Author's Note

Sorry, this took longer than I thought, But let's hope it's fun to read I do hope you like it :D

Snakes and Heroes

Ponyville

Castle Friendship

Twilight, Ember, and Rarity had returned to Ponyville and entered Twilight's castle they also informed Applejack and asked her to come and see them. After all, this was something they all needed to talk about.
The silence, while they were sitting at the table, was uncomfortable and lasted way too long. The silence was broken by Rarity.
"So Twilight, Ember could I ask how and when did you see Spikey as a possible mate?" Rarity asked.
Both Ember and Twilight were blushing and rubbing their necks.
Ember decided to start. "I think on my part small part of me saw him as a possible mate after the Gauntlet. Sure he was small and kinda weak for a dragon during that time, but he had the intelligence to match our elders, and thanks to that I got the scepter. During the years I saw him to grow up beating odds that even some of the dragons would be hard-pressed to overcome. But what really draws me towards him is his heart."

Twilight interrupted Ember. "Heart? what do you mean by that?" Twilight asked.
"Well it's really hard to put into right words, but it is the way he cares for all of his friends be it pony, dragon, channeling, or any other. He reminds of me my mom who was a dragon who cared for all other dragons which are rare to see. I'm not proud to say this but dragons aren't really known for caring about each other unless it is you mate or your hatchlings." Ember answered.
Rarity looked Ember with a questionable look. "Reminds? Darling is your mother okay?" she asked.
Ember let out a sigh. "I... I don't really know and neither does my dad. Her name was... Is Essy. All dad told me that she went out in search of food after I hatched, but she never came back. Dad send multiple search parties, but after months of searching without any results, they had to stop. Dad has a special necklace which he got from mom, it has a big heart-shaped amethyst in it. He keeps saying as long this amethyst isn't broken your mom could still return to us."

Twilight was thinking hard. Her interest was picked when Ember mentioned amethyst breaking. "Ember. Can dragons use magic?" Twilight asked as if wanting to confirm her theory.
Ember looked a little hesitant at first but decided to be truthful "Yes we can. Of course, it doesn't come as naturally to other dragons as it comes for Spike thanks for him being a divine dragon." Ember answered.
"Why didn't you tell us this." Twilight asked with a hint of hurt in her voice.
"I wanted to Twilight it is just that council forbid me and others to tell any other species about it. They said it should be a trump card against an enemy that invades us and isn't prepared for magical warfare. I'm sorry for not telling you." Ember finished.

"Sigh... Ember, it's okay I think I can understand your reason on some level. We won't tell this to anyone if that's what you wish for." Twilight said giving a warm smile.
"Thank you Princess Twilight. I shared my story about why I want to pursue Spike it's only fair you share your story." Ember said.
Twilight started to blush. "Well... I don't really know where to begin. Maybe if..."
The door was slammed open revealing worried Applejack.

"Twilight! your message said this was urgent I got here as fast as I could what's the matter?" Applejack said in a fast pace.
Rarity got up and guided Applejack to the table. "Relax darling nothing is wrong. We just need to have a little chat about our relationship with Spike." Rarity told Applejack.
"Uhmm... Isn't this kinda personal you know maybe we should talk alone you and me later." Applejack replied.
Rarity just shook her head. "Darling they know about three of us. And it seems Ember and Twilight would like to join in too." she finished. Applejack looked dumbfound at Twilight and Ember.
"This really isn't what I was thinking what could be waiting for me here." Applejack said and takes a seat.

Canterlot

Council Room

Skychanter, a pony who was always annoying Celestia or Luna was sitting in the Council room on Celestia's throne with a smug grin on him. "So are the votes finalized?" Skychanter asked.
The oldest member of the noble council rose up with a paper in his hand.
"We have finished the votes and the results are 13 favor you on taking the trials while 3 vote no." Old stallion finished.
Skychanter couldn't be any happier. "Wonderful with that vote I'll be able to take these trials and soon ascend to the king of Equestria."
Younger mare got up from her with an angry look on her face. "You can't be serious about this! You know what kind of pony that man is! He is purist and racist of the highest order! Also, he degrades us mare's like we aren't even worth to talk." the mare finished slamming her glass on the table with her magic breaking it.
Skychanter got up anger clear on his face. "Mirage Dust your action is not befitting of someone of your status! the vote has been cast and decided on my favor and soon when I'm your king there will be change to your house's leadership." he finished threatening the mare.

