Live a Little Bit

Chapters

Moving Day
Blocks of Black and Gray
Spike and Mac

Moving Day

It was an unusually hot day in Canterlot, and that was reflected on the mountainside city. The cobblestone streets baked in the hot Equestrian sun, and heat waves bubbled up from between the cemented cracks. Canterlot, despite the heat, still sat majestically on the mountain into which it was built, and the bustle of the city still couldn't be stopped, despite many of its inhabitants inside with their fans and air conditioners. However the figurative and literal capital of the wonderful land of Equestria, was soon to be disrupted however, by a high-pitched wailing coming from the one and only, Tori Sprackle.

In the center of the city, just a block from the bakery, only two blocks from the finest adult video store in the city, and directly across the street from the Equestrian Army, Navy, and Air Force recruitment centers sat the grand, almost royal, castle-like structure of Canterlot University. Often praised as one of the finest universities in all of Equestria, considered second only to the Baltimare Institute of Technologies. Inside this prestigious school, all the way in the farthest building, which hadn't been modified since the school's founding, nearly two hundred years previously, a young girl, maybe only seventeen, was on her knees, face contorted into a gruesome open-mouthed mask of pain. This was the office of Dean Celeste.

In front of the kneeling girl was a large desk, covered in various papers and trinkets, snowglobes and the like (including one odd little statuette of a poorly crafted rocket, it's paint fading and the wording on the base far past legible) as well as an astrolabe with a tiny photo in the center. Behind the desk sat the godly figure of Canterlot University's head, the one, and only, dean.

Her hair (to Tori) always seemed to flow; as if constantly blown by an industrial fan, its multi-colored glory a misguided attempt during the eighty’s to 'connect' better with her younger students. Now the color was fading, but it was still there, taunting Tori with its soft glowing. Her mouth was a thin, albeit sympathetic, line on her face, and her eyes were small and almond-shaped, narrowed behind a pair of face fitting spectacles.

“Now Tori,” Celeste started, “I understand that this is a bit hard...” Tori looked at her with wild eyes, and Celeste almost regretted her decision. Almost. Tori sniffed, tears welling up between her eyelashes, and Celeste's heart gripped a bit.

“You're sending me away.” It wasn't a question. “Is it because I wasn't a good student?” The purple haired girl mumbled quietly, “Is it because I wasn't as good as I should have been?” Her head jerked up, “I'll try harder! I promise!” The older woman was taken aback. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked into Tori's desperate eggshell whites, tinged with deep red veins and puffy from crying. 'Oh dear... She honestly thinks that, doesn't she?' Sighing softly, she stood up from her desk, white pencil skirt sliding against her hard, back-breaking chair, and made her way over to the girl sobbing on her office floor. Slipping off her heels and folding her legs under her, she joined her mentee on the floor, her shins brushing against the ugly red carpet. Wrapping her long arms around the shuddering girl she pulled her into a gentle hug.

“My dearest Tori,” She said, “You have singlehandedly been the finest student to ever walk through these doors and into my office. You've been a wonderful student; always on time, studious, and passionate.” Tori looked at her mentor with watery eyes, face red, and Celeste brushed a stray purple hair off her face, “Don't ever think I'm not proud of who you are and who you have become.”

“B-but then why are you sending me away?” She squeaked, still confused. Celeste sighed and pushed herself to her feet, before offering a hand to Tori, who gratefully took it and let herself be guided to one of the, also red, couches in the office.

“Well that being said, I really am proud of you...” Celeste started, sliding onto the couch with Tori, “However,” with that, Tori visibly tensed, “I am... How do I say this... concerned, about you.” Tori gulped and everything that could have concerned her teacher ran through her head; grades, attendance, the fact that one of her prized possessions was the staff photo of Celeste with Tori's face photoshopped into it (despite what Spike said, it wasn't creepy. Really.).

“A-about what?” She asked hesitantly, Celeste opened her mouth,

“I've heard from a certain source,” 'She knows about the picture!' Tori screamed in her mind, “That you've been spending an awful lot of time cooped up in you room.” Tori blinked, eyes itching slightly due to the tears from earlier

“Oh.” Celeste looked at her, “Well that's because I study. I like to read... Is that bad?” Celeste smiled,

“Of course not, reading is a gateway to knowledge and knowledge is one of the most important things in the world.” Tori looked at her, confused.

“Then what's wrong? Aren't I doing something good?” Tori asked innocently. Celeste pointedly looked away, nibbling her lip, a habit she thought she had dropped years ago.

“This -source- has also brought to my attention that this what you do, constantly. All day, everyday.” Tori grinned a toothy smile, Celeste grinned weakly back, but it faded as soon as it appeared and Tori's along with it, a look of fear once again dawning on her face. “This isn't healthy, Tori. Look at you,” The younger girl looked at her hands, and Celeste took them in her own longer, slender ones, “You're so pale you're almost translucent. Spi- I mean my source- also tells me you rarely eat, and when you do, it's a small serving and unfinished.” Tori looked away,

“I just don't get that hungry when I'm studying. That's all.” Celeste's face grew a bit longer,

“Tell me Tori, when was the last time you talked to one of your friends?” An audible gulp hit her ears,

“Umm... I...er... I talked to...uhh that dancer, Dilly? Yesterday.” She said, eyes darting all over the room, except at Celeste.

“You mean Dana?” Tori jumped.

“Yes! Dana! I have no idea where Dilly cam-”

“Stop.” The word was sharp. Numbing. Painful. Tori's mouth snapped shut, threatening to let out a new round of bawling. Celeste sat up quickly, before slipping her feet back into her heels, careful to not make eye contact with her student. Re-seating herself in her chair, she spun around so that she was facing the back wall, covered in photographs of all the graduating classes she had seen pass through her school.

