General Mishaps

50 minutes was not that much time to really train but with the help of his newly enhanced body, Spike felt like he could give a pretty good show now with his just barely devised routine. As Spike practiced his steps halfway through did he note the ridiculousness of his situation. First, from deadly space battle to a dance-off, this stuff does not write itself.

"Spike we need to go." Training time was up. His eye lit up to show the directions to the event area.

"If we're going down at least it's in style," Spike said with no energy.

"That's the..spirit I guess." They walked for some time until they came through a set of fancy-looking doors. Once inside Spike saw a red plant woman work the desk of the open room.

She looked at him and smiled. "Welcome General, your waiting room is just down the hall to your left. I'll be sure to watch the show, knock 'em dead sir." Spike smiled back and waved her bye.

His room was small but still luxurious with fruit baskets and shelves full of various items. He noticed one of the closets had a suit in it. "What are these for?"

"Props most likely, performers sometimes make up shows on the spot with just these items." Spike picked through the clothes until he came across a black suit and tie along with a black top hat specifically designed to work with his head spines.

"This will do nicely."

___

The stadium like room could fill a small army and a half. It towered up around twenty meters in a decagon like shape that stacked on upon each level. In the middle was the flat stage that was tiled and each tile could light up to a specific color when set. Across from that on the bottom level was one long ornate desk that had three judges sitting in it. Those three were androids that were specifically designed to calculate and read every step a dancer takes and rate it accordingly.

Quickly the stadium filled up with personal of every color, shape and size. The fact that the General challenged Game Lord Sora and Shiro was nothing new but the game was something unheard of. The General dancing, how absurd the idea was but if he said he could do it then he must have something to knock the audience dead.

The bets this game showed that the betting pool only slightly favors team [Blank] this time, all the other games were heavily in their zone due to the General's massive losing streak but this was a unique event that had everyone guessing.

The crowd gave about their idle chatter on current topics and the guessing of who will win until the lights began to dim and the rooftop stage lights focused on the center stage. The stadium quickly went silent.

"People of all species and genders I welcome you to another sudden duel between some of our most beloved elite war members." The same voice from before boomed over the unseen speakers. "Once again we will watch our greatest tacticians duke it out in a 1v2 duel of the dance floor!" The audience began cheering out the names of their chosen contestant.

On the far edge of the stage one tile seeped into the ground, Spike slowly appeared coming up from the hole pointing to the sky with his head held low. He wore a simple but elegant suit and tie that fit perfectly around him, the hat completed the look. 'This is so stupid..' Spike mentally groaned but kept his face in the confidant look position he had set in.

"Just shut up and remember your training."

'Yes, Sensei!'

"Wiseass."Despite the remark Spike could almost feel her smile.

"We welcome the King of dragons, the master of dimensions and the coolest guy you've ever met, LORD GENERAL!" The stadium was at a deafening uproar with applause and love confessions, even the many who voted against him were cheering just for the massive amount of respect they held for him. If only Queen Chrysalis could see him now.

On the opposite side of the stage, two tiles flipped open, and out came the two gamers in very elegant outfits.

"Introducing the gaming duo legends, the undefeated champions of every single thing they attempt, [Blank]!" Another uproar just as big as the last one.

'For a bunch of shut-in gamers, they clean up real nice.' Spike thought amused. They walked forward until they were a meter apart. Spike remembered what he was instructed to do before the game started, a customary oath from Sora and Shiro's world. All three raised up their right hands and said in unison.

"I swear by the pledges Aschente!"

The beat started a very fun electro-swing style beat. Spike stepped back in a swinging his arms around. He felt his body move to the rhythm while everyone watching it looked effortless and graceful but Spike and Nova were having difficulty moving around in perfect unity. Linking in itself was like a dance of its own since Spike had to let go of enough of his own free will to give Nova command over his steps but Nova also had to regulate how many forms she placed in each step for the risk of looking too robotic. Some calculated errors were a must, it needed to look perfect to the average viewer but it had to pass off as believable to the judges as to not suspect Spike of cheating which he pretty much was.

The beat in the song dropped which moved to the part where Spike had to step on the ground in such a fashion it looked like his feet were gliding on the ground. The audience could be heard giving small woos and whistles but nothing too loud as not to distract him.

Another song came on, one Nova did not choose started, this song had the same style type but with a different flow. It mixed well with his song. Sora and Shiro jumped to life in their act, the two of them would either mirror the other's moves flawlessly or divide up and do something different that complimented the other's style. The two would always look at each other deeply as if they were looking into their souls. Sora had his usual confidant smile on but Shiro still wore her blank expressionless face, that to anyone else could ruin the image but to her, it added to the cute factor. The crowd cheered as well.

