Spike looked over all of the assorted animals frolicking and playing around Fluttershy's lush garden and wondered how in the world he was going to pick just one of them to be his pet.
The idea was so simple. He was growing up, and wanted people to take him more seriously. So the plan was to take on more responsibilities. He was helping out around the castle more often, and he was offering more help to all of his friends with anything they may need him for. Now it came to the centerpiece of the whole plan, adopting a pet. Spike figured that if he could prove he was responsible for another living thing, that would prove to everyone that he was a grown up. So he went to Fluttershy to ask about adopting a pet.
He had settled on a kitten for a couple of reasons. The first of which being that it seemed the easiest thing he could think to take care of, while still needing enough care and effort to be a real responsibility. When he confessed this fact to Twilight, he was afraid she would be mad, or disappointed. Twilight, however, said she was very proud of him. Part of responsibility was knowing your limitations, or so she said. So picking up a dog, or something else that would require a lot of maintenance wouldn't just be bad for Spike when he was unsure of himself, it might be dangerous for the animal. So Twilight was happy that he wasn't letting pride or a need to prove himself get in the way of making a smart decision.
And a cat was a smart decision for him. Spike had always felt a weird sort of kinship with housecats. Like they connected on some kind of primal level that was hard to put into words. They both were mellow most of the time, but had a tendency to freak out on occasion. Both of them possessed an ego that tended to break through in a need for attention and admiration from those around them. Both loved to nap. Both loved to play. Most importantly, however, they always felt like that they were the only creature with any sense in any room they were in, and more often than anypony would like to admit.
When Fluttershy heard about his plan to adopt a pet, she was ecstatic. She talked almost as quickly as Pinkie Pie about all the lovely creatures back at her cottage that would love to have a new home. Before he could go into any details, Spike was being carried off to Fluttershy's cottage, giving dossiers on every single bird or monkey that made their home around Fluttershy's garden. Rainbow Dash laughing giddily in the background, having gone through this entire thing before when adopting her tortoise, Tank.
Spike, however, didn't worry too much. The process should have been simple. He would tell Fluttershy what he was in the market for, she would help him out, and they'd be on their merry way.
Spike wondered if being wrong was an Equestria Games event. If it was, he would definitely take home the gold.
They were all just so adorable, and Fluttershy wasn't helping matters. The first thing she said when they got there was "All of these little furry darlings are looking for new homes, and they would love to have you as a friend." And that was hardly fair. Spike could only adopt one but that meant disappointing every other little animal there, and looking at them all playing made it very hard to do that. They were having such a nice day, and now Spike was going to come in, get their hopes up, and leave them broken hearted.
And then Spike caught sight of Fluttershy's personal let rabbit, Angel Bunny, and reminded himself that not all animals were sweet, cuddly little darlings. Some of them could be downright evil.
Glowering at the rabbit, Spike turned to Fluttershy filled with a new resolve. "I would really like to adopt a kitten," Spike said firmly, desperately trying to ignore the parade of cuteness that surrounded him. "I need a hands off pet, and I figured a cat would be just the thing I needed."
"I think that's a very good choice," Fluttershy smiled. "Cat's are very independent creatures. Don't take that to mean you can just ignore them, however. They love attention, so you're going to need to cuddle up with them every day. Also make sure they get fed. Cats can get very cranky..."
"So can I, if I don't get my breakfast," Spike said, finding more ways to relate to house cats. "It sounds like the perfect pet for me. Do you have any here that you think I can take home?"
"Of course I do," Fluttershy said, beaming brightly as she was able to showcase her talent that got her her cutie mark. "Please follow me."
To Spike's surprise they went around to the back of the cottage to a small tool shed in the backyard. They went inside, and sitting on a pillow was a large white cat. Obviously very content with herself over something. She was surrounded by what Spike first thought were four little fluffy toys for the big cat to bat around. It didn't take long for him to realize that they were this cat's litter of kittens, especially when one of them turned around to look at Spike and Fluttershy. Eventually, they all noticed the pair and scampered behind their mother. Every so often, one of them would poke their heads out from behind her and squint suspiciously at them.
"Well, we're off to a good start," Spike said dryly. "I take one step into the room and they're already terrified of me."
"Oh, they're only scared because they're babies," Fluttershy said softly, much the same way she said everything else. "Marshmallow only had her litter ten weeks ago, their eyes only opened recently, so it's natural they would find the big wide world overwhelming."
"Okay, wait a minute," Spike said, a little thrown off by what he had just heard. "I'm taking infants away from their mother now? I'm not sure I'm all that comfortable with that..."
