Chapter 1: Face your Rival
Friendship Castle, meeting place of the Elements of Harmony, and home to the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. Also the setting to the start of our story.
It was a warm yet humid day in the town of Ponyville, the kind of day that made a pony want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine, and for the seven mares currently lounging on the terrace of the tree castle's highest branches, they intended to do just that.
It had been roughly a month since Canterlot was sieged by the invading forces of the Storm King, and had been roughly four weeks since their most prominent defector had settled into the peaceful little nation of Equestria. Fizzlepop Berrytwist, formally known as Tempest Shadow, was laying on her stomach in one of the terrace's many lounge chairs. Around her the six other mares that made up the Elements of Harmony were doing much the same, the only difference being some of them were wearing sunglasses and others were holding drinks. Fizzlepop, for her part, only sported her own purple coat and light red mane, she having disposed of her armor sometime ago. She had a glass of clear fizzy soda sitting next to her on a small table, easily reachable by her hoof. She'd needed it to be, considering the stub on her head was good for nothing else except firing beautifully colorful explosions into the sky. Much was the fate of a hornless unicorn.
She heard one of her new friends beginning to stir in their seat, drawing her attention. It was Rarity, the white unicorn she remembered most for how fussily she acted throughout the entire invasion. She lifted her stylish red rimmed sunglasses up and onto the base of her horn and addressed the mare. "So how well would you say your adjusting to life in Equestria, Fizzle?" The glamorous unicorn asked. "I can only imagine how different it must feel living here, when comparing it to your old life under the Storm King's employ." She seemed to shutter a bit after saying his name. "Ugh, such a nasty creature."
Fizzle chuckled slightly, agreeing with her opinion of her old master. "It wasn't really all that bad before, Rarity. The Storm Kingdom may have been a bleak barren landscape of rocks and endless rain, but it was... passible." She stated all too tacitly. "The Storm King's barracks had all the amidases we needed to survive and stay strong, and I even got my own room separate from the rest of the army because of my rank." She looked down at the crystalline floor of the terrace serendipitously, it wasn't really that bad a life when she really thought about it. She was praised by the other soldiers, and even her own king, for the accomplishments she had achieved while being part of the Storm King's army, even despite her deformity. She was feared and respect, and commanded a presence wherever she'd go. She may not have had any friends during that part of her life, but she definitely felt like she had a purpose. Unlike the way she currently felt now.
The other mares began to stir away from their relaxed positions and all began to stare worriedly at Fizzlepop. Apparently, her expression had changed into something far more dour and worthy of their concern.
"Is everything alright Fizzy?" Pinkie Pie asked in much more saddened tone then was normal for the usually peppy mare.
Fizzlepop grimaced. She still didn't fully like that nickname. With a short sigh, she quickly answered the other mare. "It's just that I've been struggling to find my place ever since the six of you defeated the Storm King. Not many ponies are willing to hire me after some of the things I did."
Fluttershy placed her hooves over her mouth and gasped slightly. "Oh no, I so sorry." She said sorrowfully.
Fizzlepop only shook her head in response. "It isn't your fault. After working for the Storm King for so long, it's only natural that some ponies don't openly trust me right away."
She suddenly felt a hoof wrap around her shoulder, then turned to see Twilight standing next to her. She was giving her a rather consoling smile. "They will learn to accept you, Fizzlepop. You just need to give them time and opportunities to do so."
Fizzle smiled at the princesses reassuring words. "Thank you Twilight. I will."
Applejack suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute, if ya currently don't have a job, how are ya earnin' any bits?" The farmer mare questioned. "Don't tell me yer homeless?!"
The other mares all adopted similar shocked-like expressions as they turn to look at Fizzlepop. With a slight chuckle, she quickly waved off their worry. "No, no, I'm not homeless. Grubber and I actual own a small cottage on the east side of Equestria. I pay for part of it with the bits I earn from some odd jobs I do for a vineyard in my town, and Grubber plays the rest with the bits he collects at his job at the bakery."
"Speaking of baking, where is he and Spike with our lunch." Rainbow Dash stated. "They should of been done by now."
As if on cue, the door connecting the terrace and the inside of the castle was suddenly kicked open before Rainbow Dash could even get down from her chair. In the doorway stood Grubber and Spike, both of whom were carrying equally large silver platters with large domed lids on top of them. The two exited the tree castle at almost exactly the same time. The doorway was big enough accommodate them both, but the two needed to press their sides together in order to make it through. They kept this close proximity as they made their way towards the mares, marching almost in tandem as they took every individual step. They growled silently at each other as they finally finished their approach.
