//------------------------------// // Prom Night: Spike and Scootaloo // Story: The After Years // by thewaffler //------------------------------// It was finally the night of the long awaited Senior Prom for the young Mares and Stallions of Ponyville. Some were taking the train, some by carriage and for the very lucky some were traveling by airship or pegasus pulled chariot. Spike had volunteered earlier that day to gather up everypony as they made their way to Sweetie Belle's house. Making sure his cuff links were shiny and his head spines were polished he walked out the door. His first stop was to pick up Snips and Snails who lived right next door to each other and sure enough as the teenage drake made his way to gather his friends, they were walking out Snips house oddly close together. "You guys do realize that you should save the lovey dovey stuff for your dates, right?" "Uh...you tell him Snips." "No, you tell him." "Nuh uh." Snails shook his head messing up whatever styling he had put into it. The two stallions continued to argue and Spike was getting more and more irritated by their actions. "For the love of Celestia, just tell me!" "We got stuck together." They said in unison. To be honest their statement didn't shock Spike as after knowing them for the pass seven years he had seen the duo do some pretty stupid stunts. He did however instinctively pinch his brow and waited for the explanation. Snails looked at the ground. "We were trying to find some mane spray, but what we accidentally used some of my dad's spray on adhesive..." 'wow... that was new.' Spike thought considering that Snips' parents were barbers and would have an entire house filled with styling products. The bigger question was, why in Equestria did Snail's dad keep glue in the bathroom? "We've been stuck like this for three hours and we didn't want to ruin our suits." Snips said trying to pull himself apart from his best friend. Spike tried to pry them from each other, but the only thing happening was fabric starting to give away from the stress that was being applied to it. Looking at the clock tower he saw that he didn't have time for this issue. "We're running a little late...um guys you're gonna have to look natural." With that the three headed for Gizmo's lab first mainly because of the drake's undying curiosity as to who or what Snips and Snails were bringing as their dates. As for taking Spike's advice and looking natural, well...the two glued unicorns being radically different heights meant, they had to perform one of the most lopsided seven legged races in pony history. After about fifteen minutes of walking the trio made their way to the home of Ponyville's resident mad scientist. Spike took a step forward and was about to ring the door bell. "SPIKE DON'T DO TH--" They yelled in stereo only to be interrupted by Spike. "Oh, come on it's just a door bell, see?" As soon as he pressed the button the three of them fell through a trap door and into a machine that wrapped them in high tensile cable. Snips and Snails both sporting a grin that said, 'I told you so' just looked at Spike. "Don't say anything." "We deliver his groceries." Just as Snips and Snails were about to tear into the dragon. The door to the room they were in opened up and standing in the doorway wearing a white lab coat was Gizmo. "Finally, I have got you Gummy the Gator..." He looked at the three creatures bound in the cable and noticed that none of them were his mortal enemy. Two them he recognized as his friends. "...Snips and Snails, how many times have I said not to use the door bell?" Their only response was a irritated glare at the dragon as Gizmo hit the release button on their restraints, freeing them. "You must be here to pick up Cam and Drive for the prom. That should be very interesting data, I remember my senior prom, her name was Moovilla..." The scientist continued to reminisce as he lead them through the underground section of his lab to the elevator and five minutes later into the actual house area of his lair. Snips and Snails in their three years of working for Gizmo had seen it all, but Spike was shocked by how much sciencey stuff was down there. It would have but Twilight's basement to shame several times over and then some. "...and then her father bucked me out of the second story window." He chuckled. "I needed forty seven stitches and was bed ridden for two years...good times." His eyes went wide and his pupils dilated as he gave a evil laugh. Gizmo now realizing that he now his living room stopped his laughter and composed himself. "Girls your dates are here!!!" He called up to a set of stairs. To say Spike was uneasy would have been the understatement of the century, but any more thoughts on the subject were dropped as he watch two metallic grey earth pony mares made their descent from the second floor. One wore a black dress with golden accessories and the other wore a similar dress but with green accessories. His jaw was firmly on the ground at the idea that Snips and Snails could get these two attractive mares to go out with them. He took a quick glance at his friends who were both wearing the biggest shit eating grins he had ever seen, if it weren't for the fact they were covered in sweat and glued together, Spike would have taken every negative thing he had ever said about his two companions back. Snips and Snails hobbled forward. "This is Cam..." they motioned to the green eyed mare. "...and this is Drive." They once again gestured, but this time to the amber eyed mare opposite her sister. Being the gentlegrake Spike was, he stepped toward them with his trademark sauve smile and kissed their forehooves. