Feared Love Divided: Chapter 03/:Luncheon
Rainbow Dash and Sprite flew passed Rarity, Halfire, Ainé, and Fawn, before quickly banking back around for another pass. "Don't tucker yourself out, dearie." Rarity voiced.
"Uh-huh..." Rainbow Dash dismissed as she flew passed.
"Why don't you find us a nice place for lunch?" Halfire asked, and Rainbow Dash paused as she was flying passed, fluttering beside them.
"Only if you promise me cuddles." Rainbow Dash added.
"Until Nifl's Gate," Rarity voiced, "I would have never thought I would hear her say that."
"Yeah-yeah..." Rainbow Dash dismissed, "cuddling's awesome... At least with Doc..." She then took off, Sprite a moment behind her.
"I didn't hear Halfire promise anything." Ainé stated.
"I didn't, did I?" he asked with a smile.
"Trixie forgot how beautiful the sun was..." Trixie voiced.
"We really should get out more." Starlight added, and Twilight looked about for a moment. "Twilight?" Starlight asked.
"Just remembering when I had to control both the Moon and the Sun..." Twilight voiced.
"It's so easy to forget that Twilight Sparkle is a princess now..." Trixie added. "No offence, princess."
"None taken." Twilight replied. "I am less than formal when it comes to being a princess... though the Crusaders might take offence..."
"Working with you, Your Majesty," Dandy Lion stated, "we have learned to eschew formality..."
"She has to be the most cuddly of the princesses..." Monolith added.
"You would be surprised." Badb added, and they looked at her questioningly. "What?" she asked, "Did you think I could reveal anything more?"
"Twilight Sparkle does seem rather cuddly..." Trixie added.
"All in due time..." Twilight voiced.
"Trixie is unsure of how she feels about that." Trixie replied.
Spike flew with a simulacrum of Cloudchaser just behind him, with the vastness of Equestria passing below them.
Discord and Gerandquill appeared on a cliff overlooking a valley.
"You would think you could get us there is one go?" Gerandquill asked.
"Travel should take time." Discord replied.
"And in the meantime we enjoy the magnificent view." Gerandquill said.
Ainé and Fawn stopped, and Halfire unhooked them from the cart.
"Are you quite alright?" Rarity asked them.
"I am quite alright, mistress." Ainé replied.
"No fibbing..." Rarity stated.
Ainé and Fawn shifted their wings about without saying anything.
"Is it chafing?" Halfire asked them, and they said nothing.
"No - fibbing!" Rarity repeated.
"I'm... sorry... mistress..." Ainé voiced.
"Fawn?.." Halfire admonished.
"I apologize, master..." she stated.
"Well, we are in for delightful repose," he stated. "but when we continue our journey, turn into something without wings, like a robust Earth Pony."
"Anyone in particular you want to see me as?" Fawn asked him.
"I had not thought it over..." Halfire voiced.
"We both know that's a lie..." Fawn said, looking him in his eyes as he tried to look away.
"That sort of fibbing is quite alright." Rarity voiced. "No Pony can expect to have eyes for no other, but we can certainly pretend we to do make our very special somepony feel loved."
"I know Doc loves the fillies," Rainbow Dash stated, and they looked up at her, "he doesn't need to hide anything from me."
"But?" Rarity asked, "doesn't it make you feel wonderful to feel like the only mare in the world?"
"It does feel kind of awesome..." Rainbow Dash voiced, "But I know what Doc used to do and all... and I'm just thankful he can love a filly like me. I mean, he's from Canterlot, they have much more fabulous, feminine fillies..."
"But none caught my eye... nor soul... as you have..." Halfire replied.
"Oh, Doc..." she breathed.
"Yes, yes," Rarity voiced, "he is quite a dashing and debonair knight."
"Baronet." Halfire stated.
"Yes, my apologies, Baronet." Rarity added, "but Rainbow Dash you don't HAVE to get lost in his eyes everytime he stares at you." Rainbow Dash said nothing in reply, "Rainbow Dash?" she asked.