Mirage was about to yell but then the heat of the room started to rise. After a few seconds, the council doors melted while two very angry alicorns entered.
"I should have seen this. Only you would want to pull something like this Skychanter. And how dare you sit on our thrones!" Celesia yelled with a royal Canterlot voice.
"Tsk... Is that any way to speak to your future husband and king? This throne might be yours for now but it will be mine soon. After I complete these trials it's mine and you two will learn your places as my wives." Skychanter said without moving or showing any fear.
"We know thou ways Skychanter. Our sister has told about you and should you manage to rule this country you would throw it into chaos." Luna said while containing her anger.

The old stallion walked in front of the princesses. "Your Majesties please Skychanter is one of the most powerful unicorns in the Equestria. Should he pass the trials your marriage will surely conceive many powerful heirs."
"Unless you have forgotten me and my sister can't conceive." Celestia said.
"Celestia why do you think they agreed to this vote." Skychanter said while summoning a music box that played Celestia's and Luna's private conversation about their curse and the cure, but was missing some important parts.
"How did you get that you fiend that was a private matter and you had no right to record or even hear it." Luna said and started to charge a spell. Spike stopped her from unleashing her spell
"Hold on auntie. Well, then I would like to hear all you talked about during this meeting." Spike said Luna gave her a look that said what are you doing. Celestia leaned towards Luna and whispered
"Spike is giving us a chance to learn what they talked about in return if we could possibly influence some of the members to recast their votes after the explanation"
Luna nodded her head.
Skychanter was seething with anger, Of course, that scaly bastard had to ruin his moment but before he managed to say anything the older stallion spoke before him. "Of course, Prince Spike, your Majesties. Skychanter, get down there to your chair we will explain what happened during the meeting." old stallion said while giving smile to Spike.
annoyed and very angry Skychanter got down and allowed Celestia, Luna, and Spike to sit on their thrones and the old stallion started the explanation of the events of the meeting.

Canterlot

Royal Library

Annoyed Blueblood threw a book into the air. "Argh... this is hopeless. We have gone through multiple books about anything related to this law and had found no loopholes around it." he said looking defeat.
Bluebella just sighed. "It does look bad, but we can't give up Aunties trust us Blueblood"
Bluebella took an old-looking book from the shelf. A small book dropped from inside the larger book.
"What's this?" Bluebella asked. She opened the book.
"It's a diary of the Red Gem." Blueblood got up.
"Wasn't she the princess of some old kingdom and distantly related to us?" Blueblood asked.
"Yes she was, but she is known also for marrying her brother shortly after their father died." Bluebella told. She opened the book and started reading

"Dear diary I'm afraid that father isn't long on this world and will soon ascend to Faust's side. His health is dropping faster than any of our healers thought. I'm afraid, my stepmother managed to enforce the Trials on her son before the required time of me being unmarried and if he completes them I'm forced to marry that monster. My brother has been a rock to lean in and has kept my hopes up." Bluebella turned the page.
"Dear diary father passed away I'm shattered for him leaving us but he left a glimmer of hope for me. He has known long about me and my brother's secret relationship. With the last of his strength, he wrote another section to the law on Trials. Thanks to that my brother can compete with that bastard Shadow Cloud for my hand." Bluebella looked to his brother.
"What section? Does she tell what it says?" Blueblood asked.
"Hold on brother let me continue." Bluebella turned the page.

"Dear diary it has been a while since I wrote to you. My brother managed to also beat the trials and defeated that bastard in the duel that decided who gets my hand. We are currently waiting for our first foal. I don't know what happened to Shadow or his mother they just disappeared after trials. My brother told me that they won't be annoying us anymore but doesn't want to tell anything else. I enchanted my diary to hold a and original copy that my father wrote of the law of challenger in the backside of my diary. A simple reveal spell releases it. I don't trust those nobles when they said they will place it among the other law pages so I gave them a copy maybe I'm just paranoid, but better save than sorry." Bluebella finished reading turned the diary around cast a spell and true to her words there was a piece of paper.
Bluebella read through the paper and looked at his brother.
"We need to take this to aunties fast." Bluebella said and she and her brother started to run towards the council room

Canterlot

Council Room

To say that Celestia was angry would be an understatement. Yes, the reasons were solid, but still, they were made for all the wrong reasons. In all her years of living, she has seen how arranged marriages almost always ended in pain and misery. Some even had sparked major conflicts.

