//------------------------------// // Wish #1 // Story: Wishbone Equestria // by Dirty Bit //------------------------------// Spike Twilight valiantly galloped out of her home in search of her assistant. For all she knew, Spike could be anywhere in Ponyville. However, she did not think to check behind the wooden sign that stood next to the library, because that was exactly where the purple dragon was hiding. He sat on the ground as he stared hungrily into the skull in his claws. All previous thoughts of Thromnambular vanished when he mentioned that he was capable of granting wishes. Lucky for Spike, he wanted one thing and one thing only. He whispered to the skull in his claws "So, you can grant me any wish, huh? Anything at all?" Thromnambular leered back with his ruby eyes. "I would not doubt my powers, boy. Any wish can grant you what you want to enjoy! Ask me anything at all, I will not be coy! I could even grant you the most fun-filled toy..." He ignored the grave tone in the last line as he sneered "I'm not a baby, you know!" He hissed before he regained his composure "Okay, I got a wish for you to grant, and best of all, it's straight and to the point! Can you help a dragon out?" Thromnambular nodded in reply as Spike grinned with glee "I wish for Rarity to love me forever and ever!! Please tell me you can grant that wish!" Suddenly, Thromnambular started to glow as he floated out of Spike's grip and into the air. "So you wish for a life full of love from another, And not just from your mother or sister or brother! If she sees you, this Rarity shall love you forever And her affection for you shall never sever!" Thromnambular laughed as the bold red '9' on his forehead melded away and reformed into an '8' before he disappeared in a flash of light. When the light receded, Spike darted his head about to see where Thromnambular had gone. He almost felt as if he had been gyped by a strange talking skull. Feeling as though to make sure, Spike decided to make his way to Carousel Boutique to greet her with his presence while Twilight was out trying to find Thromnambular for herself. _____ It was no small feat to arrive at the wondrous structure that contained the greatest thing that has ever happened to Equestria in Spike's draconic eyes. He made his way inside and noticed Rarity sipping some tea at her table with her eyes closed. When they opened, there was a strange glint in her eyes that faded shortly after. She noticed Spike walk into the store and she instantly gasped happily at the sight as he made his way towards her. Spike smiled "Hey there, Rarity? Like what you see?" He said, trying to act as stalliony as can be. If this were a real attempt, he could only fail. Strangely, though, it worked as Rarity lightly swooned before she looked down at Spike with the same strange look in her eyes "I love you, Spike! Do you love me?" Spike chuckled "Well, of course I do! Why wouldn't I love the most amazing mare in Equestria?? In fact, I kind of wished you said those words to me just now..." He stared dreamily into her eyes with a goofy smile. Rarity's smile lessened for a moment as the strange glint in her eyes brightened a little "Spike, darling...Do you often regret things that you wish for time to time?" Spike tilted his head, not expecting this sort of question from his most favored unicorn "Dunno. Why would I ever regret wishing for you?" Rarity's smile widened after Spike's question as her horn lit up "Spike..." She asked in a faintly warped tone "Have you ever heard of...tough love?" Spike found himself wrapped and lifted up in a magical aura as he stared uneasily at Rarity "N-No...What's that?" After that peculiar question, Rarity grinned as her pupils shrank to pinpricks. It was as if a once-beautiful mare had now donned the face of a killer. She jerked her head to the left as she slammed Spike to one wall, and then jerked it to the right as he was then slammed into another wall. The process repeated two more times until Spike was knocked into the door, causing it to almost shatter. Spike recovered and rubbed his head before he gazed fearfully at the alabaster unicorn "R-R-Rarity!? What's wrong with you!? What did I do wrong!?" Rarity kept her grin as she slowly advanced forward "Sometimes love hurts, Spikey Wikey..." She then levitated a long plank with a nail sticking out of it towards her "And I love you a lot..." Rarity whispered darkly as her grin widened. Yep. Nothing to do here. Spike instantly hopped to his feet and bolted out of the door in the fastest waddle his legs could muster. He could not believe that the love of his life was out to kill him. Was