Manehatten, a bustling hub of culture, both modern and historical. Streets filled with carriages with passengers on the go, the sidewalks being a similar story, all on their way to work, or running errands. In the air, the sky roads were swamped with the morning traffic amid the tall skyscrapers of metal and glass. Pegasi, griffins and even the occasional hippogriff flew wing to wing in orderly straight lines, of which I was amid. I gained leeway of course due to my size, or rather the size of my wings- a perk of being a dragon. The morning passed in peace, well, a peace for the bustling metropolis could manage to sling my way.
I took the flight slow, relishing the air that promised a cold winter by the smell. Grey clouds hung low over the city, casting it in a fuzzy light as sunlight fought to filter through the thick cloud cover. It was a perk of the city’s close proximity to the sea. Weather near the winter and fall seasons was impossible for the pegasi to manage due to the winds that rolled in from the frigid North Sea waters.
The weather teams of Manehatten usually got the winter season off indefinitely because of this; I preferred it in all honesty. The idea of the weather always being manipulated to another’s design never sat well with me.
Noon came rolling around and I was done with the errands just in time for lunch. The rumble in my stomach and ache in my wings coaxed me to arrive at The Olive Branch with haste. It was on Moonlit Boulevard, just inside the Old City, a series of cobblestone streets and buildings older than Celestia. It was Manehatten's heart and indefinitely most beautiful part of the city. Pale green wooden panelling made up the exterior, a hoof painted sign hung above the single bell door. I smiled up at the chipped, pink letters before pushing the doors open.
The lunch rush had barely ended it seemed, as Fritter was smoking. The owner, head waitress and all around best font of wisdom I’d come to know. I'd been a patron of The Olive Branch ever since I discovered its existence, granted that day was dark and stormy.
“Ah Spike.” The dull mulberry earth pony blew out a ring of smoke from her cracked lips before snuffing out her cigarette. “Just missed it. A crap shoot it was.”
“And a right pain in the ass.” Berry walked out of the back, a busser tote on her back. She was dull blue with a dark purple mane. She was a sweeter, friendlier version of her aunt, same temper though. “Hi Spike!” She gave me a small hug before taking to cleaning off a few tables. “It was like a never ending river of people. They were everywhere. And Celestia they all wanted the jambalaya!”
Fritter laughed as she lit another smoke. “That’s the recipe for you.”
“Last I checked we were a Bitalian bistro,” Berry grumbled.
“You spoutin’ blasphemy child?”
“No ma’am,” came the sharp reply, followed by incoherent grumblings. Ah the love-hate relationship thrives still.
“Same thing as always, dragon?”
“Oh yes,” I said as again claimed my favorite spot. “Though you can wait a while. I’m meeting someone.”
“The bitchy one?” Fritter asked as she got my drink started, a strawberry tea, extra strawberry.
“Nope.” I smirked. “The fancy one.”
“Ah.”
She set my drink down. Berry came out of the back a moment later. “Bil wants to see ya.”
“Crap.” She snuffed out her cigarette. “What the fuck you want now!?” I chuckled as they both entered the kitchen.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a sleek black carriage hauled by a strapping stallion in a dark red suit pull up. Out stepped none other than Rarity. She came through the bistro’s doors, pulled her sunglasses off, and headed right for my table. Tall, svelte, and with a coat of white a sheen of polished marble; Rarity was poetry in motion. She wore her indigo mane in a short bob, and a black pea coat was draped over her form. Her makeup was relatively darker, accenting her sapphire blue eyes with dark lavender.
There was once a time when the mere sight of it would send the dog on the back of my brain barking like mad. The days I spent pining after her that's all in the past now; she’s one of my best friends.
Rarity had become a veritable font of wisdom for any that had the brains to sit and listen. She grinned widely, showing off a set of teeth as white as her coat.
“Spikey-Wikey,” She gushed, pulling me into a hug as I stood up to greet her. “How’s my favorite dragon?”
“Oh you know,” I said with a deep chuckle and returned her hug. “Dealing with a roommate with a near sickening libido, co-managing a club, writing another book and getting nowhere. Life as always.”
“So true,” she agreed, giggling demurely. She noticed Berry shuffling nearby, I hadn't even noticed her exit the kitchen. “Ms. Sweet. So good to see you darling.”
“Y-you t-too Ms. R-Rarity.” Berry swallowed a lump in her throat- or her tongue- and pulled her notepad up. “W-what would you like to drink?”
