E.V.O hunters

Spike landed gently on the platform outside of the base and confidently strode inside, his mechanical tail swishing back and forth happily with each step. Standing in front of the weapons rack that he had originally collected from. He deposited the remaining guns and blades to their spots while setting aside the the bent remains of the shotgun. "Hope that doesn't come out of my pay." Muttered Spike, now turning to lock the suit in a station. As he walked Spike could see members of Harmony whispering and pointing in his direction, eyeing up his suit.

"Don't worry about them. It's the fact you successfully used a suit no other pilot could use." Eris soothed when she noticed his rise in temperature.

Spike opened his mouth to reply but was shoved to the side by a large wrecker class suit that had sharp edges all over it. "Move it freak!" Came the harsh voice of Razor from inside the suit as it stomped past out the hanger bay doors.

"Rude." Mumbled Spike, slotting his feet into a station near Discord's table and notes. The suit opened with a hiss, letting the young pilot step out into the slightly warm room that still hummed and buzzed with the sounds of machines and staff working. Walking out of the hanger and into the cooled hallways he was greeted by two familiar faces. "Hey Rainbow! Hey Applejack!" He said happily. That quickly changed when they each took a shoulder and pressed him up onto the wall while his feet dangled below just scraping the ground. The smile quickly ran from his face as he nervously looked between the two. "Um, did I do something wrong?" He asked.

Rainbow put her face uncomfortably close to his. "How did you get it to run?" She growled.

"Me and Dash are some of the best pilots this side of the hemisphere and we couldn't get the damn thing to even budge." Added Applejack, pressing him higher up.

Eris popped into view on his shoulder. "Because he agreed to my terms. Helps he doesn't have a large ego." She challenged back at the two. "Now can you please put down my pilot, he just got back from a mission after all." She requested, folding her virtual arms while looking cross at the two.

The both gave grunts before putting Spike gently back onto solid ground "Then you better give us every single detail on how she flies." Ordered Applejack, helping Spike straighten up. "And how she hits." She added, pointing a finger at his face.

Spike gave a cough while looking at the two muscular women. "Um, I can do that.." He started but his stomach began to growl making all four look at it.

Rainbow gave a chuckle at the sudden noise. "How about we get you food first. I know I can be starved after an exciting mission." She said, throwing an arm around the young man, making him blush as they lead him to the mess hall. After everyone had collected a meal and was seated Rainbow tapped the table with a spoon. "Sorry for the whole scare it's just literally every pilot has tried getting either into that suit or even if they got in STARTING the thing. The fact you show up and within less then a day not only get in it but start it AND also fly it to a mission to fight an evo really opened the ol' wound to the ego." She apologized.

Applejack nodded her head as she ate some apple and cinnamon oatmeal. "She right, so is Eris. No one could take the whole 'another mind in your mind' thing seriously enough but should have figured you would be the one to open it." She continued, lazily pointing a spoon at Spike and making a circle with it.

"Hey!" He shouted in mock hurt, much to everyones amusement. "As to how she feels." Spike stated, going into the mission and describing how the suit felt in flight or even in the fight against the evo. Applejack and Rainbow got far away looks as he talked, giving sighs of remembrance at certain points. Rainbow especially loved his first flying moments that gave Twilight a small heart attack and whistled when he described the fight with the evo. After he finished his story they told their own, of how Rainbow's first flight went and Applejack's first real brawl with the organizations enemy. To Spike's surprise Rainbow was a bad flyer at first and Applejack couldn't move her suit for the first few days she was there. As they turned to small talk Sparker sat down and asked about his first piloting mission which lead to a repeat of what he had already said much to her enjoyment.

"So looks like you've had a big second day huh?" She teased, ruffling up his hair as he tried to eat a bite from his food. "Will you be trying the Gauntlet soon then?" She asked, the others perking up at this.

Spike looked between the three women and raised a brow. "This is like the third or fourth time I've heard about this Gauntlet thing. What even is it exactly?" He asked back.

