“Wake up creature! The votes have been cast!” A voice shouted at Nick, the human awoke groaning softly and rubbing his head. “Ugh my head…” He said as the dragon opened up the cell, grabbing Nick by his jacket hood, pulling him up the dragon pulled him out of the cell as Nick groaned still a bit groggy.

The sound of voices could be heard from the arena he was being brought to, suppose he was found guilty? Nick soon found himself thrown to the ground, slowly standing up he rubbed his head hearing the sound of dragons booing him.

Nick shook his head before stretching a bit, looking up he saw Queen Ember standing on a balcony, a much larger dragon behind her as she looked down at Nick.

“THE ACCUSED HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY! BRING FORTH THE EXECUTIONER!” Ember shouted, Nick sighed as he rubbed his chin.

“Ok...here we go…” Nick said as he looked at the gate opposite from him. A dragon stepped out of the darkness, his black scales mixed with blue stripes along his body along with many scars along his body, the most visible being a large star like scar on his stomach, leather armor that wrapped around his left shoulder and his back. A metal plate in the middle of it and bracers along his arms and ankles. A broken sword wrapped around his thigh acting as a sort of dagger, but a larger broadsword on his back. It was dented and covered in dry blood. It didn’t seem to be kept in well condition.

The dragon’s bright purple eyes spotting Nick as a low growl escaped his lips as Nick gulped slightly. This dragon looked like he had been through alot. Nick felt his wrists, feeling a metal brace around his Omnitrix arm. He was gonna have to do this on his own, at least for now.

The dragons around went wild at the sight of their champion, Queen Ember speaking up, “are the combatants ready?” Ember asked.

“Yes. WE ARE!” The dragon shouted, Nick nodded. “Then let the combat begin!” Ember exclaimed.

The Executioner began to circle around Nick as Nick circled around him as well, “look man...this is just o-” Before Nick could even finish a foot slammed into his chest, sending him onto the ground Nick’s jacket was grabbed as he was pulled back to his feet.

The dragon slamming his fist into Nick’s jaw as Nick went in for two punches, the Executioner dodged each punch, slamming his knee into Nick’s stomach before grabbing the back of Nick’s head, the dragon slammed his knee into Nick’s face.

Nick backed up, his world was shaking. He did not expect that attack to happen so suddenly, “this is the thing that kidnapped my brethren?” Executioner asked as he snorted. “Pathetic.” He said.

Nick looked at Executioner, his vision coming back to him as Nick charged forward. Going for a kick to the side of the Executioner’s head, he grabbed Nick’s ankle and flipped the human over his back and face first onto the ground.

Nick groaned, spitting blood from his mouth as the Executioner leapt in the air attempting to slam his knee into Nick’s back.

Nick rolled to the side, elbowing Executioner’s snout and using this time to go in. Clapping his hands together a large strike of electricity came from his fingers and striking the dragon champion in the chest sending him flying backwards.

Nick took this moment of breather to gather his bearings, he looked at the dragon who seemed unphased by the attack. ‘Where is Twilight!?’ He asked himself in his mind as he sighed, he had to fight one way or another. Running forward Nick prepared his attack as the Executioner snorted charging back his “dagger” in his grasp.

The Mane Six had been searching for hours for their human companion, Nick having suddenly disappeared in the night causing a rather wide panic among the group of friends. The worst being Starlight and Eris, their only leads being large scorch marks around the room and a broken door, Twilight had deduced this was the work of dragons.

The group had decided to make the trip to the dragon kingdom, Eris speaking up. “Why can’t I just teleport us all in again…?” She asked as Twilight was ready to speak up. Only to be interrupted by Starlight, “because if we do we’d be surprising hundreds upon HUNDREDS of fiery dragons of death...we don’t want to all be scorch and ash. Or even take that chance.” She said as Twilight looked at her.

“Yeah, we’ll have to travel on hoof…” Applejack spoke up as Rarity rubbed a hoof against her chin, “I hope Nick is ok...what would the dragons want with him? Perhaps he did something wrong?”

“Not that I can recall in my time watching him…” Eris replied as she rubbed her talons together, “perhaps something to do with Erebus?”

“More than likely, he did mutate a dragon...that would’ve gone noticed, especially by Ember…” Spike spoke up, having decided to tag along for this journey to the dragon kingdom as well.

“We’ll just have to hope Nick’s temporary punishment isn’t to bad.” Twilight said hopefully as Eris sighed, looking at the mountains up ahead. “I highly doubt that it is a easy one…” She muttered to herself.

“AGH!” Nick yelped in pain, the Executioner having punched his stomach and attempting to stab into Nick’s skull with his makeshift dagger.

Nick dodged at the last second, feeling the blade slice his cheek open. Blood dripping down his cheek before Nick retaliated with another punch, Executioner grabbing his arm and twisting around and forcing the human to turn onto his back. Nick letting out cries of pain, the Executioner kicking him away as the human rolled on the ground.

On his hands and knees Nick attempted to recover only to be kicked in the ribs and sent onto his back, his stomach facing up.

Executioner grabbing the hilt of his blade with both hands and bringing it down attempting to stab Nick’s throat.

The human clapped his hands together, in a streak of luck catching the blade before it dealt the final blow.

“Your worthless, those ponies have made you soft. You’re facing a REAL threat now creature.” Executioner said as Nick grunted, sweat and blood dripping down his face. Slamming his knee in Executioner’s stomach Nick took the time to take the weapon from his grasp and roll onto his feet recovering.

The dragon smiled, “good. Put up a better fight then what you have been.” Executioner grabbed the hilt of his sword, pulling the weapon out.

