//------------------------------//
// The Test of Combat 
// Story: The Legend of Spike: Krazoa Island 
// by DiabloGuapo 
//------------------------------//

	



As Spike and Tricky made their way through the narrow passage, the sky darkened as the sun started to set. The rays of the sun illuminated the vapors that rose from the craters, painting the sky in shades of green, blue, and purple. Combined with the alien terrain of Moon Mountain Pass, it made it seem as though they were on a different world.

“How far do you think is this shrine?” the yellow and purple dinosaur griped.

“I’m not sure Tricky,” Spike answered as he brushed aside the strange glowing fungi that were blocking his path. Like Tricky, the dragon was starting to become agitated. The walls of the passage where close together and the path constantly twisted and turned. The trail was rough and uneven.  All of these factors combined created a feeling of claustrophobia, but if it was the only way to save Rarity, Spike was willing to endure it.

Mercifully, the crevasse led to a more open area of the canyon and the pair took a breath of relief as they exited. Looking around, Spike could see more craters and geysers spouting out green gas. Up ahead, there was a yellow glow coming from on top of a rise. Spike noticed that it was coming from a cave.

“I think we found it Tricky,” he said to his partner as he started to walk towards it. As he walked across the clearing, the dragon stepped in one of the craters and he felt something moving inside of it. Spike was thrown on to his back as a creature sprung out of the hole. It had a large bloated head and broad mouth. Its two arms ended with crab claws and it croaked angrily from being stepped on. “Oops. Pardon me, sir.”

The creature grumbled and went back down into its hole. Taking extra care to avoid repeating the same mistake, Spike navigated around the craters and headed up the rise to the cave. As they reached the top, they saw the cave was actually a shrine complete with tiled walls and torches. The yellow glow was coming from an altar similar to the ones that Spike and Tricky found in the Volcano Force Point Temple. As they entered the shrine, the Krazoa Spirit appeared before them again.

“Are you ready to accept our test?” the ethereal being asked.

“We’re ready!” the young EarthWalker excitedly declared.

“Only one may enter at a time,” the Krazoa told Tricky.

“Then let me go,” Spike volunteered.

“But Spike!” Tricky started to protest. “I wanna come too! I can help you!”

“That is the law of the tests,” the spirit explained.

“Stay here Tricky,” Spike told the dinosaur. Tricky looked up to him worriedly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

“Be careful Spike,” Tricky urged as he reluctantly relented.

“Step on the altar and you will be transported to the Krazoa Shrine,” the spirit instructed. “Once inside, find the spirit within and complete its test.”

The Krazoa then vanished and Spike stepped onto the altar. Yellow light surrounded the purple dragon and he vanished in a flash. Spike blinked his eyes and found himself in a room that contained pillars and statues of the Krazoa Spirits. Spike has experienced teleporting many times before. Growing up with Twilight Sparkle often meant that he was involved with her spells. Teleporting didn’t hurt, but it could be disorienting. You’re in one place one moment and you’re somewhere else in another. It could make your head spin if you weren’t prepared for it.

Between the two statues was a doorway that led to the rest of the shrine. The corridors of the shrine were bathed blue by the light of the magical flames of the torches. The halls were filled with clear pools of water. As Spike walked across a walkway over the water, he saw something floating up ahead. It looked like a mechanical jellyfish that glowed blue with magic. Spike looked at it with interest, not knowing that this thing was a sentry. He started to approach it to get a better look, but then it noticed him. It started spinning and raised its bladed tentacles. Spike cautiously stepped away from the flying buzz saw, but it continued to advance. He realized that he was going have to fight this thing in order to move on and so he took a breath and shot out a ball of green flames. The fireball disrupted the sentry’s enchantment and it collapsed to the floor in a metallic clank. Spike stepped over the mechanical parts and walked through the next threshold.

This corridor had a deep trench instead of pools of water. In intervals on the bridge that span over the pit were grates that would shoot of jets of fire every few seconds. Spike shrugged and walked across the walkway not minding the fire at all. Once on the other side, he briefly looked back to give an amused snort.

