"Yes...(Chuckle)...After finishing this one, the others should be done by now." Queen Chrysalis put the finishing touches on a regular apple and painted it with colors, resembling that of a zap apple. She levitated it next to a pile of other apples she painted.
"These painted apples would already make you sick, Starlight Glimmer..." Chrysalis then walked over to a fiery stone cauldron. "But I'm looking to add a more...deadly touch," She lifted the lid from the cauldron and steam emerged from the green liquid inside. Chrysalis sniffed it and felt dizzy. "Ooooh, what morbid stuff..." She grinned. "It's perfect, now I can finally get my revenge," Her horn glowed as she levitated one apple at a time inside the cauldron. "And you'll be in the castle," She then transformed into Applejack's Granny Smith. "Just waitin' there for me..."
"Let me tell you, I'm all for getting some time out of the castle," Starlight stated to Twilight and her friends. "But not the way that Sludge threw me out in a bathtub!"
"Ah still can't believe it!" Applejack shook her head. "Spike's ‘dad’ was nothin' more than a freeloader?!"
"To think I had the Wonderbolts help that jerk!" Rainbow Dash huffed and snorted. But then her eyes shrank. "To think...I had the WONDERBOLTS help that jerk! Ohhhh, Spitfire's gonna flip."
"I made desserts to get him motivated!" Pinkie Pie jumped in Twilight Sparkle's face. "Motivational! Desserts! For squat! That does NOT fly, sister!"
"And after all we did for him!" Rarity looked down. "Poor Spikey-Wikey must've felt heartbroken."
Twilight who was hesitant and quiet during this conversation, finally rose up her head to speak. "Well, he did seem pretty hurt when telling me. But he didn't tell much about it. And anytime me or Starlight wanna talk to him more, he changes the subject. I can’t say I blame him, even if I wish he’d open up a little more."
"Aww, don't worry, Twilight!" Pinkie confidently spoke up. "Maybe he'll open up on the picnic with us! How can you say no to free food?"
Twilight rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, I asked him about joining us, but he said he didn't want to get in the way."
"And why would he ever get in the way?" Rarity asked.
"Hey, girls," The ponies all looked over and saw Spike standing in the hallway, carrying a broom. "Is something wrong?"
Twilight looked hesitant to talk about Sludge, but opened her mouth.
"We wanted to ask you the same thing." Starlight spoke rather bluntly.
"Starlight!" Twilight tried to say. Even if she wanted to help Spike, she didn't think this should be the way.
"I'm sorry, Twilight, but Spike needs this!" Starlight firmly shook her head and narrowed her eyes. “He can’t keep bottling this up. Trust me, I speak from experience.”
"Needs what?" Spike shrugged. With his tone of voice it was hard to tell if he had no idea, or if he was just pretending not to notice.
Starlight turned back to Spike. "To talk about Sludge, that’s what."
"Pffft, what about that guy?" Spike remarked and went back to sweeping. "He's outta here and that's over. There’s nothing left to talk about. I’m fine."
"Spike, he lied to you about being your father," Twilight walked up to Spike. "I know you've been sensitive about not knowing who you are. This is reminding me a lot of the time you joined the dragon migration. I know you wanted more answers, wanted to believe that you’d finally found them in Sludge."
Spike huffed and turned his back to the girls. "Look, I don't care about that stuff anymore. It doesn’t matter where I came from, I’m more than that. Besides, I’ve got you girls! That’s all the family I need."
"Then why won't you let us help you?" Spike and the ponies looked in surprise to Fluttershy, who looked firm. "It's alright if something is still bothering you," Fluttershy stood up. "We just want to see if you're okay. We hate seeing you so upset and refusing to talk about it."
"You're not still feeling bad about what you said earlier, are you?" Twilight asked with a hoof under his chin.
Spike gently brushed her hoof away. "It's fine, Twilight, just let it go," He started to walk to the bathroom. "Look, you girls go have fun together. I think there were parts of the castle I forgot to clean. Right now, I just want to be alone."
