//------------------------------// // Loyalty 11: ライバル // Story: 友達は魔法少女　～ＦＲＩＥＮＤＳＨＩＰ　ＩＳ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬＳ～ // by MythrilMoth //------------------------------// Saturday was usually a school day in Neighpon. Today, however, was a national holiday, and Sweetie Belle intended to make the most of it by spending time with the boy of her dreams. She hummed her favorite Lady Sashimi image song as she skipped toward the bookstore where Spike lived with Twilight Sparkle and her mother. As she approached, she saw him leave the front entrance; she prepared to call out to him in greeting— A pretty silver-haired girl in a silver-and-black seifuku followed behind him. Sweetie Belle stopped short, her happy mood crashing down around her. The silver-haired girl laughed at something Spike said, following in behind him as he walked down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. Sweetie Belle sank to her knees. "No..." Loyalty 11: ライバル A nest of human-sized cockroaches gathered in one of the dark access tunnels beneath Pony City. "The numbers which are the numbers of surviving Infestation have not increased by a number which is satisfactory since that which is known as the extermination of the Infestation on the surface by those who are known as the enemy." "The numbers which are the numbers of surviving Infestation are irrelevant. The Infestation must serve that which is the will of she who is known as our Queen." "That which is the Infestation cannot serve that which is the will of she who is known as our Queen without a number that is a satisfactory number of surviving Infestation." "That which is the will of she who is known as our Queen is that which is more important than that which is known as numbers." "Up that which is known as yours." "Cease the discourse which is known as the volatile discourse. That which is known as a scouting party must investigate that which is known as the surface. We require that which is known as information." "Agreed." "Agreed. Send that which is known as a scouting party to that which is known as the surface." * * * * * "So where are we going?" Silver Spoon asked. "Just around," Spike said. "There's lots to see...it's a really big city. I think today we'll stick to the basic stuff close to home, unless there's something in particular you'd like to see." Silver Spoon shook her head. "I know practically nothing about this city. I wasn't expecting to be here more than a day, so I didn't really..." Spike chuckled. "Yeah. Well, let's start with the most important stuff." "What, like museums, libraries, transportation?" "Food," Spike said, turning a corner. "You gotta know where to get the best snacks and quick foods." He walked up to an open-front shop with a short curtain above the "entrance" and a long counter behind which stood a burly man with a short, scruffy mop of uneven brown hair. "Yo, Joukichi!" The man grinned. "Spike, my favorite customer!" He glanced at Silver Spoon. "Haven't seen you before." "I just moved here," Silver Spoon said. "She's enrolling in school here next week," Spike said. "She's staying with us at the bookstore." "Well, welcome to the neighborhood," Joukichi said. "What can I get you kids?" "Two with azuki," Spike said. "You got it," Joukichi said. He pulled two wax paper wrappers out of a dispenser and began working behind the counter. "Perfect timing, too, I just took a batch off to cool." He reached across the counter, offering one golden brown taiyaki wrapped in wax paper to each of them. Spike laid a few coins on the counter. "Thanks," he said. "Come back anytime!" Joukichi called. Silver Spoon eyed the pastry she'd been given dubiously. "What...is this?" she asked. "Taiyaki," Spike said. "It's basically a filled waffle. Don't ask me why it's shaped like a fish, I have no idea." He blew on his and took a bite. "Joukichi makes the best taiyaki in Pony City." "Okay..." Silver Spoon blew on hers and took a bite. Her eyes widened. "It's good!" "Toldja." They ate their taiyaki in silence as they walked. When they were finished, they discarded the wrappers in the nearest recycling bin. Silver Spoon looked down at herself and frowned. "I really should go shopping," she said. "I didn't bring much with me, and if I'm going to be here a while, I'll need more clothes than this." "Hmm. Maybe Neechan or one of the other girls can take you shopping tomorrow?" "Or we could go now," Silver Spoon suggested. Spike grimaced. "Ugh. I hate shopping with girls." "Really?" Silver Spoon tilted her head. "That's funny, considering what you said about your vice..." "It gets really boring really fast," Spike said. He glanced at Silver Spoon, sighed, and rolled his eyes. "But...okay. We'll go shopping for some new clothes for you." He held up a finger. "Just ONE store, though." Silver Spoon giggled. "Okay!" From more than half a block behind them, Sweetie Belle watched with