//------------------------------// // "All this trouble you done caused!" // Story: She Rocks My World // by LightningSword //------------------------------// The fight was getting really serious now. Every table had been broken, chairs and glass bottles that had been used as weapons lay used and broken on the floor, and ponies escaped the burning hotel lobby injured and limping. The fire had engulfed nearly the entire first floor, and the bar brawl had dispersed at last. Saving one's own life was now more important than settling some foalish vendetta. Nocturne pushed aside the broken remnants of chairs and tables, and saw that he was alone in the burning building. The scene had escalated in a big hurry, and now whether he'd leave alive was startlingly unclear. He just hoped Spike had made it out all right. And he'd hoped his beautiful pink-maned angel had gotten out safely. As bad as this was, the fire was only a short-term escape; she still had to deal with the long term. “Damn it, move!” Nocturne yelled as he struggled to push aside an upturned table. He was close to the emergency fire exit, but as he approached it, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned, and in the stairwell, he saw him standing there, fedora and shades accentuating his smart black suit. He was tall, thin and serpentine, with a horse head and a myriad of different animals making up the rest of his body. He reached up with his talon and deftly pulled the shades off, a smug look plastered all over his features. “Pretty cute in there,” he said with a wispy, almost hoarse voice, “And the fire was a nice touch.” Nocturne glared at him. There was no doubt in his mind; this was the boss his Pegasus love had talked about. He was the one Shades and his gang feared. He ran the Waterhorse Hotel, the underground of crime in Manehattan, and the rest of the city with it. “I know who you are,” Nocturne growled, staring daggers at the criminal. It was true. This was 'Big D'. Big D smiled and pointed a furry finger gun-style, his smug grin unfaltering. “Bing-bang,” he chuckled, “Ahh, I knew that yellow dame was too much trouble. As much as I love a good fire, it's not good for business. Far as I'm concerned, she's your headache now.” Confusion didn't stop Nocturne from scowling, “You're just letting her leave? Not something I'd expect you to do.” Big D's grin went from arrogant to malicious, “Exactly. It's no fun to be predictable.” He chuckled again and rolled his eyes, “I'm gonna find a better place to watch the fireworks. Later.” He turned back, held up his paw in a lazy wave, and vanished in the blink of an eye. Nocturne's look of contempt remained, but the cracking of burning wood urged him out the emergency door. He'd better be glad he left when he did, Nocturne thought, not just because of Big D's reputation or his part in the lovely Pegasus' misery, but from something just as disappointing. That was the worst Marlon Bronco impression I've ever heard in my life! The four stallions who'd served as Nocturne's backup dancers all converged in the front parking lot, scratching their heads in confusion. “What was that all about?” the white Unicorn asked, “Even my wife knows that I don't like to dance.” “I dunno, I kind of liked it,” the orange Pegasus shrugged, “Up until the bar fight and the fire, it was kinda fun.” The brown Earth pony put a pensive hoof to his chin, “I don't even know how to dance. I never had time to learn.” “Funny how it just kinda came together, though!” the orange Earth pony grinned, “I mean, what are the odds, right? Just being in the right place, moving in the right way, all at the right time? It's spooky!” There was a brief pause in which the stallions exchanged awkward looks. Finally, a crumbling part of the roof of the hotel was the signal that their time here was now spent. And the brown Earth pony summed it up well in one simple phrase: “Let's get the heck out of here.” “Nocturne!” She called out to him from across the back parking lot; as soon as she'd seen him safely escape the burning building, she'd felt her heart overflow with joy. She'd only known him for a few hours, and he'd already been the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. Nocturne saw her from all that distance away, and looked as elated to see her as she was to see him. They galloped toward each other, seeing each other's forms grow with the lessening distance, until they were finally together again. “Oh, thank Celestia, you're all right!” Nocturne cried as they embraced. Feeling their warm fur pressed against each other was worth it. All the confrontations and the intimidation, all the violence and the turbulence, all the risks and close calls: just that moment was worth every second of it. Once they parted, the mare voiced her concerns, “Did everypony else make it out?” “I'm pretty sure I was the last one out,” Nocturne replied reassuringly, then glanced at the back of the burning building, “Funny . . . I never thought a place called 'the Waterhorse' would burn so quickly.” The mare couldn't help but smile as she looked up into his eyes, a warm blush tinging her delicate face. Nocturne's face reddened as well, and from that moment, there was no further need for words. The two closed in on each other again, and shared a long, passionate kiss. She wrapped her front legs around him, and he ran a hoof through her long pink mane. The rarest love, they were sure they'd found—the one like him to call hers, and it was perfectly mutual. “Hey, Nocturne, come on!” The voice was borne in on the rumble of an engine, and Nocturne and his love broke their embrace and turned toward it. Spike had rolled up into the parking lot in their classic convertible, the engine roaring and ready to take them all out of this crazy scene. “Come on, man, get in!” Spike yelled again, and the two Pegasi ran toward the car and jumped in, Nocturne riding shotgun and the mare jumping into the back. “Let's go, let's go!” Spike urged, “Jeez, we wouldn't be in this messed-up situation without all the trouble this mare just caused!” “What?!” Nocturne argued, “What has she done?! If anything, blame my raging hormones!” “Whatever, dude, just buckle up and hang on!” “Um, excuse me?” the mare spoke up tentatively, “Please don't think I'm being mean or ungrateful or anything, but . . . . why is the baby dragon driving the car?” Spike scoffed as he gunned the engine, “Lady, you just saw a guy bring out four stallions out of the blue and do a dance routine in perfect sync without rehearsing! Don't question it!” Nocturne chuckled and shook his head as he held onto his hat, “Man, what a night!”