//------------------------------//
// Spike... the Pony? 
// Story: Finding True Love 
// by Rakoon1 
//------------------------------//

	In the Light Kingdom, Twilight was taking care of the last royal issues it had to be dealt with, sitting on her throne, while Spike was at her side with a quill and a scroll.

"Check, check, check and check" Spike said, scratching from the list what they had already taken care of. "It seems we just did everything we had for today, Twilight."

"Good" Twilight said. "I can't wait to go see Star. I miss him so much when I'm not with him."

"Twilight, you saw him at breakfast" Spike recalled.

"I know, it's been a long time" Twilight said.

But seeing Spike looking at her with a serious look, Twilight told him:

"You don't understand, Spike. After all, you don't have children."

"Hey, but one day I'm going to have" Spike said, then a dreamy look. "And I just wish their mother was the mare of my dreams."

"Spike, I know you like Rarity and you've always wanted that she liked you in the same way that you” Twilight said. "But don't you think you should forget her? After all, she is dating Shadow Claw."

"It's just a little romance without importance" Spike said. "I'm sure it won’t last until she breaks up with him."

Twilight looked worried to Spike. He truly believed he still had a chance with Rarity. She just hoped that he didn't suffer when he finally found the truth.

The doors of the throne room opened and Blue Sword entered. As he approached the throne, Twilight asked:

"How'd it go?"

"It's everything fine" Blue said, climbing the stairs that led to the throne. "The Diamond Domain is doing its job perfectly and the Diamond Heart is in perfect condition."

Upon reaching the edge of his wife, Blue gave her a kiss and said:

"This work of General of Balance is quite demanding."

"Wait, why did you go there?" Spike asked.

"Heartbeat had a nightmare last night" Twilight told. "All the kingdom trembled because of the energy released by her."

"You know, I've never felt these earthquakes caused by Heartbeat" Spike said. "I sleep like a rock."

"Yes, we know, Spike" Twilight said rolling her eyes, making a slight smile.

"Anyway, I had to check if the Diamond Heart managed to absorb the energy caused by her nightmares" Blue continued. "After all, with Oogie Boogie free again, he can invade her dreams again."

"Yes, and it's thanks to me..." Spike said in a sad way.

Hearing him telling that, Twilight and Blue locked to him and the last said:

"I’m sorry, Spike, I didn't mean..."

"It's okay" Spike said. "I know you two think it's not my fault that the Dragon King have controlled me to steal the prison-book and when I tried to recover it from Fire Punch, opening it unintentionally. But the truth is that it was because of me that those villains escaped."

"Spike, listen, I know you feel guilty for what happened" Twilight said. "But you shouldn't. You were forced to steal the prison-book and accidents happen. In addition, you're forgetting a detail."

"What?" Spike asked.

"If you hadn't closed the book when the life cells were being taken, probably all the villains would be free, including those of the solitary" Twilight said, smiling. "And it took a lot of courage to face Fire Punch."

"Do you really think that?" Spike asked.

Twilight and Blue waved and Spike smiled and thanked:

"Thank you, guys. You are great."

But it was then that Spike felt something in his stomach that left him nauseated, forcing him to contort his face.

"I know you're not a fan of fruity stuff, Spike, but you should be more grateful for having us showing concern for you, don't you think?" Twilight asked.

"It’s not that" Spike said.

He then burped and the fire that he released turned into a letter that Twilight took with her magic and then opened it.

"It's from Rarity" Twilight said.

"From Rarity?" Spike asked, starting to get excited. "What did it say?! What did it say?!"

"Whoa, Spike, I'm reading" Twilight said, turning to the content of the letter. "It seems to be an invitation. To..."

But she didn’t finished, because Twilight got a little surprised and then downed the letter and said:

"For nothing special. Probably we will not be able to make it."

"Why not?" Spike asked. "Come on, Twilight. Since we came to the Light Kingdom that I have spent very little time with Rarity. This would be an opportunity to be with her."

"I know, but..." Twilight said, trying to think of some excuse. “But ... Blue and I have a very important meeting that day."

"We have?" Blue asked, carrying an eyebrow.

Twilight didn't say anything, simply putting the letter in front of him. Blue read it and then got the same air as Twilight and hastened to say:

"It's true! We have a... very important meeting."

"Seriously?" Spike asked, confused. "This is weird. I don't recall having scheduled anything so important."

"That's because I took care of everything" Twilight said, continuing to make her fake smile. "After all, I can't overload my number one assistant."

