Chapter 1

“So, what’s it going to be?”

Spike didn’t react; he barely gave any sign of having acknowledged the words from the mare across the table.

“What are you up to now, Glimmer?” he asked her back.

Starlight let out a light chuckle as she shot him a half-lidded stare. In all of this, she didn’t betray her façade, nor did she give Spike any sign that she was bluffing.

“Oh, Spike. Your words hurt me.” Starlight leaned forward, never breaking eye contact with the young dragon. “Have the years passed in vain? Do you still hold any lingering doubts in your mind about me?”

“I don’t know, should I?” Spike shot back at her without missing a beat.

This time, Starlight laughed heartily, but there was a clear edge in her tone. She looked down for a moment as she took a deep breath. The orange light of the lamp between them cast a glow over them, making them stand out against the near total darkness of the room.

“It’s not the first time we’ve danced this piece, Starlight, and almost every time I’ve agreed I ended up regretting it,” he said in a careful, measured tone. However, they both knew there was a hint of eagerness in his voice. And she knew to take advantage of it.

“There you go, ‘almost’. You said it yourself, Spike. Are you telling me you’re too scared to take a chance?”

That did the trick, judging by his reaction. She saw a gentle flickering in the dragon’s eyes, a flame of pride. A literal one, too, if the puff of smoke coming from his nostrils was any indication.

“You should know better than to try to taunt me,” Spike said, seemingly doing his best effort to remain stoic.

“I don’t know, should I?” Starlight replied as she rested her head on her hooves, smiling.

“You’re a riot,” Spike deadpanned.

“Enough tarrying and dallying. I made you a simple proposition.” She crossed her forelegs behind her head and leaned back in her chair. “I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of it.”

“And I don’t know how you can be so casual about it,” Spike said, taking this as his chance to push. “You know how easily this could backfire for me.”

Starlight still awaited a response, although she could feel her smile becoming less pronounced. This didn’t go unnoticed by Spike, who probably didn’t expect to get to her. If that was the case, then he didn’t seem keen on letting this opportunity go to waste.

“That’s a very selfish thing to do, Starlight. Twi would be devastated if she found out you’re behaving in such an unfriendly way,” Spike said.

“Please, you would have me believe you’d go to Twilight over such a trivial matter? You’re not a baby anymore,” Starlight shot back, not willing to give up.

“And you think Twilight wouldn’t listen to me? You know she’s always willing to—”

“Oh, that’s enough.” Starlight clapped her hooves together. She wasn’t going to budge so easily. “I made you a simple offer, and I can just as easily take it back.”

Spike’s lips contorted into an uncomfortable grimace; Starlight, for her part, was smiling again.

“That got your attention, didn’t it?” Starlight asked, and Spike’s reluctance to respond only served to widen her grin. “I don’t know what ulterior motive you believe I have, Spike. I honestly didn’t mean anything more than what I said to you earlier.”

And there she went, taking control of the situation once again with such ease. It was nice to know she still had that ability to effortlessly steer a conversation in whichever direction she desired.

“Tick tock, Mister ‘The Dragon’. There’s a limit to my magnanimity,” Starlight said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Spike took a deep breath, and then another one. He seemed... unsure, as far as Starlight could notice; he was probably deep in thought, pondering what the right decision should be, or if there even was a right decision to make.

“So, what’s it going to be?”

He beat his claws rhythmically against the wooden table while she kept smiling that mischievous smile. A smile that seemed friendly at first glance, but still showed her teeth. She was enjoying this.

As the dragon remained silent, Starlight tried to imagine what thoughts could be crossing his mind. She pictured him going through every possible outcome, doing his best to focus on the few where he would benefit.

Starlight raised an eyebrow, all without breaking her grin. She had him in her hooves, and they both knew it. But Spike wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of winning this easily, would he? No, if he was going to go down, he wouldn’t go without a fight.

“I’m not giving you Atlantic Avenue,” he huffed as he sat back.

“Oh, come on,” Starlight said, abandoning her playful bravado as though a switch had been flipped in her mind. She slammed her hoof down on the table, causing the board and little plastic pieces to rattle.

“I’m not doing it. You already own most of the properties on that side of the board,” Spike said, pointing at the differently coloured cards the mare had in front of her.

“I’m offering you Water works and the Eastern Railroad for it,” Starlight said as she idly twirled the dice with her magic.

“Nope,” Spike said, and proceeded to make an act out of counting his money.

Starlight let out a whimper of mock-sadness, as a puppy asking for a treat, when she looked at the small mounds of bills the dragon had. Most of which were low denomination.

“Why keep so much change?” she asked.

“I want to delude myself into believing the amount of bills make up for how little money I actually have.”

“I thought greed was bad for you,” Starlight said.

“You’re the one who insisted we played this,” Spike said, giving her an unamused stare.

“Well, Twilight said I shouldn’t play Risk again, lest I have another… uh, ‘incident’,” Starlight said with a roll of her eyes.

Spike couldn’t help but snicker at the memory.

“Oh, hush you,” Starlight chided him, and rolled the dice. It wasn’t long until they found themselves falling into the monotony of the game. Round after round passed with neither of them gaining a significant advantage over the other, and yet neither was willing to concede.

“How long has it been?” Spike asked after being sent to jail for the fifth time that night.

“I’d say long enough,” Starlight replied. “Want to forgo crass mercantilism and declare all our properties as free, equal opportunity housing for the populace?”

Spike blinked a couple of times.

Starlight’s smile didn’t falter.

The dragon opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, not sure how to reply.

“It’s a joke,” Starlight said flatly.

“No no, I get that, it’s just, well… you mention it so rarely that I don’t know if I should laugh or not,” Spike said as he scratched the back of his head.

“It’s been almost five years, Spike…” the mare said with clear discomfort in her voice.

“I know, and I’m sorry. Don’t think much of it,” he said, offering his best smile. Which was enough to ease her mind.

Starlight visibly relaxed. “So… What do you say, big guy? Want to wrap this up and go grab a bite?”

“Sounds delightful,” Spike said with a sardonic slur before stacking his cards and bills together and starting to rearrange all the other items of the game back into the box.

Starlight gave a soft chuckle as she levitated the pieces toward him. Not much was said as they worked, but this, Starlight noticed, was now a common occurrence between them: to simply enjoy each other’s company in silence, not because there was nothing to say, but because they didn’t feel the need to talk.

It was, in a way, comfortable. And Starlight liked it. Whether it was due to how frantic life had been for her in previous years or not, the stability she had found in Ponyville as Princess Twilight’s student had given her a new view on just about everything in her life. She had gained new purpose, regained old friends and made new ones.

Sure, life as the undisputed leader of a town where everypony followed her every command may have given her some measure of satisfaction, but it was hollow happiness when compared to the joy derived from the life she now had. Be it something as grand as partaking in a journey to save Equestria, or something as simple as baking cakes for a party, helping with farm work and animal care, modelling for a new dress, serve as a spectator for an impromptu flight show. Or something as simple as playing a board game with a close friend.

“That should be it,” Spike said, pulling Starlight from her musings.

“Oh! Uh… Good. Shall we get going?” the mare said as she jumped from her seat.

“After you.” Spike motioned for her to go first with a curtsy that made her giggle. Soon enough, they were making their way to the kitchen through the dark corridors of the Crystal Castle, Spike walking by her side with a bright lamp in his grasp.

As they walked, Starlight couldn’t help but throw some furtive glances towards Spike. His growth spurt a few years ago had come as a surprise more to the rest of her friends than to her, since they had known Spike as a baby dragon for longer than she had, but she would be lying if she said she didn’t like it. The young dragon may have been physically different than stallions in quite a number of ways, but Starlight could still appreciate him from a purely aesthetic perspective. Not only could she now talk to him at eye level—even if she had to crane her head a little bit—but in the process of growing into an older dragon he lost most if not all of his baby fat, leaving him with a fit, albeit a bit lean, figure. Plus, his wings made him look so magnificent. Not to say she ogled him at every chance she got; just every now and then. She was only equine, after all.

“Anything you’d like?”

“Surprise me,” Starlight said, smiling at him.

Returning the smile, Spike rubbed his claws together and walked around the spacious room, mentally going through the inventory of the pantry. Stopping for a second in front of the fridge, he turned around to face Starlight. “Go take a seat, I’ll make us something quick.”

Starlight obliged and moved to the nearby table to let Spike work. She didn’t know exactly why, but the dragon had an innate ability to cook. During these past years, Starlight had gotten the chance to try delicacies from all over Equestria, and as delicious as they often were, they lacked that extra something she always found in Spike’s dishes. It didn’t matter if it was a simple meal or an elaborate feast; to her nothing tasted as good as Spike’s cooking. And if the scent coming to her nostrils was any indication, this would be no exception.

“What are you making?” Starlight asked him after a few minutes of enduring the alluring aroma.

“Nothing too extravagant. It’s getting late, and I didn’t think we should eat anything heavy, so I made a vanilla pudding with caramelised cherries,” Spike replied as he served the desserts.

“I’d like to try to eat something you consider extravagant,” Starlight teased him.

When he heard her, he stopped as though pondering her words. Before Starlight could ask if anything was wrong, Spike lowered the dishes and blew a gentle stream of sparkling green flames over them.

“Ta-da~!” Spike said in a singsong tone as he placed the desserts on the table. The quick exposure to fire had turned the outer layer of pudding into a glistening, golden brown crust. The cherries had burst and were releasing a tantalising smell.

Starlight felt her eyes widen and her mouth salivate at the sight of the confection. She must have been quite a sight, if Spike’s subdued giggling was anything to go by.

“Pinkie Pie taught me how to do that without burning the whole thing,” he said with a shrug.

“I’ll be sure to thank her,” Starlight replied, taking one of the spoons Spike was offering.

The vanilla pudding with cherries tasted just as good as Starlight imagined it would. It had just the right level of sweetness, but there was something else there. Something she couldn’t pinpoint right away, but with every bite it became more evident.

“Is that… cherry liqueur?” Starlight asked as a sly grin formed on her face.

“Guilty,” Spike said, stuffing another spoonful into his mouth.

“My, my. Are you taking advantage of Twilight’s little trip to the Crystal Empire to be rebellious?” Starlight said playfully.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Spike replied.

“Deal.” Starlight winked at him as she took another scoop of the pudding with a large cherry on top.

“Want to know a secret?” Spike said after cleaning his plate.

“Always,” Starlight said, pushing her equally empty plate away.

“I may even stay up past my bedtime tonight,” he said, puffing out his chest.

They both let out a childish giggle at the silliness of their conversation. Spike then picked up the empty plates and took them to the sink.

If she had to describe how she felt at that moment, Starlight would have to say ‘content’. While today may not have been the most exciting of days—what with seeing Twilight off that morning and then spending the evening in the Castle—there was a comfortable side to it. A day with no pressures where she could just enjoy herself and the company of a friend. She’d come to appreciate this kind of days more and more as time went on. Being the student of a Princess usually made life anything but normal, and between bouts of adventures and quests, having the chance to appreciate the small things in life was akin to a stop at an oasis after an arduous trek through a desert.

Although…

She thought about it for a second. Spike really was one of her best friends, but was that it? She had made friends with Twilight and the rest of the girls quite easily. She and Trixie had become closer with time and to this day they still saw each other on a regular basis. And of course she was grateful she had reconnected with Sunburst after so long. Not to mention Maud, and all the other friends she’d made over the years.

Her relationship with Spike was different, however. Maybe it was due to her spending more time with him than with anypony else, but she felt closer to him. Sure, she’d spend time with Twilight outside of lessons about friendship—and the same was true about the rest of her friends—but seeing how most of her free time was spent inside the castle, she’d naturally gravitated towards the small dragon and as a result she felt closer to him. More at ease with him.

She paused at the thought as she felt a pleasant warmth grow in her chest. She highly valued her friendship with him, and wondered how far could that friendship go in the future. She wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise it, but perhaps she could find out how much he valued her friendship in turn and then… It was a silly idea, but…

“Alright,” Spike said, returning from doing the dishes, “what should we do now?”

“Would you like to go out with me?” Starlight said nonchalantly.

The world seemed to come to a stop. The kitchen fell absolutely silent after the echo of Starlight’s words faded away. Spike’s features softened as his brain interpreted the meaning of the question the mare made.

Starlight’s mind, meanwhile, was occupied by a loud, uninterrupted scream.

What the—What did I just say? Starlight thought. It was all hypothetical! Just a thought for the future, not right now! Why did I just blurt that out?!

Her face retained her smile, not because she was trying to remain calm, but because her brain had turned itself off in shock. Seeing how there was no way of backing out of what she just said that didn’t involve time travel, she just had to hope he would take this in stride and, should it come to it, let her down gently.

Sure, things would be awkward between them for a while, but friends could work it out, right? She just had to think of some way of playing it off, maybe apologise for making things uncomfortable, and try to lighten up the mood somehow, perhaps share a laugh afterwards. That, however, was a considerably difficult task, seeing how all of her focus went toward berating herself in a language more colorful than Ponyville’s market on a busy afternoon.

Forcing herself to regain control of her body, Starlight blinked a couple of times and looked around the room, anywhere except at the dumbfounded dragon across the table.

“I—” She tried to start.

“Sure,” Spike blurted out almost simultaneously.

Starlight’ gaze focused back on Spike, and while he still looked as shocked as he did a few seconds ago, the corners of his mouth appeared to be turned slightly upwards.

“Wait… you mean…?”

“Yeah! I mean… yes, yes I would like that,” Spike said. She didn’t imagine it. He really was smiling. Even his wings were slightly unfolded before he tucked them back in.

Well. That was unexpected.

“Y… you…” She swallowed. This was hard to process. “Do you mean it?”

“Of course! Of course I do,” Spike replied, his smile growing with each word. Suddenly, his left eye twitched. “Did… did you mean it?”

Part of her mind was still too busy coming to terms with her outburst—and the other was too busy celebrating Spike’s acceptance—But even amidst the flurry of emotions, one thing was clear. She meant what she said. Besides, it wasn’t as though she’d never entertained the thought. But she was always quick to dismiss it as impulsive whims after an evening of reading together, or making a mess in the kitchen, or catching a glimpse of him after he got out of the shower—

Oh no, Glimmer. Not now. Focus, she chided herself.

“I did. Celestia, of course I did,” Starlight said, and in admitting it to herself she allowed a smile to cross her face.

“Alright,” Spike said, and clapped his claws together. “It’s official, then.”

“I think it is,” Starlight said between giggles.

The celebration was cut short by the distant ringing of a bell somewhere deep in the castle, signaling the arrival of midnight.

“Huh… It really is late,” Starlight noted.

“Real estate dealing and property trading has its way of making time fly,” Spike said with a smirk.

Starlight let out a short laugh. She was in a laughing mood, she noticed, and not without reason.

“So… What now?” Starlight asked, sounding almost bashful as she came off the rush of adrenaline her confession and acceptance had given her and the implication of what was to come hit her.

“Well… I think it may be a bit too late to, uh, actually go out,” Spike said, shrugging.

He was right, of course. While a day spent inside certainly hadn’t zapped them of their energies, it was already midnight. Why not start fresh come the morning? Besides, none of the places where they could go at this time were what Starlight would qualify as appropriate for a first date.

A first date. This was all still a bit too much to wrap her mind around. To say she hadn’t expected this turn of events was more than an understatement. She wouldn’t have believed it if anyone had told her that by the end of the day, Spike would be her… her…

…Maybe the semantics could wait for another day. Right now she was lost in the elation of knowing that Spike was at least somewhat interested in her.

“How about calling it a night? We still have a whole day tomorrow,” Starlight said.

“Sure,” Spike said, and then looked down. Even under the dim light of the lamp, Starlight noticed a soft rosy tint spreading over his cheeks. “I guess… I guess I’ll walk you to your room now.”

“I’d like that,” Starlight said as she stepped away from the table and walked towards him.

Maybe it was the lingering nervousness that made her act like a schoolfilly, but she became acutely aware of things she used to pay no mind to. The way she walked, the way she talked, the way she looked at him. She was well aware she was overthinking things, but to be honest, she almost enjoyed it.

“Should we go, Mister ‘The Dragon’?” Starlight asked him in a playful tone.

“After you, Miss Glimmer,” he said, extending his arm for her to hold on to.

Starlight was more than willing to comply with Spike’s act of gallantry, and taking his extended arm with her hoof, they walked out of the kitchen and toward the bedrooms.

As they walked, Starlight wondered if she should do something more than just walk in silence. She thought about resting her head on Spike’s forearm, whisper words of affection, or slip in some nuzzles whenever they took a turn. Such actions were perhaps too soon for the time being—they’d only been technically together for a few minutes, after all—but deep down, a part of her would have liked to try.

There’ll be plenty of time for acting as lovebirds tomorrow, she told herself, just try to enjoy this moment for what’s worth.

And the heat rising in her chest told her it really was worth it.

They eventually made it to her bedroom door, after taking maybe a bit longer than necessary to get there.

“Here we are,” Spike said, letting go of her.

“Here we are,” Starlight replied.

They shared a short laugh at the awkwardness of the situation. They found neither of them had anything to say, but at the same time neither of them wanted to say goodbye. It all had happened so suddenly and so wonderfully, Starlight had to wonder if she hadn’t fallen asleep while playing board games and had dreamed everything up until this point.

“I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow, Spike,” Starlight said as she focused on a very interesting spot of the carpet.

“Guess I’ll see you too,” Spike said as he held his arms close to his body.

He was still very reserved, Starlight realised. Although, if Spike was being honest—and she saw no reason why he shouldn’t be—he really seemed willing to give a relationship a try. This whole thing had come as a shock even to herself; she could only imagine how Spike was taking it.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I hope you’ll choose a nice place to take me out to,” Starlight said, a smirk plastered across her face.

Spike’s eyes shot wide open. He stammered a few words incoherently as he tried to save face. All in all, it was rather endearing.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Starlight said with a wink.

“Heh… um, sure,” Spike said. Starlight had to admit, he was kind of cute when he didn’t know what to say. “Goodnight, Starlight.”

“Goodnight, Spike,” she said, leaning on the doorframe. It became apparent that neither wanted to be the first to leave, or for the night to end.

“I’m... I’m sorry, I should be going,” Spike said, waving his claws dismissively.

Maybe, Starlight thought as a smirk appeared on her face, she could liven up the atmosphere somewhat.

“Don’t think you’re going to get a kiss out of me just yet. I don’t kiss on the first date, much less before it,” Starlight said, shooting a wink at the utterly shocked dragon outside of her room, and closed the door.

She fought to hold back a laugh. Maybe that was too much, but she couldn’t resist teasing him a little bit.

Starlight rested her head against the closed door, thinking about how much things had changed over the past half hour. Maybe being a bit impulsive every now and then wasn’t so bad. It certainly worked out fine this time. Spontaneity was supposed to help relationships, wasn’t it? She’d have to talk to Spike about it sometime.

The corners of her lips curled upwards, turning her already goofy grin into a joyful, unabashed smile. She knew she was being foalish, but she couldn’t help allowing herself a moment of pure happiness. She really hoped this stroke of good luck would work. They could make it work, they were both adults. Spike himself had just become one not too long—

Starlight’s eyes opened as wide as saucers as her train of thought went off its rails and crashed in an uproarious mess. She took a deep breath, hoping to calm down as memories of Spike’s eighteenth birthday party last month rushed to her mind. She gulped in an effort to undo the knot in her throat.

Spike himself had just turned eighteen.

Oh, dear.

She hoped Twilight wouldn’t mind.

Chapter 2

View Online

An all-encompassing light dissipated the darkness as Starlight slowly regained consciousness. She blinked once, twice, and by the third time her brain realised she was indeed awake. She stayed there, lying under the blankets, lost in the post-sleep drowse that permeated her mind. Finally, with a yawn and a satisfying stretch that made several cracking noises come from her back, Starlight woke up.

“Good morning, Equestria,” she said with a slur. She then took a deep breath as the last remnants of fogginess faded away. She lay there, smiling and enjoying the warmth of her bed. It was such a pity that she’d have to leave it and go on with her day, though that didn’t mean she couldn’t entertain the thought of sleeping in. Maybe she could ask Spike to make some more of that vanilla pudding with—

The memories of last night rushed back to the front of her mind, and with them, those little bouts of nervousness which had lulled her to sleep.

“Oh…” Starlight whimpered to the empty room, shrinking under the covers. She shut her eyes and wrinkled her snout as the nagging voice of her conscience got louder and louder. She wrapped her blankets around her tightly, as if doing so would shield her from the real world and its consequences.

“This is too much to deal with just after waking up,” Starlight mumbled. She gave the blankets a swift kick, sending them away. The blankets, however, weren’t keen on letting her go just yet, seeing how they tangled with her hooves and fell on top of her again.

She let out a long, sustained groan. Why was she getting all flustered over this? What was she, fifteen?

No, you’re not, Starlight. You’re a mare in her mid-twenties who perhaps should start acting her age.

“Yeah, too much,” Starlight said, untangling herself from the mess of blankets and duvets and jumping off the bed. With a sigh she started shaking and stretching the blankets.

She was well aware of the source of her discomfort. It was definitely not Spike, but rather one Twilight Sparkle, who just so happened to be away when Starlight had confessed to said alicorn’s little brother. The little brother who had only very recently turned eighteen years old. She hoped Twilight didn’t get any wrong ideas

Starlight rolled her eyes as she ran her hooves across the bed, smoothing out the wrinkles with disinterested motions as her mind wandered elsewhere. Twilight would surely understand her situation. Absolutely. Once she explained things, Twilight would be her usual comprehensive self and teach her another friendship lesson regarding trust and honesty.

Most likely scenario.

It was definitely in the cards.

…Maybe it was for the best Twilight wasn’t here for the week.

Another groan escaped her as she finished pretending to fix up her bedsheets. A hot shower could probably help her clear her mind, or at the very least wake her up. If anything it would give her some time to think before she had to go out and face Spike.

Last night she had had no problem with acting coy and alluring as she rode on the coattails of the adrenaline rush her confession gave her, but once she was alone she couldn’t help but wonder why had she been so rash about it.

There was no denying she had feelings for Spike that were, perhaps, stronger than how she felt towards the rest of her friends. Or that they had developed several common interests during the time she’d been in Ponyville. Or that they were never short of new topics of conversation. Or that she honestly enjoyed spending time with him. Or that he served as a constant reminder that things could always get better. Or that Spike just so happened to be so enticingly ho—

Okay, time for the cold water.

Starlight let the jet of cold water wash away her thoughts. Most of them, at least. At the forefront of her mind remained the memory of a young dragon, looking at her amidst the darkness of the castle’s kitchen.

She bit her lip. Spike said he would like to go out with her. He meant that, he really was interested in her to the point of agreeing to date. She ran her hooves through her mane as she thought back to last night, to the sight of Spike blushing and stumbling on his words as he accepted her foalish request.

Starlight felt that her timing hadn’t been perfect. Far from it, actually. Now that she thought about it, her confession not only had come out of the blue, putting Spike in a tight spot, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe she had rushed things.

Giving a drawn-out sigh, Starlight turned off the stream of cold water and stepped of the shower. She idly let her magic guide a towel across her body, drying out her coat and mane.

It wasn’t that she regretted confessing, because she really didn’t, seeing how it all worked out well in the end. It was more the specific timing of her confession that she felt could have been pulled off better. She could have tried to set up a better environment to drop the question, ease both of them into a romantic mood and then try to bring up the topic. Of course, that implied her confession hadn’t been an outburst brought forth by the stirring feelings inside of her.

She buried her head in the towel, too embarrassed to even face the empty bathroom.

“Pull yourself together, Glimmer,” she said, taking deep breaths. “Everything’s going to be alright, just you wait and see.”

Starlight grabbed a nearby comb and started working on her mane as she repeated those words over and over to herself. Maybe she just needed to stop obsessing over it so much. What was done was done, and she was not going to argue with the results. Whatever the ramifications of her actions, she’d deal with them as they came.

With a final shake of her mane to let her hair hang just the way she liked it, Starlight trotted towards the door with confidence in her step. She was going to get out there and have a great day, the greatest she’d had in her life so far, and she was going to have it alongside her beautiful whatever-she’d-end-up-calling-him, Spike.

With a triumphant stride, Starlight opened the door of her bedroom, and quickly lost her bravado as she saw the startled young dragon standing in the hallway.

“Spike!” Starlight half-said, half-yelled as she took a step back in surprise.

“Starlight!” Spike said, reacting much in the same way Starlight had. He was quicker to recover his composure, however, and after clearing his throat, he spoke again. “Uh, good morning, Star.”

“Good… good morning, Spike,” Starlight replied, and she could feel the blood rushing to her face, a clear contrast to how she acted last night when they said their goodbyes. “Were you waiting outside of my door?”

Spike suddenly became very rigid, and started looking around as he tried to find the right words.

“You were?” Starlight teased him, seizing the opportunity to take control of the conversation once again.

“No! No, I mean… it’s almost nine, so I came to see if you wanted breakfast,” Spike said.

“Sure… I’d love to,” she replied, noticing how quickly her voice mellowed as she dropped the playful edge of her voice.

“Great!” Spike said, perking up again. He then raised his claws, paused for a second and let his arms drop before crossing them behind his back, not without giving her a smile that seemed just a little bit too stretched to feel natural. “I’ll go to the kitchen and start cooking. Do you want to get ready, or…?”

“I just got out of the shower…" she trailed off. His behaviour just now seemed odd, but she couldn't quite figure out why. She then noticed she had been silent for almost twenty seconds so she hurriedly spoke again."Let's just… uh, let’s go.”

Spike gulped. “Ah, alright then.”

She decided not to pay it any mind. Just as they had done the night before, the couple made their way through the hallways and corridors. She let out a soft giggle at the thought of being able to use the word “couple” in more than one way now.

Still, as they walked, Starlight noticed that Spike was acting… nervously. There was a stiffness to his steps, as if he was making a conscious act out of each movement of his legs. Not to mention that he had developed a sudden interest in the side of the hallway opposite to her. His arms were stiff, as were his wings, pressed against his body in just the right way to feel forced.

She felt a knot forming in her chest. She wasn’t imagining this, was she? She tried to keep walking as normal while looking at Spike, who was indeed acting out of the ordinary. She didn’t have to think too much to figure out the reason of his uneasiness.

Her.

More specifically, her confession last night. She had been so wound up in thinking how it had affected her that she hadn’t thought for a second how Spike must have felt. Sure, he had agreed to go out with her, but she had spent most of the morning with a good heap of anxiety festering in the back of her mind, and she was the one who had asked him out. She could only imagine what he had been through since then.

Yeah, you’re both off to a great start, Starlight, she reprimanded herself, but they reached the kitchen before she could say anything to Spike.

“We’re here,” Spike said, and Starlight thought it may have been just for the sake of saying something and breaking the silence. “Anything you’d like, Star?”

“I’ll have whatever you’ll have,” Starlight said.

“Alright then, I’ll make us something delicious.” He cracked his knuckles and started looking through the cabinets. “Go take a seat, I’ll be over in a second.”

“Can I help you with something?” Starlight blurted out.

Spike turned around and looked at her. She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks as the dragon stared at her in silence. “You don’t have to, I’m fine with cooking for us,” he said.

“No, I know you’re fine with it. It’s just that… well… It’s been a while since we last did something in the kitchen, and I just, I kinda wanted to, uh, to help,” Starlight said, doing her best Fluttershy impression. She wanted to slap herself for making such a big deal out of nothing at all. It wasn’t as though this would be the first time she ever helped him cook.

“Sure… I could use some help,” Spike said, and smiled for what was probably the first time that morning, which Starlight was more than willing to reciprocate. She liked to help Spike cook every now and then, even if most of the time she ended up not doing much more than playing the role of an assistant.

“Would you like to eat eggs Benedict?” He asked her.

“I’ll be fine with anything you want to give me,” Starlight said in the most innocent tone she could.

Spike either didn’t get her meaning, or he hid his reaction very well. Whichever it was, he soon directed Starlight to retrieve some supplies from the pantry as he fired up the stove.

“Pass me a few eggs. Could you melt some butter while I do this?” Spike said, taking out a small saucepan.

“Sure thing,” Starlight replied. She took out the carton of eggs and a whole bar of butter, and got to work on breakfast, always following Spike’s instructions very closely.

“Don’t stop stirring, or the butter and yolks won’t mix evenly,” Spike said as he carefully cracked an egg in a cup and submerged it in the boiling water.

“Got it,” Starlight said. Truth be told, it was easy to do this with magic. It allowed her to focus on the sauce itself, making sure it would reach Spike’s desired texture… as well as allowing her to look at Spike.

Focused as he was on the poached eggs, he didn’t notice her looking at him with an inquiring expression. She felt as if she should say something about last night. Mention it, at the very least, instead of letting it hang in the background like a vortex sucking the life out of the room.

Then again, what should she say? Or how should she say it? How was she supposed to bring it up? Dear Celestia, maybe she did imagine what happened last night.

Oh no, you don’t. Get it together, Glimmer.

“The sauce is just about ready. Could you pass me the muffins? I bought some at Sugarcube Corner earlier today,” Spike said as he took one of the eggs out of the boiling water.

Starlight lost focus of the saucepan for a moment, but quickly drove her attention back to the melting butter. With a nod, Starlight took the mix off of the stove and looked for the bag of baked goods. She was content with following Spike’s lead. This was his element and she was more than happy to let him guide her through it. She had no problem admitting she was nowhere near as skilled at this as he was, but she was having fun, at the very least. Whether or not that fun derived from her company was something she deemed unimportant at the moment; she simply allowed herself to get lost in the rhythm of their work.

“And it’s done,” Spike said after finishing the assembly of their breakfast, where two beautiful, golden-coated eggs Benedict sat. Even under Starlight’s admittedly untrained eye, they seemed extremely appetizing.

“Can’t wait to try them,” Starlight said, still enraptured by the alluring splendor of their breakfast.

“Honestly, neither can I,” Spike said. He put both dishes on a small tray with two cups of coffee and an orange split in half. “Would you like to eat at the balcony?” He extended his free claw toward the kitchen’s balcony, one of the many balconies the castle had. This one in particular overlooked the western part of town, as well as the fringes of the Everfree Forest.

“The balcony? What’s wrong with eating here?” Starlight asked him.

“Nothing, it’s just that… well…” Spike shrugged while keeping his smile. “I know it doesn’t count as ‘going out,’ but I figured it’d be a nice start, wouldn’t it?”

Starlight took a deep breath as she replayed those words in her mind. If anything, she was grateful she wasn’t holding the tray. She would probably have dropped it to the ground. The little, nagging voice of doubt in her mind was wrong, she didn’t imagine what happened last night; they were indeed going out, they were a couple.

That brought her a measure of reassurance. It did nothing to get rid of her errant fears about what others—especially Twilight—would say about this whole ordeal; but she did feel more confident knowing that she had someone to rely on.

“Star?” Spike said, bringing her out of her inner musings.

“Yes! Yes, I’d like that.” Starlight gave him her most earnest smile, which wasn’t hard to do, considering she felt herself bursting with a warmth coming from her very core.

“Alright then, after you,” Spike said as he let Starlight walk in front of him.

It was a bright morning, with mostly clear skies and a barely perceptible breeze. Starlight couldn’t have asked for a better day. Still admiring the sights of Ponyville, she took her seat opposite to Spike, waiting for him to set down the tray.

“Eggs Benedict with tomatoes and avocado for you,” Spike said as he pushed one of the dishes toward Starlight while pulling the other toward himself, “and one with powdered sapphires and bits of rubies for me.”

“Much appreciated,” Starlight said, lifting a fork with her magic and wasting no time before digging in.

It was a nearly flawless experience. The perfectly half-boiled poached egg practically melted on her tongue. The slight acidity of the hollandaise sauce, the juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado, the sweetness of the muffin, they all worked in harmony as a symphony of flavours that enveloped her taste buds.

“You outdo yourself as usual, Spike,” she said.

“You’re a flatterer, Star,” Spike said, finishing his dish with a large bite. “But you’re not wrong.”

Starlight took a sip of her coffee, still revelling in the flavour of the eggs. The warmth of the drink and the fresh cooked meal in her belly was a welcome sensation in contrast to the light chill of the air around them. It was a really nice way to spend the morning.

At that thought her expression soured, though she hoped the mug would cover her. She couldn’t deny that this was nice, because it really was… but how was it different from any of the other times they had eaten breakfast together? Shouldn’t it feel somewhat different now that they were a couple? Or maybe it didn’t have to? Maybe it was that feeling of comfort she had with Spike that prompted her to ask him out last night.

Although… That couldn’t be all that there was to it. If she really was comfortable with things being the way they were, she wouldn’t have asked him out in the first place. That didn’t mean she wasn’t comfortable with it, but rather that, perhaps, she desired something more, and she could only imagine it was the same for him.

“Is everything alright?” Spike asked him after downing his mug of coffee.

“Why did you say yes?” Starlight blurted out. She wished she could be this straightforward all around, it would save her the headaches.

“What?” Spike replied, more than a little dumbfounded.

Starlight let go of her mug, which thankfully didn’t break when it hit the crystal table. She quickly covered her mouth with her hoof and looked away, not sure how to respond. Maybe she could try to pass it off as a misunderstanding, claiming that Spike had simply—

No.

No, enough was enough. She was a grown mare and was not going to let some… some foalish insecurities bring down what could possibly be the beginning of a great relationship. No more faintheartedness; she was going to open up to her, uh, her dragon and be honest with him.

She took a deep breath and looked straight at him. “Why did you say yes when I asked if you wanted to go out with me?” she asked again.

Spike didn’t answer, not right away at least. Instead he looked deeply into Starlight’s eyes, and seemed to be otherwise frozen in his spot, had his tail swinging behind him not said otherwise.

“Spike?” Starlight prodded him.

“I… I don’t know,” Spike said.

It felt weird to hear him say that. She wouldn’t say it hurt, really. There was nothing inherently wrong about what Spike said, but she’d expected something more.

“You don’t know?” Starlight asked him as she averted her gaze and rubbed her hooves together.

“No, I mean…” He looked for the right words. “It’s hard to explain. It’s just that, well, it felt… right?”

Now that was a better answer.

“How so?” Starlight asked him in her softest voice.

It was Spike’s turn to look away. He had an awkward smile plastered over his face, and Starlight had to wonder how he must have been feeling.

“We’re good friends, right?” Spike asked her. “I mean, we’ve spent so much time together. I think I’ve spent more time with you over these last few years than with anypony else. I… I do think of you as one of my best friends.” Spike’s smile was now directed at her. And in it Starlight found something, a reassurance of sorts that meant her fears, while not entirely unfounded, mattered little.

“When you asked me if, well, if I’d like to go out with you, I didn’t really have to think about it. I just sort of knew to say yes.“ Spike leaned forward a little bit, resting his elbows on the edge of the table and closing the distance between them. “I guess I liked the idea.”

The warmth Starlight felt in her chest now spread over to her face. She found herself mirroring Spike’s smile, although she guessed hers was a bit goofier.

“What about you? Why did you ask me out?” Spike asked her.

“I think pretty much for the same reason. I’m sure my confession last night must have come as a surprise to you,” Starlight said, and she had the decency to look a bit apologetic.

“You could say that,” Spike replied with a smirk.

“Oh, hush… “ Starlight chided him. “I know it was a bit abrupt. I just feel so comfortable when I’m with you that I guess I didn’t think much of it at the moment. Besides, it’s not as if I haven’t entertained the thought before.”

This, she noticed, took him by surprise, if his wide eyes and his mouth open in a small grin were any indication. “Really?” Spike asked.

“Y-yeah… you are my best friend, Spike. I realised that a while ago, and I think that while part of me liked that, there was another part that wished for more. As time went on, I realised I didn’t like spending time with you so much as I… as I liked you.”

Starlight’s breath left her just as those last words escaped her lips. Well, the cat was out of the bag now. Not that either of them should be surprised—that much was already implied when she asked him out—but saying it out loud and having it out in the open felt refreshing in a way. Relieving, even.

“You…”

Starlight wasn’t sure how the dragon would react to her dropping yet another bomb on him in such a short period of time, but at least she had gotten everything off her chest.

Almost everything, anyway.

The most important things, at least.

Or, thing, maybe. She was sure she could think of a few other issues that should be cause of concern. Just off the top of her mind, she—Oh, Spike's blushing, let's focus on that!

Spike’s face, much like her own, was alight with flushed cheeks. She rubbed the bridge of her nose in hopes of clearing her lovestruck mind. It came as a surprise, however, when she noticed Spike standing up. She tried to say something, but before she could, Spike walked around the table and sat right next to her. Thanks to his recent growth, they could still see each other eye to eye.

They didn’t stare at each other, not quite. They were staring into each other’s eyes, as if they were trying to communicate something without words.

“Spike?” Starlight whispered.

“You’re right, I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen, and while it did catch me by surprise, I’m not really against it,” Spike said, all without breaking eye contact. “I like you too, Starlight. I don’t know how much, exactly, but I’m more than willing to find out.”

If Spike’s words weren’t enough to wash away the fears and doubts that had sieged Starlight's mind since the previous night, what he did afterwards filled her with pure, unabashed contentedness. The young dragon reached out towards her and pulled her in, resting the side of his neck against hers, and holding the back of her head with his claw as he gave her a few gentle strokes. While Starlight initially flinched in surprise, it wasn’t long before she melted in the dragon’s rather chaste embrace.

Spike’s scales were tough to the touch, but as a whole he felt incredibly soft and warm in a way that made Starlight want to not stop feeling it ever. She nuzzled against him and held him with her hooves. Their chests rose and fell in a slow rhythm as they basked in the silence of their togetherness. Neither of them wanted it to end, but they knew it couldn’t last forever. Finally, after minutes of silence, Starlight spoke up.

“You know, if anything you’ve raised the bar for lunch pretty high,” Starlight said.

“You’re going to eat whatever I cook and you’re going to love it, Star,” Spike said back.

“I never meant to imply otherwise,” Starlight added, and nuzzled him once more.

She didn’t know how this would develop, if it’d work or not, or how their friends—especially Twilight—would react once they found out. But if Spike hadn’t mentioned anything about, uh... that, maybe it didn’t matter all that much.

“Hey, Spike?”

“Yeah, Star?”

“I think we’re alright.”

“Yeah... we’re alright.”

They shared a happy, joyful laugh. Spike gently scratched the back of her ears, sending tingling sensations down her spine. Everything else was secondary; they were together, and that meant everything was alright for the time being.

And, perhaps, that was enough.

Chapter 3

View Online

There was a stillness of sorts in the basement. An unbroken spell that kept the small room isolated from the passage of time save for the errant specks of dust dancing an erratic choreography under the lone beam of lights that filtered through the lower edge of the door. The harmonious monotony did not last, as it was summarily and unceremoniously interrupted when the door atop the stairway flung itself open and a couple made their way down into the room.

“Are you sure it’s in here?” Starlight asked as she lit up her horn.

“Sure as can be,” Spike said, raising a lamp of his own.

“You said that the last three times,” she replied with a sardonic edge.

“No, I said I was pretty sure, that I was confident, then that I had a good hunch. Now, on the other—”

“Oh, har har,” Starlight shot back, giving him a gentle shove.

Spike let out a soft chuckle, but didn’t try to come up with another remark. Instead, he rose his lamp to better light his dim surroundings.

There were, as far as both of them could see, an endless amount of cardboard boxes, all piled up haphazardly across the entire basement. Some as small as a teapot, while others were almost as big as Starlight herself.

“Any idea where it might be?” Starlight asked him.

“It’s got to be in one of the largest boxes,” Spike said as he set the lamp in a high spot and started to look through the contents of one.

“How come there are so many boxes still packed after all this time?” Starlight asked as she opened the nearest box. “Aren’t there still dozens of empty rooms in the castle?”

“Twilight thought it would be wasteful to fill every room if we’d never use them. On the plus side, that means we can use any of those,” Spike replied as he inspected a wooden carving of a horse head.

Starlight found it surprising Twilight hadn’t designated every room in the castle for some purpose or another. The abundance of empty rooms had overcome even her mentor’s penchant for organisation, it seemed. In fact, now that she thought about it, it wasn’t until six months after she arrived to Ponyville that they got around to even making a simple map of the layout of the castle. Apparently, being a Princess who lived in a castle bestowed upon her by harmony itself made you exempt from adhering to Equestrian Building Code. The castle probably wasn’t EDA compliant, either.

Shaking off those thoughts, Starlight kept rummaging through another box, past some small garments and two large gem-studded bow ties, until she heard Spike calling out for her.

“Did you find it?” she asked, closing the box and putting it back into its place. Turning around, she saw Spike pushing a considerably large crate.

“Yup, it seems to be in good condition,” he said as he dusted his claws and pried open the crate.

The first thing Starlight noticed was the shiny surface of the device. Despite its age, it still looked brand new.

“I still can’t believe you’ve never seen a movie before,” Spike said.

“I spent a good chunk of my life away from civilization, I didn’t put time aside for recreation,” she said with a half-hearted smirk, resting her hooves on the edge of the crate.

“Good,” he said as he took out the film projector. “That means I get to share your first time.”

She blinked. Starlight didn’t say anything, just let out a soft giggle as she felt her cheeks reddening. She’d get back at him for that.

Spike had that same glint in his eyes he’d had earlier that day when he asked her to watch a movie with him. She knew what a movie was, she wasn’t that ignorant, but she hadn’t exactly been around when they became big in Equestria. Even in the past couple of years, she had been so wrapped up with her life in Ponyville she hadn’t had the chance. That the nearest actual movie theatre was all the way in Canterlot didn’t do much to help.

“I’ll take this upstairs, can you bring the film reels?” Spike asked her, breaking her train of thought.

“Sure thing,” she said, spotting the stack of metallic canisters still inside of the crate. Soon enough, they both were back at the higher corridors looking for a suitable room. Spike must have been looking for a room with certain specific accommodations, Starlight thought, although she didn’t know what they were. As far as she was concerned, they could use any room. Heck, they could probably use a different room every hour before Twilight returned and not repeat any of them even once.

“I think this one can work,” Spike said as he peered into one of the rooms. “What do you think?”

“I wouldn’t know, so I’ll take your word for it,” she replied.

“Right… Sorry, let’s just get in,” he chided himself.

Spike then opened the door and walked into a relatively small room. It was barely a few strides wide, and a similar distance across, the walls were bare save for the crystal plinth protruding from the floor, and a lone window overseeing the far east of Ponyville. Setting the canisters aside, and giving Spike some room to set up the projector, Starlight walked to the window and looked outside. The sun was past its highest peak and had started its downward trek; soon the night would arrive and that would mark the end of the first day Spike and her had spent as a couple.

It was odd. Time had flown by her so fast since last night, and yet it seemed to have lasted for far longer than that. Perhaps, Starlight thought, that wasn’t too bad. She was still getting used to this whole “couple” thing, but she enjoyed every part of it so far.

“This shouldn’t take long,” Spike said, standing up and away from the projector. “Want to get started on the popcorn while I set everything up?”

Starlight nodded, and left the room. She had to admit she felt somewhat excited at the prospect of watching her first movie, and even more so knowing that she’d do it with Spike. She stepped into the kitchen with a dancing rhythm to her step, and started to work on their snack. Soon enough she’d be cuddling up with Spike while watching a movie all alone.

She blinked.

It’d be just the two of them, all alone in a small room. Alone in a small, dark room. Sitting right next to each other on a small couch. Alone.

She blinked again.

Focusing on the pot in front of her, she gave it a firm shake so the corn kernels would spread all over the bottom and get evenly coated with oil. Once she was sure, she looked through the cabinets in search for the salt. She just wanted to get the popcorn right, she wasn’t trying to actively think of anything that would prevent her mind from following her previous train of thought. Of course not, definitely not.

…Maybe a little bit.

Starlight reprimanded herself. She was the older one and yet here she was acting childish once again. What’s wrong with her? Things were going well already, so why couldn’t—

The sound of little explosions coming from the pot drew her away from her thoughts. Somewhat startled, Starlight let out a sigh as she gave the pot a few shakes. She wished she was making something more elaborate, maybe that way she could have occupied her mind with the act of cooking; but as things stood right now, she was stuck with her own thoughts.

She had to wonder what the source of her worries were if having settled things with Spike that morning wasn’t enough to calm her mind. It was odd that she still couldn’t shake off the feelings of unease that had plagued her since her confession last night.

Except, you do know what the problem is. Don’t you, Starlight?

She grimaced, and started to wonder if growing a conscience had been really worth it after all. Still, she couldn’t deny that the voice in her head was right. She was well aware of what irked her. The answer laid squarely upon the age difference between her and Spike.

Her shoulders slumped as she let those bothersome thoughts escape the corners of her mind to which she had relegated them. Sure, it wasn’t a huge difference, but there were still several years between them. Enough to raise more than a few eyebrows, even though she doubted any of their friends would give her a hard time apart from a good spirited jab.

And yet, it probably bothered her because she knew her attraction to Spike hadn’t started the day he turned eighteen. She might have never acted out on those feelings—she was always quick to dismiss them, or rather, she was never willing to acknowledge those feelings for what they were—but they were still there, and as a result she had let them grow inside of her as she played blind to their true nature.

She sunk even more as she waited for the popping sounds to stop, idly eyeing her reflection on the silver pot. Maybe you’ve had feelings for Spike for quite a while, maybe you haven’t. That doesn’t change the fact that you do have feelings for him, her conscience chimed in. And he reciprocates your feelings, so shouldn’t you be able to look beyond his age?

She gave her reflection a slightly amused look. The slightly distorted Starlight looking back at her was right, of course. Regardless of his age, Spike had never acted childish, at least not to her eyes; he’d always been a good friend, someone who would stand by her side, with whom she could share joyful or sad moments, someone whose mere presence was enough to cheer her up, even if just a little bit. Did anything else really matter all that much? They were both adults, so that should be the end of the argument. Starlight raised her head and gave a confident smile to her reflection. Yeah, they both had feelings for each other, and they had decided to give each other a chance as a couple, and that’s all that should—Wait, what’s that smell?

She blinked a couple of times to break her trance, and in doing so became painfully aware of the faint traces of black smoke rising from the pot.

“Eeek!” She yelped and quickly levitated it away from the stove. Turning it off, she ventured a glance into the contents of the pot, decision that she almost immediately regretted once she caught a whiff of the burnt kernels within it.

“Cooking and introspective analysis don’t mix, duly noted,” Starlight lamented, and set off to make more popcorn after cleaning the ruined pot. Time was of no worry, after all.

A new batch of popcorn later, and a quick disposal of her botched first attempt, Starlight returned to the room where Spike had already finished setting the film projector.

“Took you a while,” he said, greeting her from the couch he had brought into the room.

“I had a, uh, disagreement with the popcorn,” Starlight said, levitating two bowls with her.

“Hopefully nothing serious.” Spike picked one of them and moved to the side of the couch so Starlight could sit.

Considering the relatively small size of the room, She should have expected the couch to be small as well. However, the piece of furniture in front of her was more akin to an oversized lounge chair than a two body couch. An intentional choice from Spike, no doubt.

