Author's Note

And we're back to things with the other Twilight and Pinkie.

There are a few images in this chapter I would love to see as art pieces, but I'm not going to hold my breath

Spike's Unwanted Ship

Spike couldn’t quite make out what was going on, or even how things had gotten this way. He had just made an offhand comment about making himself some special pancakes the night before and now somehow found himself on a cruise ship purchased entirely by “Twilight” and out in the middle of the waters off the coast of Manehattan with Twilight and Pinkie and Starlight. When Twilight got home she was not going to be happy, or even amused. When Spike had woken up on the ship and realized he was on a ship, an extravagant one at that, he immediately sent word to Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. Celestia sent a dignified and composed response back about looking into limiting Twilight’s buying power during the time her other self was “visiting” and left it at that; Luna’s response was that of amusement and saying she would send over ponies to act as the crew and see about getting the vessel into port, she also sent the latest model of personal camera and asked for Spike to take many pictures for her and Celestia to “observe” at their earliest convenience; and Cadance had sent a letter that had started off like that of the caring figure she was, only for it stop halfway and have a literal magical copy of her voice laughing for a solid minute.

When Spike had found out Starlight was on the boat with him she confirmed Twilight and Pinkie were both on the boat and she was there to mostly make sure things didn’t get even more out of hand, seeing as she somehow missed Twilight buying an entire cruise liner then paying the crew to take them to a specific point before just leaving the ship out in open water, she had thought that Twilight was just privately chartering the vessel for Spike, her, and Pinkie up until the point the crew weighed anchor and left.

“Well, at least she didn’t pull this stunt with an airship,” Spike deadpanned.

“She almost did,” said Starlight in a flat tone, “but I managed to talk her out of it by pointing out airship kitchens don’t usually tend to have a lot of stocking space. Of course, that didn’t stop her from sending in a commission and design for a new kind of luxury airship, don’t when or if the response letter will be coming in though.”

Spike just gave Starlight a deadpan look before grabbing the clipboard from his waist and pulling out an ink pen from the pouch at his side, living with Twilight had taught him to always be prepared to write something, and wrote a note on it addressed to Princess Celestia with a very brief yet descriptive note on what Starlight had just told him. After sending the note Spike turned to Starlight and said, “What kind of damage can I expect?”

“Well, considering they made extra sure to have the entire pantry stocked shy of the minimum overflow point and are likely to just have some not-so-subtle clues leading you to the kitchen, probably after you’re out of the guest rooms. In all likelihood, the two of them will use all of this as an excuse to show you what they do for their Spike; I just hope I don’t get dragged into it.”

“Considering how Twilight as a houseguest has been treating us,” said Spike with annoyance, “you will, then we’ll both have even more to put on the report for when we get our Twilight back.”

“Augh,” said Starlight in annoyance, “I know Twilight is doing everything she can to get back, but she’s probably being curtailed by the stars know what.”

“I know we’ve both said this to each other several time over their stay,” said Spike in a defeated tone, “but we just have to do the best to mitigate the damage during their stay. Honestly, I think these developments might have been among the better outcomes, considering how much about their world they shared with us.”

“Yeah, I guess,” said Starlight with a defeated voice as they approached the exit of the hallway, “but I still don’t have to like it.”

“I’m in the same boat as you,” said Spike, “both literally and figuratively, today.”

They both swung open the doors to find a set of signs that had Spike’s name in big bold lettering with arrows pointing down a specified path.

“These weren’t here when I went to check on and warn you.”

“I figured they would do something monumentally ridiculous, I just didn’t think it would be this soon,” Spike gave out an exasperated sigh. “At least the damage we’re going to see is going to be mostly minimal.

***********************************************************

After following the signs for almost ten minutes the two finally arrived at the doors to the ship’s main kitchen Starlight was pulled into the kitchen via a remote teleportation courtesy of Twilight’s magic. Spike had a bad feeling about what was coming. After taking a few minutes to steel himself against all the possible worst-case scenarios he could think of, Spike did his best to walk confidently into the kitchen. When entered it was worse than he thought, he nearly fainted from the scene before him.

Twilight and Pinkie were both in aprons, with no other attire, with happy smiles and a simultaneous statement of, “Welcome to the kitchen, Master. Everything has been made ready for you.”

Off to the side, a very annoyed looking Starlight was also in a naked apron, grumbling about things she would rather be doing. Spike could feel a nosebleed coming on but thankfully managed to prevent the effect.

“Alright, ladies, this is just ridiculous. Did you really have to drag Starlight into this production?”

“No,” said Twilight, “but she just looks so cute like this, a whole lot more than all the other outfits she’s worn every other time I’ve seen her.”

“I know, because you told us, that the naked apron is mainly Pinkie’s thing back home for you two, but did Twilight have to do it as well? And was it essential to force me into the same thing?”

“Oops,” said Twilight, “I guess I just followed Pinkie’s lead a little too closely and wanted Starlight to as well.”

“Called it,” muttered Starlight.

“I’m just going to ignore all the shenanigans and have those of you who want to act as my kitchen aides.”

“Well, since I’m clearly dressed for the part,” said Starlight in a deadpan manner, “might as well join in on the fun. Besides, it will probably be better if I just keep a close eye on these two, for the time being, me departing to change attire might prove...hazardous.”

Without another word Spike just got to work in the kitchen, he directed Twilight and Pinkie to get him refrigerated and dry ingredients; Starlight acted as the one to make sure they didn’t overdo anything and stop them before they took things a bit too far. Twenty minutes later, Spike had made a large set of stacks of waffles, half of which had gemstones baked into them.

Spike did his best to not look at the three mares in nothing but aprons, and failed miserably, the whole time he worked and attempted to eat. It was made increasingly more awkward when Pinkie and Twilight insisted on feeding him the food. Spike had insisted he could handle it all on his own, which was immediately followed by him putting his food on serving platter haphazardly, throwing a serving top over the platter, and rushing to his room while stating quite loudly that he did not want to be disturbed for at least an hour. After getting to what he hoped was a safe place on the ship, for the time being, he pulled out his clipboard and pen and hastily scribbled the events of the encounter as much as he could and sent it off to Celestia. After that was done, he got to work eating his self-made breakfast and hoping it would relax him, it did but not as much as he had been hoping.