Nick rubbed his chin panting, grasping his stolen broken sword tightly the blade ignited into a massive flame.

The dragon smirked as he dashed forward with almost blinding speeds, Nick managing to dodge and going for a downward swing of his blade.

The Executioner blocked the strike with his own blade, kicking Nick’s ribs and sending him back a few feet.

Nick grunted as he slid against the ground keeping his footing, the audience was going wild at this amazing fight.

Ember watching Nick’s attacks closely, he was skilled she had to admit. But not as skilled as the Executioner.

Nick went for a wide arc slash of his dagger, Executioner dodging yet again and backhanding Nick sending him onto the ground. Grabbing his jacket hood he picked Nick up and slammed him onto the ground with a massive SMASH!

Nick’s body was sore, but he knew he had to keep fighting...attempting to stand up Executioner shook his head and kicked the side of Nick’s face. His claws digging into Nick’s skin as it sent him back, taking a slash at Nick this one hit. Slicing through his jacket and leaving a horizontal slash mark in his skin.

Nick felt the blood soak into his clothes as he panted heavily, taking a weak swing at Executioner, he easily dodged pushing Nick away and making him fall backwards.

The human was breathing deeply, his eyes closed. Feeling the rough hands of Executioner’s hands grab his jacket again. Nick was pulled up to eye level with the dragon.

“I haven’t had this much fun in years, such spirit...that fire in your eyes...you’re not the one who did this are you?” He asked.

Nick’s breathing was ragged, his body covered in bruises and his clothes tattered. However he did reply, “yes...I’m the guy...trying...to stop him…”

Executioner narrowed his eyes at Nick and laughed, “what a pathetic hero then.” The dragon said throwing him aside.

Nick falling to the ground and dropping his blade, slowly rising up Executioner walked toward him. “How do you expect to save Equestria if you can’t save yourself from me?”

Nick tried to crawl away, needing just a moment to catch his breath. Only to be pulled back by his ruthless opponent.

The closer the six approached the dragon kingdom, the louder the cheering of the arena could be heard. They had moved much faster thanks to magic and the wonders of speed trotting. Soon they found themselves outside of the arena, two dragons stopping them.

“Halt. No pony may have entry while the arena is in progress.” One dragon said extending his wing stopping the group.

“Wait, who’s fighting?” Rainbow Dash asked, above the sound of the crowds roars a scream was heard, one of sheer pain.

They knew that voice...that scream, “NICK!” Starlight shouted as Eris quickly snapped her fingers, the two guards seemingly disappearing as they made their way inside. Seeing the light at the end of the dark hall they ran and ran and eventually reached it, finding Nick crawling away from the Executioner on the brink of death.

“Please...stop… The human groaned as the Executioner kicked his side sending him away.

“No creature, I won’t stop. You had your chance to save the day, these ponies won’t doing you any favors. I will be the thing that will haunt your spirit when you pass into the afterlife. I will be the thing you could not defeat. I will haunt you for the rest of eternity, but perhaps. The end will treat you better.” Executioner said grabbing Nick by his shirt collar and pulling him up to eye level, his blade ready to plunge into Nick’s body.

“STOP!!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she slammed into the side of the Executioner, sending him tumbling to the ground from the sudden attack.

Nick’s body fell to the ground as he gasped for air. His breathing ragged and his clothes completely torn, he was shaking.

Eris quickly went down to comfort him along with Starlight and Spike as the group stood to defend Nick.

The dragons around booing, completely outraged as Ember growled looking at the captain. “I said DISCREETLY!” She shouted at him. The dragon growling at her as she flew down to the ponies.

“Twilight. Spike. What are you doing?” She asked, Twilight looked at Ember with a look of pure displeasure and anger. “What do you think you were doing!?” She shouted at the dragon Queen.

Ember kept a rather neutral face, “I was watching a public execution. Your creature friend has been accused and found guilty of kidnapping one of my subjects and was found guilty.”

Twilight trotted toward Ember, Rainbow Dash returning with the group as Executioner stood back up.

“On what account!? That he looks similar to the actual culprit! You have kept a associate of a princess in your kingdom without my knowledge, you’ve imprisoned, and had this savage brutally beat him on the verge of...ending his life! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!” Twilight shouted as Ember narrowed her eyes, “perhaps you do-”

“NO I GET HOW THINGS WORK HERE!” Twilight cut Eris off, the alicorn was furious. “YOU KEEP OLD VERY FLAWED DRAGON JUSTICE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE MORE THAN LIKELY RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO COME TO MY CASTLE AND KIDNAP MY FRIEND!?”

Ember took a step back, she had never ever seen Twilight this angry before. She looked at Spike who gave her a almost disappointed look, shaking his head as he continued tending to his human friend.

“I am taking my friend and leaving, try something like this again. And you will personally see you turned to stone.” Twilight growled, the dragons above going quiet as Ember narrowed her eyes at the alicorn princess.

The two staring at each other before Ember raised her hand, “fine. I will allow this to slide this once. I...apologize for the mix up.”

The group looked at Ember coldly as Twilight and Rarity used their magic to carefully raised the now unconscious Nick, Eris looking at Executioner who simply looked back at her.

The draconequus wanted to finish him off personally, but had decided that was for a later date.

The Mane Six, Starlight, Eris, and Spike made their way out of the arena. Ember watching them leave as the dragon queen looked at her talons. She clenched them and simply flew off back to her balcony to return to her home.

Author's Notes:

Hope you enjoyed this smackdown chapter, there is gonna be a LOT of conflict with the dragons in this now...yay!