“Nope, not at all,” she said as she sat right next to Spike and made a big deal out of looking in the other direction.

“We’ve got quite a few options to choose from,” Spike said as he held up a few film reels.

“Any recommendation?”

“Well, Twilight snatched a copy of the first Daring Do movies once those came out, and then proceeded to stash them in the old Library’s basement after watching them once.”

“Ohhh… It sounds like there’s a story in there,” Starlight said, her curiosity piqued.

Spike, for his part, only let out a short laugh. “I doubt I can recapture the same passion Twilight had when she gave her speech about how making Ahuizotl an MGI model instead of using practical effects ruined her immersion.”

Starlight couldn’t help but laugh heartily at the thought. “That does sound like Twilight. I can’t imagine it being too bad, though.”

“Eh, it’s alright. I mean, the latest movies look much better, but the early ones still hold up, in my opinion.”

“I guess I’ll be the judge of that, let’s see it,” Starlight said, watching as Spike kneeled next to the projector.

She’d be lying if she were to deny that a few racy thoughts crossed her mind as she saw Spike flexing his back, shaking his wings, and struggling to put the film reel in place. She was quick to stuff her mouth with popcorn, if only to avoid saying something out of place again.

“There we go. Could you turn off the lights?” Spike said, standing away from the contraption.

Starlight did as requested, without looking away from him even once. In the past couple of years, with Spike growing as a result of his draconic biology, his body started to change. This wasn’t limited to his new wings, his baby fat was slowly replaced by muscle tissue. Once he noticed the changes his body was undergoing, he took the time to go to Sweet Apple Acres and lend some help come applebucking season. This, combined with a regular flying schedule strictly enforced by Rainbow Dash, did wonders for his physique, in Starlight’s opinion, even though she didn’t have much of a frame of reference to gauge—

“Ah, it’s starting now,” Spike crashed Starlight’s train of thought with cheerful glee.

Silent still, Starlight was quick to avert her eyes and look straight to the projection on the wall. Her mind was keen on setting her down dangerous paths, it seemed, but she was not going to let a few inappropriate ideas ruin their movie night.

Her thoughts were quickly dissipated once she saw the shapes projected against the white wall. Still images of logos and company names flashed briefly before showing a bright blue sky as orchestral music started. Suddenly, as the music increased in rhythm, the words “Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone” appeared across the wall.

Starlight raised an eyebrow at that, “Hey… I never really thought about it, but isn’t that title a bit redundant?”

Spike looked at her with a bemused expression. “What do you mean?”

She bobbed her head, making sense of the thoughts in her mind, “Well, isn’t a sapphire a precious stone? So calling it a sapphire stone would be a tautology.”

“Seems some of Twilight is rubbing off on you,” Spike said with a smirk pulling at his lips.

“Oh, don’t you start,” she replied, throwing an unpopped kernel at him.

“Well, it could be using sapphire as an adjective. At least, that’s what Twilight said,” Spike said with a shrug.

“Really, now,” she answered in disbelief.

“That is unless you buy into the theory that the story was supposed to be titled ‘the Quest for the Sapphire Statue’ and was later changed to Stone because the publishers wanted to dumb down the title so it could reach a bigger audience. Twilight told me about that once, but I can’t remember all the details right now. I think even Rainbow Dash found that to be boring.” Spike seemed as though he had more to say, but the movie—perhaps sensing the overtly critical mindset of its spectators—chose that moment to start.

The couple quickly set aside their thoughts and focused on the scene playing out in front of them. Amidst the dense jungle, they spotted a mustard coloured mare making her way through the trees and vines.

Starlight still had memories of the time she read the Daring Do books, and was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the movie was turning out to be. She allowed herself to get lost in the tale of action and adventure, and in the company of the dragon next to her.

During a particular lull in the narrative, as Daring rambled on in an exposition-heavy flashback, Starlight took the chance to shoot a few furtive glances at Spike. They were barely a few hooves apart from each other, and she was able to feel the dragon’s body heat even at that admittedly short distance; not only that, but she had to admit she liked it.

A tiger roar quickly made her lose her focus. She blinked a couple of times, looking forward once again, and tried to concentrate on the events of the movie. Daring Do had left behind a group of fearsome predators and a small kitten and was now making her way to a rundown jungle temple. The temple itself was very obviously a set, the slabs of rock that composed it were a bit too perfectly made to pass as ancient but that was a very minor detail and certainly not enough to break her immersion. She couldn’t help but grin at that; she was enjoying herself more than she thought she would.

As Daring Do made her way through pits, hazards, and trap-filled corridors, an idea crawled its way through Starlight’s mind. It was an entirely innocent idea that, she had to admit, didn’t carry entirely innocent connotations.

She threw a few popcorn kernels into her mouth, and chewed idly as she pretended to be invested on whether or not would the volley of arrows hit Daring Do. She shifted on her seat, a small motion that could very well be interpreted as an attempt to get more comfortable, but for Starlight it was all part of the plan.

Daring had taken the idol off its pedestal, and the whole temple was rumbling, threatening to collapse. Starlight, for her part, levitated a few kernels and floated them around as she kept looking straight ahead.

The distressed pegasus looked around the temple, hoping to find a way of escaping a fiery death as the treasure room started to fill with lava. While Starlight didn’t know of any spell that could keep lava stored away in a molten state for convenient use in traps, she didn’t mind all that much.

Jump after jump, Daring Do made her way to the top, getting ever so close to the skylight of the temple. Likewise, Starlight closed the distance between Spike and her, slowly enough for it not to be noticed as a conscious action.

The treasure room soon would be filled with smoldering lava that would reduce everything it touched to nothing. Starlight eyed the bowl of popcorn Spike held between his claws; she reprimanded herself for not making a single bowl for them to share, had she done that this would feel much more natural.

With a final jump—and a very convincing performance from the actress— Daring Do escaped the treasure room by the skin of her teeth, just as the rising lava came close enough to singe the end of her tail.

Starlight took a deep breath.

Daring pulled herself up, sweat running down her face both due to the strain and the sea of liquid fire behind her.

Starlight closed her eyes, and as a jet of steam threw Daring Do up in the air and away from the temple, she tilted herself sideways and rested her head on Spike’s shoulder.

She may or may not have seen a trail of smoke come out of Spike’s snout, but she did feel his wings give a gentle flutter once he felt her body leaning against his, and at this she couldn’t hold back a smirk. He seemed as though he wanted to say something, but before he could, a deep, smooth voice spoke.

“You thought you could evade me and capture the relic for yourself,” the slightly cartoony MGI Ahuizotl said with a cocky slur, “but you were sadly mistaken, Miss Do.”

“Ahuizotl doesn’t look that bad, in my opinion,” Starlight said, and she made sure to pour additional innocence in her words.

“Y-yeah, he… uh… it’s alright, I guess,” Spike cleared his throat and quickly stuffed his mouth with popcorn, taking care not to disturb Starlight or accidentally push her away.

He was so obviously getting flustered, and Starlight loved it. She wouldn’t push it further, though, at least not for the moment; she was more than happy to let this play out. Her and Spike, leaning against to each other as they watched a movie. Honestly, she couldn’t ask for more.

Well, except maybe for Spike to relax, he felt a bit stiff.

Come on now. It’s not as if you didn’t expect this to happen, did you, Mr. “I got a tiny couch just for the two of us”? she thought, her smirk getting more pronounced as she did.

It came as a surprise when she felt Spike move his arm away from her, but before she could protest, the dragon reached around and drew her even closer. She felt air escaping her lungs as her body was seized by a series of chilling waves that paradoxically warmed her to her very core. If it weren’t for the movie still playing in front of her, she would have assumed time had stopped.

And then he brought one of his wings around her, like a scaly and leathery cover. She felt as though wrapped in a comfortable cocoon; warm, but not suffocating; firm, but not tough. Just perfect.

Spike gently scratched her arm and shoulder; a simple action, but one which held a deep sign of affection with each small stroke. She let out a contented sigh and nuzzled her yet-to-be-defined partner, who looked at her with an affectionate smile that threatened to turn her smile into a dumb grin. Not wanting to ruin the moment, she focused on the movie, rubbing her cheek against Spike’s chest as she did so.

She watched as Ahuizotl’s minions tied Daring Do to what appeared to be an altar for sacrificial offerings, and found that she rather enjoyed movies, making the prospect of them spending the rest of the afternoon watching more movies together cuddling on the couch all the more appealing. And who knew what would—

The smirk disappeared from her face.

What, exactly, did she think would happen afterwards? More to the point, what did she want to happen?

Starlight watched as the room in which Daring Do was trapped slowly filled with pouring sand. Had it not been for the fact that she felt in a very similar situation, she may have called out the writer for essentially using the same plot point only twenty minutes apart.

She took a few slow, measured breaths as she tried to regain her composure, although she had a hard time doing so considering the fast-paced action scene unfolding in front of her. To make matters worse, seeing Daring Do escape an elaborate death trap was a mindless enough activity that she couldn’t help thinking back to her situation: Spike and her hugging each other on a small couch, bodies in direct contact, when it was just about to be nighttime.

Oh, dear…

The realisation hit her like a pack of bricks, igniting dozens of different thoughts, all of which revolved around the annoyingly enticing dragon who was hugging her at that moment. Suddenly, the room started to feel much hotter; whether that was due to them being so close together, his wing around her, having spent well over an hour in the cramped space, or Spike’s natural, alluring body heat which made—

Get it together, Glimmer! This is not the time! she heard her conscience scold her. She closed her eyes in an effort to clear her mind and drive away those errant thoughts, but only succeeded in visualising them more clearly.

Not that there’d be anything wrong with that, another voice said. It was a different, calmer voice that resonated somewhere deep in her mind amidst the maelstrom of off-colour thoughts. She opened her eyes once again, just in time to see Daring Do closing in on Ahuizotl’s throne.

Snap out of it, you’re very well aware of the implications of your actions, the new voice said. You’re both adults. Besides, weren’t you the one who just accepted age shouldn’t be factored into your relationship?

Starlight gulped as she processed the words of the new voice in her head. While the thought of hearing voices and actually considering what they were saying was a bit worrying, she didn’t want to focus on that at the moment.

You didn’t object at any point, so there is a part of you that wanted something to happen, right?

Knots formed in Starlight’s throat, making it harder for her to breathe. She told herself that wasn’t the case, that she didn’t have any ulterior motive and that she honestly didn’t expect anything to come out of their movie night.

Although… could she have been hoping something would?

As her magic scoured her empty bowl, she cursed herself for not making more popcorn with which she could have busied herself. Still, this wasn’t something she could ignore for long.

Tentatively, as if asking her limbs for permission, Starlight lifted her hoof to meet the claw Spike had over her shoulder and held it tightly. Spike reacted by leaning closer and gently caressing her hoof.

If something happened… If anything happened, she wouldn’t fight it.

With a sigh of relief, Starlight allowed herself to get lost in their embrace. Daring Do had already taken the Statue from Ahuizotl; the creature was cursing her name to the wind as she got away and the story would soon wind up.

“The book ended right here, didn’t it?” Starlight mused out loud.

“Yeah, but they added a few scenes at the end when they made the movie. Something about reaching ‘feature length’, I believe,” Spike said. Leaning over his chest as she was, Starlight could feel the vibration of his vocal cords as he spoke. The sensation elicited made her body jitter.

“Do that again,” Starlight whispered, snuggling closer to Spike.

“Do what?” Spike asked, turning around ever so slightly, but that motion was enough for Starlight to get closer to his throat, and take the full range of his vocal cords vibrating against her ears.

Starlight let out a short giggle and pressed harder against Spike’s body, biting her lip as she slurred a single word. “That.”

Spike’s face heated up, and she could feel it. Daring Do was boarding a plane back home, ready to embark on her next adventure, but the couple on the couch didn’t really care.

“Oh…” Spike said, drawing out the sound for as long as he could. He had noticed Starlight’s reaction, and seemed keen on continuing their little game. Dropping his voice an octave or so, he spoke again. “Is this… More to your liking?”

“Definitely,” Starlight answered, her voice once again just loud enough to be heard above the dialogue of the movie.

“Hmmm… Good to know,” Spike said, his voice getting deeper and stronger with every word spoken. The movie had ended, and the white text of the credits rolled against a black background, plunging the room into near total darkness. By now the sun had sunk beyond the horizon and given room to the night, and the vibrant purple glow it cast over Equestria served only to accentuate the mood in the room.

Starlight rubbed her head gently against Spike’s scaly neck, taking in the wonderful sensation of his tough, warm body. So lost was she in her actions, that she almost didn’t notice when Spike’s claw let her hoof go, and slowly made its way down her arm.

Almost.

A spark of excitement lit up deep within her. The eagerness and enthusiasm coursed through her body, from the tip of her horn to the underside of her hooves; and as these feelings washed over her in rhythm with Spike’s tender strokes, they gave room to a fervent yearning inside of her. Almost immediately, she let the empty bowl fall to the ground and her free hoof rose to Spike’s chest. As soon as she made contact with his scales, Spike let go of his own bowl and went to hold Starlight’s hoof, pressing tightly but lovingly against his body as his wing wrapped around her, drawing her even closer. She wanted to urge him, to tell him he could go on, that he could go further and he wouldn’t hear a word of protest from her.

“Star…” he trailed off.

Starlight closed her eyes, contenting herself with closing the distance between them until all she could feel was the contact of his warm, fit body. At that moment, nothing else mattered. All those wayward thoughts, insecurities, and doubts that had plagued her since she noticed her feelings for Spike starting to blossom, they all were blown away by his delicate caress.

“Spike…” she said in a faint voice that betrayed the hunger inside of her.

She realised soon enough that they were at an impasse. They wanted to go down the path they were treading, that much was obvious; but it seemed neither of them wanted to take the first step, neither wanted to be the one to break the spell they were in.

A part of her would have been satisfied with staying there, holding each other, sharing a loving embrace without a care in the world, isolate and apart from the rest of Equestria in this room that existed just for the two of them. The rest of her, however, could barely contain her desire to lunge forward and pin him down with a surge of excitement, affection, love, and—if the growing heat in her nethers was any indication—lust.

Opening her eyes a little, she looked up to find Spike’s mellow gaze staring back. His face was alight with a vibrant red colour that was noticeable even in the dim light of the late evening, and she had to wonder if her own face was in a similar state. Not that she minded.

Raising her head a bit, she nuzzled him just under his chin. Her affections seemed to be effective, as Spike let out a long sigh that made the tip of her horn tingle a little.

Starlight kept nuzzling, but slowly made her way up Spike’s head, and he lowered his neck in return. She went on until she found herself rubbing her right cheek against the left side of Spike’s head, and the very corners of their mouths gave the barest hint of a touch.

So much for not kissing on the first date, huh? The smug voice inside of her said, but Starlight was quick to ignore it.

Spike was now trailing his claws through Starlight’s mane, going slow but steady, sending waves of delight down the mare’s spine.

It was hard to know just how long they had spent sitting there, lost in each other’s embrace. They only knew that it had seemed to last an eternity and yet not long enough. So much was said between them without uttering a single word, but they knew one of them had to say something sooner than later. Therefore, Starlight thought, she would take the lead.

“Spike…” she said, her voice coming out strained after minutes of absolute silence. She looked deep into the emerald eyes of the dragon, mesmerised by the flame within them.

Spike seemed to be about to say something too, but he suddenly arched his back and looked away.

Starlight looked at him, worry taking over desire as she separated herself from the dragon. “Are… are you alright?”

They separated from one another as his shoulders gave a spasm, a quick rise before slumping down back again, and his cheeks bulged just as a flame of green fire burst out of his mouth, materialising a thick scroll between them.

They stared silently as the rolled up parchment fell to the floor, but Starlight managed to get a glimpse of the seal that closed it. It didn’t bear the bright yellow wax used by Princess Celestia but a different type, one that was all too familiar to them.

“Twilight sent a letter,” Spike stated, matter-of-factly, in what Starlight thought was an attempt to dispense with the awkwardness of having been interrupted in such an abrupt fashion.

“S-so it seems,” Starlight said as she tried to regain her composure and her mind finally processed what had almost happened.

Not knowing what else to do or say, Spike reached forward and opened the scroll. As he read, Starlight averted her gaze, hoping to find something that would occupy her mind. The mood had been summarily executed, that much was clear. It’s almost as if Twilight had somehow known—

No.

She couldn’t have… There was no way Twilight could have known that they were almost about to… Uh…

Yes, Starlight. You were about to. You know it and Spike knows it, her conscience lectured her, replacing the smug voice that had occupied her mind so far.

Oh, you’re one to talk. Where have you been for the past twenty minutes? she shot back. However, she couldn’t deny that the thought of Twilight finding out about her relationship with Spike before they could break the news to her themselves was worrying, to say the least.

Not as worrying as what had almost happened, though…

Starlight shook her head in hopes of clearing her mind. They had only been together for less than a day, and she was already throwing herself at him? What was wrong with her?

An uncomfortably cold shiver ran down her spine. Resigning herself, she focused on picking up the empty bowls from the floor.

“Well, that’s… Huh…” Spike said as he rolled up the scroll.

“What does Twilight say?” Starlight asked, hoping the disillusionment in her voice wasn’t too evident.

“You know how Twilight was supposed to stay in the Crystal Empire until tomorrow?” he said.

“Yeah?”

“Well, apparently there’s been a change of plans.”

She looked back at him, her dread turning into curiosity for the time being. “Change of plans?”

“Flurry Heart had a few magic bursts these past two days and Twilight wants to stay until they’re under control…” he paused for a brief second as a chuckle made its way through his words, “…and until Shining Armor grows his mane back.”

Starlight let out a short laugh that thankfully didn’t come out as a snort. “What did she do?”

“I’m sure Twilight will be more than happy to fill in the details for us once she comes back this Friday,” Spike finished with a smile.

She did a double take at that. Twilight was only supposed to be gone for the weekend and return on Monday, meaning tomorrow, but if Flurry Heart’s magic outbursts were serious enough to warrant her oversight, that meant…

“We have… four more days on our own?” she said, not fully believing her words.

Spike broke into a grin. “Yeah.”

He didn’t say anything more, nor did he have to. Starlight could already infer a lot from his look alone.

She meant it earlier when she told herself she wouldn’t be averse to… further developing their expressions of affection. However, that didn’t change the fact that it was probably a bit too early into their relationship for, well, for sex.

“Hey, Spike?” she said, deciding to dive into the problem headfirst. “About what just happened right now…”

The crimson colour returned to the dragon’s face. It was undeniable he had been thinking about the same thing. “Y-yes?” he said, trying to be nonchalant and failing adorably at it.

Starlight let out her breath as the outline of a smile tugged at her lips. “Listen, we both know what just happened. What almost happened.” Spike tensed up when he heard this, but Starlight was quick to assuage his worries. “I just wanted you to know I… I wouldn’t be against it.”

Spike perked up at that, although the bright red of his face didn’t fade away. If anything, it got more intense. “You… you mean…”

Taking another deep breath and smiling as wide as she could, Starlight held one of Spike’s claws with her hooves. “I do.”

Spike let out something akin to a gasp and a choke, but before his excitement grew too large for him to handle, she spoke again. “Still, I think it’s a bit early for us to be thinking about… making love.”

Okay, that sounds better, she thought. Spike seemed to be taking the news well, at least.

“I… I… You’re right, Star,” he said, returning her smile. “I mean, not that I wouldn’t love that, but you’re right. I think I’d prefer it if our first time wasn’t just because we lost control of ourselves.”

Starlight’s smile widened. She appreciated his honesty, if anything. “Thanks, Spike. For understanding.”

“Hey, don’t mention it,” he said, and with a smile of his own, they both felt the tension leaving the room. “D-do you want to watch another movie?”

Starlight looked through the small window of the room. The sky was now completely dark, with only the stars bringing contrast against the dark blue of the night.

“I think we should have dinner first, that way we can clear our minds,” she said.

“Heh… guess we kinda skipped lunch didn’t we?”

“Let’s get to it, the movies won’t go anywhere.”

With a shared smile of reassurance, the couple stepped off the couch. Spike paused for a moment to turn off the projector and pack the film reel back into its canister. Starlight looked at him from the doorway, her gaze following his every move as the cogs of her mind refused to stop whirring.

“Hey, Spike,” she said, just loud enough for him to hear her.

“What is it, Star?” he ask, walking towards her.

“I think I’m going to break my own rule.” She didn’t wait to hear his reply. She didn’t think about consequences, nor did she pay attention to the nagging voices in her mind. She seized him with her magic, forcefully pulled him towards her, and kissed him.

The whole world seemed to fade out in that second save for the sensation of their lips. The warmth that sent shivers down her spine, the wetness that dried her mouth, the firmness that managed to feel so soft. The utter serenity that blew away the remnants of insecurities inside of her. Neither of them pulled back, nor did they push it. They simply let themselves savour their kiss and get lost in the bliss it brought.

And yet, it had to end. As the seconds ticked away and the minutes piled on, it became difficult for them to breathe properly, not to mention the awkwardness of having Spike slightly bent over.

“It was a good first date,” Starlight whispered as she brought the kiss to an end.

Spike didn’t say anything, and he continued to not say anything as Starlight let go of her magic grip on his neck.

“I’ll get started on dinner,” Starlight whispered, and turned around, making an effort not to let Spike see the self-satisfied smirk she sported.

“…be right behind you…” Spike managed to mumble, still standing dumbstruck under the doorway.

Four whole days, Starlight thought to herself. There’s plenty of time to take things slowly.

Her smile widened until her cheeks started to hurt.

There’s no rush…

Chapter 4

View Online

Starlight felt a jolt of electricity course through her body with every playful bite Spike gave to her neck.

“Spiiiiiike… stop it,” she said, with no real seriousness in her voice.

The dragon paid no mind to her complaints, and kept tending to her with a series of hungry, yet love-fueled nips at her coat. “I’ll stop when you want me to stop,” he said in a whisper, just strong enough so Starlight could feel his hot breath against her coat, sending shivers through her body.

Her only response was a few whimpers of delight, which only made the dragon press on. His claws rose up to her hips and pulled her closer to him, burying his snout into the fluffy fur of her chest.

Starlight drew in a sharp breath, any words of either objection or encouragement drowned by his sudden boldness. He took her lack of reply as an invitation to keep going, planting a soft, tender kiss in the middle of her chest. The light pressure and slight dampness against her coat clouded her thoughts and threatened to drive her crazy. Before she had the chance to fully process the sensations Spike’s actions sparked in her mind, though, her dragon planted another kiss on her chest… only lower this time.

A dozen different thoughts rushed through her mind, although none of them were requests for him to stop. She raised a trembling hoof towards his head, and gently caressed the scaly base of his skull, tracing the edges of his spines as she did so, in a motion that invited him to keep going.

Spike acquiesced, and giving her fur another gentle tug with his lips, he kept moving downwards.

Starlight looked up at the ceiling as her heart matched the speed at which many colorful thoughts crossed her mind. Her cheeks reddened and her breath came in short, desperate bursts. Her reaction only served to strengthen Spike’s resolve as he kissed his way down her stomach, threatening to make her melt in delight.

A surprised yelp escaped her mouth and her back arched in ecstasy as she felt Spike’s lips brushing against her nipples.

“Hmmm?” Spike asked her with a deep, slurred drawl in his voice, making his lips vibrate against her sensitive skin.

“D-don’t…” She managed to let out in between weak gasps for air. Spike paused for the briefest of moments as he looked up at her. Between flustered gasps of air, she looked back at him with a stare that conveyed a single emotion.

Lust.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered.

Spike was happy to oblige. He buried his snout even further down as his claws held her backside tightly, keeping her in place, pressing and pinching her gently but strong enough to get a reaction out of her.

A laboured breath made its way through her lips before letting herself get lost in the waves of pleasure. Starlight felt beside herself as Spike continued to caress her body, showering her in affection from her nethers, to her flanks and backside, even to her head.

…Wait.

Head?

She opened her eyes, blinking away the haze from her mind as though she was removing a silk blindfold. It wasn’t long before she spotted a furry blue hand scratching her behind her ears, and the massive figure to whom it belonged.

“You have a luscious mane worthy of the gods, my dear. The best I’ve seen this side of the Marengeti,” Ahuizotl said in a seductive tone.

“You’ve always been a charmer, Ahuizotl,” Daring Do said from her spot lying opposite to the creature, “but you do have a beautiful mane, have you thought about styling it into bangs?”

Starlight, for her part, was too busy trying to understand what was happening.

“Don’t listen to her, Star,” Spike said, looking as small and round-faced as when she had first met him, as he rested his head on her stomach, “I love your mane just the way it is.”

Just as Twilight had taught her to do when dealing with stressing situations, Starlight closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath in hopes of calming her probably-severely-damaged mind. Then, she took another one, and one more after that for good measure.

This clearly isn’t working, she thought, time for plan ‘B’.

Deeming it an appropriate course of action, Starlight let out a shrill scream. This appeared to do the trick, as the shock was enough to wake her up. Starlight panted as she laid in her bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of her dream had felt so incredibly real, and she couldn’t help but wonder how that particular oneiric narrative might have played out had it not been for the odd turn it took near the end.

It seemed yesterday’s… events had a bigger impact on her than she initially thought. The mere idea of Spike and her holding each other, their bodies in direct contact, the fire in the dragon’s eyes, they all were enough to to make her blood rush to her face, as well to other parts of her body.

She heaved a drawn out sigh born of annoyance and, perhaps, a little bit of pent up arousal. A glance at the clock on the wall let her know how early it was, barely seven o’clock. If anything, she was grateful she went to bed early last night since she would otherwise had to add drowsiness to her anxiety. No, right now, Starlight was perfectly lucid and well-rested—if a bit disheveled—which meant that she was quite capable of thinking about the past day with complete clarity.

After the near miss at their movie night, they thought it wise to bring in another couch, lest they risked their desires get the better of them, and spend the rest of their evening burning through some more of the Daring Do movies.

Her eyes narrowed.

Why did pegasi call them near misses, anyway? That almost made it sound as if the opposite happened. Two flyers got careless, flew too close to one another and crashed. Look, they nearly missed! Yes, but not quite. She supposed it could actually refer to how near both flyers were when they missed, but wouldn’t it make more sense to call it a close miss in that case? However, that still carried the same issue. This required further examination; perhaps there were a few dictionaries that could shed some light on—

Just then, thunder roared outside of the castle, as though it meant to interrupt Starlight’s inconsequential train of thought. She twisted under the covers to get a better look at the outside world from the confines of her bed. The limited field of view offered by her window was just enough to show the dark, gloomy clouds that covered the Ponyville sky.

It sure is starting to feel like autumn, Starlight thought. Not that she minded, though; for as lovely as summer was, she’d always preferred the coldness that encouraged you to stay at home with a hot beverage. Plus, hot showers beat cold showers any season of the year.

Speaking of which, seeing how she was awake, she might as well start her day. Yeah, a hot shower, then she’d check if Spike was already awake—although knowing him, he was already up and making breakfast—and afterwards she’d see if she could get some reading done.

And perhaps move laundry day forward a couple of days, she thought as she noticed that the blankets were perhaps not as dry as they had been the night before. With a disgruntled groan she disentangled herself from the mess of covers, and pulled them from the mattress without thinking twice.

Soon enough, Starlight found herself under a more than welcome hot stream of water that did wonders for her aching body and matted fur. She absentmindedly went through the process of cleaning herself as her mind wandered back to the affairs of the previous days, and made a disapproving sound as a reprimand to her brain for that choice of words. There was an air of aloofness to her motions as she moved, barely paying any mind to her actions, letting her muscle memory take over the labour of washing her body so she could focus on other, more important issues—or rather, the one issue. The one remaining issue in Starlight’s mind, the one hurdle to cross before she could bask in the relationship she was building with Spike.

Physical intimacy.

You could simply admit you want to have sex with Spike and stop getting worked up over nothing, the nagging voice in her head said, apparently awakened by her introspective tirade. How can you expect to be honest with him if you aren’t being honest with yourself?

Her sigh was barely audible over the sound of the falling water. While she couldn’t deny the voice had a point, she couldn’t remember anypony ever saying that listening to voices in your head was a commendable course of action.

Regardless of budding psychological disorders, Starlight had to admit it was a topic that still made her somewhat uncomfortable. The “talking about it with Spike” part, of course; definitely not the part about, uh, physical intimacy. There was nothing to worry about in that department, after all. Even if there was a problem, she was sure they could work things out. They were a couple now, after all, working through issues is what couples do, right?

Right?

The voice had gone quiet now, which didn’t go unnoticed by the annoyed unicorn. Not that its opinion mattered anyway, Starlight had decided to do the responsible thing and talk with Spike.

With a satisfied smile, she rinsed off the leftover soap from her coat and hopped out of the shower. After a quick rubdown with a towel—and a liberal application of anti-frizz cream to her mane—Starlight looked at herself in the mirror.

She was going to go down, have breakfast, talk with Spike, and have a great day all around, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

With a satisfied huff, Starlight took out her green and purple toothbrush, and paused while staring at it. She was glad the voice was gone, since the last thing she needed was a sarcastic remark. Then again, there was not much else to comment besides how she was going to be sliding a Spike shaped stick in and out of her mouth for a few minutes.

She blinked.

Wow, she wanted it badly.

An uncomfortably hot toothbrushing session later, she made her way through the castle corridors on the familiar path to the kitchen.

The day had a gray tint to it, no doubt due to the dark clouds that covered the sky. She was struggling to remember the exact purpose of the heavy downpour the weather team had scheduled for the next couple of days, but she didn’t care. After all, it served as a perfectly reasonable excuse to stay snuggled up at home.

With a light laugh and a spring to her step, Starlight entered the kitchen, where she was greeted by the smell of grilled vegetables and a dragon hard at work.

“Hey there, Star. Good to see you’re up.” Spike put down the knife he was using, and turned around to face her. In doing so, his pink apron gave a little twirl, made all the more noticeable by the vibrant frills it had on its edges. No matter how many times she saw it, the sight didn’t become any less adorable. Odd, sure, but endearing nevertheless.

“I was going to check on you in a while, but I see you beat me to it,” he said with a smile that Starlight was happy to return.

“It’s kind of hard to sleep in, considering we called it a day pretty early last night. Early to bed, early to rise and whatnot.”

“I’m sure Applejack will back you up on that,” he said.

Starlight’s smile morphed into an amused grin. She moved next to the dragon, pausing for a moment to give him a quick peck on his cheek.

“What are you making?” she asked him without giving him a chance to react. She could see Spike rubbing the spot she had kissed, lost in the brief sensation of her lips against his scales, before snapping back to reality.

“After we got stuffed with popcorn last night, I thought about going for something lighter, so I’m making tartines.” When he saw Starlight’s arched eyebrow, he let out a short chuckle and added, “Which is just a fancy name for an open face sandwich.”

“If I didn’t know better, I would think all this haute cuisine business is getting to your head,” she said, giving him a playful nudge.

“Hey, I only call it that because saying ‘open face sandwich’ over and over gets tiring,” he replied.

“And here I thought you just wanted to impress me,” Starlight said.

“While I won’t deny that’s a partial motive, it’s far from the only one. But anyway, would you like to help me cook?” Spike asked her, picking up the knife again.

She looked around the counter. There was a plate with shredded vegetables, including some of her favourites: carrots, celery, artichoke hearts, a few peppers, and a small assortment of flowers. It was nice gesture, considering Spike wasn’t keen on the taste of amaranth and chrysanthemums.

“I’d love to,” she said in an earnest tone.

Spike pushed a stone mortar with a few cloves of garlic in it. “Get to work on the aioli. Just add mayo and lemon zest and mix until it’s uniform.”

With a nod, she set out to follow his instructions. She very much enjoyed herself; as with many different activities she’d come to find enjoyable since her arrival at Ponyville all those years ago, Starlight found a measure of satisfaction whenever she cooked with Spike. Though she had to wonder if she’d find the activity as gratifying if she were to cook on her own. It was a theory to consider, maybe she could try to cook something for Spike someday.

The thought of lying in bed with Spike, a bowl of chocolate covered strawberries, and several tubs of ice cream assaulted her mind like a pack of ravenous parasprites.

“Is the aioli done? I want to toss the salad” Spike said.

“Bwuh-huh…?” Starlight replied.

“Are you alright, Star?”

“Uh… Yes, yes. I was just, uh, thinking about what to do next,” she lied as she filed the thoughts of food and cuddling away for later analysis.

“You seem to be done,” Spike said, eyeing the mesh Starlight was working on, “I’ll toast the bread and serve it up.”

“Lightly charred for me.” She took a step back to let the dragon work . A soft whistling sound coming from the kettle let her know the water was reaching boiling point.

As she filled the strainer with tea leaves, cinnamon, and cloves, Starlight couldn’t help but notice how different the mood was from how it had been the previous morning. Gone was the uneasy feeling of apprehension that permeated the air, replaced by a warm sensation brought by the comfort of their company. She could get used to it. She wanted to get used to it.

“And… done.” Spike had a dramatic flair when he cooked that he didn’t show anywhere else. She wished she could see that side of him more often.

The tartine looked beautiful, the shredded vegetables were a splash of colour on top of the white aioli spread over the warm, crunchy toast. There was no doubt in Starlight’s mind that it would taste just as good as it looked.

The weather was less than ideal to eat outdoors today, so they settled for the small table where they had shared their midnight snack only two nights ago. They sat and ate in silence, with nothing but the hammering of the rain against the windows and the occasional shared thought to break the stillness in which they found themselves absorbed.

For her part, she didn’t mind the silence. She found genuine comfort in knowing she didn’t have to force small talk to fill the lulls in conversation, but that Spike would be willing to listen if she did have something to say.

Once again, Starlight had to wonder whether or not this was a good thing. From her point of view there was nothing wrong with sharing a moment of silence but she hadn’t stopped to think if Spike was okay with it. It was true he didn’t seem to be bothered by it if his sporadic smiling and content expression as he ate was anything to go by, but perhaps she shouldn’t settle for contentment. Perhaps there was something she could do to know for sure.

Like talking about this with him instead of with yourself, just to mention one thing, the voice in her mind chided her.

She tried not to roll her eyes at her conscience’s remark, though lately refuting what it said was starting to get harder.

“So…” she said, breaking the silence. Spike looked straight at her, eager to listen to what she had to say. “The tartine tastes great.”

You should be ashamed of yourself, Starlight.

“Heh… glad you like it,” Spike replied with a satisfied smirk plastered across his face.

At that moment, Starlight didn’t need her conscience’s help to chastise herself for not thinking of what to say to Spike. How does one bring up the topic of sex? Sure, there shouldn’t be anything to be ashamed of, but still. She felt… weird when trying to bring herself to talk about it. Should she drop the bomb just like that and hope it all works out? The last time she let her mouth get the better of her sure worked out, but she didn’t want to make a habit out of it. She somehow knew words wouldn’t flow as easily as they did yesterday if she tried to talk about it again, though.

Starlight gave a subtle eye roll before taking another bite of the tartine, chewing as slowly as possible, as if to buy herself as much time as possible before she had to say something.

Oh, yeah. You were more than comfortable with saying you should wait, but twelve hours later you’re already starting to get cold hooves, she thought to herself, and did her best to avoid letting out a disgruntled scoff.

Why was she acting like this? She was better than this, she was Starlight Glimmer, student of Princess Twilight, saviour of Equestria, and a self-made mare, why was she behaving like a teenager afraid of messing up with her first coltfriend?

Maybe because he technically is your—

“Spike,” Starlight said, with perhaps a bit too much eagerness in her tone.

“Uh, yeah?” Spike seemed startled by the sudden outburst. “Is everything alright? Do you want more aioli in your tartine? I think there was some left over.”

“No, no. The tartine is delicious, I’m… I…” Out with it already. “I just wanted to talk about yesterday.”

Spike’s look of confusion was quickly replaced by one of understanding, and just as quickly by one of slight worry. “Oh… You mean about, uh, making love?”

Starlight couldn’t stop a smile from spreading over her face as she heard the nervous edge in the dragon’s voice as he spoke those last words. She felt a bit guilty at finding solace in her partner's distress, but she took it as a sign he had been thinking about it as well. “Yes… About that.”

Now that she had finally pushed herself to say it out loud, she found that it wasn’t as bad as she thought. She wanted to scream a little bit and run away, yes, but not as much as she thought she would.

“Sorry, it’s just that I’ve been thinking about it a lot since yesterday and, I assure you that I was being honest when I said I wouldn’t be against it.” She levitated their plates aside, and extended a tentative hoof towards him, an action which the dragon was keen on returning. The gentle strokes of his claws against her fur gave her a sense of calm, something to serve as an anchor as she tried to navigate the maelstrom-filled waters of her mind.

Less poetry, more talking, an errant voice said.

“And I don’t think we should rush it, either. I… I want it to be special,” she finished with a shy smile, barely a curve of the edges of her mouth. The ball was in Spike’s court now.

“I want it to be special too, Star. For both of us, I think we deserve that.” The dragon was smiling, as well. Not a wide grin, but one that spoke of understanding and shared feelings.

Which made it all the harder to push forward, knowing that she ran the risk of accidentally hurting him. But if they were going to make this relationship work, it was going to require effort and sacrifice. If he… If either of them got hurt, then they still had each other. They’d find a way to make things work.

“We deserve that and much more, Spike…” Starlight felt as though she had to forcibly pull each word from deep inside of her. She knew this was something that would only get harder to talk about the longer she put it off. “Which is why I’ve got to be honest with you.”

There it was, that flicker of doubt in his eyes which soon spread to his face. “What do you mean, Star?”

She had to appreciate the firmness in his voice. Despite giving him a stereotypical ‘We have to talk’ speech, he was managing to keep his composure.

She hoped she could do the same.

“I meant every word I said, Spike. I like you, a lot. And it makes me incredibly happy to know that you like me too,” she said in an earnest tone.

“And I assume here’s where the ‘but’ comes into play,” Spike said, his voice carrying a small hint of apprehension.

“It is…” Starlight said. Her voice trailing off as the admittance settled in.

You’re doing great, Starlight. Just let it all out. She wasn’t sure if that was her conscience speaking or her own inner thoughts, but at this point trying to tell them apart was pointless. She could only keep going.

“The feelings I have for you… They aren’t what you’d call ‘recent,’” she said, hoping that Spike would catch the meaning of her words. Which wasn’t the case, if his blank stare was any indication.

Starlight cleared her throat, though that only seemed to increase the heat rising in her face.

“W-what I’m trying to say, Spike, is that while I’ve only recently come to realise just how deep my feelings for you run, the truth is I’ve had them for quite some time, even if I didn’t recognise them for what they were…” she trailed off once again, silently begging that he would understand what she mean, if only so she wouldn’t have to spell it out for him.

Which, if Spike’s look of utter expressionless was anything to go by, she would have to do after all.

If it turns out he’s just messing with me, I swear to Celestia I’ll make him pay.

“Spike?”

Those words broke the dragon from whatever reverie he had found himself trapped in.

“How long are we talking about?”

“I couldn’t say for sure when I started to think of you as more than just a friend, but… It was definitely since before you were eighteen.”

It was out now, her secret shame. To call it that was perhaps a bit exaggerated, if not outright melodramatic, but the feeling of being honest with herself and with Spike was refreshing. With a sigh, she resigned herself to wait for what—

“Oh.”

There was no hurt in his voice. No sign of discomfort or shock. No hint of discontent nor bewilderment. He sounded as calm as if she had told him they had run out of sugar.

I know I was being overly dramatic, but what’s with the nonchalance?

“That’s better than what I expected,” he said, a note of relief evident in his tone.

“Wha—Better? What do you mean ‘better’? How’s that better?” Starlight’s nervousness had faded almost entirely, leaving room only for confusion.

Spike’s eyes wandered around the room, as though the kitchen had suddenly become more eye-catching than her. “Maybe ‘better’ isn’t the best way of putting it. What I mean is that… Well, I was worried that if you were to have second thoughts it would be, I don’t know, because I’m a dragon, or something like that.”

That… wasn’t something Starlight had considered.

“Why would you think that, Spike?”

The dragon gave a half-hearted shrug. Just a quick rise and drop of his shoulders. “I don’t… I don’t know. Part of me still is somewhat surprised that you like me. I guess it’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around it all.”

Starlight was silent.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, Star. You’re pretty great, the idea of us being a couple is exciting, but it makes me a bit nervous, too.” The dragon paused as he took a deep breath. “I like you, I really do. I want this to work between us, so… I guess I’m just afraid I’m not going to be good enough, or that I may mess up somehow… I mean, I can imagine it must be weird to be with someone who isn't a pony, too.”

For a brief moment, the incessant pattering of the rain was the only sound breaking the silence between the two. Starlight bit her lip as she mulled over Spike’s words. She didn’t know what to say at the moment, though her inner voice didn’t seem to share that issue.

Such a great marefriend you’re turning out to be.

Ever since her confession a few nights ago, Starlight had spent so much time wrapped up in her own thoughts, in her own insecurities, she hadn’t really stopped to think that Spike must have been dealing with his own share of self-doubt about this whole issue. If it was anything like what she’d been through… the thought alone made her feel worse about clamming up her feelings.

“Uh… Star?”

“I can’t say that bothers me in the least.” The words came out of her so easily it surprised even herself, though deep down she knew them to be true. ”Through all the time we’ve known each other, you being a dragon hasn’t been an issue in our friendship. It’s just part of who you are, isn’t it?”

It was true, it really hadn’t been an issue. She had never thought of Spike as a dragon first and foremost, but rather as a friend—her friend—and as time went on, as something more.

“I guess it is…” Spike conceded, and a tension Starlight hadn’t noticed before seemed to lift from him.

“We’re friends. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve driven Twilight crazy on multiple occasions, we’ve gone on adventures, we’ve done so many things together, and I can’t think of a single moment where you being a dragon mattered to me,” Starlight spoke with a confidence that had eluded her for the past couple of days, but at that moment it was as though it had never left her.

Spike was frozen in place, his eyes flashing with that loveable emerald flame that gave her a glimpse into the volley of emotions that were going through his mind.

“I fell for who you are on the inside, Spike,” Starlight said, her voice and gaze mellowing as she stared at the dragon, “and that wouldn’t change if you were a dragon, a pony, or anything else.”

Or whether or not he was of legal age when you fell for him, a voice added.

She didn’t bother silencing the voice, she knew it was right. Her feelings for Spike didn’t change because he may have been young when she started to like him. She liked him now, and that was all that should matter to them or to anypony else, and if they dared to say anything about it… well, she’d deal with that herself should it come to that.

“Thanks, Star. You have no idea how much that means,” he said after a while. It was Spike’s turn to be silent now, though the hints of a smile tugging at his lips weren’t lost on her.

“Don’t think about that Spike, because I sure don’t,” she finally said as she reflexively took a sip of her rapidly cooling tea.

“If you say so.” Spike’s smile now blossomed into a full blown grin. “And hey, I can understand if it’s… If it’s weird to be in a relationship with someone younger than you—”

Starlight shook her head. She had already spent too much time getting worked up over nothing, she was not going to let her worries get to Spike as well. “It’s not,” she said in an even tone, “I was just being silly.”

“Hey, now…” Spike tried to speak, but Starlight kept going; she had to say this.

“I was, Spike. It doesn’t matter when I started to develop feelings for you. We’re both adults who decided to be in a relationship and that’s all that really matters.”

And it really did.

“You are great, Starlight,” he said with a sigh.

“I know.”

Starlight did her best to avoid breaking into a goofy grin when she heard the compliment. She could feel a slight warmth growing inside of her as waves of relief washed over her, eroding the writhing mass of dread and worry that she had built in her mind. Hopefully, the same was true for him.

“Spike… If something ever bothers you, or you feel there’s something you want to get off your chest, know that you can tell me anything. I’ll always be there to listen,” Starlight said, and she could feel his grasp on her hoof tighten as she spoke.

“Same back at you, Star…” At that moment she didn’t care about the rainy mood and overcast skies, his smile was as bright as the sun could ever be.

See? Talking things out is good for both of you, her conscience said, maybe you should do that more often.

She could have groaned at the voice’s remark but she found it hard to care about that seeing how she was awash with relief at the moment. Regardless, with that out of the way, Starlight wanted nothing more than for them to move onto another topic.

“A-anyway, what are the plans for today?” Starlight asked in hopes of steering the conversation into lighter territory.

“Well, there’s still not much to do while Twilight is still in the Crystal Empire. I was thinking about doing some cleaning and then try to find something to pass the time.”

The mischievous smile he wore as he said that last part wasn’t lost on Starlight, who reciprocated with a smile of her own.

“Is there a particular way you’d like to pass that time, Spike?” She promptly hid her muzzle behind her cup of tea, hoping Spike wouldn’t notice the corners of her mouth curling upwards.

“You,” he said, and he at least had the decency of waiting until she had finished drinking before saying that, “I have lots of things in mind, but mostly just you.”

A warmth spread through Starlight’s face that had little connection with the now completely cold tea she just drank. Of course there was no concrete reason to interpret Spike’s words as anything more than a desire to spend the day with his marefriend…

…But that won’t stop you from doing so, will it?

Hush, you.

“And what… do you have in mind that involves me?” she said, trying to curb the excitement in her voice.

Spike downed the last remnants of tartine with a slow sip of his tea, all without breaking eye contact with Starlight.

“Why don’t you guess?” he said in a whisper.

She took a measured, calming breath. She was willing to play Spike’s little game, but that didn’t mean she would let him take the lead so easily.

“Another movie night?” she asked, to which Spike shook his head.

That much was to be expected. They had spent the entire previous night watching, discussing, and making several imaginary improvements upon the first four Daring Do movies before going to sleep. As much as she enjoyed it, doing it again so soon would probably rob the experience of its charm.

“Well, the weather is less than stellar today, so going out isn’t an option,” she paused, “again.”

“Don’t worry about that, there’ll be plenty of chances for us to go out,” Spike said, settling down his empty cup on a tray. “So keep guessing.”

“I doubt either of us would be willing to partake in more board games for the time being,” she ventured.

“I don’t know about board games, but I’m sure Pinkie Pie would lend us her Twister if we asked nicely,” he said, nonchalant.

She huffed. You tease…

“Alright, I give up. Just what do you have in mind?” she asked, leaning forwards and giving him her most innocent smile.

“Maybe I shouldn’t tell you, and just surprise you with it…” he chose that moment to break eye contact and feign interest on his empty plate. The smile never left his face, however.

“Or maybe I should tie you to that chair and make you tell me.” She wished she hadn’t finished her tea. A perfectly-timed sip from her cup would have made that seem much more ominous.

“Aw… Come on, Star. Where’d be the fun in that?”

Starlight was about to point out in detail how much fun she’d have doing that—as well as the fun he’d get from it—but thought better of it. Instead she remained silent and waited for Spike to keep talking.

“I promise it’ll be worth the wait,” he said, and walked away from the table, carrying a tray with the remains of their breakfast.

