//------------------------------// // The Gala part 2 // Story: Spike Pie // by Silver Butcher //------------------------------// "I can't believe this," Twilight muttered irritably as she made her way up the steps to the castle, her friends had just finished a musical number and had scattered to do multiple different things, the only ones still with her was Spike, Aloe, and Rainbow Dash. Maud and Marble had split away from their siblings at the train station, knowing their idea of a party would be drastically different than what the Gala actually was. "All this work and the Wonderbolts cancel my presentation so they can add more stunts to their show," "To be fair," Spike replied "Soarin was apparently throwing a massive hissy fit about his part in the show being cut short, witch lead more of the Wonderbolts to air the same grievances, Spitfire did try her best but it the end had to give in," "I'm sorry for your lose Ms. Sparkle," Aloe said politely. "And besides, you can't have too many stunts in a stunt show," Twilight looked back at Rainbow, a look of shock evident on her face. "Your still here?" She asked in confusion "Aren't you gonna go and try and get the Wonderbolts to notice you or-" "Spike already helped me with that," Rainbow interrupted "Referred me to Spitfire, just gotta-" Rainbow sighed and said the next part as tho it was killing her "-be patient," Twilight has a look of pride in her eye. "Rainbow I'm so proud of you," "Please don't rub it in," She begged as they got into the line to shake Celestia's hoof. "Wow," Aloe said as she looked at the long line, "Meeting the Princess, you think she'll let us snap a photo?" "I'll ask on your behalf," Twilight replied with a polite smile. Lotus took a drink off a table and took a sip before turning back with a smile, Pinkie was doing what she did best, and Lotus was loving every second of it. She heard chuckling and looked to her right to see Bellow Bloom chuckling as he ate some fancy snacks, Upon seeing Lotus he tipped an imaginary hat despite the fact he now had a hat, she copied him and he laughed jollily before walking over to her. "Ah I remember seeing you with Spike and Pinkie," He said merrily as he joined her in watching Pinkie make the uptight nobles squirm. "Ah you know no less than three years ago I was just like the rest of these poor chumps," he laughed as he thought back to the day he had met Spike and Pinkie. "Ah, I was just minding my own business when my dear friend Candy Chopper came to and told me about the most wonderful party the foal he foalsat had just attended-" as Bellow began telling Lotus the story Pinkie was having a blast. "I say," a mare said irritably "Do you mind?" "Not at all," Pinkie said happily as she took the mare's front hooves and began spinning around with her, after a moment Pinkie let her go and she spun to a stop, her eyes spinning, and Pinkie continued enjoying the party. "Thanks for the dance," She cheered to the mare before she started singing "I'm at the Grand Galloping Galla, I'm at the Grand Galloping Galla-" as Pinkie started singing Lotus was laughing with Bellow "-And then," Bellow said with a chuckle as he stroked his enormous mustache "Spike pulled himself out of the hat!" Bellow howled with laughter, a few nobles had crowed around to hear the story and while most scoffed and walked away a few chucked at the odd idea of a dragon somehow pulling itself out of a hat and stuck around to hear the story, once Pinkie got close enough Bellow called out to her. "Pinkie old girl, I was just telling your Marefriend here about the first party you and Spike threw for me," Lotus turned red and spluttered but Pinkie stopped singing her song and jumped to join them. "Oh, did you tell her about the part when Spike pulled himself out of a hat? It's his favorite trick!" After a fair amount of waiting the small group made it to the front of the line. "Welcome my faithful student," Princess Celestia greeted as she shook Twilight's hoof. "Did you enjoy your musical number?" Twilight blushed a little. "Oh, you saw that," Twilight coughed "Um, yes it was rather fun, um Princess I would like to introduce you to Rainbow Dash, Aloe, and Spike Pie. Celestia made an odd face for a moment at the last name but regained her composure as Twilight continued. "And Aloe was wondering if she could get a picture with you?" "Oh don't worry," Celestia said pointing to the bush next to the stairs where a pony with a camera was sitting. "It'll be sent to Twilight in the mail before the end of next week," Aloe moved forward and shook the Princesses hoof, the Camer clicked and Rainbow was up next after her was Spike, Celestia seemed oddly excited to meet Spike. "Mister Spike," She said with a sparkle in her eye "I've been wondering when I would meet