When a red dragoness arrives in Ponyville, many lives are turned upside down...especially when a certain assisstant makes her want to make her stay a protracted one.
Garble's behavior towards Spike and his pony friends - despite being mimicked by his cronies - was unacceptable by the standards of the Elder dragons, and he was taken sorely to task for it. When the Elders decided an apology had to be delivered, Garble's twin sister, Garbledina, volunteered to deliver the apology. She claimed it was a sense of responsibility for her twin's behavior, but in truth she was curious about the 'runt' who so thoroughly got under his skin.
When she actually meets him, however, that curiosity quickly grows to something more. This comes as a shock to Spike and his friends...especially to a certain unicorn mare.
Cover image - cropped from the image that inspired this story - by Mr. 101.
The red dragoness slowly flew through the sky, taking her time as she carefully examined the map the Elders had provided her with. This was a rather important mission, and the last thing she wanted to do was get lost flying over pony territory and cause an international incident. She supposed she could have taken the Elders' advice and fly straight to the pony capitol, make contact with the Princesses, and make this an official visit and delegation...but all things considered, that didn't feel right. The actions that had been taken were personal, so she felt the recompense needed a personal touch. That's why, rather than any sort of official robes or attire, she was only garbed in her leather jacket and pants, and the enchanted bindings across her chest - looking like ordinary bandages - to make her more aerodynamic for flight. That was a matter of embarrassment for her, as most dragonesses didn't require them until they were much older.
Eventually, she saw the town come into view. Rising to a higher altitude, she examined the surrounding countryside. The forest was rather distinctive, and the castle in the center - old and dilapidated - said it was the right forest, and her destination was the only settlement that close to the forest in question. Satisfied that she had indeed found the right location, she stuffed the map into the breast pocket of her jacket before executing a dive into the settlement, landing near the edge. Seeing a yellow pegasus mare nearby, she slowly approached. "Excuse me," she called out.
The mare turned towards her, her pink mane concealing most of her face the way her baggy green sweater and flowing brown skirt concealed most of her body. "Yes? Wh-" The mare froze as she stared at the dragoness.
She did her best to smile disarmingly, unwittingly baring a mouth full of sharp teeth. "Yes, I was looking for-" Her statement was interrupted by her growling stomach. She blushed, realizing it had been a while since she'd eaten. "Sorry abo-"
The mare screamed in abject terror before running away at a rather respectable velocity towards the town.
The dragoness blinked in confusion. "...how rude," she mumbled as she began to walk towards the town. Perhaps somepony else could give her directions. However, as she entered the town proper, she noticed that there were few ponies anywhere to be seen, and those few she saw were as doors were being slammed behind them or windows slammed shut. She could only sigh as she shook her head. What got these ponies so panicky? A dragon lived in town. Why was her presence reason for such fear and panic?
A rainbow maned, cyan pegasus mare flew towards her, a flight suit her only garb. "Now where's that dragon that scared-buck! It's Garble!" With that, the mare turned around and sped off towards a large tree in the center of town.
The dragoness blinked, then facepalmed. "Stupid!" she muttered to herself. "Bound like this, you look just like him! No wonder they're afraid." Sighing, she made her way towards the tree, ready for a chilly reception. She could only hope she was able to convince them to hear her out.
Waiting for her at the tree was a small gathering of ponies. Most noticeably was a large red earth pony stallion in farm clothes, slamming his clenched fist into his palm as he prepped himself for battle. Near him was an orange mare in overalls and a white shirt, standing just as ready to fight. The cyan Pegasus from earlier hovered over them, clenching her fists. A white unicorn in a rather fancy dress also stood there, her rather beautiful face twisted into a mask of barely contained fury. She could just barely make out purple scales hidden behind the mare's dress.
On the other side, a very pink earth pony mare dressed in blue bounced back and forth on her hooves, making playful jabs with her fists. Between that and the huge grin on her face, it was hard to tell if she was taking the situation seriously...if not for the massive cannon in front of her. The yellow pegasus was hiding behind her.
One last pony stepped out amongst them all, one the dragoness recognized immediately even without the tiara that adorned her forehead. The dragon elders had been sure she would know all the princesses on sight...including the newest, Princess Twilight.
Twilight stood there calmly, looking the dragoness up and down. She waited calmly for the Princess to take action.
"Come on, Twilight!" the brash pegasus spoke from above. "What are you waiting for? That's-"
"Not Garble, Rainbow Dash," Twilight interrupted.
"Huh?" Rainbow responded as the others looked confused. "Twilight, look at him! How can you sit there and tell me-"
"She's a dragoness," Twilight said calmly.
The visitor rubbed the back of her head. She knew she wasn't the most feminine of dragonesses, but only the princess could even tell she was a female up close? Even bound as she was, that was rather deflating. However, she was going to do her best to conduct herself properly. She bowed to the Princess. "My name is Garbledina," she said quietly as she raised herself back up. "I bring apologies from myself and the Dragon Elders regarding the behavior of my twin brother and his cronies during your time in our lands, and beg your forgiveness."
Twilight shook her head. "Garbledina, you and the Elders have done nothing to warrant an apology. And if I believed that Garble himself was apologizing, I could accept it. However, the sentiment is much appreciated."
"Agreed," the white unicorn spoke up. "You surely can't be held responsible for a sibling's actions. I know how much of a headache a rambunctious sibling can be." She extended her hand, no sign of the purple scales that had been hidden behind her. "My name is Rarity, darling."
Garbledina happily accepted the handshake. "A pleasure to meet you." She turned towards the others, only to get a facefull of confetti as the cannon went off.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!" the pink mare proclaimed, glomping onto Garbledina. "Now that I know you aren't here to hurt anyone, I can throw you a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party instead of a 'We're Going to Kick Your Flank' party, so I was able to replace the buckshot in the cannon with confetti before firing it! I'm glad I didn't have to turn my party cannon into a weapon, but that's just how strongly I feel about keeping my friends safe! I'm glad you get to be a friend instead of an enemy, and I really really look forward to getting to know you, GD! Can I call you GD?"
Garbledina could only blink as she stared down at the hyperactive pony practically crushing her lungs. "...sure," she finally said, wincing at how much more Pinkie smiled before rushing off. She turned to the others. "Uh..."
"It's Pinkie Pie," the orange mare said, stepping forward. "Don't question it." She extended her hand. "Name's Applejack." She gestured to the red stallion. "This is my big brother, Big Macintosh. Sorry about the chilly reception earlier."
The dragoness happily shook both offered hands, wincing a bit at the stallion's grip. "Quite alright. After the impression my brother left on your friends, I suppose I should have taken greater pains to distinguish myself from him...or at least let everyone know I was coming."
"I-I'm Fluttershy," the yellow Pegasus spoke up, shyly stepping forward. "S-sorry for screaming before, but when you said you were looking for something and your stomach growled, I thought you might be looking for...breakfast." The last came out in a squeak. "I'm scared of dragons."
Garbledina chuckled. "Well, on the list of races to be instinctively terrified of, I suppose my own is high on the list for good reason," she replied depreciatingly.
Twilight smiled. "Won't you come inside?" she asked. "I'll ask Spike to rustle up a ruby salad for you, and we can talk for a bit." She turned to open the door. "Spike!" she shouted as she stepped into the tree, which was apparently a building. Garbledina promised herself not to breathe any fire while inside.
She carefully followed the ponies inside, Big Macintosh turning to go elsewhere. "Go ahead and make yourself comfortable," Twilight said as she reentered the main room, apparently a library of some sort.
Garbledina smiled. "Thank you," she said. Reaching behind her back, she undid her bindings, letting them unravel. Her rather ungainly chest reshaped as the magic was temporarily dispelled, and she exhaled a breath of relief as she flopped into a nearby chair, her breasts barely covered by her open jacket. "While good for flying, those bindings are really uncomfortable at ground level." She rocked her head around as she stretched her neck.