"But can't you postpone it?" Spike asked to Twilight and Blue.

The two exchanged nervous looks and then they realized they couldn't hide it from Spike, so Twilight said:

"Okay, Spike, there is no meeting. I just said that in order to be able to refuse Rarity’s invitation."

"But why?" Spike asked, don't understanding why Twilight and Blue would do that.

Twilight extended the letter to him and Spike took it, beginning to read:

"Dear Twilight, it is with great pleasure that I invite you, Spike, Blue, Star and the Generals of Order to my wedding with Shadow Claw. Yes, he asked me to marry him and I would like to share this special day with all my friends. Please, answer me to confirm that you accepted the invitation. Your dear friend, Rarity."

After reading it, Spike was petrified. He couldn't believe in what he had just read. The great love of his life was... getting married.

"Spike..." Twilight called, worried about his dragon friend. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I am..." Spike replied, getting a little discouraged again, this time due to the broken heart. "I just have go to."

And, having said that, Spike walked to the exit and left.

"Poor little guy, I don't even want to imagine what he must be feeling" Blue said.

"He loved Rarity that now her marriage is a very hard blow to him" Twilight said. "I already knew that this would happen sooner or later."

"Do you think we should go talk to him?" Blue asked.

"Better not" Twilight replied. "We're going to let him be alone for a while. Until he accepts the situation."

But Spike was not accepting the situation. He had gone to the library in the castle, where he began looking for a way to stop Rarity’s wedding. Watching him, perched on a shelf, was Owlowicious, which now also radiated light.

“There's gotta be something in here somewhere” Spike said, while watching some books.

Owlowicious hooted and Spike replied:

“It's not who, it's what!” Spike said. “Like, what can allow me to separate Rarity from that good-looking stallion with wolf face she thinks she loves.”

Owlowicious hooted to Spike in a disapproving way and the dragon said:

"I know I shouldn't do this, but I can't waste my great love in this way" Spike replied, continuing to be observe books. "I know she likes me in the way I like her. I just have to show her that. There's gotta be some kind of spell that'll do the trick.”

Owlowicious hooted again to Spike and he asked him:

“Come on, help a dragon out!”

He took a book from the shelf and behind it was Owlowicious who hooted to him again, making him a penetrating gaze. Not liking the way the owl was looking, Spike returned to put the book in its place. He moved the ladder where he was and, when he stopped, faced with Owlowicious that was perched on top of two books lying on the shelf, hooting again to Spike in a disapproval way. He rolled his eyes and said, coming down the ladder:

"It's not just for me, it’s also for Rarity. The one who made you that bow tie you like so much?”

Owlowicious hooted again with the same tone and Spike said, while advancing to the shelf on the opposite side and picked up one of the books:

"Ok, I understand. You don't think I should use magic, but..."

Spike then watched the book he had picked up and finally found something that he could use.

"I found it! The spell of the enchanted transformation. It will allow me to turn me into the kind of pony that Rarity desires. As soon as she sees me, she will leave Shadow Claw for me."

But Owlowicious, who was not enjoying that one bit, and knowing by its owner that magic was not hundred per cent safe when not handled with care, hooted in a tone of warning.

"Don't worry" Spike said, ignoring the warning tone of the owl. "Everything will be fine. But you can't say anything to anypony. I want it to be a surprise. In fact, I think I want you to help me. Don't forget that, after all, you're the assistant to the assistant of the princess of the Light Kingdom."

And Spike walked out of the library. Owlowicious rolled his eyes and followed him, wanting to ensure that he wouldn't do any more stupid beyond that he was going to do.

Later, Spike was in his room, with Owlowicious landed on the bed of the young dragon. He was watching all the ingredients he got and that he needed.

"Okay, let's see" Spike said. "Petals of a poison joke, powder from the scales of a cocktrice, a branch from a Timberwolf. Wow, this spell requires some fairly dangerous ingredients. I'm glad Mirror Coat’s lab has everything what it takes."

Spike then put all ingredients in a mortar (taking care to get her talons protected when handling with the poison joke) and then he check the most important ingredients. He took a mane thread and said:

"Now, I have to add a piece of the pony I want to enchant."

Owlowicious hooted with a who and Spike said to him:

"Rarity, of course. Who else? But don't ask where I got her mane thread. This is a secret that I will never tell."

Spike put the mane thread in the mortar and then said, picking up a small bottle where there was smoke purple.

"And all I need now is something from a shapeshifter" Spike said. "As Purple Smoke is always changing shape, it wasn't hard to get some of his smoke."

