//------------------------------// // Reunion // Story: Moving On // by Helmet798 //------------------------------// Spike looked out the window of the train. Looking at the landscapes passing by, he wanted to be alone in his thoughts. Too bad the Princess of Friendship wouldn’t let him. “Isn’t this trip to Canterlot going to be fun Spike?” The young dragon turned his head to face the pony sitting next to him. “Yeah, I’m sure it will be, but I wish you told me I was going on this trip sooner. I mean, I knew that you were planning to go to Canterlot for a week or two, but why not tell me that I was going too until the day before?” Twilight looked a tad nervous. If I tell Spike I’m bringing him here to get him away from Rarity, he’s just going to think about her more. And probably be a bit mad at me. What do I tell him?” “Umm..Umm…the reason is….” The purple alicorn stammered out. “….the reason is….I’ve been unorganized! I’ve been so busy with the Spring Fling that I forgot to tell you that you were coming with me to Canterlot.” Spike raised an eyebrow. Twilight Sparkle unorganized? I’d sooner believe Pinkie Pie retiring from throwing parties. Twilight could tell that her assistant was skeptical. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you more notice Spike, but I’m certain all three of us are going to have a great time! Right Starlight?” The pink unicorn sitting across from Twilight nodded and smiled. “Yeah!” This made Spike smile too. Well if there’s one good thing about this sudden forced trip to Canterlot, it’s that I’ll get to spend more time with her. The train started to slow down, before coming to a complete stop. Twilight, Spike, and Starlight all got off the train. Waiting at the train station was a unicorn wearing glasses and a black sweater. The purple alicorn smiled widely. “Moondancer! It’s so nice to see you!” Twilight gave her friend a hug. Moondancer smiled. “It’s great to see you too. I recently obtained some history books on Meadowbrook and his influence on Eastern magic.” Twilight had to fight not to squee. “No way! That sounds like quite the read! Spike, doesn’t that sound exciting?” “Oh yeah, reading books. Sounds fun.” Spike responded in a deadpan tone. The Princess of Friendship stopped smiling. Shoot. Reading about history is fun for me, but boring for Spike. I need to give him something else to do. Twilight gave Spike a bag of bits. “Why don’t you go grab something at Donut Joe’s Spike?” Spike looked at the bag of bits. Hmmm, this could be the chance to take a page out of Mr. Cake’s book and try a practice date. The young dragon turned to Starlight. “Would you like to get some donuts Starlight?” “That sounds fun Spike.” Spike smiled widely. “Then follow me. Joe’s Donut Shop is this way.” Spike and Starlight started heading to the Donut Shop, leaving Twilight alone with her old friend. “So…” Twilight asked after a short and somewhat awkward silence. “Where should we read?” “How about your old apartment?” Moondancer suggested. “I still have the key to it. It’s where I do most of my recreational reading.” “Sounds good!” The purple Alicorn responded. Pony Joe was bored. The mid-afternoon was usually the slowest time for his donut shop. The only pony to be found in his shop was a cheerful pink pony with a sun-shaped mane. But she already ordered her donuts. He sat behind the counter waiting for somepony to come in and order something. Luckily, Joe was not bored for long. A familiar face and a new customer walked through the doors of his establishment, ringing a bell. “Pony Joe, it’s been a while.” Spike said walking up to the counter. “Spike!” Joe greeted. “How’ve you been? Whose this lovely young mare with you?” Starlight blushed slightly. “I’m Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle’s pupil.” Joe lightly chuckled. “Ah yes. Princess Twilight. Feels like only yesterday when she was still Celestia’s top student, and now she’s got a student herself. Speaking of growing up, you’ve gotten bigger since I last saw you Spike, how old are you now?” “I’ll be turning fourteen in two weeks.” Spike answered. “Ah, so you got a birthday coming up? Here, let me get you a complimentary birthday donut!” Joe said as he grabbed a donut with pink frosting, rainbow sprinkles, and an edible candle. “Joe, I can’t accept a free donut! My birthday still hasn’t happened yet!” Joe handed Spike the donut. “Nonsense. This is my business, and if I want to give an old friend a free donut two weeks prior to his actual birthday, I will.” Spike looked at the donut. It did look delicious. Even so, the young dragon put two bits on the counter. “It wouldn’t feel right for me to not pay for this.” Starlight smiled. He really does have a lot of integrity. Joe shrugged and put the bits in the cash register. “If you insist, Spike. Now what can I get for you Ms. Glimmer?” Starlight looked at the menu displayed above Joe’s head. She frowned ever so slightly. “Hmmm….I don’t know. I’ve never had donuts before.” The young dragon gasped and turned to face Starlight. “WHAT!? YOU’VE NEVER HAD DONUTS?” Joe laughed at Spike’s overreaction. “Calm down! So she’s never had a deep fried pastry. It’s not like she’s done anything evil.” The pink unicorn sighed softly. “Spike, why don’t you order a donut for me?” Spike turned back to Joe. “Joe, can we get the half-dozen sampler?” Joe grabbed six different types of donuts and put them in a bag. “Sure thing. That’ll be six bits please.” Starlight pulled out her wallet, but before she could grab any money, the young dragon handed over six coins to Pony Joe and grabbed the bag full of donuts. “Thanks for paying Spike.” Spike sat down at a nearby table in the bakery. “No problem. Say, where did you pull that wallet out of?” Starlight joined the young dragon at the table. “Oh, Pinkie calls it hammer space. It’s quite useful for storing things.” Spike wanted to ask more about this hammer space, but considering it was Pinkie, he knew that he wouldn’t get a true answer out of it. So he decided to change the subject to something else he wanted to know. “So why have you never had donuts before?” The pink unicorn directed her eyes downward. “Well, the town I grew up in didn’t have a bakery that made donuts. And when I started controlling that village, I made sure our diet only contained bland foods. Nothing sweet, nothing spicy, nothing succulent, nothing interesting to the palate. If we did have foods that ponies could be passionate about, there could be disagreement s about what to eat and disorder would enter my town.” Starlight sighed once again. “I really was overly paranoid back then. And completely evil…..” Spike didn’t like seeing the pink unicorn before him so upset. “Hey, don’t worry about that. You’re doing good stuff now!” “Yeah, but…do I deserve it?” “What are you talking about Starlight?” Starlight struggled to hold back tears. “I’ve been blessed with new great friendships, with an amazing mentor who save our land from destruction countless times and her loyal assistant who has saved the Crystal Empire twice. But why? All I’ve ever done is manipulate ponies and try to ruin friendships! I….I….I don’t deserve friends like you Spike! You, Twilight, the others have always saved the day, while all I’ve ever done is destroy it!” The pink unicorn started weeping softly. The young dragon struggled to come up with words that would comfort the one he cared so much for. Eventually, Spike looked Starlight right in the eyes and said. “You haven’t just done wicked stuff. Why, if it wasn’t for you rekindling your friendship with Starburst, then the Crystal Empire would’ve been wiped out! And you’ve been helping me out so much in my time of need Starlight! You’ve saved my day a few times now.” Starlight stopped crying and opened her mouth to say something, but Spike kept on going. “Plus I don’t always save the day, and neither does Twilight or the rest of the gang. We’ve made colossal mistakes in the past too Starlight. You’re in good company.” This statement intrigued Starlight. “For all the bad stuff you did,” Spike continued, “at least you never got so greedy that you started stealing items throughout Ponyville and then went on a rampage destroying the town!” This shocked the pink unicorn. “You?! You destroyed Ponyville?” Spike sighed slightly. “Yeah. Sorry for sighing so much.” “No need to apologize so much Spike.” “Thanks. Anyway, I went crazy with greed, which triggered a premature dragon growth spurt. If it wasn’t for Rarity I’d probably still be a giant monster. “ Starlight looked at the young dragon. He was so nice, how could he have caused that much