A burst of light snapped to life in the middle of Carousel Boutique, briefly masking the appearance of a young rage-filled unicorn.
"RARITY!" she screamed. The room was empty, the building was silent. She wasn't here.
Sweetie Belle rushed out the front door, to find her target.
"Are you kidding me!?" Scootaloo screamed, as they proceeded into town at top speed.
"Alright!" Spike hollered back. "I'm an idiot, can we move on!?"
"I didn't say that!"
"Keep your eyes open!" Apple Bloom stated between heavy breaths. "We have to find them."
"Which one?" the pegasus asked.
"Either... Both... I don't care! Just find 'em!"
"Twilight, I must say this wood is so drab," Rarity said, examining the bookshelf before her.
"Uh huh," the unicorn responded, her nose in a book.
"Perhaps a nice wood stain... Maple."
"Uh huh."
"And the windows... Twilight, these curtains feel so bland. Perhaps a brilliant red."
"Uh huh."
"Are you even listening!?"
She snapped the book closed, and looked at her fashionista friend. "Yeah, I heard, stain the curtains red."
Rarity lowered her eyelids, "Hmmm... well, that is close."
Suddenly, the front door of the Ponyville library slammed open, grabbing the unicorn's attention. Standing in the door frame, stood a familiar young filly. Her little sister, Sweetie Belle. But something was different about her, and Rarity couldn't quite place it.
"YOU HARLOT!" the filly screamed, pointing an accusatory hoof at her elder sibling.
Rarity determined it was anger. "Sweetie Belle," she exclaimed. "Such words are unbecoming of a lady."
"Don't change the subject! I know everything!"
"Oh, dear," Twilight said, briefly distracting the designer.
The young magician started marching toward her sister. "You're trying to steal my boyfriend!" she screamed.
Rarity was suddenly very confused. "I'm sorry?"
"I said, 'you're trying to steal my boyfriend!' He's closer to my age, you floozy!"
"I'm sorry, I don't understand. Who!?"
"SPIKE!" she screamed, inches from her adversary.
Rarity confusion was climbing. Spike? Boyfriend? Sweetie Belle? Was she saying...?
"Sweetie Belle, I think you're confused."
"NO! I know exactly what's going on! We've been dating for the past month! And you're not going to take him from me!"
"Twilight could you-"
As the elder sister turned to her best friend, she could see torrents of sweat flow down the librarian's forehead.
"Twilight?"
"You knew!" Sweetie Belle screamed. "You knew all along!"
Her eyes darted back and forth, as she clopped her forehooves together in an attempt to help her think. "For the record," Twilight explained. "I didn't say anything."
Rarity's irises shrank to pinpricks. "I... I..." She blinked several times, returning to normal. "I'm sorry, Twilight, are you saying that Sweetie Belle is correct in her assumption?"
Twilight shivered just a bit, afraid to respond. Eventually she managed to release a slow nod.
"Oh," she responded. "I see. Just, one question: WHAT!?"
The librarian could clearly see the anger in the fashionista's eyes. She tried to explain as quickly as she could. "Rarity, listen: The only reason I didn't tell you was because this is something Spike needed to figure out on his own. I couldn't interfere. I know you're hurt. I'd be too. But there is a rational explanation, and I'm sure you'll understand, so if we all calm down..."
Rarity righted herself, and released a deep sigh. "You're right, Twilight," she said, projecting a calm demeanor that betrayed her internal storm of emotions. The unicorn turned to her younger sister and continued, "Sweetie Belle, we should-"
The designer didn't even notice what happened, until she impacted the bookshelf, and found herself buried in a pile of literature.
"Sweetie Belle!" Twilight screamed, aghast at the filly's outburst.
Rarity popped her head out of the pile, and saw her opponent. The filly's face contorted in anger. Her horn was smoking from the magic released.
Her eyes narrowed. It was on.
Spike descended the stairs within Carousel Boutique, shouting, "She's not here!"
"Well then, where is she?" Scootaloo asked.
"I thought it'd be easy to find Rarity," Apple Bloom stated. "Where else could she be?"
Spike's feet started to wander about the store, on their own accord. His mind abuzz with panic and fear. He knew this was the end. Of what, he was unsure. But today something would end. His love, his friendship, his life. Something of his would be over. His only hope, was to beg the two mares he loved for forgiveness. But he had to find at least one of them first.
"Maybe this isn't so bad," Scootaloo explained. "I mean, Rarity and Sweetie Belle are pretty level-headed, I'm sure they'll be better off without you around. They can just talk it out."
Twilight suddenly found herself flying across the room. Her sudden impact upon one of the many bookshelves disoriented her for a minute, as flashes of light from a magical battle illuminated the room.
