Chapter 13: Canterlot Raiders
The day of the play has come. The school day had ended and now, the last preparations for the play began. The actors and actresses began getting makeup done and wardrobe finished. Pinkie came in with green glass bottles and a clear bottle. "My homemade breakaway bottles are done!" she announced. All came to Pinkie as Sunset lifted a green bottle.
"Breakaway?" she repeated. Pinkie took the bottle back.
"These bottles are made of water, sugar, corn syrup and for these, food coloring!" Then, she picked up the clear bottle. "Observe: real glass bottles are rather thick and being hit with one hurts… but these… Lower your head, Ash. Trust me!" Ash gulped before lowering his head. That's when Pinkie swung down on the bottle which shattered into a thousand pieces. Ash blinked, expecting pain but got nothing. "See? No injury!" Ash brushed his hair, freeing glass from the bangs.
"I felt it, but it didn't hurt," he summarized.
"And here's the best part!" cheered Pinkie. She picked a shard from the table… and licked. Everyone gulped, gagged or freaked out from Pinkie's display. "It's edible!" No one was sure what to make of Pinkie's items.
"You have got to be joking," Rainbow muttered. Celestia entered to see the cast finishing up on preparing the costumes.
"15 minutes," she urged. "Ash, Spot, you ready?" While final preparations continued, people have gathered at the entrance to the auditorium. They bought tickets to enter the place. Girls from Crystal Prep came to see the Indiana Jones play, some being Lemon, Indigo and Sunny.
"Sour Sweet's coming," Lemon briefed. "Sent me a text saying that she forgot the time." The Crystal Prep girls acknowledged her tardiness. At the same time, the mysterious figure in black with the chestnut necklace purchased a seat. Twilight, Pikachu and the original star sat a few rows from the front.
"Aren't you upset that you lost your role from that injury?" she asked Flash.
"I am," he sighed. "But… I'd rather have Ash be with Sunset anyway." Twilight didn't mind Flash's word as she dove her head onto his good arm while the seats at the ground level and the balcony filled with the people wanting to see Canterlot's recreation. Among the crowd was Gloriosa and Timber who found Sci-Twi, the Crystal Prep girls and those around the city. Suddenly, the spotlight emerged with Celestia coming out from behind the curtains.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming!" she greeted. "After weeks of preparations, including close calls and what-not, Canterlot High School is proud to present our take of the 1982 classic: Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark!" The crowd showed their applause as the lights darkened. The curtains raised and the back light revealed two silhouettes, one slightly taller than the other. There was words and numbers on the back screen.
SOUTH AMERICA, 1936
Just as they walked across the stage, a gun appeared from behind the two. The taller silhouette brought out a whip and snapped the gun out of the outstretched hand. The back lights dimmed and the spotlights catch Ash in the brown jacket and fedora. Cheers and coos echoed from the crowd. Ash remained on script.
"Seems everyone wants this idol," he studied as he rolled his whip and placed it back on his belt.
"So it seems," the small Diamond Dogs, Spot, agreed as they walked off stage. The lights shut down to allow the stagehands to change the scene. Now, it's an altar with an idol on top of a pedestal. The spotlight struck the idol. Ash and Spot quietly entered the walking path from the entrance.
"Feast your eyes, Satipo. No amount of traps stopped us so far."
"We've been lucky." The two walked from the entrance to the stage. This gave the audience a firsthand look at the star. The girls barely held their excitement. "Indy…" Ash placed a hand on Spot's shoulder. Then he walked onto the stage with a satchel and dumped some sand out before lining his arms to grab the idol. Spot watched as Ash prepped himself in taking the idol. Finally, he switched the idol and satchel. Spot pumped his fist before the pedestal gave out… or lowered by Applejack inside.
"Now the fun really begins…" she whispered. The rumble over the speakers had Ash and Spot scrambling.
"Run!" he yelled. He and Spot raced out as the spotlight shook away from the pedestal to move the scene outside. Ash emerged back on stage with a bunch of topless men pointing spears, causing Ash to slip and be swarmed. In came a blue-skinned, blue-haired young man in white.
"Toe-Tapper," Flash identified. "A member of the Pony Tones." Twilight and Pikachu nodded to the actor.
"Doctor Jones, how nice to see you again," Toe-Tapper sneered as he passed the extras. Ash sighed to the sight.