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I am Spike Rodan von Sparkle." The two replicants blushed and synched their monotone voices. "Emotion: Happy. We are elated to met you as well." Cam using her wireless transmitter projected her thoughts to Drive. "The reptile being the fifth creature we have ever met is already better than prom objective stallions." "They aren't that bad. This objective couldn't be any worse than yesterday went they took us out for nourishment." Drive always the optimist tried to find some good in all things, but even the events from the day before, almost fried her techno-organic brain. They would've looked back on that day, but their high speed processors didn't leave much time for a flashback. They were interrupted by the dragon, whom looked at the digital clock on Gizmo's desk on the other side of the room. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but we need to get to pick up the rest of the gang and get to Sweetie Belle's house." Gizmo pressed a series of buttons and opened the front door. "The trap door has been deactivated." The mad genius held the door open for the five teenagers. "Have a good time at the prom and be safe..." He said with a tinge of sadness in his voice. The kind that any parent would have if they their children were leaving the nest, except these children happen to be the result of dark magic, illegal genetic research and science! The two androids gave him a hug and bid him farewell as the followed their dates and Spike out the door. They made their way to Fluttershy's cottage, which at one point used to be just a house and a butterfly garden now had almost enough ramps, railings, half and quarter pipes to be considered a skate park. Spike hesitantly rung the door bell of the tree dwelling. "Coming!" A very familiar voice said from behind the door. A few minutes passed and the sounds of broken glass, curses and several power tools filled the air before Scootaloo trotted out the of her home. The orange pegasus' eyes fell on her date and being the dominant one in their relationship she she let out a wolf whistle and threw her drake into a loving embrace, while being careful not to wrinkle his suit. "Lookin' good Spike." Taking in Scootaloo's purple and orange prom dress and her perfectly groomed mane, the dragon was stunned. "Y-you don't look bad yourself, Scoots." Realizing that what he said, Spike went for the save. "In fact you make Fluer de Liz look like a hydra's life-mate." The pegasus giggled before giving the drake a playful jab. She knew that because of her special some-dragon's more submissive nature, she had him wrapped around her hoof. Remembering that they weren't alone Scootaloo looked at Snips and Snails as they were pressed against each other. She moved towards her drakes left ear and spoke to where only he could hear her. "Hey Spike, what's with those two?" "They got stuck together using industrial spray on adhesive." He whispered back in a very unamused tone to which the pegasus rolled her eyes. Scootaloo then noticed Cam and Drive. "Wow, you two are really going out with these guys?" She ruffled up Snips' mane. "Hey watch it!" "Oh, come on it's not like I could make it any worse." She said with a smug tone. Cam and Drive stifled some laughter. "Emotion: confused indifference. We are going out Snips and Snails." The pegasus rolled her eyes at the twin mares' strange manner of speech before nudging her boyfriend that it they should head out and go pick up Applebloom and Truffles. "I think it's time to go get Applebloom and her date." Once again the ever growing collection of creatures made their way to pick up another two companions. After another ten minutes of locomotion they reached the large new sign that said: Sweet Apple Acres Organic Produce. It was still the same farm for the most part. There were add-ons like the lodging for the unpaid interns from the Canterlot College of Agriculture, a new massive barn with a docking area for motorized trucking carts and most noticeable was size of the land as the help Uncle Orange had offered also let the Apple Family buy all the adjacent land, henceforth tripling the size of the orchard. They eventually made it to the classic Apple family ranch house and remembering what happened at Gizmo's Lab earlier Spike once again hesitated before he knocked on the front door to which Big Mac opened, greeting the six of them. "Ah reckon, yer here for Applebloom." The gentle giant said as he welcomed them into the