“Well, that was easy,” he commented before turning around to see a gate blocking his path. He could see a blue and purple glow through the crossed bars. He grabbed the grate and tried to lift it, but it wouldn’t budge. He looked around for a keyhole or a switch of some kind, but there wasn’t one. He took a step back to get a better look at the gate. He looked all about the gate for a hint on how to open it to no avail. He turned around and sat down on the edge of the pit as he thought about what to do next. While thinking, he so happened to look up and saw a red panel on the ceiling. It resembled the panel that was over the Queen EarthWalker’s bunker in ThornTail Hollow. Remembering that fire activates these panels, Spike shot another fireball at the red tile on the ceiling. On impact, the panel turned green and Spike could hear the gears of the gate clanking as it lifted up.

Waiting inside the room was a transparent blue figure. It looked like the Krazoa that Spike and Tricky had met back in Moon Mountain Pass. Tendrils flowed from behind its mask-like face and it pulsated with purple light as it floated in the air. Surrounding the being were six massive statues of warriors. On their chests was the six pointed symbol of the Krazoa and each wore a mask that resembled the spirits.

“Welcome to the test of combat,” the Krazoa greeted in a voice that sounded like many people whispering at once. “Prove your worth in combat by defeating all of your opponents. If you succeed, I will become yours to return to Krazoa Palace. Do you accept?”

“Yes,” the dragon answered.





“Then let us begin,” the Spirit said as it sank into the floor. On the tiled floor was the symbol of the Krazoa and there was a warrior statue on each of the points. The center of the crest glowed with the spirit’s light. Then the light flowed from center, down the six points, and entered the six stone giants. The eyes and crests of the statues lit up and the stone warriors started to shake. The six statues sprung to life and took a combative stance.

Spike circled around, trying to keep an eye on all of his opponents at once. When the Krazoa had mention that he would be fighting something, he had a feeling that the statues weren’t there just for decoration. His suspicions were confirmed and now he was surrounded by twelve foot tall hulking giants. He then heard the heavy footsteps of a giant rushing up behind him. He quickly turned around and jumped out of the way as the warrior punched the floor where the dragon was previously standing with its stone fist. As Spike jumped out of the way of one giant, he had to immediately dodge the swinging fist of another statue. He had to quickly roll away as the giant brought its foot down in attempt to squash him. The room trembled from the impact.

These guys aren’t holding back, Spike thought as he saw the hole in the floor that could’ve been him. From the corner of his eye, he happened to glimpse another warrior swinging at him. The distraction nearly cost him dearly. A split second later and he would have been clobbered. He sprung backwards, just missing the blow by an inch. In retaliation, Spike shot a jet of flame at the statue. However, the statue was unaffected by the fire. Spike took a deeper breath and then unleashed a longer stream of green flames. The giant then raised its hands to block the torrent of fire. Spike could see that the giant’s stone hands were starting to glow red from the intense heat of the dragonfire. As the giant was backing off, another giant smacked Spike in the side.

The blow sent the dragon flying into another statue, which gripped Spike in a tight hold. Spike pushed with all of his might against the stone warrior’s arms to prevent it from squeezing the life out of him. He grunted and gritted his fangs as he tried to free himself, but the giant that was almost twice Spike’s height refused to let him go. His strength started to wane and he could feel the pressure starting to increase. On Spike’s straining left arm, the communication stone began to glow with a golden light.

“Get out of there Spike. Break free!” coached the voice of his master.

“I… can’t…” Spike strained. “He’s… too… strong…”

“Are you a dragon or not?” his master shouted. “Dragons are renowned and feared for their strength and might. Dig deep within and summon your inner strength. Release the beast!”

Spike heeded his master’s words and concentrated. Within his mind, he summoned memories of the time he succumbed to the greed growth when he was still just a kid. He had grown to a massive size and nearly destroyed Ponyville. He remembered feeling unstoppable. He could take what he wanted and nothing could stop him, not even the Wonderbolts. He could break through walls and smash through buildings. The power was intoxicating and he wanted it again! A fire lit within Spike and his vertical pupils became razor thin slits.

