//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Battle for Equestria: Scraps and Bits // by Snicket //------------------------------// *Trial by Fire* Spike’s inner dragon's strength awakens, in such an explosive fashion that it threatens to destroy the tree house they lived in. So, Blaze has Twilight teleport them to the rock quarry. Since it has little that would burst into flames. It’s then that an explosion of fire erupts from the small dragon. Forced Blaze and Twilight to retreat to a safer distance. The young dragon then goes into a blind rage, starts increasing in size, and begins laying waste to the quarry. Baffled by this sudden and abrupt change in the young dragon's behaviour. They are almost crushed by a boulder but are saved at the last second when Sonic appears above them at the last second and knocks the bolder away. He then demands to know what’s happening and two give him a run down of what happened to spike and why don’t know. The hedgehog comments that he’s only heard of this happening when a dragon is under extreme stress or fear but is told by Twilight that nothing like that was happening before this started. That it just started without any reason or explanation. But then adds that something similar like this has happened before. but it was only an increase in size. Sonic and Blaze formulate a plan to subdue the enraged dragon, but in a way that doesn’t hurt him. This leads to Sonic distracting the dragon, while Blaze gets in close and tries to knock some sense into him; since she’s the only one who can handle the flames without getting injured. However, during her attempt, the dragon fire is hotter than Blaze originally thought. Severely damaging her attire, melting her shoes, and destroying her crystal hairband and bindi. Resulting in the feline unintentionally unleashing a massive burst of her flames. Which only makes the inferno larger and forces the feline to approach the issue head-on. Rather than the cautious way she originally intended. Sonic then steps in, activating as a fire shield. Since Blaze's original plan wasn’t working and teams up with the feline to knock the dragon off his feet. Knocking Spike out and stopping the raging inferno. As the smoke clears, a smaller, but not back to normal-sized Spike is seen still lying on his back. Completely out of it, but is otherwise fine. Sonic charges in to check on the dragon and feline, who is unaccounted for. The hedge then finds the missing guardian hiding behind one of the remaining boulders and flags Sonic down with a weak wave. The hedgehog asks why she hiding behind the rock to which Blaze responds that see too embarrassed to come out. So, Sonic walks behind the boulder; much to the feline's fright. Asking if she’s ok and then comments that she should worry about her attire. Since most swimsuits cover way less. This doesn’t seem to calm the guardian down and asks the hedgehog to make sure the dragon is ok and for Sonic to teleport her back to Twilights. So she can get changed. The hedgehog checks on Spike. Who gives the two a thumbs up and states that he’s ok. Sonic comments that it would probably take more than that to take the dragon out. Before teleporting Blaze and himself back to the tree house. A/N: I contemplated having a scene where both Sonic and Blaze run around the dragon. Creating a tornado that would cut off the oxygen to a fiery out of control dragon. But that wouldn’t have done much, since Spike was still on a rampage and didn't have done much to slow him down. Another one was to have Blaze calm Spike down on her own. Similar to how Katara calmed Aang down in The Last Airbender. When she silently grabs his hand, while he’s in the avatar state. Prompting him to disengage and stop his onslaught. ~***~ Twilight then runs over to Spike as he sits up. Who now is much taller than the mare, even while sitting. With a set of large wings on his back. The dragon asks what’s going on and why the unicorn is now so small. Twilight then explains to the dragon what happened and that no one knows what set it off. Spike seems to be in the dark as well and states that he has been feeling funny the last few days. But didn’t think anything of it. ~***~ It’s at this time that Sonic and Blaze return from the tree house. The feline now wearing one of the tracksuits she uses for training. (for reference, it's the purple and pink one she wears at the Olympic games.) As well as a pair of Sonic’s shoes. Since her’s were destroyed. A/N: There was a segment where Sonic and Blaze were going to have a chat at the tree house. Mostly on how Sonic was angry with Blaze that she didn’t tell him that the dragon fire was too much for her. That she should have been upfront with him about it. ~***~ Twilight then begins to berate the two. For being too rough on Spike and that they could have hurt him. Sonic explains that they tried approaching the issue with kid gloves and it didn’t work. In Fact that it could have seriously injured Blaze. So, they decided to tackle the issue head-on and it worked. Spike then cuts in that he’s not hurt and isn’t mad that they had to take such drastic measures to calm him down. The mare then cuts in asking why the dragon hasn’t returned to his normal size. This seems to puzzle everyone. Twilight then suggest that she run rest on everyone in hopes of figuring out what happened. After several rigorous tests. It’s revealed that Spike has absorbed a huge amount of Chaos and Sol energy from the gems/emeralds that Sonic and Blaze keep on their person. Resulting in the two energies merging and having a violent reaction that caused the dragon to go into a fit of rage while growing several sizes. The hedge and feline offer to reabsorb the energy from Spike. So, that he can return to how he once was. But the dragon declines their offer and states that he was due for a growth spurt anyway and that he was sick of everyone treating him like a little kid. Twilight attempts to change the young dragon’s mind by trying to explain that his transformation isn’t natural and that he should nature take its course. Spike again declines the offer to return to normal and states that it’s his decision. *Switch a roo* Twilight has Sonic come to the tree house to help her with a spell she was working on. It needs a second individual to test properly and Spike isn’t around. So, she asked Sonic to take his place in testing it. The hedgehog seems hesitant to help since he’s unfair with what spell