Author's Note

Thanks, Skyrim!

2.Dryad tonic.2

In a forest, on horseback. Spike was pursuing a man on who had kidnapped a child hours ago. The bandit tried to escape, but Spike followed him like a dog following his master and not far from here. Faust was observing them on a tree branch.

''They arrive!'' Faust said to the three boys who were also on a tree branch.

''Get ready, Rumble! Catch the kid and run as fast as you can!'' Rumble was holding a rope.

''Hang on!'' the bandit approached our heroes at full speed, then Pip and Button pushed Rumble towards him.

''GO!''

''?!''The bandit, having not reacted in time, crashed against Rumble who tried to rescue the kid. They both fell to the ground, under Spike's usual gaze.

''DUMBASS!'' Spike dodged the two idiots and managed to reach the bandit's horse. He took the horse's strap and fell to the ground, using his body as an anchor to stop the horse. The horse finally stopped, and Spike spoke to the kid.

''Are you alright, kiddo?'' Spike asked.

''Y-yes mister!'' The kid replied.

''I see that I came across a beautiful bunch of morons!'' Spike angrily said to the boys.

''You are hard sir, we have saved the kid!'' Button added.

''I SAVED the kid! if I had to rely on you to help save the world, we would all be dead!'' The child ran to his mother who was accompanied by two imperial guards. The mother squeezed her son in her arms while weeping tears of joy, under the slightly saddened look of Spike, sadness that disappeared a second later after receiving gold from one of the guards. After that, they hit the road to a better destination.

''🎼I'm bored, I'm bored...🎼'' Spike was bored.

Opening

''What a pretty clearing!'' Spike said.

''You three, fire, now!'' Spike lay on the floor and used a tree trunk as a pillow.

''Stay here boys, I'll take care of it ...lazy knight!'' Faust said to Spike who answered by pulling his tongue at her.

''You three, since our beginnings are a little messy, we will try to find out what you are capable of, you know how to use a crossbow?'' Spike asked.

''We're peasant soooo,'' Pip replied.

''There's a beginning to everything!'' Spike took some pebbles and placed them on a rock to make targets.

''Here, go ahead...show us what you can do!'' Spike handed his crossbow to the boys, and it was rumble who tested it first. He aimed at a pebble and shot without looking at his target. The arrow ricocheted on a rock and passed over the pebbles to ricochet again on a rock before crashing into Spike's armour.

''Can you explain this shit to me? Are you fucking kidding me?'' Spike said to Rumble who was trembling like a leaf.

''I don't know, Spike! It was like magic!!'' Rumble replied.

''Pretty much my friend,'' Spike and rumble turn to see a man dressed as a jester with horns on his forehead.

''Good evening, I hope I do not bother you?'' He said.

''I know you... you are a friend of the redhead!'' Spike said.

''Yes, we can say that ... I did not scare you with my little magic trick?'' He asked.

''Is it you who does this with the arrow?'' Spike asked.

''It's awesome, right?'' He replied.

''And who exactly are you? Discord, the god of chaos?'' Spike asked while touching his left horns.

''Bingo, buddy!'' Spike looked at him then facepalm.

''What?'' Discord added.

''For fuck's sake, what the hell is wrong with you? First Faust, then you? Don't tell that the three assholes over there are Tirek, Sombra and Storm king?'' Spike said, pointing at them.

''Oh No, they're just assholes!'' Discord replied.

''Leave me alone! I did not ask anyone, so you're going to pack up your magic tricks and get the hell out of here!" Spike ordered.

''Usually, we say: Vade retro etc ...''Discord said while preparing a pipe.

Go ahead, make fun of me! Spike removed the arrow from his armour and threw it on the ground.

''You know, my little tricks might serve you one of these days. I would be very willing to help you!'' Discord said while lighting his pipe.

''Right, then after you will ask me to sign a contract and we all know the rest!'' Spike said.

''No, not at all! I ask nothing of you!'' Discord replied.

''What's going on? You want me to kill Faust?' Spike asked.

