Queen Novo, a large light gray fuchsia seapony with long mulberry fins and ruler of the lost hippogriff race, was sitting in her throne room in Seaquestria. With her daughter Princess Skystar, being forced to stay quiet so her mother could do her job. Right now, Novo was getting reports that a Storm King airship was not too far from their old home of Hippogriffia on Mount Aris. "This is very concerning, call all the guards to prepare for battle, we have no idea what the Storm King is going to do." Ordered the queen. The leader of the patrol squad bowed and swam off to relay the orders. Queen Novo looked to her daughter. "Skystar, listen, I need you to go to the seafloor and blend into the shelter parties."

Skystar, a light gamboge gray seapony with aqua fins, looked at her mother. "Mom, what about you?"

Novo sighed as she wrapped her daughter into a hug. "Don't worry about me Sweetie, I'll be fine, all that matters is that you are safe."

Skystar nodded as she returned the hug. "Can Shelly and Sheldon come?" Asked the princess.

Queen Novo giggled as she moved one of her daughters' fins out of her face. "What, you know me and Shelly don't see eye to eye anymore, and Sheldon wouldn't leave Shelly or you." Novo smiled at her daughter. "Skystar, whatever happens please be safe."

Skystar started to cry as she hugged her mother tighter. "Please be safe mom."

Novo smiled. "Don't worry baby, I'm sure that nothing will happen." Skystar nodded as she swam off to grab her pet clams. "I hope I'm not lying."

After Skystar was evacuated and joined the citizens on the seafloor, Queen Novo was getting ready to 'greet' her guest. "Your Highness, the airship has stopped and there is a pair dropping off it. We estimate that they will arrive in a matter of minutes, what are your orders?" Asked a guard.

Novo sighed. "Is the Storm King with them?"

The guard shook his head. "No, it is a Storm King air ship, but the emblem is different. We believe that it was captured, and so far, they show no signs of hostility. What do we do?"

Queen Novo was unsure herself, were they here to lend aid, were they here to kill them all, truly she was at a loss for answers. "Um... For now, if they do not start anything, have them escorted here, but be ready just in case."

The guard nodded as he swam off to retrieve the guests.

On the surface, Tempest was pacing around while Spike was focused on Tempest's flanks. "Tempest, I love the view, but if you don't stop, you're going to pace a hole into the mountain." Said Spike.

Tempest glared at Spike. "Spike, get your mind out of the gutter for now, why haven't we set our forces on them yet?"

Spike chuckled. "Tempest, the hippogriffs have been shut off from the surface for a long time, ever since the Storm King tried to take the pearl the first time. So, relax, if they knew who I was, they would've been running for the hills by now...or would it be trenches... are there hills under the sea or are they just drop offs?" Spike shrugged. "Underwater geography aside, there is a very slim chance that they will decide to attack me, so calm down." Tempest took a deep breath and Spike smiled. "See, now you look less suspicious." Said Spike with a toothy grin.

Tempest sighed. "So, what’s the plan?"

Spike shrugged. "Turn on the old Spike charm."

Tempest rolled her eyes. "So, get ready for a fight, got it."

Spike groaned. "Why you gotta be like that Tempest, I am your boss."

Tempest sauntered over to Spike and took a seat in his lap. "Last time I checked, this was an equal partnership thing, I help you, and you help me."

Spike got closer to Tempest. "So, is that why you wanted me to spank you last night?"

Tempest didn't react, this was a 2 way street now. "Oh, what about the time you wanted to do it in the helm, because I'm pretty sure your ego got a big boost when some of the troops walked by."

Spike growled as he wrapped his arms around Tempest's waist. "Oh, how about that time you wanted me to..." Suddenly there was the sound of something coming to the surface. "Later in my room, no need to dress up." Said Spike in a whisper, he moved the mare off of him and walked over to the water.

Soon a sapphire blue seapony looked at the odd pair. "Greetings, I am general Sky Beak of Queen Novo's guard, before we allow you passage to Seaquestria, please state your intent."

Spike smiled at the seapony and sat down on the bank. "Well, my name is Spike Drake, my companion is named Tempest, and we're here to inform some very important creatures that the Storm King is no more."

Sky Beak looked at Spike. "Surely you're joking?"

Spike chuckled. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I was. But aside from the ship, all its resources, and the fact that I saw him die, my word is not worth much."

Sky Beak looked at Spike for a second. "Give me a moment, the Queen needs to be informed, she will no doubt come to personally greet you, so please be patient?"

Spike smiled at the seapony. "Well, I got nothing but time to kill, so..." Said Spike as he leaned back and stuck his feet into the water. "But just so you know, if there's going to be a feast, I'd rather meat, but fish is cool." Sky Beak nodded as he swam down. Spike looked at Tempest, and she was frowning at him. "I'm not sure how I should crack a joke, because to me you're smiling. Come on Tempest, a good meal never killed anyone.... Well mostly, I'm pretty sure I read a few books where ponies died during dinner." Spike then gave a pat to the space next to him. "Come on, take a load off, the water is actually very nice on my scales." Said Spike as he relaxed.

