Chapter 3: The DuColt Champions

It took all night and some of the day but Spike and his pony friends came out of the field at a parking lot labeled 'Blueblood Section'. Pinkie smiled, pointing while saying, "Yeah, that's it; that's it right there; that's DuColt! We told you that we'd find it."

The gang looks up and down at the castle which appears to be 40 stories high. Blueblood is either a powerful ruler or what he is an illusion of sorts.

"So that's Prince Blueblood's home, huh?" Spike asks his friends in amusement.

"Eeyup, 'dat's 'de place," Applejack said with a nod.

"Huh. You think maybe he's compensating for something?" Spike asks with a smirk, making a joke and chuckles a bit. Of course, he notices that the ponies are looking at him oddly.

"I don't get it." Fluttershy said puzzled. Spike groans as he heads through the parking lot. "Wait, Spike."

At the admission area in front of the town, a boy in a giant Blueblood costume named Ed was clipping tickets from a couple. A stallion spoke up while taking his wife's hand, "Come on, darling. We can't be late. Come on."

As the couple hurries in, the group glances a bit. Spike spoke up, "Hey, you!" Ed gasps in horror upon seeing the Dragon then begins running through the row of ropes like mad to get to the front gate. "Wait, hang on! I am not going to eat you! I just..."

"Wait, we just..." Twilight begins to say but Ed kept on running, passing another row.

Spike groans a bit. He isn't surprised so the Dragon just walks through the rows without moving the ropes. Ed kept on running, trying to escape. But upon reaching the gate, he stupidly slams into a wall before falling onto the ground unconsciously.

"Oooh," The heroes remarks with cringes. That will hurt him.

Spike goes through the rail first. A concerned Fluttershy points out, "Uh, Spike, girls; we don't have tickets to go in. Wouldn't that be trespassing?"

"Come on, Fluttershy. I doubt they give tickets to creatures like us anyway." Rainbow remarks as she, Twilight, Applejack and finally Fluttershy goes through the rail. "Anyway, what's the point? We ain't staying here anyhow!"

Spike and the others heard a noise, noting that Pinkie is having trouble getting through the rail. After a while, the pink pony flips out of it before landing on the floor with a grunt.

Spike roll his eyes as he and the ponies, including Pinkie who recovers, heads onward into the city of DuColt which appears to be empty. It looks like a Disney amusement park...but not much people appear to be around; Odd.

"Quiet, too quiet," Spike said puzzled. "Where is everyone?"

"I don't know." Twilight said in concern. "This place usually got folks doing activities..."

"Oooh, look at this!" Pinkie exclaims. She spots an Information Booth used to give out info to the citizens or tourists. The pink pony bounces over and pulls a lever at the side.

Suddenly, the gang heard noises coming out of it as if music is being winded up. Soon, the doors on the box open up, showing wooden puppets appearing as they begin to sing.

Puppets: Welcome to DuColt, such a perfect town
Here we have some rules
Let us lay them down
Don't make waves, stay in line
And we'll get along fine
DuColt's a perfect place
Please keep off of the grass
Shine your shoes, wipe your...

The puppets bent down to show their flanks as if about to say a nasty word. But then they turn around, showing their faces.

Face
DuColt is, DuColt is
DuColt's a perfect place!

Once the song is over, the box closes and a camera flashes, a picture came out that show the group looking awkwardly...which what they were doing surprisingly enough.

"Wow..." Pinkie said with a blink. She smirks mischievously, looking at her friends while preparing to jump to the lever again, "Again, again!"

However Spike grabs Pinkie by the table, snapping, "No, no, no, no; No!"

"He's right, once is enough," Applejack snaps in annoyance to Pinkie. Suddenly the gang heard a trumpet fanfare, making them turn to see that it's coming from a coliseum nearby. "Ya reckon 'dat's where everypony else is?"

"I reckon. Come on." Twilight said with a nod as they head to the coliseum.

Inside the coliseum, the folks were in their seats as a song involving some dancers play for them all. Blueblood is sitting in a royal booth behind them with Razoul and some of his subjects.

DuColt Dancers: He likes to cook!

Blueblood: A model that amazes, a plan with seven phases.

DuColt Dancers: Bum bum bum bum bum!

Blueblood: Things are looking up here in DuColt!

DuColt Dancers: They’re looking up!

Once of the dancers spoke to the crowd, "And here’s the stallion who made it happen, the towering colossal of moxie, Prince Blueblood!"