"Spike-" Twilight tried to stop him.
"I, uh...probably don't deserve it." Spike muttered before closing the door behind him.
Twilight reached her hoof out, but lowered it, knowing nothing would work right now. She turned to the rest of her friends. "Well… I think we should go, girls. We’ll just have to try again some other time, I hope."
Starlight frowned. “The more we put this off, the harder it’s going to be.”
Applejack nodded. “Starlight has a point. Spike can’t keep avoidin’ the issue forever. This is startin’ to sound very familiar.”
“Like the time you wouldn’t tell us why you couldn’t come back to Ponyville after that rodeo in Canterlot?” Rainbow Dash not so subtly teased.
Applejack snorted. “I hope Spike will learn his before too much time passes.” And with that, she and the rest of her friends all departed to go on their picnic together.
As the ponies took their leave, Spike snuck to the window. He watched them leave with a sigh. He felt bad shooing them away the way he had. “Why can’t they just let things be the way they are? I don’t want to keep thinking about Sludge and what he did. I never want to give him another thought as long as I live!” He thought to himself.
Little did the dragon know that he was unknowingly about to have that secret wish granted, or so he would be led to think.
In a dark alley of Ponyville, a shadowed Chrysalis peeked through and watched with green eyes. "Such a calm and peaceful day for the ponies." She chuckled quite devilishly. "Starlight won't suspect a thing," She walked out of the alley, still in the form of Granny Smith. "Not from ol' Granny Smith now, would she?" She snickered when carrying a basket of zap-apples as she slowly began to cackle very loudly, drawing the attention of a couple ponies.
Chrysalis paused and noticed everypony staring. "Well now!" She spoke in Granny Smith's voice. "Nuttin' wrong with some ponies feelin' happy now! Is 'er?" Luckily for her, everypony around her seemed to buy her act. Granny Smith was already well known for her eccentricities regarding the zap apples, so talking to herself didn’t seem out of the ordinary.
Meanwhile, Spike was sweeping the castle floor, and it would appear to the common pony that it looked sparkly clean. But Spike darted his eyes to every corner and dropped a soda can on the floor. "Oops! Missed a spot!" He spoke loudly to himself "Don't know how I missed that!" He then began to clean again.
"Hoo!"
Spike turned at the sound of a hoot and saw Owlowiscious perching by the stairs. "Me, smart guy!" He snapped. "Man, I don't know how I missed it!"
"Hoo!" Owlowiscious retorted and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I get it," Spike turned away, trying not to pay attention. "You're like Twilight and Starlight, Thinking I got more stuff to say about Sludge. Well I don't! Sure he may have taken advantage of me and...not appreciated what Twilight and later Starlight did to take care of me, and turned me against them," He clutched the broom as a small tear fell from his eye. "But… whatever! Sludge is gone and that's the end of it! He can disappear to the ends of the world for all I care, I never want to even think about him again!"
"Hoo!" Owlowiscious hooted.
"Sludge! I'm talking about...Oh, forget it! Why am I even talking to you? You know as well as I do what happened! I don’t need you playing therapist for me too." Spike mumbled as he tried to keep himself busy.
Just then, a series of sudden knocks on the castle doors reached the little dragon’s ears. "Huh?" Spike looked up. "Back already? Pinkie must’ve eaten all the food, again," He frowned. "I hope they don't try to bring up Sludge again." He walked over and opened the gates, then recognized a different face. "Oh! Hi, Granny Smith!" He smiled.
"Well, howdy there, Spike!" Granny Smith spoke. "Mind if I’h uh...make myself at home in your place for a bit?"
"Uh, sure!" Spike nodded, suspecting nothing. "Come on in!"
"Oh, thank ya kindly!" Granny Smith chuckled as she walked in with her basket. "Now where is that Starlight character? Ah've been meaning to speechify with her!"
"Oh, her?" Spike shook his head. "You just missed her. She and Twilight went on a picnic with the others."
