Trouble in the Mountainsby A-Woona-MoonChaptersThe Best DayThe Benefits of Knowing WeatherponiesThe Beautiful NightThe Best DayThis would be the best day ever, Spike decided as he walked the short distance from the library to his desired destination. The building was awfully hard to miss as it rivaled the town hall in size. Long had he pined after the beautiful white unicorn who owned, lived, and worked there. Rarity had asked him to come over as soon as he could, stating it was of utmost importance that he come alone. Spike's heart was still going pitter-patter just thinking about it. "Maybe she's finally going to confess her feelings for me," he thought aloud, eyes glazing over in bliss. Nearby, a certain pegasus pony hopped up and down on a cloud, sending rain and lightning bolts everywhere. A stray bolt just missed Spike's tail, snapping him out of his fantasies with a yelp. Just in time, for he had barely enough time to stop walking before smacking into the door. "Thanks, Derpy!" he shouted. "But be careful where you point that thing, somepony could get hurt." The walleyed mare peeked down over the edge of the dark cloud, a slightly worried look on her face. Or maybe not so worried, Spike could never really tell. "Whoops! Sorry, Spike," Derpy called back. "My boss said there were supposed to be scattered showers around Ponyville. Am I doing it right?" The grey pegasus flew away before he could answer, over towards Sweet Apple Acres with the cloud leaving a soggy trail through the town. A few bedraggled ponies shuffled back home to dry off from their unexpected and unwanted showers. Spike shook his head with a smile before he remembered where he was. Swallowing hard, he opened the door and walked in. The shop was empty and dark. "R-rarity? You wanted to see me?" he called, his eyes adjusting to the dim light streaming through the high windows. The silence was eerie and made him nervously glance around. Just then, the curtains over all but one of the windows closed, leaving a single shaft of light to shine down on a nearby ponnequin. Record music began to play, and Spike could see a soft blue glow emanating from upstairs. His relief that he wasn't alone was quickly replaced by the realization that he was now alone with her. Rarity came down slowly, her horn shimmering with magic. "I suppose you're wondering why I have asked you here," said Rarity, her eyes hooded. She came up alongside the young dragon and turned the music off. Spike's heart pounded against his ribcage as the scent of the alabaster unicorn's unique brand of magic filled his nose. It was like jasmine flowers with a hint of honeysuckle, and although Spike knew neither, it was still intoxicating. "I-I don't know, Miss Rarity," he stammered. "But I'm here alone, just like you asked." "Good. I just had to share this with somepo-- someone. You're the only one I've told..." Rarity said with a sidelong glance. "Yes?" Spike returned her gaze. "You must promise me that you'll keep it a secret!" the unicorn turned to face him as she pleaded. "O-of course! Anything for you, Rarity!" Spike promised. With a flourish, Rarity turned the lights on, revealing the ponnequin. In a beautiful blue matching the sapphire eyes of the equally beautiful mare beside him, Spike beheld a dress that rivaled even the gowns at the Gala in its elegance. The fabric shimmered in the light, and a rainbow of different blues danced as he turned his head this way and that. "Wow! That's gotta be the most amazing thing you've ever made," Spike breathed, not noticing that his praise caused a tinge of pink to color the unicorn's cheeks. It didn't hold his gaze for long before he asked, "But what is it for?" Rarity sighed inwardly at the dragon's apparent lack of taste; he was after all, still a baby dragon, she reminded herself. "Well, darling, it is something I've been working on almost since I got my cutie mark... and it's nearly finished," She said with a smile that made her face light up in a way that Spike had never seen before. It made him wish jealously that he was the reason she beamed so brightly. "Gosh, it looks perfect already! What could you possibly do to make it better?" the dragonling said, scratching his chin in thought. Rarity's smile disappeared for a moment. "You think that I can't do better?" Her harsh gaze softened. "Listen, dear... Everything hinges on finishing this gown. I've seen this dress in my dreams nearly every night! I just can't possibly make another dress if anything goes wrong. My life as a seamstress. Will. Be. Over!" she finished, lifting a forehoof to her head dramatically. Spike sensed he had somehow crossed a line. He reached up and placed a claw