The Running of the Leaves finally commenced a week and a half after Spike and Rarity’s outing in Canterlot, during the weekend when the roads were clearer and most were readier to attend. For the audience on the ground it was by and large an excuse to relax and maybe have a picnic, punctuated by the main event, racing ponies furiously pounding the dust in their fervour to win. Each time the racers passed was followed by creatures relocating to one’s next chosen set of stands from which to shout and cheer their participating friends, family, or just whichever pony they’d taken a flutter upon. The circuit was long but compact, intentionally winding around the paths surrounding Ponyville and the fringes of the Everfree Forest, to make sure the race fulfilled the function of its namesake, as well as to better accommodate the audience.
Spike had travelled down to Ponyville alongside Twilight in her pony-drawn chariot that morning, so he hadn’t needed to exert himself much on the ride down as he did when he flew down from the mountain solo, which was nice. After helping Twilight set up a few things she saw him off with a royal wave, insisting to drop in with him and the rest of their friends when she had a few free moments. He was uncertain where to find them but he figured he could locate them if he flew above the town for a little while, so he boosted himself upwards and peered around, one claw above his eyes to block out the low autumnal sun.
As he scanned over the town square Spike saw two facing, three-tiered audience stands, lightly populated with what he supposed were the earlier witnesses to the event, as well as the participating ponies limbering up and swarming around as they got ready to go near the fountain. He could definitely see a blue blob with a smaller orange blob buzzing around nearby, who he figured were Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, ever her adoring fan and dedicated pit-stop pony in the event of misfortune, or simple thirst.
Not seeing what he was looking for he looked right, before long seeing more pony-shapes in the crowd; one butter-yellow, two pearlescent-white and one hot-pink were close together amongst the hubbub a short distance away, congregated on the far end of the square around a checkered mat. He waved and was about to call when an excited voice instead squealed, ‘Ooh, there he is now! C’mon down and join us, Spike!’
He did as Pinkie Pie (for it was she) commanded, speedily at first before remembering that he really needed to take more caution on landing, so he slowed up a bit and hovered a foot above the picnic mat before letting himself down slowly with two final, deliberate flaps. ‘Well, I made it! How is everypony?’
Fluttershy was sat on the rug, wearing a striped teal scarf and boots with her mane in a ponytail, surrounded by Angel Bunny and a few bluebirds. ‘Oh, there’s our boy,’ she said mildly, ‘We were just talking about when you’d arrive! That’s a really nice jacket, if you don’t mind my saying.’
Spike looked at each of his padded shoulders at the sequined, magenta faux-leather jacket he was wearing, and gave a twirl to show “SPiKE” in metallic studs across the back of the shoulders and the flame graphic drawn with green sequins on the torso. ‘Thanks! Rarity put it together for me when I visited her last week.’
‘Wow, I can’t believe Rarity of all ponies would set you on fire,’ said Pinkie Pie, sitting down to Fluttershy’s right, ‘But I guess a fashion statement’s a fashion statement!’
‘The fire was her idea, the name was mine – just thinking practically in case someone sees me from behind, and wonders who that cool dragon was. Where’d she go, anyway? I saw her from above just now with Sweetie Belle, I think.’
‘Over there,’ said Pinkie, pointing a hoof to not far away, in the general direction of the fountain where Rarity was with her sister, ‘She’ll be back lickety-split, don’t worry.’
Spike looked where Rarity was, seeing her wearing a saddle bag, a sparkly mint-green angora sweater and warmers on her hind legs. She was fussing over Sweetie Belle, apparently insisting on the growing filly taking a soup flask and orange juice and wearing a woolly hat, while Sweetie looked singularly grumpy and Apple Bloom stood nearby and tried not to giggle. He considered running up to greet her for a second, then decided to give her a bit of space – she was his favourite pony, no doubt about that, but he worried about monopolising her time and he knew she’d return once she’d made sure Sweetie was sufficiently fed and hydrated. Besides, there’d be plenty of time to catch up across the event.
Instead he said, ‘Yeah, I see her now, bugging her sister. So, Twilight said she’d be joining us a bit later. She’s got a decent amount of prep before the race sets off, being its figurehead and all, but she keeps insisting to everypony, “I have to meet my friends! What’s the point of a princess of friendship without her friends?” She’ll probably join us after we move to the second viewpoint.’
