“Hey Rarity!
Further to our discussion about Gabby, etc. the other day, I’ve had some time to think about things and I’ve had some words with Twilight, and we’ve agreed we need to have a friendship meeting between the three of us. Please meet us at Canterlot Castle before sunset tomorrow if you can.
Well, see you soon! ~Spike 🔥”
Rarity looked at the letter for the dozenth time since it had materialised in front of her yesterday morning, as she approached Canterlot Castle’s front edifice. She’d hardly forgotten her exchange with Spike. On the contrary, she’d agonised over it for much of the weekend, but had felt it better to leave well alone until he’d gotten in touch like he’d promised, and now he was ready. “Friendship meetings” were less formal than they sounded, at that – her tea party with Spike and Opal had been an impromptu version of one, so while her initial response to Spike’s message had some minor trepidation simply accounting for circumstances, she was sure things were fine. Still, the name carried some weight as occasions where capital-d Decisions were made regarding interpersonal relationships.
Twilight and Spike both stood halfway up the stairs to the door as she approached, and she waved to them. ‘Rarity, you made it!’ said Twilight.
‘A lady never misses a date, you know that, dear,’ said Rarity, giving Twilight a peck on each cheek before revealing the same hamper she’d brought with her when she’d visited Spike the previous week, ‘I brought cake!’
Twilight smiled and transferred Rarity’s magic hold to her own before peeking inside. ‘Lemon cream cake… excellent choice. Thanks, Rarity,’ she said.
Cake transfer complete, Rarity turned to Spike, who was holding a stack of paper with both claws. ‘So, Spikey, are you well? I may have some idea why you’ve called me here, but you seemed… less than fine when you departed the boutique the other day?’
Spike looked serious, but not unfriendly, and he plopped the paper stack onto the step before moving in for a hug, which she reciprocated. ‘Hi, Rarity. I’m fine, really, but we all need to talk about a few things.’
‘We have been talking rather a lot lately, don’t you think? Not that that’s a bad thing,’ said Rarity as the three entered the castle and Spike led the two ponies to their destination, ‘It’s good to, ah, chat, communicate, parlay.’ She felt nerves squeeze on her stomach just a little as she said that.
‘Yeah… about some heavy stuff, too,’ said Spike, ‘And I hope you don’t mind that I want to continue with that. Before we get on with this, I just wanna say, I know I’ve said this already, but, I really appreciate what you’ve done for me, recently. You’ve been a rock. I mean, a gem. Uh, I mean–’
Twilight interjected. ‘Both of you relax. Rarity, Spike told me all about Gabby, and what you said to him when he met you afterwards.’
‘And… what did I say?’ Rarity was sure Spike had relayed to Twilight accurately, but she wanted to be more sure.
‘It’s complicated, to hear him tell it, wouldn’t you say, Spike?’
Spike made an ‘Ehh…’ noise before elaborating, ‘I mean, part of it’s dragon stuff, and part of it’s pony stuff, and… Rarity, I didn’t write this on the letter because I hadn’t made the call yet, but I’ve also asked Smolder to come along. As an intermediary, and I think her perspective will be helpful. I hope that’s alright.’
‘Smolder? Of course, it’s perfectly alright you invited her. This is your meeting to call, Spike – no permission needed. And, the more the merrier I suppose?’ Rarity’s composure broke slightly.
Twilight obviously noticed. ‘Don’t be nervous, Rarity,’ she assured her, ‘Whatever comes of this meeting, I know we both have his best interests at heart. And Smolder should be in a good mood – we’re paying her in rhinestone sandwiches and fireberry juice. As many and as much as she likes.’
‘Hey, you know? That’s something I’d like to touch upon with you. Anyway, this is the place,’ said Spike. Two burly royal guards opened the way to the party and they entered a smallish library side-room with a round table in its centre. Cutlery and glasses and plates with stacked triangle-cut sandwiches had been freshly prepared, which Rarity presumed were Spike’s doing. They looked scrumptious!
As he’d mentioned, Smolder was already sitting down, her legs crossed on a large cushioned reading chair, halfway through one of them. She straightened out of the slouch she’d been positioned in as they entered and said, ‘Sup?’
