//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Kingdom in Peril // by R-Dashiefan20 //------------------------------// Her eyes widened and she blushed as she jumped back. I could feel that I was blushing too. "So, about that entrance into the CF?" She asked, looking at the ground and rubbing the back of her neck. "Yea. You'd be a perfect fit. The academy can help you hone your sword skills." I said, avoiding her eyes as well. We stood there silent for a minute. "Look, Dash. I, um, that is, well. What I'm trying to say is..." I said as she put her finger to my mouth. "Don't talk. Just listen." She said. I nodded and she took her finger away. "So, look. You should know, I'm not like other girls. I don't do the frilly froo froo thing. I don't wear dresses or get all mushy over Valentine's Day. I don't like flowers or jewelry." She began. "What I do like is to fight and race. I like to see things explode and I like to play violent video games." She said. "I know that, Dash. I felt something spark between us when I first saw you in the hospital. There was a sort of sympathy in your eyes that none of the others showed. I saw something in you, something that I had never seen in anybody else in a long while. I knew at that moment that we were somehow meant to be together." I replied. She smiled at me. "I thought it was only me that felt the spark." She said. "No, I did too." I said. She hugged me and as I turned, I saw Pinkie peeking in through the door at the top of the bleachers. She had her phone out snapping pictures and smiling. Just as I was about to kiss Dash again, my phone buzzed. I quickly pulled away from Dash and pulled my phone out. It was a message from Pinkie. It was a picture of me and Dash kissing. Dash's phone buzzed too. She pulled it out and looked at the screen. "Damn it, Pinkie!" She screamed. My phone rang. It was Rarity. "Hello?" I answered. "You two are adorable together." She said through the phone. "How did you know about that?" I asked. "I sent out a mass text to all my friends!" Pinkie said from beside me. I jumped, not realizing she was there. "Damn it, Pinkie. I wish you wouldn't sneak up on me like that." I said. "When did you even get here? I saw you leave with the others." I said. "I did. But then I came back because I knew something would happen between you two and I didn't want to miss it." Pinkie said. "Hello? Are you still there, darling?" Rarity asked over the phone. "Yes, I'm still here. So, everybody knows about this now?" I asked. "Well, if Pinkie sent out a mass text, then its likely that everybody from here to Canterlot knows." She said. "Great. Well, that didn't take long." I said. "It never does when Pinkie's around." Rarity said. "Listen, Rarity. I gotta go." I said as I hung up. "Pinkie, why do you have to nose in other people's business!?" Dash yelled at her. Tears welled up behind her eyes. "I was just trying to help everyone to see that you two were perfect for each other." Pinkie said through sobs. "Well, next time you want to 'help', don't!" Dash yelled. "Fine. You don't want my help? Then I won't give it to you. Ever!" She screamed as she ran off crying. "Dash, why did you do that?" I asked. "You were upset that she did it too." She said. "Yea. But, we need her." I replied. "For what?" She asked. "Without all the elements of harmony, the plan won't work." I said. "Oh, yeah. The plan." She said. I rolled my eyes at her and threw my armor on and ran after Pinkie. I followed her trail to the train station and watched as the train to Ponyville took off.