//------------------------------// // Camp Out Night 1 // Story: A Dragon's Destiny // by Riddleja //------------------------------// By the time the gang found a place to camp for the night, the sky had already turned to a beautiful evening shade of orange and red. The spot they found wasn't exactly much, but it would have to do. It was nestled in between 2 large rocks next to a small river. A small forest was also nearby “At least we’ll have fresh water”, suggested Twilight. “And some fruit from those trees.” “And plenty of room to party!” Pinkie Pie cried in excitement. Suddenly without any warning, she scrambled through her mane and pulled out various camping necessities; tents, sleeping bags, campfire snacks, etc. “How is it you keep all that in your mane?” asked Trixie. “It’s easy when you have the ability to break the 4th wall”, grinned Pinkie Pie. With that, they set to work setting up their campsite. All the while, Spike stayed silent. Rarity tried to start a conversation with him. “Doesn't it seem rather peaceful this evening?” she asked. Spike just nodded and said nothing. “Spike darling, it’s rather rude not to properly answer a lady when she asks a question”, Rarity added. “Sorry”, Spike said softly. “I guess I’m not really in a talkative mood right now.” “Well at least you’re talking now”, Rarity smiled. “You know, we were rather worried about you when you ran off like that. Fighting those dragons on your own.” “I know”, Spike said softly. “I’m sorry.” Rarity smiled. “Apology accepted.” At last, the camp site was finished. “Everything looks good”, said Twilight. “Now who wants to go collect nuts and berries in case Pinkie Pie eats all the snacks?” “Hey!” Pinkie Pie felt insulted. “That was only one time! Alright actually it was twice, but I couldn't help myself.” “Has anypony seen Spike?” asked Applejack. The ponies looked and noticed that Spike and the sword had gone missing. “Oh not again”, groaned Rainbow Dash. In the forest, Spike held the sword and looked at it. ”What’s going on?” he asked. “Why didn't you help me in that fight?” But of course, the sword didn't answer. “Maybe you’ll work this time”, Spike thought. “I’ll give it a try.” “Spike concentrated his sights on a nearby tree. He began to twirl the blade faster and faster. “Go Ring of Fire!” he shouted, throwing the blade with all his might! But all that happened was the blade fell to the ground with a clatter. No flames, no ring of fire. Spike picked up the sword and tried something else. “Flaming Pole vault!” he cried, charging towards a tree. He stuck the blade into the ground, but there was no fire to boost him up over the tree. Instead, he lost his grip and crashed into it. Spike became very annoyed. ”What is your problem?” he snapped at the sword. “First you wouldn't help me during that fight with Darkblaze, and now you won’t even work for me at all? I lost a fight and it’s all your fault!” losing control of his anger, Spike punched the tree with all his might! The punch caused a large coconut to drop from the tree and bonk him on the noggin. Spike became dizzy and collapsed to the ground. Meanwhile in Lucius’s castle, the dark ruler was doing some thinking. “Let’s see how tough this chosen one is when I fill his head with the worst nightmare he could ever imagine!” he decided. With that. He closed his eyes and muttered some sort of spell. This resulted in a small purple shadow emerging from his cauldron and flying off in the direction of the forest. Count Lucius laughed wickedly at his plan. Spike suddenly found himself in an unknown location. The area had thick amounts of fog. “Where am I?” he thought. “Why is everything so dark and foggy?” “Spike…” “Who’s there?” Spike jumped back in surprise. The voice sounded despairing. “Spike…” “Twilight? Is that you?” Spike raced in the direction of the voice. The closer he got, the louder the voice grew. Suddenly he heard more voices calling him. “It’s the rest of the gang”, Spike said. Suddenly Spike found himself engulfed by a large fog cloud. When the fog disappeared, Spike was shocked at what lay before him. It was Ponyville, his home. Only, it looked different. The skies were grey and cloudless, the fields were barren of grass and crops, and homes were in ruin. ”Oh no!” cried Spike. “What happened?” “Spike…” Spike turned again and was horrified. There before him, were his friends. All of them were bound in chains and looked very weakened and sad. Even Pinkie Pie’s crazy mane had deflated. ”Hard to believe, isn't it?” asked the weakened Applejack. “We didn't stand a chance”, the weakened Rainbow Dash coughed. “I didn't even get to giggle at them”, the weakened