‘So good to see you, Smolder,’ said Rarity, circling Smolder’s chair en route to whichever seemed comfiest to her, ‘I didn’t know you’d be here but I’m glad you are. Have you been keeping well since graduation?’
‘I spent the night in a ditch,’ Smolder drawled, then laughed when Rarity’s lip curled, ‘Hah, I knew you’d make that face, Ms. Rarity. It’s true though. You know I sleep rough half the time.’
‘To actually answer your question,’ said Spike as Smolder stretched and cracked her neck, ‘Smolder’s been in the Dragonlands these past moons but returned to the School of Friendship. Headmare Starlight’s expanding into higher education, I don’t think you’ve heard.’
‘Yeah… we did good work at the school and all, but I figure I need a bit more tuition before I can really follow my dream of being Dragonlord Ember’s domestic friendship ambassador. I’m actually not just here for the sandwiches – watching you three negotiate whatever it is you’ve got going here might be good for me.’
‘Oh, you should’ve said sooner! I could have set things up for some real learning!’ said Twilight. She approached the table and set the hamper down, then unfolded its contents onto a spare plate. ‘A bit late for that now, though, we should get on with this before my next, more boring meeting. Whinnyapolis delegates, something to do with the forest over there. Everycreature take a seat when you’re ready. Smolder, Rarity brought cake.’
‘Lemon cream, to be specific,’ said Rarity, ‘I know Spike and Twilight like it, but I’m not so sure about yourself? I’m sorry I couldn’t be more accommodating.’
‘Nah, lemon cream’s fine,’ said Smolder, ‘It’s the sandwiches we gotta segregate. I’m not eating daisy and cucumber and last I checked, gem sandwiches were dragons only.’
As Rarity unwrapped and divided the cake into eighths, everycreature sat down around the table and took their fair portion of food and drink, with Spike taking the seat nearest the window. He once again placed his stack onto his chair and skimmed the top for the notes relevant to the subject at hand, wing-boosted himself atop the rest of it, then cleared his throat before speaking.
‘Alright, thanks everypony, everycreature, for coming,’ he said, ‘I know this has been short notice for some of you. What I’ve called us here to discuss, is,’ he shuffled his notes, ‘Rarity, Twilight, we’ve known each other for a long time, and I don’t want to make out for one second that we’re not friends – we are, I love you both, I love all you guys! – but following events in my life over the last couple of weeks I’d like to clear the air regarding pony culture,’ he strained the last couple of words there, ‘And how it pertains to dragons.’
Smolder jerked to attention in her seat as Spike turned to her first. ‘Smolder, quick question. How old are you?’
‘Uhh, I forget? Dragons don’t really do birthdays, but…’ she cogitated for a moment, ‘I know I was hatched during the sixth moon of the 741st year of Dragonlord Torch, but I don’t remember how many years it’s been since he abdicated to Ember. I remember being there for the gauntlet, but I didn’t get far after the water.’
Spike wiggled a quill around as he jotted down a note. ‘Thanks. Twilight, can you change that into a Ponish date?’
‘Torch retired after Ember returned the bloodstone sceptre to him during the 756th year of his reign,’ said Twilight, ‘And that was nearly four years ago now, which means she’s… huh, would you look at that. Nineteen, and you just graduated, Smolder. Squares up nicely.’
Smolder awkwardly recrossed her arms and legs in response to Twilight’s observation. ‘And in pony years, Twilight? I need an exact number here,’ Spike pressed.
‘Sure. She was hatched on the nine hundred and ninety-fourth year of Celestia’s rule, or 994AC if you prefer.’
‘And of course you know my birthday, right? You never forget to buy me a book for it.’
Of course, it was the day I was accepted into Celestia’s School of Magic, back in 995. I’ll never forget hatching you in the final exam, that was an important day for a number of reasons.’
Twilight smiled and glanced at Rarity, who nodded, giggled and said, ‘Yes, at least five others! That special day our entire little group got our cutie marks, before we even knew one another!’
‘So by your own math, Twilight, you’d agree I’m eighteen years old at this moment in time?’
‘That would be quite correct, Spike. Approaching nineteen, as a matter of fact.’
‘Thanks. With that in mind, Princess Twilight, Rarity, don’t you think it’s kinda weird that I’m still…’ Spike gesticulated a claw in circles for a moment, obviously uncomfortable with what he was about to say, ‘A baby dragon?’
