The entirety of Chrysalis’s main hive was lit with festivity in the same manner every other part in Equestria and the Crystal Empire were. Everyone cheered for the hard fought, blood earned victory that had been achieved. They cheered for the liberation of their homes. They cheered for the freedom they were now enjoying and would fight to maintain. They shouted to the skies in glee for Spike’s safe return and victory over Hraljord. They cried and honoured the countless that had fallen during the Dark Regime. They celebrated the end of the caribou.

Chrysalis sipped her drink taking a moment to relax and admire the scene a few years in the past she thought as impossible. Ponies and zebras, saddle arabians and griffons, changelings and diamond dogs, donkeys and minotaurs; all of them getting along and partying hard while they cried and laughed and hugged and danced regardless of their species.

“It’s a nice view, isn’t it?” Chrysalis whispered to herself.

The changeling queen then looked at her left to see Spike surrounded by many of his friends while he sang using a device they called ‘karaoke’.

“So strong, my face is. You punch, break fingers! Kick me, you’re limping! Stab me, you’re bleeding! I am be angerous now, be throwing rock at me!~”

Chrysalis didn’t know what gender of music that was or what Spike was exactly singing, but the fact that she saw him having fun without slaughtering caribou involved made her smile. It was something strange for her, she could still remember the whimpy little coward she saw during her failed wedding invasion. Now transformed into something that was nothing like that small, young dragon. Did she consider him an ally? Of course. A confidant? Two years had ensured that. A friend? ...Yes.

“A friend.” Chrysalis whispered before taking another sip of her drink. Before the caribou she would’ve laughed at the notion of having ‘friends’. But now she had plenty of them, most of which being her former enemies. And with them came a boundless river of love for her changelings to feed. Heck, a great number of her subjects had learned to actually give and share love.

Chrysalis looked at Spike again taking another sip of her drink.

“I cannot feel pain! I might be insane! I am victory! I write history! Feel my fist...on your face! You. Hate. This! I. FEEL. GREAT!~”

Chrysalis felt a sudden wave of sadness erupt from her gut. She had spent centuries not caring for anyone else but herself and her hive, but now she cared for the dragon that had spearheaded their victory. At first he was nothing more than another spy or an ally at best, but over the course of a few months everything had changed. And when the battle in Ponyville erupted he showed a brutally that would be surpassed in the coming days. But the fact remained that he had planned and led the assault...with vicious and righteous anger. In that moment he had gained her friendship.

“I think it’s good decision, that I destroy and teach you! You put on very fast shoes, and try to run away! I’m very strong and fast though! You’re going down today!~”

She took another sip of her drink hearing everyone surrounding the dragon cheer and applaud once the song ended. She smiled again feeling something trickle down her cheeks.

Spike looked happy. He had achieved his goal and his home was free. He was surrounded by those that loved him for whatever reason.

And despite that, Chrysalis couldn’t feel an ounce of love, joy, happiness, or merriment coming from her dear friend.

“Found anything, Chrysalis?” A familiar voice asked.

“Nothing relevant.” Chrysalis lied to the lavender princess putting away the scroll she was ‘reading’. She leaned back on her comfy chair to look at the rebuilt and improved library in Canterlot.

“Nothing wrong here, here, here, or here.” Another voice called before putting a stack of thick books on the table making it creak.

“Almost a month and no matter how many times we read and re-read I can’t find anything wrong.” Twilight said massaging her temples, while Moondancer wearing a cleric robe, offered her a cup of tea.

“Then Discord was right. Nothing went wrong and we brought Spike back.” Chrysalis snarked back tossing aside the scroll on the table.

“No. I refuse to believe that thing is Spike! My little brother and number one assistant is not that thing burning cities to the ground. I know I did something wrong, something I overlooked, some variable that I messed up!”

“NOOO!” Came an angered shout from the a nearby table followed by a loud stomp. “Why would they do that! Don’t spare the bastard, kill him! Shadowside tried to conquer the world and kill you all, why are you sparing him!?”

“Torch, I do love the deafening volume of your voice, but why must you read those comics in here while we work?” Chrysalis said glaring at the dragon closing the comic on his hands.

“Because I can.” He said grabbing another comic. “And because Ember is with Celestia doing creators knows what, so I have nothing better to do. That, and yesterday I learned these comics go in order, so I’m reading them again. Now I can understand the stories.” He flipped the comic open. “The Justice Friends better kill Shadowside if they know what’s good for them. That bastard can’t be trusted.”

“Lord Torch--”

“Just Torch, I’m not the Dragon Lord.”

“Torch, would you please leave and let us work in silence?” Twilight asked with annoyance.

Torch smirked. “Try and make me, Princess. But even if I leave you won’t get anything out of your work. You’ve read those stupid things so many times that even I know how Magical Transfiguration Via Nexus Metamorphosis works, and you still haven’t found anything.” He flipped another page. “Ah, even Batpony knows Shadowside has to die.”

The three mares did a double take. “How do you-” Twilight began.

“You talk out loud when you read.” He pointed at Twilight without looking at her. “You don’t notice anything around you when you’re reading.” He pointed at Moondancer. “And you fall asleep half the time.” He pointed at Chrysalis.

The three mares blushed.

“We-well, that doesn’t explain why you don’t choose somewhere else to read those comics.” Twilight said watching Torch smirk with glee. “Now that I think of it, why are you reading those comics?”

“Princess Flurry Heart and Princess Skyla have all the comics up to date. These are their comics, actually.” He flipped the page. “Ha! Aquamare is with Batpony. Superdrake, you’re wrong this time around. Anyways, I saw them reading them a few days after that whole fiasco in the Crystal Empire. It...sparked my interest, seeing a dragon being one of the protagonists of a story.”

“And now you’re a fan.” Moondancer said.

“I guess.” Torch shrugged. “I do want to see this ‘convention’ they told me about.”

“Then why aren’t you with them?” Chrysalis asked seeing Torch flip another page. “Flurry and Skyla adore those silly comics.”

“I would, but they’re back in the Crystal Empire, probably sitting in front of the Crystal Heart like when I found --Don’t you try to bring the Apple Lantern Corps into play, Apple Lantern--them the first time.”

Silence fell in the library for a few seconds until Torch flipped another page of his comic.

