And The Bell Tolls Twice

by MallaJong

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance, Spike, Comedy, Rarity, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Soarin, Alternate Universe, Rainbow Dash
Length: 4501

Soarin' and Spike are best friends. Spike partakes in a frivolous dare: randomly "ask a mare out".

Get ready for "And The Bell Tolls Twice" - a romantic comedy/drama written in the form of a play. Soarin' intermittently prompts his best friend, Spike, to partake in a frivolous dare. The dare: randomly "ask a mare out". What begins as a childish dare results in overwhelming drama, romance, and precious comedy in the days of the lives of numerous high school students. Follow Spike and Soarin' as the two seek for the answers to obtaining personal development.

More characters will be added as the story progresses. Adapted from script form to abide by site standards.

Published 2012-08-09 13:24:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-08-12 00:21:14 UTC

Act I Scene I

And The Bell Tolls Twice

And the bell tolls twice. One for notification. Another for warning. The students of Ponyville High School Academy scatter in unison as the class bell is rung. Two particular uniformed students, Spike and Soarin’, loiter in the North Hallway of Building A. Spike is a short, awkward teenage dragon who seems to be more in tune with his own inner thoughts than reality itself. Soarin’, the extroverted, self-prescribed “funny pony”, intermittently prompts his best friend to partake in a frivolous dare. The dare: randomly “ask a mare out”.

"Dude, just do it."

"What? No!"

"Hurry up, Spike. Just do it."

"I already told you that I am not going to do it."

Soarin' wags a hoof in front of Spike’s face. "No, no. On the contrary, my dear companion, because you actually informed me that you would do it."

Spike laughs nervously. "I-I was obviously joking."

Soarin’ stares blankly at Spike. "I dislike jokes."

Spike's eyes widen. "What are you talking about? You love jokes! You’re practically the clown of the school!"

"Oh, so, now I am being insulted?"

"W-What?!"

"I see how it is. I treat you like a friend and you label me a “clown”.

"What’s wrong with being a “clown”?

"Clowns are the second-class citizens of society!"

Irritated, Spike exclaims. "My uncle was a clown!"

Soarin’ ignores Spike. "That is beside the point. How did we even get into this topic?"

"Second-class citizens?! You’re a second-class citizen!"

Soarin' rolls his eyes. "Very mature. Now, hurry up and do it."

Stubbornly, Spike assures. "I am not doing it! Why don’t you do it?"

Soarin’ suddenly spots an attractive female nearing. "She’s coming this way! Just do it, Spike! Go get her!"

Spike whips his head around. "Wha-? W-Who is coming?

Soarin points to female student. "Her! The one with the purple hair!"

Spike gulps loudly. "R-Rarity?! No, Soarin’. She hates me."

Soarin’ raises right eyebrow. "She hates you? How do you know?"

"You don’t remember? When I spilled chocolate milk on her in the cafeteria two weeks ago?"

Soarin's eyes widen. "Oh, yes, that’s right!" Laughing hysterically. "You kept apologizing like a stuttering jackas-!"

Spike, annoyed, cuts off Soarin’. "Calm down!" Looking to Rarity. "After the milk made stains on her uniform, she unleashed a great deal of pain upon me."

Soarin' laughs harder. "She yelled until her lungs collapsed!"

"Stop laughing! It was both mentally and emotionally traumatizing."

Choking on laughter, Soarin' mutters. "Are you ready, Spike?"

Confused, Spike says. "Ready for what?"

Soarin’ suddenly pushes Spike into a striding Rarity. Standing behind a pillar, Soarin' watches attentively at the two struggling to keep their balance.

Soarin' whispers. "The hook has sunk."

Spike steadily maintains his balance. "S-sorry!"

Rarity, flustered, finds her balance. "W-What the-?"

"I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorr-"

Rarity cuts off Spike. "Stop apologizing like an idiot!"

At a distance, Soarin' whispers. "The hook continues to sink."

