//------------------------------// // Call Him in the Morning // Story: Missing // by HiddenBrony //------------------------------// Two pastel ponies trotted along the path to the library, chatting amiably as the life of Ponyville came into focus. The blue sky was tinted slightly in the late afternoon sun, and the wafting sugar-sweet smell of Sugar Cube Corner filled the air as the two mares, Applejack and Fluttershy, enjoyed themselves with talk of work, life, and the various antics of little fillies. "An' the bigger ones tha' act like 'em!" Applejack laughed slightly, watching the sky for a certain rainbow pegasus. "Ah swear, paintin' apples is one thing, but tryin' ta mess with mah pappy's hat..." Fluttershy giggled slightly, turning her head as she got a better look at the accompanying mare. "But I'm sure even he dreamed of flying sometimes," she defended the other pegasus, causing the Earth Pony to cast an indifferent gaze. Pressing, the yellow coated pony nuzzled her love gently. "And now he got to, if only for a short time." Applejack turned to Fluttershy, giving a small contemplative look toward her partner. "But if she crossed a line, I'm sure she'll apologize, um. Sometime," Fluttershy added meekly. In truth, when Rainbow had nabbed the hat right off the farm worker, it was Fluttershy who quickly pursued the pony. Having found Dash whooping it up on some cloud, she explained to the other pegasus why taking the hat was wrong. The hat had belonged to Applejack's father, which caused the cyan mare to cease her laughing immediately. Stammering excuses, Rainbow Dash gave the hat back, apologizing profusely while sending cautious glances down toward the ground. However, she begged Fluttershy not to tell Applejack before she could. "So um, don't be too hard on her, she didn't know what she was doing..." Applejack softened her expression, putting a hoof to her hat. "Don't you worry about it none, Fluttershy. Not many ponies know how special it is ta me. Rainbow especially." Applejack calmed down a bit, letting go of the last vestiges of indignation she felt for the cyan pony. Fluttershy gave a pained smile, not wanting to betray Dash's wishes. "So what do ya suppose Twi has us comin' to the Library fer, anyway?" Shaking her mane, Fluttershy simply didn't know. She wasn't a pony to venture a guess on baseless assumptions. The discussion trailing off, she started to take in the late afternoon activities of other ponies. She could even see Pinkie Pie putting away the outside stand for Sugar-Cube Corner, dancing about and quite possibly singing a little ditty she made on the spot. Snips and Snails were talking about Celestia knows what to little Dinky, but she seemed to be responding well to it. A gentle breeze flowed through town, brushing Fluttershy's mane aside. It was a wonderfully warm wind that offset the slight cool air that had been descending around them. Breathing it in deeply, the pink maned pegasus looked to Applejack, leaning slightly upon her. "Whatever it is, I think," she gave a long pause. If it was bad, the unicorn would have been a bit more rushed to tell the girls. "I think it'll be good. She didn't sound too urgent in her letter." Applejack smiled, nodding. The two ponies continued their way, listening to the sounds of Ponyville. As the library came into sight, Applejack paused, feeling a second weight on her other side. Closing her eyes, she sighed, shuddering her flank a bit to remove it. "Pinkie Pie. Leanin' privileges extend only to members of tha' Apple Family." Turning her head, the hyperactive pink pony smiled hugely as she removed her head from Applejack's broadside. Fluttershy did the same, looking over Applejack's mane to see the bouncing hair of Pinkie move energetically in place. "Hi girls! I saw you walking by and then I remembered that I got a letter from Twilight, except I really didn't forget but I was going to wait a little bit longer to finish working, but then there you two were and I was like HAAAAAAAAUUUUUHHHH!" The sudden intake in breath spooked the pegasus, but she kept herself firm and on the ground. Pinkie's almost permanent smile shifted from the two ponies before pointing toward the Library. "So I finished up super-quick! Super-duper quick! And then I caught up and I was all 'Awwwww' when I saw you two and I wanted to lean against you too because it was so cute. But then you said it was Apple Family only and since I'm not part of it, at least I don't think I am. Oh, could you imagine if I was?!" "Ah fear it everyday." Fluttershy laughed despite herself, before covering her mouth for a bit. Pinkie laughed more explosively at Applejack's deadpan delivery, causing the only sane Earth Pony to take small pride in her humor. "So Pinkie Pie, you got a letter from Twi, too, huh?" Looking toward the sky, Applejack's eyes scanned the skies for Rainbow Dash, expecting that all of Twilight's friends