Metal hooves scraped against the ground as a legion of dampfriesen soldiers made their way to the governmental building, accompanied by Edgar, Draven, and Spike. Their march was swift and purposeful, and they held their weapons firm as they stomped down the streets of Schlüssel. Spike hung back, staying behind the vast mob of troops along with Edgar and Draven. Edgar and his scaled comrades were to lead the charge once they were given the signal.

"Damn..." Spike looked down at the ground as he walked and grimaced, feeling a strain in his bowels. He slowed down to catch his breath.

It had returned, that same feeling he had after blacking out during his fight with Haki. It was like a weight pressing down on his chest, a tugging at his heart, it was a dreadful feeling. Spike had felt it almost every day after leaving Wantthai, clawing, scratching. He envisioned a black flame, a swirling vortex of ebony fire, all-consuming and powerful, ancient as the world itself. These visions appeared to him as blinding flashes, too quick to fully comprehend. Spike clutched his chest tightly, and Draven ran to his aid.

"Boyo, what's the matter?" Draven urged Edgar to continue his march and waved him off. "You go on ahead, I'll handle this." Edgar nodded and continued to follow the army.

"My chest, it-..." Spike didn't say anything before, but the feeling was too intense to shrug off anymore. "I feel like I'm being torn up inside..."

"How long have you felt this way?" Draven tried to diagnose him.

"Not too long... ever since we left Wantthai," Spike answered and exhaled deeply as he felt the sensation subside. "It's nothing, I'm alright now..."

"There's more to this than just chest pains... he's been quiet ever since we left Wantthai." Draven thought to himself as he placed a hand on Spike's shoulder. "Are you sure you're alright, Spike?"

"Something is..." Spike trailed off, lacking the words to properly describe such an unexplained feeling. "I've been having chest pains and headaches, weird stuff. I don't know. I don't really feel like myself to be completely honest. It's probably because of Twilight."

"Have you felt your powers fluctuate at all when you exert yourself too much?" Draven inquired.

"I'm not sure... I haven't really gotten too intense lately." Spike replied, thinking back to the assault on Dr. Gearza's radio tower. "No... I haven't been exerting myself too hard, I don't think. Why do you ask?"

"Spike, I need to you close your eyes for a moment." Draven insisted as he put his hand out towards Spike and placed it on his forehead. "I need you to clear your mind. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah, I'll try," Spike said as he closed his eyes as instructed. It took him a while, but eventually he was able to let go of his other distracting thoughts.

Draven felt Spike's heartbeat, and Spike felt his. As he closed his own eyes, Draven saw a bright emerald flame. However, it lacked the warmth he was expecting. It was colder, less energetic. The flame was shrouded in a black cloud of obsidian embers that burned much hotter than the green fire, and it exuded a mysterious aura that he had trouble recognizing.

"A devil dragon...?" Draven muttered under his breath as he removed his hand from Spike's head.

"What was that? That thing you just did?" Spike wondered as he felt his head throb.

"That was called Dragon Sense. It's a form of non-elemental magic that all dragons can use." Draven answered him as he shook his hand around as if he had gotten dust on it.

"Non-elemental magic? But I thought dragons could only use fire or lightning, or whatever power they were born with." Spike was perplexed by Draven's interesting display of the strange power.

"Well, yes and no. A dragon can use the raw elemental energy in their blood and manipulate it freely, you already know that. However, a dragon also has raw magic in his nerves and brain, and we can use that in short, semi-controlled bursts. There are five different techniques, all called Dragon Disciplines." Draven explained as he rubbed the palm of his hand he had placed on Spike's head. "We dragons use it to fight enemies that are immune to our own elemental attacks, or sense auras. That power I just used, Dragon Sense, I used it to see your aura."

"And what did you see?" Spike asked him as he gently rubbed his temple.

"I saw doubt, dread... fear." Draven's words struck Spike like the end of a blade piercing his heart. "I don't blame you. Twilight, seeing all this violence, it gets to you, trust me. However, such thoughts are dangerous in the mind of a dragon." Draven cleared his throat and placed a hand on Spike's shoulder. "Within every dragon, a demon lies dormant, constantly scrambling to escape. Anger, violence, hate... all of these things can unleash a diafol ddraig, a devil dragon; an evil force that usually lurks within common and magic dragons.Think of it as dark magic for dragons; volatile and unpredictable. However, I've never seen one inside a lord dragon like you before. Yours is... odd, and immensely powerful."

