The Ride of His Life: Kamen Rider Jadefire

“Come along, Spikey-Wikey! We’ve much to do!”

Spike happily trailed along behind Rarity, who abandoning her usual formalwear for a day of hard work, wore a white button-down shirt, a pair of blue skinny jeans, a well-made belt and a blue pearl necklace to tie the outfit together. “I never would have thought Cadence would grant us access to the Crystal Mines just like that! Twilight certainly has a wonderful sister-in-law, don’t you think?”

“Hey, somepony still had to send her letter, and who do you think that was?” Spike grinned and pointed a thumb at his chest. “This gu-UGH!” Spike’s other arm fell to the ground, along with the gem-filled bucket he was holding. “Ah, jeez…forgot I was even carrying that.”

Rarity giggled merrily and continued onward. “There are a few more big finds just down this tunnel here, Spike, and then we’ll head back, all right? And I’ll let you keep a few of them as your reward for such a good job today.”

Spike grinned and licked his lips, staring mesmerized at the bucket of jewels. “Soon, my pretties…soon…”

“WAHAHA! Don’t let yourself get distracted just yet, Spike! I’ve just hit one doozy of a cache!”

Spike shook himself back to reality and rushed after Rarity as fast as his body would carry him, the heavy bucket of gems still restricting a bit of movement. As he arrived behind the fashionista, he set the bucket down and walked up next to her. “All right, where am I dig...ing…”

No digging would be necessary, as the entire hallway before them was filled to the brim with a multitude of colorful crystals. The tunnel extended only a few feet, but that was more than enough to contain even more gems than they’d found thus far. Spike drooled at the sight of such a hoard, and Rarity could barely manage sounds, let alone words. Nothing said, the two turned to each other almost instinctively and high-fived before rushing into the tunnel to collect their yield.

Gathering each and every last gem took no less than ten minutes, and Rarity had headed off to get one of the spare buckets they’d left at the mine entrance. Spike sorted the collected jewels into piles by color and then by size, then proceeded to realize Twilight had rubbed off on him in more ways than one and drew them all into one huge pile. “Ah…so this is what dragons feel like when they have a hoard? It’s…not what I thought it’d be. I still wanna eat ‘em.” He picked up a jade gem that looked particularly different than the rest. It was almost as if it had a dragon engraved into it, but it had to be a trick of the light or some kind of natural shape on it. “...Rarity won’t miss ONE gem, will she?” He looked back and forth just to make sure the fashionista wasn’t returning any time soon. “…Bottoms up!”

Spike opened his jaws and crunched down on the gem, only to have his gums practically explode in pain. He dropped the jewel and clamped his mouth, groaning and falling to his knees. “SON OF A…what in Tartarus is that thing made…huh?”

The jewel suddenly flashed brightly, emitting a beam of light that rose up and descended back down on Spike. The glow engulfed him entirely, wrapping around his body, spiraling across his arms, legs and chest as if it were examining him. A few seconds passed and the light focused into a ring around his waist. The gem floated off the ground, moving on its own will, and seemed to attach itself to the belt-like circle. Another bright flash filled the cave as a green flame reminiscent of Spike’s own dragon fire wrapped around the young drake’s body, burning neither him nor his clothing. “Whoa…what’s going on here?” The flames settled and began shaping into what Spike could perceive as armor. It fit so perfectly around his body, like it was meant to be. The mysterious armor he would eventually familiarize himself with took its shape and the flames died. He quickly looked at his arms, legs and then his reflection in a nearby crystal on the wall of the cave. “What…the…”

“You have been chosen, Spike.”

“W-what the?!” Spike’s eyes darted throughout the cave. “Who’s there?”

“You will not find me in a physical form, young drake, for I am long gone from your world. All that remains of me lies within the gem in your belt.”

