//------------------------------// // Element of Greed // Story: Phantom War III: Insanity Returns // by Danny Eclipse //------------------------------// We were on the bridge of the Nemesis. Darkbine was at the Star Map, which was a map that showed the whole planet. Darkbine was holding his Black Emerald and it was floating around the map. “Alright, where is the first location?” I asked Darkbine replied “I’m already using my powers to have the emerald reveal the Element of Greed’s Power signature…” The Emerald stop and a beam of light hit an area. They looked and see it was a mountain with the label “Emerald Mountain” on it. “Emerald Mountain, one of the Diamond Dogs greatest Mining/Fortress. Getting inside will be very difficult due to there being greatly protected.” I said to the team. Darkbine said “Trust me, I can take an entire army by myself. I’ve wanted to stretch my wings and powers for a while now.” Cynder said “While there are four of us against a grand army of Diamond Dogs, we won’t be able handle this by ourselves.” Darkbine said to her “Cynder, you have no idea who you are talking to.” Darkbine’s horn ignited in Dark Green Aura and suddenly, a sword appeared in his hoof. The blade was nothing seen before. The Blade was Green and the metal around it was grey with a blood red ruby on it. The blade began to glow at Darkbine’s presence. Darkbine told us, happy to see it “This is 1 of my precious artifacts that is known as “The Chaos Saber”. The Blade is made of Chaos Shards, rare gems to find. The Handel is made of Dragon Scales. An amazing design, if you ask me.” “Indeed, it is.” Darkbine said “We can take them on. We will be able to defeat them with ease.” I began to think about it. Darkbine was technically powerful since he was sealed away. I finally came up with a decision and nodded, making Darkbine smile evilly. Darkbine said “Finally, some fighting.” “Trypticon, set course to Emerald Mountain and prepare for battle in case we come across Ships.” I ordered Trypticon replied “UNDERSTOOD.” The Nemesis change course, heading to Emerald Mountain. The Nemesis had arrived to Emerald Mountain about an hour or two. We immediately began to receive fire and Trypticon gladly fired back. When we were above the Mountain, we jumped off the flight deck and landed on safely. Shadow managed to ease his landing. Darkbine told us “Time to make an entrance.” Darkbine’s left hoof transformed into a gun similar to what Scombine or Rainbine uses for their left arm. He fires and it explodes, creating a hole. Darkbine said to Cynder “Ladies first.” Cynder pulls out her blaster pistols and jumps down. Shadow followed and I went next. Darkbine went after me. We came down and began to fly through the tunnel, but to Shadow, he was running. We came out of the tunnel and found a city of Diamond Dogs, mobilizing to fight Trypticon, not even realizing that we were here. “Let the slaughter begin.” I told them. I jumped down, lightsabers in my hooves and my wings allowing me to soar forward. The Diamond Dogs spot me and I began to cut down Diamond Dogs. There was blaster fire and I see Cynder was flying above, shooting down Dogs. Shadow and Darkbine were cutting down Diamond Dogs with their swords. Guenhwyvar, Shadow’s Pet Panther, was attacking as well. I began to spin like a tornado and charged forward, cutting down Diamond Dogs as I went. When I stop spinning like a top, I felt a bit dizzy. ‘Still need to work on that…’ I thought I managed to shake it off and I began to use Death Field, draining the life of nearby Diamond Dogs to restore my wounds that I had received during the spinning. I charged again but this time, Darkbine was with me. His chest was glowing and he fires some sort of beam of energy ahead, killing and destroying whatever it hit. Suddenly, a purple sphere left Darkbine’s back and formed into a robotic dog. Darkbine ordered “Treble, eradicate the Diamond Dogs!” Treble barked back his answer and charged forward. He opened his mouth and fired energy attacks. Darkbine’s right hoof formed into Scombine’s Shotgun or whatever it was called and fired it, killing Diamond Dogs. I didn’t question it but I kept to the attack. I threw my lightsaber and it hit a few Diamond Dogs. I slid down on my knees and grabbed my lightsaber and performed a Force Repulse, pushing Diamond Dogs away. Cynder came down, holding her Darksaber from before, and cut down the enemy. Shadow was still cutting down the Dogs as well. Treble and Guenhwyvar were enjoying killing down any Diamond Dogs who were running from the fight. Darkbine yelled in glee “NOW THIS IS A SLAUGHTER!!!” “I agree!” Darkbine and Me were back-to-back because we were surrounded by Diamond Dogs. They came to attack but we were ready. I used my lightsabers to cut them down while Darkbine used his Shotgun to kill down any incoming Diamond Dogs. Several Dogs came at us and Darkbine grabbed me. Darkbine told me “Watch this.” Suddenly, we were surrounded by a purple and black shield. They went to smash it but it didn’t crack. They fired their blasters but didn’t work either. Darkbine began to laugh. Darkbine told me “With the Powers and Abilities of Metal Sonic and Bass, I’m a powerful warrior. Plus the fact that I absorb superior models of those 2, making me more stronger. Black Shield was Metal’s traditional defense, it’s the ultimate defense. Can’t