Conviction

Chapters

Prologue
Tapirus Streets
Silverblood Mansion
Las Pegasus Airstrip
Dromedor, Camelu
Canterlot Fairgrounds
Black Box Laboratories
The Celestia Monument
Third Epsilon HQ
Hoofington Reservoir
Canterlot Streets
The Royal Palace

Prologue

“Gentlecolts.”

“YES SIR!” The two ponies simultaneously added their responses.

“We have reason to believe that rogue assets within the Boardorean Military intend to sell a megaspell to the Zebras. You two are to stop this deal at ANY cost. Two HVT’s are somewhere inside the complex, find them and kill them I will update you later when you’ve reach the objective point. Lethal force is authorized. This is Prince Blueblood over and out.”

The two unicorns looked over at each other. Both minds were contemplating their next course of action. A small security detail was inside and out of the complex patrolling. They were only thugs though. Run of the mill, gun-toting, loose cannons. Each one was a potential catastrophe to the mission if they were to alert the others of the two pony team that was slowly approaching them.

Water trickled down their suits as they emerged from the water. The darkness aided in their stealthy infiltration. Silence. The improved Mk IV version of the stealth suits they dawned had integrated communications, a thicker Kevlar fabric, and a muffle spell that allowed for easier mobility. Its jet black color aided the ponies in low-light conditions to hide from possible threats.

The pony on the right wearing a pair of trifocal goggles flicked them down onto his face. He peered over the fence to spot the guards. He counted two outside, and one upstairs on the second floor of the building. Looking over at his parting who was wearing a similar pair they nodded to each other and began to advance in position.

“3…2…1”

The two earth ponies guarding the main entrance dropped dead, hitting the ground with a thud. Blood pooled under the ponies as the two figures in black kicked away their weapons started to scale up a nearby drainage pipe leading up to the roof.

“Huh?!”

That was the only sound the earth pony could make as he was pulled out of the open widow and fell to the ground.

“Nice one, for an Equestian I suppose.”

“Heh, you haven’t seen anything.” Retorted the pony lifting up his trifocal goggles and entering the window. He extended his hoof reaching down to help his partner up and into the building. Another flight of stairs remained before they could proceed to the mission objective.

Six hostiles in all. The vast expanse of the room would make it harder to remain undetected. The bright fluorescent lighting would give them away too easily. There had to be another way to avoid suspicion. The unicorn on the left backtracked down the stairs before his partner could notice.

“I will shut off main power comrade. You take three on the right. I take the rest.” Before he could react to his partner’s brash decision and verbally scorn him over his mic the lights went out. Complete darkness. The unicorn couldn’t see his hooves in front of his face. Instinctively he flicked his goggles down and pulled out his trusty five-seven.

“Fifteen seconds until back-up power is restored!” the voice said over his comm.

Two down. The ponies on the third level were completely oblivious as to what was happening. They stood on their hind legs patting the air like a mime attempting to find a wall to shimmy across. Only a gasp came from one as the expert marksman shot his first target in the eye dropping him dead. The second pony felt the blood spray across his face only letting out a tiny gasp before three rounds were placed inside his chest.

Jumping down to the second level hurt his hooves as it was easily a 10hoof drop. The guard patrolling the ground turned around quickly only to be met with a hoof smashing into his face and his then a sharp pain entering his back as he spun around smacking against the wall.

The assailant pulled out the combat knife from his back and wiped it on the victim’s fur. His foreleg wrapped around the ponies mouth prevented him from screaming as he lost consciousness and soon died. The unicorn laid his body down carefully.

The lights flickered on and off, then on again. A unicorn in a similar outfit came around the corner panting a bit. He lifted his goggles above his eyes and looked at the dead pony in front of his partner.

“

I guess you ponies can fight.” Said the unicorn sarcastically.

“Hmph. The security room is ahead. We need to shut off the back-up generators from there if we want to make it out of here alive.”

Large cables hung from the ceiling and decorated the walls all converging into a single room. The two unicorns passed under the large window to and braced themselves against the door on each side. A simultaneous nod and they breached inside the room. No pony. The room was empty other than a few monitors and computers. A weapons rack to the right on the wall held several pump shotguns and a bolt-action rifle.

“Watch my back.”

The unicorn in the blue trifocal goggles looked back to his partner who nodded with an understanding of his words. He cautiously waiting for the pony to finish his work aiming his pistol right at the doorway waiting for any intruder to be stupid enough to walk in front of him.

Another blackout in power confirmed his task was done. The two advanced through another door outside the security room and the two felt the texture in the ground change. Looking around them they noticed fully tiled walls and a wave of humidity rushed over them. Sweat dripped into the eye of one of the unicorns and he wiped it away quickly as the two split up taking both sides of the hallway clearing each one room by room.

Climbing above the ponies was the only way to remain silent. They had flashlights now. No doubt the blackout put the small fortress on high alert. One by one the duo of killers silently eliminated all the ponies up until they reached the showering room.

A sound came over their comm. system, “this is Prince Blueblood. One of the HVT’s is inside the bathing room. Kill Boaris and proceed forward. I will update you with instructions after you’ve confirmed his death.”

The two agents looked at the door. It was barred and reinforced. The only way to break through it would be a simultaneous breach. Both ponies would have to buck the door at the same time to rip it from its hinges.

They aligned themselves respectively and with one fell kick the door busted down revealing four ponies armed with automatic weapons. The unicorns dove to each side and took cover behind a low tile wall as machine gun fire richoeted throughout the bath house.

“FUCK! KILL THEM!-“ The thugs were too focused on spraying and praying for a hit that they didn’t notice the unicorns slithering on the sides of the walls advancing behind them. Only four shells hit the ground making little noise. The two pony team kicked their weapons away and took a pictures of the HVT and uploaded them individually to their respective supervisors.

The supervisor conducting this operation came over their comms, “good work gentlecolts. Proceed. Forward to the outside and into the next building. You will find Boaris’ Boss. He has information on the broker for this deal and the buyers. We need that list. Kill him once you get the list. Oh! It seems there’s been a slight change. Boaris’ men have come to escort him out. Take them out. Blueblood over and out.”

“Boaris! Where the fuck-“ Three more ponies fell to the ground dead. The unicorn with the blue lenses on his trifocal goggles looked over at his companion who’d just slain the ponies before he could draw his weapon.

“Good shot, for a Boarean.”

The unicorn holstered his pistol and smiled under his mask.

“You too comrade.” He said, patting his hoof on the shoulder of his partner and trotting out into the main bathroom and exiting the area through the double doors that Boaris’ entourage came through.

The two unicorns walked down the hallway pressing their backs to the wall, shimmying to the far left. One peeked around the corner and tapped his partner four times indicating the number of targets to neutralize.

The unicorn peeked his head back over to his partner, “go up the stairs take them out and take exfiltrate down the drainage pipe. I’ll take care of things on the first level and I’ll meet you outside. Good luck.” The other unicorn nodded and waited for his partner to make the first move.

He slowly crept up behind a Pegasus who was smoking a cigarette. The smell of tobacco seeped into his nostrils almost causing him to cough. He grabbed the pony from behind putting his hoof around her mouth to stop her from screaming and plunged his knife into the mare. She slumped down and the unicorn dragged the body back into a corner away from view. That was his partner’s signal to move forward as he quickly made it up the staircase.

From the bottom floor he couldn’t see his partner at all. Only that a pony walking towards him hit the floor falling backwards making a loud thud. The officer on the ground floor however didn’t seem to notice. There was only one more enemy he had to neutralize before making it outside.

Creeping up on this one would prove a little more challenging. The guard would not stand in one place for long. He was mobile moving from wall to wall in a random pattern. The unicorn had to think fast if he was going to meet up with his partner.

The clever pony picked up a soda can with his levitation and threw it in the opposite direction he was standing. The sound of the tin can banging on the ground echoed through the vast room causing the remaining guard to turn around and run in the direction of the noise pointing his flashlight at the wall and scanning the area for the intruder.

“What the… what was that? Huh, must have been my imagination.” The guard chuckled to himself and in an instant started squirming, gasping for breath. The unicorn snuck up behind the oblivious pony and put him into a full nelson choking his brain from oxygen. He dropped the unconscious body and the pony smacked his head on the ground. A concussion would probably kill him. The unicorn saw no need to waste ammunition on this pony.

On the outside the other unicorn had made quick work of the surrounding enemies. A high precision rifle on his back aided him in several long ranged kills. He took out the far Eastern and Western patrols as well as two ponies in the next building over that were scanning the ground from the second story. Only one more guard remained when his teammate exited the front of the building at the perfect time. The last enemy was only hooves away from him and he took this chance like he had no other and whipped out his pistol laying down six rounds into the pony. It must have startled him to open the door and almost be shot. If he wasn’t careful just then the guard could have turned the unicorn into swiss cheese.

“You forgot one.” Said the unicorn holstering his pistol and smirking under his face mask.

His partner chuckled a bit and the two unicorns made their way into the next building. Another pair of large double
doors were locked and blocking their access. The two looked at each other and turn around again and bucked the door down.

“UH!” The Boarean unicorn fell down as an earth pony lunged on top of him wielding a knife trying to plunge it into his throat, “get this fucker off of me!”

His partner took no time to react and kicked the assailant as hard as he could in the ribs. He could feel the pony’s ribs cracking under the force of his blow. The earth pony smacked against the wall and staggered to his hooves and lunged at his attacker who quickly disarmed the pony and grabbed his right hoof putting it around his back and jammed his pistol under his chin as he waited for his partner to recover from the blow.

“That wasn’t very nice.” Said the Boarean unicorn getting onto his hooves, “ah, you must Boaris Boss.”

The earth pony spit in the unicorns face. He pulled out his knife and put it to the earth pony’s forehead and dragged it down over his right eye and thrusted the blade inward gouging out his eye. The pony wreathed in pain kicking and screaming as the merciless agent twisted his knife around and pulled the pony’s eye out. The optical nerve dangled down the serrated blade. The unicorn looked at it with fascination studying the eye then flicking it off into the pot of soup that was cooking on a stove nearby.

As blood ran down the pony’s face mixing with his tears he dropped the ground and the other uncorn kneeled down to face, “you’ve got one more chance before I walk outside and let my partner to whatever he wants to you. You’re going to tell us where’s the list.”

“I… I don’t know. I’m not the boss of this operation. That’s Breznyov.”

“Ooh, wrong answer.” The unicorn got up and proceeded to walk away. Fear overflowed in the earth pony causing him to urinate all over the ground in panic.

“WAIT! WAIT! Breznyov has the list. It’s in his office. Bottom floor all the way to the back on the left. You can’t miss it.” The pony was crying profusely as the unicorns walked past him.

“One last thing.” The voice of the Boarean unicorn sent a wave of dread that filled the earth pony. He was lifted onto his hooves and he could feel the barrel of a pistol being pressed against the back of his head.

“Walk. If you run, you die. If you don’t comply, you die.”

The earth pony walked over a metal door and stood in front of it. He turned his head around slightly only to feel the barrel pressed down harder against him.

“Open the door.” Said the unicorn.

“Open up you stupid fucks I need to talk to Breznyov.”

“Why?” said the voice behind the metal door.

“The cops are coming you fuckwad now open up or I’ll beat your fucking skull in.”

“Ok, ok, you don’t have to be suck a dick about it.” Said the voice.

The metal door opened and the unicorn shoved the earth pony into it knocking the pony behind the door down. He shot both ponies killing them instantly and looked over his shoulder nodding his head to his partner to move up with him.

Another flight of stairs down and the ponies could hear the beat of techno music. The loud bass resonated in their ears. A few guards patrolled this area. Only four with Breznyov in his office. The two unicorns split up once again taking their time to eliminate the guards.

After the enemies were neutralized the team made their way to Breznyov’s office. The wooden door was the only thing standing between them and him. The doorknob slowly turned and opened itself. A small snake camera was put under the door to identify where he was. He was watching tv with two mare escorts. They looked up at each other and pushed the door open. The Boarean unicorn took aim at Breznyov while the other Equestrian unicorn tied down the two civilians. He couldn’t risk them taking some sort of action.

“Breznyov, where’s the list?”

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Do you fucking know who I am? You little sh-“ The unicorn hit him over the head with his pistol causing the earth pony to cradle his head, gritting his teeth in pain, “you’re going to fucking regret that when I’m done with you.”

The unicorn continued his assault and dragged Breznyov by his mane to his tv and smashed his head into it repeatedly until shards of glass protruded from his face making him look more disfigured that his last victim. The mares screamed as they cowered in the corner speaking in some foreign tongue the Equestrian unicorn could not understand.

“I’m not going to ask you aga-“ another incoming message from Prince Blueblood.

“Hold on, don’t kill him, put him on the phone.” Coincidentally a phone in the back corner by Breznyov’s computer began to ring. The two unicorns looked at each other in confusion, but went with the orders. The Boarean unicorn picked up Breznyov by his mane once more and dragged him to the phone and put his gun to the back of his head.

“Answer it.”

“Why?” The defiant earth pony would soon realize his mistake as two rounds pierced through his legs.

“That’s why.”

Breznyov picked up the phone and his face changed from anger to shock. Something about what was said over the phone sent him into a rage.

“YOU FUCKING SHIT! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU! I’LL TEAR YOUR HEART OUT AND EAT IT IN FRONT OF YOU!” Breznyov slammed the phone down and swung at the unicorn. Another round ripped through his abdomen, bringing him to his knees. The loss of blood and pain were overwhelming him as he spoke his final words, “you stupid fucks have no idea what you’re doing do ya?”

A part of both ponies wanted to ask him what he was talking about, but they knew they were being monitored as well. Even the slightest indication of being a double agent would be a one way ticket into a body bag.

“Just tell us where the list is.” Said the other unicorn still aiming at he mares.

The earth pony coughed up a bit of blood and laughed, “the list in my desk. Just take it. It does not matter now I-“

The unicorn interrogating him placed his hoof to his neck and looked over at his part and shook his head. Breznyov was dead.

The list wasn’t hard to find. A single round to the lock and the Boarean agent shoved the papers into a satchel on his left hoof. The unicorns walked out of the room and advanced to the exfiltration point.
It was a long night that was finally over.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

“You are to stop the deal at all cost, am I clear? Don’t allow them to buy that spell. Prince Blueblood, over and out.”
The team was headed underground. An old subway system now condemned would be their entry point. The tunnel had collapsed forcing the Boarean government to shut down the subway permanently. Too many souls were lost down there. All that remains is the armed guards watching the subterranean entrance to the secret facility below.

“I see five guards. Two patrolling the Northern part and Three patrolling the back Southern part where we are. I’ll take the three, you take the two.” Said the accented voice of the Boarean unicorn.

The team dispersed into the shadows not making a single sound as the ponies guarding the entrance, one-by-one were killed. The two black figures rose from the shadows and joined up at the stairwell leading up.

They climbed the flight of stairs which lead to the main building. It was dark and dim. Only a few lights remained on where security stood waiting. Construction was being done to the building’s interior making it a lot less troublesome to navigate through, but making it easier for security to spot the intruders.

Killing any guards would arouse too much suspicion which they could not handle at this point. They were getting close to their main target. They crept from wall to wall shimmying out of possible visual contact with the patrolling units.

Not even a hint of uncertainty crossed either pony’s mind. They knew they could do this. They were the best at it.

Their mission was to find the Zebras purchasing the megaspell and the Boarean traitor. They were only to eliminate either target if forced to. Observing the deal was top priority. Stopping the deal was only to happen when Prince Blueblood ordered.

A few more rooms and bodies later the ponies made it outside to a series of catwalks. The deal was happening in the middle of the courtyard. Three Zebras and three Boareans walked up to each other. One zebra held two large bags of bits while the other two held up automatic weapons.

The Boareans came prepared too aiming the same amount of firepower at them with the middle pony holding a briefcase cuffed to his hoof. He pulled out a key and unlocked the cuff and opened the suitcase. Research papers were held inside. No doubt experimental data from the Manehattan Project. The parties exchanged goods and then the unexpected happen.

The Boareans opened fired on the zebras killing them all. Just as this happened a convenient voice came over the comms, “lethal force is authorized, secure the notes. Blueblood, over and out.”

The two unicorns laid down the Boareans and quickly advanced up to the zebra that dropped the briefcase. Upon looking through the notes it was nothing about a megaspell at all. In fact, most of the pages were blank. It was a ruse the whole time.

“Prince Blueblood, come in, the deal was a ruse it’s going down somewhere else. The notes are fake. Over.”

“I see, check Krevcha’s office. He was the Boarean traitor. There might be something in his office that indicates where it is. Blueblood, over and out.

A door to the far left under the catwalk was the only other entrance so the two pursued onward. The large metal door closed behind them as the two unicorns looked around for any hostiles. Empty, for now.

The large dark hallways lead them into a vast two story room. Above and below them they detected movement with
their trifocal goggles. The new sonar upgrade made finding hostiles so much easier. A pony with a jet black mane and a grey coat was inside the middle office. It was the most likely place they would find some answers seeing as how this pony was not a guard. He was shredding papers. It wasn’t clear if these documents were important, but the two unicorns would soon question him to find out.

A plaque with the name Krevcha labeled the door. They knew all too well whose office this was. The Boarean agent slid the door open carefully as only a minor squeak came from it. The pony shredding papers didn’t even hear them enter.

“Stop. Don’t move or you die. What are you shredding?”

The grey earth pony grinned slightly putting both unicorns on edge. The pony stood there with his hooves above his head and said nothing to the unicorns. The Boarean agent was getting aggravated and decided to take the more direct approach.

“AAAHHH!” It was a good thing the walls of Krevcha’s office were so thick or everypony would have heard the screaming. The unicorn had shoved the earth pony’s muzzle into the shredder mutilating his lips and nose. Blood and bits of flesh were sprayed across the top of the machine as the pony was thrown back on top of the desk. More blood pooled off his face and the Equestrian pony walked over to the injured pony.

“He’s not in a very good mood. What were you shredding?”

Sobs and tears were all that the pony could manage for a moment until the Equestrian unicorn slammed his combat knife through the elbow of the earth pony. The knife stuck inside the wooden table and he grew just as impatient as his partner.

“I-I was sh-shred-d-ing hi-his ac-account records. H-he’s be-been embezzling.” Said the terrified pony. The fear in his eyes told the unicorns he was telling the truth. He knew nothing about the megaspell research notes.

“Check his computer. Download everything. I mean, everything.” Said the Equestrian unicorn looking at his partner. He yanked his combat knife out of the pony and wiped it on his coat sheathing it in its place on his right flank. He grabbed the earth pony’s head and twisted his neck breaking it instantly. No pony could be left alive.

“I’ve found something. He’s been sending a lot of troops and funneling a lot of money into this unmarked installation in Sibearia. I bet that’s where we’ll find some answers.” Said the Boarean agent.

“Good work, I will report this to Prince Blueblood after exfiltration. Let’s go.”

