" Spike replied.

"Don't ever stop being a sweet boy," Fluttershy nuzzled his cheek. “And don’t ever stop being a heroic dragon.”

“Believe me, Fluttershy,” Spike grinned. “I’m not stopping. Not as long as I live.”

“Mmmm,” Fluttershy sighs in content. “That’s good. Because I’d hate to see anything bad happen to you, my little puppy.” Fluttershy nuzzles lovingly close to Spike’s cheek.

Spike returns the affection as he touches his nose together with Fluttershy’s, “Feelings mutual, my bashful butterfly.”

Fluttershy was taken by surprise at the name, “Bashful butterfly,” she whispered.

Realizing what slipped from his mouth, and fearing he might’ve said something insensitive, Spike blushed in embarrassment as he stutters, “S-S-Sorry! I don’t mean to insult you!! I meant beautiful butterfly! Not-“

"No, it’s okay," Fluttershy assured. "I like that name." She smiled. “Bashful butterfly. Though, what exactly did you mean by it?”

“Well, I thought it suits you. Because well, your cutie marks are three butterflies. And granted, you are bashful. But you’re also gentle, loving, pretty, and sweet. Just a like a butterfly.”

Fluttershy looked at Spike, lovestruck, “You think I’m pretty?”

“Sure, I mean, why wouldn’t you be?" Fluttershy looked at Spike, getting closer to him. "Um, Fluttershy?” He asked, slightly frightened.

“You think I’m pretty!” Fluttershy said, staring intensely at him, smiling from ear to ear.



“Uh, now Fluttershy. Don’t look at me that way.” Spike slowly backed away.

Then, in a burst of speed, Fluttershy lunges forward. Escape for Spike seems hopeless, when suddenly the writer suffers a fatal heart attack!!








One quick recovery later!


Later, both Spike and Fluttershy were back in human form, as Fluttershy was curled up in a ball, as she peacefully takes a nap. The very sight pulled Spike's heart string. Not wanting the girl to catch a cold, or anything, Spike magically produced his Cape of Compassion he's been carrying, in a secret pocket of his jacket, and drapes it over Fluttershy.

Seeing how content Fluttershy was, underneath the makeshift blanket, Spike smiled as he takes a seat next to the sleeping girl. 

Looking to his right, he quickly took notice of a praying mantis. The said mantis was climbing on a twig, when a cicada appeared, blocking its path. Spike watched, as the bugs quickly went it all out against each other. Spike especially took notice of the mantis's quick steps and the moves it used to grabbing control of its opponent. Spike has heard a whole lot about the mantis, and its unique defensive technique. Despite it's small, and nimble structure, the mantis manages to overpower its opponent, whom it devours whole.

This display of survival of the fittest triggered a flashback, as Spike recalled a memory of his time on Earth, in China, at the Shaolin Temple, where he learned the Kung Fu style of the praying mantis.

As he recalls this memory, Spike, subconsciously, started to perform the movements of the said style. First, he began by moving his wrists, fingers, and joint, making small circles, inside and outside, as he did so. Then, picturing himself sparring with someone, Spike moved his hands in the movements, in which they looked as if they're grabbing someone's wrist and locked joints with them. Furthermore, Spike recalled deflecting someone's attack, and using their strength against them.

Fluttershy slowly blinked her eyes open, as she woke up, and noticed Spike in the middle of his performance, on the Dalianquan of the Shanxi Praying Mantis(Gentle Praying Mantis), "Spike?" Fluttershy began.

"Huh?" Spike snapped out of his trance. "Oh, Fluttershy, you're awake!"

Fluttershy looked at Spike, questionable, "What are you doing?"

"I was just practice the praying mantis style." Spike answered. "Sorry if it was too distracting for you."

"No, it's fine, Spike," Fluttershy quickly reassured. "Though, where'd you learned it?"

"From uncle Scorpan," Spike replied. "And a friend of his, during our trip to China, at the Shaolin temple. That's where I learned Kung Fu, and this style."

Fluttershy was amazed, "There's a style based on the praying mantis?"

"Not just the mantis. They've got styles for all sorts of animals," As a demonstration, Spike performed some moves, "Like eagle stance!" Spike answered, while performing the said stance. "Or Wing Chun! Style of the fighting crane and snake. And a personal favorite of Bruce Lee," With that, Spike did the style, impressing Fluttershy even further. "Or the monkey style!" With that, Spike demonstrates the moves of the said style, dropping to the ground, running on all four, flipping in the air like an acrobatic monkey, rolling on the ground, using a lot of kicks.

"That's so amazing!" Fluttershy smiled, bedazzled by the animalistic styles Spike had demonstrated, human form and all.

"Yeah," Spike answered. "Many Kung Fu moves were developed by copying animals."

"That's so cool," Fluttershy smiled. "And creative."

"I know, right?" Spike asked rhetorically. "Without animals, we wouldn't have Kung Fu today."

Fluttershy couldn't help but blushing, and smile, as she held her hooves together, over her heart, "Such beautiful words," she sighed. "Teach me!" Fluttershy said eagerly. "Teach me the animal styles of Kung Fu!"

Spike looked at the former bashful pony, "I don't know," Spike replied, earning a dismayed look from Fluttershy. "I mean, I don't want you to get hurt. Besides, you kinda already know the forms, since you're so good with animals."

"Oh, I don't know," Fluttershy replied. "I mean, yes, I do know my animals. But I don't quite exactly know their styles, the way you do. Please, Spike?" the pegasus pleaded, giving him the puppy eyes.

It wasn't long for Spike to find himself caving in, "How can I say 'no' to a face like that?" he asked rhetorically. 'And too bad there's no defense for the puppy eyes,' he thought.

Celestia's sun was just over the horizon, when Spike was teaching Fluttershy the animal-based kung fu styles he learned from China.

Surprisingly, Fluttershy was learning fast, "Monkey Plucks Two Peaches!" Spike said, doing the said move.

"Flying Crane Kick!" Fluttershy shouted, as she leaps in the air, flapping her wings, and thrusted her leg out in a kick.

"Snake snaps at crane's wing!"

"Monkey steals the peach!"

"Water beetle!"

"Crouching tiger, hidden dragon!"

"Dragon sweeps his tail!" Spike said, sweeping his leg on the ground, which Fluttershy evaded, spinning herself in mid-air.

"Crocodile spins elegantly in the air!" Fluttershy shouted, before she landed back on the ground. "Puppy begs for mercy," Fluttershy said, putting on a cute pouty face that is sure to give any poor unfortunate souls a heart attack.

"Frog bedazzled by Bashful Butterfly," Spike said.

"Bashful Butterfly tickles Dragon Puppy!" Fluttershy giggled, putting her hands on the boy's stomach, and giving him a tickle assault.

"Hey! No fair!" Spike said, laughing with Fluttershy continuing her ticklish assault on the boy, causing him to transform out of control, between a dragon, a dog, a fish, a penguin, a pony, etc.

Then, unexpectedly, an evil grin appeared across Fluttershy's face, before she shouted, "Bashful butterfly drinks sweet dragon fruit!"

Spike instantly ceased his laugh, as he blinks in bewilderment, "Wait, what?!" Before he could react, Fluttershy clamped her jaws with Spike's.

Initially, Spike was surprised, his thoughts instantly turned blank at what was happening between him and Fluttershy, and he instantly morphs back in his human form, yet his dragon wings sprouted and became stiff, together with his dog tail that was wagging rapidly.

Failing to fight back Fluttershy's, surprisingly, powerful love, Spike felt himself melting into the kiss, as he lets hormonal instincts take over, wraps his arms around Fluttershy's neck, deepening the kiss. Then, a flash of light occurs, together with a shower of sparkles, and Spike felt something soft, pressing on his chest, and a pair of arm was holding him close. Spike slowly peeked, to see Fluttershy had changed into her human form.

After what felt like hours of making out, the two parted, "Whoa," Spike panted. "What was that?"

Fluttershy hid her face behind a lock of her hair, "Just showing my love for you," Fluttershy blushed. "I'm sorry. Too soon?"

"No, no," Spike reassured. "Just-wow, I didn't know you had it in you."

Fluttershy smiled, "Well, ever since I first met you, I've been feeling less afraid to come out of my shell," She explained. "Even more so, considering you're the Dragon Prince. And that's saying a lot."

"Oh yeah, that's right," Spike said, having remembered an important detail about Fluttershy, from the past. "If I recall correctly, you were afraid of dragons."

"Mhm," Fluttershy nodded, before she quickly reassures, "But not you of course! I mean, I like you. Even your dragon friends, Dragon Lord Ember and Mina, and your old sensei, Mako."

"It's okay," Spike said, showing no hard feelings. "I mean, I understand." Spike got close to  Fluttershy's ears, as he whispers, "Sometimes, I'm even afraid of myself."

"What? How could you be afraid of yourself?" Fluttershy asked.

Spike scratched the back of his neck, "Well, as Stan Lee would say: 'With great powers, comes with great responsibilities,'" He said, reciting the famous writer's words of wisdom from Spiderman. "And like uncle said, I'm afraid of what my powers can do, and what would happen if I lose control of it. And I'm more afraid of what it could do to you, and everyone else I loved. I don't want to be like the dragons you have reasons to be afraid of."

"Oh, Spike," Fluttershy once more hugged Spike close for comfort. "That will never happen."

"How can you be so sure?"

Fluttershy held her hand below Spike's chin, as she brought his face up to look at her with reassuring eyes, "Because I know you," Fluttershy replied. "And you're anything, but the dragons I'm afraid of." Fluttershy blushed, as she added, "And granted, you do make a cute puppy."

Spike smirked, "Oh, just because I can turn into a dog, automatically makes me a special case, hm?" He asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh my, no," Fluttershy blushed. "I like you for whatever forms you take. I don't even mind if you show us your true dragon form," With that, Fluttershy nuzzled her cheek close to Spike's, as she added. "Because you'll always be a noble dragon to me, and every pony." With that, Fluttershy continued to hold Spike close.

Spike returned the embrace, "And you'll always be anything than a bashful butterfly to me, Flutters." He said.

"Spike?" Fluttershy began. "Can you-" Before Fluttershy could finish, Spike changes into a dog. "Um, actually, I was going to ask if you could turn into a dragon," Fluttershy admitted, to which Spike complied. 

There Spike stood, on all four, with his mother's lights glistening off of his purple scales, eyes blazing a fiery, yet gentle aura, and green whiskers flowing ever so gently to the breeze, blowing across his face.

Fluttershy smiled, taking in the sight of her dragon friend before her, "So beautiful, and yet so brave," Fluttershy walked over, and wrapped her arms around his neck, as Spike returns the embrace, wrapping his wings over the girl, while gently placing his chin on her shoulder.

"Dragon Prince hugs Bashful Butterfly," Spike said.

"Bashful Butterfly pecks Dragon Prince," Fluttershy said, as she and Spike once more shared another kiss.
> Smoothies, Zap Apples, and Pears
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a Friday afternoon at a mall, on Earth, Applejack was working at a smoothie joint, all the while feeling bored out of her mind. Applejack was singing herself a song, trying to brighten the mood, when she started to get an idea. Before long, Applejack was doing fancy juggling tricks with the fruits and cups, impressing and attracting costumers to her stand. 





"Whoa, Applejack!" A voice exclaimed in astonishment. Applejack turned to see Spike, gazing at her in awe.

"Oh, howdy Spike!" Applejack blushed. "Didn't see ya there."

"That's okay," Spike replied. "I'm more into the show you just put on there." 

"What? You mean the whole juggle routine, the spins I do with my cups?" Applejack asked rhetorically. "It was nothing."

"NOTHING?!!" A blonde boy wearing white framed glasses exclaimed, as he shoved Spike to the side, and got in close to Applejack's face. "That was far from nothing! That was something!"

Spike was miffed at being pushed around, while Applejack was more surprised, albeit more uncomfortable, "Um, thanks?" She said, uneasily.

Realizing he wasn't making a good impression of himself, the boy quickly cleared his throat, as he introduced himself, "Name's Trenderhoof. I'm a student journalist, from Crystal Prep Academy. I'm also an intern for the New York Times."

Though it doesn't change the awkward atmosphere, Applejack nonetheless answered, "Name's Applejack." Turning to Spike, she scowled. "And that there's Spike. The boy you just happened to push, out of the way?"

"Huh?" Trenderhoof looked, to see Spike dusting himself off. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there! I didn't mean to!" He quickly apologized.

Spike darted his eyes, sensing some goodness in Trender, "Well, apology accepted," Spike replied. "But let's try to avoid repeating that mistake again, okay?"

"Yeah, of course," Trender replied, as both he and Spike shook hands in agreement. Getting back on topic, Trender took out a notepad and a pencil, as he got ready, "So tell me, Applejack. Where did you learn those fancy tricks you just displayed? Do you do them at work often? Or do you mostly do them at home?"

"Well," Applejack scratched the back of her neck, trying to think the words. "To be honest, I kinda learned it all from Spike," She pointed to the said boy.

"What?" Spike inquired.

"Interesting," Trender noted, before he turns to Spike. "So tell me, my friend. Where'd you learn all of those sweet tricks, and how did you pass them on to her?"

"Uh...." Spike was clearly at a loss for words, since he doesn't even remember doing tricks with cups, let alone pass them onto Applejack. Thankfully, the country girl was able to clear up the confusion.

"Actually, what I meant to say was, Spike inspired me to doing these tricks," Applejack clarified. "I was over at his place, just the other day with most of our friends, when he started doing these fancy tricks, with the dishes and utensils, for entertainment. Said he learned them all from China."

Spike nodded; something he actually remembers.

"Fascinating," Trender wrote on his notepad. "And pray tell, how exactly do these tricks of his have anything to do with you, doing those tricks of yours?"

"I don't know," Applejack shrugged, while blushing a storm. "I was just inspired by Spike, that I guess I just do it how I feel."

"Why hello there," A woman greeted. In appearance, the woman has curly hairs of two different shades of moderate crimsons, a beauty mark on her left cheek, sparkling light pistachio eyes, with pale, light grayish crimson eyeshadows. For attires, she wore a light yellow dress with a white apron, and a pink neckerchief. "You must be Spike Draco," She said, once she took notice of Spike.

"How'd you know?" Spike asked.

"Why from Applejack, of course," The woman replied with a smile. "She's been going on and on about ya."

"Has she now?" Spike glanced over, seeing Applejack blushing brighter than an apple.

"Indeed," Cherry replied. "First day I hired her, she's been saying a lot of good things about ya. Saying how you've been one tough firecracker, and the apple of her eyes with fiery green hair."

"Really?" Spike smirked, as he turned his head to see Applejack blushing even brighter. Deciding that Applejack's embarrassed, Spike turned to the woman, "Enough about me. Who are you? Her boss, or something?"

"That's right," The woman answered. "Name's Cherry Jubilee. And I'm the manager of this establishment."

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Jubilee," Spike said, as he and the woman shook hands with each other.

"Oh, now there's no need to be so formal," Cherry smiled. "Just Cherry will do. A friend of Applejack's a friend of mine."

"If you say so, Cherry," Spike replied.

"And who am I?" Trender spoke up, apparently having been forgotten. "Chopped liver?"

"Oh, pardon me young man," Cherry spoke. "I didn't quite see you there. Who might you be?" With that, Trender stated his name, as well as his occupant to the woman, "Well, howdy there, Trenderhoof. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise, ma'm," Trender replied. "Anyway, your employee Applejack's captured my full attention, and I would like to do a report on her, so I'd like to ask you a few questions."

"Well, I don't see why not," Cherry replied, as she and Trender began to chew the fats together.

Meanwhile, Applejack turned to Spike, "So, what can I get for ya, Spike?" Applejack asked.

Spike took his time to look at the menu, before he settled on his choice, "The Apple and Strawberry Punch looks good," He answered.

"Coming right up," With that, Applejack went around back to collect the needed ingredients. Before long, she was once again, doing some more juggling tricks with the recipe, and cups.

Spike watched in awe at her act, smiling in admiration and respect. Eventually, Applejack came to the end of her trick, and gave Spike his drink.

Spike took a sip, "Deeeeeelicious!" He said in satisfaction.

Applejack blushed a storm, before she asked, "Say Spike? If you're not too busy. Can I see you later this afternoon, at Sweet Apple Acres?"

“Sure," Spike quickly answered. “Need help with the apple harvest, or something?”

“Well, yes,” Applejack blushed. “That, and more," She whispered at the last part.





Later That Afternoon


After arriving through the gate between Equestria and Earth, Spike was on his way to Sweet Apple Acres, as promised. Upon arriving, the young dragon took a whiff, breathing in the sweet apple aroma of the land.

"No matter how old this place gets, I'm never getting tired of coming here," Spike said to himself in nostalgia. Then, a loud bark was heard, and Spike was tackled with an assault of slobbery licks. "Hey Winona," Spike greeted, as the dog continues to shower him with affections, literally. "Okay, okay, girl. I'm glad to see you too!" Before Spike knew it, his whole form was engulfed in a flash of green fire, and he became a dog.

Using his small size to his advantage, Spike dived through Winona's legs, trying to escape from the affectionate dog. But the dog wouldn't let up, as she continues to run after Spike, and the two dogs were both rolling around, nipping affectionately with each other, and tails wagging.

Just then, Applejack was heard whistling, "Winona! Here girl!" In response, Winona got up, before she excitedly runs over to the sound of her owner's voice.

Spike rolled back on his feet, as he changed back to see Applejack walking over, with Winona at her side, "Howdy, Spike!" Applejack smiled. "Glad you could make it."

"I told you I was coming, didn't I?" Spike replied. "So, what can I do for ya today?"





Spike was later in the orchard, picking some apples with Applejack bucking the trees, causing the bushels of fruits to fall in some buckets that were strategically placed around the trees. The boy was in dragon form, as he flies around the tree, slithered through the air, and with hands at the speed of lightning, he quickly picked the apples off their branches, before he flies down and placed them in the buckets.

"Whoo wee," Applejack said, wiping a sweat off her brow. "Thanks again for coming, Sugarcube. At this rate, we'll have the whole orchard clean of apples."

"Hey, you know me, AJ," Spike replied. "Who am I to turn down help for a friend?" Suddenly, the winds started to blow hard, and storm clouds began to roll in, overhead. "What the heck?! What's going on?" Spike asked, bewildered at the sudden change of weather.

"Oh! It's time!" Applejack exclaimed, as she galloped through the orchard, with Spike following.

"What is it, AJ?" He asked. "What's going on?"

But rather than answering, Applejack pointed off to the distance, to show a forest of trees, with apples colored gray. The two watched, as it started to rain, followed by cracks of thunder, just as the rest of the Apple family on the farm arrived. Several bolts of lightning struck the trees, but much to Spike's surprise, none of them caught on fire. Then, as quickly as they appeared, the storm clouds disappeared, and a rainbow shines over them.

"Wow," Spike marvels at the sight. "It's beautiful."

"That's not the end of it, Sugarcube," Applejack pointed, as she ushered the boy to keep on watching.

The trees started to teem with electrical spark, before the gray apples suddenly turned rainbow-streaked, and rainbow beams fire across the orchard from the apples. An aurora-like rainbow shines behind the apple trees and the apples change shape from small round apples to larger, more elongated and squarish.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped, taken away by the dazzling display.

"Yee-haw!" Applejack hollered. "The Zap Apple Harvest has begun!"

"Yay!" The apples cheered.

"Tomorrow we'll be making Zap Apple Jams!" Granny Smith cheered.

With that, the Apples all got to work, while Spike just stood frozen in place, still taken by surprise at what he had just seen.

Applejack looked, and couldn't help but laugh, finding his surprised expression adorable, "Well, don't just stand there, like a deer in the headlight, Sugarcube," Applejack said. "Come join us! Every hooves and hands count!"

Spike finally shook the shock away, "Uh, right," He said, as he joined the family, and started to harvest the Zap Apples. "Hmm, Zap Apples....." Spike said, observing the apples up close.

"The fruits of labor to the Apple Family, here and beyond!" Granny Smith explained. "And the starting foundation of Ponyville, if ya know your history. Now quick yer yapping, and get to working! These Zap Apples don't have all day, y'know!"

"On it Granny Smith!" Applejack replied. "Come on, Sugarcube. Like Granny says, these things disappear faster than they appear if you don't pick 'em fast!"

"Right!" Spike replied, as he and the Apples harvested the magic apples as fast as they could.





The sun was just setting over the horizon, when the Zap Apples suddenly vanished in flash of lightning. By then, Spike and Apples were able to harvest enough Zap Apples, which Granny Smith believed will last them all winter, or longer.

"Phew, that's it," Applejack breathed a sigh of relief. "Zap Apple Harvest is over."

"Zap Apples," Spike said to himself, before it struck him. "Oh! Zap Apples! Like in the Zap Apple Jams, and that Zap Apple Pie you baked for me!"

"Uh, right," Applejack replied. "What did ya think they were?"

"I just thought the 'zap' in the name was just to describe how tasty they are," Spike replied. "Y'know, to make them sound snappy. I didn't know they're actually named after some magical apples."

Applejack couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, they're magical alright," She said. "And if ya think harvesting them is magic, wait till ya see the steps in brewing jams out of them." With that, Applejack took Spike into the house, to show the room was painted in pink polka dots, Granny Smith talking to some glass jars like military officer to soldiers, Big Mac carrying buckets of honeys from the bees, while Apple Bloom was stirring a big vat of colorful liquid.

"Um, what is all this?" Spike asked.

"It's part of making the Zap Apple Jams, Sugarcube," Applejack answered. "Granny Smith's always saying how making Zap Apple jams has its rules, aside from harvesting. Like how ya got to be extra friendly with the bees, so their honeys would taste sweeter, how glass jars needed talking to, or how Zap Apples like pink polka dots."

"Huh, who'd a thunk it?" Spike asked.

"Strange, I know," Applejack replied. "But like Granny Smith says, 'magic is, as magic does.'"

"Hey, that sounded kinda like another quote, from the Forrest Gump!" Spike exclaimed. "Except this one is more 'magical' than the other."

Applejack chuckled, "I know, Sugarcube. I know." Taking his claw, Applejack lead Spike out of the house, "C'mon, Sugarcube. Let's go for a walk, just for the fun of it."

"Lead the way partner," Spike replied, to which Applejack responded with a playful roll of her eyes.

The two were walking through the orchards, looking at the apple trees around them, and seeing how some of the leaves began to change colors, showing fall was just around the corner. Though, Spike was more taken at the familiar aura he had been sensing from the trees, and waves of memories once more, hit him as fast as lightning.

"Amazing," Spike said out loud.

"What is, Spike?" Applejack asked.

"It's crazy," Spike began. "I mean, before I used to think these trees were so tall, they could reach the sky. But now, it's like I can just touch the tops, even when I'm walking on four," He showed his example, before he resumed walking up on his two legs.

"Kinda scary, but at the same time, breathtaking, huh?" Applejack asked.

"Took the words right out of my mouth," Spike replied, resulting in a short laugh between the two. Applejack sighed, as her happy demeanor started to disappear, "Hey, what's the matter?"

"Well, it's just....I-um," Hesitant at first, Applejack decided to speak up. "I know how ya feel, Spike. Because that's just the same with me, with Zap Apples."

"How come?"

Taking a deep breath, Applejack answered, "Ever since we first saw first hoof of you taking that lightning blast to the head, sacrificing yourself to save Princess Celestia. I'll be honest, that's just the most daring and noblest act of heroism I've ever seen!" Applejack frowned, "But at the same time, frightening. Nopony, or dragon, would ever jump in and take a blast of lightning like that. And I guess....I just...got scared thunder and lightning since then."

"AJ...."

"Whenever I hear a crack of thunder, I would always paralyze in fear, at the thought of a lightning bolt taking away one of my own family members, just as Somnambula's lighting spell took away your memory, and you were taken away from us, Sugarcube."

"Applejack...."

"I don't mean to sound weak, and pathetic, Sugarcube. But it's the honest truth. Whenever there's a storm, I'm frightened out of my mind at the thought of losing another one of my family," Applejack pulled a hat over her face, to hide a tear. "Just as we lost Ma and Pa."

Spike look sadly at Applejack. In his thought, he can hear himself saying, 'C'mon, Spike. You gotta do something. Cheer her up,' Deciding to take his chances, Spike pulled the girl's hat up, to see her beautiful green eyes, stained with tears, while at the same time, allowing her to have a better look at the caring human he is.

"Spike?" AJ asked, as the boy wiped the tear away from her eyes.

"Hey, I don't think you're weak, or pathetic," Spike spoke. "I know you can smell a lie, so you can be sure not to smell any from me when I say, I think you're the strongest, and the bravest, girl I've ever known. The way I saw you back there, during that whole thunder and lightning show, and that juggling act you were putting on, back at the mall, on Earth, I see a girl who was not afraid to put on an act, or to work through a loud storm to harvest apple."

"That was different, Spike," Applejack replied. "During the Zap Apple Harvest, I only got through it because you were right there."

"But what about that whole juggling act, during the smoothie run?" Spike asked. "You were doing just fine, and I wasn't there, until later."

"Well, I was just thinking about you, Spike," Applejack said. "I was thinking about how you were so talented the other day, when you were hosting dinner for us, and how ya entertained us all with your tricks. It just gave me encouragement, just thinking about it."

"Exactly," Spike replied. "Even if I'm not really next to you, I know you'll always do awesome things, when you put your mind to it."

Applejack blushed, looking away, "Silly ain't it?" Applejack asked. "Would ya listen to me, letting my feeling get me down."

"It's okay, AJ. We all have days like this. And they do not make us weak," Spike paused for a moment, as he recalled some words of wisdom from his mom. "If anything, talking to them with someone you can trust, just makes you stronger."

Applejack smiled, as she morphs back into her human form, and embraced Spike, "Aw, Sugarcube!” She said. “Thank ya!” Applejack affectionately tightens her grip on Spike, absentmindedly forgetting her super-strength.

"AJ!" Spike groaned. “Too tight! Too tight!”

After what felt like hours of succumbing to Applejack’s death grip embrace, the country girl took him by the hand.

“C’mon, Sugarcube,” Applejack insisted. “There’s something else I wanted to show ya.”

With that, Applejack took Spike, further into the orchards, before they arrived at a clearing, where a large winding tree was resting.

“Holy guacamole!” Spike said in surprise, even more when he took a closer look at the fruits that were growing in the tree branches. “Apples and pears? Together?”

“Yup,” Applejack replied. “It’s a big surprise for me, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom when we first saw it. Heck, we didn’t even know it was here, until Grand Pear came back to Ponyville.”

“What is it?” Spike asked, still marveling at the tree in front of him.

"This is what ma and pa left behind for us," Applejack smiled, tearfully. "This is what unites us togethers, apples and pears."

“Oh yeah, I remember,” Spike replied, as it finally dawned on him. “You Apples and Pears had this family feud, long ago. But then it got mended, after your father, Bright Mac, married your mom, Pear Butter.”

Applejack nodded in agreement, “Yup.”

Spike looked back up at the tree, “They way you talked about them, AJ. I would’ve loved to meet them both.”

"Same here, Spike," Applejack smiled, as she walked over and held him close. "And I know, they'll like you too." Spike blushed, as he returns the embrace. After awhile, both he and Applejack broke apart, as the farm girl walked up to the tree, and picked up a guitar that was resting idly on its side.

"AJ?" Spike asked.

"You may not know it, Spike," Applejack began. "But ma and Mrs. Cake were real close friends, back when Mrs. Cake was simply Chiffon Swirl. And from what she told us about ma, she had the most beautiful voice ya ever heard. And it just goes well with her talent on the guitar."

"And if I'm not mistaken, I'd say she passed them onto you," Spike said, to which Applejack blushed at his compliment.

"Anyway, this is the song she wrote for pa," Applejack smiled. "And now, I'd like to play it for ya."

Spike got comfortable, "I'm listening," He smiled eagerly, as Applejack began to play.


You're In My Head Like A Catchy Song





As Applejack continues to sing the song, while playing her mother's old guitar, Spike couldn't help but feel enchanted.

"And even if, the world tells us it's wrong," Applejack sang her mother's words. "You're in my head like a catchy song~."

"Wow," Spike gasped. "That's just beautiful."

"Do ya like it?" Applejack asked. "Please be honest."

"Are you kidding me?" Spike asked. "I love it! It's beautiful!"

With a smile, Applejack continues to play the guitar, and sang the rest of her mother's song.

At last, Applejack came to the end, when she finished it with, "And you should not, blame me too, if I can't help falling in love with you~"

Both Applejack and Spike's eyes widened at what Applejack just said.

"Wow, bold move from your mom there," Spike smirked. "Or by chance, did you make that last part up to express your feelings for me?"

"Oh, you goof!" Applejack replied, giving Spike a playful shove.

"What? It's a compliment," Spike replied. "Honestly, if your mom can write a song, and sing that good, then you can too, y'know?"

Applejack smirked, "Y'know, I do have this song of mine that I've been meaning to share for ya."

"Well by all means, let's hear it," Spike replied, as Applejack strummed a few strings on her mother's guitar.


Hey Ocean - Big Blue Wave (acoustic)





Just like he was when he listened to Pear Butter's song, Spike couldn't help but feel himself enchanted. Then, as if he was put in a trance, Spike absentmindedly started to sing with Applejack.

"Sing until you have no voice. Whoo-whoo~" They sang. "Sing because you have no choice. Whoo-whoo~. Sing until you float away. Whoo-hoo~. Our love is like a big blue wave~"

As Applejack came to the end of her song, both she and Applejack looked up, and felt a spark, upon locking gaze with each other. The world around them began to blur out, and slowed down, as the two felt that it was just the two of them in existence. Spike and Applejack slowly moved their heads up to each other, until at last, their lips made contact, and they closed their eyes, feeling themselves melting in each other's warmth, and presence.

Spike held his arms around Applejack's head, as he deepens the kiss with her, with the country girl doing the same when she wrapped her arms around his waist, bringing him close.

As Spike made out with one of his forgotten childhood friends, it didn't came as a surprise for him to taste the pleasant juice of apples from her lips. In all honesty, it aroused him further, as he can feel his powers increasing with every moment of his make out session with Applejack. His tongue was wrestling for dominance with AJ's, when he suddenly felt it growing longer and slithering about in the girl's mouth. His dragon wings suddenly sprouted from his back, as they flapped rapidly.

Applejack opened her eyes up, half-liddedly, to see the state Spike was in. She's only catch him like this, on a few rare occasions, but that doesn't come as a surprise for her, when it comes to him and the other girls, vying for his affection. In truth, she was flattered to see she was able to at least receive this kind of reaction from him, evidence to her that he was enjoying it. She closed her eyes, as she deepens the kiss, wanting to enjoy every moment of it.

At last, the two broke apart, and like his make outs with Fleur and Fluttershy, Spike was slightly disoriented, before he caught himself, by a tree.

"Whoa," He panted. "That was so....breathtaking."

"You were awesome yourself, Sugarcube," Applejack replied, while she herself was also out breath. "Of course, I've never kissed any other boys before, let alone a dragon."

"Obviously," Spike replied. "Besides, can't I help it if you taste like....like...well, the sweetest apple I've ever tasted?"

"Aw, thanks, Sugarcube," Applejack smiled, before she received a peck on the nose.

"Well, I'll see ya around," Spike replied, before he spreads his wings, and was about to take flight, only for Applejack to stop him.

"Hold it, Sugarcube," Applejack said. "How about just one more, before we hit the sack?"

Spike thought, and shrugged, "I don't see why not?" He replied, and they passionately made out once more.





Later that night, Spike was back home in New York, in bed, while thinking about his recent make out with AJ.

'Applejack,' He thought fondly. 'You're definitely the apple of my eyes,' His thoughts then went to the girls, 'I wonder if I'll get the chance to do the same with the other girls?' It wasn't long before his rational side kicked in, as he thought, 'I dear. What am I going to do? I have to be more careful. One wrong move, and I could ruin our friendship together. I love them all, but I can't risk hurting any feelings.' His sympathy side took over, as he thought, 'Then again, this isn't hurting any feelings, or betrayal. This is just making up all those years of my absence. Still, I have to be careful.'

Meanwhile, back in Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was happily sleeping away, while snuggling up to a large huge pillow, as she thought fondly, 'Oh, Spike. If only ya knew what ya did to me.'
> Pinkie Party Date
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I am losing patience with YOU, Strife!" An ominous voice growled, coupled together with a pair of blazing eyes.

"Oh, you see my lord," The being known as Strife began, whimpering. "We were outnumbered. The charge of it all was not my idea. Hehe, at least we looked good when we were getting our butts kick." Strife chuckled sheepishly.

"No. More. EXCUSES!!!" The voice roared, coupled together with a blast of electricity, and explosion.

"Um, in my defense, master," Strife coughed. Before he could talk however, he was quickly silenced, by a single death stare.

"You were saying?" The voice asked, threateningly.

"Uh.....nothing, my merciful one," Strife whimpered, while saying the last part through gritted teeth.

"I think it's time I took a more active approach against the ponies of Equestria," The voice began.

"You have an idea, my lord?"

"Yes," The voice snarled. "A very BIG idea!" With that, a loud, demonic cackle can be heard, echoing from the mountains.





It was a beautiful Saturday morning, at a cafe called the Sweet Snacks Café, stylized in the 1950s-theme. Pinkie was having the time of her life, as the facility's carhop.

"Order up!" Pinkie sang, as she skated around the cafe, on her rollerblades, and serving the costumers their orders.

It wasn't long, before Pinkie started breaking out in song.


[Coinky Dink World]





While working, Pinkie couldn't help but noticed two patrons in the cafe, reading the same book, and looking like the perfect match for each other. With that, Pinkie's matchmaker persona quickly kicked in, as she began to come up with several plans for the two destined lovebirds to meet. First, she tried to get them to come out and dance, which they bashfully declined. Then, she tried to get one of them to present the other with flowers, which didn't go so well since one of them happens to be allergic to flowers. And lastly, she tried to make a giant sundae for them, which blew up in her face, literally, when she accidentally sprinkled the ice cream, with her SPRINKLE BOMBS!


*KA-BOOM*


"Oh," Groaned the narrator.

"Oops," Pinkie giggled. "I always forget about my sprinkle bomb surprise. Again!" Pinkie looked over, to see the two patrons whom she's been trying to pair up with each other. The boy and girl looked at each other, seeing the state they were in, courtesy of Pinkie Pie's ice cream blast. Nevertheless, the two laughed at each other, as they both exchanged agreements at how the ice creams made them resemble an eccentric scientist they were just reading about. It wasn't long before they started talking, and they both got up to dance.

Pinkie smiled proudly to herself, seeing she's done good. Then, her hair started to twitch uneasily, "Ooh! My pinkie senses are tingling!" Pinkie said.





Spike was, once again, working at Mario's Pizzeria & Pasta, and he just got back, after making his deliveries. He walked over to the bar, where Luigi served him a cup of root beer.

"Thanks, Mr. Luigi," Spike said, as he took a sip of his cup.

"Any-a-thing for one of our-a employee-a," Luigi replied.

"Yo, Spike!" A voice called, to which Spike turned to see the Knights, waving to him.

"Hey guys!" Spike returned the greeting. "So, the usual?"

"You know it," Rumble replied.

With that, Spike took their orders, and went back to the kitchen, where the cooks started working. Though, surprisingly today, Spike got the boys' orders very quickly.

"Um, thanks-BWAH!!" Spike shouted, when he noticed who was serving the pizzas.

"BWAH to you too, Spike!" Pinkie smiled.

"Pinkie Pie?" Spike shouted. "What are you doing here?"

"What's it look like? I work here!" Pinkie Pie smiled.

"Since when?" Spike asked.

"Since now, silly!" Pinkie giggled.

"But I thought you work at the Sweet Snacks Café!" Spike pointed.

"I do," Pinkie smiled. "But I'm on a 5 minute lunch break right now."

"And how did you get here, when Sweet Snacks is a good 10 minutes run between here, and-" Spike stopped midway, remembering who he is talking to. "Y'know, what? Never mind. The guys' orders?" He asked, wanting to change subject.

"Here you go!" Pinkie smiled, handing Spike the pizzas.

The Knights were talking to each other, when Spike brought them their orders, "Whoa! That was quick!" Rumble exclaimed.

"Heh, tell me about it," Spike replied. "Of course, it's just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie."

"Pinkie Pie?" The Knights exclaimed.

"Yes~?" Pinkie asked, popping out of nowhere.

"Whoa, you're unpredictable, y'know that?" Spike asked.

"Eh, it's what I do!" Pinkie smirked. "Besides, you've had your fun bonding moments with Fleur, Fluttershy, and Applejack already! So it's my turn to have some fun with ya!"

Spike could hardly believe his ears, "How'd you know about that?" He asked.

"Oh please," Pinkie replied. "Every bronies and pegasisters who've been reading this story this far all know about your dates with those three fillies!" Pinkie answered. "That, and I've been keeping track of your progress!"

Spike, obviously, looked more confused, "Huh?"

"Don't question it, Spike!" Pinkie replied. "Just love me like you do!"

"What?!"

"I'll keep it simple," Pinkie began. "Love me, or I WILL KILL YOU!!" Spike was scared beyond all reasons, together with his posse, and everyone in the restaurant. Pinkie laughed, "Nah! I'm just joking! You silly boy!" She pinched his cheek. "But seriously, love me."

Shaking his head, Spike walked past Pinkie, "Whatever," He said, as he gets back to work.

Pinkie frowned, as he hair began to deflate a little, "Okay, I get it," Pinkie whimpered. "I understand. You don't want to bond with poor little ol' me," She said, feigning heartbreak.

Spike stopped in his track as he turned around to face Pinkie, with puppy eyes working up the tears, "I didn't say anything like that!" He countered.

"No, it's okay," Pinkie sobbed. "I get it. I'm just too crazy, too unpredictable, and too Pinkie Pie, for you to even consider going on a date with."

"That's not true!" Spike spatted. "I mean, yeah you're you and all, but-"

"So it is true!" Pinkie feigned in a dramatic pose, as she fell into a nearby bench, something Rarity would do. "It's so true! You do think I'm a problem!! Just like everybody else!!!" Pinkie blubbered like a baby.

"No, Pinkie, I-" Thinking fast, Spike shouted, "I'll go out with you later afternoon, just as soon as I'm done with my shift!"

And just like that, Pinkie perked up, "Okie-dokie-lokie!" She chirped, while Spike rolled his eyes. "Meet me at Sugarcube Corner, later when you're done!" With a squeal, Pinkie bounced away.





Later


After he was done with his job on Earth, Spike traveled to Equestria, and walked through Ponyville, before he arrived at Sugarcube Corner. There he was greeted by the sweet shop's owners, best known as the Cakes.

In appearance, the cakes are a married Earth Pony couples. Mr. Cake has a coat of light brilliant amber with a light brilliant orange freckle-like pattern on his upper muzzle, framing his moderate pistachio green eyes, beneath his light brilliant orange mane. His attires are a chef hat with the theme of orange and white, a red bowtie with white stripes, and a white apron. His cutie marks are three carrot cakes.

Next, Mrs. Cake has a very light cerulean coat, light crimson mane with pale, light grayish crimson stripes, and brilliant rose eyes. Her cutie marks are three cupcakes, and her attires are a yellow apron with pink frills on the straps, and pink earrings.

"Well, cinnamon on toast!" Mrs. Cake exclaimed. "It's the Dragon Prince!"

"Oh! Greetings, young prince!" The Mr. Bowed stuttered nervously, while bowing his head.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cake," Spike began. "You've had me for months as your normal customer. Just Spike Draco will do."

"Oh but of course, dearie," Mrs. Cake replied.

"We do tend to get carried away," Mr. Cake smiled.

'Of course,' Spike rolled his eyes, as he recalled a similar incident he once witnessed, as a kid, involving his mom and the Cakes.





Deciding to change the topic, he spoke to the cakes, "Anyway, I'm here to see Pinkie Pie. Is she here?"

"She's just upstairs with the twins," Mr. Cake answered, pointing to the stairs.

"Thank you," Spike waved, before he was on his way up, to see Pinkie Pie, wearing a pig's nose, while trying to entertain two crying baby foals.





The foals, named Pound and Pumpkin Cakes by the way, are nothing like their parents. Pound is a light brown pegasus colt, while Pumpkin has pumpkin orange mane and tail, and is a unicorn.

Spike couldn't help but chuckle lightly, while shaking his head, incredulous at Pinkie's antic. Pinkie kept on bouncing, before she tripped, and started flying towards a closet.

"PINKIE!!" Spike screamed, as he suddenly became a blur of purple and green, and caught Pinkie Pie, only to end up falling into the closest with her, resulting in a bag of flour to collapse on top of them, covering them from head-to-toe in flours.

The two baby foals looked at the flour covered teens for a moment, before they burst out laughing.

Then, Princess Porcina comes in, "Look at me~" The pompous pig sang. "Look at me! Soon the-"


*Disc scratch*


Discord popped in, "An't-cay ou-yay ee-say at-thay is-thay i-say ot-nay out-abay ou-yay? ait-wal our-yay urn-tay!" He shouted in pig latin, before producing a huge card to translate: "Can't you see that this is not about you? Wait your turn!" With a snap of his fingers, Discord and Porcina were gone in a flash.

Afterwards, Pinkie Pie and Spike were getting themselves cleaned up, and the babies were still just as rambunctious as ever. Pound Cake was flying all over the room, with Pumpkin Cake disappearing and reappearing in flashes of lights. She was even seen crawling on top of the ceilings, to which Spike tried to fly up to catch her, only for her to disappear in another flash of light.

Then, Pinkie got an idea, "Spike! Change into a puppy! Quick!" She said.

"What?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Change into a puppy, or those babies will make us pooped out!"

Groaning, Spike glared at Pinkie, "You owe me big for this!" He said, before in a flash of green light, he reluctantly changed into a puppy. "Hey kids! Look at me!"

The two cake twins looked at Spike, and just like that, they were taken by his dog form, "PUPPY!!!" They squealed happily, before they all pounced after Spike.

"Uh oh," Spike whimpered, before he was met with several baby assaults. Pound Cake was jumping on his back, while playing with his tail, and Pumpkin Cake was chewing on his ear. "Ow!" Spike yelped.

"Aw, Spikey-wikey!" Pinkie smiled. "It's like you were meant to be a chew toy, or a gifted baby sitter!"

"I feel more being seated, than being the sitter here," He grumbled. "Now we've got the babies. How do we lull them to sleep?"

"Well lucky for you, Spike," Pinkie smiled. "I happen to know a great lullaby song that rocked my sister Maud to sleep!"


*rimshot*


"Well, by all means. Sing it," Spike said, as he continues to be met with more slobbery assaults from the babies.

Pinkie drank a glass cup of water, hums a few tune, before she sang: 


"Rock-a-bye, Pinkie~
On the sweet tops~

When the wind blows~
The cradle will-will-cradle will...."


Pinkie collapsed to the floor, and fell straight to sleep.

"Wow, that was only ten seconds," Spike grumbled, as the babies continue to play with him, albeit roughly. "Come on you two, not so rough!" Spike groaned, before he got up, and shook the babies off.

When he turned his head to look at the babies, they looked as if they're on the verge of tears, "Oh no, please don't cry, please!" Spike pleaded, but the babies looked they were about to cry anyway. Thinking fast, Spike barked, "If I tell you both a story, then you won't cry?" As if they understood him, the babies nodded their heads.

"Story! Story! Story!" They babbled.

Clearing his throat, Spike began to narrate a story he once heard, in China. The babies have never heard such a fascinating tale, and were slowly drifting off to sleep, as Spike came to the end of his story, "....And the Monkey King, Pigsy, Sandy, and Tripitaka, all left the village as they rode of into the sunset, continuing their journey to the west. The End."

Spike breathed a sigh of relief, as he looked to see the babies sound asleep. Carefully, and gently as possible, Spike picked the two babies up, before he placed them in their crib, where they all cuddled up together, sleeping happily.

"Aw, how cute!" Pinkie swooned, after she woke up.

"Took you long enough," Spike said to the pink pony, before they all shushed each other, and quietly tip-toed out of the room.

Once they finally reached the main lobby, Spike breathed a sigh of relief, "I am never going to sit babies like that again," He moaned.

"Eh, you say that now," Pinkie began. "Until Baby Flurry Heart gets born."

"Uh, what?" He asked, looking rather confused.

"Don't worry," Pinkie smiled. "She won't be born until Cadence and Shining Armor get married and move to the Crystal Empire, battle King Sombra with the penguins and yaks, and everything."

Spike, once again, looked at Pinkie Pie in confusion, "What are you talking about?" He asked.

"I don't know," Pinkie replied. "But hey! The day's still young! I've got plans that are guaranteed to be super-duper-extravaganca for the two of us! We'll call it a 'Spike and Pinkie Pie Fun Date Party Day!'"

"That's quite a mouthful," Spike commented.

"I know, right?!" Pinkie squeaked.

Rolling his eyes, deciding to just amuse her, Spike asked, "So, what shall we do first?"





Pinkie turned on the radio, as she and Spike were in the kitchen, making cakes together.


[I want candy - Aaron Carter]





Spike couldn't help but bop his head, up and down, to the beats of the song, with Pinkie doing the same, as they decorated the cake they were making together. Once it was done, the two carried the cake out, just in time for a family to come and take the cake for the birthday kid's party. However, upon seeing Spike, the kid was more surprised than the cake.

"Hello," Spike waved to the kid, only for him to faint on the spot.

Before Spike knew it, he and Pinkie were at the kid's birthday party, entertaining the birthday colt and his friends, with some tricks he learned from a Chinese Circus Troupe, together with Pinkie Pie.

Spike was throwing some Chinese plates up in the air, before Pinkie caught them, and spun them on her hooves. Then, Spike got out three long sticks, which he later used to balance some bowls at the top of the sticks, and spun the around to keep them from falling off. Later, he and Pinkie lined up several more plates, along the table and spun them all in a beautiful formation.

The foals all clapped their hooves together, applauding for Spike and Pinkie's performance.

"We're a hit, Pinkie!" Spike said.

"I know!" Pinkie cheered. "Isn't it great?!"

"I thought I'd catching ya when I spotted flying dishes in the air," Called a familiar voice, as Applejack came over, carrying some apple pies, on her head, and back.

"Hey AJ!" Spike greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to deliver some apple pies for someone's birthday party here," Applejack answered. "Never thought I'd get a free show of you doing more of your amazing plate spinning tricks there Spike." She added, giving him a half-lidded glance.

"Oh, it was nothing," Spike replied. "Besides, Pinkie did an amazing job with the plates too."

"Only because I learned them from the best!" Pinkie chirped, appearing from under Spike's jacket, before she bounced out of it.

"Wow! The Dragon Prince!" The foals exclaimed, as they crowded around Spike. "You're our hero!"

"Me? No way," Spike waved off. "If anything, AJ and Pinkie here are the heroes."

"Shoot, Spike. No need to be so modest," Applejack nudged. "You've done lots of good deeds!"

"Well compared to you girls, I'm just a student," Spike replied. "You girls have been heroes in my absence for ten years! All I ever did was rescue animals, save Fillydelphia's dragons, and then got shot in the head by a lightning bolt."

"But then you helped us defeat the Shadowbolts, and rescue Princess Luna!" Applejack added. "And helped us defeat Fear and his plague. We couldn't have done it all, without yer help!"

Spike thought about what Applejack said, but shook it off, "I guess."

"Someday, I want to be just like you!" One of the foals exclaimed.

"Me too!" Another exclaimed.

"I want to fight, just like you did!" One of the foals shouted, before she struggled to stand up on her hind legs, while throwing out punches, and kicks, before falling back down on her four hooves.

Spike couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm sure you will," He said, ruffling her mane.

"Well, if it isn't Pinkie Pie!" A gruff voice called, to which the friends and foals looked up to see three mares walking over.

All three have coats that are colored dull, grey, and slightly rocky. Each of them have different hairstyles, and only one appeared to be wearing a frock.

The one who is wearing a dark bluish gray frock, with a black belt worn at the waist, has a grayish blue violet mane and tail, both done up in hime style, matching eyeshadows over her light turquoise eyes, and displays a rather deadpan expression, in contrast to Pinkie Pie's. To further the bleak expression of her appearance, her coat is colored persian bluish gray.

The second has piercing light apple green eyes, opals grey mane and tail, with the back of her mane don up in a fanned-out style, while the rest on the front all draped like a curtain, on the right side of her face. Her coat is colored bluish gray with her cutie mark being a lime over two pebbles.

The third has a long mane and tail, colored dark cyanish gray with spring-greenish gray streaks, with the mane draping over one of her gentle grayish violet eyes, that gave her the near-like appearance of Fluttershy. Her coat is a turquoise gray with three purple marbles as her cutie mark.

"Hey sis!" Pinkie greeted, as she dashed over to greet the three mares, much to Spike's surprise.

"Those are her sisters?" Spike asked, Applejack.

"Eeyup," Applejack replied. "Big surprise for me too!"

"Hey Maud!" Pinkie greeted, hugging the deadpan mare.

"Hi Pinkie," The mare greeted in a monotone voice. "It's so good to see you today. I'm sorry if we were late, or anything."

"Not at all, Maud!" Pinkie smiled. "You came just in time! There's someone I want you to meet!" Turning to Spike, Pinkie shouted, "Hey Spike! Come here and meet my sisters!"

Spike complied, as he walked up, while getting some strange vibes from the three mares, "Um, hello," He greeted, sheepishly.

The three mares all looked at Spike, shooting different expressions his way, going from a glare, deadpan, and shy expressions.

Finally, the deadpan mare spoke up, "Wow, the Dragon Prince," She said. "Glad to finally meet you in pony."

"....Um, likewise," Spike replied uneasily.

Then, the scowling mare stepped forward, "Gaze into the eyes of Limestone Pie!" She introduced herself, while giving Spike the stink eye. "You may be some big shot hero, or celebrity. But don't think that gives the right to mess with me or one of my sisters! You hurt a single hair, and you'll answer to me!" She snarled.

"Limestone! Not in front of the kids!" Pinkie berated, pulling her sister back by the tail. "Don't forget, this isn't rated E for everyone."

Shaking off the frightening experience from Limestone, Spike turned to see the last of the trio, who was hiding her face behind her mane, similar to what Fluttershy would do when meeting newcomers.

"Uh, hi," Spike greeted, while cautiously walking up to the timid mare. In response, the mare backed away a little. "Hey, it's okay. I won't bite. I just want to ask, who are you?"

Before the mare could even respond, Pinkie Pie jumped in between her and Spike, "This is Marble Pie!" Pinkie smiled, while holding her sister close. "My baby sister who's only a few minutes younger than me! But she'll always be a baby to me. Isn't that right?" Pinkie pulled Marble close for a hug, before she cupped her cheek, causing her to make a somewhat duck face. "She's excited to meet you, Spikey!" Pinkie smiled, before releasing her grip on Marble.

Marble quickly rubbed her sore cheeks, before she was nudged in the shoulder by Pinkie Pie, "Mmm-hmm," Marble answered meekly.

Applejack walked up to Spike, and whispered, "Pinkie always did the talking for her."

Spike couldn't help but chuckle, "Really?"

"So, what brings y'all to Ponyville?" Applejack asked.

"Pinkie Pie invited us to come over," Limestone answered, calmly.

"She wanted us to meet, Prince Spike," Maud Pie added. "For the first time."

"Mmm-hmm," Marble confirmed.

Pinkie giggled, as she bounced over and hugged Spike close, "What I tell you girls?" She smiled. "Ain't he cute?"

Limestone and Marble exchanged looks, while Maud bluntly spoke, "The cutest. He rocks my world."

"Mmm-hmm," Marble agreed.

Limestone rolled her eyes, "He's cute alright," She muttered. "If he's really as strong and fast as you say, when you talked oh so highly of him!"

"Of course he is!" Pinkie said. Without warning, Pinkie quickly turned around a fired an apple from her mane, "Think fast, Spike!" She shouted.

And just like that, Spike quickly conjured a small kunai blade of fire, in his hand, slicing the apple. Before long, a blast of confetti and a huge watermelon was flying at Spike, to which the young dragon quickly reacted with a quick slash of his fire katana, followed by some more fruity projectiles that were being launched at him, unexpectedly, and unlikely.

The foals, Applejack, and the sisters, all watched as Spike continues to defend himself from Pinkie's fruity surprise attacks. While Spike was protecting himself, liking a true martial artist student, Pinkie was able to salvage all the fruits he had sliced and diced, before she skillfully puts together a pony sculpture, made of fruits.

Then, when Spike sliced the last coconut, Pinkie shouted, "Ta-da!!!!" The foals all cheered, as they gathered around the fruit sculpture, while exchanging admirations at Spike's skills.

Limestone and Marble were left, jaws agape, while Maud Pie continues to remain emotionless. At least, until a small smile appeared on the deadpan pony's face, "He's got the power."

"Mmm-hmm," Marble blushed.

Limestone said nothing.

Back at the party, the foals continue to cheer, "Wow! You're so amazing!" The birthday colt cheered. "Even more when Pinkie Pie defeated the giant storm monster!"

Upon hearing that last part, Spike was aghast, "Um, say what?"

"You mean, she's never told you?" Applejack asked, receiving a confused look from Spike. "Oh, well by all means then, Sugarcube. Sit down, and I'll-"

"Hey!" Pinkie shouted, shoving Applejack out of the chapter. "One side there cousin! This is my bonding chapter with Spike! I'll tell him the story!"





Past


It was during the Wonderbolts' Air Show, for the Summerfell Festival, in Ponyville, in which Rainbow Dash was expected to perform the stunt she was best known for since her first race with Spike and Gilda, against Dumb Bell and his gang - the Sonic Rainboom.

Rainbow was just on the verge of breaking the sound barrier, when a giant storm cloud appeared, and stopped her in her tracks.

Every pony in the audience were all in shock, watching as their beloved, friendly neighbor, Rainbow Dash, disappears within the darkness of the cloud. Not were more horrified, than Pinkie Pie.

"DAAAASHIEEEEEEE!!!" Pinkie screamed dramatically, holding her hoof out.

No sooner was Rainbow Dash swallowed by the cloud, when a clap of thunder sounded, and the cloud suddenly morphed itself into a giant cloud monster, sprouting a larger pair of wings, bulky arms, and piercing eyes that pulsed with lightning auras.

"I've got to get in there, and save Dashie!" Pinkie declared, donning up a helmet, and got herself inside a huge cannon. "A strand of her mane was able to light up a match, which she gave to her pet alligator, Gummy. "Light me!" Pinkie ordered, to which Gummy complied, blankly.

Upon lighting up the cannon, Pinkie was launched, straight into the cloud monster, just as Rainbow Dash finally fought her way out.

Inside the cloud monster, Pinkie can see that it was made up of little cloud monsters, all held together by a brain-like cloud monster named Strife, and two red, winged cloud gremlins, standing at his sides. One appeared to be small, while don up in purple aviator attires, while the other appeared bulkier and taller, and is don up in a purple hoodie.

Knowing what to do, Pinkie began to work her magic, "Hello, all you ladies and gentle clouds!" She smiled. "It's so nice to see so many familiar cloudy faces," Though slightly confused, the cloud monsters began to grow rather fond of Pinkie Pie. "Anyone here from Las Pegasus? What's that? Arabus Castle In The Sky! Wheee! Never heard of it."

"Why have we stopped?" Strife asked, before he and the Cloud Gremlins overheard Pinkie's conversations with his cloud monsters.

"So, what's with those guy?" Pinkie asked about Strife and the Gremlins. "The little guy was more like, eep-eep-eep," She imitated the sound of a monkey. "But the big guy? He's more like, ooh-ooh-ooh!" She imitated the low grunt of a gorilla, much to the amusement of the cloud monsters as they began to laugh. "What's that about?"

The cloud monsters couldn't help, but laugh themselves crazy, as their sides literally split.

"Stop laughing!" Strife ordered in vain. "I don't care how funny you think she is! And I can tell better jokes!" But it was no use. The giant cloud monster literally cracked itself up, as it falls apart, making way for the sun to shine through, just as Rainbow Dash did her final Sonic Rainboom.

Pinkie landed safely on the ground, courtesy of using her tail as a parachute, "You've all been a great audience!" Pinkie said. "Good-night!"





Present


"And that's how Equestria was made!" Pinkie declared.

"Huh?" Spike asked, looking confused.

"I mean saved!" Pinkie smiled. "Slip of my tongue," She giggled. "Or is it?" She asked the readers.

"Hi every pony!" A familiar voice greeted, to which the two friends and foals looked, to their surprise, Rara arriving.

"Wow! Rara!" The foals all crowded around the pop star singer, who smiled, as she greeted the children.

"Hello, little ponies," Rara smiled. "Now which one of you is the birthday colt?"

"I am!" The colt shouted excitedly, jumping up and down.

"Then let me say, happy birthday to you," Rara smiled, causing the colt to faint.

Soon, Pinkie Pie bounced over, "Thanks again for doing this, Rara!" Pinkie smiled. "I knew having you over would make his birthday extra special, and make him and his friends even more happy, than on an average scale!"

Rara smiled, "Anything for one of AJ's friends," The pop star looked up, and blushed at the sight of Spike. "Oh, h-h-hi Spike."

"Hey Rara," Spike greeted. "How have you been?"

"I'm doing well, thank you!" Rara said happily. "Better than well. I've actually been enjoying myself! I mean, with Svengallop out of the picture for me, I'm kind of allowed to make my own times, I'm free to do whatever I want for fun, and just being me!"

"Sounds like you've been having the time of your life," Spike smiled.

Rara smiled, before Pinkie Pie jumped in, "As much as I like to see the two of you exchange smiles. How about we get this show on the road?" She asked the pop star.

With a light chuckle, Rara walked up on stage, together with Pinkie Pie, just as DJ-Pon 3, and MC W1SH both appeared, and started up the music.


Make A Wish





As the two ponies sang on stage, the birthday colt and his friends all laughed as they danced together, having a good time. Spike couldn't help but join in the fun. He also couldn't help but notice the little foals were copying his dance moves.

Amused, Spike started to do some simple moves that some of the foals were able to mimic, and while exchanging some compliments, and advice for each other.

Even while singing, Pinkie and Rara couldn't help but smile at the scene of Spike entertaining the little party ponies.

'He's a lot of fun!' They both thought in admiration of him.

Meanwhile, Limestone, Marble, and Maud, all who've been standing on the sideline for quite awhile, finally snapped out of their shocks, watching the party going on.

The three sisters all remembered the first party their sister had thrown for them and their family, following a certain event that involved a cyan pegasus, griffon, dragon, and a Sonic Rainboom that secured their victory.

Limestone couldn't help but let a small smile form on her face, "Y'know, he's actually not half bad," She said, looking at Spike.

"He's adorable," Maud joined.

"Mmm-hmm," Marble agreed.





It was nighttime, by the time they left the birthday party. Pinkie Pie took Spike out to a meadow, with the moon shining down on the field, and the night flowers in the field, sparkling in the light.

"Wow," Spike smiled. "This is a sight to behold."

"Glad you thought of it that way, Spikey!" Pinkie smiled. "Because this was our favorite hangout, whenever you and Twilight come to town!"

"No kidding," Spike looked down from the hill they were sitting on, admiring the flowers, while breathing in the night air. "No wonder I felt a lot of nostalgia washing over me."

"Same here," Pinkie smiled, while vibrating vigorously in place. "It's making my Pinkie Senses going on berserk!"

Spike couldn't help but chuckle at his eccentric pony friend. Turning to face, Pinkie Pie, he said, "Thanks, Pinkie."

"For what?" She asked.

"Oh, you know. Having me over, playing with Pound and Pumpkin, making cakes, entertaining another birthday kid's party. All in all, just having a good time. So, thanks," He answered.

"What can I say? I'm Pinkie Pie! It's what I do," Pinkie Pie squeaked.

"No kidding," Spike replied, before he sighed deeply.

Pinkie caught onto his troubled expression, and out of concern, asked, “Something wrong, Spikey?”

“No, nothing’s wrong, Pinkie,” Spike replied. “It’s just....I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”

“In a good way?” Pinkie asked nervously.

Much to her relief, Spike’s answer was, “Yes,” Spike laid down on his back, while looking up the stars. “In a relaxing kind of way. It’s just moments like this, is exactly I really need to take a break from all that fighting, adventuring, and stuff.”

“Uh-Huh!” Pinkie agreed. “And for us to get together, hangout with our friends, and throw parties together!”

Spike nodded, “And for that, I’m really happy to have you and the girls as my friends. And why I’d do anything to protect you all.”

“Aw shucks, Spike!” Pinkie grinned. “We’re all glad to have you as our friend too! Besides, we would do the same for you, if it means you won’t get hit in the head with another dark lightning bolt, or the memory stone, and lose all your memories, and then you would be forced to leave us for another long, grey, sad, boring ten years, again.”

Pinkie took the moment to catch her breath, before she grabbed Spike by the collar, and pulled him close, “But hey! I’m begging you!” She began dramatically. “DON’T. LEAVE. US. AGAIN!!!”

“Calm down, Pinkie,” Spike gently ushered, pushing the pink pony away. “I would never leave you girls. At least, not forever,” Quickly adapting a solemn look, he quietly spoke, “Not after seeing how much we mean to each other. And not after what we’ve been through recently,” Putting his finger under Pinkie’s chin, directing her head up to look at him, Spike spoke, “Pinkie, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, and no matter where we go, we’ll always be together. And that we’ll never be alone. Can you promise not to forget that?”

Moved by his words, Pinkie’s eyes welled up with tears, beforehand she nodded, “I promise, Spike,” She cried. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”

Spike smiled, as he hugged the pony, “That’s why I love you, Pinkie,” He said.

Pinkie gasped, “You love me?!”

Thinking he confused her, Spike tried to clarify, “Yeah! I mean, y’know, I love you like the way I love the other girls.” A long awkward moment passed, before Spike broke the silence. “Um, Pinkie?”

“You love me!!” Pinkie smiled. “You really love me!” She smiled, while batting her eyelashes together.

“Well, what’s not there to love about you?” Spike asked. “You’re fun! You’re energetic! And kinda unpredictable, but you’re always so happy and upbeat!”

“And that’s why I love you!!!!” Pinkie squealed, before she tackled Spike, “NOW KISS ME MY DRAGON PRINCE!!!” She roared, before claiming Spike’s lips.

Surprised at first, Spike felt himself melting into Pinkie’s strong, firm, sweet lip-lick.

To Spike, it felt like he was eating the most sweetest combo of all kinds of sweets imaginable. Candies, cakes, donuts, pies, cookies, etc. none of those sweets can compare to the sugar rush he’s having with Pinkie Pie.

Later, however, he found himself experiencing a wave of stillness, and relaxation, through the kiss, as if all his rationality and anxiety were instantly banished.

Without a care in the world, Spike pulled Pinkie close, deepening the kiss, before they pulled apart, to catch their breath.

“Wow,” Spike panted. “That....was....great....”

Pinkie was sweating a storm, as she panted, “You’re not so bad yourself, Spike. You turned me on so high, I had to shed my clothes off.”

“What?” Spike looked confused, before he looked at Pinkie, and his eyes widened. “OMIGOSH!!”

There, basking in the moonlight before him, in her anthro form, was Pinkie Pie, wearing only a baby blue bra and panties, decorated with pink cupcakes.

Aroused, Spike lost control of his powers, as he randomly changes into a wolf, howling and whistling, then a bloated puffer fish, a dragon with his wings stiffened and smokes spewing from his nose like a train whistle, a rabbit with his foot thumping rapidly, and so on.

Pinkie couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh, Spike! You’re so silly!” She giggled. “I loooooove that boy!” Pinkie said to the readers, before she continued to laugh.

“Stop it!” Spike struggled to get ahold of himself. “Stop!” But to no avail.

“Oh Spike,” Pinkie began. “No need to hide it. You liked seeing me like this, don’t you?” She asked, flirtatiously.

Spike stopped in dog form, “Oh yeah,” He barked, before he turned back into a human. “I mean, no! I mean, we’re not having this conversation!” He said, while closing his eyes.

“Aw, c’mon Spike,” Pinkie pried his hands apart with little struggle. “Loosen up! This is our night together! So just have fun! Enjoy it,” She leaned close to his ears, and whispered, “Just pretend I’m in my bikini. I’ll even let you touch my melons~”

Spike’s whiskers quickly stand on end, “Are you teasing me?” He asked.

“Maybe,” Pinkie rolled her eyes, playfully. “But if you want to, I should warn you. I do like to play, rough,” She grinned deviously at the last part, recalling the terrorist whom she pummeled at the World Trade Center. Pinkie then let out a giggle, “I’m just kidding! Like I’d ever hurt that cute little face of yours for being puddy over me!”

Pinkie started to smile flirtatiously, as she started to pose, “Besides, I am giving you an eye candy for tonight,” She said, while doing another pose, before handing him a camera. “Well, what are you waiting for? Take my pictures!”

Reluctant at first, Spike complied, as he started to get the camera working and started taking pictures of the pink party pony, giving him an eyeful of her sexy human bod.

‘If Sunset, mom, auntie, uncle, or any of the girls find out about this. Then I’m never going to hear the end of this,’ Spike thought. ‘Until then, I’m so naughty to enjoy this,’ He smirked.

While she was posing for Spike, Pinkie secretly pulled out a small scoreboard, and gave herself a score mark. 

Pinkie cupped her breasts, as she thought seductively, ‘Maybe not today, Spike. But you can’t resist my feminine appeal for long.’





"Strife," The voice began. "Explain yourself!"

"Thank you my lord. I will." Strife replied. "But first, have you ever heard about a giant storm monster, and-"

A blast of lightning sounded, before the voice laughed, "Now that's funny!~"
> Adventure In The Fast Lane
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash was flapping her wings, as she flies across Ponyville, scanning for any sign of Fear Haunter.

"Come out, come out wherever you are, freakazoid," Rainbow said to herself.

Suddenly, a loud shriek pierced the sky, and a blur of black came soaring from the sky and struck Rainbow Dash, cutting her cheek.

"OW!" Rainbow winced, before she looked up at her attacker. "What the-" The attacker appeared to be a giant sixteen foot raven with four eyes and black chains covering it's wings, as it makes a sharp turn, and makes another dive at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow flapped her wings, moving to the side, dodging the attack. Unfortunately, the raven made another turn, and Dash wasn't quick enough to dodge out of the way in time as the massive bird grabs her with it's talons and slams her to the ground, pinning her down.

"Get off of me!" Rainbow snarled, struggling to escape. Then, without warning, the raven grabs her wings by the beak...and rips them off her back. Rainbow screamed in pain as the raven lets go of her and devour her wings. "No! My wings!" Rainbow cried, tears pouring from her eyes. "My beautiful, awesome wings! Not again!" She cried, recalling how she first lost her wings, to the Three Magicians.

The difference then was that it was only temporarily, and she was able to reclaim her wings with Twilight's help. This time, however, it may be permanent, as Rainbow's wings have been devoured whole, by a demonic raven, before her very eyes.

Rainbow laid her head on the ground, as she sobbed, "My wings....gone. I'm nothing without them...."

"If you're nothing without those wings then you probably shouldn't have them in the first place!" A demonic voice coldly told her.

“AAAAAAH!!!” Rainbow screamed, waking up in the middle of the night.

"If you're nothing without those wings then you probably shouldn't have them in the first place!" Fear's words continued to echo in her mind.

With a frantic thought, Rainbow Dash quickly looked behind her, and quickly breathed a sigh of relief, when she sees that her wings remain intact. However, her relief quickly disappeared, as she thought back on what Fear said, and hugged herself.

"Am I really nothing without my wings?" She asked.




Somewhere


[We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP]


Zephyr Breeze was drowning his sorrows in a cups of Starbuck's frappuccino, with Snips and Snails joining him.

"It's just not fair, boys," Zephyr grumbled. "How come Rainbow Dash is always going on and on about, Spike Draco? Every time I try to ask her out, it's always Spike this, Spike that. And when it's not Spike, it's always her girl friends! WHAT IS IT THEY'VE GOT THAT I DON'T?!!"

"Zephyr!" Snips panicked. "Calm your temper! Calm your temper!"

"I INVENTED CALM!!" Zephyr Breeze exclaimed, dramatically, and angrily, much to the other patrons' disturbance.

Soon, the boys were walking outside, as Zephyr began dramatically, "I've had enough of Dash paying more attention at Spike, and not me!" He grumbled. "She wants awesome kung-fu?! I'll give her kung-fu! Because starting today, it's good-bye to useless, butt-in-the-joke, procrastinating Zephyr Breeze! Time for me to go to the gymnastic, immediately!" With that, Zephyr Breeze marched away, feeling proud of himself.

"What about our homeworks?" Snips asked, causing Zephyr to face fault to the ground.

"Time for me to do my homeworks," Zephyr grumbled.





Past


A young Spike was doing his fighting stance, with Scorpan observing, and reviewing the progress of his training.

"Spike!" Scorpan said. “You need to go deeper!” With that, he placed a flat rock on top of Spike's hold, forcing the boy to bend his knee, lowering his bottom to the ground further, much to his discomfort. "Like the steps to making tea, the progress of your training must taste bitter before it is ripened to sweetness. Horse stance! Grow roots!" Scorpan went back to observe the progress of his training.

Just then, Mako came flying into the garden, and walked around the young dragon, "Horse stance," Spike explained to the elder dragon.

"Very good," Mako replied. "For pretending to be a duck!" With a flick of his long serpentine tail, Mako tripped Spike, knocking him off his feet.

"Hey! He's my student!" Scorpan berated to the elder dragon. "Two tigers cannot live on the same mountain! Two teachers can't teach the same student!" With that, Scorpan grabbed Spike by the arm, as he helped him back up, and beckoned for the boy to resume his stance.

"If he's really to learn how to fight, and have better control of his powers," Mako began, gruffly. "He must develop speed, accuracy, and power!" Turning to the young dragon, Mako changed himself in human form, as he got down to Spike's level.

"I will punch. You will attempt to block me," Mako said. "Ready?" Spike gave a quick nod, as Mako thrusted his fist, close enough to simply touch the tip of Spike's nose, with the young dragon's hand barely making contact.

Scorpan shook his head in disapproval, "What did I told you about the snake?" Scorpan asked, while doing the said block maneuver. The stern gargoyle pulled Spike away from Mako, and told his nephew, "You try and punch me!" Spike complied, only for his punching fist to be deflected by the hand that shaped itself as the snake, before he was jabbed in the chest by the other hand. "See?" Scorpan asked. "Now do that to him!"

With that, Spike deflected the first strike from Mako, only for the older dragon to quickly thrust his striking fist again, catching Spike by the throat.

"It's not right for a snake," Mako mused. "To fight an eagle."

"Crane, Spike!" Scorpan lectured. "Crane!" With that, Scorpan grabbed both of Spike's arms and beckoned the young dragon to hold them out like great wings of a crane. With Scorpan's help, Spike had to move his arms downward in front of him, in a clockwise and counter-clockwise movement, shoving Mako's hand off, only for the dragon to quickly resume grabbing his throat again.

It wasn't long, before Spike was met with a flurry of jabs and strikes, that he was finally fed up, "Stop!" Young Spike screamed, before he angrily looked up at his mentors. "I've had enough! No more!" He shouted. "No more silent riddles! Or no more of the cups!"

The dragon turned his back on the two masters, who quickly grabbed him from behind, before they pinned him down on the ground, with their feet to his chest.

"First rule," Scorpan began sternly. "Show respect to your teachers!"

Frightened beyond all reasons, Spike complied, "Yes sirs."

Mako turned to Scorpan and asked, "What about the two tigers living on the same mountain?"

"We can kill each other when this is over," Scorpan replied.


Earth


[Sacred Pool of Tears - Hans Zimmer]


Following the tragedy in Canterlot, and their departure to Earth, Spike and Scorpan began their journey for Spike to slowly relearn all his lessons of the martial arts. Spike was about 5 years old when he and Scorpan traveled to China, and to meet up with the Shaolin Monks, to begin his training of Kung-Fu, and the start of his journey of martial art training.



"Kung fu is hard work over time to accomplish skills."

"Or the butcher who cuts meat every day with such skill his knife never touches bone."

"Learn the form, but seek the formless. Hear the soundless. Learn it all, then forget it all. Learn The Way, then find your own way."

"The musician can have kung-fu, or the poet who paints pictures with words and makes emperors weep. This, too, is kung-fu."

"But do not name it, my friend, for it is like water. Nothing is softer than water yet it can overcome rock. It does not fight. It flows around the opponent, formless, nameless."

"Formless, nameless, the true master dwells within. Only you can free him."

-Jackie Chan & Jet Li, The Forbidden Kingdom







Present
 

Zephyr Breeze was running on a treadmill, panting heavily, "Phew, I can feel the burn," He said. "But it's the good burn! I can feel myself getting stronger with every minute!" Snips and Snails were keep track of his progress, when Snails accidentally hold down the acceleration button too long. "Whoa! Whoa! Hey guys? Too fast! Too fast! AAAAAAAHHH!!!" Zephyr screamed, as he flew off his tracks.

"Oops," Snips said meekly. "Sorry, Zephyr! We'll get ya a first aid kit."





Meanwhile, back with Spike


[Owl City - This Isn't The End]


Spike was at his apartment, practicing his forms, when there was a knock at his door. Toweling himself off, while donning up his hoodie, Spike walked over to the door, and took a quick look through the peephole to see Rainbow Dash at the door.

Turning the knob, Spike opened up the door, "Hey Dash," He greeted. "What's up?"

"Just thought I'd drop by and say hello," Rainbow replied. "Can I come in?"

"Sure, be my guest," Spike showed Dash in.

Peewee was eating some seeds in his claws, when he looked up and squawked at Rainbow Dash, "Hiya Peewee," Rainbow greeted, as the phoenix flew over, and perched on a counter, close to the girl. "Great to see you again my phoenix friend," She said, gently petting Peewee's stomach.

Peewee squawked, as he flaps his wings and fly away, revealing a whole gallery of pictures, displaying captured memories of Spike's trips around the world, the different forms of martial arts he's learned, as well as all the belts, medals, and other awards he's earned.

"Wow, Spike!" Rainbow marveled. "It's hard to believe that all of this is you!"

Looking up at the gallery of his achievements and travels, Spike smiled in nostalgia, "I don't like to brag, Dash," said Spike. "But seeing is believing. And your eyes aren't deceiving you."

"Wow," Rainbow replied as she continued to look at all the pictures. "You and General Scorpan have been going to a lot of different places, haven't ya?"

"Just to learn some martial arts, here and there," Spike replied. "Uncle did say that each martial arts have their own style, strength, and philosophy. And if I learn them all at once, then I'm practically a powerful fighter."

Rainbow smirked, "Well the way you fought off the Shadowbolts, defeat Nightmare Moon, save your pals from those Diamond Dog thugs, and most of all, beat me and AJ in that game of dodgeball, I'd think you're a badass."

Spike chuckled sheepishly at Dash's compliment, "I wouldn't call myself a badass," he replied modestly. "I mean, you and the others. You're fighters of magic. You've had years of fights against forces of darkness. Compared to all of you girls, I'm still just a magical rookie."

"Well in my book, you're anything but a rookie, Spike," Dash smirked, as she ruffled the boy's hair. "So, what's it like to travel a lot?" the girl asked excitedly, as she took a seat.

Spike was caught off guard, as he suddenly feels flustered, "Huh, where to start?"

"Well, tell me which one you think is most exciting," Dash replied.





Past


A young Spike, roughly twelve years old, was on another trip to China, with Scorpan. During this trip, the two stopped at a food joint, where Scorpan purchased both himself and Spike, a scorpion on a stick.

"Yuck!" Spike grimaced at the sight of a living scorpion, skewered on a stick. "Uncle, I said I'm hungry. Not digestively imbalance."

"It's either this, or sea horse head on a stick over there!" Scorpan replied.

Spike quickly looked, and sure enough, there were fried sea horses, on sticks. Spike felt himself on the verge of losing his lunch. He didn't know why back then, but the thought of eating something that looks like a horse, let alone a pony, always make him queasy, and grief-stricken.

Looking back at his scorpion, Spike shrugged, "Oh well, hakuna matata," he quoted, something he learned from Africa. Closing his eyes, bracing himself for the taste, Spike took a bite off the scorpion's lower half, before he downed the rest, "Mmm, tastes like shrimp," he said in a mouthful. 'A shrimp with spider legs,' he thought in disgust.

Scorpan chuckled, "Don't worry," the man spoke. "After awhile, you'll get use to it."

While the two of them were eating, Spike couldn't help but get a feeling that he was being watched. Turning his head, he quickly caught sight of a girl, who quickly looked away, acting innocent.

Spike took the chance to observe the girl, seeing that she has moderate azure eyes that are framed by a pair of purple pointy glasses. Her hair is a strong cerulean with moderate arctic blue streaks, with the bang cut straight, and the back of her hair done up in two long pigtails. For attires, she wore a purple shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, a blue-and-green juniper leaf decorated on the collar, black skirt, long white knee socks, and purple shoes.

The girl turned her eyes, and blushed when she saw Spike looking at her.

"What are you looking at, Spike?" Scorpan asked.

Snapping out of his gaze, Spike turned to his uncle who was looking at him, confused.

"Uh, nothing uncle," Spike replied, pointing off to the distance. "I was just looking."

Though he clearly wasn't buying it, Scorpan decided to let it slide for a moment, "Well hurry and eat up. After this, we're off to the Shaolin Temple to further your training."

Looking back at his stick, seeing there are still some scorpions left on his stick, Spike grimaced as he continues to snack on them, before he and Scorpan left for the temple.





After arriving at the temple, donning up in the appropriate garbs for a student of Shaolin Gongfu(Kung-Fu in Chinese), Spike started off with some tai chi exercises, before he quickly went to training with his fellow students.

In this trip to China, Spike went through some excruciating exercises, that were more intense than they were the last time he and Scorpan were there. The young boy was once again doing his horse stance, while enduring the heavy weight of the bricks and stones being placed on his head, shoulders, and knees. The main point of this exercise was to further strengthen the back and leg muscles, in order to provide him a firm stance, to stand his grounds.

Following his horse stance training, Spike later practiced doing his punches and kicks, with a monk being specific that the boy is required to expel his energy, when punching, for a more powerful impact. Furthermore, Spike was reminded of his tai chi forms, with which he would use to control the flow of the energy within him, before striking on a hard tree the monks used in their training.

Later, when he finds solitude in the nearby forest, close to the temple, Spike was practicing the forms of the ancient martial art's various animal styles, from the praying mantis to the tiger.

Suddenly, his ears perked up, at the sound of sticks snapping, under foot. Reacting fast, Spike quickly got into a fighting stance, turning to the source, and saw a shadow dashing behind a tree, "Who's there?" He asked, demandingly.

Taking few careful, and quiet steps, Spike prowled up to the tree, before at a speed that's too fast for the naked eye, Spike grabbed someone, by their hand, and pulled them out of hiding, revealing themselves to be the girl from before.

"AAH!!" The girl screamed, as she was taken by surprise. "I'm sorry. Was I distracting you?" She asked.

Easing his grip on the girl's hand, Spike released her, before he calmed himself, "Not at all," He replied. "But, what's a girl like you, doing out here?"

Before the girl could answer, a voice called out, "Juniper!" A tall man, came over to the two.

In appearance, he appeared to be in his 70s, with a rugged grayish malachite green hair, with streaks of light malachite greenish gray, that flowed down into a long goatee, and the back of his hair tied up in a small ponytail. He wore a pair of thick black glasses that framed his moderate amaranth eyes. For attires, he wore a long green collared shirt, beneath a light brown vest, a long grayish pants, and light brown shoes.

"Juniper, there you are!" He breathed a sigh of relief. "Is everything alright? I thought I heard you screaming."

"Yeah, I'm fine uncle," The girl, now identified Juniper, replied. "Just startled, that's all."

"Spike!" Scorpan called, as he came over. "There you are! It's time for you to-Canter Zoom?!" Scorpan exclaimed, when he took notice of the man.

"Scorpan?!" The man, named Canter, shouted in equal shock. “Why, it’s been almost thirty years since I last saw you!”

“Yes, I guess it has,” Scorpan replied nostalgically, while stroking his mustache. “Back when you had me work on the choreography for that last action-thriller movie of yours.”

Confused, Spike spoke up, “Um, uncle? You know this man?”

“Yes, nephew,” Scorpan answered. “This is Canter Zoom. He’s an old friend of mine.”

“Oh, well nice to meet you sir,” Spike said, bowing his head in respect to the man, who returned the gesture.

“Likewise, young man,” Canter replied, before addressing to Juniper. “And I see you were just getting acquainted with my niece, Juniper?"





After the introductions were in order, the four walked back into the temple, where Spike resumed his martial art trainings, with Scorpan and his fellow masters. In the meantime, Canter Zoom and Juniper both stood on the sidelines, while filming the whole session taking place. Turns out, they were in China, making a documentary film around the culture and history of China's Shaolin Kung Fu.

While practicing some of his techniques, Spike was approached by Juniper, "Hey," Juniper greeted quietly.

"Hey yourself," Spike returned the greeting.

Blushing up a storm, Juniper broke the silence, "I just wanted to say, sorry again for disturbing you back there in the woods. I just wanted to see you doing those moves you were doing."

"That's okay," Spike replied. "It's not everyday someone wants to catch a glimpse of a martial arts student, like me, performing some awesome feats. So, no hard feelings."

Smiling, and scratching the back of her head, Juniper eventually blurted out, "Can you teach me some kung fu?"

"Huh?" Spike stopped what he was doing, and turned his attention to the enthusiastic girl.

"Can you to teach me kung fu, please?" Juniper repeated, enthusiastically. 

"Pray tell, why?"

"Because I've always wanted to learn kung fu," Juniper replied. "Ever since I've watched movies of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Michelle Yeoh, and some other amazing martial artists in their movies, such as Rush Hour, Hero, Way of the Dragon, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. And I would love it if I could learn some martial art skills of my own, so that way I too can become a martial art hero!"

Spike shook his head in disapproval, "That's not what martial art is all about, Juniper," Spike replied. "Besides, it takes years of experience and teaching to do it. It's not as easy as it looks."

"Aw....," Juniper pouted. "But you made it look so easy!"

Just then, a scuffle was heard outside the courtyard, prompting everyone inside to run out and investigate. Upon arriving at the scene, they looked to see a gang of hooligans running off with a donation box.

"Hey!" Juniper shouted. "That doesn't belong to you! Give it back!" The girl gave chase after the hooligan, despite the sound of her uncle, calling after her.

"Juniper! Get back here!" Canter shouted, as he quickly ran after his niece.

Spike turned to his uncle, who nodded, before the boy took off.





Spike was running across the plated roofs of the houses, as he gave chase after Juniper, who continues in her persist after the hooligans.

"Stop!" Juniper panted, on the verge of collapsing out of exhaustion.

The hooligans looked back, and couldn't help but share some laughs, before saying something in Chinese. Spike was running on the roofs, before he stepped on a loose plate, that slide off the roof, taking Spike with it.

"WHOA!!" Spike screamed, as he fell off the roof, and landed on one of the hooligans, causing him to drop the donation box.

The others stopped, to see Spike and the hooligan going at with each other. Spike picked up the donation box and threw it at the hooligan, who quickly caught it in his hands, before he was met with a kick to the stomach, causing the hooligan to stumble for a moment. Realizing who he's dealing with, the hooligan tossed the box to the side, before he rans after Spike and threw a punch, only for Spike to perform the snake block maneuver Scorpan taught him, by deflecting the punch, then thrusting his other hand into a jab at the neck.

The hooligan was briefly stunned, coughing from the sharp impact to his throat, before he was met with a strong front kick to his face, then a flying roundhouse kick to the head, then he was knocked off his feet by Spike's Dragon Swipes His Tail maneuver.

Juniper finally caught up, just in time to see Spike fighting the other hooligans. Spike was climbing up ladder, with his back against the steps, as he continues to kick at one of the hooligans advancing upon him. The hooligan pounced forward, only for Spike to jump at the last second, landed on his hands, and thrusted his legs out, doing a donkey kick, hitting the man in the rear, and forced him into the ladder, getting stuck between the steps. Spike quickly seized this opportunity to spank him repeatedly with a flurry of kicks and punches.

Suddenly, Spike was grabbed at the arm by one of the other hooligan. Thinking fast, Spike grabbed the hooligan's head, swings himself around his back, before thrusting his leg out in a side kick, landing an impact to the hooligan's stomach.

Having enough, the man got out a pocket knife. Juniper gasped, as she watched Spike standing his ground, before the hooligan wielding the blade. The hooligan lunged forward, only for Spike to dodge to the side, while grabbing the arm that was holding the knife, and kneed the man in the stomach at the same time. Taking the chance, Spike quickly jabbed the man in his throat again, before he kicked him in the groin. Twisting his arm, Spike quickly slapped the hooligan's face repeatedly, followed by an uppercut. Disoriented, the man threw a punch, only for Spike to retaliate with a flexible back kick, striking to the head. Twisting his arm again, Spike was able to pry the knife out of the man's hand, before he spins the man, and placed his hand on a nearby, discarded box.

Juniper watched, as Spike spins the knife in his hand, similar to Chloe Moretz's trick with the butterfly knife, as Hit-Girl, from the movie Kick-Ass. Spike raised his hand in the air, as if to plunge the knife into the man's hand. The man closed his eyes, ready to feel the cold feel of the blade, cutting the skin in his hand. However, it never came. Looking up, he saw that Spike had only jabbed the knife into the wooden face of the box.





Present
 

Spike was laughing his heart out, as he recalled the memory, "Oh, those jokers couldn't even hold their hands up when the police came to arrest them!" Spike laughed. "That look on their face when I scared them was just priceless! I wished I had gotten a picture of them!"

"Yeah, I can imagine it sounded like, fun," Rainbow sighed sadly.

Spike's laughter instantly dies, as he looked at Rainbow Dash with concerns, "What's wrong, Dash?" Spike asked. "Is something the matter?"

Rainbow frowned sadly, "Don't get me wrong, Spike," She replied. "It's great to hear that you've had a really good time with Scorpan over the years. And I'm proud to see the boy you've grown into. But it's just...." 

Rainbow took a deep breath, before she started pouring out her emotions, "I really wished I could've been there with you all the way! Look at you! You've mastered about six martial arts! Earned black belts in each of them! Five degrees of black belts for each! And also, traveling around the world! Learning each countries' cultures, styles, and people! Having the adventures of a lifetime! All the while, not having the faintest recollection of Equestria!" 

Dash turns her head away, hiding her tearful face behind the multicolored locks of her hair.

“Meanwhile, me and the girls were left in Equestria, forced to move on with our lives without you, accomplishing our dreams, and saving the world from total destruction," Rainbow frowned, as she continued. "I know you're back and all, Spike. But still, it doesn't change how you've been having the excitements of adventures with General Scorpan, while leaving us behind. Because compared to you, I'm just a flat out nobody...”

Spike frowned, as he looked at the once tough rainbow maned pegasus mare he called a friend. Reaching his hand out for her, he stroked her by the hair, which Rainbow welcomed, blushing in response, "Hey, Dash," He began. "I don't think you're a nobody. You're fast, you're brave, you're adventurous, and an awesome girl. I may have traveled around the world of Earth, with Uncle Scorpan. But none of them are anything compared to the recent adventures I've been having with you and the others," Dash looked up, as Spike continued, "Because unlike the trips I've had with uncle, I didn't have any friends to share them with. And guess what? Life is an adventure! Just spending the day with you right now is an adventure."

Rainbow gave Spike a small smile, before it disappeared, "But can I ask you a quick question?" Spike nodded in response, in which Rainbow asked, "Would you still want to go on an adventure with me? Even if I'm nothing without my wings?"

"Who said that?!" Spike asked. "Wings or no wings, you're still you, Rainbow Dash. Heck, I don't even care if you're an earth pony, fashionista, with a British-accent."

Rainbow Dash tried picturing herself, the way Spike had described her, but ultimately failed to do so, "Hehe, yeah right," Rainbow chuckled nervously.

“So Dash,” Spike began, deciding to change the topic. “You up for some parkour?”

"Heck yeah!" Dash smiled, excitedly getting up on her feet.

"Then adventure is through the door!" He announced.

"Let's do it, to it!" The two said together, exchanging some fist bumps and handshakes, before they ran out the door, shouting excitedly.

Not wanting to miss out on some fun, Peewee flapped his wings, and followed.




Meanwhile, with Zephyr


Zephyr was continues with his workout, pulling a wagon, with Snips and Snails, riding in it.

"Hey guys?" Zephyr called. "How does it look from back there?"

"What?" Snails asked.

"My buttocks," Zephyr clarified. "They're pretty firm, yes?"

"Oh," The boys looked to each other, before they answered, "Yeah. That's a wonderful butt you've got there."

"Si. Si, I know," Zephyr agreed.





ZE:A - Run To The World (The Kick Ost.)


Spike and Rainbow Dash racing across the ceilings of the buildings, doing flips, and huge leaps, across the roofs, before landing on the other.

Rainbow Dash was ahead of the game, still being the fastest and the athletic of the girls, and heroes. Spike, despite having done parkour on a daily basis, was strangely finding some difficult in getting ahead of Rainbow Dash. Nevertheless, he was not out of the race just yet, and he is not going down without a fight.

"C'mon, Spike!" Rainbow called. "You can do better than that! Where's that free spirited dragon I once knew?"

"I'm just getting warmed up, Dash!" Spike replied.

In fact, the rush of adrenaline brought back memories of when he and Rainbow Dash had their first race, with Gilda, against Dumb Bell, and his gang of bullies, to win back Gabby's doll. As the memory flashed before him, Spike looked to see the happy expressions on Rainbow Dash's face, together with Gilda's, when he and the two athletic flyers raced together, and supported each other all the way, which in turn helped them win the race at the end. To top it all off, there was also Gabby, whose smile was even bigger than Pinkie Pie's, after they won her doll back.

The joyful expressions on the girls' face made Spike feel pleased about himself in return. Back in the present, Spike was smiling in nostalgia, and didn't notice his whole body was glowing in a green aura. Next thing he knew, he was catching up to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was jumping in the air, doing a front flip, before she rolled forward, upon landing the next the ceiling. She heard the sound of shoes landing behind her, and turned to see Spike running neck and neck with her.

"What?" Spike asked. "You said I could do better, didn't you?"

Rainbow smirked, as she playfully punched his shoulder, "Now that's more like it, Spike," She said. "I was wondering if I'll ever see that side of you, again."

"Well, like I said before," Spike spoke. "It ain't over until the fat pony sings!" Upon hearing those last words, Rainbow instantly recalled the race she had with Spike and Gilda.

Soon, it was Rainbow who felt nostalgic, "You really have a way to give me determination, and faith, Spike," Rainbow smiled. "You know that?"

Spike smiled, "I have you, uncle, and mom for teaching me the value of teamwork, and loyalty," Rainbow chuckled, while feeling a little unsure of what Spike said at the last part. "That, and for letting me have a ten second head start!" Spike said, zipping away from Rainbow Dash, who finally came to. "See ya!"

"Hey!" Rainbow shouted, as she quickly ran after Spike. "Cheap shot, Spike!"

Soon, the two climbed down a fire escape, as they took their free run, on the ground. Along the way, they did some parkour jumps and tricks, impressing several bystanders. Peewee continued to follow the two racers, while circling overhead.

Spike was running, while skillfully jumping from one fence post to another, before he came towards a wall, where he ran up, and flips off, doing a spin, before he landed on his feet. Rainbow Dash did the same, only she landed on her hands, followed by several backflips. Their performance earned several praises and applause from the people who were watching them.

Soon, the two took their run through Central Park, where they both jumped, run, and rolled across the layouts of the park.

Snips and Snails were out walking, when they spotted Spike and Rainbow Dash, having a good time together.

"Whoa, Snips!" Snails shouted, pointing to the two friends. "Look!"

The two boys watched, as Spike and Rainbow Dash both did a spin flip together, before they both run up together, looking as if they're both running along an invisible wall between them, before they flipped off, doing a backflip, and landed on their feet.

"OMIGOSH!!" Snips exclaimed.

"No way!" Snails shouted.

"Big deal," A voice said, revealing itself to be a displeased Zephyr Breeze. "I can do that whenever I want."

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" A green haired, freckle-faced girl grumbled, startling the three boys.

"Where did you come from?" They asked.

The girl rolled her eyes, "I've been behind you boys, about an hour ago!" She frowned. "We were just talking, then."

"Oh, sorry," Snips apologized. "I guess we-"

"It's okay," The girl sighed. "I get that all the time," Looking back, she smiled as she watched Spike and Rainbow doing their parkour tricks and run. 'Well, not all the time,' She thought fondly.

Spike and Rainbow Dash both stopped by a tree, where they took the moment to catch their breaths.

"Wow, that was fun!" Spike panted. "Do you feel the rush? Wow! My heart's pounding so fast!"

Rainbow had a short laugh, barely out of breath, "I do," She panted. "You were right, Spike. It is like an adventure! Maybe better! It was AWESOME!!!"

"I told you life's an adventure," Spike smiled to his athletic friend.

“Now, it’s my turn on the next adventure!” Dash spoke.

"I'm listening," He replied.





Equestria


[Where No One Goes - John Powell]


"WHOO-HOO!!" Rainbow cheered, as she and Spike were flying over Equestria, while surfing on clouds.

"OH YEEEEEAAH!!!" Spike shouted in equal excitement. It's been awhile since he last cloud surfed, and he was enjoying every moment he's having to relive it.

Flying by their sides are Peewee and Rainbow Dash's pet tortoise, Tank, who was wearing a pair of aviator goggles and a magic propellor, strapped on his shell for flight.

"WHOOO!! I forgot how much fun cloud surfing is!" Spike smiled, remembering all the times he's had as a little dragon, cloud surfing across Equestria whenever he's got the chance.

"You practically invented it, Spike!" Rainbow replied, as she came flying next to him. "None of us ponies have ever thought about cloud surfing, until you made it popular with all those sick tricks you've pulled! And some of my 20% cooler tricks as well! Check out this free demo!"

With that, Rainbow flew downward, towards a field full of hills, where she flew up one of them, before she flipped the cloud, doing a kickflip, making it spin several turns, before she landed back on the cloud. Then, she came towards a huge gangly looking tree, where she did a grind trick on its dull barks, before she leapt off, doing a backside 180 kickflip.

"Whoa!" Spike marveled. "Cool moves, Rainbow!" Spike quickly did an ollie, "Now try these!" With that, Spike started doing some freestyle tricks of his own, all of which he personally learned from Rumble. He first did an old school kickflip, a boneless, and a wallie.

"Oh, it's on!" Rainbow soon did the same tricks Spike showed, before she added a few more aerial tricks.

After showing off some moves, the two flyers flew back down towards Equestria, cutting through the Ghastly Gorge, evading the quarry eels, before they once again flew up the mountain of Canterlot, and flew into the city.

Blueblood was once again, out walking with his dog, Bunny, when Spike and Rainbow Dash were flying through, with their pets.

"Not this time!" Blueblood said, as he quickly dons himself an army helmet, and puts on a smug grin, as Spike and Rainbow Dash flew past him. The smug unicorn prince stood his ground, while his pet dog was blown away. "Nice try, cousin of mine!" Blueblood blew a raspberry, before he was knocked off his feet when Tank came flying at the speed of a cannonball, with Peewee, and bounced off the unicorn's helmet. "Bunny.....did you catch the license on that flying turtle?" Blueblood asked, before he fainted.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Princess Luna and some of her reformed Shadowbolts were serving as tour guides for a group of school fillies, who were also getting acquainted with Luna's children, in the royal Canterlot garden, when Spike and Rainbow passed by. Luna was caught by surprised, as she felt a rush of strong winds blowing through her mane. Once it stopped, there she stood, with her mane and tail frizzled, in an afro-like style.

The Shadowbolts and children all laughed at the sight of the night princess's new hair style. Soon, Peewee and Tank came flying, and the two pets unintentionally knocked the guards off their feet, making their helmets fly off, revealing they all have had some bad hair days. Soon, it was the children and Luna's turn to laugh.

Princess Celestia couldn't help but laugh from her balcony, "Hi mom!" Spike waved to the sun princess, who smiled and waved back at him.

Rainbow had some quick laughs, before she looked to the side, seeing Spike surfing through the sky, on his cloud makeshift board.

'Spike,' She thought lovingly. 'I'm proud of you.' As the last words echoed through her head, a memory flashed before her.





Past


It was during the Wonderbolts' Air Show, for the Summerfell Festival, in Ponyville, in which Rainbow Dash was expected to perform the stunt she was best known for since her first race with Spike and Gilda, against Dumb Bell and his gang - the Sonic Rainboom.

Rainbow was just on the verge of breaking the sound barrier, when a giant storm cloud appeared, and stopped her in her tracks.

"What the hay?!" Rainbow exclaimed, as she finds herself trapped within the cloud.

Claps of thunder and lightning sounded, everywhere around Rainbow Dash, "Okay, Dash," She said to herself. "Don't get scared. It's just a dark creepy cloud you're stuck in while your wings are on the fritz. Nothing to freak out about at all..." Another clap of thunder, and Dash was sent over the edge, "Little help?!" She called out, frightfully.

"Help?" A demonic voice asked. "Why would you need help? Why don't you just fly away?"

Turning her head, Rainbow answered, "I....I was going too fast. And now my wings won't life me."

"How sad," Another demonic voice, albeit lower than the previous, said. "Does that make you sad?" It asked.

"Not as sad as I'm talking to a cloud for pony's sake," Rainbow answered. "But yeah, it makes me sad."

"Excellent!" The demonic voices said together.

"What do you call a pegasus who can't fly?" They asked.

Thinking on the question, Rainbow answered, "A new friend who you should be nice to....?"

"A sitting target!" The voices said together, before a snowball flew and smacked Rainbow Dash in the face.

"Hey! Not cool, ya jerks!" Rainbow growled. "Play nice!"

"What do you call a scared pony in the dark?" The voices asked again. "A NIGHTMARE!" With a crack of thunder, a demonic face appeared, startling Rainbow Dash.

"What do you want?" She asked, frightfully.

"To rain on your parade, little pony," The face replied. "Run and never come back. We're here for your tears and your broken little heart!" Then, a blast of cold wind picked up Rainbow Dash, as the face continues, "We'll drink up your sorrow and feast on your fear. We've swum in sadness you wouldn't believe." Soon, Rainbow was thrown out of the cloud, as the voices continued, "Ponies sobbing off the shoulder of orion. We've watched rainbows glitter with sadness near the Tannhauser Gate. We sang the grievance of your beloved Dragon Prince's departure. All these moments we collect in time, your tears our rain....little pony.....time to cry."

Rainbow screamed, as she plunged towards Equestria. On her way down, a blur of pink came flying past her, nearly clipping one of her wing's feathers off.

"Pinkie Pie?!" Rainbow asked, turning to see her friend, disappear into the storm cloud. "PIIIIIIINKIEEEEEEE!!!!" Rainbow screamed, before she was caught by a Wonderbolt.

"It's okay," The Wonderbolt panted. "We've got you." Before long, the storm cloud began to shift, and turn, before it took the form of a huge bulky giant monster, with lighting aura pulsing from its eyes and maw, huge arms, and a great pair of wings. The monster let out a bloodcurdling scream, as it terrorized the ponies.

"That thing is no ordinary storm cloud!" The Wonderbolt exclaimed, as soon as she sets Rainbow Dash, safely on the ground. "It's a storm beast!"

"No kidding!" Another Wonderbolt added. "What do we do now, Captain Spitfire?"

Turning to Rainbow Dash, Spitfire asked, "Rainbow Dash. You're crazy good at busting clouds. What do you recommend we do?"

Putting on a look of determination, Dash replied, "I need to get back up there!" The cyan pegasus quickly spread her wings out, but quickly retracted, upon feeling a painful sensation running through her wing joints. "AH!"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Another Wonderbolt commented in concern. "I don't know if you noticed it, but your wings looked like linguini right now."

Still determined, Rainbow replied, "I'll get back up there. I don't know if you noticed, but I'm pretty awesome. I'm 'pony newsman's hickory-infused awesome sauce.'TM Leave this to me, I'l have this storm beast crying 'uncle' by morning."


A week later


The storm beast continued its reign of terror across Ponyville, growing bigger and stronger for every ponies' fears and sadness it feasted on. By then, Rainbow Dash's wings finally recovered, and the pegasus was able to fly again, though she continued to face difficulty in resolving the problem, even with the Wonderbolts at her sides.

"Rainbow Dash!" A wonderbolt colt shouted. "We need you up here!"

"Just keep doing what you're doing!" Rainbow replied. "I'll be there in a sec," With a frustrated groan, the colt flew away, as Rainbow turned her attention to Tank, whom she consulted, "I'm trying really hard, but I'm worried, Tank. I couldn't fly for a week after pushing myself last time," Looking back up, she could see the Wonderbolts were failing to defeat and contain the beast. "But this small fry stuff isn't working."

Over the course of the storm beast's rampage, Rainbow had several weather pegasi trying opening clouds, making way for the summer breeze, which didn't work. They tried inner shine, which made more negative, than positive. And the most embarrassing attempt of all, was to shimmy.

"I refuse to give up!" Rainbow said, setting her sight in determination on the beast. "I'm flying again, and I'm going to save the town and Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow frowned, as she muttered. "But I'm hesitating," Rainbow growled, as she stomped her hoof on the ground. "This is so frustrating! I can't remember the last time I failed this bad! This is more frustrating than the last time I've had to clip your toenails, Tank."