He sat down on the mat by the picnic hamper between Pinkie and Fluttershy, giving the latter a little space in case Angel was feeling ornery. Fluttershy noticed, scooping up the white rabbit in both hooves and, petting his ears, said, ‘I’m so glad to hear that, Spike. Besides you visiting my cottage last weekend I’ve not heard much from Canterlot since the last Friendship Council… I mean, not that I thought you’d forget me so soon, but, well…’
‘Well, Rarity told me you were worried about me, so I thought I’d show my face over there, that’s all. Thanks again for tea, by the way.’
‘Discord portalled out right before you showed up, you barely missed him… or was that intentional on his part, I do wonder… anyway, I’d just boiled the kettle. It was no problem at all, and besides, the pie you brought over from, oh! Pinkie, was that one of yours?’
‘If you mean, did Spike come to the bakery last weekend and buy a pie I made, from me, and took the pie somewhere else, and it was the pie by me and somewhere else was your house, so he brought it to you, of course! Unless he ate it, and… betrayed me by buying counterfeit Pinkie pies from a counterfeit Pinkie Pie…’ Pinkie clasped her hooves together, looking right at Spike with one eye bulging with suspicion, and as he recoiled nervously she flipped back to an innocent smile. ‘But if you enjoyed it it probably was! One of mine, I mean, the true Pinkie Pie. You did like the pie, didn’t you?’
‘Just to be certain, it was pecan and hazelnut, right?’ Fluttershy asked, to which Pinkie nodded, ‘Then I can confirm it was the one he brought me, and I can also confirm it was lovely with a cup of black tea. To tell the truth, Spike’s got a keen nose for what I like.’
‘I try… I just guessed you had a fondness for nuts,’ said Spike, almost spelling outright that he meant Discord before thinking better of it, ‘You know what’s really crazy, though? I paid for it. First time I’ve ever actually bought a pie with my own bits, would you believe. I don’t know if you’re all aware, but I’m a dragon of means nowadays. Paid Rarity for the jacket when I flew back over here a few days afterwards to visit her, too, though it took a bit to convince her to let me.’
‘What’s that, darling?’ Spike looked away from Fluttershy to see Rarity had returned, and she lit up, pranced for a second, then trotted over to Spike as she realised he’d joined them. ‘Oh, Spikey-Wikey! Oh, you’re here, how wonderful! Oh, and you wore the jacket, oh, I wasn’t certain you were a hundred-percent enthused by it…’
‘S’up, Rarity?’ said Spike, raising a claw in greeting. ‘Of course I like the jacket, I wouldn’t have insisted otherwise! The hat you gave me’s really nice too, but I didn’t bring it along… separately they’re fantastic, but… not together? The ensemble’s a bit too “village drakelings” for my liking, y’know?’
‘Ah, I understand if it’s not altogether your style, I admit I was a tiny bit concerned. I just wanted to repay you for modelling for me, Spikey,’ said Rarity, blushing slightly and giving Spike a little welcoming hug, ‘But you sweet-talked me into taking your money somehow, your silver-tongued little dragon.’
Spike looked up at Rarity and smiled, returning her blush with an equal and opposite reaction. ‘Aw, you didn’t need to repay me, it wasn’t a chore or anything… it was really nice to see you again, and the dresses, heh… and you still gave me a fifty-percent reduction on your usual charge, didn’t you?’ he turned to the others and explained, one claw raised to his face, ‘We haggled on it for a while and that seemed like the best compromise…’
‘It really “suits” him,’ Pinkie Pie just about enunciated through the mouthful of chocolate pretzels she’d pilfered from Fluttershy’s hamper while nocreature was looking, ‘Makes him look more… well, Spike-y!’
‘Pinkie, could you not?’ said Fluttershy, side-eyeing Pinkie’s thievery sternly before turning back to Rarity, ‘But yes, he cuts a striking figure in it, I mean, if you want my opinion. And there’s no missing him in that shade of pink!’ Sardonic without speaking, Angel took that as a cue to put on a pair of laboratory goggles as if to block the glare of the jacket.