All of this would soon come to an end.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Good work gentlecolts. You’ve uncovered a secret military installation not even the Boarean government knew about. You two will be spear-heading the operation. You are to infiltrate the bunker and secure the research data. The Boarean military will clean up the rest. Lethal force is authorized. Blueblood, over and out.”

The two unicorns were airdropped into the snow from some Boarean pegasi. They quickly rushed to the entrance trying to avoid the blizzard. The heavy snowfall was making it hard to see and the winds were picking up. They had to finish the mission fast if they wanted exfiltration today.

A shaped charge later and a nice sized hole in the bunker was exposed allowing the agents to creep inside. It was dark and damp. The smell of mold filled their noses. The Equestrian agent coughed a bit and his partner covered his muzzle and peeked around the nearest corner to spot any hostiles. None.

They walked down a large stone corridor. They could still faintly hear the echoing of their hoofsteps even with their advanced stealth suits, but only the trained ear could hear the faint sound otherwise they were just two shadows among the bleak blackness before them. Only their goggles helped them now.

The complex was almost empty it seemed. A few guards patrolling here and there. Obviously Krevcha never expected anypony to find this place. The guards didn’t even chamber a round in their weapons, but this was just making the two unicorns’ job easier.

A large red sign hung above the room they stood in front of. TESTING IN PROGRESS, is what it said and moments later the sound of a thousand thunder storms rocked the very walls of the compound. The light shut off and the doors opened.

A series of misting sprayers covered the unicorns in a sanitary solution to not bring in any dirt or pathogens that were left on us. The door in front of the two ponies opened and they exited quickly and looked up staring in awe of what looked like a gigantic glass sorb. Hexagonal panes of glass constructed in such a way to resemble a giant sphere. Five enormous wires connected to the tip of the sphere and radiated with magical energy. In the center a dense swirling black orb sat levitating in mid air. The unicorns looked at it with astonishment. They have never seen anything like it. Was this the true form of a mega spell?

A yellow light above them started swirling and blinking. A loud buzzing noise came through the laboratory and both unicorns quickly ran up the flight of stairs to their right into an observation room. Directly adjacent to them was a pony in white lab coat writing down something on a clipboard. The unicorn from afar didn’t notice the two intruders enter at all. He kept on working as the sounds of the siren got louder and then… BOOM! Again the sound of thunder rang through the facility. The once dense and small, swirling black orb had expanded to all sides of the sphere trying to push it apart. The barrier held up though as it always did. The magically reinforced glass could withstand a mega spell, but only one. If two were to happen at once the whole installation would be wiped off the map.

The two unicorns advanced over through the observation rooms and over the to scientist. He turned around and failed to spot the intruders in plain sight and continued to write on his clipboard and walked out into the hallway. They followed him into a main office area and the Boarean agent subdued the civilian.

“Don’t yell or you die. Now, can I download all the research data from this computer.”

“Ye-yes, but it will breach the security systems and put the whole base into meltdown. The shielding will fail and the system will remotely activate a mega spell testing to purge the sight. Kr-Krevcha took steps to prepare for ponies like you.”

“Hmph, that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Download the data Equestrian, we got to go. Now, how long until this place blows sky high?” said the Boarean agent.

“Thr-three minutes maybe?”

“Good, that’s all we’ll need.”

“Files are downloaded, we are leaving!” said the unicorn bumping into his partner’s shoulder.

They ran through the hallways backtracking their way back outside the complex. They soon made it out and an aerial extraction was waiting for them. The pegasi pilots lifted the cargo plane quickly as the situation about the megaspell was explained. None of them wanted to risk the back blast of such a spell.

In the distance they saw a roaring purple fire burst out the complex then the snow covering up what was a now former military installation. They had succeeded in their mission. Or so they thought.

“Eclipse, are you there? This is Blueblood, over.”

The Equestrian pony responded quickly, “yes sir, what is it, over.”

“Byrakev has betrayed us and the Boarean people. Kill him, over and out.”

The unicorn stood up and slid against the wall drawing his pistol out.

“Byrakev, are you there? This is Blueblood, over.”

“What is it?” Said the Boarean agent.

“Eclipse has betrayed us, and your people, kill him, Blueblood over and out.”

Byrakev heard the instinctive cocking of a gun and jumped up on top of some crates. He slid past Eclipse without either of them noticing each other. The two best agents in their field of work were going to fight to the death.

Eclipse spotted a shadow of his former ally and shot several times in his direction. He missed his target and ran towards Byrakev. Running around the corner was a bad idea. He was met with a hoof to the face and Eclipse took the blow, but not before grabbing the foreleg of the attack and snapping it. He rammed is hoof into Byrakev’s elbow upwards and sent the unicorn into a world of pain. Just as Eclipse was going to deliver the final blow and kill Byrakev the sneaky Boarean agent plunged his knife into Eclipse’s stomach. He fell to his knees and rested on his back.

Byrakev leaned over him and pulled his knife out and wrapped his hoof around his victim’s and pulled him up looking deep into Eclipse’s eyes. He could see he wasn’t a traitor. There was no malice or ill intent in him. They stared into each other’s eyes until Eclipse faded away into death.

Prince Blueblood came from behind the agent and pulled out a gun and aimed at the mourning agent. With a look of malicious pleasure he ended the life of Byrakev. A single bullet in the back of the head.

Tapirus Streets

An orange earth pony sat cuffed to a chair. A camera angled at her face started recording the interrogation. Another pony paced around in the room unable to be identified by the camera.

“Now, ya’ll gotta understand this. The Spike ya’ knew is dead. Equestria killed him. Always askin’ for one more favor one more sacrifice that just went too far. Some dumbfuck Pegasus killed her, a faceless murderer that took the life of his only love, Rarity. She was the only thing that kept him sane. Can’t forget his own agency betrayed him. Set him up, let him loose, an’ told him to kill his friend in a dirty Manehattan basement all for ‘National Security.’ Pinkie Pie died that day by the hands of her most favorite dragon friend. So he left. He left Third Epsilon, Equestria, even Twilight Sparkle. He gave up everything. He dropped off the grid and wandered around for some reason to go on. Then he caught a whisper. A little bird told him where he might find Rarity’s killer. He heard a name, a Noble that was heavily entrenched in the drug and pony trafficking trade, Silverblood. He went to Tapirus to find him and ‘ask’ him some questions.”

Tapirus Streets

The cool autumn air blew onto Spike’s face causing him to shiver a bit. The quite little café he was at was about to become a blood bath and he didn’t even know it. A pony waiter came by in his dashing suit. His attire was much more professional than the dragon’s.

“Sir, this is for you.” Said the pony levitating a tray in front of him. A small earpiece laid in the middle of the wooden tray. The dragon looked at it curiously as he recognized exactly what it was. A comms unit that was highly prized during his career in Third Epsilon. It was the most advanced piece of communications technology available at the time.

He picked the earpiece up and placed it into his left eardrum.

“Spike!” said a female voice over the transmission. Whoever she was she was clearly excited to hear from this dragon again.

“Who is this and how did you find me?” Said spike callousedly. He thought he was done with Third Epsilon, it seems he was wrong.

“You don’t recognize me, come on Spike we we’re friend for years.” Said the cheerful voice.

“Twilight?” Quizzed the dragon, “how did you find me? I went dark years ago. I’m done with Third Epsilon and I’m not coming back.” He continued a little peeved that he was discovered in such a remote island far south of Equestria.

“We’re Third Epsilon, Spike, we always have an eye in the sky,” a glimpse of Pegasus swooping past a building out of Spike’s full view confirmed her statement, “there’s local gang coming your way, get to the back alley and you’ll make it out alive.”

“Why the fuck should I listen to you?” replied the dragon

“You want answers don’t you? About Rarity’s accident.” Those words caused the dragon to stand up as stiff as a board in an instant.

“Fine.” Spike made his way to the back alley and crouched bellow a market stand. The bright overhead street lights gave him no tactical advantage. He needed to the darkness to operate effectively.

“Hold on, I’ll hack into the electrical system and cause an overload. You do what you do best.” Said Twilight.

Sparks and broken glass hit the ground as the lights blew out. The armed guards looked up and around them wondering what had caused the sudden outage. They looked terrified and worried panicking as they spun around aiming pistols and machine guns at whatever inanimate object their sights had focused on.

Spike chuckled to himself as we walked behind the first pony and quickly subdued him wrapping his strong claw over the pony’s throat and crushing his windpipe. He picked up his gun. A small caliber weapon, but great for close quarters. He spotted a patrol of three more guards ahead they were all facing one pony in particular. A unicorn with a switchblade on his flank. He was tough looking buck. A soft tan coat and large biceps puffed his shoulders and chest out.

“Find him and kill him! Don’t fuckin’ come back if you don’t. Silverblood isn’t paying us to fuck up.” The trio of his subordinated nodded and started pacing back towards Spike occasionally splitting off in different directions as they formed back into a tight three pony squad. They knew who they were dealing with. A professional.

Spike crouched in the corner pressing his back tightly against the wall as he observed their movements waiting for a pattern to form. Something he could go on to eliminate the three guards before they could even react.

His moment was now or never. He leaped up from his spot and took aim at the ponies firing several rounds. None of them managed to escape the incoming fire. They all fell onto the ground dead or severely wounded. The once tough-looking buck spotted Spike and shot at him but missed only making the dragon blink.

Spike began to run for the pony who had took off in a mad dash running down a narrow alley. Spike was shoving ponies from side to side as he followed the thug into a bathroom and terrified equine fled the restroom and Spike charged against the door plowing his shoulder into the frame and sending the unicorn on the opposite side flying back and hitting the wall.

Blood dripped from his mouth as he tried to raise his gun to shoot the dragon, but Spike grabbed his horn and slammed his head into the wall again and the gun fell to the ground. A grunt of pain came from the unicorn as Spike backed up and took the gun from him throwing it into a toilet.

“You won’t need that. Now, where’s Silverblood? And why is he after me?”

The unicorn spit in the dragon’s face, “fuck you!”

Spike took his answer of defiance with the utmost prejudice and held the unicorn by his horn and smashed his face into the mirror to his left and dropped the pony. The tan coated pony tried to hold onto the sink to regain his composure only to be met with several agonizing blows to the head by the dragon’s fist. The ceramic sink cracked and shattered onto the ground with the bloodied and disfigured unicorn following. He lied there groveling in pain as the vexed dragon stood over him and grabbed him by the throat taking him high off the ground, touching his head to the ceiling.

“Where’s Silverblood!” Said the dragon gritting his teeth in anger.

His grip was growing tighter and the pony was struggling for air as he tried to speak, “Ah! Fuck! You’re Spike huh? Guess you’re gonna kill him so no point in me protectin’ him anymore. He’s at the mansion in the middle of town, can’t miss it. He wanted you dead after he found out you were in town. He got scared, said something about a white unicorn he killed a while back and told us whoever killed you gets one hundred thousand bits.”

“Good, now sleep.” The dragon clenched his fist depriving the unicorn of any air and he soon became limp. Spike let him go dropping the heavy body to the ground.

Silverblood Mansion

“ Now don’t be tellin’ him nothing, but I knew from the start that’d be where he’d go. Every bit of illegal activities came out of that little fuck’s place. ‘Daddy’ got it for him, heh. Silverblood was paranoid, always thought pony’s were out to kill’m and he was right, at least, not a pony, but a dragon. He turned that place into a fortress. He lined the place with thugs and ex convicts looking for a fix or a mare to rape. But… Spike knew he was in there. He knew Silverblood might have some information on what happened to Rarity. Spike was goin’ in there, ain’t nothin’ that could stop that dragon.”

Silverblood Mansion

“Spike, come in, are you there… dammit, don’t ghost out on me now.” Twilight’s voice sounded almost desperate for Spike to return a comment.

“Yeah, I’m here, going to pay my new friend Silverblood a visit. Talk to ya’ later Twi.” Spike shut off his comm. and walked down the alley. The smell of must, bile, and sweat filled his nose. The dark corners of the walls seemed to reach out to the dragon beckoning him to come in and hide, but he knew he couldn’t hide now, he had come too far to back out into the shadows. Silverblood knew something about what happened to Rarity and he was going to answer to him.

The dragon walked down the alley way to a street running perpendicular to his position. He saw three possible guards. One guarding a side entrance and two guards at the front of the mansion. This was filly’s play to him. The guards wouldn’t know what him them until they were all dead.

Seven, maybe eight civilians crowded the sides of the road as passing carriages made their way through the darkened streets of Tapirus. The two guards at the entrance were calling out to a couple mares across the street trying to flaunt their muscles. The mares stuck their heads up walking the other way leaving the egos’ of both stallions unscathed as another mare walked by and their primal call continued.

“Hey there little filly, like whatcha’ see? Betcha never sucked a real stallion’s cock.” Said one of the depraved guards.

“Mhm, I’d like to tank those flanks hunny.” Retorted the other perverse guard.

The mare looked a little frightened like she was a tourist perhaps unfamiliar to the ‘bad’ section of town. Though, the whole town was bad. Silverblood’s father was the King of Tapirus. Granted, the Equestrian Embassy was here to establish good relations with the foreign country as well as help Equestrians who’ve come to visit the little island, get back home, or search for any information about the country.
She took off once the guard stepped off the curb and onto the road approaching her. The mare ran directly into Spike knocking him onto the ground. He wasn’t expecting anything like this to happen, but he stood back up and helped the mare to her hooves. Even a killer can be a gentleman.

“Are you alright?” Said the dragon
The mare was a little embarrassed about running into a complete stranger and knocking him flat on his back. She blushed and backed up a little lowering her head. Both guards had started walking over towards the dragon that was helping the mare. They bulked out their shoulders trying to look more menacing, but Spike had no fears about these punks.

“Aye, what you think you’re doin’ lizard?” said one of the guards.
Spike paid no attention to the guards and looked into the mares eyes and whispered softly in here ear, “run.” At that moment the mare dashed off down the street becoming a small blur as the echoing of her trotting became distant.

“That wasn’t cool lizard, what the fuck you think you’re doin’ scaring off are girls?”
Spike said nothing. He stared at the two stallions waiting for them to attack or retreat. Even though he was a lethal weapon, causing a scene without justification would make his job a lot harder when it came to getting out of this hellhole.

“Wait… I know you! Silverblood want you de-“ the dragon saw his opportunity before they could draw their weapons and quickly incapacitated both of the thugs. Plunging his claw into one of the pony’s throat while the other dangled in the air as Spike held him high above the ground. As the pony’s struggle to survive stopped he let go of the ragdoll and noticed the civilians around him weren’t run in fear. They were cautious of the vigilante, but they seemed happy the goons were dead. He didn’t care about them though. He just wanted Silverblood.

Spike made his way to the main entrance, but paused before opening the door. It would be suicidal to just walk in there. He noticed a drainage pipe leading up the second window and took the idea. With one more obstacle in his way he was closer to reaching his target. The remaining guard walked back from around the corner and spit his cigarette onto the ground stopping it out with his hoof. The dragon slowly crept up beside him pushing himself against the wall as must as he could. The darkness aided in his stealthful approach. The earth pony didn’t even noticed spike behind him until the barrel of a pistol pressed up against his head.

“If you want to live drop your weapon and run as far away as you can.” The earth pony dropped his submachine gun and took off running without looking back. He was too afraid of dying to care who it was. Spike smiled devilishly and looked to the large metal tube that scaled the wall to the roof. He started to scale it until he got a firm grasp of the ledge and shimmied to the side near a window he heard two guards talking inside.

“Shit, did you hear what happened in the market?”

“No, what went down?”

“Fuck, man, Switch got fucked up. He was tryin’ to go after that dragon, Spike. Silverblood put a huge bounty on him.”

“You’re shittin’ me! Switch got beat?! Man, fuck this I don’t wanna fight this Spike dude. If he can take on Switch and live then he’s one dragon I’m not goin’ to fuck with.”

“I hear ya’ on that one. I’m quittin’ after tonight. Silverblood can fuckin’ save himself if he pissed off a dragon. That dumbass is still strung out on that Hearts Desire.”

“Really? That shit again, fuck that. I’ll stick with the salt lick bars. You wanna hit ‘em up and say fuck it?”

“Sure man, sounds good.”

Spike smiled and laughed a bit. Word travels fast it seems in this town. It was only hours ago he was beating down the pony known as ‘Switch’ and now his crew was disbanding before Spike’s very eyes.
The two ponies walked down the spiral staircase and the dragon climbed inside. Fine art and historical monuments decorated the mansion. A fifteen foot tall statue of Silverblood stood in the main lobby where the two ponies who deserted their posts were coaxing three of their comrades to join them in another night of debauchery and intoxication. The dragon watched from afar as he scaled some piping above them and began to follow it into what could only be an exhibit room. Old weapons from past civilizations and ancient texts carved in stone where held in glass displays for the public to view. Well, the public was never really allowed inside the mansion. Silverblood to it upon himself to ‘buy’ the country’s national treasures from the museum for his own personal collection.

The sound of machinery rang through the extravagant room and the fluorescent lights above him turned on. He had to squint to avoid being blind by how close he was to the lighting fixtures. He could see four ponies storm inside the room and begin searching the area. None of them bothered to look up where Spike was carefully hiding as the clenched the pipe with his legs and let his torso hang down from above.
He followed the pony in the far left corner with his sights on his pistol preparing to fire when his concentration was broke by the intercom system.

“Fuck! Is this thing on? It is? Well no fucking shit it’s on why the fuck do I need you to tell me?! Never mind! I know you’re here Spike, come out, come out where ever you are.” He laughed manically; no doubt the drugs he was taking were clouding his judgment, “you think you can fucking kill me? Ha! You’re gonna be sorely fuckin’ mistaken lizard! Oh, and you’re precious Rarity, your one true love… I killed her! Hahaha! I did it! I ‘d fucking do it again!”
Spike tried to contain his rage and shot the guards patrolling the ground below him. He dropped down turning himself backwards as he landed on his feet. A moan from one of the guards indicated he wasn’t dead and the dragon quickly took care of that shooting the bleeding pony once more.

Spike was seething with anger. He made his way to a pair of large double doors. He could hear chatter through the walls. Silverblood’s guards were scared, terrified, and the deranged noble was threatening them with death if they were to abandon him now.

SMASH! The wooden door flung open and every pony within that room shot at the doors. Friendly fire killed two of the thugs on two more plus Silverblood remained. Spike had created a little diversion and while the two guards were advancing towards the door Spike was scaling the side of the building and climbed through a window on the side directly behind Silverblood.

The crazed pony was waving around an assault rifle firing off rounds randomly and Spike finally had his chance. He stabbed his combat knife into Silverblood’s shoulder causing him to drop his weapon. Spike wrapped his forehoof behind him and pressed his pistol to the side of his head.
Silverblood’s guards had heard the commotion and entered the room only to be shot dead once Spike had spotted the intruders.

“Now, what were you saying about Rarity?” Spike said pushing the hot barrel against the nobles cheek burning his fur. Silverblood whimpered a bit and tried to for a reply.