Granny Smith frowned. "Drat! Blasted unicorn!" She whispered, her voice sounding noticeably different. She suddenly took notice of Spike staring at her. Owlowiscious also looked suspiciously at her.
"I-I mean uh...D'oh, fiddlesticks!" Granny Smith corrected herself. "I was hopin' she was here so-"
Spike caught notice of the basket and his eyes grew. "Hold on! Are those… zap apples?!"
Granny Smith looked confused by Spike's enthusiasm. "Er...yes...?"
"No way!" Spike looked excited. "I thought it'd be a long time before their season!"
"Well uh...I was uh...just savin' a batch! Yeah!" Granny Smith nodded as her eyes started darting around..
Spike started drooling, saliva pouring out of his mouth. "Whoa...they do look...delicious..."
"Ah-ah-ah! Don't be sneakin'!" Granny Smith playfully jabbed Spike, making him blush. "Now if y'all could be so kind to leave these for Starlight, I'd most certainly appreciate it!"
"Well...okay." Spike took the basket. "What did Starlight do for you, though?"
Granny Smith's eyes widened as a green color seemed to briefly gleam in her pupils. "O-hh! Well, she...uh… uh…. she… fixed mah hip! Yeah, that’s it!"
Owlowiscious took notice of the green gleam and looked surprised. He knew now that this wasn't the real Granny Smith! Quick as a flash, he sprang from the stairs in fast motion and began flying around the disguised changeling queen, hoping to drive her away.
"Augh! Whoo!" Chrysalis tried shielding herself from the furious bird while staying in disguise. "Wha-what in tarnation?! Heavens! Heavens to Betsy!"
"Hey, stop! Stop that! What's the matter with you?!" Spike ran in front, shooing Owlowiscious away. The owl quickly flew to hide as Spike scolded. "And you think I've got problems?"
Luckily for Chrysalis, she hadn't lost her disguise. But she quickly scrambled to put the apples back in her basket.
Spike ran up to her in concern. "Hey, you're not hurt, are you?"
Chrysalis knew she had to act fast. If Spike caught on, he'd alert Twilight and ruin her plans. She was still in Granny Smith's form, and she had to keep him on her side. She quickly clutched her chest. "Oooh! Whoa nelly!" She yelped. "That bird done flew in outta nowhere! Mah life FLASHED before mah eyes!"
Spike helped Chrysalis to her hooves and walked with her into the living room. "Easy, Granny Smith. Just sit here," He sat the disguised changeling on the couch. "You want me to get you some water?"
"Thank ye kindly, youngin'," Chrysalis sweetly smiled. As Spike then dashed to the kitchen, Chrysalis growled. "Perfect! Starlight is not even HERE! So much for my revenge. Now what am I supposed to..." Then the changeling suddenly took notice of a picture: It was of Princess Celestia with a filly Twilight and a newly hatched Spike. "Hmm..." She glanced over and saw another picture, this one of the recent Friendship Festival of Spike with Celestia, Luna and Cadance. She began to ponder to herself: She remembered this dragon since the royal wedding invasion. And she’d captured him with the others in her last failed attempt ruined by Starlight.
"What...is the deal with this dragon whelp?" Chrysalis asked herself. Then, something else caught Chrysalis' eye. Resting on a stand was a frame of six pictures that had Spike and Starlight within a photo booth, having a good time and making funny faces. "Well...according to Starlight Glimmer..." An evil grin stretched across Chrysalis' face as she pulled out an apple from the basket. "...A big one..." She darted her eyes towards Spike's direction as green flashed again in her pupils.
Owlowiscious saw what Chrysalis was doing and looked worried. He immediately flew out the castle window, determined to find someone, anyone who could help!
"Here, Granny Smith!" Spike called, running back into the living room. "I got you some water!"
Chrysalis went back to her Granny Smith voice. "Thank ye, youngin'!" She spoke, taking the glass. "Now, how has life been treatin' ya?"
