While most other males on the planet likely wouldn’t mind being smothered in the impressive chest of Princess Celestia, since she was my mom, the desire was completely lost on me. As we made our way to the private dock to depart, Celestia had saw fit to practically fling herself at me and latch on my face like a little foal, and if not for the fact she was a grown pony that dwarfed normal ponies by a considerable margin, it would have been cute. Judging by Twilight’s giggles and Ember’s soft laughter though, I could only surmise that the image was still thoroughly amusing to an outside observer.
Since I was only a head or so taller than the alicorn, it was a struggle to keep from toppling over due to the extra weight, but I managed.
“M-mom,” I mumbled with a blush from between the solar alicorn’s bust, “is this necessary? We’re going to be seeing each other in like a week. Besides,” I lowered my voice to a whisper, “everyone’s staring at us!”
With a quiet huff, the alicorn finally detached from my face and dropped to her own hooves, forcing her to crane her head to look at me. Still, even though she was clearly unhappy about me leaving (truth be told, I wished I could stay longer as well), she gave me a loving smile and nodded. “Very well, my son...but I will be thoroughly pampering you during Hearth’s Warming. You cannot escape me for long.” She ended her statement with a smirk, giggling a moment later and giving me a much more reserved hug around my waist, laying her head on my chest. “Never forget that I love you, Spike. Always and forever.”
Though the words brought a mild blush to me, I hugged her tighter and whispered, “And I love you forever too, mom.” Pulling away and walking with Ember, Twilight, and Lyla to the carriage, I gave the two Canterlot princesses a wave. “See you both in a little while. Bye mom, Aunt Luna.”
While my mother looked on the verge of crying, Aunt Luna merely favored us with a warm smile and a nod. “Do not let your mind linger on the investigation, either. We will advise you of any updates, but for now, let it not trouble your mind. I will be heading the investigation myself, so trust that I have everything in hand, and you need not burden your heart with worries. Until next we meet, my friends.”
With nothing left to be said, we all boarded the carriage, which had already been loaded with our luggage. Once we were all settled and the pegasus guards carrying it had conducted a quick safety check, a lurch preceded a brief feeling of weightlessness, before we were soaring through the sky. Ember took a brief moment to glance out the window before turning to all of us and letting out a long sigh.
Raising a brow and wrapping my tail loosely around Ember’s leg, I asked, “Tired?”
The dragoness closed her eyes and snuggled up against me, nodding slowly. “Yeah. This whole thing with ponies trying to kill us and some noble mare with something to prove had me all stressed out. I kept waking up during the night, thinking I heard someone sneaking into the room.” Blowing out a long breath, she finally relaxed. “Logically, I know that with the guards on high alert, and the Canterlot princesses actively investigating, the palace was just about the safest place we could have been...but I still feel safer back in Ponyville, at Twilight’s castle.”
I shrugged. “I mean, you’ve been there long enough that it’s kinda become like a second den to you. Plus there’s the fact that Twilight has enough wards over the thing that it’s probably the most well-defended structure in all of Equestria.”
Twilight sheepishly smiled. “Umm...yeah, probably. It’s just...after losing the Golden Oaks, I wanted to make sure our home was as protected as it could possibly be.” Though it had been years since then, I could tell losing the first home we had in Ponyville still bothered Twilight. I reached across the small gap, where Twilight was sitting across from me, and took her hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Catching her eyes when she looked up, I smiled reassuringly at Twilight. “You’re not the only one that misses it, Twi. There were a lot of memories wrapped up in Golden Oaks, and it’s a loss that can never truly be replaced. Believe me, I understand the fear of losing another home, so I don’t fault you for doing everything you can to protect our new home.”
Seemingly coming to a worrisome conclusion regarding what we were talking about, Ember cautiously asked, “...none of the wards are lethal, right?”
Realizing why she was likely asking, Twilight sat up straight and gave her own reassuring smile to the dragoness. “No, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally tripping a ward that’s going to kill you. I’ve keyed the castle to accept you as a resident, so you can’t activate any of the wards unless you are trying to hurt any of us, or destroy the castle itself. Even then, should the nearly-impossible happen, even my most powerful wards are geared toward incapacitation and security. The wards on my private experimentation room, for example, would only render you unconscious, and then teleport you to a room I’ve designed to be a holding cell of sorts.”
Releasing a breath she had been holding, Ember relaxed once more. “That’s a load off my mind. I mean, I know you’re really meticulous, but I know accidents happen.”
Twilight shook her head, her smile never wavering. “I want my castle to be a place where all are welcome, and where my friends and family can have a second home. It wouldn’t make sense to make the place a death trap.”
Ember conceded the point. “Yeah...I guess that makes sense. So, changing the subject, what can you do to calm my nerves when I think about all the people that are going to be coming to stay in your castle during this holiday?”
Twilight took a moment to think before answering, “Well, the room we stay in -- my room -- will grant access only to those I allow. Anyone that tries to enter without me present, or without a mark I put on them,” Twilight took a moment to light her horn, three small motes of magic floating away to melt into each of our foreheads, leaving a faint tingling sensation, “will be unable to access the room. When we get back, I’ll set up the necessary spells to create a pocket dimension, and so anyone that opens the door without me or my spell will just see an empty guest room.” Focusing once again directly on the dragoness, Twilight concluded, “This means that as you heal, and should you ever feel like you need a moment to just be on your own to decompress during the holidays, you’ll have a safe, isolated place to do so. I’m coming to understand how much security means to dragons, so I think this will help set your mind at ease.”
Settling down after the momentary surprise from the magical mark Twilight gave her, Ember smiled gratefully at the alicorn princess. “Yeah...that helps a lot. Thanks, Twilight.”
Twilight and Ember settled into a conversation between the two of them, so I turned to Lyla next to me and asked, “So, how is your week going so far?”
Frowning, Lyla answered, “Well, it was going fine until I heard a changeling played a part in an attempted murder on you and Ember. As I’m sure you can imagine, that didn’t exactly make the beginning of this week all that nice.”
Giving a wry smile, I idly commented, “I’d like to pretend our lives aren’t full of drama in one way or another, but that’d be untrue. That’s why we make sure to revel in the rare moments of complete calm, whenever they may come.”
“I can agree with that,” Ember threw in, fully capitalizing on our proximity to get in some private snuggles. She always acted embarrassed when we brought it up, but there was no denying that with those she cared about, Ember was a big softie who just wanted love and cuddles. I’d never say it around those we weren’t close with, to protect Ember’s public persona as the wise, powerful dragon lord, but I was thoroughly enjoying this side of my dragon mate.
Chatter flowed freely between the four of us as we sat comfortably in the carriage, but within only ten minutes, a firm knock on the front of the carriage by one of the guards let us know we were approaching home. We gathered our things and prepared to disembark as a sharp bump from underneath advised we’d landed, and a moment later one of the guards opened the door for us. Twilight exited first, and the rest of us followed in short order.
Ember visibly took a deep breath and smiled as she stepped out in front of Twilight’s castle, clearly relieved to be back. It seemed that Twilight’s plan to make this a second home for Ember was bearing fruit, even though the dragoness didn’t say it aloud.
Rarity was waiting at the front door to the castle, wearing a tasteful winter coat and scarf, and smiling broadly. “Welcome home, darlings! Come along now, quickly. No sense standing out here in the cold.”
Ember was only all too happy to oblige, and hurried into the warmed interior of the castle, still limping a bit.
Once we were all inside, I noticed Rarity looking at Ember with a critical eye. Glancing at Twilight with a gesture toward Ember, she asked, “Twilight, if you would…? I would like to see just how injured our dragoness is, please.”