“Let… me…” Spike growled as he clenched the stone giant’s arms his claws. With a roar of fury, he ripped off the statue’s arms! “GO!

The armless statue stumbled backwards then collapsed as Spike huffed with rage, still holding the giant’s arms. As the other five warriors approached Spike, he ran forward and swung one of the severed stone arms at the nearest one’s head. The stone fist smacked the statue’s head with a loud crack, reducing both to rubble. The headless giant fell to the ground and Spike jumped into the air while raising the remaining arm above his head. He swung the arm down as he came down into another giant, crushing it. Spike bellowed as he tackled the next giant around is legs, raised it over his head, and drove its head into the ground.

Not knowing fear, the last two statues advanced towards Spike. The teenaged dragon didn’t waste time either. He sprung at the face of one giant and started to claw away. A dragon’s claws were made for digging up gems so he made quick work of that statue. Growling wildly, Spike faced the last warrior. Spike took a deep breath and blasted the giant with a giant green fireball in the chest. The force of blast was enough to shatter the giant.

Spike stood in the middle of the arena panting. He looked around at his fallen adversaries as his adrenaline rush started to wear off. His eyes return to normal and his legs wobbled. His strength left him and he fell to his knees. He gasped for air as he held himself up with his shaking arms. He looked back up to the crumbled remains of the statues.

“Did I really do all of this?” he asked himself.

“Indeed,” a voice answered. Spike looked up and saw the Krazoa Spirit emerging from a mirror on the wall that rippled like a pool of water. It floated down until it was eye level with the exhausted dragon. The two stared at each other until the spirit rushed forward into Spike. As though caught in a magical breeze, the young dragon was carried up into the air and gently floated back down. He could feel the presence of the Krazoa Spirit inside of him filling him with strength. The shock from unleashing his wild side faded as the peace spirit soothed him. Well done, young warrior. I will remain in your body until you release me back in Krazoa Palace.

After receiving the Krazoa Spirit, the yellow light of the transporting magic took Spike back to Moon Mountain Pass where Tricky was waiting for him.

“Did you find the spirit?” the dinosaur expectantly asked.

“Yeah, I did,” he confirmed. However, his thoughts were still on the battle with the six statues. He had completely demolished them. His draconic nature had given him strength, but he had to be careful. He had to learn to control this side of him or he could really hurt someone. Sure, he had faced and slain other monsters before, but he didn’t want to risk becoming one himself. At least these were just statues.

“Cool! Your eyes are glowing purple!” Tricky exclaimed, bringing Spike out of his thoughts.

“What, really?” Spike asked surprised. His normally green eyes shone with the power of the Krazoa.

“Yeah, it looks neat.”

“I’ve got to check that out later, but we’ve got to get this spirit back to Krazoa Palace,” Spike told his companion. “Come on, let’s head back to the Hollow and speak to the Warp Stone.”

Spike and Tricky headed back south from Moon Mountain Pass through the trail that led through the mountains. When they reached ThornTail Hollow, the sun had completely set and the moon was on the rise. As they headed to regroup with the others, Spike stopped to look at his reflection in the river. As Tricky had said, his eyes were indeed glowing purple. When they met up with the Queen and the rest of Star Fox, Spike explained to them the situation.

“The Krazoa huh?” Peppy mused. “Those are the beings that made the SpellStones in the first place.”

“I guess the best plan of act is to also find all six of these Krazoa Spirits along with the SpellStones,” Captain Pepper added.

“But where are the other Krazoa Spirits?” Slippy asked the Queen EarthWalker.

“I do not know for certain,” she admitted. “But I am sure they will reveal themselves to Spike as he continues on his search for the SpellStones.”

“Okay, but before I do that, I’d better return this spirit to the palace,” Spike told them. He and Tricky then went up the hill to the Warp Stone’s fountain.