As she faced forward again, she saw the one whose scales she'd spotted earlier stepping out of a kitchen like area. He was rather short, shorter than the ponies, but well built for his height. She could easily tell that the purple and green dragon she was looking at was deceptively strong, likely able to easily lift three times his weight without strain. His scales were polished to a shine, showing he took good care of himself. The simple clothes he wore spoke of a humility uncommon in dragon males of any age. The bright blush on his cheeks as he carefully held the food tray - a salad made with chunks of ruby mixed amongst the greens - showed he lacked any association with females of his own kind. Obviously, he hadn't expected that dragonesses wore clothing only for cleanliness purposes, and had no compunctions against lounging around nude in front of males, which the mares he apparently lived with obviously did have.
Garbledina had only one reaction as she gazed at the young dragon as he placed the tray down. "Who's the cutie?" she asked casually, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
As the young drake blushed and got extremely flustered, Garbledina noticed several of the mares giggling...although she wasn't sure why Rarity looked angry again.
As the mares finished giggling, Twilight spoke up. "This is Spike. He's my number one assistant."
Garbledina took a closer look at Spike. His humble clothes were in pony style, but were of very fine quality. "Little brother?" she asked Twilight.
Since Spike was apparently still too flustered to speak, Twilight responded. "Something like that."
Garbledina nodded. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Spike." Her expression grew thoughtful. "It's my understanding you bumped into my brother trying to learn more about what it meant to be a dragon?"
Spike nodded, managing to get his blushing under control. "Yeah. I've lived amongst ponies all my life, and after seeing how different I was from the dragons we saw in the Migration, I thought maybe I was missing something." He grimaced. "After seeing what I did, I'm not so sure I'm interested."
She rested a clawed hand on his arm, noticing the blush it caused. "Please don't judge our entire race by our delinquents. We have much more to offer if you're willing to give us a second chance."
Still blushing brightly, Spike swallowed convulsively and nodded. "I'll keep it in mind."
She smiled. "All I can ask." She took her hand back and stretched her arms upwards, unconsciously thrusting her chest outward, causing her jacket to slip open more.
"Uhh...GD?" Applejack spoke up. "Ya may want to fix your jacket before Spike has a heart attack."
Garbledina smiled. "Right." She quickly shrugged her jacket off, laying it on the arm of the chair before laying back topless. "That's much better."
"Not what I meant..." Applejack grumbled, averting her eyes and blushing.
"Darling," Rarity spoke, her voice slightly hard, "are you sure you should be...flaunting yourself so openly? There is a male in the room, after all."
Garbledina tilted her head in confusion. "What's that got to do with anything? I was actually going to ask why you're all still dressed?"
Rainbow Dash gnashed her teeth. "Look, I don't know what you've heard about us, but we aren't like that!"
Twilight face palmed. "Rainbow, dragons don't have a nudity taboo. From what I've learned from Celestia, clothing is only worn by females for safety purposes, like when flying to keep airborne particles from becoming embedded in uncomfortable locations."
Rainbow blinked, then lowered her gaze, blushing. "Oh."
Garbledina smiled. "Not entirely," she pointed out to Twilight. "Clothing serves a few other purposes, but most times dragons of either gender prefer to lounge around naked." She noticed Spike covering his face as a small bit of crimson flame briefly escaped his nostrils. "Males have it easy," she grumbled. "They've got a protective plate to slide over their genitals when not in use. Girls gotta wear pants to keep from getting a bird in her..." She blinked as Spike, Fluttershy, and Rarity all flopped over in a dead faint. "What's with them?"
Rainbow chuckled. "Spike's young, Fluttershy's an animal lover, and Rarity's just overly dramatic."
Garbledina nodded, digging into her salad at last. The greens were very crisp, and the ruby shards were some of the highest quality she'd ever tasted. "This is delicious!" she said happily. She began devouring it rapidly.
Twilight chuckled. "Spike's an excellent cook, once he's familiar with a kitchen," she replied.
"I may just have to stick around a while to try more of his cooking! Even the Elders rarely eat this good!" She swallowed the last bite, then realized how presumptuous her statement was. "If...if that's alright?"
Twilight laughed. "We'd be happy to put you up for a while. I have so many questions about dragon culture, mythology, government...I'd love to be able to interview someone who grew up with it."
Garbledina chuckled. "I'll answer as best I can. Some things I don't know, and some I'm not allowed to discuss with any but other dragons, you understand?"
Twilight nodded. "I understand perfectly. Spike!"
Spike groaned as he sat up. "Yeah, Twilight?"
"Please show Garbledina to the guest room. She'll be staying with us for a while."
Spike nodded, recognizing Twilight's research face. "Alright. It's this way, Miss."
Garbledina nodded, picking up her jacket. "Thank you so much for your hospitality," she said before following Spike up the stairs. She could hear Rarity starting to say something to Twilight, but decided to tune it out while she focused on Spike for now.
Male dragons in her age group all tended to be immature one way or another. However, Spike was most definitely different. While most dragon adolescents would swagger, Spike walked calmly. Where others might flex to get a females attention, he was calmly dutiful. This was proven as, when they arrived at the guest room, he turned to her and asked, "Is there anything else I can get you? To make your stay more comfortable?"
Garbledina glanced into the room. The bed was large enough for her, easily, and most of the amenities were convenient enough for her, those she'd make use of anyway. She shook her head. "Everything looks just fine," she replied, laying her jacket over a dresser before bending over to remove her pants, intentionally giving Spike an excellent view of her well formed rear and more as she undressed. Hearing him get even more flustered, she turned back to him as she lay her pants across her jacket. "Except maybe someone to help keep the bed warm," she added in a smoldering voice. "Care to volunteer?"
As Spike blushed brighter and gaped, struggling to make his mouth work, Garbledina laughed. "I'm just teasing you," she chuckled. "Garble said you were a runt, but he's wrong." She leaned over to rest her head against Spike's chest, hearing the beat of his heart...and another sound only audible to dragon hearing. "You're real big where it counts."
"Huh?" Spike asked in confusion.
"In here," she said, tapping his chest. "Your inner dragon is awake. And he's massive." She noticed Spike was even more confused. "I'll tell you more tomorrow." She slowly closed the door. "But I'm a bit tired after my long flight, so for now I'll get some rest."
Spike nodded. "Alright. I'll leave you to get some sleep, 'Dina."
Spike started to turn away, but Garbledina swung the door back open. "W...what did you just call me?"
Spike blinked in confusion. "Don't dragons have nicknames?" As she shook her head, he sighed. "It's just...Garble's associated with some rather bad memories...and nightmares. I know he's your brother, but I'd rather get to know you for you." He rubbed the back of his head. "Do...do you mind if I call you 'Dina?"
She looked at him for a time...and found herself blushing. "...please do. And...tell the others to as well."
He smiled. "Alright. Good night, 'Dina."
Smiling, she closed the door again. Just before shutting it, she gave him a sloe eyed wink. "Goodnight handsome."
She heard him getting flustered again as she shut the door. She curled up on the bed happily as she got ready to sleep. She wasn't sure why she was being so flirtatious with him, other than just how different he was from other males of her age group...how much better he was. But she knew one reason she was so happy right now. After a lifetime being Garble's sister - even from birth, being the unexpected twin just given a derived name - she would be meeting new people under a name that was entirely hers. She could finally start building herself up as her own dragon.
"Besides," she muttered under her breath, "Spike is just too cute when he gets flustered!"
With that last sentiment, 'Dina curled up and let herself drift off to sleep.
'Dina awoke slowly the next morning, blinking her eyes against the light of the dawn. Some days, she wished that her training with the Elders hadn't been so thorough, and she could actually manage to sleep past first light. The bed was just so comfortable, she didn't really want to move. However, she knew if she tried to stay in bed, her body would start cramping up after yesterday, so she reluctantly rolled onto her back.
She began to stretch out every part of her body, unintentionally twisting herself into numerous provocative positions in the process. Had she known how exciting her morning stretches could be to an observer, she'd have waited a while in the hopes Spike came to wake her up, so she could give him a show. As she thought about him, she smiled again, slowly standing up from the bed. She paused before the full length mirror, looking at herself.
