“Ah-CHOO!”
“Bless you, Spike,” Twilight said. “That was quite a sneeze.”
“Thank you.” I blew my nose. “I must be getting allergies.”
“I didn’t even know you’ve developed allergies while being here, and there aren’t any Dragon Sneeze trees around.”
“I guess my nose isn’t used to so much pollen.”
Spring was probably my least favorite season. I didn’t mind the warmer weather and the flowers blooming, but I had a terrible allergy to pollen back in the human world. I don’t know how it transferred to my dragon body, if it’s even an allergy at all.
“Say, Spike. Hearts and Hooves Day is right around the corner. Ever thought who your special somepony might be?”
I almost forgot that Hearts and Hooves Day was fast approaching. Like the dilemma I had for the Gala, I was stuck between Rarity and Fluttershy. While it’s true that I asked to join Fluttershy that night, I was a bit worried that I left Rarity by her lonesome. At least I dodged a bullet when she decided to talk to other ponies and not Blueblood. But if I do go for Rarity this time, I’m afraid to let Fluttershy down, which is something nopony or dragon should do.
That’s when I realized there was an episode occurring that day. In the show, the CMC would try to bring Cheerilee and Big Mac together, and they would go as far as to use a love poison to bring them together. I felt like that was a higher priority for me than deciding who my marefriend should be.
I shrugged. “I’ll just give both Rarity and Fluttershy chocolates.”
“That’s it? Nothing extravagant?”
“Nope.”
“Alright, then.”
I bought two boxes of chocolate three days before Hearts and Hooves Day. To be honest, I never celebrated Valentine’s Day in my world because I was never in a relationship. I talked to a few girls back in the human world, but we went as far as to being good friends.
Hearts and Hooves Day arrived so soon. I wrote Fluttershy’s and Rarity’s names on the chocolates. I then carried them with me. I first stopped at the Carousel Boutique. I knocked on the door, and Rarity answered.
“Spike, how wonderful to see you,” said Rarity.
“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day.” I handed Rarity the chocolates.
“Ooh, that looks divine. Thank you, Spikey Wikey.” She then planted a kiss on my cheek. I couldn't help but blush a bit.
Later, I visited Fluttershy’s cottage and gave her the other chocolates. Fluttershy thanked me. She kissed me on the other cheek, but she did more blushing than I did.
“I-I’m so sorry!” Fluttershy squeaked. “I really liked the gift, but I didn’t mean to go over—”
“That’s fine, Fluttershy,” I said. “I didn’t mind it.”
“Oh. Thanks again for the chocolates.”
“Don’t mention it.”
As I walked away, I rubbed the cheek Fluttershy kissed. My heart was filled with joy.
I can’t believe I got kissed by my favorite pony!
But then I realized the other important thing. I needed to find that love potion book and stop the CMC from forcing Big Mac and Cheerilee together. I don’t mind it when people ship two ponies together, but this wasn’t some sort of romance fanfic. I couldn’t tell when the CMC prepared the potion, but I knew when they decided to get Big Mac and Cheerilee together.
I hurried to the center of town and looked around. There, I spotted a familiar brown colt playing a game at an outdoor arcade.
“Button Mash!” I called out as I hurried to him. “I’m sorry for breaking your concentration, but has Sweetie Belle been here?”
“Not that I know of,” Button replied while keeping his eyes glued to the screen. “Sorry.”
“Thanks anyway.” I turned around and scratched my chin.
Okay...so that means…
“This one’s too young,” I heard a filly’s voice sing.
I turned around to see Sweetie Belle run off. Button had a confused look.
“Too young for what?” Button asked.
“Nevermind that,” I replied. “I’ve got some business to do.”
I quickly hurried back to the library. Twilight was sitting on a cushion reading a book.
“Hey, Twilight,” I greeted.
“Hey, Spike,” Twilight said without taking her eyes off the book. “Did the girls like your gifts?”
“Uh, yeah. They did.” I rubbed my cheeks. “What are you reading?”
