Chapter 22

Sunset’s Cavern, Everfree Forest

Ember and Spike sat huddled together, completely dumbfounded by what they were seeing. The apex predator of the Everfee Forest was nuzzling Sunset as if she were the creature’s own cub. Not only that, but Sunset seemed perfectly content to return the massive beast’s affection in kind. It was surreal to say the least. When the Ursa finally noticed their horrified expressions, it padded over to where the young couple was sitting and flashed its canines in a predatory grin.

“You know, it’s rather rude to stare at your host in such a blatant manner. Especially, when I have been gracious enough to allow the two of you to rest in my den.”

“Mom! Stop antagonizing our guests! Spike and Ember probably haven’t ever seen a live Ursa before. Cut them a little slack, ok?”

Cassiopeia let out a deep, rumbling laugh. “Be at peace, dearest daughter. What I said was merely in jest. A way to break the ice, if you will. I take it these are the intruders you attacked earlier?”

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah, well… I was only trying to protect the den. Trust me, I checked them out already and they’re not bad people. In fact, I’m pretty sure we all want the same thing: to find those treasure hunters and stop them from causing any more trouble.”

“Indeed,” Cassiopeia murmured while she inspected her guests, “Most intriguing. It appears that both the male and the female share your physical traits. Hmm. And they carry a similar scent as well. Do you believe that they may have originated from the same clan of two-legs as you?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but it seems that way. They say I’m Wyvertii. Do you happen to know what that is?”

“I am afraid not, Sunset. Even for one as long-lived as I, there are still plenty of things about this world that I have yet to gain knowledge of. Given time, and a bit of persuasion on your part, they might be willing to share their insights with you. If nothing else, it shall serve as an opportunity to interact with other two-legs again.”

Sunset shuffled her feet. “I… guess so. Mom, it’s been nearly a decade since I’ve seen other people, let alone interact with them on regular basis! You know how I feel about Equestrians.”

“All too well,” the Ursa agreed then continued in a tone that only Sunset could hear, “However, I think it would be in your best interest to move out of the den and finally live with your own kind. Take the opportunity to do so while you are still young and fertile. Who knows? Perhaps you can even persuade them to allow you to join their pack. The male certainly seems amenable enough to your company, if his arousal was anything to go by.”

Sunset blushed fiercely, purposely avoiding eye contact with Spike. “How did you know about that?! I-I thought you were resting…”

“And who ever said that resting always entails closing one’s eyes? To answer your question: yes, I witnessed the entire interaction between the three of you. It was quite amusing, if I do say so myself. Hence, the reason why I chose to reveal myself only after it had all concluded.”

Ember cautiously raised her hand. “Hello, Ms. Cassiopeia. Spike and I—we didn’t mean to intrude upon your den. And I’m really sorry about punching your… daughter? I wasn’t completely aware of what was going on at the time. I hope you can find in your heart to forgive the both of us.”

“There is nothing to forgive, two-leg. Ember, was it? Quite frankly, I would have behaved in a similar manner had I been placed in the same scenario. I often tell Sunset this, but I believe it bears repeating: always protect those whom you hold dear. It is a particularly important duty for alpha females such as ourselves. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Ember chuckled bashfully. “Oh, I wouldn’t exactly call myself an alpha female. Spike would have done the same for me had our positions been reversed.”

“Polite and humble! Do wonders ever cease? In any case, it is good to see that the two of you care for each other so deeply and without reservation. My sincerest wish is that you would extend the same courtesy towards my daughter. That is, if your mate agrees to it.”

Spike stood up and met the Ursa’s gaze. “As I told Sunset before, she’s more than welcome to join us. It would be our pleasure to teach her more about what it means to be a Wyvertii and help her gain better control over her magic.”

“Sunset, is this what you desire? To travel with them?”

Sunset grew quiet for a moment, absently twirling a strand of her hair while she pondered her decision. “I… don’t know. I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back to civilization.”

Cassiopeia gently nuzzled her daughter. “Though I did not give birth to you, I cherish the years we have spent together and consider you to be my own flesh and blood. Let none dispute this. That is why, even with a heavy heart, I must agree with Spike on this matter.”

“But what if I’m not able to—”

The Ursa stomped her paw against the cavern floor. “Enough! Self-doubt is unbecoming of you, my daughter. Yes, it shall be difficult for you to adjust at first, but you have Spike and Ember to rely upon this time. You know as well as I do that the Everfree is hardly the ideal place for two-legs. Please, Sunset. I implore you! Go with them. Experience everything that life has to offer beyond the confines of the forest.”

“You know what? You’re right! I shouldn’t be acting like a scared little kid anymore. I’m a grown woman now! I just have to… keep my chin up, and take things one day at a time. Oh Gods! Mom, I’m really gonna miss you…”

“Fear and sorrow are a natural part of life, my daughter. Just remember that you can always reach out to me whenever you are feeling lonely. So long as I draw breath, I promise that I shall always answer your call.”

Sunset hugged her adoptive mother as tightly as she could, staining the bear’s coat with her tears. “Don’t worry; I will. I love you, mom.”

“And I you, little cub.”

