“So, Applejack,” Scorpan starts over at Sweet Apple Acres as he and Twilight sat on her sofa, “Twilight tells me you reformed Flim and Flam at Las Pegasus.”
“Well if she told you that, she probably miss-understood.” Applejack said as she puts a tray of cider mugs on the coffee table.
“But you two worked together to stop Gladmane, didn’t you?” Twilight asked.
“We had a temporary truce.” Applejack corrected her. “We both had a common enemy, so we wanted to stop him from ruining friendships just so he can make a quick bit. But the Flim-Flam Brothers never changed a bit. They just took over the resort and became more powerful than ever! Ah just made those con brothers a whole lot worse!” She tosses her hat on the ground in anger. Scorpan and Twilight both get startled by Applejack’s anger. “Uh, sorry about that. They just almost ruined our business so many times, and ah’ve had a grudge on them ever since.”
“All is understood, Applejack.” Scorpan said as he sips his cider. “WOO! This is cider is delicious!”
“Yeah ah get that a lot! Our cider is the best in the land!” Applejack said.
“So anyway, how did you get them to work together?” Scorpan asked. “Maybe if Tirek and I had a common interest, maybe it could encourage him to give me another chance.”
“Well, they were both fightin’ at the time.” Applejack said. “Ah really preferred them to keep fightin’ since they’re much less of a threat that way. But ah would never say no to the Friendship Map; no matter how much ah get mad at that stupid thing for makin’ me do the impossible.”
“I see.” Scorpan nods as he takes another sip. “I know very little about the Friendship Map. I only seen it once in my visions after Starlight Glimmer used it to go back in time which is how I saw her reform. If it knows that I could reform my brother, would it tell me?”
“I don’t think any of us can answer that question.” Twilight said. “We just trust the map’s judgment, and we never fail in the end! Not once!”
Just then, the front door opens as Spike walks in with the crusaders. “Oh hey, Spike! I didn’t expect to see you here!” Twilight said.
“I almost asked you the same thing!” Spike said.
“Come on, kitchen’s this way.” Apple Bloom lead the way.
“I’ll catch up with you in a bit, Twilight. How’s the reform training, Scorpan?” Spike asked.
“It’s going great” Scorpan thumbs up.
“Great! I’ll catch up with you two in a bit!” Spike said as he follows the crusaders to the kitchen.
“Great kid that dragon is! Isn’t he, red guy?” Scorpan asks Big Mac.
“Eeeyup, but who you callin’ ‘red guy’?” Big Mac asks curiously.
“Don’t take it too personally, Big Mac. He’s new to ponykind… again.” Applejack said.
Over at the kitchen sometime after Twilight and Scorpan leave, Spike picks up the oven mitts and careful removes the apple pie from the oven, and places it with the rest of the apple pies.
Granny Smith takes a sniff at the pies and she says, “Well ah’ll be, little feller! These here pies smell 10x better than the last one ya made here!”
“Yeah, always room for improvements, eh Granny Smith?” Spike nudges her.
“Yeah, but look on the bright side, mah first pie wasn’t that good either!” Granny Smith said. “Once ah finished making that pie, none of the family would eat it, so ah just fed it to the rodents! Course they didn’t want it either. It’s a shame to waste all those apples.”
“Well practice makes perfect, even when it comes to cakes, as Pinkie always says! Or in this case, pies!” Spike informs her. “So now that I’ve really improved in making ol fashion Sweet Apple Acres apple pies, what’s my next lesson?”
“Eh? What lesson?” Granny asks.
“My next lesson!” Spike repeats. “Aren’t I your apprentice?”
“Oh heavens, Spike!” Granny Smith chuckles as she pats him on the head. “You’re a good little feller, but Sweet Apple Acres Apple Pies are a family secret! Only reserved for the trusted Apple family members!”
“So if I’m not your apprentice, what am I?” Spike asked.
“Why you’re mah assistant, of course!” Granny said as Spike’s jaw drops. “Ah must say, ya really know how to be helpful, sugarcube! Ah can see why Twilight loves you so much!”
That was when Spike angrily marches out of the farmhouse and slams the door behind him as he starts rumbling to himself. When he sees Big Mac raking leaves, Spike asks him, “Hey Big Mac, is Granny Smith always this picky?”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac nods.
“Well I can see why Applejack gets like that too.” Spike rolls his eyes and sighs. “Well, see you in our next O&O session.” He then begins to walk away in sorrow.
Spike returns to the Crusaders’ Club House and eats some slices of pie with them as he tries to figure out what to do next. “So what happened with Granny?” Apple Bloom asks.
“Well apparently she doesn’t want me to be her apprentice since I’m not ‘part of the family’.” Spike complains. “Does everypony always see me as just an assistant?”
“We have to try something else.” Sweetie Belle said. “Something that doesn’t make Spike think he’s just an assistant.”
“Right! He wants his destiny to have a big impact in Equestria, just like ours!” Scootaloo said.
“Well, impact in Ponyville for now.” Sweetie Belle corrects her.