Twilight hesitated for a moment before nodding and lighting her horn. A film of magic dissolved from Ember’s face, revealing the discolored, bruised flesh of the dragoness. While Rarity didn’t gasp in surprise or anything, she did let out a long, calming sigh as she advanced on Ember, her deep blue eyes focused intently on the dragoness. Once she was standing in front of Ember, she raised her hands, hesitating briefly before gently placing her fingers on the taller female’s face.
Ember flinched a bit at the touch, and Rarity frowned. “How bad does it feel, darling?”
She grimaced as Rarity gently inspected her. “Sore and tender. I can feel my eye and cheek throb with every heartbeat.”
Rarity nodded before briefly glancing down at the leg Ember was taking care not to put too much weight on. “And I noticed you’re limping, as well. Nothing is broken?”
Ember shook her head. “Nah. I’m roughed up, but I’ll be okay in another two or three days.”
Removing her hands from the dragoness, Rarity stepped a pace away and jerked her head toward the end of the public throne room. “Please make your way upstairs, Ember. Fluttershy is making a warm lunch for all of us, and I imagine getting off of your feet will help alleviate some of the pain. For the future though, please don’t needlessly put yourself in harm's way.”
Ember looked mildly offended for a moment before taking a step and wincing. “...okay, yeah, taking a seat sounds nice.” Without another word, she made her way toward the rear of the room.
I watched her go, and once she disappeared behind the door leading to the second floor, hummed aloud. “Y’know, for a second I thought she was gonna argue with you.”
“Same,” Twilight added, her face one of confusion. “Maybe she’s in more pain than she’s letting on, or maybe she’s just too happy to be back in a familiar environment to want to argue.” Glancing to me, Twilight grasped my hand and led on as she lit her horn and levitated our luggage with her. “Anyway, we could all use some downtime, and I think Fluttershy would feel bad if we let her food get cold.”
I readily agreed, so offered no resistance as Twilight led me by the hand up to the private apartments, where a fire was crackling merrily in the commons room, and the scent of familiar warm, spiced drinks drew my attention. I took a deep whiff of the air, smiling as the scents of home calmed me, as if the castle itself was welcoming us. Maybe it was; there are still things about the castle I don’t understand, and I don’t think I’ll ever completely understand everything about the place.
Ember was sitting right on the brick that bordered the raised hearth, smiling happily as she soaked in the warmth. To my surprise, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were both there as well, with the latter napping against the former, wrapped in a blanket and a blue wing. I caught Rainbow Dash’s eyes as we entered, and offered her a simple nod as we all took seats around the room. She returned the nod with a blank expression before immediately looking away, instead focusing on the smaller pony under her wing. Now wasn’t the time to comment on that behavior, so I let it go and just took a seat on the other side of the hearth, closest to Ember.
“More comfortable back here, right?” I asked the smiling dragoness.
Ember stayed facing the fire, but nodded. “Definitely. At least I know I don’t have to worry about some crazy pony trying to kill us.”
“Wait, say what?” Rainbow Dash’s confused voice carried over the crackling fire.
Glancing across the gap, I raised my brow. “No one told you?” Her mouth hung open loosely, and she slowly shook her head. I cleared my throat and nodded with a resigned grimace. “Sorry, I probably should have sent a letter to all of you, but I didn’t want all of Ponyville to panic. Anyway, yeah, some noble’s got it out for us because we all made her look stupid in front of a room full of the other noble houses. She didn’t like that, so...she tried to poison me and Ember. Or, at least, that’s how it looks.”
“How,” she began, her voice nearly at a shout, causing the smaller pony in her wing to squirm and mumble in her sleep. Rainbow Dash looked down at Scootaloo and lovingly brushed her hair and nuzzled the top of her head before looking back to me with an unreadable expression. Her voice was much softer now, but no less intense as she hissed, “How in the hay are you acting so calm about this? Somepony tried to KILL YOU!”
Breathing a long breath out of my nose, I nodded once. “Yes, and we have an investigation underway with Luna at the helm. Am I anxious? Oh, absolutely, but losing my cool and being all jumpy is just going to stress us all out, and life is stressful enough as it is.”
“T-thats not...it’s…” Rainbow Dash was clearly struggling to articulate her thoughts, and the way she was grinding her teeth told me she was frustrated, not embarrassed. After a few seconds of her silence, she just growled and looked away. “...nevermind, forget it.”
I was about to ask her just what the hay was going on, but Fluttershy entered the room at that moment, carrying with her three mugs, one of which she handed to Ember as she explained, “I thought you would like something nice and hot after coming in from the cold. I hope you like hot spiced cider.”
Ember took the offered mug and looked down into the steaming liquid, shrugging her shoulders. “I haven’t had it before, but every hot drink you all have given me so far has been great, so...bottom’s up.” She brought the mug to her lips and took a conservative sip, smacking her lips and humming before taking a larger drink with a happy smile. “Yeah, this’ll work. Thanks a lot, Fluttershy.”
The pegasus handed the other mugs to Twilight and Lyla before unceremoniously mounting my lap and wrapping me in a tight embrace, which I readily returned. Eventually she loosened up a bit and just laid her head on my shoulder, but refused to leave my lap. Not that I had a problem with that, since she was very soft, and I always loved hugging Fluttershy.
“I’m so glad you’re both okay,” she murmured, nuzzling against my throat as she breathed in my scent. “I’m just happy Ember getting a little bruised is the worst that happened while you were away.”
Grimacing, even though she couldn’t see it, I cleared my throat and answered, “...it wasn’t.”
Fluttershy pulled away enough to look me in the eye, and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Does it have something to do with why Lyla had to leave in such a rush?” Rarity asked, entering the room after freshening up a bit.
Briefly catching the other pegasus’ eye when she glanced my way, I released a short breath and prepared for the inevitable. “...someone tried to kill Ember and I through a third party, and we think it’s Rosy Glow. Lyla was summoned because the third party is a changeling.”
One of the reasons Fluttershy was a bit more assertive nowadays had little to do with her Iron Will seminars in the past. Instead, an unforeseen consequence of the “Flutterbat” incident was a more assertive, more confrontational side to Fluttershy that would pop up if she was ever sufficiently upset or angry. It wasn’t a split personality by any means, and Fluttershy was fully in control the whole time, but inhibitions that kept her from doing or saying things she normally would not seem to just...disappear. This wouldn’t normally be a problem, except that the whole reason for the transformation was due to a genetic trait that had been recessive before Twilight’s magic had given it a trigger. Since ponies were magical creatures, even when the spell was removed...the trait was now active, and Fluttershy’s natural magic kept it alive, complete with the physical changes that came with the initial incident.
And so, whenever Fluttershy was sufficiently motivated (usually by anger), she would change.
I got to watch it happen in real time, up close, as Fluttershy’s eyes (disturbingly) changed to vertical slits, akin to a cat. Next, her fur grew thicker, and her ears also gained cute little tufts on the tips, as the ears themselves grew in size as well. Far more disturbing was when her wings spread wide, the feathers fell out, and what remained was a fleshy membrane that looked like a bat’s wing. Lastly, from under her top lip, two long canines grew, and could be seen peeking out over her bottom lip, even with her mouth closed.
“What, in the nine hells, JUST HAPPENED?!”
Ember’s exclamation reminded me that there were some things about my friends she didn’t know, namely the fact that sweet little Fluttershy could transform into a decidedly predatory-looking pony.
Coughing nervously, I sheepishly answered, “Uh, yeah. I’ll explain it all later, I promise, but this is something normal for her...or at least, it is now. No one’s in danger, I swear.”
“Not yet, they’re not,” Fluttershy growled, fangs now bared and wings widely flared.
Focusing on Fluttershy once again, I brought my hands up and cupped her face, touching my nose to hers as I looked into her eyes. In a soft voice, I pleaded, “Fluttershy, you need to calm down. Princess Luna is already handling everything, and right here in the castle is probably the safest place we could possibly be in Equestria.”
