Author's Note

Sorry, for the long wait. I just needed to take a break. The next chapter will come out next week.

Chapter 30: He!

He!

“Let me hear you make some noise!” The crowd in the club goes wild as the music picks up even more. Lights are flashing and fog blasts out the machines, truly making this club a time to remember. Vinyl is up there Djing likes it’s no tomorrow, especially with the help of Riki’s phone. Lots of nice music for her to explore. This is one of her best shows. And Riki is out there being Vinyl’s best hype pony or hype man. It has been hours of nonstop club fun.

On the stage, Riki sees Feather, Bebop, and Specs. “Oi, Vinyl!” Riki shouted, “I’ll be back, I see a few friends of mine.”

“Take your time! You worked hard tonight.” Vinyl said, “Oh, can you bring me back a drink?”

“What do you want?”

Vinyl shrugs her shoulders, “Surprise me.”

Riki jumps off the stage and heads to them. He walks through the crowds and sees them at a booth. “Oi, you guys made it. And let me say you three look nice!” Feather is wearing a pink feathery sweater and a black skirt. Bebop is wearing a short dark blue dress with stars. Specs wear a black collared shirt with a matching vest and bow tie. “It’s still weird seeing you guys wearing clothes.”

“Weirdly, you always wear clothes, but we don't say anything,” Feather replied, sipping her drink. “You look nice in your clothes, like always.”

Riki sits down with them, “So, how’s the club?”

“Amazing!” Bebop smiled.

“Yeah, just wish the drinks weren't so expensive,” Feather huffed.

“Just put it on my tab,” Riki replied.

“Really? Riki, you're the best!” thanked Feather. “Bebop, let’s dance a bit before
we get more drinks.”

“I can’t wait to tear up the dance floor!” Bebop beamed.

“Specs, are you coming?” asked Feather.

He shakes his head, saying, “No, I'll stay here and save our booth.”

Feather looks a bit disappointed. She then says, “Oh, okay then… Well, when you get bored sitting around, you can find us. Come on, Bebop, the floor is ours!”

“Yeah, the floor is ours!” Bebop cheered.

The two trot to the dance floor, leaving Riki and Specs in the booth. When Feather and Bebop are out of Riki’s sight, he turns to Specs and slaps him upside the head. “Dumbass.”

“Oww, Riki. Why in Celestia did you hit me?” Specs asked angrily, rubbing the back of his head. “And it better be a good reason.”

“For being a dumbass, and I wanted to.” Riki deadpan.

“Riki.”

“Feathers wanted to dance.”

“She has Bebop,” Specs replied.

“With you, Specs.” Riki then poked Specs on the forehead. “Why don't you want to dance with her?.”

“...I’m not a good dancer,” said Specs. He then takes a sip of his water. “I’ll just fall on my face.”

Riki taps on the table a few times, “Specs, look! Feathers and Bebop are dancing with two other ponies. Oh, and a stallion is pretty close up to Feathers.”

“What!?” Specs said frantically, looking for them.

“Hahaha! I got you, Specs!” Riki laughed. “Wow, look at your face. So, are you going to tell Feathers that you like her?”

Specs almost spit out his water, “No! Well, umm… Feather is a lovely mare, and I really like working with her…”

“Wow, I never seen you like this, Specs,” Riki said, nudging him.

“Feather is an outstanding pony, but I am not ready.”

“Don’t tell yourself that, buddy.”

Feather and Bebop are sitting at the bar. The bartender walks up and sets down two drinks. “Here are two more Strawberry Banana Margaritas for the two lovely mares.”

“Oh, thank you,” Bebop said, batting her eyelashes. “You can put these drinks on Riki the human’s tab, Mr. Bartender, sir.”

The bartender blushes as he walks away, “Yeah, anything for you.”

“No,” Feather said, taking a sip of her margarita.

“Why? I think he’s kind of cute.” Bebop replied. “Wait, that’s right. You have your eye on another pony.

“Not this again.” Feather sighed.

“Yes, this again! You and Specs are perfect for each other.” Bebop gushed. “Why don’t you just ask him out already?”

Feather sits there in silence, licking the salt on the rim of her glass. “He’s probably not interested, doesn't even want to dance with me.” A pony walked up to Feather, ready to drop his best pickup line. But Feather shut him down. “Keep walking!”

Bebop sips from her margarita, then says, “Specs probably can't even dance, that’s why."

“You might be right, Bebop.” Feather said, “Anyway, what do you think the guys are talking about?”