After taking a moment to compose herself, Sunset grabbed the spare bow & quiver laying against the wall and looked outside with a determined expression on her face. “Alright. I guess we ought to get going while it’s still light outside.”

“Before the three of you set off on your journey together, I would like to bestow a gift.”

Ember and Spike stood in awe of the Ursa as her entire coat began to glow like the nighttime sky. A strange, yet not entirely unpleasant tingling sensation washed over their bodies as they were enveloped in a midnight blue aura. After a few moments, the pair swore the cave smelled a bit fruiter, somewhat like fresh blueberries mixed with ozone perhaps? It was a scent that they couldn’t quite put their finger on.

“I have marked all three of you with my essence. Creatures big and small will know to avoid you, lest they wish to contend with my wrath. However, I must caution you: it is merely a temporary measure. The spell will gradually fade over time. Go now, young ones. Be safe in your travels and keep your wits about you.”

True to her word, Sunset strode through the dense underbrush of the Everfree Forest with an air of confidence born from years of experience. Yet, Spike and Ember could clearly tell that her mind was elsewhere. The fiery-haired woman had barely uttered a single word over the past two hours, preferring instead to communicate with simple nods and hand gestures. In a rare display of empathy, Ember walked beside her newest traveling companion and awkwardly wrapped her arm around the older woman’s shoulders. Sunset stood stock still but didn’t try to pull away. Thus emboldened, Ember then proceeded to run her fingers along Sunset’s arm.

“I never knew my mother, but it wasn’t easy for me to say goodbye to my father and leave Brimstone behind either. I’d spent my entire life there, after all. So… don’t feel like you have to suffer alone. You can talk to us whenever you want.”

Sunset felt unshed tears begin to well in her eyes. “I—thanks. That means a lot to me, Ember. Aww geez! You guys probably think I’m some big, fat crybaby now. I’m sorry…”

Spike gently rubbed her back. “Hey, there’s absolutely no reason you should ever be sorry about expressing how you feel. It’s not healthy to keep everything bottled up all the time. Trust me, I’m speaking from personal experience.”

“Really?”

Spike chuckled. “Yeah, back in Ponyville I had an ugly little episode when I was younger. Suffice to say: I was really jealous of a guy who’d been hitting on Rarity and I thought that… well, I thought it was a good idea to scare him a bit.”

“What’d you do?”

Spike blushed lightly and scratched the back of his neck. “I—uh—I might have tried to light his pants on fire with my magic. Turns out, treated cotton is extremely flammable. Who knew? Anyway, I ended up giving the poor guy a few burns and trip to the hospital. Once my mom found out, she was positively furious with me!

“After making a public apology and being told that I was on Royal Guard barracks latrine cleaning duty for the next six months, I finally decided to tell her why I did it. Mom was still pretty upset with me because I had been so reckless, but she was proud that I chose to tell her about how I truly felt about the whole situation.”

Sunset let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve had to go to extreme lengths just to survive out here: both physically and emotionally. Don’t get me wrong; you guys have been incredibly supportive so far. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate that. But it’s still… going to take me a while before I get used to the idea of letting my guard down around other people, ya know?”

The words in Ember’s mouth died out in a quiet gasp as the trio happened to stumble upon their intended destination. Spike, likewise, found it difficult to process what he was witnessing. Having accompanied the Elements Bearers on their first adventure together when they vanquished Nightmare Moon, Spike was intimately familiar with the ruins of the castle, but they seemed different this time around. More ominous, if that was even possible.

As Ember, Spike, and Sunset carefully crept closer towards the main chamber, an oily black cloud of miasma swirled about the castle ruins, hugging the ground like an unnatural fog. It seemed to slither around their legs like a serpent in the grass, sending a forboding sense of dread straight down their spines.

Due to his experience fighting King Sombra in the Crystal Empire, Spike recognized that it had to be some form of dark magic. The young Dragon Lord grit his teeth in determination. He knew that whoever or whatever had created the fog was a far bigger threat to Equestria, than a mere band of treasure seeking mercenaries.

It didn’t take long before the three Wyvertii managed to navigate their way through the ruins proper. Spike knew what to expect, given that he’d actually been in the castle before. Worn tapestries, rusted armor, faded oil-paintings, and sigils from noble houses long forgotten to the annals of time. The girls observed the scenery laid out before them with an air of cautious interest. Unfortunately, what finally awaited the trio when they finally arrived at the throne room was nothing short of horrifying.

Strewn about the marbled tiles were the grey, shriveled husks of what had once been a dozen men, their expressions locked in an eternal scream of terror. Ember and Sunset immediately cupped their hands over their mouths in a desperate attempt to prevent themselves from puking all over the floor when they witnessed two treasure hunters being levitated above the throne, and getting the life sucked out of them like a pair of human-shaped raisins.

The pained, watery gurgling sounds the men uttered nearly made Spike want to puke as well, but he knew that he had to keep himself composed at all costs. After all, everyone’s life might very well depend on it. Before he could even attempt to reassure Sunset and Ember, an amused, otherworldly chuckle echoed throughout the chamber. There, seated upon Luna’s Throne, sat Dr. Caballeron, his mouth twisted in a bemused grin. As soon as he noticed that there were three other people in the room, he cast aside the pair of desiccated corpses with an air of indifference.