“For now,” she mused, rolling her eyes to the ceiling and pretending to think aloud, “but as long as they’re still out there, no place is completely safe.”
Leaning back and booping her firmly on the nose with a finger, I shook my head. “No, Flutters. You’re not going down this road, and I’m not going to allow it. If you get caught up in the idea of trying to make every place safe, you’ll never rest for the remainder of your life...and I can’t have that. The world will never be completely safe,” I reached up and moved a few stray strands of mane away from her face, smiling in what I hoped was a reassuring manner, “and I want you here, with us, always.”
Fluttershy stared at me for a moment before closing her eyes and sighing, resting her forehead against mine. “...you’re right, I’m sorry. I just...I-I’m so worried about what might happen, and I feel like I should...I don’t know, do something.”
A small laugh escaped my lips as I ran my fingers up and gently massaged her ears. “You’re a worrier, Fluttershy. That’s kinda your gig. But please, just trust that Luna has everything well in hand, and that now that we’re aware of the danger, we can all keep an eye out.” I was amazed at just how easy it was to say the next words to her. “I...I love you, and I don’t want you to take this burden upon your shoulders all alone.”
I had a feeling Fluttershy already knew I loved her, and truthfully, it was very easy to translate the love of a best friend to the love of a lover...but saying it aloud cemented the fact in one’s mind. Upon hearing me say it, her eyes shot open, and a fierce blush lit up her face, starkly contrasting her more “dangerous” persona. It reminded me that, even though she might have a unique condition, she was still and would always be Fluttershy.
Before I pumped a fist at the win, she then pulled away from where she had buried her face in my shoulder, and frowned. “Wait, are you trying to distract me?”
“Is it working?”
“...yes…but did you mean it?”
Smiling broadly at the pegasus-turned-batpony, I nodded. “Of course. I’m many things, but I’m not the kind of guy to say something like that and not mean it.” Glancing around at our fellow herdmates, I asked, “Right?”
Twilight mock-thought for a moment before commenting, “Well, you can be pretty mischievous when you want to...but no, this isn’t your style as far as jokes go.”
“I know you would never play with a lady’s heart, would you?” Rarity said in that sickeningly-sweet voice that told me there was a right and wrong answer to the question, and I darn well better pick wisely.
Luckily, I wasn’t stupid. Mostly. Donning a completely-convincing smile, I shakily answered, “N-no, of course not.”
Lyla, thankfully, took the direct approach. “As long as I’ve known you, no, you’ve never purposely toyed with anyone’s heart. It’s not in your nature.”
Lastly, I looked to Ember, who glanced at me with an unapologetically loving smile. “Never. You’re nervous and awkward sometimes, but I don’t think you’re capable of lying about your feelings.”
Looking back to Fluttershy, who had not even attempted to leave her seat on my lap, I leaned forward and gave her a little peck on the nose, causing her to giggle and blush again. “I would never not mean something like that, Fluttershy. I haven’t always loved you as a marefriend, but I do now. For better or worse, you’re stuck with me.”
I readily admit that Fluttershy’s fanged smile was absolutely adorable as she nearly vibrated with joy before again wrapping me in a hug and burying her muzzle against my throat. Flutterbat could be a little intense sometimes, to be sure, but she never lost her desire to cuddle and be loved. And that was just fine, because anyone with half a brain at least had a passing desire to hug the lovable pegasus.
“I love you too, you know. Have for a long time,” Fluttershy murmured, her words slightly muffled from her position against me.
Resuming rubbing her ears, I answered, “I know. Rarity told me, and you said so when you asked to be a part of the herd. Years, right?” Fluttershy said nothing, but nodded against me. “I’m sorry I never noticed. I know, with you being you, I’m already forgiven, but I’m sorry anyway. I am pretty oblivious sometimes, and I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Fluttershy went silent for a few seconds before quietly saying, “...well, I won’t pretend I didn’t feel bad sometimes, but I’m partially to blame as well. I didn’t tell you, and Rarity couldn’t tell you because she promised me she wouldn’t...so you had no way to know. Of course I forgive you. I’m not going to dwell on the past, because the present is wonderful, and I think the future can be wonderful as well. I can’t change the past, but I can make sure what I do now is the right thing. I’ve let fear rule my life for too long, and I’m still going to stumble sometimes, but I’m going to try my hardest to be more brave.”
“You’re always brave when it counts, Fluttershy,” Twilight assured from aside, giving a comforting smile to her herdmate. “As I’m sure Spike has told you before, we love you just the way you are. If you improve upon any weaknesses you think you have in the future, that’s wonderful, but you’re our friend because we think you’re already an amazing pony.”
“And I already said you’re a strong pony, Fluttershy,” Ember reminded, finally turning away from the fireplace to face us. “I don’t say things just to be nice; I meant what I said.”
Deciding to add her own thoughts, Rainbow Dash finally spoke up. “I’ve always said you were more brave than you thought, Flutters. I don’t think anyone here expects you to be anyone but yourself. I know you’ve always had trouble with self-confidence, but you can trust that at least everyone in this room likes you just the way you are.”
While Rainbow Dash still looked at me in a weird kind of bittersweet way before abruptly turning her attention back to Scootaloo, it was clear that whatever was going on with her, she still was going to be there for her friend. I was going to need to talk with her at some point to try help with whatever seemed to be plaguing her mind (I had a feeling it had something to do with what happened in Canterlot, which was fair), but the fact she wasn’t leaving or outright scowling at me was a win, in my book.
At that moment, a frantic ringing bell sounded from down the hall, causing Fluttershy to jump off my lap. “Oh, that’s lunch! Rainbow Dash, could you help me bring it into the room, please?”
“Yeah, I gotcha ‘Shy,” the other pegasus answered, gently laying Scootaloo onto a pillow before following Fluttershy out of the room.
I found it odd that Fluttershy asked Rainbow Dash to help, since she had been supporting the sleeping Scootaloo, but quickly ignored that. There was probably a reason why she asked, and I’m sure I’d find out later.
“She looks so peaceful when she’s sleeping,” Rarity commented, drawing my attention to Scootaloo. “Right now, it’s as if she never had to endure the trauma that befell her. I only wish we could see her so relaxed, so serene, when she is awake.”
I nodded a few times, trying to ignore the feeling that my lap somehow felt lonely now.
As if reading my mind, Ember stood and took the place that Fluttershy had vacated a few moments ago, curling up and wrapping her arms around my shoulders as she nestled her nose against my chest. She then completed the action by wrapping her wings around my shoulders, effectively shutting out the world while she snuggled closer. Since no one could see, I freely allowed myself to caress her body from under the winged cocoon. She said nothing, but the happy sighs and pendulum-like motion of her tail (which could objectively be called “wagging” at that point) told me she was enjoying the attention immensely.
But, we weren’t alone in the room, and Twilight was the queen of snark.
“He does have good hands, doesn’t he?”
Had I not been holding onto her, Ember might have jumped away. As it was, she jolted, and gained a deep blush as she looked over her shoulder at Twilight. The alicorn merely shook her head with a cheeky smile. “Oh come on, there’s no need to be all bashful. We’re not in public, so cuddle to your heart’s content. No one here is going to judge you, and the most we’ll feel about it is a little jealous.”
Ducking her head a little, Ember murmured, “...y-yeah, I know. It’s just taking some time to adjust to the fact that not only is this okay, but you’re all encouraging it. This kinda thing would normally not happen in the dragon lands. In fact, if Spike and I had gotten together before any of you...none of this would have been happening. Dragons are pretty possessive.”