Rarity’s smile broadened with pride. ‘I know, isn’t it just fabulous? I hope you don’t mind me tooting on my own horn a tad, but inspiration just swept me off my hooves after that evening in Canterlot – after I returned to the boutique I started thinking about how Spike should have pockets and worked outwards from there. I’d devised templates from Spike’s measurements some time ago, but I’d never actually stitched one together. I’m so pleased to see I was right that magenta complements his scales in the daylight like I’d envisioned.’
‘Yes, magenta, not pink, Fluttershy… but thanks,’ Spike said slightly defensively, before turning to Rarity. ‘Anyway, Rarity, how’s Sweetie Belle doing over there?’
Rarity sighed, ‘She doesn’t seem to understand the importance of being prepared, I’m afraid… you know, I think she’s reaching that age where she doesn’t appreciate my sisterly advice. But she’s well, and, I don’t know, she’ll probably be perfectly fine regardless of a silly old flask…’
‘She’s definitely getting taller… all three of them are,’ Fluttershy assured her as she hugged Angel a little closer to her, ‘And fillies want to assert their independence as they grow up, it’s perfectly normal. Don’t take her complaining to heart, I’m sure she knows you care.’
Angel’s goggles popped off his face and he frowned as Fluttershy squeezed on him, and he wriggled out of her grasp before hopping a little way away. She wasn’t perturbed, instead chuckling as he proved her next point. ‘Although you do need to know when to give her space. Nocreature really likes being smothered.’
Rarity plopped herself down on the mat opposite the others, looking slightly regretful. ‘I suppose bothering her in front of Apple Bloom might have given my concerns an interfering aspect… I’ll have a word with her in private later and promise not to do that again. But for now,’ she perked up and put her hooves together, ‘The race starts imminently, does it not? Should we take to the stands sooner rather than later now we’re all here, sans Twilight?’
‘I saw the racing ponies getting ready before I landed,’ said Spike, ‘They weren’t lined up yet, but I guess heading over won’t hurt. By the way, Pinkie, you’re not announcing this year, are you? Why not? You were good at it!’
‘Same reason you’re not, silly; I didn’t apply for the job!’ said Pinkie, ‘Bulk Biceps and DJ Pon-3 are in the observation balloon this year – Octavia Melody’s on the planning committee and nopony else had a better idea!’
‘Now that’s interesting news,’ said Spike, ‘If nothing else, it won’t be quiet.’
‘Oh, dear,’ said Rarity, ‘It may be the cotton wool I popped into my saddlebag this morning will find an application sooner rather than later…’
Rarity leapt several feet into the air as, with impeccably awful timing in her opinion, speakers on a bunting post nearby squealed feedback before partly giving way to Bulk Biceps’ ’roided-out bellow, loud enough to feel as though it took up physical space around them. ‘AAAAAALLRIGHT, FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! THIS IS “BIG” BULK BICEPS AND THE INCOMPARABLE, DANCEABLE DEE-JAY PONE-THREE,’ he paused while a long electronic “BWARP-TU-TU-TU-TU-TUUUEEP” escaped the speaker, ‘BROADCASTING LIVE FROM THE BAD BALLOON ABOVE PONYVILLE FOR THIS YEAR’S RUNNING OF THE LEAVES!! IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN PONYVILLE AND THE BIRDS ARE SINGING, UNAWARE OF THE MAYHEM SOON TO TEAR OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY THROUGH THESE TWISTED ROADS!! AUTUMN’S LARGE AND IN CHARGE, BABY! CAN I GET A YEAH??!’
There was a pause with a few isolated “Yeah!” responses, though a good deal of the ponies nearby were balking with their hooves over their ears, looking in mild pain from the feedback and excessive volume. ‘You’re all supposed to say, “YEAH!!!!” when I say that. NEXT TIME I SAY YEAH, YOU SAY YEAH! I WANNA HEAR EVERYPONY SCREAM!!’
As dubstep blasted through the speakers Rarity silently fished a wad of cotton wool out of her bag and packed a bit into each of her ears before offering some to Fluttershy, who declined politely, although Angel didn’t. ‘Goodness me! If somepony doesn’t have a word with those ruffians, I’m not sure my nerves can take this for long…’ she pontificated aloud.
Nobody besides Spike seemed to hear her above the din. ‘It is pretty intense,’ he agreed, ‘I kept a scroll on me in case of an emergency, I could drop Twilight a line and ask her to get them to tone it down a bit, maybe?’