"I know that this isn't ideal situation Princess Celestia, Princess Luna but unicorn as powerful as Skychanter comes one in a generation this he is ideal pony as a husband for you two. Think about the children you can have with him they would be powerful." The old stallion explained.
Celestia sighed. "Thank you, Cloud Spear. I'm sure you all know what kind of pony Skychater is. The reasons for picking him are solid I can see it, but are you sure you want someone like him as your ruler?" She finished asking from the council.

Some of the council members looked away and some even tried to talk, but didn't. The only one to voice her objection was Mirage Dust. Luna looked around the table and was about to explode.
"I could see some of you wanted to voice a different opinion so speak up cowards." Luna yelled. But no one said a word all just kept looking around the room doing their best not to look princesses into the eyes.
Celestia placed her hand on Luna's shoulder. "Luna even we aren't above the law. I know this isn't what I or you wanted, but we must honor it. That doesn't mean we must like it the moment you slip or do something that gives us reason to act against you we will do so." Celestia finished looking at Skychanter with hatred in her eyes.

"Oh you two will learn in time. But for now, let us discuss about my trials." Skychanter said with a smug smile on him.
"Just hold on a moment there." Yelled Bluebella who run inside with her brother. Skychanter rolled her eyes another annoyance. He can indulge it his victory is close he just has to be patient
"You might want to read this Auntie." Bluebella said and gave the old document to her.
Celestia grabbed the document "What's this. Law of Challenger what did you bring me Bluebella" she asked
"It has some nice info you might want to read it aloud and if you think we wrote something up that there is original copy written by King Gold Crown ages ago." Blueblood said. a murmuring could be heard from the council.

Celestia waved her hand to silence everyone in the room. Clearing her voice she began to read. "I King Gold Crown have seen the flaws of trials, but even king like I can't remove the law alone. That doesn't mean I can't adjust it. With me, I have two representatives of the noble council who has approved this new section to the Trials. Love is an important and far greater force in the world than some realize. It gives us the strength to overcome obstacles that would seem impossible to some. The royal who is forced to accept the victor of the trials as his or her husband or wife can demand a chance for his or her lover a chance to prove he or she is worthy to marry him or her. Invoking the Law of challenger, be your love peasant or king, maid or queen from pony to changeling he or she must be accepted as a challenger for your hand. My time is short I hope this reaches my daughter and son in time." Celestia finished and passed it to the noble council. The law was passed around each council member some of them had smiles on their face even those who voted for Skychanter to take the trials.

Once it was given to Skychanter to read he was furious of course he didn't show this. "Well that is nice law, but as we all know you two don't have any lover to name as my challenger so there is little use for this piece of paper." He finished.
Celestia looked at Luna who had a devious smirk on her face then they both looked at Spike giving him a wide smirk which in turn caused Spike to sweat cold sweat.

Celestia and Luna both got up and looked directly towards Skychanter "Oh Skychanter how little you know. On the contrary, we do have a lover, it's been kept a secret for a reason." Celestia finished
"You see the reason it's kept secret it's not that he was sleeping with one princess, but with two of them" Luna continued. Mentioning that this lucky bastard had not only managed to bed one princess but two, made some of the council members whistle while others started coughing.

Skychanter had lost his cool. Who was the bastard that had deflowered her wife's? He needed to know so he could destroy this stallion. "Well if the cat is out the back then maybe you could tell us the name of the stallion." He said grinning his teeth.
Of course, they haven't slept with Spike yet but a chance to make this stallion lose his cool in front of all the nobles was worth it. "Who said anything about him being a pony Skychanter?"
Skychanter's blood started to boil. "You two have betrayed your race?! Have you lost your mind?! Where is this monster so I can deal with him."
"Well he is a monster in the bedroom, but you know him as Spike." Luna said and pointed towards him with Celestia.
"He is our lover and he will be your challenger." Celestia finished.

Skychanter was seeing red. "Then let me see if he is worthy!" He yelled and launched a deadly offensive spell towards him. Time seemed to slow down as the spell passed Celestia and Luna who were terrified of what would happen to Spike. Spike raised his hands to protect his face, but the spell of this magnitude would probably just destroy them too. Skychanter was smiling but then something happened that he didn't anticipate. Golden flames surrounded Spike and in a flash, they disappeared but now he had the same armor he used when fighting shadow version of himself on him that absorbed the energy of the spell.

