Hospitals are dull. Coughing fits can be heard from across the hospital all day long. Spike wasn’t sure how long he could sit through this anymore. The only thing that made this stay bearable is that Octavia was staying in the same room that he was in now. She brightened up his mood like no one else could. Spike couldn’t believe that he lasted this long without her in his life. They also had a lot in common, from liking classical music all the way to liking a good joke or two. Octavia could be fairly sarcastic when she wanted to be and Spike couldn’t help but laugh when she got this way. She was worse than he was at times.
Blue Heart came in early the day after the fight between Octavia and Rarity. There were a few scratch marks on Blue’s face, but he didn’t pay them any mind.
“What happen to your face?” Octavia stared at the fresh cuts on Blue’s face.
“I think I should be asking you that question.” Blue teased, remembering how many scratches were on the mares face yesterday.
“Come on Blue, you can tell us.” Octavia pleaded, giving Blue her best puppy dogs stare.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. Just stop making that face.” Blue sat in his usual spiral chair, making himself comfortable before indulging them in his tale. “You know the white mare you fought with yesterday?”
“Yes.” Octavia replied almost regretfully.
“Bad blood, huh? Well anyway, she completely refused to let me try to remove her cat from her bedside. So when I was checking her chart, I sat on a chair. The little white fur ball was napping there and I had no idea.” Blue explained.
“I guess it was less than pleased?” Octavia ask, wearing a grin of satisfaction knowing that Rarity pet got squashed.
“Less than pleased is not enough to express it.” Blue winced slightly at the memory of the hissing cat. “Anyway, once I got up, the cat lunged right at my face and ripped it up.” Blue gestured his cut face.
“You act like it was worse.” Octavia replied.
“It was. Thing almost scratched a new hole in my nose.” Blue recalled with a laugh, Octavia and Spike stared at Blue in mingled shock. “The nurses patched me up fairly quick so not to worry.” Blue tried to calm down the rather scared pair.
“I never really liked that cat anyway.” Spike said, remembering how Rarity’s cat always stared at him with its intimidating stare whenever he came over.
“Speaking of patients pets, where’s yours?” Blue searched the room for the phoenix.
“Twilight took him back home.” Spike replied, looking almost a little upset that his companion was back home.
“Well, you will be joining him shortly. You’ll be promptly dismissed…now.” Blue arouse from his chair and showed Spike his complicated chart.
“Wait, I can go home?” Spike asked in disbelief.
“No, you’re staying here for another five weeks. Of course you’re going home!” Blue joked.
“How about Octavia, how long will she be here?” Spike asked, holding onto Octavia’s hoof.
“She is being dismissed as well! Besides, she is in much better shape than the white mare. Perhaps it’s just her constant whining is what is leading me to think her recovery is not up to speed though.” Blue said with a hearty laugh.
“I hope I didn’t hurt her to bad.” Octavia mumbled quietly.
“Do not fear dear, the mare is in great hands with us. She should be out by the afternoon whether she likes it or not. I doubt the nurses can handle another day with her.” Blue replied, trying to give a reassuring smile.
Spike was able to walk out of the hospital by his own power, even when Octavia and Blue told him perhaps a wheel chair was better. It was odd, to see that outside when you been in a hospital for a few days. You’re so used to seeing walls everywhere you go and to suddenly see miles of open space around is something that takes some getting used to. Still it was nice to get a smell of fresh air, compared to inhaling that sterile air that lingers in the hospital all the time. Twilight, Pinkie, and the rest of the crew were waiting for Spike and Octavia outside. It looked like Twilight could have cried at the sight of the dragon.
“I am so glad you’re okay!” Twilight picked up Spike in a big hug.
“Trying to send me back in the hospital already?” Spike wheezed.
Twilight quickly let go of Spike and stared sheepishly at him.
“What happen to Rarity? She is still in there?” Pinkie asked. She was carrying what looked like a flower pot.
“Rarity will be in there until probably the afternoon.” Spike explained.
“Great, I can give this to her!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Octavia, tag along! You’re going to like this!” Pinkie dragged Octavia along with her.
“What’s so important about a flower?” Spike looked after Pinkie in wonder.
“Eh, this is Pinkie Pie we are talkin’ about here. Anything, and I do mean anything, is possible with her around.” Applejack eyed Pinkie with interest as well.
“Oh, Spike, there is something I been meaning to ask you.” Twilight looked down at Spike anxiously.
“Fire away.” Spike replied enthusiastically.
“What did Rarity do to you at the Note Theater?” This question made everypony stare at Spike in anticipation.
“Right, well you see, Rarity was chasing me…” Spike started before Applejack cut him off.
“Wouldn’t you be enjoying that Romeo?” Applejack teased.
“Not anymore at least. Anyway, I hid in the once place Rarity would never go.” Spike continued his tale.