“The origins of Hearts and Hooves Day. You see, it all started when a prince wanted to make a love potion for an alicorn, but he ended up making a love poison by mistake. So the two ponies got too deeply in love that their hometown was thrown into chaos by neither of them performing their royal duties. Thankfully, they were able to break the curse by being away for an hour, but the damage was already done.”
“So Hearts and Hooves Day was created to remind him not to do it again?”
“That’s right. Thankfully, he didn’t. A few months later, he and the princess started a relationship the normal way, and in a couple years they were married. Coincidentally, it was Hearts and Hooves day.”
“Say, could I read that book when you’re done? I’d like to learn more about the story.”
“Sure thing, Spike.”
After Twilight finished reading, she handed the book to me. I thanked her for it as she headed out.
At least I have the book with me just in case the CMC tries to find it.
I read through the book and found the recipe for the love poison. Just like in the show, the ingredients were a piece of cloud and the colors of a rainbow (literally) mixed quickly together with a pegasus’s feather. I continued reading and got to the part where the two ponies fell in love.
“But yet, such an unusual situation hath occurred that day," I read. "For when the two gazed upon each other's eyes, they couldn’t look away. The prince hath said, ‘Thou has't the most wondrous eyes the world hath ever seen.’ To which the princess replied, ‘thy compliment maketh me blush and sayeth...’”
“Spike! Are ya in here?!” a filly’s voice shouted.
I quickly looked up from the book to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the library.
“What do thou girls...I mean, you girls want?” I asked.
“Twilight said you have a book about a love potion,” Scootaloo said. “Can you lend that book to us?”
“No, I have a book about a love poison.”
“There’s a difference?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yep.” I walked down the stairs. “According to the story, the prince was trying to make a love potion, but he made a love poison by mistake. As a result, both him and the princess kept staring at each other, which resulted in them failing to do their proper duties. Can you imagine what would’ve happened if it were to occur to two ponies here?”
The three fillies stared at each other.
“Well, maybe there’s a love potion recipe in the library,” Applebloom said.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded. That gave me an idea.
“Say Sweetie Belle, have you noticed how you and Scootaloo look cute together?” I asked.
“Huh?” Sweetie Belle tilted her head.
“You two should consider dating. I know once you get a nudge in the right direction, you could become each other’s special somepony.”
“Spike, what are you talking about?” Scootaloo asked. It was clear she was weirded out by this.
“Maybe in a few weeks, you could become an official couple. I’m sure your families will happily support you both, and—”
“Spike, STOP!!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “We can’t be in love with each other! We’re fillies! Why are you forcing us to be together?! It’s...wait...”
“See? Doesn’t feel good, doesn’t it?” I asked. “You shouldn’t force Cheerilee and Big Mac together either. Let them decide their own special someponies. Big Mac may be shy, but he isn’t socially awkward. And Cheerilee doesn’t need one right away when she has lots of friends and students. You don’t have to have a lover to enjoy Hearts and Hooves Day.”
“Are you saying that because you don’t have one?” Scootaloo asked.
“Now that’s just hitting below the belt!” I retorted.
“What belt? You’re naked, Spike,” Sweetie Belle said.
“That’s not the point. Don't force relationships between two ponies. Nopony else is doing it to you. Just let fate decide what to do.”
“Wait a minute,” Applebloom said. “How did ya know we were tryin’ to bring Cheerilee and Big Mac together?”
“I heard Sweetie Belle singing about it in the town center,” I replied. "I'm not deaf."
Scootaloo sighed. “Let’s just go back to the clubhouse. Like Spike said, we'll just have to let Cheerilee and Big Mac decide who they should be with.”
The other girls agreed as they left the library.
“You know, you two could be cute together,” Applebloom said.
“Don’t you start!” Sweetie and Scoots shouted in unison.
At least that was one semi-crisis averted. Although, the worst damages I could think of is Rarity’s boutique getting its front door torn off and Big Mac subconsciously relocating somepony’s house.
“Ah-CHOO!”
“Bless you for the fifth time,” Twilight said. “Spike, are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine!” I retorted as I blew my nose. “It’s just allergies, I assure you.”
“Doesn’t sound like allergies to me. Have you noticed your voice sounds different?”
