//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8: Reunion 
// Story: The Rock 
// by DinoDenver 
//------------------------------//

	"Rarity, I can't breathe...!" Spike liked being hugged by Rarity, but there was also another thing he liked – air. "Please, Rarity..."
"Oh, Spikey, I can't believe you're back!" She released Spike from hug. He took a big breath and looked around.
"Back from where? Where are we, Rarity?" He noticed Princess Luna standing above him. "Princess!" Spike tried to stand up, but half way he lost his strength and fell back to coffin.
"Are you okay, Spikey?!"
"I'll manage..." Replied Spike.
"You shall not strain yourself in your current condition, Spike, the dragon." Said Princess Luna. "He will be weak for at least few hours, that is normal after ritual of resurrection. You should take care of him, Rarity."
"Yes, Princess! I will!" Rarity replied with a smile, she still couldn't believe, that Spike was back.
"After ritual of what? Resurrection?" Spike looked puzzled. He looked around once again. "Well, that explains the coffin. And being underground."
"You don't remember anything, Spikey?" Rarity was surprised.
"Well, last thing I remember is the escape from cave... after that everything gets blurry... Ugh...!"
“Don't think about it, Spikey! I'm sure you'll remember everything when you get some rest.” Said Rarity. “For now let's catch train to Ponyville, Spikey.”
“That won't be necessary.” Rarity heard Princess Luna's voice behind her. When she turned around she saw Luna's royal carriage. “You can use this, there won't by any train to Ponyville for next few hours.”
“Oh, Princess Luna! Thank you very much!” Rarity wasn't sure when or how did Princess call her guards to bring carriage here, but she was grateful. Carrying Spike to train station would be pretty rough, she was pretty exhausted herself.

Princess helped Rarity escort Spike. To be exact she just used her magic to pick both Rarity and Spike and placed them in chariot.
“Thank you very much again, Princess Luna.” Rarity thanked once more. “I cannot express how grateful I am... I couldn't have done that without your help, Princess...”
“It is all right, my dear Rarity. You do not have to worry, it was fun.” Said princess and gave her royal guards sign to go.

Moments later chariot was high in the air, Rarity and Spike as well.

Rarity looked at Spike and her smile faded. He seemed to be troubled.
“What’s the matter, dear?” She asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing important, Rarity.”
“If it is something that is bothering you, then I consider it important.” Rarity insisted.
“Well… I guess it just fells… surreal… to be back, I mean.” Spike smiled slightly. “But I’m happy that you brought me back!” He added quickly, when he noticed Rarity was getting sad.
“There is one thing that I didn’t tell you yet, Spikey…” Rarity remembered one unpleasant detail about Spike’s resurrection.
“What is it, Rarity?”
“The way… The way I found to bring you back, Spikey… It wasn’t perfect, to say the least…” Rarity felt like it was getting harder and harder to speak with each word. “Even… Even with help of Princess Luna… I was only able... “
“Easy, Rarity, don’t…” Spike stroked Rarity’s cheek with the outer side of his hand.
“You’ll only live for a lifetime of a pony!” Rarity burst into tears. “You died because of me and I…” She was interrupted by Spike’s hug.
“Rarity… It wasn’t your fault, it was decision I made myself.” Spike said with a calm tone and paused for a moment. “And to be honest, vision of living for hundreds and hundreds of years after your death, was something that haunted me in my nightmares…” Spike looked in Rarity’s eyes. “Even a minute without you would feel like a thousand years to me. Lifetime of a pony would be plenty for me, as long as it is lifetime with you.” He smiled. “Well, Twilight might not be too pleased, after all she’ll have to look for new assistant much sooner.”

Rarity just reciprocated Spike’s hug.

“Thank you, Spikey…”

They stayed like this in silence for few minutes.


***


Fresh, night air was filling Rarity's lungs, her mane was flying in the breeze. She thought to herself, that Princess Luna, among the other things, must really like speed. She couldn't find another explanation for two pegasi flying this fast.

But with Spike's arm holding her she wasn't scared, to her surprise she even found that exciting. She was almost sad, when Ponyville silhouette emerged from behind the clouds.