“Hey, I have a question. Is Superdrake based on your Spike? Flurry Heart and Skyla didn’t want to tell me. I mean, the scales, and the body, and that crest. It kinda looks like those statues and pictures I’ve seen of him.”

“Yeah, it is.” Chrysalis answered. “And Wonder Amazon is based on me.”

“Really? What a let down.” Torch teased making Chrysalis sneer at him. “But this Superdrake is...much different than the Spike that brought the caribou down.”

Twilight spread her wings and leaped to where Torch was. Landing at his side she saw an image of Superdrake trying to defend a beaten and defeated Shadowside from Batpony, Aquamare, and Bug Pony Hunter while Apple Lantern, Wonder Amazon, and The Flare didn’t know what to do standing at the sidelines.

“The creator of these comic book series, Brilliant Draw, is the daughter of the author of the comic book series called The Power Ponies. After the Rise, Brilliant Draw tried to continue the series her mother left inconclusive but couldn’t. Then she started her own project and made several interviews, to me included.” She stared at Superdrake for several moments. “She based the character of Superdrake from Spike, yes...but from the Spike prior to the Fall.”

“Oh…” Torch whispered feeling a tad uncomfortable. “I really like Superdrake, you know? My favorite character is Batpony. No superpowers and still can kick some serious tail. But I’d say Superdrake is a close second. My favorite story is when he is corrupted by his dragon greed and how he overcomes it.” Torch let out a heavy sigh. “If only that could be done.”

“Actually, Spike did overcome his greed and turn back.” Twilight said remembering that chaotic birthday.

“HA! If only it were true.” Torch said shaking his head.

Twilight sat beside him. “It’s true. It happened during his seventeenth birthday. He was going to eat a Fire Ruby he aged for himself, but in the end he gave it to Rarity. During the course of the day ponies gave him several dozens of gifts. That sparked his greed induced growth. I didn’t know that though, so I tried everything to find what was wrong with him; I even took him to a veterinarian--”

“You took a dragon to a doctor for animals.” Torch droned. “I don’t know if I should be angry or laugh.”

“--I apologized for that! Anyways, Spike started to steal everything he laid his eyes on; books, apples, hats, gold, cakes. You name it. So much to the point he grew over fifty meters tall. He also dispatched a group of Wonderbolts after kidnapping Rarity. Spike climbed up the nearby mountain until he saw the Fire Ruby he gave to Rarity. I don’t know what happened, and he never told me everything, but he said he remembered Rarity and then turned back. He said something about his desire to come back to us was stronger than his greed.”

Torch looked at her for several moment with unblinking eyes. “Th...that’s impossible.” Torch put down his comic. “No dragon that has given to greed has ever snapped out of it. They turn into nothing more than mindless beasts.”

“Well, he did and that served as a motive to create his own code. Yes, the one the Followers use.” Chrysalis said before Torch could speak again. “Not such a pathetic little fool now, eh Torch?”

Torch brought a claw to his chin for a moment ignoring Chrysalis. “If that’s true, then I suppose the part of Superdrake being vulnerable to magic is also because of your Spike?” Twilight affirmed. “And did you really hatch him? I know that story Celestia swears it’s true, but I never believed it.” Twilight affirmed again. “Are you sure your Spike was an actual dragon and not some kind of horrid abomination? He didn’t even had wings.”

“What do you mean by that?” Twilight asked glaring at the imposing dragon.

“Dragons are either hatched with wings or sprout them before turning ten years old. We cannot overcome our greed if we succumb to it. We are NOT hatched by magic. And most certainly, magic is useless against us.” Torch declared. “I know Ember is able to track him, but your Spike sounds like an abomination more than a dragon like I said before.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense. Spike had every other trait dragons are known for: outstanding physical strength, abnormal superb stamina, nigh invulnerable scales, sharp diamond cutting claws and diamond eating fangs, a fire breath that can reach up to three thousand degrees celsius, night vision, high pain resistance and rapid regeneration, immunity to drugs, toxins, and poisons, and capability of eating almost anything. For goodness sakes, he told me he’s able to swim in lava. That’s molten magma!” Moondancer retorted joining the conversation. “Why should Spike be any different from other dragons?”

Torch was silent for a moment before getting up. “Any of you, shoot a spell at me. Any spell.” Torch ordered while the three mares exchanged looks. “DO IT!” He roared making Twilight jump and blast him with a lavender beam. To their surprise the beam hit Torch and nothing happened.

“See? Try again.” Torch said before Twilight blasted him with another beam, followed by a mind controlling spell from Chrysalis. Again, nothing happened. Twilight casted another spell making his face shimmer and then, nothing. “What was that?”

“I was trying to give you a mustache.” Twilight said standing up. “I...I don’t get it, Spike adored that spell. He always wanted a real mustache.” She frowned. “Spike always volunteered to be my test subject when trying out new spells! Each and every single one worked. He even knew how much magic and what spell I was casting before the spell came into effect.”

“Now that you mention it...one time he asked my changelings to beat him up using their magic empowered weapons. According to their report it worked. I didn’t believe it when I read it. I thought the Heart made magic affect him once he got it. Well, until he talked about it during the Trial.” Chrysalis said crossing her arms.

“Hey, Twilight, wasn’t he able to cast spells also?” Moondancer asked.

“He could do magic!?” Torch half-yelled.

“No! No...well, not really? I mean, he was able to send and get letters from Princess Celestia because of a bond they shared using his fire.” Twilight reasoned.

“A dragon able to do magic? That’d be the end of this world. The only magic a dragon can do is through the Bloodstone Scepter and nothing else. And even that has it’s limits.” Torch explained giving and oddly relieved sigh.

A stretched out moment of awkward silence followed. It was then broken by Chrysalis.

“He said he remembered.” Chrysalis said with a frown gaining the attention of the other three present. “No, not remembered. Felt. He was able to recognize the Crystal Heart and The Alicorn Amulet because it felt familiar. That’s because he had been affected by them before. Like you and your magic or Celestia’s or my own.”

“You mean like some sort of photographic memory?” Moondancer inquired.

Chrysalis shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think it’s more akin to magic leaving an imprint on him or something similar to it.”