“Which is exactly why none of us have chosen to court outside of Spike, here,” Rarity explained, motioning to me with a flick of her hand. “In Equestrian culture, until we are married, there is rarely such a thing as exclusivity. The point of courting, after all, is to assess whether individuals are compatible in a romantic sense, and focusing on only one can severely limit one’s options. But,” she again gestured to me, “we understand a bit about Spike’s natural instincts, and I have ensured any who wishes to become involved with him knows that a dragon will not tolerate courting outside of the herd. Everyone here has been made well aware that, to be with Spike is to be with only Spike and his herd.”
While I wanted to speak up and refute that claim, to say that I would be okay with normal herding practices...the very thought of one of my herd being with another male made me...antsy. I just barely kept a growl from escaping at the thought, but if Rarity’s expression was anything to go by, she knew exactly how I felt about it.
“That...oddly makes me feel a little better,” Ember mumbled, a smile making its way on her face. "I mean, I know he has the hearts of other females, but I've accepted that and it's honestly not as weird as I thought it would be. But another male?" Ember shook her head resolutely. "Spike is the only male I want or need. There's something inside me, really...primal, that tells me being with another male at this point isn't attractive in the least. Maybe that's the brand talking, but I haven't seen any male ponies or any other creature that 'does' anything for me."
While my Equestrian upbringing said that was abnormal, my dragon instincts were pleased by that fact.
"Besides," Ember continued, nosing against my throat with a concealed smile, "Spike's a good find for a mate. Anyone can tell that."
"And we aren't the only ones that have realized that," Rarity warned, taking a sip of her drink and clearing her throat. "It shouldn't happen, but should any mares approach Spike while you are out and about, direct them my way. As the lead mare, it is my job to handle applicants. Equestrians know that, so if any mares approach him directly without a brooch, you have my permission to get a bit defensive. It's bad manners, and if they attempt to use a dragoness' ignorance of the culture, that's a serious faux pas, to say the least."
“While I’m not close friends with every single pony in Ponyville,” Twilight added, sipping her own drink, “I generally trust the ponies around here. It shouldn’t happen in Ponyville. Maybe in Canterlot or Manehattan, but not here.”
Ember glanced at me for a moment before looking back to Rarity. “...just so I know what I’m getting into, should I be expecting any others to be joining this hoard/herd thing?”
Rarity thought for a moment. “Well...it would be between three and six. Three approved members, three possible members following a probationary period, and over a hundred applicants in all.”
“A-a hundred?!” I blurted, visibly paling even through my scales (or so I’ve been told).
“Applicants, Spike,” Rarity stressed, still calmly sipping from the mug. “Much like businesses only choose a relatively small number to hire from a pool of hundreds or thousands or applicants, a herd nearly always has more applicants than will ever be a part of said herd.”
In only a matter of seconds, my heart had leapt into my throat, and my blood pressure had skyrocketed, so it took a few more seconds to calm my racing heart down to something considered normal. Eventually, I was able to breathe out. “...r-right, I knew that. Sorry about that, everyone.”
Twilight reached over and poked me with a wingtip, smiling wryly at me. “Panicking is my thing, Spike. Get your own schtick.”
At that moment, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash reentered the room, carrying four trays topped with goodies including some cookies, tomato and cheese sandwiches, what looked like baked apples, sliced cheeses, and assorted fruits. Both mares set their trays down on the table, at which point Rainbow Dash immediately took her place next to Scootaloo once again, and Fluttershy motioned to the food.
“Please, help yourselves. Let me know if any of you need more drinks or any-”
“Fluttershy,” I interrupted, laughing softly as I coaxed Ember off of my lap to sit beside me, “c’mon, sit down and relax. We’re fine for now, and I know I don’t feel right about you darting all over the place to serve us.”
The still bat-ponified pegasus chewed on her lip briefly before sighing and taking a seat across from me, beside Twilight. She pouted and grumped, “Fine...I just thought that it would be nice to cook a meal for the herd.”
“And it is,” I assured, popping a grape into my mouth and humming as the sweet, tart juice exploded over my tongue, “but I don’t want a house slave. More than anything, I want the people I care about to just spend time with me. Thank you for this spread, but now I just want you to sit with us and relax.”
Fluttershy was still chewing on her lip. “...but what if cooking for those I care about is relaxing to me?”
“More than cuddling with me next to a crackling fire?” I challenged, knowing I had won when she sighed heavily through her nose and stuck her tongue out at me. I smiled good-naturedly and commented, “This is very nice, and I do appreciate it, but I feel bad when any one of you is running all over, doing things for me, and I’m just sitting here, enjoying what’s given to me. So I’ll tell you what: we’ll trade off. Sometimes I’ll make us some things, sometimes, you can make us things, that way neither of us will always be the designated cook. Does that sound good to you?”
It took a moment, but a smile finally bloomed on her lovely face as she nodded my way. “Yes, I think I can agree to that. That seems fair.”
With the lull in the conversation, Rarity suddenly asked, “So, Fluttershy, are your parents going to be visiting for the holiday?”
Perking up, her ears doing the same, Fluttershy nodded rapidly with a happy smile. “Oh, yes! They are! And I can’t wait to introduce them to all of you! A-although…” she paused, seeming to be unsure of what to say next.
I had met Mr. and Mrs. Shy once before, and never saw any problems with them. They were rather passive ponies, even compared to their daughter. However, Fluttershy’s birth mother was another matter entirely, as she had essentially left Fluttershy with the others of her herd to return to her posting in the Equestrian military: a border guard along the border with the badlands. Fluttershy had a...complicated relationship with her birth mother, a giant of a mare that went by the absolutely-not-terrifying moniker “the bulldozer”. I had met the mare once in passing, just long enough for Fluttershy to introduce us, and found myself looking at a mirror image of the pegasus I loved...if said pegasus was built out of solid muscle, and looked like she could snap me in half.
Since I knew she and her brother were on decent terms nowadays, the only reason she could likely be unsure of her family meeting us would be because, “...Posey is coming, isn’t she?”
Fluttershy again chewed on her lip, nodding silently. This caused a wave of surprise to ripple through those gathered in the room, and even Rainbow Dash glanced up at Fluttershy in surprise, with her jaw dropped. Even Twilight had only met with Captain Posey on a few occasions, and had told me the mare could be summed up in one word: intense. She was born to be in the military, through and through, and I’ll not lie and say I wasn’t a bit apprehensive about the mare learning I was in a herd with her daughter.
Noticing the confused look Ember was sending her way, Fluttershy sighed loudly and explained, “Posey is my birth mother. Her and I don’t really see eye to eye. I love her, and she loves me, but things have always been...tense, between us. She is a border patrol guard for the Equestrian military, so I don’t see her very often, but she always sends letters whenever she can. I never told her I was even interested in Spike, so I can only imagine h-how bad this is going to go.”
Fluttershy, still being nervous enough to stutter, even while in her batpony form, told me she was truly worried about the meeting, and I can’t say I blamed her. Few things were objectively terrifying in this world, but a mother worried about her foal and willing to do anything to protect her was one of those things.
“I think I’ll have met more ponies just over this visit than I have during any other time in my life,” Ember commented aloud, munching happily on some of the cheeses. “There’s gonna be some stories to tell, to be sure.”
“Yeah,” I answered, laughing hollowly, “if Posey doesn’t skin us and wear our hides as a cloak.”
Ember rolled her eyes and nudged me with her elbow. “Oh, quit being a scaredy-drake. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from the big, bad pony mom.”
“This is a mare that regularly wrestles minotaur bulls for fun,” Fluttershy commented softly.
“Dragons are quite a bit bigger than minotaurs,” Ember countered, flexing her hand and showing as it suddenly grew to six times its size before returning to a smaller, softer state.
