“Good morning, ladies and gentle colts, welcome back to more Reptile Romance; Choose The Ship! Last time was Spike date with Rarity and then Starlight Glimmer. This time, it is Ember’s and then Princess Twilight turn.” The Announcer said
The Dragon Lands, one of the few places that Spike rarely visits, if he wasn’t friends with the Dragon Lord, Spike doubt that he would’ve ever returned back to this place. He never felt like he belongs, all the dragons saw him, smelt the pony around him.
The male dragon just kept walking, having to meet his first date for today up in her throne room, he tripped and fell on the hard rocky ground, hearing a familiar laugh and seeing the main reason why Spike stopped wanting to be a true dragon.
Garble. He had his arms folded, while his buddies were standing next to him. He had his head leaning back, his annoying laugh echo through Spike’s ears.
“Well, well, well. Pony Boy is back, where's your basket of flowers and dress?” Garble asked before laughing again
Spike stood back up, dusting the dirt off his body, he gave Garble a cold stare but held back his fist.
“Look Garble, I would love to stay and talk, but I got a date with The Dragon Lord today. Who knows, I might be King someday.” Spike said Garble’s jaw dropped in surprise.
Spike:
“The look on his face! (Ha, ha, ha) priceless, I don’t know if I should pick Ember or not, seeing that if I do, I’ll have to move away from Ponyville. There’s the fact that Twi’ wouldn’t last a day without me, her cooking is worse than Sweetie Belle's! There’s also the fact that, I don’t belong here, with the other dragons. I belong with my friends in Ponyville.”
Spike opens the doors to the throne room, two large male dragons stood by, watching Spike like a hawk. The purple and green male dragon just gave a small grin and walked passed, he saw the beauty of the blue scale dragoness sitting on her stone throne. Her feet on the armrest while her head leans on the other side.
“Hey, Ember!” Spike cried out, waving his arm
She gave him a friendly smile, getting off her throne and stretching out her body.
“That throne is uncomfortable, I have no idea how my dad sat on that thing for years,” Ember stated, Spike, let out a chuckle.
“It’s still great to see you again,” Spike said, pulling the dragoness into a hug.
Ember felt his warm embrace, a bright red blush on her cheeks. She gave Spike a hard push, giving the male dragon a hard punch on his right arm.
“So, the plan for our date?” He asked
“First thing, dragons normal don’t ‘date’ each other. Second thing, I readied about these dates that ponies have, I do like the idea of how the guy has to pay for everything.” Ember said, giving him a grin.
Spike rolled his eyes, “What are we doing?”
“Only like the greatest thing ever! The best sport in Equestria; Lava Battle Ball!” Ember said, putting her right foot on the table with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.
Spike rather not question about the sport he no idea about, until later, for right now, he couldn't help but smile at how cute Ember was acting, she soon noticed Spike smile. She let out a cry of anger before giving Spike a hard punch to his stomach.
"You didn't see anything, got that!" Ember said, her finger poking at his chest.
"Of course, my Lord," Spike said, giving a small bow.
When Ember felt Spike grabbed her claw, her cheeks gave a red blush, the two dragons, held each other's hands while they walked towards the stadium. Spike looked around the stadium, seeing almost every dragon in the Dragon Lands here. The royal box for only The Dragon Lord and his or her's mate.
Ember:
"Lava Battle Ball is the only sport that dragons have. So, I thought that if they were something else in The Dragon Lands that Spike likes... Besides me, then he'll pick me over then those other girls. I have never met a dragon, that has hated Lava Battle Ball, but Spike is more pony than a dragon, maybe that why I like him because he's not like all the others dumbells that live here."
Spike had to get Ember a box of small crushed gems, Spike just guessed that it was like the popcorn in Ponyville, Spike noticed that the ground was made out of lava, with dragons entering from the right, the team filled with only male dragons were wearing a plate of gold armor over their arms, with helmets. While the team from the left was filled with only female dragons, wearing silver plates all the way up their legs and a silver chest plate.
"The Gruesome Chargers is the all-boy team, they normally lose most of the matches since male dragons don't trust each other and fight to see which one is in charge. While The Storm Mavericks is the all-girl team, being just the better team since girls don't really fight over things unless it a mate." Ember explain.
"So, how does this game work?" Spike asked
"Right, I always forget that you didn't grow up with dragon culture. The two teams fight for the Lava Ball, there is one dragon at each end if the ball gets past that dragon then that team gets a point. There are seven members for each team, three members of each team have a bat, making power shots, while the other three have to use force against the others. The three that doesn't have the bat starts with the ball, making it so that they can either pass it to the batter or try and score themselves."
"When you score with a bat, it worth two points, while without a bat, it is worth five points. Since it harder to score." Ember finished explaining to Spike.
"I always wanted to be apart of The Storm Mavericks, but since I was the daughter to the Dragon Lord, the others thought it would be unfair since the Dragon Lord is the judge of the sport. Now that I'm the Dragon Lord, all I can do is watch others enjoy what I never could do.”
