Deafening silence thundered in Spike’s ears. The great dinning chamber was so quiet, it actually produced an effect that made the nervous dragon want to cover his ears. Occasionally, somepony would strike their plate with a fork, causing a faint ringing sound, but it would fade as quickly as it arrived. Spike sat at a long table, probably meant to seat at least twenty guests. At the moment, it only hosted four, making the distance between them all the more awkward.
He was placed closer towards the middle of the table on the western side, with his back towards the tall windows behind him. Celestia, his ‘girlfriend’, sat to his immediate left. Unlike Spike, who was too nervous to touch his food, she managed to chew on a few bites as her eyes darted around the room in an attempt to avoid making eye contact with her parents, who sat on the opposite side of the table.
Both were alicorns, ancient and powerful. Spike could feel their eyes boring into him, searching for even the slightest hint of treachery. The lord across the table cleared his throat and briefly wiped his snout with a napkin. “So, Spike...” The young dragon gulped nervously. Only the reassuring touch of Celestia’s hand as she took his was enough to keep him from having a panic attack. “My daughter tells me you’ve been together for...” His gaze shifted to Celestia. “.How long has it been, honey? Remind me, please.”
The princess beamed at him, pushing her chest out proudly as she squeezed Spike’s hand. “Spike and I have been dating for over a year, dad. Isn’t he everything I told you he would be?”
He let out a low ‘grunt’ and nodded his head. “Yes, he is very well behaved... for a dragon...”
That remark received a swift hit from his wife, followed by a harsh glare. Celestia’s mother then turned her attention back to Spike and offered him a warm smile. “Forgive my husband, my dear Spike. What he means is, we are both happy for you and our daughter.” With the magic from her horn, she raised her glass to her lips and took a long sip. “To tell you the truth, actually, we weren’t even sure you were real until this evening. The way Celestia spoke about you and everything you did together, we figured you to be a figment of her wild imagination.”
A nervous outburst escaped Celestia’s lips, and she tried to cover it up with a chuckle. “Ah, yes... How embarrassing would that have been, mother?”
Spike’s hand was beginning to sweat inside the grip of the princess beside him. Now, he wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure him or herself. He felt like he needed to say something, anything at all to add to the believability of Celestia’s story. For the first time, he picked up his silverware and poked it at the food on his plate. “Ye-Yeah... I can’t even remember what my life was like before I met Celestia.”
The princess beside him smirked and raised an eyebrow but held her tongue. Her father cleared his throat again. “How did the two of you meet?”
Celestia was quick to put her fork down and speak up. “Spike and I have a mutual friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville. She introduced us at the last gala here in Canterlot, and I haven’t been able to keep myself away from him since...”
Spike’s face turned red as he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. Something about the way she spoke, the way the words fell from her mouth, made her sound so sincere. “Ye-Yeah... She’s pretty incredible. All because of your parenting, no doubt.”
Celestia’s mother laughed aloud and jabbed her husband in the side with her elbow. “Dear, I like him...”
That was it. Mission accomplished.
As Spike was feeling proud of himself, Celestia leaned into his neck. “Good job, Spike... I almost didn’t think we could pull this off...”
The dragon grinned at her, but the feeling of success was fleeting. At that moment, across the dinning hall, the doors opened up, and Princess Luna trotted into the room, stretching her arms high above her head as though she had just finished raising the moon. “Mmmmmm! Good evening, sister.” Then, she observed the rest of the scene. “Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”
Celestia went pale. Her mother looked at Luna with a surprised expression. “Oh... Hi, honey! Your father and I are just here to meet your sister’s boyfriend.” Spike looked back and forth between Celestia and Luna, and it dawned on him that the princess of the night didn’t know about their plan.
Luna raised an eyebrow as she approached their side of the table, looking over him and Celestia. “Boyfriend?” She folded her arms across her chest as a devious grin creeped along her lips. “Now, that is interesting...”
Celestia’s gaze narrowed, and she let out a low growl. “Luna, you’re supposed to be watching over the night...”
