Anger from the Shadows

It was a cold winter night. Spike had been summoned by Dragon Lord Ember, but Twilight went along with him. The stars were shining and a new moon was out. The hall they spoke in was large. They sat at a round table, a dragon in armor next to Ember.

"It's nice to meet again Spike." Ember said. "I've been wondering what you've been up to after the trial for the staff."

"Have you gotten the letters I've sent to you Ember?" Twilight asked. "I mean, I've sent so many and you've only responded to one or two of them."

"I mean, I've been busy as Dragon Lord and all." Ember was trying to hide her embarrassment. "However, I've called you here for something different than friendship. There's been a story that another dragon has been noticed. When two of my guards made contact with him, they ended like this." She opened a door and inside were two dragons. Or what was left of them.

"Where are their wings?" Spike asked. "And their heads? Why are there holes in them?"

"We found them like this. There was also a note attached to one of them." Ember showed them the note.

Dear Dragon Lord Ember,
I hear you are in charge. However, you lead dragons down a path of weakness. You may be wondering how I know this? That is because the dragon known as Garble hugged me. He may be under order of the one called Spike, but he is now free from that. I've already destroyed two villages of ponies. It was quite fun actually. Watching them die slowly in the black flames from my soul was amusing. They cried out to their Princess Celestia but found no comfort. If you seek vengeance, then come at me.

Sincerely,

Spiritus

"Spiritus?" Twilight said. "He will not go unpunished. I can help you take him down Ember."

"No." Ember and her guard brought their meeting back to the table. "If we go after him, we're just going to lose more lives."

"I have magic. Powerful magic that no dragon could defeat."

"Then why didn't you use it to help Spike win the trial? If you're so strong, why didn't you help Spike so many times before? He's sent me mail about his problems and I can see why. You rarely ever help when he has a problem. Don't you understand his pain?" Twilight remained silent. "There's a reason I only called for Spike. He should stay here with the other dragons. Not just for himself, but there are dragons here that want him."

"Ember." The guard got her attention. "I believe we should call this a night. You can stay at the local inn Princess Twilight. As for the dragon," the guard showed the two to a room. "He will sleep in the finest material we have to offer. It is because you are a pony that the inn is for you Twilight. I'm sorry we couldn't put a room together for you."

"I'll show myself out and come back for Spike." Twilight teleported back to Ponyville.

Spike entered the room, alongside Ember. "I'm sorry if I scared Twilight."

"You can't scare Twilight," Spike said. "unless you have quesadillas lying around." Both of them laughed. "Why did you want me to come live here?"

Ember held one of her arms. "Spike, I lied when I said other dragons wanted you back." She held Spike in her arms. "I wanted to see you again Spike. This new dragon would most likely hunt you down if he found out about you living in Ponyville. Thankfully he doesn't know where the Dragonlands are."

Meanwhile in the Wastelands visible from Canterlot. A dragon, one that is taller than Garble and capable of using his claws as hands , is walking through the land. He looks up to see a city hanging on the side of a large mountain.

"What idiot would build a city on the side of a mountain?" He said. "Have they never heard of tremors?"

He sat down and unpacked his backpack. In it was a couple chunks of wood and a rusted sword. He sat down on a ripped, brown blanket that he'd occasionally use to cover himself from rain. He lit a small fire and warmed his hands over it. The blood on his claws started to dry.

"To think that the daughter is in charge now." He said to himself. "Whoever I find in that town up there is going to have a bad time. Especially if they're ponies."