“Ah, what’s this? It would seem that I have some unexpected guests. Don’t be shy, come forward and let me get a good look at all of you.”

Spike stepped forward first, in an effort to protect the girls and potentially diffuse the situation. Now that he’d gotten a better look at the doctor, something was definitely off about him. His heavy Maragonian accent was still there, of course, but it sounded as though there was another voice speaking with him at the same time. Spike nearly choked on his own spit when he saw that Caballeron’s eyes no longer had any pupils. Instead, they simply glowed with same eldritch power that surrounded the rest of the ruins, completely devoid of light.

“State your intentions, boy.”

Spike licked his lips and hoped that he didn’t sound as frightened as he felt. “My name is Spike and the other two are my traveling companions. We came here to investigate some recent… disturbances that have been upsetting the local wildlife. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“I might. Although, you’re hardly in a position to be demanding answers from me.”

“Would it help if I said please?”

Caballeron bellowed with laughter. “How droll! Three naked adventurers come traipsing into my throne room and their leader has the unmitigated gall to ask me to explain myself? HA! Well, you’ve certainly got a sturdy pair of stones dangling betwixt your legs, don’t you? Literally and figuratively! Very well then. I suppose I could take a few moments to indulge your curiosity, since you asked so politely.”

“Well, umm… that’s very generous of you. By all means, take your time.”

The entity inhabiting Caballeron’s body grinned. “Not to worry, master Spike. I shan’t waste too much of your precious time. Hmm. Where should I even begin? Ah yes! I imagine you’re familiar with the tragic tale of Princess Luna and her fall to the Elements of Harmony?”

“Uh—sure, I’ve heard of it.”

Caballeron stood up and took hold of a plainly decorated, yet deadly-looking ebony mace that had been resting against the throne. “Good, then I don’t have to waste my breath explaining it to you. Suffice to say: the fair princess imbued a great deal of mystical power into this weapon during her tenure as Nightmare Moon.

“Ah… that look of horrified comprehension on your face. You’ve dealt with dark magic before, haven’t you? Rare for menfolk in this age, but not entirely unheard of. Surely, you must understand what makes this artifact so special?”

Spike took a deep breath and chose his next words carefully. “Yeah, I did once. But I honestly don’t consider myself to be an expert on either subject.”

“Allow me to enlighten you then. I am what you might consider a… fragment of Nightmare Moon’s essence. However, I am also a distinct being in my own right. Even though my powers were derived from hand of my mistress, they have developed and grown stronger over the course of the past thousand years. You may address me as: Erebus, scion of darkness, champion of the void.”

The wheels in Spike’s mind spun furiously in a desperate attempt to process everything that Erebus had told him so far. If this abomination was what it truly claimed to be, then it would probably take the combined effort of all seven Elements of Harmony working at full power to defeat the malevolent spirit housed within the mace. Even then, Spike wasn’t entirely certain that they would work against Erebus. He’d witnessed a lot of wild and crazy things during his eighteen years of life, but an evil, sapient war relic was definitely something he’d never encountered before.

Spike felt his stomach twist into an icy knot. “I take it we can’t just pretend this never happened and go our separate ways?”

“An interesting offer, but no. You three, however unusual your appearance may be, are of use to me. I require more magic to break free of this place and assume my rightful place as this world’s one, true sovereign ruler. To that end, I shall drain those two of their lifeforce and claim you as my new host.”

“Let’s n-not be hasty. I’m sure we can work something out.”

Erebus shot a bolt of dark energy directly into the ceiling, causing chunks of masonry to crash onto the floor below. “SILENCE! Again, you presume that you have a choice in the matter!”

The Dragon Lord quickly shut his mouth, lest he anger the dark entity further. After a few moments of tense silence, Erebus was satisfied that Spike had been sufficiently cowed by the display of power. Thus, he calmly procedued with the rest of his explanation.

“The vessel I currently inhabit is that of an ordinary man. Weak and pitiful. But you, my young friend, are strong and magically gifted. I can sense it. There is so much potential to be had! Listen carefully, for I shall only make this offer once. Surrender yourself to me now and I will allow your female companions to leave the castle unharmed. What say you?”

Spike was quickly running out of options. Stalling the spirit hadn’t really done much in the way of coming up with an effective strategy to defeat him. And even with Ember and Sunset’s help, he was under no illusion that Erebus was way out of their league in terms of magical power.

He took a moment to glance over at the girls. Neither of them seemed like they believed a word Erebus was saying. That was encouraging because Spike felt much the same way. Both his aunt and mother often warned him that practitioners of dark magic were never to be trusted, no matter how dire the circumstances may be.

Spike kept his eyes trained on Erebus while he concentrated on condensing as much mystical fire into his palms as he could. With a slight nod, he prompted the girls to do the same. There would only be a very brief window of opportunity for their attack to succeed. Spike hoped that it would at least distract Erebus long enough so that he could go into “dragon mode” and maybe… just maybe have a fighting chance.

The young Dragon Lord didn’t even bother answering the question. Without a moment’s hesitation, all three Wyvertii thrusted their palms forward and unleashed a gout of multi-hued flames against the creature of darkness. After about thirty seconds or so, the trio ceased their assault and stood back to observe the damage.

