//------------------------------// // Vicissitude // Story: Of Laurels & Lace // by WritingSpirit //------------------------------// "So you found her? Nailed onto the bed? Just like that?" Rarity nodded at the police-pony, wiping her tears away with a handkerchief. Spike was beside her, trying his best to comfort the shaken mare. "I think she needs some time to think, officer, if you don't mind." The police-pony nodded understandingly, leaving Rarity and Spike behind as he walked towards Chief Griffonhooves. Spike tried not to sniffle as he watched Rarity buried her face into his chest, sobbing bitterly and loudly. He placed a claw around her, whispering silently in her ear. "It's alright, Rarity." "N-No... it's.. it's not. It's not..." Octavia walked over to the unicorn, biting her lip nervously as she turned to Spike. "You have to see this." Spike hugged the crying unicorn tighter, watching a few ponies lifting the body down from the bed, with blood dripping from a few slash wounds on the body. Winter was overseeing the whole thing, standing still with a grim frown on his darkening face. The body was placed onto a black stretcher. Four ponies hoisted it up, lifting the dead pony to the morgue. The dragon gasped in disbelief as they passed by him. The dead mare had a light-gray coat. It's mane was curled and puffed, looking like a mulberry cloud. "That mane... it looked like-" Octavia hushed him up, her head beckoning at Rarity, who was still whimpering in Spike's chest. He whispered the name out in his mind, not wanting to hurt the already broken mare. "Sweetie Belle..." Spike looked back at the body on the stretcher. Her similarities were strikingly similar, from the coat down to her tail. The dragon cringed at the sight, trying not to think about the filly. What disturbed him more was the dead mare's face. Her eyes were wide open, the pupils frozen in a pair of slits. Her mouth was exposed into a demented smile, showing out its white teeth, with blood painted around the lips. "That's just sick..." Octavia settled beside the dragon, as Winter walked up to them, the 'birthday card' in his hoof. "Mirror Mare put a lot of time into this." Rarity looked up from her depression as the Patriarch continued: "The mare's mane was dyed. Carefully. With no intermix betw-" "Stop. Talking about her." Winter stopped short as Rarity gave him a piercing glare. Tears were flowing in the unicorn's eyes, begging and pleading for the Patriarch to stop. He cleared his throat, giving Spike the birthday card in which the dragon read aloud. "'Hope you enjoy the gift'...... Celestia..." "Anyways, Mirror Mare placed these inside the card as well." Winter passed a group of photos to Spike. The dragon paled with horror as he leafed through them, growing anxious with every picture. "What is it, Spike?" Rarity asked with worry, sniffling a little. Spike handed the photos hesitatingly, the mare instantly gasping with horror at the photos before her. Within each frame, Sweetie Belle was always seen. There was one where she was paying attention to Cheerilee in school, another when she was hanging out with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, already on one of their 'crusades'. "Wh... why is it doing this? Why is it stalking her?" "Mirror Mare wants to hurt you as much as possible," Winter concluded with a sigh. "Especially after the incident with the ball, when you can travel into a time stop." "That doesn't make sense!" Rarity threw the photos onto the ground, making Spike and Octavia jump back in surprise. "Sweetie Belle isn't in this! I am!" "Rarity," the dragon tried to interrupt, "calm down!" "I don't want her to be hurt!! If it wants me dead, then why not come get me already?!" "Rarity, listen to me-" "ENOUGH, Spike!" The dragon stumbled backwards onto the floor in surprise, watching as the white unicorn panted and heaved, trying to vent out her anger. "Rarity..." he mumbled with worry. Octavia and Winter helped Spike up, the dragon now striding towards the white mare as he spoke: "I might not have any siblings, Rarity, but I have you." Rarity just stared at the floor, her anguishing tears dripping onto the wood. "And I don't want you to just give up your life. Just like that." She turned back to the dragon, whimpering softly at him. In a sudden move, Spike hugged the mare tightly, whose eyes were now widened with surprise. "Don't ever say that. About giving up your life to that pony." Rarity shivered inside Spike's claws, her heart overwhelmed with sadness and regret. Octavia and Winter watched with a warm smile at the embracing couple. The unicorn buried her face into the dragon's chest once again, sobbing silently as she muttered: "I'm sorry..." