//------------------------------// // Chapter VIII: The Cutie Mark Crusaders // Story: A Secret Admirer 2: How to Cuddle Your Dragon // by 1jckuhn //------------------------------// THE NEXT MORNING, 9:12 A.M. Starlight let out a huge yawn as she rubbed her eyes and she stared at the clear, blue sky. "Good morning, sleepy head," came a voice. Starlight looked down to see Spike looking up at her with his typical, sweet smile. He wasn't the only one either. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were also looking up at the pink Unicorn with grins as well. Starlgiht was very surprised to see Spike awake before her. "Good morning, Spike," Starlight said. "It's nice to see you awake, but when did you wake up?" "Just ten minutes," Scootaloo said. "We woke him up with nuzzles to the head. We tried the same for you for a full five minutes, but you must be a very hard sleeper because you didn't stir once." "Oops, heh. Sorry," Strlight said sheepishly. "Don't be. You got some extra rest," Spike said. "Plus, I got to see those beautiful, blue eyes reveal themselves to me." Starlight blushed and looked down at Spike. Before Spike could react, she puckered her lips, leaned down to his face, and began to kiss it all over. The Crusaders watched and giggled as Starlight smothered Spike with kisses. Starlight pulled away and giggled herself at Spike's adorable, dazed face. She got up and walked to the door. "See you later, Starry," Spike said as he waved goodbye. "Love you." Starlight blushed at Spike's nickname for her. "Goodbye, Spike," Starlight said as she blew Spike a kiss. "I love you too." With that, Starlight walked out the door leaving the four kids alone in Spike's bedroom. "Wow, Spike," Scootaloo said as she scooted as close as she could to Spike. "You're so much cuter up close." Spike blushed heavily as Scootaloo pressed her nose against his. "You ready for breakfast, handsome?" Sweetie asked. "You bet," Spike said. With that said, the three fillies lifted Spike off the bed. They weren't as strong as their sisters, so it took a little longer, but they eventually managed to get Spike off the bed and they, slowly but surely, got Spike downstairs to eat breakfast and start their day together. LATER THAT NIGHT, 9:15 P.M. Spike, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo had, probably to them, a day that easily made it into the top ten for them when it came to great days. With a little help from Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, Spike and the Crusaders baked two dozen cupcakes for the whole harem. The crusaders took turns giving Spike a back rub, they snuggled with him on the couch, and the four kids read Power Ponies comics to each other. The Crusaders felt almost as tired as Spike was after his anti-drowsiness spell had worn off. Usually, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle would be in bed at 8:00 P.M. and Scootaloo would be in bed 8:15 P.M. Their excitement of staying up late and being with their Spike, however, managed to push their fatigue away and help them push through that last hour. Now, that excitement had vanished. With it went their ability to try and keep their eyes half open. They were carrying Spike upstairs to brush his teeth. Spike didn't mind that they weren't going as fast as their big sisters. He knew that they were trying their hardest to get him to bed. They got him to the bathroom where he brushed his teeth and then they headed off to his bedroom. The Crusaders didn't need to get ready with Spike because when it was nearing their normal bedtime, they had gotten ready to go to sleep like usual and realized that they were staying up with Spike only after they were done. At long last, they arrived at his bedroom. All three filles had a good idea for a cuddle postion and they were beyond eager to show it to Spike. Sweetie Belle had mastered her magic no more than a week ago and was able to make a light out of her horn so her friends and she could see where they were going. Once they were at the bed, Spike grabbed ahold of the bedsheets and crawled his way onto it. Once they made sure Spike was off their backs, the Crusaders crawled into Spike's bed themselves to find Spike reaching his pillow, pulling back the blankets, and flipping onto his back. The Crusaders soon reached him. "Hey, Spike," Sweetie whispered right in his ear. "We have a good idea for a cuddling position. All you need to do is keep your arms at your sides." "Oh," Spike yawned. "Okay." The sleepy Dragon put his arms at his sides and no sooner did he do that than did Apple Bloom and Scootaloo clamp down on both of his sides, embracing him as tight as they could. Doing this locked both his arms in their current position. Sweetie then crawled on top of Spike and kept her horn on as her face met with Spike's. "How do you like it?" she asked. "It's great," Spike said with another yawn. "Thanks, Sweetie." Sweetie rested her head against Spike's small, scaly chest. "So smooth," she whispered dreamily. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both began kissing his cheeks all over. Then they preceeded to nuzzle their cheeks with his lovingly. Spike sighed as he settled into the grips of the three fillies that he loved unconditionally. Instead of a large coat of fur enveloping the whole front of his body, three smaller, but still just as soft, bodies covered his body all over. He let out a sigh as he settled down. Their sweet scents combined and privided his nose with something nice to smell. Apple Bloom, like her big sister, smelled like apples, Sweetie Belle smelled like marshmellows, and Scootaloo smelled like a freshly ripened tangerine. "Remember all those times you've helped us? Well, this is just our way of saying thank you," Scootoloo said in his ear in a soothing tone. The Orange Pegasus couldn't help but nibble on his ear fin, making Spike blush as red as Apple Bloom's mane. "Aww, thanks, girls," Spike said. "Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the gesture of kindness, but I'm just satisfied with seeing you happy. Even if you loved someone else, I'd be at peace knowing that you're satisfied with who you choose to settle with." All three Crusaders blushed listening to Spike's mini-speech. Their moment, however, was broken when all three ponies and Dragon let out a big yawn simultaneously. "Ready for bed, cutie?" Apple Bloom whispered. "Yeah," Spike yawned again. The second they heard that, the Crusaders began to hum a lullaby for Spike. This was a lullaby that they usually hummed for each other whenever they had a sleepover together at one another's house or in their clubhouse. It seemed to be doing the trick for Spike as her began to slowly drift off to sleep. He wasn't the only one either. Sweetie Belle, who was still resting her head against Spike's chest, was also right behind Spike as he neared Luna's dream relm. Like Spike, she too was unable to resist the calming, steady lullaby that breathing patterns and hearbeats sang to her. Although she was almost asleep, she did was able to hear Spike's next sentence. It made her feel not just more at ease, but warm and fuzzy inside too. "Goodnight, Crusaders. I love you," uttered out the drowsy purple drake as his eyes fully closed. "Goodnight, Spike," grunted Apple Bloom, who was also about to fall asleep as well. "We love you too." No sooner did Apple Bloom say her last word, than did Sweetie Belle, Spike, Scootaloo, and she all fall asleep simultaneously. All four kids had small smiles on their mouths as they peacefully dozed away the next 11 to 12 hours.