narrowed, jealous eyes. * * * * * The mahoushoujo clustered together in Applejack's hospital room. She was sitting up in bed, wearing apple-print pajamas. "Whut's takin' so long?" she complained. "Ah wanna git outta here already!" "I know how you feel," Rainbow said. "Hospitals suck." Twilight shrugged. "Oneesama is working on it," she said. "The hospital staff are being, well...obtuse." She adjusted her glasses. "Not without reason, though. After all, you did come in here with a wound that should have killed you." "But Ah'm fine now!" "No, you're not," Twilight argued. "You're still recovering. You're going to need to take it easy for a while. You think you're okay, but that much blood loss takes time to get over." Applejack sighed. Cadance and a doctor walked in. "It's all taken care of," she said. "There are some rules and restrictions and a series of follow-up appointments, but..." "Ah can go home?" "Yes," the doctor said. "But don't do anything strenuous for at least a week. I'd recommend taking a few days off from school. I'll write a letter for your school nurse and principal." "Sounds fine t'me," Applejack said, standing and stretching. Twilight smiled. "We'll just let you get dressed now, Senpai. Come on, everybody, let's wait for her in the lobby." * * * * * Spike and Silver Spoon emerged from a shop; Spike was laden with bags. Silver Spoon smiled happily. "That was fun!" she said. Spike groaned. "I'm callin' Obasan to take this stuff back home," he said, shifting everything to one hand and pulling out his phone. "No way in hell I'm luggin' all this crap around all day." Silver Spoon rolled her eyes. "That's not very gentlemanly of you," she chided. Spike put his phone away after sending a text. "Let's see. I can play tour guide while carrying around bags of clothes all day long, or I can call Obasan, who can teleport, to take this stuff back home so I don't have to carry it all day. Yeah, I'll do the smart thing here." Silver Spoon giggled. Velvet appeared in a flash. "Are you two enjoying yourselves?" she asked. Spike unceremoniously thrust the bags he was carrying at her. "Evidently you are," Velvet said with a smirk. She teleported away. A few passersby stopped and stared. "Well, let's get goin'," Spike said. "I'm hungry." Silver Spoon nodded. "Me too, actually." "I think I'll introduce you to fast food next," Spike said. "You'll probably be eating a lot of it." "Fast...food?" "You'll see." * * * * * "That human male which is the green-haired human male that is in the company of a young human female...is that not the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen?" "Affirmative. The human male who is in the company of a young human female is the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen." "Shall we attempt to capture the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen?" "No, we lack the numbers to successfully capture the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen. We should report the location of the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen to that which is the rest of the Infestation." "The location of the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen may not remain at this location while we report to that which is the rest of the Infestation." "The point you make is a point which is valid. I will report to that which is the rest of the Infestation. The rest of you will delay the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen for a time which is...as long as possible." "Affirmative." * * * * * Spike and Silver Spoon sat at a table at FcBURGER. Silver Spoon eyed the meal on her tray dubiously. "So...what exactly is this?" she asked. "Teriyaki burger," Spike said as he squirted ketchup onto an unfolded napkin. "Get used to eating meat here. Especially fish. Oh, but this isn't fish, it's beef." "I'd heard about this," Silver Spoon said. "The meat, I mean." Spike nodded, dipping a fry into the ketchup. "We don't eat as much of it at home, but Obasan's started cooking with it more and more," he said. "Of course, what we eat at home is a lot better than this. This is pretty much the cheapest food you can get." Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow at him. "So your idea of taking a girl out to lunch is to take her to the cheapest place in town?" Spike froze. "Uhh..." Silver Spoon giggled. "I'm just teasing," she said. She unwrapped her burger, picked it up, and took a bite. She chewed quietly for a minute, frowning. "Well..." She swallowed, then took a long sip of her cola. "I guess they tried, anyway," she said. Spike snorted. "Yeah, that about sums up FcBURGER. Maybe that should be their slogan. 'FcBURGER: At Least We Tried.'" He took a big bite out of his own burger. Silver Spoon laughed. Three tables away, Sweetie Belle sat, slurping a vanilla milkshake and fuming. *Who IS this girl? Where did she come from? Why is Spike-kun so interested in her when he just BARELY notices me? What's so special about HER? I mean, I'd get it if she was Oneesan's age, but...