"'Dina," she said, looking herself in the eye. "I am 'Dina." She licked her lips, tasting the name. "Hello, my name is 'Dina. It's a pleasure to meet you." She loved the sound of that, and couldn't help but giggle as she bounced back and forth on the balls of her clawed feet, truly ecstatic. She felt like a hatchling again. With that joy bubbling up inside her, she bounced happily downstairs.
She found Twilight in the main room, writing what looked like either a checklist or a survey sheet. 'Dina imagined it was in preparation for quizzing her about dragons. She blanched a bit as she saw that the top of the scroll rolled all the way into another room. She wasn't kidding about having so many questions for me, she thought to herself.
"Good morning, 'Dina," Spike called to her, stepping out of the kitchen, carrying three trays of pancakes. He was wearing a plain white shirt, brown pants, and a frilly pink apron.
'Dina smiled at him. "It is a good morning," she said, hopping over to give him a hug from behind, consequently squishing his head in between her breasts. She giggled as she saw him blushing, still holding him tight.
Twilight rolled her eyes from the table. "Could you hold off on molesting him until after breakfast?" she asked jokingly.
"Twilight!" Spike complained, though it was hard to tell if he was aghast she'd suggest such a thing, surprised that she wasn't more upset, or unwilling to leave the quite comfortable embrace.
"I'm not molesting him," 'Dina corrected. "My hands are well above his waist."
Twilight chuckled. "Just sit down, and please try to respect his personal space."
Nodding, 'Dina sat down at the table, letting her tail hang behind her as she folded her wings flat against her back. Spike then set down the trays, one in front of each of them. "Buttermilk pancakes with powdered sugar for Twilight, and amethyst studded pancakes with sapphire sprinkles for 'Dina and I."
'Dina couldn't help but salivate at that description, picking up her fork to take a bite. The moment it hit her tongue, she let out a throaty moan of pleasure. "So good..." She glanced between a blushing Twilight and an even brighter blushing Spike. "What?"
Twilight blinked. "Am I going to have to clean the chair when you're done?"
Now it was 'Dina's turn to blush. "No, you won't. It's not quite that good."
Twilight nodded. "Spike, remind me to have a seat cover available for 'Dina when you make her a Ruby burger."
Spike, meanwhile, was blushing to bright to respond. He just continued eating.
Eventually, 'Dina finished eating. "Damn, that was good," she said, sitting back in her chair and stretching.
Seeing Spike once again rendered insensible, Twilight sighed. "I know dragons have no compunctions about nudity, but Spike grew up here, so for his sake could you meet our cultural norms? At least in public areas?"
'Dina blinked. "But...isn't this a private residence?"
"The upper floors are. But it's also a public library."
"Ah." Dina thought for a bit. "But...I only have the clothes I came in, and I can't risk damaging them. They're my flight clothes, they're all I own."
Spike blinked. "We could stop by Rarity's Boutique!" he said happily. "She could surely make you some new clothes to wear around Ponyville."
Twilight blinked, then chuckled. "She probably could," she mused, her voice somewhat mischievous. "But do you really plan to walk a naked dragoness across town?"
Spike blushed brightly. "Hadn't thought about that. ...maybe you could lend her your bathrobe?"
Twilight shook her head. "I suppose that would be somewhat better." She levitated out a fluffy, bright pink bathrobe.
"Have you got another color?" 'Dina asked. "Pink doesn't really look good on me."
Twilight glanced between them for a time, then grinned widely. "Well, you could borrow Spike's." Another robe levitated out. It was much smaller, less fluffy, and blue.
"That'll work," 'Dina said happily, snatching it out of the air. Stepping into the kitchen, she wrapped it around herself before tying the sash, then stepping back out. "How do I look?"
Twilight looked 'Dina over. The robe only just barely cleared her hips and part way down her thighs, and left a great deal of cleavage showing. Technically, it just barely met the textbook definition of basic decency...as long as she didn't bend at all the entire trip to Rarity's. "I suppose that'll work...somewhat."
'Dina smiled. "Great! Won't you show me the way, Spike?" Without really thinking, she bent forward towards him as she asked, giving him a glorious view straight down her generous bosom.
"Uh guh...I mean, sure," he managed to say, standing up and discarding his apron. "Follow me. I know the way really well."
Smiling, 'Dina followed him out the door. "Be back later, Twilight," she called over her shoulder.
Halfway across town, 'Dina noticed everyone in town staring at her. "Why's everyone staring, Spike?" she asked, just as a stallion she didn't recognize walked into a lamppost since he wasn't looking where he was going.
Spike chuckled nervously. "Well, dragoness or no, a hot, scantily clad female walking across town isn't an everyday sight here in Ponyville." He blinked. "At this point, probably about the only thing that isn't an everyday sight."
'Dina smiled at that. "I see. So they're all checking me out?"
Spike scratched the back of his head. "Something like that, yeah."
As he lowered his arm, she wrapped hers around it, clinging gently to his side. "And what about now?" She couldn't help but grin as she saw several stallions eating their hats and glaring at Spike...and a few mares glaring at her.
Spike blushed brightly. "Uh..."
'Dina giggled. "So, any idea why Rarity was so hostile to me last night?"
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "No clue. I know she's been kind of protective of my lately, but you aren't a threat to me, right?"
'Dina began to get an inkling as to what was going on. "I don't mean you any harm," she replied, "but that doesn't mean I'm not a threat according to her."
Spike blinked. "I...I don't get it."
"It's a female thing." 'Dina looked up. "Is that the boutique?"
Spike smiled. "Yup. Come on." Walking up to the door, he pushed it open, causing a bell to ring.
Rarity stepped out of the back with a smile. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique," she said happily, her eyes closed as she walked, "where everything is chique, unique, and-" As her eyes opened and fell on 'Dina clinging to Spike, her voice hardened on the last word. "Magnifique."
"Hey Rarity!" Spike said happily, disengaging himself from 'Dina. "Think you could make 'Dina some clothes? Taboos or their absence aside, probably not a good thing to have her walking around town naked."
Rarity nodded. "Indeed." She smiled down at Spike. "I'll get right on that, Spikey-Wikey." She levitated a measuring tape over from her work table. "Step this way, 'Dina. I'll take your measurements."
Smiling, 'Dina undid the sash, letting the robe slip sensually off her body, setting Spike to blushing and covering his face as a small gout of crimson flame once more erupted from his nostrils. "Go ahead."
Frowning, Rarity began measuring 'Dina, taking notes. "How do you maintain this figure?" she asked enviously after a time.
'Dina smiled. "Comes naturally to a dragon. What our body doesn't use gets burned quite easily."
Rarity nodded. "I'll have some simple everyday clothes made in a few minutes." She then turned to her work table and got to work, starting with drawing up designs utilizing 'Dina's measurements. 'Dina sat in a nearby her chair, crossing her legs as she picked up a magazine to flip idly through it.
Spike sat down across the room, obviously confused by Rarity's hostility to 'Dina. He decided to voice a question that had been plaguing his mind. "'Dina, what did you mean last night about my inner dragon being 'massive'?" He spun as a pincushion went bouncing off Rarity's desk. "Rarity?"
"It's nothing, Spike," Rarity said, blushing as she turned back to work.
'Dina chuckled. "I'll explain that later. It's a dragon thing."
"Oh," Spike said. "Okay." He settled for sitting in silence.
After a time, and some flying fabric, Rarity turned and carried some clothes over to 'Dina. "Here you go," she said, handing her a bundle of clothes.
'Dina picked them up and looked them over. The black shirt seemed to be the right size for her, even if it did leave her midriff bare. The dark blue sweatpants also looked to be the right size. However, there were other garments she was unfamiliar with. She lifted up the bra and panties. "What are these for?"
Rarity sighed. "I'll explain while I help you get them on." She picked up the bra.
'Dina stood up, then blushed. "Spike, could you step outside while I get dressed?"