Memories came back to Spike as he looked down. "Uh...not anything big?"
"D'aww, don't be shy!" Chrysalis spoke up and encouraged. "Tell ol' Granny Smith all about it, see? Maybe...I can help."
Reluctantly, Spike let out a sigh and began to talk. “Well, recently… there was this… other dragon: Sludge. And… he lied to me, to all of my friends,” He began spilling out the details of Sludge’s stay and everything the greedy, lazy dragon had done during that time. “And that wasn’t even the worst part of it. He was just…”
“Hoo! Hoo!” Owlowiscious desperately hooted throughout Ponyville, calling attention to himself. He was at this until he reached the usual picnic spot for Twilight and her friends.
“Huh?” Pinkie looked up.
“Owlowiscious?” Twilight looked up with surprise. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be back at the castle with Spike.”
Owlowiscious just kept on hooting, frantically flapping his wings as he flew all about! Something was bothering him.
“Ooh! Ooh!” Pinkie Pie excitedly raised a hoof and stood up. “This is all a game, isn’t it? Some kind of charades game, like Angel did that one time!”
“Well what is this time?” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “And couldn’t it wait until we were finished with our picnic?”
Fluttershy stood up. “Hold on, I think he’s trying to say something. But he’s talking so fast it’s hard to understand. Something about…Um…The Castle...”
Owlowiscious kept on hooting and making strange motions with his wings.
“Oh, I think I get it!” Pinkie said with a smile. “It’s about the castle, right?”
Owlowiscious seemed to nod.
Pinkie then put a hoof to her chin, pondering. But then, her eyes widened. “Okay! Okay! I admit it! I left the sprinkles behind on purpose because my brain did a pffft and I didn’t know if I was allergic to them or Fluttershy’s pet ocelot! You knew all along! Didn’t ya?”
Owlowiscious stared at Pinkie’s statement with his beak wide open.
“It’s okay,” Pinkie sighed. “The healing can begin now.”
Owlowiscious groaned.
"And so, Sludge was nothing but a great big phony!" Spike concluded to the disguised Chrysalis. "To be honest, it's still been bugging me," He looked down. "But after what I said to Twilight, I don't think she or Starlight would care to hear from me. They were trying to warn me, and all I did was push them away despite all they’d done for me!"
"My, my!" Chrysalis spoke. "That's quite an apple-pickle you're in!" She then picked up one of the poisoned fake zap apples. "I reckon this'll brighten ya up."
Spike started, gazing at the apple with a hungry look in his eyes. But then he paused. "You really don't mind if I have one or two, do you??"
"Not at all!" Chrysalis replied and leaned in closer to whisper. "In fact...this apple has an itty-bitty secret! These apples are full of...magic!"
"Magic?" Spike asked.
"You bet your booty!" Chrysalis laughed. "If y'all are ever havin' any bad memories, one bite of this and all them nasty thoughts'll bite the dust!"
"Really?" The dragon asked. "...So if I bite this apple, I'll forget all about this?"
"Darn tootin', ya will!" Chrysalis winked and leaned closer with the apple. "So...what do ya say? Care for a taste?"
Owlowiscious was still hooting like mad as Fluttershy struggled to understand what he was saying. "Mmm-hmm? Mmm-hmm?" Fluttershy then grinned and turned to the girls. "He said...um… Cream Pie Granny Smith?"
"Oooh, now I'm hungry again!" Pinkie licked her lips. “This is the tastiest game of charades I’ve ever played.”
Owlowiscious flustered, shook his head and hooted once more.
"Oh! My apologies!" Fluttershy blinked. "He said ‘Green-Eyed Granny Smith’."
Twilight's eyes widened. "Green-Eyed?!" She seemed to realize at once what that would mean.
"Green-Eyed Granny Smith?! Are you sure that’s what he meant?!" Starlight asked in shock.
"Mmm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded before gasping in realization. "Wait! GREEN-EYED?! It's Chrysalis!"
"She's back in Ponyville!" Twilight spoke up!