Dash leaned on her elbows while her A.I. Scootaloo materialized on the desk. The image stretched out it's hands to create a visual representation of the challenge in question. "The Gauntlet is a race course of sorts that all the pilots in Harmony can take on. It tests your speed, discipline, reaction time, and strength, among other things." She explained.

"Only the really brave, or really stupid, take on the thing. It's dangerous and once you put out the request to take it on you can't back out." Sparker continued. "Razor tried but couldn't finish due to damage building up fast on his suit while he ran the course." She added with a small chuckle at the mans expense.

"I ain't never seen one pilot get through without some big damage or injury. Granny Pie always told me never to take the thing on." Finished Applejack.

Over the talk Spike's interest in the thing grew more and more till finally he whispered "I'll take it on then." The others blinked and leaned closer to him while even some of the other pilots and staff that had heard what the four had been talking about came closer to try and hear his response.

"Come again sugar? I thought I heard you say you'll do the Gauntlet." Applejack said, cupping her hand to one of her ears to hear better. "Did you not just listen to what we said?" She questioned Spike.

"I said I'll take on the Gauntlet. No better way for me to prove myself to you all and the Commanders." He replied with a large grin growing on his face. When instead of people applauding his decision but instead quickly backing away from him but more specifically from behind him is when he felt the chill of death looming across his form. "Ahhh fudge sticks, Twilights right behind me isn't she?" He muttered to the now terrified pilots sitting across from him. When they slowly nodded their heads plastered with fear he stood up from the seat. Turning slowly revealed a teeth grinding, fire spewing angrily Twilight behind him with Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and even Discord cowering behind her. Spike clicked his tongue as he looked around before back at Twilight. "Lovely weather we are having today." He remarked before the manliest girly shriek left his soul as she descended on him.

PRIVATE WHAT IN THE FROZEN FUCKING DEPTHS DID I JUST HEAR OOZE FROM YOUR SORRY EXCUSE OF A MOUTH JUST NOW!" She shouted at the man. The Major had shifted into full drill sergeant mode and was not letting up as she continued to rip into the young pilot. This continued for five minutes as every other soldier, doctor, mechanic, or miscellaneous staff member ran from the room other then the eight individuals that knew each other well. Just as Twilight pulled in a massive lung full of air to yell at Spike some more a cough was heard behind them all near the door of the mess hall.

"That will be enough Major Sparkle." Came the stern but gentle statement from Commander Celestia, who was accompanied by her sister Luna. "The young man has probably heard enough now don't you think?" She asked, walking up slowly with a metallic tap of her feet. Only now as she walked closer did Spike realize one of her feet was a robotic leg made with built in high heel while the other still was human with the same style high heel.

"Private we will ask you this once and only once." Came Luna's voice now as she marched up in front of him after Twilight stepped to the side with the others at attention. "After the long rant from the Major here." She said with a gesture to the one in question. "Do you feel you still want to take on the Gauntlet?" She asked, folding her arms which pushed her small bust upward.

Spike looked between the Commanders then to Twilight who shot him a silent glare of warning. "I was brought into here because of the chaos test, called a spy and I know you are all still keeping me under surveillance because of the test." He began making even the Commanders inwardly raise their eyes at how he knew, even the girls flinched at that since they thought they had been subtle. "The reason I said I wanted to take on the Gauntlet is so that I can first off, prove I am a good pilot. And Two, show that I am not a spy while being more then willing to put myself in danger to prove that statement." He finished, looking straight at Twilight who looked down after finally hearing why he made the challenge.

Celestia and Luna looked to each other and moved a distance out of range to whisper to each other. "This would be one way to prove himself as not only capable but safe." Whispered Celestia.

Her sister gave a grunt "But what if it's a trick to get into our ranks easier?" She questioned back.

