//------------------------------// // Getting ready // Story: The New King // by ShowShine //------------------------------// Spike stood completely still with his arms sticking out on both sides. A mare took his measurements before running off into a different room. “Royalty must be dressed finely.” Starswirl said. The mare came back with blue and yellow fabrics. She wrapped them around him and with a spell, they became beautiful clothing. It was a little loose on him. The mare stuck pins into it, trying to fit him into the outfit. The doors burst open, making everyone look at them. Thorax and Ember stood there with shocked looks on there faces. Flurry hung onto Thorax’s horns, giggling. “Spike you’re King?!” Ember shouted in disbelief. He nodded his head. “What happened, we heard that everyone died!” Thorax exclaimed. Spike looked down. Thorax wanted to give him a hug but couldn’t because he was still getting fitted. “I’m.... not sure.” Spike said. Starswirl cleared his throat. “We’re not sure what happened, the guards can’t find any evidence on who did it.” He stated. Spike stared at the floor. ”They couldn’t find evidence on who did it? That’s weird. Usually every bad guy we meet leaves something to give them away. It couldn’t have been Tirek, he’s still locked up in Tartarus. And even if it was him, he would have taken all of their magic and kept them alive so they could worship him. Chrysalis is still on the run and she would be smarter and take the throne when she had the chance.” Spike thought to himself. He snapped out of his trance when he noticed Starswirl waving his hoof in his face. “Did you hear anything that I just said?” Starswirl asked. Spike gave a sheepish look and shook his head. Starswirl sighed. “After you finish planning for the coronation, we’ll go to scene where they died. Maybe you can find some evidence.” Starswirl said bluntly. Spikes scales flattened. How could he be so calm about this? “I’m done your majesty.” The mare said quietly. Spike looked in the mirror to see that his clothes fit quiet nicely. Their was a fine mix of blues and yellows. His cape was yellow on the outside and blue on the inside. On the left side of his chest, there was a small stitching. It was Twilights cutiemark. “The colors represent Princess Celestia and Luna.” Starswirl said. Spike nodded his head. The mare levitated the clothing off of Spike and put it on a baby dragon sized mannequin. “Thank you.” Spike said to the mare as he hopped off of the stool he was standing on. The mare looked taken aback at his gratitude. He turned back to the mare. “Would you mind making and sending dresses to Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo before the coronation tomorrow?” They stood in the room where the coronation would be held. A stallion measured the room with a measuring tape. “I already have everything planned out, but what should the color scheme be?” The stallion asked. Spike put his hand on his chin, pondering for a moment. He remembered something that Rarity had told him. ”If you’re ever planning on going to a serious formal event, don’t work with vibrant colors, use neutral colors instead. It fits the mood.” “Grey.” Spike said. The stallion nodded his head. “And for the after event?” He asked. “Beige.” Spike said. The stallion nodded his head and wrote that down before walking out the room. As soon as he walked out the door, Mr and Mrs Cake walked in. Spike smiled when he saw familiar faces, but it soon turned into a frown when he saw their somber looks. “What should we make for the coronation your majesty?” Mr. Cake said with a bow. His voice was shaky, and it sounded like that he had been crying all night. Spike looked at Mrs. Cake to see that her eyes were red and her cheeks were stained with dried tears. He noticed that Pumkin and Pound sat in the stroller with each other. Without Pinkie Pie there was no one to watch them. Spike walked up to them and hugged them. “I know it hurts.” Spike said. Mrs. Cake cried into his shoulder and Mr. Cake held back tears, not wanting to cry. Once she finished crying Spike let go of the hug. Mrs. Cake wiped the tears from her eyes and Mr. Cake picked up a pencil and paper. “So what would you like for the coronation?” Mr. Cake asked. He sounded a little happier. That really helped him out. “Carrot cake and lemon cake.” Spike said. Mr. Cake nodded his head and wrote that down. Mrs. Cake smiled at him. “Thank you dearie.” She said before the both walked out of the room. Flurry let out a soft whine because she was playing with the Cake twins. Spike handed her Whammy, which she instantly played with. A stallion walked into the room, wearing a chefs hat and an apron. “What should the venue be your majesty?” He asked with a bow. Spike closed his eyes and thought for a moment. “Mashed potatoes, salad, deviled eggs, and cheese with crackers.” Spike said. The stallion wrote that down and nodded his head. Once he walked out, Starswirl spoke. “What a very interesting choice of venue, how did you come up with it?” Starswirl asked. Spike shrugged his shoulders. “I cook a lot so I thought it would fit the mood.” Spike said. Ember crossed her arms. “I would’ve chose fish and gems, it’s the traditional dragon feast.” She said. Spike stuck out his tongue in disgust and Thorax grimaced. “Ponies don’t eat fish or gems. I don’t think anyone would appreciate it that much.” He commented. “Let’s go make