Their Knight of Scales

by Radiant Dawn

Chapter 13

The following month was comfortingly monotonous. The first snow blew through Equestria, turning Ponyville into a winter wonderland. Fall clothes gave way to winter wear, and ponies everywhere began to enjoy warm hearths with hot cocoa and loved ones. It was because of the close, loving atmosphere that winter was my second favorite time of year, and it would be the favorite if not for the tendency for ice crystals to form under my scales. Nevertheless, even with the cold season in full-swing, work did not stop for Twilight and I, and Rarity in particular became quite busy due to the influx of winter clothing commissions. Rainbow Dash, too, was occupied, since she spent most of the winter training younger fliers due to their winter break, and she also spent time with her parents in Cloudsdale. As for the other girls, they were moderately busy with their own work, especially Pinkie, since Sugar Cube Corner became increasingly popular during the cold months.

Lyla, however, had plenty of free time, and spent most of it with me. Since the close call with the dragon, she had been practically glued to my side. I suppose it worked to my advantage that changelings were so bad at hiding their feelings, because it allowed me to know exactly how worried and mildly traumatized she was due to her injuries. I assured her repeatedly that everything was okay now -- and, I’ll admit, I even asked Luna to watch over her dreams -- but all in all, she was still adamant on spending as much time with me as possible. I didn’t mind it at all, but I wished there was more I could do for her than simply being with her...but maybe that would be enough.

True to her word, the week following my return to Ponyville and every week after, Ember began to send letters once again, and I was happy to have reconnected with a fellow friendly dragon. She caught me up with everything that had happened in her home since the last time we had spoken, including how Smolder was doing. It was nice to hear about them all, and surprising to hear that the dragons were sending envoys to other nations for peace. The dragon lands were thriving under Ember’s leadership, and it was impressive to hear all that had been done in such a short time.

I kept my promise and helped out around the farm, spending time with Applejack and ensuring her injuries wouldn’t cause her home and business to languish. Luckily for me, with the workload being lighter than other times during the year, I was able to efficiently balance my duties with Twilight and Starlight with work on the farm, so while I didn’t have as much free time as, say, Fluttershy, I was still able to do everything I needed to do and still get a good rest at night.

Again, the monotony was comforting and familiar, but life was unpredictable, and I knew it was just a matter of time before the next big thing came along to shake up life. Because of that well-learned lesson, I made sure to enjoy the momentary calm.

---

It was another snowy day in Ponyville, and with Hearth's Warming being only a month away, everyone was preparing for the holiday. Wreaths were being hung up, pine trees were getting decorated, and warm, stick-to-your-bones food was being prepared for family and friends. While the work of royals never ended, it was less intensive, which meant a small measure of more free time for us, helped in no small part by Starlight being home. With the lighter workload and an extra pony to share the burden with, we were all able to spend time with our friends nearly every day; that meant I could be sure to help Applejack with her farm’s paperwork, I could spend time with Lyla to be sure she knew all was well, and I still had time to relax at home with Twilight and Starlight before the day ended. Unfortunately, this also meant we had a frequent visitor to the castle…

“...and then Trixie was heckled by an earth pony! The nerve! Minus the fact she could not even do magic, the mare had the audacity to call Trixie a fraud in front of her adoring masses! Well, Trixie certainly could not let such disrespect stand, so she set off a small series of flashbang spells in her face to scare her off, and suddenly, the mare drops to the ground in convulsions! How was Trixie supposed to know she was epileptic? The townsfolk all shouted at Trixie as if it were her fault!”

I don’t hate Trixie -- truly, I don’t -- but the arrogant, haughty, self-assured attitude she exuded day in, day out, was...grating. I became friends with others that weren’t exactly easy to deal with (Discord came to mind), but Trixie didn’t listen when others would tell her she was being mean, or abrasive. Or, at least she hadn’t before. Ever since her friendship with Starlight had taken off, Starlight became the only pony Trixie would accept criticism from, and I knew that while it was only one pony, it was a good thing; at least there was somepony that was able to humble the proud showmare, even if just a little bit.

Starlight sighed through her nose and shook her head slowly. “To be fair to all parties involved, it was your fault.”

I shouldn't be so amused by the shocked, outraged expression on Trixie’s face.

“E-excuse Trixie, but how is this her fault?” the unicorn stammered, clearly offended. “She did not intend to-"

“Do those ponies know you, Trixie?” Starlight interjected, leveling her friend with an intense stare. “You call them your ‘adoring masses,’ but do they actually know anything about you, other than your shows and stories? Do you make any friends among the patrons, or do you keep them at a distance?” Before Trixie could try and rationalize her actions again, Starlight reached across the table and grasped her friend's hand, smiling gently at her. “I know you didn't mean to cause any harm, Trixie -- I know you're a different mare nowadays. However, patrons and acquaintances don't know your intentions, so they can only judge your actions…and your actions hurt a pony.”

Trixie’s face scrunched up as if she'd sucked on a lemon, but she let loose a sigh and nodded. “Trixie understands. She...I have ponies to apologize to, don't I?”

“Only if you mean it.” I answered, causing the mare to turn to me. Her expression was curious, but guarded, so I ventured, “Without actually meaning it, an apology is just words. Don't apologize just because you should, especially if you're not actually sorry. An apology should come from the heart, meaning you would understand why what you did was wrong, and you truly feel remorse for it.”

“He’s right.” Starlight added, sending a nod my way. “Honesty is more important than placation, and ponies will respect you more if you’re honest with them, even if it’s not what they want to hear. Sometimes, that might mean refusing to apologize because you’re not actually sorry for what you said or did. Being kind and considerate to others is important, but showing you respect somepony enough to tell them the truth, even if it doesn’t make them feel better, shows integrity.”

Trixie stared down at the table between them for a few moments before looking up at Starlight and nodding. “That makes sense. Thank you, Starlight. Tr- I am still learning, so I am grateful for your help.”

“I’ve not exactly got the brightest past either, Trixie.” Starlight reminded gently. She motioned to Twilight and I, who were signing off mundane reports and such from the desk in the corner of the office. “If it weren’t for these two, I would have been a very different pony -- a worse pony. You know my story, so you know I understand what it’s like to walk a different path than the one you’ve walked nearly your entire life. It’s not easy, and I know that, so I’ll always be here to offer a supportive ear, when you need it.”

Trixie wasn’t one to allow herself to appear vulnerable in front of others -- least of all to those she didn’t know or trust much -- so she didn’t show much outward emotion. The slightly glassy eyes and quiet “thank you” conveyed her gratitude quite well, though, and I couldn’t help but smile. Sure, she was annoying sometimes, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want her to better herself and make friends. I could admit that she’d come a long way, in no small part to Twilight’s forgiveness and Starlight’s friendship.

“Almost done there, Spike?” Twilight’s voice floated over.

I blinked and looked down to the stack of paperwork, and nodded. “Yeah. A few more forms to look over, and I’ll be done.” Moving onto the next group, I read over it and frowned. “What’s this about the ‘Coming Dawn’ I keep reading about? This is the fourth bill in a month regarding them, and it’s for…” I kept reading, frowning deeper, “giving a few key members of the citizenry privatization over agricultural research. I see a few names here I recognize -- Granny Smith, Fancy Pants, Fleur de Lis, and Time Turner -- but Jet Set I don’t know, nor most of these other names.”

