"So how did exploring the Sanctuary Fortress go?" Twilight asked eagerly. "From the way you described it, it sounds just fascinating!" She rubbed her forehooves together in delight.
Samus managed a chuckle. "Hope you're not expecting too much in the way of technical descriptions, Twilight," she stated. "Most of what I learned about Luminoth technology on Aether was how to break it when it's trying to kill me."
"Same here," Spike added, wincing at Twilight's disappointed expression. "Sorry."
"So let's hear about the explosions, then!" Pinkie called out eagerly.
"Not many of those at first either," Samus pointed out. "Our first stop after the Temple was the Spider Guardian, which I had to fight alone in Morph Ball tunnels. Thankfully, it was relatively easy, and the Spider Ball is always useful."
"And you came back with a Sky Temple Key this time," Spike pointed out. "Bringing our total of them to five. One from Agon, one from there, and three from the central area."
"After that, we continued to explore the Fortress, taking paths we couldn't before," Samus explained. "Thankfully, Spike was able to find a few ways to get around the narrow tunnel paths I had to take."
"Though that really came to a head when we made our way to where sensors showed a Phazon concentration," Spike explained. "As it turned out...someone we'd fought before wasn't quite dead..."
As Spike and Samus entered a passageway, they saw Dark Samus blast a group of Dark Pirates to bits before lunging towards several canisters of Phazon, draining energy out of them. Spike, hungry and angry at the sight of food being taken from him, smashed the glass between them before forcing his way through. Samus wasn't sure whether she or Dark Samus was more surprised at how much rage and hunger could amplify Spike's physical strength, as the glass had taken Dark Samus' Phazon shot barrage without a scratch, and scans had shown even Power Bombs wouldn't have broken it in its former condition.
Dark Samus withdrew quickly, but there wasn't much Phazon left for Spike to eat. In a rage, Spike pursued, with Samus following along close behind, using Morph Ball to get through the hole Spike had opened up.
When Samus caught up, it was just in time to see Spike smack Dark Samus aside with his tail to get at the Phazon it had been drawing off of the wall, before he began to eat eagerly. In retaliation, Dark Samus smashed a control panel, raising walls to cut Spike off from the Phazon while also activating the massive elevator platform they were all on. Spike snarled in rage as he lunged after Dark Samus.
While Dark Samus had a great deal more to its arsenal this time, the fight actually proved easier than last time. Not only was the smaller environment - with pillars Dark Samus couldn't smash through - harder for it to maneuver and easier for Spike and Samus to maneuver in, the lessons they learned with the Grenchlers proved useful, as they each took turns attacking from opposite sides. Samus focused on locking on and using Super Missiles, while Spike stuck to melee attacks with claws, fists, tail, and fangs. As every punch, slash, swipe, or bite hit with the force of a super missile given his rage, this proved very effective, especially as Spike was able to take Dark Samus' dodging into account with follow up strikes.
Once they reached the top of the elevator, Dark Samus had a slightly larger area to work with, and started using a Phazon charged Boost Ball function to try and smash into them both. While Samus was able to dodge easily, Spike grabbed Dark Samus in both claws, trapping it in ball form, before proceeding to smash it into the ground repeatedly, blast it with flames, smack it repeatedly with his tail, tear into it with his teeth, slam it into the walls a few times, and then smash it repeatedly against the outside energy fields until they broke and then hurled it out into the distance.
Seeing Dark Samus dissolve into Phazon, Samus wasn't sure if it had taken enough damage to need to repair elsewhere, or if it had just decided to try again when Spike wasn't hungry.
Spike was rather surprised when a massive pile of food appeared in front of him in a flash of white, purple, blue, and gold. "Umm...what?" he asked.
"It's all your favorites," Twilight spoke up. "At least, they were your favorites..."
"And quite a few treats from the royal kitchens," Celestia added.
"And some of the cider that's been aging in our cellars," Luna pointed out, indicating the barrel.
"We just don't want you going hungry in the middle of the story," Discord concluded, pulling at his neck and whistling innocently.
Samus couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry. Spike's got much better self control now. Just don't try to take his food while he's eating."
Rainbow quickly jerked her hoof away from the barrel of cider, turning away and whistling innocently.
This time it was Spike's turn to laugh. "Girls, this pile's bigger than I am! No way I can eat all of it. Come on and take a share."
Since it had been a while since the last meal for everyone, they all happily took up his offer.
As they all ate, Samus continued telling what had happened. "After that, we were both able to get to Dark Aether. Spike took the time to do an overfly to map out the outside and grab anything useful."