The audience (forcefully by a guard holding a cue card) applauds for the prince who smiles as he speaks, "Oh, it’s you! What a terrific surprise." The stallion jumps to the stage to join in on the singing and dancing.

Blueblood: Once upon a time, this place was infested.
Freaks on every corner– I had them all arrested.
Hey, nonny, nonny, nonny, no…
If you had a quirk, you didn’t pass inspection.
We all have our standards, but I will have perfection!
And so…And so…

Things are looking up here in DuColt.

DuColt Dancers: Just take a look!

Blueblood: The things I’m cooking up here in DuColt.

In DuColt!
The fillies all look swell, the stallions are so dashing.
And thanks to my new dress code, the fashion’s never clashing!
Hey, nonny, nonny, nonny, no…

This castle I had built is taller than the cliff tops.
A city like a postcard, a monorail and gift shops!

DuColt Dancers (in the background): Blueblood, Blueblood, Blueblood,
Blueblood, Blueblood, Blueblood,
Blueblood, Blueblood, Blueblood,
Blueblood, Blueblood, Blueblood!

Blueblood: And so…

DuColt Dancers: And so…

Blueblood: And so…

DuColt Dancers: And so…

Blueblood: And so…
No one from the gutter in DuColt.

DuColt Dancers: he’s takin’ aim!

Blueblood: Embrace the cookie cutter in DuColt!

DuColt Dancers: We’re all the same!

Blueblood: The upshot is enormous when you can shout:

DuColt Dancers: Conform us!

Blueblood: Yes! Things are…

DuColt Dancers: Things are looking up…

Blueblood: Looking…

DuColt Dancers: Things are looking up…

Blueblood: Up…

DuColt Dancers: Things are looking up…

Blueblood: Here in DuColt!

Blueblood stop singing, smirking as he spoke, "Hey, let’s hear it for those DuColt dancers! Aren’t they terrific?" He and the dancers stop to have a dancing moment, much to the amusement of Lorcan watching with the guards while he's wearing a helmet and armor.

"I could do better than that." Lorcan mumbles. Once the dance break is over, Blueblood sings once more.

There’s no sign in slowin’, we’re growin’, we’re growin!

DuColt Dancers: Look he’s growing, and growing, and growing!
Look at him grow!

Blueblood: Things are looking up here…

DuColt Dancers: We practiced this part both forward and back.
We make one mistake, and we get the rack!

Blueblood: Things I’m cooking up here…

DuColt Dancers: He taught us to dance with razzamatazz.
He’s trained in ballet, flamenco and jazz!

Blueblood: My hard work and my rigor
Have made me so much bigger!
Things are looking up…

Ducolt Dancers: Things are looking up…

Blueblood: Things are looking up here in DuColt!

DuColt Dancers: Aa-aa-aa-aah!

Blueblood: Here in DuColt!

DuColt Dancers: Aa-aa-aa-aah!
Up, up, up, up, up!

Once the song is over, the crowd (forcefully) applauds as Blueblood got back in his booth. Once the dancers leave, the unicorn speaks, "Thank you, everyone. And now for the main event; brave Knights, you are the best and brightest all over the land. And today one of you will prove himself..."

Unknown to everyone, Spike's group is heading down the tunnel leading to the arena. Of course, the Dragon and Rainbow are getting annoyed as Pinkie is humming the town's song.

"Okay, you're going the right way for a smacked flank!" Spike snaps to Pinkie, having enough.

"He's right, Pinkie. Enough." Rainbow snaps to Pinkie with a frown.

"Oopsie, sorry," Pinkie said sheepishly.

As the good guys enter the coliseum, Blueblood continues his speech while Lorcan watches on, "That champion will have the honor...neigh, neigh! The privilege of going forth to rescue the beautiful Princess Rarity from the Dark Keep of the Demon Pony! Of course, if for any reason that the winner doesn't succeed, the first runner-up will take his place...and so on and so forth."

"Geez, Blueblood is lazy and a snob." Lorcan remarks to himself dryly. "What, he's a sissy to get his own hooves dirty?"

"Some of you may die...but it's a sacrifice that I'm willing to make." Blueblood said with a fake proud smile. Another cue card holder holds a sign to cause the audience to cheer. "Okay! Let the tournament begin!"

Spike and his group chose that time to walk forward. As the knights prepared for battle, they saw a familiar Dragon approaching, making them gasp in shock and horror. Even the audience stops their cheering, looking shocked upon seeing Spike.

"Spike," Lorcan gasps in shock, recognizing Spike.

