//------------------------------// // BSL: Power // Story: Another Hatchling // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// "So, how was the trip to collect the Power Bomb data?" Twilight asked curiously. "Rather straightforward," Samus admitted. "Sector 5 hadn't really changed much since we were there last, so it was a straight run to the Data Room to download the data. The only real point of interest was a strange shadow we could see in one of the non-cold rooms, flying about in the background. I didn't recognize it, but something about it was familiar to Spike-" "The Nightmare from Bottleship?" Scootaloo asked curiously. "I mean, if everything here was designed to fight and kill Spike, it makes sense they've got an upgraded version of that." "...note to self, never underestimate ponies," Samus murmured, startling several giggles around the table. "As I was saying, going in was simple. Coming back out, we had to take a detour. Along that path, we...heard the SA-X coming up behind us." "Fortunately, we were able to rush ahead before it caught up, so there was no confrontation that time," Spike hastened to reassure everyone as he saw their nervous expressions. "As we made our way back out, we took a few side trips to pick up a few expansions for Mom's Power Bombs. Since they were going to be quite useful, Mom wanted to be sure to have as many as possible." "And it was rather helpful that Melissa had provided a tweak for Spike's armor programs, so his energy shields could completely filter out the heat damage of the Power Bombs," Samus added. "Although it did take a while for Ghor to translate it for transmission as Federation Data Room file." "That must have been a relief," Twilight spoke up with a pleased smile. She had been worried about that for a while. "It was," Spike agreed. "Especially since it meant I was also immune to the SA-X's Power Bombs." "So what was your next objective?" Rainbow asked curiously. "We had to head back to the ship after that," Samus explained. "Adam had gotten an alert from the ship that didn't make sense, so we went to investigate. I couldn't check remote because...the tech for that interface was part of what was surgically removed while I was infected." "You mean...the SA-X could access your ship?" Luna asked worriedly. "Thankfully, no," Samus countered. "Once I realized I couldn't use the function anymore, I disabled it so it couldn't be used against me." "On our way back, though..." Spike began. Halfway up the main elevator shaft, power cut to the entire station, stopping the elevator there. A quick scan showed Samus that the wall to one side was structurally weak, allowing her to blast a narrow path to get them out of the shaft. This led them into the ventilation ducts in the walls again, through a short path that dropped them into the sub-zero quarantine chamber. Seeing her opportunity, Samus got ready to smash the frozen Ridley...only for it to crumble before her eyes. A red X Core floated away before she could grab hold of it. She considered blasting the wall with a Power Bomb to follow, but she could see the doors were inactive again, leaving no way to actually leave the chamber that way. Since the floor near the Ridley corpse crumbled, she dropped down that path to move on. Noticing Spike did not immediately follow her, she paused to wait for him. When he did eventually arrive, however, he simply pushed past her, a sorrowful frown on his face, plainly not wanting to talk about whatever was bothering him. "I never did get a straight answer about that," Samus murmured softly, turning to Spike. "Though I get the feeling it's something I'd have trouble understanding." "It's just..." Spike began, plainly struggling for words. "Despite how much I'd fought Ridely, how fiercely I'd tried to kill him...it hurt to see him like that, and not in an 'the mighty have fallen' kind of way..." He shook his head. "I couldn't even explain it to myself..." "I can," Ember spoke up. "For a dragon of our world, it's unnatural to hate another dragon. There can be some incredibly fierce rivalries, and some intense squabbles over territory or treasure...but not real hate. As much as you fought Ridley, wanted him dead, hated the things he'd done, wanted to avenge those he'd hurt or killed...you never really hated him, did you Spike?" Spike glanced away, not meeting anyone's eyes. "...no, I didn't," he said finally. "No matter how much I knew I should...and knew he hated me...I just couldn't bring myself to hate him. And..." "And you couldn't help but respect him as a fellow dragon," Ember finished for him. "It's inbuilt into us. No one knows why." She shivered slightly. "Just the idea of seeing a dragon in such a state...I can't imagine how you dealt with it..." Spike turned back to his thoughts and memories, ones he'd shared with no one, and would not share... Spike stared down at the crumbled form of Ridley. To see his foe so reduced was painful, pitiful. He wanted to turn away, not see it...but he could not. Something was forcing him to look closer and examine it. His eyes widened as his senses told him something that was beyond belief. Ridley was still alive! There was no trace of X infection left inside him, as the X Core had used him up and tossed him aside...but some part of him was still clinging to life, struggling to keep moving, keep living...to not die like this. Spike stared down at his longtime foe in such a state. He knew he couldn't turn his back on this and leave him like this. At the same time, to kill him when he was helpless...that would make Spike no better than he. But what other option was left? Something deep in Spike's mind spoke to him...a voice from before his hatching, from another life, memories locked away... "...everyone deserves a second chance..." Sighing, Spike did the only thing he could accept of himself to do. Gathering some of his inner energy, he breathed it out, infusing it into his fallen foe, giving him enough energy to hold flesh and bone together. Turning, he pried the containment door open. With the power off, the Sub-Zero conditions were already failing. Ridley now had a fair chance of survival and escape. More than enough for one as clever as he to survive. Spike would do no more than that. As he saw his foe take a labored breath, he dove down the path of the crumbling floor, giving no more thought to the one he left behind. "...I dealt," Spike answered finally.