Spike broke away from Grubber's side, before presenting his tray before the mares. He lifted the lid, revealing to the them seven assorted sandwiches. "Daisy sandwiches for everypony!" He stated with pride. "...And don't worry, I got everypony's favorites." He shot a prideful sneer at Grubber, earning an irritated growl from the hedgehog.
He began sorting out the sandwiches. "Toasted sandwich with spicy mustard and cheddar cheese;" He tossed the sandwich to Rainbow Dash. "Whole-grain wheat bread with extra cucumber and no mayonnaise;" He handed the sandwich to Rarity. "White bread with Applewood-smoked haybacon and apple vinaigrette;" He gave the sandwich to Applejack. "Alfalfa and beansprouts on wheat bread;" Fluttershy took her sandwich. "Extra mayonnaise and extra mustard with extra daisies;" Twilight blushed slightly before taking her sandwich "...And cherry jam, vanilla frosting, and cabbage leaves on a sesame seed bun." He tossed the sandwich high into the air and watched as Pinkie caught it in her mouth. Spike then walked over towards Fizzle. "And here's your daisy sandwich, Tempest."
Fizzlepop half-smiled at the dragon' s slight mistake, but took her sandwich without question. She began to open it up and look inside. Spike blinked perplexedly at her. "Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing, really." The mare said while trying her best not to sound rude. "It's just... I don't really like mayonnaise, or daisies for that matter." Spike frowned at the mare's admittance.
"Oh..." He stated embarrassedly. "...I'm sorry. I guess I should of asked before-"
The dragon suddenly felt himself being booted out of the way by Grubber's hip. With a smirk the hedgehog stated, "I thought ath much." Spike glowered up at him from his current place on the floor. Grubber reached his free hand behind his back and pulled out a dinner plate with another freshly made sandwich on it. "Here'th your daffodil thandwich, Fizzlepop Berrytwitht." He said her real name with a lot of emphasis, hoping to rub in Spike's face that fact he had forgotten. "It'th jutht the way you like it; no mayonnaithe, and thuthtituted with margarine."
With a complacent smile, Fizzlepop took the sandwich. She didn't agree with the way Grubber was acting towards Spike, but at the same time didn't want to oust him in front of their new friends, they already were getting enough of that from the ponies back home. Reluctantly, she replied. "Thank you Grubber."
The smile he gave her next was genuine, and for a brief moment she felt happy that she could brighten up his day a little bit more then it already was. Unfortunately, the cocky smirk he gave Spike afterwards was just as genuine, and made the young dragon look visibly frustrated. Spike could feel the floor of the crystalline terrace being dug into as clenched his claws in anger.
Grubber soon sauntered over towards the center of the group of mares and place his metal trey on a small table an equal distance away from each of them. "I made thomething too, to go along with the thandwicheth." He grabbed the top of the lid and removed it to reveal a spongy-looking pink dessert with white frosting. Pinkie Pie practically squealed in elation.
"STRAWBERRY SPONGECAKE!!!!!" Without hesitation, Pinkie pounced on the unsuspecting dessert with predator-like vigor. The mares, dragon and hedgehog all watched in shock and horror as Pinkie violently ripped an preemptively sliced piece of cake from the whole and mowed it down like a timberwolf would an innocent baby bunny. But as she chewed on the destroyed delicate pastry, her smile slowly began to vanish and soon was replaced by a discussed grimace.
"Agggghhh!!!" Pinkie screamed, before spitting out the already chewed cake onto the terrace floor. She then bolted in the opposite direction of her group of friends and dunked her face into the fountain not but a few feet away, she seemed to be guzzling down as much water as she could drink.
Grubber looked heartbroken, all the while Spike snickered to himself silently. Experimentally, Twilight took a bite of another piece of cake she levitated off the platter. She grimaced just as Pinkie did, but swallowed it to avoid adding anything more to the already existing mess. "I'm sorry Grubber." She stated apologetically. "But I think the milk you used to make your cake has gone bad." Twilight tentatively placed her slice of cake back on the tray, before placing the lid back over it. Grubber's mouth hung wide open in disbelief, while Spike only laughed louder.
With a angry growl and a frustrated tremble, Grubber turned towards the little purple dragon and shouted in his direction. "You jerk!" He exclaimed. "You told me the milk in your fridge was thtill frethh!"