Spike blinked in confusion, then nodded. "Sure thing, 'Dina." With that, he stepped out of the boutique.
Rarity finished explaining the purpose of the bra and panties as she helped 'Dina put the bra on. As 'Dina bent over to pull on the panties, Rarity spoke up. "You're perfectly content stripping in front of him or parading around nude, but you don't want him to watch you get dressed?"
'Dina blushed. "Clothing plays a part in dragon courtship. Females generally lounge nude in front of males while they prance or display themselves. A dragoness wearing clothes while relaxed is actively seeking romance. If she undresses before a male, she's teasing him. But...dressing while a lone male watches is...a challenge to the male to prove worthy of undressing her. Something a dragoness only does after she's been courted by that specific dragon for a while." She smiles as she pulled the sweat pants up, binding them to her with a belt. "I'm glad you didn't give me white. A dragoness wearing white is proclaiming she has no desire whatsoever for romance, and a directive to males to leave her alone." As she pulled on the shirt, she frowned. "And...if a dragoness wears a band of color around her right upper arm in the colors of a specific male dragon, it means she's promised herself to him and him alone."
Rarity nodded. "I...see. How does the male respond?"
"If the male accepts her and returns the feelings...then he gifts her a scale from between his wings, to wear around her neck, and she gives him one of hers to do the same." 'Dina smiled softly. "This is only done if the couple has chosen to be exclusive to each other for life. While not the norm, it happens frequent enough that it isn't seen as unusual either."
Rarity smiled softly. "That sounds so...romantic." She sighed happily.
'Dina smirked. "We'll see who gets Spike's scale."
Rarity blinked, blushing. "I'm sure I have no idea what-"
"You're jealous of the attention I'm paying him," 'Dina stated. "He has feelings for you, and you for him, but you haven't acted on them, and now you're jealous that he's getting attention from me."
Rarity blushed, but lifted her face. "He's a bit young, only 15. Don't you think-"
"You rate me at your age? Dragons age differently from ponies. I'm only 18." 'Dina grinned, showing all her teeth. "I won't steal him away if he wants to stay. But I'll be fighting for him."
Rarity blinked. "Why are you so fixated on him? You've only known him a day."
"Because he's the only male dragon in my age group I've ever met who looked at me and saw me, not Garble's Lesser sister," 'Dina replied bluntly. "Because he shows honor and integrity that the Elders could envy. Because, by the shapers, I've heard what stirs inside him, and I can't wait to see it come out."
Rarity blinked at her for a time, then nodded. "I...see." She brought her blushing under control. "Don't think you'll take him without a fight."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," 'Dina replied. "You may have a lead on me, but I have my own advantages."
Rarity managed to smile. "We'll just have to see if they'll be enough."
'Dina grinned even wider. "Indeed."
They both stared each other down for a time. Then Rarity spoke up. "Would you like to stop by some time for tea and gossip?" she asked.
"I'd love to," 'Dina replied. "I'm sure we'd have a lot to talk about. So what do I owe you for the clothes?"
"Consider them a gift from a friend," Rarity replied with a genuine smile.
'Dina grinned in response. "Thanks! See you later!" Waving, she headed out to join Spike.
Rarity waved as she left. Once the door shut, Rarity turned to design a new wardrobe for herself. "Not without a fight," she reaffirmed to herself as she worked.
'Dina stepped out of the Boutique, smiling as she saw Spike waiting for her. "Hey Spike!" she said happily, hugging him before stepping back. "How do I look?" She gave a little twirl so he could see from all angles.
Spike smiled "You look really great," he said, apparently better able to hold his own end of the conversation with 'Dina fully clothed. "Rarity certainly knows her stuff, huh?"
'Dina chuckled. Any other time, that might have been the wrong thing to say, but 'Dina held no rancor regarding Spike's feelings for Rarity. Even if she wound up winning his affection, she didn't want his relationship with Rarity to come to an end. "Very true," she said, looking herself over once more. "As far as clothing for fashion, this is certainly a pleasant first experience." She scratched under her bust line. "Though this bra will take some getting used to."
Spike chuckled. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all had the same complaint when they first started wearing one." At 'Dina's confused expression, Spike elaborated. "They're friends of mine, and they just recently started going through the physical changes of puberty. Apple Bloom is Applejack's little sister, Sweetie Belle is Rarity's little sister, and Rainbow Dash treats Scootaloo like a little sister."
'Dina raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like quite the trio," she commented dryly.
"Yeah. They still haven't got their Cutie Marks, so they joined together to become the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
'Dina shuddered. "Is there a particular reason that name fills me with inexplicable dread?"
Spike shrugged. "It's how most adults react when they first hear about those three. Together, they seem to have a natural talent for chaos, mischief, and property damage."
'Dina chuckled. "Sounds like fun." She looked around. "Care to show me around?"
Spike blinked, then bowed dramatically. "I would be honored, fair lady," he said courteously, offering her his arm.
Giggling, she slipped her hand into the crook of his offered arm. "Lead the way, good sir," she replied playfully.
Smiling, Spike began to lead her through town, pointing out various locations. "That over there is Sugar Cube Corner, where Pinkie Pie works. It's closed for today, though."
"Why?" 'Dina asked curiously.
"Because she's setting up a party," Spike pointed out. "It's generally considered safer to be elsewhere while she's setting up. Especially if she's using her cannon."
'Dina let out an "Ah" of understanding. "My Welcome to Ponyville party?"
"Yep. That over there is Town Hall, where the mayor works. Although generally most ponies only remember it's there because it's where all the major celebrations or events are announced from."
'Dina nodded. "I take it no one around here really pays much attention to government decisions?"
"It's more that everyone takes any issues to Twilight ever since she was crowned, so the position of Mayor has become more or less redundant." They shared a laugh. "Much to Twilight and the Mayor's frustrations."
'Dina rolled her eyes. "I know what you mean."
Spike pointed. "Over there is Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack and her family runs it and lives there. They grow the best apples in all Equestria."
'Dina nodded, walking along as they passed the gate. "Anything else of interest in town?"
Spike thought for a moment. "I could show you the park. Not much else beyond that. It's a small town."
'Dina nodded. "Quite alright. I assume there's a Market Square?"
"That gets set up every other Wednesday in Town Square. Everyone puts their wares on display and everyone looks around to see what they want to buy. Lately, Zecora's been coming into town to sell her potions, too."
"Zecora?"
"She's a zebra who lives in the Everfree," Spike explained. "When she first moved to the region, ponies didn't really trust her. But thanks to my friends efforts - though mostly Apple Bloom - she's now a welcome and accepted member of the community."
'Dina stared out towards the forest, a memory stirring. Her left wing flexed reflexively before settling again. "I think I may have met her once."
"Really?" Spike asked curiously. "What happened?"
"...I'd rather not talk about it." 'Dina turned away from the woods. "So where's the park?"
Spike took the hint, and changed the subject. "It's this way." He began to lead the way. "...sorry if I was prying when I shouldn't-"
"It's alright," she assured him. "It's just some unpleasant memories. Only natural you'd ask. So anything else you'd like to know?"
Spike nodded. "Well...what did you mean about my inner dragon being 'massive'?"
'Dina chuckled. "That's something I'll need to show you as well as tell you. I could explain with only words, but it would be hard to wrap your mind around without an example."
Spike smiled. "Could you show me, then?"
'Dina smirked at him. "Only just got me dressed, and you want me to strip again? Naughty boy."
"What?" Spike asked, shocked and blushing. "I didn't mean- I wasn't-"
'Dina laughed and nudged his side with her elbow. "I'm teasing you, Spike. Don't worry. I'll explain it before we return to the library." As they arrived at the park, 'Dina looked around. "Seems kind of crowded."
"It's a popular hangout for families," Spike explained, pointing to several parents and kids hanging out together.
'Dina smiled. "Feels almost like home." Noticing a couple of foals wandering over towards them, she bent towards them. "Hello little ones," she said happily.
