Around the World (Spike's Journey)

Three Days Until Departure

Spike woke up feeling a tad bit unsure. Just a few weeks ago he told everyone that he wanted to leave Ponyville, which they accepted. Now, only three days remained until he embarked on the journey of his life; feelings of excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and fear emerged. Looking over to his clock, he rose out of the bed. “Time to go see Rarity,” he thought as he walked towards the door.

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Rarity was running throughout her workroom in a panicked fashion. She had been working on outfits for Spike and Sweetie Belle ever since the two announced that they were leaving.

“Rarity! Honestly, it looks fine.” Sweetie Belle said while looking over herself in a mirror.

“I need to add just one more piece to the blouse, but I can’t find the right fabric or thread!” Rarity exclaimed while rummaging through some drawers.

“What more do you need to add? I love it!” Sweetie Belle said excitedly.

“Found it!” Rarity rushed over to Sweetie Belle. “Your blouse please.” Sweetie Belle took her shirt off and handed it to Rarity. Rarity zipped as fast as a blur to her sewing machine. Just then, Spike walked in.

“Hey Rarity, I'm here.” he and Sweetie Belle stared awkwardly at each other before she ran behind the curtain with a shriek.

“Hello Spike. I’m happy that you’re here. I'll be with you in just a moment, have a seat please.” Spike slowly took his seat with a claw to his face. Rarity ran behind the curtain with haste. With some shuffling mumbling and a “hey, watch it” they emerged from behind the curtain.

“Here you are dear.” she said while facing Sweetie Belle towards the mirror. Her blouse was the same color as her mane, trimmed with gold thread with a circle that held her cutie mark. She wore black and white leggings that had a golden diamond print running down her leg.

“Wow, it looks even better with my cutie mark on it!” she exclaimed with joy.

“I told you. It just needed that finishing touch.” she turned Sweetie Belle to Spike. “Spike, what do you think?” Spike turned his gaze up from the ground.

“Wow, it looks amazing.” Spike said causing Sweetie Belle to smile bashfully.

“Thank you darling. This is the last of Sweetie Belle's outfits. I wanted this one to stand out.” she proudly replied. “Now to your outfit.”

“Wait, my outfit?” he asked, intrigued.

“Yes, that is why I called you here.” she responded happily while walking off of the platform.

“How did you make me anything without taking any measurements?”

“I always keep my friends’ measurements.” she called from an open closet.

“But you haven't made me any clothes in years.” he protested.

“You haven't really grown much.” Sweetie Belle added. Spike looked over himself a few times then shrugged in agreement.

“But seriously, when did you take my measurements?”

Rarity came out of the closet with some clothing on her arm. “I would say the last suit you wore to the gala.” she said with a hand to her chin.

Spike began to recall the tuxedo she made nearly five years ago. “I remember now. It was the one that was the same color as my scales.”

“Precisely, now come and try this on.” she said hurriedly. Spike rose from his seat and followed her behind the curtain.

Sweetie belle sat where Spike once was waiting for the reveal. “I wonder what she made him? Knowing Rarity, it's going to be something bright and flashy.” she muttered quietly to herself. Rarity gracefully appeared from behind the curtain.

“My dearest sister, I present to you: Spike the Dragon!” Rarity stood with an outstretched arm expecting Spike to make a dramatic entrance. “Would you get out here!” she whispered aggressively into the curtain.

“I dunno. I'm not really comfortable wearing clothes.” Spike quietly protested.

“You are representing Equestria Spike, you can't just parade around nude!” she hissed with a slight change in volume.

“My scales cover everything!”

“Ponies are always commenting on how you walk around with nothing on! Do you really want somepony in another country ridiculing you because you're naked?”

“Fine.” Spike submissively groaned.

She took her head out of the curtain and straightened her clothes. “My apologies, now revealing my latest ensemble for Spike the Dragon!”

Spike stepped out onto the platform. He wore a black button up vest with amethyst buttons and a purple dragon on the chest accompanied by a hood and fingerless gloves. The pants were a simple gray and his boots were a dark lavender.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Rarity said as she walked over to her desk. “Here we are.” she walked back to the platform with a belt lined by numerous pouches. Strapping it to his waist she took a few steps back. “What do you think Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle was at a loss for words. The outfit was amazing enough, but the way it adorned Spike perfectly made her mind swim. “Wow.” she mouthed.

