//------------------------------// // Episode 10: The Beast Within // Story: Elements of Heroism: Season 2 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// "Is Spike up yet?" Burst whispered. "He should be up any moment now." Twilight answered. She then heard Spike coming down the stairs, and opened the blinds! "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIKE!" Everyone cheered! Spike was shocked to see all his friends in the library. Each of them had presents in tow. Needless to say, he was pretty speechless. "Wow. This is the first time I've ever got this many presents." Spike said in awe. "I usually just get one from Twilight. A book." In response to Spike's statement, Twilight promptly hide the book she planned on giving Spike. Spike then proceeded to open all the presents he'd been given. "Best birthday I've ever had." Spike then headed to Sugar Cube Corner to get another surprise the Cakes had made for him. However, things took a downward spiral from there. Spike soon returned and had amassed all the objects he'd obtained in a single hoard. Burst noticed that Spike had also grown a bit since he had gone out. "Um, Twilight? What do you know about the growth and development of dragons?" Burst asked. "Not much." Twilight answered. "But why does that matter?" "Twilight. Right now Spike's going through a rapid greed growth." Burst noted as both he and Twilight. "Dragons' hearts are greed-prone. But most dragons are trained to moderate their instincts. Spike on the other hand was raised by only you. And since he's at the age greed growth starts..." Burst pointed at Spike's new size. "It's out of control." Twilight was equal parts shocked and fascinated. "So...how do you know about this?" "Twilight. I'm an avatar from the dragon lineage. My parents made sure I knew about my dragon traits like having durable scales for skin, and enhanced strength and senses. They also made sure I know about the traits of regular dragons and other creatures when I was training after I dropped out of Celestia's School for Gifted Magi. However, those of the dragon lineage were blessed by noble dragons. So I don't have the greed growth instinct. But Spike does. It's natural for his species, but it's unstable since he was never told about it! And the bigger he gets, Spike's gonna get even greedier. That's why he's been grabbing so many things." "Great! So how do we stop it?" Twilight asked hopefully. "The most direct way is to get him to stop practicing greed." Burst answered. He then heard Spike walk out the library door. "Not good!" Burst and Twilight ran off to find Spike! They soon found him fighting with the CMC over Scootaloo's scooter. Burst grabbed Spike by the tail! "C'mon big guy! You're coming back home now!" "Spike...WANT!" Spike groaned! Twilight thought fast, and levitated a broom in her magic! Using it to lure Spike back to the library! Twilight threw the broom inside a room, and held the door shut with the help of Burst! "How long do we need to ride this out?" Twilight asked. "I have no idea!" Burst answered as they kept their backs pressed against the door. Soon, the struggling from the other side halted. Burst slowly opened the door as he summoned one of his blasters, and he and Twilight found Spike sitting atop a pile of books!" "Oh, Spike! I just re-shelved this room!" Twilight groaned as she used her magic to pull away all the books. Burst and Twilight jumped when they heard the sound of a wall being smashed! "Ugh! What now?" Twilight opened the door to find an outilne of Spike that was in the place of where the room's wall once was. "Really not good." Burst noted. "C'mon! We've got a dragon to track down!" Burst summoned his other Duelist Arms, and noted the concerned look on Twilight's face. "Don't worry. Duelist Arms can only cut down evil beings. Remember?" Twilight nodded. "Besides, dragons are incredibly durable. Spike's who we really need to worry about." The two followed Spike's trail. First they tried roping him at Sweet Apple Acres, but Twilight and Applejack got tied up instead. Burst cut them loose, and fired a shot from his blasters at Spike! Spike was dazed by the blasts while Burst tried to subdue him. However, the growing dragon was far from defenseless and tripped up Burst with his tail! Rainbow Dash noticed the commotion, and tried to help Burst hold down Spike! "He's...a lot toguher...now!" Burst groaned as Spike thrashed! "Maybe we shouldn't have given him all those presents! WHOOOOAAA!" Rainbow Dash and Burst were thrown off by Spike and the dragon furthered his quest for more loot at Fluttershy's cottage! However, he did not expect Tyrannus to give him such resistance! Tyrannus grappled with Spike! Trying to tire the dragon out! "Spike! What's gotten into you?!" Tyrannus demanded. "SPIKE WANT!" Spike roared as he threw Tyrannus to the side! Fluttershy looked in with terrified eyes at seeing what Spike had become! Spike snatched up Fluttershy's chicken coop, and marched off to Sugar Cube Corner where Pinkie started pelting him with cakes! When the others arrived, Spike grew to a gigantic size! "Uh...I don't suppose anyone's got a giant robot in their pockets?" Burst asked desperately. Spike roared as he stormed off to find more additions to his horde! "He's completely out of control!" Twilight exclaimed. Burst then got an idea. "Maybe...but there's a way to use his greed growth against him! We just need to give him another sort of treasure! Are there any objects that hold great sentimental value to Spike?" Twilight's eyes lit up! "Yes! There was a fire ruby he gave to Rarity just last week! He might not be pining for her, but he still thinks she's a really good friend. So he gave her the fire ruby he'd been saving for his birthday dinner! Let's just hope we can reach Rarity before he does!" The group rushed off to find Inferno fighting off Spike at Carousel Boutique! And