And he opened the bottle and threw the smoke mortar, rushing to mix everything with the pistil before the smoke dissipated. In the end, he had a bright orange powder.

"Looks like I got the right color" Spike said, checking out the book. "Well, looks like it's time to become a pony to conquer the mare that I love."

Owlowicious, trying to make Spike to give up from that idea, hooted to warn him.

"Don't worry, Owlowicious, I know what I'm doing" Spike said.

He took a handful of dust and released it on himself. When this happened, orange smoke emerged, hiding Spike’s body. Owlocious observed carefully and a pony silhouette came up with Spike’s voice saying:

"I think it worked! Finally, I'll be able to conquer Rarity."

When the smoke dispersed, Owlowicious could see Spike’s new look and, seeing him, began to hoot so much in laughter.

"What?" asked Spike. "Do I look bad?"

He went to the mirror and was stunned by what he saw.

"But what is this?!"

He had become an earth pony with a coat with the color of his scales and mane with the color of his spikes. Spike was looking good, but there was one little problem...

"A colt?" he asked, while he saw a colt as his reflection. "I became a colt? But how can this be? I followed all the instructions..."

He consulted the book and finally found the problem. He read:

"The spell of the enchanted transformation, although changing the appearance, is unable to change the age of the user."

Owlowicious hooted to Spike and he said to him:

"I hope you haven't said: I warned you. Well, I better find a book to tell me how to remove the effect of this."

Spike then started heading to the library with Owlowicious landed on his back. The young dragon said:

"I don't understand. Why things are going bad? First, the mare of my dreams is getting married and now, my attempt to conquer her failed. But I'm not giving up. You got that right, Owlowicious."

It was then that he heard a humming and saw Heartbeat was approaching from the opposite direction, hopping around all happy.

"Oh no, it's Heartbeat!" he said. "Fast, act naturally. It may be that she won't notice. "

And so Spike learned against the wall, getting quiet and hoping that Heartbeat just go through him. But when she passed him, the General of Affection told him:

"Hello, Spike."

And she continued her way. Spike was stunned when he heard that. Heartbeat knew who he was? But it seemed she haven’t noticed that he was a pony. Not wondering if this was true, Spike hastened to follow his path, but when he tried to advance, he encountered Heartbeat right in front of him, watch him closely.

"Hello, Heartbeat..." he said, nervously. "How are you?"

Heartbeat did not respond, keeping looking to Spike from top to bottom. She then said:

"You look different."

Spike got quite nervous when she said that. He then remembered that Heartbeat saw things through the spirit and that the body for her was indifferent. Not wanting her to know what he did, Spike asked, acting normally:

"Do I? I don't think so. I'm still the same Spike."

"No, there is something strange" Heartbeat said, continuing watching Spike. "Let me guess. You brushed the coat. No, no, that's not it. I know, you've got a new manestyle. No, that's not it either."

It took a few seconds, but Heartbeat finally realized and exclaimed:

"Wait a minute, dragons do not have coat or mane! I don't believe it, Spike, you're a colt!"

Spike hastened to cover Heartbeat’s mouth with one of his hooves and told her:

"Shut up, you want everyone to hear you?"

And he led Heartbeat quickly to his room. When they got there, Owlowicious returned to Spike’s bed and Heartbeat said:

"I didn't know dragons could turn into ponies. But I think we learn something new every day."

"I didn't become a foal by myself" Spike said, who saw that he had no choice but to confess to Heartbeat. "I used a spell called enchanted transformation."

"Oh, I remember that spell" Heartbeat said. "I created it."

"You did?" Spike asked, surprised.

"Yes" Heartbeat replied. "You know, the physical aspect disturbs some relationships, so I created this spell to minimize that problem. The spell was not bad, but I'm not very good at transformations like Purple Smoke and I could not cause the spell to change the age."

"Yeah, I think I noticed it" Spike said, cynically, making gestures to himself. "Would you..."

Understanding what Spike wanted to say, Heartbeat charged her horn with magic and Spike flashed and after a burst of orange powder left him while he went back to his dragon form.

"Thank you, Heartbeat" he thanked.

"Can you explain to me why you used my spell of enchanted transformation?" Heartbeat asked.

Knowing he couldn't hide anything from Heartbeat, Spike sighed and said:

"I wanted Rarity to get enchanted by me and left Shadow Claw to be with me."

