Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.
That's not that many.
Are you kidding?
How are you supposed to read twelve books in one weekend?
Princess Celestia obviously thinks I can
or she would never ever assign them to me.
I'm not planning on letting her down.
Well, I hope you're not planning on sleeping then either.
Actually, Spike, why don't you take the day off?
Really?
Why not?
This books are gonna keep me busy for a while.
I do have a long list of things I've been dying to do!
Touch nose with tongue.
Done!
Play bongos on my belly!
Done!
Smell my dirty feet.
Done!
That didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would.
What to do, what to do…
A hot air balloon ride!
Oh no!
Wait!
Runaway balloon!
Sorry!
That was a close one.
If I didn't know better,
I would swear that I was in the middle of the
dark and scary Everfree Forest.
What was that?!
Come on Spike,
just because this forest is full of wild, dangerous animals,
doesn't mean that you gonna see one.
Come 'n' get me, ya big goons.
Run!
I'm running! I'm running!
Wow, Applejack!
That was amazing!
I mean, you rocketed those boulders at them like they were… rockets!
You saved my life!
You… saved my life…
Don't mention it, Spike.
Come on, we should be heading on back now.
Man, am I lucky you were out here.
Why were you out here?
Saw a balloon floating by with nopony in it.
Came out here to investigate.
Guess you did too, huh?
Uh… yeah… I was investigating the runaway hot air balloon too!
So… now as the mystery's been solved, let's get out of here.
Thanks for walking me home, Spike.
That was mighty kind of you,
but now I have some chores that need tending to, so...
See you later.
What chores? I'll do them!
That's sweet, but you don't have…
It's the least I can do!
You saved my life!
I need to repay the favor.
Shoot, Spike,
that's what friends do for each other.
You don't need to repay the favor.
Yes I do.
Sugar, it's okay, it's not necessary.
Applejack, you don't understand!
This is something I really need to do!
Well, I'd hate to get in the way of doing something you need to do.
Great! What should I do?
Applebloom is over yonder giving little Piggington a bath.
I was gonna lend her a hoof, but maybe you could lend her one instead.
On the double!
Applejack said I could help you!
Great! I could use all the help I can get!
Wait 'til Applejack sees how you sparkle.
Good job, you two.
Applejack, is it okay if I get going?
I don't wanna be late for my Crusaders meeting.
We're getting fitted for water skis!
You definitely don't wanna be late for that.
Water skiing cutiemark, here I come!
Spike, you can head on out too,
I reckon you have repaid me in full, so we're officially even-steven.
What?
Oh no!
We're not even close to being even-steven.
Please, Applejack,
you must allow me to assist you further.
I don't know, Spike.
Just don't feel right to have you doing things for me.
Please?
Really, you don't…
Pretty please?
It's just not necessary.
Pretty pretty pretty please?
Oh, all right.
You can help Granny Smith and me bake some…
Pies! Pies!
I'm helping Applejack make some pies!
Spike, little feller,
can you get us some more eggs?
Coming right up!
Sorry, Applejack,
let me get something to clean that up.
Appreciate all your help today, sugar cube, but…
I can take it from here.
Don't be ridiculous!
It is my honor and my duty,
today is just the beginning!
What's that now?
You saved my life!
According to the Spike the Dragon code,
I owe you a life debt and must serve you.
Now what about Twilight?
Doesn't she need your help and such?
You're right.
I'd better break the news to Twilight.
I just hope she doesn't take it too hard…
Be right back!
Come on, Spike!
This is your personal moral ethical dragon code we're talking about.
You have to do this.
It's not like you and Twilight won't be friends anymore,
but it won't be the same…
But it has to be done.
Twilight, Applejack just saved my life
from horrible dragon-eating timberwolves.
And, as you are aware,
I adhere to my dragon code
and this means I must serve her for the rest of my natural born days.
I'm sure you understand.
It's… been an honor…
being your faithful assistant.
Sounds good.
She said it was okay.
Really?
So, with Twilight's blessing, I'm free to follow my code and serve you until...
well, until
FOREVER!