oddly enough, Inferno was doing well! Most likely because he wanted to protect Rarity. Rarity soon stepped outside to see Inferno fighting the now gigantic Spike! "Show that ruffian what for!" Rarity called out! "I can't let loose because this 'ruffian' is Spike!" Inferno shot back! Rarity's eyes went wide with horror! She then looked at the necklace she'd made with the fire ruby Spike had given her. She then waved the necklace in front of Spike's eyes softened when he saw the necklace, and he gradually returned to his regular self. "Uuhhggghhh...." Spike groaned as he fell to his back. "I don't think I wanna grow up anymore...." Everyone let out a sigh of relief when they saw Spike was back to normal. Fang and Venus had just arrived on the scene and surveyed Spike's trail or rampage. "Well, let's face it. It's not as bad as that time an Ursa Minor took a stroll through here." Venus noted. Fang nodded. "Well, here's hoping the night's peaceful at least." Night soon fell, and Fang was souns asleep with Narico slumbering as well. However, and ominous purple glow came from Fang's Duelist Arm. A dark purple mist entered Fang's body, and changed him. Soon, a howl was heard through all of of Ponyville! Burst and the guys readied their own Duelist Arms, and went out decked in their pajamas. They saw a lone figure howling at the moon in the center of town! A wild red-violet tail swished as the being howled, and solid red eyes greeted them as the beast turned to face them! But what shocked them all was the Duelist Arm on the beast's left arm! "FANG?!" The guys called out. Fang had been transformed into a werewolf-like creature, and the beast only snarled in response and leaped at them! Inferno slashed across the transformed Fang's chest! A slash mark was apparent when the beast wailed in pain, and light seeped out of the wound! "Okay guys! Whatever's got control of Fang is definitely evil! Otherwise, there wouldn't be a wound!" Burst noted. "But how do we snap him out of it?" Ace asked. Venus stepped forward. "Leave that to me." Venus readied his whip and stood at the ready. The possessed Fang snarled as he once again leaped at Venus! As quick as lightning, Venus coiled Fang in his whip! "Rose Blaze!" purple flames ignited along the lash of Venus' whip! The flames burned away at the beast! And in the process, Fang's true self was revealed! Unharmed by the flames! Venus pulled back, and Fang was set free from the malevolent force that was using his body! "Glad to have you back." Fang moaned as he got to his feet. He stared furiously at the spirit standing before them! "So. You're the creep who took my body for a joyride earlier." The spirit snarled. "Have you no respect for your elders?! I am Savage Howl! Your ancestor and brother to that cursed mutt Fenrir! Untold years I had been sealed away in that weapon. Waiting for another of the Wolf Enspiriter Lineage to take it up. And if you'll not heed the alpha of your pack, you shall pay!" Savage Howl charged at Fang! But Fang slashed across Savage Howl's chest with his Duelist Arm! Savage fell to one knee and saw that his spirit was starting to burn away! One last howl of anguish escaped as a surge of energy rushed into Fang! When the light faded, a wolf stood in Fang's place. Then, another flash of light turned the wolf into a wolf pup. And yet another turned the pup back into Fang. "Looks like my ancestors had one last gift for me." Fang said with a smile as he looked down at his Duelist Arm. "Hey Burst? Since we're all here, why not name our Duelist Arms? That way we personalize them to ourselves." Inferno looked over his Duelist Arms. "Good idea. Hmm. My weapons reflect my fiery nature. So I'll name my sword Ignitis Fang and call my blaster Blackfire. Those sound pretty fitting." "The monster spirits that gave me my Duelist Arms called themselves the dragon knights." Ace said as he inspected his own weapons. "I'll call my sword Fang of the Dragon Knights, my shield Resolve of the Dragon Knights, and I'll call the scarf Wings of the Dragon Knights." Steel nodded before naming his Duelist Arms. "I think I'll call mine Arms of Honor. They became Duelist Arms when I was true to my element. So there's not really any other name fitting for them." "I'm not one to give up easy." Ice noted as he looked at his Duelist Arm. "Archfiend Dragon's Tenacity sounds like a good name for my claymore." Shadow inspected his spear. "My weapon can be used to defend just as much for attacking. And given that the dragon it's modeled after looks like it came from the heavens, I'll call it Celestial Protector." "Well, my whip's got a lot of fury to it." Venus said noting the power his Duelist Arm had displayed earlier. "I'll name mine Roses' Wrath." Fang looked over his Duelist Arm. "The claws on this gauntlet can reave through evil. Like that spirit they destroyed. Sending it to meet its final destiny. So I'll call mine Destiny Reaver." "I don't have any to name yet." Tyrannus said with a shrug. "That just leaves you Burst." Burst looked over his sword and blasters. "Given my blasters are identical, I'll call them Twin Burst. As for my sword, I'll call it Bahamut Edge. Now all we gotta do is help the girls name theirs." Burst and the guys met with the girls, and told them about how they'd named their weapons. Twilight called her staff Magic Unbound, Fluttershy named her healer staff Mercy's Embrace, Applejack called her twin crossbows True Aim, Rainbow decided to name her boomerang Storm of Loyalty, Rarity dubbed her steel fan Adamant Generosity, and Pinkie called her yoyo Joy's Wrath. As soon as they were done, Fang made the mistake of showing off his new abilities. Fluttershy had to be pried off him as she tried to keep him as her permanent snuggle pet. Note to self. Avoid Fluttershy's snuggles. Fang grimaced as Fluttershy tightened her grip as his friends tried to pry her off.