“I-I didn’t mean it, come on, S-Spike, I-“ the dragon dragged the pony over to the grand piano that so eloquently displayed its usefulness as an interrogation device. The dragon slammed his head on the keys and pounded his fists into the back of Silverblood’s head. The wooden piano shattered under the force sending splinters and shrapnel into Silverblood’s face. The dragon picked the bloodied pony up by his throat and jabbed him in the ribs making his victim cough up some blood.

“Who ordered the hit? And don’t lie to me.” Spike said as sternly as he could.

“I-I can’t tell you, they’ll kill me!” pleaded the pitiful pony at Spike’s mercy.

“What makes you think I won’t?” That piercing glare Spike shot into him was almost as effective as the stare Fluttershy used, but to no avail.

“I… just kill me, they will if you don’t.” Silverblood’s response only angered Spike more.
The dragon dropped the pony to his knees and stood behind him with the barrel of his gun pressed to Silverblood’s neck. The noble was crying profusely, begging for mercy, but none would be shown to the malicious bastard that killed his love.
The sound of glass breaking first alterted the dragon as shards of the transparent material reign down from above him. Ten ropes descended down as ponies in black steal suits Spike used to wear slid rappelled down all aiming their weapons at spike. All the red laser sights pointed on the dragon made it look like a small rave going on inside the building.

“DROP THE WEAPON! DROP IT NOW! DROP THE DAMN GUN!” The persistant chanting of the ponies that surrounded him didn’t faze him at all. He was ready for death even if this was the way he had to go.
Spike’s comm. was remotely activated and the same voice spoke into his ear, “Spike, do what they say. You won’t be harmed, I promise you.”

“How about I kill Silverblood and every agent in here you sent after me?” retorted the dragon with some arrogance in his tone.

“You know you wouldn’t survive. Trust me Spike, I know what I’m doing.” Twilight sounded so calm and collected. Probably because she wasn’t doing field work like Spike was doing all over again.

“Fine, but if you set me up I’ll kill you, I promise you tha-“ the dragon felt a sharp pain in his neck. A dart. They weren’t going to kill him from the start. He started feeling light headed and weak. He stumbled backwards and dropped his gun.

“Package secured ma’am returning to base.” Said the soldier and with that Spike was unconscious and in their care.

Las Pegasus Airstrip

“It was obvious somepony was lookin’ for a chat with Spike. That’s why they spent all those bits buyin’ off Silverblood to lure him in their trap. A trank’ later an’ before he knew it Spike was headin’ home… back to Equestria. He had to be sedated, otherwise that dragon woulda’ tore that place apart buildin’ by buildin’. After unloadin’ him at Las Pegasus Airstrip that’s when things got interesting.”

Las Pegasus Airstrip

Spike’s eyelids felt like weights pulling his vision away from him. He struggled to stay conscious as the remaining tranquilizer was wearing off quickly. He still felt a bit sluggish from the long trip. Tied down to a gurney with a protective magical barrier around his mouth to prevent him from torching the plane wasn’t his idea of a lax cruise ride. Though, he had been in worse situations.

A bright, piercing light cracked from the top of the metal ramp that slowly lowered down. The loud sound of the chopper’s blade slicing the air was quickly bringing him back from his long rest. He could hear voices near him and he soon felt himself being pushed off of the machine and rolled onto the airstrip. The powerful blades forced a constant wave of cold air that blasted his eyes causing them to dry up, making him blink profusely.

“I’ll be a lot more happy when the sleeping beast is out of my bird.”

“So will Blueblood. I saw a couple of his stallions out by his chopper, he must be impatient.”

“I got here as quick as possible. I topped out my bird’s speed.”

“Yeah I can tell, featherweight. Good job. We don’t want to keep Blueblood waiting. He’s a busy pony after all.”

Spike passed out after that and soon woke up to the sound of chatter again.

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I will need more compensation.”

“Wasn’t Silverblood suppose to be handling that?”

“Well, uh, yes Col. But you see these unforeseen changes of more ponies to carry with extra gear and that extra two hours on flight…”

“Tell ya’ what Featherweight, Blueblood will be here, he’ll take care of you.”

The two ponies talking had stopped as they reached a hanger. Two armed equines guarded the facility and stood ramrod straight to the sides and opened the hanger doors for Spike and his captors. The dragon’s eyes closed once more as he couldn’t resist the remaining sedative anymore.

A familiar face all to come was the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes. Twilight Sparkle. The grown mare was looking well for her age. Even if this situation Spike thought the lavender unicorn was very attractive. Spike noticed three ponies behind her. He could only identify two of them. One was Prince Blueblood and the other was a surprise to him, Filthy Rich.

Blueblood walked over the dragon with a look of disgust on his face. Spike shared the mutual looked of animosity as a voice from behind caught the prince’s attention.

“Fuel isn’t free, Blueblood.” Said Featherweight. It was the wrong answer as Blueblood levitated a pistol out of his saddleback and shot the fragile looking pony in the chest several times. His body crumpled under its weight as blood pooled on the floor. The other ponies in the room didn’t even flinch at the sight of the heinous crime.

“Filthy Rich, Gilda, no time for talking, we need your people to move now.” Said Blueblood in a distasteful tone.

“Everything’s going as planned Prince Blueblood. We started offloading troops at nine in the morning today.” Replied Gilda looking confident. Spike wasn’t expecting the Griffins to be in on this too.

“Excellent. I’m going back to Third Epsilon to finish things up there, now if you two would pardon me I need a moment alone with Ms. Sparkle. There’s a loose end that needs to be cut off before we can proceed any further.”

“Yes, sir!” Replied Gilda and Filthy Rich as they exited the room through a chainlink door.

“Good Job, Ms. Sparkle. You caught him, you get to interrogate him, he’s all yours. Find out what he knows about the Megaspells , how he knows it and why he’s been hunting out ally Mr. Silverblood.” Said Blueblood sounding impatient.

“It’s going to take some time, Blueblood. He’s been trained to resist interrogation until death. He was the first agent to join Epsilon back when Pinkie Pie was Director.” Said Twilight scratching her chin with her foreleg.

“I’m authorizing any means necessary. Chemical, magical, physical, I don’t care I just want answers then
get rid of him, and don’t make such a damn mess this time.” The self righteous pony held his head up high as he exited the room leaving just Spike, Twilight, and one remaining guard who had been filling a syringe with an unknown substance.

The guard looked down at Spike and opened his eyes to check his pupils and pulled back tapping the tip of the needle with his hoof. A squirt and trickle of the clear liquid slid down the sterilized, metallic needle. Spike was preparing for the worst.

“Understood. Anything else, Blueblood.?” Replied Twilight.

“Just hurry up Twilight! I’ll be back at Third Epsilon, call me when you have information.”

The purple unicorn extended her neck watching Blueblood leave and turned around. The guard was about to inject Spike with the foreign drug when dragon caught a glimpse of Twilight pulling out her gun. A suppressed round later and the guard slumped over the gurney onto Spike dropping the possibly lethal needle onto the ground as it shattered leaking its contents onto the concrete below him.

Twilight holstered her weapon and walked towards her dragon companion and began unshackling his restraints, “pay attention Spike this is important. I’m working for Celestia as a mole inside Third Epsilon. Prince Blueblood is the new director and he’s working with these goons here. A PPMC (Private Pony Military Company) called Equines in Arms. They’re running an op for stolen Boardorean Megaspells and Blueblood is setting up a brick wall into any investigation into this affair.”

“He’s stone-walling Celestia?”

“The stallion has serious connections. The Princess is unable to find out anything through her channels. All we know is they’re almost ready for their final plan. The crescendo of this op is upon us, but we don’t know what they’re planning, where’s it’s going to hit, or even when.” Twilight was trying to stress the severity of this operation. It truly was a matter of National Security.

“Really?” Said Spike sarcastically, ”you sure, you seem to be doing a lot of field work these days. Whatever happened to the diligently, studious mare I knew?”

“Dammit Spike, this is serious. I need you, Equestria needs you, more than ever right now. I can’t make a move. I wish I could, but the second I do my cover is blow out of the water. But you’re done with Third Epsilson, you can act however you like and as you see fit.” Twilight was obviously trying to coax and manipulate Spike into this mission, but the dragon wasn’t buying it. He didn’t care about the Equestria anymore.

Spike was sitting up and looked over the right noticing the chainlink door was still open, “I don’t do this shit anymore. I’m a washed up spy, Twilight, find another one of your lackeys to do it.” He stood up and was about to exit the door when the purple pony caught it attention once more.

“Tell that to the ponies you decimated in Tapirus. Now punch me. As hard as you can. If it doesn’t look like you escaped and attacked me I’m dead. Now do it.” Twilight was beckoning the dragon to punch her. He saw the reasoning behind it and contemplated the thought.

“Twilight, let me refresh your memory. I’m out of this.” Said Spike sternly.

The mare chuckled a bit, “you’re now out. All it took was one hint about her; just a single crumb from the trail and you dove right.” Twilight was playing on his emotions. She knew what would make him think.

The dragon turned around and walked towards the mare and cornered her against some metal lockers. The dragon stood only inches away from Twilight as she kept her face as emotionless as possible, “what do you know about Rarity?”

The purple unicorn crossed her hooves and Spike grew irate by the moment slamming his claw into the locker as it punctured through like a hot knife through butter. Twilight smacked the dragon and walked around him as the reptile she was manipulating rubbed his cheek from the pain.

“She’s alive Spike.” Said Twilight.

“You’re lying! Pinkie told me she was dead. Pinkie would never lie to me!” Spike exclaimed clenching his fists tightly.

“She’s very much alive Spike and I know where she is. I’ve known all this time.” Twilight’s words were so coy and confident.

“Fuck you, you’re lying. Why the fuck should I believe you over Pinkie?” snarled the dragon.

“Because the ponies I employ are keeping her safe… for now. You help me, you get Rarity. If you don’t… there’s nothing I can do to help you Spike.”

The dragon grabbed Twilight’s mane picking her up onto her hind legs, “If I find out you’re lying… I will kill you. Understand? I WILL END YOU!”

“Spike, I’ve been hiding this from you since it happened.”

The dragon pulled his right arm back and unleashed it smashing in into the unicorns face. She hit the ground, spitting out some blood.

“Ok, th-“ another sharp blow to her face as she stood up sent her stumbling to the table as some more blood dripped from her face. Sharp claw marks were dug into her cheeks exposing the pink, unprotected flesh.

“O-ok, Spike, that’ll work nicely. Good job.”

“Shut up.” Retorted the pissed dragon.

“Here,” the unicorn levitated a piece of paper into Spike’s claws along with his comm. device and a snake camera, “the airstrip has a magical barrier around it preventing anypony from teleporting inside or out. You’ll have to escape the airstrip at least one hundred hooves out of maximum range for the teleportation spell on that piece of paper to work. You know what to do with the snake cam and comms unit. Keep it on at all times Spike.”

“You miss me that much?” Said the dragon sarcastically.

Twilight rolled her eyes, “so I can setup a call with Rarity to prove to you she’s alive and well. Now we need to get you out of here and make sure they don’t follow. They’re some explosive just outside place them on the heli and comm. tower so they can’t track you.”

“Not even a weapon?” said the dragon.

Twilight levitated her silenced pistol to the scathing dragon. He held it in his claw pointing it at her throat with a look of pure hatred and malicious intent. He wanted to kill her right now.

“Point it the right people, Spike.”

“You can count on it.”

Spike walked from the small torture chamber. The chainlink gate between him and the outside world opened. The whole facility was going to know he escaped soon and dawn was only two hours away.

Upon approaching the explosive the ex spy killed a typical unsuspecting guard. He was a ghost in the shadows creeping from hanger to hanger eliminating guards left and right with precision and lethality.

He found the first hanger, walking up the steel stairway to a another metal door. He placed the snake camera under the door and looked at the display screen. Two guards on the floor he was on and on down below working on the downed helicopter. The pulled the camera back and opened the door and quietly closed it behind him. He leaped up grabbing onto the long pipe and shimmied down the pole the lined up all three target and lowered down to take the shot. Three shells later and the released his legs falling to the ground. He curled up absorbing the shock into his legs crouching.

He placed the explosive on the aircraft and exited the hanger. His silence was undetectable as he slide cover to cover not bother to kill the guards. They were just a waste of his time. A loud speaking voice came over the intercom system in the airstrip altering all the gaurds.

“Attention, we have an intruder. Spike is lose take extreme caution. Lethal force is authorized.”

“Dammit.” Whispered the dragon under his breath the lights overhead beaming on him. He dashed to the side of a building and slithered his way onto the large runway. There wasn’t light out to cast a shadow of his presence in this area.

He trekked his way through another building bypassing guards as scurried through the complex looking for him. Killing just one could lead them on a trail to him if the body was found too soon. The large rotating dish was outside swirling slowly. Spike planted the bomb and ran as fast as he could climbing the chainlink fence that enclosed him from the more vast outside world.

The grassy plains would not help him if they got the chopper working again. It’s radiant spotlight would shine upon him exposing him to full fire from the deadly mercenaries searching for him. He ran faster than he possibly imagined adrenaline pumping through his body. He was far past one hundred meters when he finally slowed down and detonated the explosives. A large fiery blast came from two areas of the complex and Spike called Twilight to receive his phone call as promised.

“Twilight, the bird is down now where’s my damn call.” He was going to tear that airstrip into a crater if she was lying to him.

“Good work Spike, as promised I’ll patch her through. Hold on.”

A voice came through, “Hello?”

“Rarity!” Exclaimed Spike with glee.

“Spike! Darling you’re alive! They told me you wer-“

“No! Dammit Twilight put her through or I’ll come back there and tears your intestines out of your mouth!”

“Sorry Spike, that’s all you get. Contact me tomorrow and we’ll discuss your next mission. You put the whole damn facility in lockdown be fucking happy I even managed to put her through.” The transmission ended and Spike screamed into nothingness as he tried desperately to recall Twilight.

He needed help. He could only think of one pony that could truly help him in a time like this. Back in the skirmish Equestria had with Camelu. He dialed the only number he could think of to reach Applejack.

“Sweet Apple Acres, this is Applejack speaking.”

“Applejack, this is Spike, I need some help.”

“Huh, if ya’ need help this is serious. Meet me at the Celestia Statue in Canterlot. And what in the hay is that sound in the back!”

“Remind you of somewhere…” the dragon’s voice trailed on.

“Yeah, Dromedor, Camelu, those were dark times.”

Dromedor, Camelu

The orange earth pony sat in the metal chair looking down as she recounted her time in Camelu. It was an awful sight for any rookie. Out in the desert thousands of miles away from home with only a few of her close friends. Twilight's superior magical skill kept her away from the field work back then. She was far to busy with the Manehattan Project to join her friends in the skirmishes of the Eastern lands.

Applejack, Spike, Fluttershy and Rainbow dash walked down the dustly streets of Dromedor. The scent of gunpowder and constant sandstorms forced the patrol to wear facewraps and wear flight goggles. It was so unlike Equestria's lush green forests. But they pressed onward joking to each other after securing the nearby village.

Little resistance was met. A few shots fired, but the team was highly trained and deadly. Some of the best the Canterlot Special Equine Division could provide. Of course, they were easily accepted into the rigorous program being Elements of Harmony. Spike too was accepted by a few strings pulled by none other than Celestia herself.

A mortar strike catching everypony off guard hit the ground killing Fiuttershy instantly. Applejack was knocked down and Spike was unconscious. Rainbow Dash tried to crawl away as the orange pony tried to pry her eyes open noticing the advancing camels. One came up and shot Rainbow Dash several times in the back. They must have thought Applejack was dead too because they didn't bother to finish her off. Fluttershy took the full impact scattering her remains in to a bloody carnage of organs and limbs.

Spike was taken captive. No doubt he would be. He was the squad leader. He had important intelligence the government of Camelu wanted. He was the closest one to Twilight Sparkle after all. She reported in the incident and moved onwards towards the last known location she saw the camels dragging Spike.

Shining Armor came over Applejack's comm telling her to stand down. She disobeyed the direct order and pressed forward. She didn't care if she was going to the labor camps for insubordination, Spike was the only one left in her squad she wouldn't let him die in a hellhole like this.

The pony picked up a common assault rifle from the land it was nearby made from. A Zebracan Mark 5. Pristine and wonderful. A simple, yet effect weapon. It was made for even the dumbest pony to use. A filly could fire it possibly.

The pony began her decent into the land nearby searching for her friend. Patrols were ahead and the pony had to take action. She shot the first one down and the two camels looked horrified at the sight and the orange mare took the remaining guards down quickly. Mud and clay houses close by created cover and she moved behind them.

Four more guards. Three standing on the ground and one on the roof of a building. The cowpony pulled the pin of the grenade away and she spit it out of her mouth. She tossed the metallic bomb as it collided against a fuel tank close to the guards. The blast blew the camels apart scorching their bodies in an intense heat. One survived and ran towards the building Applejack hid behind. The camel was still in flames screaming in agony. She shot him down and took the guard out on the roof as she scoured for the source of what caused the explosion.

The pony ran through the area, sliding into a mud and straw building. No fire came to her. She assumed the worst which would be an ambush. She crept out of the back slowly checking both corners. The pungent smell of burning flesh caused her to cringe and cough. She moved further into the village. It was a labyrinth a treacherous journey through each step.

Applejack made it to a large structure. She could hear movement inside and several voices. All foreign. She couldn’t make out what they were saying. It sounded like someone was being hit in there too. Spike might be inside.

The earth pony opened the door slowly. One guard, smoking a cigarette. She crept up behind the combatant putting her assault rifle to the camel’s head.

“ Drop your weapon and get movin’.”

The camel dropped his weapon. Applejack jabbed him in the back with the barrel of her rifle, “good, you can understand me. Now take me ta’ the camel in charge.”

They walked down the concrete building. The sweltering heat was the least of Applejack’s worries as the camel kept peeking back as if he was planning a daring escape. The earth pony was quick to display her authority by bashing the camel’s face with the butt of her gun as he looked back again.

“Turn ‘round again partner and I’ma drop you dead right here.”

She had no more problems with the hostage after that. They approached a metal door with a latch on the outside. It wasn’t to keep anypony safe it was to keep them locked up. Yelling inside stiffened Applejack’s resolve to find Spike.

“Open the door… slowly.”

The camel did as he was told removing the latching, pushing it upwards. The metal door slammed open when Applejack heard Spike’s voice. She shoved the came into the door and he stumbled through on top of the officer in charge. Applejack opened fired on them both spraying in a horizontal line. The camels’ bodies lied limb and lifeless. Blood seeped onto the concrete floor. Spike’s voice called out to the pony in question, “Applejack?”

“It’s me, bud, I’ma getting’ us outta here. I’ll call in an evac.” She shot the steel cuffs that bound him arms and legs to the chair. The dragon got up and picked up the officer’s pistol.

“This is Lieutenant Applejack. I need immediate Evac. I have Captain Spike. He’s unharmed for the most part, over.” Said the orange pony into her radio.

