//------------------------------//
// If You'll Find Some Courage... 
// Story: SHIFT 
// by A_guy_from_Earth 
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   “You can do it, Spike, you can do it! How many times did you imagine this, how many times thought about? Now you only have to do the next step!..”
“Waht are you doing there?” – wondered Twilight from library hall.
“Um… I mentally prepare myself!” – little dragon walked away from the mirror in bathroom and, shivering, answered.
“And what is this terrible thing?”
“It’s not terrible. More likely it’s… difficult. Today I’m going to… Ehm… to run a cross.”
“A cross?”
“Yeah! Several thousand steps over rough terrain would be excellent test for me.”
“Hmm…”
“Well, something like that… So today I’ll return late.”
“And how exactly late?”
“I think that I will crawl here at nine or even ten o’clock.”
“What? Ten o’clock?”
“Sorry, Twi, I’m not sure that I would be able to return earlier. It would be necessary to take some rest after the scamper.”
“Okay then… Have it your way!”
“Thank you! I promise that I’ll return as soon as possible!”

Spike got down to the hall and thanked Twilight.

“Try to make it so…” – alicorn spelled, - “And good luck!”
“Thanks again!” – answered dragon, hugged pony and, having said goodbye, rushed outside.

“Still Twilight is wonderful pony. I should please her – make her a present for all this, or address to Pinkie and ask her to throw a party.” – Spike thought, - “But now…”

So, he has a lot of free time, it would be enough for several attempts, if he won’t succeed the first time. Therefore, firstly he had to disguise himself. Spike looked around and, having noticed the nearest back alley, sneaked in it. There he activated shift-suit and gave command to start the transformation. He closed his eyes, imagined his new appearance and focused. Soon the process started. It was quiet painful – strange ache throughout whole body – but he already got used to it, and if even he wouldn’t, it was worth it. In three minutes Spike opened his eyes and looked at himself. He became unicorn stallion. He was rather tall and broad-shouldered, had smoke gray coat, malachite-azure mane and tail, eyes of the same colour that the very reason of Nightmare Night celebration had and metal chain picure as cutie mark. To imitate magic would be easy. Perfect. Now the only necessary thing is to find the aim and play the role.

Having sighed, he came out from the alley and went to search. Soon he found that his aim was near.

“Ghrrr… Hpmmffff!.. Oghhh… *incredibly heavy groan* Oh, Rarity, Rarity… What on Earth made you do it?..” – repented white unicorn, - “Enough! I should quit this uncontrolled shopping!.. But now I have to take all this home… If there would be anypony to help…”
“Allow me…” – having heard male voice behind her, she shuddred, and when she turned to see the owner, all bags with bought things were in the air, and some of them moved somewhere backwards.

Rarity turned and saw friendly smiling unicorn. Some her bags he held in the air with his magic, and other part he put on own back.

“Um…” – she faltered, - “Thanks… a lot. A…”
“It’s not necessary.” – stallion answered, - “It’s just not the gentlecolt way not to offer some help to lady with a problem.”
“Ow…” – Rarity diddered a bit.
“So, where should I carry all this?”
“Oh, I beg your pardon! Please, follow me!”

And she led her sudden assiatant.

“Isn’t all this too heavy? I can take several bags!” – fashionist offered, looking at all twenty packs.
“It’s not so heavy, I’m fine.” – unicorn answered, - “To be honest, I even got used to such works.”
“Okay…” – Rarity quietly spelled, but then, having suddenly changed her expression, asked, - “…Well, in that case, may lady hear the name of her savior?”