'It's time to heat things up.' Spike stepped back a safe distance from the two and spat a torrent of green flame on the ground, he stepped on it and in one graceful motion he scooped a flame on both of his fist. Now Spike was a dancing fire and each step left a small path of fire. as well as his swinging hands that left a line of light in the dim room. The cheering crew more in volume at the stunt. 'So far so good Spike, the song is almost up.' For the most part Spike felt he was doing very well in terms of style but it wasn't over yet.

Shiro broke away from Sora's hand and twirled around but this was not just a simple move because Spike's eye noted a rise in energy from the girl. 'What the hell is this?'

"Oh no..." Shiro's back dress tore open to reveal two cybernetic blue metal wings with silver rims. Her pastel color gained maroon highlights and a disk-like engine appeared on the side of her head. Sora came up behind her new form and grabbed her hand and swung her around.

'What the hell is happening, she can do that?' Spike asked as he continued his fiery moves.

"Yes, long story short, past life something something, reincarnation." That explained nothing. "What you're seeing is her Ex-Machina form, at this mode she is a walking supercomputer that only barely falls short of my own powers, whatever they are about to do we have to find a way to counter it somehow." Spike nodded internally and watched while he continued his show.

Sora threw Shiro high into the air in front of the overhead camera, once she came close to it Shiro winked at the camera with a small grin. This made the audience go up in a frenzy.

'Dam that was good.' Shiro glided down with her wings and hovered next to Sora, he took her hand but now it was her who was leading the moves.

"Alright they are killing us...Spike, I need you to focus because we are about to hit hard mode!" Before he could even question what that meant he felt a sudden surge in energy pike inside of him wanting to explode. He allowed this rush to take over which doubled his pace, now his dance could be called an advanced shuffle. The fire grew brighter and caught his suit on fire, still, he continued the show. At some moments he would do a double flip that lands in a spit, which hurt like hell but Spike masked the pain with a determined grin. His legs surged with an insatiable heat that made him jump at superhuman levels. He met the top camera's view and gave two peace signs. He landed hard with his fist to the ground which ended his dance. Sora and Shiro soon followed with Soar tipping Shiro over.

Flowers of alien species were thrown on the stage. Spike waved the crowd. 'I don't like the way that felt...we may have messed up a few times during that overdrive.'

"Win or lose we put up a good show and that is all that matters at this point."

'But if we lost then how will we get these two to join our offensive?'

"I'm sure we will find a way after this whole thing is over." One thing kept pinging at the back of his mind. He created this whole thing, those skills and moves were not his but just the downloaded moves of a robot. Internally Spike felt ashamed for his actions but told himself it was for the greater good.

On the other side, Sora sweats nervously beneath his bravado. 'Thank God for Shiro's gifted mind. Without her flawless memory and skills, we would have been screwed.' In truth, it was Shiro the whole time who guided their moves but Sora was the one to give out the imposing vibe the viewers felt.

Spike moved over to the two and smiled he decided to go say something he felt the General would say. "That was well fought you two, I expected no less." He pulled out his hand. Sora shook it with a small grin.

"Heh, well you did pretty well yourself, even I couldn't ever expect to fight the General in a dance-off...well it sure beats the time you challenged us to Cazador hunting, I didn't think even you could absorb that much venom."

'What?' "Heh heh, yeah I'm still recovering from that one." He said while padding at his arm. Sora looked at him with a quizzical expression. "...what?"

"...nothing, just remembering something." Sora looked away and went back to Shiro's side.

'That was odd...' Spike took his position back to the middle and waited for the winner to be determined.

"After heavy debate the judges have come to their chosen victor!" In an instant the whole place went silent. "Without further delay it's-" A powerful explosion rocked the whole station. Spike and the two gamers looked up to see some of the panels crack open to show the green sky.

"I am sensing several hostile ships quickly approaching our location...I cannot identify their allegiance." Shiro said the same exact thing. "Steel yourself Spike because this will get rocky.

Another torrent of explosions rocked the stadium. Outside he could see the shield bubble around them fade in the area they were attacked from. five black loading ships hovered over the hole. The people in the stands who brought weapons with them began firing up at the sky while the unarmed people made their way out of the danger zone.

Shiro's right arm transformed into a large cannon-like device. "Activating plasma wave." She said simply, a large green blast shot out from the cannon and tore right through one of the ships, it stuttered for a moment before exploding into a thousand pieces of melted slag.

Spike looked in awe at the girl. 'She's amazing!' The remaining ships dipped down into the hole and circled the station. One by one they opened their doors and ejected platoons of blue armored creatures with four arms and insect-like legs. Shiro retracted her cannon and materialized two small pistols from her hands and began firing. Sora could be seen in the back with a simple-looking rifle taking potshots at the enemy.

