Chapter 156: Spike At Your Service
The next couple of days were the most boring for Spyro and his friends, having returned from Narnia to have some peace and quiet, Spyro continuing to work on his little present for Scootaloo, though it was taking longer than he had anticipayed it would as several more tests showed many more issues with it that needed taken care of before giving it to the filly while also making sure she didn't see it. As he was working on it, he decided to take a break, walking out as Applejack was coming up to see if he needed a break and get some lunch when he spotted the hot air baloon flying away, descending into the Everfree as he smacked himself, groaning as he knew who it may have been as Applejack walked up.
"AJ, Cherry Berry lost the Hot Air Baloon again." Spyro said.
"Again?" Applejack asked, looking annoyed. "That's the third time this week she's lost it. Ah thought ya taught her the proper way to tie a knot?"
"I did." Spyro replied, looking to the balloon as it descended. "Guess she didn't do a good enough job of listening and paying attention. Come on, better go get it back before the Timberwolves get it."
The two of them traveled through the Everfree forest to get the balloon before the wolves could shred it, walking through while making sure to avoid the Timberwolves that were around, though he knew that they would be a problem in the future as the farm and Fluttershy's cottage were closest to the Everfree and they would sometimes roam near the farm to get someone who wasn't paying attention. As they looked around, they soon spotted a rope, approaching it and looking up to see the balloon was above them, smiling as he saw it.
"Well, that was easy." Spyro said. "Well, easier than last time."
"Ya can say that again." Applejack said, looking around. "But how the heck did it descend with no pony in it? Last time we needed Rainbow Dash's help to get it on the ground."
"That's a good question." Spyro replied. He looked around to see if he could find anything, finding a set of tracks and looking at them, finding they belonged to a baby dragon, already knowing who they belong to. "Spike."
"Pardon?" Applejack asked.
"These tracks belong to Spike." Spyro replied. "He's the only baby dragon in Ponyville."
"Speaking of dragon, what happened to Ember and Icy?" Applejack asked.
"Well, Ember I have no clue, but Icy I think took refuge in the nearby mountain where that fire dragon was when he was snoring." Spyro replied. "Chances are, Ember went home or something. Never really did keep up with those two anyway." The world then paused and Spyro looked at the author, giving him a stern look. "And neither did you pal, so don't go giving me crap about it."
"So where the heck is he?" Applejack asked, the world moving again.
"Well, if we follow his tracks, we're sure to find him." Spyro replied. "A moment later, they heard him screaming as they could only guess he was running for his life, knowing it was him. "Or we can follow the screams of a scared baby dragon and save him from being lunch."
They rushed in the direction of the screaming, running as fast as they could to the scource of the screaming, following it until they found Spike, who was cornered by three Timberwolves who had him against a wall, prapared for his fate when Applejack kicked a rock, breaking one of the Timberwolves ears, getting their attention.
"Come and get me ya overgrown mutts!" Applejack said, tossing the rock into the air and kicking it, hitting the same Timberwolf as it growled. "Spike, run!"
"Don't need to tell me twice!" Spike shouted.
The wolves went after Spyro and Applejack, giving Spike a chance to escape as the two of them lead the wolves into the forest, Spyro looking back and seeing they were hot on their tails as he looked forward, seeing Applejack had gotten a low hanging branch and smiled, sliding underneath like he was smiled.
"Head up!" Spyro shouted.
Applejack let go of the branch and broke the first wolf, making it fall into multiple pieces as he got up, continuing to run as did Applejack, continuing to run as the other two were right on their tails, Spyro turning and slamming his hoof into the ground, causing the ground to shoot up three stones for Applejack, which she kicked and hit the second wolves legs, looking at the reader as it fell to the ground, breaking into multiple pieces as they kept running. Spyro then spotted a sapling dead ahead, getting an idea as he ran forward, thrusting his hooves itno the ground as green light shot forward, reaching the sappling as he accelerated it's growth, which Applejack jumped over whie the wolf ran into the tree, it's paws and legs skidding on the ground before falling to pieces, Applejack wiping the sweat off her head as she looked at Spyro.
"Nice thinkin' there hun." Applejack said, Spyro walking up.
"Nice kicking there, hun." Spyro said playfully, making her laugh as the two rubbed their noses together as Spike walked up.
"Wow, you guys were amazing!" Spike said, running up to them. "The way Applejack rocketed those rocks at them like they were, well, rockets!"
"How the heck would you know what a rocket is?" Spyro asked.
"Not the point Spyro." Spike said. "You guys saved my life." She then froze, looking at them as his eyes had widened as if admiring them. "You... saved my life."
He then walked up and hugged them both, catching them both off guard as they looked at one another, but both just smiled, hugging him back to show he was safe.
"Don't mention it Spike." Applejack said.
"Yeah, don't mention it bud." Spyro said, endng the hug. "Come on, let's get out of here before Humpty-dumpty puts himself back together again."
"Boy am I glad you guys were out here." Spike said, stopping as he thought about something. "Um, what were you two doing out here anyway?"
"Saw the balloon fly by without somepony in it." Spyro replied, untying the knot. "Thought that Cherry Berry lost it again. What the heck were you doing out here anyway?"
