After Equestria: The Crystal War

  I

David

David nearly died of cold. The moment he crossed the supposedly magical mirror he felt like he’d just taken a dip in the Antarctic. Cold threatened to overcome him, his lungs burned and screamed for air as he rushed a long a current of some sort, flipping and twisting in space with nothing to stop him.

Then, finally, he crossed over. And by that I mean, he was ejected from the cold and landed on his face in the dirt. Well, actually dust. As David got to his feet -swearing under his breath, he noticed that he seemed to be in a … well, actually he didn't know.  The walls, the floor, everything sparkled like crystals or diamonds.

Considering that it’s a tree, and it’d probably grow back, I’m sure Twilight wouldn't mind me taking a small piece of her castle as a souvenir … David thought, grinning as he imagined what Twilight would say.

“You okay man?” Andrew asked helping David to his feet.

“Yeah, okay, sure. Tha-“ David stopped mid-sentence when he remembered who he was talking to, he pulling his hand away, and stepped back from Andrew. “Stay away from me you psycho!”

Andrew’s eyes flashed with hurt, and then were replaced by anger. “I was just trying to help you jerk!”

“Yeah, if I ever want to get barbecued I’ll ask you first.” David retorted.

Andrew took a step towards David, threateningly … and fell on his face.

“Scratch that,” David said smirking triumphantly. “If I ever need a douche bag, I’ll call you.”

“Alright, that’s enough.”Twilight stepped in between them. “You need to stop fighting everyone,” Twilight turned to David with a hard expression. “I’m talking about you, David.”

David blinked, he was shocked. Twilight had never talked to him much-hell, she didn't even know him-and yet, she was trying to stop him from fighting a guy who tried to kill him.

  But Twilight wasn't done yet. “You’re always fighting everyone, every time! What’s your problem?”

“You.” David said, almost whispering, but his voice was filled with hatred nonetheless. “You’re my problem Twilight Sparkle, okay? You’re a cowardly scumbag and I’d give anything to knock your teeth in!” David was yelling at the end, his face red.

  “Quiet.” Applejack whispered.

Crack!

A sound like a twig snapping echoed in the … throne room, apparently.

“Ya hear tha’?” Applejack whispered, wide-eyed. “Somthin’s here.”

“Yeah.” Sunset Shimmer said, quietly.

“What is it?” Andrew squeaked, he was trembling so much, David could have sworn he saw some feathers shake off the Pegasus’s back.

“Aw, grow some back bone you big baby!” Rainbow Dash said crouched in a defensive state.

   For a long time nothing happened, everbo-er, everypony, stood tense, waiting for the inevitable attack. They stood so long; David began to feel stupid, until he heard the voice.

  “Are you sssure you smelt poniesss?” One voice hissed, it sounded like a female-because the high pitch.

“Yesss, fresh and alive.” Another voice responded, this one sounded deeper-probably a male. “We will feast on pony flesh!”

“FLESH!” The others hissed in unison.

  David turned to face the others, all of whom had fearful expressions, David couldn't blame them, his own experience with a changeling nearly resulted in his death.

“What are we going to do?” A deep voice growled.

David turned, and gaped. Behind him was a dragon the size of a van, it had bright purple scales and green blade-like (or rather, tooth –like based on their curvature.) spines sticking out of their backs

It was all David could to do to hold back a rather gillie shriek that was threatening to break loose. David stared at the creature for a second before remembering it was his … friend Spike. Suddenly the name 'Spike' didn't seem so much like a dog’s name.

“-Alright we got to barricade the door somehow, Rainbow Dash can you check those doors to see if you can anything,” Twilight was saying, in a rush. “In the meantime Spike will hold the doors.”

“No.” David said turning to face Twilight. “Open the big doors and Spike will rip those pests to shreds!” He practically shouted the last part. David hated feeling scared, and usually did rash things to combat fear, like the time he tired to climb down a deep canyon because he was afraid of heights.

Twilight looked horrified. “You’re asking Spike to … kill those things?! Are you crazy?!”**

“Unless you wanna get ripped to shreds or starve to death you’ll go with my plan.” David replied.

“Listen, punk, Twilight’s the leader here not you.” Rainbow Dash said, sounding angry.

“Very well then,” David said, feeling angry. “Then Twilight can lead you to your deaths.”

“Alright, that’s quite enough!” Rarity said stomping her hoof; she regarded David with a barely controlled expression-like she was trying hard to pulverize him. “Twilight has spent her whole life in Equestria and you have been here for barely one day. You have no right to-“

“Wait,” Applejack said, loudly, cutting Rarity off. “Ah think we should give him th’ benefit of th’ doubt.” She nodded curtly, first to Twilight, then to David. “Well? Go on, tell us th’ reason you wan’ use to do … whatever.”

Twilight stepped forward- which was lucky because David was so dumbstruck he probably would have stood there staring at Applejack, looking like a moron.

“I think we shouldn't so carelessly allow Spike to-” Twilight began in an over professional manner, with the air of some esteemed professor giving a lecture to ignorant adolescents. Fortunately, she was cut off when the large crystal doors swung open.

“Ah-ah!” The changelings burst through the large sea-green doors, framed with gold. “I ssso told you there were poniesss here Buzz! You see?” The Changeling placed a hoof (at least, that’s the only way to describe the appendage) riddled with holes on … Is that thing a his, her or an it? David thought.

“No, you didn't! I wasss the one who told you.”

“Liar!”

“I’m not lying, Vice! Remember last week I said, ‘hmm, I thing I smell some ponies over there!’ and then you’re like, ‘no way, why would a pony be at Ponyvile?’ then you said, ‘oh for the Queens sake, work on your tracking skills!’” Said the changeling named Buzz.

The changelings continued bickering, calling each other names and all that.

“Spike!” David whispered, not daring to look away from the bug-pony things. “Kill them now.” David decided to call him, ‘Spike’ because it sounded like a better name for a dragon then ‘Stephan.’

Spike didn't say anything, for a second David thought Spike had somehow escaped without any of the Changelings noticing.

  Then a roar from behinds David nearly deafened him, something large barreled past knocking David on his face. The changelings screamed like little girls and ran out of the room; however, Spike didn't pursue them, and instead stopped at the doors. He peaked outside-apparently checking if the cost was clear, before turning back to his friends.

“They’re gone.” Spike growled, but not in a threatening manner, more like a gurgling sound at the back of the throat.

Every one breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, that’s good.” Rarity said. “I thought-“

“How could you let them get away?!” David demanded. “You should have killed them!”

Spike stared at him; evidently this was not the response he was expecting. “I thought-“He began slowly, before he was cut off by Rarity.

“Killed them?” Rarity asked in horror and disgust.  “Spike isn't like you; he would never savagely kill a creature!”

“Why would we need t’ kill it anyway?” Applejack asked, coolly. “It’s gone now, see?” She gestured to the door with her hoof.

“Yeah, killing things isn't very nice!” Pinkie Pie added frowning.

“Argh!” David groaned in exasperation rubbing his temple with his hoof-which was a bad idea because he lost balance for second before putting his hoof down, literally, but he managed to cover-up his slip-up with the guise of stomping his foot. He opened his mouth to retort, but Sunset beat him to the punch.

“He should have, because it isn't dead, the Changeling has the chance to attack us again.” Sunset Shimmer pointed out.

“It doesn't matter!” David snapped, everyone turned to face him. “If we don’t find shelter, food and water soon we’ll be dead.”

“So let’s get moving then,” Sunset Shimmer said, in a annoyingly calm voice.

“Ah second tha’,” Applejack murmured eyeing the vines, ivy and moss that was growing all over the castle.