"Ah would like to welcome y'all here today for the 210th meetin’ of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and our 12th meetin of the Cutie Mark Crusaders with actual cutie marks," Apple Bloom announced proudly to the delegation of ponies in the clubhouse.
"Wahoo!" cheered the other two crusaders (and said delegation), clapping their hooves together. "Cutie Mark Crusaders Forever!"
Apple Bloom looked across the room, motioning her hoof for silence and continued, "now on the first item of the agenda... Cutie Mark Crusader requests. Scootaloo would ya please inform us whether there has been any ponies needin our services?"
Scootaloo stands and moves in front of the podium carrying a box tipping it over to reveal its empty contents. "Unfortunately it’s the same as last week. Zip, zero, na-dah," Scootaloo stated sadly. "But our luck should change right, Sweetie Belle?"
"Yep as this brings us to the next item on the agenda - " Sweetie Belle squeaked happily. She then took a very deep breath and said very quickly, "potential-opportunities-to-expand-our-services-to-all-other-fillies-and-colts-in-Equestria-to-help-them-find-their-cutie-marks-and-to-help-adults-rediscover-their-special-talents-and-meaning-of-their-own-cutie-marks".
The others stood there blankly, Sweetie Belle huffing and puffing proudly. Scootaloo was the first to speak, breaking the silence. "Say-what now?"
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and groans. "Advertising. Seriously don't you read these things?"
Offended, Scootaloo put a hoof on her chest and scoffed, "of course I do, but it's confusing when you say a whole sentence within three seconds instead of ... instead of ... saying what would otherwise take to say in fewer words."
"Summarize, " Apple Bloom said correcting Scootaloo. "Ah believe the word you’re looking for is to summarize"
"Huh?"
"Summarize, it means to give a brief statement of the main points of something. Or to reduce the number of words it needs to explain something. Summarize," Apple Bloom explained. "O, and it's less words, not fewer words."
"I KNEW THAT!" Scootaloo shouted becoming very frustrated.
"Well if ya did you wouldn't have looked so confused."
"STOP USING WORDS I DON'T KNOW!"
"Maybe you should try reading more instead of just idolizing Rainbow Dash," Apple Bloom smirked.
"AT LEAST I CAN SAY I AND YOU."
Sweetie Belle just rolled her eyes at her friends, refusing to get involved in their ridiculous squabble. She looked out the window to find some peace, when all of a sudden she saw a familiar purple dragon walking past.
"Hey look it's Spike," Sweetie Belle beamed pointing outside, interrupting the fight between the two. "He's usually got some good ideas," she said as she ran towards the door and called for the dragon."Hey Spike! Spike, wait up."
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stopped to look at each other dumbly for a brief moment but quickly snapped to attention and shouted in unison, "hey, Sweetie Belle, wait for us."
Spikes was no longer crying as he began the long journey into the Everfree Forest, but his cheeks were still stained. Angry and bitter at his closest friend refusal to help, he was determined to seek the only other pony he knew that had the power to change his body, Zecora the Zebra. As he continued walking, he heard a pony calling out his name.
"Spike," shouted Sweetie Belle trying to get the dragon's attention. "Spike!"
"Oh hey, Sweetie Belle. What are you doing here?"
"I saw you walking from the clubhouse and thought we could ask for your help," she began happily, but stopped as she took a look at the dragon's face and realized he had been crying earlier. "Spike, what's wrong?" the tone in her voice changing to that of concern.
Wiping his face, Spike choked "It's -"
"Hey, Sweetie Belle, wait up," Scootaloo yelled interrupting the dragon, Apple Bloom not far behind her. "Oh hey, Spike."
"What brings you here?" asked Apple Bloom.
"Oh hey guys. I'm off to see Zecora," Spike replied. Before he said anything else, he decided that it'd be better to lie than having to repeat his story. Especially in front of his crush's little sister. "... Umm ... there's a book that I wanted to get from for her. Listen I better get going. I'll see you around."
Spike waved his claw and turned to walk away. Concerned, the Crusaders looked at each other before Sweetie Belle asked, "Do you want us to join you?"
"No it's okay," Spike said raising his claw without looking back. "I sort of need to do this ... on my own," whispering the last part underneath his breath.
