Spike's New Adventure

What felt like an eternity since raising the Legacy of the Peacekeeper from the gravel, Spike exhaled with much on his mind; he turned to see Empress Storm, Grubber, Tempest, Ripper, and many Storm Nation soldiers and citizens bowing before their new god. The color of the weapon changes, and the rod becomes amethyst like his dragon scales while Spike imagines the scepter having different openings for the blades to come out on all different angles; he twists the middle where two emerald-green edge-like scythes emerge from the north, and south positions on the rod.

Spike chuckles and twirls his sacred relic; he twists the middle rod to return the scythe blades to the weapon and uses it as a gavel to alert everyone to cease their bowing motion. Empress Storm, Tempest, Grubber, Ripper, and everyone rise to accept any command their new god would declare, for they know war would be imminent for those refusing his dominion.

Spike tells everyone about the Valkyrie Sisters being human-like entities with angelic wingspans, not animals or creatures relating to Equus' kingdoms, and how some are nice, as others didn't believe he would become the god Equus needs.

"Whatever you need, we will provide, Peacekeeper Spike," Empress Storm shows respect to the young dragon god in training, considering he's on the verge of receiving tons of attention when those omnipotent can sense a divine power ascending.

Spike takes a deep breath and believes Discord would sense a disturbance while unable to detect the actual wielder; if Discord were to discover Spike's new identity, he'd chat with him privately about keeping silent or facing severe punishment. Spike understands the world of harmony and needs more experience to endure the world of disharmony, which he knows one creature who'll establish his reign swifter than any other creature. With Empress Storm offering anything to help his cause, Spike accepts the proposal with a wicked smile.

"I need another blimp to deliver me to the borders of the Crystal Empire -" Spike concentrates on the one creature not ultimately obliterated by the magic of friendship and creates a trail using the lights for navigation. "to gather a component to become my new rival."

"Tempy, take my carrier and follow the light trail with Peacekeeper Spike!" Empress Storm wants to earn Spike's trust by following his commands to demonstrate her support for the god's wishes.

Although Tempest still hates the nickname in front of the masses, she understands the task at hand, grabs Spike, and gallops to the airport of the Storm Nation's military base. Grubber and several soldiers follow in pursuit of their god to accompany him during the travel.

The cruiser is faster than the blimps Spike, Tempest, Grubber, and the soldiers rode on; it's lighter, with two twin thrusters for acceleration. Tempest knows how to drive it but needs the navigational systems active to follow the light trail; however, it's inactive until Spike uses the staff to tap the system, reenergizing it.

"How did you -" Tempest's question gets interrupted by Spike waving his weapon as the primary answer.

"My weapon is alive, and I have the power of restoration, resurrection, creation, purification, healing, and much more. I think it and the ability would be active without any side effects. Being the God of Balance means everything will be available to me, even in thought. Three Valkyries grant me the basics of using the power, and I'm learning more as I progress," Spike chuckles in delight with more uses to help anyone on both sides for equilibrium. "With that said -" Spike places his left claw on Tempest's broken horn scar, concentrating on the restoration and healing aspect of his divine powers. "you got robbed when the Storm King lied of restoring your horn, so I shall!" A bright, shimmering, sparkling, radiant, purple light emerges from Spike's claw, blinding everyone momentarily. Tempest feels something celestial happening within her body, and she hears small clicking sounds; when the light fades, she opens her eyes and smiles widely. "For being an extraordinary teacher, training me hard and diligently for the hero I will become, you deserve happiness, and as your friend, I welcome you to become my first Enforcer. A Peacekeeper will need an army, so my army will be known as the Enforcers!" Spike uses his weapon as a gavel to make his declaration a commandment.

Tempest touches and feels her newly established horn while feeling immensely powerful due to Spike's divinity; she thought she'd spend the rest of her days with a broken horn. With the new title of an Enforcer, Tempest will not fail Peacekeeper Spike and oblige to his commands without question unless Spike allows Enforcers to speak their minds to help devise new strategies.