Thromnambular somehow responsible for this 'It was HIS fault, wasn't it!? He tricked me!! Now I'm probably gonna die, and by the hooves of my mare to boot!! What I wouldn't give to find Twilight right now! Where is she!?' "Oh, Spiiiiiiike~!!" Spike looked back and he yelped to see Rarity slowly catch up to him with that same crazed grin on her face. It was cruel irony that his crush would be chasing him around like this "Rarity, please!! If it was something I've done, I'm sorry!! Just stop this!!" Rarity shook her head "Oh, but I can't, my love! I can't just leave you like this when we have so much to do together!!" She used her magic to swing her plank and try to catch Spike with it. Spike tried to pick up the pace as he dodged another swing "If this is your idea of a date, than this isn't what I had in mind!!" Lyra and Bon Bon were trotting along Ponyville side-by-side, but they instantly scrambled to the side when they noticed Spike screaming while being chased by Rarity. Lyra stared for a moment before she winced "Looks like somepony forgot to pay their alimony bits..." Bon Bon turned to Lyra with an arched eyebrow as she spoke in one of her many voices "What makes you think they were even married to begin with?" This time, it was a high-pitched nasal voice. _____ Twilight stood at the counter in Sugarcube Corner as she grunted in frustration "What do you mean you didn't see Spike pass by here!? Are you sure he hasn't even been around Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie?" Pinkie Pie, the bane of logic's existence, only shrugged "Nopey dopey, Twilight! If I did, I'd let you know in a heartbeat! Well, it depends on the heart, but you know what I mean! I really haven't seen Spike around here at all! But why do you want him so much? Did he run away again, or is this one of those fics where you have hidden feelings for him?" Twilight paused at the last part "Wh-What!? No!!" She grunted again as she facehoofed "Listen, Pinkie! Ponyville could be in serious trouble with what I've brought back to it!" She was unaware that outside of the window, Spike ran by with Rarity following him as she swung her plank "It was some kind of strange spirit trapped in a skull who claimed he had the ability to grant wishes!" Pinkie gasped as she placed her hooves on her cheeks "Like a genie!?" She beamed at the wishes she would want to make if she ever found it. Twilight sighed "Yes, Pinkie! Like a genie! But he could be lying! I think he possessed Spike and commanded him to run out of the library! I'm trying to search high and low for him so nothing goes wrong!" Spike was seen out the window running in an opposite direction, and Rarity was behind as she levitated a giant mallet "Can you please help me?" Pinkie frowned "I'm really super duper sorry, Twilight! But the Cakes have a huge order to fill and they need my help for it!" Twilight was taken aback by the party pony's response "You'd focus more on a pastry order than something that could cause the end of Equestria as we know it?" Spike was seen out the window running in the same direction as the first time, and Rarity followed behind with a revving chainsaw "Pinkie, what's the matter with you!?" Pinkie giggled "Oh, Twilight! You don't need me for this sort of thing! Why not ask Applejack or Zecora? I'm sure they could help you out since it doesn't seem like a big deal at the moment!!" Twilight growled before she made for the door "Fine! But if things get out of hoof, you better be ready!!" Pinkie gave a nonchalant wave with a chipper smile "Okie Dokie Loki!" She then watched Twilight go out the door before she gave an unamused sigh "Sheesh, she doesn't know how random fics work, does she?" Out of nowhere, Pinkie pulled out a red balaclava and put it on over her head as she cleared her throat "Well, the moment has passed! Back to work!" She then hopped into the kitchen to help the Cakes with their order. _____ Twilight made her way outside and looked around "Where could he be? I need to figure out where Spike is before-" "Twilight?" The lavender bookworm looked down to see a white unicorn filly look up at her with worried green eyes "Do you know where Rarity is? I just got out of school and I didn't see her at home! Is she hiding from me or is she out at the spa?" Twilight sighed before she gave the filly a sad glance "I'm so sorry, Sweetie Belle, but I haven't seen your sister yet! In fact, I'm busy trying to look for Spike! Have you seen him?" Sweetie Belle frowned "No, sorry. Looks like we both lost something dear we need to find. Maybe if we split up we can-" She stopped as she perked up and whiffed at