Chapter 4: Juice-keg!

"Never would I ever!" Dash flailed her arms around in desperation for her friends to get the point. "I already said this, I DON'T LIKE HIM!"

"Don't like who?" Jake raised an eyebrow, ignoring the fact he was intruding on their sleepover.

"None of your business!!" Dash crossed her arms in a fit of rage.

"Okay then," Jake smirked. "I wasn't here for you anyway..." Dash looked up in confusion. "...I was here for Twilight." Dash scowled and stuffed herself into the corner.

"What did you want me for?" Jake rolled his eyes at Dash's behavior, this was like her. "Um...Jake?"

"Oh! I wanted to talk, privately." He chuckled nervously. The mares all murmured in wonder.

"Uh, okay!" Twilight followed him into the other room. "What is it?" He turned his head and removed a blanket that had rested on his flank.

"That!" He pointed towards a mark on his rump, a Cutie Mark.

"Oh my gosh! I didn't even realize you didn't have one!" Twilight smiled at her own obliviousness.

"This is not funny! I should not have this!" She frowned.

"But you're a pony...it's kind of common." She remarked with a flat look.

"No, no, you don't understand! I'm not supposed to have one! It's freaky and unnatural!"

"Wow, thanks a lot." She replied, slightly offended.

"I'm sorry, Twilight." She smiled at his awareness of the situation. "It's just...what is it?"

"You mean, you don't know what it is?" Jake shook his head, sending his hair out of place.

"I know what it is, it's a computer, I just don't know what it means." He tapped his chin before gasping in realization. "I'm like a living Wikipedia for MLP! That must be it!" He smirked. "Is Dash's birthday coming up soon?" Twilight giggled.

"How did you know?" She said slightly confused.

"I told you!" He mocked. He trotted into the main room where the mares were sitting, waiting for their return. "Hey gals, check out my new cutie mark!" All turned their heads in the stallion's direction, gasping in awe at the strange cutie mark he was bearing.

"What is that?" Dash asked before having her wings pulled on by an orange hoof. "Ow! Hey!"

"Rainbow! It is rude to ask what one's cutie mark represents." Applejack said simply.

"Whatever." Dash grumbled.

"It's okay, Applejack. It's a computer!" The room fell silent. "It's like a dictionary, but...with not just words, but images too!" The mares crowded around his flank, admiring the strange technology on it. He would be lying if he said he didn't blush from having them crowd around him. He covered his flank with his tail, making the mares retreat in embarrassment.

"AHEM." Dash was still in the corner and Ginger was pointing to her. "Aren't you going to take care of this Jake?" Everyone looked at him expectantly.

"Um...Of course!" The mares smiled at his kindness. He approached the cyan pegasus, expecting a slap or something. He was surprised to see her look up at him with red eyes.

"Go away." She mumbled hoarsely.

"Have you been crying?" Dash stuffed her head back into the corner.

"I don't cry." She grumbled. Jake chuckled.

"Everypony cries, Dash." He was too concerned with the mare in front of him to realize his verbal mistake.

"I...I don't! I'm too cool for that!" She tried desperately to make it sound like she was right, but her voice still wavered.

"Dash, it's not cool to have such a big ego." Jake regretted those words immediately.

"I DON'T HAVE AN EGO!!" Applejack shook her head in disbelief, ready to join in...but she was cut off by Jake.

"Dash, it's not cool to lie to yourself either. Egos are easy to get rid of once you admit you have one, but reputations aren't. I..." Jake sighed. "Yeah, I know you like me." Dash didn't see the slightest smirk in his expression. It was one of serious business. "I honestly like you too, you're pretty cool," Dash blushed. "But that's not the case when you're being an...egotistical...PLOT-HOLE!" The mares all gasped in unison, Twilight failing to cover Spike's ears in time. Dash cringed in fear. "I hope you take my speech to heart." With that, Jake walked away.