Chapter Five
“The Road of Life”
“Oh, Spike! Will you please hold still?!” Rarity rolled her blue eyes around and sighed wearily. “I can’t take your measurements when you’re squirming around like that!”
“Uh…sorry…” said Spike looking down at the floating tape measure stretching out in front of him. Rarity cocked her head to one side and pushed her red glasses higher on her nose with hoof.
“Ah…good,” she said levitating a notebook and pen over to her as well as the tape measure and recording Spike’s measurements. “I can definitely put a little something together for you. Now, let me see…it should be rather smart-looking. Rather….oh…what’s the word?”
“Preppy…” said Spike raising an eyebrow.
“Not the word I would’ve chosen,” replied Rarity shrugging. “I think it needs to look studious and proper. You need to make a good first impression.” Twilight, who was standing nearby, lowered her eyelids at Spike and smirked, giving him an ‘I told you so’ look. Spike glared and rolled his eyes at her.
“Hm…MY thoughts exactly, Rarity…” said Spike as he turned back to the white unicorn. Rarity picked out some fabric for the outfit.
“Yes, yes, darling. Now…it needs to be a bit sophisticated for the city…though Fillydelphia isn’t quite as sophisticated and high-society as Manehattan. It’s a bit…well…primitive in that sense, actually.” She chuckled a little. “So…I suppose it should also be a bit…unique and stylish. Ah-ha!” She laid her fabric down on her sewing table. “I have just the thing too!” She began working busily, putting her horn to work, trimming and snipping and sewing. “Don’t worry, now it won’t be long!”
Twilight and Spike waited around Rarity’s house for about thirty minutes until Rarity was finished with the outfit. Spike relished in trying on attire hoof-sewn by the filly of his dreams. He posed in front of the mirror, gazing at his reflection and posing.
“I did keep it quite simple,” Rarity admitted as she admired her work. “But I think it suits the criteria, wouldn’t you agree, Twilight?” Twilight smiled and moved her dark purple eyes over the button-up, collared, lime green shirt with purple stripes. She noted the collar was purple too, to match Spike’s color scheme. The shirt was tucked into a sharp pair of gray dress pants that might’ve been a bit too baggy if it were not for the shoes…..yes…Rarity even modified a pair of shoes for him. All and all, Spike looked scholarly and fresh, just as they pictured him to look.
“I must say…you do look nice,” Twilight complimented. “The outfit goes perfectly with your coloring scheme.”
“Yeah, it does!” said Spike making a muscle. “Do I look goooood or what?!”
“Oh! Wait…” Rarity ran to one of the shelves and levitated a pair of glasses with her horn. It dropped in Spike’s hand. “I knew something was missing! This completes it!” Spike put the glasses on and frowned.
“Now I look like a nerd…” he pouted.
“Don’t be silly,” Rarity said waving her hoof around. “You look adorable!” Spike smiled and blushed.
“Well, Spike, we’d better head home and get started on that packing!” Twilight walked over to him. “And we can check off ‘outfit’ from our list thanks to the most generous pony in town!” She smiled at Rarity.
“It was my pleasure, Twilight,” the white unicorn replied taking a little bow. When Twilight turned her head around, Spike was already in the process of leaving the boutique, still admiring his outfit. She sighed and gave a bit of a sad smile.
“Darling…” said Rarity softly, as she walked over to her. “Are you doing all right? I know this will be a big change for you.”
“I’m trying to cope…” Twilight admitted, her anxiety returning a little bit. “He leaves tomorrow for his Orientation Day….alone.” She hung her head a little and sighed again. “I don’t know, Rarity. I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye. It’s happening too fast…and when it comes tomorrow, how will I be able to say the words to my best friend…no…more than best friend…like….my little brother almost! He’s a part of who I am and who I’ve become. Recently, I’ve been having conflicting emotions and losing my mind and getting into a fight with him over nothing all because of this….stupid…stupid….scholarship!” She didn’t mean to blurt out her heart, but that’s exactly what she did, and she was immediately embarrassed when she paused and saw the concern on Rarity’s face. “I…I’m sorry…” she said after an awkward silence. She cowered down, feeling a bit like Fluttershy for a moment. After a moment or so, Rarity put her hoof on hers.