had been called by this point. "Yep! Rarity too! She was with me when Derpy delivered our letters," Pinkie mentioned, putting a hoof to her chin. Somehow, she continued her forward momentum despite the loss of one of her hooves to thought, something which the other ponies had ceased to question. Applejack stopped and reached a hoof out, rapping at the door as she looked to the other two ponies. "So why does Fluttershy get to lean on you? She's not Apple family." Applejack sighed, shaking her mane. "Well she's close enough!" Exasperated, she didn't notice the smile that had appeared on the yellow mare's face. Fluttershy turned slightly to look at Pinkie, who was ready to meet her gaze with a crafty smile, her tongue hanging out of her mouth playfully. Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle at Pinkie's performance, bringing the attention of the orange Earth pony to look about her. "What? What're you two fillies sayin' behind mah back?" In all her mock threatening, Applejack missed the door opening, revealing a white unicorn standing inside the Library. Seeing the front pony of the three having turned around, Rarity's eyes fell into half moons as she addressed the trio. "Applejack, really. If you are going to knock at somepony's door, please have the decency to face the door. I, unlike someponies, take no pleasure in being greeted with your flank!" Rarity chided, a mischievous smile on her face. Not known as a joker, the unicorn's quip caught Applejack completely off-guard, and Fluttershy had to hang unto Pinkie Pie to keep her face from exploding into laughter and embarrassment. The pink pony simply looked proud, as if surveying a new protege. "H-Hey now! I-I-It wasn't mah fault!" The hardworking mare had trouble composing herself in front of the others. Taking in the moment, Rarity breathed deep, stepping aside to let the others in. "Applejack, it was a joke. You simply mustn't be so easy to haze so even I can..." Rarity turned her head over to Pinkie Pie, who was currently looking around, a puzzled expression hanging on her face. "....'Pull a fast one' on you. Pinkie Pie, this isn't a party, darling. There aren't any drinks or candy." Trotting over to her friend, she placed a hoof on the now downtrodden Earth pony and shook her mane playfully. "Ahem. However, I'm sure if we ask Twilight nicely, she can cook something up last minute, even if it might be a bit... small. I mean, we are all together. That doesn't happen as much as it really should." Looking about, Fluttershy took note of a couple missing factors. Specifically the absence of the lavender unicorn. "Um. Where is Twilight? And..." Looking straight up, she scanned the ceiling space for the weather pony, but to no avail. "I don't see Rainbow Dash anywhere." "Hardly everypony, then," Applejack huffed, bringing her attention back to Rarity. "Well, you let us in. Where is Twilight anyhow?" "Oh, I'm sure she's in her bedroom, talking to Whoof and creating MASSIVE experiments! Like, maybe they're making Spike into a GIANT DRAGON, or maybe even purple!" Pinkie hopped about, thinking heavily on just what the two intellectual ponies could possibly be doing alone in the bedroom. "Darlin', Spike already is purple." Applejack stuck a hoof out as Pinkie collided with it across her chest. "An' Ah don't think they're into experimentin' on livin' things," putting a finality on her opinion, she added, "'Least of all Spike." "Somebody call?" Opening the upstairs door, the purple dragon appeared, followed closely behind by a brown Earth pony, an hourglass adorning his flank. Looking down below, Spike saw the one pony, the one brilliant, beautiful, perfect unicorn Rarity - and then he saw other three. "Oh, uh. Hey guys. Twi's gonna be with you all in a sec'. Me 'n Whoof here are gonna go get a bite to eat." "Well howdy there Spike." Applejack greeted, before processing the rest of the dragon's remark. Raising an eyebrow at the two, the orange pony raised a hoof. "Oh, and what an' where to?" "If – you don't mind us asking." Rarity cut in, tittering at the orange mare. What she got in return was a low bleat and an eyeroll, landing on Fluttershy who simply smiled at her companion. "Quite alright, really," the Doctor mentioned, trotting contentedly down the stairs. "I believe I owe Spike a dinner for an ill-placed bet." "Yeah, Doc here didn't even consider the idea of distortions in time and space being able to be manipulated by magic and technology!" Spike sneered, as if he knew the words that were coming out of his own mouth. Laughing, the Doctor turned to look at the group. "It's an interesting concept, really. Right now I'm referring to such an object capable of that ability as a DTS – that is, Dimensions in Time and Space. However, I believe that's a bit off, as there are still many variables to be found." "Time and Relative Dimensions in Space!" Pinkie's mouth ran, her nose literally crammed in a nearby book. The Doctor looked blankly on as the mare giggled a bit. His eyes clouded over a moment as Pinkie continued. "Then you'd have a T-R-D-S. 