She watched him walk away, and for a moment she entertained the thought of pressing further but accepted the futility of it. If Spike wanted to keep it a secret, then so be it. There was nothing wrong with giving him the benefit of the doubt and seeing if he could surprise her.

A smile tugged at her lips. “Fine, if you want to be mysterious, then I guess I’ll let you have it your way.”

“How gracious of you,” he said without turning around. “I promise it won’t take long.”

Starlight absentmindedly cleaned the edges of her mouth. “Take your time, Spike. Let me know when everything’s ready, I’ll be in the reading room.”

“Twilight left you an assignment?” he asked, giving her a sidelong glance as she walked away.

“No, nothing of the sort. I just have a few dictionaries and flying reference guides to check,” Starlight said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Before Spike could voice his curiosity, she turned around and kiss his cheek. “I’ll be waiting.”

And without another word, she left the flustered dragon behind.

Chapter 5

View Online

Starlight’s chest rose and fell as she took a series of deep, calming breaths. She feared that, lest she focused on every intake of air, she would start hyperventilating. And her fear was not without reason.

Spike stood in front of her, his snout a mere hoof away from her muzzle. At first glance, the dragon seemed calm in a way that contrasted heavily with the barely restrained eagerness that coursed through her body. However, being this close meant that she could notice the little signs that betrayed his façade: the tightness of his smile, the stiffness of his shoulders, the light shaking of his spines. Spike was just as nervous as her, she was just handling it worse than him.

The silence was becoming more than she could handle, but regardless of how many times she opened and closed her mouth, no words came. Spike seemed to notice her trepidation, he lifted one of his claws and gently pressed it against her lips.

The sensation was over far too soon for her liking as Spike drew back his claw, pulling down her bottom lip with a pleasant touch. It didn’t go far, though. It lingered just under her chin, close enough for her to feel her fur brushing against it. That she kept herself from biting down was a testament to Starlight’s diminishing restraint.

“It’s alright, Star,” Spike said, his eyes piercing her own as two beams of emerald fire, “Try not to think about it too much.”

Spike’s claw moved to rest on her shoulder and the contact of his scales against her coat sent shivers of anticipation down Starlight’s body.

“I’m just nervous…” she trailed off, but didn’t take her eyes away from Spike’s. As anxious as she felt, his reassuring stare was a rock in whom to take refuge. “It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this.”

“Do you trust me?” Spike said, tightening his grasp on her shoulder.

She nodded as it was all she could bring herself to do without succumbing to her nerves. For his part, Spike’s smile softened as his own eagerness dwindled. He eased his hold and slowly let his claw drift downward, rustling her coat as he slowly reached for her hoof.

“Just follow my lead,” he whispered.

Starlight nodded once again, deciding it was better than attempting to speak. Speaking got her in trouble, trouble got her into overthinking things, overthinking got her into soul-crushing debates with voices in her head and really, who wanted more of that?

Spike looked away from her for a moment but Starlight’s eyes never left him, she probably couldn’t have torn her gaze away even if she tried. She was once again letting her nervousness get the better of her, but at that moment, she didn’t mind. It was enthralling in a way. She could see Spike playing around with a small device whose name eluded her and she didn’t particularly care about remembering. Right now, the sole object of her focus was her partner.

“Are you ready?” Spike asked, still facing away.

“As much as I think I’ll ever be,” she whispered.

“Great. Let’s start, then,” Spike said with a smile.

There were moments, Starlight thought, when such a gesture was all that was needed to reaffirm a sense of confidence in a pony. When the warmth of a beaming grin was all it took to wash away even the most crippling of doubts and fears. Was it not Starswirl the Bearded who once said, “Give me a smile and a bottle of cider and I shall cross all of Equestria by hoof”?

Well, with all due respect to the elder stallion, at the moment she thought that was nothing more than a bunch of horse apples, because a smile was most definitely not enough to make her heart beat normally.

Starlight wanted to smile back, to let the eagerness and bubbling joy take over her and bask in shared happiness with Spike; however, that didn’t seem to be possible at the moment, if the deep-seated nervousness that had settled in her mind was anything to go by.

Spike, perhaps sensing her worry, looked back at her with that smile still plastered over his face. He wasted no time in helping her stand in her hind legs and pulling her closer to him. She was a bit wobbly, and the jitters running through her body made it all the harder not to fall down. But it was alright, Spike was holding her.

He got closer, enough for her to lay her right hoof on his shoulder. As she did this, Spike reached for her hips with his free claw and she suspected it wasn’t purely to help her keep her balance. That’s not to say she’d object, though.

A few strides away from them, a faint sound gained momentum, growing slightly louder with every passing second until it exploded into an amalgamation of musical instruments playing all at once.

“Let’s dance,” he whispered, and once again Starlight found that nodding was all she could do. The melody shifted to the sound of soft strings and soon a crooning voice filled the room, though she was only vaguely aware of what the words said.

Spike never broke eye contact as he took the first step. His left foot moved backwards, and his whole body trailed off with him. Trying to keep up, Starlight moved forward, though her tempo was off for a few seconds and she nearly tumbled on top of Spike as a result.

“Easy…” Spike said as his grip on her grew stronger, making sure she wouldn’t fall.

“Sorry,” she said.

Spike didn’t pay her mistake any mind, he simply kept moving in time with the music, guiding her every step of the way.

As he stepped to the side, he gave her a gentle pull to keep her moving with him. She let herself be guided by him. Spike’s movements were gentle, but firm enough for her to be comfortable. She appreciated his patience, it was hard to keep her rhythm while balancing on her hind legs, but seeing how it brought her chest closer to Spike’s, she was willing to make that compromise.

A trombone played in the background, bringing her back from her reverie. With decisiveness, she took a step forward in time with the music. Spike, in turn, gave a step back, turning around as he dragged Starlight with him. Maybe he still wasn’t big enough or strong enough to lift her, but by Celestia he was getting there.

The unicorn let out a soft giggle that was drowned by the singing voice, but the smile that bloomed on her face grew unabashed.

Slowly, they fell into the rhythm of the music. Starlight still had a misstep or two every now and then—a moment when she got ahead of the music or fell behind—, but every time Spike was quick to make up for her mistakes, and she more than made up with the next move.

As they swayed across the polished floors of the castle’s improvised ballroom, Starlight’s grip grew firmer, more confident, almost as if through her touch she tried to let Spike know she was enjoying herself.

Moving alongside the dragon in time with the orchestra, she realised how easier it got to dance the less she actually thought about it. She wouldn’t deny that focusing on Spike’s gaze helped a little bit.

A step forward, followed by a step back, then a step forward, and forward again. She made the effort to give an extra twirl with her hind leg as she moved, even in spite of her heart fluttering every time her fur brushed against the scales of his chest.

When the singing stallion made a brief, lingering pause, Spike dragged his claws across her side, rising from her hips and towards her back. As his fingers traced a meandering path on her coat, she felt small jolts of electricity course through her body that she knew couldn’t be chalked up to static.

Without losing focus on her own steps, Starlight’s hoof dropped until she held Spike’s arm, giving it a gentle squeeze that seemed to say “Bring me closer.”

They slowly spun in place, their eyes never leaving each other’s. Starlight nearly lost her rhythm, but a few steps after that, it was as though it never happened.

Starlight could feel the sound of violins long before they actually started playing. Before she had the chance to react to the change in the song, Spike pulled her back, letting go of her hoof as he made her spin in place. She gave a few whirls, always guided by the dragon’s gentle oversight, before he took her in his arms, making her come to a stop and slowly let her body lean back.

As her mane hung limply, she felt a soft breeze caress the fur on her nape and it was in that moment that she realised how hot she felt.

Probably in more ways than one, a voice in her mind said, but she was quick to ignore it. She was having far too much fun to let her thoughts get in the way.

With the tenderness that characterised his movements, Spike made a sweeping motion that brought Starlight back up, his snout almost grazing her lips. They stood immobile for a second that seemed to stretch eternally, but just as Starlight’s breathing threatened to descend into shuddering gasps, Spike gave a step to the side and quickly circled his partner until he was standing right behind her, his chest pressed against her back.

For a brief moment, Starlight felt as though her heart had stopped in shock. It seemed to think so as well, seeing how it dramatically increased the rate of its beating as if to pick up its slack.

Spike’s claws never left her body, he had her wrapped in his embrace. She could feel his heart beating against her own body, but her own erratic heart made it hard to notice whether or not he was anxious as well.

With one claw holding her by her barrel, the other one was free to caress her shoulder, going down her foreleg until he held her hoof in his grasp. She could feel his hot breath on the side of his face as he leaned closer, rising her foreleg over their heads.

Soon, the melodious flow of the violins was replaced with a quick string staccato, and at this change Spike gave a step back.

Starlight didn’t know what to make of that sensation. On one hoof, she missed the heat that Spike’s body emanated, now replaced by a rush of cold air; on the other one, she probably shouldn’t get too hung up on something so inconsequential.

Spike didn’t give her time to ponder the thought any further. With a quick yet gentle pull, he sent Starlight spinning towards him once more. She lifted both of her forelegs above her head as Spike kept guiding her across the room and just before she could start getting dizzy, she bumped into him.

Forelegs wrapped around his neck, Starlight stepped closer and gave the underside of his jaw an affectionate nuzzle. She once again felt his hot breath tickle the tip of her horn, sending pleasurable jolts through her body.

Spellbound as they were, they still managed to pull themselves back to reality as the strumming of the guitars continued.

They slid across the floor, bodies moving in unison, crouching ever so slowly as their legs spread apart only to quickly come back together. Another step to the side, quicker this time, and then another.

Spike’s hands stopped just above her hips, and she gave a little surprised yelp as he lifted her off the ground just enough for both of them to be able to spin together.

Perhaps he was strong enough.

Starlight’s legs gave out as Spike set her down, thankfully she still had her forelegs over his shoulders, so her little slip seemed more of an endearing—if a bit audacious—gesture than a mistake.

Pulling herself together, Starlight stood up without ever breaking eye contact or withdrawing her hooves, and made the next step in beat with the trumpets.

For added effect, she crossed her legs with each step she took, swaying her hips as she did so and was more than pleased to see Spike’s eyes follow her every move.

The stallion’s voice grew stronger as he moved onto the last stanza of the song, time to go all the way.

She let herself move a few steps away from him without letting go, her hooves going down his chest, feeling the tight muscles underneath his scales. Sliding one of her rear legs all the way to the back before coming back right in front of him with a thrust, Starlight did her best to charge each motion with all the burgeoning desire that burned inside of her.

Spike closed the distance between them, holding her by her hips as he spun in place. A kick to the air with every step along the fading rhythm of the song, a quick twirl as the tempo of the strings grew, a quick brush of her tail against his thighs, a stroke that threatened to veer too low before coming back to place. These little actions kept piling on the tension growing between the two dancers, and Starlight could see it in the rising hunger in the dragon’s eyes.

As the last strings and marimba beats faded away, Spike spread out his legs and gently leaned forward, carrying Starlight with him. Not to be outdone, Starlight let her own hind legs wrap around Spike’s right thigh.

Soon enough, the music faded away, only to be replaced by the sound of their heavy breathing. Neither of them wanted to tear their eyes away from each other, preferring to bask in the heat of the moment.

“I think I enjoyed that…” Starlight finally said after a few moments of silence. She was sure she had a goofy smile plastered all over her face but she didn’t care, she felt far too happy to worry about appearances.

Spike returned her smile, with equal smugness from his part. “I think I liked it, too,” he said. Still holding her by her back, his snout only a breath away from hers, Spike freed one of his claws and raised it to sweep away an errant strand of hair from her face. “Wanna go again?”

Starlight let out a short laugh while doing her best to give the dragon her most seductive smile. She ended up enjoying their little dance much more than she thought she would, and would definitely be up for another round. Her hooves played with the spines on his back as she eyed him up and down, biding her time before she answered.

“Well?” he prodded her.

She inhaled softly, taking in the slightly musty scent that started to permeate the air around them. Yes, she’d like to go again. With that smile still across her face, she gently tilted her head to the side and, leaning closer, she said—

“O-oh my…”

Under different circumstances, Starlight may have found funny how quickly the heat she felt morphed into a cold that chilled her to the bone. And if Spike’s expression was anything to go by, he was experiencing a similar phenomenon.

They turned their heads in unison to face the source of the intruding voice. Just outside of an open door stood a quivering yellow pegasus with a bright red face clad in an equally yellow raincoat, holding a half-covered cage with a grey and brown feathered bird in it.

“Hoo…” the old bird let out.

“I… I… I didn’t… I didn’t mean to—” Fluttershy said. Her left hoof was covering her mouth and even behind her hat and flowing mane that hid most of her face, it was clear her cheeks were burning up with a furious blush.

Realising they were still in a somewhat compromising position, Starlight let go of Spike’s neck as she turned herself around without ever making eye contact with either of them.

“Uh… Hello, Fluttershy,” Spike said, in what Starlight thought was an effort to defuse the awkwardness in the room.

“Owlowiscious was feeling better now, and I was going to bring him back earlier today, b-but I lost track of time, and the rain was coming down really hard, and I—” She kept speaking, running over her own sentences as she tried to excuse her herself.

The elder bird looked at them, barely moving its head before once more looking towards Spike. Starlight could’ve sworn he smiled.

“Why don’t you let me take care of him?” Spike spoke in a calming tone as he walked towards Fluttershy.

The pegasus gave a jerky nod, as if the muscles in her neck had grown tenser, and extended the cage for him to take.

“Let’s go, big guy. I’m going to take you to Twilight’s room, it’s alright,” he said, doing his best to sound comforting. If his tone was meant to soothe just the owl, or her as well, Starlight didn’t know, but she wanted to believe it was.

With no small amount of hesitation, Starlight looked back at Fluttershy. Once they made eye contact, the shy pegasus let out a squeak and promptly bursted into another apologetic tirade.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt, I’m sorry I did! It’s just that Twilight left Owlowiscious in my care before she left for the Crystal Empire, you know how he’s been now that he’s so old. And then she didn’t come back, so I got worried, and it’s not like I didn’t want to keep Owlowiscious back at my cottage, but it’s better for him to see familiar sights. That’s why I brought him here, honestly.”

“Right, uh… Fluttershy…” Starlight started, trying to calm her down, but the pegasus kept talking.

“If I’d know you were busy, I wouldn’t have come. I didn’t know you were making out, I’m sorry I interrupted.”

“W-we, we weren’t—”

“I-I didn’t even know you were together! Congratulations, by the way.”

“Fluttershy,” Starlight said, grabbing the pegasus by the shoulders, “please calm down.”

Fluttershy’s features softened, if only a bIt, though the shock never left her eyes. Perhaps she would at least be more receptive to listening her.

“This isn’t really how we would’ve liked ponies to find out…” Starlight trailed off. It’s funny how one can remain completely oblivious to some things until you’re forced to acknowledge them.

All this time, she hadn’t thought about how they’ll break the news to their friends. They would have to tell their friends, of course, it’s not like she wanted to keep it a secret. She wanted to tell their friends, so they could all be happy for them. It’s just that they had been cooped up in the castle almost since Twilight left a few days ago with no company other than each other and, while she couldn’t argue with the results, it probably hadn’t been the healthiest thing to do, in hindsight.

No wonder she had started hearing voices.

She then noticed she’d spent the last minute in silence, and Fluttershy was eyeing her with worry. Shaking her head, she spoke, “We, uh, we just hadn’t gotten around telling anyone. We’ve only been together for little over two days.”

Fluttershy remained sheepish for a few seconds before her lips stretched into a smile. “I didn’t know you liked each other… Still, I’m happy you’re together.”

“It’s been a long time coming, really. We’ve been close for so long, those feelings kind of crept up on me,” Starlight admitted, giving Fluttershy a smile of her own.

“A long time, huh?” Fluttershy asked, and Starlight couldn’t sense any ill intent in her words. No judgement, no contempt. Just genuine curiosity.

Why had she been so worked up all these days?

“Yes… He was always by my side when I started learning about friendship. Every light jab, every playful joke, every time he lend me an ear when I needed one… They all made me appreciate me more, and I guess with time those feelings got more intense.”

“Yeah, no wonder she fell so hard for me,” Spike said from atop the staircase, catching both mare’s attention.

Starlight could feel her cheeks reddening, but didn’t let the embarrassment get to her. “Is that so? Because I don’t remember you putting much of an objection,” she said, giving they young dragon a playful look as he sauntered down the stairs.

“Starlight, please,” Spike replied, an expression of mock indignation in his face, “how could a noble gentle dragon such as myself deny the request of a beautiful mare who poured her heart to me?”

Now it was her turn to put on an expression of mock hurt. Looking at her friend, who had stayed silent throughout their exchange, Starlight said, “Did you hear that, Fluttershy? He only wants me for my looks!”

Fluttershy covered her mouth with a hoof, and soon the sound of soft giggling filled the room.

“Wow,” she said, her eyes going back and forth over the couple, “you really look like a couple.”

Walking up to Starlight, Spike wrapped an arm around her neck and brought her close to him. “We feel like one, too,” he said as he gently scratched the side of her face.

With a flushed face and a goofy grin, Starlight leaned into the hug, rubbing her cheek against the dragon’s chest. Her dragon, her mind added with no small amount of satisfaction.

“Aw… That’s so sweet.” Fluttershy said, a wide smile on her face. However, Starlight saw that smile waver for a second as the pegasus looked at Spike. It seemed as though she wanted to say something to him before she blinked and turned her gaze downwards. Weird. After a few seconds of silence, she looked back at the door and turned to give the couple an apologetic smile. “I, uh, I have to get going. The rain won’t stop until nighttime, and I have to make sure my animals are okay… And congratulations, once more.”

“Take care, Fluttershy,” Spike said. “You’re preemptively invited to the party Pinkie Pie will be throwing for us once she finds out.”

Fluttershy let out a soft giggle, and soon enough the three of them were sharing a laugh as the last remnants of tension left them. With nothing more to say, Fluttershy adjusted her raincoat and headed back to her cottage while Spike and Starlight stood under the doorway, looking at their friend walk away.

Spike brought up a good point, though. They were going to tell the rest of their friends about them, they’d had to. Knowing Pinkie, she’d make a party to celebrate it. And if the last few days had taught her anything was that there was no better time than the present, so why wait?

“We should tell her,” she whispered as she enjoyed Spike’s embrace. The words came out so naturally, it took her a moment to realise she’d spoke out loud.

“What?”

“Pinkie Pie. We’re going to tell everypony else, and we have to start somewhere. Besides, I’m sure she would appreciate the extra time to plan the party.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Besides, I’m sure Owlowiscious would like to have some peace and quiet for a while. The gramophone will still be here when we come back.” Just to sweeten the deal, she winked at him.

A mellow smile found its way to Spike’s face. “Sure thing, Star. Let me get an umbrella and we can—” just as he turned around, Starlight pulled him back with her magic.

Starlight looked at him with a playful smirk as she tugged his tail.

“Hey, Spike…” she said, the singsong of her voice giving the dragon pause.

“Uh… Yeah?”

Keeping him in place, Starlight gave a slow step towards him, putting deliberate sway to the movement of her body, just as she had done when they were dancing, applying what she had learned like a good student.

Spike, meanwhile seemed to be too preoccupied with sending blood to his face to do anything else. He eyed her warily, but never broke eye contact. As she got closer to him, though, she could see the little signs of his nervousness: the way his shoulders rose ever so slightly; how his jaw hung loosely, making his lips part; how his eyes didn’t know where to focus, if her face, or her whole body… Being able to elicit these reactions from him caused a small flicker of pride to course through her.

She was close enough that she could make out the scales on his face.

Or simply make out, the voice said after a whole afternoon of absence. Starlight wondered why it had been silent through Fluttershy’s visit.

“What… do you say… if…” she said, her volume dropping with every word as she leaned forward, tilting her head and closing her eyes slightly.

“Yeah…?” Spike asked her, a nervous edge still in his voice, but it felt more expectant than worried.

Starlight closed the distance between them as she pursed her lips, bypassed his mouth, got close to his ear, and whispered, “Last one at Sugarcube Corner buys the snacks.”

She didn’t wait for his reaction, as sweet as she knew it’d be, but rather turned around and ran away from the castle and into the rain.

That had been foalish, and perhaps a bit mean-spirited. Still, her chest bubbled with some undetermined mix of emotions which made her feel so giddy. She was having fun. Plain, unadulterated fun, and she was loving it.

A look over her shoulder let her know Spike was closing the Castle’s door in a hurry, and with less than a second of hesitance, jumped down the stairs and started to run after her.

The rain dampened her coat and mane, and even though the coldness started to make its way to her skin, the warmth coming from her chest overshadowed it.

As she ran, cold, wet, and happy, Starlight couldn’t help but laugh.

Chapter 6

View Online

Her coat was damp and her soaked mane was sticking to her face; the more she ran, the wind and rain made her wetter and colder. And she didn’t care one bit.

Starlight ran through the streets of Ponyville, the rain coming down on her and making the trek more than a bit arduous, but the happiness in her overshadowed any discomfort. As she slowed down to take a corner, she looked back at the dragon running behind her. Spike was still almost half a block away from her, but even in spite of the rain, she could clearly make out the smile on his face. In turn, that sight made her smile much wider.

To think that just a couple of years ago, a much younger mare, barely an adult, had given up almost entirely on the thought of ever connecting with people again. How could she have been so blind? No amount of power had ever made her feel as fulfilled as she did at that moment. No magic felt as powerful as the affection she had for Spike. As she ran the last block to Sugarcube Corner, she couldn’t help but appreciate the sheer happiness in which she found herself.

She finally skidded to a halt in front of the colourful building. Just a few seconds later, Spike caught up to her. Neither spoke for a while, busy as they were trying to catch their breath. After a moment, Starlight looked up at him, and felt her breath escape her once more when she saw how the light glistened on Spike’s wet scales, making him look somehow even more handsome than usual.

“Starlight Glimmer…” the dragon said between gasps for breath. “Likes fancy meals, hot dragons, and racing under the rain.”

She blinked for a couple of seconds before putting on a smirk and replied in a way that she hoped would mask her lungs’ own lack of air, “I know, you really lucked out with me, didn’t you?”

“You’re a riot, Star,” Spike said, sounding more calm now that he had rested for a moment. He took a step forward and when he did, the light coming from the inside of the building reflected on his eyes and wet scales, making him shine and feel like a warm spot against the cold rain.

“Let’s get in,” she finished, and turned before the urge to pounce him and kiss him into submission was too strong to resist. She used her magic to remove most of the water from her coat and mane while Spike shook himself like a dog to get rid of the droplets of rain still clinging to his scales. Some habits die hard, she supposed. Without further ado, Starlight opened the door and walked into the bakery, where a happy and bubbly voice greeted her.

“Hi, Starlight!” Pinkie Pie yelled from the counter, waving a hoof at her. When she saw Spike walk in behind her, she started waving her other hoof. ”Hi, Spike!”

“Hi, Pinkie,” they both replied in unison.

Just as Spike closed the door, Pinkie jumped from behind the counter and began scrubbing their bodies with large towels.

“Why did you run into the rain without an umbrella, sillies? That’s how ponies get sick.” Pinkie paused as she pulled one of the towels from Spike’s body and eyed his scales with a frown. “Okay, mister. You get a pass.”

“It’s good to see you, Pinkie,” was Spike’s only reply.

“And it is good to see you two. You know, there haven’t been a lot of customers today. I figured the rain would make some stay at home, but who doesn’t like a hot cup of chocolate and a cake fresh out of the oven on a rainy day?”

Pinkie Pie finally stepped back—the damp towels conspicuously absent—and gave them one of her usual wide smiles. “So!” she said with cheer. “What can I do for you tonight?”

Starlight turned to look at Spike. He returned her gaze for a few seconds before lifting a hand and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, which filled her with reassurance.

“Well, someone’s in a huggy mood. Did you come for hugs? Because I can always make time for hugs.”

“No, Pinkie, we…” Starlight trailed off once more. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to ease the remnants of nervousness from her mind. “We wanted to tell you something.”

Pinkie Pie just kept smiling, tilting her head to one side to show she was listening.

“We’re together!” Spike yelled before Starlight could say anything, his voice dripping with excitement as he spoke. Excitement she noticed was curiously absent from Pinkie.

She had stopped in her tracks, with her front hooves just a hair’s breadth away from touching the floor. Her eyes were wide, her mouth hung open, and her ears swivelled until they were directed at them. Other than that, she made no motion.

“As in, romantically,” Starlight added.

Pinkie Pie, however, remained immobile, much Starlight’s bafflement.

“You know, couples. More than friends,” Spike offered tentatively, as if trying to provoke a reaction out of the earth pony.

“Pinkie? Are you—”Starlight started, but at that moment she noticed Pinkie wasn’t still. On the contrary, she was actually vibrating. Before either of them could mention it, Pinkie Pie exploded. Not literally, at least… not as far as Starlight could tell, but she did let out a loud unidentifiable sound as she jumped high into the air, collided with the ceiling, ricocheted towards them, and threw her arms around their shoulders. She then took in a large gasp of air as Starlight noticed a faint musical accompaniment starting to swell up.

My two friends got together
Because they’re so in love
May you two last forever
And have delight in troves

There is no greater feeling
Than when you feel in love
Your heart shots through the ceiling
Flying like a big dove

You two are now a couple
I wish you all the best
Now all your joys are doubled
As is everything… else?

Suddenly, just as it had started, the music stopped and Pinkie slumped. With a huff she let go of them and took out a small notebook and a pencil out of her mane and started scribbling in it. “Best and else? Ugh… What was I thinking?”

Starlight blinked. She then blinked again. She blinked one more time and realised the wetness of her eyes wouldn’t bring her any closer to understanding what just happened.

“Did she just…” she trailed off.

“Huh… It’s been a while since she last jumped into song,” Spike said, somewhat impressed as he rubbed his chin.

It’s not that she wasn’t used to randomly bursting into song from time to time, but Pinkie’s spontaneous little number had caught her off guard. It was, however, possibly the most positive outcome of having told her about their relationship.

As if sensing their confusion, which was probably the case, Pinkie turned around and gasped again, holding her hooves together as her eyes grew wider to the point it started to creep Starlight.

“You’re a couple!” she squealed as she ran back towards them, stopping less than a stride away, and leaned forwards, going back and forth between Spike and her, getting closer and closer to their faces. “This is amazing! I’m so happy for you two. You’ve got to tell me everything!”

Taking a step back, Starlight looked at Spike and smiled. “There’s not much to tell, really. It just… Happened. And I couldn’t be happier it did. I’m glad to be Spike’s marefriend.”

She wasn’t sure if the squeaky sounds were coming from Pinkie Pie, Spike, or herself, but she didn’t care. It felt so good to take this off her chest and be able to openly tell ponies Spike was her special some… body? Yeah, that worked for now. Just as she was about to speak again, Spike’s stomach grumbled loudly, making him blush, and making her smirk.

“Hungry, Spike?” Starlight asked with a sardonic edge to her voice.

“Ha ha. As if you’re not hungry after today’s workout,” Spike replied before lifting a claw and gently poking her snout. Out of the corner of her eyes, Starlight saw Pinkie Pie giving her a smug look.

Yeah, if anyone would take the opportunity to tease her, it would be Pinkie Pie. Maybe Rainbow Dash, if she got over the “mushy” aspects.

“Don’t get any ideas, we were just dancing,” Starlight said, waving her hoof in Pinkie’s general direction.

“I didn’t say anything,” Pinkie Pie said as her smugness grew. It only lasted for a few seconds more before it her face changed to her usual happy state. “Wait, I have an idea!”

With that, Pinkie turned around and jumped back towards the counter, and somersaulted the rest of the way before landing behind the cash register with her front hooves outstretched, somehow avoiding to hit anything on her way.

“As my way of saying congratulations for your relationship, you can have any cake you’d like! It’s on Pinkie!”

That piqued Starlight’s interest. She had to admit she was a bit hungry after the dancing. Eager as they were, they’d only had a quick lunch before they started to clear the main hall for their little activity, and such—ahem—strenuous activities had made her work up an appetite. Just as she was about to thank Pinkie and ask which cakes paired well with strawberries and ice cream, Spike spoke.

“Actually, Pinkie,” he said with a raised claw, “I was wondering if you could let us bake something ourselves.”

Starlight leaned back, giving him an amused but approving look. She wouldn’t deny she enjoyed cooking with him, and it seemed like a fun way to spend the afternoon until the rain waned. She never stopped marveling at how she’d come to find enjoyment in doing otherwise mundane things with him, and yet here she was, excited about the idea of baking something just because it would mean doing it with him. Of course, that would only be possible if Pinkie agreed to—

Her train of thought was derailed by Pinkie Pie letting out a weird sound that made her think of someone making a squealing noise while gasping at the same time. When she turned around, she saw Pinkie Pie bouncing in place while squeezing her cheeks. Her eyes were wide open, and glistened under the room’s light.

“That’s such a great idea!” Pinkie yelled just as her odd high pitched noises started to reach uncomfortable levels. “You can make a cake for each other, that would be so fun! And romantic! But mostly fun! And tasty!”

Starlight smiled at the sight of their overjoyed friend. She had a good point, though. Baking alongside each other would be fun. They’d been doing that a lot lately, after all.

“If we’re not imposing,” she said, offering some bit of token resistance to mask her eagerness. “Are you sure the Cakes won’t mind?”

“You silly filly, of course they won’t! This is a gift from aunt Pinkie Pie for you two lovebirds. I can’t imagine a better way for a couple to spend an hour or so!” Pinkie assured her, and was quick to push them through the kitchen doors before Starlight could properly process what the baker had just said.

Soon enough they found themselves in the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner, each with a nice apron of their own. Starlight noted that Spike looked better in frills, but saved the thought for later. She looked around the kitchen with fondness, remembering the time Mrs. Cake had banned her from the bakery for daring to create a cake with magic. She had initially thought the older mare was just exaggerating, but then she had tasted her own cake. While it hadn’t been bad, it lacked that special something that made the Cake’s cakes so good. And she wouldn’t dream of changing Spike’s cooking for anything magically generated.

Besides, cooking was fun in and of itself.

“Do you have any idea of what you want to do?” Spike asked her as he started taking out pots and whisks.

Starlight shrugged. “I thought I could look through the recipe books around here and see what caught my eye.” Turning around, she looked at the shelf near the corner, as removed from the hustle and bustle of the daily routine as it could be while remaining in the same room. She pulled a few with her magic and brought them towards her, opening them as they floated so they showed the index. Her eyes scanned the table of contents, looking for something that caught her interest.

Ideally, she would’ve crushed a few gems and added that to the dough of any cake, but seeing how this was a spontaneous thing, she didn’t think it would be appropriate to ask if the Cakes had any gems to spare. Therefore, she’d have to make do with a plain old recipe and make it the best she could possibly do to satisfy Spike.

That was easier said than done.

All the recipes looked interesting, and she was sure they’d all be delicious once done, but none caught her eye that much. She wanted something simple, but eye-catching. Something elegant, but that wouldn’t be too complex. Something that felt meaningful, but that didn’t make it seem as if she had spent a long time trying to think what she should do.

Again, easier said than done.

Her eyes trailed the rows of desserts with foreign names, none of which she could recognise. Though Zabaglione sounded funny, she’d have to try that some other time.

You’re wasting time, Starlight, she heard her conscience or whatever it was say, and let out a sigh as she realised it was speaking the truth. As she looked up, she saw Spike was already taking out ingredients and portioning them.

“You seem like a dragon with a plan,” Starlight said as she closed the first cookbook, deeming it too extravagant.

Spike didn’t reply right away. He didn’t even look at her. He simply swayed his head from one side to another as he hummed. “Perhaps,” he finally said. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to try, and it won’t need too many ingredients. I think I can pull it off, and I hope you”—he stopped himself once he looked up at her, his happy expression morphing into a questioning look. “Starlight are you pouting?”

“I’m not…” she replied while pouting.

“Are you alright?” he asked her as she took a few steps closer. “Are you sure you want to do one on your own? We could always bake something together.”

Though her first instinct was to say yes—and her vocal chords had already started voicing her agreement—she stopped herself and looked back at the remaining cook book.

“I’m sure, Spike. I want to bake something for you,” she said with finality.

Spike looked at her with an inscrutable air to his gaze. After a few seconds, a smile crept up his lips and he nodded. “I look forward to it.”

Starlight was quick to give him a smile of her own before once more looking down and reading through the list of cakes and other pastries, hoping to find something that felt right. Her best bet was to go for something familiar, something that felt safe while still letting her try new things. There’d be time for more daring experimenting later.

Thinking back to the last couple of days, and to the things they’d cooked together, she had played the role of the assistant every time, so anything too complex was immediately out of the picture. The tartine had been simple and delicious, that was just a toast with toppings. Perhaps she could apply the same principle to what she would end up baking. If she did a simple but tasty base cake, she could add some fruits, or fudge, maybe even—

Her eyes widened at one recipe near the end of one page. It was exactly what she wanted, it wasn’t too complicated to make, it gave her freedom to try different things on top of it, and she had been kind of fantasising about it for a while now.

“Strawberry Shortcake…” she murmured. The dough was simple and there was no way she could mess up the strawberries. It was perfect. With a smile and renewed spirits, she smiled and looked up at Spike, who was already picking out his ingredients, and she set out to do the same.

One bowl, a measuring cup, a pan, and a wooden spoon later, Starlight was ready to start working on the shortcake. The dough didn’t require much. Fortunately, the Cakes had self-rising flour, so that saved her the effort of having to measure the salt and the baking powder. She’d just have to add the sugar.

She measured two cups of flour and added a quarter cup of sugar, using her magic to make sure it mixed properly. Setting it aside, she focused on the butter. The book said she needed to melt the butter before adding it to the dry ingredients alongside the sugar. Simple enough. She turned around to face the stove, holding the stick of butter and a pan with her magic, and started to work. She separated the rough equivalent of four tablespoons of butter and threw it into the pan. As she started to hear the sizzling noise of the hot pan doing its magic, she smiled in satisfaction and brought the cooking book towards her.

She gave the pan a shake as she read the book. Even though she had added the sugar to the flour straight away, the book said the sugar had to be added alongside “the rest of the wet ingredients”. Now, Starlight was well aware of her limitations as a cook, but that didn’t sound right to her. Sugar was distinctly not wet, after all. It’s not as if the recipe asked for a sweetener. Honey, molasses, that weird liquid stevia thing that got popular for a while… Those were liquids, so they were wet. Sugar, however, were rocks—in spite of Maud’s passionate arguments to the contrary—and by their very nature they were not wet. Was this another case of a misnomer? She hadn’t gotten around checking what was the deal with pegasus and near misses. Either way, although she was sure there was a reason why they were called that, if she couldn’t drown in it, then she didn’t see how it was “wet”. If anything, it only made sense to—Wait, what’s that smell?

Starlight tore her gaze from the book and did a double take as her butter had gone from molten to a slightly dark brown. She whipped her head from side to side in panic. Without thinking, she grabbed the bottle of heavy cream she’d taken from the fridge and poured its cold contents into the pan. That seemed to do the trick, or at least she hoped it had. A sidelong glance told her that Spike hadn’t noticed a thing, and was busy mixing something on a double boiler.

Quickly, she took the wooden spoon and poured the butter and cream mixture into the flour and sugar and started mixing. It was only after she was done that she noticed the rest of the butter sitting on a little plate next to the stove and had to fight the urge to groan in frustration.

It’s okay, she thought, it’s not like the butter burned. It was probably just toasted… Just toasted. No need to panic.

WIth deep breaths, Starlight managed to calm herself down. She could still pull through and make a delicious cake for Spike. She kept mixing and mixing until the batter became a solid, pliable mass which would hopefully become a rich shortcake. As she took the dough, she realised she may have made a teensy bit too much for just one dragon. Or one dragon and one pony. In hindsight, she probably should’ve checked the portions of the recipe before she started this whole thing. Maybe the Cakes would appreciate four or five additional shortcakes for tomorrow, who knows.

Either way, Starlight finished rolling the dough and cut it into six generous portions. She brushed them with more heavy cream and gave them a dusting of sugar as the book instructed, and placed them on a buttered tray.

“Ready for the oven?” Spike asked her.

Starlight looked up and saw him holding a circular mold filled with a dark brown mixture. Chocolate? Probably.

“Yeah. I need the oven at…” she trailed off as she checked the recipe book once more, “two hundred and twenty degrees Celsius! Wait, I didn’t heat the oven.”

“What a coincidence, same temperature as mine,” he added with a smile.

“How long until—”

“It’s already at the perfect temperature,” he assured her. After a second of silence, he rolled his eyes innocently and added, “I may have used my fire to help speed things up.”

She cracked a smirk at that. “And here I was doing my best to not use too much magic.”

“And I’m very proud of you for that, Starlight.” He marked his words with a thumbs up and a wink.

“Oh, stuff it.”

“Gladly!” Spike said, and picked up Starlight’s tray. “Interesting… Don’t tell me what they are just yet. I want to see the finished product.”

With that, he turned around—Starlight noted he definitely looked cuter on the frilly apron—and walked towards the oven. Opening it with his tail, he leaned forwards to put the trays in just as Starlight leaned to the right.

Even though it lasted only a few seconds, she got a good glimpse of Spike’s toned backside. It took every shred of self-control not to whistle at the sight of his buns, but she managed to keep her composure and looked away once he stood up.

“How long do yours have to be in?” He asked.

“Uh, hold on… Let’s see, eighteen minutes.”

With deft fingers, Spike picked up a timer and set it to the appropriate time. As soon as he was done, he picked up another one and cranked it, too. “Mine only needs fifteen minutes. I’ll get to work on my raspberry sauce.”

Starlight blinked. “Oh! Yeah, I have to do my strawberries!”

She turned around and trotted to the fridge, where she found a small bowl with several strawberries. Enough for a few portions, she noted. With a smile, she floated the bowl out and walked back to the counter. As she set them on a cutting board and started quartering them, she started humming. She hadn’t meant to do so, she just started. Perhaps Pinkie’s impromptu song had stuck with her, or perhaps she was just that happy. Either way, questioning it wouldn’t make her happier. Actually, it may even have the opposite effect. So she focused on cutting the strawberries while humming all the way. Once she was done, she put them back in the bowl and took another look at the recipe book.

“Add a quarter cup of sugar and let them rest in the fridge for an hour. This will help draw water from the strawberries… Wait, is that why sugar is considered a wet ingredient?”

“What was that, Star?” Spike asked from across the counter.

“Uh, nothing,” she replied meekly as she hid behind the book and read that last part once more.

The book said that the sugar was supposed to be added with the rest of the wet ingredients, and it later explained that adding sugar to the strawberries served to draw out the water. So did that mean that sugar was a wet ingredient because it made things wet? But that can’t be right. Something wasn’t wet because it made other things wet, they can’t attribute a property of something to the one that caused its state. Just because adding sugar to something made it wet, it didn’t mean sugar itself was wet.

Just like Spike isn’t wet just because he makes you wet.

Starlight blinked as she processed what her mind had just said. It’s not that it was wrong, far from the truth. It was just that… that was probably the first time she openly acknowledged to herself how much she desired Spike on a sexual level, and it was brought out by sugar.

Sugar.

She looked down as her ears drooped. She probably shouldn’t feel so bad about finally being able to admit her own desires, but there was something so galling about the whole thing.

With a shake of her head, she threw those thoughts aside and focused on the strawberries. The recipe said they had to rest in the fridge for an hour or so to let the sweet strawberry juices out. That way it would mix with the shortcake and create a better tasting experience. That was nice and all, but she didn’t have an hour.

As she sneaked a glance towards Spike, she wondered if she could speed up the process with her magic. Well, of course she could, but should she?

Well, that vexing voice in her mind said, if Spike could use his dragon fire to bring the oven to temperature, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t use your magic to help cool down the strawberries.

Smiling once more at her mind voice being helpful for once, she channelled her magic into a freezing spell, cooling down the bowl of sugared strawberries while stirring occasionally. Soon enough, she started to see the bottom of the bowl filling with the strawberry’s juices. Glee filled her as she saw her hard work bear fruit.

“Heh…”

“What was that?” Spike asked. When had he gotten so close to her?

“Ah, no. It’s nothing. Are you done with your raspberries?”

Chuckling, Spike held out a jar with a reddish liquid inside. “The Cakes had some fresh raspberry sauce, so I thought I’d use that.”

“Oh, is that so?” Starlight asked as she poured more magic into her freezing spell.

“Yup! Oh, your cake should be out of the oven in a couple of minutes, I’ll bring it once it’s done,” he said with his annoyingly cute voice. “Do you want me to lend you a hand?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty much done. Once the cake’s done, I just have to serve it over the sauce,” Spike said nonchalantly as he set the jar aside.

Starlight slowed down her stirring of the strawberries. The recipe asked to finish the dessert with a huge dollop of whipped cream, and ever since she’s tried fresh whipped cream, she could never go back to the store-bought kind. Why would she? The taste was okay at best, but it left her mouth with a greasy aftertaste. Not to mention that the ingredient list was a bit terrifying. If she had to ask Twilight how to pronounce the ingredients in her food, she took it as a sign she shouldn’t eat it. Besides the real stuff was so easy to make!

“Could you make some whipped cream?”

“On it, babe,” Spike replied with a smile and a snap of his fingers that froze her in place. She had heard him correctly, right? He had just called her—her—babe.

And she found she didn’t hate it.

She wasn’t sure if she completely liked it, but she was sure she didn’t hate it. Though perhaps her enjoyment also came from Spike’s incredibly uncomfortable expression. He was doing an obvious effort to keep his smile, but that only resulted in him looking stiff. He must have been thinking about calling her that for a while now and finally mustered up the courage to actually call her babe. She wouldn’t be a good marefriend if she wasn’t considerate to his feelings.

Besides, two could play that game.

“Thanks, stud,” she shot back, giving Spike a wink before turning around.

Her own cheeks started burning up at her own compliment, though she knew it was also because of the way Spike’s smile went from stiff and forced, to goofy and embarrassed. It felt good to know she could make him feel like that.

They kept their work, Spike whipped some cold cream while she focused on stirring the cold strawberries, all in companionable silence. If she had known she would find this much peace and comfort in a relationship with Spike… Well, it’s not like she would have known to confess sooner. Hell, when she bid Twilight farewell earlier that week she didn’t imagine she’d end up in a relationship with her mentor’s sort of little brother and… Wait, where was she going with this?

At that moment, the first timer rang. Spike seemed to be a bit dazed afterwards, but quickly set down the bowl with perfectly whipped cream on the counter and headed for the oven. Kneeling down—and giving Starlight another chance to sneak a quick glimpse of his derriére—he took out his round mold with his bare hands, his thick scales working better than any gloves, and set it on the counter before closing the oven with his tail.

“Do you need me to help you with something else?” Spike asked her, to which she just shook her head in denial. ”Then I’m going to start setting these up. Yours should be out in a couple of minutes.”

With that, Spike turned around and walked to the other end of the counter, where he started working on his cake. She was mostly done, too. The book showed the shortcake covered with the juicy strawberries and a generous dollop of whipped cream, and that was her aim. She passed the time thinking about the best way of presenting the dessert. She had cut the shortcakes in somewhat rectangular shapes, so she could put one at the bottom of the bowl and arrange the strawberries around it, a scoop of the whipped cream on top, and the strawberry syrup drizzled all over it.

She smirked as she envisioned the final result. The sweet cake taking in the juices and the whipped cream were such an enticing prospect, Starlight couldn’t help but start salivating.

“Spiiiike...” Starlight said as she scooted closer to the dragon. The shortcake mattress would normally make it a bit hard, but she was lathered in so much strawberry juice she could slide all the way towards him. Spike was waiting for her with open arms, ready to catch her as he laid against a cushy pile of whipped cream.

“Yes, Starlight, dear?” He asked, his voice a deep, rumbling thunder that made her quiver with each word.

Starlight bit her lip as she looked at Spike with half lidded eyes. Her left hoof held him by his neck while the other one was free to caress his firm chest. “Do you like the cake I made for you?” she asked, putting on her most innocent tone.

“I adore it, babe,” he replied as she enveloped her with his strong arms.

For her part, Starlight melted into the embrace. Rubbing her body against Spike’s scales, and feeling how his hard scales gave way to the softness of his body.

With a squeal of delight, Starlight levitated one comically large strawberry towards them, holding it between their muzzles.

“Let’s dig in, shall we?” she said as she leaned forward, closing her eyes and opening her mouth to take a large bite out of that juicy—

At that moment, the second timer started ringing, pulling Starlight back from her hot and sweet daydream.

“Bwuh?” Starlight said, lamely.

“Your cakes are done!” Spike said as he pulled out the tray with the shortcakes out of the oven.

Starlight blinked a couple of times before frowning and looking down in silence. Outwardly, at least. Inside her mind, she was once again screaming nonstop.

Get a grip, Starlight! She finally managed to say to herself, barely keeping it together. Venturing a glance, she looked at Spike, who was standing next to her holding her tray of shortcakes.

“Here you go!” He said, smiling with such innocence and happiness it almost made her want to pin him down on the Cake’s counter.

“Thanks, Spike,” she replied, painfully aware of how meek she sounded.

Oh, please. How is this any worse than the little fantasies you’ve been having all week?

As worrying as saying it out loud was, the voice in her head made a good point. She had… entertained the thought of intimacy with Spike a few times. Perhaps she even had to take a few cold showers every now and then because of it, much to her dismay. Why was she reacting like this, then? Was it because she was so close to Spike at the moment? Was she just reaching her breaking point? She’d have to do some serious thinking later. For the time being, she had a strawberry shortcake to put together.

She let out a soft sigh and got to work, assembling the dessert while doing her Celestia-damned best to keep her thoughts family friendly. The shortcakes were rather thick, and she’d probably had a hard time fitting them in the bowl, though perhaps she could use the juices from the fruit to help them slide in place and—She slammed her hoof on the table. Not so loud as for Spike to notice, but just enough to break her train of thought.

Focus you… you horny little goof, Starlight chastised herself, and proceeded to levitate the recipe book towards her, deciding that there was no way her mind could wander down more erotic paths if she just focused on copying the image from the pictures.

Shortcake. Trim the corners so it better fits at the bottom of the bowl. Strawberries. Drizzle plenty of juice over it. More strawberries. Move the strawberries a bit so the other shortcake can be over them. Shortcake. A few more strawberries on the side. A spoonful of whipped cream on top. Finish with some of the strawberry juice over the whole thing.

“Done!” she cried out, sounding more relieved than happy.

Spike didn’t seem to have noticed her tone, seeing how he was carrying a little plate of his own as she walked towards her. “Great. I just finished mine, too. Or I guess I should say yours.”

Spike set down the plate in front of her, showing one of the most peculiar sights Starlight had witnessed, which was a lot to say since she had been privy to Pinkie Pie’s Taste Testing Tuesday.

The triangular cut of cake rested atop a pool of raspberry sauce and had a light dusting of powder sugar on top of it. The cake itself however, did not appear to have the consistency of a normal cake. It almost seemed to be a dense piece of chocolate fudge compressed into the shape of a slice of cake.