“Oh I’ll have what Spikey is having.” Rarity took a seat as Berry stumbled into the kitchen. The white unicorn across from me sighed. “Really. I wish people wouldn’t titter around me like I was about to bite them.”
I grinned. “I’m pretty sure they would love that scenario.” I laughed as Rarity blushed faintly and swatted my arm with a hoof.
“Behave,” she said. “I’m sure they would have a heart attack if I did just that.” She sat back, and leaned her head against a hoof with a tired sigh.
"Rough week?" I asked.
Rarity had come a long way from owning a boutique in a small backwater town. She now owned and ran the biggest fashion magazine in Equestria, Exquisite. What she said was in, was in. Fashion designers died for her approval, would kill for it even. The merest shake of her head meant the end or beginning of a designer’s career. Everyday she dealt with armies of suck ups and snobs, most of them fashion designers. She still designed and made her own dresses to this day but over the years they became few and far between. I think she missed the old days, scrimping day to day in Carousel; things were so much simpler then.
As she opened her mouth to respond Berry set our drinks down and took our orders, spaghetti for me and a mushroom primavera for Rarity. Damn, that didn’t bode well, must be fashion week somewhere.
“Darling, you don’t know the half of it,” she said after taking a dainty sip from her glass. She hummed in approval. I took a sip from my own glass, greatly enjoying the silky-sweet taste. “I’ve been hard at work preparing for the fashion week in Poulis. Dealing with these new designers might end with me finding a new career in drinking, or taking a quick trip in the back of a patrol carriage.” She scoffed. “One of them even presented a showing with plaid. Plaid! Can you believe it?! I love Cheshire to death but I very nearly strangled the colt.” She folded her hooves against her chest, the disdain rolling off her in waves. “Then there’s Suri.”
I nearly spat my drink out. Suri!? “As in Polomare?!” I screeched, after managing to swallow my mouthful of tea, without choking.
“Indeed.” Rarity ran a hoof over her face. “Forgive my Prench but the mare is still a bitch. Granted she’s gotten much betterin the fashion area. I dare say she might even be the next big thing, but she’s a pain in my flank on a good day. Not only that but she has some sort of bitter rivalry going with Cheshire, and MIles.” She took another sip of her tea. “A one sided one at that. Cheshire ignores her, for the most part. Though I fear Miles might end up strangling her.”
“Thought about maybe pulling her aside?”
“I have! Twice! Par la déesse du soleil, I’m at the end of my rope. I’m tempted to let Hoity have her, Celestia knows he can whip her into shape.” An eyebrow rose to attention at that. Mr. Priss himself? “Don’t let him fool you Spikey, he’s worse than a drill sergeant on his designers, and his models for that matter. You know of Fleur de Lis correct?” I nodded. “Well Hoity is the one that turned her the celebutante she is today.” Rarity rapped a hoof on the tabletop. “Once fashion week is over I shall do just that.”
My ear fins perked up as I remembered Twilight’s letter, and a way to take Rarity’s mind off the dreaded fashion week. “Oh yeah! Got a letter from Twi.”
Rarity’s eyes sparkled as she jumped up in her seat with a filly-like glee. “Oh do tell darling. Details, details!”
“She’s okay,” I said, smiling softly. “She’s in Ironreach Eyrie overseeing the trade agreement between Rail Industries and Mirak’s Shipping. She says it might just end the threat of war from them. Though she’s finding herself at a loss at predicting Enigma's actions.”
“Who is that dear?”
“Rail’s CEO. If Twi’s calling her eccentric then she must be interesting.”
Rarity giggled demurely. “No doubt.”
“Besides that.” A knowing smirk found purchase on my snout. Rarity knew it well as her expression took on one of rapt intent. “Rainbow has…” I sat back, mischief sending my tail twitching. “I’m sure you’ll hear from Twi what happened soon enough.”
Two hooves, meticulously shined, clipped and cared for, gripped my collar. A sultry, predatory smile graced my friend's petite muzzle as it pressed against my snout. Her eyes held an icy inferno, ready to be unleashed upon the foolish. I froze like a rat before a poised cobra. “Spikey darling,” she breathed, "Finish what you were going to say or I’ll turn you into a purse. A fashionable purse, with deep red trimming, I think.”
Right, message received. I swallowed the lump that had formed itself in my throat and looked away from the frost-laden death gaze. “W-well you know how we’ve known Rainbow’s been pining for Twi since she entered the Royal Guard?” A nod followed my question. “Well, it seems she’s come forward with her feelings.”
