//------------------------------// // (1) A Party to Forget // Story: Of Dragons and Maternity // by SymphonicSync //------------------------------// Twilight tried to wave off the interrogative yellow pegasus as she stepped inside the library that Celestia had arranged for her brief stay in this backwoods town. Spike hopped off her flank and slumped further into the room. “Have you checked for a fever? Normally at this age they should be more talka-“ “He’s a dragon, Fluttershy, they’ve always got a fever!” “Is he ready for a mol-” Twilight threw up a hoof past the mare, pointing back down the dusty path she had followed the pair from. “Look, he was fine this morning. I’ll talk to him. Just get that chorus ready for tonight.” Fluttershy glanced inside, and let out a hesitant “But-” “He will be fine, now go!” She straightened out her posture and cleared her throat. “Look, it’s been a long day. I need to rest before the ceremony.” The pegasus looked inside once more, and with a confused expression on her face slowly turned and walked away. Twilight pushed the door closed as she walked to sit next to Spike in the center of the room. He stood there, a free claw picking at minute dirt seemingly stuck in one of his talons. The door to the library creaked on its rusted hinges and swung back ajar. A ray of light cut through the darkness around the two. “Spike,” she asked, trying to get him to look at her, “What’s wrong? You haven’t said a word since the farm.” He pulled his head away as it fell to his feet. “Did you eat too much? Was one of the apples bad?” As the question left her lips, she recalled not seeing him eat a bite of whatever the blonde pony had placed in from of him. He mouthed out a soundless no. “Could it be allergies, we’ve never been out near the fields before. And it’s so dusty out here, that could be i-” “I’m not sick.” He said, cutting her off. “I’m just not, not feeling well…” She paused, collected her thoughts, and with a concerned voice asked “Why?” He had no answer to this. Her tone shifted to one more protective. “Was someone mean to you?” She’d lost track of him at the town hall. That fashionable pony had made her stare at a mirror for far longer than was necessary to just fix her mane before they set up the decorations. “The Bella filly seemed nice enough. If she did something to upset you should hav-” “Sweetie-” the word caught in his throat, like he hadn’t known he would be saying it. “Her name is Sweetie Belle.” Twilight peered at his face. Were his scales turning burgundy? She moved forward cautiously. “So,” with a slight pause, she continued “Sweetie Belle, she didn’t do anything to upset you?” He mouthed no. Twilight thought back to when Rarity and she were stringing up the banners. She’d looked over their way to check on the two children. Bella- Sweetie Belle had been talking and showing him something or another. They seemed content so Twilight had left them be. Every time she’d checked, Spike had just been sitting there, not speaking a word. Twilight hadn’t noticed then. “Was she nice to you?” When they’d left, the filly had waved at Spike with a smile on her face. The scales on his cheeks reddened. A light, curious frown came to Twilight’s face. “Would you like to meet her again?” The dragon whelp mouthed a yes. A faint smile crossed her lips. “Would you like to tell me why?” Spike swayed on his feet, picking at his claws once again. He glanced up and around, looking past Twilight around the darkened library. She placed a hoof under his chin and brought his gaze to meet her eyes. “It’s alright Spike, it’s just me, I won’t tell anyone else.” “Okay.” He answered, leaving an awkward silence in the air. She stood up. The light from behind her fell on some bottles on the table next to a few glasses. Either the past occupants of the library were slobs or someone had sent her welcoming gifts. Thinking over the ponies she’d met earlier that day, both options were likely. Checking the label, her hoof ran over a note. Welcome to Ponyville, Lass. How had Applejack known where to send the cider? She brushed off the thought as she uncorked the bottle and poured it into two glasses. Carrying them back to Spike, she sat and said “Take your time.” After a few sips, he spoke. “She was nice.” Twilight smiled and nodded. “I know that the kids back in Canterlot are scared of me…” he paused, rolled the cup between his paws, and continued “But her voice was so soft. She didn’t stare at my claws or try to walk away.” “The other foals are mean to you back home?” Twilight blurted out in concern before composing herself. “Sorry, please continue.” “She showed me how to sew. Or at least tried, I wasn’t very good at it. The needle’s too small so I couldn’t really grab it.” Twilight watched how he fiddled with his talons as he spoke. Had he been trying to flatten them? “It seemed really cool. I wish I could figure it out.” Twilight waited a moment and spoke. “Maybe I could talk to that Rarity pony at the celebration tonight. See if she can tutor you?” Spike looked up, the smile and surprise on his face quickly fading as he went to take another drink. “We live so far away though. And you need my help all the time, I couldn’t come back to se-” he took another drink. “come back for sewing lessons.” She sighed. “Spike, let me talk to Celestia later. I think we’re in need of a nice vacation. Ponyville isn’t such a bad place to stay.” The smile returned to his face. “Really, we can stay?” “Of course, Spike. I’ll have it sorted out by morni-humph!” Twilight took a short, strong breath as the dragon flung himself into her chest, wrapping his arms around her sides. She draped a hoof over his back and pulled him closer. A hushed thank you came out of her coat. She let the hug answer him. A few seconds or an hour later, he pulled away and asked “Could you, could you ask Rarity if I could see Sweetie Belle again?” Twilight stood up and said “Of course, Spike. Now let’s get you to bed. You wouldn’t want to sleep in tomorrow, would you?” With a head shake as his answer, she picked him up in one hoof and walked towards the dimly lit stairwell at the back of the library. The pair left the library floor in the darkness, save for the sliver of light that was slowly retreating through the front door as the stars began to claim their space in the sky. As Twilight’s voice picked up the cadence of a bedtime story, a silence continued to hold over the shadows around the bookshelves. The adults of Ponyville collectively nodded. They quickly gathered up whatever they had brought before filing out the door, careful to leave it as open as it had been before the failed surprise party-goers had made their escape. Rarity held back and glanced behind her. “Are, you, are you alright?” Fluttershy asked from where she awkwardly stood outside the door. “Oh dear, you’re still here?” Rarity asked through a startled gasp. Fluttershy ducked her head and scooped at the dirt with her hoof. “I didn’t know when the party was going to start…” She gave a furtive glance up at Rarity. “Sweetie Belle wasn’t with you, was she?” Rarity looked over the straw-capped houses at her boutique and answered. “No, I didn’t want her staying up all night. She’s back home in bed.” “So,” Fluttershy began in hesitation, “What are you-” “Let’s just get ready for the celebration, dear.” Rarity stood up straight and began to walk towards the town center. “Alright.” Fluttershy mumbled. Back inside the library, Twilight came back down the stairs and went to close the front door with a tired sigh and a slumping of her sore withers. It’d been a long day and she had much to think about. Striding over to the table, she cast a quick spell that summoned a small orb of light. She reached past the bottle that Spike and she had drank from earlier and looked at the note wrapped over its label. Fer the after-party. Twilight let out a small chuckle. “Sorry Applejack, but I’ve got plans after the celebration, now.” She scanned the room and levitated some loose paper and a quill to the table as she popped the cork off the new bottle. Pouring it into a larger glass than before, she sank to her haunches and stared at the paper in front of her. Her night was just beginning