SKY-PUNCH Red Dragon Parts 1 + 2 - On Hiatus

"Spike-ah!" you call, looking up at the balcony to Twilight's house.
>You call again, causing some birds to flutter away into the sunrise.
>Ah, it is a beautiful sunrise.
>Perfect day for adventure!
>The balcony door slides open and the curtain is pushed aside.
>It's Twilight, looking tired.
"Good morning! Where is Spike?"
>She rolls her eyes and blinks a few times, "Where is your shirt?"
>You look down, hands on your hips.
"What man wears a shirt on such a lovely summer morning?"
>She turns around and sticks her head back inside.
>You quickly flick on your oversized, point sunglasses, taking a peek at her behind.
>It really does Sparkle in the sunlight!
>And you thought Spike was lying.
>"SPIKE!" she shouts, loud enough to wake the neighbors.
>She waddles inside and you're left tapping your foot into the soft grass again.
>Probably should have worn shoes today.

>Spike drowsily stalks out, yawning as he sees the sun, perking up as he notices you.
>"Hey Anon," he says cheerfully.
"Get down from there, quickly. A whole forest of exploration awaits us."
>"But, I haven't had breakfast or done my chores."
"Chores and food are for the weak! Do you want to be a man or do you want to be weak?"
>Your stomach grumbles.
"Wait, I...I just remembered /not/ eating makes you weak."
>"But Twilight says I can't go out until I  sweep, and sort the books she's used the previous day and-"
"ENOUGH," you turn your back and cross your arms.
"I see you are no man."
>"I-I'm a dragon."
"We've been friend's since a long time ago, but this is where we part."
>"W-wait," you hear him call.
>You grin and begin walking off.
>"Ooof!"
>The sound of claws slapping on cobble become louder and louder.
>In a second he's right next to you.
>Heh, he's almost up to your shoulders now, he's really grown.
>Being 17...maybe 18, you've lost count, you're pretty much all grown-up.
>You wonder if there will be a time when he's taller than you.
>Looking down at him, he looks so nervous.
>That ain't never gonna happen.
>"HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?" Twilight yells.
>You look out of the corner of your eye to see Twilight's giant head poking out from the curtains, rambling senseless commands.
>Spike looks a little nervous.
"Let's get some breakfast," you pat Spike on the head.

>"Anon, where are we going, and what's that in your hand?" Spike asks in his usual curious tone.
>You set one foot up on a rock, looking down at the wonderful ravine you and Spike have found at one edge of the forest.
>Winds whistles through the trees and your hair.
>What a lovely day to be alive.
>What a lovely day to reach for the heavens!
"We are exploring Spike, just like last time."
>"Last time I hit my head on a rock," he mumbles.
"Last time we were a little lost."
>"But what about that thing-"
>You draw the absurdly long sword from its sheath, swinging it cautiously toward Spike.
>His mouth drops in shock, the sun gleaming off the blade.
>You're a little surprised too; it's so clean!
>It's been quite some time since you saw this sword.
>"Why- How did you get that?"
"I found that in my basement, it belonged to my father."
>"Your father?"
"Yes," you get a bit quiet.
>You've never really mentioned him to anyone.
>Feels funny saying, but that's what you actually came out here to do, to vent a little.
>Spike's your friend, and kinda like your brother, who better than him to release a little stress with?
>You've got each other and no one else!
>Twilight doesn't count; she's like a slave master.

>"Did he look like you?"
"Yes, except he wore more clothes. And he frowned way too much. I think."
>"You didn't know him too well?"
"No, he left me here at a long time ago. Before you and Twilight came here."
>"I never met my parents either," he says looking down, "Or any other dragons, ever..."
>There is a few moments of silence, the air heavy with parent-based feelings.
>You hop off the rock and lean in toward him.
"You woulda liked him, his favorite pony was Rarity, just like you."
>He blushes and turns away.
"Ah! It's true, I have evidence finally!"
>"S-shut up. That doesn't mean anything. She's just my friend."
"Lies! I've caught you staring at her staring at her butt dozens of times."
>"Y-yeah well..."
>He turns and faces you, "I know what you did with Pinkie at the Winter Wrap Up party last year."
>You practically teleport next to him, planting your face right next to his, nearly knocking him off the edge of the ravine.
"IT WAS ONE KISS AND ONE POKE-"
>You shut your mouth and gaze down into the wide, sunbathed chasm below.
>Something twinkles.
"What was that?"
>"W-what?" Spike peers out the corner of his eye.
"There, treasure," you yelp, pointing to the shiny.
>Finally, exploring has paid off.
>You jump off the cliff, sheathing your sword as you slid down the cracks and crevices and edges to get to the treasure.
>Catching onto a handhold you look up at Spike, who's shaking, looking down at you.
>That dragon has no ambition, no drive, no spirit!
>And that's why he needs you.
"Hey Spike-ah!" you yell, bits of stone tumbling down past you.
>That's quite a fall...

