Conviction

“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.
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“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.

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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.”

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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.