> Love Measured in Scales
>  by Cloperella
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: Study Break
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        On a crisp summer afternoon in Ponyville, the golden rays of the sun poured into the open window on the top floor of the Golden Oaks library. Inside the bedroom of the repository, a purple winged unicorn sat at her desk nibbling the tip of her left wing, her eyes pouring over the text of a book on Zebra-Equestrian history and culture. For the past few days, Twilight had been investing some time into studying different minority cultures that had been present in Equestria for several decades. Now that she was to lend a hoof in ruling part of the nation, she felt it was her duty to expand her knowledge about the diversity of her subjects. She found this book particularly more interesting than the book on griffon genealogy, which had been as far as she could tell, had been a lengthy recounting of their many wars. Zebras on the other hoof intrigued her with their abilities to perform feats on the same levels as unicorn magic, all with the careful craft of natural herbs and elixirs. She wondered if there might be some tribal magic even Zecora had yet to learn from these fascinating equines. 
        
Her concentration was broken for a second from the slight clatter to the left of her, and she noticed a steaming cup sitting on her desk placed by a pair of light purple claws. The dragon they belonged to retrieved them behind his back and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry!” he piped apologetically. 
        
“That’s okay, Spike.” Twilight reassured him as she placed a wing on the spot in her book she was reading. “I didn't even realize you were awake until now.”
        
“Just got up a little while ago, tip-toed my way out of the room when I saw you studying, and got myself a bowl of oats.”
        
“Oats?” Twilight asked curiously. “I thought you didn't like oats?”
        
“They don’t taste too bad when you sprinkle some rubies over them.” He admitted with a grin. 
        
“And then you decided to make me some tea when you were finished?”
        
“Gotta make sure you have something refreshing to keep your mind focused. Can’t have you be bothered to get your own tea when you've got studying to do, right?”
        
“What a thoughtful little assistant. Thank you Spike.” Twilight raised her wing and pat the scales on his head, causing him to beam up at her. “I’m gonna whip up something extra special for your birthday tomorrow.”
        
Spike grinned enthusiastically as he thought about the day he had been looking forward to for the past few weeks. He and Twilight had already discussed more than he cared to about how he was going to keep his greed under control. He wished that she didn't feel the need to lecture him: it had been two years since he had run amok through Ponyville, stealing everything that caught his fancy. He had his greed well under control the following year, and this years birthday was sure to proceed just as smoothly. “I’m gonna see if I can do some dusting now that I’m awake.” he announced, bringing himself back to the present. “That spot on your bookshelf with all the cooking books looks kind of musty.”
        
Twilight nodded as she turned back to her readings, and used her magic to carefully lift the tea up to her lips and take a drink. Mm, vanilla chai tea, she thought to herself. I didn't even know we had this. After several more pages of reading, and downing almost the full cup of tea, Twilight noticed a bit of a crick in her neck. She tried to ignore it, but it got the best of her and she knew that was her body telling her that as much as she wanted to keep reading, it was time to take a break.
        
Twilight hovered a bookmark and placed it on the page she was halfway through, and gently closed the book. Standing up on all fours and rolling her head around, the alicorn realized how stiff her body had become from sitting at her desk for several hours with nothing but her eyes in constant movement. She raised her upper body up by pushing her forelegs against the floor, with her hips sinking behind her her. She then lowered her head and pushed her hindlegs up as far as they would let her. As she pushed up, she noticed a bit of a tingle building in her loins. “Ooh.” She uttered slightly, the sensation catching her off guard. She couldn't suppress a building laughter in her throat, and she involuntarily giggled a bit as she wiggled her haunches in the air. Smiling as the ticklish feeling poked at her, she looked back and noticed Spike out of the corner of her eye, who seemed to jerk his head back towards the bookshelf and resume dusting. Twilight’s eyes looked to the side, where she noticed her tail had involuntarily lifted and exposed her soft lavender folds. 
        
Had he seen her? Twilight knew that he had to have gotten an eyeful of her. The thought embarrassed her, but… it also excited her. She thought of what Spike might have seen from where he was standing. He must have just turned his head, and not only seen her purple rump in the air, but the sight of her marehood fully on display. Looking out of the corner of her eye at him, she could only imagine what he was thinking right now: the image of her uncovered folds must be driving him wild. Twilight grinned deviously, feeling her cheeks burn as she let her imagination carry her away. She immediately knew how she wanted to spend her break, and she trotted towards her young dragon assistant. 
        
“Naughty boy.” Twilight said with a smirk on her face. “I saw you peeping at me.”
        
Spike’s ears twitched subtly, but he continued his work without missing a beat. “I-I didn’t see anything.” he replied with a murmur.
        
“Liar.” She said, drawing closer to him. “I can see how red your face is. You saw everything, didn't you?”
        
Dropping his feather duster, Spike pulled his claws up to his face and chuckled. “Okay, okay… yeah, I saw it.” He admitted bashfully. 
        
“Mm, I’ll bet it’s driving you crazy now isn't it?” She asked, leaning her chin on his shoulder, letting her warm breath puff against his scales. “Spike… I think I’m in the mood for one of our study breaks’.”
        
Spike leaned his head back, taking a deep breath through his nose as he ran the palm of his claw against the side of Twilight’s face. “Mm… we haven’t had one of those in a while, have we?”
        
“We haven’t! It’s been much too long.” Twilight said excitedly, her wings twitching at her sides. “You think you can still do this?”
        
“Oh yeah, no problem!” he confirmed, dropping his feather duster and scampering towards the steps leading up to the balcony, where Twilight's bed resided. He reached his claws his claws up to the sheets to pull himself up. His legs wiggled as he struggled to gain some leverage, until Twilight put her head underneath his tiny posterior and pushed him all the way up to her bed. “Heh, hey careful with that thing!” Spike said to her, indicating the horn that had rubbed up between his legs. Twilight giggled playfully, pulling herself up to him and gazing into his face. Spike looked up at her, then looked down and drummed his claws together. “You, uh… want me to start?” he asked unsure.
        
“Hm, no.” Twilight replied casually. “I think we’ve had better luck when I take the lead. Go ahead, lie on your back.” Spike smiled nervously, and slowly pulled his head back until he was pressed up against Twilights pillows, and his chubby legs pulled up towards his chest. “Now just relax.” Twilight said, leaning her head towards him, and rubbing her face against his round belly. The little dragon began to giggle at the sensation his caretaker was giving him.
        
“Whoo, that feels really nice Twilight.” Spike tilted his head back and sighed, reveling in the sensation of the alicorn’s soft purple coat brushing across the scales of his tummy. Twilight could feel his hips squirming underneath her face, the evident pressure of her touch beginning to build in his loins. She stole a glance out of the top of her eyes and noticed Spike had closed his eyes, and his lips began to scrunch up. She felt something poke her at her neck, and lifted her head to allow the new protrusion some room. Between Spike’s legs, a visible crease began to part to the sides, and a smooth fleshy shaft began to push outwards. She could see the triangular head breach the pouch first, followed by the rest of his light gray rod which stood at a full four and a half inches; a very impressive length for a dragon at his age (so she had read). It was certainly big enough to satisfy her, she knew from experience. 
        
“Oh my~” Twilight teased him as she looked up and down his apparent length. “You’re such a big boy, Spike.” Hearing her words, Spike immediately threw his arms over his eyes to cover his face. Twilight brought a hoof to her mouth in a fit of laughter. “Oh my gosh! Are you still shy?” Without moving his arms, Spike nodded at her. “Aww, you are just too adorable!” Twilight dipped her head and placed her mouth against the underside of his shaft, and gave it a nice firm kiss. “Mwaah.” Her lips smacked against his rod, causing it to jolt up against his stomach as he let out a high pitched whimper. Twilight had to stop herself from squealing from his timid antics, and suppressing her outburst forced it down into her posterior, giving her rump a little shake as she felt another tingling surge spread out from her. 
        
Twilight pushed her tongue outwards and pressed it against Spike’s flesh, drawing it upwards until it reached the head. 
        
“Hnnng…” Spike moaned out, pulling his claws away from his face and gripping the bed sheets tightly. With his eyes opened wide and towards the ceiling, he drew his head back down to look at Twilight with his rosy red cheeks and embarrassed smile. Twilight’s lips curled in a grin as she licked him up and down. She opened her mouth towards the head of his dragon cock, and wrapped around him with her tongue pressing against his pulsing triangular head. She kept her eyes locked on him the entire way as she slowly pushed down to the base of his shaft. Luckily, Spike wasn’t so big that he needed to enter her throat in order for her to fully take him in. Once her lips pressed against his pelvis, she reversed her momentum and pulled her head upwards, tugging against the flesh of his shaft. Spike tilted his head back and moaned deeply from the sensation she was giving him. “Haaaah… oh, Twilight…”
        
“Hmm?” Twilight hummed inquisitively, as she reached the tip of his dragon penis and pushed her tongue against the underside of his head. 
        
“You… you’re so good at this.” 
        
Twilight smiled at his praise. She wanted to reply back, but thought her efforts might be better spent continuing her services on him. She resumed pushing her lips down and up on him, ever slowly massaging his rod with her tongue as she moved her head, the object in her mouth now notably slick with her own saliva. While she continued to pleasure him, she felt something brushing up against the top of her mane, and looked up to see Spike reaching down and stroking her hair with the palm of his claw as he kept his mouth closed, concentrating hard on keeping himself in check. He’s petting me! Twilight thought to herself, feeling her heart flutter. What a sweetheart! His show of tenderness sent another jolt down Twilight’s body, causing her to wiggle her rump as the feeling culminated in her winking mare passage. 
        
“Aahh…” Spike began to moan continuously. Twilight could tell from the increased pitch in his voice, and the sudden jolt in his shaft in her mouth that he was reaching his climax. She kept her mouth wrapped firmly around him as his hips began to shake, and was prepared to take all of his cum inside of her mouth, as she had done in a similar fashion in previous sessions. But, a new idea popped into her head. With only a few seconds to act, Twilight gently pulled her mouth up past Spike’s head and off of him completely, opening her mouth wide just a few inches away from his trembling member. 
        
“Hrrrgh- aah!” With his eyes closed, Spike pushed his hips up and released a shot of sticky cum all over Twilight’s face, a few strands entering her mouth and coating her tongue, but the majority of it painting her purple cheeks as well as the dark violet mane with streaky of filmy white. Spike opened his eyes for a moment to see his caretaker doused in his fluids, and the sight surprised him enough to elicit another spurt of cum from him, with just enough force to shoot up and hit Twilight’s chin. Twilight moaned as she licked her chops of what sticky residue hung to her coat, and let it roll in her mouth. She enjoyed Spike’s semen quite a bit: it had a slightly Earthy taste, with a warm consistency as it coated her tongue and hit the back of her throat when she swallowed, similar to the sensation of a cup of tea just starting to cool down. “Whoa…” Spike panted, his chest moving up and down as he struggled to catch his breath. “I… I wasn’t… expecting that.”
        
Twilight giggled as she watched him so out of breath, and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Did you like it?”
        
“Yeah. You look great.”
        
“Oh Spike, I’m sure I don’t look ‘great’.”
        
“Sure you do.” Spike said earnestly as he lifted his upper body away from the mattress as his breathing returned to normal. “So, your turn now?”
        
Twilight flashed him a wide smile and nodded. The baby dragon pushed forward with his arms in front and crawled over to his alicorn lover. He began to move his claw up her foreleg and rub her shoulder gently, until he reached her face and began to coddle her cheek in his palm. Twilight closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. He lifted his other arm and rubbed her chest for a moment, before gently pushing forward and easing her to lie down with her back against the mattress. Twilight laid with her wings spreading out to either side of her as she felt Spike’s claw move from her cheek down the side of her neck, and run the tip of his finger against her coat. She began to purr against his touch, thankful that Spike wasn’t cursed with hooves and could tend to her like this, and reveled in the tingling feeling swelling in her pussy. He was getting good at this. She remembered how she had to explain to him that females required more build up than males do before they could go straight to the goods. In all honesty though, Twilight was so built up from blowing him, and from his show of affection while she did so, that he could have just as easily pinned her down and gone straight to work on her. But he wanted to be diligent and show his attentiveness to her, so she let him continue. 
        
Spike continued to move his claws downwards, until he reached her closed hindlegs. He traced one of his fingers down her thigh and stopped at her knees, wedging the rest of his fingers as well as his other hand between them. He began to slowly but firmly push her hindlegs open, making her moan out loudly until her legs were completely spread, and her soaking pussy and throbbing clitoris was revealed to him.
        
“Whoa, look at that.” Spike uttered as he observed her. “You’re really wet back here. You like this, don’t ya princess?” Twilight felt her face and her ears absolutely burning as he talked to her, and offered a hasty nod. Her folds quivered in anticipation as his palm ran up the inside of her hindleg, and he placed a small kiss against her coat. Twilight moaned out again with her head against her mattress. 
        
“Spike! Oh, come on. I’m so horny, I can’t stand it.”
        
“Oh, wow! Uh, so you’re built up enough I guess. That means I can do… this, right?” Spike swiftly brought his fingers back down her leg and to her pussy, pressing them firmly against her pulsing clitoris. 
        
“Aaaah!” Twilight pushed her hips forward as Spike touched her most sensitive spot. Spike rubbed her in circles for just a few seconds, then released his hold on her being careful not to push her too much. He reached back and put both of his claws on the underside of each hindleg. With his mouth pressed together, Spike let his long thin tongue slither out and run up against Twilight’s soaking passage. Twilight cried out again as he used his fingers to spread her passage open and push his tongue into her inner walls. She could feel the sensation of his tongue flexing all about, pressing the top and bottom of her at the same time, never settling in one particular spot for too long as it wriggled about and tickled her nerves on the inside. 
        
Spike withdrew his tongue from her caverns for a moment, resting his chin on her pelvis and lapping his soaking lips up as he gazed into her eyes. “Mmm…” he said lavishly, working his thumbs against the inner rim of her marehood. “So delicious. You taste really sweet, Twi.”  

“Ohhh! Oh, Spike! Spike, I’m so close!” Twilight cried, her breathing frantic and her voice increasing in pitch. Spike flashed her a devilish glare and pulled his head back down, the tip of his tongue poking inside her folds and the flat of his tongue against her clitoris. “Aaaah!” Twilight was moaning in a near falsetto at this point, feeling the pressure in her loins build as Spike withdrew his tongue completely and wrapped his lips around her swollen clitoris. “Oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh, mmm!” Twilight’s voice caught in her throat as she felt Spike suck her, and with a final thrust she felt the pressure hit its peak and a soothing euphoria overwhelm her all at once as a fierce wetness gushed from between her hindlegs. Spike pulled his head up, his chin soaking in her glistening mare juice as he looked at her, grinning and breathing heavily as he gazed at her. 

Spike crawled up to Twilight, intricately rubbing his open claws against her soft purple barrel. Twilight mewed passionately, her body writhing in pleasure as she felt him rub her so gently. His reach extended downward towards her belly, stroking her in soft circles and then lightly scratching her just below her waist. The alicorn kept her mouth closed as a lustful whine escaped her throat, and her hindlegs squeezed shut in blissful agitation.
        
“You up for… another?” Spike panted.
        
Twilight couldn’t deny that the desire was still present in her, and she wanted to feel that sudden release again even after experiencing it just a moment ago. “Yeah…” she breathed out tiredly. “Only if… you’re ready.”

        “Yeah. Your moaning is really starting to get to me. Just… give me a sec.” Twilight’s ears flicked as he praised her, and she waited patiently for him to catch his breath, her legs still shaking as the tension in her body began to escalate again, anticipating another round of pleasure. “Okay.”
        
Twilight, with her body facing downwards against the mattress, rested her chin against her bed as she watched Spike pull himself off of her back and reposition himself behind her rump. The dragon reached down and slid his phalanges across her hindlegs, working his way up to the base of her violet tail. Twilight held her breath in her throat, until she felt his thumb push underneath her tail, brushing it aside and visibly exposing her slick and pulsing marehood.
        
“Ahhh…” Twilight moaned out loud as her pussy winked. “Spike… don’t make me beg…” 
        
“Heh, but you’re so cute when you beg...” He teased, working his left claw up her leg and giving her purple rump a slow and firm squeeze. 
        
“Mmm!” Twilight whined, shutting her eyes and trying to compose her voice. “Spike… please…”
        
“Yes…?” Spike asked inquisitively, drawing his touch up near her winking lips, and tracing the outside of them tactfully. 
        
“Ohh, rut me Spike! Please, I want to feel you inside me, hurry!” she begged, casting aside her pride in response to the pulsing ache in her loins. 
        
“You got it!” Spike replied eagerly. Sliding his palm between her thighs, the little dragon pushed her left hindleg up into the air, so her privates were on full display and facing out to the left side of their bed. The smell of Twilight’s lust filled Spike’s nostrils and gave his hanging dragon cock the extra twitch it needed to reach its full mass. Raised on his short knees, he pointed his shaft towards his caretaker’s soft and soaking crease, and poked his throbbing and warm head up against her.
        
“Eep!” Twilight shrieked, the sudden sensation of his length prodding her catching her off guard. Her drive told her to flee, that her body was too sensitive to take him and that she should give up the notion. But Spike’s claws began to wrap around her lifted hindleg as he gripped her for support, and she felt a bit safer with him holding onto her. She felt him pull on her leg just slightly, accompanying the force of his girth pushing in, and past the surface of her folds. “Ahh… ahhh!” Twilight sang out as she felt him fill her up inch by inch, until she felt his hips touch her flank. He was all the way inside of her. He wasn't filling her up all the way, but it was enough for Twilight; her body was so sensitive, and she was with someone she had trusted since she was a young filly. The alicorn’s body squirmed in pleasure with the full sensation his pulsing dragon member gave her.
        
With his claw held against her waist, Spike began to pull his hips back, ever slowly. His throbbing shaft tugged against Twilight’s tight passage, eliciting a whine from her throat as he moved back. He studied her face, watching her mouth tremble as the head of his length stood on the precipice of leaving her entrance… then he pushed himself into her again, hearing a soft “schlick” as his scales pushed against her moist body. Twilight’s mouth opened and let out another satisfied moan from feeling him fill her up again. “Ohhh…” she purred out as he repositioned his arms around her raised hindleg, holding against her to allow himself easier access to move his hips at a faster rate. “Ohh, Spike… it feels so good…”
        
“Uhn… ah… hoh…” Spike grunted and moaned as he pushed his hips towards and away from Twilight. His pace had increased significantly since he started, his body smacking against the front of his partner with a loud “thwack, thwack, thwack” with every thrust he gave her. His brow wrinkled as he fought to keep his focus. Twilight felt amazing on the inside. The pressure her winking lips provided gave him such a euphoric feeling. He wanted so badly to give into his instincts and hump her like crazy until he spurted. Spike opened his eyes for a moment and he looked at Twilight, her eyes closed and her mouth open, the corners of her mouth turned up in a joyful smile. The sight of his caretaker enjoying herself so much served as a reminder that a large part of his satisfaction came from watching her in such an immense state of pleasure. 
        
“Ah, ah, ah, Spiiiike…” Twilight panted out frantically as he pumped into her.
        
“Ouagh… hah…. Yeah?” Spike asked, keeping his rhythm from breaking even for a moment.
        
“Are- are you close? T-tell me you’re close.”
        
“Yeah, I’m pretty close.” Spike wondered if she was wanting him to bring her home finally. The thought of him finishing made the nerves in his body stand up, and his hips began to shake as he pulled his body back and forth. He took a large breath and steeled himself against the pull building in his testicles, rubbing his claw up and down Twilight’s thigh as he continued to rut her at a slow and steady pace. 
        
“Spike, ahh… f-finish inside me! I want to feel you fill me up. Oh, I want to feel your hot dragon cum in me … ahhh.”
        
Spike nodded, running out of breath at this point. Clenching his teeth, Spike doubled his thrusting speed, pumping in and out of her with the heavy sound of his scales slapping against her slick purple coat. The feeling inside his loins began to mount quickly, an agonizing tickle building up from the base of his shaft as he pushed. He looked down at Twilight, who opened her eyes and looked deep into his. Twilight let another lustful moan escape her throat, and her tongue pushed out to lick her lips, before she hung her mouth open again. Spike felt his face flush before he shut his eyes in response to the sensation pushing up towards the head of his shaft, sending him into a quick humping frenzy.
        
“Haaah, ah, ah, augh!” Spike pushed his hips forward, as a string of his dragon cum shot into the wet passage gripping his length so firmly. He pulled back barely an inch and pushed again as another spurt pushed out of him, coating Twilight’s inner walls with his seed. Twilight pressed her head into her mattress and closed her eyes as her lower back arched upwards. 
        
“Ohhhh- ahhh~” Twilight purred, followed by a wash of her fluids around Spike’s shaft, still stiff inside of her passage and just beginning to lose its firmness. Feeling her wetness pour over him made him twitch once more, releasing another small spurt of semen into her. Both of their juices mixed together in a white and filmy mess as he deflated inside of her. Spike rested his head over Twilight’s raised leg, until he felt himself almost flaccid again. He gently slide himself out of her and crawled up to her upper body, laying behind her wings and draping a claw under the front of the nape of her neck. He brushed his face up to the back of her mane and inhaled deeply. 
        
“Mm… you smell nice.” He whispered, barely catching his breath again. Twilight shivered and giggled, turning her head just slightly to offer him a satisfied smile. The baby dragon leaned in and kissed the back of Twilight’s neck, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from her and a deep sigh.
        
“Spike…” she said, looking at him out of the corner of her eyes. “Remember what we talked about regarding affection?”
        
“Yeah, I remember.” Spike replied, sounding disappointed. “Is a kiss really that big of a deal?”
        
“We can’t be getting too mushy with each other, Spike, or it’ll make things complicated. We agreed-”

“I know. Sorry, heat of the moment; it won’t happen again.”
        
Twilight averted her eyes back down to the mattress with a frown. She smiled again, and leaned her mouth towards Spike’s claw, still draped over her chest, and placed a soft kiss on his wrist. “I forgive you.” She said sweetly. 
        
Spike yawned widely, his breath warm on Twilight’s neck. “Think I’m gonna take a short nap.” He said, his voice losing its volume. “I’ll see if I can finish dusting… dusting off your books a little...” The end of his sentence was replaced by deep breaths against Twilight’s coat in a slow and steady rhythm. Twilight laid in her spot for a few minutes, then turned over to confirm that her little assistant had indeed fallen asleep. She used her magic to lift his claw off of her body and gently scooching her way out of bed, trotting off to the restroom to wash her face of his semen still clinging onto her face. 
        
Twilight exited her restroom and trotted back towards her book case, craning her neck towards the section with her seldom used cookbooks. She hovered one out and flipped through until she found what she was looking for. The large frosting covered jewel cake photographed above the recipe sure looked beautiful, but not exactly appetizing. She was sure to a dragon like Spike though, that it probably looked like the most delicious treat on Earth. 

“Tomorrow’s gonna be your best birthday yet  Spike; I’ll see to it myself.” she whispered, moving the book to her desk and placing it underneath her book on Zebra-Equestrian’s. She levitated the small blanket out of Spike’s personal bed and draped it over his form, still snoozing in her large bed. She watched him snuggle warmly under his covers before returning to her desk, opening her book to the section where her mark had saved her place, and resuming her studies. The sound of Spike’s light snores provided a comfortable background noise for her as her eyes resumed pouring over the text from where she had left off.

> Chapter 2: It's Time To Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        A roll of newspaper whistled through the air and landed on the final doorstep of a young stallion’s route for the town of Ponyville. At the same time, various restaurants were seating their first customers of the day after opening, and the marketplace sprang to life with the hustle and bustle of citizens haggling for the food and products they needed. It was the start of another busy day in the town of Ponyville. 

        Despite the hustle and bustle going on through the town, it was quite a different story inside the Golden Oaks library. Motion and noise were scarce throughout the place, save for the heavy snoring of Spike, asleep in his own basket. With his claw draped over his round belly, Spike’s chest rose and fell with each snore, his apple spotted blanket hanging off to the side of his sleeping body. Drawing in a rather deep snore, the little dragon let out a hack and shook his head. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times, his sleepy mind trying to cope with the fact that he was awake. 
        
Aw, man. Spike thought to himself as his blurry vision began to clear. And I was so close to saving the space princess from the clutches of Lord Kanstic. He pulled his claws over his chest and over his head, pushing his little arms and legs outwards as he yawned and stretched over the edges of his bed. “Twilight?” he called out sleepily, wondering if the alicorn who gave him shelter was still in her bed, and if she was awake. 

 Reluctantly, he rolled out of bed and crawled out on all fours, only stepping up on his two legs once he reached the top of the stairs. He noticed before climbing down that Twilight’s bed was empty and neatly made. Spike called out for her again once he reached the bottom of the stairs, again hearing no response. He looked around at the empty library, seeing nothing there whatsoever. The only movement came from a short brown owl who sat perched on the edge of a window, running his beak through his feathers to keep his wings properly groomed. 

“Morning, Owlicious.” Spike called out, walking closer towards him. “Any idea where Twilight is?”

“Hoo!” Owlicious replied to him.

“Come on, you know Twilight, she’s—nope, nope not doing that again.” Spike stopped himself short and walked away, leaving the owl looking at him quizzically. He rubbed the scales on top of his head as he looked over the empty room. Heck, if she’s not here, I’m going back to bed, he thought silently, Maybe I can get back to my space adventure if I hurry. Just before proceeding to walk upstairs again, his stomach gave out a small rumble, demanding that he fill its void soon. Spike let out a frustrated groan, turning about and proceeding towards the kitchen.

If Twilight wasn't there, at least he could take the time he needed to make himself an awesome breakfast. Some gemstone pancakes sure sounded tasty right about now! Spike excitedly walked into the pantry and climbed the walls up to where Twilight kept the pancake batter and carried it down in his mouth. He made his way to the cabinet on the bottom level, where he kept his personal stash of gemstones, licking his lips as he decided which ones he felt like using today: Pyrite? Sapphire? Jasper? Or, why not a little bit of each? With an eager smile, Spike threw open the doors of the cabinet. His excited expression turned to one of confusion when he saw that each of the buckets that held a different variety of gem had been cleared out. What? How did this happen? I still had a little bit of each bucket last time I checked! Spike turned away, then looked back to make sure that he wasn't missing them in his grogginess. He slammed the doors shut, rubbing his face in frustration. Maybe Twilight had moved them for some reason? He moved to another cabinet next to the one he checked: nothing there. Then again at the one next to that one: nothing there either

Spike made his way to the table, thinking it might be better to gather his thoughts for a moment.  He climbed up into his chair, and noticed a plate with some food on it.  He recognized it as hash browns. He wasn't really a big fan of hash browns. …Then again, he had never tried them before. But the rumble in his stomach told him that he shouldn't really be picky at the moment. He reached for one and took a bite, raising his eyebrows and nodding his head at the taste of warm crispiness filled with fluffy potato inside. “Not bad,” He said aloud with a full mouth, “But, it’s missing something. It needs…”

“Ketchup!” he heard a bubbly voice complete his thought for him, followed by several hushes in response.

“Yeah, ketchup!” Spike replied with enthusiasm, before his face twisted in puzzlement. Wait, where did that come from? Spike pushed back in his seat and looked under the table, finding nothing but empty space. Pulling his head back up, he thought he saw a fleeting ball of pink fluffiness scurry away. He was about to stand up and look into it, until he noticed a bottle of ketchup next to his plate of hash browns. “Oh, nice!” he said, squirting himself a little spot to dip in. The sweet, red paste gave his crispy treat a whole new flavor as he took another bite. They weren't gemstones, but they were delicious nonetheless. 

He returned to surveying the kitchen, contemplating where his gems went. He knew Twilight had her annual re-shelving day coming up sometime soon. But did re-shelving also cover kitchen utensils and supplies as well? Or maybe…

Spike felt something tap his left shoulder. He turned to look behind him and found no one there. He turned back around and saw another plate next to his hash browns, one with a piece of toast smothered in blackberry jam. The little dragon’s eyes darted from side to side as he nervously reached for the bread, hearing a number of high pitched giggles coming from somewhere in the room. Spike began to feel a touch paranoid as he munched on his toast. He thought he was either being spied on, or the library was haunted. But in all of the strange tales he had heard, he’d never heard of a super secret spy or a ghost that fed its victims breakfast. His eyes scanned from side to side in search of something that might be out of place. He saw Twilight’s coffee grinder, the large fridge, her spice rack, a group of ponies sitting across from him and watching him eat, the stove top—

Wait a second… Spike straightened his head and looked in front of him to see a pink curly maned pony looking at him with a party blower in her mouth standing on top of the table, mere inches from his face. With a happy smile, she blew the party favor loudly, and the soft paper tapped him on the nose. 

“Waaaaaaugh!” Spike yelled out as he fell back in his chair. 

“Morning, birthday boy!” the pony burst out, her friends trotting over to help Spike up. “We were starting to think you wanted to have a sleepover for your party instead, but none of us brought our sleeping bags!”

“B-birthday?” Spike mulled it over, and remembered that today was in fact his birthday. He looked up at the five mares staring down at him excitedly—wait, five? That wasn't right. Pinkie Pie had just surprised the heck out of him, and he was currently being helped to his feet by his caretaker Twilight, as well as the apple farmer, Applejack. Timid Fluttershy was hovering a bit off the ground, lifting Spike’s chair upright again, and Ponyville’s star pegasus athlete, Rainbow Dash was still on the floor cracking up at how Pinkie Pie had spooked him. “Wait a minute, where’s Rarity?” Spike asked, disheartened. 

Rainbow Dash ceased laughing and exchanged nervous glances between each of her friends. Twilight Sparkle was the one to break their silence. 

“Bad news, Spike. Rarity’s tied up with some emergency dress orders today, and she’s not going to be able to make it.” Spike’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “But--! But while we were over at her boutique today, she did give me something she wanted you to have,” Twilight assured him, floating a beautifully wrapped package topped with an envelope, Spike's name embroidered on the front with Rarity's elegant caligraphy. Or rather “Spikey-Wikey” was what it actually read. Spike hurriedly tore the letter open, and his eyes scanned the parchment. 

Dearest Spike,
I am truly truly TRULY sorry to say this to you my dear, but a few snoody agents from Canterlot have requested my service this morning to make the most stylized dresses for their models, and they want them done by the end of the night. Even Opalescence has decided not to approach me with how infuriated I am at these clients for demanding such a task from me at the VERY LAST minute, and not even apologizing to me for being such an inconvenience. As much as I wish I wasn't serving such bad etiquette, I’m afraid that I must comply with them or else risk tarnishing my reputation as a business owner for a lifetime. And the amount of work these projects will entail will more than likely fill up most of my afternoon. Words cannot express how apologetic I am to miss out on your one special day of the year. 
Even though I am missing out on your festivities, I do not want to cast you out entirely. If your party is finished before sunset, I hope you wouldn't mind paying a visit to my boutique today, as I should be done with my (very inconsiderate) client’s orders by then. I would be more than happy to be a generous host to you and present you with the birthday present you wholeheartedly deserve. Hope you have an absolutely splendid birthday nonetheless. 
-Sincerely
Rarity


Spike finished the letter addressed to him, and his head sunk in disappointment. His eyes were locked to the floor until Twilight lifted his chin with her hoof. 

