//------------------------------// // End of The Line (part 2) // Story: Spike's Shadow // by DraconequusMaximus //------------------------------// Spike and Sombra were in a precarious position, trying to focus and get into sync while keeping away from Dootha's spell. With considerable practice, Spike had got meditation down. But using the breathing techniques and mental control in a crisis was still hard. Feeling Sombra's heartbeat in the tattoo on his arm was the only thing he focused on. They could feel each other perfectly, and Sombra seemed to be melting into Spike. The line separating the two of them began to blur until neither of them could remember the difference. Suddenly they were something, or someone else. Spike had been dyed black, his eyes burning with the same power Sombra possessed but with irises as green as emeralds. Ghostly white miasma trailed forth from their eyes as his spines were tinged with Sombra's power. The transformation, or more accurately, fusion, happened fast. Heart, soul, magic, strength, being. Everything was singular and in perfect balance. There was no need to talk to each other. No time wasted conveying plans or ideas. There was only one mind, one voice. They were a singular and powerful entity, calm and collected. Unity, harmony. Hybrid. Even Dootha's power didn't seem so scary anymore. The new and improved power couple took wing, using Dootha's imposed gravity to their advantage. They struck the orbs powering the spell with claws empowered by Sombra's contributions, tearing away at the vile magic like tissue paper. Dootha was swift in reply, nearly knocking Hybrid out of the sky as he surged upwards. He was still larger and more powerful, but speed and maneuverability was theirs. The small islands of earth were still floating about, and Dootha couldn't easily get at them from behind them. The mad devil's solution was of course to destroy them, searing them out of existence with more black fire. They fortunately had other plans. Hybrid dove through an island of earth and came through the other side. Orbiting their form was a circle of stones, flinging the boulders at Dootha with enhanced magic. They did little damage, but they made the great evil dragon falter to maintain flight. It was enough to close the gap, the singular pair slamming into Dootha with tremendous force. Claws pierced snake-like scale with spirit energy poisoning Dootha as he had poisoned Spike. But it was only an effort to ensure they couldn't be thrown. The pair opened their maw to reveal a mouth of gleaming black fangs, and they began tearing away at Dootha's flesh. Devouring the monster as if he were their favorite meal. Dootha was surprised, but as he began to plummet he laughed as if he had already won. The impact was enough to shake the nation, Dootha's bones broken on impact. Though Spike and Sombra knew it didn't matter. Dootha was already regenerating from their first bites, but the combined form of Spike and Sombra were sinking their teeth into mouthful after mouthful of Dootha's flesh. There are easier ways to commit suicide. Imbibing my tainted flesh is like asking to die, yet you continue to gorge yourselves. Why? Why condemn yourself to a slow and painful soul-death? Dootha asked as his bones cracked back into place. You assume I'm not aware of your corruption, the poison? Spike has the stuff of gods at his command, and Sombra's spiritual power burns away at your filth. I am Hybrid, and all eating you gains me is energy. Your flesh is equal parts power and flesh. Eventually your regeneration will fail you, and when it does we'll tear your soul apart. Playing dirty is the only option for us. You taste like ash and battery acid, but our mana reserves are nearly full again. Dootha actually seemed fearful for a moment, but he was able to fling the fusion off of himself. The lost flesh began filling in, but he could tell his power couldn't find purchase within his foes' body. The miasma wasn't strong enough to harm them anymore, and Dootha was furious and fearful. Despite being the planet's deadliest creature, his ages old insecurity and the need to feel powerful and dominant were strong. Dootha cloaked his body in black flames, looking something like an insane crow made of flowing feathers. He took to the sky again, the flames trailing behind. The hybrid form of Spike and Sombra were showered with embers, their scales burning as quickly as dead leaves. It caused their concentration to waver a bit, but they maintained their harmony. They pulsed color changing fire through the wounds, cancelling out Dootha's. The injuries remained, but there was no time to find out if Sombra's power to make up for lost mass had transferred over. Dootha was streaking across the sky, black embers raining down like snowflakes the size of dinner plates. The only chance Hybrid had was to gain the high-ground, so to speak. Flight was something Spike excelled at, but Dootha was infinitely more experienced. Trying to avoid Dootha and gain altitude was a fight in itself, and dodging the embers was still a factor. But Sombra's cool head and Spike's variety of powers were a potent mix. Going into a spin, they surrounded themselves in a bubble of swirling air that stayed around them. It served it's intended purpose and altered the airflow enough to keep the embers off of them. It paid off, allowing