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Growing Up
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After arriving back in Ponyville, Twilight asked her friends to come over to the library to see something she had been rather vague about.
“His name is Owlowiscious! He’s an owl!” Twilight announced proudly, showing all of her friends, save Spike and Rarity, an owl that had been helping her around the library before she left for Haven Station, “And he’s a natural in a library! He’s got unbelievable organizational skills!”
“That is pretty hard to pronounce,” Alex said, repeating the name a few times, having no luck saying it.
“Why did you name him that?” Dash asked, having trouble herself.
“I thought it sounded cool!” She defended, “It's not like I could name him, Owl!”
“Yeah, but that’s just plain borin’,” Applejack cut in.
“You could name him... Princess!” Alex offered.
Owlowiscious gave him a death glare.
“It’s most certainly not going to be Princess.” Twilight laughed.
Everypony seemed fine with this, but there seemed to be a general uneasiness about the group.
“Hey, Twilight,” Fluttershy said quietly, “What about Spike?”
“What about him?” She asked.
“Well, do you think he’ll feel replaced?” Dash asked.
“What? No!” Twilight laughed.
“He’ll think you’re stealing his job!” Pinkie shouted, pointing at the confused owl.
“You guys, Spike is a—“
“And he’ll get really jealous, even though he’ll pretend he’s not!” Alex gasped.
“And then he’d probably run away or something,” Dash added.
“Oh! But then Owlowiscious would save his life! And then they'd be best friends!” Pinkie finished.
“Do you really think so?” Twilight asked, ignoring Pinkie's ramble, while showing a bit of nervousness.
“Duh!” Dash nodded.
“She’s right!” Alex agreed, “How can we explain to Spike that Princess won’t take his place?”
“Hoo!” Owlowiscious said unhappily.
“Who?” Alex asked, before nodding to himself, “Oh, I meant Spike! Try to keep up, Princess.”
“Hoo!” He said again.
“Who?” Alex asked, shaking his head “Spike! ...Jesus.”
“Alex would you stop?" Twilight asked nicely, "He doesn't like the name."
“We need to focus on Spike everypony!” Pinkie shouted, “Otherwise he’ll run away and almost be eaten!”
“Yeah, sorry." Alex nodded.
“Thank you,” Twilight nodded, “Now... how do we tell him?”
“First, we need to make sure that he knows that we still love him!” Dash said.
“But make sure to be firm that things are going to be different,” Fluttershy added.
“And then?” Twilight asked.
“That’s when ya’ introduce Owlowiscious!” Applejack said.
“And tell him how much better things are going to be!” Pinkie said, “With someone new to play with, he’ll have a ton of fun!”
“Okay, anything else?” Twilight asked.
“Make sure you tell him that you love him the same!” Fluttershy spoke up.
“He’s not being replaced!” Alex said.
“He’s still yer’ little buddy!” Applejack finished.
“Got it!” Twilight said, “By the way, does anypony know where he went with Rarity?”
Applejack knew.
Rarity would NOT want her to tell anypony.
To her grave!
“Any idea, Applejack?” Twilight asked her, snapping her out of her daze.
“Nope! Nope! No idea! Is it hot ‘n here?” She asked quickly.
“Uh, no?” Dash asked, looking at her curiously.
“Must jus’ be me!” She laughed nervously.
“What are you hiding?” Alex asked.
“N-nuthin’!” She said, backing toward the door.
“You’re the Element of Honesty!” Twilight ordered, “Tell us!”
“That don’t mean I owe y’all mah’ secrets!” She barked as they backed off, “Ah’ still look out fer my friends, an’ their secrets!”
An awkward silence filled the room as the front door opened, breaking that.
“Hey everypony!” Spike announced, walking into the silent room with Rarity behind him, “What’s… up?”
“Um, Spike!” Twilight said, smiling strangely, as she walked over to Spike, and placed a hoof on his side.
“Yes?” He asked, a bit afraid.
“We love you still!” Alex said quickly.
“Huh?”
“Spike... listen. Things are, well, they're going to be different around here,” Twilight began, “But I still love you.”
Spike gave a massive frown as he looked back to Rarity, who was just as confused as him.
“Spike… I got a new pet,” Twilight said, gesturing to Owlowiscious on his perch near the window, “I know you must be jealous, but don’t run away from home!”