"He did what the Storm King wouldn't do..," Grubber and the soldiers got paralyzed with astonishment after witnessing the divine power Spike used to restore Tempest's horn.

Spike turns to Grubber and the Storm Nation's soldiers and thinks of adding nations and anyone who believes in the truth about Equus' origins to become his Enforcers. "Grubber, friends -" Spike smiles at them. "since Tempest became the first, you and the Storm Nation shall become my Enforcers. The duties of the Enforcers will help maintain balance since I can't be everywhere at once, so it'll be your responsibility to stir some trouble, scour to harmonic places, and cause disruption. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends would seek to end the conflicts to restore harmony; however, your other task is to someday fight with me to prevent one-sidedness from looming and dominating Equus. You will use anything I instruct to bring balance to your disposal, and if you decide something else is worth using, I want to know so I can meditate to declare either yes or no."

"We will, Peacekeeper Spike," Grubber and the Enforcers bow in honor of Spike's declaration and can't believe Spike is the God of Balance, and they're living the dream of working with him.

"You may stand now -" Spike sees Grubber and the Storm Nation's soldiers rising on his command. "our journey begins now!" Spike turns to Tempest. "Fly, Tempest, for I cannot allow anyone to interfere with my plans, especially Discord, in case he knows I'm the God of Balance and Princess Celestia ordering him to prevent me from succeeding to ensure harmony continues to thrive with equestrian ponies believing I may bring calamities upon them!" Spike sounds menacing momentarily before calming down for fun; he chuckles at everyone's shocked faces and apologies, claiming he's joking and wouldn't allow his divinity corrupt his mind.

Tempest departs from the Storm Nation's military base with everyone waving goodbye to their new God of Balance; Spike concentrates on sending a telepathic message to every Storm Nation soldier and citizen, especially Empress Storm, about becoming an Enforcer for the Peacekeeper, which they happily accept.

Five hours have passed since departing the Storm Nation's island as Spike meditates to hone his potency and speak with the Valkyrie Sisters of Harmony. The cruiser is above Galloping Gorge; Tempest trots to Spike to inform him about reaching their destination.

"Peacekeeper Spike -" Tempest stands back after Spike reaches to grab her hoof.

Spike wakes up from his meditation and thanks Tempest. "Keep the cruiser hovering while I dive into the waters. I need to go underground for a revival," Spike runs and jumps off the cruiser, diving into the waters from a thousand-story drop.

With the light shining brighter, instead of splashing into the waters, a vortex opens, allowing Spike to enter and land safely in what appears to be an underground chasm with a riverine. Using the staff after locating the source of his component, Spike presses it to the ground, channeling the restoration and resurrection powers to revive his new rival. He stands back, watching a dark, shadowed crystal erupting from the ground; a red horn with a shadowed physique and green eyes highlighted by a purple aura emerges with the laughter of malice.

"I liiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!" King Sombra laughs in the triumph of his return from obliteration thanks to the Crystal Heart and the inhabitants of the Crystal Empire for igniting the power to defeat and repel the darkness. He pauses with his laughter after seeing Spike smiling like a proud father. "YOU!" King Sombra irately points at Spike after remembering the dragon who helped the Crystal Empire regain control with the Love Alicorn, Princess Cadance, the same dragon that defeated and ruined his schemes of seizing the Crystal Empire after the thousand-year banishment.

"King Sombra," Spike remembers how terrifying his appearance was years ago, but now, he's not afraid, for he has a proposition for the King of Shadows.

King Sombra growls at the young dragon; he notices the - "So, you're the Peacekeeper; I knew you were special when I first saw you, never would I imagine you become the God of Balance; then again, the Legacy of the Peacekeeper would have never fallen into the grasp of ponies!"

"You tried to become the Peacekeeper?" Spike didn't think King Sombra would know more about the God of Balance, the Peacekeeper's role, and Equus' origins.