Spike shot an equally irritated glare back at the hedgehog. "...And you told me, Fizzlepop loved daisies and mayonnaise on her sandwich!"
The two began stomping towards each other until their forehead were pressed up firmly against one another's. They glared daggers at each other, both daring the other to make the move first and start something. Spike began to raise his claw, as did Grubber...
...But both were soon pulled away by separate magical auras before either could actually deliver a punch.
"Stop it! Both of you! Honestly, your acting like a couple of foals." Rarity exclaimed in distaste. The frustrated and stern faces of the others quickly told the quarreling duo that the rest of their friends, likewise, didn't have patience for their current behavior.
"HE STARTED IT!!!" They shouted in unison. The dragon and hedgehog began glaring daggers again.
"NO I DIDN'T!!!" They continued to argue.
"STOP COPYING ME!!!"
"STOP IT!!!"
The two paused, and stared at each other contemplatively. Judging by the looks on their faces, one would have surmised they were deep in thought about what exactly they'd say next. It took a few seconds, but both soon responded with an equally absurd statement.
"OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM, OH WHAT A WORM WAS HE!!!!"
"GAAH!!!"
"Are you looking to thtart thomething, Half-Pint?!" Grubber shouted finally delivering his own statement with hearing the young dragon repeat it.
"Oh look who's talking?!" Spike shouted back. "I'm not the one spiking up my hair because I feel insecure about my stubby legs!"
Grubber raised his hands towards his mohawk, with a clearly hurt expression plastering his face. That expression soon quickly turned to rage as continued the growl at the dragon. "Oh yeah?! At leatht I have hair!!"
Spike's pupils visibly dilated. "What did you just say!!!"
"ENOUGH!" Twilight shouted, slamming her front hoof down on the floor of the terrace. "YOU TWO NEED TO CALM DOWN RIGHT NOW, AND STOP ALL THIS FIGHTING!!!" Both Spike and Grubber started up at Twilight with faces of shock and fear. Neither had ever heard the young alicorn use the royal Canterlot voice before, it definitely demanded a presence and made the two forgo any other lingering thoughts of continuing their argument.
Twilight glanced towards her friends, noticing their equally shocked expressions after stating her authority as a princess. With a begrudging sigh, she lowered her voice back to normal. "Look just... just get away from each other for a while, and calm yourselves down." She explained. "..And I don't want to hear any more arguing after you get back. Do you understand me?!" Both Spike and Grubber nodded timidly and quickly made their way towards door, only fighting a little bit more as they both struggled to get past each other when they entered the doorway at the same time.
"Uggghhh!" Twilight groaned in frustration. She sat down on her haunches and began to rub her soar temples.
"Jeez Twilight, I didn't know you had it in you to go all "angry mom" on Spike like that." Rainbow stated with no hint of hiding how impressed she was.
"Indeed," Fizzlepop agreed. "Even some of the Storm Guards in the army would have hesitated to defy you after a command like that."
Twilight took in a deep breath, before releasing an exhale. "I didn't mean to lose my temper like that, but it's been like this every time you two have come over to visit. Somehow one of them always seems to set the other off, and then another shouting match begins."
"It does seem to be like that, doesn't it." Fizzlepop stated. "I can't help but feel this is partially my fault however."
Applejack look at her quizzically. "What do ya mean Fizzle?"
Fizzlepop sighed. "You remember back during one of our first visits, I was praising Grubber for the amount work he tended to do around our home when neither of us were working?" The other mares nodded. "Well, after that visit, I've been reluctantly allowing him to continue this practice. I believe this may be leading to his current behavior. He may feel like he has something to prove, considering our old military lifestyle, and could be seeing Spike as potential rival biding for his position."
Twilight sighed as well. "It isn't completely your's or Grubber's fault, either. Spike takes his assistant duties very seriously, and most of the time, he hates it when others ponies do his jobs for him. What he does for me and the rest of Ponyville makes him feel accomplished and helpful, it's one of the many reasons I love him so much. But Spike can't handle feeling replaced, and will fight tooth and nail to make sure he doesn't loses the ponies he cares about." She gave a slight chuckle. "I guess he just sees Grubber as another talented assitant that could possibly take his place."
The mares turned silent for moment as they tried to contemplate their situation. Rarity then interrupted their thinking with a statement of her own. "Be that as it may darling, we still can't allow those two sweeties to continue this boorish behavior. Their both liable to get each other hurt."