Doctor Caballeron (or what was left of him) stood in the exact same position as before. Except, he bore more of a resemblance to a giant steaming lump of charcoal instead of a person. The trio was about to breath a collective sigh of relief… until he started moving again. Much to their horror, skin, hair, muscle, and organs alike began reforming and stitching themselves back together almost immediately. In mere moments, Dr. Caballeron’s body appeared as good as new and without so much as a scratch.

Erebus rubbed his temples in frustration and sighed. “What a pity. This always happens whenever I try to negotiate with heroic types. Why can’t you just give up and accept your fate, like good little mortals? No matter. It shall make breaking the three of you that much more satisfying!”

Sunset was the first to strike. Despite her lack of formal combat training, the spinning back kick she aimed at the abomination’s head was both powerful and swift. It may very well have worked had she been up against an ordinary opponent. Unfortunately, this was not the case with Erebus. With unnatural precision, the dark specter grabbed hold of Sunset’s ankle right before the ball of her foot had a chance to connect and tossed her like a ragdoll against one of the marble columns nearby. She crumpled onto the floor in a boneless heap, rendered unconscious by the impact.

Ember quickly followed suit, her fists glowing sapphire blue as she delivered a series of lightning fast, fire-fueled punches to wherever she could find an opening. Erebus merely stood his ground and allowed her ferocious onslaught to continue unabated. Hit after hit landed successfully without fail, but each time Ember wounded him, Erebus would simply heal the damaged flesh as if nothing had happened.

“Is that all you’ve got? If so, I must say that I’m rather disappointed. With that impressive build of yours, I was expecting you to put up much more of a fight. Not to worry though. Your lifeforce will still be of use to me.”

After letting out an angry snarl, Ember channeled enough magic into her fists to make them resemble a pair of twin stars, each glowing with the energy of the cosmos. Not wanting to waste her time slinging petty insults, the tomboy stepped forward and delivered a powerful uppercut to Erebus’s jaw. The resulting impact nearly vaporized his skull, but did not stop the dark entity from returning a few savage blows of his own.

Ember barely had enough time to put up her guard as she was struck from seemly every angle imaginable by a half dozen tentacle-like appendages that had sprouted out of Erebus’s back. Even though she’d trained her body to withstand such punishment, it was taking every ounce of willpower she had just to maintain the augmentation spell. If her magic reserves ran out or her concentration was, at any point, broken, Ember was certain that she wouldn’t be able to survive any more than a few seconds.

Battered, bruised and exhausted, the edges of Ember’s vision began to blur as time wore on. Then, suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a massive green and purple blur come up behind her assailant and ram him into the wall with a resounding crunch. Unable to maintain her concentration any longer, Ember’s legs quickly gave out and she collapsed onto the floor.

A tiny smile spread across her lips as she watched Spike combat the dark entity. Ember had heard her father mention a rare technique where one took on the aspects of the goddess, but she’d never actually seen the transformation in practice before. Spike was… well, he looked confident, heroic, strong, and powerful. Everything a proper Dragon Lord should be.

Were it not for her injuries, Ember would have run over to her mate and showered him with gratitude for saving her life. Unfortunately, as it was, Ember could barely move her body without feeling immense pain and she found it difficult to even breathe properly. It was a sure sign that she probably had a few bruised, if not outright broken, ribs. A wave of guilt washed over her. She desperately wanted to help, but all the tomboy could do was place her faith in Spike and hope that he was strong enough to defeat Erebus on his own.

With a thundering crack, Erebus was slammed into the wall, causing errant chunks of masonry to fly about the room. He was momentarily caught off guard by the sheer ferocity of the attack. It was like getting hit with the full force of a steam locomotive. Although now covered head to toe in purple and green scales (and significantly more robust), Erebus could tell that the dragon-like goliath standing before him was none other than the young man from before.

Erebus reached out his hand and summoned the mace. “An interesting little trick. But it won’t save you, boy!”

The dark entity swung his weapon around with the skill and grace of ballet dancer. Spike wasn’t terribly surprised by this; the mace was essentially part of Erebus. Even so, the blows that managed to connect were quite painful… despite the extra protection the Dragon Lord’s hardened scales offered. Having grown tired of his opponent’s antics, Spike clamped his foreclaw around Erebus’s wielding arm, tore it off in a single, swift motion, and flung the severed appendage towards the entrance of the throne room.

Spike’s eyes widened in shock as another arm, made from pure dark magic, formed out of the wound and punched him right in the snout. While he was distracted, Erebus wrapped his tentacles around Spike’s ankles and slammed him against the floor, back and forth repeatedly. Once the Dragon Lord had a chance to regain his senses, he dug his feet into the marble floor, and breathed a torrent of emerald flames towards his opponent’s legs.

Erebus’s flesh ignited quickly, and within a matter of seconds his entire body was alight in an eerie green glow. Not wanting to waste the opening that had been presented to him, Spike took the initiative and savagely tore apart the demon with his bare claws. He gave into his primitive, animalistic instincts, allowing his rage to take over. It was not a thing of beauty, nor could he claim that there was any sort of technique behind his attacks, but it got the job done.

