//------------------------------// // The Plot Thickens // Story: Spike's Shadow // by DraconequusMaximus //------------------------------// Spike and Sombra rushed through room after room, only Spike knowing their actual destination. Sombra kept his head out of the dragon saddle, searching for anything that might seem like a sign of Daring or Ahuizotl. As of yet Sombra had found nothing, but Spike was running at such a speed that it was difficult to see very much at any given moment. Spike stopped abruptly as a rumbling shook the temple. It sounded like a small explosion, and both Sombra and Spike saw smoke trailing out of a door about a hundred meters ahead. Spike looked back and gave Sombra a nonverbal signal to disembark the saddle. Sombra silently complied, sliding down Spike's wing while making as little noise as possible. Sombra drew his sword from it's sheath, cautiously following behind Spike. Sombra's armored boots made as little noise as he could manage, but Spike's masterful hunting technique let him approach the doorway virtually undetectable. Once they were nearly up to the door Spike looked back at Sombra and used his claws to mime a plan of attack. Sombra played close attention, gathering the meaning of Spike's efforts. Sombra was to wait just beyond the doorway with his blade at the ready. Spike would jump into the fray, defending Daring and hopefully subduing Ahuizotl. If Ahuizotl tried to flee Sombra would be there, ready to strike. All in all it was likely the most efficient plan given the situation. Once he was sure Sombra had a grasp of the plan Spike abandoned the dragon saddle and barreled through the doorway. Upon entering the room Spike saw it was a rather large room filled with statues of various species, each playing a different instrument. Though several spots on the walls and statues had been seemingly scorched. Each statue was at least as big as Spike, and extremely detailed. It would have been a true beauty to behold, were it not for the danger looming. Daring was currently standing about ten feet away from a relatively familiar face. Though just now was the only time Spike had seen the villain in person. Ahuizotl, a somewhat magical being of renowned physical strength, possessing knowledge of a great many dangerous magical weapons and artifacts from all over the world. Ahuizotl was a one-of-a-kind creature, even Daring Do was unclear on the subject of his origins. All that was certain was that he wanted to rule the world, and he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. All three of them. It seemed that Ahuizotl had gotten the drop on Daring. Daring's left wing had been singed of all it's feathers somehow, though she was currently working through any pain she might have been experiencing. Daring had her machete at the ready, a look of seething hatred in her eyes. Zotl on the other hand was looking cool and confident in his victory, waiting for Daring to make the next move. Spike noticed he was wearing some sort of dark-gray chest-piece with a large blood-colored ruby embedded in it. Despite not knowing it's purpose, merely looking at it gave Spike a bad case of the willies. Daring was the first to notice Spike, merely glancing over in his direction without turning her head. Ahuizotl noticed her focus shifting and looked over to see Spike himself. Disturbingly enough, instead of panicking, Ahuizotl's grin widened by several degrees. "A purple dragon with green spines. I was told you would be here. Now all that is missing is the ash-colored pony who walks in your shadow, and then everyone will be here. Where is he? You know, don't you dragon?" Ahuizotl asked, turning away from Daring. Spike's brain momentarily stopped functioning at the news that Ahuizotl had been aware of not only Spike, but Sombra as well. It was so completely unexpected that Spike had no idea how to respond. Daring however rushed Ahuizotl, thinking that he was off his guard. Without taking his focus off of Spike, Ahuizotl reached out his tail-hand, catching Daring's machete mid swing. With a brief application of pressure the machete shattered, leaving Daring holding nothing but a handle with scarcely an inch of blade remaining. Spike snapped back to attention, snatching up Daring and taking off from the ground in a series of almost impossibly fast movements. Daring spat the machete handle down at Ahuizotl, glaring down at her foe. Spike kept them as high as the room's ceiling would allow, wondering just what was going on. Ahuizotl was always depicted as strong, but both Daring and Spike knew breaking the machete so effortlessly should have been near impossible for him. "How do you know about me? How do you know about Sombra?! What do you want with us?!" Spike yelled down at Ahuizotl, not really expecting an answer. As Spike had thought, Ahuizotl didn't answer. Instead he placed his right hand over the blood-ruby of the chest-plate and let Spike and Daring watch as it glowed a malevolent red. Daring seemed to know what was about to happen. "He's got some kind of laser-thing in that chest-plate. It's new, and I don't like the vibe it gives off." Daring informed Spike. "Me either." Spike quickly agreed. Ahuizotl's hand soon became soaked in the malign aura of his single piece of armor, cloaked in dark power. With a quick motion akin to someone throwing a knife, Ahuizotl launched an energy attack at surprising speed. Even Twilight Sparkle herself would have been hard pressed to fire a shot of such densely concentrated mana so quickly. Spike barely managed to get Daring out of harm's way, but his free arm was struck at the base of the shoulder, propelling him backward into a wall. He didn't hit hard, but enough to force his wings to lock up momentarily. Spike's arm however was seething with something akin to the burning he had experienced during his wing growth. Though the intensity was