"So how much did Spike change from drinking the other canister of Phazon?" Pinkie asked.
"Not that much," Samus replied. "His claws and teeth got sharper, his muscles a bit more defined, and he got a bit bigger. Maybe an inch or two. Apparently, his body didn't feel the need to grow any further than that at the time."
"So he has some sort of subconscious control of how much he grew?" Twilight asked, fascinated.
"Had," Spike corrected. "It became conscious by the time we left Tallon IV."
"Why so soon?" Rarity asked, curious.
"Wouldn't have fit in the ship, otherwise," Spike joked.
"Does anyone care about spoilers but me?" Pinkie demanded.
"Verily," Luna agreed. "Can we please cut down on these side talks giving away advanced details?"
Samus chuckled. "Alright. Anyway, after that I took Spike back to the Chozo Ruins area..."
As Samus entered the Chozo Ruins once more, she noticed Spike staring around the place in awe. It took her a few moments to realize why. As much as she'd told him about the Chozo in bedtime stories, the ship and her Power Suit were the only Chozo crafting he'd ever seen, and the ship was technically second hand, as it had been made in a Federation outpost. Now he was witnessing the ruins left behind, and struggling to imagine the splendor of it before it had decayed. She smiled softly, as she didn't have to imagine, and idly wondered what his mind was conjuring for him.
A few burrowing Beetles leapt up to attack them, about twice the size Spike had been before drinking Phazon. Samus readied her arm cannon to fight, but found herself staring as Spike lunged in. Apparently, Phazon was full of energy but not very filling post growth spurts. At least, that's what she interpreted Spike's sudden and vicious mouth-first attack upon them, tearing them to pieces and devouring them.
Samus glanced around at the shocked expressions on the face of every mare present, save Fluttershy. "What?" Samus asked. "What'd you think those fangs were for?"
"Fruit juice?" Fluttershy offered quietly.
Samus wasn't sure if it was meant as a joke or not, but it caused quite a few titters around the table. Smiling, Samus continued the tale.
After Spike had devoured the Beetles, Samus led the way up around to another path. On the way, they encountered some War Wasps. While the spines that they fired were damaging to both of them, they had no more luck penetrating dragon scales than Chozo alloys. It did, however, make him angry, and the Wasps were too big to escape his claws easily.
"Mm, crunchy," he said after he was finished.
Everypony was staring at Spike again. "What?" he asked. "They were!"
"Certain types of insects are treated as delicacies in some of the further flung countries," Luna pointed out. "At least, they were long ago."
"Still are," Celestia admitted. "I've never developed the taste for them, personally."
"Is there anything you didn't eat on your journey?" Rarity asked, a trifle nauseously.
Spike shrugged. "When things try to kill you and you're a growing dragon, the instinctive response is eat them," he explained. "Couldn't stand the taste of Space Pirates, though."
As Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie gagged, Samus continued her story.
As they continued onward, there was a brief problem with a mostly blocked passage. Samus was able to get under it by shifting into Morph Ball, but Spike seemed to be stuck. "Any ideas?" Samus asked.
Spike looked at it for a time. "...I think I've got one," he said softly.
After a time, Spike's spade tail stuck out the end of the passage. "Pull," he said.
Grabbing it, Samus pulled. Spike slipped easily through the passage, as his body was easily able to fit through the narrow passage as long as he didn't move too much.
"Next time," he grumbled, "I'm burning my way through." He snorted angrily, his green fire shooting out, hotter than when he was smaller.
As they moved further, they passed through a chamber where the water in the floor and the fountain had turned to acid from all the toxins the mutated plants were releasing. Curiously, Spike reached towards it, but pulled back as a drop splashed onto him and started to burn. "Ouch!" Spike hissed.
Samus quickly pulled him away. "Did you seriously think you'd be immune to acid?" she demanded.
"...maybe?" he offered lamely.
Samus rolled her eyes. "Be more careful," she instructed.
As they went further, Samus made notes on what Spike enjoyed eating. Shriekbats were a special treat for him, as they were difficult to catch in his mouth without them exploding. If he managed, however, he reveled in the taste, describing it as an especially spicy curry. Reaper vines were more difficult to take a bite out of, but he found them deliciously fruity. He avoided blast caps, however, as he found their explosive spores unpleasant.
Before long, Samus was able to reacquire her Charge Beam. A few Oculus - eyeball shaped creatures in the walls firing laser beams - came after them, but Spike's fist was able to do enough damage to destroy them, as was Samus' charged shots. After that, they left the chamber.
They quickly made their way back to a Communications Port to remotely hook up with the ship.
"Communications Port?" Twilight asked curiously.
"They're remote transceivers that use the ship code I carry with me to lock onto my ship and transmit data back and forth," Samus explained. "It lets me record any collected logbook and map data, as well as access my ship's scanners for clues where to go next. It also replenishes my armor's energy for structural integrity."
"Like a save point?" Pinkie asked eagerly.
"Basically," Spike replied, as Samus hadn't actually played any video games.
"It also helps me in keeping a record of my journeys," Samus replied. "Marking good stopping points. Which is why I'd now like to break for lunch." Reaching up, she disengaged her helmet. "I've adjusted enough to planetary gravity that I can at least remove my helmet, and I'd like to give the food here a try."
