Revenge of the Shadow Pony

Back in the castle, Spike was sitting alone in his throne room. Sitting up to relax, he took off his crown and looked at it. Just then, he heard a noise. Spike put his crown down and looked around to check for the noise. Slightly turning left, it appeared to be none other than the mangled corpse of Bon Bon.

“Well, you finally did it.” Bon Bon said in a snide tone.

Spike was spooked by her appearance, but then Lyra’s corpse appears.

“Equestria is now in your claws. Bravo for you.” Lyra said with a sarcasm-filled voice.

“Why? Why did you do it…?” Sweetie Belle tearfully asked.

“Why should he have to answer? We all know what he did it for. It’s in his nature, after all.” a mangled Fancy Pants said in a snooty tone.

“Especially for a dragon. You think Equestria revolves around you?! A greedy, incurable monster such as yourself doesn’t deserve the throne!” Octavia shouted.

Pretty soon, all the mangled corpses from the Crystal Empire appeared in the throne room.

“Celestia should have left you in the badlands, you avaricious tyrant!” Big Mac shouted.

“Equestria would have been better off without you!” Scootaloo shouted.

“N-No! Shut up!” Spike shouted as he felt his head hurt.

“YOU KNOW WE’RE RIGHT!!! YOU DID THIS TO US!!!” Sky shouted.

“WHEN THE ROYAL SISTERS FIND YOU, THEY’RE GONNA MAKE A SUIT OUT OF YOU!!!” one pony shouted.

“YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT’S COMING TO YOU!!!” another pony shouted.

Every single kept shouting and all Spike could do is hold onto his head to block all the voices out. He shut his eyes and tried to regain his senses before he felt something grab his arms.

“Spike!” a voice shouted.

He ignored the voice and kept his eyes shut.

“Spike! SPIKE!!!” the voice shouted once more.

Finally giving in, Spike looked up and saw that it was none other than Ember. Recognizing her, he launched out of his seat and hugged her as tight as he could, not giving her a chance to breathe. After a few minutes, Spike let Ember go and looked at her.

“How many days have passed since we took back Equestria?” Spike asked as he looked at Ember while holding her.

“It’s been five days, Spike. It’s been five days since the day we destroyed the Crystal Empire. Is something the matter?” Ember asked, feeling concerned for his state of mind.

“Well, there is something that’s bothering me.” Spike said, looking outside the window.

“And what is it?” Ember asked, watching Spike go to the mirror.

“There is some form of presence around Equestria. I can feel it. Recently, there have been sightings of three alicorns in the sky, one specifically burning most of the cities.” Spike said as he looked outside the window.

“Clearly, it’s not one of our dragons or griffins.” Ember said.

“Indeed. Which is why I am going to find out who this is. Although I may have a clear idea of who it could be…” Spike said as he proceeded to leave the throne room.

“Spike…?” Ember asked as she watched Spike leave.

Walking outside the throne room, Spike walked through the hallways to the elevator where the prison area leads. On his way down, the Creature popped out and wrapped itself around Spike’s arm.

“Keeping secrets, are we?” the Creature asked.

“She knows something. If the rumors are true, the Royal Sisters could ruin everything we worked so hard to build. That is something I will not allow to slide.” Spike said while the elevator continued downwards.

After the elevator made it towards the bottom level, the door opened and Spike walked down the halls. Each guard bowed as he passed and every prisoner that was rounded up kept silent when they noticed his presence. Approaching the end of the corridor, Spike ordered,

“Open the door.”

Doing as he commanded, the guards opened the door. Spike entered the prison room and all that inhabited the room was Princess Cadance, completely chained up and muzzled. Her horn was broken, her wings were ripped off, and her mane and tail were completely shaven. She appeared as if she were dead and she was nearly close to being anorexic. She looked up at Spike there was nothing left but emptiness in her eyes.

“What do you want…?” Cadance asked in a cold, angry tone.

“You know something. Where are the alicorns?” Spike hissed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Cadance said in a now aloof tone.

“Of course you do, alicorn. Now where are the others?” the Creature growled.

“You already destroyed my home and imprisoned my husband. What more could you possibly want, you monster?” Cadance said as she turned her head away.

“Just because you lost your horn doesn’t mean you have lost your senses as an alicorn. Just like how you know your daughter is safe from the grasp of my claws, you can sense that there are still more survivors. Survivors I can easily rip apart. But I am willing to cooperate if you tell me where the alicorns are. Specifically, your sister… Twilight Sparkle.” Spike asked as he bared his teeth.

“She is not my sister. And whatever you may have in store for any alicorns, you will not find Flurry Heart. So long as she’s safe from your claws or Twilight’s magic, I don’t care what you do to me.” Cadance said in a defiant tone.

“I know you don’t care what happens to yourself. But what I find surprising is that you don’t regard Twilight as your sister anymore. What brought about this change?” Spike asked, feeling curious about Cadance’s regard towards Twilight.

“Even if I tell you my story, nothing will change what you have done to us and the pain you have caused my family. But if you wish to hear my tale, so be it.” Cadance said in her venomous tone.

“I’m listening…” Spike said as he took a seat.

Deciding to humor her, Spike patiently listened to Cadance’s story about what happened to Twilight and what she has been doing back at the Crystal Empire. Taking in even the tiniest of details, Spike heard about what went behind the scenes in the throne room as Cadance finally got around to explaining what happened between her and Twilight. When she was finished telling her story, Cadance snidely asked,

“Did my tale of woe satisfy you, my king?”

“I am not surprised that Twilight would try to pull something behind her friends and everypony else. But I have to admit that I am surprised you would throw your own sister into the dungeon until further notice. Isn’t it ironic that the Princess of Friendship drove away her friends while trying to drive her own agenda? How utterly rich!” Spike laughed as he scratched the wall.

“My story may be a comedy to you, but everything you have done up to now is a tragedy. You will pay for your crimes. It is just a matter of when.” Cadance said while looking at the dragon.

“When I invaded the Crystal Empire, I never held anything personal against you. But when I find Flurry Heart, I will make her screams my symphony. And I will enjoy every moment of it.” Spike hissed in a chilling tone.

“OVER MY DEAD BODY!!!!” Cadance shouted, immediately launching off the ground.

“Your Highness!” a guard shouted as he opened the door.

“What?” Spike asked as he turned around.

“We have found recent sightings of the alicorns! They have been found wreaking havoc in Manehattan and they will be coming here soon!” the guard reported.

Hearing this, Spike shouted,

“Assemble the best troops that you have! Tell them to set up the barriers and double the patrols! There will be another war soon…”

“As you wish!” the guard shouted before bowing and leaving.

Before Spike could leave the dungeon, he turned to Cadance and said,

“Whatever plans that your friends have in store, they will burn before they find you. I can promise that their deaths will be legendary among your fellow ponies.” Spike said as he took one last look at Cadance before leaving her prison cell.

“You will lose. You just don’t know it yet.” Cadance said before turning away from Spike and coughing in the process.

Ignoring her, Spike walked back to the elevator. But before he went back up to the upper levels, he said,

“Get my armor ready. I will be meeting them very soon.”

“Yes, my liege!” the guard shouted before leaving.

Making his way back up, Spike walked through the castle hallways all the way to his room. Making it inside, Spike approached the wardrobe guarded by a pair of dragons and opened it, containing the armor he spoke of. It was adorned with spikes and horns, it had golden trimmings across, and the chestplate had the serpent’s head imprinted on it.

“I will enjoy feasting on their bones…” Spike said as he gazed at his armor in awe.