Once Erebus stopped moving, Spike took a moment to rest. He was exhausted, panting heavily, and in a considerable amount of pain but he made sure to keep his eyes trained on Erebus’s mangled body the entire time. His draconic form granted him powers well beyond that of a normal man, but he was not so foolish to let his guard down.

Especially, when he saw how quickly the dark abomination could heal Caballeron’s injuries, no matter how grievous they appeared to be. That and the Dragon Lord knew all too well that he could not maintain his draconic form indefinitely. By his own rough estimation, Spike figured that he had about another minute left before the transformation would completely expire.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Before Spike could so much as utter a gasp, Erebus wrapped his tentacles around Spike’s ankles, wrists, and neck, effectively immobilizing him. As Spike was hoisted into the air, he screamed in agony as he felt dark magic course through his entire being, slowly making him weaker and weaker by the second. With a bright green flash, he instantly reverted back to being plain, old Spike.

He slowly cracked open his eyes. More out of surprise than anything else because the pain seemed to stop suddenly. Through blurred vision, he saw Erebus, fully healed and sporting an arrogant grin, looking back at him. He couldn’t help it. His body was going into shock. Spike proceed to puke all over the floor and himself.

Erebus shook his head. “Look at you. Quivering in fear and covered in your own vomit. How pathetic. Yet, I was not mistaken about your potential. Cease this foolish charade and surrender yourself to me. Think, boy! Think of how powerful the two us could be together! No one would be able to stop us. Not even the avatars of the sun, moon, love, magic, and Element Bearers combined. All would bow down to our might!”

“Burn… in… Tartarus,” Spike rasped.

“A stubborn one, aren’t you? Perhaps you don’t think I understand how you feel. But I do. I most certainly do. You’re young and still trying to find your proper place in the world. You want everyone to respect you, to accept you for all that you have become with open arms and open hearts, unconditionally.

“A noble sentiment, if a bit naïve. You know as well as I do that menfolk are often narrow-minded and judgmental. Sometimes, they must be coerced into accepting the way of things. Either through fear, violence, bribery or a combination thereof. Join me, Spike. And you’ll never have to worry about people casting their judgment upon you ever again. All it takes is yes.”

In his entire life, Spike had never hated himself more than at that very moment. What Erebus said was true to a certain extent. He craved respect. He craved acceptance. It made his skin crawl just knowing that he’d even entertained such thoughts. But on the other hand, Spike had no desire to give up his own humanity or bring harm to those he cared about in order to gain either of those things. Otherwise, he would no longer be himself. He would become the very monster he sought to destroy.

What else could he do though? Spike felt utterly helpless. Ember was propped up against the wall, barely conscious, bloody and bruised. Sunset hadn’t so much as moved a muscle since she was slammed into the column. Spike knew it was possible that she could still be alive, but he wasn’t one hundred percent certain. Everyone was depending on him to defeat Erebus and he barely had the strength to keep his eyes open. History would remember him as the weakest and possibly shortest reigning Dragon Lord of all time. The thought was enough to make him want to sob right then and there. But he knew it wouldn’t serve any purpose if he did. The situation truly seemed hopeless.

Just as he was about to give up hope, a voice called out to him. Well, maybe not exactly a voice but more like a feeling, a strong emotional presence, if you will. Spike couldn’t exactly explain it, yet knew what he had to do. The voice told him so. It encouraged him to focus on his hand. To imagine that hand wielding a sword, a weapon that could smite the demon before him. And so, he did.

What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. In a brilliant flash of crimson light, The Bloodstone Blade suddenly appeared in his hand as if it had been summoned. Given its mythical origins, Spike had very little reason to doubt that the sword may have developed some level of sapience over the centuries. As if to answer his question, the ruby red crystal on the blade’s pommel thrummed with power, casting a pleasant warmth though his body.

Spike now understood what needed to be done. He closed his eyes, gathered all the remaining strength he had left, and thrust the sword forward. The blade pierced Erebus’s chest like a hot knife through butter but curiously enough, it did not cause him to bleed. Instead, the wound oozed pure darkness that continuously trickled down the length of the sword and until it was absorbed by the crystal. The tendrils that had once been wrapped around him, gradually began to dissipate and in no time at all, Spike was finally rid of them and stood upon on his own two feet once again.

He glanced down at Dr. Caballeron’s lifeless corpse and sighed. Spike hadn’t intended to kill the man, but it was the unfortunate result of a dark entity constantly repairing a multitude of severe wounds over a short period of time. The poor doctor’s body simply couldn’t handle the strain once he was disconnected from Erebus. In hindsight, Spike realized, it was probably for the best. Had Caballeron survived the ordeal, it was unlikely that he would have remained sane.

The blade thrummed once more, notifying its master that Erebus was not entirely defeated yet. Spike gripped the hilt tightly and voiced his gratitude. He knew that an artifact of such evil power would need to be destroyed completely, lest it fall into the hands of another hapless treasure seeker.