"Belloq…" he groaned. Toe-Tapper stepped to Ash and knelt.
"Once again, there's nothing you can possess that I cannot take away… and you thought I surrendered…" Defeated, Ash handed over the idol. "Shame that the friends you had… Satipo for sure… not the best choices." Ash started to stand but the extras advanced a step.
"You know, the Hovitos don't understand our methods."
"Perhaps. However, you don't have the tongue to speak on your behalf." That's when Toe-Tapper raised the idol and spoke random gibberish. The extras rose their spear and Ash found his chance and bolted off-stage. Toe-Tapper again shouted and the extras gave chase before he joined. That's when a paper bi-plane came to the stage with Ash in the front and Sandalwood in the back. Ash freaked at something inside.
"Jock!" he called Sandalwood. "There's a big snake in the plane!"
"That's just Reggie!" he replied. "He's my pet python!"
"That's not the point, Jock! I HATE SNAKES!"
"Come on, Indy! Show a little backbone!" The plane finally left as an announcement and the stage was becoming a classroom.
"Doctor Henry Walton 'Indiana' Jones, Jr.," spoke Sunset. "Archaeologist, Historian, Professor. He has made a living in tracking down ancient artifacts throughout his life. He's also a soldier and served in the military." The students entered in various outfits as Ash began to write on the chalkboard. As he explained his teachings, Diamond winked one eye, revealing writings on her eyelid. The right eyelid had "I LUV" and the left had a "U" on it. Ash became a little disturbed. Then, Apple Bloom winked as well with "DITTO" written on her eyelid. The audience laughed while Ash had a nervous shutter.
'Sucks that the audience doesn't know the real deal,' he gulped. A bell rang where the class gathered their books. "Make sure to read about Michaels in Chapters Four and Five!" They left and three grown men entered.
"Doctor Henry Jones?" greeted one man wearing a gray tuxedo. "We've heard a great deal about you." Ash scoffed.
"You… have," he said.
"Of course: professor of archaeology, expert of the occult, and holder of… many treasures."
"I'd question the last part a little, why not take a seat?"
"Of course." The second man in a charcoal tuxedo chuckled to Ash.
"A man of many talents," he added. The first one decided to add to the knowledge of Ash's character.
"I heard you studied under Professor Abner Ravenwood at the University of Chicago," he pointed out. "I'm wondering if you've heard from him recently."
"Only a rumor that he's been seen in Southeast Asia," Ash recalled. "It's been ten years since I did see him so…" The second man decided to get into the topic.
"Doctor Jones, this is strictly confidential so… Yesterday afternoon, our European Sections intercepted a German communicate from Cairo to Berlin." The first man felt the need to interject.
"For two years now, the Nazis have had teams of archaeologists running around the world, looking for any religious artifact they can unearth," he briefed. "Hitler's nuts about it, he's obsessed with the occult. Now, he's got some digging outside of Cairo in the desert."
"We've got some information," the second man intercepted the conversation. "But we're having issues trying to decipher the meaning which is why we came to you for help. Here's what we've got so far: TANIS DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDING. ACQUIRE HEADPIECE. STAFF OF RA. ABNER RAVENWOOD." Ash shook his head.
"The Nazis have discovered the Tanis," he concluded. "They're one step closer to the Ark." The others seemed puzzled.
"What do you mean the Ark, Doctor Jones?" the first man wondered.
"You know…" Ash groaned. "The Ark of the Covenant. The chest the Hebrews used to carry around the Ten Commandments." The first man wasn't sure he heard Ash correctly.
"Wait, are you saying, the Ten Commandments?"
"Yes, I'm talking about the actual stone tablets that have the Ten Commandments! The same tablets Moses brought down from Mount Horeb and destroyed them, if you believe it!"
"We're not… questioning your studies, Doctor Jones," the second man tried to ease. "Those tablets were replaced."
"Those were rewrites while the original tablets were stored in the Ark of the Covenant and kept in the Temple of Solomon and kept in Canaan."
"However, in 980 BC," the third man spoke up, wearing a black tuxedo. "An Egyptian Pharaoh named Shishak had his men raid the temple and took the Ark of the Covenant to Tanis. Most likely, he may have stored it in the Well of Souls. Tanis suffered sandstorms that lasted an entire year." This led the second man to confirm his suspicion.
"Apparently, we found the right man for the job," he nodded.