"Well, I kinda hit the post holding the balloon and it flew off." Spike replied.
"Thought so." Spyro said, using his magic to hold onto the balloon.
They walked away to get out fo the woods, believing that the danger was gone, but as they left, a wolf started to howl as the Timberwolf started to reassemble itself. Outside of the Everfree, the three of them got to Sweet Apple Acres and gave the balloon back to Cherry Berry, who did not look all too happy that Spike was the one to untie it by accident, but was relieved to have gotten it back, leaving them at the entrance.
"It was mighty kind of ya to walk us back to the farm Spike." Applejack said. "But now Ah got some chores to do."
"And I got to get back to work on my project." Spyro said. "See ya around bud."
"What kind of chores!?" Spike asked, running to them. "Can I help?"
"That's mighty kind of ya Spike, but Ah got this." Applejack replied, wanting to pick up some baskets of apples.
"Oh, I insist!" Spike said, picking up one of the buckets. "It's the least I can do to repay the favor after you saved my life!"
"Shoot Spike, helping friends is what friends do." Applejack replied. "Ya don't need to repay the favor."
"But Applejack, I need to repay it." Spike said.
"That's alright sugar, ya don't need to do it." Applejack replied.
"But AJ, I need to do this." SPike said, Spyro noticing how serious the dragon is.
"Well, if ya need to, Ah won't stop ya." Applejack said.
"Great!" Spike said, the basket droppiung on him as he lifted it up. "What do ya need me to do?"
"Well, Apple Bloom, , and Scootaloo over there is giving Piggington a bath." Applejack said. "Ah was gonna ask Spyro if he could help them, but maybe you could do it instead."
"Believe me Spike, you'd be doing me a huge favor by doing this for me." Spyro said.
"On the double!" Spike said, running off.
Applejack shook her head at the baby dragon, picking up one of the apples as Spyro helped her to pick up the others.
"It was nice of you to let the little guy repay the favor AJ." Spyro said.
"Believe me, if he kept on insisting like that, Ah'd have to throw him out just to get the message across." Applejack said, looking at the baby dragon. "But if he insists on repaying the favor, might as well let the little guy go ahead and do it. Hey, could ya give me a hoof witht he rest of my chores Spyro? Got a lot of them today."
"Sure thing AJ." Spyro replied.
He helpled Applejack to get the remainder of apples gathered and onto a cart and pulling it back to the farm where they started to pass the bags to one another, getting the apples into the cellar to store for when they can sell them in the market. After a little while, As the two fo them were finishing up, they looked over and saw that Piggington was all cleaned up, litterally sparkling as the massive hog sat there.
"Wow, nice work you guys." Applejack said.
"Thanks Applejack." Babs said, wiping some mud off her. "Who knew cleaning pigs was hard work."
"Hey Applejack, Spyro, now that the pig is all cleaned up, is it ok for babs and Ah to get going?" Apple Bloom asked. "We don't wanna be late for our crusaders meetin'! We're getting fitted for water skis!"
"Heh, don't wanna be late for that." Spyro replied.
The three fillies ran off to get themselves fitted for Water Skis, both Spyro and Applejack shaking their heads at the three fillies as they ran off.
"Spike, ya'll can head off as well." Applejack said. "Ah believe we're officially even steven."
"What, no, I haven't begun to pay you back yet!" Spike replied, falling to his knees. "Please, the both of you must allow me to assist you further!"
"Ah don't know Spike." Applejack replied. "Doesn't seem right to have you do something that isn't necessary."
"Pretty please?" Spike asked, giving them the puppy dog eyes.
Spyro and Applejack looked at one another again, trying to figure out a way to get Spike to admit they were even, but it seemed the little guy was adamant on repaying them, Applejack giving in as she breathed in a sigh of defeat.
"Alright, ya'll can help Granny and Ah make some pies for this afternoon." Applejack said. "Come on."
"While you're doing that, I'm heading back to the garage." Spyro said. "Got to finish up my projecy before the fillies see it."
"Alright, see ya at lunch then." Applejack said.
The farm mare and the baby dragon then walked into the house to see about getting the pies made and hopefully get Spike to say that the two of them were even before long. Sometime passed and Spyro was putting the finishing touches to the Light Wing Projector, making adjustments to the neural interface when he heard someone walk in, though by the way the footsteps sounded, he could tell it was Spike, which he walked in right as Spyro put the shell back on it.
"What's going on Spike?" Spyro asked.
"How'd ya know it was me?" Spike asked. "I didn't say a thing."
"The pitter patter of your feet gave you away." Spyro said, making Spike look at his feet. "You're the only baby dragon who's feet do that. Now, what can I help you with?"
"Well, it's actually what I could do to help you." Spike said, making Spyro look up at him. "You see, Applejack suggested i come to you and see if you need any help at all."
"That's nice of your Spike, but I got this handled." Spyro replied. "I going to test the newly upgraded Light Wing Projector to see if it can fly."
"Oh, can I help test it!?" Spike asked. "Please!? Please!?"
Spyro looked at the baby dragon, seeing how determined he was to wanting to help to help, breathing in a sign of defeat as he nodded his head. The baby dragon rushed forward and allowed Spyro to place the device on the baby dragon's back, sticking to the dragon as a small green light came up, turning yellow for a moment before turning blue, indicating it was online and active.
