Betrayal of a rock

The attack she had been bracing herself for didn’t come. Instead it was a deep, friendly voice, laughing, and a hug.

"It's been forever Rarity!!! I’ve been trying to find you all day!!!" Rarity’s breath came out in a relieved sigh as she wrapped her hoof around the scaled figure to return the hug. Her young drake friend had had a growth spurt recently and now stood almost a foot taller than her. His wings had also begun to sprout on his back.

"Yes Spike, but what is a gentle drake such as yourself hiding in a scary alleyway to scare innocent mares?" Rarity fluttered her eyes and pretended she would faint. Spike laughed again in the deep voice that he had acquired to match his taller frame.

"I didn’t exactly expect any noble mares such as you to enter a creepy alleyway. I was just trying to hide from Twilight. You know how she gets on shelving day, this time its like doubled. She even refused to use magic!!! I swear, ever since that girl turned into an alicorn she's gone a bit loony. So what about you?"

"I was actually on my way to see Twilight, but it seems that I’m between a rock and a hard place." Rarity giggled at her play of words and motioned to where Tom was sitting. She flinched slightly when Spike’s face covered with a crushed look, but it quickly disappeared when he noticed her watching him.

"How are things going with...him." Spike motioned in the direction and Rarity sighed.

"That is actually what I wanted to ask Twilight’s opinion on. He seems to be hiding something... Do you think she has time to spare with the cleaning? I should go check, would you like to come?" Rarity put a fake grin on her face and said farewell when Spike said he wouldn’t.

"Sorry Rarity, but I’m not risking going back there. Good luck." Rarity rushed out of the alley way and down the street towards the library. She felt bad leaving Spike in such a rush, but talking to him was just so awkward.

Soon enough she came upon the Golden Oaks library, home to princess Twilight, commander of magic and stars. Rarity remembered when Twilight had found out that she could control the stars, she was so excited. Luna had taught her how to grant wishes made on shooting stars, and from then on rarity had always kept an eye on the night sky. Twilight kept the night sky organize, and even made a constellation for each of the elements of harmony. It was too bad she couldn’t keep the library as organized. Books were flying out of the windows so that Rarity could see the damage even before she walked in the door. She was prepared for the mess when she opened the door, but she wasn’t prepared for the avalanche of books that buried her alive.

"muph...mrp..." Rarity tried to shout for Twilight, who quickly came to the rescue. The books lifted off the startled unicorn in a violet glow. The books where thrown to the side of the room with countless other messy piles stacked around it.

"Rarity! What a pleasant surprise that you dropped by!" Rarity stood up, noticing Twilight opening and closing her wings.

"Hello dear, are your wings okay?"

"Yes of course. Why-" Twilight looked startled to see her wings moving without her permission.

"Twilight."

"Yes Rarity?"

"*sigh* Please come with me."

"But Rari-"

"Come." Rarity said it with such a commanding voice that Twilight closed her mouth and quickly followed the white unicorn out of the library. Rarity saw the obvious signs of stress on Twilight and she couldn’t stand around and let her friend suffer like that.

The two walked in silence, Rarity leading a disgruntled Twilight. Rarity continued until they made it to the cafe. Rarity looked around; making sure Tom had left before taking a seat at one of the tables. Twilight sat across from her.

"May I take an order from you you’re highness?" A waitress came up to them and bowed quickly, a grin plastered on her face. Rarity ordered the two fresh lemonade before looking to Twilight.

"Rarity. You know I should really be getting back to the library. Spike left so I have to reshelf everything by myself and-"

Rarity waved her hoof, signaling Twilight not to make a fuss.

"I'll help you with your shelving later. It’s the least I could do for taking up your time, but for now I have something I have to talk to you about." Twilight sighed, waiting for Rarity to continue.

"I'm sure you've heard the news about me and Tom from Rainbow." Twilight nodded her head to confirm it.

"Well, first of all I want your opinion on what I should do. I’ve gotten great advise from the other girls but maybe you read a book on it or something??? I don’t know. Second I want you to cast that changeling detecting spell on him."

"You think Tom, a rock, is a changeling?" Twilight giggled momentarily before covering her mouth when Rarity gave her the look.

"Not me, Rainbow. I know it’s not that big of a deal, but I know that if I don’t put this to rest, she will go on and on about it until I’m in the grave!" Rarity waved her hoof around to emphasize her words. Twilight looked away, and Rarity felt bad about bringing up the subject of death. Ever since Twilight had become an alicorn, she struggled with the thoughts that she would long outlive her five friends.

"Darling, I’m sorry. It was only an expression." Twilight looked up and gave a sad smile.

"I know Rarity. It’s just a bit difficult to process. But I shouldn’t be going on about my problems when you have much more immediate ones."

"Here you are your highness." The waitress set the lemonade on the table and bowed before scooting away to deliver more food. Twilight just rolled her eyes at the gesture and tried to remember where she was in the conversation.

"Well, my opinion on Tom is like Pinkies. Try to confront him about it, but do it in an inconspicuous way. So he won’t notice it right off the bat. I mean, you don’t want to scare him away." Twilight winked at Rarity who started to sweat, gave a fake smile.

"He, he. yeah. don’t want to scare him..." Rarity and Twilight sipped their lemonade in awkward silence for a moment before being interrupted by a commotion down the street. Both mares looked towards it to see a dis-shelved Fluttershy galloping towards them.

"Rarity! Twilight! Come quick!!!" The shy mares face had tears streaking down it. Twilight and Rarity jumped from their chairs.

"What is it Fluttershy! What’s wrong?!?!"

"Please tell us darling." Fluttershy tried to catch her breath.

"Spike...

Tom...

They’re going to fight!!!"