“Miss Celeste...” She began, but Celeste's sharp voice cut into it, slicing through her words like a sword.

“I understand that knowledge is important. But what good is knowledge if there's no one to share it with?” Tori opened her mouth to answer before Celeste continued, back still facing her, “I'm sending you to a small town called Ponyville, where maybe you can learn a bit more about friendship.” Tori nodded despondently, even knowing that Celeste couldn't see her. “My sister, Luna, has recently become the principal of a small high school there. You and Spike are to live with her for a year and make some friends.” Celeste replayed what she said in her mind, like she always did when she was speaking, but found she just couldn't concentrate. Tori gawked for a minute,

“A high school?! But even you yourself have said I'm on a completely different level!” Celeste's voice once again cut into her argument,

“You may be far beyond anybody in a high school, but you need to meet people your age! And you just so happen to be at that age for a high school!” Celeste mentally rebuked herself for raising her voice, 'Well, no turning back now.' she thought sullenly.

Tori closed her eyes and lowered her head.

“I understand.” Pulling herself up off the couch, she slumped to the door, and roughly grabbed it. Twisting it and yanking, the large wood door creaked open, revealing a short, green-haired boy pressed up against it, one hand on the door, the other one shoved into his purple sweater. Jumping, he backed up quickly.

“Oh, and Tori!” Celeste's voice jolted her to attention, turning around, she saw the dean had turned in her seat, hands now clasped together on the desk, and clear streaks of tiny tears were slowly making their way down her flawless skin, “Good luck...” she was quiet for a moment before blurting out: “And I expect to get a report from you every day.” Tori felt more tears spring to her eyes as she smiled as strong as she could before giving a firm nod and exiting the room. The engraved wood clicked shut with almost an air of finality. Celeste sighed as she dabbed her eyes and turned back to the wall with her photographs, mind slowly turning over itself.

“So...” Spike, the short purple-clad boy scratched behind his head, “What's goin' down?” Tori gave him a small glare,

“We're moving. The end.” Spike glared back at her.

“And?” He prompted, as they rounded a corner towards their room, near the T. Stark; the Ruggedly Handsome wing of the college dorms.

“I have to make... friends.” She muttered, fear slipping into her voice. Spike smiled as they trudged up the stairs toward their room, he absentmindedly ran a hand along the stone banister, tapping his fingers as he moved.

“Well that's good! Personally I think you needed to get out more.” He gave her a large grin, his sharp canines giving him an impish look as he reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. Glancing at it, she slapped his wrist, causing him to recoil sharply.

“This is all your fault.” She hissed as she slipped a small key into their dorm room door, slamming it open with a bang. The childish grin fell from his lips, replaced with sad frown as they entered the room.

“What did I-”

“I know you talked to Dean Celeste!” She shouted at him, “You got me kicked out of school! Got me sent to some backwater little hamlet! That's what you did!” Spike stared at her for a moment, before looking at the ground and visibly biting back his tears. Glaring at her, he went to the closet where he had most of his possessions. Reaching into the back, he yanked out a purple duffel-bag and began to wordlessly throw clothes into it.

Looking at him, Tori felt a wave of shame wash over her, immediately followed by a another wave of anger at him. Going to the other side of the room, she reached under her bed and pulled out a rarely touched suitcase. Looking at it, she felt a wave of nostalgia crash over her, wiping out the anger and guilt swirling inside her. 'This is the bag I came here in.' Looking around the room, which was on the larger side, she admired her time in the school as a collection of physical objects. Namely, books. A large bay window was on the east side so that the morning sun would always shine through, but it was covered by thick blue curtains, covered in a layer of dust that signaled that they hadn't been touched in a while.

A small mirror hung on Spike's side of the room, as well as a couple of posters of women in bikinis sprawled across cars. And one he had gotten at Comic-Con of a purple and green dragon that was beautifully and painstakingly painted. In the corner, a small signature in bright gold stood out, Always believe Spike.- L.F.. Tori had always liked that one, she really thought it exemplified his child-like belief. They had never gotten the artist's name, however, and try as he might, he couldn't find her again. It was a shame too, she was a truly magnificent painter.

Her eyes dragged over to her side of the room. Covering the walls were thesis papers, brainstorming maps, and the occasional book report. Boring. Nothing like Spike's side, which always seemed to be changing women and bands monthly. Tori was convinced he had a person who was giving them to him. Glancing down, she realized she had packed nothing so far and quietly began to neatly fold her clothes into the bag.

After about fifteen minutes had passed, Spikeleft, saying something about talking to their neighbor, Flinn Cedar. Tori ignored him and the broken face he made when she turned his nose up his goodbye. Eventually, she had finished pushing all of her clothes and all the books she wanted to take with her into the tiny purple suitcase. Sighing, she opened the door, and, with one last forlonging glance at her side of the room she shut it. Spike was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, duffel bag thrown over his shoulder casually, back to the door. However before she even stepped onto the wooden step, a voice caught her attention.

"You thinking about going without saying goodbye?" Tori stopped dead. Turning around slowly, she came face-to-chest with Flinn Cedar, who was in the dorm room right next to them. Tilting her neck slightly to look him in the face, she blushed red at his childish face and blue hair, before looking down at her shoes. "Listen, I heard everything from Spike." He said, raising his arms in a mock surrender, before realizing she wasn't looking at him and going the tiniest bit red.

"Then you also must have heard that he sold me out?" She mumbled bitterly, the grip on her suitcase tightened threatening to turn her knuckles whiter than they already were. Flinn sighed.

