On the Luxe Deluxe cruise ship, Spike and the girls were on board enjoying themselves and the various activities the yacht was hosting.
Rainbow and Applejack were busy playing shuffleboard which once again led to them competing like crazy. At the all you can eat buffet, Pinkie was stuffing herself with all kinds of treats laid out for the guests. Fluttershy was currently at the on board petting zoo cuddling at petting with several animals ranging from bunnies, little goats, and birds in a cage. Out by the pool on deck, Rarity was basking in the sun relaxing, while Twilight was relaxing while reading.
Spike walked up to the diving board of the pool wearing red swim trunks. He reached the edge and prepared himself to jump, “Banzai!” he jumped off the board and into the pool. He swam back up and laughed at how much fun it felt.
As Spike swam about in the pool, Twilight and Rarity watched him, “Spike is certainly having fun, isn't he?” Rarity asked Twilight.
“He sure is. He's earned it. It serves as a good distraction from what he's been dealing with as have we all.”
Rarity nodded knowing exactly what Twilight meant, “Even with the constant threat of being targeted by Shendu's Shadowkhan, he still can put on a smile and relax.”
As Spike continued to swim about the pool, he suddenly found several attractive looking mares in the pool as well swimming in his direction. Spike started to blush at the sight of them as they directed their lidded gazes in his direction.
“Are you really Spike the Brave and Glorious?” a unicorn mare asked.
“That would be me.” Spike confirmed, as a blush grew upon his cheeks.
“Wow, you're even cuter up close.” a pegasus mare said dreamily, as the group of mares swam closer.
“When we heard you would be vacationing on this cruise too, we knew we had to come ourselves.” an earth pony mare said.
“You're quite the celebrity in the Crystal Empire.” another pegasus mare said, as Spike found himself cornered at the edge of the pool.
“Well, don't believe everything you hear.” Spike said modestly.
“Oh, come now. There is no such thing as bad publicity.” another unicorn mare replied.
“Say, you have any plans for tonight?” another pegasus asked.
“Well, I-” Spike was cut off before he could properly answer.
“Because we're all having a little get together in our room, and we were wondering if you wouldn't mind coming?” another earth pony mare said as the flirtatious mares gave Spike hopeful looks.
Spike's blush kept getting more noticeable and was looking for a way out of this situation, until a familiar voice sang out, “Oh, Spike!”
Spike gasped, “Rarity!” he looked at the mares who were closing in on him, “Um, sorry, but I gotta go!” he jumped floated out of the pool and zipped away leaving the group of mare pouting before lowering their heads down into the water and blowing bubbles.
Spike flew over to Rarity and spoke in relief, “Thanks, Rarity. I didn't know how to handle things back there.”
“No problem at all, Spike. But I didn't just call you here to save you, I have a little request of you.”
“What would that be?”
“Could you help apply some sunblock to me? I'd very much appreciate it.” she requested.
Spike smiled, “Sure thing,” Spike said, as he took the bottle of sunblock and gently applied some to Rarity making sure he got the right spots covered, “There you go.”
“Thank you so much, Spike.” Rarity said as she pecked his cheek.
Spike smiled, “Mind if I pull up a spot next to you? I feel like relaxing myself.”
“Please do.” Rarity said, as Spike relaxed on a chair next to Rarity, as they enjoyed the warm sun.
As it started to get dark, the girls and Spike all met at the buffet to discuss their day, “Well, today's been fun.” Spike told the girls.
“It sure has.” Pinkie said, as she stuffed herself.
“Honestly, Pinkie how can you eat so much after stuffing yourself all day here?” Twilight asked in disbelief.
“I just do.” she replied.
Twilight turned to Applejack and Rainbow, “So which of you won your shuffleboard match?”
The two mares looked sheepish, “Well, ya see...” Rainbow began.
“We kinda...” Applejack trailed off.
“You two got so caught up in your match you stopped keeping score?” Twilight called in in a dry tone. The two competitive ponies winced.
“Well, I had so much fun with all the animals at the petting zoo,” Fluttershy smiled, “Imagine a goat on a boat. Now I've seen everything.” she giggled.
“I enjoyed myself out at the pool.” Spike explained.
“Before or when several admirers of yours started getting close to you?” Twilight teased.
“Twilight.” Spike said sternly.
“Sounds to me like some dragon's sure popular here.” Applejack winked.
“No kidding.” Spike agreed recalling how he almost felt willing to let himself be wooed by several of the mares by the pool.
Meanwhile below the ship, the Squid Khan caught up to the yacht and started to slither their way up the side before climbing aboard. When several passengers and workers who were out on deck spotted them, they screamed in terror and took cover.
As Spike and the girls heard the commotion with the other guests in the buffet room, Spike spoke, “What's going on?”
The door to the buffet room burst open with the Squid Khan slithering in with one holding the talisman seeking device that glowed confirming the location of the talismans.
“Shadowkhan!” Twilight gasped.
“Eck, and ugly looking ones too.” Rainbow gagged.
“Even sailing across the sea Shendu will try to pursue us and Spike.” Rarity said in disbelief.
“Well, what say we handle these varmints like we always do?” Applejack suggested.
“We'll need the chi spell mediums to better combat them.” Twilight reminded her.
“They're back in the room,” Spike noted, “Don't worry, I'll get to them.” he zipped past the Shadowkhan, before arriving back carrying the items.
“Good think I packed extra mediums.” Twilight said levitating more fish mediums to the girls to use.
“Let's get 'em!” Pinkie called, as they went on the attack, with Applejack bucking one Squid Khan making it crash onto a table.
Pinkie bounced around avoiding the Squid Khan's tentacles, before one eventually caught her leg, “It got me!”