"I found a Sky Temple Key, several upgrades, and two Hive Keys," Spike explained. "One of them would have been unreachable for me, since it was on a platform completely contained by a forcefield, but I discovered the platform itself was vulnerable to a combination of focused flames and punching...especially since I was still hungry." His statement brought several chuckles.
"As for the rest..." Samus began. "That can wait until tomorrow. Looks like the sun and moon are actually following their proper schedules this time." This brought a rueful sigh from Celestia and a raspberry from Luna. "For now, let's eat."
"And drink?" Rainbow asked hopefully, gazing eagerly at the barrel.
Smirking, Spike cracked the barrel open and grabbed several mugs, to cheers from several members of the audience.
Never take a carnivore's food while he's eating, unless you're bigger than said carnivore.
A proper feast for Twilight and friends dragon assistant. Also, I think Discord was the smoothest in hiding his contribution.
You know, sometimes I get the feeling that Rainbow Dash might have been an alcoholic if the Apples didn't only sell once a year. This chapter only served to further solidify that thought in my mind.
Am I the only one? Does anyone else notice that trait about RD?
6421721 I agree.
pre07.deviantart.net/b46f/th/pre/i/2011/347/e/5/the_incredible_spike_by_hermanpriest-d4j0nio.jpg
6421721 in my headcanon, she's a borderline alcoholic.
6421721
You're assuming cider is alcoholic.
I'm just like Rainbow with chocolate milk. Or Martinelli's sparkling apple cider.
6421728
I seem to remember it stating somewhere that the cider they sold in that episode is the non-alcoholic kind. Hello, it is a kid's show; they gotta keep it as G as they can.
And in the one with the Cider Squeezy 6000, you could seethat they weren't bothering to age the cider. Nor did they add any yeast, though I'm not sure if apple cider usesyeast for fermentation.
I know they don't for wine, as there's already a natural yeast that grows on the grapes themselves that gets used.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
Ever the cider enthusiast, that Rainbow Dash. Can't say I blame her
img2.timeinc.net/health/images/slides/hot-apple-cider-400x400.jpg
This stuff is my drug come fall.
Wait... Today is 9/13. Cider comes out in the fall, starting in October...
iambrony.steeph.tp-radio.de/mlp/gif/it_begins_by_klystron2010-d5kn7s1.gif
I take it that the rage issue will come to a head next mission?
Samus: Spike eat a snickers.
Spike: What for? *takes snickers*
Samus: You're not you when you're hungery.
Spike: *takes bite*
Samus: Better?
Spike: Better.
6421774 except that the cider in the episode posessed a head of foam, indicating alcohol content, thus the more mature portion of the fandom debates the point heavily. Hasbro may have stated that the cider was nonalcoholic, but that doesn't stop speculation.
My personal head canon? The stuff they sell to the public during Cider Season is nonalcoholic, and something in the process of making it causes it to foam, because "Magic"...
At this end of the episode though? When they're all shairing a mug after a hard days work? I say AJ broke out the "Apple Special Reserve". They're all adults after all, and I've seen worse things than good natured social drinking in a supposed "Kids Show" before.
6421768 for me I'm like that when there is Root Beer
6422159 Spring Grove soda... If only their Root Beer wasn't carbonated enough to get foam on the ceiling if you're not careful (I wish I was joking... I once opened a bottle of that stuff, no fizz at all, went to take a drink and the moment it touched my lips all the carbonation desided to come out all at once. I got soda up my nose, on the wall (opposite of where the bottle was pointing), and on the ceiling.)...
6422142 Spring Grove Root Beer is non-alcoholic and the foam from that sticks around for quite a while.
6421909 My family's already consumed two gallons of the stuff. No preservatives as it's locally grown and made. Plus the flavor is slightly different every year (and every so often within the year) due to different combination of apple types.
That shit's the BEST!!!
Nice chapter, especially the princesses and Discord giving Spike a huge pile of food.
6421680 My coworkers at work know better than to try to take my food, especially when I'm eating leftover steak and have a knife and fork in my hand. My standing warning is "Take my food I take a bite out of you!"
6421721 Yeah, unless the Cider isn't alcoholic, ie Martinelli's Sparkling Cider. In my head canon, they have hard and soft cider.
6422269 Lucky bastard. I live just outside of KC. No apple orchards anywhere nearby.
6422292 Southern Minnesota! We're SURROUNDED by apple orchards!
Only problem: Apples are the ONLY local food around here...