"Right, Light Wing test number four." Spyro said as several arms with cameras came down, two dragon wings made of purple energy coming out. "Upgrades made to the projection unit to correlate to the users wing length and mass, allowing for maximum flight without causing damage to the neural network."
"Wait what?" Spike asked.
"You ready Spike?" Spyro asked.
"Uh... ready?" Spike replied, unsure if he was safe or not.
A moment later, Spyro pressed a button ans the wings started to flap, but unlike last time, they were flapping gently, Spike wobbling a bit as did the wings, but then he started to laugh, enjoying the flight as he flew around the garage, but a moment later, the wings started to glitch out, flying in random directions as Spike yelled in terror, bouncing around as Spyro tried to deactivate the wings, finally managing to as Spike fell to the ground, skidding to a halt as the device was fried.
"Great, it's fried." Spyro said, taking it off Spike.
"I'm sorry." Spike said.
"It's not your fault Spike, you don't need to be sorry." Spyro replied, putting the device on the table. "It's still a prototype, so there are bound to be problems with it." He then got to work on fixing it, trying to figure out what may have caused it to go wrong as Spike watched. "So, AJ kicked ya ut of the kitchen?"
"She did." Spike replied. "Kinda made a mess of the place and I tried to clean it up. It's the least I can do."
"Why are you so gung-ho about repaying the favor Spike?" Spyro asked.
"Well I have to." Spike replied. "You saved my life, so that means I need to serve you both."
"A life debt." Spyro said, now understanding it. "Now it makes sense."
"So until I can save you guys, I'm at your service." Spike replied.
"But what about Twilight?" Spyro asked. "Won't she be needing you?"
"She's busy reading some books that Princess Celestia sent her to study." Spike replied. "She's going to spend the weekend reading them all."
"A whole weekend to read a few books?" Spyro asked.
"Actually, more like twelve books." Spike replied.
"Ok, I admit, she's a good reader, but there's no way anypony can read twelve books in two days." Spyro said. "Anyway Spike, you don't need to repay us for anything. Friends help friends, no matter what." Spike looked at Spyro, trying to come up with how he can help him when he looked up, noticing that one of the things he flew into was rocking back and forth, snapping off and falliung right to Spyro. "Besides, nothing bad is going to-" He didn';t get to finish as Spike rushed up and pushed him out of the way, a massive engine landing right where Spyro was standing earlier as it fell to pieces, surprising them both as they looked at it. "Ok then. Didn't see that coming. But at least we're even now."
"Yeah, guess so." Spike said, getting up. "Anyway, I better go tell Twilight that I'll be serving Applejack from now on, or until I can fully repay the debt I owe her."
He then ran out of the garage to tell Twilight that he was going to be serving Applejack from now on, Spyro shaking his head as he knew this was not going to end well, getting back to work on the projector to see what he could do to fix it. After about an hour of working on it, he heard what sounded like a pair of hoof steps approaching, knowing who it was as he lifted the goggles up, looking to see Applejack and Granny Smith approaching him.
"Let me guess, you wanna talk about Spike?" Spyro asked.
"Ya darn tootin' we need to talk about him!" Applejack said. "Spike said that Twilight gave him the ok to serve us until forever!"
"And that's a really long time to be serving a bunch of ponies." Granny Smith said.
"Ugh, seriously?" Spyro asked. "Spike told me that Twilight's busy reading a bunch of books that the princess sent her to study. Chances are, she was engrossed by one of the books that she didn't pay any attention to what he said, not realizing that he'd be serving you from now until he repays the life debt he owes you."
"He also owes you one too Sugar." Applejack said.
"No he doesn't." Spyro replied, confusing the mare. "Saved me from getting crushed by a falling engine."
"Wait, that don't make any sense." Applejack said. "Ya'll coulda sensed the danger and dodged it in a heartbeat. Why'd didn't ya..." Then she realized what he did, watching him pull out a pin from his bracer and smirking. "Ya sneaky little rascal. Ya planned that, didn't ya?"
"Of course I did." Spyro replied. "As soon as I realized he was talking about a life debt that he owed us, I set up the engine I had above me to fall as soon as the pin was out. Now Spike owes me nothing."
"Well, that was smart and all, but we got a serious problem." Applejack said. "Ah mean, Ah respect his dragon code, truly, Ah do, but Ah can't cope with him permanently serving us."
"Unfortunately AJ, it's the code." Spyro replied, continuing to work on his device. "As the pirates have a pirate code that governs them, the dragons have a code of their own. If Spike doesn't uphold the code, he'll loose honor and respect for himself as a dragon."
"That's what Spike said." Applejack said. "Is it really that imperative that they follow their code?"
"The code is a part of them AJ." Spyro replied, walking over and getting some crystals. "Unless he saves your life, he's forever in your service. There is no other way. Just be grateful he didn't do a blood oath, pledging himself permanently to you, otherwise, you'd definitely be in trouble."
"Well, Ah don't want him to feel like an honorable and noble dragon, now can Ah?" Applejack asked.
"Well, what the heck do we do then!?" Granny Smith asked.