on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll help you finish it, whatever it takes!" he said proudly, his little chest puffing out. Rarity stopped, looking over at her friend before lowering her hoof. Her look of supposed agony was replaced by one of excitement. "I was hoping you'd say that! I know the perfect finishing touch for my dream gown, and you're just the dragon to help me do it, Spikey-Wikey." The aforementioned dragon, unaware that this had been the mare's intent all along, jumped at this chance to prove himself to her. "What did you want me to do? I've never sewn before, but I can try!" "NO!" Rarity took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "I mean, no, that won't be necessary dear," she chuckled nervously. "I am looking for a particular type of gemstone; one that can only be found in the Unicorn Range. That's where i first found the geode that helped me get my cutie mark. Fitting, isn't it!" Spike nodded. After a few moments of silence, he spoke. "Sooo... You want me to help you get the gems in the mountains?" "Just so, darling. I've already packed the necessary supplies, so we can leave right away!" Rarity said, practically galloping out the door. She peeked her head around the frame and said' "Oh, Spike?" "Y-yeah?" "Be a dear and turn off all the lights, won't you?" With that, she disappeared again. Spike was beginning to suspect that permaybehaps she was using him. Shaking the thought from his mind, he headed for the nearest light switch. Click. Author's Note I know this is a kind of slow start, but many good stories begin this way. This was a thought that bounced 'round my head during winter break. Hopefully I will be able to continue during the school year as well. Again, I welcome all comments. The Benefits of Knowing Weatherponies"Come now, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity chided, walking at a leisurely pace, " we're losing daylight." The unicorn stopped at the top of the last in a series of foothills before the mountain pass. She looked back, searching for her companion. The pair had made good time, all things considered... Spike crested the hill. "Right-- behind you," he gasped out, the cart pulling up behind him as he stopped. Rarity had prepared for what seemed like every possible emergency, if the fashion police were to arrive. She had brought other gear as well, but it was rather obvious she hadn't gone camping much in the past. Other than the times when he ran away or hung out with other dragons, which in his mind probably didn't count, Spike hadn't been camping at all. It wasn't by sleeping under the stars that the dragon had become Twilight's 'Number One Assistant'. The two friends looked up at the nearest peak of Unicorn Range towering over them. The evergreens rose up to meet the foot of the mountain, anchoring it to the plains below. The pass meandered lazily up the mountainside, taking the easiest route Nature could offer. Rarity levitated a chaise lounge chair with wheels attached down from the top of the supply cart. "I am soo tired from this walk! I suppose we shall have to rest here for the night," she sighed. Her chair gently touched down and she stretched out across it languidly. The simple action stirred a previously unknown feeling in Spike, one that made his eyes linger on the mare's figure just a single second too long. When Rarity met his eyes with a questioning gaze, he shook his head and cleared his throat. "Sooo... Did you bring a tent or something? I didn't realize this was going to take more than a day. I sure hope Twilight won't get upset." It was then that it dawned on him that there was a second, more terrible possibility. "Oh no! Wh-what if she replaces me this time? I've heard her say how great Owlowicious has been doing with her late-night studies!" The dragon started to pace, wringing his claws. Rarity stood and walked over, resting a dainty hoof on his shoulder. "Relax, Spikey. I had planned this trip for weeks; I told Twilight last Tuesday that I would require your services for two or three days. You should have seen her eyes light up when I asked her to pack your things, she pushed me out the door just so she could start on her checklist!" Spike looked up at her, and a small smile turned to a chuckle. "That is so like Twilight. You two are so much alike!" "I beg your pardon?" A delicate vein popped out on the unicorn's forehead. Spike hastily added, "I meant that you think of everything! Thank you, I never thought about what I needed to bring." "Oh, think nothing of it dear." Rarity smiled. One perk of being the Element of Generosity was that gratitude for even the smallest of gifts filled her with joy