//------------------------------// // A Party to Remember // Story: Spike's Turnabout // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack boards the train. She decides to sit alone for the train ride. As the train pulls out of the station, Twilight conjures many ways to apologize to Spike when she sees him. Less than a day and Twilight is a wreck. Her friends sit near her on the train. Everypony can only feel shame that they disappointed Spike, not Celestia. The words of Princess Celestia now buries deep in their hearts. Twilight and the others hope that Spike isn't in danger. It is now 8:45 at night. Lemon Zest walks up the stairs and knocks on the bedroom door. "Spike, are you awake?" "Yes, Lemon." "Can I come in?" "Door's open." Lemon walks into the room. She sees Spike balled-up and holding himself. Lemon gets closer with a worried expression written on her face. "You okay, Spike?" "No...I'm not okay." "What's wrong? You can tell me anything that's bothering you." "I had a nightmare. My friends were laughing at me when I was nearly drowning back in Ponyville. Then after I submerged, I landed in the Golden Oak Library. Then a pile of books crushes me. Twilight decides to leave me behind as darkness was swallowing me. Princess Luna arrived then end the nightmare. Out of all the times I suffered through nightmares, she happens to appear today of all days." "Princess Luna came to help you? Isn't that a good thing, Spike?" "NO! She came when I just left Twilight! She came to help Twilight find me! I don't want to go back!" Spike angrily shouts. Tears stream down as he breaks down. "I don't want to go back..." Spike said as he's starting to break down. Lemon Zest hugs Spike as he cries. Lemon can feel the pain Spike's going through. It's clear to her that she cannot and will not allow Spike to go back to Twilight. "Spike, look at me," Spike looks at Lemon. "I promise you that things will be better. Our friends and I will do everything we can to prevent Twilight from taking you back." "Re-Really?" Spike sniffs. "Of course. We are your family. Family sticks together." Spike clutches and holds onto Lemon. Thanking her repeatedly then Lemon pats his head. "There's something else I didn't tell you." "What is it, Spike?" "Princess Luna told me, she won't tell the others of my whereabouts." "That's good, Spike." "Now, I fear that Twilight won't stop looking for me. It's only a matter of time before..." "Spike, listen to me. Everything will be fine. Also, want to come with me to town to pick up a few things? I'll let you ride on my back." "Sure, I would love to come." Lemon and Spike leave the house. Spike gets on Lemon's back and trots into town. Lemon walks into a gaming store. Spike gets off of Lemon's back to look around a bit. "Hey, Spike. See if you can find a spinner. It's for a special roulette game we're going to play tonight." "Sure thing, Lemon." "I'll look for different board games and card games to play as well." Spike mutters to himself, "Finally, equal terms for once." Indigo Zap and Sugarcoat walks in the gaming store. They see Spike and Lemon. "Hey, you two!" Indigo shouted. "Getting the pieces together for our annual game night party?" "Yea," Lemon said. "Game night party?" Spike questions. "Yes. The girls and I throw one every week. Tonight's game is going to be quite delectable." "Cool! By the way, Lemon. I found a spinner." "Cool, Spike," Lemon said as she takes the spinner from Spike. "I'll put it on the counter." "Hey, Spike. Is there something you want from the store?" Indigo asks. "Yea, there is. An autographed Power Pony Zapp figurine. Though it costs 50 bits." "Zapp, huh? I'll pay for it since it has my name written on it," Indigo said. "Really?! I'll pay you back as soon as I..." Spike gets cut off from Indigo's hoof. "No need to. It's my gift to you." Spike smiles, he grabs the autographed Power Pony Zapp figurine and places it on the counter. Indigo pays 50 bits and gives Spike his present. "Thank you, Indigo." "Ah, no problem." Spike hugs Indigo for her kind deed. Indigo hugs back with her wing. Sugarcoat trots down an aisle to picks up laser beams for the disco ball. Lemon Zest brought a few card games and board games to the counter. She pays 80 bits in total. Sugarcoat pays 25 bits for the laser beams that'll go nicely with the disco ball. Spike, Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, and Sugarcoat leave the store. They see Sour Sweet slowly carrying a four-layer cake on her back. "Hey, Sour Sweet. Need some assistance?" Spike asks. "Yes, please." "I'll help carry it for you," Spike said. "With my magic maintaining balance," Sugarcoat said. "Thank you, both," Sour said. Spike picks up the cake from Sour's back. Sugarcoat uses her magic to hold the cake in place for Spike. They walk together slowly. Sunny Flare is flying towards Zesty fields when she sees her friends walking slow. She lands next to them. "Hey, everypony. Hey, Spike." "Hey, Sunny," Everyone said in unison. "Excited