The sixth story, written as a submission for Mt Little Pony Stories prompt number 67...
“First Day on the Job”
Written by The Descendant
The Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil raged, fumed, hissed and poured forth its venom in a frothing torrent of black will and malicious intent.
Spike simply picked up the bell jar in which they had trapped it and gave it a good firm shake.
“Jerk,” he said as he placed the bell jar under his arm, carefully avoiding all of the tubing with which they had surreptitiously both enticed and entrapped the demonic being.
Spike arched his back, the strain of carrying all of the rubber hoses still falling through him. Even as he did so he was surprised to feel a set of hooves rest gently upon him.
Setting down the Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil once again he looked over his shoulder to find Fluttershy already providing him an impromptu back-rub. She smiled down over him as her careful touch drove the strains and pains of the day from him.
As her animal companions gathered nearer Fluttershy thanked him profusely.
“Oh, yes, thank you so much for noticing the change in the animals,” she said, looking down at him happily, “if it weren’t for you who knows what that… thing…”
“Oh, it was nothing,” he said, hiding the few bite marks that demonically possessed rabbits and squirrels had left upon his tough scales, “glad to help out.”
With that the Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil wrapped around itself inside the bell jar, painting a horrific vision of blood, gore, and death upon itself that sent the animals scurrying in panic and Fluttershy herself the ground in fear.
“Jerk,” said Spike, giving the jar another firm shake, and then another for good measure.
Fluttershy, perhaps uncharacteristically, pretended not to notice and then went of to re-assure her animal charges.
Spike walked a short distance to where Applejack and Pinkie Pie sat cleaning up the remains of several dozen cakes that had taken on the forms of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony.
Spike gulped as he stepped gingerly through the remains of the cakes…
… knowing full well that this is what would have happened to the animals, and his dear friends, if he’d not been so vigilant.
Inside the bell jar the Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil seemed to be laughing, sensing the thoughts of the whelp.
“Jerk,” said Spike, giving the bell jar a resolute shake. As a wobbling, bruised, dizzy, and battered Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil stumbled around the interior of the jar Spike heard the earth ponies calling to him.
“Well now, here’s the hero o’ the hour! Well done, Partner!” said Applejack, giving him a firm slap on the back that made him lose his breath and juggle the bell jar. “Whoa! Excuse mah’ enthusiasm, but ya’ pulled out a close one there…
“You sure did!” called Pinkie Pie, “I don’t think I’ve ever baked cakes shaped like my friends faster! Or ever! But with your help we sure did!”
Spike looked down, still saw some of the flour sticking to him. He felt the melted butter still sitting among his frills.
“Aw, it was…”
The Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil mouthed Pinkie’s and Applejack’s worst fears, the terrors somehow communicating to them even through the vacuum of the jar. Their faces went white as the horrors flew at them.
“Jerk,” said Spike, giving the bell jar another good solid round of shakes, ones that lasted perhaps a touch longer than necessary and which a slowly recovering Pinkie Pie and Applejack did surprisingly little to end.
As the earth ponies turned back to their work Spike felt the rush of wind behind him, and he turned to find Dash standing next to him. “Twilight was right Spike!” she said, giving him a few good-natured shots to the ribs. “Your mirror trick did work! I still don’t think that Ugly in there has figured out what happened to him!”
“Yeah,” he said, focusing on the sting that went through the charred edges of his frills, his own natural tolerance for heat having been tested to it’s limit.
“You did real good, Spike!”
Spike had been about to tell her that it was nothing, that he was simply glad to have shared in one of their adventures, when a soft feeling went across his cheek.
“Oh! My Spikey-Wikey showed that insufferable… thing… a trick or two, didn’t he?” Rarity cooed, touching her face to his once more. If he had been glad he’d come along before this cemented it.
Spike inflated himself despite the chuckles of Dash, and spinning to his ladylove he called upon his best heroic voice.
He opened his mouth just to find the Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil slandering the unicorn and the pegasus, somehow managing to question the state of their maidenhood and their preferences in company in turn and without the benefit of being heard.
