Epilogue

Canterlot Castle-Six months and one week into the Rise of Equestria-

“Are the terms satisfactory for everyone?” Blueblood said standing behind Celestia looking at all the attending members currently sitting around a large table.

“Terms agreeable. Yaks proud to have many friendships,” prince Rutherford proclaimed loudly.

“I believe so,” a veteran looking griffon with red, gray and brown feathers wearing a red toga adorned with various gold and silver medals and a large crown said. “The Griffon Kingdom accepts this newfound alliance with spread wings.”

“So does the new Saddle Arabian Empire,” Empress Shifting Sands said with a warm smile sitting next to Cadance.

“As well as the Crystal Empire, of course,” Cadance said weakly.

“The Buffalo Tribes shall stand in this alliance with the greatest of honours,” Chief Thunderhooves said whilst holding the hand of his daughter.

“The Changeling Swarm agrees with the terms and finds them acceptable,” Chrysalis said sitting next to Luna.

“Equestria finds this terms to be beneficial for everyone involved. I, Princess Luna Solaris, accept the formation of this alliance,” Luna said before looking at her sister.

“I, Princess Celestia Solaris, accept the formation of this alliance,” Celestia said looking at everyone present before looking at the last member of the attending council. “Twilight?”

“.....,” Twilight sighed heavily.”I...Princess Twilight Sparkle, accept the formation of this alliance,” Twilight said loud enough for everyone to hear.

A moment later Blueblood levitated a golden parchment and placed it in front of Celestia alongside a golden quill. Celestia took the quill and signed the parchment, then both items levitated towards Luna with her repeating the action. After a minute all the presents had signed the golden piece of paper until only Twilight was left.

With a shaky hand Twilight grabbed the quill and signed the parchment. Blueblood levitated the parchment in front of him, scanned it for a few seconds and then rolled it up before placing it inside a silver urn. A moment later the nine figures sitting around the table got up at the same time, they all bowed at the same time in a signal of mutual and collective respect and then Blood Talons, Shifting Sands, Rutherford and Thunderhooves left the room escorted by their own personal guards leaving only the four alicorn princesses, Blueblood and Chrysalis in.

“Where is my son?” Celestia asked suddenly.

“In...in Ponyville,” Twilight answered not daring to look at her former mentor. “Spike said he was needed more there than here. I couldn’t convince him to come.”

“....” Celestia didn’t answer immediately, instead she seemed to be meditating her next words. “Will he have time tonight?” Twilight didn’t answer.

“Who knows?” Chrysalis said with a frown. “Maybe, if he feels like it. Knowing him though? Don’t count on it,” the six in the room went into an uncomfortable silence.

“Hhnnnnggg!” Cadance suddenly slumped back in her seat holding her chest tightly.

“Cadance!” Blueblood rushed to his sister. “What’s wrong!?” The commotion brought the departing leaders back into the room, concerned and ready to fight if necessary.

Cadance groaned painfully before her eyes turned white for a couple of seconds. She blinked three times before tears began to fall, she brought a hand to cover her mouth as she began to whimper, with only one name leaving her mouth. “S..Spike….”

Not a moment later the word was uttered a collective teleportation was made and then the room was empty.

------------------------------------------------******************************************************

Ponyville-Half an hour prior-

“Put the wood over there.”

“I need seven packs of hay in sector F.”

“We need more nails, around two hundred meters of rope and a few extra hands over sector K!”

“Put the paint buckets over there...and there, thank you.”

Spike was currently sitting on a timber beam watching silently at the activity all around him. He glanced up to the sky seeing the blue sky, his mother’s sun and a swarm of pegasi, griffons and changelings matching the activity in the ground. He smiled contently knowing Ponyville was well on its way to a complete reconstruction, just like the rest of Equestria and the Empire were.

Speaking of which, Spike thought pulling up a bucket of large nails with his tail; grabbing one in between two fingers he pressed it against the wood and with a slight push of his thumb the nail went in without any hassle. Spike repeated the motion parallel to the previous nail before moving a few inches forward and did the same with two more nails. He went on for several minutes performing the same task over a few more timber beams. Once he was finished he got up seeing his work.

The main skeleton is done and all the support beams are in place, just a few touches here and there before they can put the walls. I bet Lyra and Bonbon are gonna love it! Spike thought happily while he took a deep breath and watched the activity all around him once again. Looking slightly to his left he saw the Castle of Friendship being guarded by a couple of Blood Hunters while Pinkie Pie, Rarity and the Cutie Mark Crusaders handed over some delicious confections. Behind them he could see Fluttershy and Discord sitting in silence sharing a warm cup of tea while Angel rested on Fluttershy’s lap. He knew Rainbow Dash was somewhere up in the sky leading weather teams and Applejack was probably lending a hand on the farms along with her siblings.

