//------------------------------// // Bickering at the Boutique // Story: Aged Scales // by XineLegacy //------------------------------// Okay, Spike, you can do this. He shakily stepped onto The Carousel Boutique's doorstep. Just...just be cool. You're just visiting Rarity. Just do what Fluttershy said. Hmmm... Fluttershy...she was acting a little strange today... He barely noticed his own arm knock against the door. Knock. Knock. Knock. He tried to push Fluttershy to the back of his mind, focusing once again on what to do at the moment. Wait, should I get straight to the point? Or chat a little? Or ask her if she slept well? No, that's stupid! The creaking of the door interrupted his thoughts. “Spike! I was wondering when you'd arrive.” “HiRaritydidyousleepwell?” he blurted out. “Um...what was that?” Spike shook his head. “Er, I said 'Hi, how are you?'” She smiled. “I'm fine, dear. Come in, come in.” Spike stepped inside quickly and walked with Rarity to the workroom, where Twilight sat looking at a glass jar in her hooves. “Oh, hi there, Spike,” she said flatly. Spike's eyes fixated on the jar. “Is that...?” “Yeah, it's my horn,” she finished with a sigh, turning the jar in her hooves. A thin white scratch ran from the tip of the horn to its base, which was obscured with dots and dashes of red. “It feels so weird holding it like this. Not to mention a bit disgusting.” “Well, ah, it's looked worse.” The image of Twilight's bleeding body began to creep back into his mind, and he found tightly gripping the door frame. He turned away. “Could you, um, put it away please?” She lowered the jar from her gaze and looked at him. “Why?” “It just...makes me feel weird.” Twilight frowned, but decided not to question him further. Shrugging, she placed the jar behind the couch. “Sit down, Spike.” Rarity gestured to the couch and sat down. Spike stared quietly at her for a moment before taking a seat. All three creatures found themselves looking down and fidgeting about their positions. Rarity broke the silence with a deep breath. "Look, Spike, first of all, I'm incredibly sorry for...what I thought of you just a few days ago. I can't believe everything that’s happened just because of me. Ugh, I just-" "Look, it's not just your fault Rarity. Apparently, everypony thought I was a kid. The thing I don't get is why? Alright, I'm not the most mature guy but..." "Honestly Spike, I don't know how I failed to notice it either. You're such a gentlecolt and you're always helping ponies out with so many things I just...feel ashamed to call myself your friend." Her ears drooped. "Part of it's my fault too, Spike. I always called you a baby dragon and made you seem smaller around others when really...you're the one who's taking care of me." She placed a hoof on his leg. "Hey, we look out for each other. That's what family is for, right?" He gave a small smile. "And Rarity, there's worse things a friend could do I guess." "No, Spike. There's worst things an enemy or a stranger or just somepony you know could do, but a true friend? I couldn't imagine anything worse." she said, letting her head fall into her hooves. "Look, Rarity, it's oka-" "No it's not okay, don't you see?!" she exclaimed angrily, standing up. Spike and Twilight were taken aback. "How could you possibly be my friend after something like this? After I hurt you so deeply? After I broke your heart?" "It's in the past now, it doesn't matter anymore!" Spike stood to face her. "You can't just leave it behind, Spike! You can't just throw away the past year! You can't just pretend that all the time you spent with me never happened!" He clenched his fists. "Well you can't just kiss me and make it all better! I have feelings for you, Rarity! And you just decided to mock that?" Rarity stepped back and her eyes widened. "W-well I had to do something!" "Leading me on is only going to make it wor-" Spike stopped abruptly and screeched while clutching his head. Twilight, who was left open-mouthed by the aggressive exchange, snapped back into bodily consciousness and rushed to his side as he fell backwards. "Spike! What's wrong?" "The...pills..." he managed between groans, slowly sliding down against the wall "Oh no! They're still in the library!" Rarity gasped. "Wha- you mean those painkillers Luna gave him? Is he going to be okay?" "Gah! I can't believe we forgot them at home!" Twilight hit her hoof against her head. "I should...be fine," Spike groaned, standing up slowly. "It just hurts." He leaned his elbow against the wall, one hand still on his head. "A lot." "Hang on," said Rarity quickly. "I've got some painkillers in the cabinet." She rushed to the nearby cabinet from which she had taken Twilight's horn and plucked a white bottle from a drawer. "Take these." She levitated the bottle into Spike's claw. He popped off the lid, still slumped against the wall, and shoved a handful of blue pills into his mouth. "Not that many!" exclaimed Rarity raising her eyebrows. Spike's panting slowed to deep breathing. "The painkillers Luna gave me are really strong," he said as the pain began to subside. Rarity and Twilight exchanged nervous glances. "Did it work?" asked Rarity, breaking the silence. Spike sighed. "Yeah...but we need to get home." He stood up and looked at Twilight. "Come on. I need to take my own pill to be safe." He glanced at Rarity. "Thanks." he said under his breath, quickly looking away. Rarity simply stared as duo walked out of her work room. Twilight stopped for a moment as if to say something. Instead, she shook her head and followed Spike out the door.