‘You know, I always wondered about that,’ said Smolder, ‘You definitely look more than a year younger than me.’
‘Darling,’ said Rarity, ‘You know that’s not how any of us have seen you in quite the while! We all know, all of Equestria knows how you’ve grown up over the years, surely?’
‘I’ve not stagnated, you reminded me of that when we talked by the fountain a few days back. But it doesn’t show on me, physically,’ said Spike, ‘Why is that, do you think?’
‘Well, dragons don’t age quite the same as ponies,’ said Twilight, ‘It’s long been known that elder dragons can reach 1200 years of age or more, but…’ she glanced between the two dragons seated around the opposite end of the circular table. She’d never really thought about it before, but even with Spike atop his paper stack it was plain that Smolder was a head taller than his size. ‘Well, the ageing of juvenile dragons isn’t documented, at all. As a civilisation I suppose ponies only had any understanding of dragon culture at all very recently. Heck, my correspondence with Ember has probably garnered me as much knowledge the past few years as ponies had of you for goodness knows how long.’
‘Uh-huh. I’ve lived with you my entire life, Twilight,’ said Spike, ‘In lieu of any hard data about dragon ages, what would you observe anecdotally about my growth over the years? Literal growth, I mean.’
‘After you hatched I looked after you for a while with some assistance from my folks and you were, well, a baby,’ said Twilight, ‘An actual baby. And over time you grew up, started walking, talking, at the rate you’d expect. You were always eager to help me even back in the day and I welcomed that, with my accelerated learning schedule. I suppose you stopped growing up after… about ten? Eleven? Ish? Years? Before Celestia sent me to Ponyville, at any rate.’
‘Smolder, can you add anything to that observation?’
Smolder slouched. ‘Can’t say I’ve ever heard of that happening, out in the Dragonlands at least. Although you know, I have heard of younglings from the Fillydelphia dragontown having their growth stunted for a while due to exposure to chemicals in the urban environment. Sounds crazy but some dragons are more sensitive to certain toxins ponies just aren't.’
‘That could be part of it, but…’ Spike sighed, ‘Well, I have a theory. Something I’ve been wondering for a long time, but it was Rarity who really brought it to my mind as something that’s impacted my life.’
‘Why, however do you mean?’ asked Rarity.
Spike paused. ‘When you said you weren’t sure if I’d been treated fairly by everypony, it really got me thinking hard. This is tough for me to put out there, but I, uh…’
Smolder got a little annoyed. ‘Spike, spit that fire out if you’ve got it. Stop keeping us waiting!’
‘I’m sorry, Smolder, everypony. I thought on it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that, and please, don’t for a moment think this is either of your faults or any other individual’s, that living amongst ponies my entire life… that the good intentions of my pony friends, and adopted pony family, have halted my physical development.’
Twilight seemed slighted. ‘Spike, I hope you don’t mean to say we’ve coddled you unnecessarily over the years.’
Spike shuffled his notes. ‘That isn’t what I mean, actually, but I don’t blame you for taking it that way. Let me lay it out.’
‘Like you say, ponies didn’t know much about dragons for a very long time before you were able to reach out to Ember. However, I figure everypony knew the things about dragons most important to ponies,’ Spike counted his points on his claws, ‘One, they burn down your houses; two, they steal all your stuff; three, stay the heck away from them. Would you say that’s accurate?’
‘Heck, I would,’ nodded Smolder.
‘Self-preservation in the face of a giant fire-breathing lizard, if you don’t mind my saying so, probably was tantamount for anypony encountering one back in the day. Even now,’ agreed Rarity.
‘No arguments there, honestly,’ said Twilight, ‘We knew enough to concoct a few dragon-related spells, but those were also crafted in self-defense now that I think about it…’
‘Exactly. It’s reasonable, which is why I say nopony is to blame for it,’ said Spike, ‘Then I come along in the aftermath of Twilight’s entrance exam. A dragon living among ponies… not giant, potentially fire-breathing, but small and cute, wouldn’t you say?’
Twilight smiled again, because he wasn’t wrong. ‘Of course, Spikey-Wikey,’ said Rarity, batting her lashes, ‘You are a very sweet young dragon.’