A moment later, Spyro pulled out the remote and paused the world, looking back at the reader in annoyance.
"Now, normally, I'd come up with an idea to fix this, but unfortunately, I have no idea what to do." Spyro said. "The only way to honor the code is for him to save AJ's life, like he did mine." He looked at the pin that he had pulled to set up the scene for him to save his life, twirling it around as he thought. "I'll think of something. Right now, I better resume time, otherwise Master yen Sid will have my rear if he discovered I fiddled with my old Roku remote to stop time."
He then clicked the resume button to resume time, wanting to talk more with his friend when Spike walked up, showing the disgusting looking pie that he had made, which it was grey and had a bunch of random and possible disgusting things popping out of it. As soon as Applejack got one whiff of abomination of a pie, she gagged, her cheeks puffing up as they turned green as she rushed outside, both Granny Smith and Spyro backing away from the pie.
"Hey AJ, is it ok that I take this pie to Rarity's?" Spike asked, his eyes sparkling as he still had a crush on her. "I want her to taste how delicious this pie is."
"Uh..." Spyro said, seeing how aweful it looked. "Maybe I should..."
"Come on guys, let's go!" Spike said excitedly, rushing off to Rarity's.
Spyro and Granny Smith looked at one another as Applejack walked back over, her face completely green as she wobbled over.
"There is no way Rarity is going to eat that thing." Spyro said, seeing how AJ looked. "If somepony whose got a gut as strong as AJ's would puke from the scent of that thing, it might end up killing Rarity. AJ, we need to run interference before it's too late!"
Both Spyro and Applejack ran after Spike to make sure that nothing bad happened to Rarity, running as fast as they could to Rarity's boutique and reaching it in time as she was taking a bite, which they both rushed forward to run interference for Rarity.
"Hey Spike, looks like ya beat us here." Spyro said, making the baby dragon turn to look at them and allow Rarity to spit the pie out.
"Sure did!" Spike said. "And Rarity looks great when she chews."
"She sure does." Spyro replied, Rarity wiping away a tear as to not hurt Spikes feelings as he looked back. "Won't you have more?"
"Well, uh, I had a big lunch." Rarity replied, trying to sound convincing.
"But, it's ten in the morning." Spike said. "Why would you have lunch at ten?"
"She said brunch, not lunch." Spyro replied, saving her. "Right Rare?"
"Exactly!" Rarity replied, putting on a smile.
"Oh, ok, that makes sense." Spike said.
"Hey Spike, how about you clean Rarity's plate off for her." Applejack suggested.
"As you wish my lady." Spike replied.
He reached up and grabbed the plate that had the horrible pie, passing by Applejack as she gagged again, turning green again, but Spyro tapped his hoof on her forehead, making a gong sound and calming her down a bit, making her feel better.
"What was that about?" Rarity asked.
"Well, Spyro and Ah saved Spike from a bunch of Timberwolves in the Everfree Forest, and now he thinks he needs to serve us forever." Applejack replied.
"Well, more like he's serving Applejack." Spyro replied. "He owed both of us a life debt and he saved me, so that means he's serving AJ now."
"Oh, I'm so jealous of you right now darling." Rarity said. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to have somepony serve me forever. Organize my closet, give me pedicures, help me with the sewing-"
"Alright, alright, we get it." Applejack replied. "Having somepony do things for you is a dream come true, but not for me. It just doesn't feel right for him to believe he owes me for saving him. Besides, you tasted his pie and I've smelled it, sometimes his help just isn't all that helpful."
As if proving her point, they heard something crash and looked ot the kitchen to find it was covered in soap suds, Spike poking his head out and giving a nervous smile.
"Eh, you got a broom I could borrow?" Spike asked, Rarity pointing to the one next to the door way.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Oh, not much actually." Rarity replied. "Just Applejack and Spyro saving Spike and now he serves them forever."
"Sweet!" Rainbow Dash said. "What are you having him do? Wash your laundry? Clean your room!? Finish your unfinished novel!?" Spyro looked at Applejack, wondering what Rainbow Dash was talking about to see Applejack blush a bit. "Mine's about the best flier ever, who becomes captain of the Wonderbolts!"
"How did you come up with that ingeniously woven, intricate plot line?" Rarity asked.
"Just came to me." Rainbow Dash replied.
"But the thing is that Ah don't want him to serve me forever." Applejack said. "But Ah don't know how to make him stop."
"As I said AJ, you need to have him save your life to repay the life debt." Spyro answered.
"Or just have him help you out with something really, really hard." Rainbow Dash suggested.
"Ah don't know, Ah don't want him to get hurt." Applejack responded.
"Puh-lease." Rainbow Dash reaponded. "He'll quiet way before something like that happens."
"I don't think that'll work RD." Spyro said. "When it comes to a dragon's honor, they'll do anything to preserve it."
A moment layer, they heard something crash again, looking to see Spike coming with some piping from Rarity's sink, confusing them at how he did that.
"Leave this to me." Rainbow Dash said as Spike walked over. "Hey Spike, Applejack and Spyro here were going to help me stack some hay so I can practice smashing through them, but I'm feeling extra, extra powerful today."