them enough freedom to boost above Dootha. With a bit of uncertainty, they spun the unified magic and spirit energy through the air bubble and dove back down at Dootha. By the time they hit they seemed like a ball of energy pulsating like a strobe light. They fell to Earth, black flames licking away at the luminous power. The powers were keeping each other in check, neither able to gain a foothold on the other. Until the rough landing caused the instability to peak. The explosion was intense. The already ruined landscape was changed even further, a crater of smoking glass left in their wake. The pair, Hybrid and Dootha were left standing apart from each other, steaming and wounded. The hybrid was bleeding dark ichor from it's side, and Dootha's sickly green insides were exposed, but healing over slowly. The hybrid's eyes had parted. One belonging to Sombra, and the other to Spike. But with a great deal of effort and pain, it repaired itself. The eyes returned to their fused state, and the ichor ceased flowing. The wound seemed to heal, but the lost black ooze didn't seem able to rejoin the whole. I see... Your new form is indeed stronger than I gave it credit for. Your weaknesses are nullified by the other half's strengths. The powers you possess are intriguing, but you aren't used to this unified existence. You will begin to wear down soon, while my only ally has been with me from the start. Dootha gloated. Dootha's shadow began moving of it's own accord, and slowly became a three dimensional shape. It was a fully-formed silhouette of the devil dragon himself, but the blackness was occupied. There were points of light swirling within, some larger than others. Beznik... We shouldn't be surprised to see it. Though it's looking less alive than before. Hybrid sneered. Dootha struck at the shade with his neck like a cobra, tearing a large chunk of it away. It recoiled, falling back to the ground and resuming it's role as a two-dimensional shadow. But Dootha's wounds healed many times faster than before, and Hybrid could feel the power surging within him. It flared to life, but slowly seemed to get reigned in by Dootha. Beznik's consciousness is lost to me. But his essence is mine, and his mission was completed in full. Not only did he facilitate my return, he collected an enormous cache of souls. Several of which are our kin's, preserved in time. This body is an aberration, a mistake the universe didn't want to come to pass. It cannot heal itself without resupplying energy. I will consume everything, and move on to the stars. I will devour suns, and when it has all gone dark I will build it all anew from my own flesh. All of creation grown from me. When I am everything, then reality will be forced to accept me and I will rule forever. Dootha laughed. The tyrant rushed at the hybrid, flapping his wings like an attacking bird. Hybrid wasn't prepared to go down without a fight, but they knew to pick their battles. Instead of meeting Dootha head on they rolled to the side, landing in the dragon's shadow. They sank into it, and Dootha didn't seem able to follow. No! Get out of there! Dootha screamed. His shadow detached from him, and began fleeing across the ground. It was a desperate strategy, but they needed to prevent Dootha from refueling. But there were a number of problems with this plan. ~Inside The Shadow~ The hybrid was unraveling in the nexus of darkness lit by lost souls. The darkness that was Sombra bled out, leaving Spike behind. They were both obviously very tired, but all in all their injuries weren't severe. Sombra still had a thin layer of solid shadow keeping Spike's wound shut. "Fuck. That was nuts. This is nuts. He was right though. We were coming undone. Are you able to keep this up for awhile? It must be hard moving Dootha's shadow." Spike asked, trying to keep his head about him. Sombra looked strangely tranquil, despite the situation. "Yes, I'm actually quite alright. Dootha's shadow is dead. It has no connection, pull, or will. His lingering attachment to Beznik was all that was keeping it attached to him. We severed it. I've got full mobility. But we have a bigger issue to deal with at present." Sombra remarked. "Yeah. Ten tons of terror wrapped in scales. Currently chasing us." Spike huffed. Sombra gave Spike a look of minor annoyance and projected a tendril of shade outward. It tenderly took hold of a nearby soul, bringing it over to Spike. It floated just above Sombra's hold, but followed the movement. It was like pure energy made into fog, coalesced into a loose sphere. It was beautiful and amazing. Brighter than any light Spike had ever seen but not harmful to the eyes. "These are disembodied souls of the dead. I can safeguard them within myself. We must keep them from Dootha, in any case. But there is something else I can do. I just need your help." Sombra affirmed. Spike was transfixed by the beauty of the souls, but managed to nod. "Then we need to make this quick." Sombra agreed, branching out his darkness in every direction. The lights went out one after another, Sombra taking the souls into himself for safe keeping. Spike watched with baited breath, unable to look away. It was a beautiful, if somewhat sad display. Yet Spike knew Sombra had the purest of intentions, and the most delicate of touches. In the span of ten seconds all the otherworldly