Tempest sighed as she joined Spike and stuck her hooves in the water. "Sorry, it's just being with the Storm King for so long, I'm trying to come to terms with your style."

Spike smiled as he looked at the clear blue sky. "Don't worry Tempest. I didn't just turn into the dragon I am today in a day; it actually took me around 2 months."

"Really and here I thought that Spike Drake was hatched as a demon." Tempest then laughed. "But it's strange, I've been with Storm King for over 15 years, and now that he's gone, I kinda miss him."

Spike sighed as he looked at Tempest. "I miss Twilight sometimes, but I really miss my brother and sister in law the most, oh that and guys night with Discord and Mac. But what happened happened, so here we are, I got you, Grubber, and the army, the ship, and after this I'll take my place as Dragon Lord."

Tempest giggled. "I still don't see why you would give something like that up, even Storm King wasn't willing to take on the dragons."

Spike shrugged. "I was younger, dumber, and I trusted Ember to do it better than me." Spike laughed. "I do wonder how she is doing now?"

A blue dragoness was sitting in a pool of lava in her cave, when she suddenly sneezed. "What the hell, I'm in a pool of lava, I can't be getting a cold?"

Soon a guard walked into the room. "Dragon Lord, the pony princess has arrived."

Ember sighed as she pulled herself out of the lava. "Which one is it this time?"

"The pink one." Said the guard.

Ember groaned. "That doesn't help."

Spike shrugged. "I'm sure she's fine."

Soon Sky Beak returned with Queen Novo right behind him. "Greetings, I am Queen Novo, ruler of Seaquestria, my general has informed me about your claims, and I wish to judge it for myself."

Spike pulled himself up to his feet and bowed at the queen. "Of course, my name is Spike Drake, and this lovely mare is Tempest, and as for the claims, all I have as proof is the flag airship of the Storm King's empire, and my word, but if you send a scout or something about 60 miles to the east, and check around there, you should see his body."

Tempest hummed. "Well more like 65 but we caught a tail wind here, so check 60 to 70 miles to make sure."

Queen Novo looked at both faces, there was no hint of a lie. "So, it is true, our greatest fear is gone." She then smiled. "Please get into the water for a moment and touch this pearl."

Tempest looked at the pearl, it was the greatest treasure of the hippogriff's, and had ancient magic. Spike smiled as he tossed Tempest into the water, letting her mane cover her eyes. She spat out some water like a fountain and then glared at Spike. "I hate you."

Spike laughed as he walked into the water and swam over to the queen, Tempest doing the same. Both placed their hands on the pearl and soon the magic of the item was changing their bodies.

Tempest lost her legs and they were now a maroon tail with a light blue fin, and her main changed to a fin, but stayed the same color. But Spike, he was a puffer fish. Tempest was holding her laughter back, but the snickering from her was really pissing Spike off. "Not one word." Said Spike. Tempest snickered as she zipped her lips. "Queen Novo, is there some trick to it? I understand that Hippogriffs change into seaponies, but how did a pony change into a seapony as well, and leave a dragon like me as a puffer fish?"

Queen Novo smiled. "Sir Spike, the pearl reacts to mental states, so think of what you wish to look like and if it is acceptable enough, the pearl will change your form." Spike nodded as he swam close to the pearl and his body changed again. Soon Spike's tail was back, but it split off at the last quarter, next his arms grew back, and his mouth was back to normal, but instead of his back spikes, they were replaced with a large green dorsal fin. Spike was now a dragon shark creature.

Spike looked at his new form. 'Yeah, that's better, and much more me.' Thought Spike as he swam around. Sky Beak and Queen Novo were a little worried, they had never seen a creature turn into a shark hybrid, but then again, they have never let a dragon try. "Ahem... well I think that form is more to your liking." Said Queen Novo.

Spike nodded as he started circling the group of seaponies. "Very." Said Spike with a toothy grin.

Sea Beak gulped, but Tempest sighed as she used her new tail to slap Spike in the face. "Stop that you idiot."

Spike laughed as he stopped circling the group. "Sorry."

Queen Novo sighed in relief. "Well, no harm done. Come, let us go announce to the citizens that we can finally return to the surface." With that the group swam off to the palace.

When Queen Novo ended the shelter order, everyone including Skystar swam out and started looking for their family, thankfully she was being followed by her cousin and aunt. All 3 swam to the palace and headed for the throne room to find the queen.

Skystar swam into the throne room frantically looking for her mother. "Mom?" Yelled Skystar.