“So what? Voices change all the time. I’m just getting older.”
“Trust me, your voice sounds deeper as you get older, not more nasally.” Twilight put a glove on and touched my forehead. “Yikes, you’re rather warm. Even for a dragon. I’m afraid you might be getting sick.”
“Sick?! I can’t get sick! Your birthday’s coming up! I can’t miss your party!”
Twilight shook her head. “I’m sorry, Spike, but if this really is some sort of dragon flu, then it’s best if you stay in bed.”
Twilight picked me up with her magic and placed me inside my bed. She then noticed a red envelope on the bottom.
“What’s this?” Twilight pulled the unlicked envelope from under my bed. There was a card inside. She pulled it out and read it.
“Dear Twilight,
Happy Birthday!
From your number one assistant,
Spike”
“Oh, Spike. Thank you.” Twilight blew me a kiss.
“I wanted to give it to you on the day of your birthday, but I guess you got it early.”
“That doesn’t matter Spike. As long as I got it, it’s the thought that counts.”
I nodded. Suddenly, my stomach squeezed.
“Augh! Twilight!” I groaned.
“Oh no!” Twilight quickly poofed a bucket beside me. “Do what you need to do.”
I placed my head over the bucket, and fire came out of my mouth. What entered the bucket was a pink envelope.
“Are you good?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah,” I replied. “It wasn’t vomit, though. I think you got a letter.”
Twilight picked up the envelope from the bucket.
“It’s addressed to ‘Twily,’” Twilight said. “Wait! I know who this is from!”
Twilight ripped the envelope open and pulled out the card.
“Dear Twily,
I wish you a Happy Birthday.
Sorry I couldn’t come to your party,
but I still wish you happiness and love.
From your BBBFF,
Shining Armor”
“Aww, how sweet,” Twilight said. “It has been a while since I’ve seen him. I wonder what he’s up to.”
“AH-CHOO!!”
Twilight quickly leapt away from me. “At least he doesn’t have to worry about a sick dragon.”
Sadly, due to my condition, I really did have to miss Twilight’s birthday. I wonder if that’s why the old Spike wasn’t present in “Sweet and Elite.” It had to have been that. Spike would never miss his own sister’s birthday, and Twilight wouldn’t forbid Spike to come.
But if he did contract a disease, how is it that I just happened to get it around the same time? I’ve acted significantly different from the old Spike. I’ve been going out and interacting with others more often than him, and yet I still get sick. Of course, I could just chalk it up to Discord’s sayings about not changing fate, but this was stretching it even for him.
Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. I got sick, and now I have to miss Twilight’s birthday like in the show.
At least I didn’t get sick on my birthday.
That reminded me. I didn’t know when Spike’s exact birthday was, but I had to be careful when it does come around. I couldn’t succumb to greed, but I needed to figure out how. The last thing Ponyville needed was a makeover that looked like it was the set for the ending of a Godzilla movie.
“AH-CHOO!!”
“I’ll make you some soup, Spike. Don’t worry.” Twilight hurried to the kitchen.
“Thanks.”
For now, I would just wait until my body gets rid of this potential disease. At least it wasn’t that society-endangering virus back in my home world.
It was the day before Twilight’s birthday when she got a letter from Rarity. Rarity had been away to Canterlot the past few days, but she promised to come back in time for the party. Sadly, I already knew what the letter said without Twilight reading it.
“My dear Twilight,
I am afraid I won't be able to make it to your birthday party tomorrow because poor Opal is quite ill, and she is in no condition to make the long journey back to Ponyville. I do hope you understand.
Your friend,
Rarity.”
“Oh, no,” Twilight said behind her surgical mask. “First Spike, and now Opal? This has got to be a pandemic.”
“Two people gettin’ sick on the same week isn’t a pandemic, Twilight.” I coughed loudly. “But still, poor Opal.” I knew Opal wasn’t really sick, but I couldn’t let Twilight know Rarity was lying.
Twilight scratched her chin. “I know what to do! I’ll just get Pinkie to move my party over to Canterlot.”
“But what about me?”