lights had been extinguished, except for six. The six souls that remained were each different colors, and they glowed more brightly than the others. "This, is where things get tricky. Do you trust me? Enough to let me touch your unprotected soul? Because if we don't do something drastic we're going to lose." Sombra asked, letting the souls linger about. Spike nodded, not sparing the thought any time. "We've literally been the same person at this point. Have at it if you think it's going to help." Spike replied, spreading his arms out to give Sombra access to his chest. Sombra smiled, but his confidence was questionable. He took hold of the first soul, and from it he carefully and quickly extracted a wisp of white light from it. Sombra created a new tendril each time, until he was holding six of the white lights. With great care and precision, Sombra introduced them to one another, combining them into one shining white flame. The souls themselves seemed no worse for the wear, and Sombra slipped them into his being with the others. "This, is the collective sparks of your fallen kin, which I stripped from their souls as I do with Dootha's miasma. I combined them into a flame of Cadmae's gifts to your bloodline. I have no doubt that if you were to add this to your own spark your power would grow immensely, but I believe the phrase 'too much of a good thing' could very well apply here." Sombra cautioned. Spike could feel a pull in his chest, most likely resonance to the flame. It was like his spark was a magnet being pulled toward a much stronger magnet. There was no doubt about it. The fire-like wisp of diluted divinity was a source of immense power, and Spike wanted it. The soul of a dragon, even one as selfless as Spike was afflicted with greed on a spiritual level. This brilliantly shining wisp was like the most valuable object in all of creation. It wasn't until Sombra slapped him that he snapped out of the trance. "Your eyes were dilating. I know that look." Sombra huffed, almost like a disappointed parent. Spike chuckled awkwardly. Sombra rolled his eyes, and let Spike calm down a moment. "Now... If you agree to this, you need to close your eyes. Don't focus on the flame. Not even as I merge your soul with it. Think of what matters most. Your mother, our friends, our family... Frost, Sugar Berry, Pinkie's unborn foal. Even our future children, should we be blessed with any. None of them have a chance unless we do this, here and now." Sombra said in a measured calm. Spike couldn't help but feel nervous, but he closed his eyes and visualized his loved ones. There was no way he could remain so on edge as the thoughts and memories flooded in. He didn't even feel Sombra begin the procedure. "You're doing well, keep it up. If you waver, your soul will dim in response. You must continue to shine brightly, or it may overpower you. But I have the utmost confidence in you. Your will is strong enough to do this." Sombra continued. Spike soon became aware of the extreme heat that was actively being driven into the metaphysical core of his being. It was like the sun was being slowly but surely placed in his chest. It was enough to make even his draconian constitution sweat, but he stayed completely still. All at once, Spike felt himself burning as if he were dry kindling. It was easily the most painful experience Spike had gone through to date. But there came a sense of relief, at least to a small degree. It was Sombra, cloaking him in the crisp cool darkness. It was equivalent to an autumn evening. It's in... I realize it must be excruciating, but I'm doing all I can. Sombra said guiltily. "It's okay. I can feel it. It's calming down. Just keep the shadow moving for a minute. Let me catch my breath." Spike assured Sombra. ~Back On The Battlefield~ Dootha was seething with rage, unable to do anything but chase the moving shadow like a chicken with it's head cut off. Without Sombra, or a shadow of his own, Dootha seemed incapable of interacting with the shadow. Sombra's control was much greater than he had anticipated. His source of power had essentially been ripped right out from under him, and he had no means to take it back. If he were to destroy it, then the precious dragon souls he had collected would likewise be destroyed. He was forced to wait, and keep up with the surprisingly mobile shadow. Dootha saw the shade begin to swell and a surge of power after a time. Not knowing what was happening the demon instinctively dodged. A pillar of shadow erupted forth, filling the area with utter darkness. Dootha could feel two powers at work, but the darkness vanished all at once. What was left behind was Spike, singular and in his original form. Yet Dootha could tell something was different. What have you done!? Where are my souls!? "Sombra took them. He's letting them float on to the afterlife on the other side of the planet right about now. He'll be back in a minute. And since you flew all the way here from Equestria I'm guessing you can't teleport." Spike said casually. As expected, Dootha's rage boiled over. In a blind fury, Dootha's form cracked and tore. Sickening green light could be seen below, purple miasma crackling about like electricity. Spike could feel the intensity of Dootha's rage. The air was quivering and the ground beneath Dootha was starting to melt from the sheer pressure. It