//------------------------------// // Disqualified Entrant: Spike's Metamorphosis // Story: Setting the Rules // by fic Write Off //------------------------------// Note: This story was submitted after the deadline and therefore is not included in the poll. It was early in the morning in the library. Twilight, Spike, and Sweetie Belle were circled around each other, with a very large and old looking book in the center. “Are you absolutely sure you want to go through this? I won’t be able to change you back after this.” Twilight lifted up the archaic text to go over the spell again. Sweetie Belle gave Spike a quick hug, “You don’t have to do this for me.” “But I want to,” he said solemnly, “Besides, I’m not a very good dragon anyway.” Sweetie Belle backed away from Spike as Twilight closed her eyes and concentrated deeply as her horn began to glow in its usual violet aura. Spike was slowly enveloped in a similar aura and began to grunt in pain. Sweetie took a step towards Spike but a bright flash of light burst from Spike, temporarily blinding her. A sudden shockwave from the light knocked both Sweetie Belle and Twilight to the walls behind them respectively, Twilight’s horn stopped glowing as the light burst. “Well did it work?” Spike asked. The light faded and when Sweetie regained her vision, she didn’t see the familiar green and purple dragon; she saw a young unicorn colt with a green mane and a violet coat that was a darker shade than Twilight’s. He also had a stack of books partially covered by a piece of parchment and quill for a cutie mark. She gasped and excitedly said, “Spike! It worked! …and you already have a cutie mark!” The young couple ran into each other’s embrace. Twilight opened her eyes and was shocked to see that the spell had actually worked! She gave a small ‘aww’ as she saw the two foals hugging each other, but she gave a loud cough to interject. “Spike, before you go out into the world as a pony, there are some things you should know.” “Like what?” He asked while breaking the hug. Twilight levitated the book in front of her again and began. “Guidelines to Keeping a Post-Interspecies Transformation 1: The subject must not use any magical abilities (if any) of his or her new species for 24 hours post-transformation. 2: The subject must not be spoken to by his or her old name for 24 hours post-transformation. 3: The subject must not be interact with any being of his old species for 24 hours post-transformation. 4: Rules 2 and 3 are exempt to those present during the Transformation 5: Breaking any of the above rules results in the subject reverting to his old species” “Huh, that doesn’t seem so hard; if I just stay inside I’ll be fine. I mean, it’s not like there will be a dragon coming into town anytime soon.” After some thinking, Sweetie Belle cut in, “But wouldn’t Rule 2 be a problem if Pinkie-” “SURPRISE!” chimed the always excited party pony from out of a random bookshelf. “Pie found out…” “My Pinkie Sense told me a new pony came into town, so now I’m here!” Twilight, confused as the others, said, “That still doesn’t explain how you got here so fast, not to mention being in the bookshelf.” “Oh Twilight, don’t you think we have a bigger problem here? Like introducing the new pony to town? I’m Pinkie Pie, what’s your name?” She took Spike by the hoof and shook it up and down quickly. “I’m… umm…” Spike began, as he tried to think of a name. He looked to his cutie mark for an idea, “My name is Scribe.” “Nice to meet you Scribble~ Now do you know what this calls for? A PARTY!” Suddenly, the four of them were transported to Ponyville Park, covered in decorations. Everypony but Pinkie were taken aback as to how Pinkie was able to teleport them without magic and set up all the decorations in such a short time. Spike opened his mouth to talk, but was quickly met with a crowd of ponies (and Pinkie) that swept him off his hooves and paraded him around. As the crowd took him around to various parts of the park, the Rarity walked over to Sweetie Belle and Twilight and asked, “Have either of you seen Spike? I need to borrow him for some gem hunting. Normally I’d find him at the food table, but I can’t find him anywhere.” Thinking of the best possible way to answer, Twilight said, “Rarity, there’s something I need to tell you.” She went up to Rarity and whispered something in her ear. Rarity quickly yelled out in shock, “What!? My dear Spikey-Wikey is dating Sweetie Belle AND is the pony this party is for!?” “I know this is a lot to take in, but first I need to tell you something important.” “It can wait, but first I need to give Spike a firm talking to.” Rarity charged to where Spike is. Twilight immediately galloped after Rarity to try and reason with her. Sweetie Belle galloped as well, but couldn’t keep track of them with the crowd coming back. Soon enough, Rarity spotted Spike and was about to confront him, but was tackled by Twilight. “Twilight, this is most certainly uncalled for!” “Listen to me, nopony can know that Scribble is Spike for a whole day or else he’ll turn back into a dragon!” Any background noise soon ceased as anypony within earshot just heard this big piece of news. Murmurs spread about the crowd and then there was a bright flash of light. Spike walked out of the crowd, back as a dragon. “Spike, I’m so sorry,” said Rarity. Spike gave a quick sigh, “It’s fine, I guess it was never meant to be.” Sweetie Belle made his way through the crowd and gave the disappointed dragon a kiss on the cheek, “I don’t care if you’re a pony or a dragon. I’ll still like you either way.” Spike returned the favor with a hug and crowd dismissed themselves to give the two some time alone. Except for Rarity, whose mouth was agape from finding out that the little dragon had fallen for her younger sister.