Fluttershy gasped. "Oh my, I don't want that to happen!"
"None of us do sugarcube, but we don't rightly know right now how to make them stop bein' so ornery." Applejack stated. "Seriously, it's like watchin' a stray dog and an alley cat bark and hiss at each other whenever those two are in a room together."
Rainbow dash began to rub her chin with her hoof as she pondered that thought. "But maybe that exactly what they need right now."
"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity shouted incredulously. "You can't seriously be suggesting we throw my sweet little Spikey-Wikey and poor innocent Grubber into a room together and let them fight it out like, like some wretched cage match!"
"Of course not!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Though admittedly, that does sound pretty awesome." Rarity gave her a death glare. "What I'm actually suggesting we do is hold a competition, and let them finally prove once and for all who is the best assistant in Equestria."
Twilight blinked at the thought, and slowly considered what her rainbow-maned friend was suggesting. "I don't know, Rainbow Dash. What if a competition only makes the loser more frustrated at the winner."
"Come on Twi, think about it." Rainbow said as a rebuttal. "Seven of us, seven challenges. The first one to win four earns the title of best assistant, and Spike and Grubber finally get to see what each other can do. We do this all the time at the Wonderbolt academy, and the ponies who come out of it are always the best of friends afterwards."
"It really isn't a bad idea, Twilight." Rarity stated in agreement. "It will help them get out all their negative emotions, and maybe will help them see the better parts of each other's personalities." The other mares nodded in agreement.
Now feeling outvoted, Twilight couldn't help but comply. "Alright will hold a competition for Grubber and Spike, and see which one is the better assistant. We'll meet back here tomorrow with our challenges in tow and present them to both of them then. But none of the challenges can involve physical contact, understand. I don't want a fight accidentally breaking out because they both couldn't control their tempers. Okay?"
Everyone of Twilights friends nodded in agreement. "Right!" They all stated in unison.
"Okay then, we'll meet back here tomorrow at exactly twelve-thirty. Hopefully with the best challenges we can come up with." Twilight then turned towards Fizzlepop. "Fizzle, you and Grubber can stay in one of the castle's guest rooms while we're setting this up."
"Thank you Twilight." Fizzle stated with a smile. "I'm sure Grubber will appreciate your generosity, just as much as I do."
Author's Note
Well here another I'm adding to my work load! (I'm hoping its going to be a short one, I'm aiming for only three chapters this time)
Anyways, you'll never guess what movie I've watched in resent times, and that it has inspired me to write a fic to capitalize on its popularity with the brony community. I hope you guys and girls like it, and as always, please comment and critique on the chapter and tell me if anything can be edited. It is the only way that I'll improve.
Chapter 2: Trial by Books
The afternoon of the follow day had come around quicker then anypony would have realized. Spike and Grubber were seated on the opposite ends of a crystal bench on the far side of Twilight's castle library. Before them, five members of the Elements of Harmony, as well as Fizzlepop Berrytwist, were seated on their haunches and were giving the two oddly pleasant smiles. They seemed excited about something.
It didn't take long before Twilight Sparkle entered room, drawing the attention of her friends who had been waiting. She held in her magic a thick stack of papers attached to a clipboard, with a freshly sharpened pencil floating just next to it. "Hello everypony." She greeted happily. "Sorry to keep you all waiting for so long."
She turned towards Grubber and Spike after addressing her friends, her expression quickly turning from jovial to stern. Spike and Grubber both stared at the mare with looks of apprehension. Considering the tongue-lashing they had received yesterday, and the fact that the alicorn mare hadn't spoken more then a few words to them since that time, made the two feel more then a little worried. There was no doubt in their minds that Twilight was ready to deliver on to them her punishment. Spike assumed it would be a long list of chores the two would have to complete, considering the thick bulleted list Twilight had brought into the library with her. Grubber meanwhile didn't know what to expect, he not knowing the mare as well as the purple dragon sitting beside him, but assumed it would be something bad.
"Spike. Grubber. Do you know why we called you here today?" The mares behind the Princess of Friendship, suddenly began to adapt similar expressions to one she held. Spike and Grubber didn't know how to respond. They looked at each other for a brief moment, as if asking the other what they thought they should say. Normally they'd start blaming each other in situations like this, but like ponies about to be sent to the dungeon or about to be banished, that all seemed pretty pointless now.