"Please, Marcus!" waived off Ash. "Ravenwood's the field expert. That's not my area, anyway."
"Well, unfortunately, we have little choice," the first man disagreed. "We have growing suspicion about Professor Ravenwood being held in a Nazi camp."
"But Professor Ravenwood's no Nazi, right?" the third man asked.
"But then why have the professor in the first place?" asked "Marcus." Ash snapped his fingers and pointed to the two seating.
"The headpiece!" he answered. "They want the headpiece to the Staff of Ra, and they think the professor's got it!"
"Excuse me, if I may ask, but what is this headpiece?" the first man asked.
"The staff is nothing more than a stick as tall as you, Marcus. The headpiece is shaped like the sun but with a ruby that acts as a guide when you're searching in Tanis. The sunlight strikes the ruby which then tells you where the Well of Souls is."
"And the Ark of the Covenant, right?" asked "Marcus."
"Exactly!" confirmed Ash. The first man became curious.
"And what is this Ark, anyway?" he questioned. Ash opened a book and pointed inside. The men became amused. "Hitler may be onto something if he wants to be a god!" The scene turned black to which the voice came over. Backstage, Fluttershy took a peek of the applauding crowd and freaked out, hiding back to seeing the extras in new gear and especially Sunset.
"So… many…" she gasped and began to have labored breathing.
"Relax, Fluttershy," Sunset eased as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "At least you're not coming out on stage." The back light came on to reveal a name.
NEPAL
The lights came on to show a bar scene as Sunset sat against an extra with shot glasses. Filled with water, the heavy set actor swigged a shot. He then placed the shot glass upside-down to the cheers of the extras. Sunset was next. She acted tipsy as she picked up a shot glass and took a swig. She began to stumble as she readied to turn the shot glass over. "Wait!" she quieted the crowd. Finally, she slammed it down to the cheers. Now, the heavy set took another shot glass and swigged it. Before he could put it down, he fell over and hit the ground. One more extra rose Sunset's arm in victory. Soon, they left and Sunset found herself behind the bar. Ash, back in his Indiana Jones duds, entered the scene.
"Marion!" he greeted. Sunset, with a smile, came back to the stage.
"Indiana Jones…" she greeted before a hard punch belted Ash across the cheek… or at least how they acted. The punch did connect, but Ash jerked his head when the punch touched him. The audience jerked their heads from the slap. "Ten years and you didn't bother to contact me?" Ash adjusted his jaw.
"Marion, I've been busy… alright? Besides, I got word about your father, Abner."
"That he was captured by the Nazis? Of course, old man's not alive. Nazis became impatient looking for this." Sunset revealed a medallion that looked like the sun with a ruby on it.
"The headpiece to the Staff of Ra… How d-"
"Don't question why my old man gave me this… or why Nazis want the medallion."
"Perhaps, you can give it to me so that I can find the Ark of the Covenant." Sunset scoffed to the explanation.
"Alright… Maybe I can reason with you, say… $3,000?" The price seemed high for Ash.
"$3,000? Are you serious?"
"You bet. After all, I gotta keep this bar running." Surrendering, Ash caved.
"Fine… $3,000. I'll make sure the money." Ash left before the last Diamond Dogs came in with glasses and the extras in different clothes. Sunset groaned to the sight.
"Sorry, boys," she denied. "Bar's closed."
"Don't worry," he sneered with a fake German accent. "We're not looking for a drink." This made Sunset suspicious.
"Then, what do you want?"
"Let's not play dumb about this. I'm sure Doctor Jones warned you about others who'd be coming for you." Sunset scoffed to the notion.
"Must've forgot."
"A nefarious man like Doctor Jones? I hope for your sake he's not acquainted." This made Sunset ponder.
"Are you saying that you'll give me more than what he has?"
"Indeed. More than you'll bargain for…" Sunset's scoff told her interest to his offering.
"Please…" She returned to the bar where the man saw the "fire" burning little.
"Your fire's dying. Perhaps the headpiece is here."
"Listen, Toht… No one tells me what to do."
"Unfortunately, that's not possible." He snapped his fingers and one extra hooked Sunset's underarms, lifting her. "Toht" lifted a poker with a red tip. This made Sunset start to panic.
"Ho- Hold on, Toht! I can be reasonable!"