nopony would suspect. A few seconds of silent happiness between giver and receiver passed before she spoke. "Now, would you please set up the tent? I believe it was one of the first few items I packed." She then went back and reclined in her chair. Spike fell backward as he looked at the gear piled up in the cart. "It's under all that?" he squeaked. He quickly regained his composure, saying, "Don't worry Rarity, I'll get that tent up in a jiffy! Where's my tent, I can set that up too." As Spike started bringing down the first items (a coat rack and a suitcase with several grooming items), Rarity enveloped several more items and levitated the lot to a small clearing on their left. Four relatively parallel trees marked the boundaries of the site. To these, the unicorn tied a large tarp to keep out the rain that was sure to come. It was nice having a weather pony as a friend, Rarity thought to herself; one could always know what was coming up and plan accordingly. "Don't worry about a second tent, mine is plenty large enough," the mare said, unloading another full rack dedicated solely to bathrobes, " it should be just under the case of..." "I got it!" Spike hopped down holding a neatly folded purple parcel. He set it down in the middle of the clearing. Then Rarity's words sank in quite suddenly. "Wait. Did you just say wuh--we're--" "Sharing a tent?" Rarity interrupted, noticing the drake's somewhat flushed features. "Yes. There are two stories: you'll take the downstairs portion, and I, naturally, will retire upstairs. A lady does need her privacy after all, darling. Now, if you just pull that cord there..." she gestured with a perfectly hooficured foreleg. Spike gave the cord a mighty tug, jumping back as the rather massive tent inflated itself, complete with a little flag on the top. It just barely cleared the underside of the forest canopy. "Whoa! Rarity, this thing is huge!" the dragon exclaimed, his large eyes taking in the sight. Rarity chuckled softly at the sudden outburst of awe from the little dragon. After nearly three years of encountering one crazy, supernatural, or enormous entity (or in Discord's case, all three) after another, it surprised her that something as simple as a tent, albeit inflatable, could rouse such excitement in him. "All right, Spike," she said, "that's quite enough of that. Be a dear and help me bring all our things in? It's going to rain in just a few moments!" "Yes, ma'am!" Spike said, pushing the rolling chaise lounge inside as Rarity winced inwardly at his use of a title she usually reserved for mares much older than herself. "Mademoiselle, darling, if you please!" she said as she waved her hoof as though the action would erase the dragon's faux-pas. She levitated all the supplies into the spacious tent, except for the wheelbarrow, which she turned over to keep safe in what seemed to be the longest, wettest rain in the history of Equestria. "And right on schedule, too... I really must thank Rainbow Dash for her warning, I don't think I could stand to be out in that dreary mess!" Rarity began to plan out a new rainbow-themed ensemble for her pegasus friend just as the first drop hit the tarp above. Plip. The Beautiful NightChapter 3- The Beautiful Night As the rain continued to pour on outside the cozy violet tent, the unicorn and dragon sat down at a perfectly sized table with their dinner before them. Spike had made his specialty dessert, brimstone berry soufflé with a sprinkle of tiny diamonds for himself and crystal salt for Rarity. He had wondered at the sight of the oven that somehow managed to fit inside the tent without taking up huge amounts of space. When he asked about how it ever fit there in the first place, Rarity only smiled and said it was a secret, something about the tent being 'bigger on the inside', whatever that meant. Spike made a mental note to ask Twilight about it later. For now, all the mysteries he felt compelled to ponder were eyes of sapphire and how they seemed to shine even in the dimly lit tent. His thoughts were interrupted by a polite cough. Rarity broke the silence, setting down her levitating spoon. "So... I hear the mountains are lovely this time of year. Not much snow, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and of course, there's the big... expedition... tomorrow..." she trailed off. Spike had begun to absentmindedly stare again in her general direction. Rarity looked behind her, starting to fidget under his steady gaze. "Umm... Spike, dear? What exactly are you looking at?" "Huh?" Spike blinked slowly, in a dreamlike stupor. It took fully five seconds for him to realize he'd been caught staring. "I-I uh, was... Noticing that