With a flap of her wing, Rainbow flew back up in the air, where she confronted the cloud monster, narrowly evading its huge claws, when it tried to swat her away. Rainbow quickly spins herself into a tornado, hoping to leave a dent in the monster's cloudy mass. Instead, it did little to nothing, as the tornado simply bounced off, as if it was nothing. The cloud monster laughed, before he breathed a strong burst of lightning, narrowly singeing then end of Rainbow Dash's tail.

Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash barked, "Listen up, cloud head, it's last chance time. This dance has been too long and I don't like the beat anymore! Leave or I go from toe-tapping to neck-stomping!" Rainbow flew around its neck, as the cloud monster continued to growl menacingly at her words. "I'm sick of people not talking about how awesome I am because they're too wrapped up in their doldrums. Right now, we finish this!"

"It's no use, foolish filly!" A voice spoke from the cloud monster. "Your every defeat fuels our success!" Then, in a clap of thunder, there stood on top of the cloud monster's head, was a small dark cloud-like creature, in the shape of a brain, with two skinny arms. Standing by his side, are two cloud gremlins.

"What the-?" Dash exclaimed. "Who are you?"

"I am Strife," The brain cloud creature answered. "I am the Storm King's second-in-command. I, and my Cloud Gremlin comrades, shall take every last drops of your sadness, and use it all to fuel our cloud-behemoth! You can't stop us!"

With a round of evil cackles, the three villains disappeared back into their cloud beast, as it blasted another bolt of lightning at Dash. Rainbow narrowly dodged the attack, as she continues to fly around the monster.

From within the monster's mass, one of the cloud gremlin gloated, "It's just as Mule Tzu says in 'The Start Of A War.' Do. Not. Mess. With. Us!"

With another clap of thunder, the cloud beast hurled several lightning bolts at Rainbow Dash, who ducked behind several clouds, escaping the blasts, before she flies back, "This is my sky!" Rainbow snarled. "My domain! And you guys are a bunch of trespassing jerks, who are asking to get their butts whooped! You want to get physical? Then let's rumble like apple crumple in the jungle!"

Laughs can be heard from the cloud beast, as it held its hands together, conjuring a bolt of electricity, "Your frustration is delicious!" Strife spoke. 

"Thank you!" One of the cloud gremlin gloated.

"Consider your threat ignored!" The other spoke, as the beast fired its lightning bolt at Rainbow, who swirled overhead.

"Consider your faces lame!" Rainbow replied. "Prepare to find out why fillies look up to me, whether I'm in the sky or not. Prepare for the web of rad delights!" With that, Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebags, and pulled out a rope, which she used to capture the cloud beast in a massive web. With a firm grunt, Rainbow Dash began to pull the rope, with all her strength. "C'mon! C'mon! Move!" Unfortunately, her effort only made the cloud beast bigger and stronger, as it broke free, and grabbed her. "WHAT?! But how?!"

Strife and the cloud gremlins appeared, once again before her, "Did you really think a simple rope trick can get rid of us?!" Strife cackled. "Was that your best shot? Now let us show you ours!"

With a crack of a whip, the cloud beast started to hurl several lightning bolts, down on Ponyville, striking the houses, and frightening several of the inhabitants into a blind stampede. Tank was trying hard to evade the lighting blasts, before he was knocked to the side by one of the frightened ponies.

"TANK!!" Dash screamed, as she flies down to inspect her tortoise, who had withdrawn into his shell. "Tank, are you alright?" She asked, anxiously. "Give me a sign!" Tank complied, sticking one of his leg out, and gave Dash a brohoof. "I'm sorry I let this happen," Dash frowned. "The more I try, the stronger they grow with my failures. And the stronger they grow, the longer Pinkie remains inside of them. It's a cycle and not the cool kind with streamers on the handlebars and a boss pink basket on the front." Dash collapsed on the ground, covering her face in shame, while Tank looked grimly from the side.

Just then, a certain elderly dragon mentor appeared from the trees, and nudged Dash by the shoulder, "Rise up, young warrior," He said. "The fight is not over!"

Dash looked up at Mako, "I can't fight 'em!" She replied. "They're too strong! They have magics! I have nothing!"

Mako looked disapprovingly at Dash, "When you began to take on this challenge, you were determined! Nothing could stop you, like the wind that runs free!" He lectured. "But now that you are down on the ground, are you willing to stay down, forever?!"

"It was easier from the start!" Dash replied.

"The start of a journey is often easier," Mako continued. "But remember, it is not the destination that mattered! It's the journey! Think of all you have accomplished, and what you have learned from your adventures with your friends!"

At the mention of friends, Dash's memories flashed, quickly recalling her moments with the girls, Gilda, and most of all, Spike.

"I've learned plenty, alright," Dash frowned, even more sadly. "Like how I wasn't fast enough for my friends! Just like how I was unable to save Spike from leaving us!"

"There is always going to be a chance, where you fail your friends and yourself," Mako spoke. "But that should not stop you from doing what you know is the right way! You can never be fast enough to save your friends. But you can be smarter for them! This is your fight, young warrior. Do you still wish to surrender?"

Dash though hard on what Mako had told her. Her memories flashed again, as she finds herself thinking about her first race with Gilda, and Spike. How determined Spike was to win the race, how much faith he had in Rainbow and Gilda, and how they worked together as a team, to ensure their victory.

"It ain't over until the fat pony sings!" Spike's words echoed.

With a determined look on her face, Rainbow got up, "No!" She stomped her hoof. "I'm not going to quit! Not now, not ever! Spike's never given up on me before! And I'm not going to give up on my friends!"

Looking up, Dash pondered, 'I've got to be smarter than those goons!' She analyzed the situations, 'But how can I beat these gremlins and cloud monster if every attempt makes them stronger? Our negativity powers them so surely some positivity would break them,' Dash frowned, as she recalled the current situation they were in. 'But where are we going to get some positive thoughts now?'

After a moment of thinking, Dash finally answered, "I got it!" Turning to Mako and Tank, Dash answered, "I don't have to cheer myself up, I've been looking at it all wrong. This isn't about me at all - which is really kind of weird," Dash said bashfully at the last part, while Mako rolled his eyes. "Even if I could make myself happy, it wouldn't be enough.That's a drop in the pond, when we need a storm. I need to inspire everyone. Even more than I naturally do, every day. If I can make every pony feel happy, even for just a moment, I'll be-"


*WHACK*


"Ow!" Rainbow yelled, rubbing where she was inflicted on the head. "What you do that for?!" She turned to Mako.

"You talk too much," Mako frowned. "Less talk, more do!"

Still miffed at the elder dragon's action, Rainbow pulled her goggles over her eyes, and spreads her wings. However, she took one last glance at the elder dragon, "One more thing," She began. "If I'm not back by Tuesday, tell the others I love them. At 20% faster, I lost control and couldn't fly for about a week. With what I'm about to do.....I may not be able to fly again." With a final flap of her wings, Rainbow Dash took off, into the air.


[Sonic Colors - Reach For The Stars]


With a burst of strength, Rainbow Dash broke through the sound barrier, resulting in another Sonic Rainboom.

"This again?" One of the cloud gremlins grinned deviously. "It didn't work the first time, why would we worry now?"

"Poor pony is going to be very sad when she fails again," The other said, before they both entered a fit of laughter. 

Strife however, noticed something else, "Don't laugh yet!" He said, pointing to the ponies. "Look!"

Every pony and creatures below were quickly smiling. Their fears and sorrows evaporated, as they saw colorful lights filling the air for the first time, in a long while.

"Oh my," The little cloud gremlin began. "It's so intense."

The tall cloud gremlin's eyes began to water. "It's....it's...."

"BEAUTIFUL!!!!!" Strife wailed, as Dash delivers another Sonic Rainboom.

"This is for you, Spike," Dash whispered, while picturing the young dragon, flying at her side, on a puff of cloud, before doing the final Sonic Rainboom together.

At the same time, Strife and the Cloud Gremlins felt something stirring within the cloud beast, as it started to fall apart, and broke up into several smaller cloud beasts, courtesy of Pinkie Pie, working from her part of saving the day.

"Ah, the happiness!" The little cloud gremlin wailed. "The goggles, they do nothing!"

The gremlins' spell was broke through the collective happiness of Equestria's ponies, brought about through the wet nosed determination and sacrifice of one pony who could not give up.

Exhausted from her adrenaline, Rainbow plummeted out of the sky, and into the trees of Sweet Apple Acres, where she was caught by Mako, before being handed over to the medical ponies who arrived on the scene.

Today, Equestria honors and celebrate a true selfless hero, who learned from another true selfless hero, or two.

As Dash laid on the gurney that carried her away, she took one last look at the sky, seeing a cloud, shaped like a dragon.

"I did it, Spike," Dash said hoarsely. "I did it, just like you knew.....I......would....." Dash's whole world clouded out.





Present


"Dash?" Spike spoke, snapping the mare back to reality. "You okay there, Dash? You looked kinda zoned out for a moment."

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," Dash smiled. "I'm just lost in some thoughts of how awesome I am....and you, of course."

"Right...." Spike said, dryly. Just then, their stomachs rumbled, "Whoa. All that adventures we've had really worked up our appetite."

"Hehe, yeah, I guess," Rainbow chuckled.

"Well, let's go get some grubs at Hay Burger," Spike replied. "I'm buying."

"No way," Rainbow retorted. "You did that last time! I'm buying it."

"No way, I insist," Spike countered.

"Not cool, Spike! Let me do it!"

The two looked at each for a moment, before they compromised, "50/50! Are you happy? No! Are you happy? No! Deal!" With that, the two did a series of hoof and hand shakes and fist bumps, before they flew off to get some meal.





Spike and Rainbow Dash were inside a fast food restaurant, where they both had a meal of burgers, fries, and cups of sodas.

"Now this hits the spot," Spike smiled, as he took a bite out of his burger. "Though, I'm not so sure if I'll ever get use to eating these hays," He said, gesturing to the hamburger's patties being made of oats and hays.

"Don't worry, Spike," Rainbow replied, taking a bite out of her fries. "I won't judge." The girl took a bite out of her burger. "So, Spike. After this, what's say we head back to my place and wash up? I mean, let's face it. We really worked up a sweat during our last flight."

"Took the words right out of my mouth," Spike replied, while cringing at his own odor.

After they had their meal, they flew back to Rainbow's house in the sky.

"Whoa," Spike marveled, noting its cloudy base structures that formed the tall pillars around it, and rainbow waters that flowed from the top, down to the bottom as waterfalls.

"He he, I guess I've never had you over, huh?" Dash asked, with Spike shaking his head in response.

Once inside, Spike took notice of how the inside of the house was more brilliant than it looked from the outside, with portions of the walls decorated in posters and merchandises of the Wonderbolts.

"Wow," Spike gasped.

Seeing how Spike was taking a liking to her home, Rainbow gestured to a nearby sofa, “Why don't you get comfortable, Spike?” Dash suggested. “I’ll be back, in a flash.”

"Ok." Spike said, as he kicked back on the couch, as the girl went to take a bath.

Spike was left to look around the house, looking at all the collections of Wonderbolts merchandises, some sports awards she's earned over the years, as well as pictures of herself, the girls, and her families. Spike smiled, seeing all the mementos displayed, before he sets his sight on a picture of him, Rainbow, and Gilda, as children during their times at the Junior Speedster's Flight Camp. Another was of him and Dash, together with Twilight and the rest of the girls of Ponyville.

Spike smiled at all the good old days they've had as kids, before he noticed a piece of news article from the Equestria Daily, telling the story about Rainbow Dash saving Ponyville from a Cloud Beast's rampage. It was only about ten minutes, by the time Spike finished reading the whole story.

"Wow, Rainbow Dash," He gasped. "I'm impressed."

"Amazing story, huh?"

“Sure is," Spike replied, as he turned to face Rainbow Dash. "When were you go-BWAH!!” Spike exclaimed.

There stood, Rainbow Dash, in her anthro form. What’s really eye catching was the fact that she stood, clad in only her undergarments, while her hair was wrapped up in a towel, like a turban.

Rainbow’s bra is colored dark blue, with her rainbow lightning bolt on the left cup, while her panties are rainbow colored, just like her mane and tail. Except they had pink cute bunnies hopping around with smiles. 

Spike gawked, losing control of his powers, turning into a puffer fish, and bloated.

"Dash!” Spike groaned. “What the hell?”

“What? This is how I relax at home.” Rainbow replied nonchalantly. “Besides, it’s just the two of us.”

“Yeah, but.....can’t breathe,” Spike groans, clearly on the verge of losing oxygen, being a fish out of water, literally.

“Come on, Spike,” Dash said, smiling mischievously. “Get a grip on yourself! You can’t let my awesome good look be the death of you!”

“I’m trying,” Spike groaned, struggling to revert himself back to human form. Soon, Spike changes back into a human, breathing more naturally. “I’m okay, Dash,” Spike panted. “I’m okay.”

Dash laughed, “You goofball!” She said, as she walked over and sat on the couch. "Just a few more minutes, and I'd have to flush you away, down the toilet."

Spike's eyes widened, "You wouldn't!"

"Nope, I wouldn't," She smirked. "I'll just fill up the bathtub again, and give you a scrub, myself."

"Uh, thanks, but no thanks," Spike replied, as went to take his shower. ‘First Pinkie Pie, and now Rainbow Dash?’ He thought. ‘Not that I don’t like it and all, but still.....’

Surprisingly, the bathroom in Rainbow Dash's house operates just like any other bathrooms in every other houses, that are built on a ground level. After adjusting the water's temperature, Spike soon got himself undressed, as he stepped in and lets the water spray over him, before lathering the soap all over his body, ridding himself of the stench, before he applied some shampoo and conditioners to his hair. After his shower was done, Spike pulled out a deodorant stick from one of his cape's inner pockets. Much to his surprise, Spike also found himself a spare set of fresh clothes, from his cape, with a note that reads:


Dear Spike,

In case of stinky clothe emergency.

Love,

Pinkie Pie


Rolling his eyes, Spike smiled as he got himself changed, and walked outside to meet up with Rainbow Dash, still in her undergarments. The girl was standing in the doorway, leaning by the frame, with her back turned, before she heard Spike’s footsteps and turned her head.

"Hey Spike!" Rainbow waved the boy over. "You're just in time to see the sunset!"

Spike blushed, as he tries not to look at her, too directly, so as to not give her the wrong message.

"Don't you think you might want to put some clothes on?" Spike asked.

"Hey, give a girl to feel free and good about  herself," Rainbow smirked, while putting a hand on her hip. "Besides, it's not like you haven't seen me without clothes on, before."

"That was because you're....y'know, a pony?"

"Newsflash, Spike. Even in this anthro form, I'm still a pony."

"Loopholes," Spike muttered.

"And it's not like I haven't seen you without clothes on," Rainbow added. "Y'know, whenever you dragon up, your clothes disappear. You know that?"

Spike blushed, while feeling tensed up, "Yeah. I still don't know how that happens," He muttered.

"Me neither," Rainbow replied casually. "But I don't care," Walking outside, Rainbow patted a spot on the cloud, for Spike to sit on. "Come on. Sit, and enjoy the show. And by show, I don't mean me, mind you."

"Don't worry, I'm not like that," Spike grumbled. "At least, not too much," Rainbow chuckled, as both she and Spike watched the sunset.

Rainbow stretched her arms, before she puts her hands behind her head, and reclined, "Today was a lot of fun, huh?" Spike nodded in agreement. "Sad that it had to end soon," Rainbow frowned.

"Mmm-hmm," Spike replied in equal solemn. "But at least there will always be some other funs in the nearest future."

Rainbow nodded her head, "I guess," Just then, Rainbow groaned as she grabbed her shoulders.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Spike asked.

"Just a few kinks in my shoulders," Dash groaned. "Probably from all the adventures we've had today. Y'know?"

"Here, let me have a look," With that, Spike got around Dash, and placed his hands around the rainbow maned pegasus girl's shoulders, and massaged them.


[Becky G - Singing In The Shower]


"Whoa, that felt good," Rainbow moaned in relaxation, her wings erecting in response. "Since when have you massaged someone?"

"Oh, it just so happens that I've done this for mom, once in a while, whenever she goes to sleep," Spike answered. "Believe it or not, she's had a backache for centuries, ever since she tangled with Mako some times ago."

"Heh, a momma's boy lil the end," Rainbow smirked. 'And a ladies' man,' She thought.

"I aim to please," Spike replied, as he continues to massage Rainbow's shoulders, earning some relaxing moans from her, before he finished. Rainbow gave her arms a few stretches, "Feeling better?" Spike asked.

"One hundred percent," Rainbow smiled, before she pulled her turban off, letting her hair blow freely in the wind. "Thanks Spike."

"You're welcome," Next thing Spike knew, he was pulled in a hug.

"Don't ever stop being awesome, Spike," Rainbow whispered, as she held him close, and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Please? And don't ever stop being a hero."

Spike returned the embrace, while shifting into dragon form, and wrapped his wings around Dash, "How can I, when I have someone as awesome and heroic, like you and the girls?" Spike asked. "And you're anything than a nobody, Dash. You're a 100% awesome to me," The two parted, as Rainbow looked at him, with a smile, and her eyes welling up in tears. "Aw, Dash. Are you crying?"

"No, I'm not," Dash sobbed. "It's liquid pride. Totally different thing. Of course I'm crying, you big purple goofball!" Reacting on instinct, Dash quickly planted her lips on Spike's, taking him by surprise.

Slowly letting the warm, fuzzy feeling wash over him, Spike, once again lets instinct take over as he wrapped his arms around Rainbow’s waist, pulling her close to deepen the kiss. Rainbow Dash’s wings quickly erected once more, as both she and Spike started to get a bit more riled up with their make out.

To Rainbow Dash, this was the happiest moment of her life. Here she was, making out with the dragon whom she’s admired since the first day she met him, who helped her win her first race and performed the legendary Sonic Rainboom, and who believed in her, every steps of the way. It’s a wonder why she would be crying, while kissing her lover at the same time.

Meanwhile, Spike still finds this all so new to him, 'What's happening to me?' He asked himself mentally. 'What's going on with me and the girls? Never before in my wildest dreams or fantasy would I ever envision myself and the girls like this, but the way I'm experiencing this with Rainbow Dash right now, it's just...amazing.....like I never wanted it to end....'

Soon, the two fell on the cloud as they started to roll around, trying to fight each other for dominance, still kissing and all.

Finally, the two parted to catch a breath, with Spike on the top, with Rainbow on the bottom, “Wow,” Rainbow panted. “You never told me how passionate you can be.”

“I’d say the same for you, Dash,” Spike said, breathtaking heavily. “Heck, I knew you would be the wild type. But not this wild.”

“Remember Spike,” Dash grinned, before she skillfully got Spike off, and quickly straddled on top of him, at the chest, “I’m full of surprises,” Rainbow said, seductively giving him a good view of her whole physique, clad in her underwear, illuminated by the sunset behind her.

“Besides, admit it. Seeing me like this has turned you on, hasn’t it?” Rainbow asked seductively, while bending down, giving him a view of her cleavage contained in her bra.

"Oh yeah," Spike said in monotone, before he snapped back to his senses. "I mean, no! No! Not a chance! I mean, yes you look sexy this way. But I-I-I don't-"

"Oh, shut up and kiss me," Rainbow quickly silenced him, with another pounce for his mouth.

Once again, the two passionately make out, with their tongues battling for dominance in their mouths, and their hands roaming freely over their bodies. At first, Spike wanted to cop a feel of he breast, but decided against it, and stroked her wings instead. In response, Rainbow blushed and giggled at the feel of his hands on her wings. It reminded her of the time she first showed off her wings to him, while beckoning him to feel them with his hands, during their first day of his dragon training, in ten years.

Seeing how aroused Rainbow is, when he felt her strong, and yet soft, wings, Spike took it up a notch, as his hands trailed up, along the wing muscles, further arousing her.

"Spike," Dash moaned in arousal. "Stop~" It was no use, Dash was quickly overwhelmed by the hot passionate feeling that washed over her, threatening to burst out of her chest, while inadvertently lets herself off of Spike, only the young dragon to jump free, before he tackled her, albeit lightly.

"I knew there was someone softer underneath that tough exterior," Spike grinned.

"Two can play at that," Rainbow smirked, quickly beating her wings, together with her hands at Spike's stomach. Little known fact, dragons are heavily armored along the back and head. Their soft underbelly, however, is another story.

Spike couldn't help but laugh, as he succumbs to his ticklish spot, and once again, lost control of himself, before he turned into a fish again, "Awww, man," He groaned, before he was picked up by Rainbow Dash.

"Relax, Spike," Rainbow grinned. "I won't let you suffocate by my awesome look again," Before Spike could say another word, Rainbow clamped her jaws on his, causing him to bloat. If he can fly, then he would definitely float away right now, as a literal balloon fish.

Regaining control of himself, and his loving thoughts, Spike turned back into a human, "I really need to work on that," He panted.

"Don't worry, Spike," Rainbow sat down next to him, changing in human form. "Dragon, dog, human, even fish, you're still awesome to me," She said as she lovingly nuzzled her cheek close to him.

Spike grinned, as he held Dash close, "Feeling's mutual, Dash," He replied, before an idea came to him. "Say, Dash. Have you ever ridden a dragon before?"

"Uh, can't say I have," Dash replied, unsure of where Spike was going.

"Well, what say I take you on another adventure before we call it a night?" Spike offered.

Soon, Spike was back in dragon form, as he flapped his wings, carrying Rainbow Dash on his back, while flying under his aunt's beautiful night.

Rainbow Dash was enjoying the rush of the cold wind, blowing across her face, through her hair, and at the bare parts of her body.

Dash smiled, before she leaned her head forward, and embraced Spike around his neck, "Oh, Spike," She sighed. "I love you."

Once they returned to Dash's house, Spike carried her in bed, and gently placed her down, before pulling her blanket over herself.

"See ya, Dash," Spike was about to take his leave, when Dash got up.

"Wait!" She said. "Can we have, just one more?"

Spike turned to face Dash, looking tired, but lovingly. Once more, Spike couldn't find it in himself to deny her request, as he got in bed with her, and they kissed passionately once more.





[Céline Dion - I'm Alive]




> A Young and Beautiful Rarity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dream


[Evening Star - Beautiful Night]


Spike was walking down a starry road, taking in his surroundings at his auntie's work of art in the night sky.

"Wow," Spike marveled, at all the stars decorated in the sky, forming the constellations, together with a few planets and galaxies that can be seen, and a few shooting stars he was able to catch sight of. "Auntie's really outdone herself this time."

"Hello Spikey-Wikey~" Rarity greeted seductively. Spike turned to the direction of the girl's voice, and his eyes instantly widened.

Rarity stood before him, wearing a long flowing white dress that sparkled, reflecting off the moon’s light, with only a single blue ribbon at the top that kept the dress up, tying around her neck.

Spike watched as Rarity walked over to him, causing ripples to form, at every steps of her bare feet, as if the plane they were standing on was water.

Not wanting to look awkward in front of the girl, Spike quickly composed himself, stroking his hairs back, and smelling his own breath, before he cleared his throat.

“Hi Rarity,” Spike greeted. “What a beautiful night. Isn’t it?”

“Indeed it is, Spikey-Poo,” Rarity smiled, before she twirled herself around in her dress. “What do you think, Spike? Isn’t it lovely?”

“Depends on which you’re referring to as ‘lovely,’” Spike replied. “My auntie’s stars, or that beautiful dress you’re wearing.”

Rarity giggled, “Oh flatterer,” She waved. “ Spike?” She began to ask. “If I may? Would you be a darling and have a dance, with me?”

Looking at the girl’s hand, then back up at her beautiful eyes, Spike took her hand, “You know I’d love to dance with you and the girls,” He said, as the two started to dance.


[An Unusual Prince/Once Upon A Dream]


Wrapping a hand around Rarity's waist, while the girl placed hers around his neck, both smiling as they looked into each other's eyes. Rarity lowered herself, as she lovingly rubbed her nose with Spike's, who returned the affection before they joined hands and danced the night away.

As the two lovers twirled around, having a good time in each other's embrace, Spike's memories flashed once again, as he recalls the time he and Rarity first met, when they were younger, how they had a good time together with Spike taking Rarity out for dinner, how they went up to one of his favorite hangouts, and how they later had a dance, together in Canterlot to end the night. 

When it comes to being a gentleman, Spike owed it all to his adopted mother and Capper, respectively, for teaching him the required etiquettes.

Spike was suddenly brought out of his flashback, when Rarity cupped his cheeks, and held him up to her face, seeing her half-lidded eyes.

"Um, Rarity?" Spike asked.

"Yes, my darling?" Rarity asked, dreamily.

"I-um, uh...." Spike stammered, failing to find the right words. "I....I...I'm feeling kinda-"

"Shhhhh," Rarity whispered, silencing him with a finger to his lips. "No need to say it, darling." Without further ado, Rarity claimed Spike's lips, causing his eyes to light up, just like they did during his make outs with the other girls.

All the worries Spike's had, instantly melted away, as he once again, finds himself lost in the passionate love between him and Rarity. Deep within him, he felt his heart pulse beating at a rapid pace, escalating the blood flow through his body, increasing his fire at a temperature so high, he was certain his whole body would be caught on fire.

Spike wrapped his arms around Rarity, bringing her close to deepen the kiss. With that, the world around them vanished in a flash of light, and Spike woke up, to find himself panting and sweating, in the night.

"Awwww, man," Spike grumbled, and plopped back in bed.







The Next Day




It was Monday, and Spike and friends were having another day of school. Things were going rather smoothly, until drama class, when he caught sight of Rarity, who didn't hesitate to fire some flirty looks at him, that made him shift rather uncomfortably.

Sapphire Shores made a few quick announcements for their upcoming school play of Dazzled - A story performance of a couple of coal miners, whose daughter dreamed of becoming a disco dancer.

"We will be having auditions, later on Thursday, after school!" Sapphire Shores announced. "So if ya go the talent, or know someone who does, then let it be known~" She sang dramatically at the last part, right when the school bell rang. "Class dismissed~"

With that, the whole class collected their books and bags, as they head out. Spike was packing his stuff, when his phone rang, and he looked to see a text from Rarity that reads: "Meet me this afternoon, for some ice creams darlings. 💖"

Spike's face grew red, before he shook it off, and started to text back, "Well, well, well," An obnoxious voice rang. "Who's that you got on your....phone?"

Spike shot Blueblood a scowled look, "Shove off, Blue!" He said, as he stuffed his phone away in his pocket, and picked up his backpack.

"Oh come now, cousin of mine," Blueblood continued, still in a rather obnoxious tone. "Don't act like that towards me. Can't we just simply let bygones be bygones? I was only curious on whom you are having an outing with, that's all."

"Fat chance," Spike replied. "And besides, didn't mother ever tell you to mind your own business?"

"Pffft," Blueblood waved. "Why do I have to listen to that old mare's boring lectures? They're as useless as a screen door on some battleship. OW!!" As fast as lightning, Spike struck Blueblood in the head with a two finger strike.

"Idiot! It's submarine!" Spike shouted. "It's 'useless as a screen door on a submarine!' You sound like fool when ya say it wrong!" Blueblood rolled his eyes, before he was pulled by the collar, and looked straight into the angry stares of the dragon's eyes. "And another thing! Never! And I repeat NEVER insult mother, or any of my friends, in front of ME!"

Initially frightened by the dragon's threat, Blueblood gently released Spike's grips off him, as he composed himself, "Come now, cousin," He began. "No need for violence. Besides, even you wouldn't do anything to me. Would you?"

"Don't try me, cousin," Spike continued. "But I'm warning you. One step out of line, and it could be your last." With that, Spike took his leave, while Blueblood was left frowning.

"Not unless you step out of line, first," He hissed.

"I heard that!" Spike replied.





After he got everything he needs in his backpack, as well as packing some other stuff he won't need later into his locker, Spike walked down the school halls, before he exited the building, to see Rarity waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, by the horse statue.

Spike jumped on a railing of the stairs, and slid down to the bottom, where he jumped off and landed before Rarity, "Hey Rarity!" He greeted.

"Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity smiled, as she pulled him in for a loving embrace. "Are you ready to go for our outing, darling?"

"Sure am!"

"Well then, let's go!" With that, Rarity took Spike by the hand as the two walked away.

They hadn't gone far, however, when Spike felt his skins pricking slightly on the back of his neck, in which he turned around, and caught sight of Blueblood, peering from behind a pillar, glowering.

Rarity must've picked up on the young dragon's uneasiness, as she turned to look at Spike, "Spikey?" Rarity asked in concern. "Is everything alright?" Looking in Spike's direction, however, Rarity only caught a glimpse of someone darting behind the pillar.

"Looks like we're being watched," Spike whispered to Rarity, before he pulled her close. "Come on, let's go." Rarity complied, while being certain to keep her wits about.





Soon, both Spike and Rarity were at an ice cream parlor, where they shared a strawberry/chocolate swirly milkshake.

"Mm, delicious," Rarity smiled, as she enjoyed the shake.

"Just be careful not to drink it too fast," Spike warned. "I know I'm a dragon and all, but that doesn't mean I don't know brain freeze. And trust me, it's a real pain. Brrr," He shivered at the last part.

Rarity giggled, "Oh, Spikey. You're so funny." Soon, the two took another sip, before Rarity spoke, "So, Spike. What do you think about the school play of Dazzle?"

"Eh, it's okay, I guess," Spike replied.

"Okay?" Rarity asked, looking confused. "Aren't you excited about it? Aren't you going to audition in it?"

"Don't get me wrong, Rarity. I'll be in the play, as part of the running crew. Handling sets, props, special effects, that sort of thing. Y'know, just to keep everything running smooth, so that we can highlight and shine the spotlights on the star of our play."

"Oh, what a shame," Rarity pouted. "And here, I was hoping I could be in the play, with you as Skater: An outcast boy, who was shunned because of his humble beginnings, and is the embodiment of a diamond in the rough. Later, he became Selfie Soot's dancing instructor, as well as her dancing partner, and lover."

Spike pondered, "So I take it, you're aiming to get the leading role as Selfie then?" Rarity nodded, to which Spike blushed. "I-I don't know....I mean, I'd love to star in the play, with you, Rare. But, what are the odds of....I mean, I-" Looking into Rarity's eyes, seeing that she was pleading him, Spike cleared his throat, "Okay. For you Rarity, I'll consider auditioning for Skater, and I'll try to get his character on audition day."

"Splendid!" Rarity clapped her hands, smiling. "Idea~!" She sang. "Let's begin rehearsing our characters' lines, right now?"

"Sounds good to me," Spike replied.






Shake it Off by Taylor Swift or Shake Your Groove Things by Peaches and Herbs


Spike and Rarity were soon walking through Central Park, as they both read their characters' lines, before they began getting into characters.

"Mother and father simply don't understand my dreams!" Rarity said, dramatically. "I am a disco dancer at heart. I must follow my dreams!" 

"Then follow your dreams," Spike quoted, in his character's voice. "Go and spread your wings. Free yourself of all the grievance that's been holding you back, let nothing stop you!"

"Oh Skater. Your words are free, and bold, and yet, so hopeless. How I'd wish to run away with you, and be free to dance!"

"Then dance!" With that, Spike did a few dance steps, "That's the best thing about dancing! You dance, to shake off your worries, and shake your groove things!"

"Then darling," Rarity began, as she joined in. "Let's shake it!"

With that, Spike and Rarity both did some dance steps together, laughing and smiling as they got into characters and have a good time together.

This got the attention from several passing pedestrians, as they all stopped to enjoy the show the two were putting on, bedazzled and amazed at how the two were in sync with each other. All, except for one terribly jealous boy.

Meanwhile, Spike and Rarity didn't mind the attentions they were receiving, since they were more lost into each other's smiling faces. This is without a doubt, one of the best dances they've had together, as they imagined themselves in the 70s, and having a good time.

When they came to the end of their dance, the two looked up, to see they were getting applauses, whistles, and cheers from the audience. The two looked to each other, before they bowed together, welcoming the praises they were receiving.

"Boo!!" A single obnoxious voice filled the air, causing immediate silence, as Blueblood made himself known.

"Oh, not you again," Rarity frowned, while clinging tightly to Spike.

"Ms. Rarity," Blueblood began. "Even you know you deserved better."

"I already have, Blueblood," Rarity scowled. "And Spike's much better than the likes of you!"

"When will you ever understand?" Blueblood frowned. "You're my girl! Don't you understand? We were meant to be ever since we've first met. You said so yourself!"

"That was before I learned how uncouth you are!" Rarity spatted. "And how you're nothing but a royal pain, and how you're anything, but a gentleman!"

"That's absurd!" Blueblood rolled his eyes.

"You're absurd!" Spike shouted.

"What?!" Blueblood exclaimed, before he stood, towering over Spike. "Say that again to my face!"

"Okay. You're absurd!" Spike repeated.

"That's absurd!"

"GAH!!" The two boys shouted in frustration, much to the amusement of the audience around them.

"Y'know, what Blueblood? Why don't you just leave us alone?" Spike replied. "We're kinda in the middle of rehearsal here, and we don't want another setback for us."

"Who are you calling a setback?!" Blueblood asked in outrage.

"Uh, you? Obviously. I mean, you're kinda making a scene for both of us here."

"Only because you're courting my lady over there!"

"She may be a lady. But she ain't a trophy girl, and you shouldn't treat her as such, like the time when you used her like a shield from that cake that fell on her."

"Well, I probably wouldn't have, if it weren't for that cake!" Blueblood spatted. "Besides, it's not my fault. It's that fool's fault for baking that cake, and sent it flying in the air, later! Rarity was simply protecting my good look, from that filthy desert's sweet, sticky assault," Spike, Rarity, and the crowds couldn't help but scowl, shaking their heads in disapproval at the boy's blatant, unjustified reasoning. "Tell me, cousin. What would you have done? What would you have done if you were in that position?"

"I would've taken the cake!" Spike spatted. "I'd rather take the falls than to sit and watch Rarity or anyone else taking the hits for me, in front of my eyes!" Rarity quickly placed her hands over her heart, touched by Spike's words of honor.

Blueblood couldn't help but laugh, "Very well, then. Take THIS!!" With a swing of his arm, Blueblood hurled a cupcake into Spike's face, splattering frostings all over him.

"Seriously?" Spike asked. "Is that all you've got? Pinkie can do better with the cupcakes, you know."

Blueblood growled in frustration, when suddenly, lightning flashed in the sky, with the sound of thunder. It didn't take long for everyone to know what was happening next.

"RAIN!!" With that, everyone all quickly ran in random directions, as they struggled to get out of the rain.

Blueblood was knocked from sides to sides, "I say!" He grunted. "That was very uncalled for! You sir, are impertinent!" With a final shove, Blueblood fell into a puddle of mud. "No! My hair! My beautiful hair!" 







Later




Spike and Rarity quickly arrived in the boy's apartment, both drenched from the rain's shower, and shivering from the cold.

"Guess we forgot to check the weather today," Spike shivered.

"Indeed, darling," Rarity agreed, despite being huddled up in the boy's jacket. "If I did, then I would've taken my best raincoat, rather than having to taken yours, darling."

"Not to worry, Rarity," Spike waved. "Believe me, I've felt colder showers than this. Besides, I wouldn't want you catching cold, would I?"

Rarity giggled, as she smiled, "No, of course not." But they spoke too soon, when Rarity started to take several breathes, and let out a sneeze. "Achoo. Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm getting one, nonetheless."

"Well, here," Spike guided the girl to the bathroom. "You can clean yourself up in here."

Rarity looked at the bathroom for a moment, before she looked back at Spike, "But what about you darling?"

"I'll be okay. As they say, ladies first."

Rarity blushed, which was barely enough to heat up her entire face, "Thank you, Spike." With that, the girl walked in, before she closed the door behind her.

In the meantime, Spike headed down to the kitchen, where he began to fix both himself and Rarity cups of hot cocoa. It wasn't long, before he heard a loud screech behind him, to which he turned to see Peewee, standing on his perch, shaking his drenched feathers, vigorously.

"Hey Peewee," Spike greeted. "Got yourself a cold shower too, huh?" The bird's only reply was a low croon, sounding almost like that of a displeased chicken. "I thought so."

"Oh Spikey-Wikey~" Rarity called out. "Can you get me a towel, please? You seemed to be missing a few."

"OH!" Spike slapped himself, forgetting that most of the towels were in the laundry, and he has yet to restock some more in the bathroom. "Sure thing, Rarity!" Spike called out, as he went over to get a clean set, and raced up the stairs to deliver it to her.

It wasn't long before he got upstairs, and cuts into his room to reach the bathroom, "Here Rari-TY!!" He shouted at the last part, upon seeing the fashionista girl, and the state she was in.

He was expecting to see only her hand sticking out of the bathroom door, but instead, there stood Rarity, wearing nothing, but a purple bra with matching panties that is decorated with her cutie mark on the front, while holding her wet clothes.

Spike blushed, and quickly looked away, "Oh, sorry!" He apologized, while holding out the towel. "Here is the towel."

Rarity was also blushing a shade of red in embarrassment, while she gratefully took the towel, "Um, thanks Spikey-Wikey," She smiled sheepishly.

Rarity tried to use the towel to dry herself. But in the process, she dropped her wet clothes on the floor, "Oh dear me! I'm so sorry," Rarity reached down, trying to pick her clothes up, but they slipped and plopped back down on the floor, splattering the waters all over. "Oh, dear me!"

"Here, let me just get those," Spike offered.

"No, no. It's my fault," Rarity blushed.

However, during the conflict, Rarity tripped on her own skirt, and fell on top of Spike. After a moment of collecting themselves, the two looked at each other, at first, lost in each other's eyes in an awkward silence, before Spike was the first to break the silence.

"Um, Rarity?" Spike began, panting heavily from the weight Rarity was exerting on him. "Are you alright?"

"Yes I am," Rarity replied, breathlessly. "Are you alright, darling?"

"I'm fine," Spike blushed, from seeing Rarity in her underwear, as well as feeling the firm and soft touch of her breasts pressing into his chest, despite being contained in fabrics. Spike struggled to keep his hormones from taking control of his powers again, as he strained, "Can you, maybe, get off of me? Please?"

Seeing how uncomfortable Spike was getting, not to mention how aroused he was, Rarity smiled shyly, as she complied, "Of course, Spikey-Wikey."




Later, after getting themselves cleaned up, and out of wet clothes and into some drier ones, Spike and Rarity both sat on the couch, draped in a long, warm blanket, both holding cups of hot cocoa.

“Spike?” Rarity began.

“Yeah, Rarity?” The boy asked.

“I....thank you,” The girl blushed. “For everything.”

Spike smiled, “You’re welcome,” He replied.

“I mean it darling. After everything you’ve done for us, including me. I really don’t know what to say but thank you. Thank you!”

"And again, you're-"

"Of course, none of it could top off that time in which you've really helped me through it!" Rarity smiled lovingly, as she recalled a memory. "Don't you remember, darling?"





Past


One day, Ponyville's School was putting on a play, with Rarity in charge of making the costumes.

“Well done, Rarity,” Rarity’s teacher said. “Your costumes are very nice.”

“Nice?!” Young Rarity shouted. “They need to be spectacular! And the performance is tomorrow!”

“I tried every trick I could think of,” Older Rarity narrated. “But nothing seemed to work. The costumes just weren't right. And the play opened that night.”

Young Spike was just visiting Ponyville to see the Ponyville play, when he happens across Rarity.

"Maybe I'm not meant to be a fashionista, after all," Rarity frowned, sadly.

Spike could not bear to see Rarity sad, and losing hope. Scratching his chin, an idea came to him.





“Spike?” Young Rarity asked, with her eyes blindfolded, all the while being pulled by Spike. “Really Spike, why-“

“Shh,” Spike shushed. “It’s a surprise,” Once they arrived at their destination, Spike took the blindfold off of Rarity, as he presented to her his surprise, "Ta-da!"

Rarity was shocked, “A rock?!” Rarity exclaimed in outrage. “You brought me out here for a rock?!”

“Now Rarity,” Spike began. “Haven’t you heard of Mistmane’s words of wisdom? ‘Never judge a book by its cover?’”

“Um, no?” Rarity answered.

“Well I think it’s time you learned this very important lesson in life,” Spike spoke, as he shifted into dragon form, did a few karate chops, kicks, punches, and screams, before the rock breaks apart, revealing sparkling gems within.

Rarity was bedazzled, "Oh my, such lovely gems!" She gasped.

"And there's more where those came from," Spike said, as he pushed a boulder out of the way, granting both him and Rarity a small entry.

The two kids crawled in, through a system of moist, humid tunnels, before they find themselves in a huge cave, surrounded by walls of sparkling gems.

Rarity was bedazzled even further, “Oh my goodness!” Rarity smiled. “I’ve never seen so many gems in all my life!”

“Do you like it?” Spike asked nervously.

“Like It? I love it!” Rarity answered.

“Then it’s yours.”

Rarity turned to Spike, smiling the brightest smile he had ever seen, "Oh thank you, Spikey-Wikey! Thank you very much!"

"Don't thank me yet," Spike replied, as he grabs a pickaxe and gives it to Rarity, "Come on. We've got some gems to mine." Rarity nodded in agreement, as she too began to mine the gems.

After some times of working, the kids finally got all the gems they needed, "This is all so kind of you, Spikey," Rarity said, as she and Spike carried the gems out of the caverns. "But why? You could've simply kept all these gems to yourself. You could be rich!"

Spike turned to Rarity, "There's more to life than just gems, Rarity," he began. "Besides, mom once taught me that 'being rich is not about how much you have, but about how much you can give.'"

Rarity looked at Spike, smiling, "Thank you, Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity said, eyes watering.

And so, Spike and Rarity returned to Ponyville, where the school play was a big hit, courtesy of the gems they had harvested.





Present


[Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey]


"...About how much you give, huh?" Spike asked. "Words of wisdom for generosity."

“Oh yes indeed, Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity smiled. “And those are the words I’m proud to live by.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, Rare,” Spike smiled. "Though, in truth, it all reminded me of how I've once met someone, who knew someone else, who was very kind, and very wise," Spike smiled nostalgically.

“Oh, does it?” Rarity asked. “Please, do tell.”

Spike frowned, "I should warn you. It's not a story with a happy ending."

"It's alright, darling," Rarity beckoned.

Reluctant, Spike complied, as he tells the story to Rarity.


Sad Story - He Didn't Like His Father


"And that's the story," Spike concluded, while Rarity was rubbing her tearful eyes.

"How sad," Rarity cried.

"I know," Spike dipped his head in agreement. "His father did it out of love," Spike took a deep breath, "But he learned that too late, and learned a valuable lesson, the hard way.”

“If only he had been more appreciative towards his dad!” Rarity sniffed.

“I agree. Life isn’t just about money or being rich. Sometimes the greatest treasures of all, are the ones that are right in front of you. And often times, you easily take them for granted. And by the time you realized how precious they are, it's too late, and they’re gone, just like that.”

Rarity looked at Spike, having an epiphany, "So, then what am I to you then, Spike?" She asked.

Spike looked at Rarity for a moment, before he answered, "Treasure. To me, you, the girls, and everyone else, who have been friends and family to me. You're my ultimate treasures. And as you know, we dragons are very protectives of our treasures," Looking at Rarity, Spike grimaced, blushing, and sweating when he heard himself say it. "Sorry Rarity. I'm not so good with-"

"Oh no, it's fine darling," Rarity assured. "Please go ahead. Tell me more."

Hesitant at first, Spike took a few breathes, to calm himself, "Don't get me wrong, Rarity. I mean it, when I said that you're not a trophy girl. Because to me, you're more than just a trophy. You're a diamond, y'know. You're my diamond in the sky. And you've always had that knack for shining the beauty of your style, your skills, and your generosity from the inside out. And that's what makes you so beautiful, in every way."

Rarity's eyes were quickly welled up with tears, before Spike placed a hand on her shoulder, “That’s why I looked after you, and everyone else," He continued. "To me, your lives are more important than mine. Because in a way, you are my life. I just can’t imagine living in a reality without anyone, like you.”

Rarity held her hands to her mouth, as she cried rivers of tears, "And would you still love me? Even when I'm no longer young and beautiful?"

"Of course I would," Spike replied. "We're friends, Rarity. We're friends for life, and forever. Just as strong and true our love for each other is."

"Oh, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity sobbed, as she and Spike embraced each other, comfortably. "Thank you! You say the sweetest things! Why couldn't I have met you first, instead of someone uncouth like Blueblood?"

"Fate often has a wry sense of humor, I guess," Spike answered. "Though, on the bright side. If it hadn't been for Blueblood, then you wouldn't smell like delicious cake frostings, now would you?"

Rarity giggled at his little joke, "No. Perhaps not," Rarity couldn't be more happier than she ever was in the last ten years.





Days after the tragedy


Young Rarity sat all alone, surrounded by the sparkling gems in the secret gem cavern. Without Spike, the cavern was too quiet and less valuable to her.

Looking at the beautiful gems, made the marshmallow unicorn miss Spike even more. Everywhere she looked, each reflections she sees, she catches a glimpse of herself and Spike, laughing, smiling, and playing together. The very memories echoed throughout the cavern, and Rarity dropped her pickaxe, running towards an underground lake close by, splashing waters on her face, trying and failing to relieve herself of her tears.

"Spikey-Wikey!" Rarity cried, looking in the reflection, and was startled to see Spike's reflection. Looking behind her, she was dismayed to see no one. Feeling more hopeless, if not - lost, Rarity fell to the floor of the cavern, crying more hysterical at the absence of her favorite dragon.





Present


After a moment of soap operas, and such, both Spike and Rarity took out their scripts, as they once more practiced their characters' lines.

Spike, however, was having a hard time memorizing his lines. Mainly because Rarity was still in her undergarments, and her curvaceous figure made it hard for him to recite his lines, when he's looking at her.

Finally, Spike's had enough, "Rarity. Not to sound demanding, or anything. But don't you think you ought to put some clothes on?"

"But Spikey-Wikey," Rarity began. "In this next scene, you're supposed to be blushing, out of hopeless longing. I simply thought this would at least give you the idea," She flirted.

"Oh believe me," Spike blushed. "I got it. So, can you please, put your clothes back on?"

"Why? Am I not attractive to you?" She asked, while looking as if she was about to cry.

"No! Of course you're attractive! In fact, you're sexy-" Spike quickly covered his mouth, realizing what just slipped.

Rarity couldn't help but giggle at the dragon's awkward display, "Oh darling," Rarity smiled. "I was simply teasing you. Besides, it's part of the script. Selfie loves to tease Skater once in awhile, because she secretly admires and adores him. And in return, Skater does so to, while giving some hints that he loves her the same way."

Spike blushed, "Right," He said dryly. "Anyway, back to the script," With that, the two began to rehearse, once again. Though, Spike continues to stumble a bit with his lines.

Rarity stood up, as she walked over to him, "Here," She said, as she wrapped her arms around Spike's shoulders. "Perhaps this would help."

Before Spike could ask, Rarity claimed his lips, resulting in the boy's dragon wings to sprout out from his backs. Eyes widened, sparkling with a purple fiery aura, Spike closed them, as he slowly melts into the hot, passionate feeling from the kiss that ignited a fiery sensation, deep within him, from the heart that spreads throughout his body. Letting instincts take over, Spike wrapped his arms around Rarity, deepening the kiss, pressing her well-endowed breasts closer to him, with one of his hands feeling the soft, smooth feel of her bare back, while the other caressed her hair.

The two fell to the floor as they continued their make out, wrestling for dominance at the same time. After awhile, the two parted, catching some breathes.

"Wow," Rarity panted. "That was....amazing."

"I know," Spike replied. "What came over me? Over us? I don't know."

"I don't know," Rarity looked back at Spike, with love in her eyes. "But I don't care darling. You were fabulous, Skater. Like a diamond in the rough!"

Spike blushed, as he panted, "Not as fabulous as you are Selfie. Like a diamond in the sky." Spike and Rarity both let their loving instincts take over, as they kissed again. Spike didn't look to see his hands grabbing for Rarity's breasts.

Not knowing what he was doing, Spike lovingly caressed Rarity's firm buxom, causing the girl to moan lovingly through their kiss, which in turn drives Spike wild, until his rational side snapped him out of it, and he finally realized where his hands were.

"Whoa!" Spike blushed, getting up, and blushed a storm. "Rarity! I'm so sorry I did that! I really don't know wha I was thinking! I just...I don't..."

Rarity giggled, much to his confusion, and sat up, "Spikey-wikey, you don't have to apologize. I wanted you to do that."

Spike did a double take, "You did?"

She nodded, and continued, "I wouldn't be wearing like this otherwise," She then cupped his face, "Just as I wanted this from you too." With that, she leaned in and kissed him on the lips, again.





Auditions Day


Thursday came rather quickly for both Spike and Rarity. Mainly because for the passing days, the both of them having been rehearsing their lines, together with their friends, and when it's just the two of them, they would do in private, and in a hot steaming kind of way, stealing a few kisses now and then.

Once on stage, Spike and Rarity both spoke their lines, which they've been able to memorize, with Sapphire Shores, Flintheart, and Cheerilee, writing their criticism on their clipboards.

The following day, the teachers have announced the casting and posted the names outside of the theater. The students were all crowding around to see who got the parts.

Spike and Rarity managed to get through, and succeeded in locating their names on the list. Rarity got the part to play as Selfie Soot, but was horrified to see that Blueblood got the part as Skater as well.

"Oh no," She moaned. "This can't be happening!"

"Awww, man," Spike groaned, knowing that his cousin would try to pull several tricks to get closer to Rarity, or embarrass her on stage. However, he got a closer look at the casting, "Wait a minute! Rarity! It actually says that Blueblood's got the part, as an understudy!"

"What?!" Rarity exclaimed, before she took a closer look, and sighed in relief. "Oh, thank Celestia. You're right! So then, who really got the role as Skater?"

The two anxiously looked, and found it was none other but Spike himself.

"Oh we did it, Rarity!" Spike cheered, as he and Rarity happily danced in each other's arms. "We did it! We got the parts!"

"I know! I know!" Rarity smiled, as she picked Spike up, off his feet and spun him around, before she held him close, and kissed him passionately once more.

Just then, Professor Flintheart appeared, causing silence in the room, "Congratulations, Mr. Draco, and Ms. Rarity," He said, still in his unsettling tone. "Then again, given to how the both of you have a reputation for being one of our most passionate students, then putting on a school play should be easy work for you. Even if my nieces are casted the backups." Without another word, the strict professor walked away.

"Do you think that's his way of saying 'break a leg?'" Spike asked.

"I don't know," Rarity replied. "But, who cares?" With that, the two went back to kissing, with their fellow classmates cheering them on, while most of the girls watched in envy, and a certain obnoxious boy, glowering.

Watching from a distance, Capper was leaning against a wall, smiling proudly at his bud.

"Not bad, Spike," Capper meowed. "Not bad."





Extra


Spike was getting ready for bed, when he noticed his phone had a few messages from Rarity.

Tapping the icon to open, his face quickly turned red, "Oh my god!" He shouted, whiskers straightening, wings sprouting, obvious dead giveaways that he's been turned on. And for a good reason.

There on his phone, were several sexy shots of Rarity posing in a small light blue shirt, a set of lacy pink panties with thin straps that makes it a thong. In each shots, Rarity was posing in a rather sultry and seductive expressive way, arousing Spike.

"I'm definitely not forgetting these!" Spike blushed, before he quickly saved them in a separate folder on his phone and quickly went to sleep. That is, until after he gets his wings under control.
> A Magical Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a cold, blustery night in Ponyville.

Twilight was all alone in the Castle of Friendship, going through some books, when she began to feel sleep taking a hold of her.

Exhausted from her late night studying, Twilight let out a yawn, and collapsed on the table.

Had she been awake, then she would’ve heard the sound of footsteps walking into the room, and felt a pair of strong arms, helping her up, and putting her in bed.

The next morning, Twilight woke up to the smell of breakfast being prepared.

"Mmm," Twilight moaned, upon taking a whiff of the foods being cooked. "Wait a minute! Who's cooking?" Stretching her wings and hooves, Twilight made her way to the kitchen, to see none other but Spike, flipping some pancakes. “Spike!!” Twilight shouted happily.

Spike quickly turned his head and smiled at Twilight, “Morning Twilight,” Spike returned greeting. “How did you sleep?”

“I slept well,” Twilight stretched, before she sniffed the pleasant aroma of the breakfast. “Mmm, that smells good!”

“Good to hear,” Spike said, as he plopped a flapjack for Twilight, and another for himself, before he decorated a smily face on it with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, with whip cream on top. "Look, you got pancake! And it's happy to see you," Spike said.

Rolling her eyes and smirking at his joke, Twilight levitated a fork, as she takes a huge bite of the food, and smiled, "Oh, Spike!" She said in a mouthful. "This is delicious!" She gulped down the food, and licked her lips, savoring the taste. "Mmmm-mmmm!"

Spike smiled, "Well, glad to see I'm getting the hang of my mom's cooking," He sighed, looking at Canterlot in the distance. "She always did make our pancakes this way. Just her way of showing us, she cares."

Twilight looked at Spike, affectionately, "You can be such a mama's boy sometimes, you know?" She teased.

"Hey! We've been separated for ten years!" Spike spatted. "Got some times to catch up on, y'know."

"I know, I know, and I respect that," Twilight reassured. "Heck, if I was in your position, I'd do the same for my parents, if I've ever been struck by dark magic, and sent away for ten years to recover."

Spike nodded in agreement, before he looked solemn, "Though, now that I think about it. I don't think me and mom have been doing some mother/son bonding moments, as of late," He scratched his head, trying to remember a time he and Celestia have bonded, following their reunion.

"What about those times when Celestia was there to help us, during our battle against the Shadowbolts?" Twilight asked. "Or that time when she and Princess Luna came to New York, because they sensed you were in trouble?"

"Those don't count, Twilight," Spike answered. "I'd like for a day, when I can just spend it with mom, or auntie, where the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance."

Twilight nodded in acknowledgement, and agreement, "Yeah. I'd like to spend that kind of day with Cadence and Shining Armor as well."

Wanting to change the topic, and brighten up the mood, Spike spoke up, "Until then, let's make this day a special one, Twi," Spike sat down and ate his cupcakes. "I'd like to see how good this 'Magic of Friendship' does for you."

Twilight smiled excitedly, in agreement.







Later




Spike and Twilight were both in the training dimension, practicing their combat skills together.

"So, what's the agenda for magics today?" Spike asked.

"Teleportation," Twilight answered. "Multiple locations. Try to keep up." With that, Twilight concentrated into her magic, as she disappeared in a flash of light.

'Okay, Spike,' Spike talked to himself, mentally. 'You know this one. You've been studying it, with Twilight, and Ember, once,' Concentrating hard, Spike pictured himself besides Twilight, before his eyes revealed to be a blazing fiery of green, and his whole body was coated with green fire, and he disappeared, before reappearing on top of a mountain, with Twilight.

The two of them disappeared in more flashes of their magics, before reappearing in random locations within the training dimensions. Ranging from a desert to an arctic.

Later, the two of them were meditating once more, floating in mid-air, concentrating on their magic. The candles around Twilight danced, with their flames being colored in her aura, with Spike's doing the same. Before long, the flames on the candles erupted, to form a green flaming celestial dragon flying through the air, surrounded by veils of sparkling stars.

Soon, the two were at their final lessons of magical combat - Spike's personal favorite.

"Dragon up!" Spike shouted, as he assumed his dragon form, while Twilight assumed her anthro battle form, equipped with a suit of armor.

Without warning, Twilight fired several magic bolts at Spike, who quickly conjured a flame apparition of a shield, blocking her attack. Concentrating his powers in another, Spike conjured a fiery javelin, which he hurled towards Twilight, who quickly encased herself in a magic bubble, saving herself from the projectile.

"Flash kick!" Twilight shouted, doing a backflip in mid-air, while creating a flash, in the shape of the kick's arc, which flew towards Spike.

"Lava lance!" Spike screamed, firing the said attack, which countered the flash, exploding upon impact. "Chi Roar!" Spike roared, projecting a loud green ultrasonic roar, nearly blowing Twilight away, who teleported behind him.

Twilight fired a bolt of magic at Spike, who quickly channeled his powers, into his wings, coating them with green fires that made his wings larger, which he used to smash the bolt in front of him, before it could make an impact.

Concentrating, while thinking of the love he has for the girls, and vice versa, Spike can feel his passionate love for them, increasing his fire tenfold, which increased his rapid heartbeats, making his eyes glow fiery green, "Boosted dragon!" Spike roared, firing a huge green fireball, so powerful, it's kickback nearly threw him off his feet.

Twilight quickly coated herself in a magic shield bubble, as the fireball exploded upon impact. Once she lowered the shield down, Twilight looked around her, and both she and Spike looked to see that she now stood in a huge crater.

"Wow, Spike!" Twilight smiled. "You're a real student of magic than you think."

"I guess I have a good friend, and a teacher to thank for that," Spike replied, causing Twilight to blush, modestly.




Spike was later sitting in the library of Friendship Castle, reading a book. Though it's not like him to be so caught up in books, except for ones that includes dragons, wizards, and fighters, this one immediately grabs his interest, since it's about his pony friends, the adventures they've had, and they lessons they've learned along the way.

"Amazing," Spike commented, while reading an event chronicled in the book. "Yikes," he grimaced at some near death movements, as well as the descriptions of the problem. "Clever," he mused, while laughing at the funny parts.

Then, Twilight walked in, "Hey Spike!" Twilight greeted.

"Oh, hi Twilight!" Spike replied, getting his head out of the book for a moment. "Do you need anything?"

"Nope. Just came to check up on you," Twilight answered, before she noticed the book he was reading. "Oh, I see you've found a copy of our Friendship Journal."

"Uh huh,” He replied eagerly. “I’ve been wanting to know what you girls have been doing while I was gone," Spike replied. "Besides, Capper told me this book was a bestseller, and it tells us the many adventures you girls had, as well as the lessons you've learned to become the heroes you are today."

Twilight grimaced, recalling the unwanted reception she and the girls had once received from the publics, all because of the book. Taking her chance, Twilight hesitantly asked, "And what do you think?"

"I think you girls came a long way," Spike answered. "I especially loved this part where you went crazy and hexed the whole town with a 'Want-it, Need-It' spell charm, just to make a Friendship Problem." Twilight blushed a shade of red at the mention of the incident. "Though, nice to see you girls learned a lesson in that," He said, as he reads the lesson, by the other five Bearers of Harmony.


Dear Princess Celestia, we're writin' to you today because today we all learned a little somethin' about friendship.

We learned that you should take your friends' worries seriously.

Even if you don't think that she has anything to worry about.

And that you shouldn't let your worries turn asmallproblem...

...into an enormously huge entire-town-in-total-chaos Princess-has-to-come-and-save-the-day problem!

Signed, your loyal subjects.


Twilight smiled, hearing Spike reading the lesson to her. To her, it made her feel as though Spike was there when the lesson was being written, in a way.

"Though, not to sound like a critic or anything," Spike began, which got Twilight worried. "But.....do you girls have to put this in the book?" Spike asked, showing a picture of a crazy looking Twilight.





"WHAT?!!" Twilight screamed, as she snatches the book out of Spike's hands, while looking at the picture of herself in outrage. "How-who-when-WHERE DID THEY GET THEIR HOOVES ON A PICTURE LIKE THIS?!!!" Twilight asked.

"There was a note at the bottom," Spike directed. "It was written by Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, saying the picture serves as an example."

With that, Twilight looked to see some texts, next to her photo, which reads: "Remember boys and girls. If you don't take your friends' worries seriously, then your friends may look like this. Sign R.D. and P.P."

Twilight pouted, face red in embarrassment, "I'm so going to give Rainbow and Pinkie a piece of my mind for this," She scowled.

"Cheer up, Twilight," Spike said, as he calmly takes the book back. "I think it's entertaining. You girls have had lots of ups and downs. But in the end, you learned some lessons," He looked back a the book, skimming a few pages, "Like this one. During the parasprite infestation."

Twilight sat down, next to Spike, as she got a good look at the page of the event, "Oh yeah," Twilight smiled, recalling the event. "That was when we were getting things ready for Princess Celestia's arrival."

"Right," Spike looked back in the book, as he reads. "And from what you girls are saying, you were having a hard time getting rid of the parasprites, and they're eating you all out of house at home. And the more they eat, the more they're able to multiply."

"Tell me about it," Twilight grimaced, before she brightens up. "But thankfully, Pinkie Pie knew just what to do. Too bad we didn't listen to her, to begin with," Twilight frowned.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Twi," Spike tried to comfort them. "The thing is, you've learned a very important lesson." He pointed to the written lesson, by Twilight.

"I've learned that sometimes the solution to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends' opinions and perspectives. Even when they don't always seem to make sense."

Twilight nodded, smiling proudly of herself, and even more so that Spike was actually taking interests in her lessons of friendship.

"And how about this lesson you girls taught in Appleloosa," Spike mused. "You've gotta share. You've got to care."





"That's what I said!" Pinkie said, tearing a hole in the story page, before she was pulled back.

"Still, why couldn't Pinkie get the message across?" Spike asked.

Twilight chuckled, "Well, it may have something to do with this," She pointed to small, enchanted image, that recorded Pinkie Pie, doing a musical performance.






You Got to Share, You Got to Care by Pinkie Pie
We may be divided

But of you all, I beg

To remember we're all hoofed

At the end of each leg

No matter what the issue

Come from wherever you please

All this fighting gets you nothing

But hoof-and-mouth disease

Arguing's not the way

Hey, come out and play!

It's a shiny, new day

So, what do you say?

You gotta share

You gotta care

It's the right thing to do

You gotta share

You gotta care

And there'll always be a way through

Both our diets, I should mention

Are completely vegetarian

We all eat hay and oats

Why be at each other's throat?

You gotta share

You gotta care

It's the right thing to do

And there'll always be a way

Throoooough!


Once the song was over, Spike was silent for a moment, "Guess that explains it," He commented.

"Yup," Twilight agreed. "And the only thing Chief Thunderhooves and the Sheriff can agree on was that Pinkie's performance was the worst thing they've ever seen."

"Everybody's a critic," Spike replied, before he turned to the next page. "Oh my goodness!" Spike laughed, to which Twilight looked and her face turned red in embarrassment. "The Best Worst Night Ever."

They looked at some pictures of Rarity losing her dress, and practically rendered nude, even for a pony. Rainbow Dash was seen hanging out with the Wonderbolts, Captain Spitfire and Soarin in one picture, before she was shown to have her head stuck in a tree, in the next. Pinkie Pie and Applejack stuck in a chimney together. And to top it all of, an enchanted image which plays a recording of an angry - if not, deranged Fluttershy.


You're going to LOOOOOOOOVE MEEEEEEE!!





Spike was taken by surprise, "What set her off?" He asked, worryingly.

Twilight chuckled, "Well, she kinda had some problems with making animal friends in the Canterlot Garden," She explained. "And that's saying something, since Fluttershy's always good wit animals."

"Mmm-hmmm," Spike said in agreement, before he skims the pages once again, with Twilight. "Oh, here's one!" Spike exclaimed, as he reads the chapter's title. "Bird in the Hoof."

"Oh yeah, I remember that one," Twilight giggled in nostalgia. "That was when Princess Celestia was coming over for a visit in Ponyville. It was also the first time Fluttershy meets her bird, Philomena."

"Ah, good ol'Philomena," Spike smiled, remembering the phoenix, alongside his Peewee. "So, what kind of mischievous antics did that old bird got into this time?" Spike asked, as he dives his head back into the pages to read the story.

"Well, it's quite amusing," Twilight chuckled. "That was actually the first time Fluttershy's seen a phoenix. Um, first time seeing one, near its burning day, that is. Back then, Fluttershy thought Philomena was a sick bird, so she kinda birdnapped her, taking her back home so she could take care of her, and make her feel better."

"Did she really?" Spike laughed, before he looked back at the pictures in the chapter, and noticed Twilight was involved. "So, how exactly did you get dragged into this mess?"

"I was worried for Fluttershy, because I was afraid that Princess Celestia might banish her from Equestria. Or throw her in a dungeon. Or banish Fluttershy and then throw her in a dungeoninthe place that she banishes her to," Twilight chuckled to herself, as she shook her head in amusement. "I was such a worry wart then."

"Aw, don't be so hard on yourself, Twi," Spike replied. "You were just trying to look out for Fluttershy like a good friend."

Twilight smiled, "Thanks Spike."

"Still, banish from Equestria. Or thrown in a dungeon. Or banished and thrown in the dungeon in the place you're banished to. That's just exaggerating, and yet it sounded kinda familiar," Spike said, as he thought, before he exclaimed. "Oh, I remember."

"What? What is it?" Twilight asked.





Past


Young Spike was climbing up a huge bookshelf, reaching for a comic strip of the Power Ponies, when his hand accidentally brushed against a small portrait of Princess Luna, causing it to fall off its stand, and shattered onto the floor.

Spike and Blueblood gasped, "Oh dear!" Prince Blueblood said in horror. "Look what you've done!"

"It was just an accident," A young Spike whimpered. "I didn't mean to break it."

"Well, it still doesn't change the fact that you broke it!" Blueblood hissed. "Oh, when aunt Celestia finds out about this, she'll throw you out of the castle!" With an evil grin, Blueblood said to himself, "In fact, why wait? I'll tell her about it, myself."

Young Spike had a look of horror, "No! Don't!"

"Oh yes," Blueblood grinned. "And when I do, she'll banish you from Equestria, forever! Or throw you in a dungeon. Or banish you and then throw you in a dungeoninthe place that she banishes you to!"

"No! Don't!" Spike pleaded. "Please, don't tell mom! I'll do anything!"

This instantly piqued Blueblood's interest, "Anything?" He asked.

"Yes, anything!" Spike whimpered, knowing he'll regret it later. "Just don't let mom banish me!"

"Hmmmm," Blueblood thought deviously. "Alright then. I do have a list of things I'd like for you to do for me, today."

And so, for the rest of the day, Spike has been treated as a dog on a leash, by Blueblood. First, he had to give Bunny a bath, then he served some sparkling ciders for the unicorn prince, and baked some cupcakes. Furthermore, he was tasked with painting a portrait of Blueblood, with Bunny, washed the stairs, cleaned the windows, and worst of all, cleaned the rooftops of pigeon poops.

At the same time, Spike kept the shattered picture of Princess Luna hidden, while making several attempts to repair it. However, Spike couldn't keep it a secret for long.

Spike was using some glues to patch the glass frameworks of the portrait, but it looked too messy. He tried to use some tapes, but it made the pictures less clear. That, and it made the picture, stuck to Spike.

"Get off!" Spike growled, as he struggled to get the picture off of him. He wasn't looking where he was going, and slid down a long stair case, before he crashed into a column, knocking a vase off. Luckily, Spike caught the vase in time. Unfortunately, one of the tapes on his shoes, got him stuck to the rug beneath him, causing him to trip, and dropped the vase, causing it to break.

"Oh no!" Spike frowned, backing up, and knocked some more vases off their stands.

Blueblood's eyes widened, "What have you done?" He asked.

Just then, Princess Celestia returned, when she noticed the mess, "WHAT IN EQUESTRIA?!!" She shouted. "What happened?!" Princess Celestia asked sternly.

Spike looked at his mother, "It's my fault, mom," Spike admitted, as he sadly walked up to a surprised Celestia. "I was trying to get my book, when I accidentally knocked auntie's picture to the floor. And I tried everything to fix it, but I ended up making all of this big mess, and I'm sorry." Spike shifted into his puppy form, as he bowed his head to his mother. "I'll take any punishment you have in mind for me, mom." He finished, sniffling a tear.

Blueblood grinned deviously, "Oh, this ought to be good," He said to himself.

Celestia walked over to Spike, "Spike," She began in a quiet voice, yet stern voice, raising her hoof up, with Spike bracing himself for the impact. Instead, what he received was a gentle stroke on the back, "Why didn't you just ask me for help?" She asked, in a gentle and motherly tone. Spike looked up at her, confused to see, not a look of anger, but a motherly look of understanding, and love. "I could've fixed it. You didn't have to do this by yourself."

"Y-You're not mad?" Spike asked, feeling relieved, at the same time, confused.

"No," Celestia shook her head. "I would never be mad, over a simple mistake like this. Accidents happen, sweetie. We all make mistakes from time to time. It's all part of learning. Though from the looks of things, I think you've learned enough."

Spike breathed a sigh of relief, while Blueblood looked shocked, "So, does this mean you're not going to banish me. Or put me in a dungeon. Or banish me and put in the dungeon of the place you will banish me too?"

Celestia looked disturbed, "What? Of course not!" She answered. "Where would you get an idea like that?" She asked.

"Cousin Blueblood told me!" Spike answered, pointing to Blueblood, who was quietly trying, and failing, to escape.

Princess Celestia's face, quickly shifted to a look of disappointment, "Blueblood!" Princess Celestia called, sternly.

Shaking in fear, Prince Blueblood slowly turned to face his aunt, while putting on a terrified, innocent grin, "Yes, aunt Celestia?" He asked.

Next thing the stuck up prince knew, he was on the roof of the castle, "This is an outrage!" Blueblood complained. "I'm a prince! I am a born diplomat! Cleaning pigeon poops is servant's work!"

"Well it serves your right for the way you treated Spike!" Celestia scolded. "I am utterly ashamed of your behavior, Vlad. So unbecoming of a prince." She shook her head, "You will continue to scrub this whole place for the next few weeks. I hope this will teach you some lessons, young colt." With that, Celestia teleported away, before she reappeared in a room, where Spike was trying to put Princess Luna's picture, back into place.

"How's this mom?" He asked.

"That's much better, Spike," Celestia replied.

"I'm really sorry about breaking the picture, mom," Spike apologized, for the umpteenth time.

"I know you are, Spike," Celestia said, with a loving touch of her wing, on the shoulder. "But next time, please be a little more careful. And next time, tell me what's wrong, so that I can help."

"Okay mom, I will."







Present




"That's our Princess Celestia alright," Twilight smiled happily. "She's always kind and understanding."

"And a real mother," Spike added. 'Even though I never knew my own,' He thought sadly.

Twilight and Spike were both looking through the book again, before they came across a chapter that reads: Magical Mystery Cure.

“Hey look!” Spike exclaimed. “It’s your princess coronation.”

“Oh yeah,” Twilight smiled, upon remembering. “It’s when I first got my wings and status as the Princess of Friendship!”

“Oh yeah!” Spike said, as if he finally remembered something. “I’ve been wondering how you became an alicorn, Twi.”

“You mean, we never told you?” She asked, to which Spike shook his head. "Well, I guess now's a good time for you to know."







Past




It started off as a beautiful morning, in which a young, unicorn Twilight started off with a song, upon leaving the Golden Oak Library, back when it was in its prime.


Morning in Ponyville

Twilight Sparkle: "Morning in Ponyville shimmers

Morning in Ponyville shines

And I know for absolute certain

That everything is certainly fine

There's the Mayoren routeto her office

There's the sofa clerk selling some quills"

Sofa Clerk: "Morning, kid!"

Twilight Sparkle: "My Ponyville is so gentle and still

Can things ever go wrong?

I don't think that they will

Morning in Ponyville shimmers

Morning in Ponyville shines

And I know for absolute certain

That everything is certainly—"


Twilight was rudely interrupted when she was splashed by a sudden downpour of water, from the air.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight berated. "That's not funny!"

"Terribly sorry, darling," Rarity apologized, while levitating some rainclouds. "I'm afraid I'm... I'm not good with the thundery ones."

Twilight was shocked, and horrified, "Something tells me everything isnotgoing to be fine," She moaned. Before long, Twilight Sparkle noticed that the rest of her friends, besides Rarity all have the wrong cutie marks, and are doing the wrong jobs.

First, Rainbow Dash's got Fluttershy's cutie mark. The bashful buttercup pegasus's got Pinkie's cutie mark. The party pony's got Applejack. The farm girl's got Rarity's cutie mark. And the lastly, the fashionista's got Rainbow's.




What My Cutie Mark Is Telling Me



[Rainbow Dash]

These animals don't listen, no, not one little bit

They run around out of control and throw their hissy fits

It's up to me to stop them, 'cause plainly you can see

It's got to be my destiny, and it's what my cutie mark is telling me

[Fluttershy]

I try to keep them laughing, put a smile upon their face

But no matter what I try, it seems a bit of a disgrace

I have to entertain them, it's there for all to see

It's got to be my destiny, and it's what my cutie mark is telling me

[Pinkie Pie]

I don't care much for pickin' fruit and plowin' fields ain't such a hoot

No matter what I try, I cannot fix this busted water chute!

I've got so many chores to do, it's no fun being me

But it has to be my destiny, 'cause it's what my cutie mark is telling me

[Applejack]

Lookie here at what I made, I think that it's a dress

I know it doesn't look like much, I'm under some distress

Could y'all give me a hand here and help me fix this mess?

My destiny is not pretty, but it's what my cutie mark is tellin' me

[Rarity]

I'm in love with weather patterns, but the others have concerns

For I just gave them frostbite over top of their sunburns

I have to keep on trying, for everyone can see

[Rarity and Rainbow Dash]
It's got to be

[Fluttershy]
It's got to be

[Pinkie Pie]
My destiny

[Applejack]
My destiny

[Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy]
And it's what my cutie mark

[Pinkie Pie and Applejack]
It's what my cutie mark

[Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack]
Yes, it's what my cutie mark is telling me!





It didn't take long for Twilight to put two and two together, to a spell she had received, from Princess Celestia. It also comes together with a letter from the sun alicorn princess herself.


Dear Twilight Sparkle,

The spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded's secret unfinished masterpiece. He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe you are the only pony who can understand and rewrite it. 

Princess Celestia


Not wanting to let her mentor down, Twilight read the spell aloud:


From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled.


Twilight didn't know it then, but the Elements of Harmony, kept in a glass container behind her, instantly swapped their colors, courtesy of the spell she read.

Realizing the mistake she's done, Twillight was beside herself, lamenting at the heartaches she's created.




I've Got to Find a Way





I have to find a way

To make this all okay

I can't believe this small mistake

Could've caused so much heartache

Oh why, oh why?

Something is wrong, it's plain to see

This isn't how it's meant to be

And you can't see it like I do

It's not the life that's meant for you

Oh why, oh why?

Losing promise

I don't know what to do

Seeking answers

I fear I won't get through to you

I'll try

And I'll try

I'll try

And I'll try


Looking at a picture of herself, with the girls, and Spike, Twilight sobbed, "Oh, Spike, what have I done?"

"Twilight?" A voice spoke up, to which Twilight turned, to see fellow reformed Shadowbolt, Starlight Glimmer. "Is everything alright?"

Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes, "No," She sobbed. "I've ruined everything. It's all my fault."

Starlight Glimmer looked to the side, scratching her chin, trying to find a way to cheer the lavender unicorn up, "Hey, c'mon, don't beat yourself up," Starlight said, struggling to lighten the mood. "You'll find a way through this."

"How can you be so sure?" Twilight sniffed.

"Because you always have," Starlight replied. "Think about it. Who was it, that taught me, and every pony else that magic is friendship? And she kept on proving how powerful and magical it is, time and time again?"

"That was only because I had my friends beside me," Twilight frowned. "And they didn't have the wrong cutie marks then."

"So you're just letting a simple cutie mark problem stopping you from helping your friends?" Starlight frowned. "That's not what you taught me, after I told you about my problems. You taught me, that if something I can't control happens that changes things, then I should at least work through it together. That's what friendship is!"

Twilight looked up at Starlight, rubbing her eyes, "Well, it's hard with the 'together' part, when our friendship is circle is missing a piece, or two," Twilight frowned, referring to Spike, and Sunset.

"That's never stopped you before!" Starlight replied. "Everyday, since me and Sunset have turned over a new leaf, we've been seeing how you and everyone have risked every day of your life, to make the world a better place, in Spike's absent and honor. Because for what is worth, friends and family are worth fighting for!"

Twilight looked hesitant, trying to take in every words Starlight had said, "I didn't just became your student, Twilight," Starlight spoke. "I became Spike's substitute assistant, because I wanted to see that magic of friendship I've once seen, inside of you. Come on Twilight. Show me that magic again."

Twilight looked up on her walls, seeing the captured memories of herself, the girls, their families, and friends, through the ages. Her attentions were mostly fixated on the pictures with Spike, prior to the tragedy. Twilight felt a growing sensation, through her body, that even made her heart beat faster, at the thought of those memories.

Slowly, Twilight smiled, while her tears continue to run from her eyes, "You're right, Starlight," Twilight replied. "And they mean more to me than anything," Before either of them knew it, Twilight's whole body was surrounded in a pink glow. "My friends..."

Starlight Glimmer looked at her friend in concern, "Twilight?" She asked. "Are you alright?"

Suddenly, a spark came to Twilight, in the form of her cutie marks conjuring in her eyes, "I've got it!" Twilight exclaimed. "I know what to do!"

"You do?" Twilight galloped past Starlight, as she raced to retrieve a jeweled chest, before she collected the Elements of Harmony. "I may not be able to remind them of who they are, but I can show them what they mean to each other," Twilight levitated her element and dons it up on her head. "They'll find the part of themselves that's been lost so they can help the friend they care about so much! Come on, Starlight!"

"Right behind ya!" Starlight replied, as she galloped after her fellow unicorn.





And so, Twilight and Starlight galloped around town, before they found Fluttershy in the nick of time, who was just on her way back to Cloudsdale. The bashful pegasus was crestfallen, for failing to make any pony laugh. Nevertheless, the two unicorns convinced the pegasus to help Rainbow Dash, anyway she can, with caring for animals. And just in time to, since Rainbow Dash was SET TO BECOME DINNER!!

"HELP!!" A bound Rainbow Dash cried, from inside a pot, over a bonfire. "I'M TRAPPED!!" Before Rainbow could say anything else, an angry bird slammed a lid on the pegasus.

"Hurry, girls!" Fluttershy turned to Twilight and Starlight. "Can't you use some kind of spells to get her out?"

"Wish we could," Starlight replied, before she was punched on the shoulder by Twilight.

"No," Twilight shook her head. "Fluttershy, you're the only one who can help! Rainbow Dash needsyou!"

Hesitant at first, if not scared, Fluttershy swallowed a lump in her throat, "Um... Hello?" She called out to the rampaging animals - magical and non-magical. "Little... woodland creatures? I know that you're all very upset and feel like giving Rainbow Dash a hard time, but we'd all really appreciate it if you'd calm down and, um, maybe... rest for a bit?" Before long, Fluttershy succeeded in grabbing their attentions, as they all looked at her, attentively. Twilight and Starlight smiled, seeing that it's working. "Oh! Uh... look! Here's some nice, juicy leaves for you to munch on," Fluttershy said, bringing out a bowl of salad, for some rabbits, groundhogs, and other vegetarian creatures. "And some crunchy, munchy acorns too," She said, to some squirrels and chipmunks. "Uh, wouldn't you like to take a break and have a little snack?" Fluttershy asked, to the rest of the angry animals. They all shrugged in their own way, and complied.

"Aww, look at that. I guess you were all just cranky because you were hungry," A certain white rabbit jumped up to Fluttershy, and hugged her affectionately. "Oh, you are very welcome, little friends," Then, a big, scary, but friendly bear, picked up Fluttershy, and gave her a kiss. "Goodness, it's like I can understand them!" Fluttershy's whole body began to glow in a pink aura. "I... I feel strange, like... like this is what I'm meant to do, like this is who I am! Mydestiny!" As if on cue, Twilight quickly placed Fluttershy's Element of Kindess, around her neck, causing the bashful pegasus's memories to flash before her eyes. "Wha... what happened?"

"Fluttershy, look! Your cutie mark!" Starlight pointed to Fluttershy's restored flank.




True, True Friend





Twilight Sparkle: It worked! It worked! Oh, I'm so happy you're back to normal! Now we need your help!

A true, true friend helps a friend in need

A friend will be there to help them see

[Twilight and Fluttershy]
A true, true friend helps a friend in need

To see the light that shines from a true, true friend

"Um, hello? Friend trapped inside, remember?" Rainbow called from the cauldron, with the lid flapping as if it was a mouth.

[Twilight Sparkle]
Rarity needs your help

She's trying hard, doing what she can

[Fluttershy]
Would you try, just give it a chance

You might find that you'll start to understand

[Twilight and Fluttershy]
A true, true friend helps a friend in need

A friend will be there to help you see

A true, true friend helps a friend in need

To see the light that shines from a true, true friend

"Uh, what just happened?" Rainbow asked.

"There's no time to explain," Twilight began. "But we need your help. Applejack's trying to make dresses!"

"Say no more!"

[Rainbow Dash]
Applejack needs your help

She's trying hard, doing what she can

Would you try, just give it a chance

You might find that you'll start to understand

[Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash]
A true, true friend helps a friend in need

A friend will be there to help them see

A true, true friend helps a friend in need

To see the light that shines from a true, true friend

"Oh my, what a terrible dream I had," Rarity gasped, before looking at one of Applejack's dresses. "Or, maybe I'm still having it."

Twilight quickly explained the situation, "Rarity, Pinkie Pie is about to lose the apple farm. We need Applejack's help!"

"Lose the apple farm? Well we can't let that happen, now can we?"

[Rarity]
Pinkie Pie is in trouble

We need to get there by her side

We can try to do what we can now

For together we can be her guide

[Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity]
A true, true friend helps a friend in need

A friend will be there to help them see

A true, true friend helps a friend in need

To see the light that shines from a true, true friend

"Yee-haw! Now that's more like it!" Applejack hollered. "What's next?"

"The townspeople are furious. We need the old Pinkie Pie back."

"I'm on it. I know just the thing."

[Applejack]
The townspeople need you

They've been sad for a while

They march around, face a-frown

And never seem to smile

And if you feel like helping'

We'd appreciate a lot

If you'd get up there and spread some cheer

From here to Canterlot

"Come on ponies, I wanna see you SMILE!" Pinkie sang.

"PINKIE!" EVERYBODY CHEERED.

[Main cast and crowd]
A true, true friend helps a friend in need

A friend will be there to help them see

A true, true friend helps a friend in need

To see the light! (To see the light!)

That shines! (That shines!)

From a true, true friend!






The girls all hugged together, 'Oh Spike, I wished you were here to see this,' Twilight thought, before she heard a voice in her head saying, "A mark of one's destiny, singled out alone, fulfilled," Twilight gasped. "Wait a second, that's it! I understand now! I know how to fix the spell!" With that, Twilight galloped back to the library, where she picked up the unfinished spell book of Starswirl, and corrected it: 


"From all of us together, together we're friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end!"


With that, the Elements of Harmony activated and struck Twilight with beams of magics, of their respected colors. Then, in a flash of light, Twilight was gone.





Disoriented at first, Twilight finds herself in a mystical, starry plane, "Hello?" Twilight called, her voice echoing. "Where am I? What is this place?"

Then, a blurry white shape appeared, before its features became definite, "Congratulations, Twilight," Princess Celestia said. "I knew you could do it."

Twilight quickly galloped to the princess, who welcomed her with a comforting hug, "Princess... I don't understand. What did I do?"

"You did something today that's never been done before," Princess Celestia explained. "Something even a great unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded was not able to do, because he did not understand friendship like you do. The lessons you've learned here in Ponyville have taught you well. You have proven that you're ready, Twilight."

"Ready? Ready for what?" Twilight asked, while being guided through a series of memories.



Celestia's Ballad



You've come such a long, long way

And I've watched you from that very first day

To see how you might grow

To see what you might do

To see what you've been through

And all the ways you've made me proud of you

It's time now for a new change to come

You've grown up and your new life has begun

To go where you will go

To see what you will see

To find what you will be

For it's time for you to fulfill your destiny~


Next thing Twilight knew, a small pink light appeared from her heart, before it took the form of a magical liquid, circling around her. The light turned into several more beams of light, as they levitated Twilight in the air, encasing her in a magical cocoon. With that, a burst of light pierced through the night sky, and the light levitated back down to Ponyville, landing before Twilight's friends, blinding them momentarily.

"Twilight?" Applejack asked. "Is that you?"

Once the lights dimmed down, Twilight stood before them, with her wings. Everyone were surprised, but rejoiced upon the revelation by Princess Celestia, that Twilight has become a true princess.

"Since you've come to Ponyville, you've displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism, and of course, the leadership of a true princess," Princess Celestia explained.

The next day, all of Equestria came together to Canterlot, to celebrate Twilight's official princess coronation.


The Princess Twilight cometh

Behold, behold

A Princess here before us

Behold, behold, behold

Behold, behold (behold, behold)

The Princess Twilight cometh

Behold, behold (behold, behold)

The Princess is

The Princess is here!


Twilight walked out on the balcony, where she shyly waved her hoof before the ponies, "Say something," Princess Celestia nudged.

Nervous, Twilight calmed herself, when she gave everyone her speech, "A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly sayI wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful.Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, every pony!"

Everyone all cheered, and fireworks were shot in the air, before they exploded, marking the celebrations.

"Congratulations, Twiley!" Shining Armor said lovingly, with tears in his eyes.

"Are you crying?" Twilight laughed.

"Of course not!" Shining Armor denied. "It's liquid pride. Totally different thing!"

Twilight looked up, before she caught sight of Mako and Mina in the crowd, "Mako! Mina!" Twilight called out.

"Hey Twilight!" Mina smiled, before she remembered. "Uh, I mean, Princess Twilight. Congratulations," The red dragoness greeted, with a bow of her head.

"Thanks, it's so nice for you to come," Twilight's smile turned into a frown. "If only Spike was here to see this."

In response, Mako placed a comforting hand on Twilight's shoulder, "I know what this means to you princess," He began solemnly. "Young Spike would've been very proud of you." From afar, Princess Celestia felt the heartache once more, stinging.

"Way to go, Princess!" Applejack smiled, as she and the girls all came over.

"Best coronation dayever!" Pinkie cheered.

"We love you, Twilight!" Fluttershy said.

“I love you too, girls,” Twilight smiled, enjoying the tender embrace from her friends. But deep down, she was saddened by the absent hug of one more.






Life in Equestria Shimmers


Twilight Sparkle
Life in Equestria shimmers

Life in Equestria shines

And I know for absolute certain

[Main cast and crowd]
That everything (that everything)

Yes, everything (yes, everything)

Yes, everything is certainly fine

It’s fine~


"Yes! Everything’s going to be just fine!" Twilight smiled, taking her first flight, knowing this is the first step of her greatest adventures, as well as another step closer, to reuniting with Spike.







Present




[Jackie Chan & Kim Hee Seon - Endless Love]


The sun had set. The moon was floating high in the sky, shining its beautiful light, together with the stars, high above Equestria. By then, Spike and Twilight were sitting in front of a fireplace, as they both looked at the picture of the captured moment, feeling a powerful wave of love, joy, together with a magic like no other, washing over them.

"Wow," Spike said, feeling the magical vibe. "Did you feel that, Twilight?"

"I sure do," Twilight smiled, before she looked back in the picture, and frowned.

"I know that face," Spike spoke, in a soothing and comforting tone. "What's wrong?"

Twilight placed a hoof on the picture, before she levitated the book in her aura, turned the pages, all the way to the very end, where there is an author's page, in which it reads: "Dedicated to Spike."

Spike turned to Twilight, as she took a deep breath, and spoke, "I am the Princess of Friendship," She turned to Spike. "But you are my first friend, Spike. You were my very first best friend, and my number one assistant. Without you, I would never have started my journey to learning the magic of friendship." Skimming through the pages, Twilight frowned, as she continues, "All of these lessons. All the things I've accomplished to become the princess I am now, I did it all, out of dedications to you," A single tear escaped, as Twilight added, "It's silly. But in a way, when I dedicated my lessons of friendships, and the publication of this book to you, it made me felt as if you were still here. Maybe because, I wanted to at least include you, and feel less guilty of leaving you out."

Twilight pulled Spike close, letting the young boy to look at the alicorn in the face, "Can you still give us another chance, Spike?" Twilight asked. "Can we still be friends?"

Spike was confused, "I thought we are friends," Spike replied, reaching into his backpack, and pulled out a photo album he got from Pinkie Pie. "I mean, isn't that what we've been doing for these past weeks and month, since our reunion? Making new memories together?" Turning the pages of the photo album, Spike showed several captured moments of him and the girls, having a good time, with their friendship stronger than ever, burning their love even brighter.

Twilight smiled at the sight of the photos, "You know what?" Twilight asked. "I guess we have." The alicorn morphed herself in human form, as she wrapped an arm around him, bringing the boy closer. "You always did have a way to help me out in some dark times, Spike. I'm so happy to have a friend like you."

Spike returned the embrace, "Aw, you'd do the same for me, and the others," He replied. "That's what friends, and family, are for, right?"

"Right," Twilight turned Spike to face her, blushing as she leaned in closer. "Though, do you think there's a possibility that we could be more than friends?"

Spike thought for a moment, before he answered, "I don't see why not."

Her blush glowing even brighter, Twilight looked to the side for a moment, before she gazed lovingly into Spike's eyes, and pressed her lips with his. In response, Spike's wings sprouted form his back, together with his whiskers, as he slowly returns the passionate feel to Twilight.

The both of them could feel their magics, pulsing with every beat of their hearts, clashing with each other, growing faster and more hotter with each passing seconds. Spike's eyes were coated in hot pink auras, as he continues to make out with Twilight, who could also feel the intense heat of his Dragonfire, radiating from him and through her body.

Once they parted, Twilight held Spike close to her chest, resting her head on top of his, "I love you, Spike," She whispered.

"I love you too, Twilight," Spike replied, returning the embrace, while lifting a phone up with his dragon tail. "Say friendship is magic."

"Friendship is magic," Twilight smiled, as Spike and Twilight captured the moment together, which they later added to their photo album.





Let the Rainbow Remind You


[Twilight Sparkle]
Each one of us has something special

That makes us different, that makes us rare

[Fluttershy]
We have a light that shines within us

That we were always meant to share

[All]
And when we come together

Combine the light that shines within

There is nothing we can't do

There is no battle we can't win

When we come together

There'll be a star to guide the way

It's inside us every day

See it now! See it now!

Let the rainbow remind you

That together we will always shine

Let the rainbow remind you

That forever this will be our time

[Twilight Sparkle]
Each one of us will sometimes falter

We may stumble, we may fall

[Rarity]
But we still have a kind of magic

One that will see us through it all

[All]
And when we come together

Combine the light that shines within

There is nothing we can't do

There is no battle we can't win

When we come together

There'll be a star to guide the way

It's inside us every day

See it now! See it now!

Let the rainbow remind you

That together we will always shine

Let the rainbow remind you

That forever this will be our time

[mandolin solo]

[Twilight Sparkle]
Let the rainbow remind you

That together we will always shine
> Beautiful Fairy Tales in Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was another sunny day in Canterlot, courtesy of Princess Celestia, as usual. The sun princess finally found a time to retire to her quarters, where she slumped down in her bed.

"Phew," Celestia breathed a sigh of relief. "Honestly, it's like the yaks and griffons get angrier with each other, every year. At least I was able to resolve their problems together before things get uglier than before." Suddenly, the sun princess felt a magical occurrence in the air. Celestia smiled, "It seems my baby's back for another visit."





Outside of Canterlot


"Time to go undercover," Spike said to himself, as he shifted himself into a kirin - Asian mythical creature with a dragon's head, horse's body, and cloven hooves of an ox, or deer. 

In appearance, Spike's kirin form is covered from head to hooves with purple scales, with green eyes with thick matching eyelashes, manes that always flow upward and a goatee, "Not exactly a pony, but close enough." The prince in disguise took a deep breath, before he said, "Well, here goes."

Spike walked calm and casual, as he takes his first step into Canterlot. Many of the pony elites and aristocrats caught sight of him, and shot him suspicious glances.

Spike quickly cleared his throat, "Ni hao," He greeted in Mandarin Chinese, which the ponies all turned to each other and gossiped. "That means hello," He clarified.

"Oh," The ponies nodded. "Hello," They returned the greeting, as they all went back to doing what they were doing.

'That was close,' Spike resumed walking, when a voice called out.

"Hi there!" Spike turns his head, and sees a group of unicorn mares he's most familiar with.

“Um, hello,” Spike greeted, in a deep voice, as his attempt to get into character. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

“Sure is!” Minuette chirped. “And how do you do?”

"Oh, I'm doing just great," Spike replied. "And you?"

"We were just passing by when we saw you," Lemon Heart answered. "You new in town?"

Spike paused for a moment, before he answered, "You could say that. I haven't been in Canterlot for a few years or so, and I'd like to see what's new since I was gone."

"Well, by all means!" Minuette chirped. "Why don't you come with us? We'd love to show you around!"

Spike tried to get away, "That's kind of you ladies, but I don't want to impose."

"Nonsense!" Twinkleshine defied. "We insist!"

"Yeah. Our friend Twilight would've wanted it," Minuette smiled.

Spike feigned a gasp, "You girls know Princess Twilight?" He asked. Spike feels rather silly asking these girls a question like that, but right now it's all needed to put on an act.

"Know her?" Minuette asked, in shock. "We're practically friends with her! Since foal hood!"

"Really?"

"You better believe it," Moondancer vouched. "She even taught me the Haycart technique, during one of our study sessions."

"So about our offer," Minuette repeated, getting back on topic. "Wanna come?"

Spike looked at the girls, his whiskers waving calmly, sensing good feelings from them.

"Well, if you ladies insist," Spike shrugged.

"GREAT!!" Minuette chirped, as she tugged Spike along. "By the way, I don't think we've introduced ourselves. I'm Minuette! And that's Lemon Heart! Twinkleshine! And Moondancer!"

"I'm...." Spike hesitated, trying to think of a cover name for himself. "I'm.....uh.....Jet!" He finally answered.

"Uh-Jet?" Moondancer asked suspiciously.

Clearing his voice, Spike answered, "Just Jet of Kirin Grove."

"Well, welcome to Canterlot, Jet," Twinkleshine greeted.

"Anyway, are ya hungry Jet?" Minuette asked eagerly. "We're just on our way to meet a friend of ours for lunch, at the Tasty Treats."

"Tasty Treats, huh?" 'Jet' asked, sounding interested. 'Haven't been there in a long time,' Spike thought nostalgically.





Soon the girls and boy arrived at the said restaurant. Upon walking inside, Jet was welcomed by the interior decorations of the facility, giving off its South-Asian vibes he had missed so many years ago.

"Wow," Jet gasped, feeling the rush of memories overwhelming as he recalls the first time he and Rarity met, and when he took her out on their first dinner date.

"Hey, you okay there Jet?" Moondancer asked. "You looked zoned out for a moment there."

Shaking the feeling off, Jet answered, "I'm okay. Just kinda tired. That and it's been awhile since I've seen so many colors at once. And I love it!"

"Well, it's great to hear someone having a taste for our exquisite art design of our homeland," A gruff voice spoke up, to which Jet turned to see the Tasty Treat's host.

"BWAH!!" Jet exclaimed, falling off his hooves, and rapidly beat his chest.

"Oh dear," Coriander exclaimed. "I'm so sorry. I don't mean to startle you. I'm Coriander Cumin. I'm the host of the Tasty Treats."

Keeping his act up, Jet replied, "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, sir," The two gentlemen shook hooves, just as Saffron Masala arrived.

"Oh, hello ladies!" Saffron greeted with a smile to the four girls. "What can I get you this afternoon?" Saffron then turned her attention to Jet, and was taken by his appearance. "Oh, I see you've brought a guest."

"Sure did!" Minuette chirped. "This is Jet! He's a kirin from Kirin Grove! And he's here to visit Canterlot!"

"Is he now?" Saffron smiled. "Then let me say it's a pleasure to welcome you to the Tasty Treats."

"Saffron! That's my line!" Coriander berated.

"I'm just being polite, father," Saffron said in defense. However, in the back of her head, Saffron thought, 'Though, there's something familiar about him.'

After awhile, both Jet and the girls got their orders and were enjoying their meal. While dining, Minuette decided to struck up conversation.

"So Jet," She began. "What do you think of the food?"

Jet was enjoying his hot curry rice before he replied, "Delicious. They don't call these the Tasty Treats for nothing, that's for sure."

"Glad you think that way," Lemon Heart smiled, while taking a bit out of her oat cake. "Mmm, we must've been fools to not come here a long time ago."

"How so?" Jet asked.

"Well, back then," Twinkle began. "Tasty Treats and some of the other restaurants here on Restaurant Row were all facing reviews by a food critic named Zesty Gourmand."

"She's also referred to as the 'Queen of Cuisine,'" Moondancer added. "Though, if you ask me, that title is a blatant misnomer."

"I'll say," Lemon agreed. "Any food she tastes is hardly a cuisine at all! All she does is just look at a restaurant's decor, and if it's not the same as the one she prefers, then she wouldn't even give the cuisines a chance for a taste!"

"Oh, don't get me started on the foods she forced many of the restaurants to make," Twinkle moaned. "They're hardly foods at all. Who would want to eat those?"

"Apparently, Zesty does," Lemon mumbled.

Jet couldn't help but shake his head in disapproval, "So who cares if there's a food critic who doesn't even know good food when she tastes it?" He asked.

"You don't understand Jet," Moon replied. "Back then, Zesty was very strict, and she had the power over all restaurants in her reviews. Her rule was absolute. Any restaurants that didn't pass her review and meet her approval, then they don't receive any ratings with three hooves. No three hooves, then no customers."

"Are you kidding me?!" Jet asked in outrage. "That's absurd!"

"Don't have to tell me twice," Minuette frowned, before she cheered up, "But thankfully, Rarity and Pinkie Pie came and saved the day!"

Jet hardly believed his ears, "What?! Rarity and Pinkie saved the...." Realizing he was breaking out of character, Jet quickly composed himself, clearing his throat, "I mean, Rarity and Pinkie Pie saved the day?" He asked in his deep voice persona. "Who are they? And how did they do it?"

"Oh! Rarity's a famous fashionista!" Minuette chirped. "And Pinkie Pie, she's a lot of fun! In fact, they didn't make her the party pony of all party pony for nothing! Except maybe Cheese Sandwich, but who am I to judge?"

Just then, Saffron Masala came, "Are you girls telling him the story?" She asked.

"We sure are!" Minuette smiled.

"Well, allow us," Coriander began. "It all started on another slow day for my daughter and I. Business wasn't doing so well, no pony ever wanted to come to our restaurant to have a taste of our foods...."

"And father was in such a bad mood, I swear his negative attitude was driving the customers away, than bringing them in," Saffron added.

"Pffft! Oh that's ridiculous!" Coriander chuckled embarrassingly. "Anyways, we were facing some rough times, until Rarity and Pinkie Pie came to help out."

"Really?" Jet asked. "Did you like send a call for help, or something?"

"Ha, believe me. If I had known they would be of some help, then I would've called them," Coriander replied.

"They simply came to us, because the map sent them here to solve our friendship problem," Saffron answered. "And they certainly were a big help for us."







Past





It's Gonna Work











Present




While Spike wouldn't mind hearing ponies breaking out into songs all of a sudden, which had been growing on him, Jet decided it was time to ask, "Do you ponies always sing whenever there's a problem or something? Not that I'm okay with it or anything, just thought I'd ask."

Minuette giggled, "We can't help it," She replied. "It's kind of in our blood. Y'know, it's our way of expressing our heartfelt thoughts and deepest feelings. Besides, whenever we're inspired, we have to unleash it, or else we'll explode!"

"Yikes!"

"I'm just kidding!" Minuette laughed. "But it kinda does feel like we'll explode if we don't sing."

"Uh huh," Jet turned back to Saffron and Coriander. "Getting back on topic. So how did it go? Did it actually work, like they said?"

"Well, it's a yes and no," Coriander replied. "Yes, because Pinkie was able to bring in some costumers, and Rarity was able to bring Zesty to come over. But no, because Pinkie Pie only managed to bring in two costumers, while Rarity only succeeded in making the Tasty Treats to be just like Zesty's favorite restaurants. Clearly, they didn't know what the other was doing."

"But it worked out just fine in the end," Saffron spoke. "Because Pinkie and Rarity later got their acts straight, with Rarity bringing in the costumers and Pinkie restoring the Tasty Treats to the way it was before."

"And since then, the Tasty Treat has become one of our favorite hangouts, ever!" Minuette cheered, together with the girls.

"And what about this Zesty?" Jet asked. "What happened to her?"

"Well, after words got out to her that the Tasty Treat was becoming popular, despite not having her three hooves rating, she came to the restaurant to confront us," Coriander answered.

"But Rarity and Pinkie told her off!" Saffron added. "They said that 'just because she like her food a certain way, there is no reason to tell any ponies that they need to do the same!'"

"It didn't take long for the rest of the ponies of Restaurant Row to join in, and spoke up against her," Coriander added. "It was such a magnificent day."

The five unicorn girls all nodded their heads in agreement, with Jet looking shocked, "Since then, Zesty just left Canterlot," Saffron added. "We haven't seen or heard from her in a long time."

"Well, good riddance with her, I say," Coriander spatted.

Suddenly, from another table, a young foal had tipped a tray, sending several cups flying in the air, straight towards Jet and the girls.

"Hit the deck!" Lemon Heart shouted, as she, the girls, and Coriander both ducked their heads.

Reacting fast, Jet quickly caught two cups, tucked them under his arms, before he caught another and tucked it under his chin, before he caught the other two cups, in his cloven hooves. Everyone in the facility were amazed.

Wet, and slightly burned from the tea that spilled out, Jet took the cups and placed them down on the table, "Is every pony alright?" He asked.

In response, the ponies all stomped their hooves in applause at Jet's performance.

"Wow!" Moondancer gasped. "That was so awesome! Where'd you learned that?"

Jet let his voice sounded natural, as he answered, "Oh, just something I learned in one of my travels."