“What was that?” Rarity asked.

She closed her mouth and spoke as normally as she could. “Wow sis, it's truly amazing. I thought that it was going to be something like my outfit though.” she said as she stood.

“It was going to be, but then I thought ‘Spike is a dragon, one of the most fierce creatures in Equestria,’ he needs something that encapsulates such a title.” she explained proudly. “The real challenge to this one was making sure the openings for his tail and his spines were not too large so they would sag off of him, but not too small to where it would constrict his movements.”

“I have to say Rarity, you've really outdone yourself this time.” Spike said as he looked over himself in the mirror. “It looks a little threatening though.”

“I said I wanted this one to mirror the ferocity of a dragon, did I not?”

“Ye..yeah you did.” he replied in a stutter.

“What about my outfit?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yours represents grace and divinity.” she responded quickly.

“What's with the belt?” Spike asked while examining the sash on his waist.

“Just think of it as extra pockets.” she stopped for a second. “Are you satisfied?”

Sweetie Belle and Spike shared glances. “We're satisfied.” Spike answered. Rarity gave them a large smile.

“Oh thank goodness, I'll get the rest of your clothes.” she sighed.

“So what have you been up to?” Spike asked casually.

“I've been mostly working and hanging out with my friends. What about you?”

“Doing my usual odd jobs. I had to help Applejack and Big Mac move around some hay-bales yesterday.”

“Are you excited?” she asked excitedly.

“About what?” he cluelessly answered.

“About our trip.” she said with a blank expression.

Spike realised his mistake a little too late. “Oh, that! Yeah, I am so ready to go and see the world.” he said with false enthusiasm.

“What's the matter?” Sweetie Belle asked with concern.

Spike stood and said nothing, trying to avoid answering the question.

“Spike, what's wrong? You can tell me.”

Spike looked into her green sympathetic eyes. Somehow he couldn't help but tell her what was troubling him. “I don't know. Maybe it's because we’re leaving the only place that we have ever known as home and going out into a world full of… well, who knows? Honestly, I'm a little nervous.”

Sweetie Belle put a hand to his shoulder softly snorting as she did so. “You need to stop thinking so much. This is the best opportunity of our lives. We are going where nopony has ever gone before, Spike! We are trailblazers right now. What we do will resound throughout history.” she slowly waved  her free hand through the air.

“I think you're exaggerating a bit.” he laughed.

“But see,” Sweetie Belle chuckled. “You need to stop thinking all of the time.”

Spike looked away and thought “she is absolutely right.” He looked back at her with a big toothy smile. “Thanks, Sweetie Belle. You're a great friend.” he said as he pulled her into a hug.

“Yeah, ‘friend’,” she thought as if the word were poison. She wanted him to hold her forever, but just as soon as he hugged her he let her go.

“Here you two are.” Rarity announces with a bag in each hand. “Spike, you can wear that out or you can put it in the bag.” she said, handing the bag to him.

“Thanks Rarity. Do I owe you anything?” Spike asked.

“Of course not. I’m always happy to make something for my friends.”

“Thank you. I should get going; I promised Fluttershy that I'd help out with her chickens.” he said, turning towards the door.

“Goodbye Spikey.” Rarity waved.

“I guess I should get going too.” Sweetie Belle said. She was stopped by Rarity who gave her an understanding stare.

“I know that you feel strongly for Spike.” she said soothingly.

Sweetie Belle was preparing to protest, but she stayed silent.

“I know that it seems like he doesn't notice, but he does.”

“How do you know?” Sweetie Belle asked in a low tone.

“Colts never know what they want; I guess the same thing applies to dragons, but that's besides the point I am trying to get across. Give it some time, he'll come around. How could he not?” she stopped, looking over Sweetie Belle. “You've grown into a beautiful young mare. You can sing, you're a natural born leader, and I see that you share your sister's features.” Sweetie Belle giggled with a blush. “Don't give up on him,” Rarity continued. “He's going to need you more than ever on this expedition. Take care of him.”

“Thanks, sis.You always know what to say.” Sweetie Belle said as she hugged her sister tightly. She walked out of the Boutique beaming with raw confidence. Not knowing what lay ahead only drove her further into the future.