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "Just stand right there, Fluttershy." "I don't know about this..." Fluttershy just edged nervously to the right, holding a bucket out with her hooves as she closed her eyes, preparing for another hail of apples to rain down the hillside. "Is it,um.. okay? If I move a little, tiny bit to the right..." Applejack rolled her eyes at the yellow pegasus. "Sugarcube, if 'ya did, every single apple that 'ya could've caught will fly down 'ta who knows where." "But what if the.. apples hit me? What if I get hit and never wake up?" "They're apples, not cars." Applejack stood beside Fluttershy with a small grin. "Here! Ah'll show ya!" "Just raise your bucket like this, and try to catch as many apples as you can!" The yellow pegasus just whimpered as her friend continued: "It's simple! Ah'm sure 'ya wanna do this!" "Applejack! Fluttershy!" Fluttershy tensed up suddenly, her yellow coat paling a snow white, before fainting to the floor. Applejack turned to the sound of the deep voice, spotting a red stallion galloping from the orchard. She frowned as her brother approached her, the orange pony trying to help the now unconscious Fluttershy up. "Applejack! Wait!" "What is it, Macintosh?" Applejack tried not to scowl, not giving her brother a glance The red stallion just let out a sigh. He bit his lip as he asked: "Where were you last night?" "Why would you care, Mac?" "Ah'm sure you already knew the answer." He looked over to Fluttershy, who was still lying on the floor. "Apple Bloom was worried sick about 'ya, AJ." he continued. "Ya promised her you won't get ya'self in trouble again." Applejack just stared ahead, her face grimacing slightly. Big Mac just held his breath, trying not to shout into her face. "The thing is," he added, "Ah regret whatever ah did yesterday. It was a mistake." The orange pony finally turned to him, rolling her eyes. "Ya just realized, huh?" "Ya wouldn't understand, knowing that ya sister is somewhere out in the rain." Big Mac cupped his sister's hooves into his, before continuing: "If Apple Bloom ran away from home, wouldn't ya feel the same?" Applejack's eyes widened at his statement. She felt her hind hooves aching to buck her brother, her spine slightly trembling with insecurity. "Ah'm your big brother, Applejack." Big Mac sighed a little, looking at his sister with a mix of concern and guilt. The orange pony just looked down at the floor, kicking the dust around the gravel path. "Ah don't know, Mac..." "Ya did me a big favor, AJ." She looked up instantly, trying to hide her surprise. "Whadaya mean?" "She's safe." Big Mac craned her neck at Fluttershy, who was still unconscious on the ground. "Ah'll owe ya one." Applejack chuckled as the stallion blushed, making his coat much redder than he already was. "Ya really like her, don'tcha Macintosh?" she teased, nudging her brother. "Ah'm not so sure, actually." He let out a deep sigh, remembering the events a few days before. "Whatever Shy's hiding, Ah'm not too keen about it." "We'll find out." Applejack said, giving him a reassuring smile. "We'll find out what's going on with her." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "You cleaned the mane yet?" "Still scrubbing it, Winter." Stellar replied with a groan. Spike was on the other end, helping the butler scrub it as well. He rubbed a few beads of sweat off his scales. "Dye's hard to come off." Jovern peered his neck through the window, slightly chuckling at the two of them. "Scrub any harder and you can clean my back." "Eww!!" Spike exclaimed with disgust. "Who does that?!" Winter chuckled a little at the black dragon, with Jovern returning him a smile. "Why don't you help me with her tail?" the Patriarch asked. "The only thing I'm good for is roasting it off." he said with a hearty laugh. "Winter!" Stellar quickly called the stallion. "The color's starting to come off!" Winter immediately rushed to the butler's side, the four of them examining the strand of the dead mare's mane closely. "Light green... light green mane..." The Patriarch turned to the dragons. "Does any of you know a mare of this mane color?" "Not that I know of." Spike said with a shrug. Jovern shook his