Twilight blasted the one who had Pinkie with Chi Magic making it go poof, “Thanks, Twilight.” Pinkie bounced to one of the buffet tables and started pelting the Shadowkhan with several treats.
Spike and Rainbow flew around two Squid Khan that tried to grab them, but weren't fast enough. When a third one caught Spike by the foot, the dragon squinted at it, “Big mistake.” he grabbed the tentacle tugged it off his leg and slammed it into the two others he and Rainbow were dodging.
Rainbow flew circles around one before looking at it, “You know, I kinda always wondered what you guys look like without these masks.” she pulled the mask off the Squid Khan to see what it looked like underneath.
Repulsed by the grossness of its face, Rainbow spoke, “You know what? You look better with this on!” Rainbow put the mask back on the Squid Khan only it was put on backwards. The Shadowkhan with its vision cut off stumbled around
Rarity fired magic shots at a Squid Khan that tried to attack her only for two to come at her from behind and wrap their tentacles around her, “Let me go!” she struggled.
Both Spike and Twilight used a combination of combustion and chi spell blasts to take out the two Squid Khan restraining Rarity.
“There may be more Shadowkhan on board the ship.” Spike suspected.
“Let's split up and search the ship, leave no spot unchecked.” Twilight ordered.
“I'll check the petting zoo!” Fluttershy flew off to protect the animals on board.
“Applejack and I will check the exercise area!” Rainbow offered, as the two took off.
“I'll hold down the fort here.” Pinkie volunteered.
“I'll go scope out the shops!” Rarity offered while fearing what could happen to the ships lovely merchandise..
“I'll check around the rooms.” Twilight said.
“And I'll go for the deck.” Spike said, as the rest took off.
At the petting zoo area, some of the ponies there were taking cover as some Squid Khan slinked inside. The animals took shelter inside their play houses, as Fluttershy flew in and saw her enemies, “You meanies better leave those sweet animals alone!”
The Squid Khan turned their focus to Fluttershy and extended their tentacles to grab her, “Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked as she flew for cover, as the shadow minions continued to pursue her. She managed to fly through one of the tire swings in one of the animal pens. When one of the Squid Khan tried to follow her through it got stuck inside the swing and struggled to get out.
Fluttershy whipped out her fish medium and chanted the spell before blasting at the Squid Khan destroying them. When all was clear, the animals came out from hiding to see if all was well.
“It's ok, they're gone.” Fluttershy cooed, as she hugged one of the baby goats.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash arrived on scene and saw more Squid Khan trying to terrorize some of the guests.
“Come on, A.J, let's put these guys back in the ocean.” Rainbow said, as the two went in for the attack.
Applejack bucked some of the shuffleboard pucks at the Squid Khan to get their attention. When they felt the pucks nail them in the back they turned and went for the two ponies. Rainbow flew around dodging before her hooves were ensnared by two Squid Khan's tentacles.
“You'll be sorry.” Rainbow said, as she flew around them at super speed and when she stopped both Squid Khan's were tied together by each others tentacles.
Applejack ran to gain speed before jumping on a beach chair allowing her to jump higher and came down bucking two more Squid Khan making them go poof, “Yee-haw!” Applejack cheered.
As Twilight and Rarity were defending the sections of the yacht they went to search, Spike arrived at the pool area and saw more Squid Khan were terrorizing the ponies who took cover under chairs and tables.
“Not on this cruise!” Spike flew in and used his heat beams on one of the Squid Khan making it go poof.
Another Squid Khan jumped Spike from behind wrapping its tentacles around his body as they landed in the pool. As the two sank deeper the Squid Khan was ready to take Spike through a portal only for Spike to use the Monkey talisman power to change himself into an electric eel and shock the Squid Khan destroying it. Spike changed back and flew out of the pool.
Spike shook some water off and heard the cries of mares in trouble. He looked to see the mares who flirted with him at the pool were surrounded by several Squid Khan. The shadow minions all linked their tentacles together boxing the mares in.
“Leave those ladies alone!” Spike shouted, as he started using his fish medium to blast chi magic at the Squid Khan destroying them, “Take cover!” he instructed the mares who went for cover as more Squid Khan gathered close to attack Spike.
As they tried to grab Spike with their tentacles, Spike flew around while firing blasts of chi magic. Several of the Squid Khan evaded the blasts and they all wrapped their tentacles around Spike making him drop his fish medium.
Watching from the Squid Khan's vision was Shendu who saw Spike struggle, “Yes! Finally, my powers will be mine again!”
Before the Squid Khan could open a portal and take Spike with them, they were all blasted by the girls each using their fish mediums. When the Squid Khan were all destroyed, Spike levitated down to the deck safely.
“Are you ok, Spike?” Applejack asked.
“Never better. How's the rest of the ship?”
“Shadowkhan free.” Pinkie answered proudly.
“That's good.” Spike said in relief.
At Shendu's cave, the imprisoned dragon growled, “Foiled once again! I swear to you, Spike. I will never stop until my talismans are returned to me!”
Sometime later that night back on the yacht, the crew had successfully cleaned up all the damage done by the Squid Khan, with some help from Spike and the girls, of course.
And now they were partying on deck as DJ Pon3 was mixing beats with all the passengers dancing and partying hard. Many of the passengers were especially happy when thanking the girls and Spike for defending them.
Through a picture taking montage it showed the girls and Spike dancing close and partying. With picture after picture it suddenly showed the group of mares Spike saved getting closer and closer before they all kissed his cheeks and head. The pictures following showed Spike blushing while looking sheepish, as Twilight and Fluttershy were surprised, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rainbow smiled cheekily, while Rarity was frowning in jealousy before trying to launch herself at the group of mares only for Applejack and Rainbow to restrain her.
It was quite a spectacle on the Luxe Deluxe cruise for everypony there. But it all worked out well in the end. Especially for Spike and his friends.