“There are many places Rarity wouldn’t go.” Rainbow Dash interjected rather impatiently.
“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted.” Rainbow Dash blushed in embarrassment “I hid in the stallion’s bathroom.”
This earned Spike a round of laughter from the girls, even Fluttershy gave a soft giggle.
“Did you really?” Twilight asked, breathless from all the laughing she had done.
“Yes, anyway, I knew going through the front door was a big no-no. So, I went in through the vents hoping I would end up somewhere else.” Spike continued his explanation.
“You sure ended up somewhere else, right on the stage.” Fluttershy said meekly.
“Don’t remind me.” Spike didn’t want to remember his rather painful fall.
Suddenly, Pinkie and Octavia were running full speed from the hospital.
“Run for your lives!” Pinkie screamed.
“What are you talking about Pinkie?” Applejack asked, looking at the pink blur with confusion.
“Just run will you!” Pinkie yelled out, already a mile away from the group.
Rarity’s loud exaggerated scream could be heard from within the hospital. Octavia was standing near Spike and was leaning on him for support while she laughed hysterically.
“What did she do to Rarity?” Twilight asked Octavia.
“I’ll tell you all once we get to your house or something. Rarity is not going to be happy if she sees we are still here.” Octavia
replied before bursting into a renewed fit of giggles.
Luckily the hospital was in Ponyville, so walking to Twilight’s house wasn’t a long trip. Surprisingly, the lights were on in the library. Pinkie opened the door and dragged her friends into the library as soon as they approached the door.
“Pinkie, how did you get in my house?” Twilight demanded of Pinkie, barely hiding her anger well.
“You left the window in your room open.” Pinkie replied simply.
Once the group sat down and calmed down in the library, Twilight decided now was the time to interrogate Pinkie.
“What did you do to Rarity?” Twilight asked.
Pinkie glanced over at Octavia, who exchanged a silly grin with her. “A harmless prank was all.” Pinkie replied, trying her best to stifle her giggles.
“Mind explaining?” Twilight eyed the party pony with a wary eye.
“Well, I figured Rarity would like a flower to brighten up the mood in her room. Grabbed a flower that shoots water whenever you squeeze it on put in the pot! After that, I brought it to Rarity’s room and I had Octavia come along to see how Rarity would react to it!” Pinkie finished before submitting to her giggling fit.
“As soon as she started to touch the flower, Pinkie ran for it. I stayed and got to watch what happened.” Octavia said, smiling at the memory of Rarity’s wet floppy mane and how red Rarity’s face got.
“She didn’t notice you leaving the plant there?” Fluttershy asked.
“Nah, Rarity was napping when I left it in her room.” Pinkie replied in-between fits of laughter.
_________
Octavia departed the following morning back to Canterlot to finish up the remaining schedule at Note Theater. Before she left though, Spike and Octavia went out on their first date together on Sugarcube Corner. At first, Spike was more then excited to go on the date. But once the time came when he had to meet Octavia at Sugarcube Corner, Spike was starting to turn a faint greenish color and stuttered a bit whenever Applejack would ask him about what he had planned for the date. Rarity was reluctant, at first, to help Spike on the date. But once she saw that he planned just going to way how he usually looked, she immediately set out to make him a nice looking suit. At first, Spike felt bashful of taking the suit but Rarity pretty much gave him no choice but to take it. Not that is was a bad thing, the suit was a simple dark blue color. Rarity warned Spike about not ruining the suit before Twilight sent him off to Sugercube Corner.
Pinkie was more than delighted to see the couple at the Sugarcube Corner and treated them to the finest treats available in the store. Fluttershy gave Spike a handpicked bouquet of flowers to give to Octavia before the date. Once Spike showed the bouquet of flowers to Octavia, she was overwhelmed and impressed by the gesture. She gave Spike a kiss and that made Spike turn redder then a tomato. Pinkie gave Spike an approving nod through the shops window once he gave the bouquet of flowers to Octavia.
Rainbow Dash threw her own flare to the date's atmosphere, by making a rainbow appear and making the skies clear of clouds. Spike knew all to well that today was supposed to rain, but Rainbow told him she could rearrange the rain a little. Even Twilight had gotten involved with prepping Spike for the date by magically giving Spike his old mustache, which Octavia found hilarious.
This was Spike’s first and probably best date ever, and same regards to Octavia. There were still many dates to come in the future.
___
Pinkie was busy in the kitchens of the Sugeercube Corner making a birthday cake. This cake wasn't just for any customer though.
“She is going to love it!” Pinkie eyed her handy work with approval.
There it was the cake had white frosting and an assortment of fruits and candies in it. Pinkie was adding the finishing touches to the cake now, writing words in frosting. Happy Birthday, Octavia.
“Alright, it’s time to make invitations!” Pinkie squealed in delight, hoping to the front counter of the store like a spring.