//------------------------------// // Spike Pan // Story: Fairy Tales of Equestria // by VioletRose13 //------------------------------// Once upon a time in a little neighborhood just like any other, there lived three fillies named Wendy Belle, John-a-loo, and Michael Bloom. They were the best of friends and they had imaginative adventures together. One night, Wendy Belle asked her friends to come over to her house for a sleepover, to which they agreed. The three had lots of fun together for hours, telling silly or scary stories and playing all kinds of make believe. Before the trio went to sleep, Wendy Belle told her dear friends about the wonderful tales and adventures of a dragon called Spike Pan. She told of how Spike Pan would fight evil pirates or play with whimsical fairies all day and night all with a smile on his face. And she told them the best part of the story, Spike Pan could never grow up and that he stayed a young dragon forever. All too soon, it was time for bed. The three fillies yawned and snuggled in their sleeping bags on the floor and before they knew it, they drifted off to sleep, thinking and dreaming of the marvelous Spike Pan and all of his many exciting escapades and adventures. But about an hour or two after the trio had fallen asleep, a tiny bright purple light flew into the room through the slightly opened window and it fluttered around the bedroom. But it soon was followed by the window bursting wide open and a tiny dragon with no wings to fly through. The dragon was dressed in green and brown rags and he had dirty brown vines wrapped around his waist and head. He looked around the room with curious eyes. “Sparkle Bell? Spark! Where are you?” The dragon whispered. “I knew you were just here.” “Over here!” The ball of light called from Wendy Belle’s nightstand. “There you are.” The dragon whispered as he ran to the nightstand. “Hey, is this the right place?” “Yeah. At least I think it is.” The light replied. That was when they heard Wendy Belle rustling and groaning in her sleeping bag. She yawned and sleepily opened her eyes as she sat up. “Ugh, what’s going on?” She asked, rubbing her head. “What’s that noise?” The dragon let out a silent gasp and he desperately ran into the closet as fast as he could to hide before the filly could see him with the light following close behind. Wendy Belle’s eyes widened with worry when she heard movement, which wasn’t her own. “Who’s there?” She asked nervously. “I know you’re there, so come on out.” Wendy Belle then noticed a faint purple light coming from her closet. She slowly stood up and made her way to the closet. She opened the door and she saw the dragon hiding behind some of her clothes. She was so frightened and surprised that she let out a cry and fell back in surprise. The dragon was just as surprised as her, so much so that he jumped up a great height from the closet to the banister of the filly’s bed. Wendy Belle looked at find the dragon’s tail poking out from the banister above. She giggled and smiled at him. He slowly peeked his head out to look back at the unicorn filly; the dragon saw that she wasn’t going to hurt him. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.” She said, offering the stranger her hoof. “Come on down.” Though he was a little skeptical at first, the dragon slowly climbed down to the floor and took the filly’s hoof. They smiled at each other, no longer afraid of the other. “Hello.” Wendy Belle whispered kindly. “I’m Wendy Belle. What’s your name?” “Spike Pan.” The dragon said politely. “Wait. Did you say your name was Spike Pan?” “Yeah. Why?” “It’s just… I’ve been telling some stories about you to my best friends over there, John-a-loo and Michael Bloom.” “Really?” “Yeah, but… how did you get here?” “I flew, of course.” “You fly?! Without wings?! But how?!” “With happy thoughts. Wanna know how?” “Yeah!” Wendy Belle’s excited outburst abruptly woke up John-a-loo and Michael Bloom. They groaned, sat up, sleepily rubbed their eyes, looked, saw Wendy Belle standing with Spike Pan, and their tired eyes widened in shock. “Uh, Wendy Belle? Who’s your friend?” Michael Bloom asked, pointing a hoof at the dragon. “What’s he doing here?” John-a-loo added. “Girls, you’re probably not gonna believe this, but… this is Spike Pan.” Wendy Belle introduced. The dragon gave a polite bow. “Him?” John-a-loo asked. “That’s Spike Pan?!” “The one and only.” The little dragon said proudly, standing straight. “It can’t be!” Michael Bloom cried. “It can and it is.” Spike Pan said, smiling. “I was just about