//------------------------------//
// The Phantom Blot 
// Story: The Mighty Machines 
// by Epicdiscord214 
//------------------------------//

“Are you sure you want to come with us?” Ricky asked the new wirewolf, Marty.
“Of course, I am.” Marty replied. “If you’re going to Equestria, than there’s no point to me staying in this dump any longer.”
“But what about Pixie Dust?” Terry asked. “You can’t just leave her there with Aaron.”
“Don’t worry.” Marty said. “The old hag can take care of herself.”
Ricky looked and saw Joe and Devastator picking up a set of bags.
“Come on, guys.” Joe said. “We don’t want to hit traffic!”
“Devastate.”
“The big guy’s right.” Terry said. “If one of Kul’as’ minions was able to find us and Aaron doesn’t return, they might send something worse.”
“Not to worry, boys.” Pixie Dust said. “I’ll set up a barrier spell to keep out those who are evil.”
“You can do that?” Terry asked. “Why didn’t you use it before?”
“BECAUSE I DIDN’T THINK ANYONE WOULD BRING AN EVIL EMPEROR TO MY FRONT PORCH! HONESTLY, YOU WIREWOLVES WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME SOMEDAY! I KNOW IT!”
“Okay, okay.” Ricky said. “I get the picture. Come on, guys.”
And with that, the five wirewolves left the area. Looking out the window, still strapped to his table, Aaron watched as he was mentally cursing. When Pixie Dust flew back in, she grabbed a few herbs before Aaron spoke.
“Hey, you know, nothing can stop Kul’as, right?”
“Not with that attitude.” Pixie Dust said. “Look, kid, there’s a way out of any situation. Kul’as realizes that whatever he wants with the map can get him out of this deadlock with Arcanus. Maybe he’s right. Maybe he’s wrong. It doesn’t matter.”
“This is the Neatherealm.” Aaron pointed out. “There is no right or wrong. Here, it’s kill or be killed. Eat or be eaten. It’s the law of the jungle here. Those wirewolves try messing with the food chain, they’re going to get what’s coming to them.”
“Stop being a pessimist. I’ll have you know, those wirewolves may be idiots, but they have hearts. Not literally, though, ‘cause they’re machines. But you know what I mean. You know, if you at least try, you’d realize you have a heart too.”
Aaron was about to protest, but he stopped himself and began to think.





In a wide, open field, Ricky and the others trotted across and looked at their map.
“Well, I’d say we’re at Brimstone Valley, but I can’t tell without the brimstone.” Ricky said.
“I don’t know why they call this place that, but this is definitely the place.” Terry said. “At this pace, we’ll be at the X on the map before you know it.”
“Devastate.”
“Yeah, I know we’re almost home, big D. Don’t get emotional.”
Suddenly, Joe stopped when he overheard a strange sound. He looked back and didn’t see anything but dunes and shadows.
“I just heard gurgling.”
“Do we need a news flash every time your crazy meter hits red?” Marty asked.
“He’s doing that for attention.” Ricky said still staring at the map. “Just ignore him. Now, I think we should…”
Suddenly, a large, black blob leaped through the air. Ricky didn’t even see it coming until it tackled him. The others practically jumped when it appeared.
“GET THIS THING OFF ME!” Ricky shouted trying to wrestle his way out of the icky liquid trying to completely cover him.
The others grabbed a different part of it and tugged, but no matter how hard they tried, the blob tightened quicker than a boa constrictor.
“WHAT IS THIS THING?!” Joe shouted.
“I DON’T KNOW!” Terry replied. “I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON!”
“HELP!” Ricky shouted before his body was completely covered. The gunk engulfed his entire chassis.
“We need to get him out!” Marty said.
“I GOT IT!” Joe shouted. “All we need is a banjo, an inflatable turkey, and… Does anyone know where to find a monkey that knows Morse code?”
“Devastate.”
The big guy pointed at the blob which was dripping off of Ricky’s body. Ricky escaped from it and every last drop was off.
“RICKY!” everyone shouted. They went to check up on him.
“Nice one, dude.” Joe said. “How’d you escape?”
“I didn’t.” Ricky replied. “Whatever that thing was, it just let me go. Really. I thought I’d be trapped for good. Then, there was a bright light that covered my body, and it just let me go.”
“What?” Marty asked. “Why would…”
Suddenly, they heard electrical sparks. They looked and saw the blob getting bigger. Suddenly, it started to take a familiar form. The blob solidified into a metal structure. When it was done, it howled, which matched his new form now.
“Is it just me, or does that look familiar to you all?” Terry asked.
“I guess he’s got one of those faces.” Joe said.
“Yeah!” Ricky said. “Mine!”
He was right. The creature standing before them looked almost exactly like Ricky, except for a darker color scheme. It looked back at the wirewolves and chuckled.
“Well,” it spoke, “This is an interesting change.”
“Okay, that’s a new one.” Terry said.
“Uh, what is this?” Ricky asked. “Who are you?”
“I guess… Phantom Blot would be appropriate. Don’t you think so, Ricky?”
“What?” Ricky said nervously. “How’d you know my name?”
“That bright light was a scanner.” The Phantom Blot said. “I looked into your strengths, your emotions, even your memories. And might I just say, how touching it is with the feelings you harbor. I’d shed a tear if I could.”
“Where did you come from?” Ricky asked.
“It doesn’t matter.” the Phantom Blot said. “All I’m here for is to carry out my creator’s orders.”
“And those orders are…” Marty asked.
“To kill you and take the Edgeless Atlas.” the Phantom Blot said. “Nothing personal.”
Suddenly, the copycat leapt into the air and charged down at them. They jumped out of the way and took cover behind rocks. The Phantom Blot got back up and looked around.
“Come on out, Ricky. I know you want to continue, to return to your precious Celestia. A hopeless cause, if you ask me.”
“Well, I didn’t ask you!” Ricky shouted moving around trying to hide. “Who do you think you are?”
“Oh, Ricky. Isn’t it obvious?