"Hm, what?"
"Mayhap we should prepare for luncheon." Halfire said to her.
"Uh, right, on it." Rainbow Dash replied.
"We haven't heard who Doc wants to see?" Sprite asked, "I really want to know."
"Sprite!" Rarity admonished, and Sprite just laughed at her.
"I am immune to your whines." Sprite replied.
"I - do - not - whine!" she exclaimed, and looked between Rainbow Dash, Halfire, and then Fawn, and none of them said anything. Her face grew distraught and her eyes moist.
"Wait-wait-wait." Sprite continued, "I'm not holding it against you."
"Fibbing?" Rarity asked.
"Of course not." Sprite added. "Even your whining makes the world better."
"If does?" Rarity asked.
"I honestly do not understand why..." Sprite continued, "but that doesn't make you any less wonderful..."
"Really?" Rarity asked.
"It took a bit of getting used to..." Rainbow Dash mumbled, "but yeah, you're cool enough. One flip of your mane and every stallion in the room is staring at you... and most of the mares..."
"Doc?" Sprite asked.
"I have to admit I'm curious." Rainbow Dash added.
"If... I had to pick an Earth Pony... it would be..."
"Yes?" Rarity asked.
"Octavia."
"How am I supposed to compete with Octavia?!" Rainbow Dash asked, "I mean, even I want Octavia!"
"Now-now." Rarity admonished, and Rainbow Dash looked at her, "Who was the one who asked the question?"
"Actually, it was Sprite..." Rainbow Dash tried to say, but Rarity just shook her head, and Rainbow Dash winced. "Yeah... yeah... I did want to know... but, Octavia?!"
"Rainbow Dash." Rarity admonished.
"Like you would be fine with Spike and other mares?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"We have... had... fun... in our chambre..." Rarity said, but was overcome with a blush. "I could not possibly..."
"Literally." Rainbow Dash said to her.
"Let's get to lunch." Ainé loudly stated, "Unless Fawn wants to turn into..." she said, and saw Fawn turn into a copy of Octavia. Halfire tried his best not to stare at her.
Twilight looked at Starlight and Trixie. "So?.." she nervously asked, "who... is going to... cook?.."
"Trixie is too humble to boast about her cooking," Trixie voiced, "and will let her food speak for itself."
"I will be sous-chef." Badb said with glee.
"Trixie will enjoy the company." Trixie added.
Spike landed on an overlook with Solace landing behind him. He picked up a leaf and blew it with his dragonfire. A moment later he belched out piping hot bread which he caught and sat down. "I did not know that Sonet was such a skilled baker?" he asked.
"It seems she just needed Rarity's push." Solace said to him.
"Rarity?.." Spike asked.
"It happened just before we received the dispatch." Solace added. "Rarity has taken Solace under her wing, so to speak." she said, as she looked at Spike's wings and then back into his eyes.
"Is that why Rarity asked for her to be the lair's ward?" Spike asked, and Solace nodded. "Still, she wouldn't have had time to teach her? She had to already know how to bake."
"She had a nurturing heart." Solace said with a smile, as Spike passed her a loaf of bread. "Rarity just encouraged her to stop ignoring it. Sonet was afraid that being a nurturer might undermine her being a knight."
"I don't see why it would..." Spike voiced.
"You wouldn't, would you?" Solace asked. "But, you are a Dragon and not a Pony."
With this Spike grumbled. "I've never spent time around Dragons..."
"But that doesn't stop you from breathing dragonfire." Solace said with glee.
"No... it doesn't..." he sighed. He stared into nothingness until he realized he was being watched and focused on Solace, "hmm?"
"Your mind is roaring..." Solace said with a brilliant smile.
"Bread is life..." Spike mumbled. "It is... one of the best ways... to help Ponies... Fetch my writing kit."
"Thorn." she affirmed.