"Oh, don't worry," Fluttershy said calmly. "They're ready to leave the nest now to go with a new owner. It may seem cruel, but Marshmallow understands and she wants her little kittens to be adopted, isn't that right Marshmallow?"
To Spike's complete non astonishment, Marshmallow seemed lo look up and quietly nod, as if she had understood every word of what had been said. She stood up, walked behind her kittens, and groomed the top of their heads so that they would all look as nice as possible. Then there they stood, all lined up like some kind of Feline class photo. Every one of them looking directly at Spike waiting for him to make a decision.
"Well, here they all are," Fluttershy said brightly. "All that's left for you now is to pick which one you'll be taking home,"
At this point Spike was wishing to any power that might be listening that he could suddenly be flammable, because setting himself on fire would have been much easier then making this choice. It had to be less painful. The way the kittens were looking at him had to count as torture is some countries. All of them were looking at him with their big round eyes. Half of them desperately wanting to be picked, the other half terrified they'd be taken away from their mother. When Spike reached out for any of them, they seemed to back away. Spike thought it best to stay back and not make any sudden movements. He knelt down, took a deep breath, and looked over the kittens once again. Maybe this was a bad idea. If he couldn't bring himself to pick just one kitten, maybe he should have left before all of their hopes got too high.
And then something happened that, fortunately, took the entire decision of which kitten Spike was taking home completely out of his claws.
One of the kittens, a white one with a blue bow in her fur (Spike recognized it as the same kitten who had been trying to peer from behind her mother's back some time ago), seemed to get tired of waiting for Spike to make a decision, and got incredibly tired of not understanding what was going on. With purpose, the little white kitten trotted right up to Spike, stood in his thighs so that his whiskers were right in his face, and began to sniff every square inch of him. Each sniff this elegant looking creature took made a loud snorting noise. Once Spike had been thoroughly identified, the kitten closed her eyes, content with the results of her thorough investigation.
She turned back to her siblings and said "Mrow." The other kittens, in response, nodded and went back to playing around their mother. The little white kitten on the other hand, turned around and settled in Spike's lap. Within seconds, she was fast asleep.
"Oh my goodness!" Fluttering said cheerfully. "I've never seen a kitten trust anypony that fast! When a cat falls asleep on you, it means that they think of you as a preferred associate. You've just met and this little sweetheart has already decided you're best friends... That's so beautiful."
Spike looked at the little white kitten, thoroughly impressed by the initiative it took. Instead of the owner choosing the cat, the cat chose the owner. Spike was grateful. Choosing probably would have been impossible for him, and looking down at the little self satisfied cat in his lap, he realized this is the choice he probably would have made regardless. "I think I'll take her," Spike smiled. "I'm going to need some pointers on how to take care of her though."
Fluttershy beamed with delight at Spike's announcement of the adoption. "That's wonderful news," she smiled brightly. "I'm happy to give you any advice you need. What to feed her, how to brush her, and where to take her when she's sick. Where do you want to start?"
"How to pick her up without waking her?" Spike said, looking at the kitten asleep on his lap. "She's adorable and everything, but it's getting to the point where my legs are falling asleep."
"I know how that can be," Fluttsershy nodded. "When Angel Bunny falls asleep on me, it can feel like I have no choice but to lie there forever until he gets up again. It's kind of unfair how cute animals can be when they're asleep. Especially when you have other things to do, you feel like you're betraying the poor things. But we do have things to do. So, to pick her up, all you have to do is gently support her under her forelegs."
Spike did as he was told, taking great care to not poke her with his sharp Dragon's claws. He lifted her up so that the cat was at eye level. She blinked a few times and then fell right back to sleep in his hands. There was something about this cat's determination to be unconscious that spoke to Spike. He smiled at the little creature, but soon frowned again when he realized something terrible. "I don't know what to do next, here," he said nervously. Do I just put her down, or what?"
"Put her down as gently as possible on the floor," Fluttershy responded. "We'll practice on how to properly pet her next. Just be gentle and you should be fine."
Spike was about to, but then he caught sight of the little kittens face. She was grumpy about having been moved, but mostly what she was was curious about Spike. She reached out a single paw to touch Spike's nose. Once she did, she immediately retracted her paw. She then gave a very self satisfied look, as if she had accomplished some great feat by booping the dragon's nose.
