Dragon On The Run
Of all the things that could have happened to him right now this was the worst. Why? the young drake asked himself. Why was this happening now? he wondered as he frantically began pacing the kitchen floor.
Couldn’t she have waited just a bit longer? Spike thought as he could feel panic rising within him. Couldn’t she have just waited for me to send that letter to her? Spike thought. This is awful! All of it! Everything I’ve worked for is going to be ruined! Dash won’t just be satisfied with meeting me she’ll want to take me back to Ponyville with her. Panic had begun taking its toll on Spike as this realization dawned on him. His nostrils flared, his teeth beginning to chatter and his hands slightly twitching as he continued to pace across the floor.
He had come so far, worked so hard for the past month. This couldn’t be happening to him. Everything he worked for couldn’t be taken away from him in just one day like some twisted set up by fate, it just couldn’t! He wouldn’t let it. He had to do something, he had to make a choice right now or it meant everything he’d done would be for not.
A creak from the kitchen door drew Spike’s attention to it for the first time since he had received the call from Twilight and Pinkie-- Spike froze. “Twilight and Pinkie!” quickly turning to the service line he had dropped Spike picked up the phone and heard the silent hum of a dead line. His sudden freeze at hearing Rainbow’s voice must have made Twilight think something else had happened.
Spike frowned, “Wait to go Dash” he said sourly.
“Sir?” Double Serving, a cherry coated earth pony, with a garnet colored mane and magenta highlights made his way towards the sous chef, Spike himself just now noticing Double Serving was standing by the door.
For a brief second the two stared at each other, Double Serving still holding the kitchen door open with a hoof pulling the door back with him as he approached his boss. The waiter stopped for a second and looked back towards the counter, Spike cautiously walking towards the door and peering through the it as well.
Outside Propeté’s voice could be heard she was currently talking to Bon Appétit along with a few other voices joining in, and from the sound of it, it must be Rainbow Dash and company. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he could definitely hear the unicorn waitress’s voice.
Good Spike thought, that’ll give me some time to escape. Spike looked at Double Serving and noticed the stallion was beginning to move closer towards the exit to get a better listen at what was going on outside.
“Double!” Spike’s voice stopped the cherry stallion from going any further, Double Serving turned around and looked at his boss. “Spike is uh everything alright? Propeté told me to stay in here but the way things are sounding out there I should probably go and help out with our-”
“NO!” Spike shouted yanking the stallion by the tail. “Don’t I need your help!” Spike stated. The worried and confused look on the stallion’s face told Spike he needed to explain a few things first. He hadn’t really told anypony here aside from Lavish Dish his issue, all his co-workers simply just enjoyed his company.
They never asked questions, they never bugged him about where he was from or the fact that he was one of the creatures that saved the Crystal Empire and Equestria a few times. Though it was also one of the reasons why a lot of ponies and griffons constantly came to Serve & Dine, most mainly came for Spike’s amazing cooking. To put it simply, all his co-workers didn’t really care that much for Spike’s past.
A few had asked questions, but when he told them he didn’t want to talk about it they understood. Never asked again. It was one of the reasons why he loved this job, why he didn’t want to leave. He felt like all of these guys were a part of his family or at least close friends he’d keep in touch with after he figured out it was that he was looking for.
“Spike” Double Serving said grabbing the drake’s attention. “What’s going on? Who are those pegasi out there, and why did you look so distressed? I know you don’t like talking about it and all, but I’m pretty sure that mare was Rainbow Dash, is she here to take you back? What’s-” a claw placed itself gently against the stallion’s lip to silence him.
Spike rubbed a temple with his other hand, his face scrunched up by the list of questions the stallion had just shot at him, he sighed. “Sometimes I wonder who’s worse, you or Pinkie” he said under his breath.
“The element of laughter? I heard she’s pretty cute actually” the waiter said with a slight sheepish grin.
“Oh my Celest- okay” Spike pinched Double Serving’s lips shut. “I’m in need of help right now” Spike said slowly so that his friend would understand his current situation. “Propeté is talking to Dash right now and I’m-”, he paused when they heard a shout come from Bon Appétit.
Spike and Double Serving stared through the open door, now unable to see anyone in front of the counter. Propeté must have made Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Thunderlane sit somewhere Spike reasoned.
Silence passed for quite some time, with which the birds that chirped outside the building could be heard. After a few seconds had passed and Spike was sure the tension and aching silence had risen enough, he silently ushered the cherry earth pony away from the door towards the center of the large kitchen.
The kitchen door closed by itself in a gentle swing followed by a muffled bang.
Double Serving who had kept silent the entire time, and whose curiosity was beginning to reach its peak, pushed Spike’s fingers off his lips with a hoof before staring at Spike with a raised brow.
“Spike, what’s going on here?” Double Serving asked, his patience beginning to run thin, (which in Spike’s opinion wasn’t a lot). The stallion liked the dragon, his cooking, even more so, but he’d been silent long enough and it was time he had some questions answered.
“Spike, cmon what’s happening? I want to-” the chef raised his hand up for a moment of silence, as his ears stayed up to listen for any sound coming outside of the kitchen, where the customer tables were.
Where Rainbow Dash and the others were.
There was not a peep.
This is my chance, Spike thought. Whatever was happening outside meant one thing. Propeté was dealing with Dash and company, he briefly glanced at Double Serving who was staring at Spike with worry, and honestly it made Spike cringe. He didn’t want to leave. He really really didn’t want to leave. But he had no choice. Dash was here and only two things could happen at this moment.
He could confront her and try and talk things out, but ultimately with three pegasi he was sure they could find some way to convince him to come back. As Dash wasn’t really the type to use her head first, and went more with her gut.
The second option was he could confront Soarin, that traitor, Thunderlane, and Dash and flat out tell them he wasn’t going with them. And knowing Dash that could lead to her using force. Soarin wouldn’t that Spike was sure of. Thunderlane was his own pegasus so he wasn’t sure but that didn’t mean he was going to take either option or the chance since he already knew their outcomes. Dash would find a way to get her to come along one way or another.
Spike sighed, why can’t I just get a break? “Look Double, I don’t have a lot of time, so I got to be quick. I’m only going to ask you once, and only once. Understand? ” Spike asked, pausing for a second to let his words sink in.
Double Serving, a waiter, and working to become a chef himself, looked at Spike in silence for a few seconds without saying a word. The earth pony stared into Spike’s pistachio green eyes in silence, seeing just how distressed the young drake was.