Spike stutters in defeat. "I’m sorr- Oh, o-okay."

Curious, Rarity asks. "What just happened there?"

Panicking, Spike spouts. "Happened? What happened? Nothing happened."

"You just popped out of nowhere – as if you were to trying to bump into me."

Spike laughs brassily. "That is completely ridiculous. What nonsense you spout from those beautiful lips!"

Rarity puts right hoof to lips. "What?"

Spike repeats. "What? I did not say anything." Laughing robotically. "Three multiplied by three equals nine."

Shocked and confused by Spike's nonsensical ramblings. "What are you doing?"

Mechanically, Spike states. "I am a dragon and you are pony."

Soarin looks down and whispers. "The hook has sunk to the bottom."

Rarity steps back. "Okay...I need to g-"

Spike realizes that he has “scared Rarity away”. With this unfavorable fact pounding at his cerebrum, a crack finally emerges. His brain begins to crumble and his heart begins to melt. His thought pattern is dramatically stimulated and an enormous fire scorches his very core. In an instant – in a grand conflagration of imagination – Spike impulsively – and unwittingly – decides to break the lock that imprisoned his soul and, with wondrous splendor, the awkward, sweat-inductive teenage student inhales deeply and bellows with awesome might.

Swinging his arms high above his head. "RARITY! It is painfully apparent that in a world that may seem senseless, hopeless, and utterly destructive there is a widespread panic and cry for liberation from the troubles of a physical reality! The times of our lives are limited and we, as two young individuals of this great society, are only given a few chances to display true greatness! That euphoric sensation of brilliance benefits not only ourselves but, in truth, others as well! I vehemently support the position that this, now, is one of those times in MY LIFE when I can passionately confess my love for another! You, RARITY, are the love of my life!"

Awestruck, Soarin' whsipers. "The hook has been lifted from the sands of the ocean and the line is tugged."

"I have only known you for twenty-nine days, seven hours, fifty-two minutes, and now reaching thirty-one seconds and I have already found myself in a state of ebullience when I cast my eyes upon your radiant demeanor! You are the one of MY LIFE! I will not hold back from informing you of my most true – of my most pure – sentiments of affection! Grasp the light of day and become the night! Cherish the moments you are bestowed with – even if it may be known as the darkest of all that is emanated from pain! Because, with basking assurance, life itself will disappear from your perceptual sight, foresight, and insight in a matter of milliseconds!"

Excitedly, Soarin' grins. "The line is pulled with amazing power! Reel it in! Reel it in!"

"Give back to the world by presenting your wholesome being! Let the violins play with harmonious synchronicity as you live life to its fullest potential! Allow the harp to beatifically jolt the edges of your ear’s mucus membrane as your senses are heightened to a dramatic state of existence! Follow the notes of light of a classical piano and scream to the heavens with audacity! I will reach personal enlightenment by gifting you with my heart. Please, take it! Handle it with motherly care as you would with your first newborn or angrily toss it to the ditches as you would with a cellular device after receiving horrifying, incomprehensible news! You are now the caretaker!"

Soarin' cries with delight. "I can see it! I can see it! You’ve caught it!"

"Live or die is a logical fallacy! I will not abide by naiveté and practice the ideal without inquisition! Strengthen grip or loosen grip is the correct phrase of language! Sing to the melody or dance to the beat! My understanding of the world has been developed! My responses to this understanding are unmasked and fragile! But they are not regrettable!" Clutching at his chest, Spike announces. "For I am soulfully thankful! For I am in love!"

Tears slide across Soarin's cheeks. "You’ve netted it. Y-You have done it."