“Would you, sirs, be so kind and take us to Sweet Apple Acres?” Asked Rarity.
“That would be south-west outskirts of Ponyville, right madame?” Asked one of guards.
“Indeed.” She replied.
“On our way, madame.”
“Why are we going to Applejack?” Spike looked surprised.
“Thank you very much, sirs” Rarity thanked pegasi guards. “Well, Spikey, rest of girls should be at Applejack's place now...” She answered Spike's question, she knew what Spike was going to ask next.
“Do we REALLY have to go? Can't we see them tomorrow morning?”
“Darling, I can't do that to Twilight. You know that it was hard on her too, right?”
“Eh...” Sighted Spike. “I know, Rarity...”
“Don't worry, Spikey. Rainbow shouldn't be in mood for teasing you. Especially since you're so... well-built now.” Smiled Rarity.
“ I doubt that. Courage is one of things about Rainbow that I wouldn't question.” Answered Spike, but he smiled.
“We're here.” Said one of pegasi as they landed right before entrance to Sweet Apple Acres.
“Thank you, sirs.” Said Rarity, as she got off chariot.
“Thanks, guys.” Spike quickly followed Rarity.

Two guards nodded and moments later they were already in the air, flying in direction of Canterlot. Spike and Rarity were now alone. Door to barn was ajar and light was still on inside. Spike looked at Rarity.
“Let's get this over with.” He said and they went ahead.


***


“Come on, Twi, one more.” Fluttershy was petting sleeping Rainbow Dash.
“...can't... no more...” Twilight looked really tired, she put her head on the table.
“Princess shouldn't sleep on table!” Pinkie teased Twilight, but she didn't seem to care.
“Uhm, I think we should let her be, Pinkie.” Fluttershy cut in. “Let's just drink.”
“Okie dokie loki!” Said Pinkie as she raised her glass.

Fluttershy closed her eyes and enjoyed perfectly distilled alcohol, Applejack really know her stuff. She's much better in making hooch than in drinking it. She kept her eyes closed for one more moment and appreciated subtle flavor of apples. But sound of door opening spoiled the moment.

“Oh, my...” Fluttershy couldn't believe her eyes. She even stopped petting, which caused silent sound of Rainbow's protest.
“Hi, girls!” Started Rarity, little too casually, but this was really rather weird situation.
“ZOMBIE!!!” Pinkie was ready to fire her party cannon, but Rarity cut in the line of fire.
“He's not a zombie, Pinkie Pie!”
“He's dead and he's walking and this makes him walking dead ergo he's zombie!” Said Pinkie in one breath.
“S-spike?” Twilight stood up, but she looked very unsteadily.
“Hello, Twi...”
“Spiiiiiiiiiiike...!” She somehow managed to approach Spike and flung her front legs around Spike's neck. Spike hugged her. Twilight's sobbing was only thing that could be heard. For a few moments.
“To Spike!” It didn't took Pinkie long to propose a toast.
“To Spike!” And she didn't have to convince Fluttershy.
“I don't think it is necessary...” Started Spike, but Twilight interrupted him.
“It's the best-idea-ever!”


***


Well, what do you know. As it turned out it wasn't the best-idea-ever. At least not for Twilight. It's never good idea to try to match Fluttershy's or Pinkie's drinking pace. Soon Princess went back to sleep, and this time it didn't look like she would wake up soon.

Applejack put Twilight to bed and Rarity took advantage of this opportunity to go home. She wanted to get some rest. After all this was very eventful night for her, there's no doubt about it. She almost couldn't believe it all has happened.

“Are you sure, this isn't a problem, Rarity?” Asked Spike.
“Of course it is not a problem, darling.” There was another thing she couldn't believe – that she invited Spike to her place.
“If you say so...” Spike was still hesitant.

After Rarity opened the door they both went upstairs, although Spike needed some encouragement. Rarity knew, that she owed her boldness to Applejack's potion of courage... but she didn't care.

“Be a darling and wait for me in the bedroom.” She instructed Spike and went to bathroom.

Usually visit in bathroom would take her at least thirty to forty minutes, but not this time. After a quick shower she joined Spike.

He was sitting on the edge of bed, lost in thoughts. He stood up when he noticed, that Rarity approached him, only to be pushed back on the bed by her.

Rarity climbed on him and looked him in the eyes.

“Is there anything you want me to do, Spikey?” She was so close that she felt his rapid breath on her face.
“Uhm...”
“And I mean anything, darling.” Her voice probably couldn't be more seductive.
“There is this one thing...” Spike finally looked straight into her eyes.
“Yes?” She felt her heartbeat  accelerate.
“Rarity... please, wake up...”
“What?!”


***


“Have you found anything, Pinkie?”
“No... I think we're out of booze, Fluttershy...” Pinkie was almost crying.

Rarity opened her eyes and looked around in disbelief.

“Oh, you're finally awake, Rarity.” Fluttershy greeted her.

Slowly Rarity realized, what has happened. She put her head back on the table, tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Clash with reality was pretty harsh.