"You are?" Spyro and Applejack asked at the same time.
"Yeah, I am." Rainbow Dash replied, winking at them. "So instead of hay, I'm going to smash through rocks!"
"Rocks?" Spike asked, knowing that was probably a bad idea.
"Yeah, a huge tower of rocks!" Rainbow Dash replied. "And you're gonna help build it."
"I am" Spike asked, Spyro face smacking himself.
"Yeah, unless you don't want to help Applejack out." Rainbow Dash said.
"I do!" Spike replied. "It's part of the dragon code!"
"Then get to it bud!" Rainbow Dash said, which Spike rushed out.
As the baby dragon ran out, Rarity was tapping on the pipe, unsure of what to do with it while Rainbow Dash winked at Applejack, who was unsure if this would work while Spyro just shook his head, getting the remote out and pausing the world again and looking at the reader.
"Look, we both know this is going to end badly, right?" Spyro asked, already knowing the answer. "I would try to stop it, but Rainbow Dash believes that Spike will give up on the tower. Let's find out if she's right."
He then pressed the fastforward button before pressing the play button, stopping to the point where the three of them were standing in front of a tower, looking up to shw that it was massive, Spyro looking at the reader like he knew this would happen as he looked back up.
"Wow, I actually thought he'd give up after three rocks." Rainbow Dash said.
"You would think that, wouldn't ya?" Spyro asked as Fluttershy came up.
"Goodness, if it were me, I'd pretend I didn't have anything for him to do." Fluttershy said.
"Why didn't Ah think of that?" Applejack asked.
"Is this high enough!?" Spike shouted to them.
"Plenty high there bud!" Spyro replied. "Any higher and you're be reaching the Stratus Sphere! Come on down from there before you get hurt!"
A moment later, Spike started to climb down the tower while everyone looked at it, Spike walking over to them.
"Well, bad news is, he built the tower." Rainbow Dash said.
"Yeah, and guess whose the one who wanted to crash through it in the first place?" Spyro asked, smiling at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash gulpped, getting into the air as Spike cheered for her, getting a running start before going through the tower, which it started to crash down around them, so they sought shelter as Rainbow Dash looked like she had a massive headache, seeing stars as they flew in front of her eyes.
"That... was... awesome!" Spike said, avoiding being crushed by a massive boulder. "Hey Rainbow Dash, if ya want to do it again, let us know and Applejack and I can build it again. ANd when I mean Applejack and I, I mean me."
"Sure." Rainbow Dash replied. "No problem."
"NO!" Applejack exclaimed, running over to Rainbow Dash as she fell unconcious. "Ah mean, Ah don't think she needs anymore of your, Ah mean, my help. Right Rainbow Dash?"
"Yeah, I think I'm good." Rainbow Dash replied.
"And Ah think Ah'm good as well." Applejack added. "Ah just can't think of anything else for ya to do to help with, so Ah guess there's nothin' else for ya to do."
However, as she said that, Spike looked suprised, collapsing to the ground, shaking as he looked terrified.
"What do you mean there's nothing else for me to do!?" Spike asked.
"Exactly that Spike." Applejack replied. "Ah don't have anything else for ya to do, and Ah don't need anymore help bud."
"But... if I don't help you, then how will I know that I'm a noble dragon!?" Spike asked, looking terrified. "Maybe there are some things you don't realize you need help with at all that I can help with."
"I think Applejack would know if she needed help." Fluttershy said.
"Maybe she doesn't." Spike replied. "Maybe your back itches." Spiek then began scratching her back, which her leg started to shake like a dog leg when you find the right spot, looking very happy. "Or, maybe you need help remembering your favorite song!"
Spike then started to sing a random song about dragons and how they guarded their treasure, making Spyro shaking his head at the baby dragon.
"Spike, that is not her favorite song." Spyro said.
"Or, maybe she needs help breathing!" Spike said, running in a random direction.
"Breathing?" Applejack asked. "Now why would Ah need help breathing?"
However, a moment later, Spike came back with some bellows, putting the tip in her mouth and inflating the poor mare until she was a balloon, removing the bellows and she released a breath of wind, blowing the baby dragon into a bush.
"See, there are plenty of things I can help you with!" Spike said. "And you don't need to trouble yourself thinking about them."
"No, Ah'll think of them!" Applejack replied. "Ah'll definitely be thinking about them!"
"As you wish." Spike said, bowing to her before leaving.
"Great, now what?" Applejack asked.
"As I said AJ, the only way to get him to stop serving you is for him to repay the life debt by saving your life." Spyro said.
"Ugh, never thought Ah'd actually be sick of havin' somepony help." Applejack said. "Maybe Twilight will have an idea of how to get this confounded life debt thing settled."
"Now you're thinking." Spyro said. "Let's go and see Twilight. Maybe she has an idea of how to get Spike to settle the debt without putting him in danger."
They walked away from the pile of rocks that was created when Rainbow Dash slammed into them, heading into town to get Twilight and as they enetered the library, they noticed that it was a bit dark, so they went upstairs to see if she was up there, finding her reading one of the books the princess sent her.
"Twilight." Applejack said. "Twilight, we need to talk to ya."