Twilight hummed. “If that’s true, then I suppose the more time Spike spent surrounded, or being afflicted, by a magic source he would grow familiar with that magic. In theory, the same could be said if a single powerful source of magic hit him. For example, when I hatched him.”

“So he was a sponge for magic, Princess Twilight? But that still doesn’t explain why you were able to hatch him in the first place.” Torch’s eyes rolled to the left in deep thought for a moment before frowning. “And how did Celestia got a hold of his egg in the first place? Or did Celestia also found him in a field of sunflowers as an egg like in the comics?

“Almost. Celestia found Spike’s egg by accident a few years before I was even born in an abandoned dragon nest near Vanhoover.” Twilight replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. “She also found several other hatched eggs. She tried to find the dragons, his parents, but couldn’t.”

Torch closed his eyes for a moment. “A small egg, eh? It’s not uncommon for dragons to abandon an egg if it’s small and fragile when the rest of the clutch is far more valuable.” Torch reopened his eyes. The three mares saw a hint of sympathy on them. “Did Celestia spend time with the egg?”

Chrysalis chuckled. “Yeah, a lot. Cadance and Blueblood told me all about it. She even sang lullabies to it most nights.”

“She tried several times to hatch Spike herself, but failed every time. Celestia figured only a unique source of pure magical discharge could hatch the egg. With that in mind she used the egg to find the Element of Magic, that’s me, and ‘kill two birds with one stone’.” Twilight giggled. “I can still remember how I turned my parents into pot plants and I made Spike turn gigantic!”

“And almost turn Canterlot into a magical post-apocalyptic city if Celestia hadn’t showed up?” Moondancer teased with a tiny smirk adorning her lips. Twilight blushed and smiled in response.

“So not even a minute after he was hatched, with magic, you also made him a giant hatchling, with magic.” Torch deadpanned.

“More like making him grow up. I think he was the same size as your true form, Torch.” Twilight replied making Torch groan and rub his forehead.

“I’ll ignore that part for my own sake. Celestia did the right thing by spending time with the egg, her constant attentions nourished the whelp well. How many years did Celestia spend with the egg? Four, five?”

“Around ten before Purple Smart here hatched Spike.” Chrysalis answered earning an unamused stare from Twilight.

“Ten years? The egg must’ve been rather weak then. I’m surprised Celestia managed to save it.” Torch said crossing his arms. “I think that explains his tenacity for survival.”

“What do you mean by that, Torch?” Chrysalis asked raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t attend the Trial because, as your Spike himself confessed, I feared it was some sort of trap on his part. You have no idea what I had to deal with after he publicly threatened to invade and slaughter the Dragon Lands. As if I didn’t had enough troubles on keeping several groups of dragons wanting to go pillaging Equestria at bay.” Torch snorted. “But I did watch the Trial, and time and time again your Spike proved to have an outstanding will for survival. Even for a dragon. He overcame the Caribou’s Curse. He set himself on an impossible task to free his home. He went through countless tests and hardships coming on top each time.” Torch took a glance at the comic resting on the desk.

“He had to sit and...frolic with the caribou and their king. Play along as a loyal subject willing to do anything for them. He even fought and defeated a Windigo through great loss. All that and more to achieve his ultimate goal. Uncaring for how much it twisted him.” Torch stayed silent for a moment. “Ember is right. We owe your Spike a great debt...I owe him a great debt. With the power Dainn held I doubt even I could’ve stopped him. And my darling little Ember…”

“Torch…” Twilight whispered seeing the tender side of the fearsome former Dragon Lord.

Torch shook his head. “What I mean to say is that he pulled through every time, even before that accursed Fall. Not many can claim such a thing.” Torch smirked.

“He was truly one of a kind, wasn’t he?” Moondancer said with a nostalgic tone.

“Yeah...one of a kind.” Chrysalis said in a similar tone.

“One of a kind.” Twilight said looking at the comic, her gaze focusing on Superdrake. “One of a kind.” Twilight said once more before her eyes widened. “One of a kind.” She repeated feeling her heart beat faster and faster. “One...of...a...kind.” She repeated slowly, her voice sounding cracked. “I...I think…” She gulped, her hands trembling. “I think I figured out...what I did wrong…”

Chrysalis and Moondancer looked at Twilight with shock and disbelief. Meanwhile, Torch raised a proverbial eyebrow.

“Yes?” Torch said rolling his left hand.

Twilight, with wide eyes and body trembling, turned her head to look at Torch’s face. “Remember c-calling Spike a s-sponge?”

The large refugee camp was bustling with activity. Although much of that activity was done by children or the ones guarding it. Much like the other camps they were divided in sectors to ease and speed up accommodations, food and water distribution, medical assistance and more. Plus it made things easier and more practical for the guards allowing them a breathing room.

There were several volunteers amongst the refugees helping the guards, seeing as they couldn’t do much else. The refugees couldn’t go outside the overall perimeter of the camp until further notice. And they were being watched 24/7 by either the guards or the F.M.A. Sure, there had been a few incidents here and there, but nothing more than a dispute over trivial matters or squabbling.

“Maybe those executions did drive the point home.” Trixie said wearing a full-plate armor. Her head deprived from her mane or her magician hat.

“Warlady Trixie, we have a problem.” A muscular cow said coming from behind her.

Tearing away her view from her elevated view of the camp, Trixie stood up. “What do you need Trixie for?”

“Some of our sisters overhead a couple of idiots making up their own theories of what we females had to endure during the Fall.” The cow spat. “Currently a couple of Followers have managed to control the situation, but I don’t they they’ll be able to hold our sisters back for long.”

“Where are the Scaled Guards?” Trixie asked following the cow down the hill she had been sitting atop for a few hours.

“Prince Shining Armor recalled them all half an hour ago. He also said they’ll be contacting the Warladies and the leader of the Followers soon.”

“Trixie understands.” She said without much care. “Trixie thinks the moment to fight that abomination is coming.” The cow agreed.

Trixie glanced the ground with a scowl. The refugee influx had ended a week ago, just as the plan dictated. Sure, it might look cold from an outsider's view, but even if they wanted they couldn’t provide for the entire populace of the other countries and kingdoms for long. After the menace was dealt with, the refugees would be able to return to their homeland and retake their lives.