"What will happen to me?" Spike's face became panicked and desperate, the visions of the black flame returned as well.

"Spike, listen to me." Draven shook Spike to snap him out of his daydream. "No matter what happens, you must not give into your diafol. I fear it could lead to great suffering. I will teach you all that I know about the Dragon Disciplines once we finish our business here. I will teach you how to tame your beast. Until then, you must remain focused, and above all else you must not lose sight of who you are, Spike. Can you do that for me?"

"But, Draven I-."

"We have to get moving, Spike. The others are counting on us." Draven said as he turned his gaze to the army, who was far ahead of them. "Come, stay close to me."

Spike stared off into space before catching up with Draven, reflecting on his conversation with him. He tried pushing his dark thoughts aside, cramming them into the corner of his mind, stuffing them into the dark room that held his greatest fears. Spike tried searching his own mind for a shred of courage, an ounce of hope. However, he became lost in his own thoughts. Shaking his head, Spike dug his hand into his pockets as began to tag behind Draven. He felt something familiar near the bottom of his right pouch, something he almost forgot. Spike slowed down as he reached in to grab the object.

It was a quill. A single owl's quill. To any pony who didn't truly know him, the quill seemed mundane, simple, meaningless. To Spike, however, the quill seemed to gleam in his hands. With that very quill, Spike wrote Twilight's lovingly crafted letters; messages to Celestia, her brother, her friends. He was surprised that it remained undamaged all this time. With the quill in his hand, Spike began to smile, and countless cherished memories began to drown out the festering despair, bring light to his darkness. His smile grew wider as he gracefully ran his finger across the base of the feather all the way to the dark tip. He closed his eyes, visualizing his home, the rolling hills of Ponyville, the waving tall grass. The quill was more than just a memento, it was a piece of his soul, his being, and it was part of Twilight as well. Spike carefully placed the feather in the pocket of his buttoned jacket, taking care not to ruffle it.

"Spike, we've got to pick up the pace!" Draven shouted back to Spike as he caught up with Edgar.

"I'm coming!" Spike's grin held steadfast as he replied, still rubbing the quill in his pocket. "I'm coming, Twilight..."

****

Twilight kneeled before the altar that arose from the seat of Kaiser's throne, revealing the metallic cube that Kaiser held so dear to him. He had locked Twilight in the chamber using the massive metal doors of the throne room, shutting it tight using the five keys he distributed amongst his inner circle. The cube whirred as Twilight's hands drew closer to it, eagerly awaiting a taste of Gek's power.

However, for no particular reason, Twilight smiled, and her arms recoiled back. Gek did not approve of this infuriating act of rebellion, and he tried pulling her forward towards the cube. "Now, now, doll. What's gotten into you all of a sudden? I thought we were getting somewhere! Tell me, sweet pea... what's eatin' ya?"

Twilight daydreamt for a few moments, sensing Spike's presence. She felt the fire in his chest, this emblazoned spirit, his hope. Gek exclaimed in anger as Twilight began to fight Gek's influence, trying to burn him away with her magic. "You wouldn't understand, Gek..."

Twilight's words certainly plucked a nerve, and Gek growled furiously. "I wouldn't understand?! Oh, really?! It's that little dragon brat isn't it?!" Gek tightened his grip on Twilight, grasping her soul like an anaconda, trying desperately to choke her out. "You aren't going to win, pumpkin..."

"No, you're wrong. I'll get out... and you know it, don't you? You claim to not care about lying to your cult, losing, living on as a spirit, and that may be true, but... you hate the idea of losing to me, don't you? A common princess, a juvenile alicorn, a bookworm. I bet it would look terrible on your resume, being beaten by a librarian." Twilight's grin grew confident for a moment. However, she soon felt a surge of dark power, the full force of Gek's influence. It shot up her spine like a metal rod, and she fell backwards, writhing in agony. "Arraagghh!"

"You're a little twat, you know that? I've tried being nice to you, I've tried working with you, I've tried reasoning with you, but you just won't accept it, will you?" Gek's voice became harsher, with a low demonic growl beneath his sociopathic voice. "Give in, and unlock the blasted box!"

"No." Regardless of the intense pain, Twilight's grin still remained.

"Then it'll be more fun for me then!" Gek laughed maniacally as he began to torture Twilight more.

"Hurry Spike..." Twilight thought to herself as she cringed, hoping Spike could hear her voice.