“I’m so sorry, Spike. I know how much Rarity means to you.” As she attempted to console him, Twilight’s friends reached under the kitchen table and placed a number of packages on top. 

Spike closed his eyes and nodded solemnly. “Well, she did say that she would be done later today. I’ll drop by her place later today after the party here is finished.”

“Then let’s get this party started!” Rainbow Dash cheered, flying in between Applejack and Pinkie Pie, while putting a hoof on each of their shoulders. The pegasus darted through the air into the main room of the library, where Spike had previously been too tired to notice that the area was decorated with bright and colorful streamers, balloons, tables with food and snacks, as well as a large banner adorned with the name of the main dragon of the evening. Spike reached a claw towards the wrapped package, but pulled it back after hearing Twilight clear her throat. 

“Let’s save presents for later, Spike.” She instructed him.

“Aw … okay.” Spike sighed, placing Rarity’s gift on the breakfast table, along with everypony else’s gift. 

 Rainbow Dash let the needle touch the record in its player, and the room was filled with an upbeat party track. The other four ponies cantered towards her, with Twilight and Spike tailing behind, and the whole group began to boogie down for everything they were worth. Spike found himself passed between each of the mares as the music progressed, spending a good amount of time in particular with Twilight once a rather spicy song began to play. 

The two cut loose, breaking into a fiery salsa as they began to shimmy, stepping towards and away from each other in rhythm. At one point, Twilight stood on her hindlegs and spun Spike around like a top, with him twisting his claw around her hoof, and dipped him down to the side just as the song had finished playing. They found their eyes locked, until a round of applause snapped them out of it. They both looked around to see the other four ponies off to the side of the room and clopping their forelegs against the wooden floor and cheering their performance (Pinkie Pie even whistled through her hooves, a very rare talent among most ponies). Twilight quickly dropped Spike, who managed to catch his footing before falling, and the both of them offered sheepish smiles to their friends. 

“Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy softly called out to them, “I had no idea you two could dance like that!”

“Yeah, heh heh,” Twilight stammered, “Not sure where it came from actually.”

“Well heck, now that we’re all warmed up, what’s say we step outside for a bit?” Applejack suggested, moving towards the door and pulling it open. “It’s right perfect weather for a game of hoofball.”

And indeed it was. With fall just setting in, the weather outside was delightfully warm, with a cool breeze blowing through to keep the heat from being overwhelming. With Fluttershy as the scorekeeper, Spike and Rainbow Dash squared off against Pinkie Pie and Applejack. The game went rather smoothly, except for the few times that Rainbow Dash “accidentally” used her wings to avoid a tag or catch a pass when they had agreed at the start of the game on no wing use. After a squabble between her and Applejack, and some new restrictions put in place with a bit of rope, the game was won in favor of Pinkie and Applejack. 

Fluttershy traded her spot as scorekeeper with Pinkie Pie in order to join in on a game of badminton. The others were surprised to see how gracefully Fluttershy soared through the air without even using her wings, and Spike found himself glad that he had been paired up with her. With the final serve, Spike and the timid pegasus claimed victory over Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Fluttershy feeling so overjoyed that she scooped up Spike in her forelegs and hovered up in the sky cheering with an unexpected amount of jubilation.

Once back inside, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy lifted up the large unicorn head statue to remove the table affixed at the center, and draped over its horn a lengthy rope, the end of it carrying a large piñata in the shape of a rather silly-looking King Sombra’s head. With a blindfold properly in place, Spike swung wildly with a wooden bat in an attempt to break open the large vessel, while Pinkie Pie tugged at the rope to keep it bouncing up and down. Having grown tired of the giggles of the mares watching him, Spike jumped up and swung down, hearing a large crack and a resounding cheer from those around him. He lifted his blindfold and saw all four mares crowding around to pull their share of candy in, and he dived in head first to make sure he didn’t get cut out of the cut he had earned. 

“Don’t fill up on too much candy, Spike,” Twilight cautioned him light-heartedly, “Or else you’ll be too sick to open your presents!”

Spike poked his head through the pile of candy he had buried himself in and sprinted to the kitchen table, looking at the pile of gifts before him with an eager grin. “Oh man, you guys always get me the coolest gifts! But, can I open Rarity’s first?”

“I don’t see why not. Go for it, birthday boy!” Twilight assured him. 

Spike slid the tip of his claw down the front of the package, slicing it open and pulling the wrapping back. Inside was a small outfit wrapped in plastic, a dark black two-button vest, a solid white long sleeve undershirt with cuffed sleeves, and a small red bowtie at the collar. “Whoa, nice!” Spike said, holding the outfit up for the others to see. 

“Ooh, that there’s fancy, Spike!” Applejack complimented his gift, “Betcha’d make a real sharp-lookin’ butler wearin’ that.” 

Twilight turned to Applejack and raised her eyebrow at her with a sly smile on her face, before shaking her head. “If it’s okay with you girls, I’d like Spike to open my gift next.” Twilight said, pointing to the rectangular object wrapped in glittering, purple paper. “I know what it looks like, but I promise you that it is not a book,”  She assured him. Spike pulled up Twilight’s package and inspected it before tearing the wrapping to shreds. 

“Whoa, a comic!” Spike cheered excitedly, looking at the cover of the tome in his hands, and flipping through the various colored illustrations inside. 

“A graphic novel to be more specific.” 

Behind the alicorn, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes with a smile on her face. “Still technically a book—ow!” Dash felt the sting of a rather fierce jab to her sides from Applejack, who flashed a wide smile at the pegasus as she subtly shook her head. 

“This is a series called Blaze. It’s about a pony-dragon hybrid that fights against monsters. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Spike flipped the comic book back to its front to properly examine the cover. The character that took up the most visual space was a bulky red pony with pointed ears and scales on his body rather than a hairy coat, as well as a pair of pointed dragon wings jutting from his back. His nostrils were flared as a tiny flame shot out from them, and his eyes were veered, looking off to a distant mountain where a gathering of fearsome looking creatures stood looking down at him. “He looks really cool …” Spike replied, admiring the center of the piece. He placed his gift on the step behind him, and rushed over to throw his arms around Twilight’s shoulders. “Thanks, Twilight.”

Twilight lowered her head and wrapped a purple wing around his back. “You’re very welcome, Spike. Now go on, you’ve got plenty more presents to open.”

Spike resumed opening up each package from his friends: a pair of custom-made inline skates from Rainbow Dash, an assortment of plant seeds from Fluttershy that she had recommended were wonderful for brewing tea; from Applejack a set of darts as well as a board bearing her colors and a small red apple as a bullseye. Pinkie Pie had given him a pogo stick, saying that he might enjoy bouncing around as much as she did. She also had a second gift for him from Pound and Pumpkin Cake: a small piece of construction paper with an assortment of macaroni glued in various places. “Hey, looks just like me!” Spike said, eliciting a warm giggle from the mares. 

“Who’s ready for cake?” Twilight asked.

“Ooh, me me me me me!” Pinkie Pie responded, darting out of the kitchen and sprinting back with a large round confection surrounded in pink and yellow frosting. Bucking it off of her hips, the cake did a quadruple somersault in the air and landed with the plate side down on the table, the top of it wobbling left to right several times before coming to a rest in the center. A collective sigh of relief rang out from the other mares watching in worry. 

“That looks absolutely scrumptious, Pinkie,” Fulltershy praised exuberantly.

“I’ll say!” Spike concurred, reaching a claw out towards the large pastry. 

“But Spike, if you fill up on this cake, then your little tummy won’t have any room for the cake that Twilight made you!” Pinkie Pie cautioned.

“Say what … now…?” Spike’s voice left him when Twilight’s magic levitated a smaller cake from one of the higher shelves down to his level, making his jaw drop once he realized what was so special about it: the cake was lined with a light golden pyrite frosting, chunks of blue sapphire sticking out of its layers, and sprinkled all over with a fine coat of jasper flakes. There was even an assembly of solid rubies in the shape and color of his smiling face at the center of the cake. “Is this… is this gem cake!?”

“Happy birthday Spike.” Twilight said to the dragon, his tongue hanging out as he admired his cake. 

Spike shook his head to clear his daze, and looked at Twilight astonishingly. “I didn’t even know you knew how to make one of these.”

“Pinkie Pie helped a lot!” Twilight assured him, the pink pony herself looking up a moment from stuffing herself full of her own cake. “I’m not much of a cook, so she supervised me most of the time. I think the hardest part was putting enough magic into a spell to crush, slice, and grind those gems without ruining them completely. This is the first time I’ve ever made anything like this; I hope it’s okay.”

Spike reached down and grabbed a bit of his dessert, eating it out of the palm of his hand. His eyes opened wide at the wonderful sensation overwhelming his taste buds: the cool pyrite icing provided a smooth entrance to the soft moist layers of bread, which had absorbed a sweet raspberry-esque flavor from the crunchy chunks of sapphire in them. “Mmm ... oh man, Twilight…” he said, scooping up an even larger helping and stuffing his face to the point where his cheeks puffed out a bit. “Thith ith the betht thing I’f evah eathn! Thak you tho muthch!” Twilight giggled joyously, levitating a slice of Pinkie Pie’s cake for herself to munch on while she glanced back and forth from her pony friends to Spike making short work of the treat she had made for him.

The group chatted amongst themselves for a while after both cakes had been consumed, sharing stories and news about Ponyville, plans for vacation and travel. Applejack was the first to step away from the table, wobbling a bit as she regained her stance. 

“Hoo-ee, that cake’s going straight to my thighs” She said humorously, “It’s been a real pleasure y’all, but I best skedaddle. I’ve got Mac’s workload to add to my own in the morning since he covered me today, so I’ll need to get to bed a little early tonight.” The others chimed in with their own reasons for departing, before they all stood up and near each other. Twilight and Spike joined them for a final group hug, the little dragon jumping up to wrap his arms around Twilight and Fluttershy, all of their heads leaning in to press against each other. 

“Thank you so much for coming guys. Today was a blast!” Spike expressed whole-heartedly. 

 “No problem little guy.” Rainbow Dash replied. “On a scale of one to ten on the awesome scale, this party was definitely an eleven!”

“Thank you for having us Twilight. Goodbye Spike," Fluttershy uttered softly, The group hug disbanded and the mares stepped away, Twilight and Spike waving good bye to them as they each stepped out the door. Once the door shut behind the last one, Spike turned to Twilight and looked at her with a wide grin on his face, a bit of a bounce in his stance. 

“You’re ready to go to Rarity’s, aren’t you?”

Spike scratched the back of his neck and chuckled. “That obvious, huh?”

“I know you’ve been wanting to go over there since you first read the letter. You’ve been very patient with me and the others. I’m proud of you.”

“It wasn’t that hard to do. It’s not like I wasn’t having fun anyway, just … yeah, I was really wishing Rarity was here.”

“It’s fine, Spike, go ahead. Just make sure you’re back before dark, okay?”

“I will. Thanks, Twilight.” Spike gave the alicorn a small hug before he headed towards the door. He was just about to step outside when he paused and looked up, then turned around and ran back inside. 

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked him.

“Nothing. Just figured before I go over there, I might wear this.” Spike explained, picking up the plastic wrap that held his vest and long sleeve outfit. “Seems only fitting, doesn’t it?” Spike stepped behind the post where the golden unicorn head was mounted while he changed; not so much for privacy, but in order to let Twilight see him once he had it put on completely. 

Spike pulled open the plastic wrap and unfolded the outfit. He reached an arm inside the long sleeve and felt something else there. He pulled it out and saw that there was another piece to his outfit: a pair of black shorts. Spike shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t really have a need for pants, but he wasn’t going to complain about an outfit Rarity had put together for him. It was most likely her creative genius being displayed in a way only her refined eye could see. 

Spike hung his shorts and vest up over the wooden post while he pulled his shirt over his body, pulling together all four buttons before slipping his bowtie underneath. It took him a few tries, but he managed to get the tie exactly right. With the shirt done, Spike pulled his smooth black vest and buttoned that up as well. Spike reached for his shorts and pulled them down to his feet, stepping through each leg hole. He pulled them up, and found that they were more snug than he was expecting. They hardly were able to encompass his tail, which hung out the back and made it difficult for them to stay upwards correctly. And it felt somewhat tight around his thighs and groin area. Did Rarity forget that Spike had a little bit of a growth spurt in the last two birthdays he’d had? 

Well, they weren’t so bad really. Spike was still able to walk out from behind the podium without too much discomfort.

“All finished?” Twilight asked, turning towards him. “Let’s see—oh … oh, wow.” Twilight trailed off, her eyes looking him up and down.

“What do you think?” Spike asked proudly. “Looks pretty ritzy, don’t you think?”

“It looks pretty interesting alright.” Twilight replied, her eyes still looking downwards at him. She smiled sheepishly as he turned around, giving her a full view of his back before turning back to face her. 

“Alright, I’m headed out then.”

“Spike, I don’t know if-!” 

“Yeah yeah, I know, back before dark!” Spike called out to her, shutting the door behind him. Twilight took a deep breath and fanned herself with her hoof, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.

“Wow, Rarity,” she murmured to herself, “Your taste in fashion has taken a pretty interesting curve.”
	
	

> Chapter 3: Rekindling the Flame
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Wearing his birthday suit (that is, the uptown vest and shorts that Rarity had designed) Spike made his way through the streets of Ponyville towards Carousel Boutique. Every now and then, the little dragon would reach down and tug his shorts to the side to prevent them from riding up she sides of his crotch. He waved to a number of ponies as he passed by, such as Mr. Davenport of the Quills and Sofas shop, who gave him a somewhat perplexed look at first, but waved back nonetheless. He also noticed Lyra and Bon Bon looking in his general direction, both of them grinning widely, Lyra in particular seeming to struggle with holding back a fit of laughter. Spike waved to them as well, and Bon Bon nodded as they strolled by. Once he had passed them, he heard a cat-call whistle, and looked back just in time to see Bon Bon swat Lyra with her tail while saying “Now you leave him alone!” both of them giggling like crazy. 

Unsure of what they were laughing about, Spike put it out of his mind. He was on his way to see Rarity! The young dragon had fallen madly in love with her the first day he and Twilight came into Ponyville, and he had always done a poor job of hiding it from those closest to him. While her creations in fashion often received praise from ponies everywhere, Spike always seemed to offer a little bit extra in his attempts at flattery. Every outfit, every craft, every meal, even every word that she uttered, Spike had treated it as a masterpiece that should be held in the Canterlot Museum of Art. 

 Spike reflected on his perception of Rarity. While he was still fond of the unicorn, he realized that the flame of his passion for her had begun to burn out over the years. It made him slightly sad. There was a time when he had nearly told Rarity his true feelings for her, when he thought that he might be speaking his last words, which she had politely stopped while offering him a warm smile. Even though it made him feel happy, he had been confused by what she had meant with that gesture.Did she feel the same way about him? Or was that her way of saying that she had known all along, but didn't want to ruin the friendship they had already? After that day, he could have sworn that Rarity had become more affectionate with him. Instead of politely dismissing him when he offered to do extra chores around her boutique, she was much more open to offering him a thankful hug, with an occasional kiss on his cheek or forehead (effectively ending his need to keep his face unwashed, since he was sure one kiss would be replaced by a new one in due time). 

Despite the appreciated tenderness from Rarity, she still offered no plausible expression of her feelings for him; nothing to say that she wanted him nearly as much as he wanted her. What was that supposed to mean then? Was she just being nice to him? Did she feel sorry for him, and was just trying to keep from hurting his feelings? Dwelling on these thoughts for so long had made him consider the possibility that Rarity might never return the same kind of love he felt for her. It was heartbreaking, but Spike was growing up, and he considered it a life lesson on the way to adulthood. Twilight’s new form of “study breaks” certainly helped to take his mind off of his pain for a while, but Spike had eventually come to yearn for something deeper than just sex, though Twilight made it clear that she had nothing more to give than just that.

“Good grief.” Spike sighed out loud. “Can’t a dragon get a meaningful relation—oof!” Spike cried out as he ran into a solid object. He shook his head and looked forward, the entrance to the Carousel Boutique right in front of him. He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he had crashed right into Rarity’s front door. Spike lifted his claw to knock firmly on the door, and then pressed his ear against it to listen for any movement.

“Just a moment!” He heard Rarity call out from inside. Hearing the known formal accent made him smile. Even if his feelings for her had subsided, even if he no longer worshiped the ground she trotted on, he still enjoyed spending time with her, just as he enjoyed Twilight and the rest of his friends. Rarity’s keen eye for detail and beauty, as well as her gift in generosity, made her unique in a way that was worthy of her name. She was a one of a kind gem more precious than any other dragon would ever find, no matter how large their horde might grow. 

Spike waited outside the front door, bobbing up and down on his feet patiently. As he moved, he realized that the pair of shorts he was wearing had ridden up his legs and his behind. He turned back and reached a claw down to pull at them a bit, wriggling to give his nether regions a bit of space. Hearing the door crack open, Spike hastily pulled his claws forward and offered a wide grin as he looked up at the beautiful unicorn with the spiral purple mane.  Rarity gasped excitedly upon seeing him.

“There’s the dragon of the evening! Happy birthday, Spike,” Rarity leaned her head down against his shoulder, and Spiked wrapped his arms around her neck in a friendly hug. “Oh, I see you’re wearing the suit I gave you!”

“Heck yeah: this makes me look good!”

“It certainly does.” She acknowledged him. “Well, come in, come in!” 

Spike stepped into the unicorn’s boutique at her request. “Thanks for inviting me over.” He replied as she shut the door with her magic. 

“Oh, not at all darling! I simply felt terrible that I could not attend your party this evening. Did you have fun at any rate?”

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun!” Spike replied as he sat on the edge of the stage at the center of a group of mirrors. “Dash had this awesome mix that we all danced to, and then we played some sports outside for a little bit—oh yeah, me and Fluttershy even won a game of badminton! I never knew how good she was before today!” He told her excitedly, his eyes scanning the row of hung up dresses on the rack next to the lone ponyquin frame. “And you should have seen the piñata they got me!” 

Rarity beamed in delight as she heard Spike recounting the joys of his party for her. “That sounds like ever so much fun, darling.” She told him, trotting up to the stage and pulling herself up so that she could sit next to him. “It truly is a pity I could not attend. I shall have to implement a new ‘same day orders’ fee to discourage ponies from taking advantage of my services in that way.” Rarity scooted closer to Spike, so that her flank was in contact with his hips, and turned her head down to him. “What about gifts darling? Did you get anything nice this year?”

“Yup! The girls all got me a lot of cool stuff, they always do. I think my favorites were the skates from Dash, and the comic book from Twilight. Oh, and this little number of course.” Spike said, pinching  his bow tie as he stared up at her. 

“Oh, I’m so glad you like the first part of your gift.” 

Spike tilted his head in confusion. “First part? You mean there’s more?”

“Yes indeed. In fact, it’s upstairs in my bedroom,” she explained, scooting off the edge of the stage and offering him a hoof to help him down. “Would you like to see it?”

“Uh… yeah!” he responded happily, taking her hoof and hopping down. The two walked side by side until reaching the first step leading up to her bedroom, Spike turning to Rarity and bowing slightly. “After you, m’lady.”

“Such a little gentleman!” she commended him, leaning her head down and touching the tip of her nose against his. Rarity trotted up the stairs to her room with Spike following behind. Walking behind her at a downward angle, Spike couldn't help but steal quick glances at her curvy white rump, her purple tail swaying from side to side as it revealed her slender marehood between her shapely haunches. Spike felt his cheeks burn a bit as he looked back up to her head, reminding himself that it was impolite of him to stare at her privates.

The two reached the top of the stairs and stepped into Rarity’s bedroom. Rarity trotted behind a dressing screen and began to rummage around through some unseen clutter. “I’ll be ready in just a moment darling!” she called out to him. Spike nodded and he looked about her bedroom, noticing something odd. Rarity’s room was… clean. Very clean, especially for somepony who had spent all day completing orders for some difficult clients. Come to think of it, it was even cleaner than it usually was, compared to her usual “organized chaos” state that she tended to keep it in. All of the spools of yarn, sheets of fabric, and various sewing machines and other tools had been picked up off the floor and stowed away out of sight, only a ponyquin pushed to the side of the room. Had she gone out of her way to clean it this time?

“Spikey-Wikey~” He heard Rarity call out to him in a playful voice. 

“Yeah Rarity…?” Spike’s voice trailed off as he turned his head and looked at the unicorn, who had just stepped out from behind her dressing screen. Rarity now wore a pair of lacy black stockings on her hindlegs, rising up just past her thighs. Affixed to her midsection was a flowery black corset, pulled tightly around her body to push some plumpness to her rump, which now had her purple tail raised just slightly to show off the curves of her cheeks, but still held in place to keep her privates concealed from him. And draped around her neck, Spike noticed a very familiar looking fire ruby that seemed to shine against her brilliant white coat. 

“Do I look nice, darling?” Rarity asked, giving her rump the slightest shake for him. 

“Nice? More like breathtaking, Rarity!” Spike replied. 

Flicking her hair back as she turned around to face him, Rarity levitated a large piece of cloth and scampered over to Spike. “Here you are sweetheart; this is for you.”

Spike held out his claws and let the cloth drop in his grasp. “I don’t get it,” he replied, confused. “My gift is a handkerchief?”

“Oh no no no!” Rarity laughed daintily, holding a hoof to her mouth. “Your present is still coming. I just thought that you and I could play a little game before I give it to you.” Rarity reached her hoof out, gently drawing imaginary circles across Spike’s chest. “You sounded like you had so much fun playing games at your own party after all...”

“O-okay. What game are we playing?”

“You've played marco-polo before, haven’t you sweetheart?” Spike nodded. “All you need to do is tie that blindfold ‘round your head to cover your eyes, and wander around looking for me. Or perhaps I’ll find you instead.” Spike felt a bit confused by Rarity’s proposal. She of course would never turn down engaging in party games with her closest friends, but she was never the one to bring up the idea in the first place. Spike raised the cloth up to his face and began to pull it evenly throughout his fingers. “Oh, and Spike?”

Spike stopped fiddling with the blindfold for a moment. “Yes ma’am?”

Rarity lifted a hoof to her mouth with her teeth clenched as her eyes darted from side to side. “If during any of this I do something to make you feel… uncomfortable… please do tell me so. I do not wish to force you to do anything just to make me happy if you aren't enjoying it. Do you understand?”

Spike was puzzled at her words, but he had heard this sort of question before. Why did it sound so familiar?

Spike, if you’re not enjoying this, just tell me, he heard Twilight’s voice ringing in his head, along with the image of her hindlegs spread before him while lying in bed. This is something you and I need to both enjoy, okay?

“Ohhhhh!” The pupils in Spike’s eyes shrank as he realized what was happening. He began to wonder how he didn't notice before that Rarity was seducing him. Seeing her now in her lacy outfit suddenly made more sense, and his knees began to buckle as the tingle in his lower body increased, his legs crossing a bit to conceal himself. 

“Goodness darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked in response to Spike’s trembling and heavy breathing. Spike felt his erection beginning to poke out from the inner pocket between his legs and touch the cloth of his constricting shorts, Rarity biting her bottom lip eagerly in response.

“Y-y-y-yeah. Y-yeah, I’m okay,” Spike stammered, trying hard to keep himself standing without passing out. Rarity lifted her hoof up to his shoulder and looked into his eyes. Spike took another breath, and began to collect himself. “I’m good. Just kind of a surprise, I guess,” he assured her, feeling his length poking as far as his constricting shorts would let it. 

“If Pinkie Pie has taught me anything,” Rarity began, holding a hoof to his chin, “It’s that surprises can be marvelous. Now then, go on and affix that to your eyes. No peeking~” 


Rarity offered a playful wink before Spike affixed the cloth to his eyes and secured a knot behind his head. The little dragon put his arms out as Rarity began to tip-hoof away from him, being careful not to make too much noise. “Marco?” Spike called out, just as Rarity reached the far side of her room.
 
                    “Polo!” she called out to him in return. Spike turned and followed the direction her voice had come from. Rarity shifted to the side and eased her way past him, biting her lip to keep herself from giggling as he stepped right past her.
 
                    “Marco?” he asked again, moving his extended arms from side to side while trying to scope her out.
 
                    “Polo.” She called to him again, reaching the point where Spike had been previously standing. She heard Spike grumble a bit as he turned around and marched back where they had started their game.
 
                    “Marcoooooo,” Spike’s voice had a very slight hint of frustration, and Rarity noticed that there was no longer anything jutting out between his shorts. With a mischievous smile, Rarity trotted past Spike and stepped just behind him.
 
                    “Polo~” she replied in a sultry tone, letting her purple tail brush up against his back, his posture straightening with the tip of her tail leaving him.
 
                    “Marco!?” Spike turned around quickly, grabbing frantically at the empty air. “Marco—ahh!” Spike lost his balance with his sudden turn, and fell promptly on his rear.
 
                    “Ah ha ha ha, polo!” Rarity called out as she laughed behind him. Lifted the little dragon off the floor with her magic and planted him on his feet again.
 
                    “Marco?” Spike called out to her as he turned around slowly. Keeping silent, Rarity snuck up quietly behind Spike as he stood still waiting for her to reply. “Marco…?”
 
                    Rarity lowered her head, with her soft white mouth just near the edge of his ear. “Polo.” She whispered, illuminating her horn and using her magic to take hold of Spike’s hands. “Looks like I found you, Spike.”
 
                    “Heh, that’s ‘cause you’re not blindfolded.” He replied, his legs tightening up as a wave of excitement spread through his legs from his loins.
 
                    “I know, I don’t play fair,” Rarity stepped in front of Spike as she focused her magic on his vest, “I’m so sorry, my sweet little dragon.” Rarity slowly pulled the button’s on Spike’s vest apart, as she did with his shirt underneath. In a matter of seconds, Spike’s bare chest was exposed to her. Rarity lifted her hoof and lightly moved the tip of her toe across the lighter green scales of his chest, eliciting a soft shudder from Spike. Her eyes traced down his form towards his lower half, where she noticed a very prominent tent had returned in the front of his tight shorts. “Mm, Spike, what’s this you’re hiding in your shorts? Is it for me?” She asked, moving her hoof down his chest and towards his waist. She began to trace the front of his shorts, making the extension jump at her touch.
 
                    “M-m-maybe…” Spike muttered bashfully.

                    “How thoughtful; bringing me a present on your birthday.” Rarity turned her head and brushed the side of her face against his chest. “May I open my present Spike? Please…?”
 
                    “Hnn!” Spike groaned, his knees bending and turning towards one another. “Y-yeah, Rarity; go ahead.” Another magical field surrounded the front of Spike’s shorts, and carefully stretched the waistline out and pulled it down. Spike’s stiff rod poked out from between his legs, bouncing slightly from being released from its confinement so suddenly, and pointed up towards Rarity’s chest. She gasped as she took in the sight of his erection for the first time and tucked his shorts underneath his slender rod.
 
“Oh Spike, it’s marvelous,” she whispered, letting his shorts drop to the floor, her hoof touching the base of his shaft and gliding up until she reached the tip of its triangular head. “And much bigger than I thought it would be.” Rarity took her eyes off of his rod and looked up at Spike, who was blushing profusely. “Oh dear, you’re blushing! Do you like it when I talk about your long, thick dragon shaft, hmm?” An embarrassed smile crept over Spike’s face as he lifted his claws up to cover his face getting redder by the second, making Rarity squeal in delight. “You are just so cute! Widdle Spikey-Wikey wuvs it when I play with his big juicy cock, doesn’t he? Yes he does…”
 
Spike’s legs began to tremble with Rarity’s hoof gliding up and down his erection. “Having trouble standing, dear?” Spike nodded feebly in response. “Then let’s see if we can get you to bed. Ah ah ah!” Rarity used her magic to catch Spike by his wrists as he attempted to pull his blindfold off. “I promise you’ll get to see soon enough. Just follow my voice for now, I’ll guide you. Come come, this way.” Rarity instructed, backing up as Spike stepped out of his shorts on the floor. He blindly followed her voice, his shaft bouncing slightly with each step. She stepped to the side once they reached the edge of her bed. “Just a few more steps and you’re there.” Spike’s claws brushed up against Rarity’s red sheets adorned with white flowers, and began to pull himself up onto her bed. “Here, let me help you with that.” Rarity sunk her head down underneath his tail and gave him a swift push upwards onto her mattress. Spike landed a bit roughly with his shaft sandwiched between the mattress and his belly, and his tail lifted high enough to expose his anus. Rarity licked her lips and lifted her forelegs up onto the edge of the mattress, a hoof on either side of Spike’s feet. Before the dragon could pull himself up, Rarity moved in and pressed her tongue up against Spike’s taint, letting it drag upwards across his soft dragon hole. Spike’s body went rigid as he let out a surprised gasp.
 
“Mm, Spike…” Rarity teased him as she rubbed her snout against the underside of his tail, “What an exquisite little posterior you have.” Rarity placed a gentle kiss on the right cheek of his rear before her tongue returned to its post. Rarity strengthened her tongue and pushed past the entry point of Spike’s hole, her lips covering the rim of his anus as her tongue pushed deep inside of him. Spike’s dragon cock twitched hard as the tongue of the unicorn wriggled inside of him, exploring the inner walls of his rectum.
 
“Mmm…” Spike buried his face into the mattress and let out a high pitched whimper. He fought desperately to keep his voice from sounding too girlish in front of Rarity. Her tongue continued to flex inside his inner walls, forcing a euphoric tickle to build from his rear and spread up to his chest. “Ah… ahhhh!” Spike moaned out loud, squeezing his legs together to keep his cock, dripping slightly with semen, from spewing its load too early. Rarity’s backside began to tremble as well, her mare lips winking furiously and becoming moist with the sound of each moan that Spike let out.
 
Rarity’s tongue slithered back and exited Spike’s tight hole with a light wet popping sound. “Goodness, you’re quite the noisy little one, aren't you?” she teased him.
 
“S-sorry,” Spike whimpered, the tingling sensation still pulsing in his loins.
 
“No need to apologize dear! Those adorable little sounds you make tell me I’m doing my job right. Do you like having your little tush played with?”
 
“Yeah…” Spike panted in response.
 
“Does it feel good when I’m eating you out, little one?” she asked, placing another soft lick on the surface of the slick hole under his tail.
 
“Hnnn—yes!” Spike moaned, keeping his back up as his body begged him to let his seed fly free.
 
