//------------------------------// // Broken // Story: .hack// Pony Protocol // by Shaq-of-All-Trades //------------------------------// Twilight was breathing heavily as she looked upon Zecora, Rarity, and AJ in the Serpent of Lore. The zebra was looking deep into the orb, and it was some time before she looked to Twilight. "Are you ready to learn the reason you were summoned? If not, I know not the reason you come in." "Enough silly riddles and tell me what happened to Spike!" Twilight was mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. If Zecora was only looking to play games, then she had no idea what she'd do. The zebra sighed, then pressed the orb. It glowed faintly, and a large screen activated behind her. Twilight looked to it, and saw Spike. "Your dragon friend has disappeared form the game, though it seems his login status is the same." Zecora moved her hoof slightly, showing that Spike was indeed still logged into the game. "But, if he's not in 'The World,' then where is he?" Twilight questioned. This time, Rarity answered. "We were keeping an eye on him. When he left from the celebration, he traveled to the Morrigu Barrow Wall. There is a sign there that was inactive, and it seems that Spike somehow activated it. We believe that he was the catalyst needed to operate it, and that he has been teleported into a mirror server created by AIDA. We're not sure what is going on in this server, since it is beyond our administrative power." Rarity tilted her head to AJ, who continued on. "Now, we reckon since the sign is activated, anypony can use it. Because it's an AIDA Server, me, you and Rarity are gonna be the ones to go an' investigate, an' bring back Spike. Hopefully nothing should go wrong, and we'll be back before ya know it." "Alright, that sounds like a plan," Twilight turned to leave, then noticed that Rarity and Applejack were still standing where they had been. "What's the hold up ladies?" "There is still information you must be told," Zecora said, her voice somber. Twilight didn't like this. "Your friend Flutershy was Epitaph User of old. Now, her Epitaph has gone to somepony new. Somepony who is quite close to you..." Twilight's breath caught. Fluttershy was an Epitaph user who lost her Avatar? Her Avatar was with somepony else, sompeony close to her? She tried to figure who the player was, when it occurred to her that Zecora had told her this after explaining what happened to Spike. That could only mean.... "Spike... is an Epitaph User?" Her voice was a whisper, but Zecora obviously heard because she nodded her head. "How... how long have you known?" "We have learned this very day, for it registered when young Spike ran away. His power is what opened the door... and we worry what it may be used for." Zecora turned off the Serpent of Lore, and Twilight watched as Rarity and AJ came over to try and comfort her. She shrugged off their kindness, and walked out. She was at the Chaos Gate before she realized she had forgotten to invite them to her party. She sent the invite, then waited for them to catch up. "Don't worry sugarcube, everything will be alright," AJ said confidently. Twilight could barely hear the words. Her mind was focused on the hurt expression on Spike's face when he had told her he had found out about the secrets. His words stung her; she may have been more focused on helping Fluttershy, but she had never simply seen him as a tool. He was more than just her assistant, but she realized she had never really told him that. She never thought it in her heart, but apparently that was how he felt in his. She hadn't noticed they were at the location until Rarity tapped her shoulder. Shaking away the cloud of gloom, Twilight determined she would make it up to Spike. He deserved the truth, all of it, and from her mouth. She wasn't going to leave things like this. The trio stood before the sign, and Twilight looked at her two friends. AJ nodded, and Rarity looked slightly ill, but nodded as well. "Let's do this!" Twilight exclaimed as she punched the sign. It glowed a bright red, and they were sucked through. Unbeknownst to them, a pony stood by the chaos gate, her mane flowing despite the lack of air. She smiled lightly. Everything was going to plan, and Twilight was getting stronger. She just needed a few more pushes before she was ready. The pony looked at the wall. "Prepare to suffer more and more, Twilight. From you suffering shall come the Wave to wash away this world. Grow stronger my student; grow strong enough to save her...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Why... won't... you... OPEN?" Spike tugged at the locker harder. "Is it jammed or something? How can a locker jam in a game?" Spike tugged and tugged, then let go. He double checked the numbers, trying to verify that it was the one Celestia had told him about, when he heard hoofsteps. He turned to see Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack. "Why are you all here?!" "We came to get you, Spike," Twilight said kindly. She took a step forward, but Spike shook his head. "No! I need to do this alone! Celestia told me that if I could open this locker, then I could be like you guys. I could have power too. She said.... she said if I could open it, then you would see me, Twilight." Spike turned back to the lockers, and with renewed vigor, tried to open the one he'd been told about. "Oh, Spikey-Wikey....." Rarity muttered. Applejack turned down her hat, and Twilight prepared to take another step forward when a strange noise appeared. It was like there was a sizzle... She looked around, when suddenly the whiteness of the empty space took on a blue tint. But not just any blue... Twilight turned, and a blue orb of