//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Spike and Rainbow Dash // by winzaur //------------------------------// Spike and Rainbow entered the corner just as Twilight teleported herself, Rarity, and the box under a table. Spike walked up to the counter where Pinkie Pie was busying herself by coloring in a giant version of a cupcake. “Hi Spike! Are you and Rainbow here for round two?” Pinkie said, her giant smile plastered to her face as usual. Spike rolled his eyes and said to Pinkie, "No Pinks, we’re just here to grab some food before I head home. What do you have that’s special?” “Well, I do have this awesome new creation that I was working on, but I’m not really sure you should have it Spike.” Pinkie looked around before whispering really loudly, “It has alcohol.” At this, Twilight’s ears flicked up and she thought ‘No way is Spike getting alcohol or he is so grounded tonigh-,’ “Sure we’ll have it Pinkie! I’m over 18 anyway, might as well enjoy it every once in a while.” He said, as he and Rainbow made their way over to a table. The very same table that a certain alicorn and unicorn were under. As they sat down, Pinkie brought over her special creation and said, “Okay guys, hope you enjoy it! You’re the first two who will actually be trying it; so have as much as you want! I call it a daiquiri, and while it’s not nearly as strong as AJ’s special cider, it does have quite a kick to it.” As she bounced away, Rainbow looked down at the interesting creation in front of her. “Well, here goes nothing,” she said to Spike. The first sip she had was a little unclear to her. The second was ok but not super great. The third on the other hoof, well, that was pretty special. “I love it!” Rainbow looked up and said, “Come on Spike, you gotta try this stuff.” Spike looked at Rainbow, noticing how her face had a little bit more blush to it. He shrugged his shoulders and took a sip. For him, the taste settled in immediately and he said, "Wow you’re right Dash, this stuff is really good! Hey Pinkie, can we get another round?” Spike and Rainbow went through another 4 rounds, giggling all the while. They talked about almost every story the two could think of. Rainbow talking more about her life in Cloudsdale and her time in flight camp, while Spike talked about what he did in Canterlot and how he was effectively a crown prince of Equestria. At this statement, Rarity’s ears perked up and she quickly whispered to Twilight, “Little Spike really is a prince?” Not believing what her ears were telling her. In an effort to minimize how much noise they made, Twilight simply nodded, looking up at the table. This was the first time Spike had really consumed alcohol, except for that time where she was doing an experiment and accidentally launched a bottle of 100% ethanol at his face. That took a really long time to make up for. A few hours passed, and it was pretty clear that both Spike and Rainbow were pretty tipsy. Neither of the two were quite drunk yet, but Pinkie had decided to cut them off. Neither of them noticed however and continued to laugh and talk for a while. Eventually Rainbow said, “Hey Spike, -hehe- why did you always do stuff for Rares, like she’s not even that hot.” Rarity, hearing something interesting, started to pay attention again. Twilight had fallen asleep on her, and that was a very distracting event. “Well you see Dash,” Spike said, a big grin on his face. “She has… a nice flank.” Both Rainbow and Spike burst out laughing as Rarity’s face started to get warmer. “No no but seriously the truth is Dash; I don’t really know why I kept following Rarity around.” His face becoming more serious, “We don’t have anything in common, and like, you’re waayy cooler then she is.” Dash’s blush got a tiny bit bigger, “But I’m not pretty like she is or anything.” She said, a sad look coming on her face. “She’s so much more beautiful than me.” She looked down, trying to avoid eye contact with Spike. He shook his head and put his claw under her head and looked her in the eyes. “You’re pretty too,” he said, trying his very best to hold her head steady with his shaky claws. “You’re like, ten bajlllion times more pretty then she is!” Rarity smiled, this was exactly the moment she was waiting for and now it was happening. She