She wanted nothing more than to dig in and eat it.

“It’s called Chocolate Decadence. Do you like what you see?” Spike asked with a playful tone.

She looked past the cake, seizing up his strong frame. “I can’t wait to get some,” she said, just as he pushed her bowl towards Spike.

“Yours looks quite enticing as well. Strawberry Shortcake, huh?”

“Yeah, I, uh… I thought it would be nice,” she said with a shrug. “I didn’t want to go for something too complicated and mess it up.”

Spike smiled and scooted closer to her. Before she could say anything else, he raised a finger and pressed it against her muzzle. “I would’ve eaten anything you made for me regardless of how it turned out.”

Starlight’s lips curved into a goofy grin. She knew she shouldn’t be so easy to please, but on the other hoof, she was happy and that was all that mattered.

“Let’s dig in, shall we?” she managed to say as she levitated a fork for Spike and one for herself. “You first.”

He actually appeared to be disappointed at that. Starlight wondered if he would pout.

“I wanted to see you react to my cake,” he said, sounding a bit dejected.

“Oh, you’ll get to see it. I just want to see yours first.”

“How is that fair?” Spike asked with a shrug.

“Well, I know yours is going to be delicious no matter what, so I don’t want to feel like I’m competing with it since the shortcake may not be that good…” Starlight trailed off, realising she probably should’ve tasted a piece of the shortcakes to make sure she had served the best ones to him. Then she remembered she had almost burned the butter and quickly added, “Or if I messed up the recipe.”

Perhaps she had been too lost on her inner turmoil to realise Spike had gotten closer. So close, in fact he had crossed necks with her and was holding her in place with one of his claws, gently scratching the back of her head.

“Hey, Star. Don’t worry. I don’t have to have tried it to know it’ll taste good,” he said in a calming tone. “You put effort in it, and that alone will make it tasty.”

“You’re just saying that…” Starlight trailed off, not even bothering to hide her pout as she leaned into the embrace.

“Hey, do you remember the baked bads incident I talked about?”

“The ones Applejack made years ago?” Starlight asked, trying to think back to the tales of the times before she had arrived to Ponyville.

“Yeah, I ate them all. So there’s no way you can mess up in a way that will make me dislike it.” He drew back after saying it, but before the embrace was completely broken, he poked her snout once more. “Or you for that matter.”

“That was terrible reassurance,” Starlight said.

“Tell that to that smile of yours,” he shot back.

Starlight mumbled an “I’m not smiling” as she turned around to hide her smile.

“If it makes you happy though, I’ll gladly eat this delicious looking cake,” Spike said as he picked up his fork, and without another word, dug in. The fork sunk into the shortcake, tearing a piece away as he mixed it with the strawberry juices and the whipped cream, and lifted it to his mouth. He worked his jaw as he chewed, and Starlight’s heart made a little leap when she saw him smile.

“Judging from your expression, I’ll go on a limb and say you like it,” she said.

“You know,” he said after swallowing, “you usually mix room temperature butter with the flour and sugar. It makes the cake feel lighter and gives it a more delicate texture. You used melted butter, though, didn’t you?”

Starlight didn’t know where Spike was going with that, and not knowing made her nervous, and being nervous led to minor mental breakdowns.

And we all know where those lead.

Hush it, head voice!

“But I think it works better this way.”

“Hah?”

“Yeah, I mean, those light and airy shortcakes are nice if you’re eating them alone, but if they’re a bit denser it pairs better with the strawberry juice because it can soak it all up and not get soggy,” Spike said before taking another sizeable bite.

“I… see,” Starlight replied lamely.

“Did you toast the butter? The shortcake has a nice nutty flavour.”

“Uh, yeah. I meant to do that.”

Spike chuckled as he stirred the cream with the rest of the dessert. Before she noticed it, half of the shortcake was gone. Knowing that he liked her work so much ignited a small flicker of pride in her. She continued to watch him eat, not saying anything, and smiling until he finished.

“It was delicious, Star,” he said as he set the bowl down, and that smile never left his lips. “It all came together nicely, and it made me want to keep going.”

“I’m glad you liked it, Spike.” She then brought Spike’s dessert forward. “What did you say this was called?”

“Chocolate Decadence,” Spike said, carefully enunciating every syllable. “And yes, Cadence is the one who taught me the recipe.”

Starlight eyed the chocolate cake, which hadn’t gotten any less enticing in the last couple of minutes. Sparing a glance towards Spike, she lifted the fork and cut a piece. She did a double take at the ease with which the cake came apart. It felt like taking a spoonful of fudge rather than cutting through dough.

“Interesting…” she whispered as she stabbed the piece of cake with her fork.

Spike was quick to point at the dish. “Be sure to eat it with some of the raspberry sauce.”

Starlight did as instructed. Rubbing the piece of fudgy cake against the pool of sauce. She finally lifted it and put it in her mouth. Her eyes opened wide as the mass of cake melted away on her tongue and all she knew was chocolate. Just before the flavour started to get overwhelming, the raspberry sauce kicked in and cut through the thick chocolate, leaving her without a heavy aftertaste.

No offense to Pinkie Pie or the Cakes, but that was one of the most delicious cakes she’d ever eaten. Not that she’d ever tell them that.

“The name is quite fitting,” she said as she broke off another piece.

Spike smiled. Leaning on the table, he rested his head on his open palm and gave her a wide smirk “Isn’t it? Cadence taught me this recipe a couple of years ago. She said it was a joint effort by the best scientists and pastry chefs of the Crystal Empire.”

Starlight didn’t vocalise a reply. She hoped the little grunts and satisfied moans were enough to let Spike know she wanted him to keep going.

“Apparently the whole thing was a disaster, Cadence doesn’t like to talk much about it, but they managed to create this cake and she was satisfied with it. I don’t think she’s a hundred percent in love with the name, but it kinda fits the idea behind the cake.”

“And what is that idea?” Starlight asked after finishing another bite and doing her best effort not to gulf down the remainder of the cake.

Spike’s face lit up and his body went stiff as he tried to avoid eye contact. His smile wavered before returning as an awkward and somewhat uncomfortable visage that only served to make him look more absurd.

“Ah. It’s, uh… Cadence said I should learn this recipe because it’s meant to evoke—” Spike coughed.“—Feelings of, you know, like, strong affection and things like that.”

Starlight blinked a couple of times to get rid of the spell-like haze that had fallen over her as a result of the cake and registered the meaning behind his rambling. She felt a comfortable warmth spread through her chest that had probably very little to do with the chocolate decadence. And she thought the cake was loaded with just butter…

“It’s a bit of a silly thing, isn’t it?” He said, but while his tone sounded playful, his expression was very serious.

Cadence had probably taught him the recipe with this very scenario in mind, and Spike must have been thinking about it since he picked the recipe and set out to bake it. Had he been nervous this whole time and she just didn’t notice it? Whatever the case, if Spike had put his heart into this cake, it just wouldn’t do to not treat it with seriousness.

But if he wanted to play silly…

“Well…” Starlight started, looking down at the plate as she cut the cake in half, picked one with her magic, lathered it in raspberry juice, and made it float towards her. “If that’s silly, then I guess I’m silly, too.” She then floated the piece of cake towards Spike and gave him a wide smile. “There’s nothing wrong with being silly.”

“Damn straight!” Came Pinkie’s muffled voice from somewhere in the kitchen. “Uh… I mean, ignore the voice coming from the cabinets!”

They both stared at the conspicuously shaking cabinets before slowly turning to face each other again.

Starlight’s smile returned as she saw the blushing face of her dragon. Maybe neither could say it out loud at the moment, but perhaps actions could speak louder than words. She levitated the other half towards herself, and once it was right in front of her, she pushed the first half towards Spike.

“Open up!”

She pushed in each piece of cake, and both chewed at the same time. Although it was the same cake she had been eating, Starlight felt it tasted much better at that moment.

Chapter 7

View Online

The sound of rain falling on the ground had grown fainter as the night went on, but Starlight barely noticed it.

After they’d finished their share of the cakes, they had insisted Pinkie should take the rest of their pastries as a way of thanking her for letting them use the kitchen. In turn, Pinkie had insisted they took an umbrella for the way back to the castle, but Spike said it wouldn’t be necessary. As she walked down the street with Spike’s wing extended over her, protecting her from the rain, she couldn’t argue with his decision.

Spike turned his gaze toward her and smiled when they made eye contact. The light of her barrier spell over him reflected in his eyes, and the way the light teal glow mixed with the green shine of his eyes made him look so handsome she wanted to stop right there and kiss him on the spot. That could wait until they reached the castle, though.

The light of her spell reflected on a puddle in front of them, and as she got closer to his body to sidestep it, Spike flexed his wing to make sure she was completely covered from the rain. She still got a few errant drops of water on her coat and tail, but she couldn’t care less about that. The heat radiating from Spike’s body was comfortable enough to stave off the cold, anyway.

“Hey, Spike,” she said, her voice sounding mellow even to her ears.

“Yeah?”

“I’m happy.”

His smile grew at her words, and brought his wing closer to her body.

“Really?” he asked her. His tone was playful, and Starlight knew he didn’t really need confirmation, but wanted one regardless.

“Really,” she replied, giving his neck a quick nuzzle before continuing, “today has been wonderful. Even with all the… unforeseen events, I don’t think I would’ve changed a thing, Spike.”

“Me neither, Star…” he trailed off, as if looking for something to say, before closing his mouth and smiling at her once more.

Neither felt the need to say anything else. They made their way through the empty streets of Ponyville in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company as they walked. It was hard for Starlight to try defining the sense of contentedness that enveloped her. She just knew she was and she didn’t have any real desire to question it, and honestly, she was more than happy to just enjoy it.

“What do you want to do once we get back?” she said after a few minutes of walking, doing her absolute best to not turn it into an innuendo. Unless he started, in which case she was more than willing to do the same.

“Well… As much as I’d like to work off the calories from the cakes, I should start doing some clean up. Twilight won’t arrive until Friday, but I don’t want to spend our last day alone in a cleaning frenzy,” Spike said, shaking his head around for emphasis.

Starlight only replied with a content hum. Spike was right. It wouldn’t do to let their responsibilities pile up until the last possible second. Then again, after all they’d done today she was feeling a bit tired, and could use some rest.

“I’ll help you out later, I just want to lie down for a while.”

Spike chuckled and leaned sideways to rub the top of Starlight’s head with his snout. “I’ll make sure to work slowly until then.”

Starlight let out a much less dignified bout of laughter, but still rubbed her head against him. “Oh, stop it. Ponies will say I’m enabling your laziness.”

“Let them talk. Who cares about what they think?” Spike said, dismissively.

Who indeed, Starlight thought as her grin morphed into a content smile.

Soon enough, the castle’s main entrance came into view, and she noticed how they both slowed down the closer they got to it. Almost as if neither wanted their little stroll to end. Now that she thought about it, they had taken a few more turns than absolutely necessary.

In spite of their stalling, though, they finally made it to the main entrance. The height of the castle, as well as the angle of the falling rain meant that this side of the building had remained mostly dry. Much to Starlight’s disappointment, it meant there was no reason to keep huddled like that. Spike retracted his wing, flexing it a couple of times, before folding it back towards his body. At the same time, she let go of her spell, leaving both of them standing in front of the large main doors.

Though faint, the sound of millions of water drops hitting the ground created a pleasant cacophony that served as the backdrop of their little postcard moment. Starlight wished she had a camera so she could preserve the image of them huddled close to one another in the chilly night. She’d have to make do with her memory.

Feeling bold once more, she stood on her hind legs, and pulled Spike for a kiss.

Though Spike’s body went stiff in surprise, it wasn’t long before he mellowed out and started to push forwards. The kiss itself was quite chaste. As much as Starlight would have liked to go for something a bit more adventurous, this was just fine with her. Just the simple expression of affection through the touch of their mouths. She still snuck in a quick caress of his lips with the tip of her tongue before breaking the kiss.

“Thanks for everything, Spike,” she said, giving her not-a-colt-coltfriend a warm smile.

Spike, for his part, still looked a bit dazed, but was quick to regain his composure. “R-right back at you, Star…” He trailed off, as he radiated a comfortable warmth just from his smile.

“Let’s get in, shall we? It’s getting a bit chilly,” she said before turning around—making sure to turn her head last as to keep eye contact for as long as possible—and opened the castle’s doors. Spike stayed behind, shaking off the water off his body. Stifling a few giggles, she headed for the stairs before calling out to him over her shoulder. “I’ll be taking a shower, Spike!”

“Take your time, Star,” was his only reply.

With a smile still plastered over her face, Starlight walked up the stairs and made her way to her bedroom. A quick shower, then rest for a while, and see where the day took them. It was starting to get late, but they could still have fun while indoors. She was liking this spontaneity, it had led to some fun experiences so far, and could barely wait to see what else it would mean for them.

She had a spring to her step as she entered the bathroom, and found she was humming as she slowly filled the bathtub, bobbing her head from side to side. In a flash, she brought forth several bottles from the many shelves around the room, picking whatever caught her eye.

A quick heating spell brought the water to the perfect temperature, the many oils and soaps turning the clear water to an enticing, bubbly turquoise. Starlight let out a satisfied sigh as she put the bottles back in place and—doing her best to resist the impulse of jumping right into the tub—dipped one of her hooves, and almost melted at the pleasurable sensation. Wasting no more time, she plunged her front legs until the water touched her face, and slid forwards until her thighs hit the edge of the tub.

She looked over her shoulder and saw her flanks sticking up in the air. For a moment, she imagined Spike walking in on her and getting a full view of her behind. Smirking in spite of her blush, she gave her rump a vigorous wiggle and lifted her legs, sliding the rest of the way into the tub.

Taking a deep breath, she submerged her head, alongside the rest of her body, and remained underwater, letting herself be enveloped by the warmth of the bath, feeling how the wear of the day was washed away, leaving only a calm mass of pony shaped happiness.

Starlight did her best to hold her breath. Part of her wanted to cast a water breathing spell and just lay at the bottom of the tub for half an hour, but she’d have to take into account the soap and oils she’d put in the water and add a filter to her spell. It was, all things considered, too much of a bother, so she decided to just come out. Her muzzle broke the water surface, and she blowed hard through her nose to get rid of any errant drops. After a few seconds, she pulled her head out of the water and rested it on the edge of the tub.

She let her body float in the warm, soapy water while her mind wandered, thinking back on the day’s events. It was hard to imagine that just that morning, she’d been consumed by her own nervousness, and now she was taking a relaxing bath after a lovely evening with Spike. A smile spread over her face as she thought about all they’d done since her confession a few days ago.

A contented sigh escaped her lips when she remembered their initial awkwardness, the dinner, the movies, their little dance that afternoon, the long walk under the rain… It all seemed too surreal. There was no way all of this had really happened, there was no way she had landed a special someone as great as Spike. But it was true. She had managed to bag a cute, loving, talented, and caring… uh… drakefriend? Yeah, let’s go with that.

Not to mention that he’s so enticingly hot, she said to herself, and it felt good to admit it, even if only within the confines of her mind. With a giggle, she shuddered as happiness coursed through her body. Biting her lip, she squirmed in the water, making little waves that splashed against the bathtub. Foalish, maybe, but finding herself in a state of pure happiness, she couldn’t help but bask in it. Wrapping her legs around her body, she let out a satisfied hum as she thought of Spike, and every little moment they’d spent together.

Perhaps sensing that she was in a good mood and was full of positive emotions, her mind recalled the dream that had ended abruptly that morning. It almost felt like a lifetime ago, but at that moment, the memories returned, as vivid as when they had first happened. However, she found that she was in no hurry to brush them away. Her half-lidded eyes scanned the empty room as her hooves slowly drifted down her barrel. She could still remember the way she’d felt when her mind had conjured up an imaginary Spike about to go down on her, and could feel a warmth that had nothing to do with the hot water spread through her body.

Well, she thought, no reason to leave that story incomplete.

With a heightened sense of self-awareness, Starlight’s hooves caressed her chest and stomach, slowly making their way downwards just as Spike had done in her dream. While the somewhat rough outer wall of her hooves were nowhere near as soft or deft as Spike’s gentle lips, they did the job well enough for her imagination to do the rest.

She closed her eyes and imagined her hooves were Spike’s claws, pressing down on her hips, firmly but gently, and bringing her closer to him. Her breaths turned slower and deeper as her right hoof moved in hesitant circles down her stomach. The water made her movements a little sluggish, but that complemented the reticence born from her embarrassment. It wasn’t as if she didn’t indulge in self-pleasure every now and then… It was a perfectly normal thing to do, after all. It simply had been a while since the last time. And at least now she had some basis for her fantasies with Spike!

She didn’t even bother scoffing at that thought, choosing to continue instead. She was far too busy focusing on the feelings her own hooves elicited. With a gentle prod, she gave one of her breasts a soft caress. At the touch, she drew a sharp breath, but kept going, slowly circling the curvature of her mounds, drifting closer and closer to her nipples before pulling back. Her thighs instinctively started rubbing against each other, increasing the pressure against her lower lips as she got closer to her nipples once more. Her mind replaced every touch of her own hooves with Spike’s mouth, kissing, licking, and pulling at her exposed skin.

Barely conscious of herself doing it, her horn lit up, and her magic made its way through the water until it made contact with one of her teats. She only realised she had been holding her breath when the tingling sensation of her magic enveloped her left teat.

Throwing her head back, she let out a long, sustained moan as she took in the pleasant comfort brought forth by her magic. It was a tender touch, letting her bask in the pure feeling of having one of the most sensitive parts of her body caressed and massaged in such an intimate and caring way… Just like she imagined Spike doing.

Closing her eyes, she imagined Spike pulling her closer and burying his muzzle between her teats, giving each a loving, sloppy kiss, letting his tongue move freely across her skin before he moved and gave a gentle lick to her erect nipples. She heard something between a mewling and a hum, and it took her a while to realise she was the one doing that. Spurred on by her own soft sounds of delight, she moved further down as she spread her rear legs. Her back hooves now rested on the edges of the bathtub, giving her full access to her burning lips.

I wonder if that’s because of all the oils I put in the bath, she wondered, but was too lost in her arousal to seriously consider that rather worrying prospect.

She dragged her left hoof back to her chest, pressing hard against her coat to feel the rapid beating of her heart while her other hoof brushed past her teats and towards her pussy. Her moans, low as they still were, became more prolonged when she started teasing the outer edges of her vagina.

In her mind, Spike had moved downwards with a trail of nips and licks and was now gently pressing his lips against her crotch, while his hands slithered across her flanks, holding her firmly in place. Her magic moved the way she imagined his tongue would, sneaking around the edges of her labia, lapping up the juices of her arousal. She slowly parted herself open, just barely holding back the need to be filled at that moment. The edge of her hoof traced the contours of her genitals, drifting closer and closer to her opening as her breathing became more laboured. She pressed the side of her hoof against her labia, imagining it was Spike’s muzzle pressing against her, his thin tongue poking in and out of his mouth, licking every part it could reach.

Her body reacted immediately to the increased stimulation. A wave of warmth exploded from her vagina, coursing through her body, up her spine and making her whip her head back as she let out a long moan. From that point, it became much harder to control herself. Her magic covered her pussy, spreading her lips and touching every bit of sensitive exposed skin.

With her hooves now free, she caressed her body, wrapping her front legs around her body, imagining it was Spike holding her close to him, and if she lost herself enough in the pleasure of her magic working on her pussy, she could imagine she felt his hard, warm body pressing against hers.

Biting her lips to stifle another moan, she closed her eyes so she could see Spike’s face in her mind, right in front of her, his muzzle hovering just a hair’s breadth away from her own. She imagined him holding her in place, his breath mixing with hers as he poked her nethers with his dick. She let out a few small gasps as she used her magic to slowly tease the edges of her opening, mentally replacing her aura with the tip of Spike’s dick.

Calmly, with gentle but deliberate thrusts, he made his way inside her, sliding into her with an enticingly slow rhythm that threatened to become too much to bear. Starlight’s hips jerked, as if trying to pull closer the body that wasn’t there. Her suppressed moans devolved into a long groan as more of her magic made its way inside of her, caressing every spot of her inner walls, making the pressure inside her grow with every centimeter it advanced.

She envisioned Spike moving slowly, in and out of her while holding her close to his firm, warm, hot body. In the meantime, her magic did its best to emulate the fantasies conjured by her mind. The magical aura moved forwards a bit before pulling back in a flash, advancing bit by bit only to recede at the same agonizing pace and then push forward in a quick motion that made the comfortable warmth growing in her spread through her body, from her deepest core to the tip of her horn, in a way the hot water only wished it could replicate.

“Keep… Keep going…”

Her whispers echoed in the empty bathroom, making her feel self-conscious about addressing her absent partner. However, any unease she felt was overshadowed by the thought of Spike’s body touching her, of his arms enveloping her body, his snout rubbing against her, their breath mixing, his beautiful green eyes staring deeply into her own, and his dick plunging deeper into her.

On instinct, her right hoof shot towards her lower lips, which had grown hotter as her arousal skyrocketed and her body started to tense. She pressed against her opening as her magic continued to extend inside of her, searching for her most sensitive spots and hitting them with unbridled passion, locking her in a continued cycle of bliss that kept growing and growing, as if feeding on itself while her mind thought of nothing but Spike.

Whether is was due to her approaching climax, the slight mist from the hot water, or perhaps both, Starlight’s vision started to fog. She could barely register that, however, since at the moment, all that she wanted—all she needed—was to keep going, to go faster and for Spike to take her, make her melt and lose herself in the mind-bending pleasure only he could give her, make her surrender to him completely and become her mare in body and spirit.

With a flutter of her eyelids she looked up and with whatever shred of focus was left in her, she whispered Spike’s name as she finally hit her peak and her magic gave out. If it hadn’t been for her rear hooves propped on the sides of the bathtub and her neck resting on the opposite end, she probably would’ve sunk into the water.

The tension that had been building inside of her released in an instant, making her whole body convulse as wave after wave of orgasmic ecstasy coursed through her bones. Her abdomen contracted as did her thighs, which wouldn’t stop shaking as her voice devolved into a passionate cry that died after a few seconds, leaving her to ride her orgasm in silence.

Her breathing was slow, deep, and perhaps a bit desperate. She felt a comfortable calmness dawn over her like a blanket that only made her want to drift off to sleep. Part of her was tempted to cast that water breathing spell and just nod off at the bottom of the tub. She let out a small giggle at that thought which soon morphed into a series of gasps as an aftershock of her orgasm hit her.

She closed her eyes once more and let out a long sigh as she let the last throes of her passion run their course through her body, each shiver down her spine adding to her satisfaction. The only way this moment could’ve been perfect would’ve been if Spike had really been there, hugging her and running his claws through her mane as they both drifted off to sleep.

And perhaps with a slice or two of that chocolate cake from earlier, her mind added.

Starlight let out a satisfied hum as she remembered the flavour and texture of the aptly named cake. She’d have to drop by tomorrow and see if Pinkie still had some left. The thought of the baker added to her content. Pinkie had taken their relationship so well, as had Fluttershy. It had all gone swimmingly. They had been supportive and happy about them, and the rest of her friends would probably be the same. She could imagine Applejack would give them a smile and a piece of old fashioned advice. Dash would certainly crack a joke or two, but would wish them well regardless. Even the still lingering anxiety she had towards breaking the news to Twilight felt much smaller now that she knew acceptance was a real possibility. Not to mention that Rarity would—

Her blood ran cold, and the warmth of the bath did little to alleviate that surge of discomfort. The silence of the bathroom, which only moments ago had felt welcoming and conspiratorial, was now oppressive and judgmental. She could feel Rarity’s name echo in her head, growing louder and louder as the implications of what she had ignored for the past couple of days crashed down on her.

Right… Spike had a crush on Rarity for quite some time, didn’t he?

Perhaps under different circumstances she would’ve noted how the voice in her head didn’t sound as smug this time around. Or perhaps it was herself speaking, not that she had actually stopped to think about what the difference was, any—

“Spike had a crush on Rarity!” she yelled, bolting upright, only to slide back into the bathtub, sinking into the water and accidentally swallowing some of it in the process. She fumbled out of the tub, coughing and sputtering and trying not to think about what else she may have swallowed other than water.

With haggard breaths, Starlight stepped out of the bathtub. She absent-mindedly went through the motions of cleaning the bathtub—and herself—as she thought of her drakefriend’s past infatuation with her friend.

Past, she reminded herself. Spike had a crush on Rarity, but that was years ago. He likes you now and that’s all that should matter to you. There is no reason to be jealous.

Though it wasn’t quite jealousy, she knew it wasn’t far from the truth. Spike had told her he liked her, and she didn’t doubt him. All of what they’d done that day should’ve been proof enough of how much he liked her, and she knew that. That’s not what made her feel uncomfortable.

Thinking back to the past couple of days, she noticed a worrying pattern. She had been worried about her insecurities and how she was so wrapped up in them to consider Spike’s side of things. So much for learning her lesson… here she was doing it again. Even though she had not been there to experience it in full, she was well aware of the infatuation Spike had on Rarity, and it was by no means a small thing. Spike’s feelings back then were quite strong if what she’d heard from her friends—amongst whom was Rarity herself—were to be believed. She couldn’t help but compare the feelings Spike had for her to what she imagined he had felt for Rarity.

Maybe jealousy did play a part, after all.

She chided herself for ruining the good mood she’d had all day. After their little heart to heart that morning, everything had been just lovely. Looking for the gramophone in the basement, laughing at Twilight’s record collection before choosing something, dancing, running to Sugarcube Corner, baking together… It had been a great day up until the moment she had to get wrapped up with her dumb Starlight thoughts.

What did she fear? That Spike still had feelings for Rarity? That even though Spike clearly liked her, it wouldn’t compare to the things she’d heard Spike had done for Rarity? That she was just a replacement of sorts in his life? Each thought tightened the knot she felt in her heart, twisting it in a horribly painful way.

Reaching with her magic, she twisted the right knob and stood under the stream of cold water coming from the showerhead, taking the freezing sensation as a punishment of sorts for acting so stupidly.

Was she going to keep doing this? Have a delightful time with her special somebody, think of something that made her uncomfortable, have a minor emotional breakdown, and risk ruining it all before forcing herself to have a heart to heart with Spike? She scoffed at the thought, yet realised she was already falling into that cycle. Was this going to become the basis for their relationship? What was wrong with her? Why was she doing this to herself? To Spike?

She half-expected to subconsciously start listing off her own defects and insecurities, just to rub in how much of a bad marefriend she was. Sure, let’s go look into the patch of foul land that was her personality and see what could be dug up. It wasn’t as though it would require any effort.

With a sigh, she twisted the knob and stood under the showerhead, dripping into the polished crystal floor of the tub. She stood there, not wanting to move as she recalled memories of times long gone.

You know…

She did.

Spike has probably never had sex before.

It was more than just probably. She’d known him for years, and he’d never had a marefriend. Plus, he sure wasn’t the type to have a casual encounter.

Unlike you?

Unlike her.

The silence in the bathroom was deafening and Starlight had to fight the urge to scream just to hear something other than the echo of her own thoughts inside her mind. However, it didn’t change the answer.

Spike wouldn’t care, she told herself, and found that she actually believed it. Of course Spike wouldn’t care, in the short time they’d been together, he had shown her how much he cared about her, how much he liked her. She’d be silly to think that would change just because… just because…

If it’s any consolation, this is your first real relationship. The other ones could hardly be called that.

Starlight didn’t know if that was supposed to be a consolation to Spike or to herself, but she wasn’t particularly keen on figuring that out. This was dumb, she was dumb for getting so worked up, dumb for thinking about it in the first place, and dumb for letting it affect her so much. She looked down at the water going down the drain and couldn’t help but feel it was representative of either her sanity or self-esteem…

A sigh reminiscent of a whimper escaped her as she dried herself. This would take her nowhere. Nowhere good at least. It was too much, and she didn’t want to put up with it anymore.

In direct contrast to how she had walked in, Starlight moved with sluggish steps as she entered her room. It must have been barely past eight, but she was already exhausted, as if the weight of the entire day had come crashing down on her. She didn’t think she could go face Spike like this, not tonight. She wanted nothing more than to lay down and rest. Maybe tomorrow she could talk with him.

Yeah, wait until the morning. Perhaps a clear mind and a night of sleep would help her sort things out in her mind. If Spike came by, he’d just tell her she was more tired than she thought.

Right now, she just needed to rest.

Chapter 8

View Online

“So… you and Spike, huh?”

Starlight didn’t reply right away. She looked down at the damp grass under her hooves as a small smile started to spread over her face.

“I can’t say I saw it coming, but you could do worse,” the blue mare said, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

“Geez, thanks Trixie,” Starlight said.

“I mean it!” Trixie said as she gave Starlight a playful shove. “The little squirt will be good for you, you’ll see.”

“Mmm, he’s not that little anymore…”

“Yeah, you would know.” Trixie laughed before smirking at Starlight.

Starlight didn’t reply; she just kept walking down the street with her friend in tow. A part of her wanted to confide in Trixie and tell her everything, and she had every intention of doing so; but she knew there was something else she had to do first, and if she didn’t do it right now, she would lose her conviction.

“I can’t believe I missed out messing with you yesterday. Stupid rain... I wish I had pushed through, we could’ve gone out to celebrate!” Trixie exclaimed, throwing one hoof in the air for emphasis. “Starlight Glimmer is finally getting some after who knows how long!”

“Trixie…” Starlight didn’t know it was possible to sound meek and angry at the same time, but she kept on surprising herself.

“I know, I know. I may have arrived here yesterday, but it was raining all day, you wouldn’t have wanted the Dry and Comfortable Trixie to leave the cosiness of her cart and venture into the downpour, would you?”

Despite herself, Starlight let out a chuckle. It was barely more more than a huff, but at least it was indicative of a better mood, and she would take what she could. If anything, she wished she had more time to spend with Trixie and try to cheer up a bit more. However, business hours would start soon, and she didn’t want to inconvenience Rarity in the middle of the day.

As they turned at an intersection, and Carousel Boutique came into view, Starlight found her breathing became more laboured, and her guts started twisting upon themselves, as if trying to jump out of her body and run back home. She’d made up her mind, though, so she started walking towards the large building.

She felt Trixie slow down to her pace, and without having to look at her, Starlight knew her friend was suddenly more serious.

“Trixie doesn’t understand why you feel you have to go through with this,” she said, trying to put on a disinterested tone, but Starlight knew she was being sincere.

“It’s not that I have to. I just feel getting my thoughts in order and dealing with the things that bother me should help me feel… I don’t know. In control, maybe,” Starlight said, painfully aware of how she pitiful sounded.

Trixie remained silent for a while, just walking alongside her before she finally spoke. “You never did tell me what brought this up.”

Starlight was glad she wasn’t looking directly at Trixie, because her face lit up when she thought back to the little self-loving session that had spurred her little downfall. It was silly in hindsight, but the feelings and memories it had evoked were anything but.

“I just…” Starlight didn’t know what words to use. There were so many thoughts swirling in her mind it was hard to put them in order.

You could just start pouring it all out, you know Trixie will listen to you.

She bit her lip as she pondered that idea. With nothing to lose, she just started speaking, “Have you ever felt that, even though you’ve worked hard to make up for your past wrongs, the parts of your personality that led you to make those mistakes are still inside of you? That even though you’ve filled the cracks in your past, you're still able to see them?”

“Can’t say I have,” Trixie answered almost immediately.

“Right,” Starlight replied, unamused. Before she could dwell any further on the feelings of gloom inside of her, she was stopped in her tracks when Trixie forcefully turned her around and cupped face with her hooves, squeezing her cheeks.

“And honestly, neither should you,” Trixie said, her tone even and measured. “You’re never going to move on with your life if you’re always looking back on your past.”

Starlight was taken aback, not only because of Trixie’s heartfelt words, but also due to the earnest look she gave her.

“You… you’re right, Trixie,” Starlight replied after a few seconds of contemplation.

“Good!” Trixie let go of her face and turned towards Carousel Boutique. “Now, if you have to do this, then by all means do it. Then we can go for margaritas or something.”

The smile came to Starlight with far more ease this time, feeling much calmer now. Talking things out with a friend did wonders for her, and helped her remember other things she may have overlooked. Maybe she should write Twilight a letter about this.

Nah, that’d be dumb, just wait until you see her again.

“Thanks, Trixie,” Starlight said, feeling much better already.

“Well, it’s only fitting for the Great and Powerful Trixie’s friends to feel as Great and Powerful as her when in her company.” she added with a wink.

“I think so too,” Starlight replied, and nothing else was said as they walked the last few blocks to Rarity’s home. Once they finally reached the large building, they stood only a few steps away from the front door.

“I can come with you, if you want,” Trixie’s voice came like a whisper, but Starlight heard her loud and clear.

“Thanks Trixie, but… I think I can manage.”

Trixie nodded and stepped closer. Throwing a foreleg over Starlight’s shoulders, she leaned forward so their heads rested against each other.

“Alright then. But if things go belly up, shoot sparks out of a window and I’ll teleport in to get you out.”

“You can teleport safely now?”

“Either way, it should give you enough time to escape.”

Starlight managed a genuine laugh at that, and seeing how Trixie’s smile changed into a satisfied smirk, she supposed that had been her friend’s intention all along.

“Go on, Star, I’ll be waiting outside,” Trixie said, letting her go and turning around.

Internally, Starlight vowed to make it up her friend in some way. She had improved considerably over the past few months, so perhaps she could cook something for her.

With a deep breath, Starlight steeled herself and walked the rest of the distance to Carousel’s front door and knocked on it before she got into an internal debate about whether or not this was really a good idea and risk—

“Coming~!” came Rarity’s voice from within the building, and Starlight knew there was no turning back now.

Starlight steeled herself and stood firm, waiting for the door to open. After a few seconds, she thought she probably looked a bit off-putting, so she tried to put on a smile. Then she realised her brow was furrowed. How are one’s eyebrows supposed to look while smiling? She had never put any thought into that. Rushing, she rose her eyebrows as much as she could while keeping her smile relaxed. But wouldn’t that make her look surprised? That wasn’t the right expression either, so she lowered her eyebrows once more. What was the right height for eyebrows to look natural and relaxed? Twilight had never taught her any of this! She tried to adjust her eyebrows, but then realised her smile was faltering. She hurried to make it wide again, but now she worried she was showing too much teeth. What was wrong with her today?

Thankfully, the door opened before Starlight gave herself an aneurysm.

“Starlight!” Rarity said, her eyes sparkling as soon as she saw who had knocked on her door. “It’s so good to see you, dear.”

The white unicorn stepped forward and crossed necks with Starlight for a brief moment before taking a step back and moving aside to make room for her to enter. Starlight, for her part, gave Rarity the expression she had rehearsed and hoped she didn’t look as though she’d just eaten spoiled food.

“It’s good to see you too, Rarity,” Starlight replied, her tone becoming more calm as the initial nervousness faded away, and walked into the building.

Whether or not Rarity noticed her unease, she made no comment on it, instead closing the door with her magic and turning to face her with a worried expression.

“You look a bit tense, dear.”

Well, so much for being natural.

“I’ll put on some tea, just wait for me in the dressing room,” Rarity said, her voice fading as she stepped out of the room.

Starlight barely managed to let out a “Thanks!” before Rarity was out of earshot. She found herself alone in the dressing room, not sure what to do. Opting to just sit down and wait, she walked towards the closest cushion and let her body fall on top of it.

Her eyes swept the room, resting briefly on the scattered pieces of fabric, sketches, and other dressmaking instruments laying on the floor. She hoped she hadn’t interrupted Rarity. Then again, if she had, then Starlight had a reason to hurry up. Speaking of Rarity, the sound of the whistling kettle told Starlight it wouldn’t be long before they’d be face to face again, so she ought to put her thoughts in order.

Sighing, she threw her head back and closed her eyes. The memories of the previous night played in a constant loop in her mind. A horrible, horrible loop. She saw herself in the bathtub after pleasuring herself, the reminder of Spike’s old crush, the realisation of how much he’d been ignoring once more, how she was falling in that cycle of self-loathing, and all the memories of days that were long gone.

Long gone, she reminded herself. You’re not who you used to be, Starlight. It’s alright.

She turned to face the kitchen, knowing Rarity would come out at any moment. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. After a few seconds, Starlight heard the sound of hooves against the carpet, and had to fight to keep her breathing even..

“Here we go,” Rarity said as she walked towards her with a small tray with teacups and a few biscuits on it.

Starlight blinked a couple of times as her mind came back to the present. She silently took one of the cups of tea with her magic and brought it closer, if only to give her hooves something to do. Meanwhile, she took in the sight of Rarity. The other unicorn was smiling at her with a tired but sincere expression. In spite of probably being busy, Rarity still managed to make time for her after dropping completely unannounced. How nice of her.

“So! Tell me dear, to what do I owe your visit?”

“I’m dating Spike,” Starlight answered without missing a beat. At least this time the outburst had been mostly intentional.

Rarity was motionless for a moment before her eyes widened in surprise. Uncertainty gripped Starlight‘s heart for the few seconds as she waited for Rarity to say something, anything that would ease her nerves. After a few tense seconds, Rarity smiled a wide smile and let out a squeal of delight as her eyes sparkled.

“Darling, that is wonderful! Allow me to congratulate you,” Rarity said. It looked as though she would’ve hugged her had the small table not been between them. “You simply must tell me everything, dear. How did you two get together?”

“We… It’s been a long time coming, really,” Starlight said, eyeing Rarity while waiting to see if she made any comment about it. The sincere look never left Rarity’s eyes, Starlight noticed, and felt a burst of gratitude spread in her. “We were alone the other night. We had spent the entire day doing nothing, just hanging out in the castle. I’m not sure what got into me, but I just confessed to him. I guess I was so lost in that moment… I just feel so at ease when I’m with him. He’s always been so supportive and understanding. Whenever I was going through a rough spot, he was always by my side with a silly joke, a cup of tea, or even just a smile, just to try and make me feel better. I know he’ll listen, and he will care, because he cares about me… how could I not fall for him?”

Starlight took a deep breath as she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Talking things out really worked wonders.

“Yes… how indeed,” Rarity whispered, and the odd tone was not lost on Starlight. She sounded almost melancholic, though it didn’t last for long. “It sounds so wonderful, Starlight. I’m happy for you both. I’m sure any mare would be happy to be in your place.”

Starlight looked straight into Rarity’s eyes. There it was again, that oddity she had noticed just a second ago.

“Are you any mare, Rarity?”

It took a few seconds for her mind to register what she had just said, but Starlight knew she had meant them. Rarity, for her part, barely gave any signs of having acknowledged Starlight’s words, other than the corners of her mouth turning slightly upwards.

“Do you ask because of the crush Spike used to have on me?” Rarity ask, every word carefully enunciated. “You won’t tell me you’re jealous, will you?”

“No,” Starlight replied almost immediately, though she wouldn’t meet Rarity’s eyes. “At least, that’s not what really bothers me.”

Rarity’s posture softened, and she leaned forward while she gave Starlight an earnest look. “You can tell me what bothers you, Starlight. I’m more than willing to listen.”

Starlight looked back at the other mare, feeling small and vulnerable. She wanted to say something, but if she hadn’t been able to be honest with herself, what were the chances she could open up to someone else?

“Starlight.” Rarity said in a firm tone, catching her attention and bringing her back to the present. “What are your feelings for Spike?”

She blinked a couple of times, taken aback by Rarity’s bluntness. Perhaps that was what was needed, since she felt the words coming to her with ease. Rubbing her foreleg with her other hoof, she took in another deep breath, and started talking.

“I care about him. After all he’s done for me, even just the little things… especially the little things. The way he makes me feel is unlike anything I’ve felt before, I’m so happy with him. Spike makes me feel calm, and safe, and… loved,” Starlight said. Her voice, though barely stronger than a whisper, echoed in the silent room. She felt her lips twitch as a smile formed, and a comfortable warmth spread through her chest. She looked out the window and smiled as she thought of Spike. “I want to stay by his side and make him feel the same way he makes me feel, because… because I love Spike.”

Starlight felt as though she could burst through the roof and fly all over Equestria without breaking a sweat. It felt so… liberating to say it out loud. She wanted to keep saying it, and even run outside, look for Spike, and tell him what she had just told Rarity. At that moment, she remembered she was still in her friend’s house. Turning around, she found Rarity was looking at her with a melancholic expression, as if her previous sternness had never been there. If anything, Rarity seemed relaxed. Content, even.

“Rarity?” Starlight ventured.

“Sorry if I made you a bit uncomfortable, dear,” Rarity said, looking down as she levitated a cup of tea towards her. Starlight had completely forgotten about it, and quickly brought forth her own cup.

Tasty.

“Is the tea to your liking?” Rarity asked her, to which Starlight just nodded. “Good.”

They both drank in silence, though Starlight never stopped looking at Rarity. The other unicorn still had that melancholic look on her, and Starlight didn’t know what to make of it.

“As I said, I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, I just wanted to make sure your feelings were genuine,” Rarity said as she finally looked up from her teacup. That smile was still on her face, and even though it hadn’t changed at all, Starlight felt nervous at the sight.

“You know Spike used to have a crush on me,” Rarity started, setting down the teacup and giving Starlight her most serious expression, “I’d dare say it was more than just a crush. All of what you described, I experienced. And you’re absolutely right, Starlight. He’s wonderful, he’ll go to any length to make somepony happy because doing so makes him happy. He’s so caring, and thoughtful, and kind, and I won’t deny that he’s grown into quite a strong drake—“Starlight felt an odd mix of emotions in her, but it barely lasted a second”—and you said it yourself, didn’t you? How could someone not fall for him?”

An image started to form in Starlight’s head, but she did not dare put it into words. Much like Rarity had done, she just stayed silent, and let her friend speak.

“With the way Spike always treated me, and with how earnest he was in his affection… just about any mare in my place would have fallen for him.” Rarity paused as a soft sigh escaped her lips. She tried to smirk, but it came out looking like a sad smile. “Perhaps it was a cruel joke of fate that I could never bring myself to reciprocate his feelings.”

The silence that followed Rarity’s words felt chilling. Even though Starlight felt a pang of guilt at the relief that swelled in her chest, she did her best not to show it.

“Don’t think I didn’t put the effort,” Rarity continued. “Spending more time with him, trying to find common interests… my appreciation for him grew immensely, every little gesture of his made me like him more and more, but… it never moved on to love, no matter how hard I tried.”

Rarity was doing her best to keep a casual tone, but Starlight could notice that sad edge to her words. The way the white unicorn held the little teacup with her hooves, close to her body as she slowly hunched made her look smaller, and Starlight wondered just how much this affected her.

“It’s a horrible feeling, you know? Everypony talks about how hard it is to be rejected, or how terrible it is to be considered ‘just a friend’ by the subject of your romantic affections. And it is painful, but… it seems like nopony bothers to consider the other side. Knowing somebody you greatly appreciate likes you in a way you’re not able to reciprocate. You know it hurts them, and it hurts you, too.”

Starlight marvelled at Rarity’s wistful expression, the sincerity in those words reaching something deep inside of her. While she hadn’t gone through that experience, the emotion in her tone made it easier for her to sympathise. And how she wished she didn’t.

“That’s…” Starlight said. “That does sound pretty bad.”

“It is. I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. I hoped maybe with time I may grow to love Spike, but it never came to pass. It seems at some point, he must have realised it too. It is what it is, but I am grateful we could keep our friendship.” Rarity smiled, setting her teacup back on the table, and before Starlight could reply, she grabbed one of Starlight’s hooves with her own. “And I’m glad he could finally find someone who will love him like he deserves to be loved.”

That struck a chord somewhere deep in Starlight, and felt a bit of moisture in her eyes that hadn’t been there just moments ago. “I want to be,” she said, perhaps with more force than she intended, “I want to be that for Spike, I want to love him and I want him to love me back.”

Rarity rose an eyebrow, “Pardon me, dear. You sound as if that wasn’t the case already.”

Realising her slip, Starlight shook her head and strengthened her grip on Rarity’s hooves. ”It is. It really is. I love him, and I know he loves me back. I want us to be together for however long we can remain together, it’s just that—” She choked. Somehow, the words wouldn’t come out.

“Starlight? Are you alright?”

She wasn’t. And she knew why.

Starlight looked at Rarity. Her expression showed concern, and with how close she was, she could make out her reflection on the other mare’s eyes. She looked pitiful. A small part of her thought about how laughable it was to see herself reduced to this state, while the rest was too busy feeling miserable. She could scarcely remember the last time she’d felt like this. Had it been when she was chased away from her village? When Sunburst left their hometown?

That was different, though, she heard herself say in her mind, you were different. You didn’t have friends back then, but now you do. And you can trust them.

There is no reason to carry that weight alone.

“Rarity?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Can I trust you?”

Rarity gave her a reassuring smile as she squeezed her hooves once more. “Of course you can.”

Starlight averted her gaze as she felt her cheeks redden. She knew the more she prolonged it, the harder it’d be to say what she had to say, and she already felt herself getting closer to having a small breakdown, she she better hurry things.

“Spike has probably never had sex before,” she said, and could feel Rarity tense for a brief moment.

“W-well, yes. I imagine that’s the case,” Rarity replied, a flustered tone creeping into her words. “But I don’t see—”

“I have,” she blurted out. She could see the cogs turning in Rarity’s mind, so she was quick to add, “And don’t think that I feel bad because I’m not a virgin, that’s not it.”

Rarity remained solemn, keeping a neutral expression as if to let her know she wasn’t being judged. If that was her intention, then she was succeeding.

“You remember how… how I used to be, right? Back before I accepted friendship, before I started trying to… before I started to change.” Starlight waited for some sign of acknowledgement. When Rarity gave a small nod, she continued. “I was so… haughty back then. I just assumed I was owed the world and acted like it. I understand now that it was all because of my own foolishness, and letting my abandonment issues fester inside of me. Pinning the blame on everypony else just so I didn’t have to face my own issues. I think that’s why I always sought control. Over other ponies, their fates… just trying to make up for my own shortcomings.”

She tried to give Rarity a small smile, but she was unsure of her success.

“That applied to sex too,” she said, and had to fight the urge to look away. “It’s not hard to find stallions who are interested. Even if a few were intimidated by how confident and powerful I seemed to be, it wasn’t hard to drag a willing partner to my bed… but even then, I was still the same. Arrogant, selfish, condescending. I saw all those stallions merely as a way to scratch an itch. To once more assert dominance. Every time I just… took. In every instance, I just went in to get what I wanted, and I started to look at sex that way.”

Starlight couldn’t fight it anymore, and closed her eyes as a hot tear ran down her cheek. “And I can’t help but feel that I’ll do that again if I were to have sex with Spike!” she cried out, her voice close to breaking. “I don’t want it to be like that. Not anymore. I want… I… I want us to m-make love. I want us to share that special moment and not have it tainted because some stupid part of me will want to treat it like another conquest. Every time I start to feel like I want to get intimate with him I have to reel myself back because I don’t want to… I don’t, I-I don’t want to treat him like that, he… he doesn’t deserve that, Spike’s better than that, Spike… Spike deserves better than—”

She didn’t get to finish that sentence. In an instant, Rarity pushed the small table away, closed the distance between them and crossed necks with her as her hooves held her close.

