//------------------------------// // The Catch // Story: A Deal With The Devil // by Legacy55 //------------------------------// "But Twilight, you promised we would go to Sugarcube Corner tonight!” Spike whined as Twilight finished getting ready. “Well we can go some other night! Orion’s taking me out for dinner and I won’t miss it for the world!” She replied sharply as she gazed at her face in the mirror. “But-” “No Spike! And that’s the end of it!” The purple unicorn quickly cut him off, “Now I have to go finish my mane, if Orion gets here tell him to wait a few minutes.” “Fine…” He sighed, watching as Twilight ascended the stairs to her bedroom. That’s all she ever does now is spend time with Orion… Whatever happened to the good days where she actually cared about me? Spike glanced around the large, neat library. If felt like they had lived in Ponyville for practically all their life despite the fact they had spent so much more time in Canterlot. He could barely remember the days without his new pony friends, it was like Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack had always been with them. That was until they had begun to drift apart the past few months, all thanks to Twilight’s loneliness. A loud knock at the door snapped him out of his dream state. He immediately jumped up and rushed over to the oak door. When he threw it open a scowl crossed his face. “Oh hey Spike!” Orion smiled as he looked down at the baby dragon. “Is Twilight ready?” “No...” He growled back. “She’s just finishing her mane; she said she’ll be ready in a few minutes...” Spike went to slam the door but Orion’s outstretched hoof stopped it from closing. “Well I can wait.” He paced into the library, Spike’s anger growing by the second. He actually thought he was starting to hate Orion more than Reinaldo… The dark blue unicorn glanced around the library a few times, almost as if trying to see if they were alone. After seeing that it really was just the two of them he turned towards the baby dragon with a serious look. “So Spike, I’ve been meaning to talk with you…” “Oh yeah? About what?” “Well you see… Me and Twilight have been talking and we think that you’re getting in the way…” “Wh-what?! But I’m her number one assistant, she needs me!” He spluttered, not believing what he was hearing. “Like she needs a baby dragon cramping her style… She’s finally found love, and she needs me far more than she ever needed you…” “B-but, but…” “Stop fooling yourself, she doesn’t need you… You’re just getting in the way of us; it’d probably be the best if you just disappeared…” Orion was saying everything that he had thought and worried about recently. He was too scared to admit that they were actually true, but now there was no running from it. “But I-I’ve been with Twilight for so long…” “That may be true, but she’s grown up now. I’m going to marry her, and you’d just get in the way of our love. Who do you think Twilight would chose between us? A baby dragon that’s done a few chores for her? Or the colt that gives her life purpose? That makes her happy.” Spike took a few steps backwards, laying a claw against the chair to support himself. Ever word the unicorn spoke was true, he could feel it. He had never seen Twilight as happy when she was with him, she barely paid any attention to himself anymore… The creaking of stairs caused them to both immediately look upwards. Orion grinned as Twilight descended the stairs, and she smiled back at the sight of him. “All right Spike, I’ll probably be back around ten or so. See you then!” She waved to him, quickly taking Orion’s outstretched hoof the two hurried out the door. As soon as the door slammed shut, Spike collapsed on the ground. He had never felt so lonely and unloved. Even when he had thought Owlicious had replaced him he hadn’t felt this bad. Quickly he realized he knew what he had to do and rushed about getting a quill and paper. -------------------- “Ugh…” Rainbow Dash groaned as she stumbled onto the street. She could barely see, and it wasn’t because it was nearly pitch black. Hiccupping she slowly made her way down the street, towards her home in the clouds she hoped. The reason for her drunken walk through the night was as what it always was. After a night at the bar, and a little intimate time with whoever had hit on her the most, she would always head home. She hated sleeping on other ponies beds; she much preferred the feeling of a soft, fluffy cloud. After the world around her stopped spinning, Rainbow Dash considered flying into the cool night air. She’d get home much faster; she would just have to be very careful. Drinking and flying was against the law and she certainly didn’t want to end up in some dungeon. Rainbow Dash kicked off from the ground, her wings went into action and within a few seconds she was soaring over the town. The only lights that could be seen were a few lonely windows, and not a sound could be heard through the tranquil night. Even through her drunken haze she was able to admire the beauty of the night. Before long the rows of cookie cutter houses disappeared and the vast, sprawling country opened up in front of her. She squinted through the darkness, her house was just ahead. The Pegasus sped up just a bit and came to a stop right in front of her door. “Ha, I really am the besth!” She chuckled, complimenting herself on her smooth landing. “Ah Rainbow Dash, humble as ever I see…” Rainbow immediately spun around, her ears perking up as she tried to find the unknown intruder. “Wh-who’s *hic* there?” “A little too much to drink tonight my speedy friend?” A loud pop sent her jumping back several feet, so much so that she nearly fell of the cloud. Her jaw dropped when she saw the mismatched Draconquus grinning at her. “D-d-dishcord?!” “Yes Rainbow my dear… I was just relaxing in the cool night air, wondering what chaos I should inflict next when you came along!” Rainbow blinked a few times, a very confused look crossing her face. “Bu-but you *hic* were-” “In stone? I was, but thanks to you and you’re friends I’m free again! I’ve already caused so much chaos, and I still have so much more planned!” If she wasn’t completely hammered she would have charged at the Draconquus, as the alcohol was keeping her fairly calm. In fact, she wasn’t the least bit angry, just very, very