Spike slowly walked towards to the entrance of the throne room, and sure enough, the mace was lying exactly where he’d thrown it earlier. As he got closer to the weapon, he heard a voice whisper in his ear, imploring him to reconsider. Erebus promised him power, strength, respect, and riches beyond his wildest dreams once again. But Spike wouldn’t have it. Disgusted by the dark entity’s feeble attempt to seduce him, the Dragon Lord raised the Bloodstone Blade and brought it down on the mace as hard as he could.

The weapon shattered into a thousand tiny fragments as a banshee-like wail echoed through the halls. Erring on the side of caution, Spike willed mystic fire into the blade and used it to immolate the remaining fragments. With his task finally complete, the sword thrummed its approval and disappeared in a flash of crimson light, returning from whence it came.

Now that the threat was gone, Spike scrambled over to Sunset and placed his fingers on her neck. Much to his relief, he could feel a pulse although it was somewhat weak. Given his own injuries and battle fatigue, it was quite difficult to carry an unconscious woman of Sunset’s size piggy-back style… but managed it well enough.

Ember hobbled over to the pair and grinned. “There were a few moments where I thought we were goners for sure but despite long odds, you managed to kill that bastard anyway.”

“Are you sure you should even be walking around like that? No offense, but you look like you’re in pretty bad shape…”

Ember scrunched her eyebrows. “Speak for yourself. We all look like shit. I used a bit of healing magic on myself, so it should last long enough until we get some proper medical treatment. Is Sunset ok? I wasn’t sure if she—uh—hit her head too hard on that column or not.”

“Yeah, she’s still alive. But I imagine she’ll have the mother of all headaches when she finally wakes up. Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t break any bones.”

Ember let out a raspy chuckle. “Probably ‘cause those enormous tits of hers took the brunt of the impact. All joking aside, I really do hope she didn’t break anything. Not so sure about me though. Nggh! Fuck! I think I’ve got at least a couple bruised ribs. Hurts just to breathe.”

“I’ve never done it with people before but I could try to use the same teleportation spell I used to send letters with. I mean, look at us. We’re barely able to stand, let alone go hiking around the Everfree Forest. I know exactly where PGH is, so I think it might be worth the risk.”

Ember winced when she thought about all the ways the spell could go wrong, but nodded in agreement. “Don’t suppose we have much choice at this point. Alright. Give it a whirl and see what happens.”

Ponyville General Hospital, Ponyville

Spike felt as though he was floating on cloud nine with nary a care in the world. It was difficult for him to focus on anything because his thoughts were fuzzy and unorganized. But he did recognize the sound of someone humming. The only thing Spike knew for certain was that the voice belonged to a woman. With all of the females who had become involved in Spike’s life, he couldn’t possibly guess which one of them it could be just by humming alone. Even though his body urged him to continue sleeping, his curiosity won out in the end.

Spike slowly cracked open his eyes. “Mrgghh. Wuh. Where am I?”

“Ponyville Hospital, darling.”

There was no mistaking that elegant, Canterlotian accent. Sitting on a chair across from Spike’s hospital bed was none other than Rarity Belle. She was dressed in a white, silk blouse and her favorite pair of turtle shell glasses sat perched upon the bridge of her nose. Given that she was sitting cross legged and Spike could clearly see her stockings, he assumed that she must have been wearing a skirt of some kind. She immediately closed her sketchbook and shifted her position so that she could converse with Spike face to face.

“Ugh… my head. Everything’s still kind of fuzzy. When did I get here?”

Rarity smiled. “That would be the painkillers, I’m afraid. From what Nurse Redheart told me, you apparently teleported yourself and two other women right into the middle of the lobby. Quite an impressive feat! Especially, when you consider the extent of your injuries. That was about… eighteen hours ago, I believe?”

“The girls! Are they ok? I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to—”

Rarity placed her hand on Spike’s shoulder and rubbed it gently. “Shhh. Relax, darling. I assure you that they’re receiving the best medical care possible. You can rest easy knowing that they’re in good hands.”

“I-I know but… I’m still worried about them. Did the doctors give you any updates on how they’re doing?”

“Not directly, no. But from what I understand, both of them are slated for a full recovery. Out of the three of you, the blue-haired woman seemed to be in the worst shape. The poor dear had all sorts of cuts and bruises. Last I saw her, she was covered in bandages and in quite a bit of pain.”

Spike frowned. “That would be Ember. She’s… my mate. Not that Sunset isn’t important, of course! But—umm—you know how it is with relationships. I just wish I’d been able to help Ember and Sunset out sooner. Then they wouldn’t have gotten hurt so—”

Rarity poked Spike’s chest. “Now, you listen here mister! I don’t know all the details of what transpired in the Everfree Forest, but I do that you are one of the bravest, most kind-hearted people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being acquainted with. I’m sure you did everything you possibly could, given the difficult circumstances you had to face. Your—erm— female companions are bound to be aware of that as well, I’d wager.”

“I suppose you’re right. Maybe I should stop worrying about it so much”

Rarity threw back her head and laughed. “No two bits about it! Of course, I’m right! In any case, I’m happy to see that you’ve finally managed to find someone special to share your life with.”

“Uhh… well, the thing is… she’s not the only one.”

