//------------------------------// // Grand Finale Part One // Story: Ace of Hearts // by blowngasket //------------------------------// Chapter 27: Grand Finale Part One A few weeks prior... "Spike...are you serious?" Perry asked. Spike was standing outside his cottage's door, a look of foolhardy determination on his face. Perry on the other hand, was still heavily bandaged up and wearing his goofy looking pajamas. "Perry, I know that it sounds weird, but I am serious. The stories that I heard, even if they are only Rainbow's half exaggerations, say that you're an amazing fighter. Please, teach me what you know. It must be like some super-secret Death Kwan Do or something. I promise that I will keep it secret, so please!!!" Spike asked enthusiastically. Perry looked at the boy and sighed, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Well, I am more or less self-taught, so it's nothing like that... but I don't know. Why do you want to learn to fight to begin with?" Perry asked, not exactly sure how to handle the situation to begin with. "Well..." Spike started, but was interrupted by Perry, who raised up his hand to silence him. "Think about your answer, and be honest with me. I am considering it, but I do want the truth." "Really!" Spike jumped happily, almost missing the part about thinking. When it hit him, he stopped celebrating, and went quiet. He wanted to be able to protect Rarity, like Perry could for everyone else. He would have blurted it out had it not been for Perry's comment. He had to give it some thought. Why did he want to? He constantly stood on the sidelines, not really able to do anything, or never being considered because he was younger than everyone else. "Well?" Perry asked, crossing his arms across his chest. "I want to say, to protect my friends..." Spike said, looking up at Perry. He stayed silent, not uttering a sound or making a movement. "...but that would just be my fantasy, really. I always pictured it as a knight in shining armor...kinda like Shining Armor to be specific. But when I see what fighting does, it really makes me nervous. I mean, pardon my language, but you look like crap." Spike chuckled, though Perry's silence quieted that quickly. "You're constantly in a dangerous situation when you fight, but because you are strong, you don't have to be afraid and can protect yourself and others. If I were ever in that situation, I would probably freeze up, and regret it completely if someone I cared about got hurt. I want to be strong, so I won't live with regret if the time comes for me to fight." Spike stared silently, his final words and demeanor full of the resolve Perry was hoping he would see. He didn't want to make the mistake of teaching someone who just wanted to be impressive, knowing full well what power could do to a person. "Are you free this afternoon?" Perry asked, a hint of mirth in his voice. Spike smiled widely, nodding his head. "Really?!" Perry nodded, causing Spike to continue his celebration. He was smart as hell, but in the end he was still young and reckless, something that Perry couldn't help but admire. ---------- ---------- ---------- "You're injured!" Spike said, staring in disbelief. Perry had taken Spike out to Fluttershy's cottage, the landscape recently fixed up from the confrontation with Sombra. He was standing across from Spike, fully dressed, looking over at Spike, and his mask hiding his amused expression. "Spike, I appreciate your concern, but I am neither stupid nor incompetent. I know my limits and your strengths. We have known each other for some time now. Attack me, please. I can't teach you if you're not willing to listen." Spike stood there, nodding slowly. He wasn't being courteous, but in reality he knew that Perry would still be able to drop him without trying. It was more him trying to get out of doing so. "Well, here I come..." Spike said nervously, moving in close to attack Perry. He charged at him, pulling back his fist for a punch. As he got close, Perry moved to the side, avoiding the punch, but not before clotheslining the poor Spike, causing him to hit the ground hard. Perry stood over Spike looking down at him. "Oww..." Spike groaned, rubbing his head and trying to keep the tears from shooting out. "I take it that it hurt." Perry said, nodding his head. Spike's moans of pain said it all, causing Perry to chuckle. "Tough men can take the pain." "I don't think I like pain..." Spike said, slowly coming back to terms with his surroundings. "Then you're already better than half the people I have ever met. Tough people can take the pain, but smart people learn to avoid it altogether. If you don't get hit, you won't be in pain. Simple?" Perry said, giggling slightly as he held out his hand for Spike. "Thanks..." Spike said, grabbing his hand and pulling himself up. "I don't expect you to turn into another me...for heaven’s sake don't turn into another me. I want you to find yourself in how you fight. I am simply going