confused. “Well, I really should be going. If I’m right something very dramatic is about to happen to your purple friend, and I’m not missing it!” Discord snapped his fingers, immediately vanishing into the dark. Rainbow Dash rubbed her head as she entered her home, she could tell that in the morning she wouldn’t be able to remember a single thing that had just transpired. ---------------------- Twilight burst through the front door, the smile never fading from her face as she looked around the room. She rushed up the stairs with excitement, and quickly entered her bedroom. As she made her way over to her desk she levitated out a small blue book. Its golden lock snapped off and she immediately went about writing. Today was the greatest night of my life! Orion took me to a French restaurant (just like I guessed!), it was so romantic! He was so sweet and kind; I never wanted it to end… He says were going out to lunch tomorrow and that he had a surprise for me! Could this be it? Is he going to propose to me?! Twilight’s quill clattered against the wooden table as she collapsed on her bed. She gazed up at the ceiling, her mind orchestrating just what would happen tomorrow. He’d sneak it to her somehow, maybe in a drink or a piece of cake. Her face would light up with pure joy and excitement; and he would propose. She’d reply yes, and then the two would live happily ever after… Twilight was snapped out of her daydream by one thought, Spike. “Spike?” She called out, jumping up from her bed. The lavender unicorn checked his small bed to find it empty, wondering where he could possibly be she headed downstairs. “Spike?” Twilight called out again, a slight hint of worry audibly in her voice. She found the library vacant, and becoming worried she rushed down into the basement. “Spike?!” She yelled, her voice echoing off the dirty walls. She found it just as empty as the rest of the house. Scared, she rushed back upstairs and came to a stop as she noticed a note lying on a table. Twilight quickly grabbed it with her magic and went about reading it. Dear, Twilight I realize now that you don’t need me anymore… You have Orion, why would you ever need me? He makes you happier then I ever could… I’d like to thank you for all the years we were together, I’ve know you all my life and you’re the closest thing I could ever consider to family. We spent a lot of great times together, but that part of our lives is over… You’ll live happily ever after with Orion and I’ll find somewhere else to go… Don’t worry about me, heck; you probably aren’t going to at all… I was only ever in the way, so I’ll just leave before you two get any closer. Goodbye, Twilight… Sincerely your number one assistant, Spike Twilight was already in tears by the time she finished the letter. Spike, her closest friend for some many years, had left her. She didn’t quite realize how much he had done for her until now. When all others had left her, when her friends grew apart from her and her parents died, Spike was there. When she felt so alone and unloved, he was there. He tried to make her happy and she had merely brushed him away… He was her best friend, sticking with her through thick and thin. Though she may have been upset with him from time to time, he always had a special place in her heart. “Spike…” She mumbled as she turned away from the letter. She couldn’t keep herself from crying, and before long she was lying against the floor sobbing. “Oh Twilight… Pain and misery just seem to follow you everywhere don’t they?” The all too familiar voice of the Draconequus met her ears and she perked up. “Discord?” She wiped the tears from her eyes and glanced up. He was looking down at her with his sincerest face. “I saw the whole thing you know too…” He stated, lightly stroking his goat like beard. “Orion was rather blunt to say the least; he probably could have broken the news to him a little easier…” “Wh-what?!” Twilight immediately jumped up, “What did Orion do?!” “Right before you to left for your romantic dinner he had a few words with your number one assistant. Said something about him getting in the way of you two.” Discord grinned slightly, waiting for her reaction. “What?! Orion did this? You better not be lying!” “Lying? Me? Twilight, you accuse me of such terrible things! Watch, I’ll show you…” He laid his claw on her, and after a snap of his fingers they were teleported. Actually, they only teleported a few feet. They were still inside the library; however it was now inhabited by Spike and Orion. Everything was a translucent blue and Twilight remembered that Discord had done this before. “Like she needs a baby dragon cramping her style… She’s finally found love, and she needs me far more than she ever needed you…” “B-but, but…” “Stop fooling yourself, she doesn’t need you… You’re just getting in the way of us; it’d probably be the best if you just disappeared…” Twilight could hardly believe that Orion was saying such horrible things, but she couldn’t deny it as she watched it happen. Discord snapped his fingers again and they were brought back to the present time. “See? I spoke only the truth.” “But… Why?” Half of her was angry at Orion, while the other half tried to find some reason for his actions. He was always so kind and sweet to her, how could he say such things? “Well I guess he’s just a little over protective. Remember when you two met Rainbow Dash? Or were you to madly in love to remember?” She thought back hard, and had to admit the Draconequus was right. She remembered him being a little over protective. Confusion suddenly turned to anger, and she snapped at him. “This is all your fault! You knew about this from the beginning, this is the catch!” “Well, maybe there were a few bad qualities to him…” Discord couldn’t help but grin and this only served to anger her more. “You tricked me! You said he’d be the colt of my dreams!” “Well he is… In most aspects… I’m not going to lie to you Twilight; his over protectiveness is only going to get worse… He’s forced you’re closest friend away from you, and before long it’ll just be you and him. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?” Twilight just stared down at her hooves. The colt of her dreams was quickly turning into a nightmare… “Enjoy your new life Twilight…” Discord said sharply, leaving the room with a loud pop.