“Ah, so the little hero returns,” the giant stone pony said in his heavy Shetland accent. “And I see he has found the young prince as well. Tell me, what can I do for you now?”

“We need to get to Krazoa Palace,” the purple dragon told the Warp Stone.

“Oh, I see,” the big guy said when he noticed Spike’s glowing eyes. “Well, I hop on my hoof and I’ll send you to Krazoa Palace.”

“Alright.” Spike climbed onto the outstretched hoof and was about to help Tricky up until the Krazoa Spirit within him spoke to him.

Only the chosen champion may complete this task, the spirit said in Spike’s head.

“Um, sorry Tricky,” Spike apologized to his little partner. “But the Krazoa wants me to do this by myself. I guess this is still part of the test.”

The dinosaur looked disappointed, but said, “I understand, but I’m still going with you to get the other SpellStones!”

“You got it,” Spike reassured.

“Just hurry back. In the meantime, I’m going to get some rest before we head out again.” After Tricky headed back down the hill to his mother, the Warp Stone held Spike up on its hoof. In a flash of the Warp Stone’s blue magic, Spike was teleported through time and space to an isolated part of the island. When the blue flash faded, Spike was standing before a large palace perched high up in the mountains. Rain fell from the night sky and lightning flashed.





“So this is Krazoa Palace,” Spike said as he stepped off the blue altar onto a bridge that led to the palace. Torches lit the way to a large porch supported by towering pillars. Stained glass window decorated the walls of the building’s exterior. He could see more of those sentries patrolling the palace on the balconies above him.

As he walked underneath the porch, he saw the main door of the palace. When he opened the doors, he found a pitch black room. Thankfully, he could navigate through it with his draconic eyesight. At the end of the dark room, he found a doorway that led down a hallway. As he made his way down the corridor, Spike stepped on a tile that depressed into the floor. He instantly thought of booby traps and there was a flash of light before he could take cover. He clenched his eyes shut and prepared for the worst. He heard the roar of a fire and he opened his eyes in surprise. Vents on the walls were shooting jets of flame at him, but his fireproof body just shrugged it off. He laughed in relief and continued onwards.

He came to a room that was lit with torches and there was a door marked with the crest of the Krazoa. As Spike was about open the door, it started to open by itself and two Diamond Dogs walked in. They looked around, not seeing the dragon that was clinging to the ceiling, and then went back to their patrol. Spike landed back down on the floor, careful to not alert the dogs to his presence. He then silently sneaked up behind the two guard dogs and smacked their heads together. They fell to the ground out cold and Spike dragged them into room, hiding them behind a statue of a Krazoa.

With those two out of commission, Spike saw a lift that would take him to the central hub of the palace. The central tower of the palace had dark blue tiles and was lit by white light coming from the ceiling unlike the various wings of palace. They had a warm brown and gold color and were lit by torches. In the central hub, there were multiple layers of balconies that wrapped around the rotunda. Each floor had doorways that led to the various wings of the palace. Jutting out from the balconies were platforms with large fans that blew powerful currents of air upward. Spike stepped on one of these are lifts and it started to raise him up to the next level. Taking advantage of the current, Spike flapped his wings and shot straight to the top level.

Air lifts, neat, Spike thought as he looked down from the top level at the floors beneath him. He then looked around the top floor for any sign on where to go next. He saw another airlift in the wall not too from where he was standing. Well, I should start at the top and work my way down from there.

He stepped into the air elevator and rode the current up. He flew out of a chute and landed on the roof of the palace. The rain continued to fall as he looked around the roof. There was a large elevated platform in the center with a rotating mechanism on it. Overlooking the platform was a giant Krazoa statue. The mechanism held a giant crystal inside of it, suspended in the air by a beam of purplish magical energy. Below the crystal was a spinning aperture and there were gyros spinning above it. Spike walked up the ramp to get a better look at the crystal and gasped at what he saw.