'Terds'!" She yelped suddenly, feeling a hoof against her flank, deftly delivered by the other Earth Pony. "Owie, why'd you do that, Applejack?" "'Cause you're letting yer mouth run without you on board." The orange mare chuckled regardless, keeping her head facing Doctor Whoof and Spike. In the interim, the latter had clambered onto the former's back. "Well, Ah ain't gonna act like Ah know what y'all are sayin', but Ah know we're holdin' you up. An' Spike gets grouchy when he's hungry." "I do not!" Spike shouted, raising a fist at Applejack's comment. The jolt brought the stallion he sat upon back to reality, causing him to distressingly look about, as if fearing an impending fight. The mare simply laughed it off, pushing Spike's claw back with her front hoof. "That's ridiculous! I'm perfectly fine - I don't get grouchy." "That you don't, Spike," the Doctor chimed in, ending their tirade. Clearing his throat, he counted the ponies. "Well, anyway, Twilight will be out soon, although I don't think she'd mind..." Trailing, the stallion looked about the room. "Say, isn't there supposed to be one more of you? Let's see... Fluttershy... Rarity... Applejack, of course, Pinkie Pie... Ah! Ponyville's famous weather pony, where is our Rainbow Dash?" Looking about, all he was met with were shrugs and shaking heads. "That so? Well, our new Wonderbolt is obviously quite busy, so of course she'd be excused for being a little late-" "A Wonderbolt is known for it's speed, poindexter!" Shooting into the house in a burst of wind, the cyan mare trotted about on the upper floor, having flown in from the balcony. Goggles adorned on her visage, the rainbow-maned pegasus smirked at the ponies below, the pink one of which was clapping her hooves together happily. "I'm never late!" "Whoo! Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie cheered her friend, as if she was in attendance of a celebrity. Turning her head away from the others to hide a threatening red blush on her cheeks, the pegasus acted as if she could find Twilight by looking about where she came in. "So egghead two, where's egghead one?" Rainbow called from the upper floor, still hiding her face from her friends below. Applejack took it upon herself to trot up the stairs, whereas Fluttershy and Rarity decided to catch up in the downtime. "Apt..." Whoof trailed, before shaking his mane. "Well, now that you girls are all together, I believe it's best Spike and I are off. Twilight's in her room cleaning up a bit, she'll be out momentarily. She asked that we vacate the premises before hand." "Heh, yeah. Don't wanna be here when all the huggin' and girly stuff happens," Spike pointed at his tongue in disgust, obviously not pleased with whatever sort of reaction the news Twilight was going to break to the group would bring. However, a quick buck from Whoof quieted the dragon. "Oh, right, the saps don't know yet. Eh, whatever." Shrugging, the dragon kicked his feet softly against the Doctor's flank, egging him on to leave. The other girls which had caught on by this point started to move in. "Right, right, we're off then!" Sweating bullets, the good doctor made for the door, barely making it past Rarity as she slammed the door behind him by accident. The sound of a gallop could be heard as Spike's laughter coincided with it perfectly as they rode out toward the sunset. Rarity frowned and shook her mane, decidedly livid that she had reacted too slow to stop the gossipers from spilling everything. "What do you think he meant by that? Do you think Twilight's news is... bad?" Fluttershy breathed, tapping the ground uneasily. Applejack's attuned senses wheeled her about at the sound of the soft spoken pegasus, having missed Spike's faux pas. "What's wrong, sugarcube?" Raising her voice slightly to clear it over the others. Fluttershy turned to see her companion, and shook her mane slowly. "Oh, um, it's nothing, really," she murmured, but neither Applejack nor Rarity nearby bought the deflection. Rarity clicked her tongue as she looked over toward the orange pony. "Nothing is far from it. Whoof and Spike just retreated before they could tell us what we're all drawn here for." "Um. Yes. Spike said that we'd all be supportive of Twilight and... that was it," Fluttershy had paraphrased for Applejack, a small smile on her face. "I was worried we it might be bad news after all." Dash raised an eyebrow, shaking her head. "Well if it is, then we'll take care of it together!" She shouted, stamping a hoof down on the hardwood floor. Applejack bleated low and shook her head. "Sometimes we can't stop bad news from happenin', Rainbow. You can't buck every problem away," she corrected, earning a huff from the pegasus. Applejack chuckled, recalling