"Yeah I did. I'm also the one who told him should do it." Tori's eyes widened like dinner plates. She couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. Flinn Cedar, cute, brilliant, military, physics major, everything, had told Spike that she shouldn't be around anymore? Tears threatened to well up in her eyes again.

"B-but why? She whimpered, "I thought you liked me? Why would you want me to go away?" Flinn's eyes grew the tiniest bit misty.

"I do like you. Probably more than I should." He looked away, red tinting his cheeks, "But the way you are, the way you're headed, you're going to destroy yourself." He looked at her before hesitantly taking her hands in his. "And neither Spike nor I could stand around and let that happen." Tori blinked away even more tears that were threatening to spill down her face.

"You really care?" She managed to blubber out, her suitcase now forgotten on the floor, as she wrapped her arms around his chest, feeling his arms snake their way around her.

"Of course I do." He mumbled into her hair, and she got tiniest of thrills from his hot breath against her scalp, and she couldn't help but nudge her head into his chin. "Now go. Make the friends and be a greater person than you already are. Go be the person I know you can be." A cough came from behind them and they jumped apart, Tori leaping right into Spike, who was giving them a flat look.

"Can we cut the mushy stuff and go?" He snarled, teeth poking over his lip, and his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. Tori whipped her head around to glare at him, while Flinn just smiled sheepishly and gave him a thumbs up. Reaching down, he grabbed Tori's bag.

"Here, I'll walk you guys to the train station." He smiled at her, his lips curved into a small grin before walking up next Spike. Tori smiled back at him, putting her hands to her cheeks to cool the heat that was accumulating in her head. Flinn was laughing with Spike, who was waving his hands above his head and glancing back at Tori. Tori couldn't help but feel a small bit of joy at seeing the two get along so well together, even though she wasn't going to see Flinn for another year. Sighing, she pushed those thoughts aside, and ran to catch up with the pair.

"Hey buddy, whattya say we race to the station? One last run before ya leave?" Spike put his hand on his chin and stroked for a minute in mock thought.

"Well maybe just one... Okay! OnetwothreeGO!" He shouted, taking off kicking up a small cloud of dust as he ran off. Flinn stood stunned for a minute before grabbing Tori's bag and pumping his legs to catch up.

"Hey no fair!" He shouted, his long strides quickly shortening the ground between them, even with the Tori quickly started after the two, trying desperately to keep her skirt from flying up as she ran after them.

"Hey! Guys! Flinn! Spike! UGH!"

Spike's eyes were squeezed shut as he ran past the blurring scenery and shouts from people as he flashed by. Today had not been his day. Tori was mad to the point of unforgiveness, and he was getting sent far away, never to see his friends, though they were small in number, again for an entire year. The only solace he took in the otherwise terrible day he had been having was the fact that he was finally going to beat Flinn at a physical competition for the first time since they'd met. Even if it meant kinda-sorta getting the tiniest head start. Seeing the large platform and booth that seemed to make up the basic blueprint of all of Equestria's train stations, Spike knew he was going to have to end this right then and there. Taking one final leap, Spike, his duffel, and his little green jacket, flew up into the air, both his legs bent just beneath his thighs. 'This is just like one of my Japonies animes!' he thought, only daring to think about how awesome he looked.

Flinn watched on, impressed, as Spike's leap of faith took him through the Canterlot air, past a thoroughly surprised civilian, who ducked when he saw the purple and green blur whizzing towards him. But, as soon as it had began, Spike's jump had ended and he was back on the ground, his sandal-ed feet hitting the floor with a sharp slapping sound. Right in front of Flinn. The younger boy stared up at him,

"OH GOD DAMMIT!" Flinn just laughed it off,

"Sorry Squirt! I guess you just gotta try harder next time." Spike just grumbled under his breath, still incredulous on Flinn's amazing physical prowess. Looking around however, he noticed something. He was there, Flinn was there, and Tori's bag was there, but Tori herself wasn't. Gazing down the street, however, he could see the panting and puffing purple-with-a-streak Tori. Soon, or rather, in five minutes, she had reached the station platform, glaring at both of them.

"Never. Again." She wheezed out, her voice cracking from lack of breath. Flinn and Spike shared a sly grin before sidling up to the conductor, and waving to Tori, who sighed again before trudging up to the conductor and reaching into her pocket for her ticket. Only to be met with the empty lining inside. After a frantic search of her entire person, what could only have been considered as a panic attack, followed by a small breakdown, it was finally brought to her attention that Spike had the tickets. Flinn gave her a hug, and patted her on the cheek,

"Be good to Spike, okay?" He said softly, making sure that the boy in question couldn't hear him, "He's a good kid." Tori scoffed,

"Hardly." Flinn gave her a look, mixed somewhere in between amused and reproachful, she looked away, "But I'll try."

And so, bags beneath their seats, Spike's trusty GameDragon outfitted with Tetris (which was twelve years out of date and the only game he owned. For twelve of his fifteen years of living.) they set off to a year in their new home of Ponyville. Tori rested her head against the back of the seat, feeling her eyes drooping and the days events catching up to her, the sounds of blocks snapping out of existence with mechanical buzzing soothed her to sleep. Sleepily, she looked over at Spike,

"You know I love you, right?" She said, shifting her head on his shoulder, Spike's eyes stayed glued to the screen, but he visibly relaxed, "And... I'm sorry. But don't think for a second that I've-" She yawned, "-forgiven you."

"Yeah, I do. And don't worry. I won't."

Author's Note

I was actually reading several FiMfictions while writing this, thereby my sense of POV kind of got jumbled, so if you see something that doesn't belong, please don't hesitate to point it out.

