If Starlight thought she'd had a difficult time wrapping her head around what everyone said Spike had been through and the otherworldly guests that came back with him, that was nothing compared to when she actually caught sight of him as he winged into the castle, the last rays of the sun glinting on his scales, the new Dragonlord at his side. Starlight had let out a startled "Woof!" and promptly fled to her room in embarrassment, both from her reaction and from the fact that she managed to find every other room in the castle on her way to finding her room, including three accidental returns to the main room where everyone had settled for dinner. Spike had commented that Twilight should get her a map and compass.
Despite having read much of what had happened to him from Spike's own mind via the Scepter, Ember had some difficulty adjusting to the reality of the off world visitors. At first Twilight had been afraid Ember would make a bad impression on the off world visitors, but her warrior mindset allowed her to click quite well with nearly all of them, while Ghor seemed more interested in studying her over interacting with her. He did, however, get the message the third time she gave him a sample of her fire to keep him from trying to get a horn, scale, or claw sample. Oddly, the one she most readily bonded with was Gandrayda, and they spent most of the evening talking together. Spike was quite relieved with this result...until he learned that the primary subject of their discussion was himself. The only real point of contention was between Ember and Anthony, as he refused to explain what he meant when he called her 'Tsundere'.
Around breakfast time the next morning, Starlight met everyone in the main dining hall - which now had enough seating for all the guests, since Twilight had made extra seating the previous night - just as Spike was serving everyone breakfast. When asked, she refused to answer if she'd actually made it to her room the previous night...though she did look somewhat sleep deprived.
As breakfast - Spike's waffles in various varieties tailored to each guest's dietary preference - concluded, Rainbow spoke up eagerly. "So what mission did you go on next?" she asked eagerly. "I mean, I know the end of the last one was a real downer...but the next one had to be better, right?" She glanced hopefully from Samus to Spike. The pair's silence answered Rainbow's inquiry, but even then she tried to be hopeful. "R-right?"
Samus eventually spoke up. "Our next mission took us back to SR388," she began calmly. "Biologic's research team was investigating new life forms discovered there, and Spike and I had been contracted as protection. We...weren't sure what would happen, but nothing could have prepared us for what did..."
Samus and Spike carefully led the scientists through the tunnels of SR388, guiding them through the various pathways they'd once walked. The memories brought back of their last visit were especially painful for Spike, and he'd grown snappy and waspish the deeper they went in. The scientists wisely kept their distance from him.
Before long, a hostile life form moved forward to attack. As it wasn't on Biologic's list of those they still needed to tag for study, Spike didn't hesitate to blast it with his flame breath, roasting the creature. However, instead of dropping for him to consume, the creature morphed, becoming a pair of strange yellow gelatinous...things. Samus and Spike both attempted to shoot the new creatures out of the air as they flew around, but their weaponry passed harmlessly through them, and the organisms seemed to splatter themselves against Samus and Spike before vanishing.
"We didn't know it at the time, but we had been attacked by the X Parasite," Samus explained. "A rather...voracious organism, and incredibly deadly. We didn't know anything about it at the time, but they were the reason the Chozo created the Metroids...specifically to keep the X in check and ensure they never left SR388."
"Seriously?" Twilight gasped out, stunned. "They're so dangerous that the Chozo felt Metroids were a better option?"
"Believe me," Samus replied, "Metroids were a better option by far. If the Chozo hadn't been as pacifistic as they had been when they'd found SR388, the best option would have been blowing up the planet rather than risk the X ever escaping." She stared around at those native to Equestria stared at her, stunned at the very idea of an entire planet being dubbed a threat and destroyed. Nodding, she continued. "And while Spike's metroidal DNA enabled him to absorb and feed on the X as Metroids were designed to do...I was infected. And when it was finally noticed..."
Samus held the controls of her ship lightly in her hands, steering her ship alongside the BSL frigate as they made their way back to the station. She was looking forward to collecting her fee and getting out of there with Spike, heading somewhere they could just relax and let Spike unwind from what had happened on the Bottleship. Maybe they'd go back to Aether and just soar over Agon, or swim in Torvus, or scale the Sanctuary cliffs. Or maybe they'd see if they could find the last Shaman of Bryyo, and see if she had succeeded in her mission with the purging of Phazon. The clouds of Elysia could be good flying as well. Or maybe the Chozo temples of Tallon IV would be relaxing e-
In the middle of her thought, her whole body jerked, the X infection having reached her central nervous system and now attempting to override it. She slumped back into her seat, the ship listing dangerously towards an asteroid belt.