how she had learned that lesson the hard way. The activity of the girls in the library brought caused the door to Twilight's room to be opened behind Applejack, revealing a very tired looking unicorn. Looking back, Applejack looked her friend over a moment before smirking. "Well Ah'll be, Ah 'spect that professor's gone and worked you to the bone there, Twilight." The purple unicorn gestured something between a wave and a dismissal as she strode into the room. She took quick stock of her guests and smiled. "Hello everypony. Nice to see you all again-" She got cut off by a yawn as she rubbed her eyes with a free hoof. "Oooof, sorry. Nice to see you all." The other girls started to make their way to her, Pinkie Pie having somehow already accomplished such when nopony was looking. "Oh, Twilight, you look dreadful!" The white unicorn looked her friend over, tittering over her. "You must get some rest soon. That stallion must be working you so to the last!" Rarity dismissed the topic of the brown colt quickly as she set to work moving the other unicorn against her will toward her couch. "Please, darling, at least take a seat!" Less a please than an instruction, the purple mare was too tired to refuse the request, and lacked the ability to stop her friend. "Aww, I think Twilight's too tired to have a party!" Giggling, Pinkie accepted this as a good enough reason to postpone any sort of party she may have been gearing up in her head. Twilight's face froze at the mere prospect of a party tonight, but Pinkie Pie seemed to drop the idea quickly, the pink mare sipping absentmindedly on some nearby drink. Applejack, on the other hoof, was trying to contemplate just where Pinkie came across the drink. "So, um, we got letters from you, Twilight..." Fluttershy began, causing the unicorn to lift her head towards her. "I was hoping it wasn't, um... Bad." The pegasus' wings folded in tight along her side, prompting Applejack to move over to her and rest her head against the pony, calming her nerves. Smiling at the two, Twilight shook her head. "No, it's not bad at all, really." Intention confirmed, the ponies in attendance breathed a collective sigh of relief. The purple mare shook her mane incredulously. "Really, girls, if it was bad news do you think I would have sent a letter through the mail?" Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Well, sometimes you can't catch me, being up in the air and all, so you could have sent Derpy after me with a letter." Defending the prospect seemed important, but Twilight gave it little thought. "Dash, you may go a mile a minute, but I know you'll always come back," she smiled. Turning her head, she missed the ferocious blush which crawled over the cyan mare's visage as she suddenly found the window being of the utmost fascination. "Sorry for making you girls wait, though. We were on a roll and we just had a bit of a breakthrough-" "Oh, think nothing of it, Twilight. We know how important your studies are." Rarity put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, smiling and patting her friend's back. "What's a minute or two of waiting when we've got each other to talk to in the meantime," she mentioned, gesturing to the other girls, who nodded in agreement. The group mingled for a little while, letting each other in on their days, and praising Rainbow's admission into the Wonderbolts which had happened only a month prior. "And let me say, darling, I'm always happy to give your mane and coat a quick brush up if you need to be spic and span for a show." Rainbow hesitated before finally nodding, trying not to mind that her tough-guy attitude was being threatened again in front of the others. "Really guys, it happened a month ago, and uh – Hey, weren't we here to listen to Twilight anyway?" Deflecting questions was a bit of a specialty she was developing, but Rarity let it drop as she was quite interested in having to hear what the other unicorn had called them for. "Hm...? Oh, right! My letters!" Twilight pushed a hoof into the couch, bringing herself up a full head above the others. Looking about, it took a moment for the tired mare to realize she didn't actually have to reach for anything, and she laid back on her haunches again. "I just wanted to let you all know... I'm dating somepony again.," she murmured, her purple cheeks turning pink. The reaction was instant and explosive. Pinkie and Rarity tied for loudest shriek, both of them fawning over the unicorn – for different reasons, of course. Pinkie's party-throwing senses were tingling, and Rarity was prodding on just who the lucky pony was – taking great care not to assign a gender role, 'lest she end up with hoof in mouth disease. Applejack chuckled deeply as she patted the unicorn on the back, Dash having muttered some semblance of congratulations toward the lavender pony. Fluttershy made the first coherent messages clear. "Oh that's