‘And I do not mind you saying that,’ said Spike, almost losing his cultivated seriousness over the matter for a second before regaining his professional face. ‘But, I know that’s why I’ve always been considered “one of the good ones”. I’m non-threatening, I almost only ever use my fire breath to send messages, and I’m helpful. I have to be helpful. It’s how I have a place in a society that is, well, is slightly less so nowadays, but still kinda is, anti-dragon.’
Rarity put one hoof over her mouth with an expression of deep concern. ‘Oh, Spike…’ Twilight started.
Spike raised a claw. ‘Let me finish, Twilight. Being so… servile over the years isn’t even a habit. It’s a deep, an ingrained part of my identity. I didn’t see it the whole time I was with Gabby but we mostly did what she wanted, until I couldn’t go along with that anymore. And I’ve realised, when I’m with you, Twilight, or you, Rarity, I do what you want. When I’m not doing things for other ponies, I mean, I have hobbies, but they’re the hobbies I’ve had for years! Comics and board games and such. Sure, I have my diplomatic accomplishments, like singing songs that end prejudice, but personally speaking, I dunno. I just don’t know what I’m doing with myself sometimes.’
Spike was getting a little emotional now, and he stopped talking for a moment. ‘I don't feel in control of my life,’ he sighed, ‘I live to serve and it’s the source of a lot of problems for me. Some nights I lie in my basket and stare at the ceiling and feel rotten about myself for hours, about my size, why I do stuff and why it means I'm actually horrible, thinking about all the mistakes I’ve made in my life and how they mean I'm even worse than that. It’s not a new thing, though it comes and goes… I don’t know if I’m even making sense right now.’
As he looked down at his feet Smolder slipped off her chair and approached him, and the two ponies followed her lead. ‘Aw, c’mon Spike, cheer up,’ she said, punching him softly on the shoulder, ‘You have a good life with these ponies. So what if you’re a shrimp? Let me tell you, elder dragons don’t really have great lives a lot of the time, there’s only so long you can roast villages and hoard gold before it gets old. That’s why they’re always in a bad mood!’
Spike smiled a bit in response and looked to Rarity and Twilight, who both looked sad and a little guilty. ‘Gosh, Spike, I had no idea you felt that way…’ said Twilight, ‘I’ve never thought of you as a servant, for whatever that’s worth… you’ve been more like a little brother to me.’
‘Nor I, although I have had occasion to ponder the nature of your helping me once or twice over the years,’ said Rarity, welling up somewhat, ‘But I always thought you just liked being around me and my gems. Oh, Spikey… maybe I’ve not always been as good of a friend to you as I could’ve been, darling…’
‘I keep saying, it’s neither of your faults – I’ve done it to myself, mostly. Pony society’s unwittingly encouraged me to think in terms of relationships as transactional things, and even though logically I know that’s bunk nowadays I still go along with it because, like I said, I want to be useful. Not that I dislike or regret being useful, but…’
He paused for a moment more. ‘I think… I want to grow up. Hardly elder dragon big, but bigger than I am. I guess that’s why I wanted to hold this friendship meeting – I think it’s possible, but I don’t think it’s possible with things staying the way they are. Really, I need help, this time. From you.’
Spike stopped speaking with gravity, having laid out his dilemma for the others to ponder.
‘Thought about hitting the gym?’ Smolder asked after a few seconds, ‘Gallus told me he and Silverstream have been going a few times a week together since he started training up for guard duties, as well as her looking to join the Wonderbolts’ reserves. A bit of muscle definition might help ya!’
Spike side-eyed Smolder, smiling wryly. ‘Noted, and yes, as a matter of fact, I’ve been doing some core exercises and jogging around the castle first thing for a while now – Gabby’s suggestion, actually. Doesn’t it show?’
Smolder tilted her head and, with a slack expression, looked Spike up and down. ‘Okay, okay, don’t answer that,’ he said.
‘It’s true. Cardio kills gains,’ Smolder concluded with deadly seriousness. She raised her claws in the air and said ‘What?!’ when Spike shot her a withering look, ‘Gar-Gar always said that!’
‘I wish I could say I was surprised, Smolder,’ said Spike. She sat back down, a little huffily, as he turned to the ponies in the room with faux-officiousness. ‘I’ll take that into consideration. So, Smolder’s suggestion is to skip leg day. Anything to add to that, girls?’