“This is Shining Armor, I copy, we’re sending gunship support and an evac to your coordinates. ETA, three minutes. Hold on you two.” Replied the stallion over the radio.

The sounds of incoming forces broke the moment of peace they had. Camel combatants were approaching for the front and sides opening fire. The dragon and pony returned fire with deadly precision.

Heavy machinegun fire pinned the two Equestrians down from making any more attempt to fight them. They were positive they were going to die today. Evac was still forty-five seconds away.

“Applejack,” said the dragon holding his right shoulder in pain. A bullet had grazed him tearing his flesh, “if this is the end-“ he was cut off by the earthy pony.

“Spike I won’t letcha’ die out here!” Shouted the teary-eyed pony, “I told Twilight I would bring you home and she would never forgive me if I failed her. Ah’ would never forgive me.”

A buzzing noise almost like an electrical saw ripped through the air. The sound was coming from the gunship above tearing through the heavy forces. Dozens of dead camels littered the ground. Brain matter and blood covered the walls in a macabre art.

“Choppers’ here Spike! I’ma getcha’ home I promise!” The earth pony helped Spike onto the gunship.

“No pony left behind Applejack!” Spike reached out his claw and grabbed the earth pony pulling her onto him inside the metal bird as it lifted off.

Canterlot Fairgrounds

“That day, a changin’ began in Spike, it’d take years more before it fully developed. Years contemplatin’ wha’ exactly it meant to him.” Applejack continued staring at the camera recording her interrogation, “but to the point, Spike’s lil’ arrangement with Twilight meant he needed as much information on Megaspells and Equines in Arms immediately. He never asked for the small things, which meant this was huge.”

Applejack continued her speech leaning over the desk and tapping her cigarette onto the metal surface, disregarding the ashtray right next to her, “now we were tryin’ to figure out where ta’ meet. Canterlot’s a big city even for a dragon like him. So ‘ah had the liberty of pickin’ the place. The Canterlot fairgrounds. Ah’ tell ya’ plenty of pony folk for cover, open ground to run, made shit hard for the trackers. Pegasi in the sky woulda’ been too easy to spot for Spike, they had to go on by hoof. Now, I’m not tryin’ to strut my stuff, but I could dodge ‘em, but Spike, he could find ‘em.”

Canterlot Fairgrounds

Spike entered the fairgrounds. The smell of freshly baked apple treats wafted through the air into the dragon’s nose. The pleasant aroma brought fond memories of his life before Third Epsilon. Foals were laughing and playing and the young mares eagerly chased along their friends enjoying the cool autumn night.

Colts and stallions alike tried their luck at the local games trying to win their marefriends a stuffed animal or two. Only a few of them walked away with such luck leaving the losers with empty pockets free from bits.

Spike glared and rolled his eyes walking past the groping couples. He didn’t want to admit his jealousy to himself. Rarity was still in the clutches of Twilight’s own minions and he wasn’t going to stop until he had her back.

“Applejack, I’m at the fairgrounds, where do I go from here?” said the dragon over his comm.”

“Ya’ gotta’ take care of some uninvited guest first. Equines in Arms is here ta’ crash are party. They’ve been lookin’ for me all day.” Said the orange earth pony over the radio.

“They’re not after you Applejack, they want me. It’s not a secret we’re friend or anything.” Said Spike shifting his eyes from side to side looking for any suspicious ponies.

“If we’re gonna’ talk, take care of our guest and meet me in the empty concession stand in the far South area.” The transmission ended. Spike slithered his way in between two game stations nearby. The darkness covered him completely as he crouched waiting to pounce on the prey that was also stalking him.

A white stallion walked by wearing a black suit. His mane was slicked back into a professional-type look. The wired earpiece he had gave away his identity. He was looking for the dragon. Spike grabbed him quickly pulling his body into the darkness.

“Looking for somebody?” he said holding the pony up by his throat.

“Ah, shit! Maybe.”

The dragon head butted the stallion cracking his muzzle. Blood dripped down onto the grass below and spike asked the uncooperative pony another question, “Why are you following Applejack?”

“We were told to follow him to find you, that’s all I know, I swear!” pleaded the guard, “please don’t kill me!”

The dragon clenched the pony’s throat and within seconds the stallion became unconscious. Spike dropped his limp body to the ground with a thud. There were more out there.

He walked out of his hiding spot, advancing forward. Cotton candy and balloons were held by nearly everypony around. Pinkie Pie would have loved this place. It was her kind of party. She couldn’t resist the urge to gorge herself until having to get her stomach pumped at the Canterlot ER.

Spike caught the glimpse of a pony sitting down a bench. The stallion was looking right at him. The dragon walked by noticing the pony getting up from his seat. He was being followed. He lured his guard into an empty photobooth nearby and pulled the stallion inside holding a razor-sharp knife to his throat. The pony gritted his teeth in anticipation of pain.

“Hi there, looking for me?” said the dragon sadistically shaving a few hairs of the stallion’s neck with his blade.

“Shit, Spike!” scoffed the guard, “I’m not saying a fuckin’ word.”

“Wrong answer,” the dragon launched his right knee into the pony’s stomach making his captive gasp for air, “why were you following Applejack?”

“Fuck, Applejack was just a decoy. She’s not even the main target, it was you all along. We were told to call for backup the moment we spot you.”

The dragon slammed the pony’s head into the wall knocking him unconscious. He searched the stallion finding a radio. The sound of static came first and then a voice, Gilda’s voice, “This is Gilda, any sign of Spike, over?”

Another voice replied back, “no, we’re still on the lookout for him, over.”

“Alright, just call in once you spot him and we’ll have so many reinforcements not even Celestia could combat us, over”

“Roger that, Gilda.”

There was only one more guard left that Spike could tell. No other voices on the radio indicated he had took out the spotters before anypony even knew he had infiltrated the area. The concession stand to the South was only fifty meters away.

A loud voice came over the intercom system, “the fair will be closing in ten minutes.” It was clearly automated and magically created. No voice in equestria could sound so fake. It was nothing more than a generated fallacy of a mare that did not exist.

Slipping by from pony to pony the dragon made his way to concession stand in the back. He was only ten meters away when he spotted the last guard. He was having a cigarette in a secluded area. An ‘Off Limits’ sign did nothing to prevent the scaly dragon from lurking behind the last remaining guard. He could smell the acrid smoke as the wind shifted blowing the plumes of noxious gas into his face.

He coughed causing the guard to turn around only to be met with the same reaction as the rest. Fear, uncertainty, and anger. Gilda would not be happy about her team being beaten so easily. There was bound to be repercussions and Spike would be anticipating the fight.

Spike latched his claw around the pony’s neck holding him against the chainlink fence that poorly encased the fair, “Remember me?”

The stallion gritted his teeth and tried to speak the best he could, “dammit! If you got this far-“

A hard strike to the ribs brought tears to the fully grown stallion, “shut up and answer my question. Who are you working for?”

The pony didn’t resist any longer and gave up the information the dragon wanted willingly, for his sake, “Filthy, Filthy Rich, he hired us. Don’t kill me!”

The dragon squeezed his neck causing the pony to blackout and hit the ground unconsciously. He’d have a nasty headache when he wakes up.

It was nothing but smooth walking for Spike now. The concession stand harbored one of the remaining friends he had, Applejack. He opened the door cautiously and upon noticing the kind, freckled face of the orange mare he entered fully smiling at her.

“Been a long time, AJ.” Said Spike.

“It has,” replied the mare tossing a one-sleeved backpack to the dragon, “here, Twilight made this…” the mare pulled out a sheet of paper to recall the name it was give, “Electro Magical Pulse, thingy, Ah’ don’t know what the egg heads do in Canterlot, but it’s ‘spose to cancel out any and all electric and magic-based equipment. Ah’ packed your favorite pistol in there too.”

“How sweet,” snickered the dragon, “I didn’t get you anything though.”

“Dammit Spike, not the time for jokin’. We only got a few minutes before this whole place is crawlin’ with mercs.” Applejack’s tone had no hint of humor in it.

“Fine, what can you tell me about these pricks?” Spike rolled his eyes at Applejack’s unwillingness to have some fun. Pinkie Pie would have encouraged it.

“Equines in Arm, right, they’re a group similar to Everfree Ops. Most of them are ex royal guard from both sisters. Contractors for the highest bidder.”

“So…” the dragon didn’t care for the useless information. An enemy was an enemy.

“So, ‘bout six months ago they took up a contract for security. Now, they don’t do small fry ops like that, they were guardin’ something big. They’ve been hanging around an abandoned Manehattan Project test facility known as Black Box. A lot’a trucks been comin’ out of there recently. You can read all ‘bout it in the file I left in yer’ backpack. We’ll talk more on the phone when ya’ get to there.” Applejack looked out the window spotting the crowds of ponies nearby running.

The dragon took notice quickly and stepped outside of the building, “by order of Prince Blueblood this fair is closed down. We have detected a cockatrice, please exit the fair in a calm and orderly manner as we deal with this situation.” The intercom repeated the same message several more times before stopping.

The trap was so obvious. Spike knew they were coming for him and he had to escape back through the fairgrounds if he wanted to make it to a nearby safe haven in the complex nexus of the Canterlot streets.

The dragon slid beside a vending machine. Three guards stood watch looking around with tactical lights to spot the dragon.

“Come on Spike! Let’s see how you handle yourself like you did at Las Pegasus!” shouted on the guards. The dragon took this opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. He pushed the top part of the one-sleeved backpack sending out an invisible pulse of magic that shattered the overhead lights. Fragments of the fluorescent tubes sprayed over the guards. The shards of glass twinkled like stars far off in the sky.

The stallions were spooked and bumped into each other. The dragon peeked out of his hiding spot and shot the guards down one-by-one. They never even saw it coming, like most of his victims.

He moved between the small two foot crevices that divided the game stations and local fair food stands avoiding the main populace of guards. He didn’t want to be here all night killing off every single grunt they threw at him, but then again, for revenge’s sake he crippled two more stallions. Shooting their legs from a small opening he created with his claw.

The four guards standing at the main entrance ran to see what happened to the other ponies who were screaming in pain. Their shattered legs ended their careers, but not their lives. An almost philanthropistic gesture from the enigmatic dragon.

Just two more guard the street and he’d be home free. The first stallion received a large caliber round the chest dropping him instantly and his partner obtained three more bullet holes. The dragon stepped in their sticky, wet blood. The warmth of it under his foot reminded him of Camelu.

He pushed the painful memory back into the farthest reserves of his mind and trekked onwards into the darkness. He was nothing more than a ghost in the shadows now. The lights from the fair were becoming more distant and soon they were gone as the dragon slithered his way into an alley disappearing from the world again.

Black Box Laboratories

“Ah, tell ya what, when Spike came ta’ me for help, ah’ sure as hell wasn’t gonna turn him away. He always was the ‘lone wolf’ kind. Never askin’ for help or nothin’ but he needed a reminder about what it meant to stick yer’ neck out for someone that’s where I came in. After the hoot that went down with your boys and Spike at the fairgrounds Spike was headin’ straight to Black Box without a moment to spare. The thugs that were ‘protectin’ the place were finishin’ up and movin’ everything offsite to a secure location. But Spike didn’t care what they were takin’ out, he wanted in, not that a magically reinforced barrier for containing Megaspell testing had a lot of backdoors. All he needed was one.”

Black Box Laboratories

The autumn season brought along its changing in colors. The trees swayed and rustled in the evening breeze. The animals of Equestria were gathering food for the long winter hibernation. Fluttershy would have been ecstatic around this time of year. The endless foraging with all those cute little animals she so much adored would keep her happy until Winter Wrap-Up.

Spike laid prone on the ground grasping clumps of grass and dirt as she slid on his belly across the low lying plains. A guard post nearby was the only outside security the old facility had. It was a secret test site during the Cold War between Equestria and the Boardorean Empire. Tensions grew to an all time high putting the Elements of Harmony on full alert twenty-four –seven constantly expecting a Megaspell impact or a full scale invasion.

Celestia upheld the propaganda of the day declaring Equestria a sovereign nation free from the vague and superficial threats of the Boardorean Empire. She had to keep the peace somehow. The public’s views on the matter escalated to near pandemonium as the once civil society started to deteriorate under the constant stress of foreign political regimes invading their near-perfect land.

Luna and her personal army formed the Equestrian Secret Police to quell the unrest in the homeland. If the citizens suspected anypony of treason against the state or had significant evidence to point out a spy they would be recognized for their valiant efforts by Celestia and Luna personally.

Although this had negative repercussions. Almost all the suspected ‘spies’ and traitors were not traitors at all. Most of them were innocent ponyfolk who were arbitrarily pointed out by their neighbors. Very few arrests were made due to the lack of evidence anypony had to use against the other.

Granted, out of the nearly five thousand reports of traitors or spies a remarkable amount of seven spies were detained and later exiled back to their homeland after ‘interrogation’. However, this is what Celestia had told the media. The spies were never returned to their respective homes. They were executed just as the Boardoreans had executed Equestrians in their land regardless if they were truly there on intelligence operations or not.

After long and grueling deliberations with the Boardorean Empire a consensus came to. The Boardorean Empire would relinquish all its megaspells to Equestia on the condition that the Boardorean Empire may establish a trade route with Equestria.

The dragon encroached upon the officer in the toll booth. He was playing air guitar to a popular song by Sapphire Shores, completely unaware of Spike’s presence. The dragon chuckled to himself and slipped past the guard post. No reason to kill somepony who’s not trying to kill him.

“Applejack, I’m on the ground, where do I go from now?”

“Look for an industrial vent on the top floor. That’s where ya’ should find an entrance. From there make yer’ way to the security room just one floor down. Ah’ don’t think I need to say more than that when ya’ find the camera feeds.” Replied the cowpony.

“Thank for everything, AJ, I mean it.”

“Ah, now don’t be getting’ sappy on me now, Spike. Ah’ seeya soon.” The transmission ended leaving Spike to do what he does best. Infiltrate a secured position and extra sensitive data. At least, that was his prior job’s description as a spy for Third Epsilon.

A large stack of wood planks on the side of the building made it easy for the dragon to scale up the side. Now the hard part, scaling across the building holding onto nothing, but the rusted railing of a billboard twenty feet off the ground. Even for a trained spy, Spike still had his fears, and heights were one of them, the other was zombies.

A yellow ladder extending upwards to the roof the building was the only thing standing in his way. He climbed up the vertical structure and stepped onto the roof. It was gravel which made him almost lose his footing near the edge. A near miss for the ex spy. He could allow himself to be taken out so easily when the fun was just about to begin.

The metal fire exit door was unlocked by some odd coincidence. This was unusual for any abandoned building, especially one that housed the Manehattan Project. Back then it was so top secret just mentioning the operation would have you blacklisted and shipped off to some forsaken C.I.A (Canterlot Intelligence Agency) blacksite where you’d be detained until death.

Spike slid his snake camera under the door and held it there changing the various optics from camera to infrared and from infrared to night optics. Nothing, not a single combatant. This was good. It meant this was hopefully just going to be a quick get-in-get-out kind of job. The kind Spike enjoyed the most when he was working for Third Epsilon.

Wrong. After engaging multiple hostiles Spike found himself in a small amount of pain. A bullet grazed his calf which let a blood trail down the hallway leading to a catwalk. That’s where he finally noticed the path leading directly to him and he cauterized the wound with his own fiery breathe.

A soon found himself inside the security room. Which was empty at the time leading him to question where the security really was. Flipping through the channels he spotted several non combatants. Scientists working on the mega spell and a certain someone he remembered from Las Pegasus, Gilda the Gryphon. She was here and after listening to her conversation over the security feed he had to kill her.

The sadistic bird had killed a scientist in cold blood. The unicorn tried to stand up to the ferocious beast only to be met with a grip of death to his throat and then a snap even the dragon heard through the microphone system. The pony fell onto the ground limp and lifeless. Gilda had killed him and threatened the others with death if any further uncooperative behavior arose.

She exited the area leaving with two of her armed personnel. Spike climbed a nearby metal pipe that extended over the large, spacious area. Two guards quickly met their fate as Spike dropped to the ground in front of the remaining scientists.

“P-please, w-we need more time! D-don’t kill us!” begged the unicorns. They leaned back on their haunches holding their forehooves together and shaking them in front of the dragon.

“Answer my questions and we’ll see about you living.” Replied the dragon coldly. He didn’t care much for the scientists, but he wouldn’t really kill them. Even a killer has ethics about murder. Only do it, if it’s justifiable. This was not justifiable. The unicorns here were just being used a slave labor to complete the Megasplls.

“Who’s running the show here?” He asked looking at both unicorns.

“G-gilda is. She’s the boss around here. A real bitch if you ask me. She forces us day and night to work on thes-“

“I’m not interested in your personal life,” interrupted the dragon, “where can I find her office?”

“One floor up, the door is always locked though and she is the only one who has the key. Y-you’re not one of these ponies are you?”

“No, I’m not. Now how do I get up there?” Spike didn’t have time to play twenty questions with the unicorn. This may be one of the very few chances he’d ever get to kill that gryphon once and for all.

“The elevator, here’s my keycard, you can access the next floor with it.”

“Thanks, now get out of here.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice!” exclaimed the unicorns as they trotted out the area looking for an exit.

The evaluator raised its metallic structure up one floor and opened its doors with a familiar chime. A dead unicorn lied slumped over himself against the wall to Spike’s left. Three bullet holes in his chest indicated his demise had come quickly. The blood was fresh and warm. He could tell because it was still seeping down the pale blue coat of the downed equine.

Chatter in the room in front of him sent Spike’s back up against the wall with his pistol drawn at chest height. He slid the snake cam under the door and tagged four addition guards and a triggered his EMP backpack.

The fluorescent lighting fixtures above shorted out and the long tubular bulbs busted showering fragments of glass onto the ground below. He opened up the door pushing a body back as he stepped on the shards of glass. A sound similar to chips crunching in somepony’s mouth.

After searching the area three to four times the dragon finally noticed the inconsistency that lead to the discover he had been searching for all this time. Gilda’s office. The ‘door’ wasn’t really a door. In fact. Gilda’s office didn’t have a door! The only way to enter was from the skylight above. A crafty trick the gryphon thought would keep anypony from snooping around in her office, but not Spike, he was going in.

After a series of nimble acrobatics the reptilian ex spy made it to the skylight. It was opened and unlocked. Gilda must have thought her clever idea of an entrance would never have to be locked because she was the only one who could get in there, and out, but she was wrong.

An incoming transmission through Spike’s earpiece caught him a little off guard, “Spike, this is Twilight, I need you to set up a link from Gilda’s computer to me wirelessly. Just do what I say and I promise you another phone call with Rarity.”

“Oh you again, you better make this phone call a little longer or I might just botch the next mission.”

The unicorn sighed, “fine, you win, you’ll get your call as soon as I’m done uploading all of Gilda’s files, now get to her computer. I’ll walk you through it from there.”

A few less than interesting diagnostic tests later and an uplink was established from Gilda’s computer to Twilight.