Even though Spike was having ideas of responding this cuteness for some sort of master world domination plan, he followed Fluttershy's instructions and placed the cat on the floor. The cat stretched herself out, trying to work out kinks in her back, before vigorously shaking her head and looking back up at Spike. Expectantly waiting for more attention.
"You're doing really well, Spike!" Fluttershy said brightly. "You're handling this kitten like a natural. Now we're going to work on how to pet her. The most important thing to do is to let her take charge. Hold out your claw and let her sniff it. Just let her keep going until she decided that she trusts you."
Spike held out his claw and waited for the little kittens to start sniffing. It didn't take her long. She walked right up and started sniffing away, making loud, unladylike snorts the whole time. Eventually she came to the conclusion that this appendage belonged to the same very friendly creature she was sniffing the face of before, and decided to take full advantage of the situation. She shoved her cheek into Spike's palm and walked forward. Essentially using Spike to scratch her own back. She looked very pleased.
"I assume this means she'll let me scratch her now," Spike said dryly, looking at the kitten happily using him like a bear uses rough tree bark. "Honestly, it feels like if I do anything I'll just mess up a good thing she's got going on."
"Trust me, she'll like it a lot more once you put in the effort," Fluttershy said calmly. "Now, without making any sudden movements, carefully move your claw under her chin, when it's there gently start scratching and we'll see how she takes to it."
Once again, Spike followed instructions, gently moving his claw to a position underneath the Morgan's chin. At first, the kitten seemed perturbed by the Dragon moving out of position. She sniffed wildly, and shot Spike angry looks. It was only when Spike started scratching under the kitten's chin that the kitten calmed down. That may have been an understatement considering the look on the kitten's adorable face. It's eyes were shut tight with happiness and it was purring like a lawnmower engine. Spike was actually a little jealous of the fact that no matter what he did in his life he would never be this happy in his entire life. Eventually, he stopped noticing the fact that he was scratching a cat, and it became just a thing his claws were doing. "I should probably ask how to feed her," Spike said, now completely phasing into the action of scratching the cat. "I assume that cat's can't live off of snuggles alone."
"I wish they could," Fluttershy said wistfully. "The world would be a much nicer place if they could. Alas, no. I have all the supplies you need in the back. Dry food for most days, and I'd pick a special day for wet food. It makes them happy to get a special treat once every week or so. She should have water every day, and a dish of warm milk or cream every so often. I would do it when they're being too energetic or something is scaring them so they can't go to sleep. It will make them tired."
"Speaking of which," Spike asked, still absent-mindedly scratching the cat, who's purrs were audible from mars at this point. "Should I get her a cat bed or something?"
"Oh, absolutely yes you should," Fluttershy said happily. "Trust me, she'll love the box it came in."
Spike wasn't sure if she was kidding with that last sentence. "And, uh...," Spike dreaded the next question so much he nearly made the fatal mistake of ending the cat scratching. "Litter?"
"I recommend using liners instead of a scoop," Fluttershy said, obviously prepared for the question. "It's far less icky that way. Change it out once a week and you should be good to go."
Spike nodded, still scratching the cat without realizing what he was doing. Eventually the cat fell like a log into her side in order to move the scratching to her belly. "Where am I gonna get all this stuff?" Spike asked, barely noticing the change in the kitten's position. "I'll need to pick it up before I take her home."
"I have everything you need here," Fluttershy smiled, obviously more than a little proud of herself for being prepared. "I have food, good bowls, a litter box, kitty litter, a cat bed, a kitty carrier and a brush. You'll want to brush her every so often, they really seem to enjoy that. I can get all the things you need for you, no problem."
"How much will I owe you?" Spike asked, his head doing monetary calculations while his hands were still busy scratching the increasingly blissful cat.
"Now don't be ridiculous," Fluttershy said dismissively. "You're a friend of mine, I wouldn't dream of charging you for any of this. Don't worry about it, it's on me."
"Come on, Fluttershy, I can't ask you to do that," Spike said, now simply moving his claw in a scratching motion and letting the kitten move itself into the position of wanted to be in. "You're already giving me the cat for free, I can't ask you to give me the supplies for free too."
Fluttershy shook her head. "I won't hear another word about it," she said, more firmly than Spike was used to hearing from her. "You're my friend, and I won't hear of you having to pay to take care of a little lovebutton like that little cat. End of discussion."
Spike rolled his eyes, resigning himself to this free gift he felt guilty taking. "I thought generosity was supposed to be Rarity's element?" Spike asked, now having to talk louder above the little white kitten's earth shaking purring.