As he finished that thought the volume of the music suddenly dropped a few decibels and lost the feedback screech, as though somepony in a position of responsibility had had the exact same thought. ‘Ooooor… maybe it’s one of those problems that takes care of itself?’
As the music, still very audible but at a more tolerable level, came to a halt, Bulk Biceps imparted important information for everycreature. ‘GIVE THAT GAL A HOOF, THERE’S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT’S FROM! THE RACE STARTS IN A QUARTER-HOUR, FOLKS, BE THERE OR BE A TWO-DIMENSIONAL SHAPE, any two-dimensional shape, I’m not judging. GET HYPE!! YEAH!!!!’ This time his call got a louder response from the crowd.
‘Well, I guess that’s our cue to head over! C’mon, Fluttershy, everycreature!’ said Pinkie Pie, bouncing towards the stands. Fluttershy picked up Angel and her bird friends folded up the mat before following, and Rarity looked at Spike with no small relief.
‘It seems we shall not be deafened too thoroughly this day, darling,’ she said, removing the wool and walking alongside Spike as he hovered towards the stands, ‘Although his style of commentary may just be something to bear through for the day. And I can't help but wonder how they got all of Miss Scratch’s audio equipment in that balloon, what with Bulk’s, ah, all-encompassing bigness…’
‘You’d be surprised what they can do with machines nowadays,’ said Spike, ‘Hey, don't tell anypony I told you this, but there might be another surprise or two you’ll like more. Keep an eye out.’
Rarity smiled. ‘The race is always good for a surprise or two anyway, darling. Speaking of, did you know dear Silverstream entered this year?’
‘No kidding? I thought the event was strictly ponies only?’ said Spike.
‘Well, after a fashion. The Running of the Leaves began as an earth pony-only tradition and they let anypony who wishes to race now. But she’d set her heart on competing and, after she and her friends pointed that out and, ah, agitated a little on the issue, the committee judged she wasn't at a particular physiological advantage so long as she keeps her wings pinned throughout since it’s all land-only, so she’s allowed! I’ll certainly keep an eye out to gauge her prowess!’
‘Nice,’ said Spike, ‘The more to cheer on, really. I'm not bothered who wins, I'm just in it for the encouragement – as long as you try your best, y’know?’
By now they’d reached the stalls, and Rarity looked up to where Pinkie Pie was already sat and Fluttershy was about to, and Rarity ascended to their level as Spike flew behind her. ‘Oh, agreed. Heavens knows I’d personally never think worse of anypony for losing a race. Well, I might, if I were a betting mare, but putting bits on one’s friends feels unseemly…’
‘I dropped twenty on Applejack coming in top three, just for funsies,’ said Pinkie, overhearing as Rarity wriggled into her seat and made herself comfortable next to her, ‘And a teeny bit more investment in things. Don’t tell her or she might get a big head!’
‘I mean, you could… Applejack’s not that proud,’ said Fluttershy, her birds nesting in her mane. ‘Hmm… tell you what, I don't really like gambling with bits, but… how about, if Rainbow Dash loses to Applejack, I buy everycreature here a milkshake of their choice?’
‘Ooh, yes! I’ll be ready for one of those afterwards! Winning’s thirsty work!' said Pinkie.
Spike laughed. ‘Daring… I like the sound of that, Fluttershy.’
‘You don't have to feel obligated, darling,’ said Rarity, ‘But if you really want to, I shan't refuse.’ she paused for a moment before committing, ‘Tell you what, if AJ ends ahead of Dashie, I’ll buy you a sundae too. A bit of a reward for sticking your neck out, on me.’
Fluttershy giggled. ‘Why, thank you, Rarity. That’s very thoughtful.’
Spike peered around as the girls wittered about buying one other dairy products, checking out both the gathering audience and the racers, who were currently receiving their numbers and getting herded onto the starting line by event organisers. Lower on the stands he and his friends were sitting upon he could see the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Scootaloo having now joined the other two, and the rest of the Apple family, Sugar Belle included, sat on Apple Bloom’s other side. On the stall opposite, keeping in mind what Rarity had told him he noticed among the spectating ponies several non-ponies in a group, Silverstream’s friends and family.