The plan to let refugees in mainly consisted on trying to save as many as possible within an acceptable time limit. And to give fairness to everyone outside the Black Lists, social status, riches, and everything else didn’t matter. All were equal, be it royalty or beggars, to their eyes across all entrances. The only exception to this, allowing them to open the gate again for brief moments, was if a specie member of the Equis Alliance showed up. And even then they had to be checked with the Black Lists.

Outside the magical barrier laid another makeshift camp made up from the thousands and thousands that couldn’t enter before the time was up. Although it seemed unfair, the F.M.A Warladies had agreed to uphold the plan for the better of everyone. So had Blue Moon and the Followers.

It took them a few minutes to reach their destination. There was a crowd already formed around their intended target. Upon seeing Trixie, the crowd, mainly made up from Ursas, split in two letting her and the cow walk to see what the commotion was all about.

On one side she saw three of her sisters, all of the earth ponies, wearing light steel armor and a zebra wearing her tribal armor held back by fellow sisters while a couple of Followers, a griffon and a minotaur, tried to calm them down. On the other side three Followers, an ursa, a zebra mare, and a unicorn stallion shielding two male ursas, while also preventing them from fleeing.

“What is going on here?” Trixie called loud and clear. Her tone not angry but heavy making her sisters shut up and the crowd to cease their murmurs. “You! Explain why Trixie is needed!” She said pointing to one of the griffon Follower with her halberd.

“Warlady Trixie, these two ursas were caught...talking idly about the suffering we had to endure, females being the main target of their poorly stated claims, during the caribou regime. My fellow brothers and I had to interfere before your fellow sisters executed them in blind rage. We ask that you deliver a proper punishment for them that befits their misguided talk.”

“Is this true?” Trixie asked eyeing her four angered sisters. None replied with words but with nods. “Trixie sees.” She took a step towards the two accused ursas. “Trixie asks you to tell Trixie what you said. But Trixie warns you that if you lie to Trixie, Trixie shall remove your heads. Is Trixie clear?”

For a moment the two ursas were frozen before one of them dropped to his knees bowing to Trixie.

“Please forgive us, we were only joking!” The tall muscular ursa implored.

Trixie sent him a glare. “What did you say?”

The ursa swallowed while his partner sent him a glare. “We...we..we said t-that the c-caribou weren’t a-as bad as the s-s-stories say. A-a-and that it w-was overplayed… a-and that fe-females were only being m-m-melodramatic.” He said a step away from pissing himself.

Trixie laughed. Loud and hard making the ursas and everyone else present freeze in confusion. After about twenty solid seconds of laughter Trixie finally stopped to catch her breath.

“E-excuse Trixie, please. It’s been weeks since Trixie heard such an utterly moronic, idiotic, brainless, dimwitted, thoughtless, fatuous, half-baked, harebrained, absurd, and downright dumb thing come out of a pea-brained male’s mouth.” Most of the present watching were slackjawed when Trixie dropped her weapon and with the aid of her magic removed her armor.

All of her armor and underclothing leaving her completely nude.

“Sweet GODS!” Someone in the crowd yelled while many others gasped in shock or screamed some sort of profanity.

“GO ON! Take a good look! This is what the caribou did to Trixie and countless others! Or is Trixie being melodramatic?” Trixie asked placing her hands on her hips.

The two ursas couldn’t tear away their gaze from Trixie’s shapely and well toned body. Or more in particular her many, many marks. They could see a plethora of cuts, many of them looking quite surgical, patches of fur missing as well as some sections that looked lacking meat or muscle. Her neck was marked by a circle, her flesh swelled up by what had been a severe burn. Her arms and legs showed to have suffered several forms of restraint and abuse. Her belly was mostly intact, aside from a surgical cut on her lower abdomen that didn’t heal properly. In fact, many of her cuts looked like it had been done several times over the same spot.

Her breasts were by far the most untouched, but there was still something unnerving about them. With a more focused look they noticed that the area around her areolas was also covered by small cuts and piercing marks. Her nipples also showing the same abuse. Trixie did an unexpected twirl showing that her back was also covered by countless cuts, marks, and patches of fur missing. Surely the missing fur was due because of some form of burnt or acid.

“The caribou used Trixie for their experiments. Trixie was raped and beat daily. Used as a piece of meat in any way the caribou saw fit. They loved using Trixie like a toilet.” Trixie giggled, sending a wave of dread and discomfort through those that heard her. “Stories can only do so much. The reality is worse looking, is it not?” Using her magic she put her clothes and armor back on. “You don’t want to see what the caribou did to Trixie’s privates and rear.”

Once she was done, Trixie then turned to face the shocked crowd. “Now, if Trixie hears anyone speak the same stupidity, Trixie is more than happy to re-educate them.” Trixie frowned. “The caribou in the stories you hear weren’t as bad as they sound. They were worse.”

Without another word she picked up her weapon. Just then a changeling clad in Scaled Armor landed at her side. Trixie eyed the changeling before he gave her a letter, his duty done he buzzed away. Trixie opened the letter and smiled.

“Time for Trixie to pay her debt.” She said to herself before teleporting away leaving behind a shocked and disturbed group of refugees while the sisters and the Followers tried to clear the area out.

Shining Armor, clad with his heavy armor, looked down at the desk littered with maps marked with red colored lines and small flags sticking out here and there. At his left stood Princess Cadance wearing an elegant dress holding the shimmering Crystal Heart with her hands. At his right stood Yog wearing his usual Scaled armor while he explained what was going on in the maps.

“The agreed rendezvous point shall be Ponyville, the rest of the Scaled Units have already begun their trip there. Those that are far away, like in Saddle Arabia or Zebrica, are coming with the convoy of their leaders providing extra defence and security.”

“Where are the other three captains currently at?” Shining asked with a frown.

“Blueblood and Big Macintosh are making their way there as we speak, they shall arrive in a few hours. The leader of the Followers, Blue Moon, is accompanying Blueblood. Soarin is already there overseeing preparations along with Princess Luna and Creslin and the Liberators.”

“And the F.M.A. Warladies?”

“They have been informed. Warlady Trixie appeared a few minutes earlier near the entrance of the camp. Warlady Gilda is inbound shortly. The Warladies scattered around the other entrances have already left with the Scaled Units. Reports say they are bringing some of their warriors with them. Also, a few volunteer Followers have joined them.”