“Let me see that.” Twilight urged, holding out her hand. I handed the form to her, and she brought it to her eyes, quickly scanning the page. After a few silent moments, she hummed as her brow furrowed. “Hmm...I don’t like this. I’ve also seen this group come up more than a few times in the past few months, and it sounds like a private interest group. Giving power over agricultural advancements to just a few ponies doesn’t sound like a good idea even in theory, and the only pony I see here who would actually bring those advancements would be Granny Smith. And…” she continued looking over the bill, her frown growing, “the incentives for this new law would be tax write-offs and investment in the farms, which would make things easier for farming families that would be under their jurisdiction. However, from the wording of this bill, agricultural technology and practices would be the property of the group, not the individual, to be shared and distributed as necessary so that all can benefit from it. They’re trying to consolidate select Equestrian farms under one entity, essentially commercializing it, and putting an end to individual identity. Ideally, all would benefit from this, but I don’t like that it puts the power over decisions in these few ponies, most of whom aren’t the land owners, and it appears to vote on a ‘majority rules’ system. While I don’t want to assume the worst, the majority leaders could, by law, force ponies like the Apples to give up their trade secrets -- such as zap apple harvesting and their cider recipe -- while cutting them out of most of the profit.” She continued eyeing the bill, her eyes never wavering, and sighed heavily through her nose. “This will have to go through parliament, and it can pass with a two-thirds vote. Any three of the Equestrian princesses can strike down the bill anywhere in the process, but doing so would imply favoritism, since we know the Apples personally. This is unnervingly clever, since most farmers -- I hate myself for saying this -- are ignorant when it comes to the law and politics. A smooth-talking representative could get one of these landowners to sign their bill as a co-signer, making it seem like this is a great idea for everypony, only for them to then…” Twilight set down the bill and closed her eyes, doing the breathing exercise Cadence taught her before opening her eyes and looking to me. “That’s not fair. I know very little about most of these ponies, and I’m assuming the worst of them. That’s clearly a biased opinion on my part.”

“If you think Celestia and Luna don’t have personal biases, you’re nuts.” I countered, smiling supportively to Twilight. I stood and stepped to Twilight’s side, kneeling and wrapping my arms around her waist as I gave her a comforting squeeze. I gazed into her eyes and nodded to her. “We all have personal biases, Twilight. As long as you don’t let them affect your decisions when it comes to things like this, it’s okay. Although,” I jerked my head toward the bill in front of her, “in this case, it helps to be able to identify and understand how things could go horribly wrong. A big part of the law is ensuring the negative effects are accounted for, so if you’re able to recognize the possible pitfalls and loopholes in a bill, that’s a strength, not a weakness. You’re allowed to voice how a bill or current law can be exploited, and as long as you keep your concerns focused on the bill instead of the ponies pushing for it, they can’t say anything about it without confirming the possibility that it could be used for their benefit at the expense of others. Even if no one could prove that’s what they had in mind, the possibility alone is enough for ponies to withdraw their support due to bad press, possible sanctions, and a visit from the inquisitors. Sometimes a few words, even if they don’t actually accuse anyone of anything, are enough to put a stop to something like this.”

Twilight eyed me skeptically, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you hated politics.”

I sighed heavily, nodding up at her. “I do, but being friends with Discord has helped me learn to see beyond my own nose, and how to do things with subtlety. Well…the latter was more thanks to Lyla and Thorax, but still.” I snapped my fingers as a memory popped up. “Oh, speaking of, Thorax wanted to visit this Hearth's Warming to experience the Equestrian celebration. He said Ocellus wanted to visit too, and if things go the way I think they will, this castle might be full of visitors for the first time.”

Twilight continued staring at me, her eyebrow climbing even higher. “How do you figure that?”

I held up a hand and began counting off. “Well, there’s Thorax, Ocellus, probably all the friends Ocellus made at the school, Silverstream’s guardian, Scootaloo, Fluttershy if she accepts my invitation, Lyla, Celestia and Luna if they can get away, your parents,” I glanced to the powder-blue unicorn, “Trixie if she wants to,” she blushed and looked away, but didn’t decline, “Starlight, plus Cadence and Shining, which means Flurry as well. In addition to all of them, we’ll have the place packed the night of the Lighting of the Hearth, since most of the town will show up. We definitely have the room and can get plenty of food and amenities, but this place is going to be more lively than it’s ever been. The rooms will actually be put to use for once.”

Twilight had closed her eyes by this point, and from the twitching under her eyelids, I knew her eyes were doing the “book-scanning” motion they did whenever she was thinking very hard or doing calculations. We allowed her some quiet as she thought, when she suddenly opened her eyes and locked her eyes on me. “Do you think Applejack and Pinkie might be up for catering?”

I shrugged. “Only one way to know for sure. Applejack might not be able to do farm work, but she’s proven she can still cook up a storm. I think we can use some of the budget for ‘public events’ to cover expenses.” I pulled away from the princess and straightened my hoodie as I stood. “I don’t know when Pinkie will be leaving to visit her family though, so I should probably go ask. Write up a plan for the gathering, and I’ll make sure we get Pinkie and Applejack on board.”

“On it.” Twilight answered, already pulling out a fresh scroll as she began to draft some plans. “Let me know what happens as soon as you can so I can have an accurate idea of how this needs to go.”

I nodded and opened the window, diving out of it and into the open air. I quickly shut the window behind me before darting off toward Sweet Apple Acres first, since I knew Applejack was not going to be busy. Luckily for me, with the cold air and steady snow, the skies were relatively clear, which meant I could really open up and speed my way to the farm -- while it was true it took more physical effort to move faster, the exertion meant I spent less time in the cold air, which meant less of a chance of ice forming underneath the scales. I can’t emphasize how much that hurts.

Anyhow, it only took a minute or two for the snowy fields of the farm to come into view. Tilting my wings, I angled myself toward the quaint farmhouse, only to have to flare my wings strongly as Sugar Belle walked out of the front door with a covered tray in hand. I could only smile apologetically as she glared at me, having been covered with a fine dusting of snow from my rapid stop.

After a moment though, she smiled as well, and offered a friendly wave as she greeted me. “Hiya Spike, it’s good to see you. How’ve you been?”

I shrugged as I reached around and held her hood as I punched it inside out, throwing out the snow in the process. “Eh, things have calmed down. Lyla’s back from her medical leave, and everypony else is preparing for the holiday, so life’s become pretty mundane compared to the last few months.” Stepping back around to her front, I motioned to the tray. “What’cha got there?”

Sugar Belle smiled brightly and removed the lid, the smell of fresh-baked apple pastries wafting out. “Just trying out a new recipe. Here,” she held the tray closer to me, “try one and let me know what you think. I tried some different ingredients for a more festive taste. Mac says they taste amazing, but you know that big softie: he claims everything I make is perfect. I need an unbiased opinion.”