Spike pulled her close, Ember was about to say something to the male dragon, but the game started up, she just leans her head onto her date shoulder, enjoying the snack that Spike got for her. Since she was the judge and Dragon Lord, she got whatever she wanted for free, but she wasn't going to tell Spike that.
Spike found the sport, strange at first, later Ember did break away from him, to start screaming in rage, at how her favorite team was losing, Spike found the whole thing far too cute, that he wouldn't dare say out loud for his safety. Spike held her arm, Ember was pouting while the pair left the stadium.
Spike:
“That was fun… It seems like something that Rainbow or Scootaloo would enjoy more than me. I don’t hate the sport, but since I grew up around Twilight, I’m a bit of a bookworm, not as much as her. I still enjoyed my date with Ember, maybe I should start visiting The Dragon Lands more, Thorax wants me to visit the Changeling Empire from time to time.”
"How did The Storm Mavericks lose! That the worse thing I have ever done, saying the words 'The Gruesome Chargers are the winners' was just painful." Ember spoke
"It was just good luck, next time The Storm Mavericks will kick The Gruesome Chargers flanks or butts," Spike said, Ember let out a giggle.
"You're cute. Thanks for taking me, Spike." Ember said
Ember gave him a kiss, Spike held her close, all the male dragons around was flaring with jealousy at how lucky Spike got with the Dragon Lord.
“So, how much am I getting paid for this? Look, this is just an outcry, it clear on who the winner will be… Ah, oh hello ladies and gentle colts, welcome back to the show. Later! So, what was that number again?...”
His date took Spike towards Canterlot. He was just glad that this whole thing is almost over, the Canterlot Museum was the stop for today, since it was having a special day about Starswirl The Bearded and the other Pillars of Equestria, to have young and old ponies learn about them since they had just returned.
Twilight Sparkle stood outside the museum, waving at Spike once she saw him. She rushed him and tackled the male dragon in a tight hug.
“This will be great Spike! Plus I heard that they giving away a limited edition Starswirl book!” Twilight said, her eyes were wide with joy.
Twilight Sparkle:
“You don’t understand how long I been waiting for this! I still can’t believe it finally here, I feel like a filly getting her Cutie Mark, but only fifty percent more excited! I just hope Spike doesn’t find my date idea boring, I have no idea how well his other dates went, I need to hope I woo or wow him enough so he’ll pick me.”
Twilight began to drag Spike into the Canterlot Museum, the place was carved and made out of marble, many fillies and colts rushed past Spike and Twilight. The large windows on the walls shine the bright sunlight in, with the paintings of what had happened in pony history.
The painting was of old Alicorns in the past that had passed away either due to sickness or old age. Spike only could give it a second glance before feeling his arm being tucked by Twilight’s magic towards the entrance of the Pillars of Equestria part of the museum.
Spike picked up some pink cotton candy for Twilight, the Princess of Friendship gave her date a kind smile. Spike watched her rush from one place to another.
“Shouldn’t we slow down?” Spike asked, trying to catch up to the Alicorn.
“I’m sorry Spike, but all this knowledge!” Twilight cried out, trotting in place.
“It all too wonderful, the site, the sound, the history. It all just feels like a dream come true.” Twilight stated
“I get it Twi, but wouldn’t be better if you stopped and take everything in. This is only going be here for a few days."
“Oops, sorry Spike.”
Twilight Sparkle:
“I just feel so nervous Spike, he normally so easy to talk to. I guess it just because it's now a date.”
It was around lunchtime when the two decided to take a small break at the food court, Twilight held a daisy sandwich in her magic, happily munching on the light meal. While Spike just ate fries with a drink of water.
"How are you enjoying the date so far?" Spike asked
"To be honest, I'm loving it, but I'm still terrified. I normally don't go on dates and well it a little easier to think of this as not a date, but I rather not think of that." Twilight said, Spike, rubbed his chin in thought.
"Wait, are you afraid if you don't win, you'll become a crazy cat pony?" Spike asked, raising his eyebrow, causing Twilight to let out a nervous laugh.
"Don't be ridiculous, I would never think that..." Twilight said, with a grin on her face.
Twilight Sparkle:
"How did he find out?!"
Spike put his claw onto her shoulder, he gave her a kind smile. Twilight pulled him into a tight hug.
"Spike, promise me. Even if you pick Ember and move to The Dragon Lands and become The King of The Dragons, promise that you'll always visit me. That you never forget me and leave Ponyville behind." Twilight said, crying on his shoulder.
Spike rubbed her back, holding her tight, letting The Princess of Friendship hold onto her oldest friend.
"I promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Spike said Twilight gave him a small smile before he pulled the Alicorn princess into a small kiss.
The two held each other close, while they share the kiss and the promise that Spike would forever keep within his heart.
"Well folks, that is the end of Episode Two of Reptile Romance; Choose The Ship, in the next episode Princess Cadence, has a little surprise for the contestants so stay tuned for more. Remember it all up to you to see who will win and happy shipping ladies and gentle colts."