Twilight is going to use. But the mare assures him that it’s completely harmless and it will wear off after a few minutes. Sonic reluctantly agrees to help Twilight, but only if she explains what the spell is. The mare then goes off on a tangent that the hedgehog doesn’t understand and asks the definition of the spell to be simplified. Twilight pouts about not being able to showcase all the information she discovered but then realizes she asked Sonic for help. So, she explains that it's a body swap spell. That allows individuals to exchange vessels for various purposes. Intrigued, Sonic asks if muscle memory and skills are transferred over. The mare comments that she doesn’t know and states it's one of the reasons why she asked Sonic for his help. Since he’s bipedal while she is quadrupedal. The mare then casts the spell and is astonished at how seamless it was. Since she was in mid-conversation while doing it and was able to carry it as if nothing happened. She then begins to walk around the library possessing the hedgehog’s body. While Sonic does the same in Twilight’s body, commenting that he feels awkward doing this and asks when the spell is going to wear off. The question go ignored as the mare begins to test the hedgehog's reflexes and speed; knocking over several items onto the floor. Sonic tries to get Twilight’s attention again but is cut off as she stops and comments how she now understands the hedgehog's speed. How he’s able to go so fast and why he doesn't burn up while doing so. Sonic then states that he too now understands magic theory; a concept that he was never able to pick up. Despite the numerous lesions, Twilight tried to give him on the matter. A realization hit both of them. If they stay switched like this. They’ll start to gain the memories of the individual there currently possess. Twilight is at first interested in the concept, but then remembers her venture into the mindscape and reconsiders what would happen. Sonic meanwhile states that this spell could be used for nefarious intentions. Since am an individual with not so noble intentions. Could perform the spell and use it to get the person they switch bodies with into serious trouble. Or use their position/status to learn or gain possession of something they weren’t supposed to have. Twilight agrees and begins making preparations for when the spell wears off. However, before the final steps can be made. Pinkie burst through the door, demanding Twilight’s help. Grabbing the unicorn in the process, only for Sonic to activate the bodies he’s occupying magic and anchors himself to the room. The party pony comments that Twilight’s acting a bit strange. To which the mare interjects; still in Soni’s body. That they were working on something and asked if Pinkie could come back later. Unless it’s important. The party pony states that she can wait. And turns to Twilight; who is still currently possessing Sonic’s body. And asks that when they switch back. To come to find her. Flabbergasted, Twilight asks how Pinkie know. To which the mare replies that their eye colours are different. The two look at each other and notice that they indeed have swapped eye colours. Twilight comments that it must be a by-product of the spell and comments that she needs to work on it more to have the switch not show any signs. Sonic snaps saying that she shouldn't use the spell anymore for whatever reason. Twilight reluctantly agrees and the spell wears off. The two switch back and Twilight excuses herself to see what Pinkie wanted. While Sonic offers to tidy up he had a sudden urge to see what books the library had. *Part 2 Electric Boogaloo* A continuing form where the last chapter left on. Sonic begins tidying up the library, but stops abruptly and opens one of the books and begins reading it; fast. He then sets it down and begins reading another, and another, and another. Pulling books off the shelves. He bigs to flip through them at an astounding rate. ~***~ Things then switch to Pinkie and Twilight at sugar cube corner. With Pinkie going on about how she wants to through a party for her new friends. But Twilight shoots her down on the idea. Since it would undermine the whole point of Sonic introducing them the way he did. A/N: I purposely left Zlaze and Zonic’s whereabouts ambiguous in purpose. Since it would imply that they stayed put. Which they didn’t. We rejoin Sonic, whos still in the library. Going through the collection of books at an alarming rate. Spike walks in and asks what’s going on. To which Sonic replies that he had a sudden urge to read and to understand the ins and out of magic theory. The dragon claims that the hedgehog is wasting his time since he can’t use magic. Sonic remains silent and then waves his hand around and levitates a small stack of books off one of the nearby tables. ~***~ Twilight then returns home with a now winded pinkie in tow. Asked why the unicorn ran back home. The mare replies that she just felt like running. Spike meets her at the door and comments that Sonic has been acting weird and is now somehow able to use magic. Twilight replies that Sonic has always been able to use magic. Just a different time that she likes to call chaos magic. The dragon cuts her off before she can go into a rant and states that Sonic just levitated some books off the shelf and is now in the backyard shooting lighting from his hands. The mare dismisses this assumption and then takes notice of how clean the library now is. With Spike replying that wouldn’t help the hedgehog find a book for him. Unless he cleaned up the mess he made. Twilight seems puzzled by this but doesn’t say anything as she heads to the backyard. And it’s just as Spike stated, the hedgehog is now launching spurs of chaotic energy into a dead maple tree. Twilight asks what he’s doing and Sonic replies that he had a sudden urge to learn a few spells and is testing them out. The mare then asks if Sonic read all the books in the library. Hesitantly the hedgehog admits that he did, but found some of them repetitive. Twilight agrees that some of the books cover different approaches to the same concession, but it's meant to help with all learning styles. Sonic comments that it makes sense to do so and then asks if Twilight would like to check out the library in the ever-free castle. The mare excitedly accepts the offer but suggests that they venture out the next day. Since it will be dark soon. Sonic looks at the setting sun and agrees.