Stallion smiled:

“Why such solemn term, “savior”? It’s just a little help… And my name is Adamant Chain.”
“I am very pleased. Well, and my name is Rarity.”
“Rarity… Wonderful name. For wonderful mare.”
“Th-thanks…” – her cheelks became rosy.
“I see that…” – Adamant Chain began, looking at bags before him, - “you are… stylist?”
“Almost. I am a fashionist.”
“Oh, pardon me.”
“No, please, it’s not necessary!”
“Well, as you say… Judging by the number of the packs you are very passionate about your work.”
“Oh, yes! It's a passion of my whole life! It’s possible to say that I’m fascinated by this since foalhood.”
“And how successfully?”
“Well… I have already taken part in several fashion shows!..”
“It’s great. My congratulations!”
“…and made few orders for princesses Celestia and Luna!”

Adanamt Chain stumbled.

“P-princesses?”
“Yes. You see, it appeared so that we are… Acquainted, so to say.”
“I see…” – stallion took very respectful expression.
“Please, don’t act like this! I am the same unicorn like evrypony else, just acquainted with princesses. And that’s all!”

Helper only unsurely nodded.

“And what do you do?” – asked Rarity.
“Me? Well…” – Adamant Chain paused a bit, like he still came to his senses after fashionist’s words, - “I am a simple unicorn, from ordinary family. I have a job in my father’s workshop.”
“You are craftspony?”
“Yes. Do different metalworks.”
“O… And, please, one more question: are you a ponyviller?”
“No, I’m from Canterlot.”
“If so, then how did you get here?”
“I’m going to visit my relatives in Seaddle, and Ponyville appeared to be the station where I have to take another train.”
“I see… Oh, we have come!”
“Really?” – stallion surprised a bit, then looked at the house, - “Nice place…”
“Thank you for everything. And now you can put the bags down. I can handle with all the rest.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, absolutely. The problem was to bring all these thing here, to sort them won’t be so hard.”
“Okay.” – and he put all bags on the ground.
“Thank you, Mr. Chain.” – said Rarity, - “And… when did you leave?”
“Tomorrow at noon, and what the matter?”
“I just have to thank you for all the help. So… can you come here, today at evening?”
“Come to you? Thanks a lot, but… maybe it would be better to visit other place? A cafe, for example?”
“Oh no, no, no, no, no! You helped me very much, so now I need to thank you. Especially that little sister will be at other place… So, seven o’clock would suit you?”
“Seven? Yes, of course.”
“Good. See you!”
“See you!”

Rarity smiled and began to bring the bought stuff into boutique. Adamant Chain nodded and went to the hotel.

Everything was just perfect! On the first try! Incredible! Spike was absolutely delighted. His head was filled with dreams, and his herat – with feels. He was ready to explode because of energy that overflowed him and at the same time thaw because of realization that dreams began to come true.

He even was ready to soar in the clouds, but with great efforts kept himself from growing wings. He didn’t want to become a  precedent.

Spike wandered around the town for a rather long time, waiting for the second meeting, but these hours passed quickly for him. All his thoughts were about upcoming.

He returned to the Earth form dream country, when town hall’s clock struck 18:30. He had to go. Spike visited flower shop, took big beautifil bouquet for Rarity and, having calmed down, rushed to boutique.

Very soon he knocked on the door.

“Yes?” – Rarity’s voice came from inside, and in a monent the door opened.
“It’s for you.” – said Adamat Chain and gave her the bouquet.
“Ow… Thank you, thank you!” – she exclaimed and kissed her guest.

Spike already began to get thrilled.

“Come in!” – said Rarity, and this made masked Spike to come to his sesnes. He nodded and entered.

There eveything was already prepared: table was placed near sofa, and it was set, candles were lit, windows were closed.

Anticipation got stronger and stronger with every second.

“Sit! I’ll return soon.” – said unicorn and went to the kitchen.
“Thank you.” – answered Adamant Chain and sat on the sofa.

Rarity returned soon. With a large platter full of small portions of different snacks and… a bottle of wine and two wineglasses.

View of all this made Spike to dither. He didn’t even suppose that something similar  can happen. And it’s the first time in his whole life. But he sought to it, so he won’t even give a sign.

“Please.” – said Rarity, putting the platter on the table.