At this point, the many environs of this inspiring scene had seemed to stay frozen. The clusters of students - ponies, griffins and mules alike - that surrounded Spike and Rarity stand in place and, similarly to Soarin’, watches in overwhelming awe at the recent occurrence. Silence has become the peaking atmosphere. And, seconds after the scrupulous monologue had been conceived from the lips of a seventeen year old dragon, a grand applause inevitably follows. The sounds of clapping, cheering, rooting, and crying filled the hallways. Rarity, standing sternly before the heavily panting Spike, flushes and instantly looks to the tiled floors. Her cheeks hot and her eyes squeezed tightly together, Rarity realizes that her many defense mechanisms are completely obliterated. She felt naked and, in the end, scared. How could this boy do this to her? How could he sneakily pass through her high security chambers? How could he have been able to touch her heart? To her, it was improbable. Though, she knew that it was not impossible.

Rarity looks up to Spike. "O-Okay."

Soarin' immediately jumps from behind the pillar. "Hold on!

The overseeing audience of students turns its head to Soarin’.

"What did you just say?!" Soarin' shouts aloud.

Rarity spots Soarin’ and hurriedly looks to Spike. "Spike…"

Anxiously, Spike answers. "Y-yes?"

"I-I’ll go out with you."

And The Bell Tolls Twice

Act I Scene I

End

Understand the difference between knowing something and understanding it.

Act I Scene II

And The Bell Tolls Twice

And the bell tolls twice. One for knowing. Another for understanding. It is now the end of the school day for Ponyville High School Academy and uniformed students concurrently head toward their planned activities and afternoon pastimes. Whether exiting the school grounds or staying for club meetings ensued all seemed to have an objective at hand. Soarin’, Featherweight, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash stand in the middle of Wayne Douglas High School Academy’s interior field. Featherweight and Scootaloo, two pegasi with inferior flying skills, marvel at Soarin’s storytelling of the recent event involving Spike and Rarity. Rainbow Dash, the school flyer team’s star athlete and teenage beauty, stands impatiently at a distance. Though, unbeknownst to Soarin’, she listens intently to every word that materializes.

Soarin’ speaks melodramatically. “Then, when his heart roared in a thunderous blaze of truth, Young Spike put his hand to his heart and cried at the top of his lungs…” Soarin’ imitates Spike. “For I am soulfully thankful! For I am in love!”

Featherweight’s eyes widen. “No way!”

Soarin’ smiles. “Yes way!”

Awestruck, Scootaloo says. “That’s crazy!”

Rainbow Dash scoffs. “He’s lying, guys. Stop being so gullible.”

Soarin’ insistently assures. “This is not a lie. This happened earlier today. Ask anypony who has a class in the North of Building A. They’ll confirm the story.”

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Come on, guys. We need to go to practice. Rarity is going to be at the track to meet up with me. I am going to tell her everything that spouts from that mouth of yours, Soarin’.”

Confidently, Soarin’ pushes. “Go ahead. Tell me how she reacts.”

Rainbow Dash calls out to Featherweight and Scootaloo. “We have to be at the field in two minutes.”

Featherweight nods to Soarin’. “Give Spike my ‘props’, Soarin’.”

Scootaloo nods. “Yeah, for me as well.”

Soarin’ winks. “Don’t worry. I will make sure her gets them.”

Rainbow Dash walks away. “Hurry up!”

Featherweight and Scootaloo simultaneously answer. “Coming!”

Featherweight and Scootaloo jog in order to catch up to Rainbow Dash, who had already traveled a considerable distance from Soarin’s location. Soarin’ is left by himself. An ominous silence consumes the atmosphere.

Soarin’ looks about his surroundings. “Where is that guy, anyway?”

Meanwhile, Spike is found running vigorously in the hallways of Building E. A student wearing star-studded attire(Trixie) steps out from a nearby classroom and stands in front of Spike’s way.

Trixie calls out to Spike. “Spike! There you are! Amazing speech earlier. The Speech and Debate Team would love your contributions-”

Spike runs pass Trixie. “N-no, thank you! I’m so sorry!”

Trixie turns. “What?! But you would be perfect for the-”

Spike cuts off student. “Not interested!”