Blocks of Black and Gray

"I think I've got time for one game." Spike flipped his quarter up into the air as he strolled into the large, darkened room, the sound of coins clattering, and digital noises sounding. He strolled past the games, his disappointment increasing with every one he passed. I have NO idea how to play these!. He groaned and rubbed his head. Looking at the games he passed, he grew into more and more unfamiliar territory. Mule Kong? Sure it was famous, sure he had heard of it, but he'd never played it. Same thing with Steer Fighter. And Castlemania. However just as he was about to insert his coin into a Pac Stan, a commotion drew his attention.

"Come on Barney! Givit' back!" A thick accent sounded from over near the far end of the arcade. Looking over, he saw a group of about fifteen kids, some who looked his age, others that looked younger than him surrounding a quartet of children and even some that looked older. Three; one a short, lanky, purple-haired girl, with an orange shirt that had rainbows all over it was baring her teeth. Another, a petite girl wearing a cream white dress, covered in frills and light-purple borders; her bobbed hair two separated colors, was also glaring harshly at the offender. The third, a brawny girl with syrupy red hair that sort of dripped off her head, was wearing a cream t-shirt covered by jean overalls as she grabbed at a pink bow held in another child's hand. The fourth, the child in question, was a boy with brown hair under a ball-cap with a small propeller attached to the head. The boy, most presumably Barney, held the pink bow out of reach of the overalls girl, her red hair bobbing as she jumped up and down to grab the bow.

"Hey Barney!" The orange clad girl shouted, balling her fists, "You give that back, or else!" She made a lunge for the bow, but it fluttered out of reach as the boy danced away from her hand. Barney laughed,

"Or else what, Serena? You gonna get it from me? Can you even reach it?" Serena's cheeks turned red, and several of the kids in the audience laughed quietly. The ginger growled and backed up next to Serena. The last of the trio, the purple and pink haired balled her hands at her side,

"Why can't you just give it back?" Her voice was high-pitched and broke in the middle of the sentence.

"Hmmm... I'll make you a deal." Barney tapped his chin, Barney grinned at Sally, who shrunk back, "If you can beat my high-score on any game in this place, and put a new name there, then I'll give you the bow back. If not..." He paused and glanced evilly into the corner, "I'll throw it in the claw grab!" The entire place went silent. Apparently this was the worst kind of threat.

"But you have the high-score on every game!" Sally whined. Sally and Serena turned to the redhead,

"What should we do, Abigail? We don't any money left!" Serena asked. The girl shrugged and sighed despondently, and Spike could see tears moistening her eyes and her jaw chewing on her lip.

"Look don't worry 'bout it girls... Ah'll... Ah'll just... git a new bow..." Sighing he looked at his quarter I shouldn't get involved. This isn't my problem.

"No! we have to try!" Sally said, hugging Abigail tightly, "That bow was Granny Smith's, wasn't it?" Barney pulled back a tiny bit at that,

"Well... Maybe I'll cut you some slack. If you don't have any quarters..." Barney said, tauntingly, the three girls looked up hopefully, "I'll give it back... If Sally agrees to go out with me. Spike snickered quietly at the cliche demand. The other three girls, were not amused, however. Sally hung her head.

"But..." The crowd was getting restless, some, like a girl with blue glasses, were goading Barney to throw the ribbon into the claw machine, some were telling him to give it back.

"Tick tock Sally!" Barney winked at Sally, who cringed and glared fiercely at him. 'One game. I DID say one game.'

"All right." Sally said quietly, "I guess have to do it." Barney grinned a bit wider, and the propeller on his cap spun,

"No! Does anybody have a quarter?" Serena called out, looking around desperately.

"Why borrow a quarter?" Barney jeered, "All Sally has to do is say yes." Serena continued to ask around for quarters, but Sally put a hand on her shoulder.

"Even if we did have a quarter, we can't beat him. He's the best!" Serena sighed and moved back to Abigail's side. Sally looked at her friend, and she gave a wavering, but reassuring, smile, "I'll get it back for you, don't worry." Abigail shook her head,

"Nah.Ya'll... Ya'll can't do that fer me."

That was when Spike chose to step forward. 'I'm going to regret this. This is a huge mistake.'

"I've got a quarter." Everybody in the room swiveled their heads to look at him, "All I have to do is beat your high score to get her bow?" Barney looked at him in astonishment, then back at the three girls, who also seemed to be surprised. Now that he looked around, so did everyone else. 'Yep. Mistake.' Whispers spread out like fire through the crowd,

"Who's that...?"

"I've never seen him."

"Me neither." Spike ignored them and walked through the crowd to Barney, nudging some people and squeezing past others. He could feel many pairs of eyes focused on him, and he nervously ran a tongue over his teeth, poking at his sharp canine. Barney looked at him, with a irritable look in his eyes.

"You? You think you can beat my high score?" He asked incredulously, and some of the kids in the crowd murmured among each other.

"Yeah." Spike lied, before he could even stop himself, "Yeah I do." 'Oh man, what am I doing.... Barney, obviously not expecting anybody to stand up to him, laughed.

"Well you're welcome to try. Hell, I won't even need to work to crush you!" He gave a wide sweeping gesture behind him, "Pick your poison!" Serena glowered, while Sally had an arm comfortingly around Abagail's shoulders, who timidly spoke up,

"Please don't do that fer me." But Spike didn't seem to hear her, as he walked father into the back. Everybody behind him followed, the crowd, the girls, and Barney. Eyes glinting left and right, he fingered his only quarter and he was becoming more and more discouraged. The games seemed to grow older and more unfamiliar the farther he went. Personal Space Invaders? That sounded like a game dedicated to molesters. Fast Racer 2001? He couldn't even drive. Nightmare Moon's House didn't even have a joystick, just plastic guns, and remembering the time Flinn had taken him to the gun range (where he had come back to the dorm with a black eye, bloody nose and not even a single bullet hole in the paper to show for it), he was pretty sure he would suck at that. And at the top of every high score list, there sat three ominous letters; B-A-R, which no doubt stood for Barney.

