//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: Adapting // by RarityTookManehattan //------------------------------// Spike sighed, groaning as he stretched his lanky arms. His claws curled around the edge of the bed as he flung himself off of it, staggering forward for a moment before regaining his balance. He looked over at his alarm clock and realized it was beeping like crazy, almost shaking itself off the nightstand. The blaring red print read "12:00." Spike swore under his breath as he hurried to get ready. He flattened his spikes and raced into the bathroom to scrub his fangs. He had promised to meet Dinky at Sugarcube Corner at 12:15 for a lunch date, and he was on a straight path towards being horrendously late. After spitting the aftermath of the brushing session out into the sink, Spike made a move towards the shower - stopping for a second to sniff his armpit. Reeling at the smell, he hurriedly applied a quick spray of deodorant under each arm before speeding out into the hall, his tail crashing into a painted vase sitting on an ornate table near the exit. He yelped, some fragments of the pottery piece still embedded in his tail as he sprinted down the stairs and out the door. * A shard of glossy, hardened clay was still sticking from Spike's rudder when he skidded into Sugarcube Corner a few minutes later. He glanced up at the clock to see the minute hand clink onto the three mark. He breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way over to a high top table where Dinky sat, smiling adorkably. Spike lept into the waiting chair across from Dinky's. He saw that his fillyfriend had picked up a creamsicle shake while she had been waiting for him. "Sorry for my lack of punctuality," he muttered to her as he planted a quick peck on her cheek. "Oh, why so formal? And why don't I get more?" Dinky asked, her bottom lip out as she fake pouted. "Sorry, Dink-a-Rink." "What?!" "I guess that one doesn't work." Dinky giggled while Spike jogged up to the counter. Halfway there, however, she called him back. "I already got a straw for you!" she pointed out with amusement. Spike blushed mildly as he waved to Mr Cake, who was manning the register. He then walked awkwardly back to his seat and took the straw from Dinky with a sheepish grin. Using his dragon claws he tore open the wrapping, hesitantly sticking the straw into the shake. Dinky smiled flirtatiously, batting her eyelashes, as she sipped the drink. Spike gave a faint grin in return. The couple each drank about half of the drink before taking a short break. "How about Spi?" Dinky asked out of the blue. "Nah. Maybe it should be something that doesn't have to do with our names, something about us." Dinky nodded pensively as she returned to the drink, Spike following suit. After a few more minutes the couple sucked up the last drops and carried the empty chalice over to the counter to be cleaned. Returning to their table, each was intent on discovering a nickname for the other. "How about-" Dinky began, but then paused, her mind blank of ideas. "I guess we'll just have to wait for a light-bulb moment," Spike admitted. "But I know one thing I don't have to wait for," Dinky murmured seductively. She pressed her lips against his, kissing him tenderly for several seconds before they broke apart. The couple smiled at each other lovingly before making their way out of the door. How could Dinky do this to me? Derpy thought sadly, watching her daughter leave Sugarcube corner from behind a newspaper. The whole scene had been observed by the concerned pegasus mother - much to her anguish. Throwing the papers down and her head in her hands, she sighed, considering what her next move was to be. She'd been reasonable. She'd tried to discuss the situation, written a letter explaining it, given it time to sink in - what more could she do? She really didn't want to resort to grounding or lecturing or any other typical parental punishments - nopony could deny that Derpy was an unconventional mother who preferred to sort it all out with muffins - but Dinky had left her with little choice. "Mr Cake always gives me dirty looks," a voice murmured in Derpy's ear. "Just because I bring my own chocolate milk..." "Discord!" Derpy cried with a jump, and then a blush. "You shouldn't sneak up on somepony like that." A halo appeared over his head. "Who? Me? Why, I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I walked through the door and sat down like anypony else would. Should I have done it more like this?" Discord snapped his fingers and became a one-man marching band, creating a symbol crash with every step he took. Everypony in Sugarcube Corner turned to look at them but Discord, being