"Useful functions?" Twilight asked eagerly. "What sort?"
"Other than being totally badass!" Rainbow pointed out.
As Samus opened her mouth to explain, Luna spoke up. "Perchance did it interact with sonic based security systems alongside the Echo Visor?"
Samus stared at Luna. "How could you possibly know that?"
"The design of the Echo Visor indicated that some systems would be designed to interact with it," Luna explained logically. "This would also imply the use of some sort of sound based weapon for energizing Echo Switches, or something similar. Since none of your weapons possessed such a trait, it could logically be presumed that the Annihilator Beam possessed those traits, as - based on what you said of how short the remainder of the story is - you didn't have time to gain yet another beam."
Spike chuckled as Samus stared, perplexed. "Nicely interpreted, Luna."
"Oh! Oh!" Scootaloo called out, bouncing up and down. "Did the mix of light and dark energies supercharge the Luminoth Crystals and Beacons turning them into Ing Traps?"
Samus decided not to question how the gamers were able to figure out so much of how her adventures worked. Apparently, they would make an excellent video game. "Yes, yes it did."
"Umm...what about Spike's wing?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.
"Mom relocated it as soon as Quadraxis was down for the count," Spike pointed out. "Hurt like hell, but was good as new after that."
"And then ya took the Ing Hive energy back to the Sanctuary Energy Controller?" Applejack asked.
Samus nodded. "And after that, we returned to U-Mos to find out what to do next..."
As they returned to the Grand Temple, they found U-Mos staring up at the Energy collected above while spinning energy of some sort between his hands. "The Light of Aether shines from all three Temples once more," he stated in a mix of awe and determination. "And yet, Dark Aether remains. One Energy Controller still shines in the darkness, sustaining the world."
"The Sky Temple," Samus and Spike said together.
"Indeed," U-Mos confirmed. "The dark shadow of this hallowed place. It holds the last of our planet's energy...and is guarded by the most powerful of the Ing. Towards the end of our war, before the Ing seized the Energy Transfer Module, we sent ten of our greatest warriors into the depths of the Dark World to recover them. We know one was placed successfully in its lock, forever opening the path...but of the other nine-"
"We've got six of them," Spike pointed out. "Rather easy to find most of them from the air."
"And I found one rather easily," Samus added.
U-Mos stared at them both in awe. "Truly, you are a blessing to our world and our people," he breathed. "However, the Ing have surely guarded the remaining three more jealously. Finding them will be perilous, but..."
He turned towards the Energy Controller. "...I offer you, Samus, this blessed suit of armor, energized by the Light of Aether itself. Its power will help you reach these final keys...and guard you against any force the Dark World might turn against you!" With these words, he hurled the energy he was weaving into the energy stored above the Controller.
The energy flared and blasted downward into the Energy Controller...which parted in three sections, drawing apart to the corners of the Temple Chamber. At the center was the spinning disc and runic symbol Samus recognized as a Suit upgrade. Stepping forward, she allowed her suit to incorporate it. The Light of Aether surged into her in a blinding flare.
When the light faded, her suit had changed. Now closer in shape to her Varia Suit, the entire thing was a smooth white, with orange light shining through at various points, including her visor. The Light Suit was truly a perfect fusion of Chozo and Luminoth technology.
Samus smiled as she used her logbook to call up an image of the Light Suit, letting her audience - and, apparently, especially Rarity - marvel at the design. She had already pulled out a sketchbook and quills and started sketching a new clothing line based off of it.
"After that," Samus continued, "Spike and I spent some time hunting the remaining keys...and picking up a few more upgrades for me, including the Charge Combo for the Annihilator Beam...the Sonic Boom." She ignored Luna's chuckle. "As it turned out, the remaining keys were hidden in places that required the Light Suit's light-based teleportation system - which let me ride along any beam of compatible light - or were inside Dark Water or behind an Ingstorm cloud - microscopic Ing that could eat away at any material, except the Light Suit."
"And while my armor did give me the ability to ride light, as we discovered," Spike continued, "it did not provide me with protection from Dark Water or Ingstorms."
"At any rate," Samus concluded, "Spike took the high road to the Sky Temple entrance, while I took the low road. With the keys placed..."