for the game night party tonight?" Everyone nods in agreement. "My first party since...my actual birthday." "What?!" The girls shouted. "Well, coronations doesn't count for me since it's an achievement of Twilight Sparkle becoming a new alicorn. I don't remember any other party than that since." "Well, times are changing," Sour said. "Yea, you're going to be more involved than ever," Indigo stated proudly. "Get ready for some laughter," Sugarcoat said. "Get ready to create memories," Sunny said. "Get ready to sing, dance, and have fun!" Lemon said. "Thanks, everypony," Spike said. "You're welcome," The girls said in unison as they all walk to Zesty Fields. It is now 9:00 at night. The train pulls into the station. Twilight looks out the window and sees a path leading into the forest. Thinking that it'll lead to a town, Twilight and her friends decide to get off of the train. Once they get into town, they'll check off the location they are visiting in search of Spike. "Alright, everypony. Let's stick together as we walk on the trail way," Twilight said. "Okay, Twilight. Lead the way," Applejack said. Twilight and her friends walk down on the trail. Twilight and Rarity use their magic to light the way since it's dark in the forest. No pony talk throughout the walk. Celestia's words still linger in their minds after what she said; "You didn't let me down, you let Spike down. You should be ashamed of yourselves from the way you treated your friend. Don't ever discriminate, Spike again." The guilt carries on in their minds. All they want is to have a second chance to redeem themselves. To have Spike back in their lives once more. A few minutes later, Applejack sees a lemon tree. The others are seeing lemon trees. "Well, I'll be, it's a lemon tree orchard," Applejack stated. "Hmm, I wonder who owns it," Rarity said. "I wonder if they have lemon juice!" Pinkie shouted. "We don't have time for lemons. We need to find Spike, girls," Twilight stated. "Yes, ma'am," Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie said. As they trot, Twilight sees Spike carrying something, an earth pony opening a door, and several ponies entering. Spike is the last to enter. "Girls, Spike is closer than we think." "Let's go see who those ponies are," Rainbow stated. Twilight and her friends trot towards the house. It'll take at least twenty minutes to get there. "Alright, Spike," Lemon said. "This game we're about to play is called The Sour Sweet Roulette." Sugarcoat puts the cake in the kitchen then returns to the living room. "Yea, each of us will spin the spinner and take a bite out of a random candy. Some candies are sweet. Some candies are sour," Sour explains. "There are only three rules. Rule one, every player gets three strikes. Rule two, if the candy is too sour and you spit it out, that's a strike taken away. Rule three, the winner decides the next activity for the party," Indigo said. Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare unwraps the candy then pour them into a bowl. Everyone sits down near the table, getting ready to play. "I'll start," Lemon said. She spins the spinner. The spinner stops in front of Sunny Flare. Sunny takes a candy then eats it. "Well, Sunny. How it tastes?" Sour asks. "Sweet. Sweet like a cherry." "Darn," Indigo said. "My turn to spin," Sunny said. She uses her wing to spin the spinner. The spinner stops in front of Indigo. "Uh oh," Indigo said. "Go on. Take your candy," Sunny said as she chuckles. Indigo grabs a candy then eats it. Luckily for her, the candy is sweet. She sighs in relief. "Boy, I am lucky," Indigo said. "Luck won't get you far. Spin, Indigo," Sour said. Indigo spins the spinner. This time, the spinner stops in front of her. "Oh, c'mon! You got to be kidding me!" "Take another candy, Indigo," Sunny said. Indigo takes another candy then eats it. Her lips go inside of her. She picked the sour candy. She holds onto her cheeks as she squirms around a little due to the sour candy. The girls giggle at Indigo's soured face. "Want to spit it out, Indigo?" Lemon said mockingly. Indigo shook her head no as she's going to suck up the soured candy. After a few moments, she swallows the candy. "Ah, my cheeks hurt a little." "Hey, Indigo. What flavor was it?" Spike asks. "Lemon flavored." Lemon couldn't help but laugh a little. "Well, geez, sorry that I'm sour." "Hey, I'm Sour." The group has a good laugh. Then Indigo spins the spinner. The spinner stops in front of Spike. "Alright, it's my turn!" Spike shouts excitedly. Then he takes a candy then eats it. Around that time, Twilight and her friends made it to the house. They peep through the window to see what was going on. Twilight saw the horrid faces of a group of ponies laughing at Spike's misery. His lips are inside out. He's holding onto his cheeks and runs around in circles. Twilight in anger backs away from the window. "So they are torturing, Spike? Well, it's time to change all of that right now!" Twilight shouts angrily. "Everypony, let's