//------------------------------// // Return to Ponyville-a lesson about appearances // Story: Pony heart, Dragon blood, body of Metal // by The-DerpSide //------------------------------// The next day, Celestia stood with Luna and Blueblood, a hand on Spike's shoulder as they faced multiple reporters. "If it wasn't for the timely intervention of Sonic the Hedgehog and Shaodw the Hedgehog, I'm afraid Metal Sonic may have succeeded. As for now, Metal Sonic for his actions against Prince Spike-my adopted son, is declared an enemy of Equestria. However, one must exercise caution in approaching it. It is heavily armed, can move extremely fast, and-from our information-can flawlessly use any ability it has seen by 'copying' it." She said, as camera flashes went off and multiple questions came from the crowd of reporters at the same time. They had come from everywhere-Appleossa, Canterlot, Ponyville, even Manehattan for starters! Spike gazed at the crowd, worry etching his face as he gazed upon his metal arm. At first, he thought it had been a bad dream, before he heard the whirling of machines as he stood up and saw the changes. He had been avoiding his friends because of it-especially his crush. They would never understand how much pain he felt as flesh was torn apart and replaced with cold metal. Metal Sonic...not only had he brought forth the wrath of Celestia, but also Luna, Sonic, and even Shadow-whom he had seen walking along the castle with his quills glowing red in barely suppressed rage. He had ever vowed to "Tear off Metal Sonic's arms and legs one-by-one before ripping his accursed head off his body and tossing it into the deepest body of water he could find". After Shadow vowed this in front of everyone, he had walked out to the courtyard before a shout of "CHAOS BLAST!" was heard and an explosion happened in it, leaving a gaping crater and burning plants where Shadow had stood while he looked upon the damage indifferently. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow had gotten their new outfits. After seeing Shadow's...."outburst"....and since Spike was avoiding them Rarity seemed to have plenty of extra time, though this irritated her for some reason. Sonic's was a simple cyan sports pants and white T-shirt, with holes for his spines. Knuckles had blue jeans and a black tank top-it was obvious that he spent most of his time outside. Tails was the most formal of the four-with a button-up sky-blue shirt and black pants. Shadow had smoke-grey sports pants and a formal grey shirt-with holes for his spines. They had been very pleased with the outfits-and now had multiple copies of it. As Rainbow Dash wandered around the castle, she passed by a cloud outside a window and spotted something....blue. Pausing in her tracks, she tunerd to see Sonic sleeping on a cloud. "What?!" She said, opening the window and rubbing her eyes, "But only pegasi and alicorns can walk on clouds without the help of magic!" "I know the wind really well." She heard Sonic say, as he opened an eye. As Rainbow Dash flew up to find a cloud of her own, Sonic sat up and seemingly fluffed the cloud slightly. "So...Sonic...you said you loved adventures?" Rainbow Dash asked, after setting up the cloud she got next to his, "and just who is this Doctor Eggman you spoke about." "Ah...well, it all started eleven year ago, when a man named Doctor Ivo Robotnik started to use small woodland animals to power his robots....." Sonic said, and the two got lost in tales of the past, of robots and journeys in space to determine the fate of a world and the two started getting closer, as Rainbow Dash told her tales-of Nightmare Moon, a dragon, small creatures called parasprites, the Sonic Rainboom, and a God of Disharmony and Anarchy. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Agh!" Rarity shouted in frustration, she had seen Spike, but he had soon vanished using his Mach 2 speed. "I had a PRINCE after ME?! And I didn't know?!" She muttered to herself. 'Then again, you didn't know about that...and didn't he say he didn't want to be revered for his title?' Her own thoughts countered, a little voice in the back of her head that usually helped when designing outfits, 'And why are WE the Element of Generosity. Seems to me that we weren't very generous when it came to Spike. We used him as a pincushin for buck's sake!' "No wonder he doesn't want to see me." She whispered to himself. 'No....that musn't be it. He's avoiding everyone but his family-even Twilight. It must be his appearance. On and on we go on about perfection, and Spike was marred and...torn apart. Imagine the pain he must have felt, being awake for it.' Her mind spoke, 'The poor darling suffered because of a metal megalomanic!' Her eyes widened. "Who am I to judge based on appearances? The times I picked based on appearance and status, I've been let down." At this declaration an image of Prince Blueblood came to her mind. "Spike needs the support of his friends during this struggle at this time in his life, and it's my duty as the Element of Generosity to make sure my friends are cared for...his old clothes were torn apart....wait! Idea!" She declared, running off into her room-filled with fabrics and sewing equipment, placing a "do not disturb" sign on the doorknob as she shut the door and locked it. "Well, I don't know about making clothes, but it is my job to make sure everyone's happy. Oh!Oh!Oh! We never got the party! I could make it a 'Welcome to Equestria!' slash 'Thank you for helping free Spike!' Slash 'cheer up Spike!' party!" A certain pink mare said, bouncing off after she watched Rarity's decree. "Oh I do hope Celestia will agree to my idea!" She said. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Well, we've had our fair share of adventures, and I doubt I would be the person I am without the help of Sonic." Tails said as he walked in the garden with Fluttershy, working on a watch-shaped device as he spoke, "I met him ten years ago and we quickly became close friends...at times we're more like brothers." "That's....nice...." Fluttershy said, as a blue bird flew down to perch on her shoulder, and another perched on Tails. "The birds seems to like you." "Yeah. Sonic and I have experience saving small animals. Doctor Eggman used to use them to power his robots." Tails said, not knowing Fluttershy's love of animals. "HE WHAT?!!!!!!!!!" That shout scared of every animal in the nearby area. "Twilight." Shadow asked as he stood in the hallway with his eyes closed, "Is there anyplace I could learn the history of this land?" "There's a library here and in Ponyville-the library is where Spike and I live." Twilight said, as she paused to look at him with a curious expression. "By the way, you called yourself the Ultimate Life-Form? Why?" She asked. Shadow closed his eyes as memories flashed in front of his eyes. Space Colony: ARK, Professor Gerald Robotnik,....Maria... "I am the end result of PROJECT: SHADOW. A project to create the Ultimate Life-Form capable of being used not only as a weapon, but as a living cure for the deathly ill." Shadow said, "Though the later part was never finished." "Really? If I talk to Celestia about it, do you think you'll allow that project to be competed?" Twilight asked in wonder; a cure for the deathly ill?! "It....depends on the response of Princess Celestia." Shadow said, before shaking his head, clearing his mind of his memories, and walking off. 'I've left my past behind me.' Shadow thought to himself. 'I am my own person for the first time in my life....Maria...My only friend...who died so that I may live.' "Spike! I've finished your new outfit!" Rarity called as she levitated a wrapped bundle next to her. "A new outfit?" Spike asked as he stepped out of the shadows of the castle to face her, his red eye glowing as he stared at her-trying to read her expression. "Yes! That fiend ripped your old one to shreds, and I think that this new look will suit you" She said as she unwrapped the bundle and Spike pulled them on. There were black dress shorts-since he couldn't war long pants thanks to his metal joints. There was a black open jacket with spiked shoulders and a hole in the back for his turbine. He no longer had a shirt-leaving his chest laser ready to fire. Finally, there was a black belt with a cape attached to his back that went down to his metallic thighs and was attached in two parts at the belt and connected to one piece below his tail. "I...I don't know what to say, these are awesome!" Spike said, looking over himself. "Analyzing....Clothes are woven with fire-resistant fibers." After he said that, he slammed his right hand over his mouth. "I am so sorry....the Metal part of me analyzes new things....it...it's actually helpful with some of my old childhood fears having a rational portion that can effectively argue against my fears." Spike said, while the red eye shut off completely. "Spike! Turn your eye back on!" Rarity scolded, and his eye flared back to life. With that she sighed. "Spike, I know that no one could ever know what you went through....even Royal Guards who lost their limbs, but all of your friends are worried. We know you want some space, but we can't help but worry. I couldn't help but think of what you went through, and I realized that you are afraid of what people will think of your appearance, but that's why Princess Celestia did what she did! You've always thought of yourself as a....monster...for being a dragon, didn't you?" Spike said nothing, just nodding slightly. At this she once again sighed, "You are Princess Celestia's son in all but blood. The meeting with the reporters was to show that YOU are her son. You are not a monster, but Prince Spike of Equestria." Before she could say anything more, Sonic-who had curled into a spiky ball-landed on the ground outside before standing up and brushing himself of, with Rainbow Dash flying down and loudly yelling. "How are you not hurt from that leap?!" Sonic just shrugged and simply said "I've had worse." ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The train ride back to Ponyville had the group quietly talking within their train car. "How do your parents feel about you getting into danger so often?" Fluttershy asked, "Celestia knows I'd worry about my foals." Tails just shrugged "I have no idea. Eggman's forces launched a global takeover minutes after I was born. My parents didn't survive." Fluttershy's eyes widened in horror before she pulled him close. "Oh you poor thing!" Shadow was staring out the window, watching the scenery go by and Knuckles was pacing around-glancing in the direction Angel Island occasionally. Sonic and Rainbow Dash were both napping-showing the others how similar those two were. Spike was sitting quietly. Every now and then, another passenger would pass through the car and offer their condolences to the dragon, and he would politely accept it, yet he could tell that they were not exactly comfortable with his...altered appearance. Spike and the others were broken from their thoughts, conversations (or in the cases of the two blue speedsters-naps) when the train jolted to a stop. "We have arrived at Ponyville station!" A conductor yelled, "if you are disembarking, please do so quickly." Everyone grabbing their bags (with bags being provided for Sonic, Shadow, Tails, and Knuckles) and walked out onto the station. Spike stretched out his newly-grown wings and rolled his right shoulder as he went to pick up the other's bags on the station, but was stopped when Twilight's magic held him in place. "Okay girls" Twilight A cough from Shadow made Twilight remember their additions to the group. "And guys" She added, "We need to figure out where everyone will stay. Now Shadow has shown an interest in the history of Equestria, so I could let him stay in a guest room at the Library in the basement. "Fine with me" Shadow said, "I prefer quiet places." "T-T-Tails could stay with me. I'm sure Angel Bunny would like another male in the house and I had some more questions for him......if that's okay with you?" Fluttershy said. Tails nodded. "Fine with me, I'm quite curious about the animal life here and how its different from home." "I'd offer a guest room at Sugarcube Corner....but it's being prepped as a baby room. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Cake are going to have some foals." Pinkie Pie said, and the Shadow's ears twitched slightly as he quietly whispered "Chaos help those poor babies who live with Pinkie..." "Knuckles can stay with me...provided he help out with our apple bucking. Unfortunately I can't just give out free rent." Applejack said, and Knuckles shrugged. "Hey. It will give me a workout. I'm in. Yeah!" Knuckles said, punching a spiked fist into the air. "And Sonic will stay with me!" Rainbow Dash said proudly. "Uh....Rainbow....you house is made of clouds." Twilight pointed out. "Yeah? I wouldn't have offered had I not seen Sonic nap on one." Rainbow Dash said, "But I will make a stairway for him." "He WHAT?!" Twilight said, "That isn't possible! Nopony except pegsi and alicorns can walk on clouds!" "What can I say? I know the wind." Sonic said with a cocky smirk, "now if you all will excuse me I have to take my daily run". With a blue blur, Sonic was gone-speeding across Ponyville. "How does he not crash into things?" Twilight asked. "Good reflexes and eyesight." Tails said. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// As three six-year-old fillies said their goodbyes and headed outwards, the small pegasus with orange fur and purple eyes, mane, and tail stopped smiling. She had been orphaned at a young age from a severe illness her parents had and now lived just outside of town at an orphanage. The only thing left from her parents, was a scooter she owned. However, she did not want any pity-hence why she alway said she was heading home and left the orphanage to meet with her friends from school as soon as she could. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, they called themselves. Applebloom was a small earth pony and the sister of Applejack. Sweetie Bell was a small unicorn filly and the sister of Rarity. Finally, she was called Scootaloo. Her wings had not grown properly and had remained small by a small case of malnutrition, and she held her scooter tightly in her hands. Right before she could head home, a blue blur flew right over her and stopped dead a few inches away. The figure had spines on him and was bipedal like ponies, yet he was clearly not a pony. "What're you doing out here?" The figure asked, turning to reveal green eyes. "Heading home." Scootaloo said quickly. "Oh really. I've already been all across Ponyville, and the only thing in the direction you're going is the orphanage." As soon as those words left his mouth Scootaloo's eyes widened in horror. "PLEASE don't tell anyone! I....I don't want my friends to feel sorry for me..." She said quietly. "I'll tell you a secret. My best buddy's an orphan, and he's saved MY life more than once. Your life is what you make of it....though judging by your wings you might not be getting enough nutrients. It's decided! I'll take you out to a nice meal." He said, "I've gotten some money from helping out another friend of mine. I might as well put it to a good use." "Really mister?" The young Pegasus filly asked. "Don't call me mister! I'm not old yet! My name's Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!" He said, "and you are?" "S-Scootaloo." She said quietly. "Well, I do have some stories I could tell you from back home. I'm sure that I can pull off a little...magic...to fix your wings." When he said the word "magic" he pulled out the cyan Chaos Emerald. "Wow...." Scootaloo said, eyes widening in awe as she saw that large gem appear as if from nowhere. "Now, where is a good restaurant in town?" Sonic asked, as he walked with the filly, tossing and catching the Chaos Emerald. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Where did Sonic run off to?" Rainbow Dash asked as she flew across town. "Grr....if he wasn't so awesome I'd slap him upside the head for this!" Right after she said this, she saw a blue hedgehog walking with a young pegaus filly enter a restaurant. "Found you!" She said, landing. She entered the dining facility to see Scootaloo run off to the bathroom and Sonic holding the Chaos Emerald. "Okay...she's suffering from malnutrition judging by her wings from what Rainbow Dash told me about Pagasi." Sonic said and Rainbow Dash wanted to slap herself in the forehead for never noticing what was happening to her "number-one fan". "Don't let me down." Sonic said, holding the emerald over Scootaloo's food. "You are called a miracle gem...." With that, the Chaos Emerald started glowing brightly for a few seconds. "Sonic." Rainbow Dash said, after the emerald stopped glowing and he tucked it away, "Thank goodness I've found you. I already set up the stairway." "Sorry about that." Sonic said, "But you may have to set up another guest room....I'm thinking of adopting Scootaloo." "You just met her!" She said, astonished. "Yeah...I met Tails at age 8 and pretty much raised him like my younger brother...and that was without a steady income. It'll pretty much be the same. Tails can take care of himself and...well, as much as I hate to admit it, I don't like not being needed. I've been fighting evil and injustice for so long I just can't stop not helping people...er...ponies in need." Sonic explained , "And this way I can make sure she gets enough nutrients in her food." Right after he said that, the food arrived, with Scootaloo arriving a split second later. "Uh Sonic...what are you eating?" Scootaloo asked. "Carrot dog with bean chili and cheese....seemed like the closest thing to a chili dog I could get here!" Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo looked at each other at the....strange...choice of food, before Scootaloo's eyes widened in realization. "RAINBOW DASH!" She said in excitement. "What are you doing here?" "Well, Sonic here's rooming with me. I've seen him walk on the clouds." At these words the pegasus filly went starry-eyed. "And he's not even a pegasus!" By now, Sonic had already finished his food while Scootaloo just started hers. Putting some bits on the table, Sonic asked "Hey Dash, can you watch this table while I run out to do a quick...errand? If they ask for it, the bits are on the table-including tip." With that, Sonic once again vanished in a blue blur. Scootaloo looked up from her food at that. "He's fast! he might almost be as fast as you, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow sighed. "As much as it pains me to say it...he's....faster. He was recorded moving faster than the speed of light." At those words, Scootaloo's fork fell from her hands onto her plate. "Wow...." Right as she reached for her fork, the blue blur appeared again and was once again sitting at the table. "Done!" He said proudly handing a piece of paper to Scootaloo. "C...certificate of....adoption...." She said with wide eyes and trembling hands. "Y...you want...me? As your daughter?" "Well why not? We both love speed and action!" With those words the young pegasus launched herself at him, crying into him while repeatedly saying "thank you!" (before you ask, I have an idea for cutie marks for ALL of the CMC) ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Spike on the other hand, stood staring at the door of the Golden Oaks Library. Shadow was looking at him with a raised eyebrow and Twilight was looking at him with uncertainty. "It feels...odd..to be here after what happened." Spike said, and Shadow nodded. He knew what it was like to return to an abandoned Space Colony: ARK after the last time he saw it the colony had been bustling with activity. "Spike, man. We heard what happened." A seven year old unicorn colt standing next to another one said, gazing upon the metal sections of Spike's body. "It was....painful..." Spike said, as the unicorn colts-Snips and Snails-walked off and other inhabitants of Ponyville came up to talk to him. There was the....eccentric...time keeper of Ponyville Doctor Whooves with Derpy-the town's mailmare flying just behind him. Spike didn't understand half the things-at first-Whooves was saying until his "Metal" side translated it. Lyra Heartsrings and Bon-Bon quickly offered their condolences to Spike, with Lyra having to be dragged away from an annoyed Shadow. She had seen the "strange creature" and started to investigate. Mayor Mare was polite with her talks, but she couldn't stay long either since she had a job running the town. Miss Cherillee was nice...though she got angry at the mere thought of someone doing the things done to him to an innocent "pony...err...dragon." By the time it was all said and done Miss Cherillee was heading home to update the school's security plan and Spike was more confused than anything. "They....accepted me?" Spike asked when they finally got through the door. "You've always been part of the town ever since we stopped Nightmare Moon" Twilight said, "Even if you're Princess Celestia's son, the town is taking it as an attack on one of their own." "I...I have a lot to process." Spike said as he headed off to the upstairs guest room-which was now his room since he outgrew his old bed. Before I forget, the shoulders of Spike's jacket and the belt-cape combination come from Neo Metal Sonic's design in "Sonic Heroes", shown below.