“Ooh, I can tell,” Rarity teased as she touched the back of her hoof against his shaft, pressing a bit of his precum flat against the tip. “But… I am not going to let all that dragon filling be wasted all over my bedsheets. I want every drop… for… my...self, darling,” she continued, before licking the bit of semen off her hoof.  Activating her magic, Rarity took hold of Spike and gently rolled him on his back, his rigid length pointing up towards the ceiling. Rarity pulled herself on top of her bed, the mattress shifting as she turned herself around so that her rear was facing him. “Are you ready, darling?” She asked, her purple tail brushing gently against his belly.
 
“Yeah-huh!” Spike muttered as he nodded frantically.
 
Rarity took a deep breath, and lowered her white rump downwards slowly, until she felt her slick lips press against the tip of Spike’s penis. “Mm!” Rarity whimpered slightly, feeling a sudden tingle shoot up her loins. Rarity bared her weight further down, the head of his shaft penetrating and pushing deep inside of her sopping caverns. “Oh-oh… ohhhhh!”  Rarity continued to push down, until her backside came into contact with Spike’s pelvis. “Eep!” Rarity tilted her head back and kept her forelegs down, pressed against the mattress to give herself leverage as she writhed from the feeling of Spike’s length filling her. “Ohhhh, Spike! You feel absolutely wonderful inside of me! Mmm…”
 
With Spike powerless to move underneath her, Rarity eased her rear up until she reached the head of his throbbing shaft, and slowly shifted back down against his waist. Every few repetitions, the unicorn would stop against his waist and wiggle her backside, letting the sensation of being filled up tickle her inner walls. Rarity activated her magic, and undid the blindfold still affixed to Spike’s eyes, letting him see for himself what was taking place. 


There she was: the unicorn of his dreams, her elegant white form wrapped in her lacey corset. Her back was arched and towards him, her shapely rump pushing back and forth against his waist as she moved her body up and down, letting her slick pussy lips envelop his cock over and over again. Finally seeing it for himself brought back the feelings for her he thought he had cast aside: she was beautiful, she was elegant, charming, and everything he wanted from a unicorn. He loved her, and after this moment he would never forget that fact again.

“Cum inside of me, Spike.” Rarity instructed him, looking over her shoulder as she pressed her backside against him. “I want you to fill me to the brim with your hot, sticky, dragon spunk.” Rarity pursed her lips out as she batted her long eyelashes at him, giving her rump another wiggle against his pelvis.

“Hnnnnng!” Spike reached down and squeezed Rarity’s cheeks, making the unicorn gasp in response. Spike thrust hard into her, feeling the tickle in his cock build tremendously as he took in the sight of his desired mare on top of him. Spike closed his eyes and pushed his hips forward as he felt the rush of semen shoot out of him and eject into Rarity’s soaking caverns. 

“Ahhhh!” Rarity moaned out in pleasure, her head tilted back with a wide open mouthed smile. “Ohhh, Spike! Mmmm~!” 

Spike pulled his hips back after the final thrust and let his arms fall to his sides against the bed. He opened his eyes to see Rarity’s backside still trembling against his body with his shrinking erection still inside of her. He had spewed so much of his cum into her that it had overflowed out the edges of her marehood and pooled around the base of his shaft. Rarity struggled to pull her bottom up, his limp cock slipping out of her caverns. With a final moan and shiver, another flood of his semen and her vaginal fluids poured out of her as she dropped to the side of him. The unicorn remained at his feet for a moment, gasping for breath, before her magic quickly untied the back of her corset and she heaved a giant breath of relief. Eventually, she raised her head and looked back at Spike, offering the dragon an exhausted, but very satisfied smile. “Happy birthday, Spike.” 

Spike kept his eyes on Rarity as he struggled to catch his breath. The unicorn fought to turn herself around and inch her way up to him. Once she was eye level with him, she leaned in towards his face and rubbed the tip of her nose against his. 

“Did that… did that really happen?” Spike asked, in a state of bewilderment. 

“I believe it did, darling,” she reassured him sweetly. “And I certainly hope it was everything you imagined it would be.”

“Nope; not even close.” Spike replied flatly. A slight frown accompanied the look of puzzlement that formed on Rarity’s face. “It was even better than I imagined. Thank you Rarity.” He reassured her, reaching a claw to her foreleg. Rarity’s eyes moved down to his claw, and then back up to him. Spike was about to pull away, until Rarity reached with her other hoof and held it in her grasp, relocating it to her cheek. Spike was astonished; not only had he finally been able to court the unicorn of his dreams, but she was even letting him be affectionate towards her afterwards. As much as he enjoyed the usual sexual release with Twilight, her refusal of any petting afterwards usually left him feeling just as pent up as before they went to bed. This new freedom seemed to relax him even more than his initial climax.

“My sweet little man,” Rarity fawned over him affectionately as he continued to rub her cheek, “I am ever so sorry that it took me this long to realize it.”

“Realize what?” Spike asked her.

“How much I… how much you mean to me, Spike.” Rarity told him. She slowly moved her head in towards him, and pressed her lips on his cheek, slightly touching the corner of his mouth. She pulled her head back, her face merely centimeters from his. 

Spike couldn't remember if he had ever seen Rarity this close before. He had forgotten how mesmerizing her eyes could be, those large pools of glistening azure seemed to be staring half-lidded into his very heart, begging him to follow through with what he knew he wanted. Feeling her soft breath against his face, Spike closed his eyes and pressed his puckered lips against hers gently. His heart nearly soared right out of his chest when he felt her lips move and push towards him in return. The two of them broke the kiss and leaned their foreheads against one another as their eyes locked. 

“Better late than never.” Spike replied, before moving in for another kiss. The little dragon moved his claw up Rarity’s face and across the spiral of her purple mane as their lips locked. Picking himself up off of his side, Rarity turned over on her back until Spike was lying across her belly, his claws holding the back of her head as he continued to kiss her, her hindlegs up and cradling his lower body on both sides of him. Eventually, Spike broke the kiss and laid his chin against her chest as he gazed at her. 

Letting out a rather large yawn, Spike began to rub his eyes. “Wow, that took a lot out of me. Mind if I take a nap?”

“Feel free to, darling.” Rarity assured him, rubbing her hoof against his chest. Spike smiled and yawned again, letting his head turn over and lay against her chest as he closed his eyes, his head just underneath her fire ruby necklace. “I’m so glad that you enjoyed your first time.”

Spike winced as he thought about all the times that he and Twilight had shared their bodies with one another. He quickly dismissed any guilty feelings by telling himself that this was still his first time with Rarity, and that was all that mattered.

“Spike?” he heard her ask him.

“Mhm?” he uttered, too tired to open his eyes and look at her.

“I love you.”

A tender warmth spread out from Spike’s chest as he cuddled into her. “Love you too… Rar…” a deep breath emanated from his nostrils, and that was all that he said before drifting off to sleep. 



	

A number of pegasi flew over Ponyville, arranging various clouds throughout the the orange twilit sky. The sun still hung over the horizon, not yet ready for the moon to take its place. Inside the kitchen of the Golden Oaks library, Twilight’s magic opened the oven to the way of a heavy steam billowing out. The alicorn levitated a large dish of piping hot macaroni and cheese, a thick layer of browned and toasted bread crumbs over the gooey cheese covered shells underneath. Twilight took a whiff of her creation as it floated by her and set it in the middle of their table. Following the main entree, Twilight placed upon the table two sets of silverware, a pair of plates and glasses, a bowl of fresh green beans, and a pitcher of iced tea. With the table set, the librarian took her seat at the table, a relaxed sigh leaving her mouth with her task completed. All that was missing now was a little dragon to help her devour the meal she had spent the last hour and a half preparing. 

Twilight waited several minutes, tapping her hooves on the table as her eyes looked across the room and overlooked the wooden walls of her kitchen. She saw Owlicious out of the corner of her eye, his beak buried in his wing as he attended to his feathers. Her eyes eventually came back to the table, and she again surveyed all that she had prepared. Twilight found her nostrils overwhelmed by the food in front of her, and her stomach let out a very noticeable growl. 

“Ugh! Spike, how much longer are you going to be at Rarity’s?” she impatiently asked out loud. “I’m hungry,” she muttered, resting her chin on the table. Another few minutes passed, and Twilight pulled herself away from the table, stepping into the main room and looking out one of the windows at the orange sky. 

“It’s fine. I’m sure he’s on his way home,” she told herself with a smile, “After all, I did say he just needed to be home before dark, and technically it is still--!” 

Twilight watched as the glow of the sun sunk down below the horizon and faded, followed by the shining bright glow of the moon in the distance, and an assortment of small twinkling stars illuminating the pitch black sky. 

“... dark.” Twilight finished, an annoyed look over her face. She looked to the front door, hoping that Spike would walk through just in the nick of time. The door remained closed, despite her intense staring into its wooden face. She briskly trotted forward and opened the door, poking her head out and looking this way and that. She saw a number of ponies walking past her library, all making their way home for the night. But there was no young dragon running up to her doorstep, frantic to beat the sun and moon from exposing his missed curfew. 

“Come on Spike, don’t make me come get you…” Twilight looked back into her home, Owlicious looking up at her and shrugging his wings. With an aggravated flare of her nostrils, Twilight stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

> Chapter 4: Pushing Daylight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Spike opened his eyes  slightly, looking at the little white flowers on the red bed sheets he had slept on. Spike closed his eyes again and stretched his little arms and legs out, letting out a huge yawn. With the grogginess lifting from his mind, he slowly realized the sheets he lay on weren’t Twilight’s. He sat up and surveyed the room. A collection of ponyquiens situated on the far side of a wooden sewing desk immediately reminded Spike that he was in Rarity’s room. His ears picked up a soft peep to the left of him, and he turned to see the fair unicorn softly stirring, her purple spiral mane crooked and strung out slightly from their earlier excursion and laying against her pillow. Her eyelashes fluttered as she blinked, her eyes moving about while she woke up slowly.When her eyes found him, a delighted smile appeared on her face. “Hello there,” She said to him sweetly, digging her head into her pillow. 

        Spike grinned at her and leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on Rarity’s lips before laying against the bed again. The unicorn giggled softly, and returned the kiss, as well as a few underneath his chin and along his neck. The two lay staring at each other for a moment, Spike holding Rarity’s hoof in his grasp, and running his thumb affectionately across her white coat. Rarity gently pulled away and pressed her forelegs out in front of her, letting out a high pitched yawn as she stretched. “Mm… I should probably see about starting dinner.” Rarity rolled back over to look at Spike, gently touching his nose. “Are you in the mood for some Veloute de Chataignes?” Spike offered her a puzzled expression as he mulled over the articulent sounding dish. “The soup made from chestnuts, dear.”

        “Oh yeah, that one was good!” Spike replied. Now that he was awake, he realized he was getting relatively hungry. He was only treated to Rarity’s cooking so often, since he normally had dinner at Twilight’s…

        Twilight! Oh no, what time is it?


        Spike looked  towards the only window in Rarity’s bedroom, and noticed a lack of sunlight emanating from outside. He quickly rolled away from Rarity and hopped out of bed.

        “Spike, what’s the matter?” Rarity asked, sitting up with her blanket pulled up against her chest. “Is everything alright?”

        “I’m not supposed to be out after dark. Twilight’s gonna kill me!” Spike replied, before scurrying down the stairs.

        “Spike, please settle down!” She called after him as she rose from her mattress and followed in his footsteps, her fire-ruby necklace jingling as she trotted “I am sure you have nothing to worry about!”

        “But I've never been out this late before, Rarity. I've gotta get home before Twilight--!” Spike quickly opened the front door and was about to dash outside, before he found himself looking at a purple alicorn staring down at him. “Uh… hi Twilight!”

        “Hello Spike,” Twilight said flatly as she stepped inside of the boutique, Rarity having just reached the bottom of the stairs. “Spike, do you know that you’re out past your curfew?”

        “Yes ma’am.” Spike replied with his arms behind his back.

        “Could you tell me why you’re out this late?”

        “Because I, uh… well, you see--”

“Twilight,I feel that I am responsible for this,” Rarity interjected as she stepped in front of Spike. “ We were enjoying each other’s company so much, we simply lost track of the time. I should have asked Spike straightaway if he needed to be home at a certain time. If you must be cross with somepony, then let that somepony be myself.”

“Oh, I’m not mad at either of you!” Twilight reassured them as she waved her hoof back and forth, “Spike’s been really good about keeping his curfew since we've lived in Ponyville, a slip-up is bound to happen sometime. Just don’t make a habit out of it, okay?” Twilight finished as she looked down at the little dragon. Spike finally looked up at her with a  relieved expression on his face. “So, what were you two doing for so long anyway?” 

        An alarmed look came over Spike and Rarity’s face as their pupils shrank. The two looked at each other momentarily, then quickly darted their gaze from one another.

        “We were… trying on outfits!” Rarity replied energetically, pulling Spike close to her with a foreleg. “Little Spikey-wikey just loves playing dress up whenever he’s here, doesn't he?” She asked rhetorically, looking down at him with an uneasy smile.

        “Uh… yep, sure do!” Spike said, chuckling nervously. 

        Twilight’s eyes shifted back and forth from Spike to Rarity, a small blush forming on both their faces. “Well then,” Twilight began, a tiny smirk appearing on her face, “Sounds like you two had fun! Are you ready to head home, Spike?”

        “Yeah,” The little dragon replied as he walked towards her. 

        “Good. I cooked dinner for us about twenty minutes ago: I’m hungry!” she jokingly nagged him. Before stepping out the door, Spike turned and waved goodbye to Rarity. The unicorn lifted her hoof to her mouth and blew him a kiss before waving back to him. After the door shut behind him and Twilight, Rarity looked to her left, noticing her reflection in the mirrors surrounding the round staging area. She realized that her usually perfect mane was still out of sorts, her hair frizzled and crooked in some places, one spiral on the end beginning to uncurl itself.

        “By Celestia!” Rarity exclaimed abhorrently, “Did I actually face the two of them looking like this!? How embarrassing!” Rarity quickly levitated a nearby brush and began restoring her mane to its proper beauty. 





        The little bell rang as the door to Golden Oaks library opened. Spike stepped in, and was welcomed home by a soft hoot from Owlicious. Twilight stepped in after him, moving towards the kitchen with a slight bounce in her steps.

        “So, you’re not mad at all?” Spike asked, a hint of confusion in his voice as he followed her.

         “Nope!” Twilight replied as she turned the corner to the kitchen, “Hurry and eat Spike, it’s almost bedtime.”

        Twilight’s magic moved to Spike’s plate once he took a seat at the table, affixing it with a few spoonfuls of macaroni and cheese, as well as some green beans. Spike normally made a fuss about eating his vegetables, but the dragon surprisingly put up little resistance and actually took a bite of them first before dipping into his macaroni. He curiously watched Twilight as he ate, the alicorn pouring the both of them a glass of iced tea before constructing herself a plate with food. An awkward silence hung in the air between the two of them as they ate. After swallowing some food, the little dragon reached for his glass of tea and took a large sip.

        “So, was sex with Rarity everything you were hoping it would be?”

        Spike’s arm holding his glass up to his lips dropped before he spat a mouthful of tea out towards Twilight. The alicorn was quick to put up a magical barrier, catching the airborne drink before it hit her. “You knew!?” Spike asked astonishingly as the floating liquid was redirected back into his glass. 

        Twilight snickered proudly. “Of course I did, Spike. I’m insulted that you think me so clueless. It wasn't that hard to put together!” Twilight took a bite of her dinner and swallowed before continuing. “It doesn't take that long for you to walk to Rarity’s from here, and judging from how long it takes us when you and I are in bed, I’d imagine it takes roughly the same amount of time for you and her, plus or minus a few minutes depending on how you two go about it. Also, I've seen Rarity’s bedmane after a sleepover. As if that weren't enough, the two of you had ‘guilty’ written all over your faces. It was all I could do not to burst out laughing when I saw your faces flushing. Yeah, just like that!” Twilight teased him as his face reddened. Spike threw his hands up over his face as the alicorn snorted in laughter. “Why are you so embarrassed? ”

        “I dunno...” Spike mumbled under his claws. 

        “Oh, I see,” Twilight raised a hoof to her chest and another to her head, leaning back and closing her eyes, “The young dragon’s heart quakes at the thought of his true love, and his passion for her burns ever brighter now that he has tasted her sweet nectar for himself!”

        “Okay, geez!” Spike reacted strongly as he shook his head, “You've been reading too many romance novels, Twi.” 

        “I’m just so happy for you Spike!” The two cleaned their plates off, and Twilight levitated their dishes towards the sink. “Does this mean that you and Rarity are a couple now?” She asked as they both left their chairs. Spike averted his eyes to the floor and scratched his left arm, before nodding. “Oh, my gosh, really?” Twilight asked, following an excited gasp.

        “I’m pretty sure,” Spike replied, “She even said she loved me, before I said it. She got really mushy after we were done, I was surprised. I think she’s serious.”

        Twilight smiled warmly at the little dragon. “Congratulations Spike,” she said, stepping forward and placing a hoof around his back. Spike wrapped his arms around her neck in return. “You know, when you first started talking about how much you liked her all those years ago, I never thought much of it. I thought it would just be a boyish crush that you would get over in time, until you grew up and went to find a dragon of your own.” Twilight tightened her hug around him as she spoke, “I have never been so happy in my life to be proven wrong.”

        “Thanks Twilight.” Spike said, before their hug broke. 

        “I can’t wait to tell the other girls, they’re going to flip! Pinkie Pie will probably want to throw a party for the two of you to celebrate.” Twilight stepped out of the kitchen and into the common room as Spike followed close behind.

“Heh, two parties in one week? Cool!”

“Oh, speaking of party Spike, you have one more gift, it’s up in my room,” The two climbed up the staircase to Twilight’s room. On the corner of Twilight’s writing desk sat a brown package, which Twilight lifted with her magic and hovered it  towards Spike. “Derpy Hooves had forgotten this at the post office and rushed by to get it delivered to me before the day was over.”

        Spike caught the package being levitated towards him and looked over the parcel, taking particular interest in the return address:

        501 Sunset Valley
        Canterlot, Equestia 00851

        “Sunset Valley?” Spike asked, puzzled. 

        “It’s from Princess Celestia. That’s one of the addresses she uses when she’s not sending formal letters.”

        With a new excitement, Spike sliced through the tape on the package with the tip of his claw and reached inside to find another box wrapped in a bright golden paper with silver streaks and orange ribbon. He marveled at its beauty for a few seconds, before tearing it to shreds and tossing it aside. Another box, a pale white color, which Spike opened to find a neat pile of shredded tissue paper . He began to dig eagerly, wondering what princess Celestia had given him. His claw came into contact with something solid. Spike wrapped his fingers around the object and pulled it out of its package. There in his grasp was a small purple egg with dark green spots around the surface. Its texture had a light shine to it, as it had been fortified with a type of starch to keep it from cracking so easily. 

        “I don’t get it… what’s this supposed to be?” Spike asked as he examined the egg in his claws. Twilight gasped as she looked it over herself.

        “Spike, this is…” Twilight took a breath before she continued softly, “This is the egg I was given for my entrance exam for the School for Gifted Unicorns. You hatched out of this egg.” The alicorn’s voice cracked momentarily, and she began to fan her hoof in front of her shimmering eyes. 

        “Wow… so I came out of this thing, huh? I must have been really tiny!” Spike trailed a claw around the middle of the egg and realized there were small spaces in between. He gently pulled on the top and realized that it could be removed. Inside there was a small parchment rolled up into a scroll. Placing the top half of the shell on Twilight’s desk, he reached inside, unrolled the parchment and began to read it out loud. 

        “Dearest Spike: This day not only marks the anniversary of your birth, but also the moment when the destinies of many lives were set into motion all at once. It was you I saw emerging from the tower that examinations for gifted unicorns were taking place, which prompted me to sprint inside and find you along with Twilight. I saw great potential not only in Twilight, but you as well. I knew the two of you could achieve marvelous accomplishments if you worked together. 
As you've grown, you have dedicated every day of your life to making Twilight’s studies easier. I have seen you go out of your way to help her beyond daily chores and assignments to reassure her in her abilities when she had lost faith in herself. Like Twilight, you have befriended each of the elements of harmony and absorbed their goodness into yourself, which has helped you quell the greed that consumes most dragons. You have even played a part in saving a land of ponies from torment, and reserved a place as a hero in Equestrian history. 
Words cannot express how important this day is, my dearest Spike; for I and the others closest to you are reminded how touched we are by your life. Happiest birthday wishes, sincerely, Princess Celestia.”

        Spike noticed there was another object in the egg shell; a small photo taken at Canterlot Castle, of Twilight and her friends, along with Princess Celestia standing behind them. Spike was laying on Twilight’s back, having just nodded off into a light nap before the camera had flashed. “Ha ha, hey look, it’s all of us at the castle!” Spike turned the photograph towards the alicorn.

        Twilight’s purple cheeks were layered with fresh tears, which continued to pour from her eyes. “Spike… come here…” She said to him, her voice trembling as she spoke. The little dragon marched towards her, leaning his chin on her shoulder as she lowered her head and draped her wings down his back.

        “Geez Louise, Twilight, get a hold of yourself,” Spike teased her lightly.

        “It’s her fault!” Twilight said jokingly, “Celestia should know better than to write something so sappy, and corny and… beautiful…” Twilight pressed her head more firmly against him. “I love you so much, Spike.”

        Spike finally reached his arms around Twilight, and rubbed his palm behind her neck. “You too, Twi.” 

        Twilight pulled her wings away and lifted her head up. She sniffled a bit as she breathed through her nose, and then lifted her hoof to her eyes. “Ugh, my face is a mess!” 

        “Yeah, a little bit.” Spike said, walking towards her desk and pulling a piece of tissue out. He walked back in front of Twilight and lifted his hand towards her face.

        “Spike, you don’t have to--!”

        “Nah don’t worry about it.” Spike reassured her as he gently pressed the cloth to the corner of her eye. As Spike took great care to dry her face, Twilight’s gaze wandered over the little dragon’s purple face. She couldn’t detect a hint of discomfort as he went about cleaning her; his light green eyes remained still and alert, yet free of tension as he focused on each spot underneath her eyes. How did he get so good at this? Twilight asked herself as she was tended to. What happened to the little dragon who didn’t care for girly emotions and stuff? As Twilight found herself staring at Spike, she noticed that her eyes were tilted upwards just slightly. Has he gotten… taller?


        A few minutes passed and Spike had finished tending to Twilight. Despite a hint of puffiness, the alicorn’s face appeared mostly dry. “There you go, Twi.” Spike said as he folded the tissue up in his palm. Twilight remained still for several seconds as her gaze was locked on Spike. “Um… Twilight? Hello?” Spike waved his open claw in front of her.

        Twilight shook her head after her daze was broken. “Yeah! I’m okay Spike, thank you.” She said with a smile, “Well, we should probably get to bed. We’ve both had a really busy day, haven’t we?” Spike nodded in reply, waltzing towards his bed and letting out a soft yawn. Twilight lifted his blanket with her magic, letting him crawl in before she draped it over his form. “I’m so proud of you, Spike. I hope you’ve had a wonderful birthday.”

        “M hm,” Spike replied as he shut his eyes, curling up in his basket, “Best birthday ever…” 

        Twilight moved her right wing over Spike’s head, brushing his scales as he fell fast asleep. She trotted to her own bed, slipping underneath her purple sheets adorned with the crescent moon and yellow stars. With another spark of magic, She switched off the lamp and candle in her room simultaneously, and lay her head on her pillow. A few minutes passed, and the alicorn found herself unable to fall asleep. She looked over her shoulder down at the foot of her bed. She could see through the darkness the shape of Spike in his bed, his small form rising and falling with each breath that he took. Twilight wondered to herself what part of the day he was referring to when he said it had been the “best birthday ever”. Had he been thinking about the majority of the day, in which he had gotten to laugh and play with his friends? About the gem cake that she had spent hours on making it the best that she could?

        Or, had the entire day taken a silver medal to having sex with Rarity for the first time?

        Twilight rolled her eyes. She wasn’t sure why she had thought that just now; this was Spike’s one special day of the year, he could enjoy whichever parts he most wanted to, however much he wanted to. The alicorn decided to distract herself by reciting various trigonometry equations in her head. Cosine squared of theta plus sine squared of theta equals one. Cosine of negative theta equals cosine of theta. Twilight’s mouth opened as she let out a silent yawn, and snuggled her head deeper into her pillow. Cosine of A plus B equals cosine of A… times cosine of B minus the sine of A times the sine… Twilight’s consciousness finally ceased for the moment, followed by a rhythm of soft breaths through her nose as she drifted off to sleep. 

> Chapter 5: Letting Go
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        For the moment, the water was calm, occasional waves just barely lifting up Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy who sat on top of their respective surfboards. Rainbow Dash sat upright and eagerly looked ahead at the open water, while Fluttershy lay on her belly with clenched teeth looking from the water to the rest of her friends, enjoying themselves on the sandy beach of Baltimare.

        “Any second now, there's gonna be a big wave.” Rainbow Dash said. “I can feel it.”

        “Or, m-maybe there won't be?” Fluttershy responded meekly. “Maybe the water will stay nice and calm, and w-w-we can just enjoy floating gently for a while?”

         “Fluttershy, you gotta relax.” Applejack assured her, touching the toe of her hoof against her shoulder. “You've gotten a lot better at surfing since this morning. Just follow our lead, and you'll be just fine. Trust me!”

        “But, those were really gentle waves I was riding this morning, I don't know if-!”

        “Ooh, here comes one now!” Rainbow Dash jumped up on her board, just as the water began to pull slowly in one direction. At first Fluttershy saw nothing, until just in the distance, she noticed a blue line steadily getting bigger. Rainbow Dash turned herself around and laid herself on the flat of her belly. “You ready?”

        “No!” Fluttershy protested.

        “That's the spirit! Alright, start paddling!” Dipping her hooves into the water, Rainbow and Applejack began to paddle horizontally to the shores of the beach, their timid friend reluctantly following behind. Fluttershy looked to her left and noticed that the wave was just a few yards away from them, and had pulled the water level down significantly.

        “Now Fluttershy! Stand up!” Rainbow Dash commanded as she lifted herself up to her hooves.

        Fluttershy only managed to lift to her forelegs, and kept her rear glued to her board before the wave lifted both pegasus's up. Rainbow Dash, standing proudly on all fours, was propelled forward along the rising current of the wave, and emerged from the spiral like a missile.

        “Awww, yeah! Woo-hoo!” Rainbow Dash cheered as she glided along the water.

        “Yeehaw!” Applejack exclaimed, following close behind her.  Both of their cheers overpowered the screams of horror from Fluttershy trailing them as the fearful pegasus clung onto her board for dear life.

        Though fall was fast approaching, summer was not quite finished with Equestria yet. The day was still warm enough for Ponyville's most prominent citizens to take a trip to Baltimare and enjoy a day of fun activities under the sun. While the three ponies rode the waves far away from the sandy shores, Rarity laid back on a beach blanket. Her white body soaking up the rays from princess Celestia's sun while her eyes were shielded by a pair of fashionable sunglasses.

        Rarity had been laying on her back for nearly twenty minutes, and felt her eyes beginning to droop a little. The last thing she wanted to do was drift off underneath the sun, lest she risk burning her coat to a crisp. She sat upright and looked to her left, where she saw Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie each hard at work at sculpting their own sandcastles behind a barrier to protect themselves from any waves knocking into their work. Rarity looked down and saw the little dragon who had recently found his way into her heart, laying back with his own pair of sunglasses as well as a reflector to direct the rays underneath his chin.

        “Spike, honey?”

        “Yeah?” the little dragon replied casually.

        “It wouldn't be too much trouble for you to rub some tanning oil on my back, would it?” Rarity asked him, with her hooves in between her hindlegs and her back arched slightly. She could have just as easily used her magic to apply the oil to her own back, but thought eliciting Spike's help might help her stay awake more easily. 

        Spike lifted an eyebrow as he smirked towards her, and hurriedly closed his reflector. “I guess I could do that for ya,”

        Rarity beamed at him and levitated a small bottle of tanning oil resting beside her towards him. Spike opened the cap and squeezed the bottle over his open palm, but nothing came out except an empty puff of air. He shook the container a few times and squeezed again, but only obtained a small drop before another empty heave followed.

        “Oh poo, is it completely empty?” Rarity asked, as Spike shrugged with a slightly wet palm. “Not to worry; I should have another bottle in my bag. Would you be a dear and fetch that for me?”

        “Uh...” Spike looked over his shoulder, towards the small mountain of bags several yards away from them, close to where Twilight and Pinkie Pie were busy sculpting their castles. “Which one?”

        “Top left, ultra-marine-blue bag with the pink strap adorned with diamonds.”

        “Left, blue, diamonds. Got it. Be back in a jiffy!” Spike assured her, before hurrying towards her bags. On his way, he made a small detour to talk to the alicorn who was putting the final touches on her small sandy structure. “Hey Twilight,” Spike greeted her as he inspected what she had created. “Is that Canterlot Castle?”

        Twilight's magical purple aura slowly worked to smooth out the edges on a long shaft with a few open slots around the neck, and a needle point sticking out of the top. “Why, yes it is Spike,” Twilight said proudly. “It's just Princess Celestia's tower though, since that's the building I'm most familiar with.”

        “Wow, that's so funny!” Pinkie Pie commented as she leaned over the two of them and looked at Twilight's castle. Twilight and Spike were forced to crane their necks up to properly look at her. “You and I made the same thing!”

        “Really?” Twilight giggled, then sat up and turned towards where Pinkie had been behind her a moment ago. “That is pretty funny. Let me see what yours... looks... like...” Twilight's words escaped her as she and Spike both looked with mouths agape towards the structure Pinkie Pie had made. What they saw was not only a model ten times bigger and more finely detailed than Twilight's, but along with it a replica of the entire city of Canterlot.

        “Pinkie Pie... this is amazing!” Twilight exclaimed, wholeheartedly astonished at what she saw. “Spike, get the camera! We've got to get a picture before-!”

        “Hi-YAH!” Pinkie Pie delivered a swift kick to the base of the sandy Canterlot castle. A small crack appeared in the shaft, which splintered outwards, and quickly overcame every building in the small city. In a matter of seconds, the fortress crumbled into a formless heap on the ground, with a cloud of sandy dust hovering above it. “Hm, what should I build instead?” Pinkie deliberated with a hoof to her chin, Spike and Twilight coughing through the sandy dust around them. “Ooh, I know! I'll make one of Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie used her mouth to lift up a bucket by the handle and happily pranced off towards the ocean to fetch some water, while Spike and Twilight stared at the destroyed sandy fortress on the ground.

        Twilight shook her head, before turning to face Spike with a cheerful expression. “Hey, wanna help me out?” she asked him. “I'll bet you and I could make something almost as good as Pinkie Pie's if we worked together.” Spike responded with a very excited look on his face.