6422126
What I which I culd fave comments.
6422263 foam in root bear is caused from a combination of carbonation (not all root beers are carbonated) and/or chemical reactions caused by specific kinds of Herbs and herbal root extracts extracts added during the brewing process (quick Google search to the rescue!). I may still be missing something, and I'd like this to not escalate into a full on debate please, but I'm still sticking to my stated head canon of "because magic" and there being two types of cider produced by Sweet Apple Acres.
6422269 about an hour east of kc there is an orchard and the local pumpkin patches tend to have cider
Spider Guardian? EASY?! No. Just no. Its the only boss I had real trouble with honestly. The Emperor was easier IMO. Still, Spike seems a bit overpowered in that elevator battle. I get that he is REALLY pissed off, which makes sense. But shouldn't that level of pure rage cause SOME drawbacks? You did mention earlier in the story there was going to be some issues for Spike, but so far there hasn't been any drawbacks at all. Or did I miss where he managed to purge himself of potential corruption?
6422580
The rage here, though the characters aren't aware of it, is a symptom of said corruption, and won't fully manifest until after the Hive.
Heh.
Pinkie is best Michael Bay.
Dark Samus?
Never steal from a hungry predator. It won't end well.
I so wish this were an actual game.
Ouch.
Wise move.
Relax, I'm sure he can control himself.
This amuses me as well.
You're a good dragon, Spike.
Smart.
Heh.
You are immensely amusing.
That'd be a yes.
6422126
You win the Internet.
All I could think of was Megas XLR when Spike went Rage Mode on Dark Samus. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video on Youtube that was an appropriate smashing scene without a bunch of other stuff in front, or I'd link it.
And now I'm imagining Spike doing one of Coop's rolls before going into Rage Mode next time...
Food, glorious food.
We're anxious to try it.
6421680
Unless you are a honey badger, in which case, you don't give a fk.
6422422 I was giving you a counter for the "except that the cider in the episode possessed a head of foam, indicating alcohol content" bit...
6424360 and my counter to that was the information on the Herbs and extracts. They're the reason non-alcoholic root beer foams, hence my request this not turn into a full debate. The inclusion of those herbs in the first place is due to one of the original ingredients for Root Beer formulas turning out to be carcinogenic (I forget what it's called and don't feel like exercising my google-fu this time), and that this ingredient is what essentially made it "Root Beer" to begin with, so the application is invalid insomuch as Cider is concerned, as its inclusion would have basically made it "Apple Flavored Root Beer".
Now let's please stop this...?
6425021 I originally didn't intend for an argument. I was saying that foam does not an alcoholic beverage make, and you where basically saying the same thing.
Now, let us all marvel at Spike's suit! *Stares intently at it*
You did that on purpose, didn't you.
Oh dear.. I wonder if he was like this before? Hell even Discord was a little nervous.
Spike showing food aggression actually makes quite a lot of sense. From show canon that dragon sleep a lot, or "nap", perhaps a form of hibernation. Sleeping for 100 years as an example, given their main food source is gems, I doubt they would expire, or have a best before/use by date. The amount of other food types Spike is eating could be a subsitute for his lack of gems?
Ughhhh. that one morph ball puzzle in the Fortress that was a battery column was IMPOSSIBLE to solve
OK, I'm goin to bed.
Uh, yikes. Don't get between a hungry dragon and food.
6672652 I thought that was common sense?
6423121
Alright you dark, clone wannabe!
You exposed me to a toxic atmosphere,
tried to kill me and my mom,
and worst of all...took all my FOOD!!!
You want more Phazon?!?! I'm happy to oblige!!
7229715
That last line of yours actually kinda reminds me of how Godzilla killed the female MUTO in Godzilla 2014.
Godzilla: You like Radiation? EAT UP BITCH! *Proceeds to breath atomic fire down the female MUTO's gullet, pretty much decapitating her from the INSIDE!*
And now I can see Spike's "Rage Beatdown" looking like a mix of said Godzilla scene, and Hulk swinging around Loki like a ragdoll and calling him a Puny God in Avengers.
You'd think Applejack would reserve some friendship cider. Sisters before customers and such.
BRUTALITY!!!!!
My reaction to dark samus getting trounced by a hungry spike was thinking of Loki getting smashed into the ground by the hulk in the avengers movie.
8987762
Spike: *watches Dark Samus vanish and huffs as he turns to walk away* Puny fake.
Samus:
Dark Samus: *Incoherent speech noises*
Spike: And I took that personally.
Also Spike: