Make your Mark - Chapter 3

>Nothing happens for many days after Trixie's appearance.

>You keep down on your magic use, still practice and using it when you can.

>It seems like your getting better, less fatigue and headaches after magic use.

>Twilight tells you Trixie was using some sort of artifact to bolster her magical capabilities.

>It worries you, especially seeing as she said she would return.

>You don't speak to Rarity for two days in a row, and you didn't want to make the first move.

>With nothing to do this afternoon you elect to relax with Dash after a long day of work at Applejack's farm.

>You nod a hello to her, she's resting her head on her legs precariously laying on a tree branch.

"What's up?"

>"Well, I guess I am."

>With a laugh you begin climbing the tree, finding a comfortable seat a branch away from her, leaning on the rough trunk of the oak.

"Is this going to break? That would suck."

>She opens one eye, and examines your position.

>"Yeah, you're bucked."

>Dash was probably the easiest to talk too, she was always up for playing a prank, and was always ready to crack a joke, she even checked out mares with you sometimes.

>No counting Rarity, Dash was the pony you went to first for a good time.

>You talked about plans for the weekend, her practice, your problems with Rarity - who you called "The DressMaker" when it was just Dash and you.

>She also briefly tells you about a griffon she used to know, it was rare that Dash talked about her past, and when she did it was just a vague story.

>Until nightfall the two of you chat and laugh, you almost falling several times, but you were having a pretty good time, until Rarity came up on you two.

>"Yeah, she does have a nice flank, I'd bury my face so far-," Dash's face flashed a bright red, "H-hey Rarity!"

"Holy Christ," you whip around violently, almost falling again, "what's up?"

>Dash just said something very compromising for everyone, this may be hard to play off.

>"I was just visiting Fluttershy, her wings finally came back. What are you two talking about?"

>You pray to the gods you don't have to explain what you were talking about, but before you could say something Dash interrupts.

>"I fell into some mare at practice today."

>Rarity nods like she understands and then looks at the ground, that was never a good sign.

>"Well I guess I'll be off."

"Want to do something later?"

>She shrugs and trots off without another word.

>You bury your face in your hands, as if that could reverse what's happened.

>"That was close."

>You sigh in agreement, hopping off the branch to the soft ground below.

"I'm going to head out, catch you later?"

>Dash reverted back to her napping position, that sufficed as a goodbye.

>You made your way back to the library.

>You wondered why Dash had trusted you with her secret, but you'd keep it just the same, you suppose it made some sense, you were both pretty close.

>Tonight was suppose to be your last night there, but you had a feeling that you'd be staying there for quite a while longer.

>After a quick dinner you decided to relax away the rest of the night with a bottle of hard cider on the terrace just outside Twilight's bedroom.

>It felt like you were being watched, and you probably were, but it wasn't Twilight's eyes on your back.

>She had her face buried in a book, two green eyes emerged from the darkness at the other end of the terrace.

>The shadowy figure crept toward you in the dark, he was about your size, except gangly and awkwardly moving.

>He took a seat next to you, finally revealing himself to be Spike

>Apparently he was teenaged now, which was fine by you, because he's one of the few things that could talk to you without looking up.

>Seeing how saddened he looked you briefly ponder whether dragons have an emo phase.

>"Can I?"

>You hand him your other bottle, unscrewing the cap for him.

>He nods a thank you and sinks into his chair, chugging nearly half the bottle in one go.

>While Spike did steal from you often he was pretty cool, he hardly became angry at anything, even when you had told him about your relationship with Rarity, you were surprised he had taken it so well.

>"So, how is she?"

>There was no doubt who he was referring to.  

"she's great, I think, we had a bit of trouble a couple nights though. We haven't spoken in a few days."

>"How is it?"

>You give him a quizzical look, on the outside you looked calm but a little confused; on the inside worry was chipping away at your stomach.

>"How is it when she kisses you? How is it when you hear her laugh, know you made her happy? How is it when she screams your name at night, knowing you caused her to squeal in pleasure?"

