Happiness and Tears
Ink Mage
Chapter 37: Shops and Slaps
"I still don't understand why I have to be here," Soarin groaned, walking around the outdoor mall besides his wife and son. The three of them, along with Scootaloo and Speedy, had come out to enjoy a peaceful day of shopping at the new center in the middle of town. "I mean, I have no business in a place like this!"
Stronghold nodded, tugging at his mother's saddlebag. "Yeah, Mom! And since when did you like shopping, anyway? You're Rainbow Dash for ponies' sake!" he exclaimed. Rainbow Dash frowned, crossing her hooves and glaring at her husband.
"Now you've done it, Soar. Stronghold had nothing against coming today, and now you've gone and put all these disgusting fantasies in his mind. You should feel guilty," she said, scoffing. "Besides, this wasn't exactly my idea. You know how Scootaloo can be, her craze for shopping had gotten a little out of control if you ask me."
"Scootaloo herself has gotten a little out of control," Soarin muttered under his breath. Rainbow Dash shrugged, pointing to a sports equipment store.
"Didn't you need some new shoes for hoofball tryouts next week, Strongy? Come now, I'll help you pick out the coolest looking ones," she said, leading her son into the store. Soarin glared after the figure of his wife, but followed after her nevertheless, still not changing his expression.
Stronghold nodded in satisfaction when his mother pulled out some bright green shoes from the wrack. She carefully lowered his hooves and slipped them on, smiling as Stronghold flaunted his new look.
"Dad! Dad! Look!" he exclaimed, running to where his father was sitting. "Mom picked out these new shoes for me! Aren't they great?"
Soarin frowned. "Aren't you a little old for neon?" he said, scrunching his eyebrows. Stronghold opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Rainbow Dash had come up besides him.
"Are you disagreeing with my choice, Soarin Skies?" she asked in a low voice. A few onlookers had cast wary glances at them, knowing a fight between a married couple when they saw one. Soarin, not wanting to attract attention, shook his head.
"Um... of course not, Dearest," he said. "Stronghold, they're great! Let's get them to the counter and pay. How much were they again, Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Three-hundred-fifty bits plus tax. No sale."
Soarin was sure today was going to be one of the worst in his life.
After paying, the three of them left the shop. Soarin turned to his wife expectantly.
"So... where would you like to go next?" he asked, biting his lip nervously. He was in absolutely no mood to piss off his beloved today. He knew how that would end up.
"Oh I just have to return a few things. It'll only take a few hours at most," Rainbow Dash said absentmindedly. Soarin blanched. Without a word, he quickly followed after her.
"What I don't understand," Soarin said, "is why somepony would buy something if they end up returning it in the end."
Rainbow Dash shot him a look. "Are you mocking me?" she asked, leaning closer to him. Soarin quickly shook his head.
"N-no! Of course not. I was just wondering," he managed to squeak out. Rainbow Dash nodded.
"Right. Well, sometimes ponies don't know whether they'll end up using what they're purchasing," she explained, "and then after buying it, they second-doubt themselves and end up returning it the next day."
"But then why not just return it right after buying it?" Soarin asked.
"Because most ponies have a reputation to keep up! Obviously!" Rainbow Dash screeched. "Honestly, Soar. This is amateur level stuff, you should know this."
Soarin could only nod.
Suddenly, Scootaloo appeared in front of them, wearing a skimpy outfit with her mane tied up. She looked aghast, looking around before spotting her sister.
"Rainbow Dash! Thank Celestia I found you! I have no idea what to wear! Please help me!" she exclaimed, grabbing Dash's hoof.
Soarin's eyes widened as he eyed her clothing. His mouth dropped. "What do you think you're wearing, young lady?"
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo ignored him. Stronghold was busy looking at Sand Bolt, Lightning Dust's daughter and his neighbor.
"For the Fall Dance? Or just for casual wear?" Rainbow Dash asked. "My sister needs to look the best out of everyone, so I need to know."
Soarin gasped. "Change out of that right this instant!" he kept saying to Scootaloo. She ignored him again.
"Both!" she exclaimed, leading Rainbow Dash into the large boutique.
"Come on, Soarin!" Rainbow Dash said, gesturing for him to follow. Soarin still looked at Scootaloo.
"Scootaloo! Wear something else right now!" he yelled.
"OH GROW UP!!" Scootaloo shouted back to him, entering the store.
Soarin sighed, trailing behind the two of them with a frown.