"A little too late, Fraulein. My methods are reason enough." Ash comes onto the stage with whip in hand. He got the whip to hook the poker and pull it away. All the attention now turned to Ash.
"Let her go!" he demanded. Suddenly, he turned to find an extra with a machine gun and turned to shoot. A blank rang out of Ash pistol and the extra fell. All sorts of gunfire rang around with plenty of ducking and dodging taking place. Sunset picked up a Styrofoam burning log and clobbered one of the extras who fell. Other bodies fell from the gunshots heard over the speakers and flashes from the blanks. Sunset retreated behind a curtain as Ash struggled with an extra, putting him in a chokehold.
"One breakaway bottle," Pinkie offered to Sunset. Retrieving the bottle, Sunset returned to the stage and bashed the bottle over the extra, "knocking him out" and freeing Ash. "Toht" grabbed the medallion in some "flames" but screamed "in pain" before fumbling the jewelry. He dashed out before Sunset poured some water on the medallion. In the clear, both sighed in relief.
"Jones, it seems you haven't forgotten how to give a lady a good time," Sunset huffed. Ash turned to his co-star.
"Hey, you're something else," he gasped. "Sorry about your bar."
"You'd better be sorry, because now I'm gonna need $5,000… and that I don't have a place, I'm gonna be your partner!" The lights darkened to allow another scene change with the audience applauding. Backstage, Fluttershy checked Ash's face.
"She didn't hit you too hard, did she?" the pink-haired asked.
"Just a nick," Ash admitted. "I just acted like I got it hard." Fluttershy sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness," she huffed. The stage was covered with sand and stands have been set up in front of a sunny backdrop with a pyramid painted on. A back light revealed the destination.
CAIRO, EGYPT
Sunset, in loose red and white garb, walked on the stage with Ash as some of the extras were now merchants. As they walked, they also made some purchases. "So, you're saying that the Ark of the Covenant is in this sandy town?" wondered Sunset.
"From your father's last words and what history dictates, it's somewhere in Tanis," Ash recalled. "Just outside of Cairo."
"Okay, but how can you find Tanis after it's buried in all that desert sand?"
"Well, part has to do with the headpiece your father gave you." An extra handed Ash a handful of dried fruit. Sunset glanced to the little fruit pieces.
"What are they?"
"Dates…" Sunset laughed at the fruit's name.
"Nice try, Indy."
"No, they're called dates. You eat them." As they left the stage, a few extras began discussing on who that was. Ash and Sunset came back on the stage.
"You know, my father called you a bum." Ash scoffed to Sunset's tease.
"He's being generous."
"The most gifted bum he ever trained. He loved you like a son. Took a heck of a lot to alienate him."
"Not much, just you." That's when they heard shouts and turned to see some of the extras charging at Ash and Sunset, wearing turbans and rags and wielding swords over their heads. Ash knocked one over with a clothesline as Sunset ducked another attacker. Turning around, he met Ash's hook which floored him, much to the "ooh" and "ahh" reactions from the audience. Sunset stood to Ash before he grabbed her arm. "Marion, get out of here!" Ash spotted one more. "Duck!" Sunset lowered her head as Ash threw a cross to knock another down. Sunset hurried off the stage with Ash dragging her by the arm. The stage darkened but watched a few more extras run pass. Sunset returned to the stage where he met one extra, armed with a frying pan. The extra had a knife. Both chuckled, but the extra's had a hideous laugh while Sunset's sounded nervous.
"Right," she realized. Both ran across the stage, free of the fallen bodies who ducked to the back. On the other side, a clang and the extra fell "unconscious" to it. Sunset and Sandalwood, both behind the curtain, dragged the extra off. Sunset emerged before running across the stage.
"Marion!" came through the speakers. It was Ash's voice. He came to see the stage full of people and ran to it. On the stage, the crowd pulled away for an extra wearing black and wielding a scimitar. He began fooling around with it for sometime. Ash pulled out his gun, pointed and shot. The guy fell and the crowd surrounded the fallen young man. One more carried an urn made of rope.
"Indy!" shouted Sunset from the speakers. Ash looked and ran after the urn off stage. The stage darkened again and "KABOOM!" from the speakers. Ash flew from the curtain to the stage where he looked on in despair.
"MARION!" He sat there as the stage went dark.
"Indiana Jones saw the explosion, believing Marion was killed," Sunset narrated. The scene had a slight change as it appeared as a tavern. Ash groaned when he saw Toe-Tapper.
