Two months have passed since Spike was kidnapped by Garble and Sombra. While Ember wanted to remain with Twilight and rest of the Mane 6, she still had responsibilities in the Dragon Lands. She had returned when her month in Equestria was over and she was currently sitting on her throne with a look of sorrow on her face. With Spike gone, Match decided to stay behind with the Mane 6 as a means of keeping them in contact with Ember.

"Ember?"

The dragoness turned to see her father, former Dragon Lord Torch walk into to the chamber with a look of concern on his face. (I know he's a giant in the show, but since this is an anthro fic, I decided to make him about a little bit bigger than Bulking Biceps.)

"Are you alright daughter? You've been like this ever since you returned from your negotiations with the ponies. Did Spike's kidnapping hurt you extremely?"

Ember had remembered that even after all this time, she had yet to tell her father about her and Spike becoming mates. She now believed it was time to let Torch know how much Spike meant to her. "Yes it did dad. You see, during my visit to Ponyville-."

"You and Spike found out how much you mean to each other."

Ember looked up in surprise as she asked, "How did you know about that?"

Torch smiled at his daughter as he took a seat beside her. "Because when you contacted me on asking about extending your stay for peace negotiations, I saw a look from Spike's and your eyes. The look your mother and I shared when we fell in love. I knew then that Spike had won your heart and he had the same feeling for you."

"And you're okay with me and him being together?"

"I actually couldn't be happier. I was hoping you would meet someone who you trusted with your life and vice versa. The minute I learned about how Spike saved you from Garble, I believed he just might be the one to be with you. Knowing that he fought to protect you told me how much you meant to him. And I had suspicions that you had feelings for him when you decided to visit him with your time off."

Ember felt a little happy and relieved to hear her father say that as tear welled up in her eyes. She hugged her father as she said, "Thanks dad."

Torch returned the hug as he said, "I'm sure Spike is fighting to keep himself alive so he can return to you. So until the time comes for him to return, you have to stay strong for him and be ready for anything Garble and Sombra prepare to throw at the Dragon Lands or Equestria."

Ember nodded as she thought, 'I promise you Spike. Wherever you are, I will bring you back to your home.'

Meanwhile in an unknown location, Spike had regained consciousness where he found Sombra and Garble standing in front of him. The drake had many cuts, wounds, and scars on his body from how Garble extracted the unknown magic from his body with the red dragon taking as much joy as possible in causing Spike nothing but excruciating pain and suffering.

Spike glared at the two as he asked, "What do you two want?"

Garble smirked as he said, "We came to let you know the good news Spike. Well good for us, terrible for you."

Sombra grinned as he said, "With all of the magic samples I've gained from your body, not only have I figured out how to control it, but it is now time to show you what will happen when Garble has it and my dark magic fused with his body."

Spike watched in shock as Sombra pulled out an orb that contained some of the unknown magic before passing it to Garble.

After the unicorn nodded to the drake, Garble smirked before he crushed the orb in his hand which made the magic enter his body. Spike then watched as Garble began to tremble and groan. Garble's body then began to change. His wings became thicker as the ends of them became sharp enough to cut through steel, his scales began to grow thicker to where they made his body look a little spiky, his fangs began to grow sharper, and his claws became much sharper.

After the transformation ended, Garble looked to Spike with an evil smirk as the scale on his wrist grew into a sharp wrist blade. "Next time I see her, I think I'll try these new abilities on Ember and what was the name of that purple alicorn? Twilight?"

Spike growled as he struggled against his restraints. Sombra chuckled as he said, "Now now Spike. We'll be having visitors soon. So you must not be so grouchy as you are prepared for their arrival."

"What visitors?"

"We'll be sending an invitation to your friends for them to come and get you soon. But before we do, we need to have you prepared for when they arrive."

"What do you mean by 'prepared'?"

An evil smirk appeared on Sombra's face as his horn began to glow with dark magic. "You'll find out soon enough."