The two foals looked up at her, their eyes widened, and they promptly fell back on their diapered flanks and started bawling their eyes out. 'Dina quickly pulled back, afraid of getting hateful glances from other ponies, or worse, getting called out by the parents. "I didn't-"
"Shh, shh," Spike said quickly, scooping the two foals up in his arms. "It's okay Pound, Pumpkin. It's me, Spike. You remember me, right?"
The two foals slowly stopped crying, then looked up at him, blinking. They then smiled happily and threw their arms up happily. The Pegasus colt began smacking Spike's head with both fists - which Spike barely noticed - and the unicorn filly began sucking on his ear. "I take it they know you?"
"Yeah," Spike said with a wide grin. "This is Pound and Pumpkin Cake. Their parents run Sugar Cube Corner, and Pinkie's kind of their adoptive Aunt." He turned to the two foals. "This is 'Dina. She's a friend of mine. Can you say hi to her?"
The two foals looked up at 'Dina again. She smiled, this time being careful not to show her teeth. The two foals blinked, then reached up to her. She happily scooped them up. "I guess it takes a bit for them to warm up to strang-" She froze as the two foals each began trying to suckle on one of her breasts through her shirt, prompting a giggle from Spike.
"Oh dear," an blue coated older mare said, running up as she unbuttoned her blouse. "Looks like the twins are hungry." Pulling her blouse a bit open, she took hold of the twins and slipped their heads into her blouse letting them start nursing immediately. "I hope that wasn't too embarrassing," she said to 'Dina.
'Dina shook her head, suppressing her blush. "Quite alright. Just instincts, right? I guess I do look like I could feed them." She managed to smile. "I'm 'Dina. A pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, so you're the one Pinkie's throwing the party for!" the mare proclaimed happily. "I wondered why she was preparing so many gem recipes. I'm Cup Cake."
'Dina smiled widely. "At this rate, I'm going to be spoiled long before I even consider returning to the Dragon Lands."
"With as friendly as Ponyville is, why would you ever want to leave?" Spike asked.
'Dina sighed. "I have responsibilities back home. I'll have to return eventually." Seeing Spike's sigh, she chuckled. "Don't act so glum. It's the Elder dragons who will be expecting me back, and they won't even begin wondering where I am for at least a year."
Spike smiled. "At least you'll be able to see all Ponyville has to offer. The town's really beautiful under the winter snow."
'Dina returned his smile. "I'll be sure to look forward to that." She smiled over at the twins, who were now finished nursing, before walking off with Spike. "So, anything else to show me?"
Spike smiled. "Well, there's a lake near the Everfree Forest that is a favorite swimming spot when the weather gets hot."
"Sounds like a good place to see," 'Dina replied. "My feet could use a soak."
"Follow me." Spike led her out of the park and towards the forest, eventually reaching a wide lake that was completely empty. "Twilight and the others often hang out here, too," Spike adds. "It's a nice, peaceful spot for friendly gatherings."
Smiling, 'Dina sat down by the edge of the lake, sticking her feet into the cold water and letting out a sigh. "I'm not used to doing so much walking," she admitted. "Back home, I mostly go from place to place with short flight hops and gliding."
Spike sat down beside her. "Wish I could fly. But I haven't grown wings yet, assuming I even will."
'Dina glanced over at him, then leaned her head against his chest for a bit. "You will someday," she said simply, "when you're ready to fly."
Spike blinked, confused. "What do you mean?" He shook his head. "How can you tell so much from listening to my chest?"
"I'm listening to your inner dragon," 'Dina corrected. "Since he's awake, anyone who knows how to hear him can perceive how you will grow. There's a lot of power there, and a lot of potential."
Spike tilted his head. "I'm still not sure what you mean about my inner dragon, or it being 'massive'."
'Dina glanced around. "I suppose here's a good spot." Standing up, she pulled off her shirt.
Spike backed up, blushing and with crimson flame shooting out of his nostrils. "What are you doing?"
"Showing you what I mean," she said simply, undoing her belt and letting her pants slide down her legs. Reaching behind her back, she struggled a bit with the bra clasp before getting it undone in one piece, letting it slide off her arms and chest before bending over to pull off her panties. Once more nude, she stepped away from her clothes, smiling as Spike's eyes were fixated on her. "Watch closely," she told him. She took a deep breath, let it out...and began to change.
The first change was to her torso, as her breasts absorbed into her as her upper body became much more streamlined and her body began to expand, her legs, arms, neck, and tail lengthening. Her hips changed shape, and her knees reversed alignment as she fell forward to a quadrapedal position. Her body continued to expand as her wings grew and her hair shifted to become a row of spikes running down her spine.
As the transformation finished, she stood just about the same size as the Golden Oaks library. She looked down at Spike from that height as he backed up a bit. "Seem familiar?" she asked, her voice echoing a bit.
Spike blinked. "Can...can all dragons turn giant like that?"
'Dina chuckled. "All dragons can assume a massive form, yes. Although not all master the skill so that they can shift at will. That ability is rare. However, all change themselves at a certain stage of development, when their hoarding instinct first kicks in. That's when the inner dragon awakes. Was that recent for you?"
Spike blinked, then hung his head. "Yeah. On my birthday, I..." He kicked at the ground.
'Dina shrunk back down to her normal size. "Tell me about it."
Spike wrapped his arms around himself. "I...I lost complete control of myself. I grabbed anything nearby to add to my hoard, building it up as I grew. I couldn't hear anyone else. I...I nearly destroyed the town."
'Dina nodded. "That's about normal at that stage. Amongst dragons, the young one is allowed to grow to full size, then Elders chain him or her and take away his or her hoard, forcing them back to normal size. Did Celestia or Twilight do that for you?"
Spike shook his head. "No. I...stopped myself."
'Dina's eyebrows shot straight up. "Really? How'd that happen?"
"The...day before my birthday, Rarity stopped over to visit. She saw a fire ruby I had been aging as a present for myself, a special birthday treat." He chuckled as he saw 'Dina drooling at the mention of a fire ruby. "Rarity loves rare gems, especially well shaped ones, and the fire ruby had naturally taken the shape of a heart. Hearing that such a rare gem was going to be eaten distressed her, and...I gave it to her. Seeing her smile so bright from something I did for her...was a better treat than eating it myself. By the end of the day, she'd made it into a necklace."
'Dina nodded, reading more into it than Spike realized. "I take it you grabbed her while hoarding?"
Spike looked up. "Yeah. How'd you know?"
"During first hoarding, a young dragon will often, as part of their hoard, seize the individual that means the most to them, the one they care about the most. Generally, it's a close sibling, although it can be a first love."
Spike tilted his head. "Did Garble hoard you?"
'Dina looked away. "...no." She still remembered what happened. Everyone had assumed Garble would take his sister as part of his first hoard, so she was placed in his path so he wouldn't wreck the settlement to find her. However, one tail smack later made it plain how little he cared for her - or anyone - and sent her flying from the settlement to tumble down the mountain. If not for that Zebra she met - whom she now presumed was Zecora - and her potions, her wing would have never set and healed right, and she'd have never flown again. Shaking herself out of painful memories, she turned back to Spike. "So how big were you when you changed back?"
Spike thought for a bit. "...according to Twilight's measurements, I was about one and a half times the size of Town Hall, and-"
"Wait!" 'Dina interrupted. "You stopped your own hoard rampage when you weren't even at half size? How?"
Spike looked down with a soft smile. "I saw the necklace Rarity was wearing, and remembered giving it to her, and how it felt to give something, rather than take it. That brought me back to myself, and shrunk me back down-" He stopped. "What do you mean, not even half size?"
"Just what I meant," 'Dina pointed out. "I can hear how large your inner dragon is, and one and a half times town hall isn't even half your full size."
"Whoa," Spike breathed, shivering a little in fear.
'Dina noticed this. "You're afraid? Of your inner dragon? The power it brings?"
"...I nearly leveled the town. It was only dumb luck I didn't step on somepony, or knock a building over on them. I could have easily killed a lot of ponies. And...I don't want everyone here to see me as a monster."