Sonet opened the doors to leave Spike's chambre when she heard something emerge from the hearthstone. She did not know how it worked, other than it drawing heat from the mountain itself. From the heartstone came a scroll. She used her telekinesis to open it up.
-Dearest Sonet,
"Dearest Sonet?" she asked, and paused.
-I know that you have been helping with the research of the other Dragoons but yet to have one of your own. I feel that bread could be one of the greatest ways to help everypony, and would approve any and all research into it's development.
-His Lord, The Most Honourable Marquess Spike
Sonet stared as his claw print on the scroll, unsure of what to do.
Spike bleched so loudly that it echoed. "That was delicious." he stated, and Solace nodded.
Gerandquill looked about their newest location and sighed. "The... Castle of the Four?" Gerandquill asked.
"No." Discord said simply, and Gerandquill looked around some more.
"A copy of the Castle of the Four?"
"Yes!" Discord exclaimed.
"In what world does that make sense?" Gerandquill asked, and Discord said nothing in reply. "Of course it doesn't make sense..." he sighed. "I will remind you that I am a Royal Scholar..."
"Nope." Discord said with a smile, and Gerandquill sighed once again.
"I am... your friend..." Gerandquill grumbled. "I honestly do not imagine how I did not expect travel... For the love of all that is holy, I did not expect to be in a copycat castle with the god of chaos."
"I'm not a god..." Discord mused.
"You prepared a castle, but did you prepare luncheon?" Gerandquill asked.
"I thought we might make it together." Discord replied.
"It's not like this will affect our travel time..." Gerandquill voiced.
The false Cloudchaser flew up beside Spike. "Thorn?" she asked, and he grumbled in reply, "What do wild Dragons eat?"
"I do not have the slightest..." Spike voiced. "But that is an intriguing question..." His voiced echoed about. "They cannot possibly eat enough to maintain their forms... In all this time... you have earned your name..."
"Thank you, Thorn." she said giddily.
"This - is -fantastic!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Yes, well..." Trixie replied, "Trixie has worked long and hard at being as good as Trixie claims she is. Many Ponies have challenged Trixie to cooking. At the time Trixie simply copied the Ponies and made tiny changes to the recipe. But now, the Great and Humble Trixie has become THE MOST FANTASTIC COOK IN EQUESTRIA!"
Twilight's smile grew even wider as Trixie said this.
"Food fit for a god-princess..." Twilight voiced.
"Why was that sarcastic?" Trixie asked, "Twilight Sparkle is an Alicorn! Twilight Sparkle is what Trixie always..." she said and paused, "always said she was... Trixie now knows she will not have the power of an Alicorn, but the Great and Humble Trixie can become absolutely fantastic at other things. Trixie also... has a confession she would like to make." Trixie looked to Starlight whom looked back nervously. "Trixie does not want to be Starlight's friend, or even best friend..." she said, tears forming in her eyes, "Trixie wants more. Trixie misses Starlight more than Trixie misses the Alicorn amulet. Every day Trixie is without Starlight is a day Trixie wonders why she is alive. Truthfully, Trixie learned to cook to see Starlight smile." Trixie then used her telekinesis to pull out a ring and showed it to Starlight. "Will Starlight make Trixie the happiest Unicorn in the world!? This might not be the best time, but Trixie has trouble with these things..."
"Of course I will!" Starlight Glimmer exclaimed.
"Then?, then?, then?.. why did Starlight leave Trixie?!" Trixie asked.
"Because Starlight," Starlight replied, "did not think Trixie felt the same way as she does. Starlight is so confused... but Starlight loves Trixie."
"Uh?.." Twilight asked, but quickly paused, not wanting to interupt them. Badb just leaned up against her. The two silently knew it was to keep themselves quiet and simply watched the two Unicorns as they wept at each other, and they did nothing but weep for what seemed like minutes.
"Simple solution," Twilight stated, "I can offer Trixie the position as palace chef."