        “Spike, darling?” Rarity's voice called out to him from the distance.

        Spike turned his head back and forth from where Rarity was laying to Twilight who was looking down to him, her smile beginning to fade.“Yeah, be there in a sec!” he shouted back towards Rarity. “Sorry Twilight. Maybe later?” he said apologetically, hurrying towards the pile of bags adjacent to he and Twilight. Spike looked upwards and noticed the blue bag with the diamond strap towards the top left, just as Rarity had said.

        Twilight moved towards Spike at the bottom of the mountain of bags. “Spike, you don't want to hang out with us? You and Rarity have been laying around doing nothing ever since we got here.”

        Spike climbed the small mountain and reached into the bag, pulling out a bottle identical to the empty one he had squeezed moments ago. “We're not doing 'nothing' Twilight,” he assured her, as jumped off the pile and landed on the sandy shores. “We're tanning!”  With nothing else to say, Spike hurried away from Twilight, quickly running back to where Rarity was still sitting on her blanket.  

        Rarity repositioned herself so that she was laying on her belly, her purple tail draped over her buttocks, which were primed upwards from her arched back. Spike squirted a dollop of oil in his claw and rubbed them between his palms before sitting on top of her lower back. With his feet straddled on either side, he pushed his palms against the middle of her back, massaging the oil into her white coat and moving up towards her shoulders.

        “Aah...” Rarity sighed in satisfaction as Spike reached her shoulders, and gave them a firm squeeze. “Such a nurturing touch you have, dear.”

        “ That's one advantage of having claws instead of hooves,” Spike explained as he moved his claws gently across her coat. Then he lightly scratched the back of her neck with the tip of his claws, making Rarity's butt wiggle behind him. As Rarity continued to vocalize her approval through various sighs and the occasional moan, Spike felt a bit of a tingle begin to mount between his legs as he moved his hand across her back.

        “Spike...” Rarity asked softly, turning her face and looking up at him out of the corner of her eye. “What's that poking against my back, hmm?” She wore a devilish smile as she eyed him.

        Spike ceased his motions as he looked downwards. He noticed that jutting out from the pouch between his legs was his gray length, not fully stiff yet, but slightly chubby and resting on her white back.

        “Heh heh...” Spike lifted his claws off of her and smiled nervously. “W-where'd that come from?” he asked, as he felt Rarity's tail swish up and bop him on the back of his head.

        “You'd better not be getting any ideas, you little stud,” Rarity teased him, her hips swaying back and forth slowly. “We're surrounded by our friends, you know...”

        Spike's eyes shifted from side to side. “...So?” he asked carelessly.

        Rarity gasped as her eyes lit up. “Spike, what kind of girl do you think I am? Do you really think I would want you to slip inside of me right here and now, and rut me like a mare in heat with all our friends watching? So uncouth, darling!”

        “Well, I wasn’t planning on it, but now that you mention it…” Spike moved his palms down to the middle of Rarity’s back and turned himself around moved his palms over her rear, still primed towards the air.

“S-Spike…?” Rarity asked in a hushed whisper. Spike’s glaws grasped a handful of her rump and squeezed firmly as they spread her cheeks apart, effectively moving her marehood open as well. “Oh, darling…” Rarity moaned, feeling her lips begin to throb just slightly. Just as quickly as she had moaned, Spike released his grip on her buttocks and rolled backwards so that his head was laying against her mane as he laughed. “Spike? W-why did you stop…?”

“Heh, you really thought I was gonna go for it?” Spike chuckled, squeezing his legs together to hide his erection from anypony that might be looking. “I thought that was uncouth!”

       "Oh, you tease!" Rarity quickly rolled off of her stomach, and Spike tumbled over her side. Rolling back over so that their stomachs were facing one another, Rarity stared at Spike with a wild grin on her face, before she plunged forward and kissed his lips intently. The two giggled amongst themselves as Rarity scooted closer to him, with her chest was pressed against his, and the underside of Spike's erection sandwiched between their midsections. Spike leaned his head to the side and let his thin tongue slither past Rarity's maw, into her mouth and dance across her tongue. He felt Rarity gasp inside his mouth, before she pushed herself more into him, loving the sensation of his tongue wiggling about inside of her. She drew the toe of her hoof against the top of his back as he held her underneath her forelegs.

        While the two held and caressed each other, a pair of violet eyes watched over them. Twilight Sparkle wore a grimace on her face, and her eyes narrowed as she watched Spike's claw travel up and down Rarity's back.

        Oh, you're tanning are you? Twilight thought to herself angrily. That doesn't look like tanning to me. She understood well enough that the two were in love, and she was happy for them. But she wondered why they had to flaunt it about in the open where everypony could see them, especially in such a crude way.

        For the past three days after telling Twilight the big news of their relationship, Spike had been speeding through his daily chores at the library. He would finish them as quickly as possible so that he could visit Rarity in the evenings (where they would do who knows what to one another), and then return just before dark by the skin of his teeth. But the way the two held and kissed one another now, she would have thought they hadn't seen one anothers' face in years. Couldn't they just enjoy a day at the beach with their friends, and wait until they were alone together at Carousel Boutique before they started sucking each others mouths off?

        Twilight’s chest inflated as she took a deep breath, and she turned away from them. Come on Twilight, settle down. They’re just really excited about their new relationship. Just try not to pay attention to them, okay? Twilight crouched down and stared intently at her sand structure, deciding that the windows over the southeast corridor could use some touching up. While she was at it, she might as well smooth out the edges to the top of the castle. 

        Unbeknownst to Twilight, a trio of soaking mares stepped out of the water and onto the shores of the beach. Pinkie Pie looked up from her unfinished model of Sugarcube Corner and bounced towards them. “Hey you guys! Did you have fun out there, or what?”
        Rainbow Dash quickly shook the water off of her body, before jumping into the air and pumping her hooves excitedly. “Dude! That was so amazing! You should have seen me do that flip, I didn't even use my wings for that! Applejack, tell me you saw that!”
        “You were something alright, Dash.” Applejack encouraged her. “I think Fluttershy did pretty good too. In fact, she almost made it all the way to the end of the wave before flipping over. That wasn't so bad, was it Shy?”

        Fluttershy stood trembling with a dripping mane, her eyes wide open and hardly blinking. “I... never... want to... do that... again...” she stated, looking nopony in the eyes as she shook.

        “Aw, cheer up sugarcube. You'll probably feel better once you get something to eat. What do ya say Pinkie, think it's 'bout time to chow down?”

        “Oh yeah!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “I'm so hungry, I could eat a cockatrice!” Pinkie Pie held up a stick of dynamite made of sand, burning at the end of its wick, and flung it towards her sculpture of Sugarcube Corner and detonating it upon contact. The explosion caused a flurry of sand to fly out in the immediate area, landing on all of the ponies who took cover with their hooves over their manes.

        Shaking herself free of the sand that covered her, Rainbow Dash hovered in the air, and with her hooves lifted around her mouth, shouted towards Spike and Rarity. “Hey, lovebirds!” She yelled, making them tear their eyes from each other and towards the hovering pegasus. “Unless you plan on eating each other, get over here and get some food!”

        Rarity quickly sat up on her haunches and looked down at Spike, who remained sitting as he took a few breaths. Several seconds passed, and eventually Spike rose to his feet. The couple quickly trotted over towards the group, where Pinkie Pie pulled out a wooden picnic basket from the large pile of bags.

        Applejack laid a large blanket across the sand, while Pinkie Pie reached into her basket and placed a vast assortment of food items across the blanket. In just under a minute, there was potato salad, deviled eggs, roasted vegetables, and an assortment of flower or oat sandwiches. At the center of the spread was a huge watermelon, so large that it could have reached up to one of the mare's chests had they been standing next to it.

        “Shoo-ee, that's quite a spread you got there Pinkie,” Applejack said, as Rainbow Dash pulled a large cooler across the sand and to the edge of the blanket.

        “Yeah, you got anything else in there?” Spike chuckled. Pinkie Pie thought for a moment, then stuck her head down into the basket to search. “Whoa whoa, hey, I was kidding!”

        Rainbow Dash reached into the cooler, and tossed a can soda towards everyone around her, then opened one for herself and raised it up high. “Alright, let's get the sappy stuff out of the way so we can eat. All that surfing made me hungry.”
        Pinkie Pie jumped in to the middle of the blanket, with her large watermelon right at her hooves, and cleared her throat. “As everypony already knows, today's Super-Fantastic Exponentially-Outrageous Beach-O-Rama Blast has been called today to mark a very special occasion. Today, we're all here to celebrate two wonderful friends of ours, Spike the dragon, and Rarity the unicorn, finally becoming a couple!” Everypony surrounding the aforementioned began to clop their hooves in celebration, as Spike and Rarity offered sheepish smiles towards all of them.

        “Emphasis on finally,” Applejack nodded. “Care to say anything?”

        Spike and Rarity glanced at each other momentarily. Spike closed his eyes and motioned a claw towards her, yielding the floor to the unicorn of his dreams.

        “Hem hem,” Rarity lowered the can of soda in her magical grasp before she continued. “I have already said this to Spike privately, but I again wish to express my regret at not realizing what a remarkable young man I was passing up when he was right in front of me. For so many years, I have been waiting for the right stallion to come along and sweep me off my hooves, when in reality I should have been waiting for the right dragon. With that said, I would- ooh!”

        Taking a cue from Rarity's speech, Spike swept Rarity off of her hooves and knocked her off balance, catching her facing upwards in his claws before she fell too far. Though frightened for a moment, Rarity fluttered her eyelashes and smiled at Spike who looked down at her with a devious glare. The sound of laughter coming from the onlooking mares quickly turned to whoops and cheers as the two closed their eyes and lightly pecked each others lips.

        The only mare who wasn't cheering was Twilight, who watched them intently.  The bottom of her left eyelid was twitching, and her teeth were grinding in frustration.

        The watermelon in the middle of the blanket was surrounded by a purple magical aura, and before anypony noticed it, the fruit inflated to twice its size and then exploded with a large pop. The sudden outburst caused everypony in attendance to shriek as they were covered in chunks of red fruit and green shell.

        “Oh my goodness, what happened!?” Fluttershy cried out, hiding behind Rainbow Dash, who seemed to be wearing more of the fruity mess than her yellow friend.

        Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof to her forehead and wiped the mess downwards off her face.“The watermelon just... blew up...” she said, puzzling over the fact as she stared at the small fragment left in the middle of their spread.

        “But, why?” Rarity asked, as she climbed out of Spike's grasp and stood on her hooves.

        “Aw, darn it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “I must have accidentally mixed up the real watermelon with the prank exploding one from the shop!”

        Applejack used her hoof to scrape off the chunks of watermelon clinging to her chest. “Yup, that must be the only explanation. Can't think of another one,” She asserted. Twilight did her best to look just as surprised as anypony else, but couldn't bring herself to make eye contact with them.

        “Sorry everypony,” Pinkie apologized, sounding disappointed. “Guess we’re not having melon today”

        Coated in the splattered fruit himself, Spike shot out his tongue and wrapped it once around himself with the tip touching his ankle. Spinning around quickly, his tongue moved across the rest of his body, slurping up every bit of himself until he was licked clean, and then swallowed what was in his mouth in one gulp.

        “Oh my,” Rarity remarked as she watched Spike's feat. “While a bit crass, I must say I'm impressed.”

        Spike winked at Rarity proudly. “You look like you could use some cleaning too, babe.”

        Rarity looked down at herself, feeling a bit embarrassed that she was in such a state. She grinned as Spike jumped on top of her,  and giggled with his long tongue draping out his mouth and slithering all over her body.

        After everyone cleaned themselves off relatively well, they began to help themselves to the various dishes scattered across the beach blanket.

        What is going on with me? Twilight pondered as she carefully levitated a daisy sandwich from the table. Unwrapping the sandwich from its plastic. she let it dangle in front of her, inspecting the lettuce and tomato sitting upon the layers of dasies that made up the bulk of the sandwich. Just a few days ago, when Spike and I told Pinkie Pie all about it, I was excited for today. I wanted to come out and celebrate such a special occasion with all of my friends.

        Twilight looked up from her sandwich and towards Spike and Rarity again. Spike had just finished licking her clean, and despite a bit of an uncomfortable shiver, seemed pleased with the results.  The unicorn then heaved herself onto his shoulder as a result, rubbing her head against him lovingly.

        Look at how happy they are. How can I get angry over such a thing? Am I really that petty? Twilight looked back to her sandwich, which was still floating beside her head. I should just be happy for them. There's no reason for me to be upset. Twilight pushed whatever irrational feelings of anger she had aside by thinking of how long Spike had been pining for Rarity, and how happy he must be after finally winning her affection. She bit into her sandwich, savoring the sweet chewy daffodils washing over her taste buds, and directed her attention towards Rainbow Dash, who had just started to tell the group a joke.

        “Okay, this one's great. So, a zebra, a griffon, and a Saddle Arabian are all in line to meet Princess Celestia...”



        The sound of a loud train horn rang out across the tracks, warning a straggling herd of deer to clear the path. The steam powered Friendship Express chugged forward, making a nonstop journey from the city of Baltimare to the little town of Ponyville, home to the seven present in the middle car of the train. Though Pinkie Pie seemed to be preoccupied with watching the mountains whiz by outside the window, quite a few of the others had fallen asleep from overexerting themselves on the beach. Fluttershy laid at the end of a cushioned seat, curled up and breathing softly across from Rainbow Dash, who was slumped up against a wall with her legs hanging over the seat and snoring rather loudly. Spike laid on his back, with his claw draped over Rarity's head, which laid upon his lap snoozing away.

        Separate from all the others sleeping was Twilight Sparkle, who sat on her stomach with her legs underneath her, and her face buried in an open book: an adventure novel, about a young colt growing up in the city, whose best friend was his faithful canine companion. She had heard that many ponies who read this book would be reduced to tears, but Twilight knew how books centered around dogs usually ended. She was prepared for the worst, but still found herself enjoying it nonetheless.

        “Psst; hey, Twilight?” a voice with a country drawl called to her in a hushed tone. Twilight looked up from her book to see Applejack barely a foot from her face, “Can I talk to you in private for a sec?” She asked, leaning her head towards the door in front of her, which led to the next car.

        “Um, sure?” Twilight levitated her book closed, and pulled herself up off of her seat, following Applejack close behind. Applejack pushed the door open and the two mares stepped across the platform extending to the next car, a protective rubber barrier shielding them from outside. Once the two mares entered the neighboring car, Twilight closed the door behind them. “Everything okay?”she asked Applejack.

        “Everything's fine with me, Twilight. How's about yourself?” Twilight looked puzzled at Applejack's words. “More particularly, how you doing with the whole 'Spike datin' Rarity' thing?”

        “Oh, I'm fine with that! I can't tell you how excited I was when Spike first told me. He's been pining for her for years, and now they're finally together, and loving it. I am just so happy for them!” Twilight finished, stretching the corners of her mouth into a wide smile.

        “M hm, and that's real nice of you.” Applejack nodded. “Now, how 'bout ya tell me how you're really feeling?”

        “Applejack, I don't know what you mean. What makes you think I'm not happy for them?”

        “Well, the fact that you blew up Pinkie's watermelon after seeing 'em kiss might have tipped me off.” She said with a smirk, making Twilight's head sink to her shoulders. “ Even before that, while we were swimming back to shore, I saw you shooting daggers at the two of them while they were making googly eyes at each other. That's a pretty far cry from 'being happy for 'em', don't ya think?”

        Twilight looked down at the floor. She was so embarrassed that somepony had caught her acting in such a way, being so venomous towards her friends; friends she cared about, that she loved, in a platonic way. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what Applejack thought of her at the moment, lest they reflect what she currently thought of herself.

        “Appejack... I am happy for the both of them, really,” Twilight explained, looking out the window towards the setting sunlight over the mountains. “I haven't had any angry or bitter thoughts about the two of them being together... until today. Spike has been making trips to Rarity's the past few evenings and rushing home at night, and I've been practically giddy that he's so happy. But seeing the both of them today, in front of me, touching each other and giggling and kissing, it just... ugh.” Twilight pressed her forehead against the glass in frustration.

        “I hear ya sugarcube,” Applejack reassured her, stepping to the side of her and staring out the same window. “Matter o' fact, I used to the feel the same thing.”

        Twilight turned her head, still pressed against the glass, towards Applejack. “Really?”

        “Yup. I remember when Big Macintosh started dating Miss Cheerilee. I was real glad my brother found somepony that he liked, and you know I like Cheerilee just fine. But I tell you what, I did not like seeing her around him when she came to visit. She wasn't doing anything wrong, just touching noses with him, giggling alongside him, normal stuff couples do. But it made my blood boil all the same. Heh, I think I got more applebucking done than ever while they were dating. I just needed to kick something, y' know?.”

        Twilight Sparkle pondered what Applejack had to say to her, the both of them remaining silent for a moment. It felt a little awkward that Applejack was using she and her brother to relate to herself and Spike. Is that how she saw the relationship between herself and Spike? As brothers? Spike was very close to Twilight of course, but she had never considered him anything like a brother, not like Shining Armor.

But, maybe she did consider Spike a brother, and wasn't aware of it? That brought up an unsettling thought with her: if she considered him like a brother, why was she okay with having sex with him before his relationship with Rarity? Was it a way to fulfill some deep unconscious desire to do something with a brotherly figure, without actually committing the sin of incest?

        Twilight shook her head, trying to rid herself of some unwanted image of Shining Armor with his legs spread open and a seductive glare directed towards her. “So, what did you end up doing?” she asked Applejack after regaining her focus.

        “Well, I don't know if it was my hooves all bruised and scuffed up, or my teeth grinding that gave it away, but Granny Smith sat me down and we had a little chat about it.” Applejack raised her hooves and forced her lips upwards, mimicking Granny Smith's withered complexion. “Now Applejack, yer brother's a grown stallion, and he's gonna be datin' whoever he likes. If ya really love him, ya gotta be willin' ta let 'im go, ya hear?”

        Twilight laughed hugely at Applejack's impression of her elder. “That was amazing! I didn't know you could do her voice so well.”

        “Now, I'm gonna spend five minutes looking at the wall, and then tell ya to come in here so I can tell ya a story I done told ya a hundred times already!” Twilight was nearly crying laughing at Applejack's performance and had to take a few breaths to calm herself down.  Applejack lowered her hooves and returned to her normal voice. “Feel better sugarcube?”

        Twilight let out a happy sigh, and smiled. “Yeah, a lot better. Thank you Applejack. You're a good friend,” She said, stepping forward and draping her wings around the farmer's back.

        Applejack raised a foreleg and rubbed te back of Twilight's neck, “Heh, I know that.” She said before breaking away. “Come on, let's get back to the others.”

        Twilight used her magic to slide the door open, and she and Applejack stepped through before she closed it behind her. Applejack let out a soft yawn and pulled herself onto the seat across from Rainbow Dash, leaning against the wall and lowering her hat in front of her face. Twilight stepped back to her seat and resumed her position in front of her book. Before she opened it, she stole a glance at Spike and Rarity, still asleep and in contact with one another. It still felt strange to see them in such a way, but she felt a little better knowing that she didn't hold anything against either one of them. It was going to take some time, but she promised herself that one way or another, she would learn to let Spike go. He was in good hooves with Rarity. Hopefully, that would be enough to put Twilight's mind at ease.





> Chapter 6: This Hollow Oak
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Now arriving Ponyville train station!” the conductor of the Friendship Express called over the loudspeakers of the train. “Attendants will assist you with your luggage once the doors have opened. Thank you for supporting Equestria's number one commercial train-line; hope to see you again soon.”

        Spike tore his eyes away from Blaze, the comic book he was so engaged in, and looked about as the mares in his company began to make their way to the doors leading outside. With his book underneath his arm, he lifted his head up and away from Rarity's side, letting her step down from her seat, and the two followed their friends outside. 

        Ponyville was aglow with a dimly lit sky, the sun waning in its final hour before it was lowered for the day. Stepping out on the wooden planks of the station, the group made their way towards the back of the train, where two attendants were busy lifting numerous amounts of bags from the compartment underneath the last car. 

        With Pinkie Pie being the last to collect her bags, she pranced over to the rest of her friends who stood waiting for her.

        “Boy, today was a blast, huh?” Pinkie Pie remarked once she had joined them“We should go to the beach more often!”

        “Well, I am normally not one for outdoor activities, but yes, today was quite enjoyable,” Rarity replied “Thank you so much for putting on a celebration in honor of Spike and I, Pinkie.” The party pony nodded with a beaming smile towards the couple looking her way.

        “Speakin' of get-together,” Applejack interjected, lifting her hat to wipe some sweat off of her blonde mane. “Me and the Apple family were cleaning out some stuff from the cellar, and we found this ol' doohickey Granny Smith's folks used to make homemade apple-ice cream with. Applebloom really wants to try it out, and we'd love to share what we make with y'all once we get it fixed.” The rest of the party murmured to themselves and voiced their approval of the sound of such a delightful treat.

        “Well then, I guess we'll all see each other tomorrow at the spa?” Fluttershy asked, the others nodding towards her in agreement.

        “I will actually not be joining you all tomorrow,” Rarity replied abashedly, earning a gasp from the rest of her friends. Rarity missing out on a trip to the spa? The others weren't sure if they had heard her correctly. “ I was visited by Written Script this morning. He's putting on an opera this week in Canterlot, but his costumes have met a tragic demise at the hoof of an intern who somehow ended up setting them ablaze. He's requesting my services to help replace them on such short notice, and since his show is being produced by Fancy Pants, he is offering me quite a large sum of money. As a result, I will be taking the first train ride to Canterlot tomorrow, and I shan't be returning until next week.”

        Spike listened to Rarity's explanation, looking dismayed. “You're gonna be gone a full week?” he asked looking downcast, Rarity in turn offering him a sympathetic smile.

        “Well, it's a shame you're not going to be with us at the spa tomorrow,” Twilight said to her while Spike stared at the ground, looking dismayed, “But it's great that you're getting offers in big shows in Canterlot. We're very proud of you.” The others gathered around giving Rarity a group hug and offering her congratulations all around, the unicorn at the center nodding appreciatively.

        “Well, guess that's it then” Rainbow Dash announced, hovering in the air with her surfboard over her shoulder. “Have fun in Canterlot Rarity. See you tomorrow, everypony!” With that, she sped off through the air in the direction of Cloudsdale as her friends waved her goodbye.

        Spike, Rarity and Twilight were the only ones to remain behind as their friends made their way back home. Spike remained in front of Rarity with his head down, while she wrapped her right foreleg nervously around her left and kept her eyes averted from him. Twilight looked between both of them for a moment, before turning her head and trotting a few steps away from them, to give them some space. Rarity took a deep breath before she spoke.

        “Spike, the reason why Pinkie Pie put this celebration together was in honor of us.” She said gingerly. “This was your special day as well, and I wanted to make sure it was as wonderful as it could  possibly be. I did not want that dark cloud hanging over your head on such a bright and sunny day.” Spike nodded, but kept his gaze downwards, away from her. Rarity extended a hoof under his chin and tilted his gaze up towards her eyes. “I am so sorry Spike. I wasn't sure what would be a good choice in the matter, so I made the best one I could. I promise you that I did, and still do. have your best interests at heart.”

        Spike felt his eyes sting a bit as he locked them with Rarity. He stepped forward and threw his arms around her, his cheek rubbing up against the warmth of her neck. “I know. It's okay. I'm not mad at you Rarity.”

        Rarity smiled and turned her head against Spike's, nuzzling against him.  “Thank you for understanding, dearest..”

        “Yeah, of course. No problem.” Spike breathed out a forlorn sigh against the side of her neck, running the tip of his claw between her shoulders. “I'm... really gonna miss you, hon.”

        Shivering slightly from the touch of his claw, the dock of Rarity's swirled purple tail flicked upward a moment, before coming to settle against her hindquarters properly. “As shall I, darling. But I promise I'll only be up there for a week. And when I come back, I'll come running back into your arms, and you can have me all to yourself. Does that sound fair?”

        The corners of Spike's mouth finally turned upwards as he pulled his head away from her neck and looked her in the eyes. “Yeah, that sounds great Rarity.”

        Spike kept his eyes locked with Rarity's, who began to giggle excitedly. “What are you doing, little one?”

        “Just thinking about how much I love you.” Spike saidaffectionately.

        Rarity pulled her lips inwards as she smiled, and turned her head so that she was hiding behind her mane. “I love you too... my little Spikey-wikey.” Spike reached a claw to her face, pushing her mane aside and caressing the side of her face. The two faced one another and moved inwards, lightly pecking each other on the lips. Spike moved his palms up against her face as the two kissed each other repeatedly, breaking off to look each other in the eyes for seconds at a time before diving back in for another kiss.

        A rather loud sneeze was heard behind Spike, and he looked to see Twilight rubbing a hoof to her nose and shaking her head, before looking up at the large clock of the train station.

        Spike sighed in defeat. “I gotta go. Be careful on your trip okay?”

        “Of course I will. You and Twilight be safe while I'm gone.”

        Spike nodded and kissed her one last time. “Love you.” He repeated, forcing himself to step back and move his hands away from her face.

        “I love you too, Spike!” she called, stretching a hoof out towards him.

        Spike had to force his head to look away from Rarity as he stepped back towards Twilight. Once he was in proximity with her, she turned and smiled at him. “Ready to go home, Spike?” The little dragon nodded, keeping his head down as he lifted Twilight's bag over his shoulder and walked silently towards the exit. “I'm sorry Spike. I know you're gonna miss Rarity, especially now that you two are an item.” Twilight trotted alongside her assistant, scrambling to think of something to clear the gloomy feeling clinging to him. “Ooh! Spike, today's Saturday, isn't it? That means you and I have our weekly chess match to look forward to!”

        “Oh boy, I can't wait to go home and lose, like I always do.” Spike uttered unenthusiastically.

        “Hey, that's not fair; you've gotten a lot better since I taught you how to play a few months ago.” Spike shrugged his shoulders and kept walking, avoiding eye contact with Twilight.

        Seeing Spike so discouraged made Twilight's heart ache. She may not have known what it was like to miss a romantic partner, but she remembered how hard it had been for her whenever Shining Armor would leave for recruitment training. The feeling was even worse leaving him behind in Catnerlot when she first moved to Ponyville. If Spike was feeling anywhere close to what she felt at the time, she was ready to do whatever it took to help bring him out of it. But, what could she do?

        Twilight looked back at the train station, just in time to see Rarity making her way out of the train station gate. Floating in a magical blue aura was her mess of baggage which she was carefully trying to keep together in one clump. She tripped over a rock, and was quick enough to regain her stance and avoid a nasty fall, but in doing so lost her focus on her spell and her bags fell about the floor, a few of them opening up and their contents spilling everywhere. Even from such a distance, Twilight could see a frustrated scowl appear on her face, before she shook it away and began levitating her belongings back into the cases.  

        Poor Rarity. Twilight thought. It's pretty silly to take so much stuff with her on a one day trip to the beach, but it's still sad to see her struggle. I should probably help her.

        Then, an idea struck her. Twilight turned back towards Spike who subconsciously kept walking forward. “Hey Spike? Rarity looks like she's having trouble with her bags.” The mention of his marefriend grabbed Spike's attention, and he stopped to look back at Twilight, then Rarity in the distance. “Do you think you might be able to help her carry some of those back to the boutique?”

        “Sure!” Spike said eagerly, but then frowned as he looked about the town, taking note of the setting sun. “But,what about my curfew? I don't think I can carry all of those bags back to her place, and then hightail it back to the library before it gets too dark.”

        “That's very true Spike,” Twilight said with a smirk as she approached him. “Guess you'll just have to spend the night with Rarity, won't you?”

        Spike's jaw dropped, as did Twilight's bag that he had been carrying. “You mean it? I can... spend the night with Rarity?”

        “Only if you promise that you'll make it back in the morning, so that you can join me and the others at the spa. Deal?”

        “Deal!” Spike nodded, and then pranced up to her, giving her a rather tight hug. “Thanks Twilight, you're the best!”

        Twilight's tongue shot out of her mouth as she was squeezed by Spike. “Sure, no problem” Twilight grunted as she struggled to speak, “Go get her, tiger!”

        Spike released Twilight from his grasp, and the alicorn welcomed the gift of air returning to her lungs. She looked back to see Spike scurrying towards Rarity, calling out to her just as she was finished closing her open bags. The two chatted for a moment, and Twilight saw Rarity's eyes light up, followed by her prancing in place excitedly. Spike turned to Twilight, offering her a thumbs up, while Rarity held her hoof to her chest and mouthed the words “Thank you” to the alicorn. Twilight giggled and waved her hoof to the both of them, as Spike lifted up a few of Rarity's bags, and the unicorn levitated what was left with much more ease than before.

        Twilight turned away from them and resumed walking towards her library, levitating her one bag with her. She felt good about this. In fact, she felt great. Gone were the venomous feelings she had been harboring earlier that day, now replaced with a new sense of joy. It was the least she could do to let them have some extended time together, before the unicorn left for a week. Along with that, she could let this be the start of her learning to let Spike have some breathing room away from her.

        Twilight smiled as she continued walking, Golden Oak Library now within viewable distance.



        Rarity twisted open the door of her bedroom and stepped inside, following her bags floating in the air in front of her. She levitated them towards the center of the room and laid them out, just as Spike finished climbing the stairs and joined her. “Let's just put them down there for now, darling” she instructed him. “I'll be using these same bags plus a few more for my trip. No sense in unpacking anything now.” Spike hustled to the pile and dumped what he was carrying, turning back to face the unicorn. “There we are. Thank you for your help, Spike. It was so nice of Twilight to let you accompany me home and stay for the night.”

        “I know, it's unreal!” Spike agreed happily. “I'm usually rushing to get through my chores to get here, and then get back home before sunset.”

        Rarity giggled and rubbed her nose against Spike's gingerly. “But now, you and I have the entire night ahead of us, and we have all the time in the world to do whatever we want, don't we?”

        Spike bit his bottom lip and stared with lowered eyelids back at Rarity. “We sure do...” Spike leaned his head in towards Rarity and pursed his lips together with his eyes closed, but following the sound of a subtle growl, Rarity pulled her head back and looked towards her stomach.

        “Oh dear, how long has it been since we ate lunch at the beach?” Rarity asked, as Spike pushed forward, opened his eyes to see that Rarity's lips were nowhere near his own, and fought to keep from falling over. “What about you, darling? Are you hungry?”

        Regaining his balance and trying to save face in front of Rarity, Spike drummed his claws together. “I, uh... guess I could eat?” Spike was actually quite hungry, but the eagerness of wanting to spend some intimate time with Rarity was overpowering his appetite at the moment.

        “Well then, I'll have to cook us up something to eat, won't I?” Rarity asked merrily. She quickly about-faced and pranced down the staircase. Spike shrugged, and then followed her downstairs wearing an accepting smirk. Once the two made it downstairs and into her kitchen past the main room, Rarity turned her head about the kitchen as she looked about the many pantry's and cupboards.