The three fillies stopped and looked at each other, then watched Spike walk deeper into the forest. Sweetie Belle turns towards her friends, "hey guys I'm worried about Spike. Do you think we should follow him?"
"Ah dunno, it looks like he had a lot on his mind," Apple Bloom said unsure. "Maybe we should give him some space."
"Heck no, he has a problem and this may be an opportunity to help a pony in need," Scootaloo said with vigor.
Apple Bloom still appeared unsure, questioning whether they really should be breaching Spike's request for privacy, but then Sweetie Belle's eyes widened, grateful for her friend's support. "Do we still have that still have that gear from when we were trying to get our spy cutie marks?"
Scootaloo replied with a satisfied grin, "of course".
Deep in the Everfree forest lies a tree cottage, home to the mysterious and wise potion master, Zecora. She was humming a nursery rhyme over a boiling cauldron, when she suddenly heard a knock at the door. A little surprised to get a visitor at this hour, she walked over to greet her guest. "Well, well. If it isn't a dear friend that I treasure. Spike the Dragon for what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Hi Zecora, I'm sorry if this is a bad time."
"I always enjoy the company of those from Ponyville town. But please explain why you wear that frown?"
Outside the cottage a short distance away, the three fillies were desperately trying to eavesdrop using the latest equestrian spy gear at their disposal. "Sweetie Belle, it's my turn" whispered Scootaloo angrily. "You got to use the ear thingy last time".
"Listening device," Apple Bloom corrected whilst focusing her Binoculars.
"Don't correct me," Scootaloo snapped.
"Well if you read the instructions instead of just tearing up the box, you'd know what it was called," Sweetie Belle retorted in a as a matter of fact tone of voice.
"Would you stop hogging it" demanded Scootaloo.
"Listening device," Apple Bloom corrected. "It's called a listening device."
...
Back in the cottage, Spike cleared his throat. "Zecora, I need your help. I need you to help me become a stallion."
Zecora furrows her brow and looks into Spike's eyes attempting to read the dragon mood. "I am curious to question, for what has brought about this intention?"
"I ... I confessed to Rarity how I felt.... and she rejected me."
"Why then did you come to me for your fable? Surely the Princess of Magic is also capable?" Zecora asked innocently.
"I did, but she wouldn't help me," he spat bitterly.
"So indeed you are seeking a remedy, which would hope to change thee? To what extent dare I ask? How far willing are you to complete your task?"
"As far as it needs to go," Spike responded with determination. "I'll climb whatever mountain, swim whatever lake and drink whatever you make. I am willing to go that far."
The zebra raised her brow at the dragon and said, "Well it is unfortunate that no concoction I could make, would be able to change your fate."
Spike looked up at Zecora with fear and anguish. "Are you saying I'm destined to be alone?"
"It appears you do not understand," she replied in a reassuring tone. "For what I see, you and your path are already quite grand."
"Huh?"
Ignoring his confusion, she continued. "My dear dragon friend, I know of a way to bring your sadness to an end. On the top shelf is a book with a potion I can brew. It will reveal what you need to do. It may help make your dreams come true."
"Really? Then I will take it," beamed Spike, the first good news he had heard all day.
Zecora reached for the book and read the recipe. She grabbed various ingredients and mixed them into a bottle, producing a clear potion. She then poured it into a cup offering it to the dragon, but before Spike could take it, she pulled him in closer. "A warning before you consume this drink. You need to stop, listen and think. What did the mare ask of you? Did she say to change your scales from green to blue?"
Confused at this riddle, he gave her a puzzled expression. "Sorry what?"
"This potion will change you to the desire of your destined. Are you sure that is what she and you had intended?"
Taken aback, Spike responded defiantly, "Of course it is, that is why I am here. I need this to become the stallion of Rarity's dream."
"Then no matter what change shall start, are you ready to accept the consequence with all of your heart?"
Spike stood there for a few moments. Deciphering the last of Zecora's riddles, he began to understand what she was saying and the lesson he was being given. He was ready to become somepony else for Rarity which could potentially mean losing what it meant to be him. He hesitated for a few more minutes before looking back at Zecora with a determined smile. "I have never been so sure of anything else."
Zecora nodded sadly with her eyes closed, accepting the dragon's decision. She handed him the cup and was silent. Spike took a deep breath.
This is it. Don't get scared now.
He rose the cup to his lips and started drinking.