“It’s all right, Twilight,” she said calmly. “I can’t say I quite understand completely. I will miss the little darling dreadfully, but not to the extent you ever will!” Rarity paused to think about what she was going to say. “Life, Twilight, is like a road. You travel on it for miles and miles in the direction of your destiny. A lot of the time, there are others travelling the same road with you, whose destinies are intertwined with yours, like yours and Spike’s. However, sometimes the road can break off into an entirely separate road, which leads to a new adventure, new opportunities. And while you travel in one direction, your friend may want the other road instead. Sometimes in life, Twilight we are driven by the thought that life holds only one road…only one possible outcome, but when we come to the fork in the path, we are usually afraid of taking risks, perusing grand opportunities. So, we usually end up stuck, trying to choose. However, I believe Spike has seen that life sometimes requires a different, sometimes more difficult route to get to a better place in the end. For, the road is unpredictable…and sometimes separate roads will somehow reconnect in the end. You see, Twilight, Spike is in the walk of life, but he…only the bravest of souls are choosing to take the detour and see where it leads….and only hope that this detour of life will make the journey a grand adventure worth taking. And someday…it may lead him back home.”
As Rarity finished she smiled and hugged her friend. Plop! She felt a wet drop on her neck. Twilight pulled away, embarrassed that she was staring to tear up. As Twilight was facing the window, she thought she saw a pink head peering in. As she looked up, the pink head disappeared and the same pink figure walked toward the road. Twilight forgot about it and focused on Rarity again.
“Rarity…that was a beautiful analogy,” Twilight was so choked up, she almost whispered the words.
“Oh…thank you,” said Rarity smiling. “It was much better than the trends and detours of fashion analogy I was going to use!” Twilight giggled a little.
“You helped me put things into perspective, Rarity. I thank you for that with the most sincere gratitude a friend could give.” Twilight smiled and she dried her eyes. “I understand now.” Rarity nodded and smiled back.
“You know what I personally would do if I were you, Twilight?” the white unicorn said. “I would go with Spike to his orientation. It would be a great excuse to see the city and take a break from your studies. It would also give you a chance to spend some quality time with him.”
“That is a great idea,” said Twilight thoughtfully. “Wow…you’re full of them today!” She grinned. “I’m going to go find Spike right now and talk to him about going.” Twilight turned and walked toward the exit, but not without giving one last meaningful look at one of her best friends. She would treasure this analogy forever…in fact she wanted to write it down when she got home. If it was true, this dragon’s detour might not only shape his destiny, but maybe hers as well.
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Spike walked outside Carousel Boutique. He heard Twilight talking to Rarity, but he couldn’t quite make out what she was saying. He looked down at his new outfit and continued to admire it. Just then, he heard someone singing.
“Lalala! Lalala! Lalala! Laaaa!”
Pinkie Pie. Of course. She was bouncing down the road. She paused in front of the Boutique. She saw Spike and stared bouncing toward him.
“Hey, Spike!” she said cheerfully. “Twilight’s in there, huh?” She pointed with her hoof at the boutique.
“Hey, Pinkie Pie,” said Spike smiling at her. “Yeah, she’s inside talking to Rarity.” He posed. “See the new outfit Rarity made for me? It’s for school.”
“Oohhh…” said Pinkie Pie cocking her head. “That looks super duper awesome on you!” She started bouncing around him. “Aren’t you so happy you get to go to dragon school?!”
“Yeah…I…guess so,” Spike sighed. Pinkie Pie stopped bouncing.
“Why are you guessing? You don’t know for sure?” Pinkie asked cocking her head again. “I thought you were as super duper excited as I was.”
“Well…kind of,” replied Spike. He looked down. “I kind of was at first…but…I’ve started to realize something. If I go away, I’d have to try and meet new dragon friends like me! Pinkie…can I tell you something? And please, don’t tell Twilight, okay?”
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Pinkie chanted her Pinkie Promise and leaned down to hear what the little dragon had to say.