Meanwhile in Ponyville, Matching was simply sitting out on one of the balconies as he looked out towards the outskirts of the town. While he hadn't known Spike for long, he saw the drake as a very good friend. They had grown much respect for each other.

"Match?"

The drake turned to see Trixie walk out on to the balcony with a look of concern. "Are you okay? You've been a little distant from us since Spike was kidnapped a couple of months ago."

The drake scooted over as the mare sat beside him as he looked to the sun. "It's just, with how hard Ember is taking Spike's absence. Ever since Ember showed told me about being friends, we started to grow to think each other like brother and sister. And seeing her this upset is starting to make me worried for her. And not only that, but Spike and I became good friends. I also can't help but worry if we'll ever find him and bring him back to her, Twilight, and the rest of us."

Trixie said, "I know what you mean. Spike and I have become great friends after the rest of the group gave me a second chance. He also helped me in apologizing to a couple of unicorns named Snips and Snails from when I treated them like dirt. If it wasn't for Spike. I would never had made peace with them."

Match hesitated for a moment before placing his claw on Trixie's hand which made the mare blush before she looked to the scarlet drake. "I promise you one thing Trixie. I'll do everything I can to make sure Spike is saved from Sombra and Garble."

The mare smiled at the drake as she said, "Thanks Match. And you know we'll be helping to bring him back."

"Hey guys!"

The two turned to see Starlight and Sunburst standing at the door with the mare saying, "You guys need to come to the map chamber right now! Twilight and the girls are getting some kind of message on the map table!"

Match and Trixie got to their feet and followed the two. The soon came about the chamber where they found the Mane 6 and their coltfriends sitting at their thrones. Sunburst said, "We're all here Princess Twilight. You and Starlight can show us the message now."

The two mares nodded before using their magic on the table where an image of Sombra sitting a throne appeared. "Princess Twilight and Dragon Lord Ember. I know you two can hear me so listen well. I'm sending you my location so you can come and face me to get back your dragon friend back. But I would hurry if I were you. If you make me wait too long, I can't guarantee Spike will be here when you arrive. You have four hours to arrive. Oh and I would be prepared for a fight. Garble and a new minion of mine are dying to try out some of their new abilities. Ta ta for now." Sombra ended his message with an evil and insane laugh.

Not long after the message ended, Match burped out a small patch of flames that soon turned into a scroll with a dragon symbol on it. Twilight caught it with her magic before opening it and read it out loud, "It's from Ember."

Dear Twilight,

I just received a message from Sombra about where he and Garble are. I know you received the same message and are trying to decide what your next move is. I'm heading your way now. I'm hoping you'll have a plan when I get there. Otherwise, I'll be heading to Sombra's fight without you. See you soon.

Sincerely,

Ember

Everyone turned to Twilight with Fluttershy asking, "So what do we do Twilight?"

"Yeah. From how Sombra spoke, it sounds ta me like that feller has a trap waiting for us."

Twilight just stayed silent. Flash looked to his marefriend with concern, "Twilight?"

The purple alicorn finally spoke, "We go to where Sombra is and we rescue Spike. I agree with you Applejack. I think Sombra is setting a trap for us but we know we can handle any shadow minions he has and this may be our only chance to get Spike back. And I don't like it anymore than you all do, but there's no telling what Sombra will do to him if we don't stop him."

Everyone stayed quiet for a few minutes before Rainbow Dash said, "Alright Twilight. We're with you. Now what's the plan?"

Twilight looked to Flash. "Flash! I want you and the guys to stay here in case we need a way to inform Celestia and Luna where we are and if we need help!"

Flash nodded before Twilight looked to Match. "Match? I want you to come with us and Ember to save Spike! With Garble enhanced by Sombra's magic, I don't think even Ember can handle him even with our magic!"

"Of course Princess!"

"Once Ember arrives, we're heading straight to Sombra's fortress and take action. While some of us keep Garble, Sombra, and who ever this new minion is busy, the rest of us will search the fortress for Spike. After the search team finds him, the fighting team will break off from the fight to regroup and we'll escape the fortress as quick as possible!"

