Once the mares finished cooing over the first baby video file, Spike cleared his throat. "Alright, I think that's enough," he scolded. "Can we move on now? At this rate we'll be here all week."
Twilight gasped. "There's that much?" she asked, shocked.
"About 18 years worth," Spike replied. "I'll try to focus on the highlights, but there's a lot to cover, after all." Noticing Twilight's eyes sparkling, he swallowed nervously. "What?"
"18 years worth of extra-planetary knowledge and experience!" Twilight squealed. "There's so much for me to learn!"
As the other mares, giggled, Spike rolled his eyes. "Well, let's keep going. The first major highlight will be when I can start filling you in on what I actually remember." As they all nodded, he pulled up the next entry.
Entry02b
I have no idea what this creature is. It doesn't exist in my database, nor in the creature logs the Chozo provided me with when I first left Zebes. I don't even know what he eats. I only know he's a he because I was able to scan the XY chromosome pair of his genetic code. Thank goodness at least a portion of his genetic structure uses the same basic four enzymes as humans, Chozo, and most of the other sapient species of the Galaxy.
Old Bird, I don't know what you were thinking putting this creature in my care, but the least you could have done is provide some care instructions.
As they read the entry, Twilight chuckled. "I remember how I was the first time I had care of you all by myself," Twilight reminisced. "I was just as panicked, and searching for a book on how to care for a baby dragon."
"How old were you at the time?" Spike asked.
"Eight," Twilight replied. "It was shortly after I got my Cutie Mark."
Spike smiled softly. While normally he would mind interruptions in story telling, each time Twilight brought up a memory of their time together, he remembered those moments afresh. It was the same with when the others talked about their time with him. Their presence and words were unlocking the memories of his prior life. "Mom was 20 at the time," Spike explained.
Twilight's eyes popped. "Twenty and still panicking?" she asked, shocked.
"Oh, panic is a perfectly normal reaction for first time mothers," Fluttershy pointed out.
Chuckling, Spike loaded the next entry up.
Entry02c
I finally figured out what the little guy eats. Right first he refused literally everything I offered him. In desperation, I threw a pair of clip on sapphire earrings and fragments of his own shell at him. The earrings had been a gift from an unwanted admirer, after it got revealed that the most badass bounty hunter to ever fly the solar system was a woman. (The look on the general's faces when I disengaged my power suit to collect my bounty was priceless.)
The little guy immediately tried to dig the sapphires out of their setting with claw and teeth, trying to get one and the piece of his shell into his mouth. While I have no idea why he would eat gems, deep scans indicated his shell fragments had a unique enzyme in them that - when consumed - jump started his digestive tract. As a result, his first meal was a mixture of powdered gemstones and shell fragments. Shortly after, I discovered he could in fact, eat things other than gemstones, which is lucky. Keeping a supply of gems on board - even uncut stones or ore - would be both costly and necessitate a much bigger ship's cabin.
The connected video file played.
Samus sighed as she finally finished powdering the gems and shell fragments. While the gems had been easy enough to reduce to a powder - her ship's part assembler was easily programmed to do it for her - the shell fragments proved more difficult. The ship's systems proved ineffective. Her beam weapons had no effect on the shell. Even missiles and super missiles failed to even scuff the outer shell.
"Whatever race you come from," she muttered at the curious infant, "they knew what they were doing when they evolved this as your egg. But how did you break out?"
Eventually, she discovered that the combination of an ordinary stone pressed against the shell plus a bit of the infant's saliva caused the shell to break down into a powder. As a result, the meal was produced with an ordinary mortar and pestle. And I told Old Bird I'd never have a use for this thing when he insisted I make it and take it with me, she grumbled to herself. Wherever he is now, I'm sure he's chuckling knowingly at me. He did that a lot.