“I understand” Double Serving said with a solemn nod. “What do you need me to do Spike? I’ll help you out anyway I can” Double said with a smile.
Spike stared at his comrade in silence. And for the second time that day he felt like his heart was about to break. Choking back a sob the young drake smiled weakly at the waiter and nodded his head in appreciation.
“Thanks Double” he sniffed. “I appreciate it a lot.”
Propeté and Bon Appétit were staring at their “customers”, both looking quite displeased. If there was one thing the unicorn waitress didn’t like, it was seeing her friends in moments of distress. And the moment she had heard Spike say “I need to leave” the waitress had immediately caught on that something bad was going to happen.
So she confronted the small group of pegasi. And their leader, Rainbow Dash seemed to be more intractable than she thought. The rainbow maned pegasus was now shooting the light orange mare a stare of her own. Bon Appétit giving his look of displeasure to both Thunderlane and Soarin who sat on either side of him.
The reason Bon Appétit had yelled to begin with was because after Propeté had told the rest of the workers to attend to the guests Rainbow Dash repeated her question again. Which Propeté proceeded to explain the true meaning behind.
If there was a dragon that went by the name Spike who worked here, was actually Rainbow Dash’s way of saying “We’re here to take Spike” the Pranch mare said pushing a strand of olive colored hair out of her face.
When Bon Appétit had responded just before Propeté herself had forcefully joined in on the conversation, Thunderlane had told the unicorn chef that they wanted to see Spike. But before the commis chef could get a hoof to the kitchen Propeté had stopped the stallion in his tracks and demanded to know what was going on.
Rainbow Dash, obviously one with quick senses knew that this waitress was going to be a challenge, and had told the light orange mare rather frankly, to show her where their boss was.
Propeté had refused, and told them to either pick a table or get out. She didn’t hesitate to glare at Soarin also who noticeably cringed back at the time, clearly understanding that he’d lost love points with this unicorn since he blabbed.
“What do you mean zey are here to take Spike?” Bon Appétit asked still staring between the two stallion’s then granting the element of loyalty his stare. “Zey do know that Spike is a successful chef no?”
“Apparently, Spike’s success doesn’t seem to matter to zis pegasus” Propeté said with some bitterness as she looked Rainbow Dash over.
“Hey!” Dash said slamming a hoof on the table, the milkshakes they had ordered as they waited momentarily lifting off the table in the process. “I didn’t come here to get accused for something that you wouldn’t understand!” she shouted, her voice drawing the attention of a few waiters that were escorting one or two customers out of the building. Rainbow Dash however didn’t care, she simply leaned forward over the tabletop pointing at Propeté with a hoof as she continued to speak. “I came here to meet Spike, and I’m going to meet Spike. Now either you two can tell him I’m here and I just want to talk or I can go to that kitchen myself and meet him on my own! What’s it going to be?” she asked with a quizzically angered stare, her magenta eyes shifting between the other chef and the extremely infuriating look this unicorn mare was giving her.
“Hmph!” said Propeté with a turn of her nose. “It seems you really are the element of loyalty, Miss Rainbow Dash” said the mare. “However I do not appreciate your stubbornness. Spike is not your friend only, it would be best for all of us if you” the mare said smacking Rainbow’s hoof out of her direction and back on to the table, “would remember zat!” Propeté said with great displeasure. “If you want to see Spike, you will have to wait till he is ready to come out and meet you on his own. I will not tolerate you barging in here and making demands when Spike is the one in charge of this restaurant while the manager is away!”
At this point voices had risen to the point that every customer, which was only a few considering now that it was late in the afternoon, stared at the group of five. Seeing the Element of Loyalty had attracted some attention, but this fight between the most flirtatious waitress in the Serve & Dine, and the athletic element of loyalty herself was beginning to draw eyes from not only the customers that had now begun to return due to the shouts that could be heard outside, but also between the workers themselves who were clearly unsure how to react with what they were hearing.
“Wait, you guys want to take Spike away?” Etiquette asked sounding quite exasperated. “Why would you want to do that? He’s doing a great job here! Serve & Dine never got this many customers with our last Sous chef, and seriously Spike has been raking in customers with his status, not to mention his cooking.”
“We fully understand he’s doing well, but you see we’re just worried about him. We came to check and see if he’s doing alright that’s all. It’s not guaranteed that we’re taking him just yet. Right Thunderlane?” Soarin asked the pegasus for back up, but Thunderlane merely shrugged.
Even he wasn’t sure if Spike should continue staying anymore. At first he was with Dash and wanted Spike to come back, things had gotten kinda hectic in Ponyville since the guy left. Everything was fine, but...it just didn’t feel right is all.
Hard to explain in all honesty, Thunderlane thought. His muzzle scrunched up in confusion as his eyebrows furrowed. “I...I’m not sure.” He said in all honesty.
“Well I am! I just want to talk to Spike! I get he’s doing alright, but we’re worried about him! He’s got a sister back home that he hasn’t talked to in nearly two months now! What could possibly be keeping him so busy that he couldn’t send any of us, not even Twilight or Rarity a single letter! I mean c’mon you two don’t you think something’s up with that?!” Rainbow Dash asked turning to her allies, both who had to nod at the bizarreness of that fact.
“He is busy with work Madame Rainbow Dash” said Bon Appétit. “It is not zat hard to understand when you work at Serve & Dine, time tends to be invested in the orders, reservations and work done around here. Your statements are understable, but ultimately we are a busy and well establishêd restaurant. If Spike could not send you ze messages then it is because of his duty.”
“Yeah! I mean, from what Spike’s told us in a few stories he’s shared Princess Twilight Sparkle sent him on a boat load of errands. Not just for her, Spike did errands all over Ponyville, so you should understand where he’s coming from.” A worker said
Rainbow Dash backed up in her seat, slightly taken aback and snorted out of frustration. This wasn’t going the way she had planned. “Alright enough of this!” she stated, spreading her wings and landing on the table Rainbow Dash stared down at Propeté who was staring at Dash once more.
“Where. Is. Spike?!” Dash asked her eyes lidded as she bent her head towards the light orange mare, almost touching snout to snout.
“Propeté” the Pranch mare look at Soarin, a frown creasing her lips when she saw the pleading smile on his face. “Please, we just want to have a chance to talk to him that’s all. Just a minute, please?”