        “What are you in the mood for, little one?” Rarity asked, stepping forward and lifting her forelegs onto the counter as she opened the cupboard with her magic, scanning the various ingredients on the shelf. “Shall I put together a puy de dom pie? I still think I have some bullion and mushrooms left to make enough for both of us.”

        Looking from behind, Spike found his eyes drawn to Rarity's backside, swinging back and forth as she searched through her cupboard. Over the past several days, he had been privileged to become quite familiar with it, and he was not disappointed with what it had to offer. Rarity took great care to keep her body, as well as her caboose, in the most pristine and glamorous condition. It was soft to the touch, a result of the many shampoos and moisturizers she applied to her coat, but firm and tone from the rigorous squats and other gluteus exercises she performed every morning.

        “Hm... I dunno,” Spike murmured, stepping toward Rarity, with his claws raised up and wiggling in anticipation.

        “Well, if you want something simpler, I could always whip up a three-bean casserole. Just tell me what you feel like ea- eeeep!” Rarity tilted her head back as she felt a pair of claws give her white cheeks a firm squeeze, and then spread them apart. Rarity let out a gasp upon feeling her pussy lips stretch open. Before she could even turn her head, she felt the familiar sensation of Spike's mouth softly pressing against her folds, and his long thin tongue slithering up and stopping just underneath her anus. 

        “Mm...Skipping dinner and going straight to dessert? You naughty boy.” Rarity lowered her head and unconsciously lifted her rear upwards to give him more leverage to her opening, already winking from his touch. Rarity stretched her forelegs out momentarily and pushed her hips backwards, still writhing in pleasure from the force of his tongue working against her. With his claws still gripping her bottom and keeping her in place, Spike slowly flexed his tongue and pushed it into her labia. Hearing her moan after he penetrated her, Spike continued to work his tongue inside of her, moving it downwards in the hopes of touching her g-spot. The underside of his tongue moved, until he felt it rub against a rather inflated patch of flesh.

        “Ahh- ah ah ah- ahhhh!”

        Ah, there it is! Spike thought happily as he continued to brush against her inflating spot. Rarity turned to look over her shoulder at Spike, only seeing the top of his head as his face was enveloped by her fair cheeks.

          “My goodness...” Rarity panted, watching him greedily lapping away at her wet lips and moving his face up with each stroke of his tongue. “ How on Earth did you get so good at this?”

        Spike pulled his face out of her a moment, his eyes towards the ceiling in thought. He knew that if it weren't for Twilight encouraging him to practice on her, that he would have no idea what he was doing. But he wasn't sure if telling Rarity that he and Twilight had been fooling around was a conversation he wanted to have with her, especially right now. “Hm... guess I'm a natural.” He said, giving her right butt cheek a playful slap and diving back in to resume licking her.

        Rarity closed her eyes and moved her rear from side to side against Spike's face, showing him how much her nether regions appreciated what he was doing with them. Spike moved his tongue downwards, tracing along the outer edges of her swelling clitoris in slow, rhythmic circles. He wrapped his lips over her throbbing nub, and began to gently suck on it. The pressure on her button made Rarity's face tighten, and she began to rock her hips backwards, pressing her toned cheeks against Spike's face.

        “Ahh... ohhhh...” Rarity cried out in desire from the tingling sensation mounting between her haunches. “Mmm... oh fine, you win!” She exclaimed, before backing up even further, pushing Spike off of her before she walked away. “But not in my kitchen.”

        Spike's tongue hung out in confusion as he watched Rarity prance away and exit the kitchen. He followed her into the main room, where she flared her horn with energy, and quickly slid her large red sofa in front of her. She turned herself about and fell backwards on the couch, lifting her hindlegs up to her chest, and reaching down to spread her sopping lips open with her hooves.

        “Make it quick though; I'm hungry, and I would like to eat soon” she playfully taunted him. Spike narrowed his eyes and ran towards the sofa, leaping into the air and eliciting an excited yelp from Rarity before he landed on top of her.



        Twilight Sparkle sat at her desk, her head craning over a scattered stack of wrinkled and decayed papers. To any other pony, the papers would seem of little significance. Twilight knew that these documents had great value to them: these were entries from the personal diary belonging to Princess Celestia's legendary apprentice, Starswirl the Bearded. When the princess had first presented these papers to Twilight in a very secretive way (Celestia had quite literally slid them underneath her bedroom door in a carefully wrapped package one night, but feigned ignorance of what Twilight was talking about when asked), Twilight had been ecstatic. She had read them all over and over again the first week she had received them, absorbing all sorts of knowledge and personal insight to the esteemed unicorn. These days, she would sometimes pull them out to read again for fun.

        The way Starswirl had written his entries, Twilight imagined that the unicorn had a very harsh and robust voice when he was alive. Everything he wrote was either extremely scientific, or to-the-point of the matter. However, there was one passage that caught Twilight's attention, a paragraph on the last page of his entries (and possibly during the last year of his time on the Earth) that stood out from the rest.

        Throughout most of my young adult life, I have known Equestria to be in a state of turmoil, a new malestrom of death or destruction rising to threaten the way of life for our great nation. In my old age, with my bones heavy and tired, and my magical ability declining, I can only pray that it remains as it has been for decades now, enjoying the miracle of peace. I admit, I am still fearful of the end of my life. I know not what awaits me after I cease to be. All my years of relying on scientific proof of all things has led me to believe that our minds cease to perceive anything around us, and the idea of being unable to ever think again is terrifying. But if I must die, I hope my last thoughts will be joyful. I shall be forever thankful for that eternal ray of sunshine that brought warmth to my cold and withered heart, and then I shall die, taking solace that her rays will still warm the hearts of others.

        Twilight had always found that line particularly beautiful, but it confused her: why was it that he suddenly became so poetic, after years of being factual and direct? Was it just because he knew death was not too far away from him? That seemed like a possibility, but Twilight still wasn't convinced. Most stallions weren't traditionally known to be poetic, especially in those old days.

        ...Unless they found a mare they loved...

        Now that idea seemed much more plausible. Twilight had read many accounts of stallions writing beautiful sonnets about a mare they had met, and how destiny had worked to put them together, and that they were just what they needed to complete their lives. Although there had been no accounts of Starswirl having a family or even a partner in official records, she wouldn't put it past him to have courted a few mares during his life. In fact, with his knowledge of magic and spells and the amount of books he had written in his time, Twilight figured mares were throwing themselves at him wherever he went (as she probably would if she had been alive at the same time).

        But now Twilight's curiosity was peaked even further. Who was this mystery mare that Starswirl was reminiscing about during his final days? Who could possibly have awakened this artistic and sensitive side of him?

        Eternal ray of sunshine... warmth... her rays will still warm the hearts of others

        Twilight gasped, as an image flashed through her head of a tall white alicorn, with a flowing mane of shimmering pink, purple and blue, leaning down to kiss the lips above the stallions thick and hairy chin.

        “No. Way!” Twilight exclaimed excitedly. “Did HE- and HER-? Did THEY-!?” Twilight squealed with joy, clopping her hooves together as the corners of her mouth stretched up just underneath her closed eyes. “Ooh, this is so steamy! I've got to know if this is true or not!”

        Using her magic to carefully move Starswirl's entries into their safe container, Twilight levitated a blank parchment, as well as a vial of ink and a quill, in front of her. Taking a breath to compose herself, she dipped the quill into the ink as she mulled over how to compose her message. She didn't want to come off as too demanding or intrusive, as it was most likely a very personal matter to the alicorn in question. Pulling her quill out of the ink, Twilight touched the tip to the parchment and began to write.

        Dear Princess Celestia,
I hope I'm not disturbing you, I understand you've lowered the sun and are probably about to go to bed, but there's something I just have to ask you (don't worry, it's not an emergency or anything).
You see, I've decided to read those journal entries from Starswirl the Bearded that you gave me when I was a filly (I think this would make the twentieth time I've read them all the way through? I'm just guessing though, I lost count years ago), and I'm curious... how close were you and he when he was alive? I am only asking for purely scientific reasons, of course. Hope to hear from you soon.
        -Your faithful student,
        Twilight Sparkle

        “Perfect!” Twilight said, letting the quill drop to the side and blowing on her signature to help the ink dry. If she sent the letter now, she might be able to catch Celestia before she was in bed. “Spike!? If you're not busy, do you think you could-!?”

        Just as soon as she had spoken, Twilight was reminded of why she had pulled out the journal entries in the first place. She had needed something to keep her mind occupied, since there would be no weekly chess game with her number one assistant that night. Twilight cast the letter aside, knowing that it would not likely be sent to Celestia until tomorrow morning, assuming she was still in the mood to send it. She rested her chin on her desk and sighed deeply, breathing out what was left of her elevated mood from before. She really hated knowing that without Spike around, she was truly alone in Golden Oak library.

        Twilight's ear perked to a small tapping sound, and she looked up to see Owlicious, hooting and tapping his beak against the window in front of her. A small sense of relief washed over Twilight. It may not have been Spike or any of her other friends, but some company was better than none at all. Twilight reached a hoof out and pushed her window open, and the bird hopped inside, giving another hoot to greet her. “Hey there little guy. Are you enjoying the warm night air while it lasts?”

        Owlicious turned his head left to right, and then hopped off her desk, swooping to the middle of the area. He scanned the area, slowly and completely, as if he were searching for something. He turned his head all the way around and looked back at Twilight. “Hoo?”

        Twilight stepped away from her desk and towards the bird. “Are you looking for something, Owlicious?”

        Owlicious turned his head upwards to the loft above them, where Twilight's bed was, and took flight. Twilight trotted up the stairs as she followed him, and found the bird perched at the basket on the floor near the foot of her bed. Above the pillow at the top, Owlicious looked down at the empty mattress and blanket before looking back at up Twilight. “Hoo!”

        “Oh, you're wondering where Spike is?” Twilight asked, receiving a nod from her feathered friend. “Spike's not here tonight, Owlicious. He's over at Rarity's. He'll be back in the morning.”

        Owlicious shrugged, flapping his wings and flying off of the basket. Twilight noticed that by moving his wings, he had accidentally knocked some dirt and leaves onto Spike's blanket. Twilight carefully lifted the blanket up with her magic and shook the mess off of the surface then kept it in the air a moment to inspect that it was clean.

        Her eyes examined the white and orange checker pattern blanket, adorned with apples on the orange squares. It had been a few years since Spike had received this gift from Applejack, and Twilight had assumed it would end up facing exile in a closet with other things they had not yet decided to throw out. But Spike had genuinely appreciated his present and treasured it, just as he treasured all of his friends. It didn't occur to her every moment of the day, but she was so impressed with what a kind soul Spike had. No he wasn't perfect, and he still had to learn from his mistakes at such a young age, but she knew that his heart was in the right place at all times, especially with her. Whenever she was doubting herself, he was there to remind her of her past accomplishments. Whenever she was stressed about a conflict in her schedule, he would assure her that the world would keep turning, and she would be okay. His shoulder had been stained by more of her tears than she could count, and he had never once backed away from her (unless she specifically asked him to, which was not often). He was always there when she needed him... except for tonight.

        Twilight closed her eyes and let the blanket fall into her right hoof. She brought it to her chest, right underneath her chin and held it against her body tightly, wishing that she was hugging him instead.

        Is this what Applejack felt like when her brother was dating Cheerilee? Like a piece of her was missing? Is this just me being an overprotective “sister” or is there something else...? Twilight winced at the thought. No. No, I never felt anything like that towards him. We were close, but not that close. We were just experimenting with each other as friends... close friends. That's all.

        Twilight breathed in deeply, trying to collect herself, when she noticed something about the blanket. She brought it up to her face, taking another whiff of the soft material, and then her eyes opened wide in surprise as she recognized the scent.

        It... smells like him...

        Twilight closed her eyes and inhaled once again, drinking in the distinct smell Spike had left on his blanket. It had a salty body sweat mixed with a fruity hint of the tigers-eye gemstone body wash that he used when he showered. The scent reminded her of when Spike was in her own bed, and she had her face in his lap, her lips wrapped gently around his throbbing erection. Her mouth would move downwards along his shaft, and she would take a breath to keep herself going, and with that breath, the smell of his body would fill her senses.

        With her face buried in his blanket, Twilight felt her marehood tickle, her clitoris throbbing just enough to poke out of the top of her lips. She looked back and noticed the dock of her tail had lifted, exposing her privates to Owlicious on her bedpost. The owl thankfully had his back turned to her and was busy running his beak through his feathers.

        Twilight quickly turned herself around to face him, her face feeling slightly hot. “Um, Owlicious?” She asked nervously, the owl turning his head back to face her. “Would you mind giving me a little privacy?”

        Nodding, Owlicious jumped off of her bed and swooped  down, towards the stairwell leading to the first floor of the library.

        With her loft now to herself, Twilight leaped onto her bed with Spike's blanket in her mouth and laid her head back against her pillow. With her hindlegs spread and her knees pointed towards the ceiling, she used a foreleg to pull the cloth up over her muzzle and breathe in. That intoxicating scent overwhelmed her, and made her privates throb. Using a free hoof, she slid down her purple belly and pushed up between her legs, gently brushing against her mare lips.

        “Ahh...” Twilight panted in relief, relishing in the tickle spreading through her loins. With the sensation slowly overtaking her body, the sense of loneliness little by little vanished from her mind, and she allowed herself to grin. She moved her hoof down, right above the crack of her buttocks, and touched the toe of her hoof against the bottom of her cavern, gradually sliding it upwards along it's crease. It began to excrete a bit of wet residue as she inched closer to her swelling button. She was tempted to touch it, but staved off for a moment. Twilight knew better than to rush right to the finish, otherwise the relieved feeling afterward wouldn't last as long. Just at the edge of her nub, Twilight brought her hoof back down, pushing against her lips with every upward stroke.

        Twilight took another sniff of the material over her face, and her hips rose a bit off the bed as her mind was filled with the thought of her wonderful little assistant. Twilight admired Spike so much at times. Over the past few years, he had grown into a fine young dragon, both spiritually and physically. Twilight thought she had been imagining things the night he dried her eyes, when she thought he might have gotten taller. Since that night, whenever he was preoccupied with chores, Twilight would sneak up behind him and use her wings to compare his height to her own. She had discovered Spike had indeed grown a number of inches, and was now just a bit taller than her, even with the growth spurt she experienced after becoming a princess.

        Wiggling her hips at the thought, Twilight wondered how much growing he had left to do, and how fast it would happen. What would he be like in a year?  Or maybe three years? Would he be several feet taller, to the point where he had to crouch to enter the door? Twilight shivered at the thought, and held the blanket against her chest.

        There she was, sitting at her desk reading a new textbook delivered from the princess, and scribbling some notes off to the side. She heard the knob of the door twist and open behind her. “Hey Twilight,” a deep, boyish voice called to her. “I'm home.”

        Twilight recognized the voice immediately, and turned to greet him. “Welcome home Spike!” She said, as she looked at the dragon, tall and...

        Twilight opened her eyes and turned her head to the side in thought. Actually, how would Spike look, I wonder? Twilight puzzled over the image of an older looking Spike while she kept her hoof rubbing up against her slick lips.

        She remembered how Spike had looked when he had experienced the abnormal growth spurt during his obsession with gifts. While she had been impressed with his height, his body looked a bit... gangly. Like it wasn't proportioned right. Twilight hoped he wasn't going to look like that. Instead, she imagined Spike's body to be a bit leaner, specifically around his arms and legs, as well as his belly. But not too lean: he needed to have a bit of muscle on him. Maybe Spike would go through that phase where he felt a rush of testosterone, and started working out to compensate those hormones coursing through him. That way, his biceps would be a little bigger, but not too big, and his chest would have a sturdy definition to it. Oh, and he would have a hint of a noticeable six pack above his waist.

        Twilight gasped as she thought of the possibility of that future Spike. She instinctively pressed her hoof into her caverns, feeling the toe stretch her out just a bit. Her arousal jumped slightly, but still left her wishing that hooves weren't so poorly designed for penetration. Pushing the tip of her hoof back and forth within the rim of her opening, Twilight's thoughts drifted back to her fantasy.

         Twilight looked upon her tall, handsome dragon and pranced towards him excitedly. Upon getting close enough to him however, she noticed that he had quite a bit of dirt around his neck and face, as well as a few bruises on his arms and shoulders. Her smile gave way to a disapproving glare as she stared him down. “What are these?” She asked accusingly.

        Spike let out a frustrated growl and rolled his eyes. “Got into a fight, no big deal. Heh, you should see the other guys.” He chuckled.

        With a huff, Twilight levitated a washcloth towards him and wiped off the bit of dirt clinging to his scales. “Spike, every time you go hanging out with Garble and the others, you come back dirty and beaten. Those don’t sound like good friends to me!” She said as continued to wash him. “What were you even fighting them for?”

        Spike reluctantly pulled his arm to the front, revealing the clawful of small, dazzling gems        he was holding. 

“Really, Spike? You’re getting hurt over a bunch of gems you’re going to eat and be done with in a day?”

“As if. Nah, these gems aren’t for eating. Look closer, Twi.” Inspecting the sparkling gems in his claw, Twilight noticed a thin string around each stone, and Spike pulled them up to show that all of them were hanging by the thread. “Ta-da! It's for you.”

        Twilight gasped, stunned that Spike had taken the time to weave together such a gift for her. “Spike, that's so...no!” She stopped herself and waved her hoof. “No, you're not getting off that easy, you're still in trouble.” she reminded him, bowing her head so that Spike could ease the necklace around her ears and let it drape around her neck. “I do not want you regularly hanging out with dragons that beat each other over some... “ Twilight looked down towards the gems hanging from her neck, lifting the end 
of her hair out from under the necklace. “...very beautiful looking rocks... understand me?”

        They both looked at each other straight faced for a moment, before Spike began to smile, and his body trembled while trying to suppress a laugh.

        “And what is so funny to you?” she asked him, her patience wearing thin.

        “You're...” Spike chuckled, struggling to get the words out. “You're looking UP at me while you scold me!” Spike was unable to contain himself and busted out in a deep hearty guffaw.

        Twilight rolled her eyes, a smile creeping up on her as well that she fought in an attempt to keep a straight face. “Hey, you stop laughing!” she exclaimed, her mouth twitching to keep from smiling. “I'm being serious!”

        “Alright, alright. Sorry Twilight” Spike said, as the both of them calmed down. Spike looked down at her with his eyes half-open, taking in the features of her face. “That necklace looks really good on you.”

        Twilight averted her eyes and grinned, while her hoof moved to her mane and brushed it nervously. Spike took a knee so he was down on her level, just like he used to be naturally, and extended a claw to the side of her face. Looking at Spike, with his chiseled jaw and his scales slicked back stylishly, she felt any remnants of anger melt away while she laid against his palm. The two moved in close until they met in the middle, and kissed each other softly, but remained in contact for quite some time. Once they parted, Twilight continued to look upon him, feeling her face flush and her behind wiggling a bit in excitement.

        “So… you wanna screw?” Spike asked with a wide grin.

        Twilight's jaw dropped over-dramatically. “You know, you've got some nerve, Spike!” She said to him shaking her head, trying to force her smile away but failing miserably . “I don't know what kind of mare you think I am, that I would want to take you to bed right after you've infuriated me and made fun of the fact that I'm shorter than you.”

        “Hey, that’s cool with me.” He said, standing up to his feet and walking towards the staircase.

        “B-but! Uh...” Twilight interrupted, trotting towards him. “I-I can tell you're not going to be able to think straight for the rest of the night unless you get it out of your system.” She offered, while he looked down at her with a smirk on his face. “I did have some studying to do, but I suppose I could put that on hold for y- yaaah!”Twilight yelped as she felt herself being lifted up off the ground, and into Spike's strong arms. Spike flashed her a suave grin, and Twilight laid her head against his shoulder as he carried her, up the two flights of stairs with ease. Her chest rose a bit as she sniffed along his shoulder, breathing in his powerful Earthy scent. While Spike climbed, Twilight lifted her mouth and gently kissed at his strong chin, until he reached Twilight's bed. There, he gently laid her down on her stomach, hindlegs hanging off the edge of her bed.

        Twilight's haunches trembled as Spike was over her, his arms on either side and his nose pushed up against her neck, sniffing along her mane. Twilight closed her eyes and breathed through her mouth  as he sniffed her, placing firm kisses across her neck and down her back. He raised his claws and gently brushed the sides of her body until he reached her waist. Slowly, tantalizingly, he drew the tips of his claws over the top of her buttocks, and gently scratched downwards until he was underneath her rear and gave it a loving squeeze.

        Though Twilight's dock was raised up high, she kept the flare of her tail up against her winking lips, feeling its purple hairs tickle her. Spike moved his head down, on his knees and looking straight at her purple rear, and moved his face forward. With his nose pressed up against her tail, he would take a deep sniff of her. The feeling of his nose breathing against her winking lips would make her shiver.  His thumb glided up underneath the dock of her tail, encompassing it within his finger. He slid his grip down to the middle of her tail and then lifted it upwards, giving it a sturdy tug. Twilight tilted her head back and let out a high-pitched moan from the pull on her tail, making her exposed wet lips pulse furiously in front of him, and her wings flare out to the sides.

        “Ahhh...” Twilight cried out in lust, bucking her hips upwards.  Since the two had first shared her bed, it had been Twilight calling the shots, Spike learning from her example and keeping up as best he could. He had improved significantly as time went on, but she could always detect a bit of hesitance behind his actions.  The thought of a bigger, stronger and more charismatic Spike being so firm with her in bed sent her body into a frenzy. As she entertained the thought of Spike pulling up on her tail to look at her throbbing folds, she slid her hoof up and brought it into contact with her clitoris, pushing on it slowly. She leaned her face to the side, feeling her muzzle brush up against the radius of her stiffened wing.

         Twilight gasped at the sudden exhilaration, the tingling feeling coursing from her passage all the way to her chest. She began to rub her hoof in circles to let the sensation elevated as it coursed through her body. “Oh-oh-oh-ohhhh... nnng!” Twilight forced herself to pull her hoof away from her clit. It throbbed and begged her to come back, but she was enjoying this fantasy too much to let it go so suddenly. She needed to milk this a little more, thus she returned her hoof to gently caressing her wet lips, winking furiously from her throbbing clitoris.

        “Geez, Twilight,” Spike teased her, using his free hand to rub across her flank “How do you get this wet in such a short amount of time? You're such a horny little mare,” he mocked her, drawing his hand back and ringing it against her with a rather loud smack. Twilight's pushed her rear upwards and her chest sank into her mattress as the sting spread through her rear. She felt his palm gently rub where he had spanked, soothing the pain away, and then his lips pressed against it with a gentle kiss.

She felt his weight shift as he stood up and in a moment she felt something slide along the crease of her buttocks. It was long, rigid and warm, and she could feel it throbbing as it moved along her coat. She recognized the feeling. With her mouth hanging open, she looked to the side, underneath her wings, towards Spike. The dragon in turn twisted his hips to the side, and pointed his massive rod at her. Extending at an impressive eight inches, Spike reached a claw down and grasped his length, slowly stroking it up and down a few times. She could see it pulsing in his hand, and he began to squeeze it a bit from the bottom. Panting a bit, his efforts yielded a small drop of white fluid seeping from the opening of his erection. He moved his thumb up to the tip and flattened the wetness against his flesh, slipping it across the underside of his length.

        Twilight released a high-pitched whine, the feeling in her loins surmounting at an agonizing rate. A bit of shame clung at her, as she was hoping that she could keep a shred of her pride about her. 

        “Tell me how bad you want it, Twi” Spike asked, keeping his shaft laid up against the side of Twilight's hindquarters. 

“I want it… so bad...” she whispered.

Spike shook his head in a disapproving manner. “Come on Twilight, you can do better than that,” He lifted the hand that had been stroking it up to his face, and licked off the bit of wetness that remained on his fingers. 

        Letting out a whimper that would have even impressed Fluttershy, Twilight buried the side of her head into her mattress. She didn't care about keeping her authority as his caretaker over him anymore: she needed him inside of her, and she needed it now, or else she was going to lose her mind.

        “Pleeeease!” She begged, abandoning any reservations of pride to the wind. “I can’t take it anymore! Just push it inside me, hurry!”

        Spike chuckled deviously, moving his hand towards her folds and pushing against her throbbing clitoris, making her gasp once again. “That’s my girl” He said, giving her rump another firm squeeze.

He climbed up onto her bed, and reached his arms underneath her chest. “Alright, let's get you up into bed. There you go...” he said, as he lifted her up onto her knees, with her back facing towards him. He had to crouch slightly to get his length under her rear, and he moved his claws down to search for her lips and properly guide his cock into her. When his fingers located their target, he found that the gates were still wide open, pleading for their guest of honor to enter.

        Spike pointed his length upwards, poking at the wet surface of Twilight's lips. She breathed in sharply upon first contact, and then mewled one it breached the outer rim and plunged deep inside of her. She pushed her chest out as she felt his shaft slip inside, stretching out her inner walls with its ascension. Twilight let out a jubilant groan once the base of his shaft pressed against her lips. The excruciating tickle had not subsided even a bit, but she felt better with her caverns breached, knowing relief was imminent. Twilight felt full; she felt warm, and safe as he throbbed inside of her. She wiggled her haunches with him inside and giggled while the feeling spread down her legs and through the toe of her hooves.

        Twilight removed her hoof from her sopping caverns a moment, giving it a chance to rest. She sat up, and her magic took control of the pillow she had been laying against, repositioning it in front of her. She heaved herself forward, with Spike's blanket sandwiched between her chest and the pillow, and pressed her hindlegs together as the exquisite itch down below demanded her to finish what she had started. She pulled her legs up and repositioned herself, now straddling her pillow and keeping the cloth below her chin. With her wet folds pressing down on her hoof below her, she started to hump her pillow with the blanket overlapping it, while she directed her mind back to Spike.

        Spike leaned his head against Twilight's shoulder, his shoulders pressing into her stiff wings.  “Feel good?” He whispered, her mouth just an inch from her ear, making it twitch. Twilight nodded with her eyes closed, the corners of her mouth turned up. Spike lifted her forelegs up to her chest, and pushed his mouth against the edge of her ear to give it a bit of a nibble. He moved his face down and his mouth sucked gently on her neck, easing back a bit to pull just slightly. The tug made Twilight's mouth open again as she gasped, and on instinct, she moved her lower body up and down, her inner walls slipping across the shaft inside of her.

        His free claw moved down below her stomach. His hand brushed across the small teats near her belly, grasping one in his palm and groping it firmly. He trailed his claws across the flesh of her breast until they reached her nipple, pinching it between his claws and tugging it outwards.

        “Mm...” Twilight whimpered as she flexed herself up and down his length. She trembled as she persisted, her climax looming nearer and nearer, but her body growing too tired to move herself any longer.

        “Want me to bring you home?” Spike asked in a hushed tone. Twilight nodded desperately. Wrapping his arm around her to keep her steady, Spike pulled his hips back slowly. Twilight felt the head of his length slip down and the fullness escaped her for a moment, until he thrust back up into her, and the feeling returned more intense than before. Spike kept his face buried into her neck as he worked his hips, plunging back and forth inside her.

        “Yes... oh, yes!” Twilight uttered loudly, rubbing her hoof up into her lips and bouncing down on her soft pillow. She eased the toe of her hoof upwards and brought it back to her clitoris, making the sensation jump once again as she pressed into it. This time, she would not bring it away until she was finished. It would remain there, rubbing in quick and hasty circles and while she moaned uncontrollably, until the release she so craved was finally hers.

        “Yeah, that's right,” Spike said as he pushed up into her. “Tell me how good it feels,”

        “Ohhh, Spike!” Twilight screamed, still rubbing her button and humping her pillow. “It feels so good, Spike! You feel amazing in me! Mmm!”

        “I love hearing you say my name,” He whispered, licking up behind her ear. “I want to hear you scream my name when you cum, you dirty little mare.” He closed his lips around her ear and pulled up just slightly as he thrust forward and swayed his hips, his throbbing mass shifting her hips as he moved.

        “Ohhhh!” Twilight squealed louder than she ever had in her own bed, her back hunching over as she rubbed up and down her clitoris. “Yes-yes-yes, oh yes! Oh-oh... Spiiiiiiike!”

        With her mouth wide open, Twilight felt a power spasm rocket from her loins and pulse through her entire body. It stretched out towards the toes of her hindlegs and back up to her chest. Her marehood shuddered, and a thin line of clear fluid ejected out onto the blanket sandwiched between her and the pillow. She threw her head up as she continued to scream his name, keeping her hoof pressed against her folds, letting the sensation overtake her completely. She felt another flood of wetness surround her hoof while the feeling continued to cling to her.

        “Ahh...” Twilight sighed out happily, letting her neck relax. Never in her life had she felt an orgasm of this magnitude; not when she had first discovered masturbation, not when she has first lain with Spike, never. Every fiber of her being felt electric. Her body trembled as it began to settle down from the exhilaration that had gripped her for so long. Twilight's lips kept pulsing against her hoof, which was still compressed between her hindlegs. Her body was so on edge that she had lost the ability to force them open.

        It was a struggle to calm her breathing, but once she had, Twilight yawned hugely. This was something she was unfamiliar with, feeling drowsy after an orgasm, as Spike usually did. But she wasn't opposed to it. It was already dark, she could easily go to sleep right now. Feeling no need to fight it, she let herself drop forward against her bed, backing up just a bit so that part of her head lay on her pillow.

        With sleep looming over her, Twilight wiggled her head down, her face brushing up against the blanket that had stimulated her so much before. With the scent of him still invading her nose, she imagined that Spike was still there with her. That he was laying next to her after she had her orgasm, brushing her mane with his claw.

        “Feel better?” he asked sweetly.

        “M-hm” Twilight said, hardly any energy to even nod.

        “Good.” Spike brushed his claw against her glowing face, and she shook her shoulders from the comfort of his touch. “Get some rest. I'll be here when you wake up in the morning.”

        Twilight yawned again, and the last bits of consciousness left her, allowing her to drift completely to sleep.

        “I love you, Twilight.”

“I love you too, Spike"

> Chapter 7: The Way to a Unicorn's Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The sky in Ponyville was still a light gray, as the sun lay in wait at the horizon for Princess Celestia to grant it permission to ascend over the nation. While a number of ponies had just begun their morning routines opening up various shops and businesses for the residents, most of the town was still asleep. One particular unicorn still lying in her bed was Rarity, her eyes protected by her blindfold as her cheek lay on her pillow.

        Her peaceful sleep was interrupted by the ringing of her wind-up alarm clock next to her lamp on the cupboard.  Rarity drew in a sharp intake of breath, followed by a groan as she summoned enough magic to turn off the bothersome noise. Rarity rolled onto her back and stretched her forelegs out, while emitting a mix of a yawn and a weary groan.