Pinkie Pie mourned. “I knew this was a bad idea”, said the weakened Fluttershy. “We should have just let Spikey-Wikey do this on his own and gone home”, moaned the weakened Rarity. “The weak and feeble Trixie agrees”, said the weakened Trixie. ”We’re sorry Spike”, the weakened Twilight said sadly. “We failed you. And now we must pay.” ”Take the prisoners to the dungeons!” a loud, threatening voice called. Spike turned in the directly of the voice and saw that it had come from a large dragon in battle armor. The dragon was Count Lucius and he was grinning evilly. “Well what now, so called ‘chosen one’?” he asked cruelly to Spike. “Your friends have failed, and I've won. Equestria is mine!” With that, the evil tyrant laughed evilly. Spike could bare this anymore and raced away. Every time he tried to get out of the nightmare, he was cornered by one of Lucius’s henchmen until he was backed against a crumbling wall. “Get back!” Spike shouted as he reached out his sword. “I‘m not afraid of you!” Suddenly, the sword disintegrated into a small pile of green embers. ”It can’t be!” Spike cried. “This can’t be how it all ends!” ”I’m afraid it is”, said a menacing voice. Spike turned fearfully around and noticed the crumbled wall had transformed into Count Lucius again. He raised his sword devilishly and prepared to strike! Spike threw his arms over his head in hopes of blocking the hit. And just as the blade was about to slice into him… “Hey you!!!” A flash of green flames surrounded Spike and as they cleared, there stood the hooded stallion. Surrounding him and Spike was a shield of green flames. Then holding out his hoof, the remains of the sword floated into the air and reassembled into the blade. The blade then ignited in green flames. “This young drake’s mind is no place for the likes of you, Lucius”, the stallion said with his voice echoing. “Return to the dark realm from whence you came!” The flames from the blade then spread out towards the vicious dragons, causing all but Lucius to instantly vanish. “We’ll meet again!” Lucius cried before finally disappearing too. Before long, the surroundings also changed from the ruins of Ponyville back to the area of fog. “Hey, you’re the stallion who helped me out against the Fire Guardian”, Spike said. The stallion turned to him. “Indeed”, he said. “What just happened?” Spike asked. ”Count Lucius appears to have used some of his dark powers to infiltrate your mind and give you that terrible nightmare”, the stallion explained. “So I decided to put a stop to it.” Then he noticed the troubled look on Spike’s face. “Also I could not help but notice something was troubling you.” ”You see,” Spike began, “I haven’t been able to use the sword’s power ever since my battle against Darkblaze. And now it won’t obey me.” ”I understand”, the stallion said. “The sword will not obey you because your over confidence with yourself is in the way.” ”What do you mean?” ”Every since you defeated the Fire Guardian”, the stallion explained, “you felt that you no longer needed the help of your friends to overcome problems. And because of that, the sword simply refused to listen to you anymore. It only obeys those who are not so confident in victory that they deny help from others.” Before Spike could say anything, the stallion started to disappear. ”Wait don’t go!” Spike called out. But it was too late. The stallion was gone. “Spike!” “Huh?” Spike suddenly heard his name again. This time it sounded like it was above him. Suddenly, a bright light enveloped the space he was in. When Spike opened his eyes, he found himself back in the forest, lying under the tree where the coconut had bonked him in the head. He could see the mares looking down at him concerned. “Are you okay?” Twilight asked putting a hoof to Spike’s forehead. “You've got such a large bump.” ”A coconut hit me on the head”, Spike explained. “I should be okay.” “Where’s that mean old coconut at?” asked Pinkie Pie. “I’m gonna give it a piece of my mind! And a piece of cake while I’m at it.” The group just sighed at Pinkie Pie’s silliness. Before long, they brought Spike back to the campsite and started with their sleepover. “Forgive me if I don’t seem too into this”, said Trixie. “It’s just that I've never actually been invited to a sleepover before.” ”That’s alright Trixie”, said Twilight. “I've only thrown a sleepover once.” She remembered the time when she, Rarity, and Applejack had a sleepover during a storm and of how things didn't really go as planned. As they sat around the campfire, roasting marshmallows for s'mores, the mares looked over at Spike, who just twisted the stick his marshmallow was on in