the air "Wait a minute..." Sweetie Belle took a few steps back and sniffed the air again "Is that...?" She continued digging her muzzle into the air to distinguish the strange aroma. Twilight was confused "What is it, Sweetie Belle? Did you find something?" Sweetie Belle held an inquisitive glance as she rubbed her chin "Gasoline...The kind Rarity uses for her favorite chainsaw..." She looked around "But she only uses it when she's chopping down trees around the boutique or if she's chasing down stallions that-" Her eyes widened "Uh oh..." She said to herself before she looked at Twilight "I'm sorry, Twilight, but I REALLY gotta find Rarity! I hope you'll find Spike soon! OkaygottagotalktoyoulaterBYE!!" She said as she zipped off and left a trail of dust shaped like herself. Twilight watched in bemusement before she shook herself from it and decided to continue her quest alone. Maybe she should consult the help of Applejack if she wasn't busy at all. With determined eyes, she made for Sweet Apple Acres to see if she could get some more help. _____ Spike yelled as he avoided the rapidly-spinning blades of Rarity's chainsaw. He looked around and he noticed a rock nearby that could be put to good use. Spike waddled over and picked it up as he aimed for Rarity 'I can't believe I'm doing this...' He reluctantly winced before he threw an exquisite fastball at Rarity. However, what could be considered one of the greatest pitches since Walter Johnson was easily deflected by Rarity as she shielded herself from the rock with her chainsaw. She then revealed her unchanged grin at Spike "Rocks won't save you from my love, Spikey Wikey! You know I'm over Tom!" She then went to swing as Spike dodged and ran off with a yelp. Rarity easily gave chase afterwards. Spike was running out of energy and options as he made every twist and turn along Ponyville. He noticed there was a nearby pear stand and quickly snatched one as he aimed and tossed it at Rarity. The purple dragon cursed under his fleeting breath when he noticed the alabaster lunatic slice through the ill-favored fruit of Applejack. After all of that running, he did not realize he ran into an alley and reach a dead end as he slammed into the wall. When he recovered and rubbed his head, he gasped when he noticed Rarity slowly close in on him with her chainsaw revving loudly and waiting to cut something. He crawled backwards until his back touched the wall as tears welled up in his eyes "Rarity, before you do what you're about to do, I have to say that if I did something horribly wrong to make you act like this, I'm sorry..." Rarity smiled "Spike, I forgive you!" Spike felt as if Rarity's insanity vanished "Really?" Rarity nodded "Yes...and I say this because I love you!" Spike's eyes lost all hope as she advanced further with the chainsaw "And I'll love you..." Her pupils dialated further as she grinned "to death..." She whispered as she was close enough to do horrible things to Spike. The purple dragon shut his eyes as he awaited his imminent demise, but a whack sounded, and he did not feel any pain. Instead, he looked to see Rarity frozen in place with her crazed expression until it left her as she slowly leaned forward with a tired moan. She then fell face first in front of Spike as her chainsaw bounced to the side and was shut off "Wha-...What happened?" He looked behind and he noticed Sweetie Belle holding a hammer with conviction in her eyes "Sweetie Belle!! How did you know she would be here!?" Sweetie Belle sighed "She does this to her past coltfriends when they were total jerks to her. Those were dark days..." She then casted a stern look at Spike "I dunno what you did to my sister, but I hope you'll apologi-" Sweetie Belle's eyes widened when she was suddenly embraced by a happily weeping Spike "You saved me! Oh, thank Celestia you saved me!!" Sweetie Belle shifted her eyes left and right with a light blush as she patted Spike on the back gingerly "I-It's okay, Spike...I'd do anything for my friends...Now what say we get my sister back home and pretend this never happened?" Spike broke the embrace and looked determined "Sorry, Sweetie Belle! But I gotta find Twilight first! I dunno if that Thromnambular guy's gotten to her yet! I need to be there for her!" He then ran off in search of Twilight feeling rejuvenated in his legs. Sweetie Belle watched him leave and finally scoffed to herself "Horseapples..." She then turned to her unconscious sister and sighed as she positioned herself to push "Come on, you. Let's go home..." She grunted as she gradually pushed Rarity across the ground and back home. 1 down...8 to go...