Two Days Until Departure

Sweetie Belle was relaxing on a hill with Applebloom and Scootaloo. The three lay in the soft grass soaking up the rays of the evening sun.

“That one kinda looks like a cat.” Applebloom said while pointing to a cloud.

“No it doesn't,” Scootaloo contested. “It looks like a… um… Sweetie Belle, help me out.”

“I agree with Applebloom, it looks like a cat.” Sweetie Belle answered.

“Are you two blind?! It's obviously a, bear?”

“Give it up Scootaloo. We got ya two to one.” Applebloom concluded.

“Whatever, I think it looks like a...”

“Spike?” Sweetie Belle interrupted.

“What the hay? No, not Spike by a long shot.”

“No, look; it's Spike.”

Sweetie Belle pointed at Spike, who was running from a group of aggravated cows.

“Why is he running from cows?” Scootaloo asked.

“Ah don't know, but ah bet mah sister has somethin' to do with it.”

As soon as those words left Applebloom's mouth Applejack appeared with her lasso screaming “Spike, hold still darn it!” The trio sat and watched as Spike, Applejack, and the cows disappeared over a nearby hill.

“He's always up to something.” Scootaloo chuckled.

“He's always wantin' to help somepony out.” Applebloom added. They waited for Sweetie Belle to chime in.

“There she goes again.” Scootaloo snorted. Sweetie Belle was as still as a tree, completely unresponsive. “Hello,” Scootaloo waved her hand in Sweetie Belle's face. “Equestria to Sweetie Belle, hello.”

“Huh, what is it?” Sweetie Belle lazily said.

“Come back to us!” Scootaloo said, shaking her.

“I'm here, I'm here!”

“Good, now can you stay out of your fantasies long enough to enjoy our last two days together.”

“I don't have fantasies.” Sweetie Belle stated defensively.

“Are you kidding me?! All you ever do is drool over Spike. It's Spike this and Spike that all the time. He will never notice you! I don't even know why you're trying!”

“Um, Scootaloo.” Applebloom interrupted.

“And now you are going to blindly follow him like a lovesick puppy!” tears began to run from her eyes. “Why are you leaving us, leaving me?! We've been like sisters ever since we were fillies, and you wanna leave just because of some dragon?”

Sweetie Belle pulled Scootaloo into her embrace, sharing in her tears.

“You’re my best friend, Sweetie Belle. I don't want you to leave us.” Scootaloo sobbed.

“I'll be back before you know it.” Sweetie Belle soothed.

“What if you don't come back? You and Applebloom are the closest thing I have to real sisters. If I were to lose one of you.” she choked on her words. Applebloom joined in.

“You shouldn't think about stuff like that Scootaloo. No matter where I go or what I do we will always be sisters.” Sweetie Belle soothingly whispered.

“We will always be family.” Applebloom added.

“Thanks guys. Cutie Mark Crusaders for life?”

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other. “CMC for life.” Applebloom agreed.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders forever.” Sweetie Belle added.

“Good, now tell no one that I cried.” Scootaloo said sternly. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom laughed loudly together. “I'm serious.”

One day until departure

“What was with you running from that stampede yesterday?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I was helping out AJ with some herding, and I guess I spooked one of them.” Spike admitted.

Sweetie Belle giggled with a loud snort.

“Since when did you snort?” Spike laughed.

Sweetie Belle covered her mouth blushing fiercely. “I don't snort!” she squeaked.

Spike rolled his eyes and continued walking. “Well we're here now.” Spike looked up to Twilight's castle.

“What do you think she wants to talk about?”

Spike shrugged and took a step forward. Sweetie Belle followed silently behind. They reached  the top where Twilight was waiting.

“There you two are. Come in, please.” Twilight led the two into the foyer. “I know that you are wondering why I've called you here. It occurred to me that you will be gone for an extended period of time. The lands outside of Equestria are probably rich with raw scientific information.”

“What are you getting at?” Spike interrupted.

“I was just about to get to that.” she seethed. “I have compiled a series of discrete scientific instruments that you can use to log data on your journey.” Twilight led them into a room that resembled her basement in the library.

“What do you think we're going to be doing?” Spike asked.

“You know me Spike, I'm always prepared.”

“Whoa, what's this?” Sweetie Belle asked with a metal baton.