his hand. After a bit, he spoke up. “I’m sorry for how I was acting”, he said. “About how I didn't want any of you to help me.” ”You never told us why though, Spikey-Wikey”, Rarity said. “You’re right”, said Spike. “It’s just that this place is very dangerous. Especially with Count Lucius’s goons after us. You girls are my best friends aside from Trixie since I haven’t known her that long. I just didn't want to risk losing you. If anything bad happened, like you were captured and tortured by those dragons, I could never forgive myself." Spike hung his head in shame. Suddenly he felt a comforting hoof on his shoulder. He looked up and saw that it came from Twilight. “It’s alright Spike”, she said. “It’s nice that you’re worried about us, but we’ll be okay.” ”Absolutely, darling”, added Rarity. “You’re not alone, Sugarcube”, said Applejack. “The reason we made it this far is because we worked as a team.” ”Not only that,” said Pinkie Pie, “but you’re super fun to hang out with.” ”Um, you’re also very caring, if you don’t mind me saying so”, said Fluttershy. “What Fluttershy means is that you’re an awesome friend”, said Rainbow Dash. “Not as awesome as me, though.” The group looked towards Trixie. “I got nothing”, she shrugged. “I've never actually done something like this before.” So, she just patted Spike on the head. “Thanks girls”, Spike smiled. “So how about it?” asked Twilight. “No more talk of you trying to do this quest by yourself?” ”Deal”, said Spike. With that, the girls gave him a large group hug. “It’s getting dark”, said Twilight, “We’d better get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.” The friends exchanged good nights and went into their tents for the night. Spike couldn't exactly sleep. He just looked up at the top of the tent. “I’m not alone”, he said to himself. “In every adventure we've been on, we succeeded because we worked as a team.” With a smile, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted off to dreamland. He awoke suddenly when he heard a stirring in his tent. But it was only Fluttershy with a blanket on her back. “Oh, sorry for waking you,” she said timidly, “but it was kind of dark and scary in my tent. So, I was wondering if I could spend the night here. Um, that is if you don’t mind.” Spike smiled. ”Sure you can spend the night”, he said. Fluttershy made herself comfortable and snuggled next to Spike as she dozed off. In Spike’s eyes, she looked very adorable. “Good night”, Fluttershy said softly. Spike was just about to say goodnight as well when Rarity came in. “Oh, Spikey-Wikey!” she said. “I just had the most horrible nightmare. Could I possibly sleep here with you, please?” ”Well,” said Spike, not wanting to sound rude, “Fluttershy got scared and I let her sleep here. There might not be enough room for all 3 of us.” ”That’s alright”, said Rarity. “I’ll make room.” With that, Rarity used her magic to merge her tent with Spike’s. “There we are”, she said cheerfully. “Nice and roomy.” Suddenly Pinkie Pie bounced in. “Why wasn't I invited to this sleepover?” she asked. Before anypony could say anything else, Pinkie Pie jumped in the air and landed on Spike with her hooves around him. “Is anypony else going to come in?” Spike asked uncomfortably. “I might have told the others that there was a sleepover going on in Spike’s tent”, Pinkie giggled. Suddenly Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Trixie trotted in with their sleeping bags. “Now what’s all this ‘bout y’all havin’ a sleepover in yer tent and not invitin’ the rest of us?” asked Applejack. “There’s not enough room for all of us”, said Spike. Suddenly Twilight used her magic to merge all of the tents together. “Now there is”, she said cheerfully. Spike shrugged as everyone got into their sleeping bags. They exchanged good nights and went to sleep. Outside the tent, high on a rocky cliff, Darkblaze and the other dragons were looking down at them. “Let’s attack while they’re sleeping!” said Tubbo. But Darkblaze held his arm to stop him. “No”, he said. The dragons were confused. “That wouldn't be fair to attack in their sleep.” “But we have orders to take him out”, said Tubbo. “Yes,” said Darkblaze, “but I’m in charge. And I say no one makes a move until I say so. Understand?” With that, the dragons flew off in search of their own place for the night. Back in Count Lucius’s castle, the evil dragon lord was fuming. “I was so close!” he sneered. “So close to destroying that little worm! Then that stupid stallion had to ruin all my fun! Well next time, he won’t be able to stop me. No one will!” And he cackled maniacally as the flames died, causing him to disappear again.