//------------------------------// // Chapter 49 // Story: Six wishes for six elements // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// The massive rainbow colored beam shot forth, it's size was big enough to engulf not just both dragons, but the area around them, covering them all with the rainbow colored light. Behind the screams and shrieks of endless agony, Twilight felt sweat drip off of her mane. Spike... he was in pain. Even without the roars and screams of anguish of wounded beasts, she could just feel it in her bones. Nothing could have been more soul jarring than listening to her number one assistant in such other-wordly agony. The magic of the elements... She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth as they continued, the screams began to die and soon, the air was filled with a deathly silence. She opened her eyes to see it. Even though he'd been the bane of the world thousand years ago, and had been once again during his return... it was still pitiful. The once mighty king of dragons, bane of the world, hungry for conquest now lay nothing more than a pile of dragon bones, his skin and flesh having been flayed straight off by the magic of the elements. Even something like him mustn't have deserved such a fate. But nevertheless, it had been a neccessary act. But... Spike... Wait a minute.... "Where's Spike?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked around at Feynaltdrog's skeleton. Not that she exactly wanted to know... though a huge dragon skeleton was something that's pretty hard to los... "Pinkie... what's going on?" Twilight asked as the pink earth pony's tail began to twitch like crazy. No sooner had that happened did Pinkie Pie dive right into the ditch that Slade and Medic had taken cover within. "I think something's about to fall from the..." THUD* "Ow..." Twilight groaned weakly as she looked above. Spike had just landed straight on her head. Wait a minute... if Spike had landed on her head.... and if Spike hadn't crushed her than that meant.... HOLY HORSEAPPLES! HE'S ALIVE! Not just that too... he wasn't JUST alive. He was now back being just... Spike. Not a scary, huge dragon that looked like it had more business burning down villages. He was once again, Twilight's number one assistant Spike. "Whoa... ugh... I don't feel so well..." Spike groaned, evidently suffering case of serious nausea. Though... it could have been a lot worse considering things like a bigger dragon had been involved. Strange... despite the fact he'd taken the full force of dragon fire and getting knocked around.... yeah... he probably won the award of "luckiest dragon in Equestria" as of now. "SPIKE!" Twilight said as she wrapped her hooves around the dragon. "Umm... Twilight? Hey... you're not so small anymore... wait.... awww..." "What's wrong Spike?" Fluttershy asked. "Are you hurt?" "No... it's just that... I am not big anymore." He mumbled to himself, disappointed. "I..." "You were pretty damn awesome." Raynor said as he walked over, well... more like hobbled over considering the state of his power armor at the moment. "You royally kicked Feynalt... whatever's ass and gave him a beatdown." "Yeah... but... not..." "Doesn't matter who or what we are kid." Slade said as walked over. "Only matters is what we do and what our plan is. Right now... what you did probably would have earned you a few medals back in my day." "Mine too!" Sanya and Cap said at the same time. "So... wait... why am I not dead then? I mean... look at him!" "Maybe..." "It's because the elements of Harmony..." Princess Celestia began coming out of nowhere. "Are powerful enough to lock away or destroy any evil. As long as there is good however... the elements will not harm. Spike... Feynaltdrog's spell upon you turned you into a savage creature. But you were able to fight it and..." "Saved my bacon, and everyone else." Slade cut in. "Well done kid. I don't care what you are, but I think you done me and everyone else here a favor today." "Just as you have all done Equestria a favor too... Deathstroke." Luna cut in. "You know... I prefer Slade when speaking with my clients." Slade chuckled. "But... is he dead now?" "I would expect so.... hopefully..." Luna mumbled. "But whatever the cause... I suppose we may send you home now?" "You kidding?!" Pinkie Pie asked as she jumped straight in front of Slade before him or anyone else could give an answer. "This calls for a party!" Slade had considered pulling another "Deathstroke" though... went against it as he felt something tap against his shoulder. "What is it kid?" Slade asked. He could tell who it was... he didn't even need to look. "Are you going to go home now? Becuase..." "No. I'll stay... though I think my sanity might not agree." Slade said as he walked with everyone else as they began to depart. "I am glad you can... and I am certain so is everyone else." Sanya began. "But... can you tell me how..." "How I survived?" Slade said with a smile. Not the type he typically had when he was about to murder someone or complete a contract, but the type he probably had a lot of... maybe 50 years ago. "You know... I could tell you I pulled one of my tricks again... you're a witch after all. You have your magic, I have mine. But... that'd be a lie... or at least... not entirely true." "Go on." Steve said. He was listening too... and pretty damn interested. "You see... there was rubble... a ton of rubble... and this one piece of stone... about the size of a bullet ALMOST killed me. Would have had me straight through the heart." Slade said. Slowly, he reached into his armor, and took out a kopeck. Albeit... a dented kopeck which looked as though it had been shot. Kinda reminded him of that lawyer in Gotham city... "Saved my life." Slade said as he looked at Sanya. "I doubt I can really regenerate a rock in the heart." "I dunno... you always struck me as the type of guy who had a heart of stone..." Steve joked. He expected a wisecrack or a comeback, or at least a death glare... but got nothing. Just silence and some incoherent mumbling. "Eh... I am joking." The last part was added rather hastily. Slade made no comment. "Nevertheless though... I was trapped for a while... until Spike fished me out. Why he saved me? I dunno... I mean I was the guy who actually drugged him senseless but I guess he wanted Feynaltdrog's neck and not mine. So... I rode him, we got here as fast as we could, and the rest is history." "Nice..." Raynor commented. "Listen... maybe we can celebrate now? I dunno... but I really want a beer." "Except... it's going to be made of apples..." Steve moaned. "Here." Slade said tossing Raynor his canteen. "Gift from a friend... and not made out of apples. Pretty damn good. Give some to Captain Star Spangles afterwards. He needs a drink too." "Ve all do." Medic commented. "Though..." "You CANNOT have my blood sample." Slade said firmly. "Gah..." Medic grumbled as they headed back for Ponyville. Somehow... in under 45 seconds, it looked like Pinkie Pie had already produced enough baked goods, drinks and whatnot to have a country fair.... how is this possible again? Magic. "Time to go home now?" Armin asked as he got his things. Good thing he didn't bring much... "Indeed. Equestria thanks you again for your help." Celestia said. "Before we go... I suppose it's time for your... payment. Slade?" "Do me last. I gotta think." Well... that was pretty suprising. "Jim?" "Some of that shiny jewels you got... I need a ton... hope that won't be of inconvinience." "Of course not." Luna smiled. "Next... Armin?" "Just to be back home..." Armin said. God damn it... why the fu.. "Medic?" "Un Sample of every organism from Equestria... ja. Perhaps a little book on medicine?" "Done." "Sanya?" "A chance to see my parents." "Steve?" "I want nothing." "Slade...?" "Another chance." The mercanary said. Those two words would be all.