Covers
Covers
by Minimin22
Rainbow Dash flew at top speed towards the Library Treehouse. The day had just begun and she figured she was going to do what she did best in her free time: Slack off.
The few things she had to take care of was already taken care of, which included eating breakfast, giving Tank food, brushing her teeth and taking a post-breakfast nap.
Most of her days off consisted of one of three things: Practicing stunts, napping and... reading. Yes, READING! It had slowly moved up on her list of favourite things to do ever since the incident with the first book she ever read. At first she only wanted to read Daring Do, having only eyes for the suspense and action they contained.... but lately, she had started reading something else.
Romance.
Just thinking about it almost made her gag, but it was the next generation of Rainbow Dash's un-put-downable books! Twilight somehow conned her into reading one and she was hooked. Of course nopony could ever find out, she had an image to keep up after all. Only Twilight knew and she made sure to have her Pinkie Promise three times not to tell a soul.
Today was the day she was going to return the book she borrowed last week. Twilight had been very clear about due-dates as of late. You even had to pay several bits if you were late with returning a book! She also figured she might as well get a new read too while she was there. No sooner had she decided this when she arrived at the library. Deciding to not wreck the door this time she opened the light oak door and entered.
"Hey, Twilight! I'm here to return a book and I was thinking about renting another one of those--"
She stopped dead in her tracks at what she saw. Or rather, WHO she saw. Currently dusting the top of a bookshelf was the library's resident dragon Spike who, at hearing her voice, turned around and faced her.
"Oh, hey RD! What's up?" He said, flashing a wide smile.
Of course she shouldn't have been so surprised Spike would be here. He was her unicorn friend's number one assistant after all. It was, however, not good that he was here.
"Uh, hey Spike." Rainbow nervously started, "Is Twilight here?"
Spike skidded down the ladder he stood on and walked over to Rainbow.
"No, she's out grocery shopping." Spike said flatly, "I could help you though if it's about books."
"Uh.."
"But if it's Daring Do you're out of luck. Next one isn't coming for another three months." he quickly added.
"That's okay, I was actually looking for..." Rainbow started before stopping herself.
"Looking for what?" Spike curiously inquired.
She cursed herself for letting this much slip. This was the only person she really couldn't tell.
Spike was a pretty cool guy. They had started hanging out more and more as of late, doing a bunch of awesome stuff like pranking, talk about awesome stuff (Wonderbolts included), and even doing stunts! Well more like, she did them, and Spike watched from the sidelines.
Yeah, Spike was a pretty cool guy. No, scratch that. He was an awesomely cool guy! Almost as awesome as herself. Which is why she absolutely couldn't tell him. Not him.
Snapping back to reality, Spike had started waving his hand in front of her face in an attempt to bring her back.
"Wah? Huh? Looking for something? Who?" Rainbow blurted out.
Spike raised an eyebrow.
"You just said you were."
"I didn't!" She said stubbornly.
Spike started to realize there was no point in arguing with her. When she got like this, there was no reasoning to be had.
Yeah, when she got like this... He had learned much about Ponyville's fastest pegasus lately, what with all time they spent hanging out. It felt good to have a friend who was his friend too and not only because she was a part of Twilight's circle of friends.
However.
She had not opened up to him completely. Spike knew there was more to this famed Rainbow Dash than met the eye, and as long as she felt she had to put up a cool front he was never going to know the real her.
Which is why, he decided, he was going to break her. Or at least her façade.
"Alright Rainbow." Spike started, "But I think you said something about returning a book at least?"
For a split second Rainbow thought she saw him smirk.
"Uh... yeah!"
"Ok then, hand it over."
"Nope!" She finished.
Spike started to get frustrated with her evasiveness and just decided to peek at the book instead when she, in one full motion, draped the book under her wing, preventing anyone from seeing it.
"Oh, come ON Rainbow!" Spike said in disbelief, "Why?"
"Because reasons."
"Stop being such a baby!"
"You're the one with the title!"
Grumbling, Spike stomped over to Rainbow and hopped onto her back, surprising her a bit.
"Come on, let me see!" Spike continued while tugging at her wing.
Seeing as he had a hard time 'uncovering' the book Rainbow couldn't help but laugh at his attempts.
"Heh! I see someone didn't use the dumbbell I gave him on his birthday." She added between her snorts.
"I did use it! But these wings are insane!" He defended, getting more worn out with each passing second.
"Not the greatest compliment I've gotten, but thanks." Rainbow smirked.
With that said she felt the tugging stop. For a few moments Rainbow wondered what to do next until she felt a tickling sensation on the back of her neck.
Spike knew it was finally time for all the involuntary information brought upon him by Twilight to be put to use. Amongst all the things he knew, pegasus anatomy was one particularily useful piece of knowledge.