'Dina let out an understanding "Ah". "That first part is caution more than fear, exactly the outlook the Elders want young dragons to have after their first growth. And the second explains why you're so small for your age."
Spike looked up. "What do you mean?"
"You really think the ability to reshape ourselves only goes one way?" With a smile, 'Dina began to shrink, collapsing inward on herself until she was smaller than Spike, smaller than the Cutie Mark Crusaders, smaller than Pipsqueak or Dinky. She stopped shrinking once she looked about four years old. "We can make ourselves smaller, younger, and weaker looking as well," she continued, her voice now sounding like a little girl's. "And subconsciously, that's what you've done to yourself. You've made yourself seem smaller and weaker looking than you actually are, because you're afraid of being seen in a negative light by the ponies who are your friends and family. That's a good level of control of this ability, especially with no training."
Spike blinked in shock at seeing her shrink like that. "While I can see your point about the ability, I don't see how-"
"Your claws are only sharp when you're using them," she interrupted. "Except when you're getting ready to eat gems, your teeth are rounded. Your scales soften when somepony reaches over to touch you. And you have actually become a little smaller recently since your birthday, or at least not growing as much as you or anypony around you expected." She stared up at his shocked face. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Spike blinked in shock, slumping back onto the ground. "That's...then I've been keeping myself from growing?"
'Dina sat next to him, resting her hand on his knee. "It sure seems that way. When you're ready, I'd be happy to teach you how to undo that, so you can grow to your natural size for your age."
Spike nodded. "I'll think about it." He glanced over at her. "Is this how you actually looked at that age?"
She giggled. "Yup!"
Spike chuckled. "You were really cute at that age."
'Dina immediately expanded back to her usual size and shape, her breasts practically slamming into his face. "Look me in the eye and say that," she proclaimed. "...those aren't my eyes," she scolded playfully as Spike fell back.
Spike lay on his back, looking rather dazed. Chuckling, 'Dina grabbed her clothes before stepping around behind a tree to get dressed. Once dressed, she stepped back around. "So, think it's about time for the party? Or should we stop by the library first?"
Spike managed to sit up. "Library," he said calmly. "I've got a lot to think about."
'Dina walked happily with Spike back to the library, being patient with him, as she fully understood why he was lost in thought. As they arrived at the library, he looked up at her. "I'm going to...excuse myself for a bit. I-"
She rested a hand on his shoulder. "Quite alright. You have a lot to think about." Seeing him smiling gratefully, she went into the library with him, sitting down at a central table while he went upstairs. It wasn't long before Twilight entered the room from the basement. "Hey Twilight."
"Hello 'Dina," Twilight replied happily. She looked around. "Where's Spike?"
"Upstairs," the dragoness replied, laying back in her chair. "He has a lot to think about. I answered some of his questions, as well as some he didn't know he had. Probably wants to clear his head before the party tonight."
Twilight smiled. "Thank you for helping him. He kept saying he had no more interest in his dragon heritage, but I could tell it bothered him. I hope he can come to terms with it all."
'Dina smiled. "I'm sure he will. He's stronger and wiser than he seems."
The lavender alicorn nodded. Then her eyes brightened. "I don't suppose you have time to answer some questions, then?"
'Dina nodded. "I suppose I do."
Twilight squealed happily. "I'll be right back!" she said eagerly, rushing out of the room. 'Dina privately suspected it was to fetch her question checklist.
"Peep!"
'Dina turned at the sudden noise right beside her ear, and found herself eye to eye with a red, orange, and gold puffball with wings...which she recognized as a slightly overweight baby phoenix. She stared in fascination. She'd never been this close to any phoenix before, let alone an infant. She held still, not wanting to disturb him, as he seemed completely calm in her presence.
"Peep!" the infant insisted, pointing his beak towards her opposite claw.
In surprise and confusion, 'Dina raised the indicated claw and began stroking the baby phoenix. The infant expressed his pleasure with a happy trill as he nuzzled into the stroking hand.
"I see Pee Wee likes you," Twilight said as she reentered, taking a seat opposite the dragoness.
As the phoenix hopped off 'Dina's shoulder and fluttered over to land before Twilight in a begging posture, 'Dina stared in amazement. "You raised a baby dragon, and now a baby phoenix?"
Twilight chuckled. "No," she corrected as she gave Pee Wee a treat, which he eagerly gobbled. "Pee Wee is Spike's. Garble and his cronies were proving how tough they were by smashing phoenix eggs. Spike refused to smash one, and protected it from Garble. We couldn't find the parents, so we brought the egg back here. Spike took care of the egg, and the child that hatched from it. Shortly after, the parents showed up." She smiled proudly. "Spike was ready to return Pee Wee to his parents, since we figured that would be best for him...but as soon as Spike walked away, Pee Wee flew after him. The parents talked for a bit, then flew off without Pee Wee. Spike's been especially close to the little guy ever since."
'Dina smiled. "There can be few better companions for a dragon than a phoenix, though a very rare bond to be formed." She plucked the scroll from Twilight's hands. "Let's speed this up a bit," she said, unrolling it and grabbing a quill.
"But-"
"There are things I can't tell you, and things I don't know. If I mark those off before you start asking, we save quite a bit of time."
Twilight thought for a bit, then nodded. "That's a good point," she said with a smile. The smile started to fade as the number of slashes 'Dina made with the quill made her realize just how many of her questions were on the 'taboo' list. When 'Dina handed back the scroll, Twilight unrolled it nervously. More than half her questions had been crossed out completely. She scanned down a bit until she saw one question she'd expected to ask, Why can't you answer these questions? and saw an X in the check box beside it. "How come some questions are crossed out, and some are X'ed?"
"The ones crossed out are the ones I can only discuss with another dragon. The ones with an X are the ones I'm only allowed to discuss with certain individuals outside the species, which you don't qualify for yet but might someday. Anything marked with a question mark is a question I don't know the answer to."
Twilight nodded in understanding as she looked over her list again. "It looks like there's only five questions left I can still get answers for." She took a closer look at them. "And most of them are regarding more personal concerns." She chuckled as she saw a notation. "Maybe less. You can answer this one, but not explain the answer?" At 'Dina's nod, Twilight actually asked the question. "Can dragons breed with other races?"
'Dina nodded. "A dragon can have a successful offspring with any member of any other species, even ones that don't have defined genders." She leaned casually on the table. "While not something that happens frequently, it is neither discouraged nor frowned upon. However, the dragon who does this is considered responsible for any action taken by the first two generations of offspring. That's just to discourage siring and abandoning children at random, if the dragons know they will have to stick around and watch over two generations."
Twilight nodded. "What exactly is done to enforce-"
"A dragon who violates that rule is put to death."
Twilight gasped. "Isn't that a little harsh?"
'Dina shook her head. "The innocence of the young is considered of utmost importance to protect. Any dragon power passed on is strongest in the first two generations, and can easily destroy both the children and those around them if they aren't taught to control it." 'Dina frowned. "Which reminds me. I'll need to inform the Elders that Garble and his cronies were smashing phoenix eggs. That's a serious offense, and one that he'll be taken strictly to task for."
Twilight nodded. "Good to know." Her eyes widened. "You mentioned dragon power being passed onto the young. Can you give me some examples?"
'Dina smiled. "I can give you three examples of descendants of dragon/pony unions and the powers they inherited. All three happen to be ponies you've met."
Twilight's eyes widened. "Really?'
'Dina nodded. "First off...have you ever had a face to face encounter with a full grown dragon?"
Twilight shuddered. "Yeah. He was getting ready to nap, but the smoke he was snoring was covering the skies over Equestria. My friends and I went to face him, but he was massive!"
'Dina nodded knowingly. Dragons who settled down for century or longer naps tended to remain in their massive forms. "When you came face to face with him, how did you feel?"
Twilight shivered. "I...I knew intellectually that dragons could be spoken to and reasoned with, and that there was respect and agreements between the two races...but all that flew out of my mind when I looked into his eyes. It...it was like fear was flooding into me through our locked gaze."