Listen, sugarcube
I completely respect your dragon code…
truly I do, but
I just can't cope with you permanently serving me.
Please, Applejack!
My dragon code is a part of me!
I have to be true to myself!
If you don't let me do this,
I won't be a noble dragon anymore!
Well,
I can't have you feeling like you're not a noble dragon now, can I?
Great! Then from here on in,
your wish is my command.
Okay…
I would like you to…
Help me take some of the pie you made to…
Rarity?
Sure, why not?
I helped bake it.
You even look good when you're chewing.
Who looks good when they're chewing?
Aren't you gonna have some more?
I had a big lunch.
It's ten in the morning.
Breakfast. A big breakfast.
Okay.
Maybe you could take her plate back to the kitchen and wash it off?
As you wish!
What was that all about?
I saved Spike from some timberwolves in the Everfree Forest and
now he thinks he has to serve me forever.
Oh, what I wouldn't give to have somepony forever in my debt!
I'd get them to organize my closets and give me pedicures and and help me with my sewing, and…
Okay I get it. Having somepony to do things for you would be a dream come true.
But I don't feel right having Spike thinking he owes me something.
You tasted that pie. Sometimes his help isn't that helpful.
Do you… have a broom I could borrow?
AJ, Rarity, what's happening?
Applejack saved Spike's life and now he has to serve her forever.
Sweet!
What are you having him do? Wash your laundry? Clean your room? Help you with your unfinished novel?
Mine's about about this awesome pegasus, who's the best flyer ever
and becomes the captain of the Wonderbolts!
How ever did you come up with this ingeniously woven intricate plotline?
Just came to me.
Thing is, I don't really want him to serve me forever.
But I don't know how to get him to stop.
That's easy!
Just make him help you with something really really hard.
I don't know. I don't want him to get hurt.
Puh-lease. He'll quit way before there is even a chance of getting hurt.
Leave this to me.
So… Spike.
Applejack was gonna help me stack some hay
so I could practice smashing through it,
but I'm feeling extra extra powerful today.
You are?
Yeah! I am.
So, instead of hay, I'm gonna smash through rocks.
Rocks?
Yeah! A huge tower of rocks.
And you're gonna build it.
I am?
Yeah! I mean, unless you don't wanna help Applejack.
I do! It's Spike's dragon code!
Then get to it!
Trust me. This is gonna work like a charm.
I was sure he'd give up after, like, three rocks.
Oh, goodness.
If it had been me, I'd just have pretended I didn't have anything for him to do.
Why didn't I think of that?
Is this high enough?
That's plenty high. Come on down, Spike.
Bad news, he actually ended up building a whole rock tower.
Good news…
I've got a rock tower to knock down…
You can do it!
That... was...
Awesome!
Wanna do it again, Rainbow Dash?
Applejack will rebuild it for ya.
And when I say "Applejack", I of course mean "me".
Sure...
Why not?
No!
I mean, I don't think Rainbow Dash needs anymore of your help.
My help, she doesn't need it.
Right, Rainbow Dash?
Yeah.
I guess I'm good.
For now.
And so am I.
I just can't think of one more thing I need help with, so…
you don't have to do anything else.
What do you mean you can't think of anything else I can help with?
Exactly that!
There's nothing else. I don't want you to do anything.
If I don't help you, how I know I'm a noble dragon?
Well, I…
Maybe there's things you need help with, that you don't even realize you need help with.
If she needed help, I think she'd realize it.
Maybe not.
Maybe Applejack needs help realizing what she needs help with.
Like, maybe your back itches.
That does feel good…
See? Or...
you might need help remembering your favorite song:
The dragon is the finest creature ever.
There's more to them than just guarding treasure.
I don't think that's her favorite s…
Or, you might need help breathing!
Breathing? I certainly do not…
See?
There are plenty of things I can help you with.
And you don't even have to trouble yourself with thinking of them.
No, I'll think of them. Let me think of them.
As you wish.
Twilight?
Twilight, are you there?