However it was then he saw it. Though the walls around it could only be made out faintly, he was positive it was the machine exactly like the photo on the front of the building. This was the first game here. And, he soon realized, the last one. He'd seen all the others, and with his limited game knowledge, couldn't play any of them. He looked at the top of the overhand above the screen. It was the most familiar symbol in his entire life. It was the GameDragon logo. And, on the screen white and black blocks fell, automated, into place. Tetris. Walking forward, he stopped in front of the machine, old and faded now, but still no doubt any different from the portable version he had. At it's head, the letters B-A-R flashed mockingly.

"This one." He said with an air of finality, "I pick this one." Barney shrugged,

"Sure." He grinned, "You won't even make it past level four." Spike grabbed the joystick with his right hand and hovered his left over the two buttons. Giving the coin a final rub, he slipped it into the slot. The start menu jumped to life. The crowd moved in directly behind him, about ten kids jostling for a position to see the screen. Abigail, Serena, and Sally were huddled together on his left and Barney watched confidently on his right. Clicking the button he began the game, and the ever-alluring tune began mechanically playing, as though a music box was cranking out old dilapidated notes. Spike hummed the tune quietly as he placed his first block.

~ Little while earlier~

All they had done was come to the arcade to play a couple video games, which was reasonable. It was an arcade, after all. They'd had six quarters, two for each of them. Or three for Serena and Abigail, because Sally had decided that the only video game she was good at was Prance Prance Revolution, but she refused to play the one at the Ponyville arcade on account of it being 'broken'. Neither Serena nor Abigail had the heart to tell her she was just bad.

Serena had burnt through her three on the racing games (all three of which she had come in last place, which they unanimously decided was because of her crashing.) and the two had watched Abigail play Steer Fighter. Of the three, Abigail was the best at playing at the arcade, due to her softly calloused hands that were more or less used to work. She was on her second quarter and Steeru was beating the stuffing out of M. Bison(the 'M' stood for 'Minotaur'). Just as she lost, however, a slight tug came from the back of her head, and she felt her red hair fall from it's place. Reaching up to the back of her head, she felt her around for her bow, which had mysteriously gone missing from her hair. Twirling around she saw Barney Matt's face grinning smugly in front of her. Sally rolled her eyes and Serena scowled at him.

"Hey!" Abigail cried, making a grab for it, and attracting the attention of some of the other kids in the arcade, but she tripped and stumbled forward a bit.

"Nice fall, Abigail!" A high pitched voice sounded from her left, and a girl with a pair of blue glasses and braided silver hair waltzed up on her right, "You take lessons or does that come naturally?" Some kids laughed while others grumbled at her.

"Shut up, Silvia!" Serena snapped at her as she and Sally helped Abigail to her feet, and Sally stuck a tiny pink tongue out at her.

"Give Abigail back her bow!" Sally said sternly to Barney and holding out her hand for it. Barney shook it out of reach,

"Ah-ah-ah!" He sang, "You didn't say the magic word!" Sally looked confused,

"Please?" Barney thought for a moment before laughing,

"No, not magic enough!" Sally squinted at him and pouted, Abigail crossed her arms, defiant.

"Whatta' Ah need ta do ta git mah bow back?" Barney contemplated that question, before turning to her,

"Just beat me in Steer Fighter." He smiled,

"Fine, Ah'll take you on!" She spun around to the game and threw in her last quarter. Barney swaggered over and dug a quarter out of his pocket.

A few minutes later she slumped to the ground, slack-jawed.

"B-but... Ah... Ah... What just happened?" Barney smiled,

"Up up double down left right A B up." He recited flawlessly,

"So what about Abigail's bow?" Serena interrupted, and Barney looked at them,

"Well she didn't win, now did she?" The girls gasped, and Silvia snickered quietly.

“Wha- Barney!”

“Come on! Givit back Barney!”

~The Present~

Spike was in the metaphorical ‘Zone’. Never before had he had such reason to play. For once, he, Spike, was the hero. Not some fantasy character who he read about in some comic book. Not a television show character. Not his genius older sister. He was the hero. The blocks flew down, smashing into the black bottom, and disappearing in a burst.

‘LEVEL 7’ flashed across the screen. He grinned. As hard as it was, he’d seen much worse. Sure the old games were hard, but nothing compared to the Japonies. His finger clicked rapidly over the button, his other hand shifting the joystick. Row after row exploded in a glorious shower of black and white pixels, the number in the corner shooting upward with every one. The crowd behind him watched on in amazement, now completely silent and awe-filled as Spike smashed block after block into row after row. Abigail, Serana, and Sally were by far the most enthusiastic.

“Haha!” Serana jeered at Barney, who’s face had paled considerably (or at least more, considering the fact that he had managed to spend most of his time in the arcade) and looking at the screen with a sick expression. Sally was smiling ear to ear and skipping in place, her feet bouncing her up and down, obviously overjoyed at the fact that she wouldn't have to go on a date with Barney.

“You just give us back that bow!” She sidled up next to Barney and yanked the red bow from his slack hand, running a hand along his chin as she did so. Returning to Abigail, she quickly knotted the bow tightly, giving it an extra tug for good measure. The three girls pulled each other into a hug and began squealing. Spike cringed at the sound and decided that it was his time to sneak out. 'The best hero is an unknown hero', as Flinn had said to him once when they were watching Fatman (the comically overweight superhero), 'If they don't know you, they can't get you back for whippin' their ass.'. Spike smirked as he slipped by Barney who was watching the girls with the rest of the establishment. Jogging out of the arcade, he glanced up the road towards where he was pretty sure he'd seen Tori go off to.

