//------------------------------// // Neira's Birthday // Story: Summer of Spike // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// One afternoon at Twilight and Spike's place, the siblings and their friends were busy setting up decorations. The occasion being Neira's birthday. "Oh, this is going to be soooo good!" Pinkie cheered, as she spread some streamers around. "I'm sure Neira's going to be really excited for this party we're putting together for her." Spike said, as he hung up some balloons. "Spike, she's a baby," Rainbow reminded her, "Babies get excited very easily." "Depends on what it is for them to get excited about," Twistin' replied, "One time I threw a party for my baby cousin, he pouted the entire time." "Parties aren't supposed to be for pouting, they're for smiling." Pinkie beamed. "Well, we can be sure little Neira's gonna be having one on her face." Applejack said, as she set up party favors with Fluttershy. Soon enough they all finished with the decorations, "Now this looks perfect." Spike smiled. Twilight heard her phone and checked her text, "It's Shining Armor. They're coming up." So everyone got into position, as they heard a knock at the door. Spike and Twilight went to answer it, and saw Shining Armor, Cadence, and Neira. "Hey, guys." Shining greeted his two sibs, as they hugged him and Cadence. Spike looked down at Neira who was happy to see him, "And there's the girl of the hour. Happy birthday, Neira." "And hope you'll have many more." Twilight added. "Birthday!" Neira cheered, excitedly. "Of course, sweetie. Now let's go inside." Cadence said, as she and Shining led her inside. When the couple and their daughter entered, the teens cheered to Neira, "Surprise!" "Surprise!" Neira clapped in joy. "Happy birthday!" Pinkie threw some confetti above the child's head and she giggled. "See, Neira, all these people came just to celebrate you on your special day." Cadence told her. "Yay!" the child clapped. Koda and Dante looked at the child, "So that's her?" Dante asked, as Koda replied. "Yup. That's the child Spike said that really looked up to him." Koda said, remembering all Spike told him about his family. Dante looked at the child, and couldn't help but smile, "Cute kid. Reminds me of Virgil." he said, recalling how happy his brother would always look. "Well, come on, kid. It's birthday time!" Rainbow ruffled Neira's hair. And so the party was underway, with each of the teens having fun with Neira showing her the party games. They were currently in the middle of pin the tail on the pony, which looked almost what Pinkie would've looked like if she were a pony. The blindfolded Neira approached the picture, and with the help of Cadence was able to put the tail in the right spot on the pony's flank. "You did it, Neira!" Spike cheered, as Neira removed her blindfold and saw she did it. "That's how it's done, kid." Twistin' congratulated her. "Congratulations." Fluttershy added, while hugging her. After the games, Neira was opening gifts. She got a lot of stuff from her guests ranging from clothing to toys, and all sorts of things. Finally Spike approached her, and presented her with his gift. "Here you go, Neira. Happy birthday." he told her. "Spike!" she cheered, as she started opening the gift to reveal a pegasus plush. "Look at that, Neira." Cadence gasped. "A new one to add to your collection." Shining added. "Yes!" Neira hugged her new plush. Puck whispered to Dante, "She loved collecting pony plushes." "Obviously." Dante replied, knowing her reaction to it said it all. "So, what're you going to name this one?" Spike asked her. Neira looked as if she was thinking hard about this, as everyone was curious. Finally she answered, "Machina." "Machina?" they asked, not expecting such a unique name. "How did you come up with that?" Twilight asked in surprise. "Comes to me." she giggled, and the girls chuckled knowing how true it was. Dante spoke to Spike, "Seriously, how did she come up with that?" "Exactly as she said it. Sometimes these names come to her. Why she even named some of the other ponies in her collection off the girls." he explained. "Really?" Koda asked. "Uh-huh. She even named her dragon plush after me. Go figure, huh?" Spike asked, as the two just shrugged. Soon enough Neira was sitting with a birthday cake in front of her, and everyone singing the birthday song to her. When they finished, Neira took a breath and blew out the candles, and everyone applauded. "Ok, Neira, now how about you cut the cake and pass out slices?" Pinkie suggested. "I can't cut cake." Neira answered. "Right. So allow me." Shining offered, as he started cutting the cake, and everyone was given a slice. They were all sitting around enjoying their cake, while Spike would occasionally feed some to the kid, and she fed him some in return. Cadence ate some and smile, "As always the Cakes have once again outdone themselves with their works." "Plus they had me to help them." Pinkie put in. "Thanks again for doing this for Neira, guys." Shining thanked everyone. "No problem at all." Twilight replied. "Yes. We'd do anything for a friend." Fluttershy added. "And that's a fact." Dante agreed, knowing better than anyone present on how true that is. Afterward, Cadence and Shining stood with Neira, "Well, thanks for the party, but we really must going." Shining told everyone. "Say goodbye, sweetie." Cadence told her daughter. "Bye-bye, and thanks." Neira told everyone. "Bye." the group said, as the three left. "Well, guys, party's over," Twilight began, "So what say we clean up?" Pinkie gasped, "Are you crazy, Twilight? This is the perfect chance for all of us to have an after party!" she cheered. The others thought of this as, Featherweight spoke, "She brings up a good point." "Agreed, why let all this go to waste?" Rarity inquired. "So let's have us an after party to ourselves." Twistin' finished. Twilight seeing everyone still looked like they had more party fever in them, smiled and answered, "Well, all right." "Yeah!" they cheered, as Pinkie put on some dance music, and the group began partying like the wild and crazy teenagers they were.