was liquefying, but not becoming magma. It just couldn't maintain it's shape. Spike could tell that this unrestrained attack would be devastating. Something akin to Celestia's forbidden magic. If he didn't do something it would kill him and forever alter the Earth. Not that it would last long after that. Spike did the only thing he could think to do and used a great deal of his own power to encase Dootha in a forcefield, reinforced with the power of divinity now gushing out of Spike. Through it he saw the sickly energy radiate out from Dootha. It was only an instant before it hit the shield, and Spike had to keep flowing mana into it. Even so, it cracked, energy streaming out of several spots. Spike roared out in pain as a thin beam shot forth from a nearby crack and sliced through a generous portion of his outer right thigh. It stung terribly, and would definitely hinder movement. The worst of it was by far the miasma now coursing through his bloodstream, and Sombra being half a world away. Try as he might, Spike couldn't purge it himself. Even with the power boost, Spike was still just a dragon, and Dootha had an impressive track record for killing his kind. When the shield fell, it revealed a new Dootha. Raw, and skinned. He was a dripping mass of putrid energy and black gristle. Miasma and smoke rolled off his form as flesh began weaving itself back around Dootha's frame. It seemed his current load of souls was still more than enough to force regeneration. Spike couldn't waste a second. Though it pained him greatly, and it circulated the miasma further, Spike had to strike while Dootha was vulnerable. With every ounce of his power, Spike fed the fire inside of him all the mana he had. The magenta flames rolled off of Spike, streaking across the desolate plains towards their intended target. Dootha saw them coming, but his rage attack had seriously hindered him. They caught him as he tried in vain to gain air on bony wings. Spike watched as Dootha's regeneration tried to outpace the flames, but failed. Dootha would not submit, but could not gain the upper hand on the godly fire. What was left of Dootha was a terrifying black skeleton, awash in magenta fire. But soon even Spike's ultimate technique began to fade, and the flames were dyed black. Only disturbing green lights remained in Dootha's eye sockets. Despite being literally worked down to the bone Dootha refused to die. I am eternal! I have defeated death at every turn! My father, the most powerful being of mortal blood could not defeat me! What makes you, a watered-down bloodline cast off, and a failed experiment think that you can succeed where he failed?! Dootha's fire began to spread across the ground unchecked. He was making no effort to reign in his disastrous power, or had lost the ability to do so. Dootha was on the last dregs of his power but his own spark, tainted as it was was keeping him functioning. Spike couldn't move fast enough to escape the skeletal devil-dragon, now faster despite lacking muscles to move his massive frame. In what felt like an instant, Spike felt Dootha drive the sharp spine of his wing into his left shoulder. It nailed him to the ground through his own wing, coated red with his blood upon exit. Spike couldn't move his left arm, and freeing himself from the tremendous black spike seemed impossible. His lung had been torn clean through, and shoulder blade had likely been broken in half. Blood dribbled from his mouth, and he could feel himself growing cold. Dootha placed his skeletal foot on Spike's back, keeping him pinned as he withdrew the sharpened bone. There was a tremendous hole left in Spike's chest. He could feel the cool air in his wound, and his brain could barely comprehend the shock. It was like he was paralyzed, his eyes barely able to move. But for some reason, Spike felt no fear. He realized he might die at any moment, that he was losing a lot of blood, and that his body was still in such a state of shock that it wouldn't cooperate. Yet Spike felt in his heart that the battle wasn't over. Then all at once, pain became Spike's everything. He felt like something was rooting around in his broken body. Like a plant was rapidly growing to fill in his wounds and replace what was lost. Or at least patch Spike up. "Please be alright." Spike managed to pull himself up from the ground, with strength that wasn't his own. Sombra was there. Standing in front of him. He had bound Dootha's skeleton in shadow, but the flames were licking away at his dark mass. It was clear that Dootha would be free in moments. Yet Sombra was standing there facing Spike, tears in his eyes. The world would end if they didn't finish Dootha then and there, but Sombra cared more about Spike just then. Spike could see himself more clearly now. His wounds had been filled with Sombra's dark essence, the flesh knitted together again or replaced. Spike couldn't be sure. In either case, Sombra had given away a great portion of himself. The selfless act may have cost him dearly. "I'm okay. You did a good job gluing me together. Do you think we can finish this? One more fusion?" Spike asked, clutching his shoulder. "Yes... But there's something I need to do first. Otherwise, this will never end." Sombra agreed. Dootha struggled in his bindings, but all at once he stopped. The lights in his eye-holes went out, and his