Spike closed his eyes enjoying the warmth of the sun for upthenth time that day while his left hand reached up to his neck and grabbed a thick shining iron collar.

/////

“Spike Solaris ‘The Dragon’, ‘The Reaper’, ‘The Lightbringer’, we, as standing judges of The Great Tribunal, have decided your sentence and punishment for your numerous crimes,” Keltu said unfolding a parchment.
Spike closed his eyes while his lips formed a little, happy smile.

“Your proper and due punishment is a public execution, the method befitted by the severity and nature of the crimes. However,” Keltu unfolded the parchment further down. “We have also considered the crimes presented to us by the late King of the Caribou, Dainn. Realising your actions; abominable, monstrous, unforgivable, unmoral and driven by blind hate and bloodthirst as they were, prevented Dainn from unleashing his crimes upon our countries and its populace. We, Judges of The Great Tribunal, cannot condemn you to death by our own hand; your death shall be delivered by the same power you admittedly over-abused to satisfy your own selfish goals.”

Keltu unfolded more of the parchment. “But we cannot let you walk away without punishment of our own. Spike Solaris ‘The Dragon’, ’The Reaper’, ‘The Lightbringer’, We condemn you to live the remaining days of your life in incarceration in Equestria,” the dragon judge pulled out of his robes a thick iron collar. He got up and walked over to a seemingly immovable Spike. The dragon put the collar around his neck and then breathed a thin stream of fire over it; the collar began to shine weakly and continued to shine even after the flames were gone and the judge returned to his seat.

“This special collar shall ensure to maintain you within the borders of Equestria, preventing you from leaving ever again. If you foolishly try to cross them the collar will immediately teleport you by dragon fire five kilometers inside Equestrian territory,” Keltu explained unfolding the rest of the parchment. “If it’s removed or destroyed the collar will simply reconstruct itself around your neck,” Keltu hit the pedestal with his claws heavily. “The Great Tribunal has spoken, the trial has ended.”

There were no shouts of victory or nonconformity. No one made a sound, not even a whisper or a cough.The room was completely silent until Spike himself got up from his seat.

“Very well, I accept my joke of a punishment,” Spike said in a tone that reflected disappointment. “Allow me to say something before this thing finish charging,” Chrysalis chuckled while Keltu and his fellow judges stood still and turned a little pale. “Oh, c’mon, you’re still afraid? I told you if I wanted to you’d be dead already,” now it was Shifting Sands and Sebastian who chuckled. “You six do disappoint me though, you were oh so high and mighty during the entire trial and in the end you already had this set up,” he said pointing to his collar. “I know what it is and it takes quite a while to make one, Tirek himself had an entire cage made for him and then tossed into Tartarus, so I feel honored, in a way, you prepared one for me,” Spike smiled.

“I’d call you cowards but I think ‘mindless puppets’ fits you more. Just let me give you one final warning,” the collar around his neck began to let out tiny sparks. “Equestria and the Crystal Empire are not weak,” Spike’s eyes turned white.

A second later Spike was engulfed in flames and in the next one he was gone.

/////

That was a month ago, Spike thought placing a hand over his chest.

“Careful!” somepony shouted before a loud thud was heard. Spike searched for the source of the noise, soon enough he saw half a dozen earth pony stallions trying to move a giant square shaped boulder, the damn things height a good two heads above the stallions. Apparently the modified and reinforced wagon they were using to carry it broke down and they were now trying to move it out of the way.

Spike, standing on the timber beam, leaped over to where the stallions, a mare leading them and the boulder were. He landed softly a meter away before he called to them.

“Did you hit rock bottom, Carrot Top?” Spike asked to the earth pony mare overseeing the accident. A collective groan followed suit with some chuckles mixed in together.

“That pun was so bad I almost thought it to be funny,” Carrot Top answered looking at his friend. “Mind showing us some of your dragon might, Spike?” she asked smiling sweetly at him.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Spike replied eagerly. He walked over to the boulder, crouched down, dug his right hand below the boulder and closed his eyes. He grunted a little before his eyes snapped open shining white and lifted the boulder up. “Uffff, heavy,” Spike said letting a side of the boulder rest against his shoulder and the side of his head. “Where to, Carrot Top?”