"Before I allowed a Shadow Stalker to merge with me, granting me the powers of shadows and fear, I was a rising protégé who would someday become a Prince in the Crystal Empire and ensure my kingdom's absolute reign. What I hoped for with my knowledge and understanding of magic and prosperity, I needed a little inspiration to motivate me even more with my dedication to my homeland; I traveled to the birthplace of inspiration to uplift the Legacy of the Peacekeeper's staff from the gravel. Obviously, I failed, but I got granted new insight into magic that would elevate my stature and potency. I was inspired to gather the love and support of my brothers and sisters at the Crystal Empire to rule in unity, heart, peace, and harmony -" King Sombra's demeanor turned hostile while explaining more of his origins when the memory of selecting a rightful ruler got overlooked.

Spike feels the dark wave of negative emotions with the whiplash of shadowed winds and eerie sounds; he remains silent until King Sombra finishes his explanation.

"When I returned to the Crystal Empire, I was overlooked to become a respectful ruler by a mere mare because Princess Celestia and Luna chose her, Amore, a unicorn, a nobody!" King Sombra venomously speaks when he recalls the memory of his kingship taken away from him after working day and night to earn everyone's trust, studying the manner of politeness and respectfulness to not only the crystal ponies but to neighboring countries that would want to visit the empire. "After years of hard work and dedication to my HOMELAND for my ASCENSION to become the rightful ruler, the Princesses chose a mare over a stallion to lead, EVERY.... SINGLE.... TIME! Originally, the Crystal Empire was going to debate their rightful ruler, and I gained everyone's love and trust, which would secure me as my victor over the mere, useless, worthless mare! The Princesses' involvement deterred my destiny, destroying a sacred law of selecting a new family tree to become the Prince, Princess, King, and Queen for generations every millennium; I witnessed the forgetfulness of my brothers' and sisters' love when it was transferred to Princess Amore, leaving me in the dark abyss of loneliness. They've forgotten me, and Princess Amore didn't bat an eye to give me some official proposition to work beside her, knowing how much I love my KINGDOM! PRINCESS CELESTIA AND LUNA REPELLED MY DREAMS OF BECOMING A KING!"

Spike didn't know about King Sombra's origins, how he rose to power, and why he was persistent in becoming the Crystal Empire's ruler. He got robbed, and Spike always wondered why more mares governed Equestria than the stallions.

"I wanted to rule, and that desire turned into envy, which motivated me to seize control no matter what it cost me until a Shadow Stalker presented itself to me, giving me more power to dominate Princess Amore and capture the Crystal Empire; however, instead by heart, unity, peace, and harmony, I would lead through fear and allow hatred to fuel me so when I rise, I would declare war on Equestria then spread my tyranny around the world!"

"Then you were sealed for a thousand years after slaying Princess Amore because your power wasn't mighty enough to defeat Princess Celestia and Luna, and when you returned, you failed again."

"Graaaaaah!" King Sombra roars in anger at the freshly reminder.

"However, I didn't revive you to taunt you and remind you of your failures," Spike smiles wickedly at King Sombra, which is new to him but understandable. "I brought you to life for an imperative cause since I'm starting to become the God of Balance, and knowing you visited the birthplace of inspiration, that would mean you're aware of the true origins of Equus, correct?"

"Correct, Peacekeeper dragon; even during my visit to the Storm Nation's island, I procured valid information from the tales of the Valkyrie Sisters of Harmony, the hieroglyphs within the caves documented by the snow yetis and the twisted dentist known as Crackerjack Ripper," King Sombra shudders with the horrible memory of the demented dentist drilling in his teeth. "The Shadow Stalker that merged with me concluded all doubts about the roots of Equus, and he gave me his memories of the world I'd always envisioned for my kingdom when I wanted to become the Prince of the Crystal Empire. You can say I accepted the truth and became one of the few who believe in the Valkyrie Sisters of Harmony, the Demons of Disharmony, and how every creature is a dedication to a friend the Valkyries continue to honor."

Spike smirks after hearing King Sombra's conviction of the Valkyrie Sisters of Harmony and Equus' birth. "I have a proposition for you, King Sombra."

