. . . . . . . . .
Curtain Rise!
Act XX: Spike's Tribulation
Scene i: Show Me The Way
The howls of Timberwolves echoed throughout the Everfree. The sound of wooden paws clicking against the ground moved through the forest. The gnarly shadows moved over the bushes and trees as they stalked through the area. After the pack of wooden predators walked past, a small purple dragon peeked out of a bush. He gulped as he quietly scurried in the opposite direction.
After a few minutes, Spike ran up to a tree and hid behind it. He took a deep breath and looked up into a whole in the leafy canopy. He looked up at the new Mare in the Moon and sighed. He sat down sadly and hugged himself for warmth as a cold breeze blew through him. He shivered and looked up at the moon again.
As he sat there, the silence became deafening.
"Luna?" he asked, "Can you hear me?"
The silence continued to ring on all around Spike. The little dragon sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes. He sighed as he did what he could to fill the silence.
Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there's an answer
And every day I'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the friends and the family I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside so afraid that I've lost my faith
Spike reached out towards the moon and called out to it.
Show me the way!
Show me the way!
Take me tonight to the river and wash my illusions away
Show me the way!
The eerie howl of Timberwolves echoed throughout the forest. Spike jumped and trembled with fear. He quickly ran in the opposite direction of the sound. Up ahead he noticed a small cave.
"Please be empty. Please be empty. Please be empty," Spike thought frantically.
Spike slipped into the small cave. It was a short tunnel that went down below the ground a bit and into a small alcove. Spike sighed as he settled down into the shelter. He lay back and continued to fight back the emptiness with his voice.
And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
Then I wake up each morning and check out what's new, to find we've so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that I just won't know
Show me the way!
Show me the way!
Bring me tonight to the mountain and take my confusion away
And show me the way!
Spike closed his eyes tearfully.
And if I see a light, should I believe?
Tell me how will I know!
Spike felt something touch his eye lids. He opened them to see that there was a small hole in the ground above him, through which moonlight was shining through.
"Just wait . . ."
Spike's eyes widened. "Luna?"
"Be patient, Spike. Patient and brave. . ."
Spike's eyes widened ever further. "Twilight?"
Amid the beam of moonlight came purple sparkles of magic, which felt soft and cool as they cascaded onto him. Spike felt his heart glow with a warmth unlike any other.
"But. . .how. . ." Spike said, then he put a hand over his heart. His eyes were filled with purple light as an image of Twilight appeared before him. The next thing he knew, he was being hugged softly by the mare. Tears of regret ran down his face as the guilt began th grow within him. "You hatched me. . .I'm alive because of your magic. . .we're. . .connected. . ." Spike closed his eyes in shame for a moment, and then said softly, "I can't believe I let Sweetie Belle's magic trick me so easily. . .I'm sorry. . ." In response to his sorrow, he felt the hug grow tighter, as if to say he was already forgiven. "I guess it just took a little outside help for me to. . .break free. . ." Spike gained a determined look on his face, "There is hope!"
Spike soon returned to reality, and Twilight was gone. That didn't stop him from jumping to his feet determinedly. He looked up at the moon and used his strongest voice.
Show me the way!
Show me the way!
Take me tonight to the river and wash my illusions away
Show me the way!
Show me the way!
Give me the strength and the courage to believe that I'll get there someday
Show me the way!
Spike lay back on the rocky ground with his arms behind his back. He closed his eyes with Luna, Rarity, and Twilight on his mind. As he drifted off to sleep, a few more words left his lips.
Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there's an answer. . ."
Scene ii: Kidnap the Sandy Claws
A group of ponies slashed through some bushes and branches with various garden tools. They had been at it all night, and they still hadn't found any sign of the dragon. Behind the group stood Applejack, looking very angry.
Rainbow Dash suddenly landed next to the orange farm pony and said, "You still haven't found anything?"
Applejack glared at Rainbow Dash and said, "Can it, RD. If you're the fastest flier in Equestria, why haven't you found him?"
Rainbow groaned and said, "Well I have to manage a whole mob of ponies who don't know what they're doing or where to look! It would be easier if we could search on our own!"
Applejack opened her mouth to say something, but then she stopped, nodded, and said, "Ye'r right, Rainbow."