Then, it dawned on Minuette, "Wait a minute!" Minuette exclaimed. "Purple. Green. Awesome trick. Stiff, humorless, edgy voice. SPIKE IS THAT YOU?!!"

Spike gawked at Minuette, appalled, and at the same time, shocked, "How could you say that?!" He asked. "Uh, I mean, why do you ask?"

"Nothing!" Minuette giggled. "Just a hunch!" Minuette then pulled Jet's ear close, as she whispered, "Don't worry Spike. I still know it's you. And I won't blow your cover."

However, while many of the patrons resumed their meals, Moondancer, Lemon, Twinkle, even Saffron, don't seemed fool.

After they were done with their meals, the girls and boy split the bill, and were on their way out, when Saffron stopped them, "Wait!" She shouted. "If it's okay with you girls, I was hoping I could maybe join you."

"Of course!" Minuette smiled. "The more the merrier, I always say!"

"That is, if your dad is alright with it," Lemon spoke up, as they all looked to the stallion, who nodded in approval.

"Just be back in time for dinner, Saffron," Coriander replied.

"Okay father, I will!" Saffron replied, before she took her leave and joined the friends.





Later, both Jet and the girls were out walking in Canterlot, though Moondancer got closer to the kirin, "So be honest," She began. "Is it really you Spike?"

Knowing better than trying to lie to Moondancer, considering her level of intellect being on par with Twilight's, Spike nodded his head.

"So," Lemon began. "What really brings you to Canterlot?"

"I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to see the town," Spike answered. "I mean, a lot has changed since I was away, so I just thought it would be nice to finally check the place out. And I would like to do it, when I'm not constantly mobbed by a lot of ponies, and such."

"Oh, right," Twinkle and the girls nodded, understanding the situations. "Of course."

"But if it makes you feel better," Spike began. "I don't mind the company. Honestly, it's nice to check the place out with some old friends, y'know? Kinda like old time."

The girls all blushed in agreement, "Yeah," Moondancer smiled. "Just like old time."

"So ladies," Spike began. "Where do we go from here? The day's still young."

The girls looked to each other, before they smiled in agreement.





"So this is Rarity's Canterlot Carousel," Jet marveled at the building from the outside. "Wow, I guess Rarity wasn't kidding when she said she's opened up a boutique here, beside the one in Ponyville."

"And not just here!" Minuette smiled. "She's also opened up another in Manehattan!"

"I know. She told me, herself," Jet reminded, before he and  the girls walked into the boutique, to see a light cerulean unicorn mare, galloping frantically around the boutique, levitating a clipboard and a quill.

"Oh, I have to... Oh! I can't believe the summer-to-fall transition is almost here!" The mare panted.

"Hey Sassy!" Minuette greeted.

"I'm sorry girls!" Sassy replied. "But I'm afraid the boutique's closed for today! I've got so much to do, so much reorganization, so little time!"

"Well here. Let us help," Twinkleshine offered.

"Sorry! No time!" Sassy climbed up a ladder, and kicked off from a wall, rolling across the shelves, before reaching a certain section. After checking what she was looking for, the mare checked it off in her clipboard, before she levitated some nearby dresses and put them on display on some mannequins. She didn't look where she was going, and tripped on some ribbons, "AAAHH!!!" Sassy screamed, as she landed in a box of folded fabrics.

Jet and the girls all trotted over, "Are you alright?" Jet asked, while helping the mare up.

"Oh, tearing holes in fabrics," Sassy groaned. "I'm never going to get all my works done at this rate."

"Not if we have anything to say about it," Minuette said in defiant, as she and her fellow unicorn girls helped with cleaning the boutique, while being instructed by Sassy Saddles.

“Hey Sassy!” Jet called from the upper deck. “Where do you want these baby blue diamonds?”

“Just put them on the top shelf with the other jewels, thank you,” She replied, before she turned to Moondancer, "I say, but who is that kirin? There’s something rather familiar about him."

"He should be," Moondancer whispered. "But that's Spike in disguise.”

“Spike? Spike, Spike....” Sassy repeated, before it dawned on her. “You mean...”

“That’s right!” Minuette chirped. “Surprised?”

“BUST MY BUTTONS!!” Sassy Saddles quickly galloped up the stairs before she pounced on Spike, tackling him in a hug. “PRINCE SPIKE YOU FINALLY CAME AT LAST!!”

Spike groaned from the death grip embrace he was receiving from the mare.

“Can’t breathe,” He wheezed, to which Sassy quickly eased her tight grip on him.

“Oh dear, silk fabrics, I’m so sorry,” She blushed. “It’s just been so long since we last met!”

“Yeah, I get that a lot....” Spike trailed, when he took a closer look at Sassy Saddles.

Gazing into her golden eyes, Spike quickly recalled her being the same filly he and Flare have once saved from Beezen, all those years ago.

He looked to see she has grown and stood before him, don up in a leathery dress, adorned with jewels along the collar, and the skirt.

“Oh, I remember you!!” Spike exclaimed in realization. “It’s you! Sassy Saddles!”

Sassy chuckled, “Took you long enough, Dragon Prince.”

After what felt like minutes or so, all the works in the boutique were done.

"Bobbins and bobkins, that's everything," Sassy breathed a sigh of relief. "I think the boutique is finally on schedule. I cannot thank you girls enough. Especially you, Prince Spike," Sassy bowed her head to the Dragon Prince in kirin form.

"Oh, it was nothing," Spike waved. "Rarity would've wanted us to do this for her."

"So Sassy," Minuette began cheerfully. "Now that you're all done with work, ya free to join us?"

Sassy took a look at her clipboard, seeing she's gotten everything done for today, and shrugged, "Oh, why not?" Putting the board to the side, the unicorn mare joined her fellow unicorns and they walked outside to spend the day, with their kirin friend.

Sassy decided to chew the fat, "So Prince Spike...." She was quickly shushed by Spike and the girls. "What?"

"Please, no need to be formal," Jet whispered. "And I also don't want to attract any unwanted attentions. Just call me Jet."

"Um, okay..." Sassy accepted, hesitantly. "So Jet. If I may, what brings you to Canterlot?"

"Oh y'know, finally got the time to chill and relax," Jet answered. "Thought it'd be nice to come here and see the town. See what's new since I've left, ten years ago."

"Ah yes," Sassy nodded in acknowledgement. "Well, I do hope the Canterlot Carousal you've witnessed back there didn't leave a bad impression on you. I just had so many things to do, and so much scheduling, and orders to-"

"It's okay," Jet interrupted. "I understand. Believe me, I've seen Rarity having bigger problems when she worked in her Carousal Boutique, back in Ponyville. So, it's nice to help out once in awhile."

"Indeed it is," Sassy smiled, taken by his gentleman charismatic.

“So how long have you been working with Rarity?” Spike asked.

"Oh, I've been working for her since she first opened her boutique here in Canterlot, about a few years back," Sassy answered, before she grimaced. "Though, admittedly, I may have gotten a bit carried away with the success of the store that I....uh-" Sassy stopped, rubbing her hoof, feeling ashamed to continue.

"You what?" Jet asked. "What happened? C'mon, you can tell us."

"I...um..."

"She kinda went overboard and took control of the store, advertising only one dress, and turning the boutique into a factory," Moondancer said bluntly.

Sassy blushed, "I didn't know any better than, and I didn't quite fully understand the 'Rules of Rarity,' when it comes to working for her."

"Rules of Rarity?" Jet asked. "What are they?"

"Well, it goes like this," Sassy replied, before she and the girls started singing Rarity's song.


Rules of Rarity





Spike nodded, when the girls got the end of the song, "I get it," He said. "Rarity wanted each dresses to be unique and special to a certain pony. Because if everyone's wearing the same dress over and over, then it just gets kinda bland, and there's nothing unique about it at all."

"Indeed," Sassy frowned. "Too bad I didn't realize that soon enough. Because then, Rarity's whole world turned bleak, and it's all my fault."


Rules of Rarity - Reprise 1





'Wow, even in depression, ponies are still inspired to sing, huh?' Spike thought.

"Aw, it's okay Sassy," Minuette comforted, together with the girls. "Everything worked out okay in the end."

"That's right!" Saffron added. "Just like how Rarity taught everyone a valuable lesson in accepting the unique tastes of different foods from different cultures, she did taught you the true meaning, by selling those other dresses, besides the Princess Dress."

Sassy smiled, as she agreed, "That she did."


Rules of Rarity - Reprise 2





Jet sat down on his haunches, and clapped his hooves together, "Bravo," He said. "Bravo. Not only did you and Rarity learn a very important lesson in life, but you also remembered it in songs."

Sassy blushed, while scratching her mane.

"Well, enough about the past," Minuette chirped. "Let's get on with the present! The day's still young!" The cerulean unicorn laughed, as she galloped away, with the others following.





Later, Spike and the girls were out on a balcony, watching the sun set before them, while looking down on Equestria beneath them.

"Wow," Spike marveled, enjoying the view. "This has been a beautiful day."

"Sure is!" Minuette agreed. "We're so happy you could join us Spike!"

"Yeah, it's been awhile since we've ever hung out together," Moondancer added. "In fact, I don't think we've ever gotten the chance to spend a whole day with you before. Even though we go to the same school together, on Earth."

"Yeah, sorry about that girls," Spike apologized.

"Oh no, it's fine," Twinkleshine replied. "I mean, we understand. We've got schoolworks to do, we've got jobs, and sometimes, you and Twilight have to go on peril adventures with the other Element Bearers. It's kinda stressful."

"But at least now you've got today to relax, right?" Lemon Heart asked.

"Right," Spike chuckled. "Hey! This calls for a picture!" The girls quickly agreed, as Spike magically conjures up his cape, reaches into one of the inner pockets, and pulled out his phone. With it, Spike sets it on a nearby structure where he sets the timer, then runs back to the girls, takes a position in the center, just as the timer went off.

Soon, both Spike and the girls looked at the picture, "Now there's a keeper," Spike said.

"Sure is!" Minuette agreed.

"Mind if we get a copy of the images as well?" Lemon asked.

"Of course!" Spike replied, as he texted the images to their phones. Once the task was done, Spike and the girls went back to see the sun was still setting over the horizon. "Wow, it ended so fast, huh?"

"It sure was a lot of fun!" Moondancer smiled. "All thanks to you Spike."

"Indeed," Sassy agreed.

"So much fun!" Saffron added.

"I hope we can do this again, sometimes," said Lemon Heart.

"I'd like that," Spike replied, before he sensed some positive vibes from the girls, and looked seeing they were looking at him, lovingly.

"Hey Spike?" Minuette began.

"Yes?" Before he knew it, he received a double cheek kiss by Minuette and Twinkleshine. The show didn't stop there, because next he received another double cheek kiss from Lemon Heart and Moondancer, before Saffron and Sassy finished it together. Spike's face was completely red, and he felt himself on fire, but still kept himself in control.

"That was for being a special friend to us," Moondancer smiled, before she and the girls all crowded around Spike, and hugged him.

Spike melted into their tender embrace, while feeling something rushing inside of him. Without warning, Spike broke out dancing.

The girls looked at Spike in bewilderment, while Minuette giggled and asked, "Jet? What are you doing?"

"I don't know," Spike answered. "I'm feeling....inspired! I'm going with the flow!" The girls shrugged, before they decided to follow his movements, and they too started to feel inspired.

All of their worries and self-consciousness instantly died, as the girls danced with Spike, feeling happy, enjoying themselves, before Spike broke out singing, in Chinese. Luckily, Moondancer was able to cast a spell, allowing herself and the girls to understand the song, and the sang it together with him.


Kung Fu Yoga - Beautiful Fairy Tales





Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and her children, the reformed Shadowbolts, Flare Heart, and many other ponies too joined in the festivity the Dragon Prince and the girls were putting on.


English Lyrics

Someone in my dream, familiar faces,
Your gentleness, I'm waiting for it,

(musical beats)

Forever fairy tale (2x),

Trust me, the unchangeable fairy tale,
Thousand years of waiting my promise,

No matter how long the cold winter is,
I won't let go~

Let the love become the flower which blooms in your heart forever,
Never surrender to time a dream which never lets go,

Let the love become the flower which blooms in your heart forever,
Only your true love is following me, traveling through the entire journey~

(musical beats)

Every night with a broken heart,
Never stop missing you,

I get used to the loneliness,
I face it with a smile,

Let the love become the flower which blooms in your heart forever,
Never surrender to time a dream which never lets go,

Generation in pains, only love is the forever fairy tale,
Never regret in any circumstances to meet true love,

Let the love become the flower which blooms in your heart forever,
Never surrender to time a dream which never lets go,

Countless pain entangled, struggling every night,
Past experience of loneliness makes you and me never split apart again,

Let the love become the flower which blooms in your heart forever,
Never surrender to time a dream which never lets go,

Countless pain entangled, struggling every night,
Past experience of loneliness makes you and me never split apart again,


> The Gardening Club
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One afternoon, at CHS, Spike was packing his locker, while taking out some textbooks he will later need for study. After closing his locker, the green haired boy looked up, to see his guys approaching him.

"Yo Spike!" Rumble greeted. "Ya coming later for the Fight Club?"

Spike shook his head, "Sorry guys," He replied. "Can't make it today."

The Knights were aghast, "Why can't you?" Pipsqueak asked.

"I promised Wallflower I'd come to her Gardening Club today," He replied.

"Wallflower?" Button asked. "Who's that?" It wasn't long before the boy received a dope slap by the others.

"Hey wise guy," Rumble frowned. "He's talking about this girl. Remember?" With that, he produced a picture, courtesy of Featherweight, to show the said girl.





"Oh!" Button replied. "The girl with the nice hair you saved on the first day!"

"Yep, that's the one!" Spike confirmed.

"So, how did you became a part of her club?" Featherweight said.

"Well, it all started last week," Spike began.







Past




[Invisible]


Spike was doing parkour around New York, when he suddenly came across the said girl, who was unloading a large bag of fertilizers, from a truck, and struggled to carry it away. The girl was about to trip, when Spike came running as a blur of purple and green, and caught her in time.

"Careful there!" Spike exclaimed. "This looks heavy. Let me get it for you."

"Oh, thanks," The girl replied quietly, until she got a good look at Spike, and gasped, "Y-Y-You're..."

"Hey! It's you!" Spike smiled. "The girl with the nice hair!" He recalled, remembering on his first day, he saved the girl from falling on drops of waters.

In response, the girl blushed, as she modestly stroke her hair, "Thank you," She smiled. In appearance, Wallflower has a long, scruffy moderate aquamarine hair, freckles that framed her wide, shy grayish tangelo eyes. Her attires consists of a dirt brown sweater with tan stripes, gray pants, and tennis shoes.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm-"

"Oh, I know who you are," The girl replied. "You're Spike Draco! The entire school knows who you are!"

Spike chuckled, while modestly waving it off, "Believe it, or not. I'm always forgetting that last part," He replied. "So, who are you, exactly?"

"I'm Wallflower Blush," The girl smiled shyly.

"Pleasure to meet ya." Later, Spike and Wallflower were getting themselves acquainted, while Wallflower explained what she was doing.

"Camp Everfree?" Spike asked.

"Mmm-hmm," Wallflower replied. "It's like the best camp I've ever been to, as a kid. It's got all of these beautiful mountains, a great lake where we can go sailing, canoeing, and fishing, and they even have this amazing cavern full of beautiful geodes. And it's still my favorite place to this day. But it's in trouble. Some rich guy named Filthy Rich is trying to tear it down, and turn it into some kind of spa resort. I've been trying to raise enough money to save it, but I can only do so much, and no one ever listens to me, let alone notice me."

"Ya gotta speak louder, Flower," Spike encouraged. "Ya gotta draw the public's attention! Nobody's going to listen to you if you speak quietly like that."

"Easy for you to say," Wallflower replied softly. "It's always so scary. And it's always so lonely. In fact, all my life, all I ever knew was what it's like to be alone. My parents are always at work, and I've never even had one friend."

"Well, I'm a friend of yours now," Spike said. "Doesn't that count?"

Wallflower smiled, "That's sweet of you, Spike. But I gotta face fact. It's hopeless. There's not a person around who likes Camp Everfree."

"I wouldn't say that, Wallflower," Spike replied. "Because if Camp Everfree's that special to you, then count me in."

Wallflower could hardly believe her ears.







Present




"And that's a promise," Spike concluded, before he looked at his watch. "I've got a lot of work to do! Later guys!" With that, the dragon boy took off as a purple and green blur, leaving the Knights in the dust.

Meanwhile, from around a corner, Snips and Snails had overheard everything.

"Hey Snails," Snips began. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Oh yeah," Snails replied. "But how are we going to convince Wallflower to dress up in a bikini for a carwash?"







Meanwhile




Wallflower Blush was out in the forest, waiting by a rock formation in a clearing, surrounded by some beautiful plants and flowers.





"Hey Wallflower!" Spike greeted, startling the girl.

"Spike!" The girl smiled, before she wrapped the boy in a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

"Hey! I said I'd come, didn't I?" Spike replied. "Oh, and I hope you don't mind. But I've brought a few friends with me. Looks like you're not the only one who likes to garden, and Camp Everfree."

Wallflower looked, and was surprised to see Spike was joined by four girls.

The first three girls are best known as the Flower Trio.

The first one is named Rose. In appearance, she has pale, light grayish chartreuse green eyes, a long scruffy moderate raspberry hairs with a lighter streak. For attires, she wore a very pale, light yellow dress with an image of a beautiful rose printed on the front, over a long jean pants, and white shoes.

The second is named Daisy. She has moderate spring green eyes, puffy, lime green hair, that flows down to her waist. For attires, she wore a pale magenta sleeveless shirt with daisy flowers on the front, a long dark blue jean, and magenta sandals.

The third is Lily Valley, and she has sparkling, light grayish gold eyes framed by freckles on her face, long flowing light amber hair with paler highlights. She wore a tan orange dress, decorated with beautiful pink-red flowers, a head band in her hair that has a beautiful white flower, and matching pink boots.

The fourth and final girl has light amaranth hairs with light vermillion highlights, droopy pale light grayish violet eyes that reflects her cheery demeanor of a hippie. For attires, she wears a mango yellow bandana with white flowers in her hair, a necklace with the peace sign, a long pink shirt, with the top cut slightly below the shoulder, and ends in yellow translucent frills at the end of the sleeves and at the bottom of the shirt, long blue bell-bottom pants, and white shoes.

"I can't believe there was a Gardening Club, and we didn't even know about it!" Rose exclaimed.

"Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Spike," Lily thanked, patting the boy on the shoulder.

"Totally," The hippie girl added.

"It was nothing," Spike replied, just as Snips and Snails came into the area.

"Yo, Spike!" Snips called out.

"And girls!" Snails greeted.

"Snips? Snails?" Spike exclaimed. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Well, we overheard you talking about a gardening club," Snips replied.

"And that there's a lonely girl in there, and she needed some help with gardening and Camp Everfree," Snails added.

"So, we thought about joining in to help out," Snips then eyed flirtatiously at Wallflower, who cringed. "And keep her company."

"Oh no," Rose moaned.

"Not them," Daisy added.

Wallflower couldn't help but agree, "At this point, maybe it's not too bad of being invisible," She muttered.

Wanting to lighten up the awkward moment, Spike spoke up, "So, what's the agenda?" He asked Wallflower.





Later, the whole Gardening Club, plus Snips and Snails, were carrying boxes of flowers, making deliveries to some customers in a neighborhood.

"I'm sorry you had to miss the Fighting Club today, because of me," Wallflower frowned.

"Ah, don't worry about it Wallflower," Spike replied. "It's actually nice to just relax once in awhile, and get away from all that martial arts stuff. Believe it or not, we martial artists are more than just fighting and protecting. We can be slow and pacifist too."

"Really?" The girl asked.

"Yep. Like the samurais in Japan. Skilled swordsmanship, with strict code of honor. But also enjoy a few poetries now and then for relaxation and enlightenment. In other words, we're all part of Yin and Yang. We can be strong and fast, but gentle and slow at the same time."

"Relax and enlightenment," Tree began. "You my friend are totally speaking my language. Really digging your vibe."

"Uh, back at ya my hippie, um dudette?" Spike replied, struggling to speak Treehugger's hippie language.

"Well either way, I think it's great to have you with us Spike!" Rose added.

"And it's really kind of you to invite us to this club," Daisy said.

Wallflower was about to speak up, when Spike interrupted, "Well, you should thank Wallflower. If she hadn't invited me, then I probably wouldn't have told you ladies about it." Wallflower couldn't help but blush.

Snips and Snails huffed, "And who are we? Chopped liver?" Snips asked.

"Well, looky who we have here boys," A gruff voice spoke up, as the girls and boy turned to see three street punk boys who looked as if they were juniors from their school. "A group of trespassers on our turf!"

The first who was medium size of the three had spiked grayish hair with two pieces sticking up looking like horns. He wore black sneakers, black pants, a gray long sleeved shirt, and a red vest over it. Around his neck was a dog like collar with a small yellow gem attached to it.

The second was the tallest. He had dark skin, bluish spiky hair, and wore a dog like collar around his neck as well. His outfit was composed of gray sneakers, black pants, a blue sleeveless shirt, and a gray vest.

The third who was the shortest of the three had tan skin, blonde spiky hair, gray sneakers, black pants, a tan shirt, a gray vest, and like his friends also wore a dog like collar.

"Rover, Fido, Spot," Spike identified respectively. "See you guys are still up to no good as always."

"You know these guys?" Wallflower asked.

"Yeah, they're part of the Diamond Dogs," Spike replied. "Though compared to the rest, these guys aren't much of a threat."

"Oh we'll show you a threat," Rover snarled, sounding like an angry dog. "You haven't seen anything yet, punk!"

"Pffft, you guys don't scare me," Spike defied. "So do me a favor. Make like a tree and leave! Me and the girls have some work to do!"

"And didn't you hear what we said before?" Rover snarled. "This is our turf! We make the rules here! And we'll let you leave, for a price!" With that, Spot made a quick grab for the money box Wallflower was holding.

"Hey! LET GO!!" Wallflower grunted, trying to pull the money box back.

"Yeah! You heard her! Let go!" Snips grunted, as he and Snails came to pry Spot away, only for the small thug to bark ferociously, snapping his jaws at them, scaring them away.

In response, Rose and the other girls came to help their quiet friend, with Rose kicking Spot in the face, forcing him to let go.

"Oh! My nose!" Spot groaned, looking up, staring daggers at the girls. "Oh you've done and made me mad!" With that, the smallish boy lunged toward the girls, only for Spike to jump in and kicked him to the sides.

"Go! Run!" Spike ordered the girls, to which they complied, though Wallflower was a bit hesitant.

"Hey! Wait for us!" Snips and Snails called, running after the girls.

Rover and Fido both lunged at Spike, only for the fast boy to narrowly evade them, before he grabbed them by their collars.

Fido shook his head, "Oh you're not gonna-"

"Yeah! I am!" Spike confirmed it by pulling both Rover and Fido together, bonking their heads together.

Shaking their dizziness off, the three Diamond Dogs lunged after Spike, who did several flips, before he climbed over a wire fence.

"Nah nah," Spike taunted, smirking confidently. In response, the Diamond Dogs reached into their vests and each pulled out  a long sword, pulsing with electricities. "Electric swords?!" Spike exclaimed, watching as the thugs burned their way through the fence and charged after Spike.

Spike quickly and skillfully evaded their slashes together from side-to-side, before he leaped in the air, did a flip, and landed back down on his feet. Looking back to see the Diamond Dogs were closing in, Spike took off running, rolling onto the hood of a car, and broke of its windshield wipers. Seeing he was now armed with some weapons, Spike gave the wipers some spins, before he did a fighting stance.

The three street thugs looked to each other in bewilderment, before they charged at Spike. Rover slashed his electric sword at Spike, only for Spike to successfully disarm him, with a strike to his hand. Then Spike turned to Fido and Spot. Both of the remaining thugs slashed their swords at Spike, who quickly blocked and parried with them. Then, Spike delivered a series of quick side kicks to their chests, knocking them off their feet.

Seeing that they were close to a nearby playground, Spike quickly ushered the kids and the parents to leave, "Everyone, get out! Out of the way!" Looking back, the Diamond Dogs continued their pursuit on the boy. Thinking fast, Spike dives through a hole in a spider web, in which Fido tried to follow but foolishly got stuck in the bars, while Spike was able to jump out from the other side.

Rover tried to grab Spike, but Spike quickly kicked a tetherball in his direction, only for the boy to duck his head, "Ha! You missed me, you-" Rover smirked, before the ball came back and hits him in the face. "Right in the kisser."

Spot ran up to Spike and threw several punches and kicks, only for Spike to block them, before he tripped the boy up, on a spring shark.

"AAAAAAHHH!!" Spot screamed, when he landed on the shark's fin, and rubbed his sore buttocks.

Meanwhile, Fido and Rover finally pulled themselves together as they resumed chasing Spike. Flipping through a set of swings, Spike skillfully got the two boys tangled up in the chains, before he jumped up, on a monkey bar.

"Wow!" Fido marveled, while Spike waved his hands, ready for more.

"Let's get out of here!" Rover suggested, and the three boys retreated.

Seeing the danger has passed, Spike leapt off the bars, and turned to see Wallflower, the Flower Trio, Treehugger, Snips and Snails, with looks of shock on their faces.

"Girls?! Boys?!" Spike exclaimed in surprise, looking back at the surrounding area behind him. "Um, how much did you see?" He asked nervously.

"The whole thing," Wallflower confirmed.

"You were incredible, Spike!" Daisy added. "We know you're good, but not that good!"

"Radical!" Treehugger confirmed.

"Pfft, big deal," Snips frowned in envy. "We can do that if we wanted to."

"Yeah right," Rose frowned at the boys.

"So much for a normal day without martial arts," Spike sighed. "But then again, I couldn't let those guys hurt you girls, would I?"

"Heck no!" The girls, except Wallflower shouted, and they all crowded around Spike and hugged him. Wallflower looked hesitant at first, but she finally joined in, blushing as she pulled the boy close.

"Thank you, Spike," Wallflower smiled. "For everything."

"You're welcome," Spike replied, before they broke up the hug. "Come on. We got a camp to save." With that, the whole club resumed selling the flowers, collecting the moneys needed to save Camp Everfree.

"Hey, what about us?" Snips asked. "Don't we get any hugs or kisses for helping?" Much to the boy's dismay, he and his pal were ignored.

Soon, it was nighttime, and by then, the group have earned themselves a decent amount of money.

"So, how is it?" Spike asked. "Is it enough?"

Wallflower counted the moneys in her money box, "We've only raised half of the money needed to make the repairs at Camp Everfree," She confirmed, everyone groaned seeing their effort today wasn't enough.

"Oh well. We'll just have to keep trying," Spike suggested. "How much longer until the deadline for the fundraiser?"

Wallflower looked at her calendar on her phone, "Not counting today?" Wallflower frowned, as she confirmed. "In about six days."

Spike and the girls looked despondent, seeing their timid friend ready to give up hope.

"Don't give up until the end," Spike said, putting a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "There's still time. We'll think of something."

Wallflower held Spike's hand close, feeling a sudden wave of warmth and comfort pulsing off him, relaxing her and calming her. Wallflower doesn't understand why, but she welcomed it and enjoyed the feeling, "Thanks Spike," Wallflower gave a small smile. "But if only we could."

Getting up, Wallflower walked away, but not before she gave the rest of her new friends a loving hug, "Thank you all for trying."

"Well, we finally got a hug," Snails moaned.

"Yeah," Snips frowned. "Too bad we couldn't get Wallflower to smile."

Spike looked down at the money bag, before he scratched his chin, thinking of a way he could help.





A few days later in school, Wallflower walked into the room where the Gardening Club were supposed to meet, when she was welcomed by a celebration uproar in front of her.

"What the-" Wallflower was picked up, off her feet, and tossed up in the air, repeatedly.

"We did it, Wallflower!" Rose smiled. "We've raised the money!"

"What?! How?" Wallflower asked.

"I don't know!" Daisy replied. "But who cares? WE DID IT!! WE DID IT!!!"

"This is so radical!" Treehugger said, as she and the girls continued to celebrate.

Wallflower turned her head, to see Spike, standing in the doorway, smiling, giving her a thumbs up, while holding a beautiful green orb in one hand. Wallflower could only watch in wonder, as she watched Spike taking his leaving, twirling the orb in one hand, before it vanished in a blaze of fire.

Rounding the corner, Spike meet up with the Elements Bearers, Discord, Thorax, and the Knights, "Thanks again for all your help," He said.

"Don't mention it, Spike," Applejack replied, patting him on the shoulder. "You'd do the same for us."

"So, anyone want to get some apple ciders?" Rainbow asked eagerly. "Rarity's treats! Or Fluttershy's. Or Twilight's. Or Sunset's."

The group could only laugh in response, while Wallflower poked her head, watching them leave. Sensing they were being watched, Spike turned back, and waved her, to which she returned, with a grateful smile.





"A boy stopped you?" A displeased figure grumbled. "You're telling me, the three of you, armed with high-tech weapons were defeated by a single boy?!"

The Diamond Dogs looked at each other, before Fido spoke up, "Didn't we mention that he had window wipers?"

Further displeased, the figure called out, "Crunch!" Coming from behind, was a burly thug, towering over the three frighten punks. Crunch instantly grabbed the three unfortunate Diamond Dogs close, in a tightening death grip, on the verge of squeezing the life out of them. "Enough," The figure ordered, to which Crunch released the winded out Diamond Dogs.

"Crunch," The figure ordered. "Find this Spike Draco, and bring him to me."

Just then, a great pair of eyes pierced through the darkness, pulsing with dark auras as a voice spoke, "While your Crunch is impressive, Verko. Perhaps he should be aided by the Predators!"

With that, several red eyes appeared in the darkness, equipped with shining pearly whites that drooled with hungry slobbers.

"As you wish," Verko replied.
> The Sun Rises
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was slowly setting, over the horizon, illuminating the land of Equestria in its crimson aura. 

Up in the towers of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia had just returned from an important meeting with the delegates of Saddle Arabia.

“Oh, I’m glad that that’s over,” Celestia sighed, plopping into bed.

Rolling to the left, Celestia happens to see a box of memories. Memories of a certain Dragon Prince, during his last ten years on Earth, with Scorpan. Memories which Scorpan had saved the trouble of carrying over to Equestria.

With a newfound interest, Celestia’s mood instantly perks up, as she raised her head up, and levitated the box over.

“I've been meaning to see what my baby's been through, all those years,” She said to herself with peaked interests.

Levitating a photo album, Celestia smiled with pride and amusement, while looking at the photos of Spike's accomplishments in some martial art tournaments he's participated in, along with some achievements he made in school, and the ones he's made in the communities he served.

Celestia chuckled to herself in amusement when she sees a photo of Spike, in a school play, as a fish-much to the boy's dismay. She was also taken by surprise, bedazzled to see her son, taking part in the Chinese New Year parade, in Chinatown, showing off some kung fu moves, all the while surrounded by Chinese dancers don up in brightly colored dancing lion costumes, with a huge Chinese dragon puppet slithering behind him.

Celestia smiled at the captured moments of where her beloved son was truly happy. However, at the same time, she felt sad, because she wasn't a part of those moments. Even more so when she saw some moments where Spike displayed a sense of nobility and kindness.

For example, in one photo, Spike gave an umbrella to an elderly woman, after she lost hers to the storm's wind. Another was when, during Chinese New Year, he gave a red envelope, containing money, to a poor family.

Needless to say, these memories have touched Celestia's heart, “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, shedding a tear drop.

Then, she looked at a memory of her son, in China, at a temple of Long Mu - Chinese for Mother of Dragons - Goddess of parents and children, and Chinese symbol of filial devotion and parental love.

Then, as if by accident, Celestia's horn glowed intense, and the whole room was washed away in her magic.

After a moment of collecting herself, Princess Celestia looked to see that she was on Earth, in the middle of the Yuecheng district of China. Looking to her left, Princess Celestia was shocked to see both Scorpan and Spike, in human forms, and sitting before a puppet show.

"Spike? Scorpan?" Celestia called, but received no response. It wasn't long before she noticed that none of the humans passing by took notice of her. Especially since she's in an alien world, where ponies like her are considered a myth. Upon taking a closer look, Celestia could see that Spike was still a child. Therefore, she quickly understood, this is all a part of Spike's memory.

Taking a seat beside her son, Celestia listens with content, as the Chinese puppet show narrates the story of Longmu.

“According to legend, Longmu was a simple girl from a poor family, named Wen Shi. One day, she went to the Xi River, where she discovered a beautiful stone, which she took it home with her.”

“However, she later learned that it was actually an egg when it hatched into five baby dragons. Overwhelmed with pity, Wen Shi adopted the little dragons and raised them, not as pets, but as children. Eventually, the dragons grew big and strong, but their bond with Wen Shi never died. For they came to recognize and love her as their real mother. Thus, she was given the title as Long Mu: Mother Of Dragons.”

“And to this day, Wen Shi was deified after her death, becoming the goddess of mothers and love.”

After the puppet show came to an end, the narrator concluded in Chinese, which is translated in English as, “And so, little children. That is why we come here, every year in the first week, on the fifth month of the lunar calendar. To pay our tributes to Long Mu, for she has truly invoked to instill us all the feelings of love, loyalty, and responsibility for our loved ones, whether they are related by blood, or aren’t even the same species.”

With that, the children all turned to their family members, and/or guardians, and they exchanged loving embraces. Celestia watched as Spike and Scorpan both embraced each other. However, at the same time, Spike had a look of longing when he sees other children with their mothers.

Even though he was cared for, under Scorpan’s protection and guardianship, it was clear, Spike was longing for a mother’s love.

Once the memory trip was over, Celestia's tears became waterfalls.





That Night


Princess Luna was at the balcony of her tower, concentrating into her magic, before she finds herself in a starry void, surrounded by dreams, contained in bubbles.

“Let’s see,” Luna said to herself. “Where should we begin?”

It wasn’t long before Luna spotted a bubble flashing, which she took instant notice it was her sister. Concentrating her magic, Luna cast herself into her sister’s dream to see what’s up.

Luna watched from the bushes, seeing her sister, cuddling with a dreamy infant apparition of her nephew.

“Coochie coochi coo!” Celestia cooed, while tickling the baby, earning some playful giggles in return. “Boop!” Celestia said, playfully touching a wingtip on baby Spike’s nose.

Spike giggled, and turned himself into a playful little puppy, as he runs out of his mother's grip, and runs around the field. Celestia giggled, as she gave chase,

Princess Luna smiled with content, seeing her sister’s smile, as well as the sight of her adopted nephew as an infant.

'My, he certainly is adorable,' Luna frowned, looking away sadly. 'If only I had the moment to know him more,' Before she knew it, the whole scene before her changes, and Luna finds herself surrounded by several windows of memories of her sister, and Spike.

Luna looked at one of the windows, which emitted a flash of light, washing over her. Soon, Luna finds herself in a classroom, where Princess Celestia was sitting behind a desk, watching as little foals and creatures were conducting researches on potions that made some plants to grow big and strong.

It didn't take long for Luna to spot a younger Twilight Sparkle, who was then a unicorn, with Spike, about four years old, working together on a potion of their own. Twilight was experimenting with some potions, while Spike was taking notes. Once Twilight concluded their potion is ready, the unicorn filly added a single drop to an empty flower pot, resulting in a huge, exotic flower. Both Luna, and Princess Celestia of the past, looked amazed.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!" Twilight cheered happily, bouncing around the room, while young Spike tried to calm her down.

"Twilight! Calm down!" Spike tried, only for him to be picked up by Twilight, as she magically spun him around, celebrating for their success.

Both Luna and Celestia couldn't help but laugh at this adorable scene, unfolding before them.

"Enjoying them, Lulu?" A voice asked, startling Luna, as she looked behind her to see Princess Celestia, herself.

"Tia! Don't scare me like that!" Luna berated her older sister.

Celestia could only chuckle, "Sorry, Luna," Princess Celestia shrugged. "Though, it's not like I didn't let you into my dreams to see my memories on purpose. I just thought you'd like to see these moments I've treasured with my son. A way for you to get to know him better, like you wished."

Luna blushed, as she turned her head back, seeing how Spike, as a kid, was so fully of energy, and so loving towards Celestia, and to some of the ponies around him.

"He's so adorable," Luna admitted. "I never thought that when I return from the moon, I'd be an aunt, and to have someone like Spike, for a nephew."

Celestia couldn't help but nod in agreement, “Oh, you have no idea how many times I kept telling that, to myself," Princess Celestia replied. “To think, that the Dragonfire that our teacher, Starswirl had taught us so much about, would be my son.”

“And that’s good, is it not, sister?”

“Oh it’s wonderful, Luna,” Celestia sighs nostalgically. “I’ve always wanted to see a chosen guardian of the Dragonfire, someday. But I never counted on becoming a mother to such a sweet, beautiful baby.” Celestia said, while gazing lovingly at the memories of her little boy.

Luna looked at the memories and smiled, “Looking at these memories, we are certainly surprised. Thou hast a natural instinct for mothership.”

“I know. And it’s wonderful,” Celestia looked lovingly at the memory of her past self, giving Spike a pony ride, literally, followed by a memory of herself putting baby Spike to sleep.

Luna looked sad, seeing how Spike was the one who gave Celestia’s joy each day, as well as comfort each night that follows, and vice versa. She was well aware how much grievance her sister had endured following her banishment to the moon, and how the young dragon was one of the things that gave her comfort.

“You two certainly have the love,” Luna commended.

Celestia nodded in agreement, while wiping a tear with the tip of her wing, “Of course, you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, Lulu?” Luna looked at Celestia, questionable. “Before you became Nightmare Moon, I remembered how fond you were with children. And how much it made you feel.”





Past


It was during when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were maturing into adulthood. At this part of their life, they were old enough to fill in the roles of teachers at their former professor's school for gifted unicorns.

It was no surprise then, that little accepted unicorn foals would cry on their first day in Starswirl's school, missing their families. Furthermore, the rules at the school were very strict, especially at nighttime when they are expected to be asleep at the start of their curfew, and aren't even allowed to stay up to look at the night sky and admire its beauty, or to study its stars and constellations.

Luna could not bear to watch the little foals cry, especially during her favorite time, when all should love and admire her night, just as they did for her sister's. And so, she decided to living things up, by throwing a party. Much to Starswirl's, and his fellow strict teachers' disapprovals.


Midnight Frenzy by Duo Cartoonist





"You are too young to be up late!" Starswirl scolded.

"Loosen up and celebrate!" Luna sang.

"Hooves are banging on the floor!"

"That's a nice beat, do it some more!" With that, Luna continues to sing, as she danced together with the children around her.

Younger Celestia couldn't help but join the groove, "Stop that!" Starswirl berated the destined sun princess. "Stop that!" He scolded to another pony who was just having fun.





Present


“All I wanted was for all the little foals to love me, via my night,” Luna replied. “I wanted to have what you had during the daytime.” Luna looked away. Not in embarrassment, but in shame. “I was young back then,” Luna replied. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Lulu....” Celestia tried to speak.

“I’m truly ashamed for what my actions have led to,” Luna frowned.

“I know, Lulu,” Celestia said, putting a wing for comfort. “And I’m also ashamed for not being there for you. But that’s all in the past. And I just want you to know, Luna.  That no matter what happens, I will always love you. And besides, we both have a loving boy for a son, and a nephew.”

Luna looked, seeing a series of memories, in which Spike was doing all sorts of activities, out of his devotion for his aunt, whilst believing it would make her come back sooner. In one sequence, he was offering moon cakes, by a statue of her, together with a pot of flowers, and a letter that reads: "For Auntie Luna, please come home soon. Please, sign Spike, your nephew."

Luna felt touched at these gestures, “I’ll never get over the fact that right now, I’m really an aunt,” She smiled.

Celestia sighs, “As do I, Luna,” She began, before frowning sadly. “Even more, it's hard for me to accept the fact that Spike is not the same adorable little child I lost, years ago.” Celestia and Luna both watched, to see the dreamy apparition of child Spike morphing into his current, teenager appearance.




Two Worlds One Family - Phil Collins




With a loud yell, teenage Spike threw out a punch, and a kick, before he started doing a series of blocks, punches, kicks, and stances as a demonstration of his skills and knowledge of the martial arts.

“My goodness!” Luna exclaimed, watching the teenager doing his moves, before he suddenly found himself surrounded by ninjas.

“Bring it!” Spike challenged, as the ninjas all leapt at the Dragon Prince, throwing kicks and punches, which the boy was quick to block, dodge, and countered.

The two alicorn sisters watched, as Spike fought off the ninjas bravely.

"That's what frightens me," Celestia frowned sadly. "How closer we are, and yet, there's that distant between us that simply cannot be mended so easily."

Suddenly, a scythe comes flying and hits the boy from behind resulting a wail of agony from Spike as he fell to the ground.

“NOOOO!!!” Celestia screamed, even more horrified when Fear Haunter suddenly appears as he pulls the weapon out of Spike's back and lifts the boy up. Celestia tried to rescue Spike, but a web of dark chains stopped her, and with a crooked smile, Fear stabs Spike in the chest causing him to disappear in a burst of fire. “SPIIIIKE!!!” Celestia wailed before she and Luna were instantly teleported in a starry realm.

There, Princess Luna embraced a heartbroken Princess Celestia; pipes breaking, resulting a two long waterfalls to pour.

“Sister, breathe!” Luna comforted. “Breathe! It is alright. That was simply a nightmare you were having. It didn’t happen in the waking world.”

Celestia sniffled, “But it could!” She frowned. “My baby...I just can’t....I can’t stand the thought of my little sunshine getting hurt,” Celestia cried.

Luna looked puzzled, “If you worry for him that much, then why didn’t you just bring him to stay with us in Canterlot?”

"Because that still doesn't make a difference," Celestia sobbed. "Even now, I'm still haunted by that wretched day, when my baby was attacked," Celestia sniffled, failing to suppress some tears back. "I fought so hard to keep him safe. I did everything I could in my power to keep him, my people, and everyone I cared about from harm. I tried so hard to keep everyone close. But in the end...." Celestia burst out crying, hysterically. "My baby was taken from me! That's what kills me! Everyone I've ever loved, they're all taken from me! All because I wasn't strong enough!!! I CAN'T CALL MYSELF A MOTHER, IF I CAN'T KEEP MY BABY FROM HARM!!! I'M NO RULER OF EQUESTRIA!!!!!!"

With that Celestia collapsed on the floor, crying loudly in her hooves, her wings covering her face. Luna watched from the side, crying because her sister was crying. Luna had never seen her sister shedding this much tears before. Though, in truth, the night princess too had known the pain deeply. Prior to being banished from the moon, both she and Celestia have had many loved ones come and go, lost through times. Even more when Luna watched her own adopted children, struggling through their daily lives before her rise as Nightmare Moon. 

No doubt, Celestia was forced to endure the horror and tragedy on a greater scale very few creatures can scarcely imagine, with the separation of her son being the major breakdown for her already grief-stricken heart.

Luna projected a mirror to look at herself, seeing only a weak little foal. Once before, she used to be proud and strong, like her sister. But now, she's merely a shadow of her former self. Nevertheless, it never stopped Luna from trying to help her sister heal.




From Master to Student to Master - James Horner




Concentrating into her magic, Luna projected a door, with the symbol of a dragon circling around a fiery orb that appeared to be a reminiscent of yin and yang imprinted on the front. Opening the door, she welcomed a certain figure who stepped into the astral plane, over to his discouraged mother.

Sensing his presence, Celestia slowly withdrew her wings, to see Spike, looking at her, in sympathy. Concentrating into his magic slowly, her cutie mark appearing on his hands, and several wires of magics flowed from his hands and feet, connecting with Celestia's, merging their magics together. It was at this moment, another memory flashed before her.

Celestia recalled having once performed this magic, with her and Luna's former mentor, Starswirl, in which they would often concentrate their magics, syncing together, learning how to have a better flow of energy through their body, syncing it with the energy best known as chi around them. Back then, Starswirl was the closest thing she and Luna had for a father.

Later in life, Celestia taught this to a younger Spike, prior to his tragedy. Now, here they are, doing this again, like mother and son.

Knowing what she needed to do, Celestia shifted herself in human form, don up in plates of armor, over a flowing white dress. The first thing Spike did was controlling one of the wires, raising his mother's hands up, beckoning her to dry her tears, which she did. This, however, did little to help with her sharp breathings.

Nevertheless, mother and son began their training session, syncing their magics in complete harmony, moving their bodies together in a fluid motion, which helped for Celestia to feel the stresses and sorrow flowing off of her, making her less teary in the process, though her tear stained eyes remained.

Luna sat on the sidelines, watching how it all played out. Soon, it became apparent that the magic flow between them converted into the gentle, yet strong flow of water. Then, in flashes of fire and light, Spike and Celestia both changed from their human forms, into their true forms, while still maintaining their harmonic movement together.

Still sad, and yet smiling, Celestia felt herself relieved of her heartache, with her son before her, appearing strong and proud. In light of their renewed love, their whole body glowed in a magic aura.
> The Little Sea Pony Returns To The Sea Part 1: To Seaquestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a beautiful morning in Ponyville. Spike was out and about, enjoying his mother's lights, when he suddenly hears a beautiful singing, that made him stopped suddenly in his flight.

Following the sound, Spike gently flapped his wings, and came to a soft landing behind some trees, as he continues his search. Before long, Spike finds himself near the lake, where the singer turns out to be Skystar, herself. Careful as to not make a sound, Spike quietly sat down on the sandy shores, as he listens with content and admiration of the sea pony's song.




Song of the Sea (Lullaby)







When Skystar came to the end of her song, Spike was amazed, "Wow," He gasped.

This didn't go unheard, "Huh? Who's there?" Skystar asked, looking around, before she noticed Spike. "Oh, Spike. It's just you," She smiled, before she swam her way over.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to peep on you, or anything," Spike apologized. "I just couldn't help but notice your beautiful singing."

Sky couldn't help but chuckle, while holding a fin to her face, hiding a blush, "Wow, thanks," She smiled shyly. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me. Besides, Shelly and Sheldon, of course." Skystar gestured to the two said clams, who were sitting on the shore, close to Spike's feet.

Spike hadn't noticed the two clams, until Sky pointed them out. "Huh, not much of an audience, are they?" Spike asked, while trying not to sound too insensitive.

Skystar chuckles, "Well, I don’t care, as long as I have someone to hear my songs.”

“Oh, well I’d like to hear you sing,” Spike replied.

“Aw, thanks Spike,” Skystar smiled, sadly. “Though it doesn’t exactly feel the same.”

Spike was surprised at the sudden change of mood, “What do you mean?” He asked in concern.

Skystar sighed as she waves her tail fin, swimming back out to open waters, with Spike following, morphing into his puffer fish form, upon touching the water.

“Come on, Sky. You can tell me,” Spike insisted.

Trying her best to hold back a tear, Skystar took a deep breath, before she spoke, “I’m feeling, as you would say, homesick. These past few weeks I’ve had here in Ponyville, makes me think about all the times I’ve had in Seaquestria. And every time, whenever I see everybody going about their days together, it all reminds me about the times I’ve had back home with my mom, my sisters, and our people, and how much I missed it all.”

Skystar wiped a tear away, as she continues, “I’d go myself, but....” Spike didn’t need an explanation to know why.

Sympathizing, he asked her, "You really want to go home, don't you?"

"Of course I do!" Skystar shouted sadly.

"Then let's take you back to Seaquestria!" Spike said.

The sea pony could hardly believe her ears, "Y-Y-You would do that?!" She asked. "For me?"

"That's what friends are for," Spike replied, before he looked up to see Canterlot in the distance. "Besides, if your mom's anything like my mom. Then she's probably worried sick, crying her heart out for you right this minute," With that, Spike shifted into dragon form. "What do you say, Sky? You ready?"

Skystar grinned widely, before squealed excitedly, "Okay!"







Meanwhile, back on Earth




"Blast!" A tall dark figure in business clothes grunted, slamming his cane to the ground. "Should've known they would place a magical lock on one of the gates. Now it's a one way trip for all non-magical creatures."

Then, appearing from the shadows, the dark figure of a huge hulking wolf was sniffing the ground, as if it got something. Knowing what it means, the figure followed close behind the wolf, before it growled loudly, when it came to a stop at a brick wall, where tire tracks have scorched into the road.

The figure grinned, "Leave it to the hunters to cheat their way," The figure grinned, as he walks over and stroke the wolf's head. "Time for the hunters to be hunted," With that, the wolf lets out a loud howl that echoed throughout New York.

It didn't take long for more howls to be heard, in which several streaks of shadows darted around the corners, before they all regrouped in one spot.

Meanwhile, from the sanctity of their homes, the Crystal Shadowbolts were relaxing, when their arms suddenly burned, in which they looked to see the dark mark on their wrists, flashing.

What had once been the mark of a terrifying winged serpent, has now become the mark of a crescent moon with an alicorn's face.





And upon seeing the mark being activated, the girls knew one thing, "Equestria needs our help," They all said in unison.







Back in Equestria




After a moment of collecting some gears and supplies, as well as donning himself up a newly upgraded suit of armor, courtesy of Twilight, Starlight, and Rarity's combined magical expertise and designs, complete with his Cape of Compassion, Spike was on the road to Seaquestria, with Princess Skystar in a magic floating bubble pulled by a magical rope, Capper holding the map, the Knights and Captain Celaeno surrounding them for extra protection.

"Thanks for doing this guys," Spike thanked his posse, plus Capper and Celaeno.

"Aw don't mention it Spike," Button replied, as he and his fellow Knights were don up in their own suits of armors to go with their chosen pieces. "Like we said, we took an oath."

"We've got your back until the end," Rumble added.

"And like the three musketeers would say!" Pipsqueak added, as he took out his pirate sword. "All for one, and one for all!" He cheered, with his fellow knights joining in, all raising their weapons up together with the boy's sword.

"Ye know ye'd be lost out in the open sea without a buccaneer like me, who knows those waters," Celaeno added.

"That, and I'm the one who's holding a map," Capper pointed when they arrived at a dock, where a large sailboat was waiting for them. "And a boat."

From her bubble, Skystar clapped her fins together, "I'm so excited everyone!" She cheered. "I can't wait to be back home again!"

"Whoo hoo!" Button quickly ran up to the ship and instantly took the wheel. "I call, I'm taking the wheel!"

"No! I got the wheel!" Rumble insisted, shoving the boy to the side.

"No! Me!" With that, both Button and Rumble got into a tussle, fighting over who gets to steer the ship.

Having enough, Celaeno picked up the two fighting boys and bonked their heads together, "Knock it off!" She berated them. "Act your own age, not little babies. I'm taking the wheel."

"Aye-aye, captain," The boys groaned.

Turning to Pipsqueak, seeing the boy in the crow's nest, Celaeno asked, "How's the view first mate?"

"Clear weather, calm blue ocean," Pipsqueak replied. "Nothing but the open sea in front of us."

"Then let's shove off!" Spike called, as Capper untied the rope, connecting them to dock, and they sailed off.

Sailing with the wind, the friends were all following a river that took them out of Ponyville, and into the far reaches of Equestria, before they made it out to South Luna Ocean.

While sailing, Button and Rumble were having themselves an arm wrestling match, in which Rumble was the winner, "I won, again," Rumble grinned, while Button fumed in defeat.

Tender Taps looked rather seasick, and nearly keeled over the sidings, had Featherweight not caught him in time. Capper continued to look at his map, while Spike and Skystar looked across the sea.

"Do these waters look familiar to you, Sky?" Spike asked.

Skystar shook her head, "Nope," She answered. "Can't say they do. Then again, I don't usually see the world much, outside of my home. We used to live on Mt. Aris, before we had to go into hiding where the Storm King wouldn't find us."

"Wow, this Storm King sounds like he's real trouble, ain't he?" Spike asked.

"Oh yeah, he is," Skystar frowned. "And scary too. I hope we don't run into him on the way."

"Don't worry, Sky," Spike reassured. "As long as I'm here, I won't ever let something happen to you. Besides, if that Storm King ever shows himself, he'll have to go through me first."

"Thanks Spike," Skystar smiled, nuzzling her cheek affectionately with his hands. "I'm so happy to have a friend like you!"

"Um, hey guys?" Pipsqueak shouted from the crow's nest. "I'm seeing something off the starboard!" Everyone, except Celaeno, looked at the boy, confused.

"That's your right," Celaeno clarified, to which everyone looked to see a whole fleet of what appeared to be fishing ships.

And not just any ordinary ships at that. These ships appeared to be the latest models, back on Earth, and they all brandished a familiar symbol of two dogs, an eagle, and defeated dragon and unicorn.

Spike's eyes narrowed, "Uh oh, trouble! We have to turn back now!" Nodding her head, Celaeno quickly turned the wheel, turning the boat around.

"Why?" Skystar asked. "Who are they?"

"The most wanted criminals in the Magical World!" Spike muttered. "They're called the Cerulean Hunters! And trust me, you do not want to mess with them!"

"They're mercilessly magical poaching mercenaries," Capper added. "They don't care whether you're royalty or not. They'll catch anything and anyone who is listed under the categories as magic, and they'll crate you up for high price. So we gotta go!"





Meanwhile at the bridge of one of the ships


A figure was standing upon the deck looking out to sea until he hears one of his men calling out to him.

"Commander Blacksky," One of his men from the monitors shouted. "There's a boat not too far from us. It's not one of ours."

"Let me have a look," The figure, now known as Blacksky said in an Irish accent. He takes a good look at the ship on the monitor and can barely make out whose on it. He was able to recognize one of them. "Well well well if it ain't that bloody alley cat who thought he could give us the slip." And after a further look, he questioned, "Isn't that the harpy who gave Jason and his boys a hard time and why are there humans with them?" The figure smirked. "Ready the claws, but no cannons! I want to take em in for questioning."

"Yes sir!" One of the men shouted.





Suddenly, a large claw was shot, and it speared one of the mast of the sailboat. And that mast just so happens to be the one with the nest Pip was in.

"AAAAAHHH!!!" Pipsqueak screamed, jumping out of the nest, and into the arms of Celaeno.

"You alright there, Pip?" Celaeno asked.

Pipsqueak nodded his head, "I'm fine."

Looking back, seeing the hunters' ships closing in, Capper spoke, "I think that's our cue to get out of here!"

"Don't have to tell me twice!" Spike replied, as he conjures a fires a fiery katana and cuts the chains. "Come on! We gotta go faster!"

"I don't think this thing comes with a motor!" Button replied, ducking his head down, avoiding a spear that narrowly got him. "I say we abandon ship!"

"What he said!" Rumble added, as he and the nerd both jumped overboard.

"But I don't like water!" Capper moaned.

"Then I hope you like becoming a fur coat," Tender said as he jumps into the water.

Not wanting to take his chances with the hunters, Capper held his breath and he jumps down, followed by Featherweight, Pipsqueak, and Celaeno.

"Our turn, Sky!" Spike said, as he grabbed ahold of the sea pony. "Hang on!" Skystar complied, tightening her arms around Spike's neck, and they both jumped off, and plunged into the waters below.
> The Little Sea Pony Returns To The Sea Part 2: Sea Pony For Supper
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The waves of the oceans crashed against the rocks on shores, as the heroes swam up, and pulled themselves up.

"Is everybody alright?" Spike coughed, while gently laying Skystar on the beach.

"Sure," Button replied, taking his helmet off to dump waters out. "If you define 'alright' as 'too much consumptions of sea water.'"

Celaeno was carrying Pipsqueak in her arms, before she gently laid him down on a rock, "Are ya alright Pip?" She asked, looking him over with concerns. "Are ya alright? Anything broken?"

"Yeah, I'm alright," Pip confirmed.

Lastly, Capper broke the surface, while carrying Featherweight, Tender Taps, and Rumbles in his arms, and on his back, "Oh man," Capper groaned, as he dropped the boys, and proceeded to squeeze the waters out of his furs, and coat. "I'm one for keeping myself well groomed. But a dip in water is out of the question."

"Come on," Spike coughed. "We have to keep going."

"No way man," Rumble said in defiantly. "I ain't going back out to sea. Not with those crazy hunters out there!"

Capper took out the map from his pocket, and groaned as it shredded itself into two, "And the map's ruined! We're totally lost without it!"

"So how are we going to find the way to Mt. Aris, if we don't even know where we are?" Button asked.

"Whoa. Good question," Rumble commented.

"Huh, I must be getting the hang of this wisdom thing," Button replied, touching his helmet.

"That still doesn't help Button Mash!" Spike frowned, before he looked to see the Cerulean Hunters' ships moving closer. "Besides, I think we should leave now!" With that, using his dragon strength, Spike picked Skystar up and the heroes quickly hurried off.





The Cerulean Commander watches as the heroes reach the shores. in appearance the commander has light grey hair with turquise highlights, a short beard and green eyes. For attires he wore a blue trench coat with turquise outlines, dark grey jeans, and red shoes. on one side of him is a red fox and the other side a husky. This was Kale Blacksky.

"Commander Blacksky!" One of his men shouted as he runs up to him. "The targets have reached ashore. Should we unleash the vultures?"

Kale thinks about it for a minute and says, "Nah, let em go. This should teach them to enter our waters."

"But...sir, they're getting away with a sea pony.

Kale just shrugs, "So? They're probably gonna have her for dinner or something. Besides, that's just one of them, when there's a whole herd of them, around here, somewhere," Just then his phone goes off. He pulls it out to see who it is and it reads: Big D, "I need to take this," He said as he answers his phone.

The hunter watches as his commander speaks with the big boss himself, "Uh huh. Yes. Really? Well alright then, me and my men will be there." He replied as he hangs up, "Bout damn time."

"Uh sir, was that who I think that it was?" The hunter asked

"Ya bet yer ass lad. Alert the men. We're going to war!" Kale replied.


REDLINE OST - Volton Unit


With that, many of the ships departed with the fishes they've captured, via teleporters. However, only one stays behind. The one which Kale is in command of.

"Fire up the Condor!" Blacks ordered.

One of the hunters runs up to a red button and presses it. With that, the ship begins to change. Jet propellers came out from the sides of the ship, two on each. The ship then lifts from the water and takes to the sky,all the while making a bone-chilling noise.

Inside the now transformed airship, the hunters equipped themselves with state of the art jetpacks. Meanwhile the fox and the husky enter mech suits of their own. The fox's suit is blue with turquise outline and is equipped with a jetpack more advanced than the hunters, while the husky's suit is different as it's colors are reverse and has propellers on each shoulder. Down in the hanger the engineers begin to charge up the Cerulean Vultures they're about to unleash.

Back on the bridge the hunter next to Kale asked, "So what exactly is the plan sir?"

"We're going to Klugetown. Finally gonna show that oversized rodent, Verko, what happens if you try to screw with the Cerulean Hunters!" Kale answered.

"Is he there?" The hunter asked.

"Sadly no, he's back on earth. But still, Klugetown is his biggest outpost. We take it down, we break the rodent's back. It'll be a blow he won't be recovering from for a good while." The commander stated.

"Is it just gonna be us?"

"No, two other divisions will be joining us on this, D. Caste Raider's and Shade Stalker's." Kale answered.





In a vast open desert, over a dozen portals open and trucks drove out of them. As the back of the trucks opened up, hunters who look like modern day cowboys speed out in what look like hoverbikes along with their commander, Raider.

In Raider's appearance, he has orange hair, green eyes, and a little plump. For attire, He wears a blue jacket with orange outlines, a brown shirt, brown jeans with a gold belt buckle, and cowboy boots.

"Raider and his boys will be attacking on the ground while we attack from above."





On another part of the desert, a young man, who looks like he hasn't reached twenty yet, prepares for his mission. He looks back and sees a squad of his men, who look like black op troops, readying their weapons and putting explosive charges in each of their sacks. The men turn to their commander and nods, he nods back and they begin to head to their destination.

In appearance, the young man has black medium hair and dark eyes. for attire he wears a a black trench coat with blue outlines, along with black pants and shoes.

"Meanwhile Shade and a small taskforce will sneak in and plant charges on that God forsaken spit of land."





"Got it now laddie?" Kale asked.

"Crystal sir." The hunter replied.

"Good, now get ready. We should be arriving to that craphole of a town in a few hours." The hunter saluted as he makes his leave. Little did the heroes know, they're about to be in a middle of a war.







Klugetown


[Paper Mario TTYD OST - Rogueport]


"Oh, not this place again," Capper moaned, looking around in disgust at the run-down atmosphere this place gave off.

"No choice," Spike replied. "It's the best place we can hide out at the moment," Spike then felt a tap, and he looked to see Skystar, gasping for air. Her magic bubble was destroyed, along with their ship, when they were attacked by the Cerulean Hunters, "Besides, Sky's a little dried up at the moment. Gotta find some waters and fast."

Capper scratched his chin, and shrugged, "Well, alright. But after we get some waters, then we're out of here," Capper replied, sensing the dirty looks he was receiving from the inhabitants. "Follow me. Fountain's this way," Capper said, as he led the two.

Elsewhere in Klugetown, Celaeno is with the Knights, looking at some stands that sells foods of bizarre and exotic tastes.

"Um, have you had it before Celaeno?" Pipsqueak asked, looking rather repulsed by the foods that were serving.

"Aye, can't say I have," Celaeno replied, while picking one that looked like a dead octopus on a mushroom. "But that's the best thing about adventures mate. When ya travel the world as long as I have, ya get a taste from each land's unique taste, or two," With that, Celaeno downs the food she picked, and her face turned green, and she lost her lunch, into a bucket nearby. "And of course, ya learn what's not good for ya, through the hard way." She groaned.

"I'll give ya ten bits for that fancy helmet on your head!" Pipsqueak and Celaeno looked to see Button Mash and Rumble, in the middle of a squabble with a huge anthropomorphic alligator turtle.

"Again! The helmet is not for sale! It's mine!" Button spatted, while holding onto his helmet tightly.

"Yeah! So just turn around and walk away!" Rumble barked.

"I ain't leaving until I have that helmet!" The turtle reached out for Button Mash, only for a gunshot to ring the air, as Celaeno got in between, holding a pistol out, and point threateningly at the turtle.

"You lay a single claw on one of my boys, and I will see this through yer head," She threatened. Getting the message, the turtle took his leave, before Celaeno turned to the rest of the boys. "Ye fellas alright?"

"Yeah!" Button gasped breathlessly.

"You are a badass!" Rumble commented.

"Bloody brilliant!" Featherweight added, with Tender Taps joining with a nod.

Celaeno breathed a sigh of relief, before she reached into a handbag she had been carrying, "Here lads. I want ye to have these," She said, as she puts on a bracelet, one for each of the boys' wrists.

"What for?" Rumble asked, looking closely at the bracelet on his wrist.

"These ain't year typical jewelry lads," Celaeno answered. "These be magic bracelets, so that any one of ye young scalawags are in danger, then I'll know." She emphasized the last part, with a tap to the ear ring on her left ear.

The Knights all looked to each other, before they all shrugged, "Aye-aye, captain," Button was the first to spoke up.

Meanwhile, back with Spike, Capper, and Skystar, the three were at a fountain, where Sky was engorging herself to her content.

"Ah~" She sighed in relief. "Much better."

"Now can we please get this show on the road?" Capper asked, looking ready to blow the joint.

"Relax Capper, we'll get going as soon as Skystar's got her fill," Spike replied. Suddenly, Spike felt a tingling sensation on his skin, at the back of his neck. Getting the feeling they're being watched, Spike looked around to see the inhabitants are looking at them, strangely. Mainly at Skystar.

"Um, Sky?" Spike whispered. "Feeling any better yet?"

"Yeah, I'm good for now," Sky breathed in content.

"Then let's get going," Spike carefully picked up the sea pony from the fountain as he, Sky, and Capper were on their way to regroup the others.

They hadn't gone very far, when a huge anthropomorphic shark-like creature stepped out in front of them, "Hey! Are you going to eat her?" The shark asked, drooling hungrily.

Out of fright, Skystar hugged Spike closer, "She's not for dinner," Spike replied. "Now if you'll excuse us, we should be-"

"Give her to me then!" Another denizen who resembles a piranha shouted. "We'd love to have her for dinner!"

"Hey punk!" The shark snarled, as he picked up the piranha. "Get your own sea pony! She's mine! I saw her first!"

"Well we saw her first!" The piranha bared his teeth, before he snapped his fingers and summoned a whole school of piranhas just like him.

The shark, however, appeared less intimidated, "Then I'll save her for desert and have all of you then!" With that, the two anthropomorphic fishes started to duke it out with each other, while Spike, Sky, and Capper silently walked away.

"Is Klugetown always like this?" Spike asked.

"Not always," Capper replied in discomfort. "I guess first time seeing a sea pony kinda riled them up a bit."

"Including them?" Skystar pointed to show a whole mob of Klugetown's inhabitants, staring at Skystar, with the looks of hunger in their eyes.

"Shall we run now?" Capper asked.

"Oh yes, lets," Spike replied, as the three took off running for dear life from the hungry inhabitants.


[Benny Hill Chase]


Spike and Capper both saw a fork in the road ahead. With that, both the cat and Dragon Prince split up, going left and right respectively. Spike was still carrying Skystar, before they both dived behind a stand selling iced fishes. The two hid themselves among the fishes as the mob passed them. Spike poked his head out, relieved to see the coast was clear. He then turned to Skystar, and was horrified to see she was on a cutting board with the fishmonger raising his knife up for the kill.

Reacting fast, Spike cleverly and skillfully switched the knife with another fish, just as the fishmonger brought it down on Sky's neck. The fishmonger looked bewildered, looking at the fish he got in his hand, before he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he was met with a sucker punch from Spike, knocking him out cold.

Suddenly, the mobs returned, and upon seeing Spike, the Dragon Prince picked up Skystar and made another run for dear life - specifically, Skystar's.

"Wheee!" Skystar cheered, finding all of this excitement rather thrilling and enjoyable.

"Wheee?" Spike asked in bewilderment, before he looked ahead. "WHEELBARROW!!" Unable to stop in time, Spike tripped and dropped Sky into the cart. Looking behind them to see the mob was catching up, Spike quickly grabbed the handles as he pushed Skystar down the streets as fast as he can run. "Wings of the dragon!" Spike concentrated, and his dragon wings sprouted.

With a flap, Spike and Skystar zipped through the streets, before Capper stepped out in front of them.

"Capper! Get out of the way!" Spike shouted.

"AAAAHHH!!" Capper screamed, as he runs away, making it look as if he's being chased by Spike and Skystar, who are all being chased by the mobs.

It didn't take long for their chase to take them down an alley, where they somehow defied some logical physics, as they randomly appeared out of various alleyways. Eventually, the mobs got confused and lost track of the heroes.


Later


"Hey guys," Button greeted. "What took you so long?"

Spike and Capper were panting heavily, before Capper replied, "Long story short. We just had a moment of cheating death back there," With that, the exhausted cat collapsed.

"Though, on the bright side, Sky's safe and sound with us," Spike answered, looking behind him. "Right Sky?" However, much to his shock and horror, Sky was nowhere to be seen. "SKY!!! Where'd she go?!"

"You lost her?!" Capper exclaimed. "Oh dear, this is not good."

Spike's ears suddenly perked up to the sound of Skystar screaming, "SPIIIIIKE!! HELP MEEEEEE!!!"

Turning to the group, Spike said, "I have to go and save her!" Spike replied, as he runs back to rescue Skystar.





Inside the Kitchen


Skystar was wriggling aggressively, trying to break free from the ropes that bind her, with her scream muffled by the band that was tied around her muzzle.

In the meantime, the cook was singing himself a tune as he rummages through the shelves, before he pulls out a bowl of fishes. With that, he tightens his apron and started to sing about cooking fishes.




Les Poissons - Disney's Little Mermaid





When the cook chopped off the fish's head and pulled out its bone with ease, Skystar was on the verge of losing her lunch. Much to the sea pony's chagrin, her innocence was lost, when the cook slashed open a fish and served its stomach fried, then he pounded a fish's head flat with a mallet, then sliced open another fish's belly to rub some salt in. Overall, Skystar's scarred for life, unable to get the gruesome images out of her head. Feeling squeamish enough, Skystar resumes to struggle herself free before she becomes the main course.

Just then, Spike sneak into the building through an open window, scaled the beams that hang overhead, and dropped down from the ceiling, quietly. Sneaking up, Spike tapped Sky on the shoulder, letting her know he was there.

Sky's eyes widened, "Shhhh," Spike shushed, before he proceeded to cut the the ropes. He was just about to cut the last rope, when the cook returned.

Thinking fast, Spike quickly turned himself into a crab, which unfortunately didn't go unnoticed, "Zut alor! I have missed one!" The cook said, as he picked up the boy-turned-crab, much to the latter's dismay.

"Oh crab," Spike moaned, as the cook resumed singing. Only this time, it's about cooking Spike.

First the cook threw Spike in a huge bowl of sauce, before he added a dab of flour, causing Spike to sneeze, which the cook didn't take notice of, as he would've seen a spark of green fires. Next thing Spike knew, the cook stuffed some bread crumbs and cabbages into Spike's face, much to his discomfort. Lastly, the cook tossed Spike into a pot of boiling water.

"No!" Spike screamed in defiant, hanging onto dear life, at the pot's rim. "I did not came all this way just to become dinner!" Another burst of hot water sent Spike screaming out of the pot.

"Eh?" The cook picked Spike up, with a fork, for a closer look. "What is this?" The cook asked, before Spike quickly changes into a dog and bit the cook on the nose. "OW!" The cook screamed as he dropped Spike.


*CHASE MUSIC*


[Offenbach - Can Can]


Spike quickly yipped in fright, as he ran around the room, with an angry cook chasing him with a huge butcher's knife.

"Oh, I'm gonna make dog meat out of you!" The cook growled angrily, as he repeatedly slashed his knife after Spike. Spike quickly ducked beneath a counter, before he manages to climb his way up and knocked over a huge pot of sea urchins on the cook's head.

"RUN!!!" Spike barked, as he ran around the room, with the cook, hot on his tail.

Meanwhile, Skystar manages to break free from her ropes, and pulled herself out and quickly flopped her way to the exit. 

Unfortunately, the cook noticed the sea pony escaping, "My beautiful sea pony! Come back here!" He shouted, forgetting the boy-turned-dog and gives chase for Skystar.

Thinking fast, Spike kicked a huge vat of vegetable oils, spilling across the floor, reaching the cook, causing him to slip on his feet.

Skystar continues to flop her way towards the exit, when she looked and spotted a dead red octopus. In a heartbeat, an unpleasant memory flashed before her eyes, and she was frozen, recalling that dreadful day.

Sprouting his dragon wings once again, Spike flapped his way over and picked Skystar up, "Hold on tight, Sky," Spike barked, snapping the sea pony out of her trance.

"Uh, yeah. Let's," Unfortunately, the cook reached out and grabbed the sea pony by the tail, "Ah!" Sky screamed. "Let me go!"

"Let go of my sea pony!" The cook commanded Spike.

"She's not for dinner and she's not your sea pony!" Spike grunted, reaching into his puppy-sized cape and tossed Shelly and Sheldon at the cook, biting him on the nose.

"OW!" The cook screamed, forced to release his grip on Sky, while struggling to get the clams off of him.

"Way to go you two," Spike complimented the clams, before he reeled them back with a fishing rod, and picked Skystar up.

The two friends quickly jumped out the window, only to find utter chaos awaiting them.

The Cerulean Hunters are here.

"Bad day," Spike moaned.
> The Little Sea Pony Returns To The Sea Part 3: Escape From Klugetown
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Capper, Celaeno, and the Knights wait for Spike to come back with Skystar, the feline began to get restless.

"Where are they?" Capper groaned as he paced back and forth. "I really don't wanna stay in this craphole as long as we need to be."

"Come on Cap, what's the rush?" Button asked. "I mean sure we got chased by a mob because they wanna eat Sky, but I don't see the actual hurry."

Capper glared at the boy, with his pupils shifting into slits, "First off, don't call me Cap. Only one other person has ever called me that and he's dead to me now. Second, this place is run by Verko, one of the biggest crime lords in the magical underworld," This piqued Celaeno's interest as she heard that name before while she was held by the Cerulean Hunters, "I used to work for him before bailing and if he finds out that I'm here, he'll have me for a rug next to his fireplace."

"You know come to think of it, Fleur did mentioned something like that when we first met ya," Tender recalled.

Capper sighed, "Yeah it's true. I did things I ain't proud of. Things I don't like to talk about," He said as he turned away from the others. Just then his ears perked up to a sound. A sound he hoped to never hear again, "Oh no..."He muttered as he goes pale.

Just as Celaeno and the Knights were about to ask what is wrong, they too hear the bloodcurdling sound.

They looked at where it was coming from and sure enough they see one of the hunter's ships, flying no less, in the distance, coming towards Klugetown.


[World of Warships OST - 01 Unforgiven | Remastered]


"What. Is. THAT?!" Rumble shouted. Everyone else is just as shocked, with Featherweight taking a picture of the thing.

"It's the Wailing Condor!" Capper explained, "An advanced airship owned by the Cerulean Hunters!"

"Oh that's comforting," Tender replied.

"What concerns me is why they are all the way out here?" Celaeno pondered, "Though I doubt it's because they're looking for us."

Just then, the ship opened fire upon the town. Buildings begin to crumble, courtesy of the explosive shells that rained from the ship, and many of the denizens were running for dear life.

"That answer your question?" Capper asked bluntly.

"And I think that's our cue to run!" Button Mash screamed, as he took off while screaming like a girl.

"Way behind ya Button!" Rumble called as he ran after the nerd, followed by the others.





As a bird was flying by, when a rope appeared and snatched it. Seconds later it was in a cage held by two anthropomorphic warthogs.

"Don't worry little guy, we'll let you go." One of the pig men chuckled

"Yeah to the highest bidder!" Said the other and they both started to laugh. Just then, a Cerulean Vulture lands right in front of them, shocking the two.

The vulture stares at the baffled duo for a good second before it grabs them by the talons and takes them up to the skies, while one of the boars drops the cage that was holding the bird and shatters it freeing the bird in the process .

The vulture flew higher and higher until it stops and drops the screaming pigs to their doom.





The fishmonger from before was regaining consciousness after being knocked out by Spike, "Augh, my head..." He groaned, when all of a sudden, a missile hits the ground, right near him and starts beebing, "Ah cra-" Was all the fishmonger could say before the missile exploded.





A group of large molemen in mafia attire were in a room playing poker, when some of them start to hear noises outside.

"Ey, you fellas hear dat?" One of them asked.

"Ugh, hope it ain't be another riot, dat'll be the third one dis week," Another complained.

"Hope da boss comes back from his business trip on Earth soon. He'd straighten em out," Said another.

Just then the door bursts open and a group of armed men steps in, "Hey!!! Who da-" Was all the moleman could say before he and his comrades were mercilessly gunned down. After that, Shade Stalker steps in. He scans the room for a good minute, approaches a wall, and plants an explosive charge on it. He turned to his men and makes some hand signals to them. They all nodded and each went their separate ways.

As Shade makes his own leave he hears a groan. He turns back to see that one of the molemen had miraculously survived the hail of bullets and is struggling to get up.

As the moleman tries to get on his feet, he sees Shade slowly approaching him until he was a feet away from him. "S-Stay back," The moleman warned stumbling back, clutching one of his wounds. Shade brings out what looks like a hilt, he pushes a button and a blade of dark energy bursts forth. With a swift strike, Shade puts the moleman out of his misery.





Kale watches from the deck of the Wailing Condor, as it continues to fire shell after shell on the buildings, and the vultures picking off the townsfolk like carrion and firing missiles of their own. That's when he hears a voice from the comms.

"Hey Kale, save some for me and my boys will ya?" Said the voice.

Kale just smirks, "Relax Raider, I'm just softening em up for ya. All cannons seize fire!"

"Shade and his boys should be starting to plant their little 'presents' all across the town by now." Raider said.

"Roger that. What's your location?" Kale asked.

"We're just at the town entrance. Too bad Verko ain't here to see his 'precious' little town burn, I would pay to see the look on his face."

"Aye it's a shame. Ah well, I'll get my boys ready & prep and then they'll come join ya."

"Sounds good to me. Over and out." Raider replied, as he signs off.

"Commander Blacksky!" One of the hunters exclaimed, looking through his binocular. "Look! Over there! There's a sea pony with some strange dog creature!"

Curious, Kale Blacksky took out his own binocular to look in the same direction his hunter had pointed. It wasn't long before he spotted Spike and Skystar, "Well I'll be damned!" He exclaimed. "It is a sea pony! But what kind of dog creatures is that?"

"We don't know sir," The hunter replied, while looking through a glossary of all kinds of creatures. "It doesn't appear to be listed in one of our recordings! It could be a newly discovered species of some sort!"

"Interesting," Kale scratched his chin.

"So what now sir?" The hunter asked.

"We stick to the plan," Kale replied, before turning back to see Spike with Skystar. "But this could be a perfect opportunity to find out where her people are hiding. Half of you will join Raider and his squads! You others, hunt down that sea pony! As for that dog....thing. I'd like to have a much closer look at it."

"And if she doesn't talk?" The hunter asked

Kale smiles, "Well, then she'll make a nice victory feast when this is all over won't she?" He chuckled darkly. "You have your orders. Now move out!"

"Yes sir!" The hunters saluted before they left to prepare themselves, donning up a jetpack for each of them, and equipping themselves with a device that's mounted on their wrists.

Testing their devices to make sure they worked, the hunters reached pressed a specific button on their wrists, activating a blade of energies that pulsed from the devices. Satisfied, the hunters deactivated their blades, as they waited for orders from their commander. Waiting with them are Wing Diver the fox and Rotor the husky, both in mech suits of their own.

"All right boys, it's now or never. Give em hell." Kale said via speakers.

Finally the hunters dived from the hanger and with their jetpacks, flew towards Klugetown with some of them carrying rocket launchers.

"LET'S RIDE!!" Raider shouted, as he and his men all rode on their hover bikes, hollering wildly.

They began to terrorize the place by running over any poor sob that got in their way or throwing Molotov cocktails in buildings. Anyone who tried to fight back were ruthlessly gunned down and those were magicly adept were struck with MPGs.





Watching from a safe distance, an anthropomorphic naked mole rat, don up in a business suit, with a matching top hat, and goggles was watching chaos taking place, and his town going up in flames.

The mole rat cracked a dirty grin, showing his unkempt yellow teeth, "So, those hunters think they had me beat, do they?" He asked with a chuckle. "We'll see about it." With a tap of his cane, several shadows darted past Verko and into town.





From another safe distance, the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts observed the smokes rising from Klugetown, "Oh no! We're too late!" Sour frowned.

"Gee, what's your first clue?" Sugarcoat asked. "The rising smokes, or the desperate cries of civilians?"

"You saying I'm stupid?" Sour frowned.

"Girls! Not now!" Sunny Flare shouted, getting the two back on track. "We have to get in there! Spike and friends need us!"

"Then let's go already!" Indigo shouted, as she eagerly kicks her own jet bike into action, with the rest of the girls doing the same.





Capper, Celaeno, and the Knights watch in horror as the Cerulean Hunters were tearing the town apart. Capper honestly doesn't know what to feel right now. On one hand, this place and its inhabitants probably had it coming, but on the other, as much of a horrid place Klugetown is, it was the closest thing he had to a home in the last ten years after Chummer abandoned him.

"Heads up!" Rumble yelled, snapping Capper out of his thought, as a missile hits one of the buildings they're near. A chunk comes tumbling down near Pip.

"Look out!" Celaeno yelled as she grabbed Pip and jumped out of the way. Unfortunately, this caused the two to be separated from the others.

"Pip!" Featherweight called out. "Cousin?!"

"Featherweight! Are you guys alright?" Pip called out.

"We're okay," Featherweight replied.

"What about you two?" Capper asked.

"We're okay." Celaeno answered. "More or less..."

Capper looked around. The place was a war zone, but there was one place that seemed untouched... "You two see that windmill over there?"

Both Pip and Celaeno looked over to the said structure, "Aye, that we do." Celaeno answered.

"Go to it! We'll meet you there!" Capper said.

The two look at each other before Celaeno spoke up, "All right. We'll see ya there." She said before she and Pip depart.

Capper turned to the other knights, "All right, hope you boys are ready to make a break for it."

"Don't have much of a choice," Rumble said reluctantly as he and the Knights ponied up, and they made their way to windmill, with their feline friend.





As the hunters rode through town, they failed to notice several red eyes leering at them from the shadows. Then, without warning, several spears with ropes tied at the end all shot up from the ground. Several of them have caught a hunter and knocked him off his bike.

"WHOA!!" He screamed as he fell to the ground, and was pulled down by several strong arms that jutted from the ground. "AAH!!! HELP!!" The hunter screamed, before he disappeared out of sight.

One of his comrades turned and looked, "Uh, Mikey?" He asked, before he was suddenly pounced on by a shadow of a panther. "AAAAHHH!!!" The hunter screamed, as the panther snarled hungrily, and it dines on him.

As the hunters ride through town in their hoverbikes, Diamond Dogs suddenly bursts from the ground, knocking them off their vehicles. And some others have suspended long chains in the air for the hunters to run into and forced them off, by their throats, with Raider being one of them.

He and his hunters got on their feets and stared at the mutts, "You mangy furballs want a fight? Well you got one!" He yelled. With that, Raider and his men got out their machine guns and opened fire on the anthropomorphic dogs.

In retaliations, the dogs conjured huge shields that repelled their bullets, together with their protective armors. Many more of the Diamond Dogs jumped out from the grounds, dragging most of the Cerulean Hunters underground to their doom.

Then, with a loud roar and yowl, a shadow lunged out from a window, tackling one of Raider's man, and ate him alive, biting from the head to ripping and shredding his whole body to pieces.

"WHAT THE DEVIL IS THAT?!!" One of the hunters asked in bewilderment and disgusts.

"Whatever it is, it's roadkill!" Another said as he opened fire on it. However, much to his and his fellow hunters' bewilderments, it did nothing. "What the-"

"LOOK OUT!!" Too late. A shadow of a wolf jumped at a tremendous height and knocked the hunter off his bike, before a whole pack appeared.

"HOLD ON!! I'M COMING!!" Raider shouted, only for more armor clad dogs to appear, cracking their whips in the air, lassoing Raider and held him down, while his comrades were merciless slaughtered like pigs.





Shade Stalker and his men were in a dark warehouse, when they have just finished putting the last charge in place, when they heard a muffle. Looking in the direction of the sound, they were all shocked to see one of their men has gone missing.

Taking out their flashlights, Shade and his men both scanned through the darkness to find any sign of their missing hunters. Without warning, something dropped from the ceiling, and landed before them. The very sight nearly made them lose their lunches, which they were forced to hold in, sans Shade, who remains expressionless. It was their missing comrade, chewed up, and mangled with bloods.

Looking back up, they were met with flocks of strange looking bat-like creatures that flew all over the place, blinding them momentarily and deafening them with their bloodcurdling screeches.

Suddenly, something heavy fell from the ceiling, and clings onto Shade, biting at his shoulder, before it was thrown off by the surprisingly strong man. However, the thing was undeterred as it quickly rolled itself on its feet and charged towards Shade and his men.

Shade brings out his dark energy blade and slashes at the beast. But the creature was undeterred as it makes another vicious lunge.

Meanwhile, some other shadow figures in the room took a quick look at the charge Shade and his men had set up earlier.





Pip and Celaeno


As Pip and Celaeno trek through the war ravaged town, they come a across a seemingly empty building. Deciding to take their chances, they enter said building.

"Gosh, that was close captain," Pip said catching his breath.

"Aye, no argument here." Celaeno said, "Reminds me of the time when me, Mullet, and Boyle got ourselves in the middle of a cross fire between the Storm King's forces, a hive of changlings, and a bicorn warherd called the Ravagers. Barely escaped with our lives."

"I don't get why all this? Why are the hunters attacking the town? Is it because of us?" Pip asked.

"I don't think so. But I have a pretty good hunch," Celaeno answered. "Back when I was a prisoner for those scalleywags, I overheard a couple of them talking about someone stealing their tech as of late and all fingers were pointing at Verko. Granted, they don't know for sure, but evidence says its him."

Pip was trying to wrap his head around all this, "So...they're launching a full on assault on a backwater town just because some gangster was stealing their stuff?" He asked.

"I think It's more than that lad," Celaeno replied. "From what I heard, Verko and their leader have been at each other's throats for sometime now. That, and Capper did say this place was run by the crime lord. I guess this was the straw that broke the camel's back," Another explosion went off, which nearly shook the place apart. "Come on lets see if there's a back door to this place."

"Aye-aye, captain," Pip saluted, before he and the parrot begin their search.

As Celaeno search one part of the building, she hears Pip call out from the celler, "Uh, captain you might wanna see this." Curious on what Pip found, she heads over to his location and what she found shocks her.

Laying before the duo were over a dozen dead bodies of molemen and Diamond Dogs. Approaching with caution, Celaeno examines some of the corpses and notice they have multiple sword wounds, "Who ever did this is skilled with a blade." She said grimly.

"You...don't think it's Spike do you?" Pip asked.

Celaeno shook her head, "Nah, even he wouldn't be this brutal," She answered. "No, whoever slaughtered these poor bastards is a born killer." Celaeno said in a grave tone. The anthro parrot sighed, "Come on lets just find a way out of here."

With that, the two buccaneers left the room. But all the same, Pip took a quick look back at the bodies one last time and wonders what kind of monster would do something like this?





Spike and Skystar


"YIKES!!" Spike barked, as he and Skystar quickly ran down the streets, before weaving through the alleys, avoiding the hunters chasing them. In a flash of green fire, Spike sprouted wings, which he used to protect Sky from the bullets that were being fired upon them. "Hold on tight, Sky!" Spike instructed, to which the frightened sea pony was quick to comply, tightening her flippers around the boy-turned-dog's neck, as they flew through the war ridden streets, as a blur of purple and yellow.

"Oh, I really miss being a hippogriff right now," Sky whimpered in fright.

"Don't worry Sky, we'll get out off this," Spike assured her.

Unfortunately, a squad of hunters lands right in front of them.

"Oh great." Spike muttered.

The squad leader approaches the and says, "Okay, here's the deal: you two come with us quietly and there won't be any trouble."

"And if we don't?" Spike asked

The squad leader smirks, "Glad you asked that." He said as he and his fellow hunters fire up they're energy blades.

"Run roh," Spike whimpered.

"Let 'em have it boys!" With that, the hunters leap towards the two friends. Thankfully, with quick reflex, Spike quickly evaded the hunters' blades, jumping from side-to-side, saving himself and Sky, while throwing a few counterattacks at the hunters.

"Wow! Scrappy's got attitudes!" One of the hunters groaned, before he and his comrades resumed their attack.

One hunter tried to sneak up on both Spike and Skystar, but Sky saw him coming and quickly slaps him with her tail fin.

As Spike jumps and dodges the energy blades, he lets out a big burst of flame in the hunters faces, blinding them. Using this to their advantage, Spike rushes to a hiding spot, with Sky still on his back.

When the hunters' visions cleared up, they noticed their targets were nowhere to be found.

"Find them!" The squad leader ordered, "They couldn't have gone far!"

The other hunters saluted and flew off into different directions.

As the hunters were out of sight and earshot, Spike and Skystar came out of their hiding place.

"That was close, Spike," Skystar sighed in relief.

"I know," He said as he shifts into his dragon form. "We should probably find the others. No doubt they're looking for us."

Sky nodded as she and Spike go on their way. Little do they realize, they're being followed.





Pip and Celaeno


As the two buccaneers continue to search the building, they hear the front door burst wide open. They see who it is while staying in hiding and spot a group of Diamond Dogs running inside.

"Search the area!" The leader barked.

The others nodded and did just that.

"What do we do, captain?" Pip asked.

"Stay where we are," Celaeno answered, "Let em search this place. And when they make their leave, so will we."





Capper and the Four Knights


Capper and the knights ran through the war ravaged town

"Can this get any worse?!?" Button cried.

All of a sudden a Diamond Dog came flying their direction, slamming into a wall. The boys turn to see Wing Diver and Rotor tearing some of the burrowing mutts apart.


Ratchet Deadlocked - Introducing Shellshock Soundtrack (Metal Remix)


Wing Diver was slicing them up with a pair of double bladed energy swords. Skillfully and brutally chopping the Diamond Dogs up like they were raw meat. One Diamond Dog bursts from the ground to get the jump on him, only for the the mech suit wearing fox to cut him in two without even looking.

Rotor was savagely beating a Diamond Dog with his shocker gauntlets. A claw reaches out to snatch his foot and tries to drag him down. However, Rotor just grabs the claw and pulls the Diamond Dog up, he then grabs the hapless mutt's head and proceeds to crush his skull. The Diamond Dog cries in pain and flails around until the cries are silent and the Diamond Dog goes limb. Rotor then tosses away the now lifeless body.

"Whoa, brutal..." Tender said, watching the fight from a safe distance.

"Come on, lets go around them," Capper said.

"That's probably a good idea." Featherweight commented as they do just that.

Unfortunately, as they were trying to sneak around, Rotor sniffs the air and immediately spots the group.

"Oh dear!" Capper muttered as the fox and husky comes charging at them





The earring on Celaeno's ear suddenly glowed a golden aura as it vibrates, "Aye!" Celaeno exclaimed.

"What is it captain?" Pip asked.

"The others!" The parrot replied. "They're in trouble!"

The Diamond dogs search the building when one of them calls from the cellar, "Uh, guys I found something."

As most of them went to see what their comrade has found, Celaeno sees them as a perfect opportunity to slip away, "Now's our chance." She said as she and Pip quietly head for the entrance.

Unfortunately, as they were sneaking towards the exit they're suddenly grabbed from behind.

"Hey guys, come up here, we found a couple of stragglers!" The Diamond Dog holding Pip called out.

The others came back from the cellars with the leader having a look of anger on his face.

"Did you killed our comrades?!?" The leader snarlas he approaches the two, pointing towards the cellar.

"We swear they were like that when we found them." Celaeno explained.

"I say we kill em right now, they're probably spies for those Cerulean bastards." One of them yelled.





Ratchet Deadlocked - Shaar - Landstalker Stalkin' (Metal Remix)


Rotor went straight for Button mash. "For Sweetie Belle!!!" The nerd boy cries out as he to charged at the husky with his pickaxe. Sadly, with quick reflexes, Rotor hits Button in the face, electrocuting him in the process, and sending him flying.

Featherweight rushes over to check on the nerdy knight, "Button? Button?! Are you ok?!?" He asked frantically.

"The given profit for R(x)=50x-0.5x² and C(x)=4x+10 is $1048!" Was all Button could say before passing out.

Featherweight then notices Rotor approaching him, "Uh oh..." He manages to put up his shield before Rotor takes a swing at him. Growling in frustration, the savage husky then proceeds to beat on the shield relentlessly with poor feather barely holding on.

Seeing Feather in trouble, Capper brings out Lola and shoots at the husky. An angry Rotor spots the ally cat and barrels towards him with Capper jumping out of the way. As Capper continues to allude Rotor, Feather notices that Rotor managed to dent the Shield of Purity, leaving him to wander on how that's even possible.

While this was going on, Rumble was clashing blades with Wing Diver. Rumble can only go on the defensive here as he has trouble keeping up with the fox.

Tender sneaks up behind the fox to get the jump on him. However Wing Diver hears him coming and nearly slashes him. Seeing this as an opening, Rumble grabs one of Wing Divers blades with his sword and manages to disarm him. However Wing still had the other blade and nearly slices the knight with it.

"Oh no you don't!" Featherweight shouted, jumping in at the last minute, saving Rumble from the fox's blade.

At the same time, Tender had pulled a spare pirate sword that Celaeno had given to him, and slashed it at the fox's mech suit.

Meanwhile, Button Mash just woke up from his shocking coma. Shaking his head, Button looked to see the scuffle going on between his fellow Knights, Capper, and mech suits driven by Wing Diver the fox and Rotor the husky. Though appeared to be somewhat dazed, Button observed the fights, while taking mental notes at his current surroundings. Looking down on his right, Button sets his sight on a dead octopus. Picking up the deceased cephalopod, Button runs into the fray where he jumped in front of Rotor, holding the octopus in front of the husky.

The dog looked puzzled at first, until with a firm squeeze, Button squirted a large gush of dark inks onto the windshield of the dog's mech suit, blinding him.

Rotor struggled to wipe the inks off, "Well I'll be," Capper smiled, looking impressed.

Looking at his radar within the mech suit, Rotor locked target onto both Button Mash and Capper, before activating a pair of shock gauntlets, and charged after the two.

"YIPE!!" Button screamed as he and Capper both took off running with an angry mech-driven-husky giving chase.

"I'm surprised he's still hot on our tails, blinded and all," Capper commented.

"He must have some kind of radar or something," Button replied. "Hey! Let's use that to our advantage!" Button suggested, as he and Capper both ran up to Wing Diver, who quickly slashed his blades at the two boys, who jumped out of the way, just as Rotor pounced, and electrocuted Wing instead.

"YES!! It worked!!" Button cheered, as he, the Knights, and Capper watched the two mech driving canines fried each other with their electric based weapons.

"Well, ain't that a shock?" Capper asked.

It wasn't long before Wing Diver and Rotor recovered from their shocks. And after Wing Diver quickly wiped the inks off of Rotor's vizor, the two mech driving canines set their sights on their preys. Suddenly, a shadow of a huge lion appeared between the boys and dogs. Then, the shadow figures of a tiger and a bear appeared.

"Oh my!" Button exclaimed.

With a loud roar, the lion lunged towards Wing Diver, with the tiger and bear both making a lunge towards Rotor. The two dogs didn't hesitate to fight back with their mech suits, with the three colossal predators tearing them apart, ripping some mechanical parts off their suits. Rotor tried to punch the lights out of the tiger and bear, but the two mighty predators simply shrugged it off like it was nothing, and they quickly clamped their jaws on the husky's electric gauntlets. Meanwhile, Wing Diver was slashing his energy blades at the lion. But as if it was the Nemean Lion, the fox's blades bounced off the lion's thick hides as it continues its vicious assault.

The four Knights watched from the sidelines as both dogs struggle against the three mighty predators, "Er hem!" Capper cleared his throat. "We were escaping?"

"Oh right," With that, the cat and the boys quietly snuck away.

It wasn't long before the boys bumped into a group of Cerulean Hunters, "Hey! Watch where you going!" One of the Cerulean Hunters scowled, before he realized who he was talking to. "Hey! Who are you boys? What are you doing here?"

"Uh....we were just passing through..." Button smiled sheepishly, while the rest of the boys gave him odd looks.

The Cerulean Hunters looked and their eyes widened when they set their sights on Capper, "HEY!! That's him!" One of them shouted. "THAT'S THE CAT WHO STOLE MY GUN!!!"

Capper quickly sweated, "Who? Me?" He asked in defense. "You must've had me confused for another charming young cat."

Of course, the hunters weren't buying it, "Not this time kitty! GET HIM!!"





Back with Pip and Celaeno


Uncharted 3 Soundtrack - Disc Two - 13 - Reckless


Pip and Celaeno were clashing blades and claws with the Diamond Dogs in the room, when a sudden molotov burst into a window, followed by another one and many more. Soon a couple of Cerulean hunters appeared at the open entrance of the door.

"Burn you mother hubbers!!!" One of them yelled out as he and his comrade threw one more molotov on the floor before slamming the entrance of the door, baracading it from the outside.

Using this to her advantage, Celaeno head butted the squad leader of the Diamond Dogs, grabbed Pip, and makes a run for it.

"Get them!!!" The leader roared.

The duo ran upstairs while being chased by the Diamond Dogs with the flames following close behind.

One Diamond Dog makes a jump for them, only for the parrot pirate to kick him away, knocking him into the flame.





As Wing Diver and Rotor continues to struggle against the predators, the fox realizes that this is a fight they can't win, so he pulls out a smoke grenade and tosses it to the ground. The device goes off, letting out thick black smoke, and messing with the predator's senses.

Wing grabs his husky counterpart and makes a break for it.





Spike and Skystar


"What the hell is going on out there?" Spike asked, as he and Skystar hid behind the wall, in an empty building, looking at the battle taking place. "It's like a war zone!"

"What do we do?" Skystar whimpered.


Disturbed The Animal


Before Spike can answer, his nose twitched the stench of blood, and his ears perked to the sound of low, grumbling snarls. With a quick glance up, Spike's eyes widened to see the silhouette of a huge leopard, staring hungrily at both him and Skystar, with piercing red eyes. With a loud roar, the leopard pounced from its perch, with Spike picking Skystar back up in his arms, and sprinted away from the ferocious big cat.

With a huge leap, the leopard slashed its claws after Spike, but missed and ripped a curtain instead with Spike making a sharp turn around a wooden pole. Undeterred, the leopard continues its pursuit, making another quick jump after Spike and Skystar, both ducking behind a dustcover over a chandelier, causing the leopard to lunge at the fabric and ripped off a good chunk of fabrics. Spike and Skystar were backed up against a window as the leopard makes another tremendous pounce in a fast blur of darkness. This time its aim was true.

With an earsplitting shatter, the window broke into several pieces as Spike and Skystar were falling towards the ground, followed by the leopard. Both Spike and Skystar crashed through the tent roof over a merchant's stand, or what's left of it.

The leopard landed on its back before it quickly rolled back up on feet and jumped after Spike and Skystar, only to be kicked away by Spike when the boy went full dragon. The leopard rolled a good distance away, before it quickly picked itself back up, hissing angrily and defiantly at Spike.

Spike quickly showed off a few kung-fu moves, coupled with several loud roars and cries. But the leopard refused to yield, as it continues to snarl. Then, with a loud roar, and at the speed of lightning that rivals Rainbow Dash, the leopard lunged in a zig-zag maneuver before it made a lung at Skystar, only to be ensnared by Spike's tail, who quickly tossed it away.

"You want her?" Spike roared. "You gotta go through me first!" With another angry snarl, the leopard lunged at Spike, "Repulse the monkey!" Spike shouted, as he manages to catch the leopard and tossed it away. Undeterred, the leopard quickly got back up and lunged after Spike again, only for the dragon to breath a blast of green fireball that exploded upon impact, knocking the leopard into a group of Cerulean Hunters.

The leopard scrambled to its feet, before it noticed the hunters. Having a change of thought, the leopard clamped its jaws on one of the hunter's neck, breaking it with quick, strong forceful turn of its head. The other hunters fired several nerve bullets, taser bullets, and normal bullets on the wildcat. Unfortunately, the leopard is sturdier than it appeared, as it shrugged off the hunters' attacks like they were nothing. It wasn't long before with a series of slashes and jaw bites, the hunters all met the same fate as their unfortunate comrade and were hacked into bloodied pieces of meat for the cat to eat.

"Yeesh, what a fight!" Spike grimaced.

"Can we go now?" Sky moaned. "I'm feeling sick watching this."

"Right, sorry Sky," With that, Spike picked Skystar up, before a loud roar caught their attention, and they looked to see the leopard licking the blood off its chops, with the slaughtered hunters at its feet, each with large gash bite marks in the head where the brains used to be. The leopard stood, glaring even more hungrily at the two. "YIKES!! Sabor's hungry for more!" Spike screamed, as he quickly flapped his wings, with the leopard lunging after him and Sky, snapping its jaws in futile.

The leopard arched its head up, letting out a roar that went on for miles. Spike and Sky looked to see shadows of wolves, flooding through the streets of Klugetown, and running across the rooftops and they all lunged after Spike and Sky, snapping their jaws persistently.





Pip and Celaeno


Pip and Celaeno continue to run through the burning structures of the building they were trapped in, with the Diamond Dogs following close behind.

Celaeno turns her head around to fire her musket a the pursuing dog monsters. Looking around, seeing the fires catching up and burning some of the building's supports, Celaeno aimed her gun at one of these weakening supports, causing the ceilings to collapse between her, Pip, and the Diamond Dogs.

"Take that you mangy mutts!" Just then, the floorboard beneath her gave away, and her jade foot got stuck, "Curse this foot!!!" She yelled, as Pip screeched to a stop. "Lad I'm stuck! Yer gonna have to go on without me!"

"I'm not leaving you!" He said as he rushed back to his captain's side.

Grabbing tightly to her peg leg, Pip quickly went to work, helping Celaeno pull her leg out, when the anthro parrot notices a Diamond Dog charging in their direction, "Pip, look out!" She yelled as she brings out her musket and shoots the Diamond Dog, right in the eye.

The Diamond Dog flails around in agony, until he trips and falls into the rising flame.

With a final grunt, Pip manages to get Celaeno's peg leg out and the two continue to run until they find a really big window.

"That looks like our ticket!" Holding onto the short teenage boy's hand, Celaeno turned and asked, "Ya ready lad?"

"More as I'll ever be captain!" Pip replied as the two made a jump for the window.

With a burst of a million glass shards, Celaeno and Pip flew out of the burning building as it was about to collapse. Holding Pip's hand in one claw, Celaeno reached her other claw out and grabbed onto a sheet of blanket hanging on a clothesline, which she used as a makeshift zip-line, to zip both herself and Pip into the next building, before coming out through another window and landed on top of another building.

Pip and Celaeno quickly evaded another bomb explosion as they slid down an alley to catch their breath, "Ya alright there lad?" Celaeno asked.

"Uh huh, I'm fine," Pip replied. "Excited, but fine."

Celaeno nodded in acknowledgement, "That's the thrill of adventure for ya, lad," Adjusting her hat, Celaeno took a peek around the wall and spotted the windmill Capper had told them to meet up, earlier, "We're not too far now," She replied, while putting two of her fingers to her glowing earring.