“I’m just one of those guys
Who puts fear in your eyes
I know exactly what you’re afraid of
You’re afraid you will never
Get back home and be together
With the pony you so desperately love
After so far from Canterlot
You fear that she forgot
And that puts your sleep in strife
There’s no need to be stressed
I’ll put your nightmares at rest
And all it costs is the end of your life
I am you and you’re me
As different as can be
You are the love and I’m the hate
And right here, tonight
We will end this fight
We’re connected by the hands of fate
Connected…
Connected…
We’re connected by the hands of fate
We are two flowing forces
Taking different courses
Each with their own direction
I know what’s on your mind
And you know what’s on mine
Don’t tell me you don’t feel the connection
See, our fight will be soon
Under the Netherealm’s moon
And soon, you’re going to burn
Even with your little ring
I am the only thing
Standing in the way of your return
I am you and you’re me
As different as can be
You are the love and I’m the hate
And right here, tonight
We will end this fight
We’re connected by the hands of fate
Connected…
Connected…
We’re connected by the hands of fate
Don’t you think that I’m going to just let you
Go back to where you think you’re welcome
You must be used to having everyone forget you
Especially the Princess of the… Sun
I AM YOU AND YOU’RE ME
AS DIFFERENT AS CAN BE
YOU ARE THE LOVE AND I’M THE HATE
AND RIGHT HERE, TONIGHT
WE WILL END THIS FIGHT
WE’RE CONNECTED BY THE HANDS OF FATE
CONNECTED…
CONNECTED
We’re connected by the hands of fate”

“SOMEONE, SHUT HIM UP!” Ricky shouted.
Suddenly, the wirewolves pounced from their hiding places and attempted to tackle their enemy. Joe tried to get him first, but the Phantom Blot just picked him up and threw him overhead. Terry then grabbed him from behind trying to hold him down.
“It’s like wrestling a bear!”
The Phantom Blot noticed Devastator charging at him and turned around. Devastator stopped when he saw Terry dangling, but the Phantom Blot jumped back and knocked the big guy back with his friend. Terry immediately let go and the Phantom Blot stood back up.
“Round one, the Phantom Blot.” The enemy bowed in a mocking way.
“I really hate that guy.” Terry said.
Meanwhile, Marty approached Ricky and asked for a plan.
“I think I got one.” Ricky said. “How big of a fireball can you make?”
“How big do you want?” Marty replied.
After a brief discussion, Marty ran up the nearest hill and jumped from the top. He saw the Phantom Blot and put his claws together. A fireball began to glow between his hands and it grew bigger.
“KAMEHAME…” Marty began to shout.
“JUST THROW IT BEFORE WE GET SUED!” Joe shouted.
The Phantom Blot looked up and saw Marty and his big fireball. As soon as he threw it, the monster leapt out of the way letting the fireball hit the ground. Suddenly, the impact left a crack in the ground that just kept getting bigger. When the ground started to break, a red light escaped. When it broke open, there was a whole pool of lava underneath a hallow ground. The ground began to shake and crack, and everything was going to fall.
“Oh.” Joe said. “That’s why it’s called Brimstone Valley. Who would’ve guessed?”