Stronghold, however, decided to go up to his neighbor, who was sitting on a bench, eating her ice cream. He sat down, looking at her longingly. Well, looking at her ice cream longingly.
"Sandy, can I have a bite?" he asked hopefully, leaning closer to her. Sand Bolt looked at him in disgust.
"Absolutely not. And do not call me Sandy," she replied, going back to licking the sweet treat. Stronghold bit his lip, pouting at her.
"Pleaaassseee?" he whined. "Only a tiny bite! I promise!"
Sand Bolt shook her head. "Nope. I refuse."
Stronghold sighed, deciding to approach the matter in a different way. He yawned, stretching his arms and slinging his hoof around Sand Bolt's figure. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Stop flirting."
Stronghold feigned innocence. "What? I'm not flirting," he said casually.
Sand Bolt, who had had enough of this, swiftly got up and swung her hoof at Stronghold's face, slapping him softly. She quickly ran away after doing so.
Stronghold frowned, leaning back in the middle of the bench, thinking about what had just happened.
"But I didn't even get my ice cream..."
Scootaloo looked at herself in the mirror, running her hooves down her figure. Her lips moved into a thoughtful expression as she thought about what could make the dress look even better. She grinned as an idea dawned upon her, reaching out and grabbing a silver purse from the racks. She nodded at herself in approval.
"Perfect..." she said in a breathy voice.
Suddenly, strong hooves wrapped around her from behind. Scootaloo gasped as she looked into the mirror again, trying to find the culprit. She gasped as she saw Speedy standing above her.
Scootaloo smirked. "How do I look?" she asked, jutting out herself to show off. Speedy eyed her closely, thinking over his answer. His bottom lip jutted out as he leaned in close to her ear.
"In whatever you wear," he whispered sensually, "you look stupid."
Speedy laughed as he let go of her, twirling her around and attempting to walk away. Scootaloo's eyes widened as his teasing words sunk in. She fumed, turning him and slapping him right across the cheek.
She huffed, turning and walking away.
Rainbow Dash looked over the beautiful long black dress in front of her. She hastily took it off the rack, eyeing it before nodding in approval. It was beautiful, not that she'd ever admit it out loud.
She quickly checked around to make sure nopony was watching her, and turned towards the mirror.
'Thank Celestia Scootaloo finished whatever she wanted my help with,' she thought to herself, holding the dress in front of her figure in an attempt to see how it looked on her.
Rainbow Dash squealed in delight once she saw how she looked. It would be a good fit on her, that's for sure. Plus, Soarin would be more than pleased to see her in this outfit.
"Hey, Rainbow Dash, I just- Holy crap what?" a new voice said, making Rainbow Dash jump. She quickly turned around to face her husband, throwing the dress to the ground.
"Oh! Soarin... I was just... I was just..."
Soarin's eyes widened as he looked at the flattering dress on the floor. His cheeks puffed out as he realized what was going on.
"Were you seriously just trying that on?!" he exclaimed, his face becoming redder and redder by the second. Rainbow Dash nervously shook her head.
"Uh... no! That was for Scootaloo, obviously," she said, watching Soarin carefully.
The stallion suddenly burst out laughing.
"A-are y-you... you're k-kidding me r-right!" he said, holding his burning cheeks. This was too good. "Y-you'll look like a buffoon in th-that thing! I-if you won't have mercy on yourself... have mercy on the ponies around you! The ponies who'll have to see you in... in that thing!"
Rainbow Dash scoffed, trotting close to her husband's face.
"N-now Rainbows... if you wanted that, you could have just said so-" Soarin started, but was cut off by Dash's hoof connecting with his face. She slapped him, hard.
Rainbow Dash tutted, before galloping away, out of sight.
Soarin chuckled.
"Eh... she loves me."
Speedy walked through the outdoor mall setting, instantly spotting Stronghold alone on the bench, rubbing his cheek. He looked like... like he had been slapped. Speedy was willing to bet anything it was by their neighbor. She never did like him much, anyway. And, Speedy was sure he had spotted her with Lightning Dust somewhere in the mall.
Speedy quickly walked up to him, noticing Soarin was doing the same.
"Were you just slapped by a filly?" Soarin said, taking a seat on the bench besides his son. Speedy did the same, sitting to the left of Stronghold while Soarin was on the right.
He laughed. "He's such a kid!" he said nervously, thinking back to Scootaloo.
Soarin did the same with Rainbow Dash.
Stronghold thought about Sand Bolt.
"Girls..." the three of them said simultaneously, running their hooves down their cheeks.