Rainbow started to blush as she felt his claw trail down her spine until it reached the base her wings. Unfortunately she was so enticed by the feeling that she failed to realize what was about to happen.
"Sure-kill move! 'W-pressure point of death!'" Spike yelled loudly, pressing down hard between her wings.
*poomf*
Rainbow had to bite her lip to prevent a tiny yelp from slipping out. The book fell ungracefully to the floor, displaying the title for all the world to see, and by 'world' she meant 'Spike.'
Spike on the other hand, had dismounted her and was now inspecting the cover. His eyes scanned the title and then looked straight at her.
"Huh... you like romance novels?"
The amount of embarrassment and dread Rainbow felt was crushing. Not only was her friendship with Spike coming to an end, but her wings also stood upright!
"No- uh.. I mean, I... it was... uh..." She started, trying desperately to pull her wings back.
"So what did you think?"
"...what?"
Needless to say, Rainbow Dash was beyond confused.
"Did you think the ending was any good? Personally I felt it was a bit rushed. I mean, Cinnamon Twirl just forgave White Chess and then they got together at the end. What's up with that?"
"Wait, what?" Rainbow sputtered.
"You didn't notice? It was basically an 'And then they--'" Spike began.
"No, no, wait a minute!" Rainbow interrupted, "You like romance too?"
Now it was Spike's turn to get confused.
"Uh, yeah? I thought I told you during that stunting session last week." he mumbled, slightly annoyed that she hadn't listened to him then.
"But... you're cool!" Rainbow continued, still not piecing it together.
"Uh, wow, thanks..."Spike said, feeling his cheeks heat up before continuing, "I mean, yeah?"
"And you read... romance novels..." Rainbow slowly stated.
"Yep. Why is that so surprising?"
Rainbow could barely believe what was happening. She had been discovered reading romance novels by possibly her best friend whom she had always thought to be against it. And she had been proven wrong. But she just had to check.
"So... you don't think I'm lame for liking that fluffy stuff?" She carefully worded her question.
Spike just stared at her dumbfounded.
"No! As long as you don't hide it and stand for it you'll be respected! And we both know respect equals awesome." Spike finished, quite satisfied with his pep-talk.
Rainbow didn't know what to say. She just stood there, mouth agape.
"Will... will you have me?" Rainbow heard herself say, immediately clasping her hooves on her mouth.
"...See! You did remember how the book ended!" Spike added jokingly, sparing her further embarrassment.
"Heh, yeah!" Rainbow smiled, relieved Spike dropped it.
"Hey, follow me! I got some novels I can recommend in my room."
After Spike had guided Rainbow up the stairs to his and Twilight's room he went straight over to his basket and dug out a stack of books from within. Quickly searching through the stack he found the one he was looking for and handed it to Rainbow Dash.
"Here. This one is made by the same author, although it's much better than the last one."
Rainbow took the book, her smile never wavering.
"Hey, what's with that smile Dashbow?" Spike mentally slapped himself for using such a ridiculous nickname.
"It's just... so cool that you're cool about me being cool about reading sappy stuff like this!" She exclaimed.
Spike sighed inwardly and decided to speak his mind.
"Look, Rainbow... I really like you, and it's cool hanging out with you, but I always feel that you have to put up a tough front for me. I know your image is being 'awesome' but I don't want you to feel like you have to live up to that image around me."
Rainbow Dash nodded slowly before responding.
"Alright. I was just scare-- I mean, unsure that you would be cool with it."
"You shouldn't worry about that. Ever I mean. A beautiful, talented and smart mare like you? Be proud of who you are, RD." Spike concluded, slightly regretting massaging her ego with those compliments.
Rainbow on the other hand had started to blush once again. She sure hoped it would remain an oddity for her to blush so much.
"You really mean that stuff?"
Spike put his index finger to his chin, seemingly in great thought.
"Hmm, well I guess saying you're smart would be inaccur-- OW!" Spike clutched his head where Rainbow had hit him with her hoof.
As they made their way back to the entrance Rainbow was downright giddy. The day had gone so much better than expected. She also felt that she could tell Spike anything now. Amongst those feelings she felt something else stir in her. She couldn't put her hoof on it, but it was a good feeling, it felt like she was walking on clouds. Only better.
When they reached the door she turned to Spike.
"Hey, thanks for everything."
"No probs RD." Spike said while putting his arm around her neck. "I got plenty more so you just come on back when you're finished."
"Yeah--" she began before she felt Spike leaning towards her ear.
"Here's for the lump on my head." He whispered.
No sooner had he said that before he had slid his claw between her wings, activated embarrassment mode and shoved her out the door.
Rainbow then found herself outside the library with her wings exposed and a few shades of redder on her face, all while she endured the stares from passerby ponies and the roaring laughter from inside the tree house.
"SPIIIKEEE!!!"