Another student, wearing a set of traditional, stainless steel braces (Twist), suddenly steps out of a nearby classroom.

Twist lisps. “Spike, your powerhouse skills in oratory can be very beneficial to the Student Council Offices-”

Spike panics and continues to run. “I-I don’t want to!” Spike maneuvers around the student. “Please, forgive me!”

Twist turns to Spike and lisps loudly. “Are you serious?! Do you even understand how huge of an opportunity this is for you?!”

Spike runs and whimpers loudly. “D-don’t be angry at me!”

Spike continues to run in the hallways. Another student (Lyra), wearing a brightly-tinted scarf, appears before him, blocking his path.

Lyra bellows aloud. “There is the man with a soul of pure silver!” Extending her hoof out towards the dragon, she calls. “Spike! Join us in the Theatre Arts Department! Your explosive aura in dramatization is much needed for our productions-”

Spike pushes Lyra’s hoof away as he runs around her. “I am not an actor! I apologize! I apologize!”

Lyra dramatically turns around. “But you are a dramatist! You are the ORIGINAL THESEPIAN OF THIS ERA! Spike, do not leave me! DO NOT LEAVE ME!”

Spike calls back. “I have to! I need to!”

Yet another student is seen up ahead. The student (Applejack) is out of uniform; her cowgirl hat is oddly conspicuous.

Applejack smiles. “Oh, hiya’, Spike. What’s new with ya’? Do you by any chance enjoy picking apples? Well, I am the new president of the Apple-Picking Club-”

Spike screams in a high pitch. “Leave me alone! Stop asking me about the speech!”

Spike expertly dives under the parted legs of the Applejack and swiftly passes through.

Applejack, completely surprised. “What the hay?! What speech?! And why did ya’ just go under my legs?!”

Spike runs, sniffles loudly. “Don’t have a grudge on me!”

Applejack calls back. “What are ya talkin’ about?! I was only askin’ if ya’ liked picking apples!”

Spike continues to run. “Stop it! Stop it!”

Spike finally exits Building E.

Located in the center of the school’s interior field, Soarin’, pacing aimlessly upon the grass, immediately spots his best friend racing down the staircase of Building E.

Soarin’ calls out to Spike. “Dude!”

Spike, noticing Soarin’, answers. “Soarin’!”

Soarin’ waves to Spike. “Get over here!”

Spike runs towards Soarin and cries. “I need your help!”

Soarin’ raises his right eyebrow. “What? What is it?”

Spike stops in front of Soarin’. “They are all after me! They all want me!”

Soarin’ laughs. “Not all the mares want you, Spike. Just Rarity.”

Spike slaps Soarin’ “No! That’s not what I am talking about!”

Soarin’ puts a hoof to his face. “Did you just slap me?”

Spike slaps Soarin’ again. “You’re not listening to me!”

Soarin’ puts other his hoof to his face. “Stop slapping me!”

Spike slaps Soarin’ once more. “Help me! Help me!”

Soarin’ yells. “Someone help me!”

Trixie, Twist, Lyra and Applejack are all seen exiting Building E and heading towards the interior field of the school. The four students reach Soarin’ and Spike, who are found busily slapping each other and screaming to the firmament.

Spike’s spots the approaching ponies. “Soarin’! Soarin’!”

Soarin’s irritation grows. “What?”

Spike points to the four students and whispers. “There they are.”

Soarin’, not having before noticed the four students standing nearby, flinches. “Whoa! How long have they been there

Trixie speaks. “We’re here to speak to Spike.”

Twist lisps. “I am definitely not going to let him get away that easily.”

Lyra extends a hoof above her head. “As well as I, my dear alumnus!”

Applejack shrugs. “I’m just here to watch the show.”

Soarin’, confused, looks to Spike. “What have you gotten yourself into?”

Spike steps back. “Help me.”

Soarin’ smirks. “You are such a baby sometimes, did you know that?”

“I am a baby, dude!” Spike reminds his best friend.