“Think of how much fun you two will have!” Pinkie said excitedly, “You can play hide and seek, or race to put books away!”
“Doesn’t that sound fun, Spikey?” Dash asked, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
“You got a new pet…?” Spike asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yes! But you’re just as important to me as you used to be,” Twilight said, “Owlowiscious won’t change that!”
Spike looked back and forth awkwardly.
“I don’t know what you’re expecting me to say,” Spike said.
“Just say that you’ll give it a try!” Twilight begged.
“Twilight, I don’t care about you getting a new pet!” Spike said, surprising everypony, “I thought all this was about you getting him because I was spending so much time with Rarity, and you were lonely.”
Twilight was taken aback by this statement, as she blinked rapidly.
“I’m not jealous, and I know you love me.” Spike said, “I also think you deserve the help, just look at this place!”
“Oh…” Twilight said, a bit disappointed he hadn’t had a bit more of a childish reaction to Owlowiscious.
“I’ve grown up, Twilight,” Spike laughed, “You don’t need to worry about me throwing tantrums anymore.”
“O-of course…!” Twilight said, blinking rapidly, “How silly of me.”
Again, silence filled the room.
Twilight wasn’t sure why this had let her down so much. She hadn’t even expected Spike to throw a tantrum until five minutes ago… But now she was so disappointed that he wasn’t going to. When he became a stallion, he turned into a man remarkably fast for Rarity. Maybe all it took was her to stop babying him, for that to happen.
“Hey, it’s not a question for me, but my friend, so… do ponies get itchy inner thighs frequently?” Alex asked.
Applejack shrugged, "Yeah, sometimes."
"Thank goodness." He sighed with relief.
“Well,” Spike said, cutting Alex off, “Rarity wants me to model some suit for her, and it might take most of the night. So I’m gonna get some stuff… And head over there for the day.”
“Yeah, sure.” Twilight said, looking up and smiling, “Have fun.”
“Thanks,” Spike said, walking past her, and up to his room.
“Hey Rarity, can I talk to you for a second?” Twilight asked, still smiling.
“Of course, darling,” Rarity said, not sure what it was she wanted to discuss.
Walking outside, Twilight gave her a serious look.
"Please... please be good with him." Twilight said, "I don't know if I could handle him being hurt."
“E-excuse me?” She asked, taking a step back.
“Spike is my little brother,” Twilight said seriously, “And he loves you a lot... more than me maybe...”
“Don't say that, Twilight!” Rarity said seriously back to her.
“Spike is moving on with his life,” Twilight said, her eyes glazing over, “And pretty soon… I’m not going to be the mare looking after him.”
Rarity nodded slowly, frowning slightly.
“You two haven’t been together a year, but… When it’s right, it’s right, right?” She asked, somewhat confusingly, “I just- I want him to be in safe hooves.”
“Twilight,” Rarity said, “Spike wouldn’t be able to get away from me if he tried.”
Twilight smiled.
“If he were to break up with me, I’d probably become that creepy stalking ex-marefriend.” Rarity laughed, before getting a much more serious look on her face, “Twilight, he’s what I’ve always wanted, even if he's a little... young? I'm still not sure about all that.”
“He was always mature as a dragon, I think he just got a body that matched his mental age,” Twilight smiled, ”I just thought I'd have more time with him is all... I loved looking after him."
“You should have a foal,” Rarity said suddenly as Twilight gave her a strange look, “Taking care of everyone seems to be second nature to you, since you practically reared Spike yourself. You would do amazingly with a baby.”
Twilight blushed at the compliment, “Thanks, but my only options so far are to have a half-changeling baby, and the dad might be dead.”
“I’m sure the Princess would lend you a royal guard or two,” Rarity winked.
“I’m ready!” Spike announced, cutting off the conversation as he walked out the door, “What’re you guys talking about?”
“Oh, nothing,” Twilight said, “Have fun, Spike.”
“I will!” He beamed, walking over to Rarity, “See you tomorrow!”
“Mhmm,” She smiled as she waved to Rarity.
“Have a good evening, darling,” Rarity said as she and Spike turned and headed off.
It made her happy to know that Spike was happy. And as sad as it may have been that he was moving on, it had to happen sooner or later.
...Maybe she SHOULD have a foal.
Na.
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