****

Spike hid behind a dilapidated building with Edgar and Draven, sitting down in a circle. Alvin joined them as well, and he tapped on his communicator, waiting for the signal from Athena.

"Looks like this is it, huh guys?" Alvin said as he sat down on a piece of rubble. "My stallions are rarin' to go, and the strike team is almost to the exhaust vent, so we should be attacking at any moment."

"Then we best prepare ourselves then." Draven nodded as he stood up, urging Spike to join him. "Come on, boyo... we're gettin' Twilight back."

Alvin pulled out a pair of binoculars from his trench coat pocket, eyeing the open field that they had to traverse before attacking the fortress. "Looks like we'll have to cross that field. It'll be an open-season for those turrets mounted on that cliff. There'll most likely be mines too, so we'll have to be wary." Alvin heard static on his com-device, but it regulated after a few seconds, and Athena's voice became loud and clear. She was sending the message to every soldier in her army.

*My brothers and sisters in arms. Today we march onwards to stop Kaiser and his brutal regime. Today we free ourselves from the brutality of this wasteland! You mark the beginning of a new age for our kind. Archibald shall lead the charge!*

"How did you know?" Edgar asked Athena through his communicator.

*That's a silly question, Edgar... of course I would recognize my creator, the one who dreamt me up, The Founder of Security.*

The androids all stepped back, realizing who she was talking to. They all looked up at the towering behemoth that was Edgar. He was reluctant to say anything at first, but after seeing Draven and Spike's dumbfounded expressions, he sighed to himself. The androids all kneeled before him, bowing their heads in respect to their creator.

"You're-..." Draven's speech stumbled for a moment. He was completely gobsmacked. "Why didn't you-...?

"Yes. I am Archibald Mason, one of The Four Founders." Edgar nodded and bowed his head. He sighed to himself again. "I suppose somepony would've found out sooner or later. I'll explain it all to you and the rest of the team once this is all over, I promise."

Alvin approached Edgar with his head still directed towards the ground. "Mr. Mason, sir-."

"You can still call me Edgar, Alvin. I've gotten used to that name." Edgar shook his head, urging the androids to cease their prayers. "I'm no god, everypony. I'm just a stallion out of time. And like you, I have a dream, a goal in mind. No matter what happened in Ausrüstung; war, violence, unrest... there always remained an idea, a single belief. Power is not with the government, it is with the ponies that support it. I am no leader, I don't believe in gods or deities... but I believe in one thing. Freedom. For it is the right of every pony, no matter what you're made of. And that is what you are all fighting for. Not for me, but freedom."

The dampfriesens cheered and shouted as they gathered around Edgar, jumping down from rooftops. Spike and Draven smiled, clapping for him and the rest of the army that roared and jumped for joy. They shouted a familiar phrase, the same one that Alvin used. "Uictoriam, Iustitiam, Ad Securitatem! Uictoriam, Iustitiam, Ad Securitatem! Uictoriam, Iustitiam, Ad Securitatem!"

"Soldiers! Prepare yourselves! On my mark, we march forward!" Edgar commanded his army, and they obeyed with a spring in their step. Edgar tuned his communicator. "Athena, are the mortars ready?"

*Yes, father.* Athena replied; Edgar could tell she was smiling.

"Soldiers! Spread out across the field and march forward!" Edgar ordered them.

"You ready, boyo?" Draven turned his gaze to Spike, and he was happy to see the fire reignited in his eye.

"Yeah, let's do this," Spike grinned and looked forward, following Edgar into the plain.

The large force of android soldiers widened their influence along the open field that stretched to the cliff where the government building sat. The wind kicked up a few miniature dust tornadoes and howled menacingly at the army to leave, to run, but they stood strong. The ground shook as they marched forward with even greater speed, and the building's defences began to lock-on to their targets.

A cannon perched on the outer wall fired, and a railgun shot came hurdling towards the army at terrifying speed. Before the shell could even touch the ground, Edgar blocked it with his body, absorbing the impact like it was nothing. Spike and Draven activated their own powers. Spike's fists ignited into a blazing emerald flame, Draven's surged and crackled as electricity enveloped his body.

"There are ground troops approaching!" Spike shouted to Draven and anypony else who could hear him.