I sat up straighter at that thought. She was right; I was bigger and stronger than Fluttershy’s mother now. Why was I afraid of her? Probably because I was in a relationship with her daughter, and part of the border guard’s job was fighting and winning against creatures the size of an adult hydra.
Regardless, it was going to happen sooner or later, if Fluttershy was going to be a part of my life for the foreseeable future. “Might as well get it over with. If I’m going to be with her daughter, I’m not going to be able to avoid her.”
Ember patted my head patronizingly and praised, “Good boy, Spike.”
I growled and snapped playfully at her hand, causing the others to giggle at the two of us.
Ember and I were once again in the training room, though for once, I was teaching her something.
“Again, Ember.”
I was still vastly below Fizzle and even Rainbow Dash when it came to skill in hand-to-hand combat, but Ember wasn’t even a novice when compared to me. As a dragon, she never had a need to learn to fight like a pony did. If a dragon came across a threat, they would simply grow to a size that would allow them to overpower their opponent. Ember, though, had come to understand that such a way of thinking was one of the “old ways” she was trying to do away with, because it revealed vulnerabilities about dragon culture that could be exploited by smaller creatures that knew how and where to poke. Because of that, she had asked me to teach her how to fight.
I stood a few dozen paces away from Ember as she slowly and methodically went through the different forms I had shown her, telling her how her body should move and why. With heavier, denser bones than ponies, it had been difficult for anyone to find a fighting style that would allow me to make the most of my body. When it came down to it, there were no pony martial arts that could do that, so we had ended up asking for help from the minotaurs and zebra.
What we had developed over time (and were still developing, since it was novel and niche) was a martial art that focused on quickly closing the distance between a fighter and their opponent, and grappling close to do large amounts of damage very quickly. In addition, the martial art was developed to use the opponent’s own momentum against them, flipping or tripping them to keep them off-balance or on the ground, so they couldn’t fight effectively.
Ember was a remarkably fast study, and executed each form with only minor mistakes here and there. She told me she didn’t want to rely merely on her breath, magic, and size to fight, and instead wanted to know how to use the capabilities of her body to their fullest, if needed. Sure, growing was great to quickly end most fights, but besides the massive energy requirement, what if an enemy was as large or larger than an adult dragon? At that point, said dragon should know how to fight other than frantically clawing and biting wherever they could.
The current stance Ember was in was the first that Twilight and I came up with, designed to firmly plant the user in their center of gravity so that they could easily transition from offense to defense without losing their footing. She was still a bit jerky and unsure in her movements, but again, she was a fast and eager learner.
Getting to touch her toned body as I properly positioned her was just a happy bonus, I swear.
Running a critical eye over her, I walked my way to stand closer in front of her and asked, “Ready to try and take me down?”
Her eyes were facing straight ahead, focusing on nothing in particular, but darted to me briefly. She seemed to consider me for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, let’s give it a try. That’s how you learn, right?”
Taking my own stance, I nodded with a smile. “Indeed we do. Your only aim is to take me down. You can only use grapples, no fire, and no magic. That includes growing.”
Ember nodded before stepping forward cautiously. We began circling each other closely, me watching her hips and shoulders to see when and how she would move. Her first attack was an attempt to lunge and grab my left arm, likely to put us in a position for her to use a shoulder throw. The point of the martial art, after all, was to pull the opponent close to the body, where more of the muscles could be used to execute an attack, enabling a smaller fighter to potentially take a larger, heavier opponent to the ground fairly easily.
While she was still learning, part of teaching was showing someone how an opponent could potentially counter their actions.
Her lunge brought her well within range, so I stepped forward as well, wrapping an arm around her back as I locked her ankle with mine and shoved her backward. Her wings flailed wildly in an attempt to stop her fall, but before she knew it, she impacted the floor with an “oof” of breath, looking up to see me smiling at her victoriously.
After allowing her a few seconds to try and glare a hole through my head, I asked, “What did you do wrong?”
Ember stopped glaring and closed her eyes as she thought. Again, she was smart, and it only took her a few seconds to respond. “I wasn’t quick enough, and I went for your limb in a telegraphed move.”
I nodded, booping my nose against hers affectionately. “Very good. A shoulder throw is great, but isn’t recommended as an initial action to close the distance. You should have gone for my hips, where you could control my center of gravity better. There, you could have easily lifted one of my knees, which would allow you to gain control of me, where you could have taken me to the ground. Remember: keeping an opponent off-balance makes them easier to deal with. If they can’t find their footing, they can’t act.”
The two of us spent a few moments just looking into each other’s eyes. As sappy as it sounded, I felt I could have stared into her eyes forever, and it would not have been a wasted life.
A clearing throat caused me to flinch, and both of us looked to the door to see a certain blue pegasus standing there with an unreadable expression on her face. “Am I interrupting something naughty? I can come back later.”
Smirking briefly, I pushed myself up and pulled Ember with me, turning to Rainbow Dash and shaking my head. “Nah, I was just running Ember through some basic steps of that martial art we developed.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at that. “Really? And how was she doing?”
I shrugged. “Better than when I started out. She’s quick on the uptake, but also just started today.”
Rainbow Dash just looked at the two of us for a bit before asking, “What do you say you and me go at it, Spike? It’s been awhile since we sparred, and I want to see if you’ve improved.”
I turned my eyes to Ember. “Do you mind?”
Ember smiled at me and leaned in to nuzzle my throat. “Not at all. Go on, have at it.” She turned her eyes to the pegasus as she pulled away. “Don’t break him, Rainbow.”
Rolling my eyes, I stepped away from the dragoness. “Thank you, dear. I can feel your love and support.”
And, of course, Rainbow Dash was grinning like a shark. “Ah, he’ll heal. Don’t worry, I won’t break nothin’ that can’t be fixed.”
‘Whatever,’ I thought to myself. After getting toward the middle of the room again, I asked, “What rules are we using?”
Rainbow Dash took her own place and said, “I think we’ll just go basic. No magic, no size changes or anything, and no fire.”
I nodded as I rolled my shoulders to ease some of the tension. “Sounds fair.”
With Ember watching from one side of the room, we all lapsed into silence as Rainbow Dash and I stared each other down. There was no getting around the fact that Rainbow Dash was faster than me, so I was just going to have to wait for her to make the first move. Hopefully this time, I wouldn’t have another set of bruised ribs.
Or maybe I’d end up as bruised as Ember.
While Rainbow Dash had mellowed out with the years and was an expert at hand-to-hand combat, she wasn’t exactly what one would call patient. It only took a few quiet moments for her patience to run out, and with a mighty flap of her wings, she launched herself toward me at a speed that made her hard to track. At the last second, however, she cut left to circle around me, lashing out at my side in an attempt to strike at my ribs (why is it always the ribs?) with a spinning kick of her hoof.
Knowing from experience how much this particular attack would hurt, I dodged, barely having enough time to bend out of the way as her attack cut through the empty air. But, realizing her attack had missed, Rainbow Dash immediately changed her tactics and went for another weak point: the joints of my wings. Wings were, after all, comparatively fragile compared to the rest of my body, and while I didn’t need to fly in such a small space, the pain would cause me to lose focus. I retaliated by using my closest wing to help me turn faster, allowing me to keep the speedy pegasus in front of me. She realized too late that her knife-hand wasn’t going to hit her target, but without enough time to pull out of the attack, she only struck my chest, producing a thump of flesh upon muscle. That would have sent numbing pain through my wings, had it hit its intended target, but against my thick hide and strong pectorals, it was a nuisance at best.
Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in horror as I snatched her hand with mine and held her thumb in my grip and twisted it, causing her to lunge forward in pain as I manipulated the small joints of her hand. With my other hand quickly grabbing her elbow, she was now in an armbar, and had it not been for her quick thinking, that would have been the end of the bout. Instead, she flipped forward to release the tension on the joints, wrenched her now freed arm out of my grip, and retaliated with an elbow to hit the unprotected side of my torso. The strike caused me to lose some breath, but not enough to put me out of the fight for long enough for her to capitalize on it.