Walking a little farther down the street, he once again admired the small town that surrounded him. Sure it was nothing compared to Canterlot, with it's all class and superiority, but Spike could never really enjoy Canterlot. It was never really his thing to be uptight and classy, more scruffy and, well, downright rude. He swung his hands behind his head. Maybe this could be his thing. Leaving his initials in videogames as he saved helpless girls. He laughed, 'Yeah. Right, like I could ever be the hero.' that was a job better left to his sister. He blinked, before looking around, as he realized that he had no idea where the library was.

“Shit.”

Spike and Mac

Spike sighed as Tori lay her head on his shoulder, her purple hair splayed down her back, and a hand cupped directly underneath her head. Squinting at her, Spike slid his eyes back to his game, his hands rapidly and accurately tapping the thumbpad as little blocks made their way down from the top screen. 'Man, how can she be asleep? It's like, twelve.' His eyes were so focused on it that he didn't even notice the large man who had poked his head around the seat, until he cleared his throat. Spike jerked up, Tori's head bouncing on his shoulder, to stare at the other man.

"What's up?" The man smiled and scratched the back of his head, covered in burnt orange hair, and sheepishly grinned,

"Ah was actually wonderin' if this here seat was available." A heavy southern drawl slipped from his lips as he gestured a hand to the seat directly across from Spike, who was suddenly very aware of how empty their small aisle was.

"Oh yeah, go ahead dude." He said, waving a hand at it. The other man nodded and slipped into the area. It was then that Spike realized just how big he was. Covered in enormous red flannel shirt and old, worn-through jeans, the man was a replica of Paul Bunyan, complete with the wheat stem in his mouth, and almost as big. Slung on his back was a small duffel bag, much like Spike's under the seat, only smaller, setting it on the seat beside him, he looked over at Spike with an easy-going smile.

"Name's Mac Abbey." Spike looked at him, before smiling,

"I'm Spike. That's Tori." Nudging Tori off his shoulder and onto the seat, and slipping his GameDragon into his pocket, he held out his hand to Mac. Mac reached out and gripped the smaller boy's hand and gave it with a hearty shake, sending tremors through Spike, his arm dwarfed and his hand lost inside the larger man's rough, calloused hands. It was then that Mac squeezed. Quickly yanking his hand back as soon as Mac let it go, he grinned weakly at him, and Mac blinked before realizing what had happened.

"Uh... Sorry 'bout that, little man." Spike just waved his uncrushed hand,

"It's all, ow, good." Mac sighed, rubbing his large hands together and leaning back into the striped seat,

"So, uh, where ya headed?" He asked. Spike shrugged,

"Some little town called Ponyville. Ever heard of it?" Mac grinned,

"Sure have. That's mah hometown." Spike blinked,

"Wait, so you're going there right now?"

"Eeeyup." Mac slurred out, reaching into his duffel and pulling out a large green apple, "Ya hungry?" Spike looked at the apple, then at Mac, then at the apple again, Spike looked skeptical,

"Are you sure?" Mac pulled the apple close to him, and with his hands tore the apple into two parts, before tossing one to Spike, who brought it up to his face to admire Mac's handiwork.

"Nice. I sure as hell couldn't do that." Mac took a wet bite out of his half,

"Well when ya spend so much time 'round apples, ya start to learn their secrets." Spike nodded, picking at the exposed seeds with his index finger,

"So you do apple stuff?" Mac shrugged,

"Eeeyup, ah guess y'all could say that. Ah mostly just work on the farm." Spike gnawed on his apple, savoring the sweet-followed-by-tart flavor burning his tongue. Sucking on it, he spoke around the apple flesh,

"So you're a farmer?" Mac waved his hand,

"Eeeyup. Apple farmer. Sure we grow some other stuff, but our main product is apples." Spike continued to repeatedly bite the apple in his hands, eyes still on Mac,

"Tho' how old are you?" He said in between bites, "If you don't mind me asking?" Mac partially sat up, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a green and red wallet. Reaching inside, or trying to at least, his thick fingers grappled with a small card. Finally, he wrangled the small piece of plastic out of its holder and handed it to Spike. Looking at it, he nearly dropped his apple.

"Eighteen?! You're only eighteen!" Mac chuckled, taking back his ID,

"Eeeyup, ah get that a lot." Spike looked down at himself, with his scrawny body, his medium sweater already baggy on his chest, and his, also baggy, cargo pants supported by a belt that he could never get to fit tight enough. Stealing a glance at Mac, he could see the muscles bulging underneath the black and red checkered pattern. Suddenly very self-conscious, he scrunched his legs together, and inhaled to make his chest look bigger.

"Well I'm fifteen. I'm gonna be in eighth grade this year." Mac stared out the window,

"Ah got a sister 'bout yer age, back at home." Mac said, resting his hand on the window sill, "Ah wonder how mah family's doin'...?" He mumbled, partially to himself, partially to Spike, who looked out the window with him.

"I'm sure they're fine." He said, not exactly knowing why he was saying it, but saying it nonetheless. Mac sighed, then smiled, turning back to the younger boy,

"Yeah... I'm sure they are. I'm just worried 'cuz Ah've been away most of the summer." He explained as Spike popped the remaining piece of apple into his mouth, "So what bring's ya'll ta Ponyville, Spike?" Spike shrugged, bumping Tori's head with his shoulder, causing her to mumble in her sleep, and push her face father into the leathery seat.