She ran across to intercept the battle once again. This time, her impact on the neighbouring bookshelf came as less of a surprise.
The librarian got to her hooves and said, "Okay, new tactic."
"I'm sure they're fine," the pegasus said with a wave of her hoof.
"How can you know that!?" Apple Bloom asked.
Before Scootaloo could answer, she was interrupted by the snap of Spike's claws. "I got it!" he screamed. "Rarity was supposed to meet Twilight today. Right now, actually. Can't believe I forgot."
"Where!?"
"The library."
"Let's go!" Apple Bloom quickly bolted out the door without another word. Her entourage followed closely.
Scootaloo quickly threw the dragon onto her back. "So," she said, while running at top speed. "A month."
"What!?" He asked, as the wind flew across his face.
"You haven't decided after a month?"
As he held on to the young pegasus, Spike merely bowed his head. "I don't know who to choose."
"How can you not know?"
He didn't say a word. For he didn't have an answer.
Suddenly, Scootaloo skidded to a stop, surprising the young dragon. He flew over the pegasus' head, and fell to the ground, still hanging on her neck.
Spike didn't need to ask why they stopped. Flashes of light emanated from the library.
"Uh oh," Apple Bloom said.
A shatter of glass broke their reverie, as a purple blur flew out and skidded to a stop in front of them.
Twilight was on her back as her eyes snapped open.
The trio looked at the librarian.
"Where have you been!?" she asked.
"What happened?" Spike asked, releasing Scootaloo's neck as the young mare adjusted her dress.
Twilight got to her hooves. "Well, Sweetie Belle stopped by, started yelling at Rarity, and then shot her!" She explained. "Oh, by the way." Her face was inches from the dragon's. "They both know."
"Yeah..." he started scratching the back of his head.
"They're actually fighting!?" Scootaloo asked, shocked at the revelation.
"How do we stop them!?" Apple Bloom screamed.
"I don't know," Twilight explained. "I tried everything I could think of, and nothing worked.
"Well, we have to do something!" Pinkie stated.
The three ponies jumped back in shock.
"Pinkie!?" the librarian screamed. "What are you doing here!?"
"My right eye started inching, so I thought I'd come to the library to investigate," the party-planner explained with a mile-wide grin. "So, what's the plan!?"
Spike released a sigh, realizing there was only one choice. "The plan is... I'm going in."
He marched toward the door. He knew what he had to do, but was honestly afraid. He couldn't let them fight like this. but what could he possibly do to stop them? What if they turned on him? Fear fought duty, and duty won. He turned the knob, and the door swung open.
"STOP!" he screamed, holding a claw up.
A table flew straight toward Sweetie Belle, a pink energy field stopped and wrapped around it, sending it flying in the other direction. Rarity jumped out of the way. It shattered into a dozen pieces.
"STOP!!" Spike yelled again.
Neither unicorn listened. The younger one had to jump away from the bolt of lighting that was targeted toward her.
His presence changed nothing. As bursts of magic flew across the room, Spike's mind cranked. What could get them to notice the young dragon? Then he remembered...
The young unicorn leaned, with her back against the tree. Next to her, her boyfriend sat, his eyes focused on her.
This is what Sweetie Belle loved about Spike. Even with Apple Bloom sitting next to her, sipping on a bottle of apple juice, she still felt like the only filly in the world.
"Hey, thanks for your help, you two," the earth pony said. "I thought it'd take me all day."
A dozen or so baskets were filled and loaded onto the cart that still had to make it to the barn on the other side of the farm. But at that moment, the two ponies, and one dragon, were resting from all their hard work.
"Yeah..." Sweetie Belle said, lost in the dragon's eyes.
He scooted just a little closer to her, and the unicorn responded by resting her head on his shoulder.
Spike wrapped an arm around the filly, and she relaxed in his embrace.
The two rested in silence for several seconds. When suddenly, Spike heard a sound. A soft humming started to emanate from his girlfriend.
As he looked down, she stopped, and looked up.
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked with a smile that could charm a manticore.
"Were you singing?" the dragon replied.
Her face turned a rosy pink. "Maybe."
"Well, don't stop."
The young unicorn released a giggle before sitting up a bit straighter. Her humming was soft and melodic. Spike couldn't find a way to describe it in words, but he could feel something in it. Some emotion, some purpose.
There were no words, and there was no need for any. She merely sang what felt right.
Apple Bloom craned her neck to look at the two lovers. No one noticed the sadness in her eyes, as she went back to her beverage.
Rarity and her dancing partner spun around and around to the music on the Victrola. It was quiet and somber, and perfect for what the unicorn had in mind.
Everything was going well for the two of them, until Spike made a single misstep.