wonderful, Twilight," she graced, brushing her hair to the side. Her azure eyes pierced through the crowd of ponies, locking eyes with the unicorn and catching her undivided attention. "Is it the Doctor?" It was a simple question, but blunt. Enough so that the rest of the assembled ponies, sans Pinkie Pie, soon paid full attention to Twilight's answer. "Yes. Yes it is." Closing her eyes, she allowed her friends time to digest the new information. It wasn't surprising to them, really. "He and I just sort of... click, I guess," she mused, her hooves crossing together as she continued. "It's nice to have somepony who I can talk to so candidly." She spoke of their shared intelligence, and of their similar upbringing in Canterlot and attending the university there. Twilight sighed, nodding her head. "Plus I can tell he really needed someone. So I extended my friendship, and got back more than I bargained for," she smiled, staring off as if in a dream. "Aww, that's super-duper sweet!" Pinkie bounced from one end of the couch to the other in one solid motion, peering out a window to see if she could see the escaping Earth pony. She couldn't have course, but she still made as if she could. Winking slightly, she leaned close at her own reflection. "Plus he totally has a nice flank." "PINKIE!" Twilight shouted, in unison with Applejack and Rarity. There was a long pause, before Pinkie looked back with a huge smile on her face. "Well he does." The gathered ponies couldn't help but laugh, Pinkie Pie spreading her element around gleefully. Even Fluttershy was giggling uncontrollably, causing a few hiccups to cut in the laughter. The high pitched squeaks were harmlessly embarrassing, and the group couldn't help but laugh harder, until streams of tears were pouring out almost all ponies present. ----- "So you're Twi's boyfriend now. Huh." Spike mentioned idly, playing with a emerald as he passed it around in his claws. Whoof broke the news at the table among a couple of other colts who they had run into at the restaurant. Spike knew already, of course, but he had barely given the concept thought. "Guess I'll be seeing you around the ol' library a lot more." Leaning back in his chair, the dragon found that the high chair, while demoralizing, was quite comfortable with the additions of arm rests at the sides - perfect for sitting up a foal, or housing a baby dragon. Caramel laughed a bit. "More? Whoof here can barely seem to pry himself from there as is ever since that librarian invited him in! Spike, if you see any more of him there he might as well live there!" He chuckled, taking a bite of his orange and apple salad. The multitude of colors in the dish made it look like a bowl of shining gemstones in the low-light atmosphere, and Spike had twice found himself snacking on an apple on accident. Not that he minded, he was an omnivore, after all. "Well enough with the joking, please. I'm sure I'll be there just as much as I normally am. Just under newer pretenses," Whoof strangled out, trying to hide the red that had been glued on his features since he told everyone. "It's quite a trip, being with another pony, I have to say." Spike snorted, as if holding in an explosive laugh. "I'll say! Hey, do you ponies know how this guy asked Twilight out?" He slammed the table to get the party riled up, and the dragon scanned their faces. Caramel seemed quite interested, and Whoof looked as if Death himself was on Spike's features. Butterscotch, Caramel's twin sister, seemed passingly interested, and was more keen on watching the bar for potential fun. Filling out the ranks of their table was one blue stallion with an adapt name – Blues. Blues was leaning back, fiddling with an unwieldy instrument. The silence reigned just long enough for Blue to look up and greet Spike's stare with a look of mild amusement as Spike delivered his fatal blow. "He tripped," the dragon finished, a victorious grin on his face as he fell back hard into his seat, the wooden contraption threatening to fall over as he did. "You tripped?" Butterscotch echoed, looking back toward the men at the table. "Like, stumbling hooves and everything?" Doctor Whoof shrunk in his seat, trying desperately to disappear completely from the conversation. Butterscotch laughed aloud, Blues wincing slightly at the mare's high pitched laugh, shooting a dark glare toward Caramel when he joined in with his sister in an equal and unmanly laugh. Spike had joined in the hazing, leaning over the small table in front of him and slamming his fist into the surface repeatedly. "Right into her. BANG!" Chuckling like a fool, Spike turned to see the Doctor giving him a pleading look. Relenting, Spike fell back into his chair, as if the story suddenly bored him. "Kissed her right then and there," he continued, his hands moving about with the story as he gestured to the white-as-snow expression on the normally brown stallion's