As the nine keys settled into their places in the lock, the lock itself sunk into the ground, forever open. A beam of light connected the Sky Temple to the lock, giving a pathway for Samus and Spike to enter. Together, they rode the light to the final confrontation.
They came up through the Temple's Energy Controller, and could see the final collection of planetary energy above them. However, a writhing mass of black tentacles pulled the sphere into the shadows of the roof of the chamber. The pair pursued, following a roundabout path to the upper chamber of the Temple.
There, in a chamber edged in Phazon, the Emperor Ing barred their way, absorbing the last of the planetary energy into itself to prevent them from obtaining it. It took on the shape of a massive sphere with an indented face from which numerous tentacles writhed, the entire thing resting on another mass of wriggling tendrils.
Spike and Samus quickly teamed up, targeting the tentacles that struck out at them. Samus utilized the auto-homing function of the Annihilator Beam, while Spike raced along the ceiling for an alternative angle for his flame blasts. When all the tentacles were struck down, the flesh peeled back to reveal an energy based biomass surrounded by a partial shield. Samus tried to follow the shield around to shoot at the central mass through the gap. Spike, however, shot the mass straight through the open top of the shield.
With the last shot fired, the flesh reappeared, rolling over so the indented portion sank down over the writhing mass, forming a hard cocoon. The lower levels of the room filled with gas that ate through even the Light Suit. However, the cocoon itself was magnetic, and had visible weak points.
Spike satisfied himself with sniping at the smaller Ing that swarmed, trying to knock Samus off the cocoon as she left bombs and Power Bombs at the weak points. Eventually, the cocoon shattered, explosively, revealing the final stage of the Emperor Ing.
In appearance, it was a massive Warrior Ing, with six heavily armored legs and a massive body, a swirling vortex of energy inside its mouth the only vulnerable point as it charged around to attack. Only when the Core was Light or Dark would it take damage from the opposite.
"Why not just keep its mouth closed, then?" Rainbow asked in confusion.
"Ventilation," Twilight guessed. "In all likelihood, if it didn't have proper cross ventilation over that much energy, it would melt its flesh away."
"Honestly, I have no idea," Samus replied. "All I know is that it didn't, which was good for us."
For the most part, one Super Missile impact to the core was enough to cause an elemental shift. Samus found a Darkburst Charge Combo was especially effective against the Emperor Ing when it was Light, while Spike was able to get massive barrages with his flame breath when it was dark.
Eventually, the Emperor Ing fell and exploded, the planetary energy left behind.
"Sweet!" Scootaloo cheered, zooming in celebratory circles around Spike and Samus' heads. "And then it's just a smooth escape with the planetary energy, right?"
Samus and Spike both looked at each other. "No," Samus replied.
"Not quite," Spike agreed.
As Samus absorbed the energy into the Transfer Module - replenishing her ammo and energy in the process - Spike let out an enraged bellow of pain as he fell from the ceiling. "Spike!" Samus called out.
He writhed around on the ground, clutching his head and roaring in pain as his body started to expand. At first Samus couldn't tell what was happening. However, as her suit alerted her to the fact that the planet would explode in 20 minutes due to the removal of the energy, she saw the fragments of the Emperor Ing converging on Spike, infusing him as his coloration turned darker still. "Spike!" she shouted as his eyes turned red.
So... Spike's a boss... Interesting.
Final boss, Spike (Emperor Ing)! Fun times ahead for Samus.
hallowed
Honestly, I kinda saw this coming, though I wasn't sure who would get possessed - Samus or Spike.
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...But everyone knows Spike is a boss
Oh... F@%&.
...Well, I was wondering when things going to take a dark turn, considering that so far, things have been on the lighter side. With all the hints that something bad had happened to Spike, I was a bit curious to when we are going to find out...and now, we are about to see. Poor Spike (and Samus)...
A last ditch attempt from the Emperor Ing.
Damit, Dark Samus! Why'd you pick on Spike? Although it does make sense. He can use Phazon even more effectively than herself, and he's been eating a lot of it. But that begs the question, "how can she corrupt Spike if all the phazon he's eaten iz already 100 percent used?" I look forward to your explanation.