head as well, making Winter sigh with dejection. "We'll have to do this the hard way..." "The photos, Spike." Winter laid them onto the table, carefully scanning through each of the pictures. "These are photos of Rarity's sister, correct?" Spike nodded, crossing his claws with doubt. "Is she the next target?" "If she is, and I highly doubt she will be," he concluded, "we need somepony to be with her at all times." "Isn't there something else behind this pictures?" Jovern browsed through the photos one more time, stopping to think for a moment. "Something hidden behind all of this?" "If there were, this Mirror Mare would've been one of the smartest manifestations throughout Pendant Lakes history." Winter sighed, sitting onto a small stool. "It's really toying with us." Stellar scratched his head a little, flipping through the last few photos. "I don't understand, though. If she wants Miss Rarity's sister, then why not get her already?" Jovern's eyes widened in realization. "Maybe it is to throw her off track. A diversion..." "Stand back." the dragon ordered, making the rest of them stepping aside as he held his breath. Suddenly, he blew out a ray of flame, making Winter and Stellar duck. Spike jumped back in surprise, turning to the photos with horror. "Jovern! You're burning them apar-" He stopped as his eyes widened in amazement. A stream of letters suddenly appeared onto the photos, covering over the images as the flame burned stronger, sweat now crawling down the teenage dragon's back. With a sigh, Jovern stopped, the flame dying down instantly. Winter's mouth was agape at the array of words on the slightly scorched photos, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "Steganography. Of course!" He smacked himself on the head. "Deceiver Arts. One of the key lessons at Year Seven. How could I've forgotten?" "You'd be surprised what dragons learn at the military." Jovern sighed, reminiscing about his past. "Hellish times, those days were." Quickly, Spike tried to piece the photos in order, trying to make out the message. "There's a capital 'R' here, as well as a full stop..." "That should be next to this end. 'Rode' maybe." Jovern eyed at a cluster of the photos. "One full word here. 'Battalion'. "Got a... list of words, I guess?" Stellar said with a shrug. "'XIII'..." "That's thirteen," Winter answered, shuffling through the photos hurriedly. It wasn't long before everything was in place. The once-invisible words, now illuminated a bright crimson from Jovern's flame, spelled out: XIII. Union Station. Eindhooven. Jeana Yawger, battalion commander. Alaeska, Rode Island, Weedsconsin. Quiche. "Jeana Yawger..." Spike looked at the name. "The next victim, perhaps?" "Then an address." Jovern scanned through the words carefully, trying to make sense of the sentence. "At three different towns? I don't think so." "There must be something important about this 'Jeana' that Mirror Mare wants." Winter gazed through the photos, letting out a frustrated sigh. "The question is, what?" <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "And I'm sure he will come down! In about a minute!" "You said that forty-five minutes ago!" Twilight tried not to laugh as Rainbow Dash slammed her face onto the table, letting out an annoyed groan. "And here I thought tourists were treated like royalties!" "You wouldn't know, Rainbow." the unicorn replied. "After all, I'm sure he has a lot of things to do..." The three of them took a gander at the cafe around them. It was delightfully mellow, with ponies all around, sitting on wrought iron recliners while patiently waiting for their food. Pigeons shared the leftovers, sometimes chased away as pests by the waiters. The usual chatter of a crowd and clinking of utensils were the norm around here, with ponies of different cultures all enjoying their meal. Aromas of parsley, rosemary and the strongest of them all, grilled cheese, wavered throughout the cafe, making the blue pegasus licking her lips hungrily. "I wonder what's for lunch?" "Rainbow, be patient," scolded Twilight, although hers was already running out as well. Pinkie, however, just hummed a cheerful tune, swaying her hooves in anticipation. "This... friend of yours, Pinkie," the unicorn asked, trying to break the boredom, "is he well known?" The pink pony stopped to think. "Well known... as in 'around town' well known? Or the WHOLE OF EQUESTRIA well known?" Rainbow just snorted, edging her iron seat forwards