Section #1:
The Mane 6 walked down the streets of Canterlot. Spike flew alongside the girls.
The streets of Canterlot were nearly empty. It was like a ghost town.
Twilight sighed. "I thought this place would always be my home."
"Look on the bright side!" said Pinkie Pie, bouncing in front of her. "You can move back to Ponyville!"
"Yeah!" added Rainbow Dash, now hovering in front of her. "I think the Castle of Friendship is missing you!"
"I would be able to spend more time with Big Mac," admitted Spike, his finger on his chin. "Discord sometimes summons me to play Ogres & Oubliettes ... but he opens his portals only when he feels like it."
Fluttershy laughed. "He's certainly no genie. He won't be at any creature's beck and call."
"Could that be why he don't use his chaos magic very much for us?" asked Applejack. "Because it would make him feel like ... a slave?"
"Also," added Fluttershy, "it is chaos magic. If he used it all the time, it would probably cause more trouble than good -- upset the cosmic balance or something."
"That would be a convenient plot device," remarked Rarity.
Spike and the Mane 6 were getting close to Canterlot Castle.
"Discord can be be a bully at times," remarked Rainbow Dash. "But I don't think there's any better creature to have his chaos powers."
"Yeah," added Applejack, quietly laughing. "Pinkie Pie would probably be worse."
Pinkie landed right in front of Applejack. With a hard stare, she shoved her nose into Applejack's. Applejack stopped in her tracks, kind of unnerved.
"Applejack!" scolded Pinkie. "That is very insulting to me. Do you honestly think I'm a mean girl?"
Applejack took a few deep breaths. "Pinkie. You're scarin' me. I don't think that's very nice, either."
Pinkie sighed, hanging her head. She started walking again, and so did Applejack.
Deep inside, Pinkie wondered ... was she really the source of joy that she thought she was? Or was she a big jerk who makes many creatures miserable?
"How about we go to the park?" said Twilight, now hovering in front of the group, facing them. "And enjoy a picnic?"
"A picnic party!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, leaping into the air, facing the group. "I love it!"
Spike and the other girls laughed.
Section #2:
In the park near Canterlot Castle, there stood the statue of Chrysalis, Cozy Glow, and Tirek. More accurately (as you might recall), it wasn't exactly a statue. Rather, they got turned into stone.
At the end of the Season 10 comics (as you might also recall), the stone prison started to crumble. The three villains were on their way to breaking free. But as of now, the statue seemed intact. For some reason, though, a pile of crumbled rock circled around it.
Spike and the Mane 6 passed by the statue. Twilight was flying, carrying a big basket with her horn. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were also flying, along with Spike.
Spike laughed, pointing at the statue. "Look at their faces! It's like they're smiling for the camera!"
"Seeing them finally feeling their sense of doom," added Rainbow Dash, also looking toward the statue ... "that really is satisfying!"
Fluttershy sighed. So did Twilight.
"I admit," said Twilight, "it was sweet victory to me at first. But in reality ... I wish it didn't have to be that way."
"We've made many friends out of enemies," said Fluttershy. "Accepting that some must be locked away ... that is the hardest thing for me."
The rest of the Mane 6 hung their heads, along with Spike.
"Don't get me wrong ... ," said Spike.
"We protected our friends," said Rainbow Dash ... "That's what I want to celebrate ..."
"I have such mixed emotions!" exclaimed Spike, pulling the tufts where his horns would be (if he had any). "I want to feel bad for those three villains. But I don't believe we should!"
"How about we just enjoy our picnic?" said Rarity.
"Yeah, everypony," added Applejack. "Let's save the philosophical stuff for our dreams!"
Spike and the girls stopped at a fountain a little distance from the statue. Twilight started setting up the picnic.
"So, Twilight," asked Rainbow Dash, as Twilight set the picnic blanket -- "how's Moondancer doing in the dream world?"
Twilight laughed, now pulling out the dishes and utensils (still using her horn). "Luna gave her a big book of instructions to follow. Unfortunately, dreams don't play by books."
Rainbow Dash laughed, as she sat down on the blanket. "I imagine it must drive her crazy!"
"There are still some common principles she can lean back on," explained Twilight, setting the dishes, glasses, and utensils. "Even so, it seems she's not the best at connecting with different ponies' feelings."
"More and more," remarked Spike, also sitting down, "I realize that cold logic does not warm a creature's heart. Creatures have to perceive that you care about their feelings."
"That is true," remarked Twilight, as she and the rest of the group sat on the picnic blanket. "I've been learning that the hard way myself."
With her horn, Twilight pulled out the food. It was hay sandwiches and potato salad. She also pulled out a big bottle of cider.
"More and more," remarked Spike, "I realize that empathy is not just a feeling. It's a skill!"
