Spike hummed to himself as he worked in the kitchen, his magic levitating a half dozen things in the air at once. A feat that would have been impossible for him only a week ago was now second nature for the ex dragon. Delicate instruments, plates, cups, utensils and food all flowed around him, landing in their designated positions.
Coffee was brewed, while snacks were assembled, and in no time at all the young male had created quite a banquet. With his job all but done, he was free to go back into the main area of the Ponyville library, but he hesitated to do so. There was some strange nostalgia from working in the cramped, somewhat claustrophobic kitchen he had grown used to.
All the old marks were still there, including the cabinet hinge that squeaked like a mouse getting stepped on. It was comforting to return here, though the male certainly didn't need to be comforted at the moment as he felt wonderful. With nearly everything on track, and little up to chance, he felt like it was just a matter of time before he got his life back.
Then he could get back onto the important task of just living again.
“Alright, let's get the girls fed and watered,” Spike remarked aloud.
Trotting out of the kitchen with his floating pots of coffee or tea and several plates of tiny sandwiches, Spike made his way back into the living room. Where he saw the majority of the others were already assembled, though Rainbow Dash was still not present. A glance out the window revealed that there were no multi hued contrails visible so the pegasus wasn't about to arrive.
Spike didn't mind, as despite the speedster’s predilection to being fashionably late, she rarely forgot about previous engagements. So Spike continued on, trotting over to the large circular table, around which sat three long, well loved couches. With a small application of magic, everything was arrayed before the various guests all seated comfortably in the aged furniture.
“There you are,” Spike exclaimed. “Did anyone need anything else?”
“This looks wonderful. Thank you Spike,” Fluttershy exclaimed, eagerly grabbing a cucumber sandwich for herself.
“Nah, looks good to me,” Applejack added while pouring herself some coffee.
“Thank you again Spike,” Twilight whispered.
“Oh I really hope Rainbow Dash comes soon,” Pinkie Pie whispered, the pony adding several heaping spoonfuls of sugar to her coffee. “I can only stay excited for so long.”
“Yes, you didn't have to do all this,” Rarity declared.
Spike shrugged. “It's fine. You know I’m not much a planner anyway.”
“Err speakin of which,” Applejack began. “Why exactly did y'all invite us all down here anyway? You’ve been a might bit cagey about how your little trip went and what's happening with your whole wedding deal.”
“I don't suppose you could push the date back on that, could you?” Fluttershy whispered. “Old Mister Bear is going to need an operation soon and I don't know if I’ll have enough bits.”
“Don't worry about that,” Rarity replied. “We’ve taken care of that little detail.”
“How did-” Applejack started to say, only to be interrupted when the front door flew open and Rainbow Dash flew inside.
The pegasus skidded to a stop, kicked the door closed behind her and trotted up to the couches. “Sorry about that. A couple rogue clouds were rolling in from the Everfree so I had to bust 'em right quick,” Rainbow Dash explained, flopping down into the couch.
“Oh thank goodness you’re here. I don't know if I can hold onto this secret for even a second longer!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
“Wait, what secret?” Rainbow Dash muttered through a mouthful of sandwich.
“They chose to have their wedding somewhere closer,” Twilight replied.
“Very close, actually,” Rarity added, glancing expectantly at Applejack. “Provided your offer to host is still on the table.”
The farmer gently put her coffee cup back down and laughed aloud. “Of course it's still on the table, but I never thought I’d see the day you took me up on that.”
“Why the change of heart?” Fluttershy inquired, looking directly at Rarity. “Last I heard you were quite dead set on having the ceremony out at the fancy place.”
“They found a couple who had a reservation, but couldn't afford to actually have their wedding there so Rarity and Spike paid for the whole thing,” Pinkie Pie blurted out. “But don't worry, my insurance covered them so not only do they get to do a nice thing for some deserving ponies but they also aren't broke.”
“That pretty much sums it up,” Spike remarked. “Rarity realized that it wasn't about where we were having it, and I didn't learn anything.”
“Nice,” Applejack exclaimed, exchanging a hoof bump with Spike before they both bit into a sandwich.
Rarity merely rolled her eyes. “Even though the majority of the self discovery was done by myself I still feel as though this is one journey we took as a couple.”
“I do feel a lot closer to you,” Spike admitted.
“Well that sounds wonderful,” Fluttershy gushed, only to wince. “Oh my. Does that mean you have to redo all of your planning again Pinkie Pie?”
The party pony shrugged. “Nah. I can just use the back up plan I wrote up in case Applejack and Rainbow dash got married. It doesn't take much adjustment to make it fit for Rarity and Spike.”
Rainbow Dash spat out her coffee, a blush crossing her face. “What?”
“Err that doesn't seem too likely,” Applejack muttered, her hat pulled down nearly over her eyes. “Not like I’m saying that would never happen or nothing.”
Twilight giggled. “Don't think about it too hard. Pinkie Pie has a lot of plans.”