to lay out the foundation, it's your job to do the hard work." ---------- ---------- ---------- Back to the present time... Discord chuckled amusedly, watching the big bad man get worked up from a teenage boy. Spike stood there, the fires of resolve burning in his eyes. His opponent, the angry looking lawyer rubbing his jaw, almost growled at Spike. He wasn't thrilled by taking a hit, especially by a young kid. Spike had not spent as much time as he would have liked with Perry, but the time he did spend, he had learned quite a bit. "You think you can scare me with that? The person who taught me is stark raving mad, you're going to have to try harder." Spike said, confidently. Rarity stared, completely awestruck from what she had witnessed. She looked down at the relaxed Discord, who seemed utterly thrilled with everything going on. "You should learn your place kid." Spike's opponent said, glaring at him. "But I admire your spirit. Name's Jury Duty..." "Well, JD, I am going to tell you again, leave Rarity alone." Spike said, his eyes never leaving his opponent. He wasn't going to make the mistake of underestimating again, especially after the mugger incident. To be fair, he did think it was Catacomb, but Perry still scolded him for making excuses. "I can't comply...if you knew my boss, then you wouldn't ask." Jury said, walking towards Spike, his reddened eyes and dark demeanor imposing. Rarity was stunned that Spike showed no wavering emotions, staring at the cold man without a hint of fear showing. Then it started, with a bloodcurdling yell, Jury ran at Spike, the desire to kill radiating from his aura. Rarity watched in horror, barely watching. His fist rose and went directly at Spike, ready to strike him down in a single blow. In the instant before contact, Spike moved himself to the side of his attacker, planting his body firmly and holding out his arm. It was the very first thing he was shown, knowing from experience, by the feel of having it used against him, how to do it himself. It was amateurish, but the unsuspecting Jury was caught by it none the less, falling painfully to the ground. Though the first hit could be considered a fluke, it was undeniable this time around, that Spike wasn't just getting lucky. Rarity, who was but a second ago, scared for her young friend, now had the look of confusion and surprise on her face that made Discord's smile all the widen. He could have intervened, put this simple man into jail with a simple snap of his finger, but where was the fun in that. There was no chaos, no disorder to behold, and frankly that would be boring. But having observed, if just for the fun of it, how hard Spike worked, and knowing that he would have shown up, Discord could sit idly and enjoy the show, perhaps with a bucket of popcorn. He decided against it, not wanting to look like too much of a jerk. Jury, the one who attacked, was the most surprised of all. He had been given warning about all of the T.E.S.T. members, as well as a few of the Elements that might have given him trouble, but he wasn't informed about the younger brother of Twilight Sparkle being this dangerous. If he had been going any faster, there was a chance that counter would have knocked his head clean off. Spike didn't hesitate any longer. He rose his foot, then attempted to slam it into Jury's chest. He managed to roll out of the way in time just enough to watch the ground crack slightly from the impact. Pushing himself up, Jury got back into a standing position, trying to calm down his boiling blood. His mindset was slowly shifting as he struggled to control his inner rage as to not do anything stupid. "You...you're not stupid. You're not weak...either." Jury said, his breathing erratic. "This is going to end...badly for you, kid. Just...give up...while I’m still in a good mood..." "If it does, so be it. But even then, neither of us are walking away. My name is Spike. My sister is Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic, destined for greatness since birth, and the reason for me being here. My brother is Shining Armor, a man whose desire to protect was so strong, he could create a barrier to protect an entire city, and still fight with all his might. Today, I will create a name for myself, one that all of my family and friends will be proud of." Jury was less than pleased, not only by his self-righteous speech, but by the look in his eyes screaming at him to just try and prove him wrong. Jury was at his limit, and could take it no longer. He finally snapped, shutting down his brilliant mind, and turning it into raw, animalistic power. His body twitched and convulsed as his muscles received a sudden and powerful jolt of energy. "ARHGGGG!!!!" Jury cried out, charging Spike viciously. His attacks could be seen as primal at the very best, throwing bone crushing punch after punch. Spike was caught off guard from the sudden shift in personality, barely dodging the first few and resorting to blocking the