"I'll get right on it, sugarcube!" Applejack said happily. "We can have more story time after lunch!" With that, she headed for the kitchen and got to cooking.
Spike is an eating machine!
I'm loving these stories! Keep up the great work! Also the update rate is a nice change from other authors who only update once a month or even year.
6033708 I agree
Which is why i'd now like to break for lunch
1. Forgot to capitalise.
Spike is practically a food vacuum. Wonder if he likes them roasted since he could basically do that anytime?
6033708 hes the reptile version of pacman
Wait, hang on--something just occurred to me. The thing about adjusting to gravity. Is that the reason why in that one ga--sorry, adventure--she became super powerful when the armor got taken off? Y'know, the Justin Bailey thing?
6033794
That's the original game, and that got updated to Zero Mission...
So I honestly have no idea if that applies.
Spike is literally Cho'Gath. With a little Kha'Zix thrown in there. Consume and adapt.
6033767 Exactly
Aaaaand now I think of Team Four Star.
*Space pirates shooting at Spike, his scales deflecting the shots*
Spike: ...Oh, I'm too hungry for this st.
*tries to eat a space pirate*
*One of them tries to run away*
Spike: Bang bang! *grabs the fleeing pirate*
Somehow as I first read the title, I read "Studly". No comment on how I thought it would go. (ᵂᵒᵒᶠ⋅)
Spike's diet in a nutshell
OMNOMNOM
Dat Flutterbat reference.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good work.
The helmets come off! Finally!
Back to the story!
6034454
Cue Dark Spike vs. Dark Jak and possibly Dark Daxter. (:<
EDIT> Also, you just gave me a great idea for a crossover.
6034454 this count?th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/021/9/6/mlp_____more_than_you_can_chew___by_krekka01-d4n7724.png
I kid but is funny
6034592
Will do.
6033708 He's a growing boy
with the way this story is going half expect twilight to go woof when she sees samus
Spike -
Everypony else -
I love how Spike's response to things trying to kill him is to eat them. I can imagine he gets some new powers this way, especially when they reach Metroid Fusion. Hmmm, would the X be able to affect him or not???? And what happens if he eats a Metroid????
6035158
what.... wouldnt a "child"s first reaction to something strange sometimes be eating it?...i ate grass in kindergarten for god sake....
6034779
My reaction to that comment:
6035375 True... I have to wonder if Twilight and Samus will start comparing lists of weird things Spike has eaten.
6034779
That would fit... And be pretty amusing.
6033807 if samus has adjusted enough to take her helmet off does that mean spike can take his off too?
they got to Equestria at the same time, so they should adjust accordingly to one another and if not then spike should adjust faster since this IS his planet of origin after all.
6035783
Spike has further to adjust.
Samus' physiology is completely adapted to the 20g environment of Zebes. Her Power Suit has protected her in all other environments.
Spike, however, is fully adapted to a 40g environment.
I don't entirely understand how someone would need to adjust to a lower gravity environment, like astronauts are just fine in space, to my knowledge, it's just when they come back to earth that they have difficulty... Could you explain this to me?
6037316 they're prolly have too much powwa from that intense 20G sayan training so on a world of 1G weaklings they can flick off a booger and it will accidentally destroy a continent. Skidoosh!
6037316
Remember in DBZ how much stronger the Sayians were when they first arrived on Earth because they grew up on a 10G planet when Earth was only 1G?
Imagine growing up on a 20G planet, but using technology to help you adjust when you enter lower gravity environments so you don't accidentally break things since you haven't learned to control your strength. That's Samus.
Now imagine you entire physiology has adapted to a 40G environment, to the point you need tech to artificially limit your physical capacity so you don't accidentally break a building with a sweep of your tail. That's Spike.
6037365 So basically they have to live in a world of cardboard.
Superman references intensify
6037440
Exactly.
I like it!!!!!
Woo! so far, tis awesome. really sure what else to say.
*Samus removes her helmet*
Everyone but Spike: ....Woof.
Fair enough.
Basically. That's a good integration of the save point function though.
Are you sure this is a Metroid crossover? Because Spike is starting to sound a lot like Kirby.
6598066 Damn it, i'm gonna die at at this rate! Tatsurou makes me laugh enough, and then you go and spring this comment?!
6797629
I aim to please.
*Flash Sentry bursts into the room.*
FS: Twilight! I have crossed the portal to proclaim my love-
*Looks at Samus.*
FS: Woof.
*Twilight slaps him.*
7959085
So true
6047825
Probably more accurate to say, "Every male except Spike: ...woof", but pretty true. Admittedly, Samus outside of her suit is pretty hot. 'Dat Zero Suit does one heck of a job emphasizing her curves without being "risqué", so to speak.
8783778
I was about to comment in the negative; after due consideration, I'd have to agree.
It comes damn close though; the only thing that stops it is the suit supports those areas that skin-tight suits sometimes show.
As to that, it actually shows less than most bikini armor.
Heh, I love how pegasisters always gripe about bikini armor. 'That's not real armor! It doesn't protect anything?! Why is there so little of it?!'
Probably for the same reason that I prefer female avatars when I have a choice.
I'm just saying....
8974458
I am male....
I feel female body armor needs to be more practical and less fetish fuel....
I used to share your opinion....
After some certain videos on YouTube, i no longer do.