>"Yeah, bro?"
"Jump!"
>You grin up at him, sunlight flaring on your glasses.
>"W-w-what?"
"Jump down, I'll catch you."
>"I don't know," he looks back, probably toward the forest.
"What's the harm?"
>"I could die," he replies.
"Ah, you won't die. Just try it."
>"I dunno."
"Don't make me climb back up there."
>He squeaks and slides down, recklessly.
>Silly boy.
>You extend your sword just in time to catch him on it.
>"GAH!" he yelps, grabbing the sheath.
"See, perfectly safe."
>His little clawed paw-feet dangle.
>"We're gonna fall, don't worry."
>You yank the sword toward you, catching him.
>And then you slide down the very steep slope all the way down to the bottom.
>By that time your back is a bloody mess and Spike is hyper-ventilating.
>Just as always.
>You are amazed.
>Actually taken aback.
>The twinkling treasure is nothing like you expected.
>It appears to be a giant metal dragon head.
>It's cold, blue eye seems to look right at you.
>The blazing red dragon snout is half submerged in the dirt.
"You know what this is Spike?"
>"A-a dragon?" I'm not going to look like this when I die am I?"
"No, this isn't just a dragon, it's your destiny! Let's dig it up."
>With two claws and a sword the pair of you excavate the thing, cleaning it off best you can.
>The day wears on as the two of you work, fueled by curiosity and boredom.
"Spike-ah! Go and get a tarp or something from Twilight's," you say, looking up at the sky.
>It's gonna rain, and you don't want this junk heap getting rusty.
>He nods furiously and scuttles off.
>As he's halfway toward the slope you call him again.
>"Spike-ah! Get some food down here too, we've been at this all day and my stomach is dying for some hay burgers.

>You are Spike, and you've just had a nice old run in the rain, dragging around a big black tarp and two burgers.
>With fear in your heart you slide down the cliffside and hurry over to Anon, still shirtless and still digging.
"I got the stuff!"
>He huffs and puffs, you can hear his stomach growl from here.
>"Perfect, help me cover this thing.
>It's nearly half-done, the neck and back and one wing all exposed to the rain.
>You're caught off guard for a second; it's so scary and awesome at the same time.
>And according to your bro it's your destiny.
>What could that mean?
>Setting up the cover takes only a few seconds, especially with Anonymous hellbent on getting at those hayburgers next.
>Thankfully there is a small cave like space just a few steps away from the dragon and neither of you have to eat in the rain.

"Hey bro," you ask, stuffed to the brim with food.
>"What's up Spike?"
"Do you think that's a real dragon?"
>"No of course not!" he replies, sitting up.
>He groans and stands, rubbing his flat stomach.
>"Looks like some kind of machine thing."
"A machine?" you ask with awe, looking over at the covered thing, rain pattering on it.

>You and your bro spend the next few days digging out the machine.
>Sneaking out every morning to go with Anon is a little hard, but so worth it.
>You've really been wanting some personal time with your bro.
>And he always seems to be down to talk about whatever.
>Girls, adventure, school, that feel when X.
>"It's done," Anonymous says in a tired voice, wiping some dirt from his head.
>It's been rainy and muddy since you've found the thing, making it a bit easier to dig out.
>You hadn't even noticed being so absorbed in the dig...
>Looking up, the hulking beast lays on its side, huge and metal.
>It's kinda skeletal in a way.
>You lay your claw (hand-things) on the thing; it feels so warm.
"Hey br-"
>"SPIKE-AH!" he jumps up, pointing to the eye.
>It's glowing blue.
"D-did I turn it on?"
>"I told ya," Anon says with a huge smile, "It responded to you."
>He's right.
>It did!