"Ugh, this one. She..." He tapped his chin in thought, looking for the right words to describe Tori, "She's socially retarded, I guess." One of Tori's free hands came up and smacked Spike in the face, before drifting back to the side of her purple bangs.

"Mmnot retarded..." She mumbled, and gave a loud snore. Mac laughed as Spike rubbed his face.

"Don't let that fool you. She has the disposition of a leper. That's why her teacher...parental figure...whatever is sending her off to make friends." Mac examined the pasty girl curled up next to her younger charge,

"She seems nice enough to me." Spike snorted,

"Yeah right. She's bossy, irritable, and downright crazy sometimes." Mac smiled,

"Ah feel the same way about mah sisters sometimes, too." Mac shot a smirk at Spike, before mimicking a high-pitched voice, "'Mac. ya'll gotta stop shaving in the shower!' or 'Mac, if ya'll are gonna let Carrie eat here, ya gotta pay fer his food.'." Spike eyes grew wide, and his head bobbed forward,

"Wow! Do you have chest hair?! You can have friends over for dinner?!" Mac shrugged,

"Carrie's more like... Ah dunno... Bosom buddy ain't the words... But they're close." Spike, however was still trying to peek down the first couple of buttons to get a look at the alleged chest hair. Mac popped the top button for his benefit and watched as Spike's eyes glittered at the golden hair bushing from under the flannel collar. Pulling at his own purple hoodie, he stared down it and sighed. Mac sympathetically patted him on the shoulder,

"Now don't ya'll fret. Ya'll are gonna be shaving 'fore ya know it." Leaning in, he squinted left to right, "Tell ya the truth, shavin's ain't all it cracked up to be." Spike shrugged,

"But I don't wanna shave! I wanna grow that shit out! I wanna have a mustache." He rubbed imaginary facial hair between his thumb and forefinger. "Then women would find me attractive, rather than a repulsive geek." Mac chuckled,

"Maybe, buddy, maybe." Spike watched the scenery whisk by,

"So what kind of apple stuff do you do?" Spike questioned Mac who seemed more than happy to talk of life on his farm. Spike listened intently as Mac talked about his life on the farm,

"And during the Autumn we make cider." Spike licked his lips,

"I love cider." Mac looked nervous,

"Yeah, but best not get hooked on the stuff." Spike looked at him, curious,

"Whattya mean?" Mac mimed drinking with his thumb and fist.

"It's like beer's dirty cousin. Still filled with alcohol." Spike blanched,

"Oh you mean hard cider!" He stuck out his tongue, "It leaves me with a bad aftertaste." Mac smiled sheepishly.

"Hah, that's true. But the Abbey Family's gotta make money somehow." Spike nodded and thought for a moment,

"What about winter? Don't apples not grow in winter?" Mac shook his head,

"Nah, but we usually tend to get by on the savings from Summer and Autumn." Spike did some mental calculations,

"But if you have as many acres of trees and plots of land that you do, you need to make it through the winter, and have enough for seeds after winter." Counting a bit on his hands, he grimaced, "That's a lotta dough." Mac nodded,

"Eeeeyup. Tons." Spike shook his head,

"Wow. That sounds crazy hard." Thinking a bit more he added, "Do you get any help?"

"Why? Ya offerin'?" he grinned, Spike gulped, and Mac laughed, "Yeah, we get help from time-to-time. Mostly from extended family members; when they're 'round. Or Carrie."

"How many do ya have?" Spike said, growing ever jealous of Mac's fortune, 'Man! This guy has got it down! Chest hair, friends, and family... he's probably even got an allowance!'. While he was lost in his thoughts, Mac too was mentally counting off his numerous family members.

"Well let's see... There's Brandon... he comes down the most, lives in Appleoosa. Then there's Aunt and Uncle Orlando... they're in Manehatten. Umm..." Spike listened in awe as Macintosh continued to list his extended family members. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and great-grandparents in number. Eventually, Mac finally seemed to come to end. "And then Ah guess there's mah cousin Brady Sara. Ah think that's it..." He gazed upwards. "Pretty sure that's it..." Spike was astounded, having so many relatives you couldn't even keep track of them all, it was unimaginable. Mac looked at him,

"What 'bout you? 'Sides yer sister, who else is in yer family?" He nodded at the sleeping girl, Spike cringed,

"Oh... I don't really have a family. And she's not my sister." Mac frowned apologetically,

"Sorry 'bout that... Ah, uh, didn't realize." Spike waved a hand lazily,

"Nah, it's cool. You didn't know." Mac still looked embarrassingly at the train floor,

"Ah still feel bad." Spike shrugged.

"Eh. Whatever." Mac scratched the back of his head, suddenly absorbed in the awkward silence he had created, "Tori's basically my guardian until I turn eighteen. Then-pbbbt." He blew over his tongue and gestured out the window with his thumb, "I'm outta here." Mac nodded,

"Seems like a plan. Whattya do?" He questioned further,

"I... I like to work, I guess." Mac looked at him in astonishment.

"That's a first fer me. Work like what?"

"Oh, usually I do oddjobs for Tori. Grocery shopping, list-making, carrying her stuff, helping her study. Shit like that."

"Do ya... ya know... do stuff for fun ?" Spike pulled out his GameDragon and wiggled it.

"This is my fun." Mac eyes widened,

"Wow... Is that...?" Spike looked at him, a bit red,

"Yeah, it's a bit old... but it's mine." Mac looked impressed,

"That thing could be worth a small fortune, Spike." The green-haired boy looked at hm, confused, then looked at the ancient system.

"What? How? Thing's like... twelve years old." Mac winked at him,

"Some of the best apple cider is over twelve years old." Spike was awestruck. His GameDragon? Worth something?