“No surprise there.” Shining hummed, never taking his gaze away from the maps. “And the Royal Guard?”

“Already set in motion to take our place in full while we’re gone, sir.”

“Any new reports I’m unaware of from our scouts?”

“Nothing new, sir.”

Shining hummed again glaring the map. A few moments of silence followed until Shining finger pointed a certain flag. “First he attacked Cervidas, destroying nine villages, three fortresses, six towns, and five cities including their capital. Then he moved to the Dog Empire destroying their capital, six fortresses, and two cities. Then he attacked The Minotaur Republic destroying three of their cities and a tenth of their army. Then he attacked Ursanis, lucky for them he only destroyed a small village and two towns. Then he attacked the Allied Feline Kingdoms, followed by Camelu, Gazelian, and The Kangaroo tribes.” Shining said pointing with his finger at each location Spike had attacked.

“And now he’s back in Cervidas.” Shining grumbled. “It doesn’t make any sense. Why would he return to Cervidas? I thought I had figured out a clear path for his attacks. We knew there were several Faithfuls in Cervidas, so he attacked them first. Uncaring of what stood on his way. When, presumably, all Faithfuls were killed along with those his fire tainted, he moved to his next target and so forth and so forth.” Shining groaned in frustration.

“He’s been hunting down the remnants of the Fall with blind zeal, while at the same time spreading the horrid corruption and killing those afflicted by it. But he also attacks anything and anyone that he sets his eyes on or dares to stand in his way.”

“Yog, has the estimated casualties from the attacked kingdom's been updated?” Cadance asked seeing her husband glare at the map.

“Yes, Princess. But the numbers so far are...alarming. In total, the count reaches almost two hundred thousand between confirmed deaths and missing in action. Most of these casualties belong to Cervidas, The Minotaur Republic, and the Dog Empire. We suspect that these numbers are but a third or less of the real total of victims. Their bodies buried below the rubble of their homes.”

“So many lost in less than a month.” Cadance whispered tightening her embrace on the Heart.

“They haven’t lost enough.” Shining muttered with anger.

Cadance couldn’t argue with her husband. The lost of so many lives was sad, but the other kingdoms would never understand the horrors of the Fall. She pitied them, but she felt the same way her husband did. “In the previous casualty report, Celestia said there were anomalies with the salvaged bodies. What do you know about it, Yog?”

Yog looked at Cadance for a moment while Shining continued to stare at the maps.

“Princess Celestia said she’s going to make what I’m about to tell you public once everyone arrives to Ponyville.” Yog sighed. “Most of the victims were affected by the corruption, yes. And now we know while it’s not as strong as during the Fall, it will fully corrupt the victim if it’s left untreated after a few weeks. Much like it happened to those scumbags.” Yog hissed. “My mind-menders have yet to discern why they can’t recover memories from those afflicted by the corruption.”

“Why would aunt Celestia hold this information back on us?” Cadance questioned with confusion.

“Because we have only theories so far. Aside from the research team and myself. Only Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Queen Chrysalis know about this.” Yog cleared his throat. “As I was saying, the real problem lies in those that were killed without being tainted by the corruption. Their retrieved memories are foggy at best, especially those from The Minotaur Republic, and their cause of death is also confusing.”

“How so?” Shining asked, his attention still glued to the maps.

“Like many of the accounted casualties, the cause of death that is more prominent are burns, followed by bodies being shredded by it’s claws and fangs. However, there are also those that were caused by frostbite and self-inflicted related injuries that--”

Yog stopped mid sentence as his eyes turned green. A couple of seconds later his eyes returned to normal.

“I received a report from Canterlot. The King of Cervidas has awoken.”

The trio waited in silence for several moments before Shining finally tore his gaze from the map. With a heavy sigh, Shining looked at Yog.

“Is our decoy ready to move?”

“We only await your order to move, sir.”

“Go and tell everyone we’ll leave in twenty.” Yog saluted before leaving the tent. Shining then turned to his wife. “I’ll go get things ready, okay honey?” With a couple of steps, Shining now stood in front of her. “Don’t worry, Flurry and Skyla will be safe here. I promise.”

“I know.” Cadance replied with a smile before leaning to kiss her husband. They continued to kiss until they felt their lungs demand oxygen. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Shining said before pecking her lips. He then turned and left the tent leaving Cadance and the Crystal Heart alone.

Cadance walked up to the desk to watch the maps and their marks. Her gaze was fixed on Cervidas, while a satisfied smile formed on her lips.

Cadance and Shining, with the help of Discord, appeared in the middle of an ample, half lit room. Looking around they saw Celestia, Luna, Rarity, Soarin and Blueblood standing in front of a great glass wall. There were also several Scaled Guards mounting guard next to the entrances of both the room they were in and the secondary room behind the glass.

They approached the glass window. Blueblood and Celestia stepped aside to let them see the interior of the gray cell and its resident.

“It’s really him.” Cadance said, her voice cracked with fury. The room behind the glass was gray with no windows, but it was brightly lighted. Inside there was only a metallic desk, an air conduct, and two chairs. On one side was Shifting Sands glaring at the pegasus stallion on the other side glaring back at her. “Orestes.”

“What are you trying to achieve, bitch? Stop this futile resistance and fall quietly. As an act of mercy, I’ll give you the honor of licking the dirt off of my hooves, sand-whore.” Orestes said shifting on his seat. The chains bound to his ankles, wrists ,and wings keeping him down; rattling with each move he made. He was mostly intact, except for a swelled cheek and a missing tooth. He was wearing only a set of brown shorts.

“I’m disappointed,” Shifting Sands sighed. “That you are the fearsome Orestes. The Great Traitor.”

“Watch your tongue, you stupid cunt. You shall regard me as Master Orestes, as the proper pet that you are.” Orestes said it in a way that made it sound like it was more than obvious. “Enough games, release me and I may show you mercy by re-educating your insolent cock sucking mouth.”

There was another flash of magic behind them and this time Nightlight and Velvet appeared. They walked until they were standing side to side with Shining and Cadance.

“It’s really him.” Nightlight whispered. “Princess Celestia, I request to beat that scumbag to death.” He said with anger in his voice without looking at the sun goddess.