"THE CLUSTER SENDS ITS REGARDS LORD GENERAL!" One of them yelled while firing in his direction. Spike rolled out of the way and tore off the remaining of his suit in the process.

'It can never be simple can it!?' Two of the smaller Cluster rushed at Spike with killer intent. In a flash, Spike's armor came back. He grabbed the head of the closet insect and threw it at the other.

"Fall back Spike, we need to find an explosive weapon to take down those ships." Said ships were busy firing at the masses in the stands. Some were hit pretty badly but the one's who stayed at heavy armor on so no one seemed to be mortally wounded yet. "Actually find some cover, we can put this suit to good use." He did so by diving into a fallen chunk of the ceiling. "Aim your arm up!" Spike lifted his open palm. His left eye focused a target on one of the near ships. His arm aimed over it and fired out a dark red beam that melted through its side and forced it to crash.

"Man this suit is awesome!" Spike stated but ducked once the ships started to focus on him. "Aw crap." More insects jumped down to join the battle. Two heavily armed plant men rushed to his side.

The large purple one hoisted up his mini-gun. "We got your back General!" The red one started lobbing out plasma grenades at random locations near the enemy.

"Act like you're in charge dam you!" Spike nodded and just decided to opt back to his mindset during his time in the Everfree, at least this time he had some armor on.

"Alright, boys let's kick these bugs to the curb!" His helmet snapped to his head as he vaulted over the fallen rubble. "CHARGE!" His squad followed his lead and followed close behind him, the heavy trooper made short work of the smaller bugs and tanked most of the hits fired his way. Spike charged up another beam from his arm that sliced another transport ship in two.

He turned to his side to see both Sora and Shiro rushing to join the group. Several bugs advanced on the two but before Spike could try to defend them they were sliced to pieces by Shiro's arm blades. They joined together as a unit. "Sora, got any plans?" He asked.

Despite the situation, he grinned. "When don't I?" They stood behind a fallen wall as the red trooper kept the enemy at bay with ordinance weaponry. "This is child's play, we all just need to defend Shiro while she targets all these bastards with a cluster grenade." A beam hit their hiding spot which caused some of the metal from the top to fall over Sora. Or at least it would of if not for Spike quickly pushing him out of the way and stopping the rubble with his arms.

Spike quickly threw the piece at an advancing platoon at deadly speeds, crushing several to death. 'Oh man, I am awesome!' He smiled feeling good about himself. Sora just gave a thankful nod and rushed forward with the small girl who seemed to be focusing on the entire fight instead of participating in it. Spike and his two helpers kept the heat off the two gamers, the heavy would mow down all who came in his sight while the red would blow them away. Spike focused on any large insect troopers he saw and used his palm lasers to melt rows of them with one sweep of the hand.

Shiro's eyes opened up wide and she pointed her hand to the sky. "72 targets confirmed, activating cluster grenade." Out from her palm, a small blue ball shot into the sky. It flew down and exploded into hundreds of small shards in the air. Spike was about to state that it didn't even hit anything when the shards spread around the battle zone in a tracking motion and targeted an enemy soldier. The shards implanted themselves into the armor or flesh of the enemy. They gave off one ticking noise and blew the enemy into pieces. Even the ships took enough damage to crash into the ground. Shiro looked over the battlefield once. "...confirming 1 remaining hostile life sign."

She pointed to the largest ship with the most armor which had a dented door and smoked windows. The door was thrown open and out came a large hulking beetle-like creature. "Well, I should have expected this..." It said in a very chirpy tune. "I put too much faith in my subordinates." He pointed to Spike with three of his six arms. "Looks like you and the Game Lords win again, I suppose you expect me to turn myself in right?" Spike looked around to see every person in the stadium pointing every kind of weapon at him.

"Yeah, I would assume so unless you want to die," Spike shouted, wondering if this was a usual occurrence and who the hell this guy was.

The beetle chuckled. "Not this time fools!" He pushed a button located on his chest and before anyone could react all of the corpses and bits of armor and even the downed ships formed around the beetle. Everyone started firing at the junk shield but nothing could pierce through. Shiro began charging up another powerful attack. The mass of junk started to deconstruct and reconfigure into a giant hulking beast form.

Spike and the rest of everyone else took a step back at the 20 meters tall robotic/biological monstrosity before them. Its arms were the bulk of the metal while the thick legs were made up of bodies. The chest area was the center which was made of the hardest materials found, it also had no head. 'Maybe I should have stayed in bed.'

"NOW GENERALS FACE ME AND DIE!" The beast rushed directly headed to the false General.

"Wow I did not think it was possible for one guy to attract so much trouble all at once." Nova mused this as Spike dived out of the way.