Realizing this, Rainbow Dash flapped her wings back to put some distance between us so she could reassess the situation and act accordingly...but I wasn’t going to give her that opportunity. This time, I rushed her, using my heavier body and larger frame to plow into her with enough force to knock her off-balance. Using my remaining momentum, I snapped my leg out under both her hooves, shoving her shoulders with both hands, putting her in a sudden fall that she didn’t have enough time to recover from. Her wings still snapped out and flapped wildly to stop her, but it wasn’t enough, and she found herself in much the same position Ember had been in when she entered the room. Except, I knew this wouldn’t mean she was out of the fight, so I mounted her waist to keep her legs from causing any damage, and immobilized both arms with mine as she lay on her back, trying her best to wiggle her way out from under me.
After a few seconds of this however, she stopped and groaned loudly, her head resting on the stone floor as she pursed her lips in an almost-pout. She stayed that way for a few quiet seconds, the only sound in the room being our breathing, before turning her head to look at me with a resigned smile. “Fine...you got me. Good job, Spike. But don’t get cocky.” After a few moments of us just sitting there, she asked, “...so are you gonna let me up?”
I just shrugged and playfully asked, “I don’t know, I kinda like having you beneath me, helpless and at my mercy. Where I could do anything, and you couldn’t stop me.”
Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes and countered, “But you’re not that kind of guy, Spike.” She quite suddenly found herself nearly nose-to-nose with me, as I lowered my head to stare directly in her eyes.
“What kind of guy is that?” I asked innocently. “What might a guy not like me do to a mare completely at his mercy?” As I planned, a blush quickly began to show on her face, and she darted her eyes away from my face. I reached my tail around my body and used it to push her chin back to look at me. I continued pressing her. "What could I do, Rainbow Dash? What might I do?”
Her eyes were now wide, and her lips parted a bit as heated breaths escaped. Sure, I felt a little bad about teasing her this way, but after the many years we had been friends...well, let’s just say she had it coming. And, like I had also planned, her wings began to straighten out and her feathers fanned, in an instinctual pegasus plumage display that often happened when they were...well, excited.
But, Rainbow Dash wasn’t stupid, and it only took another moment for her to realize what I was doing, and why. With a pout and a snort through her nose, she growled and said, “You suck. That was dirty, and you know it.”
Grinning victoriously, I finally released her and stood, taking her offered hand and pulling her up with me. I shamelessly replied, “Hey, turnabout is fair play. How many times have you teased me like that, only to send me on my merry way?”
She opened her mouth to retort, only to close it a moment later. She eventually conceded. “...all right, that’s fair.”
I nodded and turned to look at the dragoness in the corner of the room. “Hey Ember, could you give us a few minutes? I’ll meet you back in the commons room.”
Looking momentarily confused, Ember mentally shrugged and answered, “Yeah, sure. Don’t take too long.” She promptly left through the door, closing it behind her.
Now that I had her alone, I turned my attention back to Rainbow Dash. “So, are you gonna tell me why you’ve been acting weird all day? You’re here, so you must be ready to do so. You avoided even looking at me for the rest of the day.”
True to her character, Rainbow Dash glanced away as she seemed to organize her thoughts. Eventually, she settled on, “I know we haven’t exactly lived a calm life by even Ponyville standards, but how many times am I gonna have to hear about one of my friends almost dying before…” she paused briefly, swallowing a lump in her throat, “...before it actually happens?”
A great friend would be able to reassure her that everything would be all right, and that no matter what, we’d make it through whatever crazy things the world threw at us. I suppose that makes me a bad friend then, because as much as I tried to come up with something reassuring and comforting, I just couldn’t.
“...I don’t have an answer to that, Dash,” I said forlornly. “The life of high-profile individuals isn’t exactly safe at the best of times. I can’t promise you nothing’s ever gonna happen to me, but I’ll always do my best to stay out of trouble if I can.” I raised my brow in confusion. “What’s with the worry? You used to always dream about living an adventurous life, fighting bad guys and saving Equestria from monsters and such.”
“That doesn’t mean I want my friends getting hurt, Spike,” she clarified, frowning my way. “I love saving ponies and doing what I can to protect our home, but that’s because I don’t want anypony getting hurt.”
I also frowned at that, knowing the hard truth of the matter. “...you can’t save everyone, Dash. No one can. No matter how strong or fast you are, you’re just one pony.”
She let out a frustrated snort and ground out, “Yeah, I know that, Spike. I get it, believe me, but you can’t tell me I’m just supposed to be fine with the thought of you having a crosshair on your back. Like it’s all just normal or something. ‘Oh, no big deal, some uptight whorse wants you dead. Yeah, that’s fine.’”
“It’s not fine Dash,” I responded, an edge in my tone, “but what exactly do you expect me to do, hm? If you have a solution, I’m all ears.”
“I DON’T KNOW!” she shouted, having broken the barrier beyond frustration. She started pacing and ran her hands up through her mane as she fought to stay calm. “I don’t know what you’re supposed to do, but I don’t like hearing about you being in danger all the darn time! What, am I supposed to just sit here and act like everything’s all hunky-dory even though you might just…” she stopped pacing and sniffled with her back turned to me, “...w-what if one day you just don’t come back? What if all of the sudden, something bad happens, and the only thing I get is some horseapples excuse of ‘we’re sorry for your loss’?”
And suddenly, once again, the pegasus was feeling helpless, and the frustrated tears streaming down her face prompted me to close the distance and wrap her up in a hug, which she immediately returned. Rainbow Dash sniffled and clung to me as if I was her only life raft in a raging ocean storm, while I held her close and weathered her fears with her.
After minutes (or hours, for all I know) of this, she finally calmed down enough for me to talk to her. “I think you should talk to Fluttershy.”
Sniffling once, she croaked out, “About what?”
“How she deals with it,” I said, reaching a hand up and combing through her hair. “I mean, did you see how she reacted? She transformed almost immediately, but you can see that after all that, she was still able to smile and laugh with us. Maybe I’m seeing it wrong,” I took a moment to mentally run through my observations, “...but I think she realizes she can’t control everything. She’s accepted that, and so does what she can to enjoy all the time we do have together. The worry is always going to be there, but she makes sure to enjoy each moment the most that she can.”
“...but how do I stop worrying all the darn time?” she asked in a small voice.
“That’s something you need to ask Fluttershy about, because I honestly don’t know,” I answered pathetically. “I do my best to just not think about all the ‘what-ifs,’ but I’m not sure if that’s healthy.”
“Probably not,” she admitted, laughing softly as she added, “I guess it’s better than giving yourself a stroke from all the worry, though.” She paused for a quiet moment before saying, “I’m sorry about being all uncool. It’s just, I felt all kinds of bad, and I really didn’t know how to word what I was feeling.”
“Articulating your feelings has never been one of your strengths,” I playfully criticized. Yes, it was true, but we knew that it was simply a part of who Rainbow Dash was as a pony. Getting too deep into feelings always made her feel awkward, and while she had made great strides to overcome it, this was still a flaw she carried with her.
Rainbow Dash just nodded against me. “Glad you understand.”
We finally pulled away after a few quiet minutes of just hugging, and I carefully asked, “So, are we cool? Are you gonna be okay? We’re in the castle all day today, so take as long as you need.”
Rainbow Dash seemed to consider my question for a moment before shaking her head. “I’ll be okay, I think. I might get kinda snuggly when we go to bed, but I don’t think that’ll bother you.”
