Spike looked out the window of the cab, his gaze pointedly lingering on the buildings they passed by and not on his own strange reflection. For the countenance he had grown used to was not the one that looked back on him, rather it was the face of his lover’s which he now saw. That fact alone was enough to unnerve the dragon turned pony, and he forced himself to face the slack form of himself.
The adolescent dragon was sprawled out on the seat across from him, her arms and legs spread wide. It was a sight that Spike wouldn't mind others seeing him in, though he doubted Rarity would have appreciated being sprawled out such as she was. Thankfully she had yet to wake up from her rather sudden bout of fainting, leaving Spike alone with his thoughts.
He hoped it wouldn't be long before she woke up, as the former dragon doubted he could carry her without someone’s help. He also couldn't figure out how to use her magic either, so if it came right down to it Spike would have to ask the driver for assistance. Thankfully that didn't seem like it was going to be necessary as the dragon’s still form began to twitch, her eyes slowly opening.
“Ahh good. You’re awake. I was beginning to worry,” Spike exclaimed.
The dragon blinked owlishly and rubbed the corners of her eyes with balled fists. “I had the weirdest dream. You were…” she stopped and looked down. “Oh goodness I haven't woken up yet.”
“You have,” Spike quickly stated. “This is no dream unfortunately.”
“What happened?” asked Rarity as she awkwardly attempted to sit upright.
“I think the rings are cursed,” Spike stated, tapping the fancy band which was bound tight about the base of his horn. “They can't be removed either so don't bother.”
Rarity tugged on the stubborn ring regardless, trying to remove it from her scaled digit for several seconds before giving up. “You werent kidding. At least it's not too tight,” Rarity remarked.
“Thank the stars for small blessings,” Spike murmured.
“So who did this? Chrysalis? Sombra? It was Discord wasn't it?” Rarity inquired.
Spike shook his head slowly, an awkward blush springing to his features. “It may have been well… me.”
Rarity blinked owlishly. “You cursed us? Why?”
“I didn't mean to!” Spike shouted, throwing his hooves in the air. “I just wanted to find a ring that was worthy of you so I went to this place that Trixie suggested which was on Baker street. Or at least I’m pretty sure that's where I ended up.”
“You…” Rarity’s eye twitched and the dragon stopped, placing a hand over her chest.
“Are you okay?” Spike inquired.
Rarity raised a single solitary finger, the dragon focusing solely on her breathing for several seconds.
“Alright then,” Rarity murmured in a cold, vaguely sinister tone. “Now you are going to tell me where you found this ring and how to break this curse right this minute.”
“I don't know!” Spike quickly exclaimed, skidding back in his seat. “We are going to the place right now though. See?”
Rarity looked out the window of the taxi carriage to where the dark buildings of Canterlot slowly flitted past them. Most were empty, and unlit, few stores remaining open this late in the evening. Fewer still had any patrons left, and most seemed to be in the midst of closing down for the night.
They had also neared the mountainside which obscured the moon from sight, leaving them in near complete darkness. All around them ponies walked this way and that, with the odd minotaur or griffon visible in the mixed crowd. Though a rare sight in the pony city, the appearance of immigrants were more common now that they were nearing the poorer area.
After staring out the window for several minutes Rarity frowned, and turned back to the unicorn sitting across from her.
“Okay, so you went to some strange shop Trixie mentioned, then what?” Rarity asked, leaning forward and peering intently at her lover.
“Well it was raining really hard and it was pretty dark so I may have gotten a bit mixed up,” Spike reluctantly admitted. “She said I was supposed to go to the Gilded Hen and to avoid the place that sold cursed stuff.”
Rarity sighed and ran a fist down her face. “Let me guess. You went to the cursed place didn't you?”
“I guess so,” Spike murmured. “It's not my fault. It was really late and he had rings so I assumed I was in the right place.”
Rarity frowned, and rolled her fist in the air. “And what happened after that?”
“Well I went in there and there was a whole bunch of cool stuff like swords and armor and junk,” Spike continued. “But then he brought me to the back of his store where there was this long counter area. That's where I saw the rings and knew they were perfect.”
“They are rather nice,” Rarity admitted, the dragon wiping the edge of her lips where a small trickle of drool had dribbled from. “Surprisingly tasty looking as well.”