''No, It's just for fun!'' Discord laughed.

''It's very nice of you my friend! And how do I contact you? I'll send you a raven, or I'll kill a clown on a full moon!'' Spike asked.

''Don't worry my friend, when the opportunity arises, I would not be far!'' Discord turned into a fly, and Faust arrived some seconds later with branches in her hand.

''They are already sleeping?'' The boys were lying on the ground, but they were not asleep, they were stunned because of their encounter with Discord.

''What happened here? What did you do to them?'' Faust asked.

''Nothing, they are afraid of the dark!'' Spike replied with his eyes closed, and a few feet from their campfire, Discord observed them while smoking.

''Come on, everybody gets up!'' Faust Faust pushed Spike to wake him up.

''Hey! Ho! What's wrong!'' Spike asked with his eyes still close.

''We go to town!'' Faust replied.

''Really? Why?'' Spike asked.

''It will change us from meadows,'' Faust answered.

''Fuck it, I'm in!'' Spike said.

''Thanks myself!'' And a few minutes later, they were on the road.

''Why Spike never smiles?'' Pip asked Faust who was lying on her horse.

''Oh that, you'll have to get used to it quickly guys! But do not worry about it, he thinks he's tough, that all!'' Faust replied.

''I hear you!'' Spike said.

''I'm sorry Boss, but I think you should smile more!'' Pip added.

''You know how to think? It's a miracle!'' Spike says sarcastically.

They finally arrived in a small village consisting of some stone house, two large building and an inn. They entered the inn, and Faust spoke to the innkeeper. The innkeeper was a bold man with a large moustache and a face that said: do not piss me off me or you'll end up with an arrow in your throat.

''Hello my friend ... I need three rooms for tonight, one with three beds. I also want a bathtub per person and clean sheets ... thank you!'' Faust said.

''Indeed, it will change us!'' Spike declared.

''I have something to do, I let you relax a moment, we meet again later,'' Faust said to Spike who was looking at a woman.

''Take your time!'' Spike said while looking at the woman.

''Thank you, madam!'' Pip said to Faust while climbing the stairs.

''Helloooooo!'' Spike said to the woman who ignored him. Meanwhile, the boys were doing a pillow fight in their rooms. Later, Faust returned to the inn while driving a dwarven stagecoach which runs on coal.

''What the hell?'' Spike was surprised by Faust's new vehicle.

''Wouah! It's red!'' Rumble commented.

''With that my children, you will leave a mark in history!'' Faust took a took a scroll and unfolded it.

''Is it a catch scroll?'' Button asked.

''What is it?'' Rumble asked.

''It's a spell that captures a small part of you for the representation on the parchment, we owe this invention to the wizards of the crystal tower!'' Faust explained.

''Fucking wizards, I hate them! When it is to make you fall with their magic stick, everyone laughs! But when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, they are already dead!'' Spike said while looking at his fists.

"You have problems, but It does not matter because we will try right now. Come and put yourself in the middle of the street!'' Faust said.

''it will be without me! I have a girl waiting for me!'' Spike was about to leave, but Faust convinced him to stay.

''After the room I just paid you, you could make an effort! But if you prefer to sleep outside,'' Faust said with a smile on her face.

''Are you blackmailing me now?'' Spike asked.

''Sorry, that's all I have to say!'' Faust explained.

''Okay, do your fucking photo, but I warn you, don't break my balls every five minutes with this shit!'' Spike angrily said.

''Come on, nobody moves!'' She pointed the scroll in front of the boys and activated it with her magic.

''CLIC'' In addition to the image of the boys, there was a part of the building behind them that exploded.

''BOOM''

''Wow! I just invented the scoop!'' The left side of the building was on fire when suddenly a distinctive form could be perceived in this black smoke.

''Heh, look there!'' Pip pointed a female form in the smoke. The woman looked at them before running away.

''I saw her first!'' The boys started to chase her, but she opened a portal by throwing a crystal on the floor in the hope of escaping them, but the boys managed to catch her.

''Too late!'' Rumble said by throwing himself on her.

