A Spiked Life

Chapter 16 - An Old Friend
by LightningStrike34

Spike's Perspective
After Twilight finished chatting with Banana Split, we set out towards another stand when my stomach started grumbling.

Twilight noticing this spoke up and giggled, "I can see somepony's rather hungry."

I had a puzzled look on my face as I spoke up, "Wouldn't somedragon be more accurate? I'm not exactly a pony, Twilight."

"You've never been bothered by it before Spike, but regardless-" Twilight spoke before being cut off by her own stomach grumbling as well. "And I guess I'm hungry as well, come on Spike. I think I saw a restaurant on our way here."

"But don't we have more shopping to do? What about that?"

Twilight responded, "We can take a short breather, I doubt it'll take too long. C'mon, let's get going."

Scootaloo's POV
As we trotted over to the direction of the Hayburger, Lyra looked to be deep in thought as I spoke up, "Something on your mind?"

She stopped to look back at me, "I was just thinking of this pony I 'met' recently, I bumped into her on accident while I was still settling in."

"Do you know her name?"

Lyra spoke up, "I never did get her name, but she was an earth pony from what I remember. I'm not 100% sure."

"Oh okay," I spoke casually. "Maybe you'll run into her again sometime, who knows?"

Lyra giggled, "Maybe I will." She looked around before she spotted it and pointed. "There it is, I knew I wasn't crazy!"

I giggle snorted as Lyra turned back to face me, "What's so funny?"

"It's nothing to worry about, just the thought of my own foalsitter acting like Pinkie Pie constantly sounds funny."

Lyra responded, "Well come on Scoots, it's only about a few more feet. Shouldn't take us that much longer."

And so we set our trek ever closer to the Hayburger as we spotted the familiar sign hanging above the doorway and went inside.

Spike's Perspective
As we took our time getting there, a pony had crossed our path as he jumped up and screamed before running away, "Ahh! A Dragon!"

After taking my time processing the situation, I felt my eyes well up with tears as Twilight comforted me, "Shh, it's okay Spike. It's just one pony, they just need time to get to know you better."

Rubbing the tears away from my eyes I sighed before replying, "T-thank you, Twilight. I needed that."

She leaned down to give me a hug before we continued walking as I spoke up, "Where exactly are we going anyways, if you even know that is."

Twilight replied, "A fast food joint if I recall, it must've been a Hayburger joint."

"Hayburger? Like... Burgers made from Hay?"

Twilight replied with a curious look on her face, "Umm, yes? What else would they be made of?"

I was about to respond before I pondered my thoughts, 'Well I can't exactly say meat can I? Ponies are Herbivorous in nature so it would apply here as well right?' "Uhh, nevermind. They do serve other things that aren't hay-related, right?"

She exhaled deeply before responding, "Aside from drinks I'll have to ask, I know how you don't like eating hay but, if they don't have anything like that would you turn it down?"

I thought about it a bit and sighed before replying, "I'll try it, hopefully it doesn't kill me."

Twilight responded, "We've had food from them before Spike, you've never had issues with it before." She sighed, "I-I just wish you would remember."

I sighed with a dour look on my face before she continued, "And I know you don't want me blaming myself for this, I get that. But, I still can't shake the feeling that I'm responsible for this."

I sighed again, "I know you do Twilight, if anything I can't help but feel this is more my fault." I paused before continuing, "L-let's just keep going, I think I see it up ahead."

Lyra's POV
After ordering our food, we made our way over to a vacant table as we sat down and ate. After finishing off my burger and a couple of hay fries, I decided to start a conversation to pass the time, "So, aside from all the running around you were doing, how was your day?"

Scootaloo replied, "I-It was okay, I guess." She munched on a hooful of Hayfries before continuing, "I guess I sorta met somepony while I was in town."

"Did you get their name?"

Scootaloo responded, "I think her name was Sweetie Belle from what I remember, a white unicorn filly with a mulberry mane and tail."

"Oh, I think I know who you're talking about. Rarity's little sister, right?"

"Yeah, I think so." Scootaloo continued deadpanning, "I didn't exactly have the best impression of her big sister."

I chuckled, "I know what you mean, she has that high-class vibe, so to speak." Doing my best Rarity Impression I spoke, "I must say with utmost confidence, I shall never dare wear a frock such as this. It's simply hideous!"

Scootaloo laughed as she wiped a tear from her eye before speaking, "T-that. That was hilarious! It was the funniest thing I've heard all day."

"I try my best, now let's get back to eating before we cause a scene."

Twilight's POV
Making our way inside, I trotted over to the register area where a colt with glasses in a Hayburger outfit stood behind the register as he spoke in a nasally voice, "Hi, welcome to Hayburger's, can I take your order miss?"

"Yes you may, but I have a question for you if you don't mind me asking." I said before continuing, "Do you have anything non-drink related without hay? I'm asking for a friend."

The colt gave me a questioning look before speaking, "Is this friend of yours an animal? We don't sell food to pets, miss."

Spike spoke up in response, "Uh no, I'm down here ya dingus."

The colt startled by the voice, looked down over the counter as he saw Spike continue speaking, "It's a simple yes or no answer, right? It shouldn't be too difficult."

The colt, who's name was Gizmo by his nametag, fainted as he fell back behind the counter as the rest of the crew stood in shock.

Spike rolled his eyes and put two claws between his closed eyes groaning, "It's gonna be one of these days, isn't it?"

Spike's Perspective
'Seriously, what is with these ponies? Some don't bat an eye and the rest either run away or faint.'

I growled before speaking, "Seriously? What do I have to do to get some more respect here? I'm not going to hurt somepony if that's what you're thinking." I groaned, "Give me a break, all I want is some food."

Twilight sighed before speaking, "Maybe we should just head back home Spike, I don't want you to-"

She was cut off by a voice as they called out, "Twilight, is that you?"