“The gem in my…” He looked down to see that the belt, too, had taken on a form more than just a simple ring of light. The gem was socketed in a dragon’s maw at the front of the belt, and the rest of it resembled green dragon scales. “What is this? What was I chosen for?”

“You have been chosen to become a Kamen Rider, a masked hero who protects those they care about by using amazing powers granted to them by their Drivers, which is what that belt is.”

“But…why me? Why am I getting this awesome power?”

“You found the Dracogem containing my soul…the soul of the Ancient Dragon of Fire, Jade.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “You’re…Jade? The legendary dragon of green fire? I’m directly related to…you…”

“You seem to have figured it out, young drake. But there is more to it. All beings on this world are rooted to the Ancient Dragons.”

“ALL beings? Even ponies?”

“How do you think some ponies have wings? Zephyr, Dragon of Winds. Magic? Cascade, Dragon of Water. And a deep connection to the earth and soil? Terra, Dragon of Earth.”

“So that means…” Spike grinned excitedly. “There are three others like me that are gonna get these powers?”

“Correct…but in time. You must allow the other Ancient Dragons to find their chosen descendants. And be wary, for some of we Ancients were not the type to bestow gifts expecting nothing in return. There were dark dragons who sought partnership…vile and cruel ones with the power to manipulate any being willing to listen to their words.”

Spike swallowed hard, unnerved by the fact that there could be evil ponies out there just waiting to get their greedy mitts on this power. “So…how exactly do I activate this power on my own? Do I just…think, and the armor shows up?”

“You must speak a phrase that all Kamen Riders have throughout time and space to transform…that phrase is ‘Henshin’. And to dismiss your power, then you simply think it away.”

Spike nodded. “Okay…this is all pretty overwhelming…wait, one more thing! Can I tell anypony about this?”

“It would be wise not to, but if you feel there is a pony you can trust with your secret, that is the one you tell.” The flames around the belt returned and flickered slightly. “I must be leaving now…I do not have much power left in this gem. Everything I am, I relinquish to you…good luck, Spike. Keep this home of yours safe…”

Even though he couldn’t sense Jade’s presence to begin with, once he uttered that final sentence, Spike knew he was alone again, still bearing the guise of a Kamen Rider. “Somepony I trust…it has to be Twilight. She’s the only one I would ever trust to keep my secret.” With a focused thought, the jewel detached from the belt and the armor fizzled in an ash-like manner. He pocketed the gem and returned to the pile of jewels, sitting and waiting for Rarity to return. He chuckled a bit, thinking to the past for just a moment. “Even if she did blow the first secret I trusted her with.”

“These are certainly no gems I’ve ever seen before…it’s almost as if they’re…alive…”

Cadence looked over the huge cache of jewels that Rarity and Spike had discovered. The crystal princess, who wore a pink and white dress, examined one up close, holding it just out of reach with her magic. “They have such power in them…and they all have this strange shape of a dragon on them. What do you make of this, Twilight?”

“It’s definitely old magic,” Twilight commented, the young magician dressed in her usual casual clothes, plus a lab coat and goggles. “Possibly dating back before the founding of Equestria…possibly even before ponies were even around!”

Rarity gasped. “How would we even know if such a thing were possible, darling?”

“There are some old draconic texts scribed by the ancient dragons that existed eons ago. Celestia has ordered them not to be touched unless severe circumstances occur…and I have to say these strange jewels would definitely qualify. I’ll see if she’ll let me take a look at a few of them. Spike, I’ll need you to come with me.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re a dragon, silly. And I know you’ve been studying up on your old draconic ever since you got back from the migration last year. I’ll need your help to go through the books.”

Spike shrugged. “Why are you talking like Celestia’s already letting you in?”

Twilight grinned. “Because I’m her personal student, and a princess like her! She couldn’t possibly say no!”

“I’m sorry, Twilight, but no.”

Twilight stared, mouth agape. “W-what?”

“Told ya.” Spike grinned slyly at Twilight.

