//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Under Appreciated // by TheNix //------------------------------// The rest of the first week of school went by without any large incidents. In Spike’s mind it just felt like debate on if he should ask Rarity out. Eventually Spike reasoned that the worse that could happen is that he gets turned down. “I don’t think my popularity could go down anymore”, Spike told his mother Twilight. She seemed amused and helpful but didn’t want to interfere in Spikes life. Willing to let him have fun and learn from his mistakes, but be there if she was needed and help if necessary. Usually Twilight’s help was in the form of a lecture, or the most scientific approach to an issue, but Spike new a scientific approach wasn’t going to help get Rarity to go out with him. Spike made up his mind on asking Rarity out, the problem now was how. Twilight simply told him to be straight forward and just ask her first time he sees her. Spike had been thinking of something more fancy and flashy, but because he was nervous and indecisive he we susceptible to suggestion. He thought about this while walking to school. He hardly noticed the snickers as he walked to his locker. He grabbed his books and walked to history, several minutes before class started of course. History class was starting to get boring to Spike and he hardly paid any attention since his mind was preoccupied. Next was gym class and they were playing dodgeball. Coach Discord seems to have developed a new game where he will throw balls at Spike when he’s not paying attention. Of course when Spike looked over to see who threw it Coach would pretend he didn’t do anything, yet he would always be laughing to himself. Spike spent most of the games out of bounds after being nailed by some athletic pony. There were a few other frail ponies that seemed to always be out too. “Not much for sport either, eh?” said a pony named Snails. “Yeah, I’m a dragon and all but right now I can’t lift much. I still have a small body from containing my greed. I don’t really like sports anyways, why does having muscles matter more than having brains?” replied Spike. “Yeah I agree, you betcha”, said Snails rather slowly. This gave him the opinion that Snails may not have much brawn OR brains. He still seemed friendly enough though. “Well I’m Spike. We should try to help each other out in this class. Coach Discord doesn’t seem to.” As Spike said this they looked over at the coach and he was sticking a leg out to trip a smaller pony running by. Spike noticed while sitting out also that the girl’s class did Tae-bo during gym. This was kind of a cardio program that integrated some “martial arts” actions into the dance. Spike noticed a few times that his attention drifted to their corner of the gym watching Rarity dance in a group. She had a sweat band around her head and front legs. She also seemed to be trying to take it easy and sweat as little as possible. Snails broke Spike’s stare by saying “Well you seem to be starin’ at someone over there. Do ya got yourself a sweetheart?” Spike blushed and waved his hands as he shook his head no. “No way man! I mean maybe there is a very cute pony over there, but not my sweetheart or anything like that.” Snails smiled, “Ohhhhhhh. I seeeeeee. Well actually I’ll tell you a secret. I got a crush on a cute pony myself.” Snails nodded towards a dark blue pony that seemed to have convinced two other ponies to do her Tae-bo for her as she grinned evilly at them. “She’s amazing. I’d say I have a crush because she is so great and powerful.” Spike gave Snails a weird look. Then again how could he judge, he had a crush on what seems to be a delinquent. Spike patted him on the back feeling like brothers in arms. As both classes left the gym to go back to the locker rooms the men’s class mixed with the women’s class. Spike suddenly found himself next to Rarity and panicked. “Hey Rarity”, he called. He knew he was rushing this way too fast but Twilight told him to just get it out there and see what happens. Rarity slowed down and looked behind her for the one who called her. She saw Spike staring at her and looked confused. She stopped and walked back to him. “Hello. Do I … know you?” she asked. Spike looked a little hurt. “I’m Spike, I sit next to you in the next two classes”, he pointed out. “Yes, Yes. That was just a little joke darling. Now, how can I help you?” she asked chuckling. “Rarity, I’m in love with you and I want you to be my special somepony”, blurted out Spike. He was still a bit love-drunk and not fully aware of what he was doing. The shocked look on Rarity’s face made his own words sink in though. “Well darling, I think I’m a bit out of your class. I’ve had many ponies ask me out my 4 years in high school and I’ve turned them all down. I’m sorry but I don’t want to go out with you.” With that Rarity turned and trotted away to the girl’s locker room. Spike looked dejected. He knew the worse that could happen is he would be turned down, but he didn’t know how bad being turned down was. Spike slumped back to his locker room and freshened up before heading to class. “I should of thought about that more, but I kind of stop thinking when I see her”, thought Spike to himself. Rarity came in right before the bell rang and took to her desk beside Spike. He had actually forgotten about having a class with her next period. Spike immediately felt embarrassed but when he glanced over Rarity wasn’t paying any attention to class or him. She looked over the incident already. Spike felt foolish for brooding on it for so long. Spike got through math class and going to lunch saw Snails sitting with one other pony he knew named