The group nodded to the princess with Twilight thinking, 'Hang on Spike. I promise we'll get you back here if it's the last thing I do.'

About an hour and forty five minutes later, Ember arrived at the castle where she asked, "Okay Twilight. Where exactly are we going? I couldn't understand anything about where Sombra is."

Twilight pulled out a scroll that she wrote down the information that Sombra gave them on. "According to the information that Sombra gave us, he's on an abandoned island somewhere between the Dragon Lands and Equestria. If we head that way now, we should be able to get there before our time is up."

With that, everyone entered a carriage that had been prepared for them with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Match being used to pull it before taking to the air towards the abandoned island.

At around two hours later, the carriage pulled up to an island where they unexpectedly found no guards around an abandoned fortress. Twilight asked, "No guards. This was unexpected. Ember? Do you know what this place is?"

Ember nodded and said, "From what my dad told me when he was Dragon Lord, this is an old dragon military fortress from an old war between dragons. I can't remember the exact details but if my hunch is correct then this is one of the old regrouping structures for strategy. It makes sense that Sombra would hide here. Since the war was so long ago, we dragons had completely forgotten about it and since you ponies don't even know of our history, you wouldn't even know about it. A perfect hiding spot."

Rainbow Dash said, "Thanks for that little history lesson. Now is there anything we should know about this place before we go inside? Like are there any traps?"

"There may be a few. I'm not entirely sure because in most history battles, dragons always preferred to go on a direct fight instead of using deception and trickery. However, with how Sombra is, there's no telling what changes he might have made to the fortress. So we all need to be on our guard. Match and I will lead the way. That way if there's anything Sombra's hiding in there, we can flush out it out and make it easier for you to find out what it is and how we can get through it."

The mares nodded as Trixie said, "Lead the way."

Meanwhile in a newly created throne chamber, Sombra sat at his throne with Garble standing by his side as they watched the group enter the fortress through a crystal ball. Garble smirked as he said, "Did you plant any traps for them? I was hoping for a straight on fight from them this time. I want to see what my new abilities can do with the dark magic you gave me."

The unicorn king smirked. "No. There are no traps waiting for them. I was hoping to see what your new magic holds when mixed with my magic. Along with seeing what you can do, I want to see what our new ally can do."

The two heard a deep growl from a nearby chamber. Sombra smirked as Garble looked to him with a questioning look. "Are you sure we should take this chance?"

"He's under my complete control. With my magic in his systems, I share a strong neural connection with him."

"If you say so."

Back with the group, they were running through the path that leads to the throne chamber with Ember and Match still in the lead. The entrance to the throne chamber soon came into view.

Right as they were about to walk into the chamber, Twilight stopped the group to speak, "Alright girls! Let's get ready! Anything can happen so be prepared for the unexpected!"

Everyone nodded before Match and Ember slammed the door open to reveal Garble not far in front of them and Sombra sitting in his throne. "Ah. The Mane 6 and your new dragon friends. Welcome to my new fortress."

Twilight stepped forward and yelled, "Enough games Sombra! Where is Spike!"

The unicorn chuckled as he raised a trident beside his throne. "Worry not my guests. You'll be seeing him very soon."

As the end of his trident began to glow, the doors to another nearby chamber opened and from the other side, the girls and Match heard a loud exhale followed by a deep growl.

To everyone's shock, the creature that walked out of the chamber was the drake they had come to here to rescue. "Spike? Is that you?"

However, Spike had changed. He wore armor similar to Garble's, he had sharper claws, had another pair of wings coming from his back, had devil horns on his head, thicker scales, and had grown in size. He glared at the girls before looking to Sombra and asked in a deep voice, "What does my master require of me?"

Sombra smirked before pointing his trident at the group of rescuers. "Aid Garble in disposing of these pests."

Spike focused again on the group of mares and the two dragons before standing beside Garble. "It will be done."

The two enhanced dragons charged where the whole group dodged before Twilight glared at Sombra. "What have you done to Spike!?"