Spike swallowed some of the dread building in his throat, and quietly gave an answer. "I-I think we have a pretty good idea." Not finding anything he wanted to add, Grubber only nodded in agreement.
"It seems like almost every time Fizzlepop brings Grubber over to the castle, you two find something petty you can argue about." Twilight shot her gaze towards Spike. "Spike, I know for a fact that you know that isn't how we treat guests in the castle. Normally, I'd ground you and send to your room for something like this. But after a talk with the others, we've decided that another solution may benefit you both better."
Grubber snickered slightly at the thought of his rival, who often tried to carry himself like an adult even though he was a baby dragon, being sent to his room without supper.
"I wouldn't be laughing Grubber." The sudden appearance of Fizzlepop's voice drew everyone's attention towards her. "Because even though we're not family, I am not afraid to dish out my own brand of punishment should this solution not pan out."
The coldness in her voice made Grubber sweat anxiously. He gulped down a large lump of immediate fear that had suddenly appeared after Fizzle had made her statement.
"We have decided to pull this problem out by the roots as it were, and finally give you two what you want." Spike and Grubber gave Twilight some confused looks as she levitated the clipboard in front of her face. "We have decided to hold a competition to finally prove which one of you is the better assistant."
By Spike and Grubber's eyes widened in surprise at the alicorn's statement. "Your theriouth?" Grubber asked bewilderedly.
Twilight moved the clipboard out from in front of her face and motioned it over to the hedgehog and dragon. "It is the main reason you two have been fighting, isn't it? We thought finally having a way to prove who's better would finally give you both a reason to put a stop to it. Maybe even afterwards, you'll see each other as equals."
Spike and Grubber both released a sarcastic "Heh", neither fully believing what the alicorn was suggesting would ever come true. Both combatants grabbed either side of the clipboard as it floated in front of them and, resisting the urge to pull it out of the other's hand, began to flip through the pages. Each page had a different pony's name written in the top right hoof corner of each page, with a few choice bullet notes written neatly underneath. None of the pages had a clear description of what challenges they would be facing, but at the moment neither of them really cared. Just as long as by the end this, one of them would finally beat the other.
"Okay Twi, we'll play your game." Spike said handing the clipboard back so Twilight could take it in her magic. "But don't be to surprised if this ends quickly. I doubt there'll be much of a contest."
"Excuthe me!!" Grubber shouted incredulously. "I have been trained ath a solider thince the day I could walk on my own two feet. You don't thtand a chanthe!!"
"The wonder pudge below your non-existent neck would say otherwise, tubby."
Grubber was taken back, he growled in anger. "NOBODY CALLTH ME TUBBY!!!" Spike actually flinched in surprise as Grubber brought up his fist to cleanly deck the dragon in the snozz. It was only thanks to Twilight's quick thinking that the painful collision was avoided, as she enveloped Grubber's body in the thick blanket of her magical aura.
"Perhaps we should get started." Twilight stated in frustration. She shot an annoyed glance towards Spike. "Before anypony else says something they may regret." She released Grubber from her hold, allowing the hedgehog's arms to fall lazily to his sides again. He groaned angrily at the young dragon before stomping over towards Twilight. Spike followed, more then a little surprised that he felt guilty for getting the hedgehog so riled up.
Twilight lead Spike and Grubber across the library until they were finally stopped at the opposite wall. The wall was covered from floor to ceiling with books and shelves, with every book seemingly being the same size and thickness. A divide down the middle of the wall separated the near endless-looking expanse of books, creating two equally large and complete bookshelves that made up only part of the full amount of the castle's extensive library.
Spike and Grubber stared in awe at the colossal shelves, feeling their own meager heights being dwarfed by the sheer size of the two equally packed walls of knowledge.
"Your first challenge will be issued by me." Twilight said with delight. "I call it: The Great Library Race." Using her front hoof to wave over the width of the shelves, she began to explain. "To be a good assistant to a princess, you need to be familiar with her library."
Rainbow Dash couldn't help but release a scoff. "This coming from the princess of eggheads." Twilight furrowed her brows in contempt. "Your the only pony I know who would think keeping this many books would be necessary. Seriously, I don't think even Princess Celestia reads as much as you do."