house. The group followed Mac into the parlor to the distinct sound of his youngest sister fidgeting as Zecora was tying her new pink bow. "Not too much forward or too far back." "Please sit tight, if you want this bow to look just right." The zebra sighed. In a chair to the left of them sat Truffles who while still on the husky side had grown up to be moderately tall, making him look almost proportional. As Applebloom's friends walked into the room Truffles got up from his chair to greet them. "Hello Spike, Scootaloo, Snaps and uh...Mollusk?" "Very close, it's Snips and Snails." "Uh, Mollusk is who we called Grappy Slugs." Snails piped in. "Ah, but of course and who are these enchanting mares?" Truffles gave a slight nod to the two androids. "We are called: Cam and Drive." The twins said in unison. "Emotion: Happiness. It's a pleasure to meet you as well." Applebloom chose this time to stop fussing with the bow as she let her soon to be sister-in-law finish getting her ready for the prom. The light yellow mare got in front of Truffles and let out a possessive growl. "He's mine!" Cam and Drive backed off a little bit and were confused by the earth pony's behavior. "Emotion: Unease." Realizing that Truffles was just being "neighborly" as her kin would put it, became aware of her actions and blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, I've just been a little stressed out today." Applebloom held out her hoof to show she meant no ill will towards the other two mares, both of whom accepted. All this new friendship was interrupted when Spike looked at the clock on the adjacent wall. "How are we gonna make it to Sweetie Belle's House in time?" Mac chuckled and led the eight creatures to the front porch. "WEST FIELD INTERNS!!!" Five ponies rushed towards the group. "Yes, Mister Macintosh!!!" "Um...listen here, ah have an important task for ya, ya’ll need to get Applebloom and her friends to 1401 Pinecrest Lake. Ya get them there before seven and ah'll sign your course evaluation sheets with high marks and I'll consider the five of y'all for a paid intern position." The interns practically threw the eight teenagers into the nearby wagon before taking off like a rocket ship from the bowels of Tartarus. With two minutes to seven, the group was dropped off at Sweetie Belle's house where she and Featherweight were waiting by the limo anxiously for their friends to arrive so that they could get to the prom. Sweetie Belle and Featherweight greeted their friends as they them made their way towards her driveway. Sweetie threw her former fellow crusaders into a bone crushing hug. “We’re gonna have such an awe~some time tonight!!!" Her voiced cracked a little as she was extremely giddy with anticipation for the big event. Spike, Featherweight and Truffles exchanged bro-hooves as they; themselves have become good friends over the years, which wasn't hard to see why as they all were dating members of the notorious CMC. "Still think you can beat me in a cook off, Truff Stuff?" Referencing the next Iron Chef competition, the dragon gave his grey rival a slight nudge. "Ha Ha. Dream on, you lézard envahi." "Hey Spike, we still up for our fishing trip this weekend with Magnum?" "Yeah, as long as somepony doesn't forget the bate." Both dragon and pegasus glared at the earth pony stallion. "Yeah, I forget one time and no you two will never let that go, will you?" His cohorts shook their heads. The playful kidding of the stallions was cut off by Sweetie's mother: Fran panicking over the time and pushing them all into the limousine. "Remember, I want you home no later than midnight." Fran lectured her daughter. Sweetie just rolled her eyes. "Yes, mom." Two Hours of Small Talk Later The ten of them had finally arrived at the Pavilion at Canterlot Castle. Luna truly did a wonderful job arranged the night for so many teenagers and their dates. The outside patio area was packed as the site of the infamous yearly gala was also where many schools celebrated their senior prom at the same time. In attendance there were quite a few griffins, several donkeys, some zebras, a couple of buffalo and even surprising enough a few diamond dogs intermixed with the predominately pony crowd. "My mom only rented the limo till one!" Sweetie Belle called out to her friends as they all went their separate ways to enjoy the dance with their dates. Spike and Scootaloo barely heard what Sweetie Belle said as the sound of her voice was cut off by the DJ's music, which turned out to be none other than Fillydelphia's own MC W1SH aka Neon Lights. The pair took in the sight as the normally stuffy banquet hall had been transformed to meet the tastes of the younger crowd while still maintaining its own elegance. After a long carriage ride they did what any self respecting creature would do, they got some drinks and food, found a table and basked in each other's company. That last part being a bit of an understatement as the mare and the drake have been damn near inseparable since having created their relationship five years ago. "...Scoots, I'm glad you're here with me. " "I am too, and for what it's worth, you're the only one that get me to wear this get-up." The pegasus gestured to her dress. "If it's any consolation, you look fantastic." The orange mare's face felt warmer than Celestia's sun as she met his dark emerald eyes. "Uh... ummm..." She couldn't contain herself anymore and didn't care how sappy she sounded as reared back and grabbed her boyfriend's head smashed her snout into his careful to avoid his fangs as she gave him a deep kiss. When they finally parted lips, everything around the couple went silent, that was until a large plume of green smoke exited Spike's nostrils. *POOF* "Pfft... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA" The pegasus couldn't help herself as if Celestia sent, her special somedragon gave the same smoky reaction to their intimate moment to ease the tension. "Yeah, you still got it Scoots." He gave an annoyed snort to clear his sinuses. "Still gotta figure how you keep doin' that." "It's fun and we can leave it as one of life's great mysteries like why does rubber bounce, the appearance of crop circles and the existence of sea ponies." "I can answer that in this order: physics, aliens and no way." "They do too exist. The even made a movie about them and everything, the one with the stallion in Manehattan and the transforming seapony mare." "That was just a movie, albeit a very good movie, but it was pure fiction like seaponies can even read Equestrian." "Se--" At this point Neon Lights was getting into the swing of things cutting off the two debating creatures. The music like and the lights drew every teenager onto the dance floor like some kind of pied piper. "We can talk about this later, let's dance." The young dragon held out his claw to his mare as she lead him on to the crowd of dancing prom goers. "As you wish..." The couple saw Applebloom and Truffles stumbling over their hooves with the grace of a boulder rolling down a hill. Their friends Sweetie Belle and Featherweight opted to walk towards the balcony overlooking the river. Snips and Snails couldn't be seen, but Cam and Drive were chatting with a lone grey pegasus by the drink table. Once Scootaloo and Spike were in area that was partially sectioned to act as a dance floor, they joined the other happy prom going couples. 15 minutes Later Out of everyone on the floor Spike and Scootaloo were the best dancers, well that was until... ...Another couple trotted on to the dance floor. It was Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara and as the years had gone by what started as simple friendship became something more as the former bullies began to court each other and their trademark greeting took on a whole new meaning. The four of them met eyes as despite the fact that the former tormentors no longer really bothered anypony anymore, there was still some level of animosity to the pair and because of that everyone felt electricity in the air when the dragon and pegasus met the two earth pony mares. As the two pairs met, Neon could see the spark of competition on the floor. "New Challenger!! Show me your awesome moves!!!" A wall of teenagers surrounded the four creatures in a circle even some of the pegasi flew up to get a better view of what was going down. It started off simple at first some soft rock ballads to which the competitors used as a warm up. Scootaloo and Spike dipped, span around and moved gracefully over the marble tile of the dance floor. Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara very much so kept up with their rivals. The intrepid DJ could see that the four teenagers knew how to handle themselves, that's why his next playlist came from a prototype arcade game he'd been working on with Sapphire Shores, it was simple known as Prance Prance Liberation. "You're on fire! Let's see how you do against this set!" Neon shouted at the top of his lungs while he sported an almost sinister grin. His horn lit up and the ground rumbled and his speakers shook. The blue unicorn used his illusionary magic to create a set of scores set each set at 1,000 points above the three ponies and dragon. The crowd and chaperones looked onto the dance floor in awe. "Are you Ready? HERE WE GO!!!" Spike threw off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, Scootaloo flared her wings, Diamond Tiara flung her tiara like Wonderfilly and Silver Spoon adjusted her glasses. As the music took a sudden shift from soft rock ballads of earlier to pulse pounding dance music with a fire trail blazing crazy level of beats per minute, It was like a motorized cart had gone from first to fourth gear in the blink of an eye. To the uncoordinated it was a death sentence, but to these couples it was a test of strength as long time rivals met in an arena of sound and synchronized rhythm. Spike pulled off some impressive foot work at first as he launched his mare into the air who used the momentum to do a series of back flips as she came careening to the floor as her boyfriend caught her in mid air as he brought the two of them into an almost erotic pose as they continued