However, she didn't pay any attention as she was way too focused on reading her book, not even hearing what Applejack said as they looked at her.
"Hang on AJ, I got this." Spyro said.
He walked over to the nearby desk and tapped on a container of ink, making her scream and look at them.
"Oh, hey there guys." Twilight said.
"Hey little bookworm, sorry for scaring ya." Spyro said.
"Oh, it's alright Spyro." Twilight said, putting the bottle back where it was. "I needed a break anyway. What's up?"
"Well, we got a problem." Spyro said.
"Ya see, Spyro and Ah saved Spike from the Timberwolves, but now he's following this weird honor code of his to serve me forever because of it." Applejack said. "Saying it was alright by you for him to do that."
"What!?" Twilight asked. "But... I don't remember him asking or telling me that!"
"Guess you were too engrossed in your books to hear what he had to say." Spyro said. "I managed to get out of it by staging a dangerous scene for myself and let the kid save me."
"Spyro had the right idea." Twilight said. "The dragon code is sacred to dragons, both in this world and in other worlds out there. If you save a dragon, they're your servant until they save your life."
"Shoot, Ah was hoping you'd be able to talk some sense into and ask him if he'd stop." Applejack said. "I should have done the same thing you did Spyro and have him save my life to get him to get fulfill his code."
"Hey, better to realize it later rather then not to realize it at all." Spyro said. "What matters is setting up a scene that he can save you from without endangering him."
"We better get the others then." Applejack said. "Might need their help to get Spike to fulfill the debt he thinks he owes me." They left the library and went back to the farm, which was where Spike was currently at, counting blades of grass on the field, allowing everyone to sneak into the barn to talk about the issue at hand. "Alright everypony, we all know that Spike owes me a life debt and he isn't going to stop until he's fulfilled his debt to me. We need him to save my life."
"And you want us to..." Pinkie said, rushing off and getting some supplies. "Shoot you out of a cannon towards a hornets nest where we give Spike a butterfly net so he can catch you near second before you hit the hornets nest and stung by a thousand angry hornets! All the while, I'll be wearing a mustache."
"Pinkie, that's not going to work." Spyro said, pulling down the same screen she used to draw her plan. "The velocity and angle of the cannons trajectory, combines with Spikes current height and weight, he'd either miss and Applejack would get stung by the hornets, which I do not want her to be, but he'd also be dragged along and become a victim himself."
"Spyro's right, we need another idea." Twilight said.
"Ah got it!" Applejack said. "Since Ah saved him from Timberwolves, what if I were to be attacked by another one?"
"You serious!?" Spyro shouted. "That's an even worse idea than the angry hornets plan!"
"Not by a real Timberwolf hun." Applejack said. "By a fake one. The girls can create one and Ah can set up a scenario where it appears one is attacking me and he'll save me."
"That's a great idea!" Twilight said. "Rarity, how quickly can you get one made!?"
"Depends on how good you want it darling." Rarity replied.
"Let's make it quick." Applejack said. "Spike will soon be coming to see if there is anything Ah want done, and Ah want to make sure he doesn't know what we're doing."
The girls all ran out of the barn, leaving Spyro alone in the barn as he got the remote out again, pausing the world as he looked back at the reader.
"Ok, there is no way this is going to work." Spyro said. "I mean, Rarity's good with dresses and with crafts, but making a fake Timberwolf in so little time? Honestly, if this works and he falls for the ruse, I'll put on a Tutu and dance to swan lake. Well, better see where this whole thing goes."
"Hey Spyro!" Pinkie said, scaring him. "Breaking the Fourth wall without me, are you!?"
"Hey, you can't be the only one who does this Pinkie." Spyro replied. "Besides, how else am I gonna address the crowd without the others thinking I'm, well, like you?"
"Oh, that's easy silly, you just do it!" Pinkie replied. "No pony's going to judge!"
"Right." Spyro said, looking back to the reader. "Let's just move this along before things get out of hand."
He then pulled the screen to the right, the world going back to normal, everyone having gathered near the Everfree for realism with a large pile of rocks nearby, waiting to get the plan started.
"Alright, when Ah give the signal, Rarity and Pinkie Pie will come out, being pursued by the Timberwolf." Applejack said. "Ah'll run as well and pretend to get my hoof stuck, asking spike to help me dislodge it, and then running from the terrifying beast. Twilight, ya ready?"
"I'll do my best." Twilight replied, pulling out a puppet of a Timberwolf that looked nunrealistic, making Spyro look at it in disgust and in confusion, the world freezing again.
"Yeah, definitely not going to work." Spyro said. "Guess you won't be seeing me in a tutu dancing."
The world resumed as everyone got into position when Pinkie raised her hoof, wanting to ask a question.
"What is it Pinkie?" Applejack asked, Pinkie still wearing the mustache that she had on earlier. "No Pinkie, you can't wear the mustache."
"Well, what if there's a real Timberwolf and your plan works?" Pinkie asked. "Does Spyro still wear the tutu and dance?"
The others heard what she asked, looking at Pinkie in confusion while Spyro quickly got the remote out and paused the world again, this time looking to the author.