destruction? “I may have destroyed Ponyville, but I didn’t let that stop me from trying to do the right thing. If I did, I never would’ve saved the Crystal Empire.” Spike then picked up his donut and started eating it as he talked. “And I haven’t even told you about what others have done. Ask Twilight about the time she went off her rocker and caused a riot in Ponyville. But those events are in the past. They are behind us. It’s like a good friend told me recently: you don’t have to be defined by your past mistakes. So stop thinking of yourself as a life-ruiner! Starlight, you’re kind, supportive, talented and beautiful and don’t you forget it!” The pink unicorn pulled Spike in for a hug. Now shedding tears of joy, she said “Thank you Spike. I needed to hear that.” The young dragon blushed. He was concerned about making a spectacle in public, but luckily by this time, Pony Joe was the only other pony in the shop. At least, until a blue unicorn busted through the door theatrically. “THE GREAT! AND POWERFUL! TU-R-R-R-R-R-RIXIE! NEEDS SOME PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE DONUTS!” The magician then noticed her best friend was hugging a dragon. “Starlight?” The pink unicorn stopped hugging Spike, to his disappointment. “Trixie!” Starlight got up from her seat and gave her friend a hug. “What are you doing here?” Trixie smirked. “Well I was continuing ‘The Feeling Great and Newly-Befriended Trixie’s Magnificent and Celebratory Tour of Equestria’ here in Canterlot.” “Still quite the mouthful.” Starlight commented. “Well, it’s a working title.” Trixie responded. “But if you’re doing the show already, then by definition it’s not a working title, it’s the actual title.” Pony Joe pointed out. Trixie raised an eyebrow as she looked at the cashier and founder of the establishment she stepped into. “I believe Trixie ordered some peanut butter chocolate donuts.” Joe switched back to shop-running mode. “How many peanut butter chocolate donuts?” “Trixie would like half a baker’s dozen.” “ Six and a half donuts coming right up.” Joe left his spot behind the cash register to grab the peanut butter chocolate donuts in the back of the shop. Trixie rolled her eyes. “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I performed here in Canterlot yesterday, and my next show in Fillydelphia isn’t until next week, so I’m checking out the city for the next few days. I’m sorry for interrupting your date.” “Wait, what?” Starlight asked. Trixie continued speaking. “I didn’t expect to see you in an inter-species relationship, but don’t worry. I’m not a judgmental pony.” “Inter-species relationship? Spike and I are just friends!” Starlight responded. Well, it looks like I fell for another pony who will never love me back. Spike thought to himself. Starlight didn’t say that. Another part of Spike’s mind shot back. She just told Trixie that we’re just friends because right now we are only friends. But that doesn’t automatically mean that she’ll never be interested in a more romantic relationship. Trixie chuckled. “My bad. So what are you doing here in Canterlot?” “Well Twilight is visiting an old friend here and brought Spike here along with her. I decided to tag along.” Starlight explained. Pony Joe returned with a bag full of the chocolate-frosted and peanut butter flavored pastries that Trixie ordered. The stage magician gave Joe six bits and joined Spike at the table. Starlight quickly sat back down to rejoin her friends. Starlight finally grabbed one of the donuts that Spike ordered for her. Biting into a cookies and cream donut, the pinkie unicorn smiled at the rich and creamy flavor as it greeted her palate. “This is really good Spike!” “That’s Joe for you.” Spike said. “There are tons of places to get food here in Canterlot, but when it comes to sheer deliciousness you can’t top these donuts.” “That’s right.” Starlight responded, “You grew up in this city Spike, you would know a lot about it.” Trixie was munching on a peanut butter chocolate donut when this statement caught her attention. “Oh, you grew up here little dragon? Could you give Trixie and her number one assistant a tour?” Spike blinked. “As in all three of us?” “That’s what Trixie said.” The magician responded bluntly. The young dragon looked slightly nervous. “Well….ummm….you see…..” “Do