“Whatever; but I know we can do it!” Scootaloo says with confidence. “If Spike doesn’t want to be an assistant, he doesn’t have to.”
“Uh, yeah, that was kind of the point, Scootaloo.” Spike informs her.
“Oh right!” Scootaloo remembers.
“Let’s check the chart to see what’s next!” Apple Bloom checks the chart to see what else Spike can do, and after a few seconds of thinking, her brain hatches an idea. “Ah know just the thing you’d want, Spike!”
So the crusaders start off by taking him to Zecora’s hut where he can brew his own potions, and learn under Zecora’s teachings much like Apple Bloom has. Unfortunately, before Spike was able to add any potions into the cauldron, Zecora refuses to have him go near it, and just gives him a broom. Spike angrily leaves and slams the door behind him, and the crusaders cross ‘brewing potions’ off the list.
Next, the crusaders take him to Sugarcube Corner, where Mr. and Mrs. Cake allow him to help deliver brownies to various locations around Ponyville. The crusaders assist him in delivering, which he doesn’t mind since they’re the assistances and not him. They take the brownies over to Derpy’s house, to Cranky and Matilda’s house, to Amethyst Star’s house, to Twist’s house, to Silver Spoon’s house, and finally to Diamond Tiara’s house, where Spoiled Rich was hiding behind the wall to avoid getting noticed. Once Spike and the crusaders leave, Spoiled Rich pops out and takes her share of the brownies in a haste, much to Diamond Tiara’s amusement. Once Spike and the crusaders return to Sugarcube Corner, Mr. Cake gives Spike a broom to sweep the shop, and that’s when Spike knew he had enough. So Spike angrily leaves, and slams the door behind him, as the crusaders check ‘deliverer’ off the list.
The crusaders then take Spike to the Ponyville Spa where Spike was massaging a relaxing pony, but the spa ponies didn’t much like it, much to Spike’s concern; and just then, the spa ponies give Spike a mop and a bucket, and like all other times, he leaves with the door slammed shut.
The crusaders take Spike to various other locations around Ponyville, but everywhere Spike tried, he just ended up getting the assistant role, and he slammed every single door as he left each place. After one of the doors he slammed shut, the impact caused the window on the door to shatter, which made him and the crusaders very nervous, and they all fled the scene of the crime.
Later that evening at Twilight’s castle, Twilight takes Scorpan to talk to Starlight and Trixie, and Trixie explains to him how she got reformed. “And the Great and Apologetic Trixie felt so guilty of what she did, which made her the most humble and honorable pony in all of Equestria by apologizing to her arch-nemesis, Twilight! Trixie has done the impossible!”
“Oh yeah, you’re absolutely right, Trixie! Nopony else ever apologized to their arch-nemesis at all in the past; you were the very first that has done that.” Twilight says sarcastically.
“That’s right! Trixie has made history that night!” Trixie cries out, feeling proud of herself, and Twilight just rolls her eyes.
“The Alicorn Amulet sounds like a very dangerous instrument. I have yet to know who created it, and why.” Scorpan said.
“I think it’s best we just never find out.” Twilight informs him. “Just leave it in a museum where it belongs.”
“Is Trixie’s name mentioned in the history lesson?” Trixie asks.
“I don’t think you want that, Trix.” Starlight informs her. “If your name is on it, it’s probably only going to mention what happened.”
“Oh.” Trixie felt pretty embarrassed, and a little nervous. “Well then, let’s hope my name ISN’T on it then.”
“Thank you very much for your lesson, Trixie!” Scorpan said. “You could be right. Tirek might be corrupted with something. He wasn’t always this evil. We were once brothers. Tirek wasn’t the nicest of all cerberuses, but he was fair. Perhaps finding out the source of it all can help out in reforming him. You think I should trick him as well?”
“I don’t think Tirek would be that gullible, but anything is possible!” Twilight said.
“Gullible, hmm!” Trixie pouts. “Trixie is anything but gullible!”
“So evil then?” Twilight teases. “You did say you were ANYTHING, but gullible.” She giggles awkwardly, as everyone just looks at her with blank expressions on their faces.
“Yeah, leave the jokes to experts, Twilight. You’re no good at them.” Trixie said.
Just then, Spike and the crusaders walk into the castle, catching the attention of Scorpan and the others upstairs. “Well that was a total bust.” Spike says pessimistically.
“You’ll find your destiny soon, Spike! I know it!” Sweetie Belle comforts him.
“Not at this rate, Sweetie Belle.” Spike sighs. “Maybe I’m not meant to have one.”
“Everypony has a destiny, Spike.” Apple Bloom said. “You’ll find yours one day. It took us so long to find ours! Your destiny will not come overnight.”
“Yeah, you’re right, Apple Bloom.” Spike smiles. “Thanks for helping me out, crusaders! I really appreciate it you taking the time to help me!”
“Hey, it’s what we do best!” Scootaloo said.
“Hey, look who’s finally back!” Twilight said as she walks downstairs with Scorpan, Starlight, and Trixie. “Where have you been today, Spike?”
“Oh just doing different things.” Spike said. “I’m looking to expand my horizons!”