I shrugged again and picked up one of the pastries. The first thing I noticed was that it was made with a flaky pastry crust dusted with what could only be sugar and cinnamon. My nose told me there were hints of nutmeg and pimenta in addition to the cinnamon, and I also detected a note of vanilla. The smell of apples, of course, was prevalent, but without tasting it, I wasn’t going to be able to discern anything else; so, with a mental shrug, I opened the hatch and took a bite. The buttery, flaky pastry gave way to a subtle spiced sweetness, followed immediately by the taste of potent apples with a heck of a zing to them. It only took looking at the rainbow-shimmering mixture to figure out what kind of apples were used.

Even though my wide eyes and unhinged jaw probably told her all she needed to know, I still looked directly at her and answered, “Oh yeah, he wasn’t just blowing smoke; this is incredible. The spices add a more festive flavor to it, and the zing of the zap apples really ties it all together. I imagine this would go really well with some hot cider or tea in front of the fireplace.”

She beamed at me and nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes! That’s just what I was thinking! Zap apples aren’t exactly easy to come by, and I have a feeling this recipe will go over very well back at the town.”

At the mention of the town she came from, I couldn’t help but feel slightly awkward about it. While Starlight was a friend and we had all forgiven her for what she had done, the fact that ponies still lived in that town just seemed...odd, to me at least.

“I don’t understand why you don’t just move to Ponyville.” I commented, gesturing to the farmhouse behind her. “You and Big Mac are together, so it would be much easier for you to be with your herd. I’m sure the Apples would be happy to have you.”

At the mention of her coltfriend, Sugar Belle blushed slightly and smiled sheepishly. “Y-yes, I know they would welcome me, but I feel like there’s still something I need to do there.” She frowned briefly before shaking her head. “I can’t really explain it, but it’s like there’s something telling me I’m still needed there. With the train line running again, it isn’t far to visit -- a day trip, at the longest -- and Big Mac is quite happy to come and go to my shop for the business opportunity.”

“You and I both know that’s not why he visits.” I quipped with a smirk.

Sugar Belle’s blush intensified, but she smiled more radiantly. “N-no, I suppose not. Still, it’s a good business opportunity for us both, and the ponies in the town love my creations. We’re happy together, and we’re both fine travelling. Maybe sometime in the future I’ll move on, but for now, it works for us.”

I shrugged and nodded to her. “Well, I can’t fault that. If you’re happy, I’m happy.” I inclined my head to the farmhouse. “Anyhow, I gotta go talk to AJ, so I’ll see you later. Stay warm, Sugar Belle.”

“You too, Spike! Bye now!” she returned, trotting off with a happy bounce in her step. I just smiled as I watched the adorable older mare leave.

Still smiling, I turned and walked the few steps up to the front door and gave a loud trio of knocks. It only took a moment for the door to be answered, and I only had a moment to say “hello” before Applejack practically yanked me inside and shut the door behind me. I was immediately wrapped in a strong one-armed embrace, and it took a moment for me to shake off my surprise to return it. I’ll admit that I was tempted to bury my nose into Applejack’s golden hair and inhale the sweet scent of apples and spice from a combination of the shampoo she used, as well as some other thing I didn’t know about. I restrained myself, if barely, but was unable to keep from smiling at the warm greeting I was receiving.

“It’s good t’see ya, Spike.” she murmured after a few moments, pulling away to look up at me with a bright smile. “This visit fer business or pleasure?”

I had to fight to keep from giggling like an idiot at the unintentional innuendo, instead riposting with, “Who says it can’t be both -- business, and then pleasure?”

Applejack chuckled heartily as she pushed me away playfully, shaking her head. “Yer gonna get in trouble talkin’ like that, Spike. Now, really, what can Ah do for ya?”

While I wanted to tease her a bit more, she was right: I was here for a reason. “How do you feel about catering at the castle for Hearth's Warming? If things go the way it’s looking like they will, we’re going to have a lot of company, and while I’m quite capable in the kitchen, I could use help from someone else who knows what they’re doing.”

Applejack furrowed her brow as she looked to the kitchen. “How many r’we talkin’?”

“Around twenty,” I answered, waving her off as her eyes widened, “and we’ll be covering the cost of supplies. While Starlight can follow directions well enough, we’re going to need at least four or five others to help make the food, as well as volunteers to set everything up. Twilight can cover the volunteers -- her magic can take care of most of it, after all -- but I’m going to need more to help me actually make the food. Are you in?”

Applejack placed the hand of her good arm on her chin, humming to herself. “Okay, and who else ya thinkin’ of askin’?”

“I’m heading to Pinkie next, and I’ll ask the Cakes while I’m there. I know Lyla’s a good cook, so I can get her on board, and with me, that’s enough for a good kitchen staff. What I really want, though, is somepony who knows how to make some good, traditional Ponyville food.” I explained, reaching out and poking her on the sternum. “That’s what I need you for. You can’t get much more ‘traditional Ponyville’ than an Apple.”

Applejack rolled her eyes at my good-natured jab, and nodded. “Sounds good, and Ah’m free. Other’n openin’ presents and eatin’ food, we don’t do much else f’r Hearth's Warmin’. Granny’ll tell ‘er stories to tha foals, so that’ll leave me free ta help y’all out.”

I motioned to her arm, which was still in a sling. “That’s not gonna slow you down, is it? I don’t want to-” A strong glare thrown my way shut me up pretty quick, and I raised my hands placatingly. “All right, no need to get testy. I just don’t want you overexerting yourself; you do have a habit of doing that, AJ.”

She crossed her arms the best she could, sticking her lip out in a pout. “Ah wish ev’rybody would stop coddlin’ me. Ah ain’t made’a glass, and mah leg works just fine. S’long as Ah don’t need both arms t’do it, Ah can manage.”

Realizing she had likely been treated like she was some fragile mare since the accident, I nodded to her with an understanding smile. “I get it -- really, I do -- but not listening to your body is just going to make it take longer for you to heal. We don’t do it because we think you’re weak or anything, we do it because we care about you. If you say you’re fine, I’ll believe you, but please: for your sake and the sake of those that worry about you, try and take it easy at least until you get that arm out of the sling.”

“Fine,” she grumbled, accepting the concern, “but Ah can cook just fine. Ah’ll get together a good menu for vittles, and we’ll have a good time.” She smiled and nudged me. “B’sides, Ah ain’t celebrated at tha castle in years. It’ll be nice ta see it full, f’r once.”

I clapped a hand on her shoulder and nodded with a grateful smile. “Cool, I knew I could count on you. Anyway, was there anything you needed before I go?”

Applejack seemed to think for a moment before shaking her head. “Not f’r now, but Ah’d appreciate it if you could stop by after gettin’ tha plans in order. It’s a might bit quiet ‘round here with Mac busy ‘n Granny out, so Ah was hopin’ maybe you’d want ta…” she trailed off, shrugging her unrestrained shoulder.

I favored her with a slow nod, my smile widening. “Sure, sounds nice. I’ll be back sometime later in the afternoon, after I’ve put things together with Pinkie, the Cakes, and Twilight. Do you mind if Lyla joins us?”