"And she's at the castle!" Rarity exclaimed. “And Spikey-Wikey is all alone with that fiend!
"Well, come on y'all!" Applejack raced off. "Let's go! We’ve gotta stop her before she tries anythin’!" The other ponies and Owlowiscious began following in pursuit!
"Well, don't leave me hangin', sonny!" Chrysalis spoke, holding the apple up towards Spike. "Aren't there any more memories you wanna get out of that there noggin of yers?"
Spike looked down at the ground. "Well...I also remember once when Twilight told me she’d been turned to stone by a cockatrice: I keep remembering Fluttershy found her by accident, Twilight could've been that way forever, I would’ve never known! Then there was the time when I left Twilight behind at Shining Armor and Cadence's wedding. I knew Cadence as much as her, I know things would've been better if I stayed to help. But when Twilight needed me most I abandoned her because I thought she was just jealous! And then she got captured by the imposter!” He paused, shutting his eyes and whimpering. “Then there was The Storm King's invasion of Canterlot: The princesses were turned to stone this time, we had to leave Equestria, Twilight almost died, and I kept worrying were gonna lose and… and-"
"Jumpin' Jiminy Crickets, Spike!" Chrysalis spoke up. "No more! I'm amazed y'all are still standin'!" She placed the apple in Spike's claws. "Now come on, sugarcube. Make ol' Granny Smith happy and take this here apple. You’ll feel a lot better once you do."
Spike looked at the apple in his claws and felt hesitant.
"Go on, hurry!" Chrysalis desperately tried not to break character. "Or y'all will be messed up for life!"
After a couple seconds, Spike lifted the apple up and opened his mouth wide. He suddenly paused. “Do you smell paint?”
“EAT IT NOW!” Chrysalis roared.
Then a loud bang suddenly echoed throughout the castle!
"Come out, Chrysalis!" Twilight shouted as she and her friends furiously (and frantically) charged through the castle gates. "We know you're in here! Don’t try to hide!"
"Huh? What the-?" Out came Chrysalis, still in her Granny Smith form. "What in tarnation's goin’ on here?"
"Drop the act, missy!" Applejack growled. "You ain't really Granny Smith, you just want us to think you are!"
Chrysalis trembled. "W-why Applejack. I was just walkin' by the castle and thought I’d say hello...You wouldn't accuse ol' Granny Smith of any bad stuff...would ya?"
Applejack gasped and blinked. "...I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"Oh, there there, sweetie,” Chrysalis put her hoof around Applejack. "Just relax. Soon, you’ll feel nothin’ at all..."
Rainbow suddenly took notice of Chrysalis ominously lifting a crystal shard above Applejack.
"HI-YAH!" Rainbow quickly tackled Chrysalis, making her drop the shard. "No you don’t! The jig is up, Chrysalis! You’re not getting away so easily this time! Not on my watch!"
The changeling queen finally and reluctantly transformed to her regular form and hissed. She used her wings to fly, but stopped at Pinkie holding a confetti gun. "This is for the wedding!" She shot confetti in Chrysalis's face with an audible bam, making her shriek!
"And this is for kidnappin' us!" Applejack jumped from behind and kicked Chrysalis in the stomach.
Twilight appeared above her. "And this is for everything you've done. NOW!"
Upon Twilight’s call, a large net dropped on Chrysalis as the seven mares all held it down. The changeling struggled to get out, but to no avail.
Starlight shot a glare at the captive villain. "This should hold you until Princess Celestia gets here."
"Spike, get a letter ready!" Twilight urgently spoke up. There was no reply. "Spike?" Twilight called out. "Spike, where are you?"
"Don't sweat it!" Rainbow stood proud. "I can get Princess Celestia here in five minutes!"
"You? Get them here from Canterlot?" Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"Totally! You all stay put!" Rainbow then flew out of a window with great speed!
Applejack face-hoofed. "Ooooh, I hope she means it."
Then the ponies suddenly heard Chrysalis start chuckling madly.