'Dina nodded. "Dragonfear. It's something dragons naturally generate once they reach a certain age, and when they take on massive proportions. Any creature with magic inside them will feel afraid in their presence simply from being in their presence, and that fear is multiplied many times over by an intense locked gaze."
Twilight frowned. "But...but Fluttershy looked the dragon right in the eyes with her Stare, and the dragon broke into tears!"
"That's because when he looked into the 'Stare', as you call it, magically speaking he was looking into the angry gaze of a dominant dragoness."
Twilight blinked. "Wha...Fluttershy is descended from a dragon?"
'Dina nodded. "Far back in her family tree, so there's no physical signs, but the dragon magic inside her both links her to every animal she encounters, and enables her to enforce her will on other creatures through Dragonfear. Since it's so far removed generation wise, she can only channel it in certain circumstances, and only for short periods of time before she has to build up the magic stores again."
"Wow..." Twilight gasped out. "I had no idea..."
"She probably has no idea either," 'Dina pointed out. "For various reasons, dragon heritage isn't something that's included in heraldry. In unicorns, dragon blood generally grants a strong affinity for a magical element, as well as emotions tied to that element. The one you know has a dangerously strong affinity to fire."
"But who-" Twilight gasped as she realized it. "Sunset Shimmer?"
'Dina nodded. "Her strong affinity for fire and volatile emotions are a result of her dragon blood being especially strong in her."
Twilight nodded. "Is...is that sort of thing a given?"
'Dina shook her head. "No. In fact, the third example I can give you probably has the strongest self control this world has ever seen."
Twilight blinked for a bit. "You're talking about Maud, aren't you?"
"That's right. She inherited strength and speed above and beyond what any pony could normally possess."
"What about Pinkie? What did she get?"
'Dina chuckled. "Sorry, but even dragon blood won't explain her."
Twilight nodded. She then glanced over her list of questions. "I wish I knew why I wasn't allowed to know these things. I hate unanswered questions."
'Dina thought for a time. There was one explanation she could give, but she worried how Twilight would respond to it. "...have you ever had a puppy, Twilight?"
Twilight shook her head. "No. The only contact I've had with a domesticated canine is Applejack's collie, Winona."
"Would you say Applejack loves Winona?"
"Absolutely!" Twilight affirmed. "She's as much an Apple as any of them."
"But AJ doesn't tell her everything that goes on around the farm, or consult with him about, say, the price of apples?"
"No," Twilight replied, confused. "She wouldn't be able to understand."
'Dina nodded. "If you could give a domestic dog the knowledge and understanding a pony has, would you?"
Twilight smiled widely. "That sounds like it could be wonderful!"
"Really?" 'Dina asked. "Winona, as she is now, knows that AJ gives her food, work, and love. She is perfectly content with her limited understanding of her life, but that doesn't make her joy any less. She comes from strong bloodlines, with no congenital defects or history of health problems, so when she comes in season she'll be bred, and her puppies placed where they will also be put to good work. If this weren't the case, she would be spayed, so she wasn't troubled by mating urges when she wouldn't be allowed to mate, in order to prevent bad genes from weakening the domestic dog gene pool.
"Domestic dogs, as a species, have become completely dependent on those races that domesticated them for their survival. If unicorns treated earth ponies that way, it would be called slavery and monstrous. But with dogs, it's accepted and natural. The bond between ponies - or griffons, or zebras, or minotaurs - and dogs is considered a marvelous wonder. Ponies, on average, will live between 100-200 years, longer if they take good care of themselves and/or are exposed to strong magic through a good portion of their lives. Dogs, however, even with the best of medical magic, won't make it past 30. These are all unalterable facts.
"And you say it would be wonderful to make little Winona wise enough, aware enough, smart enough to see things as a pony does." 'Dina lowered her gaze so it seemed she was looking down at Twilight. "Or have you reconsidered."
Twilight was shaking, her eyes wide. "That...that would be horrible."
"Why?"
"Because...because it would ruin her innocence," Twilight whimpered, looking on the verge of tears.
'Dina stood up, walking around to Twilight and resting her hand on her shoulder. "Twilight...dragons measure their lifespan by the turning of the galaxy. Few other creatures will live that long. The lives other races live are bound by what they understand of the world at large, and they are happy with them. That's why dragons keep secrets: to protect the innocence of the rest of the world. We...have seen what happens to creatures who learn more truth than they are ready for." She shuddered a bit, remembering the horror stories the Elders told to enforce their choice of secrecy, of the race that destroyed themselves and their world with the secret powers of the universe they unlocked before they were ready.
Twilight nodded slowly. "I...I see. ...I guess Spike's not the only one with a lot to think about now."
'Dina chuckled. "Seems that way."
They sat in silence for a while. Eventually, Twilight shook her head. "It's a lot to take in."
'Dina nodded. "I'm sure."
"I just...I'm going to need some time to wrap my mind around it all."
"Would a suggestion bother you?"
Twilight shook her head. "Not at all."
"Don't think about it." At Twilight's shocked expression, 'Dina continued. "Put it out of your mind, and join Spike, myself, and all your friends at the party Pinkie's throwing. Immerse yourself in the shared joy, and let it wash away unpleasant thoughts."
Twilight blinked. "But...isn't that kind of...head in the sand?"
'Dina shook her head. "No. It's choosing to live happily, and relegating unpleasant thoughts to the proper time for them. Which isn't a party."
Spike chuckled as he came downstairs. "You're right about that, 'Dina."
She smiled up at the young dragon. "Done thinking?"
"No. But I've decided those thoughts are future Spike's problem. Present day Spike has a pretty dragoness to escort to her welcome party."
'Dina and Twilight both giggled at that as the dragoness took the offered arm. "Then please lead the way, good sir."
With that, the three made their way towards Sugar Cube Corner, laughing happily.
'Dina wasn't sure how Pinkie managed to throw her a successful surprise party, despite being informed well ahead of time of the exact time and location of the party, and journeying there specifically for the party. Maybe it was Pinkie's exuberance in shouting "SURPRISE!" Maybe it was the fact that the entire town was there to welcome her. Maybe it was the fact that Pinkie had somehow managed to comfortable contain the entire town in the main room of Sugar Cube Corner without spatial manipulation magic, while still leaving room for everyone to move about and mingle. Or maybe it was the fact that Pinkie somehow already knew what her favorite gemstone flavors were. One thing was certain: 'Dina was surprised.
As she walked around and mingled, she internally sorted the guests into six groups in her mind: Pinks, Drags, Gawkers, Strutters, Crashers, and Kids.
The Pinks were those who - like Pinkie Pie herself - knew that she was new in town, and were there specifically to make her feel as welcome as possible. The most notable amongst this group - besides Pinkie herself - was the DJ she had gotten for the party, one Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl had taken time away from spinning the tables to make sure 'Dina was enjoying herself, and to ask what she thought of the music. She had to admit, 'dubstep' was certainly a new experience for her, and what she'd heard so far was enjoyable.
The Drags, as she dubbed them, were those who didn't really enjoy this sort of party, but got dragged into attending, either by friends, significant others, or family members. Octavia - who Vinyl had introduced 'Dina to - was firmly in this camp. 'Dina recognized this about her, and beyond a few pleasantries, decided to leave her alone for now. She could always seek her out later for conversation if she so desired.
The Gawkers were those who heard about someone new, and decided to come check her out and see what she was like. She didn't get much chance to interact with anyone from this group, as they mostly found good places to pony watch and stayed there. The impressions she got from seeing them ranged everywhere from cautiously welcoming to guarded hostility. She put this out of her mind, though, figuring that no one here would be an actual threat to her.
The Strutters - as she termed them - were there to show off. They ranged from a few stallions who tried to look subtly wise, to mares deliberately positioning themselves in flattering positions, and all the way to one pony who constantly shouted "Yeah!" as he flexed to show off his muscles, while trying to draw attention away from his tiny wings. He had introduced himself as Bulk Biceps, but said she could call him Snowflake. There are certainly some unique characters around here, she had thought to herself as they parted ways and she sought others to mingle with.