The princess descended down the stairs from her thrown, her pure white dress and long, prismatic hair flowing behind her. “I’m sorry, my faithful student, but those archives are forbidden for a reason. Ancient dragon magic is dangerous. Not even Discord dares touch it.”

“And that is certainly saying something.” Discord flashed into existence with his mismatched outfit, clawed griffin gauntlet and bat-griffin wings. “It’s not that it scares me or anything. That would be absolutely ridiculous. But the power contained in those tomes could potentially destroy ME, and I’M a living wrecking ball! What does that tell you?”

“Do you understand, Twilight?” Twilight turned her attention to her teacher. “It’s not that I don’t want you learning more to help the situation…it’s that I don’t want you getting hurt. It’s for your own protection.”

“And believe me…” Discord whipped his claw through the air and summoned a glass of violet-colored wine. “If I didn’t feel my own life would be in jeopardy, I would certainly volunteer as a bodyguard.”

“Discord!” Celestia grabbed the glass from his hand. “Is this from my personal vault? This is for special occasions only!”

With another wave of his clawed hand, the glass returned to it, catching Celestia off guard. “Oh, Celestia, always with the boring rules…you know I can’t possibly follow any form of order around here. It isn’t how chaos...hmm?” Discord suddenly glanced at Spike, immediately noticing the belt he wore. For the first time in his life, he appeared legitimately surprised by something. “Um…excuse us for just a moment.” Discord quickly snapped his fingers, teleporting himself and Celestia all the way across the room, barely visible behind Celestia’s throne.

“Discord, what is the meaning of-“

The draconequus covered Celestia’s mouth with his hand. “Celly…did you see what Spike is wearing around his waist? Look closely.”

“What have I asked you about calling me...?” Celestia looked around the throne’s corner and gasped. “It…can’t be.”

“It is…he found Jade’s jewel. And that means he’s-“

“Chosen,” Celestia finished, keeping her voice to a whisper. “Then…we really don’t have a choice. We have to allow them to access the Ancient Archives.”

The two nodded silently and stepped back out. “Twilight…Discord has managed to change my mind. He has convinced me that you and Spike together are more than capable of protecting yourselves.” Celestia reached into a pocket on Discord’s vest and pulled out a brass key. “This is your way into the Ancient Archives. Twilight, you know exactly where it is. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

Celestia handed the key to Twilight, who smiled brightly and nodded. “I promise, Princess Celestia. Spike and I will watch our backs.” She looked over to Spike and her expression turned to one of determination. “Let’s move out, Spike.”

The two rushed out of the throne room and Celestia sighed with a hint of nervousness. Discord placed his arm around her shoulder. “Now, now, Celly, no need to get so worried. They’ll be fine.”

“I hope you’re right…since Spike is the first chosen, we had to do this now…” Celestia glanced at the floor. “If we let Onyx rest until all four Riders were chosen, he would be at full power. It’s best that Spike learns what he’s up against early.”

“Now…before I head back to my poker game with the griffins, I have to know…when you discovered I’d hidden the key in my vest pocket.”
Celestia smirked at the chaos spirit. “You think you’re the only one who gets something out of those snog sessions?”

As Celestia walked away, for the first time in his life, Discord’s face turned beet red.

Twilight turned the key and pushed the old creaky door to the Ancient Archives open. As she and Spike entered, they allowed the door to shut behind them. With a quick wave of her hand, Twilight called forth a beacon of light that followed them with every step, giving as much a look ahead of them as they needed. “This place is incredible…” Twilight could barely hold herself together, as the walls were lined with books so old that touching them would probably cause them to disintegrate. Some books seemed slightly newer, but none so new that they would be in good enough condition to read. “There has to be something here that we could use…something that isn’t so damaged…something like-“

“Like that?” Spike pointed further ahead, dread in his tone as he spoke. Before them, encased in glass on a pedestal was a single tome that seemed to pulse with shadows every so often. The book itself was made of gold and covered in gemstones. The pages themselves were inky black, as if to keep prying eyes from their secrets. Both Twilight and Spike audibly gulped as they stepped closer to it. “Wait…why are we actually doing this? That thing is definitely evil…”

“I…I don’t know why we’re doing this…it just feels…like we should…doesn’t it?”