fire was bobbing towards her. Suddenly, her mind went blank. She could only focus on that orb. "You... you're here. You're here! YOU'RE HERE!" The orb burst, spreading a wall of flames. Rarity turned her head, shielding her eyes. AJ put down her hat. Twilight, however, stared into the heart of the flames, where she saw a dark form move. With a wave of its hoof, the flames were blown away. "My goodness!" Rarity cried, turning back. "Is that-" AJ didn't get to finish her question, as Twilight, who's voice was dripping with venom, replied. "Tri-edge." The pony looked just as she remembered. Patchwork clothing, messy blue hair covered for the most part with a patchwork hat. The pony looked around lifelessly, until his eyes focused behind the group. The pony started moving forward, when Twilight stepped into its path. "Don't. You. Dare. Move. Towards. Spike." Each word was forced, her anger rising to unholy levels. Tri-Edge looked at her without any spark of recognition, then drew his weapons. The twin blades opened, revealing three wicked looking blades. Twilight stood stock still, before drawing her own weapons. Behind her, she could hear AJ and Rarity doing the same. "I'm going to beat you to the ground," Twilight swore, "and when I do, you're going to tell me how to bring them back! Fluttershy and all the other Lost Ones!" Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack rushed in, attacking from three directions. Tri-Edge blocked all three hits, then blasted them back. Applejack began shooting at him, and he blocked the bullets. While he was distracted, Twilight and Rarity rushed in to double team him. Rarity struck first, her attack blocked by Tr-Edge's second weapon. As soon as his weapon stopped the attack, Twilight leaped off of Rarity's shoulder's, switching to her broadsword and smashing down. It was a direct hit. Tri-edge backed away, his guard down. Applejack hit him with a stun attack, and Rarity and Twilight moved in, chaining their attacks. Tri-Edge took the barrage, then flashed his head up. Rarity was blasted back in a sudden azure flame, and Twilight dodged to the side. "Rarity!" she called out, and saw her friend was down. She looked back at Tri-Edge, but he had moved in front of AJ. The normally brave pony tried to back away since she was best at range, but he struck her down with a flaming strike. She didn't get back up. "AJ!!!" Tri-Edge looked back to her, and she felt a dark energy. His body split into three, and formed a triangle around her. AS she tried to comprehend what was going on, her body froze, and the screen went black. She felt as she was hit from three sides at once, the blades raking through her mind. She collapsed, the pain driving her to her knees. Tri-Edge looked at her, then began to once again walk towards Spike. The dragon had seen the battle, and was pressed against the lockers. The fear in his eyes brought Twilight new strength. "I told you to LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!" She ran, faster than she ever had before, and slashed through Tri-Edge. The pony had an expression of disbelief. He falls down to his knees, and Twilight holds her sword by his head. "Tell me how to bring them back." Tri-Edge simply remained still, and Twilight grew annoyed. She raised her sword to strike him down, when the floor began to break apart. Bits and pieces of data began to float and move towards Tri-Edge. Twilight backed away, wary of this new skill. Tri-Edge continued absorbing pieces of the floor until a large hole had formed. Beneath the white appeared to be a space similar to Avatar Space. Tri-Edge began to glow, and as he did his body began to expand. Rarity and AJ got up slowly, then they turned to the glowing form. Tri-Edge rose, higher and higher. His legs expanded, then tore apart. His body extended, and a large symbol formed behind him. His weapons merged with his forelegs, and too expanded. With burst, the light disappeared, showing the form underneath. Extended limbs connected to the body through flames, with large claws. The flaming symbol behind him was the one that had been on his hat. Twilight could feel the power radiating from this being. "Rarity, AJ, get out of the way," Twilight said. She knew there was only one way that this thing would be beaten, and she was the pony who would do it. This was why she had gained power in the first place; she had done all that she had for this very moment. Her anger flared, and she could feel Skeith's excitement merging with her own. The armor formed its red pattern around her. "Come on, come on... I'm right here, I'm right here! SKEEEEEEEEEEITH!" Twilight's Avatar appeared with a roar. Skeith stretched his claws, and Twilight turned to Tri-Edge. He was massive, larger than anything she had fought before. The power rolling off of it seemed to intensify. Twilight tried to think of something, anything to do. "What are you?!" She asks. Tri-Edge simply looks down at her. "Are you a hacker? An Epitaph User? AIDA?! Just what the hay are you, and why are you doing this?" Tri-Edge continues to silently observe her. She raises Skeith's arm, and forms the staff. The energy blade forms, and she holds the scythe at the ready. Tri-Edge moves his arm, opening his claws. "If words won't get through to you, then it is time to end this, ONCE AND FOR ALL!" Twilight and Tri-Edge dash forward simultaneously, each slashing away at the other. Despite his size, Tri-Edge moves on par with Twilight, easily stopping each of her blows. Twilight miscalculated one of her attacks, and Tri-Edge stabbed her through with one of his claws. Racing forward, they made it to the edge of Avatar Space, and Twilight was smashed into the wall. She heard a