"Oh yeah!? Well who asked you! I'm-," Rainbow stopped and blinked, "Wait, what did you say?"
"Ye'r right," Applejack repeated, "A huge crowd ain't gonna catch Spike. It'd be better if only a couple a ponies went deeper into the Forest and flushed 'em out, like a weasel in a hay stack."
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie, still with straight hair and a dark coat, popped up between Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
"Flush out Spike the dragon?" Pinkie Pie asked excitedly.
"I'm gonna do it!" Rainbow Dash declared.
"Let's draw straws!" Pinkie said.
Applejack shook her head and said, "Ah say we should work together."
Pinkie smiled, "Three of a kind! Birds of a feather! Now and forever! La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la! La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!"
The three ponies broke off in another direction and marched off into the Everfree Forest.
Capture Spike the dragon,
lock him up real tight!
Throw away the key and then
Turn off all the lights!
Pinkie Pie smiled as she came up with a plan.
First, we're going to set some bait
Inside a nasty trap and wait
When he comes a-sniffing we will
Snap the trap and close the gate!
Rainbow Dash shook her head and offered a plan of her own.
Wait! I've got a better plan
To catch him as fast as we can
Let's pick a huge ten ton rock
And squash him flat right to his shock!
Capture Spike the Dragon
Throw him in a box
Banish him for 90 years
Then see if he talks!
Rainbow Dash rubbed her hooves together excitedly, a weird green light in her eyes.
And then the filly Sweetie Belle
Pinkie Pie chuckled, that same light flashing in her eyes as well.
Can take the whole thing over then!
Applejack nodded seriously, the green light in her eyes too.
She'll be so pleased I do declare
The three of them cave each other a high-hoof.
That dragon should beware!
The three of them laughed, and then Pinkie Pie suddenly grabbed her Party Cannon out of nowhere as she smiled deviously.
I say that we take my cannon
Aim it at his lair and then
Knock three times and when he answers
No more Spike the bad Dragon!
Applejack groaned and face hooves. Then she got close to Pinkie and lectured her.
You're so stupid, think now
If we blow him up into smithereens
No pony will witness the justice
Spike's end is something all must see!
The three continued to make their way through the forest.
Capture Spike the Dragon
Tie him in a bag
Throw him in the ocean
Then see if he is sad
Pinkie stopped and sighed in adoration.
Because Sweetie Belle the filly is the sweetest gal around
And if you're cruel to Sweetie Bell, you are going down!
Pinkie smiled and trembled with excitement as if she were about to burst.
She'll be so pleased by our success!
That she'll reward us too, I bet!
Applejack nodded.
Perhaps she'll sing a special song
The trio high-hoofed a second time.
A really awesome song!
There was suddenly the sound of howling. The three ponies looked around to see three Timberwolves approaching them at high speeds. The ponies exchanged nervous glances, and then quickly split up.
Applejack looked behind her to see one of the Timberwolves right behind her. She suddenly stopped and bucked hard, smashing the Timberwolf in the face and shattering it.
We're the Elements of Harmony
And we take our job with pride
Pinkie Pie took her Party Cannon back out and blasted the Timberwolf that had her cornered next to a tree with a blast of confetti.
We all make sure the good guys win
And combat the dark side
Rainbow Dash flew upward just as the third Timberwolf pounced over to her. She did a loop de loop in mid air and zoomed down to kick the Timberwolf in the rear. It was sent flying into a tree and shattered to bits.
I wish my cohorts weren't so dumb
Ah ain't the dumb one
You're no fun
Shut up!
Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and motioned her two friends close with her hooves.
I've got something, listen now
This one is real good, you'll see
We'll send an animal to his lair
And he will have a note to read
Now, right near there we'll wait and hide
Until his curiosity
Entices him to step outside
And then we'll have him
One, two, three!
Capture Spike the Dragon!
Hit him with a stick
Lock him for ninety years,
See what makes him tick
Capture Spike the Dragon,
We're gonna use our wits
Sweetie Belle the filly is sure to get her kicks
Capture Spike the Dragon,
See what we will see
Lock him in a cage and then
Throw away the key!
The three ponies jumped up and gave each other a third and final high hoof.
"That's an awesome plan, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie said.
"Of course it is! I am pure awesomeness!" Rainbow Dash said proudly.