"WAHH!" the unicorn screamed as she fell on top of the dragon.
"Ow," he responded.
She pushed herself off the floor, and looked down on her boyfriend.
Spike released a nervous chuckle. He knew he wasn't the best dancer, but he made an attempt for Rarity. An attempt that made him look like a fool.
The fashion designer responded with a giggle. She helped her partner get to his feet.
"Sorry," he said.
"Spike, no need to be sorry. It happens to the best of us."
Her magic stretched across the room and lifted the Victrola's arm, silencing it.
"But I am not giving up," she declared. "It may just be the music. I'm sure we can find something."
"Rarity, I'm just not a dancer," the dragon declared.
"Well, I'm sure you can be, if you try."
"Well..." he said, scratching the back of his neck.
"Do it for me," she said, putting a hoof under his chin.
"Alright." Spike took her hoof in his claw. "For you..."
They stood still for several seconds before Rarity said, "Perhaps we need music."
"Wait." He held on tight, stopping her from leaving. "I think I know something."
They moved into position. And with one hoof wrapped around his neck, and a claw on her side, they started to turn.
Their positioning was a bit awkward, since Rarity was slightly taller than the young dragon, and even more so when she was on her hindlegs. But thankfully, in the darkness of the boutique, no one was there to laugh at their appearance.
A soft sound came from Spike's mouth, the tune to which they danced.
As they moved around to the magical melody, Rarity couldn't help but think of where it might have come from. But it did not matter. The two of them danced, together, leaving all concerns of the day behind them.
Spike closed his eyes, put his lips together, and the sound that emanated echoed across the room.
Sweetie Belle skidded to a stop. A wooden statue froze in her magical grasp.
Rarity's horn died down, and she looked past her younger sister.
The statue dropped to the floor, and the young filly's eyes traced her sister's gaze as she slowly turned around.
Spike continued to hum the song he learned. He was almost afraid to find out if it worked. But a few seconds later, he noticed the melody was the only sound in the room. He silenced himself, and opened his eyes.
The two siblings were staring at him. He knew he had to say something, but had no idea what.
His lips quivered, and his throat locked up.
But nothing came out before the eyes of Sweetie Belle started to water.
She burst into tears and bolted past the dragon.
"Sweetie Belle!" he screamed, spinning around.
She didn't stop, and ran straight past the small crowd that had gathered.
"Stay here!" Twilight screamed. "I'll get her!" She galloped off.
The three remaining ponies trotted up to Spike.
"What was that song?" Scootaloo asked.
He didn't answer, because he could feel a cold presence behind him, as he leaned against the doorknob.
He slowly craned his neck around, and looked at the elder unicorn.
"Spike," she said, stoically.
"Rarity," he replied. "I know you're mad, but-"
"I'm not angry."
The dragon was taken aback. "Y-you're not?"
"No." She closed her eyes, and bowed her head. "Because I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."
A drop of relief hit Spike. She was willing to hear him out. But he knew that he messed up, and could only hope she would forgive him.
Scootaloo watched them, and was the only one to notice that the unicorn was lying.
An update?
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Finally
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
REALLY, AFTER ALL THIS TIME, AN UPDATE!
*grabs pop-corn and begins to read*
Damn this was good
You Updated!?]
Great Chapter as always, but why so short?
Little PSA here. Chapters 13 and 14 are already up on the NP FanFiction Archive.
Run, Spike! Run for your life!
reminds me of The Sweetest Gem
Updates.... yesss.
What will happen now?
one word spike
RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2791430
Thank you very much. It makes me angry when writer messes with readers... Can you believe that this chapter was out for TWO AND A HALF MONTHS ALREADY!? Oh, and after reading the "future" chapters, I got even more angry. I hate when the writer makes the story like "it was all obvious from the very beginning for everypony; I just hid the most crucial facts from the reader. All twenty seven facts". It feels like the story is one big lie, and author was just trolling us all. I take back my upvote.
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Disappear!
Move! Move! Move!
Pretend to have a heart attack!
Believe you can fly and jump off a building!
Become the new Rainbow Dash and Sonic Rainboom the fuck outta there!
Channel your inner Pinkie Pie and open a rift in time and space and jump in the TARDIS!
What i'm trying to say is,
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Or don't, whatever.
...but seriously, don't, that's probably gonna make it worse.
Spike is SO effed. I think and are going to destroy him, then each other.
How ironic that the Element of Generosity leaded Spike on that he lead those two on.
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In the wise words of the Heavy:
"Oh, dis is bad!"
Two words: PLOT TWIST!
Okay, so now we finally have twelve up. Hopefully, thirteen will soon follow. It is already available elsewhere, after all.
An...update? To one of my favorite stories on this whole site?