>"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO," you hear off in the distance.
"W-what was that?"
>"Wolves, Timber Wolves."
>Your bro grabs his sword and looks down the ravine.
>The rain starts up again.
>"YES! Perfect conditions for a battle!" he yells.
"Bro what are you doing! We gotta run."
>He glares at you, rain running down his face and his sword.
>He looks like an action hero.
>Those wolves are getting close.
>"A man never backs down from a challenge...or a pack of ravenous wolves."
"I-I'm a dragon!"
>"Well, do you want to be a MAN and a DRAGON?" he asks, raising up his sword.
"Yeah, sure!"
>What does that even mean?
>"Ride that dragon, and help me fight these thing- AH!"
>A timberwolf jumps at him but he whacks it away.
>Then two more come at him, then three more.
>"Quickly Spike-ah!"
>In a flurry of random swings Anonymous bats them away, but they're back in a second.
>You can't let your bro get chewed up like a scooby-snack.
>Desperately you search up and down the metal thing, looking for a hatch or a switch or a something.
>You tap and pull on everything.
>"SPIIIIIIIKKKEEE-AAH!"
>Oh no, Anon's covered in timber wolves.
>One is clamped on his sword, two have got their teeth in his legs, two in his arms and the last one latched onto his head.
>"WHAT ARE YOU DOING STANDING THERE? You've got a robot to pilot, YOU SHOULD GET ON THAT."
"R-right!"
>With your bro depending on you the search continues.
>Where could this special thing be?
>Then it clicks.
>The eye, of course.

>You scramble over the thing and start probing the area.
>Punching the eye causes a massive burst of light.
>Something deep inside whirs, louder than the yells of your bro and the wolves munching combined.
>The mouth of the dragon opens up, razor metal teeth revealing a...seat?
>And are those controls?
>You clamber in, eager to help Anon.
>The teeth shut around you and you squeak in fear.
>It's so dark.
>Oh you're done for.
>This is it.
>You're dead, your bro is dead, everyone is dead.
>Ya didn't even get to kiss Rarity on the lips.
>Or hold her hoof.
>A tear dribbles down your purple face as you grab the controls and prepare for death.
>In that moment of sadness and hopelessness the cockpit lit up with bluish lights, screens and panels and everything coming to life.
>You can see Anon furiously beating away the wolves, but there's too many for him.
>He needs help!
>You try to walk forward, pushing the controls forward.
>The beast whirs and shakes, rumbling and tumbling.
>"THAT'S IT SPIKE! STAND UP!"
>You grunt and try to move forward.
>The entire thing shakes, you feel yourself rise up.
>It's like you're a real huge dragon!
>That must mean you can breath fire.

"Hold on bro, I'll save you!"
>"$HOLD ON BRO, I'LL SAVE YOU$" a loud metallic robo voice yells.
>Did the dragon just say that?
>"Well hurry up, I'm dying out here!"
>You beep-boop-bop as many buttons as possible.
>One of them has got to be "fire breath".
>If you can do it a giant robot can.
>Slamming your clawed hand down on a big red button you're shocked as the display screens flare red for a second.
>You hear Anon cough and coughing; the smoke clears and there he is, standing in piles of soot, sword in hand.
"Bro are you okay? Did I hit you!?"
>"$BRO ARE YOU OKAY? DID I HIT YOU!?"
>You should turn that off.
>"Ya singed me a bit," he says with a cough, falling on his ass into a pile of soot.
>The rain has stopped, and you finally see how bitten up your bro is.
>Letting go of the controls, you look for a way to get out, but the teeth open by themselves, exposing you to the chilly air.
"Bro!" you run over and jump-hug him to the ground on pure accident.
>"I'm fine!" you swats you away.
>"Look," he points at the machine, "What did I tell you?"
>He picks you up and throws you at the machine, "YOUR DESTINY."
"M-my destiny, what do you mean?"
>"With this, with this dragon we can go find more dragons."
>You look back at him, and the crazed look in his eye.
>"Maybe we have find your parents! And maybe we can find mine!"
"What are you saying?"
>"I'm saying we were suppose to find this red robot dragon."
>He clambers up the dragon and sits next to you on its head.
"We were..."