to teach you three how to fly without the assistance of any wings.” “Really?!” The two fillies exclaimed with wide eyes. “Yeah! C’mon Spike, show us!” Wendy Belle insisted. “Okay, okay.” Spike said. He jumped up onto the bed and looked at the three fillies who were now crowding around it with wonder in their widened eyes. “I’ll tell you ladies how to fly like I do, but you’re gonna have to believe every word I tell you. You promise?” “Yeah, we do.” The trio said. “Okay. All you have to do is think happy, wonderful thoughts. They lift you into the air. It’s easy.” As the dragon spoke, he floated into the air and he was now sitting on the ceiling. Michael Bloom, Wendy Belle, and John-a-loo all stared in awe; they wanted to try it. But when they tried, they all landed flat on their faces. “Oh, you guys are gonna need some extra help.” Spike said, scratching his chin with his claw. Then he had an idea. He whistled and the ball of light flew out of the closet and up to the dragon. The trio saw the light and they all wondered what it could be. “Whoa! What is that thing?” John-a-loo asked, her eyes transfixed on the light. “Not what, who. Ladies, this is my friend, Sparkle Bell. Or Spark for short. She’s a fairy, we’ve been together for a long time.” Spike said. “Go on, Spark, say hello.” “Hello!” The tiny creature said as it flew in front of the fillies. When she came into better view, Sparkle Bell looked like a tiny unicorn pony a purple coat and enormous and intricate insect-like wings and she was also wearing a little green and purple dress. She looked absolutely adorable. “You three are trying to fly?” Spark asked. “Don’t worry, I can fix that.” And with that Spark’s tiny horn glowed and magic swirled the fillies. By the time she was done, the fillies were covered in a sparkling magenta colored dust. “Okay, try it again. Close your eyes and think happy thoughts.” Spike encouraged them. John-a-loo, Michael Bloom, and Wendy Belle closed their eyes tightly and thought of anything that made them happy. Michael Bloom thought of swashbuckling and pirates, John-a-loo thought of flying through the sky and fairies, and Wendy Belle thought of fantasy and adventure. By the time they opened their eyes, they looked and they were all floating up in the air. They gasped and cheered with enthusiasm. “We’re doing it! We’re flying!” The three cheered with joy as they darted around the room like a flock of birds. “That’s right! Now who wants to go with me to Neverland?” Spike asked. “Neverland?” The fillies asked. “Yeah, my home. Where adventure and dreams come to life. You wanna come or not?” Spike asked, showing them the open window. “Uh… YEAH WE DO!!” The trio screamed with anticipation. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” “But wait! How are we gonna find it?” Wendy Belle asked. “It’s easy. Just follow the star. It’s the second star to the right and straight on till morning.” Spike Pan answered. “That sounds fun.” Michael Bloom commented. “It is. Well, come on!” And with that, Spike Pan, Sparkle Bell, Wendy Belle, John-a-loo, and Michael Bloom flew out the window and into the cool dark sky. They soared through the night, passed the stars and through the clouds. It was like a dream. And soon, as they came to the second star, they saw that they were quickly approaching an island surrounded by royal blue water. And sitting in a small cove near the island, there was a pirate ship with black sails. “Hey, Spike! What’s that?” Michael Bloom asked, pointing a hoof at the ship. “That? That’s the Chaotic Roger.” Spike replied. “What’s the Chaotic Roger?” Wendy Belle asked. “She’s the ship that belongs to Captain Claw, my sworn enemy.” Spike said. “Who’s Captain Claw?” John-a-loo asked. “He’s the sleaziest pirate ever to sail the seas. That old sea snake, he’s always after me to try and kill me, then skin me and use my scales as a coat or even as a pair of boots.” “Sounds horrible. And gross.” “Yeah, pretty nasty.” Meanwhile, on the ship, a pony with a pink coat and wearing a striped shirt and red beanie saw the group in the sky through a spyglass. She gasped dramatically and screamed: “Captain! Captain, come quick! He’s back!” That was when a tall creature wearing a red coat, a big hat, and a metal claw on his left hand came out. It was Captain Claw; he was a draconequus and he went out to the deck to see what was wrong. “What is it now, Pinkie Smee? I was busy.” He said in a deep, cruel voice. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But look up there!” The pony said, giving the spyglass to her captain. Claw looked through the glass and he saw what Pinkie Smee was seeing before. It was Spike Pan and his new friends. “Pan. All hooves on deck, you filthy dogs!” He commanded. The rest of the crew ran to their captain and stopped in a straight line. “Artillery, stand by with the secret weapon. Let’s see if Pan and his new companions have a sweet tooth.” Back in the sky, Spike and his friends were playing around in the sky when Wendy Belle noticed something about the ship down below. “Hey, Spike? What’s going on down there?” She asked. “Huh?” Spike looked to what Wendy Belle was talking about and his eyes widened. “Look out! We’re under attack!” That was when a large piece of chocolate cake came flying out of nowhere, nearly hitting Spike in the face. Soon, more and more pastries and sweets starting coming towards the group in the air, trying to cover them all in sticky, icky sweetness and fall onto the boat. But Spike and Spark came prepared for a situation like this. Spike blew magical green fire and Spark used her magic to make some of the sweet foods fly back towards the ship. Soon, a cherry pie hit Wendy Belle in the face, causing her to fall. She was soon followed by John-a-loo and Michael Bloom. The three fillies fell from the sky until they finally landed on the Chaotic Roger, at Captain Claw’s feet. They stared at him in shock and terror; they hadn’t seen a creature so horrifying in their lives and they nearly screamed. “Ah, and what do we have here?” Claw asked, examining the fillies closely. “Let me guess… Wendy Belle, John-a-loo, and Michael Bloom. New friends of Spike Pan, eh?” “Who wants to know?” Wendy Belle asked boldly. “Good ol’ Captain Claw, of course. Who else?” The pirate asked smugly. “What do you want with us?” “Nothing, you’re the bait.” “For what?” “For Spike Pan, my dear.” “Why is it that you hate Spike so much?” “It’s simple. He was the one who gave me this.” He showed the filly his left claw. “He cut it off and he threw it to a passing cragadile. That monster liked it so much that it’s been following me ever since, licking its lips for the rest of me. And the only way I know it’s coming is the ticking of a clock in its belly. Everypony, ready the nets. We’re about to catch a baby dragon tonight.” The fillies were soon tied up and placed on the plank just above the dark cold water. Captain Claw, Pinkie Smee, and the rest of the crew stood on deck, staring at the little foals in distress. “There’s no one who can save you now, ladies.” Claw said, pointing his sword at them. “Any last requests before you meet your fate?” That was when Wendy Belle and her friends heard something. It sounded like a faint ticking, just like that of a clock. “Yes. Do you hear that?” Wendy Belle asked slyly. “Hear what?” Claw asked. “That. It sounds like a… tick-tock.” Wendy Belle began. “Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.” The other two fillies chanted along with her. And that was when Captain Claw began to hear it as well. He cringed in fright as the dreaded sound of a clock fill his ears. He then grabbed Pinkie Smee and held her close to his body in horror, looking for protection. “Smee. The cragadile! Hide me, Smee! Hide me!” He cried. “Whoa! Aye, aye, captain! Okay, okay, okay!” Smee said as she and Claw lay on the floor with their eyes shut; the rest of the crew hid on different parts of the ship. Little did they know that they would be in for a surprise, for it was Spike Pan and Sparkle Bell and they used an ordinary clock to scare the captain into a tizzy to save their new friends. Spike left the clock by Claw and he went over to the girls. “Hey, guys.” He whispered. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you outta this in no time.” “But Spike, if you and Claw start fightin’, he’ll kill you the first minute he gets.” Michael Bloom whispered. “No he won’t. I came prepared for that, too. I brought backup.” He took in a deep breath and he blew magical green fire onto the girls’ rope bonds, setting them free. But then, the ticking from behind them abruptly stopped. The group all turned around to see that Captain Claw was holding the now broken clock in his right hand and in his left was Sparkle Bell. Spike and the girls gasped in fear and shock. “How nice of you to drop in, Spike.” The pirate draconequus said smugly as he held up the fairy tauntingly. “Spike!” Spark cried. “Don’t hurt her!” Spike demanded. “Oh, Spike. Hand yourself over to me or your little fairy friend dies.” “Spike, no! Don’t!” “Okay, okay! To save Spark… alright, Claw. You