"Belloq…" he murmured.
"Good afternoon, Doctor Jones," Toe-Tapper greeted.
"I should take your life right now." Toe-Tapper scoffed to Ash's threat.
"Not a very private place for a murder." Ash shook his head to the mock.
"These people don't mind, they won't get in our business."
"Don't blame me for what happened to young Ravenwood." Toe-Tapper gently kicked a stool for Ash. "Take a load off your legs. We can be civil." Obliging, Ash sat. "That Ravenwood… she's like a lot of your friends by the time we see each other… I almost regret it. Maybe I should find a new adversary… Someone on the same chapter I am."
"Try the local sewer." Toe-Tapper chuckled to the retort.
"You and I… we're alike. Archaeology is our religion… at least in our mindset. We both want the same thing… and somehow, the shadow reaps from the light."
"Now, you're sounding nasty."
"I'm just offering some honesty." Then, Toe-Tapper held a watch up. "Now this… worthless, only $10. What if, this trinket is stored somewhere for a thousand years? From worthless to priceless, right?" Ash decided to bring something up.
"What's this have to do with what your boss wants?" Toe-Tapper leaned to Ash.
"Do you know what the Ark is? It's a transmitter, a radio to God." Ash leaned back a little.
"There are… easier ways we can talk to God. The Ark isn't the only method."
"Maybe so…" Ash left and the scene went dark for a minute. Another scene change where Sunset appeared to be tied to a pole.
"Indiana Jones had been escorted to an Imam where he told the archaeologist about Tanis," Sunset narrated. The lights came back on to find Sunset bound and gagged when Ash comes in. He's surprised to see Sunset.
"Marion!" he gasped, wearing a turban and robes, undid the cloth in Sunset's mouth. He kissed her in the forehead.
"Indy, what are you doing?" she angrily whispered.
"Right now, I'm glad you're alive."
"Well, that makes two of us! Now get me out of here!"
"Not yet." Sunset looked stunned.
"Not yet? What do you mean?"
"I'll get the Ark before I get you out." He reapplied the gag. "Now stay here and be a good girl, alright?" Sunset's anger could be seen and heard despite the muffle. The spotlight shut off where Ash did untie Sunset and get her off set. The scene now had a sculpture of a city with a brick wall as the background. Ash came in from the opposite side. He grabbed a staff and used Marion's medallion, mounting it on top. Backstage, Applejack turned to a dark blond young man in a turban and robes.
"Your scene's coming up, Big Mac," she pointed out. "Ready?"
"Eeyup!" he answered. Ash placed the staff on a mount… and a beam shot to the medallion and to the sculpture.
"Found it," he whispered. He then looked up. "Sallah!" No response until a rope fell. Part of the rope was reddish-orange. Unfurled, Ash held a flag with a swastika. "Don't tell me…" He ran off stage where a storm sounded. Ash, back in the Indy garb, watched as they're by the orchestra pit's hole. "Let's hurry!" Big Mac came to Ash's side when they reached the entrance.
"Crowbar?" he offered. Ash took the crowbar from Big Mac's hands.
"Thanks, Sallah!" Ash and Big Mac opened the pit and sounds of slithering snakes could be heard as both of them peer inside. Ash collapses near Big Mac. "Snakes… Why did it have to be snakes?" Big Mac turned to the extras.
"Asps! Very dangerous!" He turned to Ash. "You first!" Ash glanced a dumbfounded look to Big Mac as the audience laughed. The extras gave Ash a rope and he climbed into the orchestra pit. Big Mac followed. The two dug around for a little while before the Ark of the Covenant began to come out as Toe-Tapper and "Toht" prepared to come back onstage.
"Here we go, Rover," Toe-Tapper sighed.
"Gotta admit, never saw myself as an actor," Rover replied. "Fido's kinda anxious about his role as well." They entered the stage as Big Mac was pulled out of the orchestra pit. Then some of the extras, appearing in military uniforms, kicked the rope into the pit.
"Sallah, not funny!" complained Ash. Toe-Tapper reached the pit.
"Hello, Doctor Jones!" he greeted. One more carried Sunset to the stage, the co-star now wearing a silky gown. "Should I ask what you're doing in a filthy place like this?"
"Well, come down and see for yourself!"