"Nah you're messin' with me." Mac shook his head, "This old guy can't be worth anything. Plus I've only got one game." Mac held out his hand, invitingly. Spike tossed the game system to him, and it landed in his palm, dwarfed. Looking closely he examined the back.

"Wow! A first edition portable GameDragon." Carefully handing the game and game system back to their owner, he watched as Spike looked at the electronic game.

"I...I dunno, Mac. I don't think I could ever get rid of this. It's been with me, like, forever." Mac gave an understanding smile.

"That's an honorable sentiment, Spike." Spike returned the GameDragon to his large purple pocket, "It shows ya'll have integrity."

They continued to talk and laugh, and Spike realized that they had a lot in common. They both loved Star Battlefront(the sci-fi epic that sparked an entire generation of fans; starring the ever famous Duke Hightrotter, Hans Polo and Princess Neigha.), a love of artificial banana flavoring, and football(the local highschool team that Mac just happened to be a part of.). They talked of their favorite scenes in Star Battlefront; and that, if given the opportunity, would watch the entire series together sometime, as well as the plays recently in the Ultra Bowl, Equestria's premier gathering of all the best football teams of each season.The two continued to talk all along the ride, laughing, minutes turned into an half an hour, and that half an hour turned into two hours. Meanwhile, Tori(amazingly) slept the entire way, slightly tossing and turning in her sleep, occasionally, at one point latching onto Spike's arm and refused to let go for a solid fifteen minutes before Spike managed to pry off her pale arms.

Eventually a sound 'bonged' over the intercom of the train:

"We will be arriving in Ponyville in five minutes. We hope you enjoyed your ride on the Canterlot-Dodge Junction line. Thank you for riding with the fastest train line available direct to Ponyville and Canterlot. Please disembark only when the engine has come to a complete stop. Thank you. And have a nice day.". Spike poked Tori's head sharply.

"Oi. Wake up." Tori drowsily opened her eyes and yawned, before looking to Spike,

"Spike what-awwgh..." She yawned, "-what time is it?" Spike checked his phone.

"'Bout two-fourty."

"Are we there yet?" Spike nodded, and grabbed his duffel. Mac copied the action, and slung his red duffel over his shoulder. Tori suddenly realized there was a behemoth in her presence, and turned to Mac.

"Umm... Spike?" She whispered in his ear, "Who is that?" Mac waved,

"Howdy, miss." Spike turned to Tori,

"That's Mac. Macintosh Abbey. He lives in Ponyville." Tori nodded, narrowing her eyes at Spike,

"Well that solves one mystery, now onto the next one; what is he doing here?" Spike rolled his eyes at Tori.

"He needed a seat." Tori grimaced, before giving a forced smile to Mac,

"N-nice t-to meet you... Uh... Mr. Abbey, was it?" The train screeched to a halt, brakes squealing on the iron rails, jolting both Spike and Tori forward. Mac extended his hand, stopping both Spike and Tori from lurching into him. Smiling gently, he proffered the hand to Tori, who eyed it suspiciously before gingerly moving it up and down.

"Pleasure's all mine, Miss Sprackle." Grabbing her bag, she placed it on the ground and began to wheel it out towards the platform door,

"C'mon Spike!" She called over her shoulder. Spike looked to Mac,

"Told ya she was a huge pill." Mac smiled after her and shook his head,

"Naw, mah youngest sister was just like her." The two followed the young woman who was squinting in the summer sun and pulling a small purple umbrella out of her bag to protect her skin from the harmful rays, "She was just like that, 'til she met her friends. Then she really come out of her shell." Spike shrugged, "I think her teacher had the right idea sending her here to make friends." The two disembarked off the train, and headed a bit down the road.

The town was quaint, at least to Spike. Basic wooden A-beam huts lined the sides of the street, and dirt roads lined with grass snaked past the buildings to a large rotunda-like building. People walked, talked and smiled, many of them waving to Mac in greeting, as 'Welcome back!'s and 'Good to see you!'s were directed at the Abbey man, who responded in kind with a drawling 'Eeeyup." to each one. Spike continued to walk beside Mac, and made mental notes about where everything was. 'That must be the pen... and...sofa store?' Tori walked ahead, safe under her umbrella and reading a map, obviously trying to find where she was going. Coming to a fork in the road, the left of which led off into another road, barren except for a long fence which blocked off a couple of pastures on either side. The right fork led deeper into town, people walking in and out of shops and awnings while a Spike could make out what looked like a park fountain. Tori had taken the right route and was now standing in front of a large tree-shaped building.

Mac looked down the road, before turning to Spike and holding out a fist,

"Well, this is where Ah gotta go. Mah family's farm is just a ways down the road, ya ever need some extra money, or ya just wanna hang out, you're welcome to stop by anytime. It's Sweet Apple Acres." Spike smiled widely and bumped the colossal fist with his own.

"Really? I think I might have to take you up on that sometime." Mac smiled turned down the left path, waving goodbye as he did so. Spike's grin grew even wider. He's made a friend. He turned to the right fork. However just as he was about to turn, he heard the familiar sound of electronic sounds. Turning around, he spotted an arcade. Children were gathered around the front, which was a wide open building the was lined with rows and rows of video games, from Steer Fighter, to Mule Kong. Digging around in his pockets for a minute, he produced a single quarter. walking up to the front he saw an old photo on the front wall. It was black and white photo with a man standing next to a single machine in the building. It was obviously a photo from when the arcade first opened... which, as Spike noticed offhandedly, was about twelve years ago. looking at his quarter, and then looking into the arcade, he grinned.

"I think I've got time for one game."

Author's Note

Nothing really to say. Although I did fix the POV from the first chapter.