Having dwelt on some guilty feelings the past couple of minutes Rarity blurted out, ‘Oh, Spikey, Spikey-Wikey, I’m ever so sorry if I ever, ever made you feel like you somehow weren’t welcome in Ponyville, or among ponies, or, oh, I’m not supposed to apologise again am I, oh, oh dear…’ she thumped her chest twice and coughed, composing herself somewhat before continuing, ‘Excuse me. I’m sure any of us would say the same, were she present in addition to Twilight and I. Considering your stature in pony society… if we consider your past, as Twilight said before, raised by her and her parents, growing into a role as her assistant, learning about the world around you from her, would I be correct in assuming that was the entirety of your education? Did you ever go to school?’
Spike hesitated, then gestured to Twilight, and she took his lead. ‘No, he didn’t. We actually did try to enrol him at West Canterlot Fillies & Colts once, but it didn’t work out well. Turned out a kindergarten classroom and a little dragon with limited control over his fire breath don’t mix at all, and we didn’t try again after that – I mean, nopony was hurt! But it was the incident that led to Celestia enchanting his breath to make it safer. I took him under my wing instead – I mean, I didn’t have wings at the time! You know what I mean…’
‘Well then… I must say, darling, you did an exemplary job educating your charge,’ Rarity said to Twilight, ‘He truly is something.’
Twilight giggled, ‘Thank you, Rarity! But I should remind you to get to the point of asking after that?’
‘Right, yes, so sorry. I’m thinking about what Spike said about society’s, ah, anti-draconic qualities, and I fear that proves his point rather neatly.’
Spike had been looking down glumly since Twilight had started describing that chapter of his life. ‘You’re right, Rarity. I’ll never forget that day. I was so ashamed,’ he said.
‘Truth be told, it was at the back of my mind when I opened the School of Friendship to all creatures,’ said Twilight, ‘It wasn’t really your fault, Spike. You couldn’t help it.’
He wiped a tear from his eye and grimaced. ‘Sorry, I’m reliving it… dammit! Rarity, you really know how to hurt a guy, bringing up stuff like that!’
Twilight leaned towards Spike for a hug, and he embraced her for comfort as his lower lip trembled. ‘It’s okay, Spike,’ she murmured, ‘I forgot it was a sore spot for you. I shouldn’t have been so lighthearted about it.’
Rarity’s heart went out to Spike. ‘I didn’t know, Spikey! Neither you nor Twilight ever mentioned it before…’ she said, before looking to Twilight and mouthing “Can I apologise now?” to which Twilight nodded once, ‘I’m ever so sorry… if they wouldn’t make the effort at that school to accommodate you properly, it was their loss not to have such a clever little dragon.’
‘I’m with Rarity,’ said Smolder, idly munching on another gem sandwich, ‘They were probably jerks. It can’t be that hard to fireproof one room. Twilight managed it at the school all the time, I checked.’ Twilight’s expression darkened slightly in Smolder’s direction as she revealed that.
Spike’s eyes dried up after a minute, and Twilight let him sit back straight on his pile. ‘No, no, it’s important to the conversation, even if I wasn’t expecting something this raw to come up,’ he said, ‘I guess I should’ve. I appreciate your concern, Rarity, Smolder, and you’re correct. Getting kicked out of school like that definitely sent a message to me, and not a nice one. I know now it wasn’t my fault, but it sure felt like I was the one to blame. Everypony was mad at me afterwards, even if they didn’t yell at me.’
‘My original point was that it may have deprived you of some social contact early on,’ Rarity chose her words carefully, not wanting to upset her favourite dragon again, ‘I never meant to reopen old wounds. I’m truly sorry for that.’
‘I see what you meant a bit better now, Spike,’ said Twilight after some consideration, ‘About the good intentions of your friends stifling you. I never wanted anything other than the best for you, but, well, you know better than anycreature that I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly back in those days. You didn’t have the opportunity to seek them on your own, and I never pushed you to make friends so you never did, aside from me. And maybe Moondancer?’
‘True, that,’ said Spike, ‘We’ve both come far since then. I have a bunch of friends I couldn’t feel closer to nowadays, and that wasn’t always the case.’