“Denied. That traitor shall received a fitting end for his crimes. I will not allow you to grant him such mercy.” Celestia said with an impassive tone.

Nightlight didn’t respond, but a wicked smile that looked alien on the peaceful stallion. He held his wife closer while Velvet and Cadance held hands.

“What are you trying to achieve, Princess?” Shining asked while he looked with empty eyes at Orestes talking his ass off to Shifting Sands.

“According to the survivors of Deerasian, Orestes attacked them while that thing was attacking the city. That thing annihilated the Faithful army, a couple of them managed to survive. Orestes included. He saw what that thing is capable up close, he might know something about it.”

“Mind if I talk to my old friend?” Shining asked with a empty tone. “I promise I won’t let him get to me, Celestia.”

Celestia closed her eyes for a moment before her horn glowed with magic. A knock was heard and Shifting Sands got up ignoring the taunts and insults of Orestes. The guards opened the door letting Shifting Sands walk out. She stopped in front of Shining Armor and smiled.

“Good luck, my friend.”

“Thanks.”

Shining then entered the room and the guards locked the door after his entry.

The pink alicorn saw Orestes’s expression turn from angry to surprised to cocky in the span of seconds.

“Hello, Lord Shining Armor. It's been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Hello, Orestes. Fancy meeting you here.” Shining said in a neutral tone. “Heard you were captured and I had to come and see you with my own eyes. You have no idea how much I’ve searched for you, traitor.”

Orestes laughed. “Traitor? Don’t you remember it was you who gave Dainn the Crystal Empire and Equestria on a silver platter?”

“I did. Although it’s hard not to obey someone when you’re trapped inside your own mind while you’re being brainwashed to be an obedient puppet. But you wouldn’t know anything about, would you? No. You were never tainted. You accepted them out of your own volition.”

“Oh, please! I was using that idiot of Dainn to get what I deserve. Sure, the caribou brought some ideas and ways to appease mares I never thought of, but they were still little more than my puppets.” Orestes chuckled. “Too bad that fucking backstabbing lizard had a different idea. Hey, remember that time we three gangbanged your alicorn whore? Those were the days, don’t you agree?” He asked ending with a cruel smirk on his face.

Shining, impassive since his entry, chuckled. “Yeah. I remember.”

“How about that time we organized that fuck-a-hole party? I can still see your skank of a mother sucking on your cock like there was no tomorrow. Now THAT was one proper bitch that knew what her mouth was really for. Well, aside from the purple alicorn whore you call sister. I swear I never saw Spike so eager to pump a bitch full of cum like that time. And your father, the respectable Nightlight throathfucking that slut like she deserved, all the while the pink alicorn bitch ate his ass good.”

“Fun times, fun times.” Shining replied. “As I remember, Rarity was serving you, am I correct?”

Orestes neighed in anger. “That slut has forgotten her proper place. Nothing a good visit to a dirt farm won’t correct. But to answer your question, no. I was using that eager little whore. What was her name again? Ah, Twist I believe. Rarity was busy drinking Spike’s cum out of purple bitch’s snatch.”

“Oh, my mistake. I was thinking of the orgy before Spike became Marshall.” Shining chuckled.

Cadance was shocked to hear her husband speak in such a serene, non emotional way. This was the first time she had seen him act so calm when speaking anything related to the Fall. What made everything worse, was that nopony around her was sharing her anger. They all continued to stare in silence at what was being displayed before them.

“Hey, Shining, I heard you have two daughters now. Congratulations! How old are they, eleven? Twelve? Have you given them a good hard fucking lately? I know you don’t like them that young. But, hey! Incest is your thing, isn’t it?” Orestes smiled with sadistic glee. “One of them was sprouted out of your mother, am I correct? How does it feel to be a father and a big brother at the same time? Why don’t you try becoming a grandfather with your little whores too? And how about an uncle with purple slut while you’re at it?” Orestes laughed loudly.

Shining laughed with him, although his laughter was less prominent. “You wouldn’t know, would you? After all, you shoot nothing but blanks. You might as well be gelded, you sterile bastard.” Shining chuckled while Orestes’s laughter died.

“I’m not sterile! It’s not my fault that lowly whores can’t take my superior seed!” Orestes yelled in anger.

Shining shrugged. “Whatever. Look, I’m here to propose you a deal. You tell us what we want to know, we’ll give in to your demands.”

“I don’t have to make any kind of deal. You will release me, and after I destroy Spike I shall return with a vast, loyal, devoted, invincible army and claim what is rightfully mine! First Equestria shall Fall once again under my hooves! Then, the world! I shall be an eternal king, as it is my destiny and my divine right as the most superior male in this cunt filled planet!” Orestes snarled, the maniacal look in his eyes was more than evident. “Those so called goddesses will beg to be my pets! They shall give birth to my kin! A superior race just like their almighty father!”

Shining waited patiently while Orestes laughed and laughed. Several minutes later, Orestes stopped.

“Now, release me, and you shall be my second in command, Lord Shining Armor.”

“...Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to decline. It’s clear you won’t tell me anything. Doesn’t matter, really. Your ‘loyal’ soldiers were quick to accuse you to save their own asses. See you in your execution, traitor.” Shining said walking away, ignoring the insults and taunts of the mad pegasus.

Once outside, the crazed shouts of Orestes were silenced by a spell.

Cadance looked at her husband with great worry. She was unsure what to do.

“I doubt he knows anything at all. Knowing him, he probably pissed himself and fainted.” Shining joked. “Are there any other survivors? I kinda made that last part up.”

“The captured Faithfuls and those captured via Black Lists shall be publically executed in a week’s time.” Luna said, she to worried for the emotionless state of her nephew-in-law and good friend.

“Can I have some for myself? Willing Faithfuls, I mean. I would like to let out some pent up anger. I can wait ...for the executions... if you allow me.” Shining said with a shaky voice.

It was in that moment that everypony noticed the shaking clenched fists of Shining Armor.

Cadance was the first to notice the blood.

“Princess Cadance, are you alright?” A familiar voice asked pulling her out of her trance.

“I’m fine, Flash. Thank you for asking.” Cadance said looking at the mare standing at the entrance of the tent. “Flash, if we fail-”

“You won’t, Cadance.”