Bon Appétit said nothing, he simply looked at his subordinate and as well as the rest of the kitchen staff which was roughly about nine members now since the rest had gone home their shifts done. A few seconds passed, customers had now lined up at a few windows, some even coming in to see what was happening and gasping and pointing when they saw the three pegasi from Ponyville and Cloudsdale. A few even coming in to get a closer look, while the customers that hadn’t left yet or were about to leave held their tongues at this situation.
Dash’s hoof tapped impatiently, and every second that passed made her grind her teeth, “Well?!” she asked in almost a yell, as she lifted her head up and looked down at the mare from her standpoint on top of the table.
Propeté simply stared at Soarin, her frown still live before giving Rainbow Dash a second to look at her displeased face. She sighed, meeting the element of loyalty had clearly been a mistake. It was obvious the two of them weren’t going to be on friendly terms for awhile after this.
“Fine...go ahead, he’s in the kitchen” she said averting her gaze from all three pegasi with an annoyed look on her face as she slid out of the table and made her way back to the kitchen.
In a flash rainbow contrail passed by everypony in the room, as the kitchen doors swung side to side before closing on their own. Rainbow was now in the kitchen.
“Spike!” Rainbow called the moment she was inside, looking around frantically. “Spike are you here?” she called walking around the kitchen, looking all over and even checking the cooking tables to see if Spike was hiding under them. “Spike please come out I just want to talk with you” Dash pleaded. Her expression turning into a sad one as she kept searching the kitchen.
Soarin and Thunderlane were inside the kitchen as well watching Dash become increasingly annoyed and grow more concerned by the second as she continued to callout to Spike and look through other parts of the kitchen.
“Maybe he went out for supplies?” Thunderlane offered, hoping to brighten Dash’s mood.
“Y-You think? Yeah, that might be it! He probably just went out for supplies and we didn’t see him because we were in such a hurry” Rainbow Dash said with some belief in those words, forcing the doubts that were beating her away.
“He does not want to see you Rainbow Dash” Propeté stated. Rainbow Dash looked up and saw the light orange mare with the nicely styled olive mane stare at her, just behind Soarin and Thunderlane.
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit overdramatic by saying Spike, our friend, your friend, doesn’t want to see us? I mean why would he push us away like that. I get he’s concerned but there’s no way he would just...ditch us like this not for a second time at least” Thunderlane said, trying to foster up some hope in this bleakly looking situation.
Propeté said nothing, she merely remained silent, staring at the group. Her ears were fully up, her expression basically deadpanned, and she was standing up completely straight. All the traits of a unicorn who simply did not like her current situation, but didn’t care enough about how it was turning out to do anything.
Rainbow Dash who had now stopped looking around and was now biting a hoof in agitation noticed the unicorn mare was staring at her, with what looked like an indignant look. And for some reason...this really seemed to tick her off.
“What?” Dash barked, her hoof slowly moving away from her mouth. “Why do you keep looking at me like that!?”
Propeté merely turned her nose up and proceeded to walk towards the pegasus. She didn’t make eye contact the entire time, till she was directly in front of Dash. “For the element of loyalty, you don’t seem to understand your friends concerns that much. I admire your courage for coming out here and doing zis, but I must say” the mare began to turn around, “you can be quite dull.” With that said, Propeté’’s tail gave Rainbow Dash a light smack on the face.
The slapping sound echoing all over the kitchen and even going outside, drawing a few eyes as Propeté proceeded to leave the kitchen.
At first Soarin and Thunderlane didn’t say anything. They just stood there, stunned, and for a brief moment Soarin and Thunderlane both felt a rousing amount of attraction to this mare. If it hadn’t been for the current situation, they both would have asked her out instantly.
But alas, things don’t always go as planned.
A slap in pegasus language is the same way as saying “Go jump off a cliff you insolent, arrogant, moron!” in simple terms it was a way of saying “fuck you.” There were different ways pegasi could express this, but using the tail to do it was the worst way to go about it. That was basically the same way as saying you’ve lost all respect for the person you are talking to. Or if not all of it then a large portion.
Whether Propeté knew what she had just done or not was unknown, but the mare faintly held a sly smile as she exited the kitchen so it was possible she did know what she had just done.
Rainbow Dash sat there, feeling conflicted. She was mad. Furious at Spike for one thing. Leaving like this for a second time was just as painful as the first. Didn’t he trust her? They were friends, she’d never want to hurt him. She simply came with the idea of talking to him....and then maybe persuading him to come back, but if he didn’t that would have been fine!
Slowly Dash turned her face towards the door as she saw Propeté’s tail disappear as the kitchen door swung shut.
The pegasus felt her wings unfurl in hostility, her chest heaving in and out, her breathing becoming ragged and unsteady with every second as she felt that this waitress had probably given Spike some stupid idea that she would force him out of here.
Soarin and Thunderlane who knew what Dash looked like when she was mad...immediately left the kitchen, and a second later Rainbow Dash came soaring out straight towards Propeté with a piercing scream that could have broken several glasses.
The Element of Loyalty was seeing red, and she blamed Propeté for all of it. All this trouble she was receiving, and she was ready to dish it all out.
“You made him leave!” Dash yelled at the mare as she soared out the kitchen and landed on the registering counter. “You. Fed. Him. LIES!” she screamed at Propeté, who herself was now looking slightly surprised by Rainbow Dash’s reaction.
But after a few seconds of silence, the only thing that could be heard was Dash’s ragged breathing, Propeté’s expression grew stern, and she allowed her own anger to bubble out.
She had taken this mare’s crap long enough. She had allowed Dash to stand on merchandise, throw a tantrum, yell at her, and even barge into the kitchen that was strictly meant for staff only. But now...now Eta de Propeté, had had just about enough of this bull.
Spike was now with Double Serving, he had crept through the back door of the kitchen with his friends help, and managed to make it a quarter of the way away from Serve & Dine with Double Serving acting as a lookout for his friend.
They weren’t too far away from the restaurant when they heard a ear piercing scream that literally made the dragon freeze. He was wearing sunglasses and had his backpack on again.
“That was Rainbow Dash!” Spike said with worry, he noticed a crowd was beginning to form at the restaurant.
Spike bit his lip, feeling ambivalent about this all. Maybe he should go meet Dash, this was causing a huge amount of commotion and it would all end if he just talked to her, right? But...the chances....he didn’t want to go back home.. He’d come so far and it was just so frustrating and annoying to think about her telling him to come back that he’d felt he would accidentally breathe fire the next time he spoke.