Sombra chuckled before saying, "I'm sure you can tell I hold as much hate for that dragon as Garble does since he was the one who prevented me from retaking the Crystal Empire. But unlike Garble, I prefer to have a little more imagination when it comes to getting rid of my enemies. I wanted to make Spike suffer for making me lose my chance at getting back my royal stature. Then it came to me. What better way to make him suffer then kill him after he finds the blood of those he cares about most on his claws?"

Rainbow Dash threw a kick that was ineffective against Garble's chest before dodging a swipe from his claws. "You are one sick puppy you know that Sombra?!"

"I try. Now how about less talk and more die?"

Before the pegasus could talk back, Garble smacked her to the ground with a swing of his tail. The drake was about to stomp on her when Match tackled him.

Sombra was becoming amused with his show before he looked to where Twilight and Ember were trying to fight Spike without harming him. "Spike? Why don't you show them what new abilities I have helped you unlock with your new magic?"

"Yes my king."

Ember and Twilight watched as his eyes began to glow with a red magic before he fired powerful magical beams from his pupils. The dragoness and alicorn barely managed to dodge the blast before he fired again.

Meanwhile, Garble had swatted Rainbow Dash and Applejack into Pinkie and Fluttershy before his scales blocked magic beams from Trixie, Starlight, and Rarity. He charged at the three unicorns who scattered to avoid his fist slamming down on them. He turned to Trixie before smirking. "I think I'll start with you."

His right wrist scale became a blade as he closed in on the mare. Trixie closed her eyes and braced herself for death.

But it never came. She soon opened her eyes to see Match hold Garble back. "As long as I'm alive, you won't harm her!"

Garble broke free from the scarlet drake's lock before slashing his chest, grabbing him by the tail, and chucking him to the side. "You're as weak Ember became Match. Why should you care if there's one less unicorn in Equestria?"

Match got to his feet before he glared at the enhanced dragon. "It's called protecting those you care about most in your life!"

Back with Ember and Twilight, they had a hard time stopping Spike. They were doing everything thing they could to keep from hurting him. They just dodged another eye blast when Sombra said, "That's it Spike! Fight them! Fight them and kill them!"

"As your ultimate soldier, I shall do as you ordered my lord!"

Twilight looked to Ember and said, "He's more powerful than Sombra, Ember! Do you have any ideas?"

The dragoness thought for a moment before a thought crossed her mind. "I have one. It won't get Spike back to normal, but it should at least turn him against Sombra."

"What do we do?"

"Follow my lead!"

The two took to the sky and both fired a beam of magic, one from Twilight's horn and the other from Ember's scepter. However, the blasts did nothing as Spiked dodged them both before swatting Twilight away with his tail, and knocked Ember's scepter from her hands before taking her by the throat. "You two have no chance against me. As you can see, I'm the most powerful one here. You two can't even lay a scratch on me."

"If you're so powerful, why are you taking orders from Sombra?"

"What?"

"You're the ultimate soldier, so why aren't you calling your own shots?"

The drake remained quiet for a moment as his grip loosened on Ember's throat. "You're right. I am after all more powerful than my master himself."

Ember was then blasted out of Spike's grip and landed on the ground. They turned to see Sombra standing with his trident in hand. "Pay her no mind! Finish them!"

Spike took a menacing glance at Twilight and Ember before looking to Sombra with the same look. "No!"

"What!?"

"She's right. If you have to rely on creating minions like me to fight your battles, than you are weaker than me. Meaning I shouldn't be taking orders from someone is inferior."

Spike then charged at Sombra only for him to have a sharp pain shoot through his body as Sombra's trident began to charge along with the Alicorn Amulet around his neck. As Spike fell to the ground, Sombra jumped down beside him. "Did you really think I would give the one who has caused me nothing but grief this kind of power and not have a way to keep you in control? My magic that is running in your body gives me the power to punish you should you turn against me."