''Sorry madam, but firecrackers are dangerous for a woman like you!'' Button said while removing the bomb from her left hand.

''Guys, Why is she brown ... and made of wood?'' Pip asked.

''Stop, or I kill you without hesitation, you morons!'' Spike threatened.

''Don't move, bandit!'' Pip said while holding her arms.

''Shut up, peasant! She's a Dryad!'' Spike said.

''A what?'' Button asked.

''A Dryad is a spirit of nature, a kind of guardian who protects forests at the risk of their own life,'' Of all the races that populated the kingdom of Equestria, the Dryad or Spriggan are among the most beautiful but deadly of all creatures that haunt forests. Their body made of wood and magic could overflow a thousand tortures without even breaking. Nothing can kill them, except fire. They make one with nature, and they do not hesitate to kill anybody who comes to destroy their sanctuary with the help of the animals. Dryads are beautiful, but no one has ever survived their attack.

''And they hate humans!'' Spike added.

''Do not give me to the captain of the guard, he will kill me without asking any questions!'' The Dryad begged.

''Yeah and it will surely bring me some money!'' Spike hesitated to draw his sword and kill him, but a little voice in his head said no to him.

''Maybe, but I'm better alive than dead! Please, let me explain!'' Spike looked behind him and saw peasants trying to extinguish the fire. He grabbed the Dryad by the forearm and took her away.

''What are you doing, boss?'' Rumble was surprised by his reaction.

''You heard the piece of wood, she wants to explain the situation!" Spike put her back on the wall and drew his sword.

''Go ahead, speak!'' Spike said with his sword under her neck.

''Hm, OKay but it may be a bit long, if you want, I invite you to our sanctuary, and I tell you my story!'' The Dryad proposed.

''Are you trying to win some time?'' Spike noted.

''Do you think that, human?'' Spike looked deep into her eyes then he removed his sword from her throat.

''Pip, get the horses ready!'' Spike ordered.

''I sold them to buy the stagecoach,'' Faust explained.

''What?'' Spike was surprised by her answer.

''We do not stop progress!'' Faust said while putting on white gloves.

''Progress my ass!'' Spike was seated in the back with the three boys smiling, unlike him.

Spike, Faust, and the Dryad left the city to go to her sanctuary situated in the forest. Once arrived, she stood in front of the group, and the trees moved apart to create a path. Once crossed, the Dryad changed her appearance and returned to a more natural form. Her fingers turned into claws and horns grow on his head with two leaves on one of the horns. The leaves that flew in the sky came behind her to form a vegetable veil at the level of her legs, and Green particles began to fly around her.

''Here we are!'' Our heroes had arrived in front of a huge tree covered with magic inscriptions.They have before them, the tree of life.

''Don't care! Tell me your problem!'' Spike said.

''First, we need to talk to my father!'' The Dryad knelt in front of the tree that opened a few seconds later. Spike took a step, but Faust put his hand on his belly to stop him.

''Lady first!'' Faust entered first under Spike's angry look.

''It official, I hate her!'' Spike said before entering into the tree.

''Where's your father, Woody!'' Spike asked.

''I'm here!'' A tree man appeared in front of them, he was tall, his face covered with foam that formed a beard and he measured a staggering height of 1 meter 10 ... damn!

Everybody was shocked by this revelation, then the Dryad spoke to them.

''I present you my father, Thunderhooves! We call me like this because he likes thunder and hooves!'' The Dyade explained. ''And you can call me Little Strongheart, protector of the tree!''

''It's a pleasure to meet you, we are here to listen to your story,'' Faust explained to the old tree.

''Thank you, sit down while my daughter explains,'' The group sat on the floor and Strongheart explained everything in detail.

''Problems started when men came to our land, their leader, a man named Ragnar came to talk to us, he explained to us what he wanted to do here, he wanted to build a village here, in our forest! He and his men then started to cut trees. My mother, unable to bear this, attacked his men with the help of her brothers and sister. They killed everyone except Ragnard who had run away. We thought we were victorious, but we were wrong! Ragnar returned with a thousand men and began to burn every tree in the forest! After that, he decided to kill all of us! My mother was burned alive for killing his men. Since then I live here with my father, we are the last beings of the forest. I wanted to leave in the explosion, but I'm not very good with explosives!'' Our heroes listen to her story until the end, then went back to the town.

