AUTHOR’S NOTE - BEFORE YOU READ:
This story is a spin-off to the “10 Days, 3 Adventures” Trilogy,
and more specifically, the FIRST book, “In Dreams, They Came”.
So before you read this, you should read at least to chapter 10, (or the whole story),
because this spin-off takes place during chapters 11 - 19 in that story.
Now, if you HAVE read (at least) to chapter 10 in IDTC,
or if you don’t mind massive spoilers, Keep reading. Hope you enjoy it.
END OF AUTHOR’S NOTE
* * *
Prologue
* * *
As Luna, Twilight and Applejack disappeared into the dream world,
Spike turned to the three fillies.
“Okay girls.. I think it’s best if we DO NOT walk on, or even near
those white lines. That there is called a ‘Spell Circle’ - and yes,
it is called a circle even when it’s not circular. Spell circles
should never be disturbed.”
The three fillies nodded.
“So... What do we do now?” Applebloom asked.
“We can... read, draw, play some board games...” Spike said.
“aaand, I guess that’s all we have in here.”
“Bring the board games then!” Scootaloo said. “I challenge you all
to a Battle Clouds tournament!”
* * *
Chapter 1
Let’s Have A Battle
* * *
Spike went over to one of the bookshelves, which instead of books contained
various board games, a couple of card decks, some extra dice, and other game
related accessories. His eyes scanned the various boxes, until he found the one
he was looking for - Battle Clouds, Second Edition.
“So who’s playing first?” Spike asked as he started setting up the game on the
kitchen table.
“You and me.” Scoot said, pointing at Spike with a challenging look in her eyes.
“Challenge accepted.” Spike replied with a serious look.
“But before we begin, does anypony want more tea? I’m gonna make some
for me, so I need to know if any of you want some too, so I can boil enough water.”
“Depends.” Scootaloo said.
“On what?” Spike asked.
“On what teas you have. I feel like something fruity, or with berries.”
“We have some apple-and-cinnamon mix, and there should be some lemon tea left.”
“Lemon sounds good, I’ll take that, please.” Scoot said. “While you make the tea,
we can stay here and set up the game boards and such, and start setting our Clouds
on our side of the board.”
“Sure, I’ll be right back then. Sweetie, Bloom - tea?”
“Lemon for me too.” Sweetie said. “With a sugar cube, please.” She added.
“We don’t have cubes, we have that brown raw sugar. But I think one tea-spoon
should be the same as one cube.”
“Close enough.” Sweetie smiled.
“And I’d like that apple tea.” Applebloom smiled widely.
“...of course you would.” Spike teased.
“What?!”
“...Nothing.” he said, and left for the kitchen while the fillies set up the game.
Shortly after they were done setting everything up, Spike returned, pushing a small
trolley with a large teapot and four cups, with teabags hanging out of them.
One cup also had a spoon in it, and some brown powder on the bottom.
A small stream of steam slowly rose from the pot.
“Everything ready?” Spike asked as he handed out the cups.
“Yeah, just need you to put your Clouds on your side, and we’ll be ready.”
“Very well, give me a minute...” Spike said, as he carefully chose the placing
of his Clouds.
“Ready?” Scootaloo asked when Spike put down his last cloud, and grabbed his teacup.
He took a sip of the still steaming tea, and then slowly replied, “...Ready.”
And then he added, “Ladies first.”
Spike looked confident. There was no way he would loose in Battle Clouds.
He had played countless times. He might as well let Scootaloo take the initial
round, she was going to loose anyway.
Scootaloo objected. “No, we do this by chance too. Got a couple of dice?”
“Got tons. Two full sets of yatzee dice, and Shining Armor left some of his P&H dice
too when he visited. Said he might as well leave a set here, since he sometimes visits
to play with some old friends from Canterlot who live here now.”
“What’s ‘P&H’?” Applebloom asked.
“Prisons and Humans.” Spike replied. “Nerdiest game ever. One of those tabletop RPG’s
the geeky kids always played a few years ago, before video games became popular.”
“I still don’t get it.” Applebloom said.
“Nopony does, except those who actually play it.” Spike smirked. “Games go on for
hours, even days sometimes. All done on paper, and entire tomes of rules,
and all prisons are made up by the Prison Ward, who like, controls the game
for the other players, and you roll dice for every single action to see if you succeed...”
“I think Button talked about that sometime, I think his mom was a P&H player.”
Sweetie Belle said, with a thoughtful look.
“Yeah, she’s one of Shinings friends actually. And Doctor Whooves, and Rose Luck,
and a couple other stallions I don’t remember.” Spike replied.
Sweetie Belle grabbed a couple of 10-sided dice from the shelf. “Will these be okay?”
Scoot took one of them and gave Spike the other. “We both roll when I count to three,
highest number wins. If we get the same number we roll again until one of us wins.”
“Got it.” Spike said, holding the die between his claws. Scoot counted to three,
and they both rolled.
Scootaloo rolled a 6.
Spike rolled a 9.
“Ladies first.” Scoot said, smirking at the dragon.
* * *