“I know right?” Spike replied with a grin. “Apparently the gems grow back after a while too so I really had to resist snacking on one of them after I got it.”
“So…” Rarity murmured, tearing her eyes from the ring. “Did he say anything spooky or ominous while you were there?”
“Why would he do that?” Spike retorted.
“You know how it is Spike. These people always say something vague like ‘you will enjoy this until the end of your days’ right after selling you some gum that lasts a week but will also kill you in six days,” Rarity answered.
Spike blanched, the unicorn glancing nervously up at his horn. “You don't think that's what's going to happen to us do you?”
“I don't know Spike! That's what I’m trying to figure out!” Rarity shouted.
Spike winced. “Sorry. I mean he asked if I wanted it gift wrapped. Oh and he said something about the rings being called the bands of mutual love.”
“Now were getting somewhere,” Rarity murmured with a sigh. “What else did he say?”
“He mentioned that they would allow the wearers to see just how much the wearers cared for one another,” Spike answered, his eyes slowly widening. “Oh now I get it.”
Rarity shook her head. “You’re lucky you’re so damn cute because you can be a real bonehead sometimes.”
“Only when it comes to love,” Spike countered.
Rarity smiled faintly. “True.”
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, prompting both parties to sit upright in their seats and look out the window.
“This looks like the right place,” Spike murmured. “But I can't be certain.”
“Well let's start by looking for this Gilded Hen thing and go from there,” Rarity offered.
Spike nodded. “Right, allow me.”
The unicorn hopped off of his seat and walked over to the door which he tried to open with his hooves, only to fail. “Come on you stupid thing,” he murmured as he tugged on the simple latch. “It wasn't that hard before.”
“Stop thinking about it so much,” Rarity remarked only to sigh when Spike continued to push his hoof against the exit in a futile attempt to open it. “Just let me handle this.”
“Hold on. I almost got it,” Spike murmured even as he continued to fail.
The dragon then stood awkwardly on all fours and reached past her failing partner in order to push open the exit. Though Spike seemed irritated that he couldn't manage it on his own, the unicorn keeped those feelings to himself. Only for those same feelings to return a second after he took his first step outside and tumbled face first down the steps.
“Spike, are you okay?” Asked the dragon, who clumsily followed after her partner and nearly landing on her own face in the process.
Spike groaned. “I forgot how awkward walking on all fours is.”
“You alright back there?” Shouted the masculine voice of the taxi puller.
“Were fine. Just had a bit of an accident!” Rarity called out. “You are fine right?”
“I think so,” murmured Spike, who pushed his way into a stand and gave himself a once over. “Everything feels like it's in the right place.”
“Darling, my- er, your eye!” Rarity exclaimed, pointed a fist at the right side of the unicorn’s face.
Spike blinked, and touched his face only to wince. “Yowch that stings. I guess I hit the ground a little harder then I thought.”
Rarity tsked. “That is going to take so much foundation to cover up. I sure hope it doesn't turn into a black eye.”
“That would suck. Whatever, at least were here right?” Spike asked, gesturing to the open street lined with shops.
“I suppose, though we should pay for our ride,” Rarity retorted. “You did bring my bit bag with us right?”
“Uh yeah I think I left it in the taxi,” Spike replied.
Rarity slipped back inside the carriage and returned a moment later, a brown bag in her mouth. “Gob it,” she exclaimed.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Just use your hands.”
Rarity spat the bag out onto the ground. “But it feels so weird.”
“We have to at least get in the store, which means you’ll need to turn the knob,” Spike pointed out. “Trust me. I ain't enjoying this digitless existence much either.”
Rarity sighed. “Fine, but I shall walk on all fours for now.”
“You look ridiculous,” Spike pointed out. “I know I can get away with that because of my long arms but it's undignified.”
“Well until I’ve grown used to having fingers and you to not having them then I guess we will both seem rather silly now won't we?” Rarity replied.
“Everything alright back there? I got places to be ya know!” Shouted the voice.
“Coming!” Rarity exclaimed before grabbing the bag and trundling away.
Spike watched on as the former unicorn awkwardly did her best to pay the taxi stallion in an expedient manner. Though she accomplished that small feat relatively easily she also dropped all of the bits on the ground. This led to a rather embarrassing but thankfully brief interaction where the stallion unhooked himself and picked up the pieces for a blushing Rarity.