Adamant Chain thanked her and said that he will open the bottle himself. Mare, having smiled, gave him it with her magic. Few seconds of trim magic imitation, and cork was on the prepared saucer, and wineglasses were filled with sparkling red drink. Ponies took them and, having looked at each other, said:

“For our meeting!”

And drank the wine in small sips.

Conversation soon started by itself.

“So, how are they?” – impatiently asked Rarity.
“Well…” – said Adamant Chain, having eaten another canape, - “They are tasty!”
“Say honestly! I want to know! Cooking isn’t my forte, but I want to make it better, so tell me the truth.”
“Honestly, it’s very tasty! Really! But not enough…”
“Oohhh… You, stallions, are all the same!”
“I’m sorry! But the thing is that I have never been on really scale secular events! And in restaurants I was only for a couple of times…”
“You nerer have been on them?”
“It’s just happened so. Craftsponies rarely appear to be in the guest lists of such events.”
“This must be changed! I'll take care of it.”
“Um… Thanks.”
“You are always welcome.”
“Fnd, by the way, you said that your sister is somewhere else, then where are…”
“Our parents?” – Rarity interrupted him, - “They are living at other place. I live with my sister here.”
“I see… And, by chance, that white-coated filly with curled purple mane is your sister, right?”
“Yes, it’s she.”
“I saw her today when I was wandering around the town. Very cute foal! Real little light of joy and happiness.”
“Yes, that’s our Sweetie… Though this little light sometimes is rather hyperactive and importunate.”

Adamant Chain laughed. Rarity looked at him with surprise.

“You see…” – he began, - “I have almost the same situation. But age difference is less, and I have two sisters.”

Compassion appeared on her face.

“No… It isn’t so bad! As a “gang” we are united. And now they are in Trottingham, studying.”

Fashoinist smiled:

“Adamant, you are very kind pony.”

Guest got confused, but showed gratefulness with his expression.

“And…” – Rarity meanwhile continued, - “…how’s life treating you?”
“Ehm… Well…” – Adamant Chain stumbled, - “Not very active.”
“Um, what?”
“Ain’t got nobody.”
“Nobody?.. Well… and have you ever had?”
“Just a weak infatuation, that’s all.”
“Really?”
“Yes. A…” – he finally realized where it all leads and turned to her.

There were no need in verbal answer – her half-closed eyes and dreamy glance spoke for themselves.

“Um… R-Rarity?” – he muttered.
“Such ones shouldn’t be alone.” – she said.
“I-I und-d-der-r… It’s w-wonderful, but… It’s… surprisingly… So… quickly…”
“If there are feelings, time have no importance… And now allow me…”



Under the light of full Moon, when clock were ready to strike 23:30, Spike, staggering and, because of this, walked around the obstacles that he met in darkness with efforts, returned home with frozen expression of ambiguity. He insensibly entered the library, which had been dark for a long time already, rushed upwards and fell in his bed.

How to feel about this he didn’t know.





“Cap’n we got some reults!” – exclaimed socspec.
“And what is it?” – he wondered.
“We detected almost exact place.” – navigator reported and showed image of surface area, - “The host is in this settlement.”
“Excellent! You reduced the area in twelve times! My congra… Wait, how did you do it?”
“Well, we managed to register powerful and rather long signal from shift-suit. Only thanks to this. As there were no such events before.”
“They didn’t happen? Then what could cause it now?”
“As far as I remember…” – socspec began, - “Kniyrhe said that such bursts of activity can happen when host feels strong emotions. And it seems so that our one got enough of them.”
“I see…” – captain spelled, - “Well, now the only thing to do is to find this host among the locals… and, by the way, how many locals are there?”
“About six thousands, according to the first estimates.” – navigator answered.
“Hmm… Not so many. We’ll be able to hadle it in a couple of days.”
“Yes, sir. Especially since now we began to get markers.”
“Wonderful. Guys, keep up the good work!”
“Aye-aye!”