with a loud screech. "Let's try both." "Both, huh?" Pinkie crossed her hooves, her face deep in thought like a sage. "His hotel here is one of the best!" "But he's not a snob like those other princy-prancy, moneylicious Canterlot ponies!" she chuckled with a snort. "He's a good guy!" "Do you... fancy him?" Pinkie rolled her eyes, puffing up her mane as Twilight and Rainbow chuckled slightly. "He's married when I met him, okay Dashie?" The blue pegasus just shuffled closer, ruffling her wings with interest. "And~? You fancy somepony else?" Pinkie started blushing a deep red, making her two friends gasp in delight and wonder. Twilight's eyes were now sparkling with curiosity. "Who's the lucky stallion~?" she cooed teasingly. "Well, he's..." The pink pony's voice faded, looking away with embarrassment. Her eyes suddenly widened with surprise. She clopped her hooves gleefully as a bright amber pegasus walked up to the them, brushing his vermilion mane aside as he settled next to Pinkie Pie. "He's here!!" "Sorry to keep you girls waiting." he quickly apologized, turning to the pink pony. "Good to see you again, Pinkie!" "Anytime, Tourist Trap!" she replied cheerfully, shaking the stallion's hoof. "Tourist Trap, huh?" Rainbow reached out her hoof in greeting. "My name is Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in all of Equestria!" The stallion shook hers, giving the blue pegasus a small grin. "It's nice to meet you." "And I'm sure this lady here must be Miss Twilight Sparkle, yes?" The unicorn nodded in surprise. "How did you know?" "You and your friends here saved the world! Of course you're well known!" The stallion gave out a chuckle as he turned to Pinkie. "And when I saw you on that newspaper, you wouldn't know how eager I wanted to see you again!" "And you! Wouldn't know how great it is to be back here!" Pinkie and Tourist laughed as the waiters arrived, serving the four of the, simmering cups of hot tea. Twilight watched with a smile as the two of them chattered happily, the old friends finally meeting after so long. The unicorn let out a content sigh, sipping on the hot tea, her tongue squirming slightly from the heat and the lemon zest inside the warm brew. She gazed over to Rainbow, who was slumping in her seat, now looking around with a mix of concern of worry. "Rainbow?" Twilight called out, making the pegasus sit up suddenly. "Wha-" Rainbow stuttered in response. She brushed her signature mane aside, breathing as she tried to regain her composure. "What is it, Twilight?" Pinkie and Tourist turned to her, obviously curious as Twilight asked: "You okay, Rainbow? You're a little bit jumpy today." "I..." Rainbow tried not to whimper as the three pairs of eyes looked with concern. She waved her hoof dismissively, sweat crawling down the edge of her face. "I'm fine! Perfectly fine! Just need some uh.... fresh air!" Twilight gave her a suspecting stare, making the pegasus gulp. "If you say so..." Rainbow started trotting towards the doors, trying not to turn back at her friend. She pushed open the double doors into the corridor, letting out a relieved sigh. "I see somepony's enjoying their time alone." She tensed up, her spine tingling with surprise as she felt a sudden draught passing through her. With a grit of her teeth, Rainbow clenched her hooves, her eyes fixated onto a masked pony standing in front of her. "So you're the one hurting my friends." she scowled. "Yes, I am." Mirror Mare let out a cackle as it strode towards her, making Rainbow step back carefully. "And I presume you're going to stop me?" "Yes. What will you do about it, then?" The mask glinted with anticipation, with its owner readying its twin daggers as it answered with a taunt: "I'll watch you try." With a slam of her hooves, Rainbow leaped into the air, rushing towards the masked pony as it launched itself to the pegasus, readying its daggers menacingly. Her wings fluttered mercilessly as Rainbow closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. *BOOM!!!* <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "What do you mean Fluttershy's hiding something?" "Ya see, Rarity..." Applejack's voice began, crackling through the speakers as Rarity edged closer to the table. "Three days ago... is it three days, Macintosh? 'Ah seem to lost the time." "About there." "Right. 