features. "Should have seen the look on his face when she kissed back! A lot like the one he has now. Apparently she'd been reading about how to kiss." The tease quickly became a double-edged sword as the memory of the event flashed vividly in his mind, reddening the baby dragon's face. Spike shook his head violently, trying to erase the image from his mind. Ending her laughter, the butterscotch colored earth pony captured the attention of the group as she leaned into the table. "She could have been practicing with that rainbow pony – what's her face-" Butterscotch drummed on the table with her hooves, her tongue sticking out and up. "Rainbow Dash? I dunno, they only went out on one date, I hear," Blues mentioned, shrugging. "Word was they hadn't even kissed." Caramel laughed aloud, nudging the pony next to him. "There you go, Doc, you're already one step ahead of the Ex!" Whoof chuckled nervously, shrugging slightly at his friends. Blues peered over with a simple expression, and nodded in approval toward his friend. "Hey 'Scotch. What about Dash, she's available!" "Oh-ha-ha, bro." Butterscotch clocked her brother's side with an open hoof, turning over to Blues and Spike. "So how're you two's love lives treaten' you? You get that unicorn yet, Spike?" The mare knew full well that Spike hadn't a chance in the world, but by the amount of blood that had left the good Doctor's face and entered just his cheeks, a subject change was all that could save the brown stallion from fainting. Huffing, Spike crossed his arms at the question. "Pheh! No," he spat, a burning shot of dragon saliva lightly hissing on the table. "I tried a suit and a mustache and a beard and Luna knows what else! I can't seem to get my mind around it. What am I missing." Leaning forward, he drummed his claws on the surface, leaning his head on his free hand. Butterscotch stifled a giggle before turning to the blue colt. Catching Butterscotch's stare, Blues sighed. "Bah, can't get 'er to look'it me," Blues mentioned, rolling a hoof through the air dismissively. "Figure she thinks I'm too artsy for her tastes. Can't blame 'er for that." Bringing the instrument up to his lips, Blues belted out a few chords as Butterscotch hummed in harmony with the tune, laughing slightly as Caramel ordered another round for the table – taking pains to make sure the dragon didn't get any. "I already told you, man, Dragon's aren't affected by alcohol," Spike defended, watching the pony behind the counter get to work on the order, a couple of coconuts being unearthed from underneath the table. The others always got drinks, and here he was with... well, gemstones. Taking a turquoise, he quickly found himself no longer minding his culinary choice. "Oh, I know little dragon. But I also know alcohol is highly flammable, and it's highly gaseous. Right Doc?" Caramel mustered, prodding the Doctor. Whoof looked up sharply a bit, looking left and right quickly. Spike tapped his shoulder, getting his attention, before flicking the colt's snout quickly. "Yowch, what was... Oh hello Spike," he murmured, before taking stock. "Right. What was that, again?" "Nothing, Doc. Caramel just doesn't want me burping flames!" Spike informed bitterly, his mind having wandered on the effects of alcohol fueled flames and he had taken quite a shine to the idea. "Speaking of which – ever seen a dragon sneeze?" "Yes. That's how Celestia got her hooves on some of my more important research. Never expected to see those again." The Doctor rolled his eyes, looking about the table as the conversation was dying down. "Hey, it put in a good word for you at Canterlot U, didn't it?" Spike cheered, rubbing his claws against his chest. "If anything, a good word from the Princess has to be the best kind of words." The brown Earth pony chuckled, turning to his friends. The lot over at Canterlot University were a bit tougher crowd than that, to be won over by simple words from the Princess. Taking in the musty odor of the bar, he hadn't noticed Blues had left the table until he had made it up on stage and was playing with the band. One extremely garish cowpony tuned his guitar slightly before grabbing the mic. Whoof leaned back, content with the direction his life had been taking in recent months. The dragon to his right drummed his palm on the table, intent on listening to the song. It was going to be an interesting future, as well, it seemed. Blues took a quick bow from the stage and returned to the ponies down below after a few songs. Joining the others at the table, a waitress pony arrived with a number of drinks lined in coconut shells, the blue pony drinking straight from the husk, Caramel joining in directly after. Butterscotch chuckled a bit, before grabbing a bit of lime nearby, squirting some of the citrus contents into the drink before offering it to the Doctor, who accepted the idea graciously. "Alright, let's get this