“Great job, Spike, it’ll only take one hundred eighty seconds for the full download, but in that time everypony in there will know you’re there. You MUST keep the connection established. Don’t let anypony disrupt it. They won’t be able to backtrace me, I’ve already taken the necessary precautions.”

A disgruntled grunt from Spike affirmed he was ready and the download began.

“Attention, attention all combat personnel, we have an intruder in Col. Gilda’s office. Use extreme prejudice when engaging the enemy.” The loud intercom system rang throughout the facility. Armed and armored pegasi swooped into the gryphon’s office only to be met with the absence of any intruder.

They all stood around searching the room looking for any sign of the combatant. None of them even bothered to stop the download that was still in progress. Spike had shut the monitor off making it look like everything was still intact and the intruder ran away scared from the threatening message.

“Sixty seconds Spike, just hold on.” Said Twilight over Spike’s comm..

“Hostile has not been found. We will remain here until further orders!” Yelled one of the masked pegasi into his radio.

As the seconds pasted by Spike held his position directly outside the gryphon’s office hanging onto a window that had little purpose other than another exit for the bird. The only view was more metal fixtures and pipes that cascaded in all directions pumping various fluids, fuels, and all the other commodities used to run the facility.

Spike peeked his head over the window just barely spotting ten guards. The pegasi all stood together in a tight group making them an easy kill for the dragon. He had one chance to get rid of all of them. A fragmentation grenade he’d been saving for a special occasion had just made its mark and he knew this was the perfect time to use it.

“Ten seconds, Spike!” yelled Twilight over his comm.

The dragon bit the metal pin that slid inside the grenade preventing the fuse from igniting. He pulled his head back and with a small ‘ching’ the handle of the grenade flicked itself off falling down below him. He tossed the metallic orb inside the room as it collided against a concrete pillar alerting all the guards as they rushed over to see what the noise came from.

Only a few yelps were heard before the initial blast send all ten pegasi into a bloody carnage splattered across the room. Organs and limbs busted out the nearby window Spike had been hanging onto. The dragon climbed inside the room and slipped immediately. He caught himself against a bookshelf before slipping into the disgusting mess of mutilated bodies before him.

“Upload completed, good work Spike.” Said Twilight Sparkle with a little enthusiasm, “I’ll have my analysts get to work immediately and find out exactly what they’ve been making there and about your phone call…” the line went silent before a familiar face brought tears to Spike’s eyes.

“Rarity! Thank Celestia you’re alive. Are they hurting you? Are you okay?”

“Oh darling I’m so glad to hear your voice again! I’m just fine. Nothing a lady like myself can’t handle, but are you okay, Spikey?”

“Yeah, I’m okay, I- I love you Rarity.”

“I love you too Spi-“

Twilight’s voice disconnected the transmission between the two lovers, “you get longer phone calls when you complete more objectives, Spike.”

“Watch your fucking mouth, Twilight. I’ll tear you in half if I so much as see a split hair on her head.” Snarled the dragon.

“Noted,” replied the unicorn, “now get out of there, and one last thing. Kill Gilda. She’s become too much of a hazard to our operation to allow to live.”

“Fine.” Said the dragon ending the transmission.

The dragon made his way to another large area. It was a the size of a hangar. Gilda patrolled up on the main platform to the far north entrance yelling at ponies and ordering positions.

“Dammit you worthless ponies! Fucking kill Spike! I know he’s here! I know it! Agh!” She was seething with anger storming back and forth as she swung around a large machine gun nearly as tall as herself.

“You there! Yeah you! Stop looking so stupid and check the storage rooms he could be hiding anywhere!” She was losing it and fast. Spike had to take her out quickly. He knew he couldn’t afford a firefight with that bird. She was packing more heat than most of the guards combined inside the facility.

Four guards scoured the room looking in all directions even the roof for the dragon. He crouched behind a wooden crate waiting for the stallion walking his way to come by. The guard put up little resistance as Spike took him down, cutting his throat with his sharp claws. His hooves protruded out of side of the crate, but only enough to be recognized if somepony where only feet away from the corpse.

Spike maneuvered his way past the remaining guards killing each one silently and before she knew it Gilda was slammed up against the wall staring into the predatory eyes of Spike the dragon.

“I heard you wanted to kill me,” said the dragon, “I can’t have that.” The gryphon’s eyes began to bulge out of her head and her beak opened as if gasping for air. Seconds seemed like days to the dragon as he continued to strangle the gryphon until he finally felt her trachea crushing under the force of his powerful claws.

Gilda’s head went limb, brushing her soft facial plumage against the dragon’s hardened scales. He dropped the gryphon’s body panting a bit and pulled her ID card off her neck. It was a security clearance card and the only door requiring the swipe of a card was at the very back.

A green light flicked on when Spike slid his card through. The metal gating in front of him began to rise upwards into the building exposing the outside world. He stepped outside breathing in the fresh air that filled his lungs. It felt good to be outside.

Another transmission came through, “good work, Spike. You’re on a roll.”

“Thanks, now I want to meet Filthy Rich. He was there at the airstrip in Las Pegasus.”

“Are you crazy! Spike that’s Filthy Rich. Don’t lay a claw on him until I can set up something. In the meantime my analysts will find out what they were doing here.” Twilight knew she had to follow through with Spike’s request. If she didn’t set up a meaning with Filthy Rich, Spike would find him.

The Celestia Monument

“How’d Spike get inta’ the monument in broad daylight? Easy. The Royal Guard were carrying out orders directly from Princess Celestia herself. Why in the hay they listen? Shining Armor. Ya’ see, Filthy Rich was always a thorn in Twi’s rear. She knew Filthy Rich was financing Blueblood’s Op, but the stallion kept things under lock ‘n key. It made Twi’ furious, and ah’ tell ya’ what. You don’t wanna’ tussle with that unicorn. What she did know was Blueblood and Filthy were meetin’ at the monument in the mornin’ ta’ ‘discuss’ some matters or importance. Twi’ took this immediately to Celestia. She didn’t like it one bit. She wanted ta’ know what they were plannin’ n’ such so getting’ Spike on site for surveillance was a must… and a lil’ more if need be.”

The Celestia Monument

Spike entered the gated off area of the monument. The press was there setting up all their equipment for the upcoming ‘Running of the Leaves’ marathon. It was a huge event for Canterlot. Ponies from all over Equestria came to compete in this race.

Filthy Rich was sponsoring the event so undoubtedly he would be there early to take a hoofs-on approach to his work. His security detail was nowhere to be found making Spike’s job just a little easier.

“I’m here, Twilight, what now?”

“Hold on, ok, Princess Celestia is on the line. We need you to eavesdrop on Blueblood’s and Fithy’s conversation.”

“And here I though Third Epsilon was the best of the best, bug it. Isn’t it obvious?” The condescending tone in Spike’s voice wasn’t making matters any better.

A familiar voice came through. One of great power and distinction, Princess Celestia, “Spike we already tried. Filthy’s people scrubbed my monument top to bottom to find anything like that in preparation for Filthy Rich’s speech. We had no time to set up more equipment.”

“Plan B then?” Quizzed the dragon.

Twilight’s voice now came through his earpiece, “you of course. The press’ equipment is still there. Find the control room and establish an uplink from the booth to me. The directional microphones there will still be active so you’ll be able to record their conversation from a safe distance.”

“Understood.” Replied the dragon.

He walked casually over to a set of metal stairs leading up to a raised booth above the ground. The white cube that stood upon a plethora of metal bars holding it above the earth was the control booth Spike was looking for.

There was no pony inside. Just a laptop and the various controls used to record the speech Filthy was going to give. The dragon established a link up to the monitoring system and played around with the microphones to get a feel for them before Blueblood and Filthy Rich arrived.

“Twilight I’ve accessed the feed are you getting the uplink?”

“Yes, good work Spike, remember those microphones are directional so you MUST capture them on the camera focus to pick up their voices.” Twilight was sounding a little more stressed than usual.

“Here they come…” replied the dragon.

Spike saw the prince and the business pony walking into the monument’s main atrium from opposite sides meeting only feet in front of each other.

“Mr. Rich, thank you for meeting me on such short notice. We have some last minute logistical issues to even out before the big show begins.” Cooed the prince trying to appeal to the business pony’s financial obligation to his operation.

“Blueblood, we are only a day away from this and you want to talk requisitions, right here, right now?”

“It’s clean. My ponies have already wiped this place free from any surveillance equipment. Besides, I knew you couldn’t resist from being here. Your company did invest a lot of bits into this year’s ‘Running of the Leaves’ celebration.” Retorted Blueblood.

“One of my companies, Mr. Blueblood. I have several, but you know that, including Equines in Arms. I’m guessing that’s why you came to see me isn’t it?” Filthy Rich was as wealthy as he was arrogant.

“I assure you we’ll discuss Equines in Arms failures another time. I’m here to discuss what I need to make everything go smoothly without hindrance.” Blueblood was enrage at the pompous earth pony in front of him, but he held his tongue from any further objectionable comments.

“Oh really…” Filthy Rich trailed on.

“Yes, Spike is still alive and YOUR ponies failed to neutralize him!”

“Oh don’t worry about that dragon; he’s just a pawn that was allowed to live.”

“If HE’s getting cold hooves about this OP-“

Filthy interrupted the prince’s tangent of anger, “Melchior knows what he’s doing, don’t question them, and if I am correct weren’t YOU the one that was suppose to take care of Spike? He’s becoming a real nuisance to this operation, Director Blueblood.”

“Watch your damn mouth, Filthy. Melchior may have given you the position you have, but you haven’t been proving your worth. My ponies will deal with the dragon since Equines in Arms was unable to.” Blueblood wanted desperately just to slam his hooves into Filthy’s face. He was making a fool out him and Third Epsilon by failing to kill a single rogue agent.

“I’ll take care of Equines in Arms, you just stick to the op,” Filthy’s voice trailed on as he walked a different direction, Blueblood following at his side, “it’s interesting you chose this of all the place to meet me, Blueblood. The eyes of the Princess are upon us.”

“I prefer to keep our plans away from the eyes of Celestia.”

“Oh? And here I though you liked the spotlight, I guess I was wrong.” Filthy said sarcastically.

“I’ll play along if I have to, but don’t expect me to enjoy it. I’m not here to play public relations. The pony who stands at that podium reading a speech is the one with the least protection.” Replied Blueblood.

“Indeed. Protection is quite important. Especially with what’s about to go down.”

“Which is why you shouldn’t even be here.” Snarled the unicorn.

“But I have to. Executive Overseer, as I like to call it. Taking chances is not something I like to do. A ‘hoofs-on’ approach has always been more effective.” The pompous earth pony was as paranoid as he was annoying when it came to details of micromanagement. He couldn’t keep his hooves out of anything he had his bits invested into.

“You were supposed to be in Fillydelphia, not here. I cannot keep you safe when all hell is about to break open. My ponies and I will be too busy.”

“I never asked you to ‘protect’ me.”

“Are you sure? This is to keep you alive and the operation.”

“Some things require a more ‘direct’ approach. Now if you’re done wasting my time, Blueblood I have a photo shoot to be at in ten minutes. I’ll see you when this is all over.”

Blueblood stuck his head up in the air, “good day to you to, Mr. Rich,” and walked off down the concrete staircase leaving Filthy Rich alone and unguarded in the atrium.

“Spike, go after Blueblood, now’s are chance.”

Spike defied the mare offering his own intuitive answer, “no we can find Blueblood another time, and Filthy Rich is still here. I should have a ‘talk’ with him.”

Princess Celestia came over the transmission backing up Spike’s decision, “I agree. I want to find out about this ‘Melchior’ and Filthy Rich seems to know the most about him.”

“Understood Princess, I’ll hold Blueblood in place.” Said Twilight.

Spike exited the booth and leaped down onto the ground from the metal railing above. He walked up the long, white, concrete stairs that lead up to the monument’s main atrium. A statue of Celestia stood one hundred feet high towering over everything in Canterlot except for the royal castle itself.

Spike could hear the conversation between Twilight and Filthy Rich over his comm. as he approached a large pillar pressing his back up against it as he moved from the pillar to Filthy as silently as possible.

“Mr. Rich, my name is Twilight Sparkle. I’m calling on behalf of Mr. Blueblood, Director of Third Epsilon.”

“Oh, I know who you are, Ms. Sparkle, what does he want now? More money to waste on trying to kill Spike? He’s on his own if that’s what this is about.”

“Mr. Blueblood felt that there could be some ‘negations’ between you two that could be furthered discuss in private if you are available, Mr. Rich.”

“Oh? Like bribery? I don’t care what he as to offer. Just tell him to do his fucking job or I’ll find somepony more capab-“

The dragon held the earth pony at an arm’s length. His claws poking into Filthy’s fur and skin, drawing a little bit of blood, “you shouldn’t talk to Twilight like that.”

“Ah! Help! Guards! Where are my damn guards!” exclaimed filthy holding the dragon’s arm that gripped his neck.

“It’s just you and I Filthy. Now let’s chat. What connection do you have with Blueblood?”

The earth pony’s brazen ego only got him into more trouble, “ask nicely.”

Spike lifted his knee and into the earth pony’s stomach. He fell to the ground wrapping his hooves around his stomach before receiving several painful blows to the head from a TV nearby that Spike had requisitioned for this interrogation.

“Ah!” screamed the brown earth pony, “Blueblood’s just a pawn. This is much bigger than him. Or Third Epsilon. They’re just tools of the trade.”

“Good boy, now why does Blueblood want you in Fillydelphia so badly? What’s going on?”

“Your interrogation techniques are rusty, try again Spike.”

Spike obliged the masochistic pony. Shards of broken glass still protruded out of his skull as blood dripped down his face. The dragon picked up the business pony and slammed him onto the control panel sending sparks flying in all directions and Filthy Rich seizing from the electrocution.

The smell of burnt fur and skin filled the air as Spike dragged the pony off of the panel and held him up in the air again. His legs dangling just inches off the ground.

“He wants to run the op when the Megaspells are triggered. There are three of them scattered across Canterlot. In just a few hours they’ll go off wiping out most of the city and the neighboring towns letting him play commando. He’s trying to impress important ponies you know.”

“Where do I find the Megaspells?”

“I didn’t hear ‘please’?” said the earth pony smirking.

Spike pulled out his pistol. The suppressed weapon struck instant fear into Filthy as he received a bullet to knee, crippling his right leg.

“If you make me say please, I might have to shoot the other leg too.” Said the dragon smiling sadistically.

“I have no idea, Spike. That was part of the op. Keeping me uninformed in case something like this would happen. It’s too late for you Spike. The ponies I work for have been planning this for quite some time.”

“Melchior, who are they?”

The earth pony spit some blood onto Spike’s cheek in defiance to his question. He replied with a sharp pain in the earth pony’s flank. He had plunged his knife into Filthy’s flank and twisted the blade, grinding the tip of the knife against his femur.

Filthy was wailing in pain begging the dragon to stop. The dragon reluctantly pulled his blood-soaked knife out and held it to the pony’s throat.

“T-they’re the ponies who run this show. In Equestria, Boardor, Zebrica, you name it, they’re there. It’s Melchior who’s going to get me out of this dump once Blueblood’s done at the Roy-“

An unsuppressed shot in the back caught Spike off guard. He looked over to see where the noise had come from. He saw a unicorn dressed in an police officer’s clothing. They made eye contact and the unicorn blitz out of the monument running as fast as he could.

Filthy Rich had a bullet hole in his chest. The precise shot indicated this was no fluke. That was a trained assassin who just killed the only pony other than Blueblood who knows about the operation going down here in Canterlot, tonight.

“What the hell was that Spike!” screamed Twilight.

“Filthy Rich is dead, the assassin is on foot. I’m going after him.” Replied Spike as he started chasing the assailant.

“We need him alive, Spike. That assassin is the only link we have between Third Epsilon and Melchior.” Princess Celestia’s voice came over the comm. and into the dragon’s ear.

The chase began between the two. Spike was leaping over ponies left and right trying to keep up with the assassin. The killer shot blindly behind him nearly hitting Spike and several civilians.

“Spike I’m picking up a lot of heat from the local police. They’re on their way to your position. Lethal force is NOT authorized. You may subdue them, but don’t kill them. Celestia’s orders.”

“Get out! Everypony get out!” screamed the assassin shooting into the air. Mobs of terrified mares and stallions exited the tent he ran into. Spike followed behind him diligently.

“Stop right there!” A police officer caught Spike off guard holding him at gunpoint and approaching him slowly, “I have the susp-“ Spike took his opportunity and grabbed the officer’s gun and punched the pony in the side of the head knocking him unconscious.

Spike scurried through the crowded streets spotting the assassin as he ran into a local coffee shop shooting wildly into the crowd. Spike was only thirty feet away from the assassin when the blast of an I.E.D went off sending shrapnel and bits of the pony that killed Filthy into the air and spraying across the ground. It was a trashcan that contained the bomb. As soon as the assassin ran passed it, the fiery explosion blew Spike onto his back covering his face from any projectiles.

“Spike! Are you alright?!”

“Yeah, but the assassin is dead.”

“No time for that now, I’m reading multiple Third Epsilon squads converging on your location. Lethal force is authorized. Just stay alive until Shining Armor gets there. He’ll escort you out of there.”

Three armed ponies stormed inside the coffee shop. They formed a circle guarding all sides to not be flanked, but Spike was better than that. He was already above them on the second floor and with three more shells that hit the ground next to him the ponies below fell silent in their deaths.

The sound of more hooves clopping against the ground alerted the dragon to more hostiles. This time there was five of them, but that wasn’t a problem for Spike. He took his time silently eliminating the two ponies that guarded the outside entrances before advancing inside to kill the remaining combatants.

“Your ride is there Spike. Shining Armor is just outside the North entrance waiting for you. I suggest you get moving. I’m reading a squad of at least ten more combatants headed your way.”

Spike didn’t take any time to waste and jumped through the second story window, ducking and rolling onto the ground. A black SUV with tinted windows was waiting for the dragon. The passenger door opened revealing a handsome stallion. His long blue mane and smile captivated the dragon for mere seconds as he hopped inside and slammed the door shut behind him.

“Glad you could make it.” Said Shining Armor.

Third Epsilon HQ

“It’s pretteh’ obvious how much Spike changed that he would even consider goin’ after Third Epsilon, that dragon is crazy sometimes. He always was a good ol’ boy burnt to the bone after what they did to him. An’ now look at him, ready ta’ rip em’ apart likea’ Ursa Major! The HQ’s weakness was its power supply. Two generators on opposite ends of the buildin’. If just one shut off that place be locked. He had to hit ‘em both, at the same time. It’d be the only way he’d have enough time ta’ slip in before the backup generators were up ‘n runnin’.”

Third Epsilon Headquarters

“This is as far as I can take you Spike, give ‘em hell.” Those were the last words of encouragement given to the dragon before exiting the black SUV. Shining Armor couldn’t waste any time leaving the base. It was hard enough sneaking him in there, but now he had to run back to the Princess in time to keep her safe as well. Captain of the Royal Guard was no cake-walk.