there was a speck of brimstone berry on your muzzle!" he cried with a pointed claw, fumbling for an excuse. Luckily for him, Rarity was a pony who never settled for anything less than perfection when it came to appearances ("You never know when Photo Finish or Hoity Toity might drop in!" she was often heard saying.) and immediately excused herself from the table, using her telekinesis to carry a small hoof mirror out of sight. Rain continued to pelt the tent with a constant pitter patter. Spike wiped a paw across his crest, visibly deflating. He felt a small pang of guilt for lying, especially to a mare. "I'm no Element of Honesty, that's for sure," he mumbled to himself,"but still, you gotta play it cool, Spike!" "What was that, darling?" Rarity asked, confident that her complexion was once again flawless. She returned to the table, this time eating with much more care. The guilt welled up once more in the belly of the young drake. "Oh, I said... Thread comes on a... spool, right?" Spike supplied weakly. "Why yes, Spike. Indeed it does. Why do you ask?" Lying to Rarity seemed to get easier by the minute, and the dragonling began to hate himself for it. Grimacing momentarily, he replied with a smile, "It's getting close to Twilight's birthday, and I wanted to... er, repair her Smarty Pants doll!" (He had completely forgotten the debacle now known in Ponyville as the 'Smarty Pants Incident', after Twilight had used the Want-It-Need-It spell to bewitch the entire town; the doll had mysteriously disappeared. Apparently this incident had slipped the young mare's mind as well.) "Oh Spikey-Wikey, that's positively the sweetest thing I've ever heard of! If you need thread, I'd be more than willing to give you as much as you want," the Element of Generosity gushed. "We can start right after we finish this delicious soufflé!" "Gee, thanks, Miss Rarity," Spike said with a yawn,"but I think I should get to bed. We have such a busy day ahead of us, after all." Outside, unnoticed by the occupants of the tent, the raindrops slowed their descent, becoming more gentle with each passing moment. Rarity stifled her own little yawn with a dainty hoof and nodded. "I suppose I could do with a bit of beauty sleep myself," she mused,"a lady must always look her best, even when working." The pale unicorn mare circled the table to Spike, giving him a little peck on the check. "Goodnight, little Spike." With that, she started up the stairs to her room, leaving a love-struck dragon in the lower half of the tent. He blinked dazedly, reveling in the kiss. The scent of honeysuckle was still lingering when he came to his senses again. He didn't want the moment to pass so soon, not yet. The dragon desperately sought to keep it alive. "W-wait!" Spike managed to blurt. Rarity paused, one of her lovely limbs poised above a step, a quizzical look crossing her features. "Did...do you hear that? The rain-- it stopped!" The mare's ears flicked as she listened. "Why yes, so it has!" A few seconds crawled by as she paitiently waited for a response. "What about it?" "Well, I... I wanted to look at the stars, I hear they're real pretty out here," Spike stammered. "Woul-- would you like to look at the stars with me? I'd hate to be out there alone." Rarity pondered for a moment why Spike should suddenly want to look at the stars when he was so tired. The realization dawned on her; what else could it be? The answer was obvious. "I know what you're up to, Spike!" she intoned. The dragon paled, his pupils shrinking in terror of being found out. "Y-you do?" In his mind, he began to panic, frantically searching for a way to somehow get out of the situation with his dignity still intact. "You can't hide it from me any longer," Rarity walked toward him in long, graceful strides, her eyes narrowing. "Admit it! You obviously miss Twilight Sparkle!" Spike, who had been wincing, opened one eye, perplexed. "Huh? Oh! Oh yeah, I do miss Twilight. This is my first trip without her." Rarity smiled gently, giving Spike a comforting hug. "Let's do a bit of stargazing before bedtime, shall we?" She led the way to the zippered tent flap, telekinetically opening it. Spike followed, too tired and happy about spending alone time with Rarity to be worried about how far off the mark the young lady was. As he exited, staring at the myriad of constellations that Twilight had taught him, he felt that this night couldn't get anymore beautiful than having Rarity by his side. Zip. Author's Note It's been forever! Tried writing this chapter at least four months ago, hit a roadblock, finished finals for spring, got a job, set a date for my wedding (12 days left and counting!), and wrote the other two-thirds in less than two hours. Please enjoy!
