//------------------------------// // A Basket in the Park // Story: A Walk in the Park // by Hillbe //------------------------------// A Basket in the Park Spike has always prided himself on being ever so handy at remembering things and seldom had reservations. But today he had the basket and blanket ready, He lifted the lid, looked inside and slowly closed it ever so gently. "Nope" He closed his eyes held the bridge of his snout and let out a slow breath. "So much nope" Today the sun laughed the grass laughed and the whole world laughed with them... "Nope nope nope" Spike? He thought way way back to how this all started. -----------------------------------------------oo---------------------------------------- "You're what?" Spike was older, wiser, taller. Nothing prepared him for this news, The return of Gabby would be great news, This news was tempered with Princess Twilight Sparkle explaining how being hatched with unicorn magic during a powerful surge launched by a sonic rainboom could be the reason how Rarity was now with a hybrid and the specie differences was tossed out the window. "It's about time you two went to snogging from snuggling!" Pinkie started "Just think Rarity you'll be craving and eating and throwing up and getting fat and your teats will look great and your hoovies will get rubbed by sweet ole Spike after a long day of waddling around and then on the big day you'll push and push and and Oh ? Will you be laying eggs or was that only a Discord thing?" Rarity promptly lost her lunch. It was probably an 'egg' thingy. ------------------------------------------------oo-------------------------------------------- The park was always the quiet romantic space where a dragon and mare could reflect on the years passing and plans for the weeks to come, But mostly to unwind and snuggle with a packed lunch sunning themselves under Twilights sun. "Spike? Have you seen Pandorable?" Fluttershy trotted along looking her usually worried self "She and Discord had a little disagreement this morning and they both snapped at each other, I swear he's like a big foal sometimes." "I though they buried the hatchet long ago?" Spike continued walking along basket on tail watching a flustered Fluttershy head for the center of ponyville "If I catch him in the mood I'm in I'll show him buried, Right between his horns!". He stopped for a moment stepped to the usual spot rolling out the blanket and setting the basket to one side he laid down for a good sunning "Yea, She still. . .", His mind wondered off to times of old, or was it when he was younger and full of vinegar. The pressures of the new kingdom forged his resolve and he became the dragon she waited for. Twenty years ago Rarity pounced on Spike like Opal on a catnip toy taking all by surprise but his older princess sister. His battles beside his Rarity and with her molded him into the dragon he was today. Pony whipped. Except for that one visit to Ponyville Maternity where they raced against the clock. Yes a clock and they both lost, Discord was having none of it as Pinkie was showing off her skills of foaling. and he was being hounded into having thoughts of a Fluttery kind of foal, Shy wasn't getting any younger and after Angels passing she wanted more. And after seeing Pinkies freshly born foal Shy wanted more now. Like now NOW! Pinkie as usual asked "You know what this calls for?" "A party?" Everypony sung out. "Na It's time for a nap" A pooped out foal caused a first for a pooped out Pinkie Pie and a Cheese Sandwich. It was then a plan was hatched among two other mares to destroy the lives of two hapless male creatures, Not that it was evil. Not at all, Equestria had laws on the books about abuse, slavery, conspiracy and lawful wedlock. Yea, What a title Wed-Lock. and what about the final vow? "Till death do thee part" part. Dragons and Draconequees tend to live a little longer then most, and an early mistake makes for a longer state of suffering. The Now Spike had a basket full of suffering. Rarity quietly settled down on the blanket her sixth sense calling collect "Spikey are you hiding something from me?" "Oh no nothing at all just sitting here with an empty basket, wondering what's on the menu". Rarity eyed the drake and lifted the lid slowly peeking into the dark void of another dimension "It's empty darling". Spike crawled forward and looked at the opening "What?" his nose hovered over the edge of the opening when a clawed finger booped his nose as a chorus of giggles filled the air with wisps of smoke and flowers. Rarity eyed Spike and drew her attention to the two usual unusual suspects in her now raided basket "Ruby why are you with Pandorable and where's our lunch, You are aware it's unladylike to raid others meals without permission even in accompany of their foals?" "He's not a foal" "I am too" "You're a hybrid" "Only half" "You're too old to be a foal even if you act like one most the time" "At least I don't have your mom chasing after us" "but my pop isn't laughing and hiding out like we are" Spike just had to ask "Okay you two spill the beans what's going on?" "Let me guess" Rarity quietly muttered "Discord joked about overthrowing the Kingdom and Pinkie thought it would be fine as long as she gets chocolate rain". "You forgot the muffins" "We've had this little talk before and as much as you think Auntie Twi need a little vacation you two can't temporarily take over the Kingdom even with Pinkies approval we all know she'll do anything for chocolate rain". Spike claw planted "No wonder Fluttershy was so peeved". "Language" All in attendance called to the dragon. Spike looked at all his bunch plus one and asked "So who's here to do lunch and what's on the menu?" With a snap of her tail Pandorable did what came natural , a feast fit for dragons and ponies it couldn't be better, Almost. A rumbled filled the air as the family set for the feast to begin, Rarity heard that sound before and she trembled. Spike closed his eyes and clung to his family tightly as Ruby Gem Sapphire Bobbin Lacey Fang Inky Dinky & Stinky flooded the blanket with zero kibbles in sight. As the kabbit hybrids scarfing and noming commenced a peeved Fluttershy could be heard easily over the din of devouring "Wait until I tell your father when comes out from his void you've got a lot of explaining to do missy!"