//------------------------------// // 02- What A Gentledrake! // Story: Let Me Count The Ways // by Rara //------------------------------// Spike hoisted the fainting filly into his arms with a grunt. “She’s heavier than she looks,” he complained to nopony in particular as he began to carry Rarity into the library. Glancing behind him, Spike saw Twilight talking to the guards, thanking them for their time, he assumed. The burly pegasi nodded and quickly took flight, looking relieved to get away from this strange town. Spike waited for his friend to catch up before continuing into the empty library. She trotted next to him, looking up with wide eyes at the swooning Rarity. She lay like a princess in Spike’s arms, one foreleg tossed dramatically over her forehead. Spike looked at his charge with raised eyebrows. “She sure seemed to like me.” he commented. “I’ve never had anypony react to me like that before. Screams, running away, torches and pitchforks- sure. But this? Weird.” Twilight opened the door and allowed Spike to step through first. She followed after him, closing the door carefully behind her with a concentrated push of magic. “Do you think she’s okay? I’ve never seen a pony actually faint before. I heard it’s not good for the brain to pass out like that.” Spike eyed the white unicorn skeptically. One of her eyelids twitched open, a tiny slit of blue peering out. Seeing him looking at her, it snapped shut. A faint blush colored her pale cheeks. Spike rolled his eyes and smiled. “Somehow, I think she’ll be fine.” He laid the filly gently on an old couch, upholstered in red velvet. The fabric was worn almost completely through in places, and a puff of dust rose up as the dragon set her down. Twilight fidgeted nervously, oblivious to Rarity’s true condition and not entirely convinced by Spike’s words. “Well, just in case, I’ll go get her a glass of water. I think the kitchen’s over there. Um… I think you should keep her head elevated. Or maybe her back hooves? Elevate both, just to be sure.” The nervous filly stood for a moment, trying to remember what she was doing. Then, with a cutely decisive nod, she turned and trotted into the next room. The teenage dragon chuckled, settling himself down next to the couch. A loud sneeze made Spike jump. The source of the noise, he discovered, was a red-faced Rarity. She held one hoof in front of her nose, as if to muffle the sound retroactively. They stared at each other for a moment. “Ah- oh goodness, I appear to have fainted. How embarrassing!” the white filly gasped belatedly. “Where am I?” Spike struggled to repress a smile. “Uh… the library? It’s only been, like, a minute. Twilight’s getting you some water.” Rarity sat up, then noticed what she was sitting on. She hastily scrambled off the worn couch, dusting herself off with a look of disgust. “Ugh! Please tell me you’re going to get rid of this old thing while you’re here.” The dragon looked at the couch. It didn’t seem that bad to him. “I dunno. You’d have to ask Twi.” The white filly settled down, apparently over her embarrassment. “I think I will.” She looked hesitantly at Spike. “Ah… It was very kind of you to help me like that. Thank you.” The gangly dragon suddenly felt very awkward. He didn’t know what to do with his hands. He crossed and uncrossed his arms. He swished his tail over the smooth wood floor. “Oh, it’s no big deal.” “But it is!” insisted the earnest filly. “You’re such a gentlesta- erm, drake! I simply must find a way to repay you!” “No,” Spike protested. “You really don’t have to do that. Seriously.” The little pony looked determined. “I will. Twilight, too. Would it be all right if I came by tonight? I can show you both around Ponyville. It’s the absolute least I can do.” Spike considered the offer. “Actually, that sound kind of nice. I wouldn’t mind getting a tour, and Twilight needs to get out and socialize anyway.” In the kitchen, Twilight’s ears twitched. She had the strangest feeling that she ought to be offended. Rarity beamed. She bounded up to Spike, beaming. “It’s a date, then! I’ll be here at five-thirty!” Before she could lose her nerve, the unicorn stretched up on her back hooves and kissed Spike on the cheek. Then, before he could react, she had fled. Twilight emerged from the kitchen, a glass of water held suspended before her, to see her assistant sitting dumbstruck on the