"What are you laughing at, beast?" Rarity snarled. "You have lost."
"Lost?" Chrysalis laughed. "FAR from it. Ever wonder why your little dragon hasn't shown up? My, my. I never noticed before, but he is rather close to you all. Or should I say...was?"
Twilight started to look anxious.
Applejack turned to the young princess. "Settle down, Twilight! It's gotta be a trick!"
"Oh no..." Chrysalis grinned with sadistic glee. "He looked awfully sad when I came by. I felt I needed to...put him out of his misery."
Twilight gritted her teeth and lost hold of the net, having everypony start losing control. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"
Chrysalis laughed maniacally and flew upwards, free from the net. "This revenge turned out better than I planned." She then flew towards the window. "Ta-taaaa!"
"NO!" Twilight shot a beam towards Chrysalis, but it was too late! Chrysalis had once again escaped.
Twilight let out a scream of frustration and gave a strong pound on the floor. Starlight in worry, put a hoof around her teacher.
The castle gates then burst open again with a bang as Rainbow appeared with both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, who were looking dizzy and frazzled.
"Wha-Rainbow?!" Applejack blinked in disbelief.
“The Princesses!” Fluttershy spoke in surprise.
"See?" Rainbow smirked. "I told you I'd get them here in no time!"
"All the way from Canterlot?" Applejack raised an eyebrow.
Rainbow stared at Applejack and sighed. "Fine, fine. They happened to be close to Ponyville and I scooped them up. Happy?"
"Ugh...what's going on again?" Celestia rubbed her head.
"Something about...Chrysalis?" Luna struggled keeping her balance, but Fluttershy helped.
"She escaped," Starlight spoke. "Again."
Rainbow's eye twitched. "...Are you seriously KIDDING me?!" She ran to the wall and banged her head on it.
Celestia and Luna both got their senses back and noticed Twilight still with her head down. "What happened?" Celestia asked.
"It wasn't our fault and it certainly wasn't Twilight's." Rarity spoke. "That monster tried to put in Twilight's head that something happened to-"
"SPIKE!" Twilight rose up in realization! "Where's Spike?!"
Suddenly all the ponies started to act worried. "You don't think she really-?" Fluttershy asked.
Rarity shook her head. "Don't even think that! We've got to find him, now!"
"Count us in!" Celestia walked up.
"We care a great deal about him, too!" Luna added.
“Great! The more hooves we have, the better!” Twilight insisted. “Now let’s start looking! He has to be around here somewhere, he has to be!”
The ponies quickly split up and began scrambling around the castle, searching for trace of Spike.
"Spike?!" Twilight called out.
"Spike!" Celestia shouted, struggling not to dip into her Royal Canterlot Voice. She was already starting to get a bad feeling about the situation, though she didn’t know why. Spike should’ve been able to hold his own against Chrysalis no matter what she tried, right?
"Where are you?" Starlight ran to his bedroom.
Pinkie began popping her head in different parts of the kitchen. “Spike! Are! You! In! Here! Any! Where?”
"Dragon youngling?!" Luna panicked.
"SPIIIIKE!" Fluttershy shouted out.
"Oh, please answer us!" Rarity ran through the halls in desperation. Then suddenly, she took notice of the living room, and saw Spike's tail behind the couch. "Oh, Spikey-Wikey!" She sighed in relief. "You nearly scared us to death," She began to walk gently over to the couch. "But don't worry. Chrysalis is gone, she can't harm you now." Little did she know that she was about to make a rather horrifying discovery.
Meanwhile, the other ponies were still looking in random places throughout the castle. Or they were, until suddenly a horrifying scream split the air! "AAAAAAAAUGH!!!!!"
Twilight recognized that ear-piercing shriek. "Rarity?!"
"Girls! In the living room!" The other ponies all followed Rarity's hysterical call into the living room. There they saw the unicorn with her back turned for some reason.
"Rarity, what is it?" Starlight fearfully and reluctantly asked. “Did you find Spike?”