Rarity gasped. “Spikey-Wikey, you sly dog! Making fair maidens in foreign lands swoon wherever you step foot~”

Spike’s face turned beet red. “Rarity! It’s not like that…”

“Oh, don’t be so put out, darling! I meant that as a compliment. You’re polite, handsome, in excellent shape, and delightfully charming. I dare say, all the qualities that women the world over hold dear. Have a bit more confidence in yourself, hmm?”

“I’ll… try to keep that mind. So, why are you in Ponyville? I thought you moved your main shop to Canterlot permanently a few months ago.”

Rarity nodded. “I did indeed. However, once I heard about what happened from Twilight, I came to PGH as quickly as I could. Between Coco and Sassy, I’m confident that the Boutique will run like a well-oiled machine even if I’m not there for a little while. Why do you ask? Am I not allowed to visit one of my most cherished friends while they’re injured?”

“No! I mean—GAH—that’s not what I meant! Stupid painkillers.”

Rarity giggled. “Not to worry, Spike. I’m only teasing you.”

“Yeah well, I still feel bad for asking such a dumb question. Seriously, though. I really do appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to come visit me. I missed you.”

Rarity kissed Spike on the cheek. “As did I, darling.”

Sunset stood in the doorway of Spike’s room, clad in only a hospital gown, with an uncertain expression on her face. A very beautiful, very posh, Canterlot socialite was sitting on the chair next to his bed, giving him an affectionate kiss on the cheek like it was the most casual thing in the world. Seeing as the two occupants in the room had already noticed her, Sunset decided that there simply wasn’t any point in going back to her own room. Even if it was pretty awkward.

“Oh, hey. Just thought I’d drop by and check up on you. If you’re busy, I can always come back later…”

Rarity got up from her seat and gave Sunset a quick hug. “Ah! You must be Sunset Shimmer! A pleasure to meet you, darling!”

“Uhh… likewise?”

“Oh, my goodness! Where are my manners today? I nearly forgot to introduce myself! My name is Rarity Belle. An old friend of Spike’s and the proprietor of Carousel Boutique. Is there something wrong, dear? You seem somewhat… out of sorts. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable with my hug. My sincerest apologies if it did.”

Sunset rubbed her neck and chuckled. “No, it’s cool. I’m not bothered by hugs. Honestly, I just feel like I’m a little bit out my element here.”

“Perish the thought! One can never truly feel like they’re ‘in the zone’ while wearing one of those hideous hospital gowns. For Celestia’s sake, they should at least be a more natural color than that awful shade of LIME GREEN!”

Sunset sighed in frustration. “No, I meant—you know what? Nevermind. How’s Spike doing?”

“Like I could sleep for a thousand years. But other than that, a little sore. Nothing too serious. How are you?” Spike replied.

“The doc said I suffered a mild concussion and some bruising to my boobs. Believe it or not, he said that they prevented me from getting any broken bones. I mean, they’re a little tender right now but I’ve put up with worse.”

Spike giggle snorted. “I can’t believe it!”

“What? What’s so damn funny?!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at your injuries. You just reminded me of a joke Ember said earlier. Anyway, I’m glad you’re ok. I was worried that you’d seriously hurt yourself.”

Sunset suddenly found the floor tiles to be the most interesting thing in the room. “Oh—erm—that’s very thoughtful of you, Spike. Come to think of it, no one’s really taken an interest in my wellbeing since I ran away from the school. Well, other people, at any rate. It makes me happy that you care about me so much already, even though we only just became friends.”

“Uh—sure, don’t mention it.”

Rarity pinched Spike’s cheeks. “That’s my Spikey-Wikey! A gentleman of the finest caliber!”

The seamstress nearly wet herself with laughter as she witnessed a Dragon Lord blush like a school girl while he tried to preserve his dignity underneath a thin cotton blanket. Even though he’d become noticeably manlier since last they met, Spike was still just as modest and easy to tease as before. Rarity almost felt bad about embarrassing him in front of his new lady friend.

An unanswered question lingered in the back of Rarity’s mind as she began to compose herself once more. Like everyone else in Equestria, she’d heard about the controversial royal declaration made by Princess Luna and endorsed by the remaining three monarchs. Granted, a hospital was hardly the place to judge anyone for their choice of attire… but Rarity had to know if the rumors surrounding Spike and his mysterious “Wyvertii” companions were, in fact, true.

“Pardon my frankness, darling. But there’s question I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Sure, Rarity. Go ahead and ask. I don’t mind.”

Rarity bit her lip. “Is it true that you’ve chosen to embrace your native heritage and live in the nude as they do? Not that I’m judging you, of course! Far from it! I think it’s rather refreshing to see someone who’s willing to defy the stodgy constraints set by modern society.”

“To be honest, it wasn’t a decision that I felt completely comfortable with at first but I don’t regret making it. If I had to explain it, I’d say that being nude all the time has become second nature to me now. Like this is how I was always meant to live. Suffice to say, mom and Twi weren’t exactly thrilled about my newly adopted lifestyle. Even with a royal decree, Equestrians don’t just change their minds overnight. Especially when it comes to centuries old, deeply-ingrained social taboos like public nudity. Some people have been very supportive of us so far, but the girls and I have also run into our fair share of hecklers as well.”