train wreck a'rollin'," the singer started, his voice low and gravelly. "We're gonna start with a song a little pink pony taught me, about Friendship. Hit it!" The lead pony on stage hit his guitar limply at first, causing the rest of the band to start up, filling the room with the fresh sounds of the band. The jazzy tunes hit them with a modified western song that Spike swore he had heard somewhere before. ----- The night air was warm and muggy, but only enough to lightly graze the skin. The lights in the library told tales of ponies having fun, the unicorn and her friends all enjoying eachother's company. However, it didn't take long before one unicorn noticed only five ponies dancing and chatting at the makeshift party. Catching sight of an open door to the balcony above, the white pony trotted up the stairs silently and pushed the glass frame open, stepping out. There was a stock silence, only chirping insects and far off shouts and calls of parents calling their foals in for the night. However, the purple maned pony could already tell her quarry was nearby still. "I noticed you didn't stick around very long," Rarity called, stepping out into the open on the wooden deck. Above, on a branch, lay what looked to be a very dejected pegasus. "Come on down here, Rainbow Dash. Why are you even up there?" "No reason. Too much girly stuff in there. Cramps my style," she muttered, picking herself up and stretching. "So Twi's dating the Doc, huh? Fits. Egghead for an egghead." Hopping down, the rainbow-maned mare landed on the balcony's railing, her face a mask of unamusement. "What's it to you, anyway? You normally love this kind of stuff!" She shot, her eyes hard as she quickly averted her gaze toward the window looking inside. Rarity sighed briefly, bringing a hoof to her head as she shook it softly. "Rainbow Dash, I put up with your little quirks as well as anypony, but I will not be accused of leaving a friend out in the cold while they're so obviously hurting," she took a step toward the mare, who's wings shot out, threatening to leave the premises quickly. "Stop right there, Rainbow. Please!" Rarity added, halting her forward motion. The pegasus stayed where she was, prompting Rarity to fall back on her haunches. Rainbow paused for a moment. Running was cowardly. She wasn't a coward – she wasn't! "I'm not... hurting. Or anything like that. I mean, why would I be? I'm a Wonderbolt! Do you know what that means? I'm the best, Rarity! The best don't get hurt!" She stomped at the ground angrily, but didn't take into account the small surface area of the railing and clipped the edge. Losing her footing at the energy leading down, the pegasus toppled over, her wings outstretched in an attempt to take off before she fell – and completely failed it. Hitting the balcony with a loud thump, Rarity rushed forward to her aid, but was rebuked almost immediately. "Get off, Rarity, it was only a tumble." Rainbow gnashed her teeth as she moved her hoof, wincing slightly at the action. "Hmph, so this is how 'the best' acts," the unicorn sighed, shaking her head sadly. She moved forward to help the cyan mare again, but again the pegasus backed off, flaring her wings defiantly. "Flap off, I don't need this right now!" Dash challenged, picking herself off the ground and into the air. Yet, Rarity would have absolutely none of that. Her horn glowing, she focused hard on grabbing the pegasus' foot in a locking spell, something she had seen Twilight pull off before. Resisting, the pegasus flapped hard against the spell, which was slowly working her down to the ground. "I. Respectfully. Disagree! Now. Sit. Down. You. Silly. Little. Filly." Each word was drawn out with baited breath as she struggled against the pegasus, but she finally brought her friend down, finishing off with a small binding charm that kept Rainbow grounded. Exhaling long and hard, she opened her eyes and saw a now very disgruntled mare in front of her. "I think this is exactly what you need, darling. Now please, Rainbow Dash, talk to me." Struggling against the binding that held her hoof down to the balcony, the cyan pony ignored her for a time. However, it soon became clear that Rarity wasn't going anywhere as she slipped herself down to the ground and laid herself comfortably in a ladylike fashion. Relenting in a bid for freedom, Dash sighed, laying down herself. "Look, there's... nothing to talk about, okay?" "I should say not. Nothing wouldn't have struggled against me and had to have been bound to the deck!" Rarity rebutted, rolling her eyes. A cool wind blew from behind Dash, chilling her slightly. The unicorn chuckled a bit, feeling that the wind coincided with her friend's demeanor quite well. "Rainbow, it doesn't take a PhD in Friendship to know why you're out here." Rarity guessed it had something to do with ponies getting together, and the pegasi's continued bachelorette status. "Oh