"Listen here bud!" Spyro exclaimed. "I don't care what Pinkie said, the bet was if he falls for the 'fake' one, not a real one! If a real one does show up, you better not make me put that thing on or else you're gonna wake up to me in your room with a couple of Keyblades ready to make mincemeat oughta ya!"
The world resumed and everyone was still looking at Pinkie, wondering what she was talking about.
"Pinkie, nows not the time for your nonsense." Applejack replied. "We gotta get ready."
"Though it would be funny to see dragon boy here put a tutu on and dance." Rainbow Dash said, snickering as she imagined it. "Oh man, that would be so hilarious!"
"Good thing this world doesn't have iphones then." Spyro said. "Otherwise, I'd never live it down."
"Well, we're all ready to play our parts Applejack." Rarity said. "But are you sure you're ready to play yours?"
"Rarity's right AJ." Spyro said. "You're not exactly the 'Damsel in Distress' kind of pony. That's usually Rarity's thing."
"Believe me, if I have to play the part of the Damsel, Ah'm goin' to." Applejack said.
"Then you're going to need to practice." Rarity said. "First, we'll start with-"
"You ain't got time for practice girls." Spyro said, seeing Spike. "Here comes your knight in shining armor."
"He's right, we're out of time!" Applejack said. "Everypony, positions!"
They all ran into the forest, hoping to not be spotted by the baby dragon as he approached, stopping right next to Applejack as he seemed excited.
"Hey AJ!" Spike said. "You said you have something else for me to do!?"
"Yeah, Ah do actually." Applejack said. "Ah was wonderin' if ya'll would help me collect them leaves for the composter for the farm."
"Your wish is my command!" Spike said, taking a rake that Applejack brought wiht her. "By the way, the farm as over twenty-four million, five hundred and sixty-seven thousand, eight hundred and thirty seven blades of grass in Sweet Apple Acres."
"He counted every single one?" Spyro asked, clearly surprised. "How the heck did he know the ones he counted from the ones he didn't?"
Everyone shrugged their shoulders and looked back, seeing Applejack wink at them as Rainbow Dash winked back, taking in a deep breath and roaring out like a Timberwolf, litterally scaring some of Spyro's scales off of him as he looked at Rainbow Dash.
"That was very convincing." Fluttershy said.
"I agree, that was really good." Spyro said, looking down at Rainbow Dash.
"Timberwolves!" Rarity shouted, she and Pinkie running out. "We're doomed!"
Pinkie then screamed, the two ponies trotting off with a smile, making him smack his head, knowing that not even Apple Bloom would fall for that and when he looked up and saw the puppet Timberwolf come out, which was just a bunch of logs and sticks put together, making him groan as he fell backwards. He looked back and wasn;t believing what he was seeing, Spike looked terrified of the puppet, Fluttershy making the noises to make it sound like it was real when Twilight made it's mouth open, but nothing happened, looking to see Rainbow Dash laughing instead of roaring, which Fluttershy had to poke her to let her know it was her cue and she did the roar again, scaring the baby dragon as the world paused again.
"I don't believe it." Spyro said, looking at the reader. "It's actually working!? Now I regret making that bet. Still, it's not over yet. Anything could happen."
The world resumed, Spike looking terrified as he was ready to run when Applejack cleared her throat.
"Oh no." Applejack said, putting her hoof in a tiny pile of rocks. "Ah've seem to gotten my hoof stuck in some rocks. Ah am a Damsel in distress. Please, help me spike."
Twilight moved the puppet over and opened the mouth, making it look, like she was going to be eaten while Spyro just grimaced and cringed at what he was seeing, pausing the world again as he changed his hoof into a paw, pressing a couple of fingers to his eyelids.
"Note to self, give Applejack some lessons in acting." Spyro said, resuming the world.
"Wait a minute." Spike said
"No, no, we don't have a minute." Applejack said, still doing a terrible job at acting. "Save me from the terrifying Timberwolf!"
"Well, it would be terrifying." Spkie said, walkign up to it. "If it wasn't fake!"
The world paused again, Spyro looking to the author again with a satisfied smile.
"Looks like I was right." Spyro said. "Looks like I'm safe from the tutu."
The world resumed as Spyro looked back to see Spike examining the puppet.
"You got the clumping of it's paws right." Spike said, pne of the paws falling off. "The roar was pretty spot on." He then looked to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, who high fived each other for a job well done. "And the detail to the face is pretty good. But you forgot one thing."
"Knew we forgot something." Spyro said.
"His breath." Spike continued. "You could smell a real Timberwolf a mile a-"
However, he stopped speaking as they all smelled something aweful, Applejack turning green again as she was about to puke when three real Timberwolves came out, roaring out as Twilight screamed and started running, causing the others to run as Spyro leapt into action, intercepting them as he tripped them, though they didn't shatter. He picked Spike up and ran away as Applejack jumped onto the massive pile of rocks with the wolves chasing them, but the farm mare pushed a rock down, Spyro and Spike pass first before the rock tumbled and crushed the three wolves, taking them out all at once as they looked back. Spike gave a thumbs up to Applejack, but the rock she was on suddenly slipped, tumbling down and trapping her leg underneath the heavy boulder, which Spyro could hear something break as the the sticks started to move again, this time it was forming into a massive Timberwolf and it roared out again, lookign at Applejack hungrily as it smiled.