Rarity sighed. “Unfortunately, such mixed reactions are to be expected from the general populace. I may be a clothing designer, but I believe that it is imperative for people to be able to feel confident in their own skin, just as much as any piece of attire. If only there was some way to promote a healthier attitude regarding—IDEAAAAA~~!”

“Uh oh. I know that look. What are you scheming in that pretty little head of yours?”

Rarity clicked her tongue and waggled her finger. “I’d hardly call it ‘scheming’. More like an opportunity, if you will. As luck would have it, Lord Fancy Pants will be hosting his annual charity ball in three days’ time. Coco and I, of course, shall be attending but we’ve yet to decide on our plus two for the evening. What do you say, Spike? Would you and one of your companions like to come along as our distinguished guests?”

“I’m sorry, Rares. I don’t feel comfortable just leaving Ember here all by herself while I go out partying. It wouldn’t be right. She needs my support now more than ever…”

Before Rarity could answer him, Apple Bloom gently knocked on the door. Directly in front of her, seated in a wheelchair, was a very glum-looking Ember. It took a Spike a moment to recognize his mate, as she was covered in bandages and clad in the same, ugly hospital gown that he and Sunset were also wearing. Since he was still too woozy from all the painkillers, Spike didn’t think it was good idea to get out of bed just yet, so he simply waved at his mate.

Ember gave a weak smile. “Hey. Just wanted to let everyone know that I’m still alive.”

“Gods, you look terrible!” Sunset whispered.

“Yeah, well I feel like crap too. Doctors said I have three cracked ribs and a bruised liver. It’s gonna take a while before they heal, so I guess I’m stuck here for the time being.”

Spike frowned. “I’m so sorry....”

“Don’t you dare start beating yourself up over what happened! I’m a big girl, Spike. I knew what I was getting myself into. If I had to get a bit roughed up to make that disgusting freak disappear, then that’s the price I’m willing to pay. It might suck for a little while, but I’ll eventually be back to my old self. I promise.”

“Fair enough. But you can’t blame me for worrying about the woman I love.”

Ember’s cheeks flushed pink. “O-ok, I get it! There’s no need to get all sappy! As far as this whole ball thing is concerned, you can go if you want. Apple Bloom already promised to check up on me from time to time. Maybe I can even convince Delmira to come visit as well. Don’t worry; I’ll be well taken care of while you’re gone.”

“Are you sure?”

Ember let out an irritated huff. “Yes! And why don’t you take Sunset with you while you’re at it? She looks like she could use a little bit of fun and relaxation. If nothing else, it’ll help her get used to being around people again. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Me? Going to some upscale ball in Canterlot and schmoozing with a bunch of rich socialites? I’m not so sure that’s such a good idea. I mean, look at me! I’m hardly what you’d call a proper lady…” Sunset reluctantly admitted.

“That’s precisely why I think you should go, darling. With few exceptions, the vast majority of Equestria’s upper class are a selfish lot. Oftentimes, they view the world and those who live in it, through a ridiculously narrow and unrealistic set of standards. Your presence there would undoubtedly turn quite a few heads and shake up the establishment! It’s also a good opportunity for Spike to solidify his status as the new Dragon Lord during a public event.”

Sunset put her hands on her hips. “Let’s say, hypothetically, that we both agree to go to this thing. What the heck would we wear? In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not like either us have any bits to pay for some fancy duds.”

“Why, that’s the best part about my plan. Neither of you will have to worry about what to wear because you won’t be wearing anything at all! Expect for scented oils and perhaps a bit of body paint here and there. Ooooh I can’t wait to see the scandalized looks on their faces!”

Sunset scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. “Hold on a second. I may have been living in the Everfree for the past eight years, but since when has it been socially acceptable to just show up at parties butt naked? That’ll get us arrested for public indecency… right?”

“Ah, well… normally it would. But I have special legal privileges since I’m the Dragon Lord. Wyvertii cultural practices are officially protected by Equestrian law now. That includes our choice of attire… or lack thereof in this case.”

“Wait, so you mean to tell me that I don’t have to start wearing clothes again? Like ever?” Sunset asked.

“Not if you don’t want to. I might be the ruler of all Wyvertii but I would never force you to do something that you weren’t comf—”

Sunset immediately ripped off her hospital gown and glared at Spike. “When were you planning on telling me about this, huh?!”

“Look, I’m sorry, Sunset. I kind of… forgot about it while we were talking in the cave. It wasn’t intentional, I swear!”

Sunset’s expression softened. “Yeah, you’re right. You obviously had more important things on your mind at the time. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. This God’s awful headache is making me a bit short-tempered today…”

“Totally understandable. I’m sure I’ll be pretty cranky once these painkillers wear off.”

Rarity daintily cleared her throat. “Now that we’re all back on the same page again, have the two of you given any more thought towards my offer?”

“I’m ok with it as long as Sunset is.”

Sunset slowly nodded her head in agreement.

“Ah, excellent! You’re more than welcome to stay with me at my condominium for the next few days, if you’d like. Although, I’m afraid I only have one guest room available. You two will either have to share the bed or draw straws as to who will be sleeping on the couch. Oh, and if there’s time, we might even be able to squeeze in a spa date and do some shopping! Doesn’t that sound exciting?”