//------------------------------// // Flutterbat's New Castle Tour/Forgiving Vampiric Parents // Story: The Bats Return // by MetalBrony823 //------------------------------// Fluttershy approached a large, dark red door, with two bat-pony guards on each side. The two mutant stallions bowed before their queen, and the door opened, revealing a really large, oversized bed. The windows of the bedroom looked like the windows in Celestia's castle in Canterlot, except that instead of pictures of Twilight, Fluttershy's, and Spike's adventures in the past, it showed evil looking mosaics of evil looking bats, and they were painted in all red, giving the bedroom an even more terrifying and demonic appearance. A cold, ticklish chill went down the baby dragon's spine just looking at the decor. Even though, Fluttershy is treating Spike with great kindness, there was an essential part inside of him, telling him that their is something fishy about it. "Are you alright, Spike?" Said Fluttershy, still carrying him. "Yeah." Spike said out of his thinking. "I was just a little.... Surprised by how this room looked, nothing to bad or serious." "Don't be afraid, Spike," Fluttershy said very softly in her sweet little normal voice. "It may look kind of scary, but I can tell you that you'll get used to it in time." She walked over to the bed, and gently sat Spike on the mattress. It was really... Soft, cozy, and warm to Spike. He really liked the feeling on the bed. He could sleep on it forever if he wanted to instead of that small basket of a bed back in Twilight's castle. He gave a little sigh of relaxation and closed his eyes to the soft feeling Fluttersh giggled. "Are you cozy?" She asked him teasingly. "Yeah. It feels... So... Warm." Spike replied while relaxing on his back. "So... Do I really get to.. Sleep here?" He asked as he sat up on the end of the bed "Of course, my king." Fluttershy said with a small bow of respect. Spike was really flattered. First the title as a new king of all bat-ponies, or Equestria if he doesn't do anything to stop this madness of course and now a really large bed for him to sleep on? Can it get any better than this for Spike? "So, does your tummy feel any better, Spike?" Fluttershy asked. The baby dragon gently clasped his stomach, and said "maybe a little." "Here, this should help you feel better." Said Fluttershy. She leaned her face to her stomach, and gave him a tender loving kiss right on his stomach. The baby dragon. Was a little surprised, but that kiss felt... Nice. "Better?" She asked "Yeah... I think I do." Spike said. He was not wrong, for the small aching in his stomach has completely vanished thanks to Fluttershy's kiss. But... How was that possible? It could be vampire thing, because vampires do have the power of healing. Still, Spike was really grateful in a way. "Good." Said Fluttershy happily. "Well, would you like me to show you the rest of the castle?" She asked. "Well....." Spike thought about it for a minute, and finally said at last "I... Guess I can." "Wonderful. And if you are getting tired, please don't hesitate to ask me to stop the tour, okay?" Fluttershy said. "Okay." Spike said a little nervous. He slowly got out of the bed, and sheepishly followed Fluttershy to wherever she may go next. While they were walking, Spike looked a around the hallway interior of the castle. All of a sudden, he remembered his other team teammates from that failed plan. "Zecora and Big Mac!" He exclaimed very quietly "What is it, Spike?" Said Fluttershy, looking back at the baby dragon trying to see if he was alright. Obviously, she has improved bat hearing that enhanced it since bats have a really good hearing range. "I just remembered Big Mac and Zecora." Spike answered. "Are they alright?" "Don't worry." Said Fluttershy. "They're okay, and we won't hurt them either." Fluttershy answered as she stopped hearing the other freedom fighters names. "Do you... promise?" Spike asked, a little unconvinced. "I promise." Fluttershy said. The baby dragon of course, did not trust her completely. Sure she still has her kind, gentle words of honey, but she is now a monster, a very powerful monster. He does know, however, that he should not make Fluttershy angry, because she could go primal if he does something she does not like at all, she will forcefully turn him into one of them, or for sure, go carnivore on him. As they were walking, Spike also noticed a few passing guards walking past him and Fluttershy. They were all unexpectedly.... friendly to him. Normally, goons like them would give them a threatening stance, but it turns out they were ponies that Spike knew. He saw Thunderlane, Caramel, etc... and they were all very friendly to him. "Don't worry about them." said