"Mom!" Spike screamed out, terrified. "Mom, what's wrong? Wake up!" He shook her, trying to get her to take control of the ship again, but she didn't respond. Grabbing hold of the controls, he pulled back, barely keeping the ship from crashing into a large asteroid. He then opened the comms. "Come in BSL Frigate! This is Spike Aran. Clear your docking bay for emergency uncontrolled docking, and prepare the medical lab for quarantine! I'm coming in, and Mom's suffering from an unknown contagion!" With that warning given, he got the ship into the docking bay the only way he could, by opening a wormhole there and letting the ship activate its automatic landing protocols. It came out a little dinged and a few bits of equipment got smashed, but overall the damage was minimal.
The med team responded quickly, arriving at the ship immediately under quarantine protocol to give Samus and Spike any medical attention they could, while keeping everyone else safe from whatever had felled the infamous Hunter.
"They didn't have the resources to treat Mom aboard the frigate and knew it," Spike continued as everyone listening for the first time gasped in terror. "So they kept the ship sealed off and transported us to Galactic Federation HQ. During that time...all I could do was watch as the X multiplied, infesting and corrupting both Mom and her suit. With how integrated her suit was with her body, it couldn't be removed while she was unconscious. In an attempt to save her, the Doctors surgically removed the more infected portions of her suit, drastically altering its appearance...but it didn't do any good. They still couldn't risk targeting the X in her central nervous system.
"Then one of the scientists had an idea."
Adam took over from there. "Someone pointed out that there had been no traces of the X when Samus and Spike had been on SR388 to exterminate the Metroids. On the assumption that Metroids fed on the X, the scientist suggested using the last Metroid cell culture taken from...Squishy...on Ceres to formulate a gene therapy for Samus, altering her physiology to become part Metroid, since that had made Spike immune to the X."
"But some questioned if that would have a viable result on Samus," Ghor added. "They said that Spike was unique, in that his genetic code was designed to incorporate new code as he grew. So, as I was there as well...I submitted that they use Spike's DNA as a basis for the gene therapy, bonding the original draconic code from when he first came to Ceres station with the Metroid DNA in the cell culture as the vaccine. The end result was injected into Samus, and everyone hoped for the best."
"It worked," Samus concluded. "The X parasites inside me were immediately and completely wiped out, my system absorbing them. After a time, the two genetic codes finished bonding to mine, and I underwent my own metamorphosis. In addition to the changes to my suit..." She gestured to how different her suit currently was as compared to the images she'd shown previously. "My skin cells had taken on a scale like pattern at the microscopic level, becoming much stronger. At the same time, I gained the ability to extend small blades from my arms, legs, and back as defensive weaponry, mimicking Spike's own." Turning to Rarity, she gestured to the spikes protruding from the arm of her Power Suit. "That's what I meant when I told you they were a part of me."
"Wait!" Ember interrupted. "Are you saying you're part dragon?" she demanded in disbelief.
Samus shrugged. "And part Chozo, human, and Metroid," she added. "What's your point?"
Ember smirked widely. "I guess that makes you one of my subjects, doesn't it?" she asked, raising the Bloodstone Scepter.
"Try that again when your symbol of power isn't bigger than you," Samus countered, startling laughter all around the table.
Much to Twilight's surprise, Ember's smirk didn't waver. She seemed to enjoy the telling rejoinder. As she took her seat again, though, her expression soured. "Where did they take the infected portions of your suit?" she asked worriedly.
Samus nodded. "To the BSL station, along with the samples from SR388. Despite my only recently recovering and still adapting to a new shape and abilities...when I heard that an unexplained explosion rocked the station..."
"We set out for the station immediately," Spike concluded. "While we'd be the only ones going in...we didn't go alone."
Ah shoot. I was hoping that Samus would get the ability to sprout dragon wings.
Or is she able to do that?
At last. Now it's time for Samus to face her greatest fear. Herself. Also, LOVE how you explained the blades on the Fusion Suit.
Well, I guess Samus technically is Spike's mom now. And hello to the best game in the franchise.
And now for the start of my favorite Metroid game.
What? People are allowed to like Fusion. Plot and railroading were annoying, but it was still a lot of fun.
Honestly I was kinda hoping for a Spike-solo mission, but whatev.
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Actually, Fusion is the only game other than Zero Mission that approaches the level that the original and Super Metroid had.
I love Fusion as well; actually, one of the reasons why I keep my DS charged is to play it on occasion.
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internal flame stuff plus those boosters on her back=flight?
FUSION! MY FAVORITE METROID GAME!
I really hope you find a way to way to get a Spike X here. Like, given Spike's so called genetic adaptability, there were some cultures taken into a secret program like the metroids, then the X infected the cultures, and pretty soon a different evolution of immense proportions came to pass, one that was soulless.
EVEN STARLIGHT EVEN STARLIGHT!
That might help seeing as she's obviously got a somewhat poor sense of direction.
Anthony is hilarious.