She smiled wryly. “Poor girl is still a bit rattled, hm?” I only nodded, and Applejack shrugged again. “Ah don’t mind. Been awhile since we spent more than a few minutes together, so Ah think it’d be nice t’see ‘er. Sure, bring ‘er by, and we’ll find somethin’ ta do.”

I gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before pulling away. “Thanks, AJ. All right, I’m heading off to Sugarcube Corner to do some more recruiting, and I’ll stop by in a few hours. Take care until then.”

She offered me a warm smile with a nod. “Ah’ll be waitin’. Take care until then, Spike.”

As had become habit by now, I gave her another hug before I left. After pulling away, I quickly left the house and blasted into the air, with only the wind to accompany my thoughts.

Basically, any time I didn’t already have devoted to other work or spending time with my small herd, I spent with her, helping around the farm or sometimes -- as was going to be the case later in the day -- just to spend time with Applejack. I had known Applejack for quite a few years -- most of my life, if you wanted to be specific -- so I would like to think I knew her rather well by this point. Still, before fairly recently, I had been seen as “Twilight’s little dragon assistant,” so there were quite a few things I wasn’t privy to, or things Applejack and the other girls didn’t talk to me about. They all had similar excuses, somewhere in the realm of not wanting to burden a younger child with the stresses and rigors of adult life.

I had spent quite a bit of time with Applejack since the confrontation with the dragon, and I had noticed changes in the dynamic between us -- not in a bad way really, just...different. Much like Rarity, flirting was simply a part of the way I bantered with the many ponies of the opposite sex I knew, and most times, it didn’t really mean anything beyond being playful and mildly affectionate to a good friend or acquaintance. Applejack had always taken said banter and playful ribbing well, except for when I cut it off completely once she became involved with Thunderlane. During that time, I felt more awkward around her than before, since there was a part of who I was that I wasn’t allowed to share with her anymore. That had changed since her breakup, and even though I hadn’t wished she had to go through the pain of a breakup, her and I had picked up our old friendship like Thunderlane had never happened. My personal feelings for her ex-coltfriend aside, Applejack being single again had been good for our friendship, from an objective standpoint. What was different now was the fact that she would lean on me if we were sitting next to each other, or give me a hug both as a greeting, and as a farewell. She made it a point to be close to me whenever we were in the same room, and even though I wasn’t the most observant guy, I noticed she had been brushing her fur and hair more often, and had transitioned from using practical, scentless soaps to scented soaps and shampoos that featured smells she knew I liked. I mean, if I didn’t know better, I would think…

‘Don’t even think about it, drake,’ I told myself with an internal growl. ‘Yes, Applejack is cute, single, and a close friend, but that doesn’t mean you have a shot at all. Shame on you for even thinking about her like that, especially so soon after she broke up with her coltfriend. You’re spending time to help her and lend your support, not to try and get in her pants.’ It was a little concerning that I was nowadays finding it so easy to mentally add other mares to my herd, even if just by passing thought. I needed to talk to Twilight and Rarity about that at some point, but for now, I had other things I had to take care of.

Sugarcube Corner came into view as I entered town, and I was happy to have something else for my mind to focus on. With it only being midday, I had assumed they would be busy, but the line of ponies leading in the door caught me off-guard, and I grumbled to myself as I resigned myself to waiting for things to calm down. I took my place at the back of the line, a few familiar faces offering me greetings that I returned, but I otherwise just settled myself in for a long wait.

Some twenty minutes later, I was finally standing in front of the counter, and Pumpkin cake smiled warmly at me. She was tall like her father, if a bit lanky for a mare, but her bright smile and bubbly demeanor made her quite the likable young mare. Similar to her brother, her and I were very close as a result of many hours spent entertaining them with Pinkie when they were younger, and she was practically another younger sister to me.

“Hi uncle Spike!” she practically squealed, bouncing happily on her hooves to accentuate her greeting. “Do you want something sweet, something warm, or maybe both?”

I glanced over the display case, looking at the many baked treats set out for customers to see. “What do you have that’s both?”

“We have cherry cheese tarts, blueberry brownies, regular brownies, orange cream cheese danishes, and all of our muffins.” she explained, holding up a covered tray of the muffins in question. “Pinkie and mom are in the back though, so if you don’t mind waiting a bit, I’m sure they can make a fresh batch of pretty much whatever you’d like.”

I shook my head with a grateful smile. “That won’t be necessary, Pumpkin. I’ll have one of those blueberry brownies and a cherry cheese tart, please. Oh, and medium hot spiced cider.”

Pumpkin nodded, punching the buttons on the antique register before smiling at me again. “All right, that’ll be eight bits.”

I fished a ten-bit piece out of my pocket and handed it to her. “Keep the change, Pumpkin.” She nodded with that same bright smile, quickly getting my order and finishing by pouring my drink from the magically-heated keg behind the counter.

Once she handed all three to me, she offered me a much warmer, more personal smile than she gave to all the other customers. “Thanks for coming, uncle Spike. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

I shook my head. “Not at the moment. I need to see Pinkie and your folks when things slow down, but for now, I’m going to take a seat at the table and let you all keep things moving. Just let them know I’m here when the rush ends.”

“Okay then. We'll be busy for about another hour, but I'll let them know when things calm down.” she assured. With that, I made my way to one of the few open tables and took a seat, settling myself in for a bit of a wait.

As I munched on my sweets and sipped my piping hot drink, I was aware of a few new faces in the crowd, and this became all the more apparent when they continued glancing at me. As a growing town with national heroines, a resident chaos lord, and a princess, Ponyville had become a more popular tourist destination over the years. The odd stares and outright gawking was something I had become used to, and by this time, I knew that there were three ways newcomers would react to my presence: with curiosity, with interest, or with fear. Thankfully, the latter was pretty rare, but it still happened, so I did my best to look the part of a regular citizen, and kept calm and polite with everyone I met. Obviously, I was well-known in Ponyville and Canterlot, but seeing as how dragons were still rare in Equestria, ponies from anywhere but those two places tended to see me as a novelty. Well, except the Crystal City, but that was an exception to the rule. And so, I mostly just kept to myself, which was exactly what I did at that moment.

It didn’t take me long to finish my two baked treats, so for the following hour, I slowly nursed my hot spiced cider that Pumpkin had been thoughtful enough to place in a ceramic mug for me. This allowed me to keep it warm with my own fire without destroying the cup, which again caused the scattered new ponies to stare at me. From who I spotted out of the corner of my eye, however, I knew the show was about to get all the more interesting for those watching me.

Lyla was eye-catching no matter what, and her glittering wings and smooth obsidian skin gave her a unique, exotic appeal that ponies just didn’t have. She was taller than most other ponies -- even some of the female earth ponies -- and her athletic body was easily noticeable with the snug clothing she often wore. For whatever reason, she had not yet gone through the change to become a “new changeling” like Thorax and his followers, but even though she never actually said so, I believed it was because she thought I would no longer find her attractive if she did. That was ludicrous of course, but unless she brought it up, I wasn’t going to press her; besides, in a loving place like Ponyville where she was accepted, she was in no danger of starving.