Snips. Spike decided to take a seat for lunch today. “Hey Snails. Who is your friend there?” Snails looked up and saw Spike. “Oh, hey Spike. This is my pal Snips. He’s nice, and he also likes Trixie like me.” Snips cut in, “Yup she’s the bestest pony in all of Ponyville High.” “Well how is Rarity? I saw that you were talking to her after gym”, asked Snails. “Um… well it’s not that bad. Hey I’m going to go eat in the library. You guys can join me if you like. I read comics in there at lunch”, explain Spike. He didn’t expect them to follow but as he started for the library they were right behind him talking about Trixie. At the library they took up 3 of the 4 seats around the lounge table. Spike had a few of Shining Knights comics spread out on the table and was pointing out various panels that he thought looked well and explaining the story to them. Snails and Snips looked wide eyed as Spike engrossed them in the saga of Shining Knight. Often they would let out an astonished “WOW” as Spike told the exciting parts of the story. With a general summary of the story he left them to read the comic books. Snips and Snails seemed to really be into it and Spike felt accomplished in helping out his friends discover Shining Knight. As art class started Spike had an idea. Maybe he could win her heart with an artistic message to her. As soon as he sat down he started doodling, giving it his all to get a drawing and message Rarity would appreciate. What he ended up with was Shining Knight in a cool action pose with a speech bubble that said, “You should go out with Spike!” He pushed this sheet of paper to rarity who wrote in big letters over the whole drawing ‘N-O’. Spike was sad again, especially because his drawing had been scribbled on. On the way back to his tree house Spike saw a scarf on the ground. He picked it up out of curiosity and it was a bit dusty but clearly had Rarity’s cutie mark stitched into it. It also was very noticeably fashionable with its light blue color with dark blue pattern. Spike didn’t see Rarity so he ran off in the direction he thought she lived in. He had seen her always leave school going in the same direction if she wasn’t with friends. After a small distance he found Rarity and approached her running and calling her name. “Rarity! Rarity!” Rarity stopped and turned around to see Spike carrying her scarf. She then noticed that she wasn’t wearing it at that moment. “Oh, my! I simply cannot believe I dropped that.” Looking at it she saw how dusty it is and didn’t take it. “Um … Spike … Could you be a dear and wash that for me? That dust would simply ruin the 3 hours each morning I put into my hair. Just bring it tomorrow nice and clean and I’ll get it from you in math class.” Spike nodded and Rarity trotted off to her home. Spike now held the scarf as if it was made of gold and protected it with his life as he brought it home. As he walked in his tree-house Twilight saw him with the scarf. “Hi Spike. Where did you get that?” she asked. “Rarity dropped it. She wanted me to wash it for her so I’m going to wash it till it’s perfectly clean!”, spike explained with determination in his voice. Twilight giggled. “So you didn’t ask her out yet?” Spike blushed and looked away. “Well actually … I did. She turned me down really fast.” Spike sniffled a little bit remembering his being turned down. Twilight nuzzled him and said, “There, there.” Spike looked up at her. “I took your advice and just asked her out straight. I drew a picture to help me after that in art class but she didn’t like that either.” “Hmmm. That’s strange. Well I’ve never asked anypony out before myself. I’ve never been asked out either to be honest. Maybe I’ll read some books and give you better advice tomorrow. You should read up on it too”, suggested Twilight. “I’m starting to think there are problems books can’t solve…”, said Spike. Twilight gasped and Spike winced because he knew how much of an insult that was to Twilight. “Michelangelo Bartholomew Spike!” Twilight screeched his full name. “You go to your room right now and read books until you changed your mind. You are lucky I don’t wash your mouth out with soap right now!” Spike scampered up the stairs to his room. He spent the time in there washing the scarf though. After making sure all the dust was off it and it was completely dry, he folded it military style and gift wrapped it to make it look nice. Happy with it he ended up falling asleep hugging it. The next morning Spike could hardly wait for math class. Spike was extra early to class and Rarity showed up earlier than usual too. Rarity went straight to Spike. “So did you bring the scarf? I simply died while missing my scarf yesterday. I didn’t have anything to go with the rest of my outfit, and it just threw my whole day off.” Spike produced from behind his back a package and sat it on Rarity’s desk. Rarity opened it up and squealed with delight. “Spike darling, this looks fabulous. Could you put it on me?” Spike came over and grabbed the scarf, wrapping it once around her and letting it drape slightly to one side. While putting it around her neck Spike nonchalantly combed a claw through her main. Her hair was a smooth as silk and styled perfectly. He took secret pleasure in this and finished putting the scarf around her. Looking into a mirror in the room Rarity checked herself from several angles. “I look fabulous as always”, she said to herself as much as Spike. “Thanks a bunch”, she said towards Spike as she went back to her desk and class started. Spike wasn’t sure if he expected more or should be happy with how much attention he got. He decided to be positive and couldn’t wait to tell his buddies Snips and Snails.