Hug Me Tight

They arrived at a clear spot in the middle of the forest. Four tents were set up next to a few blankets on the ground. A pile of wood was enclosed in a rock-formed circle, serving as the campfire when lit. The sun was high, considering it WAS noon. They took their place around the unlit campfire.

Twilight put her bag down. Spike did the same. "I have our food. Spike has the beverages," Twilight announced.

Taking notice of this announcement, Rainbow Dash ordered, "Spike! Be a good dragon and toss me a drink, will ya?" She smiled to show no hostility.

Spike sighed. "Here," he said as he tossed a can of Colt-A-Cola.

Fluttershy spoke up. "Um, Spike. Is it okay if I can have a drink, as well? If it's okay with you..." She was barely audible, but could be heard nonetheless.

Spike gladly pulled out a can of ParaSprite and tossed it at Fluttershy. She quietly thanked him. "Thank you, Spike. I was a bit thirsty. This should help."

"See, Rainbow Dash? You could learn a few manners from Fluttershy," Spike said, catching a blue sapphire from Twilight. He started eating it.

Rainbow Dash laughed. "I have manners. It's not like I need all of them." She took a sip. "Wow! This tastes great! How is this still cold?"

"The bags are insulators, keeping the temperature of the inside environment of the bag to stay constant no matter the effects of the outer-" Twilight started explaining.

"Yeah, yeah," Rainbow Dash cut her off, taking another swig. "So the bags keep them cold. Long story short." Spike just rolled his eyes, so she changed the topic. "Hey, Rarity! How are those dresses going?"

Rarity started her story of how the idea of light bulbs on dresses could make a "dazzling" show. After Rarity's story, Spike obviously had no interest to stay there. He excused himself then headed into the forest. Rainbow Dash took notice of his leave and, without excusing herself, flew in the direction Spike headed. Fluttershy looked at them leaving. She looked wistful, but remained. The rest of the group stayed and listened to the story of how Pinkie Pie is thinking of upgrading her party cannon so the party is two times bigger. She called it "the Party Cannon v2".

Spike was walking on a dirt trail, kicking a rock as he went. He heard a loud sipping behind him and looked. All he saw was a streak of rainbow fly behind a large boulder. Spike sighed. "Dashie, I know you're there."

She giggled and trotted over to him. She pulled out her can of Colt-A-Cola and handed it to him. "Thirsty?" Rainbow Dash politely asked, her eyebrows relaxed.

Spike slowly took the can, then hugged her. "Thanks, Dash. Come on. Let's walk."

They kept walking until they found a more rigorous trail; tree branch obstacles, cliff jumps, and jagged rocks. Rainbow Dash smiled with glee. Spike cringed in fear.

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Jump on, Spike. Or are you chicken?"

"Uh..." Spike reluctantly got on Rainbow Dash's back. "Try not to go too fa-AH!"

She took off without warning. She wasn't using her wings as she traversed the obstacle course. She leaped between tree branches, jumped from cliff to cliff, and skipped over the jagged rocks. She ran as fast as she could until she got to the edge of the cliff. She looked at her passenger, who was frozen with fear.

Rainbow Dash talked in a train conductor voice. "Up ahead is a steep cliff. Please hold on for dear life."

Spike didn't have to be told twice. He hugged Rainbow Dash tightly. Dash had a warm feeling appear in her heart, then she jumped off the edge. Spike screamed in fear, while Rainbow Dash screamed in excitement. But her excitement wasn't from the sliding, at least, not fully... the claws snugly around her neck...

Rainbow Dash spotted a pile of leaves at the bottom of the cliff. She aimed right for it to soften their stop.

Sadly, it was a trap. The two expected the pile of leaves to stop them, but underneath the pile was a hole. They fell straight through the pile of leaves and landed a great distance down.

The two landed hard. Spike shouted, "Can't I go a few hours without getting hit in some way?" But he realized his pain was nothing compared to his friend.

Rainbow Dash's wings were bent weirdly out of shape. She was hyperventilating. Spike, still hurt but could beat the pain, crawled over to her. He rolled her over so she faced the sky. Spike was shaking her, repeating, "Rainbow Dash? Are you okay?"

She whispered, "Not really." She laid down, unconscious. Suddenly, Spike hears some hissing. He looks around and sees snakes coming out of cracks on the wall. He stood, defending his friend. He found a stick, then breathed fire on it. The edge caught on fire, acting like a torch. He swung the torch at them, making the snakes hiss and retreat. Sadly, the fire consumed the whole twig and turned it into ashes. Spike look around. For anything to fend the snakes off. But there was nothing.

The snakes hissed angrily. And hungrily. Spike looked back at Rainbow Dash and whispered, "I'm sorry." Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes to look at him. She slowly say up, still in pain, and hugged him. They closed their eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

Then a gentle but assertive voice from above the trap ordered, "These are my friends. Please do not hurt them."