Soarin’ looks to the four ponies. “Alright, alright. Everyone get into single formation. Let’s go. Get in a line.”

The four students look to each other and, after nodding in a synchronized manner, comply. The first in line is Trixie.

Soarin’ starts. “Okay, what do you need from Spike?”

“My name is Trixie. As the executive leader of Wayne Douglas High School Academy’s Speech and Debate Team, I formally invite Spike to enter into the ranks of a practiced spokesman and debater.”

Soarin’ replies. “Speech and Debate, eh? This doesn’t happen to concern the little piece of genius Spike presented earlier, does it?”

Lyra cried from the line. “Little?! His genius is greater than anything conceived in all of-”

Soarin’ cuts off Lyra. “Quiet. It’s not your turn.”

Lyra brings her head down. “M-my sincere apologies.”

Trixie nods. “Yes, my invitation does regard his speech from earlier today.”

Soarin says. “You do know that it was a confession of love, right?”

Adamantly, Trixie replies. “ I am aware of that actually. And I firmly believe that-”

Soarin’ grins. “Then I have one thing to say. Twilight Sparkle should be considered the victor of every debate she has ever had with you.

Trixie’s face contorts. “W-What did you say?! That is completely uncalled for!”

Soarin’ shakes his head. “I am just saying the truth.”

Trixie fumes. “You, sir, are out of order!”

Soarin’ instantly swings his hoof up and boldly points at Trixie. “NO, YOU’RE OUT OF ORDER!!!”

There is a overwhelming silence for a few seconds after this unexpected shout.

Trixie blinks and blankly says. “T-Touché.”

Trixie plods away feeling completely obliterated.

Soarin’ calls out to Trixie. “That’s right. Keep walking. He then turns his head to Spike. “Some debater she was, right, Spike?”

Applejack applauds. “That was awesome!”

Twist lisps. “Well, that was…interesting.”

Soarin’ turns to Twist. “Now, what is your proposition?”

Twist lisps. “As you may well know, I am the Student Council Vice-President of Ponyville High School Academy, Twist.”

Soarin’ put his hoof up. “I am sorry. For I have never heard of you.”

Spike chimes in. “Yeah, me neither.”

“What? I-I feel insulted.” Twist stops herself and suddenly smirks. “Wait a minute. I see what you are doing.”

Soarin’ smirks back. “That is?”

“You’re trying to get rid of me like that pathetic excuse for a debater, Trixie.”

Soarin’ shakes his head from side to side. “No, seriously, I have never heard of you.” Addressing Applejack, he says. “Have you ever heard of her?”

Applejack shakes her own head. “I knew the school had a Vice-President, but I’ve never heard of a Twist takin’ the position.”

Lyra butts in. “If you were to kindly ask me, I have also never discovered the name of our Vice-”

Soarin’ cuts off Lyra. “Nobody ‘kindly’ asked you. Let alone asked you for that matter.”

Twist looks to the student. “Y-you’re all lying to me.” She turns back to Soarin’. “I get it. Everyone is in on it, right?” She begins to laugh nervously. “Oh, how clever of you!”

Soarin’ chuckles. “Wow. How much pride can you have? We have just never heard of you.”

Twist explodes and lisps. “Impossible! There is no way you all have never heard of the school-renowned Twist!”

Soarin’ raises his hooves to chest. “I think everyone here is telling you the truth. And if you are really freaking out about this, then maybe you should better publicize yourself.”

Twist twitches while lisping. “Y-yes. That’s right. Having more publicity would do wonders for me! I understand now!”

Soarin’ acts quickly. “Hurry! Go make posters of yourself and put them all over the school!”

Twist reacts. “Great idea!”

Twist hurriedly runs away.

Soarin’ whispers. Two down. Two to go.

