//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Baby Spike // by BubblePuff //------------------------------// Twilight was awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of Spike’s crying. Her eyes still hazy and covered in gunk, she rolled over to see what time it was. “3:00 A.M.? Ugh! I don’t remember Spike being this needy.” Twilight slid out of bed and walked down the hall to Spike’s room which had been converted into a nursery. Twilight turned on the light and reached down into the crib to pick up Spike. As soon as she got a better look at him, Twilight could tell that Spike had peed his diaper quite heavily. “Wow, I’d forgotten how much of a soaker you used to be.” Twilight removed and threw out the soiled diaper. She then wiped down Spike, powdered him, and strapped him into a clean diaper. “There, all nice and dry.” Twilight said with a yawn. As Twilight was about to put Spike back in his crib, a loud rumble could be heard coming from his tummy. “Hungwy!” Spike said. Twilight let out a long sigh. She carried Spike downstairs to the kitchen. Twilight placed Spike in his high chair, then proceeded to heat up a bottle of formula. Once it was ready, she gave the bottle to Spike who suckled it down very quickly. Twilight then placed Spike on her shoulder and patted his back to burp him, moving her head out of the way to make sure his flame didn’t burn her mane.   “Alright Spike, time to go back to bed.” Twilight returned to the nursery and tried to place Spike back into his crib, but Spike refused to be let go. “Spike, it’s late and you need your sleep.” Spike shook his head. “Nuh-uh!” Twilight rolled her dreary eyes. She then thought of a way to put Spike to sleep. “Would you like to hear a story?” Spike smiled and nodded his head. Twilight took Spike to the library and grabbed a book of fairy tales. Twilight sat on the couch and began to read. “Once upon a time…” After reading him the first story, Spike still refused to go back to sleep. Twilight was exhausted, but she kept reading in the hopes that Spike would fall asleep. Eventually Twilight read through the entire book. She set it down and checked on Spike, who had finally gone to sleep. Just as Twilight was carrying Spike back to his crib, she was stopped in the hallway by Starlight Glimmer. “Good morning Twilight.” Starlight said. Twilight was quick to shush her. “I spent all night trying to get Spike to sleep.” “Sorry.” Starlight replied in a hushed tone. “You look like you could use a cup of coffee.” “At this point I’ll take the entire pot. What time is it anyway?” “9:00 A.M.” Starlight answered. Twilight was in shock. “Sweet Celestia! School is about to begin and I still haven’t finished today’s lesson plan!” Her sudden outburst awoke Spike, who then began crying. “Oh No! And I just got him to sleep!” Twilight sat down and rubbed Spike’s back in an attempt to calm the drake down. Starlight rolled her her eyes. “Twilight, you’re acting Twilynannas again.” Starlight fortunately had Spike’s pacifier on hoof. She stuck it in Spike’s mouth and the baby dragon quieted down. “You’re already overworked with taking care of Spike. You don’t need to worry about the school of friendship as well. I’ll take care of the friendship school and the lesson plan. You just focus on Spike.”   Twilight let out a sigh. “You’re right Starlight. I need to focus on Spike until Celestia and Luna can find a cure for him. And I know that the friendship school is in good hooves.” Starlight could not help but smirk. “Well, I did learn from the best.” It was then that a bulge developed in Spike’s diaper followed by a foul odor. “Here, I’ll change him. You’ve already been up all night with him.” “Thanks Starlight.” Twilight said as she gave Spike over to Starlight. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I really need some coffee. Extra espresso.”   After taking a shower and getting some much needed coffee, Twilight decided to to Spike out on a stroll through Ponyville. As Twilight pushed Spike in his stroller, ponies would stop and d’aww at the baby dragon. Spike loved the attention, giggling and clapping his claws at every pony that stopped to admire him. Twilight then remembered that she hadn’t had breakfast yet, so she stopped by Sugarcube Corner to grab a bite. When she entered she saw Pinkie Pie behind the counter. “Good morning Pinkie.” She said with a smile. “Good morning Twilight!” Pinkie replied. “How are you and Spike this morning?” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Don’t get me started. Spike had me up for half the night with diaper changes and being fed.” Pinkie leaned over the counter and looked down at Spike. “You mean this little cutie?” She then tickled his belly, causing Spike to laugh out loud. “Anyway, what can I get you?” “I’ll have a bagel with cream cheese, please.” Pinkie wrote down Twilight’s order. “Coming right up!” Twilight went and sat at a nearby table. While she waited for her order, Twilight used her magic to make Spike’s Rarity plushie dance around like a puppet much to the delight of Spike. Pinkie soon arrived with Twilight’s order. “One bagel with cream cheese, and a special treat for Spike!” Pinkie then gave Spike a sugar cookie. Spike happily grabbed it and began to nom on it. Rarity soon entered Sugarcube Corner. She spotted Twilight and Spike and went over to sit with them. “Hello darling! And how are we this morning?” Twilight swallowed a bite from her bagel. “Exhausted. I’ve been up since 3:00 A.M. taking care of Spike. I don’t remember him having so much energy when he was a baby before.” Rarity looked down at Spike. “Oh, is my Spikey-wikey being a hooffull?” She then patted Spike on the head, much to his delight. “You do look terribly ragged darling. I’d say that you are in need of some spa treatment.” Twilight finished her bagel. “That would be great, but what about Spike? It’s not like there’s a foal sitter available.” Pinkie then popped up out of nowhere. “Hey guys! I couldn’t help but overhear your situation, and I have the perfect idea! Spike can stay here with the Cake twins while you two are at the spa!” “Are you sure that Mr. and Mrs. Cake wouldn’t mind?” Twilight asked. “Of course not! They love having little ones come over and making friends with the twins! Plus, I’ll be watching them the entire time. You have nothing to worry about.” Twilight thought the idea over for a few seconds. “Okay, I’ll do it. Rarity and I shouldn’t be that long, right?” “Of course not darling. We’ll be in and out in an hour.” Rarity said. “Okie-dokie-lokie!” Pinkie picked up Spike from his stroller and placed her on his back. As she turned to walk away, Spike reached out for Twilight. “Mama!” He cried. Twilight walked over and rubbed Spike’s back reassuringly. “It’s okay Spike, I’ll only be gone for a little bit. For now I need you to behave yourself for auntie Pinkie Pie. Can you do that for me?” Spike smiled and nodded his head. Twilight then gave him a hug and kissed him on the forehead. “Alright. Now I’ll be back in a little bit. Be good now.” Twilight paid for her meal then walked out of Sugarcube Corner with Rarity. Pinkie walked upstairs with Spike. When she arrived at the nursery, Pound and Pumpkin Cake were in a playpen playing with plushies. Pinkie set Spike down next to the twins. “You three play nice!” Both Pound and Pumpkin gave Spike a weird look. “Who awe U?” Pound asked. “My name is Spike.” He replied while holding his tail anxiously. “U a weiwd wooking foaw.” Pumpkin said. Spike giggled. “I no foaw. I’m a dwagon!” Both Pound and Pumpkin screamed. Pumpkin dove for cover under a pile of plushies while Pound covered his face. “Pwease don’t eat us!” Pound pleaded. Spike was confused. “Why would I eat you?” “Because dwagons eat ponies!” Pumpkin said. “But I’m a nice dwagon, not a mean dwagon.” Said Spike. “Pwove it.” Pound said. Spike didn’t know what to do. He thought for a moment, then had an idea. Spike took a deep breath and blew out a ring of smoke. Both Pound and Pumpkin looked at the ring and giggled. “Again!” The Cake twins said in unison. Spike continued to blow smoke in various shapes for Pound and Pumpkin. The twins smiled and clapped their hooves everytime he made a new smoke shape. “Tat was amazing!” Pumpkin said. Spike scrunched up in his diaper. “Thanks.” “Do U want to pway adventwe?” Pound asked. “Suwe!” Spike replied. “What do we do?” Pumpkin pointed to the underside of their crib. “We gonna explowe tat cave and wook fow tweasuwe!” “Wets go!” Spike used his claws open up the playpen, then he, Pound, and Pumpkin all crawled out. The crawled their way underneath the crib and began searching. “It too dawk in hewe.” Pound said. “Wet me help.” Spike breathed out a tiny bit of flame so that they could see. The flame lit up the area, exposing a stuffed ursa minor. “Monstew!” The three screamed. They all ran out from under the crib and right into the legs of Pinkie Pie. “There you silly billies are!” Pinkie said with a smile. “You know better than to wander off like that.” “We sowwy.” The three said in unison.   Pinkie giggled and patted them all on the head. “That’s alright. Just be sure to stay in the playpen whenever an adult isn’t around.” Pinkie then helped the Cake twins and Spike back into the playpen. “What we do now?” Spike asked. “Wets have a tea pawty!” Pumpkin said. She grabbed her tea set and gave Pound and Spike a cup. Pumpkin then pretended to pour tea into their cups. “This bowing!” Pound complained. “I wike tea pawties!” Spike said. He finished his imaginary tea and asked for more. Soon an hour had passed, and Twilight returned from the spa to pick up Spike. As soon as Spike saw Twilight, he ran over and hugged her tight. “Mamma!” Twilight picked up Spike and nuzzled him. “I missed you too, Spike.” Twilight then turned to Pinkie. “Did he and the twins get along?” Pinkie nodded her head. “They got along great! They’ve been playing with each other the whole time you were gone.” “Well then, I guess we’ll have to talk to the Cakes about Pound and Pumpkin coming over to the castle for a playdate.” Twilight turned to leave. Spike waved goodbye to Pound and Pumpkin and the twins did the same. When Twilight placed Spike in his stroller, he let out a big yawn. “Aw, looks like a certain dragon is in need of a nap.” Twilight said as she booped him on the nose. The two then headed home to the crystal castle, all tuckered out from their big day.