“Oh yeah, hundreds,” Pinkie Pie declared, waving her sandwich around like she was showing off her many file cabinets full of party ideas. “I’m ready for anything. Even a good majority of the XK class end of the world scenarios.”
“XK whatsits?” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“That's just one of Pinkie Pie’s classifications,” Twilight dismissed. “And also not the point.”
“Right, y'all were wanting to have yer wedding at the farm,” Applejack murmured while scratching her chin. “What day were ya thinking? Cus as soon as we take care of the harvest it should be just about perfect.”
“Oh that would be so pretty,” exclaimed Fluttershy. “With all the leaves turning color, it would be a wonderful time for a wedding.”
“We were thinking of another month,” Rarity answered, glancing at Spike. “We are both eager to get back into our own bodies, but we also didn't want to get in Applejack’s way.”
“Or make people cancel plans,” Spike added. “This is a big, and sudden change after all.”
“Well I’m in whenever,” Rainbow Dash declared. “I get to make the schedule and the only big thing I got coming up is another convention in Canterlot, but that is in like a week or so.”
“I’ll be there,” Fluttershy stated. “I don't have anything important other than mister Bear’s surgery and that wont be for a while.”
“We’ll iron out more details in the coming days, but I think we were thinking of the twenty-seventh, right?” Twilight prompted.
Rarity nodded. “Indeed it is.”
“Oh I’m so excited!” Pinkie Pie all but shouted, the mare vibrating in her seat. “I liked the challenge of planning a party halfway across the world, but this is definitely going to be even more awesomer.”
“No kidding. The less train rides and bits wasted the better,” Rainbow Dash added. “Now I don't have to pick up those extra shifts for the Cloudsdale weather team.”
“You were going to do that for us?” Spike asked.
Rainbow Dash snorted. “Of course. What do you take me for, a flake?”
“I don't think anyone assumed Rainbow Loyalty Dash was about to bail on anyone,” Rarity stated.
“Damn straight!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed before biting into another sandwich.
“Oh this is just so wonderful,” Fluttershy repeated, the mare giggling excitedly. “I was already excited but now I am absolutely thrilled. Though I am curious about this other group of ponies Pinkie Pie mentioned.”
“Oh yeah,” Rainbow Dash added, clopping her hoof on the table. “What made you change your mind? Please for the love of the stars tell me it was because Spike talked Rarity out of it.”
“Not exactly,” Spike replied.
“Oh? Do tell?” Applejack urged.
Rarity smiled. “We found a wonderful couple who had fallen on hard times. There were some… medical issues that they were struggling with and suffice it to say, they deserve something nice.”
“So we paid for their whole wedding,” Spike declared. “Which was kind of convenient, not going to lie.”
“It is the premier wedding destination in the world you know,” Rarity replied.
The couple exchanged a look followed by a peel of laughter.
“Oh that's funny,” Spike murmured while wiping a tear from his eye.
A sudden knock on the door turned everyone’s attention to the entrance of the library, their conversation falling away. Replaced by curiosity the second Trixie poked her head inside.
“Hey Twilight have you seen my…” Trixie began, only to stop. “Woah. What are you all doing here?”
“We were discussing the recent change in venue,” Rarity explained.
“Oh uh, cool,” Trixie murmured. “Did any of you happen to see a thick red book by chance? I wanted to practice some spells.”
“It's on the nightstand up stairs,” Twilight all but whispered. “I’ll get it.”
“You don't have…” Trixie frowned as Twilight trotted hastily up the stairs.
Leaving everyone else to sit in a long, awkward silence that was broken by a confused Pinkie PIe.
“Wait, why does it feel so tense all of a sudden?” asked the party pony.
“Me and Twilight had a… talk,” Trixie muttered.
“Didn't seem like a good one,” Applejack pointed out.
Rainbow Dash glared at the illusionist openly. “You didn't break our book worm’s heart did you?”
“Yes- no,” Trixie winced. “It's complicated.”
“Well uncomplicate it,” Applejack demanded.
“Now Applejack. We shouldn't pry,” Fluttershy cautioned.
“Here it is,” Twilight declared, trotting down the stairs and hoofing over the heavy red tome. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Err I just wanted to speak to Rarity for a second,” Trixie replied, avoiding Twilight's gaze. “Alone, if possible.”
Rarity blinked owlishly. “Err okay. Whatever is it about?”
“It's private, just trust me,” Trixie replied, the unicorn physically struggling to not spit out the truth without thinking.
“Well alright then,” Rarity murmured.
Together the dragon and the pony walked outside, leaving the others to sit and snack in relative silence. Conversation wasn't even attempted, everyone was either too curious or otherwise distracted to try. That was until Rarity returned a minute later with a confused smile on her face, and without Trixie.
“What was that?” Spike asked.
“I’ll tell you later darling,” Rarity answered. “It's just something to do with the wedding.”
“She isn't trying to wreck nothin is she?” Rainbow Dash inquired.
Rarity shook her head firmly. “Quite the opposite darling, quite the opposite.”