"Wow, Spikey!" remarked Rarity, as Twilight served the food. "You have become really insightful as of late! So how are those big dragons treating you now?"
"They really seem to like me now," replied Spike, as Twilight served the cider. "They're still kind of rude and obnoxious. But at least they seem to care about my safety. They even give me hugs!"
"If you ever feel they're causing you too much trouble," said Fluttershy, "they will have to face six ponies with the Elements of Harmony!"
Spike pulled out a big sapphire. He took a big bite and started chewing. "In befriending Garble and his gang, I've learned another friendship lesson!"
"What's that?" asked Rarity. With her horn, she held her sandwich. She took a small bite and started chewing.
With a big gulp, Spike swallowed the pieces of gem. "Different friends bond in different ways. Oftentimes, Garble and his gang seem kind of mean to one another. But a lot of it is just for fun. Their manners look pretty bad to us -- but a lot of it is just part of their game."
Spike took another bite of his sapphire. Once again, he chewed and swallowed.
"In the end," continued Spike, "good etiquette is not about which fork or spoon to use. It's about respecting others' feelings -- and doing the things that win others' respect."
Spike made a loud burp, releasing a big ball of fire. Fortunately, it didn't burn anything.
The Mane 6 clapped their hooves.
"I think you should be a teacher!" remarked Applejack, holding her sandwich with her hooves.
Spike fidgeted nervously. "Uh ... I don't know ... I'm ... I'm kind of awkward in front of a crowd."
"That's part of the fun!" said Rainbow Dash. She chugged down a whole glass of cider. "You live and learn -- together with your students!"
Dash took a big bite of her sandwich and started chewing. "And the best part is ... any students who make fun of you ... your awkwardness helps expose the true flaws that lie beneath!"
Spike took some deep breaths. "I still want some creature by my side. Maybe you ... Smolder ... Rarity ... or Gabby ...? Babs Seed also seems pretty cool ... And don't forget Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy fluttered to where Spike was sitting. She hugged him with her wing.
"It's okay, Spike," she assured him, with her soft, gentle voice. "If you feel too shy, then don't be ashamed. I've been there myself, and I know how terrible it feels. I'll help you every step of the way! Any student who wants to be part of Camp Kindness -- they better learn to be good to you!"
Spike hugged Fluttershy. "Thanks, Fluttershy. I feel better already. I'll give it a go!"
"Awwww ... !" said the rest of the Mane 6, with warm smiles.
Section #3:
Back at the statue of the three villains, a small reddish pink pony walked into the scene.
She had wavy hair, relatively short, descending just past her chin. Her tail was also wavy. The hair and tail were light blue with lighter blue stripes. The filly also wore a crimson cape and a black beret.
The pink filly stopped just in front of the "statue" of Chrysalis.
"Little filly," whispered the statue of Chrysalis -- "is the fake statue now finished?"
Under her breath, the pink filly gave an evil laugh.
"It's all ready, my queen!" she said under her breath. "But we have to wait until nightfall. We don't want to make the change when everypony can see us."
"It figures," muttered Chrysalis the statue. "I might be the most powerful changeling ... but pretending to be a statue is really tiring!"
The pink filly laughed again. "At least you're not Tirek. That big centaur can't really disguise himself, you know. So he can never come out -- except at night!"
* * *
Near the park, there was an art shop -- featuring paintings and sculptures by a famous artist. For the moment, it was closed (as indicated by a "CLOSED" sign).
The artist was a white unicorn with blond hair. She looked a lot like what Prince Blueblood would -- if he were a mare. Her cutie mark was a golden hammer and chisel. And her name was "Fancy Arts".
In the basement, Fancy Arts was finishing her replica of the statue of the three villains. But she did not look happy. In fact, she seemed so scared -- it was a wonder that she could function.
Finally, she gave the rock one last strike with the hammer and chisel.
"It's ... it's finished ... Lord Tirek ...," said Fancy Arts.
"Excellent, excellent!" said Tirek. "I knew I could rely on you!"
"So ... what will you do now?"
"This!" Opening his mouth, Tirek sucked the magic out of Fancy Arts.
The unicorn collapsed onto the floor. She could no longer stand up, and she could barely keep her eyes open.
With his big muscular arms, Tirek carried the replica statue up the stairs.
"It was nice doing business with you!" Tirek opened the door (momentarily balancing the statue with one arm). "But I'm afraid I can't let you leave. So I have to lock you up!"
Tirek took the statue out into the hall. He placed it by the door. Then he closed the door and locked it with a padlock.
The red centaur gave an evil laugh. "Soon, we'll be running free. But those little ponies will think we're still trapped in that pathetic statue!" He continued to laugh.
"H ... h ... help ... ." Fancy Arts tried to cry for help, but she could barely make a sound. She was terrified, but she hardly had strength to cry.
Finally, she gave up trying to get up. She decided she might as well rest her eyes.