Twilight came out of the kitchen with some snacks and placed them on the table as Rarity moved the game board off the table. The board is placed on the side for now as the ponies conversed amongst one another “well soups on everyone”, the others dug into the spread.
Rainbow dash had already started on the pie and eyed something else on the table that looked even more tempting, “hey Mickey, could you pass the brownies?”
Mickey nearly choked on his drink and gawked at the cyan Pegasus, “w….what did you say?”
“Uh….pass the brownies?” Rainbow dash repeated herself.
Mickey’s pupils grew large as pure happiness flooded his senses, “YES, OH CELESTIA YES, I WILL PASS THE BROWNIES”. He enthusiastically gives her the whole tray and stared at her with excited expectation while wagging his tail like an energetic puppy.
Pinkie pie hugs him, “I’m so happy for you Mickey”.
Rainbow dash takes a brownie from the tray, “ok, I give, what’s the big deal?”
“You’re going to be my first,” said Mickey excitedly.
“I think you may want to rephrase that,” said Rainbow quirking an eyebrow.
Pinkie pets Mickey on the head, “it’s his very first try, I was excited too when I had my first try. It didn’t come out very good at first. I even remember what it was, it was granny pies cinnamon spiced pound cake. It was always yummy when granny made it and I wanted to make it too. But it came out really burnt but I could still taste the cinnamon so I guess the burnt parts are the spice. I made it a second time but with granny pies help it came out superduper tasty………”
“OH WAIT, I REMEMBER THAT,” Mickey interrupts, “was it that time I ate a spoon full of cinnamon and couldn’t stop coughing and started sneezing it out of my nose”.
“And granny pie scolded you for wasting her cinnamon, so she had to go to the market and get some more,” said Pinkie pie .
“And when she came back you two made the best cake I ever tasted,” said Mickey before the two ended their conversation in a fit of laughter, “ahhh, good times”.
“You’re definitely related to Pinkie pie,” said Rainbow munching on her treat, “these are really good”.
“Thanks,” said Mickey, “I heard you guys usually bring baked goods to these games, so I decided to bring something too”.
Twilight also takes a brownie from the tray and bites into it, “hmmm, we certainly appreciate it; this isn’t your special talent is it?”
“Oh no, my special talent is kind of tricky to explain,” said Mickey eating some apple pie “I have a photographic memory that retains mass amounts of information on just about anything. Kind of like an encyclopedia only not as boring, it’s kind of why my cutie mark is a big fat textbook”.
Twilight looked downward at his flank, “I didn’t notice that”.
“Most ponies don’t,” said Mickey, “and those who do think I’m a teacher or author or something. Granted I have written one or two books but it’s mostly based on whatever I happen to be researching at the time”.
“So what are you researching right now?” Twilight said, her interest starting to peak once more.
“Dragons,” said Mickey, the other ponies in the room halt in what they were doing for the moment and look over at him.
“Dragons,” said Applejack, “you mean you actually set hoof on their territory?”
“Of course,” said Mickey smiling, “how else am I going to gather the info I need to create Equestria’s very first official book of dragons?”
Twilight gasped instantly in delight, she suddenly embraces him in a hug, “THAT’S WONDERFUL, oh Mickey, I’ve been waiting for a book like that to come out”. She then remembers this is a stallion she barely knew and quickly lets him go “oh….uh… sorry”.
“No problem,” said Mickey blushing, “I enjoy getting hugs”. He then gives her a sly smirk, “feel free to give me another one anytime you want”.
Twilight rolls her eyes and chuckles, “one’s enough thank you. I’m serious though, I really was hoping to find a more detailed and accurate book on dragon’s. My library only has books that give a slight mention of dragons and their territories. The only time I was able to gain more information was from spike and he was on a hording rampage at the time”.
“Ah, I see, and this spike, I’m guessing he’s a baby dragon,” said Mickey tilting his head a bit.
“Yes he is,” said Twilight, “so you’ve witnessed that type of behavior before?”
“I made the mistake of giving a few too many presents to a female baby dragon,” said Mickey, “she was just so cute, and I have a weakness for adorable things, I couldn’t help but spoil her. But tell me; how did you put a stop to it”.
“Well, I’m not too clear on that,” said Twilight.
Rarity shivered, “I remember that day; my spikey wikey gave me such a terrible fright. I don’t quite know what happened either”.
“Ya’ll are still a little sketchy on that too huh?” said Applejack, “We just knew that we had to stop him from hordin. All ah remember was him looking at that fancy ruby Rarity was wearing, then he popped back to normal quicker then a jackrabbit on rollerskates”.
“It was his birthday ruby, he gave it to me the day before his birthday,” said Rarity smiling fondly, “At first I thought the beast wanted it, but then he turned out to be spike after all”.
“I see,” said Mickey deep in thought, “he saw an object of sentimental value and was instantly reminded of his true self. Why didn’t I think of that? All I could do at the time was allow her to remain in her greedy adult dragon form. Too bad I didn’t meet you girls before; I could have solved that dilemma a long time ago”.
“I certainly wish I met you earlier too,” said Twilight, “then at least we would have more insight on helping spike learn more about himself. Oh what am I saying? You haven’t even written the book yet”. She enthusiastically grabs his hoof and cradles it in her own, “when you finish your dragon book, could I please have a copy?”
“Uh…..ok,” said Mickey wondering why she was so excited, he then relaxed a little, “you like reading, don’t you?”
“I LOVE READING,” said Twilight excitedly, “and this book will be extremely helpful to me and spike”.
“Of course,” said Mickey, “but under one condition”.
Twilight tilts her head, “what?”
“Well sometime in the future I would love to come by the library and study spike,” said Mickey looking directly into her eyes, “not that many adult dragons allow me to get close to their babies, so my data on them is a bit limited. If I can study spike I can include that data in my book”.
“Absolutely, I’m sure spike would be happy to contribute,” said Twilight, she was so engulfed in her conversation with him that she didn’t notice her friends staring at her. She looks back at them, takes her hooves away, “what? This book is going to come in handy in the future”.
Rarity gives her a knowing smirk, “well my dear, we are just noticing how excited you are about seeing his………book”. Everyone chuckles, including Mickey.
“Hey, hey, hey,” said Mickey, “it’s actually nice to meet somepony who is actually looking forward to my research, well besides Princess Celestia. I send her all of my manuscripts for approval before publishing the books. Everyone else either thinks I’m a know it all who divulges facts about things nopony cares about or that I’m suicidal for constantly walking into dragon lands in the first place. Either way, WHAT AN AWESOME NIGHT!!!!!!!!” The other mares in the room slightly jumped from the sudden outburst.
“She’s your very first fan huh?” Rainbow Dash said in a cocky manner, “you’ll get use to it kid, trust me”.
“It’s not just that,” said Mickey, “I’m in a room playing the coolest game I’ve ever seen with 6 pretty mares, eating some tasty snacks and I get to meet another princess who’s interested in my work. The only thing that would make this night perfect would be if Fluttershy gave me a back rub”.
Fluttershy chuckles a bit, “well I’m sure your imagination can help you with that too”. The other mares laughed as Mickey pouted for the second time that night. The group enjoys the rest of their snack break, conversing amongst themselves until it was time for the next match.