        “Mm... Spike, darling, I don't want to wake up,” She grumbled softly. She wanted to blame him for her grogginess, since he had convinced her to engage in sensual activities not only once, but twice after she had packed for her trip to Canterlot. Hearing no response from her lover, Rarity assumed the dragon might still be asleep. She wondered how any creature could sleep through the ear-piercing noise of her alarm clock, as she blindly felt with her foreleg around the other side of her bed for him.

        After feeling nothing for a few swipes, Rarity lifted her blindfold to see that the space next to her was in fact empty, no little dragon to be found. Tossing the blindfold aside, Rarity's grogginess was immediately replaced with dread, forcing her to sit upright hastily.

        “Spike?” Rarity called out as her eyes scanned the sewing machines, spools of yarn and fabric sheets, and the number of ponyquiens across her bedroom. He didn't seem to be anywhere, and Rarity's dread increased as she pulled herself out of her bed. “Spike!?” She called out even louder, her mind beginning to formulate what horrible thing might have happened to the poor dear.

        “Down here, Rarity!” Spike's boyish voice replied from downstairs. Rarity raised a foreleg to her chest and she sighed in relief. Spike was safe, from the way he replied, and she had been worrying for nothing. She was puzzled what the dragon was doing awake at this hour, and pranced down the stairs leading to the front room of Carousel Boutique.

        Upon reaching the last step, Rarity noticed a peculiar, but inviting scent hanging in the air. It smelled warm, sweet, with a hint of margarine. She turned left and followed the trail of the scent, until she found herself in her kitchen. Upon entering, she saw her little dragon lover standing on a stool, his pink apron tied around his back as he whistled jovially.

        No he didn't... Rarity thought to herself as she stood in wonder behind him.
        Spike rose to his tip-toes to turn the stove off, then turned his head towards the unicorn. “Morning, Rarity!” Spike greeted her before grabbing the handle of the skillet and moving it across the stove top a few times. “Breakfast is ready; hope you're hungry.”

        “You cooked breakfast for me?” Rarity asked, fighting to keep her voice from cracking.

        “Of course I did.” Spike said, lifting the skillet and flipping out its contents onto a small plate. As he jumped down from his stool, Rarity could see a bit of browned yellow at the center, and recognized it as a small omelet, folded and seared closed perfectly in the middle. “Want to make sure we start your day off right, before you get on the train to go help with that big fancy play in Canterlot.”

        The unicorn's heart melted as she watched Spike bustle about. Rarity had always been fond of Spike since the first week he and Twilight had shown up in Ponyville, in the same way that teachers might be fond of their students. She was aware that the little dragon had a crush on her early on, and she had never felt appalled by that fact; rather flattered that a dragon would feel affection towards her, instead of pining for a dragon mate. But she had told herself that she could never return the affection, with such an age gap between them, as well each of them hailing from a different species.

        Rarity had assumed Spike would grow tired of his crush soon enough, but over time the little dragon had proven to her how deep his affections truly ran. It wasn't some boyhood crush on a pretty older mare; he was truly in love with her, even if she didn't love him back. That kind of love was more rare than any gem she ever hoped to dig up and keep to herself. Over the years of he and Twilight living in Ponyville, she found the little dragon entering her thoughts more and more when she was by herself, thinking of his selflessness, his sincerity, and his maturity for his age, despite holding onto his youthful recklessness. So many nights with her eyes closed, her sheets damp with her fluids as she called out his name between gasps for breath. Part of her still regretted all the time lost between them while she had struggled to sort out her feelings, but she was glad that she had given her heart to him nonetheless. Better late than never, as she had always heard.

        “Darling, that is so sweet of you.” Rarity commended him as she trotted to the table next to the large window. She looked down on the surface to see some milk, orange juice, a piece of toast with strawberry jam, and a stalk of celery laid out before her.

        “Don't thank me yet, you haven't even tried it.” Spike chuckled, placing her plate on the table at the center of the items already there. Rarity used her magic to lift the knife and fork resting on her napkin, and sliced off a small piece of the commodity before her, lifting it to her face.

        Please be delicious, please be delicious, please be delicious. Rarity begged as the fork entered her mouth and she pulled it in. She began to chew and let the contents spill over her tongue, her eyes looking upwards as she evaluated the taste. Spike rubbed his claws together and smiled nervously as Rarity's eyes opened wide.

        “Mm, Spike thith is scrupthous!” Rarity said with a mouthful of omelette. Her taste buds thrived in ecstasy as they surrendered to the warm, sweet and spicy sensation that had claimed them. She felt her stomach rumble, demanding her to swallow the savory contents her taste buds had been allowed to enjoy. “What did you put in this?”

        Spike breathed easily at her compliment, watching her hastily cut another bite for herself. “A bit of cilantro, some spinach, diced up brussel sprouts, and... just a teeny tiny bit of cream cheese.”

        “Mm, Spike you know I'm not supposed to be eating cream cheese right now! It's going to make me- mm, faht” She moaned, taking another bite of her breakfast with gusto.

        “It's just a little bit! Only enough to make you taste it.” Spike glanced down at the chair Rarity was sitting on as she ate. “But hey, if the extra weight goes to your tush, is that really such a bad thing?” He asked, scratching his claws alongside her rump, and making her form jump in response.

        “Oh! Not while I'm eating, you bad little boy!” Rarity used her purple spiral tail to swat his hand away playfully. Chuckling happily, Spike pulled one of the other chairs next to her and sat down, watching her scarf down his omelet.

        “This was very sweet of you, Spike.” Rarity said to him earnestly, after finishing it off. While it wasn't the most sophisticated meal she had ever consumed, it was no doubt one of the most delicious, and the most sentimental. “Thank you.”

        “You're welcome. I was happy to cook for you.” Rarity beamed as she lifted the glass of orange juice to her lips and took a sip.

        “Spike, after I'm finished with my work on Written Script's play, I would be thrilled if you were to come to Canterlot to see it at the premiere. I'm sure he'll let me bring whomever I wish after helping him out in a pinch. I know you're not one to enjoy opera, but-”

        “Of course I'll be there Rarity.” Spike interrupted her eagerly. “Me and Twilight wouldn't want to miss a chance to see your costumes in action for anything.”

        Rarity's mouth hung open at the mention of Twilight. When she had contemplated inviting Spike to see her work on the stage, she had envisioned it being just the two of them up in their reserved seats, his hand holding her hoof as she lay her head against his shoulder. Her librarian friend had never once entered her mind.

        “Um, Twilight, dear?” Rarity said back to him, slightly unnerved.

        “Well, yeah.” Spike said casually. “You know as well as I do that she loves supporting her friends. I know she'd be thrilled to watch something you've worked hard on come to life in front of so many ponies in Canterlot.”

        Rarity occupied her mouth with a piece of toast, in an effort to stall for time as she chewed. In her romantic state of mind, thinking about the two of them hidden in the audience, she had completely forgotten to account for Spike still being a baby dragon, one that was still under Twilight's care. The alicorn would most likely not let him travel to Canterlot without her guidance. Her heart sank as her fantasy was now intruded by the thought of Twilight muttering to herself about some minor plot details in the play, or munching on snacks loudly.

        Now you stop it! Rarity scolded herself upon reflection. Twilight is one of your best friends, and she wants to be a part of your life as well, even if it's not in the same way Spike is. She has done so much for you, and you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking to exclude her from such a special moment.
       Swallowing her toast, Rarity offered Spike an endearing smile. “I couldn't agree more, Spike. I can't wait to see you and Twilight at the play. The three of us will have such a lovely time.”

        “Great! Hey, better hurry up. Don't want to miss the train, right?”

        Rarity looked at the clock in her kitchen, then quickly finished off what was left of her breakfast. She took some time to brush her teeth, then scampered towards the front door, where a giant mountain of luggage was waiting for her. An alarmed look suddenly appeared on her face before she had a chance to lift some of it up.

        “Oh no, almost forgot something!” She announced, turning about towards the stairs.

        “What is it?” Spike asked as he scampered to follow her up towards her room.

        “Something I'm definitely going to need if I'm expected to get through the stressful week in store for me.” In her room once again, Rarity used her magic to pull a box out from under her bed and opened it, levitating the contents within to the open air.

        “Whoa...” Spike's jaw hung open as he looked upon it in wonder. “I didn't know you had one of those.”

        Rarity giggled flirtatiously. “Call me a curious mare, but I find myself browsing through such items from time to time. When I laid eyes on this little devil, I just knew I had to have it.” Rarity pranced up to Spike's side and leaned in closely. “Guess who I was thinking of whenever I used it?”

        Spike's face turned beet red as he grinned. “So, you're gonna be doing the same while you're up there?”

        “M hm. Only until I get back, darling. Then I'll have the real thing for myself.” Rarity rubbed her hoof along Spike's lower belly, making him shiver and gasp. “Well, come along then, we must get going!”

        Spike looked down to see that the head of his erection had just poked out of his pouch before it ceased growing. He shook his head with a defeated grin as he followed Rarity back down the stairs, then out the door carrying half of her luggage.





        With the sky in Ponyville bright and sunny, its residents bustled about the town pursuing the days usual activities. The only pony asleep at this hour was the alicorn in charge of Golden Oak Library, laying upside down in her own bed, with a pillow covered by an apple-spotted blanket cuddled up into her chest. The only movement from her was the motion of her shoulders as her chest rose and fell from her soft breaths, taking in the scent of the dragon whom the cloth belonged to.

        The only one awake in the library at the moment was a lone fly, buzzing about Twilight's room in search of any trace of leftover food or filth that it could feast upon. It flew over the alicorn and detected a bit of sweetness emanating from her body. It decided to land on the edge of her ears and sniff about, until it could find the source of this intoxicating scent. Before it could gain any ground, Twilight's ear flicked, sending the fly buzzing away in fear for its life.

        “Hee hee, Spike, that tickles!” Twilight giggled unconsciously, burying her head into the pillow. She took another whiff of the cloth, and pursed her lips forward to kiss it. After her lips remained for a moment, her tired mind processed that something didn't feel right, and her sleepy eyes opened. Her brow raised as she processed that she wasn't kissing Spike, but her own pillow and the blanket the dragon had slept with. Twilight rubbed her head as the events of the previous day began to catch up with her. She remembered that she had let Spike spend the night with Rarity, since she was leaving for Canterlot the next day. She had been feeling lonely that night, and become infatuated with Spike's blanket, to the point of experiencing an overwhelming orgasm. Twilight couldn’t remember the last time she had screamed so loudly.

        Twilight gasped as the last memory stuck out in her mind. She had felt herself squirt while she was grinding against her pillow. She knew it was unlikely, but she prayed that for whatever reason, her excretion had missed the cloth Spike slept with every night.

        Hastily pulling the end of the blanket away from her hindlegs, Twilight touched around the surface with her hoof. To her horror, she felt a crusty spot in one area.

        “Oh no...” Twilight muttered, before bringing the blanket to her face. She took a sniff and was hit with the smell of something tangy and musky. “Oh, gosh, what was I thinking?” Lifting the blanket with her magic, Twilight stood from her bed and made her way to the stairs leading to the library. She was greeted by a friendly hoot from Owlicious when she reached the bottom of the stairs, but paid it no mind. She rushed to the kitchen and levitated a large bucket into the sink, filling it up with hot water and some detergent. She had never before seen the need for a washing machine the likes of which Rarity had, but in this case she was longing for one. She lifted it out of the sink and onto the floor, soaked the blanket into the bucket, letting the soap lather up over the cloth until it was covered in suds. Standing a wooden washing board over the bucket, Twilight began to run the blanket back and forth over the surface rigorously, trying to dry it of as much water as she could before it was ready to hang and dry.

        “Twilight?” a boyish voice called to her, making her jump, and turn around swiftly “Oh, there you are. Morning!”

        “Spike, hi! Morning! Didn't hear you come in.” Twilight grinned at him sheepishly.

        “Are you washing something?” Spike asked, looking behind her. “Hey, that's my blanket. What happened to it?”

        “I-I, uhh...” Twilight stammered, looking at the still soaking blanket and trying desperately to come up with something to tell him. “Juice- er, coffee, no, tea! Yes, I spilled tea on your blanket! So, I'm washing it now.”

        Spike looked at her quizzically. “How did you spill tea on it?”

        “I... tripped! Yeah, you left your comics on the floor, and I had just gotten a fresh cup of tea, and stepped on one of them, and I went flying forward and lost my grip on the cup, and it went all over your blanket. Didn't I tell you to be organized and put them away when you're done?” She finished lying, lifting an eyebrow at him and putting on her best accusing stare she could muster.

        “Oh, man, I'm sorry Twilight.” Spike said with a worried look on his face. “You could have gotten hurt. I need to be more careful about that kind of stuff.”

        Twilight's heart hurt when she looked at him. She had lied to cover up her own mistake, and now Spike was feeling unjustly guilty about something he hadn't even been the cause of.

        “Spike, it's okay.” She replied softly. “I know you didn't mean any harm by it; it could happened to anyone. I didn't get hurt, so there's nothing to worry about. I just need to finish drying off your blanket, and then we can put it behind us.”

        Spike lifted his head and smiled at her. “Thanks Twilight.” Spike rushed forward and hugged the alicorn, catching her off guard. “And thanks for letting me have one last night with Rarity before she left. You're the best.”

        Twilight found the tip of Spike's head-scales right underneath her chin. Keeping her movements slow, she lowered her head and took a light sniff of them, and her nostrils were filled with the same salty-sweet aroma that had taken over her instincts the night before. She felt a little tingle travel down her chest and towards her mare lips, making them tickle slightly.
       
 “W-well, of course Spike!” Twilight said, shaking away the arousal that was building in her. “I know how disappointed you were that she was leaving so unexpectedly, so I had to let you two have some time together.” Twilight brought up a foreleg and gave a friendly pat on Spike's back. Once he let go, she returned to running his soaking blanket over the board. She had a question hanging in her mouth, one that she wasn't sure if she wanted a response to, but knew she had to ask it anyway out of courtesy. “So... did you have fun at Rarity's?” she finally forced herself to ask.

        “Oh yeah, a blast!” Spike exclaimed, walking over to the pantry and reaching to the lower shelf for a box of cereal. “Me and Rarity fooled around for a bit, then she made me dinner. Some kind of crom de, uh... eh, I can't pronounce it, something fancy with a lot of cheese and leafy vegetables.”

        Twilight found her left eye twitching when Spike said that he and Rarity had “fooled around”. Yeah, I like I don't know that means you two were screwing each other. She thought somewhat bitterly. Just say that, I'm not a foal.

        “After that, we spent some time packing before we went to bed. Got to sleep a little later than we planned to, but we got there eventually.”

        Got to sleep late because you were probably still “fooling around” I'll bet.

        “Well, that sounds great.” Twilight said with a chipper tone. “Glad you two had so much fun.” Twilight removed Spike's blanket from the washboard once it was drip-free, and hung it by some clothespins and string over the sink, while the dragon it belonged to poured himself a bowl of Hay-O's.

        “Oh, I just remembered,” Spike went on as he approached the refrigerator and hauled out a jug of milk.  “Rarity invited us to see the show at the end of the week, so we could see her costumes in action.”

        Twilight turned towards him with an apprehensive expression. Normally she would have loved spending a day with her friend Rarity. And she was more than happy to do the same for Spike, especially now since he had been spending so much time away from the library. However, spending an evening with both of them at once, while they were staring into each others eyes and exchanging spit where she could see them, that did not sound enjoyable in the slightest.

        “I'm not sure, Spike.” Twilight said as she sat down at the table across from him. “I'll have to check my schedule and see if I have any free time.”

        “Oh come on Twilight.” Spike said with a mouth full of cereal. “You and I've gotta go see it. I'm not big on opera, and I know you aren't either, but Rarity's gonna be working her butt off all week for this. We've got to go see it for her sake, right?”

        Twilight reflected on Spike's suggestion, and also recounted Applejack's advice on the way home from the beach, about not being so protective of Spike. But after her episode last night, in which she fantasized about Spike dominating her, caring for her, even saying he loved her, she didn't quite understand what she was feeling for him anymore.

        After some thought, she told herself that it didn't matter. Spike was in a relationship with Rarity now. Whatever thoughts of jealousy she had over him would have to be dealt with if she was going to maintain a healthy friendship between the two of them. Reconsidering it, she decided that perhaps spending an evening with them might be just what she needed to face her problem head on and finally put it behind her.

        “You're right Spike,” Twilight replied, watching Spike scarf down his breakfast. She levitated an apple from the fruit bowl on the table towards herself, realizing she herself had not had breakfast yet. “Even if I have something planned for that day, I'm sure I can reschedule it. I'd much rather spend that time with one of my best friends and admire her work on stage.”

        “Awesome!” Spike said, lifting the bowl up off the table and slurping the rest of the milk down. Twilight had scolded him before, telling him that was bad manners to have, but now she thought it was rather cute in a spry, youthful sense. “Man, I can't wait, we're all gonna have a great time!” he said as he wiped a few drops of milk from his chin.

        Twilight ceased twirling her mane across her hoof as she watched him at his utterance of the word “Time”. Her eyes darted back and forth in frantic thought.

        “Time... time... oh my gosh, Spike, what time is it?” Before he could answer, her eyes found the kitchen clock and saw that the minute hand was fast approaching its brother the hour hand at noon. “We're late!”

        “For what?”

        “The spa! Everypony's already there, waiting for us! We've gotta go.” She said, levitating Spike across the table and onto her back. Spike had to scramble to wrap his arms around her neck as Twilight bolted out the door and raced through town towards the Ponyville Day Spa.





        In one of the towers of Canterlot Castle, the door to one of the luxurious guest rooms swung open, a small mountain of luggage with a white cat on top, waiting outside. The mountain of bags made its way in, right behind their owner who set her saddlebags down on the mirror in front of the dresser.

        “Where would you like me to put these, Miss Rarity?” The toned gray unicorn with orange hair squeaked out energetically.

        “Oh, just put them on the carpet over there.” Rarity instructed him, as she checked her eyelashes in the mirror.  “I'll get around to unpacking them in just a moment. Oh, Opalescence, get down from there!” She called to her cat, who rolled her eyes and crawled down at once.

        With a smirk on his face, the unicorn trotted further into the room, leaned back, and let Rarity's bags slide off of his form and onto the floor.

        “There you are madame.”

        “Thank you so much. I'm quite impressed Mr. Bags Valet; you made the journey up here in half the time it took you when I last visited.”

        “Oh, did I?” Bags replied brashly, as he flexed a foreleg. “Maybe it's because I've been hitting the gym. Past experiences told me I needed to buff up if I wanted to excel at my job.”

        Rarity offered Bags a flirtatious chuckle as she sauntered over to him. “Well, I must say it has certainly paid off.” She said, as she slipped a rather large sapphire into his front pocket. “Wouldn't you?”

        Eying the stone for only a moment, Bags returned a wink to her. “I would say so. You need anything else, you be sure to let me know.”

        “Of course I will. You go buy something nice for yourself now. Ta-ta!”

        Bags nodded before he stepped out of her room. Once the door shut behind him, Rarity let out a relieved breath, and then looked towards her bags eagerly. Levitating each one left and right, Rarity found one in particular and her eyes opened wide once she opened it and found what she was looking for.

        Out of her suitcase floated a large, red silicone phallus. The toy wasn't shaped like stallion appendages however; this one was slender and pointed at the tip, resembling dragon genitalia. Rarity had kept this toy for quite some time, far before she and Spike had started dating. When she had bought it initially, she thought she was going through a phase in which she found herself fantasizing about other species, a result of her frustrations of not finding a proper stallion to court. While the toy had sated her for weeks, she found herself craving more and more for the real thing, more specifically, from the dragon that she had grown so attached to in Ponyville.

        “Oh, I'm so relieved I didn't forget you, darling.” She said as she stared at the toy, and licked her lips. “I would have gone absolutely mad if I didn't have you to keep me company while I'm here.”

        Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp pair of claws digging into her hide, followed by a rather frustrated mew. She winced in pain and turned her head to see Opalescence hanging onto her backside, a vacant look in her eyes as she stared at her owner.

        “Oh, Opal. I suppose it is about time you were fed, isn't it?” Rarity grinned painfully at her. Rarity quickly fumbled through the mountain of bags again, until she opened one and pulled out a tin can with a kitten on the front label, as well as a can opener and a bowl. “Ooh, look what I've got! Yummy!” Rarity cooed as she shook the can in front of her cat. Opalescence immediately let go of Rarity's rump and sidled up to her affectionately. “Oh yes, now you're just the friendliest cat in the world, aren't you?” Rarity mocked her as she opened the can. Once the lid was off, she emptied the contents into the bowl and placed it on the floor, while the cat began to lick at the squishy meal before her.

        “There, that ought to keep you busy for some time.” Rarity lifted her dragon toy and floated it alongside her as she pranced to her bed. With her head laying against the pillow, she let the synthetic cock lay against her chest while she rubbed the top of it with a hoof. While she enjoyed her toy, it was nothing compared to the dragon she had left in Ponyville. While she stared at the triangular head, she tried to imagine that it was Spike's that she was petting, while he had his cute, chubby legs straddling her.

        “Making me breakfast in bed, darling. What were you thinking?” She asked aloud, as she imagined Spike's blushing face looking down at her, his eyes locked and staring at her in astonishment. The dragon was still wearing his pink cooking apron with the heart over his chest, and his shaft was poking out underneath the frilly material. “Are you trying to make me yours forever, hmm? Because you're certainly going about it the right way.” Rarity pulled the toy forward and pressed it to her mouth. “Oh, did Twilight not teach you that it's impolite to point? You naughty little dragon. I'm going to have to discipline you thoroughly if you keep acting out like this.” Rarity slid her tongue past her lips, and along the underside of the head. She leaned forward and took the entirety of the head into her mouth, sucking on it like candy. She could easily picture how the motion would make Spike gasp and flex his hips forward as she sucked on him.

        “Spike, you are just the cutest thing. I can't possibly punish you when you look so adorable!” Rarity plunged forward, and after bunching up her blankets in her hooves, began to kiss the space that she imagined Spike to be. As she thought of Spike giggling while she nibbled his ear, she felt her labia begin to wink as it tickled with excitement. “Mm, I love you dear.” She whispered as she rubbed her folds against the tip of the shaft, the slick surface gliding against it. “I still can't believe you're all mine.”

        Rarity lifted her head up and moved her hips over the toy. She slowly moved down, feeling the head poke against her wet entrance and making her gasp. After teasing herself for only a few seconds, she willed herself to move further down. The head breached her crease, and she felt the thick rod stretch her inner walls as it filled her up.

        “Ohhhh, yes!” Rarity squeaked, lifting her forelegs to her chest. “Spike, you feel so good inside me!” The unicorn rocked her hips with the shaft inside of her, making the bed shift and thump slightly. Opalescence, who was still in the middle of her meal, looked back to see her owner on her hind legs on the bed and thrusting her body up and down in succession. The feline shrugged her shoulders, and directed her attention back to eating.

        Rarity wasn't close to climaxing yet, but she had found a steady rhythm moving up and down on the shaft. She also rather enjoyed the thought of straddling Spike while he wore his girly little apron. The motion combined with the fantasy stuck in her mind as she increased the speed of her thrusts, and felt the pressure in her loins slowly increase.

        “Mm, yes, yes, yes, yessss-!”

        A rapid thumping sounded out from her door, followed by the shrill sound of her doorbell. Rarity wrapped her hooves over her mouth as she stood frozen in place, with the dragon shaft halfway inside of her. Rarity couldn't possibly imagine who that could be. She dreaded the idea that she had been so loud that she had disturbed other guests residing next to her. She then remembered that her room was the only one in this particular tower, ruling out that problem. The door knocked again, snapping her out of her thoughts.

        “Coming!” Rarity shouted rather lustfully, before clearing her throat. “Er, I mean- I'll be there in a moment!” Rarity begrudgingly pulled herself off of her toy, a strand of wetness hanging between it and her lips before snapping off and disappearing. With her tail still upright and exposing her winking folds, Rarity cracked the door open just enough to see Bags Valet standing outside her door with a nervous look on his face.

        “Hi, Miss Rarity, so sorry to bother you. You wouldn't happen to know somepony named Written Script, would you?”

        “Yes, I do.” Rarity replied, clenching her legs together and struggling to keep her voice from raising in pitch.

        “Well, he's downstairs at the front gate, and he says he really needs you to start working with him on the show costumes.”

        Rarity's mouth hung open in disapproval. “But I've only just arrived!” she argued profusely. “I haven't even unpacked my bags yet!”

        “Yeah, that's what I thought, and I told him as much, but he's really insistent. He really wants you to see him now.”

        Rarity rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath. “Tell him I'll need a few minutes to spruce up, but I'll be down there shortly.”

        “Yes m'lady.” Bags nodded, before turning about to head down the stairs. Rarity shut the door and shuddered, still feeling a exquisite wetness between her haunches. Still grumbling and murmuring under her breath an assortment of vulgarities about Written Script, Rarity trotted to the bathroom and ripped off a sheet of toilet paper. She pressed the cloth to her wet folds, wiping them of as much wetness as she could accumulate. With her tail still upright, Rarity forced the thought of Spike in his apron out of her mind, and focused on things she thought repulsive.

        Dirt.

        The tickle began to die down, but her tail still remained upright.

        Nature.

        It sank only slightly, but remnants of Spike lingered, shaking his tail at her seductively.

        Prince Blueblood.

        The spiral tail dropped significantly at the thought of what used to be the stallion she pined for, but had turned out to be the most pampered spoiled unicorn she had ever met. Though the arousal she had felt moments ago had subsided for the most part, there was still enough lift in her tail that she feared might draw some unwanted attention from passing stallions. She wondered what else she could think of to diminish what was left of that tickle.

        The color green.

        “Ew, no!” Rarity shrieked as her tail clamped firmly against her buttocks. “Blech! Oh, that worked quite swimmingly. Well then, I suppose I shall be off.” Rarity trotted out of the bathroom and grabbed her saddlebag and opened the door. She looked back at her bed, where the synthetic dragon toy lay on the mattress, and smiled.

        “I'll be back for you later tonight, dear.” She said seductively, before shutting the door behind her.





> Chapter 8: It Feels Like It's Been Ages
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	There's a storm brewing, judging by the look of the clouds, and the cool gusty air that my wings tear through at a vigorous pace. It's a suitable complement to the violent storm within my heart at the moment. I may have been born and raised in a village of ponies, but I still have dragon blood within me. Despite the cool air blowing past my charcoal gray scales, my blood is burning at the moment. Burning with a flame as bright as my fiery yellow mane waving through the wind. Burning with the flame of vengeance.

        I've been flying for nearly an hour, without pause of any form. Through the clouds, and down below, I see my target. The castle of the wicked griffon king, Talonier the Terrible. A large stone castle, grand and spacious, the borders of its territory seemingly endless, but I have paid a visit to this castle before. Despite its expansive size, it holds nothing of a respectable kingdom within. The deacon himself is a king most fowl, undeserving of his title. Talonier keeps the subjects of his kingdom weak and docile, unless they serve his wretched army. As I'm descending towards the structure, I can see the tiny specks of said army lining up along the walls of the castle.

        A wise decision on Talonier's part. He's given me a helping of his goons to knock around, so he won't have to face the full extent of my wrath.

        “Ready!” I faintly hear the captain shout from a mile away. My dragon ears work quite well, even with the wind rushing around them. I squint my eyes and see all of them holding something within their talons.“Aim!” Ever closer, I see the shiny pointed gleam of their arrows all facing toward me. My lips curl back as I bare my sharp fangs at them. Talonier, you insult me greatly. These peons of yours won't even serve as a good warm up.

        “Fire!”

        With his command, I see the wave of a hundred sharp arrows tear through the air. I take a deep breath, and flex my throat. I call upon the power I was born with, in an effort to channel the rage burning within me, and from deep within my gut erupts a mighty fire that burns through the air. As I'm flying forward, the flames create a vortex around my body, protecting me from the onslaught of arrows. Each of them burns and crumbles as I propel forward.

        “Hold your positions!” The captain of the griffon archers shouts as I'm drawing nearer. “Do not let Blaze reach his majesty's tower!”

        I see the fearful gaze of his troops for merely a second before I bulldoze my way through them with my fiery protection still very much intact. With their feathers burning them alive, the griffons dive off of the edge of the walls and into the water in a desperate attempt to extinguish themselves. I take a breath and the fire surrounding me dissipates. I can see the tower Talonier hides himself in dead ahead of me. I'm already there, and I'm not even winded yet.

        Snorting through my nostrils, I hock up a spinning ball of flame and spit it toward the front gate. The wooden doors burst into fiery splinters before my clawed hooves touch down on the stony surface. My wings fold behind me and I break into a gallop without losing any traction. I take to the flight of stairs circling upward, knowing that the one I seek is close at hoof. When I find him, I will make him beg for mercy, to put a stop to his suffering by ending his life.

        At the top of the stairs, I skid to a halt at the sight of a small group of griffon soldiers, each of them armed with a sword and shield. Something about them catches my attention. Their armor is a bright crimson, made of a material I can't identify. Curious, I spit a bit of flame towards the one at the front. He brings his claw up to his eyes in protection, and I'm surprised to see my flames spread around him, but dissipate into thin air as he lowers his claw, unphased. It seems Talonier has purchased some upgraded armor for his elite soldiers. I wonder how many peasant meals and other essentials he had to withhold in order to afford such things.

        It seems I'll have to actually try in order to deal with these foes. Lowering my snout to the ground, I scratch my hoof across the stone floor in anticipation. They raise their shields, making themselves ready, and without a moment's notice, I charge toward them.

        Their leader lunges forward, in an attempt to skewer me with the tip of his sword. I saw it coming before his talon even twitched, and leap into the air to avoid the strike. I pounce down on his helmet hard, to obstruct his sight. He begins to swing blindly, nearly slicing his own comrades who jump away from him. I take advantage of their disorientation and trip one of them over, grabbing his sword with my teeth and running him through.

        One of the soldiers watches his ally vanquished without any effort on my behalf. He leaps toward me and swings frantically, hoping to overwhelm me. I dodge each swipe with ease, and then step in to deflect his swinging arm with my hoof, and then bash my shoulder into his chest. It knocks him off balance, and I fly toward him, grabbing him by his lion's paw. I spin him around several times and then throw him against the other soldier who thought he could ambush me while I was busy.

        There's only one soldier left, the one I blinded at the start. He's struggling to lift his helmet from his eyes, perhaps unaware that he's the last of his troop. I decide to help him by kicking the helmet straight up and off of his head. I grab ahold of his exposed face, and lean in, our eyes mere inches from one another. Just as he realizes his fate, I open my mouth and let the blazing fury escape my throat. The searing flame engulfs the feathers of his face. I keep up the fiery onslaught until I feel the grip of his talons against my hooves go limp. When I finally relent, there is nothing within that smoldering blackened form that resembles a face.