laughable in comparison. "Nice shot. It tickles a little. That's was some pretty heavy artillery though. Where do you shop?" Spike taunted, hoping to get Ahuizotl riled up. Daring often won her battles in the earlier books by forcing Ahuizotl into a rage. If he couldn't think clearly it wouldn't be much of an issue to take him down. Spike knew he could take a few more of the magic beams without issue if need be. It was still alicorn-level magic though, which was worrisome enough. The fact it was in the hands of Ahuizotl was much worse. Ahuizotl growled at Spike and charged, fists raised to bash at the dragon like a gorilla. Unfortunately for him Spike still possessed a clear size advantage. Ahuizotl didn't seem to realize that until he was quite close, as Spike was more than happy to point it out. With a heavy uppercut to the stomach Ahuizotl's body went completely limp, allowing Spike to catch him in his rag-doll state. Daring watched in amazement as Spike laid out the crazed villain without all that much effort. Spike placed Ahuizotl on the ground and held down his arms and tail, looking for a way to remove the chest-plate. There was a catch above each shoulder, but when Spike lifted his arm off of Ahuizotl's own left arm to undo them he found himself unable. Even his claws that could rend ordinary metal like tissue paper were ineffective. There must have been some kind of magic preventing anyone other than the wearer from removing it. This thing... it looks and seems a lot like the alicorn amulet. But way stronger. Spike thought to himself. "Daring, go get Sombra and tell him to be ready with his sword. We need to get this thing off of Ahuizotl. It's got some nasty mojo in it." Spike ordered. Daring agreed without a fight, galloping off as quickly as her legs could carry her. Spike smiled as he watched Daring go, glad she was finally cooperating. Unexpectedly however Ahuizotl's eyes opened the very instant Spike's attention shifted back to him. Instead of the eyes Spike had seen only moments ago, they were now an electric green with red irises and slit pupils. From either eye an ethereal trail of purple miasma began flowing and the ruby in the chest-piece began glowing more violently than ever before. Spike jumped backwards on pure instinct, knowing those eyes to be the sign of Dootha's power. There was no doubt that Ahuizotl had accessed a portion of the devil-dragon's power, as inexplicably horrid as it was. Only someone with a predisposition for magic was suppossed to be able to channel it, even then they needed talent and motivation. Ahuizotl did not fit that description, meaning something was terribly wrong. The terror coursing through Spike's heart magnified as Ahuizotl picked himself up from the floor. A horrid metal screeching heralded the eruption of two enormous wings of black metal thorns from Ahuizotl's back. They were smaller than Spike's wings, but they radiated an aura of danger beyond their intimidating appearance. "I AM YOUR END!" Ahuizotl shouted in a rage as he took to the air on his impossible wings. With each flap of the iron wings a storm of black needles was shot outward in all directions, forcing Spike to guard his face with his arm. The thorns varied in size, and only the largest ones were capable of penetrating Spike's scales. Spike winced as about a dozen needles dug their way into his arm, but they weren't all bad. The pain helped Spike make up his mind and gather his resolve. Ahuizotl attempted to try and get the drop on Spike from the air, but Spike let loose a truly powerful jet of his hottest fire, more white than green. A taste of unrestrained fire from Spike's belly. Something Spike had never intended to use on a living thing before. "You pushed me into that. I hate hurting people, even total jerks. But you've got yourself in deep this time. I doubt you know all that much about that thing on your chest, but I've got a pretty good idea where it came from now. Which means I can't afford to hold back on you anymore." Spike told Ahuizotl stoically. Just before Spike reached Ahuizotl the flames went out. The red glow now radiated violently off of Ahuizotl's body, tendrils of mana surging out in every direction. Spike realized the flames hadn't gone out, nothing could quell magical flames so easily. They had been consumed by the chest-plate, likely adding to the power now coursing through Ahuizotl. As Ahuizotl rose to his feet again Spike saw the ruby was pulsating like a beating heart. "If you feel no need to hold back, than neither will I." Ahuizotl declared ominously. The chest-plate began sinking into Ahuizotl's flesh, merging with him. In no time at all, all that remained was the ruby, deeply embedded in Ahuizotl's chest. A network of black, pulsating veins spread outward, filling their host with the utmost limit of it's power. Spike instinctively backed up from Ahuizotl as his body began to grow. Very quickly, Spike found himself joined at eye level. Ahuizotl had become a monstrous version of himself, and now the metallic thorn-wings trailed miasma from their bases on Zotl's back. "Please tell me that's your final form." Spike practically pleaded. Instead of replying Ahuizotl roared loudly, giving Spike the distinct impression that no one was home any longer. Ahuizotl's hunger for power had led him to give himself to the evil magic completely. He was assuredly powerful, but now all there was of him was instinct and rage. Spike quickly swiped at Ahuizotl with his claws, but was punched square in the jaw before he could make contact. Spike tumbled backwards, never having felt such tremendous force before. Spike barely managed to stop himself by digging his claws into the floor before slamming into one of the room's many statues. Looking to try and end things as quickly as possible, Spike grabbed hold of the statue, lifting it off the floor. It was heavy even for