"Who is that?!" Blueblood gasps upon seeing Spike in front of him.

Razoul, recognizing the same Dragon that send him and his men running yesterday, answers, "That would be Spike…the Dragon of the Western Woods, my Prince."

"That is Spike?! Ooh…he's hideous!"

"Oh come on, that isn't nice." Spike remarks, glancing at the Mane Five for a moment before turning back. "It's just a bunch of colorful ponies."

"Hey!" The Mane Five exclaims in annoyance at Spike.

"Indeed . Knights, warriors, new plan! The one who kills the Dragon will be named champion!" Blueblood announces, making Spike and his friends look shocked. That prince is ordering his men to kill him! "Get him!"

"Kill the Dragon!" Razoul ordered. The knights then advance on Spike, eager to kill him for that chance to be a champion.

Well, not all of them. Lorcan frowns while mumbling, "I don't care what Blueblood said. I ain't killing my little brother."

"Hey come on! Hang on now!" Spike exclaims as he backs away towards a huge of barrel. The Dragon bumps into a table with some mugs of apple cider in it already. Not good. These guys (minus Lorcan) are out to get him and may hurt the Mane Five while doing!

"Go ahead! Kill him!" The crowd calls out eagerly, wanting Spike to be dead!

"Oh no, not good," Fluttershy whimpers a bit, rushing to hide behind a barrel.

Spike grabs a mug, asking the knights, "Any chance we could settle this over a drink?"

"Well, to be honest, Spike..." Lorcan begins to say but a knight nudges him to keep quiet. "Hey!"

"No? Okay then." Spike remarks with a shrug as he drank the apple cider in one gulp. "All right, let's go!"

Suddenly Spike slams the spigot of the large barrel off with his mug, causing a lot of apple cider to be spilled out. Lorcan manages to get out of the way in time as the stuff rush out and knocks some of the knights down. As the ground became muddy, Spike slid past the minions and grabs a spear, using it to fight the knights as a song begins.

I don't give a damn about my reputation
You're living in the past
It's a new generation

The Mane Five quickly jumps onto another barrel, causing it to get loose from its rope and begin to role, crushing two of the knights as a result. As this happens, Spike saw more of the minions coming, causing him to rush over to a pen with non-talking horses. They run out as the Dragon got into the thing as if like in a pen followed by the knights.

A girl can do what she wants to do
And that's what I'm gonna do

In determination, Spike bounces off the rope as if in a wrestling match and knock two of the knights down, much to the astonishment of the crowd and the disbelief of Blueblood watching.

And I don't give a damn about my bad reputation
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Not me
Me, me, me

Spike begins kicking the guards' butts, smashing, head-locking and when jumping up and knocking them down like in a wrestling match. One guard prepares to hit the Dragon from behind but Lorcan grabs him, holding the enemy.

"Tag me! Hey, tag me, tag me!" Pinkie exclaims eagerly. Lorcan brings the guard over, allowing the pink pony to hit her head on the enemy, knocking him out.

And I don't give a damn about my bad reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station

The crowd begins to get excited, liking the Dragons' performance. Spike got on the rope, interacting with the crowd eagerly.

And I'm always feelin' good when I'm having fun

A guard tries to sneak behind Spike but the Dragon, seeing him, turns in turn and body slams the opponent.

And I don't have to please no one

"The chair! Give him the chair!" Golden Harvest calls out to Spike eagerly. The Dragon uses a metal chair to hit some of the knights on the backs with it. The crowd cheered on wildly as Spike and Lorcan continues kicking their enemies' butts.

And I don't give a damn about my bad reputation
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Not me
Me, me, me
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Not me, not me

Soon almost all of the men were down until Applejack smirks as she kicks the last one unconscious in the helmet with her back sound. A ding sounds, ending the match. Spike and Lorcan came out, waving to the crowd who cheers and went wild for them. Blueblood on the other hoof looks upset. His best men were taken down by two Dragons!

"Yeah, oh yeah, thanks; Thanks a lot! I'm here until Thursday; try the veal! Ha ha ha," Spike exclaims eagerly. He turns to Lorcan, adding, "Hey, thanks for backing me up, Mister..."

"Spike, don't you recognize me?" Lorcan asks as he removes his helmet. Spike looks shocked as he saw who it is, knowing who this knight is at once.

"Lorcan?! Is that you?!"

"You know him?" Twilight ask Spike in surprise.

"Well, duh! He's my older brother! I haven't seen him in a long time!" Spike exclaims, hugging Lorcan, happy to see him for so long.