“Spike” Double Serving said drawing the drake’s attention to him. “What do you think we should do?”
Spike, still chewing on his lower lip, didn’t say anything. His eyes slanted in pensive thought as ge tried to think. Finally after a full minute had passed Spike said: “I honestly don’t know what to do anymore Double...I’m so...confused...”
Double Serving frowned, and gently wrapped a hoof around his friend. “I’m sorry Spike. About all of this, I knew the element of loyalty was a bit hard headed but she really outstands her rumors, huh?”
Spike chuckled, “Heh, you have no idea.”
The laughter that was made between the two seemed to lighten the mood. But that all changed when one of the ponies watching from a distance heard the chuckles, and turned her head in Spike and Double Serving’s direction.
The two hadn’t noticed yet.
“Spike?!” the mare called in surprise. Literally loud enough for all to hear. “Spike? Oh My Diarchy! It is you! Heeey, Spike! Over here!” the mare waved, clearly thinking that Spike was out to get groceries, but obviously she was mistaken.
Both Spike and Double Serving fumbled like a bunch of hoofball players, before scrambling to their feet trying to signal for the mare to be quiet, but she just kept on talking.
“Hey Spike! Rainbow Dash is inside Serve & Dine isn’t that like totally awesome! Er My Gosh, this is like fabulous, hey guys. Spike’s over here-- Oh look Double Serving and him are waving at me. Hi guys!” she waved back with both hooves completely unable to tell they were trying to. Shut. Her. Up.
Spike facepalmed, with a sigh. “I forgot Astonish Celebrity never caught on to things too quickly.”
Soon enough a few other ponies began waving and calling for Spike to come over, to see what was happening inside the restaurant, but he didn’t need to. And he was about to find out why.
*** **** ***
“You know what Miss Dash, I believe the element of loyalty was given to ze wrong pony!” Propeté yelled, a few staff members gasped. Some customers gasped exceptionally loud before fainting due to a lack of necessary oxygen in their body.
“And I think you’re just a stuck up mare who’s gotten a bit too comfortable with my friend! What lies did you feed him while he was working here, huh “Propeeté or whatever you name is!” Dash snorted, jumping off the table and landing beside the mare.
The two eyed each other with a new found rage, before both their ears perked up and Rainbow’s face shifted from anger to surprise.
“Spike?! Spike?! OH My Diarchy! It is you!” said a voice from outside.
Rainbow Dash didn’t waste a second, she went right through the ceiling and stayed in the sky, looking around. Good Ol’ Scrub, part of the hygienic workers screamed when he saw the hole in the ceiling and the dust that now caked the vinyl sheets that was the floor, he didn’t stop yelling till Bon Appétit gave him a broom and a shovel to start cleaning.
“Does he always do that?” Thunderlane asked feeling a bit concerned.
“Oui, he is how do you say...a germaphobe pony.”
“Ahh I see” Soarin said nodding slowly. “Anyway we should see what Dash is up to.” The two pegasi promptly flew out of the new skylight and only managed to get more dust and plaster on the ground that made Scrub curse under his breath.
Spike’s name was still being called outside, and Propeté had a gut wrenching feeling this was going to end badly. She ran right outside, shoved her way through everypony, but stopped when Dash was standing beside her along with Soarin and Thunderlane.
The pegasus mare stared at Spike. Tears stinging her eyes as she stared at him. Spike had grown, not physically but she could feel, tell he had grown a lot mentally. It made her feel warm, proud also inside. Her wings twitched a bit when she attempted to a step closer, to Spike as the two’s eyes continued to lock with one another.
Propeté turned her attention to her boss, and saw the look of fear in his eyes. Spike moved his lips, but due to how low he was talking and being a good eight feet away they couldn’t hear him. Double Serving, the cherry coated earth pony beside him nodded solemnly, before both him and Spike slowly turned.
Then made a mad dash for the train station.
“Spike!” Rainbow Dash cried, as the dragon ran away. “Come back!” she kicked off with haste and took off the quickly retreating stallion and drake.
“For crying out loud!” Thunderlane groaned as him and Soarin took off after the mare.
Propeté just stood there dumbfounded, watching. Then in a second she realized what Spike was going to do. “He is leaving Baltimare” she said sadly.
“What?!” Astonish said in surprise, the same mare that had blown Spike’s cover. “Why?!”
“Zat pegasus is here to try and convince him to leave” Propeté stated as she slowly broke into a gallop towards the train station, which was about half a mile away. Just several buildings down.
Propeté didn’t bother to wait for anymore questions as she gallopped after her friends, taking a shortcut she knew about that would get her there quicker. It wasn’t long till she heard Etiquette’s voice beside her. The pegasus was flying above her and had come to help.
“We must hurry!” Propeté told him, He nodded, and together the two picked up the pace that would have put Applejack to shame.
“Spike wait!” Dash called as the two continued running.
“No!” Spike yelled. Suddenly feeling a mouth clamp on his backpack Spike, was tossed into the air, and landed on Double Serving’s back. Double smiled at Spike, who smiled back as they ran towards the station.
Its silhouette in the distance, as they got closer. “I’ll pick up the pace” the stallion stated, and with one strong push, they were picking up speed, pulling away from Dash, Soarin, and Thunderlane.
“Whoa” Soarin complimented. “Talk about fast.”
“Yeah well I’m faster” Rainbow Dash said, and with two strong flap of her wings she zoomed off, Soarin looked at Thunderlane. “I feel like we’ve crossed a line here.”
“Feelings mutual buddy” Thunderlane simply replied before following Dash in tow.
“Spike will you just stop and listen to me!” Dash yelled as she began to catch up.
“No way! You just want to take me back home or am I wrong?”
“...Well...you’re not completely wrong- Hey!” she yelled just barely managing to avoid a flame that came at her. “What the what! SPIKE! What the hay man?!”
“I’m warning you Dash back off or I’ll do it again” Spike said, shooting a few embers at her, Dash had to maneuver out of the way. This made her lose speed and in the process lose them as Double Serving made a turn through a path that would get them to the station quicker.
“Everypony!” Double Serving called to those outside around this time. “Some of Spike’s friends are here to take him back to Ponyville! If you care about Spike and don’t want him to leave help me get him back to the train station so he can avoid all this trouble!” the stallion yelled.
“WHAT?!” twenty different voice came from their homes.
Seconds later, Double Serving and Spike began passing pony after pony as they made their way towards the station.