This chapter was soo intense and full of RAGE
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2791683
I'm sorry if my attempts to build suspense offended you. But I'm pretty sure I didn't hide anything from the reader. Okay, I hid Twilight's personal opinion, but she's full of it, to be honest.
And the only one it was 'obvious' to was Twilight, whose reasoning was actually a bit off and circumstantial; and Scootaloo, who just arrived.
So, yeah, I don't think I hid anything. If I did, I'd like you to tell me.
2793122
Yeah, I understand that completely. He's just severely conflicted. At that point, in Spike's mind, this is gonna be resolved very soon. He's going to turn Sweetie down, and just doesn't want Rarity to find out yet.
Obviously, he's wrong... but...
2793180
They're not very close?
Actually, I'll probably cover that in chapter fifteen.
update !!!!!!!!!!! yaaaaaaaaaaaay awesomeeeeeee
Waiting for Spike to lose them both and fall into depression. I only hope the girls don't compete or some such crap.
In other news: Dis gon be gud.
2791856 I read all of that, thinking it was going somewhere... guess not.
2791538 ITS FATE!
Oh no! Are they both gonna' hate them forever?
Then, the Sweet Team win, hun?
2795864 Objective complete then?.... Yeah, pretty much xD
2791510 That picture totally isn't creepy...
Oh, the pain.
Singing should be used when a Japanese girl is communicating with a giant monster. Or when a professional performer steps on stage to calm an entire brawl taking place across the auditorium. When a guy does it to stop his girlfriends from fighting, it's "What the fuck?"
MAGIC BATTLE! Did no see that coming, but I can't say I'm disappointed.
2842382
You saying guys can't sing? I beg to differ, sir.
I'll admit it was a bit atypical, but it was just what came to mind. Had to come up with a unique way for Spike to break up the fight, and I think it worked.
But I also added a bit of foreshadowing there. Did you not notice?
2843773
Story's called Sibling Rivalry. At some point it had to happen.
2844983 Yeah, but I was also going "no no no no NO, don't you dare sing, Spike!" throughout the foreshadowing.
Hope my comment didn't sound mean, it's just the way I felt about it.
2844983 True, but I didn't see them throwing Twilight around like a rag doll... or how you appear to be ending this.
2845153
No, not that foreshadowing, the other foreshadowing.
2845158
Dude, given what's happened so far, I have no idea how it's gonna end. I thought I did, turns out I was wrong.
2845612 I read the other 2 chapters... Although, I would hugely enjoy everyone else being wrong because that would be hilarious. You seem to have a plothole with Scootaloo telling Rarity what dragon's are and then Rarity deciding what she does.
2845697
I know what you're talking about, and I think you might be right.
2846235 Honestly, she should have came up with, well not the exact opposite, but the middle ground. If you catch my drift
2846235 It's hard doing this without spoilers!
:/ Debatable. By dragon standard, he may still be a "baby", but it does not change the fact that he's technically just a few years younger than Twilight, so assumably Rarity.
Rule of funny, I know, but it doesn't change the fact that Twilight should've been really heavily cut. Ahem, carry on.
In any case, finally caught up on all the chapters.
Consider me intrigued, and I look forward to how you're going to end this.
2851600
'Just a few'? How old do you think she was when she entered magic school?
Actually, I don't think I mentioned it in the story. I had numbers laid out, but I think I forgot. Anyway, Spike is closer in age to Sweetie Belle than Rarity, by about a year. I think it was, he's three years younger than Rarity, and two years older than Sweetie Belle.
Remember, this stuff was never enumerated on the show proper.
And I know what you're saying about the glass... personal experience.
Fuckin' still hurts.
2846342
She should have proposed a three-way?
2852283 Well not to that extent, but that Spike couldn't decide because he loved them both since dragons have more than one partner. True you kind of said they didn't really feel anything for their partners, which seemed like a strange decision considering how Spike is, but you could've played up to Spike being different because of his raised by pony mentality combined with his nature. Equally, the fact Twilight had installed this idea that he was a one mate species was the reason for all of his stress, because it's actually the opposite. Notably, you did touch on that with Scoots telling her that was a horrible idea, but it felt like it could be expanded on.
Magical fight between sisters presumably till the other can't stand?
http://exe2001.deviantart.com/art/Pinkie-Pie-and-Rarity-stunned-gif-289274986
Yay, an update! Wait...two updates! Yay!
Scootaloo in a dress? Sweetie in a mess? Rarity under duress? No time to stress, must continue the reading quest!
The only flaw I see in this whole story is that Twilight is approximately 1637273 times more powerful than Sweetie Belle and Rarity. I find it hard to believe that she was overcome by their fighting.