...I wanna go play Metroid now...
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Dark Samus isn't corrupting him.
Emperor Ing is possessing him.
Well I'm reading a solid 9.9 on the your dead-o-meter. So yeah.
And with that, I leave this story.
It's a joke. Don't take it seriously.
It's power will help you reach
1. Its.
Now I think of Rogue Galaxy.
OH SHITE!!!
I'm starting to see a pattern of dark samus/spike
"Ventilation," Twilight guessed. "In all likelihood, if it didn't have proper cross ventilation over that much energy, it would melt its flesh away." Headcannon acsepted. Also: DAMM YOU ING! DAMM YOU TO HELL! MAY YOU BURN FOREVER!
Well, Samus DOES tend to be a Badass.
How'd ya guess?
Clever girl.
Neat.
Hey, if I had to choose between the brief pain of having a limb relocated and NOT dealing with that pain but keeping it dislocated? Relocated in an instant, less chance of it screwing me over in the long run. Also, down FOR the count.
This is reminding me of how you always go back to the Navigation Room in Fusion.
Yep. Now, time to fix that, and seeing as we're nearing the end of Echoes, I'd say we're about to face the Emperor Ing, let's see how the bastard likes a face full of dragon fire.
DarkSamusmon, digivolve too...
LightSamusmon!
Didn't take long.
Neat.
Drat.
They face the Empror Ing.
Hello, Beastie.
Flying is AWESOME! Having Spike around must make the game SO much easier.
KA-BOOM!
That's what's fun about this Boss. It's the perfect final boss, testing you on everything you've learned so far, you have to use every skill you've gotten up to this point to destroy the Emperor Ing and save Aether.
Fair enough.
Useful.
Ding dong, the Ing is dead, which old Ing? The Emperor Ing, ding, dong, the asshole Ing is dead!
Of course not.
Oh shit.
Oh, fuck.
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Which is arguably even worse.
DAMN STRAIGHT!!!!
OH ST!!!!!
Poor Samus... though we know Spike survives, this next battle would have been hell for her. I'm guessing Spike and Samus get many pony hugs.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
I was kind of hoping one of the ponies would comment on the kneecaps of the light suit. Seriously, you could poke an eye out on those things.
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out!
I finally have something witty to say!!
.... and the longest, most boring flashback in the history of writing continues.
chapter after chapter after chapter basically reading a description of someone playing a video game. Ninety percent of this is just wasted blah-blah that was summed up dozens of chapters ago with "and then I found out everything was easier with a giant dragon helping me."most everything of storytelling value could have fit into two or three chapters. Why? Because most of it does absolutely nothing to develop the characters or explain their past. ....I'm left with the impression of A little kid who's just played the game and who is going to bore me to death telling me every last detail of his blow-by-blow conquest of the damn thing. " (gasp) and then instead of my Blasto cannon I used my SUPER whangdoodle gun (gasp) and shot the fourteenth battle-mook right in the goolies (gasp) and got the seventh purple magic key, oh and Spike ate something and then and then and then----" **grabs small child and his game system and heaves both into the nearest lake**
There are a few bits---for instance the part where Spike lost his temper at Dark Samus for eating all the food and proceeded to beat the technicolor crap out of it in frustration (comedy gold)--- that would be worth saving. Samus feeding baby Spike, Spike sneaking out after Samus and finding out enemy monsters are tasty, Spike accidentally destroying those abandoned buildings and suffering guilt and losing self-confidence.... that's got character development in it, that TELLS THE STORY. Everything else is just empty play-by-play. I've been skimming for a dozen chapters, waiting for the author to get back to TELLING THE STORY, instead of just describing his neato-keano super-kewlsiest video game ever one freaking power-up at a time.
6872183 ... I think you had bad influences when younger.
6445263 at least it's not the sonic rainboom
*takes one look at the light suit* Those four glowy things on her chest should shoot lasers.
Of course gamers would know what happened.
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My Dude, It's a retelling of Metroid games With Spike Included, what are you expecting, it's fanfiction, Enjoyable fanfiction, but fanfiction nevertheless