“Stop, Starlight. Don’t even dare continue that thought,” the other mare spoke with a tone that left no room for objection. Besides, Starlight greatly appreciated the physical contact at the moment.

“I will not have you berate yourself like that,” Rarity continued, her words kind, but firm. “Who you used to be was not good, yes. But you have moved on, Starlight. You’ve come a long way since we first met you… you are a different mare now. I can’t ask you to just forget all of that, but you have to accept that that mare is who you used to be, and not who you are right now.” Rarity’s gentle strokes on her back managed to calm her down, and at least prevented her from breaking out into a crying fit. “You may be far from perfect, Starlight, but the mare I’ve come to know is a lovely, caring pony who wouldn’t do that.”

Far too soon for Starlight’s liking, Rarity pulled back, though she still had her hooves draped over her shoulders. “You’ve said it yourself, Spike makes you feel like you’ve never felt before. The old Starlight never got to feel loved, and safe, and cared for the way you do now. You have friends now, friends who have seen you become the wonderful mare you are today. You don’t have to feel like that anymore. You are different. You are better.”

Though on some level Starlight wanted to ask if she really was, she was too preoccupied with the tears flowing freely from her eyes.

“I—I’m sorry… I’m s-sorry, Rarity…” she managed to say as a few sobs escaped her.

With heartfelt motions, Rarity brought her closer once more, and rubbed her neck against her own. “You don’t have to be, dear. Just be true to your feelings and you’ll have nothing to fear.”

Not being able to take it anymore, Starlight wrapped her hooves around Rarity’s barrel, pressed her face against her friend’s shoulder and started crying, muttering a few words of appreciation from time to time. Meanwhile Rarity just gave gentle strokes to her mane and neck. Each tear felt as if it was poison escaping her body, ridding her of the festering mass of self-hatred that had nestled in the back of her mind, leaving only her behind.

“Thank you, Rarity,” she finally managed to say, but didn’t move away from her.

“Any time, dear.”

For how long they stayed like that, Starlight wasn’t sure, she just knew that she had cried her last tear by the time they separated. Once they did, however, she wasn’t sure what to say or do.

“I… uh… thanks for your hospitality, Rarity. And thanks for listening,” she finally said.

Rarity just waved her hoof as she let out a soft giggle. “Oh, don’t mention it. What are friends for?”

“Yeah… still, I really needed to get this off my chest and you were the first pony I thought of, considering, well… your history with him.”

“I understand, and I’ll always lend you an ear if you need me, Starlight,” Rarity said. In what Starlight imagined was an effort to lighten the mood, she gently bumped her shoulder and gave her a coy look. “Just be sure to treat him well, alright? Or else you’ll have to answer to me.”

Starlight actually managed to chuckle at that, even though it did bring up another issue. “Honestly, I don’t think there would be much of me left for you to deal with after Twilight was done.”

Rarity laughed as well, but was quick to reassure her. “I’m sure she will be happy for you once she sees how much you care for each other.”

“I sure hope so,” Starlight said, already feeling in better spirits. “I… I should be going. Trixie is probably wondering if she should break in to see if I’m okay.”

“See? Good friends all around. Take care, Starlight.”

Starlight smiled and nodded. “You too, Rarity. And thanks for the reminder.”

After a final exchange of farewells, and a promise to talk more later, Starlight walked out of Carousel Boutique, feeling like a new mare. She would still have to talk with Spike, but she felt she could do it. She felt she could take on the whole of Equestria at the moment.

With a spring in her step, Starlight walked into Ponyville with a positive attitude, and a smile on her face.

Chapter 9

View Online

“So… you and Spike, huh?” Trixie said as they walked around the park.

Starlight groaned as she gave her friend a dirty look. “You already said that.”

“I know! It’s just so wonderful and a bit hard to believe,” Trixie said. She gave Starlight a sidelong glance before speaking again. “I trust things went well with Rarity.”

“Yeah, I managed to get a lot of stuff off my chest, and I think I feel better now,” Starlight replied, her head high and her gaze fixed forward. The reticence and dread that had lingered over her for the past few days felt like nothing more than a bad memory, and even though she didn’t think she was a hundred percent over it just yet, there was no doubt in her mind things would only get better from now on.

“You definitely look happier,” Trixie noted as she gave her a nudge. “And it was about time. I’m not used to seeing you all mopey.”

Starlight rolled her eyes, but couldn’t fight back the smile spreading over her face. After a few more minutes of walking, they came across an empty bench next to a tree surrounded by a lot of bushes, so they stopped to rest. Neither said anything for a while, simply enjoying the nature sounds of the park.

“So… tell me, how have things been going with Spike?” Trixie asked after a minute, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“I told you,” Starlight said, noting that she sounded more mellow than she had that morning when she told Trixie the good news, “and I know it’s a bit cliché, but I just feel so happy when I’m with him. Despite a few missteps, I think we’re doing alright.”

“No, no. That’s obvious enough,” Trixie was quick to say, waving a hoof in the air.

Starlight frowned with uncertainty. “What do you mean, then?”

Trixie looked around, as if making sure nopony was within earshot, before leaning forward and giving Starlight a look with narrow eyes. “I mean have you two fucked already?”

“Trixie!” Starlight cried out before quickly lowering her voice. “We’ve only been together for a few days…”

The magician quirked an eyebrow. “So? You’ve known each other for years, and it’s not like you weren’t repressing a bit of scaled lust yourself.”

“What? I—” Starlight tried to object, but she was quickly cut short as Trixie kept speaking.

“I mean, others may not have noticed, but I did see how you looked at him whenever he got out of the shower.”

Starlight felt herself blush. On one hoof, she appreciated her friend’s bluntness, since it was preferable to dancing around the issue for days on end. On the other, they were in public. “Trixie…”

“I know, right? I’m not sure what he hopes to accomplish with that little towel around his waist, it’s not like he covers more than half a thigh anymore.”

“Seriously, I don’t think you—Ah!”

“Oh, do you think he does it on purpose? Show just enough to get the imagination going but—Agh!”

Trixie didn’t get to finish that sentence. In a panic, Starlight had grabbed Trixie by the neck and pulled her backwards just as she jumped into the bushes behind them. Though Trixie struggled against her grip, she stopped once Starlight pressed a hoof over her mouth, though she did give her a dirty look.

“Sorry!” Starlight said. “Force of habit.”

Trixie brushed away her hoof with her magic, scoffing as she tried to stand up. “Trixie is not amused!” Her annoyed expression quickly disappeared, however, when she heard a pair of familiar voices.

“…and that’s how it’s been for the last couple of days,” Spike said as he walked down the path with Big Macintosh next to him.

“Oooh, now Trixie is amused,” Trixie said as she made herself smaller behind the bushes, her eyes wide and her ears perked and pointed toward the two friends.

Though Starlight was a bit annoyed at Trixie’s reaction, she was also feeling guilty for reacting the way she did. She wanted to talk with Spike about a lot of things, but having him walk in on her and Trixie talking about sex wasn’t how she imagined it would go down. Besides, it’s not like she wanted to eavesdrop—

“You’ve fallen hard for her, haven’t ya, Spike?”

“Y-yeah…”

—for more than a minute or so. Besides it was obvious they were in the middle of a very important conversation, and it wouldn’t be right to interrupt them. They’d probably keep walking, anyway.

“D’you want to sit down?” Big Mac asked.

“Sure!” Spike replied.

Aw, fewmets…

Starlight heard Big Mac and Spike make their way to the bench. Meanwhile, Trixie couldn’t stop snickering. Starlight shushed her and quickly shut up herself as she made some mental calculations as to how noticeable the glow of a teleportation spell would be and getting disheartened knowing she would be spotted.

The dragon and stallion sat on the bench and after a few seconds, Spike started speaking again. “I don’t know how to put it, Mac. It’s all happened so fast, but it feels so… right.”

“Well, you’ve known each other for a while now.”

“I know! Maybe that’s why I don’t think we’re rushing the relationship. We’ve been friends since she came to Ponyville, and we just got closer and closer together as time went on.”

Spike’s words made Starlight forget the small pang of guilt caused by her eavesdropping. She started smiling as quick images of their time together flashed across her mind.

“I think it just kept building up and up until she asked me out that night… I don’t know, and I don’t think I want to question it, really.” They both chuckled. Starlight hoped Trixie’s chuckles went unheard.

“You think it was gonna happen anyway?” Big Mac asked him.

Spike made a faint humming sound that Starlight interpreted as agreement. “Maybe? I don’t know… you know I didn’t really put myself out there, even more so after Rarity.”

Now it was Big Mac’s turn to hum in agreement, but he managed to carry more emotion in those simple sounds, somehow.

“Do you think it happened because I wasn’t looking for it?” Spike asked, sounding unsure. “Like, I wasn’t trying to look for a relationship with Starlight, but maybe that’s why I was able to just be myself with her. Maybe that’s why she was always herself when we spent time together. Being with her is just great.”

At some point, Starlight had crossed her hooves and was resting her head on them, listening to everything Spike said as she felt a comfortable warmth wash over her. Hearing Spike speak so happily about their relationship made her feel proud, for a lack of a better word. From the corner of her eye, she could see Trixie smiling at her, not smirking, not laughing, not teasing, just smiling an earnest smile as she mouthed what she imagined was an “I told you so”.

“Hey, Mac,” Spike said after a few seconds of silence, catching Starlight and Trixie’s attention. He sounded… meek. Starlight imagined how bashful he must have looked at that moment and wished she could peek through the bushes. “When did you know Sugar Belle was the one for you?”

The only reason Starlight knew she was still alive at the moment was the strength with which her heart beat. Other than that, she felt as if she had transcended the physical world. Big Mac and Sugar Belle were one of the cutest couples she had seen in her life. The two of them just radiated that cosy couple feel. It was no wonder they got married after just under a year of dating, those two already felt like a married couple when Starlight first met them. Spike couldn’t possibly mean what she thought he meant, right?

Big Mac, for his part, took a while to answer. After a thoughtful hum, he replied with a chuckle. “When I was crossing half of Equestria just to see her.” Spike laughed at that, but didn’t say anything else. After a while, Big Mac started talking once more. “It’s not just one moment. I don’t see it that way. Love doesn’t grow overnight, it takes time, patience, care and attention. I think you’ve been putting that in without noticing.”

“Yeah… I think I have,” Spike said, wistfully. “Everything’s so great with Starlight. I mean, I’m always comfortable with her. I don’t feel I have to be anything other than Spike. I can talk to her about anything, I can share anything with her and I know she’s going to at least give it a shot. Like when I introduced her to comics, books, oh, movies too, and—ah, well… certain board games.”

Starlight saw them shiver, and could see an anguished expression flash across Trixie’s face.

They’re all a bunch of pansies, I swear…

“But yeah, Starlight is great. She likes hanging out with me, she laughs at my jokes, she shows interest in what I like. She even tried powdered gems that one time! She said she couldn’t taste a difference, but hey, she tried!” Spike said with excitement dripping from his voice.

Each of Spike’s words sparked a memory in Starlight’s mind. Images of the two of them staying up late in the castle while reading, playing some game, cooking something, or just talking for hours on end. They caused the smile on her face to grow ever wider.

“Plus, whenever you see her you can tell she’s confident and sure of herself,” Spike continued, and Starlight could feel her heart twisting upon itself.

She knew she projected that air of confidence, but she wasn’t sure how much of that was genuine and how much an act, and with how she’d been feeling these past few days, she could barely remember a time she truly had. It wasn’t a nice feeling, so that’s why she almost missed what Spike said next.

“I know she doesn’t feel like that all the time. Heh… maybe not even most of the time. Still, even then, she tries her best to be confident. She does her best every time, even when she doesn’t feel like she can do it, she never gives up. I kind of admire that in her,” Spike said, unaware of how deeply his words had affected Starlight.

In her spot behind the bushes, Starlight fought back a choking sound as she felt a mix of elation, relief, appreciation, and many more feelings she could probably name if she hadn’t been too busy trying to fight back a few squeals of happiness. She wondered if it would be so bad to just jump towards Spike and start kissing him right then and there, eavesdropping be damned. Then again, she had hidden precisely because she felt embarrassed talking about private matters of her relationship in presence of others, and it didn’t feel right to do the same to him.

“Eeyup. You’ve fallen hard,” Big Mac said with the same certainty one says the sky is blue, though Starlight didn’t need the confirmation.

“I don’t want to, uh, rush or anything… this is my first relationship, after all,” Spike said, though it felt as if there were more words were stuck in his throat.

“But…?” Big Mac prodded him.

“But I have. I really have. I’m just happy when I’m with her. It feels so good to be able to love someone and know they feel the same way.”

Starlight felt her eyes getting wet. She wanted to stand up, throw herself at him and tell him just how much she loved him, how much he meant to her. Why was she even bothering to hide? She should just—

“Plus, she’s so hot,” Spike added, his tone flipping instantly.

Huh?

She heard Trixie holding back peals of laughter, and was sure the only reason the other two didn’t hear her was because Big Mac started laughing shortly after. This in turn made Trixie laugh even harder, and had to bite down her hoof to keep herself in check.

“Is she?” Big Mac asked once he had calmed down.

“Yeah! I mean, she’s got perfect proportions. Her flanks aren’t too big, but her hips curve in just the right way to make them stand out. Oh, and when she walks? I don’t know if she does it on purpose, but it’s hypnotic!”

Spike went on and on. While on some level Starlight appreciated the great enthusiasm in his words, it was a bit embarrassing to have him wax poetically about how much he liked her body in public.

Oh, just admit that you like it.

Well, of course it was enjoyable. It was nice to feel desired by the object of her affections. Besides, it wasn’t as though she hadn’t thought at length about how much she enjoyed Spike’s draconic physique. Perhaps she could put up with a little embarrassment if it meant—

“I mean, maybe it’s that she doesn’t do that much physical activity, because her butt is so nice and plump. Do you know how hard it is not to reach out and squeeze it?”

Nope. Mortifying. Absolutely mortifying.

She wasn’t going to deny this was the kind of thing she wanted Spike to say about her, and that she had thought this kind of thing about him on multiple occasions, but she didn’t do so in public! If only because she was afraid her cheeks would set the bush on fire due to the sheer heat they were emitting.

Meanwhile, Trixie continued to laugh in silence, hitting the ground with her free hoof. If they stayed any longer, they were definitely going to get caught. Starlight wasn’t sure what to do, but then the sound of wooden wheels against the cobblestone path reached her ears.

Leaning to the side, she could see Applejack coming closer, pulling a cart with an apple sign on it. Market hours must have come to an end. This was the perfect diversion!

And maybe she’ll get to hear all these juicy details Spike is dropping about your backside.

Shut up!

She patiently waited for either Spike, Big Mac, or Applejack to notice one another and say hi, giving her and Trixie the window of opportunity necessary to get away.

“Howdy Spike! Mac!” Applejack said once she was close enough to notice the two friends.

Oh, thank Celestia!

She’d have to remember to thank her in some way. As the trio exchanged greetings, Starlight slowly crouched and started walking away as fast as she could without making any noise. Thankfully, Trixie had calmed down enough to follow her, but she still had that mocking smirk on her face. She mouthed a few empty threats and walked a safe distance for Starlight to teleport them to the entrance of the park.

As soon as they had reappeared, Trixie started laughing once more. Starlight had to take a few seconds to clear her mind, but she was at least glad of being away from Spike in what was probably the first time in days.

“And here I thought you had it bad, but wow, Glimmer! Your coltfriend wants you almost as much as you do,” Trixie said, resting her hoof on Starlight’s shoulder just before she started laughing once more.

“Drakefriend…” Starlight mumbled.

After a few seconds, Trixie calmed down. Letting go, she sat down on the cobblestone path and gave her a calm smile “Yes, yes. That. Well, at least you know for sure now. There’s nothing stopping Spike from squeezing those sweet buns of yours.”

“He wants more than that!” Starlight chided her, realising too late how poorly she had worded that reply.

“Oh, you bet those perfectly sized flanks he wants m-more than th-tha—” Trixie’s words were cut short by her resurging laughter.

Starlight just groaned at her friend’s antics. The worst—yet great!—part was that Trixie was right. Not only did Spike desire her, he was as in love with her as she was with him.

They really loved each other.

He also wants to fuck you, don’t forget that.

Yes, that too. Spike had made it clear he was also sexually interested in her, and not just for the physical aspect of it. Rarity’s words still rang clear in her mind, and she felt she was ready to enjoy physical intimacy with her partner.

Just say you want to fu—

With a not at all forced smile, she turned to face Trixie and gave her friend’s snout a quick tap, which caused the blue unicorn to stop laughing for a moment and look back at her.

“Laugh all you want, but my drakefriend loves me for who I am, and also desires me, and the sentiment is very much mutual!” Starlight marked her words with a flick of her mane as she turned around and came face to face with Applejack.

“Uh… So I’ve heard,” Applejack replied, looking a bit flustered.

The three of them remained in uncomfortable silence before Trixie once more started laughing.

Well, that amounted to nothing, Starlight thought as her face lit up. With the sound of Trixie’s laughter in the background, she forced herself to look back at Applejack, who—though still visibly uncomfortable—was doing her best to smile.

“Yeah, uh, Spike told me ‘bout you two back there. Congratulations, by the way,” the farmer said, doing her best to not let the situation remain uncomfortable.

“Th-thanks, Applejack.” Starlight managed to say. Knowing she was the reason for the awkwardness, she spoke again, “Listen, about what I just—”

Applejack held up a hoof and spoke normally, as if the previous minute had never happened. “Don’t worry none, sugarcube. What you do with your special somepony is none of my business. Just… be happy and make sure to make him happy too.”

“Oh, she’ll make him happy alright~”

“Trixie, do you need a timeout to calm down?” Starlight said through gritted teeth as she shot the other unicorn a withering look.

Trixie held up her hooves as she took a few ragged breaths. “Sorry, sorry. I’m done.”

Starlight kept her gaze on Trixie for a moment before looking back at Applejack. Letting out a breath, she nodded. “I will do my best and then some. Don’t worry about that.”

“I know I don’t have to,” Applejack said as she gave a satisfied nod. It wasn’t long, though, before her expression soured. “Now… Mind telling me why you were sneaking around Spike and Big Mac back there?”

And then Trixie started giggling. Part of Starlight wanted to wrap her muzzle in magic and be done with it, while the rest was too busy feeling like an insect under a magnifying glass as she stared into Applejack’s stern eyes. As a result, she’d have to put up with a few muffled giggles in the background.

“It was a mistake! We were talking about, uh, Spike, and then we saw him and your brother coming toward us, and I panicked. I didn’t know what else to do, so I grabbed Trixie and jumped into the bushes,” Starlight blurted out.

Applejack remained expressionless for a few seconds and Starlight felt she was looking straight into her mind as if to see whether she was lying or not. Before long, however, she broke into a smile.

“Heh. Figured it’d be something like that. Just don’t make a habit out of it, y’hear?”

Out of the group, Starlight knew Applejack to be the most level headed and down to earth. Which is why she became immensely worried when she saw the earth pony’s smile morph into a playful smirk. “I suppose this is when I should tell you that you better treat him right or else, but I imagine you’ll get enough of that with Twilight.”

Starlight preemptively gave Trixie a warning glance, who was busy whistling and looking away.

“Y-yeah… I can, uh, I mean, I’ll do my best. For Spike,” Starlight replied somewhat lamely, but with earnest feeling behind each word.

“Now that I like to hear,” Applejack said as she gave a satisfied nod. “I’ve got to get going back to the farm, so don’t let me hold you girls back, alright? Take care.”

WIth that, they exchanged farewells and Applejack kept walking towards Sweet Apple Acres. Starlight and Trixie watched her go, neither saying anything until the farmer and her cart were but a small figure in the distance.

“Sorry about that, Starlight,” Trixie said, looking ahead.

“Don’t mention it, Trixie.”

“You’ve got to admit it was kind of—”

“I said don’t mention it, Trixie!”

With a repressed giggle and a groan of frustration, the pair walked away from the park and back to Ponyville in decidedly non-hostile silence. After a few minutes, Trixie started talking once more.

“Hey, Starlight.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve been cooking more now that you’re with Spike, right?”

“Yeah?” Starlight asked again, though more cautious this time.

Trixie looked at her with an air of mock pedantry. Or at least she hoped was mock pedantry.

“Well, Trixie supposes it would be okay to let you prove your newly acquired cooking skills to her,” she said while turning up her nose.

Starlight didn’t even break her pace as she kept on walking. Being able to read Trixie was a skill that required as much effort as stubbing your hoof and was just as rewarding. But she had to admit she still liked the crazy mare, and besides, she wanted to see how far she’d come on her own.

“How gracious of you. It’d be an honour to cater to the palate of one as great and powerful as you,” Starlight said while making an exaggerated curtsy.

They shared a laugh that helped dissipate some of the tension between them. To be honest, Starlight was glad Trixie had been around for her today. Without a friendly shoulder to lean on, she wasn’t sure she could’ve mustered up the courage to speak with Rarity and would probably be huddled in her bed under several duvets while eating a few tubs of ice cream. Maybe crying a little bit.

Shuddering at the thought, Starlight kept following Trixie as they got near the travelling mare’s wagon. Now that they were there, Starlight started to think about what she could cook. Obviously, she’d have to see what Trixie had available in her small pantry and go from there.

A salad would be the easy way out, but Spike had taught her many ways to spice up the simplicity of it. Just knowing which vegetables paired well made a whole world of difference. A contrast in texture was also a welcome addition. Biting something soft and juicy before moving on to something light and crunchy added a lot to the experience. And that was without getting into the dressings. Just changing the dressing from something thick and creamy to something more watery and refreshing could make it seem like two different dishes.

Oh, but that was just salads. If Trixie had any dry pasta, they could make a sauce out of almost any vegetable combination. They could serve it with sliced vegetables, or mushrooms, which could be served sautéed, stewed, or even raw. Even something as simple as pepper and olive oil would result in a mind-blowing dish when properly made. Emphasis on ‘properly,’ but Starlight knew that if she did her best, they would both enjoy the result.

So, of course Trixie had to go and throw a wrench in her plans.

“Is this seriously all you have?” Starlight said as she once again rummaged through the pantry.

“Listen, just because Trixie remembered the puff pastry the second time you asked, doesn’t mean she’ll somehow remember a new ingredient is hidden in a drawer.”

Starlight closed the little wood door with as much force as possible for her anger to come through, but not so much to accidentally damage it. Putting on her best face of disappointment, she turned to look at Trixie, who was lying on her back, lounging on top of some cushions on the other end of the wagon’s small living accomodations.

“How have you been holding up on the road with just these?” She motioned toward the pathetic array of food she had found. Aside from the puff pastry, there was a couple of jars of condiments, herbs, very few vegetables, a rock hard block of cheese, and one plastic container Starlight had deemed safer to incinerate outside of the wagon.

“It’s not that bad, really,” Trixie said, dismissively, “I often ate at whichever town I was staying, and then usually got a few bushels worth of food after a show.”

Starlight furrowed her brow as she considered a rather sad prospect.

“Did you come back to Ponyville because you ran out of food?”

Trixie’s face was a perfect impression of stoicism as she turned to face Starlight. With her hooves crossed over her chest, she looked at the pathetic pile of ingredients and then to Starlight.

“Maybe.”

Starlight groaned as she fell to her haunches, making the wagon shake a bit. ”What am I going to do with you, Trixie?”

“Feed me?” Trixie replied without missing a beat.

Rather than bothering to reply, Starlight turned around to check the meager ingredients once more. It would be much easier to simply go back to the Castle and check what was available there. However, she took this as a challenge. She was going to cook something for Trixie using these and she was going to like it. Spike had once told her that you had to be able to improvise and adapt on the fly when cooking.

“Well then, what do you use to cook?”

“There’s a little oven in the back. I’ll go get it,” Trixie said as she stood up.

Starlight nodded, and once more went through her mental recipe book in hopes of finding something that could be done with just this.

Her best asset at the moment was the puff pastry. She could do some rolls, or perhaps some empanadas, but she didn’t know if any of those veggies were suitable fillings. Leaving that aside, how else could she use the puff pastry? She could improvise a pie of sorts and use that as a cover, but Trixie probably didn’t have a pie mold. Besides, after Pinkie’s Correct Cake Confection Course, she didn’t think she physically could use an incorrect baking implement. Perhaps focusing too much on the pastry was a mistake; better to look over all the ingredients in detail and see what else came to her mind.

Okay, Starlight, look at the big picture once more. What do you have?

A severe case of scale lust.

“Oh, for Celestia’s sake!”

“What? Are you going to scold me for allowing myself one luxury item?” Trixie said, snatching the small jar Starlight had unknowingly been squeezing in her hooves.

“Eh?”

“So what if Prench mustard costs four times as much as yellow mustard? Trixie happens to like the flavour! And besides! She only ever buys one jar every few months,” Trixie said, caressing the small jar as if it were a pet.

“N-no, that’s not what I…” Starlight trailed off. She remembered something Spike had told her a long time ago about how to balance flavours. She didn’t remember all that much, but she did recall him saying that the sour, tangy taste of Prench mustard paired well with the sweetness of caramelised vegetables. If she made sure the puff pastry got nice and crispy, then she may be able to pull it off.

“Starlight? Are you alright there?”

“Yes,” she replied with the certainty that came with a focused mind. “Now let’s get cooking.”

Trixie blinked a couple of times before breaking into a grin. “Sounds like you have a plan. Lead the way, chef!”

The pair got to work. While Trixie cleaned the nearest working surface, Starlight brought out a knife and opened the package of puff pastry. She pulled out the slices of pastry and laid them flat on a baking tray.

“So, what now?” Trixie asked.

“Well, I was thinking of making a tart. We use the pastry as a base, slather it with the mustard, put some sliced tomatoes on top, and season with all the herbs you have,” Starlight replied as she made some mental calculations regarding flavour balancing.

“Oh, that sounds good.”

“Hopefully it will taste just as well,” Starlight said, lifting the knife with her magic, and started slicing some tomatoes. “Start mixing the herbs.”

With a nod, Trixie started opening some jars and measuring the oregano, rosemary, thyme and whatever else she had available. Even a few bits of lavender she said had been a gift from a family of gardeners she had helped with a parasprite infestation. Starlight could still see the scratched off Barnyard Bargains logo on the label, but decided not to say anything.

After a minute of work, everything was ready. The herbs were mixed, the mustard was ready, the tomatoes were sliced, and the pastry was ready to be pricked.

Much to Starlight’s annoyance, Trixie found that last bit to be particularly funny.

“Okay, what’s with you today?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Trixie squeaked as she tried to hold back her giggles. “Just keep going, I’m paying attention.”

Starlight shot Trixie a stern look. Perhaps it was for the best she didn’t tell her the process was also called docking. Shaking her head, she lifted a fork and started poking the dough.

“You have to poke holes over it so it won’t rise too much.”

“Like a pizza dough?”

“Kind of, yeah…” Starlight said as she moved on to another slice of puff pastry. “Spike said you shouldn’t say that in front of a Prench chef, though. They tend to dislike the comparison.”

“Heh, silly pretentious chefs. Too good to make a pizza, huh? What do they call these, then?” Trixie said as she started pricking another slice.

“Tomato tart.”

“Hah! They can’t even come up with a name for their rationalisations, can they?”

Starlight laughed at that. Despite Trixie’s Trixieness, she found she was having fun. Had she perhaps started linking cooking with having a good time? How odd. And yet, it worked, so she wasn’t going to question it.

“Let’s pop it in the oven first ,” Starlight said once they were done with the pricking.

Nodding, Trixie opened the small oven and, lighting up her horn, started heating it.

“Why don’t you add the toppings now?”

“Well, the tomatoes cook faster than the dough. I’m putting it in first so it’ll get all nice and crispy.”

“Wooo… Look at you with all that chefy knowledge,” Trixie said, poking her on on her side.

“Oh, stop that,” Starlight said in a haughty tone that made it clear she didn’t want the praise to stop. Regardless, she lifted the tray and slid it in the oven. “There we go. Some ten minutes should be enough.”

Trixie said nothing, simply sitting down next to Starlight as they watched the little oven. It had only been a minute, but the heat coming from the oven already made the small wagon feel much more comfortable. After the rollercoaster of emotions that had been the last few days, Starlight felt grateful for this little moment of peace with a friend.

“So, you still haven’t had sex.”

Damn it, Trixie.

“For the record,” Trixie said, turning her face just enough for them to make eye contact, “don’t think I’m trying to tease you. I just can’t help but being curious, you know?”

Starlight kept her suspicious glare on Trixie, though it lasted for only a few seconds before it mellowed out. “We… we haven’t. We’ve had a couple of narrow misses, but not yet”

Trixie arched an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean near mi—”

“I know what I said, Trixie,” Starlight said, flatly.

“Uh-huh…” Trixie continued to look at her before getting back on track. “But the point is you want to.”

“Yes… Yes I do.” Starlight blushed heavily at her own admission, though she realised it was more out of excitement than just embarrassment.

“Good,” Trixie said, leaning sideways a bit. She then turned to face the small oven with a forlorn look in her eyes. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this kind of happy before.”

Starlight arched an eyebrow, but just as she was about to ask her friend to explain herself, she spoke once more.

“I mean, I’ve seen you happy before. And I think that trip to Acapulcolt was the closest I’ve seen to a textbook example of joy,” Trixie added with mirth. “But the way you look when you talk about Spike? Baby, that’s the kind of happiness that only comes from a content heart.”

There was no fighting the smile that overcame Starlight at that moment. Part bashfulness, part repressed giggle, but mostly happiness. She knew there was a reason she liked Trixie.

“And!” Trixie continued, lifting a hoof in the air. “I’m just happy to see my girl get some action after Celestia knows how long. And with someone you actually love! That’s amazing, Starlight.”

“Thanks, Trixie,” Starlight said as she leaned sideways and rested her head on her friend’s shoulder.

“Oh, come here you big sap,” Trixie replied as she pulled Starlight closer and crossed necks with her. She didn’t object, and after a satisfied hum, she hugged her friend tightly.

Neither said anything for a while, simply enjoying the warmth that came from each other and from the small oven.

“And with the way you always ogled him whenever he was out of the shower, I can’t say I’m surprised you finally caved in.”

“Trixie!” Starlight chided her, though there was no apprehension in her voice. Giving her a playful shove, she stood upright once more. “Way to kill the mood.”

For her part, Trixie just chuckled. “You say that, yet you’re still smiling.”

Shaking her head, Starlight walked towards the oven and crouched to see the pastry inside.

It had started to get a slightly golden shade on the edges, and a few spots of the pastry had swollen. It was probably good enough. She pulled back the tray with her magic and carried it to the working table.

“Well, Trixie, since you're such a big fan of your Prench mustard, you should be the one to spread it,” Starlight said as she floated the jar of mustard towards her friend.

“Sure,” Trixie said, catching and opening the jar in a quick motion.

Starlight was about to give her a spoon, but Trixie quickly took out a scoop of the mustard with her magic. Though on a level she wanted to chastise her, she supposed doing it that way was more sanitary.

“Done!” Trixie exclaimed once she was done slathering the still warm pastry. “Time for the tomatoes!”

Starlight looked at the tart. It had a nice, thick layer of mustard on it and was ready to receive the tomatoes.

“You know, if I had planned this right, I could’ve cut the pastry so that it would fit a slice of tomato without too much extra space.”

“Just cut a slice in two and fill the gaps however you can. This is food, not a painting,” Trixie said dismissively.

“Alright, alright.” Starlight huffed as she started working on the tomatoes. “Just get the salt and the herbs ready.”

A slightly toasted base. A thick layer of Prench mustard, several slices of tomato on top, salt and the mix of herbs on top. On a whim they had checked if that old block of cheese could be grated and, after softening it a bit with magic, found that it grated perfectly. Without further ado, they popped it in the oven, and waited.

“Well, thirty minutes or so and it’ll be done,” Starlight said, sounding satisfied.

“Oh, if only we could talk of something to pass the time…” Trixie replied.

Starlight knew what her intentions were, so she was quick to speak up. “Yes, how about you tell me all about your latest trip, Trixie? I haven’t seen you in a couple of months, I bet you’re full to the brim with stories.”

“Ha!” Trixie scoffed. “The Great and Powerful Trixie sees through your scheming, Starlight Glimmer. She will only comply because you are right!”

They shared a laugh and settled on the cushions at the other end of the wagon. Starlight let Trixie do all the talking, intervening only to make impressed noises, ask for more details, or subtly tell Trixie when she’d made a contradiction in her tale. All in all, she had a good time. It was relaxing, and Starlight wished it would last for as long as possible. Of course, it wasn’t long until it was time for the tomato tart to come out of the oven.

Once they opened the oven’s door, they were greeted by the magnificent sight of golden brown pastry edges, a dry yellowish mustard, and an equally dry yet enticing tomato layer. Not to mention the intense smell of glory that filled the tiny room.

“Ooooh… Starlight, if you’ve gotten this good, I may have to make my stays in Ponyville more frequent.”

“Drop by the castle, I’m sure Spike would like to cook for you, too,” Starlight said as she moved the tart onto a different tray for it to cool.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to hog your boy toy,” Trixie said, her voice muffled as she rummaged through a nearby chest.

“Don’t call him that, it sounds so—Wait, where did you get that?”

Trixie smiled back at her while holding a bottle of wine in her hooves. “Secret stash.”

“Huh… Well, I won’t say no to a glass or two.”

“That’s the spirit!” Trixie cried out as she removed the cork.

A few minutes later, both mares were sitting down, each with a glass of wine, a small plate with half a tart on it, and a smile on their faces. Starlight took a small sip of wine while Trixie downed half of hers in a single gulp. She giggled at that, but didn’t say a thing. Similarly, Trixie didn’t look as if she wanted to wait any longer before biting down on the tart, so with a quick “Thanks,” she levitated the piece of tart and bit down.

“Mmmmf~”

Starlight took her moans of delight as a sign of success, and upon taking a bite, she was inclined to agree.

“Sweet Celestia, Starlight, this is amazing,” Trixie said between chews.

Despite being a simple store bought pastry, the crust was buttery and light enough to have gotten crispy. The tangy mustard was powerful, but not overwhelming, and it complemented the rich caramelised tomatoes quite well. And it all came together with the flavour of the many herbs.

Pretty damn tasty. Now she wanted Spike to make her a real tomato tart, just to see how much better it could taste.

Trixie chased down another bite of the tart with a sip of her wine. “Honestly, if I knew it was this easy to make things taste good, I would’ve learned to cook years ago!”

“It’s not that hard, really… If I could learn, anyone can,” Starlight said, feeling a small flame of contentment burn in her chest. To be honest, this little boost of confidence made her want to cook something for Spike once more to show him how good she’d become; and as she took another bite of her tomato tart, she knew she could do it.

“So…” Trixie said after chasing down the last bit of her tart with her wine. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, so tell me if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Oh, no.

Starlight took another sip of her wine and waited for Trixie to continue.

The blue mare scooted closer and regarded her with wide, bright eyes. “Tell me, is it true?”

A few alarm bells rang in Starlight’s mind. Sadly, she couldn’t blame the wine for not ending the conversation there. Perhaps she could drink a glass more. Feigning disinterest, she poured herself more wine as she asked, “Is what true?”

Trixie’s eyes widened even more, if such a thing was possible. “What they say about dragons, you know…” Trixie rolled her eyes as she got even closer. “Down there.”

Starlight had to stop herself from overfilling her glass. She also had to stop herself from screaming and asking Trixie what in the name of Tartarus did she mean by that. Then again, it was kind of obvious. So obvious Starlight felt more than a bit stupid for not considering it before. Spike was a dragon, he had a dragon’s anatomy, so of course he would be… different. Now she started wondering just how different.

“Wha—” she gulped. Taking a deep breath, she spoke once more, hoping she sounded natural. “What do they say?”

Trixie smiled, biting her lip in excitement as she raised her hooves. “They have two,” she whispered, though she may as well have yelled it straight into her ears. Starlight’s thoughts came to a screeching halt as her mind was flooded with the implications of what Trixie had just said.

“I’ll admit I’ve never seen any, and it’s not like dragons are that common in Equestria. And I mean, what am I supposed to do, go find a dragon in a forest and ask him to whip ‘em out? I’d probably get burnt to a crisp.”

She held the nearly full glass of wine between her hooves, only barely paying attention to it as Trixie’s words echoed in her head.

“You’d think with all those fancy new relationship treaties with the dragons, some would come to Equestria to find a willing mare, wouldn’t you?”

All this time she had never wondered. Not even once. Now she was torn between wanting to run back to the park and spread Spike’s legs, and tucking her tail between her own legs and scream for a while.

“Ooooh, perhaps even mares, plural. If they really have two, then they could probably do it with two mares at the same time, don’t you think?”

Her breathing was even, her face inexpressive, her posture relaxed, and her eyes were frozen in terror.

“Of course, you could try to take both of them on your own, but that could get kind of tricky. Not that I have much experience, but taking it in the back is kinda, you know, not the sort of thing you can decide to do on the spot, it takes some time.”

The nervousness started to spread through her body. On one hoof, wow. On the other one, wow!

“Besides, if you’re going to be taking one in the front and then one in the back, you’re going to be getting quite the stretch. And that’s without even considering the actual shape! I wonder if they’re thicker… Oh, ho ho ho… Whew, I think the wine is getting to my head. Maybe we should make more of that tart, we still have half a bottle to go through.”

Still, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that maybe she had been worrying about the wrong things all this time.

Just as Trixie came down from her little monologue, she looked back at Starlight and frowned. “Hey, Star, are you alright?”

Well… the voice in her mind said. It seems like somepony will have to make some revisions to her fantasies.

Chapter 10

View Online

“Did you know dragons are endothermic?”

Starlight would’ve groaned, but that required energy, and that was in short supply at the moment.

“I guess we’re just used to thinking of all lizards and the like as ‘cold-blooded’, but apparently that’s not how it works,” Trixie said as her eyes scanned the pages of a large tome. “It depends on whether the animal can generate heat from within its body or if it must use external heat sources, and since dragons use their own magic to generate fire, their heat comes from within, which makes them endothermic and therefore ‘warm-blooded’.”

Starlight looked up from her book and gave Trixie a flat stare from across the library’s table. “Why are you telling me all of this?”

Trixie slammed the book closed and looked at her with a playful expression. “Because you took the book about dragon dicks, so this is all I have left.”

Even though she should’ve gotten used to her friend’s teasing by this point, she still felt a rush of blood going to her cheeks. She may have been flustered, but that didn’t mean she was going to let it show!

“It… it’s not my fault ponies know so little about dragons, this is all I could find!” she cried out, her voice getting higher the longer she spoke.

Smooth, Starlight.

Taking it from both Trixie and her subconscious was too much. Starlight managed to muster up enough energy to groan as she buried her face in the book. After their little conversation back at Trixie’s wagon, they had run all the way back to the Castle Library for research. Though perhaps Starlight had done most of the running, while she dragged Trixie with her. There may have been a bit of screaming alongside it.

Nevertheless! She had looked for every possible book that could tell her something about what to expect from Spike’s penis. Sadly, there were only a few books that seemed promising, and now she was torn between wanting to rush to the pertinent pages, and not wanting to be disappointed in case her search was fruitless. However, the results so far were… encouraging.

“I did find something, though.” Starlight finished her sentence with a gulp.

“Ooooh…” Trixie pushed her book away with a flick of her hoof and slid around the table. “This I want to hear.”

A shadow of a grimace crossed Starlight’s face, but her bubbling enthusiasm wiped it away in an instant. Her eyes went back to the open book and searched for the relevant section.

“‘Long thought to share similarities to the breeding habits of their reptilian ilk, recent discoveries, brought forth by the new close relationship between the draconic and equine nations, have shown that there is more to the dragon’s mating rituals than were previously thought.’”

“Sweet Celestia, was this guy paid by the word? Get on with it!” Trixie exclaimed in exasperation.

Far from chastising her friend’s impatience, Starlight quickly scanned the paragraphs for important information. “Let’s see… remote locations… preferably warm climates… nesting within the female’s hoard… Ah! Here it is!” Starlight said as she found what she’d been looking for. “‘Thanks to their intelligence, the dragons engage in elaborate mating rituals’”—Trixie cooed—”’in which the dominant dragon will pin down their mate and will proceed to engage in physical contact by pressing their bodies against each other…’”

“So far so good!” Trixie said encouragingly. “Spike’s not that big, so I bet it’ll be a very comfortable cuddling session before getting to the action.”

Though she didn’t say it out loud, the thought brought a smile to her face. She could get a bit rowdy during sex when in the right mood, but the thought of a more intimate encounter was even more enticing. She didn’t want to think too much about it at the moment; at the very least, she didn’t want to dwell so much on it that she ended up ruining the upholstery. She imagined an old cushion, thick fabric, and springs would be much harder to clean than just a few bedsheets. She could save those thoughts for later analysis.

Yes… Very thorough analysis~

With a slow buildup of annoyance at her mind, at Trixie, and at the increasing delays, Starlight turned the page and let out an estranged gasp as she felt her previous thoughts—even those of her conscience—vanish as a single word filled her mind.

Big.

On the following page there was a full two page spread containing a drawing of an adult dragon. The detailed depiction of the mighty specimen made several annotations about his horns and the angular ridges of his facial features. His wings were wide open, so much so that they actually covered as much of the pages as the body of the dragon itself. The thick arms and legs resembled tree trunks, and the claws the protruding roots.

And, of course, right between his legs, were two very erect penises… penes… dicks. Two very erect dragon dicks.

“Sweet Celestia, look at those two…” Trixie said, scooting closer to her. She leaned forward, her nose almost touching the page. “I think each is bigger than Celestia!”

It was nice to count on the reassurance of a friend during troubling times.

“‘A hemipenis (plural hemipenes) is one of a pair of intromittent organs of male dragons and other squamates. Hemipenes are usually held inverted within the body, and are everted for reproduction via erectile tissue, much like that in the penis of mammals,’” Trixie read from the text at the bottom of the page, wonder and excitement clear in her voice.

“I don’t… I mean… I’m not sure what to think,” Starlight said, her mind caught between surprise, horror, and mild interest. On some level, she knew it would be a long, long time before Spike ever started to come even close to being that big. However, Starlight was capable of simple math, and her mind was already making a proportional estimate of how big Spike’s dicks were.

Still big.

And yet, those thoughts were quickly washed away when she actually started to consider all the ways Spike’s spikes differed from what she was used to. A stallion’s penis was essentially a somewhat conical cylinder with a thicker base up to the medial ring—Why is it called medial ring? It’s not even in the middle, it’s more like little over a third from the start—with the head being a bit bigger, too. However, the ones in the drawing were quite different, in an enticing sort of way. From an opening in the dragon’s crotch, two dicks came out. Each of them—Of equal length!—was slightly curved at the base before straightening and pointing upwards. Unlike a stallion’s penis, which were more or less cylindrical with the lower third being thicker, a dragon’s penis was smoother with a gradual change from the thick base to the thinner but no less impressive tip. Also, the tips. While the dicks she was used to ended on a flat, slightly wider head that got bigger when the stallion reached climax, in direct contrast, the dragon’s two penises ended in a rounded tip. She imagined a modestly sized version of one of the dicks in the picture attached to Spike, prodding at her lower lips, and quickly realised this shape would make penetration much easier. The lack of a large flare at the tip meant that it would go in with more ease, and the way it slowly grew thicker and thicker meant it would be easier for her to adapt to his dick until he hilted.

If he could hilt at all.

Nope! I am not ruining this for myself!

There’d be time to worry about that later. Right now, there was still something to consider. The diagram on the page seemed to value scientific pragmatism over artistic value, so the hemipenes were just an outline. However, the artist had put in the effort of drawing a few details on the side of the flesh. Just what—

“‘Hemipenes come in a variety of shapes, depending on species, with ornamentation such as spines or hooks,’” Trixie continued reading.

“What?”

“I guess that’s what those things on the shaft are. Amazing, isn’t it? It’s already ribbed for your plea—”

“Hooks?!” Starlight cried out as she grabbed Trixie by the shoulders. She wasn’t sure if she was shaking Trixie or her own body was shaking. “I don’t want hooks inside my vagina!”

“Sta-Starlight,” Trixie stammered, “Th-the Great and Po-powerful Trixie orders—Stop!”

Starlight’s hooves were seized by Trixie’s magic, forcing her to stop. Trixie, once more, looked unamused.

“Sorry…” Starlight said as she settled down, taking deep breath after deep breath. “Just… you said the “h” word. We’re not going to use the “h” word from now on.”

“Sure…” Trixie replied as she shook her own shoulders and turned to face the book once more. “I wouldn’t worry too much, the book does say it varies depending on the species. Either way, you are one lucky girl, Starlight. Not many mares can say they’ve laid a dragon. And yes! I know you still haven’t done it, but you get Trixie’s meaning.”

“Did the book really say ornamentation?”

Trixie’s eyes danced across the page as she hummed. “It does.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I know right? I can think of a few functional uses for those little edges,” Trixie said with a little growl and a smirk.

Starlight imagined she was in her room at night, laying on her bed with Spike across her. They were holding each other, close. Just as they started to make out, he started shifting on the bed, spreading his legs, only for his gargantuan dicks to pop out and push her off the bed.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“There we go, Trixie knew that wasn’t over,” Trixie said as she kept on reading calmly while Starlight broke down next to her.

“How are we supposed to have sex?! I can’t fit one of those down there! Much less two!”

“Okay, Starlight. Listen—”

“Do you see those things?! I’d be split in half if he tried to put one in. How am I supposed to handle two?”

“Oh, I see. We’re doing this.” Trixie shrugged and kept on reading. “Well, I’ll just let it run its course.”

“I mean, maybe I could take the tip and the first third, but this is too much! Anything more would split me in half!”

“Good to know you aren’t a size queen, Starlight.” There seemed to be a few more drawings on the following pages, so Trixie started flipping the pages back and forth in concentration.

“I’m serious,” Starlight said as she put her hoof on the book. “I don’t know… I mean…"

Trixie let out a soft sigh before facing Starlight. She leaned forward and crossed necks with her, holding her close as she patted her back.

“Calm down, Starlight.”

“But—”

“It’s okay, I understand. You’re nervous, scared, and probably many more adjectives I don’t know.” While Trixie’s tone was soothing, it did little to ease Starlight’s nervousness. “Trust me, you’ll be okay.”

“You don’t know that…”

“Actually, I do,” Trixie said, letting go of Starlight and floating the book towards them. “You won’t have to worry about that for a long, long time.”

Starlight looked at the pages Trixie was showing her. It depicted a younger dragon, probably just a bit bigger than Spike, and his twin pillars of dragon flesh seemed less… intimidating.

