That evening, as Cadance was tucking Twilight into bed, she felt a gentle tug on her tail and found Spike standing beside her. He looked up wistfully. "My lady? Could we have a story? Please?"
"I suppose we have time for one. Come on up!"
Before Spike could attempt the climb, he felt Twilight's magic grab him, lifting him up and setting him down on the quilt. She patted the blanket next to her with a hoof. "C'mon over and sit with me, Spike!"
Spike trotted over and tucked himself in, and then they both looked up at Cadance.
"Well, what story should we have?" she asked.
"Could we hear one about dragons?" Spike asked. "I mean... if that's okay?"
"Sure, I'd love to hear one!" Twilight agreed.
"Hmmm," Cadance went over to the bookshelf and browsed through it. "Not sure what we have here..." The history of dragons was not well-known for pleasant and instructive fables. She looked back to Twilight and Spike. "Well, we'll just have to improvise!" She trotted back, and sat on a cushion beside the bed.
"All right, this is the story of the brave and honorable dragon..."
"And Daring Do?" Twilight asked quickly.
A good foal-sitter rolls with the punches. A great foal-sitter comes out swinging.
"...and Daring Do, in the Forbidden Cave of Gemstones!"
"Mmmmmm, gemstones!" Spike said, rubbing his claws together. "I like it already!"
"One dark and stormy evening, Daring Do was struggling through the jungle, when she came across the cave of a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon!"
"BUUUURRP!" Spike looked at them. "What? Just getting into character."
"Shush, Spike!" Twilight told him.
"Oh yeah? What's the pith helmet for?"
Twilight looked up at it. "Oh... nothing!"
"Ahem," Cadance went on. "What Daring Do didn't realize was that this was also an extremely honorable dragon! He lived his entire life by the Dragon Code of Honor!"
"Ooh, dragons have a Code of Honor? I hadn't heard about this. Did you, Twilight?"
"Nope!"
Cadance went on, describing a brief, family-friendly version of an all-out harrowing struggle for life and death above the glowing lava pools in the cave depths, resulting in the dragon nearly falling into the lava, and Daring Do coming to its rescue. "And since Daring Do had saved the dragon's life," Cadance went on, "the dragon swore an oath... to serve her faithfully until death."
Totally wrapped up in the plot, Spike jumped up and took one of Twilight's hooves. "My lady, I pledge myself to your service, according to the Dragon Code of Honor!" He bowed formally.
Twilight giggled a bit, but nodded. "I accept your service, oh brave and honorable dragon!"
"And Daring Do, who usually works alone," Cadance finished, "decided to make an exception in this case and asked the dragon for a lift back to her cottage. And he willingly flew her all the way home. The End."
Spike checked his shoulders, found to his disappointment that he hadn't magically sprouted wings. "Uh, would you settle for a cab ride, Twi?"
Twilight clapped her hooves with glee. "That was wonderful! Thanks for suggesting it, Spike! It's even more fun having someone to share it with!"
"Hey, no problem! In fact, tomorrow morning while you're at your lesson with Celestia, I'm gonna make myself an official Dragon Code membership card! That way I can just flash it to show my dragon pride! Well... G'night!"
He trotted off down the bed and lowered himself over the end rail to get to his basket.
Cadance moved to tuck Twilight in again, and found her looking troubled.
"What is it, Twi?"
"When I start taking classes at the School, will you still be my foal-sitter?"
"Whenever you need me to," Cadance promised. "And even when you're living at the School full time, you can always come visit me here at the palace. And I'll be following your progress from here, believe me! I'm looking forward to seeing how you turn out, Twilight Sparkle!"
"Thanks, Cadance! G'night."
"Good night, Twilight!"
"G'night, my lady!" called a voice from over the end rail.
"Good night, Spike!" Twilight and Cadance chorused, and then they laughed.