//------------------------------// // Company Clerk // Story: Trot Buddies! // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// “Alright alright alright,” murmured a whelpish draconian fellow. He waddled over towards where Flash Sentry and Trixie Lulamoon were seated. “Only two slots left. I guess that means you guys.” He held a quill in his hand and prepared to write on a scroll of parchment. “Caaaaaaan I get your names, please?” Flash blinked at the purple-scaled individual. “What? Are you taking orders?” “Uhm...” The dragonling arched an eyecrest. “It's roll call.” “But Sunset Shimmer's already doing a role call,” Trixie stated. “Yyyyyyyyyyyes... and the Princess thought it was such a good idea that she's starting a double roll call so that she can measure up her list of trot buddies up to Sunset's and that way make doubly sure that everypony is present. Er... uh...” The dragon winked at the pair. “Everybody. Heh. Celestia, I forgot how hard of a habit that is to maintain...” “Wait...” Trixie squinted. “Spike? Are you this world's Spike?” “That's correct!” Spike stood straight and tall. “And you must be the human world's Trixie!” “Grreat and Powerrful Trrixie!” She tilted her muzzle up. “Thank you very much.” “Eyup. That's you alright.” Spike scribbled onto the parchment. “Jussssst gonna shorten it.” “Hmff!” Trixie tossed her mane with indignance. “Have you two met before?” Flash asked. “Oh, barely.” Trixie shrugged. “But I do meet his talking canine counterpart from time to time.” “Oh? Dog Spike?” The whelp perked up. “How's he doing by the way?” “Trixie doesn't know. I haven't seen him since I tried sawing him in half on the street.” “Oh... uh...” Spike cleared his throat. “Right!” He pointed his quill at Flash. “And you. You're the last one on the list. What's your name, brony?” “Flash.” The teenager cleared his throat. “Flash Sentry.” “... … …” Spike squinted for a few moments, then brightened. “Oh! Flash! Flash Sentry! Of course!” He gestured. “I didn't recognize you with all the... the...” “Feathers?” Trixie droned. “I was just gonna say pony-ness.” Spike drifted forward, offering a fist. “How've you been, dude?” Flash chuckled and bumped the dragon's fist with his hoof. “Been holding together as well as possible... all things considered.” “I heard from Sunset that you had a bumpy ride getting here to Ponyville.” Flash's eyes narrowed. “She told you that, huh?” “Yeah. Apparently you ran into some diamond dogs.” Spike shuddered. “Really annoying, huh?” “'Barbaric' is more like it!” Trixie frowned. “If the Equestrian... p-police forces had any decency, they'd carpet bomb that whole dog pile!” “I... really don't think they deserve to be forcefully relocated,” Flash said. “Why not?” Trixie pouted, gazing at him with puppy dog eyes. “They treated sap-sack so miserably?” “'Sap-sack?'” Spike repeated. Flash spoke: “The diamond dogs aren't really evil.” He cleared his throat. “Just stupid.” “That goes for most monsters here in Equestria,” Spike said. “Yeesh...” Trixie raised a dainty hoof, wincing. “How do you even tolerate that?” “Well enough.” Spike shrugged. “So long as none of them crawl into my bed and eat my gems.” “Gotta say, Spike...” Flash rubbed his chin, smirking. “I really dig the dragon-you.” “Thanks, Flash! I really dig the dragon-me too!” “And the wings are super cool.” Flash pointed. “Regular Dog Spike doesn't have those.” “Yeah, crazy, huh?” Spike nodded. “And when Twilight—your world's Twilight comes over through the portal, turns out she's just a regular unicorn! Not an alicorn!” “What does that mean exactly?” Trixie asked. “Simply that... uh...” Spike slowly shrugged. “...she's not a princess?” “... … ...” Trixie looked back at her pony sides. She then turned to glare at Spike. “Why doesn't Trixie have any wings?” “Uhhhh... sorry...” Spike shook his head. “You're gonna have to ask the portal about that one.” “Hmmmfff...!” Trixie folded her forelimbs. “If only a certain she-demon wasn't hogging the fall formal crown three years in a row...” Spike turned to look at Flash. “Have you spoken to Princess Twilight?” Trixie blinked. She glanced worriedly in Flash's direction. The teenager kept still and composed. “I... have not.” “Jee, that's a shame.” Spike smiled innocently. “I'd bet she'd love to talk to you!” “Uh huh...” “Want me to go fetch her the moment she's back from teleporting the rest of your buddies here from the Everfree Forest?” “I... would... really...” Flash spoke out the side of his muzzle. “...not want to bother her.” “Oh, it's no bother! I'm sure she can find the time before we...” Spike dramatically charaded with a smirk. “...give you the boot back home! Hah! Get it? Boot?” He pointed. “Cuz humans don't wear horseshoes!” “Seriously, Spike. That's nice and all, but...” Flash glanced at Trixie, then back at the whelp. “I don't need to talk to Her Majesty.” “But—” “Thanks for the offer. But I am fine.” “... … ...” Spike shrugged. “Eh.” He finished writing Flash's name. “Pinkie Pie's working on refreshments. Our Pinkie Pie.” He smiled at the two. “Are humans allergic to peanut butter?” “Only the unlucky ones.” “Yeahhhhhhhhh—it'll be fiiiiiiiine.” Spike grinned. “We'll be setting up a banquet hall just outside the library! I hope to see you two there! Boy, there's so much we can do to catch up! I'd like to know how your band is doing!” Flash smiled. “I like to tell you how my band is doing.” “It's a date then! Well...” Spike waddled away while pointing at the two. “You know what I mean! Catch you later!” As Flash watched him leave... “He really is just a baby dragon, isn't he?” Trixie remarked. “I could certainly do with a bucket of his purity.” “Whatever. He's promised Trixie peanut butter.” Trixie licked her muzzle. “He can be Equestria's Buddha for all I know.” “You skipped right past 'Jesus.' How hipster.” “Uh huh.” Trixie looked at him. “He gave you an excuse, by the way.” “I happened to notice that.” “And you did not take it.” “I happened to notice that as well.” “Well, for what it's worth, Trixie is proud of you, Flash.” Flash shook his head. “That does not matter in the long run.” Trixie blinked. She nodded towards the walls of the room. “Alright. Make that prouder.”