A minute later and the dragon had returned, the bag tied limply around one arm. “You will not say anything.” Rarity exclaimed.
Spike made a zipping motion over his mouth with a hoof.
“Good,” Rarity sighed. “Now then, where are we going?”
“This way, I think,” Spike replied, pointing down the road. “There is a yellow sign up there that looks like the right place.”
“Which means the wrong place is right there as well,” Rarity exclaimed.
“Indeed,” Spike murmured.
The pair turned and walked down the street, making their way towards a sign which Spike found vaguely familiar. It was still a bit of a walk however, and the longer they continued on in silence the more strained things became.
“I’m sorry about blowing up at you back there,” Rarity whispered. “These feelings of yours are so strong and so strange.”
Spike sighed. “It's fine. I’d be pretty pissed at you if you had done something like this.”
“We’ll get through this,” Rarity stated, flashing her lover a brief, sidelong glance. “I know things seem rather unpleasant right now but compared to all of the adventures we've had over the years this is hardly even worthy of freaking out over.”
“Heh, remember our first anniversary?” Spike asked, smirking at the dragon.
Who chuckled. “How could I ever forget? Who would have thought a simple airship ride would turn into a month long excursion through the badlands.”
Spike giggled. “I don't know. It should have been a pretty easy guess since it turned out Trixie was the one providing the entertainment.”
Rarity sighed and shook her head. “That mare just can't seem to resist the urge to grand stand.”
“Well at least the balloon exploding after getting hit by that roman candle looked pretty cool,” Spike pointed out.
“If by cool you mean utterly terrifying!” Rarity countered, grinning all the while.
“Well, were here,” Spike exclaimed, the smile falling away from his face. “The Gilded Hen.”
“And…” Rarity’s eyes narrowed. “Dusty Tome’s Antique Emporium and Pawn Broker.”
“You know I probably should have read that before I walked in,” Spike murmured.
Rarity sighed. “No helping that now. Let's keep moving.”
“Right,” Spike agreed.
Rarity tentatively reached for the handle, stopping just long enough to look around in search of an open sign. When she found none, the dragon tugged at the entrance, which easily swung outwards. The pair shared a look, as well as a shrug before walking inside, Spike in front while Rarity followed close behind.
“This is quite the place,” Rarity murmured as she looked around the cramped, and poorly organized room.
Spike nodded. “It has a unique charm to it though doesn't it? Like something out of a novel.”
“It rather does,” Rarity admitted. “I feel like the hero would likely receive some manner of magical item to aid them on their quest here.”
“Or something that seems amazing on the surface,” Spike added bitterly.
Rarity merely nodded.
Following the flickering line of candles, the pair proceeded towards the back of the store, stepping over piles of armor and stands of books. The walls seemed to close in around them, leaving the pair feeling oddly claustrophobic due to the closeness of the dust covered shelves. Thankfully it didn't take long until they reached the back of the store where a familiar looking stallion was sitting behind the counter.
The pony was idly polishing a breast plate while humming a soft tune to himself. One which quickly faded upon noticing that he was no longer alone.
“Ahh blast it. Did I forget to lock the door again?” He inquired.
“I’m afraid so,” Spike replied.
The stallion raised an eyebrow. “I don't suppose you two are here to deliver that pizza I ordered an hour ago, are you?”
“We are not,” declared Rarity who stepped up to the counter and pointed down to one of her fingers. “We are here because of this.”
The stallion pushed his spectacles further up his nose and peered intently at the dragon. “Ahh it's you and I see the rings fit perfectly. What did I tell you?”
“Yeah that's nice and all but I would have appreciated if you had told me they were going to make us switch bodies,” Spike interrupted, stomping up to the counter.
The elderly pony chuckled. “Oh so that's what they do. Fascinating, and how do you feel?”
“I am absolutely ticked, my good stallion,” Rarity stated. “Though perhaps you could remedy that for us.”
“Oh I’m afraid all sales are final,” he replied simply, leaning on the counter.
“I don't even care about the bits anymore. Just switch us back,” Spike demanded.
“Do I look like an arch mage to you?” the shopkeeper replied, gesturing to his humble clothing.
“You look like your sense of style is as old as half the things in here are,” Rarity retorted.