"I understand" Heartbeat said. "I can feel the love you feel for Rarity. But you have to know something, Spike. Even if the spell worked the way you wanted, I think Rarity would never let Shadow Claw."

"Why?" Spike asked.

"Spike, the physical aspect, although it has a certain influence, is not a decisive factor in a relationship" Heartbeat said. "It's the love, affection, the complicity and the passion the main ingredients."

"And let me guess" Spike said, sadly. "You see all that in Rarity and Shadow Claw."

"I do" Heartbeat answered.

Spike, sad, went to sit on his bed, saying then:

"It seems that I have no luck in love. I mean, I loved Rarity since the first day I saw her, but it appears to have been in vain. "

"I wouldn't say that" Heartbeat said, sitting next to Spike. "Spike, although you can't love Rarity as more than a friend, doesn't mean you can't continue to be the loyal friend you have been. I think Rarity also wouldn't want that."

Spike wondered what Heartbeat said and realized she was right. Rarity, though, was his friend and he wouldn’t let to be hers because he would never have her love. And, being a friend of hers, he had to support and celebrate what that will surely be one of the happiest days of her life.

"Thank you, Heartbeat" Spike thanked. "Your words have brought me much comfort."

"I know" she said. "I'm pretty good at what I do."

Heartbeat jumped up and started heading to the door, but before she left, she turned to Spike and told him:

"One more thing, Spike. For the next time you want to do a spell, make sure you read the instructions right."

That made Spike to give a nervous laugh and blush slightly and Heartbeat came out.

Several days passed until the marriage between Rarity and Shadow Claw arrived. By her friend’s request, Twilight allowed the marriage to happen in the Light Kingdom. Everything was prepared in the Great Hall, with the decoration with star seeds and all the guests wearing their best outfits. 

Rarity was beautiful with the dress she had made for herself. Shadow Claw was also stunning with his tuxedo. All Rarity's friends were all present, accompanied by their husbands or coltfriends and, for those who had, foals, in addition to her parents and sister, who was with her other friends from the Crusaders. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Ingrid, Freeze Burn (accompanying Ingrid), Shining Armor and Gleaming Shield were also present. Twilight would preside over the ceremony, while Blue was with Star that was on top of his back wearing a beautiful tuxedo. Rarity’s best mare was Fluttershy and Shadow Claw’s colt of honor was Thunder Night, with whom he had forged a good friendship after being released from the Lord of Chaos’ control. The ceremony happened smoothly and soon Twilight proclaimed that Rarity and Shadow Claw were husband and wife. The two gave a big kiss while everyone cheered the newlyweds.

Spike watched them from a distance, sitting, while the reception began and the couple started the dance floor. Now there was no hope for the love between him and Rarity. Heartbeat approached him and asked:

"Are you okay, Spike?"

"Yes" Spike replied. "I'm just thinking that maybe I'm never going to find someone to love as I loved Rarity."

"Don't say that" Heartbeat said. "I assure you that love is found where you least expect it."

"Thank you for your words, Heartbeat, but I don't think I’ll gonna find somepony so easily" Spike said.

He then moved to serve himself of some food. While going, he saw Rarity and Shadow dancing together, while other couples also headed to the dance floor. He was so distracted that he bumped with somepony, falling on the floor.

"I'm sorry" he said. "I didn't..."

He then saw that he bumped with Sweetie Belle and, seeing her, he noticed a certain beauty that he had never seen on her. It seemed that it took her to be adorned for her sister's wedding for him to see it.

"It's okay, Spike" she said as she raised up. "I was distracted."

Spike kept staring at Sweetie Belle. He could feel his heart pounding. He was feeling the same thing he felt when he saw Rarity for the first time. Noticing he was staring at Sweetie Belle without saying anything, Spike decided to say something:

"Sweetie Belle, long time no see. You look nice."

He couldn't believe he had said that, but it seemed like he had no control over the words he said.

"Oh, thank you, Spike" Sweetie Belle thanked, blushing a little. "But my sister is the most beautiful mare tonight. You know, sometimes I just wish to find true love as she found hers."

"Yeah..." Spike said, unable to take his eyes off Sweetie Belle, deciding then to say. "Sweetie Belle, why don't we go dance? After all, this party is to have fun."

"Sure" Sweetie Belle said. "I like to dance with you, Spike. Do you remember Princess Cadance and Shining’s wedding?"

"Yes, and I only hope today is as or funnier than that day" Spike said.

And the two went to the dance floor. Heartbeat watched them and then she said:

"And he still doubts what I say."