last. Even with both forearms shielding him from the hit, the impact still sent him backwards, barely maintaining the balance to avoid falling. If it wasn't for that, the next swing would have most likely taken Spike out. Jury moved in quickly to close the gap, Spike responding with a quick kick to his stomach. The kick connected, knocking some of the breath out of him, but Jury managed to also take hold of Spike's foot. Instead of the usual shock, Spike smirked, using his other leg, bent from the initial kick, to spring off the ground and send his other foot at his attackers’ head, the heel having a clear path to the target. Jury didn't expect the near sudden response to his catch, taking Spike's heel right into the side of the head. He managed, despite getting struck, to maintain his grip, something Spike didn't expect, and dragged him to the ground with him. They both collided with the ground, and both successfully rolled away, getting back up to their feet. Jury was still disoriented from that strike, as Spike thought that he might have twisted his ankle with that last stunt. It would have to wait, as there was still the matter of taking down this pile of trash. Rarity, from her safe spot, was still amazed at the change from that cute boy that is always giving her a hand, to this fearless warrior fighting for her safety. The two went at it again, Jury throwing punch after punch, and Spike weaving around avoiding each one. "Impressive, isn't it." Discord said from his relaxed position, instantly catching Rarity's attention. "Would you believe that he has only received three lessons?" Rarity watched the continuing fight, the continuing flurry of kicks and punches being blocked or dodged by both sides. "I never seen him like this. It's...I..." "Unreal? Sweetie, that's my day job. No, it is so cliché that it almost makes me gag, but at the same time I can't help but be impressed." Discord said, not really showing more emotion that necessary. "So many people are always saying that they would die for the one's they love, but rarely do you see someone like this. Look into his eye's Rarity." Rarity did so, only verifying the growing fire within them. "He has potential. He knows that he will only die if he loses, so he can fight without any fear." "But...why is he going so far?" Rarity responded quickly, shuddering as both Jury and Spike nailed each other in the face, knocking each other back. "Why couldn't you be out there instead?" "Because this is much more amusing to me. And to answer your first question, he may be a boy, but he is still part dragon. Have you ever seen what happens when they become greedy?" Rarity nodded slowly, thinking back to Spike's thirteenth birthday, and how he changed into something else entirely, almost destroying the town, had he not remembered who he was. "He has definitely grown since then, wouldn't you say dear? I highly doubt Spike would even consider someone else take something he believes is his." Rarity would have had to be blind to not notice Spike's feelings for her, but if what Discord says is truth, which she wasn't prepared to go out on a limb to believe it was, then he really saw her as more than just a young crush. Between everything going on, she wasn't sure what to think or how to respond. She decided that her best bet was to just sit back and wait for the brawl to conclude, as much as it bothered her to watch. The match didn't stop for their conversation, as both fighters continued their battle, charging at each other with explosive force. They continued to throw devastating punch after punch, barely hitting as each was blocked or dodged. Spike wasn't about to give up, but if this continued like this he wasn't going to last. ---------- ---------- ---------- "So how much do you know about my kind?" Spike asked, finishing off the canteen of water he had with him. "Well, I have met a few dragonkin's before, though none were as bright as you. They are a nomadic people, who wander mountainous wastelands both hot and snowy. One thing I have learned though, is that they are fearless fighters, fierce and violent. In one of my tasks, I was charged with taking out a group of rogue bandits who made their way into a few settlements, doing all sorts of damage." Spike sighed, and nodded in understanding. Perry noticed this and decided to stop with the story. "No, don't worry. It isn't like I haven't met them before. I know what they can be like. I tried to befriend them, and in return all they would do is try to see which one was the stronger or better. I am happy that I am not like them at all, but if it was different, would I have been?" Spike asked, looking at Perry. "Probably, and you would most likely enjoy it." Perry said bluntly, never really the kind to sugar coat things. "Confrontation is in your blood, strength and ferocity are your greatest assets. But you also have worked on something stronger than any of them could have, something that even I recognize myself as a power