Spike inhaled and exhaled slowly. It was a good day. Sunshine and cloudless sky, no wind, grass shining with morning dew which magnified its green colour. A perfect day for a quiet date.
The memories of the 'dream' from last night haunted him, but he set them aside. His crippled ability to breathe fire worried him, but he set that aside too. Today was all about Rarity, the most important pony in the world for him now.
His dragon ears twitched as he heard hoofsteps nearby. He looked down from the branch he was laying on. Approaching him was Rarity, wearing a large yellow hat and carrying a picnic basket. Spike smiled. The day was oddly bright, the air was too quiet, but it was alright. He intended for this date between him and Rarity to be a secret, but he couldn't help but let their friends play their part.
Although it was off her schedule, Rainbow Dash cleared up the sky very early, when nopony should've been up. Spike's nightmare awakened him early enough to witness her doing that.
Applejack slipped from her farm work and watered up the grass slightly so it was nice and soft. Although he saw her from a long distance, his dragon eyes could tell it was her.
When he left the library, he found a basket with his name on it. It was filled with cupcakes, muffins and other delicacies - a gift from Pinkie Pie as he presumed.
Despite having no evidence, he figured that other ponies helped as well - Fluttershy probably got the animals to leave, giving them peace and silence. Twilight was gone from the library when he woke up, so she might've just left not to disturb him or have to give excuses.
As Rarity came even closer, she began to look around, searching for him. He was pretty high up so she probably didn't notice him. With a degree of acrobatic accuracy never suspected in him, he jumped down, slowing himself down on some branches and landed in front of her.
"Hey gorgeous. Looking for somepony?" he asked, smiling. She looked startled at first, but quickly smiled at him, "Only my most lovely of dragons." she said, smooching him. He kissed her back and they sat down under the tree, taking out the picnic foods and blanket, and they ate, admiring the clear sky.
The day passed very quickly, and by the time of sundown Spike was sitting under the tree stroking the mane of Rarity who put her head on his legs. There weren't any disturbances during the date so far, and Spike was quite glad about that. This was definitely a perfect date.
"This is definitely what I'd call a perfect date..." sighed Rarity, moving closer to Spike. He grinned. Even their thoughts were very similar. This was the pony he needed in his life.
In the corner of the huge cell they were given, Flam was sleeping. He used too much magic and was nearly exhausted. His brother Flim took over the work.
The second piece of their work was finished, and along with the first one transported to be tested. Now he worked hard on the third one, trying to make it as good as possible. Maybe the satisfactory quality of this one would please their kidnappers.
There was no point of thinking about it though. It wasn't time for thinking. He needed to work hard and make up for the work his brother wasn't doing.
For now, his only hope was to believe that the noises of the testing would attract somepony's attention.
"I love you more." said Spike, kissing Rarity.
"No, I love you more." replied Rarity kissing Spike.
This game has been going on for some time, though only for giggles. It was a couply thing, and it seem Spike and Rarity have quickly reached this stage.
He was about to answer when suddenly the ground beneath them shook hard. Rarity gasped but Spike, instinctively, pushed her to the side just before a loose branch fell where she was laying down just a second ago. As suddenly as the shaking started, it ended abruptly, leaving behind no sign of it but the broken branch.
"What was that?" asked Rarity, shaking.
"I don't know," answered Spike, "but whatever it was we better go now before it happens again." He put his claw over Rarity's back and led her away. Suddenly the ground shook again and Spike grabbed Rarity before she could fall down.
"I think we should leave fast." she said and started galloping away, giving Spike only seconds to jump on her back. During the gallop, Spike frowned. Something unnatural ruined their otherwise perfect date, and he was not going to let that pass.
The loud chattering of ponies filled the entire town square. Mayor Mare looked around, doing a head count. She was still missing somepony. As the familiar grey shape dropped from the sky, she nodded to herself and coughed, stopping the chatter..
"Now that everypony is here, I will explain this gathering. As you might've felt earlier there have been some shocks affecting the town. Nopony nor any structure was damaged and a competent research team that these have been an accidental anomaly and are NOT signals of an upcoming earthquake. I want everypony to remain calm and put up with these until the anomaly ends." said the Mayor, after which she stepped down from the podium and gestured Twilight Sparkle and her friends to follow her, allowing other ponies to continue their chatter.
They went around a corner, and the Mayor turned to the six ponies and Spike.
"Twilight Sparkle. You and the bonds of friendship with your friends have saved this town many times. You are also Princess Celestia's student. I want the six of you to investigate these shocks after informing the Royal Sisters. It wasn't an earthquake, so this brings up an even more important question - what was it? I want you to go underground and investigate."
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word Spike stepped in front of her, "Wait a second Mayor... you said 'six'. Does that mean I am not going on the team?" he asked, looking the Mayor in the eye. The Mayor looked at Twilight who nodded.
"Spike, I know you want to help, but you're still a baby. You're also my number one assistant and a great friend to us all. I don't want you to be involved in any trouble we may encounter." she said to him. He looked at the other ponies who nodded in agreement.
"Come on Twilight. I can help! I'll write down anything we'll encounter and any suspicious things we find!" he said in a desperate voice. He was itching to join this adventure. Twilight's face became serious.
"Spikeback Greenflame. You're staying in Ponyville and taking care of the Library while I'm away. You won't follow us into the dangerous journey. This is my final decision." she said, keeping a strong posture.
Spike's back shivered. Even with all the courage he gained from Heart's Flame there was nothing which could evoke more fear in any dragon than being called by their full name by their hatcher. Even adult dragons had no guts to stand up to their mothers. Looking away, Spike sighed, "Okay Twilight. But please be careful..." he said, after which he leaned closer to her ear, "and protect my dear Rarity." he whispered. Twilight looked at him, then nodded.
The midnight air chilled Spike, even through his thick scales. He couldn't help but stay awake. The knowledge that his friends were going on an expedition without him saddened him greatly. But what could he do? Twilight very strictly ordered him not to follow them on the journey.
He looked from the window of the Library into it, holding a quill and ticking off the checklist of things Twilight was packing for the trip. The bag was very big, which worried Spike. She was taking a lot of stuff with her. This will definitely slow them down.
"...and my seismograph. Is that everything Spike?" she asked. With a frown on his face, he nodded and ticked the final box on the checklist. Twilight came closer to him.
"Spike, I know you really wanted to go on the trip, so guess what? You can't follow us, but I asked Owloysius to take care of the Library, so you're free to do anything while we're away..." she said, but when she was his mischievous expression she quickly added, "...apart from following us." to which Spike frowned again. He turned away and looked at the starry sky, when suddenly a twinkle of mischief appeared in his eye.
"Very well Twilight. If that is what you wish, I won't follow you. Now if you excuse me I'm going on a walk." he said, jumping down from the window. Twilight poked her head out just in time to see Spike start walking away before she turned back, and just as she did, so did he. He raced back as quickly as possible, keeping quiet, and jumped back to the window, peaking through.
"...and fetch any book that anypony wants, okay?" she asked the owl, to which Owloysius replied with a loud 'HOO!' Twilight smiled, "Great that you understand. Now I just gotta visit the restroom and I'll be on my way." she said, opening the restroom door with her magic and entering, closing it behind her.
Now was Spike's chance. He had to be very fast, because at that precise moment Owloysius turned his head away.
The dragon lunged forward, soaring through the air like a bullet... right into one of the open pockets of Twilight's bag.
If I can't follow you, then take me with you Twilight. he said, grinning. Whoever discovered loopholes was the best pony who ever lived.