General Mishaps

Spike was rolling in his soon-to-be grave. He expected there to be some bumps in the road but to hit a huge one as early as the first few seconds really didn't bode well for the tone of this adventure. Time seemed to have slowed down significantly and not because he was stressed out, time really was going slower, people moved at 1/10 of their normal speed. What the hell was happening? 'What the?'

"Don't freak out, I just activated our emergency 'think room' ability. As long as you are not stressed out we can talk here and strategize." Another thing Spike found insane but whatever, now was not the time for that at all.

'Okay, now before you say anything, I know I messed up but let's not waste any time and just say I'm an idiot.'

Nova gave a slight pause. "Alright, you're an idiot but the fault is also mine, I expected you to just suddenly adapt to your surroundings but I keep seeing you as the General so I forgot to warn you. For that, I apologize." In the very least Spike felt a mutual feeling of understanding grow over them. "Now to give you the short rep of these two, now listen closely." A flood of info entered the dragon's brain. Images of the two appearing to win various competitions and battles passed by his eye. Some of the images showed the two in some very vibrant-looking armor covered in burns and scratches.

"Sora and Shiro are what many call the Lord of Game or the 'Game General'. When apart the two are strong and can hold their own against many situations but when they work as one they become 'Blank'. Now I do not exaggerate when I say Blank never EVER loses. But they can draw when the conditions are correct. Sora is a master of manipulation and can read emotions like a children's book. Shiro's expertise is in calculations and deep logic analysis, despite her size and looks she is not to be underestimated.

Spike absorbed this information and already began thinking of ways to get through this still one thing stood in his mind. 'Why games anyways?'

"It is a long complicated story but the short of it is their upbringing, they follow their own creed of rules. The General has tried time and time again to defeat these two in games and while he has come close to beating one alone he always fails when they come together. Know that they will willingly cheat if they know they will not be caught and if you or them are caught cheating during the game then the cheating party loses."

'Alright, how do we beat them then?' Being forced to stare at their fiery eyes was making Spike feel uncomfortable.

"Pay attention, you can not beat them. no matter how hard you try. But as the challenged you choose the game."

'Well, what's the point of playing if we know we will lose?'

"For the challenge Spike, the General loves a good challenge, and even if he loses against them every time he finds it a great training session for future battles."

'Alright I get it but if I can choose the game then can't I just pick something he can't win like arm wrestling, I mean surely I'm stronger than them." He could feel Nova writhe in annoyance. 'What?'

"That would not be very sporting of the General to choose a game he has full advantage of and besides, the General could win with his mountain-moving strength but you on the other hand cannot even with this armor set."

'No kidding? How strong is this guy? Never mind, questions for later. What should I play then?'

"Give me a minute to decide. Just try to talk to them for now." Then time went back to its normal pace.

"Hey, General." Spike snapped back to attention to Sora. "You blanked out for a second, talking to one of those A.I.s in your head again?"

'He knew!?' Spike was beyond intimidated but kept on a poker face as the helmet dematerialized. "Sorry I was just thinking about what game we should play." Spike mentally slapped himself. 'Dammit, you're supposed to stall for time!'

Sora smirked. "Yeah, I guess it might be hard to choose since you lost the last five hundred thousand and thirty-seven unique games we played."

'THAT MANY!!?' Spike was finding it harder and harder not to break his cool posture. "Heh heh, yeah don't remind me."

"Right so what will it be? Another unique game or something old you want to test a new method on us." Only now did Spike notice the group of people starting to crowd around the trio.

"Is the General going to battle the Game Lords again?" "Oh, this is going to be amazing to watch." "I bet 6.000 tokens on the General." "But he always loses!" "Yeah but imagine if he won, I'll be unthinkably rich!"

Thank goodness he was in a suit or else his shivering body would be quite obvious to the crowd. 'Dammit people, mind your own business and get out of here!'

"Dance battle!" Nova screamed suddenly which nearly gave Spike a heart attack. On impulse, he repeated.

"Dance battle!" 'Wait what?' Even the crowd looked a bit taken back.

Sora's eyes opened and his face lost its arrogant look. "Eh?"

"Just roll with it Spike, I have a plan."

Once again his body moved on its own make point at Sora in a very dramatic fashion. Quickly Spike played the part. "That's right Sora! I challenge you to a dance-off. If I win then you two join my offensive on the mother station orbiting around this planet." The crowd started raving.

Sora recovered from being caught off guard and made a dramatic gesture of his own. "You never cease to surprise me General, didn't take you for the dancing type. You're on! If we win then you owe us one favor of our choosing!" The crowd began to cheer.

The speakers came alive with a woman on the other end. "ATTENTION ALL PERSONAL! LORD GENERAL HAS CHALLENGED GAME LORD SORA TO A DANCE OFF, REPORT TO STADIUM CENTER 15 IN 1 HOUR! BETTING BOOTHS WILL BE ACTIVATED AS WELL AS LIVE FEED TO ALL HOLO STATIONS!"

'HOW DID THEY KNOW SO FAST!??' If Spike had the ability to die right then he would have. Before the conversation could continue Sora tugged little Shiro by the neck of her suit and walked off at a hurried pace.

"Well, we'll be off to go change, see you on the dance floor dragon lord!" Then they were gone off to parts unknown.

Spike rushed back to his room once they were out of sight. The crowd quickly dispersed, assumably to go to the stadium area.

___

"A DANCE OFF!?" Spike yelled in his room while smashing his durable head into a wall.

"Listen Spike, any logic-based games would be a loss and any conventional games would be also a pathetic loss. The General never wanted to embarrass himself by dancing in public but I actually believe we can win this one!"

He pounded his head to the wall again. "How? How am I going to win, I can barely do any three-step dances let alone a full series of dance maneuvers. We. Are. Doomed Nova!" Unbeknownst to Spike, his body was moving around in a series of complex motions that could be seen as a very sensational dance to most novice skilled performers. "...Oh! Oh..." His spirits were lifted. "This could work."

"Do not get cocky just yet, we need to train and get used to our linking movements. And never forget that we are going up against the best of the best, those two must have one hell of an act they're going to show off" And thus the two began to train.

___

In another room the same shape and size Sora could be seen planting his head to the wall while Shiro sat on the bed playing some kind of mobile game system. "Dammit dammit dammit!" The male screamed. "That bastard finally found my weakness after all these years!" He turned to Shiro. "We can't dance worth a dam! I mean we can do ballroom dancing but that isn't going to cut it in a dance-off." He pounded the wall.

Shiro looked over to her older brother with bored eyes. "Yeah I know, maybe you shouldn't of accepted without thinking first." She went back to her game.

"We can't back down on the General, that guy must have been biding his time for this moment for years now. We'll be laughing stocks if we wuss out now! Shiro. We. Are. Doomed!" He looked back to see she was not sitting on the bed anymore. "Shiro?"

Down the room, he could see Shiro turning on several monitor screens that displayed games, videos, and images of various dances. "Come on Sora, we need to train."

"Ah...right!" And thus the two began the most vigorous training session in their entire lives.