the invation list.” Starswirl said while levitating a quill and scroll to Spike. Starswirl gave him a scroll filled with names. “These are the ponies that Princess Celestia usaually invites to formal events.” He said. Spike looked at the names. These were all very fancy ponies that mainly lived in Canterlot. He had met a few of them and they were very rude. They were only popular because they were rich. His eyes landed on Fancy Pants. He was a very nice stallion. Spike wrote down his name and Fleur de Lis. She was a nice mare who followed Fancy Pants around. She didn’t speak much, she just leaned on Fancy Pants and played with her mane when another mare spoke to him. His eyes scanned down the list some more until he found Sapphire Shores, Hoity Toity, and Photo Finish. They were all very famous and kind. If he invited them, they could help him build up his publicity. After he wrote there names down, he scanned through the list again. Everyone else on the list was either prissy, selfish, or both. Spike thought for a few moments before coming to a realization. ”He didn’t say I had to choose anyone from this list.” Spike thought. In less than a minute, Spike had finished writing down the list. It mostly contained of close friends and family. He handed this list to Starswirl. “Done already? It looks like we’re ahead of schedule!” Starswirl exclaimed in surprise. “Since we’re ahead of time, you can find a way to fund for the part of the city that got destroyed.” Starswirl said. They heard a loud scoff from behind them, making them turn around. Prince Blueblood walked out from the corner of the room. “Did you. have to bring up the city?! Now everyone knows that I did it!” He exclaimed dramatically. “No one even mentioned you.” Spike said. Thorax tilted his head. “To you normally just sit in corners and watch people?” Thorax asked. Prince Blueblood gave a dramatic wide eyed look. “Are you saying that I’m a stalker?!” He asked dramatically. “No one said that.” Ember said. Prince Blueblood rolled his eyes and marched out the room. “Is he always like that?” Thorax asked. Spike sighed. “Yeah.” He said. Ember patted his back in sympathy. He had to live with that guy. Spike stood in front of the hole in the wall, trying to figure out how to fund enough money to fix it. He has scrolls next to him with everything they could cut out of the system so they could afford to fix Canterlot. ”Royal Guards? I can’t just let them go, they have families. Healthcare? Ponies have to stay healthy and the ponies in Equestria aren’t that rich.” Spike thought to himself as he was reading down the scrolls. How was he going to cut something without drastically changing someone’s life? These were all so important! An idea popped into Spikes head. “I’ll be back.” Spike said before walking out the room. “I wonder what he has planned.” Ember said to Thorax. Spike came back with his backpack in his arms. He tilted his over and gems poured out. Starswirl gaped at it. “That’s enough to fix half of the city!” Starswirl exclaimed. “We can use this to fix the city.” Spike said happily. A few construction workers took the gems and walked off. “Now that that’s out of the way, we have one more thing to do.” Starswirl said. They walked into an abandoned workshop on the outskirts of Canterlot. A few royal guards had come with them. Everything was covered in stone like the walls and floor. “Look around to see if you find anything.” Starswirl said. Spike nodded his head and started to look around. Flurry Heart flew out of his arms and wandered off. He looked around to see a few crates. The label on it was barely visible, but he make out a few letters. It didn’t seem important. After a few minutes of walking, he found nothing. All of the evidence must have been turned to stone with the rest of the building. Spike heard Flurry start to cry, making him go look for her. He walked into the room to see Flurry sitting on the stony ground, crying loudly. “What wrong?” Spike asked while picking Flurry up. “Won’t play!” Flurry shouted between sobs as she pointed to something that made Spike gasp. In front of them their was a life sized statue of Shining Armor and Cadance. Shining Armor had a look of aggression on his face while Cadance had her eyes closeed and a small smile on her face. Next to them he saw the rest of his friends. Rainbow Dash looked as if she were trying to fly away, Fluttershy’s face was covered by her hooves, Pinkie Pie had an obviously nervous smile on her face, Applejacks rear legs were up into a bucking position, Rarity was posing, and Starlight looked as if she were casting a spell. Princess Celestia has her eyes closed with a somber look on her face. Princess Luna was facing Celestia with a frown on her face. Lastly, Twilight sat there with her eyes closed. It looked like she was trying to calm herself down. Spike ran his hand across Twilights stone. “Is this them?” Spike asked in disbelief. Flurry continued to cry into his shoulder, wondering why no one would wake up and play with her. Spike rubbed her back. “Shh, it’s okay, I’ll fine whoever did this.” Spike said to Flurry. “Have you found any clues?” Starswirl asked. Spike turned around to look at him. “No, but bring them back to the castle.” Spike said, gesturing back to the statues. Starswirl nodded his head and went to contact a few guards to grab the statues. Spike was going to find whoever did this and make them pay.