Lyra comes into the scene dramatically. “Alas! It seems that it is now my time to roll the die! I have come from afar to converse with the one and only Spike! His entirety is the very reminiscence of a dramatist’s inner beauty! Of the Oversoul!” Lyra extends a hoof to Spike. “Come, Spike! Lyra Heartbanks will lead you through the glorious path to individual freedom! Ponyville High School Academy’s Theatre Arts Department awaits thee!”

Soarin’ stares blankly at Lyra. “Alright, now you’re just plain weird.”

Spike nods, agreeing. “I’ll say.”

Applejack nods. “Eeyup.”

Soarin’ laughs. “I don’t even want to take the time to deal with you. So, how about you leave?”

Lyra projects loudly. “As did Spartacus, leader of the historic slave rebellion, I will not cease to fight defeat and surrender!”

Soarin’ looks to Spike. “Then…how about we leave?”

Applejack says. “Can I come as well?”

Soarin’ looks to Applejack. “Spike, why are you running from little miss cowgirl over here?

Spike, confused. “I-I forgot.”

Soarin’ asks. “Do you want her to come?”

Lyra shouts. “I will go wherever Spike goes!”

Soarin’ addresses Lyra. “Girl, stop being a stalker. Just leave him alone. He is obviously not interested.”

Lyra pouts. “B-But…”

Applejack butts back in. “Am I going or not?”

Soarin’, annoyed. “Hold on.”

Lyra shouts. “No, I must not stop!”

“EVERYPONY, STOP TALKING!”

Three heads twist toward the frail demeanor of Spike. It seems that, when he is cornered into a stress-inducing environment, the peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system of Spike’s anatomy begin to receive neural messages by the trillions. At times of emergency, Spike’s sympathetic nervous system activates as a quick reflex. In response, the adrenal gland excretes an ample amount of pure epinephrine. The excretion is pumped dynamically throughout his body, resulting in the contraction of voluntary muscles. The mind shrieks and pleads for physical salvation. The heart fights and the lungs expand for an increase in respiration. Spike’s pupils are dilated in order to allow for a wider range of perception. And everything takes place without somatic interjection. All in all, Spike becomes the Alexander of Macedon – The Great of the Classical Era. With a clenched fist and a maniacal grin, Spike starts.

Waving hands above his head, Spike bellows. “In a land of chaos, confusion and instability there is a loss of faith in the restoration of a supreme order! Warring States, Imperialistic tendencies, rebellions and historically labeled mutinies are but a few instances in which death has overcome sensibility! But, in reassurance, there is always that one individual with the power to right two wrongs! That same individual is able to SAVE two birds with one stone! Because he chooses not to throw it!”

Soarin’ nods. “Wise words from a young dragon.”

Lyra’s eyes widen in admiration. “This is beautiful!

“ I – Spike of Ponyville High School Academy, best friend of Soarin’ and boyfriend of Rarity – am the prudent one! Take life by its collar and wrap it around your fingers for gripping enhancement! Pull it! Near it! And rid it of its doubting mindset through vocalization! Ease it towards the light through annunciation! HAVE IT FOLLOW YOU THROUGH EDUCATION! Life, as a whole, may be independent! But that fact should not stop you from controlling just a piece of it!”

Soarin’ hoof-pumps the air. “Yes! YES!”

“There is only one individual in this land worthy of the title of caretaker! That one individual commands not by the will of the subjects but through the inherent essence of one’s being! A strength unmatched and a voice so ominous! The cease of battle comes about from pure effort! The soul is cared for by reassurance! The heart is given its own insurance! The brain races with ebullience! The mind embraces the current experience! And with each and every step, I become more adept!” Brings hand to chest. “For I have now fallen in love in this imperfect world!”

Yet another overwhelming silence follows.

Lyra suddenly applauds.

Applejack mutters. “Incredible.”

Spike points to Lyra. “You! Get out of here! Spike then points to Applejack. “And you! Who are you?!”

Applejack stops applauding. Me? It’s Applejack , remember? I take Advanced Chemistry with you.

Spike stares. Applejack? Oh, yeah! Applejack!