Before Sombra could further punish Spike, Twilight pushed him back with a blast from her horn before Ember knocked him away with her scepter. The two then ran to Spike who looked at them confused as Twilight asked, "Are you okay Spike?"

"You saved me? Why?"

The two looked at him in shock before Ember said, "Why? Because you mean the world to us Spike! A new change to your body doesn't change the fact that you're still the dragon I love and that you're still family to Twilight!"

"She's right! That's why we and our friends all came to save you! Because you're our friend!"

"Friends? You are my friends?"

"Friendship? A pathetic concept!"

The three turned to see Sombra stood with his trident aiming at them. "I never understood it!"

"Gee, I wonder why?"

Before Sombra could react, Rainbow dropped beside him with an elbow knocking his trident down, a punch to the stomach, and sending him flying with a round house kick.

Pinkie Pie ran to where Sombra was going to land with her cannon ready to fire. "To have a friend, first you have to be a friend!"

She then blasted him to where Match was standing. "Even if that means putting your own life on the line!" He then smacked Sombra away with a swing of his tail. The impact made Sombra lose his trident while Garble was being distracted by Applejack, Trixie, Fluttershy, and Starlight.

Spike looked to the trident before saying, "I understand now."

He then flew to grab the trident before aiming it his chest as it began to charge.

In flash of light, everyone watched as the trident was thrown to the ground to reveal Spike was back to his normal look with a smile on his face. "I'm back!"

The Mane 6 then ran to Spike with Ember and Twilight engulfing him in a hug as Garble ran to Sombra's aid.

Applejack smiled at the drake as she said, "Glad to have ya back partner."

"Glad to be back. But the reunion will have to wait. While Sombra and Garble are down, we need to go!"

Twilight nodded to her adopted brother. "He's right girls! Let's get out of here!"

They all began running to the exit but right before Garble was going to go after them, Sombra stopped him. "What are you doing? We can't lose this chance to get rid of them!"

"No. While it would be a great benefit to get rid of them now, even they can't stop what I've made."

Sombra rose to his feet and waved his magic charged hand. At that moment, a small army appeared in front of them.

To Garble's surprise, they weren't just shadowponies. There were also shadowdragons in armor similar to his.

"During the time Spike was with us, I added a small sample of that unknown magic to mine and the small speck of normal dragon magic that I acquired when my magic left your body. With all three types of magic combined, I managed to construct these shadowdragons with my dark magic being the main source holding them together. Without my magic, they would disappear. In a few days, you and I will lead an attack against the princesses with them as our main weapon. You have until then to train them and get them prepared for it."

Garble nodded and walked away as Sombra picked up his trident and sat at his throne. 'Prepare yourselves princesses. Soon you will fall and all of Equestria will be mine.'

Back in Ponyville, Luna and Celestia had just arrived and were relieved to find Spike was okay. Celestia was hugging her adopted son as she said, "Oh, I'm so happy to find you're okay."

"I'm fine mom. But right now, I have important news for all of us."

Luna asked, "And what would that be?"

"Sombra's gained enough of the magic in my body to make an army of shadowdragons. They're a blend of my magic, normal dragon magic, and his dark magic. With them, he'll have enough power and force to overpower us no matter how many Royal Guard we have. We need to get prepared. We'll need help from any friendly kingdoms in contact with us."

Twilight asked, "Do these shadowdragons have any weaknesses?"

"Luckily yes. Like shadowponies, Sombra can recreate them should they fall. But like the shadowponies, his dark magic is what holds their forms together."

"So if we can defeat Sombra completely, then any trace of dark magic will disappear along with him."

"Exactly. So we need prepare our Royal Guard and get as much help as possible."

With that, everyone went about preparing for the battle to arrive.

Author's Note

Here's the ninth chapter. Now I want anyone who's read to vote on this. Would you prefer to have Sombra aim the attack on the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Heart like people usually expect him to? Or would you prefer him to do something new and aim his attack on Ponyville and the Tree of Harmony?
Vote whenever you read or not long after. I'll be planning to do the next chapter as soon as possible.