Smolder smiled. ‘You’re an easy guy to like, Spike, of course you do. You take a little getting used to, especially for other dragons, but I realised you were alright once I was over the initial, “This guy is a wuss” hump, no offense. Heck, realising that about you made me realise a few things about myself, pony-wise. You’ve brushed off on me a bit, made me see the value of being…’ she searched for a moment for a better word before giving up, ‘Nice.’
‘Really? That means a lot coming from you, Smolder. Thanks,’ said Spike, blushing just slightly.
‘I mean, it’s not just you,’ Smolder turned to the ponies, ‘The last few years’ve been time well spent. When Dragonlord Ember first sent me here I was, uh, less than thrilled? I was convinced it’d be some namby-pamby, prissy pony frou-frou waste of time to endure. But all six of you proved me wrong big-time that first year, not to mention my friends, that I made, at the friendship school.’
As Smolder spoke Spike put down his slice of cake, raised a finger and inhaled to say something, then let it go. ‘All seven of you founding professors,’ Smolder corrected herself, ‘S’cuse me, Spike.’
‘Yes, all seven of us, how do you say these days, “POG” friendship professors,’ said Rarity, remembering the turn of phrase Gallus had used a week back, ‘And Starlight, of course, made eight! Is she doing well back at school, now little Luster Dawn’s a bit older?’
‘Better than ever, Ms. Rarity, and her kid seems well – it was her first birthday just last week, she told me. Twilight made the right call making her headmare, why’d you think I went back? She and Sunburst are both really good teachers. Good nose for professors, too.’
‘I can confirm that,’ said Twilight, polishing off a sandwich, ‘Spike and I check in with her a couple of times a moon. She’s really grown into headmareship.’
‘And Luster is a super-cute little filly, honestly,’ said Spike, ‘Very energetic! Gabby loved her when we visited. Bought her a small pile of dollies afterwards. Heh, I suppose that didn’t help how things went between us in the end.’
Rarity gained a regretful look in her eyes for just a second, just long enough for Spike to notice, and they made eye contact for that second until Rarity blinked it off. She’d not been keeping up with creatures outside her core group lately thanks to work and she felt a tiny bit out of the loop, though she supposed she only had herself to blame for that. ‘That’s marvellous, I simply must see her myself again sometime. Doubtless she’s grown,’ she said, with a little feigned cheer.
She paused. Something else was on her mind that needed to be brought to the table. ‘Speaking of which, we’re moving away from the topic at hoof. You know, Twilight, if Spikey says he wants to grow up, where would financials come into play, in pursuit of such a goal?’
Twilight raised an eyebrow. ‘What do you mean, Rarity?’
Spike’s ear frills perked up. ‘Yeah… what do you mean?’ he asked.
‘Well, when I make a dress or a suit for a pony, I make certain I’m paid in bits for my efforts, that’s all! And unless I’m mistaken, Spike, you’re not simply a general assistant to Twilight, why, you’re a fully-fledged diplomat, are you not? Keeping the peace between dragons and yaks, among other events like that? Perhaps this is my materialist streak shining through, but that seems like something you should be paid well for?’ She turned to Twilight with her eyes wide and asked, ‘Is Spikey financially independent?’
Twilight didn’t answer the question. ‘Twilight?’ Rarity pressed.
The other three in the room all looked at Twilight intently, and she cringed and flop-sweated visibly. Eventually she dragged something out. ‘...No. I’ve been in full control of his pursestrings since forever ago.’
Spike raised an eyebrow – while this was a topic of urgent interest to him, he didn’t share Rarity’s perturbation on the topic. ‘Twilight, relax. Rarity got there first but I, I’d been meaning to bring this up before we adjourned anyway.’
Twilight looked profoundly uncomfortable. ‘Why didn’t you tell me that before we started this, Spike? You’re putting me on the spot a little, don’t you think?’
‘I mean, it is a pertinent question, and plainly Spike and I are in agreement,’ said Rarity, pausing as Twilight gave her a partly-fearful, partly-angry look, ‘Twilight. There’s no need to be defensive, darling, you said it yourself earlier. We’re all friends here.’
‘Yeah, I’m not mad,’ said Spike, ‘I want for nothing in my day-to-day life, you make sure of that – I’ve never felt like I’ve had to go without.’