''Boss, you have to do something for her and her father!'' Rumble begged.

''No!'' Spike replied to him.

''WHY!'' Pip yelled.

''Because I don't give a shit about her story! She wants to avenge her peoples! Great, but don't count on me for this one!'' Spike was hard with him because, during his life, he was all alone.

The next day at the hotel, Faust came out of her slumber, she got dressed and went downstairs to take her breakfast downstairs with Spike, who was eating his toast alone.

''Hello...Where are the boys?'' Faust asked.

''I don't know, they got up before me and they left,'' Spike answered.

''I do not like what's going on,'' Faust said while looking at the sun.

The three boys went to the village tavern to fix a problem. Once inside, they headed for the bar while hearing the conversation of a man with red hair like blood.

''You will bring me back the one that blew up my building so that I can do the same with his skull!'' The man said to his friends.

''You can count on us, Ragnar!'' The man said.

''Are you Ragnar?'' Pip asked.

''Who are you?'' Ragnar asked.

''We come to warn you, my friend! You don't do correct things in this city and me and my friends we would like you to stop your shit! Pip explained with his sword under Ragnar's nose.

Ragnar looked at his friend then he grabbed Pip's sword and breaking it with his metal hand.

''Stop my what?!'' Ragnar said with a sadistic smile on his face.

Spike and Faust were about to go looking for the boys when Ragnar's friend arrived with two other companions.

"Hey, bastards!" Ragnar's friend threw at Spike's feet the broken weapons of his travelling companions.

''You must watch your hen house, there are obviously holes in your fence!'' The man said.

''What?'' Spike was surprised by this request because he is not a vulgar peasant.

''Your three chickens wanted to put their beaks in affairs that did not concern them, so we put them in jail for a few days, just to teach them manners!'' after that, they left screaming and laughing.

''I should have smashed his mouth on the ground, I do not like how he speaks to me!'' Spike said to Faust.

''His friends looked sturdy,'' Faust added.

''Good now have to go out these three dumbasses of the prison ... I feel that it will still cost me the skin of the buttocks this story!'' Spike replied.

''Wait a minute! I want to know where they go!'' Faust said.

''And the kids?'' Spike asked.

''Where they are, they don't risk much!'' Faust said while climbing into the stagecoach.

''You're right, it's not going to kill them!''Spike added.

White smoke was rising in the forest, right where the sanctuary of Strongheart was. Our heroes seeing this in the distance decided to speed up to see what was going on. But once arrived, the show they attended was far from fun. Thunderhooves was kneeling in front of his burning shrine, with his daughter nailed to it with an expression of terror on her face dried from the flame.

''Damn!'' Faust took Thunderhooves in her arms, and Spike delicately removed Heart from the sanctuary. Thunderhooves prayed for his daughters before burying her with his brothers, and sisters. A few seconds later, a young tree came out of the ground and Hooves started to cry.

''I am now the last of my kind,'' Thunderhooves sat on the floor and prayed for his salvation.

''I am sure that!!!'' Faust stopped abruptly talking to Hooves, she was trembling, and tears began to run down her cheeks.

''What's wrong?!'' Spike asked.

''The kids...'' Faust fell to his knees and hid her face in her hands.

''What? Tell me!'' Spike grabbed her by the shoulders, and Faust looked straight into his eyes.

''I can hear their cries!'' Faust said.

''MOTHERFUCKER!'' Spike Spike climbed the diligence and went to the city as soon as possible. Once there, he broke down the prison door and took the captain of the guard by the neck.

''WHERE THE FUCKING KIDS!'' Spike yelled.

''They are in the basement, I'll take you there,'' The captain proposed.