Her birdfriend Gallus and brother Terramar he knew, but it took him a moment to recognise the visiting Princess Skystar out of her underwater Seaquestrian form, although the small hippogriff entourage either side of her should have made her more conspicuous. Next to Gallus, with a faint sinking-heart sensation he noticed Gabby, and… hey, who was that brown-furred young stallion in the hat whose hoof she was holding? He seemed familiar. Was she already…?
‘Spikey?’ Rarity’s voice rang clear in Spike’s ears, ‘You’ve turned rather quiet, is something the matter?’
Spike snapped out of it and thought better of bringing up Gabby to Rarity yet again, and besides, it wasn't his business if she was seeing somepony new, right? ‘Uh, just checking out the racers,’ he said, scoping out the racers properly for the first time, ‘Hey, I see Silverstream! She’s actually pretty near where Applejack and Rainbow are sizing each other up.’
Rarity craned her neck as she looked at the same place and waved, although the volume around the area was growing loud enough now that Silverstream didn't notice, nevermind that her mind was on more immediate matters. ‘Ah, I see her, and them… and, oh my goodness! Girls, I don't suppose you knew Celestia and Luna were to race today?!’
The others leaned as they looked with urgency, Spike with a knowing look. ‘Told you there’d be a surprise you’d like, Rarity. It was kept on the down-low they’d be here today to keep the race from overcrowding with princess-chasers, but Twilight and I both knew.’
‘Are they… tied together?’ Fluttershy observed. The two ex-rulers of Equestria were stood a short way behind the starting line, Celestia on their left and Luna on their right, each with their now dull, normal manes tied back and one front and one back leg tied to the other’s corresponding, opposite leg with rope. They seemed in good spirits, laughing and joking between themselves and both wearing a yellow “BEST SISTER” t-shirt with an arrow pointing at the other, and the same racer number on both their backs.
‘Huh, that’s new… but from what Rarity was telling me it makes sense. They might not be demigods anymore, but they’re still pretty tall, Celestia’s twice as tall as the average pony and Luna’s only a little shorter than that.’
Ah, I see,’ said Rarity, ‘Silverstream may not have been deemed at a significant advantage for the race, but with legs so long I suppose the sisters must have been… so they’re in as a six-legged racer, looks like. I do hope they’ve practised!’
‘They seem prepared enough. Being real, there’s no way they’ll win like that, but… I don't think that’s the point. Those two are still making their way through their list of things to do now they’re normal ponies again, y’know?’
‘Oh, they look funny…’ chuckled Pinkie, before putting her hooves together and intoning seriously as if in prayer, ‘May all their trips and collisions be greatly amusing.’
‘Do you suppose Twilight will become so tall, someday?’ Fluttershy pondered, ‘That’s something I’ve wondered for a while…’
Before anyone could add to that, the speakers burst back into life with a blast of square wave from DJ Pon-3’s deck and a new shout-out from Bulk Biceps. ‘THE RACE BEGINS IN A FEW MINUTES, FOLKS, I HOPE YOU’RE ALL SITTING COMFORTABLY BECAUSE THINGS ARE GONNA! GET!! CRAZY!!!’ a record scratch preceded a quick and dirty squall that blared for a second, ‘WE’VE GOT A COUPLE DOZEN ENTERED THIS YEAR… SOME OLD CONTENDERS AND SOME NEWBIES… WILL THEY PROVE THEMSELVES WORTHY OF THE CHANGE OF SEASONS ITSELF? WIN OR LOSE, GIVE ’EM YOUR SUPPORT, EVERYCREATURE! YEAH!!!’ The audience responded at large this time with a mass air-punch and a ‘Yeah!’ right back.
‘THE PRINCESS OF DUSK AND DAWN, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE HERSELF, WILL ARRIVE TO START THE RACE IN A FLASH, SO HOLD YOUR HORSES ’TIL THEN, RACE FANS! BICEPS OUT!!’ Then there was a series of distorted, melodic bleeps before the audio cut out.
Spike turned to Rarity to check her reaction, since she obviously hadn't much enjoyed Bulk’s previous transmission. ‘You holding up alright, Rarity?’