"We can share them if we want to," Fluttershy winked. "Now , if you would just follow me, I can take you to the cottage and you can collect the things you need."
Spike nodded and without thinking, did the unforgivable. He stopped scratching the cat. Spike patted the little kitten twice on the head and made to leave the room. The kitten objected strenuously to this turn of events. meowing loudly before reaching out with both forelegs to grab Spike's arm. Eventually, she got a hold of him, and didn't let go as Spike stood. The kitten now firmly attached to Spike's arm, Spike did his best to shake her off, but to no avail. With one more firm and unyielding meow, she made it clear that she wouldn't be going anywhere that Spike wasn't going.
Fluttershy gasped in horror. "Bad kitty!" she admonished gently. "That is not how we treat our friends! Oh, Spike, I' terribly sorry, is she causing you any pain?"
Spike shook his head dismissively. "Don't worry about it," he said calmly, smiling at the very grumpy and determined little cat. "Thick scales. I can hardly feel a thing." He looked at the cats eyes, and the looked back at him. Filled with pure white hot fury at Spike daring to end the scratching when she was just getting comfortable. Spike was amused by the whole thing. There was something about this cat's moxie he really liked. This cat was a fighter, and stubborn as a mule. Spike had a feeling they would get along just fine.
"Once a cat... Uh... Latches on to an owner, so to speak," Fluttershy said, giggling awkwardly. "They tend to get very possessive."
"You don't say," Spike said dryly. He smiled and managed to detach the kitten from himself and quickly cradled it in his arms like a little baby. With that gesture, any anger the kitten may have once held for Spike vanished and she was suddenly the happiest kitten in the world once again. "You're going to need a name, aren't you?" Spike smiled, looking at the highly appreciative cat. "You're white, like your mom, which helps... I don't think calling you'd like it if I called you Marshmallow, though... Say, what about Diamond? Another sweet thing that's pure white! I could call you 'Di' for short..."
The newly dubbed Diamond simply smiled at her new owner, reached out one of her forepaws and booped Spike's nose once again. Satisfied that the vital work was done, Diamond stretched out, yawned, and fell fast asleep.
Fluttershy mad a tiny squeak. "You stay here with your new pet," Fluttershy insisted. "I'll get everything you need, you just stay here and cuddle your new cat... So adorable..."
With that, Fluttershy went off to get the supplies, leaving Spike alone with Diamond, her siblings and their mother.
Spike sat down on the floor, leaning up against a beam, letting the warm kitten in his arms melt away any stress he had. Actually, he hadn't realized how stressed he was until he was sitting down with the kitten. It had been a tiring few days. Pressure with the school, pressure with Twilight, pressure with his friends. Spike was sure that Diamond would provide her own pressures, but for right now she was asleep.
Sleep... That seemed like the perfect idea.
Spike let out a huge yawn and closed his eyes. Just for a few minutes... Just until Fluttershy came back with the pet supplies.
Spike woke up six hours later with a cream yellow pony hooves wrapping him and his kitten in a tight hug.
He blinked and slowly looked around the room. Not only had Fluttershy decided to join in the cuddling, but almost every creature in the forest had decided to make their way into the tool shed as well. There was Marshmallow, and all of Diamond's siblings, several squirrels, three raccoons, dozens of mice, every chicken in Fluttershy's coop, six ducks, a grizzly bear, and Pinkie Pie for some reason. As Spike was getting his bearings, Fluttershy hugged him a little tighter, making him worried about crushing Diamond.
To Spike's surprise, however, Diamond was happy as a clam. Still in his arms, looking over her work smugly, as if this had all been the payoff to some sort of master plan.
Spike wriggled his way out of Fluttershy's hug. When Fluttershy stirred, Spike quickly refilled her forelegs with the still sleeping Marshmallow. He quickly and nimbly tiptoed out of the cuddle pile, taking great care not to step on anyone's tail or paws. He held the cat out at arms length and looked right into her eyes. "That's one serious superpower you have there, Di," Spike said, an evil little plan hatching in his brain. "If I were to take you over to Rarity's, could you do this again? Keep in mind, you'd have another cat to deal with."
Diamond gave Spike what could only be classified as a "Bring it on" smile.
Spike went back to cradling his new pet, and it wasn't long before he caught sight of a basket filled with the supplies needed for taking care of a pet cat.
"Well," Spike sighed. "I guess it's time for us to pack up and go home... That is, If you're sure Di."
Diamond reached out one paw and booped her new owner on the nose.
Spike smiled and went home with a new friend. A friend he would be very close to for many years afterwards.