"The last breach we had showed himself when we even SUGGESTED that he try the Gauntlet. The fact he knows the risks and still wants to try it to prove himself shows a lot." She countered. Even Luna couldn't shoot down that reply and sighed before nodding her head. Turning back and walking to the group Celestia gave the confirmation. "Okay Private Spike. You will be taking the Gauntlet." She said much to everyone's mixed reactions. "But!" She added, they all looked back at her. "If you fail, you'll be removed from Harmony permanently." She finished. Everyone's voices rose in protest but she quickly silenced it all with a hand. "He wishes to prove he is no spy so he has two options. Either take the Gauntlet and succeed. Thus removing all restrictions or he fails and no longer has to worry about being a spy as he won't be anywhere near to get info." She explained.

The girls and even Luna gave words against the order as even her sister thought it was rash till one voice rang out.

"I'll do it."

This froze everyone in place each turned to look at the man. Spike's eye's practically burned with a fierce passion behind them as he spoke again. "I'll take up your challenge and prove I'm more then meets the eye." He stated, stepping forward and putting out his hand. Celestia looked at it before chuckling and taking it in her own giving a firm shake.

"Best start training then ey?" She remarked as she turned and left the hall, followed by her sister.

Everything was silent as the group looked at the firmly placed man until a giggling, crazed laugh left Eris as she popped into view. "Oh, you a the BEST choice I could have made for a pilot ever!

The week went by as Spike learned more about Harmony. The organization had its hand in just about everything including medicine, film, and even baby products. "Wait even you guys get revenue from diapers?" Asked Spike to the sales woman that he had been chatting with in the hall as they walked to the hanger.

"Oh yeah, do you know how many diapers kids go through? It's a literal gold mine made of baby shit." The woman he had learned named Graphite Gloss shot back with a laugh. "Yes we are funded by the world council but even their money can only go so far and most of that goes to the RnD department. The rest we get from sponsors and products that both better the world while filling our coffers." She explained. "Don't even get me started on the money that farming got us." She added with a giggle as they parted ways.

The week also filled with him and Discord working on the suit to help improve its results. "So your first mission showed great data that the suit was stable and that the flame core could be turned on and off easy but I don't know how long it can last though." Discord had said in the beginning. Fast forward the next day when Spike went out on a mission with the objective to use the core as much as possible. This lead to a situation for the mission.

Spike flew through the air at high speeds when Eris popped into his screen. "Remember pilot we got to push this baby to higher temperature." She reminded him as they neared their target area. The mission was a town that had been struck with a sudden flare of Chaos virus that needed to be burned down. Spike was pushed for the job do to his suits functions and it's upgraded filter system.

"Then lets start the test!" Spike happily replied, pushing his jets with the core so that he went even faster. The small town came into view with sickly red, pulsing structures covering it. "Burn baby burn!" He shouted as music filled his headset, slamming into the ground creating a flaming crater. Screeches from evos filled the air as they rushed the new object.

"Looks like about forty targets closing in fast!" Shouted Eris to be heard over the screaming. "Matches the number of people who didn't make it out." She stated, filling the report sheet as Spike raised his hands that were now engulfed in flames.

Evos flew out from buildings or overturned cars to get to the armored pilot. He struck a disco pose as his hips shook to the music and began to dance with the music with waves of flames flying from his hands and mouth. A monster tried to jump on his back but he ignited his back jets that burst out like fiery wings that quickly turned the body into a crispy black piece. Buildings caught fire quickly around him as he grooved through the town till he hit the center where a large spire was built from the virus. Giving a laugh as the rest of the evos followed, he launched into the air to fly around the spire sending whips of flame into the structure till a loud crack was heard and it began to buckle under itself. Spike changed his direction to fly at the spire, twisting last moment so his feet hit the monument of sick red. Turning his jets up to the max he kicked off, knocking the piece over to crush ten evos that couldn't move out of the way. "What's the core at suga' momma?" Spike teased as he landed back down on the ground. His playlist having switched to a new song. "Hope I still got fuel left." He remarked as more evos came closer.