‘I’m perfectly fine, but I should’ve brought a tipple as a facilitator, perhaps… you know, I know I wasn't best impressed by that juice Smolder was drinking a while ago but did you know they blend fireberries into Austailian wine? I looked it up at the old castle library, and that sounds strangely intriguing…’
‘Considering acquiring the taste? I kinda like it, but Smolder likes it spicier than I'm used to a lot of the time. Dragons by and large think diluting the purestrain stuff’s for wimps.’
‘Yes, I suspected as such, but ponies would have the good sense to water it down a bit. Ah! That’s a thought for another time,’ she interrupted herself and looked overhead, ‘I see Twilight!’
The crowd calmed as a fanfare sounded from trumpeters a short distance away from the starting line, and after a pause Bulk Biceps, uncharacteristically muted, announced over the speakers, ‘Here she is, folks – our reigning monarch, Princess Twilight. RESPECT! YEAH!! I mean, yeah.’
Twilight descended majestically from above and, after the fanfare reached an apex, approached the contestants and greeted each of them in turn, which took a minute – Rarity noticed she whispered something specifically to Celestia and Luna which made them giggle. Then she stood a little way in front of them, in the midst of the track with her wings outstretched and acknowledged the audience.
She cleared her throat before speaking, and when she did, it was an airing of the royal voice she’d been cultivating, though still somewhat in her usual, casual mode of speech. ‘My loyal subjects, thanks so much for attending The Running of the Leaves today, and I’m sure this race will be excellent as always! As you may have noticed, as well as the racers you all know and love, some seasoned contestants and some new faces, we are truly honoured today to have my predecessors, Celestia and Luna, participating as a single contender! It was actually their idea and not the committee’s, before anyone gets any ideas about that… give ’em a hoof, everypony!’
Celestia and Luna grinned and waved to the crowd as hooves thundered against wood for a minute. Celestia called back once the applause subsided, ‘Our most sincere greetings! I presume everypony’s behaving well for Twilight?’
Luna giggled and added, ‘There does not seem to be any rioting here, sister. It is all as we left it! Greetings, everycreature! But not royal greetings from us, this day!’
‘Anyway, we should get things started. Everypo– I mean, everycreature ready?’ asked Twilight, correcting herself for Silverstream’s benefit, a question which didn’t seem to receive any indication otherwise, ‘Alright then, let the game begin! On your marks… get set… get up and go!’ Twilight lowered her wings and head and let the contestants soar past her as the crowd cheered, and the race was on! Bulk Biceps ranted excitedly over the speakers, but it had suddenly become difficult to hear him over all the excited ponies and other species.
As the slower contestants, Celestia and Luna surprisingly not included in the stragglers, trotted on their way, the cheering subsided so Bulk’s commentary could be heard more clearly. Twilight addressed the crowd one last time, ‘Now that’s over, I’m going to join my good friends for a while. Have a wonderful race, everycreature! I’ll see you all again for the awards! In the meantime, Bulk and DJ Pon-3 will keep you all updated.’
She flapped her wings and hovered for a moment before flying up towards Spike, Rarity and the others and softly plopped herself down in the space Pinkie Pie had saved for her. ‘Great intro, Twilight! And a nice bit of dramatic flair!’ said Pinkie.
‘Agreed… understated, but firm. That’s our princess!’ Rarity tipped her head and smiled.
Twilight noticed Spike wasn’t paying attention – he seemed to be looking intently below them. ‘Spike? Is everything alright?’
‘Yes, Spike, Twilight’s here now. Won’t you say hello at least?’ prompted Rarity.
‘Sorry. Hey, Twilight. Rarity, look at Sweetie Belle,’ said Spike distractedly, ‘Something’s wrong down there.’
Rarity widened her eyes and looked over to where her little sister and her friends were seated, and saw that Scootaloo was restraining Sweetie Belle from flying out of her seat. Sweetie Belle had a face like thunder, obviously agitated and staring daggers at something or somecreature, but Rarity had no idea what could have caused such a thing. ‘Oh, dear, she does seem upset by something. Perhaps I should check in with her… would that count as interfering again, though? I feel a little bad about earlier…’
‘Oh my,’ said Fluttershy, ‘Technically yes, but I don’t think Scootaloo would mind if you did, from the looks of it!’
‘I’ll be back in a jiff,’ Rarity said to her friends before climbing to her hooves and trotting down to the ground floor of the stand. ‘Sweetie, darling, I couldn’t help but notice you seem to be a little hot and bothered? Forgive me if it’s not my place but… whatever’s the matter?’