         I throw away the carcass of my downed foe and look toward the direction of the sound. Behind the rails of the floor above me, I see my true enemy; the one who has set in motion the event that has led to my vicious assault on this wretched fortress.

        “Bravo, Blaze!” The griffon king mockingly cheers me, adorned in a robe of what I imagine is authentic manticore fur. His talons are lined with rubies, a golden crown of jewels atop his head. “I expected nothing less from the fiery champion of Equestria; the bastard child of a sinful union between dragon and pony. Well done my lad, well done!”

        “Where are they, Talonier?” I bark at him angrily. He's instigating me. Normally I would play along, and fire back with my own retort in an attempt to rile him up. This time, he's gone too far. I am in no mood for his games. This time, I'm doing everything I can to keep myself from lunging at him, even though I know his protective magic would render my attacks useless.

        “Where's who?” He asks innocently, drawing a talon up to his beak. “ That poor, defenseless princess you serve so dutifully? The fair Gemstone that you're so taken with?” My rage escapes my throat in the form of a growl as he taunts my feelings for the maiden I love. “Or, perhaps you're talking about somepony else? Perhaps you mean Gleaming Dawn, the teacher from the village you grew up in? The one who taught you how to fly, and how to fight, and what it means to defend what's 'good and just?” I snort twin flames through my nostrils as my teeth grind together. “Well, look no further, they're right there!” He exclaims, pointing behind me. I turn my head and drop my jaw at what I see.

        Both of the unicorn mares I'm looking for are right in front of me: Gemstone, her beautiful white form and purple mane, dressed in a sparkling red gown. Adjacent to her, the wise and patient Radiant Dawn. Both of them are unconscious and seemingly floating in the midst of shadows.

        “Let them go!” I snarl, looking over my shoulder to face Talonier.

        “That's the idea! I fully intend to send them back where they came from, along with a little gift.” With a snap of his talons, a series of torches around the two mares is lit, and their forms are revealed to me. Both of them are tied to a large cylindrical object, made of a metallic shell, the same material that the armor of his elite soldiers was made of.

        “A new experimental weapon, crafted by yours truly.” Talonier continues. “If the calculations of my arms expert is correct—and they usually are—each of those structures carries enough explosive material and magic to level an entire city. As soon as the pointed surface touches something, BOOM! An entire expanse of ponies, gone up in smoke!”

        “No...” I whisper under my breath, my gaze looking between both of them. “I won't let you do it!” Before I can spring into action, I hear a whoosh and look back to see a large number of griffon soldiers leap at me through the air. They catch me by surprise and I go down against the ground.

        I struggle to gain some leverage, but as I move, I hear a loud boom across the hall. I look toward Gemstone and Radiant Dawn to see a bright cloud of smoke rising underneath them. The cylinders they're tied to lift into the air and through the open roof, out of my sight.

        “NO!!!” I scream, thrashing about with fury. I punch one of the soldiers in the head with my hoof, and kick him off of me. I try to fly through the air, towards the rocketing mares, but the other griffons latch onto my hindlegs and weigh me down. Try as I might, I can't get away from them. They aren't trying to fight me; they're merely slowing me down.

        With my vision red, I relinquish my efforts and fly backward, in the direction they're pulling me toward. The change in momentum slams them against the ground. They wanted my attention, and by my father's scales, they're going to get it. I turn toward the one closest to me and pummel his throat in, until I hear a grotesque crack sound out. I lunge toward the exposed wing of one of them and tear through its flesh, spitting its feathers out of my mouth. I'm so enraged that I lose track of my own movements, virtually blacking out. When I regain my senses, I see a pool of blood around my hooves. I don't even have the stomach to look at what's left of my enemies.

        “Ha ha, Blaze you NEVER cease to entertain me!” Talonier remarks, clapping once again, “but I'm afraid your little show has cost you dearly. Those silos I've fired have gained quite a lot of ground toward their destination. If you don't hurry, you'll lose both the mares most dear to you, and the cities they hail from.”

        “I can stop them!” I scream defiantly. “I'm faster than anything in Equestria! I can save them!”

        “You can without a doubt save one!” He shouts back at me.”But two? I don't think so. And that is the very beauty of my little scheme. So, what does Blaze hold closest to his heart then? The princess he lusts after? Or the pony who raised him? Tick-tock, Blaze! Time to make a choice!”

        As much as I wish to rip his head from his shoulders, doing so would only put both options in further danger. I fly out of the castle, leaving Talonier to cackle wickedly as I begrudgingly leave him behind.

        And as I halt in the air, I look in two separate directions. Both flares of the silos are glowing in the distance, but eventually fade from my sight. As their light fades from my vision, sickening realization seizes my heart.

        He's right. Fast as I am, there's no possible way I can save both of them in time. I can't be in two places at once. If I go after one, I leave the other mare and province to die.

        And with that knowledge in mind, I find myself unable to move from my place in the sky. I'm stuck, frozen in time, without the will to make a choice. With my clawed hooves over my head in panic, I wish for everything I'm worth that I wasn't me at the moment.





        “To be continued!?” Spike yelled, clutching the comic book in his claws. “That's not fair! I've gotta know how he saves the day!” A moment's pause, and the baby dragon suddenly remembered where he was. He looked to his right, to meet the bewildered gaze of several ponies seated on the Friendship Express. “Heh heh... sorry.” The dragon apologized, the mulberry scales of his face turning a shade red. The ponies shook their heads disapprovingly before turning away.

        “You really like that comic I got you, huh Spike?” Twilight Sparkle asked from the other side of him. Spike flipped the tome in his grasp to the front, looking at the cover and admiring the heroic dragon-pony hybrid depicted.

        “It's awesome Twilight! Never felt so pumped reading a comic book before. I just wish it didn't end on a cliffhanger.”  

Twilight giggled softly at his boyish mannerisms. “Well, if you're in such a hurry to find out what happens, I might have to see about buying you the next volume when we get back to Ponyville.”
        “Really Twilight?” Spike asked, his eyes bright with excitement. “You'd buy another one for me?”

        I would give you the world if I could, just to make you happy. Twilight thought, fighting against the urge to say it out loud lest she sound like a sappy, emotional mess.

        “Well, sure! Since Rarity's been in Canterlot this week, you've been free to help me run errands all over Ponyville. I think you deserve to know what happens to Blaze, for all the hard work you've been doing.”

        The dragon looked upon his caretaker with a humbled smile across his face. “Thanks Twilight.” Twilight grinned back at him, as if to shrug off his sentiment as nothing out of the ordinary. “Man, I can't believe it's only been a week since Rarity left town to help out with the play.” He reflected, standing up in his seat and looking out the window. His hips wiggled in excitement as he watched the passing scenery of lush grass and trees whizzing by.

        Twilight shared his sentiment, though for a very different reason. Since Rarity had left for the week, Spike had no more reason to leave the library to visit her during the afternoons, as he had done  since they began their relationship. Thus, Spike had gone back to his old routine of spreading his chores out throughout the day, and spent much of his time in the library. Naturally, Twilight had enjoyed having him back home, the way things used to be.

        Or perhaps enjoyment might not have been the best way to describe it. Since the night of her erotic fantasy with him, she had found herself drawn to the baby dragon more than ever. Every task Spike took on, Twilight watched him carry out with an acute interest. Whenever he carried a heavy stack of books from one spot to another, she would take notice of the way his scales pulled in and stretched over his tiny muscles. When he was up high on the ladder to reorganize her shelves, she would look from below and feel up his tight posterior with her eyes. More than once, Twilight found herself laughing a bit too hard at one of Spike's corny jokes, or felt her face tingle with humility if he offered her the most minimal of compliments. At night, she would sometimes sneak to his little basket at the end of her bed, and listen to him snore, wishing she could lay her head down and sleep right next to him.

        Many of her showers that week drained more water than ever, as she spent them rubbing her hoof between her legs, imagining that Spike was behind her. She wanted more than anything to feel his dragon claws grasp her purple rump firmly. She'd moan out in lust as his hips slapped against her rump, hot water sprinkling down on both of their bodies. Twilight's mouth would hang open, the intense rush of her hormones pushing more and more throughout her loins and nearing their climax.

        “Hey, we're here!” Spike called out, bouncing up and down on his feet and snapping Twilight from her thoughts. She craned her neck to the side and looked out the window, seeing that the little dragon was indeed correct. Pulling around the corner of the gigantic spire of stone, the bright and regal city became apparent to her eyes. The alicorn and dragon felt a comforting warmth wash over their hearts as they watched the city of white and gold draw closer to their vision. Though they had lived in Ponyville for a little more than two years, they never could quite shake a sense of sentimental homecoming when they paid a visit to the capital of Equestria.

        “Now arriving in Canterlot!” The train's conductor called from the speakers overhead. A moment later, the train crept to a grinding halt, and everypony on board jumped from their seats in a race to the front. With some effort to squeeze through the crowd, Twilight made her way out into the mess of ponies wandering about Canterlot train station.

        “Ready to go find Rarity?” Twilight asked, turning to face the dragon riding on her back. He nodded in earnest, before the alicorn trotted off in the direction of Canterlot castle.

        It was a lengthy journey across town, but eventually the pair found their way to the tower that Rarity was staying at. Spike wrapped his arms around Twilight's neck as she climbed the stairs. Spike was practically bouncing with excitement as they approached the top of the staircase, his chubby little thighs rubbing up against her back. Though he wasn't erect, Twilight enjoyed the thought of his length poking from his pouch, rubbing up against her coat. When she felt the first sense of a tickle growing between her hindlegs, she mentally chided herself for toying with such an idea. It was one thing to fantasize about him in the privacy of her shower, but quite another to do so when he was mere moments away from being reunited with his marefriend.

        Be patient with them. She reminded herself, once the door to her suite was visible. They haven't seen each other for a week, so they're gonna get mushy. Just let them have their moment.

        Twilight lifted her hoof and rang the doorbell to the side. After a few minutes of silence, the door finally opened. There in its wake was the white face of the purple haired unicorn, a jubilant smile on her face as she looked toward Twilight.

        “There's my little sweetheart!” She squealed. Had Twilight been a less intelligent pony, she might have thought Rarity was speaking to her for a moment. But, the unicorn's blue magical aura took hold of the baby dragon she was speaking to, lifting him off of Twilight's back and through the air toward herself. Hanging from the air, Spike extended his lips to meet Rarity's in a tender kiss. The two retracted their lips a moment, only to push them forward again. And again. And several more times. Twilight had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at the display of affection the two had lost themselves in.

        “Oh, my little Spikey-wikey!” Rarity fawned, tearing herself away from his lips a moment in favor of rubbing their noses together. “I missed you oh so much!”

        “Not as much as I missed you, my beautiful gemstone!” Spike returned her mushy affection with a joyful beam. A low rumble escaped Twilight's throat, as she fought off the urge to gag from the sap clinging to the air around them.

        “Oh, Twilight!” Rarity called out happily. Her magical aura vanished at a moment's notice, dropping Spike to the ground with a thud. The unicorn pranced forward and wrapped her hoof around the back of Twilight's neck, her head leaning against her purple cheek earnestly. “So wonderful to see you again darling. It feels so strange walking about town, not seeing your library along my way. I can't believe I've been up here only a week, it feels like it’s been ages.”

        “Yeah, tell me about it,” Twilight remarked, the tension of her week with Spike still weighing on her mind.

        “Well I would, but I think it might be best for us to exchange pleasantries for later,” Rarity replied, levitating a large yellow sunhat through the air and onto her head. “They'll make for lovely conversation over lunch. I've booked reservations for the most quaint of diners in Canterlot; you two will simply die when you see it.” Rarity tilted her head down towards Spike, who had been busy rubbing the spot on his rump that he'd landed on when he fell from the air. “Spike, would you care for a ride?” She asked, as the dragon snapped his attention to her.

        “Yeah, totally!” He shouted, hopping up and onto her back. The unicorn let out a little grunt as his weight bared onto her so suddenly, but she acclimated quickly to his form and made her way down the steps, with little trouble at all.

        As Twilight followed the two from behind, she felt a tinge of jealousy seeing Spike use Rarity as his means of transportation over herself. She'd never realized until just now how much she enjoyed feeling the little dragon ride her. Mulling over the irony of the thought, Twilight shook her head in a failed effort to stave off the imagery of Spike riding her in quite a different way.

> Chapter 9: Where We Started
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The Daffodil Diner was something of a hidden culinary gem in Canterlot. The little diner was a spot for the minority of Canterlot residents who were invested more in the taste of their dish, rather than the presentation or ambiance of it. Though it certainly wasn't as elegant as a number of restaurants in the pristine city, it still had enough flair and haughtiness to wow a denizen of a small town such as Ponyville. Rarity had found the delightful spot when she had visited Canterlot some time ago, before her brief uprise in popularity among the nobles. Now here she was once again, seated outside next to Spike, with Twilight Sparkle sitting across from them. Standing beside the table was a white-maned unicorn stallion, using his magic to scribble the lunch orders of the trio.

        “Excellent choice, mes amis,” the stallion voiced, placing his notepad within his breast pocket. “I shall have your entrees out in just a moment's time.”

        “Merci,” Rarity replied, before taking a sip from her cup of tea as he walked away.

        “So, tell us how you've been this week, sweetheart!” Spike prompted her joyfully..

        Rarity set her tea back on the table, groaning slightly in frustration. “I can't remember the last time I've made so many different outfits in such a short amount of time. Why, the first day I arrived, I hadn't even time to unpack my things before they were up at my doorstep, calling for my aid.”

        “Wow, seriously? That's pretty rough.”

        “You have no idea, darling. With the scale of the show and how many characters are featured, I was quite up to my eyes in making different designs for each of them.”

        While Rarity went on in detail about the costumes she had to design, Twilight found herself once again fixated on Spike. In the past, before he and Rarity had begun dating, she remembered how he had stared at her from the sidelines. His head would hang down, chin resting on his palms if he were sitting, his eyes half-open, absolutely captivated by the unicorn. It was the look of any young boy smitten by somepony else, the words of their crush whizzing by as they dreamed of a possible future with them.

        Now, Spike's posture was completely different. He sat up straight, his eyes open wide with a small but bright smile on his face. With his fantasy now come to life, he no longer had any distraction plaguing his mind, and took in every word she said wholeheartedly. Without that boyish, lovestruck look on his face, the baby dragon seemed more mature than ever to Twilight. While certainly proud of him, it pained her heart just a bit to see her little assistant growing up before her eyes.

        “In fact, Written Script himself told me that the costumes I made were even more lovely than the designer I'd replaced!” Rarity finished, squealing with pride. “Oh, but enough about me for a moment. Twilight dear, how have you been? Anything worth mentioning in Ponyville while I've been gone?”

        Twilight ripped herself from her thoughts at the mention of her name. Her mind scrambled to review her week and find a suitable response. Try as she might, the only notable things Twilight could call to mind were the moments she'd spent ogling Spike as he'd moved about the library, and her own daydreams about him tenaciously  plowing her soaking marehood.

        “Uh... um...” Twilight felt a touch of warmth collecting at the back of her neck, as she felt Spike and Rarity's eyes boring into her. Had she done anything at all this week? Had she even left her library once?

        Twilight felt a spark of hope light up within her, as she remembered the smell of fresh grass and crisp apples when she had visited the farm on the edge of town.

        “Applejack!” Twilight exclaimed gleefully. “That's right, I went to Applejack's earlier in the week! And... um...” Twilight's smile was replaced suddenly with a frown. Though she certainly had visited Applejack earlier in the week, her mind for the moment couldn't fathom what the purpose of her visit to the farm had been. “And, we discussed, um... apples...”

        A muddled expression came over the faces of both Rarity and Spike.

        “Really? Apples?” Rarity asked, nodding her head and earnestly trying to sound engaded. “I never would have guessed!”
        Twilight felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Twilight wanted for everything in the world to teleport away from the diner, perhaps even from Equestria itself, in order to escape the discomfort hanging between herself and the couple across from her. She needed to shift the focus away from herself a moment, to regain what little composure she had left.

        “So, Rarity, you've told us about the costumes you designed, but not a whole lot about the play itself. What's it all about even?” She asked, hoping her change in topic might help shift the focus away from the awkward silence that hung between them. Rarity's eyes moved upward to the sky, as she searched her memory for the means to respond.

        “Well, I read through the script that Written Script had put together while riding on the train the day I left Ponyville.I could never remember the names of the characters or the important items involved. I do remember being rather impressed that he had created such a fantastic story.” Rarity tapped her chin as she wracked her brain for details. “Something about a stallion on a quest to find some pool, that worked some type of memory magic.”

        Twilight's eyes lit up all of a sudden. “The Lethe pool?” She asked brightly.

        “Why yes, that's exactly what it's called.” Rarity replied, amazed that Twilight could have guessed a detail of Written Script's closely guarded story. “How did you know that?”

        “Because it's real!” Twilight bellowed with joy. “Well, not REALLY real, but there's a legend in ancient horse mythology about it. Oh, how did it go again... there was a corrupt king who ruled over the land with an iron hoof, and a brave stallion who seeks the Pool of Lethe in order to obtain some of its water and force the king to drink it, and make him forget that he's king. I remember reading over it once in my old library, but I can't remember the names of the characters either.”

        Spike chuckled as he listened to the conversation between the mares. “Heh, maybe you two had a drink from the pool yourselves?”

        Rarity and Twilight chuckled at Spike's quip (Twilight's laughter a touch louder than Rarity's). Suddenly, a gasp escaped Twilight's chest and her mouth remained open joyfully.

        “Spike! We should go visit the Canterlot library!” Twilight exclaimed, tapping her hooves against the table. “I've wanted to pay it a visit the last few times we've been in Canterlot, but we've always been too busy for sight-seeing. I haven't seen it since we left for Ponyville before Nightmare Moon attacked.”

        “Yeah, we should totally do that!” Spike agreed earnestly. Rarity wore an uneasy smile as her eyes danced between her lover and her friend. “What's the matter Rarity?” Spike asked, noticing her distress.

        “I had originally planned for us to take a romantic walk through the park, darling.” Rarity lamented. “It's such a beautiful day, I thought we might even see if they'll let us ride on one of those beautiful swan-boats on the pond. Wouldn't that be wonderful dear?” Rarity fluttered her eyelashes toward the dragon, while Twilight turned her head to the side and retched under her breath.

        “Well, I guess we could do that too, right?” Spike asked.

        “We won't have enough time to do both, Spike.” Twilight said, turning back to face them. “The play is only a few hours from now, and the park is on the other side of town from the library. We'd have to run from one location to the other just to spend a few minutes at each place.”

        “Oh.” Spike winced, looking away from her and scratching his arm uncomfortably. “Uh...”

        Twilight emitted a defeated sigh. It was at that moment that she realized how much of a third wheel she actually was. Rarity and Spike may have been her friends, but she was smart enough to see that they wanted to enjoy each others company more intimately. If Twilight had brought a date of her own, it could have been a double date, and would have balanced out quite nicely. Being there by her lonesome however made her feel like dead weight on what Spike and Rarity wanted to be a romantic evening for themselves.

        “Let's just go to the park,” Twilight relented apathetically. She could just see it now: Spike and Rarity would be riding one of those tacky boats in the shape of a swan, both of them nuzzling up to each other and sucking their lips from each others faces. Right behind them, Twilight would be riding a boat of her own, paddling all by herself, her wings hiding her face from onlooking ponies who gawked at the lonely princess of friendship.

        “Man, I'm starving,” Spike grumbled, jumping off of his chair. “I'm gonna go see if they have any mints at the front to tide me over til our food gets here.”

        Rarity scoffed disapprovingly at Spike as he walked away. “You are going to spoil your appetite, young man!” She shouted jovially, before shaking her head. “I swear, I don't think that dragon will ever grow up.”

        “Uh huh,” Twilight murmured, extending her lips to her straw and sucking down a large helping of her raspberry sparkling water.

        “Then again, I'd be lying if I said his boyish mannerisms weren't charming in their own way. I dare say it makes me feel young again. You know it's funny, I...” Rarity's voice trailed off as something caught her attention. Unbeknown to Twilight, Spike was several feet behind her, peeking out from the door leading to the interior of the diner. He was waving his claw toward Rarity, a tense expression on his face as he beckoned her to join him.

        “Rarity?” Twilight asked, prompting Rarity to look back to the alicorn.

        “I... I—oh, goodness!” Rarity shouted suddenly, making Twilight jump in surprise. She raised her hoof to the white of her face, tapping it across her cheek. “I think I feel a pimple forming! What a disaster, I can't possibly attend the show with a pimple on my face!” Rarity quickly jumped from her seat. “Please excuse me Twilight, I must tend to this matter at once!”

        The unicorn galloped away from the table, as Twilight shook her head aimlessly. Rounding the corner, Rarity came to a halt inside the diner, standing close to Spike who looked at the wall, in the direction Twilight was sitting.

        “Everything alright, darling?” Rarity asked.

        “Not really,” Spike replied anxiously. “Something's been bothering Twilight the whole week you've been gone.”  

A discouraged frown spread across Rarity's face. “Oh goodness. Is it anything serious?”

        “I don't know, Rarity. She's still herself for the most part. She's always reading, she'll chat with me and her friends like normal. But I've just been getting this weird vibe from her, like she's really unsettled. I asked her a few times if she was okay, and she told me she was fine, but I don't buy it. I think she's keeping something to herself.”

        Rarity nodded understandingly. “I think you have good reason to trust those instincts, Spike. You've known Twilight longer than I or any of the others have. You've most likely developed a sixth sense of sorts about her well-being.”

        “Yeah. I hate to ask this, but do you think we could go to the library instead of the park?” Spike asked pleadingly. “I know you had your heart set on it, but I think it might cheer Twilight up to see her old home again.”

        “Of course, dear.” Rarity replied vigorously.

        “You mean you're not mad?”

        “Mad? Not at all!” she assured him. “I think it's quite admirable that you're willing to go to such lengths to cheer up Twilight when she needs it. And I am more than willing to do just as much. I might not be dating her, but she is just as important to me as you are.” She said, holding her hoof underneath his chin.

        “Thank you so much Rarity. You're the best.”

        “Not at all,” she replied, leaning down and kissing him on his lips. The two rubbed their noses together and kissed yet again, before Rarity left to rejoin Twilight at the table.

        “So, get that pimple taken care of?” Twilight asked, as Rarity reclaimed her seat.

        “Hm? Oh, yes, pimple,” Rarity said, waving her hoof. “Just a small little thing, hardly noticeable. I put something on it to hide it, I'll be fine.” Off to the side, she saw Spike strutting across the pavement, an armful of chocolate mints in his grasp. The two mares looked upon him, his lips  stained dark brown with melted chocolate, and he stared back at them with confusion.

        “What?” he asked innocently. The two mares snorted as he dropped his tiny mountain of mints on the table and climbed back up to his seat.

        “Is it me, or is it getting rather warm out here?” Rarity asked, as Spike stuffed a clawful of mints into his mouth.

        “Not to me.” Twilight replied flatly. “In fact, it's kind of breezy for summer.”

        “Well, I for one think it's only going to get warmer. And I don't think it would help my complexion to stroll around the park, gathering all that sweat and dirty pond water. Perhaps we should visit Twilight's library instead?”

        A wide grin spread across Twilight's face. “Really? You mean it?”

        “I do. In fact, a part of me is curious to see where Princess Twilight spent most of her time, before she graced modest little Ponyville.”

        “Yay!” Twilight cheered, visibly squirming with excitement. Rarity turned her eyes to Spike, who offered her an appreciative smile. She flashed a knowing wink toward him, just before their white-maned waiter returned, floating their entrees through the air with his magic.





        Twilight Sparkle, with Spike and Rarity accompanying her on her right, climbed a flight of stairs in the western quadrant of Canterlot.  Her eyes wandered from the top of the tower, shaped like a clove of garlic, and down to the ceramic doors in front of her. As she drew closer to the entrance, she felt her legs turn to jelly. Some time ago, she had climbed these steps daily, after regular visits to princess Celestia's castle. Though excited to take a trip down memory lane, she also felt a touch jittery, and her nerves grew bit by bit with every step she took. Nonetheless, she kept her head held high, and pressed on, the need to see her old home growing ever greater by the minute. With a flare of her magic, she stepped over the threshold with Spike and Rarity. She found herself breathless as she took in the sight in front of her, her mouth hanging open in astonished delight.

        “Goodness me!” Rarity voiced, clearly impressed by the expansive interior before her. “It's magnificent!”

        Magnificent didn't even begin to describe it. Twilight felt as if she had stepped through a door to the past. Just in front of her was a small flight of stairs, leading to two different levels. The lower level had served as her living quarters. The upper level though was where she had spent most of her time. From the distance, she could see the large hourglass positioned in front of the grand glass window that took up the entirety of the back wall. Taking up residence along the adjoining walls, were rows and rows of bookshelves, towers of literary works that held untold amounts of knowledge waiting to be discovered by those with the drive to learn.

        “Oh, Spike...” Twilight voiced, her eyes glistening with moisture. “I can't believe what I'm seeing. It hasn't changed a bit.”

        Spike stood next to her, his arms folded in front of his chest as he looked in the same direction with admiration. “Still feels like we're coming home, even after all this time in Ponyville,” he said coolly. Though his demeanor was calm, even he felt a bit of nostalgia tug at his heart as he looked upon the first library he had ever served as an assistant in.

        “Well, if I had known a princess was visiting, I would have prepared ahead of time for a more suitable welcome.” A bright, cheery voice called out behind them. Twilight and the others turned to see a light blue unicorn mare. Her mane was a shade more violet than Rarity's, and a light pink flower rested above her left ear.

        “Oh, don't worry about it.” Twilight assured her, her voice cracking just slightly. She raised a hoof to wipe the wetness from her eyes, and cleared her throat before continuing, “Are you the bookkeeper here ma'am?”

        “I am,” the unicorn replied. “Tulip Tepal, at your service.”

        “Ah. Very nice to meet you, Tulip.”

        “We've met before, your majesty.”

        “Have we?”

        “Yeah, a few times, but nothing extensive. I usually saw you walking about the streets, with your head buried in a book. Usually it was something I'd enjoyed before, and I was impressed to see somepony in Canterlot with such a knack for reading.” Tulip’s head sank slightly, and her tone of voice dropped as she continued. “I tried to talk to you a few times, but I never could get more than a hooffull of words out of you. I guess you had a passion for reading that put mine to shame, huh?”

        Twilight winced at the mention of her past self, so caught up in her studies, with little interest in  being sociable.

        “I'm sorry.” Twilight said softly, her shame apparent in her voice. “I wish I had known back then what joys the magic of friendship could bring a pony. If I had, then I would have accepted yours the moment you offered it to me.”

        “No big deal.” Tulip said, waving a hoof through the air dismissively. “I'd say the mare accompanying you and your assistant shows you’ve grown quite a bit since I saw you in the past. I don't think I got your name, miss?”

        “Rarity,” the stylish unicorn informed her, tutting the end of her mane. Tulip nodded appreciatively.

        “I have done a lot of growing.” Twilight stepped forward and extended a hoof towards Tulip. “And I'd like to offer what I should have accept from you back then, when I was too blind to see it right in front of me.”

        Tulip's head sunk within her shoulders, humbled by the princess's gesture. Nonetheless, she rose her own hoof and clasped it with Twilight's. “I do accept it. Thank you, your majesty.” The two mares stared across from one another in admiration of their new connection.

        “Oh, I should mention that I'm looking for a book on ancient horse mythology. Is Of Myths, Mares and Magic still available?”

        “It is, and you'll be happy to know that it and every other book is in the exact same arrangement you had it in since you left years ago. I don't think I could have organized this library better than you have, miss Twilight.” 

        The alicorn smiled sheepishly at her praise. “Wonderful! I think we'll find it on our own. Thank you so much, Tulip.”

        “You're welcome. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with,” the unicorn said, turning to the stairs and moving down to her living quarters. The trio made their way in the opposite direction, climbing up the stairs and onto the level above her.

        Walking across the central platform of the library, Twilight and Spike gazed about the rows and rows of books. They noticed that what Tulip had said was indeed true; every book on the shelves appeared just as they had so long ago. It helped memories from the past come flooding back with ease. Many years ago, princess Celestia had walked the two through the same front doors for the first time, both of them young and sheltered from the world for the most part.

        I get to stay here!? Twilight had shouted in astonishment, while Spike drummed his claws in anxiousness.

        This will be your home now, Twilight. Celestia's warm, benevolent voice washed over her encouragingly. I hope you find it to your liking.

        Liking? More like loving! Twilight scampered up to the first row of books, using her magic to float a number of them in front of her face. Spike, put some tea on. I'm gonna be reading all night, starting now!

        Celestia had lifted a hoof to her face and giggled at Twilight's excitement. Oh dear; I may have underestimated your reading prowess, my faithful student. This library's collection might not even last you the week!

        Twilight sighed softly as she stared at the spot her younger self had taken her first trots across. Though she loved her home in Ponyville, she was glad to be back in the first place she'd been granted a sense of independence and purpose. Continuing her pace, she found herself right under the section of the bookshelf she needed to be. Looking up, she saw the brown tome that was Of Myths, Mares and Magic, just as familiar as the back of her hooves. She instinctively lit up her horn to retrieve it, but felt something clamp down on it without warning.

        “Ah ah ah!” Spike said, shaking one pointed claw to and fro, while his other arm had its claw wrapped around her horn. “I didn't become Number One Assistant with you fetching your own books.” He teased. “Gotta defend my title, you know?” Twilight scoffed in joking disapproval. On the inside however, she felt giddy and delighted that Spike was so willing to take up his reins within their former sanctuary.

        “Alright, assistant.” Twilight snapped back with a grin, as Spike moved toward the ladder a distance away from them. “Fetch my book for me, good sir.” Spike kicked against the floor and the ladder slid in front of Twilight while he offered a dramatic salute.

        “At once, madame!” he replied, before turning back and climbing up the ladder toward his target. As he made his way up the steps of the ladder, Twilight kept her gaze locked on Spike, especially at his legs. Though Spike had grown just a smidgen taller than her recently, his legs still had a little bit of that childlike chubbiness to them. She ran her teeth across her bottom lip, imagining how much he might giggle if she were to start nibbling on his thighs, making her way up to his taught little dragon butt that now swung up high above her near the top of the ladder.

        “I never imagined you two lived in such a large place,” Rarity said as she gazed in awe of its spacious design, stepping toward Twilight. Being snapped out of her thoughts, Twilight tried to put the image of Spike's growing erection out of her mind before her body began to respond to it involuntarily. “How on Earth did you manage to get accustomed to such a small tree after living in a place like this?”

        “W-well, it was a bit of an adjustment, truth be told,” Twilight replied nervously, feeling the tightness gathering under her belly subside, “but after the first week there, I found it to be quite cozy.”