Cadance smiled walking up to her friend. “We can’t have anything for granted, Flash. If we fail to stop the error we so foolishly created, can I count on you to take my little girls and run as far away as you can?” Cadance stopped in front of Flash.

Flash hugged the pink alicorn. “You have my word. But you won’t fail. I know you won’t.” Flash broke the embrace. “Everypony is waiting. They’re ready to move, it seems.”

Cadance nodded. Both mares stepped out of the tent to encounter hundreds of Scaled Guards and an entire regiment of Royal Guards advancing towards the Crystal Empire. The Scaled Guards were already in formation or forming them. Cadance looked up to see several of their flags and Crystal Empire flags dancing in the breeze. The mares continued to walk down the path and saw Scaled Guards holding the leashes of tamed timberwolves, cragadiles, cockatrices, two hydras, three bugbears, several orthros, and a dozen phoenixes.

Cadance closed her eyes for a moment, knowing everyone was going to give it all in the upcoming battle. Her heart began to beat louder than any drum. She exhaled doing her calming exercise. Reopening her eyes she noticed she had arrived to her destination. Flash bowed and whispered a polite farewell before flying off towards the city.

Cadance looked up to the ten meter tall statue of Spike for a few seconds before shifting her gaze down to her husband. Shining was standing at the feet of the statue with his back facing Cadance. He then turned around putting on a helmet in the shape of Spike’s face, albeit not his friendly one, before his horn ignited with magic. A lavender thick coat of pure magic enveloped her husband’s body before he began to levitate.

The pink coated princess shifted her gaze for a moment to see a well guarded crucified Orestes. He was still alive. Malnourished, bounded, gagged, and with featherless wings, but still very much alive. His role, along with the transformed traitorous rulers, would be the most important for their established plan: be the bait to lure Spike out into the trap.

Returning her attention to her husband, she saw Shining had already reached the chest level of the statue. The prince stopped mid-air for a couple of seconds before moving backwards to the statue. Shining made contact with the chest of the statue, but instead of halting he moved inwards. The Crystal Heart on the statue’s chest moved like it was made of some sort of liquid and swallowed the prince.

A second later, an aura of lavender magic covered the statue for a few moments. The magic glow vanished leaving only a slight shimmering look all over the statue. The giant pearls glowed for an instant with lavender magic and Shining Armor’s cutie mark appeared on it’s forehead. The next moment the statue began to move. First the hands, then the arms followed by the tail, then the statue took a step forward. The statue shook its head before it took another step leaving the great pedestal it stood on.

Several crystal horns reverberated, signal that the time for the departure was commencing. Cadance hugged the shimmering Crystal Heart while several unicorns and changelings united their magic into a single spell. The ground below them glowed.

A thunderous crack of magic was heard, and with a great flash of light they were gone.

High King Dolorian the IV sat on his bed staring at empty space. At his side was his sister, Princess Hynde, watching him with a tender gaze and a friendly smile. In front of them stood Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Creslin. All three of them wearing their heavy armors.

“How long was I out?” Dolorian asked, his voice sounding coarse.

“Your group of survivors was found by one of our scouts. That was three weeks ago.” Luna answered in a not so friendly tone. “Your sister really cares for you, Dolorian. She’s refused to leave your side all this time.”

“I would do the same,” he said giving Hynde a warm smile. “What happened to my kingdom?” He asked.

The fear in his voice didn’t go unnoticed. “Cervidas has suffered more than any other attacked kingdom. In more ways than one.” Celestia replied.

“...I see.” Dolorian closed his eyes for a moment. “And my subjects?”

“We have given refuge to one million four hundred and seventy eight cervidae.” Luna said nonchalantly.

Hynde gasped. “But that doesn’t-”

“I thank you for your generosity towards my people during this dire time, Princesses.” Dolorian said cutting off whatever protest Hynde was about to make.

“Enough of this,” Creslin suddenly exclaimed. “Tell us what happened in the battle of Deerasian. Your sister said the creature knocked her out at the start of it.”

“...” Dolorian looked at the three females in front of him. His free hand gripping the sheets of his bed tightly. “Battle? That wasn’t a battle. It was a massacre. That...that thing butchered my troops like a hot knife cuts through butter. It was relentless, merciless, ruthless. With a single toss of his tail he sent my sister crashing against a collapsed house.”

“My enchanted sword was near useless against that beast. Our magic worthless. Everything we threw at it was ineffective. Everything.” Dolorian closed his eyes. “The monster didn’t stop roaring or spewing fire or that black mist! It never tired, never stopped for a single second! It attacked everything that moved!” Dolorian began shaking in rage. “For a moment we thought we had the upper hand, but that monster impaled hundreds of soldiers and civilians with ice that came out of nowhere. Some others would break down screaming in agony begging it to stop!”

“Those that were brave enough to attack it in melee were crushed by his unholy strength, or were consumed in fire. Every time it hit the ground an earthquake followed.” Dolorian re-opened his eyes. “I tried to fight it one on one but...but...when I saw deep inside it’s eyes...I knew I couldn’t anything to stop it. I was terrified, frozen in fear. It then roared so loud and so close to me it was enough to send me flying. The last thing I remember is re-activating the shield just to give my fleeing subjects more time.”

Before anything more could be said, the door to Dolorian’s room opened revealing none other than the changeling Queen herself.

“They’re here.” Chrysalis said in a firm tone. “Everyone is ready. And I think you want to hear what Twilight came up it. It’s about Spike.”

Celestia, Luna and Creslin exchanged surprised glances.

“Where is she now?” Celestia asked.

“Back in her castle. She wants to tell everyone at the same time. We’ll be waiting.” Chrysalis then left via teleportation.

Celestia smiled before turning to Dolorian. “What you have told will serve us well, King Dolorian. If you need anything you only need to ask for it.” Celestia raised her hand seeing Dolorian about to talk. “I’m sorry, but you can’t come with us. Your body is still too weak. All I can promise is that we’ll destroy that monster that dares to look like my son.”

A flash of magic later, Hynde and Dolorian were left alone.

“May victory be yours.” Dolorian muttered.

A large portal appeared in the air creating a slight gust of wind. The portal began to grow until it reached the ground. It grew and grew until a large semicircle remained. It being large enough to let an adult dragon walk through it with ease.