“Spike, do you read me?” Said Twilight.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Good. Shining Armor should have given you some explosives. There are two generators on the parking level with you. You need to take them out if you want to get inside Third Epsilon. No killing either. If they catch even the SLIGHTEST hint you’re there… I won’t even be able to help you then.” Twilight sounded almost sympathetic at the end. Like she actually cared about Spike for more reasons than just ‘National Security’.

Spike knew the tones of empathy were hollow and fake. Nothing more than a façade to boost his morale to complete the mission successfully. He didn’t need her lies though. He only wanted Rarity. That was the only reason he even bothered letting himself be taken so easily back in Tapirus.

The east wall was his best friend right now as he slid his back against it shimmying to the side. A guard booth stood between him and the two generators on the other side. Two ponies were inside chatting about the latest news. Filthy Rich was dead and the prime suspect was none other than Spike, the Dragon. Former resident of Ponyville and ex Third Epsilon operative.

“They say he killed him to send a message to Blueblood. The Director was pissed when he showed up this morning! I think Spike got his point across.” Said one of the earth ponies.

“Yeah, ‘cept now Blueblood has beefed up security and we’re not even allowed to leave our posts! Not even for a piss or cigarette. This is bullshit. Spike wouldn’t come here. This is Third Epsilon. If that dragon has a single ounce of common sense he’ll stay as far away from this place as he can.” Retorted the Pegasus with a smug grin as if he won the debate.

“I don’t know… Spike was the FIRST operative the agency made. Hell, I was just joining up with the Royal Guard when he was in Camelu. I heard what went down there. Fuckin’ massacre. If it wasn’t for Applejack he’d be dead.” The earth pony was firm on his stance of the issue and he made a valid point. If it wasn’t for Applejack Spike may have never left Camelu alive.

“Ah’ fuck it. I need a smoke, you stay here in case ‘SPIKE’ comes for blood.” Said the Pegasus sarcastically.

Spike waited for his opportunity to arise as the Pegasus strolled out of the back door and walked down the empty, underground parking lot lighting up a cigarette in his mouth. The dragon climbed on top of the guard post and pulled off a ventilation duct directly above the earth pony. He leapt down falling onto the pony like a predator pouncing on his prey. He held his pistol to the pony’s neck and leaned down to whisper in his ear, “Boo.”

Tears were welling out of the pony’s eyes as he began to pray to Celestia and Luna for protection against the menacing dragon above him, “shh… don’t make too much noise or I’ll have to kill you.” Cooed the dragon sadistically.

The pony whimpered pathetically like a foal without its mother. Spike poked his head up to see get a visual on the Pegasus. He was still smoking a cigarette and talking on the phone. He seemed to be having an enjoyable conversation, laughing and walking back in forth in a small area.

“Y-you’re S-Spike aren’t you?” questioned the terrified pony.

Spike didn’t say a word. The question whether it was rhetorical or not didn’t matter, “I saw an elevator out there by your friend, where’s it lead to?”

“The main lobby,” the earth pony slowly moved his hoof to his neck and pulled off an ID tag. It had a barcode on the back of it, “h-here my card will bring you there, but that’s all I’m authorized for, I swear.”

“Good, now sleep.” The guard lied on the ground unconscious as Spike rose from above him. A sharp blow to the back of the head would only leave him with a bad headache when he wakes up. It was the only ‘merciful’ way Spike could deal with these guards until he got inside Third Epsilon.

He closed the door behind him quietly and latched onto a nearby piping system that cascaded upwards onto the ceiling following the long miles of wiring and further piping that flowed through the establishment like veins that pulsed life throughout the building. He shimmied upwards and clung to the ceiling with a vice-like grip.

The Pegasus finished his cigarette and flicked it onto the ground pressing his hoof onto the tiny ember extinguishing it as he rubbed the burnt tobacco into the asphalt beneath him. With a sigh that sounded dreadful as if he was being lead to his execution the pony slowly trotted towards the post he was stationed to. Spike waited patiently until the guard was directly beneath him.

The familiar sound of bone breaking make even Spike cringe as he snapped the pegasus’ neck and dragged the body into a dark corner. What Twilight didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

The dragon took notice to the metal door to his left. It piqued his interests and he slowly opened the door. The fools didn’t even lock the door. The generator sat in the middle of the room humming noisily. Spike approached it with a smug grin on his face and placed the first shaped charge on the control panel.

The second generator would be a bit harder to get to. The ventilation duct to access it was on the other side of the underground parking lot. The dragon exited the room and latched onto the piping above him.

A few minutes later he stood in front of his last objective before entering Third Epsilon. The remaining generator had a laser grid sensor in front of it almost catching Spike off guard. He stepped carefully over the invisible tripwire and placed the last charge on the generator and climbed back through the steel vent.

Spike stood in the elevator and swiped the card he generously received from the earth pony. A bright red light above him displayed the letter, “L” and the metallic doors closed shut.

He walked out into the vast open lobby. A storm was brewing outside. Thunder struck illuminating the vast expansion between him and the receptionist at the front. The unicorn greeted Spike with a wide grin. She had no idea who he was.

“I’m here to see Director Blueblood.” Said Spike nonchalantly.

“I’m sorry, Sir, Director Blueblood isn’t here right now can I take a message?” asked the mare politely.

The dragon reached behind him pulling out a small detonator, “sure, tell him Spike was here,” faint explosions were heard in the background and the lights that once brightened the room fell dark. Flashing yellow and red lights filled the darkened lobby as Spike leaped over the desk and charged as fast as he could through the main lobby area. Security guards opened fire as they saw the intruder dashing past their office.

The earth pony inside slammed his hoof down on the Emergency Lockdown button. Metal gates above Spike began to descend threatening to capture him before he could infiltrate the building. Spike ducted and rolled under the last gate and now stood face-to-face with the staircase he was eyeing so far away.

He casually strolled upstairs. Patrols rushed in from the opposite direction he was entering. He slid behind a desk and poked his head out. Three guards, fully automatic weapons, soft body armor. They came prepared, but not enough to take on Spike. He was a professional. He wrote the book on stealth operations.

Spike wasn’t going to waste more time dealing with these petty ponies. He scaled a nearby pillar lied down on his belly scooting across the vast ceiling. He could hear the hoofsteps under him frantically looking for him, but coming up fruitless in their efforts.

“Spike, I just got a call from my contact inside Third Epsilon. The guards are looking for him. His name is Doctor Whooves. He has a piece of equipment for you. You must get to him before the guards do he’s on the second floor near the North wall. Look inside the gentlecolts restroom. He’s been hiding in there.” Twilight’s voice came over Spikes comm. giving him a bit of a shock. He wasn’t expecting any transmissions to get through while he was inside such a secure facility.

“Ok, thanks for the update.” Said the dragon flatly.

The dragon slithered his way down the ceiling trying not to make any noise. It was almost impossible, but somehow no pony heard the ruckus above them. He slid off and braced his landing, crouching his knees to absorb the small impact.

Another staircase leading upwards stood before him. He ran up the steps and leaped over the wall hanging onto the side as she paced his way to the right avoiding the guards that searched the area in front of him. They whipped their flashlights and guns in all directions at the slightest noise. A creek in the floorboard or a cough from another guard sent chills up the others’ spines.

An earth pony tapped the shoulder of his fellow comrade sending the other equine into shock as he whipped around blinding the earth pony as he pointed it in his face, “shit! You scared the fuck out of me!”

“Wow… chillax. Spike hasn’t been spotted for fifteen minutes.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s not out there.” Said the pony. He was scared. His eyes darted from left to right constantly looking for the dangerous threat the dragon imposed upon them. Spike smiled coyly and climbed over the wall. The gentlecolts restroom was only a few meters away from where he was told he’d find this ‘Doctor Whooves.’

“What was that?!” The earth pony shouted pointing in Spike’s direction. He’d inadvertently knocked over a paper weight that collided against the hard wooden floor beneath him. The sound echoed throughout the complex.

“It was probably just your imagination, now come on, let’s go before Blueblood gets back and sees us standing around like idiots.” Spike held his breath hoping the guard wouldn’t come any closer.

“H-hold on, I wanna check this out first.” Spike saw the shining light approaching his position. In a few moments he would be faced with the same dilemma, to kill, or to be killed.

The dragon tumbled from the side and took aim at the guards laying them both out in quick succession. Two rounds flew through the air piercing their throats almost simultaneously. They gagged and squirmed as blood filled their lungs. An agonizing way to die.

Spike opened the door to the restroom and closed it behind him.

“Psst! Hey!” A voice came from the third stall down. An earth pony walked out. He had a dark brown mane and a light brown coat. He bared the cutie mark of an hourglass with sand slipping through.

“You must be Doctor Whooves.” Said Spike.

“Hehe! Oh yeah, that’s me alright. Wow, this is amazing! I’ve been such a fan of yours since you joined Third Epsilon. What you pulled off in Tapirus was so cool!” The earth pony seemed less interested in helping Spike and more interested in admiring him.

The dragon turned his head to the side and pressed his comm. “Twilight, what the fuck is this?”

“Spike, don’t be like that. Just ask him about the goggles. He knows what I mean.” Replied the lavender unicorn.

“Oh Twilight is on the line! Tell her I said hi.” Interjected the earth pony.

Spike glared at him and canceled the transmission, “Twilight says you have some ‘goggles’ for me? Is that correct?” Questioned the irate dragon. He didn’t care for his fanbase at all.

“Oh yeah!” The earth pony pulled out a pair of trifocal goggles and handed them over the dragon willingly, “try them on! They’re the latest upgrade. Much better than the ones you had back in Manehattan. They’re no longer night vision, or thermal, but SONAR! I know! I thought of it myself. You can see through most walls and it picks up any traces of magic or electromagnetism. No more pesky camera you can’t find,” the pony giggled a bit at his work, nonetheless pleased with his creation, “basically, any living thing will show up on those since every creature contains a small amount of magic! It’s brilliant! Oh, and watch out for the lasers. Nasty things, I programmed them personally. A purging spell will incinerate anything inside its radius if the circuit is cut or tampered with. Oh, uh, one more thing, the elite guards around here are packing similar gear so if you can see them, they might be able to see you too. Good luck.”

“Cool toy, this’ll come in handy, and thanks, Doctor.” said Spike as he lowered the goggles down and peered through the neon green lenses. He looked in the opposite direction and saw four armed guards heading his direction sweeping the area, room by room.

“Are you going to be okay here?” Asked the dragon

“Oh don’t worry about me. I’ll have one of the guards escort me out. I’ll just tell ‘em I fell asleep on the can, that’s all.” Spike nodded and exited the room.

The dragon casually walked out into the hallway seeing the guards advance through a think plaster wall beside him. He slid along the wall escaping their presence with ease. Another stairwell leading farther upwards stood before him.

So many lasers… it was like a rave party only he could see. Oscillating beams of light flickered on and off in mere milliseconds. The flew up and down patrolling the area as an enigmatic force of death. If a single invisible ray were to be blocked the whole room with burst into intense flames not even the dragon himself could withstand.

The sheer temperatures would melt his scales and claws. His blood would boil and evaporate through his pours. His predatory eyes would burst like balloons if he were to make even a single mistake inside the area. Not to mention on the other side he could see shadows walking back and forth. More patrols.

The scaly creatures darted and dashed through the death trap. His tail whipping in all directions as he swung from tables to pipes and finally curling up in a ball and smashing through the wooden door that enclosed the laser grid.

He was free from the ominous thought of being char broiled, but he had bigger issues to worry about now. The guards ahead were no ordinary schmucks he could just run past. They were the elite guards. Fully decked in black stealth suits similar to his when Spike was an operative. They had the same trifocal goggles as him too. He only option was to fight, and so he did.

“I’ve got movement on the west side! Everypony open fire on Spike! Shoot to kill!” shouted the commanding officer of the small platoon.

Bullets riddled the pillar Spike stood behind. Chunks of concrete crumbled onto the floor shattering further as shrapnel whizzed by in all directions. Papers flew into the air and were torn into an almost confetti-like state as the fluttered to the ground. The heavy sound of machine gun fire soon silenced. The sound of metal casings hitting the floor had all but stopped.

The familiar sound of a magazine ejecting from a rifle brought Spike back to his sense as he spun out of the cover he was in and opened fired on the merciless ponies that attempted to kill him. Five bodies later and the dragon was back to his old self. The adrenaline was slowly down and his tunnel vision had passed. The innate sense of ‘fight or flight’ dwindled into nothingness and the purple dragon furthered his infiltration.

“Silverblood…” Spike said through his gritted teeth. He was in Blueblood’s office. The dragon walked up the spiral staircase hearing the paranoid and frantic voice of the drug-abusing sociopath begging for Blueblood’s help.

“He’s here! Spike is here at Third Epsilon!” shouted the pony.

“Remember me?” Said the dragon grinning viciously. The pony dropped the phone and backed away slowly from the table stumbling over his own hooves and holding his arms out in a futile desperation to keep the purple dragon away.

“Wait! Spike! Please!” The dragon pulled the pony’s foreleg forward and slammed his forehead into Silverblood’s muzzle. A cry of pain expelled itself from Silverblood’s mouth as blood dripped down from his nose. He fell to his knees and covered his snout cringing in pain. Spike cocked his leg back and launched his foot into Silverblood’s jaw sending him flying backwards and hitting the railing behind him. A few of his teeth lied on the ground and Spike walked towards him as the pony tried to stable himself.

“No pony’s coming to protect you now Silverblood.” Said the dragon cracking his knuckles in each hand, now tell me what the fuck is Blueblood up to! What is he planning?!”

“B-blueblood’s been working with Melchior setting up Megaspells over town. I helped set it up. It was my job.” The pony was wheezing from the from the shock he was put through, but Spike wasn’t even close to being done. He extended his foot into the pony’s gut kicked him off the balcony onto a table below. It snapped in to as the fully grown stallion fell onto it with his full weight.

Spike hopped down and approached the Pegasus. He picked him up by his mane, “what does Blueblood get out of this? Why is he doing all this?”

The pony coughed up some blood, “h-he’s going to take out Celestia. The megaspells will cause so much chaos that it’ll paralyze the city. No pony will know what to do! It’s going down tonight.”

“Why take out Celestia?” he questioned further.

“I-I can’t tell you, Spike.”

The dragon dragged the pony by his mane over to a large tv and proceeded to smash Silverblood’s face into it until the shards of glass protruded out of his face to a point it could be a weapon that the pony could use to wave wildly at Spike.

“C-Celestia won’t play along nicely with their plans, but her Dirty Rich will. Her treasurer is as slimy as Blueblood himself. The prince will get a big shiny medal and nice promotion as Marshall Law be in order. He’ll take over Celestia’s position while Luna is holding up the night sky. She’ll have no idea her sister is in peril.”

“That mother fucker, last question, and don’t you fucking lie to me either,” Spike said shooting a glare of unfathomable hatred into the pony’s eyes, “what do you know about Rarity?”

“You kill me if I tell you!” shouted the fearful pony. Spike jabbed him in the stomach with his claw and a right hook spun the pony around as he hit the table in front of him. Silverblood grabbed a flag pole bearing the cutie mark of Celestia and swung it around to hit the dragon.

Spike dodged the attack and snapped the wooden pole in half grabbing a piece of the splintered wood in mid air and slamming it down into Silverblood’s right shoulder.

“I-I swear Spike I didn’t know anything about her. I’m not lying to you. They gave me a picture and told me to provide a body that’s all. Nothing more. Third Epsilon contracted me to do a lot of jobs like this. I worked with Ms. Sparkle on several occasions to take care of some ponies they wanted dead.” The look of desperation and truth was in his eyes. Spike could tell he wasn’t lying. No pony would lie like this if it meant there life was on the line.

The dragon let go of Silverblood and walked away from beaten and broken pony. The sound of glass breaking caught his attention immediately and he looked up to spot the intruders. Third Epsilon operatives were repelling down. Spike duct to the side behind the tv he used to interrogation Silverblood.

He poked his head out tossing a flashbang grenade in the middle of the group. A blinding white light and deafening explosion later and the ponies lied dead around Silverblood. A sound downstairs caught his attention. More guards. They had breached the door and were swarming in. Another three scoured the room looking for the dragon.

Spike spun around shooting at the guards. Two were knocked down instantly leaving the third to dive under an office booth nearby. The dragon waited for the pony to poke his head out as he waited in silence. Another pony lied dead in the massive complex.

“Twilight, I just talked with Silverblood, again. Blueblood’s sleeping with Melchior in order to kill Celestia and play king. Luna will be holding up the moon all night so she won’t be able to help us.”

“Oh my. This is serious. It’s a perfect cover for them. It’ll be a ‘conveniently’ place terrorist attack they’ll pass off on the Camels or Zebras. Thanks for the update Spike.” Said Twilight.

“Silverblood also had some other ‘interesting’ things to say. I’m heading over to your office right now. What am I going to find when I get in there Twilight?” Asked the dragon.

There was a long pause before the unicorn spoke again, “something I should have told you long ago. Patch me through when you’re in. We’ll talk then.” The purple unicorn disconnected the transmission.

Spike stood in front of Twilight’s door. The only obstacle that stood between him and information Twilight had been withholding opened slowly as Spike’s claw gripped the knob tightly with his claw. The cool metallic sensation crept into his arm.

A beige phone on Twilight’s desk began to ring. Spike put the lavender pony on speaker and her face lit up on the screen to his side. She was sitting in a small office. A brick wall as a background undoubtedly fake from the texture Spike could see. She sat cross-legged and rested her hooves on top of her desk.

“Now tell me about Rarity. Why the hell did you lie to me about her?” stated the dragon grimly.

“It was Pinkie’s decision. She thought she was protecting you. She recorded everything he said in her office Spike. Right before she went to Manehattan she gave me the access codes. They can only be played on site. I’ll play the recording she said about Rarity.” The purple pony pressed a button with her hoof and stepped up and away from her desk.

“Rarity. I’ve known her for a long time. I received a genuine report of a threat against her life. One from a spy inside Third Epsilon. The threat against Rarity could have been used against Spike. I could not allow that. He could not be compromised. So, I did the unthinkable. I made up a story about Rarity’s death to get Spike to where I needed him. He had to suffer, but she would be safe. The rest isn’t too interesting. I’ve been working on a new cover for Rarity and I hired that scumbag Silverblood to provide a body just for cover. And then…” Pinkie’s voice cracked a bit as if she was crying while making the recording, “I betrayed my only dragon friend. I told him the love of his life was dead took hold of his pain and used it to better Third Epsilon’s agenda. I… I still never found out who was the spy inside Third Epsilon. He’s still out there… I can only hope they succeeded where I failed for Spike and for Rarity.” Pinkie’s voice stopped.

Spike was erupting with anger. He kicked over the desk and screamed at the top of his lungs. Betrayed by his best friend for a selfish cause. He couldn’t believe what Pinkie Pie did to him. It was unlike her. The Element of Laughter had brought such misery and sorrow to the dragon.