The Best DayThis would be the best day ever, Spike decided as he walked the short distance from the library to his desired destination. The building was awfully hard to miss as it rivaled the town hall in size. Long had he pined after the beautiful white unicorn who owned, lived, and worked there. Rarity had asked him to come over as soon as he could, stating it was of utmost importance that he come alone. Spike's heart was still going pitter-patter just thinking about it. "Maybe she's finally going to confess her feelings for me," he thought aloud, eyes glazing over in bliss. Nearby, a certain pegasus pony hopped up and down on a cloud, sending rain and lightning bolts everywhere. A stray bolt just missed Spike's tail, snapping him out of his fantasies with a yelp. Just in time, for he had barely enough time to stop walking before smacking into the door. "Thanks, Derpy!" he shouted. "But be careful where you point that thing, somepony could get hurt." The walleyed mare peeked down over the edge of the dark cloud, a slightly worried look on her face. Or maybe not so worried, Spike could never really tell. "Whoops! Sorry, Spike," Derpy called back. "My boss said there were supposed to be scattered showers around Ponyville. Am I doing it right?" The grey pegasus flew away before he could answer, over towards Sweet Apple Acres with the cloud leaving a soggy trail through the town. A few bedraggled ponies shuffled back home to dry off from their unexpected and unwanted showers. Spike shook his head with a smile before he remembered where he was. Swallowing hard, he opened the door and walked in. The shop was empty and dark. "R-rarity? You wanted to see me?" he called, his eyes adjusting to the dim light streaming through the high windows. The silence was eerie and made him nervously glance around. Just then, the curtains over all but one of the windows closed, leaving a single shaft of light to shine down on a nearby ponnequin. Record music began to play, and Spike could see a soft blue glow emanating from upstairs. His relief that he wasn't alone was quickly replaced by the realization that he was now alone with her. Rarity came down slowly, her horn shimmering with magic. "I suppose you're wondering why I have asked you here," said Rarity, her eyes hooded. She came up alongside the young dragon and turned the music off. Spike's heart pounded against his ribcage as the scent of the alabaster unicorn's unique brand of magic filled his nose. It was like jasmine flowers with a hint of honeysuckle, and although Spike knew neither, it was still intoxicating. "I-I don't know, Miss Rarity," he stammered. "But I'm here alone, just like you asked." "Good. I just had to share this with somepo-- someone. You're the only one I've told..." Rarity said with a sidelong glance. "Yes?" Spike returned her gaze. "You must promise me that you'll keep it a secret!" the unicorn turned to face him as she pleaded. "O-of course! Anything for you, Rarity!" Spike promised. With a flourish, Rarity turned the lights on, revealing the ponnequin. In a beautiful blue matching the sapphire eyes of the equally beautiful mare beside him, Spike beheld a dress that rivaled even the gowns at the Gala in its elegance. The fabric shimmered in the light, and a rainbow of different blues danced as he turned his head this way and that. "Wow! That's gotta be the most amazing thing you've ever made," Spike breathed, not noticing that his praise caused a tinge of pink to color the unicorn's cheeks. It didn't hold his gaze for long before he asked, "But what is it for?" Rarity sighed inwardly at the dragon's apparent lack of taste; he was after all, still a baby dragon, she reminded herself. "Well, darling, it is something I've been working on almost since I got my cutie mark... and it's nearly finished," She said with a smile that made her face light up in a way that Spike had never seen before. It made him wish jealously that he was the reason she beamed so brightly. "Gosh, it looks perfect already! What could you possibly do to make it better?" the dragonling said, scratching his chin in thought. Rarity's smile disappeared for a moment. "You think that I can't do better?" Her harsh gaze softened. "Listen, dear... Everything hinges on finishing this gown. I've seen this dress in my dreams nearly every night! I just can't possibly make another dress if anything goes wrong. My life as a seamstress. Will. Be. Over!" she finished, lifting a forehoof to her head dramatically. Spike sensed he had somehow crossed a line. He reached up and placed a claw on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll help you finish it, whatever it takes!" he said proudly, his little chest puffing out. Rarity stopped, looking over at her friend before lowering her hoof. Her look of supposed agony was replaced by one of excitement. "I was hoping you'd say that! I know the perfect finishing touch for my dream gown, and you're just the dragon to help me do it, Spikey-Wikey." The aforementioned dragon, unaware that this had been the mare's intent all along, jumped at this chance to prove himself to her. "What did you want me to do? I've never sewn before, but I can try!" "NO!" Rarity took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "I mean, no, that won't be necessary dear," she chuckled nervously. "I am looking for a particular type of gemstone; one that can only be found in the Unicorn Range. That's where i first found the geode that helped me get my cutie mark. Fitting, isn't it!" Spike nodded. After a few moments of silence, he spoke. "Sooo... You want me to help you get the gems in the mountains?" "Just so, darling. I've already packed the necessary supplies, so we can leave right away!" Rarity said, practically galloping out the door. She peeked her head around the frame and said' "Oh, Spike?" "Y-yeah?" "Be a dear and turn off all the lights, won't you?" With that, she disappeared again. Spike was beginning to suspect that permaybehaps she was using him. Shaking the thought from his mind, he headed for the nearest light switch. Click. Author's Note I know this is a kind of slow start, but many good stories begin this way. This was a thought that bounced 'round my head during winter break. Hopefully I will be able to continue during the school year as well. Again, I welcome all comments.
The Benefits of Knowing Weatherponies"Come now, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity chided, walking at a leisurely pace, " we're losing daylight." The unicorn stopped at the top of the last in a series of foothills before the mountain pass. She looked back, searching for her companion. The pair had made good time, all things considered... Spike crested the hill. "Right-- behind you," he gasped out, the cart pulling up behind him as he stopped. Rarity had prepared for what seemed like every possible emergency, if the fashion police were to arrive. She had brought other gear as well, but it was rather obvious she hadn't gone camping much in the past. Other than the times when he ran away or hung out with other dragons, which in his mind probably didn't count, Spike hadn't been camping at all. It wasn't by sleeping under the stars that the dragon had become Twilight's 'Number One Assistant'. The two friends looked up at the nearest peak of Unicorn Range towering over them. The evergreens rose up to meet the foot of the mountain, anchoring it to the plains below. The pass meandered lazily up the mountainside, taking the easiest route Nature could offer. Rarity levitated a chaise lounge chair with wheels attached down from the top of the supply cart. "I am soo tired from this walk! I suppose we shall have to rest here for the night," she sighed. Her chair gently touched down and she stretched out across it languidly. The simple action stirred a previously unknown feeling in Spike, one that made his eyes linger on the mare's figure just a single second too long. When Rarity met his eyes with a questioning gaze, he shook his head and cleared his throat. "Sooo... Did you bring a tent or something? I didn't realize this was going to take more than a day. I sure hope Twilight won't get upset." It was then that it dawned on him that there was a second, more terrible possibility. "Oh no! Wh-what if she replaces me this time? I've heard her say how great Owlowicious has been doing with her late-night studies!" The dragon started to pace, wringing his claws. Rarity stood and walked over, resting a dainty hoof on his shoulder. "Relax, Spikey. I had planned this trip for weeks; I told Twilight last Tuesday that I would require your services for two or three days. You should have seen her eyes light up when I asked her to pack your things, she pushed me out the door just so she could start on her checklist!" Spike looked up at her, and a small smile turned to a chuckle. "That is so like Twilight. You two are so much alike!" "I beg your pardon?" A delicate vein popped out on the unicorn's forehead. Spike hastily added, "I meant that you think of everything! Thank you, I never thought about what I needed to bring." "Oh, think nothing of it dear." Rarity smiled. One perk of being the Element of Generosity was that gratitude for even the smallest of gifts filled her with joy nopony would suspect. A few seconds of silent happiness