"Spyro, get Spike out of here and go!" Applejack said.
"No way AJ, I'm not leaving you here!" Spyro said, setting Spike down as he leapt into action. Landing between the pony and the wolf as he unleashed a torrent of fire at the beast, but it unleashed it's own breath, which extinguished his flames and shocked him as it drew it's paw back and swung, time freezing as Spyro looked at the reader again. "Ok, whose bright idea was it to put the Timberwolf on Steroids?"
The world resumed as Spyro was backhanded into a tree, making him see stars as Spike watcdhed in horror.
"Spike get out of here!" Applejack said.
"No, I have to save you!" Spike shouted.
"Forget your dumb dragon code and go!" Applejack shouted.
A second later, the Timberwolf smashed a rock, causing a pebble to fly out and hit Spike in the head and knock him down as the Timberwolf looked at Applejack hungrily. It reared it's head back to finish the farm mare off, making her cover her head as she crumpled to the ground, the wolf lunging for her, but a second later, the ground started to glow a bright green as a massive wall shot up, causing the wolf to hit it and bounce backwards as it too was seeing stars, the wall falling back into the earth and leaving Applejack confused as to who did it. Spike got up, seeing the wolf was getting up and getting ready to attack again when Spike picked up a pebble, looking at it as he remembered what Twilight told him when she was banished from ponyville, closing his eyes as time slowed down around him, finding himself in an empty room until a green light flew by, Spike hearing a song as he cleared his mind and a second later, a dragon glowing green appeared behind him, roaring out as the stone he was holding was glowing, Spike opening his eyes as he threw the rock.
The rock itself was surrounded by green energy that made it grow and grow until it was as large as the Timberwilf, the wolf looking at it as it's eyes widened in horror as it smashed into him, giving Spyro a chance to shake his head, waking up and seeing the baby dragon trying to help Applejack, rushing over and lifting the rock to allow for Applejack to limp out, seeing that she was seriously injured and picked her up onto his back and ran with Spike close behind, getting to safety and returnng to Sweet Apple Acres, breathing heavily as the others saw them coming.
"Are you guys alright?" Twilight asked. "I thought you were right behind us."
"My leg got caught in the rocks." Applejack said, trying to stand as she winced. "But Ah think the rock broke my leg."
"Wait, you were actually stuck?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah, and the wolf would have gotten me if it weren't for Spyro summoning an earth wall and throwing that boulder." Applejack said.
"Uh, AJ, that wasn't." Spyro replied.
"Wait, it wasn't?" Applejack asked. "Which one wasn't you?"
"Both times weren't me." Spyro replied.
"Yeah, I threw the rock, but it turned itno a boulder." Spike said. "I don;t even know how I did it."
"Hmm, interesting." Spyro said.
"What's interesting?" Spike asked.
"Well, you're a purple dragon Spike." Spyro pointed out. "Maybe your elemental powers are awakening."
"Wait, for real!?" Spike asked.
"I believe so." Spyro responded.
"But what about the rock wall?" Applejack asked. "Ya sure it wasn't you?"
"Positive." Spyro replied. "I would remember doing that if I did."
"Then... who did it?" Applejack asked.
They all looked around to see who it was that had saved her, but found no one, confusing them even further as to how the rock wall was made.
"Well, however it happened, I'm glad you're alright AJ." Spyro said, wrapping his neck around hers. "Even if your leg was broken." He then looked to Spike, who seemed scared, yet relieved. "And you little guy... you save AJ. Thanks bud."
"Ah, it was nothing." Spike said.
"Nothing?" Spyro asked. "Spike, that was something. Though, none of this happened if some one didn't decide to stage a fake Timberwolf attack instead of smething else."
"Yeah, what was that about?" Spike asked.
"Well, let me put it this way Spike." Applejack said. "Ah know this dragon code is important to you and all, but maybe in the future, we go with my code. Where if Ah help ya, we leave it as friends helping friends." She then took off her hat, putting it against her chest as she smiled at him. "Ah won't think of ya as any less noble."
Spike smiled, nodding his head as eeveryone else smiled at them, seeing how happy they were as Spyro was healing Applejack.
"Sure, we'll leave it at that." Spike said. "And let's try to avoid situations where one actually needs the other to save their life, alright?"
"Ya got yerself a deal." Applejack said, putting her hoof out as Spike hoofbumped her.
"Hay wait a minute!" Pinkie said. "The plan technically worked didn't it? Applejack was saved by spike and he doesn't owe her anything, right?"
"That's right sugarcube." Applejack said.
"Yeah, that's basically the gist of it." Spyro said. "Why are you..." He then realized what she was doing, everyone smiling as a paintbrush descended from the sky, Spyro looking up to see it. "Oh no, no! No! NO! The bet was if he saved her from the fake one, not the real one!"
"I don't know darling." Rarity said. "I thought I heard Pinkie say if the plan worked, meaning if Spike saved Applejack, you'd do it."
Not having time to try and correct it, Spyro fled for his life, the paintbrush flying after him as he yelled in fear, everyone laughing at him as he fled from the paintbrush to not be forced into the tutu and being forced to dance.