"I'd love to, but we're all comfortable up here!" The uniformed laughed. "Once again, Jones… what was once briefly yours is now mine! It's quite fitting that you've dug yourself your own grave. Maybe in a thousand years, you may be worth something." Now a new man came forward.
"We must take our leave," he announced. "We're taking the Ark of the Covenant to Berlin… but it would be tragic leaving you down in the Well of Souls… alone." The uniformed brought a flailing Sunset to the pit. Sunset screamed as she was pushed into the pit with Ash. Toe-Tapper seemed distraught. "The girl's no use. The fuhrer awaits us." Pikachu began to spark from the cheeks.
"Hey, relax," Flash tried to calm the mouse down. "I know, a little excited." Toe-Tapper reached the pit as the uniformed began to push the door back on.
"Doctor Jones," he addressed as he tipped his straw fedora. "Aideu…" All left the stage as Ash and Sunset's recording began to play on the speakers. Ash and Sunset escaped through the pit's backdoor and walked to the front with Pinkie providing a couple of drinks outside.
"Man, no one's left their seats," she informed.
"You don't say," Sunset awed. "Principal Celestia knows how to pick 'em." Ash nodded to the assessment as Scraggy and Oshawott cheered for both.
"We did cut out the RPG scene as well as the chase for the Ark," he summarized. "We're getting close to the end."
"Go get 'em!" cheered Pinkie. The two nodded before going to the auditorium's doors and opening, listening for their cue. The scene now showed an airfield with a plane in the center. The engine began to rev over the speakers
"They're gonna fly it out of here," Ash said over the speakers. That was the cue and Ash and Sunset bolted to the stage. One uniformed man sneaked behind Ash in order to stop him but instead, Ash's boxing skills took place as he leveled the uniformed extra. In came Fido wearing a bald cap. Sunset climbed onto the plane with wedges and met the pilot to where she swung and he fell upon taking the shot. Ash and Fido squared off to where Ash felt overwhelmed. He landed some blows but Fido stood and even threw him off-stage. The plane left too but then Ash looked to have been thrown back and he turned to see Fido motion to him to stay down. A blender sound echoed with a scream. Ash raced off-stage to grab Sunset. "We gotta go! The gas!"
"Hurry!" cried Sunset. Both dashed across the stage when more "KABOOM!" sounds, both diving. Big Mac brought them to the side under a tent.
"Indy, there's no time," he announced. "They're gonna carry it by truck. It's headed back to Cairo!" Ash nodded to the news.
"Marion, stay here with Sallah," he ordered before leaving. The scene darkened and Sunset came onto the speakers once more.
"Indiana Jones successfully recovered the Ark of the Covenant and hid it from René Belloq and the Nazis," she explained. The scene changed to a bedroom. "Thanks to their friend, Sallah, they boarded a tramp steamer, the Bantu Wind, and with the Ark of the Covenant on board." Ash and Sunset came to the stage while Fluttershy watched from behind the curtain, holding Tepig. Ash noticed a new gown on Sunset.
"Where'd you get that?" he asked. He sat on the bed while Sunset moistened a towel.
"Sallah's friend," she replied. "Captain Katanga… Something tells me I'm not the first girl to travel with Egyptian pirates." To Ash, at least the character he's portraying, he approved.
"Looks lovely." Sunset blinked in some shock.
"Really?"
"Yeah!" Sunset came to the mirror to check herself out as Ash, covered in "cuts and bruises," checked to make sure it wasn't anything serious. Sunset grabbed the mirror and pulled from the top, flipping the bottom and nailing Ash's chin who yelled in pain.
"That's gotta hurt," Lemon gulped. Ash adjusted his chin.
"You were saying?" teased Sunset. She sighed as she came around to Ash's side. "Shirt off." Complying, Ash removed his shirt, muscles shown with other "bruises." The young women in the audience awed and cooed as Sunset's hand pawed his chest. "Not the same man I knew ten years ago." To Ash's character, it wasn't the case.
"It's not the years, Marion," he groaned. "It's the mileage." Sunset placed the moist towel on Ash's chest who "winced." She picked up Ash's legs to his pain. "Marion, I don't need a nurse!"
"Don't be such a baby!"
"Marion, please!" A quick banter had Sunset unsettled.
"Well, where DOESN'T it hurt?" Ash pointed to his elbow.