win.” “There’s a good dragon.” Claw said as he let go of Spark’s wing. But just when he was about to grab Spike, the dragon whistled and an entire army of fairies came flying towards the ship. Battle broke out on the Chaotic Roger, fairies vs. pirates. Spike and Claw were fighting each other, each with a sword in their claw and in mid air. “Hey, Claw! How about a little fire?” Spike said before blowing another blaze of fire. This time, because of Spike’s magical fire breath, the ship’s mast had suddenly caught on fire. The flames danced all over the ship, setting anything it touched on fire. In no time, more than half of the ship was now engulfed in green flame. Claw and his crew jumped overboard to save themselves and the fairies flew off to escape. But Spike and the girls were still on board. “Spike, we have to get out of here!” John-a-loo cried. “Yeah, the ship is sinking!” Michael Bloom added. “Not without Spark!” Spike shouted. “Hey, Claw! Where’s Sparkle Bell?!” “She and all of you can go down with the ship for all I care!” Claw screamed, sitting in a tiny life boat with Pinkie Smee. “We have to save her!” Wendy Belle said. “You girls go, I’ll do it!” Spike said, going down into the wreckage. “Spike, no!” The girls cried as they were lifted into the air away from the ship. Spike flew all across the burning deck, desperately searching for his beloved friend. And soon, he found her under a stray piece of sail. He picked the fairy in his claws and meeting back up with his friends. They flew to the shore and Spike gently lay Spark upon the sand. “Is she going to be okay?” Wendy Belle asked. “I don’t know. But maybe… if we wish hard enough.” Spike suggested. “Seriously? That sounds pretty cheesy.” John-a-loo commented, Michael Bloom nodded her head in agreement. “Hey! It’s worth a shot. Come on, wish with me.” Spike said as they all closed their eyes. As if by magic, Sparkle Bell’s light purple glow returned and her eyes slowly fluttered open. Then she abruptly sat up and looked up at the group of four above her. “Spike? Girls?” She asked. “Spark? Spark! Thank goodness you’re okay!” Spike cried with joy as he opened his eyes. He hugged the fairy tightly and he smiled. He then turned to the girls as they opened their eyes. “That’s what happens when you believe.” Spike explained. “As long as there are ponies still believing, Spark and I will always be the way we are now. Okay, girls, I think it’s about time for you three to get back home. Your parents would be worried sick if you didn’t come back.” “You’re right. I am pretty exhausted.” Wendy Belle yawned. “Me, too.” Michael Bloom added. “Me, three.” John-a-loo said. “Okay, everypony. Let’s go.” Spark said as everyone floated into the sky. Meanwhile, Captain Claw was watching his precious Chaotic Roger sink into the water still ablaze. “Row, you miserable excuse for a pirate, Smee!” He demanded. “Aye, aye, captain!” Pinkie Smee said as she used her hooves to paddle. “I lost my prisoners, my dignity, and my precious ship! What else can go wrong?!” That was when Claw heard ticking once again. He smirked. “I know it’s you, Pan. Trick’s over.” “What trick, Claw?” Spike asked as he and the girls floated above the life boat. “Yeah, he doesn’t have the clock anymore. Remember? You smashed it.” Spark added. “Wait. If that’s not coming from any of you, then…” Claw whipped his head around to see the ticking cragadile swimming towards the tiny life boat. It licked its lips at the draconequus pirate. Claw was so frightened that he screamed like a little girl, causing Pinkie Smee to flip the boat and fall into the cold water. The cragadile ticked and ticked away as it swam closer to Captain Claw; he screamed in horror again and he swam away as fast as he could from Neverland with the ticking creature following right behind him. Back in Equestria, Spike was about to say goodbye to his new friends. “Well, goodbye girls. But don’t worry. I’ll come back as long as you keep on believing. And if you want to, we can go explore the rest of Neverland in the future.” He said. “Sounds like a plan to me.” John-a-loo said. “Yeah, can’t wait.” Michael Bloom commented. “I hope we get to see each other again, Spike.” Wendy Belle said before giving Spike a quick kiss on the cheek. And with that, Spike Pan and Sparkle Bell flew out the window and into the night sky with the three fillies waving goodbye to them. And as long as they believed in Spike Pan, Sparkle Bell, and the magical island of Neverland, Wendy Belle, John-a-loo, and Michael Bloom all lived happily ever after.