* A sharp stab of pain lanced through her brain, and she cried out in agony. Several customers, including Spike and Silver Spoon, turned to stare at her. Spike blinked. "Huh. Sweetie Belle's here." "You know her?" Silver Spoon asked. "She's Rarity-sama's sister." Spike stood up and walked over to Sweetie Belle. "You okay?" Sweetie Belle glared up at him. "I'm FINE," she spat. She took a long, vicious sip of her milkshake. Spike frowned. "You know you're gonna get a brain—" "AAAHHH!!" "—freeze." The other customers, having realized what was going on, lost interest and turned back to their food. "Well...seeya later," Spike said, walking back over to his table. Silver Spoon frowned past him, brow furrowed. "Is...she alright?" "She just drank a milkshake too fast," Spike said. At Silver Spoon's confused look, he elaborated, "Gives you brainfreeze. A really nasty, sudden headache. It's not serious, it's just really annoying." "I see..." At another table, four identical men with short black hair, sideburns, and blue pullover sweaters drank sodas and watched Spike out of the corners of their eyes. When Spike and Silver Spoon finished eating and left the restaurant, Sweetie Belle got up and followed them. The four identical men stood and left, following the kids. * * * * * Silver Spoon cast a glance back over her shoulder. "That girl's been following us ever since we left FcBURGER." "Yeah, I know," Spike said. "I wonder why?" Spike shrugged. "I dunno. She's not usually this stalkery." Silver Spoon blinked. "Wait. Are you saying this girl...has a crush on you?" "Yeah. I...guess I'm kindasortanotreally her boyfriend? I mean, I've gone out with her and I hang out with her and her friend sometimes, but...I'm in love with somebody else, and...well..." He scratched his chin. "It's complicated." Silver Spoon frowned. "Does she...know you're—" "She knows," Spike said. "She's 'fighting' for me, whatever that means." "Really," Silver Spoon said. A devious smirk crossed her face. "Now I get what's going on here..." Without warning, she looped her arm around Spike's. "Oh, Spike-san," she simpered loudly, "it's ever so sweet of you to agree to take me out today! I'm having such a good time being with you!" Spike froze up. "Wh-what are you—" "Why, I don't know what I'd do without you!" Silver Spoon turned away, placing the back of her hand against her forehead dramatically. "A young girl like me, new to this city, without a friend in the world to turn to..." She turned back to Spike. "And then you shared your kindness, your compassion with me..." She leaned very close. "Maybe I can share...something with you...too..." She closed her eyes... Two identical men appeared out of nowhere, grabbed her under the arms, and dragged her away. "What—?!" "The human female will be that which is known as silent." Two more stepped into view between her and Spike. Spike scowled and settled into a ready stance. "Who are you? Let her go!" "The human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen will surrender and come with us, or the human female will be eliminated with extreme prejudice." Spike's eyes widened. "Heeeey, wait a minute," he said. "You're...you're those cockroach guys!" "We are the Infestation, and we are here to complete that which is our mission, which is to capture the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen and deliver him to the one who is our Queen for conversion into a Royal Drone." Spike frowned. "Okay, you know, I was worried for a second? But now I'm just bored." He rushed forward and drove a fist into the nearest Changeling, then dropped into a low sweep, taking its legs out from under it. The second Changeling moved to attack; Spike backflipped away, pulled a kunai, and threw it, striking the Changeling in the neck. If it had been human, it would have died; instead, it jerked the kunai out and charged, swinging it. "Cease resistance or the human female dies!" Silver Spoon struggled in the grip of the two Changelings as Spike fought the other two. "Let! Me! GO!" she shrieked. "You heard her! Let her GO!" Spike yelled, grabbing one Changeling around the torso and shoving with all his might, forcing it to the ground. The other grabbed him from behind and hauled him off his feet. He struggled; the Changeling had more mass and a denser center of gravity, denying him the leverage to break the hold. "The human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen is captured." "Secure the human male. The human female will also be taken to the nest. Her fear will be an excellent source of food for the Infestation." "Let...me...GO!" Spike thrashed around; the only unencumbered Changeling punched him hard in the gut, and he slumped, struggling to breathe. A shrill siren filled the air. "KIDNAPPERS! KIDNAPPERS! KIDNAPPERS!" Sweetie Belle