Queen Novo, swam off her throne, and smiled at her daughter. "Skystar." Said Novo as she pulled Skystar into a hug. "Thank goodness you're safe."

Skystar smiled as she hugged her mother. "Aunt Flow and Silverstream found me in the shelter and all 5 of us had fun."

Novo smiled at hearing that her sister and niece helped Skystar. "Great, where are they?" Asked the queen.

Skystar looked behind her and she was confused. "They should be right there?"

Soon an olive seapony mare tiredly swam into the room, and a pair of clams were in her hands. "Skystar, sweetie, you need to slow down." Said the mare.

Sky Beak swam over to his wife. "Ocean Flow, where's Silverstream?" Asked the general.

Ocean Flow looked at her husband. "She ran out of stamina down the hall, but aside from that, she's fine."

Sky Beak helped his wife to the wall and sat her against it. "I'll go grab her."

Ocean Flow looked at her niece and sister. "Hey Novo."

Novo giggled as she swam over to her sister. "Flow, thank you so much for taking care of Skystar." Novo pulled her sister into a hug.

Ocean Flow laughed. "No problem Sis, but please don't ask me to do it again, she out swam me."

Novo laughed, but then she remembered her guests, she turned to Spike and Tempest. "Oh, where are my manners, Sir Spike, Lady Tempest, this is my sister, Ocean Flow, she's Sky's wife."

Spike swam over to the mare and smiled. "Sky Beak is a lucky guy to have such a beautiful wife." Said Spike as he turned on the Spike charm. "It's an honor, my name is Spike Drake, I am a dragon."

Tempest followed Spike's lead. "And I'm Tempest, but normally I am a unicorn."

Ocean Flow smiled at the pair. "Sorry about interrupting, and not getting up."

Spike laughed and shook his head. "Don't worry one bit."

Ocean Flow nodded at Spike's kindness. Sky Beak swam back into the room, a pale magenta seapony with a pale blue head fin was in his arms. Sky placed the new seapony next to her mother. "Hi Aunt Novo." Said the pony exhausted.

Novo smiled at her niece. "Hello Silverstream, I'm guessing that you were following Skystar?"

Silverstream nodded, Ocean Flow then introduced Spike and Tempest to her daughter. "Silverstream, this is Spike Drake, and his companion, Tempest."

Silverstream smiled at the pair. "Hi, it's nice to meet you both."

Spike smiled. "The same to you."

Queen Novo smiled at seeing the whole of the royal family was here. "Ok, now I wanted to inform everyone here first about what has happened." She looked to Ocean Flow. "Sister, the Storm King is gone."

Ocean Flow started to laugh. "Yes, that's why we came out of the shelters."

Queen Novo shook her head. "No Ocean, he's gone."

Ocean looked at her sister like she had 2 heads. "Novo, did you hit your head?"

Queen Novo groaned. "Ocean Flow, THE STORM KING IS NO MORE!"

Spike sighed as he walked over to the sisters. "Ocean Flow, I witnessed his demise, the Storm King is no more."

Ocean flow looked at Spike in shock. "But...He's...Then we?" Asked Ocean Flow with hope.

Spike smiled. "Yep, but that's not up to me." Said Spike, but he added something in his mind. 'Yet.' Thought Spike.

After Queen Novo informed everyone that the Storm King was really gone, she ordered for a feast to be held, with Spike and Tempest as the guests of honor. But as the night was ending, it was time for Spike's plan to commence.

Spike and Tempest were being escorted back to the surface by Queen Novo and Princess Skystar. "So, Spike, where are you planning on heading now?" Asked Skystar.

Spike shrugged. "Nowhere in particular, but maybe I'll head home for a little while, maybe go see my friends."

Novo smiled at hearing that. "Well, if you ever wish to return to Seaquestria, you are free to just drop by."

Spike smirked. "Well I'm glad to hear that." Spike and Tempest smirked. "But Queen Novo, I have to admit our reason for coming here was not only to inform you about the Storm King."

Queen Novo and Princess Skystar were confused. "Really, then what was your goal here?" Asked the princess.

Spike smirked. "To get a message to a group of ponies." Spike looked to see that they were only a foot from the surface. "Tempest, grab the pearl." Tempest grabbed the ancient pearl and used its magic to change her form back. While Spike grabbed Skystar. "Queen Novo, we have no interest in hurting either you or Skystar, that is true. But that is why we are going to be giving you one task, in exchange for her safe return."

Queen Novo growled as she tried to get closer to Skystar, but she was stopped when Spike brought his sharp jaws close to Skystar's neck. "Na, ah, ah, Novo, I just want you to listen." Said Spike.

Queen Novo sighed; the life of her daughter was important. "What do you want?"