“I promise not to tell anyone you’re secretly a cuddly pony,” I teased with a smirk.
She punched me in the shoulder as we both stood, then made our way out of the pocket dimension. Waiting just outside, leaning against the wall as Rarity checked her over, was Ember. The unicorn was in the middle of quietly chastising the dragoness for doing any physical activity with her still being freshly injured.
“...I understand that dragons are more hardy than soft, squishy ponies, but that does not mean you should be overexerting yourself as you’re healing, dear.”
Ember rolled her eyes good-naturedly as the unicorn continued to fret over her. “Rarity, I truly appreciate the worry, but I know my body and what I can safely handle. I’m sore, but staying still is just going to make it worse. Blood flow is good for healing, and Spike was-”
“Speaking of Spike,” the mare then turned to me, glaring daggers my way, “why did you allow her to talk you into this?”
Rainbow Dash quietly slipped away, being smart and beating a hasty retreat. I could only smile sheepishly under the fiery glare from Rarity, pathetically defending, “H-hey, this is Ember we’re talking about. What makes you think she’s gonna listen to anything I say if she doesn’t want to? I’m her mate, not her parent.” I wisely chose to not mention the fact that part of the session involved me slamming Ember to the ground.
Rarity squinted at me for a few moments before relenting and softening her gaze. “Fine...but please, for my own peace of mind if nothing else, take it easy.” She turned back to Ember and added, “Both of you.”
Knowing it was better to just agree at this point, I quickly answered, “Sure thing, Rares. Sorry for making you worry.”
Rarity looked expectantly at Ember for a few moments before the dragoness finally relented and grumbled out, “Okay, okay, I’ll take it easy.”
“Marvelous, darlings. Now, let us retire to the commons room once again. Twilight decided to set up the projector, so we can all enjoy a film together,” Rarity advised, practically skipping away with happiness.
Ember followed behind me as I made my way back to the commons room, softly asking, “...it’s not gonna be one of those trashy romance films that you make fun of Rarity for watching, is it? That doesn’t really sound like my kind of thing.”
“Last time Rarity tried that, Rainbow complained for all two hours of the movie,” I assured, chuckling at the memory. “I don’t think she’ll be making that mistake again.”
As we made our way back toward the commons room at a relaxed pace, Ember and I chatted about what other things I might be able to teach her before she inevitably had to leave for the dragon lands. This put a noticeable dip in both of our moods, but I knew from experience (some of it recent) that ignoring uncomfortable things didn’t get rid of them, and only made dealing with them more tedious in the end.
At the same time, Ember and I leaned into each other, our tails wrapping around each-other’s waists, and Ember’s head nestling underneath mine. Stopping in the middle of a hallway, we just quietly hugged and enjoyed one another’s mingling scent, trying to make the most of the limited time we had left. It was likely she was going to be leaving shortly after Hearth’s Warming, which left only a week and some change. Until Twilight got the portal system up and working, Ember and I would again be separated, with only letters to contact one another.
“I’m going to miss you, my mate,” Ember whispered mournfully.
Grabbing a firm, possessive handful of her rear, I squeezed, which got me a surprised squeak from the dragoness. While I didn’t do any more fondling, I kept my hands where they were as I just drank in the sensation of her body against mine. Eventually, I answered, “...and I’ll miss you, my mate. It’s only for a little while, though.”
“Yes,” she conceded, “but our bond has grown strong, and very quickly. I don’t particularly like the idea of being away from you for any length of time.”
I nodded against her. I felt the same, but she and I both knew we had duties to our respective peoples that demanded she return to the dragon lands, and I stay in Equestria. We were both well aware that our people had to come first...but that didn’t mean either of us liked it. There was always a voice in the back of my head trying to get me to be selfish, and just forget about everything but my friends, my herd, and my family; I could only imagine Ember was feeling much the same.
“C’mon,” I gently coaxed, pulling Ember with me, “let’s get back to the commons room. Relatively soon, you’ll have to return to the dragon lands, but for now, you’re here. I’m going to make sure we get as much enjoyment out of the time we have left as possible.”
Ember said nothing, but didn’t resist as I led her to our destination.
Hours later, we were in the dining room, enjoying a meal that I had made with Fluttershy’s help. It was nothing particularly fancy, but it was simple, nutritious, and filling, which was good enough for me. There were no complaints from the others, and it was a nice break after the first film we had watched, which had been an action flick at Rainbow Dash’s insistence. Scootaloo had awakened halfway through, and though she lacked the exuberance of her normal self, the mindless excitement of an action movie got a few smiles out of her, which I counted as a win.
A night of cheesy movies with friends was always a good night.
Rainbow Dash, the intensely loyal mare that she was, quickly picked up on Scootaloo’s little bits of excitement and laughter at the cheesy jokes, and sat right next to her, egging the younger pony on. For all that she claimed to not be good with “mushy feelings,” she was showing all of us just how much she cared for her adoptive little sister, carelessly casting aside all pretenses of “coolness” or “radicalness” all for the benefit of someone who needed her. None of us mentioned it, but I knew I wasn’t the only one smiling from the sight of the two.
This was one of the times of my life that I truly treasured: when we could temporarily forget about our responsibilities and just be friends again. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine I had gone back in time, to a year before the drama of dating, or statecraft, or politics, and I was just a little drake watching a movie with my friends, unfettered by adult responsibilities. But, as Ember nosed my throat and Fluttershy drew circles on the top of my hand with her thumb, I decided that the present was pretty nice too, and while different, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
With this particular film being one I had seen at least ten times, I found myself focusing less and less on the film itself, and more on the mare and dragoness that were at my sides.
In the darkening room, I decided to use that cover to subtly explore the bodies of the two with my hands. I knew there was little Ember would say no to, but I had a feeling Fluttershy was a different story, and so I decided to test the waters a bit by slowly inching my hand from her side to her hip, where her cutie mark was hidden beneath the lounge pants she wore. Fluttershy barely reacted, other than her ears slowly standing erect as she briefly glanced at me from the corner of her eye. When she didn’t stop me, I began slowly rubbing the palm of my hand over her clothed mark, knowing I had the go-ahead when she gently placed her hand over mine and smiled. I kept up the motion for a bit, until Fluttershy’s eyes turned back to the film. Now, I pressed a little further, slipping my hand underneath her top to lovingly caress her tummy with my fingertips. I had to strain to hear it, but I was able to pick up on a soft hum coming from deep in her throat as she laid her head against my shoulder. Of course, not wanting to leave the dragoness unattended, I replicated what I was doing with Fluttershy on Ember, much to the joy of said dragoness.
But, part of this little act was testing to see how far I could go with Fluttershy before she became uncomfortable.
So, I once more moved my hand, inching a single finger underneath the front hem of the bottoms she wore. This time, I could feel as Fluttershy stiffened against me, and I froze for a few breaths. When she didn’t stop me, slow as a glacier, I inched my hand under the hem and to the side, watching her face the entire time. Her cheeks were deeply colored now, and she had captured her bottom lip in her teeth, with one cute little fang visible. I felt my hand glide over the silky fabric of her undergarments, my thumb catching briefly on the side as I continued my journey. Eventually, my warm palm was resting against her bare cutie mark, and I moved no further as I just kept my hand where it was. Her body language told me she was already nervous about this, so I knew I had reached her current limit, and should press no further. With that known, I kept my hand still and just let her acclimate to the new sensation.
We three sat that way for a few minutes, until Fluttershy leaned in and whispered, “...n-no one’s touched me like that before.”
Turning my attention entirely to her, I whispered back. “Did you want me to stop?”
Fluttershy again captured her lip in her teeth, her eyes darting around for a moment, before she quietly answered, “M-maybe this is far enough, for now. I-it’s new, but I l-like it.”