you have a problem with Trixie?” Trixie asked. “Oh no!” Spike yelled out instantly. “Oh no, no, no, no, no! No problem! No problem whatsoever! Not at all!” Trixie raised her eyebrow. She almost asked Spike why he was so nervous, but ultimately decided to continue eating her donut insead. “That does sound like fun!” Starlight said. “The last few times I was in Canterlot I was too busy to really see the sights.” “Busy doing what?” Trixie asked. “Uhhhh…plotting revenge against Twilight.” Starlight responded. Trixie smirked. “Ah, been there, done that.” The two unicorns both laughed. Spike was happy to see Starlight being able to laugh at her past villainy. Eventually, the trio finished eating their donuts. Spike bid Pony Joe farewell and led the two unicorns on an informal tour of Canterlot. “And over here is the store where I always bought parchment, quills, and ink so that I could write letters for Twilight.” Spike said, pointing to a store to his left. “How long did you live in Canterlot?” Starlight asked her unofficial tour guide. Spike stopped and thought for a minute, doing the math on the tips of his claws. “Well, I was born here. I lived in Canterlot with Twilight for eleven years, before moving to Ponyville.” “So you spent the majority of your life in this city.” “Well yeah.” Spike responded. “But most of my true accomplishments were only achieved in the last three years or so. Anyways…” Spike stopped to think. Even with Trixie here, I want to continue this practice date with Starlight. “….So enough about me. Starlight, out of all the donuts you sampled, which was your favorite?” “Well from that batch you bought me, I liked the strawberry one.” Starlight responded. “But the best donut I sampled today was one of Trixie’s peanut butter chocolate ones.” “You’re lucky we’re friends.” The blue unicorn told her friend. “I normally don’t share food.” “Well, you did have six and a half donuts.” Trixie’s friend responded. “Why order that many donuts?“ “Because I’m watching my diet.” Trixie answered. “Seven donuts would’ve have made me too chunky.” Starlight giggled at her friends response. Spike sighed for the billionth time in the past three days. I thought this would be a great chance to bond with Starlight, but instead I get to watch her friendship with somepony else. I mean, it’s great to see her so happy, but I wanted to interact with… Spike’s thoughts were interrupted by Trixie shouting “UGH!” and stopping in place. “Trixie, what’s wrong?” Starlight asked her friend. “It appears my cape got snagged on a bench out here.” Trixie responded as she attempted to yank her cape away from the bench it got stuck to. A ripping sound was heard. It took Trixie a little bit of time to fully process what had just happened. But when she realized what she had just did, she wasn’t happy at all. “MY CAPE! I JUST RIPPED MY GREAT AND POWERFUL CAPE!” Starlight turned to Spike. “Spike! Do you know where we can get Trixie’s cape fixed?” “I don’t.” Spike responded. “I never needed clothes, so I know nothing about tailors in Canterlot.” “Somebody hurry!” Trixie yelled. “My cape has one foot in the grave!” Spike nearly rolled his eyes. “Wait a minute!” Starlight said. “I remember the last time I was here, I passed by a place called ‘Canterlot Boutique.’ Maybe if we go there, they could fix your cape Trixie.” “Then we haven’t a moment to spare!” Trixie stated with expected theatricality. “Where is this Boutique?” Starlight frowned. “I’m not sure. We’ll have to ask for directions.” Trixie noticed a white unicorn in a fine suit walking down the street. She ran right and front of him and yelled. “Trixie needs directions to the Canterlot Boutique!” Fancy Pants adjusted his monocle. “The Canterlot Boutique, eh? Yes, my wife likes to shop there. If you take a right and then a left you’ll find it four blocks down.” Trixie started galloping away. “Thank you sir!” The young dragon and the pink unicorn started running too. “Hey!” Spike yelled. “Wait for us!” Eventually the trio made it to the Boutique. Spike scratched his head. Canterlot Boutique? It sounds familiar, but why? Trixie, Starlight, and Spike walked in to find a certain white unicorn talking to a taller blue unicorn. Rarity finished her conversation with Sassy Saddles and noticed the trio before her. “Spike? Starlight?”