        “That's wonderful, darling. I'm so glad that destiny led you and Spike to Ponyville that day. I just can't imagine my life without you here.”

        “Me neither!” Spike exclaimed, sliding down the ladder and onto Twilight's back. Twilight straightened out her tail, and allowed Spike to slide completely off of her. He landed on the floor on both feet, the book high above his head in triumph. “For you, ma'am!”

        “Thank you, number one assistant!” Twilight said, once again using her magic to levitate the text in front of her. With the cover open, she flipped through the pages and scanned them vigorously. “P...P... Pools? No, let's try water... Myths surrounding bodies of water... ah-ha!” Twilight shouted excitedly, landing on a single page. “The Lethe Pool; legendary pond said to have memory erasing properties. See Legend of Silver Spear.” Twilight hurriedly flipped backwards through the pages until she found another point to stop at. “Silver Spear, son of Boulder Tail, hero of medieval Equestria before the Royal Sisters era, who served as a knight of the corrupt King Virulence. No longer able to tolerate the harsh rule his king held over the land, Silver Spear embarked on an epic quest in search of the Lethe Pool, in order to erase the memory of his king, as well as all the subjects knowledge of his existence. Ha!” Twilight exclaimed happily.

        “Wow, Twilight.” Spike muttered in astonishment. “You were dead on from what you said at the diner. I can't believe you remembered all that.”

        “Me neither. Sometimes I forget how smart I am.” She gloated proudly, her chest puffed out just a smidgen in front of Spike, who looked over the edge of the book in front of Twilight.

        Rarity smiled weakly as she watched the two chat amongst themselves over their finding in their old library. She was happy that the two shared such a close bond with each other, truly she was. She would never even dream of wanting to come between that connection even slightly. Still, Rarity couldn't help but feel excluded from their merriment.  Nonetheless, in an effort to preserve the joyous mood of the evening, she kept a friendly smile on her face as she looked between them. She just had to accept that even though she and Spike were a couple, Twilight would always have a connection with the little dragon in a vastly different way than she could ever have.

        Good for them. She thought to herself. I want them to keep their friendship as strong as ever. It would be awful if Twilight thought I was intruding on the connection they've had for so long.

        “So, does Silver Spear find the pool and stop the king?” Spike asked, tilting his head awkwardly in an effort to read the text.

        “Let's see...” Twilight said, her eyes returning to the book of myths. “It says here that—” before she could finish, a pair of white hooves slammed onto the pages, blocking their vision. The two stared up to see Rarity covering the book from their eyes.

        “Ah ah ah,” she scolded them playfully. “No spoilers now; you'll get your answer when you watch the play tonight.”

        “Oh yeah. Heh, guess we got a little carried away there,” Spike admitted abashedly. His smile turned to one of alarm when he caught a glimpse of the clock up high on the wall in front of him. “Holy guacamole! We've only got two hours left before it starts!”

        “We better get going then.” Twilight declared, the three of them making their way to and down the stairs toward the front entrance.

        “Leaving already?” A voice called to them. Twilight turned to see Tulip Tepal climbing up from her living quarters toward them.

        “Yes, unfortunately.” Twilight replied. “We've got a show to see pretty soon, don't want to be late.”

        “Oh, okay.” Tulip acknowledged with a nod. “Hey, promise you won't be a stranger in the future. Come see me if you visit Canterlot again, okay?”

        “I promise. Bye Tulip!” And Twilight stepped out the door behind Spike and Rarity. Noticing the position of the sun waiting on the horizon to be lowered by princess Celestia, Tulip approached the door and flipped the hanging sign from Open to Closed.

> Chapter 10: Stealing the Show
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        While most regal and glamorous under the benevolence of daylight, nightfall brought a whole new sense of life to the city of Canterlot. Princess Luna’s return years ago had brought a new enchantment to the dark skies of the city, with a decoration of stars that had gone quite unappreciated a thousand years ago. Back in those days, the city streets in Equestria had been quite barren once the moon had risen. After a long day of working, sleepy ponies had retired themselves to bed. The only wakeful ponies late at night were those lurking with malicious intent; thieves, smugglers, a few crazed enough to try their hooves in the dark arts. In those times, nightfall was considered something for ponies to avoid, under the safe haven of their homes. 

        That was not the case however in modern times, Luna had come to learn. With advances in technology over the centuries, many ponies found themselves with a reserve of energy after typical working hours, especially those young at heart. Aside from those wishing to gaze at the night sky along the hills outside of town, Canterlot itself remained bright and brimming with life. Taverns for those looking for a drink with a little kick, dance halls for ponies to throw themselves about wildly, and a small number of buildings showcasing the recent trend in moving picture projections; now with audible voices!

        One particular street corner found itself overwhelmed with a number of mares and stallions, all dressed to impress those who caught sight of them. The Alicorn Amphitheater, in business for over fifty years, was up to its ears in attendants coming in one after another. A poster of a shadowy unicorn, with glowing eyes and a wicked smile, decorated the front of the theater above the entry. The title across his neck read “Vita de Virulence”, the very show that the line of ponies all had tickets to see. 

        “Looks like a full house.” Spike remarked, dressed in the tuxedo he’d received for his birthday.The remaining few seats he noticed were quickly filled by some straggling ponies squeezing by those who had arrived before them. His little dragon feet stood on the cushion of his seat, as he peered over the back.

        “I’m not surprised in the slightest.” Rarity acknowledged. The unicorn was dressed in what she called “semi-formal” attire, a crimson button-up blouse with long white sleeves, and a light violet dress to match. “When you’ve got a producer such as Fancy Pants backing the show, advertisements for it are going to be all over Canterlot. Why, if the theater were big enough to fit the whole city, I don’t think a single pony would be staying at home right now.”

        “Fancy Pants produced this?” Twilight asked. She herself wore something of more simple design, a gown with a solid purple, a shade darker than her own coat. “I remember Written Script being a novice writer back when he lived in Ponyville. How did he get noticed by a big shot like Fancy Pants?”

        “Fancy Pants didn’t earn his wealth and fame by ‘playing it safe’, darling. The stallion is quite the financial adventurer. If he thinks it’s something that veers off of the beaten path, he might very well be tempted to invest some cash into it.”

        Rarity’s explanation threw Twilight for a loop. While Silver Spear’s tale hadn’t received a stage performance before, plays depicting ancient myths had been practiced for a number of decades. She was about to ask what about this play made it stand out to Fancy Pants, but the lights of the auditorium shifted toward the orchestra in their pit. 

A gray mare with a dark mane, dressed in a pristine tuxedo to match her hair, stepped toward the orchestra pit. She received a warm round of applause from the audience once she reached the conductor’s pit. Turning her mulberry eyes toward them, she took a humble bow. This was an especially proud moment for her, as many of them had come to recognize her face as part of an orchestra, but seldom at the position she held. Beginning her career as a cello instrumentalist, she had climbed her way through an age where music was changing from classical to something more electronic. Now, finally able to direct an orchestra for herself, she would lead them through the trying age. Even if the instruments from the original masters would one day be lost, she made sure they would leave not with a whimper, but with a mighty roar before the new age took over. 

        She turned to face the orchestra, pulling a wand out of her left breast pocket. With the wand in her grasp, she raised her foreleg up, and the instrumentalists followed her cue. A low hum of the orchestra began to ring out, as the instrumentalists warmed their instruments up to play for the evening. 

        “Man, really wish I had some popcorn.” Spike said as the conductor raised her legs. On cue, and through the hum of the orchestra, he heard a light and consecutive bursting sound from his right. He turned to see Twilight with her wings unfurled in front of her, covering something up, something glowing slightly. The noise ceased, and Twilight pulled her wings back. In front of her, floating by the purple aura of her magic, was a lumpy bag of freshly popped popcorn. The top of the bag was already opened, hardly able to contain the fluffy contents inside, and billowing with steam. 

        “Whoa, how’d you know!?” Spike asked, taking hold of the burning hot edges (his dragon scales protecting him from the scalding heat).

        “Because I know you too well, Spike.” Twilight replied, rubbing her hoof against his head in a playful manner. The sound of somepony clearing their throat caught their attention. They turned to see Rarity staring toward them, her eyebrows narrowed and her mouth grimacing in disapproval. Twilight had seen the look on her mother Velvet, and even Celestia, many times in her life. It was the look that expressed that the bearer wasn’t mad, “just disappointed”. 

        Oh, don’t get your mane in a twist, Rarity. Twilight thought, offering her an apologetic smile along with Spike. The unicorn rolled her eyes and gave them an understanding smile in response. Following a moment of silence after the warm up, the brass of the orchestra flared proudly, as the curtains onstage rolled to the sides. An orb of light rose from the stage, makeshift sunlight spreading throughout the area.The string instruments kicked in, the violins complementing the flicker of light from the sun.illuminating a bright land with a decorative looking castle on a mountain. Off toward the side of the castle, a small fire burned within the center of a circle of ponies. While the tiny flames waved through the wind, the voice of a stallion began to sing. 


A good kings life has ended



The blessed light extinguished



The darkness overtakes the throne



And peace has been diminished


        As his voice sang, the skies onstage began to darken with storm clouds. The funeral pyre grew larger, spilling down the mountain and across the edge of the stage. The castle was blotted out within the darkness, and the light of the fire revealed a large golden throne, a stallion with a blood red mane seated upon it. His eyes were black, soulless pits, and he wore a twisted smile, hiding unknown machinations of greed and destruction. 


King Virulence, his son



Now he rules the land



And the shadow he has cast



It engulfs the land



The tyranny of his rule will bring his own demise



One closest to the throne looks on, with hatred in his eyes


        As the orchestra died down a moment, a new sound rang throughout the theater. A rhythmic and rather speedy thump, which was seldom heard from any classical classical instrument. The sound caught Spike and Twilight off guard, as they both exchanged confused glances toward one another. A cloud of fog emanated from above the stage, accompanied by a stage light to illuminate the presence of a group of stallions on a stage high above the audience. At the center was a stallion keeping beat with his intimidating metallic drum set. One either side of him, two more stallions, each poised on their hindlegs with a guitar draped along their chest, began to play, their bassist providing a thumping rhythm from behind. Their chords roared to life as they strummed their strings along with the beat, along with the rumble of thunder and lightning striking out behind them. 

        “...What!?” Spike whispered, astonished at what he was seeing and hearing.”This is… this is metal!” 

        Twilight was shocked as well at what she witnessed. A rock band with growling guitars in one of the most esteemed amphitheaters of Equestria. With the orchestra down below, it was a combination of music she’d never dreamed possible. As her mind struggled to process the sounds her ears were taking in, her attention was drawn back to the stage. King Virulence in his throne had long since disappeared, and the backdrop of the stage showed a rocky cliff seen from below. At the edge of the cliff was a stallion of a sandy tan coat, and oak brown mane and tail. A golden helmet was affixed to his head with a tattered cape along his shoulders. It was his voice that had been singing from the very beginning of the play. He resumed the song accompanied by drums and guitars from above, once his appearance had been established. As he sang, the orchestra rejoined, and the sound of classical instruments supporting the blare of rock and roll shook the walls of the amphitheater. 


A rotten child, taking up a throne so undeserved



The land has fallen from grace



Sent into war, with an unjust cause and selfish gain



So many in death's embrace



A captive mare; a princess held against her will



Forced to marry, despite no love



No mercy from the gods above



This evil cannot pass



This evil shall not pass



Undeserving  power



Closer to the last hour



        The music quieted down, only the lead guitarist belting out a solo, along with a harmony of string instrumentals.



No more wicked tyranny



The day will live in infamy



Ponies everywhere will rejoice



They will once again have their voice



Once Virulence has at last been dethroned...


        And at the end of the show’s first song, Twilight was surprised to hear an emphatic amount of applause ring out from the audience. She’d thought the typical aristocratic attendants would have no taste for the rambunctious style of music, but she had been proven wrong. Surprised as all of them were, the ponies loved what they heard, and they were ready for more. Fancy Pant’s venture into new territory had indeed paid of it seemed. 

        The show continued on, recounting the story of Silver Spear’s mission to remove King Virulence from his throne and free the oppressed nation, accompanied by an infusioned score of orchestra and rock. Twilight found herself intrigued by the theatrics of the show. Dark backdrops, intricate props and striking scenery made it quite a sight to behold. Written Script had gotten the story down with surprising accuracy, and he’d put together an impressive set of visuals to illustrate it. And all of the actors were adorned with lavish costumes to depict a surreal representation of the time period it took place in. Rarity had certainly outdone herself in the week she’d been out of town for production of the play. 

        Two seats from Twilight, Rarity felt her delicate ears ringing after the noise of the first song and the following applause died down. She used her magic to levitate out of the saddlebags two rubber earplugs. She stuffed them gently into her ears, and relaxed as the sound she perceived was dulled by half its volume.It wasn’t that Rarity disliked Written Script’s play; she was in fact quite impressed with the visuals of the play, as well as the composure for each song. What she didn’t care for was the blare of the guitars. While it certainly was an interesting feat to infuse modern and classical music, “metal” was not a genre that suited her.

        She looked down to her right, at Spike, quite literally on the edge of his seat at the moment. Her heart fluttered as she caught a glimpse of his eyes, so focused on the performance onstage. Rarity had of course anticipated that Spike would want to attend the play out of courtesy  (he would do the same for any of his friends after all). She took extra delight in seeing the surprise on his face as he learned this opera would be more entertaining than he’d expected. She was glad now that she’d kept it a secret from both of them. 

        While watching her dragon lover scarf down the popcorn in his lap, Rarity felt a bit of a rumble in her stomach. She huffed through her nostrils in annoyance. She had eaten quite a large salad a few hours ago at the diner: how on Earth was she hungry at the moment? The power of suggestion it seemed was getting the best of her at the moment. 

        She knew she shouldn’t. She should show some class, some restraint, some dignity at such an event. Even with the sound of angry guitars, this was still an opera she was attending, and it would do well for her to show some poise. 

        Oh, posh. Rarity thought to herself. Just a little bite won’t hurt anything. 

        Rarity’s magic lit up once again, over a few fluffy kernels that Spike was reaching for. His eyes were locked on the floating objects, and he turned his head about as he watched them move toward Rarity’s mouth. He flashed her a condescending smirk, no doubt remembering how she had scowled at he and Twilight for bringing such a thing into the theater. Chewing on the crunchy white fluff in her mouth, she offered a guilty smile and giggled. Spike shook his head, and turned his attention back to the show. 

        Twilight’s mouth crumpled into a frown. At the start of the show, Rarity had glared at her disapprovingly for sneaking food in with her. Yet here she was helping herself to it all the same, without even asking. She had meant that for Spike, not Rarity. 

        Shaking her head, Twilight scolded herself for such a thought. How petty was she? Getting angry over Spike sharing popcorn? Was a friend like Rarity really not worth sharing a snack with? 

        It was Spike. She’d snuck that bag in solely for Spike, and she felt that sharing it with Rarity took away some of what she thought was a sentimental offering. Thinking it over, she realized how silly it all sounded: she’d brought in a bag of popcorn to be sentimental? Twilight cringed at the very thought. 

        There was no denying it anymore: she was jealous of Rarity, plain and simple. She wasn’t sure if she was jealous that she’d found someone to love, or because that someone happened to be Spike. Was she really that worked up over the fact that tshe’d never have sex with him again? 

        Another round of applause shook Twilight from her thoughts. She looked about the place to see the surrounding audience clopping their hooves in admiration of the play. Another song had come and gone, and Twilight had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she’d not noticed at all. She noticed through the corner of her eye Spike looking at her with a puzzled expression, she being the only one not applauding at the moment. With a sheepish grin, she immediately raised her hooves and joined the rest of the audience. The noise eventually died down and the play resumed, showing a lone mare surrounded in darkness on the stage. 

        Don’t think about it, Twilight. The princess internally berated herself. Try to enjoy the show for now. You can sort out your mental clutter when you get home. Just don’t think about it. Twilight did her best to recollect what was going on in the play. They’d introduced Silver Spear in the beginning, and she’d seen them touch on the Lethe Pool, which held the properties to erase one's memories, as well as any memory of them from existence. The mare onstage had to have been Princess Amorousia, the maiden Silver Spear loved, held captive by King Virulence until she gave into his desires to marry her. 

        The sound of a harp began to play, angelic and soothing in tune. After a moment, the mare onstage began to sing. 


Please bring back my love to me



I can't bear without him



He's traveled so far now



But I still wait for him to return



Every night I dream of him



The smell of his mane



The smile on his face



His voice oh so soothing




And brimming with grace



His strong, able body, a fine work of art



Oh Silver Spear you have captured my heart



I wish you well



Wherever you are



I am with you



Be you near or far



Let my love for you keep you safe



Let it guide you on your journey



And bring you home



I will wait



For you



I will wait


        Rarity's heart fluttered. Such a passionate expression of romance! This was the sort of thing she admired in a traditional opera, the poetic sense of affection and admiration. Princess Amourosia’s longing for Silver Spear reminded Rarity just how lucky she was to have the connection she held with Spike. During the last few lines of the song, Rarity reached her hoof to the side, poking it against Spike’s claw. 

        Spike looked away from the stage, and toward the unicorn’s eyes. Staring into her shimmering pools of azure, he was filled with the same sentimental feeling she was brimming with at the moment. He took a claw away from his bag of popcorn and held it within his claw. The two leaned against one another, ignoring the surrounding applause and enjoying the loving comfort their embrace filled them with. 

The song, while beautifully sung, had not helped Twilight’s thoughts return to the play at all. The way Amorousia had poured her heart out for her darling Silver Spear struck as many chords on her heart as the harp accompanying her voice. She didn’t even need to turn her head to see him; every detail about Spike was clear as day in her mind. 

        The aroma of the light green spikes across his head. 

        His youthful, confident smirk. 

        His boyish and playful voice, comforting when she needed it to be. 

        His claws, surprisingly gentle when he wrapped them around her back in a supportive hug. 

        Twilight’s chest had become surprisingly heavy and tight. She took a deep breath and blinked once, feeling something cool along her right cheek. It was a single tear that had slid from her eye at some point during Amorousia’s song. She turned slightly away from Spike and Rarity on her left, and lifted the tip of her wing to her face to wipe it off. She couldn’t believe she had cried over such a sappy song, and hoped that nopony had seen her doing so. She turned back just to make sure, but what she saw made her jaw drop.

        She saw Spike holding a pony’s hoof within his claw, but it wasn’t the white hoof of a unicorn. It was purple. And it belonged to a pony with wings, draped around his shoulders. Surrounding the tip of her purple horn, a dark purple mane which he rested his head against. Twilight was looking at herself, snuggling against Spike, the two of them with warm smiles on their faces, lost in one another’s embrace. She wasn’t sure how it was possible that such a thing could take place: was she dreaming? Was she having an out of body experience of sorts? Why couldn’t she feel him against her, if she was the pony he was laying against? 

        Spike… I… I...

        Spike lifted his eyes, and his smile disappeared. “Twilight?” he asked in confusion. 

        The instant he spoke, she saw the vision of herself morph instantaneously before her eyes. The wings vanished without a trace, and her unfurled mane was done up in curls, while her purple coat was drained to an appearance white as snow. Just as she thought, Rarity was indeed enjoying Spike’s company, the two of them most likely caught up in their emotions at the same time as Twilight, though in a very different way. 

        Twilight’s heart rate increased as his eyes laid upon her. Had she said his name out loud? Is that what had gotten his attention? 

        “I… I…” Twilight’s eyes darted about, desperate for some sort of distraction. She noticed that the claws of one arm hanging over his stomach were clinging to the edges of the bag of popcorn. “C-c-can I have some popcorn?” She asked hastily. 

        Spike looked down at his claw, as if he’d forgotten he was still holding onto the bag at all. “Oh. Yeah, help yourself.” He replied, sitting up properly and away from Rarity.  “You’re the one who brought it.” He chuckled happily. 

        Twilight grinned widely, using her magic to lift a clump of popcorn from the bag toward her face. Looking it over, she realized she’d grabbed a larger amount than she’d needed. Her nerves prevented her from putting any back, and she instead took a large bite. She munched with a feigned sense of happiness, as if she’d intended eat such a large amount all along. 

        The performance onstage did little to hold Twilight’s interest anymore. She stole a glance at Silver Spear and another monstrous looking pony across from him, their swords raised in preparation for combat. The orchestra had gone silent, and the rock band from above had taken up the slack. As the two ponies rushed in toward the other, the guitars played full force, one after another, each strumming a brief solo before the other responded with their own. They seemed to be caught in a musical duel of fates, as were the swordsponies down below. Twilight didn’t remember this battle taking place anywhere in the original myth. If she had to guess, Written Script had added this part in for the sake of eye and ear candy, some kind of spectacle to keep the audience’s interest after an hour and a half of sitting and watching. 

        While the stage was lit with strobe lights and sparks from the stallion’s blades, Twilight’s mind underwent a battle of its own. Her feelings for Spike had manifested into something much deeper than lust. Her heart burned for the baby dragon, not for his body, but for his soul. Her mind was filled with the sentiment he’d bestowed upon her during their years together. Now that he was with Rarity, he’d spent so much time away from the library in favor of the boutique. She felt sick thinking about a life where all the affection he’d given her was redirected from her to Rarity.

        Spike, his eyes opened wide in awe of the battle onstage, paid no mind to Twilight staring him down. Her chest remained tight, her stomach turning with fear and uncertainty. She couldn’t lose him. Every second she let slip by was another step he took away from her. She had to express her longing for him, before it was too late. 

        She felt the urge to kiss him. She knew she shouldn’t, that she should respect his relationship with Rarity. She was just a seat away from them for goodness sake, it was unlikely that she would let such an act fly. 

        Twilight didn’t care. Her body ached knowing that he was right next to him, yet slipping so far away. She would make it quick, just a light peck on his cheek, to let him know that she cared about him, and then leave him be. 

        Rarity found herself becoming less interested with the play as it went on. Perhaps it was because she’d spent so much time with the cast and crew while designing their costumes, and it had disillusioned her from the investment the rest of the audience felt. Her attention instead was drawn more and more to Spike. She was a little ashamed to admit it, but she felt a similar rush of emotions that she’d felt as a growing filly, when her hormones had been raging and filling her with the urge to pin a stallion down and furiously kiss him raw. If it weren’t for her need to keep up her appearances, she’d certainly want to do the same to Spike at the moment. Wrestling with her emotions, she settled for the idea that a firm kiss on the cheek would have to satiate herself for the moment. After the play, they would all be heading back home to Ponyville, where she and Spike could have their way with one another just as they’d done so before. 

        Twilight gulped. This was it; do it now, or forever hold her peace. 

        Locked onto Spike’s mulberry cheek, she closed her eyes and dived in with her lips pursed, hoping for all it was worth that this wouldn’t bite her in the tail. 

        Reinforcing herself that it would go no further, Rarity settled on the idea that she would kiss him. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, eager to feel his scaly cheek on her lips once again. 

        Taking a rather large bite of popcorn, Spike felt the edges of the kernels scratch his throat as he choked. Gagging, he coughed strongly, and dropped the bag in his grasp. As it hit the floor, the remaining fourth of the bag spilled all over the floor under his seat. 

“Aw, come on!” Spike muttered under his breath, before hopping off of the seat and crouching down to pick up the mess on the floor. With no dragon between them, Twilight and Rarity’s blind advance continued. 

Their lips touched. Twilight and Rarity had kissed one another, unknown that the lips they felt belonged to the mare a seat away from them. While unaware of the actual situation, both mares had lost themselves within the alluring sensation of feeling soft lips pressed up against their own. 

I can’t believe he’s kissing me! Twilight thought, the warmth her lips felt rushing up to her ears and making them tingle. I always told him not to kiss me when we fooled around; this is the first time I’m feeling his lips. They’re so soft and tender. Oh gosh, I think I’m gonna faint!

Mm, what a sentimental little dragon. Rarity thought, her eyes still closed. And here I thought I was going to surprise you. Your senses must have picked up the rhythms of my heart, and you knew I’d be coming for you, didn’t you?

What’s Rarity going to say? She’s going to turn around and see us kissing at any moment. What’s she going to think? Is she going to know how I feel about Spike? How he feels about me? Wait, how does he feel about me? Does this mean his feelings for Rarity have changed? 

How strange… I don’t remember Spike’s lips being so delicate. Did he apply some sort of chapstick before the show started?

Though a touch of suspicion nagged at the mind of each mare, they nonetheless held onto the sentimental warmth the kiss provided. They slowly opened their eyes, fully expecting a pair of light green eyes staring into theirs. How shocked Twilight was to find out that the eyes looking back were instead a light azure, while Rarity saw dark violet pools staring back. The two mares eyes darted rapidly, absorbing the details of the face surrounding the eyes. It took a few seconds to process, but their minds eventually came to terms with the fact that they had not kissed the dragon seated next to them, but the mare sitting on the other side of him. 

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Both mares screamed as they reared back, their forelegs flailing frantically in the air. 

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Spike screamed, jumping up with two clawfuls of a large amount of popcorn. “W-what!? It’s not a big deal!” He said to the mares who just now clocked his presence on the floor. “T-Ten second rule, it’s still good!”

“SSSSH!” several ponies shushed from every direction. The two mares turned their bodies front and center in their seats, while Spike shoved both handfuls of popcorn into his mouth, and jumped back into his seat. 

What's this? I sense treachery in the air


        The voice hit Twilight’s ears like a ton of bricks. Her chest tightened as her attention was brought back suddenly to the play. Silver Spear was now caught in the spotlight, while King Virulence’s gaze was locked on him. With a look of worry on his face, Silver Spear remained frozen as a cornered mouse, while the king berated his actions. 


A secret crime, filled with malice



A wicked plot to undo me, from the scent within my chalice



What fool would ever think I would not know



When the wine from which I drink has been infected



I shall find whoever did this, and I shall have them executed



Guards, seize him!


The guards on stage rushed toward Silver Spear, and with a struggle, brought him to his knees. Twilight had missed quite a bit of the play, but she remembered the original myth. This was the final act of the story, in which Silver Spear had failed in his attempt to poison King Virulence with a chalice filled with water from the Lethe pool. It was never quite clear how Virulence had found it, but he’d suspected that Silver was plotting against him. Perhaps it was his affection for Princess Amourosia that had tipped him off. Nonetheless, Virulence was unaware of the magical properties of the elixr in his drink; he’d only suspected it to be a typical poison. 


Silver, you are such a fool



To think I would not know it's you



Attempting to conspire against I



It's me that you so much despise



I can see that look within your eyes



But now it will be you who shall die



Your attempt on my life, it has failed



Your rotten plan has been unveiled



I shall not drink this tainted mixture



Instead I'd rather get your goat



By forcing it all down your throat



And remove you from the picture



Goodbye Silver Spear



May your soul burn in tarturus for all eternity


        And the musical score reached a swell, before transforming into something subtly triumphant. Though the king and the guards surrounding him were frozen and shrouded in blacklight, Silver Spear had a look of hope on his face. He knew that he had played a large part in raising Virulence himself, since his father had been too busy being a king to look after his son. Silver Spear had played a large role in Virulence’s life. Consuming the liquid would not just destroy his own memories, but simultaneously destroy the memories of Virulence and all who knew him. He was going down, but he was taking Virulence with him. 


My heart is overcome with joy



As I feel the chalice on my lips



For there's a memory of his



That his boasting pride has now eclipsed



It was I who taught him all he knows



Since he was born, til he took the throne



If I consume this drink, he will be undone



My memories will fade, but I'll take his with me



Our minds will be destroyed, but the land will at last be FREE



        As the chalice touched Silver Spear’s lips, the final light dimmed and cast the entire stage into blackness. An uproar of applause burst from the audience, all of them standing from their seats and clopping their hooves against the ground. A few cheers from the crowd accompanied the overwhelming noise. The applause continued for several minutes, as the cast one by one stepped on stage and took a humble bow for their audience. Once the cast had all joined on stage, a gray stallion with a round director’s cap over his head, stepped in as well. Written Script, the stallion Rarity had spent so much time this week with, spoke into the microphone affixed to his face. 

        “Wow, thank you so much everypony!” he said with projection, his voice booming over the noisy audience. “Quick special thanks I want to throw out in no particular order, to Mr. Fancy Pants for getting the word out about the play, and the funding to make all of this possible.” A stage light moved to the balcony in the upper left area of the auditorium, showing the blue maned aristocrat waving to the clopping audience appreciatively, next to his slender unicorn wife, Fleur de Lis. “Also want to thank somepony who put in a huge amount of work at the last minute getting the cast dressed, please show Ms. Rarity some love as well!”

        The spotlight moved from Fancy Pants to the middle of the audience, upon Rarity, Spike and Twilight. While Rarity offered a jubilant wave to the audience, Twilight felt her stomach twist in knots. She felt as if the spotlight was shining through her body and focusing on her guilt, allowing the entire applauding audience to focus on the shame she felt for what she’d tried to do a moment ago. 

        “And of course, I want to thank all of you for attending tonight, coming to watch something I’ve dreamed of since I was a colt: getting a vision of mine on stage in one of the biggest theaters in Canterlot. My gosh, I can’t even express how thrilling this all is for me; well, I could, but then I’d keep you here all night.” The audience laughed politely at his humorous jab at himself. “So once again, thanks to the cast, thanks to the crew, thanks to all of you for watching this happen. Have a wonderful rest of the night, everypony!”

        Following another polite round of applause, the audience slowly began to spill out of their seats and make their way toward the exits. 

        “Twilight?” a boyish voice called to the princess, wound up tightly in her seat. Twilight looked to her left, and saw Spike and Rarity up from their seats, their row nearly cleared out. “Ready to get going?”

        Twilight looked toward him, then glanced at Rarity. The unicorn seemed to suddenly find the ceiling rather fascinating as Twilight looked toward her. Twilight nodded, keeping her gaze away from both of them. The three silently made their way out of the theater. 

        Though she couldn’t look Rarity in the eye, she could hardly keep the unicorn out of her peripheral vision.  Twilight knew she was playing with fire by attempting to kiss Spike in front of Rarity. How she’d ended up kissing the unicorn instead was something she couldn’t comprehend. But what conclusions had Rarity drawn from the occurrence? She didn’t know what was going on through her mind, and wasn’t sure if she wanted to know. She herself couldn’t decide if it was better or worse to have kissed her accidentally than have Rarity witness her kissing Spike. 

        I sense treachery in the air. The words stung Twilight’s heart viciously. Though she found some sort of relation to the play, she couldn’t decide which character best represented her at the moment. Was she Princess Amourosia, waiting desperately for her hero to return and rescue her from her plight? Was she Silver Spear, fighting against a force which she considered to have an unjust rule over something in need of liberation? 

        Or was she in fact King Virulence, wanting to lock up something she desired in order to keep it from pursuing its one true love? 
        I sense treachery in the air. The words repeated in a loop through Twilight’s weary mind. I sense treachery in the air. Treachery. Treachery.