Ignoring the jeers coming from the peanut gallery, Twilight continued her explanation. "At any moment, something dangerous or evil could appear to threaten all life in Equestria. If that were to happen, your princess would need information on how to stop it." She gestured back to the bookshelves. "Behind one of these books on both bookshelves, I have hidden an inkwell and quill. Your job is to find them before your opponent does, and take them, along with the book they were behind, to that table over there." Twilight turned Spike and Grubber's attention over towards a small crystalline table on the other side of the library, upon it were to unrolled blank scrolls. "You will then write a letter, starting with the words: Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle..." The mare seemed to almost experience euphoria saying those words. "...and write down the high lighted section of your books, and make sure to site your sources so I know what your writing down is genuine." Spike and Grubber shot each other some confused glances.
"NEEEERRRRDDDD!!!!" Rainbow Dash shouted much to Twilight's annoyance. The rainbow-maned pegasus received a prominent whap to the back of her head for her actions.
"Thank you Applejack." Twilight stated flatly.
"It's what Ah do, sugarcube."
Twilight turned back towards Grubber and Spike. "So do you two both understand what your suppose to be doing?" Both competitors nodded at the young alicorn mare. "Alright then." She stated with a smile. "When I tell you to begin, start searching." Twilight trotted over towards the rest of her friends. "Begin!
Before Grubber could even realize what was going on, Spike began rushing towards the bookshelves. The young dragon darted towards the left most shelf, noticing a wheeled ladder prop up against it. He knew without a doubt that it would make his search for the inkwell and quill much easier, but before he could even begin to climb up its rungs, Spike felt a familiar wall of flab bashing him from the side. Spike was sent hurtling towards the floor as Grubber began to clamber up the ladder. "Thorry, lizard-lipth!" He shouted from half way up the shelves. "But I think I'm going to need thith more then you do. You know, becauthe of my wonder pudge!" Grubber continued to climb up the ladder.
Picking himself up off the floor, Spike began to snarl in rage. He rushed over towards the ladder Grubber was now on top of, and was fully intent on shaking it until the rotund hedgehog came tumbling downwards onto the crystal floor below. One quick statement from Twilight however stopped him from proceeding with this plan any further. "Their will be no contact between competitors during these challenges. This is both your only warning." With a growl, Spike let go of the ladder and hastened his pace over towards the right bookshelf to make up for the time he wasted.
Back with the Elements of Harmony and Fizzlepop Berrytwist, the girls were beginning to converse on what they had seen from the challenge so far. "It wasn't very sporting of Grubber to knock poor Spikey to the floor like that." Rarity said in complaint.
"Yeah, but it didn't keep the little guy down for long, so Ah say we let it slide this time. Ah'm sure they both know the rules now." Applejack stated. "Besides, Spike's practically lived his entire life in a library, it's his element. Grubber's gonna need all the help he can get if he want's any hope of winnin' this challenge."
"Don't be so sure." Fizzlepop said drawing both Applejack's and Rarity's attention. "What he doesn't have in speed, Grubber definitely makes up for in determination and creativity. It is one of the reason's why I made him my second-in-command during the invasion. He is quite the accomplished problem solver, and if given enough time, can find ways to get around the advantages an opponent may have over him. Spike may have the home field advantage here, but I wouldn't count out Grubber just yet."
"Well he defiantly seems to be in the lead right now." Rainbow Dash added. "I'm not sure how Spike's going to catch up with him without a ladder."
Twilight smirked slightly. "Oh, you'll see in a minute." As if on cue, Spike began griping his front and back claws on the evenly spaced shelves of the gigantic bookshelf, and almost like a gecko climbing a tree, started to clamber up the shelf towards its very top.
Rainbow Dash whistled in amazement. "Dang, kid's got more skill then I thought."
Twilight smiled as if she were the one being complimented. "He should be, like Applejack said, he has been doing this almost all his life."
Spike began darting up and down the bookshelf, randomly searching behind every book he could find and mentally cataloging which ones that didn't have the inkwell or quill behind them. Thanks to his years of reorganizing and retrieving books for Twilight, Spike's mind had become a figurative steel trap, with a memory better then most ponies twice his age. Grubber stared on in shock from the top of the ladder he had perched at the end of only his first shelf of already checked books. There was no way he would be able to search the bookshelves as fast as his draconic adversary, and the feeling of defeat slowly began to engross the pudgy hedgehog even though the contest was still far from over. He leaned against one side of the ladder as the prospect of forfeiting slowly entered his mind. It was then he notice that the ladder was actually beginning to roll in the direction he leaned in. Grubber blinked, and after making this startling realization, began form a wicked smile across his face. He had just come up with a plan.