cracking, but couldn't focus because she could hardly breathe. Tri-Edge slowly removed the claw, then leaped back. He raised his hand, and began forming a large blue fireball. Twilight held her hand to her wound. Luckily, it was difficult for Avatars to actually be wounded. That didn't help the pain, however. Twilight raised her hand and shot a volley of energy orbs. Tri-Edge took the attack, hardly phased, and continued building up his fireball. It was about her size now. Twilight tried to move forward, but she had yet recovered enough strength, when Tri-Edge sent down the massive data fire. There was no way she'd be able to block, so she forced herself to move. It seemed to home towards her, but only lightly. Her hoof got caught, and the flames seemed to blister her skin. She screamed, and felt renewed energy. She moved in towards Tri-Edge, who seemed to be recovering his strength from his last attack. As she got close, it raised it's hand. Too late, Twilight realized she had walked into a trap. A hailstorm of small fireballs pelted her. Each hit sent her reeling, and she found there was nowhere to move, no chance to protect herself. Eventually the onslaught faded, and Twilight found she couldn't move. She drifted listlessly in Avatar Space, her body facing towards Tri-Edge. She saw him open his claws, and form a ring. A giant eye opened up. He was going to Data Drain her, and everything would be over. She resigned to her fate. "I tried... I tried so hard. But I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't save anypony." Twilight watched as the Data Drain charged, and felt it hit her. Strangely enough, it didn't hurt. It felt as if she were being wrapped in a rather warm blanket. She was tired, oh so very tired. Her mind began to wander. What was the point in fighting anymore? She had never been particularly violent before the game came around; in fact, she was sure most ponies hadn't been. Maybe she should just take a break, and fall into a long dreamless sleep.... "Don't give up, sugarcube!" Twilight could swear she could hear Applejack calling to her. "You can do it, darling!" That was Rarity. Why were they there? Was she still playing the game? Her head was so fuzzy. "Twilight, you can do it!" Spike's voice. Twilight remembered, she had to speak with him. He was angry with her. She couldn't let her #1 assistant be angry and hurt. 'Stay true to yourself, Twilight.' Twilight's eyes burst open, and she tore out of the Data Drain. That was Fluttershy. That was Fluttershy! Twilight remembered now, she remembered that she had to find a way to bring Fluttershy back, and all the other players who had fallen into a coma. She had to protect Spike and Rarity and AJ from Tri-Edge. Inside her, a flame burned brightly. Skeith began to glow a bright red, and Twilight held her scythe with deadly skill. She wouldn't lose this fight, not like this. She had too much on the line. She moved forward, scythe pulled back. Tri-Edge put up his claws, and he took the brunt of her attack. Twilight wouldn't let in though. She put everything she had in the slice. All her anger, her rage, her happiness, her sadness, her fear, her pain, her whole being. Her emotions poured out in a torrent, and Skeith acknowledged them. Their power grew, and grew, and with an almighty roar which came from Avatar and Epitaph User alike, they tore through the block and through Tri-Edge's form. Twilight turned and held her own Data Drain to the back of his head. "This is the end." She fired, and Tri-Edge let out an unearthly howl. Twilight returned to her normal form, just as Tri-Edge returned to his. The expression on his face was that of disbelief and shock. He looked down at his hoof, and saw bits and pieces of himself falling apart. His azure coding showed through. He looked to Twilight one last time, before his data simply fella apart and disappeared. Twilight collapsed, and Rarity and AJ ran to help her up. "That was the best darn fighting I've done ever seen, Twi!" AJ complimented, patting Twilight's back. Rarity nodded, and tilted her head to Spike. Twilight looked up to him. The little dragon turned away, unsure what to say. "Twi.... I'm sorry for all I put you through. It's just... we've never had secrets, and I felt like I wasn't important enough to you. I felt alone. I mean, I'm the only dragon among a bunch of ponies, so I stand out a lot. But I just wanted to be seen like everypony else. Can... can you forgive me?" Twilight dropped her head, then smiled at the little dragon. "Spike, there's nothing you need my forgiveness for. Now come on, let's get out of here." They all turned to go, when the lockers suddenly burst open, one by one. Twilight turned to investigate, when she heard a noise. Spike's eyes clouded over, and he moved towards the lockers. "Spike!" she called out frantically. Whatever was in those lockers, she didn't want him near. Her voice seemed to break him form his reverie, as he turned to look back at her. His eyes focused. "Twi?" he called out. Then it happened, Black hands shot out from the lockers. Twilight watched in horror as they penetrated Spike's body, multiple times. Each hit felt as if it were hurting her. Spike spasmed, his body jerking back and forth. He looked at Twilight, his eyes completely black. He reached towards her, before screaming as AIDA poured from all over his body. The AIDA retreated back into the lockers, which once again locked themselves. Spike collapsed to the ground, still. Twilight could sense that this wasn't just his character falling. No, she could feel in her heart that her Spike, her cute little assistant, had fallen in the real world as well. "SPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!!!