Once the powder mix was prepared, the young reptile eagerly devoured it a spoonful at a time as Samus fed him. She was rather pleased to see that he waited patiently between mouthfuls rather than whining demandingly as most infants did in her experience. "You're quite the well behaved child once your needs are being seen to, huh?" she asked as he sloshed the next mouthful around in his mouth in an imitation of chewing before swallowing. "Never thought I'd come across a species that was instinctively well mannered."
Once the meal was finished, she turned to put the mortar and pestle away, only to hear a wet splut. "What the?"
Turning around, she discovered that the little guy had belly flopped into a small chocolate cake and was proceeding to eat his way out. Groaning, she buried her face in her palm.
Pinkie Pie was laughing uproariously as the video came to an end. "The Cake Twins do that every birthday!" she shrieked in hilarity. "I always wanted to try it!"
"Then we know what we're doing for your next birthday," Rainbow joked through her own chortles.
Fluttershy cooed to herself as she watched Spike's infant mannerisms.
"Instinctively well mannered?" Rarity asked, surprised. "Well, not based on the other dragons we've met. But still, it certainly fits you, Spikey-Wikey."
Spike smiled as he scratched the back of his head. While the nickname was a bit embarrassing for an adult, each time she said it he remembered more of their times together when she called him that. He was beginning to remember why he found himself blushing just to look at her, though the face shield on his armor hid that.
"You did that with me, too!" Twilight added, giggling. "When we threw you your first birthday party, you climbed right out of the high chair and dive bombed into the cake before eating your way out of it! it was so adorable...and so messy!"
Spike smiled widely as the memory of that event came back to him. Waiting for everyone to calm down, he then keyed in the next entry.
Entry02d
Bathing him is quite the chore. Not that he doesn't like it, far from it. But he makes a huge mess.
He seems to exhibit more canine behaviors than anything else. Chewing on things, chasing a ball and catching it in his mouth, enjoying having his belly rubbed...
For lack of any other basis to choose a name, I'm going to call him Spike, since he acts so much like a dog.
A few giggles heralded the beginning of the next video clip.
Samus lifted her hand as another wave of water leapt from the sink in the ship's galley. It wasn't very large, but neither was Spike at this point, and it made an ideal bath for him. Samus herself used the sonic shower when she wanted to get clean - not only was it faster, but it conserved water, which was always a consideration for a single occupancy space ship - but it wasn't rated as safe for any being under 50 pounds. As Spike only weighed 8, she'd have to wait awhile before he could use it.
She hoped she didn't lose too much water from bathing him constantly. Perhaps she could teach him to keep himself clean. Either that, or she'd need to stockpile a lot more water reserves for her ship. But at least he seemed to enjoy it.
The small rubber ball the ship's parts assembly had created as a bath toy to keep Spike entertained bounced off her head, and she caught it in one hand. Spike giggled up at her. Frowning, she threw the ball back at him, and he leapt to catch it in his mouth.
Rolling her eyes, Samus returned to scrubbing the recalcitrant reptile. At least his scales didn't stain easily.
Twilight burst into laughter. "I never thought about it like that...but you did kind of act like a dog before you started talking, Spike! Maybe that's why you turned into a dog when we went through the portal into the human world."
Applejack snorted. "Spike turns into a dog there?" she asked in shock, chuckling.
"Gonna be a pretty big puppy now!" Pinkie pointed out.
Spike groaned as he remembered that. "Talk about embarrassing..." He smirked. "But somehow, I don't think I'll turn into a dog now."
Twilight smirked up at him. "Want to go through and check? The portal still works."
Spike shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"
As Twilight stepped through the portal after Spike, her jaw dropped. He was most definitely not a dog.
Standing before her was a tall, lithe, well muscled, purple and green skinned warrior in white plate armor that covered him only partially, and was backed up by a loincloth. She felt like she was staring at a cross between Tarzan and Conan the Barbarian, to go by the characters she'd seen in this world's fiction.
"Hey Twilight," Sunset called as she walked up. "We weren't expecting you to visit so soon!" Her eyes widened as she caught sight of Twilight's companion. "Is that your coltfriend? Flash is going to be jealous."
