//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Can anypony find me? (properly edited) // Story: Somepony to Love // by Jet Storm //------------------------------// Spike stared down at the three Cutie Mark Crusaders questionably. The three fillies were staggering at this point, still recovering from Spike's earlier light show. He placed a claw over his face and shook his head in disbelief. Whilst he knew the girls' hearts were generally in the right place, their help often ended up with him (and them) acquiring too many bruises for his liking. Furthermore, to ask the sister of his crush for love advice was too low of a blow for his pride to take. Having made up his mind, he backed away slowly, not wanting to stay a minute longer. "I'll think about it, Zecora," he lied, but before the zebra could interject, he bolted down the path back to Ponyville. "Thanks for trying anyway." Zecora shook her head and let out a defeated sigh. She tried her best, but nothing was going to change this stubborn dragon ... yet. The potion she made him drink would help open up his heart to other possibilities. She just needed help for it to work. Her gaze returned to the three fillies who had nearly fully recovered. "Zecora, what happened to Spike, " asked Sweetie Belle, sheepishly rubbing a hoof over her eyes to clear her vision. "Speaking of which, where is Spike?" Scootaloo asked, looking around. "I could’ve sworn he was here just a minute ago.” Zecora turned away to hide the brief smile that appeared on her face. There were plenty of ponies who would and could help, but for now, she had best keep this a secret. "Young Spike has returned home," she began but then returned to face the three fillies. Her smile disappeared, replaced instead with a raised eye brow appearing annoyed that her privacy had been invaded. "Minding his own business should you know!" Zecora now looked menacingly at the three who were squirming in their hoofs. "Now, come inside you Crusaders of the Cutie Mark. You need to explain why you were under my tree covered in bark." The three girls were caught red-hoofed. They looked at each other blushing before looking back at the annoyed zebra with wide sheepish grins on their face, walking backwards slowly. "We - ah - would love to but" Scootaloo gulped, turning to Apple Bloom unable to think of a good excuse. "But Scootaloo has ummm -" Apple Bloom trailed struggling to think of a reasonable explanation. "A-summer-school-grammar-and-spelling-assignment-that's-due-tomorrow," Sweetie Belle squeaked loudly and far too quickly, hoping to sound convincing. "And we need to help her complete it, or she'll have to repeat the grade. The silly filly," bumping a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder. "Yeah," Scootaloo giggled nervously but was a bit too slow to realize what had just been said. "Wait, what?" "So we’d love to stay but... we gotta go, bye!" Apple Bloom said loudly, galloping away; Sweetie Belle followed just behind. Scootaloo stood there for a few seconds, but quickly scrambled to her hooves and fluttered her wings, desperately trying to catch up with her friends though still somewhat confused. "Hey Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! What assignment! Wait up!" As she stood there watching the three fillies, Zecora chuckled to herself satisfied with the good deed done for the day. She then turned to go inside to clean up the mess inside her hut. After a while, the three fillies managed to get a fair distance away from Zecora as they made their way back to Ponyville. "You (huff) think she knows?" asked Sweetie Belle as sweat trickled down her cheeks. "Ah (huff) don't think (huff) she has (huff) a clue," said Apple Bloom hopefully. "Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom. Wait (huff)" shouted Scootaloo trailing just behind. "Ah think (huff) this is far enough (huff)" said Apple Bloom, ignoring the orange filly. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle slowed, allowing Scootaloo to catch up. Eventually the three fillies stopped in the middle of the path allowing them time to catch their breaths. After a few moments rest, Sweetie Belle wiped the sweat off her brow and looked at her friends who were still exhausted and gasped for air. "So what now? Should we go after him?" Apple Bloom shook her head. "Ah think we should call it quits," Apple Bloom said to her friend. "But he needs our help," squeaked Sweetie Belle with a disbelief look at Apple Bloom. "If you weren't so busy fighting with Scootaloo, you'd hear how much he needs a friend right now." Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and pointed an accusing hoof back at the white unicorn. "Firstly, yah did as much fightin as us, and second, Ah know what was said, but he clearly needs space to think things over." "But-" "Doncha remember the last time we tried to intervene in another ponies love affair?" asked Apple Bloom remembering an unfortunate incident involving a love poison. Sweetie Belle turns away blushing. It was her idea originally, and her friends were equally excited at the romantic prospect of their teacher and Apple Bloom's brother getting together, but the effects of the poison were too strong which would have condemned Ponyville to inevitable, certain doom. "Ah know yah wanna play matchmaker and yah a hopeless romantic, but do yah think we should really get involved this time?" Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to retort, but Scootaloo interjected unaware of the exchange happening between her friends. "Okay, what assignment?" she asked annoyed and scared. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stopped momentarily, staring blankly at Scootaloo wearing an eye wide expressions. They slowly turned to meet each other’s gaze. Their faces seized into hidden giggles trying to contain themselves. They failed however and fell down, rolling over in roars of laughter. The bizarre nature of the question had broken the tension between the two fillies, snapping them out of their argument at Scootaloo's expense. "What's so funny?" "Scoots," Apple Bloom tried to speak but was unable to regain her composure, "yah don't have ahn assignment." "Yeah that was just an excuse to get away from Zecora," giggled Sweetie Belle. "You don't need to worry." Scootaloo mouth opens agape as the revelation dawns on her. Upset with her friends (but mostly herself at the obvious), she turned her head away from. "Why did you guys do that? I was seriously worried," pouted Scootaloo who starts to tear up. "I hate it when you tease me like that. I'm not a silly filly." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle quickly stop laughing as they look at the exasperated pegasus. "Look, Scoots, it was all in good fun. But for what it's worth, Ah'm sorry," Apple Bloom says apologetically using her left hoof to pull her into a hug. "We'll try not to tease yah so much." "Yeah, me too," Sweetie Belle said mimicking Apple Bloom, whilst rubbing her cheek lovingly against Scootaloo's. The warm embrace by her friends had calmed the pegasus, who quickly returned their hugs in full. Apple Bloom is the first to break away, a beaming smile with a great idea. "Hey, let's get a cupcake at Sugarcube Corner to make up," offered Apple Bloom. "Yeah it'll be our treat," added Sweetie Belle helpfully. Scootaloo wiped away a small tear satisfied with her friends' generosity. "Sounds good," agrees Scootaloo but a smirk soon appeared on her face, "hope you can afford the Pinkie Pie special." The three girls giggled and resumed their short trek into Ponyville. As they neared the famous sweet shop, however, Sweetie Belle jumped joyfully, her hoof pointing over towards a green and purple dragon. "Hey looks it's Spike!" Sweetie Belle said out loud looking back at her friends. "If we hurry we can catch up!" Before Sweetie Belle could move, Apple Bloom pulled her shoulder, a concerned look on her face. "Sweetie Belle, ah understand how yah feel, but doncha think we should leave him alone?" Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes in disbelief. Not this again. "Look I'm sure he needs our help," Sweetie Belle countered, stealing a glance at the dragon before turning back to her friends, "please, let's just see how he is going?" Apple Bloom switched her gaze between the pleading unicorn and the saddened dragon. She let out an exasperated and defeated groan. "A'right fine, but - "Apple Bloom said raising a hoof onto Sweetie Belle's snout, interrupting the unicorn’s glee "- we should approach him gently, in case he doesn't want to talk about it." "Okay, I understand," Sweetie Belle responded nodding her head. "But come on, before we lose him." The two fillies made a quick dash in the dragon's direction, leaving behind the confused pegasus. "Wait, what about my cupcake?" Spike continued walking through the streets of Ponyville unaware that he was being followed by the three fillies closely behind him. It was a sunny mid-afternoon and the Town's ponies were bustling about. Spike eventually reached the fountain in the middle of the town, where he sat on the bench, his elbows on his knees and his claws underneath his chin. What was he to do now? He went to both Zecora and Twilight for help but to no avail. Now he arrogantly refused the zebra's suggestion to get help from the Cutie Mark Crusaders. He only felt trepidation particularly at the uncertainty for his future and what moves he needed to take. His mind began to wonder. His thoughts began to haunt him as unpleasant memories resurfaced. ... "Rarity, I love you." "I just don't see you like that, Spike." "What did you just say?" "HOW CAN ANYPONY LOVE A DRAGON!" ... your journey has just begun... ... Shaking his head, he watched the Town's ponies going on about their own daily business, unaware of the turmoils in the young dragon's heart. "Do you think you can find me a purple carrot?" asked a light blue unicorn mare sweetly to the large red stallion. "Eenope," he replied looking over his apple cart. "Ah, Mr Cake, can you please -" shouted a black pegasus stallion, a light green earth pony mare by his side. "Sorry, I have to make this delivery first," yelled out the baker as he ran with a cart full of sweets. "Please somepony, I've misplaced my bow!" a brown mare with a black mane called out desperately to the crowd. "Can anypony help me?" Suddenly, Spike stood up, unable to hold back his emotions any longer, takes a deep breath and begins. Cannnnn~ Anyponyyy~~~ Find me-eee~ Somepony toooo~~ LOVE? Each morning I get up I sigh a little Can barely stand on my feeeet~ (Take a look at yourself) Take a look in the mirror and cry Rare, what you're doing to mee~ I have spent all my years in loving you But I just can't get no relief. NOOOoo~ Someponyyy~ (somepony) Ooh someponyyy~ (somepony) Can anypony find meee~ Somepony to looovvveee~? I work hard (he works hard) Every day of my life I work till I ache my bones At the end (at the end of the day) I take home my hard-earned gems allll~ on my own (yes, on my knees on) I get down (down) on my knees, (knees) And I start to pray (praise his soul) Till the tears run down from my eyes, yeah Someponyyy~ (somepony) Ooh someponyyy~ (somepony) (Please) can anypony find meee~ Somepony to love? (He works hard) Everydayyyy~ (everyday) I try and I try and I tryyyy~ But everypony wants to put me down They say I'm goin' craaazy They say I got a lot of water in my brain I've got no common sense (He's got) Got nopony left to believe Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (Oh), Ooh somepony Ooh, (somepony) Anypony find me Somepony to love (Anypony find him somepony to love) Got no feel, I got no rhythm I just keep losing my beat (just keep losing and losing) I'm okay, I'm alright (he's alright, he's alright) I ain't gonna face no defeat (yeah, yeah) I just gotta get out of this prison cell Someday I'm gonna be free, ooh~ Find him somepony to love Find him somepony to love Find him somepony to love Find him somepony to love love love Find him somepony to love Somepony (somepony ) Somepony (somepony ) Somepony (find me) (Somepony find me somepony to love) Can anypony find meeeee~ Somepony toooo loooovvveeee? (Find me somepony to love) Ooh (Find me somepony to love) As the singing subsided, the Town ponies looked at each other confused at the sudden musical outbreak. Thinking nothing of it, they all continued on about their merry way. Big Mac comes over to Spike, placing a hoof underneath his chin and raising his head. "Cheer up, Spike," he said warmly. "Ah'm sure things will work out." Spike wiped away a small tear off his cheek. He thanked Big Mac kindly as he walked away but Spike looked down grimly. Eventually he would need to go home and face the music (figuratively speaking). Twilight was sure to be upset by his earlier outburst. He knew that Twilight cared for him but he didn't know what to say or do that could repair the things he had said. He regretted saying a lot of things that day. Behind the fountain, Sweetie Belle looked at both Apple Bloom with puppy dog eyes. Apple Bloom could feel her own heart pleading with her to intervene despite her better judgement. Scootaloo nudged Apple Bloom in the side, gesturing her head towards Spike and demanding an immediate response. Defeated and outvoted, Apple Bloom sighed. "Yeah a'right, let's go." As Spike made his way through the crowd, his path was suddenly blocked by the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The girls looked at him sympathetically and unsure. Bemused, Spike returned theirs with a blank stare. "Can I help you?" "Ummm..." Standing there awkwardly, Sweetie Belle raised a hoof behind her head unsure what to say to lighten her friend's spirits. Impatient, however, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nodded to each other and nudged their hooves into her side, prompting the startled unicorn to speak. "Spike, we heard everything!" Sweetie Belle squeaked nervously and ended abruptly. "Guess the truth is out now," Spike joked half-hardheartedly. "Well that musical number certainly didn't help," replied Scootaloo. Realizing what she said aloud, she smacked her face with a hoof chastising herself and earning a scornful glare from Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom moved in front of Sweetie Belle, gently pushing her to the side. "Look, tha point is we are sorry to hear what has happened. "And we want to help you out," added Scootaloo helpfully. "I appreciate it but-" he began but is interrupted by the white unicorn, the sudden outburst causing him to tumble backwards onto his side. "Please Spike, let us help you. I'm sure we can help change my sister's mind. You are a great pony. She'll come around, I promise," she begged. Three pairs of eyes were now boring into the dragon as he looked at them nervously. They were serious and sincere in their offering, but it didn't feel right to the dragon. As Spike opened his mouth to refuse their assistance for a third and final time, Zecora's words however played at the back of his mind. "If you can or will not listen to me, then maybe you should seek the assistance of these three." His head dropped down for a moment thinking again about these words. Honestly, what do you have to lose? he thought to himself. His lips curled into a weak but grateful smile as he looked up at the three fillies standing over. "Alright, Crusaders will you please help me find my special somepony." The girls looked at each other in triumph. "Alright Spike, meet us at the clubhouse and we'll go over some plans," said Sweetie Belle happily. "But first," Scootaloo said her hoof raised defiantly earning a questionable gaze from the two fillies and the dragon. "My cupcake."