‘You treat him very well,’ said Rarity, ‘But it is a topic we need to broach. If nothing else, even with the most pristine intentions don’t you think a prescriptive approach ultimately controls him in ways you might not see? Spike, don’t you think you could make your own use of those bits?’
‘Quite right, Rarity, and I do. I mean, if you don’t mind me being blunt, Twi, I’d very much like you to relinquish control of that to which I am entitled, given my age, which may I remind you, you helped me establish earlier,’ he spoke deliberately, as he’d rehearsed that, then grinned as Twilight shot him a wounded look, ‘If there’s a problem with that?’
The dragon and pony pair mithering her was getting to Twilight. ‘Oh, donuts!’ she exclaimed, slapping a hoof against her horn, pausing before continuing, a little more coolly and with a lot more regret. ‘Spike, I’m sorry. We should have discussed this a year ago. You’re both right, I’ve been intentionally withholding Spike’s accounts from him. I’m not proud of myself but…’
‘But?’ prompted Spike.
‘But are you sure you’re ready? I’ve been reluctant to do anything after,’ Twilight looked at Rarity, ‘You remember Spike’s first birthday in Ponyville, right? When he hoarded a bunch of stuff then became insane and massive?’
‘One of the most harrowing experiences of my entire life? Can’t say it rings any bells, dear,’ Rarity joked, ‘I still have the fi– ah, I mean, Spike was very large that day. All of Ponyville suffered for it until he regained his senses!’
Smolder had been quiet for the past while – financial matters weren’t something she was well-versed in, but dragon stuff sure was. She looked Spike up and down, then said, ‘Wait, you had a greed-growth episode? And changed back afterwards like nothing happened? No way!’
Spike winced. ‘That I did, Smolder. A long time ago now – we don’t really talk about it.’
‘I mean, that’s not supposed to happen, is all. Greed-growth’s not a one-way street, but it doesn’t reverse entirely. If it happens to a dragon and they change back, they’re left with a couple of parts that don’t change back all the way, and you don’t have anything like that.’
‘Is that so?’ said Twilight with great interest, ‘You’ll have to tell me more once the meeting’s over, Smolder.’
‘Sure, Princess Twilight,’ said Smolder, ‘Happy to help your research.’
Spike inhaled, then pressed the issue at hoof. ‘Twilight, I can’t undo what happened that day, and back then I definitely wasn’t mature enough to handle,’ saying something so inane made him balk, ‘Receiving birthday gifts, of all things, but I’ve learned a lot about responsibility, and how selfish and stupid I was, since then. There’s no way that would happen now.’
Twilight looked at the regret on Spike’s face and sighed. ‘After everything we’ve discussed up to this point, I guess I really should at least give you a fair chance. Think this falls under the “good intentions” umbrella?’
‘I dare say,’ said Rarity, ‘I for one am definitely seeing Spike’s point about that rather acutely right now, between this and the pre-school… problem. I suppose some things just lurk under the surface, so to speak, until coaxed out.’
‘So, Spike, you really think you’re ready to handle the responsibility? Finance can be awful tricky.’
Spike sighed. ‘Yes, Twilight, I promise not to bury myself under my heaving gold and gem horde and slowly expand until I’m a tremendous mad beast that levels Canterlot. I swear I will not do that.’
‘That’s not quite what I meant. Promise me you won’t just fritter it away.’
He sighed again. ‘Yes, Twilight, I promise not to spend all my bits on chocolate ice cream and then gorge myself on the chocolate ice cream and then drown myself in the chocolate ice cream.’
‘Spike, I can see your crossed claws behind your back.’ said Twilight.
‘Kidding!’ said Spike, uncrossing his fingers and showing both his claws to Twilight, ‘Anyway, You know I’m more of a mint choc chip guy,’ Twilight’s eyes burned into him, and he grinned. ‘Kidding again?’
‘No, I believe you,’ smiled Twilight, ‘And I trust you, you little joker. Alright, I officially relinquish your accounts from my control to your personal ownership, Spike. I’ll give you a permit later to go down to the vaults. Ask the ponies there to guide you to your coffers by order of the princess.’
‘I appreciate that, Twilight. Thank you.’ Spike fluttered off his stack and moved in for a hug, and Twilight embraced him with one foreleg and a wing for a moment.