“Good luck Spike!” one filly called as Spike zoomed by them. “We’ll miss you and your awesome cooking” an adult stallion said as they passed by him.
“Stay safe!” a mother and her foals said as Spike went by their home.
Spike’s eyes began to water as he watched pony after pony. Even a few griffons living in the area come out and form a line behind them as Dash and the others made the turn in their direction.
“Thank you everyone” he sniffed. “I really appreciate it” he said in a shaky voice as they began making their way out of the rural area.
“Spike wait up!” Dash called as she began passing by the homes and ignoring the citizens below.
Rainbow Dash’s ear twitched, and instantly she stopped, just barely managing to avoid a water balloon. “What the-” she dodged another and looked down with annoyance. Some of the townsfolk were chucking things at her.
“Hey!” she shouted at them. “What’s the big idea?”
A griffon floated up and stared at Dash with an annoyed look. “The ‘big idea’ here is that you are taking someone important to us away. And we won’t stand for it!”
“YEAH!” Everypony below the griffon cheered.
“What? I just- I don’t get why-??- Ugh!” she growled. “Get out of my way!” she said trying to fly around the griffon, but surprisingly he was able to keep up quite well.
“And if we refuse?” he asked with a light smirk crossing his beak, his claws folded as a few water balloons were floated into the air and others loaded.
“Then I’ll bust my way through!” Dash said rearing up her wings for a sonic rainboom.
“Hold up!” Thunderlane cut in managing to stop the pegasus before she ended up destroying homes. “Can’t we just take it easy for a second here?”
The townsfolk below looked at each other, then shrugged. The griffon looked up at them and nodded. “I guess.”
“Thank you” Thunderlane said breathlessly.
“Dash look, I’m glad you’re willing to go to such lengths for Spike. You know destroy homes and stuff, upraise an entire restaurant and all that jazz, but don’t you think you’re going a bit too far?” Thunderlane asked with a slight frown. Soarin was looking at the townsfolk below and noticed how they were all staring at the three of them like they were the enemy.
Eesh, Spitfire is gonna be steamed with me after this.
“Going to far?! Thunderlane are you kidding me. They shot water balloons at me! That’s nuts! And no! I don’t think I’ve gone far enough! All I wanted to do was talk with Spike. And what do I get? Berated and labelled a jerk well I’m done! I want to talk with Spike and I’ve had enough of today and all this stupid load of horseapples, I’m talking to him and that’s final!” she said flaring her wings out to assert dominance.
“Are you- did you really just flare you....you did not just....” Thunderlane noticed the extremely annoyed and crossed look on Dash’s face, before sighing in defeat. “Fine, do what you want. See if I care.”
“Thank you. Soarin” Dash asked the stallion who had just now looked at her. “Are you coming with me or going back?”
Soarin sighed and looked at the crowd, then back at Dash, then back at the crowd. He shrugged. “I’ve come this far so why not?”
“So I assume you’re continuing with your pursuit then?” the griffon beside them asked.
“Of course!” Dash answered.
The griffon shook his head, “Fire the torpedos.”
An onslaught of water balloons was launched at the group. But Dash had had enough tomfoolery for one day.
“Soarin help me out here” she said as she began to move in circles. “You can help too you know Thunderlane?”
Both pegasi looked at each other and shrugged. All three pegasi began moving in a circle together as the balloons neared them. And within a matter of seconds they had gained enough wind speed to create a miniature tornado, one that sucked up all the water balloons headed their way and shot them out the mouth, so that the townsfolk were hit with their own attacks.
Gasps, shouts and childish screams were made as the three pegasi stopped their tornado and allowed the air to disperse before breaking formation. “Let’s go!”
“Wait!” a filly yelled at Dash, making the mare come to a complete stop. “Please. Please don’t take Spike. We like him, don’t force him to leave if he doesn’t want to.”
Rainbow Dash for the first time today was actually able to calm down for a second and take in what was being said to her. She looked around and noticed everypony that had been hit with their water balloons were shooting her glares, and in all honesty it made her feel kind of bad.
“I...I uh, I can’t promise he won’t want to come but-” she stopped as her eyes caught on to something in the distance.
Nearing the station not too far away, was a light orange mare and a pegasus. In the distance the sound of a train’s whistle could be heard. And that sound made Rainbow Dash tense with great worry.
“No” she whispered in fear.
“What?” one of the griffons asked the mare, as she shook water out of her coat.
“Soarin, Thunderlane come on! Spike’s leaving! We have to hurry now!” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings, changed her position and in a blast of colorful air, she was gone, a rainbow contrail flying after her.
She had just performed a sonic rainboom, that knocked back both Thunderlane and Soarin, and also shoved a bunch of the townsfolk back to the ground as well.
Soarin frowned. None of today was going as peaceful as he had hoped.
“Let’s hurry” Soarin said, before taking off with a light shade of blue following after him as well, Thunderlane shaking his head to clear himself of the dizziness as he followed after the Wonderbolt.
Today was not a good day at all.
Spike and Double Serving had got a ticket for the drake. His train would be leaving in five minutes, but in all honesty Spike wished it would leave now.
“Spike!” a voice called, making the dragon groan. He was beginning to see a pattern with how many times his name had been called out through a majority of the day.
“What is it this time? I mean seriously can’t a dragon get a-” the quickly paced sound of hooves and a sudden heavy load on his body made Spike stop his droning as two hooves wrapped around him tightly embracing him.
“Mrotyty?” Spike said his voice a little muffled due to the mare squeezing him into her chest.
“Oh sorry” she said with a light shade of pink touching her cheeks. She released Spike, and the dragon took in his healthy dose of oxygen with great gratitude.
“Propeté? Etiquette? what are you two doing here? Shouldn’t you be back at the restaurant helping the others fix Dash’s mess” Spike asked with some concern, forgetting his own troubles briefly.
“HA!” the hot pink pegasus said. “Like I would miss my favourite boss’ departure like that. Don’t worry Spike. Everyone sends their goodbyes by the way...and we hope we’ll get to see you again” Etiquette said raising a hoof up, with a sad smile. “Don’t forget to write to us alright?”
Spike’s ears wilted, and the grip on the straps of his bag tightened fiercely. He stared at the red hoof offered to him before he forced a smile of his own. “Right...I’ll be sure to write you guys, don’t worry.”
Spike bumped a fist with Acute Etiquette’s hoof and the two smiled at each other weakly before the pegasus turned away and allowed Propeté to speak.
