//------------------------------// // Crystal Fair // Story: My Shining Love // by DraconequusMaximus //------------------------------// The next three days were spent putting together the crystal fair. This fair was to be the largest in memory as an apology for letting Shining's personal problems interfere with the lives of his citizens. Shining was quite surprised that Spike oversaw about eighty percent of all the necessary preparations. His organizational skills were easily enough to impress even his obsessive compulsive sister had she been present. Shining felt like he was in the way more than anything, but he did have to sign off on everything as Spike held no official power in the empire. Spike even set up most of the stands and attractions himself as his immense strength allowed him to lug around all the fold-up booths with ease. "Spike? Don't you think you're overworking yourself a little? You don't even need to really do anything, me and the crystal ponies owe you a lot. I'm sure we can manage this ourselves." Shining said as he watched Spike set up one of the concessions stands. "Nah, I'm not even breaking a sweat. I'm not like ponies, the older I get the stronger I get. I need lots of stuff to do to keep me occupied. I've got energy to burn, that's one reason Twi cut me loose. I finished work too quickly and spent the rest of the day bored out of my skull." The dragon replied without looking away from the (soy) corn dog machine he was setting up. "You finished everything Twily had you do that fast? We are talking about my sister right?" Shining said with an inquisitive tone. "Yup, I figured out her filing system a long time ago and now office work is a breeze. I was basically standing around all day grabbing books off the top shelf for her." Spike said with a melancholy tone. "Well hey, at least you're your own stallion... er... drake now right?" Shining said placing a hoof on his scaly friends hand as he couldn't reach Spike's shoulder. Spike shrugged before wandering off to set up a game booth. Several hours after their discussion everything was in place and the fair was in full swing. Crystal ponies were everywhere playing all sorts of carnival games & enjoying greasy fair foods or simply chatting with one another about the sudden return to normalcy of their home. Spike looked around trying to decide what he should do, the cacophonous rumble of his stomach told him that it was a good idea to indulge in some unhealthy but delicious festival cuisine. He walked up to an especially large booth with many pictures of foods plastered all about. He caught the attention of the crystal stallion at the register. "Well hello there mister hero! Rumor has it that you're the one that got the king out of his funk! I'd be honored to serve you free of charge today Mr. Spike!" He said very enthusiastically. "No, I'm gonna insist that I pay. But thank you for the offer, I'll have... six pizzas with extra cheese, olive and mushroom, ten jumbo corn dogs, fourteen orders of nachos with extra jalapenos, six funnel cakes, five blooming onions, three cotton candies and the largest size I can get of that crystal berry slushie back there." Spike said as he pointed to the various item's photos and the machine full of sparkly swirling purple mixture behind the counter. The stallion stood there mouth agape for a moment before he reluctantly punched the orders into the register. He was almost scared to tell the dragon the total. "Th-that'll be two-hundred and fifteen bits sir." The stallion stammered obviously worried about being able to produce such a quantity of junk food in a short time. "Huh, not bad for fair food. Hold up a sec." Spike said as he craned his long neck upward & let out a short burst of his trademark emerald flames. Out of the fire emerged a slightly ashy bag bursting with bits. Which he grabbed from the air and placed on the counter. He then opened it and produced the required sum plus a thirty percent tip. He vanished the bag with another burst of flame and slid the pile of gold bits over to the still surprised stallion. "I'm pretty sure that's gonna take awhile so why don't I come back in an hour or so?" Spike said to alleviate the stallions worries a bit. It worked as the stallion nodded vigorously."Can I get my drink now though? I'm a bit thirsty." "Uh sure coming right up." The stallion said as he walked over to the the machine. He opened up a cabinet adjacent to it and pulled out a tall almost bucket like plastic container which he began filling. "There you go sir one-hundred and twenty-eight oz. of our finest crystal berry slush." The stallion said as he hefted the beverage to the counter with some difficulty, Spike still doesn't understand how ponies get anything done without fingers or magic but shrugged it off. He took his drink and walked off not noticing the stallion rush to the kitchen behind the stall after putting up a closed sign. He decided to see how Shining was doing but couldn't seen to find him anywhere. He asked around but nopony had seen him since he had declared the fair was ready and open to the public. He looked until his food was ready and continued on after downing it with remarkable speed causing the stand's proprietor to faint. He eventually made his way back to the palace to find Shining sulking about in the throne room. He motioned the guards to wait outside to which they obliged. "Shining, the fair is up and running and everypony is having a great time what's wrong?" Spike asked as he approached the throne. Shining looked up at Spike with sadness in his eyes and sighed. "I'm whats wrong Spike, I'm supposed to be the king but I made everypony miserable and locked myself away while forcing the guards to crack down on everything. You've done more good for the empire than I have even though you don't even live here. I don't deserve to take part in their festivities." He said as he hung his head low again. "Shining, you screwed up but everyone does that now and again. Admittedly you could have handled everything better but you aren't at fault here. You've been through a lot because of that bug, but it's in the past. Cadence would want you to do what's best for your ponies. Now let's go, they should be about to light the heart back up." Spike said as he grabbed the stallion and put him onto his hooves beside him. Shining realized Spike was right and steeled his nerves with thoughts of his lost love. They approached the heart to find all the crystal ponies encircling the area. Spike cleared a path for them as all recognized the dragon who was leading their king. Spike motioned for Shining to walk ahead of him which he accepted the chance to do so but regretted it soon after. Spike pushed him into the circle where all eyes were now upon him. Spike leaned down to him and whispered Speech! Shining's pupils shrank to pin pricks but he slapped himself and took a deep breath before he trotted up to the crystal heart. "Citizens of the Crystal Empire! I, king Shining Armor have wronged you. I let the death of my beloved wife control me, I pushed everypony away so I wouldn't have to see myself fail at protecting them as I did her. But a dear friend, a hero to all of us showed me that I was hurting my people and all the others who cared for me. I can only promise to not lose sight of what I must do again and apologize for the wrongs I have done. I will fix everything that I am able but I can't work miracles, I am just one stallion. But I wish to extend an invitation to Spike the dragon, hero of the Crystal Empire to stay here as my most trusted adviser and if the occasion should arise, brother in arms." Shining said as he displayed a full range of emotions, but ended with a smile that contained no small amount of pride & smug satisfaction. Spike was taken aback but bolstered his nerves enough to step forward & raise a claw for Shining Armor to shake. It was accepted and roars of applause sounded from all around them. After everything had calmed everypony present lent their power to the heart and the empire returned to it's full glory once again. Spike could only stare at the stallion next to him as the crystal glow enveloped them he viewed the sheen overtake every inch of Shining. But that wasn't really what Spike was looking at. He knew Shining was an attractive stallion from an objective standpoint but now he knew he was thinking about it from his own view. He hadn't felt like this since some childish crushes years before but he knew what this feeling was, and he had just agreed to spend a great deal of time with this stallion. This was not going to be an easy stay.