nudged Twilight who simply cuddled in deeper and smiled. “You’re pretty awesome too Spike,” Rainbow said, holding her head up. “You deserve more than her.” Slowly, the two moved closer together. “You think so Dash? Spike said, moving towards Rainbow’s head, eyes half closed. Just as the two were about to kiss, Twilight woke up, looked around, realized she was cuddled on Rarity. And flipped out, quite literally flipping the table and causing the current occupants of that table to fly in different directions. Rarity, having been flung in the air for the second time that day, simply sighed, and waited for the inevitable impact on to whatever she was about to hit. Unfortunately for her it wasn’t a bookshelf, it was a Rainbow Dash; a tipsy, mad, Rainbow Dash. “Have you been spying on us!?” Rainbow shouted, throwing Rarity off of her and onto Twilight who was trying to free herself of the box. “After what you said about Spike, you couldn’t leave him alone and were spying on us!?” “Now Rainbow, calm down.” Rarity stuttered, “I know that you must be quite upset about all of this…” “Upset?! Upset doesn’t even cover it!” Rainbow was shouting louder now, “You made him cry Rarity. Spike, the best dragon in Equestria, you made him cry.” Spike had regained his feet at this point and quickly came over to Rainbow. “Dash,” He said, “It’s ok, just calm down and lets leave.” He looked at her with a small smile on his face, “She’s not worth it, I’ll walk you home.” Rainbow nodded her head slowly, eyes not leaving Rarity’s face. Spike was about to lead her out of Sugarcube Corner, when he saw Twilight pop out from under the box as well. “Twi…? What are you doing here?” he asked, now very confused. “Well I was concerned about why you hadn’t spent any time with Rarity lately and wanted to see how she was, then she told me all of this and we were following you, and now I’m just really emotionally confused, and…” Twilight started to cry as all the stress of the past few days hit her. She ran out of the room and towards the library, wailing all the way. Rarity turned to Spike and said, “Please forgive me Spike; I need to check on Twilight.” Rainbow glared at her with the promise of drunken vengeance in her eyes. Rarity continued, “Um… see you all later perhaps.” With her trusty box in her magical grip, she chased after Twilight. “Rainbow are you ok?” Spike said, looking at Rainbow who was visibly holding back some choice words about Rarity. “Let’s get you home.” “She just, she hurt you Spike. How can you be so calm about it?” Rainbow said, tears coming to her eyes as she buried her face in Spike’s chest. “Because I have you,” Spike said, “And your friendship means more to me than all the sad feelings in the world.” Rainbow smiled to herself, “You’re the best Spike,” Rainbow said. As Spike and Rainbow walked to the cloudhouse, Rainbow asked, “Hey Spike, you want to stay for a bit? I don’t think you should head back to the library.” “Yeah if you don’t mind I’ll probably crash here for the night," Spike said, hopping on Rainbow’s back as she flew up to her cloud house. ___________ Back at the library, Twilight was busy sobbing into her blanket as Rarity was stroking her back attempting to soothe her. “Spike probably hates me now!” Twilight wailed, as she tried to burrow in closer to her bed. “Shhh dear, he doesn’t hate you, he was just really confused.” Rarity said, “I don’t think he can hate you, you’re his big sister after all. ” Twilight’s cries started to decrease in volume, first turning into soft cries before just becoming sniffles. “You mean it?” She said, looking up at Rarity hopefully. “Of course darling,” Rarity said with a smile on her face. “Now get to bed! You need to rest.” Twilight nodded and slowly climbed into bed. “Hey Rarity?” “Yes dear?” Rarity said, ready to leave and begin the long walk back to the boutique. “Could you maybe stay over again? I don’t want to be alone.” Twilight said in a small voice. Rarity sighed and climbed into bed with her. “Good night Twilight,” She said, smoothing Twilight’s mane one last time. She felt a small warm wet thing on her cheek for a split second as Twilight said with her eyes closed, “Good night Rarity.” Rarity felt a blush take over her face, and whispered to herself, “This is not good.”