‘I can’t believe her!’ fumed Sweetie, her voice cracking as she turned away from the other Crusaders, ‘She told us she couldn’t attend the race with us CMC’s today, and then she pulls this!’
‘I’m sorry sweetheart, I know you’re upset but… who pulls what where? Why and how??’ asked Rarity, stumbling on her own confusion for a second.
Sweetie Belle inhaled and fanned herself once to regain her composure. ‘Don’t you see Gabby on the other stand?’ she said, waving a hoof vaguely, ‘That’s Button Mash whose hoof she’s holding!’
Rarity scanned the audience for Gabby, who she saw smiling brightly and doting on her new squeeze as if nothing was wrong. ‘Oh,’ she said, simply, ‘Yes. I see now.’ It dawned on her that Spike must have seen the same thing earlier but hadn’t alerted her to it; understandable on his part, all things considered.
She scrunched her muzzle and felt her cheeks burn bright red in furious indignation, too, on Spike’s behalf – how could she flip from wanting his babies so much she’d crafted a monument to it, to dating casually again, with such ease? And with such a young colt, too… she supposed Button Mash was around the same age Spike had been when he’d first started his relationship with Gabby.
‘Oooh, I’ve half a mind to tell her off myself now!’ Rarity said, ‘Spikey’s had such a crisis of confidence lately over splitting up and she just, swans off into a shiny new romance as if it were nothing… it tears me up inside!’
She felt a pressure on the bench next to her and saw Spike had flown down to join them. ‘So, you’ve seen Gabby and her new special somepony, huh. Is he somepony you know, Sweetie Belle?’
‘Button Mash,’ sighed Sweetie Belle, ‘He’s a colt I know from school… we hung out at the arcade in the square sometimes if he needed a player two. He’s nice… cool, considerate, fun… funny… loves his mom…’ she trailed off, sniffed sadly then turned to Rarity with watery eyes, ‘Hey, Rarity? I’m sorry I was difficult before. Apple Bloom said she gets it twice as bad from Applejack a lot of the time. I know you just want to help.’
Rarity’s ears perked. ‘That’s slightly out of nowhere, Sweetie, but thank you. I was going to say similar to you, that is to say, I’m sorry too? I don’t mean to be overbearing but old habits die so hard sometimes! If you want me to back off once in a while, just say.’
‘No, it’s alright. I’m glad you’re here,’ said Sweetie Belle, a maudlin note in her voice, ‘Both of you, really. I know you know how I’m feeling right now. I don’t think the girls do, not really. They said I’m being dramatic over nothing.’
Spike smiled at Rarity, and although it took her a moment to make eye contact with him, when she did she smiled back peacefully. He crossed his claws before saying, ‘Dramatic, huh. Well, Gabby’s my ex… I feel like I should be more upset about it than I am, actually. But… geez, I dunno,’ he exhaled contemplatively, ‘Gabby’s business is her business, nothing to do with me anymore. I’m really sorry about Button Mash though, Sweetie Belle, I know how tough it is when you like somepony but you don’t know how to show it properly.’
‘I wish I’d told him how I’ve been… how much our time together meant to me,’ Sweetie Belle said bitterly, looking down, ‘I don’t think he ever cottoned onto why I kept coming back. I’m not that into video games.’
Rarity reeled Sweetie Belle in for a hug, which she readily accepted. ‘He’s hardly gone from you forever, sweetheart. My sisterly advice is that you should talk to him, and tell him how you appreciate his company. And to Gabby too, it’d truly be a terrible shame if this drove a wedge between the two of you. I wouldn’t interfere between them, though – neither of them has done anything wrong, perhaps aside from display a distinct lack of tact!’
Sweetie Belle sniffled into Rarity’s chest fur. ‘Maybe you’re right, but I just feel horrible right now,’ she said, ‘I’m mad, and sad, and my hoof in Gabby’s face keeps flashing before my eyes…’
‘It’ll pass,’ Rarity assured her, ‘But it’s not wrong to be sad when you’re confronted with a situation like this, so long as you don’t stew. It may be best to avoid her until you’ve cooled down, but don’t wait too long.’