She sauntered over and pulled up a chair to sit next to me, immediately offering me a chaste kiss, which I eagerly returned. We both simultaneously decided to keep things proper for being in public, and pulled away after only a quick moment, but she still sat practically in my lap, which had become the norm since she had gotten back from Hollow Shades. After having tried several times to use words to comfort and reassure her, I learned over the weeks that nothing I said was going to dissuade her, so I just accepted the affection and supported her the best that I could. Luna had told me of a few choice nightmares Lyla had due to the incident, but all in all, Lyla seemed to be healing, mentally and physically, quickly and easily due to the love and support of those in Ponyville.

Slowly, as time passed, the bakery began to calm down as the lunch rush expired, and even the visitors from other areas of Equestria lost interest in Lyla and I and moved on. With the pandemonium ended, the Cakes were able to clean up and restock, which left the establishment mostly quiet save for a few customers trickling in here and there. I had long ago finished my tasty cider, so I just held Lyla close and waited patiently for the Cakes to have a moment to talk.

Some time passed, and I saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake approaching, along with a bouncy Pinkie behind them. Pinkie, of course, glomped me as usual -- bringing a pleasantly surprised Lyla along for the ride -- while the elder two just smiled with a sort of loving exasperation from Pinkie’s antics. Lyla and I both laughed and hugged the pink pony-shaped lump of joy, and enjoyed the mutual affection from a close friend.

Pinkie hopped off of us and pulled us both to our feet with her deceptively strong arms, and smiled brightly at me. “Hi guys! What brings you here?”

I jerked my head to my changeling. “Lyla’s just hanging out, but me, I came here for some help.” I glanced to the two Cakes, “We’re having an event on Hearth’s Warming Eve at the castle, and we’re going to need some goodies. I was hoping you all would be able to help out.”

Mr. Cake looked to his wife, and upon getting a nod, he smiled at me. “Sure can, Spike! How many are we catering for?”

I shrugged. “Not too many, only twenty. I’m going to get with Twilight to hire a larger catering service for the rest of town, but for those that will be staying in the castle with us, I want the best of the best. That’s where you all come in.” I couldn’t help but look directly at Pinkie when I finished, well aware of just how gifted she was as a baker.

Pinkie blushed adorably and imitated a refined southern accent as she replied, “Flatt’ry will get you evr’ywhere, darlin’.” She giggled cutely before turning around to address the Cakes. “Well? I’m in! How about you two?”

Mrs. Cake rolled her eyes at the poofy pink mare. “Of course we are, Pinkie. We’ll put together a menu and come up with some delicious treats for Twilight, Spike, and their guests.” She turned her attention to me next. “Any requests or things I should know about?”

I thought hard, trying to come up with anything in particular. In the end, I couldn’t, simply because it was all good. “Nah, not really. Other than asking that you clearly label anything that has raspberries or blackberries in it, I leave the menu completely up to you. I’ve yet to have anything that you guys sell that I haven’t liked, so I trust you all to make some awesome eats. After you’ve come up with an estimate, let me know and Twilight and I will get you the funds to get this done.”

At this, Mr. Cake’s face soured a bit. “Spike, you should know by now that-”

“And you should know by now that we don’t mix business and our personal lives.” I interrupted, already knowing where he was headed with his line of thought. “If we meet on the street or spend time together for anything, that’s just friends hanging out, but this is your business. So, because you’re our friends, we want you to have the business, because we know how good your food is; because you’re a business, we’re not going to use our friendship to get free stuff. I appreciate it -- truly, I do -- but I can’t accept that. I ask that you respect me enough to allow us to pay you for your fine goods and services, like you deserve.”

Mr. and Mrs. Cake glanced at each other, apparently having a silent conversation, before the former offered me a wry smile. “Very well, Spike. We should have a decent estimate in a few days, so we’ll send Pinkie to get you when we’ve got it all worked out. It’ll be pretty tight with Pinkie spending the holiday with her family, but we can do it.”

I clapped my hands with a bright smile. “Fantastic! I think this is going to be a great Hearth’s Warming, especially with all the visitors. Was there anything you all needed before I head out?”

Rolling his eyes again -- at me, this time -- Mr. Cake shook his head. “Spike, I appreciate the offer, but we’ll be okay. We’re used to this, I promise.”

Offering one more smile, I nodded to the three of them. “Cool, I’ll let you all get to it, then. Let me know if you need me; you know where to find me.” I gave Pinkie a wink as I turned with Lyla and left the bakery, blasting into the sky and making my way back to the castle.

---

As I assumed, Twilight was making plan after plan after plan when I got back, and she offered me a kiss to the cheek without looking away from her new project, while I made my way to the kitchen with Lyla. We made a quick lunch for the three of us, leaving some in the fridge for Starlight and Trixie, wherever they were. I dropped off a simple daisy sandwich at Twilight’s desk, giving her a better kiss and explaining what had happened in regards to my recruitment, as well as that I was heading to Applejack’s to spend some time with her. Twilight merely nodded and took a too-large bite of her sandwich, continuing her work without saying anything other than “okay”.

Lyla and I took flight from the second floor balcony, quickly making our way through the gentle snowfall to the farm in the distance. Again I landed in front of the farmhouse, this time with Lyla by my side, and knocked firmly on the door.

Almost as if she’d been waiting for me, Applejack nearly immediately opened the door to greet me. She smiled widely at the sight of Lyla and I, quickly inviting us in, away from the cold. With Granny Smith and Big Mac both out running errands and Applebloom with her friends, the house was all but empty save for Applejack and her faithful dog Winona. The collie was older, and a little slower, but she still greeted me happily with licks to my hand and happy yips.

Applejack looked at our exchange fondly. “Y’know, Ah f’rgot how much she likes ya. It’s a shame Peewee ain’t in town no more.”

I gave the wiggly collie a few more pets before standing and smiling at Applejack. “Yeah. He’s still learning to control his powers, so it’s not a good idea for Peewee to be in town. He’s a phoenix though, so I’ll see him again someday.”

Applejack just continued smiling before looking to Lyla next. “So, how ya been, girl? Been awhile since Ah’ve seen ya in a more private settin’.”

Lyla bobbed her head from side to side before taking a seat with me on the sofa, snuggling up to my side. “I’ve been okay. My chitin still itches a bit from time to time,” she rubbed over the scar along her collar, which was hidden by her shirt, “but I’m not in any pain.” She motioned to Applejack’s arm. “What about you? I can only imagine it’s driving you nuts.”

Applejack took a seat on the well-worn chair just to the side of me, letting out a long breath. “Y’all don’t know tha half’a it. Ah had ta re-learn ta wash mahself in tha shower -- hay, doin’ much'a anything with two hands is purdy much impossible. If it weren’t f’r common decency, Ah wouldn’ even get dressed.” Applejack then shot a decidedly evil smirk my way as she commented, “A’course, Spike here prob’ly wouldn’ mind that, Ah reckon.”

I have to admit, I immediately imagined -- vividly -- Applejack walking around wearing nothing but her underwear and a smile.