Fluttershy as she and Spike continued walking. She stopped to show Spike the parlor of the castle, with the same large red front door outside like Spike, Big Mac, Zecora, Pip, and Discord saw earlier during their failed sneak attack. Like the windows, it almost looked exactly like Celestia's parlor in Canterlot, but of course, it also looked a little more... demonic and evil. Spike didn't know what to say, for he did kind of admire the decor because it looked kind of cool to him. "Here's the parlor." said Fluttershy. "What do you think?" she asked him "I... I like it." Spike said, unsure of what to think. "Oh, give him some time, Fluttershy." the bat-pony thought in her head. "He'll like it. he just needs to warm up to this place." She thought of where to show him next, and thought of a place that Spike will really love. Before Spike, and the freedom fighters of Ponyville vanished when they were about to catch them the first time, She asked Twilight to conjure up something that Spike will really love, and enjoy. "Oh, Spike. I have a place that you will love for sure." she said to him. "What's that?' Spike asked a little uncertain. "You'll see." Fluttershy replied with a grin. She led Spike upstairs on the right corridor of the castle, and it was as long as the left corridor. After a short walk down the hallway, Fluttershy stood in front of the door that was the second to last at the left end of the hallway. "Here we are." she said. "Now, close your eyes." The baby dragon slowly covered his eyes like Fluttershy told him to. He was half eager and scared to see what the surprise was for him to see. He heard the double doors open, and followed Fluttershy with his eyes still covered by his hands, very slowly. It was silent for a moment, but Fluttershy finally said "Okay, Spike. you can look now." The baby dragon slowly removed his hands from his eyes, and began to shake a little, afraid to know what horrific thing she is going to show him. However, when Spike fully reopened his eyes, his jaw dropped to see a library filled with lots of comic books from the Power Ponies to the Parade of the Dead ponies series. He really had no words, but looked around in disbelief, like he was in the heaven of his hell. "What do you think?" said Fluttershy, knowing that Spike really likes this. "I love it!" Spike exclaimed with pure joy with a large smile. At the speed of light, as fast as Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie, he looked around the shelves for a few brief seconds and swiftly looked at another shelf after another, after another. So many comic books as far as the eye can see. Fluttershy giggled at his happiness, knowing that she was happy that he was happy. Turns out it worked after all. She reminded herself to thank Twilight the next time they encounter one another. "There's still plenty more to see." Said Fluttershy. "Okay." Spike said a little reluctant. He really wanted to read some of these comic books, but it won't take long, and decided to go with it. He smiled and said "okay. Let's go." Fluttershy smiled back to him, and continued on. Spike was now starting to feel comfortable, thanks to Fluttershy giving him a room for one if his favorite things in the world. Meanwhile, Pip was in the middle of a castle tour himself, with the girls showing him the way. Like Spike, he was very nervous because something unpredictable could come to him. So far, the girls showed him the four main bathrooms of the castle, and the garden just out back. Pip was also starting to feel more comfortable like Spike was. "Pip!" Called a familiar female voice. It was older than the crud passers, and sounded a little more beautiful. Up running to them, was Braveheart and Daisymay, Pip's father and mother. Pip screamed in terror. Knowing the first time be saw his own parents as vampires was a disaster, for they were trying to bite his neck and turn HIM into a vampire too, scaring him half to death. He was about to make a break for it, and ran halfway across the hallway, when all three girls tackled him. "It's okay, Pip." Said Scootaloo." "Calm down." Said Applebloom "They just want to talk to you." Said Sweetie Belle. Pip didn't heed their words, and continued to struggle free with all his might. "Pip?" Said Daisymay. He heard the voice that was getting closer to him, and struggled even harder, but to no avail. Their they were, his mom and dad in front of hi. With concern. "Pip, we just want to talk to you." Said Braveheart. Pip didn't listen, and looked away in fear. "Pip, please." Braveheart begged. Knowing that he couldn't win, Pip reluctantly decided to hear his brainwashed parents out. "Wha... What do you want from me?" He asked in terror. Daisymay bent down to his level on her stomach