Spike's New Adventure

"You are quite the adventurer through disharmony and have not shown an ounce of your harmonic self to me when we discussed down below, Peacekeeper dragon," King Sombra wonders how Spike maintained this crude side of him when he remembered the goodness when he delivered the Crystal Heart to expunge the darkness and him within the Crystal Empire.

"I'm trying to develop a new shade to represent disharmony since my good nature already symbolizes harmony throughout the years; I need the practice to have an equal mindset for judgments to weigh on good and bad," Spike calmly replies while smiling at his new brother during the trip to the Kirin's village.

"So, when we return to the Crystal Empire, what shall we do, Peacekeeper Spike?" Grubber is curious about Spike's long-term goals after the trip to the Kirin's territory and how to allure Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and their daughter away from the madness since they would contact Twilight Sparkle in a heartbeat in desiring assistance to thwart King Sombra once more.

"Also, how would you prevent the Princess of Friendship and her friends from entering the Crystal Empire since they would not relent until they have defeated our Demon Enforcer?" Tempest wonders what Spike would do regarding King Sombra's safety and what protection procedures Spike has in mind while not exposing himself to his former friends, knowing they would reject Spike as the God of Balance when his objective is to allow disharmony to spread as a virus across Equus.

"Using my weapon, I'll combine my divine powers with King Sombra's shadows to forge a barrier around the Crystal Empire as Princess Cadance once did to prevent King Sombra from entering when he and the Crystal Empire returned a few years ago," Spike replies while staring into the night sky Princess Luna has conjured by raising the moon after Princess Celestia lowered the sun. "The only difference is Princess Cadance's spell prevented darkness from entering while mine and King Sombra's would avert everything from penetrating the shadowed barrier from the outside. Inside, I plan on making notes to toss outside the barrier about my progress against King Sombra's siege; although it'll draw much attention, I don't want them to discover my godship yet; otherwise, I'll receive lectures, earaches, headaches, pleas, commands, demands, and a guilt-trip or transfer my authority to some pony worthier than me."

"Which is impossible, for the Legacy of the Peacekeeper staff wasn't meant to be held by any pony, regardless of stature, potency, wisdom, and experience," King Sombra made his statement evident to Tempest, Grubber, and the Storm Nation soldiers about the true intent of the weapon not falling into the hooves of ponies. "I should know, and I tried all forms to wield the staff Spike is grasping," King Sombra shuddered from the trip to the dentist when he broke several teeth after he attempted to bite and yank it from the gravel.

"So, with the war imminent, Spike, where would we reside during the conflicts?" Grubber asks since he has enjoyed living in the Crystal Castle with Tempest since the Storm King's defeat months ago.

"The Crystal Castle, where we will plot our schemes to elude the crystal ponies from discovering the dark truths about our operations; I need to ignite them with the hope of defeating King Sombra once he procures the Crystal Heart and hides it where no pony would search."

King Sombra chuckles with the envision of hiding the Crystal Heart elsewhere in the castle, where you'll need pure darkness in your heart to trigger the door. "My mistake when I hid the heart was needing a spell of pure hatred to unlock the door leading to the upper floors; now, it's no longer sorcery to use darkness but pure darkness in heart, no light whatsoever into triggering for shutting down the defense mechanism."

"Which Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends won't accomplish since they will never obtain pure darkness, for they are creatures of harmony, not disharmony," Spike reminds his brethren and sistren.

"What about Discord, the Lord of Chaos; he is a remnant of the Demons of Disharmony and would be a Demon Enforcer, considering he could betray his friends and Fluttershy to resume his demented, chaotic lifestyle?" Tempest asks Spike since Discord is the reincarnation of Pandemonium.

"Unfortunately for Discord, Princess Celestia issued Twilight and her friends to reform him to use his chaos magic and reality-warping prowess for harmony, which took time for Discord to convey once he obtained his first friend, Fluttershy, which she manipulated Discord's game after suckering her into never using her element into petrifying him by disowning him as a friend, which would mean Discord loses, and he hates losing. Then, over time, including me when I was a peasant, we took the time to build a bond with Discord; however, his friendship with Fluttershy was the strongest among any of us, which would mean his narrative would never be disharmonic ever again, for he has more feelings and heart to Fluttershy and would be defensive to use harmony over disharmony. Since it was Princess Celestia's initiative to convert Discord from disharmony to harmony, she played a pivotal role that would disqualify Discord from becoming my Demon Enforcer; he would align himself with the Princesses to protect those he cherishes rather than betray Fluttershy a second time when he worked with Lord Tirek and helped him gain power and strength."

"So -" Tempest and the others didn't believe in that likely outcome that would disqualify Discord from ever becoming a Demon Enforcer, which begs to differ, who would replace Discord as a Demon Enforcer for Spike's army. "Would Lord Tirek become a viable alternate for Discord's position?"