Spike looked upon it with disgust. To him it seemed that the demon was somehow becoming lesser, losing its power, and was now just down to basic insults.
Didn’t keep him from giving the bell jar another firm round of shakes, though.
As he bid adieu to Dash and his ladylove he stuck the jar back under his arm and walked the short distance away to where the familiar glow of Twilight’s magic hovered over a freshly dug pit beneath a massive, ancient oak.
“Hey Twi,” he said, rubbing his eyes.
“Heh,” replied Twilight, “you look beat, Spike! I can see why, what with all you did today.”
“Yeah,” he said drowsily, setting the bell jar upon the mound of fresh dirt, “about that… I-I think that it might be best if I only do this adventure stuff with you guys like, I dunno, once a week, maybe? At least until I’m a little bit older? It’s… tough…”
Twilight gave a small laugh and looked upon the bitten, dirty, and partially burnt whelp before her. She leaned down to tell him how proud she was, how glad he’d been there when the occupant of the bell jar suddenly caught her eye.
With that it placed it’s misshapen arms behind it’s head and began to thrust it’s boney hips at her. All that remained in the demon was the ability to perform this tawdry and lurid display of disrespect, an insinuation of what it would do to her if…
As Twilight rolled her eyes and turned away the flash of green wrath that exploded from Spike’s eyes cascaded off the surface of the bell jar. She listened to him shaking the jar as she slowly and methodically opened three caskets; one of wood, one of lead, and one of gold.
She listened as he shook it over and over and over, forcefully, and for a good long while.
She waited for Spike to finish shaking the jar, and soon after they began wrapping it in black velvet cloth, tying it tight with a silvery thread. As though realizing what was about to happen the demon shot Spike a look of fear.
“Jerk,” Spike replied, and with that they entombed it within each of the caskets in turn, locking each tight with keys of wood, lead, and gold.
Later, after they had planted the caskets among the roots of the sacred oak, they walked to the bridge nearby, and there she withdrew from her saddlebag a dagger made of a white metal that Spike could not name.
As they stabbed each of the keys in turn they erupted into ash, coal dust, and golden powder. With that they tossed the remains into the stream to be washed away.
“Good first day on the job, rookie,” Twilight whispered as Spike leaned against her, “Don’t try to show us up too often, though.”
After a few minutes she felt him begin to droop. With a giggle she lifted the drowsy form of her little dragon whelp upon her back, and set off towards their home in the library beyond.
End.
Hmm... I like this. I often have dreams like this: where everything except maybe one or two things are completely normal but one thing seems kinda off.
Another good chapter!
Very interesting read, and very humorous. I didn't laugh, but I did smirk, and I suppose that's enough.
I have to say I'm really enjoying these small snapshots. I've always been a fan of short stories, especially ones that paint a much larger picture for us to fill in.
Well nice job there Spike.
I particularly like the Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil disposal process at the end, brings to mind some of the magic from the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix. Very classic fantasy approach to storing Bad Things.
1048763
Glad you enjoyed this installment!
1048777
It certainly is good enough! Thanks!
1048862
It makes me glad to hear that you're liking these shorter works. I too enjoy it when an author gives his readers freedom to explore their own theories.
1048868
Yeah, the end of "The Jerk" was supposed to be a big fnatasy element, one that struck at the reader in comparison to the rest of the story. Glad that worked for ya'!
Hm. Out of all of these "chapters", I think I like this one the best. I especially liked Spike's reactions to the NUAE's "attacks"; it provided a comedic aspect without being overt comedy, which I enjoyed.
That was funny. The Nameless Unspeakable Ancient Evil feels like a reference to something, though I can't figure out what. Can't wait for more!
That villain. Amazing.
Spike's IDGAF attitude, exceptionally amazing.
1051517
I'm glad you enjoyed this one! I tried especially hard to make it slightly comedic without overpowering the main idea. Thanks!
1057335
I can't claim any one influence for the NUAE, but I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
1080014
"Amazings" all around? Dang, I may get good at this yet!
