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// Off-season 
// Story: Short stories about ponies and whatnot 
// by shutaro 
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	Spike leaned back into the lava pool and enjoyed the feeling of molten rock on his scales. In the main caldera a huge head rose from the death of the volcano, a maw full of teeth opened and released a low moan of pleasure that rocked the mountain. Spike looked at the edge of the crater, but this time none of his pony friends came running from the hot spring like they had done the last time. He thought he heard Rarity cry out about all the lotion she had just spilled all over herself though, and couldn’t help but grin.

“You show them a wonder of nature and they turn it into a tourist attraction.” The huge dragon lowered his head next to Spike’s little pool of lava.

“Don’t get all high and mighty with my, your Majesty … I mean, Smarg. I was at last year’s Great Migration, that was no better. I’m sorry, I spend so much time around royalty, you’d think I got used to calling you by name now. It’s just, you’re so … big.”

The giant laughed, it sounded like huge slabs of rock grating in the depths of the mountain.

“I don’t remember you ever having any problem’s with me being bigger than any pony around Canterlot. On the other hoof, you still call me ‘Princess’.” Celestia walked down the small path that led down from the crater’s edge. Water dripped out of her wings, mane and coat. “How often do I have to ask you to call me by my name? Even Twilight has managed that.”

Spike got up to offer a claw as Celestia stepped into the pool and joined him in the molten rock. “As always, Princess, just once more,” he faked with a thick Canterlot accent and bowed deep before he sat back into the lava.

With a loud hiss a huge plume of vapor rose above the pool as Celestia’s wet mane dipped into the burning matter. She sighed with relaxation. “Can you believe Twilight refused to try this?” She rolled her joins and shock her wings out. “The lava is the best part about this!”

Both dragon’s shook their heads in disbelief. “She’ll see the light, eventually. She always does,” Spike said and stretched his arms.

The three enjoyed the heat for a few minutes, then Celestia spoke up again. “I just can’t thank you enough, old friend. This ‘request for diplomatic assistance’ was just what I needed to get away from Canterlot. You know I love my little ponies with all my heart, but sometimes those nobles just get so … “ She struck one of her hoofs through the lava’s surface and flicked a flake of slag from her coat. 

“If they are anything like my noble dragons, I can empathize. You don’t need to thank me at all, it is always a pleasure to have you,” the dragon king waved away the princess’s attempts at thanks.

“Then I’ll just say that it’s a pleasure for us as well. I haven’t seen Luna so giddy in a long time.” Celestia looked around. “I don’t see her anywhere, now that ...”

From high above a sound quite like thunder rolled over the sky.

“Cannonball!”

After the wave of molten rock had washed all through the crater Spike stretched his little arms once more, looked around and shook his head. “Migrating off-season. Why didn’t I think of this before?”