>You made no effort to conceal your emotions now, the teenaged dragon starred off into the night sky, unwilling to meet your eyes.

"Why are you-"

>"How is it when you thrust into her and she blushes, begging for more?"

"What the fuck is your problem? Do you have something you want to tell me? Because you're really pissing me off."

>"Oh? You're mad? Funny," his calm demeanor remained, he finished off his bottle of cider. "It should have been me. I should be the one taking her to nice restaurants. It should be me sneaking over to her house when her sisters not there, and we'd share a night of-"

"Yeah well it's not," you stand up, taking the bottle from his hand, "it's me, and your going to have to deal with it. And I swear to the gods if I catch you spying on us again I'm going to break your neck."

>You had your suspicions for weeks, and now they were confirmed.

>So those light green eyes in the dark were Spike's.

>Not only do you distinctly remember those eyes watching you dine with Rarity, but you also recall being watched that one night at her boutique.

>You were about to go inside when you heard a guttural roar.

>Spike jumps up from his chair and tackles you, nearly sending you over the edge.

>With the wind knocked out of you and half your body hanging over the edge you couldn't do much as Spike brought his fist down on your face.

>"IT SHOULD BE ME!"

>He brutalizes you with a few more punches, the pain in your neck and face is disorientating.

>Yet you manage to get your hand over his head, a ball of bluish-white swirling in the palm.

>You hit him on the side of the face, lest he falls forward with the impact.

>The teenage dragon is strong, but not strong enough to resist the impact of your spell, he's cast to the side, crashing into the wall separating Twilight's bedroom.

"Fuck with me again and you'll get worse."

>He was dazed, staggering toward you only to fall back down.

>"I'll bucking kill you."

"No, you won't, you're a fucking pussy bitch, that's why she picked me," you laugh loudly, it's the only thing you can do.

>This wasn't you, you wouldn't say something like that.

>Then it came, strain in your forearm, like a pulled muscle, mixed with the pain of being beaten and the burn of your mark.

>Twilight finally appears, looking at both of you in wordless confusion.

>Spike gets up, pushes past Twilight, who calls after him.

>You can hear the dragon stumble about as he makes for the door.

>You slump down into a chair.

>"What happened?"

>Sudden fear comes over you, he might be headed for Rarity's place.

>Without a word you rush past her, she protests but you hear none of it.

>You rush to the boutique, Spike is waiting outside, he sees you running toward him and reacts rather quickly.

>A stream of green flames burst from his gaping maw, shooting toward you.

>You hop back just in time, but you still feel the heat of the flame lick your skin.

>You see the cobblestone road is scorched black and a few scrolls lay here and there.

>Rarity's door opens, Sweetie Bell is just behind her.

>"What's going on?"

>Spike, in a blind rage, spins around and brings his clawed hand up.

>Before he could hurt anyone you throw him into the air with a smokey orb.

>A second later your temple starts to beat, the pain was beginning to build up.

>Thankfully Rarity had jumped back, seemingly telling Sweetie Bell to stay inside.

>She looks at your face, bruised and bloodied no doubt, and you think understanding comes to her.

>Spike picks himself off the ground, he had fallen a few feet away from the boutique's door.

>"It should be me," he huffs, clutching his side.

>"IT SHOULD BE ME," the dragon runs off, not wanting to risk another fight.

>Some measure of relief comes to you.

>Rarity invites you in to get fixed up.

>She does her best to ease your pain while you explain what happened, and how Spike lashed out.

>She doesn't take it well when you tell her he's been spying on both of you.

>You also note how you had lost your cool, saying things you normally wouldn't.

"...But it's not my fault, I'm not the one who started the fight."

>"It's a bit of a gray area, darling."

"Are you agreeing with him?"

>"No," she looks a bit flustered, "but I understand why he was so angry."

"Well, with someone as attractive as you, I suppose it's to be expected."

>She blushes a little, and Sweetie Bell, who was spying from around a corner, starts gagging.

>Despite the wounds and your pounding head, it was nice to be talking to Rarity again.