To Be Young And Jealous

by bestponydash

Getting the Name

"Spike! Spike! Calm down, it's not the end of the world." Spike continued to scream to the heavens, shaking the very foundations of the castle. "Oh for Celestia's sake," she stood up and forced shut Spike's mouth with her glowing horn. "Spike, breathe."

The young dragon nodded and lowered his arms. Twilight's magic disappeared and Spike gasped open his mouth, inhaling and exhaling as fast as he could, "A......date! W-With......who?"

"Oh no, i'm not telling you any more. You've already heard too much."

Spike ran to the pony's side, clutching her foreleg, "Please, Twilight, you have to tell me."

"No, Spike. It's none of your business."

"Of course it is! What if...What if this guy is secretly some evil villain plotting to take advantage of Rarity and conquer all of Equestria!"

She raised and eyebrow, "Oh, that's why your concerned? For the good of Equestria?"

"Absolutely! I can't just sit by while that fiend threatens our world."

"Spike, I'm not going to tell you his name so stop asking," Twilight rolled her eyes.

Spike Threw his arms down, "Fine, then I will have to uncover this secret myself."

"Oh, no you don't," Twilight put up a barrier of magic, blocking Spike's path through the door. "You're not going to do anything to jeopardize Rarity's date. You are going to stay here where I can keep an eye on you."

Spike began to sweat, he couldn't let a stallion anywhere near his beloved marshmallow goddess. He had to find a way out of this castle and stop Rarity from making the biggest mistake of her life. He looked around nervously, stressing his brain for even the smallest of ideas until....bingo.

Spike crossed his arms and tapped his foot in frustration, tricking the gullible book horse into thinking he had accepted his cruel and undeserved fate. Twilight nodded with a raised brow and began to turn back to her book. Suddenly the dastardly clever dragon crept to one of the nearby bookshelves and snatched a book, hiding it behind his back. "Hey, Twilight," he called; the rumble of an evil laugh erupting within his throat.

"What is it, Spike?" she did not turn her attention.

"I think one of your books is missing."

Twilight smacked her book closed with such force as to crack the very earth beneath her hooves, "What did you say!!!" She zoomed from her position to where Spike was pointing. Her eyes gazed upon the empty spot among the many tomes and it sent several knives into her heart. "No! No NoNoNoNoNoNo! It can't be!" She flung her head up, down, left, and right, looking for her missing treasure, but it was nowhere to be seen. Twilight began to panic and Conjured up a paper bag for her hyperventilating. She was about to totally lose it when she glanced to the ground. "Huh?" she discarded her bag and took a closer look. "Aha!" It was what she sought, her missing book. "Phew, that was a close one. Right, Spike?" She Turned to hear her dragon companion's response but he was nowhere to be seen. "Spike?...Sp- Oh....Crap."

"I can't believe that worked!" Spike sprinted away from the castle. "Now, I need answers." Spike had to think on the run, "Who would know his name? The rest of Twilight's friends would probably keep the secret pretty tight...What about...Yes! That could work!" Spike knew what he had to do, It would cost him, but it had to be done. So, he ran back to the source: Carousel boutique. He stopped and took a moment to catch his breath before knocking on the door once again.

And once again, Sweetie Belle answered him. "Back again? I already told you Rarity's not here."

"I know; actually I came here to see you."

Sweetie Belle Turned her head to the side slightly and Squinted her eyes, "Me?"

"Yes," he leaned closer and waved the young filly to do the same, "How well can you find out a secret?"

Sweetie chuckled, "Depends...how much is it worth to you," she outstretched a hoof. Spike rolled his eyes.

It was a well known fact among those of the younger crowd that Sweetie belle was secretly a gold mine of gossip. She could find out anything you needed to know, for a price that is. Spike offered every cent he had managed to save; any price was worth it to save his beloved purple-haired mistress, to one day revel in her curley locks of beauty and touch her perfect soft lips to his.

Sweetie Belle heard his offer, "Hmmm; it's less than my usual fare...but I'll give you a friend discount. Just this once, though." Spike's eyes lit up and he jumped into the air with joy. Sweetie Belle looked left and right, "What's the job?"

"You sister is going on a date tonight. I need to know the stallion's name, where he lives, and where the date is being held. Can you do all that?"

She smiled, "Spike, the question is not if I can do it, It's only a matter of how long it will take." The young love-struck dragon liked the sound of that! Sweetie Belle thought it over for a minute or two, "Meet me behind sugarcube corner at six o'clock sharp. If you miss the meet up, you get nothing and no refunds." The filly appeared to be even more of an experienced business mare than expected.

Spike nodded, "I'll be there, don't worry." Sweetie Belle nodded back and shut the door to the boutique. Now all that was left to do was wait...and stay clear of an angry Twilight.

When the clock struck six, Spike was ready at the rendezvous; pacing back and forth in anticipation. Any minute now he would have the name of the enemy he is destined to face down, the face he is destined to compete with. Soon enough, Sweetie Belle arrived, disguised in a trench coat and hat as to hide her face. She approached Spike, "You got the money?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Spike handed over a small sack of his life savings and watched as the filly counted it. "So?"

Sweetie tied the bag up and placed it under her coat. "The guy goes by the name..." Spike inched closer, rubbing his claws together. "Feather Fabrics, not sure if it's his real name or not but he lives out of town and seems to be a pretty proper fella. There date is at eight tonight. They plan on going to dinner at the nicest restaurant in town, taking a walk by sweet apple acres, then going back to the boutique. That's your window."

And so, there it was. Spike's brow creased with determination, a plan already forming in his mind; the perfect plan to make Rarity see just what a huge mistake she has made. The path was clear, and the target would soon regret crossing this reptile. "Feather Fabrics," Spike whispered to himself. His enemy, his prey. He had two hours to prepare; there was no time to waste.

Author's Note:

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Comments

[Hillbe]

he exploded in a ball of flame!
twice!
How did you know?
It's a dragon thing?