A moment later an army began to walk through it. It took several minutes for the last of said army to come through it despite the size of the portal. The portal collapsed moments later into chocolate bars.

The Leaders of the Equis Alliance, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, the Captains of the Spike Scaled Units, Blue Moon leader of the Followers of the Grace of the Dragon, and the Warladies of the Female Might Alliance stood firm watching the terrain they had chosen to fight in.

The land was desolated with no signs of life, flora or fauna, to be found anywhere near. The lifeless soil extended as far as the eye could see with the only distinct view being a chain of mountain in the far east. But aside from that, there was nothing there with the exception of grey, ash colored rocks like the soil itself.

A perfect place to set their trap.

“BEGIN!” Celestia shouted using the Royal Canterlot Voice. The troops wasted no time in following their pre-assigned orders. She then turned to see the large group behind her. On her right hand was a masterfully crafted golden shield, much like her armor, while on her she was wielding a flaming sword. Her crown replaced by a helmet held by her magic.

“Blue Moon, Warladies, I thank you for your assistance on this day.”

“It is the Will of Friendship.” Blue Moon said before teleporting away.

The thirty six Warladies replied on their own ways before retreating to tend to their own troops and review their strategies.

“I personally thank you for your monumental aid, Dragon Lord Ember.” Celestia bowed before the dragoness wearing her usual armor.

Ember blushed and waved a claw. “I’m happy to help you. And I promise you, my subjects won’t try anything funny while I’m gone. I have given orders.” She smirked.

“I must also thank you, Torch.” Celestia bowed again.

“I’m here to protect my daughter. She may be the Dragon Lord, but I’m still her father.” Torch said crossing his arms. “What I don’t get is why must I remain in this size for the battle?”

“Torch, I already told you, you’ll only be a bigger target for Spi..for that monster. Or do you want to be corrupted?” Twilight said flanked by her friends. All of them wearing their personalized armors.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” Torch droned.

“REDBLOOD!” Someone shouted causing the group to look up to the skies. “I bring news!” A pegasus mare shouted landing with the group.

“Grim Night, I’ve told you my name is Blueblood. Blueblood!”

“Nah ah! Your blood is red, Redblood!” She replied with a wide smile.

“I swear it’s like trying to make a foal see reason.” Blueblood muttered making his fellow captain snicker. “What is it?”

“Big Bad Dragon is in Deerasian. Roaring and screaming and punching for three days!” She then pulled a collar of dissected eyeballs. “Look at my pretties! I got many pretties!”

“That’s...nice, Grim Night. Thanks for your report. You may want to leave now.”

“Me no leave! Me stay! Me want to see fight! Me planet needs me!” She said before darting off after the Warladies.

“She’s...interesting.” Blood Talons said looking at the mare do flips in the air. “How did she know we were going to be here?”

“I’ve learned to not question her actions or motives.” Blueblood said making several eyes in the group, including the statue, move to Pinkie Pie.

“What?” She asked in a sweet tone.

“What’s with the eyes though?” Soarin whispered leaning to Blueblood.

“During the Fall a caribou rip out her left eye. She wears a crystal one, and that left her obsessed with ripping out the eyes of her victims and add them to her collection.” Blueblood explained.

“Dragon Lord Ember, if you please?” Luna said. Like her sister and niece, she was clad in masterfully crafted armor. But unlike her sister, she didn’t wield a shield. Instead, she opted on using an urga.

“Ready.” Ember replied taking a firm hold of her scepter. “I have an eye on him.”

“Discord?”

“Already on it, Lulu.” He said snapping his fingers giving everyone a magical reinforcement for protection.

“ARE YOU READY, SHINING?” Luna shouted. Her response was the stature giving her a thumbs up before moving in front of the group by a dozen or two meters.

“Captains, go and attend your units.”

The four captain bowed and left to lead their respective units into battle.

“Everyone else?”

“The Sickness ends today once and for all!” Creslin yelled before running off to her sisters.

The rest of the leaders bowed at the same time as a sign of mutual respect. Each of them armed with their best weapons and clad in fine armor. Ready to lead their elite soldiers into battle.

“Bring them in.”

With another snap of Discord’s fingers Orestes and the tainted leaders appeared in a clear space a hundred or so meters in front of the statue. Discord took a hold of his wife’s hand before leaning and kissing her cheek.

“I love you.” He whispered.

“I love you too, Dissy.” She replied tightening their hold.

Celestia spread her wings and leapt into the air. With her point of view, Celestia did a quick scan of the battlefield.

The Followers were ready to assist. The Warladies and their escorts were ready to provide support or join the battle were worst come to happen. The small elite retinue of her fellow leaders were ready to do their part. The Spike Scaled Units were in position with the Wingless Unit already on the sky finishing their cover and attack clouds. The Crest Unit, the heavy hitters, were taking position behind the great statue Shining Armor was commanding from within. The Claw Unit were ready with their weapons drawn behind the Crest Unit. The Heart Unit was finishing their preparations and taking their positions, and with the aid of the Liberators, zebra, buffalo, and cervidae shamans they were ready to create the barrier that would trap the resurrected Spike.

A little over twenty five thousand against one.

“The bait is working! He’s on the move, heading straight for us!” Ember warned.

Celestia looked at the horizon and then to the sun placed high above. A random cloud partially blocked her view of the sun and she looked to the horizon once more. The coming battle making her heart beat with wild intensity.

“We’re ready.” Celestia whispered gripping her sword tightly.

Chapter 3 end.

Author's Notes:

Special thanks to anyone that read this!

If anyone feels brave enough to help me edit this, please PM me.

Special thanks to Author of MADness for being a bro and helping me filter down ideas and for proofreading!

*The following links provide a more clear image of the armor some characters are wearing*
Celestia: Armor
Luna (instead of the scythe she's wielding an urga): Armor
Cadance (That, but in Anthro. She wields a lance): Armor
The Bearers (That, but in Anthro): Armor
Twilight wields a magic staff. Rarity uses diamond daggers. Applejack uses a heavy bastard sword and a whip. Rainbow Dash uses twin swords and an estoc. Fluttershy uses bow and arrows. Pinkie Pie uses a great double handed battle axe.

Enjoy.