“Just follow me,” the mare said without any surprise, already familiar with Spike’s feats over the months made sure of that; besides, carrying a seventy ton boulder with one hand could be considered a minor feat compared to what she had seen him do in Hraljord. “Say, you weren’t invited to that alliance meeting going on today?”

“They did invite me but I didn’t felt like going,” Spike huffed following Carrot Top closely. “Why would I anyways? I’m not even a real prince to begin with.”

“Aren’t you princess Celestia’s son?”

“Adoptive.”

“Still a prince.”

“Maybe, but Blueblood’s already there and one prince is more than enough. Not to mention I just...really want to be here today and help around.”

“Sure glad you did then!” Carrot Top said cheerfully. “You just saved some unicorns or changelings a magic workout.”

“I bet,” Spike grunted. “Okay, I have to ask, what’s with the boulder?”

“Not really sure actually, all I know is that they need it down in sector B. I think they want it to rebuild the fountain or something.”

“Wouldn’t it been easier to break it in pieces first?”

“I thought the same but they requested the whole thing complete, something about ‘artistic measures’ or some nonsense like that,” Spike hummed in response. “I see you’re almost done with the new house for Lyra and Bonbon, I’m sure they’ll appreciate you making it for them,” Carrot Top commented seeing the work of Spike. “Oh! Before I forget, Rose, Lily, Daisy, Colgate and I are planning to make a flower party next sunday, you’re invited to come if you want, Spike,” Spike didn’t reply with words, instead he simply hummed again.

“Noteworthy found himself a nice mareling it seems,” she giggled. “I think her name is Skiak or something, changeling names are weird like that but they do look adorable together; I think I saw him earlier in the morning working on the fields with his marefriend,” she giggled again looking at her clipboard. “Blossomforth, Cloudchaser and Flitter are in the hospital taking care of Rumble, he almost lost an arm and he’s still recovering from Thunderlane’s--”

*THUD*

The loud noise behind her made her stop instantly and turn to see what is was. She saw Spike a good three meters behind her on one knee with the coulder at his side laying on the ground while his left hand over his chest. His breathing was irregular and pained with his expression reflected fear and pain. His eyes, whoever, were flickering in rapid sequences changing from shining white to his normal green ones. He suddenly coughed violently painting the ground with a glob of his blood.

“SPIKE!” Carrot Top shouted on the top of her lungs gaining the attention of practically everyone in Ponyville. She rushed to him throwing away her clipboard and kneeling in front of the dragon. “Spike! What’s wrong!?” Spike coughed again letting the boulder rest on the ground completely and bringing his right hand to join his left.

“Spikey Wikey!” Rarity screamed arriving at Spike’s side along with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Discord. “What’s wrong!? What’s happening darling?” she asked placing her hands over Spike’s shoulders, silently grateful that Carrot Top moved to give her the space.

Spike coughed again, sending another glob of his blood to the ground, before he let out a soul wrenching scream of pain. Rarity, shocked like everyone else, began to tear up when Spike fell on his back and began to scream his lungs out. The screams of the dragon soon attracted everyone that didn’t heard Carrot Top’s scream the first time.

Everyone made a circle around the screaming, convulsing Spike incapable of understanding what was going on. There was a sudden flash of light behind Fluttershy and Discord but no one paid it attention.

“SPIKE!” Twilight and Celestia screamed at the same time making their way to where Spike was. Reaching him the both kneeled at either side of him whilst he kept on screaming and digging his claws into his own chest. Rainbow Dash and Applejack arrived just in time to see the Crystal Heart appear in his chest with it shining brightly.

“Do something!” someone shouted desperately amongst the crowd.

“We’ll take him to Canterlot!” Celestia said but before she could charge her horn Spike grabbed her hand tightly and his screams stopped yet his body was still twitching and convulsing from the pain.

“DON’T,” He roared while his tail hit the ground creating small dust clouds. “Please, don’t,” Spike begged in a softer tone. “I..I.-ARRRGGHH!-I didn’t---couldn’t tell you….t-today’s the day--YYYAAAAAARGGGGG!--” Twilight reached out for his free hand while pretty much everyone began to cry. “I...I want to d-d-dieeeeRRRRRGGGG….Here...in...in the place I …..call home,” Spike’s eyes began to tear up before his hands started to shake from an entirely different reason.

“I--I’m scared,” Spike said in a whimper while cracks began to form quickly around the Crystal Heart and spread out all over his body. “W-What if….What if is this isn’t real? What if this just an illusion created by Dainn’s brainwash to make my mind content? What if...What if---” Spike couldn’t say more as he started bawling. “W-whad ifsh dis ish a-a-ll a dre-e-eam,” Spike closed his eyes letting painful tears pour out of his eyes before he let out another long scream of pain.