Not, really. Seeing as the X were an even bigger threat than Phazon seeing as they're not confined to a single planet and the X can get smart and FAST...
So we're getting a Spike-X as well huh?
Let me put it this way. The methods of a fictional tyrant called Frieza when dealing with insurrections often involves blowing planets up. THAT would be a better alternative than letting the X loose on the galaxy.
Dang, I was half hoping for a Spike-X.
Only question is, would it work?
So Samus is part Dragon, part Chozo, part Human, AND part Metroid? Geez, this woman's Genetics are more mixed up than a LEGO construct.
Neato.
I admit to being curious as well.
Only by a quarter. By that logic, she's also the subject of whoever rules the Humans, but it's clear that she ain't.
Guess she enjoys some witty back and forth.
Oh boy...
Oh?
(I really like this fic because it's its own story, it's more than just the various Metroid games + Spike, it's Samus and Spike, it's amazing, you really have a talent for this sort of stuff. Also, I knew I liked Fusion, but I didn't know I shared a popular opinion for once, it's a strange feeling but, as they say, on with the show! Fun times ahead! For us, for Samus and Spike, less so.)
7167068 Though Super is better in my opinion, I will always have a soft spot for Fusion as it was the first Metroid game I ever played. And not too shabby a game on its own merits, either.
I wonder how the whole Adam being the ship's AI thing will change in this timeline?
That feel when you become one hell of a hybrid.
Yep, it's Fusion time. Quite a favourite game for many including myself. I do wonder what will happen at a certain part of game if the others still know what I mean.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
7167316 Do you mean the Adam AI, the hidden meteoroid facility, or something else I hadn't thought of?
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I vote "All of the above". Remember, Spike and Samus didn't leave much of Clone!Riddly for the X to take over, so that is difference #3 for this list.
7167153
I think most of us would agree with you on that.
7167277 She's not part Demon silly. At least not yet. Seeing as how apparently the Ing have somehow survived that could still change. Tatsurou has already added one extra race/species to the list, what's one more?
I'm getting a Zuzushi vibe here.
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More towards the second one. I'm guessing that Spike is going to be able to get much needed therapy from there since he knows and can do something to change that outcome. Knowing his personality so far, I don't doubt he'll fight to his last despite his eyes telling him otherwise.
Gosh it's hard being ambiguous in not giving spoilers. Those steps still creep me out though, adrenaline pumping all the time.
Ahh, there's the 'woof'. Poor Starlight.
Ehh, might as well throw dragon and metroid into the genetic cocktail that is Samus. I too hope for wings, though.
7167065 It's actually more like the other way around . . . which is weird.
7167177 Have it team up with Ridley-X while you're at it!
Fusion's definitely my favorite 2D Metroid game, but my all-time favorite is still Prime 2.
Samus is the most complicated hybrid ever.
7167625 That would require one of her genetic donors to be divine somehow (While the Chozo did ascend, I doubt they'd consider themselved "Divine"), the second to be demonic, and the third to be a "Thing" of unknown/uncomprehending multiversal powers, And while Spike technically counts as a Dragon, his fire hasn't been recorded as being able to destroy space/time (yet...?)... (YAWALEH and its sequel are awesome fics and despite his protests otherwise I still wonder if Third Fang isn't on something when he writes some of the more humorous parts...)
7167153 mine 2... this is gona get sweet... we got past the bohring games I couldn't play... so moe related awesomeness incoming
7168089 i still have those when playing the game...
Well, we can safely say Samus has gone into Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot territory... only so much more awesome since Dragons are involved. Samus's dig at Ember's size compared to the scepter was amusing, can't wait to see more interaction with Ember.
Enough comments on Samus with Dragon Wings to get me searching for possible pics and found these three I wanted to share
Samus as a dragon4
derpicdn.net/img/2015/1/13/805759/large.png
derpicdn.net/img/2013/7/22/380853/full.png
7167020 Maybe with Space Jump reacquired???
Finally caught up.
And right, forgot you made her have those dagger-like things actually physically a part of her. An interesting interpretation, one that I don't particularly subscribe to, but let's see if they come in handy at all.
OH, I wonder if Conway enjoyed what happened on the Bottle Ship
Nice to see you had that reveal planned out ahead of time.
That makes sense
She's also part Mawkin as of the release of Dread.
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Mawkin are a tribe of Chozo, not a separate species.
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Could Grey Voice be part of the Thoha tribe? (Metroid controllers) Grey Voice was the genetic source for Samus's Chozo DNA here. Then, Mawkin Daddy included his DNA as part of the process, as well. So, she became part warrior and part controller, which Quiet Robe-X awakened. Then again, in The Last Adventure, she had already awakened the Metroid and Dragon aspects. So essentially, Dread would be redundant here.