''Don't fucking touch me!'' The captain opened the basement, and Spike pushed me to go first inside. Once inside, Spike walked in a long and dusty corridor.

''AAAAHHHHH!''

''PIP!'' Spike ran to his companion in the hope of saving him but was just the opposite.

''Pip! I'm here for y- WHAT THE FUCK!'' Spike found himself in front of Pip who was standing in front of him in blood.

''S-Sorry ARGH!'' A metal hand pulled out of Pip's chest with his heart between his frozen fingers.

''NOOOOOO!'' Spike yelled.

''Funny, his heart's still beating!'' Ragnar smashed Pip's heart in his hand, then he removed it from Pip's lifeless body before talking to Spike again.

''Don't worry, the other two have suffered the same fate. Besides, say hello to them!" Ragnar threw on the floor the heads of Rumble and Button.

''They were not very talkative, they will be even less AHAHAHAHAHAHA!''

''SON OF A BITCH!'' Spike unsheathed his sword, but the captain stabbed him in the back.

''Language!'' Spike was on his knees, Ragnar looked at him and grabbed his war hammer with the same smile from earlier in the bar.

''You impress me! It's not every day that a group of assholes come to my town to ask me to stop my shit and give back the forest to the spirits that I loved burned! Just like the precious sanctuary of your friend, the tree branch. Her mother took my hand, so I took her mother's life and hers. It seems pretty fair to me, isnt'it?'' Spike looked at him with all the hatred of his body.

''Keep this hate for Discord when you see him!'' Ragnar hit him on the skull with his hammer once, then two, and then until his sight is red with blood.

''''OH! Look at him! Taking it like a champ!'' Ragnar hit him several times until his crab exploded under the weight of the hammer. Once done, Ragnar spoke to his man.

''Hang the body at the entrance of the city, it will serve as a message for all those who want to piss me off!'' Ragnar ordered.

''Yes sir!'' The captain took Spike's body from his foot and hung it at the entrance of the city.

''GET OUT!'' The innkeeper threw a young Spike out of the bars with a black eye and a ripped top.

''Screw you!'' Spike said while wiping tears in his eyes.

''Why are you crying, young man?'' A mysterious knight asked.

''Mind your own business!'' Spike replied.

''Always so welcoming, Spike,'' The knight said.

''Barristan!'' Spike ran to him and took him in his arms.

''How are you and ... Why your back is in blood?'' Barristan looked at Spike and Spike showed him his back, there were several lashes, making him bleed.

''Spike, what did you do to deserve this?'' Barristan asked.

''A mercenary insulted you, so I took his sword and threatened him of cutting his throat if he opens his mouth again. The innkeeper grabbed me by the neck and punish me!'' Spike explained to him.

''What did he say?'' Barristan asked.

''Old man!'' Barristan began to laugh.

''Ahahah! Spike, I am an old man. So please, don't get into trouble because of me,'' Barristan said.

''Yes, sir!'' Spike promised.

''Good! Now take this,'' Barristan gave him a package and Spike took it without doing anything.

''Open it!'' Spike opened it and inside, there was a purple leather jacket.

''Damn!'' Spike put it on, but it was too large for him.

''It's dragon leather, I killed it for you!'' Barristan said.

''Really? Thanks!'' For the first time of his life, Spike smiled.

''You're welcome! Now excuse me, but I need to kill a mercenary!'' Barristan went to the inn with his blade on his hand.

Spike looked at the inn, then he turned around and ran into someone.

''Hello darling!'' It was Ragnar with the heads of his fallen companions.

''RAGNAAAAARRRRRR!'' Spike was lying in a cave with a bandage around his right eye. He took it off, revealing a grey eye, Spike stood up and saw Thunderhooves with Faust. They were preparing the dinner.

Spike went to the exit of the cave and looked at the sky.

''how are you, Spike?'' Faust asked.

''Go away!'' Spike said.

''Please, tell me what do you think of this story?'' Faust asked.

''Really?'' Spike said.

''Go ahead,'' Faust replied.

''I wonder what I'm doing here, I don't like what's going on, and I'm thinking about leaving here with this red-haired asshole!'' Spike said.

''You're joking?'' Faust asked.

''Not at all! I find myself as an idiot in this hole for a story I don't give a fuck! So the idea of leaving here is frankly very tempting!'' Faust looked at him shocked, then she grabbed him by the collar and spoke to him.

''Stop complaining like a child who did not have his cake! Everyone is waiting for you to settle this story, and you spend your time complaining about the weather!'' Spike looked at her shocked, then she calmed herself.

''Forgive me!'' Faust begged.

''I discover something, I did not imagine you like that!'' Spike added.

''I told you to forget that, so stop it!'' Faust ordered.

''If this is the divine anger, it makes me laugh softly!'' Spike mocked.

''Do not talk about what you do not know!'' Faust said while pointing him.

''If madam wants to play the '' goddess almighty '' then allow me to make my little crisis of adolescence! I do not know what's going on, but I'm starting to ask questions about your motives in this story! It seems to me that in recent years you had decided to let us leave all alone, so explain to me what made you suddenly change your mind and tell me once and for all why it's me that you chose to piss off!'' Spike asked.

''First you do not know what I've done all these years, and secondly, I do not see why I would justify myself to you!'' Faust explained while leaving Spike alone.

''I think you have no more argument, and I would tell you to be careful because you start to become an old mule!'' Spike yelled.

''I CAN'T HEAR YOU!'' Faust yelled.

Spike was now alone again when Thunderhooves came to see him. He stared at him for several seconds, much to Spike's misfortune.

''Alright! Stop looking at me like that! I'll take care of him!'' Thunderhooves took Spike by the wrist.

''What?'' Spike asked.

''You have chosen a difficult path little dragon, you will need the support of the spirits!'' Hooves explained.

''I don't want the help of the spirits, I want my right hand back!'' Hooves led Spike to the bottom of the cavern while passing from Faust who ignored him. Hooves created an incantation ring with branches of himself then he sprayed sap on Spike's cheek before throwing a leaf into the circle that started to burn, causing a small explosion.

''BOOM'' Discord appeared before them with a naughty little smile on his face.

''A demon? I wanted a lemon!'' Hooves said.

''Go away, demon! Go back to hell! I'm sorry for bothering you!'' Hooves threw acorns at Discord.

''He's a friend, I'll take care of him!'' Spike said.

''So, why do you need my help?'' Discord asked while rubbing his cheek.

''I'm not sure it's the right time, I'm talking to the redhead. If she finds out you're in, she's going to kill me!''
Spike explained.

''Do not worry about that, she is used to it! she knows I'm never far from her, tell me what's bothering you!'' Discord replied.

''I said to the tree trunk that I was going to take care of the redhead, but I do not know how to handle it!''
Spike said.

''Why this question? You are immortal! You stab him with your sword, then you leave him in the desert, and everyone goes home for dinner!'' Discord replied.

''Can I cut him into tiny pieces?!'' Spike asked with a scary smile on his face.

''YEAH!'' Spike's smile disappeared, and Discord spoke to him.

''I understand, you don't want to get your hands dirty?! You want to solve the problem by making peace with Ragnar!'' Discord said.

''Shut up!'' Spike said.

''It's not by shaking his hand that you're going to avenge the girls of the tree!'' Discord added.

''Shut up!'' Spike repeated.

''You're weak, Spike! You're not like Ragnar, or you're old friend Barristan!'' Discord said while representing Ragnar and Barristan with his fingers.

''I'm going to kill you if you don't shut the fuck up!'' Spike unsheathed his sword, and Discord laughed.

''Ah! If you kill me, I could say hello to the boys from you. At that moment, Spike could no longer control his anger and sadness. He took his crossbow and left the cave without even looking at Faust.

''Where is he going?'' Hooves asked.

''He leaves to fulfil the divine punishment!'' Faust replied while shedding a tear for the lost ones.

The town, midnight,

Two Ragnar guards were watching the street in case of attacks.

''So Biff...How are we going to explain to Ragnar that the body is gone?'' The guard asked his friend.

