Revenge of the Shadow Pony

An hour later after making it back to the castle, the entire hallway was filled with blood and claw marks everywhere. Inside his bedroom were the various amounts of guards that were supposed to protect Ember. Their corpses were splattered all over the room and most, if not all, were ripped and chewed apart by Spike. And sitting on the bed was none other than the dragon himself. He was completely soaked in blood with his eyes stained by the tears from the loss of Ember and everybody close to him. And all he could do is look at his blood-drenched claws as an excessive amount of guilt corrode his conscience.

“My liege…?” a voice asked as she knocked on the closed door.

“Yes?” Spike asked, trying to hold back his sadness.

“May I come in?” the voice asked.

“You may…” Spike asked, no longer feeling anger.

The creature entered the bedroom and it turned out to be nothing more than a female griffin. She cautiously walked closer to Spike and kneeled before him.

“Is there something you need?” Spike asked, standing up.

“The funeral’s all ready. Your subjects are waiting.” the griffin said, carefully speaking her words.

“I will be there shortly. I was just getting ready…” Spike said, feeling his sorrow beginning to take over.

“I will let them know. Do I have permission to leave?” the griffin asked, feeling nervous from the atmosphere inside the bedroom.

“I only have one question.” Spike said, stopping the griffin’s heart.

“Y-Yes, Your Highness…?” the griffin nervously asked.

“What is your name?” Spike asked, wanting to know her.

“G-Gabby, Your Excellency.” the female griffin answered with a stutter.

“Gabby… I am sorry for my rude tone. I am just feeling a little lonely…” Spike said as he turned towards the balcony.

“My apologies and my condolences, Your Highness. She would have made a fine queen for your kingdom.” Gabby said, trying to comfort the hurting dragon in some way.

“She was everything I ever wished for. Love, pride, compassion… She was everything that gave me purpose! But those filthy alicorns… they weren’t just satisfied with trying to kill me! THEY DECIDED TO STRIP ME OF MY BELOVED EMBER!!!” Spike tearfully roared with flames shooting out of his mouth.

Gabby hit the ground and covered her head to avoid getting caught by the incineration. After he was finished exploding, Spike sat back down and took a deep breath while Gabby got back into a kneeling position.

“Tell the others that I will be down shortly. I just need to get ready.” Spike said, covering his eyes in shame.

“Your wish is my command, my king.” Gabby said before quickly leaving the bedroom.

After watching her leave, Spike turned around to the bed and saw Ember’s tiara near the pillow. Spike reached over and grabbed the tiara before looking at it. He turned it over various times while trying to piece together everything that has happened to him in his life. He recounted all the times he has helped Twilight and her friends, all the times he was mistreated and mocked, and all the other times where amounted to nothing. Just as he started delving more into his mistakes, he heard various amounts of talking outside the castle. Hearing everybody get impatient outside, Spike stood up and opened his wardrobe and started getting his robes donned. After he finished getting dressed, Spike exited his bedroom and proceeded towards town square.

***

In the town square, everybody was gathered outside and they were conversing with one another. They were going over everything that has happened to them in their fight against the undead ponies and learning what has happened to both Ember and Tirek. But as they kept talking, they turned around and saw Spike approach the stage. The creatures respectfully bowed before him. Spike solemnly raised his right arm and the creatures raised their heads. There was nothing but silence as Spike walked towards the right side of the stage. It was a deathbed with Ember on it and Spike couldn’t stomach the sight of seeing her on it. Tears streamed down his eyes as he gazed down at Ember’s face. Silently crying, he slowly bent over and kissed her forehead as he caressed her face before pulling away.

Then he turned his attention towards Tirek’s body. His head was stitched back onto his body and his face was covered by a small blanket. Spike couldn’t say a word about how he felt towards his death, but he felt the same way as he did for Ember. No longer feeling himself able to look at his corpse, Spike turned away and went to the center of the stage.

“Burn their bodies.” Spike ordered without facing the doctors.

But just as the cremation ceremony was about to begin, a blast from the sky suddenly hit the town square like a meteorite. Almost everybody was caught in the blast. There was nothing but dust and debris surrounding the area as Spike’s vision was discombobulated by the chaos surrounding him. He rubbed his eyes so that he could see better, but he couldn’t make out what was happening. However, he could make out the silhouette in his line of sight.

“You…” Spike growled as he got off the ground.

After the dust cleared and Spike’s vision returned to normal, he looked forward and it turned out to be none other than Midnight Sparkle.

“Was I invited here? Because I didn’t receive any invitation regarding your significant other…” Midnight venomously taunted.

“It just wasn’t enough for you…” Spike snarled.

"What wasn't enough for me~…?" Midnight asked, pretending to be clueless.

"Everything I did for you… all the times that I helped you… all the moments that I defended you!!!" Spike shouted.

"So what~? One of us had to pull our weight around here~. Besides, you were an orphan dragon~. You had nothing to lose~. Yet you always had to behave like a pathetic little newt when you don't get your way. Always acting like a hero. And you never had anything to show for it!!!" Midnight yelled.

"All I ever wanted was to be like you. I just wanted to be a hero. A true hero. But everywhere I go, all I hear about is you and your stupid friends. Always taking the credit, always one-upping me, and always humiliating me!!!" Spike roared.

"Then it appears we have reached an agreement. Let us see who truly deserved it, my number-one assistant." Twilight sneered, flying up into the air and brandishing her scythe.

"You will see…" Spike said before forming a blade with his right arm.

The two charged at each other with nothing held back. They have had it with one another and they grew tired of each other's existence. Nothing could ever be said after all the events that transpired between them. Now that Midnight has interfered in the funeral, Spike felt nothing more than unbridled anger and hate towards his former friend and decides to rush in to the battle, ready to end the war and her existence, once and for all.