The mare looked really sad. Heartbroken almost that all this was happening. She had come to like Spike quite a bit, and...though she would never admit this to anypony ever, if he were a bit a older she would not have minded ahem ahem, “getting to know him better” if you catch my drift wink wink, nudge nudge, sparkle sparkle.
But in all honesty Propeté was disappointed. And she told Spike so “I just wish your hard headed, scatterbrained friend would see through her thick skull zat what she is doing will only hurt you my chef” Propeté cooed gently rubbing a fetlock against Spike’s cheek.
Spike had to admit, this was a bit of a new change of contact with the mare. She had always been the physical type but this level was...different. He wasn’t sure how to feel.
“Ahem!” Double Serving cut in. “I agree Spike, it sucks that Dash won’t see reason. But...you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I’d say we fight her for you but...I know you wouldn’t want that....would ya?” Double asked kind of hopeful.
Spike merely smiled and shook his head. “No, No I wouldn’t want that. I’m sorry.” Spike said, gently patting the stallion on the back in the process.
“Then I suppose zis really is goodbye for now, right? You will visit won’t you? I mean after all we ‘ave been through it would...it would hurt if you didn’t you know?” Propeté said with a sad smile. Her plum colored eyes staring at Spike with a level of sadness that equalled his.
Spike smiled and opened his arms for a hug. “I promise. I will, don’t you guys worry alright?” he said reassuring. “I won’t ever forget you. This past month with you all. Working with you, making mistakes with you. It was” Spike swallowed even though there was nothing in his throat. He could feel his voice giving way to the emotion. But he had to stay strong.
“It was really fun” he said finally after a few seconds of silence, the three equines hugged Spike tightly. His backpack falling to the ground with a thud as he was lifted off the ground and embraced tightly between all three equines.
“We’ll miss you Spike” Etiquette said.
“We sure will” Double Serving said.
“Please do stay safe” Propeté pleaded.
Spike could feel it. Their warmth. Their affection, the fact they cared so much for him warmed his heart. He noticed a few ponies that were getting off their trains and coming through the station docking hall, were staring at him and the ponies hugging him, but he didn’t care. He just wanted to take this, soak it in, And use it as fuel for whatever he faced next.
Finally after a more few seconds of hugging the four broke their embrace. “Oh yeah” Etiquette said with a grin, digging into his saddlebag. “”I got you a little something from the kitchen, to remind us by on your journey and the next time you come back.”
“What is it?” Spike asked with a raised brow, as he brushed a tear away.
“Your chef hat” the pegasus said with the object in his teeth. “Take it, and make sure you don’t forget us. Inside it are several addresses from the entire staff and even more from the customers. Of course I put mine in there also, I also had Double Serving and Propeté’s place in there as well so we can talk and stay in touch” the pegasus said with a smile.
Spike stared at the hat and noticed inside that indeed, there was a neatly folded up piece of paper that could easily fit into his claw if he reached for it. The dragon merely smiled when he realized magic had been used to shrink it so the hat wouldn't get overflowed with all the addresses inside.
“Thanks” Spike said looking up, feeling his eyes beginning to sting again. “I really appreciate all of this. I can’t-”
“Spike!” Dash yelled bursting through the entrance doors and doing a slightly quick canter towards the group as Soarin and Thunderlane floated inside as well. “Spike please don’t leave. Come back with us, we just want to show Twilight and the others you’re alright!”
“Dash I think this is getting a bit out of hoof. We should stop” Thunderlane said noticing all the eyes staring at them.
Dash merely ignored him. “Spike please. Don’t leave. At least talk with us for a bit. Do me that justice at least please, I’ll do my best not to let my instincts get control over me but don’t leave without talking to me, to us” Dash said gesturing to Thunderlane and Soarin. “Please don’t go. We’re your friends right?” Dash asked a smile forming on her lips as she approached.
Spike said nothing, his eyes merely slanted in silent anger as he stared at the pegasus that had caused him all this trouble. Before he could get a word out though Spike’s co-workers blocked Dash’s view of the dragon as they stood in her way.
“I think you’ve done enough for today. You should leave” Etiquette said, one wing pushing Spike gently back while the other fluffed aggressively. “Now.”
Silence filled the room as Rainbow Dash stared at the three ponies blocking her from one of her closest friends. Someone she considered a brother to her. Just like she considered Scootaloo a little sister, Rainbow Dash considered Spike to be a brother. “Move” she growled.
“Make us” Double Serving said in a menacing tone.
No one had the chance to do either. Because just then Spike’s train tooted a powerful blast of air that screeched and screamed, echoing throughout all of the train station.
“All aboard!” the conductor’s voice yelled.
Spike wasted no time in shoving his hat deep into his bag, that had been enchanted to carry a multitude of things with spatial magic, before he quickly turned and scurried off towards the station’s hull.
“Wait Spike!” Dash kicked into the air and was about to fly over and block Spike, but a sudden tug on her tail made her stop. She looked at it and saw a light purple glow, Propeté held the athlete back from her objective and this ticked Rainbow off.
“Let me go!” she yelled.
“No!” Propeté answered.
“RRRGH! Let me go! Spike! SPIKE! Wait up!” she called to the fading dragon as he walked right into the train station hull.
Thunderlane had instincts. And these instincts like any other creature were kicking in and had taken over. Taking off and picking up Propeté the pegasus managed to distract her for a brief second, which freed Dash. The mare who was still thrashing about, lost control and slammed right on to Double Serving.
Soarin and Etiquette looked at each other. But at this point Etiquette who now considered Spike a part of his own flock acted on his own instincts and Wonderbolt or not, he attacked Soarin who was just about to say “we shouldn’t be fighting.”
Seconds passed as a slight struggle occurred and species of all types began leaving their trains and watching what was going on in the middle of the departure area It wasn’t until security broke the squabble did the train toot it;s whistle once more.
“Spike!” Dash, took off , smacking one of the guards with her hoof in the process for grabbing her tail. “Hold on Spike!”
The rest of the slightly restrained group, quickly moved to follow the rainbow pegasus themselves.
When they got to the train hull the train Spike was on had just started moving, and Rainbow Dash who’s mane was now slightly disheveled, and looking quite tired and annoyed. Began desperately looking through windows to find her friend.
“Spike! Spike! Don’t leave! I promise, I won’t do anything. I promise!” she called out to the train as it pulled out of the station, but Spike’s face was nowhere to be seen. The train pulled off and eventually became a distant dot.