"Here!" Sunset's head bobbed before she kissed it. The audience giggled. Now, Ash pointed to his forehead. "Here!" Sunset peeled the fedora off, leaned to Ash and kissed the spot. Now, Ash's eyelid got the point. "Here as well…" Sunset's enjoyment continued with a kiss to the eyelid.
"Here as well?" Before Ash could ask, Sunset connected lip-to-lip. The audience awed and an echo of teasing cheers filled the room. Celestia snickered to the scene as Sunset pulled a blanket over the pair. However, the uniformed rushed the stage and removed the blanket. Three uniformed each took Ash and Sunset away, struggling to free themselves. The stagehands brought out a stand with a pole before Ash and Sunset were tied to it, back-to-back. The Ark of the Covenant was brought out along with more uniformed, Rover and Toe-Tapper. An actor in a religious garb chanted before Toe-Tapper opened the Ark. He dug in and revealed sand inside. "And how much was it to carry that onto the stage?" she whispered.
"Not much," he quietly replied. Sunset scoffed to the answer.
"More than what I could lift with Applejack's help." Rover cackled before the lights shut off…
"Here we go…" A mist slowly enveloped the stage with restored minimal lighting. "Marion, shut your eyes. No matter what, don't look at it." Lights of ghosts began illuminating the stage as more mist enveloped those on the stage floor. The ghosts that looked like young women soon morphed into skeletons. Toe-Tapper, Rover and the extras screamed in terror as the haunting music boomed the speakers. Sunset's eyes were closed, as well as Ash's.
"Indy!"
"Don't look into the light, Marion! Just keep your eyes shut!" Lightning flashed and wind generated the haunting atmosphere. All in the audience looked on horrified. The stagehand came in to close the lid and the mist evaporated, along with the music. Ash was the first to open his eyes and undid the restraints. He turned to and hugged Sunset, the ordeal over.
"Oh, Indy!" The two hugged as the uniforms were strewn across the stage. The lights darkened once more. With a quick change, one more back light revealed one more setting.
WASHINGTON, DC
In a business suit and heels, Sunset waited for Ash when he emerged, also in a business suit and his favorite fedora. "What took so long?" she asked.
"Dealing with fools," he groaned. Sunset palmed Ash's cheek. "They don't know what they're dealing with." To Sunset, they're risking life and limb.
"I bet not." She tipped up the fedora to where Ash looked to her. "How about a drink?" Ash shrugged his shoulders before offering an arm to latch. Humored, Sunset accepted as they walked off the stage as the background showed piles of boxes. The lights slowly turned on, signaling the play had finished. The audience erupted in cheers and support.
"Let's bring in the actors!" cheered Celestia. The theme song began to play. The extras came onto the stage first. Ash exited the auditorium and came around to the balcony. Celestia continued with the actors coming out. "Arnold Toht… Rover!" The Diamond Dogs came out and bowed. "Playing René Belloq… Toe-Tapper!" The named actor came onto the stage and bowed to the crowd and the applause. "Playing Jock… Sandalwood!" His name called, Sandalwood emerged and bowed. "Playing Sallah… Big McIntosh!" Big Mac emerged and waived to the crowd.
"Eeyup!" he laughed.
"Playing Marion Ravenwood… Sunset Shimmer!" Sunset came out and bowed to the crowd. "And last but not least… playing Indiana Jones… Ash Ketchum!" All waited for Ash to emerge. "Ash, you're being summoned!" No one had an idea until Pikachu sensed someone and turned to the balcony. Finding Ash, he stood on Twilight's head and pointed. All looked to Pikachu before finding Ash standing on the balcony rail. Finally, Ash took off and swung from the balcony to the stage. He released his grip and landed on the stage with the Indiana Jones fedora flying off and landing in front of him. Even Sunset awed his swing. All cheered the successful swinging entrance.
"So that's what you've been doing up there!" she sneered.
"I wanted to do that for a long time, actually," Ash admitted. Sunset reached Ash and gave him a huge kiss to the amazement of the crowd.
"So, here's Indiana Jones, Ash Ketchum!" greeted Celestia. "Thank you all for coming!" The curtains began to close but Ash reached for the fedora. Just before the curtains finished closing, he snatched the fedora and reeled it in.
"That's true Indiana Jones!" yelled Sunny. The audience began to file out but many girls reached the dressing room where they surrounded Ash to get his autograph.
"Okay, don't push," he urged. "Everyone will get one." Indigo came by and hugged Ash.
