//------------------------------// // A request // Story: Backfire // by Zoom zoom //------------------------------// “Ug, not this again.” Wishful Thinking was starting on the last of his boxes as he talked to his guest. “What’s this, like the fifth time this year you complained to me about this girl?” He set up the various items in his box, cheap trophies that were for participation in an awry of activities with his name on them. He figured something should go on the mantle by the fireplace even if it wasn’t impressive. Wishful was careful not to bring up the fact Spike was a dragon and this girl he kept going on about was a pony. Logic dictates that it will never work due to the fact she’d grow old and die before Spike was even halfway to his full growth. He’d made the mistake of bringing this up before and despite Twilight Sparkle, spikes guardian, agreeing with him that it wasn’t healthy; even she went into a long speech with him about love transcending such matters and blah blah blah. “But I got her a gift and everything,” cried the dragon as he swept the floor covered with streamers into a nice pile. “And she didn’t even react. She was all over this other guy at the party.” “Let me guess,” replied Wishful in a dull tone. “He was a white unicorn with a lot of money.” “How…” Spike began. “I had a guess. I haven’t even met this girl of yours and you’ve talked about her enough that was a simple guess. If that girl, Pinkie Pie was it, throws another party for me I’ll make sure no white colts are allowed.” “That’s no good,” said Spike, “You’ll hurt some pony’s feelings.” “Whatever. I was only offering for your sake. Seems to me SD, that you should just bite the bullet and ask her out. Do or die. If she rejects you that’s it, you move on. Simple.” “NO!” Spike shouted. He suddenly turned red as he continued, “I mean how could I risk losing the love of my life. She’s...” “The most beautiful pony in Equestria,” finished Wishfu mimicking Spike’s voice. “I know. You say at least 4 times every time you talk to me. Just do it dude, and if it doesn’t work just stay friends. Simple.” “I already tried that,” said Spike. “I thought I was going to die once and tried to say it but she cut me off and stopped me.” “What?” replied Wishful in amazement as he stopped what he was doing and picked up spike to put on his dining room table so they were at eye level before quoting a favorite book of his as he did now and then. “This I simply must hear.” When Spike was finished with his tale of nearly destroying ponyville, Wishful had a wide grin on his face. “Oh she defiantly likes you.” “What?” Spike's confusion was made even worse by his friend's laugh. “And the fact you can’t see it is the reason you guys are not good for each other yet.” “How would you know? You’ve never dated anyone.” Wishful Scowled, “True, but if I was in your position I would have been trying again when all the destruction was cleaned, to impress her. You just rebooted because you didn’t want to risk your friendship with her. She obviously has the same thoughts and cut you off before it could threaten your friendship with her.” “That doesn’t make any sense," replied Spike scratching his head. “Well she doesn’t like you as you want, but it’s a good starting point is what I meant.” Wishful returned to his boxes lifting Spike with his magic and placing him outside his house. “Now go on and tell the girl how you feel. Make it nice and emotional and all that.” “Wait,” said Spike figuring things out, “You’re not trying to get rid of me now that I helped clean up the house are you?” Wishful laughed with a hint of guilt, “of course not. I just want to see two lovers be together. Now go on.” And with that he slammed the door on Spike. And it slammed open again with Spike pushing it so, breaking the door hinge in the process. “That reminds me.” Wishful cringed, he knew what was coming. The reason he and Spike had so many talks about Spike’s love life was because Wishful would always try to steer the conversation away before it got to this point. “I wanted to call in my last favor.” Wishful could hear the glass breaking in his mind. Now there was no way he could convince Spike otherwise. He hated using his special talent. The bright single white star on his flank was only good as a decoration, much like his trophies, as far as he was concerned. “I need you to grant me a wish.” And there it was. Wishful still tried, “SD, you know what happens when I use my magic. Either the same thing or the opposite happens to me. Sometimes even worse than the wish I grant.” “I know. But I really need something. It’s not like I’m going to wish for her to love me or anything I promise.” Spike seemed to be telling the truth. But ever since the banjo incident Wishful was skeptical. “And I promise it won’t be like the banjo incident.” Spike insisted. Wishful muttered about Spike being some kind of mind reader before thinking it over. After some time he finally started bashing his head against the chimney hard until a small trickle of blood dripped from his temple that he hit. “What’s that about?” Spike asked. “Punishing myself early for agreeing to do this,” Wishful said with a scowl. Spike’s happiness was nearly uncontainable as he ran in to hug his friend in thanks. Fire shot from his nose as he tried to keep his mouth shut. “Two things though.” he added through slight choking sounds. “Anything man,” Spike replied. “First, I want you to really think this through. Most of my wishes get unwished pretty fast and we need to think of a good one that won’t have any really bad side effects to me. So, no wishing for money or power or crap like that. Got it?” “Got it,” Spike said with a frantic nod. Wishful nodded and continued, “and second: You’ve done enough stuff with Ms. Sparkle to know that you need to be focusing when magic is used on you. Dragons have a natural resistance to magic they don’t allow so if you don’t stay focused I can’t guarantee the result. Understood?” “Understood,” Spike agreed though Wishful could tell Spike had already begun to day dream again about this Rarity. So he slapped in across the face. “I’m serious. This is a magic even Ms. Sparkle wouldn’t dare try without combining powers with BOTH of the princesses. I can’t have you phasing out like that if I’m going to give you an actual wish that isn’t something material.” Spike rubbed his cheek and nodded slowly this time. “I understand.” “Good. Then tomorrow night come by here and wake me up. My powers work best when there is a wishing star around and I don’t know how much we’ll need to do whatever you are going to do. I’d ask what the wish is but if you told me it of no use.” And with that he sent Spike off as the sun started to dip. Wishful crawled into his bed not worrying about it since as long as Spike kept what he told him in mind that would be no issue. And besides odds were like most things he his magic did that were not his idea, the pony in question would regret it in 24 hours, and even he could live with some bad things until then. And he’d get Spike off his back and be even with him again. He hated owning favors anyway. It was a win-win situation. What could possibly go wrong?