you," "You know about Spike?" Twilight asked in confusion "I don't think I ever included him in my letters," "Oh I've heard about him a few years back," Celestia said politely, "Twilight scened this wasn't the full truth but didn't push her mentor any father as Spike jumped in. "You know about me?" Spike asked, "That's awesome!" Celestia nodded. "Am I wrong to assume you have a relation to Pinkie Pie?" "She's my sister," Spike said as he let go of her hoof. "It was very nice to meet you," "Yes Spike, it was very nice to finally meet you as well Spike," She watched him leave before looking back to Twilight "Would you like to join me in greeting the ponies to the Gala?" "I would love to!" Twilight replied, almost screaming out in joy as she stood by Celestia's side. Spike and Aloe looked back to her before Rainbow Squeezed between them, much to Aloe's irritation. "So Spike, since you were going to be in a demonstration until about 10 minutes ago any idea where the Wonderbolts might be?" Spike smiled. "Of course," Spike pointed up to the wall where a sign pointed down a hall with the words ' Wonderbolt meet and greet' written on it. "Perfect!" Rainbow said as she took Spike's arm and dragged him down the hall, "Come on, just cause I have to wait to become one doesn't mean we can say high to your little crush," Aloe turned bright red at that, steam coming out of her ears. "Oh Dashie," Spike said with a laugh "You've been talking to Pinkie haven't you?" Aloe rushed after them taking Spikes another arm as she walked with them. "As his date, I'd love to meet this friend of yours," Aloe said, glaring at Rainbow Dash irritably, Rainbow blinked at the look. "What's up with her?" She pondered as they made their way to the Wonderbolt meet and greet, finding a few nobles talking to a few dozen Wonderbolts. Aloe was trying to Spot who her rival was when the Captain of the Wonderbolts approached them. "Spike," She cheered. "Spitfire!" Spike cheered back as he escaped both Rainbow and Aloe's grip and hugged his old friend. "That captain?" Aloe whispered, a vein throbbing on her temple, Rainbow took a step back from the angry mare and overheard her angry mumbles. "My rival is the captain of the Wonderbolts?" Rainbow looked to Aloe in confusion for a moment before looking to Spike and Spitfire happily talking to each other, then back to Aloe before it clicked and her jaw dropped. "You?" She said pointing to Aloe, then pointed to Spike "And Him?" Aloe looked to Rainbow who was staring at her dumbfounded. Aloe moved forward to greet Spitfire, who was in the middle of apologizing to Spike. "-Soarin was throwing a hissy fit," She sighed "Then he got some of the other Wonderbolts to back him up, next thing I know over half the teams refusing to act in the show unless I cut you and Twilight's Demonstration," She groaned before Aloe holds out her hoof. "Hello," She said politely "I'm Spike's date Aloe," Spitfire shook the hoof happily before turning to Spike. "You burn a spa?" She questioned. "No I forgot to pay," Spike replied with a laugh. "Ah, Classic Spike," Spitfire said before leading Spike to meet the few Wonderbolts that hadn't threatened to back out of the show because of his Demonstration," Aloe was grinding her teeth when Rainbow patted her back. "Alright," She said now over the shock "So I'm pretty sure Spike is Romanticly inept, so no matter what you do unless it's big and obvious he ain't gonna notice you have a crush on him, even if you tell him outright he'll just think it's a joke," "How do you know that?" Aloe asked suspiciously. "I asked his sister," Rainbow said pointing to Aloe's other side, where Maud was standing scratching her chin in thought, off to the side a few Wonderbolts where being confused by Marble. "Are you sure your ok?" Thunderlane asked. "Mh," Marble replied simply. "Was that a yes?" Thunderlane asked in confusion. "I have an idea," Maud said as she pointed to Spike and Spitfire talking to Fleetfoot, "But it can't be done here," Maud added before whispering something into Aloe's ear, her ears perked and she gave a somewhat sinister smile. "Oh, that could work," "I don't wanna apart of this anymore," Rainbow Decided as she rushed to join Spike, who happily introduced her to Fleetfoot. "Soon," Aloe muttered rubbing her hooves together "Soon Spike," "I'm beginning to question if I support this," Maud said dully as she backed away from Aloe and went to watch Marble confuse Thunderlane, who was offering her bits to say actual words. "Mhh," Marble replied merrily as she took the bits. "She said thanks," Maud translated to Thunderlane before motioning Marble to join her and join Spike in meeting some other Wonderbolts, as the two walked away Thunderland sat in silence and scratched his head. "Did I just get scammed?"