//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Perfect Surprise // Story: Spike's Surprise // by MLPTheLunarEclipse //------------------------------// As Apple Jack walked out of Carousel Boutique she couldn't help but smile. Her an Rarity had spent the whole rest of the day collecting gems for Apple Jack's pie. Meanwhile at Fluttershy's Rainbow and Fluttershy were having a hard time deciding what to get Spike. "How about a dragon teddy bear," inquired Fluttershy curiously. Rainbow shook her head," I don't think so. Last year you got him a stuffed bunny and he's turning ten now so I think he's probably grown out of stuff like that." Fluttershy sighed and then replied," this is so hard." Rainbow flew over to Fluttershy," I have to go get him some hoof ball cards. Do you want to come with me to the Traders Booth?"" Fluttershy nodded and followed Rainbow out the door. She knew that the others would most likely get Spike gem related items and wanted to get something special. She slowly thought to herself," I wonder what Twilight will get him." As they approached the Traders Booth Fluttershy gasped in amazement. Inside the shop was all sorts of items. Rainbow flew down and looked at Fluttershy," I'm gonna go buy him some hoof ball cards." Fluttershy nodded and began to look around, she saw all sorts of things but only one thing caught her eye completely. Laying on a table was a blue quilt with white wool around the edges. On the quilt were clouds and dragons flying through the sky. On the edges by the wool were gems of all colors. Fluttershy smiled and picked the quilt up," Spike will love this." Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy with a small bag with tissue paper in her mouth," got something?" Fluttershy nodded and flew over to the payment table. The pony standing at the cashier desk was brown with white hair. "How may I help you?" Fluttershy placed the quilt on the table. "Trade or pay," the cashier asked." Fluttershy placed some bits on the table," pay." The trader took two bits and smiled," thanks for shopping at the Traders Booth!" -------------------------------------------- Pinkie hopped up and down the streets of Ponyville, connected to her tail was a red wagon filled with party supplies. She happily hopped into her house. She dragged the wagon behind her happily. She quickly quizzed around her room. She grabbed some wrapping paper and ribbon, she then walked over to her bed and grabbed some bits out of her saddle bag. She quickly wrapped them and grabbed it. She quickly took the slide down to her party planning secret hideout, she threw the wagon into a large cubby hole with a few other boxes of party supplies inside. She carefully placed the box into the slot and yawned as Gummy crawled on her back. "Let's get some sleep Gummy," she said sweetly. "We have some serious party planning to do tomorrow," she laughed gleefully as she slid up her slide and into her room. Pinkie lay down on the bed exhausted. After all what kind of party planner doesn't sleep? ---------------------------------------------- Twilight quietly opened the door careful not to wake Spike. "Come in Princesses," she said kindly. Princess Celestia,Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence stepped in. "You said you had something to show us," said Luna. Twilight nodded and whispered," follow me." The princesses quietly followed Twilight to her library. Inside were three large chalk boards and a bunch of books lying around. Twilight smiled," I spent all day researching dragon behavior, I found out something amazing." Twilight walked over to a chalk board an smiled," Spike had been in a dragon egg for ten years I hatched him. He was supposed to be in the egg for quite a few more years before he hatched naturally. Because I hatched him he had some weird aging differences and never grew to his full length. Tomorrow Spike will be twenty years old!" Twilight turned her head towards the princesses, they all stood in disbelief before her. Twilight sighed," I want to give Spike the ability to be his full size for his birthday but I fear I don't have enough magic to do so yet." The three princesses in front of it turned to each other, Celestia smiled," I would be glad to assist you in casting the spell." Luna nodded," as would I Princess Twilight." Twilight turned her head to Cadence who simply responded," me as well." Twilight smiled and began to devise a perfect plan. "Alright this is how we will do it." ------------------------------- Apple Jack sighed as she pulled the beautiful Apple Sapphire Ruby Pie out of the oven. She put it into a plastic bowl and wrapped it," Spike'll love this," she said to herself. Apple Jack yawned and looked out the window, it was nearly night. Just like all the other ponies it was time for her to rest. One thing was for sure though, she knew tomorrow would be a great party.