1080161
I love me too!
1082503
Thank you so much!
1101487
Was there ever any doubt?
All of these were incredibly touching. Verbose and a little hard to comprehend at times but ultimately these were heartwarmingly intimate scenes filled with character and life. As always I love your use of repetition. If You Give A Changeling A Cupcake might be my favorite.
1113247
Thanks for the honest feedback. I'll work on the verbosity and the comprehension. I'm very glad that you enjoyed them, though!
1116706
When Celestia addresses the reader, she's talking to the "child" as in comparing the pony to a child, not so much saying that they're actually young. Who it actually is is unimportant, and can be anyone the reader wishes it to be, but the fact that she's referring to them as a child and treating them in a motherly fashion is the real point.
I hope you enjoyed it!
I quite enjoyed them all, excepting number two. But that's due more to personal perception than a problem with the writing, random and I have never managed to get along.
Though I especially liked "As a Mother" and "A Hard Day". Hard day felt like a kind of unofficial epilog to taste of cake.
1121497
I'm very glad that you're enjoying them! It's okay to dislike one every once in a a while, I won't complain! Related to "Sweet Taste of Cake", sure!
Good one. Although with the element gems and Tartaros, that sealing seems a bit redundant.
1136219>>1136332>>1136554
Hey! You read them! Awesome! Thanks for taking the time, bud!
1157321
Have to admit that I'm not familiar with the reference, but I'm glad it was able to draw up some recollections for ya'!
1219577
Mostly because of my compulsive obsession to emotion and detail!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
1237043
I'm pretty sure Libido is right across the river from Lust. You take the exit at Desire and go about two miles past Horny.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story for what it was.
1278856
Heh, I'm glad I gave you an opportunity to laugh today!
1278886
If you liked how I portrayed Carrot Cake and Cup Cake, may I suggest my story A Sweet Taste of Cake for some further reading? It is my take on their lives together over a decade, up to the series. Thanks for reading and commenting on these short stories!
1284594
None whatsoever!
1286634
Heh, well, thanks!
I hadn't thought of fleshing out that character, as the only point of his existence was to give A.J. a chance to see herself in another's eyes, say things about herself she'd never say. Still, anything is possible!
Thoughts on these stories:
As a Mother: I like it. I've read so many stories with this theme that it doesn't stand out, but you did a good job.
Singular Constant: Waaaaaaaait whaaaat? What's going on? What is this, spikes adventures in wonderland? But seriously that was probably fun to write, and entertaining (if not logical). And the ending was good.
Apples to Apples: and here you have it, your masterpiece. At least out of what I've read so far. I loved the simple prose which sounds just like Applejack, and your signature artistic repetition of words and phrases is demonstrated very well here. I look forward to reading more of these, fav'd and track'd.
1336870
I'm very glad that you've enjoyed this little compendium, and I hope to hear from you again soon!
Incomplete? Fuck the hell yes, this shit is GOLDEN!
Ahem. Keep it up.
1413119
True, that's what she does, but I hardly think she's awful about it. It's not like Twilight's mom and dad don't live two streets over, and her dorm room was clearly not part of Celestia's household in the pilot. Celestia's concern over the reader in the last few lines was supposed to show how her mothering instinct now settles over all of her ponies, "A mile wide and an inch deep", as it were. I hope that didn't ruin the story for you.
1413262
Heh, yes, that was exactly what I was going for. I'm glad it shone through.
1413305
You don't have long to wait!
Hehe. Shot, funny and sweet. Awesome!
Nice one-shot!
"Jerk." Eheheheh.
I like the bit about wood, lead, and gold caskets, burying them somewhere special, then stabbing the keys. It's a nice touch of... mythic, is that it? Like a fairy tale, or old magic rituals.
Hmmm... Fighting ancient evil with the girls. Sounds very interesting.
I really like this. I can't give any specific reason why. It's just really funny, and nice to see Spike taking charge a little.
You did good friend.