to match their movements which used their gifts of wings, hands and feet to their advantage. It was otherworldly, but it was almost expected as the dragon for anyone that knew him, knew that he has music in his very veins. As for the orange mare, she was an extreme athlete and she treated this in the same way she treated any activity, with full gusto and determination. They were as almost as close in their synchronization as any dragon and pony could be less they be born a kirin. Everyone was amazed by how well two creatures with very different anatomies worked so well together. As for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon on the other hoof weren't going to let the interspecies couple claim all the glory as they shocked the crowd in the same manner as they achieved movement and flow that earth ponies shouldn't by any definition be capable of in any respect. The two mares Silver and Diamond proceeded to clamber onto their back hooves as they gyrated, spun and dipped on the dance floor and while they didn't have the finesse that their rivals had, they did manage to win points in how well the pair moved together as a whole. They weren't a just a couple they had become a single entity only rivaled by their purple and orange compatriots. The dancers that had taken center stage continued their hip movements, spins, stunts, slides, jumps, glides and risqué dancing. Everyone was stunned as they watched the four teenagers transform into the lords of the dance. It was like nothing else mattered. They went through the entire evolution of rhythm. The DJ couldn't believe his eyes... it was beautiful... In many ways it was frightening to see how much these four were in tune with the music and their partners. The fluidity of their movement borderlined on rehearsed as they never once missed a beat. It was like the spirit of dance possessed their bodies. The other thing the attendees witnessed was love, it was this compassion between a pony and a dragon and the love shared between two mares that was on full display as with their movements matching perfectly came a new level of understanding. When Neon's insane set was over, the four of them collapsed on top of each other. The crowd went wild and even Luna who had been hosting the event bowed in respect to the display shown by such skilled creatures. "E-EXCELLENT!!!" The unicorn DJ called over the cheering spectators. In the back area of gala hall towards patio's outside doors sat the tired performers from earlier (five minutes ago) that night. It was quite, well in relative terms as they tuned out the world around them. Exhausted the drake broke the silence that hung in the air. "I...hate to admit it, but you two were wonderful out there." "I feel the same sentiments*puff* as well Spike, you and Scootaloo danced splendidly. Your hands and feet matched her grace and wings." Spike held out his arm in a gesture of friendship to which Diamond Tiara graciously accepted. "Silver *pant* that was amazing...even though we've never been friends, I will say that your moves were kick flank.” Scootaloo surprised Silver Spoon by giving her a a similar gesture of companionship. They talked and chatted as if there was never any ill will between the four of them. Spike and Scootaloo did feel odd that none of their friends showed up to congratulate them or see them at all since they jumped on the dance floor. Some Time Later As the night came closer to its inevitable end, the ballots had been passed out earlier to elect that year's Prom Monarchs have been collected and sorted out with the lunar princess taking center stage. "Now, the moment thou hath all been waiting for, this year's prom Prince and Princess are Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara!!!" The crowd cheered as Luna gave a blushed in embarrassment when the spotlight focused on two mares. The two mares trotted on stage to receive their crowns and share a kiss as a slow song began to play, signaling for all the couples to hit the dance floor. Sweetie Belle and Featherweight finally reemerged from seemingly nowhere as they hit the floor was the grace of a buffalo, which are surprisingly quit masterful on their hing legs as countless ballets have proved. Spike looked at Scootaloo with a guilty look on his face. He leaned forward towards his girlfriend's ear. "I'm so sorry, but I voted them." This caused the orange mare to giggle. "I gotta confess as well, so did I. That being said this is the best night we've ever had together." "You mean best night, so far." The pair continued to sway with the music and look into each other's eyes. "Let's get out of here and go for a walk in the gardens." The pair was about to go through with their stroll when they were met with a sigh that said: "Do, not enter." Spike gave his mare a wink and with a single claw swipe cut the sign off its post and flung it into a nearby trash can. Scootaloo smirked and gave a half lidded expression as her drake lead them for a very romantic "stroll" through the starlit garden as they added one more memory to the already perfect night.