floor, one hand held to his cheek. “Where’s Rarity?” asked the filly. Spike turned to her, looking bemused. “I’m not sure, but… I think we have a date tonight.” *L*L*L* Rarity couldn’t repress the enormous grin that stretched over her face as she skipped home. On any other day, she would have walked sedately- like a proper lady ought- but she was just too excited. Ponies looked curiously at the happy filly as she bounced through the town square. One orange mare leaned over to her friend, a blue mare with a striped mane and tail. “Is that Rarity or Pinkie Pie?” she muttered. The pair laughed to see the normally composed youngster so carefree. As if summoned by their words, a small pink filly emerged from Sugarcube Corner at the very moment that Rarity was passing. Rarity was too lost in her own thoughts to notice the curly-maned earth pony, and Pinkie was looking over her shoulder as she answered somepony within the bakery. “Sorry again about the mess, Mr. Cake! Are you sure you don’t want me to help-” CRASH. The two fillies went rolling head over tail as they collided. A mare pulled her foal out of their path as they passed, their forward momentum unchecked until- BONGGG. They collided with a lamp post, detatching from the tangle of legs and curls with a painful-sounding noise. Rarity lay upside-down against the pole, her legs in the air and her eyes moving in disoriented circles. Pinkie Pie had somehow landed on all fours, and shook herself off before looking at her friend. “Wow! That was kinda fun! I was hoping to run into you today, but I didn’t know I’d actually run into you! Gosh, your eyes look funny like that! Woo-woo-woo, all circle-y and stuff!” The pink pony leaned over Rarity. “Is that comfortable? I’ve never tried sitting upside-down like that before!” Rarity groaned. “It’s not comfortable, Pinkie. Can you give me a hoof here?” “Okey-dokey-lokey!” chirped her friend. She helped Rarity to her hooves, bouncing slightly in place as the unicorn rubbed the back of her head. Rarity sighed. “I guess that’s what I get for not looking where I was going.” She perked up almost immediately. “But I’d better get going. It was nice to see you, Pinkie, but I need to get ready!” She turned and trotted up the street. Pinkie followed, bouncing on spring-like legs. “Whatcha getting ready for? Can I help?” Rarity smiled at her enthusiastic friend. Her head still hurt, but she didn’t mind. A little bump like that couldn’t ruin her good mood! “I’m going home to get ready for tonight. I’m afraid I don’t need any help, darling, but thanks for the offer.” Pinkie bounced on, undeterred. “What’s going on tonight? I know it’s not your birthday, cause I know EVERYPONY’S birthdays. Yours isn’t for another forty-two days! Is it a special occasion? Do you need a party?” “Pinkie, it’s not-” “Ooh! I know! Is there a new holiday? No, I would have heard about that! I love holidays. Maybe-” “Pinkie-” “I know! Maybe you’re-” “PINKIE!” The energetic pony looked at Rarity, who had stopped walking. “What is it? You don’t need to yell, silly, I’m right here!” Rarity took a deep breath. She was clinging desperately to the remnants of her good mood, but speaking to Pinkie was… trying. “I’m going out with some new ponies in town. Well, one of them is a pony. They’re staying in Ponyville for the summer.” Pinkie’s eyes grew huge, and she gasped dramatically. “NEW PONIES? This is great! Oh my gosh, they need a Welcome-to-Ponyville party! Just wait until I-” Pinkie was about to run off and plan a party right then, but Rarity grabbed her face. She leaned close to Pinkie until they were eye-to-eye, her hooves squishing the pink pony’s cheeks together. “Pinkie. I need you to promise me something.” “’Kay.” “There’s this… boy, he’s one of the new ponies. I really like him, and I would appreciate it if you could hold off on the… ah, partying, until tomorrow. Just let me get to know him tonight, all right? And don’t tell anypony that I like him! Understand?” Rarity’s voice was desperate. Pinkie straightened, her mouth in a small o. “Oh my gosh! Of course I won’t tell! In fact, I’ll keep everypony out of your way tonight so no sneaky-sneaky filly comes and steals him away! I’ll make sure you have the best date ever!” Before Rarity could correct her, Pinkie had zoomed away in a pink blur. The white unicorn slumped her shoulders and sighed. “So much for that plan.”