“Spike! Spike! Dammit Spike listen to me!” Shouted the purple unicorn.

“What?!” shouted the dragon.

“Listen to me please. What happened has happened, but I need you now. I need the Spike that took on the impossible every time I needed him to.”

“Have you already forgotten?! He’s dead! Pinkie’s dead just ask Rarity!”

“Spike I’m begging you, please, my analysts have deciphered the information from Black Box. We found out what they’re planning and we can’t stop it.”

“Then why do you need me?”

“They have three Megaspells located inside Canterlot. The blast will kill thousands if not more. We found out where one of the Megaspells is. The old Hoofington Reservoir just a little north of where you are. You need to go there and stop it.”

“Why the fuck should I?”

“Because Spike, that’s the one closest to Rarity’s apartment. I don’t need to tell you what will happen if you don’t stop it.”

“And the other two-“

Spike was cut off short by Twilight, “There’s only enough time to go after one. Go Spike, save Rarity. I was never holding her hostage. I lied to get you in back in the game and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry Spike, I really am.”

“What are your plans then?”

“I’m going to the Canterlot Castle with Prince Blueblood. I need to protect the princess. Maybe… I’ll see you there.”

The dragon walked out of Twilight’s office and ran down the stairs. He could hear hoofsteps of advancing enemies.

“Attention all personal. Protocol Emergency Purge will take effect in two minutes. Please exit the building immediately. All ponies must reach a minimum safe distance from the sit while sterilization is in effect.” Said a robotic voice over the speaker system inside the complex.

Spike was running for his life. Killing ponies left and right as bullets whizzed by him nearly grazing his body every time. They were good shots, but not good enough.

The sounds of explosions echoed through the building. Chunks of the ceiling and walls began to crumble and fall. Ponies ran for the door and some stayed back to fight Spike foolishly.

“Spike get out of there! Blueblood just ordered an emergency self-destruct of Third Epsilon!” exclaimed Twilight through Spike’s earpiece.

A fiery blast scorched several officers as they ran in opposite directions away from the elevator door that would allow Spike to exit the collapsing building. He jumped inside the elevator shaft and slid down the long metal cable to the bottom. He was going to Hoofington Reservoir. Nothing was going to stop him.

Hoofington Reservoir

“Spike knew it all now. Killin’ his best friend in the world who betrayed him for the best of reasons. He destroyed what him and Pinkie built from the ground up. He was a free dragon now. All the bonds that bound him to his old life were gone, up in flames, except for Twilight. She contacted me personally for a ‘favor’. It was too late ta’ go after the other Megaspells, but she told me to get Rarity. Spike deserved to see her after what she put him through. Twilight was goin’ to Canterlot Castle to do whatever the hell she thought she could do. I said yes, without even thinkin’ ‘bout it. No way in hell was I gonna’ let Rarity be down there when the Megaspells went off. And… I would never abandon Spike. Never. Not even when he got violent and started beatin’ ponies for information, but again, that was pure Spike, pure Spike when he was pissed.”

Hoofington Reservoir

The night sky was brighter than usual. Mostly due to the flood lights around the old reservoir that lit up the place like a Christmas tree. Armed soldiers paced around the fenced area. Automatic rifles and bullet resistant armor strapped the ponies from head to hoof. Black balaclavas covered the faces and identities of the mercenaries. They looked just like the ponies Spike had killed in Third Epsilon. Blueblood’s personal army.

“No sign of the target, Spike may be heading our way. Everypony keep an eye open. I don’t want this fucker anywhere near the Megaspell.” Shouted a gryphon. It seems Blueblood was recruiting more foreign agents into his little militia.

Spike was taking the stealthy approach. He knew he wouldn’t survive a firefight with the amount of guards in the small confined area they were patrolling. He had killed five so far and was working on the remaining three. Two soldiers and the officer. These ponies weren’t stupid and took cover by the gryphon forming a circle to avoid being flanked from any side.

What they weren’t expecting was the dragon to have a few nifty gadgets that would come in handy in a time like this. A flashbang grenade rolled in front of the trio and exploded. The gryphon took off flying only to smack face first into the truck that had carried the soldiers there. The two ponies that stood next to the gryphon shot each other in friendly fire trying to kill the assailant who threw the flashbang.

The dragon walked over the delirious gryphon who was still stumbling to her feet. Her paws clenched the metal truck as she scraped the metal making a piercing noise that made the dragon grind his teeth. The foreign agent was raised above the truck held at her throat. She stared into the green slit-eyes of the dragon holding her above the ground.

“Start talking gryphon and maybe I won’t kill you.” said Spike.

“Kiss my ass. I’m not telling you shit dragon!” the frisky gryphon tried desperately to slash and rib at the dragon with the talons on her feet. Her efforts were fruitless.

Spike grabbed her right wing and began to bend it into a contorted position.

SNAP!

The gryphon cried out in again swearing and cursing in a language Spike could not understand. Her wing went limp as the tears rolled down her eyes.

“Wrong answer, bird. Now tell me, there’s a Megaspell inside there. How do I shut it down?”

“Don’t know, don’t care. Wouldn’t tell you if I did anyway lizard.” The gryphon was a tough one to crack, but Spike had his methods of interrogation and he would get the information he wanted.

Another broken wing sent waves of anguish through the gryphon. Her body was wreathing and convulsing in pain. The dragon dropped her and she lied on the ground panting heavily and sobbing profusely.

Spike dragged his victim by her head. Her feathery plumage now soaked in tears, dirt, and mud. She wasn’t going to go down without a fight though and as soon as she stumbled back to her feet she reached behind her grabbing her knife and swung at the dragon.

Spike dodged the blade from meeting with his face by mere centimeters. He swiftly disarmed the gryphon and stabbed her knife into her paw. Blood seeped out from her paw as it covered the wooden bench Spike had drug her over to.

“That was a bad idea. Now how do I shut off the Megaspell,” Spike pressed the barrel of his gun to the gryphon’s beak, “last chance or you die.”

Realizing she had no choice the gryphon finally spoke, “s-scientist. T-there’s one more. She’s inside; she knows how to disable the Megaspell. After it goes off she is going to be executed.”

Spike walked away from the gryphon. He didn’t have to worry about her coming after him. Two broken wings and a knife sticking out of her paw should keep her out the battle for a few months, at least.

The warehouse hummed with a powerful aura of magic. Spike could feel the energy radiating inside. Spike knew they were expecting him through there. He could see two armed ponies through the snake cam he brought. They were pointing their weapons directly at the door waiting for any intruder to make the mistake of entering.

The dragon walked over to the side of the building and saw a window. The fools forgot to close it off or barricade it and now it would be their downfall as Spike climbed up and inside. The catwalk he stood on was a perfect vantage point to kill everypony inside.

Two proximity mines cleared the South office and the remaining guards ran to see what happened. Spike leapt down from the catwalk he was perched upon and silently killed the rest. They were no match for him.

An elevator shaft leading down at least fifty meters was his only obstacle now. He slid down the cold metallic cabling to a small room. A couple voices could be heard. One female, the other male. It sounded like a fight. Spike approached cautiously watching through a drainage system. The iron bars did little to hide his presence. Sticking to the shadows was his best bet.

“Please don’t kill me!” shouted the female voice. It was the scientist the gryphon had mentioned earlier. One of Blueblood’s men was roughing her up.

“Did you really think you could get away with it? Trying to sabotage our plans?” he punched her in the face send her body against the damp brick wall behind her. She slumped down and the fierce pony pressed his gun to her forehead.

“One more fuckin’ mistake. One more reason you give me and I will kill you.” Shouted the pony.

Spike wasn’t going to just sit around and let the only pony who knows how to shut off the Megaspell die. He was going to get some answers, even if he had to beat it out of her.

The dragon climbed out of the narrow passageway and climbed a set of stairs with a catwalk over head of the lab below him. The guards stood by watching the scientist very closely. Any more errors from her and she’d be dead.

The pony who had punched her was walking back. He didn’t know it yet, but once he was under Spike, he was dead. The dragon leapt down and tackled him. A quick turn of his neck and the familiar sound of bones breaking told him his target was dead.

The remaining guards jumped from the sudden surprise and tried to kill the dragon, but he was too good. Too fast for them. They were dead before they even hit the ground. Spike walked over the scientist and leaned down to face her.

“Y-you’re not one of Blueblood’s goons.” She said cautiously.

“No. I’m not. I’m just a good guy. Now how do I shut off the Megaspell.”

“You can’t, well, there are two generators on site. When they’re both fully charged they’ll release their magical energy buildup and it will trigger the Megaspell.”

“What’s the problem?” asked the dragon.

“If one were to be shut off the other would fire simultaneously. Each one has more than enough magical energy to level most of Canterlot and its neighboring cities.”

“So the only way to stop it is to hit them both at the same time?”

“Well, yes, do you have a partner with you?”

“Don’t worry about that. There’s always a way. Now you better get out of here. Shit is going to get ugly real fast.”

Spike walked through the cylindrical opening in the wall. A staircase nearby lead him to the surface. The generators stood tall like the steam stacks of nuclear power plant. The humming of electricity and magic buzzed though the air. Cables and wires lied on the ground all connecting to the two generators that sat on opposite sides of the compound. Both were easily one hundred meters apart.

Spike climbed out of the subterranean complex and inhaled deeply. The smell of fresh air was a pleasant reminder he was back on top and not stuck underground in a rat hole facility that stunk like rat feces and mold.

The guards were none the smarter of Spike’s arrival. They stood around believing that he was dead from the lack of enemy contact they made with him. Some still walked around cautiously checking corners and dousing the area with their bright tactical lights.

Easy kills for him. Bodies lied lifeless and bleeding around him as he stood in front of the first generator.

“Applejack, I’m standing in front of the first of two generators that will trigger the Megaspell. We need to take down both of them at the same time. Any ideas?”

“Yeah, one, link up ‘yer GPS to the controls and send me the coordinates for both of ‘em and I’ll take care of the rest. Oh, and there’s somepony who wants to say hi to you.” Said the cowpony.

“Spike!”

“Rarity! You’re alive!”

“Darling it’s been so long! When will I see you?”

“Soon, hun, soon. I just need to finish up here and-“

“Shit Spike! Look to the East and North! They’ve already detonated two of the Megaspells! Hurry up!”

A gust of wind from the shockwaves blew Spike on his back. The hard ground beneath him uncomfortable and damp. He stood up and a quickly sent the coordinates for the first generator to Applejack. It was now a race of time. He had to reach the second generator before it was too late.

He ran as fast as he could. Killing anypony who stood in his path. The familiar sound of rotating chopper blade ripped through the air. The heavily armed aircraft seemed to speak, but it was only the pilot inside.

“It’s time to die Spike!” roared the voice from the cockpit. A spotlight beamed down on the dragon. He covered his face and slid into cover. A buzzing noise cut the air. Dirt shot up from the ground in a vertical path. Chucks of concrete flew in all directions and the dust particles made the dragon cough.

The heavy Gatling machine gun sounded like a bug zapper, but rather than killing insects it was tearing apart the ground high above the sky. Spike dashed from cover to cover and barged through a cobblestone building. The chopper waited outside at the other door and Spike jumped out the window to the side taking a different path. A few guards were rushing his position. He quickly dealt with them, but gained the helicopter’s attention.

He was only a few feet from the generator. He took his time and shot out the spotlight the gunner used to locate Spike. This was his chance. He slid over the control panel and synced the coordinates and transferred the to Applejack.

“Applejack, I need assistance now. I tagged the generators. But watch out they have a heli of their own!”

“WOOHOO! The cavalry has arrived everypony!” the voice of Applejack shot through the air. The helicopters that was so fixated on Spike was slowly turning around to face the incoming assault, but it was too late. Two rockets had collided with the menacing metallic construct and it hit the ground bursting into flames higher than the generators themselves.

“Get back Spike, this is gonna’ be loud!” Two more rockets shot through the sky. Precisely timed to explode simultaneously as they smashed into the generators. The scorching inferno singed Spike’s scales, but it wasn’t painful. He didn’t even feel it.

The helicopters landed and Spike could not contain his joy. The beautiful mare that stepped out in a Kevlar vest was Rarity. From her pristine white coat to the bouncy purple curled hair she dawned he knew this was her. He ran to her and they hugged for what seemed an eternity. Tears ran down each others eyes and mushy sentiments were said that would make anypony blush.

“Ah’ don’t mean ta’ ruin the moment, but we got bigger fish to fry. Twilight needs your help Spike. She’s at the Canterlot Castle. Shit is goin’ down hard Spike, she needs you.” Said the cowpony.

“I just got Rarity back I’m not going to leave her again!” shouted the dragon.

“Spikey, please, Twilight needs you now more than ever. Equestria needs you. I’ll be safe. You and I know we can trust Applejack. After all, she IS the element of Honesty.” Rarity had a point, Applejack was the most trustworthy pony Spike had every met, and he knew he couldn’t just let Twilight die in there. She didn’t lie to him about Rarity being alive.

“Fine. Let’s go.” The trio climbed back inside the helicopter as it ascended upwards into the sky and began flying straight towards Canterlot Castle.

Canterlot Streets

“I didn’t think the missile systems would be working around the castle, but I was wrong.”

Canterlot Streets

Fire, it was the one true horror the three individuals had to bear as they flew to castle. The flames seemed to rise so high that they would lick the bottom of the aircraft. The heat was intense. The very air that surrounded them seemed to grow hotter by the second.

Beads of sweat dripped off Spike’s face, but seeing her smile was all he needed to go on. It was that same smile she gave him right before his deployment in Camelu. The look of worry, and joy. It was somewhat contradictory, but it was nonetheless, true.

Rarity fanned her face desperately trying to cool down all the while Appljeajack remained as cool as ice. Relaxing in the cockpit like it was just a fine Spring day in the sun. Not even a single drop of sweat dripped down her face. She must have been used to such extreme heat to survive the sweltering conditions Spike and Rarity were enduring.

“How long until we reach the castle?” asked Spike.

“Ah’d say ‘bout fifteen minutes.” Replied the hic pony.

“Spike…” The unicorn trailed on.

“Yes?” Spike raised a brow.

“I-I lov-“

“Ah’ shit! Everypony hold the fuck on! Incoming missile!” Screamed Appljack.

Spike was thrown to the side and grabbed onto Rarity tightly. The world around them spun faster and faster then it all stopped. Blackness. It was dark. Darker than Spike’s eyes could adjust too properly. He couldn’t move either. It felt like the weight of the world was on top of him pressing down on every inch of his body.

Two voices were panicking, screaming, he could hear the sound of rocks being thrown, but they were bigger. Large clumps of debris were magically lifted to the side. Dust fell on his nose causing the dragon to sneeze. The voices sounded happier, as if they heard him sneeze.

“Spike! Spike! Baby please don’t die, please. Not like this!” those words forced the dragon’s eyes open. Rarity’s tears were pattering on his chest. He squeezed the mare tightly and whispered in her ear, “I love you too Rarity.”

The unicorn embraced the hug fully. Her eyes could no longer contain the emotions they held inside. Tears poured down her face, but she was not frowning. A wide grin spread from ear to ear formed on the pony’s face. The joy of knowing he was still alive made her cry so much more.

She whipped her head around quickly shouting in the distance. Spike couldn’t see who she was yelling at, but he knew who it was, “Spike’s alive!”

“That’s great sugarcube! But ah’m kinda’ busy right now ya’ see!” a few shots were fired as the orange earth pony tried to fend off Blueblood’s personal militia.

Spike stumbled to his feet and rubbed his eyes wiping the dirt out of them. The roof above them was gone. They were inside some sort of theater. Rows of red chairs lined both sides of the auditorium and a narrow pathway lead up to the cowpony whose back was pressed firmly against the wall as she guarded each entrance to her left and right.

She was panting heavily and blood was dripping down her right leg.

“That’s the last of ‘em for now!” she said trying to catch her breath. She slumped down against the wall blood still seeping of her the fresh wound on her leg.

“Applejack!” exclaimed Spike as he ran up to the cowpony, “you’re hurt. Was it a through-n-through or is it still in there?” asked the dragon.

“N-neither, Spike. ‘Piece a shrapnel from the crash. Broke my leg, it’s bleedin’ pretty bad, huh?” She tried to laugh and Spike looked away cringing his teeth.

“I won’t let you die Applejack.” Spike leaned to the pony and gripped her leg firmly. She nodded to him and turned her head back anticipating the worst. A small fiery blast came from the dragon’s mouth. Not enough to kill anypony, but enough to singe the hairs on Applejack’s coat and cauterize the wound.

“Spike,” said Rarity as she threw him the Kevlar vest she was once wearing, “go save Twilight, I’ll take care of Applejack.”

The dragon hesitated for a moment, but realized this was the only option they had. He slipped on the heavy vest and grabbed Applejack’s pistol. Rarity levitated the earth pony onto her back. No words needed to be said. They both understood what they had to do. Putting emotions aside for the greater good of Equestria.

“I’ll see you soon.” Said the dragon.

“Yes you will.” Replied the mare.

Spike and Rarity exited the theater. Rarity went the opposite way of the castle heading back to Ponyville. It was the only town that wouldn’t have been hit by the Megaspells. A small town like that wouldn’t make much of a political impact if it was wiped off the face of the world, but as for most of Canterlot, Trottingham, and Manehattan, they were all but wastelands. Barren and dead, devoid of all life.

The stench of burning flesh filled the dragon’s nostrils making him gag and nearly vomit. Scorched carcasses scattered the ground around him. Dead unicorns, earth ponies, and pegasi littered the ground. The few ponies that were alive were either wallowing in their own pain or trying to help the survivors. Even in the midst of pure chaos and anarchy ponies still held onto the values of altruism.

A barricade prevented Spike from going any farther he had to take the high ground and took to the scaffolding of a nearby building that wasn’t demolished. Armed unicorns and earth ponies pushed the civilian crowd back. They were not the Royal Canterlot Guard, they were Blueblood’s ponies. Equines in Arms.

“Please remain calm, we’ve been ordered by the Princess to maintain order.” Said the officer. It was a bullshit lie and Spike knew it.

“Ordered by the Princess?!” Shouted a small Pegasus. She had a long purple mane and tale with an orange coat, “you’re not even Royal Canterlot guard! How do we know that! Plus you’re toting around weapons like this place is a war zone!”

“Ma’am, please stay back or we will open fire.” Said the guard. The Pegasus inched forward questioning the guards more and more about their presence. The general crowd around her started to ask the same questions. Scootaloo was a small girl.

“Open fire? You’re going to kill a civilian! HEY EVERYPONY THESE GUYS ARE-“ She was shouting as loud as she could before a pistol pressed against her forehead.

“Ma’am stay back or I will shoot!” screamed the guard. They were outnumbered by the crowd. Five to one easily, but Blueblood’s men had the advantage in all ways. Automatic weapons, body army, hoof-to-hoof combat, ect…

“Hey now… you don’t have to be so serious.” The Pegasus was quivering in fear for her life. The crowd was terrified as well backing up slowly.