be broken but attacks help recharge my energy reserves.” “Impressive…” Darkbine said “Indeed. I have gone through a check of systems. I have Mecha Shadow’s Powers and Abilities so let’s use it.” When they finished attacked, Darkbine lowered the Black Shield. He was glowing blue and for a split second, an entire army of Diamond Dogs were suddenly killed all of a sudden. However, I saw it all. Time froze around me when Darkbine did it all. Darkbine told me “Chaos Control, allows me to freeze time and space.” “Oh, I can exist out of Time. So, Chaos Control has no effect on me.” Darkbine was impressed to hear that “Impressive…” “Come on, let’s keep to the slaughter.” Darkbine nods and they began to charge. A bunch of Diamond Dogs pulled out Energy Shields. Darkbine shouted “Chaos Spear!” Several Energy Projectiles were fires at them. They hit the center of the shields, which were a weakness. The energy shields were destroyed and we kept to the assault. We were approaching their palace, where Darkbine could detect the Element of Greed in. The Diamond Dogs had barracked the door to prevent the intruders from getting inside. The General of the Diamond Dogs was there, on his throne. He wore a crown on his head. Diamond Dog General yelled at his troops “6 Intruders managed to break inside 1 of the greatest fortresses on the planet and haven’t been killed yet!? Since when did my troops become so weak!?” Diamond Dog Soldier replied nervously “It’s not our fault. They are resourceful and very powerful. We never seen these likes before, they are like gods compared to us.” The General was about to reply until they heard slamming against the door. The Diamond Dogs began to pile against the door. Darkbine told me “They barracked the door and no doubt adding bodies against it.” “Well, let’s make an entrance inside.” Darkbine asked me “You want to?” “Move aside. I’ll blast it open with 1 attack.” They moved away and my hooves began to glow green. I stood on my back legs and pulled back my front legs for a moment before pushing them forward, unleashing a massive beam of ectoplasmic energy. It hits the door and destroys it, killing the bodies of Diamond Dogs against it. We walked in, see the General with armor and a Mace. DD General yelled at us “You invade this fortress, thinking you can take what you want. I’m going to kill you for killing my kin!” Darkbine said “I’ll handle this. Where is the Element of Greed!?” The Diamond Dog pointed at his throne and on top of it was a necklace. It looked similar to the Element of Generosity but the gold was Black and the Gem was Bright Pink. DD General said “The Crown Jewel here in my fortress. Now, you will die.” Darkbine told him “I’m afraid I’m not the one to kill you.” DD General asked, not getting it “What do you mean?” Darkbine used his magic and formed a magical circle in the center of the room. The General was chained all of a sudden and thrown aside. The circle had candles around it and a cauldron in the middle, boiling. Darkbine pulled out a needle, which had blood inside it. Darkbine told us “Time for the Ritual of Recreation.” Darkbine used his magic to pick up the Element of Greed and he dropped it into the cauldron. He pulled out a knife and cut himself. A few drops of blood went into the cauldron. Darkbine chanted “The blood of a servant, given willingly.” Darkbine used his magic to grab the container of blood. Darkbine chanted phase 2 “The blood of the enemy, forcefully taken.” He pours the blood into the cauldron and the Cauldron’s boiling water turns blood red. Darkbine chanted the last phase “The Element of Greed’s Bearer rises again.” Darkbine backed away as the Cauldron began to ignite with fire. The wound where he cut himself instantly healed and the Cauldron began to turn into a figure. When the transformation ended, there stood a mare. She looked extremely like Rarity, but different. She had a white coat, bright pink mane and Tail that looked similar to Rarity’s. She wore a purple hat on her head and her CM was a pink fruit with 3 diamonds on the center of it, those diamonds looked like Rarity’s. She wore the Element of Greed around her neck and when she opened her eyes, they were similar to like Rarity’s eye color, blue. On her right hoof, she wore something similar to a gauntlet, but it was called "The Gauntlet of Greed". She began to look around until she looks at Darkbine. The Mare asked “Darkbine?” Darkbine replied “Hello Rarifruit.” Rarifruit asked “How am I…alive?” Darkbine told her “The Ritual of Recreation.” Rarifruit understood what it was and said “Oh, I see.” “Rarifruit, I am Danny Eclipse. And I offer you something you may like. A ‘welcome back to the land of the living’ present.” Rarifruit looks at me as I pointed at the General of the Diamond Dog. She looks at the creature and notices he had a crown, which was a hat to her. Her eyes twitched at the sight of the crown and she used her Gauntlet of Greed to summon Demonic Hands that killed the DD General and she took the crown. Rarifruit yelled “MINE!!!” She smiles evilly at it and added it to her collection she had when she still roamed the world. Rarifruit told me “I accept your offering, Danny Eclipse.” “Come now, we must find the others.” Darkbine said to us all “The Element of Ear-Rape is next, I believe.” “Then let’s get moving.” We left the palace in a hurry.