Sweetie Belle took a moment more in Rarity’s embrace, and Rarity patted her gently on the back as she levitated a lacey hoofkerchief out of her saddlebag for dabbing away Sweetie Belle’s tears. Spike watched them quietly while focussing on the commentary coming from the surrounding speakers – Rainbow Dash was in the lead, while Celestia and Luna had fallen head-over-hooves into a hay bale on the second bend, but were catching up again.
Eventually Sweetie Belle pulled away and noticed that her friends were also watching with concern. ‘Hey! Take a picture, would ya!?’ she harrumphed before softening, ‘It’s alright, girls. I’m not so angry now but… be gentle with me, okay? I’m feeling a bit…’
‘Fragile?’ inquired Apple Bloom.
‘Emotionally unstable?’ added Scootaloo, a giant yellow foam “number one” hoof conspicuously adorning her own hoof.
‘As a matter of fact, yes to both, and I’m owning up to it,’ said Sweetie Belle before turning back to Rarity, ‘Like Rarity would. Thanks, sis.’
Rarity pecked Sweetie Belle’s head, just below her horn. ‘You’re welcome, my dear little sister.’ She looked up and noticed that creatures were on the move and turned to Spike. ‘Spikey, I think it’s time to make the trip to the next stands. Off towards the Whitetail Woods, if I read my schedule correctly this morning?’
‘You read ahead, I’m impressed,’ said Spike. ‘It sure is, not too far away. We should rejoin the others before we leave. I feel a little bad about ignoring Twilight before and I wanna make it up to her.’
‘Right you are, Spikey-Wikey. Sweetie, girls, we must be off now, but I’m sure we’ll meet again soon enough!’ Rarity got up and made her way off the stand towards where Twilight and the others were waiting.
‘Catch you later!’ said Spike, before toddling off behind her.
He accidentally bumped into Rarity’s tail while looking behind and waving at the Crusaders. ‘Oof! Spike, do be careful, darling!’ she squeaked.
‘Sorry,’ said Spike, hovering upward before slowly flying next to Rarity, ‘Well, that was weird, but at least feathers won’t go flying. I thought Sweetie Belle was going to throttle Gabby, the way she was at first. You’re really good at helping others with stuff like that, you know?’
‘Well Spike, I’ve worked with enough, ah, displeased customers that I’ve become rather well acquainted with a few de-escalation techniques in my time. And would you believe Applejack, of all ponies, knows a thing or two about them? I learned a lot from her, especially when, as you might know, we don’t see eye-to-eye on certain issues.’
‘Oh, I know about that stuff. I gotta when there’s troubles abroad,’ Spike pondered, ‘Friendship ambassadorship can be rough once in a while and you need to know how to ride it out, or you’ll get eaten alive by livid yaks.’
‘Everything’s been peaceful on that front lately, hasn’t it? I don’t remember the last time you went on an international foray, although that’s on me for not paying attention.’
‘The griffons had a minor territory dispute with the kirin about three moons ago, but no, nothing severe lately,’ said Spike, ‘I’ll be visiting King Thorax in a few weeks, but it’s more of a meet-up between bros to hang out than anything. I don’t doubt he’ll want advice on a few peacekeeping things, but he’s been keeping things ticking over at the Changeling Hive without major issues for a while now. I think he gets more support from Princess Ember regarding leadership stuff than me nowadays.’
‘They still get on well, then? Ember’s very “alpha” in her personal dealings and Thorax’s very… not, so one does wonder.’
By now they’d reached their friends, who had stopped a little way ahead to let them catch up. ‘You two sure are engaging on a leisurely country walk,’ interrupted Pinkie Pie, ‘But we probably should pick up the pace a bit! We can relax after the second run; they pass through twice before moving up onto the hills. I wanna see AJ overtake Rainbow with my own eyes!’
‘We’ll catch up more soon, I gotta go talk to Twilight,’ said Spike, ‘See you in a bit, Rare!’ Then he flew off and Rarity got a big eyeful of the “SPiKE” studs on the back of his jacket. She involuntarily got a big smile on her face, blushed and inhaled – when was the last time anycreature had called her “Rare”? It wasn’t a name she was extremely fond of, it was a little more off-the-cuff than she would normally tolerate… but from her favourite little dragon, she didn’t mind it one bit.