As it was, I could only blush and mutter, “Well, I mean, I wouldn’t be against it…”

Lyla looked between us before her mouth formed an ‘o’ shape. “Ah, this kind of banter between the two of you must be why I always sense lust from him when-”

“Lyla, SHUT. UP!” I hissed immediately, feeling like I was about to die from embarrassment.

Unfortunately, Applejack had caught that, and it didn’t take her much to figure out the rest. She just leveled me with a sultry gaze as she teased, “Ah see. So, tha apples off tha trees ain’t the only ones yer interested in, hm?” She chuckled in that rich, husky way that was so warm and inviting, and just reached out with a hoof to nudge my leg playfully. “S’all right Spike. Ah ain’t blind, and Ah knew ya been lookin’ at all’a us different f’r years, now. We’re still young mares, ‘n we’re all close friends. Ah’d be s’prised if ya didn’ have a wanderin’ mind, fr’m time ta time. That bein’ said,” she turned her eyes to Lyla, “his feelin’s are his business, no matter what they’re about. Try not ta do that to ‘im again, y’hear?”

Lyla had the good grace to look quite chastised, and nodded with a solemn expression. “Right, s-sorry. Some things about non-changelings still don’t make sense to me.” The changeling then looked to me and nosed my cheek affectionately. “I’m sorry, Spike.”

I had fought down most of my embarrassment by now, and returned the nuzzle with my own as I reached my arm behind and hugged her close to me. “I forgive you. It’s just...keep in mind that other races are more private, so let others tell their own private things. I’m not mad, I promise, it’s just...embarrassing to know you can feel that, and the fact you said it in front of the one it concerns.”

My tone and words were enough to make it clear that she had screwed up, so I knew Lyla was making another mental note not to do something like that in the future. As much as Lyla had learned about pony society (including mine), I had to constantly remind myself that she was still learning every day, and would likely continue learning new things for the rest of her life; hay, even I was still learning, which was why I wasn’t angry with her, only extremely embarrassed.

“Spike.”

I looked back to Applejack, who was still smiling at me, with a more gentle expression. “It’s okay, Ah promise. Ya think Ah ain’t had stray thoughts about mah own extended fam’ly? ‘Magine how mortifyin’ it was f’r a young filly ta learn just why it was wrong ‘t have a crush on an older cousin.” She guffawed at that, likely remembering the embarrassment and awkwardness she felt. Stars, I could only imagine. She continued by pointing to Lyla. “In a lotta ways, she’s like a foal. There’s jus’ gonna be certain things she don’ know’re wrong or indecent, so ya gotta teach ‘er. Foals’re tha same. We ain’t born knowin’ right fr’m wrong: we gotta learn fr’m our elders, or experience. Jus’ be patient with ‘er, ‘n remember we all have ta learn things in life.”

I looked to Lyla, and she gave me that cute sheepish smile she wore whenever she did something silly. I knew her actions were rooted in a good place, and I also knew she didn’t have a truly mean bone in her entire body. She was witty, and innocent in ways most our age weren’t, and as I thought of these things, it was like falling in love with her all over again. I gave in to temptation and locked lips with her, cradling the back of her head as I poured love and affection into the kiss, hoping I could pass on even just a fraction of what I felt for her.

We separated a few moments later, eyes opening simultaneously to gaze at each other with adoration. A throat being cleared to my right reminded me that we were not alone, however, and I could only blush a bit as I looked to a similarly blushing Applejack.

“Y’all know Ah ain’t got a problem with tha two’ve ya bein’ t’gether, but maybe mah house ain’t the place for that kind’a kissin’.” Applejack politely commented, her face flushed a deep red. “A peck on tha lips, sure, but that was a ‘Ah’m ‘bout ta jump yer bones’ kind’a smooch, there.”

I had forgotten that Applejack was rather reserved when it came to PDA, so with that in mind, I gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. I’m so used to just being open with Lyla that sometimes I forget that not everypony is used to that. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything, Applejack.”

Her slightly embarrassed expression melted into a warmer, more affectionate smile. She took a deep breath and shook her head. “Naw, it ain’t yer fault. It’s just…” she sighed wistfully, glancing away from us, “Ah remember what it was like t’be that in love with somepony, ‘n it just stings a little.” Before I could offer further apologies, she waved my concerns away. “It’s all right, Spike. Ah’m still healin’ from it, so don’ take it personal. Ah jus’...” again she trailed off, shaking her head again before going silent.

“You miss it.” I suggested, though I already knew it was true.

Applejack took another deep breath before nodding. “Yeah, Ah do. Goin’ single again was tha right choice f'r both of us, Ah truly b'lieve that...but yeah, Ah miss it sometimes.” Her gaze grew a bit distant as she relived memories only she could see. “Ah miss how it was in tha beginnin’. Ah was still on a high fr'm havin' mah first steady coltfriend, ‘n we were just enjoyin’ life as it came at us. Ah had someone ta give me tha kinda love that ain’t real proper b’tween blood, ‘n someone that Ah thought understood me ‘n mah life. The Apples’ve always been a real close-knit, so that’s a given, but it’s diff’rent t’find that in someone outside tha fam’ly.”

“Family doesn’t really count.” I added, nodding to Applejack when she looked at me. “I know some poor ponies aren’t so lucky, but generally speaking, being part of a family means love and acceptance -- it’s just part of being a member of that particular group. That’s why, I think, it feels more special when you find that in someone outside your family: you didn’t know that person your whole life, and they have no obligation to you whatsoever. When someone falls in love with you, you know it’s due to your own merit and personality, rather than simply ‘because’.”

Applejack returned my nod, smiling gently. “Yeah, and Ah miss that. There’s…” she trailed off as she quietly mumbled, “there’s a whole lot Ah miss ‘bout it, truth be told.” Her cheeks began to darken with a blush, and it didn’t take much thought to deduce some of the things she might be thinking about.

I glanced to Lyla briefly before reaching across the gap and grasping Applejack’s hand in my own. Her eyes immediately shot to me, and I offered her a reassuring grin as I assured, “This isn’t a ‘one and done’ situation, Applejack. I know that right now you probably don’t really want to think about it, but you will get over this, and one day soon, you’ll find someone better suited to who you are as a pony. You’ll find a stallion that understands who and what you are, what your priorities in life consist of, and most of all, that you don’t need to change.” I motioned to me and Lyla. “Your friends love you, Applejack. We may not be your special someponies, but the pony we all care about is a great mare that is dependable, hardworking, loving, and all-around amazing. Any guy would be blessed to catch your eye, and I know your ‘someone’ is out there. You’re too great of a pony to not be loved.”

In addition to the blush on her cheeks, tears had now gathered in the corners of Applejack’s eyes. She closed them and took a deep breath, wiping them away with her hand before grasping mine again, opening her eyes to look at me with a fond smile. “Thanks Spike. Ah...Ah really needed t’hear that.”

“And in the meantime,” I continued, holding her hand firmly in my own, “you’ll have all of us to love and support you, like family should. No matter what, you’ll never be alone; I promise that.”