Meanwhile, back with Capper and the rest of the Knights


The Cerulean Hunters had chased both Capper and the Knights to the windmill where they expected to rendezvous with Captain Celaeno and Pip. Upon arriving at the top from the inside of the building, the boys could see that Pip and Celaeno have yet to arrive.

The worse has yet to pass, when the Knights struggled to make their final stand with the hunters. Unfortunately, it didn't work out so well in the Knights' favors. Rumble was dragged into a cage, kicking and screaming. Feather tried to help him, but gets hit by a taser bullet, while Tender was caught in an iron net.

Capper and Button find themselves cornered by a group of hunters, "All right you two," One of the hunters said, "Come with us quietly and we might leave your brains in your skulls."

Capper chuckled nervously, "Hey come on fellas, we ain't fans of Verko-" He said before he was interrupted.

"Can it, Stimpy! We know exactly who you are!" The hunter barked, "Our boss, Big Daddy, have some questions for you."

Button Mash and Capper were holding each other close, while chatting their teeth together, completely scared of what cruel fate would befall on the both of them.

"It's been nice knowing you, Button Mash," Capper shivered.

'I can't believe this is how it ends for me!' Button Mash moaned. 'And no extra lives too! This is really game over!' Button Mash looked, before he spotted a window. Then, as if he too got struck by a lightning bolt, Button felt something funny going on in his head, as his Helmet of Wisdom was glowing in a gold aura. For some reason, which is hard to explain, Button Mash was running some figures in his heads, before he mentally shouted, 'Brain blast!'

Capper took notice of Button Mash's sudden change of expression, "Uh, do I dare ask, but what's with that smile?" The cat asked.

"I've got an idea!" Button replied. "But do you trust me?"

"To be honest......no."

"Well you're gonna have to!" With a flash of golden digital cubes, Button Mash morphed into his pony form, and he picked up Capper on his back. "COWABUNGA!!!" The boy screamed, charging out of the window, with a screaming cat on his back.

"Uh....what just happened?" One of the Cerulean Hunters asked, dumbfounded.

Button Mash and Capper were falling from the air, before bouncing on a market stall roof, before coming back down and crashed, startling a cow, wearing a red bandana.

"MOOOO!!!" The cow bellowed, before she kicked both Button Mash and Capper away, into a windmill's propellors, launching them back up into the tower, and literally kicked the Cerulean Hunters out.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"


*SPLAT*


The hunters poked their heads out of the mud, fuming in humiliation.

Meanwhile, Button Mash and Capper were both rolling down the stairs, before colliding into the cages that held the rest of their friends, freeing them, and dragging them down the stairs, before they all crash through the front door, where Pip and Celaeno had just arrived.

Button Mash dizzily stood up, "Did anyone else saw that?" He asked. "Because I will not be doing it again," With that, Button Mash fainted.

"What happened you guys?" Pip asked, before looking around. "And where's Spike and Sky?"





Raider looks on as his men are getting ripped apart one by one. He feels an anger building up inside him until it finally bursts. Surprising his Diamond Dog captors, he manages snap free from his bondage. One Diamond Dog runs up to him, only for Raider to bring his pistol and shoot him point blank in the face. Noticing the gaps in the armors, Raider shoots in them with taser bullets and electrocutes the Diamond Dogs, frying them in the process.

He hears a growl behind him and sees a silhouette of a huge bear. Before Raider could do anything, the bear bites his left shoulder.

"GYAAAA!!!" Raider screamed, "LET GO OF ME POOH!!!!" He yelled as he raises his revolver and shoots the bear point blank in the eye.

"GYAAAA!!!" Raider screamed, "LET GO OF ME POOH!!!!" He yelled as he brings out his revolver and shoots the bear point blank in the eye.

The bear roared in pain as it lets go of Raider. Regaining it's composer despite losing an eye the bear charges at him but Raider, despite having a bad shoulder right now, manages to take out the other eye with a well placed shot.

As the bear flails around Raider made his escape. "For those ain't dead come with me!" He shouted.

The bear was pawing over its bloodied eyes momentarily, before it looked up, revealing they've been restored, angrier than ever. The bear took notice at one of the fleeing hunters. With quick reflexes it grabbed one of the hunter and takes a bite out of the poor sap, at the head.





Spike and Skystar


As the battle in Klugetown rages on, billows of smokes filled the air as the fires raged on for miles.

Spike and Skystar had lost most of the hunters and predators that were chasing them, and took shelter inside a building. That is, until the fire caught up to them and trapped them both inside the crumbling facility. Spike may be a dragon, but even dragons like him don't survive long from a suffocating puff of black smokes. Skystar on the other hand, was coughing up a storm, despite the cover provided with the Cape of Compassion.

"Spike! We're trapped!" Skystar coughed hoarsely, with tears running from her eyes, stung from the strong and burning embers the flew through the air. Spike held his wings over the frightened sea pony, and pulled his cape even tighter around Sky, as burning debris all collapsed and exploded around them. "Spike!! I'm scared!" Skystar sobbed frightfully.

"It's okay Sky," Spike hissed. "I've got you. This is our only chance!" Holding tightly, Spike charged through an open window, bursting out in a shatter of glasses and embers, as he landed in a roll on top of another building, with Sky safely tucked in his arms.

Spike got up as he gentle sets Sky to the ground as she continues to cough more forcefully, "Water...." She coughed. "Need....water...."

"Here," Reaching into his cape, Spike pulled out a small bottle of water, pouring the refreshing liquid into the poor sea pony's mouth for nourishment.

Just then, Spike's whiskers started to vibrate intently in the wind as he turns to his left to see a huge, bulky dog with rough, bumpy, craggily skins that gives it the appearance that it's literally made of stone. The dog monster has black sclera with yellow piercing pupils. To add the ferocity of its appearance, the dog has a large spiky collar around his neck.

The dog growled as it slowly advanced itself upon Spike and Skystar, "You be a magic dragon," The dog snarled in a deep rumbling voice. "Or the legendary Dragon Prince of whom all Equestrians speak of."

"Who wants to know, Fido?" Spike growled, as he spread his wings and arms out, protectively over Sky.

The giant dog, however, remains undeterred and unfazed as it growls even more menacingly at the two, "I be Crunch the Rock Dog. And you two will become my meal!" Then, with a quick lunge, Crunch lurched forward, snapping its jaws at Spike, only for the dragon to quickly jump in the air before he rolls forward and lands an axe kick on the dog's head. Spike winced from the damage recoiled to his foot. Crunch really lives up to his name as the Rock Dog.

"OW!!" Spike groaned, rubbing his sore foot. Next thing he knew, Crunch grabbed him by the tail, with his jaws, and thrashed him about.

"Spike!" Sky cried, frantically watching helplessly as the young dragon was thrashed about like a ragged doll. Concentrating the best he could, Spike conjured a fire shuriken and hurled it at the dog, exploding upon impact to his face. Crunch released his grip on Spike, as the dragon flew out from the dog's mouth, landed on his hands and did a cartwheel to get himself back on his feet, assuming a fighting stance.

"Are you okay, Spike?" Sky asked.

"I'm fine," Spike replied. "LOOK OUT!!!" He shouted, as he projected his fire katanas and continues to par with the dog monster. "Take cover Sky!"

Skystar complied as she flopped behind some crates for cover. Once there, Skystar poked her head behind the boxes to see the fight between Spike and Crunch.

Crunch thrusted one of his arms out in a punch, which Spike ducked his head to dodge the attack, before the dragon retaliated with a quick whip of his tail to the dog's knee, followed by a tornado kick to his head. Wincing slightly from the recoiled damage, Spike continues his fight as he slashes his fire katanas at the Rock Dog. However, the fire blades did little damage to the stone monstrosity, because all they did was bouncing off of the dog's stoney hides, while chipping a few pebbles off.

In retaliation, the dog continues snapping its big jaws at Spike and slashed its claws relentlessly at him. With a loud growl of frustration, the dog slammed both its fist into the ground, creating a shockwave that jutted pillars of rocks from the grounds, while launching Spike in the air. Spike spreads his wings as he gently floated back down. The young dragon landed on one of the pillars, before he flipped himself to another as the dog throws a fist at the dragon.

Remembering his magic sparring sessions with Applejack, Spike landed a distance from the dog, fire katanas dispersing from his hands as he assumes another fighting stance, "Bring it!" He beckoned the dog to come over.

Snorting viciously, the dog accepted the invitation as he charges towards Spike and pounced the young dragon. However, this is exactly what the Dragon Prince was anticipating. Catching the dog by surprise, Spike rolled on his back, kicking his legs out, flipped the dog off of him and into a huge crate of fishes.

Watching from a safe distance, is the silent Cerulean Hunter Commando, Shade Stalker. Shade Stalker had escaped with a few of his men, after their recent ordeal with some dangerous, never before seen foe of a creature. While most of his men had retreated for shelter, Shade stayed behind when he caught sight of a battle between Spike and the dog. The silent commando observed the fight between the two mighty fighters. The dog relied heavily on brute strength, while the dragon was shown to have enhanced agilities, quick reflexes, equipped with powerful fire powers in a display of martial arts to duel his opponent.

Shade scratched his chin, intrigued by this display of combat. His thoughts soon drifted elsewhere when he quickly caught sight of Skystar, hiding behind the crates.

With that, the hunter silently slipped away, concealed by the cloaks of the shadows, unnoticed. Or so he thought.

Back in the fight, Spike was still at it with the rock dog who continues to bark viciously as he savagely bites after the dragon, "Stay down, will you?" Spike grumbled, growing more irritated with the dog's persistence. "Didn't anybody ever taught you how to sit, or something?" In response, Crunch thrusted his arms into the ground, digging up the dirts as he burrows his way into the ground. Spike stood calm as he closed his eyes, got down on his hands, to feel the vibrations of the Rock Dog's movements underground. Then at the last minute, Spike leapt up in the air, before he does a front flip and lands an axe kick, just as Crunch jumped out of the ground. 

Skystar was watching the battle behind the crates, when a hand reached out from behind and pulled her from her perch.

"MMmmmf!!" Skystar screamed, muffled by a muzzle that was strapped around her mouth.

Skystar struggled to break free, but it was no use. Her captor was obviously strong, and he's got a firm grip on her as he held her down to the ground, nearly crushing the life out of poor Sky. However, fate once more was smiling down on our heroes, when from the shadows, a kunai blade was thrown and it scratched the shoulder padding on Spike's armor, enough to grab his attention.

"Hey, what the-" Spike's eyes widened to see Shade attempting to make off with Sky. "HEY YOU!!" Spike shouted, hurling a fire javelin at Shade. However, the silent hunter quickly rolled to the side, before he pulled out some state-of-the-art pistols equipped with silencers and pulled the triggers on Spike.

Thankfully, courtesy of his magic lessons with Twilight, Spike conjured a fire shield around his arm, repelling most of the bullets, while his armor protected him from the rest. In the meantime, Crunch quickly pounced from behind, pinning Spike to the ground, "Get off of me!" Spike struggled, kicking the rock dog off before he ran over to save Sky.

However, Shade quickly jumped in between the two, projecting a pair of long dark energy blades from his wrists, slashing at Spike, cutting off a bit of his whiskers, "That's what I call a close shave," Spike muttered, before he conjured his fire katanas as he parried with Shade's dark energy blades.

Spike quickly sweeps his tail across the ground, only for Shade to anticipate this by doing a quick backflip, evading the attack before he held a wrist out and fired a mini-rocket at the young dragon. Reacting fast, Spike slashed his katana at the rocket, cutting it in half, resulting an explosion of smokes. Using this to his advantage, Shade quickly charged towards Spike and slashed his blade at Spike. Spike struggled to block every slash of dark energies from the hunters, but a few fast slashes were able to pass Spike's blocks, striking to specific areas on the young dragon's armor.

Luckily, thanks to his armor, Spike was well protected. But not for long as cracks started to form. Just as Shade was about to thrust his blades at some exposed areas of Spike's body, Crunch pounced from the ground, catching the two fighters off guard.

"Consider yourself buried!" Crunch growled, as he thrashed both Spike and Shade all over the place. Thinking fast, Shade quickly slashed one of his blades at Crunch, slicing through the rock dog's arm. "AAARRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!" Crunch roared in pain, dropping both of them, while clutching the stump on his right arm.

Spike and Shade watched as the dog quickly regenerated his severed arm, before he angrily locks onto Shade and charged at the silent hunter who quickly retreated into the shadows, from where he continues his assaults on the angry rock dog.

While the two continued to duke it out, Spike quickly ran back to fetch Sky, cutting her free.

"I hate to run away from a fight, Sky," Spike began. "But I don't want to see you getting captured by those Cerulean Creeps!"

Skystar moaned as the gruesome images of the kitchen she witnessed flashed through her head, "Not getting served as dinner would be nice," She groaned.

However, before the two could go anywhere, who should appear in front of them, than Shade himself, who narrowly cuts the two friend down to size, had Spike not sensed his present and jumped back at a safe distance.

"Hey leave us alone, will you?" Spike frowned, growing annoyed. "I'm trying to get my friend back to the sea, so why not make like a tree and leave?" In a defiant response, Shade raised his blade up, only for a kunai with chain to lasso his arms.

"COWABUNGA!!!" A voice shouted, and Shade was met with a surprise kick to the face. The newcomer revealed herself to be none other but Lemon Zest.

"Lemon Zest?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Yo, Spike!" Lemon greeted. "Long time no see!"

"We just met him three weeks ago at Mario's Pizzeria & Pastas," Sugarcoat reminded bluntly, as she and the rest of the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts made themselves known.

"What are you girls doing here?" Spike asked.

"We're here to help!" Sour Sweet quickly answered, before firing an ice and explosive arrow at Shade, who quickly activated a mini-rocket and a flamethrower from his wrist, countering the arrows as they exploded in the air.

Before long, a loud screech pierced the air, causing Shade to look up, blinded by a dazzling display of light, before he was hit by a pair of strong claws that knocked him off his feet.

"Peewee!" Spike exclaimed, as the phoenix makes a quick turn and perched on the dragon's arm.

"Hold on tight!" Lemon began, as she and her fellow Shadowbolts each took out a small white ball. "We're outta here!"

With that, the Shadowbolts all threw down some smoke bombs, covering their escape with Spike and Sky, just as Shade got up on his feet. The silent hunter clenched his fist in frustration before he took his leave.





Everywhere else in Klugetown, the Diamond Dogs and their savage comrades were all evenly matched with the Cerulean Hunters. The whole town was literally painted red, as the hunters would often hack down any creatures who gets in their way, though the majority of them have suffered fatal casualties at the claws and teeth of the shadow creatures that mauled them mercilessly, and eating the hunters, alive. It wasn't long before the hunters were forced to retreat.





Onboard the Wailing Condor


"Is everyone alright?" Blacksky asked. "Status report!"

"Yes sir!" One of the injured hunters began. "We've lost a lot of our men. Some of us have lost some parts too. These are all that's left of us during that entire conflict." As proof, the hunter showed a whole pile of bloodied weapons and tattered headgears as the remnants of what's left of their deceased comrades.

"What were those things?" Another frightened hunter asked with a huge bite mark on chest.

"Who cares? I'm more interested on getting out alive." Another shouted.

Kale looks around notices something missing, "Where are Wing Diver and Rotor?" He asked.

As if on cue, the duo arrived at the hanger. The two mech wearing dogs were hauling a large iron net containing a few molemen, a couple Diamond Dogs, and an anthropomorphic rhino.

"I see you two brought back some souvenirs," Kale noted.

One of the hunters grabs a rifle and points at the goons, "I say we kill these freaks right here, right now!!!" He yelled with his comrades agreeing with him, but Kale manages to calm them down.

"Easy boys, I have a better idea," He said as he approaches the prisoners. "You lot are gonna tell us everything we want to know about those creatures."

"I like to see you try you damn dirty human!" The anthro rhino sneered in defiance, "You'll never make us talk!" His cohorts nodded in agreement.

Keeping his cool, Kale just shrugs and says, "Maybe not, but I know someone who might. Take em to the brig!" He ordered.

Couple of hunters grab somestun batonsthat cackle with dark energy and release the goons from the net. They then take the goons to their cells, more roughly then necessary.

Kale then hears his communicator going off and answers it, "Yeah?"

"Kale you there?" Raider said on the other end.

"Aye, that I am. What's your status Raider?" Kale replied.

"Lost half our guys to those.....things. I just ordered a full scale retreat for my boys, you should do the same for yours."

"Way ahead of ya, Raider."

"Any ideas what those things were?" Raider asked.

"Guess is as good mine, old friend. We did capture some stragglers that might know though. Gonna take em to Ajax. He'll get 'em to squeal." Kale explained.

"I think we gave Shade enough time to plant the bombs." Raider said, "If that over sized varmint think he's won, he's got another thing coming."

"Roger that. I'll see ya later, Raider." Kale said

"Right, over and out."

"Commander Blacksky!" A hunter yelled as he ran up to his commander.

"What is it hunter?" Kale asked, curious on what he has to say.

"We've managed to magic scan those creatures and get this, we detect not Equestrian or Earth magic but Fœnum magic."

Kale's eyes widen at this, "You mean to tell me they came from the world of talken' ungulates?" He asked.

"I know it's hard to believe sir but that's what the scans are telling us." the hunter exclaimed.

"Well, that answers one question, but it brings up so many." Kale said as he puts a hand on his chin. He then turns to the hunter, "That'll be all, dismiss." The hunter saluted as he makes his leave, leaving the Cerulean Commander alone with his thoughts.





Meanwhile, back with the heroes


"SPIKE!! SKY!!" The Knights all shouted, joyful to be reunited with their dragon friend.

"We thought you two were goners!" Pipsqueak said.

"We almost were," Spike replied, before he turned to the Shadowbolts. "But thank these girls, we weren't."

"Huh?! What are you doing here?" Rumble scowled, still not trusting the reformed Shadowbolts, together with the rest of the boys.

"Questions later," Sunny replied. "Right now, let's get the heck out of here!"

"There's a nearby shipyard, not too far away," Capper said, as he quickly guided the heroes to the said area.

Upon reaching the yard, they find that there's only one airship left, while the rest were gunned down by the Condor.

"Not quite like the Scarlet Swashbuckler," Celaeno said, "But it'll have to do." With that, the heroes all boarded the remaining ship.

Just then, Pip feels a tap on the shoulder. He turns around and sees a small group of the town denizens.

"Excuse me but do you mind if we could hitch a ride with you? Please?" One of them named Verda asked sheepishly.

The other heroes looked at each other, "Do you promise not to eat our seapony friend?" Spike asked.

They all nod.

"Then welcome aboard. But remember, we're watching you." Indigo warned.

As everyone boards the ship, Capper and Button notices that one of the refugees is the little calf that kicked them earlier. She just gives them both a glare and goes about her business.

Spike then turned to Celaeno and Pipsqueak, "Can you make this ship fly fast enough to escape those hunters?" He asked.

"Don't worry, dearie," Sunny reassured, walking up to the young dragon. "We've slipped a little surprise for them."





Raider and his squadrons have retreated back into their trucks and were driving away from Klugetown.

"Happy birthday, Verko," Raider grinned as he pressed a button on his remote. No sooner did he do that, however, when both he and his men heard some rapid beeping close by. "Oh sh-"

Before the commando had time to finish his sentence, the trucks, hoverbikes, even some of the jetpacks onboard the Wailing Condor exploded.

Kale Blacksky was even more furious, "Jesus Christ!" He grumbled. "How could we have missed that?! Why didn't anyone noticed they've had some charges on their jetpacks?"

The hunters all exchanged their responses when another appeared on deck, "Commander! The prisoners! They're gone!"

"WHAT?!!"





Shade watches on as the airship departs, curious on where it's going. He brings out a strange looking cube but with a push of a button transforms into a metallic raven who then turns to it's master, awaiting instructions. Shade points to the airship and the raven nods, it flies towards the airship but not to close to get spotted.

Shade then hears a growl and sees the predators surrounding him. Shade reaches something from his pocket and the beasts tense themselves to see what it is, but as it turns out it was just a flask from which he drinks from.

The predators snorts at this make their leave, with Shade continuing to look on at the airship.





Verko grins seeing the hunters retreating, "Yes, run little humans! This is what you get when you mess with me!" The crooked anthropomorphic naked mole rat cackled, before he was surrounded by packs of shadowy creatures, together with Crunch, Diamond Dogs, some of his remaining mole men, as well as the prisoners who had been rescued.

"Oy, cutting it a little close there, eh boss?" One of the thugs asked, while looking at the shadow creatures who were all eyeing them viciously with hungry eyes and bloodied jaws.

"Not that we don't appreciate the assistance," One of the Diamond Dogs whimpered. "But who exactly are these?"

"Fellas, please welcome your new partners," Verko began. "The Predators."





Meanwhile, with our heroes


After some close calls, and a few desperate flights, Spike, Skystar, their friends, along with the fortunate surviving residents have arrived in a forest, just on the outskirt of the desert, due south of Klugetown.

The Shadowbolts were on look out, while making sure to carefully hide their tracks from the hunters, with Peewee circling above them for further security measures. The Knights, Celaeno, and Capper have made camp, together with the residents who escaped, while Spike took Sky too a nearby river for refreshments.

"That was close," Spike panted, before he took the chance to look at the nerve bullets that he managed to pluck from his armor. "Too close." Spike suddenly heard some short breaths, prompting him to look over, seeing Skystar shivering. “Hey, it's okay Sky. You're alright now," He said sincerely trying to comfort the little sea pony.

Much to his surprise, Skystar burst out laughing happily, much to Spike’s confusion, “Sorry! It’s just that-Well, I feel so alive!” Skystar exclaimed excitedly. “I never thought we'd have such an adventure! Even better than when we battled the Shadowbolts and Nightmare Smooze!”

Spike chuckled nervously, "Yeah, an adventure," Spike replied. “If that's what you called getting chased around town by sea pony eating creatures, getting kidnapped by a cook, and me nearly getting cooked in the pot," Spike quickly recalled what he had witness earlier in the kitchen. "Hey Sky. I was wondering, what happened to you in the kitchen?" He asked. "You looked kinda zoned out back there."

Knowing what he was referring to, Sky looked down, padding her flippers at the softness of the grasses for some reliefs, "That octopus, you see," She began. "It made me think about my dad, and how I lost him."

"Oh," Spike frowned. "What happened to him? That is, y'know if you want to talk about it," He added, trying not to sound too insensitive.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Skystar began to tell the story.
> The Little Sea Pony Returns To The Sea Part 4: Seaquestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Past


It was back when Skystar was still a hippogriff, along with her family and friends. At that time, all was peaceful and prosperous for the hippogriffs on their former home, Mt. Aris.

Skystar was content with her life, because she still had her wings to fly, for fun, for freedom, and most of all, with her father, King Nimbus. King Nimbus was a strong and proud hippogriff, who rules the hippogriff's kingdom with a strict, but fair demeanor, together with his wife and Sky's mother, Queen Novo.

Although he was strict, whenever Skystar was around, his stoic demeanor would melt to reveal the loving father he is. Whenever he has some free times he can spare, King Nimbus would often go flying with his daughter, just for the fun of it. Sometimes, they would even go down to the beach to collect some shells, and build some sand sculptures and such.

It was an outing on the beach, when it all happened, "What you got there, Sky?" King Nimbus asked.

Skystar giggled before she presented a necklace, decorated with the shells she and her dad had been collecting, "It's a friendship necklace daddy!" She beamed. "For you!"

"Oh. Why thank you dearest," King Nimbus smiled, as he gratefully accepted the necklace don around his neck.

"Daddy?" Sky smiled. "We're friends for life. Right?"

Nimbus smiled, "Right."

"And we'll always be together!"

Nimbus's face turned solemn, before he lectured, "Sky. Let me tell you something, that my father told me," Directing his daughter's attention up to the night sky, he began, "Look at the stars. The great rulers of the past looked down on us, from those stars."

"No way! Really?!" Skystar beamed with excitement.

"Yes," Nimbus nodded. "So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those leaders will always be there to guide you. And so will I."

Just then, a hippogriff guard came and intruded on them, "Your majesty! Your majesty!" He panted.

"General Seaspray?" King Nimbus asked with concern.

"We've been attacked!" Seaspray panted. "Thieves! The magic pearl's been taken!"

"WHAT?!!"





The thieves who tried to take the pearl both go by the names, Cherry Pie and Mort. The two hooligans had snuck into Queen Novo's room while she was attending some royal business, to steal her magic pearl. Needless to say, they were both caught in the act, and an all out battle between the hippogriffs and the thieves.

Despite being outnumbered, Cherry Pie had proven herself to be a formidable opponent as she fought them all with quick reflexes that matched perfectly with her surprisingly uncommon strength. One by one, all of the guards were knocked to the ground, and none could get close enough to retrieve the pearl. All, except one.

"Do you dare come into my home and try to steal from me?" Queen Novo asked venomously. "No creature wrongs the Hippogriffs. You will pay dearly!"

"I've already paid dearly," Cherry Pie replied defiantly. "Once I deliver this pearl to my master, then he will reward me quite handsomely, and you will not stand in my way!"

With a loud screech, Queen Novo lunged towards Cherry Pie, determined to get her pearl back. In response, Cherry Pie too charged into battle, before at the last second, she rolled on the ground, sweeping her legs out, only for Queen Novo to dodge the attack, before she countered with a slash of her claws, striking Cherry in the chest. Cherry fell on her back for a moment, before she picked herself back up, with the pearl still in her saddle bags. Queen Novo ran towards her in a zig-zagged formation, before as a blur of pink, she leapt up in a flying kick to Cherry's face.

Having enough, Cherry retaliated with several blocks, before she countered with a well aimed kick to Queen Novo's stomach, followed by a punch to the face.

"You would dare to strike me?!" Queen Novo asked, wiping a blood from her beak.

"Get use to it, Queen! Get her Tempest!" Mort cheered for his partner.

"You can't do that to my mommy!" Skystar shouted, as she and King Nimbus arrived, kicking Mort in the rear.

"Hi honey!" King Nimbus flew down to his queen, and eyed Tempest angrily. "Allow me to teach this thief some respect!"

"No need," Novo replied, stopping the king with her wings. "This one's mine!"

Resuming their battle, Queen Novo and Tempest continued to go one-on-one with each other. Unfortunately, Tempest began to grow tired as she finds herself unable to keep up with Novo's speed, until finally, she was pinned to the ground, "I'll take that!" Queen Novo said, as she snatched the pearl form the bags. "It's over, Tempest," She began bitterly. "Leave now, or face my fury!"

Instead of cowering in fear, however, Tempest laughed mockingly, "On the contrary, your majesty," Tempest smirked. "You will face our fury!"

With a loud whistle, the hippogriffs looked up to see a storm cloud rolling in. Then, with cracks of thunders, a whole army of towering dark creatures rained down, and slowly advanced on the hippogriffs.

"It's simple," Tempest began. "Give me the pearl, and your suffering will be quick."

"Better idea," Queen Novo replied, holding the pearl close. "Everyone! Into the castle! Now!" With that, the hippogriffs all returned to the castle, with the creatures following.

"STOP THEM!!" Tempest shouted. But it was no use. Queen Novo had chanted a magic spell, which she used to make the hippogriffs disappear in a flash of blinding light.

"W-Where'd they go?" Mort asked.





The answer was simple. The hippogriffs had all escaped underwater, where they've transformed themselves into hippocampus, or sea ponies to put it simply. Furthermore, using the power of her magic pearl, Queen Novo created an underwater utopia for her people. This utopia became known as Seaquestria.

Everything was good. But what can turn creatures into sea creatures, can turn sea creatures into.....well, creatures that aren’t of the sea, too.

Many of the sea creatures who thrived in Seaquestria have all became sentient from the pearl's magic. Among them was an octopus named Squirk. Unlike his fellow sea creatures who welcomed the sea ponies into their watery domains, he saw an opportunity concerning the sea ponies' magics.

What had given the hippogriffs a new power and a new home, also holds potentials for an even greater evil. One that seeks to dominate the surface world.


[Intelligence - Alan Rickman]






Present


Skystar stopped abruptly, covering her tearful face with her flippers, with Spike holding her close for comfort, "It's okay, Sky," Spike shushed. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to."

Skystar sobbed, “I was scared,” Skystar hugged herself. "It was horrible. So horrible," Skystar recalled the incident she had in the kitchen, back in Klugetown. "And when I saw that octopus, it made me think about daddy, and Squirk," Skystar sniffed a tear, "And how I lost him," Skystar cried some more, as she muttered, "The sound of Squirk's voice will haunt me for the rest of my life," She recalled.

"Long live the king!" Squirk said in a dark demonic tone.

Looking back with a look of disdain, Spike asked, "Whatever happened to this Squirk guy?"

"Squirk was gone," Skystar sobbed. "He and his armies have escaped before my mom and her guards could arrest him. He's out there, somewhere," Skystar sniffled even more as she continues to hug herself. "I'm just so scared. He could be watching me right now. What if he finds me? What if he hurts me and my mom again? I wished daddy was here." Skystar cried some more tears, with Spike, and some friends, looking on.

Seeing Skystar sad and alone was very heart wrenching. Normally, she’s the happiest, and the most outgoing of sea ponies. Well, the only one Spike and friends ever knew, and it pains them to see her like this.

Wanting to comfort her, Spike reached his arm out to pull her close, "I'm sorry about your dad, Sky," Spike spoke gently and calmly. "He sounded like an awesome guy."

"He sure is," Skystar replied, while nuzzling closer for comfort. "But I miss him so much."

Spike held Skystar closer, "Your dad is here," He pointed to her chest, where her heart lies.

Obviously, Skystar was confused, "Huh?"

"What I mean is, if you loved someone so much, then that love will never leave you. And even if you can't see your dad, he's still with you, in spirit. That way, you don't have to feel lonely all the time."

"Really?" Skystar asked, receiving a nod from Spike. "That's nice," The sea pony smiled sadly, "But I'll still miss him. I'll miss all those times when we fly through the sky together." Sky turned to Spike, "Don't get me wrong Spike. I like to swim. In fact, I love it. In a way, it's kinda like flying, except you're underwater. But without dad, it just doesn't feel the same."

Spike scratched his chin, before he looked up at the sky, not seeing an airship in sight, even through Peewee. He couldn't even sniff or hear any of the Cerulean Hunter's ships. Thinking it's safe, Spike changes in his dragon form, in a flash of fire.

"Come on, Sky," said Spike, as he got down on all four. "Hop on up."

"Why?" Sky asked.

"We're gonna go for a flight," Spike replied. "I'm sure your dad would've loved to see his little girl flying again. Wouldn't he?"

"But I can't fly. Not like this," Sky reminded to her sea pony form.

"That's okay. I'll carry ya," Spike replied. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course!"

"Then climb on," Spike repeated, to which Skystar complied. “Hold on tight, okay?” Sky nodded, wrapping her flippers around Spike's neck. Spike was still wearing his armor, even when he dragons up, since the armor was enchanted to remain on him. However, the Cape of Compassion provided itself as a comforting seat between the metallic surface for Skystar when she was on his back. Then, with a flap of his wings, Spike launched himself in the air, carrying Princess Skystar.

Skystar closed her eyes tightly, while tightening her grip around Spike's neck, frightened at their sudden takeoff, while feeling the strong wind blowing at her face, biting her skins. Once they came at the peak of their flight, Skystar slowly uncovered her eyes to see both she and Spike were flying above the clouds.




Owl City - How I Became the Sea




Skystar gasped, as she lets the spell of Princess Celestia's lights, combined with the mystifying structure of the clouds, taking control of her, "Wow," Sky gasped. 'I forgot how beautiful the skies were,' She thought.

"Enjoying the view so far?" Spike asked.

"Yeah!" Skystar beamed, feeling the wind blowing in her face, making her feel more lively. "This is so amazing!! Whoa!" Skystar nearly fell off when she held her flippers out. Luckily, she caught herself and Spike before she fell off.

"Take it easy there, Sky," Spike cautioned slightly. "Don't want you to become a sea pony splat on the ground, would we?"

Skystar chuckled nervously, "No, I guess not."

With another flap of his wings, Spike took Skystar further in the clouds, with the sea pony feeling the winds blowing stronger in her face. Reaching her flippers out, Skystar touched the fluffy textures of the clouds, running across her fins.

"Hold on tight," Spike warned. "Because we're going down!" With that, Spike tucked his wings as he begins descending closer to the ground, with Skystar holding on, screaming, not out of fear, but out of excitement.

"WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAA!!!" Sky screamed, as Spike was picking up speed upon his descent, before at the last second, he quickly opened his wings, catching himself and flies back up in the air, while trimming across the treetops. "Whoooo-hoooo!!! Again!" Skystar beamed.

"You want again?" Spike asked, earning an eager nod from Sky. "Then here we go!" With that, Spike and Sky continue to fly through the air, with Spike doing some more aerial tricks that Rainbow Dash had once taught him, further arousing Sky's excitement and joy.

Taking it up a notch, Spike flapped his wings to an even greater height, before he and Skystar plunged towards the ocean beneath them. Skystar tightened her grip around Spike's neck, tears running from her eyes and lips flapping to the breeze.


*CRASH!! SPLASH!!*


To Skystar's surprise, and sudden shock, both she and Spike had submerged underwater. Spike, still in dragon form, continues to flap his wings, spinning his tail, propelling himself faster through the water, with Skystar holding on. The sea pony looked around her to see a whole school of beautiful fishes swimming before and all around her. Skystar felt herself being blown away by a wave of colors, and the adrenaline of dragon's fight.

Skystar smiled gleefully, before both she and Spike slowly broke surface, where Spike did a spectacular backflip in the air, like that of a dolphin, before he and Skystar plunged back down to the waters and continue their flight through the coral reefs and the colorful fishes. Spike too was enjoying the colorful schools of fishes that were swimming around him.

"Whoo-hoo!" Skystar cheered, as Spike flapped his wings again and they broke the surface. Skystar was laughing herself to tears, before both she and Spike had enough and decided to take a calm flight in the clouds.

Spike's whole body was moving up and down, gently to the beats of his wings, with his tail moving in a gentle circular motion for a smoother flight - something he learned from Mako. Skystar was enjoying their flight, before she looked up to see a cloud, in the shape of a certain strong hippogriff she loved, with all her heart.

"Hi daddy," Skystar smiled at the cloud, releasing a single tear. "I'll never forget you. I'll love you always. Bye!" Looking back down at Spike, Skystar wrapped her flippers around Spike's neck, nuzzling up close in the back of his head. "Thank you, Spike!" She smiled. "You're the best."

Spike smiled, "You're welcome," He replied, while having a moment of nostalgia, as a memory flashed before him.





Past


It was on another trip to Japan with Scorpan, to learn the mysterious art of ninjutsu. The two were traveling to an island of Japan dubbed, Kyushu Island. It was there that Spike was fascinated in a local legend about a mysterious creature that lived in a lake that's not far from them. It is the story of Issie (Or in Japanese イッシー, Isshī), the lake monster of Lake Ikeda.

Through Scorpan's translation, Spike understood how the story goes, "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful white mare, who once lived on the shores of Lake Ikeda, with a little foal, whom she loved like any loving mother would. They would run together, play together, and sing together. Everything was good, until one fateful day."

"A dishonorable and wicked samurai was passing by, when he noticed the two horses together at Lake Ikeda. Bedazzled by their beauty, the samurai believed that a warrior such as himself deserved a beautiful horse for a steed. Therefore, he waited for when the mother left, leaving her young foal helpless as he was kidnapped and taken away by the samurai."

"Issie was so distraught at the loss of her child and her inability to locate him, that in her despair, she jumped into the lake and became a sea monster. From that day on, she can be seen surfacing from the dark waters of the lake, searching for her lost child."

Spike and the children all gasped in amazement to hear such an amazing, and sad story. Since then, on some occasions that Spike gets, he would come to Lake Ikeda, hoping to catch a glimpse of the monster.

One afternoon, Scorpan walked over to join his nephew, and asked, "Did you see Issie yet?"

"Nope! Not yet," Spike answered.

"And what do you plan to do when you see Issie?"

Spike opened his mouth, but only unsure stutters answered when he hesitated, "I...I...I don't know," Spike admitted. "It's hard to explain, but I kinda got this weird feeling that it has something to do with mom."

Scorpan looked shocked, "And what makes you say that nephew?" He asked.

"I don't know," Spike scratched the back of his head. "It's just, whenever I hear something about horses, magic, and in this case, a white mare with a lost foal, it....it....it all makes me think about mom for some reason. I wish I knew why exactly," Spike placed a hand over his head, struggling to find at least a single memory of his mother's face. In the meantime, Scorpan placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, trying his best to change topic.

Little did the two realized, a pair of sad eyes were looking at them, from far away, before it disappeared beneath the waters.





Present


“There it is!” Skystar exclaimed, startling Spike out of his trance. “Mt. Arise! I’m almost home!”

"Where?" Spike asked, trying to look through the clouds.

"Over there!" Sky exclaimed, pointing to a lone island, out at sea. Concentrating into his powers, Spike's eyes pulsed a fiery aura, as his visions via Peewee's zoomed in on the island. In appearance, the whole island is a huge mountain, with structures at the top that looked as if they're giant wings of a great bird, folding over the top protectively.

"Alright!" Spike smiled. "C'mon! Let's go and get the others!"

With that, Spike slowly descends back to the ground, with Skystar smiling, "Hey Spike?" Skystar spoke up, catching his attention.

"Yeah?" Before Spike knew it, Skystar gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Thank you," Skystar blushed.

Spike smiled, "You're welcome." Suddenly, the young dragon's whiskers twitched uneasily, feeling a disturbance in the air. He looked to some trees and caught sights of a flock of ravens, perched on some nearby trees. Upon closer look, however, Spike quickly realized they're no ordinary birds.





Meanwhile


"There they are!" One of the hunters, onboard the Wailing Conder exclaimed, as he pulled up a screen, displaying some video footages of the heroes, from afar.

"Hmmm," Blacksky pondered. "Interesting. Very interesting." He was more curious as to how a group of young human boys were even present in Equestria, let alone accompanying Celaeno, Capper, and a sea pony. And more surprisingly, a dragon.

"Shall we move in now to capture them, sir?" One of the hunter asked.

"Not yet," Blacksky replied. "First, I'd like to see where they are headed to exactly. Something tells me there's more to this than meets the eye."

The hunters looked back up at the screen, only to see nothing but statics, "What the hell?!"





Meanwhile, back with our heroes


The ravens turned out to be spy bots, deployed by the Cerulean Hunters. Thankfully, Spike, the Shadowbolts, and Peewee caught onto this crafty spying tactic, and the ninja girls and phoenix had taken out the robots.

After regrouping with their friends, and packing up their gears, Spike and Skystar continued their trip to Mt. Aris. First thing's first, they had to get across a ocean that separated them from the mainland and Mt. Aris, which isn't a problem since both Spike and Peewee managed to fly everyone across the waters. Afterwards, the friends, plus the remaining villagers from Klugetown, all climbed up the mountain on a long staircase that was built on the cliffs.

"Spike!" An exhausted Button Mash called out to his dragon friend, who had turned back into a human.

"Button Mash. What's wrong with ya?" Spike asked when he came back down, with Skystar in his arms, bridal style, and Peewee resting on his cape. "You know, we're nearly there."

"Nearly there?" Button panted. "Look at all those steps!"

"You should've gotten more exercise."

"I do exercise. Three hours of tennis. Two more for playing golf."

"The ones with video games don't count as exercise, wise guy," Spike countered.

"Well Mr. Fitness," Button began as he clings onto Spike. "Why don't you carry me-"

"Get off!" Spike brushed Button off, before they both resume their climb.

After a long and exhausting trek, they finally arrived in an open wide abandoned city. Peewee flapped his wings and disappeared into the clouds above.

"This is so much better than Klugetown," One of the Klugetown creatures sighed in content, already making himself at home. "I'm definitely moving in here." The other villagers quickly agreed, while the heroes went to look around.

"This is your home?" Rumble asked.

"Hmmm, charming place," Capper commented sarcastically. "I must get the name of your decorator."

"You sure this is the place?" Spike asked Skystar, who nodded, before she scans the area.

"If I remember, there's a secret passageway around here that can take us to Seaquestria," Sky tapped her chin.

"You've got a secret passageway?!" Featherweight asked.

"Well, looks like the cat's out of the bag now," Sugarcoat and Button Mash both said in unison. "Um, no offense," They both said to Capper. "Jinx!" They said to each other.

Skystar giggled, "If I show it to you, then can you promise not to tell it to anyone?" She asked.

"We promise Sky," Spike replied, as he and the others knew what to do.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," the friends chanted together, though Celaeno and Capper both struggled with theirs.

"But break a promise by Pinkie Pie, kiss your butt good-bye," Button added, much to everyone else's surprise. "Well it's true. She's merciless than she looked."

Getting back on topic, the friends followed as Skystar guided them through the streets of the abandoned city. Eventually, they arrived at a pile of rock, where they moved the debris out of the way to reveal a cavern that was concealed. Trekking carefully in the cavern, the friends all gasped to see that it lead them to a huge pool of water, where a huge lotus blossom rested in the center, surrounded by two great statues of horse heads where waters can be seen flowing from the heads, giving the impression of long flowing manes.

"Whoa!" The friends all marveled together at the grand designs of a huge room.

"This place is beautiful!" Featherweight commented as he snaps a few pictures.

"Amazing!" said Capper.

"Aye me," Captain Celaeno marveled. "I never thought I'd see such a place like this with me own eyes."

Setting Skystar down in the pool, Spike called out, "Uh, hello? Hippogriffs? We brought your princess back! Safe and sound! Hello?"

Skystar chuckled, "Oh Spike, you're so funny," She smiled. "This is only the entrance to where we hippogriffs are hiding!"

"This is the entrance?" Button Mash asked.

"Just hold on for a second," Skystar insisted while she looked around in the pool, and dove underwater.

Suddenly, the next thing the heroes knew it, the whole pool started to turn into a whirlpool, "SKYSTAR!!" Spike screamed, diving into the water to save the sea pony.

"Spike!!" Pipsqueak shouted as he struggled to grab his dragon friend. "Gotcha!" He shouted, grabbing ahold of his friend's cape, before he was quickly pulled off his feet.

"Looks like he got you!" Button pointed out.

"Hold on there Pip!" Celaeno shouted, lunging forward and grabbed Pip by the leg, but she ended up being pulled in as well.

"PILE ON EVERYONE!!" Rumble shouted, and the Knights all piled themselves on Celaeno. Unfortunately, they still got sucked in, nonetheless.

"Seriously? Is that the best they can do?" Capper asked.

"If you don't count being unspeakably annoying, then yeah," Sugarcoat answered.

"C'mon girls!" Sunny Flare shouted. "We've got to help!" With that, the Shadowbolts all swung a rope, successfully lassoing one of the Knights, only to get sucked in as well.

"I just know I'm going to regret this," Capper rolled his eyes, as he tried to grab the Shadowbolts, and ends up getting sucked in.





[The Shake Ups In Ponyville - Call Upon The Sea Pony]


After they all disappeared in the darkness of the water, the heroes soon found out they can breathe, with the aid of some huge air bubbles that were formed around their heads like diver helmets. Spike was an exception, however, considering how he simply conjured gills around his neck to breathe.

"Whoa!" Button exclaimed. "My life just flashed before my eyes there!"

"Now I know how those alligators must feel getting flushed down the toilet in New York City," Featherweight spluttered.

Turning to Skystar, Spike asked, "You couldn't have just told us that we'd enter Seaquestria through a swirling vortex of terror?"

Skystar simply giggled, "Surprised?"

"HALT!!" A booming voice sounded.

Then, without warning, a whole squad of armor clad sea ponies appeared from the waters, pointing their spears at the heroes.

"We come in peace!" Button Mash screamed, holding his hands up in defense.

Featherweight quickly held his shield up, Rumble looked ready for a fight, while Celaeno unsheathed her sword and pistol as she floated protectively over Pipsqueak. Then, appearing before the guards is an even bigger sea pony. Judging by his voice, and the authoritative vibe he displays in his appearance, he seems to be their leader of sort. In appearance, the sea pony is colored purple with light turquoise blue mane, fins, and matching fluke tail.

"Who are you?!" The purple sea pony demanded. "What are you doing here?!"

"General Seaspray!" Skystar beamed, as she swam up to the general.

"Princess Skystar?!" The general gasped in surprise, together with his men. "You're alive?!"

"I sure am!" Skystar smiled, before she pointed to Spike. "Thanks to Spike and his friends."

"Skystar?!" New voices called out, and several new sea ponies of sorts all made themselves known to the heroes and Sky. "Oh great Neptune! You're alive!"

"Haven! Selina! Cassie! Coral! Silver!" Skystar beamed, as she swam over and hugged the newcomers. "I've missed you all so much!" Looking over, Skystar waved her fin over to Spike. "Hey Spike! Boys! Celaeno! Come over here!"

The whole gang complied as they swam over to make acquaintance with Skystar's friends.

Skystar squealed with excitement as she swam over and introduced both Spike's group with hers, "Everyone meet everyone!" Skystar beamed, as she pointed to her girls. "Those are my sisters, Haven Bay and Selina Blue. That's my cousin Silver Stream. And over there is Coralita, or Coral for short. And that's Cassie!" Then, Skystar quickly introduced Spike's groups. "Girls! This is Spike! Those are his boys, the Knights: Button Mash, Rumble, Tender Taps, Pipsqueak, and Featherweight. That's Capper. That's Celaeno. And those girls are the Shadowbolts: Sunny Flare, Indigo Zap, Sugarcoat, Lemon Heart, and Sour Sweet!"

With that, both sides exchanged greetings. In the meantime, Spike took the chance to look at Skystar's friends.

In appearance, Haven Bay is colored white with orange fins on the head, tail, matching translucent wings on the back, dark freckles that framed her light turquoise eyes. Meanwhile her sister, identified as Selina Blue, appeared to be a purple blue sea pony with purple fins, matching translucent wings, and hairs that framed her wide, timid magenta eyes.

Silver Stream has very pale magenta scales, pale light grayish heliotrope flippers and matching translucent wings on her back, with her mane and tail colored light cornflower blue with streaks of light cornflower bluish gray, and moderate blue violet eyes.

Coralita is a sight to behold. In appearance, she has light aquamarine green scales with a long flowing sea green mane, with streaks of sea blue, tied in a ponytail by a band of pink pearls, and dazzling hypnotic mulberry eyes. She also wore a pink seashell in her mane, matching colored pearls as jewelries around her neck, and as a headband with a blue diamond in the center, and she appeared to be wearing blue encrusted pink shoes on her front hooves.

Lastly, Cassie has a unique appearance in terms of sea ponies. Unlike the rest of her friends, Cassie appears to be more serpentine than a pony. While she does have the head of a beautiful mare, Cassie has a series of long purple tipped fins that resembled those of a lionfish, sprouting off of her dark blue colored scales, almost giving her the appearance of a living forest of corals. Besides that, Cassie does have long frills at the sides of her head that Spike and Co. believed are her ears, white and blue frills that resembled a buzzcut at the top of her head, flowing down along her spine and ends in a fluke at the tip of her tail. And when she opens her eyes, they're revealed to be colored light blue with darker aqua blue pupils so large, they resembled beautiful pearls that have been bathed in the moonlight for so long.

Another thing Spike did noticed, unlike Skystar, her sisters, and cousin, both Cassie and Coralita don't have any translucent wings on their backs.

Skystar was clapping her flippers together, "It's so great to be home again!" She chirped. "I can't wait to see mom again. Omigosh! Mother! I'm so taking you to see my mom!" Skystar beamed as she took Spike's hand and started to pull him away. "She'll be so thrilled to meet you all!"

"Not so fast!" General Seaspray objected, barring entry for both the young sea pony and dragon boy. "Young princess. You can't just drag outsiders into our kingdom!"

"Fine! I won't!" Skystar frowned. "But if I could, then I'd totally take you in right now!"

"Not as long as I'm around."

"Well in that case, you're fired!"

"Hmm, nice try, but only your mother can do that."

Skystar fold her flippers together, pouting, "You're no fun!" She fumed.

"Besides, you've revealed our secret hideouts to these surface dwellers! Therefore we have no choice but to take them as our prisoners forever!"

"Your prisoners forever?! WAIT A MINUTE!!" Button exclaimed, before he shuts his eyes tightly. "You can't take me as your prisoner! I never saw anything! Don't you see? Because I certainly don't! He he he."

"Ha! Like that's going to fool them," Rumble grumbled.

"Hey! I'm under a lot of pressure here!" Button retorted.

Then, unexpectedly, General Seaspray burst out laughing, "Just kidding!" He laughed heartily, together with his guards. "But seriously, leave now! Queen Novo would never approve of surface dwellers in our kingdom!"

"Not even surface dwellers who saved my life and took me home?" Skystar asked.

General Seaspray sighed, "Look, it's nothing personal. It's just that, we've remained a secret from the outside world for many moons now, since we've been invaded. And that's how we're going to be for many more moons to come."

"But...but...." Skystar looked as if she was on the verge of breaking into tears, as she looked at Spike and their companions. Looking back at General Seaspray, she whimpered, "Are you saying I have to say good-bye?"

General Seaspray frowned, clearly succumbing to the princess's sad face. He quickly shook it off, as he said sternly, "That's the way it has to be."

Skystar dipped her head, "Then, good-bye general," General Seaspray was aghast, along with his guards at what they were hearing. "Good-bye girls," Skystar said to her sisters, cousin, and friends, much to their shock. Turning back to a surprised Spike, Skystar took him by the flippers, "C'mon Spike. Let's go."

"Uh, Sky?" Spike asked. "What-"

"Princess Skystar!" General Seaspray shouted, as he and his guards quickly swam in front of the young princess, stopping her and Spike. "What's the meaning of this?"

"What?" Sky asked. "You said I should say good-bye. So it's clear, if my new friends can't come to Seaquestria with me, then neither will I."

"What! No, wait a minute! Princess!" General Seaspray began. "That's not what I meant!"

"So my surface dwelling friends can come with me to Seaquestria?!" Skystar asked, beamingly.

"No! Not that!"

"Oh. So you don't want me to come to Seaquestria then."

With a frustrated groan, Seaspray sighed, "Alright, fine. We'll take you all to see the queen. But don't get any funny ideas. Am I clear?"

"Crystal sir!" Rumble saluted, together with the boys and girls.

"Follow me," General Seaspray ordered. The heroes all complied, while still being given suspicious looks from the guards.

"Wow, Sky," Spike complimented. "Well played."

Skystar giggled, "What did you think I am? An airhead or something?" She joked.

"Hehe, never for a second," Spike chuckled. Turning to his right, Spike nearly puffed at the sudden appearance of Cassie, and how close she is looking at him.

"Oh, sorry," Cassie apologized. "Did I scare you?"

"Uh.....just startled," Spike answered honestly. "A little." Spike continued to swim as casual as he can be, yet the strong sense of being stared at continues to linger. Looking to his right, Cassie's clear pearl eyes continue to remain fixated on him, "It's not polite to stare y'know," Spike said.

"Sorry," Cassie blushed. "It's just that, for a surface dweller, you're a fascination."

Spike felt flattered, "Of course you'd say something like that, Cassie," Coral added as she swam up to the kelpie. "He's the only fascinating surface dweller we've seen in ages!"

"And who are we?" Sugarcoat asked. "Chopped livers?"

At last, the heroes arrived at the end of the cave, arriving at a huge underwater paradise filled with beautiful corals of all kinds, populated by fishes and various sea creatures of all shapes and sizes, including sea ponies. In the center, forming from the ceiling in the near-like appearance of a giant chandelier is what appeared to be an underwater castle.





"Boys," Button began. "It looks like we've found Atlantis!"

The sea ponies all stopped what they were doing as they all eyed at the newcomers, while looking surprised at the appearance of their long lost princess.

"Hi everyone!" Skystar chirped cheerfully. "I'm home!"

Then, the sound of trumpets echoed underwater, and the heroes looked up to see some guards announcing, "Announcing her imperial majesty, Queen Novo!" With another blast of trumpets, there stood before the heroes, the queen of sea ponies.

In appearance, the sea pony has strong magenta colored eyes, her mane is a gradient of brilliant fuchsia to strong mulberry, and her coat was a scale of light fuchsias gray.

At first thrilled to see her mother again, Skystar cringed with fear under her mother's stern gaze, as she swam up to her daughter, "Princess Skystar! Where have you been?!!" Queen Novo asked sternly, before her gaze softened and she pulled her daughter close in for a hug. "Oh, don't you ever scare me like that again!" She spoke maternally before looking up and her eyes widen at the sight of Spike and friends. "WHAT?!! Surface dwellers?!!" She exclaimed, looking at the heroes sternly. "What's the meaning of this?! General Seaspray?"

General Seaspray was about to speak, "No no n-no! M-M-Mom, please! It is so not like that!" Skystar quickly spoke up for the heroes. "These surface dwellers are friends! They helped me get back home after I was taken by Nightmare Smooze!"

Queen Novo looked at the heroes, suspicion in her eyes still not leaving, "You saved my daughter?" She asked.

Remembering how he should behave before an authoritative figure, especially royalty, Spike bowed his head, "Yes, your majesty. We first met your daughter when she was a prisoner of Nightmare Smooze. We've been taking care of her until she is ready to return home. We don't mean any offense with our presence. We'll leave immediately if you wish."

The rest of the heroes looked at each other, before they followed Spike's example, "Yeah. What he said," Rumble said.

Princess Sky looked anxiously at her mother, Queen Novo, who looked solemn for a moment, before she chuckled, "Now why would I want such well-behaved surface dwellers to leave so soon?" Queen Novo asked. "Especially when those surface dwellers rescued my daughter and brought her  home, safe and sound?" Queen Novo's smile disappeared when she got a closer look at Spike. "Hmm, come to think of it. You do look familiar."

"Huh?" Spike asked. "How can that be? I don't remember meeting you. At least, not that I recall," Spike scratched his head, feeling confused.

"I'll be the judge of that. I am the queen after all," Queen Novo looked closely at Spike, taking note of his blazing green hair, matching piercing eyes, as well as his unusual appearance. 

"Queen Novo!" A sea pony guard swam in. "Queen Novo!" The guard stopped in front of the heroes and the sea pony queen, before he panted, "Your majesty! Airships, from the North!! Coming in fast!!"

Queen Novo simply huffed in confident, "So what?" Queen Novo asked. "They'll never find us here. We're safe. We always have."

Spike's eyes suddenly blazed green as his visions synced together with Peewee's, giving him a literal bird eyes view.

Through Peewee's eyes, Spike was horrified to see the familiar symbol of the Cerulean Hunters on the airships, together with the Wailing Condor leading a whole fleet of them, "Oh no!" Spike gasped, catching Queen Novo's attentions, together with the groups around him.

"Young one, what is it?" Queen Novo asked.

"Those aren't your average airships!" Spike answered. "They're the Cerulean Hunters!"

"Cerulean Hunters?" Novo raised an eyebrow. "Never heard of them."

"Cerulean Hunters are notorious poachers who hunt magical creatures for a profit," Sunny answered. "Including all of you sea ponies!" Queen Novo and the sea ponies all gasped in fear upon this revelation.

"And they're equipped with the latest state of the art technologies that can find any magical creatures. So there's literally no hiding from them," Sugarcoat added.

"And they'll even eat us too!" Skystar added in fright. "I should know, because they almost tried to eat me too!"

"WHAT?!!" Queen Novo shouted. "How dare they! Trying to eat my own flesh and blood? Nobody, human or creature ever tries to eat one of my own babies and gets away with it! I demand justice for this outrage! General Seaspray!"

"Your highness!" The general saluted.

"Gather your best men! Ready yourselves for these hunters! We'll give them a fight of their lives!"

"At once, your majesty!" With that, General Seaspray and his troops swam into actions.

Queen Novo then turned to the rest of the sea ponies, "The rest of you, take the children to safety! Do not come out until further notice!"

"You heard mom!" Haven shouted. "Go! Stay down and stay safe!"

Spike looked around him, seeing the sea ponies swimming frantically around Seaquestria in fright, while General Seaspray's soldiers were armed themselves with long sharp spears, tridents, shields, and long whips made of seaweeds. Looking up at Queen Novo, Spike spoke, "Queen Novo, your majesty," He bowed respectfully. "Let me lend your people my strength and skills."

"You?" Queen Novo asked. "What can you do?"

"Oh, a lot of stuff mom!" Princess Skystar beamed, speaking on Spike's behalf. "Spike can fight! He can fly! He can spit fire! And he fight! Oh wait, I've said that already, but still, he can fight!" The enthusiastic sea pony exclaimed, clapping her flippers excitedly while swimming circles around her mom. "He's the reason why I'm still here, and haven't been eaten yet!"

"Really?" Queen Novo asked, turning to Spike.

"Yeah! He's got the powers alright!" Button Mash spoke up, together with the Knights, the Crystal Shadowbolts, Capper and Celaeno backing up.

"Besides, no one else know how these hunt creeps operate, besides us," Spike added. "So if we're all going to stand a chance, let us help you out."

Queen Novo looked to her daughter, "Can they mom? Please!" Skystar pleaded. "They're our friends, and we can trust them!"

Queen Novo looked stern, "We'll need all the help we can get," She answered. "So if you youngsters know a thing or two about fending these goons off, then just do it."

"You can count on us, your majesty," Spike bowed his head. Spike’s eyes started to glow green and became reptilic. “Dragonfire!!!” With that, Spike's transformation begins with his body engulfed in a coat of green fire.


*Jake Long Dragon Transformation*


Queen Novo, Sky's sisters, cousin, and friends could hardly believe their eyes. Spike's body grew long, slender, and muscular again, with his huge wings sprouting, followed by his tail, whiskers, fins, and horns. The Dragon Hero has entered, "That's where I remembered you," Queen Novo eyes widened. "You're the lost Prince of Equestria!"

"The Dragon Prince?!" Haven Bay gasped, together with the girls.

"Welp, he's not lost anymore," Skystar beamed.

"Now it's our turn!" Button added as he and the Knights all joined in. Button Mash was the first to sound off, "Wisdom!" He declared, followed by Rumble, Tender Taps, Pipsqueak, and Featherweight as they respectively shouted, "Honor! Valor! Courage! Purity!" And in flashes of multicolored lights, the boys all changed into their pony forms, don up in armors.
> The Little Sea Pony Returns To The Sea Part 5: The Battle For Seaquestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Mermaids OST]


The Wailing Condor was flying over Seaquestria, with the Cerulean Hunters arming themselves for another hunt of magical creatures. This time, Sea Ponies are the main course for them.

"Oh, I can just taste those delicious sea ponies now!" One of the hunters licked his chops, hungrily. "It'll be so much better than all those disgusting fishes we've been forced to eat for the past weeks!"

"Don't forget soldier," Kale began, making his presence known. "The majority of these precious sea creatures are for our client. But if we're successful, then he just might leave us a few for dinner."

The hunter nodded his head, "Understood."

Looking back at all of the hunters onboard the ship, Kale shouted, "Ready the mines! We'll blast these Sea Ponies out of hiding!"

With that, the hunters all activated some huge metal balls with spikes, causing them to flash red lights before hurling them down into the waters of Seaquestria, and all around Mt. Aris.

Up on the surface, the surviving civilians from Klugetown who had just taken residence in Mt. Aris, all looked up with dread, "No, not again!" One of them moaned.

Meanwhile, beneath the waters, and hidden among the cliffs of Mt. Aris, Queen Novo's soldiers were all in position. The soldiers under the water have armed themselves with spears and tridents of sorts, while the ones in the mountain were changed into hippogriffs, and were armed with an array of cannons, and crossbows. Stationing with them in the cliffs are Spike and his group of heroes.

As the Cerulean Hunters rained several storms of missiles and mines from the Wailing Condor, the soldiers beneath the water were all swimming in a zig-zagging and circle-like pattern, in an attempt to throw the hunters' aims off, though a few were a little too close.

"Ready. Aim...." General Seaspray began, raising his talon up, before slashing forward, "FIRE!!!"

With that, the hippogriffs all fired their cannons and arrows, up at the Wailing Condor, and striking down some of its surrounding air fleets. Many of the hunters who fell overboard plunged into the water, where they were skewered by the sea ponies armed with their spears and tridents.

Sour Sweet readied her arrow, carefully taking aim, before at the last second she released her grip on her arrow's tip, letting it fly. However, this particular arrow she fired was equipped with a homing technology, allowing it to make a smooth upward turn, straight towards a hunter. Furthermore, with the power and strength from her arm, the arrow flew at a blinding speed that was too fast for a naked eye, as the hunter was caught off guard and fell from the deck of the airship.

"Nice shot, Sour!" Indigo complimented as she and the girl shared a quick high-five.

But the worst has yet to pass, "So, these magical creatures want to play rough, eh?" Kale asked. "Air fighters! Away!"

With that, the hunters who were equipped jetpacks, along with those on hover bikes, all leapt off from the Wailing Condor, blasting into the fray, "Get them out of the waters!" Kale commanded. "Magical sea creatures are powerless out of their watery domain!" With that, most of the flying hunters quickly hurled several powerful explosives that sent many of the sea ponies into the air, where they were quickly captured by most of the hunters.

"I don't think so!" Sour Sweet snarled, taking another aim, and shot an arrow at the hunters, forcing them to release the sea ponies back into the water.

"YEAH!! TAKE THAT SEA WORLD!!!" Button Mash cheered. "It's revenge of the sea!"

"Fire on the cliffs!" Kale ordered. With that, many of the hunters who were behind the cannons all shot some missiles towards the armies on the cliffs, exploding upon impact. Kale laughed crudely, before he took a closer look.

When the smokes cleared up, the hunters were shocked to see Mt. Aris was still standing, and completely clean of craters made from explosives. Instead, a sudden flash of green fire and the hunters were thrown off by the sudden appearance of a purple serpentine winged dragon, clad in a suit of armor, wearing a red cape, leading a whole flock of hippogriff guards.

'Boosted dragon!' Spike shouted mentally, releasing a powerful fireball that exploded and took out many of the hunters, while the hippogriffs around him all screeched angrily as they slashed their claws, and viciously snapped their beaks, tearing the hunters off of their hover bikes, and ripping their jet packs off.

"A dragon?!" Kale shouted, before he looked through his binoculars and spotted Spike flying among the hippogriff guards. "Wait a minute...that's the dragon Jason described!" Kale cracked a wicked grin. "Well then, looks like it's high time for a little payback!"

"Commander!" One of his men shouted.

Kale turns to him, "What is it?"

"We're getting some strange readings of that dragon, sir." The hunter explained, showing his commander the scanning device, which displays the levels of magic from Spike.

Kale raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"I-I don't know, sir. It's not like any other dragons we scanned." The hunter explained.

Kale was in deep thought about this, 'There's no way we could get a reading like that from a dragon' He thought inwardly to himself, 'Unless...' He then turns to the hunter, "Order all hunters to capture that dragonalive! I don't care how, just as long as they bring him back breathing!"

The hunter saluted, "Yes sir!" Turning to his comrades, the hunter shouted, "Hunters! Forget the sea ponies!! Target the dragon! Make sure he's captured alive!"

This didn't go unheard, as Spike looked around him to see the hunters were all turning their attentions on him, aiming their guns with red dots projected on his whole body, "Aw, man...." Spike moaned. "Not this again..." With a pull of a trigger, the hunters all fired a storm of nerve bullets, only for Spike to swiftly and skillfully caught them all as he spins himself into a tornado, before launching them back at the hunters.

Unfortunately, the hunters were armored with thick bullet proof jumpsuits, "This one's got an attitude!" One of the hunters exclaimed. "And a badass one!"

"Well then, give him an MPG!" Another shouted, as they got out the said anti-magic grenades.

"Not this time!" Spike said to himself, remembering his magic defense lessons with Twilight. At the last second, the grenades were thrown, and Spike disappeared in a flash of green fire, just as the bombs made impact.

"What! Where'd it go?!" One of the hunters asked in bewilderment.

"I'm right here, Dog Face!" Spike announced, in dog form as he jumps at one of the hunters, and bit him on the nose.

"OW!! GET IT OFF!!" The hunter cried out, before he and Spike fell off the hover bike and plunged towards the waters below.

Concentrating into his powers, Spike sprouted his wings, and flew off, while narrowly evading the hunters' fires. In the meantime, the rest of the hippogriff guards tried to help their dragon comrade, but were all ensnared by electric nets and bolas, causing them to plunge from the sky.

Luckily, the hippogriffs were rescued by the combined efforts of both Spike and the Sea Pony Guards, before the Dragon Prince flew back into the crossfires.

The rest of his friends all anxiously watch from the cliffs, "He's not gonna last much longer," Sugarcoat said bluntly. "At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Spike gets shot down and taken away by those magic poachers."

"Geez, no kiddin' Miss Obvious," Indigo grumbled.

Sour Sweet quickly readied her arrows, "I'll save him!"

"No!" Sunny Flare shouted, stopping the Shadowbolt archer in time. "It's too risky, even with your skills and arrows, dearie. You could hit Spike."

"Then what'll we do?" Sour asked.

"We go in!" Rumble shouted, as flapped his wings and charged into the fray, wielding the Sword of Honor in hand.

"Rumble! NO!!" Celaeno shouted, but to no avail.

Rumble charging headfirst into the fray didn’t go unnoticed, “Sir! We got a bogey! It’s one of those Equestrian ponies!” A hunter reported. “It appears to be aiding the dragon!”

“Then it’s just one more of our enemies,” Kale noted. “GET THE PONY AS WELL!!”

Locking eyes on Rumble, many of the flying hunters all projected blades of pure energies, slashing at Rumble who quickly parry with his sword.

“We gotta get in on the actions!” Pipsqueak said. “We just got to help Spike and Rumble!”

“And how do we do that?” Featherweight asked. “We can’t all fly up there. And I’m not strong enough to carry all of you guys.”

“Argh! If only we had gotten our hands on one of their hover bikes,” Indigo grumbled.

Just then, a missile came flying and it struck the mountain, blasting a hippogriff guard  off his perch.

“AAAAHHHH!!!” The guard screamed.

“FATHER!!” A younger hippogriff screeched, lunging forward and caught his father by the talon. “I’ve got you!”

Unfortunately, the cliff beneath them suddenly gave way and the two hippogriffs plunged towards the water below.

"Hang on!" Button Mash shouted as he and Celaeno jumped after the hippogriffs, catching them by the neck, before Button hurled a long chain with a block at the end towards a cliff, snaring a branch, catching themselves in time, and swinging back up to the cliffs.

“You guys okay?” Button asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” The hippogriff answered, while on behalf of his father. "Thanks for saving us back there," The hippogriff smiled. "Name's Terramar. And this is my dad, Sky Beak."

“Pleased to meet you all,” Sky Beak bowed gratefully.

In appearance, Terramar has moderate cyan eyes that matched with his mane and tail with streaks of pale turquoise, and fluffy apple greenish white feathers and fur.

Sky Beak is taller than his son, with piercing brilliant gamboge eyes, light azureish and sapphire bluish gray mane, with pale, light grayish sapphire blue coat of feathers and fur. He was clad from head to hooves, talons, and wings, in a suit of gold armor plates with symbol of an underwater plant imprinted on the chest.

Before the pleasant meet and greet could go on any further, another explosion sounded off, and the heroes looked out to see the battle that was still raging on outside.

"What's it gonna take to drive these hooligans off?" Sky Beak muttered.

"I've asked myself that question many times," Capper muttered.

Terramar anxiously watched the battle raging on outside, before he noticed some of the hunters who managed to slip past the front lines of the sea ponies and hippogriffs' defenses, "Oh no! Dad! They got through!" He squawked in alert.

"WHAT?!!" Sky Beak's eyes zoomed in on the hunters who got through, before he squawked. "Cliff Squad D, defense maneuver! Go! Go! Go!"

With that, several armored hippogriff guards quickly picked up some shields and lances, which they used to protect themselves from the hunters' bullets, as well as their anti-magic grenades while driving them off with their lances.

"Look!" Rumble shouted, pointing everyone's attention to show more flying hunters were coming in, together with a whole flock of robotic vultures. "They just don't quit!"

"This is terrible!" Terramar whimpered. "At this rate, we'll be outnumbered, and we'll lose more than just our home!"

"Not if we can help it!" Button declared, Helmet of Wisdom flashing a golden aura. "Terra! Can you give me and Pip a lift?"

"Sure," Terra replied, as he got down to allow both boys to get on. "Ow! Easy with the mane!" Terra replied, when Pip took a strong grip on the hippogriff's mane.

"Wait a minute!" Celaeno exclaimed when she took notice of the boys' action. "What are ya scalawags doing?"

"Let's ride!" Button shouted, with a kick to Terramar's side, and the hippogriff thrusted himself into the air, flapping away with the boys on his back.

"GET BACK HERE!!!" Celaeno squawked, before she jumped onto Sky Beak and ordered. "Follow those boys!"

Terra was flapping his wings, before he and the two Knights on his back met up with Rumble, "Hey guys!" Rumble greeted his comrades before he noticed their new hippogriff friend. "Who's this?"

"No time for meet and greet!" Button interrupted. "We gotta take out these hunters and give them a good fashion kick to their damn ass!"

Before the boys can continue their conversations, Celestia's sun was blocked out momentarily, beckoning the boys to look up and saw several Cerulean Hunters descending upon them.

"Get 'em boys!" One of them shouted.

With that, Terramar quickly beats his wings, frantically flying away from the hunters who didn't hesitate to give chase. Many of the hunters lunged after Terramar, who quickly spins to the sides, with Button and Pip on board ducking their hides, narrowly evading slashes from their energy blades.

Rumble too was evading from every strikes from the hunters, before he was hit in the chest by an energy blade, protected by his armor, while losing a few feathers from his wings, "Yikes! These guys mean business!" Rumble yelped, just as his wings were pierced by two nerve bullets, causing him to plummet towards the water, had Terra not caught him in time.

"Phew, that was close!" Rumble breathed a sigh of relief, before he turned to his fellow Knights. "Okay, so what's the plan now?" Rumble asked. Button opened his mouth to answer, and his helmet's glow died down. "You didn't think this through, did you?" Rumble frowned.

"Well, um...." Button stammered.

Thinking fast, Pip reached into his backpack, "Quick! Use these!" Pip instructed, handing some of the stolen grenades he got from Celaeno, together with a bow, and a whole stock of arrows.

"Good thinking, Pip!" Rumble complimented, sheathing hiss sword while equipping himself with the bow and arrows.

"Just what I was thinking," Button grinned, which Pip, Rumble, and their new friend Terra all responded with equal disdains.

Button and Rumble quickly took aim, with Rumble readying a bow and an arrow, tipped with a grenade.

"Bogey at three o'clock!" Button instructed to which Rumble takes aim. "FIRE!!" With that, Rumble lets loose of his arrow, striking one of the hunters, blasting them off their air vehicle. The other hunters continue in their pursuit after the boys and their new hippogriff friend.

Some of the hunters got hit and plummeted into the sea, while more were able to dodge the boys' fires. In the meantime, Button Mash continues to provide some aims, with Rumble taking shots, while Pipsqueak steers Terramar through the air, in a series of quick and sharp aerial maneuvers, including the famous barrel roll, throwing some of the hunters off their tracks.

"This! Is! AWESOME!!!!" Rumble cheered, enjoying the adrenaline and the excitement of a real live aerial fight. Soon, the boys came down to their last arrow.

One of the hunter made a desperate lunge at Terramar on his hover bike, readying a cannon to shoot the hippogriff down.

"Light 'em, up!" Button shouted, in which Rumble quickly shot the last arrow, cleanly into the barrel of the cannon, causing an explosive backfire. "YEAH!!"

"Asta la vista, baby!" Rumble blew a raspberry.

"Wait to go, Terra!" Pipsqueak smiled, patting the hippogriff on the neck.

"Thanks," Terra smiled, before his eyes widened when a Cerulean vulture flew up to him at blinding speed, sharp talons unsheathed and struck the hippogriff, scratching by the shoulder. "AH!!" Terra screeched in pain.

"We've been hit!" Pipsqueak shouted as Terramar plunged towards the sea. "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!"

"C'mon, Terra!" Rumble shouted, tugging onto the hippogriff's feathers. "Pull up!"

"I can't!" Terra replied. "I'm hurt!"

"They're down!" The hunters cheered, as they, together with their vultures, all dived after their preys.

"We're gonna crash into the water!" Button screamed, before it dawns on him. "Wait a second. We're gonna crash into the water!"

It didn't take long for the boys to realize what Button was getting at, "DUH!!" They smacked themselves.

The boys held their breaths, as they braced themselves for a huge splash, while the hunters realized too late and crashed their air vehicles into the waters, rusting up in the process. Beneath the waters, the Knights and Terra quickly swam for shore. Of course, for Terramar, he wasn't swimming as fast as the sea ponies, considering he wasn't in sea pony form.

"Don't worry Terra," Button grunted as he and his fellow Knights helped swam Terra to shores. "We got ya." Suddenly, the boys were picked up from behind by a pair of talons.

"And we've got you lads," Celaeno said sternly, as she and Sky Beak brought the boys to shore.

Meanwhile, back with General Seaspray, the authoritative hippogriff lets out a peculiar screech, signaling his men to flap their wings together, conjuring up a powerful gust of wind, together with the sea ponies who slapped their tail fins, sending globs of waters into the air, which quickly resulted in a powerful hurricane that blew many of the hunters out of the sky, together with their airships.

"Yes! It's working!" Tender Taps cheered from the cliffs, with Featherweight snapping some pictures for the moment.

"Uh huh," Featherweight replied in agreement.

Back on the Wailing Condor, Kale finally had enough, "Playtime's over!" He turned to his canine companions, Wing Diver the Fox and Rotor the Husky, both in their newly repaired mech suits. "Go get 'em boys!"

With that, the two mech-driving-canines jumped from the airship, activating their weapons. Rotor fired several taser bullets at the hippogriffs, cleanly shooting them at their wings through the exposed gaps in their suits of armor. The hippogriffs plunged out of the sky, before they were set upon by several Cerulean Robotic Vultures, together with Wing Diver who viciously slashed his swords, hacking at the guards.

Some of the sea pony guards whipped out some seaweed whips, all which appeared to stretch a seemingly endless mile, ensnaring many of the hunters and vultures out of the sky. Unfortunately, the vultures were proven to be just as strong, as they reeled the sea ponies out of the water, before they met a quick demise at the hands of the hunters.

"Good work boys!" Kale grinned. "Now let's get 'em onboard!" The hunters complied, as they all strapped their fresh kills with some chains as they hauled their catches onboard.

"No!" General Seaspray exclaimed, as he watched many of his men being taken by the hunters. Without some of his best men, and their whole formation being broken, they are unable to maintain the hurricane needed to literally turn the tides of war.

Spike quickly flapped his wings, "Oh no you don't!" Kale said. "FIRE!!" With that, the hunters all opened fire on Spike, who quickly draped his cape over himself, shielding himself from the hunters' bullets, before he was gone in a flash of fire. "What the-" Before the hunters could react, Spike reappeared, slashing his fire katanas, hurling his shurikens, cutting the chains, dropping the downed hippogriffs and sea ponies into their waters where they were retrieved by their living comrades, leaving behind trails of bloods.

"Why that no good....." Kale snarled angrily as he and his men continue to fire after Spike.

Wing Diver and Rotor soon flew up to Spike, both snarling viciously at Spike, "Bring it!" Spike challenged.

Rotor was the first to act, as the husky charged headfirst, with a pair of shocker gauntlets activated. Spike quickly flapped his wings, swiftly evading the strike, before he returns with a quick jab to the husky's stomach. The husky throws out another punch, which Spike dodged again, before the dragon counters with a quick side kick to the dog's head, protected by his mech's helmet.

Wing Diver quickly lunged forward, effectively catching Spike off guard, landing on impact on the young dragon's wing with an energy blade, "AAAAAAHHH!!!" Spike screamed, before he disappears in a flash of fire, giving himself a distance between the two canines. Looking at his inflicted wings, Spike saw a large gash in his wing, courtesy of Wing's sneak attack. "Clever move, fox," Spike commented. "I'll give you that."

The two canines were about to attack again, when Peewee suddenly appeared in a brilliant blinding light that blinded the dogs.

Spike was about to fight again, when several Cerulean Vultures all attacked him from every directions, moving too fast for him to evade and block at once. Soon, with a final strike to the face, Spike fell out of the sky and crashed into the red waters of Seaquestria.

"Spike!" Skystar shouted as she swam over to carry the dragon behind some rocks, where the rest of their friends were waiting. "Spike, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Spike groaned. "For now."

“It's no use! There’s too many of them!” Capper muttered.

“Obviously,” Sugarcoat said bluntly.

"I hate to say it lads," Celaeno began. "But even if we stand together and fight, we never stand a chance."

Pipsqueak turned to Celaeno, with a look of disbelief, "Are you saying we should surrender, captain?" He asked.

"Never!" Celaeno replied, defiantly. "I will never be a prisoner to these Cerulean Scumbags again!" The anthro parrot looked down in defeat. "But I just can't think of any better options guaranteed for victory."

Spike looked back at the fight. Seeing the hippogriffs and sea ponies giving their lives to secure their loved ones, as well as their homes, heck even the survivors of Klugetown were shown to at least put up some fights showed some defiance to the Cerulean Hunters.

Closing his eyes, Spike struggled to find some answers, when Scorpan's voice echoed through his head, "Remember. Always be strong! Empty your mind. Focus!"

Spike opened his eyes, knowing what he needs to do, "I'll lead them away!" Spike suggested.

"What?!" His friends exclaimed.

"If those hunters want some magic. Then I'll give them some magic. Dragon style!" Spike snarled.

"Are you crazy, Spike?" Lemon exclaimed. "You're gonna get yourself killed out there!"

"I've done crazier things than this," Spike replied. "Besides, they'll have to catch me first!"

"Then let us come with you, bro!" Rumble offered, as he and the Knights all exchanged agreements.

"No!" Spike replied. "You guys need to stay here and help the injured. I'll draw their fires away."

"But Spike!" Sky pleaded, wrapping her fins around the young prince's cape, which he took off. "Spike!!"

With a beat of his wings, Spike leapt into the air, flying as a blur of purple and green, startling some airborne hunters.

"What the-" The hunters exclaimed in bewilderment, before they gave chase.

Skystar wept as she held Spike's cape to her face, "Please come back," Skystar pleaded, as Queen Novo swam up to wrap the young sea pony close.

In the meantime, the Knights and the Shadowbolts looked at each other. Button Mash's helmet glowed its golden aura as he looks to Sunny Flare, and they both exchange an equal nod of acknowledgement.

"Shadowbolts! Disappear!" Sunny Flare shouted, as she and the girls all threw down several smoke bombs, dramatically covering their exits.





[Cutscene - Opening - Sonic Unleashed]


With the Cerulean Hunters following close behind, Spike's senses were on high alert as he flexibly weaves through the rocky formations around Mt. Aris to the mainlands, evading the missiles and bullets being fired on him.

A smart homing missile was fired, which Spike's ears perked up to the sound of it, "Hi-YAH!!!" The dragon roared, spinning into a tornado, catching the missile in mid-air with a coil of his tail, before he skillfully hurled it back into the hunters.

In retaliation, the hunters deployed more homing missiles at the dragon, who countered with a powerful blast of fireballs and fire shurikens, exploding upon impact with the missiles. Then, remembering a lesson he had with Rainbow Dash, Spike conjured a pair of fire katanas, held them in front as he spins his whole body into drill, flapping his wings for a burst of extra momentum, blasting his way through the hunters' fleet.

Wing Diver and Rotor quickly opened fire on Spike with a whole barrel of nerve and taser bullets from their mechs. But Peewee intervened, emitting a blinding ray of light that blinded the fox and husky, allowing Spike to exploded upon the two mechs, before he unfurls himself, unscathed.

"Arrrgh! What kind of dragon is it?!" One of the hunters grunted in frustration.

"Never mind that! Look at this!" Another hunter panicked. "Its powers are off the chart!"

Spike's whole body was coated in a fiery green aura, as he opened his mouth, 'Boosted Dragon!!' He mentally shouted, firing another powerful fireball at the Wailing Condor, exploding upon impact, causing the ship to catch on fire. "That was revenge for all the magical creatures you had slaughtered over the years!" Spike roared.

"Yo, Spike!" Lemon called out as she and the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts made themselves known. "Save some for us!"

With that, Sour Sweet pulled out three of her newly upgraded arrows, taking aim until she fired her arrows, all homing in on their selected targets, shooting the inflicted hunters out of the sky. Lemon Zest was hiding in a tree, waiting for a flying hunter to pass by. Then at the last second, Lemon hurled the iron ball end of her kusarigma chain, snaring the hunter, pulling him off his hover bike, where he crashed onto the ground.

"Oh yeah!" Indigo cheered as she jumped onto the empty hover bike, instantly seizing control of it. "Whoo yeah! Let's take it for a spin!"

Sugarcoat joined Indigo, taking a seat behind the athletic girl as she kicked the bike into overdrive. With that, Indigo and Sugar both unsheathed their swords and lessen claws, slashing many of the hunters out of the sky.

Sour Sweet changed some of her arrows, before she fired them at some of the flying hunters. Many of the arrows she fired turned out to be ice arrows as they froze the hunters and their flying gears upon impact. A few more exploded upon impact, while the last ones exploded into electric nets, capturing the hunters they ensnare.

Lastly, Sunny Flare unsheathed two tessen fans, which she used to deflect many of the Cerulean Hunters' taser, nerve, and regular bullets, protecting both herself and her teammates. Sunny Flare was forced back at the edge of a cliff.

"AAAAHHH!!" Sunny screamed when she slipped and fell off the cliff.

Fortunately, in a blur of purple, Spike caught the leading Shadowbolt, "You okay there?" Spike asked.

"I am now dearie," Sunny smiled.

"Then hang on," Spike advised, to which Sunny took a firm hold of his horns as the dragon flew circles around the hunters, with Sunny throwing storms of kunai blades, striking at both the hunters' flying gears, short circuiting and blasting the hunters out of the sky.

"ARRRRRGGHH!!!" Kale grunted, before he ordered, "Quick! Let's get out of here!" With that, the Cerulean Hunters retreated to their airship, including Wing Diver and Rotor.

The Crystal Prep Shadowbolts cheered in celebration, believing victory's theirs, "Yeah! Take that! Cerulean Blunders!" Indigo mocked, together with Lemon Zest.

Sunny felt pleased with herself and her girls, when she noticed Spike looking unease, together with Peewee, "Dearie, what's the matter?" Sunny asked.

"Shhhh," Spike hushed, to which the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts quickly became silent. Ears on high alert, whiskers blowing in the breeze, nose still smelling the fresh stench of ozone, gasoline littered from the fight, Spike carefully analyzed the surrounding.

Spike's eyes quickly opened, "LOOK OUT!!" Spike shouted, slashing his fire katana, landing an impact on something invisible, which revealed itself to be another Cerulean Hunter.

"AH!!" Sunny screamed as she and her Crystal Prep girls were quickly on high alert.

Indigo was slashing her blades endlessly, before she was socked in the gut by something. Then she was picked up by the scruff of her collar and thrown into Lemon Zest, getting tangled in the rock girl's kusarigma's chain in the process.

Sour Sweet furiously fired her arrows, before she quickly remembered, "I got it!" She quickly got out a scope, which she dons up. Upon activation, the archer was enabled thermal vision, allowing her to see the invisible hunters, "Got ya!" She smiled, firing a homing arrow upon her targets, before she sights her sights on some more, "Sugar! Duck!"

Sugarcoat complied, as Sour fired an ice arrow to freeze another invisible hunter, which Sugar didn't hesitate to slice and dice with her shuko claws.

Sour fired some more arrows at the other invisible hunters, only for them to deflect her arrows, slashing them in the process with their energy blades. Before long, some of the hunters tackled Sour, while disarming the girl of her bow and arrows, as well as her scope, which they broke to pieces.

*CHOMP*

Spike had shifted into dog form and managed to bit on one of the invisible hunters. The hunter jumped in surprise, before he was picked up by the strong dog and thrown into the rest of his comrades, getting them off of Sour. Suddenly, a set of small missiles were launched, to which Spike quickly grabbed Sour and they rolled out of the way, dodging the firearms.

"Whoa, thanks," Sour gasped, before she looked down to see where Spike's paw was resting on. "Um, Spike?"

"What?" Spike looked down, before he blushed, seeing where his paw was on. "Oh! Sorry!" Spike quickly apologized, before he shoved Sour again. "Look out!" They evaded, just as an invisible sword nearly slashed at them, cutting a tree that was behind them.

"It's no use!" Indigo hissed, holding a bruised arm. "They're just too tough for all of us!"

"We need help!" Lemon replied.

"Already got that covered," Sugar said, pointing to where Sunny once stood.







Canterlot




Princess Celestia was walking down a hall, reviewing some important documents, while Princess Luna was seen restocking some lavender flowers in some vases, when Sunny Flare came running into the room, up to the night princess.

"Princess Luna! Princess Luna!" Sunny Flare panted. "Hurry! You have to help! Spike's in trouble!"

Upon hearing her son's name, Princess Celestia quickly dropped the papers, "WHAT?!! What happened?!" She asked, running up to Sunny Flare and Princess Luna. "WHERE IS HE?!!" She asked, in her Royal Canterlot Voice.







Back in the fight




Death Battle: Shredding Silver (ScrewAttack Series)


Indigo, Sugarcoat, and Lemon were out of the fight, having been exhausted, and beaten by their invisible adversaries, leaving Spike, Sour, and Peewee on their own.

Sour had reclaimed her bow and converted it into its battle staff form, equipped with large blades on both ends. Spike stood in battle stance, wielding his fire katanas, ready to anticipate for anything, together with Peewee, who perched on Spike's shoulder.

Just then, the sound of a blade cuts through the air, which Spike quickly reacted with a swing of his blade, narrowly blocking an invisible slash, which Sour quickly thrusted her blade, impaling something, emitting a crack of electricity. It wasn't long before the invisible Cerulean Hunter became visible, revealing where the girl had impaled him.

"Ah-ha!" Sour exclaimed. "Their cloaking controls are on the chest plates!"

"Good to know," Spike replied. "If we can hit 'em, first. OOF!!" Spike grunted, receiving a punch to the face, and a slash at one of his armor plates. Peewee flapped his wings in the air, before he emitted a flash of light, illuminating the battle, resulting in the invisible hunters' shadows to be casted. "Now that's more like it," Spike mused, as he landed some impacts on the hunters, while effectively disabling their cloaking devices.

Shade Stalker was no exception, "Now that the playing field is leveled, let's see how good you are," Spike challenged.

With a furious snarl, Shade reached into his coat and pulled out a state of the art pistol, firing some bullets at Spike, who quickly shielded himself behind his wings. Spike listened as the bullets continue to bounce off his wings, 'Not a sound,' Spike thought. 'Guess this guy's guns are equipped with silencers then,' He recalled about the time Scorpan once reviewed the guns he had confiscated from a dangerous criminal, to Spike, while working on the police force in New York City.

Rolling to the side, Spike breathed a powerful green fireball at Shade, who retaliated with a flamethrower equipped to his wrist, countering the dragon's fire. The hunter then activated another device on his other wrist, firing several mini-missiles at the Dragon Prince, who quickly slashed his fire katanas, cutting the missiles, resulting in an explosion of smokes.

With that, Shade lunged forward, slashing his dark energy blades at Spike, who parries with his fire katanas before the stealthy hunter leapt away. Sour shot an arrow at Shade, but the hunter quickly caught the arrow, before he turns and opened fire on the girl with a pistol, which Spike quickly disarmed with a well-aimed fire shuriken.

Sour pulled out three homing arrows which she fired upon Shade, who skillfully dodged two of them, before he fired another missile at the third, resulting another explosion of smokes.

Sour entered a coughing fit, before she was caught in a tangle of nets and bolas. Peewee screeched as he dives down, but one of Shade's robotic ravens intercepted and attacked the phoenix.

Spike inhaled before exhaling a long stream of green fire upon Shade, who dodged to the side, along with some of his other men. The remaining Cerulean Hunters all opened fire on Spike, who quickly weaved through the air, spinning, and dodging their nerve bullets, before he remembered, "Hey! I forgot about these!" He reached into a satchel located on the waist of his armor's suit, pulling out the nerve bullets he had saved earlier.

Turning around, taking aim, while evading their fires, Spike puts the nerve bullets in his mouth, before he fired them all on the hunters. Some who were not so fortunate to evade were instantly paralyzed.

All was going well when a missile was launched and it struck Spike's wing, causing the dragon to drop out of the sky, before he was set upon by the hunters.

"Hold on, Spike!" A voice shouted, followed by a blast of powerful magic blasts, followed by a thrust of two legs that bucked a hunter through the air.

Spike looked up, and was surprised to see his adopted mother, standing defensively before him, wings spread out protectively in front of him.

"Your choices have clearly lead you here, as have mine," Celestia began, in a tone that's maternal, wise, all the while strict and authoritative. "I will give you a new choice. Leave now and live, or stay and face your destiny."

One of the hunters started to make signs with their hands, which is translated as, "Ha! Big words, empty meaning from you alicorn! Our destiny is to sell your horn, wings, and skin!"

With that, the hunters all charged after Princess Celestia, who didn't hesitate to fight back.

"Keep your hands off MY BOY!!" Princess Celestia raised her voice, before she resumed fighting off the Cerulean Hunters.

Spike watched in amazement, seeing his adopted mother fighting furiously to defend him from the magical poachers. Celestia had a look of determination written clearly on her face, as she skillfully shifted her magics fluently between offense to defenses, protecting herself from the hunters' bullets, while fighting back at the same time. Celestia reared up on her hind legs, before slamming her front hooves back down, resulting in a shockwave that shook the ground around her, sprouting pillars of rocks, knocking the hunters back. Several of the hunters hurled MPGs at her, but it was all futile, when Celestia disappeared in a flash of light, evading the blasts, before she reappeared, unharmed and resumes the fight.

Having enough, Shade Stalker fired an electric net at Princess Celestia, ensnaring the princess. The hunters began to close in on her, "Hey! Hands off of my mom!" Spike shouted, as he jumps in front of Princess Celestia, conjuring his fire katanas in hands.

Taking up the challenge, Shade conjured his dark energy blades form his wrists, before he and Spike both took a fighting stance. As part of a traditional start for a battle, the two fighters began with a long intensive stare down. Then, without warning, Shade fired a missile from his wrist, which Spike deflected with a swing of his katana. Shade lunged forward with a slash of his dark energy blades, but Spike quickly blocked the strike, before he swings his other katana, only to be blocked as well.

Reacting fast, Spike used his tail for support as he thrusted his legs out and kicked Shade off. Landing on his back, Shade used the momentum to roll himself back up, before he held his wrist out and fired several more missiles at Spike, who quickly ran as a blur of purple, dodging from side-to-side, while slashing a few, before he reached Shade and breathed another explosive fireball at the silent man, who countered with a burst of flame, exploding upon impact, resulting another cloud of smokes.

Using the cloud to his advantage, Shade zipped up to Spike, slashing his dark blades, while Spike quickly did the best he could to parry the attacks. However, one of the dark blade got through and slashed across Spike's cheek, leaving a small, but noticeable cut.

"Ow!" Spike grunted. "That's smart!" Not giving Spike a chance to recover, Shade blasted a missile at Spike, exploding upon impact, and sent the young dragon over a cliff.

"Spike!" Celestia screamed. Drums mentally beating, the horrors in Celestia's eyes darkened to pure rage, and something snapped. Before the hunters realized it, a burst of fire erupted, and the very air around them combusted into flames.

One of the hunters looked up, and they realized they fucked up. Standing before them, was Princess Celestia with flaming mane and tail, don up in plates of armors with fiery designs, and eyes like that of a fiendish demon. Daybreaker was born.





"HOW DARE YOU?!!" Daybreaker screamed in a demonic angry tone. With a loud shrill, the angry fiery alicorn slammed her hooves into the grounds, causing magmas to erupt from the cracks of the very foundations, followed by several fires that burned the unfortunate hunters.

Frightened, the hunters in Shade's division took a step back, ready to make a hasty retreat.

"NO!" Daybreaker snarled. "THERE IS NO ESCAPE!! RAAAARRRRRHHH!!!" The mad alicorn screamed, as the hunters were all consumed by the flames, and their weapons obliterated in a heartbeat.

In a single hour, the entire squadron of Shade's men were destroyed. The only one still standing is Shade Stalker himself.

"Hi-yah!" Daybreaker screamed, landing a kick to Shade Stalker. "Men Shao Ti Translation: Smoldering Kick!" The fiery alicorn screamed, doing a tremendous spinning kick, followed by a punch, sending Shade up in the air. "Ran Shau Feng Translation: Burning Wings!" With that, her wings exploded into flaming infernos that knocked Shade away.

Seeing that he doesn't stand a chance against the enraged alicorn, Shade frantically pressed a button on the device on his wrist, as his whole body was coated in a flash of light.

"COME BACK HERE!!!" Daybreaker screamed.

"Princess Celestia! It's over now!" Sunny Flare exclaimed, after she and her girls recovered.

"NEVER!!!" Daybreaker screamed. "They will pay for what they've done!"

"And they will!" Sugarcoat explained. "We'll get the hunters next time. We've won the fight."

"WON?!!"

"Spike needs help!" Sour added.

At the mention of her son, Daybreaker's gaze softened as she looked over the cliff, reverting back to Princess Celestia. With a look of concern on her face, Princess Celestia and the Shadowbolt girls climbed down from the cliff, where they found Spike, in human form, with his head covered in bloods.

"No," Celestia cried, with tears flowing from her eyes, as the memories of the first tragedy flashed before her eyes, recalling how Spike was only five years old when it happened. "No, please, not again," She whimpered, as she got down to cradle her son in her forelegs, and sniffed him. "Spike..."

Just then, a flock of hippogriffs arrived on the scene, "Princess Celestia," Queen Novo bowed her head in respect, before she walked over to Spike. Queen Novo bends down and puts her claw over his head, "We owe him a great debt."
> The Little Sea Pony Returns To The Sea Part 6: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

At first, all Spike could see was darkness, before he groggily opened his eyes to see a blur of white, followed by a burning sensation on his cheek, and a throbbing pain on his head.

"Ow!" Spike hissed, clutching the spot, struggling to get up, before he felt a soft touch of a feather on his hand.

"Shhh, slowly sweetie," Turning to his right, Spike's visions cleared up as he looked to see his mother, looking at him with a mix of concerns and reliefs. "Slowly."

"Mom?" Spike squinted, his visions becoming clearer, allowing him to see his mom, with her sun illuminating behind her head, giving her the appearance of an angel. "Are we dead?"

Celestia shook her head, "No," She answered sweetly. "But thank goodness you're not, my little sunshine."

Getting up, sitting up straight, Spike looked around to see he was sitting on a huge leaf bed, inside a cave room with a single opening in the wall as a window, which let in some of his mother's lights. Spike's nose twitched to the scent of salty sea air. Just then, a hippogriff entered the room, "Hey Spike!" The hippogriff chirped.

Spike turned to the hippogriff, "Sky?" Spike asked in bewilderment. "Is that you?"

"Yep! It's me!" Sky smiled, while flapping her wings enthusiastically. "Surprised? Because I sure am! I'm so happy I finally get to flap my wings again!"

Princess Celestia smiled, "I think you look lovely."

"Oh, I-uh, t-thank you, Princess Celestia," Skystar blushed.

"No need to be so formal, Skystar," Princess Celestia insisted. "We're both princesses here. Just Celestia will do."

"Okay," Skystar beamed, before she was suddenly pushed aside, "Omigosh! The Dragon Prince!!!" Several female hippogriffs squealed in excitement, as they charged into the room and swarmed the boy, while completely ignoring Princess Celestia and Skystar.

"Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh!" Silver Stream squealed excitedly, zipping around Spike at a speed that rivals Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash put together. "I can't believe it's really, really you!! So is it true? You got hit in the head by a lightning when you were ten? What's it like in this other world called E-arth? What is martial art? Is Kung Food delicious? Is it good for you? Is it your source of powers? And does it makes you go all hi-yah! Yah! Yah!" Silver shouted, while throwing several kicks and punches with her claws and legs, before she accidentally bonked one of the hippogriffs on the nose.

"Ow!" The poor unfortunate soul groaned.

"Oops! Sorry!" Silver Stream quickly apologized.

"Oh wow! So cool!" Haven smiled as she and Salina both danced around Spike. "You're really are amazing! Even for a dragon!"

"So cool!" Saline added, blushing a shade of red when she looked directly into Spike's eyes.

Cassie soon appeared at the window, together with Coral, greeting Spike, brushing one their fins on the back of his head, catching his attention "Hey," The kelpie greeted.

"Hey yourself," Spike returned the greeting.

"ENOUGH!!!" A voice boomed, petrifying the hippogriffs and kelpies as they turned to see Queen Novo entering the room. Like her daughters, niece, and most of their subjects, she too have gained a pair of wings, her flippers have been turned into claws, and gained hind legs. "Give the poor thing some space. Can't you see he's been through enough as it is?" Turning her attention back to Spike and Celestia, Novo began, "Princess Celestia. You have raised yourself an outstanding son, and he did a good deed for both me and my subjects. And for that, you both have my thanks," With that, the wise and powerful hippogriff bowed her head in gratitude, with Celestia and Spike returning the gesture.

Then with a blur of yellow, Skystar pounced Spike, holding him by the arms as she twirls him eagerly in a tornado, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Skystar sang, as she spins Spike around, before she pulled him in a death gripping hug.

"Can't breathe!" He wheezed.

"Hey! Save some for the rest of us, Sky!" Cassie insisted, as she pulled them both in the water for a loving hug.

"Got room for one more?" Coral asked, as she joined in the hug. Just as Cassie has always been a kelpie, Coral has always been a hippocampus.

"Hey! What about us?" Haven asked, as she and Salina both jumped into the water.

"Me next!" Silver Stream chirped, as she joined her girls, as they all smothered their favorite Dragon Prince in affections.

Princess Celestia and Queen Novo looked at each other, before they all shrugged their shoulders, and chuckled nervously.

Spike finally wriggled himself free, as a fish, only to be relentless pursued by the sea girls, who still have plenty of love to give him. Looking up, Spike could see his posse, and the Shadowbolts watching the show, along with Capper, Peewee, and Celaeno, "Little help here?" He pleaded.

"Are you kidding me?" Button Mash shouted. "You're getting to the good part!"

"You're on your own now, amigo," Capper grinned, like the cheshire cat.





[Under The Sea - Samuel E. Wright]


Later, the heroes were soon treated to a banquet on the beach of Mt. Aris, with some delicacy that the sea ponies have grown accustomed to eating, together with some foods the hippogriffs have longed to eat again.

In the meantime, Skystar excitedly retells her latest adventure with Spike, how they braved the danger of the Cerulean Hunters, Klugetown, and the shadow beasts that nearly tried to eat them, all to make it back home to Seaquestria/Mt. Aris.

"So there me and Spike were!" Skystar talked excitedly. "Trapped in the burning building! And before I knew it, Spike turned himself into a dragon and he and I burst out of the building! But then those terrible people who called themselves the Cerulean Hunters, together with these strange dark creatures, they tried to hunt me and Spike! But Spike was too fast and too strong! And he fought them off!"

This may take awhile. While looking amused at her daughter's newfound enthusiasm she has missed for so long, Queen Novo looked up to see Princess Celestia looking both relieved, and yet worried.

Sensing the princess's insecurity, Queen Novo got up from her seat, "Would you please excuse us, my dear?" She asked Skystar. "Tia and I would like to have a word, or two."

"Hurry back mom!" Skystar replied. "I'm getting to the best part!"

Queen Novo and Princess Celestia both walked down a hall, away from the festivity, to find themselves some privacy.

"Yo, Spike!" Rumble called, as he and the Knights walked in with their new friend, Terramar.

"Hey guys!" Spike greeted. "Who's your friend?"

"Spike, it's a pleasure to introduce you to our newest member, Terra!" Pipsqueak smiled.

"Dragon Prince Spike!" Terra gasped, before he bowed his head. "It's a great honor to meet the hero of Equestria!"

Spike smiled, "Nice to meet ya, Terra," He replied. "But no need for formality. Please, stand up." Terramar complied, while still looking giddy in front of Spike. Spike then remembered what Pipsqueak had said, "Wait, what do you mean, newest member?"

"Terra here is one of us now!" Button smiled. "From this day forward, he's an honorary member of the Knights!"

"Yeah!" The Knights, along with Terra, cheered, while exchanging a shared high-five together.

"So what do you think Spike?" Tender asked, together with the boys anxious to hear what their dragon friend had to say.

Spike looked at Terramar, tapping his chin for a moment, pondering before he asked, "You think you can handle the excitements of our adventures?"

"Piece of sponge cake," Terra grinned.

With a shrug, Spike held his hand out for the hippogriff, "Then welcome aboard, Terra!" Spike smiled, as he and the boys all welcomed the newest member of their gang.

"One day, I'm going to make a great guard to the hippogriffs and sea ponies here," Terramar smiled to himself. "Just like my dad is."





Later, after the celebration was out of the way, the hippogriffs, together with the heroes and Princess Celestia, went to work, cleaning up the messes left behind during the battle with the Cerulean Hunters.

First things first, the heroes, together with Queen Novo and all of their friends all paid their respects to the guards who have given their lives, protecting their home and loved ones.

Later, the hippogriffs began to work on returning their former village of Mt. Aris to its former glory. Wanting to build a trusting relation with the hippogriffs, the Knights and the Shadowbolts joined in with the restoration of the village. The survivors from Klugetown decided to pinch in and help out with the restoration, seeing as how they've taken a liking to Mt. Aris.