Inside the crystal was Rarity. She hung motionless inside with her hooves pressed against the walls of her clear prison. Her mane was still wet from the night she was trapped inside it and her eyes were closed. With the serene look upon her face, she seemed as though she was in a peaceful sleep.

“Rarity!” Spike cried as he ran up to the Unicorn. He pounded his fists against its crystal, but the magical force supporting it deflected the flows, sending reverberating waves of energy across the surface. He continued to pound against the force field, but wasn’t getting anywhere. “Hold on, I’ll get you out of there!”

You cannot break the barrier, the Krazoa Spirit inside his head told him. Only when all six of us have been returned to the palace will it be lowered.

“But I can’t just leave her like this!” Spike argued.

“Fear not,” said another Krazoa Spirit as it floated around the crystal. Spike recognized it as the one that he had met in Moon Mountain Pass. “She is in suspended animation. She is quite safe for now. I am using my power to protect her, but my protection will not last forever. With each Krazoa Spirit you bring back here, the protection spell will be maintained until you find all six.” 

Spike looked from the spirit back to the sleeping Rarity. He placed a claw on the crystal and it softly rippled at his touch. She was so close, yet so far from his reach.

“How do I release the spirit?” he asked, not taking his eyes off of the beautiful white mare.

“There are sanctuaries located throughout the palace,” the Krazoa explain. “Once you find a Krazoa, you will have to take it back to its proper one.”

The shrine that I belong to is located at the base of this platform, the second spirit said.

“Yeah, okay,” Spike barely acknowledged, still staring at Rarity. He longed to be with her. He realized that she must have come looking for him after he had fled the mob in Ponyville. His fears had come true and the ponies of Equestria had branded him as a monster. He was innocent of the crime which he was accused of, but that didn’t matter to them. He imagined that his friends would have stood up for him. The mare in front of him was proof of that. She’s so beautiful. She could have any stallion in all of Equestria, but she chose to be with me. She chose to stand up for me and tried to find me. I promise Rarity, I will save you. I will save this island and find all of the Krazoa Spirits. I will get you out of there. He smirked when he saw her wet mane. Her mane kind of looks nice like that. She should wear it like that more often.

“Peppy here,” the voice of the navigator called from the communication stone. Spike nearly jumped out of his scales at the sudden noise and looked over to see Peppy’s floating head. “What are you doing Spike? Release the spirit and get out of there. Peppy out.”

“Okay okay, I’m going!” Spike growled, upset that the moment he was having was interrupted. He started to walk back down the ramp, but stopped to look back at Rarity. He hated to have to leave her, but he had to in order to save her. He sighed in disappointment and headed down to the shrine at the base of the platform. A statue of a Krazoa stuck out from a rippling mirror and Spike knelt before it on a white altar. A sudden tightness gripped his chest as he felt something pulling away from him. He took in a few gasps of air and then arched his back. He groaned as the blue Krazoa Spirit left his body and entered the shrine. The statue shook a little and then its eyes glowed white. From the depths of the palace the second spirit rose up to join the first in circling Rarity’s crystal. The statue’s mouth then opened to release a blue beam of magic that surrounded Spike and transported him back to the Warp Stone.


*****


As Rarity dreamt during her enchanted sleep, she saw imagines of her friends and home. She saw her place of business, Carousel Boutique. Her fluffy white cat, Opalescence purred contently as Rarity was busy making another masterpiece. She saw Pinkie Pie happily baking cupcakes at Sugar Cube Corner. Applejack was harvesting apples at Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy was having a tea party with her woodland friends. Rainbow Dash was practicing her Wonderbolt routine high up in the clouds. Twilight Sparkle was humming as she scribbled down some notes as she studied in Golden Oaks Library. Sweetie Belle and her friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, were laughing as they played in the park. Then she saw her Spikey Wikey. The gentledragon took her by the hoof and gave it a kiss.

Then she could feel his presence. He was near her. She could hear his voice calling out to her. She wanted so desperately to answer him, but couldn’t say anything. Then it felt as though he was almost touching her. For a moment, she felt connected to him.

“I will save you,” he promised her.