//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Road to the Society - The Fire Ruby // Story: My Little Pony: Clash of Dragons // by RobtheMorpherPony //------------------------------// Rarity was trying to focus on her work, but her mind kept wandering back to what Ember had said. Well Aren't you a cutie for a fifteen year old?~ The Pink Dragoness's words echoed in the white mare's head. "...If that pink Dragoness thinks she can take Spikey Wikey away from me, she's got another thing coming." Rarity said before grabbing the Fire Ruby that Spike had given her. "After all, Spikey Wikey gave this to me. If she wants his heart, she'll have to pry it from my cold dead heads if I have anything to say about it." Rarity said. Ember was enjoying talking with some of the ponies. Who were mostly more curious than anything. Suddenly, Scootaloo was coming towards her with the other CMC inside. "Oh hey, are you one of those Society Members Rainbow Dash told me about?" Scootaloo asked. "That's me alright. My name's Ember." Ember said. "...Like the dragon lord?" Scootaloo asked. "...Dragon lord? Sorry, doesn't ring a bell." Ember said. "But more importantly, what are your names?" She asked. "I'm Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash's prodigy." Scootaloo said. "I'm Sweetie Belle, Rarity's sister." Sweetie Belle said. "And ah'm Apple Bloom, I'm Applejacks sister." Apple Bloom said. "AND WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" The three said together. Ember was so caught of guard by the shout, that she had to cover her ears. How in Eques are these fillies able to muster THIS much lung compacity? The pink dragoness thought to herself. "Ember? Oh, I see you've met Sweetie Belle and her friends." Spike said, coming up to the group. "Hey Spike. We were thinking of trying something new to try and earn our cutie marks." Scootaloo said. "Something new? Please don't try and make another 'Cutie Mark Crusader's Dragon Slayers' thing out of me and Ember, please." Spike said. Ember cocked her head. "Oh don't worry. We were hoping to actually try sky diving, and since you know how to operate a hot air balloon thanks to Pinkie Pie, you might be willing to take us high enough for it." Apple Bloom said. "Oh no. HELL. NO! Your sisters would have my HIDE about it." Spike said. "Hrr...he's got a point. Especially Rarity." Sweetie Belle said. "Yeah. That'd probably end in a LOT more tree sap then normal." Scootaloo said. "No kidding." Apple Bloom said. "...Do I even want to know?" Ember asked. "Apple Bloom and her friends here are always doing something crazy to get their cutie marks. Sure it annoys the town, but, then every pony remembers, they were like this once too." Spike said. "Huh...hope the lack of a cutie mark doesn't cause them any misfortune." Ember said. "Except it does. Their names are Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon." Apple Bloom said. "But the strange thing is, I haven't seen Silver Spoon around much lately." She added. "Ugh..." Silver Spoon said. "Are you okay? You were taking quite a nasty fall." A strange Unicorn and Dragon hybrid said. "I'll be alri--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Silver Spoon exclaimed before she saw the hybrid. "DRAGON!" She said before running. "Hey wait! ...Fuck. Not again with this Whirlwind. Face it, you'll never be accepted anywhere..." The hybrid said. "Hey you." Rarity suddenly said, coming up to Ember. "I don't know what you think your going to pull, but Spike is MINE." Rarity said. "He's not some prize; so maybe give him a little respect." Ember said. "Oh, you want to have a go huh? I'll make sure to smack you a few times." Rarity said. "Oh it is so on, diva." Ember said. "Uh oh...you had to go and call my sister the d word." Sweetie Belle said. "She HATES it when any creature calls her the d word." She added. Rarity was fuming. "DIVA?! THAT'S IT! I'M GOING TO BUCKING PUMMEL YOU!" She exclaimed. She rushed towards Ember, only having to dodge a rainbow magic blast. "What the heck?" Ember asked as a unicorn dragon hybrid showed up. "Geez, what is this suddenly? Can't you have civalized discussions like normal people?" Whirlwind said. She noticed Rarity was staring at her. Uh oh...not another unicorn... Whirlwind thought. "STUNNING! SUCH STUNING BEAUTY! OH MY I AM BEING FILLED WITH MASSIVE CREATIVITY!" Rarity said, eyes sparkling. "I MUST ASK YOU TO COME TO MY PLACE AND LET ME GAIN INSPERATION FROM YOU. I'M SURE I CAN CREATE MANY WONDERFUL DRESSES!" She exclaimed. ...This is new... Whirlwind thought to herself. "Huh...a unicorn and dragon hybrid. I suppose after Sunburn, I shouldn't be surprised." Ember said. "What's going on over here?" Spike asked, going up to the group. "...What's with the hybrid?" Spike asked. "Beats me." Ember said. "I just stopped a fight between these two females because of some guy. Seemed the unicorn got peeved that the dragon called her a diva." Whirlwind said. "Ember, was there a reason you called Rarity the d word?" Spike asked. "She was talking about you like you were some prize to be won. And I wasn't having it you know. After all, you're the Alpha's son." Ember said. "...Rarity, is this true?" Spike asked. Knowing she was beaten, Rarity just nodded. "So, can we just...pretend this never happened? Maybe?" Rarity asked. "I won't." Spike said. "Rarity, I am going to have to ask you to return the Fire Ruby I gave you to me." He said. Rarity frowned but did as asked. "So...I guess you're going to eat it now." Rarity said. "No, I'm going to give it to a person who won't treat me as some prize and one I choose as my mate. And you need to learn I'm not some prize to be won. I can't believe I ever had a crush on you if this is the way you were going to act towards me. So, try me again in three years if I'm still single by then. And that's probably going to be a really big if." Spike said. "Hey, you, maybe you'd like to join the Soiciety. Just follow these directions. I'm sure you'll fit in with the rest of us." Ember said. "Th-thank you. My name's Whirlwind. I hope to see you again sometime." Whirlwind said before leaving. "...Heh...not going to lie Ember, that was very generous of you." Spike said. "I only did my part." Ember said. Rarity had her head in a pillow as she cried. She had screwed up with Spike. It was all her fault. She doesn't know why she acted like that, but needless to say, she had no chance of ever winning Spike's heart now. In fact, Rarity doesn't even think she deserves it anymore. Not after that.