I now busied my hand with some gentle caresses, rewarding me with another deep hum of satisfaction from the pegasus. “It’s your body, so you set your own boundaries. Anytime you feel uncomfortable with anything, you never need to feel like you can’t tell me to stop. Okay?”
Fluttershy nodded before again laying her head on my shoulder, and we spent the rest of the movie like that.
Three movies down and quite a few hours later, everyone was bathing for the night and preparing for bed. No one was keen on braving the cold, so everyone present unanimously decided on a sleepover. Everyone else was bathing individually, but as was becoming the norm between Ember and I, we helped each other clean up. I swear I only felt her up once or twice.
But, the problem was that we now had six people that needed a place to sleep, and Twilight’s bed was only so big.
For a minute or so, all of us just stared at the “princess-sized” bed, which while massive by normal pony standards, wasn’t big enough to fit more than five comfortably; this was doubly a problem for us, since I was a bit larger than a pony stallion. I was running possible solutions through my head as fast as I could come up with them, and I’m sure Twilight was doing the same.
“...I never thought I’d come to a day when this giant bed wouldn’t be big enough,” Twilight commented aloud, frowning at the problem in front of us.
I gave a halfhearted nod. “Guess we’ll need to get a bigger one custom-made at some point...but for now, we need to figure this out.” I thought for another few moments before venturing, “Maybe...get rid of the frame, and put the mattress directly on the ground, against the wall near the window.”
Twilight raised her brow at me, but complied and lit her horn. With a flash, the mattress poof-ed onto the ground, and a mulberry aura moved it against the far wall. Twilight then looked at the new space and commented, “Well, there’s plenty of space now, but I don’t think we want to be sleeping on the floor.”
“Mattresses...we need more mattresses,” I said, motioning to the hallway. “We have at least a dozen spare bedrooms, and only a few get used.”
Twilight bit her lip, but nodded as her horn lit up again. A moment later, two more double-size mattresses dropped onto the ground, and I immediately worked to push them both lengthwise against the larger bed. Now, while a bit haphazard, we had plenty of room for all of us. Without me needing to ask, Twilight then teleported three more blankets onto the beds, and our makeshift sleeping area was finished.
“Well,” Rarity began, pursing her lips as she looked over the decidedly messy sleeping area, “it isn’t pretty, but it will do quite nicely, I think.”
I shrugged as I spread out the blankets the best I could, looking with a critical eye over what was essentially a futon, if not for the fact the mattresses weren’t bendy. “Well...Twilight and I have a lot of money saved up from how practical we are with spending. It’ll take time to get someone to custom-make a bed for our new needs, but we can definitely afford it.”
Letting out a breath she had been holding, Twilight nodded. “Yes, that’s true. I just never thought I’d need a bigger bed, though I suppose this is a good thing.” Twilight giggled and shook her head. “Yet here we are, needing a bigger sleeping area, because there are too many of us. My life is crazy.”
Snorting a laugh, I nudged her with my elbow. “I’m a dragon living in Equestria, hatched through magic, and I happen to be the adopted son of the living sun. My life is crazier.”
Before either of us could continue, Rarity stepped forward and interrupted, “Yes yes, you’re both quite mad, life is a rollercoaster, and the world is insane. We can discuss all that after some beauty sleep.” Just as I opened my mouth, Rarity stopped me with a finger to my lips. She smiled lovingly and added, “And dear, while I appreciate what you were about to say, likely something such as ‘you don’t need it,’ I am rather tired, and would enjoy some rest, if nothing else.”
I couldn’t help it as a pout found its way on my lips. “Well this isn’t fun. I can’t be all romantic and sweet if you just predict what I’m going to say.”
Rarity batted her eyelashes as she passed me by. “Well, I suppose you’ll need to be more unpredictable, won’t you darling?”
“To be fair,” Lyla decided to throw in her own two bits, “you have been chasing her for a decade. Stands to reason she’s heard a lot of your sweet quips and flirting before.”
While I wanted to defend myself...she was unfortunately correct. My misplaced wooing (or, at least, it was misplaced at the time) had exposed a lot of my courting behavior to Rarity for years, so much so that our long history together would work against me. I guessed that meant I would need to think on how to surprise her every now and then...which could be fun.
“If I didn’t know you, that smile would be terrifying,” Twilight commented, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Turning to glance at her, I gave a far more reserved smile. “Oh, don’t be so worried. Now c’mon, let’s get to bed.” I stood back while the girls all found places on the mattresses, since I had an idea in mind. Once everyone was settled, I noticed the space left was big enough for at least four more...so I closed my eyes and focused on my protective instincts once again. I could feel my pants stretch a bit to accommodate my growth, and after a few seconds, I opened my eyes to notice all five individuals staring at me. At their collective silent questions, I explained, “We all want to be cuddled together for warmth and...other reasons, so I had to grow to increase my surface area. More surface area means more space to cuddle, which means no one gets left out.”
“Of course, you had to turn the issue of mutual sleep space into a math problem, you dork,” Ember quipped, smirking at me.
“You love that I’m a dork,” I challenged, grinning right back.
She rolled her eyes, but beckoned me to them with a claw. “Yeah yeah, don’t spread that around town. Now c’mon, let’s get to sleep. I’m still a fragile, injured maiden who needs her mate to protect her, after all.”
I didn’t say anything more as I walked over to the mattresses and crawled on them, situating myself in the middle of everyone and spreading my wings as I lay on my stomach. Immediately, I had a herdmate cuddling up wherever there was space, my impressive wingspan covering all three ponies and the changeling, while Ember shimmied around to lay right in front of my face. She leaned forward and booped my nose with hers before laying her head beside mine, shooting a thankful look Twilight’s way as the alicorn levitated a blanket over Ember’s back. I could hear Fluttershy and Twilight whispering to each other as I closed my eyes to prepare to sleep, but ignored it since they weren’t talking to me. Other than that, the room was quiet, and I mentally settled myself in for the first night with all of my herd.
Eventually Twilight and Fluttershy stopped talking, and all was quiet save for the breathing and fidgeting of everyone as we waited for sleep to claim us. Rarity was apparently more tired than she let on, since it was only a few minutes before soft, dainty snores were issuing forth from her, and Ember followed right behind with silent, deep breaths.
As usual, it was taking me a bit of time to fall asleep, so I was still awake when the door nearly-silently creaked open to my side. I turned my head, looking over the mane of Rarity to see a blue nose poking through the crack in the door, quickly followed by a certain pegasus’ blue face and rainbow-patterned mane. It took a few seconds for her eyes to acclimate to the dark, but she was able to fairly easily pick out my softly-glowing eyes in the dim lighting, and was asking a silent question that I already had an answer to. Before I could beckon her in with my tail, another, smaller orange muzzle also emerged from behind the door, and my eyes softened as I saw Scootaloo looking my way. I silently nodded and gently moved my legs to keep from waking those who had already fallen asleep.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo left my vision, prompting me to turn my head to follow them. I saw Rainbow Dash using the unused blankets to build her and Scootaloo what I had jokingly once referred to as a “pegasus nest,” which was exactly what it sounded like. After ensuring it would provide the proper support, Rainbow Dash climbed in on her back, wiggling herself deeper into the little nest, before opening her arms and inviting Scootaloo to lay on her chest. And, while their relationship was closer to that of a younger and older sister, as I watched Rainbow Dash lovingly run her fingers through the violet mane of the smaller pony, I couldn’t help but think of how maternal she looked, and how, somehow...it worked for her. I knew she wouldn’t believe me, but at that moment, I knew she would one day be a wonderful mother for a filly or colt.
The last vision I had before my eyes closed and sleep began to claim me was a smiling Rainbow Dash, holding a younger pony like one would their own child...and looking like this was what she was meant to do in the world.