“Guy stuff, like how they like butt, boobs, and crap,” Bebop replied, finishing her margarita. “Hey, Mr. Bartender, sir! Two more margaritas, please!”

Feather stares at Bebop, “Yeah, I think you drink enough for tonight.”

“...Riki, can you keep a secret?” Specs asked, looking down at the table.

“Yeah, what is it?”

“...I used to be engaged six years ago.”

Riki is silent for a bit, processing what Specs just said. “Oh. Oooohhh! That’s big!” He couldn't believe what Specs told him. “Who else knows about this?”

“The Princesses and Captain Shining Armor,” Specs answered. “...I called off the engagement and ran away. My family and fiance were furious at me… You must think I’m a big bastard of something.”

“Are you happy now?” Riki asked.

“...Yeah. I’m a lot happier now than I was back then.” Specs replied. “After some time wandering around the streets of Canterlot, I ran into Captain Shining Armor and then joined the guards.”

Riki takes the story in. He wasn’t expecting Specs to have a past like that. Specs said he’s much happier now, so that’s good for Riki. “...Why haven’t you told Feathers and Bebop?”

“I always think about telling them, but… I don’t know how they will act. I mean, Fearther has always been unlucky with boyfriends. If she finds out I stood up to my ex-fiance, Feather might think I'll do that to her in the future.”

“...You guys use the word boyfriend?” Riki asked, “I thought you guys would use the word I don't know, coltfriend or something?”

Specs give Rikia a questionable look, “Out of what I said, me saying boyfriend is what you focus on.” Riki just nods his head. Specs let out a sigh, “Boyfriend and coltfriend are interchangeable.”

“Oh, like how some say soda and others say pop.”

“You know, Riki, never change.” Specs smiled, patting Riki on the back.

“Thank! And don’t worry about your secret; it’s safe with me.” Riki said, patting Specs on the back too.

As the two pat each other on the back, Feather walks up and asks, “W-What are you two doing?”

“Patting each other from the back because we care about each other,” Riki replied. “So where is Bebop?”

“Flirting with the bartender,” Feather said, sitting down.

Riki looks at Specs and then at Feather. “Oi, I need to get Vinyl her drink. You two play nice.” When Riki leaves, it’s quiet between the two. Specs uses magic to play with his cup, and Feather taps her hooves on the table.

Specs looks at Feather as she watches the dancing going on. He takes a deep breath, “...Feather. You want to go dancing?”

She perks up, “Really, you want to dance?”

“Yeah, do you?”

“Absolutely!” burst Feather, getting out of the booth. “C’mon, Specs! I want to dance my hooves off with you!” She runs to the dance floor, and Specs follows.

“Feather, you don’t have to run!”

“Thanks for the shots, but I need to return to Vinyl. I don’t know how long she has been waiting.” When I get up, I see Rainbow Dash. Why is Rainbow here? “Oi, Rainbow!”

Fuck. Why is my head spinning… Wait, I can't feel my legs?

Specs and Feather dance together, having the best times in their life. The two stop when Bebop walks up to them. “Just look at you two!” Bebop gushed. “Having fun, I hope.”

“Yes, we are.” Feather smiled. “So, how were you and the bartender?”

“It was going well until he said how much I reminded him of his mother.” Bebop sigh. “Big mood killer. Oh, yeah, have you seen Riki?”

Feather shakes her head, and Specs says, “No, we haven’t. Riki said he was going to get a drink for Vinyl. Why did something bad happen?”

“I ran into Rainbow Dash, and she is looking for Riki,” Bebop said.

“Where is she now?” asked Feather.

“She went to Vinyl to see if she knows where Riki is.”

“There is no way we can just lose a human,” said Specs, making his way to the stage. Feather and Bobop follow. Once he gets to Vinyl and Rainbow Dash, he says, “Hey, what’s going on? You're looking, Riki?”

“Oh, you’re Riki’s friends,” Vinyl said. “Rainbow here is looking for the big guy.”

“Something bad happened to Liz, and she’s in the hospital.” Rainbow Dash said frantically. Feather and Bebop let out a gasp. “I’m here to find him.”

Vinyl stops the music, “Sorry for stopping the music, but this an emergency! Riki, are you here!? Riki!” Then, there was no reply. “Okay, that’s not good… Has anypony seen a 6-feet tall human around?”

“Where did Riki go?” Bebop said worriedly. “He would have told us if he left, right?”

“Riki couldn't have just disappeared?” Feather said.

Specs pushed up his glasses, “Knowing him, he must be caught in some trouble.”