Rainbow Dash felt upset, tired, and angry. She was mad at herself for not being a bit more calm when she got here, she was mad at these ponies whom she glared at when the train disappeared completely and she was mad at everything else for not reaching Spike in time.
Suddenly another train whistled loudly, before everyone turned their direction to the left. There was another train there. And the conductor had come out to make one last call. “Last Call!” he called. And just in the nick of time, the group of saw a purple tail head inside the train.
Rainbow Dash felt a burst of energy, the tears that had stung her eyes spilling, when she felt she could make it up to Spike. Apologize, tell him he didn’t need to leave. That they could fix this, that she was sorry. Quickly the entire group made their way to the train, Propeté keeping a close eye on Dash in case the mare tried anything.
When they got there, Spike was sitting two seats away from the exit and was looking at them all with a smile.
“Spike I-”
“Dash” Soarin said trying to calm the mare down. “It’s enough. You tried but Spike’s made his mind up, we frankly crossed a line and I think we should leave before we cause anymore trouble.”
Thunderlane nodded. “I agree, the flock may look after its own, but we went a bit too far with all the trouble we caused today. Let’s just go home.”
“What?!” Rainbow asked turning on her friends. “I can’t leave I need to tell Spike I’m-”
“Rainbow Dash” Spike’s voice cut in silencing the mare.
“Yes?” she said with an apologetic and sheepish grin. Spike’s expression was not one of mirth. It was one of cold anger. And everypony of the group saw it as they backed away from Rainbow Dash slowly.
“S-Spike?” Rainbow Dash said hesitantly a feeling of fear gripping her. Spike said nothing his train whistles one last time before it began departing. And all Spike did was just stare coldly at the mare as he and his train began leaving.
Propeté and the others began following the train in a slow pace watching what was going on as Dash followed after, never leaving Spike’s piercing gaze the entire time as she struggled to find the words to speak .
“Spike I don’t know...I’m not sure what to say I- I’m. I’m sorry” she said her ears dropping to the sides of her head.
Spike said nothing, and the train began to pick up pace, making everyone break into a quick paced canter.
“Spike?” Dash said the fear squeezing her hoof as she stumbled for a second. “Say something.”
Spike said nothing, his eyes just continued to stare coldly at Rainbow Dash. Like he just didn’t know who she was anymore. Like he...hated- she forced the thought away.
“Spike please, I’m sorry I didn’t mean for this to happen I just got excited, my instincts you know. They kicked in I wasn’t trying to be harmful or anything” she pleaded. They had now broken into a gallop.
Spike still said nothing he just stared at Dash with that same icy stare, blinking every now and then. His eyes briefly glanced over the platform his friends and the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash were running on.
Once they pulled out of the hull the platform would end, and they wouldn’t be able to chase him anymore unless the pegasi flew. But judging from their expressions it didn’t look like they’d be doing that any time soon.
“Spike” Dash said, now rushing to keep up with the train. “Please say something.”
Spike honestly had nothing to say to Dash. He was mad at her. Furious for what she had done. A month’s worth of work. Gone. And for what? Because she couldn’t control her instincts? He remembered what happened the last time he let his dragon instincts take control, and it had resulted in almost all of Ponyville getting destroyed and the others getting hurt. Since then he’d kept a tight lid on those feelings of greed.
And now she was telling him this all happened because she lacked self control? He wanted to laugh, scoff at that but he couldn’t so he just kept on staring at her. His eyes moving from her to the others who were now struggling to keep up with the train.
“Spike” Dash said in a lower tone, that barely could have been audible thanks to the wind picking up. “Please” she said taking to her wings to keep up.
Spike briefly glanced at the others and saw they were slowing down. Just watching. His eyes turned back to Dash she was just inches away from him now, he looked at the platform and saw it had ended now Rainbow Dash was just floating along side him.
“Spike, please...I’m so sorry” Dash begged her voice wavering, shaking almost.
Spike sighed. Took in a deep breath, and shook his head as he prepared himself for what he was about to say.
“Dash, I can’t forgive you.”
The words hit the mare like a knife as she stopped for a few seconds and let the train pass her by. She snapped out of her stupor and quickly met with Spike again.
“What do you mean you can’t forgive me, we’re friends right? Buddies? You and I?” she said her voice still wavering as she spoke.
Spike shook his head. “I’m not sure I can call what you did being a friend. I’d call it being selfish. If you were my real friend you’d understand what I had going on here was good, I’m sorry Dash, but I’m going to need time to forgive you and accept your apology. I won’t yell at you, I won’t make you suffer for what you did here today. Knowing you, you’ll do that yourself, and I hope for your sake when the others hear about this they aren’t too tough on you. But I won’t accept your apology. Not now, not today, not tomorrow, not in a week or even month. I just want you to know that, what you did today” he paused and took a deep breath. “Almost makes me hate you” Spike said with his eyes slanting at he gave the hurt mare a hard look.
“You’ve done a lot of crazy stuff. We both have, but after today Dash” Spike shook his head and moved back into his seat away from the window.
“I’ve got to say...I’m really really disappointed in you.” Spike moved to shut the shutters, and gave Dash only one chance to see his angered expression before he closed the window.
This conversation was over. And Rainbow Dash knew it. She simply floated there, watching the train pull away, Spike’s expression burned into her eyes as she watched the train pull off and slowly fade away into the distance. One more loud whistle coming from it as the mare watched Spike, disappear.
Rainbow Dash floated back to the train hull where Soarin, Thunderlane, Propeté, Double Serving, and Etiquette were waiting.
“What did he say?” Double Serving asked.
Dash’s lips moved, her face expressing clear shockbut no words came out of her mouth.
“What?” Double Serving asked. “What’s wrong why are you-” a polished hoof placed itself on the stallion’s mouth, and Propeté told the stallion to be quiet.
“What’s going on here?” he whispered to her.
Propeté merely looked at the shocked Rainbow Dash with pity. “It seems Spike refused her apology.”
Everypony went deathly silent before Propeté turned away from the three pegasi and ushered her co-workers to follow. “Let’s go back to ze restaurant, I ‘ave somethîng important to tell Lavish Dish after work.”
The two stallion’s looked at Dash with a hint of sadness, bade Soarin and Thunderlane goodbye before they passed by a group of ponies coming inside the hull, all looking out of breath and worried.
“Soarin!” a voice called to the stallion who was comforting the silent Dash. “Where is he? Where’s Spike?” Fluttershy asked.