him, which was exactly what Spike had hoped for. When the demonic Ahuizotl rushed him Spike threw the statue onto him, disorienting him enough for Spike to act. Spike grabbed Ahuizotl's weakest limb, his third hand supported by a long and dexterous tail. Spike pinned it to the ground with his back-left claw and began beating Ahuizotl with his fists. Each hit did a small amount of damage, but not enough. Ahuizotl snapped out of his delirium shortly after the attack started and shoved Spike to the ground, essentially reversing their positions and freeing his tail. Spike couldn't shake the power-enhanced villain, forced to watch as Ahuizotl opened his jaws. Between his outrageously misfit teeth a sphere of the malevolent red mana began forming in a vastly denser amount, telling Spike he was most likely done for if he was hit at point-blank. Spike closed his eyes, hoping that he could survive the coming onslaught. However Spike's eyes opened with incredible speed when he heard Ahuizotl scream out in pain. Spike moved the very second Ahuizotl stopped holding him down, rolling to safety and getting back a fair distance. Only then could he see Sombra had returned, once again saving Spike's life. This time Sombra had sliced off Ahuizotl's tail, causing him to forget Spike for just a second. However Sombra was now the focus of Ahuizotl's boundless rage. Sombra froze in place the very instant he saw Ahuizotl's eyes when he turned. Ahuizotl smacked Sombra, sending soaring across the room. Spike's eyes dilated to the point of being those of a vicious animal as he saw Sombra hit the wall and collapse to the floor in a heap. Something inside Spike snapped, and Spike let out a roar that shook the room. "NO ONE HURTS MY PONIES!" Spike screamed at Ahuizotl. Spike rushed Ahuizotl, his mind a total blank. Without any regard for anything other than the destruction of the one who had just harmed his hoard Spike dug his claws into the temple floor and lifted the stone block of the floor Ahuizotl was standing on. Ahuizotl was bowled over, but managed to recover. Ahuizotl's sensed the danger, making a retreat. He took flight to attempt an escape, but it was a wasted effort. The time it took him to lift off was all that Spike had needed to hurl the great block at him. Ahuizotl was helplessly smashed into the wall behind him, a guttural squeal of distress forced Spike regained a portion of his wits. As the block fell to the ground, Spike saw Ahuizotl embedded in the wall. His eyes were still glowing green, but the miasma streams were beginning to taper off much faster than before. Spike had done some serious damage. As Ahuizotl peeled himself from the wall Spike saw the black metal wings were crooked and bent, and a number of minor wounds were leaking an unidentifiable black substance. "As soon as Zotl falls, pin him! Keep him still and I can break the ruby!" A voice called out from behind. Spike looked back to see Daring with Sombra's sword. Sombra had likely dropped it after Ahuizotl's attack, but that wasn't important right now. The look in Daring's eyes had changed, instead of one of vengeance it was a look of determination. A look Spike knew he could trust. The second Ahuizotl fell to the ground like a stone Spike was upon him. Spike was using every ounce of strength he had left to keep the villain down. Even though he was battered and bruised he wasn't yet broken. Spike could see the ruby glowing, and with each pulsing beat of the blood-red gem the iron wings began straightening themselves into their original shapes. Even the minor scratches had begun to mend themselves. "Daring! Do it now! This thing is healing him!" Spike shouted, urging Daring to hurry up. Daring held the sword in her mouth and rushed over, not hesitating in trying to stab at the ruby. With one well-placed strike Daring pierced the ruby, sending a crack all the way through it's center. The ruby's glow flickered a few times before going completely dark. Ahuizotl rapidly began shrinking to his normal size, and the ruby began to crumble. Once the last bit had been freed from Ahuizotl's abdomen the black veins vanished entirely. Ahuizotl was still badly injured, but he would live. Spike released Ahuizotl and took the sword from Daring. "I thought you were gonna kill him after you rushed off on your own like that." Spike admitted to Daring. Daring snickered a bit, looking down at the floor. "I was. Then after I finished my last book that was gonna be it for me too. I'm getting too old for the life of adventure thing. I turn fifty in September. My bones don't heal up like they used to. This is my last expedition." Daring replied sadly. Spike felt glad Daring had chosen a different path, but was also sad her journey was nearing it's end in a less permanent way. "What made you change your mind?" Spike asked. Daring turned to look at Sombra who was still passed out across the room. "Sombra, a total wuss rushing in to save you, a ten-ton tower of power. I instinctively hated him from the get-go, just because he was too close to the bad side. Admittedly the only reason I tolerated you two tagging along was because you're a mountain of muscles and Zotl is still as strong as ever while I keep getting weaker. "I've been an ass, which I'd say is my default setting these days. I've been wrapped up in ancient mysteries and secret plots so long it's hard to trust anybody. Let alone a former villain and a dragon. But... Seeing you two care for each other against all odds got to me. I... I want to find somepony to share the rest of my years with. Even though I hate how sappy that sounds." Daring admitted. Spike blushed, placing Sombra's sword in front of Daring. "Things with Sombra are... complicated. You just keep an eye on big blue while I take care of Sombra. We've got some questions for him that need answering." Spike replied, eager to get to the bottom of things.