"Does... does that mean?" Trixie asked, "You will not marry Trixie and Starlight?!"
"Of course I will." Twilight stated. "I'm trying to assure you that it would... okay, I'll just quietly be happy for you, eating my cake... Continue staring into each other's eyes..." Twilight said, and they did.
"So, uh, Rar?" Rainbow Dash asked, "When are we, you know, going to eat?"
"All in due time, dearie." Rarity replied.
"Yeah, uh-huh..." she said dismissively. "I don't know about you guys, but I worked up an appetite."
"Not afraid of seeming unladylike in front of your beau?" Rarity asked.
Rainbow Dash looked over to see Halfire lie against a tree, with his rifle balanced over him, "Doc's seen me do many unladylike things." Rainbow Dash looked back to Rarity and developed a wicked grin, laughing under her breath. "Oh, the things I've done for him... things I never thought I would even consider..."
"You certainly seemed to enjoy yourself." Sprite added.
"Seemed?" Rarity asked, "We could hear you from the other side of the volcano."
"yeah, well..." Rainbow Dash replied, "It's not like the entire Crystal Palace was shaking, or anything..."
"It what?!" Rarity exclaimed.
This time Halfire started to laugh without looking up, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'm sorry it burns, M'Lady." he said and looked up. "I am truly sorry."
"Everypony?!" Rarity quivered.
"Dragon's aren't exactly subtle." Ainé stated.
"Ainé!" Rarity admonished.
Halfire sighed. "There's a reason nopony had said anything..." Rarity looked at him, as if she were about to burst into tears, "Respect for for the lord and lady."
"You are adored..." Fawn voiced.
"You too, Fawn?" Rarity sniffled.
"I might be..." she uttered, "the newest... in the family... but that gives me a view no other Pony has... I can feel the love of everypony for our lord and lady."
"Every... Pony?.." Rarity asked.
Fawn turned into Spike to speak, "EVERYPONY!" she cried, her voice reverberating through their very bones, and reverted to being her meek self, moving to hide behind her master.
"How come Fawn gets to cuddle?" Rainbow Dash asked him.
"Because you - have not - asked." Halfire said firmly.
"Doc?.." she whined.
"Did you want something?" Halfire voiced, and looked about non-chalantly.
"He has to know what she wants." Ainé stated.
"He just wants her to say it." Rarity voiced, as neutrally as she could. She walked up to Rainbow Dash and gently pushed her forward.
"huh?" Rainbow Dash asked her, and looked Rarity in the eyes. It was clear Rainbow Dash knew her meaning and dropped her head, walking over to Halfire. "pl... please..." she whispered, and Halfire kissed her on the lips before laying back down, forcing Rainbow Dash to move over on her own and cuddle into him. "The things you make me do..." she whispered.
"You quiver just thinking about what I'm going to make you do..." Halfire whispered, and she smiled and quivered in reply. All he had to do was breathe over her ear to cause her to quake.
"Halfire?" Rarity called to him.
"Her responses aside?," Halfire asked, "have I done anything inappropriate?"
"It seems," Rarity replied, "that Rainbow Dash is the inappropriate one."
"Oh, blow it out your butt." Rainbow Dash voiced, looked at her, and stuck out her tongue and imitated a fart.
"As uncouth as ever..." Ainé voiced.
"yes, well..." Rarity voiced, "trivial minutiae that we must accommodate in the pursuit of friendship..."
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked Halfire.
"Those things all your friends do that annoy you." Halfire stated
"Ah, gotcha." Rainbow Dash stated, "Yeah, that. Like Rarity's prissyness."
"Yes..." Rarity voiced, "That..."
"You should never apologize for being fabulous." Ainé warmly said to her.
"Thank you." Rarity sniffled.
"Yeah, yeah, cuddly and whatnot..." Rainbow Dash stated, "Lunch, anyone?"
"In a but a moment, darling." Rarity replied.