Through Another's Eyes

Spike was having the roughest trip in his life.

Sure, he’s faced worse. Fought Nightmare Moon, fought off an Ursa Minor, climbed up a mountain to confront a sleeping dragon, hold back a Parasprite Invasion… Okay, maybe some of them were Twilight’s adventures but still, he still wasn’t having a walk in the park.

His job was simple; find some entertainment for tonight’s fashion show. No big deal. He has lots of connections in Canterlot, friends he’s made while living there. It must have been the request that Pinkie Pie, one of Twilight’s best friends, asked him to do there that was making this trip much more difficult than it should be: Ask another pony to come with him.

“And why exactly must I follow you two to a place like Ponyville out of all places?” asked the first pony, a grey mare with a beautiful dark mane and a pink bow tie.

“No one asked you to come!” snorted the second, this time a white unicorn pony with a mane with striking lightning blue shades and shining red eyes.

“I asked her to come” Spike replied from on top of the white mare’s back.

Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, two ponies who were better off begging for bits at the side of the streets rather than having to share the same room together. Sadly, that’s just the problem. When buying an apartment for herself, it turned out that Octavia had to share the same room with Vinyl Scratch. This was pretty much the beginning of their endless bickering.

“Still, Spike” Octavia said with an air of anger “You haven’t told me why you asked me to come!”

Spike sighed again. Pinkie Pie swear, of course. He was not to tell the classy pony of Pinkie Pie’s request, or else that Pinkie Pie would stop being his friend.

‘FOR-E-VER!’ Pinkie’s voice echoed through Spike’s head.

Since the start of the journey, the trip had been very… interesting for a lack of a better word. The two ponies argue at every single detail. From the Disk Jockey pony's hairstyle Octavia’s humming. There isn’t one thing these two will not argue about. Spike just thought it would be best to keep out of their fights, seeing as he was only close to Vinyl Scratch.

“So, why do you want me?” Vinyl asked Spike out of the blue “I mean, this is a fashion show. Not some rock concert!”
Vinyl had been reluctant to come since the beginning.

Her point will always be the same; that Octavia would better off play for the fashion show rather than her (it gives Vinyl a reason to escape walking to Ponyville with her anyway). Spike, on the other hand, was always ready with an answer. Everypony wanted something upbeat and happy for the show and Octavia’s music is better for a slow event, preferably a gala.

“You know, I do think that you know the answer to that question” Spike said matter-of-factly, smirking slightly at Vinyl’s exasperated tone.

“How did I even agree to follow you two, anyway?” Octavia snapped “I mean, I could be doing lots of other things. Practicing my cello playing for example. If I were to join the Orchestral Band, I really need to practice”

“Is that ALL you ever think about?” Vinyl sighed “Playing your dumb cello?! Live a little! Have some fun! The Orchestral Band could wait, right?”

“Listen here, DJ Pine Tree” Octavia started “You may be interested in things like going to arcades and watching action movies, but I for one think that it is rather uncouth to do such useless activities”

“Where were you raised, a rock farm?” Vinyl Scratch joked, earning a gleeful laugh from Spike

“Good one, Vinyl” he said between laughs “Really, the only pony I know that was raised on a rock farm was Pinkie Pie!”

The two looked back, quite surprised to find out that Octavia was not following them anymore. She had, instead, stood silently in place as if she was in some trance. Spike jumped off of Vinyl’s back and ran towards the grey mare, hoping that she was okay. When he had reached her, he raised his clawed hand and snapped two of his fingers, bringing Octavia back into reality.

“You okay there?” Spike asked worriedly “You were zoning out”

“Yes, yes. Nothing to worry about” Octavia replied although her face said otherwise.

“Come on, Tavi!” Vinyl said as she trotted up towards the two of her travelling companions “I didn’t mean it! I mean, what the heck is a rock farm anyway? Meh, I guess I’ll ask your friend Pinkie Pie later, eh, Spike”

The mention of the word ‘Pinkie Pie’ had caused Octavia to jump slightly

"Now I know something's wrong" Spike said, trying to act kind towards the classy mare "You've got a history with Pinkie?"

“Pinkie Pie...” the mare said quietly “you mean, Pinkamena Diane Pie?”

“Uh… yeah?” the unicorn pony replied, unsure of what was going on but still worried of Octavia’s sudden question

“Spike, you know Pinkamena, don’t you” Octavia asked again

“Well, everypony in Ponyville calls her Pinkie Pie, but yeah. I know her. In fact, she was the one who asked me to bring you-” Spike quickly covered his mouth after realising what he just said

“And you did not tell me this sooner, why?”

“You never asked?” Vinyl joked, hoping that it would break the tension that was building up "Still, askin' a baby dragon how he knew some mare is a rare question-"

“No, not that. You never told me that Pinkamena was the one who asked me to follow, why?” Octavia said, her face mere inches away from Spike’s

“Pinkie Pie Swear, I promise!” Spike said, falling knee first onto the ground “PLEASE don’t tell her I told you! Or else, she’ll stop being my friend!” he screamed before quickly adding “FOR-E-VER!”

“Well, what are we waiting for, let’s go!” Octavia suddenly shouted

“Now this is what I’m talking about!” Vinyl said as she picked Spike up using magic and broke into a run, quickly overtaking the slower Octavia. It wasn't long before she had overtaken the cellist.

“Slow down, will you Scratch!” Octavia screamed, trying her best to keep up with the white unicorn

“No way, Tavi!” Vinyl screamed back “DJ PON-3’s gotta practise for tonight!”

Spike sighed again. This was going to be a long trip… At least it was getting more interesting, the better kind that is.