"I'll have to ask him during or before the siege at the Crystal Empire; I'm sure he's rotting in his cell in Tartarus, with no visitors coming -" It struck Spike to speak to him now while he's moving onward with his goals. "Turn the ship towards the Gates of Tartarus! I need to speak with Lord Tirek!"

"Yes, Peacekeeper Spike!" Tempest diverts the cruiser's direction to the Gates of Tartarus; she knows where the location is and doesn't need to use the navigational device on Empress Storm's cruiser after passing by during her youth when she fled away from her homeland after her friends deserted her for having a broken horn, the mountains are the same during the voyage, and she notices the landmarks by Rambling Rock Ridge.

An hour into the flight, Tempest lowers the cruiser into Thunderhoof Canyon; everyone notices the stairs leading to the bowels of darkness, in other words, the Gates of Tartarus. Spike commands everyone to remain on the cruiser, for he'll discuss with Lord Tirek privately as he did with King Sombra; if they notice someone spying on them, Spike authorizes them to neutralize the target by any means, he cannot get exposed yet during his first day as the God of Balance.

Spike walks down the stairs and sees a grotesque door with pink highlight patterns and a magic seal used as the lock; judging from the craft, those who use magic have access to the door; however, Spike uses his staff as a skeleton key, which works perfectly as the Gates of Tartarus open for him; Spike notices Cerberus charging at him to prevent Spike from entering and possibly freeing the prisoners.

"Stand down!" Spike uses his staff as a gavel to issue a command for Cerberus to cease his attack, which the three-headed dog whimpers and stops himself from colliding with Spike. Cerberus tries to retreat after sensing Spike's omnipotent power and becomes afraid of his divine authority. "Stand still, and don't make a sound!"

The creatures within Tartarus locked in cages started to mock Cerberus for being reduced to a helpless puppy after Spike commanded authority with what they believed was a stick with no magic; they were unaware of Spike's divine powers as they saw him walking down the pathway leading to Lord Tirek's cage.

"A visitor," Lord Tirek sees Spike walking up the stairs; he remembers him being friends with Princess Twilight Sparkle, Discord, and the remaining representatives of the Elements of Harmony. Lord Tirek is weaker and frail and has distorted colors with a raspy voice. "Wait a minute -" His eyes widen at the sight of the Legacy of the Peacekeeper staff in Spike's clutches. "THEY ALLOWED A DRAGON TO BECOME A GOD?! THAT'S PROFOUND AND I DESERVE THAT POWER AND AUTHORITY!" Lord Tirek clenches his fists in rage.

"So, that brings us to my next question; have you accepted the Valkyrie -" Lord Tirek interrupts Spike's question.

"Listen, dragon pony," Lord Tirek still wanted to insult Spike for aligning his life with the Princess of Friendship and her friends for foiling his plans of conquest and domination. "I've known the Valkyrie Sisters of Harmony and my kin's origins. They made a sacred staff to anoint whoever becomes worthy of wielding unspeakable power to become a god, and I've tried for eons before I was locked up! So, why did they allow you to become our God of Balance?"

"I understand both worlds and what Equus needs; disharmony is dying because of Twilight and her friends' obligations to subdue any evil through the magic of friendship. Our world won't survive through harmony only, for I saw what happens when one-sidedness thrives, everything becomes unbalanced, and I must maintain disharmony by any means."

Lord Tirek chuckles at his fault for disregarding harmony when he tried to uplift the weapon from the gravel years ago; he focused on one aspect, not the other. "I'm sure others have tried but failed because of their feelings amid their decision-making; what makes you different than those failures?"

"I accepted the reality of Princess Twilight Sparkle, her friends, family, and every pony in Equestria will no longer be my friend, for they will never understand why I'm the God of Balance, and I'm aware of possible tactics to make me feel guilty or relinquish my godship, which won't work. They'll try, but I won't listen, for my commitments to have Equus sustainable for harmony and disharmony overrules any of their excuses, laws, and facts. I see the whole picture, and they won't!"

"Hmmm, color me impressed, Peacekeeper Spike," Lord Tirek starts addressing Spike as the God of Balance after knowing Spike's feelings regarding those closest to him before his sovereignty. "I didn't think you would disown Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends from your life. Who would you consider your friends, families, and allies?"

"My Enforcers, Lord Tirek; they are my brothers and sisters within the new age of my reign as the God of Balance. They've accepted the genuine origins of Equus, and I offered one villain to become my Demon Enforcer, for he has the last remnant of the Shadow Stalkers. I want to offer the same proposition to you, Lord Tirek, which results in your freedom from Tartarus with your potency restored as my second Demon Enforcer."

