Chapter 37 – Imagine This
"Image." the Meltackian sounded out, it was as if the word was foreign to him, but the more he said it, the more he understood it, "Image, I like it. It describes my joy clearly."
"And your taste in attire." Rarity said she had noticed that unlike Honor or Chivalry, he did not wear a robe that shifted in pattern or design, instead, he wore and an elegant red shirt that crossed at his waist, silver buttons all along both sides of the front, a neck lined with a golden color that sparkled in the light and wide sleeves that were each designed with the scrawling of a dragon from shoulder to wrist. The shirt was accented with an off-white pair of pants that looked as if it was stitched with pure silver, "Oh, le magnifique." the white unicorn exclaimed.
This got the Meltackian to smile, "Why, thank you." he said, and bowed to Rarity and Spike. "Your hat is especially lovely."
"Oh, this old thing?" she asked.
"May I ask why you're here?" Spike asked in order to stop his jealousy from rising any higher than it already had.
"Spike!" she scolded, "Where are your manners?"
"No, he is right to inquire." Image said, "I was wondering which of the racing teams you hailed from."
"Oh, that's easy." Spike said, and pointed to the scales on the top of his head, "We're from Rainbow Dash's team."
"He means we work for Tusks, the team with the racer that has the rainbow on its side." She corrected.
"You mean the racer that filled the air with those beautiful colors during the third race?" Image asked.
"Oh, he must mean the Sonic Rainboom." Rarity said as she turned to Spike.
"That was bigger than any Rainboom Rainbow Dash has ever done on our world." Spike said in observation.
"The Sonic Rainboom?" Image asked, "Is it as spectacular on your world?"
"Oh yes indeed." Rarity said, "In fact, I remember it fondly. Rainbow Dash saved my life while performing a Sonic Rainboom."
"I'm glad she did." Spike explained.
"If I may, it might be easier to understand by reading your memories on the subject." Image asked.
"I don't know." Spike said in distrust.
"Oh, Spike." Rarity said with a smile, "There's nothing wrong with sharing beauty with others, even if it is in the form of memories."
"Ok, but I'm going to keep my eyes on him." Spike said and glared daggers at the Meltackian boy. He watched as Image placed a hand on Rarity's head, his fingers opening to accommodate the horn, and closed his own eyes. Now Spike wished he could see what was going on. After a few seconds, he placed his clawed hand to Rarity's leg, and saw the spectacular image of the Rainboom, felt the rush of the wind as he, through Rarity's eyes, was swept up by the cyan pegasus and brought back to the balloon. He quickly pulled his hand away from the mare and watched them open their eyes.
"Amazing, such colors and what a thrill." Image said, in a small bit of excitement.
"I know. And to think, I was such an ungrateful friend to her that day." Rarity said.
Spike simply placed a clawed had to her again, almost expecting to see something in her mind, but smiled when he didn't none the less. "I must thank you for such an experience." Image said, "I will cherish this memory for the rest of my life."
"It was my pleasure Image. Should you wish more company, I would be honored to introduce you to my friends." Rarity said and turned to make her way back to the train station.
"I may do." Image said as he walked the other way.
"What was it like?" Spike asked as they walked.
"Hm?" Rarity asked as she turned to him.
"What was sharing your memories with him like?" the baby dragon repeated.
"I must admit, it felt a bit intrusive, but I suppose that's because it's been my first time sharing my memories like that." she admitted.
"I'm just glad he didn't try to mind control you or something like that." Spike admitted.
"Is that something they can do?" she asked, "I hadn't thought of such a thing being possible."
What they didn't see was Image as he had turned the corner, reluctantly placing his hand to the head of the Sunik pilot, and sigh, "There." he said, "You have what you want. Now let her go."
"Not just yet." the large lizard man said and he stood up to tower over the Meltackian man, "I think we'll need a player on the inside."
"This was not the arrangement. I want my sister back." the Meltackian said and was quickly struck in the face by the much larger Sunik.
"As long as we have her, you will do what we say." the large bruit said in anger, "Remember, all I have to do is say two simple words, and…" with this, he pointed the claw of his thumb to his throat and slid it across, "Then the both of you will be nothing more than space dust."
Image growled at the larger alien, anger radiating from his being as the colors on his skin started to wildly change as if they wished to escape from his flesh. Then he breathed deep, sighing in defeat, "Fine." he said, and closed his eyes.
Spike and Rarity entered the garage, a smile on both of their faces, "We're baaaaaaaaack." the mare sang out.
"There you are!" Twilight said as she turned to see the two of them enter, "Spike said the two of you were going out."
"We went and saw the city." Spike said excitedly, "Then we got ice-cream, and met another Meltackian, and…"
Twilight chuckled a bit before placing a hoof on the baby dragon's shoulder, "I'm sure you have a lot to tell me." she said happily, "But I'm sure Rarity has work to catch up on, and you have a few chores of your own."
"But…" the baby dragon said.
"You can tell me all about it later." the purple alicorn told him as she ushered him past her.
"I hope everything's alright?" Rarity said as she made her way to her post to start cleaning more parts.
"More than alright." Twilight said, "The shipment of cleaning solution came to the garage quickly, and I've been helping out where I could since most of my research is done."
"I do appreciate the help Twilight." Rarity said. The two mares turned to begin cleaning the parts again, this time with a full stock of several barrels of the solution she had been using. Twilight used her magic to pick up the tub and place the used solution into a large deep sink that was close to the back of Rarity's station. The white mare sighed, "I must admit, I am a bit jealous." she said out of the blue.
"Jealous?" Twilight asked as she helped fill the tub back up.
"Yes." Rarity admitted, "Each of you has such wonderful partners for your tasks. You have Spike, Rainbow Dash technically has her special somepony, Blade has Writch, Pinkie has Piks, Applejack has Twiggs and Fluttershy has Hulon. Why even Tusks has Pilit at his side."
"You'll find a partner." Twilight said, "I have a feeling about it."
"What kind of feeling?" the unicorn asked.
"Just a feeling, like something great, is going to happen real soon." the alicorn explained, "You just wait, I bet your partner is going to be somepony special."
"I do hope your right." Rarity said, "I also hope this 'partner' shows up soon." With that she turned to the pile of parts that Twiggs had pulled from the yard, Applejack walking in with bandages wrapped around her forelegs and a small dusty part like a dish in her hoof, "Work seems to be, 'piling up' as it were." The three mares looked to each other and giggled at the unintentional pun.