between giver and receiver passed before she spoke. "Now, would you please set up the tent? I believe it was one of the first few items I packed." She then went back and reclined in her chair. Spike fell backward as he looked at the gear piled up in the cart. "It's under all that?" he squeaked. He quickly regained his composure, saying, "Don't worry Rarity, I'll get that tent up in a jiffy! Where's my tent, I can set that up too." As Spike started bringing down the first items (a coat rack and a suitcase with several grooming items), Rarity enveloped several more items and levitated the lot to a small clearing on their left. Four relatively parallel trees marked the boundaries of the site. To these, the unicorn tied a large tarp to keep out the rain that was sure to come. It was nice having a weather pony as a friend, Rarity thought to herself; one could always know what was coming up and plan accordingly. "Don't worry about a second tent, mine is plenty large enough," the mare said, unloading another full rack dedicated solely to bathrobes, " it should be just under the case of..." "I got it!" Spike hopped down holding a neatly folded purple parcel. He set it down in the middle of the clearing. Then Rarity's words sank in quite suddenly. "Wait. Did you just say wuh--we're--" "Sharing a tent?" Rarity interrupted, noticing the drake's somewhat flushed features. "Yes. There are two stories: you'll take the downstairs portion, and I, naturally, will retire upstairs. A lady does need her privacy after all, darling. Now, if you just pull that cord there..." she gestured with a perfectly hooficured foreleg. Spike gave the cord a mighty tug, jumping back as the rather massive tent inflated itself, complete with a little flag on the top. It just barely cleared the underside of the forest canopy. "Whoa! Rarity, this thing is huge!" the dragon exclaimed, his large eyes taking in the sight. Rarity chuckled softly at the sudden outburst of awe from the little dragon. After nearly three years of encountering one crazy, supernatural, or enormous entity (or in Discord's case, all three) after another, it surprised her that something as simple as a tent, albeit inflatable, could rouse such excitement in him. "All right, Spike," she said, "that's quite enough of that. Be a dear and help me bring all our things in? It's going to rain in just a few moments!" "Yes, ma'am!" Spike said, pushing the rolling chaise lounge inside as Rarity winced inwardly at his use of a title she usually reserved for mares much older than herself. "Mademoiselle, darling, if you please!" she said as she waved her hoof as though the action would erase the dragon's faux-pas. She levitated all the supplies into the spacious tent, except for the wheelbarrow, which she turned over to keep safe in what seemed to be the longest, wettest rain in the history of Equestria. "And right on schedule, too... I really must thank Rainbow Dash for her warning, I don't think I could stand to be out in that dreary mess!" Rarity began to plan out a new rainbow-themed ensemble for her pegasus friend just as the first drop hit the tarp above. Plip.
The Beautiful NightChapter 3- The Beautiful Night As the rain continued to pour on outside the cozy violet tent, the unicorn and dragon sat down at a perfectly sized table with their dinner before them. Spike had made his specialty dessert, brimstone berry soufflé with a sprinkle of tiny diamonds for himself and crystal salt for Rarity. He had wondered at the sight of the oven that somehow managed to fit inside the tent without taking up huge amounts of space. When he asked about how it ever fit there in the first place, Rarity only smiled and said it was a secret, something about the tent being 'bigger on the inside', whatever that meant. Spike made a mental note to ask Twilight about it later. For now, all the mysteries he felt compelled to ponder were eyes of sapphire and how they seemed to shine even in the dimly lit tent. His thoughts were interrupted by a polite cough. Rarity broke the silence, setting down her levitating spoon. "So... I hear the mountains are lovely this time of year. Not much snow, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and of course, there's the big... expedition... tomorrow..." she trailed off. Spike had begun to absentmindedly stare again in her general direction. Rarity looked behind her, starting to fidget under his steady gaze. "Umm... Spike, dear? What exactly are you looking at?" "Huh?" Spike blinked slowly, in a dreamlike stupor. It took fully five seconds for him to realize he'd been caught staring. "I-I uh, was... Noticing that there was a speck of brimstone berry on your muzzle!" he