“And---and I wake up to that shithole!?” Spike said loudly. “And I’m his right hand?” Spike whimpered in agony. Meanwhile everyone around him was crying their hearts out seeing,and hearing, the pain and fears of the one that had spearheaded the end of the caribou’s regime.

Celestia leaned in and kissed his cheek tenderly. Spike froze and the pain he felt stopped for a moment; he didn’t even felt the cracks had now reached his face and even his back spines and ear fins. That scent of sunflowers mixed with sweet frosting and of freshly cut grass he was so familiar with filled his nostrils again. He looked at Celestia, his mother in everything but blood, and saw her face ruined by tears but with a smile wide as she could manage and shining more than the sun itself.

“M-Mom,” Spike whispered before she leaned again, this time to kiss his forehead.

“This is real, my little baby,” Celestia said almost choking through her sadness. “You saved me. You saved us,” Celestia kissed his cheek again,this time lingering a bit letting Spike feel the softness, warmth and love of her lips. “I’m so proud of you, my little baby, so, so proud.”

Spike smiled at her before he looked around seeing his friends and family smiling at him with tears on their eyes; even Chrysalis was in the same boat. His six best friends, his six closest mare-friends looked at him with the same look Celestia did, especially Twilight. Spike closed his eyes, sighed contently letting a couple of tears fall and then whispered. “I love you all.”

Then he screamed once again throwing Celestia and Twilight to the sides. Landing on their backside they watched helplessly as Spike began to thrash around like a madpony. His screams of pain only surpassed by the cries of despair of his friends and the onlookers. He threw his legs, tail and arms around aimlessly for over half a minute. His scales began to fell off and turning into crystal dust the moment they hit the ground while the cracks increased in width and number at a frightening speed while a blue shimmer emerged from them.

“RRAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!” Spike screamed in pure agony and his eyes turned blue. “AAAAAAAAAAGGGGG------”

Spike suddenly shut up and his body froze in place. His left hand dug in the dirt while his right hand was reaching for the sky, his legs were pushing against the dirt and his tail twisted and curled around his right leg. His mouth was wide open showcasing his deadly fangs and his expression frozen in pure agony and pain. The shining Crystal Heart on his chest faded away along with the blue shimmer of his eyes.

After a few seconds his body began to crack. First his tail slowly fell off turning into crystal dust, followed shortly after by his left arm, then by his legs, then by his right hand and finally ending his his head and torso. From the dust the Crystal Heart emerged shining proudly and slowly spinning around; once it was a meter of so above the dust it shot itself away in the direction of the Crystal Empire. The dust set itself in blue fire the moment the Crystal Heart left and burned until there was nothing but a small scorched area and an iron collar remained. The iron collar itself cracked and fell apart turning into worthless pieces of metal.

Celestia began to cry her heart out with Twilight quickly following suit hugging her fellow princess, former teacher and second mother. Fluttershy hugged Discord crying on his chest while the God of all that is Chaos let sincere tears rain down. Rarity was being hugged by Pinkie and Applejack while Rainbow hugged herself trying her damn best to not fly off and cry into oblivion; instead Scootaloo walked up to her allowing Rainbow to hug her instead.

Shifting Sands, Thunderhooves, Rutherford and Blood Talons cried in silence while Chrysalis allowed Cadance to cry on her shoulder, gently patting her back. Blueblood and Luna were nowhere to be seen but if the angry shouts and sounds of things breaking in the distance were anything to go by they were coping with it in their own way.

That day many would cry as one at the loss of one regarded as nothing short of a monster to his enemies, a hero to his people and a friend to his allies. But most importantly, those dear to his heart would never forget him and his sacrifice.

Spike Solaris, ‘The Dragon’, ‘The Reaper’, ‘The Lightbringer’ had died.

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*Crystal Empire-Crystal Palace-*

The Crystal Heart arrived below the palace and stopped in between the two needle pillars confusing and surprising everyone that saw it, especially the Saddle Arabians. It took the crystal ponies a few seconds to realize what the presence of the Crystal Heart meant. Slowly all began to weep and bawl for the death of their saviour and greatest hero. The Crystal Heart spun slowly in its place, shining brightly.

No one noticed the Crystal Heart shine with a purple and green light.

End.

Author's Notes:

Special thanks to all that read, like and enjoy this story!

Special thanks to Ebony Stallion for proofreading and minor editing!

And with this Fall of Equestria: Judgment has come to an end. Everyone that has read and enjoyed it, I thank you.