"Okay, so I guess we should go to Fluttershy's cottage and borrow one of her animals," Applejack said.
"Ah, no," Dash said, "None of those animals are tough enough or cool enough to handle a mission like this. I have someone in mind who has just the right amount of tenacity to handle this." Dash stopped and scratched her head, "Where did I hear that word before. . .?" Dash shrugged and said, "Oh well, forget it. Let's go."
Scene iii: Titanium
A purple Alicorn appeared out of a large purple star. She flew close and smiled endearingly. Then she said, "Go out, and go with it, Spike. Don't worry. They won't be able to touch you. We're going to come out of this perfectly fine. Trust me. Everything will turn out just fine. It may not make sense, but where's the fun in that?"
Soon the only sound in the Everfree were the sounds of crickets chirping. Spike peeked out the entrance to his little cave. He didn't have a clue what time it was, but he needed to wake up at that time.
Spike looked out into woods where he noticed a figure approaching very slowly. Spike peeked out the hole an waited for what felt like an hour for the figure to come into full view.
"Tank?" Spike gasped softly.
The tortoise slowly lumbered along through the forest, silently aware of the rainbow haired Pegasus quietly following him just out of sight.
Spike was only aware of the lone tortoise walking along apparently all alone. The dragon also noticed the note attached to the tortoise's shell. Curious, the young dragon crawled out from the cave and got close enough to read the note.
Game over, Spike the Traitor
"Gotcha!" came Rainbow Dash's voice as she dived down through the trees behind Spike.
Spike turned quickly to see Pinkie Pie to his left with her Party Cannon. He turned to the right to see Applejack running towards him with a lasso. She threw the rope and quickly caught the little dragon. With a twirl of her rope, she neatly tied the dragon up and sent him stumbling right into the Party Cannon.
The bound dragon squired inside the large barrel of the cannon and turned himself right-side up inside it so he could see.
The three ponies surrounded the captured dragon victoriously.
"Yeehaw! We did it!" Applejack said.
"Yeah! That's right! You're going nowhere!" Rainbow Dash said as he got close to Spike's face.
Pinkie walked over to Spike's said as the dragon stared Rainbow Dash straight in the eye.
"That was easy. . ." Pinkie said suspiciously, "Too easy. . ."
Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof in Spike's face and shouted, "Alright, you scaly little traitor! Start talking. Why'd you run away? Why'd you burn down the stage? Why'd you attack Rarity?"
Spike turned away from Rainbow Dash's gaze and closed his eyes to the world. He ignored her and began to talk out loud.
You shout it out,
But I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud not saying much
I'm criticized but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up
Spike held his chin up contemptuously
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium.
Rainbow Dash slapped Spike across the face and raised her hooves to go in for more. However, Applejack quickly pulled Rainbow Dash back before she could continue her assault.
"Whoa nelly, RD, hold your horses," Applejack said. Rainbow Dash glared back at Applejack. The farm pony shook her head. "He ain't worth it," she said darkly. The farm pony walked over to Spike and said, "you might wanna hold your little lounge, cause you're in serious trouble!
Spike looked nervously at Applejack's serious expression. However, a sudden calm seemed to wash over him. He smiled and turned away from the orange earth pony's gaze.
Cut me down
But it's you who'll have further to fall
Ghost town and haunted love
Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones
I'm talking loud not saying much
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
I am titanium
I am titanium
Applejack turned away in an angry huff. "Forgit him! Let's just get em back. You fly off and tell everypony we got him. We can figure out what to do with him in front of Town Hall."
Spike suddenly started chuckling.
"Shut-up!" Applejcak shouted.
Rainbow Dash laughed herself as she flew off.
Applejack stared at the chuckling dragon, and the turned to Pinkie Pie. "He's gone as crazy as you."
"Yea-," Pinkie began but stopped in mid sentence to think about what Applejack had just said.
"Uh, no," Spike said after regaining his composure after his giggling, "I haven't."
Stone-hard, machine gun
Firing at the ones who run
Stone-hard as bulletproof glass
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
Applejack sighed, "Come on, Pinkie. Let's roll the little bugger back to Ponyvile."
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
"Be quiet," Applejack muttered.
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
"Alright, I'm sorry Pinkie Pie. He's way more crazier than you."
I am titanium. . .
Curtain!