yeah?" The challenge was nearly gone from her voice, but she withstood giving in. "And why is that, oh Element of Generosity? This isn't even your area of expertise!" "And you think Element of Loyalty would be loyal to herself." Rarity's remark hit Rainbow across the face like a ton of bricks, and the blue mare looked away. Hot, angry tears threatened to come out, but she soon felt a soft hoof raise her chin up to meet with caring, gentle eyes. "Rainbow Dash... we're friends. More than that, really. Despite all odds, me being a dressmaker with a penchant for styles..." Walking alongside the pegasus, the unicorn spun around a couple times before laying next to her friend, sharing her warmth against the sudden cold winds. "And you, a rough and tough Wonderbolt!" Rarity drummed her hooves along the ground, giving Rainbow reason to move a bit. Pushing a hoof against her friend's shoulder, she smiled. "You know I'm not out to hurt you, darling. Nopony is. I want to help, in any way I can." Rainbow was defeated the moment Rarity laid next to her and helped her stand the slight cold that had been creeping up. "I-I know. But... I'm not hurting. Really. I'm just..." She trailed. She didn't have the words, but suddenly she laughed. "I guess I am now, a little. It's good though, I think," she hastily added, wiping away the threatening tears. "I don't know. It's more of a... missing, feeling." "Missing?" Rarity parroted, much to her own displeasure. "Yeah, missing. Missing a chance. Missing the signs. Some of you didn't look at all surprised, and I know the squeal you made was more for Twilight's sake than your own, Rare," the pegasus sighed, cushioning her head on her hooves. "You and Applejack... you two knew for sure, I could see it right there. But..." Dash's eyes closed, shaking her head in disgust for herself. "It was a surprise to me, Rarity." Looking away from her friend, she sniffed uncharacteristically. Rarity nodded her head slowly. "I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash... up until you stormed out here I didn't even realize you still held feelings for our dear Twilight." "SSSSHHHH! Not so loud..." The pegasus warned, looking wildly about. Some part of her expected something like a buffalo herd of all things to have rushed up to her the moment Rarity suggested that out loud. Dropping her hooves back down to the ground, Dash sighed long and hard. "Look, I kinda maybe still have a... thing for... her. But that's my damage." Standing up, Rainbow noticed Rarity's enchantment had been gone for awhile, and she happily kicked her hoof at the ground a couple times to make sure. "So I missed my chance while being an awkward little pony. It's not like I'm going to stay away from her now that she has somepony else." Rarity picked herself up gracefully, feeling the cold wind herself batting around with her posh mane. "That's very brave of you, Rainbow," she gave a soft smile as she trotted forward, placing a hoof on her friend. "It might hurt awhile, but eventually it will heal," she smiled, playfully pushing against the pegasus' chest. There was a small crash from inside the library as she did, drawing the attentions of the two mares. "Well, I do believe our visitations are up, or Pinkie has fallen down." "Or both," Rainbow chuckled, stretching her wings out. Blowing an insect from her, the cyan pony moved toward the door back inside. "Oh hey, Rarity... how do you know?" "Know what, dear?" Rarity asked, halting slightly, believing whatever Rainbow might ask might be fairly personal and not fit for the ponies inside. "You said whatever hurt... whatever hurt I may have will go away with time. How do you know that?" Rarity paused, giving a faraway look. Giving it some thought, she took a step forward and shook her mane. "I... think I may have read it in a book once, I'm not sure," the normally posh pony gave a lopsided grin. Messing with her hair a moment, she moved inside once no curl was out of place. "But it's sound advice, I assure you. If not, a lifetime of free makeovers from mwah." Gesturing toward herself, Rarity fluttered her lashes, giving a small showcase of her style. It didn't much effect the pegasus. "Well, sounds more like a gift to yourself than one to me," Dash added wryly. Swishing her tail about, Rarity opened the balcony door and let the mare in first. "Well, I didn't say I couldn't be generous to myself, now did I?" Giggling, she let the door shut itself on her way in, content with bringing Rainbow back into the fold. She looked on as the rainbow-maned pegasus started talking with the others, and finally discussing the topic of the hour - Whoof with Twilight. Dash was keeping a straight face and doing exactly what could be asked of a friend, giving Rarity a soft smile and as her attention soon turned toward Pinkie Pie, the hyperactive mare trying to make a song out of cleaning up some mess she had made.