"Core is holding up actually. Hasn't hit a critical size or anything yet." She remarked proudly. "Though I imagine that HQ doesn't fully like how we are handling the situation." She added with a laugh that Spike couldn't help join in.

Spike danced through the crowd, his vents always pushing out fire as he cut his way tooth, claw, and tail through the evos. Any that gripped his suit quickly turned to ash as the heat scorched the very ground he walked on, leaving flaming prints of his suit. A building collapsed next to him sending debris into the air, clouding his vision and hiding the remaining evos. "Eris little help here." He ordered. Soon his vision tinted through the different scanners he had until it landed on a blackened one showing moving blobs in the dirty air. "Gotcha!" He shouted with glee as the mouth of his suit opened up for a frontal blast. But just as he was about to unleash the torrent of fire a tentacle wrapped around his head blocking the flame while simultaneously lifting him into the air. "What the fuck!" He shouted as the limb threw him into a building.

Twilight popped into his screen with a worried look on her face. "Spike are you okay? That was an evo that just popped out of nowhere." She said.
"Our scanners can't detect it at all, some of the surveillance crews think it's an evo that melded with some radar tech." She explained, a tentacle smashing through the building to wrap around his foot, dragging him out through the remaining wall.

"Eris start working on a counter to the cloaking!" Spike ordered.

"Already on it, just try to get some distance!" She shouted back, a corner of his screen showing coding of her work. Firing his jets to burn off the hold on him Spike flew into the ash and smoke filled air. A few new marks on his armor but nothing serious yet. Flying blindly he didn't see the three story building till it was in front of him, barreling through and out the other end. Evos quickly swarmed his downed state, tearing into his suit with reckless abandon, not even caring if they struck one of their own. Soon warnings filled his screen as the man inside thought this would be his metal tomb.

Then a thought came to him.

"Release safety nets on the core." He said. Eris gave a sound close to a no as she continued working on the scanner. "We will die if you don't. Trust me." He said, his voice firm in belief. Giving a grunt of annoyance and ignoring the texts from both Twilight and Discord against this action Eris released the safety nets on the core which let it immediately grow twice in temperature. The heat in the suit rose even against it's cooling system as Spike fought his way to a kneeling position, the monsters still clawing at him. "Burn this bitches!" He yelled as the core spewed forth flames the size of the buildings around him, incinerating all the evos around and even the last of the buildings. Getting up he looked around and laughed with glee at surviving. That is until Eris gasped.

"The scans fixed!" She shouted letting him see the monstrously large evo that had thrown him around moving towards him. "On top of that the cores going super critical! If you don't burn off power right now you'll turn into a walking nuke!" She added, making him slump his shoulders.

Until a new, equally bad thought came to him.

Bracing his clawed feet into the ground to hold his spot Spike shifted his arms bent behind him, the mouth piece opening. Heat built up in his palms and mouth until even the armor was getting hurt. Just as it was about to fail, Spike flung his arms out straight to release a massive blast of fire and brimstone at the evo just as it came on top of him. A huge hole torched it's way through it clean through. The creature died immediately, it's large limbs falling with thuds to the ground. "Did that fix the problem?" Huffed Spike, sweat pouring down his face from the heat.

Eris and all that had been watching his progress just blinked in shock at what this pilot had just done till she shook her metaphorical head and replied. "Uhh, yeah... yeah that fixed it but now we have a new problem..." She fell off at the end.

"That is?" He asked, straightening himself up and pulling his legs from out of the ground.

"The core is empty now." She stated. He was about to reply but she cut him off. "It fuels the jets."

"Oh...ok." He muttered. Turning into a direction of the closest base he started walked but was picked up quickly a few miles out of the now destroyed town.

At the end of the week plenty of pilots had heard what he had done and even Razor backed off of him. He was promoted to corporal quickly after it and had even earned the title Dancing Dragon to which he quickly named his suit that. The data helped hone the suit into an actual piece and finally out of the prototype stage.

Now all that was left was to take on the gauntlet.