“I’m having second thoughts about going,” said Spike. “I’m not sure if I’ll like it there. I know Twilight really wants me to succeed and do something great with my life, but I always my one purpose was to be with her! You know…to assist her with her studies and stuff like that, but it’s more than just that. We’ve always been together, ever since she hatched me from my egg at that entrance exam for the School for Gifted Unicorns. I was told the workers found my egg in the outskirts of Canterlot, and they never knew who my parents were! Twilight always took care of me, though. So…she’s like the only mom I’ve ever known….sort of. It’ll be hard to leave her now! I don’t know, Pinkie. I mean…I grew up with ponies. How will I be able to fit in with other dragons my age and lose Twilight too?!” Spike sighed and looked at the ground. Pinkie put her hoof on her mouth to think.
“Hmmm…wow, Spike! That’s a doosey of a problem, you got there,” she said rolling her blue eyes around in thought. “Well…I know when I moved from the rock farm I grew up on in the outskirts of Ponyville and into town, I was scared out of my horseshoes! My Pinkie Senses always tell me where to go and what to look out for, but in that case, I wasn’t sure what to do! I knew I was going to miss my mom and dad and sisters, but I also knew I needed to use my talents for other ponies! I did end up moving into Ponyville, and of course I absolutely love it here! I also love working at Sugar Cube Corner and throwing the awesomest parties around! See, Spike? Sometimes you have to take a risk to get a great prize at the end. But…sometimes it doesn’t always work out. Applejack said city life wasn’t for her and she ended up figuring out her life purpose was running Sweet Apple Acres all along! I think the important thing is to try your best and see where life takes you!” She sighed and smiled. Spike blinked at her.
“Wow, Pinkie! That’s actually pretty good advice,” said Spike amazed. Pinkie Pie smiled and giggled.
“I just remembered what I did….and also what my uncle Methuselah taught me!”
“Uhh….yeah, where do you get all these uncles anyway?” Spike scratched his head.
“Anyway…” said Pinkie Pie sighing. “Think of it like a road you’re walking on. It might be very bumpy and wind-ey and long-ey, and you might get tired and thirsty and want cupcakes…….oh! My tummy wants cupcakes right now, come to think of it! Oh, yes! That growl means I’m hungry. Oh…I wonder if the new ones I baked had sprinkles on them….I can’t remember! You can’t eat a cupcake without sprinkles! Oh…what if they don’t have sprinkles?! Oh…what was I thinking!?”
“Uhh….Pinkie Pie…” said Spike chuckling. “What were you saying about a road?”
“Oh, yeah!” Pinkie continued. “So, when you’re walking down the road, you might come to a…..you know….a…detour! Yeah…that was the word. So you may not like the detour, Spike, but it’s the fact you tried to take it! It takes a special kind of dragon like you to take the challenge. And…it is quite a challenge to be travelling without cupcakes too.” Spike smiled and chuckled.
“Wow,” he said. “I didn’t know you were so…smart, Pinkie! Did you come up with that on your own?!” Pinkie smiled and glanced over at Carousel Boutique.
“It came to me…” she chuckled. “You know something, else, Spike. I’m bummed out that Twilight won’t let me throw a party for you. She’s been a grumpy-pants!”
“Don’t mind her,” said Spike. “She’s just been stressed out lately. She’s making sure I’m well prepared for this trip tomorrow.”
“Oh! I know! If you decide to stay there at the school…with all your little dragon friends, and then you come back to visit…we can have a GINORMOUS party for you then!”
“That would be awesome!” said Spike. He turned and saw Twilight finally coming out of the boutique. “Twilight’s coming,” he said smiling back at his friend.
“Seeya later, alligator,” said Pinkie, starting to bounce off. “Oops! Wait…you’re not an alligator! Gummi’s and alligator, not you! That’s silly….you’re a dragon! HI, TWILIGHT!”
“Hey, Pinkie Pie!” said Twilight as she approached Spike.
“Bye Twilight!” said Pinkie as she bounced down the road. “Bye Spike!” Twilight looked at Spike.
“Well…are you ready?” she asked him.
“Yep…I am now. Let’s go!” said Spike.
“I also wanted to talk to you about tomorrow…” said Twilight as they walked down the road together. Spike thought about what Pinkie Pie told him, and knew it made sense. This detour was an opportunity and a challenge this dragon had to take. The adventure would lead him to where he truly belonged, whether it was here or in Fillydelphia. He was determined to find out, as the adventure continued…
TO BE CONTINUED…