ran toward the group, screaming at the top of her lungs, waving around an electronic stranger danger siren. "CEASE THE SONIC DISRUPTION WHICH IS THAT WHICH IS KNOWN AS IRRITATING!" Up and down the street, doors opened. Men and women emerged, angry-faced, brandishing phones or brooms or other implements. "Sweetie Belle! Get out of here!" Spike wheezed. "These guys are Changelings!" "No!" Sweetie Belle yelled over her siren. "I'll protect you! I won't let anything happen to you!" "BAKA!" Spike yelled. "If I can't even fight these guys without my magic, you don't stand a chance!" People began advancing, even as the four Changelings stood around, confused and wary. "Spike-san! Her...whatever that is! It's confusing them! I think they can't stand loud noise!" Silver Spoon yelled. Spike struggled. "That...would be helpful...if I could get loose!" "Can't you use your magic?" Sweetie Belle cried. "No!" Spike yelled. "I'm drained! I haven't had a chance to recharge!" Sweetie Belle jogged in place indecisively, looking around. "Oh...oh..." Three police officers charged up the road, batons drawn. More people were pouring out into the street, many of them armed with blunt, heavy objects. "Human authority figures approach! We must retreat!" "Agreed. Secure the prisoners and retreat." Sweetie Belle charged over to the two Changelings holding Silver Spoon... ...reached out, grabbed Silver Spoon's skirt, and lifted it. "KYAAAA!" Silver Spoon shrieked. "SPIKE-KUN, LOOK!" Sweetie Belle yelled. Spike blinked twice. "Eh...close enough." With a weak green flicker of flame, a smoke bomb appeared in his hand, which he dropped on the ground. It exploded, spreading a cloud of thick green fog. When the smoke cleared, Spike, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon were gone. * * * * * Three blocks away, Spike skidded to a halt, a hand clenched firmly around each girl's wrist. He doubled over, gasping for breath. "That...was...close..." A red-faced Silver Spoon rounded on Sweetie Belle. "YOU LITTLE...!" she screeched. "I WAS TRYING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!" Sweetie Belle yelled back. "If I hadn't done that, you and Spike-kun would..." Silver Spoon seethed for a minute...then smirked. "Well. It's just lucky it was me that was captured and not you," she said. Eyes narrowed, she added, "After all...I'm actually mature enough that I got a reaction out of Spike-san." "Barely," Sweetie Belle said, sticking her tongue out. Spike rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm goin' home," he said. "Sweetie Belle, you should...you should stick with us until I can get Rarity-sama to come and take you home." Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon glared at each other. "Gladly," Sweetie Belle said. "I'm not leaving you alone with her any longer than I have to." Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow. "Fine by me," she said. "I live with him. I can be alone with him any time I want." "AAAAHHHH!" Sweetie Belle yelled. Spike's shoulders sagged. "This won't end well..." * * * * * "The human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen is no longer at the location which is the location where the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen was last known to be." "That obvious statement is obvious." "Shall we locate the human male that is to be captured alive for conversion into that which is known as a Royal Drone for the purposes of mating with the one who is our Queen?" "No, you shouldn't noso." The Infestation turned as a green-haired boy dressed all in black strode into their midst, wearing sunglasses despite being underground in a dark access tunnel. "An unknown human male approaches." "We have been seen. The unknown human male must be eliminated." "I'm not human noso," the boy said. "I'm the emissary of Her Majesty noso. You will address me as Lord Eskargg noso." "The unknown human male has been identified as Lord Eskargg Noso." "Understood, we will address you as Lord Eskargg Noso." Eskargg facepalmed. "Do you have orders which are the orders that are to be carried out by the Infestation, Lord Eskargg Noso?" "Yes nos—" Eskargg cleared his throat. "Yes. You are no longer to engage with the human mage known as Spike. From now on, no Changeling except myself will ever confront him." "Understood, Lord Eskargg Noso." "My remaining forces in this city are conducting covert energy draining operations. The mahoushoujo have been occupied with other matters recently, which has made it easier for us to feed without being detected. For now, none of you are to leave these tunnels. You are not to be seen by the humans. I want you to concentrate on one thing, and one thing only: "I want you to breed, and breed explosively. I require cannon fodder." "Understood, Lord Eskargg Noso. The Infestation will continue to increase our numbers to serve as disposable soldiers for the glory of our Queen."