//------------------------------// // Preparations // Story: My Shining Love // by DraconequusMaximus //------------------------------// Spike was a very tired, but very pleased dragon this morning, Shining had surprised him last night. Shining had him writte letters to Twilight Velvet and Night Light as he dictated. They were surprised to receive responses just minutes later, apparently Velvet had taken up writing sad and angry letters to lessen her frustrations in the last two years of silence from her son. Spike continually received letters for over an hour, sometimes two or three at a time. Shining was told he was completely forgiven so long as Spike watched him read every single hurtful word, followed by a letter of congratulations from both her and Night Light. They were a bit confused, but approved of the relationship nonetheless. They informed Shining that they would be coming for a visit in two days, and that it was not up for discussion. Spike was currently carrying an extremely groggy Shining Armor on his back, his mother's letters had amounted to a short novel and he was nowhere near as avid a reader as Twilight. He had spent the majority of the night crying while Spike looked up the complex words in his mother's letters for him. They arrived at the dining table on schedule thanks to Spike, despite having no nobles to meet later on. Twilight was already sitting at the table looking over an old text as she awaited her breakfast. Spike dumped Shining in his chair and took his own seat beside Twilight. He beckoned a server to his side. "Black coffee and the usual for me and the king, and keep it coming." Spike ordered through a yawn. The server saw the tired officials and gave an understanding nod before being off to complete her task. "You two look like you were up all night. I know I'm going to regret this, but you weren't...?" Twilight asked uncomfortably. "We were corresponding with your parents actually, your mother promised to forgive Shining if he read all her carefully worded hate mail. They also know about our relationship and are coming for a non negotiable visit." Spike said smugly. His sore throat and upset stomach were well worth the coming events. "Well that would explain Shining's lack of life at the moment. I suppose he'll get over it though, congratulations boys." Twilight said happily. Spike gave an appreciative nod while Shining groaned his own indecipherable reply. Spike's usual breakfast, a mountain of scrambled eggs topped with hot sauce arrived soon alongside a literal drum of black coffee. Shining's own meal and caffeine came as well, aiding to somewhat revitalize the nearly lifeless stallion. Twilight stuck with a bowl of cream of wheat with strawberries and some tea, nearly nothing compared to the boys' hearty breakfasts. "Ugh, why did Mom have to be an English teacher? I didn't know there were so many ways to stab someone in the feel bads." Shining whined as the server refilled his coffee. "Well it was either that or have her be emotionally distant forever." Twilight replied nonchalantly as she added sugar to her tea. Shining merely grumbled his response as he raised his newly refreshed mug. After the copious amounts of food had been dispatched the trio adjourned to the private study for some time away from anyone that could eavesdrop on them. Shining tried not to get to close to Spike with his sister around, but Spike would have none of that. He pulled him back to his side with a wing. Twilight sat on the other side of the couch and smiled warmly at their antics. When they aren't being gross they're actually kind of cute together. Twilight thought to herself. "Okay so Mom and Dad are gonna be here pretty soon, what are we going to do to get ready?" Shining asked as soon as he was comfortable underneath the cover of Spike's wing. "Well, we do have a huge staff that cleans the castle from top to bottom constantly, so we're good on that front. I was thinking my size might be a tad intimidating since they haven't seen me since my growth spurt. I was thinking I could cook instead of leaving it to the kitchen staff, I happen to know quite a few of Velvet's recipes. I thought that it might ease their nerves a little to know I'm still the same guy." Spike suggested. "Wait... You cook?" Shining looked up at Spike in surprise. "Spike has an honorary culinary arts degree, and food science degree from the most prestigious institute in Equestria. He won the national recipe write-in contest when he was twelve. He's cooked for the princesses on many occasions and was my personal chef the entire time we lived together in Ponyville." Twilight answered proudly. She may not be his mother but she had helped raise him with Princess Celestia. "I don't really like to brag about it, it was a long time ago. And I haven't really needed to cook lately since the staff insists on doing everything. Although I have been reading all the thousand year old cookbooks the chefs here use, Sombra was actually quite the gourmet." Spike admitted, somewhat embarrassed that he was suddenly in the spotlight. "I'm looking forward to trying your cooking, you sound amazing. I feel kind of bad that I've known you like forever and didn't have a clue you could cook with the best of them though." Shining replied guiltily. "I had to get good at it, Twilight somehow managed to irradiate our entire kitchen when