to make perfect eye contact with him since the girls were restraining him. "Sweetie, listen to me." She began. "We are so sorry that we scared you back there." "Yeah, son. We were just following our queen, and... We had no idea what came over us." Braveheart added. "Can you... Ever forgive us?" Said Daisymay with extreme guilt in her voice. "I... I... I..." Pip was thinking whether to forgive his parents for almost turning him to a vampire against his will or not. "I... I... Just need some time to think.... Okay?" He answered at last. "You... You still love me... Do you?" He had the puppy dog face, but not for begging, but to show real emotions that he was in emotional pain from their actions. "Of course we do, lad." Said Braveheart softly "We always will." Said Daisymay. She bent down, and gave him motherly kiss to shows how much she and her husband loved their son. "We'll leave you alone to think." Braveheart said. "If you need us, we will be at Sugarcube Corner." "Okay." Was all Pip replied. "See you soon, son." Braveheart called, as he and his wife were leaving the castle, leaving Pip and the girls alone. "So... Can I see Big Mac and Zecora, so they'll know that I am okay?" Pip asked sheepishly. The girls didn't know if that wasn't such a good idea, for Big Mac and Zecora might turn Pip against them. However, they just decided to grant Pip his request. "Okay, a pip." Said Sweetie Belle. "Follow us." They turned in another direction and walked to the dungeon. *** The staircase to the dungeon below the castle was kind of scary, and the glowing red torches didn't make it any better. It wasn't that long of a spiral staircase, but the girls comforted Pip, letting know that everything will be okay. The girls, with a pip following them, went down a row of cells, also having trails of torches lighting a way for them on the passage, along with armored guards at each side of a cell. They heard the sound of dripping water for an unknown cause, and it was a little quiet. "Hey, Big Mac." Said Applebloom. The red stallion was just thinking of a way to get out of the cell, along with Zecora. As soon as he heard Applebloom's voice, he rushed toward the bars, and looked at The girls and Pipsqueak. "Oh, Pip. Thank god you're alright." He said as he Pip. Zecora slowly walked to the bars of her cell and looked at the four. "Oh Pip, thank goodness you are okay, for I was deeply worried that you would not be safe." The zebra said, also happy to see Pip in one piece. "Big Mac! Zecora!" Pip exclaimed with happiness. "You're okay!" "Applebloom I swear to Celestia, you better not have hurt him, or I-" "Relax, Big Brother." Said Applebloom. "We didn't hurt him, and we never will do that to him." "Yeah, so keep your tail on." Said Scootaloo. "We were just giving him a tour here, and making him happy." Sweetie added. "We came here, because he wanted to check on you." The two prisoners were uncertain about this, and were a little skeptical about this little idea, for they worried that they will trap him so that one of the, will bite the poor colt. "Are you okay, Pip?" Asked Big Mac. "Yeah. I'm fine." Pip replied. "And so is Spike." "We know." Said Big Mac. "I am so glad that they didn't turn you insane, but I can tell you that we are both right as rain." Said Zecora. Pip smiled at her remark. "Well, we might as well continue with our tour." Said Applebloom. Pip looked at the two prisoners with concerned. He didn't want to leave his own friends their in those cells. "I... I don't want to leave them here all alone. "Don't worry, little buddy." Said a Big Mac. "We'll be fine." Zecora smiled at a pip, saying that she will be fine as well. Pip, now convinced, followed the girls back upstairs in the castle,p to continue with the tour. While they were walking, He saw Spike and Fluttershy. "Spike?" Pip exclaimed. "Pip!"Spike shrieked with excitement. The two boys ran up to eachother, and hugged one another, very tightly. "I'm so glad you're alright!" He said "Yeah. I was so worried about you." Pip said back to him. The two broke their hug. Pip saw Fluttershy. He was a little scared, and stepped back a little very slowly. "Don't worry, Pip. I won't hurt you." Said Fluttershy softly. She looked at the girls and asked "are you trying to make him happy like I asked you to?" "Of course, my queen" said Scootaloo. "Yeah, we just need to show him around some more." Said Sweetie Belle "What about Spike?" Asked Applebloom "He's really starting to like this." Fluttershy replied. "We should continue. Come on, Spike." She said to the baby dragon. The two groups continued with their little tour, and Spike looked back at Pip, hoping that he will be okay. Well, the girls are there with him, and they are close friends with him.