Applejack held my gaze for a few moments before turning her attention to Lyla. “Ah hope you treasure this ‘ere drake, Lyla. Ah’ve known Spike f’r years, ‘n Ah reckon ya got yerself a great guy. Ah trust you ta take good care’a him.”

Lyla pressed herself more firmly against my side, giving a quick peck to my cheek. “In every way I can, for as long as I can. He's done more for me than I can ever repay, but I'll do everything in my power to be the best me I can, for him, and maybe that will be enough.”

“Just keep being you, Lye.” I lovingly commented, bringing her hand up and brushing my lips across the back of it. Bringing my attention back to Applejack, I pointed to her arm. “So, you’ve seen the doctor; what did he say?”

She shifted her arm a bit, sighing heavily. “Ah get tha sling off next week, but doc said there’ll be no liftin’ more’n five pounds for at least another two months. Lucky f’r me, Ah’ll be all healed up by tha time spring rolls ‘round, but f’r now, it’s a pain in tha tail. Only thing is, ‘cause of tha atrophy, Ah still ain’t gonna be much good with this arm for another four ‘r five months. Ah can start some’a tha physical therapy once tha sling comes off, but until tha bones’re strong again, it ain’t safe to do muscle trainin’.”

“I’m sure Dash would have no problem helping you out with that.” I suggested, nodding to Applejack. “She might be kind of a meathead sometimes, but she knows how to handle the pony body, and she’s been in enough accidents to know how to rehab just about everything.”

Applejack hummed to herself, nodding absently. “...yeah, that might be a good idea.” She then looked to Lyla and I again before catching sight of the window. “Well, weather is pickin’ up again, so Ah think Ah should let y’all get back home b’fore it hits.” I looked out the window to see she was right; the sky was getting darker, and the snow was starting to come down more heavily than it had earlier.

I stood with Lyla and pulled Applejack out of her chair before she was pulled into a hug by both Lyla and I. I felt her momentarily tense before melting into the embrace, and she even offered an affectionate nuzzle to the both of us before resting her head between ours. I was left with the lingering scent of apples and spice, and I relished in the warm fuzzies it brought me.

All too soon, however, we all pulled away from each other, and I gave Applejack a parting smile. “Well, it was nice of you to have us, AJ. Remember though: you’re welcome to visit us at the castle anytime. Take care of yourself, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Applejack released us and walked Lyla and I to the front door, offering only another silent smile as a farewell when we exited the warm farmhouse. Lyla and I immediately took to the skies, orienting ourselves toward the castle in the distance. The snow was starting to become much heavier as the sun headed toward the horizon, so Lyla and I picked up the pace to make it back home before the snowfall became dangerous to fly in.

We arrived back at the castle only a dozen minutes later, entering through the front entrance so we wouldn’t track snow into the living areas. We made our way through the winding corridors full of doors, me doing so mostly by memory at this point, and took the long, rounded staircase that led to the private quarters.

As we entered the private quarters of the castle, I took notice of a familiar aqua-blue butterfly-printed scarf hanging next to a knitted woolen scarf of rainbow colors. “Ah, it looks like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy decided to visit.” I couldn’t help but smile at the thought; it had been some time since I had seen either of them for longer than a few minutes. As we continued our journey, the familiar scent of jasmine chamomile tea teased my nose, and I knew the girls were enjoying Fluttershy’s favorite blend, likely in the commons area.

As I rounded the final bend, however, I picked up the distinct sound of sniffles, and whimpering.

I felt Lyla’s hand grab my shoulder to stop me, and she looked directly in my eyes as she advised, “Something’s happened, Spike. I don’t know what, but I can feel a great deal of sorrow coming from the direction we’re headed. Prepare yourself.” I took a steadying breath and nodded firmly, continuing the walk to the commons room.

The room came into view, and I could see Starlight, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Trixie all sitting in the commons room, gathered around a certain gentle pegasus, with a warm fire crackling merrily in the hearth. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were both sat on either side of Fluttershy, while Starlight was sitting across from them, facing me. Trixie was next to Starlight, looking lost and saddened, seemingly unsure if she should try and comfort the crying pony or not. The pony who was whimpering and sniffling was, of course, Fluttershy, which instantly put me on edge as concern bubbled up in me.

Starlight caught my eye as I approached, and she only looked at me with glassy eyes as she shook her head solemnly. Her movement caught the attention of Twilight and Rainbow Dash, the former of who turned and spotted me, standing and rounding the long sofa to meet me before I stepped over to them.

She stepped over and came in close, bringing me into an embrace as she whispered the simple explanation into my ear: “Angel passed away this morning, Spike.”

A lump of ice dropped into my stomach, and I swallowed hard to keep from making any noise. Twilight pulled her head back to look at me, and I could see the bloodshot sclera of her eyes, as well as a good deal of wetness along her cheeks, signifying she had been crying with Fluttershy for some time, now. I held her gaze for a few moments before nodding firmly, girding myself for a very emotional rest of the day. Considering how the earlier parts of the day had gone, I couldn’t help but repeatedly think, “This isn’t how I thought today was going to end.”

My mind was now completely focused on Fluttershy, and I decided I was going to do whatever it took to help her through this. I followed Twilight back around the sofa, and I was only slightly aware of the sound of what sounded like thread straining and snapping as I made my way closer to the other four mares. By the time I had come around the sofa and approached the sitting area, I could feel something falling around my shoulders as something around my waist snapped. Starlight glanced back to me, along with Trixie, and the eyes of both mares widened almost comically, while Trixie stood up and backed around behind the seat her and Starlight had been sharing. Rainbow Dash, also, was staring at me with wide eyes and a slackened jaw, but none of that was important: I only had eyes for Fluttershy, and only she mattered.

Fluttershy, the poor mare, was hunched over with her face buried in her hands, quietly whimpering and sniffling to herself as her dainty, soft wings lay slack against her back and her hair resembled a tangled mess far removed from the normal pink, silky waterfall it normally was. Sensing that I was standing in front of her now, Fluttershy slowly removed her face from her hands and looked up at me. She was the only one that didn’t react with surprise at the sight of me, and seeing as how I was somehow very high above her now, I took a knee so that I could more easily look her in the eye -- even so, the pegasus still had to crane her neck quite a bit to look up at me. I reached out with a hand, nearly encapsulating her entire head, and it was at that point I realized what had happened: I had grown again, and not due to greed. That could wait until later, though; I had a pegasus that needed me, and the questions I had for myself were less important than she was.

Fluttershy continued holding my gaze as she slowly stood, bringing her eye-level with me, finally. She just stared for a few moments before holding her arms up to me with tears streaming down her face, and I wasted no time in scooping the small pegasus up in my arms, cradling her against my chest as she began sobbing for what I imagined was just one of many times today. I stood and effortlessly held her in my large arms, imagining that this must be similar to what it’s like for a father to comfort a distraught child. I gave in to instinct and extended my massive wings around her, forming a warm, leathery cocoon around Fluttershy, hoping that the small, warm, safe area might help her, if even just a little bit. I knew this was going to be a long night for all of us, so I continued to hold Fluttershy close as she wept, hoping that I might be able to ease her pain by even just the smallest percentage.