Rarity beamed. ‘Glad we’ve got one concrete thing taken care of this meeting, then,’ she said.
‘Yeah,’ said Smolder, ‘And, I mean, I’m seriously no expert on this touchy-feely stuff, but I’d say acknowledging your self-esteem issues – is that the phrase? Spike’s got more issues than I thought, but you’re all so supportive of each other, it’s sort of sickening. I think you can work things out, you little nerd,’ she smiled at Spike, who reciprocated broadly.
‘If you ever need an ear or a shoulder to lean on, Spikey-Wikey,’ said Rarity, ‘Well, you already know this, but my door is always open to you.’
‘And please, don’t ever feel like you have to hide things from me,’ said Twilight, ‘Honestly, I was a little hurt that you didn’t discuss your relationship problems with Gabby with me right away. I know I’m not great with, you know, love stuff, but I’ll always support you no matter what.’
‘You know I can help you out with dragon stuff,’ Smolder chipped in, ‘Just drop me a scroll whenever, I can make the time.’
‘Thanks, everycreature. If Rarity hadn’t intervened I’d probably still be lying, hideously depressed, on that statue of Cadance,’ Spike admitted, ‘Not much of a life, you know?’
‘I would’ve come looking for you myself eventually! I do notice things!’ protested Twilight. Everycreature laughed.
Things wound down after that, and serious discussion gave way to a short while’s general chitter-chatter and finishing off of sandwiches. Tired of her own mineral water Rarity tried a mouthful of Smolder’s fireberry juice, which contained a pungent spice that shot right up into her nasal cavity, and for a minute she involuntarily treated the party to her best impersonation of a strangulated dragon until it subsided. Spike told jokes and stories he’d heard off of Discord, including the one about the biggest pet shop in Manehattan which they’d all heard a dozen times before but all still got a kick out of. For her part Rarity imparted the latest business gossip about her boutique over there, and Twilight fussed a little about fact-checking a detail in a book about eastern Equestrian fauna that she was sure was incorrect.
Once the clock struck the hour, Twilight stood to attention. ‘Oh, that’s the time. I suppose this concludes our meeting, Spike? I’ll have to go to that next meeting soon, but I’d like to confer with you, Smolder, about greed-growth before it so I don’t keep you waiting – is that okay with you?’
‘I said so earlier, Princess Twilight. Just don’t keep me too long, I got sheep to herd before sundown. S’what I do to support my college-girl self these days.’
‘Yeah, show’s over for the most part,’ said Spike, hopping off his stack one last time, ‘There’s a couple of things that might be better discussed individually, but by necessity they can wait for later. I do know that I feel much better after talking things through, excuse me if that’s egotistical of me to say. I’m sorry if I took too much time to get to the point.’
Rarity horse-sputtered, dismissing Spike’s concern. ‘Pfffft, nonsense, Spikey-Wikey! This has been the most delightful get-together, despite my fears early on,’ she said, rising from her seat, ‘And very productive to get to the bottom of a few things that have plainly been eating at you – I understand it’s an ongoing process, though, and I truly hope we can continue to help you, don’t hesitate to ask. Um, if the party’s over, I suppose I’ll see you both at the next Friendship Council?’
‘Are you leaving so soon?’ asked Spike. He seemed slightly crestfallen.
‘Well, Twilight’s busy and I suppose you must accompany her to those Whinnyapolis delegates, am I correct?’
He kept a straight face, but Rarity noticed his cheeks turn just a little bit pink. ‘I was hoping to have words with you, actually… are you really needed at the boutique?’
‘Well, after I received your letter I was able to rearrange most of my fittings for this morning, then I completed Flitter’s newest early this afternoon before coming over, and I’m free for the rest of the day. Yona’s holding down the fort, I mean, shop, so to speak. She knows I’m over here, and I’m positively certain I can leave things in her capable hooves for another couple of hours. If you need me, I’m yours.’
Twilight and Smolder began to leave, but Twilight looked back to Spike and Rarity as she knocked on the door to alert the guards. ‘An attendant can manage that stack for me if you’re otherwise occupied, Spike. You spend time with Rarity if you want.’
‘Well, I’m out. Smell ya both later,’ waved Smolder as she and Twilight slipped out of the door. Then Spike and Rarity were alone, the guards outside the room notwithstanding.
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