“That is a collapsible pickaxe.” Twilight took hold of the metal rod. “All it takes is a flick of the wrist and.” the pickaxe emerged as the handle lengthened. “It's made from magically infused rolled steel.”

“Did you make this?”

“No, Smithy made these. I know of metallurgy, but I wouldn't practice it.”

“What do you mean, ‘these’?”

“I have tools here ranging from shovels to swords.”

“Swords?” Spike asked with uncertainty.

“Well yeah, swords.”

“Okay, okay; wait a minute. Rarity makes me an outfit that captures my species’ ‘ferocity’, and now I find out that you've made weapons. What's going on that you aren't telling me?”

“Spike”, she set down the pickaxe, “The world is not going to be like Equestria. There may be some ponies that would not only want to hurt you, but kill you.”

“But nothing can kill a dragon, right?” he asked concernedly.

Twilight wanted to tell him that anything or anyone can be killed, but seeing his confidence slowly fading. “You're right, I know of nothing that can kill a dragon. I think I'd be comfortable if you took them though, for Sweetie Belle's protection.” Spike looked over to Sweetie Belle who was messing around with the pickaxe. “Now if you come over here me and Zecora have been brewing various potions for you two.”

“Hey, what's this one?” Spike asked.

“No, don't touch that one!” Twilight screamed in concern.

“Aah, what why?!”

“If even one drop falls on you it'll paralyze you for five hours!”

“I think some got on my claw.” Sweetie Belle's eyes bucked wide while Twilight covered her mouth with both hands. “I think this potion is broke, I don't feel a thing.” Spike began to slur before falling to the ground with a thud.

“Oh my gosh, is he okay?” Sweetie Belle asked in panic.

“He'll be fine, the big dummy paralyzed himself. Know what the worst part is?”

“What?”

“He's going to be conscious until it wears off.”

“Ahhhh.” Spike groaned muffled by his locked jaw.

Day of Departure

“Citizens of Equestria. We have gathered here at the shores of Horseshoe Bay in the great city of Baltimare to send off these two brave and courageous young travelers on a mission to connect Equestria with the rest of the world. May my sun illuminate your path during the most darkest of days and Luna's moon bring hope into your most sorrowful of nights.” The crowd cheered loudly for the odd pair. They waved to all that attended.

“We will now let their families wish them goodbye.”

Sweetie Belle's parents and Rarity rushed through the crowd.

“My little girl is leaving.” her mom said in a cracking voice. She started to cry while holding on tightly to Sweetie Belle. Rarity walked over to Spike.

“Watch out for her. I've only got one little sister.” she said, pulling him into a hug.

“Don't you worry about a thing.” Spike reassured.

Twilight stepped up to Spike and threw her arms around him. She pulled back looking into his eyes. “My dragon, who I raised from nothing but an egg, has finally grown up. I am so proud of you. I love you Spike. Please be careful.”

“I will Twilight, and thank you for everything.”

Twilight walked back to the crowd noticing that Applebloom had gone to say goodbye, but Scootaloo stood with tears in her eyes.

“Hey Scootaloo.”

“Oh, hello Twilight.” she said, wiping tears away.

“I know how you feel. The hardest thing to do is say goodbye.”

Scootaloo stood unresponsive.

“I raised Spike from an egg. I watches him grow, make mistakes, and mature. There was moment in my life that he wasn't there with me. Him leaving is tearing me apart, but I support him because I love him. You do love Sweetie Belle, don't you?”

Scootaloo nodded with years and matted fur under her eyes.

“Then go and show that you support her.”

Scootaloo smiled at her then bolted through the crowd. Twilight watched with a satisfied smile.

“They're going through with this then.” Fluttershy said while walking up to Twilight.

“They really are.”

“They've grown so much, but I don't know if they’re ready. Do you?”

“Without a shadow of a doubt.”

“Now that we have all said our final goodbyes, I bid you farewell.”

Spike and Sweetie Belle boarded the boat, looking back one last time at their home.

“There's no turning back now.” Spike muttered.

“Yeah.” Sweetie Belle sighed. The doors closed and the boat was underway out of Horseshoe Bay.

“There they go, Celestia.” Twilight said solemnly.

“I hope that they can handle this expedition.” Celestia responded.

“They have our friendship and love to support them.”

“Maybe that is enough for the dangers they might face.”