'Kay, so three days ago, Fluttershy went from Fluttershy to complete bonkeroos!" Rarity scratched her head, slightly fuddled by the orange pony's dialect. "What do you mean by 'complete bonkeroos'?" "She became crazy! Whipped up one darn hullabaloo of a storm in her cottage." "But what's worse," Applejack's voice turned into a small whisper. "Shy doesn't want any of us to know about it!" "That's very silly, if you think about it. She would understand that we're trying to help her." Rarity stopped to think, trying to sort everything in her head. First Pinkie, then Applejack. And now... "Where's Twilight? Was she notified about this?" "She left Ponyville," the orange pony answered, "along with Pinkie and RD to open some darn box." "Persimmon's box?" The unicorn stopped for a moment, the moss-green cover of Dragonheart flashing through her mind. "Spike told me about it." "Speakin' about that dragon, he's safe over there, right?" "As safe as ever." Rarity said with a giggle, remembering their fiery first meeting. She heard her orange friend sigh with relief, before asking her again: "What 'bout you, Rarity? Are 'ya safe over there?" "Perfectly fine, Applejack." the unicorn said with a chuckle. "Everything's all right so far." Applejack laughed playfully at her, the voice slightly crackling from the speakers. "Is Dragon Lover Boy that protective?" "What is that suppose to mean?" Rarity blurted, her face pouting as the orange pony laughed over the walkie-talkie. "Spike's just... he cares a lot about me..." "Uh-huh, and Ah'm pretty sure ya care a lot about him as well!" Rarity let out a groan, her face turning beet red as she managed to stutter: "O-Of course I do! Who wouldn't care for such a fine, charming dragon like him?" "All right, all right!" her friend chuckled with defeat and amusement. "Calm down, Rarity. Ah know both of your feelings for each other." The white mare let out a relieved sigh, easing off the steam building up in her head. Something else replaced it instead, of fear and insecurity. She couldn't help but let the turn of events last night to whirl in her head. That puffed mane, that light grey coat. That... smile. "Applejack, can I ask you for a favor?" She heard a small sigh on the other end. "Is it to getcha some fabric for your boutique again? 'Cause ah just got some in yesterday." "No, it's not that," she replied with a chuckle. Holding her breath, Rarity asked again, trying to push away the dead mare out of her mind. "Is... is it okay if Sweetie Belle stay with you guys until I get home?" Rarity could picture Applejack's surprised face as a moment of silence wavered in. "Stay till you come back? I dunno, Rarity..." "Please?" the unicorn begged, her gut twinging, fearing denial. "Pretty, pretty please~?" Her heart leaped as the orange pony sighed, managing to mutter: "All right. But till you come back, ya hear?" "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Rarity felt like hugging her friend, smiling with glee as she felt a large weight lifted off her shoulders. "What would I do without you, Applejack?" "Ask Lover Boy," she replied with a snort. "Ah'm sure you both kissed when you guys first met, didn't ya?" Rarity blushed, with Applejack laughing teasingly at the other end of the walkie-talkie. "Silence says it all." "Just don't let Sweetie Belle go to school alone, okay?" "Ah won't, Rarity." The orange pony stopped chuckling. Rarity could hear determination in her voice, feeling confident in her friend. "Trust me." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> "Really, really sure she would love it?" "Well, Pinkie. I really can't wait to find out." Tourist Trap looked at the small parcel that Pinkie gave him, his usual gentle demeanor already changing into the pink pony's hype out of sheer anticipation. "And I'm sure she would be delighted to have it." Twilight gave them a smile as Pinkie clopped her hooves with glee. She looked over at the doors with concern over Rainbow Dash. The pegasus never leaves her friends behind. She is the Element of Loyalty after all. "Pinkie, shouldn't we go check on Rainbow?" The pink pony munched into a cupcake, crumbs spattering out of her mouth as she muttered: "I'm sure Dashie just needs time!" The lavender unicorn just tapped her hooves impatiently, looking over at the hot tea across her. "I don't think Rainbow would take that much time outside, you know." *BOOM* A loud explosion blasted the doors wide open, tossing the tables and chairs apart and throwing the three of them across the room. Twilight gripped tightly onto one of the pillars, watching in horror at