"He's your older brother?! He's a shorty." Rainbow laughs in amusement by Lorcan's height. It's true, this Dragon is short!

"Grrrrr...." Lorcan growls as he pounces on Rainbow. "Don't call me small! I'll rip off your feet and stick em down your throat!"

However, Blueblood smirks as he made a signal. Spike, Lorcan and the ponies stop what they're doing looking shocked as the guards on the castle walls aim their bow and arrows at them all. The crowd gasps in horror at this happening. Blueblood is going to kill the Dragons and the Ponies right here and now!

"Oh no," Spike gasps in shock, recognizing what arrows that the guards are using.

"What's wrong, Spike?" Twilight ask Spike in concern.

"The guards are armed with Black Arrows!"

"Huh," Rainbow ask puzzled. That doesn't sound good.

"There's only two weapons that can really pierce a Dragon's hide, Rainbow; its magic swords and Black Arrows, both in the form of a regular arrow and in the form of a crossbow bolt." Spike said seriously to Rainbow.

"Oh great, just great," Lorcan remarked with a groan. "This could end my career badly but not on this!"

"Shall I give the order, sir?" Razoul ask Blueblood, wanting permission to give the order to have the Dragons and the ponies killed right now, even Lorcan.

Blueblood pauses then spoke up, having a thought, "Actually, no. I got a better idea." Turning to the crowd, he exclaims while pointing to Spike and Lorcan, "People of DuColt! I give you your champions!"

"Wait, what?" Spike asks in shock and confusion. Lorcan looks surprised. He and his brother had won a tournament that Spike didn't even enter at all!

"Very well done, Spike the Dragon and Lorcan…you two and your friends have won the honor of embarking on a great and noble quest!"

"Quest?! Excuse me, Prince Blueblood…but I'm already on a quest; a quest to get my home back!

"Your home," Blueblood ask Spike, arching an eyebrow at this.

"Yeah…Your Royal Shortness--!" Spike begins to snaps angrily at Blueblood.

"I…Am…Not…SHORT," Blueblood snaps furiously. After calming down, he said, "My dreams are just bigger than my…current status."

Spike, Lorcan and the Mane 5, snickering to themselves, adds, "Riiiiiiiiiggggght."

"Anyway, yeah…my home…where you dumped those fairy tale/mythical creatures!" Spike exclaims furiously, making the crowd gasps at that accusation.

"Is that right?" Blueblood asks Spike in amusement. It's true, the prince has indeed dumped the fairy tale/mythical creatures into that swamp, but only because he didn't think or care that anyone is actually living there. Actually, the unicorn got an idea on how to kill two birds with one stone: get what he wanted and get rid of the pests, maybe the Dragon Spike too. "Very well then…O Mighty Spike, then I shall make you a deal. Go on this quest for me, and I promise…that you shall have your home back."

"Exactly the way it was?"

"You have my word."

"And the squatters?" Spike asks Blueblood suspiciously.

Blueblood grins as he answers, "As good as gone."

"And what about our deal, Blueblood," Lorcan demands to Blueblood with a frown. Spike looks puzzled, wondering what his brother meant.

"Okay, Lorcan. Help Spike complete his noble quest and not only will I release you from my service but I will also make you immune to future persecution from my men; How about it?"

Spike pauses as he glances at the guards, preparing to fire if the Dragon refuses to do what Blueblood wants him to do. Turning back to the prince, Spike then ask, "Okay…what kind of quest?"

--------

Outside the coliseum, Pinkamena and Golden Heart were waiting as Gold Wing lands on Golden Heart;s shoulder and whispers into his ear. The Alicorn says, "It seems spike and gang are going to retrieve Rarity."

Pinkamena adds, "Who's guarded by a monster and caretakers; also by sunset she becomes a Dragon."

"Um how did you..."

"I read the book."

Pinkamena indeed is holding a book about the tale. Golden Heart blinks then he said, "Um ok, but lets go follow." They head off to follow the good guys on their quest.

----------------

Blueblood has given the group the information about Rarity, where she's being held at and the direction as to where to find her. The heroes are on their way, walking through the field and away from the castle, heading to the direction of the dark land itself.

As Spike eats some onions, Pinkie puzzled spoke up, "Okie dokie lokie. So let's see if I got this right. You and your brother Lorcan are going to fight a Demon Pony to rescue a princess so that Blueblood will give you back a swamp which you don't have only because he filled it with freaks in the first place. Did I hear right?"