“Take that shot mother fucker! I dare you! I will tear your head out of your ass!” A marshmallow colored unicorn in the back hit the ground with her hoof. Steam blew out of her nostrils like a raging bull. Sweetie Belle stood there bracing the ground and preparing for a battle to the death.

“Stand back! Come any closer and we will shoot!” The guards were cornered. Spike could see the fear in their faces. He couldn’t wait around any longer if the crowd got any closer they would kill the civilians.

Panic, ponies ran in all directions. The guards lied dead around their weapons. Scootaloo wiped her forehead and hugged Sweetie Belle. Spike jumped down from his perched position and slithered on by avoiding being spotted by two of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. He couldn’t have them following him to the Royal Castle. He knew full well they’d try to get their cutie marks in urban warfare and he wanted no part of that dangerous escapade.

He could see the castle in the distance. He was approaching it quickly as he ran the streets trying to avoid as many of the guards as he could. He didn’t have time for them.

He stood at the entrance of the palace. The wrought iron gates stood firm, but that was not a problem for Spike. He jumped over the metal fencing with grace and dived into a nearby bush. A pair of guards were coming his way.

He killed them both and dragged their bodies into the bush he was hiding in. Armed guards patrolled the front of the palace. The main door wasn’t going to be of any use now. There’d be way too many ponies for even Spike to handle. He had to find a different way.

“Twilight,” he said over his comm, “Twilight you there?”

“I’m here Spike, but I don’t have long, what do you need?”

“I’m at the royal palace and I need a way in.”

“Wait! You’re here?!” She sounded ecstatic, at least, a lot more enthusiastic than Spike, “go to the West side. There’ll be a door there. It’s unlocked. It’s how I entered. And thanks… for coming Spike.” She was sounding rather sentimental at the point and the dragon was starting to tear up.

“AJ and Rarity wouldn’t let me come back without you, Twi.” He said smugly. He could hear her laugh a bit then revert back to her serious tone, “once you’re inside head to Celestia’s personal chambers. That’s where we’re heading. I’ll see you soon Spike.” Said the mare.

Spike scaled a nearby guard house and ran across the building’s top leaping farther than he imagined he could. The long marble pathway leading to the door Twilight mentioned was now before him. Soon it was all going to end. He opened the door slowly poking his gun inside first and slowly peered through. Empty. He stepped inside and closed the door shut behind him.

The Royal Palace

“The shit that wasd goin’ down in the castle made the streets look like one’a Pinkie’s parties. It was a massacre. Blueblood’s personal army was in there, not Equines in Arms, they were clearin’ it room by room. No survivors. The slick fuck took out most’a Third Epsilon’s security measures, the Megaspells took care of the rest. All Celestia had left was her royal guard an’ Shining Armor, but they weren’t goin’ ta’ be enough. Spike was in there, tryin’ ta’ navigate the place while the ponies he trained tried to kill’m. And Twilight, she got the short end of the stick.”

The Royal Palace

Blood. Wet, sticky, crimson blood. It was everywhere. It covered the walls, the floors, even the ceiling. It was a grotesque art that turned Spike’s stomach over as he threw up in a nearby corner. Even for a hardened killer, this much blood was just inconceivable.

Spike’s feet tracked the sticky substance along as he walked through the silent hallway. Dead ponies lied face down or slumped against a wall. Bullet holes scattered along the walls told the tale of the horror that went down here.

The intoxicating smell seeped into his nostrils. The dragon gritted his teeth as the trekked farther into the palace. Two of Blueblood’s men stood inside a small room at the end of the hallway gloating maliciously about their kills.

“Haha! That little mare was begging me not to kill her. I had to have some fun with her of course if you know what I mean,” hinted the depraved stallion nudging his partner’s shoulder.

“You’re one sick bastard you know that?” Retorted the other one jokingly as they laughed together.

Two silent rounds ripped through the air striking both stallions in the head. Their bodies fell limp instantaneously. Spike stepped over the corpses and walked through the double doors.

“Spike you there?” whispered a voice into his ear. It was Twilight coming over the dragon’s earpiece, “I’ve got your next objective. Blueblood has Dirty Rich in the Royal Courts. He’s waiting to be inaugurated as Equestria’s new leader. They plan on killing Luna as soon as she makes it here putting Equestria in a state of martial law. He has his personal guard protecting him so be careful.”

“Good that’s on my route to you.” Said the dragon.

“You two can ‘talk’ if you’d like or you can just kill him. I really don’t care. He and Filthy Rich have been funding this op since the beginning. After you’re through with him meet me in the press room. We’ll figure out how we’re going to get Blueblood from there.” The transmission ended as Spike made it to the top of the staircase leading to Dirty Rich.

“Please don’t kill me! I’m begging you!” pleaded a mare, “I have two foals at home!”

The voice who’d been pleading for her life was now another casualty as Spike watched her die. He turned his head unable to witness this murder. He couldn’t bear to think how those foals she talked about would wake up the next morning realizing their mother was dead.

“Sector secured Sir,” stated a guard. A think accented voice replied callously, “it’s about damn time. Now you better keep me safe or you all will be looking for a new home outside of Equestria!”

The dragon tossed a proximity mine into the room ahead of him. Three guards were instantly killed spraying the room with a pink mist and chunks of pony flesh.

“Shit! We have a hostile!” said one guard. Two more followed him out into the room where Spike was in. They searched every corner unable to find the killer. Unannounced to them the dragon hung from the chandelier above. As the last guard walked under him let go and drove his powerful leg into the pony’s back. A deafening screech rang through the air only slightly masking the cracking sounds the stallion’s bones made as they buckled and shattered under the force of Spike’s foot.

The two remaining ponies turned around only to be met with lead projectiles ripping through their bodies. Spike pushed the magazine slide as he heard the familiar sound of the metal hitting the ground. He slid in a new clip and walked inside the room.

He spotted the dragon and backed up against the wall behind him. There was no pony to protect him now. He was just as vulnerable as his brother Filthy Rich. Spike walked up to him and grabbed him by the throat lifting him up as he placed the hot barrel of his gun into Dirty’s gut. He whinnied in pain and tried to break free from Spike’s stranglehold, but to no avail.

“Spike… I’d figure you come.”

“Mhm.” Replied the dragon.

“You don’t understand do ya’ kid? You can’t hurt me, I’m invincible. I got protection.” The dragon looked around him then back at the pony, “they look dead to me.”

“Fuckin’ washed up Spy, you can’t hurt me. I’m bulletproof. Fuckin’ bulletproof.” Spike smiled with sadistic intentions.

“Oh really?” the dragon said, “let’s test that theory.” Two rounds ripped through t pony’s hind legs crippling him instantly. The pony screamed as he cradled his legs up to his chest wallowing in pain.

“Shit, fuck, dammit, you shot me! You really shot me!” screamed Dirty Rich.

“So much for bulletproof, eh?” chuckled the dragon.

The sound of thee breaching charges broke the dragon from his sadistic fun. The wooden doors behind him flew open sending shrapnel in all directions. Spike pressed the top of his backpack he received earlier from Applejack sending a small EMP through the room. The ponies that entered were blind to the threat that hung above them. Their tactical lights no longer worked as well as most of their equipment.

Another proximity mine killed the intruders that busted through so rudely. Spike walked through the entry way onto a checked-tiled floor. A spinning mechanical sound sent him into a state of panic as he ducked and rolled to a marble pillar nearby. A flurry of shots ripped through the cover he was behind and the spinning slowed down. It was an automated turret.

Spike took his time ducking and rolling form cover to cover trying to make it close enough to use his EMP backpack again to disable the machine. Canterlot Royal Guard bodies lay twisted and mangled from the murderous machine.

The dragon slipped on a spot of wet blood and fell on his back. It was dumb luck he survived the barrage of bullets that nearly tore him into minced meat. A collapsed marble pillar protected him against the projectiles as they collided against the hard stone.

Another pulse from his EMP backpack turned off the machine gun and Spike quickly hopped over the barriers protecting the turret. He shut it off the only way he knew how, tearing it apart.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“By time Spike made it to Twilight, Blueblood’s men were kickin’ in the door to Celestia’s room. She knew her brother and his ponies wouldn’t survive. The plan was simple, Spike would meet with Twi’ in and they’d figure out how to take out Blueblood. What Twilight didn’t tell Spike was she already had a plan, but he shoulda’ known that from the start. Some ponies… they just never change.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Spike stood in front of the elevator. He pressed the button pointing down, but with no luck. It was off. The dragon braced his claws against either side of the elevator doors and pried them apart. Sweat dripped off his scaly face as he let out a grunt and the doors finally opened slamming to each side.

A long metal cable dangled precariously inside the elevator shaft. Spike jumped inside grabbing onto the cable tightly and slowly began to slide downwards until he hit the bottom. The emergency exit was now below him and he opened it slowly and tossed a flashbang inside. Nothing, not a single sound. He hopped down inside noticing there were no hostiles, lucky for them.

The dragon pried the doors open in front of him and hopped out of the shaft. The kitchen was just in front of him. He could see several enemies inside, but he had to meet Twilight before it was too late. He decided against his better judgment and let them be slithering his way through undetected.

The chatter of their voices only reassured him of his choice, “I heard he was the first Splinter Cell.” Said one guard.

“Yeah, he WAS, the first one, but there’s a lot more of them now.” Retorted another.

“He wrote the book on stealth ops. Literally. He’s the best of the best; I don’t even know why Blueblood sent us here. We wouldn’t stand a chance if Spike showed up.” Said one behind the two chatting.

“Oh shut it, Night Shade, there’s more of us than there is of him. We outnumber him.”

The pony known as Night Shade walked away grumbling under his breath. Spike let him live as he walked directly passed the dragon that was perched high above him on another chandelier. As the guard made another pass back into the kitchen Spike dropped down and continued his journey to the press room.

The dragon walked down another hallway. It was just as desolate and dead as the first one he walked through. More dead royal guards and civilians lay up against the walls. Their blood seeping onto the ground. The smell of gunpowder was fresh as if these ponies were only killed moments ago.

A firefight could be heard just inside the next room. It was intense. Automatic fire, explosions, and screaming could be heard. Whatever was going on was a bloodbath. Spike cautiously peeked his head around seeing the ensuing battle. Shining Armor had speared a pony with his horn and tossed his body to the side. His magical shield rose up protecting him and his remaining guard against Blueblood’s forces that were attempting to advance.

A splintering effect cracked his shield. The large jagged lines leapt across the unicorns shield. It was failing, and fast. The cost fire from the ponies was weakening his shield. Before Spike could play ‘hero’ once more the giant shield shattered into millions of intangible magical fragments that rained effortlessly down upon him.

Bullets ripped through his body and his men behind him. Spike finished off the last pony before he could make the kill shot and end Shining Armor’s life.

Spike walked over the brave stallion and leaned down grabbing the pony’s foreleg and pulling him up.

“S-spike?” The unicorn coughed up some blood that dripped onto his pristine coat.

The dragon’s eyes watered up with heavy emotions, “I’m here Shining Armor.”

“P-please, save my sister, s-she’s all I have left.”

Tears were streaming out of Spike’s eyes. His trainer, mentor, friend, and comrade was dying in his arms and he was powerless to save him.

“I will, Shining, I will.” The stallion smiled one last time before closing his eyes permanently. Spike rose to his feet and slammed his fist into the wall. A gaping hole leading up to his elbow punctured the stone wall.

He had to move though; there wasn’t any time to waste. He ran down the next hallway to the press room just twenty meters away. He approached the door hearing two rounds go off. He kicked the door in sweeping the area with his gun held high looking for any more combatants.

A lavender pony stood over a dead pony. She kicked away his weapon and looked over at the dragon, “Spike… for whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry. I truly am. I never meant to-“

“I thought we were in a rush.” Said the dragon flatly. He was still aiming at the door in front of him. He couldn’t let his guard down now, he’d come too far to be killed so easily by a simple mistake.

“Right. We need to get you up close and personal with Blueblood, but in a way that doesn’t spook him into wasting Celestia in a split second.” Replied the unicorn.

“Hmph,” said the dragon, “any idea how we’re gonna’ do that?”

“One, but it’ll hurt like hell.”

“Just do what you have to Twilight.”

“I always have Spike, and I always will.” Said the mare.

The unicorn levitated her pistol in front of her. A shot ripped the air colliding with Spike’s right arm. Twilight levitated his gun away and into her holster as the dragon leaned down on one knee.

The look he gave the unicorn could only be described as deathly. The scowl of blood thirsty vengeance was plastered across his face.

Twilight held her gun out still pointing at the dragon as she patched through to Blueblood, “Blueblood, I’ve captured Spike, we’re coming to you so don’t do anything until we’re all there alright?”

“Bitch!” Yelled Spike.

“Hands behind your back Spike.” The dragon had no choice but to comply and do what he was told. The metal cuffs placed around his cuffs fit snuggly binding his claws together, “comfortable?”

The walk to Celestia’s chambers seemed to take forever. The walls were still covered in the macabre art of blood and flesh. Bodies sprawled across the ground lifeless devoid of movement.

“All that time… you were lying to me.”

“It was for the best Spike, I’d do it again if I had to.”

“I guess I never truly knew you.”

“No, and you still don’t know me.”

They arrived at Celestia’s chambers. Twilight jabbed Spike’s neck with the barrel of her pistol pushing him in, “on your knees Spike.”

The room was large and spacious. Six ponies decked from head to hoof in black stealth armor stood ramrod straight as the orchestrator of this malevolent scheme turned around smiling at the unicorn, “I was wondering when you two would arrive.”

“Good work Twilight, I see you got some sweet vengeance for that shit he pulled back at Las Pegasus.”

“Awh, he put up a little tussle, but not much.” Said the mare cutely.

Princess Celestia sat on the floor with two guards behind her. Their weapons pressed against the alicorn’s head. She glared at Blueblood as he turned around.

“I bet he did. And just in the nick of time to be useless at that,” he turned around facing the dragon, “you’re going to famous Spike, or actually, it will be infamous. As the first assassin to succeed in killing Princess Celestia and her dear sister Luna when she returns.” Cooed the stallion unicorn.

“Fuck you Blueblood!” said the dragon defiantly.

“Alas, we will be just a bit too late to save either one and you’ll be killed in a hail of gunfire. It’s cliché but it works.” The stallion was ranting on about his own inflated intelligence.

Celestia rolled her eyes, “you don’t really think that bullshit will fly do you? The surveillance will show-“

The stallion pistol whipped the alicorn, “you’re surveillance was set up and is monitored by us. We can do whatever we want, Celestia. We’re Third Epsilon. We can make it look like you were killed by a flying muffing that was shot from Derpy’s ass if we wanted to.”

“This is not Third Epsilon.” Said the dragon.

“This is NOT PINKIE’S Third Epsilon, Spike. If you hadn’t heard, he’s DEAD! You killed him! You see, Celestia thought Third Epsilon was no longer needed. She was going to shut us off and Equestia would be at the mercy of every attack you spent your life stopping, Spike!” Shouted the stallion.

Blueblood was obviously not paying attention as he waved his gun around dangerously close to spike. His lack of attention to detail would be his ultimate downfall as he failed to see Twilight kicking something over to the dragon. A key. The key to his handcuffs.

As soon as Spike was free of the cuffs he broke out and grabbed the gun from Blueblood and twisted his foreleg back snapping in two. Twilight shot down three of the guards and Spike took care of the rest of them before kicking Blueblood back onto the desk and walking towards him.

“Ah, fuck!”

“Princess Celestia are you okay? Are you hurt?!” Quizzed the mare as she ran over to her mentor.

“I’m fine Twilight.”

“You have maybe a couple minutes before the Equestrian army takes the Royal Palace back. Make them useful. How did Melchior contact you?” asked the dragon.

The pompous stallion chuckled, “you don’t want o hear about Melchior, you want to know about Rarity.”

Another bullet pierced through the soft flesh of Blueblood’s hind leg, “you don’t get to talk about Rarity you little fuck!”

“You just don’t get it do you? Rarity was just bait to get to you. She was just leverage to use against you Spike to get into Third Epsilon, and Third Epsilon was just a ploy for them to use so they could get to here, the Royal Palace.”

It finally clicked inside Spike’s head. He knew who Blueblood truly was and for what he caused him.

“You’re the mole… you’re the pony Pinkie was so scared about.”

“Very good, Spike, it’s finally apparent to you.” Blueblood was facing down the barrel of Spike’s pistol with unwavering narcissism. Even in the face of death he held himself up high.

Spike shot Blueblood once more in left shoulder, “you mother fucker! You fucker! You cost me five years of my life! Five fucking years I thought Rarity was dead!”

The dragon pressed the barrel of his gun against Blueblood’s forehead. The sound of hooves clopping against the ground stormed inside the room.

“Drop the weapon! Drop it now dammit!” roared an earth pony. It was the Equestrian army.

Princess Celestia stood in front of the ponies and looked down at them, “thank you soldiers for rescuing me, now, there isn’t anypony here else but me is there?” She said raising an eyebrow

“But ma’am-“

“Was that insubordination I heard!?” Shouted the princess.

“No ma’am.” Said the guard, “package secured, we’re exiting the palace.”

Princess Celestia looked back and winked at Spike.

Spike looked deep into the eyes of the pony that made his life a living hell. The torment he had to suffer. The trials he went through. All because of the one pony. Anger was rippling through his scales like a tsunami. He could feel the bloodlust flowing through his very veins as he squeezed the trigger.

Blueblood’s body fell limp against the desk. His brain matter splattered on the wall behind him and Spike turned his head away from the pony’s life he just took.

“You didn’t have to go through with it, Spike. A hoof clasped onto the dragon’s shoulder. He turned around seeing Twilight. Her eyes bulbous and full of emotion.

Spike brushed her hoof off, “I had to.”

“I remember when you would’ve said otherwise.” Retorted the mare.

“Things change, Twi’.”

“Yeah, yeah they do, Spike.”

“Remember when you told me when this was all said and done everypony would walk away? Well I’m walking away.”

“But Spike you can’t, there’s so much that needs to be done.”

“Take it up with Pinkie, I’ve done too much.” Said the dragon.

“Please, Spike, I don’t know who I can really trust.” Pleaded the mare.

Spike chuckled a bit, “’Trust?’ Goodbye Twilight.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Applejack looked over to the guard standing near the door, “Ah’ve talk to him once since he left. Said he was gonna’ take some time off to be with Rarity for a bit. He talked ‘bout who really was important and who he’d always have to come back for, no matter what. He talked ‘bout family.”

Applejack put her forehooves up on the table and leaned in to the officer, “wanna know what he last thing Spike said to me was? He said, ‘Applejack, thanks, for everything, I love you like a sister.’ ‘Sister’, that’s family right?” The pony smiled as the sounds of explosions filled the room. Guards scrambled in all directions exiting the room. Gunfire could be heard as a blood spattered against the door to the interrogation room.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” Said the mare smiling and leaning back.