Soarin merely shook his head, and moved aside to reveal the tears slowly spilling out of Dash’s eyes.
Twilight Sparkle looked at Soarin and Thunderlane, who both shook their heads, then fixed the crying pegasus with a harsh stare. Slowly Twilight moved towards the pegasus, her anger flaring, her wings twitching.
“What did you do?” she asked Rainbow Dash.
The pegasus merely whimpered and let out a wail before breaking into tears.
“What the hay is going on here?! Applejack asked clearly confused. “When we got here ponies were giving us the stinkeye for miles, what in the plumheck did you do Rainbow Dash?”
“Yeah! I was going to throw Spike a “Congratulations on being an amazing and wonderful and fantabulous chef surprise surprise!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Why are there two surprises in that sentence?” Rarity asked.
“I accidentally told him I would throw him a surprise over the phone” Pinkie said with a sheepish smile.
“Girls!” Twilight yelled silencing her friends. The young alicorn turned her attention back to Rainbow Dash. Who had now stopped wailing and wiped away the tears. She forced herself to get up and act like everything was alright, even though deep down she was hurting.
“Let’s go” she said in a stern yet shaky voice.
“No” Twilight said, spreading her wings. “What did you do? Soarin, Thunderlane! What did she do?” she asked almost snapping at the two accomplices in all of this.
“Well” Thunderlane began rubbing the side of his neck with a hoof.
“She...basically got Spike run out of town, it was...it was a mess” Soarin chipped in. “We kinda bailed on the whole idea of getting Spike after we saw how much ruckus we were causing but she um...she was persistent.”
Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, Element of Magic. Fixed her friend with a cold and hard stare that made Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy back away.
Pinkie Pie however looked worried. “Twilight, why don’t you calm down. Here! Have a cupcake, it’s cheery flavored” she said trying to lighten the mood as she offered her friend the cupcake.
Twilight merely turned her glare on Pinkie and the cupcake literally deflated in her hoof, Pinkie laughed nervously and backed away understanding the situation. “Right, you deal with this.”
For awhile Twilight didn’t say anything. Neither did Dash, the two just stared at each other for a few seconds before Twilight turned around and began pacing.
“I told you didn’t I?” she asked the mare in a minacious tone.
Rainbow Dash said nothing.
“I told you to leave. Him. Alone! That he would come back when he felt necessary. That we should trust Spike, for being mature to handle this since he chose to do it but NO!” she exclaimed rounding on Dash and bumping snouts with the unmoving pegasus.
“You didn’t listen did you?” she said rhetorically.
“I was just trying to make sure he was alright I didn’t-” Rainbow began only for Twilight to slam a hoof on the ground and literally crush the mortar that made the platform under her hoof.
“No! Don’t tell me you were trying to help. You were being selfish! Selfish! Selfish, selfish, sELFISHHH! Sometimes you can just be so rash it’s infuriating. What did he tell you. What did he say after you tried to apologize?”
Rainbow Dash’s bottom lip quivered and she looked away briefly for a second. Not wanting to say it.
“ANSWER ME RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight yelled at her friend, her voice echoing throughout all of the train station and parts of Baltimare itself. Her friends and most of the ponies had to cover their ears, Rainbow Dash’s merely plastered themselves against her head submissively.
“He said he was disappointed in me, and that he wouldn’t accept my apology.”
“Great!” Twilight said throwing both her hooves in the air.
“But” Dash continued. “he said he would think about it.”
Silence filled the hull once more as Twilight looked at her friend. The young alicorn merely got up, turned around. Looked at Applejack and her friends who were all giving Rainbow Dash a look of their own. Twilight shook her head.
“Wow.” Was the only thing she could say.”Rainbow Dash come here.”
Rainbow Dash hesitated, said nothing, but moved forward. The sound of her hooves being the only thing that could be heard.
Twilight turned around a second later and a loud smacking sound could be heard for miles as Rainbow Dash fell to the ground with a hoofprint on her cheek.
Twilight Sparkle had just slapped Rainbow Dash.
Tears began to sting the athlete’s eyes and she saw her friend walk right up to her and say the words she didn’t need or want to hear right now.
“You know what Dash. I’m disappointed in you to.” With that Twilight Sparkle turned around, told her other friends she was leaving and left the train station with all eyes on her and ponies scurrying out of the fuming alicorn’s way as she left.
The princess of magic was ticked. And Rainbow Dash had crossed a line. Applejack walked right over to her friend, and helped her up as the others watched Twilight leave the station without another word.
“Sorry to inform you sugar but, we’re all disappointed in you two.” The farmer left with the other following behind her. Soarin and Thunderlane passed by Dash, Soarin not saying a word. But Thunderlane offering a chip of his own.
“I told you we shouldn’t have done this. I hope your happy.”
Rainbow Dash was far from happy. Tears stained the ground as she followed her friends outside and back to Ponyville, today really wasn’t a good day after all.
Upahead Soarin was asking Pinkie Pie how they were able to get to Baltimare so quickly. Pinkie Pie simply said "After we called Spike to warn him you guys were coming he went all silent on the phone for some reason. And then after that my whole body started shaking badly. And that usually means something really really really bad is going to happen, so when Twilight saw that she cut the line, told me to get get Rarity and she would get Applejack and Fluttershy. She also told me to bring a picture of Serve & Dine with her so she could get an image of where she was going to take us. When I asked her how she was going to do that without a train she said she was going to use magic and then-" the mare stopped and looked at Soarin who tapped her on the hoof.
"Slow down could you, you're speaking a bit too fast for me."
"Oh" she said, then nodded. "Sorry, anyway! After I got Rarity and Applejack and Fluttershy came over with Twilight. I placed the picture on of that restaurant in front of her and the next thing I knew we were all FWOOSH! and SWOOSH! and then we were here in Baltimare right in front of a crowd of ponies, and the restaurant. We asked around and were told Spike went down to the station so Twilight used her magic and forced herself to get us closer to the station. We had to run the rest of the way but we made it a little too late I see." She finished on a sad note.
"Oh...I see" Soarin said a little surprised they had went that far. "So I guess we're heading back to Ponyville huh."
"Do you want to tell Twilight you talked to Spike?" Rarity asked as she passed on by.
Soarin froze and watched the alicorn in the distance trot ahead. Her wings were twitched and there was a slight twitch in her own step. The stallion merely shook his head and said "No thanks." He moved on up ahead, a sad Rainbow Dash following everyone in tow.