The Crashers were those who would be crashing the party, if not for a fact that this was a Pinkie Pie Party, which apparently meant everyone was invited. They didn't care what the party was for, just that it was a party and that was enough reason to be there. A few of this group actually looked like they were drunk or high, despite the total absence of drugs or alcohol at the party.
The Kids made up everyone at the party under 14. Internally, this group could be further delineated in the same way the adults had been, but the variations were harder to notice as they were all overcome by the standard childish enthusiasm in the presence of loud music, free food, games, and ample amounts of sugar. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were a plain example of this group, and Pinkie frequently had to stop them from doing something crazy. ...this would have been more reassuring if Pinkie had been shouting "No! No!" instead of "Me first! Me first!"
Finding a large selection of flavors to try - both gem based and otherwise - 'Dina did her best to sample all of them. She found particular delight in the flavor identified to her as 'chocolate'. She'd never tasted anything so good, and the only gem remotely close in flavor was obsidian, which she'd only ever gotten to taste once. She probably broke a few dining etiquette rules indulging in chocolate, but she didn't think so. She only got a few eye rolls and chuckles after all, and weren't you supposed to drink from a fountain?
All in all, she was enjoying her first party ever...until she mentioned that to Pinkie. The gasp that followed was all the warning 'Dina needed to know she'd said the wrong thing at the wrong time.
"Your first party ever?" Pinkie cried, plainly shocked beyond belief. "But what about birthdays, and holidays, and family reunions, and Blue Moons, and Solstices and Equinoxes and-"
"Parties just aren't a part of dragon culture," she interrupted, again feeling this was the wrong thing to see, as Pinkie's shock became determination.
"That is a deficiency I must correct! Imagine going through life without parties?! Don't you worry your head, I'll make sure your time in Ponyville is more than full enough of parties to make up for all the ones you missed!" Pinkie gasped. "Starting with your very first birthday party! When's your birthday? What's your favorite color? What's-"
'Dina held up a claw in desperation. "Perhaps you could follow Twilight's example and give me a questionnaire to answer?"
Pinkie let out a loud gasp and dashed off. 'Dina shuddered internally. She hoped Pinkie wouldn't go to over the top in parties for her, though that seemed a vain hope even now. She decided to put it out of her mind and enjoy herself for now. Besides, something else was happening that caught her eye.
Rarity seemed to have experience drawing eyes at parties. Today was no exception. Everyone at the party - especially those who were part of the group 'Dina had dubbed Strutters. Her wardrobe was still her standard fashionable, but with certain modifications that readily drew the eye and made her intentions plain. Her tight fitting, dark blue blouse had a bit wider neckline, and the plunge of the neckline was much more daring, giving a much greater than normal view of her cleavage and - if one was daring enough to stare - a slight hint of her pale purple bra. Her black skirt was long, fit snugly around her hips, and the slit up the side went much higher than normal, allowing a much clearer peek at her well shaped legs, which was only accentuated by her high heels. Always before, her wardrobe shouted for others to see her and pay attention to her, and would have a message to share. Today, the message was clear: she was on the prowl.
What stallions dared approach her were politely but quickly brushed aside. The mares who approached her - other than her closest friends - were greeted in a friendly manner, and she then excused herself. She looked around, searching for one individual in particular...and when she found him, went right to his side. "Hello, Spike," she said calmly.
Spike looked up, blinking in shock at first at hearing her call him by name without the usual nickname, and then in awe at her subtly altered appearance. "R-Rarity!" he stammered. "You look amazing!"
She smiled at him. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." This was clearly making conversation, as Spike hadn't changed out of his day clothes before coming to the party. She sat down beside him. "Spike...can we talk for a bit?"
"Sure," he replied, making room for her. "Umm...why aren't you calling me-"
"That's part of what we need to talk about," she interrupted. She sat for a time, gathering her thoughts. "I admit I've been...taking you - and your feelings - for granted these past few years. You've probably noticed, when you weren't...swooning."
Spike nodded. "Yeah, I noticed." His voice was even, neither judgmental nor forgiving. He clearly wanted to know where she was going with this.
"It wasn't for the reasons some of our friends thought...and likely not for the reasons you thought, either." She took a glass of punch from the nearby table and took a sip. "You know that I've long searched for the perfect gentle stallion, dreaming he would be a prince or noble or a important political figure, someone who would sweep me off my hooves and whisk me away to a life of luxury and adventure." She chuckled. "A childish dream that I've had a hard time letting go of. But after having it dashed several times - Blueblood was an ass, Fancy Pants was already married, and Trenderhoof...well, the less said about that debacle, the better - I've begun to rethink it. You see, while it sounds wonderful, it would mean giving up the life I have. The friends I know, the business I'm so passionate about..." She chuckled. "Between all that and the adventures we go on as a group to save Equestria, I already have a life of excitement, adventure, and luxury. But I still want a true gentle stallion to be my special somepony...but it would need to be one who could accept and support the life I choose to live. It took me a long time to realize all I was looking for could be found, not in a gentle stallion, but in a gentle drake."
As Spike looked excited, Rarity held up her hand. "And this is why I haven't acted on your feelings for me. Because as perfect as you would be for me....there are many questions that need to be answered before anything can happen between us. Would we work out as a couple? Would romance put a strain on our friendship, or my friendship with the other girls, Twilight especially? All this I might consider risking, if not for one question that is of greatest importance...would a romance between us be what's best for you?
"And that is a question to which I don't know the answer."
She stared into her drink for a time. Spike spoke up. "Rarity...I..." He hung his head. "I want to say that it would be, I really do. For so many years I've hoped, dreamed...but now..." He shook his head. "I'm learning so much about myself - as a dragon, and as Spike - that I don't even know me anymore. How can I answer that?"
"I know, Spike," Rarity replied. "That's why I never acted on your feelings...took them for granted. I thought I would have plenty of time to think things through, figure out the answers...but that's not the case. Letting all that time slip by was a mistake, and now I need to act."
Spike blushed. "Rarity...I..."
"That's why I'm not calling you Spikey-Wikey," she said. Spike's eyes started to waver. "Because I need to see you as more than the cute little dragon boy who is always so eager to help. And you need to see me as more than Lady Rarity, the idealized mare you have had a crush on for so long." She took another sip, as Spike's eyes showed confusion and hope. "We need to get to know each other all over again, explicitly in the light of courtship. At the same time, 'Dina has already shown she intends to court you. So I want you to promise me something." She put a finger to his lips before he could speak. "And hear the promise first. Don't just agree to anything."
Spike nodded. "Alright. W-what is it?"
The white unicorn smiled gently. "Give both of us an equal chance. Let us both show you what we have to offer, along with anyone else that might show interest...and then choose what is best for you. I know I had my chance to claim you without competition and squandered it. For now, we will each seek to win your affections, and I want you to promise me that foremost in your mind when you make your choice will be your heart and your future."
Spike blinked, and then slowly nodded. "Alright...but..." He swallowed, unable to say any more.
Rarity cupped his cheek gently. "Don't worry...no matter what happens, I won't hold it against you. And when it's all over, you'll still always be my little Spikey-Wikey." She gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "I want what's best for you to be what decides this. Promise?"
Spike thought for a time, then nodded. "Cross my heart," he said, making the motions, "hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
Rarity smiled broadly. "Thank you, Spike. Now that we've settled that, how about we go help make 'Dina feel welcome?"
Smiling, Spike stood up, offering his hand to help Rarity to her hooves.
Having witnessed and heard the entire exchange, 'Dina couldn't help but smile. Seems she really does live up to her Element, she thought to herself. She stood up slowly, preparing to go meet them. I don't mind a little competition, she thought silently, especially a friendly one. And the prize is certainly worth it. She chuckled as she joined the two, pulling them both into a hug that deliberately squished Spike's face into a double dose of cleavage. She looked forward to seeing how he dealt with being the prize in a mare fight.
...she idly wondered if he preferred mud, oil, or jello. She made a mental note to ask him at some point.