---Part 2 (sorta)---

"SPIKE-AH!" You shout.
>The teen dragon perks up at your call.
>"W-what's up bro?"
"Get your robot ready, we have a challenge!"
>You get your sword ready and start walking toward the valley where Spike's dragon mech was hidden.
>"What do you mean?" He questions, chasing after you.
"I uh...'spoke' with the mayor in private recently, seems there is a major timberwolf threat on the south side of town."
>Spike looks a bit scared.
>"B-bro?"
>You give him a gentle shove.
"Are you nervous? Don't be! We, you, have a giant robot. They're made of wood."
>You point up to the cloud sky for emphasis, tossing up your sword and catching it again.
>"L-last time you got all bitten up though. What if it's worse this time?"
"Don't worry, I've got you watching my back," you rub his spiked head before sliding down short hill.
>The valley is just in sight.

>"...And then I punch the eye to open the cockpit up," Spike explains, hitting his giant red dragon mech.
>Since the two of you found it you've dug it out and stood it straight up.
>It stands at about ten feet, just tall enough to fit in the cave it was buried in.
>The big metal beast is impressive, you're almost a little jealous.
>Maybe there is a big green human mech with your name on it out there somewhere...
"Alright, mount up, Spike-ah! We have wolves to crush!"
>Nervously Spike climbs into the thing, sitting in the only seat.
>As the cockpit closes you climb up on it, hanging onto a tooth from above, rain pattering down on your exposed back.
"Onward!"
>"$Y-yeah bro!$" A loud metallic voice says, sending a tingle down your spine.

>Spike stomps out of the rainy valley and toward the southern border between the everfree and town.
>You hadn't taken it out and about into town yet.
>Surely there would be some good reactions from the mini-ponies.
>This big thing has some sort of megaphone device that re-says everything Spike does.
>It even makes his breathing loud and metallic.
>Based on those shallow, heavy breaths Spike-ah is a little nervous.
"Don't worry young Spike, I have an idea. When we get close, I want you to pick me up and toss me at them?"
>"$W-WHAT?$"
>You keep your mouth shut.

>The pair of you come across a large, open field.
>The rain has given the grass a thin sheen of dew.
>It's quite a beautiful sight, the dark gloomy clouds and shadowy grass.
>Too bad the wonderful sight is being sullied by the ugly mugs of a pack of snarling timber wolves.
"Toss meh!"
>"$A-are you sure?$"
>The wolves have caught sight of the two of you and charge forward, snarling and drooling sap everywhere.
>Despite his worries he puts up his giant clawed hands, grabbing you.
>You get nice and cozy in there, unsheathing your sword.
"Toss me!" You shout, the wolves at about twelve meters.
>"$O-ok Bro!$"
>Hey look at that his teeth light up when he talks---
>AND THEN YOU'RE SUDDENLY FLYING AT THE SPEED OF ANON TOWARD THE WOLVES.
>As quickly as possible you duck into a ball, rain pelting you as you fly.
>You 2-hand the sword and point it downward.
"SECRET ANON-FLYING-DRAGON-THROW RAIN BASED WHIRL-WIND ATTACK!" You yelp, touching down on the forehead of a wolf.
>Having been throw so hard, you're still spinning, and you slice that plant-wolf right in half with your special attack.
>You flip into a defensive stance behind the animals.
>For a second they're shocked at their friend's demise and total rekage.
>"$Don't worry I've got your back, bro!$" Spike yells as he stomps forward, taking a swing at a wolf as he gets close.
>The fragile thing splinters into bits on impact.
>Two hop for you, one gets slashed in half by your 10000 folded blade, but the other latches onto your leg like a horny puppy.
>But your bro Spike is right there to flick him off.
>Only the deadhead is still on your ankle, the teeth sliding out as the mouth relaxes.
>With a blinding flash of fire breath Spike burns down the other two wolves.
"EXCELLENT, SPIKE-AH!"