Rarity turned around with tearful eyes, revealing that she was carrying a lifeless Spike. "He...he isn't breathing…"
Twilight gasped. "Oh no…!" She ran over and took Spike in her hooves as tears began to stream from her eyes. “H-He can’t be… Chrysalis couldn’t have…”
The other ponies were in just as much shock. Celestia in particular stood next to Twilight. She stroked Spike's head with a hoof but it limped backwards. Horrified, she put her hoof to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.
“I just found him like this…” Rarity whimpered. “Who knows how long he’s been this way?”
Twilight anxiously placed Spike on the floor, trying to analyze him, looking for a wound of some kind that hopefully could be healed, but was finding nothing. “Spike…what did she do to you…?”
Then Applejack noticed something behind the couch. "What the-?" She bent down and picked up a basket full of what appeared to be zap apples. But there was something off about them. "Where in the hay did these fake zap apples come from?"
Starlight, meanwhile, noticed a bitten apple on the floor, and saw green ooze coming from inside it. "These are..." She gasped as the realization struck her! "Spike's been poisoned!"
Then Starlight saw a note pinned on the basket and then read it aloud. "For Starlight Glimmer," Her eyes shrank as she stood back. "She...she came for me..." Tears welled up in her eyes. "She came for me but killed Spike instead!" Fluttershy pulled the weeping Starlight in for a hug.
"Please, Spike...please!" Twilight begged before collapsing onto Spike's body. "Don't leave me…!"
A tearful Luna walked over to Twilight and draped a wing over her fellow alicorn. She saw much of herself in the little dragon, having visited him many times in his dreams. Needless to say, she was heartbroken by this event.
"That...that MONSTER!" Rarity fell to the floor and began sobbing hysterically.
Applejack tearfully took off her hat in respect as Pinkie began sniffling. Even Rainbow Dash was struggling to keep from breaking down into tears.
Celestia was already shedding tears from this sight. She’d looked after Spike and cared for him as much as Twilight. Now he was gone. She turned to the gates, and something began to fill up inside of her. Something that rarely filled up inside her:
Fury.
“Luna, stay with Twilight and the others,” Celestia spoke firmly but calmly as her eyes narrowed, “I’ll be back.”
“Sister!” Luna ran in front of Celestia, stricken with horror. “What are you doing?”
“Chrysalis wanted to hurt us, so she poisoned Spike...Now, it’s time I return the favor.” Celestia looked up with anger in her eyes and spoke in such a tone that would turn a Timber Werewolf white as chalk. “She will pay for this.”
Luna didn’t move. “This isn’t like you, Celestia. I’ve learned that violent action isn’t the answer. You remember. You were there. You haven’t forgotten!”
Celestia, undeterred, walked past her younger sister. “I’m sorry, Luna. But there are times when fighting back is unavoidable. You do as you like. My subjects will understand if Chrysalis forced me to take drastic measures after this.”
“This is what Chrysalis wants!” Luna desperately flew in front, begging and pleading with her sister. “And it’s not what Spike would want either. It won’t bring him back.”
Upon those words, tears began streaming from Celestia’s eyes as she buried her face into her hooves. Any desire she’d had for revenge had left her.
Luna then pulled her sister into a tight embrace. “I’m sorry. I know how much Spike means to you. He means a lot to me too. But revenge isn’t the answer…Revenge is not justice.”
Rainbow, meanwhile, had long been in shock. But she was reacting differently, determined to keep from losing control and breaking down! "No! No way! We can't give up now! There's gotta be a way to bring him back!" She insisted as she fought back the tears!
"Rainbow..." Applejack tried to speak.
"-NO!" Rainbow interrupted as she walked towards Spike. "I don't quit! I NEVER give up! There has to be something! Someway to save him! Maybe...No, no!" She began pacing quite frantically, putting her forehooves to her forehead. "How about...Gah, come on! Think! Think!"
"Rainbow, don’t do this to yourself." Applejack tried to reason.