“I can’t carry you to Canterlot, Spike. You’re still sick. I’m not sure this dragon disease is contagious to ponies, but I don’t want to take chances.” Twilight put a bottle of cold medicine and a glass of water next to me. “I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to take care of yourself. If anything goes wrong, try to send a letter to me.”
“Okay, Twilight.”
Later that night, I took some of that medicine and went to bed. It must’ve been a drowsy formula, because soon I was out like a light.
I stood in front of the throne room doors. I was hesitant.
“What are you waiting for, sir?” the guard next to me asked. “Go right in.”
I turned to see the guard. Much to my surprise, the guard wasn’t a pony. It was a blue griffon.
“Huh?” I asked. “What’s going on?”
The guard sighed and opened the door for me. “There. It wasn't unlocked, if that was what you were thinking, sir.”
“Uh...thanks...”
I slowly walked into the room. There I saw Princess Twilight signing a document. Her form was similar to Princess Celestia’s. That's when I realized where I was. I somehow ended up all the way towards the series finale.
“T-Twilight?”
“Spike, I’m glad you could come,” Twilight replied.
Twilight hugged me, but I didn’t hug back.
“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.
“What happened?” I asked. “How did I get here?”
Twilight chuckled. “Oh, Spike. You always were a kidder.”
“No, Twilight. I’m serious. Why am I here? How did I jump forward so much in time?”
“Jump for...you can’t remember?”
“All I remember was I was sleeping in my bed back in Ponyville, and I had a cold. I was in the library.”
“‘The library back in Ponyville? It was destroyed by Tirek years ago.’” Twilight’s eyes widened. “Wait. Don’t tell me you’ve had amnesia for the past twenty years!”
“Is that a side effect of cold medicine?”
“Your majesty,” the griffon guard called out. “She’s—”
“Tell Luster to wait. I’ve got a situation right now!” Twilight commanded.
The guard nodded and closed the door.
“Spike, you can’t remember anything?!” Twilight asked.
“No. What has happened since I was sick?”
“Oh, Spike. A lot of stuff has happened. I became a princess, got a castle, built a school, and now I’m ruling over Equestria. You can’t remember any of that?!”
“Wait...Twilight...I need you to slap me.”
“What?”
“Slap me! Now!”
“Uh...okay.” Twilight raised her hoof and…
SLAP!!
I quickly sprung out of bed. I looked around and realized I was back at the library.
“Man, it really was a dream. That’s a relief,” I said.
The clock chimed five times. The window showed the night sky outside. It was still dark. I took a sip of my water and lied back down.
“At least I’m feeling a little better,” I said to myself. “Talk about your fever dreams.”
Since I started thinking clearly again, I decided what I should do for the near future. Aside from Spike's birthday, there was that dragon migration. I could consider visit the dragon lands, but I should meet someone other than Garble. There was also that wedding, but I've already got it planned.
I yawned and went back to sleep. I spent the rest of the day in bed, reading comic books and only getting up to use the bathroom or make soup. Twilight and her friends had already went to Canterlot.
The next day, I heard a loud knock on the front door.
“Come in!” I called out.
Twilight came in wearing a yellow dress with a pink ribbon. Her mane was a bit bunched up.
“Twilight, you’re back!”
“Hey, Spike. I see you’ve been better,” Twilight replied.
“The cold medicine helped a bit. How was your birthday party?”
“Oh, it was great.” Twilight brushed her mane. “Rarity had been interacting with some high-class ponies since her time in Canterlot, including Fancy Pants. He was interested in what I was wearing to my party and praised Rarity for it.”
“That’s nice.” I blew my nose. “Too bad I couldn’t be there. Dumb cold. I could’ve wished you a happy...uhm...20th?”
“22nd, Spike. I guess that medicine is messing with your head a bit.”
“Y-Yeah. It is.”
So Twilight's 22 years old. Good to know. If she was 22 in 2011, then that means she was born in 1989, making her a millennial. But now I needed to figure out what my canon age is.
Overall, I failed to prevent my sickness from happening, but at least Twilight still had a good time. I hoped her next birthday would be just as spectacular.
“Ah-CHOO!!”
And I hoped that I wouldn't get another cold by then.