In the meantime, Princess Celestia and Queen Novo both discussed on the idea of forming an alliance together, thus combining their forces together against the Storm King, should the evil warlord ever show his face again to conquer the hippogriffs, and the sea ponies.





Spike was out in an open field of Mt. Aris. According to some hippogriffs, the field was once known as the Harmonizing Heights. Looking around, the land has seen better days.

A melodic screech of a bird filled the air, and Spike looked up to see Skystar flying into view, circling around the boy, before she came for a soft landing in front of him.

"Hey Sky!" Spike greeted.

"Hey Spike," Sky smiled softly, before she walked over and sat down beside the boy. "So, what do you think? Isn't it....amazing?"

"Hmmm?" Spike looked and saw Sky was referring to the land they were both resting in. "Oh....yeah. Pretty good. Just need a little cleaning up and it'll be back to its heyday, I'm sure."

Sky giggled in agreement, "Oh, and I have the best idea ever! You can stay with me, forever!" Spike's eyes widened as he turned to the excited hippogriff. "We'll have so much fun together! Now that we don't have to hide underwater anymore, we can make so many things together! We can make friendship necklaces for each other out of flowers, instead of shells! And we can make crowns out of flowers! And best part is, we can invite the rest of our friends from Ponyville to come over and stay!! We'll make so many fond memories together, so no one has to feel left out! Including Shelly and Sheldon here!" Sky said, while holding out the two shells with googly eyes.

Spike looked hesitant, before he spoke up, "Uh, look Sky. That sounds like a lot of fun and all, but I can't stay here," Sky, of course, was despondent at the answer. "Me and the boys have to go back home. We've got our own lives there, just as you do here," Sky frowned as she draw circles in the dirt with her talons. "Cheer up, Sky. You're home now. And you're back with your folks. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Maybe," Sky sighed. "I don't know anymore," The hippogriff slumped.

"What's wrong, Sky?" Spike asked.

"Well, it's so strange. I'm so confused. At first, back in Ponyville, all I could think about was how far away I was from home. But now, hearing how you, the Knights, and the rest of our friends have to go back to Ponyville, I can't help but think how far away we'll be." A tear nearly escaped, which Sky quickly wiped away with her arm. "I just can't decide. It's like, I want to stay here, or stay with you. I just don't want to leave mom alone, or my sisters, or cousin Silver Stream, or even Cassie and Coral. But at the same time, I don't want to forget you, the girls back in Equestria, or even worst, I don't want you to forget me!"

"Hey, don't worry about it," Spike comforted the hippogriff. "I'll never forget you, Sky! Promise!"

"But what if you do?" Sky asked, tearing up. "What if you get hit by a lightning bolt again, and then you've lost your memories for another ten years? Or even longer?"

"Well, I can still find it again. Can I?"

"Maybe," Skystar covered her face with her talon as she sobbed, "I don't mean to be selfish Spike. I just don't want to lose you, just like how I lost dad."

"Then you won't," Spike assured. "Look Sky. I know how scary it may feel, to lose someone you loved so much, that you felt completely all alone. But if there's one thing Twilight taught us, it's that no matter what happens, we'll never be alone. Not as long as the friendship we have together lives on, in all of our hearts. So wherever we go, we'll always be together. And the magic we've had can never be taken away from us. Because there's nothing the magic of friendship can't overcome."

Sky smiled sadly, before she frowned, "But I'll miss you."

"I know Sky," Spike replied, as he pulled the hippogriff close for a comforting hug. "But don't worry. I can come back and visit you whenever I get the chance."

Sky smiled, before she remembered, "Oh! Wait here!" With that, Sky quickly dashed off before she zips back to Spike, and draped a necklace of beautiful seashells around his neck.

"W-What's this?" Spike asked.

"It's a friendship necklace," Sky beamed, while pointing to her own. "It's just like mine. That way, when you wear it, you'll never forget me, and the memories we've made on this adventure, together."

"Really?" Spike smiled, to which Sky happily nodded her head. "Aw, thanks Sky. I'll cherish it, always."

Skystar giggled, before she looked at Spike with half-lidded eyes, "Hey Spike?" Skystar began.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to say thank you, and....and...and I....I love you," Skystar blushed, clamping her beak with Spike's mouth, passionately making out with him.

Initially wincing from the sharp edges of her beak piercing his skin, Spike gradually melts into the kiss, feeling light as a feather. Taking it up a notch, Spike wrapped his hands around Sky's head, pulling her close, deepening the kiss, with Sky doing the same with her talons, and wings. The two rolled around in the field, fighting for dominance, while at the same time, not releasing their maws from each other.

Some of the Klugetown survivors were passing by when they noticed the two young royals making out, "Ooooooooh!" A random cat mused.

At last, the two parted, "Wow," Sky blushed. "That was.....amazing."

"Yeah," Spike said, equally aroused, before he quickly cleared his head. "Y'know, there's still some time left before I leave," Spike spoke. "I guess a quick flight around Mt. Aris wouldn't hurt."

"That's a great idea!" Sky beamed cheerfully. "Let's fly!" Sky laughed, as she took flight, with the Dragon Prince following.

Watching from the ruined structures of a palace on Mt. Aris, Queen Novo couldn't help but laugh, watching happily as her daughter was happy, for the first time in a long while. Even more, when she sees her daughter, flying with the Dragon Prince, "What did I tell you, Tia?" Novo nudged the sun alicorn beside her. "That's quite the son you've got there."

"I know," Celestia smiled proudly.

Capper couldn't help but smirk proudly at his friend, "You done good, Draco," He said. "You done good."


[Creamy - Help! I'm A Fish!]



[Chasing the sun - The Wanted]






Klugetown, Verko's office


Verko was in his office feeling proud of himself for driving the Cerulean Hunters out of his town, with the help of the Predators, of course. Sure a few buildings got burnt down and he lost a considerable amount of men, but to him it was a small price to pay.

Speaking of whom, one of his men stepped in with a look of concern on his face.

"What is it?" Verso asked.

"It-It's your family, boss. They wanna have a word with ya." The goon replied.

Verko smiled a dirty grin, "HA, they probably wanna thank me for a job well done! Patch 'em through."

The goon gulped, "Ok, if ya say so boss." He said as he brings out an orb and places it on the ground. He then makes his leave.


The Godfather - Main Title (The Godfather Waltz) - HQ - Nino Rota


The room goes dark as five figures appeared in the room via a magic projection from the orb, four of which are his brothers and the last one being his mother. His brothers were same height as humans (something that he was always extremely jealous of), while his mother is the same height as him.

The first brother wore a whole dark grey tuxedo suit with matching shoes. This was Vito.

The second wore a white lab coat and and rubber gloves, he also had a monocle on his left eye. This was Veeker.

The third wore a dark brown trench coat with a matching long fedora, pants and shoes, he was also smoking a cigar. This was Vick.

The fourth and final brother wore a white priest robe, a red vestment, and a biretta. This was Vinnie.

And the mother of all these naked mole rats is Mama V. She looks almost identical to Verko, except she wears a light pink dress with rose pictures on it, a short dark pink coat, and has grey beehive style hair.

"Mama, brothers! What a pleasant surprise!" Verko said gleefully. "For what do I owe this occasion?"

"Heard your town got attacked by the Cerulean Hunters, sweetheart." Mama V said, "But we also heard that you managed to drive them out?"

Verko grinned, "Yep and it was thanks to my new partners."

"New partners?" Veeker asked.

"Yeah, why don't you all meet 'em?" Verko said as he tapped his cane and sure enough, the Predators appeared. Verko's family members were disturbed to say the least.

"So...you drove off the hunters with the help of these...things?" Vito asked.

"Sure did." Verko said feeling proud of himself.

"And off course you only used them to protectyourinterests." Vinnie said, giving Verko a disapproving glare along with the rest of his brothers.

Verko was taken aback by this, "I don't understand..."

Mama V sighed as she shook her head, "Verko honey, did you think Klugetown was the only place the Cerulean Hunters hitted?" She asked.

Now that he thought about it, he did realize that only Blacksky's, Raider's, and bits of Shade's division attacked his base of operations.

Vito stepped forward, "Those bastards attacked my mansion in Sicily. Thankfully, I managed to escape, but I lost alotof my best men doing so."

Then Veeker spoke up, "They raided one of my top labs and stole many projects I was working on there. They left no survivors by the way."

Then it was Vick's turn, "My newly opened casino in the Prairie 'mysteriously' got burned to the ground."

And finally, it was Vinnie's turn, "They ransacked my cathedral, grabbed anything that wasn't nailed down, then they yanked the nails and those too."

Needless to say, Verko was flabbergasted by this. It was an understatement. Not only did the Cerulean Hunters attacked his base of operations, but also his family's as well.

"So yeah, the hunters strucked us hard, thanks to you!" Vick said with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Wait a damn minute! How is this my fault?!?" Verko exclaimed.

"Wasn't it your idea to 'borrow' their tech?" Vinnie asked.

"Well yeah but-" Verko explained, but he was interrupted.

"While we're on the subject, who's idea was it that we should partner with the Shadowbolts, only for them to back out from the deal when they turned into goody two shoes and leaving us with FINANCIAL problems?" Veeker asked.

"Well...I thought it was a good idea at the time."

"Point is Verko, any problems we have seems to trail back toyou." Vick said, "Now you've made a partnership with these things without ma's go ahead!"

"Vick's right, little brother." Vito chimed in, "How do we know we can trust 'em?"

"Look guys, this won't be anything like the Shadowbolts, I promise." Verko assured them

"I hope your right little brother. Because now you just dragged us into your pissing match with Big Daddy." Vick said.

"Don't worry, with the Predators on our side, he won't do a damn thing to us." Verko replied smugly.

"Don't count you chickens before they hatch son," Mama V Spoke up, "I know the guy better than you do. He ain't gonna take this lying down. Sooner or later he'll find a way to take this things down."

"Quit your worrying ma, I got this handled." Verko assured her.

"We'll take your word on that little brother," Vito said before narrowing his eyes, "But know this. Anymore hits the Cerulean Hunters do on the Vermin Cartel from now on will be on you, understand?"

Verko gulped as he nods.

"Good! Meeting adjourned then." Vito said as he and his brothers faze out, except for Mama V.

"Look honey, I know your trying to prove that your just as capable as your brothers," She sighed, "But your biting off more than you can chew here." She then turns to the Predators, "And these things? I don't trust em. Not one bit."

"Look mama, I know what I'm doing here." He assured her.

"I hope so sweety, I really do." She said as she fades out.

Verko was silent for a few seconds before tapping his cane and the Predators disappeared, leaving him alone in his office. He then gets up and walks toward the orb. With a loud growl, he kicks the orb across the room.

Just then, he hears a knock on the door, "What is it?" He asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

A goon steps in, "Er, well we just found out something you might be interested in hearing." He nervously said.

"And that is?"

"Well we got reports saying that Capper was in town right before the Cerulean Hunters attacked." The goon explained.

Verko's ears perked up at this, "Dapperpaws? You mean to tell me he was here?!"

The goon gulped, "Yes sir, and he wasn't alone either. A few humans, an Ornithian, and a sea pony was with him. We also believe that one of the humans is this 'Spike Drago' your looking for as well."

"You sure?"

"He fitted the description those three Diamond Dogs told us boss." The goon assured.

"Very interesting. Is that all?" The goon nodded, "Then you're dismissed." The goon then leaved leaving Verko alone with his thoughts.





Elsewhere...


Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath OST (HD) - 12. The Phone Conversation


A figure was in his office reviewing both the battles of Klugetown and Mt. Aris. Needless to say he was not pleased with the results.

"It would seem I may have to up Shade's training," The figure said as he watches the silent commander's fight with Daybreaker.

Just then, another figure steps in. However, unlike the first figure who has a pair of red eyes, this one has one red eye, while the other is bionic blue, "It would seem that rodent Verko has found some new friends." The other figure said in a cold robotic voice as he watches the hunters getting torn apart by the Predators.

"Yes, the Shadowbolts severed all ties with the Vermin Cartel, so of course that cowardly rat would try to find help elsewhere." The first figure said.

"Verko is an arrogant fool who thinks he can hold a candle to his brothers. His partnership with these creatures won't last forever. However, that's not what concerns me. Commander Blacksky said in his report that these creatures have Fœnum magic instead of Equestrian magic, meaning they are from the world of Fœnum." The second figure explained.

The first figure let'd all that sink in for a minute before finally speaking up, "I'll send Wild Blood and a squad of his best men to that world to find out what they can about these things."

"Baloroc, we know very little about Fœnum magic. Making a counter weapon against these creatures will take...time." The second figure said.

"Whatever it takes old friend," The first figure, now known as Baloroc, replied, "We'll also need to take care of this dragon as well as this is the second time he foiled a hunt." He said as he watched the dragon on-screen.

"Blacksky also reported that the magical readings from that dragon is unlike any we've scanned before." The second figure said.

"Hmmmm, that dragon does look familier and he seems very close to that sun alicorn as well, seeing how she went berserk when he was injured. Maybe we could use that to our advantage." Baloroc said.

"Then perhaps it is time to unveil our secret weapon: the Dark Hunter." The second figure declared.





"Sir! Sir!" A figure panted. "Oh, steps. Ahem. Reports sir, from the South! It's the Hippogriffs! They've been revealed!"

A pair of piercing blue eyes blinked wide open.
> A Windigo Comes To Town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a cool day in Ponyville. The pegasi weather teams have finished setting up the wind clouds, the leaves were turning shades of orange and red, and everyone were all setting up decorations for the holidays to come in autumn.

Spike was overseeing progressions with Twilight, "That's it you guys. Keep up the good work," Spike complimented to some earth ponies. "It needs to be a little higher," Spike called out to some pegasi, who were hanging up a banner.

"Like this?" They asked.

"Much better! Good job!" Spike gave them a thumbs up, before he met up with Twilight. "Everything's going smoothly, Twilight."

"Thanks Spike," Twilight smiled. "I'm so glad to have you back with assisting."

"Heh, just trying to make up for lost times, y'know," Then, a loud screech filled the air as Spike looked up to see Peewee flying over to him, with a message secured to his leg. "Hey, Peewee! What's the word?" The phoenix perched on Spike's arm, as the boy took out the message, which reads: 


"Dear Spike, 

I would be happy to come over and watch the running of the leaves. Thank you for inviting me.

Love, Moondancer.

P.S. I hope you don't mind if I bring Minuette and the other girls too."


"Moondancer is coming?!" Twilight exclaimed. "And you invited her without telling me?!"

"Well, yeah," Spike shrugged like it was nothing. "I mean, c'mon, she's our friend, isn't she? What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that now I have to prepare the guest rooms before she arrives! Now I'll have to reorganize my schedules! I'll have to prepare Moondance's favorite snacks! And not just her, but Minuette, Lemon, and Twinkle's too!"

"Don't forget Sassy Saddles and Saffron," Spike added. "They're both official members of Moondancer's posse now." Before Twilight could go into an all out panic mode, Spike quickly cupped his hands around the alicorn's cheeks. "Twilight! Relax! Just take a deep breath, and calm down," With that, the two friends inhaled deeply, followed by an equally deep exhale. "Now, I know how much you wanted to make this perfect. But you're not gonna get anything done right, if you go all haywires on us. Need I remind you of that incident with the Want-It Need-It Spell?"

Twilight blushed in response, "You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" She asked.

"It's the face that got me," Spike shuddered, remembering the picture of a crazy Twilight.

Wanting to change the topic, Twilight asked, "Well, what would you suggest?"

"Like Rainbow Dash always does. Just wing it. Or as uncle once taught me, just go with the flow."

Twilight nodded in agreement, "Thanks Spike," She smiled. "I'm glad I have you for a number one assistant," With that, the alicorn walked over, wrapped a wing around the boy and nuzzled her cheek with his.

Spike blushed a shade of red, before he cleared his throat, breaking up the moment, "I'll just go and check on the race tracks, if you don't mind," He said, as he took his leave, only to bump into a barrel and stumbled. "Oops, he he. Forgot that was there." Sprouting his wings, Spike took flight, with Peewee following. 'Way to go, Spike. Way to go,' Spike mentally berated himself.

Twilight giggled, finding the dragon's sudden clumsiness adorable.





Spike was sitting on a cloud, looking over the track that was set up for the Annual Running of the Leaves. It's an Equestrian tradition, in which ponies of all kinds can compete in a race, across Equestria. The main purpose of this race was to shake the ground they run on, enough to shake the leaves off their branches. Clearly, the laws of physics in the Magic World is different from those on Earth.

"Sure is a sight to behold, huh Peewee?" Spike asked the bird, while looking across the land, colored in scarlet shades of red and oranges.

The phoenix squawked in agreement, while enjoying himself a bucket of ice cream Dibs.

Just then, Spike's ears perked to the sound of wings beating in the air, together with an icy cold aura that gave off a tingling feeling, running up his scales. Turning his head, Spike could see a single cloud, carrying a familiar alicorn from the Frozen North.

"Neira?" Spike called out, catching her attention.

"Oh, hello Spike," Neira smiled.

"What brings you to Ponyville?" Spike asked, kicking his leg out to steer his cloud closer to hers. "I thought you're busy leading the Frozen North."

"Well, even a leader deserves a little rest now and then," Neira replied. "Besides, King Charlatan and Edgar can take care of everything with the yaks. So I'm free for the time being," Peewee squawked, as he bounced over and rubs his head affectionately with the snow alicorn's cheek. "Nice to see you too, Peewee," She smiled, before she manages to pet the bird, stroking her hoof carefully atop his head.

After giving Spike's bird some loving treatments, the phoenix flew off to give both Spike and Neira some times to themselves.

"Wow, it's such a wonderful sight," Neira commented, while looking at the land that's colored in autumn's colors. "So bright. So intense. And so many colors, all reflecting the beauty of autumn."

"Wow, I didn't know you're into autumn," Spike commented. "I mean, I didn't take you for the autumn type. No offense."

Neira chuckled, "I get that a lot," She replied. "But there's more to me, than being a Snow Queen, Spike. Just as there's more to you than being the Dragon Prince."

"Like what?"

"Well, often times, when I'm leading the penguins with Edgar and King Charlatan, I would often look through a magic mirror and observe Equestria from there."

"You have a magic mirror? And you watched Equestria from it? Wow!"

"Yes," Neira nodded. "And let me tell you, I have seen many wonders of the world. And I'm fascinated with everything new to me. Especially when it's anything besides snow and ice."

"Guess you got a little bored with being the Windigoes' queen, huh?"

"Mmm-hmm," Neira nodded. "Half Windigo or not, I do have feelings for other things. And a heart."

"And that's good, right?" Spike asked, while trying not to sound insensitive.

"Yes. In fact, having a heart is a wonderful thing. And I love it," Neira held her hooves over her chest as she sighs in content, before she frowned. "But as you already know, to the other Windigoes, it's considered an abomination. Even more when I...I...I enjoy Hearths Warming Eve."

"Hearths Warming Eve," Spike repeated. "That's the Equestrian counterpart for Christmas, right?"

"Christmas?" Neira asked, looking confused.

"Uh, never mind that," Spike said, getting them back on topic. "So continue, you enjoy Hearths Warming Eve, and why?"

"....Because it was the only time I'm together with my mother and father," Neira answered somberly. Turning her head to the side, Neira could see that Spike was confused, "I take it I have to go into full details of my background."

Spike took a glance to the side, before he answered, "If you're okay with that," He replied. "I mean, just wanted to understand you better."

Neira nodded, "Very well," She complied, while manipulating the water vapors in the air, turning them into fine powders of snow in her hooves to take various forms of random ponies, and the flag of Equestria. "If you've been refreshing your Equestria histories, Spike, then you would know that long ago, this land of Equestria was founded by its founders: Princess Platinum of the unicorns and her royal advisor, Clover the Clever. Chancellor Puddinghead of the earth ponies and her secretary, Smart Cookies. And Commander Hurricane of the pegasi and his subordinate, Private Pansy."

"Huh, those guys sounded familiar," Spike hazily recalled. "Oh yeah! I remember now!" He exclaimed. "There was a pageant we always perform, every single year on Hearth's Warming Eve! Mom and I used to go to that. Y'know, back when I was a kid," Realizing he had rudely interrupted, Spike quickly apologized, "Oh, sorry. Please go on."

Starting from where she left off, Neira continues, while making the snows take the forms of ponies bickering and arguing, "Back then, the ponies and their leaders didn't like each other so well. Always bickering among themselves, always at war with each other, always filled with hate. And it was from that hate the Windigoes had used to create a devastating storm that nearly wiped them all out, prompting the ponies to find a new home. My mother was one of them."

"Really?" Spike asked, earning a nod as a reply. "One of the founders of Equestria?"

"No, she's not one of the founders," Neira answered. "But she is, or was, a friend with one of them. She's...she's....." Neira was choking on some tears, as the years of lost times caught up to her, and her show quickly dissipated.

Out of impulse, Spike wrapped his arms around Neira in a hug, with his whole form glowing in a light green aura, "Shhhh, it's okay, Neira. It's alright," He whispered comfortably into her ears.

"So....so...warm," Neira gasped, while sobbing pearls from her eyes.

"Oh sorry," Spike apologized, as he released his grip. "Does it hurt?"

"No! Not at all!" Neira exclaimed, as she quickly pulled Spike back in her hooves. "In fact, I love it," Neira crooned, metaphorically melting into his embrace. "It reminds of me of....my father...."

Sensing her depression building up again, Spike offered, "You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to."

"No...it's alright..." Neira sniffled. "It needs to be told. I need to confide it, in you." Composing herself the best she could, Neira resumed, "My mother is named, Prism Light. She was a unicorn sorceress, and one of Starswirl's pupil, alongside her best friend, Clover the Clever, himself," Spike's eyes widened with wonder, "My mother and Clover grew up alongside each other, like siblings, and were inseparable. A little too inseparable, perhaps. Because one day, when Princess Platinum and Clover left to search for a new home, my mother secretly followed behind. And that was when she got lost, trapped in a storm."

"Yikes," Spike grimaced.

"Blinded by the snows, cutting and blowing in her face, by chance my mother found her way inside a cave, where she took shelter. But not for long...." Spike looked at her snows taking shape of a unicorn mare, surrounded by Windigoes. "The Windigoes had discovered her, and were closing in for the kill. But thankfully, they didn't, as my grandfather stepped forward, and offered her a choice: Spend an eternity as a frozen statue as addition to their garden, or become the bride of his only son."

"So I'm guessing your mother chose the latter," Spike deduced.

"Correct," Neira nodded, before she continued with her story and her show. "My mother and father were married right then and there, just as the Fire of Friendship from Clover the Clever, Smart Cookies, and Private Pansy banished my grandfather and the Windigoes, which led to the foundation of Equestria, and the birth of the annual holiday that many Windigoes considered to be the bane of their existence, Hearth's Warming Eve."

"Whoa...." Spike gasped. "So what happened then? When did you came into the picture?"

Resuming her show, Neira manipulated the snows to take form of her unicorn mother, together with a windigo, most likely her father, "After my grandfather died, my father took over, and became the new leader of the Windigoes. He left to search for my mother, who was out on a nightly stroll. My father appeared before her, reminding her of their marriage, and that she is bound to him. And if she refuses to come to the Frozen North with him, then he'll attack Equestria, back when it was still young. With little choice, my mother complied."

"That must've been hard for her," Spike frowned in sympathy. "To leave behind her home, her family, and friends, just to protect them. She is one brave unicorn."

"She is," Neira nodded, while shedding some pearls of nostalgia. "All the reason why I can never ask for a better mom," Neira cried lightly, as the unicorn and the windigo danced around together. "So my mom lived with my father for some times, in the Frozen North. Although it was rocky at first, eventually the two just....just...they fell in love. Contrary to many windigoes who were hostile towards my mom, my father was kind and gentle with her. And before they knew it, I was born," Neira said, as she conjured a snowy image of herself as an infant, in the arms of her parents.

"My father then revealed everything to my mother," Neira continued. "He planned on building another icy empire over Equestria, as his desire on building my future. He was carrying out the plan my grandfather had set for me, all those years ago. Grandfather had anticipated that the Windigoes would lose on Hearth's Warming Eve, so as a backup plan, I was made. They had hoped that a half-breed, such as myself, would be the key to the downfall of Equestria. But my mother would have none of that."

Spike looked to see Neira's mother taking her daughter away from her father, before she walked solemnly away. "Even though my mother had become the Snow Queen, through marriage with my father, her loyalty for Equestria remains. And the life as leader of the Windigoes, and supposed conqueror of Equestria, was not the life she wanted for me. So she left, hoping to lead a normal life with me."

With that, the magic snows transformed themselves to take the form of a small pegasus filly, bouncing happily around an equally happy unicorn mare, "You mean, you lived with her as a normal pegasus?" Spike asked, to which Neira answered with a nod. "But why a pegasus? Wouldn't a unicorn filly make much more sense?"

The snow alicorn scratched her head, "It's complicated," Neira replied. "Let's just say my mom was seeing some pony else after she left my father. Some pony who is a pegasus," Resuming her show, Neira continued the story, "Meanwhile, my father was hurt at the loss of my mom, feeling rather lonely and cold, without her presence. Realizing his love for her was too great, my father did the unthinkable. He left the Frozen North, to visit us, on Hearth's Warming Eve."

The snows floated around before they take the shape of a traditional Christmas wreath, hanging above a windigo who appeared before a unicorn mare, by her window.

"My father came to visit my mom and I, while everyone else were asleep," Neira continued. "He said that we were both his snow and ice, and that we're too precious for him to lose. And my mother returned his love, feeling the same way," Neira cried, as she came to the end of her story. "Since then, every year on Hearth's Warming Eve, my father would come from the Frozen North to visit me and my mom, before he has to return. And every start of summer, we traveled to the Frozen North to visit him." More pearls spilled from her eyes, as she continued, "It stayed that way until......until......." The snow ponies burst into fine powders, as Neira collapsed into Spike's arms, and cried. "They left!" Neira sobbed. "Taken away from me by........the traitors who murdered my father......and worst of all, by me......for abandoning my mother......my own flesh and blood for.....for revealing my powers."

"What? What do you mean for revealing your powers?" Spike asked, further confused. "Your power is a gift. It's a part of you. You shouldn't-"

"Ponies and creatures weren't like that, back then Spike!" Neira sobbed. "Any beings, besides an alicorn, that appeared to be too powerful, is considered a threat!" Spike's eyes widened, as if the last words struck him like lightning. "And no matter how valiant my effort was, whether it was to protect my mom, or any pony, from the Cerulean Hunters, I was exiled and it's just not fair! Just not fair!" With that, Neira continued to sob even more hysterical into Spike's chest, pouring more and more pearls from her eyes as she cried.

In response, Spike could only do the best thing he knew how. Tighten the hug, and stroke her mane as gently as he could, "What am I going to do?" Neira sobbed.

"Simple, just be yourself," Spike answered comfortingly. "Your mom and dad obviously loved you for being who you are, so honor their memory by being the daughter they all know and love. And more importantly, you are your own pony. You are good."

"Rather absurd, isn't it?" Neira asked. "Me, half-Windigo. And I rather enjoy Hearth's Warming rather than fear of it."

"Then I guess that's from your mother's side of the family," Spike pointed. "And there's no reason to embrace it, if you love it, just as much as you love your mom."

Neira thought about what Spike had said, before she smiled, "You're right," She gasped. "I remember now. I remember all the beauties of the world she had shown me. Even now, I still see the beauties of the seasons she had shown me all those years ago." Neira sighed, "But I still wished she and father were still here to see it all. You included."

"I know, Neira," Spike answered. "But just know this. That even though you can't see them, just know that they're still with you."

Neira nodded, "I know," Neira then nuzzled her cheek affectionately with Spike's. "Thank you, Spike. I never realized how much I needed to hear this."

"Anytime, Neira. Anytime."

"Spike?" Neira looked up at Spike.

"Yeah, Neira?"

"Can you hug me again? I...I needed to warm up." Spike complied, as he wrapped his arm around the snow alicorn. "Thank you," Neira sighed, loving the warm hug from her dragon friend.

Though her icy cold aura aggressively bites his skin, Spike continues to hold Neira close; the fire within was burning ever so brightly, which ignited a heartfelt beating, deep within her. With that, Neira moved her head as she looked intensely into Spike's eyes, moving ever so slowly and gently, before she.....

"Yo, Spike!" The moment was interrupted by the timely arrival of Rainbow Dash.

"What is it, Dash?" Spike asked. "What's wrong?"

"Moondancer and the Canterlot Gals can't make it!" Rainbow answered. "Their train's being hijacked, by gremlins!"

"What?! Lead the way!" Spike said, spreading his wings, flapping into actions as he followed Dash.

Neira let out an exasperated sigh at the rotten timing, "Oh, popsicles," She muttered. Nevertheless, she smiled, knowing Spike has to do what he has to do to help others, or he wouldn't be Spike, "I guess it wouldn't hurt for me to help out, a bit," She decided, flapping her wings and followed. Little did she know, a piece of her mane and tail began to change, adopting the colors of pink, green, and red.
> Dating In Dragon Town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Tranquil Departure - 千年破曉]

One day, in a comic book store, Mina was behind the counter, reading a comic book issue of a fictional dragon heroine, Flashfire, when the door opened, and Spike stepped in.

"Welcome to Dragon Town Comics! Let me know-" Mina looked over and smiled, "Spike! Red rubies to see you!" She shouted, getting up from her seat.

"Red rubies to see you again, Mina," Spike smiled, as he and the dragon girl both exchanged a secret handshake together. "It's been ages since we hung out together. Y'know, when the fate of our worlds aren't being threatened."

"Definitely," Mina agreed. "Though it's no surprise. The life of a superhero was never easy. Just ask Flashfire here."

"Flashfire?" Spike asked.

"Uh-huh, my new favorite!" Mina smiled, showing him the cover of the book she was reading, which shows a pretty looking red dragon, wearing a yellow mask and a dark purple superhero costume. "The writer, Scaly Sue, is amazing! It's about how all these old evil dragons escaped from Tartarus and this super heroine dragon has to put them all back."

"Wow, cool!" Spike awed in newfound admiration.

"Right? Wanna try it?"

"Sign me up!"

"Red rubies!"

Taking the book, the young Dragon Prince cracked it open as he began to read the comic. After about a good ten minutes, Spike reached the end, "So, what did you think?" Mina eagerly asked.

"This is by far beyond red rubies," Spike answered.

"I know, right? Right?" Mina squealed. "It was crazy good! The way she swooped in and stopped the ice dragon!"

"Or how she used her nun-chucks to fight off the mountain dragon!"

"Or how she used the one-inch punch to defeat the Demon Sorcerer!!" They smiled together, before they both shared a laugh together.

"Y'know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say Flashfire is another warrior of the Dragonfire!" Spike smiled.

"Aw man, that would be so awesome!" Mina smiled. "Who knows, if you and she ever met, she would destroy you!" With a smack of her knee, Mina broke out laughing, while Spike had a deadpan expression on his face.

"Oh hardy har-ha," Spike muttered.

After an hour of laughing, Mina caught her breath and asked, "So, Spike-ums, what brings you to town?"

"I just thought I'd come by to pay a visit," Spike answered. "The local dragons here told me that you were running this store, so I thought I'd drop in." Spike looked around at the red dragon's choice of interior decorations, "And from the looks of it, you've really outdone yourself."

Mina chuckled, "Thanks." She blushed, while twirling a lock of her hair. "It hasn't been easy, but I managed. That and Ember did came to help out a bit."

"Oh yeah, good ol' Ember," Spike mused, before he decided to strike up a new conversation. "So, besides running the store, how're things going with you and sensei?"

"Uncle Mako?" Mina asked, before she looked worried. "I don't know. He hasn't been back in months now."

"What? What happened to him?"

"I'm not sure. Before he left, he told me he and General Scorpan had something important to attend to. But he wouldn't tell me what it is. And I haven't heard a word from him since. I'm a little worried."

"I’m sure he and uncle are okay," Spike reasoned, trying to lighten the mood. "Knowing sensei, for a dragon his age, he's tough. And both he and uncle make an awesome team."

"Maybe," Mina frowned. "But still, I'm a little worried. I just hope he comes back alright."

Spike nodded as he comforted the dragon, "Same here Mina. I hope he and uncle come back soon."

There was nothing but silence between the two dragons. No customers have yet to enter the shop to break the ice. Finally, having enough, Spike asked, "So....um, while I'm here, anything else we can do today?"

Mina looked around, seeing how quiet it has been, "Well, business is kinda slow," Looking to her left, checking on a nearby clock, Mina noted, "And my shift is just about over. So, let's go out for some noodles! My treat!" She beamed.

"No way. I'm paying this time," Spike argued.

"No, I am!"

"I am!"

"I am!"

The two dragons laughed as they took their leave out of the store.





Later, both Spike and Mina were sitting outside a restaurant in Dragon Town, both eating a bowl of noodle soup. As much as he enjoys the meal, Spike was very surprised to see the vast amount of bowls Mina can consume, without any ill effects.

"Wow!" Spike noted. "You must really like this place!"

"Mhmm," Mina agreed, slurping on some noodles. "There's no other place better than this that serves roasted sparrows."

"Roasted sparrows?" Spike asked, before he noticed the small bird meat he and Mina have been eating in their bowl.



Fun fact: According to some Chinese stories, dragons loved to eat sparrows.



"Yep," Mina replied. "Besides gems, they're a popular delicacy for us dragons. Didn't you know that?"

When Mina mentioned that, Spike quickly recalled the times he had in China with Scorpan, and how he sampled the country's unique cuisine, one of them including roasted sparrows which he enjoyed.

"Well, not until now," Spike admitted. "That explains everything."

"Explains what, Spike?" Asked Mina.

"Why I enjoyed some roasted sparrows during my trip to China with uncle."

"China?" Mina asked. "What's China?"

"Oh y'know, this other country, back on Earth," Spike answered. "It's kinda like Dracasia, except it doesn't have any dragons. I mean, there are some dragons, but..." Looking up, seeing Mina looked rather confused, while somewhat intrigued, Spike ended the conversation. "You'd have to be there to understand what I was saying."

Mina nodded, "Yeah, I guess so," Looking back up, Mina asked, "So, what other places have you gone to, back on this 'Earth' world of yours?"





For the rest of the day, Mina was giving Spike the tour of Dragon Town, as well as the other districts of Fillydelphia, so as to give the young prince an update on some of the changes that were made over the years, since his absent.

At the same time, Spike relayed the stories of his trips on Earth to the red dragon, "Interesting," Mina commented. "This Earth world of yours sounds like a total alternate universe counterpart of Equestria, without magic."

"When you put it that way, yes," Spike answered.

"How did you survive in a hostile world? And without your dragon fires and everything?"

"Oh it's not too bad, once you get used to it," Spike reassured. "Being a human, I mean."

"Being a human, hmm?" Mina pondered. She has seen how Spike looked whenever he's in human form, but the idea of her being human didn't occur much. "How would I look, if I were a human?" She asked.

Spike looked at Mina, and tried to envision the red dragon, the best he could, as a human girl, "Honestly Mina," He began. "I'm afraid that's a question I can't answer," Mina pouted in disappointment. "But whether you're a human or not, it doesn't change the dragon you are."

"Really?" Mina smiled. "Thanks."

Suddenly, Spike's ears perked up to the sound of a young dragon, screaming, "What's going on?!" Spike asked, spreading his wings and flying towards the source, with Mina following close behind. When Spike arrived at the source, he was shocked to see a little dragon, covered from head-to-tails with blemishes, glowing in a blinding light, with fire erupting out of their jaws.

Furthermore, "EW!! Ugh!" Spike groaned, covering his nostrils at a foul stench he just sniffed. "What is that?!"

Mina soon came up to Spike's side, looking at the scene, before she too held a claw to her nostrils, "Oh, looks like we got another one," She said.

"Another one?"

"Another molter," Mina clarified, as she and Spike watched the scene transpiring for the young dragon.

It wasn't long before the light show died down and the dragon panted in relief. Before they knew it, stones were forming all over the dragon's body, until it was fully cocooned, in the form of a statue.

"Oh my god! Hang on-" Spike was stopped by Mina, who held him back by the tail.

"Wait a minute!" Mina shouted. "It's okay, Spike. Just watch." Spike complied, as the two dragons sit back and watched see a crack forming on the dragon's statue, until at last, the young dragon broke free, with a new pair of wings on their back.

With a whoop of celebration, the young dragon flapped their wings, ascending to the air and out of sight, "Uh....what just happened?" Spike asked.

"It's the molt, of course," Mina smiled.

"The....molt?"

"It's a thing we dragons all go through when we grow up," Mina explained. "Super painful stone scales, fire burps, uncontrollable volume shifts, foul stenches, then at the end, stone suits, and voila! Wings sprouted. Of course, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Mina smirked, nudging her elbow against Spike's wings.

"Uh.....you could say that," Spike nervously laughed, as he recalls his experience of the molt in Dragon Metamorphosis.

Spike and Mina were later at a bar, where they were both sipping a drink from their cups, when Spike lets out a light burp, "Oops! Sorry," He apologized.

In response, Mina lets out another burp. Seeing he was being challenged, Spike took it up a notch, letting out a bigger burp, before he had a smug grin on his face, feeling proud. In retaliation, Mina lets out an even louder and longer burp that shook the whole room, and blowing Spike's hair back. The two dragons quickly shared a laugh together, while some of the pony patrons around them looked rather disgusted.

Finally, as their last stop for the day, Mina took Spike to a fountain, with the statue of a mighty dragon, surrounded by waters, while holding an orb in its huge maw, while surrounded in a circle of pillars with huge jewels at the top.

"This is my most favorite place in all of Dragon Town!" Mina smiled. "Uncle used to take me here when I was just a little kid. Whenever the moon rises, the jewels light up, and they make the water sparkle and they reflect in the most beautiful way," Grasping Spike's claws tightly, Mina smiled gleefully, "Watch."

Looking up, seeing his mother's sun setting to make way for his aunt's moon, Spike watched as the moon's light travels down towards the orb in the dragon's maw. The orb started to light itself up as several beams of lights were shot out, striking the jewels, creating the most dazzling display of light Spike has ever witnessed.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. It was exactly as Mina described it.

"I know, right?" Mina smiled. "This is where we dragons would say, it's crystal clear!"

"Crystal clear is....um," Spike trailed. "What does that mean in dragon tongue?"

Mina chuckled, finding Spike's lack of dragon knowledge, amusing, "It's an expression for 'beautiful,' or 'serene,' or 'dazzling,'" Mine smiled.

"Oh," Spike nodded in acknowledgement.

The two young dragons watched the beautiful sight, before Mina looked at Spike with half-lidded eyes, while brushing a strand of her hair out of the way, before she grasped Spike's claws, intertwining with hers. Spike turned his attention towards Mina, knowing where this is going. Mina closed her eyes as she leans forward, until her lips finally touched Spike's.

It was only for a brief moment, before Mina pulled away, but it was still enough to send a jolt through Spike's whole form, as well as making his wings stand on end, along with his whiskers.

Shaking the shock away, Spike looked at Mina, and his eyes widened. The reflections of his auntie's lights all shined on Mina, outlining the red dragon's form, displaying her beauty in ways he could never explain.

"What's wrong?" Mina asked. "What is it?"

Silent at first, Spike simply answered, "Nothing," Letting his instincts take control, Spike wrapped his arms around Mina, in which the red dragon's wings stiffened from the touch of his claws on her back. Spike too locked his lips with hers, which Mina welcomed. Wrapping their arms around each other, the two dragons made out in an intensive heating sensation, tongues battle for dominance, rapid heartbeats that could only multiply their fires tenfold, all the while letting their instincts take control.

Eventually, the two dragons parted for air, "Wow....that was....amazing," Spike panted.

"It's....it's like wild red fires," Mina commented.

Getting up to brush themselves, Spike walked Mina back home, "Thanks Spike," Mina smiled. "I had a really good time today."

"Same here. This is hands down the most crystal clear outing I've ever had," Spike smiled. "Well, I'll see you around," Spike quickly spreads his wings and was about to take flight, when Mina grabbed him by the claw.

"Wait, Spike!" Mina began. "Why don't you stay the night with me?"

"Huh?"

"It's been very lonesome with just me looking after the place for Uncle Mako. So, I could use the company for the night, if that's alright."

After hearing that, Spike couldn't find it in himself to say no.

Soon, both Spike and Mina were later in bed, snuggling up close, "Comfy?" Spike asked.

"Very," Mina answered. "How about you?"

"I'll admit, it's not exactly like my room, in New York," Spike answered. "Or Twilight's guest room at Friendship Castle, but as long as you're comfy, that's fine with me."

Mina giggled, "You're so sweet, Spike," She beamed. "We're all so lucky to have you."

Spike modestly waved it off, "I thought I'm the lucky one," He said.

"Either way, we're both lucky to have known each other," The red dragon lets out a yawn, as she snugged up close to the purple dragon. "Good night, Spike," Mina said, slowly letting sleep overtake.

"Good night, Mina," Spike returned, pulling the red dragon close with his wings. "Sleep tight."

Mina quickly pecked Spike for the last time, before she and Spike were both out.
> Spike and the Crystal Prep Shadows - Lemon Zest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One day at a mall, Spike was a Starbucks cafe, where he was happily sipping a cup of Ultra Caramel Frappuccino.

“Mmm-mmm!” Spike said to himself with satisfactory. “That hit the spot.”

Just then, his ears perked up to the sound of Sunset Shimmer singing, followed by the rest of the girls.

“Huh? What? Girls?” Spike asked, looking around before he sets his sight on a TV screen that was hanging above him.

Spike’s eyes widened to see, not just Sunset and the Elements of Harmony Bearers, but also the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts, singing and dancing in a music video.


[Dance Magic]


“Wow,” Spike marveled, watching the whole video to the end.

Just then, Lemon Zest was passing by when she noticed Spike, “Yo! Spike!” She exclaimed.

Spike turned around to meet the girl, "Oh, hi Lemon," He greeted.

Lemon Zest walked over to take a seat next to Spike, looking up to see what Spike just watched before it moved to the next music video, "I see you've got a good look out our new music video," She noted. "So whaddya think? Is it good? Or is it good?"

"I'd give it a 5/5 for you and the girls," Spike commented. "How did you Shadowbolts and the Rainbooms get together to make this video is the real question." 

Lemon chuckled, "Well you see, it all started when Principal Cadence announced that we'll be having a dance party on a yacht, if we raised enough money. Which is kind of a coincidence when the Rainbooms were helping that Wallflower Blush friend of theirs in raising the money to save Camp Everfree and what not. So we kinda pinched in and worked together and....BOOM!!" Lemon exclaimed, referring to the music video that was being played on the TV screen.

Spike blinked for awhile, still finding it hard to believe, "You girls and the Rainbooms, worked together?"

"Yeah! I mean, why's that so hard to believe?" Lemon asked.

"Don't get me wrong, Lemon," Spike replied, taking a quick sip from his cup. "I just wished I was there to see it, to believe it. Knowing you girls, you normally don't get along so well. Always at each other's throats and all."

"Hey, I thought we were past that," Lemon spoke. "I mean, yeah, we're friends now. But it doesn't hurt that we've had some friendly competitions from time to time. But sometimes, when we both have a common goal, we manage to put aside our differences and work together."

"After seeing how synced you girls are, I can believe that," Spike agreed.

"Well, enough about us," Lemon began. "You got any game plans going on later this afternoon, dude?"

"Not really," Spike replied.

"In that case, why don't ya join me?" Lemon beamed cheerfully. "I was on my way to get some rad new musics, so I could use some company. What do ya say dude?"

Spike scratched his chin as he pondered, "I don't know. I wouldn't want to impose."

"Oh c'mon dude! Who says you're imposing? Just think of this as a chance for us to finally get to know each other! It's the least I can do after....after our checkered past together," Lemon said glumly at the last part.

Spike frowned, recalling their past confrontations, starting from when he was refreshing on his dragon power.The Shadowbolts Strike

'I try to block out the memories,' Spike grumbled mentally. Turning to Lemon, sensing a genuine feeling guilt and longing for amends from the girl, Spike shrugged, "Well, seeing as how you girls have helped me and my friends out a lot from time to time, how can I say no?" He asked.

"You mean, you're game?!" Lemon asked, hopefully.

"Did my aunt Luna and mother Celestia ever make amends together?"

"Cool!" With a burst of energy, Lemon grabbed Spike by the hand as she eagerly dragged the boy away.





Later, the two were at a music store, where Spike was checking out the latest CDs, while Lemon was over at a music sampler, test listening to some new beats, specifically under the categories of rock musics.

'She's wild, loud, but a lot of fun,' Spike thought in admiration. 'Just like Pinkie Pie.' Spike resumed looking back at the CD shelves, when his hand suddenly touched another, "Oh, sorry!" He apologized, turning to the owner.

"No, I am sorry," The person spoke, before she gasped. "Oh, hi Spike!"

"Hey yourself, Wallfower," Spike grinned. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm just here for some music," Wallflower blushed, twirling her hair bashfully. "Don't suppose you know where I could find some calming musics, do you?"

Spike scratched his chin, looking around the store with Wallflower following before he found what they were looking for, "Ah, here we are!" Spike picked up a CD of the said musics. "Is this what you're looking for?" He asked.

"Mm-hmm," Wallflower nodded in confirmation before she accepted the CD, while touching his hand momentarily, blushing upon contact.

"Hey Spike!" Lemon called out, grabbing the boy by the shoulder. "Dude, you've gotta hear this!" Without hearing a second opinion, she plopped a set of headphone on Spike's ears as he listened to some sample rock musics.

While the music wasn't too earsplitting, it was still loud enough to overwhelm Spike's sensitive hearing. Though, not to look rude in front of Lemon, he endured the best he could before he finally had enough.

"So, what do you think?" Lemon asked.

Spike was rubbing his sore ears, until his hearings returned, "It's loud alright," Spike commented. 'Earsplitting is more like it,' He thought.

"I know right, dude?" Lemon shouted, before she dons the headphone back on and continues jamming to the beat.

Spike turned to Wallflower, "Sorry about her, Flower," Spike apologized on Lemon's behalf. "She's a real party animal alright."

"Oh that's okay, Spike," Wallflower replied. "I'm just sorry if you suffered some hearing loss."

"It's fine, I'll live," Spike reassured her, before he rejoined Lemon. "Well, I better get going. See ya around."

"Bye," Wallflower waved, blushing when she thinks he wasn't looking.





Spike and Lemon were later walking out of the shop, with their newly purchased CDs, eager to find something else to do while the day was still young.

Lemon was wearing her headphones again, listening to some more of her rock musics, rocking and jamming, making obnoxious cries and cheers as she does so.

Spike looked around, trying to find something else he and Lemon could do.

"Mommy! Mommy look! It's that girl from the music video!" A little girl's voice shouted, in which Spike turned around to see a little girl, holding a notepad and a pen, running up to him and Lemon, while dragging her mother behind.

"Hey Lemon!" Spike nudged the rocker girl's shoulder, snapping her back to reality. "You got a fan!"

Lemon looked down to see the eager girl in front of her, "Oh, hi there!" Lemon smiled, bending down to the little girl's level.

"Hi!" The girl beamed. "I saw your music video! It was awesome! Can I have your autograph? Please?"

"Of course!" Lemon took the pen and notepad as she signs away. "There ya go, lil dudette!"

Out of joy, the little girl burst out screaming in a high-pitch voice, which Spike and Lemon both covered their ears, "Huge fan that one," Spike commented, which Lemon nodded to in agreement. Before long, the two were surrounded by a whole mob of fans, taking pictures of Lemon Zest, while a few were asking for her autographs. Snips and Snails included.

"Lemon Zest!!" The two goofy boys shouted. "Hi! We're like your biggest fans!" To show for it, the boys stood, wearing T-Shirts with Lemon Zest's pictures on the fronts.

"Oh, cool, dudes," Lemon replied, while still being overwhelmed by the flashes from the cameras. "Spike! Little help here?"

Reaching into an inner pocket of his jacket, Spike pulled out a smoke bomb, which he threw down to the floor, cloaking their escape, "Hurry Lemon! This way!" Spike barked, having transfigured himself into a dog as he guided the rocker girl away.

Meanwhile, after the smoke cleared away, "Darn it!" Snails grumbled. "She got away! And with Spike of all guys!"

"Eh, who cares," Snips replied, holding up his phone. "Look what I got," Snips grinned deviously, showing he managed to snap a picture of Lemon Zest, below her skirt.

"Oh yeah!" The boys grinned, finding a private corner to indulge themselves to some panty shots of the rocker girl, only to their dismay, there was a flash of green light, obscuring the picture, and a purple puppy dog was in the way of the camera.

"What the hell?!" Snips exclaimed, scrolling through the pictures to see more of the dog, making faces at them, grinning trollishly, even doing a duck face impression. "Where'd that dog come from?!"

"He ruined our opportunity!" Snails moaned.





Spike and Lemon were hiding, outside of the mall, catching their breathes, in Central Park, "I think we lost them," Spike panted heavily.

"I hope so," Lemon replied, before she scratched Spike behind the ears. "Thanks Spike. You're really tight, dawg!"

"Oh yeah," Spike agreed, while enjoying the sensational feeling he was getting from the girl.

Lemon giggled as she continues to scratch him, from behind the ear, down to his chin, and finally to his stomach, causing the boy-turned-dog to wag his tail excitedly, while kicking his legs out repeatedly.

"Aw, you're so cute when you're a good dog," Lemon smiled as she played with Spike more.

"Oh yeah?" In a flash of green fire, Spike changes back into his human form as he pounces Lemon on her back. "Let's see if you're any cuter." With that, Spike started tickling Lemon along the neck, the chin, and the stomach, and succeeded in triggering a fit of laughter from the girl. "Wow, you're even more adorable when you're laughing," Spike smiled.

"Okay, okay, you got me!" Lemon giggled, breathlessly. "Please, let me go!"

"Aw, but I want to hear you laugh some more," Spike replied, before he was attacked by some hands, tickling him along the neck. "Hey! What are you-"

Before long, the two teenagers were rolling around in the grass, laughing like little kids tangled up in their tickle battle.





Later, after their laughter was done, Spike and Lemon were walking down in Time Square, before Lemon took him to a karaoke shop.

Once inside, the two were inside a booth where Lemon was scrolling through the songs, until she finally makes her pick. Holding the microphone up to her mouth, Lemon listened to the sound of drumbeats, starting up the tempo of the song, together with the countdown, and the lyrics began.


[Set it All Free - Scarlett Johansson]


As Lemon sang the song, she sounded as if though the song was made for her. Even Spike couldn't help but bop his head to the beat of the song, shaking his arms wildly, feeling the music and Lemon's voice taking hold of him.

After awhile of singing, Lemon gave the microphone to Spike, “Your turn, Spike-o!” She said.

With that, Spike took the stage, browsing through the playlists until he selects the song he’s interested in and sang.


[Sonus - Fascination]


As Spike sang the whole song, Lemon looked impressed, bopping her head up and down to the rhythm of the music, while enchanted by his voice.

‘He’s really good, for a dragon,’ She thought. When Spike came to the end of his song, Lemon ran up to him, “Wow dude!” She exclaimed. “You sing better than you can fight!”

“Back at ya,” Spike returned the compliment. “I thought for sure I just witnessed the birth of a new rock star there.”

Lemon blushed, “Oh Spike,” She giggled.





Later, both Spike and Lemon were outside an ice cream shop, enjoying themselves to a huge bowl of sundae they were sharing together.

“Mm-mmm,” Spike smiled, enjoying the ice cream he and Lemon were having. “Delicious~!”

“Here Spike,” Lemon offered a scoop of chocolate for him. “Have some.”

Seeing where this is going, Spike also took a scoop of chocolate ice cream in his spoon as well, and held it out for Lemon. With that, the two young teenagers both fed each other their ice creams.

“Yummy~!”

Lemon instantly perked up, “Hey! This calls for a selfie!” She declared.

“Alright,” Spike agreed as he walked over, next to Lemon, smiling as the rocker girl pressed the button on her phone, taking their picture together.

“Now there’s a keeper!” Lemon smiled, before she texted a copy to Spike. Soon, both she and Spike went back to eating their sundae. “Hey Spike?” Lemon began.

“Yeah, Lemon?”

“Thank you....for giving me another chance.”

“Eh, I’d do the same for auntie,” Spike shrugged. “Besides, think of it as my way of thanking you and others. So now we’re even.”

Lemon smiled, “You’re awesome dude. I don’t know why we’d ever want to....” Lemon quickly stopped, realizing what she was about to say. ‘Way to go, doofus!’ She berated herself.

Sensing some negativity from Lemon, Spike replied, “Just forget it, Lemon. It’s all waters under the bridge now.”

“Yeah...waters under the bridge,” Lemon muttered shamefully. “But still, I’m really sorry with way we acted back then, so I don't expect you to fully forgive us or anything. But..." Working up the courage, Lemon walked over to Spike and hugged him. "Thank you, dude."

Spike felt his heart beating faster, from the feel of Lemon's arms wrapping around his shoulders, holding him close. Once again, Spike felt the sincere feeling of passion and guilt flowing off of Lemon and washing over him. Wrapping his arms around Lemon, carefully stroking her hair along the back, he wraps himself and Lemon in a warm, comforting aura.

Feeling the heavy load being lifted from her heart, Lemon smiled, nuzzling closer against Spike's cheek, a single tear dripping from her eyes, "Darn it," Lemon said quietly. "I can't let go."





"Thanks for this fun day, Lemon," Spike said, after he walked Lemon home that night. "I'm glad we finally got the chance to bond for a bit."

"No problem," Lemon replied as she walks up the stairs to her door. "You were a lot of fun, dude. We should do this again sometimes."

"I'd like that," Spike smiled. "Well, until then. Good night," Spike was about to walk away when Lemon stopped him.

"Wait a minute, Spike!" She called.

"Yes, Lemon?" Next thing Spike knew, he received a kiss on the cheek from Lemon, catching him by surprise.

"A little something to remember me by," Lemon blushed, before she walked up the stairs. "Later dude," She waved to Spike, before she disappears behind the doors.

Snapping out of his trance, Spike touched the spot where Lemon kissed him, and smiled to himself, 'She's alright,' He thought as he makes his way home.


[Sunglasses Kid - Can't Hide (feat. Miranda Carey)]

> Spike and the Crystal Prep Shadows - Who's Next?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday afternoon and it was another typical school day for the students at Crystal Prep Academy.

In the school cafeteria, the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts were having lunch with the other students. Though, something appears amiss to the girls. Well, amiss to four of them to be exact.

"Yo, what's with Lemon?" Indigo asked. "I've never seen this happy before."

"Eh, she's always happy," Sour replied. "It's the music, duh."

Sour was correct. Lemon Zest was indeed listening to a happy song. However, it wasn't one of her typical rock songs, since she wasn't being her usual loud and obnoxious self while she was listening.

Curious, Indigo tapped Lemon on the shoulder, "Hey Lemon," Indigo began. "New song? What're ya so happy about?"

"Just a new CD I got yesterday," Lemon answered, giving Indigo her headphone to wear. "Here, listen to this."

Indigo braced herself for another earsplitting rock music from Lemon. But to her surprise, it never came. Instead, all she hear was one of the latest songs of Taylor Swift.

Indigo looked at her friend, aghast, "Okay, who are you and what have you done to Lemon?" The athletic Shadowbolt asked.

"Ha ha, very funny," Lemon snarked. "Besides, I can like pop musics too. They're kinda like the same thing with rock musics."

"Technically if you knew your musical histories, you would know that in the 1960s, both are considered separate genres in terms of musicianship," Sugarcoat stated bluntly.

"Whatever," Lemon scoffed.

"So, how exactly did you get into liking pop musics, hmm?" Sour asked, looking at the music loving girl suspiciously.

"Why do you girls care how?" Lemon asked. "I just got curious, so I listened to a few pop songs. And boom! I'm hooked."

"Yeah, right," Indigo scoffed in disbelief. "What really happened to ya? Huh?"

Knowing that the girls aren't buying it, and they're never going to drop the subject anytime soon, Lemon rolled her eyes, "Fine. If you must know," Looking around, making sure none of their fellow classmates were eavesdropping on their conversations, Lemon huddled closer to the girls and whispered, "I just had a radical day with Spike!"

Needless to say, her fellow Shadowbolts were aghast, "You actually went out on a date with Spike Draco?!" Sour Sweet exclaimed.

"I wouldn't exactly call it a date," Lemon replied, twirling a lock of her hair. "We were just 'hanging out.' That's all."

"Sounded like a date to me," Sugarcoat said it bluntly.

"Hey, come on. It's nothing serious," Lemon spoke up, like it was no big deal. "I mean, all we did was going to a music store, got chased by a mob of fans who liked our music video, walked through Central Park, then we sang some karaoke, and to finish it off, we shared an ice cream together."

"What do you mean by that?" Indigo asked at the last part.

"What the ice cream? Well, we were having a sundae, and we exchanged scoops with each other."

"So indirectly, you kissed him," Sugarcoat analyzed. "Clever, but not too original."

"Huh, I never thought about that," Lemon blushed. "Ha....maybe it is a date."

"And he just....allowed it?" Sour asked.

Lemon nodded her head and twirled a lock of her hair as she answered, "Well, yeah, he did say it was his way of personally thanking us for all those times we've helped him out in a jam," She smiled lovingly. "That and it was a good chance of getting to know him more."

"You don't say," Sunny Flare replied, looking intrigued, along with the rest of the girls. "So what was he like then, dearie?"

"He was amazing!!" Lemon pumped her fist in the air. "He's awesome, he's got a good voice, he's got a good taste in musics, and he's a whole lot of fun! It was just.....I don't know how else to put it, but magical," Lemon concluded.

Sunny Flare turned to the rest of the Shadowbolt girls, exchanging knowing glances, "It's obvious, we all wanted to go out on a date with Spike, don't we?" Sugarcoat stated bluntly.

"....Obviously," Sunny answered. "Though the question now is, who should go next?"

Indigo scoffed, "It's obvious. Me!"

The rest of the girls, minus Lemon, all sent Indigo a death glare, "Back off, sister! It's gonna be me!" Sour Sweet snarled.

"What?! Why does it have to be about you?!" Indigo spatted.

"You got a problem with that?!"

"Yeah bet I do! And I'm not afraid to give it to ya!"

Sugarcoat shook her head, "You two are just embarrassing," She fumed. "I speak for myself when I say that I'll be the next to ask Spike out on an outing."

"YOU?!" Indigo and Sour exclaimed.

"Enough!" Sunny shouted. Her friends quickly ceased their arguments, before Sunny noticed the rest of their classmates looking at them oddly, "Nothing to see here, dearies. GO back to what you were doing." The students all complied, before Sunny composed, "Now, if we're all done acting like little children, I propose a more civil way to compromise."

"Rock, paper, scissor, shoo?" Lemon asked.

Sugarcoat scoffed, "Do we still do that?"





"Rock, paper, scissor, shoo!" Snips, Snails, and Zephyr shouted, while the boys were working backstage for the upcoming school play.

Snips got scissor. Snails got rock. And Zephyr got scissor, "HA! I win!" Snails cheered for himself, much to Snips and Zephyr's annoyance as the two boys grabbed ahold of a rope, while Snails went to work on some minor prop settings.





The school bell rang loudly, signaling the end of the day. The Crystal Prep Students all flooded the halls, heading for their lockers to puck their supplies away, or to make some exchanges.

Coco Pommel was at her locker, going through some supplies, when the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts approached her, "Coco, dearie," Sunny greeted. "You wouldn't happen to have some papers and scissors on you, would you?"

"Uh, sure," Coco replied, taking out the said objects. "What do you need them for?"

"Oh just for the means of settling a big dispute, my dear," Sunny answered, cutting the papers into four thin strips, before she presented them to her fellow Shadowbolts. "Alright ladies. Here's how it goes. We'll each draw a slip of paper. Whoever gets the shortest will go first. Sounds fair?"

The other Shadowbolts exchanged looks, before they nodded their head in agreement, "Let's get this over with," Indigo insisted, as she took the first slip of paper, followed by Sugarcoat, then Sour Sweet.

After the other three girls took their papers, Sunny Flare opened her hand up to reveal her paper strip.
> Spike and the Crystal Prep Shadows - Sunny Flare - Legend of the Shadowbolts and Mooncakes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a quiet Saturday morning on another cool fall day in New York City. Unfortunately, the calm loving atmosphere was soon disrupted by the piercing shriek of a certain snooty man, complaining of his current apartment's state.

"No, no, NO!!" The owner of the voice exclaimed, indignantly. "This is unacceptable! I will not stand for my GOOD lemons to be washed with every OTHER lowly commoners dirty laundries! I have said this time and time again! Wash in important waters ONLY!! I don't care if you have to run a pipe from this land called the Swiss Alps. Just do it, do it, DO IT!!" Blueblood shouted, before he took notice of some unwanted attentions. "What do you want?! Get out, get out, GET OUT!!!"

Sunny Flare gladly complied, "Hmph, who does that uncouth man think he is?" She huffed.

"That's Vladímir Blueblood," A passing resident answered. "He thinks he's the best guy around. But if you ask me, he's the worst."

"He's self-centered," Another resident muttered.

"He's rude."

"He's evil."

"He is indeed," Spike agreed, when he passed by, carrying boxes of pizza.

Sunny Flare smiled upon seeing the green haired boy she was looking for, "Spike, dearie!" Sunny greeted.

"Hey, Sunny Flare," Spike greeted her. "Just a moment," Spike walked up to a door, looking at the receipt to confirm the address.

The inhabitant, a man, answered the door, "The pizza's here!" He announced to his family before he exchanged some dollars for the boxes. "Keep the change," He said.

"Enjoy!" Spike replied, before he counted the money to be a total of $32, and placed it in his fanny pack. Spike turned to the left and was on his way down the stairs, with Sunny Flare following, "So, what's up, Sunny?" He asked.

"Spike, dearest," Sunny began. "I was wondering, if you're not too busy tomorrow, then by chance, would you be interested in a date with me?"

Spike frowned as he looked sadly at the girl, "Sorry, Sunny. I've already got plans with the guys tomorrow," He answered.

"Oh, that's okay," Sunny frowned, looking a little disappointed.

"How about this Friday? I’m free, after my shift from work then," Spike offered.

Sunny smiled brightly, nodding her head in agreement, "That sounds lovely," She nodded. "Um, maybe around 6 PM? At my place?"

"I'll be there," Spike grinned.

"Splendid!" Sunny smiled, embracing Spike in a hug, before she composed herself. "I mean, ahem. Friday it is then."





After a whole week of school was over, and another day of work, Spike was on his way to Sunny Flare's place. With his hair neatly combed back, wearing a white long sleeved jacket over a black t-shirt with a blazing green flame on the front, and long jean, together with a dash of cologne. He wanted to look his very best for Sunny Flare.

Speaking of whom, Sunny Flare walked out of the door of her building, and stood before Spike, dressed in a magenta jacket over a silky white top, with a lilac pink scarf around her neck, a dark purple frilly skirt with darker stockings underneath.

"Hi Sunny!" Spike greeted. "Looking good!"

Sunny smiled, "Thank you, Spike," She mused, as she walked down the stairs to meet him. "You're looking sharp there, dearest."

"Thanks," Spike held a hand out. "Shall we?"

Sunny nodded as she took ahold of his hand and they both walked off together, down the streets of New York, hand-in-hand.

"So, where do you want to go?" Spike asked.





Their first stop was at a Starbucks cafe, where they both sat down to have some cups of frappuccino.

"Mmm-mmm, that hits the spot," Spike said in satisfaction.

"Agreed," Sunny nodded, before she began, "So Spike, dearie. How've you been as of late?"

"I'm doing well. Why do you ask?" 

“I’m just curious with the state of things, is all,” Sunny replied. “In case you forget, we haven’t exactly done anything social together since our recent adventure of returning young Princess Skystar to Seaquestria.”

“Right,” Spike nodded in acknowledgment. “So why now?” He asked.

“Well, if you must know,” Sunny twiddled her fingers before she answered, “Lemon Zest told us about your recent date together.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm. And I have to admit, she had the right idea, about getting to know you, properly, dear Spike. It’s the least we can do to make amends,” Sunny said quietly at the last part.

Spike nodded, “Of course,” He acknowledged.

There was an awkward silence between the two, before Spike decided to break the ice, “So, how are things at Crystal Prep? Lemon Zest told me how you, and the girls have teamed up with Twilight and her friends in raising the money to have a dance on a yacht. How did it go?"

"Oh, it was a success, dearie!” Sunny smiled. “We had a lot of fun with the making of the music video,” Sunny chuckled as she recalled in nostalgia. “I never thought we could actually do it, since admittedly, Twilight and her friends have the worst choreography ever. They were so out of sync, they would constantly fumble around the stage, and crash into each other.”

Sunny snickered, together with Spike who can just picture the scenario, “Of course, we’re no better than they are ourselves,” Sunny composed herself.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked.

“You see, Spike. We both have some strengths and weaknesses. While your friends, the Rainbooms, as they’ve recently called themselves, what they lack in choreography, they make up with creative thinking. Something which the girls and I don’t have. All the more reason why we have decided to band together and create our music video.”

Spike smiled, “And without a doubt, you girls have won the prize money,” He said.

Sunny Flare smiled and nodded, “We sure did,” The elegant girl frowned sadly, “I just wished we had been friends more from the start,” She sighed. “Because then, I’m sure none of our conflicts would ever happen.”

Curiosity piqued, Spike asked, “Speaking of which,” He began. “I remember some bad bloods between you and Twilight. Just asking, what could Twilight have done to make you hate her so much?”

Sunny took a deep breath before she hesitantly answered, “It’s kinda complicated. I don’t know why I was so...antagonistic towards Twilight. Maybe it’s because back then, I was such a...a prima donna,” Sunny admitted shamefully. “I just like the attention I was receiving from the school building. All of it regarding to my talents, my lady-like elegance, and most of all, my beauty. To me, it felt great, because I thought I had friends then, and everyone who admired me were my friends.”

“That’ not exactly how friendship works, Sunny,” Spike commented.

“I know,” Sunny frowned in shame. “I learned that when...when Twilight came. The Princess of Friendship, herself,” Sunny recalled. “Back then, she was posing herself under the cover name as ‘Melody Ravenclaw.’ And when I first met her, she was helping a student up, before she started to scold me for treating my classmates that way. And of course, I scolded back at her for telling me otherwise. But before I knew, everyone I had ever dominated turned against me and sided with Twilight.”

A tear escaped from Sunny’s eyes as she whimpered, “I was humiliated. And I deserved it,” She berated. “But I was just so angry then, I didn’t know what to think. And next thing I knew, I was approached by Abacus Cinch and some figures in black, who took me to Nightmare Moon....and you know the rest,” Sunny concluded, looking even more shameful.

Spike was silent for a moment, before he shook his head in disbelief, “That’s it?” He asked. “All of that hate over some petty argument, just like that?”

“It’s ridiculous. I know,” Sunny sighed, before she got up and started to walk away.

“Hey, where are you going?” Spike asked, getting up to follow the girl.

“Isn’t obvious?” Sunny turned to Spike. “The date’s off.”

The young dragon shook his head in disbelief, “But why?”

“You know why. Because I was so horrible! For a long time, I’ve been telling myself that Twilight was no good at friendship, but that's not true. I wasn’t. I was terrible at friendship. She's the one who knows how to reach out and be brave and friendly. She truly deserves the title as Princess of Friendship..” Sunny turned to Spike, and spoke solemnly. “That’s why you’re wasting your time with me. I don't deserve friendship. And most of all....I don't deserve you...”

Spike shook his head, as he walked past Sunny. Sunny winced, preparing to hear the sound of the door being opened and slammed shut. But it never came.

“Y’know, Sunny. I’m kinda disappointed in you right now,” Spike said. “After all those times when you and the Shadowbolts have helped me and my friends, I thought for sure you wanted to join our friendship circle. And yet, here you are, giving up so easily? That ain’t like you.”

Sunny turned her head to face Spike, “What do you know about me, aside from what I’ve told you?”

Spike explained, “When we first fought, I thought I saw a girl who was a fighter. A fighter who wasn’t going to quit so easy in a fight.”

“Well, a fight and a date are two different things, Spike. What do you expect me to do?”

“Do exactly like what Twilight would do. Be brave and friendly and outgoing,” Spike repeated. “You said it yourself. You’re terrible at friendship. So maybe it’s time for us to change that. And it can start with us, together on this date.”

“I don’t know, dearie.”

“Why not?”

“This date didn’t exactly start off as well as I had hoped,” She sighed.

“Well the date’s still young, so let’s give friendship another try for us,” Spike said, walking up to Sunny Flare and asked. “Now then, where do you like to go?” He asked to a stunned Sunny Flare. “Let me show you how the real magic of friendship begins,” He offered his hand out for the girl to take.

Reluctant at first, Sunny took Spike by the hand.





Gina T - Sayonara


As she had requested, their next stop was at a mall. Spike and Sunny Flare were jumping from stores to stores, browsing at all the different merchandises on sale, and buying whatever catches their attentions.

"Ooh! This one looks spectacle!" Sunny smiled, holding up a diamond necklace, marveling at how it glistened in the light. "What do you think, Spike?" She asked, turning to the green haired boy, who was looking at a display of glass sculptures.

"Huh?" Spike asked, looking in Sunny Flare's direction, noticing the necklace she was holding. "Oh yeah, it's beautiful," He quickly answered, before looking back at the small glass sculptures, with a few in particular catching his attention.

One was a glass figure of an orange blazing phoenix, with a pillar of flames at the base. Another was a beautiful star, coated in a multicolor of sparkles. It made him think of Twilight and the girls. Turning to the left, Spike noticed the figure of an alicorn. At first, Spike could see his adopted mother in place of the small figurine, before it changes to his aunt luna, and lastly, Nightmare Moon.

Lastly, it doesn't exactly help that a glass figure of a fearsome snake sat next to the alicorn, which furthers the pain from the past. Spike didn't like to think back on it, too much. But the young prince experienced a painful flashback as it rushes back into his head, picturing the wicked serpent mark of the Shadowbolts, the dark lightning spell from Somnambula that made everything turn rapid white, following a combo of burning and pounding sensations that erupted in his head upon recalling the tragedy.

Spike hissed as he snaps back into reality, clutching the spot where the lightning had struck him. Somewhere, in his spiky locks, his fingers traced over the large rough surface of a scab that was formed over the wound, 'How long has that been there?' He asked himself in his thought.

"Spike?" Spike snapped back to reality as he turns to Sunny Flare, looking at him with concern. "Are you alright, dearie?"

Unsure at first, Spike took a few deep breaths to calm himself, before he composed and hesitantly answered, "I'm fine, Sunny," Spike answered. "Just a little, dazed. That's all."

Sunny Flare wasn't buying it at first. Looking at the glass figurines that started his troubles, Sunny silently got the message and decided not to question any further. It still amazed her that even after their previous attempt on Spike's life, the young dragon was still willing to give her a second chance for redemption and amendment. Of course, it doesn't change the hardship the dragon and his friends had gone through, following the tragedy that tore them apart, with the Shadowbolts held responsible.

"Hey Spike!" A familiar voice called out to him, which reveals itself to be Snips and Snails running up to him and Sunny.

"Yo, Snips! Snails!" Spike greeted the two boys. "What's up? Out girl hunting again, I presume?"

"You know us too well, Spike," Snails replied, while Spike rolled his eyes at the obvious fact.

"And do I dare ask, how that goes?"

"Like you had to ask," Snips frowned, before he and Snails ogled their eyes on Sunny. "Whoa! Who is this beautiful babe with you?"

"This is Sunny Flare," Spike introduced the girl. "Sunny, I'm pretty sure you know Snips and Snails."

"What?" Sunny asked, along with Snips and Snails, sharing equal confusions. "I don't believe I know them, dearie."

"Dearie?!" The two goofy boys asked.

"Well then, I guess that means it's all water under the bridge for these two vandals for ya."

"Huh? Vandals? What are you-" Sunny's eyes widened as she begins to have an epiphany. "Wait, I remember you two!" Sunny scowled. "You're those hooligans who kept trespassing on our school grounds! Aren't you?"

"What?" Snips and Snails asked, holding their hands up in defense.

"Hey, wait a minute," Snails began. "We don't even know you! So what did we ever do to you?"

"Though, come to think of it," Snips began. "You do look familiar. You kinda looked like this girl who....uh oh," Snips moaned, realizing he and Snails were in hot waters.

The two frightened boys looked up to see Sunny Flare's former lady-like poise melting away, in place of a face with an expression of furious rage that's scary beyond all reasons. Even Sour Sweet would never be this angry. Or would she?



"Uh, easy there, cutie," Snips whimpered, as he and Snails slowly backed away. "It's all fun and game until one of us gets hurt."

As a desperate attempt, Snails pulled out a pair of Groucho glasses, "You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses, would you?" He asked desperately.

In response, Sunny took the glasses off, and snapped them into two, "Yeah, I guess she would," Snips whimpered.

SNAP!

The two boys quickly collapsed, out cold, courtesy of Spike, having snuck up behind them, undetected, and literally struck a nerve. Nerve point to be exact.

“Sorry boys,” Spike apologized. “But it’s for your own good.”

“Spike?” Sunny gasped. “Dearie, what-“

“Nothing. I just struck some pressure points. That’s all,” Spike shrugged. “Don’t worry, they’re fine. They’ll wake up in about five minutes. Give or take.” Seeing the look of shock still plastered on Sunny’s face, Spike cleared his throat before he began, “So...shall we continue with our date then?”

Snapping out of her daze, Sunny stammered, "I um, o-of course," Sunny then looked up at Spike with a demanding expression, "But pray tell, care to explain who you know these two hooligans?"

"Heh heh, funny story," Spike chuckled.





Later


“So you see, they're paid to do all those crazy shenanigans," Spike explained. "They’re like soldiers for hire by Rumble’s big bro, Thunderlane. And whenever they get into trouble, the Knights and I would always have to come to their rescue.”

"Oh really?" Sunny asked, crossing her arms together and raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, don't look at me! You're the ones who defaced our Wondercolt statue to gloat, so it ain't entirely my fault that one of our schoolmate desired bitter payback for something like this," Spike justified his statement.





"Oh I can relate, dearie," Sunny replied. "I actually have a fair share in a thing or two about school pranks. But two peeping toms? That's just crossing the line!"

"You're right," Spike sighed. "We kinda realized that too late. And I'm surprised with what? Over 9,000 escapes? They're still at it," Spike shook his head in shame for the two boys in question. "But still, they're not all that bad once you get to know 'em. Snips can really give us an awesome hair cut, and Snails's a natural when it comes to soccer. Put him as the goalie, and nothing ever gets past him."

"Uh huh," Sunny Flare noted.

"Anyway, let's not have those two jokers spoiling our fun," Spike said, trying to steer the topic away. "It's not exactly like we're competing in another big game or anything. So, why the tensions and bad blood? Am I right, or am I right?"

Sunny shrugged, finding no reason to argue with it, "I suppose."

Relieved, he started to ask, "So, where do you want to go next?"

Sunny pondered for a moment, before she looked and spotted a nearby costume store, where they browsed through all the costumes that are on display, ranging from a variety of masks worn at masquerade balls to some cosplay costumes of well known TV, movie, video game, and Anime/Manga characters.

"Hey Spike!" A voice greeted, to which the two turned to see a tall scarecrow.

"BWAH!!" Spike screamed in surprise, along with Sunny Flare. "Thorax! What are you doing here?"

"Uh, I work here, of course," Thorax answered with a chuckle. "So, what brings you to New York Costume-AH!" The changeling in human disguise screamed, upon seeing Sunny Flare.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy, Thor!" Spike calmed the changeling. "It's okay! She's with me. She's on our side now, remember?"

"I remember," Thorax replied, while giving Sunny the stink eyes. "But I still don't trust her."

"Why not?"

"Are you kidding me, Spike? In case you forgot, again, two reasons. One: She's a Shadowbolt. And two: She tried to kill you once!"

Sunny looked down in shame, "You're right, Thorax. And yes, I'll admit, there are times where I can't fully put my faith in her, yet," Spike began. "But I'm still giving her the benefit of the doubt for three reasons. One: She's turned over a new leaf, like the others. Two: She and the other girls did help me out in a jam once, before aunt Luna returned. And three: Because she deserved a second chance," Sunny couldn't help but smile in admiration at Spike's kind words.

"Well...." Thorax scratched his chin, before he shrugged, "Alright. Have it your way, Spike. I just hope you know what you're doing," Thorax then turned to Sunny, pulling his mask away to reveal his snarling changeling face, bearing fangs and fork tongue and all, "One false move, shadow girl, and so help me...."

Though initially frightened, Sunny calmly reassured, "Now, now, dearie. No need for that," Thorax continued to walk away, while making a v sign with his gloves, over his eyes and traced them back to Sunny Flare, who looked even more sadden than before.

Spike wrapped his arms around her in comfort, "Give'em some times, Sunny," Spike began. "Everyone around here will get to like you more."

"I hope so," Sunny sighed, before she looked down at Spike and asked, "Do you really mean it?"

"Mean what?"

"That I deserved a second chance?"

"Well, sure, I mean, mom's already giving aunt Luna another chance for redemption, so it's only fair that I'd do the same. Though it depends on how far you would go to earn my forgiveness and everything, y'know?"

Sunny looked away, blushing for a moment, before she looked back and smiled, "Of course, dearie," She said, as she walked over and pulled Spike in close for a hug. "And I won't stop until we have regained that honor," She cooed. "Thank you for believing in us, Spike."

Spike was blushing up a storm from how close Sunny was holding him, and the feel of her hands stroking his hair, affectionately, 'I don't know what's worse,' He began mentally. 'A Shadowbolt assassin, or a Shadowbolt killing me with affection.'

Spike and Sunny later resumed their fun, as they tried on different costumes, before they came back out to show them off to each other.

"Hadouken!" Spike shouted, jumping out in a Ryu cosplay.

"やった(Yatta)!" Sunny screamed, jumping out as Chun-Li.

"Oh!" Spike feigned defeat, as he collapsed to the floor, "You win!" He groaned, much to Sunny's amusement.

Later, they both appeared, dressed up as a king and a queen, pirates, ninjas, Han Solo and Princess Leia, Annakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Robin and Starfire, etc.

"Plagg, claws out!" Spike shouted, as he appeared in a black jumpsuit, complete with a long belt, and a cat's mask and ears.

"Tikki,  spots on!" Sunny joined in, while appearing in a red jumpsuit, coated in black spots, with a matching mask.

"Your super heroic days ends today," A sinister voice filled the air, as Thorax appears before the two, dressed in a dark purple dress shirt with a black butterfly-shaped lapel, a brooch of the same butterfly on the center of the collar, and black dress pants. Over the majority of his face and neck, he wears a silver mask.

"Wow, cool voice impression, Thorax," Spike complimented.

"It's all changeling for ya," Thorax smiled, feeling proud of himself.

Getting back to their fun, Spike came out, dressed in a red jacket, blue cargo shorts, and grey shoes, while rapping, "From the J to the A to the K to the E, I'm the back daddy dragon of the NYC, ya heard?"

In a puff of smoke, Sunny Flare appeared, wearing a ninja-like uniform that was green with black ballet flats around the waist, with matching paddings along the chest and shoulders, gloves, and boots, "Prepare to be slain, dragon!" She spoke in an intimidating tone.

"Aww, man!"

After they had their fun, the two were walking through Central Park, enjoying the tranquility of the nightly setting, after the sun had set over the horizon, "Wow, sure is pretty, isn't it?" He asked.

"Indeed," Sunny agreed, before she turned to Spike. "Say, dearest? What do you think of this new costume of mine?" With a puff of smoke, Sunny Flare stood before Spike, wearing a navy blue sailor uniform. Her shirt is a crop top with mid-length sleeves that bares her midriff. Her sailor-style collar with red stripes is tied by a multicolored scarf, with the left half that resembles a red eye with yellow sclera, while the right half appears to be an eyepatch with an X-shaped scratch over it. Her skirt is held up by suspenders attached to a belt. To further change her appearance, Sunny wore a black scruffy wig with red highlights, and blue eye contacts.

Spike whistled, "Looking good, Sunny," He commented. "Kinda cute, and yet bad ass at the same time. Pardon my language."

"I'm flattered," Sunny grinned, before she looked at him with half-lidded eyes, "But what do you think now?" With another smoke bomb in hand, Sunny made a quick change in costume, before she stood before Spike, in a rather skimpy version of the costume from before.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed, blushing a storm, nearly losing control of himself as when almost changed into a fish. "That's a lot of skin, Sunny," He blushed, while trying not to look.

Sunny couldn't help but giggle at Spike's embarrassment, if not, her own, "That never stopped this girl from fighting to her death, in spite of her embarrassment, now has it, Spike?" She asked.

Still looking away, Spike asked, "Depends. Any reason why she's dressed like that?"

"Oh, probably a price for her to pay for the powers she needed to fight for a good cause," Sunny chuckled. "That, and she would easily slay you, seeing how you're helpless in her presence," The girl teased.

Irked, Spike's blush faded away, as he looked at Sunny Flare, steeling his eyes into reptilian pupils, "Oh yeah?" He grinned, as he lunged towards Sunny, only for the elegant girl to gracefully dodge his attack and pinned him to the ground.

"Wow, Spike. If I had known you were this helpless, I would've captured you a long time ago!" Sunny laughed.

"Oh yeah?" Spike grinned, as he pounced on Sunny Flare, and they both rolled around in the grass, laughing before they got up and walked away, after Sunny changed back into her normal attires again.

"So, where would you like to go now, dearest?" Sunny asked.

Spike pondered, when he looked up at the full moon in the night sky, "Oh! I almost forgot!" Spike shouted upon realization. "The Mid-Autumn festival!"

"Mid-Autumn festival?" Sunny asked.

"Yeah. They're hosting it in Chinatown," Spike replied. "I was supposed to be down there to get some moon cakes for aunt Luna and her children."

"Well then, by all means, let's go!"





Chinatown


Spike and Sunny were later walking down in the said town, where they watched a series of lion dances being performed in the street, decorated with colorful paper lanterns and banners.

"Wow," Sunny marveled, clasping her hands together. "This is so....beautiful!"

"It sure is," Spike agreed, before directing her attention up to the full moon. "Of course, the main attraction for tonight is the moon itself."

Sunny looked up, and marveled at the beauty of the full moon, "Marvelous."

Spike nodded in agreement, before he sighed, "I'm sure Aunt Luna would've loved this. She would have a blast with the Chinese." He said, while picturing how content and happy Princess Luna would be, surrounded by the Chinese folks, laughing and having a good time, while accepting tributes to the moon and its princess. Curious, Spike turned to Sunny and ask, "Speaking of Aunt Luna. How have things been for you and the rest of the Shadowbolts, now that you're all good and all that?"

Sunny Flare scratched the back of her head as she began, "Well...."





Following the heroes' triumphant victory, in which they finally freed Princess Luna and reformed the Shadowbolts, one of the first acts of redemption the Shadowbolts committed was to turn over all of the outposts, where they hold all of the treasures they've hoarded over the years along with all the weapons they have stored, in Equestria, and Earth, to the royal armies. Furthermore, Somnambula had severed all ties with the Vermin Cartel, run by Verko and his family, one of the five biggest criminal organizations in the magical underworld.

And yet, despite all of these changes made for a brighter future, there have been numerous reports of attacks on these outposts. The northern outposts were reported to be under siege by several swarms of insect-like creatures, such as the Changelings, and two more that are called the Hornets, and Myrmidons. Meanwhile, the southern outposts were reported to be invaded by a fleet of airships, led by the Storm King.

Furthermore, there have also been reports on Earth, about a squadron of Shadowbolts were being attacked by a mysterious group called the House of Meta. Lyra and Bon Bon are currently looking into this group. There have also been reports of Shadowbolts being captured and taken to a place called the Crimson Citadel.




Present

"Ouch," Spike grimaced. "Sounds like you Shadowbolts still got it rough, aren't you?"

"I'm afraid it's worse than that, dearie," Sunny explained. "Even after your victory over us, which reformed Princess Luna, and a majority of us, there are still a fraction of the Shadowbolts that are still at large. Namely, the Nightmares and Hydia."

"The Nightmares?" Spike asked. "Uh, are those smoky creatures that we've had to dealt with on the moon?"

"Yes," Sunny Flare confirmed with a nod of her head. "After repairs were done in the wake of Nightmare Smooze's wrath, we have lost contact with the Nightmares, along with their leader, Shadowfright. And by Princess Luna's command, we continue to search for them. Furthermore, Hydia and her daughters are still at large." Something else crossed her mind and she felt now would be a good time to tell him, "Spike, there's something else you should know."

"And what's that?" He asked, curious on what she has to say.

Sunny took a deep breath before she continued, "Years ago, before you even came to Equestria, there was a big split amongst the Shadowbolts. We are still hunting these heretics even to this very day."

Spike was a little shocked by this, "Whoa. So...if you don't mind me asking, what exactly caused this split?"

"Times were changing and many Shadowbolts felt they should do the same." Sunny began, "However, the elites at the time were afraid of change and any Shadowbolt who brought this up with them got shot down and ridiculed. Many of them grew increasingly frustrated with the elite's stubborness and began to plot and scheme amongst each other. Eventually, they decided to break away from us."

"Well that's kinda the elites fault for not listening their underlings better. And knowing Somnambula at the time, she probably didn't took it very well." Spike stated.

"She didn't, she had the heretics hunted down. But all they found were severed hands, hooves, and claws that bared the Shadowbolt mark.

Spike eyes widened and his pupils shrinked to pinpricks.

"Yeah. I nearly lost my lunch when I heard that part for the first time."

Spike and Sunny walked into a bakery, where Spike was browsing through a shelf, looking at all the sweets, searching for some mooncakes, while listening to Sunny Flare's story, "Guess we're gonna have to be extra careful then, huh? Who knows. They could be watching us right now."

"Agreed," Sunny nodded, while assisting Spike in their search for mooncakes. "Though, what matters for the Shadowbolts and Princess Luna is that her children are safe."

"Yeah, children," Spike nodded, before another question came to mind. "So, how exactly are her children related to aunt Luna?"

"She adopted them," Sunny answered. "Just like how Princess Celestia adopted you, dearie. About thousands of years ago, they were-"

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!" Spike interrupted, in surprise. "They're over a thousand years old? But they looked so young!"

"It's just a simple non-aging spell," Sunny explained. "Another form of dark magic the Shadowbolts have practiced, from the archived spells of the Umbrums."

"Who?"

"We'll talk about them later," Getting back on topic, Sunny Flare resumed, "So about thousands of years ago, before Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon, she was sadden by the daily struggles of the ponies of Equestria, and was very heartbroken for the hardship the children had to endure. Therefore, she proposed to form a new colony where all the children could grow strong and happy, under her guidance. Unfortunately, Princess Celestia forbade it."

"Why would mom forbid it? What's wrong with aunt Luna helping out some little kids?"

"Equestria was still young and was very fragile back then. She was afraid that Luna's action would only make things worse, by dividing and shatter the weakened kingdom, forever."

Spike scoffed in disbelief, "That's ridiculous!"

"I know. But nevertheless, at her own risk, Princess Luna carried on with her plans, with the children whom she had rescued. That was also when we the Shadowbolts were founded. As far as I know about our history in Equestria, the Shadowbolts were guardians whom Princess Luna had tasked in protecting the children, with Somnambula as the second-in-command," Sunny Flare sighed as she continues, "I don't know what happened, or how it went, but needless to say, Princess Celestia confronted Princess Luna about her action, there was some tensions between them, which lead to Luna becoming Nightmare Moon, and the Shadowbolts being lead astray from their honorable purpose...and you know the rest."

Seeing the look of guilt and regret on Sunny's face, Spike resumed looking through the shelves, before he found what he came to Chinatown for, "Well, there's no time like the present for amendments, as Sunset and Starlight would always say. And it can start with these," Spike showed the package of mooncakes to Sunny Flare, before he was on his way to the counter to purchase them.

"What's so special about these mooncakes?" Sunny asked.

"It's all part of an age old Chinese traditions, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty," Spike explained, while paying for the cakes. "The moon cakes are the symbol of the Moon Festival - that's another name the Mid-Autumn Festival goes by. These cakes are round, just like the moon, and they symbolize the reunion of family. All the more reason why eating them under the full moon can evoke the longing for distant family relatives and friends. Other times, they're for wishing loved ones a happy long life."

"Fascinating," Sunny said in awe. "Mind if I have one?"

"Sure," Spike replied, opening a package and handing one for Sunny to take a bite. "So, how did it taste?"

Sunny opened her eyes, bedazzled, "It's so good!" She said, downing her whole cake.

Spike smiled for the girl, before they were on their way out of Chinatown.





Later, back at Spike's apartment, the two were busy gift wrapping the moon cakes in several boxes.

"Thanks again for helping me with the gift wraps, Sunny," Spike thanked the girl, while writing a letter. "I really appreciate this."

"Oh, please," Sunny began, while expertly working with a ribbon to wrap a beautiful bow around a box. "I'm the one who should be thanking you dearie, for this wonderful night. It's very kind of you for giving me another chance."

Spike shrugged, "Eh, I'd do the same for Sunset and Starlight," Spike winced, while clutching his head, at some unpleasant memories of Sunset. "But for now, I'm glad it's only you for tonight."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"I don't know. You seemed nice, fair, and not too scary, like Sour Sweet," He shuddered in fright at the thought of the crazy girl.

"Oh come now, dearest," Sunny began. "She's not all that bad, once you get to know her. Though, it'll take awhile for her to like you, considering you left a rather bad impression on her."

"Don't remind me," He grumbled, until they finished packing away all the mooncakes. "Well, let's go! We've got children to feed."

Sunny nodded in agreement, before she walked over and hugged Spike, "Thank you, dearie," She whispered lovingly, before she finished with a quick kiss to his cheek.

Spike's face turned red from the kiss, before he shook it away, "Zhù nǐ hé nǐ de jiārén zhōngqiū kuàilè!" He said.

"What?" Sunny chuckled.

"Chinese for 'wish you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!'" Spike explained.

"Oh! Wish you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Festival too!" Sunny blushed.





After her night shift had ended, Princess Luna was ready to call it a day, when she noticed several large gift boxes, placed on her bed, each addressing to her children, "Oh, what's this?" Luna asked, levitating the box that has her name on it, opens it up to see it was full of moon cakes, along with a note that reads:

"Dear Aunt Luna,

皓月闪烁，星光闪耀，中秋佳节，美满快乐！
Hàoyuè shǎnshuò, xīngguāng shǎnyào, zhōngqiū jiājié, měimǎn kuàilè!
A bright moon and stars twinkle and shine. Wishing you a merry Mid-Autumn Festival, bliss, and happiness.

Your Loving Nephew,

Spike."

Touched by the loving words from her nephew, Luna smiled happily, before she took a bite from a single moon cake, savoring its sweet flavory texture within.





Meanwhile


Prince Blueblood just woke up, before he noticed a mooncake on the table, together with a note.

"Huh, what's this?" He asked, reading the note:

"Dear cousin Vlad. 

I wish that your career and life, just like the round moon on Mid-Autumn Day, be bright and perfect. 

祝你的事业和生活像那中秋的圆月一样，亮亮堂堂，圆圆满满.

Sincerely,

Spike.

P.S. I still hate you."

"Hmph!" Blueblood huffed, tossing the note away. "Jealous reptile. And it's Prince Vladímir Blueblood to you!" Blueblood was about to take a bite, when he stopped momentarily, "Waaaaait a minute....." He scowled. "Oh no. Not this time! I've fallen for this trick one time too many to know it'll end up with me getting a face full of carnival fare fillings! Well I'm not eating this!" Blueblood simply tossed the mooncake to his little dog, Bunny, to chew on. "Cheers to your failed attempt, cousin!" Blueblood dons a smug grin, while drinking down a bottle of sparkling water..........with ghost pepper.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
> Spike and the Crystal Prep Shadows - Indigo Zap
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was another busy day at Mario’s Pizzeria & Pastas. Spike was running to and fro, taking the customers orders, before delivering them to their tables.

“Mamma Mia, Mr.-a Draco,” Mario commented, noting how busy the boy is. “You keep-a this up, and we’re-a going to have-a to pay you over-a-time!”

“What? You mean I don’t get recognized for employee of the month?” Spike asked.

Mario simply laughed, “I’m just-a kidding, Spike. You keep up the good-a work.” With that, Mario went off to continue hosting some guests, when the door flung open, ringing the bell, and Indigo walked in.

“Hey Indigo,” Spike greeted the Shadowbolt athlete, before his eyes widened like plates. "Indigo?!"

“Yo Spike!” Indigo greeted, walking up to the green haired boy. “Got a table left for me? Just got back from a pretty intense game.”

“Uh, you’re in luck. A table just opened up for you,” With that, Spike directed the girl over to the said table, before he quickly handed her a menu to look over for the day’s specials. "So, what will it be today, Indigo?"

Indigo quickly skimmed through the menu before she answered, "I think I'll have the pepperoni pizza. But go easy on the mozzarella cheese, will ya? And I'd like to have it come with the butter filled crust, if you'll please."

After writing down every last detail of Indigo's order, Spike replied, "Coming right up!" With that, the boy was already gone, straight towards the kitchen window where he gave the orders to the cooks, "One pepperoni pizza with little mozzarella cheese and butter filled crusts!" He announced.

"You got it!" The cooks answered as they begin working on the new pizza.

In the meantime, Spike leaned against the wall, while looking at Indigo Zap, seeing her in a new light. The girl was smiling with a look of content, relax, and proud of herself.

The boy couldn't help but crack a smile, 'Feels like it was just yesterday we were at each other's throat,' He mused himself, mentally recalling their first meeting, upon which Indigo, along with her fellow Shadowbolts had tried numerous time to kill him, and the battles they've had. 'Indigo's tough, I'll give her that,' He continued in his thoughts. 'But not as tough as Rainbow Dash.'

*RING*

The sound of the bell snapped the boy back to reality, just in time for him to pick up Indigo's pizza and delivered it to the girl, "Dinner is served," He said, carefully placing the pizza on the girl's table. "Enjoy."

"Thanks Spike," Indigo gave him a thumbs up, before she picked up a slice and happily dines in. "Mmmm-mmmm!!"

Spike walked away to check on the other costumers to take their orders and delivering them. But all the same, he couldn't help but feel the strong love that comes from all the families who have come together for a good time in the pizzeria.

"I'm glad I got to be with you today grandpa!" A little boy smiled at a happy elderly man beside him.

"I love you mommy!" A young girl smiled, hugging the woman beside her in delight.

"Well done son!" A man said as he wraps an arm around a younger man beside him, who looked like a well dressed business man. "You deserved this pizza as your reward! I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks dad!" The younger man smiled. "I love you!"

Spike turned his attention to his employers, Mario and Luigi, both sharing a drink of cocktails, "Ah, it's-a good-a day for business, eh Luigi?" Mario asked.

"Oh yeah," Luigi answered, while sighing sadly.

"Eh, what's the matter, Weegee?"

"I'm-a just thinking about-a mama and papa," Luigi replied despondently. "We were-a so-a young, we hardly-a remember their-a faces. You think they're still-a proud of us?"

"Absolutely, Luigi," Mario replied, hugging his brother close. "Uncle always-a did say that we're-a so much-a like-a them, more ways-a than-a one. And that we're-a all that's-a left of keeping their-a memories alive, by remembering and-a knowing the kind of people they-a are."

"But still, I just-a wished we had-a chance to know them."

"I know Luigi. I know."

Hearing and feeling all these talks of family bonding got to Spike as a sudden jolt shot through his heart, as if it had been struck by an arrow, followed by a crack of lightning that echoed through his head. Time seemed to have slow down all around the young dragon boy, as he fell toward the floor, panting heavily, while clutching his hands over his head.

Looking up, Spike was met with the frozen look of surprise from the people all around, staring in his directions. The boy paid no mind; thus, he didn't take notice of the clock hanging on the wall, literally frozen in time. Feeling his whole body tensing up, as if it suddenly became frozen solid from feet to head, Spike crawled up to a nearby wall, panting heavily as if it was the method he has left to desperately warm himself up.

"Spike...." A woman's voice called out to him, beckoning him to look up.

The young green haired boy froze in place, as he gazed at the appearance of two figures, a man and a woman, standing before him. Both shrouded by a cloak of darkness, too thick to be penetrated by the lights of the restaurants, or the remaining sunlights of the sunset outside the facility that flooded through the windows.

"Hello....son...." The man greeted the teenager.

"....Son?..." Spike squinted his eyes for a moment, before he finally found his voice. "....Mom?" The shadowed woman nodded her head, with a smile that faintly penetrated the thickness of her dark cloak. "Dad?" The man repeated the gesture.

"Aw...feeling sentimental, Dragon Prince?" A familiar haunting voice asked, to which Spike tensed to see a shadow taking shape of the psychotic man, carrying a large scythe over his shoulder, "What? Mommy Celestia's love for you isn't enough anymore? Or is it true? Have you two grown so far apart that you don't want anything to do with each other?" Spike simply scowled, as he remained stone face. "Oh come on. What's the point of the tough guy act, huh? Why don't you just accept it already? You're bad luck! It's because of you, your birth parents are no longer here! Don't you see? The Dragonfire has cursed you! It's because you're a dragon that your human parents have abandoned you from the moment you took your first breath! It's because wherever you go, disaster is sure to follow! Why else would the Shadowbolts be after you in the first place? Why else would the Cerulean Hunters have a bounty on your head? Why do you always get your surrogate family and friends involved? You're better off alone! You should never have a family to begin with!"

"Spike!" The said boy snapped out of his trance, when he was shaken back to reality and finds Indigo looking at him with concern, together with her fellow patrons. "Are you okay?"

"Mama-mia, Spike!" Mario joined. "You feeling okay? You don't look so good."

Spike looked at Indigo, then at Mario, unsure on how he would answer their questions.





Later That Night


After his shift at Mario's Pizzeria & Pastas was over, Spike returned to his apartment, where he changed out of his work uniform and into his casual attires, before he stepped out on the balcony, with Peewee perched on his shoulder.

"Maybe some late night parkour should do the trick," Spike said to Peewee, who nodded in agreement.

Turning to a nearby fire escape, Spike climbed up to the rooftop of his building. From there, he did a few leg stretches, followed by some rotations of his arms, shoulders, and waist, before he stood up, meeting the cold autumn winds blowing across his face, sending his blazing green hair fluttering, together with Peewee's fiery scarlet feathers.

With a deep breath to steady his trembling nerves, Spike got himself into a starting position, "Here we go!" Spike shouted, running across the rooftops, before he came to he ledge, where he jumped off and onto the rooftop of the next building, rolling across his back upon landing and kept on running, while Peewee took flight while the boy was doing a front flip in mid-air.

Spike continued to race across the rooftops, doing several jumps and flips he's been taught by Scorpan during their stay in New York, and on most of their travels around the world.

Speaking of which, Spike once again had another sudden flashback as he finds himself free running within Beijing, China.

Beijing was one of the biggest and most populated urban city that Spike has ever known, besides New York City. It's tall buildings and crowded structures have made it an ideal location for practitioners in parkour who were up for the challenge.

Spike smiled in nostalgia as he remembers the intensive teachings he's received from the Shaolin Monks, from carrying a heavy shoulder pole with buckets of water, to doing a handstand for an hour on a stone pillar, and practicing his fighting stances atop a series of wooden pillars.

The hardships the young boy has had to endure was bittersweet. But the results were all worth it, for the skills with which he has attained today, "Oh how I wished mom and dad were there to see it," Spike smile, before the heartache jolted itself again, stopping the boy in his track, causing him to collapse to his knee.


They Live In You - Lion King Broadway


"...Mom...dad...." Spike panted, struggling to catch his breathe, while fighting to suppress the sudden overwhelming feeling of longing that has returned, stronger than ever.

It was nothing like the heartaches he's had before, when he has longed for Princess Celestia, after his first reunion with the Elements of Harmony after ten years. Spike sat down on the rooftop of the building he was on, curling his knees up, while looking up at the night sky that wasn't the work of his adopted aunt Luna.

For the first time in forever, Spike truly felt himself alone. Isolating himself from the memories of his adopted mother, his mythical friends from Equestria, his gargoyle uncle, and his pals in New York, Spike struggled to recover the memory that has eluded him since his very beginning. The one memory that wasn't destroyed by Somnambula's lightning, but was kept hidden from him in the deepest darkness of his mind. The faces of his birth parents.

Spike closed his eyes, as he struggled to catch a glimpse of his parents' faces in the earliest memory he could master. An image was shown, but it was too hazy for a definite glance. Soon, the image faded away, with the Dragon Prince desperate to recover it, but to no avail, finding himself back into reality.

"It's no use," Spike said to himself, clutching his frustrated head in his hands.

The words spoken from Mario and Luigi earlier echoed in his head. 



"You think they're still-a proud of us?" Luigi asked.

"Absolutely, Luigi," Mario replied, hugging his brother close. "Uncle always-a did say that we're-a so much-a like-a them, more ways-a than-a one. And that we're-a all that's-a left of keeping their-a memories alive, by remembering and-a knowing the kind of people they-a are."



"Knowing the kind of people they are, huh?" Spike asked himself. "Then what were my parents like? Why didn't they want me then? Would they still be proud of me if they could see what I've grown into?"

"Yo, Spike!" A voice greeted, which the young dragon turned to see it was only Indigo, leaning her shoulder against a door.

"Oh, hey Indigo," Spike greeted nonchalantly.

"I see you've been keeping up with your parkour training," The athletic girl beamed enthusiastically with a light punch to the boy's shoulder. "So, ya up for some parkour race?"