Pinkie smashing into a glass aquarium at the other side of the room. She gasped as a familiar, rainbow aura burst through the air, flowing just right above her mane. "Rainbow..." As the explosion died down, ponies gathered themselves up, helping others tangled in the debris caused by the Sonic Rainboom. Twilight rushed over to Pinkie, who was now picking glass out of her hind hooves. "Pinkie! Are you okay?" "Perfectly fine." The pink pony frowned at the few cuts on her skin as Twilight lifted her up from the shards, brushing the glass pieces off her coat. She suddenly coughed, nearly collapsing onto the floor as Twilight helped her up. "You're coughing blood, Pinkie." Twilight said with worry, looking at the stains on the floor. "You sure you don't need to see a doctor?" "I said I'm fine, Twilight." Pinkie brushed the unicorn's hoof away, trudging through the mess. Twilight just gave her a befuddled look, trying to understand her friend's sudden brashness. "Rainbow did the Sonic Rainboom." the unicorn continued. "She wasn't suppose to do the Rainboom in an enclosed space!" Pinkie lifted Tourist Trap from amidst the flipped tables, the owner of the hotel completely aghast as the destruction that lay before him. "Wha... what happened?" Before Twilight could answer, Pinkie galloped out of the door, already searching for the blue pegasus. "Rainbow Dash!" she called out, looking around at the rubble in the hallways. Twilight widened her eyes in disbelief as she stepped out into the corridor. The hotel lobby was reduced to a ruin. Tables and chairs were flung even to the far sides of the room, with papers and broken porcelain scatted around the carpeted floor. Some of the pillars broke off from their stands, breaking apart at the floor below. The remains of a crystalline chandelier lie shattered on the floor. Everywhere, ponies were helping themselves out, faces of shock and terror all around. "Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie's loud, screeching voice immediately caught the unicorn's attention. She galloped quickly to the end of the corridor, gasping at the sight before her. Rainbow Dash was crumpled onto the floor, her wings folded in, with one side cleanly sliced a little at the top. She was panting heavily and painfully with Pinkie examining her bruised body, the pegasus whimpering with each gentle touch. "She needs to get to the hospital, Twilight!" With a nod, Twilight galloped towards the stairs, narrowly avoiding a few fragments of marble. She hurriedly clambered down the steps, rushing towards the door as she shouted: "This is an emergency!" Pinkie turned back to Rainbow, who was now cringing and moaning in her friend's hooves in agony. The pink pony silently prayed, yet she felt dread growing within her with every passing second. "I'll protect you, Dashie." she whispered, wiping her leaking mouth of blood while trying to forget the shouts in her head. The shouts of her past. "No matter what." <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Spike never doubted his instincts. To say the least his instincts weren't the brightest, yet he trusted them all the same. "So, Rarity," he asked the mare beside him. The two were having one of their casual strolls down in Pendant Lakes, still being refined to its former glory. "I was wondering. About going home I mean." Rarity just indulged in her lemon tea, suckling on the straw before answering with a sigh. "Home. You really want to talk about home, when we're still stuck in this awful place?" The dragon just rolled his eyes, making Rarity giggle. "All right. I miss home. A lot." The unicorn twirled around Spike, holding on to her yellow hat, topped with a daffodil. "Why ask, Spikey?" "Sweetie Belle." His face turned to that of concern. Rarity's face darkened slightly, making the dragon starting to regret his decision. "Instincts... Really, Spike?" "Look, I didn't mean to... I mean, I just... want to make sure-" "I'm not comfortable with it, okay Spike?" Rarity tried not to sniffle as she turned to the dragon with a pleading, sullen look. "It's just... what it dares to do... and if it touches Sweetie Belle..." Spike hugged the mare tightly as she let out a quiet sob in his chest. He felt his heart sink with guilt. He just made the mare of his life cry. "I won't bring that up again, okay?" The dragon lifted her face up, brushing her curled mane aside as he gave Rarity a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she'll