which is rare in bloodthirsty monsters." Spike cringed at the word, clearly insulted. He looked at Perry, and even if he couldn't see his face, it was obvious that Perry wanted him to hear it all. "We have the ability to tell right from wrong. There is nothing wrong with going along with the flow of battle the way you were meant to. Fight like the monster you are, as I do. Because at the end of the day, we can stop being monsters and be good, decent people, and the real monsters won’t hurt the one's we care for." To say Spike wasn't moved was an understatement. Spike knew for a fact that he had a raging beast inside of him, just waiting to be released. He knew that he had power, and instead of telling him to control himself like others have told him, Perry was saying that it was okay for him to let it out. Let it out, but in the right kind of way. "Thank you...I think I needed that." "Don't worry about it, Spike. You're like a brother to me, flaws and everything. Before we leave though, I have something I would like to teach you. I probably shouldn't, but when have I ever been the kind to follow rules?" Perry said, giggling in a slightly creepy way. Spike stared nervously. "Umm...against my better judgment...what is it?" ---------- ---------- ---------- Spike decided to start letting lose. With a tremendous burst throughout himself, he grabbed both of Jury's arms. Jury winced at the sudden action, finding him unable to even budge at this point. Spike grinned as he smashed his head into his, blood spurting out of Jury's nose. He wasn't stopping here, though. Perry had taught him the truth about battle, and how letting up for even a second because you thought you had won, got you killed. Using his own strength and Jury's current disorientation, he dropped his weight, using his grip on Jury to pick him off the ground and slam him back into it with as much force as possible. The ground cracked as he struck it violently. Spike didn't wait, mounting himself onto Jury's chest, ready to strike him, no desire to let him get away with what he had done. He could see the fear in his opponent's eyes, and it only made his urges to finish him stronger. With all the force he could muster, he threw his punch. Rarity watched the scene unfold, almost horrified. Spike threw his punch, causing the surrounding ground to crack up, as rocks scattered everywhere. Looking closer, Spike's fist was imbedded in the rock next to his opponent's head, bleeding from striking solid rock to begin with. "Discord...I am done with this filth, could you please get rid of him?" Spike said, glaring down at Jury with the eyes of a monster. The only other set of eyes he could compare that to was Dante's. The fear was overwhelming, and between the injuries and the terror, he couldn't remain conscious any longer and finally slipped into a not so peaceful slumber. He got off of him walking slowly towards Discord and Rarity, giving them a soft smile. He turned his gaze at Discord, giving him a thumbs up. Discord responded in same, already understanding where Spike was coming from. It wasn't a second after that Spike collapsed onto the ground as well, almost instantly losing consciousness. "SPIKE!" Rarity yelled out rushing over to his side, trying to shake him away. Discord rolled his eye's snapping his finger, Jury vanishing into whatever place Discord wanted him to. He wasn't really aiming, but he figured he had to be somewhere in the nebula. He walked over to Rarity, towering over both her and Spike as she tried to wake him up. "Rarity, he's fine." Discord said, slightly annoyed. "But...he won't wake up!" Rarity said, nervously crying. "That doesn't surprise me. He used an ability that his kind naturally possess. I believe you magic users’ call it Augment." Rarity knew of it only because it was forbidden. She eyed Discord curiously, unsure of what he meant. "Ahh you mortals and your ignorance. Dragons were the original creators of that ability, with you magic users simply trying to replicate it, and poorly might I add. He exhausted himself, but he will be fine, just give him some rest, and maybe..." He moved in close to her, whispering into her ear. Rarity's face turned bright red, responding to him by quickly slapping him across the face. "I AM A LADY!" Rarity yelled out. Discord chuckled, rubbing his face. They stood in silence for a minute, both of them coming to notice the sounds of battle from all across Ponyville. "Do you think everyone is alright?" "Dear Rarity, the fact that you doubt them would make them all sad...except for the moody one, he would probably just ignore you for a while." Discord smiled, giving her some reassurance, but with her friends in trouble, she would not be able to rest until she knew they were safe. She wanted to go, but she had to help Spike, and after that, she wasn't comfortable with Discord leaving as well. She would just have to leave the rest up to those knights, because for now, she had her own to care for.