"I'M STILL THINKING!" Rainbow roared in reply. Without realizing it, she slammed one of her hooves furiously onto Spike's chest. The bite of the poisoned apple flew out of Spike's mouth and began to ricochet against the walls of the living room before zooming out of an open window!
Pinkie immediately closed it and huffed.
The ponies were all surprised by this sight and all turned to the unconscious Spike. Starlight let go of Fluttershy and looked the dragon over.
“...Spike?...” Twilight asked and called out, hoping for a reaction or a reply.
After a couple of seconds, Spike suddenly began coughing and stood up. He rubbed his eyes and blinked. "Huh?...What's going on?"
Tears began streaming from Twilight's eyes again, but they weren't of sadness. "SPIKE!" She immediately hugged him close and tight. "You're alive! Oh thank Celestia! I thought for sure I’d lost you forever!"
'WHOOPEE!!!!" Pinkie did a backflip in joyous celebration. "WOO-HOO-HOO!!!!! HE’S ALIVE! ALIVE, I TELL YOU!!!"
"Oh, Spike!" Starlight wiped tears from her eyes and joined in the hug, followed shortly by Luna.
"L-Luna?" Spike recognized, happily. "You're here too?"
Luna nuzzled Spike's cheek. "Indeed! How could I not be there for my favorite dragon?” And she remarked. “Oh, I never want to deal with a nightmare like this again!"
"Make that two!" Celestia squealed happily as she hugged all four of them.
"Group hug!" Pinkie and the other ponies joined in the hug. Only Applejack and Rainbow stood by, smiling.
"Ah'll let ya keep this one." Applejack playfully nudged Rainbow. And in no time they both joined the embrace too.
What the ponies didn't know was that Chrysalis was secretly watching them. And she was not happy about this news. "So, the dragon lives. Fine! I'll get even with you yet, Starlight! Just you wait and see...One way or another, I will have my revenge!" She then flew away from the castle.
An hour later, Celestia and Luna returned to Canterlot and the poisoned apples were disposed of. The basket was placed on the ground. And Pinkie was wearing a fire visor while carrying a flamethrower. "Been a while since I used this!" Pinkie grinned. "You sure about this, Applejack?"
"Can’t risk anypony else fallin’ victim to ‘em." Applejack narrowed her eyes at the poisoned treats. “Y'all can burn these apples to a crisp.”
"Okie-dokie-lokie!" Pinkie looked at her flamethrower and struggled with the switch. "Hmm, now how does this thing-"
FWOOM!
The flamethrower suddenly turned on, sending Pinkie a mile away while the apples began to burn.
Spike watched what was going on from afar, before both Twilight and Starlight entered his bedroom.
"Are you doing okay, Spike?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah," Spike nodded. “I honestly don’t know what tasted worse. The poison or the paint.”
Twilight softly giggled and nuzzled Spike’s forehead. “Either way, we’re so glad you’re safe.”
“Hoo!” Owlowiscious swooped over.
“Me! They’re…” Spike smiled and shook his head. “I’m uh, sorry too, Owlowiscious.”
Owlowisicious nodded.
Spike still looked down. "But I should've known better to trust Chrysalis. I mean...she was right. I wanted to forget about Sludge. Of all the bad things that happened."
Starlight wrapped a hoof around Spike. "Hey, Spike. If you know me, a LOT of bad stuff happened. But I couldn't just make it go away. I have you and Twilight to help me get better from it."
"No matter what happens, Spike, we're always gonna be here for you." Twilight ruffled his scales affectionately.
"...Thanks." Spike nodded. As Twilight and Starlight prepared to leave, Spike looked down. He suddenly looked up. "Girls?"
"Yes, Spike?" Twilight asked.
"I...uh..." Spike started. "I think I wanna talk more about Sludge."
Both Twilight and Starlight smiled and sat back with Spike.
"We're both listening." Twilight started.
"And we're not going anywhere." Starlight finished.
THE END.