"Not now Indigo."

"Wrong answer bud! Come on, get up!" Indigo grunted, struggling to pull the boy up by the arm, only for him to brush her off.

"I said not now! Go away!" He frowned with a glint of annoyance in his tone.

As if finally taking note of his negative attitude, Indigo started to ask, "Gee, what's your problem, Spike?"

"None of your business."

"What? What do you mean? I thought we're friends now."

"Yeah, well I'm still trying to get used to the fact that we were once enemies, and how determined you were to try and kill me."

"Well, what about all those times we've helped you and your friends out?" Indigo countered. "And that was even before you guys defeated Nightmare Moon and restored Princess Luna! I thought we're tight about that now."

"Whatever," Spike fumed. "It doesn't change the fact that I'm cursed with all of this."

"Cursed? What do you mean?"

"Just go home, Indigo! I don't need to have you or anyone else involved."

Indigo frowned. She wasn't going to give up so easily, "You think I haven't been involved enough already? With all the fiasco's we've had to dealt between here and Equestria, you think that's not getting involved enough? And here you are ranting about being cursed?!"

"The reason you're involved with the problems of Equestria is because of me!" Spike frowned. "Admit it, Indigo! You joined the Shadowbolts because you were promised of some fame and power, if your were successful enough to kill me! That's how cursed I am! That's how you and everyone else were involved to begin with! And I never asked for us to be enemies! Did I?"

Indigo was silent as a look of guilt washed over her, "S-Spike....I'm sorry..."

"Don't say it like that," Spike frowned. "I never asked to be the vessel of the Dragonfire. I never asked to be hunted down by some power hungry lunatics. And I never wanted to endanger the lives of both Earth and the Magical World. It's because of this power, I could never have a normal life. And how I never got to know who my real parents were. I can't even remember their faces."

Indigo could hardly believe her ears, "Whoa," She gasped, sniffing a sudden drop of tear that formed. "I'm sorry Spike...I....I..." The once tough athletic girl sniffed as she struggled to hold back her tears, "I never...I didn't....I wish...." Unable to find the right words to express her feelings, Indigo just tackled the boy as she pulled him close in a tightening embrace.

Taken aback by surprise, Spike struggled to break free, "What are you doing?!" He asked, ready to go full dragon.

"I'm sorry!" Indigo sobbed. "I just....I'm really sorry for making your life so harder than it has to be!"

"And what do you know?" Spike growled.

"Because I lost my dad, just as much as you lost your parents!"

Spike ceased his struggles, before he looked at the girl with skepticism, while raising an eyebrow, "You lost your dad?"

Releasing her grip to wipe some tears away, Indigo began, "He was killed one night, when I was just a baby. A robber broke into the house. My mom went to my room to save me before the robber could get to me. The robber saw her and was about to shoot her, but dad jumped at them and fought hard to keep me and my mom safe. And during the fight....the robber pulled a knife and....dad didn't make it." Indigo sighed, wiping a tear away, while Spike's gaze began to soften.

He can sense the sincerity in her story, and the griefs that she was showing was absolute.

"I didn't do this, just because I wanted to be famous or be a powerful warrior," Indigo sniffed. "I did it for my dad. I wanted to carry on his legacy, because to me....he's my hero. He was a hero. I wanted him to look down and see that I'm just as strong as he is...but now, I realized....what I did was wrong. I was so focused on trying to prove I am the best, that I was blinded to realize how wrong it was for me to try and...." The girl burst out crying even louder as she pulled Spike close for a hug, "I'm sorry, Spike!" Indigo cried as she pulled the Dragon Prince close. "I didn't...I mean...I'm sorry for making your role as a Dragonfire vessel harder than it needs to be....I really am!" She whispered, as she continued to cry.

No words can clearly describe what Spike was feeling at the moment. For a moment, he felt himself being thrown in a turmoil, struggling to process the feelings he has now. Earlier he was solely thinking about himself. How difficult his life was, how much he had to endure when he was born, how many pain and sufferings he's witnessed and forced to watch through his eyes, and sometimes, through the eyes of others.

And that's just it....the eyes of others! It's not just about him. Everyone all play an important role in the world, big or small. Each of their actions are based on the decisions they make. And though fate can have different plans for him and everyone else, the least they can do is choose whether or not to embrace it, and to help others cope with it. 

Looking back down at the saddened athletic girl, Spike felt unsure of himself at first. However, he has helped Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare cope with some of their past demons before, so who's to say he can't do it again with Indigo and the others?

Acting out on instincts, Spike wrapped his hands to pull Indigo close in a comforting embrace. The girl's sobbing started to slow down as she suddenly felt a warm, soothing aura washing over her body, easing her breathing and tensions in a heartbeat, literally.

"Just forget it, Indigo," Spike whispered. "The past is the past. We've moved on from it now."

Indigo sniffed as she melts into the embrace, "Maybe....but I don't know if dad will ever forgive me for my crimes towards you and your friends."

"....Well, it's not too late to mend your ways," Spike replied. "Though, you still have a long way to go before you're completely forgiven. The least I can say is....I wish you luck."

Indigo nodded her head in understanding, "Fair enough," She accepted.

Spike soon pulled away from Indigo and walked away, before he stopped and turned back, "Well, you coming?" He asked.

Indigo looked up in confusion, "Huh?" She asked, to which Spike repeated the question. "Where to?"

"Getting a burger," Spike answered. "Would you like to join me for some? My treat."

"Really?" Indigo smiled hopefully.

"If you're fast enough," Spike smirked challengingly.

"Hey! Are you saying that I'm slow?!" Indigo frowned.

"Loser has to buy at McDonald on 1560 Broadway. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6-" Spike counted, walking down a fire escape, quickly increasing his count when he sees Indigo lunging towards him. "54321! GO!"

"Come back here you!" Before long, Indigo Zap was chasing after Spike as they climbed down the fire escape and took their little chase through a series of alleys. They were running towards a steel fence, when at the last minute, Spike managed to jump up towards a wall, kicking his foot upon impact, launching himself over the fence, while Indigo climbed over the same fence as fast as she could. Spike looked back and slowed down to give the girl a chance to catch up.

Just as Indigo was closing in on him, Spike immediately took off running with the athletic girl following close behind. They both cut through Central Park where they started doing a series of flips, backflips, and all somersaults with the park's trees, bridges, and structures.

"Huh, you still got some skills Indigo," Spike complimented. "Have you been working out?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Indigo replied.

"Too bad I beat you to it then."

Eventually, the two arrived in Times Squares, at the front of a McDonald restaurant, "Looks like I win!" Spike smiled to himself.

"Are you sure?" Indigo sounded, to which Spike turned around to see the athletic girl panting heavily, looking tired, but triumphant.

Spike was flabbergasted, "W-What?! How'd you-"

"I'm awesome! That's what!" The girl smiled confidently.

Still, true to his words, Spike was soon buying both himself and Indigo their meal.

"Hmm, that hits the spot," Spike smiled, as he enjoyed his cheeseburger.

"Same here!" Indigo agreed, while taking a sip of her Coca-Cola.

Deciding to strike up conversation, Spike began, "Say, Indigo. I hope you don't mind me asking. About your dad. What was he like?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, before she answered, "Well, from what mom told me. He was awesome!" The girl smiled fondly. "He's the man. And he's a true hero to! He was an amazing officer at NYPD. He once arrested a whole gang of street thugs who kidnapped my mom. That's how she and dad met. They've been dating since. Mom even scored some tickets to get to some of his basketball games!"

"Your dad's a basketball player and a police officer?" Spike asked with piqued interests.

"Not just a basketball player. But a soccer player, a hockey player, a football player, and a motocross racer!"

"No way!"

"Way! He's the reason why I've dedicated my life to being an athlete at CPA!" Indigo's smile disappeared as she looked down at her food with sadness. "I just wished he was still here. Because maybe, just maybe he would still be proud of me. And maybe he would've talked me out of joining the Shadowbolts."

Spike looked on in sympathy, sighing, "At last you got the chance to know your real father. I hardly even knew mine."

"I know. And that's what I'm most sorry about for you, Spike," Indigo said in sympathy. Deciding to change topic, she began, "But hey, at least you have Scorpan. I mean, he's kinda like a father. Right?"

Taken by surprise at the sudden change of topic, Spike chuckled, "Actually, no. He's more of an uncle than a father. I mean, he and mom are close friends. That and he and Aunt Luna have this thing going."

"Whatever. An uncle is kinda like a father. Right?"

Spike thought back on the last ten years he's had to spend with his gargoyle of a guardian and mentor. The intensive trainings and teachings of the martial arts he's had to learn, while having a few moment of family bonding.

"Yeah. He is," Spike smiled fondly of Scorpan.

Later, after they had their meal, the two friends were later walking back to Indigo's home, "Thanks again for this fun night, Spike!" Indigo smiled. "And thanks again for that race we had earlier. No one's ever given me such an intense race like that before."

"Heh, no problem," Spike replied. "It's not like it wasn't the first time we've ever had a race for our lives before. Was it?"

Indigo laughed lightly, recalling their first meeting, "No, I guess not," Indigo smiled before she looked at Spike passionately, in a new light. "Hey Spike?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks again for helping me remember about my dad," Indigo stroked her hair. "I...I really needed that."

"Well, just do something that doesn't involve hunting me down from now on, okay?" Spike suggested. "It will do both your folks proud. You got that?"

"Got it!" Indigo winked, giving Spike a thumbs up, and a playful punch. "See ya around, Dragon Prince!"

"See ya," Spike was about to take his leave, when Indigo grabbed him by the shoulder, pulled him back around, and planted a kiss to his cheek.

"Should've been faster than that, you know," Indigo smiled, before she ran up the stairs and entered her building, disappearing behind the door.

Shaking the shock away, Spike concentrated his powers, 'Wings of the dragon!' He said mentally, sprouting only his dragon wings, before he took off flying into the night.





Back with Indigo, the athletic girl kicked off her shoes and was up in her room, where she walked over to a stand with a picture of a grown man, smiling confidently. Sitting next to the picture was her signature pair of goggles.

"Hi dad," Indigo said to the picture sadly, as she picked it up in its frames to wipe off the dusts it had collected over the years. "Sorry it's been so long. Crazy how life works for us, huh? Then again, you would know that, wouldn't you? We barely knew each other. But at least we're still together. Always...." She sobbed, putting the picture frame back on its resting place, while picking up her goggles, turning the straps over to reveal some letters that spelled: "From dad."
> Spike and the Crystal Prep Shadows - Sugarcoat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


E Nomine - Mitternacht










Playground Lullaby - Creepy Lullaby Music Box


Spike finds himself in a dark room. After looking around, he notices he's in a crib. He tries to speak but is unable to.

'What's going on here?' He thought. 

All of a sudden, he begins to hear a loud thud which got louder and louder until it suddenly stopped. Just then tendrils appeared and wrapped around the crib. And lastly, a pair of blue eyes pierced the darkness as the creature held him in front of its face.

'Who is that?! Nightmare Moon?' Spike thought until he took a closer look, 'No, It's eyes are more goat-like than serpentine.'

The creature then picked him up, "At long last," It said in an almost alien voice, "You are mine." Just as the creature was about to take him away, Spike hears a door being burst open.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU MONSTER!!!!!!"

And with that, the eyes were swallowed up by the shadows, followed by the sound of a man and woman's scream.

Spike's eyes immediately burst open as he shot up from his bed, panting heavily, "Oh man...." He groaned, collapsing back down, struggling to get back to sleep. "Was that a dream....or a memory? He asked himself.





It was a Friday afternoon at Celestial High School. The students were all finished with their classes for the day, which was a relief for many of them. Though none were more relieved than the Knights themselves.

"Oh man!" Button groaned. "Coach Iron Will's really trying to break our bones!"

"You think that's bad?" Rumble argued, while showing a long printed essay. "I just bombed my essay on 102 Minutes!" The boy frowned, turning the pages to reveal a big red F written on the essay.

"You said you knew a lot about the 9/11 attack!" Featherweight said to the athlete.

"I do!" Rumble replied. "I just know it happened on September 11, 2001. Al-Qaeda was the culprit. And it involved four coordinated attacks!"

"Yeah, but the 102 Minutes is all about the victims' survivals within the collapsing towers!" Featherweight explained. "How they experienced the attack first hand! And there's nothing in your essay that describes anything about their experience! Didn't you even read the book?"

The athlete muttered, "I may have skimmed a few pages...." In response, the thin boy shook his head incredulous at the athlete.

"Cheer up, Rumble," Tender Taps said, trying to lighten the mood. "You still have some time left to get your grades up!"

"Yeah, it could be worse," Button added. "Take Spike for example. Today, Professor Flintheart took 10% of his participation grade for sleeping in class. Again."

"Ooh, sorry to hear that Spike," Rumble grimaced, turning to their dragon friend, who was apparently absent. "Spike? Spike? Where is he?"

The Knights turned their heads, searching in random directions to find their missing friend. Thankfully, it was only a few minutes when they found their friend, sleeping against his locker, with his backpack as a makeshift pillow.

"Yo Spike!" Rumble shouted as he and the Knights ran up to their sleeping friend. "Rise and shine sleeping beauty! Come on, up, up, up!"

But it was no use. Spike was sawing logs. That is, until Snips and Snails entered the picture.

From around a corner, Snips and Snails both grinned mischievously at the sight of Spike, sleeping in the middle of the day, "You got the balloon?" Snips asked, to which Snails answered by showing a huge water balloon at the ready. "In 3.....2.....1....GIVE IT TO HIM!!!"

With that, Snails hurled the water balloon at Spike.

SPLASH

"BWAH!!!" Spike exclaimed, snapping himself awake upon impact of the cold water, transforming in a burst of green fire, into his dragon form. "W-What happened? Where am I?! Who did that?!" Spike shouted, while throwing a few kicks and punches.

Snips and Snails were, of course, scared out of their wits at the sight of a dragon, "D-D-D-Dragon!!!" Snails screamed.

"AAAHH!!! Mama! Mama! Mama!" Snips added, jumping into Snails's arms.

Meanwhile, with the Knights, they were doing the best they can to calm their dragon friend, "Whoa, whoa! Spike! It's okay!" Rumble ushered. "It's okay! We're okay. We're still in school!"

"Yeah! So lose the dragonsona, will ya?" Button added, while checking to make sure no one was around. Of course, he failed to notice the two retreating troublemakers.

"Oops!" Concentrating into his powers, Spike reverted back into his human form. "Sorry about that you guys."

"Eh, no problem," Rumble shrugged. "Though, what's with all the drowsiness? Trouble with sleep last night?"

In response, the Dragon Prince shook his head as the demonic goat-eyes returned, still fresh in his head, "Y-You could say that," He answered hesitantly.

"What's the problem?" Pipsqueak asked, looking ready for action. "Any magical problem from Equestria?"

"No."

"Cerulean Hunters?" Button asked.

"No."

"Rampaging magical creatures on the lose?" Tender asked.

"No."

"Oh, I know!" Rumble announced. "You had a fun night with the girls!"

Spike blushed a shade of red, "No! Nothing like that!" Spike screamed in outrage. "Let's just get out of here, okay?"

The Knights all exchanged looks before they shrugged and followed Spike out of the school to begin their days. Meanwhile, Snips and Snails were both frozen with looks of shock.

"D-D-D-D-Did you see that?!" Snips finally broke the silence.

"Y-Yeah!" Snails added. "Our friend Spike...."

"IS A DRAGON!!" They both shouted together.

"Did you say a dragon?" Vlad Blueblood asked, while passing by.





Later that evening


Spike was at a Starbucks cafe, having himself a cup of mocha latte, while looking over his assignments, which would include a few make up works given to him from Professor Flintheart.

"Oh, Twilight," Spike sighed, scratching his head, while trying to solve a problem. "Where are you whenever I need you?"

"Over in Equestria, inside her castle, waiting for a problem that needed to be solved," A voice answered. "It's a no brainer, actually."

"Huh?" Spike turned his head to see Sugarcoat, sitting at a table next to him. "Oh, hey Sugarcoat! Didn't see you there."

"I was actually here about an hour ago," The blunt girl answered. "Same time as you were."

"Huh? Really?" Spike checked his wristwatch to see it was an hour past 4. "Whoa. It's been that long?"

"You made it sound like it's been years, when actually it's only about an hour," Sugarcoat said, before she walked over to Spike. "Mind if I take a seat?" She asked.

"Sure, be my guest," Spike replied. "If you're not trying to kill me again, that is."

Sugarcoat rolled her eyes, "If I had wanted to kill you, I would've done it an hour ago, when you were in such a fog." With that, Sugarcoat sat down and looked over some of the young dragon's assignments. "Ooh. Make up works for sleeping in class, huh?"

"Yep."

"Hmm, stayed up too late last night? That might explain how less alert you are now."

"Geez, thanks for noticing," Spike sarcastically replied.

Deciding to drop the cynical attitude, the girl decided to start in a more sincere tone, "Spike. What's the problem? You can tell me."

Searching for the words, while recalling how close he and the other Crystal Prep Shadowbolts had been as of late, Spike answered by telling the girl of his recent doubts, the question he's been having about his birth parents, and the nightmare he had.

"And that's what's been bothering me," Spike concluded.

Sugarcoat nodded in understanding and acknowledgement, "I have no words of wisdoms to give to you, Spike."

"I know. I don't expect you to have an answer for everything."

"Of course not. I'm blunt. Not a know-it-all," Looking to the side, while reaching into her pocket, the girl turned back to the trouble dragon and began, "However, I didn't just come here without a reason. I have a few ideas on how to help ease your troubles for the time being."

"Okay?" The dragon began, with his interests piqued. "What are they?"





The Next Day


Spike was walking down to a movie theater in Times Square, where he met Sugarcoat, waiting for him.

"Spike, you made it!" The girl smiled.

"Like I'd miss out on a date?" The dragon asked rhetorically, before he took the time to check the girl's new threads. "Wow, you're looking good."

Instead of wearing her usual school uniform, Sugarcoat stood wearing a light purple sweater with the symbol of a purple and yellow colored stick of dynamite on the front, a pair of long jean pants, and lavender shoes.

"Thank you," Sugarcoat smiled, with a faint blush. "You're not so bad yourself, dragon."

"Thanks," Spike walked up to the girl, taking her by the hand, and they both walked into the theater. "So, shall we?"

"Well we didn't exactly plan on standing around all day to exchange compliments," Sugarcoat replied as they both walked in, paying for their tickets, and they both got themselves each a soda, while Spike got himself a bucket of popcorns while Sugarcoat simply got herself a cup of Dibs Ice Cream.

The movie they were watching is an comedy action thriller film, starring an actress who plays as the heroine named Pom, a young girl who was chosen against her will to save her village from a clan of bandits. Though quiet, cowardly, and prone to panic, Pom and her pack of 101 puppies managed to overcome numerous obstacles, from saving a whole herd of cows to rescuing kidnapped children from the bandits.

After the movie was over, Spike and Sugarcoat both walked out of the movie, exchanging friendly chats and sharing their thoughts on the movie.

"Oh, I like the part where one of Pom's puppies bit the bad guy on the butt!" Spike laughed. "Ha! It was even more funny when the other bandits tried to whack the pup, but the ended up spanking their own comrade!"

"It's a little unorthodox and crude for a fight," Sugarcoat critiqued. "Then again, the whole movie basically involved puppies fighting human villains. I'm just wondering how they trained the puppies."

"Well hopefully, no puppies or dogs were harmed in the making of that movie."

"That's exactly what they would say if they did harmed some animals, don't you think?"

Spike shrugged, "Probably. But still, a good movie. I especially liked how Pom found the courage within her and she started to really fight back the bandits' leader. She reminds me of Fluttershy."

"Her shy personality and her relationship with her dogs are enough to pass her off as a Fluttershy counterpart. And though she's not as strong as your friend Fluttershy is at times, Pom certainly has displayed some remarkable adaptability in times where she really needs to fight."

"Oh yeah. I still haven't forgotten the part where one of the bandits pursued her into a bathroom, and she just took the lid of a toilet off and used it to fight the bad guys," With that, both Spike and Sugarcoat shared a laugh. 

"Or how about all those times one of her dogs repeatedly attacked that one bad guy in the face?" Sugarcoat laughed. "Though repetitive, his different reactions each time was funny!"

"Or what about that part in the movie where one of the bandits said this?"


"No one will ever know!"


"Obviously, a nod to one of the oldest meme of all time."

"Yup," Spike nodded in agreement, before he brought up, "What really got me at the edge of my seat though was when she faced off against the big bad, Skolas. I mean I still can't believe he was gonna sacrifice those kids just to gain immortality."

"Yeah me too." Sugarcoat said, 'Stuff like that kinda reminds me of the Crimson Bone,' She mentally added to herself while shuddering. But she quickly manages to compose herself, "It was a tough fight for Pom, but she was able to beat him. What I didn't like however was the 'villain falling to his or her death' cliche. I mean it's been done so many times that it's kinda redundant."

"Yeah I see what you mean. Still a good movie nevertheless."

"Spike?" A female voice spoke up.

Spike and Sugarcoat both turned their heads to see a girl about their age walking up to them. In appearance, she has a long strong cerulean with moderate blue streaks hair tied in two ponytails. For attires, she wore the same uniform as all the other employees in the theater.

"Huh? How do y-" Looking at the girl closely, behind her work uniform, the young dragon's eyes widened, "Juniper Montage?!" The girl nodded her head in confirmation, "Oh wow! Juniper!" With an excited run, Spike rushes up to the counter, while Juniper opened up the gate to walk out and greet Spike with a hug. "It's so great to see you again!"

"Same here!" Juniper smiled. "Me and Uncle Canter haven't seen you since the Shaolin Monks years ago!"

"Well we did exchanged phone calls and e-mails, for awhile until we lost touch," The dragon in human disguise reminded.

"Oh, oops," The girl sheepishly scratched the back of her head. "How did that happened?"

"Excuse me. Am I chopped liver or something?" Sugarcoat cleared her throat.

"Oh, sorry Sugarcoat," Spike chuckled, before he turned to Juniper and started introductions. "Juniper, Sugarcoat. Sugarcoat, Juniper Montage. She's an old friend of mine, who I met back in China."

"Pleased to meet you," Juniper greeted the blunt girl.

"Feeling's mutual," Sugarcoat replied.

"So, Juniper, you work here?" Spike asked.

"Mmm-hmm," The girl nodded.

"The uniform she wore already answers that, so why bother asking?" Sugarcoat asked.

Ignoring the girl's blunt statement, Spike continued, "Funny. Last time I heard from ya, you said you were a gofer for your uncle in his filmmaking business."

"Um..." Juniper's smile instantly disappeared at the mention her uncle as she looked away. "Well...I was until...."

Sensing the troubled emotions from the girl, Spike winced, "What's wrong, Juniper? Did something happened?"

"I...I don't want to talk about it," Juniper frowned.

Spike turned to Sugarcoat, "Don't drag me into this," She said sternly.

"Don't worry, I won't," Turning to Juniper, the young dragon attempted to break the awkward silence, "Hey, Juniper? If it makes ya feel better, forget I asked. Okay?"

Hesitant at first, Juniper nodded her head, "Yeah, of course, Spike."

"But hey, maybe when you're free, be sure to look me up, okay? Because I'd like it if it weren't another six or seven years before we meet again."

"I'll keep that in mind, Spike."

"Great."

Another awkward silence followed, before Sugarcoat decided to break it, "Should we be going now?"

"Uh, right," Spike complied, ready to take his leave with Sugarcoat. "Well, it's been great seeing you again, Juniper."

"It's a little awkward."

"Sugar!"

"Yeah, it's great..." Juniper smiled sheepishly, before she shouted, "Wait! Spike! Hold on!"

"Yeah?"

"Before you and Sugar go....um," Drawing a circle with her foot for a moment, Juniper spoke up, "Can I take a quick selfie with you?"

Spike and Sugarcoat both shrugged their shoulders, "Sure, why not?" The three friends quickly got into position as Juniper got out her phone and angled it just right. Then, with a push of the button, she quickly took their picture.

"There's a keeper!" Juniper smiled, once she, Spike, and Sugarcoat had a look at the digital photo on her phone.

"The light's a little too bright though," Sugarcoat said.

"Whatever."

"Well again, it's been nice seeing you, Juniper," Spike said as he and Sugarcoat took their leave. "See you around."

"Bye!" Juniper waved, watching the two leave before returning back to the counter.

Once outside, Spike turned to Sugarcoat and asked, "So, where to next?" He asked the girl.





Spike and Sugarcoat were later at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they, like so many visitors and tourists were passing through the exhibits, examining the arts from various cultures that were all on display, under one roof.

"Whoa!" Spike marveled, as he looked at all the images that were carved into the woods.

He and Sugarcoat were in the European Sculpture and Decorative Art exhibit of the museum, and they were looking at Gallery 501. Check it out.

Spike was standing on a specific point, while looking at an image that was carved in the wall before him, seeing how the image popped out in front of him.

"Wow, whoever designed these walls is a genius!" Spike smiled.

"The artist is Francesco di Giorgio Martini," Sugarcoat lectured. "He was an Italian artist. He created these woodworks through the use of a technique called intarsia, in the workshop of Giuliano da Maiano."

"How'd you know about that?"

"We once went over this topic in art class back at CPA," Sugarcoat stated bluntly. "That and they talk about it on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's official website."

Spike nodded his head in acknowledgement, "Fascinating."

The two continued venturing throughout the rest of the museum, observing different galleries within every different exhibits. From top to bottom, arts from Egypt to Asia, Spike and Sugarcoat both find themselves captivated by all the beautiful works of brilliant artists from the past.





After having enough sightseeing of the arts in the museum, the two bonding friends left the museum to find that the sun was just setting over the horizon.

"Well, I had fun today," Spike commented, while escorting Sugarcoat back to her place. "Thanks again for inviting me, Sugar. I had a good time."

"I knew you would," Sugarcoat smiled. "Does this officially mean we're friends now?"

The young dragon hero pondered for a moment, before he shrugged, "I think so."

The blunt Shadowbolt, however, was not convinced, "You hesitated," She frowned. "So we're still not friends then."

"No, no! Don't take it the wrong way," Spike reassured. "We are friends. You, me, and the other Shadowbolts. But it's still kinda a big step for us. You get it, right?" Sugarcoat nodded in agreement. "But hey, like they say, this could be the start of a beautiful relationship."

"A little cliche, but agreed," Sugarcoat replied, before she smiled. "Well, thank you for at least giving us a chance to make amends, Spike."

"No problem," Spike replied, before he was suddenly tackled in a loving hug. "Um, Sugar? We're-"

"Don't ruin the moment, dragon," Sugarcoat said, before she planted a quick kiss to his cheek and walked up the steps to her building. "Bye Spike!"

Once more shaking himself out of his shock, the young dragon stammered, "Yeah.....b-bye," With that, he was on his way back home.
> The Other Side ft. Rarity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a quiet night in New York City.

Spike was sleeping soundly in his room, when the sound of crashing ocean waves slowly stirred him awake, and he finds himself, blue and transparent, and laying on the sandy banks of a beach.

"What the-" Spike exclaimed, as he quickly got up to look at his new surroundings. "Where am I? How'd I get here?!" His ears perked up when he heard the sound of foot steps crunching the sands beneath, together with the flapping sounds of fabrics blowing in the wind, in which Spike turned and his eyes widened in amazement. "Rarity?"

There, walking up towards him, with a confident grin on her face.



If that's not entrancing enough, then it's the girl's choice in attire, for she was strutting up to him, dressed in a dark tight suit, with a cape wrapped over her shoulders, secured by a crystal brooch on the front. For footwear, she wore a dark high heels with baby blue sapphire strappings. Furthermore, her hair was speckled in a coat of sparkling dusts of gems.

"Wow, Rarity!" Spike gasped, as he looked at the girl who walked past him, as if he was invisible to her.

Before Spike knew it, the girl started to sing her heart out.

Sitting here with my head in my hands,
Ideas that come and go

"Huh?" Spike was perplexed when he suddenly finds himself in a studio, with Rarity sketching ideas out for her next line of dresses.

Sketching my heart out and
Nothing will turn out
Everything seems so so

The young transparent dragon's eyes followed Rarity as she continues to express herself, while walking over a pile of sketches.

I've been here before and I know that I can do it if I try
But why
Oh why
Do you stumble before you fly?

While singing, the fashionista girl tripped. In reaction, Spike quickly ran over to the girl, and placed his ghostly hands over the girl, and to his surprise, he actually touched her. Rarity, not knowing where the feeling came from, felt warm and comforted by the gentle touch.

Then, Rarity looked up at a huge mirror that was sitting in the room before her. Spike followed her gaze, and followed when the girl stood up and walked towards the mirror, with newfound confident.

My wheels keep turning (Oh - oh)
My fire's still burning (Oh - oh)
Because right now I'm learning
How to get to the other side
It's been there waiting
Anticipating
But I keep creating
So I can get to the other - get to the other side!

With a jump, Rarity suddenly disappeared into the mirror, appearing the other side, wearing a sparkling dress that resembles a crystalline carousel.

"Wow, Rarity!" Spike smiled, as he flew by her side, in his dragon form.

Get to the other side! Hey~

Hey~ Get to the other side! Hey~

Then, as if she finally became aware of his presence, Rarity began to pose seductively for Spike, while shifting between her crystal dress and the dark tight dress earlier. She somehow conjured a pile of sparkling purple dusts, which she blew in Spike's direction.

So I can get to the other - get to the other side!

Soon, the two were back on the beach from earlier, with Rarity strutting to Spike in her crystal dress.

Keep on believing I'll be achieving
The harder that I go
Don't really know how I won't give up now until I steal the show

Rarity was later lying, on her stomach, in a pink crystal throne, listening to a headphone, kicking her legs, before she looked at Spike and winked. Then, in another shift of the dream, Spike finds himself and Rarity in a void, standing on a platform, surrounded by crystalline horses that galloped around them.

When Spike looked at Rarity again, he was further aroused when she struck another pose, while looking at him.



But time will make it better
I'll be a trendsetter
Doing it my own way

Hey Hey Hey~
Won't stop until I seize the day!

Rarity sang, as she smiled with determination, holding her hand to the air, with a dolphin leaping out of the water to highlight her unbreakable spirit. Then, in a flash of light, Spike was blinded to the darkness.

He continues to hear Rarity's voice as she continues to sing.

My wheels keep turning (Oh - oh)
My fire's still burning (Oh - oh)
Because right now I'm learning (Oh - oh)
How to get to the other side
It's been there waiting(Hey hey)
Anticipating(Hey hey)
But I keep creating (Hey hey)
So I can get to the other - get to the other side!

When his visions finally returned, Spike finds himself sitting on the beach, looking up at Rarity to see she was standing proudly on top of a cliff, throwing her cape away to once again, show her tight outfit, hugging the curves of her body.

Looking around him, Spike finds both himself and Rarity, surrounded by more galloping glass horses. Furthermore, he looked up to see, not one, but two Rarity. One Rarity was wearing her dark tight dress, while the other was wearing her crystal carousel dress.

"What the-" Spike exclaimed, rubbing his eyes to see if he was just seeing things. But the Raritys were still there. The bewildered Dragon Prince quickly turned his head from one Rarity to the next, as they continued their singing.

Get to the other side! Hey~

Hey~ Get to the other side! Hey~

So I can get to the other - get to the other side!

To conclude her heartfelt song, colorful fireworks were set off, together with a dolphin jumping out of the water, chirping. Then, Rarity looked at Spike with half-lidded eyes.



"Hello, darling," Rarity greeted Spike.

"BWAH!!" Spike yelped, as he jolted awake, back in his room. "Aw, man!" He moaned, before plopping himself back in bed.
> Night of the Sapphire Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dracasia


In the Forbidden Palace, sitting on her dragon throne, Ember was completely bored out of her mind.

"Everyday, it's the same thing," Ember grumbled. "There's always a problem in Dracasia. Dragons have a problem with this, dragons have a problem with that, and there's always a big fight that nearly breaks a bone and all. And it's always me who has to handle them," The female sapphire dragon lets out a burst of purple flame as she resumes brooding, "I can't believe I'm gonna hear myself saying this, but I really miss the Frozen North now."

Then, a loud bark was heard and a foo dog came running into the room, padding over to Ember, nuzzling the young Dragon Lord close, "Aw, hey Fluffy," Ember greeted the lion-dog hybrid with a stroke to his nose. "I forgot about you again, didn't I?" As an answer, Fluffy gave Ember a loving lick to the face, "Ew! Fluffy! You know that doesn't wash out!" Ember looked at the foo dog with a stern gaze, which softens when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "But I still love you, anyway."

With a loving growl, Fluffy wrapped a strong paw around Ember, holding her close to the warmth of his muscular, fluffy builds.

Ember melted into the loving feel of the foo dog's embrace, "Mmm, so warm," Ember sighed. "Hard to believe you were nothing but a statue, years ago," She shuddered, recalling the icy cold touch she once felt for her pet and Imperial Army in their frozen sates that followed her initial dishonor. "But thanks to Spike, you're living and breathing now."

At the mention of his name, the sapphire dragon finds herself lost in thoughts about a certain Dragon Prince of Equestria.

She still finds it hard to believe, that years ago, he was only just a kid, whom she would consider to be a runt. A runt who was no bigger than her, or Mina, and yet still had the courage to fight, help others, and took a hit to the head to save his precious adopted mother. A feat that was not only foolhardy, but selfless. That's what she liked about Spike, which ignited a faint blush to her face.

Ember placed a claw to her forehead, sighing, "Oh Spike, of all the boulder heads in this magical world, why did it have to be you?" She asked herself. "I wonder if he's busy tomorrow?"





Celestial High School


Spike and his fellow classmates were in the middle of a test in Chemistry. Professor Flintheart, as usual, was patrolling the room, making sure nobody was cheating under his supervision.

Spike was filling in some answers, while at the same time, checking to make sure they were the right one, when he suddenly felt something swelling up, from his stomach to his throat.

‘Oh no, no now!’ Spike panicked, in his thoughts, trying to fight the urge, and continue with his work.

However, no matter how hard Spike fought, the urge only grew worse and worse, until it was on the point of no return.

Having enough, Spike quickly got up and ran out of the classroom and burped a stream of fire, conjuring a scroll.

"Huh, I got mail," Spike said to himself, unrolling the scroll to read what it has to say:



Hey Spike,

If you're not too busy tomorrow, then I'm coming over to this place called New York City, to pay you a visit.

Dragon Lord Ember.



"Ember?" Spike asked in surprise. "Huh, I haven't seen that hot head in a long time."

Spike returned to the classroom, to see the test was still taking place. Sensing the obvious cold stares, Spike quietly returns to his desk and finishes his test, before turning it in, at Professor Flintheart’s desk.

Spike sat at his desk, relieved to be done with the test, but now felt nervous as Flintheart’s strict gaze continues to wash over him.

When the bell rang for his lunch period, Spike quickly grabs his stuff, eager to leave the class.

However, “Draco!” Professor Flintheart called.

Spike winced, as he reluctantly complies.

“Sir! It was only-“ Twilight was silenced when the professor held his hand up, as he beckons for her and Fluttershy to leave.

Reluctant, the two girls complied, but not before they quickly embraced Spike, while giving him pats on the shoulders, before they left the room, leaving Spike along with the strict teacher.

“Feeling noxious, were we, Draco?” Professor Flintheart muttered.

“Sorry sir,” Spike apologized. “I-I-“ Spike took a deep breath, as he spoke, “It won’t happen again, sir.”

“I will hold you to those words, Mr. Draco,” Flintheart muttered. “And I would suggest that you are to take extra care of yourself, from now on. Sickness or injuries will not excuse you,” Spike slowly nodded his head in response. “Now be gone!” Flintheart ordered, to which Spike complied.

‘Phew, that was close,’ Spike thought.

Once outside, he was greeted by Twilight and Fluttershy, both with looks of concerns.

"Oh, I hope you're not in too much trouble," Fluttershy whimpered. "Are you?"

"Don't worry," Spike replied. "I'm fine. Flintheart just let me off with a warning. A very strict warning," He muttered at the last part.

"Though, from the looks of it, you looked as if though you've received message," Twilight deduced. "Who's it from?"

"It's from Ember," Spike replied. "She's coming over, tomorrow!"

"Really?" Twilight asked. "For what? Anything wrong in Dracasia?"

"Nah, nothing like that," Spike answered. "She just wanted to come over and pay a visit. That's all she said."

"Oh, just for a visit?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yup. Sounds almost like a date if you ask me. What should I say?"

"Well, tell her if you're available for tomorrow and where to meet up," Twilight answered. "That's the most diplomatic way I can think of."

"Okay, if you say so, Twilight," Spike nodded. "Do you have a paper and a pen on you?" With that, the girl produced a blank sheet of paper and a pencil, which the green haired boy used to write:



"Dear Ember,

Can we meet after school at about 3 PM? I would be more than willing to show you the city.

Sincerely,

Spike Draco"







The very next day, after school was let out, Spike was walking down the steps of the school and stopped in front of the statue.

"Ember should be here anytime now," Spike said to himself.

"Hey Spike!" a familiar voice greeted him.

Turning around, Spike's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight he never thought he'd see.

There, standing in front of him is the Dragon Lord herself, Ember, as a human.

In appearance, Ember looked almost like any other humans would look, with a few exceptions that sets her apart. For one, her dark blue crests have become hair, with the tips colored white, framing her face where her horns used to be. For attires, she wore a brilliant cyan hooded jacket over a pale turquoise tank top that exposed her surprisingly toned midriff, matching cyan ripped up jeans, and a pair of dark blue boots.

Spike was aghast, "What're you looking at?" Ember asked. "Something wrong?"

The Dragon Prince shook himself back to reality, realizing how bad he looked in front of the Dragon Lord, "Sorry Ember," He apologized. "It's just....you looked so different."

Ember wrapped her arms around herself, as she looked away, "Yeah, I know," She pouted. "It's not my fault if I look bad as a human."

"No, no!" The boy waved his hands in denial. "You look amazing! Better than amazing actually....you're, um...how would Mina describe you?"

"Red rubies?" Ember asked.

"No, bigger than that."

"Hot flame?"

"No....um..."

"Blazing gold?"

"No..."

"Then what is it?!" Ember asked, with her voice raising slightly. "Just say it! Spit it out!"

Under pressure, Spike blurted out, "Sapphire Ember?"

Ember blinked multiple times before she asked, "Sapphire Ember? What kind of dragon slang description is that?"

"It's how I think of you Ember," Spike began. "You're beautiful, but tough like sapphire! So whenever I think of you Ember, I'll always think of the cool but intense blue sapphire that matches with your fiery demeanor!"

Ember pondered for awhile, letting the Dragon Prince's compliments sink in, before she shrugged, "Eh, whatever."

Wanting to change topic, Spike began, "Anyway, how've you been Ember? Anything happening in the Dragon Land?"

"Yeah, a lot of things are always happening in the Dragon Land," Ember answered with a grim look on her face. "Some dragons accusing each other for stealing something of theirs, fight breaks out, and before you could shout stop, everything's up in flames."

"Ooh, sorry I asked," The Dragon Prince winced. "Speaking of which, you still have the Bloodstone Scepter on you, right?"

"Don't worry, Spike," Turning her back, Ember showed Spike the said scepter strapped to her back, beneath her jacket. "It's right here. I ain't going anywhere without it."

"That's good," The boy sighed in relief. "We've gone through a lot of trouble just to get that back."

"Yeah. There's no way I'm doing that again," The sapphire dragoness-turned-human shuddered, before she decided to change topic, "But enough about Dracasia and stuff, care to show me New York?" She gestured to the entire city.

"Oh yeah, of course!" Spike nodded, waving his hand, gesturing Ember to follow him. "So. Which part of New York do you want to see? There's the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, The World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center, or would you be interested in checking out Coney Island?"

Ember, who was struggling to remember the locations Spike listed, shrugged, "Whichever you liked to show me first, Spike."

"Alright," Spike thought for a moment, before he decided on the first place to start.





Central Park


"Wow," Ember commented, seeing the park dressed in its Autumn coat of yellow and red leaves dancing to the winds. "I never knew Central Park would be so fiery."

"Yep, this is how it always looks in the Autumn season," Spike replied. "But just you wait until Winter comes with its cold, snow white blankets, or Spring with its beautiful pink cherry blossoms. I'm telling you Ember, they're a sight to behold."

Ember shook her head as she sighed, "Wow. This place is just full of colors," The Dragon Lord commented. "Kinda like your friends' Ponyville place and Canterlot in Equestria. Dracasia's anything but colors. All we've got are just rocks and colors of ashes, and the only thing over there that's even got any color is the royal garden in the Forbidden Palace."

"Yeah, kinda dull huh?" Spike commented. "All the more reason you wanted to come for a visit today, ain't it?"

"Oh yeah," Ember replied, before she asked, "So...what else is there to see in this big city?"

Before Spike could answer, a voice greeted him, "Hi Spike!"

Turning his head, Spike could see Wallflower Blush walking up to him, dressed in a long brown wooly jacket, with a red scarf wrapped around her neck, and a vanilla white hat, while holding a camera around her neck.

"Hey Wallflower," Spike returned the greeting. "What's up?"

"I was just out here taking pictures of the Autumn leaves for my club, when I saw you and wanted to say hello," The timid girl explained, before she looked and saw Ember. "Oh, who is this?" She asked, while a little intimidated by the Dragon Lord's intensive red eyes.

"Oh, this is Ember," Spike introduced the Dragon Lord. "She's a friend of mine. She's from out of town, so I'm just showing her around."

"Oh, well nice to meet you, Ember," Wallflower greeted the girl respectfully with her hand extended out. "I'm Wallflower Blush."

Ember looked at the girl's hand, then back at Spike, "It's called a 'handshake,'" Spike explained in a whisper. "Just shake her hand."

Ember shrugged as she grabbed Wallflower's hand in a strong iron grip, much to the latter's discomfort,"Nice to meet you, Wallflower Blush," Ember greeted the girl, lifting the poor girl up from the ground and back down.

"OW!" Wallflower winced, after her hand was freed and she gingerly rubbed it.

Spike did the classic face palm as he looked to Ember, "You're suppose to shake her hand. Not herself!" He berated the Dragon Lord.

"Well sorry if dragons don't do handshakes," Ember replied in her defense.

"What was that?" Wallflower asked, while hissing from the pain of her crushed hand.

"Uh, she meant she doesn't know her own strength," Spike quickly responded, covering Ember's little slip. "Right Ember?" He asked, shooting her a look to play along.

Though unsure at first, Ember got the message and spoke, "Yeah, right. Sorry about that."

"Oh, it's okay," Wallflower accepted the apology. "At least I still have some feeling. So I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Good to know," Spike nodded, before he nudge to Ember and they turned to walk away. "We'll see you later, Flower. Take care!"

"Bye!" Wallflower waved with her remaining uninjured hand.

Spike later took Ember into some secluded part of Central Park, "Okay Ember. First thing's first," He began, "When you're doing the handshake, you only needed to hold their hand gently. Don't just crush them like you did with Wallflower back there!"

"Well, how exactly am I supposed to do that?" Ember asked. "Like I said, dragons don't do hand shakes, or shake hands, or whatever."

"Here, just hold out your hand," The confused Dragon Lord complied, holding her hand out. "Now, here's how it's really done," With that, Spike showed his example as his hand gently wraps around Ember's and they gently shook for a brief moment.

"Oh," Ember said in acknowledgement. "I see. It's better than the hugging, I guess. But alright."

"Cool," Spike noted, before he thought of another idea on where they could go. "Come on! There's more I want to show you in this city!" He took off running with Ember following.





"Whoa!" Ember marveled. She and Spike both stood in front of a skatepark, watching from the sideline to see many experienced skaters and bicyclists riding and performing tricks around the park.

"I know right? Radical," Spike smiled, looking across the park, enjoying the actions going on.

"Yo, Spike!" A voice greeted, revealing itself to be Rumble who came up to the two on his skateboard. "What's up my brother? Ya ready to shred it out?"

In response, Spike pulled out his skateboard from his backpack and quickly dons up a helmet and safety paddings, "You know me," He replied.

Rumble turned his head and was immediately taken by Ember, "Whoa! Who's this girl hanging with ya, Spike?" He asked.

"Rumble. You haven't forgotten Ember, did you?"

"Long time no see, Rumble," Ember greeted.

"Whoa! Ember?!" Rumble exclaimed, checking the Dragon Lord out in her human form. "Omigosh, I'm so sorry! It's just, well you look kinda different when you're....y'know, human?"

"Yeah, even I could barely recognize myself," Ember replied, while looking at herself over. "I don't know how you humans can survive without wings, tail, or even scales. Especially you, Spike."

"Oh you'd be surprised with how we've been able to survive for this long, Ember," Spike smirked. "Besides, here's what we humans can do. Let's ride Rumble!"

"Cowabunga!" With that, the two boys kicked their feet, launching themselves in a burst of speed on their skateboards.

Ember stood and watched, her eyes following the two boys as they skated across the park and performing tricks, from a kickflip to an ollie. Spike was skating up a slope, where he did a handstand while holding his board close once he reached the top. Then, getting back on top of his board, Spike kicked forward rolling down the slope, towards a rail, when at the last minute, he did an ollie and started grinding on top of the rail, holding his hands out for balance, all the way until he reached the bottom and was met with a round of applause from Rumble and his fellow skaters. Ember included.

"Yeah, Spike!" Rumble cheered, as he and the green haired skater shared a fist bump. "That was awesome!"

"YEAAAAH!!!" Bulk Biceps agreed.

Ember was about to say something, "Now it's your turn, Rumble," Spike said to his athletic friend. "Show us your moves!"

"You got it!" Rumble complied, as he got on his own skateboard and proceeded to show off his skills around the skatepark.

"Watch this, Ember," Spike nudged the Dragon Lord. "Rumble's the man!"

"We'll see," Ember looked back up to watch the show.

At first, Rumble started off with a few basic tricks for warm ups, before he went for the advanced stunts and the show could really begin.

Rumble skated up a ramp until he got to the top, where he stopped for a moment to hold the front end of his board up to the air, before he turned and rolled back down towards a set of stairs. No sooner was he about to skate off the top step, at the last minute, Rumble kicked his board and himself up into the air. Ember watched how the board was spinning in a 360° motion, while Rumble rotated his body in a 180° motion before he landed back on his board, at the bottom of the stairs where he continued to skate across the park for awhile before doing a basic ollie trick to get himself grinding on a row of rails and proceeded to grind all the way to the end.

Everyone cheered as Rumble skated down a ramp and did a frontside 180° flip, followed by a quick 90° turn to do a frontside tail slide on a ledge and resumes skating to a ramp where he did the nose stall, flips to the back tail, then to a revert and skated back to his entourage, ending his performance.

"Alright, Rumble!" Everyone cheered as they all gathered around the young athlete. "That was awesome!"

"You're amazing!" Scootaloo exclaimed excitedly, running up to the boy and embraced him, which Rumble returned.

"Not bad," Ember commented, before she picked up Spike's board. "Now, I think it's my turn."

"Uh, Ember?" Spike began, giving Ember a look of concern. "You sure you know what you're doing?"

"You're saying I can't do it?" The Dragon Lord scowled.

"No, of course not! It's just-Can you actually skate?"

"Puh-Lease, this is kinda like gorge surfing back in Dracasia," She whispered the last part to Spike. "Watch how a real dragon does it," With that, Ember kicked her leg out, launching herself across the park on Spike's board.

Spike, followed by Rumble, Scootaloo, and some of their fellow skaters watched as Ember surfed down a slope and up a ramp, where she successfully mimicked Rumble's nosestall, spinning to a back tail, then back to a revert and skated back down to a rail, where she did a kickflip to send herself in the air, grinding on a rail, before she came to the end and did a 90° spin to get herself facing in the right direction, before she jumped towards a ledge and did a frontside tail slide.

From there, the Dragon Lord continued skating on Spike's skateboard, making her way towards a long rail where she performed a specular jump, flying over the rail to the end, with the board spinning in a 360° horizontal motion.

"WHOAA!!!" Everyone cheered excitedly for Ember.

Spike was, of course, speechless, "Girl's got game," Rumble commented.

"Eeyup," The boy finally answered.





"That was awesome, Ember!!" Spike complimented the dragon girl excitedly, while they were walking away from the skatepark. "Where'd you learn to skate like that?"

"Skate? Is that what you call here on Earth?" Ember asked. "Because from where I'm from, we have a thing called gorge surfing. It's kinda like your skate thing back there, except it's way more intense, with lava, volcanic ashes, and rocks."

"I see," Spike noted with interest.

The two were just walking around a corner, where Snips and Snails were just walking by. The two boys looked up and yelped in surprise, "BWAAAAHHH!!!"

"AAAAAAHHH!!" Spike and Ember exclaimed in equal surprise.

"Snips?! Snails?!" Spike asked, while heavily catching his breath.

"Oh, Spike!" Snips and Snails chuckled nervously. "It's you!"

"Yeah, who else?" The boy asked. "You guys looked like you've just seen a ghost."

'Or a dragon,' They thought in fright, remembering Spike's dragon form they saw the other day. Looking away from Spike, the two boys' attentions quickly piqued when they looked at Ember, and they were quickly smitten.

"H-H-H-H-H-H-H-Hello~" The boys stammered.

"S-S-Spike! Who's this girl you've kidnapped?" Snails asked.

"Excuse me? What do you mean 'kidnapped?'" Spike asked. "Ember's a friend of mine. She was just visiting."

"Ember?" Snips repeated, while attempting a playful panther-like growl. "'Ember' wouldn't happen to be short for 'Sept-Ember,' would it?"

"Or No-Vember?" Snails joined in their flirty attempt.

Ember looked irked, "Who are you two boulder heads? And how dare you make a mockery of my name?!" She snarled.

In response, the two boys quickly backed away in fright, "Whoa! Easy there, kitty!" Snails replied. "We were just-"

"I'M NOT A KITTY!!!" Ember roared, with such force that Snips and Snails were blown off their feet. To further their fear, the two boys were certain when they saw Ember's fangs growing in, with her eyes coated in a bloody red aura, and her claws growing in.

Before it could escalate any further, Spike intervened, "Okay, been nice meeting guys again, but there are still some places I gotta show for Ember," He quickly said, before escorting Ember away. "See ya!"

After a moment to collect themselves, Snips and Snails both turned their frightened gazes to each other and exchanging gibberish, fearful comments.




"ARRRGHH!!! I'm so angry, I COULD JUST BREAK SOMETHING!!!" Ember snarled. Both she and Spike had found an alley where they could find some privacy for the sapphire dragon to vent her anger, and for the public to avoid seeing most of her dragon traits that were showing through her human disguise.

"Ember! Calm down! Please!" Spike said, struggling to help his dragon friend. "Just let it go, okay? You've made your point! Besides, they're not worth getting roasted!"

"THEY SHOULD BE!!" Ember snarled. "I've never been so humiliated! And I'm NOT about to let them get AWAY WITH IT!!"

"Lighten up! They were just trying to get you to like them. They don't know any better. Just forget it."

"AND HOW am I suppose to just FORGET IT?!!" At that point, purple flames were bursting out of Ember's mouth.

"Because if you don't forget it, then you'll lose the Bloodstone Scepter again, like before!"

With that, the flames died down as she recalled the memories of destructions, the wildfires she had unintentionally caused, and the innocent lives she destroyed out of furious rage, and the cold bitter exile she endured after.

"You don't want a repeat of that again, do you?" Spike asked.

Shaking her head, Ember slumped to the ground, wrapping her arms around her knee, "No, I...I...I hate how you brought that up," She muttered.

"I'm just making a point," Spike defended. "Besides, how do you think I'm gonna explain to the authorities if they found Snips and Snails's bodies all roasted and looked as if they've been mauled by a tiger? Or how I'm friends with an angry sapphire dragon, huh? This ain't like the world we're from! We trying to keep a low profile, less we'd want some magic hunting lunatics like the Cerulean Hunters to come after us here!"

"I know," Ember sighed. "But don't expect me to like it. And it's just so...ACHOO!!!" The girl sneezed a burst of purple flame that nearly scorched Spike. "Sorry...I think I'm allergic to 'talking' my feelings."

"If you don't want to talk about it, then don't," Spike replied. "But the least you can do is let your friends now how you feel. Got it?"

"Fine."

"Good," Sensing the tensions within Ember dimming to a degree, Spike decided it was time to change topic, "So. You hungry?"

"After all we've been through today?" Ember asked, "Yeah. I'm hungry. I could just go for a bowl of gems right about now."

The boy chuckled, "Actually, I have something else in mind, besides gems."





Spike and Ember were later at the Japanese restaurant Sunset Shimmer was working at, where they waited for their orders of sushi rolls, and dishes of teriyaki noodles.

"I hope you enjoy your meals," Sunset bowed respectfully. "Especially to you, Dragon Lord."

"Thanks, I guess," Ember replied, while looking unsure of her plate.

"Domo arigato, Sunset," Spike replied, to which Sunset simply giggled to before she was on her way.

"Domo what?" Ember asked.

"Oh, that's Japanese for 'thank you very much,'" Spike explained, before he clapped his hands together and spoke, "Itadakimasu." Looking up to see Ember more perplexed, he lectured, "That's how we begin before a meal in Japanese."

"So do we always have to start like that before we eat?" Ember asked, crossing her arms.

"Not always. It's a custom I learned, back from a trip in Japan with Uncle  Scorpan," Spike explained, while eating a small sushi. "I just say it here to make it feel like I'm back in Japan again."

"I see," Looking back down to her plate, Ember mimicked Spike's hand gestures and struggled, "Eat-a-di-ka-ma-su?"

Spike couldn't help but laugh at Ember's mispronunciation, "No, it's 'itadakimasu,'" He repeated. "Or an easier way to say it is 'Eat a duck and a mouse.' But faster."

"Eat-a-duck-and-a-mouse," Ember repeated, before she picked up the chopsticks and struggled to eat her noodles and sushi. "How do you eat with these things? Why can't you just pick up the foods with your hands?"

"That stuff may work for you in Dracasia," The boy replied. "But remember, this ain't Dracasia. This is how we do it, and it's another customary we have to learn as humans."

"Whatever," Ember rolled her eyes. "But how do you work with these?"

"Like this," Spike showed his example of holding chopsticks to Ember, and correcting her hold when she struggled to get it right. With that, Ember was able to properly eat her noodles and sushi, much to her enjoyment.

"Mmm, this isn't half bad!" Ember smiled as she picked up another sushi to eat. "This is really good!"

"I knew you would like it," Spike picked up a small bowl and poured a bit of soy sauce.

"What's that?" The girl asked.

"Soy sauce," The boy answered as he dipped a bit of ginger into the sauce and placed it over one of his sushis. "It gives the sushis a bit of zest to their taste."

"Zest, huh? Hmmm," Curious, Ember repeated the same process Spike did earlier, with one of her sushis before she eats it. "Wow! You're right! This is good!" Dipping another sushi in the soy sauce, Ember was enjoying her meal even more, "Why didn't we ever have one of these before?!"

"I don't know," Spike replied. "But then, maybe it's a good thing I left the magic world years ago."

Ember's eyes snapped open at what Spike just said, "What makes you say that?" She asked.

"Well, think about it," The Dragon Prince began. "If I hadn't left, then I would never have come to this world, and sample some of Japan's cuisine, and then you wouldn't have known about it. Would you?"

Ember was silent for awhile as she let Spike's answers settle into her mind, before she frowned, "No, I guess not," She replied. Looking back up, she asked, hesitantly, "So....about this Japan land. What was it like?"

As an answer, Spike related the whole story to Ember, detailing his experience of learning the land's customs, from its language to cultures, but most importantly, its martial arts of karate to the mysterious ninjutsu. Ember was amazed.



“Wow!” Ember said, when Spike concluded one of his stories. “So these Chinese, Korean, and Japanese folks. They actually respect us dragons that way?”

“Yeah, and it’s funny, really,” Spike commented. “In some countries like the United Kingdom, France, or England, we dragons are depicted as greedy, ruthless, and savage. And yet, most other lands like Asia considered us as if we’re gods. That is, as long as we’re not offended.”

“Ha! Got that right!” Ember laughed, while she pondered, “Though, the way you described these stories to me, these cultures and customs, not to mention these wars that’s happening in your world, it’s almost like some of us have actually crossed over here to Earth once and left some influence behind.”

“It’s a possibility. I mean, look at me. I’m living proof that the Dragonfire existed.” At last, the two arrived at their location - an arcade. “Well, we’re here.”

Spike and Ember walked in to see many players getting hooked to the games and having fun in the most competitive ways.

“Wow,” Ember marveled, looking at all the games that were available. “So these are what you would refer to as the video games?”

“Yep. Pretty much,” Spike replied, looking around before spotting his friend, “Hey, Button!”

“Hey Spike!” Button returned the greeting, as both boys exchanged another secret handshake. “So, what’s up my brother? Got your game on?”

“You know me!” The Dragon Prince replied. “But first, you remember Ember. Do you?”

“Hello Button Mash,” Ember greeted.

“Whoa, Ember?!” The gamer boy exclaimed. “Wow! I almost didn’t recognize you! Of course, no offense, it’s kinda hard to recognize you without some noticeable features?” He said, while making hand imitations of the dragon’s missing wings, horns, and a tail.

“Yeah, I got that impression alright,” Ember replied. “Anyway, Spike here told me this is the place where you humans have the most intense and fun of games.”

“That we do!” Button eagerly replied, before he started guiding both dragons-turned-humans. “C’mon! Let me start you guys with this game!”

Before long, Spike and Ember were competing each other in a racing game. Next they played the horror shooting game The House Of The Dead.

Ember was most competitive with the game, “Die you walking corpses, die!!!” She screamed as she continues to shoot.

“Wow, she’s a lot more scarier than the zombies!” Spike commented.

“I know! It’s like seeing Rei and Saeko combined into a dragon!” Button Mash added. “Or maybe Rias, but with blue hair and red eyes. Nah, I like her better with red hair. Either her or Dark Moka Akashiya as a dragon, but with blue hair, wings, and a tail. Actually, now that I say it out loud, that’s kinda like describing Kurumu. Except Ember would still be breathing fire and um, she’s kinda an F-Cup kind of character, I guess.”

In response, Spike looked at Button with a deadpan expression, “You’ve been reading way too many mangas, Button,” He said.





After they had their fun in the arcade, it was getting dark, as Spike took Ember back to his apartment.

“This is one of my favorite thing to do here in New York!” He explained, once they made it to the rooftop of the building.

“It’s a little cold up here,” Ember hugged herself a bit for warmth.

“All the more reason this next excitement will heat up,” The boy replied.

“Heat up? How?”

“You’ll see. Question is, are you ready?”

"Ready? For what?"

"To get schooled by me in free running," With a mocking laugh, Spike took off running, before jumping to the rooftop of the next building.

Ember looked unamused at first, before she smirked, "Oh you're gonna eat those words, Dragon Prince," With that, Ember gave chase.

"You'll have to catch me first!" Spike taunted. "But I should warn you, Ember. I know most of this city like the back of my hand!" It wasn't long before Spike broke out in a musical number.

"Wait, are you?" Ember questioned, until after a few lyrics, she groaned, "Oh, not another song...."


Why Should I Worry - Billy Joel


Though weirded out, and a little bit annoyed at first, Ember couldn't help but enjoy the catchy beat of the song, "Huh, for a song, it's not that bad," She mused. "What am I saying. This is better than all those other my little pony songs," She said as she continues to do the best she can to keep up with the young prince, while feeling her body moving to the rhythm. "What the-" She looked at herself, seeing she was shaking her hips and arms, "What's going on?! What's happening to me?"


The rhythm of the city
But once you get it down
Then you can own this town
You can wear the crown


Then, taking up a notch with the song's sudden upbeat, while unintentionally furthering Ember's mixed bewilderment and amusement, Spike raised his voice to an even higher range, while doing a few snazzy dance moves that are quite new to Ember. The Dragon Lord even finds herself enamored when Spike did an air guitar solo.


Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
I may not have a dime
But I got street savoire faire



Why should I worry?
Why should I care?
It's just bebopulation
And I got street saviore faire

The Dazzlings: "Everything goes
Everything fits"

Spike: "They love me at the Chelsea
They adore me at the Ritz!"


With that, Spike resumed his parkour run, while throwing a few jamming beats, and did a few air guitar solo, with Ember following.

“Whoo Yeah!!” Ember whooped as she and Spike continued their run across the roofs.

By the end of the song, Spike and Ember came to a stop at a rooftop, where they took the moment to catch their breath.

"Quite a run, huh Ember?" Spike asked, in between breaths.

"You could say that," The sapphire dragon panted in agreement. "But did you have to break out singing like that?"

"What? You don't like my singing?"

"Well, sorry for...how do you say? Raining on your parade? It's just, like I said, dragons don't do singing."

"Well, this dragon does. It's my Equestrian side."

Ember rolled her eyes, "Whatever," She said, before she softly spoke, "Still, for being raised by ponies, you've got a good set of pipes."

"Thanks, I guess," Spike then looked up, to see the stars are out, "Looks like it's night time now," He said.

"Yeah, I guess," Ember nodded in agreement. "So what now? Do we head back to your place?"

"What do you mean? This is just the beginning of my next favorite thing about New York City."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for one, night time in New York City is the best time for me to do this," Concentrating into his powers, Spike's whole body was surrounded in a fiery green aura, before with a burst of fire, he stood before Ember, in his dragon form.

Ember smiled, "Now we're talking," With that, Ember reached behind her back and grabbed the Bloodstone Scepter, concentrating into its powers, before she too changed herself back into her true form.

"Let's fly!" With a flap of their wings, both Spike and Ember thrusted themselves into the air, high above the city, looking down on its beautiful light show.

"Wow," Ember marveled, as she finds herself captivated by the light show of the city. "Dracasia's got nothing like this."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. It's just your typical land of volcanoes, mountains, and rocks, with little patches of green places. Kinda dull. And no offense, but Equestria's no better. Too much colors, it's kinda overwhelming for me. But this......this feels just right."


[Flight of the Dragon - Jackie Chan]


The purple dragon beside her smiled, "Glad you liked it that way then," Deciding to take it up a notch, Spike flapped his wings as he challenged, "How about a race around Manhattan? You game?"

Ember grinned, showing off her fangs, "You want to race me?" She asked, as she followed Spike, who was already a few miles in the air ahead of her. "Prepare to get yourself roasted!"

"You wished!"

The two dragons flapped their wings hard as they soared through the air, above Manhattan, before they dived down towards the Brooklyn Bridge, flying beneath the great suspension bridge, while evading some of the boats and yachts that were passing across the East River, which the two dragons evaded with a swift turn of their whole bodies, coupled with a few aerial spins.

"Not bad, Ember," Spike complimented, before he and Ember flew towards the Statue of Liberty, circling around the statue’s body from the feet to the head, weaving around the statue's arm, before they were on their way. "You've been working out?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Ember returned the playful compliment, "You're not so bad yourself, Spike," She said as they raced through Chinatown. "For a runt who was raised by ponies."

Not wanting Ember to get the best of him, Spike quickly comes up with a snappy comeback, "Well at least I wasn't some hothead who got herself exiled for ten years in the Frozen North!"

"Oh yeah?" Ember smirked. "Well it's better than being some crazy boulder head who got himself blasted in the head by a lightning bolt!"

Despite being roasted, metaphorically, by the Dragon Lord, both dragon royals shared some laughs as they continued their flight around Manhattan. Along the way, the two dragons met up with Peewee, who couldn't help but join in their flight.

“Hey Peewee!” Spike greeted the phoenix. “You want in?” The bird let out a loud squawk as an answer. “Then let’s fly!”

Soon, the three were flying above the One World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial, and around the Empire State Building.

All the while, Spike and Ember continued to show off a few aerial tricks to each other, from doing a few air loops, to some barrel rolls, before they concluded their little air show by flying high up in the sky, almost touching the stratosphere.

Then at the last second, the two dragons retracted their wings and plummeted back towards the earth. The two royal dragons continued spinning around each other, until at the last second, before hitting the top of the buildings, they spread their wings and soared back up.





Later, the three returned to Spike's apartment, where Spike changed himself back into his human form, Peewee rested on a perch, while Ember remained in her dragon form.

"Why are you human?" Ember asked. "Y'know, you can stay dragon for as long as you want, you know."

"I may be part dragon. But I'm still human," The boy said in his defense, while he secretly thought, 'That, and in a way, it keeps me close to my birth parents. Whoever they are.' 

Shrugging her shoulders, the Dragon Lord turned her attention elsewhere in the young prince's room, before something caught her eyes.

"Whoa!" Ember marveled, as she walked over to a gallery of Spike’s pictures. Each photo captured a moment of the young prince's accomplishments in his lessons and trips around the world, with Scorpan. "Is...is this all you?" She asked.

"Yep," Spike smiled proudly. "Believe it or not, that's all me for the last years I've been here, before I returned to Equestria."

"Wow," Ember walked over to some of the trophies and medals the young prince had won from the martial arts tournaments he's competed in, as well as the colored belts he's earned from his years of studying martial arts, such as Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, etc. "What's with these belts?"

"They're basically proofs of my accomplishments and my rankings in the martial arts," Spike answered, before he lectured. "See, at first, I started off as a white belt. That's the color for beginners. The more I learned and succeed, my belt color starts to change, until it gets to the top rank of all - the black belt!"

"Wow," Ember nodded in fascination, as she resumed looking back at his display of colored belts, "And from the looks of it, you've mastered all the martial arts, since I'm seeing black belts in each and every one!"

The boy chuckled as he scratched his head, "Oh, I'm far from being a master yet," Spike said. "There's still a lot more for a martial arts student like me to learn, even after earning the black belts."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Well, for one, I still need to know what more I can do as a dragon, besides fighting, breathing fire, and flying."

"......Oh yeah, there's that," Ember frowned, as she slumped to the floor, on all four.

Taken by surprise at the sapphire dragon's sudden mood swing, the boy raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is there a problem, Ember?"

"No, no problem at all," Ember lied, before she slightly caved in, "Okay, there is a problem. But I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

"I said I don't like talking about my feelings, remember?" A tear escaped from the sapphire dragon's cheek, which she failed to hide.

"Aw, are you crying?"

"What? No! I'm not crying! I just have something in my-OKAY!! I am crying! You happy?"

"What? Why would I be happy about it? I don't know what you're crying about."

Looking as if she was about to puke, Ember's cheeks were bulging like balloons as her whole face turned purple, "Excuse me," With that, Ember walked out to the balcony, where she lets out a violent burst of pink flames, that shook the whole apartment and stirred most of the inhabitants awake.

The sapphire dragon then walked back in, slightly calm, "Okay, okay, I'm good," She panted. "Hopefully, no one else saw that," Standing up, Ember cleared her throat, as she expressed her problem the best she could, “I just wished I could’ve been with you, during your time here on Earth,” The dragon finally answered.

"It's just not fair!" She continued to rant. "You didn't have to get hit by a lightning bolt, or have yourself hunted by some deranged maniacs for the rest of your life! Why you?!"

Spike shook his head as he scratched his head, over the spot where he was struck by the said lightning, "I've been asking myself those questions many time, Ember," He said. "And I've yet to find a solid answer about why I was chosen, or how I can play my role as a vessel for the Dragonfire. But for now, I'm just gonna embrace it."

"But I could've saved you!" Ember sobbed. "I could've given those Shadowbolt creeps a pummeling of a lifetime! I would've learned all those martial arts with you during your time here on Earth. But I didn't. Not only that, but I also broke your promise as well!"

"Ember..."

"I was alone," Ember sobbed. "I've always felt alone. But I don't want to be alone. But I was, and I was afraid I'll always will be. Seeing you, living the life I never had, I just....I feel left out."

Spike looked at her for a second and without saying a word, approached Ember and hugged her. Ember was a little shocked by this at first but slowly returns the gesture.

"I'm glad you're my friend," Ember purred, as she allowed Spike to stroke her crest, down to her back, while being gentle with the scars on her back.

"Me too Ember. Me too." Spike replied. After a few minutes of embracing each other, they finally let go, "Feel better?" The boy asked.

"Yeah. I hate to admit it but I needed that." The sapphire dragon replied.

Spike chuckled at that. He then looked up at the clock to see it was past 9 PM, "It's really getting late. You gonna head back?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could stay the night tonight." She said with a blush.

Spike was a little taken aback by this, but complies nevertheless, "Uh sure, we got a spare room so it shouldn't-"

"Actually Spike, I was kinda hoping that we could sleep in the same bed together." Ember said while her blush deepens, while Spike's has only just begun. "But that can wait," The sapphire dragon smirked, as she leans in close to the boy, "First, let's have some fun."





Training Dimension
Joe Esposito - You're The Best Around


Spike and Ember were standing atop a tall mountain top, surrounded by endless sea of clouds. Concentrating into his powers, Spike's body was coated in a green inferno before he stood in his dragon form and got into battle stance.

"Are you ready?" Spike asked.

In response, Ember too got into battle stance, "I'm always ready!" She declared with confident. "Enough talk! Let's fight!"

"Hajime!"

With that, the two dragons lunged towards each other, and they clashed.

Ember made the first move as she slashed her claws, only for Spike to quickly deflect with the famous "Wax-On" maneuver, before he thrusted his right hand out in an open palm strike, landing a blow at the base of Sapphire's neck, before he thrusting his leg into a front kick, which Ember quickly backed away, dodging the attack. Twisting his whole body in a 360° rotation, flying forward, Spike did a flying roundhouse kick, followed by a cracked whip with his tail.

"Gotcha!" Ember grinned, when she caught the young dragon by the tail. Then, with a pull of his tail, Ember leapt off the ground as she flies forward and landed a kick to the purple dragon's head. Upon landing, Ember quickly twisted herself in a counter-clockwise rotation as she thrusted her legs and tail out at Spike, who quickly blocked her strikes with his arms, along with his wings. Then, with an inhale of his breath, Spike blasted a ball of green fire from his mouth at Ember, who retaliated with a blast of her magenta fire. The two fires collided, exploding into a sparkling display of green and magenta as if they were fireworks.

"Brings back some fun memories, huh Ember?" Spike asked, while blocking a tail strike from the sapphire dragon, before he somersaulted to avoid the rebound.

"Sorry, Dragon Prince, but I'm not the sentimental type," Ember smirked. "But if I were, then I'd say, yes it does."

With a twist of her body, Ember thrusted her leg out in a hook kick, which Spike quickly shielded himself with an anticipated side block with his arm, before he forced her away.

"Well this time, it's gonna be different," With that, a burst of fiery green aura coated Spike's claws as he magically conjured a pair of fire katanas.

Ember smirked as she too focused her powers into her claws, conjuring a pair fiery kusarigama, "Joined the club," She said.

Once again, the two dragons lunged towards each other, until they clashed together with their magic fire weapons. Sparkles of green and magenta showered around the two dragons, as they clashed their fiery blades together. Spike swings his fiery katanas, blocking an attack from Ember with an upper block, and another with a low block. Relentless, Ember twisted her wrists, turning her kusarigama's blades to take a firm grip on Spike's katanas.

With that, Ember leapt up in the air and thrusted both her legs out in a strong front kick to Spike's chest, knocking him rolling on his back, before he twisted his body and stood back up.

"I see you've been working out, Ember," Spike complimented the Dragon Lord.

"What's the matter, Spike?" Ember teased. "Are all of your ponies and human friends making you soft?"

"You wish," With that, Spike focused his passionate love for his family, coating himself in a fiery green aura, 'Boosted dragon!' He mentally roared, before he blasted a supercharged stream of green fire at Ember, who quickly cuts the fire with her blades, while being forced back as her feet struggled to maintain a firm grip to the ground, until the fire dies down.

"The Boosted Dragon," Ember recognized the technique. "Not bad," Spike, exhausted, collapsed to his claws, with his fire katanas dissipating, "But not good enough."

"What....what's, oh!" Spike panted as he finds himself having trouble getting back up. "What's happening to-"

"You've burned yourself out," Ember lectured as she walked over. "Now you're the hothead, and a boulder head."

"Oh, really?" Trying to prove her wrong, Spike inhaled a gust of air and exhales, but only managed a few green sparks, coupled with a chest pain, "Oh!"

Ember shook her head, "Believe me now?" She asked.

"But....why? This never happened before."

"How often have you used your Boosted Dragon power?" The sapphire dragon asked.

Spike scratched his head as he struggles to remember, "I think about ten times, back when I was fighting the Shadowbolts and the Cerulean Hunters."

"Well, that's your problem right there. You were using Boosted Dragon too much. Your body can't handle that much firepower now."

"Oh sure. Now you tell me."

Ember rolled her eyes, "Guess we'll call this battle a draw," She said as her blades dispersed into magenta flames, before taking a seat next to the worn out Spike. "Besides, you still proved yourself to be quite the adversary Spike."

"Thanks."

"But I wouldn't celebrate too soon, if I were you. Remember Spike, you just got back to being a dragon about a few months ago. So you still have a lot to catch up on many moons of being a dragon. So consider this a free lesson from the Dragon Lord."

"Hm, sounds like something Uncle Scorpan would say," The Dragon Prince replied.

Suddenly, he was caught off guard when Ember pounced on him, and pinned him down, as she leans forward and claims his lips.








> Spike and the Crystal Prep Shadows - Sour Sweet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...but why?" The sound of a crying child's voice was heard. "I did everything you asked. I did everything to please you! Why are you still so mean?"

"Because you're nothing but dirt!" An older voice answered, venomously. "No you're worse than dirt! You're a worm!"

"That's right! A worm! Always have been, always will be!" Another voice said in agreement, followed by an uproar of haunting laughters that sent chills, igniting the sound of sobbing from the child.

But all that soon changed when the sobbing slowly dissolved into hissing, growling, and snarls, followed by the sudden cease of laughters that turned themselves into screams of terror.

The exhausted, heavy panting sounds of a child's breathing grew into that of a teenager. Sour Sweet looked at her hands and her eyes widened to see the crimson red blood that coated her hands, together with the cold sweats that crawled all over her body.

"...No..." Sour frowned to herself, as she held her bloody hands over her face and whimpered. "What have I done?"

"What have you done?!" Another voice echoed, and Sour Sweet looked up to see a double of herself. "I'll tell you what you've done! Gave those jerks what they truly deserved!"

"No!" Sour Sweet spatted back to her doppleganger as she continued to weep, "This isn't right! This isn't fair! It's just not fair."

"Newsflash girl. Life just isn't fair! It's survival of the fittest. The strongest conquers the weak! And you weren't going to let them push you around any longer. You just got back up and showed them who's boss!"

"But not like this! Why did it have to be like this?" Sour Sweet collapsed in a puddle of water, horrified when she caught a glimpse of her blood covered face, mixed with the dirts and grimes, together with her salty tears. "Please I beg of you...please tell me why? What did I do wrong? Why? Why?! WHYYYYY?!!!"

"You know perfectly well, why," The doppleganger glowered. "It's because you are dirt. Oh wait. You're lower than dirt. You're a worm."

Sour Sweet looked up, and her eyes narrowed, "Damn you!" With an angry yell, the girl lunged forward with her hand balled into a fist. "DAAMN YOUUUU!!!!" She screamed, thrusting her bloody hand, shattering her reflection. "It's just not right...Why me? Why did it have to be me? I try to love everyone. I can't hate anyone. I just can't."

"You're right," Darker Sour Sweet's voice rang, as she hissed venomously, "All that angers, all that hate, it's all me. I hated my life. I hate how those bullies mistreated me! I hated how I was treated like an animal! I HATED HOW I WAS HUMILIATED!! AND I HATED HOW MY FAMILY WAS AFRAID OF ME!!! Hate, hate, hate, hate! HATE!"

With a frightened yelp, Sour Sweet's eyes snapped open as she sat up from her bed, breathing sharply until she smoothed into a calming rhythm to steady her rapid heartbeat. The frightened girl wrapped herself in a hug, letting her hands riding up her arms, feeling the cold sweats that coated her, and recalling the scars of her past.




The next day at Crystal Prep Academy, Sour Sweet was in the cafeteria, having lunch with her fellow Shadowbolts, as they discussed about their recent hangouts with Spike.

"He's a lot of fun!" Lemon Zest exclaimed.

"He's quite charming," Sunny smiled.

"He was alright, though he tends to try too hard to please sometimes," Sugarcoat answered bluntly.

"He's lonely," Indigo sighed.

This piqued Sour's, and the rest of the girls' shared interest, "What do you mean, he's lonely?" Sour Sweet asked. "Doesn't he have his friends and family for company?"

"Well they're just not enough," Indigo began. "He hardly knew his birth parents, or who his human family were. Think about it, he didn't quite asked to be the vessel for the Dragonfire, and he's never asked to lose his mother and father, so he's very much alone."

"Bummer," Lemon frowned.

"Oh dear," Sunny frowned.

Sour Sweet frowned, "I guess we never thought of him that way," She whispered to herself.

"So, why now?" Sugarcoat asked. "I mean, why bringing this topic up to ruin the mood? Wasn't he happy to be commuting between Earth and Equestria, and his magical friends?"

"Actually, he brought it up," Indigo clarified, before she sighed as she played with her applesauce. "I'm guessing the stress of his duty and role is starting to catch up to him. Think about it, all those years he's had of training, learning how to fight to protect himself and others, and at the same time, having his whole existence hunted by megalomaniacs, just for a power he never asked for. So I guess the Dragonfire's more a curse than a gift, don't you think? And before, we weren't very nice with him, and we made his life harder than it needed to be."

The rest of the Shadowbolts, except Sour Sweet, nodded in agreement, shameful at their past action.

Sour Sweet felt more hopeless, "So you're saying we should just give up?" The girl asked. "We should forget we even tried to make amends with him?"

"No way!" Indigo denied. "That's not what I said! We should definitely keep on showing the guy that we're not like that anymore! This is a big step up for us!"

"What about all those times we helped in and his friends in their death-defying adventures, and fights?" Sugarcoat asked. "Don't those count as step ups?"

"Those are just to show him and his friends that we're ready to work with them as allies. Y'know, fellow fighters! But this is a chance to show him that we can friends! I mean, c'mon girls. Don't you all want that?"

"Of course we do, dearie!" Sunny smiled.

"Totally!" Lemon added.

"Affirmative," Sugarcoat smiled.

"That's what I like to hear!" Indigo smirked with pride, before she turned to Sour Sweet, who had been silent. "Uh, you do agree with us, right Sour?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure," Sour answered uneasily.

The Shadowbolt girls all exchanged questionable looks, before Indigo asked, "What's the matter, Sour? Don't you want to make a difference?"

"No, I do!" The girl yelled angrily, before she calmed herself, "I mean, yeah, I do. It's just, I don't know where to start."

"Why not go and ask him out on a date?" Sugarcoat suggested. "You can either call him, or ask him in person. He works at Mario's Pizzeria & Pasta, after school."

“Easy for you to say,” Sour said unsure of herself. ‘Yeah, easy as long as you don’t screw it up.’





Later that afternoon, at Mario's, business was booming as the workers were rushing to and fro, taking the customers’ orders and delivering them.

"Pickup #14!" A voice announced, as some customers came to pick up their numbered order to feast on.

While this was going on, the sound of a door bell rang through the air, signaling a new customer walking into the establishment. The customer is none other but Sour Sweet herself.

The girl took a moment to look around at the establishment, charmed by its cheerful and welcoming atmosphere, with the smell of pizza in the air. The girl turned her head to the counter, to see Spike was in a lively conversation with another girl. Based on the school uniform she was wearing, the girl was also a student of Crystal Prep Academy.

Hugging her arms across her breasts, the girl proceeded to walk over to the boy. As Sour Sweet walked up to the counter, their conversation became more audible, “So, Coco,” Spike said. “How’s everything going with you and Fleur in the fashion business?”

“It’s been going well,” Coco smiled. “We took a lot of beautiful pictures of Fleur for this year’s fashion trend for the autumn. My designs, of course, as well as our new designers: Lily Lace, Star Streak, and Inky Rose.”

Reaching into her bag, Coco produced the latest fashion magazine, which holds the latest photographs of Fleur, posing in the latest designs, courtesy of the newest designers plus Coco.

“Wow, I’d say you’ve really outdid yourselves,” Spike complimented.

“Thank you!” Coco smiled.

“Spike! So good to see you!” Sour greeted loudly, deciding to make herself known, “...and you as well,” She muttered to Coco, before taking a seat, next to the two.

Coco looked intimidated by the girl’s sour expression towards her, “Hey Sour,” Spike greeted, while sharing Coco’s uneasiness. “Welcome to Mario’s Pizzeria & Pastas. What would you like for today?”

“Just a medium size pepperoni pizza, please,” Sour ordered. “And some cheesy breadsticks to go with that, and a small cup of cherry tea.”

“Coming right up,” Spike said as he walked away with Sour’s written order.

In the meantime, Sour was left waiting, with Coco.

“Coco,” Sour greeted.

“Sour,” Coco returned the greeting, while slowly eating her plate of spaghetti.

“Your drink, Sour,” Spike answered, placing a glass cup with Sour’s drink in it.

“Thank you,” Sour took a few dainty sip of her drink, before she spoke up, “So, how’ve you been, Spike? Busy?”

“As usual,” Spike sighed. “But we managed. Right, Coco?”

“Mmmm-hmmm,” Coco confirmed.

“Good to hear,” Sour nodded. “Hey Spike. I’ve been meaning to ask-“

*RING*

“Hold that thought,” Spike interrupted, as he walked away to take the new order and read into a mic, “Pickup #29, 30, and 31!” He announced, before some customers came to pick up their orders. The boy was on his way back to the two girls, when Luigi called out to him.

"Spike-a Draco!" Luigi called, to which Spike complied as he walked up to the man. "We got another-a order-a for that-a Berrytwist."

"You kidding me, again?" Spike chuckled, as he picked up the package, "They should be buying a wholesale."

Luigi nodded in agreement, "Don't forget-a your scooter," The man advised as the boy took his leave. "Spike-a, be careful-a."

"You got it!" Spike saluted before he was on his way, once again, leaving Coco and Sour Sweet alone with each other.

It was only a minute and Sour Sweet was already drumming the counter with her hand, impatiently, “What’s keeping him?” Sour growled impatiently. “Doesn't he know it’s not polite to keep a girl waiting.”

“He’s very busy,” Coco spoke up in Spike’s defense. “He’ll come. Just give him time.”

Sour smiled sweetly, “You’re right, I should wait,” The girl said, before she scowled, “But I hate waiting!” She emphasized, with a clench of her fists.

Coco whimpered in fright, "Uh....you know what they say," Coco quivered. "Good things always come to those who wait."

Sour sighed, before she sweetly began, "Of course, I should wait," Then the girl crossed, "As long as it doesn't take all day!"

"Um, can you please stop that?"

"Stop what?!" Sour glared.

"Stop with what you're doing, please?" Coco asked, holding her bag up for cover. "You're creeping me out."

"Is every-a-thing alright-a here?" Mario asked, suddenly appearing on the scene to Coco's rescue.

Quickly remembering she was in public, Sour quickly composed herself, "Yes, Mr. Mario," Sour answered. "We were just....talking. That's all," Looking at Coco, sending her a look to play along, the fashion girl nodded.

"That's-a good," Mario began, before he presented Sour Sweet the pizza she ordered. "Because you don't-a have to-a wait-a any longer-a." With a polite bow, the man sets the pizza down on the counter in front of Sour. "Enjoy." With that, Mario was on his way to hosting the restaurant for the rest of the customers, leaving Sour and Coco in an awkward silence to enjoy their meal.

Looking to her left, seeing how bad of an impression she left on Coco, Sour sighed, "Hey, um Coco?" She began.

"Um, yes?" Coco whimpered, looking up at the girl with fright.

Sour hesitated for a moment, before she apologized, "I'm sorry with the way I acted earlier. I'm just not that patient, you know?"

"Oh, it's okay," Coco replied. "You got your pizza now. So..."

Sour shook her head, "No, no, it's not about the pizza!" She said. "It's Spike I wanted today."

The young fashion designer raised an eyebrow, "Spike? What do you want the prince for?"

"Relax, I'm not trying to kill him," The girl sighed. "Not anymore. I just wanted to ask him out on a date, tomorrow."

"Oh, okay," Coco nodded, before she chuckled lightly.

"What's so funny?" Sour scowled, before she pointed accusingly at Coco, "Are you mocking me?"

"No, no, it's not that," Coco tittered. "It's just...it's funny because, I'm surprised how much you girls wanted to date him now, considering how you've had a history of trying to kill him since he was a kid. How ironic is that?"

Sour Sweet pouted and sighed, "Yeah. The irony."

"I'm sorry," Coco giggled, wiping a tear away from her eye, from all the laugher. "I still find it cute, though. Weird, but cute."

Sour Sweet turned to the aspiring fashion designer and frowned, "Sometimes, I can't take your words as either compliments or insults."

Coco looked away for a moment, before she tried her best to look serious, "But I'm warning you, this is the only chance you have to prove yourself," She warned. "One false step out of line and-"

"You think I don't know that?" Sour Sweet frowned. "I get it! No hurting, Spike! No more! We're not like that anymore! What will it take for you ponies to accept the fact that we've changed and that we're completely different? We've been getting too many stink eyes and hisses enough as it is, so the least you can do is give us a-"

"Is there-a problem-a here?" Luigi asked.

"Stay out of this!" Sour Sweet shouted, much to the man's shock, before he complied and walked away. With that, Sour Sweet and Coco both resumed their meals, until at last, Spike returned.

"Phew, whoever they are, they must be having a pizza party or something," The boy sighed, taking a seat at the bar to receive a well deserved cup of root beer from Luigi. "Thanks Mr. Luigi."

"On the house, Spike," Luigi said before he resumes doing his job.

Not losing the chance again, Sour quickly asked, "Hey, Spike! I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure. What is it, Sour?"

"Well, if you're not too busy tomorrow. Then, would you be interested going out with me?"

Spike couldn't believe his ears, as he turned to face Sour to see her looking at him with hope in her eyes, "Uh, like a date or something?" He asked.

"Of course it's a date," Sour scowled. "What else would it be?!"

"Well sorry, but sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's a date or not," The boy replied in his defense.

"Well, it's a date. And I want to go out with you," Sour smiled with bright eyes, "So, what do you say? Will you go out with me? Or not?" She looked at him suspiciously at the last part.

"Well...." Spike pondered for a moment, thinking on what he might have planned for tomorrow, but found none. "Alright, I we could hang," He complied.

"Alright!" Sour smiled, "Be sure to come to my place, tomorrow at 10. And don't be late!" She demanded at the last part, before she took her leave.

"Sheesh, what's her problem?" He asked, once he and Coco were left alone.

"Are you okay, Spike?" Coco asked the boy in concern.

"Yeah, I'll be alright, don't worry," The boy reassured, before deciding to change the subject. "So, about the photo shootings."





Later at Sour's place


The girl was in her bedroom, out of her school uniforms, and plopped herself on her bed as she smiled to herself, “Yes! I actually did it! I I asked Spike out on date!” She giggled to herself, before she sighed a hugged a pillow happily.

“Now, just don’t mess it up with him,” She frowned to herself, when her laptop was beeping, signaling another video chat between herself and her Shadowbolt friends.

"Hey girls!" Sour greeted her friends.

"Hey Sour!" Indigo smiled. "So, how'd it go? What did he say?"

"He said yes!"

"Obviously," Sugar said bluntly. "So what's the plan?"





The Next Morning


It was a beautiful morning. Spike had gotten himself ready, before he arrived at Sour's building. The boy had his flaming green hair neatly combed, and was dressed with a purple jacket over a blazing green t-shirt with a picture of a dragon, and blue jean.

The boy walked up the steps, and rang her doorbell. In less than a minute, Sour Sweet answered the door, "Spike! Glad you could make it in time!" She smiled. "For a moment, I thought you were bailing out on me."

"Ha! What kind of a guy did you take me for?" He asked playfully.

"Well, I still find it hard to believe from Sunny Flare that you were friends with those two troublemakers, Snips and Snails," The girl snarled angrily as she begrudgingly recalled, "Those two have some nerves for taking those pictures of me like that!"

"Well, don't compare me and my boys with those two," The young dragon advised. "We may be friends, but we'd never stoop to their levels," But the boy secretly thought, 'At least, not that low.' Deciding to change the topic, Spike suggested, "Anyway, don't let those jokers bring down the mood. It's just us two, hanging out and getting on better terms. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, yeah! You're right!" Sour smiled as she grasps her hands with Spike's, "Come on, let's go! I've got a whole day planned out for us!"

"Then lead the way, m'lady," With that, the two young teenagers were on their way.

In the meantime, Spike took the moment to look at Sour, seeing her choice of fashion from the bottom to the top. In appearance, Sour Sweet wears a lighter moderate rose eyeshadow in contrast to her signature grayish aquamarine. Furthermore, for Spike's first time, the boy was bedazzled to see the girl has decided to let her hair down from its ponytail into a ruffled flow, while wearing her trademark berry pin above her left ear.

For attires, the girl wore a hot pink long sleeve jacket with white sleeves that hugged her curves, a white scarf that hung lovingly around her neck, long jean with sparkles decorated as cherries on the side of her thighs, and dark boots.

Sour caught Spike staring, "What're you looking at?" She asked.

Spike shook himself back to reality, "Sorry, I just can't help but notice how beautiful you look."

"Aw, thank you, Spike. You're so sweet," Sour smiled, before she muttered, "I think."

Of course, it didn't go unheard, "Hey, I'm telling the truth, you know," The boy frowned. "It's a compliment. Why would I even lie about it? You look amazing, Sour!"

"I know, I know," The girl replied, quickly catching herself, as she stammered, "It's-it's just that-I-I-sometimes, I don't know what's a compliment, or flattery. You know?"

"Well, I was complimenting you," Spike reassured, before he got back on topic, "Anyway, shall we go on with our date?"

"Right, of course," Sour blushed, before she sighed, 'Just keep it together, Sour. Keep. It. Together.' She thought.





Coney Island


For the first stop on their date, the two traveled to Coney Island, where they arrived at an amusement park dubbed Luna Park.

"Ugh, that's the last time I'm ever taking a taxi in New York," Sour grumbled.

"That's another downside to living in an urban city, like New York," Spike sighed. "There's the rush hours, and the traffics."

"Or if you had gone full dragon, then we would've gotten here sooner."

"Keep your voice down!" The boy hushed the girl. "Someone could've heard us!"

"Meh, it's not like anyone would have any interest in us," Little did they know, some suspicious figures have heard them. "Besides, you do it all the time."

"Only at night, and you know that. Twilight and her friends had given me explicit instruction to never transform in public."

"Oh really?" Sour questioned, putting her hands to her hips, "What about the times when we were fighting? You weren't so hesitant on-"

"That was different back then," Spike quickly answered. "The situation just calls for it. And it doesn't matter anymore. Any average humans who've witnessed magical activities, they all got their memories erased clean of those events. Courtesy of Lyra and Bon Bon."

"Oh, right, right," The girl nodded upon being reminded.

"Besides, I thought we agreed to move on from the past for today."

"Yeah, you're right about that," Straightening herself out, Sour turned to Spike and asked, "So. Where should we start?"

Spike scratched his chin as his eyes scanned across the park, pondering on their first activity, "......Well."





Pharrell Williams - Fun Fun Fun


Looking at a list of attractions and rides to enjoy, the first one they went to was the park's signature roller coaster ride, the Cyclone.

Thankfully, the two were able to ride the roller coaster, just before the line got too long for Sour Sweet's irritation. Once onboard, the two were secured with the safety bars, as well as having seat belts around their waist for extra safety. After one of the staff gave the thumbs up, the roller coaster springs to life as it started off at a moderate pace on its rails, rounding a corner, before it started slow and steady, up to a peak. Spike and Sour both held each other's hands, anxiously anticipating for what was to come next.

Upon arriving at the top, the rollercoaster plunged downward along the slope, and the ride finally roars to life as it soars along its rails, carrying its screaming passengers, weaving and diving beneath the wooden structures of the ride.

"This is awesome!" Spike screamed. "Rainbow Dash would love this!"

"So would Indigo!" Sour screamed along.

At last, both the Cyclone came to the end. The staffs all helped the passengers from their seats, who were all exhausted and excited from the thrill of the rollercoaster.

"Phew, that was a blast!" Spike said, while trying to catch his breath. "They don't call it the 'Big Momma' of Coney Island for nothing. Huh?"

"No, I guess not," The girl agreed, while straightening herself out. "Now it's my turn to pick." Pulling out a map, Sour looked at the remaining attractions that are available for the two.

The two were later playing a game of Whack-A-Mole, bopping their mallets on every moles that popped out of their holes to score points.

"If Fluttershy were here, she would just pet the moles," Spike chuckled, as he continues to whack away.

"Yeah? Well too bad for her, she ain't beating me, and my high score anytime soon!" Sour laughed, as she competitively whacked the moles. However, their competition didn't last long, when someone else already scored 150 points before they did.

"Aw, man!" The girl pouted.

"Cheer up, Sour. We'll win next time. Let's go get something to eat. All these games's made me hungry," Sour was about to protest, had it not been the growling of her stomach that interrupted her. "Whoa, your stomach's agreeing with me! My treat."

"What? No way, Spike. I'm paying for my meal!" The girl argued.

"No, I insist. I'll pay both our meals."

"No, I will."

"I will!"

"I will!"

The two couldn't help but burst into a heartfelt laugh, before they agreed to split the bill together as they shared a plate of funnel cake.

"Hmm, hmm!" The young dragon moaned in delight, as he enjoys a piece of the fried dough. "I haven't had any of these in a long time!"

"Oh, me neither!" Sour smiled. "I can't remember the last time I've had one of these!"

All was going well until Spike's nose twitched to the scent of greasy, slightly overused, hair gels, dashed with a strong scent of cologne perfume that slightly stings his eyes and sensitive nostrils, coupled with an all too familiar voice, "Well, well, well. If it isn't Spike the ladies' man~"

"Uh oh," Spike turned his head to see none other than-

"Heya, Spike! My man! Good to see ya!" Zephyr Breeze greeted loudly. "Funny running into you here. But seeing that you're here, then I assume Rainbow Dash is here too! Isn't she?"

Firing Zephyr Breeze a deadpan look, Spike began, "Uh....not today. She's over at the Wonderbolts HQ, working out. I'm sure you would've known that."

"Oh, slipped my mind," The tall boy brushed off. "I mean, of course she would! I know she's just doing all that to try and impress me and all."

"You?!" Sour Sweet mocked. "As if. Why would Rainbow Dash ever want to impress a slacker like you, let alone a repeater?"

Zephyr's eyes widened as he felt his ego being struck hard, "Okay, now that's just harsh," The boy frowned, turning his attention to Sour Sweet. "Just who do you think you are anyway?"

"The name is Sour Sweet," The girl snarled. "And I don't tolerate slackers like you."

"Sour Sweet?" Zephyr pondered for a moment, before he recalls, "Oh! Sour Sweet? As in the Sour Sweet of....of....of somewhere, am I right? Or am I right?" Sour Sweet could only roll her eyes in annoyance, as Zephyr continues, "Because my lady, I must say, I never thought I'd ever get the privilege to meet such a delicate flower of unique beauty, like yourself."

Sour cringed in disgust, "Excuse me," She chuckled forcefully. "But are you hitting on me, or something?"

"Hitting? Oh no, no, no, no. Of course not. I would never hit on a lady. But I might trip her," He cocked a grin, with a bounce of his eyebrows.

Spike, sensing aggravation from Sour, the boy quickly spoke, "Uh, Zephyr. I think you should make like a tree and leave now."

"In a moment, I want to make acquaintance with Ms. Sweet here," Zephyr took Sour by the hand and proceeded to kiss her up to her arm, much to her growing annoyance.

"No, seriously Zeph! Make like a piñata and beat it!" Too late.

"Go flirt.....IN HELL!!!" Sour screeched, grabbing Zephyr by the head, and thrust her knee forward, right in between his legs.

"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" Zephyr screamed, before he keels over, while holding his hands over the inflicted area. "Mommy!" He moaned in a chipmunk pitched voice, while sucking on his thumb.

Looking around them, the young dragon was dismayed to see all the looks of shocks on the faces of the people surrounding them, "Um....I think we should be going now," Spike suggested, as both he and the girl quickly left that scene.





At a mall


The two teenagers were later at a mall, where they were at a clothing store, browsing and checking out a variety of outfits that are available on sale.

"So Spike," Sour began, holding a long dress in front of her body, towards Spike. "What do you think? Do I look good in this?"

"Hmmm," Spike walked around the girl, looking her up and down, as he imagined her wearing the dress, as if she could be a part-time model. "Hmmm."

"Well?" The girl asked impatiently.

"Take it easy, Sour," Spike replied. "I'm no Rarity, or Photo Finish, or fashionista. So it's gonna take me awhile before I can give you my honest opinion."

"Well just don't take all day," Sour frowned.

After a few more seconds of his quick, thorough observation, Spike nodded, "It does compliment your hair."

"Thank you." Sour Sweet then started to look over Spike, to see he was wearing a new white pimp hat with a red strap, and a matching feather. "I can say the same for you and the new hat you are wearing Spike. Very fetching!"

"Thank you, m'lady," The boy bowed respectfully, with the tip of his hat. Little did the two know, they were being watched by another pair of envy eyes.

After they made their purchase for their new clothing attires, the two were on their way out to exit, when they were stopped in their track by a jealous, stuck-up, snob of a cousin.

"Hello, 'cousin' Spike," Blueblood greeted, walking over to the two, "Who is this little lady you are courting with today?"

"Excuse me?!" Sour shouted in outrage. "Did you just called me little?!"

"Take it easy, Sour. Let me handle this," Spike said, before he stood up to the obnoxious prince un-charming. "That's no way to talk to a lady, Vlad. Mother taught us-"

"Lady?! Lady?!" The adopted obnoxious cousin repeated in outrage, before he scoffed, "I don't see a lady. All I see is a girl who needs to be taught some manners, considering how rude and disrespectful she is towards me! I am a prince! I am beautiful! And there's nobody superior than I, and I should be treated with utmost respect!"

Blueblood declared, waving his arms out, expecting a fanfare. However, only the sound of a cricket's chirping was heard, and a random guy who faintly cheers, "Yay."

"Well, have fun with that, Vlad," Spike said as both he and Sour walked away. "Me and Sour have plans for today."

Irked, Prince Blueblood shouted in a demanding tone, "Don't turn your back on me, Spike Draco!" However, upon seeing that the pair continued to ignore him, the irritated prince pursued, "Hey come back! Don't you disrespect me! I'll tell this on auntie, and you'll be kicked out! And it will be the end of your charming life, Dragon!"

At last, Sour Sweet couldn't take it anymore as she marched up towards the obnoxious prince, "Hey, buddy!"

"That's Prince Blueblood to you!"

"Whatever. Let me tell you something! Nobody cares whether or not you're a prince, a King of England, or whatever! So you can just shut up! And spare us of your incisive whining!"

"Whining?! I am not whining! I'm complaining! And I am Prince, whether you like it or not. And I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want. And there's nothing you can do to stop me! So ha!"

Not bearing to take his smug grin any longer, Sour Sweet caught Blueblood by surprise, when she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and the belt of his pants, "Sour? Sour!" Spike exclaimed, watching as Sour Sweet displayed a surprising display of super strength as she spun the obnoxious prince off his feet, before hurling him across the mall.

"Yaaah-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooey!!!" Screamed Blueblood, before he crashed landed in a fruit stand, somewhere in the mall.

"Next time, know your place, your majesty!" Sour screamed, before she composed herself, and noticed the weird looks she was receiving from the surrounding people, "And what are you looking at?" She sneered, giving the people a stinks eye. In response, everyone all resumed their business, while exchanging some gossips about the girl.

"I think we should be going now," Spike said, as he took Sour by the hand, and they were on their way out.





Central Park


The sun was setting over the horizon, with dark clouds looming overhead, when the two friends were later walking together in Central Park, where the young dragon prince hoped the open space and tranquility of Autumn's beauty could relax a steaming Sour Sweet, "Sour! What was that?!" Spike exclaimed.

"What? I was just setting that obnoxious cousin of yours straight," The girl spoke in her defense. "Besides, he's fine."

Spike pinched his temples together as he replied, "Look, as much as I like him getting his just desert, that's a little too extreme! Besides, you're forgetting we're in public! Can you please try to control yourself? We're trying to keep a low profile here."

Sour sighed and took a deep breath, "I know, I know. It's just, this day was supposed to be fun for both of us," She frowned sadly, before she glowered, "But then these two imbeciles had to show up out of the blues and ruin everything for us! It just makes me so mad that I...I...I..."

"Sour! You're losing it again!" Spike alerted the girl, who quickly calmed herself the best she could.

"I just...just....I just don't think I can handle another..." Unfortunately, Sour Sweet was so caught up in her rant that she failed to notice she was walking off the road, tripping and falling down a slope, "AAAH!!!" She screamed.

"SOUR!!" Spike shouted, catching the girl by the hand to save her from her fall. However, muddy soil beneath them gave way and both Spike and Sour slid down, landing in a puddle of mud, beside a running stream.

"Oi, that could've been better," The boy muttered, before he turned to see poor Sour Sweet lying in the dirt, beside him, "Sour, are you okay?"

"Do I LOOK okay to you?" She glared, before they both looked down to see that Spike's hand was on her well-endowed chest.

Both of their faces turned red with mixed embarrassment, as Spike quickly backed away, "Whoa, Sour! I'm-I'm so sorry!" He apologized.

"No, no, not at all, I'm fine," She replied sweetly. "No, thanks to you!" She frowned.