“Not…exactly…at least, not to me…why, do you feel like you HAVE to read that book?”

Twilight thought for a moment, then nodded shakily. “It’s almost as if…the book itself wants me to read it.”

“Then I really don’t think we should be-“

SHING!

Suddenly, the gem in Spike’s pocket flashed, causing the darkness in the book before them to surge violently. The glass cracked as the magic pressure it tried so desperately to contain began to whittle away at it until it shattered into a million shards. The book’s darkness exploded throughout the room, dispelling Twilight’s light source with great ease. The shadows swirled around the archive, dissolving the remaining books with their absorbing touch. As the last of the shelves was emptied, the darkness focused itself before Twilight and Spike, taking the form of an armored man. The armor took the form of vicious, jagged scales across all parts of his body and took on black and red coloration. The helm shaped into a fanged maw, similar to Spike’s newly-discovered armor. Twilight and Spike regained their vision in time to see the mysterious figure now standing before them. The librarian mage became paralyzed by fear, unable to even speak. Spike blinked twice and rubbed his eyes to make sure what he saw was real.

“You…are a chosen one?” The figure scoffed. “That is laughable, indeed.”

“Who are you? One of the evil Ancient Dragons that Jade mentioned?”

The Dark Rider nodded. “Good to know you are at least paying attention, unlike the last set of Riders who didn’t even see me coming. I am called Onyx, Ancient Dragon of Darkness.”

“So, are you going to have some chosen Rider too?” Spike pulled out his gem. “Because I’ll just stop you before you even get the chance to find one.”

Onyx literally roared with laughter, and his dark energy surged out once again. “You are an amusing one indeed, whelpling. Tell me…did Jade even tell you how to call his power?”

“Of course he did! Don’t talk to me like I’m some kind of child!” Spike held the gem high into the air. “HENSHIN!”

The armor shifted and took shape around Spike, giving Onyx a bit of a shockwave of energy. As the power of the gem settled, the dark dragon grinned behind his helmet. “Well…at least you resemble the last Rider in spirit…but you do not nearly have as much technique as the previous wielder of the Jade Dracogem did. So, for now, I will let you go peacefully.”

“What?!” Spike charged forward and swung wildly at Onyx, who dodged his forceless blows with ease and knocked the drake off his feet and onto his back with a simple sweep of his leg.

“Pathetic, boy…you have Jade’s power, but no knowledge of how to properly wield it. I’ll allow you to live, only because I know you couldn’t possibly defeat me…and I will send my jeweled beasts to seek out the remaining champions strewn across the world you filthy ponies have stolen from us…and destroy them, one by one. Farewell, Spike. We will not meet again.” Onyx shifted his entire body into darkness and glided across the ground out of the room, then out the open window into the world. Spike staggered to his feet as the transformation faded from him, and only one thought came to his mind.

“Twilight! Are you okay?” Spike rushed over to his adoptive sister, who still sat unmistakably confused. “Uh…Twilight?”

“Spike…did you plan on telling me you could do that?”

Embarrassed, Spike nodded slowly. “Actually, you’re the only one I could tell. I can’t trust anypony else.”

After a few more seconds of soaking in a basic understanding of what was going on, she nodded. “Okay, then. We’re going to have to help you figure out how those ‘powers’ Onyx was talking about.”

Spike chuckled dryly. “Wow, Twilight…you went from dazed and confused right back to your obsessive-compulsive self. I don’t know if that’s impressive…or scary, considering what just happened.”

Twilight shook her head. “That doesn’t matter right now … Discord and the princess have a lot of explaining to do.”