cried with a pointed claw, fumbling for an excuse. Luckily for him, Rarity was a pony who never settled for anything less than perfection when it came to appearances ("You never know when Photo Finish or Hoity Toity might drop in!" she was often heard saying.) and immediately excused herself from the table, using her telekinesis to carry a small hoof mirror out of sight. Rain continued to pelt the tent with a constant pitter patter. Spike wiped a paw across his crest, visibly deflating. He felt a small pang of guilt for lying, especially to a mare. "I'm no Element of Honesty, that's for sure," he mumbled to himself,"but still, you gotta play it cool, Spike!" "What was that, darling?" Rarity asked, confident that her complexion was once again flawless. She returned to the table, this time eating with much more care. The guilt welled up once more in the belly of the young drake. "Oh, I said... Thread comes on a... spool, right?" Spike supplied weakly. "Why yes, Spike. Indeed it does. Why do you ask?" Lying to Rarity seemed to get easier by the minute, and the dragonling began to hate himself for it. Grimacing momentarily, he replied with a smile, "It's getting close to Twilight's birthday, and I wanted to... er, repair her Smarty Pants doll!" (He had completely forgotten the debacle now known in Ponyville as the 'Smarty Pants Incident', after Twilight had used the Want-It-Need-It spell to bewitch the entire town; the doll had mysteriously disappeared. Apparently this incident had slipped the young mare's mind as well.) "Oh Spikey-Wikey, that's positively the sweetest thing I've ever heard of! If you need thread, I'd be more than willing to give you as much as you want," the Element of Generosity gushed. "We can start right after we finish this delicious soufflé!" "Gee, thanks, Miss Rarity," Spike said with a yawn,"but I think I should get to bed. We have such a busy day ahead of us, after all." Outside, unnoticed by the occupants of the tent, the raindrops slowed their descent, becoming more gentle with each passing moment. Rarity stifled her own little yawn with a dainty hoof and nodded. "I suppose I could do with a bit of beauty sleep myself," she mused,"a lady must always look her best, even when working." The pale unicorn mare circled the table to Spike, giving him a little peck on the check. "Goodnight, little Spike." With that, she started up the stairs to her room, leaving a love-struck dragon in the lower half of the tent. He blinked dazedly, reveling in the kiss. The scent of honeysuckle was still lingering when he came to his senses again. He didn't want the moment to pass so soon, not yet. The dragon desperately sought to keep it alive. "W-wait!" Spike managed to blurt. Rarity paused, one of her lovely limbs poised above a step, a quizzical look crossing her features. "Did...do you hear that? The rain-- it stopped!" The mare's ears flicked as she listened. "Why yes, so it has!" A few seconds crawled by as she paitiently waited for a response. "What about it?" "Well, I... I wanted to look at the stars, I hear they're real pretty out here," Spike stammered. "Woul-- would you like to look at the stars with me? I'd hate to be out there alone." Rarity pondered for a moment why Spike should suddenly want to look at the stars when he was so tired. The realization dawned on her; what else could it be? The answer was obvious. "I know what you're up to, Spike!" she intoned. The dragon paled, his pupils shrinking in terror of being found out. "Y-you do?" In his mind, he began to panic, frantically searching for a way to somehow get out of the situation with his dignity still intact. "You can't hide it from me any longer," Rarity walked toward him in long, graceful strides, her eyes narrowing. "Admit it! You obviously miss Twilight Sparkle!" Spike, who had been wincing, opened one eye, perplexed. "Huh? Oh! Oh yeah, I do miss Twilight. This is my first trip without her." Rarity smiled gently, giving Spike a comforting hug. "Let's do a bit of stargazing before bedtime, shall we?" She led the way to the zippered tent flap, telekinetically opening it. Spike followed, too tired and happy about spending alone time with Rarity to be worried about how far off the mark the young lady was. As he exited, staring at the myriad of constellations that Twilight had taught him, he felt that this night couldn't get anymore beautiful than having Rarity by his side. Zip. Author's Note It's been forever! Tried writing this chapter at least four months ago, hit a roadblock, finished finals for spring, got a job, set a date for my wedding (12 days left and counting!), and wrote the other two-thirds in less than two hours. Please enjoy!