"First, let’s get to the surface and change." Said Spike, with that Spike, Novo, and Skystar all surfaced and found Tempest waiting for them at the bank. Spike swam up to the pearl as Tempest lowered it to let him touch it, and soon Spike's form was back to his normal scales, tail, and spikes. He then forced Skystar to change into her Hippogriff form. Now her fins were a mane and her scales were now a coat, with a pair of feathery wings on her back and a pair of hooves on her lower half. Spike and Skystar got out of the sea and stood next to Tempest. "Good, now your highness, it’s your turn."

Queen Novo swam up to the pearl and changed into a hippogriff, she walked onto the land and waited for her next instruction. "What now?"

Spike smiled at the Queen. "Head to the east and go to Canterlot, you should be granted an audience with Celestia or at the very least Luna, depending on the time. Just tell them what happened, and boom, Skystar goes free, simple, easy, and just to top it all off, tell them that I was bored." Spike then gave a crazy smile.

Queen Novo was confused. "Wait, why would I go there, you're a dragon, why would I not go see the Dragon Lord?"

Spike sighed. "Well, because I was hatched in Canterlot, but mostly because I'm going to be the Dragon Lord in less than a week. Now go." Said Spike.

Novo gulped as she started flying to the east, and the group watched as the queen left. Spike looked down at Skystar who was still in his arms. "Give her a 10 minute head start and then you can go back home." Spike released Skystar and sighed.

Skystar looked at Spike confused. "Ok, what is happening, you seemed so nice, then you kidnap me, hold me hostage and the moment my mother leaves to meet your demands, you let me go?"

Spike nodded. "Yep, pretty much." Said Spike as he shrugged. "Tempest, why don't you go up to the ship and get ready for bed, and leave the pearl." Tempest shrugged as she placed down the pearl and walked over to a pair of ropes that were hanging from the airship.

"Grubber, pull me up." Yelled Tempest.

"Yes Ma'am." Said a voice from the ship. Tempest grabbed the rope and was lifted into the ship.

Spike looked at Skystar. "Sorry about this, but I needed to show the world that I'm not to be taken lightly, and taking out a guy like the Storm King, then getting the queen of a race like the Hippogriffs to give a royal account on my behalf will pretty much guarantee that word of what I did will spread."

"But why do it in the first place?" Asked the princess.

Spike laughed. "No real reason, but taking Storm King out pretty much created a power vacuum that I intend to fill."

Skystar shook her head. "No, why are you like this?"

Spike shrugged. "Again, no real reason, I mean, I had plenty of opportunities to do something else, but I never got the respect that I worked hard for, and I've seen a couple of power hungry nut cases fall. But I learned from them, and I decided that I could do better than them. Discord was unfocused, Chrysalis was too focused, Sombra was nuts and tyrannical, Tirek was power hungry, and the Storm King was just a con man that just wanted to see himself everywhere."

"What makes you different?" Asked Skystar.

Spike smirked. "I give those idiots the means to try and live that dream." Spike then shot a green flame on his hand and once the flame was gone, in his hand sat a little business card. "Here's my card."

Vile villains in need, call Spike Drake: Villain extraordinaire and conquer the world with ease.

Skystar looked at the card. "So, you sell your services to villains that want to take over the world?"

Spike laughed. "No, my dear, there is no way one creature could rule the world, it's a fact, they would always be overthrown, defeated, or fail in the process. All I do is just speed that process up, then I pick up the pieces. Give a warlord some troops from my forces, they win whatever they need, and then go crazy and think they don't need me again, they die in a week. Mad scientist wants to create a loyal super creature, I give them the funds to do so, and then they get killed by their creation, then I take everything and make some cool inventions, and a guy like Storm King whose empire stretched far and wide, has created a lot of territories that want to take control, I don't care about them, so I offer my help and make some money in the process. Don't you see, no matter what, there will always be someone who wants revenge, more power, or just wants someone else gone, sure there are heroes that save the day, but a hero isn't always around." Spike got up and used his tail to roll the pearl over to Skystar. "Well, it’s late, and I bet the moment Celestia or Luna get word of me being here, they will waste no time in trying to capture me."

Skystar took the pearl but she didn't move. "Why would they care?"

Spike smiled as he walked to his rope. "I took half of Manehattan." Spike then looked up. "Grubber, pull me up." Soon Spike was getting lifted into the ship, and once Spike was inside, the hatch closed, and the ship started moving away from the island.

Skystar watched as the ship left the island, and she wasn't sure what to make of Spike Drake.

8 hours later, Queen Novo arrived in Canterlot right as the sun was rising, she landed right in front of the large castle built on the side of the mountain. "Halt, the castle has not been opened for the day." Said a solar guard as the pair that was tasked with guarding the front both pointed their spears at Novo.

"Please, I must talk to Celestia at once, Spike Drake has my daughter!" Yelled Novo as she collapsed.

Author's Note

So, next chapter will see small snip its of how Spike became who he is now. But it's not much, other than some reports, so don't be mad.