“Read.” Trixie ordered as she pointed at a few paragraphs beneath the drawing.

With a brief pause to take a calming breath, Starlight read. The textbook continued talking about young drakes and, more to her interests, sexual maturity.

“‘Though dragons will continue to grow for centuries, reaching their full size sometime between six hundred and nine hundred years of age, they achieve sexual maturity after their first growth spurt, which happens within their first couple of decades. At this age, dragons are already capable of breeding, but they’ll continue to grow throughout their lives,’” Starlight read.

“See?” Trixie closed the book and put it back on the table, but she never tore her gaze away from Starlight. “Sure, Spike’s going to get scary big in more than one way, but let’s face it, that’s so far into the future you won’t get to enjoy it.” Before Starlight could comment on that and ignite a powder keg of existential dread, Trixie continued. “Unless you become an alicorn, in which case, Trixie thinks you can take a couple of tree-sized dicks.”

Despite herself, Starlight let out a genuine laugh. Such a simple gesture, but it went a long way to release some of the tension that had been building inside her.

“Now that’s more like it,” Trixie said, smiling. “So, again, don’t worry. I’m sure your drakefriend’s dicks will be of manageable dimensions.”

“Oh, I hope so…” Starlight trailed off. Once more, she pictured Spike laying next to her on her bed. Only this time, Spike’s hemipenes seemed less daunting. Well, imagining two alien looking penises was still intimidating as much as it was enticing, but the size no longer made her feel as if her vagina was about to seal itself in fear.

Perhaps she was just being silly. Well, no. It was a reasonably worrying prospect, but she was sure they’d find a way to have sex without her ending up in the hospital. Perhaps she could magically grow her body until he was just big enough to fit comfortably. Or just keep growing to match Spike’s size, should he have another growth spurt.

Maybe you should focus on how to fuck someone with two cocks first.

It was true, she wasn’t sure how to start. How did you fuck two cocks? Besides the obvious way, of course. She glanced back at the book and started thinking about how to do it.

“You’re thinking about them going in you, aren’t you?”

“Ah! Trixie!” Starlight cried out, feeling a rush of blood go to her face.

“What?” Trixie said with a shrug. “I could see it on your face. Besides, better to get over it now than spend the rest of the afternoon thinking yourself to death about it and beating yourself over some imaginary fault.”

“I… I wasn’t going to—” Starlight started, but she was cut off by the flat stare Trixie was giving her. “Okay, maybe I was.”

“And that is why you should be grateful I’m here,” Trixie said, smiling as she patted Starlight’s shoulder.

“I wish you’d been here over the weekend… Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten so wrapped up in my own mind.”

“And now you’re going to start wallowing in regret? We’re not even drunk yet, save it for the weekend.”

Starlight laughed once more, and the smirk that flashed across Trixie’s face wasn’t lost on her. She wasn’t sure where she’d be without her friend.

“So, back to dicks,” Trixie said, cheerily.

Yes. Where indeed…

Starlight sighed and turned to face the book. The young drake looked somewhat similar to Spike. Of course, Spike was much more handsome. Not to mention he looked leaner and more muscular. The drake’s frame was more rough as well. Spike was bulky and masculine, too, but his body still had a few smooth curves here and there. Especially near that cute butt of his.

And, of course, his dicks. Dicks, it felt so weird to say and even weirder to have grown used to it so quickly. She imagined how they’d look, and how closely they would resemble the ones in the book. Perhaps it was vanity, but she wanted to think Spike’s would be much prettier.

She was brought out of her reverie when Trixie clopped her hooves against the table. “I don’t think you’ll have much trouble getting it in. The tip alone seems like it would be fun.”

“It… it’s kinda cute, isn’t it?” Starlight ventured, doing her best not to fall back into nervousness.

“That’s a way of putting it,” Trixie said, sounding almost contemplative, deep in thought. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke again, “You know, that shape is almost too good.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, look at it this way.” Trixie held up her hooves and pressed the undersides against each other. “With a stallion’s penis, you get the flare”—Trixie’s hooves separated to the approximate width of a stallion’s flare and then brought them a bit closer—”then you get the shaft, and there’s almost no variation there, the girth stays almost the same until you hit the medial ring”—her hooves separated once more and stayed at that distance—”and then you get the thickest bit all the way to the base.”

“I know, what’s your point?” Starlight asked, though she had an inkling of where Trixie was going to take this.

“Well, look at those things!” Trixie said with a nod towards the book. She once more brought her hooves together and started speaking. “That cute rounded tip will slowly tease its way in”—she separated her hooves just a bit, though the very tip of her hooves were still touching—”and since the penis starts at almost the same width, it will slowly get wider”—her hooves separated more—”and wider”—and kept separating—”and wider, which means you’ll get to feel that delicious dragon dick spreading your pussy wider and wider, which means you won’t get used to the width because every time he goes deeper you’re going to get more and more cock.”

Starlight wasn’t sure when she had forgotten to breathe, but her vision had started to blur around the same time Trixie had started speaking. Her friend’s simple words were evocative enough to paint a very vivid image in her mind. She could picture it perfectly. She could almost see Spike rubbing the tip of his dick against her and going in, spreading her further with every centimeter of dragon flesh that went inside her until she hit the bottom and he was completely inside of her. She pictured his face, right in front of hers, his snout but a hair’s breadth away from her, and his beautiful green eyes staring into her as deeply as his dick was inside of her.

“Haaaa… “ was the only thing Starlight could say.

“Oh, I imagine that would make anal much easier,” Trixie said with wonderment.

“...aaah!?” she cried out as her mind was abruptly brought back to reality.

“Yeah! I mean, you still want to use lube, of course, but since it doesn’t start as big, it’ll be easier to get it in. And since it slowly gets bigger—again, don’t forget the lube—it’ll probably means you won’t get much discomfort from it,” Trixie said, sounding deep in thought. “You know, I’ve heard that a penis can stimulate the vaginal walls from inside the rectum. It’s only a thin layer of flesh separating the two. I bet it can feel amazing.”

Starlight blinked as she stared at her friend. Trixie’s earnest attitude caught her so off guard she wasn’t sure what to say.

How about: “Thanks, Trixie! I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

That implies I will want to try… that!

Well, what else can be done with another penis coming right next to the one you’ll have in your vagina?

That doesn’t mean I have to take it in my ass!

It’s not like you’ve offered many alternatives. Besides, it’s just anal, it’s not like it’s the end of the world!

Whose side are you on?

I’m you, idiot. I just want to get laid and I want you to stop making excuses!

“Starlight? Are you okay?” Trixie asked.

Starlight blinked a couple of times and looked away in embarrassment. “Yeah. I’m just… having an argument with myself.”

“Then why do you look angry?”

“Because I’m losing!” Starlight yelled, despite herself.

Silence dawned on the room, alongside a hefty dose of awkwardness. Even though she wasn’t facing her, Starlight could feel Trixie’s worried stare in the back of her neck.

“Okay, Trixie will ignore all of that,” she said, matter-of-factly. “And hey, sorry if I made you uncomfortable with the talk about butt stuff. I suppose I just got too caught up in it.”

“I… uh…” Starlight said. “I mean. It’s not that I’m against it, I don’t think. It’s just that. It’s kind of overwhelming.”

Trixie, in a much needed display of empathy, put her hoof on Starlight's shoulder and turned her around. She gave her a reassuring smile, and spoke in a calming tone, “I can imagine… Like I said, it’s not like I have a lot of experience, but you shouldn’t be afraid of it.”

“Not the kind of thing you can decide to do on the spot, right?” Starlight ventured a smile.

“Someone’s learning!” Trixie replied, sounding pleased. “I mean, if you don’t want to do it, then that’s it. I’m just saying it’s an option and you shouldn’t fear it.”

Starlight wondered how long it would take her to stop being afraid. Then again, she had made a lot of progress today thanks to Trixie, her friend had certainly been quite helpful. “Thanks, Trixie… I—”

“Save that for your anniversary! You could make it your analversary, you know? Make the whole thing special, though I suppose that should commemorate the first time you had anal. Eh, you'll figure it out,” Trixie continued, as if she hadn’t heard Starlight.

Trixie is such a good friend.

Whether that had been genuine or sarcastic, Starlight wasn’t sure, but something Trixie said caught her attention. The other day, Starlight had told Spike she wanted their first time to be special and not just because they lost control. So why not go out of her way of making it special? Make a whole event out of it. Maybe not how Trixie meant, but perhaps go on a date with him, spend the whole day together and slowly set the mood.

They already had great chemistry, and a big deal of unresolved sexual tension, it wouldn’t be that hard to bring up the topic. Besides, Spike had already admitted he also wanted to have sex with her, it shouldn’t be that hard. Now the only question was how to go around making the day special.

“Hey, Trixie,” Starlight said, realising her friend had kept talking while she had gotten lost in her own thoughts.

“…which is why you should try to play with your clit while you’re—Uh, what?” Trixie replied, after being pulled from her reverie.

“If you were to take somepony out on a date, and I mean someone who was really special, how would you do it?”

“Wouldn’t even think it twice. Front row seat to one of my shows,” Trixie replied without missing a beat. Starlight was about to roll her eyes, but Trixie continued speaking. “That way I’d make the whole show about him. I’d use my magic to show him how I feel, and how much he means to me. It would be me and him with everypony else there to witness the rise of the Happy and Enamoured Trixie.”

Silence hung in the room as Trixie’s words faded. Starlight had to admit she hadn’t expected her friend to say something so heartfelt and so… Trixie at the same time. It made sense. Trixie’s magic was an integral part of who she was, so of course she would want to express her affection with magic. Twilight would probably do the same. Rarity didn’t need a reason to make clothes and garments, but she imagined she would put extra effort into making something special for a special somepony. Pinkie would probably bake some sort of super ultra special cake and make a huge party out of the whole thing.

“You didn’t think Trixie spent her free time just thinking about sex, did you?” Trixie said as she turned away, sticking her nose up in the air in mock annoyance. “I’ll have you know she is quite the romantic!”

Starlight giggled. “I didn’t imply otherwise.”

The heart of the issue was that she’d have to find a way to make a special date for both of them in a way that would set up a nice mood for their first time.

It was probably not going to be as easy as that, though… If only there were somepony she could ask. Trixie meant well, and had been an incredible support, but Celestia bless her heart, her friend’s track record with stable relationships wasn’t all that great. She supposed she could ask Rarity again, but for all the knowledge the mare had on love, she was still single after all these years. If only she knew somepony who had successfully been in a stable relationship for some time and managed to be happy all that time…

Starlight blinked once. Twice. And then let out a groan as she realised she’d been too wrapped up in her own mind to see what should’ve been obvious from the start. Again.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Get up, Trixie,” Starlight said as she turned away and started walking towards the door. “We’re going to see Maud.”

Chapter 11

View Online

“Okay, why did you say we were here?”

“Because Maud is a dear friend who’s had a happy relationship for many years and her insight is something I’d appreciate right now,” Starlight replied matter-of-factly.

“Okay… And why am I here?”

“Because you are one of my dearest friends, too, Trixie, and you’re here for emotional support and to help me get out of any uncomfortable silence that may happen.”

“Okay.” Trixie nodded. “But why did you bring that?”

Starlight looked at the cardboard box hovering between them before turning to face forward once more. “Because I didn’t want to come empty-hooved, and spending two or so hours baking something would’ve made us come even later and I didn’t want to inconvenience Maud even more than I already will, so I just bought a few cakes from Sugarcube Corner.”

“Yeah, that I get,” Trixie said as she lifted the top of the cardboard box and peered inside. “But why did you compress them into little chunks?”

Starlight had to bite the inside of her cheek to suppress a groan. Taking a deep breath, she gave Trixie a sidelong glance. “I compressed them into small pieces until they achieved a rock-like consistency to show Maud that I’m being considerate.”

“Ooooh… I see.”

Trixie and Starlight remained silent for a couple of seconds, sitting in front of the round wooden door that marked the entrance of Maud’s subterranean home. They’d been waiting for a couple of minutes, and Starlight was starting to wonder if perhaps her friend hadn't heard her knock.

“So why—”

“Because I didn’t know any recipes with rocks. Because I didn’t want to risk not living up to her mom’s rock soup. Because Maud doesn’t like rock candy. Now will you please stop with the questions? You’re making me nervous.”

Trixie leaned back as she gave her an odd look. “I can tell. You know, one would think you would stop freaking out at some point.”

“Honestly, I don’t know how I’ve managed to hold on for so long.” Starlight huffed.

With a hum, Trixie lay a hoof on Starlight’s shoulders. Looking at her friend, Starlight saw that the other mare had a pensive look. But before either could say anything, they heard the door being unlocked. Once it opened, they looked down to see Maud Pie staring at them with characteristic nonchalance.

“Starlight,” Maud said as she looked at Starlight. Turning a few degrees to her right, she faced Trixie and greeted her as well. “Trixie.”

“Hi, Maud…” Starlight replied with an awkward wave.

“Hello there, Maud!” Trixie greeted, more jovially.

“What a pleasure to see you this evening,” the earth pony replied.

Maud was the kind of pony you learned to read over time. What seemed to be a never changing expression hid a whole gamut of emotions, as long as you knew what to look for. The light wrinkle in her brow that showed concentration or worry, the way her eyes sometimes widened just a few millimetres when shocked, or they way her lips stiffened when she was angry.

And then, half the time, she didn’t move at all and you just had to guess.

Maud looked a bit tired, but otherwise appeared to be in good spirits. When she didn’t say anything more, though, Starlight rushed to fill the silence. “Uh… Yeah! It’s been some time, and I thought I’d drop by to see how my favourite rock doctor was doing.” After saying this, she smiled once again. She had practiced this one before they left, so she hoped she was nailing the happy and non-threatening look.

Maud stared back at her, expressionless.

Starlight gulped and started speaking once more. “I, uh… I came to see, if you, well—”

Before she could gather her thoughts, however, Trixie quickly chimed in. “Hey, Maud! Guess what? Starlight got together with Spike! Isn’t that great?”

Starlight’s head whipped to the side as her well-rehearsed look morphed into a familiar disbelief. Trixie just shrugged. “What? You said you didn’t want awkward silences, and that was going to turn into one.”

That much was true. However, Starlight wasn’t sure if she should feel annoyed at her friend’s thoroughness, or at how easily she was getting cold hooves right out of the gate. Thankfully, Maud was quick to reply.

“Congratulations, Starlight,” the earth pony said and Starlight felt touched knowing the news of her relationship managed to make her stoic friend show so much excitement.

“Yeah, I wanted to let you know, since you’re my friend and all,” Starlight said, somewhat awkwardly. “I brought rocks!”

Smile, Starlight. Smile.

“Rock cakes!” Trixie added after a few seconds of silence. “Starlight came up with that just a while ago. Isn’t she a great and considerate friend?”

Maud blinked a couple of times before closing her eyes and nodding. “That does show a great deal of caring.”

Trixie shot Starlight a proud grin that the latter returned half-heartedly.

“Come in. It’s getting cold,” Maud said as she stepped out of sight to let them get in.

Smiling, Trixie hopped into the hole, leaving Starlight alone. She doubted for all of a second, looking around at her darkening surroundings. It was odd to imagine it was already dusk. Where had the day gone? Shaking her head, she gave herself some mental reassurances and jumped into the hole, closing the door behind her.

The entrance of the cave was mostly dark, with only the light of the main chamber bathing it in a soft glow. Even after all this time, she never quite got used to Maud’s living arrangements. Each visit was as breathtaking as the first. The crystals embedded in the cave walls emitted a faint glow that as a whole bathed the main chamber in a comfortable light. The water cascading into the inner lake made for enjoyable background noise while providing a stunning view. Part of Starlight wondered how many tax cuts Maud must have to afford living in a place like this.

Says the freeloader living on government property rent-free.

Oh, you’re one to talk about living rent-free, she thought, not bothering to mask the bitterness.

With a suppressed groan, Starlight caught up to her friends and, smiling, addressed Maud. “So… Like Trixie said, I’m in a relationship with Spike.”

Maud nodded and let out a slow hum. “It’s good to know you finally made a move on him, but I commend you on waiting for him to be of legal age.”

Starlight’s blood ran cold as she stopped dead in her tracks. She heard somepony snickering, but wasn’t sure if it was Trixie or her own mind. Regardless, she cleared her throat and asked in what she hoped was an even tone, “Wh-what do you mean, Maud?”

“It was obvious~” Trixie sang as she walked past them.

Starlight was about to turn and glare at her unicorn friend when, much to her dismay, Maud quickly agreed.

“Don’t feel bad, Starlight. It was only obvious if you knew to look,” Maud said.

Dropping the teasing for a moment, Trixie smiled back at her. “What she said. It’s not like you were openly pining for him or anything, but the signs were there, even if they were subtle.”

Both Trixie and Maud regarded her with a friendly look, and Starlight wasn’t sure which was odder, Trixie showing so much comprehension and empathy on a single day, or Maud actually emoting.

“Like how you always stared at him for a bit longer than anyone else,” Maud said.

“Or how you always smiled more when he was around,” Trixie added.

“Or how you always laughed at his weird jokes.”

“Or how you always tried to peek at his butt when he was cooking.”

“Okay! Okay, I get your point, no need to go overboard…” Starlight said, cutting off her friends before they could make her explode in embarrassment. Though they had thankfully stopped, the mischief in Trixie’s eyes was still evident, as was the very light upturn of Maud’s lips.

The rest of the trek down was spent making small talk. Starlight figured they could wait until they were settled. It was rather easy, considering it had been a while since she had last had the chance to talk with Maud, and despite what initial appearances may suggest, the humble rock doctor was always full of surprises.

“…And that’s how I managed to convince the Diamond Dogs to stay out of my cave,” Maud said as they reached the lower level of the cave. With a sidelong glance, she continued, “Diamonds may be forever, but they sure aren’t.”

Never a dull day in Ponyville.

“You are one crazy mare, Maud. Never change,” Trixie said.

“Technically, change is constant and can’t be stopped. And Maud changes for the better each day.”

The trio looked up and saw a lanky Earth Pony walk out of the private area of the cave, smiling down at them.

Smiling back at him, Starlight waved as she greeted him. “Hey, Mudbriar. We wanted to say hi.”

“Hello, Mudbriar! It’s a good thing you’re here,” Trixie said, walking up to Starlight and throwing an arm around her shoulders. “Starlight here wanted some relationship advice.”

You can do this, Starlight. Just smile.

“Hehehe… Yeah, I was telling Maud I’m in a relationship with Spike.”

“Oh, allow me to congratulate you,” Mudbriar said, but just before Starlight could reply, he continued, “it was about time you stopped beating around the bush.”

Starlight’s frail smile shattered in an instant. “Seriously? Did everypony know?”

“We’re your closest friends, Starlight. We could tell,” Maud replied.

“Technically, while I knew, I never thought you’d actually go through with it,” Mudbriar was quick to add.

“Okay, I get it!” Starlight said, perhaps a bit louder than necessary. “Can we move on, please?”

Trixie seemed to take this as a sign to intervene. “Right! Starlight has been having some confidence issues, and since you’re both here, maybe you could spare some advice for our dear friend.”

Maud and Mudbriar exchanged a quick glance before Maud spoke. “I’m not sure how much advice we can give, but we’d be happy to help.”

Starlight felt a surge of gratitude in her. She could scarcely imagine how she’d be faring without the help of her friends. Trixie, Rarity… Even just a few encouraging words from Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, they felt like a warm blanket on a cold day.

“I brought cakes,” Starlight said once more, bringing the box towards the couple. “Maybe we can talk while we eat.”

Maud and Mudbriar exchanged a quick look before the latter turned and walked away. “I’ll put the kettle on,” he said as he walked away.

The faintest of twitches of a smile flashed across Maud’s face. “Let’s sit down and you can tell us all about your new relationship.”

Trixie didn’t wait for Starlight, trotting towards Maud as they both walked deeper into the cave. “Just wait until she starts talking about Spike. It’s adorable.”

Starlight inhaled deeply before she started following them. “Thanks, Trixie.”

The three mares made their way to one of the stone platforms that had been adapted into a living room of sorts. It was fascinating what a little bit of effort could accomplish. Over the years, Maud’s cave had turned into a cosy—if rustic—home.

After settling on a small couch next to Trixie, Maud and Mudbriar sat across them on an even smaller couch. The steaming cups of tea sat alongside a large plate with the cakes Starlight had brought. As they drank, Starlight recounted the events of the past couple of days, with as much detail as she felt comfortable.

The earth pony couple just listened and occasionally asked for further details. On the other hoof, Trixie looked at her with eyes as wide as saucers and eagerly intervened every couple of minutes to ask for more information. Surprisingly enough, Trixie showed a lot of interest on the more mundane parts of her relationship with Spike rather than pressing on their more… Intimate moments. It was kind of adorable.

“Who hugged first?” the showmare asked with gleaming eyes.

“Well… I leaned on him first, but he’s the one who wrapped his arm around me. After that, well, we just cuddled for a while,” Starlight recounted, choosing to not bring up how they were abruptly interrupted by Twilight’s letter. Not yet, at least. After all, her audience was having a good time.

Trixie’s eyes widened, as did her smile. “Awww…”

“It sounds wonderful, Starlight. A romantic and very intimate date. No wonder you look so happy,” Maud said, leaning against Mudbriar a bit.

“There are fewer things more beautiful than a mare in love,” Mudbriar said as he turned to look down at Maud. “It’s like the intricate beauty of the roots of an Eastern White Cedar tree adapting to the crevices of a cliff face to grow strong.”

“Save that for later, stud,” Maud replied in a drawl.

Starlight couldn’t help but giggle at her friend’s antics. She wondered if Spike and her would act all lovey dovey in public, too. The thought alone was embarrassing, but she kind of looked forward to that if she was being honest with herself.

About time you started doing that…

Starlight cleared her throat and kept talking. “Y-yeah… It was actually very comfortable. I’m not sure how to describe it. It felt like all the times we would just hang out as friends but… Well, I suppose that now that we’re together as a couple, it’s different.”

“Like a sedimentary rock,” Maud said with the same certainty one says the sky is blue.

Silence fell upon the group for a moment before Trixie chimed in. “Could you explain that for those in the audience who don’t know geology?”

“Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of small particles and subsequent cementation of mineral or organic particles on the floor of oceans or other bodies of water at the Earth’s surface,” Maud recited from memory. Lifting a hoof, she pointed towards Starlight and continued speaking, “Over the years, you’ve gotten closer and closer with Spike, and every small interaction and moment spent together has built up the feelings in you until they blossomed into love. Now the things that on their own held little meaning beyond friendship feel different because they’ve become something different. What used to be just small signs of friendship are now a show of affection, comprehension, and love.”

For a while, only the sound of the waterfall was heard as Starlight stared in awe at her friend. She didn’t know how to react, Maud’s concise and clear explanation had hit the nail on its head. It was odd to be able to define how she felt about her relationship with Spike in such a concise manner, but on the other hoof, it felt comfortable to finally be able to explain it. She should’ve talked with Maud much sooner, and felt worse at the way she had almost gotten lost in her own worries and insecurities for the past few days.

Better late than never…

“I think you got it, Maud,” Starlight said when she realised she’d gone silent. Maud looked back at her with a serene expression that showed she understood.

Which is when Trixie chimed in. “Oh, right. Hey Maud, since you’re on a roll, maybe you could give Starlight some tips about, you know, being intimate and all that. I’m afraid she may have a panic attack with the way she’s been going.”

Starlight bit her lip and looked down, letting out a long exhale through her nose. Just as she pondered the pros and cons of Trixie’s friendship, she heard Maud clear her throat.

“Sure,” she said.

Starlight blinked a couple of times, looking up at the rosy-cheeked Maud and the somewhat flustered Mudbriar.

“Should I…?” he started, but was cut off by Trixie.

“Stay here? Yes, you should. It would do Starlight some good to have both perspectives,” the blue unicorn said.

Maud and Mudbriar exchanged a look. No words were spoken, but they seemed to come to an agreement. Looking back at her, Maud asked, “What is the problem, Starlight?”

Starlight shook her head. “I’m just… Nervous. I’m not even sure where to begin.”

Maud blinked. “Just say what comes to you.”

“Eh, right. Well, as Trixie so eloquently put, I have… Sexual desires about Spike,” Starlight said, forcing herself to speak as directly as possible. “It’s not just that, though. I really do love him, and I’m happy to be with him. He makes me happy, and I want to make him happy, too.”

The smiles on her friend’s faces were as encouraging as they were comforting, and made it easier to keep talking. Starlight closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She’d just focus on how she felt and go from there.

“Which is why I want our first time to be, well, special. I’m just a bit unsure of how to… You know, actually get to the point where we’ll have sex.” Starlight did her best to maintain eye contact with Maud as she spoke.

“Are you afraid?” Maud asked.

“A bit…” she admitted.

“What makes you afraid, Starlight?”

That he’ll be too big. That even if he’s not, I won’t know what to do with his other dick. That I’m still not a hundred percent on taking it in my butt. That I’m still nervous about taking Spike’s virginity. That even though I’m certain he won’t mind I have a sexual history of my own, I won’t know for sure until he finds out. That even though Rarity helped a lot, I’m still not sure what to do if I start getting too aggressive during sex. That I may end up hurting him in some way. That even if I finally come to terms with all of that, I’ll manage to end up obsessing over something else.

“A lot of things, really,” she said. “Though most are just me getting too caught up in my own worries, to be honest… I guess that’s my biggest problem.”

“Starlight,” Maud said in a stern voice. “Have you talked with Spike about this?”

As a child caught doing a misdeed, Starlight averted her eyes and shook her head.

“I understand initiating intimacy with your significant other for the first time can be daunting, but you have to be honest with him and with yourself if you want your relationship to work,” Maud said. “Dragons can’t read minds, and they can’t read hearts either. Just like you won’t know what bothers him unless he tells you, Spike won’t know how you’re feeling unless you let him know. You’re a couple, that means you’re in this together, and things can only work if you trust each other.”

At those words, Starlight couldn’t help but think of Spike and how just a few days ago they’d had a serious talk and how better everything had been since then.

Until she lost focus of that. Again.

“Starlight,” Maud said, again. Though she kept her usual monotone, there was a subtle warmth to her words. A warmth that made Starlight look back at her friend. “Do you love Spike?”

“Yes,” came her immediate reply.

“Does he love you?”

She nodded. “I know he does.”

Maud smiled a—relatively—big smile and spoke once more. “Then you have nothing to worry about. Talk to him, and everything will be okay.”

“Communication is quite important in any relationship,” Mudbriar chimed in as he wrapped an arm around Maud’s shoulders.

Starlight returned her friend’s smile, and even let out a few giggles. She felt somewhat vexed at having to be reminded of things that seemed so obvious, but on the other hoof, the gratitude she felt at the moment overshadowed everything else. Coming here was the right decision. After today, there was no doubt in her mind that things would work out with Spike. Of course, that included—

“Of course, that includes sex.”

It took Starlight a couple of seconds to realise that her mind hadn’t somehow manifested in the real world, but that Maud had spoken instead.

“I… I think so,” she replied lamely.

Maud nodded, and kept talking in spite—or perhaps because—of Starlight’s meekness. “Physical compatibility is important, and communication is the only way you’ll make sure to know what each of you wants. You’ll get to know what he enjoys with time, but being open about your desires and what does and doesn’t work for you is the best path to a fulfilling sexual life.”

“I… Suppose.”

Perhaps stirred by her uncharacteristic timidity, Maud pointed a hoof at her and spoke with a stern voice. “I don’t recommend that approach. If you don’t know something, it’s better to ask and know for sure.”

“Won’t that make me look… insecure?” Starlight asked. And desperate, too, her mind added.

“There’s a difference between making assumptions and knowing someone well enough to know how they’ll react. You want the latter, but you’ll only get there with time, trust, and communication,” Maud replied. She then turned around and looked into Mudbriar’s eyes while smiling. Not a subtle twitch of the lips, not an eye-trick due to the shadows. A real smile. “Getting to share your most intimate parts and having someone you love know you at such a level is one of the most rewarding parts of a relationship.”

“And the process of getting to know what your special somepony likes is quite rewarding by itself,” Mudbriar said, holding Maud’s hoof and returning her smile. After a few seconds, he broke eye contact with his marefriend and looked at Starlight. “While I cannot speak for Spike, he seems like the kind of creature that would appreciate a direct and honest approach.”

Starlight pictured Spike in her mind, a wing draped over her body and herself leaning over his chest. He smiled at her, and with blessed patience waited for her to speak. She knew he would listen. She knew he would be understanding. She knew he wouldn’t be afraid to speak his mind. At that moment she couldn’t remember why she had been so worried, and wanted nothing more than to go see her dragon.

“Spike, he… I mean, I was the one who asked him out. I admit I put a lot of pressure on him by bringing all of that up out of the blue, but he was very receptive. I took the initiative early on, but he’s also done his fair share to make sure our relationship is off to a good start. Maybe I should have the same attitude I had when I first confessed and be more… Proactive.”

“It’s good to take the initiative. It shows your interest in your partner and that you’re invested in the relationship,” Maud said. Turning her head just a few degrees, she gave Mudbriar what Starlight recognised as a sultry gaze, and spoke in a voice just a notch higher than her usual monotone. “I know I couldn’t hold back my affection for Mudbriar for long.”

“Stallions like compliments too, you know?” Trixie added, breaking her long silence. ”In general, they don’t get as much praise as mares do. It’s so rewarding to see them get all happy and confused when you show a little appreciation. I’m sure Spike is no different. Like I said, I’ve seen how you look at him, if you let him know just a bit of how you feel about him, he’ll be putty in your hooves.”

Starlight laughed at that. Trixie was right, to a degree. She’d been open about her feelings for Spike, but perhaps she had focused too much on how happy he made her. She had told Rarity she wanted Spike to be as happy as he made her feel, and following Trixie and Maud’s advice and take the initiative in showing her affection towards him would be a good place to start.

“It’s also important to take initiative when it comes to sex,” Maud continued. “Sex is another way to express love and affection in a relationship. Whether it’s a special moment or something more casual and spontaneous, you’re showing your partner you care about him.”

“And like Trixie appropriately brought up, stallions like to feel desired, too,” Mudbriar added.

Deep in her chest, Starlight could feel her determination grow. It was reinvigorating to feel so sure of herself, even more so considering she had been a mess not twenty-four hours ago. She had to find a way to thank all of her friends. Before that, though, she had to make sure to show Spike just how much he loved him and just how much she wanted to have sex with him.

She was about to thank her friends, but Maud started talking once more.

“Being open about your desires also helps keep things fresh in the bedroom,” the earth pony said. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that any time soon, but exploring new avenues of pleasure with your significant other is a great bonding experience.”

“Heh… spoken from experience?” Trixie asked.

Maud’s hoof slowly moved to take Mudbriar’s, and after exchanging a quick glance, she looked directly at Trixie. “Mudbriar and I have a gratifying and healthy sex life, but it’s always interesting to experiment. Lately we’ve had fun inviting Twiggy and Boulder for some petplay.”

Starlight let out a giggle. “Well, I guess they have some practice with that already.”

“Technically,” Mudbriar interjected, “we were the pets.”

For a few seconds, only the sound of the waterfall was heard. Mudbriar reached for another small cake and popped it in his mouth.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it,” Maud deadpanned.

“Would you mind telling me more?” Trixie asked, leaning forward a bit.

“Actually, I probably should get going. I’ve got a lot to think about… Plus, I’ve got a date to plan,” Starlight said as she jumped off the couch. “Thanks for everything, you’ve all been a great help. Without you, I’d probably still be back at home quivering under my bed sheets.”

“Have Spike cook something for us as a thank you and we’ll be even,” Trixie said before turning to face the earth pony couple, “He’s been teaching Starlight how to cook and she’s gotten really good, you’ve got to try some of what she can do.”

“That’s not a bad idea… I’ll talk with Spike and see if we can have dinner later this week. I mean, Pinkie is probably already planning our get together party, but there’s no reason we can’t celebrate more than once,” Starlight said, smiling at the prospect.

“I’ll look forward to that,” Maud said, and Mudbriar nodded in agreement.

“I’ll catch you later, Starlight. I want to hear more of what these two have to offer, if you don’t mind,” Trixie said, turning to flash Maud and Mudbriar a wide grin.

“Sure, thing. Take care, everypony,” Starlight said, turning to walk away.

With a final wave, she left her friends behind and started making her way out of Maud’s cave with renewed determination.

“So! Have you thought of the possibility of turning your foursomes into a fivesome? The Great and Powerful Trixie knows a thing or two about treating pets with kindness!”

Starlight hurriedly left her friends behind and quickly made her way out of Maud’s cave with renewed determination and ears flat against her skull before she could hear more of that conversation.

She was greeted by the orange light of dusk. It was hard to believe almost the entire day had gone by so quickly… It certainly had felt much longer. Either way, she felt better, she knew what she had to do, and she had the rest of the day to figure out what to do for their date.

She wondered what were the best things they could do. They had spent quite a lot of time in the Castle over the past couple of days, so perhaps they could go out for a change. Of course, since her goal was to create a good mood to bring up the idea of sex, they probably shouldn’t do anything too tiring. That still left her with a good number of choices. She’d just have to consider what would Spike and her find enjoyable. Then again, if the weather was less than favourable, there would be less options. And with autumn right over them, the days would only get progressively colder, so that meant they probably wouldn’t be able to spend too much time outside.

She sighed. She was overthinking it. Spike wouldn’t care if they didn’t do something flashy for a date. Throughout the years, he’d been content with doing simple things as long as they had a good time, and having a good time was easy with him, because even doing something as simple as staying in and watching a movie, or read a book, or even cook was fun because he was with her.

Yes… She didn’t need to go overboard. She should focus on doing simple stuff they both enjoyed, and as long as they had fun, everything would be alright. She just had to think of things they both enjoyed. Things she enjoyed. Things he enjoyed.

“Is there a particular way you’d like to pass that time, Spike?”

“You. I have lots of things in mind, but mostly just you.”

She didn’t bother suppressing the playful laughter. She could barely contain her giddiness. While she pondered these thoughts, and almost as an answer to her concerns about the chilly weather, Starlight caught a colourful blur making its way through the sky towards Ponyville.

“Rainbow Dash!” Starlight cried out. She was apparently loud enough for the pegasus to stop mid-air and look down. Upon making eye contact, she waved and flew down towards her.

“Hey, Starlight, how’s it going?” Dash greeted her with a grin.

“I’m doing well, thanks,” Starlight replied. With a smile she puffed out her chest and got ready to break the news to her friend.

“By the way, congrats on getting together with Spike,” Dash said as an afterthought.

Starlight felt her left eye twitch. “Wuh—what? Who told you?”

Rainbow Dash just shrugged. “I was lending a hoof to some friends during the downpour yesterday, and I saw you two walking back to the castle all huddled together. It was kind of obvious you two are a thing with how cuddly you were.”

Silence followed Dash’s words. Starlight wasn’t sure how to react. She supposed she should feel relieved that all of her friends already knew and were so supportive of her relationship. Yeah, she was going to go with that.

“Good on you, Starlight. I mean, I’ve known you for a few years, and you really seem like you could use a good fu—”

“So! Rainbow Dash!” Starlight cried out, steamrolling the pegasus. Just because she had come to terms with her desire for Spike, it didn’t mean she was okay with others talk about it so freely. “I was wondering if you knew the weather schedule for the rest of the week.”

Dash blinked a couple of times before she scrunched up her muzzle in thought. “Well, after yesterday, I don’t think they’re planning on another heavy rain for a couple of weeks. It should be mostly cloudy skies but there’s going to be a few light breezes coming from the west, though. So… If you’re planning on going out with Spike, put on a scarf or something.” After saying that, Dash gave a small salute and started flying again. “I’ve got to get going, Starlight. Say hi to Spike.”

“Will do!” Starlight yelled, smiling despite the awkwardness. All things considered, today had been great. And if everything went well, tomorrow would be even better. Everything was going to be alright.

“Oh, and I hope Twilight doesn’t kill you for hooking up with her little brother while she was away!”

Starlight bit the inside of her cheek. She almost wanted to say something, but there was honestly no point in that. Better focus on the present.

She had a date to plan.

Author's Notes:

Did you know Rock Cakes are actually a thing? Quite simple, too. Try it yourself!

I originally wanted Starlight to bake these with Trixie and then go visit Maud. However, it made the intro much slower, and it detracted from Starlight's epiphany from last chapter by postponing Maud's introduction. So the alternative was cakes compressed to rock-like texture.

Speaking of Maud, is it just me or Mudbriar and her are the couple who are the most into each other out of the entire cast? With most couples in the show, you can tell they're in love. With the Cakes, you can tell they're a happy couple. Shining and Cadence love each other a lot. Rarity's parents are probably into some kinky stuff, and Fluttershy's parents kind of remind me of my own.

But with Maud and Mudbriar--especially in Student Counsel--it's the first time I've seen a couple in FiM and said "Yeah, they're so into each other." You could tell me they went straight to make love after the credits rolled and I would believe you. Just, damn.

On a related note, when I found out about Eastern White Cedar trees growing on cliffs, I knew they were perfect to illustrate their relationship. I want to write about them again sometime.

Chapter 12

View Online

Starlight welcomed the sense of confidence surging through her body. She had to get up at the crack of dawn to get everything ready, but it had been worth it. At least she hoped it had been worth cutting her sleep short. She wiped her brow as she looked at the tray in front of her and the carefully crafted food on it, and smiled.

Yes, definitely worth the effort.

The pancakes had turned out great, if her small test sample was anything to go by. Fluffy, with just the right hint of sweetness. She hoped the crushed gems would give it that extra boost in flavour, but even if it didn’t, the light whipped cream and berries on top should do the trick.

Next to them was a small plate with a few hash browns that were the perfect shade of, well, brown. The aroma of fried potatoes and roasted tomatoes and mushrooms was enough to get her mouth watering. It had taken a few tries until she managed to get them just right. The cherry tomatoes were slightly singed on a side and a few had even burst and were releasing a tantalising juice onto the plate and even more alluring scents.

Then, a steaming cup of coffee with just a dash of cream and sugar to take off the bitter edge. After grinding the coffee beans, she had mixed it with the leftover crushed gems from the pancakes before stuffing it all in the coffee maker. She didn’t know if that would make any difference, but she wanted to give it a shot.

Finally, fresh apple juice. Thankfully Applejack had been up at the crack of dawn and was more than happy to lend her a hoof in squeezing some apples, and the results spoke for themselves. The large pitcher of apple juice was a light caramel colour, and even though it was slightly cloudy, Starlight felt it only made it look more authentic.

All in all, she felt proud of her accomplishment.

Tearing her gaze from the tray, she looked up at the mess of pots, pans and cutting boards strewn about the kitchen worktop. It seemed the lesson about not cooking while excited had not been learned. A grimace flashed across her face before she lit up her horn and made the whole mess disappear.

“Thank Celestia for magic,” she said before turning around and taking the tray with her.

With a spring to her steps, Starlight made her way toward Spike’s room. Once she arrived, she pulled the door open with her magic, leaving just enough room for her to peek inside. It was dark with all the curtains drawn; only a few errant beams of light made their way into the room. Tilting her head, she managed to identify a bed, and a sleeping mass on top of it. Starlight bit her lip in excitement, opened the door all the way, and walked in.

The room was well-kept, with few things out of place. A couple of movie posters adorned the walls, as well as posters of a few bands he had shared with Starlight on occasion. She walked past the shelves full of books and the odd action figure as silently as possible, not wanting to rouse him from his sleep before she was close to him. Thankfully, the carpet did a decent job at muffling her hoofsteps.

Once she reached Spike’s ornate bed, she spent a few seconds admiring his sleeping face. He looked so at peace she almost wanted to snap a picture. It was a shame she had to wake him up, but it was already past ten, and if the day was going to turn out perfectly, she had to adhere to her schedule as best as possible.

I know! Kiss him to wake him up!

That wasn’t a bad idea, but something about snatching a kiss while he was asleep didn’t sit right with her.

But look at him! He’s adorable!

He really was, but getting to see his reaction was about half the fun. Maybe a third of it. Ultimately, she set the tray on Spike’s bedside table and gently nuzzled her dragon until he began stirring awake. Slowly, Spike moved around until he opened his eyes and looked up at Starlight. He stayed silent for a few seconds before smiling. “Am I still dreaming?”

Holding back a giggle, Starlight took a step back and spoke. “I don’t think so. At least I hope this isn’t a dream, otherwise I’d feel silly for running around all morning.”

At that, Spike frowned, the last remnants of his sleep fully gone. “Wait, what do you mean?”

“Oh, nothing you have to worry about,” Starlight replied, bringing the tray towards Spike. He blinked a couple of times before his mind seemed to register the smells of the breakfast. The way his eyes shone, as if a flame flickered in them, made Starlight’s heart swell with pride. “I have the whole day planned for us and I want you to take it easy and go with the flow, starting with the breakfast I made just for you.”

Even through his smile, she could tell something bothered him. “Star… That sounds great, but Twilight is coming back tomorrow and there’s still—”

Starlight cut off his response with a quick kiss. She found that it was becoming her favourite way of swaying an argument in her favour. She held the kiss for a few seconds before pulling back. Spike’s cheeks had turned a light rose, which complemented the surprise in his eyes. Oh, she could almost dive back in and keep kissing him.

If you think those pancakes aren’t sweet enough, just let momma give you some sugar.

…

Celestia, Trixie’s been rubbing off on me.

Smiling once more, Starlight nodded towards the tray and spoke once more. “Eat at your leisure and let me deal with the castle. I promise I’ll give it my best.” They maintained eye contact for a few seconds where Starlight feared he would decline. He seemed intrigued, but it was clear he didn’t want to unload her duties on her. “Don’t think you’ll get to laze around all day, mister. You’ll have plenty to do, just not here. Right now, though, I just want you to enjoy your breakfast.”

With that, she slipped a piece of paper alongside the tray and turned around. That should keep him busy for a couple of hours, and if it all went well, she should be done by the time he came back, and they could have the rest of the day for themselves. It seemed almost too perfect.

Which is probably why things took a turn for the worse around the time she realised magic alone wouldn’t be enough to accomplish this task. Maybe that’s why Twilight still relied on Spike for upkeep around the castle after all this time.

Shelf dusting and book organising was simple enough; the odd layout of the Crystal Castle, however, led to the abundance of rooms which served no real purpose. The empty ones were easy to ignore, but there always seemed to be a random door that led to a storage room, a study, or some other peculiar use Twilight had deemed fit to bestow upon the room following some logic Starlight dared not try to understand, though she wondered if it wasn’t done at least partially out of boredom.

Nevertheless, she powered through, making sure every room was presentable, nothing appeared to be out of place, and there were no visible signs of dirt and as close as possible to the way Twilight had left it. She congratulated herself on a job well done and on her self-control, seeing how she hadn’t vaporised the contents of half the rooms in rage. She couldn’t say that wouldn’t have been the case had Spike taken a few minutes longer to come back. Feeling exhausted, she walked downstairs when she heard the castle’s doors opening to meet Spike.

“Hey, there,” Spike greeted her, carrying a large paper bag with him as he walked into the foyer. “Are you alright?”

“Let’s just say I’m never going to let you deal with the Castle’s chores on your own ever again,” she replied, giving him an unamused stare. “How did you manage to keep up when you were smaller?”

Spike just shrugged, closed the door with his tail, and walked towards her. “I don’t know. I just did. It may be much bigger, but rock and crystal is much easier to clean than wood. Compared to Golden Oaks, cleaning the Crystal Castle felt much easier.”

“Yeah, yeah… Rub it in,” she said, layering her words with as much annoyance as possible before putting on a smirk, “at least I managed to get the whole castle clean. What do you think of that?”

“Really?” Spike shot her a sidelong glance as he walked past her. “I’m sure Twilight will be delighted when she comes back. Maybe she’d be more likely to let us have the Castle for ourselves every now and then.”

Starlight gently nudged him on the side as they both started walking towards the kitchen. It wasn’t that crazy of an idea, if she actually thought about it. Twilight trusted them, and they’d proven themselves to be responsible. It wasn’t that farfetched to imagine she would be okay with—

Oh, right. I still have to survive Twilight finding out I’m dating Spike.

She gulped and looked back at the dragon. There was no reason to worry about that now, she had a great day ahead, and she was going to do her best to enjoy it.

“Did you manage to get everything?” she asked.

“Yes. I had a hard time looking for good tomatoes. Most were a bit small and weren’t quite ripe, but I managed to find some good ones,” he said as he looked into the bag. “I’m surprised. You asked for pretty normal stuff.”

Starlight shrugged. “You taught me it’s not necessary to have something too elaborate to have a good time. I’d rather have a simple meal with you than a banquet with anyone else.” A surge of pride coursed through her body at the sight of Spike’s light blush. Trixie was right, she definitely had to compliment her drakefriend more often if he was going to be this cute each time.

“Say, it’s still a bit early. Do you want to eat now?” he asked her.

“No, not yet. I’d actually like for us to go out for a while.”

Spike looked at her with an amused expression. He looked cute when he tried not to show he was confused. “Really?”

“Really. I didn’t have time to plan anything big, but I think you’ll like what I have in mind anyway,” Starlight replied, stopping herself short of saying she really, really, really hoped he liked what she had planned. She didn’t want to appear insecure, after all.

Spike nodded. “Well, I trust you. Let me just—”

Starlight teleported the bags to the worktop and walked next to Spike. “Let’s go, shall we?”

Perhaps he’d been taken aback by her forwardness, seeing how his eyes widened in surprise at her forwardness.

Well, he better get used to it, because this pony got her groove back.

“Just follow me, I’ll be sure to show you a good time,” she said, finishing with a playful wink.

Leaving the Castle behind, Starlight dragged her flustered dragon with her. They were only a few hours into the evening, but she wanted to make the best of their remaining daylight. Plus, their little activity might take some time.

After a few minutes of walking, they made it to the small lake on the outskirts of town. Hopefully nothing had moved the marker she had left around here last night. Nevertheless, she could take the chance to have a nice romantic stroll by the lake until they got there.

“So…” Spike said as they walked along the shore, “What’s the special occasion?”

Starlight just shrugged. “I just felt like doing something nice for you.” Spike looked puzzled for a second, but before he could say anything, Starlight spoke again, “And before you tell me I shouldn’t have, I wanted to do this.” She paused for a second, turned her head slightly and shot him a smirk. “Plus, I’m going to enjoy this as well.”

Spike let out a soft laugh. “Well, I’m not going to say no to fun.”

“For fun!” Starlight cried out and ran a few meters ahead of him. Once she saw her goal, she took a turn to the right and motioned Spike to follow her.

She stopped next to a moderately sized rock hidden between some trees. Once Spike caught up with her she gave her an earnest smile. “If I’d had the time, I would’ve planned something bigger or flashier. Maybe get Trixie to put on a show for us or something… Either way, I think you’re going to like this.”

Before Spike could question her, she used her magic to lift the rock out of the way, revealing a large lump of shimmering gems. Spike’s reaction was immediate, his eyes went wide as saucers and his mouth hung open as he took in the sight.