"Yeah, that's the case." Lorcan said with a nod.

"Ugh, you know, there's some reason why some ponies shouldn't talk." Spike mumbles while taking a bite from the onion.

"Still, Ah don't git it. Why couldn't Blueblood just go after Rarity himself? What, he's too lazy an' a neat freak 'ta do so?" Applejack asks the others, puzzled by the fact that Blueblood won't do the quest himself.

"Yeah, pretty much." Rainbow remarks dryly. "So Spike, Lorcan? I don't get it. How come you don't pull any of that Dragon stuff on him to get your swamp back? I mean, throttle him; lay siege to his castle, burn him to pieces, the whole Dragon trip."

"Oh, yeah. And you know what? Maybe I should've cut off the heads of a bunch of villager ponies, put their heads on a pike, got out my claws and open their spleen and drink their blood." Spike remarks sarcastically to Rainbow, getting her a bit disturbed. "Does that help?"

"Err, nah, not really."

"Look, Rainbow, there's more to being a Dragon than people think."

"He's right. We aren't always savages and all that." Lorcan said to Rainbow in agreement. "Even we got standards."

"Example?" Pinkie ask Lorcan and Spike curiously.

The group stops as Spike ponders, wondering what example to prove his and Lorcan's point. The Dragon, seeing his onion, said, "Example. Right. Okay, Dragons...are like onions!" Pinkie sniffs the onion then cringes a bit.

"Whoa! They stink?"

"Ye...no!"

"They make you cry?" Fluttershy ask Spike, guessing next.

"No, Fluttershy." Lorcan said, rolling her eyes at that guess.

"Oh I get it! If you leave them in the sun, they get all brown and start sprouting little white hairs!" Rainbow exclaims with a smirk, much to the annoyance of the Dragons and Twilight.

"Ugh! No, you arrogant flying pony; Layers," Spike snaps as he peels the onions, showing the layers. "Onions have layers! Dragons have layers! Onions have layers! Got it? We both got layers!"

"Oh yes. I see." Twilight said with a nod. Spike sighs heavily as he walks off, leaving the onion. "You Dragons look rough and nasty on the outside..."

"But on the inside, you can be gentle." Fluttershy said with a smile. Lorcan nodded, confirming the answer as to what Twilight and Fluttershy are getting at.

"Oooooh, you both got layers. I see." Pinkie said, sniffing the dropped onion. The mare cringes as she follows the rest of her friends. "I will be honest though. Not everypony like onions. Oh! I know! Cakes! Everypony loves cake! They got layers, right?"

"No, I don't care what everypony likes." Spike snaps to Pinkie, rolling his eyes at the pink pony trying to make a point. "Dragons aren't like cakes."

"Hmmm. Say, you know what else everypony likes? Parfaits! Have you met someone, you say, 'hey, let's get some parfait', they said, 'hay no, I don't like parfaits'. Wow, they are yummy."

"Actually, I could go fer parfaits mahself." Applejack said, getting a bit hungry.

Spike on the other hoof turns around, snapping angrily to Pinkie, "No, you dense, annoying pink ball of a pony! Ponies are like onions, okay?! End of story! See you later!"

With that, the Dragon storms off once more, Lorcan and the ponies cringe a bit. Spike can be very sensitive about this subject.

"Wow, what's his problem?" Twilight ask Lorcan in concern as the group continues following Spike to their destination.

"Long story," Lorcan said to Twilight with a sigh. "My brother prefers never to talk about it."

"So how is it you ended up working with Blueblood anyway, since you're a Dragon?"

"It's a long story, Twilight, involving me...and my true love..."

"Hee hee; Parfaits must be the most delicious on this world and any other world out there!" Pinkie giggles a bit, licking her lips even thinking about parfaits.

"Ugh, you know? I think I preferred your humming right about now." Spike sighs a bit as the group continues onward.

"Hmmm, any one of you got a tissue or a towel? I'm making a mess. Wow! The word 'parfait' is making me slobber..."

Author's note
Well, Spike, Lorcan and the Mane Five are on a quest. In the next chapter, upon arriving at the castle over molten lava, they meet Pinkamena, Golden Heart and Gold Wing and then take on the Demon Pony and his caretakers...whom took a romantic interest in the Mane Five. And then, we meet Rarity. Read, review and suggest.

The song sang by the DuColt Dancers and Blueblood came from 'Shrek: The Musical'.

The Black Arrows came from the Lord of the Rings series.