she tried cooking once. She is somehow the worst cook in the universe even with magic." Spike said somewhat seriously. "What were you trying to make?" Shining asked his sister. "Cup ramen..." Twilight muttered quietly. "What was that?" Shining asked, leaning in closer to hear better. "Cup ramen." Twilight repeated, obviously getting frustrated. "One more time?" Shining asked as he put his hoof to his ear. Spike merely watched the scene and snickered, thinking he knew what would happen next. Unfortunately he was unaware Twilight had been spending a lot of time with Luna lately. "IT WAS A RAMEN NOODLE CUP! I WAS TOO IMPATIENT TO BOIL WATER AND THE MICROWAVE WAS BUSTED! I UNDERESTIMATED THE THAUMATIC RESONANCE POTENTIAL OF DEHYDRATED EGG NOODLES!" Twilight bellowed in the royal Canterlot voice, she would have done the lunar princess proud had she been there. Shining clutched his ears and fell off the sofa, his hind legs twitching in discomfort. Twilight immediately realized she had deafened her brother in her frustration and cast a spell she had had to use on herself on occasion when Luna got angry. Shining breathed a deep sigh of relief and Spike helped him back onto the sofa. "Little much don't you think Twi?" Spike asked, regretting not saying anything before. "Yes, I'm very sorry Shining. Let's just get back to planning. I was thinking maybe you could get them some of the new Crystal Empire specialty items, dad loves those foreign food sampler things you can order in the mail. We could put everything in a big gift basket or something. Mom loves fine wine, so give her some of Sombra's private stash at dinner. That should really smooth things out between them and Shining, and of course I'll be there to help too." Twilight said, as she made a checklist of items on a piece of parchment she pulled from seemingly nowhere. "I don't suppose you could spare a couple pieces of parchment and a quill?" Spike asked the studious alicorn. In response she reached behind herself and produced the requested items, seemingly from nowhere yet again. Spike took them and began writing, but stopped after a moment. His inner voice wouldn't leave him be until his questions were answered. "Okay seriously where were you keeping these? You didn't even use magic just now." Spike asked somewhat wearily. "It's called hammerspace, Pinkie taught it to me. I can't tell you anything else or it might break your current perceptions about life, reality, and the universe." Twilight said in a tone that sounded colder than Spike had ever heard her in all his years at her side. "Ooookay then." Spike replied before going back to his task, some things were better left as mysteries it seemed. Spike wrote down all the necessary ingredients and instructions for what he needed to complete the special meal he was going to be preparing for everypony on the first piece of paper. Once finished he burned it away, sending it to the royal kitchen's stock boy. The next was a letter to the official in charge of export development that reported to him, he told him to put together a large gift-basket containing samples of all the wonderful products the empire was now producing to bolster revenue. He sent it off as well and relaxed with Shining who seemed to be writing something of his own but struggling. "Whatcha got there hun?" Spike asked. He could easily crane his neck and look at it, but that would have been rude. Shining sighed in annoyance and crumpled the paper and threw it into the wastebasket across the room. "I was trying to write a speech. We've got another free day before my parents get here, I figured we could address the crystal ponies about our relationship then. I just can't seem to put what I want to say into words." Shining said somewhat depressed that his efforts had failed him. "This isn't really something that you wanna over think, we should just go out there and tell them. It's no big deal, they love us, they'll understand. They'll still like us, and even if things change somehow we still have each other and our family." Spike explained. He snuggled closer to the royal stallion and nuzzled him affectionately, thinking to himself how nice it would be to be able to treat Shining like this in public. Shining relented, despite Spike being a few years younger than him he was already much more emotionally mature. That and Spike was so very warm, it was really hard to stay upset when you were this comfortable. Twilight was beginning to feel like a third wheel so she excused herself. "I'm... uh, gonna go visit the royal library for a bit. See you guys later." Twilight said as she trotted off. "Okay, see ya." Spike replied with a wave. Shining joined in the wave, bidding his sister goodbye. After the secret door had resealed itself Shining looked back to his lover. "You know, this is the most secure room in the world. We could-" Shining tried to say suggestively, but was interrupted by a claw on his lips, shushing him. "Not until your parents and sister are gone. I am not having a repeat of yesterday." Spike replied seriously. "Fine." Shining said in disappointment "Love you though." Spike said before placing a kiss on the stallion's cheek. "Love you too." Shining replied, regaining his smile. Sleep overtook them before they knew it. Coffee can only help so much, and staying up all night had taken it's toll on them. A little nap couldn't hurt.