“Are those Sapphires? And aquamarines? Starlight, this is amazing!”

“Oh, you know. I only do the best for my friends,” Starlight replied, feigning nonchalance, though she couldn’t help her chest swelling with pride.

“These are all great,” Spike said, grabbing one and holding it up against the light. “All high quality… how did you find these?” He asked, dumbfounded.

She had to remind herself to thank Maud and Rarity for their help last night. They’d already done so much for her and had no reason to help her even more. Still, Rarity had taken the time to teach Starlight her gem finding spell and even brought up a few of Spike’s favourites, and Maud had been kind enough to point her towards an area full of them. A few minutes of late night spelunking later, she got herself a nice treasure chest worth of gems she later hid in this spot.

“I just looked around,” Starlight said innocently.

“Well, we’re definitely going to look around more often. These are great,” Spike replied matter-of-factly.

“I’d love that,” Starlight said, doing her best to sound earnest. “Maybe you could teach me about gems.”

Spike turned to face her, an amused expression on his face. “Really? I’d think Maud would be a better teacher than me.”

“I’d like to hear your insight. Maud can tell me about the composition of gems, but I want to know what a dragon can offer me that a pony can’t,” Starlight said.

Spike popped one of the gems into his mouth. Once he was done chewing, he took a step back and gave Starlight a knowing smirk. “Well, since it’s so important to you, I suppose I can’t say no.” The smirk quickly turned into a smile as he picked up a medium sized bluish gem and held it up. “This one is aquamarine. The composition is almost identical to an emerald, but these are a bit harder, and the iron that makes it blue also give it a stronger taste…”

While she did find the topic somewhat interesting, seeing Spike speak so passionately about something he liked was far more rewarding. She supposed one couldn’t spend so much time with Twilight and not become a bit of a nerd. Nevertheless, Starlight was fine with lying down on the grass and listening to Spike talk to his heart’s content.

Spike went on about why his favourite gems were his favourites, what made some taste different, and how he liked to pair them with meals. Meanwhile, Starlight listened, making occasional comments but mostly enjoying the way Spike’s face lit up whenever he got excited.

Celestia, he’s so handsome...

Sooner than she would’ve liked, the temperature started to drop and the wind picked up. Though the sky was still bright, there was an undeniable orange tint to it.

“Oh,” Spike exclaimed as the cold breeze brought him back to reality. “Huh, I didn’t notice it had gotten so late.”

“Indeed,” Starlight replied. Spike looked down at the hole filled with his gems. They had to take them back to the castle somehow. She knew Spike wouldn’t be able to eat them all at once, despite what he may claim. In a flash, she summoned her saddlebags and a pouch for Spike. “Let’s just pack these up and take them to the castle.”

Spike smiled at her once more. A more mellow, satisfied smile that extended all the way to his eyes, which—in Starlight’s opinion—shone brighter than any gem could.

“Sure thing, Star,” he said, and started scooping gems into his pouch. It was time for the next phase of her plan. It might have sounded a bit evil to put it like that, but she wasn’t about to let herself go down that rabbit hole.

Putting on a look of fake concern she gave her rump a wiggle, shaking her saddlebags.

“Oh, no!” she cried out in an exaggerated sad tone. Spike stopped picking up the gems for a moment and looked up at her. “It seems my saddlebags are full. We won’t be able to store all these gems. I wonder what could be in them?”

Before Spike could ask what was she up to, Starlight opened her bags, and floated its contents out. All while never breaking eye contact with Spike.

He blinked a couple of times before letting out a long laugh. Not in a mocking way, but in his usual kind manner.

“Yeah, I think that’d be fun,” he said. “You only brought one, though.”

Starlight’s eyes narrowed and her smile turned playful. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.”

They quickly stuffed the rest of the gems in her now empty saddlebags and walked towards an open field nearby. Lighting up her horn, she took her favourite kite and lifted it towards the sky until she found a favourable wind current and let it go. It was true, she could’ve brought two kites, but as she rested across Spike’s back, she knew she had made the right call.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck, with her head pressed against his. She held the spool with her magic as Spike gently extended his wings. He looked sideways at her, and after a wordless exchange of mutual reassurance, he stood straight and jumped into the air.

The initial shock passed quickly, and once Spike settled on an acceptable flying height, he started gliding around at a slow speed. Slow enough for them to keep up with the kite. Whenever it started getting too high, Spike would angle his wings so they’d get a bit lower, or adjust his speed if the kite lagged or got too far ahead.

And at no point did Starlight stop holding onto Spike.

Sure, the risk of falling was always there in the back of her mind, but it was overshadowed by the closeness she shared with Spike. She once more marvelled at the firmness of his body. Perhaps it was due to him focusing on flying that his muscles were tense; she could feel them flexing under his skin with every beat of his wings in a delightfully enticing manner. Starlight squeezed him a bit harder, pressing her body against his.

Spike turned to look at her. “You okay back there?”

Starlight nodded. “I’m fine. Are you sure your spines don’t hurt?”

He shook his head and gently flapped his wings, “You’re pretty light, so it’s not a problem.”

His little compliment, unintended or not, got a small laugh out of her. She felt the tug of the kite and looked up to see it twirl a couple of times. Her smile became more pronounced and rubbed her cheek against Spike’s neck as she let out a long, satisfied sigh.

It all seemed so perfect. She congratulated herself on planning simple activities that left little room for things to go wrong.

And enjoy plenty of physical contact!

She gave the spool a pull to get the kite a bit closer and made it fly in the other direction. Yes, bringing a lone kite may have been an excuse to snuggle on his back, but she was honestly having a good time, and hopefully Spike would be having a good time, too. Then maybe he wouldn’t notice her smirk.

And so, they flew for a while, occasionally making some comments or asking how the other one was faring, but they mostly just silently enjoyed each other’s company.

Suddenly, the kite jerked to one side, caught in a furtive breeze. The spool spun as the kite flew further and further away. It took Starlight a couple of seconds to realise what was happening and seized the string before it could fly away.

“Hold on, Starlight.” Spike told her and started flying downwards, pulling the kite away from the stronger currents. Starlight tightened her grip on Spike’s neck, making sure not to cause him any discomfort. She felt her stomach drop at the sudden dip in altitude, but otherwise tried to remain calm.

“You’ve gotten great at this,” Starlight said once they started flying at a normal speed again.

“Heh… Well, I’ve had a lot of practice…” was his sheepish reply. He turned his head slightly and gave her an awkward smile. “But, thanks.”

Starlight gently nuzzled the spines on the side of his head as she pulled the kite back toward them, enjoying their closeness for as long as she could. Nevertheless, close to half an hour later, the winds picked up and the temperature dropped further. She should’ve brought a scarf like Rainbow Dash suggested. Either way, she was starting to get hungry, so it was probably a good time to go back to the castle. Plus, she didn’t want Spike to get too tired.

Holding back a giggle, she nuzzled Spike’s neck and pressed her body against his even harder, letting the comfortable heat of his body fight back the evening chill.

“Hey, Spike,” she whispered. Spike angled his wings to slow down and looked back at her. “Let’s go back. It’s getting cold.”

He smiled and nodded. “Sure, wouldn’t want you getting sick.”

Starlight reeled back the kite as Spike changed course and headed for the castle. “Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind getting sick if it meant I’d get to be pampered by you and nursed back to health.”

“Heh. I don’t think I’d mind either, but…” he replied, “I’d prefer if you remained healthy.”

Starlight pretended to secure the kite with her magic so Spike wouldn’t see how goofy her smile probably looked.

The flight back to the castle was a short, uneventful one; and rather than land in front of the castle, Spike headed for one of the balconies and landed there. Carefully, Starlight jumped from his back, still a bit wobbly, and stretched her limbs.

“That was fun, Starlight. Thanks,” Spike said, giving his wings a final flap before folding them back.

“Don’t thank me just yet, Spike. The day is not over yet,” Starlight said, giving her drakefriend a smug look. She enjoyed his expression for a few seconds before she turned around and walked into the castle. “We’re making dinner together.”

Spike soon followed her and they made their way towards the kitchen. The bags of groceries he had brought earlier were waiting for them, ready to be turned into a delicious meal.

“What are we making?” Spike asked her as he started to unpack the bags. “Tomato, onions, celery… Gazpacho?”

“The day is a bit too chilly for that, don’t you think?” Starlight replied, not looking at him while she busied herself by taking out the pots and pans.

“Well, what will we make, then?”

Turning, Starlight smiled and replied, “Tomato bisque. At least that’s what the recipe book said. I’m not sure how it’s different from a tomato soup, but I like how it sounds.”

Spike shrugged. “I think the difference is about when you add the cream, but I’m not sure, either. I’ll still eat it, though.”

“Of course you will. We’re cooking this together and you’re going to love it,” Starlight said, giving him a smug look. “Now start washing those tomatoes.”

“I never meant to imply otherwise,” Spike replied, leaning in for a quick nuzzle before turning away, and brought the tomatoes towards the sink.

Starlight’s expression melted into one of happiness. Everything had gone well so far, and it would only get better from now on. She would make sure of it. They kept working in silence for a while. Spike cleaned and chopped the celery and onions while Starlight put the tomatoes in a pot to give them a quick boil.

The good thing about the tomato bisque—as far as Starlight’s frantic late night research could tell—was that not only did it provide a satisfying and filling meal with few ingredients, it was also a simple recipe that required little oversight through the process.

Which gave her enough time to do some necessary talking.

“Hey, Spike,” Starlight said, breaking the silence. She turned around, made eye contact with him and, whilst still smiling, kept on speaking. “We’ve been together for a few days now. How… How are you feeling?”

He arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I think it’s a bit silly to ask…” She trailed off, though the indecision lasted for only a second. Taking a deep breath, she stood firm, straightened her back, looked right into Spike’s eyes, and spoke again. “Do you feel happy?”

Despite not saying it, the words “about us” lingered in the air. Perhaps it was indeed silly to ask for reassurance, but if today was going to go well, she wanted Spike to directly tell her how he felt.

“Yes. I do,” Spike replied after a few seconds.

“Do I make you happy?” Starlight asked, taking slow measured steps towards him.

“Of course you do,” he replied. “These days have been great. I haven’t felt this good in a long time! But… why are—”

Starlight jumped and planted a quick kiss on his lips.

“Good. Because you make me very happy, too.” In the silence left by his speechlessness, Starlight couldn’t help but let out a few giggles.

“R-right back at you, Starlight…” Spike said, coming out of his daze. “What brought this up?”

With half-lidded eyes, she rested her hoof on his chest. The toned muscles were quite the tactile experience. But she didn’t let herself get lost in the sensation too much. This was important.

“I’ve just been doing some thinking… about how silly I’ve been.”

“Starlight?”

“No, don’t interrupt me, I’ve got to get this out now, or I’m going to keep getting wound up like a schoolfilly,” she said, and though she’d barely raised her voice, Spike seemed to have gotten the hint he should stay silent and listen. “I’m not sure why I’ve been like this. Nervousness, insecurity… maybe I was just so excited about getting to be in a relationship with you.”

Spike raised his claw and held her hoof, as if trying to give her some reassurance. It certainly helped.

“Regardless, I think I was stuck in a rut because I was too focused on how this affected me and what was going to happen that I started to lose sight of enjoying the present… and enjoying us,” Starlight finished with a smile.

Spike’s cheeks got a shade redder as he cracked a small smile. After a few seconds, he finally replied, “And how are you feeling now?”

Hoping actions would carry her emotions better, Starlight closed the distance between them and pressed her head against Spike’s chest. “I just want to enjoy this… I want us to be happy and I want to make you feel as happy as you make me.”

“That’s high praise…”

“All earned, I assure you,” she mumbled, already getting lost on the warmth coming from his body.

Spike lifted a claw and rested it on top of Starlight’s head. He gently scratched her behind her ears before he finally spoke. “I like this, too,” he said.

Starlight leaned into Spike, pressing as much of her body against him as she could without toppling him. That could wait for later.

“You know… I’ve been doing some thinking, too.”

In the pause following his statement, she looked up to see the content smile on his face. There was so much in that smile, in his eyes, in the way he looked… Starlight’s heart skipped a beat at the sight.

“I always imagined how it would be to be in a relationship. I’ve been Twilight’s assistant my whole life, so I’m used to doing things for others. I like that, I like to know I’m helpful and that I’m making ponies happy.” Spike’s smile turned playful as the spines on the sides of his head shook a bit. “It’s similar with you. It’s like I said, it all feels right, but it’s not just that. I’m still not sure how to explain it, all I know is that I really want to make you happy because seeing you happy makes me happy.”

The silence afterwards felt so charged, so heavy, yet so comfortable. If she hadn’t been a hundred percent sure she was in love with Spike, she was now. Curiously, as she stared at the tantalising lips of her dragon, she also came to realise something.

“Kiss me,” she said, her voice echoing in the silence of the kitchen.

Surprise flashed across Spike’s face for the briefest of moments before it melted away, leaving only firm decision behind. She didn’t see more than that. She closed her eyes and waited for him to make the first move, to let him take control.

There was an initial jolt of surprise when she felt his lips press against her. The warm, supple flesh was so tempting she could barely contain her desire of venturing a playful bite. However, she remained firm. She had decided she’d let Spike take the lead, and she was going to go through with it.

Somewhat hesitantly, Spike started moving his lips. It was almost chaste, in a way. Despite the desire she knew he had for her, he appeared to be doing a remarkable effort to keep himself in check. Starlight was okay with this, though. As much as she would’ve liked for him to let loose a bit, she liked the gentleness of his kiss.

Just as she was starting to get used to the gentle motion of his mouth, she felt the tip of his tongue brush her lower lip. She didn’t have to open her eyes to know Spike was blushing, the heat coming from his face was telling enough.

As a way of showing her appreciation, Starlight parted her own lips and met his tongue. Spike let out a gasp—which Starlight almost mirrored—and broke the kiss. He didn’t pull back, though. She could feel his hot breath mixing with hers.

Upon opening her eyes, Starlight saw the most enticing sight she’d seen all week. With parted lips and flushed cheeks, Spike looked at her with a mix of timidity and eagerness. His eyes, wide as saucers, shone with a fire she only recalled seeing once, a few days ago, in the darkness of an improvised movie theatre.

“Good,” Starlight said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Now let’s finish cooking, okay?”

With those words—and more than a bit of self-control—Starlight stepped away from Spike. Turning off the stove, she brought the tomatoes towards the sink to drain them and peel them. After the few seconds she imagined it took Spike to get out of his daze, he grabbed the pot and added a splash of olive oil.

“First… uh… The onions and celery go first, right?” Spike asked.

“Yeah,” Starlight replied. She was still a bit flustered after the kiss, but she was also getting hungry, and this would take some time. “Just remember to add the garlic last.”

With that, they once more fell into a comfortable silence as they worked. Spike continued stirring the onions and celery while Starlight focused on crushing the peeled tomatoes.

“All ready?” Starlight asked, bringing the rest of the ingredients toward Spike.

“Yeah, the onions are soft and translucent. What now, water?”

Starlight grinned at him. “Actually, how would you feel about…” she asked as she opened the oven and pulled a pot towards Spike. “Mushroom stock! I got it ready when I made breakfast earlier. The cookbook said it’s the perfect base to use.”

Spike blinked a couple of times before breaking into a joyous grin. “That sounds delicious. It’ll go great with the tomatoes.”

The satisfied smile never left Starlight’s face as she added the mushroom stock and the tomatoes. She knew cramming all those cookbooks last night would pay off. After seasoning with salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne for an extra kick, she gave the pot a stir and put the lid on.

“Say, what are you going to use to thicken it? I didn’t see you make a roux.”

“Oh, you and your fancy words,” Starlight replied in faux annoyance. “I checked a few cookbooks and found a healthier alternative.” With that, she pulled out a jar out of the cupboard and floated it towards Spike. “Rice!”

Spike looked amused, but in his usual positive way. “Rice starch rather than roux, huh? That’s clever.”

“Only the best for my drakefriend!” Starlight opted not to mention how she’d found that the original recipe called for a base of seashells to thicken the recipe. While she appreciated Twilight’s thoroughness when it came to keeping a complete catalogue, she wondered if it was necessary to have a Gryphon cookbook in the Castle’s kitchen. So lost she was in her thoughts, she almost missed the sight of Spike’s cheeks reddening.

“I think… I like the sound of that,” he said. “Well, while that cooks, what else will we make?”

“Since we’re eating a fancy tomato soup, I figured we should eat a fancy cheese sandwich with it,” she replied, much to Spike’s amusement.

“I knew you would embrace pretentious cooking at some point,” Spike said, a smug grin over his face.

Giving him a playful shove, Starlight turned around and walked towards the fridge to get some cheese. She found a pack of mozzarella sticks. She didn’t know they had those, but it seemed a bit silly to go through the effort of making a tomato cream, and then use frozen mozzarella sticks. So she chose a nice block of smoked cheddar and butter.

Afterwards, they quickly worked on making the sandwiches. A bit of butter on the pan, bread—a few of the smaller gems they had collected for Spike’s sandwich—and cheese. For that little extra to make it special, Spike suggested they added a bit of cheese on the outside and, well, Starlight couldn’t argue with the results.

“Just listen to it,” Spike said as he dragged a fork across the surface of the sandwiches. The tantalising sound of caramelised, crunchy cheese was almost too much to resist.

“Can’t wait,” Starlight replied, managing to tear her gaze away from their latest creation to add the heavy cream to the bisque, give it a good mix, and started serving it on small bowls.

“Is everything ready?”

With a flash of magic, Starlight closed the curtains and lit up several candles on the kitchen table. It was, in a way, reminiscent of their late night snack a few days ago when she had confessed to him in the spur of the moment. To think things would improve so much over the course of the week.

“Now it is,” she replied with a smile.

They walked towards the table. Spike made a big motion out of pulling Starlight’s chair for her like a true gentledrake. Just before he could grab his chair, she pulled his chair with her magic. They shared a grin for a couple of seconds before Spike started laughing. Starlight could’ve chastised him for spoiling the mood, but she was busy laughing as well.

“Oh, sit down already, the food will get cold,” she said.

Starlight couldn’t help but feel entranced once more by the shimmer of Spike’s scales as the soft light of the candles cast him under its warmth.

Oh, yeah… So handsome.

Before she could get mesmerised by him, Starlight looked down and brought a spoonful of the somehow-not-a-cream to her mouth. Even after all this time, she was still surprised by how easy it was to make tasty dishes, and this was a perfect example. It was everything she expected it would be, the texture was so smooth it slid down her throat without much effort, leaving a trail of rich tomato flavour. She definitely had to make this more often.

And then the cayenne kicked in. The little burst of heat hit her just as she was done swallowing. Not much, just enough to get her tongue tingling a bit, and made her ready for the next portion.

“Hey, this is pretty good,” Spike said. Starlight looked up to see him already lifting his spoon and jamming it in his mouth. “I think I could eat the whole pot.”

“Now, Spike. Gluttony isn’t nice,” Starlight replied.

“No, but this is,” he shot back immediately, eating another spoonful of bisque.

She laughed at that, though calling the bisque “nice” would be an understatement. She then lifted the neglected cheese sandwich, dipped it in the bowl, and took a bite.

It was a good thing the cheese hadn’t had the time to cool down. It was no longer scalding hot, but it was still gooey and oozy on the inside. The outer layer of cheese was just hard enough to give it a crunchy exterior that helped the sandwich from getting soggy from the bisque. It was a glorious combination. Though she supposed the dish was so simple it’d be more surprising if they didn’t pair well.

Breaking from the food daze, she looked at Spike and saw he was just as delighted as she was. He smiled with every bite of the sandwich or spoonful of cream. And she found herself mirroring his smile simply out of how proud she felt.

While it was true that from a purely objective point of view, her date plans were less than impressive, she felt she’d done a good job. Breakfast in bed, relieving him of his duties, taking him on a nice stroll by the lake, getting him some gems, flying around, cooking together… it all had gone out without a hitch.

It was so reinvigorating. To take the reins of her own life instead of letting herself be swept back and forth like a boat on a stormy sea. Celestia willing, she could keep this streak going and end the day on a happy note.

Yes… a happy ending, indeed~!

Starlight fought back a giggle. There’d be time to think about that later; right now, she had a delicious dish to finish.

“Hey, the aquamarine goes surprisingly well with the tomato,” Spike mentioned after half of his sandwich was gone.

“That’s good to hear. You know, as much as I’d like to take credit for planning it that way, I only looked for whatever gems sounded tasty.”

“Really? And how do you know which gems are tasty?” he asked, incredulous.

Starlight turned away in mock haughtiness reminiscent of Trixie. “I’ll have you know I do listen to you, Spike. I am most attentive to my drakefriend’s needs. Do you think I just spent the time you talk about gems getting lost in your eyes? At most that happens half the time!”

Rather than call her out on acting cheesier than their sandwiches, Spike remained silent for a few seconds before bursting into a loud laugh, even merrier than before. His shoulders shook with each burst, and he even dropped the spoon he held onto the floor. She smirked for a few seconds before letting out a giggle herself and shaking her head.

She used the last bit of her sandwich to clean her bowl of the last bits of bisque and ate it in a single bite. With their late lunch over, Starlight lifted the dishes and spoons with her magic. Spike, however, was quick to stop her.

“Allow me,” he said as he stood up and grabbed the floating dishes. Before she could complain, he looked at her with a soft gaze and shrugged. “You’ve done a lot already. Just doing a couple of dishes won’t make me think less of this day.”

Not wanting to argue on such an inconsequential point—and knowing he was right, anyway—Starlight relented, and dispelled her magic. “Only because you insist.”

They exchanged smiles before he turned away and walked towards the sink. She watched him go, eyeing him up and down. Her gaze trailed from the back of her head, down his spines, lingering on his broad back and wings, going down his toned lower back and hips, and all the way to the tip of his tail.

“You know, the bisque was really good,” Spike said as he picked up a sponge and started scrubbing one of the bowls. “I think we could make it more often.”

“I like that.”

“Yeah, and I wonder what else we could we do to change it.”

“You can probably come up with something good.”

Spike let out a soft chuckle as he put the now clean bowls away. “It shouldn’t be too hard. We could probably roast the tomatoes before we add them to—”

Starlight cut his words when she hugged him from behind. Tightly.

“Star?” He asked, his voice much softer.

“Yeah?”

“What are you… what are you doing?”

She shrugged, which, considering how hard she was hugging him, probably felt like she was rubbing against his body. Good.

“Hugging you,” she replied. “Can’t I?”

“Of course you can,” his words came in a hurry, but the certainty was clear in his tone.

“Good,” she said, nuzzling his back and enjoying the little shiver that ran through his body. “Don’t let me interrupt you.”

“Right!”

Somewhat nervously, Spike continued washing the dishes as Starlight continued holding her drakefriend. The sound of the running water was soon drowned by her own breathing and the beating of Spike’s heart, and Starlight found herself entranced by it. It was such a comfortable sensation, an entrancing moment that she almost didn’t want it to end, and she would’ve been happy to let the moment linger… but she wanted much more.

“Spike…” she said once he was done.

“Hmmm?”

Just say it. Trust him, and it’ll all be okay.

“Trixie and I ran into Big Mac and you yesterday at the park. We kind of, sort of ended up unintentionally eavesdropping on you for a while… I’m sorry.”

There was a couple of seconds of indiscernible silence as Starlight waited for Spike to say something.

“I…” he trailed off. After another moment of silence he turned off the faucet and looked back at her. “Why?”

Starlight bit off her lip, but powered through. “We didn’t mean to do that… We were at the park, and saw you coming, and I panicked and hid in the bushes with her.”

“Why would you do that?” Spike prodded her, sounding more confused than anything.

A grimace flashed across Starlight’s face, and she had to fight not to avert her eyes for a second there. “I didn’t want you to listen to us… because… we were talking about you.”

Spike blinked a couple of seconds in surprise. “About me?”

She nodded. “All good things, I assure you. But… yes. I‘m sorry. I overreacted and I should’ve just said hi or, I don’t know, run away at that moment.”

Rather than complain, or justifiably calling her out, he just shook his head and said, “It’s okay.”

“But—”

“Starlight,” Spike said, grabbing her arms and making her let go of him. He turned around and kneeled in front of her. He smiled a sincere smile, lifted one of his claws, and held her head. Starlight couldn’t help but rub against his warm palm. “It’s okay. You didn’t mean anything by it. Just… don’t do it again, I guess.”

“I won’t,” she replied, lifting her hooves to hold Spike’s claws against her cheek. “I promise I won’t.”

“Good,” he said, and quickly pecked her muzzle. Far too quick to be a proper kiss, but heavy on affection nonetheless. After a few seconds of physical contact, she felt Spike squirm a bit, and looked up just in time to see his face flush. “How… how much did you hear? Yesterday, at the… at the park.”

“Enough,” she said, still nuzzling Spike’s claw.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Starlight bit her lip as she shot him a half-lidded stare. “You don’t have to worry. This butt is yours to squeeze at your leisure.” She punctuated those last words with a quick shake of her rear.

Spike lit up so quickly and so fiercely it was as if a light bulb had been turned on.

“Ah—I, I mean. That’s not what I—”

“And,” she cut him off, “I heard enough to be sure I love you, too.”

So much of Spike’s semblance changed after she said that, Starlight could have listed them off for hours. In a swift motion, Starlight let go of him, moved forward, and wrapped her arms around his neck as she locked lips with him. He shivered for a few seconds before he hugged her back and—more importantly—started kissing her, too.

He pressed hard against her in the most overt display of passion either of them had in the past week. Starlight angled her head to one side and pushed further into the kiss, spreading his lips, kneading them with her own. Perhaps instinctively, she let her tongue run across his lips, teasing its entrance into his mouth, and her heart doubled its beating when she felt him meekly doing the same.

A moan escaped her. Or him. Or both. She wasn’t quite sure, and she didn’t care. How could she pay attention to anything that wasn’t the heavenly sensation of Spike’s thin tongue tracing the edges of her mouth.

She exhaled through her nose, not wanting to separate herself until he pushed her away, and she had the strong suspicion he wouldn’t do that.

Taking another step forward, she pressed her chest against Spike’s body, enjoying the rising warmth of his body. Her hooves caressed the back of his head, bringing him closer to her and making sure he wouldn’t pull away. Reacting to her moves, Spike’s arms wrapped around her even tighter, and—much to her delight—started caressing her body.

He slowly rubbed his palms against her back, making the hairs of her coat stand on end. She wanted to urge him, to tell him to go further and not hold back, that her body was his to explore. However, that would’ve required her to break the kiss, and that was not happening any time soon.

Starlight worked her jaw. Opening and closing it in rhythm with Spike. She once more ventured her tongue into his mouth, careful not to poke his fangs. She pushed a bit more, exploring as far as she could while he let her do as she pleased. Not to say he wasn’t taking a bit of an initiative himself.

Slowly but surely, Spike worked his way into her mouth. First licking her bottom lip, moving his tongue to the side to let her in, and then moving in. Starlight’s body shuddered when she felt him make some tentative motions inside her, licking the inside of her cheeks, or even wrapping his thin tongue around hers.

His earnestness moved the parts of Starlight’s mind that weren’t being overwhelmed by lust. A part of her even rejoiced at the prospect of what he could do once he went down on her, which just made her heart beat even faster, and start sending blood down to her nethers.

When she couldn’t take the lack of air anymore, she broke the kiss and pulled back just enough so she could get a proper look at Spike’s burning face, and she could’ve sworn she saw a strand of saliva connecting their mouths for a moment.

“Star…” Spike said, his voice barely more than a raspy moan. “I… I…”

“Yes?” she replied, hurried by her own eagerness as the sight of a flustered, shocked, and clearly aroused Spike mesmerised her.

“I love you,” he finally replied. “I love you, too.”

For a second, neither moved, entranced as they were on each other, and in the words they had just exchanged. Soon, Starlight felt her lips twitch into a goofy smile, and went for another kiss as she felt a hot tear run down her cheek. Quickly, she gave him another kiss. This one was much shorter, and conveyed more excitement than it did affection, but she hoped her love was shown all the same.

“I love you, Spike,” she said once she pulled back, and immediately went for another kiss. Faster than he could react, she pulled back again. “I love you.” She angled her head to the side and kissed the edge of his mouth.

“Starlight…” Spike whispered, but he may as well have said nothing.

She kept making a trail of kisses, all while repeating her mantra. She kissed his cheek. “I love you.” She ventured a lick of the spines on the side of his head which made Spike shiver in a delicious way. “I love you.” She kissed the edge of his jaw. “I love you.” She moved to his neck. “I.” Kissing it all the way down. “Love.” Pressing her lips harder on the place it met his shoulder. “You.”

In a swift motion, she pressed her hooves on his chest and pushed herself away. For second, neither moved. She was taking in the sight of an obviously aroused Spike, and she imagined he was doing the same.

“I love you, Spike,” she said. “Now fuck me until I can’t say it anymore.”

Chapter 13

View Online

With a blush and a hammering heart, Starlight opened the door to her bedroom. Her shadow, cast by the light coming from the hallway, extended all the way into her room, until it reached her bed. It seemed even her shadow was anxious.

Another shadow appeared next to her, longer than her own. Looking to her side, she saw Spike, her drakefriend, and soon to be mate. He was standing straight and—intentionally or not—arching his back in such a way that it made him look even more dashing.

The silence lingered between them for a few seconds until he turned to look at her. He was nervous as well, but underneath the layers of anxiousness, he found a reflection of the same barely contained excitement she felt.

She raised her head and kissed him. She had to fight the urge to jump him right then and there, just as she had been doing since they’d gotten out of the kitchen. Sure, they had been kissing almost nonstop but hey, it only took them fifteen minutes to get from the kitchen to her bedroom.

Breaking the kiss, Starlight pulled back just enough for her muzzle to gently brush against his snout and for their breath to mix.

“Come in,” she whispered, the first words to come out of her mouth since her proposition. Her voice sounded odd to her ears. It was laced with tension and excitement, yet it managed to sound sheepish at the same time. Despite having looked forward to this moment for longer than she could remember, she couldn’t help but act a bit nervous.

Stepping back, she took Spike’s claw with her hoof and walked with him towards her bed. They walked slowly, and her heart seemed to make up for it by doubling the speed at which it beat.

Once they finally reached her bed, she was quick to sit on it. Spike however, lingered for a few seconds. He looked down as his face lit up with a furious blush. He shifted in place, looking as if he wanted to jump in the bed after her, but something was holding him back.

She pushed down the desire to beg him to just pin her down and ravage her and instead asked: “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Spike replied. His words leaving him as soon as she was done asking. A bit too fast, actually. “It’s just… It’s just that I..” His gaze was still firmly directed at the floor. “I’m…”

Starlight’s mind was working overtime, thinking of all the possible causes for Spike’s reticence.

Is it because he’s still a virgin? Maybe he doesn’t feel emotionally ready… He obviously desires me, but there’s a difference between wanting someone and actually feeling prepared to—

“I’m, you know… A dragon. I know we went over that, but dragons are… well… different when it comes to, uh… y’know… genitals, too…”

Oh.

Ohhh… right. He doesn’t know I know… I knew I was forgetting something.

Taking a deep breath, Starlight put on her best reassuring smile—which no doubt looked weird, considering her boiling lust threatening to surface at any moment.

“Is it about the hemipenes?” she asked.

Spike’s eyes shot up, wide as saucers while his mouth opened and closed a few times, trying to vocalise words that were never coming. Once more, Starlight got so enraptured in the sight, she almost didn’t hear his stammered question.

“Y-you know about it?”

Starlight nodded, feeling her own cheeks flare. “I’ve done my research,” she said, giving him a demure look.

His hands shot downwards, covering his groin in either embarrassment or modesty. Nevertheless, he kept his eyes up, looking straight at her. “I… I see. So, you know about my, uh…”

“Cocks?” she offered. Much to her delight, Spike’s whole face turned a beautiful shade of red. “Yes, I do.” With that she moved aside to make more room on her bed and invited him to sit, patting the open space in the mattress next to her.

With a slow pace that evidenced the many feelings stirring inside of his mind, Spike sat next to her. The mattress sank, and Starlight stumbled forward into Spike. One of her hooves pressed against his chest, and used it to stabilise herself as she looked up into his eyes. Even while sitting next to each other, Spike was much larger than her, and—judging by the hardness she felt under her hoof—definitely much stronger.

Still… even though she wanted either of them to pounce the other and fuck until they lost consciousness, she wanted to make sure they were both as comfortable as possible. If Spike still had any reservations, she would show him she was very much okay with him packing two cocks.

“Hey, Spike…” she whispered.

Though he initially flinched at her breath against his muzzle, he quickly moved up again, closing the distance between them. “Yeah?” he asked, his voice a bit strained.

“How is it?” she asked him back. “Having two cocks.”

He gulped and smiled a nervous smile. “Well, it’s not really two, it’s more like…” He lifted a claw and waved it around, trying to put his thoughts into words. “Okay, it’s more like one dick split in half. They share a bit of sensitivity, but they’re independent.”

“Really?” She asked. When he nodded, she turned her reassuring smile into a teasing smirk. “Do you know from experience?”

If Spike’s cheeks hadn’t been red enough already, they sure were at that moment. She could feel the heat coming from his face, and relished in it. Far from shying away, he kept his eyes aimed at hers and nodded.

“Do you know from… having… touched yourself?” Starlight paused after every word, dropping her volume and adding a little purr at the end. Once more, Spike nodded. Her eyes trailed down Spike’s body, from his strong chest, to his toned stomach, until she reached the smooth scales between his legs. Feeling mischievous, she lowered her hoof, tracing a playful trail towards his belly, but making sure not to get too close to the jackpot. “Do you think you could…” she started, letting the words hang in the air as she took in the growing realisation in Spike’s eyes, “show me?”

All sound vanished from the room, even the sound of her hammering heart had faded into nothing. There was nothing in the world right now other than how Spike’s face glowed a bright red. She felt herself heating up, too—In several ways~!—but maintained eye contact with him.

He worked his jaw but no sounds came out. Finally, after he stared into her eyes and his nervousness was slowly replaced by determination. He nodded, and slowly relaxed his legs, just as Starlight’s were replaced by jelly.

Though he remained bashful, he leaned back as he spread his legs, leaving Starlight with a grand view of… nothing. She blinked a couple of times before a memory of a book passage read the previous day.

Hemipenes are usually held inverted within the body, and are everted for reproduction via erectile tissue, she recited from memory. Well, that simply won’t do.

More than a couple of ideas came to mind for hurrying Spike along... but she held herself back from acting. Even though she wanted nothing more than to see it (them?), she wanted things to flow naturally, and for both of them to feel comfortable. She just had to be patient and let him go at his own pace.

With as much embarrassment as excitement, Spike moved a hand towards his groin and started pressing somewhere between his legs. Starlight remained silent throughout the whole process, eagerly waiting for something to happen. Soon enough, she got what she wanted; through a slit between his scales, two little flesh nubs poked out.

However, they did not remain little for very long.

A tiny Pinkie Pie in her mind made a comparison to a balloon being inflated, but she was quick to drown that thought with unrelenting waves of awe and lust. In less than a minute, Starlight was faced with two remarkably alluring cocks that bobbed up and down as Spike’s claw moved to hold one.

With a shaky voice, Spike spoke. “Ta~da?”

He was still nervous, and Starlight was going to be sure he was reassured and confident and comfortable. However, at that moment there was only one thought in her head.

No hooks, baby!

Okay, two thoughts. Still, she was immensely relieved to see Spike’s hemipenes weren’t as big as she had feared. Sure, they were still big enough that her tail twitched at the thought of the stretch she was going to get in a few minutes, but not so big that she had to worry about jabbing any vital organs.

The tips were rounded, as expected, though they still ended in a very clear point, completely different from the flat head of a stallion’s penis. It felt odd to say it over and over again, but finally seeing them with her own eyes brought up all these admittedly unfair comparisons.

Back to that other thought, though, she noticed that while his twin cocks did not have hooks—thank Celestia—they did have a very peculiar texture. The tips, as well as the first quarter or so of the shafts, were smooth. However, from that point, Starlight noticed an almost imperceptible indentation, the kind she imagined would happen if she were to wrap a thin elastic band around it. A few centimeters beneath it, there was another one, more pronounced this time.

As each dick reached its base, she noticed there were some… bumps, for lack of a better word. They resembled small protrusions that still managed to blend in with the surface of the skin. She didn’t understand how that was supposed to work, or what they might be for; however, just imagining how those bumps would feel inside her, as well as the thicker base, was enough to get rid of any reservations she may have had.

“It’s… It’s not too weird, is it?” Spike asked, breaking the trance she’d found herself after seeing his dicks. She blinked to try and clear her mind and looked up at him. He looked so embarrassed it made Starlight hurt a bit.

“Spike,” she said, holding the claw that wasn’t holding his cock between her hooves, “if you think for a second that I don’t want to jump on those and ride you until we break this castle in half, then you are dumber than anyone who has lived with Twilight for years has any right to be.”

Before Spike could reply, Starlight leaned forwards and kissed him. There was no pretense of kindness or tenderness, this was a hungry kiss. One that nearly screamed her intentions. She wanted to let Spike know that it didn’t matter if his dicks were enticingly weird, she was in love with him, and the size, shape or number of his dicks wouldn’t change that.

Not even if he had hooks?

You said you were on my side!

After a few seconds, Starlight broke the kiss with a loud gasp. She was a bit flustered, but didn’t let her gaze waver. She remained steadfast, daring Spike to question her resolve.

He didn’t. Instead, his eyes softened as a wobbly smile spread over his face. “Have I told you how great you are?”

Starlight’s expression turned into a smug grin. “It has come up from time to time.”

“Well, I don’t say it often enough,” he replied, and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

As much as she would’ve liked to get lost in the moment—was she purring?—she had bigger things in mind… and he had bigger things in his claws. Clearing her throat, she spoke again, her stern voice cutting through the dense air in the room.

“Enough delays, Spike,” she said. “I believe you were about to show me how you masturbated.”

“Right!” Spike replied in a hurry. His eyes wandered down for a second before he looked back to her and his claw started caressing his cock.

He started slow, and Starlight noticed he didn’t fully wrapped his claw around his dick. She’d assumed he’d take advantage of the whole fingers thing to get a good hold, but he seemed to be taking a more lax approach, though a tight grip would probably be uncomfortable with how uneven the surface of his penes were. Instead, his palm glided across his right dick, squeezing at certain points, mostly in the bottom half. Duly noted. It was then that she noticed his other dick had been left unattended. How odd.

“You don’t want to give Spike the Third any attention?” she asked, noticing she sounded a little hoarse.

Pulled from his daze, Spike opened and closed his eyes before he focused back on Starlight. “Wh-what?”

She shrugged and pointed with a hoof. “You’re only using one claw.”

He looked down. “Oh,” he said, and that was all for a couple of seconds. “Well, I’m not ambidextrous, so it’s hard to keep rhythm with two hands. Plus, I once tried using my left hand and it felt… Weird.”

“Weird, huh?” Starlight tilted her head. “How so?”

Spike just shrugged. “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just odd. Maybe I just got… used to… uh, yeah. It feels odd.”

That was an interesting reaction. Was he feeling self conscious because he admitted to his marefriend that he got used to jerking off? She supposed it could be mortifying to out yourself like that. However, he was masturbating in front of her. On her request. That should give him some reassurance.

Perhaps, she thought, I could help him with that~!

She waited for Spike to focus once more on his cock. Once he did, she leaned toward him and placed her hoof on his left thigh. Spike jumped at the touch, and quickly turned to face her. He looked completely stunned, which only served to enhance the arousal in his eyes.

“Star?”

“Does that mean… it would feel weird if I were to help?”

Spike let out a pained grunt, and it only took Starlight a second to notice he had squeezed his dick the moment she had spoken. It was a bit endearing to see him so worked up, but she hoped he hadn’t actually hurt himself.

Plus… she had really meant it.

“I… Uh… I mean, I-if you… if you want to, then I think, uh, that it’s, I mean, that it’d be okay,” Spike said, his words coming out in a nervous stream. How adorable.

Biting her lip, Starlight narrowed her eyes and leaned forward, moving her mouth towards his. If actions spoke louder than words, then her next move was a loud “Yes!” that would have been heard all across Ponyville.

She quickly moved her hoof towards Spike’s left dick and started trailing the edges with the tip of her hoof. Spike let out an odd sound, something between a gasp and a moan that only served to further entice her. She pressed the inside of her hoof against the bulging base, caressing it as she explored the surface and all of its bumps and ridges. It was soft to the touch, but pressing a bit revealed its firmness.

Her eyes darted from his dick to his half lidded eyes. She had only just started, but Spike seemed to respond favourably. His lower jaw trembled a bit as he let out soft grunts of what hopefully was approval.

She moved in for a kiss as she continued her exploration. She kissed the edge of his chin, slowly leaving a trail of small kisses until she reached his lips while carefully pressing her hoof against Spike’s dick, slowly working her way from the base to the tip as she made sure to rub and press on every single exposed bit of hot dragon dick.

And hot it was. Though it didn’t reach the point where it was uncomfortable, Spike’s dick felt warm to the touch. She was going to have a very cosy winter. She kept rubbing her hoof against his dick, and she barely noticed how her speed had increased while Spike’s grip on his right dick had lessened while also slowing down. His breathing, however, got heavier as they picked up speed.

Less than a minute after Starlight started noticing a faint smell. It was heavy, enticing… it took her a moment to realise the small trail of viscous liquid making its way down from the tip of Spike’s dick. The heady scent made its way to her muzzle, and she instinctively gulped. Before she could decide if it was a good or bad idea, she broke the kiss and turned to give the tip of Spike’s dick a small lick.

“Ah!”

Immediately, Starlight realised what she had just done, and bolted upright.

“Oh, sorry! I got carried away,” Starlight cried out, her lust replaced by regret.

For his part, Spike shook his head, his eyes wider than she’d ever seen them. “No! It’s okay! Don’t let me stop you.”

She was momentarily taken aback by his eagerness, but quickly put on a playful smirk. “Really?” She started pumping his dick up and down once more. “Are you sure?”

“Mmmhm…” was all Spike could say through clenched teeth.

“I mean, I’d feel terrible if I were to let my desire get the better of me and push you towards something you didn’t feel comfortable doing,” Starlight said with an innocent tone, working her jaw for what was about to come.

“You don’t have to worry about that! I definitely want you to do that again, if you want to do it, so please—” He didn’t get to finish that sentence.

As fast as she could, Starlight opened her mouth, let her tongue out and licked Spike’s dick. One long, quick lick from the bumpy base to the rounded tip. She noticed all the bumps on Spike’s dick were not as hard as she imagined, that would mean they wouldn’t cause her any discomfort once they were going in and out of her.

The warmth between her legs, which so far had gone unnoticed, suddenly increased to an almost unbearable heat the moment she got a taste of the precum leaking from Spike’s dick. She couldn’t quite describe the flavour; it was slightly salty, yes, but the flavour was overall pleasant. She definitely wanted more.

She jumped off the bed, much to Spike’s confusion. She walked in front of him and sat on her haunches, with Spike’s dicks right in front of her. Up this close, she had to admit they looked a bit more daunting.

Well, Starlight Glimmer was no quitter.

Spike had already let go of his right dick, too busy leaning back on the bed, probably trying to process all these new feelings.

Let’s give him something more to consider.

Not being able to wait anymore, Starlight licked his right cock, slower this time, pressing the flat of her tongue against the thick base and slowly worked her way up. Every indentation on its surface was a new area for her tongue to explore, every enticing protrusion was a chance for a new experience to be had.

Despite herself, she couldn’t help but make a comparison to a stallion’s member. It was definitely hotter—In more than one way!—than a normal cock, just beyond the point of being warm. The texture was also much more interesting; where a stallion would only have the odd vein here and there, Spike’s cocks were nothing but variety. Every little crevice and notch was unique and different and new.

Spike let out a low moan as she dragged her tongue all the way to the tip with a deliberately slow pace, tracing all its contours along the way, much to both of their delight. Starlight once more got a taste of Spike’s essence as her tongue dragged over the small opening at the very tip. She had to admit, the flavour got better every time she tried it. His output seemed to be getting thicker the longer she continued her ministrations, she noticed. She also noticed the precum leaking from the tip was certainly hotter than his dick. Somewhere around the temperature of a not-so-hot cup of tea. How much hotter would his actual load be?

There was no point in wondering, she’d rather spend her energy working towards bringing him to climax and finding out for real. Hoping she had done enough stretching, she opened her mouth as much as she could and took the whole head of Spike’s left cock in.

“Ahhh~!” Spike cried out, whether in surprise or pleasure, Starlight didn’t know, but she took it as a sign she could keep going. It was, thankfully, not a tight fit. She had enough room to move around, and her jaw wasn’t bothered. All good to go!

She slowly started rotating her neck, pressing her tongue and the inside of her cheeks against the head of Spike’s cock. The rounded tip made it much easier to maneuver over the larger, flat tip of a stallion’s penis. She was liking this more and more by the second!

Upping her game, Starlight started moving her tongue, slobbering over it, and felt a surge of pride at the way Spike’s grunts morphed into long, satisfied moans. Once she felt more comfortable, she started bobbing her head up and down, ever so slowly taking in a bit more of his dick with every downward movement.

Spike let out a manly huff once she pushed his dick deeper into her mouth, almost hitting the back of her throat. She stuck out her tongue and licked the base as she pulled him out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spike gripping the bed, twisting the mattress with his claws.

She then noticed she’d been neglecting Spike’s other dick. Damn be nature. Spike had two dicks, but she only had one throat. She’d have to make do somehow. Adjusting her posture, she set her right hoof on Spike’s thigh while the left one pressed against the base of his other dick, bringing out another delicious moan

She looked up at Spike. The dragon was faring much better than she’d expected from someone getting their first blowjob. Far from squirming or crying out in pleasure, he seemed to be holding out quite well. Aside from biting his lip, and the heavy flush on his face, he seemed to be somewhat composed.

That simply wouldn’t do.

Taking a deep breath—and working her memory to remember all the tips about giving head she learned in her youth—she adjusted her head and dove in, taking a good third of his dick into her mouth while her left hoof kept rubbing his other dick.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Spike cried out.

Good to know I’ve still got it.

She slowly pulled back, sucking as much as possible so the inside of her cheeks would squeeze against his dick and pressing her tongue flat against the underside of it, feeling every single one of those delicious little ridges until just the tip was in her mouth.

She kept giving small licks when she felt Spike’s claws caressing her cheek. Without stopping her servicing, she looked up at him. In the moment they made eye contact, she felt the world come to a stop. In those emerald eyes, she saw so much… immense gratitude, yes, but also lust at seeing his marefriend go down on him, shock at the amount of pleasure he was feeling, excitement for being so close to what could possibly be his first not-self-induced orgasm.

More than any of these, though, there was love. Unabashed love and affection aimed at her with so much strength and sincerity, she felt any nearby changeling would probably overdose.