Rarity gasped and that familiar sparkle entered her eyes. I’d seen that before, and it was to be feared. The idea of designing and making the wedding dresses herself was no doubt running rampant through her mind. She'd vowed to make a dress for each of her closest friends. I shivered when the week before Fluttershy’s wedding crossed my mind’s eye. My claws ached just thinking about it.
“Celestia, that’s wonderful!” she squealed clopping her hooves together. “I’ll have to send out a letter immediately!”
Our food arrived just then carried by a still jittery Berry.
“One red pepper spaghetti, extra pepper for you.” Berry set my plate down. A tower of steaming noodles took up my field of vision, the sweet scent of garlic, red pepper, and tomato sauce became all I knew. Rarity’s dish of primavera looked equally appetizing but was loaded with enough mushrooms to choke- well a dragon. Not so big on the mushrooms. “And for Ms. Rarity, a mushroom primavera.” She set it down, handling it as though it were a newborn foal. “Would you like anything else Ms. Belle. A refill maybe?”
“No thank you darling.”
Berry nodded and took off like her tail was on fire. I gazed longingly at the empty glass that sat forlornly to the side of my plate. Yeah, I certainly didn’t want anything. Without standing on ceremony I dug in. As I was halfway through the mountain of red pepper spiced pasta I remembered the great news I’d got that morning.
“Oh yeah,” I said after swallowing. “Got a call from Prim today. A director from Canterlot wants to turn my book into a play.”
The unicorn gasped. “My goodness Spikey that’s wonderful.” She reached over and pulled me into a tight hug. “Well who is it darling?”
No words came out as I realized I didn’t actually know. “Prim didn’t tell me. Must have been the excitement of it all.”
“Nonetheless,” Rarity declared, tapping her hoof decisively on the table top. “A celebration is in order.” Her face fell. “And I have to be in Poulis tonight. Darn it all.”
“We’ll celebrate when you get back. I promise.” I smiled gently. “Though I’m on the fence about telling Sweetie just yet.” An understatement really. Mare overreacted, with a capital O. She’d make sure to have the club jumping in celebration.
“Hold off and she’ll find out,” Rarity said, looking at me knowingly over her pasta laden fork. “And then stars help you.” She giggled. “Is everything alright with her? She seemed distracted last we spoke.”
I enjoyed another forkful of pasta before continuing. "Some pony has been buying up clubs on Blithe Street. Pip thinks they might set their sights on the Note.”
“Pip would also think Atlantis is at the bottom of his shot glass.” Rarity sniffed. “How is the-” She stopped as she caught my sidelong glance. “He?”
I shrugged. “It’s that time of the year.”
Rarity’s expression changed to one of understanding. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. He’ll pull through as always.” I clacked my teeth together. “So when are you going to let his pass at you go?”
Her teeth snapped together forcefully on her fork. She regarded me with a look of derision. A rare expression at least when conveyed at me. I was on eggshells at this point but a blood feud between two of my best friends was not something I would call an ideal situation to begin with.
“It's been three months and besides he was blitzed at the time," I said.
“Spikey, let’s not sour this lunch date with an ill-conceived intervention.” She looked away. “Please.”
I relented with a nod. “Alright but one day I hope you’ll put it behind you.”
Rarity sighed. It was a touchy subject, Pip. “Thank you.” She looked at her watch.
“Blast it all. I’ve got to get in touch with Corill. I hate to cut this short Spikey, but I must be off.” She stood up and pulled her wallet out of her purse. I stopped her.
“I got this.” I smiled up at her as she began to protest. “I know, I know but I want to this time. Besides, you always pay. Give a guy a chance to pay for the lovely lady once in a while.”
She smiled coyly and fluttered her eyelashes. Even after all this time that still got my pulse going. “Very well, darling.” She gave me a kiss on the cheek. Damn it heart, quick the throbbing, we’re over her. Tell that to the meltdown we’re in the midst of. That little voice in the back of my mind had a point. Bastard with his points and crap.
“And congrats, Spikey.” She placed her sunglasses on her muzzle. “Ciao!”
I watched her go, a goofy grin plastered on my snout. She stepped out before saying goodbye to Berry. She said something to her chauffeur before stepping inside as he opened the door for her. After the carriage sped off, I decided to give my chilling pasta the attention it so rightly deserved.