"What? It wasn't on purpose," He said in his defense. "I was just trying to save you."

"Well, too bad! Because if it weren't for your 'so-called' heroic attempt, then we wouldn't have fallen into that mud puddle to begin with!"

"I'm sorry, Sour. But I really tried-"

"You're sorry? Really? Then by chance, are you sorry for the fact that you're friends with that imbecilic slacker, Zephyr Breeze?" The girl quickly had an epiphany. "You're the behind all of these grievances I'm having! Aren't you?!"

"Wh-what? What are you?"

"I think I get it now! You're still not over the fact that we tried to attack you! You're still not over the fact that we're Shadowbolts! This whole day's just a part of your bitter payback to get back at me, isn't it?!"

"Sour, that's ridicules!" Spike spatted in his defense. "As if I would ever stoop to that level-"

"A likely story," Sour glared accusingly. "I mean, it all makes sense! It can't be a simple coincidence that one of your stooge friend would be at Coney Island to try and humiliate me! Or the fact that obnoxious cousin of yours would show up to try and set me up, to make me look bad in public! And to top it all of! You tried to cop a feel of me! AND OUT IN PUBLIC!! Serves me right for putting my trust in a dragon!"

That was the last straw, "You know what? I don't need this!" Spike snorted, as he turns his back on her and proceeded to walk away. "Just forget it! This has gone far enough!"

"W-What?" Sour asked, after she snapped back to reality.

"Date's off! That's what!" Spike replied, as he took his leave. "I don't need to take anymore of this mood shifting crap from you! Go find another dragon to take your problems out on!"

Realizing what had happened, Sour's expression instantly shifted to regret, "N-No, wait, Spike, please!" She pleaded, but to no avail. "Spike, I'm sorry! I didn't mean- I can explain!"

"Not listening," Walking into some trees, finding the cover he needed, Spike sprouted his wings in a burst of green fire, and proceeded to fly away.

"Spike, wait! I didn't mean any of that! I take it all-Wait, don't go!" But it was no use. With a flap of his wings, Spike was already in the air and disappeared into the night sky. "I'm sorry! I'M SORRY!!!" Sour screamed, with tears streaming from her eyes. "I'M SORRY!!!!!" With a clap of thunder, dark clouds had formed above the girl, as she fell to her knee, and cried a waterfall of tears, with a shower of rain pouring down on her.

Looking down at a puddle that had formed before her, Sour stared into her own reflection, "Nice going, Sour," She splashed at the puddle. "You've really gone and done it," With a deep sigh, she decides to just head home.





As Sour was heading home, feeling nothing but sadness and shame, she suddenly has this feeling that she's being followed. She looks around but sees no one but this uneasy feeling has not gone away. Sour decides to face these would be attackers head on, so she turns to an abandoned allyway so it wouldn't bring unwanted attention.

It was then that the figures reveal themselves to the Shadowbolt girl. Much to Sour's surprise, her stalkers weren't human but abyssinians wearing body armor, snarling, hissing, and growling at her. She then notices an insignia on their right shoulder pads the symbol consists of two flaming swords clashing. One sword is a katana while the other is a jian. It was then that Sour realizes that these overgrown ally cats are part of the Yellow Blade, another crime syndicate in the magical underworld. They must have caught her scent and followed her when she was heading back home.

One of the catmen attempts to pounce on Sour but she manages to kick him away. Another pulls a knife to try and stab her but she manages to block it and pushes him away from her. Just as Sour seems to be doing well, one of the catmen sneaks up behind from behind and struck her with a bo staff. As Sour fell to the ground, she could hear the catman laughing and when she turns around she sees not the abyssinian that struck her but one of her tormentors laughing at her misery, she looks around and sees that the other catmen have also been replace with other tormentors from her childhood, all laughing at her and mocking her. It was then that something inside Sour finally snapped.


Three Days Grace - Time Of Dying


The abyssinian with the bo staff came closer to inspect her only for Sour to grab the staff and pull it from him, much to his shock. With quick reflexes, Sour got behind him and use the staff to grab his neck. there was a quick crack and the catman goes down dead.

The other abyssinians were shocked and a little frightened by this. They look back at the girl and see nothing but pure rage and hate.

Sour charges towards the nearest catman and starts beating endlessly him with the bo staff breaks until it breaks, with the catman falling down bloody and bruised.

Another abyssinian charges at her with a pair of knives but Sour grabs both of his wrists and twists them. The catman screams in pain as he drops the knives. Sour then picks them up and stabs him in the kneecaps. She then proceeds to give him a flurry of punches until he falls down.

One abyssinian draws out his katana and pounces her but she manages to dodge out of the way in time and quickly grabs his blade. After a brief struggle, manages to yank the sword from him and quickly stabs him in the gut. The catman fell to his knees and clutches his now bleeding stomach, Sour then kicks him so hard goes flying and crashes to a nearby wall.

Only one abyssinian was left and he scared for his life. Sour rushes up to to him, katana still in hand, forcing the catman to draw out his own. After a small blade dual, Sour gets the upperhand and stabs both of his legs. The catman fell to his knees and looks up to Sour hoping for some form of mercy. But all Sour sees is the leader of those popular jerks who made a fool out of her all those years ago, with a ear piercing scream Sour swiftly lops his head off.


(Song Pauses)


Sour finally comes her senses and is horrified of what she did, "Oh God. W-What have I done?" She asked herself shakingly. Before she had anytime to really think about however, she hears something heavy fall and hit the concrete. She turns to see a rather large hammer sticking in the ground. She looks up and sees a large figure on one of the rooftops.

The figure jumps down and Sour manages to get a better look at him. It was another abyssinian and a big one too, his size rivals that of a minotaur. The big cat then lifts the big hammer off the ground like it was nothing, he then looks around to see his downed men then back at Sour with nothing but anger and contempt. 


(Song Continues)


With a roar, he charges at the Shadowbolt girl. Sour tried to dodge his hammer but the big cat was faster than he looks and hits her side. Sour went flying and hits a wall then down on the ground. As she struggles to get up, she sees the big cat coming towards her ready to swing his hammer once again.

This time she manages to get out of the way before the hammer hits her again and gets stuck in the wall in the process. Seeing an opening, Sour uses the katana to try and stab him but the big cat manages to grab her wrist before she had the chance. He twists it causing Sour to scream in pain and drop the blade. The big cat then punches Sour a few feet away, he then manages to pull his hammer out of the wall.

As Sour tries to get up, she sees the big cat heading towards her. Just as he was about to give her the final blow, a fiery shuriken appears and hits him in his left eye. The big cat screams in pain until a figure appears and kicks him across the ally way. When the big cat got up, he looks around to see the Shadowbolt girl is nowhere to be found. The big cat then lets out a roar of frustration.





Beautiful Chinese Music - Bamboo Flute


Sour was aghast, "You....you saved me....why?" She asked quietly.

"I said date's off," Spike replied, while he still remained in dragon form. "But I didn't say, I won't save you," Before Sour could speak, Spike lowered himself on all four, "Come on. I'll take you home."

Not feeling the mood to argue, Sour complied as she climbs up on Spike's back. With a flap of his wings, the dragon took flight through the storm, which eventually became a gentle trick of showers, dancing to their soothing tune. Sour felt calmer as she felt the raindrops caressing over her face, and the cool breeze, all clearing away all of the grievances she had experienced, earlier that day. The girl couldn't help but nuzzle herself closer to Spike's neck, content with the smooth flight, while feeling a comforting aura pulsing from Spike as it relaxes her, up until they arrived at her building, landing on her balcony. Spike lowered himself to let Sour Sweet down. 

The girl breathed a sigh of relief, content that she was home, "Spike?" She began as she turned around, just in time to see him leave. "Wait! I...." Sour ran to the edge of her balcony, but failed to catch up to the dragon as he disappeared into the clouds, "...I just wanted to say thank you." She hugged to herself, in shame.





Spike was flapping his wings, twisting and turning his body, continuing his flight through the rainfalls, before he perched atop the building to his apartment, where he began to brood with mixed feelings.

"Maybe I was being a little too hard on her," He though, before he shook his head. "Nah! What am I saying? It's her problem for not seeing that I'm human too! It's not my fault I was born like this! I never asked to be a dragon! So forgive me if the fact that I'm a dragon bothers her."


Pumpkinhead Ashes to Ashes theme song


"Don't say I didn't warn you, Spike," A haunting voice spoke up, to which the dragon turned his head to see Fear Haunter stepping out from the shadow, smiling wickedly.

"Fear Haunter...." Spike muttered. "I wonder, when did they let you out of the slammer, Scarecrow?"

"Oh please, no prison can hold a metahuman like me," The man rolled his eyes, as he leans against the support beam of a water tower and grins mockingly at the young dragon. "I simply let myself out, you know? Though admittedly I had a little help. Bottomline, it's bound to happen. Especially the fate that will soon befall on you in the coming future."

In response, the Dragon Prince rolled his eyes as he tries his best to block the metahuman out, "Oh please, don't try and deny it," Fear said calmingly. "It's true you know. No matter how hard you try, no matter how many good deeds you have performed for the creatures of the Magic World, and the people of Earth, you will never be more than a dragon. Your latest girlfriend has very much confirmed my point, you know. Of course, it shouldn't come off as a surprise for both you and me. Sometimes, it's just too hard to put your faith in someone whom you and your people deemed to be too different, or too powerful. That's life. Sometimes, it's easier to not count on anybody at all, and just look out for number one. Yourself. Sooner or later, everyone will be at your throat. And I'll be there when that happens and I'll laugh."

Spike turns around to give Fear a piece of his mind but sees that he's vanished. Spike shakes his head, "Get a hold of yourself Spike! Fear's just toying with you...right?" 

Elsewhere in a dark allyway, Fear reappears from his smoke form. He hears soft growling and turns to see a pair of large green eyes staring back at him.

After a few seconds of silence, the figure finally spoke, "Was it really wise to reveal yourself to the dragon boy? Especially so soon brother?"

Fear just shrugs, "Maybe, maybe not. I just wanted to see the look on his face after the way today went."

"Don't forget brother, you still have Somnambula and her flunkies searching for you. Plus that lavender horse still has possession of your black dreamstone." The figure pointed out.

Fear rolls his eyes, "I know. Please don't remind me." He grumbled 

"So what now brother?" The figure asked.

"For now, we lay low until Cleopatra's 'noble' steed calls off the search." He answered, "Plenty of time to catch up on my reading." He then brings out a large grey book he 'borrowed' from the Royal Canterlot Library, "This is a very interesting book, detailing many magical artifacts including the Elements Of Harmony and the Armor Of Heroes. Though there's one that's caught my interest; the Memory Stone."
> Fearful Conflicts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Crystal Prep Shadowbolts were in the cafeteria, having lunch and talking among themselves. All, except one.

Sour was sadly playing her mashed potato with her spoon, still in the slump from yesterday.

Her fellow Shadowbolts noticed her unusual depression, and decided it was time to break the ice.

“Alright, Sour dearie,” Sunny began in her usual authoritative, yet welcoming tone. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Sour sighed, “I messed it up,” She frowned.

“What?!”

“Are you deaf?! I messed it up, okay? The date was ruined! And it’s all my fault, because I just couldn’t-“

“Whoa, Whoa, easy Sour!” Indigo said. “Calm down! Take a slow deep breath. Now tell us what happened.”





Spike was in dragon form as he returns to the spot he was at last night, when he saw Fear, again, in the flesh.

The dragon lowered his snout to the spots where Fear was standing and took a long whiff of the metahuman’s scent.

“You really are back!” Spike growled, as he continued to sniff the air again to follow the metahuman’s scent.

Spike followed Fear's scent until it ends in a dark allyway. "Huh, trail ends here." He said to himself. He took another whiff and realized something, "Someone was here with him."






later


“...and then I accused him of setting me up,” Sour sighed in shame. "And...you can guess what happened next."

The other Shadowbolts could only exchange sad and sympathetic responses, with Indigo blowing a loud whistle in amazement, "Uh, I mean, wow. Yeesh, that must be a rough date, huh?" Indigo chuckled nervously.

"That's not even the whole thing," Sour frowned. "I wanted so badly to apologize to him, but he wouldn't listen. He won't even look at me in the eyes to talk to me. I don't blame him. I did tried to kill him once."

"It's not just you, Sour Sweet!" Lemon Zest exclaimed, on behalf of herself and the girls. "We all tried to kill him!" The Shadowbolts all nodded in agreement.

"Of course, you tried to murder him the most as a retribution for stealing the kiss and assaulting your breasts," Sugarcoat said bluntly.

"SUGAR!!" The other Shadowbolts, minus Sour, exclaimed angrily.

"No, she's right," Sour sniffed, rubbing a tear away. "But to be fair, I deserved it."

"Aw, c'mon, Sour! You can't just give up, like that!" Indigo began as she encouraged, "It's a little too soon. Just give yourself a week or so to cool off, and then you can talk to Spike again. I'm sure he'll give you a second chance, or a third, or even a fourth."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course! I may not know him long enough, but he doesn't come across as the type who would hold a grudge. He's better than that. I'm sure once you two get the chance to talk things out, everything will be okay."

Sour nodded, sadly, "I hope so," Then, the girl's eyes lit up when she remembered, "Oh, there's something else you girls need to know!"






Pumpkinhead Theme



Meanwhile, at CHS


"WHAT?!" The Knights exclaimed, "Fear Haunter is back?!"

"Afraid so," Spike frowned, as he stood in the Fight Club, with the Knights and the Element Bearers present. "I'd wish I could I say I was dreaming, but he was there, in the flesh alright."

"Well, where is he now?" Rainbow asked.

"That's the worst news, Rainbow," The dragon replied. "I don't know. I tried to track him down, but he's just nowhere to be found."

"Well this is just great." Rumble said.

"That's not all," Spike began, " When I reached to the end of his trail, there was another scent there. Someone was there with him."

"Oh my," Fluttershy said, "You don't think he...murdered someone do you?"

"I didn't find a dead body anywhere so I doubt it," Spike said hoping to assure her, "Aside from swamp water and dead fish, this other person smelled almost like Fear but not, it's...hard to describe it." 

"You think this other person is some sort of assailant of Fear?" Twilight asked.

"Well he did tell me he had help escaping prison, so it's a strong possibility." Spike answered grimly.

"So your telling us that not only Fear Haunter's back but he may not be alone this time?" Tender asked.

"Afraid so, Tender." Spike then turns back to Twilight, "You still have his black dreamstone, Twi?"

"Yes, got it under lock and key." She answered.

"Good, 'cause he may want it back."

"I'll also let Starlight and Celaeno know when I head back to the castle after school." Twilight said, "I also placed some security measurements in that old mansion Fear hid at after the horror plague incident. I doubt he'll go back there but better safe than sorry."

"We should also let Discord, Thorax, Sunset, and Trixie know as well." Pip added.

"How did he get out?" Feather asked.

"Maybe I can shed some light on that." Said a voice from the shadows who reveals to be Somnambula.

"Somnambula!!!" Yelled some of the kids.

"What are you doing here?" Rumble said not taking his eyes off her.

"I came to warn you of Fear's return but it seems your already aware." She answered.

"DOHOI YA THINK?!" Button yelled.

"Can it, Button," Spike scolded him. He then turns back to Somnambula, "So care to explain why Fear is out of his cell and is walking around New York?"

With a sigh, she spills the beans, "A week ago there was a massive riot at Azmodan Prison."

"Azmodan Prison?" The knights asked.

"Equestria's top prison," Spike explains to them, "It's where we put our worst of the worst."

The egyptian pegasus continued, "Thankfully Fleur and her parents were nearby at the time and helped contain most of the convicts." She then lowers her head, "But it was later discovered that it wasn't a prison RIOT, It was a prison BREAK." 






Batman: Arkham Asylum OST - Main Theme



A Week Earlier, At Azmodan Prison


"It was an absolute nightmare let me tell you," Said a bat pony wearing a spiffy suit and a pair of glasses, "One moment everything was fine until all of a sudden our computers went haywire and most of the prison cells opened up. If Flare Heart and her parents weren't here to help with containing the prisoners, then I don't know what would have happen." He finished.

"Yes, it was very fortunate indeed, Warden Sharp." Somnambula said. Accompanying her are the minotuar, griffin, and chimera Shadowbolts. They were all following the warden who was leading them to a destination.

The warden continued, "All but two were accountable, One is Beezin who Fleur and her parents are currently looking for."

"And the other?" One of the Shadowbolts asked.

"You'll see." Warden Sharp said as they reached their destination. There were a few dead bodies laying on stretchers and a metal door that looks like it was ripped open.

Somnambula enters the room, "Warden, who's cell was this." She asked.

"Fear Haunter's." He answered grimly.

"I see." She then sees a small note on the bed. She picks it up and it reads: 


Dear Somnambitch, come and find me. 

Love Fear

P.S. F. U. 


She tears the note in disgust.

The griffin was studying the door, "Hmm, This door looked like it was forced open from the outside. And who ever did it was very strong too, it would take I think four or five minotuars to pry open a door like this."

The minotuar and chimera were examining the dead guards, "Yeesh, look at this one, looks like someone or something took a bite out of him." The chimera said.

The minotuar came over to check, "Hmm, these bitemarks look like they were made from a crocodile. Come take a look at this one. Someone or something broke his neck, however it looked like something was wrapped around it like a tail."

"Warden you said the computers went haywire?" Somnambula asked.

"Yes, evidence shows that someone planted a virus in our mainframe." Warden Sharp explains.

"I see." Somnambula took this all in, "It is obvious that Fear Haunter had help escaping but the question is...who?"





"Huh, well that explains why we haven't heard from Fleur in a while." Button said.

"So was there a reason why any of us wasn't told of this sooner?" Spike asked sternly.

Somnambula lowers her head in shame, "We'd hoped we be able to recapture him quickly but like before he was two steps ahead of us. I already lost three of my monkey scouts trying to find him."

"I see." Spike said. 

"What about Fear's accomplice?" Twilight asked, "Do we know who it is?"

"No, we're still looking into that." Somnambula replied grimly, "Shortly after that, he paid a little visit to the Royal Canterlot Library and 'borrowed' a certain book there."

"What was the book?" Twilight asked.

The pegasus was quiet for a minute before she finally answered, "The Great Book Of Artifacts, written by Starswirl himself."

Twilight's eyes widen with horror and with good reason, "Oh no."

"Is that bad?" Button asked.

"It contains information about many magical artifacts, powerful ones I might add, including the Elements of Harmony and the Armor of Heroes. Not only would Fear find out about their weakness's and counter them but he would also learn about other dangerous trinkets as well." The Princess of Friendship explained.

"Oh my." Fluttershy said.

"So yeah, that's very bad." Button said glumly.

"So what do we do?" Featherweight asked

"You should let me and my Shadowbolts handle this affair." Somnambula suggested, "Even as we speak, we are searching the whole state for him. Let us worry about Fear Haunter"

"Pfft sure." Rumble scoffed, "So far Fear has been given you guys the slip, what makes us believe that you can still catch him?"

“Because we have an expert tracker on our side,” Somnambula answered. “Trust us. We’ll be able to recapture Fear and his accomplice, eventually. But in the meantime, you must all be on guard.”

Spike was unsure at first, but nevertheless he replied, “Fine then. He's all yours.” He then gives her a hard look, eyes turning into slits, "But the next time something like this happens again we want to know immediately, got it?"

Somnambula winced at this. She knew it wasn't a request, it was an order. Nevertheless she complies, "Y-Yes my prince, it won't happen again."

"Good." Spike said as Somnambula takes her leave.

Little did anyone know however is that someone was listening in. Tianhuo heard everything from a door that was barely open. She wasn't wearing her gym uniform but was wearing a green shirt with Chinese syllables that not only showed off her midriff but also three sets of scars on her back, a short leather jacket with picture of a longma on the back, and black pants with flame patterns on them. 

The Chinese girl was conflicted whether she should get involved or not. With a sigh, she starts walking down the hall until she hears a voice call out to her. "Hey Tian!" She turns to see who it was and sees it was Sunshine Smile who's with her sister, Moonlight Raven.

Wondering what they want, she heads over to them and asks, "What's up?"

"Me and Moonlight are going to the movies after school and we were wondering if you wanna join us." Sunshine answered cheerfully.

"Wait are you...asking me to hang out with you girls?" Tianhuo asked.

"Why not?" Moonlight said in her monotone voice, "We hang out a lot at the Fight Club."

Tianhuo thinks about for a minute then shrugs, "Why not, I got nothing planned tonight." She said with a smile.

"Alright!" Sunshine cheered.

"So what are we gonna go see?" Tian asked.

"The theater is replaying Nightmare on Elm Street." Sunshine answered.

"The 1984 one. Not the crappy one produced by Michael Bay." Moonlight added in.






The Paper Chase - What's So Amazing About Grace (from Now You Are One Of Us)



Elsewhere


Fear was walking down the crowded street trying to get through large groups of people, he always hated the big cities. He turns to an allyway where a large manhole was located. Looking around to see no one was looking, he then lifts the manhole and climbs down before resealing the lid.

After going through a network of tunnels, he reaches a large room with a big pool of water in the middle. Reaching to one of his pockets, Fear brings out a black gauntlet with a blood red ruby at the center.

Fear smiles, He knows it's a matter of time before the Shadowbolts finally find him. But this time he'll be ready for them, with some help of course.

Just then, some bubbles appear at the pool which gets bigger until a massive figure rises. Fear turns towards the figure and his evil smile widens.
> Astral Lesson with Auntie
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You've been gone for weeks now, my love," Luna talked through a glass orb she was holding, telepathically, on the balcony. "When will you return?"

"Lulu, I've told you before," Scorpan sounded. "I don't know. Maybe another week, or a month, or two."

"Aw..." Luna pouted. "But I missed you so much!" From the background, Luna was certain she heard a fit of gruff laughs from Mako, behind Scorpan.

"You sure you wouldn't want Celestia?" Mako teased. "You have been going on how she's extra thicc from all the cakes she had consumed over the last thousand years."

Blushing a furious shade of red, the gargoyle lunged after the serpentine dragon, "MAAAAAAAAAKOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Scorpan howled, as he and the dragon broke out into a fight.

Luna rolled her eyes, 'Men will be men,' She thought, before she noticed the sun setting over the horizon. "Gotta go now. Bye Scorpan. Bye Mako," Luna bid farewell, before she placed the orb on its stand.

With that, the night alicorn concentrated into her magic, where she first levitated the moon, together with the stars that decorated the dark blanket of her night sky. Once that task was done, Luna focused her magic and she enters the whimsical void of dreams.

Surrounding her are myriads of doors, bubbles, and starry paths. Each one connects to a dream of every creatures in the Magical World, and on Earth.

But tonight, the night alicorn’s mind was set on one dreamer.





Before


Inside the library of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia was magically holding a photo album, looking through the pages, sighing in nostalgia at all the collective memories she's had of herself, her sister, Twilight and her friends, and of course, her son, Spike.

She smiled, when she looked at one picture, which captured a moment where both Celestia and Spike were baking cakes together. Spike was covered from head to toe with cake batters and frosting. With that, Celestia pounced on Spike and licked him affectionately, wiping the bits of cakes of him, while the boy was struggling to escape with a look of horror on his face, holding his hands out for whoever was holding the camera to capture the moment.

Celestia laughed to herself in nostalgia, recalling her son's voice screaming, "Help! Mom wants to eat me!"

Just then, Princess Luna came walking into the room, “Good evening dear sister,” The small blue alicorn greeted.

“Oh, hi Luna,” Celestia replied, before she noticed her sister was carrying an opossum on her back. “I see you've made a friend.”

Luna smiled, as she introduced the opossum to her sister, “This is Tiberius. But you can also call him Tibbles. He’s my new animal companion for the nights. Isn’t he adorable?”

“He sure is,” Celestia smiled, walking over to pet the little opossum.

Princess Luna turned her head and her eyes fell on the photo album, "Is this dear nephew?" She asked, pointing to the  picture Celestia was looking at earlier. The sun princess nodded her head in confirmation, "Aw, he's so cute!" Luna cooed, before she looked over to see some more captured moments of her adopted nephew in his childhood.

She looked over the pages, before finding a picture drawing of herself, with words written in red crayon, "To Aunt Luna. Love Spike!"

"Did....did he draw this?" Luna asked, to which Celestia nodded.

The Sun Princess then used her magic to turn the pages to show a collection of pictures that depicted her nephew showing his love towards the princess of the night, from offering a plate of moon cakes, to playing with the fireflies that danced merrily in the moon's beautiful light.

Princess Luna's eyes were welled up with tears, "He cared so much about me," Her lips quivered. "And how did I repay him?.....by wronging him....by...." The pipe soon broke, and she sobbed, "Why? Why did this have to happen?”

"Lulu.."

“Tia,” Luna interrupted. “Why did you tell him to love me? He doesn't even know me."

"Because I wanted him to know you better than everyone else, Luna," Celestia explained. "The real you. And the more I told him, the less frightened he was at the fact that you were Nightmare Moon.”

Celestia sighed as she recalled, “I’ll never forget how devoted and loving he was to making my life feel less and less lonesome,” She smiled, as she sheds a tear of nostalgia. “Whenever I, and our subjects, needed supports, he was always there by our side. And how proud I am of him to grow up into such a sweet young dragon. I couldn’t be anymore proud.”

Luna briefly smiled, before she sulked, “He is a wonderful kid. But I'm so ashamed for the way I treated my nephew, when all he ever did was love me. Love you.”

Turning to her sister, Celestia spoke up again, “The past is the past, Luna. It is time to let it go,” She said, wrapping her wing around the little alicorn, pulling her close. “You have returned to us. Equestria is overjoyed to have you back. Their Princess of the Night has returned, together with my son, the Dragon Prince. Even more, your children have you back!"

“It’s not too late for you and your Shadowbolts to make amends. And right now, I’d like for you and my son to have this chance to really know each other.”





Present


Princess Luna sighed, as she stood before a door, with an image of a dragon painted in the front.

Anxious, the night alicorn took a slow deep breath to calm her nerves, before she turns the the door knob and enters.





Beautiful Piano Music


In his dream, Spike was, once again, blue and transparent, and found himself at the top of the Empire State Building, underneath a blanket stars, and galaxies.

“Wow,” Spike gasped in amazement, marveling at the night’s beauty. He then looked down at himself, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had this dream.”

“This isn’t a dream, dear nephew,” A familiar voice spoke up. “At least, not entirely.” Then, in a flash of light, there stood before him was Princess Luna herself.



“Aunt Luna?” Spike asked, to which the night alicorn nodded. “What are you- I mean, shouldn’t you be back in Canterlot with mom?”

“I am the Princess of the Night,” Luna lectures. “Thus, it is my duty to come into your dreams. But tonight, I have come to begin your lesson on astral projection.”

“Astral project-“ Spike looks down at himself once more, realizing what Luna meant.  “I can astral project?”

“Indeed you can, nephew,” Luna confirmed, “Do you know what it means to astral project?”

“Yeah, I know what astral projection is,” The young dragon confirmed. “I’ve read a lot of Doctor Strange comics to know what astral projection is.”

“Hmmm, this Dr. Strange must’ve been a brilliant physician then,” Luna commented, while Spike couldn't help smirking in amusement at the comment. “But you lack the proper control. As you have already demonstrated, you randomly astral project, whenever you are asleep. With proper training, however, you can do it with your own free will.”





Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus - The Swamp's Dark Center


"I still say we should wait for Joe and the others, mistress," said the goat head of the chimera.

"No choice. By the time they get here, Fear would have already moved to a different location." Somnambula insisted, to the chimera, as she and her squadron are wearing special goggles that helps them see in the dark.

The pegasus sorceress and her squad have been traversing through the sewers. They had just received a tip on where Fear Haunter is located, but they had better hurry lest he'll move to another location. They realized how the twisted metahuman has been under their radar up until now. He's been a) using the sewers to traverse around the city and b) he doesn't stay in one spot for very long. Knowing Fear, it's obvious they maybe walking into a trap, as they don't know who gave them the tip, but this might be their chance to capture him.

As they draw near to their destination, Somnambula turns to her squad, "Alright everyone, be on your guard! We don't know what Fear has in store for us, so be ready for anything," She whispered to them.

They all nodded, but the goat head of the chimera was still unsure, "I still think we should wait for the others." She murmured to herself.

The minotaur hears a splash not too far from where they are. He looks to see the direction where the sound originated, but sees nothing. He turns back to the others, while remaining on high alert. No sooner did the Shadowbolts left, when a figure with glowing green eyes emerged from the waters and watched as the ninjas trot on. The figure gives off a low growl before diving back into the water.

At last, the Shadowbolts have reached the area they believed to be Fear Haunter's hideout, but they found nothing. Were they too late and Fear has already left? Did the tip they got was wrong? Just then, they hear an earsplitting sound which sounds like grating metal. They turn to the source of the sound and sees Fear Haunter scratching a pipe with his scythe.


Pumpkinhead Theme


"Hello there, how's everyone today?" He asked nonchalantly. In response, the Shadowbolts took on fighting stances, which Fear rolls his eyes. "Are we really doing this?"

"We've been looking for your creepy ass for nine days straight you sick son of a bitch! So yeah, we're doing this!" The griffin yelled. 

"If you come with us quietly, we might go easy on ya." The minotaur said.

"Listen to yourselves. Even when you were'purified' you lot still act all high and mighty." Fear pointed out, "Do you guys honestly think putting me back behind bars will clean up a thousand years of dirty laundry?"

The Shadowbolts were hesitant to answer, but Somnambula remained strong, "No, but it'll be a start." She answered.

Fear chuckled at that, "And that right there is the difference between us, Somnambula."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"That I know I'm an irredeemable bastard." He answered, "Even after everything you've done Cleopatra, you still think you can get a second chance, especially after what you did to the 'Dragon Prince'. Face the facts you stupid horse, no matter how many good deeds you pull off, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will always remember you as that shriveled up old hag who ruined the lives of many!" 

Somnambula just stood there in silence, tightening her grip on her staff and unable to retort. The Shadowbolts were concerned with her silence, "Mistress?" One of them asked. 

Fear smirks at this as he continues, "When your precious moon princess threw her hissy fit, you just stood there and did nothing as she corrupted you, her little brats, and the rest of her loyal flank kissers. If your fellow Pillars were here they'd cast you out just like you did to poor Stygian. And they used to called you the Pillar of Hope." he finished with a shake of his head.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back as Somnambula let's out a scream of rage and unleashes a bolt of lighting from her staff towards Fear Haunter. Fear smirks at this however as he raises his right hand. There was a big flash and when it died down, the Shadowbolts, but most of all Somnambula, were in shock to see Fear Haunter still alive and standing. That's when they spot something glowing in his hand.

Somnambula's eyes widen as she recognizes what it is, "The Demaughra Gauntlet!?" She exclaimed. It was made by a mysterious anti magic material called Sinium, or sin metal, and and the jewel in the middle can absorb any form of magic, "W-Where did you get that thing?!?!?!" She demanded.

Fear grins at this, "I can't tell you much, but let's just say I got it from a benefactor who really, really, really hates you guys."

"Not as much as we hate you, you freak!" The griffon yelled as he was getting ready to pounce him. 


Brütal Legend OST - The Chosen Roadie


"Geoff, wait-" The minotaur warned, but it was too late. As the griffon leaps at Fear, a massive tail rose up from a pool of water near them and swatted the griffon, sending him flying across the room and slamming him against a wall.

The minotaur rushed over to help his comrade up. As he did however, something slowly begins to rise from the pool until it reveals itself to be a giant of a man with a crocodile-like tail who then lets out a bone chilling roar.

For appearance, the man was somewhere around eight feet tall, long black shoulder length hair with green streaks, and green crocodile-like eyes and fangs. For attire, he wears a black shirt with a Queensryche symbol on it, a leather biker jacket with a picture of a crocodile's skull and crossbones on the back with a slogan at the bottom that says: "Gators forever." Dark grey jeans with a chain dangling on the right side, and black and grey cleats. For accessories he has an earing with a shark's tooth hanging from his right ear and a necklace made with alligator teeth.

"Ladies & gentlemen," Fear began. "Meet my brother, Bone Cruncher."

Bone gives them an evil smile, showing off his monster-like teeth, while cracking his knuckles, "Sup bitches." He said in a low baritone voice.

The chimera turns to Somnambula and says, "Mistress, let us take care of the big one. You focus on Fear."

Somnambula was hesitant. Her squad are made of sterner stuff, no doubt about that, but she was unsure if they were capable of handling someone like Bone Cruncher, but agreed nevertheless, "Very well, but be careful. We don't know what that...thing can do."

"Watch it horse! That's my brother your talking about!" Fear yelled.

The pegasus turns her attention back to him, "Alive or a corpse, you and your brother will be coming with us." She said as she changes into her anthro form and readies her staff. 

"I would love to see you try, bitch." Fear says as he readies his scythe.


Disturbed - Meaning of Life (Instrumental)


Somnambula projected a magic blade from the tip of her staff and charges at Fear who manages to block in time and pushes her back. She then starts thrusting her staff at Fear who manages to dodge each thrust. She then makes a wide swing at him which he then flips behind her and elbows her in the back of the head.

She staggers a bit but quickly turns around. With a frustrated growl, she taps her staff and magical chains appear which proceed to wrap around Fear. However, Fear doesn't seem impressed by this. With a little struggle, he manages to use his scythe to cut through the ethereal chains.

Somnambula was shocked by this, "How-"

"Like the gauntlet, my scythe is also made of Sinium." Fear bragged, with a slight smirk, as he resumes his fight with Somnambula.

Somnambula quickly snaps out of it and returns to her fighting stance. Meanwhile, her squad aren't fairing any better against Bone Cruncher who just tossed the chimera through a brick wall, taking the fight into a wider area.

Geoff brings out a naginata and charges towards the crocodile-like metahuman, attempting to thrust the large blade end into the metahuman's torso. However, as soon as the blade made impact, it bent out of shape. Bone turns to him with low growl and an unamused look, "Gonna need a way bigger stick than that, birdbrain." He said as he grabs one of the griffon's legs and slams him in the ground. Repeatedly.

The minotaur rushed over to save his friend, but Bone quickly saw this coming, and throws the griffon at the minotaur, causing both of them to stumble into each other.

Bone then feels something trying to bite down on his left leg. He looks down and sees the snake head of the chimera trying to sink her fangs in to him. Then, without warning, something grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him across the sewage canal. He gets up and sees the full body of the chimera. 

The two looked at each other for a good minute before they both let out a roar and charged at one another. Upon clashing, the two punched, clawed, and bit each other until, Bone jumped back into the water. The chimera quickly followed, when a tail rose up and wrapped the Chimera around the neck of her tiger head, proceeding to slam her around. Bone then starts swimming, dragging the Chimera around with him.

Meanwhile, Somnambula and Fear were clashing blades, trying to one up the other until Fear did a swipe kick at her legs causing her to fall on the ground. With a click from his scythe, the blade raises up, giving it a spear like appearance and starts to bring it down. Somnambula raises her staff in time to block it. But just as she did, however, it was instantly cut in half, much to Somnambula's shock and horror.





Astral Plane


"Wow, this is awesome!" Spike marveled at himself, with Princess Luna standing beside him. "This whole time, I've been able to astral project? And no one's ever told me this?"

"I'm afraid not," Princess Luna shook her head at her bewildered nephew. "There are still many things we have yet uncovered from the mysterious ways of the Dragonfire, dear nephew. No other vessels have ever had the chance to experience a feat, such as this. But I can help you with this task, if you would permit me to," The alicorn said, with a tone of self-doubt at the end.

Not wasting another second, Spike asked, "When do we begin?"

"You've already begun, nephew," Luna chuckled. "Simply by detaching your soul from your body, which you did by means of sleeping, which you are very masterful of."

"Ha ha, very funny."

"It was a compliment, not a joke," The night alicorn said, unamused. "Now that we are both in the astral plane, where our souls exist, we can truly begin our lesson. First, take my wing," She instructed, holding her wing out for the young prince to grasp onto. Spike looked at it for a moment, "Trust me, nephew," Luna said  anxiously.

Spike just shrugs his shoulders, "What have I got to lose?" He asked, grabbing his adopted aunt's wing, before experiencing a sudden rush of momentum, as if both he and his aunts were traveling at the speed of light. It was beyond exhilarating for the young dragon hero.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Spike screamed, as both he and his aunt were rushing through the deepest depths of space, flying past the stars, nebulas, planets, and other known galaxies. "WHOA, IS THIS FOR REAL?!! IS THIS FOR REAL?!!!" The dragon screamed at the top of his lung, finding both himself and Luna in a wormhole of rushing colors.

"You must understand this, nephew," Luna began to lecture, as both she and Spike passed through what appeared to be a black hole. "Our worlds and our universes are each a part of an infinite number of worlds without ends. Some benevolent and life-giving," She lectured as both she and Spike stood above what appeared to be a lush green paradise. "Others filled with malice and hunger." She said, as she showed to Spike world that is filled with desolations, despair, and destructions.

"For more many years, far longer than we can comprehend, there are dark places where powers older than time have laid ravenous, and wait," Suddenly, as if to prove her point, Spike looked to see several red eyes piercing the darkness, before they revealed themselves to be hungry predators, growling, snapping, and viscously barking at both Spike and Luna, eager for a meal.

In response, Luna stamped her hoof firmly on the invisible plane, emitting a loud pulsing wave that knocked the predators back. But they have yet to leave the lion's den, for a large shadow looms above them, glaring down with a pair of mad blazing eyes, laughing menacingly, sending chills up their spines. It wasn't long, until the shadow opens their jaws wide open and clamps it down on both Spike and Princess Luna.

In a flash of light, Spike and Luna reappeared, back in New York City.

"Whoa!" Spike gasped. "My life just flashed before my eyes, literally!"

"Forgive me, nephew," Luna apologized, dipping her head. "I should've warned you about all of that, first."

"Let's try to avoid that mistake in the nearest future, okay?" The young boy suggested, as he struggles to regain balance and focus from the head rush he experienced.

After a moment to collect himself, Princess Luna resumed the lesson as she took Spike through a door of a person's dream. Fluttershy's dream to be precise.

The Bashful Butterfly was dreaming she is a pop star, dressed in a beautiful green sparkling dress, surrounded by animals, singing about how there's more to her than meets the eyes.


So Much More To Me - Fluttershy


From the sidelines, Spike was amazed, "Wow!" He gasped. "She's incredible!"

"Indeed, she is nephew," Luna nodded. "But remember, the astral projection ability isn't to peer in other's dreams. It's purpose is to aid others in their worst nightmares."

Knowing the responsibility, Spike nodded, "Understood Aunt Luna."

It wasn't long, before Luna's horn lit up, sensing distress from another dream, "Oh dear."





When She Loved Me - Sarah McLachlan


Pipsqueak finds himself, alone in a small, lonesome room. This was no ordinary room, however. This is the boy's bedroom, with the colors of life, joy, and other collective emotions deprived from the air and its walls. The short teenager was sitting alone on his bed, surrounded by the silence, where a mother and father's laughter would've been.

The boy looked out the window, to see a large pirate ship flying across the night sky. Reaching his hand out for the ship, much to his dismay, the ship dispersed into tufts of clouds.

"Mother," Pipsqueak whimpered.

"Are thou in need of consultants, dear Pip?" Princess Luna asked, startling the boy.

"AH!!!" Pipsqueak screamed, before he calmed himself. "P-P-Princess Luna?" He stammered.

"Hey Pip!" Spike greeted, making himself known.

"Spike?" The boy inquired. "What are you doing here?"

"Auntie's just giving me a lesson on astral projecting, which involves traveling into everybody's dreams."

"What? Oh! This is all just a dream!" Pipsqueak realized.

"Back to the topic at hoof," Luna began, as she turned to Pip. "Something appears to trouble you, dear Pip. Would you be willing to tell us what it is?"

Pipsqueak was hesitant at first. Looking at Princess Luna, he recalled the time how both he and his friends were all trapped inside of Nightmare Smooze, and back then, Princess Luna as Nightmare Moon, attempted to persuade him to the dark side. Which, he of course, defied.

"Please, no need to fear us, Pip," Luna assured. "We wish to assist you."

Still, Pipsqueak was a bit hesitant, "Come on, Pip. She's on our side now. Remember?" Spike reminded the boy. "Just give her a chance."

Reluctant, Pip complied and sighed, "I just don't know if I have what it takes to join Celaeno's pirate crew."

"What are you talking about?" Spike asked. "I thought you and Celaeno are tight! You two are very close together!"

"We are," The boy replied. "Or at least, I think we are. I'm just not sure what will happen, when we find her missing crew, or after we find her crew, then would she still want me to follow her?" Pipsqueak slumped down in his bed, as he sighed, "After losing mother and father, I just don't want to lose anymore of my family....or another mom."

"I know how that must feel," Spike muttered in sympathy, with Princess Luna looking rather ashamed.

The Princess of the Night was about to say something, when her cutie mark began to flash repeatedly, "Um, auntie?" Spike asked. "What's going on with your cutie mark?"

"Something's wrong!" Princess Luna exclaimed. "Somnambula!"






Wow, what a way to end this year and to start off the new year, 2019?

An encore from Fluttershy, if she'll please.


Because I'm Shy feat. Chi-Chi - Electrokaplosion



> The Dragon and the Changeling
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Leader - Warrior Inside


Somnambula laid there in shock to see her staff, the very thing she held on to since the day Starswirl gave it to her, sliced in half.

As she was reeling from this, Fear uses this to give her the killing blow until he hears something. He turns to see what it is and spots a hoard of monkeys rushing to save their mistress. With an evil smile, Fear brings out a glowing green rock and hurls it at them, unleashing a green mist that turns them all into stone. As he turns back around, he sees Somnambula with a one half of her staff and charging up whatever magic it has left at him, with pure rage in her eyes. With quick reflexes, Fear rushed towards her and used his gauntlet to block the staff.

There was a large explosion that sent Somnambula flying and lands face first on the ground. As she gets up, she sees the other half of the staff and tries to reach for it, only for Fear to grab it and using the ruby in the gauntlet, set it ablaze until it was nothing but ashes. He then heads over to Somnambula and kicks her over where he then slams his foot on her right shoulder. Somnambula grits her teeth in pain as the sharp end of his cleats begin to sink into her.

"What's wrong Somnambula? You relied on that walking stick of yours for so long that forgot how to actually fight?!" Fear said as he starts twisting his foot around a little.

This lit a fire in her, as she grabbed his leg and manages to throw him off, much to his shock. She quickly gets up and starts kicking him which Fear manages to block using his scythe.

Meanwhile, the minotaur gave his griffon friend a small veil of elixer.

"How you feeling Geoff?" The minotaur asked.

"Better Minos." Geoff replied, "I still can't believe my naginata didn't even scratched the bastard."

"He must have a tough hide or something," Minos began, "We need a plan. Fighting him head on doesn't seem to be wor-"

As Minos says that however, Bone Cruncher jumps out of the water and grabs Geoff by the teeth. Bone then starts to sink his teeth into his midsection, bringing great pain to the griffon.

"AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!" Geoff screamed in pain as Bone flails him around.

"Hang on Geoff!" Thinking fast, Minos charges at Bone Cruncher. Slamming into him and causing him to spit Geoff out in the process.

Bone turns towards the minotaur with anger in his eyes, "I'm gonna make hamburgers out ya for that Heffer!" He said, wiping his mouth.

Minos went into a fighting stance and punches Bone multiple times. The metahuman however, doesn't seem fazed by this, much to Minos's horror.

Bone was giving the minotaur a deadpan expression, "Ya done?" With a gulp, Minos nodded, "Good, cause now it's my turn." He said with a smirk. With that, he punches the minotaur right in the gut, causing Minos to puke out the hayburger he had earlier. Bone then whips his tail to Minos's side, Bone then grabs him by the shoulder, headbutts him, steps on his foot, and slams his fist right into Minos's face, breaking off his left horn and sending him flying, landing near his griffon friend.

Geoff crawls over to Minos, unable to move his hindlegs, "M-Minos...?" The griffon called out, but the minotaur was unresponsive. Geoff then sees Bone Cruncher standing over them.

"Mmmm, fresh meat." He said with a lick from his lips. Just then, a gunshot was heard and an ice bullet hits Bone in the mouth, freezing the lower part of his jaw.

Back with Somnambula and Fear, the twisted metahuman has her on the defensive as she was dodging what ever Fear through at her. She attempts to fly around him, but Fear grabs her by the leg and slams her against the wall. Twice. He then throws her on the ground.


Naruto Shippuden - Girei (Pain's Theme Song)


"You were once the Pillar of Hope," Fear began as he circled around her, "You bested sphinxes, Sirens, garudas, and other threats of Equestria. People once looked up to you. Yet look at you now Somnambula, you became a shadow of your former self. You gave into corruption, ruined many lives, nearly flooded an entire world in some insane attempt to get the Dragonfire, I could go on but I think you get the picture."

"You think I don't know that..." Somnambula said through gritted teeth. She then looks up to him, "If your going to kill me Fear, then just shut up and do it."

Fear shrugs at this and then raises his scythe. But as he was about to bring it down, there was a loud explosion and his brother crashes near them.

"Gyah, son of a bitch." Bone growled. 

"Bone what happened? Did Hatshepsut's flunkies did this to you?" Fear asked his brother.

"No," Bone answered as he struggled to get up, "It was him." He pointed at a figure from the large hole Bone went through.

Fear takes a closer look at the figure and instantly recognizes him, "You!" He said with venom.

"Neglected on the contingency we'd meet again, metahuman?" Joe asked, before he snaps his fingers. Fear looks up to see an army of Shadowbolts all around him.

"Now then," Joe began, "Will you come with us quietly now?"

The reaction he and the rest of the Shadowbolts received was not what they expected as Fear began to chuckle darkly.

"Hey!" One of the Shadowbolts yelled, "What's so funny?!"

"Oh nothing. It's just you all walked right into my trap." Fear then brings out what looks like a purple crystal rod, which starts to glow, "Hook. Line. And sinker."

Just then, all the marks on the Shadowbolt's hands began to glow and they all began to feel a burning pain from it. Suddenly, one of the ninjas vanish in a flash of light. Then another and another, until there was a big flash of light that nearly blinded Joe. After regaining his eyesight, he looks around to see that there's no one around but him and Fear.






Chicago, Illinois


A Shadowbolt land right in the middle of the road. She gets up to see where she is until she is nearly ran over by a car.

"Watch where your going you broad!!!" The driver yelled who then gives her the bird.






Venice, Italy


Sly 3 Soundtrack - Venice Theme

A young couple was on one of the Gondoliers, sailing through the Grand Canal. Until there was a flash of light, followed by a scream, and then a splash.

The couple looks around to see what that came, until a young man wearing a strange suit arose up gasping for on the right of their boat. 

"Hey, got room for one more?" He asked. They nodded and helped him get on the boat.






Hollywood, California


In a flash of light, a Shadowbolt appears in what looks like a dressing room. Suddenly, a woman bursts into the room.

"There you are!" She yelled, "We've been looking everywhere for you! Come on, you're on at five."

"Hey wait a minute-" Was all the Shadowbolt could say before he was dragged out of the dressing room.






The Alps


At a lodge, people were enjoying themselves by the fire and drinking some hot cocoa after a long day of skiing. That is until they hear a knock at the door, one of them answers it and it shows a Shadowbolt freezing her butt off.






Disneyworld


"For the last time, I'm not a disney villain." Said a Shadowbolt in an annoyed tone.

"So are you a Marvel or a Star Wars villain then?" Asked one of the kids surrounding her asked. The Shadowbolt facepalms.





Back with Joe and Fear Haunter, the two were staring down at each other until Fear spoke up, "So, here's how this is going to work. Your going to let me and my brother Bone walk out of here. No tracking potions this time either."

"And what makes you think I would agree to such terms." Joe asked.

Fear smiles, "I'm glad you asked." And just as he said that, Bone Cruncher appears, holding Somnambula by the head, "If you don't let us go, my brother will crush her head like a tomato." As if on cue, Bone begins to squeeze Somnambula who in turn screams in pain. 

After a minute, Joe finally relents, "Alright that's enough!" Bone then tosses the pegasus his way.

Fear looks at her, "I was going to kill you but I think that would be a little too generous."

Somnambula weakly looks up to him, "You...won t-this round Fear, but don't think this is over."

"On the contrary my dear, this is only the beginning." Fear said placing a hand on his brother's shoulder and proceeds to turn both of them into smoke. The sounds of their laughter was echoed across the sewer.

Joe helped Somnambula up, "I told you to be-"

"Shut up Joe, I don't even want to hear it right now." She hissed.

"Mistress.." They both turn to see the chimera beaten and bruised. She had a worry look on all three of her faces.

"Carrie? what's wrong?"





"Minos, come on man! Get up! Please..." Geoff yelled, shaking his minotaur friend.

"Geoff?" He heard someone saying his name. He turns to see Somnambula, Carrie and Joe heading his direction.

"Mistress, It's Minos! He's not waking up! He's not breathing!!!!!!" Geoff said frantically, on the verge of tears.

"Let me see." Joe said as he checked the minotaur. After a couple of minutes of checking his vitals, he said, "Good news is he's not dead. Bad news is he will be unless we get him to a hospital, fast."

As Carrie picked Minos up, she noticed Geoff unable to get up, "Geoff are you ok?" She asked.

"I-I don't know, I can't fell my hindlegs." He replied.

She uses her snake head to wrap the griffon around and places him on her back.

As Carrie took her injured comrades away, Joe stood by himself as he disappears into the shadows.

In the meantime, Somnambula sat down on the floor, sulking over her failure. Not only did Fear slipped through their grasp yet again, but her staff is now destroyed, her monkeys are turned to stone, and her squad is probably going to be out of commission for a good while. Sensing a presence, the pegasus sorceress turned her head to see Princess Luna and Spike, both blue and transparent.

“Your highness,” Somnambula frowned. “I’m afraid I have terrible news for you.”





The Next Day At Twilight's Castle


“Are you kidding me?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “All that, and they still haven’t captured Fear and his accomplice?!!”

"Afraid so Rainbow." Spike sighed as he explained everything that happened. Around him are the knights, element bearers, Sunset, Starlight, Celaeno and Capper. All of whom are at Twilight's throne room, "As long as Fear has that rod on him, the Shadowbolts are forced to call off the search."

"Honestly I'm not surprised." Rumble said. This earned him a glare from almost everyone in the room, "What?! We all thought about it, I just said it." 

"However," Spike continued as everyone turned their attention back to him, "At least we do know who his accomplice is now. A crocodile-like metahuman named Bone Cruncher who's also Fear's brother."

"Fear has a brother?!" Featherweight exclaimed.

"Great, now we have two psychopathic freakazoids to look out for." Rainbow grumbled.

"The Demaughra Gauntlet..." Celaeno began, "I've heard many tales of woe about it but I never thought it actually existed."

"Either way, we have to stay on guard." The Dragon Prince said.





Later


Since that awful news that the Shadowbolts have failed to capture Fear, the heroes were on high alert than usual. Twilight, Sunset, together with Starlight, continued to work together on finding some useful spells and magical artifacts that can help them in their next combat, should they ever run into Fear and Bone again.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were pushing themselves pass their limits, sprinting and flying faster than they've ever been before, while sparring vigorously to further sharpen their reflexes. Pinkie Pie continues to be the team's cheerleader, and party-planner, giving her friends and comrades some moments of reliefs. Rarity continues running her businesses, though at the same time, she is just as vigilant as the rest of her friends.

Fluttershy was more than cautious than she usually is. The timid girl wants nothing more than to keep her animals and creatures safe. After the disappearance of her favorite professor, she felt the drive to care for her creatures more than usual. 

Capper has also decide to do his part as well. While he may no longer work for the Vermin Cartel, he still knows some 'certain people', as he puts it, who's been around the block a few times, hoping to know where the brothers might be hiding.

And lastly, Spike and the Knights have all started doing patrols around the city.





Spike was in dragon mode, perched on the rooftops of a building, overlooking all of New York City.

"Yo, Spike? Do you copy?" Button sounded through a mic the dragon was wearing. "Spike? Over."

"I hear ya, Button," Spike replied. "What's up?"

"Look man, I'm sorry to say this, but I gotta go. If mom catches me out of bed again, then she is gonna be on me like 5-Volt on 9-Volt."

"Same here," Rumble sounded. "I have a big game tomorrow. And I need to be at my best."

"Uh, Spike?" Tender began.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Spike sighed. "You're excused as well, Tender. Feather? Pip? What about you guys?"

"Featherweight's already turned in for the night," Pipsqueak replied. "But me and Captain Celaeno will keep up the search. We're combing the Hudson River. If Fear and his brother try to get us, we'll be ready for them."

"Okay then, be careful," Spike replied, before he turned to the other Knights. "The rest of you, take a break."

"Goodnight," The other Knights all said, before they turned their mic off.

Spike was left alone on his perch, feeling confused and unsure of himself, "Uncle Scorpan?" He talked to himself. "What am I going to do? I wish you're still here Unc. Before, when it was just the two of us, you always seem to have an answer or two for me." 

“Hey! Spike!” A voice called, startling the dragon from his brooding.

He turned his head, to see the changeling, Thorax walking up to him.

“Sorry. Did I interrupt you from one of your trance, or something?” The changeling apologized nervously.

“Well, you kinda made my lost my connection from Peewee, so that’s something,” Spike replied. 

“Oh, sorry.” Thorax frowned. “Then I guess I should be out of your hair then.”

“It’s fine. What do you need, Thor? Is there a problem?”

“No actually, I...."The changeling faltered, before he finally relented. "Yeah okay. I’m just....I’m just not feeling like I’ve been much help for you and our friends.”

"What? What are you talking about Thorax?" Spike asked. "You've been a big help. You're our spy. You're the master of disguise."

“That’s all I over do! Disguise this, disguise that, spy on this, spy on that, and I’m hardly ever noticed! You guys even forgot about me a lot of times!”

Spike instantly looked ashamed of himself, at what the changeling had said to him, “Oh. Geez, I’m sorry we made you feel that way, Thor.”

“No, I’m the one who should be sorry. You’ve had a lot on your mind. I should’ve known how stressful it is, being the Dragon Prince and everything.”

"Tell me about it brother," The young dragon sighed, as he patted a spot for the changeling to sit beside him. "So much responsibility, so many bad guys on the loose, and all at once in two worlds." Spike sighed miserably, as he looked up to the night, staring at the stars. "Being a hero, a friend, making up for lost times, and being the perfect son is never easy. I guess I'm still more human than a dragon. Maybe I never should've thrown myself into that lightning bolt."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa let's not get carried away there!" Thorax exclaimed. "If it weren't for you, then your mom would never have survived. You sacrificed yourself just to save her! No son would ever risk that much! And you were only five!"

Losing his hold over his powers, Spike slowly reverted back to his human form, "Five," He reaches up to touch the spot on his head, "And just one hit to live ten years as human. Ten years to leave my friends behind. And ten years...."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I brought this up to you," The changeling apologized, as his wings started to buzz into action. "I guess I should go now."

Turning his attention back at the sulking changeling, Spike suddenly sprang in his direction, "Yo, Thorax! Hold it!" The boy shouted, jumping off the ceiling, and forgetting he wasn't in dragon form. "WHOA!!!"

"WHOA!!!" Reacting fast, Thorax grabbed Spike by the jacket, and hovered him back up to the building. "You're not in dragon mode, remember? You can't fly unless you sprouted wings, or think happy thoughts and levitate yourself."

"Hehe, sorry about that," The young prince chuckled sheepishly, when an idea came to him. “Hey, I know! How would you like to become an official Knight of Equestria?”

“Me? Really?!” Thorax asked excitedly.

“Oh sure. The boys made Terramar a part of the gang. I mean, even Capper’s a Knight! So it’s only fair we included you in the group. So what do you say?”

Thorax stammered, completely at a loss for words, until he manages to find his voice and said, “I’d be honored!“ He smiled. “So, does this mean I get my own Armor of Heroes, like how the Five Guys each have their own piece to represent?”

Spike chuckled, “I don't think that's how it works, Thorax. But I think we'll figure something out.”

"This is so great!" Thorax buzzed happily. "So what's the first thing I should do?"

"Uh, how about you start by kneeling down on one leg?"

"Um, which one, left or right?"

"Either one, it doesn't matter," Thorax complied, as Spike reached into his cape and brandished a sword. "I've never actually done this before, but..." Spike cleared his throat, before he pronounced, "I dub thee, Sir Thorax! Knight of Masquerade!"

"Oh wow, this is so awesome!" The changeling buzzed. "So, what's my first assignment now as a knight?"

"How about you start with assisting me in patrolling the city?" Spike suggested. "There's no rest for evil, and a dragon's job is never done."

"Yes sir!" Thorax saluted.

"And don't call me sir."

"Sorry Spike."

Focusing into his powers again, Spike once more went dragon up as he and Thorax fly around New York City.
> The Spy and her Minty Unicorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was another day at CHS. Spike was at his locker, sorting through some textbooks and notes he'll need to study for an upcoming quiz, from Professor Flintheart.

"Spike! Spike!" Two voices called out, to which Spike looked up to see both Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops running over.

"Oh, hey girls," Spike greeted, as he closed his locker. "What's up? Did you find a lead on Fear, or Bone, or something?"

"No, nothing like that," Sweetie smiled, as she and Lyra exchanged giggles.

"We were just wondering if you would like to hang out with us later this afternoon." Lyra proposed.

"Hang out?" Spike inquired. "Like a friendly get together?"

"Not really," Sweetie giggled. "More like a date."

"A date?!" The two girls giggled as they nodded their head. "Whoa, wait? What kind of date? You mean like a friendly date, or a...." When the girls nodded again, he was nonetheless flabbergasted. "Wh-What?! But I thought....I thought you girls are-"

"We are. But we're also, bisexual," Lyra clarified.

"And we want you to join us tonight." Bon Bon added.

"Well.....um."

"Please?" The girls pleaded.

"Eh, why not?" Spike shrugged.

"YAY!!" Before Spike could react, the two girls linked their arms with his as they dragged him away.

"C'mon! Let's go!" Lyra smiled.





Later the three were walking through a mall, where they did a little window shopping.

“Hey Lyra!” Sweetie Drops pointed to an adorable teddy bear on display. “What do you think? Isn’t he cute?”

“Yeah, he’s cute,” Lyra replied. “But not as cute as this action figure’s hands.”

Sweetie could only roll her eyes in amusement, “Lyra, every human hands looks cute to you.” She said. “Spike? What do you think?” However, there wasn’t an answer. “Spike? Spike? You there?”

The girls looked around for their dragon date, before they finally found him, sitting by the fountain, keeping a lookout for danger.

‘I know you’re out there Fear,’ Spike snarled in his thoughts. ‘You can run, but you can’t hide forever.’

“Spike?” Sweetie called. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” The boy answered. “I just know Fear’s up to something. And he could be around here somewhere, just waiting to pounce.”

“We know,” Lyra said. “But we can’t just keep a lookout for him all day. Besides, you could use a little break. All that stress isn’t good for you Spike.”

Spike was still unsure, “I don’t know.”

“Everything will be okay Spike,” Sweetie reassured. “Whatever happens, we’ll all be there together. You’re not alone in this fight.”

“Sweetie’s right. You’re our friend, just as much as Twilight’s friend. And we’d do the same for you, as you did for us a long time ago.”

Seeing how sincere they all are, and how devoted they are, not just the fight, but to him and all their friends, Spike nodded, “Alright, if you insist. So where to next?”





The three were later at a bookstore, where they were browsing through the books on the shelf.

“Oh yeah! Spider-Man!” Spike exclaimed, holding up a copy of the superhero.

“Wow, beautiful artistry,” Sweetie marveled at the pictures and the details in a manga book she was checking out.

“Oh yeah! The latest issue of Rogue Diamond is out!” Lyra cheered.

“What? Really?!” Sweetie asked, putting the book she was looking back in its shelf, as she and Spike ran over to Lyra’s side.

“Rogue what now?” Spike asked.

Lyra scoffed, “Oh, it’s only one of the bestselling comic, ever!” The minty girl said, before she handed him the first issue. “Check it out! It all started with these two sisters who ruled the kingdom together. But then, this sister got really jealous from all the attention her younger sister was getting. So she went completely insane, flooded the world, and now her son joins a group mercenaries to try and stop her! And they have beautiful hands!”

“Whoa, that’s heavy,” Spike commented.

“I know, right?” Lyra giggled. “And funny thing is, this guy is almost like you! Except, without the stiff Prince Zuko persona.”

“How could you say that?” The two girls could only giggle in response.





Later, the three were at a bowling alley, where Bon Bon scored a strike.

“Whoo-hoo!” Lyra cheered for her girlfriend. “Way to go, Bon Bon!”

Spike was checking the scoreboard, “Wow, you’ve got strong arms, Bon Bon!” He complimented.

“Thanks,” Bon Bon blushed.

“That’s why I love her!” Lyra smiled, as she wraps her arms around her girlfriend’s and nuzzled her cheek lovingly.

“So I see,” Spike nodded. “So how did you girls wind up together is the real question.”

The two lovers giggled with Lyra starting off, “Well, you may not remember. But I used to go to Princess Celestia’s School Of Gifted Ponies and Magical Creatures.”

“I was enrolled in the study of anthropology — the study of human cultures and societies from the past and present, so that I can join in the department of coexisting with humans.”

“Of course, when you came around, she decided to ditch the book and study you up close and personal,” Bon Bon smirked teasingly.

“Bon Bon!” Lyra scolded in embarrassment.

“Anyway, I was just there to take up in General Scorpan’s Martial Arts. As a trainee of the S.M.I.L.E. I needed to be in good shape and battle ready.”

“Yeah, uncle’s always—wait!” Spike did a  double take. “The What now?”

“The S.M.I.L.E—the Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria,” Bon Bon clarified, with Spike nodding in acknowledgment.

“Anyway, long story short, both Bon Bon and I were roommates during our years st your mother’s school, and we got to know each other more, got closer, had lunch together, sat benches together, we did just about everything together, and here we are! Having a date with the same boy together!”

“Hmm, lucky me,” Spike nodded. “So then, remind me again, how did you both get involved with Twilight and the others?”

“Well, not long after you and the general first left Equestria, Twilight and the girls had taken over your role as Equestria’s heroes,” Bon Bon explained. “But they were a little inexperienced with the monsters and crooks they faced. So they needed me and Lyra to give them an insight on who or what we may be dealing with.”

"That, and they needed a human expert like me to teach them the proper method of coexisting in the human world. So unlike Yokai Academy," Lyra giggled. “Oh, which reminds me!” Lyra looked around, seeing they were too out in the open. “But not here. Come on!” With that, the three took their leave as they went to find a more secluded area to discuss.





Spike and the girls found a table where they began to discuss the current situation with Fear Haunter. As they sit down, Bonbon hands Spike a mugshot of Bone Cruncher.

"Holy crap, so that's Fear's brother?" Spike asked in bewilderment.

"Yeah, his twin brother." Lyra said. Spike's eyes widened even further at the picture, "I know, we were stunned too."

"So here's what we got on Bone Cruncher," Bonbon began, "He was once part of a biker gang of metahumans called the Road Gators in New Orleans until they disbanded four years ago due to a police crackdown. Since then, he's entered many underground fight tournaments on both Earth & Equestria, and has won many of them. He's a favorite at one called the Storm Brawl over at Las Vegas. He's wanted in seven states and nine countries, and is on Interpol's most wanted list."

"I see," was all Spike said as he let all this sink in.

"And here's the gauntlet Fear used against Somnambula and her Shadowbolts." Lyra said as she shows him a drawing of the Demaughra Gauntlet.

Spike looks at the gauntlet for a good minute, "So that's the Demaughra Gauntlet..."

"Yeah, legends say it was made by a goat named Grogar," Lyra began, "Can't get much on him aside from that he was a necromancer and was around before princess Celestia and Luna were even born. The jewel at the center is called the Eye of Tambelon. Legend says that it can absorb any form of magic, even dark and chaos magic. The gauntlet is also made of pure Sinium."

"Sinium?" Spike asked.

"It's a mysterious anti-magic alloy that's found on neither Equestria or Earth. It also goes by another name – sin metal," Bonbon explained. "Where it comes we don't know, but here's what we do know. It's not as strong as titanium, but it's very useful against magic. Any armor or shield made from it can withstand most forms of magic and weapons craft from it can tear down magically enhanced one, swords, axes, spears, and even bullets."

"Yikes," Spike said, "So where did Fear get this thing?"

Both girls sighed, "We don't know. From what Somnambula told us, he got it from a benefactor. Who that is, we have no clue." Lyra said, dejected.

“I see,” He looked up at the girls again and held their hands. “Well, at least we’re making progress.”





Later, the three were on their way out of the mall, when Spike senses something was wrong.

“Spike?” Lyra asked. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Spike’s nose twitched as he sniffs the air, “Something’s wrong. I’m getting the feeling we’re being....” His pupils shrunk to reptilians slits, and his ears perked up in alarm. "Get down!" He shouted, grabbing both girls and they hit the deck as a ninja star zipped through the air, and struck a column.


C&C Generals - China Battle Theme 1


Many pedestrians took notice, before they looked and saw a whole gang of people dressed in dark body armor and helmets concealing their identities, carrying firearms and all sorts of deadly weapons, all directing their eyes on Spike and the two girls. With that, the people quickly ran off, not wanting to get involved.

The three teens quickly got up and stood, back-to-back, while getting ready for anything.

Bon Bon took a closer look at an insignia on each of the thug's suits – two flaming swords clashing. One sword is a katana while the other is a jian.

"It's the Yellow Blade!" Bon Bon gasped.

"Who?" Spike asked.

It wasn't long before Spike saw a tall figure, standing among the crowd, bearing the same insignia. The most distinguishing part, however, is that he wears an eyepatch over where his left eye used to be. Spike's memories quickly flashed, as he recalls the fight he once had in an alleyway, when he saved Sour Sweet after their date.

'Oh, you again!' He growled mentally.

With an angry snarl, the large Abyssinian cat raised his large hammer and lets out an earsplitting yowl, to which his men all sprang into action.

One of the thugs made the first move, lunging towards Spike with a katana raised. Just as the thug swung his sword down on the young dragon, the boy quickly steps to the side, evading the blade's downward swing, before he lunged in, without grabbing the sword, raising his outer hand to chop the thug's hands holding the hilt, breaking their grip, as he linked his arm around the thug's wrist, grabbing the end of the handle, and thrusted his other hand forward at the thug's helmet, shoving them down and off their feet, taking their sword away.



Mūto Dori technique of the Yagyu Clan.



With the sword in hand, Spike clashes blades with the other thugs who were coming in him from different directions, thrusting their own katanas at him, swinging bo staffs, and Qiang(Chinese spears).

In the meantime, Lyra and Bon Bon both watched the fighting going on from a distant, when more of the surrounding thugs started coming after them. Reacting fast, Bon Bon reaches into her coat and pulled out a gun, firing several bullets that bounced off the thug's armors.

Not having any other options, Lyra concentrated her magic into her hands, with her cutie mark appearing on her forehead. Then, with a flick of her hands, Lyra sent bolts of magic flying at the thugs, with some who were quick to evade the bolts, while a few were blown off their feet. One of the thugs hurled a chained ball, lassoing Bon Bon, and prepared to lunge towards the girl with a scythe at the ready.

"Bon Bon!" Lyra cried, hurling a magic wave, slicing the chain, freeing her lover, and blasting the thug away.

Still, the thugs kept on coming, swinging their weapons at the three teens. Spike had taken a nunchuck from one of the thugs and caught his opponent's wrist when they lunged forward with a punch, when he heard another thug throwing their spear at him from behind. Reacting fast, Spike used the nunchucks to pull his opponent, swinging them to collide with the spear, knocking it off course, and throwing the thug into his comrade.

With a snort, he discarded the nunchucks away, as he did a 540° kick and broke a helmet's glass visor, fracturing it to pieces, on another thug.

Spike began to back up, giving himself some distance from the thug, bumping into Bon Bon and Lyra.

"Watch it!" The teens said to each other. "Look out!" The three said, throwing fists at the attackers, coming at each other's backs, landing kicks, while ducking, dodging each other's strikes. “Watch out!” The three said simultaneously, before they all punched the thugs that were behind each other.

"Hey! This is kinda fun," Spike chuckled. "Shall we dance ladies?"

Bon Bon and Lyra couldn't help but let out schoolgirl giggles, "We shall."

With that, Spike and Bon Bon both held hands, as Spike swings Bon Bon at a thug, and she throws a flurry of kicks at them, before she repeated the same maneuver, and he swings a spinning hook kick at an incoming thug. The two then spun each other around to throw side punches at two thugs from both sides, before Spike swings Bon Bon's arm over her head, and Lyra cuts in, throwing another wave of magic. Holding each other's hands, Spike and Lyra swung each other forward, throwing kicks at some incoming thugs.

"Wow, you have wonderful hands!" Lyra smiled flirtatiously.

"Thanks," Spike replied, kicking another thug. "You and Bon Bon danced beautifully. Y'know that?" Both girls blushed and giggle happily at the compliment.

Displeased to see his forces were losing, the huge Abyssinian joined the fray.

After taking out all of the thugs, the trio turns their attention to the big cat, who in turn gives them a low growl. He raises his hammer which cackles with white lighting. With a swirl, he summons a small electric tornado at Spike.

Spike sees it and dodges out of the way of it, but the tornado instantly turns back around, spinning towards him, much to the Dragon Princes' shock.

Bonbon's eyes widen at this, 'That's hollow magic!' She thought to herself.

Before she could think any further, a bolt of lightning was shot towards her, which Lyra pushed her out of the way.

"You okay Bon?" Lyra asked.

"I'm fine. But Lyra, do you realize what kind of magic that Abyssinian is using?"

Realizing how serious the situation has become, Spike concentrated into his own magic and conjured flaming javelins, hurling them towards the big cat, who quickly blocked the fiery spears with a quick spin of his hammer, creating crackles of energy and fiery blasts upon collisions. After the blasts were cleared, the Abyssinian looked up to see Spike had changed into his dragon form, lunging towards him with a huge fireball in his claws. The dragon slammed the fireball on the cat, before he threw rapid punches, a roundhouse kick, axe kick, even an impressive 540° kick, all of which did little effect.

In retaliation, faster than lightning, literally, the Abyssinian swings his hammer at Spike, landing an explosive strike so powerful, he knocked the young dragon into the air, before he suddenly reappeared in a flash of light and swings his hammer, sending Spike plummeting into the ground.

With a burst of fire, Spike emerged from the rubbles, with a few burns, "Okay. This guy is really tough, even with just one eye," The dragon panted.

With another crack of thunder, the big Abyssinian appeared on the Dragon Prince's level, before with a kick of his legs, he became a blur of electrical surge, swinging his hammer. Reacting fast, Spike quickly conjured his fire katanas, crossing them together to bar the Abyssinian's hammer, struggling to exert a firm grip on the ground with his feet as he is forced back.

At the last moment, Spike quickly rolled on his back, thrusting his feet into the cat's stomach and threw him off. The huge Abyssinian went rolling across the ground, before he spun himself back up and growled menacingly. Spike quickly spread his wings, and took to the air. With a swing of his hammer, the Abyssinian conjured another electrified tornado, which Spike tried to counter with a burst of his green fire breath. But the wind from the vortex was too strong, as it scatters the dragon's flame, before it delivers another electric shock.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Spike screamed, as the electricity burned him inside and out. The electric pulse was so intense, his whole life and memories were racing faster than the beat of his heart.

"Hi-yah!!!" Lyra and Bon Bon both screamed, with Bon Bon hurling a flashing grenade at the Abyssinian, with Lyra delivering a strong magic bolt that knocked the cat away.

"Spike? Are you okay?" Lyra asked the young dragon, who reverted back to his human form.

"I think so," He replied, before his ears perked up in alarm again. "Look out!"

Gun shots filled the air, when one of the thugs from before opened fire on the teens, who quickly took off running. More thugs all pulled out their guns and opened fire on the three teens. Spike and the girls all turned a corner, where Spike tripped and crashed into the girls, and they were both sliding down the stairs.

When the three reached the bottom, it didn’t take long for them to take notice of the awkward position they were all in.

Lyra was on top, Bon Bon was on the bottom, with Spike sandwiched in between. To be precise, his head was smothered in Lyra’s breasts, and in Bon Bon’s legs. Obviously embarrassed, the three quickly composed themselves and helped each other up.

Concentrating her magic, Lyra’s cutie mark appeared on her forehead, before both she, Bon Bon, and Spike disappeared in a flash of light.

The huge Abyssinian just woke up, and he was furious to see his preys have escaped from him.





Spike was later at Lyra and Bon Bon's shared apartment, where the girls applied some topical ointments for the boy's burns.

"Ooh, that's smarts," He winced.

"You should be lucky you're still alive, Spike," Lyra said. "Hollow magic is really serious stuff. No one's ever fought off a user who specializes in such magic and lived."

"Still, you did put up a good fight," Bon Bon complimented.

"That doesn't exactly make me feel any better."

Both Lyra and Bon Bon looked at each other for a moment, and exchanged nods, "Then would this help?" The two girls gave Spike a quick double cheek kiss, before they both kissed him on the lips.

"Well, Spike? Does it?" Bon Bon giggled.

Initially stunned, with his face burning red, Spike finally snapped out of his daze to stammer, "Uh-uh, y-yeah. I mean, just a little."

"Aw, come on, Spike," Lyra smiled. "So you lost. But you're still alive. And you know what they say: He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day."

"Besides, you'll get him next time," Bon Bon added. "Because by then, we'll not only be ready for Fear, or Bone, but anymore tricks evildoers will throw at us. So until then, you're stuck with us," With another flirtatious smirk, both Bon Bon and Lyra proceeded to make out with the boy, furthering his heat.
> A Cousin Consultant
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A dark cloud looms over New York. Several weeks have passed, and still no sign of Fear Haunter, or his brother, Bone Cruncher.

Spike was on the rooftop of his apartment, having recovered from his recent battle with an Abyssinian thug, who attacked him on his recent outing, with Lyra and Bon Bon.

The young dragon was feeding Peewee a handful of chocolate chips, who was happily munching on them, while enjoying a loving stroke from the boy. Then, with a thrust of his arm, Spike hurled Peewee into the air, where the fiery bird flaps his wings and took flight, disappearing into the sky, just as the first shower of snow fell from the sky.

Walking over to a wall, he slumps down against it, Spike takes out a piece of paper and reads to himself what he had written:

Dear Uncle Scorpan,


I need to do something, and I don't know if I can do it. I'm scared. I feel like I'm letting everybody down. I need some advice. I know you told me to trust in my friends, but I'm always coming back to you for guidance. I just wish you were here right now.



Your nephew,
Spike Draco


Just as he was about to breathe his fire and work his magic, the young dragon's ears perked up to the sound of wingbeats, beckoning him to turn around to see that it is a familiar pink alicorn, with mane and tail of moderate rose, violet, and pale gold streaks, and wings that have purple tips.

"Hello Spike," The alicorn greeted, before she was bathed in cornflower blue light and stood before him in human form.

"Principal Cadence?" Spike exclaimed. "What are–"

"Now is that anyway to greet a cousin?" Cadence asked, with a bemused grin on her face. "There's no need for formalities, Spike. We're family, after all."

“I.....Sorry, Principal Cadence,” Spike apologized, before stammering, "I mean, Princess Cadence. I mean, Cadence," With a blush and a groan, the young boy pinched his temple. "It’s still gonna take some getting use to. Like the fact that you’re, well, my cousin...by adoption?”

Cadence could only chuckle in amusement, as she walked up to where Spike was sitting, "Mind if I sit here?" She asked, gesturing to a spot next to him.

"Not at all," Spike replied, beckoning her to sit down.

The two cousins both cast their gaze across the scenery of New York, watching the sun set over the horizon, illuminating the sky in a hue of pink and blue, while reflecting its lights off the snowflakes' crystal sparkles.

"You must really like to come up here and watch the sunset, don't you?" Cadence asked. "I'd often catch you on the rooftops to watch the sun go down."

"Really?" Spike asked. "I haven't noticed."

The young woman couldn't help but giggle, "Old habits die hard, don't they?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Before you and General Scorpan had to retreat to New York City, often times, me and Auntie Celestia would find you at the top of the biggest mountains you can find, watching as the sun goes down," Cadence smiled in nostalgia. "And once auntie lowers the sun completely out of sight, that's when you dragon up and you fly the night away – without any wings and all. You were such a sight to behold!" The young woman giggled, while Spike scratched his chin and pondered.

"Hmm, how time flies," He mused, just for a moment, before he resumes his brooding.

Picking up on his uneasiness, Cadence frowned in concern, "Hey, Spike?" She began. "You feeling alright? Lyra and Bon Bon have told us about what happened, and..."

"I'm okay," Spike replied. "I mean, still feel a little sore, here and there, but I'm okay," The boy replied, while giving his arm a few punching gestures for emphasis.

Cadence puts a hand over her chest and lets out a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness," She smiled, before looking sternly at Spike. "But still, you need to be more careful Spike. You shouldn't take your powers too lightly, and never underestimate your opponents."

"I know, I know," The young prince nodded in reply. "Uncle was always telling me the same thing when I was little, growing up." At the mention of the wise and caring gargoyle, Spike looked down at his letter again and frowned, "Wonder what his trip was that's so important? I'm kind of needing his advice right now."

Scooting herself closer, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder, Cadence said, "Spike. I don't know where General Scorpan could be, or what business he has. But you know, you can always tell to me what's been bothering you. After all, we're family, aren't we?"

Spike turned his attention to Cadence, looking at her comforting smile of reassurance. And for a brief moment, he experienced a sudden flashback as he sees Cadence, as a young alicorn filly, with a light blue bow that tied her mane into a ponytail, smiling at him. Though the memory was faint, a familiar heartwarming feeling reignited within him.

"What's the matter?" Spike snapped out of his daze, when Cadence called him back to reality. "You looked a little....lost. Like you've seen a ghost."

"Uh, sorry." Spike shook his head. "I was....I was just remembering....about how you were so....nice." Looking back up at the woman, Spike waved his head, stammering, "Don't get me wrong, Cadence. You're still nice right now. I mean, you were still nice, I mean...what I meant was-"

The young boy was interrupted by the silvery peals of laughter from Cadence, "It's alright, Spike. I know what you mean." She chuckled.

"Eh hehe. Still, that's all I could remember," He frowned. "You were just so nice, so caring, and most of all, beautiful. Though, I mostly remembered how close you were with Twilight. Which shouldn't be a surprise, since Twilight's been going on and on about how you were her favorite foalsitter."

Cadence couldn't help but giggle, "Well, she's my favorite little foal to sit." The woman chuckled, before looking down at Spike, "But you know Spike. I have done some sittings with you, just as much as I did with Twilight."

"Really?"

"Sure. Whenever auntie Celestia was too busy to look after you, or teach you some more about your powers, or even when General Scorpan had to tend his duties with the royal army than to train you, you and I would often play some games together, or even pull some of pranks on Vlad Blueblood. Remember the hedgehog?" Cadence burst out laughing at the memory.

"What hedgehog?" Spike asked.





After Cadence relayed the whole story, "Did I do that?" Spike asked, while failing to hold his laugh in.

"I'd say the hedgehog did the whole thing," Cadence laughed. "You could even say it had quite an attitude." The two adopted cousins both shared laughs with each other for awhile, before Cadence sighed, "Just look at us. We're both a pair of sentimental individuals, aren't we?"

"Well at this point, I'm not surprised," The young dragon smiled, before it turned sad. "I'm sorry with how things were when I left Equestria." He apologized. "I'm also sorry with how much responsibilities was passed onto Twilight and the girls. I'm sorry I couldn't have just remembered sooner."

"We're not blaming you for anything, Spike," Cadence began. "I know it's hard for you to take all of this in," The young woman then wraps her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close to her chest for a loving hug as she continues, "Don't forget, we're all in this together, no matter what. You don't even have to be afraid to ask us for help. We're with you all the way."

Feeling the love and warmth from his cousin washing over him, Spike held his hand over Cadence, and held it tightly, “Thanks cousin,” Spike smiled, hugging his favorite adopted cousin.

“Anytime Spike,” Cadence smiled, returning the gesture.

"So Cadence. Cousin to cousin," Spike smiled mischievously. "When are you and Shining Armor going to tie the knot?"
> Evil Lives Here Part 1: Broken Bridges
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peewee was flying over the lower Hudson River, seeing if he could find Bone Cruncher there. So far he's been unsuccessful as he only found seals, crabs, and a whale or two occasionally. He was about to head back to Spike when he saw a large reptilian like figure darting towards one of the large open pipes.

Peewee thinks he found his target but he had to be sure. He flew down lower to the area to get a better look. But as soon as he did that however, a large hand suddenly reached out from the water and grabbed him. Peewee was then pulled into the water where he's face to face with a sneering Bone Cruncher. Thinking fast, Bone slapped an inhibitor collar around the blazing bird's neck and swam into the pipe entrance with Peewee, gasping for air, in hand.






Elsewhere...


Sour Sweet has been patrolling the streets, looking out for any danger, especially Fear Haunter and Bone Cruncher. She and the other Crystal Prep Shadows were under strict orders, if they were to catch sight with either of these metahumans, they were told not to engage but to report it to either Spike or Twilight immediately. These orders came from Princess Luna herself who has been searching the Shadowbolts who got scattered, most of whom were found.

Somnambula has been quiet ever since her crushing defeat at Fear's hands. She's been coup'd up at her quarters as of late and rarely comes out.

Most of her squadmates are in critical conditions at the moment. Minos is currently in a coma, he has suffered massive hemorrhage in the head and it took nearly a gallon of elixir to stop the bleeding. Geoff has been bound to a wheelchair as he is unable move his hindlegs, it is unknown at the moment if he'll ever walk again. Carrie was the lucky one as she only received cuts and bruises.

Sour sighed, "Could things get any worse?" As if fate was farting in her direction, a bucket of red paint suddenly fell on her head.

"Oh my gosh!" She heard someone call out from above. It was a woman's voice and one Sour somewhat recognizes, "I am so sorry!" The woman said as she was coming down the ladder. The woman in question looks a few years older than Sour, with light magenta hair and green eyes.

The woman helped take the bucket off of her head, allowing Sour to see clearly who it is, "MATILDA!" Her pupils shrunk to pinpricks.

"Sour!" The woman, now known as Matilda, gasped. "Uh, are you okay?"

"Do I LOOK okay to you?" Sour frowned.

"Uh....well, I'll admit, you do look like a mess."

Looking down at herself, Sour could see she was covered from head to toe in red paints, looking at her reflection in a nearby store's windows to see she looked like Carrie White from Stephen King's novel, Carrie.

"Ha, yeah, you're right," Sour chuckled at first, before she snarled, "So is this your new gig? Spilling bucket of paint on me?!"

"What? No, it's not like that!" Matilda waved her hands. "I'm done with all that!"

"You sure? Because to me, you haven't changed a bit!"

"No, really! It was an accident! I'm legit this time!"

"That's what all of you would say," Sour growled. "But I know what you think! And let me tell you! I'm not dirt! I. AM. NOT. DIRT!!!" Matilda backed away in fright, tripping and fell to the ground, as Sour towered above her.

Sour Sweet raised her hand up, ready for a strike. But upon seeing how frightened Matilda look, she hesitated, before at last, she took off running.






Central Park


Spike was sitting at the base of a tree, watching the last leaves of autumn falling off their perches from the branches, and still a few people playing together with their friends and family.

A little boy was playing a quick game of football with an old man, who happens to be his grandfather, "I'm sure glad I got to spend the fall with you grandpa!" A young boy smiled.

The young Dragon Prince looked to his right to see some other kids running across the park to fly a kite, with the winds blowing in their favor.

"Look mama!" A little girl exclaimed, presenting a flower she had picked. "I got this beautiful flower just for you!"

"Aw, that's sweet of you!" The mother smiled, before both she and her daughter embraced.

The sight of all these family bonding brought nostalgia to the dragon, as he recalls a few memories of his childhood, when it was just him and the ponies, and their friends, and how they were all growing up, making memories together, and so much in love. Well, the girls at least. Seeing the beauty of happiness, Spike knows that all it takes is a little touch of evil, such as Fear or Bone to ruin it all. And he swore he'd do anything to prevent that from happening.

Eventually, the boy's brooding was interrupted, when his nose twitched to the familiar scent of sour and sweet, and his ears perked up to the sound of leaves crouching loudly towards him.

“Hi Spike,” Sour Sweet greeted.

"Sour Sweet?" Spike asked, before he looked at her up and down. "What happened to you? Got in a fight? Was it Fear or Bone again?"

"No, nothing like that," The girl sighed. “Can I sit here?”

“Sure, we were just about to leave anyway,” The boy replied when he got up and took his leave.

“Oh? Where to? And 'we?'”

"Yeah," A voice spoke up, revealing itself to be Thorax, when he appeared from the tree. "I've been with him the whole time."

"Oh, hi Thorax," Sour greeted the changeling.

"Hey Sour. We're just going to Mario's Pizzeria. Wanna join us?"

"I am a little hungry. So might as well get a spaghetti while I’m there.”

“Suit yourself.” With that, Sour Sweet followed Spike and Thorax, who quickly changed into a little bug, back to the Italian restaurant.

On the way, Sour decided to strike up conversation, “Listen Spike, I’m very sorry with the way I was with you before...”

“Forgive me for not being helpful enough to save you or your dignity then,” Spike interrupted.

“No, wait. I’m apologizing.”

“Apologize? Why would you need to apologize? I am still a dragon you know. And a boy. A sneaky, cunning perverted boy in your book.”

“I didn’t mean all that. I was just so angry, I—“

“No excuse.”

“But Spike. Just hear me out, I—“

“We’re not going to have this talk right now, ok?!” Spike shouted, startling Sour Sweet who was taken aback by his outburst, as well as the frightening appearance of his face shifting into some near draconic features. “We’ve got a bigger problem right now! And I don’t have the time or the patience to deal with anymore of your bipolar grievances right now! So why don’t you just do us a favor and go away? Find yourself another chump to take your troubles out on? Or...ARGH, I’m starting to sound like Ember right now.”

Tears trickled down Sour’s cheek, as she reached out for the dragon, “I’m sorry, Spike. I really am.”

“Well, sorry doesn’t actually help with catching Fright. If you want to help, how about you make like a tree and leave, before you blow up again?”

No words can describe the overwhelming sadness that pierced the girl’s heart, as the pipes broke and she walked the other way.

Thorax was overly appalled, “Spike, aren’t you being a little too hard on her? She’s really sorry.” Thorax asked.

“Not now, okay Thorax?” Spike said not wanting to talk about it.

"What do you mean 'not now'? Can't you see she's hurting?!"

"I SAID NOT NOW!!!" Spike yelled.

"NO! THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED!!!" Thorax yelled back, finally having enough of Spike's attitude, "LATELY YOU'VE BEEN A TOTAL JACKASS TOWARDS HER!!! IT'S CLEAR SHE WANTS TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT SHE DID AND HOW DO YOU THANK HER??? BY SPITTING HER IN THE FACE!!!!!!!!"

Spike was taken aback by his words, "T-Thor she tried to kill me..."

"So did Bloodshot. So did those penguins at the Frozen North. So did your aunt. And so did those other crystal prep girls." Thorax retorted. "And you gave them all another chance. So why is it so hard for you to give Sour one?"

”Hey! I did gave her one! But when we went out to get to know one another, she just lashed out and made it clear she’s still not used to the issue that I’m a dragon. You weren’t there when it happened, Thorax. You didn’t see how she accused me for a pervert, or staging some events to humiliate her, when she should’ve known better.”

“And what you’re doing to her now. How is it any better? Is this what you really wanted her to see you for? A cold hearted unforgiving dragon?”

“I’m unforgiving?! What—“ Spike shook his head in frustration. “I don’t need this conversation! We’ve got work to do! And if you don’t like it, you can just buzz off, or whatever!”

Thorax was appalled at what Spike just said, "Well fine! Have it your way, your "majesty"! I'm done!” The changeling said with absolute disgust. "I might as well be talking to a brick wall at this point. Good luck with your search." Just as said that, he turns into his changeling form and took off.

“Finally, something we can agree on,” Spike muttered to himself. But even as he said this, a pang of regret shot up in chest, and Spike’s walk came to a slow pace as he begins to have second thoughts on his earlier attitude.

"Thor wait!" Spike called out but it was too late, Thorax was already gone.






Somewhere in Bakers Street


Sour was walking down the streets, even more distraught. Everyone around her were all staring at the vast amount of paints that stained her from head to toe; they all turned to exchange whispers and gossips, commenting at the mess she was in.

But it doesn’t matter anymore for Sour. Her heart was too crushed for her to feel the will to fight anymore.

She had just arrived in a neighborhood, and was walking down the block, where trouble was waiting for her.

"Poor little thing." Said a voice.

"Who said that!" Sour demanded. She looked around to see who it was but doesn't see anyone. She sighs, "I'm probably hearing things."


Phantom of the Opera · Jonathan Young


As she turns to her front however, She sees Fear Haunter standing right in front of her, giving her a casual smile.

"Hello there." He said.

Sour brings out a kunai and tries to stab him with it but Fear grabs her wrist before she has the chance. He then twists it, causing her to grit her teeth in pain and drop the kunai.

"Look at you, what a sad, pathetic, little-" He was cut off when Sour headbutted him, causing him to let go of her.

Seeing Fear stammering, Sour brings out another kunai to try again. But just as she was about to do so, she suddenly starts to shake and starts to feel things like dread, fright, and anxiety. All these new found feelings were starting to flow through her and she collapses on her knees as a result.

Sour looks up to see that Fear had regained his composure and starts to snicker.

"Y-You s-s-son of a b-b-bitch!!!" She yelled, trying to keep herself together, "W-What d-did you d-d-do to me!!!!!!!!!"

"I used my powers to turn you into a blubbering wreck, it's simple really." Fear explained, Sour glares at him. "Oh don't worry, I'm not going to kill you... yet. I'm setting up a little game for the dragon freak and his merry band of whores and idiots you see, and your going to be a big part of it." Just then, a shuriken comes flying towards Fear but he manages to catch it and crush it. He turns to see the other crystal prep shadows with their weapons ready, "Well if it isn't the rest of the dragon's ninja cheerleading squad."

"We're only gonna say this once freak. Step away from our friend." Sugarcoat warned.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Fear said, "I have plans for your friend here, so if you four would kindly piss off, that would be great."

"We warned you!" Indigo yelled as she charged towards him.

Fear was unfazed by this, he just smiles and brings out the crystal rod. Within seconds, Indigo's mark on her wrist starts glowing and clutches it pain. The girls looked on with horror as a purple glow began to cover her, first starting with her mark and spreading to the rest of her body. Indigo lets out a scream until there was a big flash of light and then she was gone.

"Indy...." Sour said weakly.

"Oh my god...." Sunny Flare muttered

"You monster!!!" Lemon yelled, "Where did you send her?!?!"

"Why don't you find out?" Fear said with a grin as he points the crystal towards them. They went through the same process Indigo did and with a flash, they were gone.

After that Bone appeared, "You know we could have used them as well." He said.

Fear just shrugged, "We only need the crazy one. The others would have been dead weight. Now then, lets get going, we got what we came for and it's time to make the final preparations."

Bone nodded at this. He then walks over to Sour, "Get your ass up." He growled as he grabs her arm and forces her up.

"Girls." Was all Sour said as she was carried away.






Meanwhile


Spike was sitting on a park bench after his falling out with Thorax, taking in of what he just said, "How did it came to this?" He asked himself, "How did I became the bad guy in this situation?" Just then, his phone rang. He looks to see who it is and is surprised to see that it's Sunny Flare, so he answers it, "Hello?"

"Spike, Fear has Sour!" Sunny yelled through her phone.

"What?!?! How did this happen?! Wait a minute, where are you girls right now?" He asked.

"We're in Kansas." Sugarcoat answered, Sunny put her phone on speaker apparently.

"What are-"

"Fear brought us here with his crystal thingy genius."

"Right..." Spike said, "So...back to Fear having Sour? Do you know where he took her?"

"No we don't." Sunny glumly answered.

"But we did catch them in Bakers st," Indigo explained, "Maybe you could head over there and use that dragon nose of yours to get some clues."

"Alright, I'll head over there. Are you girls gonna be okay?" Spike asked.

"Despite Lemon getting her legs stuck in a pit, we'll be fine." Sugarcoat answered.

"Just focus on saving Sour okay?" Sunny said, "I know you two haven't been on the best of terms lately but if anyone could save her, it's you."

Spike thought about it for a moment, thinking back the words Thorax said to him. he then lets out a long sigh and says, "Alright, just leave it to me."

"Thanks Spike. We're counting on you." Sunny said as she hang up.

Just as Spike was about to head off to Bakers Street, his phone went off once again. When he saw who was, it was a private number so he doesn't know who it is. Hesitant at first, Spike finally answered the phone, "Hello?"


Saw Theme Song- Hello Zepp


"Hello, 'Dragon Prince'."

"Fear!!!" Spike yelled, "What did you do to Sour?!"

"Oh, why would you care?" Fear scoffed, "With the way you've been treating her lately and all. I'm actually a littlesurprised you asked."

"Answer. The. Question." Spike growled.

"Relax, she's fine. For now." Fear answered.

"What are you playing at now Fear?" Spike demanded, he could here Fear's dark chuckles.

"I'm giving you a chance save one of your girlfriends." Fear said. "You can bring as many of your cheerleaders and idiot friends as you like. You will soon see that no matter the number, no matter the odds you have in your favor, it won't do you nothing to stop the inevitable. When the dawn comes, when New York lies in ruin and we'll perpetuate our presence on the face of the Magical Realm and the worlds beyond, the legend of the Dragonfire will be worth nothing at all."

"Who's this "we" Fear?" Spike asked. "I know your not just talking about you and your brother."

"Oh, but that's just it my poor, naive firebreather," Fear said, "That's something for me to know and for you to find out!"

"Why are you doing all of this?" Spike glowered. "To me? To the people? Everyone? What's there to be gained?"

"I have waited for this night. Yearned for it. When I'm finished, the world will be forever changed. And your downfall will be proof of that. I will prove to the worlds that your allies cannot help you tonight. I will be the end of you all."

"Sounds like to me you need to get a hobby. But if it means saving Sour, I'll take on whatever challenge you have."

Fear could only scoff and chuckled, "You can't be the big hero forever, dragon freak. Fear makes you predictable. I am in complete control."

"We'll see about that. Where is Sour?"

"Oh don't worry, she safe here, with us." Fear answered. "As a matter of fact, why don't your little turkey show you. Bone, remove the collar."

"Wait, what!-" Just then, Spike's eyes glowed green and he could see a dark room through Peewee's eyes, who in turn seems to be strap to a table and is trying to get out. On the left, he sees Bone holding a small inhibitor collar while waving with a grin. And on the right, he sees Sour tied to a chair with Fear standing next to her, still holding the phone. Spike also notices that Sour was trembling with tears running down her face. Just then, Fear approaches Peewee, brings out a black bowie knife, and stabs the phoenix right in the chest with it. "NO! PEEWEE!!!" Spike yelled with his vision returning to normal, "YOU SONUVABITCH!!!!!!!"

"I just don't wanna make things too easy for you." Fear said, "So if you truly do care for this bipolar brat, Your more than welcome to try and rescue her. I'll even forward the address to you. Also, I do have a very important piece of advice for you: Don't. Be. Reckless." He finished as he hanged up.

Spike was shocked at what he just wittnesed until his phone buzzed. Snapping out of his stupor, he looks to see the address on the phone.

Spike then decided to make a few phone calls. He calls Twilight first and when she answered, he says,"Twi, your not gonna believe what just happened..."





Meanwhile in a dimly let mansion, Fear was walking to the center of the main lobby of the place. He was carrying a cage with a lifeless Peewee inside it, the bowie knife still in his chest.

He places the cage on a pedestal and turns to take his leave. With an evil smile, he says, "Let the games begins..." He then lets out a cruel laugh as the walls begin to shift.
> Evil Lives Here Part 2: Conquering Fear
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Three Years Ago


Sometimes, in the past, when Spike was in his preteen years, the boy was experiencing his first hit of puberty, as a human. During this time, the young boy would often get into a lot of troubles, much to the ire and stress of his uncle Scorpan, who was still working with the NYPD, at the time.

"Spike," Scorpan scolded sternly. "This is the third time, this week, I've been called down to your school, regarding your behavior! This is not like you!"

"With all due respect, uncle," Spike spatted in a snarky and disrespectful tone. "Those bullies had it coming. They were beating the stuffings out of my Guys. What was I supposed to do? Not fight?"

"It's not about when you fight," Scorpan scolded, disapprovingly. “It’s about how you fight! So until you figured that out, you are grounded for a week! That means no hanging out with your friends! No video games, no comics, no TV! No—“

“No fair!” Spike spatted back.

“Don’t take that tone with me, young man!” Scorpan scolded. “As your legal guardian, you’re to do what I say what is best for you!”

“Why does it matter to you anyway?” Young Spike barked angrily. “You’re not my dad! Or even my mom! Not like she would care anyway if she left me with you!”

Scorpan recoiled back in shock at Spike’s comeback. Nevertheless, he regained his composure, but more bitterly.

“Well, if that’s how it is…then…go to your room!” Scorpan pointed. “And meditate on your actions. You will not leave, except for supper!”

“Fine! I will!”

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

“FINE!”





Present


"So...this is the place." Spike said as he stared at a four-story mansion. It was located on the outskirts of the city. It was also near a beach. The manor looked nice and neat, as if someone has been taking care of it and he had a very good idea who. What really set him on edge is that it looked eerily similar to the one in Ponyville.

Spike had been waiting anxiously at the mansion that Fear Haunter had instructed for him to be, along with his friends, the Equestria Girls, and the Knights. After what felt like hours, the heroes at last were assembled.

"Yo, Spike! We got your message," Rumble said. "So what're we looking at now?"

"Another trap, and another of Fear Haunter's game, that's what," Spike answered. "He's got Sour Sweet in there, and we gotta save her, for her team, the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts."

"Yeah, I just got a text from Sunny Flare," Twilight said. "I can't believe Fear Haunter managed to teleport them all the way to Wisconsin!"

"Doesn't this guy ever run out of tricks?" Rainbow Dash grumbled.

"I doubt he's ever pulled his punches," Applejack replied.

"We'll figure that out later, let's just get in there and get Sour out, quickly," Spike insisted.

"Even after the spat you two had?" Button asked, to which everyone all shot glances at the boy. "Uh... nevermind. Although, gotta admit, Spike. You were as much of a hothead than she was, three years ago. Remember?"

"Not the time, Button," Spike berated the gamer boy. "Let's just get this over with."

But before the heroes could begin, something caught Sunset's eyes, "Twilight, Starlight, you might wanna take a look at this," Sunset spoke up as she notices a plaque on the entrance gate.

The three went to see the plaque and what they saw on it was a name, "Just as I thought, Madame Scarlett," Twilight said.

Everyone perked up at this, "Who?" Fluttershy asked.

"Madame Scarlett was a famous unicorn noble nearly a century ago who studied dark cults," Twilight lectured. "She also collected many artifacts and trinkets over the years."

"She was basically a 19th century Daring Do." Starlight explained. "Many nobles didn't think highly of her as they thought she was a complete oddball, though she didn't think very highly of them either, so the feeling was mutual."

Sunset then came forward, "Unfortunately, she was found dead in a back alley with a puncture wound in the chest. She looked like she was stabbed or even gored by a bull or a large ram. But to this day, no one knows for sure what had happened, and the killer was never identified."

"And they say that after she died, her vengeful spirit made residence in her house, where she haunts and will attack anyone who dares to enter her home," Twilight ended, which sent goosebumps up the whole team's spine.

"Oh my!" Fluttershy whimpered, cowering behind her mane.

"Spooky," Featherweight shivered, holding onto Pipsqueak for comfort, while both boys were being held close by Captain Celaeno.

"Well, either way, we're going in," Spike said. "Sour Sweet's in there, somewhere. And... she needs to be saved, for her friends' sakes," The Dragon Prince looked down as a newfound guilt wash over him. "This whole mess is my fault, though. If I hadn't been so hard toward Sour, none of this would've happened."

"Spike, what's done is done," Twilight said as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Let's just concentrate on saving Sour so the two of you can work out your differences and move on."

"I know," Spike sighed. "But I also know that this is something I have to do by myself. For all I know, Fear and Bone are in there, and are waiting for me with all sorts of traps and tricks up their sleeves. And if anything ever happens to you guys then... I don't think I can forgive myself. That's why I'm going in by myself."

"Spike, no!" Sunset shouted. "That's completely out of the question and you know it! Don't try and be the big hero!"

"Sunset's right!" Applejack said. "We're in this together! We're a team, Spike! Whether ya like that or not, ya can't go at it alone!"

"We're not letting you get hit in the head and losing your powers again!" Rainbow Dash added. "There's no way we're losing you for another decade again!"

"That's right!" Pinkie Pie added. "Friendship is magic! Always have been and always will be!"

"That goes double for us, bro!" Button Mash said on behalf of himself and his fellow Knights. "We know what we signed up for when we discovered your true nature, Spike! You're our pal, and we're pals for life!" With that, the Knights all exchanged agreements as they raised their fists in the air.

Seeing how there's no point in talking them out of it, and that they've made up their minds, Spike nodded, reluctantly complying to his friends' terms, before he turned and resumed their mission at hand.





Inside the mansion
Fear's POV


Somewhere in the mansion, spying on the heroes via a wall of monitors, Fear Haunter sneered, "So the young dragon called his friends after all," He chuckled. "How predictable."