"What proposition would benefit me, Peacekeeper; in case you've forgotten, your friends would exterminate me with either the Crystal Heart or their magic. What can you offer me?" King Sombra knows Spike's offer would be a misguided gamble that'll become his inevitable demise.

"Half of the Crystal Empire, the Crystal Heart, and many victories for our war at the Crystal Empire -" Spike saw King Sombra's anger turning into delightful. "the reason for your resurrection is for my benefit cause I need to live in disharmony to understand my visions for creating an equilibrium society for all of Equus. Also, you'll become the first-ever Demon Enforcer for my army against one-sidedness."

King Sombra chuckles in bliss for the first time; he loves having control of the Crystal Empire and the inhabitants to become his slaves once more. "I accept your proposal to become your Demon Enforcer; however, what would you do to keep the Princesses occupied since they would interfere regardless of your strategy?"

"Princess Cadance and Shining Armor have their daughter, Flurry Heart, and she would be vital for the decision to have Princess Cadance and Shining vacate the Crystal Empire. Then, we'll combine our energies to create a divine shadowed perimeter to repel any pony and Draqonecuus from entering the premises. After that, the war will begin, and hopefully, Twilight and her friends will abandon the Crystal Empire, leaving the responsibilities on my shoulders to defeat you, though, in hindsight, we're elevation disharmony, for it has lost too many battles and wars against friendship."

"Your friends would not approve and may disown you for betraying them and harmony to fulfill the destiny as the Peacekeeper; can you live with that?" King Sombra challenges Spike's mental durability since becoming the God of Balance means making complex decisions and sacrifices to the world.

"My friends and family will never understand my obligations, for they are harmonic creatures, especially Twilight, the Princess of Friendship, who utilizes friendship with her friends to defeat every evil they encounter. It's proof, and I've written the letters to verify. Princess Twilight Sparkle would never stand aside to allow betrayal, evil, death, disruption, and anything regarding disharmony to exist. She will efface it to bring a utopia through friendship, and my duties as the Peacekeeper will not allow it to happen. Those who accepted the truth about the Valkyrie Sisters of Harmony and what the world needs to live without fail are my new brothers and sisters; they'll become my friends and family, and whoever opposes me is my enemy!"Spike slams his staff like a gavel, making his decree evident and holy.

"Hmm," King Sombra is impressed by Spike's demeanor and calculated the disownment of his current friends and family when he obtained the Legacy of the Peacekeeper. "Well, brother, shall we begin our new chapter, or is there another surprise for our soon-to-be ongoing war?"

"We have one last pitstop to make for which you'll need an army; a new army since crystal ponies wouldn't be much use to you. They'll be your slaves and amusement to spread fear and panic," Within Spike's mind, he knows this decision would betray the trust of the Crystal Empire since they dubbed him Spike the Brave and Glorious. They will not understand unless they wholeheartedly forgive Spike and seek to learn the truth of their existence to become his Enforcers. "Have you heard about a nation called the Kirin?"

"Þrima, the Valkyrie of Silence, dedicated her friend's honor through the life of the Kirin, which they're supposed to be distant cousins to unicorns, so yes, I've heard about them. Now, what about them?"

"With those mind-control helmets you once used on the crystal ponies, you'll be using them on the Kirin since the changelings are no longer presentable as disharmonic creatures. So, we need a substitute fitting for your new army."

King Sombra relishes having a new army at his beck and call to fight the crystal ponies and guards; he's impressed with Spike's thought process to become an overachiever. "From a valor dragon, you've become insidious, and it's becoming contagious -" King Sombra chuckles and steps closer to the young dragon god. "Brother, let's get going. I want to seize my prize."

Spike concentrates on the Kirin's location and creates a new pathway using shadowed purplish light. "I have a carrier above us that'll transport us to the Kirin's location, and I'm sending a telepathic message to my Enforcers about your presence. Let's go!"

King Sombra uses his shadows to engulf Spike and spiral upward from the underground chasm to the cruiser, allowing Tempest to follow the new pathway to Kirin's territory. The Enforcers onboard welcome their new brother and know Spike's game plan to elevate disharmony.