//------------------------------// // Hell-bound Dragon/ Netherrealm Rage // Story: Equestrian Elseworlds: The Fiend, The Warrior and the Spellcaster // by Equestrian Ghost //------------------------------// Somewhere in Hell... Fire was on my fists, but it didn't burn. Said fire had the same color as my fire, and I smirked. It was good to know that I had martial arts and fire to aid me, so I felt as if the exit was near. However, a group of demon ponies surrounded me, some were missing flesh, although it didn't really scare me. After facing an insane amount of villains, fear is unfamiliar to me, although I was on the sidelines. One ran towards me, and I just gave that demon a punch to the face, smiling as it fell unconscious. If I could take one down this easily, I could take out all of them, I just needed time to charge my fire to my full capacity. I delivered two kicks to a demon, sending it flying a couple of feet. Then, a demon had a sword in its mouth, but I managed to grab the sword, only to deliver a few punches to the demon's face. Once that demon fell, the sword I held slowly got on fire and morphed from a rusty sword to an infernal Ninjato sword, a sword mainly used by those who practiced the sacred art of Ninjitsu. I smiled as I slashed at the remaining demons, getting another sword and moving on. As I moved on, the demons got bigger, but my rage and power was growing as well. Time however, passed until I reached an un-dead Hydra. Great, a walking napalm, I thought. I prepared my Ninjato swords, and I charged at the beast, nimbly dodging its attacks. The good thing about Hell was that I was good as new. I delivered a few punches and kicks to the un-dead hydra. It seemed like hours as the battle went on, but after a while, I won. The thing was, the reaper arrived, and boy was he pissed. Well, who wouldn't? After all, part of that person's army and one of the deadliest beasts known in Equestria was defeated by yours truly. Seriously, why mess with me when I barely reach Hell? Is it because I'm ugly or something? Oh wait, I spit fire... "Who are you, and why are you here?" He asked, only for me to find out that the Reaper was a mare instead of a stallion. She looked nice, a mare with the size of Celestia, white fur and the teeth marked on her face as if it were a tattoo. Under her cloak, her dress was nice, with the hellish touches and the feminine style. "I am Spike Solaris, and I just died due to a terminal disease," I said, looking at her. "Why did you take down my soldiers?" She asked, looking at me. "Well, they attacked so I went Scorpion on them," I said, chuckling as I remembered the days I'd play Maretal Kombat. "Really? I prefer Sub-Zero," she said, spawning several weapons made of ice. "We can keep on discussing fighting games, or you can tell me how to get out of Hell." "There are only two ways: the first is crossing it as Dante Alighieri did, or the Resurrection Program." Since I'm lazy, I decided to check the program. "Well, where do I sign?" I asked, looking around. "I will perform a test on you, and then you will be graded. Once that's done, we'll see if you are worthy of being resurrected," she finished. I could tell you that I did the test and aced it, but things turned out differently a few minutes later. "Yes, right there," she said. I smirked and went harder, feeling the pressure fade away. "How did you get this good?" "I learned from the best." "You're telling me that you learned from the Ponyville Spa?" "Yeah, I got a part-time job as a masseur. It was fun, and the pay was good. Well, until Twilight forced me to quit." You thought something else happened, right? You sick readers... "What a shame," she said. "Well, I learned how to give good massages. Now, about the Resurrection Program, do I still have to fill in the papers?" "No, under one condition: each Saturday night you must give me a massage." Well that was easy. "I accept. Now, will I end up back in Ponyville?" "No, we have another place in mind, a place where the battles are won with card games." I considered rejecting, given that Zecora had the kid. However, the thought of beginning a new life, somewhere else, making the decisions myself? Also, if I refused, I would have to remain in Hell. Considering all of that, how could I say no? "Under one condition: I want to visit a few mares and a stallion before leaving Equestria." Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville, Equestria March 12th, 2018 Midday Applejack was applebucking as usual, enjoying the peace of solitude. Solitude meant that no one would bother her, and that her job would be done without interruptions. However, a lone tree burned, and Applejack ran to check it. When she got there, she saw a drake dressed in yellow and black robes, his hands on fire, and his face covered by a yellow mask. "We meet again, Applejack," the dragon said, in a distorted voice. "Spike, how did you-" Applejack was quickly interrupted by the drake. "Hellfire was what brought me back. I didn't pray to Faust, and instead, I prayed to the fire in order to burn you all," he said, rage seen in his eyes. "What do you mean?" "When you live a life of misery, dying before achieving anything in life, you feel rage. That rage boiled inside of me, and when I ended up in Hell, I felt the fire creep up on me. That fire was tempting, so I prayed for a miracle. As if on cue, it engulfed me, and I ended up as a demon. "I won't let you as long as I can fight!" "Well then..." He said, warping and delivering several punches. Applejack kicked him once, and he stood still. "Your kicks are only useful for knocking apples off the trees. Due to the amount of strength needed, you do not have stamina, which is your weakness. Instead of improving the technique to knock more apples with less energy, you remained stubborn," he said, before kicking her, which knocked her onto the ground. However, his onslaught continued with a fearsome phrase. "GET OVER HERE!!!" He exclaimed, extending a chain with a bladed tip that connected to her chest, bringing her towards him, only to finish by delivering a strong punch to her back, breaking it as she remained immobile due to the impact. "Spike, why?" She asked, looking up at him. "You and your friends did nothing to help me when I needed it the most, but I'll focus on you. When I asked if I could help you, you said 'no', which lead you to doing more work and getting tired to a terrible degree. You said that I was not up for the job of knocking the apples off the branches, but you underestimated me," he said, as he charged his fist with fire, and then he delivered a punch to a tree, which left a hole in the tree. "No, no Spike..." Applejack said. "Hell, if it weren't for me, you'd be minced meat due to the Timberwolves!" He said, grabbing her by the throat. "I- I'm sorry," the farm pony said, struggling to get air. "Your apology is unacceptable, given that you were dishonest with me, a clear contradiction to your element. Now that you know my pain, I will wrap you in the flames that slowly consumed me as I stood in Hell," he said, removing the mask and engulfing her in green flames. She felt her skin burn away, the wish of dying yet not being able to, as if he burned her slowly so she could agonize as long as possible before she passed away. As she felt her eyes close, her eyes opened once more. She was in her guest room, with Soarin' beside her. She saw the pillar of green flames rise from the cemetery, and she got out of the room, wanting to find out what had caused the pillar to rise.