The stallion frowned, opened his mouth to reply only to close it after he looked down at himself again. “Yeah that's a fair jab but I still can't do anything for you.”
“Then we will be contacting our lawyers,” Rarity exclaimed, nose turned upward.
“Yeah that's not going to work,” stated the stallion.
“And why not?” Asked Spike.
The stallion raised an eyebrow, and then gestured over his shoulder. “Read the sign.”
Spike blinked, and looked up above the rows of items covering the wall behind the shopkeeper. To where a very large sign stood, its words written in bright red upon a background of white.
Everything in this store is cursed in some manner. This warning must be prominently displayed and easily legible. If both conditions are met, then any potential buyer takes on all legal ramifications for their purchase. Refunds may be offered at the seller’s discretion.
“How did we not see that?” Spike murmured.
Rarity sighed, and ran a clawed hand down her face. “Dammit all Spike.”
“You two really are made for one another ya know,” snickered the stallion.
“Alright so we’ve established that I’m fairly oblivious now can we move on?” Spike pleaded. “Perhaps you could tell us where you got the rings?”
“An old unicorn mare sold them to me a few years ago. Didn't ask much either and merely told me that the ring bearer’s would be brought closer together by wearing them,” the stallion explained, pushing himself off the counter.
“What did she look like? Did she give you a name?” Rarity pressed, the dragon placing her balled fists on the counter.
“All my customers are given complete anonymity and no records are kept of their visit,” replied the stallion, who shrugged. “Sorry, but you should probably just keep living your lives as you would normally. These things tend to work themselves out naturally.”
“But I don't want to be my fiance!” Rarity whined.
The stallion chuckled. “Well that's too bad, because it looks like your stuck like that unless you know some super powerful unicorn or are close personal friends with one of the princesses.”
Rarity gasped, and clonked a hand upside her head. “That's it! We can get Twilight to fix it and should that fail I’m sure we could visit Celestia.”
“Tia would definitely make time for us,” Spike exclaimed.
“Wait, you two know princess Celestia personally?” asked the stallion in a shocked tone.
“She helped raise me for most of my life,” Spike declared.
The stallion chuckled awkwardly and tugged at his non-existent collar. “Maybe I could do that refund for ya. Whenever you get those rings off anyway.”
“Not good enough,” Rarity stated.
The shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. “How about I also give you one of my less cursed items then, for free.”
“We will not-” Rarity began, only to be cut off by Spike who lurched forward.
“What kind of items are we talking about here?” Spike demanded.
Rarity sighed. “Gosh darnit Spike.”
“Hold on Rarity there could be something good here,” Spike turned to the shopkeeper expectantly. “Isn't that right?”
“Oh um, yes! I have many valuable trinkets you may find interesting,” exclaimed the stallion.
“See? And this time I won't pick anything super cursed,” Spike stated confidently.
Rarity threw her arms into the air in exasperation. “Fine! Do whatever you want. I’ll be outside.”
“Sweet,” Spike turned back to the shopkeeper. “Did you have any swords?”
Rarity slowly shook her head as she watched herself fiddle excitedly with a large wood and metal puzzle box. On the top of which were four sets of scrolling numbers which could be turned to create different four digit codes. Each side of the box had numerous pictograms of various events such as a battle, a feast, and even several creatures playing sports.
“I can't believe he bought your loyalty with a puzzle box of all things. You hate puzzles!” Rarity exclaimed, the dragon barely containing the urge to yell.
“Yeah but he didn't know what was in this thing. There could be anything you know!” Spike replied as he peered intently at one side of the box before gasping. “There could even be a set of non cursed rings in here!”
“Or it could be another cursed item he wanted to get rid of,” Rarity muttered as she watched a stallion walk down the train car and to his seat near the end.
“Nah it's gotta be something good. I mean look at this thing, it's like a bajillion years old!” Spike replied, lifting the box proudly.
“Maybe it's where Luna kept all her love letters,” Rarity remarked in a dismissive tone, leaning to the side and staring out the window of the moving train.
“You’re just jealous you haven't gotten a turn yet,” Spike exclaimed, sticking his tongue out at the dragon.
Who sighed. “Just wake me up when we get to Ponyville.”
“Can do,” Spike murmured, already peering intently once more at the strange box.