Discord, took no notice. "No, no! The first one was definitely better," Derpy added hurriedly. Discord sighed. "If you say so..." The musical instruments vanished and he appeared opposite her at the table. Placing an elbow and leaning across with an intense stare that made Derpy feel even more dizzy than usual, he produced a glass of blue milkshake and pushed it towards her. "Have a drink and tell me: what's bothering my favorite pony?" he asked. Derpy smiled distractedly. "Your... favorite pony?" she repeated, feeling a weird sense of pride. "I mean you," he clarified, doubting her understanding. "I didn't know I was your favorite pony," she told him, beaming. Discord tried to remain aloof but couldn't help smiling in response. Why did he have that weird fuzzy, jittery kind of feeling? Maybe Derpy's, ah, derpiness was rubbing off on him. "Well I don't go shouting it from the rooftops, do I? Wouldn't want everypony getting jealous," he whispered. Derpy laughed her silly laugh in response, and Discord felt that strange, bubbly-kind-of-chaos feeling again. After a few seconds, however, she remembered the scene she'd just witnessed and her smile was replaced by a wobbly look of despair. "I saw my daughter and Spike together just now," she admitted upon Discord's look of confusion. "Ah. This again." He let out a long sigh and drank from his chocolate milk through a silly straw with a loud, irritating slurp noise. All the while Derpy remained silent, staring into space with a sad expression. "Why not just live and let live? Those two are happy... in their own cheesy, boring way," he added with an eye roll. "I just - I just can't," Derpy stuttered. "She's my daughter. And - and he's a dragon!" she added, as if this point was somehow important. Discord looked distinctly unimpressed. "And a relationship can only work out if both of those concerned are of the same species?" he asked, a hint of sarcasm seeping into his tone. Derpy looked confused, both by the question and by Discord's sudden change of mood. "...maybe? I don't know," she admitted. Discord nodded. "I thought as much." With a click of his fingers, he vanished in a flash. Derpy jumped up in surprise, knocking over the milkshake she never got the chance to drink. "Discord?" she called out hesitantly. A few other ponies turned to look at her and she blushed in embarrassment. With a sigh she flew slowly towards the door, pausing only to glance back guiltily at the spilt milk. * "Dinky? Dinky! Come here now!" Derpy cried the moment she entered her home. Dinky hesitated, but walked downstairs towards her mother. There was no point putting this off. "What is it?" she asked warily, expecting the answer. However, she was unprepared for the anger with which her usually-calm parent responded. "I can't believe you'd ignore my wishes like this, Dinky! Especially after I tried to be reasonable... I saw you with Spike this morning at Sugarcube corner. Did you think I wouldn't find out?" Her eyes became teary like they always did when she was angry. Dinky was shocked - and offended. "What do you - were you following me?" she yelled, infuriated. She took her mom's silence as assent. "What the hay happened to privacy?" "What happened to honesty?" Derpy responded. "You've been seeing Spike behind my back for weeks! I thought you'd taken what I said seriously when you were so polite this morning..." A small tear, unnoticed by Dinky, slipped down Derpy's cheek. She quickly wiped it away. "Taken what seriously? What are you talking about?" Dinky cried exasperatedly. "I'm polite every morning! Besides, you've never mentioned that you have a problem with me and Spike. Not once. How was I supposed to know you disapproved?" "Stop lying!" Derpy shouted in despair, unable to control herself or think straight. "Why - why can't you just stop lying?" Dinky shook her head in disgust. "You're unbelievable," she told her mother. "This is why I never told you about Spike in the first place. I knew you'd overreact. But at least I thought you'd have the decency to discuss it with me properly, rather than shouting at me like a kid who misbehaved." "That's what I wanted too," Derpy pointed out, feeling slightly confused. "Well you went about it the wrong way then, didn't you!" Dinky cried angrily. She ran towards the door and slammed it behind her, leaving a rather puzzled and distressed Derpy stood alone in the hallway. A mixture of dread and realization seeped in as a terrible thought occurred, and she hurried towards her mailbag. Rooting through desperately, she hesitated as she found a familiar-looking envelope. Tearing it open, her heart sank. There was the letter, undelivered and unread. Dinky had never seen it after all.