Spike had just lifted and placed back another book on his bookshelf when he heard a scream coupled with what sounded like an avalanche of hardcovers.
"MY BOOKS!!!" Twilight shouted from the floor.
Spike turned his head towards Grubber, registering that that was where the other sound was coming from. His eyes widened in shock upon seeing the scene that was playing out before him.
"HA-HAHAHAHAHA-HA!" Grubber laughed triumphantly as he road the ladder from side of his bookshelf to the other, he sweeping through each row of books as he did so, knocking them all to the floor in a misshapen heap. Spike blinked in surprise, before quickly regaining his senses. He realized that the way he was searching his bookshelf was nowhere near as fast as the way Grubber was searching, and if he were to have any chance of winning this challenge, he would need to follow suit.
Spike began ripping books off the shelves by random increments as he searched frantically for the inkwell and quill on his own shelf. Twilight clawed at her mane in distress as he did so. "NO SPIKE! STOP!!" She tried to break into a sprint and stop the two competitors before they both completely destroyed her entire collection, only to find herself being restrained by a pair of dark purple hooves. Fizzlepop held her in a submission hold by her barrel.
"FIZZLE, LET ME GO!" Twilight shouted.
"You didn't make it a rule that they couldn't take the books off the shelves." She commented.
"WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY A RULE NOW!!!" Twilight continued to shout. "LET ME GO!!!"
"Let them play the game as they see fit, Twilight." Fizzlepop stated. "We can clean up your books later."
"BUT THEY'RE KILLING MY BOOKS NOW!!!"
Grubber continued his slide down the rows as more and more books quickly fell and were added to the conglomerate at the base of his bookshelf. It had not taken long before Grubber noticed something shining near the right side of his sixth emptied. It was just peeking out, but the hedgehog could clearly see the tip of a small glass container hiding behind an Equestrian almanac. With a smile now spreading across his face, Grubber quickly began to clamber up his ladder to the sixth shelf, plucking both the almanac and the ink and quill off the shelf. He leaped from shelf landing on top of the pile of discarded books, producing another quick shriek from Twilight, before rushing towards the table on the other side of the room.
Spike growled in frustration. He needed to work quicker if he didn't want to be beaten by that overstuffed pincushion. Spike began ripping off books at a much faster pace, starting from the top and moving towards the bottom. Eventually he found what he was looking for, an inkwell and quill hidden behind a Whinness Book of World Records. Spike placed the quill and book with his mouth and the inkwell within his hand, before leaping from the shelf to land on all four like a cat. The mares watching all began to clap after witnessing Spike's incredible feat, but the young dragon had no time for applause, he quickly shot back up to his feet and began sprinting towards the table.
Grubber had reached the table by the time Spike had reached the center of the room. He slammed his book down on the table and began to flip through the pages, frantically searching for the one highlighted page that would allow him to win this challenge. Spike was on him within only a few seconds. The dragon slammed his book down on its spine, allowing the cover to fall to one side as he thumbed through the pages like he was cutting a deck of cards. Grubber's eyes widened in shock as started to search even faster. But it was to late, Spike had found the page he was looking for and wrote down the highlighted contents before Grubber could even release a gasp...
...Spike was the winner.
The mares all galloped over towards the two, each taking a glance at what each assistant had to offer. Spike had a fully written letter describing the stallion with the world record for longest uncut mane, and Grubber was standing dejectedly next to untouched page.
Rainbow blinked in surprise. "Looks like we have clear winner here."
"Yes, but we really should wait for Twilight to judge. It is her challenge after all." Rarity added.
"Uh, where is Twilight?" Applejack asked. The mares looked at each other in confusion before turning their gaze back towards the pile of books Spike and Grubber had knocked to the floor. Twilight was caressing each fallen book as if it were some sickly wounded bird, and slowly flew them back to their correct places on the bookshelves.
The mares, hedgehog and dragon couldn't quite hear what she was saying from so far away, but if they could, they would have heard: "Don't cry, its okay now. Mama's here." A few strands of her hair seemed to fall out of place as she continued her seemly endless monotonous task. Every pony, dragon and hedgehog blinked, and stared at the once wise princess of friendship with deep looks of concern.
"Boys, I think you just broke the princess."
Author's Note
So this may not be three chapters like I had planned, but I think it's still going to be my shortest story to date. Hope you guys and girls enjoyed the chapter.