"Freedom -" Lord Tirek still has his pen pal's plan to eradicate magic within the world; knowing Princess Twilight Sparkle's unpredictable timing for saving Equestria and Beyond by hindering every evil plan, he may suffer an eternity with the pen pal in Tartarus when the scheme falls short; however, accepting Spike's position would mean he's protected, powerful, and no one would stop him from spreading disharmony. "Explain what happens when I accept your proposal, Peacekeeper Spike."

"You would have authority to spread and cause calamity in your beck and call across other nations besides Equestria; you will have your stature and potency restored since I need a Demon Enforcer to elevate disharmony whenever harmony tips over the balance beam of Equus; you'll have your freedom, obey my commands, and possibly fight in a second-coming world war."

Lord Tirek chuckles in delight after hearing Spike's explanation; honestly, he wants freedom from boredom, and Tartarus has rotten Lord Tirek for far too long. "What do the Enforcers do since Demon Enforcers have a different responsibility?"

"Anything I command regardless of disharmony and harmony's jobs. My Enforcers would document what they see and what is needed to ensure balance; then, it'll be up to me to decide whether to handle the harmonic situation myself or send the Demon Enforcers to finish the disharmonic job for me."

"Well, I'm convinced and accepted your proposal, Peacekeeper Spike; now break this prison so I can assist your cause," Regardless of whether Cozy Glow's plans succeed or not, Lord Tirek decides to forsake her for Spike's proposal, resulting in his freedom; he closes his eyes and stands back, waiting for Spike to shatter the cage with his brute strength.

"Good," Spike uses his staff as a skeleton key to unlock the door containing Lord Tirek.

Cerberus hears Lord Tirek's cage opening and chooses to infringe on Spike's authority; he, howls and sprints to subdue Spike so he doesn't get fired for allowing an escapee to flee from Tartarus.

"Allow me," Before Spike would retaliate on Cerberus for violating his command, Lord Tirek walks out of his imprisonment to drain Cerberus' power and life force. He gains a more muscular physique, brighter colors, and a pair of curved horns after turning Cerberus into puppies from his three-headed form. "Yes!" Lord Tirek kisses his muscles after years of being frail.

Spike chuckles after watching Lord Tirek become satisfied with his power returning. "We can't have witnesses, so, would you like the honors of squishing your former prison guard?"

The three puppies representing Cerberus quiver and whimper in fear because he made the fatal mistake of disobeying a divinity's command; they turned to Lord Tirek and prayed for mercy after all these years of protecting him.

Lord Tirek sinisterly laughs while flexing his strengths. "Gladly," He devilishly responds as he approaches the three puppies; after years of torment and boredom, he'll get to deliver his justice to Cerberus. "I always wonder if dogs do go to heaven!" Lord Tirek chases and subdues the three puppies by snapping their necks and flattening their bodies beyond recognition.

When Spike allowed Lord Tirek to terminate the three puppies representing Cerberus, he flinched since he gave his first murderous command. He mentally prepares his mind for future occurrences, especially when his former friends are involved. Spike allows Lord Tirek to drain every magic and life force within Tartarus and subdue every creature to prevent them from informing anyone, especially Fluttershy, about what they saw. Lord Tirek grows stronger and feels his stature and potency growing; he takes delight in snuffing every contained creature, leaving his mark while leaving Tartarus with Spike.

Spike escorts Lord Tirek to the cruiser, and King Sombra laughs sinisterly at his new brother within the Demon Enforcers platoon.

"King Sombra," Lord Tirek sits beside him since his size would draw much attention to any pegasi flying during the night. "So, what's next under Peacekeeper Spike's initiative?"

"Gathering a new army for our siege at the Crystal Empire to build disharmony and help Peacekeeper Spike understand the two worlds for his training. He claims disharmony will win many battles first since there's too much harmony."

"What about the Pony Princesses and friends' possible interference?" Lord Tirek believes the siege would be a downfall before it begins.

"We have our methods of alluring Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and their baby from the premises of the Crystal Empire; then Spike and I would combine our power to generate an impenetrable divine shadowed barrier where no one would enter or leave. Peacekeeper Spike would send notes through the barricade to show whoever reads that the Crystal Empire will endure and survive through hope. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends would tire themselves before relenting about the divine protection of the barrier. Spike thought everything through," King Sombra laughs in triumph.

"I'm impressed with his schemes of freeing me, allowing me to gain power from everything within Tartarus, including Cerberus, then granting me the authority to decimate everyone, leaving no witness to tell what happened."

"His first murderous command, and I wasn't there to witness it?! Damn it!" King Sombra wished Spike to commence the command to him instead of Lord Tirek.

Lord Tirek chuckles. "You'll get yours soon enough, Demon Enforcer," Lord Tirek does like the sound of his title. "I wonder who else may join our ranks as Demon Enforcers."

"Only time will tell, Lord Tirek," King Sombra responds to Lord Tirek's statement. He and Lord Tirek watch Peacekeeper Spike commanding Tempest to resume flight to the Kirin's territory.