---

I pulled the quilt up over Fluttershy as she finally drifted off to dreamland, knowing that it was going to be a few days before she would even be able to pull herself out of bed for much more than to take care of the few animal friends that hadn’t hibernated or flown south for winter. I rubbed my thumb along her cheek, removing some of the dampness there and wishing there was more I could do for her.

A thought came to mind, and I quickly made my way to the nearby writing desk to pull out a piece of parchment and a pen. I quickly drafted a letter to a certain night princess, asking her to watch over Fluttershy, before I wrapped it with one of the enchanted ribbons we had. I exhaled a modest flame over the letter, and watched as it turned into smoke, whisking away toward the commons room, presumably to exit via the chimney. It wasn’t much, but I hoped that perhaps Luna could spare her from nightmares, and that would hopefully make the grieving process a little easier for Fluttershy.

The subtle sound of hooves upon crystal flooring brought my attention to the open doorway, where Twilight was waiting for me with an obvious expression of concern visible on her face. I sighed through my nose before grabbing my noticeably-loose pants and making my way out of the room.

I followed Twilight back to the commons room, stopping only as I came upon Rainbow Dash to ask, “Dash, do you think you could…?” I jerked my head toward the room Fluttershy was in.

Rainbow Dash clearly wanted to talk with me about what had happened, but we both knew Fluttershy was far more important right now, and she was going to need a friend in there with her. With that in mind, she sighed heavily and nodded, giving me an affectionate punch to the arm. “Yeah, I’ll keep an eye on her. But we are getting an explanation tomorrow, got it?” I nodded to her, and that seemed to satisfy her enough to make her way without any further protest to Fluttershy’s room.

Twilight and I then continued to the commons room, reentering a moment later to Trixie, Starlight, and Lyla waiting for us, along with the shredded remains of my undershirt, my hoodie, and my belt. I groaned at the sight of the ruined clothes; Rarity was gonna kill me. Still, that could wait, and we had something new to discuss.

“What the hay happened, Spike?” Trixie wasted no time saying what everyone was thinking right then. I had to admit, I was pleased with her direct approach, as well as the fact she used my name, for once.

I could only shrug helplessly. I took a seat on the sofa, since I had shrunk back to normal size, and took a long moment trying to come up with anything. I simply shrugged again, having nothing to explain what happened. “Short version: I don’t know. Long version? I really don’t know. The only other times I’ve grown were due to a time spell, and growth by greed. But this time…” I paused and shook my head with a huff of frustration. “I have no idea. During greed growth, I lose my ability to think rationally, but I was fully aware the entire time. Furthermore, I wasn’t feeling at all greedy, so that can’t be it. This...this was something else.”

“How do you feel?” Twilight asked, bringing up another obvious question.

I silently took stock of how my body felt, noticing a slight soreness in my muscles that was familiar with the growth. “I feel a bit sore, but nowhere near as much as I did after fighting the dragon. I don’t know whether it’s because I wasn’t in a fight or because I didn’t grow as large, but it’s not too bad. Other than that, I’m just hungry and tired.”

Twilight silently held out a star sapphire the size of my fist, and I nodded to her in thanks as I took it and immediately began chowing down. The fruity, earthy taste of the gem pleased my palate quite well, and while it wasn’t good for a full meal, it would tide me over until breakfast.

After silently eating and finishing my treat, I licked my fingers before speaking again. “While we know quite a bit more about dragons than we used to, there’s still plenty about my own kind that is a mystery to us. Thinking about it, I never actually asked Ember if greed was the only way dragons could quickly grow. I’m sure there’s an explanation for this, so I’m going to write her a letter tomorrow with all the details. Hopefully she’ll be able to explain just what the hay happened, so we can put this to rest.”

Twilight nodded to me, looking out at the snowstorm that was blowing against the windows of the castle. Frowning gently, she turned her attention to Trixie. “Come with me and we’ll set up a room for you for tonight, Trixie. It’s too late and too dangerous for you to go outside right now, and your trailer will be fine for tonight. I’ll help you dig it out tomorrow morning, but for now, I think we should all get some rest.”

Trixie looked to Twilight with subtle gratitude, and quitely muttered a “thank you” before standing and following Twilight down the hallway to another of the guest rooms. This left Starlight, Lyla and I in the commons room, so I stood next and jerked my head toward the rooms. “C’mon, let’s get to sleep. There’s plenty to be done tomorrow, and I think we could all use the rest.”

As the three of us headed to our respective rooms for the night -- Lyla heading to mine, obviously -- I couldn’t help but mentally groan at the latter part of this day. Not only was it going to be a tough time in the near future, helping Fluttershy recover from her loss, but now we had whatever this new thing was, going on with me. I could only hope it was something simple and benign, because I wasn’t sure if I could handle anymore world-shattering events this year.

Seriously, can I never just have a normal year?

Comments

[Hirow]

Would you belive me when i tell you that i was re reading your story the other day, thinking " god damn i love this story and cant wait for the next chapter" and here it is? :D Its good to have you back in action ;)

[Radiant Dawn]

9090539
I'm pleased you enjoy it. It still takes longer than I prefer, since I'm writing everything on my phone, but nothing is "dead".

[Garuda IV]

With the direction their talk had gone, I was starting to think that Applejack and Spike were going to get together. Especially with Lyla being able to sense their emotions.

Oh, well. Just gonna have to wait and find out in the next one.

[Lazruth]

9090996
I honestly hope they do, for some reason they're my second favorite pairing in this franchise, first being RDxSpike.

[Radiant Dawn]

9091146

9090996
Spike will be "collecting" all of the mane six, but it's going to take time. This is a developing story, after all, not a quick one-shot. With the way things are developing though, I'm sure you can make an educated guess on who might be next.

[Lazruth]

9091219
For sure, not AJ. She's still recovering and all, and you know that Spike is (in a good way, for this) too considerate of her to accept any advances from her right now. The wound, as it were, is still rather raw for that.

[Linkonpark100]

Sudden mood whiplash right there. Then again, I really like the coming-of-age element there, so it suits the tone.

[Hirow]

9090571
Heh i know what you mean, and believe me i know how hard it is it write on your phone especially when it comes to long chapters, I was in a similar situation once when i was writing a story ( i think its still somewhere on my old pc... i need to finish it one day ) and was forced to write half of the chapters on my phone due to some personal problems so for that you have my respect as a writer

[OmniFox]

What about Angel's children?

[ShadowXper]

9090539
You know call me crazy but I did the exact same thing as you I was rereading some of my favorites when a reread all 12 chapeters then I wished the next chapter would come out!

[Radiant Dawn]

9092104
Not currently relevant to the story.

[Grailm]

Glad I found this story. Cant wait for the next update.

[omeaga911]

Why do all the good stories take forever

[AgentKorpsman]

Seriously, can I never just have a normal year?

Nope

[AgentKorpsman]

She stepped over and came in close, bringing me into an embrace as she whispered the simple explanation into my ear: “Angel passed away this morning, Spike.”

Oh no, poor fluttershy hope she feels better and heals from this lost

[mlpengineer]

Seriously, can I never just have a normal year?

no