“That’s great!” Twilight said, feeling proud of him. “I’m glad you’re out there doing other things, and being social! It’s not every day I see you hanging with the crusaders!”
“Yeah, they’re pretty fun to hang with!” Spike said.
“Yep, we sure are!” Scootaloo said boldly.
“You’re more fun to hang with, Spike!” Sweetie Belle said.
“Yeah, I get that a lot!” Spike says boldly just as he started getting a little nauseous.
“Well, it’s gettin’ late. We better head home.” Apple Bloom suggests. “Ah hope you have a good night, Spike!” Just as she finishes talking, Spike burps up a scroll from the princess.
“Heh, maybe his destiny is to be a mailbox!” Scootaloo teases.
“No, Scoots, that was low.” Sweetie Belle informs her.
“Yeah, ah agree.” Apple Bloom said.
“Heh, sorry.” Scootaloo said, feeling embarrassed. Twilight picks up the scroll and opens it.
“Is it a letter from the princess?” Starlight asks.
“No, it’s a pizza delivery.” Spike answers sarcastically.
Twilight starts reading the scroll out loud as everypony listens; “Dear Twilight, we are having a friendship summit with all of Equestria’s allies today. I would love for you to come by to help out with the summit. Some of the allies don’t really get along with one another, and I don’t think I could do it by myself. Please bring Spike with you. Sincerely, Princess Celestia.”
“Please bring Spike?” Spike asks.
“Well, you are friends with the Dragon Lord AND the King of the Changelings.” Starlight informs him. “Maybe Ember and Thorax could use your perspective on things!”
“Well if BOTH of them are coming to the summit, I can’t say no to that!” Spike said.
“Sounds like a plan!” Twilight said. “Starlight, Scorpan, either of you want to go?”
“What? No Trixie?” Trixie complains. and Twilight glares at her. “What?”
“Nah, I don’t need to go, they’re always so boring!” Starlight said. “But thanks for the offer though, and tell Thorax I said hi!”
“Well if Starlight doesn’t want to go, I don’t want to either.” Trixie said.
“Thank Celestia.” Twilight mumbles in relief.
“What was that?” Trixie asks curiously.
“Nothing!” Twilight says suspiciously as she fakes a smile.
“Me neither, Twilight.” Scorpan said. “I still want to know Starlight’s story.”
“Oh you don’t need to hear my story, Scorpan!” Starlight declines. “It’s really not that special! You already learned a lot!”
“I could use all the information I could get.” Scorpan insists.
“Sounds like a good idea to me!” Twilight said as Starlight bucks herself on her forehead in defeat. “You go ahead and help Scorpan out, Starlight, while Spike and I are off at Canterlot.”
“Greeeeeeeat! Fantaaaaastic!” Starlight said, obviously faking her enthusiasm.
Just as the crusaders were walking out, Spike looks over at them feeling bad. He turns back to Twilight and asks, “Hey, Twilight. Can the crusaders come with us to Canterlot?”
“What?” Twilight asks.
“What?” The crusaders ask in shock.
“What?” Scorpan asks. “I’m not curious, I just wanted to be a part of it.”
“But Spike, we can’t go to Canterlot!” Scootaloo informs him.
“Besides, I might have to ask Rarity first.” Sweetie Belle said.
“So ask her!” Spike said. “The three of you can request permission to come to Canterlot so you can, you know, find more cutie mark help!”
The crusaders all smiled with glee at each other, and they all gave Twilight ‘the look’ as they started begging, “Can we pleeeeease go to Canterlot, Twilight?” Apple Bloom asks.
“Pleeeeease!” Scootaloo asks.
“Crusaders need to expand!” Sweetie Belle adds. Twilight thinks it over as she looks at the crusaders, and then to Spike who gives Twilight a pleading look as well. Twilight smiles and says, “If you girls have permission to come, you can come!”
The crusaders all cheer in excitement and chant, “Cutie Mark Crusading in Canterlot! Cutie Mark Crusading in Canterlot!”
“I envy you, crusaders! I wish I would’ve had a strong friendship like that when I was younger!” Starlight said.
“Same!” Trixie agrees.
“I think we all are!” Twilight said. “Well, crusaders, you better go ask permission to come to Canterlot with us, because we’re leaving later tonight!”
“We will!” Apple Bloom said as Twilight, Starlight, Trixie, and Scorpan all walked upstairs leaving Spike and the crusaders alone.
“Spike, you didn’t have to do that!” Sweetie Belle said gratefully.
“But why did you?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Well,” Spike started to explain feeling grateful, “I… I really appreciate all that you did for me in helping me find what my purpose in life is, and even though we went absolutely nowhere today, you did say things have been slow lately for you three, so… I’m giving Canterlot a day with the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”
The crusaders all run over to give Spike a hug, and Apple Bloom cries out in excitement, “What are we waiting for, crusaders!? We need to talk to our sisters!” The crusaders all run out of the castle, leaving Spike alone in the room, feeling proud of himself.
“I don’t know what my purpose in life is yet,” Spike starts, “but I do know one thing;” he puts on sunglasses, “Spike gets all the fillies!”