Spike lowered his hand and noticed he had the armor on him in some mysterious way. he used his hand to see if his hand was still on his shoulders "I'm alive!" he yelled and laughed a little then passed out.
Skychanter was angry and dumbfound at the same time. "That armor where did you steal it you lizard!" He yelled.
Celestia was kneeling on Spike's right side checking that he was okay. "You better hope nothing happened to him Skychanter or I'll see you thrown to Tartarus." Luna threatened.
Skychanter was trying to understand how one of his most powerful offensive spells was just absorbed without any backlash. Quickly he composed himself. "So be it, Princess. You don't have to worry I just tested your pet. If he couldn't deflect that he wouldn't have a chance against me." He finished lying to them. Luna gave him an angry look.

"Council we can't allow this abomination to corrupt our princesses any longer." Skychanter tried to get council to his side in hopes of removing this obstacle.
Mirage Dust got up from her seat "What's the matter scarred of the "inferior lizard" as you call prince Spike in private." She taunted. Before Skychanter managed to answer. Cloud Spear slammed his hand on the table "Enough Skychanter. The law is clear Princesses are allowed to name their own suitor by law older than you or I. Either accept it and rise to the challenge or give up." He said with a threatening tone.
"Princesses please take prince Spike to his bed chambers and return here we have to talk about the trials. After prince Spike has recovered he should join us." Cloud Spear finished giving a warm smile to both princesses.
"Come Lulu let's take our future husband to his bed chambers." Celestia said and lifted Spike with his magic. Luna just nodded and followed out of the room with them.

"What's with that lizard I hit him with Chaos magic he shouldn't be alive after that blast." Skychanter as deep in thought with himself.

Realm of Chaos

Prison of Banished

Back in his prison Exitium was playing chess with a shade. While watching what was happening in Canterlot through a magical viewing window "It seems my High priest has his work cut out for him" he says moving his pawn.
"What do you want from me Exitium. Isn't it enough you got me killed and my name disgraced?" asked the shade. The shade moved a knight and takes Exitium's pawn.
Exitium feigns hurt. "I did that to you? It was your own doing I didn't make you do anything." God answered building a defense around his king.

"If I had know your magic was that corruptive, I would have rather died on that battlefield than accepted your help. I'm sure after what you did my wife and children despised me until my death. And I wasn't even there I was a prisoner in my own body when you hold the reins. All I could do was to watch when you killed my parents to take the throne after you enslaved my subjects and for what?" the shade yelled angrily moving the queen in front of the line taking a bishop from Exitium.
Exitium smiles wickedly "Sometimes you got to make sacrifices" Exitium moves his knight in a position ready to take king on the next move. "check and mate." He says smiling.

"Why am I here?" the shade ask again.
"You have a job back in the mortal plane. You haven't caused enough chaos yet and your bill is due." Exitium says while his face grows dark. Shade tries to escape but with a snap of his fingers, Exitium manifests shackles around the shade binding him to the ground. The shade looks around and tries to free himself without success.
"Tsk... Tsk... When will you learn? You are mine your soul belongs to me and you will return to your body in the mortal realm to once more do my bidding." Exitium says grabbing the shade from its neck.
"I won't let you use me again! I won't" the shade yells trying to get free from God's grip.
"I have to say not many mortals have shown this kind of tenacity. Even in death, you try to defy me." the god mocked.
A female dragon looking like Spike appeared his eyes glowing dark green.

"It's a shame I can't be the one to take you to your body I can't leave here, Well my assistant here will take you where you are needed." Exitium says
"Assistant, really another mind-controlled poor soul like me." Shade yelled.
"Where shall I take him, master?" Dragoness said without any personality in her voice.
"Crystal Empire Graveyard. There is an unmarked tomb where you'll find his body. You know what to do." Exitium explained. Dragoness just nodded took hold of the chains and started to drag the shade with her towards the portal.
"Draco's Champion will stop you!" Shade yelled.
"I highly doubt that Now go." Exitium said and waved them off as they disappeared through the portal
"The Chaos you will bring once your revived and I can use your body again it will be glorious. I hope your subjects still fear you Sombra." Exitium talked to himself while laughing.