be fine." Rarity gave him an unsure smile, gazing over at a promising bench at the far side of the plaza. "Can we sit? For a moment or two?" Spike nodded, the couple now strolling pass the fountain. He quickly helped the slightly shaken mare down, placing her drink right beside her. With a deep sigh, the two of them looked around, entrancing themselves into the atmosphere of their surroundings, claw and hoof entwined in between them. The day was one of those gentle days, with the fluttering of feathers and coos of pigeons resonating beneath the constant trickle of water from the elegant, marble fountain. It wasn't long before Rarity noticed a few, astonished looks from other ponies, obviously shocked at the dragon enjoying the warm breeze beside her, even more at their intimacy. She tapped his shoulder, interrupting the dragon from his relaxation. "There's a lot of ponies watching us." Spike just chuckled a little, waving at a group of ponies who were obviously fearing his presence. The group frantically huddled away, making him laugh quietly. Rarity giggled at the dragon's mischief, shaking her head with a sigh. "Still playful as ever, Spikey-Wikey." She nudged his shoulder, making him blink in surprise. "Grow up already!" the unicorn exclaimed with sarcasm. The dragon's pupil glinted, making his comeback. "And I thought you like me just the way I am!" "Whoever said that, Spike?" Rarity whined, clutching and shaking his claws. "Spike~~!" "What?" Spike tried not to groan as Rarity giggled. He felt himself being dragged by the unicorn, the two now heading towards the fountain. "Got a coin, Spike?" she asked, turning to the dragon as she clutched onto his claw. He examined the marble structure in front of him, trying not to get soaked from the sprinkle of droplets emitted by a stone fish. He rolled his eyes with amusement. "Does it look like I have pockets on my scales?" Rarity chuckled a little, before grabbing a penny from beneath her hat. "It's a Love Fountain." she explained to the confused dragon. "If the both of us toss a coin inside, it would mean our hearts would forever be together, never to be broken apart." Spike was surprised by the unicorn's statement. With a gleaming smile, he asked: "So does that mean you want me to never leave you? No matter what?" "You could say that..." Rarity's cheeks turned a slight pink, making the dragon chuckle. "All right, I'll do it." The unicorn quickly clopped her hooves with glee, before Spike cupped them both into his claws. Rarity turned to the dragon, the both of them exchanging smiles. The both of them closed their eyes, their minds thinking of each other. "I wish that Spike, my one true love and the dragon of my life," her thoughts echoed in her head. "that he would always be standing right beside me, adhering to my beliefs. "To be with me eternally, my one true soulmate. Let him and I spend the rest of our lives together, without never a second thought. Let the love between Spikey and I blossom, the lights within us as bright as the summer sunshine." She turned to Spike, grinning as the dragon uttered a few more words before opening his eyes. "Well," he said humbly, "what are we waiting for?" "One... two.... three!" The both of them threw their hooves or, in Spike's case, claws into the air, the penny whizzing upwards, before diving straight into the fountain. Rarity and Spike sighed, the mare in the dragon's arms, watching as the coin sank to the bottom of the marble floor. "That went well." Spike mused with a smile. Rarity chuckled slightly, pecking him on his cheek. "It was worthwhile, isn't it Spikey?" The dragon just shrugged, his face pouting a little. "It wasn't worth my time, Rarity." Before Rarity could react, he smashed his lips onto hers, the pair now deep in a ravishing kiss. Rarity heaved a little as the dragon worked his lips, the zesty, lemon drink now mixing between both of their mouths. With a small moan, Rarity held onto Spike's back tightly, her hoof gripping into the scales. She felt a wave of euphoria rushing through her, a small bead of sweat tingling down her skin. They quickly broke it, not wanting to make a public display. Rarity's cheek were tinged scarlet, making Spike chuckle again as she asked: "So... that was worth your time?" Spike just shook his head. He brushed the perplexed unicorn's curled mane aside, staring deeply into her azure pupils as he answered, making the love of his life grin: "You're worth my time."