''I don't know, cliff! But I don't want to fell the bite of his hammer on my hea-Splatz!'' A crossbow bolt pierced biff's skull, stopping their conversation.

''BIFF!'' Cliff turned to see the man who killed his friend, and a dozen of bolt nailed him on the wall, dead.

''Nailed it!'' Spike went inside the building and heard strange noises coming from the floor. He went up the stairs and saw an ajar door. He looked inside and saw Ragnar having fun with the woman from the hotel.

''Is it better than your husband? Captain of my balls!'' Ragnar said while shaking her like a bottle.

''YES!'' She yelled.

''Stay there Lovers, I'll be back in a minute!'' Spike ran out of the building to go to the prison. Inside, the captain was polishing his helmet when suddenly someone knocked on the door.

''I'm coming!'' The captain opened the door and was greeted by Spike's blade, piercing him like a knife into the air.

''Never in the back!'' Spike removed his sword from his stomach, and the captain fell to the ground, dead.

Ragnar was standing in front of the window of his room, contemplating his triumph while holding the skull of a dryad, then the captain's wife spoke to him.

''Stay in bed with me, I want you with me!'' She was lying in his bed with the duvet on her body.

''Sorry, but I have to finish what I started! Tomorrow, all spirits, demons, monsters, wizards will tremble when hearing my name! I will be their reckoning!'' Ragnar smashed the skull of the dryad in his metal.

Clap, clap, clap

Ragnar and the captain's wife turned and saw Spike standing in front of them with his crossbow pointed at them.

''And his last words were poetic!'' Spike says, making fun of Ragnar and his envy.

''Impossible, you're dead! I smashed your skull with my hammer!'' Ragnar said.

''That's right, you killed me! Just like Strongheart,'' Spike took a step toward him. ''Pipsqueak, Rumble, and Button,'' Ragnar took a step back. ''But do not worry, I balanced the balance by killing you servants and the captain! Besides, you should leave because Ragnar and I need to talk, ma'am!'' The captain's wife ran out of the room, and Spike took the opportunity to look at her body one last time.

''What do you want from me?'' Ragnar asked.

''This!'' Spike pulled the trigger of his crossbow, and a bolt pierced Ragnar's right leg.

''SON OF A BITCH!'' Ragnar was lying on the ground, swearing.

''Language!'' Spike pulled the trigger again, and this time, the bolt pierced Ragnar's left leg.

''I'm going to kill you like I've killed your friend's!'' Spike looked at him, then he shot him in the arm.

''ARGH!'' Ragnar yelled like a pig in a slaughterhouse.

''Stand up!'' Spike gave him his war hammer, and Ragnar used it as a crutch.

''Even in this state, I'm still able to kill you!'' Blood was flowing from Ragnar's wounds, painting the ground in red.

''Who are you?'' Spike asked.

''Who I am? Don't take me for a fool, son! I'm the man who created this town! I'm the man who eradicated the Dryads! I'M THE MAN WHO KILLED YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS! I AM RAGNAR THE RED!!!'' Ragnar lifted his hammer in the hope of killing him, but Spike pulled the trigger without holding back. in the end, Ragnar was no more than a human quiver.

''You were!'' Spike retrieved his hammer and left without looking at Ragnar's corpse.

Sanctuary, 10 minutes later.

Spike entered the sanctuary and walked to Hooves who prayed at his daughter's grave. Spike looked at him and handed him Ragnar's hammer.

''Blood for blood, honour above all, I can now die in peace!'' Hooves put the hammer on the floor and prayed one last time. His body started to disapear into particles of light that once fell to the ground, a young tree appeared. Spike was now alone in this sanctuary that was alive again. He left the sanctuary and saw Faust waiting for him in the coach.

''Where do you want to go now?'' Faust asked.

Spike looked at Ragnar's hammer then spoke.

''I think I need a vacation on an island far from here!'' Spike climbed into the stagecoach, and they left with the sun in the back and with Discord watching them with the spirits of their lost friends.

Ending