"I'll handle em'! Wings!" Draven shouted as thunderous wings of lighting sprouted from his back; he thr took off at blinding speed, a trail of electricity behind him. He let loose a torrent of lightning as he rose high into the air, electric wings sprouting from his back. The lightning slammed into the ranks of the cultist troops with awe-inspiring might, scattering them. "Grand Dragon Thane's Surging Discharge!"

"All right, my turn!" Spike grinned again as he coated his own fins in green fire, seeing more approaching troops that Draven missed. "Dragon Fury!" Spike propelled himself into the air using his flames and released a bellow of fire from his mouth that blew the horde of cultists away. "Dragon King's Fiery Breath!" Spike fell back on the ground; Dragon Fury could only allow brief bursts of flight. The heat of his attack also activated explosives hidden beneath the ground, mines. "Guys, there's mines! Be careful!"

"I'll take care of them!" Edgar roared as one of his chains disappeared. "First Restrictor Band: Removed!"

Edgar slammed his fist into the ground, causing it to shake and groan from the sheer force. The vibrations in the earth roused the mines, and they exploded, killing more cultists. "Get going, troops!"

"Mortar-fire! Mortar-fire! Stay behind it, guys!" Alvin screamed as Athena's mortars began to bombard the fortification, battering the turrets and walls and granting the dampfriesen ground troops a point of entry through a hole in the defences. "Over there!"

"Follow me!" Edgar shouted as he crushed cultists beneath his colossal metal hooves. "Through that hole!"

Edgar barrelled through the opening with the force of a freight train, scattering more cultist troops and absorbing more enemy fire. More cultists tried swarming Draven, and as they drew closer, Draven charged an attack that caught Spike by surprise. It was yet another non-elemental ability.

"Dragon..." Draven held his breath, and an aura of blue energy began to coat Draven's being. As he outstretched his arms, a wave of power was expelled from his body as an omnidirectional ripple of force. "Wave!" The attack sent scores of cultists flying, destroyed electric traps, and obliterated barricades and walls. As his attack subsided, Draven let out a cocky laugh. "I haven't used that in years! I think I've gotten a little rusty..."

"You've got to teach me that!" Spike gawked at the destruction the attack caused, and Draven scared some cultists with sparks of electricity. "Okay, now you're just showing off..." Spike scowled at him as he tossed a fireball at an approaching cultist wielding a sword. Draven scoffed confidently and shot Spike a smug grin as he tipped his hat. "Cocky as Rainbow Dash..."

"So... that was really easy." Draven scratched his head as he looked around the grounds of the government building. "Edgar, what do you-? Edgar?" Draven looked over to Edgar, who stood in front of the entrance to the building. "What's the big-...?" Draven trailed off as he saw what Edgar was looking at.

"I knew you were that machine..." Edgar growled at the figure standing before him. "I never thought that bastard would stoop this low... what did he do to you, Natachsa?"

"Natascha? You mean-...?" Spike looked to the strange mechanical mare that stood in front of the gateway.

The pony was tall and of the same build as Lady Athena, tall and elegant. However, she did not exude the same aura as her; this doppelganger's appearance was menacing and dripping with malice. Grey tubes extending from a metal pack attached to her back dug into her neck, and her metal body was streamlined and jet black with crimson-red outlines on each individual, interlocking plate of black armor. In fact, the only flesh that was visible was her neck and head; her arms and legs were all cybernetic. Her long, straight black mane almost covered her olive green face. The mare's eyes were pure red and without a hint of white, and although she had no pupils or irises, Edgar could tell she was staring right at him. Her stone cold expression of rage was unwavering and unkind, heralding imminent danger.

"That's Natascha Chetbrovsky...The Founder of Rights..." Draven gulped as he stared at the silent mare who was teeming with mindless anger.

"Everypony, get back. Deal with any stragglers outside the walls." Edgar commanded his troops, not wanting any of them to get killed by Natascha. "We'll handle this." As the troops stepped back, Edgar slowly drew closer to her with Draven and Spike close by. "Natascha? Can you hear me?"

The mare said nothing, and growled at them all, charging up a powerful laser in her eyes. "Aarrghh!" She bellowed as she released a beam of light from her eyes that struck Edgar in the chest, sending him flying into a nearby wall.

"Edgar!" Spike shouted over to the giant as he watched him recover from the attack.

"I'm fine." Edgar cringed as he clutched his chest and stood up. "We've got to deal with Natascha quickly, or she'll kill us all..."

Author's Notes:

And so the offensive begins! As always, I hope you enjoyed! See you all in the next chapter!