Twilight!
Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.
No, it's ok.
I need to take a break anyway. What's going on?
I know Spike told you he was gonna follow his dragon code
and serve me forever for saving him from the timberwolves,
and that you are okay with it, but…
Wait... What?!
He said he told you all about it.
I'm guessing maybe you were a little distracted when he told ya.
Maybe a little.
Should have realized you wouldn't let him go so easily.
Well, now that you know what's going on, maybe you could talk some sense into him.
Oh, Applejack, I wish I could, but…
this is dragon code we're talking about.
Surely you know how important the dragon code is to a dragon.
I'm sure I'm starting to.
There's the only one other way Spike is gonna fulfill the debt he feels he owes you.
Seventy, seventy one, seventy two, seventy three, seventy four, seventy five…
All right, y'all. Here's the deal:
Spike needs to save my life.
And you want us to… shoot you out of a cannon towards a hornet's nest and give Spike a butterfly net,
so he can catch you mere seconds before you hit the nest and are struck by a thousand angry hornets!
I'll wear this moustache.
No! I am gonna be attacked by a timberwolf.
Can I still wear the moustache?
When I give the signal, Pinkie Pie and Rarity will come run out of the wood
being pursued by the timberwolf.
I'll start to run too, but then pretend to give my hoof stuck.
I'll ask Spike to help me dislodge it.
And he will, and I will able to get away from the terrifying timberwolf.
Having saved me from a certain doom, Spike will then consider us even.
Everybody get it?
I'll do my best.
Just one question.
Yes?
No.
Suit yourself.
We're all ready to take our parts.
But are you sure you're ready to play yours, Applejack?
What do you mean?
Show us your best damsel in distress move.
Well...
How's this?
Absolutely horrendous!
Okay, this needs some serious work.
Now first we must lift your foreleg up to your forehead, like so.
Applejack?
No time! Here he comes!
Over here, Spike.
You said you have something else for me to do?
Yes, I...
I was just hoping you could maybe sweep up all these leaves for a compost pile.
Of course.
By the way, there are exactly 24 million 567 thousand 8 hundred and 37 blades of grass at Sweet Apple Acres.
I can't believe you counted every single one of them.
You asked me to! And as a noble dragon, and follower of my dragon code, I…
That was very convincing.
TIMBERWOLVES!
We're DOOOMED!
See? Like that.
Oh no!
I seemed to have my hoof caught in-between two rocks.
I cannot run away!
I am a… damsel in distress!
Help me, Spike!
Wait a minute.
No, no, don't wait a minute.
Save me from a terrifying timberwolf.
Well, it would be terrifying if it wasn't a fake!
You got the clopping of his claws.
The roar was spot-on.
And the detail on his face is pretty good.
But you forgot one thing.
His breath. You can smell a real timberwolf's breath from a mile.
Too late. I'm already on…
Timberwolf!
Applejack, come on!
I can't! I'm really stuck!
No more messing around!
Let's go!
Come on!
Forget it, Spike. You got to get out of here!
Would you just forget your dragon code already and go?!
No!
I have to save you!
Let's get out of here!
What happened to you guys back there?
Thought you were right behind us.
My hoof was stuck and then that timberwolf was coming right at me.
Wait! You were actually stuck?
But Spike picked up a pebble and rocketed that thing right into huge timberwolf's mouth.
And saved my life.
It was nothing.
It was something, alright?
'Course, I wouldn't have needed help
if I haven't been trying to stage a fake timberwolf attack in the first place.
Yeah. What was that all about?
I know this code thing is important to you,
but if something like this comes up in the future…
Think maybe we'll go be back to my code, say
"That's what friends do", and leave it at that?
I promise I won't think of you as any less noble.
Sounds good to me.
But, maybe, let's just try to avoid the situations
where one of us actually needs the other one to save his life?
You got yourself a deal.
Thanks, Spike.
Happy to help!
Don't know what I'd do without you.
No really! I'm really really really happy to help you!
SCHASTLIVIY PONETS
anon2anon sunnysubs.com