"You… were… AMAZING!" she cheered. "You should be in more plays! Maybe you can be James Bond, the secret agent! Or- Or maybe the king of thieves, Robin Hood! Or- How about Zorro? You'd look irresistible!"
"I may need to see about offers," Ash tried to ease back. More of the young women came after Ash as Celestia, Cadence and Luna saw him getting overwhelmed.
"Attention, everyone!" called out Crystal Prep's principal. "Please, back away from the stars!" The women began giving Ash space. Everyone who saw the play began to return home. Those involved had gone to the ice cream parlor. The owner had attended the play and gave those involved free shakes.
"Who can pass this up?" joked Pinkie. She slurped her shake as some scooped theirs. Sci-Twi came to Pinkie with a concern.
"Are you sure you wanna have Ash at your place?" she wondered.
"Sure, I'm sure!" snapped Pinkie. "Besides, I'm making something special for everyone with the fair opening in two days." As they snacked, Flash stood up and clapped.
"Okay, everyone!" he shouted. All turned to Flash as Twilight looked on. "I wanna say that the Raiders play we did went better than anyone of us would dream. The Diamond Dogs, Toe-Tapper, our students…" The Crusaders laughed to that. "But mainly to our Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood, Ash and Sunset." Sandalwood rose his shake glass.
"So how about a toast to our Sunset Ravenwood?" he joked. Everyone laughed to his play of names but everyone rose their glass except for Trixie.
"You guys," Sunset awed. She came over to Flash and hugged him for the kind words. She turned to the rest. "Thank you for the support you've given me in doing this role." Flash now turned to Ash.
"As for the replacement star, I have to be honest," he brought up. "I wouldn't have done Indiana Jones as well as you did. In a sense, I'm actually glad you came here before Icirrus City." Ash smiled as Fluttershy and Sunset came to Ash and gave him kisses to the cheek as the same time. Rainbow laughed to it as well. Ash blushed greatly to the double kiss.
"Aside from Sunny Setter getting the role she did, I'd have to agree with Flash," Trixie praised. "I wonder if your friends would if they saw it?" Ash thought about it.
"Cilan, he'd have a great time but not Iris," he weighed. "Heck, she doesn't give me much cheering and always calls me a 'little kid'." Trixie seemed aghast.
"That performance onstage was anything but childish material!" she argued. "And hearing from Principal Celestia, you've done a lot! She has to give you some credit!"
"If she did, it's very few and far between," Ash shrugged. Trixie placed a hand on Ash's head.
"Darling, if that's how she feels, there's always all of us to turn to if you want to talk," she offered. "Someone that selfish as a trainer should just be by themselves instead of harassing someone with this copious amount of talent." Applejack nodded to Trixie's words.
"There are somethings that she says that we actually agree with," she acknowledged. "Not all the time." After their free treats, the parlor closed and everyone headed home. Before joining Pinkie, Sunset gave Ash one kiss goodnight. She held it for a few seconds, their tongue in a tango together.
"Goodnight, Indy," she teased. A blushing Ash smiled before getting back to Pinkie. Fluttershy reached her bed and cuddled with Angel and Oshawott for the night.
(Fluttershy's Dream)
Fluttershy and Ash lied on deck chairs on a ferry sunbathing. Ash wore black swimming trunks while Fluttershy donned a white swimsuit with green stripes. A green-haired young man spotted the two, wearing wedding rings on their fingers. "Monsieur and Madame Ketchum?" he called. The two looked up to the man wearing a tuxedo and holding a tray with a tall bottle and glasses. "How are you two enjoying your honeymoon?"
"A lot," Fluttershy answered. "Married to a Pokémon Master is new and it may take some time to adjust here." The tuxedo wearing man nodded to her word.
"He's a passionate one. Maybe something he would love to teach your children?" Fluttershy and Ash laughed to the man's choice of words.
"We share our care of Pokémon," Ash expressed. "I've shown my care to my new bride. I guess our children come next." The tuxedoed man nodded before leaving them be to tan their bodies.
"Sunset really cared about you like I did," Fluttershy mentioned.
"I know, but she felt happy for you after you beat her to the proposal. I would've been happy either way." Fluttershy smiled as she leaned to Ash's face and kissed him on the lips.
The fair is coming but no one knows the dangers coming.
TO BE CONTINUED…