"Hey Sunset," Spike said easily, waving.
Sunset's eyes widened further. "S-Spike?" she asked in shock. When Spike nodded, she let out a quiet, "Woof," before fainting dead away.
Twilight promptly facepalmed.
That ending!
woof
Woof is going to become a running joke here in your stories. Cannot wait tell the Princess's show up!
5956228
Space Pirates is straight out of Metroid.
LOL!
DAT ENDING HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Niceeeeeeeee. I like the pace so far and you're doing excellently with Samus' character, though I had absolutely no doubts. I await the Hunter's interaction with the ponies, whenever that happens to come. Don't keep me waiting too long
5956183 lol
5956257
...you'll be waiting until after Prime's been retold, bare minimum.
I am Roflmfao not literally but on the inside
Still waiting on how spike reacts to ridly.
This is going to be a long running, funny joke isn't it?
Spike, muscle bound and awesome walks into the room.
Everymare else?: Woof *dead faint*
I can already imagine how the Princesses would react to seeing the new Spike in a single word: Woof!
I hope there is a scene where Spike has a run in with the bully dragons from Dragon Quest.
5956378 and they'll say "Meow" and run away? ...I'm not saying cats always run away.... but it's the opposite of "Woof".
An enjoyable chapter. Good job.
5956228
It doesn't matter if it sounds cool or not, Space Pirates are the bad guys in Metroid. They are a merciless bunch that loot, plunder and raid ships and planets hence the term "pirate".
Keeps getting better!
I wonder if we can get, Celestia and Luna, in on this!
I can see, Luna, whistling and maybe do so flirting!
5956273 I'm liking it so far but please don't keep the logs going too long. I get that you have 18 years of space travel with Samus to explain but try not to ling too much in that part and try to make the story proceed a bit more outside the logs. Maybe make Zecora find Samus's spaceship or something so that we can have a bit of developing on Samus side. I estimate that normal audience can take about two more log chapters full of raw back story data before they start to get bored so please try to keep that in mind. It's a wonderful series full of imagination, it all depends on how you play it. Keep up the good work.
5956273 Hahaha i meant 'dont keep me waiting' in the sense of next installment, but yeah I figured you'd be retelling all of those adventures. I'm guessing that the last section or even the last chapter of this story is when Samus reveals herself.
5956449
The 'log' entries only cover the time before Spike starts talking...as in the part Spike doesn't have conscious memory of. So one or two more chapters, then Spike starts reciting from memory.
But the entire story is going to be flashbacks interspersed with reactions to flashbacks.
5956459
That was the initial plan...
But now I realize that it wouldn't make sense for Spike to leave his Mom sitting in the ship for a full week of storytelling. And it would make sense for Samus to stay in her power suit to prevent spoilers.
...and I have another way to handle the other part of why I was delaying Samus meeting the ponies. (Hint: It involves Twilight.)
Samus (20) isn't that much older than Ratchet (16).
5956492
Nope.
5956475 ok
As long as Samus doesn't turn into that abomination from Other M (and stays as the kick-ass, awesometastic, space pirate living nightmare) I'll be happy.
Always writing great fics Tatsurou, I'm already back logged on reading all your other stuff that i have to get caught up on. Any chance of different universe characters meeting each other? Like Iron Mare (rainbow dash) and Batmare (rarity)?
I kind of hope you'll involve Equestria Girls at one point or another in one of these stories.
5956599
There is a crossover of crossovers planned, called "My Little Pwny" (derived from pwnage, not RWBY).
You'd think Twilight would feel more concerned or upset she missed 18 years of his life. I mean, all she seems focused on is where he's been and what he knows, not how he feels or what he's been through, even for scientific purposes.
And you'd think Spike would be a little upset that he lost his old life, or that he'd missed Twilight for eighteen years, considering he still knows her.
I just kinda feel like they're ignoring the fact that Twilight sent him away for a comparatively massive part of his life, even if it was by accident. On an emotional level, anyway.