frame slumped. Spike thought that he might have actually finally died, but they flared to life soon after. One green, and one pink. Sombra's true body fell apart and bled his way into Spike once more. Hybrid was made anew, and in that moment the dragon component of his being understood what Sombra had done. He could see it in Sombra's mind, and in Dootha with his very own eyes. Dootha's sickly green and purple soul was being smothered by a web of darkness and pink spirit energy. Not only had Sombra bound him, he had left nearly all the power he hadn't used to save Spike to possess Dootha. Hybrid gathered up all the energy they had left between it's two halves, and he burned Dootha with all of it. It wasn't enough to destroy him, but the eyes began to flicker and dim. He was bowled over, and Hybrid was upon him soon. With black fangs, he ripped into Dootha's bones as he had done with his flesh earlier. It was foul disgusting tar or pitch-like in taste, enough to turn anyone's stomach. But they swallowed every last bit with enthusiasm, taking Dootha's power away little by little. Why... Why can I not flee? My soul... it aches. Am I being torn away? Would you really suffer such a loss to keep me from escaping? You would sacrifice part of your own being? Hybrid didn't answer immediately, as if contemplating the question. We are ready to lose anything, as long as we don't have to lose the ones we care about. We will recover in time, but you will be destroyed. Your soul ripped to shreds and converted into our strength. You will never return. Our family will be protected. Even if we have to kill, or worse. With every bite, Dootha grew weaker and weaker. Hybrid could feel the pain Sombra's shadows felt being devoured, but it was necessary. It was all that they could do. It was cruel, it was distasteful, but it was what had to be done. Dootha was soon reduced to a mere glimmer of his former self. Towards the end, Dootha seemed melancholy. Mournful even. I have existed as a parasite for hundreds of thousands of years. Consumed millions of souls, and stolen at least twice as many lives... Killed off deities, and my own kin. I have ruled nations from the shadows, and started wars just to amuse myself. I may cease to exist, but this world was broken by me. I left my mark, and I still have followers to carry my name into eternity. You will never be rid of my legacy. My ghost. Hybrid took hold of the last of Dootha's being, barely the size of a softball. He stared down at it and appraised it. As it was now, it was enveloped in darkness. Dootha could do nothing but prattle on as the end came. If it takes a thousand years, we will rebuild everything you've destroyed. It's our duty, and we will turn all the wrong you have done into the driving factor of our progress. In a strange way, we're grateful to you. You created Sombra. Without you, Sombra wouldn't exist, and Spike alone may not have gotten this far. And he certainly wouldn't be as happy without him. Without waiting to hear his reply, Hybrid devoured the very last morsel of the great evil formerly known as Dootha. Once every last ounce of miasma had been purged and Dootha reduced to raw energy Hybrid separated. Spike and Sombra fell to the ground, exhausted beyond belief. Sombra had reverted to his basest form, his mane and tail static instead of flowing. Spike could tell his power was all but gone, and he felt guilty. "You're looking pretty thin there. Are you okay?" Spike asked, knowing what Sombra would say. "I'm immortal. No matter how much of me is gone, I'll be fine in time." Sombra said predictably. "How much are you running on?" Spike asked, sternly this time. Sombra hung his head a bit, chastising himself for being so dismissive. "Roughly... Ten percent. Nine-point-five? Minimal control efficiency. You've got twenty percent inside you right now, holding you together. Seventy percent of my mass was converted to mana with Dootha. But it was worth it." Sombra huffed. Spike and Sombra lay there in the ruined land of Abyssinia for a time. The quiet was now peaceful rather than ominous, and neither of them wanted to get up. Neither said anything for a time. It felt like hours before they said anything more. "I'm sorry we couldn't win with just my powers. I should have been stronger. Then you wouldn't have had to sacrifice so much." Spike apologized. Sombra placed a hoof on Spike's snout, signaling him to be quiet. "Spike. I love you, and it was my plan. Don't beat yourself up about it. Even with six additional sparks we had to resort to such drastic measures. Fully grown dragons and gods had fallen to Dootha. We were lucky we escaped at all." Sombra reminded him. "I love you too... And you're right, as usual." Spike chuckled. Sombra climbed atop Spike's chest and traced the borders of where Spike ended and his mending began. "It was... intense, being the same being. But also peaceful. Selene and Luna will be overjoyed to hear about it... I wouldn't be opposed to doing it now and then for the fun of it. The... Closeness. Marriage almost doesn't seem worth the pageantry now." Sombra laughed smoothly. "We're still getting married, though... Right?" Spike asked, somewhat concerned. "Of course we are. But let's wait for you to heal. Then we can go to Neighpon for our honeymoon." "Sounds like a plan." Spike agreed, holding Sombra to his bosom.