Her sister waved her hand, dismissing the idea. “I’m the more passive governer of my realm, sister. Let sleeping ponies lie, I say. Now, tell me more about this boyfriend of yours.”
Spike saw it, a cheeky grin fired in his direction from Luna. She knew something strange was going on, but whether or not she would exspose them was still up for debate. Luckily, their mother had already bought the act and stepped in to defend them. “Luna, your sister and her boyfriend are on a date. When you have a significant other of your own, we can talk more.”
The moon princess frowned and placed her hands on her hips. “Very well, mother...” Then, she eyed Celestia and Spike and fired them a sly wink. “Enjoy your... date.”
Luna stormed out of the dinning hall, and just like that, she was gone for good. Celestia began to relax a little and let out a long breath.
Her father took another sip from his glass, and as he set it back down, he scooted his chair back from the table. “Well, this has been quite an interesting evening.” He reached across the table, extending his hand towards the young dragon. Spike hesitated for a brief moment but ultimately took the lord’s hand and shook it. “It has been a pleasure meeting you, son. You seem like a fine lad.”
Spike nodded breathlessly. “Th-Thank you, sir.”
A weird knot formed in his chest. Celestia’s father had called him ‘son’. He figured it to be nothing more than a sign of approval, but it was still worth noting. His wife joined him as she gathered her coat and other belongings. Celestia met her by the table’s end and embraced her. “We’ll be going and get out of your mane, honey. You and Spike enjoy the rest of your evening. Oh, and give Luna our best.”
As they separated, her father took her mother by the arm and escorted her out of the dinning hall. “Goodbye, mother! Goodbye, Father!”
Spike also waved, happy that he had won their approval. It all seemed so silly, since he wasn’t actually in a relationship with Princess Celestia. The two of them sighed deeply and looked back at the cluttered table and dirty plates. “The servants will handle the clean up, so you are free to return to Ponyville.”
To Spike, it sounded like his job was done, but neither one of them moved a muscle. “Yeah... Twilight probably never even realized I’m gone. That was a pretty crazy date, don’t you think?”
Celestia chuckled softly and turned her cheek to hide the blush on her face. “Yes, Indeed...” Then, she turned to face him and raised her arms ever so slightly to grasp onto his hands. “You performed your roll perfectly, Spike. This... is the least I can do...”
Spike had no time to respond or react before she leaned forward, pressing her lips against his, pulling the dragon into a tender kiss. Several seconds passed by, then a minute. His arms and legs were locked, and his mind could only focus on the delicate touch of the princess’ lips smooching his own. Fireworks exploded in his mind, and his heart battered against his chest, threatening to explode outward.
After what seemed like an eternity, Celestia pulled away, laughing at his love-struck expression and wiping the saliva from her lower lip. “The kiss is the best way to end a date, is it not?”
Spike still couldn’t believe what had just happened. He was barely aware of the fact that his fingers were still entwined with hers. “Does... Does it really have to end?”
Celestia smiled sadly and nodded her head. “Yes, Spike...” The young dragon lowered his head humbly and retracted his hands. He knew it was time for him to leave and get back to Ponyville. As he turned around to make his way for the door, a gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him. “... At least, for tonight. What are your plans next weekend?”
Her question caught Spike off guard. “N-N-Next weekend?” Spike stammered as he struggled to formulate a response. “Um... Well, next weekend... I, um...”
Celestia grinned as she rolled her eyes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Hmm... Why don’t you figure it out and send me a letter tomorrow? You know how to reach me...” She directed him towards the door and gave the dragon a gentle push. “My guards will take you home. Farewell, Spike!”
He stumbled through the door, and it closed shut behind him. Still unsure of what had just taken place, Spike was startled by the arrival of two armored stallions, the same ones that carried him to Canterlot in the first place. “Are you ready to depart, Spike?”
He looked the guards over and saw the chariot behind them. “Huh? Oh, yeah... I’m ready, I think...”
Going though the motions, he climbed onto the chariot. Before he knew it, he was soaring high into the night sky, heading back to where it all began. “Oh, Celestia... The guys are not going to believe this...”
***Up Next: Moonlight Meeting***