5956693
This is still when he just arrived. They had an emotional reunion before story telling, and right now they're on the 'story high'. Emotional roller coaster will come by the next day.
Besides, Spike's only actually been gone a month...and he's slowly remembering now that he's returned.
Well, he has choxo, dragon, human and Metroid DNA, probably? So that explains it?
You know... I get that you won't include Sunset Shimmer in the canon story. Still, it might interesting for you to include a bonus chapter at the end of your story. Just to see how she and the other human girls from Equestria girls think of Spike's human form.
5957072
The end of that chapter.
Pinkie: Given the behavior of the entire female student body recently - and some of the male student body - I move that the school mascot be changed to a doggy! What do you think?
Celestia: ...woof...
Luna: ...woof...
Pinkie: Hey, I'm the one talking, not Spike! Quit staring at him and hear my proposal!
...and then Discord renames the show "My Little Puppy".
Sunset must be told what has happened to spike and also same goes for the eqg counterparts for the mane 6
Jus imagine the looks on their faces
So this version of Spike can eat meat??? Interesting. But I can see him relegating himself to fish, Fluttershy does feed them to other animals, so that probably won't be as terror inducing. Or he goes to a Gryphon restaurant.
5956378 Oh yes, that would be awesome! He'd kick their scaly butts!
5956475 I hope Samus comes in soon, I do think Twilight should figure out she's out there. Plus, then she can make comments in areas where Spike might be hiding some embarrassing details.
5956319 Spike: LEAVE MY MOMMY ALONE! *Giant flame blast*
Cam you lease give Spike a power canon like his mom's when she leaves? Also, can the beams be the 4 in Metroid Prime (Power, Wave, Ice, and Plasma)?
I agree that Spike wouldn't be able en to use ed the Varia suit, Gravity suit, morph ball, missles, bombs, power bombs, or screw attack
Woof!
5956240
OK.
Also - How do you pronounce Samus?
5957566
The reason he doesn't get an arm cannon is because he doesn't need one.
Let's go over what the arm cannon offers, and what Spike has instead.
Variable beam weapon - dragon breath
Missile systems for kinetic force blasts - giant fists and claws
Grapple Beam - wings
5958120
I have no idea how to type it...but I put the emphasis on the first syllable.
5956752 But for him, it was eighteen years, now on top of what he'd recalled. Even if it is an accident, that long? No resent from Spike, or shame or apology from Twilight? If that's the case, Spike has developed a lot of emotional tenacity and Twilight's pretty much oblivious.
Just feels a bit delayed for me. As if they're ignoring it for now. I mean, you'd think there'd be a little more awkwardness instead of laughter at his second childhood?
Awww. but spike and sunset would make a cute couple. This chapter was great.
5959138
Maybe he could do a displaced Sunset Shimmer in Kingdom Hearts or something and the two could hook up in his "my little Pwny" story
5959154
we should pm tats and suggest it
5958987
You misunderstand. Spike didn't remember anything about Equestria - except the occasional inexplicable dream which left him homesick - until he actually touched down on Equestria. If the Chozo spirits hadn't explained what the dreams meant directly, he might never have come back and never remembered.
And that tearful reunion in the first chapter lasted quite a while, with a lot of apologies thrown in. That's not to say it was the end of such things, merely that they are all choosing to focus on the happy reunion and the story he has to tell for now.
5958586
I was mostly thinking of the Ice Beam because usually; even if supposedly extinct, Metroids end up showing up and the only effective way to destroy them is through ice weapons
5959425
That will actually be addressed in story, but I will say that there is viable reason why Spike doesn't need the ice beam.
Also, in Super Metroid, Metroids could be destroyed either by Ice Beam followed by two missiles, or five missiles or a super missile. So while ice beam helps to stop Metroids, it isn't entirely necessary.
I'm curious about the names. Is there something making sure they keep their names when they get thrown into their new worlds?
Spike!
The Lady's Man!
Very interesting, can't wait to see where it goes. I won't mind Sunset Shimmer coming back.