Fear and Bone watched on the monitors as Spike and his fellow heroes entered the mansion in a big group, glancing in various directions, anticipating for anything out of the ordinary.

"Hmph! There're so many preys to pick off on," Bone growled. "So many meals and so little time."

"That won't be problem for long, brother," Fear Haunter chuckled, as he concentrated hard on the monitors.





Back with the heroes


After the heroes entered the mansion, Spike saw his phoenix companion in the middle of the entry hall while in a cage and still has the knife sticking in his chest.

"PEEWEE!!!!" Spike yelled as he rushed towards the Phoenix's cage.

However, Twilight notices a trip laser on the floor, "Spike wait-!!!" But it was too late as Spike's foot touches it.

All of a sudden, the front door and all the windows slammed shut, catching everyone by surprise and a strange sound is heard.

"The buck is that noise?" Rainbow asked.

"It sounds like a machine is charging up." Twilight answered.

"And it's getting louder-." Before Button could finish his sentence, a massive wave of dark energy suddenly rose from the ground and spread to the rest of the mansion. And everyone was caught in it.

Everyone got on their knees and yelled in pain as they feel their magic ripping away from them. For Spike, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash they felt this before, when they got struck by a Magi Pulse Grenade. But this was ten times worst. The Element bearers, Sunset, and Starlight were forced back into their pony forms and Spike notices that his armor plates began to rust and crumble, and his Cape of Compassion vanishing. Thinking fast, he begins to rip them out leaving only his jumpsuit.

It was then that the entire foundation of the building shook, and the entire surroundings of the mansion's interior started to darken.

"Hey! What's-what's happening?" Fluttershy asked, as she panicked and held Rainbow Dash tightly.

"I don't know," Twilight answered. "But remember, be ready for anything!"

"How?" Button asked. "We can hardly see anything!"

"Don't panic," Applejack said.

"Easy for you to say!" Button Mash replied. "Hey! Where is everyone? I can't even see my own hands!"

"Twilight?" Spike sounded. "Girls? Guys? Where are you?"





Fear's POV


Fear chuckled grimly, watching how scattered the heroes looked.

"Perfect," The evil metahuman sneered. "The entire team has been divided. The herds have been scattered. The little lambs are now left to fend for themselves against the wolves."

"Then I take it that's my cue to begin my hunt then?" Bone asked.

"Go Bone," Fear said to his metahuman brother. "Go and hunt down our guests. Have fun."

"With pleasure, brother," Bone chuckled darkly as he turned away to torment his prey. "How I've missed the hunt."





Button Mash


Button Mash was walking down a hall of the terrifying mansion, which doubled as Fear Haunter's personal funhouse. He was passing by a portrait of nun, whose eyes looked as if they were following him. Being the wisecracker he is, Button Mash stopped and backtracked in front of the portrait.



"Like I haven't seen this in a million movies," The boy scoffed, before he pointed at the portrait. "A-HA!" With that, the boy pulled out his nun-chucks and spins them wildly, hitting the portrait.

Suddenly, the sound of music broke the silence, and Button Mash turned around and finds himself staring at a familiar beagle dog, elephant, lion, and ape.

"Hey kids!" The dog said. "Put on your ha-ha-happiest faces, because the banana splits show is about to begin!"

"Ruh roh," Button Mash commented.

Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, Button's ears perked to the sound of music playing behind him, to see a fairy animatronic, doing somersault.

"Hey cowboy," The fairy spoke. "Ready for a little ménage à trois?"





Featherweight


Featherweight was trembling with fright as he shines his flashlight around the mansion, lighting his way in the dark. He was all alone, in the dark, with nothing but silence for company. It was all too quiet for him, which adds onto the eeriness of this frightening atmosphere. 

'I knew I should've stayed in bed,' The boy mentally moaned. 'Why did I get myself into this situation again?'

His ears quickly perked up when he hears the sound of bloodcurdling shrieks that echoed throughout the mansion. He turned his head to the left, then to the right. The noise seems to be coming from behind the doors. He'd dare not open any of them, for who knows what could be waiting for him from behind.

The boy decided to walk in the opposite direction of the noises. Obviously, if anything frightening was making those noises, then the most logical option he can think of was to get away from them. 

Featherweight walked downstairs, arriving on the first level of the mansion, but stopped dead in his track. His eyes widened in fright, his teeth chattered, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and his whole body sweated with goosebumps, at the sight of a kitchen, flooded with blood, and littered with chopped up body parts of human beings. The boy pinched his nose, feeling himself on the verge of losing his lunch at the foul stench and squeamish, grotesque scene.

"Help us!" An anguish voice called, which startled Featherweight, as he watched to see a hand waving to him from the sink. "Please! Help us!"

"Help us!" Another called out from the oven.

"Help us! Help us!"

Featherweight froze in place, as his memories flashed faster before his very eyes, as he once again finds himself in front of the burning building, with all the helpless people locked inside, screaming desperately for him to save them.





Tender Taps


Tender Taps opened the door and found himself in what appeared to be a huge ballroom that has seen better days. The marble floor was cracked and covered in dirt, littered with debris of windows and pieces of columns. Glass windows that surrounded the room have been shattered. Portraits of people, most likely the mansion's previous owners, were all worn, torn, and shattered to pieces. And a giant crystal chandelier had fallen off its perch from the ceilings and laid shattered on the floor, with the crystals scattered across the floor.

What greatly unnerves Tender Tap the most is the sight of several claw marks on the floor, as wells as strange bloody footprints that decorated the floor across the room. Swallowing his scream, Tender Tap cautiously tiptoed into the room, while glancing to the right and left, staying on high alert for anything that could jump out at him. Even though he's don up in his Chestplate of Valor, with other armor pieces to go with it, keeping his entire body full protected, it doesn't quite give him enough confident that he'll be unharmed.

Tender Taps was shining his flashlight across the ballroom, when suddenly, something caught his attention. There, lying on the floor appeared to be a person. A bloody corpse. Recently killed.

Tender Taps bit hard on his bottom lips, not daring to scream at the sight, 'Oh my god! A body!' He thought in horror. Against his better judgement, Tender Taps tiptoed closer for a closer look. He was only a few feet away, and already he was squeamish enough at the bloody sight, that he turned away, but stopped at the sound of low growling, and something wet and slimy dripped down from the ceiling and splattered on his left shoulder.

"Ew!" He muttered in disgust, at what he thought was slobbers. Knowing he would soon regret it, Tender Taps looked up, to see the moonlight outlining the shadowy figure of a hulking beast.

Without warning, the creature spreads its wings, which are estimated to be about 30 feet wide, and with a loud piercing screech, it lunged towards Tender Taps.

"AH!!" Tender screamed, running for dear life as the bat-like creature landed on the floor and viscously flapped its wings, biting and clawing after Tender Taps, who quickly made a dash for one of the doors, only for the bat-monster to jump ahead and blocked his exit. The monster reared up on its hind legs and let out another bloodcurdling roar.





Rumble


The strong and fast athlete of the Knights checked a room, which is decorated with mirrors of all shapes and sizes.

“Now what kind of a room is this?” Rumbled asked himself, passing by several mirrors, before he stopped in front of a huge mirror. Instead of showing his reflection, the mirror only showed him his brother, Thunderlane, and their father.

“Yo Rumble!” Thunderlane greeted Rumble, causing the young boy to turn around to see his big brother and father.

“Thunderlane?!” Rumble exclaimed. “What? What’re you-“

“Haven’t you heard boy?” Their father spoke in a strict tone that sounds venomous. “Your brother has made the team. He is now moving up in the big league.”

"We wanted to tell you the big news, but as of late, you just haven't been around so much," Thunderlane frowned. "It's almost like you didn't want to have anything to do with me lately. You seem happier around with your friends than you were with me."

"What?" Rumble exclaimed in shame. "No, brother, it's not like that. I–"

"Oh dear! I'm gonna be late! I've got to go! The World Cups League is calling for me!" With that, Thunderlane took his leave, while their father was left alone with Rumble.

"Rumble," The man shook his head. "If only you had spent more time with your brother, then you could've grown up to be just like him."

"B-But dad!"

"Save it, Rumble," The man held his hand up as he took his leave. "Sometimes, I'm not sure if you're even my son anymore."

Rumble held his hand out, begging and pleading for his father to come back, when he quickly remembered, "No! No way, this-it's just another trick from Fear Haunter! That's it!" He pounded his fist together. "Yeah, I can't let him get to me!" Unsheathing his Sword of Honor, Rumble loudly proclaimed to Fear, "You hear me, Fear?! Your hocus pocus won't stop me! Never have, never will!"

"Is that so?" A low and eerie voice scoffed, revealing himself to be Fear Haunter, emerging from the shadows, crossing his arms. "Typical human mortals," The metahuman rolled his eyes. "Always so stubborn, always eager for a fight, or a challenge, without even the faintest of comprehension at the outcome, should you fail. For you Rumble, you're always eager to throw the first punch and for thinking you could be top dog. Deny all you want, young warrior, just like how you've denied your brother of his love for you."

"RRRRGH!! That's enough out of you!" Rumble shouted as he skated towards Fear Haunter and slashed his sword at the metahuman, who immediately dodged to the side.

"Come on, is that the best you can do it?" Fear asked, as he continues to evade more slashes from Rumble. "I half expected you to be at least better than you were months ago. But I'll amuse." With that, Fear Haunter suddenly made various duplicates of himself as he surrounds Rumble.




Pip & Celaeno


The duo was in the mansion's basement, trying to find a way out.

"Find anything lad?" Celaeno called out.

Pip shook his head, "Sorry captain, still nothing." He answered as he returns to her.

Pinching the bridge of her beak, the Ornithian sighed in frustration, "This place is like a damn maze." As she tries to figure out where to go next, her ears perked up and eyes shot open as she hears a hissing noise. She suddenly grabs the boy and ran to a dark corner.

Pip was confused, "Captain what's wro-?" He was suddenly hushed.

"I don't think we're alone down here lad," Celaeno whispered to him. Pip was about to ask when he hears the hissing as well along with some growling until it eventually died down.

Unsheathing his sword, along with Celaeno who holds her gun at the ready in the other claw, the two swashbucklers cautiously proceed throughout the maze, back-to-back, keeping their wits about and hearing for anymore of the hissing.

Even though he holds a sword in his hands, in the company of his favorite parrot pirate, it didn't make Pipsqueak any less than scared for the horrors that is waiting to pounce on both him and Celaeno. Dealing with a twisted metahuman like Fear Haunter was one thing. But to know he has an accomplice with him, who happens to be not only his brother but a metahuman with crocodilian features is another. Sometimes, Pipsqueak and the Knights would question why he and his friends ever get themselves into this mess, or why they even bothered getting involved with all conflicts between Earth and Equestria. But it doesn't matter, because for the moment, he was content for having met Captain Celaeno, and she's counting on him now, more than ever. Secretly, though, in his eyes, Celaeno is more than his captain. To him, she's like a mother to him.

Captain Celaeno, meanwhile, is just as nervous than Pipsqueak is. It's not that she is afraid of what Fear has in store for her and her allies, and though she doesn't show it, she's more afraid of losing Pipsqueak than anyone else. After losing her hearty crew to the Cerulean Hunters, Celaeno finds herself flying solo, something she's not cut out for. To her, her crew were her family. Her only family that is. But upon meeting Pipsqueak and his boys, the Knights, her empty nest is no longer empty. Call it parental instinct, Captain Celaeno took upon herself to be the Knights' mentor, if not paternal figure, always having to reel in their reckless antics, especially Button Mash's cooky and delusional perspectives clashing with Rumble's boastful pride and arrogance. Though not to pick favorites, she'll admit, she admires Pipsqueak's spunk, strong spirit, and courage despite his rather small stature compared to the other boys. In her eyes, he's not just a cabin boy. In a way, she's already considered him a son to her. And she'd do anything to keep him safe and protected. And she's determined not to lose him, just as she had lost her crew.

Suddenly, a loud scratch was heard. Pipsqueak quickly shines his light on a wall, revealing a long row of scratch marks torn deep into the wall.

"Aye," Celaeno grimaced. "What do ya suppose could've made those marks?"

"I don't know captain," Pip replied. "Though I think it could be Fear's brother."

Celaeno looks at the claw marks for a good minute before saying, "I'm gonna go off on a limb here and say that it isn't."

"How can you be sure?" Pip asked.

"Take a very good look at those claw marks lad. They're a little small for a big brute like Bone Cruncher, don't you think?" Celaeno answered. While she has yet to meet Bone Cruncher in person, the description Lyra and Bon Bon gave her helps paint a pretty good picture for the Ornithian pirate. Bone was depicted as eight feet tall but the claw marks look like it was made by something that's around almost around six feet, if not a bit smaller.

Pip took another look at the claw marks and realize that she's right, "If Bone Cruncher didn't make these, then...who, or rather what, did?"

"Let's not stick around to find out." Celaeno said grimly as they continue their trek.

They continued when Pip's eyes as he saw some wooden stairs that go up."Hey Captain! Look! I think we found the exit!"

"Good work lad," Celaeno patted Pip on the head. "Now let's–"

Suddenly, without warning, something rammed through the stairs from behind and shattering it to pieces, catching the two swashbucklers off guard. As the quickly dust settles, their eyes widen at what they saw. In appearance, the creature looked like an equestrian pony, an earth pony stallion to be exact, but the similarities end there. The creature was around the same size as Big Mac, if not bigger, had a pair of dorsal fins protruding from its back, sharp teeth that looks like it could tear a grizzly bear easily, reptilian claws where it forehooves should be with its hind legs still having hooves, and the most shocking of all, had green scales instead of fur with blue stripes on the sides.

The creature growled at them as the duo stand their ground. That's when they hear a hissing right behind them, they turn to see another reptilian pony behind them but this one was different from the other one. This one was slightly smaller than the other one, Scales and color patterns similar to a Gila Monster, a long bony horn on the tip of its snout, and a club like tail.





Button Mash


"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Button Mash screamed, running for dear life to escape from the demonic, robotic versions of the Banana Split characters. "A fine jab to my childhood! I used to watch the Banana Split show every day, when I was a kid!"

Button Mash hadn't gone very far, when he bumps into something and fell on the floor. "What the–" Upon looking up, Button Mash was startled at the sight of a large robotic bear. "Freddy Fazbear!"

Freddy Fazbear reached his robotic claws out to grab Button, only for Button to retaliate with a swing of his nunchuck, which smacked Freddy across the face.

"Yeah, that's right!" Button Mash challenged, spinning his nunchucks as he got into fighting stance. "You want a piece of the Button Masher? You got it!"

With a loud roar, Freddy Fazbear lunged towards Button Mash.

Unfortunately, Button Mash had failed to realize quickly that what he thought was Freddy Fazbear, he was actually fighting his pal, Rumble, who was also under the influence that he was fighting Fear Haunter.

"You are so dead, Fear!" Rumble growled, as he lunges towards what he believed was Fear Haunter, throwing a punch in retaliation for his smarted jaw.

With that, the two boys continued to duke it out with one another, without realizing that they were being watched, by a certain crocodilian metahuman.

Bone Cruncher shook his head, "These are supposed to be the Dragon Prince's royal guards? I half-expected more." With that, Bone Cruncher simply walked over, grabbed both Button Mash and Rumble by the heads, and bonked each other on the head, knocking them out cold.

"Pathetic," Bone Cruncher growled, before he sniffed the air for some other preys to track down. "Ah...I hope these next unfortunate souls would put up a challenge or two."





Pip and Celaeno


Back in the basement, Celaeno and Pip were fighting the strange kaiju-like pony hybrids, when Celaeno's earrings flashed, "Uh oh, that can't be good," She moaned.

"What is it captain?" Pip asked.

"Your crazy fellas, Button Mash and Rumble are both in trouble. We have to go!" Celaeno insisted, knocking one of the kaiju-like pony abominations off of her, before taking Pipsqueak by the hand and retreated.





Somewhere in the mansion


“Bone! I trust you’re enjoying the hunt?” Fear smirked, as he sat in his chair, watching the events unfolding before him via the monitors.

“You know me brother,” The crocodile-like metahuman responded via the communication devices. “The screams, the fears you induced, they’re all practically sheep herded to the butcher. Just like old times.”

“Yes, just like old times.” The sound of muffled screaming brought Fear’s attention towards a bound and gagged Sour Sweet. “Patience my dear. First them, then you.”





Tender Taps


Tender Taps was running for dear life, struggling to escape the giant bat monster. The bat monster had cornered the boy into a closet, when a whistle was heard, stopping the creature in its track. Thinking the worst has passed, Tender Taps was drawn into a false sense of relief as he got out from his hiding spot and finds himself at the mercy of Bone Cruncher who reached out to grab him.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"





Featherweight


"No! Stop!" Featherweight shouted, putting his hands over his ears, straining to block out the screams of the poor lost souls, and shutting his eyes tightly, straining to block out the horrible sight of all the dead corpse and spirits.

Then, without warning, the boy was picked up by the leg. The screams became silent, with the bloodied corpses vanishing out of sight, revealing the boy was in nothing more than an empty kitchen. Holding him upside-down and staring into his soul is the crocodile-like metahuman, Bone Cruncher himself.

“Boo,” Bone Cruncher smirked.





Pipsqueak and Celaeno


With Pipsqueak’s hand in her claws, Captain Celaeno kept on running through the dark halls of the basement, searching for another way out.

Unfortunately, the reptilian-pony hybrids were tenacious and relentlessly pursued the two swashbucklers.

Forcing Pip and Celaeno continued their fight with the reptilian ponies.

"Captain, we can't keep fighting these things forever. We gotta help our friends!” Pip shouted as he was fighting off the reptilian pony with the sail fins.

“I know lad but these damn things won’t let up!” Celaeno said while she was fighting the one that looked like a gila monster.

During the fight, Celaeno swung her sword hard and cuts off the Gila monster-like pony’s arm off. The hybrid let out an agonizing yowl, while Pip and Celaeno watched in horror as another limb grew in place of the stump.

“This is bad…” Pipsqueak whimpered.

Then, without warning, the sail fin hybrid curled itself up into a ball and spins forward like a bowling ball, knocking Pipsqueak off his feet, knocking him down like a bowling pin.

“Pipsqueak!!!” Celaeno cried, with all of her attention focusing on her concerns for the boy.

Distracted, Celaeno was at the mercy of the Gila monster hybrid’s bite. Celaeno tried to fend it off, except her whole body has frozen up. She could barely move her arms, or her legs. She was paralyzed. The monster has paralyzed her.

Helpless, Captain Celaeno fell to the ground, alongside Pipsqueak, as the beasts stood over them. The look of hungers in their eyes, their mouths cracked open, drooling as they are prepared for the kill.

But then, the shook, indicating the approaching footsteps of something bigger. The hybrids backed away. Celaeno strains to look up, seeing the crocodilian face of Bone Cruncher, who lowered himself close to the parrot’s face.

“Where’s your flock of a feather now, birdie?” Bone Cruncher hissed.





Spike


“Sour?” Spike called out. “Sour? Are you here?”

“SPIKE DRACO!!”

“Huh?” Spike looked up and finds himself staring at the angry eyes of all the girls that surround him.

"Spike! How could you?! How could you make out with each and every one of us, behind our backs?!" Twilight frowned.

"You underhanded, backstabbing, cold-hearted reptile!" Rarity spatted.

"I thought what we had was special!" Fluttershy cried. "I thought you cared about me!"

"What about all the parties I threw for you?" Pinkie Pie frowned, with her hair flat. "Downright despicable," She spoke for Madame LeFlour.

"Not cool!" Rainbow Dash growled. "You're so uncool, I could just kill you right here, and right now!"

"I guess I should've listened to Grand Pear when he told me to never trust a dragon with mah heart!" Applejack frowned.

Spike took a step back, aghast and shocked from all the hates the girls were firing towards him, and he fell down a hole.

Spike got up to see the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts now glaring down at him.

"How could you, Spike?" Sunny Flare scowled. "You've let us down! You let Fright killed Sour Sweet!"

"So uncool, dude!" Lemon Zest added.

"I knew we should've killed you when we had the chance," Sugarcoat said bluntly.

"What are we waiting for then?" Indigo asked, unsheathing her katanas. "Let's just do it, right here, right now!"

"Wait, no!" Spike shouted as he moved to the sides and leapt into the air to dodge the katanas. "Stop! I don't want to fight!"

"Tough!" Indigo shouted angrily as she continues to slash her blades left, right, up, and down, with Spike summoning his own fire katanas to parry and block.

Spike parried and blocked every slash from who he thought was Indigo, but the girl was moving too fast that Spike was barely able to keep up, when he blindly thrusted a jab, and a gasp was heard. Spike squinted his eyes open to see, much to his utter horror, he had stabbed his own uncle, Scorpan.

"Why, Spike?" Scorpan groaned. "Why? After everything we've sacrificed just for you?"

"Uncle?!" Spike gasped. "No...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it!" But Spike's words fell on deaf ears as a web of chain thrusted out from the shadows and restrained him, holding him down. "What?! What is this? What's going on?"

"Ungrateful child..." A voice spoke up, to which Spike looked up to see his mother, walking up to him, with a scowl expression on her face. "I took you in, out of the kindness of my heart. Taught you everything you needed to know about your powers. Make you feel welcome, when you were crudely cast aside by your birth mother. And this is how you repayed us?" Princess Celestia's eyes slowly turned green with purple smokes pouring from her eyes. "You're no longer my son," Princess Celestia said, flaring her wings up, and her horn pulsing a menacing dark aura. "You're dead to me!"

Spike closed his eyes tight shut, waiting for the killing blow. But it never came.

“Spike! Wake up!” A familiar voice shouted, to which Spike looked up to see himself looking into the icy blue eyes of his changeling friend, Thorax, who was slapping him across the face.

"Thor..." Spike gasped in surprise. "You came back."

"I never left." Thorax smiled at the dragon as he helped him up. "Come on, let's kick some ass," Spike nodded in response. "By the way, I'm still hoping you and Sour apologize after this." He said sternly.

"Don't worry, we're planning on it."

With that, both reconciled friends resumed their trek through the mansion.





After long hours of navigating through the dark foreboding maze of nightmares, Spike and Thorax eventually arrived at the heart of the mansion, where Sour Sweet is bound and gagged.

“Sour!” Spike shouted as he quickly ran over to untie the girl from her restraints.

“Spike? Y-You saved me." Sour said, with wide eyes. "But why?”

“Because your friends asked me to,” Spike replied, while noticing the way Thorax threatens with turning himself into a tiger, with the way his two large snake-like fangs were becoming more canine in appearance, and a patch of orange furs were growing in. 

“And because I wanted to say I’m sorry for being so hard on you.” Thorax arches an eyebrow, “...and that I’m an idiot and a dick for letting you get captured, so you can go ahead and hit me with your best shot, or whatever.”

After a moment of processing what had transpired before her, Sour Sweet threw a punch across Spike's face.

"Yeah, I definitely deserved that," Spike muttered, before receiving another punch. "And that too."

"Easy there, my sweet," A dark voice spoke up as Fear revealed himself before the heroes. "Don't rough him up too badly, or he won't be able to watch the show."

"...What show?" Spike asked.

"Your friend's nightmare of horror, of course," Fear pointed to a hall of monitors, revealing captured footages of the Mane Six, Sunset Shimmer, Captain Celaeno, and the Knights experiencing their worst fears.

“Look at the lot of them, screaming and squirming for their lives. Waiting for some hero to save them.” Fear said with a grin as if proud of his work.

Spike, Thorax, and Sour’s eyes widened in horror at this.

Clenching his teeth in anger, Spike turns towards the twisted metahuman as he jumps and attempts to do a flying kick on him. But Fear sees this coming as he simply turns to smoke and zips across the other room while Spike’s foot just hits the stone wall, spraining it in the process.

“ARG, DAMMIT!!!” Spike screamed.

Fear just gave a dark chuckle, “Poor, predictable Dragon Prince. Remember what I said before you came here? Don’t get reckless. It was because of that recklessness that you fell for my trap which made you and your idiot friends lose your powers and got separated from one another. And now, that same recklessness costs you a foot!”

Just then, Fear was suddenly pounced on by a green tiger and got pinned to the floor. Fear and the beast just glared at each other. “Aw yes, the bug. Tell me you oversized horsefly, why did you bother coming back?”

“Something a sick bastard like you would never understand.” Thorax replied with a growl, “Sure Spike can be a bit of a bonehead who lets his emotions get the better of him once in a while and we may fight sometimes, but he’s my friend and I will always be there for him!”

“Cute. Lucky for me, I had a backup plan in case you ever did show up.” Fear smirked.

“And what’s that?” As soon as Thorax asked that, there was a loud beeping sound coming from Fear’s left hand. Thorax turned to see what it was and was shocked to see that it was a magi-pulse grenade. “Aw cra-!!!” He didn’t finish his sentence as Fear quickly turned into a puff of smoke while dropping the MPG to the ground which caused it to set off and unleash an explosion of dark energy. Thorax screamed in pain as he was turned back into his original changeling form.

The dark energy quickly died down and Thorax struggled to get up. Just then, the changeling was grabbed by the throat and was lifted up to be face to face with Fear Haunter.

Fear then turned to Spike, “And now ‘Dragon Prince’, that recklessness is going to cost you a friend!” As soon as Fear finished that last part, he tightened his grip around Thorax’s throat, choking the life out of the changeling.

Seeing his friend gasping for air, Spike was able to use his one good leg to leap into the air and try to throw a punch at Fear. “LET HIM GOOOO!!!” Spike practically shouted.

Unfortunately for the Dragon Prince, the twisted meta-human caught Spike’s fist and slammed his foot on the boy's chest. Spike fell on the ground with Fear’s foot pinning him there.

Fear just laughed at Spike, “What now ‘Dragon Prince’, Huh? What now?! You have no one left to save you-HUUURRRGH!!!!” Fear didn’t get to finish his sentence as a piece of rope suddenly tied around his neck and started choking him. This caused him to drop Thorax and get off of Spike.

As the boy got up and the changeling gasped for air. They both turn to see that Sour got behind him and started strangling him with the same rope he used to tie her up.

Both boys could see the pure rage in Sour’s face as she tightened the rope on Fear’s neck.

As he was gasping for air, Fear reached into his pocket and brought out a small hunting knife. Fear then grabbed the rope wrapped around his neck and pulled it out a little before using the knife to cut it.

This causes Sour to stumble back and fall on the floor.

Fear turned to the Shadowbolt girl with pure rage and hatred in his eyes, “THAT DOES IT!!!” He practically screamed, “NO MORE GAMES! NO MORE MESSING AROUND! I’M GONNA KILL ALL THREE OF YOU! RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW!!!!!” He then brought out his scythe to which he twirls around and somehow turns into a pair of smaller ones. “Starting with you, you bipolar BITCH!”

Spike and Thorax were about to jump in and help her but someone grabbed them from behind and threw them through a wall where they found themselves in another room. Stepping through the hole in the wall was none other than Bone Cruncher.

The crocodilian meta-human slowly approached the two boys while growling and hissing at them as well as sizing them up.

“Taste my dragon breath dirtball!” Spike roared before letting out a long inhale but when he exhaled, instead of a torrent of flames, all he got were puffs of smoke and green embers. “Right…” Spike muttered when he remembered that he doesn’t have any powers right now.

Bone just chuckled at the display before he whipped around with his tail swing.

Both boys barely dodged in time before the massive tail struck them.

Spike didn't have time to recover, when Bone Cruncher grabbed him by the leg and proceeded to thrash the green-haired boy around the room. The sickening sound of breaking bones echoed around the room, accompanied by the thunderous sounds of bricks and floor tiles smashed to pieces.

These are the kind of gut-wrenching sounds that indicates little to no survival for any ordinary humans.

Thorax got back up and immediately galloped towards Bone Cruncher to save Spike. But Bone Cruncher had already seen him coming and threw Spike towards the changeling.

Spike and Thorax rolled across the floor, until they came to a stop.

"You stand no chance, Dragon Prince," Bone Cruncher hissed, cracking his knuckles and readying himself for another attack. "No powers. No weapons. No magic girls. Just a human boy. Not fit to be a prince..."

For the very life of him, Spike felt his whole being trembled, as if knowing he and Thorax may possibly on deaths door. In a heartbeat, his whole life flashed before his eyes, from the moment he was found by Scorpan, brought to and was adopted by Princess Celestia, Somnambula leading the attack that separated him from his mother, and the decades he spent living and learning martial arts, under Scorpan's supervision.

'Is this how my story ends?' Spike thought to himself, fearfully. 'My friends are in trouble...I'm so close, yet so far away to save them...but I'm going to die...they're going to die...because of me...'

"Spike...Spike...Spike!" Thorax shouted, snapping Spike back to reality. "Wake up! This isn't the time to be spacing out! We have to get up and fight!"

"What good will that do, Thor?" Spike asked, wearily almost out of breath. "Without our powers, we're done for..."

"When has that ever stopped you?" Thorax asked, in outrage. "You used to get into a lot of fights, back in school, ten years ago, here on Earth. And that was after you lost your memories! And that's WAY back when!"

"Those were different times back then..." Spike groaned. "I fought school bullies and got detentions for them...and I got into several arguments with my uncle.."

"SO? It doesn't change the fact that you're a fighter! Dragonfire or no Dragonfire, you're the strongest and bravest kid I know! And I risked my neck coming here to help you, because I believed in you!"

Spike kept on trembling as he felt the floor rumbling from Bone Cruncher's approaching footsteps, while at the same time, struggling to process every one of Thorax's words.

Once again, Spike's life flashed before his eyes as he recalls every moments of his life that he will treasure for the rest of his life. His mom, uncle, the Knights who are his brothers-in-arms, and the girls of his life.

"C'mon, Spike! Get up!" Thorax helped Spike up to his feet. "Show him who you are! Everyone needs you!"

"A very rousing speech, I'm sure," Bone Cruncher scowled, once he was finally towering over the boys. "Pity that it will be the last words you'll ever say."

Bone Cruncher threw a punch at the two boys, who quickly dove to the right to avoid the strike.

"You got a plan?" Thorax asked, hopefully.

"I'm thinking..." Spike said, frantically strategizing in the moment. "I got it!" He snapped his fingers. "Let's play Arkham Knight."

"Spike...now's not the time for Batman..."

"No, no! I mean, like the DLC for Arkham Knight, when Batman and Nightwing were fighting Killer Croc! They relied on teamwork and coordination to take down the big guy!"

Catching onto what Spike was getting at, Thorax nodded as they put their plan into action.

Both boy and changeling watched carefully as Bone Cruncher got down on all four and charged towards them like a rampaging animal. Reacting fast, both boys leapt into the air to avoid getting trampled, with Spike running across Bone's scales to the tip of his tail. Bone soon came to a stop and was about to turn around, when he was met with a kneecap to the face.

With Bone Cruncher disoriented and slightly off balance, Spike proceeded to throw several punches, and every forms of spinning heel kicks, turning side kicks, and roundhouse kicks, at the crocodilian metahuman's head. Soon, Thorax joined in on the fight. Though not as knowledgeable in martial arts as Spike is, Thorax still landed a few punches and kicks at Bone Cruncher with his hooves, enough to keep the metahuman distracted.

Irritated, Bone Cruncher slashed his claws left and right, which the two boys narrowly evaded. Upon seeing an opening, Spike had Thorax put his leg between Bone Cruncher's, while the Dragon Prince lunged in to land an open palm strike to the rib, shoving Bone Cruncher, causing him to trip over Thorax's legs.

Following through on the action, Spike and Thorax continued to throw more kicks and punches at Bone Cruncher's face. Bone Cruncher snapped his jaws forward, but he had missed his targets, thus leaving himself vulnerable and open for another attack. Spike threw an uppercut, forcing Bone Cruncher to throw his head up in the air, allowing Thorax to throw a jab to the metahuman's throat, temporarily cutting off the airway.

Bone Cruncher gasped breathlessly for air, while being at the mercy of Spike and Thorax who still followed through on their actions to land more kicks and punches.

In the spur of the moment, Spike proceeded to throw some techniques he learned in the style of Jeet Kune Do – Bruce Lee's style of martial arts. Spike threw a low kick, behind at one of Bone Cruncher's legs, forcing him to bend at the knee, lowering his height.

Following through, while ensuring Bone Cruncher doesn't have enough time to recover for a counterattack, Spike threw several fast palm strikes to the metahuman's chest, and some to the face. Bone Cruncher tries to fight back with an uppercut, but Spike managed to block the incoming attack with a low block. Before Bone could attack him again, Spike did a backflip to get away, and landed a capoeira kick beneath his jaws.

"ENOUGH!!!" Bone Cruncher bellowed, spinning his tail to throw Spike and Thorax off, following through in a roll to put some distance between him and the boys. "You will both die tonight, along with your pathetic friends..."

"Not unless I can help it!" Spike declared.

"We are in this together!" Thorax added. "We're all friends. And friends are family."

With an irritated hiss, Bone Cruncher picked up a slab of rock and hurled it towards Spike and Thorax. The two boys quickly dodged the debris, and resumed attacking Bone Cruncher from two different directions. Bone Cruncher snapped his jaws at Spike, on the left, while whipping his tail to hit Thorax, on the right.

Spike quickly backed up to avoid the teeth, whilst Thorax manages to dodge the tail whip, and threw a punch at Bone Cruncher's rib. Bone Cruncher turned to swat the changeling away, forgetting Spike, who landed a roundhouse kick to his snout. Soon, both Spike and Thorax proceeded to throw more kicks and punches, practically juggling Bone's head in every confusing directions.

With Bone Cruncher stunned, Spike took this as an opportunity to land some strikes at the metahuman's nerve points, paralyzing his arms and legs, rendering him helpless on the spot.

"What are you?" Bone Cruncher asked, breathlessly.

Spike got in Bone's face and scowled, "I am Spike the Dragon Prince of Equestria...and New York..."





Fear slash and swirled his scythes at Sour with such ferocity, the Crystal Prep girl barely had time to dodge them before she made a couple backflips away from him to get some distance.

Sour then notices a sword hanging on a wall and makes a mad dash towards it. After grabbing the blade, Sour turned toward Fear and stood in a battle stance, ready to attack. 

The two just stared each other down, waiting for the other to make a move. The two then charged at each other, their blades at the ready before they clashed. 

Sparks flew as Sour’s sword and Fear’s scythes clashed. Both stammered back from each other with Fear deciding to change his game plan by merging his two scythes into a longer double-bladed one.

Fear then dashed at Sour who barely had enough time to block his attack and stammered back a little. Fear then swung his scythe towards her but she managed to parry it in time. Using this momentum, she then did an uppercut to his jaw which caused him to stagger back a little.

Fear quickly recovered from that before charging at Sour at once again while swinging scythe wildly at her who in turn either blocked or dodged his attacks. Fear then did a sweep kick to Sour’s legs which caused her to fall to the ground. After that, Fear raised his scythe, ready to deliver the killing blow but Sour quickly managed to raise her sword in time to block his weapon.

Sour quickly got up and kicked Fear in the face which sent him flying across the room. Fear wiped the blood that was dripping from his mouth before giving the Shadowbolt girl a hateful glare. He then lept towards her and swung his scythe at her left feet which made her cry out in pain. He then used his weapon to shove her to the floor, knocking the blade out of her hand.

Fear slowly approached Sour and swung his scythe at her but Sour remembered that that still had an extra in her pocket and brought it out just in time to block the scythe. Blocking it caused Sour to twirl around Fear before parrying his scythe and running to the sword. 

As she picked it back up, Fear was already on her as he tried to swipe at her. But Sour was ready for him this time and made a quick slash at him splitting his double bladed scythe in two.

Undeterred, Fear still attempted to slash Sour but she still managed to either dodge, block or parry them before she was able to dislodge one of Fear’s scythes from his hand. 

Being down to one scythe now, Fear decided to pull his trump card and use his powers on her.

Just then, Sour is suddenly confronted by her past tormentors who just laughed at her and called her names.

Fear smirked as he saw Sour dropping to her knees and trembling with fear. The twisted metahuman then approached her and raised his scythe, ready to deliver the final blow.

But as Fear brought the scythe down however, Sour managed to grab Fear’s wrist with his blade just inches away from his face.

The Shadowbolt girl looked up to the twisted metahuman not with fright but with pure rage, much to Fear’s shock. She then twisted Fear’s wrist which made him drop his weapon and cry out in pain.

Sour quickly got up and with a scream, socked Fear right in the face which sent him flying across the room.

Sour then ran over to Fear’s downed body and began to wail on him. After a good minute of savagely beating him, she managed to calm down before going too far.

After catching her breath, she looks down to see Fear’s bruised and bloodied face. The metahuman was barely breathing, and hardly reacting to Sour Sweet, when she lightly tapped him on the face, to inspect him. She had beaten him so much, so senselessly, she had knocked him unconsious.

Sour Sweet looked back up at the monitors. With that, Fear Haunter's fearful illusions disappeared. The Mane Six, the Knights, and Captain Celaeno were finally awake and freed from the fiendish metahuman's nightmares. No longer fearful for their lives, the heroes all had looks of confusions on their faces, as they begin to regain their composures to rendezvous.

At that moment, Bone Cruncher was thrown into the room, courtesy of Spike and Thorax. Furthermore, as if fate was smiling down upon them, the rest of their friends suddenly arrived, just in time to witness Spike and Thorax triumphant victory over Bone Cruncher. Among them was Peewee, who let out a song-like screech to let his master know of his presence.

"Peewee!" Spike cried happily, embracing his pet phoenix into his arms.

Bone Cruncher let out a groaned, alerting the heroes to assume fighting stances, as their eyes were fixated on the crocodilian metahuman. Bone Cruncher stood back up on his feet, not yet giving up another battle. After some heavy breathing, Bone Cruncher let out a low-rumbling thunderous roar, before he was joined by the reptilian-ponies, whom Pipsqueak and Captain Celaeno had dealt with before.

Just as he was about to charge into battle again, Bone Cruncher's eyes turned to the side to see the horrifying sight of Sour Sweet, standing atop of his brother.

"Fear Haunter!" He cried out.

Bone Cruncher slowly walked over to the unconscious body of his fallen brother, gently picking up his body, before he turns and snarled at the heroes.

"This isn't over," The crocodile metahuman hissed. "We will meet again." With a kick of his legs, Bone Cruncher leapt away, while carrying his brother, and they both disappeared into the darkness, along with their pets.

"Well everyone," Twilight sighed. "Let's just... go home."





Three Years Ago


Sometimes later, after their big fight, Spike was sitting in the backseat of a police car, being driven by his uncle. Whatever trouble Spike was in, thankfully, his uncle managed to bail him out of it. But the stern and displeased reflection in the mirror was the tell-tale sign for Spike to understand that it may be the last time his uncle would save him.

"I'm sorry uncle. For everything." Young Spike apologized.

"I know you are." The man replied, gently, but sternly. "You're my nephew, and nothing will ever change that," He said, with the look of disappointment still clear on his face. "But my trust is something you will have to earn back."

Without another word, Spike silently nodded his head in agreement and compliance, "Yes uncle."





Present


Later that night, Spike and Sour Sweet were at the former’s apartment, with Peewee resting, safe and sound, on a pillow, in the middle of a table.

Both teenagers were struggling to process everything that had transpired. It was a solemn reminder that they were still young and have much growing up to do.

Deciding to break the ice, Sour Sweet was the first to begin.

“Spike…thank you,” She said.

Spike simply nodded in response. However, Sour Sweet wasn’t satisfied with his response.

“You didn’t have to save me, you know…”

“No…” Spike sighed. “But…I didn’t do it for you…your friends wanted me to. And Thorax. And…Twilight and the others.”

Sour Sweet nodded in acknowledgment.

“I know I’m supposed to be a big shot Dragon Prince, or hero, or whatever,” Spike sighed. “But I'm not perfect… and I’m sorry I didn’t meet any of your standards for your…your dream gentleman…”

“No,” Sour Sweet shook her head. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I set the standards high. I lost my temper… And you had the displeasure of seeing my ugly side, which I’ve tried so hard to get rid of.”

“Yeah, well I’ve done a lousier job of keeping my temper in check,” Spike sympathize. “I thought I was above it. A decade of what Uncle Scorpan had put me through…the intensive trainings of Ninjitsu…the studies from the masters…the discipline from the monks of Shaolin…”

Spike sighed, further expressing his shame, “And still…I got angry and lost focus of what’s really important…protecting others, including you…”

Sour Sweet looked up and sighed, “Well…my grandma once told me that…expressing your feelings, it’s all part of being human. Just…try to cut me some slack, okay? I know, I have…issues. Everybody’s got issues…but I’m trying…and that means a lot more than you think…”

Spike didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded in compliance.

“I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree,” Spike shrugged. “But…I’ll try.”

Sour Sweet smiled sadly, before she continued, “And…thanks again for letting me…punch you in the face. I hope it wasn’t too bad?”

“Oh no. I’ve been hit worst, believe me,” Spike scoffed. “Try defending your mom from a lightning bolt.”

“Oh, yeah. I…haven’t forgotten about that.”

Both Spike and Sour shared some laughs, before the joy died down.

“Still…if I had known what you’ve been through…I never would’ve hunted you down to begin with,” Sour frowned sadly. “My friends and I, we were…we were so caught up in…the reputation of Crystal Prep…the motto we’ve been taught of…strike first, strike hard, no mercy…we…”

“Got seduced to the Dark Side,” Spike sighed. “Now we both know how Anakin must’ve felt…”

Neither teenagers said a word, until Spike spoke up, “Maybe if we had the choice…to live our lives as…ordinary teenagers, then we wouldn’t be fighting each other to begin with. We could be friends…”

“I would like that very much,” Sour Sweet admitted.

Spike held his hand out, concentrating his powers, morphing his hand into his dragon claws.

“Do you think…a dragon like me…even a celestial kind, could still live a normal life?” He asked.

“How would I know? I’m not a dragon,” Sour Sweet answered. “But…like my grandma would say. Anything’s possible.”

“So…you up for another date? Even if it’s not perfect?”

In response, Sour Sweet reached out and grasped Spike’s hands.

“I’ll be counting the day,” Sour smiled.

Spike and Sour Sweet both closed the distance, until at last, their lips met in a passionate kiss.
> Opening Night - Dazzle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


New York City


Weeks have passed since the heroes' recent ordeal with Fear Haunter and Bone Cruncher. By then, the entire Shadowbolts have been found and recovered, and it was almost time for the opening night for the musical performance of Dazzle, at CHS.

At CHS, Spike was backstage, along with Sunset Shimmer and the Bearers Of Harmony, working together on setting the stages for their upcoming fall play, "Dazzled" while at the same time, rehearsing their scripts.

“Ma! Pa!” Rarity recited. “I must leave this do nothing, humdrum, lump of coal town. I’m going to be the best disco dancer that club Everfit has ever seen!” She said, while doing a few dance steps.

"Bury those silly dreams in a slag, Sweet Selfie," Twilight replied, in-character, putting on a cranky old woman's voice. "Only fools try to make it big in Shiny City!"

In another scene, Rarity's character, Sweet Selfie, is all by her lonesome in a desolate mine.

Once again, getting into character, Rarity puts on a sadden expression, before she continues, "How will I ever become a disco dancer when all I know is coal, coal, oh coooaaaaaal?"

Rarity sobbed dramatically, as she fainted into the arms of Bulk Biceps, who was don up in a coal costume.

"Your canary tears have summoned me my child," Rainbow Dash's voice called out.

Then, in a puff of confetti, provided by Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash stood before the crew, dressed up in a dress with fairy wings, and a giant boot around her upper body.

"It is I, your fairy BOOT mother~" She declared dramatically.

"Whoa-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha," Rumble burst out laughing with Button Mash, both boys pointing at Rainbow Dash and her costume, before they turned to Spike, who swatted their hands away while trying to stifle a laugh as they walked away.

"Do not despair," Rainbow continued. "For all coals turn to diamonds!"

With that, a hand appeared behind a prop, swapping a lump of coal for a pair of shining diamond boots. Rarity picked up the boots, expresses bedazzlement, before she dons them up.

“5, 4, 3, cue the disco ball!” Sunset shouted.

With that, Rarity started shaking her hips and body to the beat of the upbeat music, followed by Spike, who quickly came onstage as his character, Skater, with a shade. Together, both he and Rarity danced across the stage.





Later


"And that's a wrap!" Sunset declared. With that, everyone stopped what they were doing and were on their way home, "Way to go boys. Great choreography, Bulk!"

"YEAH!!" Bulk Biceps agreed.

"Yeah," Sunset Shimmer winced, rubbing her sore ears. Looking to her right, Sunset scolded, "Snips! Snails! Quit joking around! You guys need to get your acts straight with the set changes!"

"We're trying, but it's like moving a ton of bricks that's built like....a ton of city!" Snips protested.

Sunset groaned, pinching her temples together, "There's gotta be an easier way to handle this."

"Don't worry, Sunset! I've got an idea!" Twilight offered, conjuring a remote control and pressed some buttons. "This will be a perfect chance for me to try out my robotics club project!" She smiled, summoning a small robot to the stage.

"Really?" Spike asked as he came onto the scene. "I would gone with a little stage 'magic' for this problem," He said, nudging the bookworm's shoulder.

"Maybe, but we still have to keep up appearances," Twilight whispered.

"Well, it's not like anyone would notice, now would they?" Spike asked in whisper. "Not with how covert we've been with the whole magic business."

"Perhaps, but I'm not taking any chances. Besides, in case you forgotten, our magic hasn't fully recovered yet." Twilight said as she showed him what appeared to be a glowing bracelet. "It's thanks to these that me and the other girls are able to retain our human forms right now."

"Right." Spike sighed while scratching the back of his head, "Well, catch ya later girls," Spike waved, taking his leave.

“Bye Spike,” Twilight and Sunset waved as they too left to hang with their friends.

On the way, Twilight struck up conversation, "So far, it seems we're all recovering," Twilight replied.

"Maybe," Sunset sighed. "But some of us aren't getting enough sleep...not with criminals like Bone Cruncher and Fear Haunter on the loose. We may have beaten those two, but they'll be back one day. And let's not get started with the other baddies still out there out there like Hydia and the Cerulean Hunters..."

"I know all good things must come to an end," Twilight sighed. "But did it have to be like this?"

"I...can't exactly answer that, Twilight. The least we could do is to endure it. Worrying and overthinking about it won't solve our problems."





Spike was later hanging out with the boys at a local skatepark, where he and Rumble showed off some skills, while reciting their lines for the play.

"Run free with us, Skater!" Rumble said in his character's voice. "Do not let this Selfie girl drag you down! She is but a coal miner! She's not fit to be your diamond in the sky!"

"No matter how you blow, Quake!" Spike replied as his character. "I will never yield! I am the diamond in the rough to Selfie Soot, as she is my diamond in the sky!"

Meanwhile, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle were both sharing a little dance, while skating on a pairs of roller blades, "My, you danced beautifully, my lady," Button Mash swooned as he held Sweetie Belle close.

"Why thank you, my knight," Sweetie smiled. "I never knew you could be so fast on your feet."

Meanwhile, Snips and Snails were once again, trying in vain to pick up some cute girls, but once again, they were met with rejections. Their most recent rejections involved a pair of Asian girls, whom they attempted to swoon them over by flirting in their native language. Of course, the girls left in disgust.

"What did we say?" Snips asked, to which Snails shrugged.

Spike then answered, "You guys just asked them to get down, get naked, and sacrifice a poor dog."

Snips and Snails blushed, realizing too late at what they said. Then the two boys turned their heads, and their eyes bulged out from their sockets.


[Stacy’s mom]


“Hummina hummina hummina. Check them out!” Snips shouted.

Following their gazes, Spike turned to see two women approaching. The first woman had long hair with a mix of pink, blue, green, and cobalt, while the second woman, who was a bit shorter than the first, had a short light blue hair with the bang covering the right half of her face.

Snips and Snails were drooling like dogs, eyes gazing at the two women’s voluptuous figures, though mostly the first one. 

In appearance, the first woman wore a tight yellow coat, hugging the curves of her body, a white belt around the waist and a matching scarf, long purple pants that hugs her long slender legs, with vanilla white stripes. Her only make up was a rosy red lipstick, and pink eyeshadows, all framed by her long, flowing hair of various colors of light green, pink, and blue.

The second one, wore a blue turtleneck sweater beneath a dark blue opened jacket with black pants hugging her legs, and boots. Like her companion, her only makeups are light blue eyeshadows, that matched her short hair, with the bang curved into a swirl on one side of her face.

“Hello nurse~” Snails droned sensually.

“Who’s that woman?” Snips asked, pointing to the first one.

“That’s my mom,” Spike answered bluntly.


*disc scratch*


"THAT'S YOUR MOTHER?!!" Snips and Snails screamed.

In response, all of the visitors in the park stopped in their tracks as they directed their attentions to the two women.

“And my aunt,” Spike added, while pointing to the said alicorn in human form.

The sound of glass shattering is audible. 

Upon finding her son amongst the park's visitors, Celestia smiled and waved her hand, beckoning him to come over.

"Welp, sorry guys," Spike patted them lightly on the shoulders, before he ran off to greet the two alicorn-turned-women. “Hey mom, hi auntie! What a nice surprise."

"A warm greeting to you nephew," Luna returned the greeting politely.

"I hope we're not intruding you on something, my dear," Celestia smiled sweetly.

"No, not at all," Spike shook his head. “Though, what brings you both to New York?” He asked. "Anything big and urgent?"

"No, nothing like that, Spike," Celestia assured.

"We simply wished to pay you a visit, dear nephew," Luna confirmed.

"Really?" Spike asked, looking to the sides before he whispered, "But what about Equestria? What about those important duties you have to do?"

"Not to worry, Spike," Celestia replied. "Cadence and Kibitz will handle them. Besides, even Lulu and I would like to enjoy a few leisure times now and then."

"And what better way to enjoy it, than with our dearly BELOVED NEPHEW LIKE YOU?!!" Luna shouted boomingly, literally blowing Spike off his feet, along with everyone present, scaring some birds from their trees in the process.

"Sister! What have we talked about the Royal Canterlot Voice?" The elder sister berated.

Dazed and disoriented, Spike got up, shook off his shock away, while also rubbing his sore ears.

"You don't have to shout auntie," Spike replied.

"Forgive me, nephew," Luna blushed. "Certain old habits die hard."

"Duly noted," Getting back on topic, Spike began, "Well, while you're here, let me show you the place and we get something to eat? My treat."

Celestia and Luna both looked to each other, then smiled back at Spike, "I think that's an excellent idea, Spike," Celestia agreed.

"We would certainly enjoy it, nephew," Luna added.

"Well then, let's go," Spike insisted, as he led his mother and aunt into New York.

As they left, a lot of men and boys were ogling the sisters up and down, while looking envy at Spike for hanging with them. Though none were more depressed than Snips and Snails themselves.

“Oh!” Snips began. “I hate that guy!”

"How come he has a mom like that?" Snails asked. "I want a mom like that!"

Scootaloo looked at the boys in disgust, "Why are you even friends with them?" She asked Rumble.

"If I remember right," Rumble replied. "I'd say it's because we felt sorry for them."




Not long after they left the skatepark, Spike had spent most of the afternoon giving his mother and aunt the tour of New York City.

"This is Times Square!" Spike announced. "It's basically the heart of New York City! You've got everything here from tourist destinations, businesses, entertainment hubs, and every New Years Eve, they drop a ball at that clock tower for the countdown of a new year."

"Fascinating," Princess Celestia commented.

"What an interesting tradition," Princess Luna added.

Later, Spike took the two alicorn princesses in human forms to a Starbucks cafe.

"This is Starbucks!" Spike described. "You can find these anywhere, in the human world! It's a must for breakfast and lunch!"

With that, Spike was soon having a cup of hot chocolate, while Celestia was munching on a cheese danish, with Luna enjoying herself a croissant as the resume the tour.

"And over there is the NYPD – New York Police Department!" Spike showed the place. "This is where Uncle Scorpan worked, when he and I were staying here for the last decade."

"Why did it have to be a decade?" Celestia asked somberly.

"You think a decade is horrible?" Luna asked rhetorically with the obvious tone of annoyance in her voice. "Try being trapped in the moon for centuries, stuck in a limbo..."

"I'm sorry, Lulu," Celestia frowned sadly. "For me, losing my own sister is one thing, but to lose my own son...it just doubles the heartache for all those years. After losing Starswirl, who was like a father to us, I just can't..." The sun princess's voice broke, as if she was choking on her own words. No doubt, she was trying her hardest not to cry.

With that, Luna's annoyance melted to a look of sympathy and regret. She walked over to her sister and hugged her close. Spike walked up to his mother and tenderly linked his hand with hers, silently assuring his mom that she won't lose him again.

Wanting to get out of the awkward moment, and thinking of a place to put his mother's mind at ease, Spike took the two princesses to another one of New York's greatest attractions.

"Last stop of the day, let me welcome you all to Central Park!" Spike held his arms out. "This place was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. It's widely regarded as the masterpiece of landscape architecture, covering 843 acres, and every New Yorker's go-to places for nature's walk and R&R."

"This is beautiful!" Celestia marveled at the sight of the beautiful park.

"I concur," Luna smiled. "It reminds me a lot of Equestria."

"Y'know, now that you mentioned it," Spike began. "It kinda does! The air here is refreshing in the spring and summertime. Uncle and I would often come here during that time to do some relaxing exercises, like tai chi."

"And what exactly is tai chi, dear nephew?" Luna inquired.

"Tai chi is the Chinese internal martial art to promote muscle strength, flexibility, and balance," Spike lectured. "It's not as strenuous as judo, kung-fu, karate, and all the other martial arts, but it's just as good and it has its benefits."

"It seems to me you know all there is to martial arts," Luna smiled proudly. "Scorpio must've taught you well."

"Yeah," Spike nodded, before he did a double-take at his auntie's nickname for Scorpan. "Scorpio?"

"Uh, nevermind that," Luna blushed a shade of pink as she hurriedly took her leave, while her sister and nephew watched her go.

Celestia couldn't help but chuckle, along with Spike, seeing Luna behaving like a flustered schoolgirl.

Eventually, the three found a bench to sit down and rest.

"This New York City of yours has just about everything here, dear nephew," Princess Luna commented.

"Well, as anybody would say about New York. If you can make it here, then you can make it anywhere!" Spike chuckled, with Celestia and Luna joining in the laughter.

"And speaking of which, how are things here in the city?" Celestia asked. "So far, in Equestria, there hasn't been any troubling development. But the royal guards are still on the alert for Bone and Fear."

"We had just finished rounding up all of the Shadowbolts," Luna added. "And once they have been fully recovered, the first order of business for my Shadowbolts is to have them and the Royal Guards to work together. There can be no more prejudice or miscommunication between our soldiers."

"That's good to hear," Spike nodded, before he answered, "Well, so far, everything's been good on our side. Ever since we took down Fear and Bone, everything's been....quiet. Maybe too quiet..."

Both Celestia and Luna exchanged understanding looks, seeing the stress the young Dragon Prince finds himself in.

"I understand how stressed you are, sweetie," Celestia said, hugging him for comfort. "But worrying about it isn't going to help much."

"Indubitably," Princess Luna agreed. "For now, you and your friends need to relax. And we'll take it from here. After all, as I recall, you have a show to put on. Yes?"

Spike nodded, knowing that his mother and aunt were right. As much as he wanted to protect his friends and family, he's still a teenager. A high schooler. Worrying so much and having to carry the weights of both world isn't going to help much for his psyche.

"You're right," Spike breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks mom! Thanks aunt!"

The two royal sisters hugged their beloved Dragon Prince close, with Celestia reminding him, "You're never alone in this, my little sunshine. We're all here for you."

With that, the two sisters and boy shared another hug.





Opening Night


And so, opening night has arrived. The whole theater room was packed with teachers, classmates, and families in the audience, who have all come over to witness the students' performances.

Meanwhile, from backstage, all of the students were getting themselves ready, with some making last minute adjustments and memorizing their lines.

Spike looked outside to see it was a full house outside, "Wow, it's almost like all of New York has come to watch the show," He commented, before he recognizes some familiar faces in the crowd. "Whoa, no way! The Crystal Shadowbolts are here! And so are Gilda and Gabby!"

From the crowd, Fleur smiled as she waved a hand to Spike, which the young prince returned with a blush. Looking up, he smiled to see his mom and aunt were also in the audience. But his eyes nearly bulged out to see his uncle, with a camera.

"Uncle Scorpan!" Spike exclaimed.

"Scorpan is here?!" The Knights asked, as they all crowded from behind the dragon, and sure enough, they were just as surprised as their dragon friend is, to see their gargoyle mentor, in the audience. 

"Whoa! It really is him!" Featherweight commented. "And look, he's not alone!"

Sitting besides the gargoyle-turned-human are an asian man dressed in red-black robe, accompanied by two girls dressed in blue and pink hoodies, and an anthropomorphic parrot wearing a large trench coat to conceal her identity.

"It's Sensei Mako!" Spike exclaimed. "And that must be Mina and Ember!"

"Captain Celaeno!" Pipsqueak cheered excitedly. "She made it here too!"

"Okay everyone!" Sunset called out, recalling the entire casts backstage. "Group huddle."

Everyone all gathered around Sunset Shimmer as she prepared to deliver one final pep talk, before the show begins.

"We've had this coming for a long time," Sunset began. "This is it. The night of nights. No more rehearsing, or nursing a part. We know every part by hearts. All that's left now is to get out there and put on a show that will bring the house down."

"YEAH!!!" Every actors and backstage crew shouted, with Bulk Bicep's being the loudest, "YEAH!!!"

"Break a leg!" Sunset shouted, as everyone all went their separate ways to their assigned roles, until the only ones left were just Sunset herself, the Mane Six, and Spike.

"Unbelievable," Spike began. "We've spent the several past months, fighting bad guys, saving magical creatures, and experiencing life-threatening scenarios, just to put on a school play?" The young prince shook his head and sighed, "Yeah, that sounds far-fetched now that I say it out loud."

"But look on the bright side, Spike!" Pinkie Pie chirped. "At least it's not boring~!"

"Yeah, life's an adventure!" Rainbow smiled. "So enjoy it while it lasts!"

"Although, it's nice to at least take a break now and then and enjoy life without the fights and drama," Fluttershy added.

"Just live your life with your loved ones," Applejack joined in. "That's all that matters. Being around with loved ones and making fond memories that are worth a lifetime."

"Indubitably, darling!" Rarity smiled. "But don't forget that you'll always shine brighter than a diamond in the sky..."

"...when family loves you for who you are," Sunset Shimmer finished.

"Got that right," Spike nodded. "I love you girls! I owe my life to all of you!"

"We love you too, Spike!" Twilight smiled.

"And we'll cross more than two worlds for you and back," Rainbow Dash added, as they all gathered around Spike, embracing him in a large group hug, smothering him with kisses.

Watching from behind some curtains is the ever jealous and irritated Prince Blueblood.

"Ooh, the nerve of that Dragon Prince!" Prince Blueblood grumbled. "How dare he gets all the girls, while I get bumps and bruises? And as if that wasn't enough, he got the leading role of this show? The leading role that is RIGHTFULLY MINE!" Prince Blueblood's annoyance turns into a devious grin, "But soon. I will be rid of him, once and for all!"

Prince Blueblood then makes his way back to a large crate and proceeded to brag, like a devious mastermind, who has clearly gone off the deep ends.

"My latest ingenious ploy yet!" Blueblood began sinisterly, twirling a curly fake mustache, playing on the role of a sinister villain. "Step 1: Lure Spike to this crate. Step 2: Trap him in the crate. Step 3: Send that Dragon Prince imposter of a cousin to Africa, in a lions reserve. Step 4: I WILL TAKE OVER THIS STORY AND REBOOT SO THAT I AM ITS NEW LEADING PROTAGONIST!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!"

Unfortunately, for Prince Blueblood, he was so caught in his hammy villainous breakdown, that he failed to realize he had walked into the box, tripping up the wire, trapping himself in the process.

"AH! Help!" Prince Blueblood screamed, pounding the box from inside. "Help! Somebody help! I'm trapped in my own trap!" He then talked to himself. "Oh! Look what I've become. I'm a prince-in-distress, in my own trap! HELP!"

At that exact moment, some of the Knights and Thorax happened to pass by, when they noticed the box.

"Hey look!" Button Mash pointed to the box. "We've got a delivery box!"

"Yeah, you're right!" Thorax noted, as he and the boys read, "It says here it's.....hey! This isn't ours! It says it's supposed to be shipped off to Africa!"

"Looks like there's been a mislabel," Pipsqueak deduced. "Well, only one thing left to do."

"Yo, Derpy!" Rumble shouted, whistling the delivery girl over. "Special delivery for Africa here!"

From inside his own package trap, Blueblood wailed, "No! Wait! Don't ship me to Africa! Don't ship me to Africa!" But it was no use. The poor, arrogant, pompous prince was taking the next speedy delivery to Africa.




To begin the play.

Just like they did in rehearsal, Rarity and Twilight were the first to start the scene, with Rarity's character, Selfie Soot, expressing her dreams and desire to go to Shiny City.

"Ma! Pa!" Selfie Soot began dramatically. “I must leave this do nothing, humdrum, lump of coal town. I’m going to be the best disco dancer that club Everfit has ever seen!” She said, while doing a few dance steps.

"Bury those silly dreams in a slag, Sweet Selfie," Twilight replied, in-character, putting on a cranky old woman's voice. "Only fools try to make it big in Shiny City!"




Next scene

Like in rehearsal, the following scene shows Sweet Selfie, all by her lonesome in a desolate mine.

"How will I ever become a disco dancer when all I know is coal, coal, oh coooaaaaaal?" Rarity sobbed dramatically, as she fainted into the arms of Bulk Biceps in his coal costume.

"Your canary tears have summoned me my child," Rainbow Dash's voice called out.

Then, in a puff of confetti, provided by Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash stood onstage, in her Fairy Boot Mother Costume.

"It is I, your fairy BOOT mother~" She declared dramatically.

With that, the entire audience exploded into a loud uproar of laughter. The loudest of all goes to Gilda, who struggles to hold onto Gabby for support.

"That's the most funniest thing I've ever seen!" Gilda laughed her heart out.

"Do not despair," Rainbow continued. "For all coals turn to diamonds!"

And just like in rehearsal, Rarity was given the same diamond boots to wear. At that moment, Spike appeared on stage, as his character, Skater, holding his hand out to Selfie Soot.

"Hey Selfie Soot!" Spike said, in-character. "Let's dance!"

"Groovy!" Rarity smiled as she took Spike by the hand.

With that, Spike and Rarity were ready to perform their duet musical number, with an upbeat music playing in the background, which they danced to, like they had been rehearsing for.


Shakira - Hips Don't Lie ft. Wyclef Jean

Skater:
I never really knew that you could dance like this
You make a man want to speak Spanish

Chorus:
Como se llama (si), bonita (si), mi casa (si), su casa

Skater: "Shake it! Shake it, Selfie!"

Selfie: Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a lady go mad
So be wise and keep on
You know you got me hypnotized

Skater: Uno, dos, tres, quatro

Together: And we're on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right

Selfie: All the attraction

Skater: The tension

Together: Everybody can see, this is perfection

Chorus: Senorita, feel the conga
Let me see you move like you come from Colombia

Selfie: Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a lady go mad
So be wise and keep on
You know you got me hypnotized

Together: And we're on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right

Selfie: All the attraction

Skater: The tension

Together: Don't you see baby, this is perfection

"And speaking of perfection," Skater turns to Selfie, and beckoned her, "Shake it! Shake it, Selfie!"

With a giggle, Selfie shakes her groove thing, "Oh, Skater," She complied, before turning to point her partner, "Ooh, groove it Skater," With that, it was Skater's turn to shake his groove things.

Together: And we're on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right

Selfie: All the attraction

Skater: The tension

Together: Everybody can see, this is perfection


Together, Spike and Rarity ended their musical number in a dip, all the while not taking their eyes off from one another. This earned them a round of applause and whistles from the audience, until the curtain drops on them to begin the next scene.




The rest of the school play went on, following the story of Selfie Soot and Skater as they journey to Shiny City, where Selfie enters a disco dancing contest to prove herself as the greatest dancer to have ever graced the city. At the same time, unfortunately, she had unintentionally sparked a rivalry in another group of girl disco dancers, who were all competing for Skater's heart.

Skater's old gang tried to persuade him to return to their group, and leave the life of a dancer behind. But Skater refuses, having grown in love with Self Soot during the development of the story.

In the meantime, Skater's gang members started falling in love with some of the girls in the rival gang.


Everybody – Justice Crew


Very soon, the Knights, stood up on stage with Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle, and a few more girls.

For this scene, the Knights dressed up as Skater's gangsters, performing a musical number with the girls, who were casted as the gangsters' on/off girls. The boys were all performing and singing their dance number, while the girls acted out in their attempts to come off as playing hard to get.

However, the boys were undeterred and continued in their attempts to charm the girls. This earns the boys and the girls another round of applause from the audience as the show continues.




Eventually, the end of the play soon came. To close the play, Spike stepped forward to sing in his mic.

In this scene of Dazzles, Selfie Soot has finally achieved her dream to be recognized as the most talented disco dancer that Shiny City has ever seen. Now she wishes to move forward and enter an international dancing competition to be recognized all over the world. Unfortunately, Selfie Soot was unsure of herself.

Fortunately, Skater came forward, along with the friends they made, including Selfie's former rivals, and her parents who have had a change of heart to fully support their daughter's decision. 




Believe In Yourself - Jackie Chan




Behind the curtains, the girls on backstage couldn't help but feel their heartstrings being tugged, as they listened intently with Spike's singing.

"My puppy," Fluttershy smiled sweetly.

Sunset placed her hands over her rapid heartbeat, "For you Spike, I'll always be strong for a tomorrow," She sighed. "Because my past is not today."

From the crowd, Princess Celestia was welling up with tears, as she listened to her son's colorful voice. Sitting beside her, Princess Luna held her sister's hand tightly, while handing over a tissue for the sun princess to dry her eyes with.

Once the song came to the end, the audience all got up and applauded, with Spike taking a bow. The curtain closed for a moment, before it opens up to reveal the whole cast joined hands in hands.

"That's my son! That's my son!" Princess Celestia cheered loudly.

"SPLENDID PERFORMANCE, DEAR NEPHEW!!!" Princess Luna cheered in her Royal Canterlot Voice.

"Ow!" Scorpan moaned, nearly dropping the camera he was using to record the moment for posterity. "Very nice," He complimented, Luna, while digging his ringing ear.

Next to her uncle Mako, Mina was clapping her claws, until she turned her head next to Ember, to find, much to her irritation, the sapphire Dragon Lord had fallen asleep.

"EMBER!!!" Mina roared, nudging the dragon-in-human form awake.

"Huh? Is it over?" Ember asked.




Soon after the play was over, it was time for the reception. Everyone were all gathered together in the afterparty, to congratulate and exchange their heartfelt pride for every performers' role in the show.

Button Mash was hugging his mom, with his older brother giving him a playful noogie. The same with Rumble and his brother, Thunderlane, and their dad. Tender Taps was hugging his parents, happy to have overcome his stage frights, and to relieve himself of some jitters. Featherweight was also expressing heartfelt relief with his parents. Lastly, Pipsqueak received a pat on the shoulder from his parental substitute, Captain Celaeno.

The Mane Six and Sunset Shimmer also received loving prides and joys from their family, leaving Spike alone with his mother, aunt, and uncle.

"You did good, Spike," Scorpan patted Spike on the shoulder.

Princess Celestia hugged Spike tightly, smothering him in her chest, as she nuzzled her cheek on top of his head.

"Little Sunshine," Celestia smiled tearfully. "You never ceased to make me proud."

"I too am also proud of your stellar performance, nephew," Luna added. "I am happy to have gotten to see it, after all these years."

"I just can't believe after everything...I actually got to be a normal human for tonight, just to put on this show to the end," Spike sighed. "Talk about being under a lot of pressure..."

Scorpan nodded with a solemn look, "I hope you can forgive me, Spike...I have known the legend of the DragonFire for a long time. I have always known that the presence of such power blessed within your very soul would mean you were destined for something great...and for that, I've put too much expectation on you..."

"You were just doing what you thought was right, uncle," Spike shrugged. "You took me to Equestria when I was a baby...and if not for you, then I'd never have met mom! I probably wouldn't even have a mom, if it weren't for you."

"I'm proud to be your mom, Spike," Celestia smiled. "DragonFire, or not, you had given me something that I could never part with. The love of a mother, for her children. Before you came into my life, and every other ponies' lives, I had distanced myself, detaching myself from the rest of my subjects, in hopes of never having my heart broken again. But then you came, and you reminded me what it is like to have a family again."

"And for that, we are all together again, at last," Luna smiled, expressing her never ending gratitude of being freed of her darkness, from Nightmare Moon, to reuniting with her family. "We are all one big happy family again."

Spike nodded, before he let out a yawn, "Boy, I'm bushed. I'm about to head back to my apartment. See you some other time?"

"But Spike," Celestie began. "I haven't even told you yet."

"Told me what?"

Celestia and Luna both exchanged smiles, before they looked back to Spike, with Celestia being the first to share the news, "That we have finished refurbishing your old room, back in Canterlot."

"And we were wondering if you would like to come back with us for the night," Luna finished. "Or two, however long you wished to stay."

"Whoa, really? That would be great!" Spike smiled, before he received a loving hug from his mother, once again.

"Thank you for making me a mom again," Celestia smiled tenderly.

"And thank you for making me an aunt," Luna added as she joined the hug.

Spike returns the hug with his mom and aunt, before he looked up to see his uncle Scorpan, standing and recording the scene, on his camera.

"Tail of the dragon," Spike secretly conjured his dragon tail, to ensnare his uncle, pulling him in for a hug.

Eventually, everyone were all on their way home, when Luna noticed something, or someone, was missing.

"Has anybody seen Blueblood?" She asked.





Somewhere in Africa


"DOWN SIMBA!!" Blueblood screamed frantically, hanging the top of a tree for dear life, as a pack of lions were reaching their paws out for him. "DOWN!!" Looking up, Blueblood saw the readers and cried out, "Hey! All of you happy peoples out there! SAVE ME!!!"
> When Love Takes You In (Final Chapter)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




Several centuries ago




When Love Takes You In


Inside a room, at the top of one of the school’s tower laid a sleeping young alicorn.

“Tia!” An even younger blue alicorn poked her head up, from the side of the bed. "Wake up! Wake up!"

"Lulu," The older alicorn grumbled. "Go back to sleep."

"I can't," Lulu replied, before she dramatically explains, "The sky's awake, so I'm awake. So we have to play!"

"Go play by yourself," Tia replied, shoving the blue alicorn off the bed.

Little Lulu pouted, before she got an idea. Crawling back up on her sister's bed, she magically pulled Tia's eyelid up, "Do you want a cake?" Lulu asked.

In response, Tia grinned mischievously as she and her sister quickly raced down the stairs, and into the kitchen, where they were soon baking cakes, while playing a whole variety of games, involving the food present.

"Patty cake, patty cake, baker's stallion!" The two sister's chanted. "Bake me a cake with cherries on top!"

The two sisters giggled, before it was interrupted, by a stern, "Ahem!"

Standing in the doorway, tapping his hoof, with a nightcap over his head, was a grumpy unicorn stallion, clad in night blue robe.

Little Tia and Lulu both smiled sheepishly, while shaking in fear, "Professor Starswirl," Tia smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to ground two young troublemaking alicorns, who should be sleeping," Starswirl the Bearded said sternly.

It wasn’t long until the olden unicorn wizard was escorting the two troublemakers back to their room.

“Honestly, Celestia,” Starswirl huffed. “How do either of you expect to grow into fine alicorn princesses, if you can’t behave yourselves?”

“Hey! It was Luna’s idea!” Celestia whined. “She talked me into it!”

“Did not!” Luna argued.

“Did too!”

“Did not!”

“You knew cakes are my favorite food!”

“It’s not my fault you can pack more cakes a day, than your fat flank!”

“My flank is not—“

“SILENCE!” Starswirl the Bearded stomped his hooves, silencing the two sisters. “This is what I’m talking about. Luna! You’re young. You need some sleep. And Celestia! You are older and more mature. You should know better! Try to act your own age!”

“What? Like you?” Celestia scoffed. “Being all grouchy and cranky, because of a stiff back? Or because you haven’t trimmed your beard in forever?”

“That is besides the point, young lady,” Starswirl scowled. “Also, show respect to your elders.”

“Ha! If I ever have a child, then I won’t be as cranky or grumpy as you, long beard,” Celestia huffed, with little Luna joining.





Ten years ago


"First day of school, first day of school!" Young Spike barked, in dog form, happily bouncing on top of his mother. "Wake up, mom! Wake up!"

Celestia groaned in her sleep, "I don't want to go to school, five more minutes," She pleaded.

"Not you, mom. Me!" Spike barked.

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I’m gonna play with all the new kids and make new friends and learn how to use my powers more!”

Spike continued to bark excitedly, before he tugged on his mother's wings.

"Okay, okay, I'm up, I'm up," Celestia replied, as she slowly got up, lets out a yawn, and stretched her wings. "How do parents put up with their kids?"

Spike was still barking and jumping excitedly, which soon escalated when he became nothing but a blur of purple and green, when he tripped and fell out of the room, and a crash was heard. 

"SPIKE!!" Celestia exclaimed, snapping fully awake.

Celestia had rushed outside to see her adopted son, reverted back to his human form, with his head stuck in a vase.

"Oh my goodness, sweetie!" Celestia said frantically, as she magically holds a firm grip on the vase, and her son's body.

“No, no, it's okay. I got you. Hold still," With a firm grunt, Princess Celestia pulled the vase off of her son's head, before she levitated him back into her room to check him over.

“Are you hurt somewhere? Do you still have your toes and fingers? Any broken bones? How many feathers am I holding?"

Spike, nonchalantly, answered, "No. Yes. No. Three."

"What's the color of my mane?" Celestia asked.

"Mom, I'm okay," Spike tried to reason.

"Answer the color question, or you're grounded!" Celestia said sternly.

With a roll of his eyes, Spike answered, "Blue, green, and pink."

"SEE?! Something is wrong with you!" Celestia panicked. "My mane color is blue, green, and pink…” She said, while checking her mane herself.

"You are okay…”

"Yes mom," Spike answered.

With that, Princess Celestia took a deep breath, before she looked at her son.

"Okay. Now will you promise me you'll be more careful from now on, young man?" She asked.

"Yes mom," Spike bowed his head in respect. "I will. Now c'mon mom! Let's go to school!" He jumped excitedly.

"Ah ah ah, you forgot to brush," Celestia said sternly.

"Oh, come on," Spike groaned.

"Do you want me to take away your training with Scorpan?" Celestia asked, towering sternly over Spike.

Spike thought about it, and answered, "No?"

"Brush!"

With a final groan, and a roll of his eyes, Spike made a quick run to the bathroom, and brushed his hair and teeth, before he came back out, with a neatly combed hair.

"Okay, I'm done!" He said quickly.

"Oh, you missed a spot!" Celestia pointed.

"Where?" The boy asked, looking at himself over.

"Here," Celestia pointed.

"Where?"

"Here!" Celestia touched Spike's nose, resulting in a giggle.

With a mischievous grin, Celestia quickly chases after Spike, who laughed as he tries, and failed to escape his mother's grip, as she used her wings to tickle him.

Several maids were passing by, when they stopped and took a peek, enjoying the sight of the Sun Princess, having fun with her son, the Dragon Prince. Somewhere in the castle, Prince Blueblood poked his head out of his room, revealing his mud covered face, and messed up mane.

"HEY, SHUT UP OUT THERE!!!" The grumpy prince hollered. "I'M TRYING TO GET MY BEAUTY REST HERE!!!"





Upon arriving at the magic school, both Spike, Celestia, and the sun princess's secretary, Raven Inkwell, were all greeting and welcoming every new students, ranging from ponies to magical creatures of all kind, except for dragons. 

Though a lot of ponies were eager to greet Princess Celestia and Raven Inkwell, Spike was another story.

Even though he didn’t mean any harm, the little fillies and colts were still hesitant around him then. This left Spike rather disheartened.

Just then, a certain lavender unicorn filly came galloping over, with her mother and father, all covered in mud.

"Hi, Twilight!" Spike greeted the unicorn filly.

"Oh! Hi, Spike!" Twilight greeted cheerfully, from her mother’s back.

“Hmph!” A snooty mare huffed, passing by.

“My goodness!” Celestia exclaimed. “It seemed you had an adventure getting here.”

“Sorry we’re late,” Twilight Velvet apologized on their behalf. “It’s a long story.”

Celestia smiled in understanding, “The important thing is that you’re here,” She assured, before turning her attention to Twilight. “So good to see you again, Twilight Sparkle.” She smiled. “Here, let me take your saddle bag and you can go inside and clean up.”

“No, let me!” Spike offered.

Twilight held her bag up, only for the mud to make her lose her grip on her mother’s back, and fell off.

“Whoa! Gotcha!” Spike said, catching the filly, only for him to stumble back, crashing into his mom, resulting the mud to splash all over.

Celestia stood before everyone, covered in mud. Twilight had a look of worry on her face.

“I’m sorry!” Twilight apologized. “I didn’t mean to-“

“It was my fault mom,” Spike said, defending Twilight. “Punish me, not her!”

Blueblood was passing by when he heard the commotion. Obviously, he was eager to see how it played out.

Raising her hoof, Celestia touched their noses, "Boop!" Celestia said. "Now we're even."

Blueblood grunted in disappointment, “And that goes triple for you Vlad!” With that, Celestia magically splattered mud on Blueblood’s face, causing him to run off, screaming.

“Is he always like that?” Twilight asked.

“Nah. One time, it was a cupcake,” Spike answered, resulting a fit of laughter.





Later, after they were cleaned up, both Spike and Twilight got settled into their room. Afterward, Twilight left to explore the castle, while Spike sat alone on a separate bed.

"Nervous, are you, Spike?" Celestia asked, picking up on Spike's anxiety.

"No! I mean, just a little," Spike replied. "This is kinda new to me. I mean, I'm going to sleep in another bedroom that's not close to you?"

"Oh, Spike,"Celestia reassured. "I'll always be here to help and guide you, together with all of your classmates, and every creatures. But something tells me that you'll learn a lot more about friendship, if you study closer with Twilight. One thing's for certain, she wouldn't have made it into my school, without you."

“Maybe. But I’m scared. What if I don’t do good? What if I don’t like it here? What if nobody doesn’t like me?”

"Oh, Spike," Celestia wrapped her wing around Spike, as she held him close. "I know how scary it may seem. But sometimes, you just need to give some things a chance."

Spike looked reluctant, but eventually he accepted it, "Okay mom," Spike answered. "I'll try."

"That's my boy," Celestia smiled, as she kissed Spike's cheek, before she released Spike, who was on his way to join Twilight. However, he quickly came back to give his mother the last hug of the day.

"I love you, mom," Spike nuzzled.

"I love you too, sweetie," Celestia returned the affection.





Present


Princess Celestia was lost in her thoughts, reminiscing about the happy days of herself and Spike. She was so lost in her reminiscing, that she didn’t hear her sister calling.

“Tia? Tia? TIA?!” Luna shouted, which finally startled her sister.

Celestia looked up from the photo album she had lost herself into, turning to her right to see her little sister, Luna, with an opossum sitting on her head, tapping a hoof impatiently at her.

“Oh! I’m sorry, Luna,” Princess Celestia apologized, until she noticed the opossum on her sister’s head. “Oh! I see you’ve made a new friend.”

“Yes. You’re not the only one with a pet anymore,” Luna replied, before she introduced her new friend. “This is Tiberius. But you may call him Tibbles for short.”

The opossum squeaked in response, greeting the Sun Princess.

“Hello there,” Celestia returned the greeting, before she looked at her sister. “Anything else you need, Luna? Or did you only wanted to introduce me to your friend?”

“No,” Luna shook her head. “I was just looking for you. But I can’t help noticing you’ve found a really good book.”

Celestia simply giggled in response, and shared the album with her sister, who took a seat beside her.

“I was just having a trip down memory lane,” Celestia sighed nostalgically. “It almost felt like yesterday when my baby was so small, but already so dedicated and so brave.”

“I’ve heard how special he was to you,” Princess Luna replied with a look of newfound attachment. “But now I can see for myself just how much.”

Celestia sighed, “He really is that precious to me. I’m certain this must be how all mothers feel about their children.”

“Indeed,” Princess Luna replied. “I should know. I have adopted and raised twelve children.”

“Oh yes. Your Children of the Night.”

“Yes. Them,” Luna sighed with a solemn look, with a glint of regret in her eyes. “Things were so much different back when. It was so hard, and…I’ve made too many bad decisions…”

“No, Luna,” Celestia wrapped a wing around her sister in a comforting hug. “It was my fault. I never should’ve turned you away. You nor your family.”

“But I let my anger and my frustration transform me into Nightmare Moon,” Luna continued. “And in turn, it transformed my Royal Guards into the Shadowbolts. And they attacked your son…”

“…Well, I supposed they retaliated after I took their mother,” Celestia replied.

An awkward silence followed, from which Celestia and Luna both decided to brush off the unpleasant memories to the side.

“Let’s not dwell too much on the past,” Celestia suggested. “My son will be here soon and we shouldn’t let him see us like this.”

“Indeed not,” Luna agreed.

The two sisters resumed looking back in the photo album, until they came across a photo of young Spike playing a piano.

“Ah yes. I remember this one,” Celestia smiled thoughtfully. “This is another one of those moments when my son found me…depressed. And so he cheered me up with a song, declaring he’d be my hero.”

“Really?” Luna mused. “How did it go?”

“I’ll show you,” Lighting up her horn, concentrating her magic, Celestia cast a spell on the photo, which then played the memory as if it was a moving picture.

In the flashback, young Spike was playing on a piano, singing to his mom to cheer her up. A song of him making a vow that he will be her hero, protecting her, Equestria, the little ponies, and magical creatures inhabitants.

Needless to say, Princess Celestia was moved by the song, which made her glow brighter than the sun.

Princess Luna was just as touched and enchanted by her nephew’s singing.


I’ll Be Your Hero — David Copperfield


Not long after the memory ended, an elderly unicorn stallion with a bushy mustache entered the room.

“There you are your highnesses,” He greeted.

Celestia turned and greeted, “Hello Kibitz!”

Clearing his throat, Kibitz began, "Presenting your son, Prince Spike.”

He bowed, as Spike walked into the room, with Peewee perched on his shoulder.

"Hi mom! Hi auntie!" Spike greeted.

"SPIKE!!" Celestia cried happily, being the first to leap forward and wrapped her wings around her son, pulling him in close for a loving hug. "I'm so happy you're here!"

"Same here mom," Spike smiled, while feeling his life being squeezed out of him by his mother's loving grip.

"Greetings, nephew," Luna greeted as she came up to the boy and too wrapped him in a loving hug, though not as strong and death gripping as Celestia's.

Turning to his left, Spike came face to face with Luna's newly adopted opossum, perching on her head.

”Whoa! Where'd you come from?" He exclaimed.

"Oh yes," Luna smiled, as she picked up the opossum with her magic and levitated him to Spike. "Nephew, meet Tiberius. But you can call him Tibbles for short."

"Oh, hi Tibbles," Spike greeted with a stroke of the possum's head, earning some squeaks of delight.

Peewee hopped from Spike's shoulder and onto his hands to meet the possum. The two looked at each other for a moment, before they took off running and flying off into the castle to play, leaving their owners to themselves.

Spike was just about to speak when he was suddenly interrupted by the sound of children running towards him.

"Big brother!"

Spike turned to look and sees Luna's children stampeding towards him, tackling the Dragon Prince in a loving embrace.

It warmed both Princess Celestia and Luna’s hearts to see both their children getting along with each other. They were all truly becoming a happy family as they should be a long time ago.

Nearby, Kibitz was hiding behind a wall, silently sobbing to himself, while clutching his chest.

“My heart! It’s too full!” Kibitz sobbed.





Later on, Spike was sitting with his mother and aunt, in the dining hall, where a large array of plates have been prepared for them.

“Wow!” Spike awed in amazement at all the fancy foods prepared for them. “So many!”

“We are, after all, celebrating for your return,” Celestia smiled, while licking her lips at the sight of the cakes and pies on the table.

"Yeah. My return," Spike lets out a sigh, which caught Celestia's attention.

In the meantime, Princess Luna’s children were all taking their seats and were fighting over some food, when their mother stopped them.

”BE STILL!!!” Princess Luna shouted, stopping her children, and frightening them into obedience. “Take your seats.”

Luna’s children immediately complied.

“Good. Now then, without further ado. Let the feast, begin.”

Concentrating her magic, Princess Luna levitated the plates up and put an equal amount of foods, on each plates, for her children. Spike was soon given his own plate.

Throughout the dinner, Spike’s eating began to slow down. A sign that his appetite was waning. His mother was the first to take notice.

"What's the matter, sweetie?" Celestia asked, worryingly. "Are you feeling alright? Are you sick?"

"I'm...I'm fine...I..."

Unfortunately, Spike was unable lie to his mother. It was almost as if the stress and strain of recent events have finally caught up with him. As if his shoulders were finally giving away to the weight of the world, Spike slumped in his seat, and let out all of the doubts and fears he kept all bottled up.

"Mom...do you think I have the makings of being a great hero?" He asked anxiously. "Because lately...I...I've been thinking...and I...I realize I've made some bad decisions, here and there and...I just don't know if I can...if I could ever be the hero you wanted me to be. The hero everyone need. I've just found out that I was blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime force of magic, and...I just can't protect everyone. I couldn't even save you, without breaking your heart. I get it now..."

Before Spike could continue, he felt a large wing wrapping him close to his mother, who wrapped a hoof around him, for extra security.

"Oh Spike..." Celestia said, as she pulled her little prince close to nuzzle, "You don't have to carry this burden alone. Don't forget, you're never alone in these times, Spike. We're all here to help you," She reassured. "Your Uncle Scorpan, Twilight, even all the girls whom you've enchanted with your own Spike way. Everyone are all with you, until the end. And I'll always be here for you, if you ever need help. Or you can always write me a letter, or visit me, in your dreams."

Princess Celestia tightens the hug, bringing Spike closer to her chest, practically smothering him in her loving embrace. Spike could feel himself calming down, as he felt more secure in his mother's embrace, and his entire being was enveloped in a familiar warm feeling. He wonders if every humans have feel this way, towards their parents, even after they aged into adulthood?


[You'll Be In My Heart]


Spike nodded, as he held his adopted mother's wing close, "You're amazing mom, you know that?" he asked. "I don't know how you do it all, as a ruler of Equestria, and a hero. Sometimes, I wish I could be just like you."

Celestia simply shook her head, "I don't want you to be like me. I just want you to be better.

Celestia has a solemn look on her face, before she lectures, "The life of Equestria's ruler is never easy, Spike. Raising the sun and the moon, in the absence of my sister, are two things, but I also had to appear strong and brave for our people," Celestia closed her eyes, as she recalled all the tragedies she had to endure for the last thousand years, plus ten.

Celestia looked across her table, watching as Luna was trying to get her children to behave properly at the table. But to no avail as the rambunctious children were all chattering and running rampant.

"I've also had to endure the heartaches of loneliness. No pony to talk to. No pony to love. And no pony who can make me smile in return," Celestia looked at her son, as she place her hoof on his shoulder, "Mainly because, I'm afraid of losing someone I've grown very fond of, the same way I lost Luna, and you. But I still do. I still let myself be attach to my precious treasures, because...it reassures me that I have a heart that can love...and that can be broken."

A single tear trickles down Celestia's cheek, as the sadness was clear as day in her beautiful violet eyes. Her eyes were so glossy and clear as the calm waters that have been undisturbed. So clear that Spike could see his own reflection in his adopted mother's eyes. It was like he can himself into her eyes, seeing how much he meant to her.

It was a reminder of how his story got started, because he was found by Scorpan, and brought to Celestia, who immediately adopted him without a second thought. And her maternal love for him was what inspired him with a filial devotion to fight and protect Equestria, with the power of the DragonFire he was blessed with. At the end of the day, he's not just a hero, but a young man who is willing to protect everyone he loved and do his part in making the worlds better places.

Spike reached his arms up and hugged Celestia, "You won't have to worry about losing me again mom."

Spike could feel something wet trickle down his neck. His mother must be crying onto his shoulders, "I love you, my little sunshine."




Later, after dinner was over, Spike was exploring the castle. He remembered having only been in the castle, at least once, during Nightmare Moon’s reign of terror as the dreaded Nightmare Smooze.

This time, however, Spike intended to familiarize himself with the entirety of the castle’s foundation to the max.

"Okay, so the library is to the East, the indoor swimming pool is to the West, on the second floor, and...no, wait. Was it the opposite?" Spike looked from one hallway to the next, trying to find out where he was. "Great. I'm lost again..."

At that moment, a guard was passing by, when Spike stopped him.

"Uh, excuse me, sir?" Spike asked the guard. "Where is the library again?"

"Down the hall and to the left," The guard pointed.

"Oh, thanks!" Spike thanked the guard, before he was on his way.

He was just passing through the hallway, when he happened upon a room, with the name tag, next to the door that reads: Somnambula.

Spike quickly remembered the last time he interacted with the Pegasus. He cringed at the thought the last time they talked, it was on bad terms. Wanting to clear things up, Spike walked up to Somnambula’s door and knocked.

“Hello Somnambula?” Spike called. “It’s me, Spike. I…just wanna have a talk with you, if that’s okay…”

But there was nothing but silence that greeted Spike. Spike then resumes knocking.

“Hello? Somnambula?”

After a few more silent minutes have passed, Spike reaches out for the doorknob, turning it slightly to reveal the door was unlocked.

As Spike entered Somnambula's room and looked around, he noticed the Egyptian Pegasus was nowhere to be found.

"Looking for someone, nephew?" The voice of Luna behind him asked.

Spike turns to see his aunt standing over the doorway. With a sigh, Spike replied, "Yeah, I was wondering if Somnambula was here. I... said some pretty harsh things to her the last time we were face to face and I guess you say that I wanna make amends with her."

Luna could see the look of remorse on Spike's face, even though she doesn't necessarily blame him for his harshness towards Somnambula. It was then her turn to sigh, "I'm afraid you're a little too late dear nephew, Somnambula... has left and may not be coming back."

Spike's eyes widened, "What...? Why? What happened?"

"Well..."






Half life 2 Triage at Dawn (Extended)


Somnambula has been sitting near her fireplace for hours, contemplating everything that has happened up until this point. As much as she hates to admit it, every word Fear Haunter said to her was true. She was the Pillar of Hope, yet all she did was cause pain and suffering wherever she went. She failed Starswirl, she failed Stygian, she failed her fellow pillars, she failed Princess Luna and her children, she failed her Shadowbolts, and worst of all, she failed herself.

Even though she was free of the corruption Nightmare Moon placed her, it didn't rid her of all the horrid deeds she committed, nor did it wipe away the terrible memories of those dreaded times. 

After doing much thinking, she finally came to a conclusion...

She removed her dress and hood and threw them in the fireplace. She then brings out a large travel bag and begins to pack the necessary requirements for a long journey. Just then, she heard a loud knock at her door. Somnambula tensed up for almost a minute before saying, "Who is it?"

"It is I, old friend," Came Luna's voice, "May I come in?"

Somnambula thought about it for a moment before replying, "You may."

Luna opened the door and was shocked to see the Egyptian Pegasus out of her usual attire and appeared to be packing for a trip.

"May... I ask what is going on?" The lunar princess asked.

With a sigh, Somnambula simply replied, "I'm... leaving." 

Luna's eyes widened, “Leaving?!? But why?!”

Somnambula shot Luna a flat look as if the alicorn asked her a stupid, which in a way she kinda has, “You know why.”

“Somnambula… You don’t have to do this.” Luna pleaded.

“But I do, old friend. I think it’s best that I find my redemption… elsewhere.”

You don’t think you can find it here?” Luna asked.

“I left too many scars here, old friend.” Somnambula replied, “I failed to save you from corruption, separated a mother from her child for ten long years, and even tried to flood the entire world, among other things. Whenever I walk down from these castle halls to the city streets, I receive nothing but looks of fear, hatred, or both.” 

“There’s… nothing I can do to talk you out of this, can I?” A saddened Luna asked.

Somnambula then sighed, “I’m sorry Luna but I thought about this long and hard. I… think it’s best that I leave. To travel the world and find myself.”

“Would we ever see you again, old friend?”

“I’ll try to come and visit every now and then.” Somnambula replied with a soft but sad smile. 

Both mares then head over to the balcony and take in the crisp night air.

“Somnambula, if you ever need somepony to talk to, you know where to find me.” Luna said.

Somnambula smiled, “Thank you old friend, I will.”

The two mares gave each other a goodbye hug which lasted for a couple minutes before they broke away.

Spreading her wings, Somnambula took off into the night sky with Luna sadly watching on until she could no longer see her.





Present


“And I haven’t seen her since then.” Luna ended the tale. A sad expression visible on her face.

Spike was shocked by this. That shock is soon replaced by guilt. He is saddened that he was unable to patch things up with Somnambula. She was out there somewhere, thinking that he still hates her. All he can do right now is hope that she finds what she’s looking for and maybe one day, the two can make amends…

"I hope she finds what she's looking for..." Spike muttered sadly, as he and his Aunt Luna left the room, looking exactly the way it was when Somnambula left it.

In a way, it looked as though Somnambula will be coming back one day.





After leaving Somnambula's room, both Spike and Luna were soon roaming around the castle. Much like her nephew, Luna was just as lost.

"I forget where the kitchen is," Princess Luna sighed. "I haven't gotten this lost than the time I wandered the Hall of Hooves, in our old castle. But at least the trap door slide was the fun part," She giggled at the last part.

"Old castle, huh?" Spike scratched his chin, trying to remember. "Oh yeah. Mom once told me that you and she didn't always grew up here. Uh...where was your old castle again?"

"We used to live in the middle of the Everfree Forest," Princess Luna answered.

"Oh! Yeah, I remember now!" Spike exclaimed, recalling the castle ruins. "We've been there a few times before...So, what was it like growing there?"

"Well, back in those days, me and Tia were just little ponies, learning to use our powers, under the tutelage of Starswirl the Bearded," Luna explained. "I suppose Starswirl wanted us to practice our magics away from pony civilization, which I can understand, after the incident when Tia had accidentally turned an entire village into frogs."

Spike nearly burst out laughing, "Did she really?"

"Oh there are a lot of things your mother has kept to herself," Luna winked mischievously, as she and Spike resume searching their way through the castle.

"I guess my memory is still a little fuzzy, if I'm still getting myself turned around a lot," Spike sighed.

"I share your conundrum, nephew," Princess Luna sympathized. "I've been gone for a thousand years, only to return to find the world has changed in my absence...and that I have a nephew!"

"Yeah, it's...mindblowing to knowing that Nightmare Moon and my Aunt Luna are one and the same," Spike agreed. "Now I know how Luke Skywalker felt about Darth Vader."

At the mention of her dark past, a look of regret was written across Princess Luna's face. She is clearly wracked up with an overwhelming amount of guilt of all the troubles she had caused towards her sister, to her kingdom, every ponies and magical creatures, and most of all, to the nephew she was just getting acquainted.

"I am truly sorry for my past aggressions as Nightmare Moon," Princess Luna apologized.

"It's okay, auntie," Spike replied. "The most important thing is, you're back now. So we can all be one big happy family, just like how mom always wanted."

This brought a small smile to Luna, who started to ask curiously, "So what has sister told you about me?"

"Everything," Spike smiled. "How you were her pride and joy, how your happiness means the world to her."

"Really?" Princess Luna asked, with a perked up joy in her voice, as if the new piece of information has renewed her. "Even after all the troubles I've caused her as Nightmare Moon?"

"Actually, the thing is...she never told me you were Nightmare Moon."

"Of course not," A voice spoke up, to which Princess Luna and Spike looked up to see Princess Celestia, walking behind them. "I can't have my son growing up, fearing his aunt."

"But you couldn't have told him the truth?" Luna challenged.

"I did told him the truth, about us, about you, from a certain point of view," Celestia explained. "Deep down, I always knew you would come to your senses...and that you would come back to me, my sweet Lulu. And I was right."

"And she didn't have to watch Star Wars to know that," Spike nudged his adopted aunt.

Princess Celestia then turned to another hall, while beckoning for both her sister and her son to follow, "Come. I want to show you something."

The three were later walking up a stair, all the way to the top of a tower, where they opened up the door, of a familiar room Spike remembered from his dreams.

"My old room!" Spike gasped, as he walks around, looking at his old stuffs from his forgotten childhood, sneezing slightly from the dusts and cobwebs that covered the room, from top to bottom.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Spike," Celestia apologized, before she focused her magic to clean up the room, until it was once again clean and brimming with life. "I meant to have it all cleaned up sooner, or later. But then I sort of wanted to leave it, exactly the way it was, to keep the memory of you fresh."

Spike looked around his old room, feeling himself being blown away from experiencing a blast from the past. It was so intense, he was certain he was being pelted by a raging tsunami. 

“It’s like a time capsule in here,” Spike finally spike up. “It’s like I never left a decade ago.”

Princess Celestia simply nodded her head, while Princess Luna looked at some of the old stuffs, even levitating an old teddy bear, with a worn out letter that reads: “To Aunt Luna ❤️”

Princess Luna turned to look at her nephew, smiling at how he thought of her, even before he got to properly meet her.

In the meantime, Spike walked over to his old bed, noting how small it is.

“Was I really that small?” He asked.

“You were the cutest little bundle of joy I ever saw,” Celestia smiled warmly.  "I loved you so much Spike. Back when, my world was bleak and meaningless without my sister. Because without her, I just couldn't bring myself to love. And then you came, and since then, you gave my life another meaning. And now, I have all of you together again!”

Celestia concentrated her magic again to levitate both Spike and Luna to her sides, pulling them close for a loving hug.

"I've lost you two once," Celestia sobbed. "I'm not about to lose you both again....from now on. Whatever happens, please, don't hesitate to ask for help from me. Is that understood?"

Luna nodded, "Of course sister."

"Yeah mom," Spike answered. "I promise."

“Good,” Celestia then let out a yawn. “I think it's time for us to go to sleep."

Then, without warning, there was a blinding flash of light. Once their visions were restored, Spike and Luna found themselves in Princess Celestia's room. Another place which Spike remembered seeing in his dreams.

"Oh wow..." Spike marveled.

"Tia?" Luna began. "What are we doing in your room? You know I have my own room, and a bed of my own."

"I know, I just thought...maybe you would like to sleep with me again, just like old times," Celestia answered, before she turned to look lovingly at Spike. "Except this time, with Spike."

"Me?" Spike pointed.

"Would it, be alright, if you could join us?" Princess Celestia asked, while shifting uneasily, a clear expression of her sudden awkwardness. "That is, if it's okay with you...I...I mean, I know you're a big boy now...and...this may sound awkward, coming from me...but I..."

Spike looked at both his mom and aunt, reading their heartfelt longing in their eyes. Even though he was no longer the little boy he was, they clearly want this. As for Spike, he had already spent a ten years sleeping by himself. Even though he had slept with Scorpan before, he still felt something was missing. Could this maybe what he is looking for?

"Mom, auntie," He began. "I'm not exactly a little kid anymore. I haven't slept with either of you in a long time. So you don't even have to ask."

The heartfelt smile on Celestia and Luna’s faces were clear as night and day.

They both moved to the sides, allowing young Spike to crawl into the center of the bed. Before long, he felt himself draped and wrapped up by his mother’s and aunt’s wings. In that moment, Spike felt a newfound sense of familiarity and security wash over him. He could feel himself growing smaller, as if he was a young boy again. But this time, there was a new loving embrace, from his aunt. He could feel himself being warmed up by the sun's glow, and cooled by the night's gentle shade.

Once Spike returned back to the present, he looked to his sides and needed to reassure himself that this was not a dream. It is real. He is in bed with both his adopted mother and his adopted aunt.

"I love you mom," Spike yawned. "Love you auntie."

"And we love you too, my little sunshine," Celestia smiled, giving Spike a gentle kiss on the head.

"Pleasant dreams, dear nephew," Luna added, giving him a loving peck of her own, on his cheek.

With that, Spike slept the night away, with his mom, and aunt, nuzzling together, and draping their wings across him, on both sides.

At long last, the three are together at last. Mother, son/nephew, and aunt. All three feeling safe and secure for the first time in years.

Unfortunately, Spike knew that the dangers of Equestria were far from gone. Fear Haunter, Bone Cruncher, Beezin, Hydia and her daughters, and many other villains were still out there plotting who knows what. Professor Chimera is still missing, the Cerulean Hunters holding him who knows where along with hunting other magical creatures. And who knows what other dark forces are over in the horizon waiting to make their move. After tonight, the forces of evil will once again make another move to destroy Equestria, the Human World, and beyond. And so many innocent lives will once again be threatened, meaning Spike must be there to defend it, with his friends and fellow heroes.

The young Prince doesn’t know what the future may hold in store for him. But through the night, his troubled thoughts were eased, knowing that he won’t be facing the conflicts alone. Not so long as he has his friends and families beside him. He knows that one day that he and the others will rescue Professor Chimera; take down Fear, Hydia, and the Cerulean Hunters; and take on and defeat what other forces of evil in the future.

The DragonFire is indeed a powerful force of magic, blessing only the noble of spirits and pure of hearts. But only when it is mastered correctly can it truly fulfill its full potential. Even now, a greater force is at work. The fabric of reality has begun to make its move, guiding the hands of time, shaping the past, present, and the future. For better or for worse.

Only time will tell what the future may hold.