get our friend back!" Applejack bucks down the front door. Everypony in the living room gasps. Twilight Sparkle, without hesitation, shoot magic beams at Lemon, Sunny, Indigo, Sour, and Sugarcoat. Rainbow Dash picks up Spike and flies out of the house. Rainbow puts Spike near a lemon tree for him to recover. Twilight trots over to Spike, checking on him. Indigo Zap, now infuriated, retaliates by flying after Rainbow Dash. Sunny Flare gets up and flies after the group of ponies who took Spike. Sugarcoat, Lemon, and Sour trots after the group. "Spike, are you okay?" Rainbow asks. Twilight and the others catch up to Rainbow Dash near a lemon tree. Twilight with tears in her eyes gets closer to Spike. "Spike, are you okay?" Twilight asks sincerely. Spike snaps out of his soured face. When he sees Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, fear struck his heart. The fear of being taken away is real. His heart is pumping as he looks at the monsters who abused and used him. "Spike, are you..." Rainbow Dash is cut off as Indigo tackles from the skies. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight shouts. "Get away from him!" Sunny Flare shouts. Using her wings, she manipulated the winds to blow Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy away from Spike. Twilight using her magic remains in place. Sugarcoat uses her magic to teleports in front of Spike. "You won't take him away!" Sugarcoat yells. Lemon Zest and Sour Sweet get in front of Spike as well. Indigo Zap bites on one of Rainbow's wings and pulls hard. She heard a popping sound. Then she releases her grip and flies over to where Spike is and stands in front of him. Rainbow wails in agony. She is unable to fly. Sunny Flare flies towards Spike and stands in front of him. "You are not going to ruin his life anymore!" Indigo shouts. "You are not going to use him!" Sugarcoat shouts. "You are not going to abuse him!" Sour shouts. "You are not getting a second chance!" Sunny shouts. "All of you are in deep trouble. You break into my house, assaulted my friends, and ruin Spike's party!" Lemon angrily shouts. "You were laughing at Spike! You were laughing at his misery! How dare you laugh at his misery?!" Twilight shouts back. "Shut up, Twilight!" Spike shouts angrily. Everypony around Spike remains silent. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy trots over to Twilight. Spike walks in front of his friends to confront Twilight. "You are such a hypocrite. Judging others for laughing at me when you and the wielders have done it before. Plus, we were playing a Sour Sweet Roulette Game." Twilight now sees the error of her planning. She assumed instead of taking a further study on what they were doing. "All of my life living with you in Ponyville has been nothing but Tartarus. I live in constant fear of always being alone. You go out and live your life while I'm at the library doing your chores because you were lazy to do it yourself. I figured by now you read my journal. That's why you came after me. To bring me back home and to start over." "Yes, Spike. I am truly sorry for how I handled you. For how I treated you, used you, and left you. I am a terrible friend. I never wanted you to feel the way you are right now. I'm sorry that I failed you, Spike. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me," Twilight said as she got closer to Spike. Reaching her wing out and expecting Spike to hug her. "She's not the only one, sugarcube," Applejack said. "Yea...Ow!" Rainbow shouted a little. Her broken wing is bothering her as she walks. "I'm wrong for using you, Spike. I used my beauty and charms to make you do extra for me. And the time I made you give up that Fire Ruby before your birthday," Rarity said. "You...what?!" Spike shouts angrily. "Oops..." "You mean to tell me instead of me enjoying my birthday dinner; you tricked me into giving up the Fire Ruby I've aged?!" Rarity is slow to answer that question. "Well, uh, you see, Spike..." "Shut up, Rarity!" Spike roars in anger. His roar is loud enough for anyone to hear miles away from where he's standing. Rarity hides her face in shame. She starts sobbing. "Spike, calm down," Fluttershy said. Spike turns and gives Fluttershy a death stare. Fluttershy quietly murmurs, quivers, and stays behind Pinkie Pie. "Look, Spike. We've done things that we're not proud of," Twilight stated. "Listen to us, Spike. Give us the redemption to make things better for you. We can go back to Ponyville and start new, like a family. We'll bring you on epic adventures, parties, and we'll create new memories together. What do you say?" Twilight slightly smiles. Hoping it'll be good enough for Spike to say yes. "Sounds like a bribe to me," Spike said. Twilight twitches once more, her smile fades away, her ears flopping. "Bribe? You think I'm bribing you?!" Twilight yells. "This isn't the first time you tried bribing me! You are giving me false hope! I don't trust you anymore! Every day you give me the same routine; work, clean, sleep, repeat! I'm nothing more than a slave to you all! You get to live your life Twilight while I stay at the library like I'm in prison! I'm used, abused, mocked, laughed at, and left behind! For the first time in a long time, I have REAL friends! I have a REAL family! Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, Sugarcoat, Sour Sweet, and Sunny Flare are my FRIENDS! They are my FAMILY! Unlike you Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack; they don't use me, they don't mock me for who I am, they have shown me kindness, love, respect, sincerity, and fellowship. Something in which none of you have shown me. That is why I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying. There is nothing you can say or do to change my decision. I'm done with you, Twilight. I wished somepony else hatched me, Spike said as he turns on Twilight. "Well, Spike," Twilight said shakenly. "I have news for you whether you like it or not...Princess Celestia said I get to have a second chance with you on her Authority. Therefore, you don't have a choice for the matter. Princess Celestia's orders, let's go, Spike!" Twilight said as she's losing her patience. "You are insane, Twilight. I am not leaving with you on anyone's authority," Spike said. "Fine, I'll take you by force! I'll erase your memories so we can start over!" Twilight shouts. She's now going into insanity. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash jaws drop after hearing what Twilight just said. Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, Sugarcoat, Sour Sweet, and Sunny Flare now gets in front of Spike. They won't let this demon take Spike back. "THAT IS ENOUGH, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" Princess Celestia said in her Royal Voice. Twilight froze in fear. She then looks to see Princess Celestia landing in front of everyone. Twilight couldn't help but pant heavily. Her heart is beating rapidly, her eye pupils shrink, knees shaking, tears pouring out. "I am very disappointed with you, Twilight." Celestia turns to the wielders of the Elements. "The search is called off. I want each of you to go home. Never return to this town again. I hereby banish all of you from entering Pony Central until further notice," Celestia now turns to Twilight. "Princess Twilight Sparkle," Twilight looks at Celestia. She begs not to take Spike away. "You are relieved of caring for Spike as you have no regard. Until further notice, you are not eligible to write letters and visit him until you have Spike's approval." "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOOOO! Twilight begs. She bows down for Celestia to give her another chance. Twilight cries. She disappointed Spike and now displeased the Princess. "My decision is final. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash; go home. I need a word with Spike and his new friends." "But..." Twilight said. "C'mon sugarcube. Let's not get ourselves in anymore trouble with the Princess." "Princess Celestia!" Rainbow shouted. "That hag, Indigo Zap broke my wing!" "Leave!" Princess Celestia said in her Royal tone. Not wanting to be bothered with the wielders of the Elements, she wants to focus on Spike and his new friends. Rainbow Dash trots as fast as she can. Twilight with tears in her eyes, regret, and sorrow now have to face the consequences. "Princess Celestia," Spike said. "What's going to happen now?" Princess Celestia takes a deep breath. Then she spoke. "I heard from a distance how Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, Sugarcoat, Sour Sweet, and Sunny Flare are your new friends. They are your family, Spike. I'm sorry for what you've endured in your life leading up to this day. You'll get to live the life you want from here and out. In due time, however, find it in your heart to give Twilight and the others a second chance. Everyone now and then deserves redemption." "I will...when the time is right." Celestia smiles. "You're in good hooves now Spike. Now, I'm going to have a serious discussion with Princess Twilight Sparkle. As for the rest of you, don't make the same mistake that Twilight and her friends made. Be better than them for his sake. If you need me, Spike, you can always send letters to me. I'll answer them and be right with you shortly after." "I will write to you when I need too," Spike said. "We will, Princess," Lemon, Indigo, Sugarcoat, Sour, and Sunny said in unison. "Thank you," Celestia flaps her wings. "I'll come by to visit you in a few days, everyone. Have a nice night," Celestia said as she flies off to Ponyville. Spike smiles as he turns to his new friends. They hugged him. "Hey, we have a party to continue. The night is still young," Indigo said. "Yea, and I'll win in the Sour Sweet Roulette game! It's my turn to spin after all!" Indigo puts Spike on her back. She flies with Sunny Flare back to the house. Sugarcoat, Sour, and Lemon trots back to the house. It's time to continue where they left off.