Applejack nods. There ya’ go.

Lyra stops applauding. “I will not go!”

Soarin’ speaks to Applejack. “Why are you here, anyway?”

“I just wanted to know if you two would be willing to join my Apple-Picking club.

Spike, confused. “Wait… you weren’t asking about my speech?”

Lyra chimes in once again. “Am I not being addressed any longer?”

Applejack replies to Spike. “That’s the thing. At first, I had no idea what everyone was talking about. But now I see what it is.”

Soarin’ sighs. “It is a long story.”

Applejack smiles. “So, how about it? Apple-Pickng can get addicting.”

Lyra waves her hooves frantically. “Hello?! Am I being ignored?!”

Spike answer Applejack. “No, thank you.”

Soarin’ answers Applejack. “No time. We actually already have a lot to deal with right now.”

Lyra whines. “ I am fond of the particular activity involving those scrumptious fruits of red!”

Applejack nods. “Well, I guess I’ll see you guys later.”

Soarin’ waves farewell. “Goodbye.”

Spike follows suit. “Bye, Applejack.”

Applejack also waves goodbye to Soarin’ and Spike and trots away.

Soarin’ licks his lips. I want to eat. How about some pie, eh?

Spike says. “Yeah, a pie sounds good right now. And some donuts.”

Lyra bounces. “I wouldn’t mind food!”

Soarin’ and Spike suddenly look to Lyra.

Soarin’ addresses Lyra. “Are you paying?”

Spike addresses Lyra. “I’ll talk to you about Theatre if you pay.”

Lyra gulps loudly, becoming pale. “W-well, let’s see. Lyra takes out and opens her leather wallet. Her eyes then widen. She looks up and smiles brightly. I guess I will be on my way.

Soarin’ grins. Have a good time.

Lyra quickly walks away.

Soarin’ looks to Spike. “That was tiring, dude.”

Spike scratches the back of his head. “Sorry about that.”

“You know, you are such a baby at times.”

“You already said that.”

“I know I did. Though I wanted to say it again.”

“I get the point.”

“You know, you are such a baby at times.”

“I get it! But in the state that I’m in, you really can’t blame me.”

Soarin’ suddenly slaps Spike.

Spike: puts a hand to his face. “W-what was that for?”

“That was for first slapping me out of nowhere.”

“But you already slapped me numerous times after that!”

Soarin’ slaps Spike a second time.

Spike puts his other hand to his face. “And what was that for?!”

Soarin’ shrugs. “I just felt like slapping you.”

Meanwhile, on the track and field of Ponyville High School Academy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash are found sitting beside each other near the water fountains.

Rainbow Dash giggles. “Hey, Rarity.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know a Pegasus named Soarin’?”

“Soarin’?”

Rainbow Dash nods. “Yeah, Soarin’.”

“His name doesn’t come to mind. What is he like?”

Rainbow Dash ponders. “I guess you can say he’s kind of goofy but smart at the same time. He also likes to eat a lot of pie. Anyway, he is always spreading these silly rumors about the school. One time he kept swearing that there was a student in school that was trying to obtain the modern harem.* But this time he’s finally ‘taken the pie’. I just wanted to warn you.

Rarity wonders. “Warn me? What do you mean?”

“He made up this story about how Spike – you know, the dragon – asked you out with this lame-sounding monologue.”

Rarity becomes annoyed. “It wasn’t lame, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash blinks, not comprehending Rarity’s words. “What?”

Rarity blushes. “I actually thought it was…sweet.”

Rainbow Dash blinks, still not comprehending Rarity’s words. “What?”

“Soarin’…Soarin’…The guy-behind-the-pillar-Soarin’?

Rainbow Dash finally comprehends Rarity’s words. “WHAT?!”

And The Bell Tolls Twice

Act I Scene II

End

Understand the difference between hearing something and listening to it.

*This is a reference to another of my plays, Harem of the Graces.