Shining Armor hadn't anticipated his trip back to Ponyville would be at all surprising. It had only been about a week since Starlight had patched things up with her father, and was now staying in touch with his through the occasional letter.
The reason for his visit to Ponyville was simple, Twilight had offered him the chance to meet Cozy Glow, the filly who was already showing surprising signs of progress. Considering how many ponies she'd overseen and tutored (including the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She still occasionally held "Twilight Time" sessions with them, mostly to see how they were progressing in their studies), for her to take a direct interest in one definitely something that warranted checking out.
However, when Shining arrived at the school he found that Twilight wasn't there. Starlight informed him that Twilight had gone off to Zecora's to pick up a cream, but she hadn't ellaborated further on that point.
So Shining headed into the Everfree Forest and straight to Zecora's hut. When he arrived, he was surprised to find Twilight, Zecora, Rarity, and Spike all on the ground and looking like they'd just seen a ghost. What was even more surprising was that Spike had apparently gotten taller and sprouted a pair of wings.
Naturally, Shining couldn't resist inquiring about them and thus choose to make his presence known. "Spike, is that really you? You look... different."
Spike (or at least the dragon who looked like him) nodded as he walked towards Shining. "Yup, it's me alright," He spoke, his voice sounding noticeably deeper now. "Like my new wings? I just sprouted them not even half an hour ago."
"Really?" Shining asked of the dragon. "What exactly caused all of this? The last time you got big it was because you were hoarding stuff. But I never remembered seeing wings."
"That's because what I had before was totally different. This is something called 'The Molt', Smolder told me all about it." Spike explained.
"It turns out there's an entire 'molting process' that all dragons go through at around Spike's age. At least, that's what Smolder said," Twilight commented as she trotted up. "Kind of funny how she didn't mention the wings. Still, they certainly came in handy to fend off a nasty roc."
Zecora nodded her head. "Yes indeed, that roc was quite nasty. I think to it we must look rather tasty," Then she gestured a hoof to Spike. "I could tell his molt would produce some strange things, but I'm grateful that the last one was a pair of new wings. It also seems the smell has left, and for that I am quite glad. When he was here earlier, he made my hut smell pretty bad."
Spike blushed. "I couldn't help it. Besides, your hut could probably use an airing out anyway with all those strong smelling concoctions you brew," Then he turned back to Twilight and Shining, and sighed. "It's great that I was able to put my new wings to good use and save Rarity and Zecora, but it turns out there's one last thing about the molt that hasn't come true yet. There's already the bad smell, attracting predators, and the stone scales."
"Don't forget the lack of volume control," Rarity commented as she used a cotton swab to clean out her ears. "You were always either so soft I couldn't hear, or so loud I couldn't think. Which is not a good thing when one is working around phoenix feathers, it turns out they can affect a pony's hearing. And I talk to myself while I sew, so you can imagine how that might be a problem."
"Yeah, that was the worst. Even the fiery indigestion wasn't all bad once I got out into the open," Spike sighed again. "But in the dragon lands, when a dragon starts molting, their parents kick them out of the nest and leave them to fend for themselves. So I guess the time has come for this dragon to truly strike out on his own. It sure was nice getting to know all of you, I won't forget you all, I promise."
However, Twilight immediately spoke up. "And who says you're going anywhere, Spike? Maybe you haven't noticed, but this isn't the dragon lands," She trotted up and put a hoof around him. "You may be getting older and bigger, but you're still the same Spike I hatched at my entrance exam. The Spike I'm proud to consider my son, even if at times you can be more like an annoying little brother. I wouldn't be the pony I was today if you weren't part of my life."
Shining smiled. "I can personally vouch for that, Spike. I can attest to how much you changed my sister for the better. In many ways, you were the first friend she ever had. And you gave me plenty of experience with babies long before I ever had Flurry Heart. Though I should be grateful at that least she can't set her toys on fire, or poke holes in her diaper with her claws."
Spike blushed anew. "Stop it, Shining! You're embarrassing me!"
The prince simply laughed and giggled. "Hey, it's what uncles do," And then he cooed. "Oh, just wait 'til I tell Cadence about this. It's totally gonna freak her frizz!"
"It's natural to grow up, Spikey Wikey," Rarity added. "I must admit, your new wings look quite fetching. But just because you grow up doesn't mean those who love you no longer have a place in their hearts for you. Even I didn't move out of my parents' house the moment I got my cutie mark. It took me years before I was ready to strike out on my own and try my hoof in the fashion business. And even now that Sweetie Belle and her friends are starting to tackle more and more adult responsibilities, they still live with their families. The same can be true with you."
"Whatever it is that you may still have to go through, you won't have to go through it alone," Twilight reassured Spike. "Although that does mean you won't be getting anymore piggyback rides."
"Ah, come on, Twilight," Spike playfully whined. "Just one more? I just got my wings, and I don't wanna wear 'em out. Especially since I don't think Uncle Shiny's ready to give me flying lessons just yet."
"Probably better to ask Smolder about that," Shining suggested. "I'm no expert, but something tells me pony wings don't function the same way dragon wings do," Then the prince noticed something, or rather someone. Someone who had apparently been hiding behind Twilight without being noticed, until now. It was a pegasus filly who had a pinkish gray coat, eyes an moderate scarlet in color, a beautifully curly mane and tail that was a pale, light grayish arctic blue and light arctic bluish gray in color, and a cutie mark depicting a rook. "Say, who are you?" He inquired of the filly.
The filly let out a faint eep, opting to cower even further behind Twilight! "I-I-I..." She stuttered, unable to bring herself to say anything more.
Twilight ushered the frightened filly forward. "There's no need to be shy," She reassured the young one. "This is my big brother, Shining Armor," And to Shining she said. "B.B.B.F.F, this is Cozy Glow."
Shining offered a hoof to the filly. "Nice to meet you, Cozy Glow."
Cozy Glow reluctantly extended her hoof towards the prince to shake it. "P-pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you. And someday, I wanna be just like you."
When the two hoofs met for the shake, something most unusual happened. Shining felt a rather powerful surge course through his body, almost like an electrical shock! "Hm, that's odd. That's never happened before." He thought to himself.
Cozy Glow looked at the prince. "Golly, are you okay? Did I do something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, no no no, don't be silly. Probably just static electricity or something." Shining quickly replied, not wanting to attract attention. He couldn't be sure what had caused that shocking feeling, and it probably wasn't fair to accuse a filly without knowing for sure. Still, that was definitely not normal. To say nothing of how she had somehow not been noticed by him until just a moment ago.
Well, that was a pondering for another time and place. For right now, all the attention seemed to be on Spike's new wings and change in appearance. And that was definitely more important, at least until Shining could determine just what exactly was up with Cozy. Why had she seemed so nervous around him?