For the first time in the whole week, she wished she wasn’t sucking Spike’s cock and could just bask in the unspoken words of love shared by them.

The feeling was short lived, however, and her desire and lust quickly took control once more. She gave Spike a sultry wink and dove in once more, sucking even harder. He let out a long groan and his claw left her cheek.

“S-starlight…”

Oh, yes. Say my name, big guy.

A part of her would’ve liked him to keep stroking her cheek. Another was wondering if she could physically take a throatfuck from him. Nevertheless, she increased the rhythm of her oral work and that of her left hoof, making sure he was properly stimulated. Meanwhile, her free hoof made its way between her legs. She congratulated herself on holding out for so long, but she desperately craved some stimulation. It was difficult keeping a good pace with her mouth and both hooves busy, but she made sure to prioritise Spike’s pleasure. There’d be time for her later.

Speaking of Spike, he wasn’t. He no longer could form full sentences, and only managed to vocalise a few groans and lustful moans which, paired with his flushed face, was more than enough to fuel her libido.

She took as much of his length as she could before slowly pulling back, licking him as she did so. She heard him whimper as his hips jerked a bit. Realising he was probably close, Starlight went all out. She sucked harder, tried moving better, rubbed faster, and as a result his moaning grew stronger.

Amidst the excited moans that slowly devolved into bouts of raw, passionate cries, Starlight Glimmer had an idea. An awful, awful idea. Plus, her jaw was starting to get tired.

Sucking with more force, she pulled the head out of her mouth with a loud pop and immediately seized it with her magic, making sure to keep him going, but not enough to push him over the edge.

With a look of desperation and confusion morphing his features, Spike looked at Starlight, biting his lip, only to be met with the playful smirk directed at him.

“S-Star? What are—ah!”

She worked her magic, up and down. Slowly, but with just the right amount of strength to keep him on the edge. “You liked that?” she asked, stretching that last word as she kept the slow pace of her jerking. “You liked me sucking you off, Spike?”

“Y-yes…” He squeaked out.

“Do you want me to keep going?” she asked, giving a few sporadic licks to his twitching cock. “Do you want me to make you cum?” She took in the sight of his flushed face, his trembling jaw, shaking shoulders and confused stare. He looked so vulnerable at that moment, as he knew he was fully under her control. He was hers to do as she—

She blinked a couple of times and slowed down. She was doing what she told herself she wouldn’t do, what she couldn’t do.

Before Spike could react to the lull in the strokes, she opened her mouth and took the tip of his cock in. He groaned once more as she worked her tongue around it. Spike moaned again, and the small pause passed as if it had never happened. This was what her focus should be: him, nothing else but him.

She lit up her horn and enveloped Spike’s other cock in her magic. She felt his hips tremble and started moving faster. He wouldn’t last much longer. With a deep breath, she relaxed her jaw, and took as much of his dick as she could. The tip went past the back of her mouth and down her throat. It was as far as she could go, and she knew she couldn’t stay like that for long, but it was okay. Spike was already there. His hips jerked upwards, though thankfully Starlight had prepared for this, so she didn’t feel any discomfort.

She had been less prepared, however, for him actually orgasming.

A loud roar filled the room at the same time a load of dragon sperm filled her throat. Her mind immediately noticed several differences with a stallion’s spunk. His was thicker, more viscous, and had a rich flavour unlike anything she had ever tried. She wondered if it was all those gems he ate.

Oh, and it was also scalding.

Starlight felt the hot spurts of semen shooting down her throat, leaving a warm trail as she instinctively swallowed. She moaned a bit, but the twitching slab of dragon dick in her mouth muffled her voice.

Perhaps calling it “scalding” had been an exaggeration, but it had certainly felt that way when those first shots made contact with her throat. She slowly pulled Spike’s member out of her mouth. Just for the extra flair, she made sure to suck on the tip, making a popping sound once it came out.

Spike let out one last moan as he slumped on the bed, exhausted and—if his expression was anything to go by—satisfied. At that, Starlight felt a surge of pride coming from somewhere deep in her chest. A sensation that was separate from the growing heat in her belly. Spike’s thick load rested in her stomach, and the warmth it radiated made her feel comfortable, in a way.

Oh, yes. A very cosy winter for Starlight…

Her thoughts came to a stop when she felt Spike’s claw lifting her chin. She looked up at him, and saw his flushed cheek and the smile plastered over his face, and could help but smile back at him.

“Enjoyed it?”

“Did I! That was…” He laid his head on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, as if he were trying to find the words to describe the experience he just had. Before Starlight could reply, Spike rose up a bit, looked her straight in the eye and, with no small amount of nervousness, asked, “Can… can I do it to you?”

Starlight didn’t know how to respond.

Yes! Say “yes”, you stupid mare!

Okay, yes. That. What took her by surprise was how eager he sounded. She was somewhat reminded of a dog, eager to go outside and play, as if the act of going down on her was a treat for him. Though she supposed if he was just as eager as she had been about getting a taste of his cock, then it was perfectly understandable for him to act like that.

In that case, she thought, it would be downright insensitive to deny his request.

With a wobbly smile of her own, Starlight nodded. “I… I think I’d like that very much.”

Her movements were stiff and somewhat clumsy, but Starlight climbed back onto the bed, and shifted around until she was lying on her back, right next to Spike. She once more couldn’t help but get lost in his gaze. Perhaps it was due to her looking at him through the lense of her no longer repressed lust, but Spike looked more handsome and enticing than she could remember. His half-lidded eyes and longing stare, which were seizing her up and eating her much in the same way she was doing, granted him a masculine aura that made her heart beat even faster, something she didn’t think was possible.

After a few seconds, Spike nodded, as if reaching the end of a mental argument. Starlight idly wondered if Spike also had to deal with a small voice in his head that questioned everything he did regarding their relationship, but she was quick to dismiss that thought once she felt the bed give in under Spike’s weight as she moved a bit.

He lifted one arm and reached across her, and just like that he was right on top of her. This might have been the first time she had been so physically close to him, face to face, because she couldn’t help but notice how their position made his muscles stand out a bit more than usual. She lifted a hoof and started tracing the outline of his pectorals. They were not rock hard, there was certainly a bit of softness to them, but they still felt so enticingly firm. Her hoof slowly glided across his chest to his neck, where she slowly rubbed the underside of his jaw before grabbing the back of his head and pulling him for a kiss.

Before their lips made contact, her blood ran cold at the thought of forcing Spike to, well… taste the flavour of his cock in her mouth. This didn’t last, as Spike quickly closed the gap between them and planted a firm kiss on her lips.

His kiss was quick, but passionate. She would have liked to keep kissing him, but she was also anxious for him to give her some release, so she didn’t fight back when their lips broke apart. Spike didn’t pull back, though. He remained tantalisingly close, almost daring her to make a move and kiss him again. At the close distance they shared, she could feel every hot exhale bristling the fur on her muzzle, mixing with her own breath and making her mind spin in a lust filled daze.

Starlight could focus on reality for long enough to see the playful smirk Spike shot at her. She furrowed her brow in confusion, but before she could do anything else, she felt Spike kissing her on the corner of her mouth. She tried to move and reciprocate the kiss, but Spike had already moved towards her cheek, and a quick kiss later, he was already kissing the edge of her jaw. She drew a sharp breath when she felt not only a kiss, but a furtive lick of his thin tongue on her neck, sending delicious jolts of delight down her spine.

“Mmmm~ Spiiike…” she moaned, rubbing and caressing the spines on the back of his head. This seemed to encourage him, his kisses increasing in strength and passion. After her neck was her shoulder. After her shoulder was her collarbone, and then her chest. Her heart was working overtime, and she wondered if she risked a heart attack.

There are worse ways to die, she thought as she closed her eyes and rested her head on the bed.

She had to stifle a giggle when Spike kissed her stomach, but a few escaped when he kissed her belly button. She looked down and made eye contact with him. She caught a flash crossing his eyes, and soon he dove back, licking her navel this time.

“Ah! Hah… Spike, what are you—Ah!”

It appeared Spike wasn’t keen on letting her speak, and under different circumstances she would probably appreciate this… it was kinda nice. She let out a soft laugh as she held onto his head. He wasn’t going so hard that the tickling became uncomfortable but…

She not so gently pushed him downwards. She was getting quite close to her limit and she desperately needed some release.

“Spiiiiiiiiiike~!”

Perhaps hearing the longing in her voice, Spike dragged his lips downwards and planted a firm kiss on her lower stomach. Much to her delight, he didn't linger and quickly moved to her teats.

The first kiss touched the very edge of her left teat, just where the fur ended and her modest mounds started. Her reaction was immediate; she let out a soft coo as she caressed the top of his head, as if encouraging him to keep up the good work. Like a good student, he kept kissing her, applying the right amount of pressure on her teats to keep her head spinning.

She felt something in her mind melt at the sensation of Spike’s lips kneading the soft flesh below her stomach. As he wrapped his lips around one of her nipples, she let out a soft mewling sound that turned into a long moan once he started gently sucking on it.

“Mmmf…” Starlight bit her lip as Spike’s work made the fire in her vagina resurface. She wanted him to bury his face in her groin, but she also didn’t want to hurry things. It was an odd situation in which she found herself. She didn’t know what to do, bask in this feeling and let her arousal grow or cave in and ask Spike to move on.

She let out a long moan when Spike grabbed her free teat with his fingers and gently kneaded it while he sucked her other teat with as much gusto as a nursing foal. It was then that the still cognizant part of Starlight’s mind remembered that due to their physiological relation to lizards, dragons did not have breasts. That might explain why he seemed so focused on them.

A smile spread across her face. Considering that she’d waited several years for this, she could wait a couple of minutes for him to have a bit of fun. Plus, she was genuinely enjoying herself.

She rested her head on the mattress and focused on nothing other than the way Spike peppered her bosom with lavish affection. Every time he rubbed his thumb across her sensitive flesh, or his thin tongue coiled around her erect nipple, she felt a pleasant wave course through her body and while it did manage to increase her arousal, it did little toward getting her off.

Thankfully, Spike seemed to sense her eagerness, and finally let her teats go. Starlight cursed the sudden coldness that enveloped her now moist bits of exposed skin. A second later, however, she felt his hot breath on her already aching lips, and that was all it took to make her groan out in pleasure.

“Oooooooh-ho-ho…” She let out as she rubbed her head against a nearby pillow. Her mane was going to be ruined, but who cared, Spike was about to go down on her!

Every second Spike spent not eating her out was a second spent in pure agony. Spike’s hot breathing offered a momentary relief, yes… but it was just that, momentary. The second he stopped, the yearning returned even stronger than before, and it just made her want to thrust her hips upwards because Spike still hadn’t—

He planted a kiss on her lower lips, and her nervous system kicked into overdrive.

She hissed as she felt Spike trailing several long, hungry kisses around the edges of her entrance, getting closer and closer, and her heart beat faster and faster once she realised it was finally happening. Spike was going to—Oh, sweet Celestia!

Spike’s tongue was teasing its way into her, just so very slightly, but that was enough to send her body into shock. While he explored the opening of her vagina, his mouth continued to work on her lips, which had become much wetter thanks to a mix of her own fluids and Spike’s saliva.

Each little kiss, nibble and pull fueled the fire in her chest and in her loins. She couldn’t help but spread her legs a bit more as Spike continued his makeout session with her genitals. His movements lacked the precision and finesse her imagination had attributed to him only a few days prior, but having him, Spike himself, in the flesh, with his snout pressed against her vagina more than made up for his inexperience. His earnest passion and energy certainly were helpful.

Suddenly, Spike’s tongue plunged deeper. It happened so quickly she was surprised by the sudden intrusion as well as the waves of pleasure it sent through her spine. It was… Hard to describe.

It had been a while, but she still remembered how a stallion’s tongue felt. Thick, heavy, and somewhat rough. At least, that’s how she remembered it. Spike was such a marked contrast, such a complete opposite of what she was used to, but somehow just better in every way her pleasure-addled mind could conceive.

“Haaaah…” she whispered into the heavy air of the room. Spike coiled his tongue before extending it once more, slithering through every ridge of her inner walls, hitting so many sensitive spots so quickly it drove her mad with both pleasure and frustration. Meanwhile, Spike’s lips kept exploring the outer edges of her vagina, kissing and pulling her in such a delightful way she couldn’t help but let out a soft moan.

He seemed to be getting into it more. He arched his back a bit, getting a bit closer to her and pressed his snout harder against her crotch, speeding up the pace of his kisses.

“F-fuck…” The profanity escaped her before she even realised she’d said it, but honestly, who cared? Fuck was right, Spike’s tongue was doing wonders. The way it managed to move quickly from one place to another was just—”Gah!”

Yeah, that was a good way of putting it.

She bit her lip as Spike moved his claws towards her lower lips and spread them a bit, exposing more of her sweltering insides and making it easier for him to eat her out. After a particularly passionate nibble on a sensitive spot, Starlight let out a sigh that reverberated through the entire room.

Perhaps encouraged by her reaction, Spike licked her insides with renewed fervour, lapping up every single drop of the juices that came from within her and yet she grew wetter and wetter with each passing second, which only seemed to entice him more and more.

He just kept going and going. If he ever made a pause, she never noticed. His mouth kept kissing and pulling and massaging her lips while his thin tongue fiercely explored every nook and cranny of her insides. Perhaps not skillfully enough, perhaps somewhat sloppily, but by Celestia it felt wonderful, and she didn’t want it to stop. Ever.

Spike licked that spot a few centimeters in which she was starting to rediscover just how much she loved, and a shock ran through her body as she felt her arousal build up, making her breathing devolve into a gasping, arhythmic pace, erratically interrupted by the shudders coursing through her body.

“Like… Like that,” she managed to say amidst the waves of pleasure battering her mind. “Keep going, Spike.”

Her words spurred him. He grabbed both of her thighs in his big, strong hands and lifted her up. He held her in place as his servicing grew fiercer, obviously getting more into the act the closer she got to her peak. He didn’t stop, didn’t relent in his oral service, pushing her closer and closer to her orgasm. His tongue slithered in and out of her while he deepened his kisses, as if her vagina was the tastiest delicacy he’d ever tasted, and that thought alone filled her with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

She felt herself getting short of breath and started panting, swallowing the air like no there’d be no tomorrow. Her hips gave a little shake when Spike licked that one spot again. In response, Spike squeezed tighter, his fingers sinking into her flesh and holding her in place. In a flash of clarity, she remembered she had hooves, so she was quick to grab his head and grind against his mouth, dead set on riding the last stretch towards her orgasm.

Looking down, she caught a glimpse of his eyes, and the raging fire in them. She’d never seen him like that, and part of her worried about what would happen if he were to accidentally blow some fire right then and then. It was magical fire, yes, but fire is still fire, and—Oh, that’s gooooood~!

Spike had wrapped his lips around her clitoris. She hadn’t realised when she had started winking, but he had obviously noticed and didn’t let the opportunity pass him by. The part of her mind that wasn’t being dragged into a maelstrom of pleasure wanted to commend him for not stopping his tongue while carefully but passionately sucking on her clit.

The rest of her mind was busy melting in delight.

Spike’s tongue moved faster, in and out of her, rubbing against her clit every time it moved. He touched every right spot, every sensitive point inside of her, clouding her mind as the pleasure grew and kept growing with every single movement of his. She couldn’t understand how he managed to suck her clit and fuck her with his tongue at the same time, but she didn’t care. She didn’t care about anything that wasn’t the divine sensation that Spike was making her feel.

Her breath came in bouts of heavy panting and she started to lose focus on reality, her thoughts melting and mixing into an indiscernible mess that prevented her from focusing on anything that wasn’t her drakefriend eating her out. The waves of pleasure washing over her morphed into a relentless torrent as she let out a series of broken gasps and moans. She was so close, so close to getting some release, and all thanks to Spike, that beautiful, handsome, and hot dragon that loved her so much and was going to—

“Guh… Ah… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Her passionate moans turned into a long scream. Her thighs closed instinctively around Spike’s head, her whole body tensing as an orgasm rocked her whole body, from the tip of her horn to the frog of her hooves, making her tremble as her hips ground against Spike’s snout. For his part, he didn’t let up, he kept kissing and nibbling and licking her, making sure her orgasm lasted for as long as he possibly could.

She threw her head back, heatedly rubbing against the mattress as her orgasm rocked her whole body. The pillows fell to the ground, but she couldn’t care less, Celestia could come down and offer her to become an alicorn and she’d only pull Spike’s head closer to her because oh, my stars, this is the best feeling ever!

Another jolt of pleasure rocked her body and she bit her lip as she tried to ride that last shot of bliss, but soon it started to subside. Her body still gave a jerk or two as the last bits of her climax ran its course, but soon her body relaxed and sank back into the bed. She wondered if she had accidentally casted a cloud-walking spell, because she felt as if she were floating.

Was that what the cloud-walking spell did?

Who cares? Spike just gave you one of the best orgasms you’ve had in months!

She would’ve smiled if her face weren’t already contorted into a goofy, satisfied grin.

“I’m going to guess,” Spike said as he rose up, “I did a good job.”

He was smiling, but even amidst the post-orgasmic haze, Starlight could sense the edge in his tone, the search for reassurance, of knowing he did a good job. He was the best.

Rather than waste time with words, she grabbed him by the neck and pulled him towards her, his startled face being the last thing she saw before she closed her eyes and locked lips with him. On some level, she supposed it was odd to be tasting her own vaginal fluids, but if Spike didn’t complain when she kissed him after sucking him off, she had no reason to complain, especially after such a great orgasm.

Spike worked his jaw, putting a lot of energy into the kiss. It seemed that their small ordeal hadn’t done anything towards lessening his energy. If anything, he was more animated than before, as if their first session had only served to fuel the fire of his desire… Just like it had done for her.

Still she needed a while to get back to speed, and she was more than happy to take a few minutes making out.

Content with this decision, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. His lips were slick with saliva and several other fluids, thought that only made it easier for her to kiss, lick, and bite his mouth and tongue. Besides, there was no point in pretending, this make out session was as sloppy and messy as it could possibly be, and she loved it.

Honestly, she loved everything about this. It all seemed so perfect.

Spike’s lips spread hers and his tongue slithered his way in, dancing with hers as they drowned in their shared love and passion. After a moment that stretched eternally yet went by too fast, they broke the kiss. Starlight didn’t let go of his neck, she didn’t want him to get too far away from her. He was so close she could see her happy expression reflected in his eyes.

“I love you, Spike,” she whispered.

“I love you, too, Starlight,” he replied, and gave her a soft peck on the lips.

Once their lips separated, Starlight stared into his eyes once more, and knew she didn’t have to say anything else. She knew everything was okay. Smiling once more, she brought him closer and crossed necks with him. His body pressed against hers, but he was still resting on his arms, probably to make sure he wouldn’t crush her.

How considerate…

With all the strength she had left, Starlight rolled to her side and moved Spike with her. He let out a cute yelp of surprise, but soon shifted around until he was comfortable. Once he had settled, he wrapped her with his arms and pulled her even closer. They remained quiet, letting the wild beating of their hearts fill the silence.

“You were great just now. And you say you don’t have any experience? You could’ve fooled me,” she whispered eventually, and delighted at how his chuckles made his vocal cords vibrate against her ears. That felt nice in an odd way.

“I’m glad you liked it…”

“Loved it~!” she corrected him.

“Heh… even better, right?” He then lifted one claw and started scratching the back of her head. She wasn’t sure why he’d started doing that, but she liked it.

“Definitely,” she purred. “How did you learn to do all those things with your tongue?”

Spike let out a snicker, his shoulders shaking in amusement. “Promise not to laugh?”

“No.”

“That’s fair, I suppose.” Spike sighed and without a pause, he continued, “I practiced by cleaning peanut butter jars with my tongue.”

“Pffft… What?”

He shrugged. “You’ve seen the ridges it has, the knives can’t quite reach that part.”

“And how does that lead to using it as practice for cunnilingus?”

“Well… I have a very active imagination,” he replied, somewhat sheepishly, despite having just bared the extent of his prowess to her mere minutes ago. “Plus, when I was going through my growth spurt, my brain was pickling in hormones for that whole process, so it was hard not to think sexually of just about everything.”

She couldn’t hold back after hearing that. She let the laughter escape her, filling the room. Perhaps it wasn’t the most sensible thing to do at the moment, but she really felt like laughing. “I can’t wait to hear what fantasies you had while cleaning the castle.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’re ready for something that extreme just yet,” he said in a mocking tone.

“Aw… thanks for caring about preserving my innocence, Spike, but that ship sailed long ago,” she replied, and almost immediately felt a chill through her spine.

“Star?”

Now that her lust had been somewhat satiated, she thought back to the issue she wanted to talk about with Spike and that she should have brought up before she let her repressed horniness took control.

“Are you alright?” he asked, relaxing his grip on her and leaning back so he could look at her.

“Spike…”

“Yes?”

There was no point in dancing around the issue. She had put it off long enough. “I… I’m…” She took a deep breath and looked up at him, his expectant but patient look filled her with resolve. She could do this. He would understand.

“I want us to make love, I… I really want to have sex with you… I just thought you should know that I’m… I’m not a virgin.”

She forced herself to maintain eye contact. Spike had been understanding and even sympathetic about her insecurities and reservations before, so she hoped he would continue to be. Not just because she didn’t think she could go another day without getting laid, but because she didn’t want her relationship with Spike to be tainted by anything. If that was a problem, they’d work things out. She believed they could.

Spike blinked a couple of times, frowning as if deep in thought.

“Well, you’re older than me. I, uh, I imagine you would have more experience than me,” he said, trying to sound… Starlight didn’t know how, but he was obviously faking it.

“Spike… I’m glad I get to be your first, but it’s not my first time. I understand if you—” she stopped talking once she felt Spike’s claw on her lips.

“I’m going to stop you right there,” he said, sounding firm, though his expression remained warm and welcoming, reassuring as only he was. “Starlight, I want to have sex with you, too. I don’t care if you’re not a virgin, I care about sharing this moment with you because… Because I wasn’t lying when I said I loved you.”

How did he have such a way with words? She could spend days stewing in an unholy concoction of doubt and insecurities, but he’d find the right words to say and it’d all matter a little bit less.

“If your past bothers you, we can talk things out and find a way to make you feel better about it all, but… I’m more interested in having a future with you.”

Starlight cracked a smile. She definitely wasn’t crying, she was a big girl who didn’t get emotional over the most romantic, heartfelt thing anyone had ever said to her in her entire life.

Spike leaned and planted a loving kiss on her muzzle. “And… I wish we could focus on the present because… I really want to have sex with you, too.” As if to reinforce his point, his dicks poked her belly. “And, hey, if they don’t care, I don’t see why we should.”

Once more, she laughed, letting the last bits of stress and apprehension escape her. Spike was right. Again. They were two fools desperately eager to fuck each other. What else should matter?

She bit her lip as she looked at them. Eager once more, hard once more, big once more. She didn’t know if she could hold back for much longer. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep.

“W-well… shall we start?”

Chapter 14

View Online

Their lips locked, and the rest of the world stopped existing. Starlight let out a soft moan as their mouths moved, following the same rhythm, dancing a silent piece. Through half-lidded eyes, she looked at Spike’s flushed face. His eyes were closed, perhaps completely lost in the daze of their kiss. His crimson cheeks somehow made him look both adorable and handsome at the same time.

His thin tongue wrapped around hers, the taste of each other’s fluids mixing into a rousing poison that made the already blazing fire of her lust grow into a roaring inferno of libido.

Moving her hips, she pressed Spike’s cocks between their bodies, bringing a pleasured groan out of him, though it did have the unfortunate side effect of breaking the kiss. Undeterred, Starlight started kissing the rest of his face while he kept on moaning. His cheek, his jaw, his neck, pouring as much love as she could into her lips without slowing down the steady rhythm of her hips. For his part, Spike started moving his hips as well, slowly grinding against her and making the base of his cocks rub against the very edge of her clitoris.

It was now her turn to let out a low hum of delight as a small jolt of pleasure coursed through her body, further fueling her desire.

“I…” she let out. At first, Spike didn’t seem to have acknowledged her, but soon realised she had indeed spoken. He stopped moving, but didn’t stop pressing against her. He really was as eager as she was… better make it quick. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Especially since I learned about our two friends down there.”

The corners of Spike’s mouth twitched upward. “R-really?”

It seemed he had more to say, but Starlight lit up her horn and gently rubbed the length of his dicks with her magic and any words died in his throat.

“Really. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. More so than usual, I mean,” she whispered, doing her best to sound calm and not let the beast of barely contained lust turn her voice into a shuddering mess. Her eyes went back and forth between his eyes and his cocks. “About these… just thinking how they’d look… how they’d feel… and taste…” she didn’t stop her stroking, making sure to go fast enough to get Spike worked up, but not so much to actually make him climax again. “And also about how to use them.”

“What… what do you mean, Star?” he croaked out, biting his lip, probably trying to focus on what she was saying.

She strengthened her grip and looked him straight in the eyes. “I mean that I want your cock to shoot its load deep inside me, and the taste I just got made me want it even more.”

The look on Spike’s face was priceless, but she was not done.

“And I really, really can’t wait to get it, but…” She gave his dicks a gentle squeeze for emphasis. “You have these two beautiful cocks and poor old me has just one vagina, so I was thinking really hard about what to do. You’ll have to thank Trixie for that one. Or blame her, I’m still not sure,” Starlight said. She took a deep breath to calm down enough for what she had to say.

“S-starlight?”

“Oh, you know what I mean, Spike. You have two penes, you must have thought about using them both with a mare at some point.”

“W-well… at some point, yeah.”

“At some point, huh?” she asked, her voice soft. “You know, I had actually never thought of it, and now part of me can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Y-you mean…” he stammered, whether in disbelief or excitement, she didn’t know.

“I mean… that I’d like to try”—she made an unsubtle eyeroll—”putting it in my ass.”

His eyes went wide as saucers and his whole face glowed with an intensified blush. Who would’ve known he still had enough blood in the rest of his body to blush like that.

“That being said… that’s not the kind of thing you can do out of the blue. It takes time and preparation that I’ve sadly not had since yesterday.” She looked up at him and gave him a sincere smile. “Plus, I’ve never done that before, and I’d rather not have the memory our first time be muddled with half baked attempts at anal. You can always get me stuffed with your cocks in the future.”

Spike let out a soft chuckle, cut short by Starlight’s continuing work on his dicks.

“I’m sorry I bring it up just to put it off… I just thought I had to bring it up since it would come up anyway.”

Starlight had barely stopped talking when Spike shook his head furiously. “Don’t be! Starlight, I’m about to have sex with the mare I love, you could kick me in the stomach and into a volcano and I’d still thank you.” He blinked. “I may still thank you once we’re done. Just a heads up.”

She couldn’t help but laugh a bit at that, but the earnestness in his voice added fuel to the comfortable warmth in her chest. “I love you, too, Spike.” She then looked down at his twitching twin dicks. “And don’t worry. I’m pretty sure I can take care of both of our friends and make sure both of us are satisfied.”

Speaking of satisfaction, she reached the limit of how long she could put off her own. She quickly thought of the best position to get them started. She could turn around and present herself to him, shoot him a sultry look, and maybe even a wink—both kinds!—Starlight was sure he’d appreciate the view. On the other hoof, fuck that. Enough was enough, she was not going to go another minute without Spike’s cock inside of her.

Twisting her hips, she spread her legs as much as she could and even used her magic to spread her desperately burning lips. Spike’s eyes flickered down and she heard him gulp at the sight of her presenting herself to him and falling short of begging him to fuck her.

Well, it’s not like pride is an issue here…

Putting her best innocent look—which considering how she felt like a barely held together pony-shaped pile of horniness, was quite the achievement—she smiled up at him and spoke with a breathy voice. “Come on, Spike… I don’t think I can wait any more…”

Spike looked at her in stunned silence before his eyes slowly trailed downwards, his breathing turning heavier the lower his eyes looked. Starlight couldn’t help but feel a surge of amusement at the way his eyes widened when he focused on the way she was presenting herself to him. She had to wonder how it must feel… to be so close to losing his virginity to someone who loved him so much, and who he loved back.

Well, if it was anything like what she was feeling, then it was astonishing he still hadn’t put it in her. Finally, Spike shifted in bed, leaning on one side and letting his right arm grab one of his cocks and guide it towards her entrance.

She felt her heartbeat get faster the closer Spike’s glistening dick got to her nethers. At that moment, she became immensely aware of everything surrounding her. The bedsheets resting between her body and the mattress, the air around them growing hotter by the second, the way she no longer could breathe properly and had to pant to get air in her lungs because her body seemed to be growing desperate the longer Spike took.

Her resolve was about to break down and force her to scream at Spike and urge him to fuck her now, when she felt the tip of his dick pressing against her lips. Any words of encouragement or admonishment died in her throat and only a meek moan escaped her.

“A-are you okay?” Spike asked.

At that, Starlight couldn’t help but smile. Even though she was sure neither of them wanted to wait another second, Spike still found it in him to make sure she was alright.

“I will be soon,” she replied. Trying to put on a smile, which must have looked weird considering how taut her facial muscles felt.

Whatever the result of her “smile” was, it seemed to appease Spike, who once more pressed the tip of his dick against her. It rubbed against her sensitive clitoris, sending jolts of electricity through her body. Pleasurable, yes, but she needed to be filled, and she needed it now.

Thankfully, Spike’s cock slid between her lips, and pressed against her entrance. Starlight’s breathing devolved into an anxious, primal heaving sound as she felt herself getting slightly stretched, though the feeling only increased the further inside he went. His dick felt much hotter than in her mouth, though she couldn’t even begin to imagine why. Not like she cared, Spike was fucking her!

A glance downwards told her that only the very tip was inside her, and her mind danced between amazement and excitement. She laid her head on the bed and looked into Spike’s eyes and smiled. He looked as lost in the sensation as she was. Probably even more.

As much as she wanted to thrust her hips and take in more of his cock, she wanted Spike to take the lead. Spike moaned a bit as he kept making small thrusts, getting deeper into her.

For her part, Starlight felt her nethers opening wide to receive his cock, squeezing every single bit entering her. She let out a soft mewling sound that morphed into a satisfied sigh the deeper he got.

Fuck, I missed this…

She squeezed down, smothering his dick and making him moan in pleasure. This didn’t stop him. If anything, it spurred him into speeding up, thrusting more of his dick into her and spreading her even—

“Eeep!”

Spike was pulled from his daze by her small yelp. He blinked a few times as worry mixed with desire in his eyes.

“Starlight!” he cried. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes I am. I just… whew… I need a second.” She averted her gaze as she took a deep breath. It had been quite a while since she’d last had sex, and getting back on the rhythm of it was taking her a bit longer than she expected.

Speaking of length, she had just taken a third of his cock, and she still had to experience all those delicious ridges and bumps, and oh, how she wanted to feel those…

She looked up into Spike’s expectant eyes and smiled. “I’m alright, just go slowly, okay?”

Spike chuckled. “Heh… I’ll certainly try.” His voice sounded strained, probably due to the self-control he was exerting. Good on him, Starlight would’ve gone all the way in at once with how pent up she was.

Perhaps it was for the best she didn’t have a penis.

Letting out the air she didn’t realise she’d been holding in, she nodded and gave him an encouraging smile. “Keep going, big guy.”

She saw the spark of eagerness in his eyes. His lips trembled before settling on a wide smile. He closed his eyes, inhaled, and slowly started pushing more of his dick into her.

Starlight felt how she opened more and more, taking more of his beautiful dick bit by bit, getting spread more and more, every centimetre of his dick sending waves of pleasure through her body like jolts of electricity. It was just like Trixie had said, she hardly had time to get used to his cock’s girth before he pushed in deeper and she got to taste an even thicker part of him.

And now she was thinking of Trixie in the room with them, cheering them on and offering commentary to a nonexisting audience. Damn it, Trix—

She let out a breathy moan as she felt the bumps on the base of Spike’s dick making their way into her vagina. Each little protrusion and odd edge felt as if they were giving her entrance a massage. This… this was definitely new.

“Haaaaaaaaa…” she said, closing her eyes and basking in the sensory overload Spike’s dick had caused.

Spike, too, seemed to be taking a moment to bask in these new feelings. His head was raised high, as if looking straight at the ceiling even though his eyes were closed. The way his lower jaw trembled a bit made him look so adorable, Starlight would’ve probably made a D’awww… sound at the sight, but at the moment she was too preoccupied making other kinds of sounds.

The room was filled with the melody of their intertwined moaning as Spike hilted. The bumps near the base gave her one last stretch that made her let out a surprised yelp that quickly devolved into an ecstatic cry.

Spike’s grip on her hips grew stronger, not so much to cause any discomfort—though Starlight was sure she could get spanked and barely register the pain, but oh, Goddess, she kind of wished he’d do exactly that at some point tonight—but enough to feel herself being firmly held against him and pressing her harder against his cock. It felt good.

Much to her distaste, Spike’s hands left her hips. He started trailing her waist and flanks, rubbing her body with a hungry, strong, and caring touch that made her want to be touched, caressed, and hugged more.

Spike leaned over her, pressing one of his hands against the mattress. In doing so, his other cock rubbed against her clit. Starlight drew a sharp hiss at that, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Spike.

Bless his heart, he was probably going to stop and ask if she was alright, but she was having none of that.

Forgoing her magic, Starlight grabbed Spike by the neck and pulled him towards her, planting a hungry kiss on him the second his mouth was close to hers. This had the unfortunate side effect of making him lose his balance and fall on top of her. On one hoof it was slightly painful to have the big hunk that was Spike suddenly trap her against the bed, but on the other, Spike had completely hilted inside of her while his other cock rubbed her clit as it nestled between her teats.

Bliss~!

Spike tried to pull back, but Starlight just tightened her grip on his neck. She was feeling so deliciously full and she was not going to let anyone stop her from enjoying it. She parted her lips, doing her best not to break the kiss. She ventured a lick to his lips as she tried adjusting her hips underneath her drakefriend and his delicious dicks.

“Don’t worry, Spike, I’m fine. Celestia, I’m better than I’ve ever been,” she whispered. “Just give me a second, okay?”

Spike let out a long huff. His half-lidded eyes were lost in a daze of pleasure, but he still managed to look straight at her and give her a nod and a quick peck on the lips. “Yeah… I could use a second or two.”

Starlight inhaled, filling her lungs with air as she tried to get used to the feeling of parts of her stretching that hadn’t stretched in a long time. She smirked. “How does it feel, Spike? Losing your virginity?”

He didn’t give her time to say anything else. As soon as those words left Starlight’s mouth, he started spilling his heart. “It feels amazing, Starlight! It’s the best feeling ever! You’re so warm and wet and tight that it’s making me lose my mind!” One of Spike’s hands snuck between her and the mattress and wrapped around her waist, bringing her closer in a tight, loving embrace that made her squirm around his dick. “I love you. I love you so much, Starlight.”

“I love you, too, Spike,” she replied, her voice low and tender, but carrying all the overflowing feelings from her heart. “Now, please…” Her eyes glazed as lust took over her mind, shutting down anything that wasn’t essential to their act. Her voice sounded off, even to her ears. She probably had a stupid looking grin, not to mention all the tears, drool, and other fluids that would be making a mess of her face. She knew because that’s exactly how Spike looked. “Fuck me.”

The longing in her voice must have been apparent enough for Spike to notice. Plus, he was probably eager to get going as well.

Holding her firmly by the lower back with his right hand, he slowly shifted in place, raising his left arm and resting it above above Starlight’s head. He pulled her closer to him, pushing as deep as his cock could get. He stared into her eyes, and she stared back. They didn’t have to say anything, their bodies did all the talking.

Spike closed his eyes and leaned forward for a kiss. Starlight quickly did the same. Not a second had passed since their lips made contact before Spike pulled out. Though their locked lips muffled their moans, they still boomed in the empty room.

As they came out, the nubs and bumps in Spike’s cocks massaged her entrance in a way it made her feel her mind was losing its grip on reality. Each little protrusion gave her a little stretch as it came out, only for another one to start pushing its way out as soon as the other did, pressing and caressing against her most sensitive spots in such an absolutely delicious manner while his other shaft gave gentle rubs to her already sensitive clit that made her want more, more, more, more!

Spike kept pulling until his dick was almost out, and wasted no time before plunging back in. He still moved somewhat slow, likely out of consideration towards her, but he clearly wanted to feel himself buried deep in her insides, seeing how his eyes flickered and his jaw trembled once he bottomed.

In spite of her own pleasure-addled brain, Starlight tried to put on a sultry smile. “Feeling… good, Spike?”

“Great. This is the best. You’re the best Starlight,” he muttered, his voice low, throaty, masculine, and so damn enticing. His response was simple, primal, and spoken straight from the heart. Celestia, she loved this dragon so much.

She pulled him in for another kiss, twisting her hips so the texture of his cock would reach every bit of her inner walls, because there was no way she wasn’t going to let every part of her vagina experience the glory that was Spike’s dick. The last of the bumps scraped alongside that spot she found she really, really liked and made her let out a long, deep moan.

“You feel delicious…” she managed to say before she went deeper into the kiss, pushing her tongue into his mouth.

A saner mind, one that wasn’t currently drenched in bucket loads of hormones, would’ve been worried about hurting her tongue with his teeth. However, the only thing that mattered to Starlight at the moment was finding more ways for each of them to enjoy each other’s bodies. Pulling back her tongue, she bit on Spike’s lower lip as he thrusted into her once more. Moans escaped her as the bumps on Spike’s dick pushed and poked at her insides, driving her further into bliss.

Spike bottomed out again, trapping her winking clit between the base of his cock. Her hum of delight turned into a surprised cooing sound when he pushed even deeper.

”Goodness, Spike. Just how deep do you want to get?”

”Yes,” he replied, in such a matter-of-fact way that it made both of them laugh.

Her laughter soon turned into a satisfied sigh as Spike started grinding against her. Those beautiful, delicious nubs on his dick scraped her insides, targeting every single nerve ending in her vagina and sending jolts of pleasure coursing through her body, increasing her arousal, building it up, and pushing her closer and closer to her climax.

She looked up to see Spike biting his lip between thrusts, and although she had to wade through the haze of pleasure permeating her mind, she could see the look of pure delight on his face as he moved in and out of her. She couldn’t imagine how he must’ve felt, but if it was even just a fraction of how she felt, it was a testament to his self-control that he hadn’t climaxed yet. It was a small miracle she hadn’t. It wasn’t as if she was quick to orgasm, but the barrage of stimuli Spike generated seemed really eager to test that belief.

Once more she threw her head back and pressed it against the mattress, rubbing against it. Her mane would be a mess, but who cared. Spike let out a moan, and she was close to doing the same. Starlight could feel the heat coming from his body with how close to each other they were, and also the heat coming from within her. His cock felt so warm, making her feel empty and cold every time he pulled out. Why had she waited so long for this?

While she was busy getting wrapped up in her thoughts and the bliss Spike was giving her, he pulled back until just the tip of his cock was spreading her, and quickly slammed back inside a bit faster than she expected.

“Oooooooooooh…”

Getting out of his daze by her sudden cry, Spike’s expression turned into one of remorse and horror. “Ah! Starlight, are you okay?”

“Yes… yes I am,” she replied, a little out of breath, “you just took me by surprise there.”

Spike bit his lip as he remained still. “I’m sorry, Star… it’s just that you feel so good… it’s hard to hold back.”

The delightful smirk came naturally to Starlight. “Oh? Is that so? Do you like how good my pussy feels?” To remark that statement, she squeezed her inner walls around his cock.

Spike groaned and she could’ve sworn she felt his cocks twitch. Suddenly, the hand holding her lower back went even lower, his open palm roaming over her left buttcheek before he gave it a firm and hungry squeeze.

“Yes.”

Starlight laughed, though her voice quickly devolved into a raspy sigh as Spike moved a bit, pulling out only a few centimetres before pushing back in.

“Is it okay for me to move a bit more?” he asked, sounding both concerned and yet still very much eager to continue.

Caring to a fault, aren’t you?

Smiling, Starlight wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him closer to her. “Yeah, just don’t go too fast yet and I’ll be okay.” And after that, she kissed him once more.

On cue, Spike returned the kiss. His hand also left her butt, but before she could voice her disappointment, he held her by the waist, his firm grip making his fingers sink into her flesh. Exhilarating…

Slowly, Spike started going in and out, never pulling out too much. It was as if he missed the feeling of being deep in her just as much as she liked the feeling of being filled by him. Soon, his movements sped up. They were unrefined, barely a steady rhythm to them, flowing instead with the unbridled passion and enthusiasm inexperience gave.

Perhaps she could give him a little help.

With a slight movement of her hips, she tried to follow his pace. She made sure to keep an eye on him, gauging his reactions to know how to move and give him as much pleasure as possible. It was the least she could do since just having him inside her was making her feel things she’d never quite felt before.

“Aaah… Aaaaaaah!”

Case in point.

Starlight blinked a couple of times until her mind finished processing that jolt of pleasure. Spike looked at her confused for a second before he realised that she hadn’t cried out in pain, but rather in pleasure. He tried to repeat his last movement, hitting just a bit off to the side, though not close enough to elicit the same response.

“T-to the left…” she whispered into his ear, and moved a bit to the side, hoping to facilitate his job.

Spike smiled, nodded, and aimed again.

This time it was a hit.

Starlight’s moan was louder this time, deep and long. She supposed there were parallels that could be drawn between her moaning and Spike’s cock, but she was too busy melting in pleasure. Each thrust that hit all the right spots pushed her closer and closer to the edge. Sure, he lacked finesse and control, but there was too much to love about the way they were going that she couldn’t care less about anything other than her dragon.

Starlight closed her eyes and buried her face in Spike’s neck, holding him tight as his thrusting grew stronger. Her hooves played with the spines on his back, as if subconsciously trying to get ahold of the real world, looking for an anchor to keep her mind from getting caught up in the whirlwind of ecstasy ravaging her reality.

“Yes, Spike… like that,” she whispered. Her voice sounding hungry and desperate even to herself. “Fuck me like that.”

Something in either her words, her tone, the way she held onto him, or how hard she was squeezing his cock must have enticed him even further, for he sped up, arching his back a bit as he pulled out before he dove back in with much more strength.

“Mnnnnf… yes, like that, Spike. Ah! Just like that.” Starlight don’t know if she was whispering or yelling, but it didn’t matter. She knew Spike was listening.

“Y-you…” he started, his ragged and tired voice making him sound even hotter to her ears. “You like that?”

In a calmer state of mind, Starlight probably could have offered a detailed explanation, but under her current circumstances, there was little she could’ve said beyond screaming “Yes!” several times. Still, if Spike needed some words of approval and encouragement, then she would be more than happy to comply.

“I love it. I love it, Spike. Don’t stop,” she muttered. Starlight pressed her face against Spike’s neck, rubbing against his scales, taking in the exhilarating scent and heat coming from his body. “Fuck me, Spike… fuck me!”

Spike gracefully took the encouragement and returned the sentiment by thrusting harder and faster. Starlight’s body must have already grown used to his cock, for all she felt was pure, raw, unabashed pleasure. Her dragon kept pushing her body into the bed, making their bodies sink into the mattress. She tried moving her hips, but his body was pressing down on her too much for her to really move.

With one particularly powerful thrust, Spike sank his cock all the way to the base into her, pushing a high pitched squeal out of her. His thrusting never slowed down, but he used his free hand to hold her head. He didn’t do much more than that, but she imagined he couldn’t have done much else, considering how focused he was on fucking her.

Celestia, he’s the best.

Suddenly, Spike spread his wings and draped them over the bed, covering them. Judging from his closed eyes and entranced expression, it probably hadn’t been a conscious movement. She looked at him, a bead of sweat coming from his brow and smoke puffing out of his nostrils, and couldn’t help but smirk. No wonder it felt so hot.

A gasp escaped her when Spike bottomed once more and his other cock, currently nestled between her teats, grazed her clit once more. Her mind was starting to get lost in the haze of pleasure, so she decided to just enjoy it. Closing her eyes, she nuzzled Spike’s neck as she basked in the ecstasy. In her drowsy state, besieged by the waves of pleasure, Starlight could only think of Spike and all that had led to this moment. Their date earlier that day, this whole wonderful week they’d spent as a couple, the last five years where their feelings for each other, all leading up to them together. As a couple. And this moment.

She shuddered as Spike once more rubbed against that spot she liked so much. In her cock-drunk state, she barely noticed when she bit his neck. Spike grunted and she realised what she had done. However, she didn’t let go just yet.

After a few seconds of silence, Spike shifted a bit and whispered into her ear with a deep, raspy voice, “Don’t you stop, either…” and didn’t waste a second before he started thrusting again, making her bite him harder.

The air grew hotter by the second, so hot she felt it was the middle of a summer night rather than early into autumn. Still… it was comfortable. It never crossed the line into overbearing and remained within lovely warm levels.

The same could not be said about his cock. It was sweltering inside her, as if her lower body had turned into a sauna. Far from being painful, though, it felt amazing! The heat kept growing with each thrust, driving her crazier with each movement, making her resistance crumble and threatening to push her into the maelstrom of pleasure about to overtake her.

“Mmmf… ugh…” Spike started muttering. “Starlight…”

She smiled when she heard her name. She turned her face enough to kiss him on the cheek. Another deep thrust and she had to break the kiss as a long moan escaped her. Instinctively, she gave his neck a small lick, urging him to keep going. Even though it didn’t seem possible, Spike started going faster. He pulled back in a flash and just as quickly went back in. Her vagina had already gotten used to his girth, and hungrily held onto it every time he pulled out and eagerly welcomed it whenever it returned. She wrapped her hindlegs around Spike’s waist, bringing her closer to his cock and making sure the base of his second cock kept constantly rubbing against her clitoris.

Suddenly, Spike let out a roar, far deeper and primal than Starlight had ever heard him roar. It made her whole body shiver, and perhaps in a mix of fear and arousal, made the inside of her vagina clamp around his cock. Tight as she now was, every thrust managed to hit every possible sensitive spot in her, filling her as much as possible, spreading her lips as much as they could, keeping her clit in a constantly stimulated state, and bathing her in such a delicious warmth that she never wanted to stop feeling.

Spike was now going as fast as he possibly could. His cock had barely left her insides before he pumped back in, leaving her with not a single second to keep her composure. She hugged him even tighter, rubbing her head against his neck and letting the waves of pleasure crash on her and wash over her. At that moment, both her body and mind were filled with Spike. As her drakefriend kept fucking her with all the strength he had, the small part of her that was still capable of conscious thought, thought of him. Of just how Celestia damned perfect he was. He’d always been so wonderful. So caring, and understanding, and supportive, and—

Starlight’s head whipped back as she let out a high pitched squeal that was soon drowned by his roar. All thoughts were driven from her mind as she felt her whole body coiling around Spike when her climax finally hit.

“Guh…!” Her moaning turned guttural as her body was wracked with her orgasm. She could feel her legs up in the air quivering as she received the whole of his dick inside of her. Shaking as the waves of pleasure ran through her body. She felt him pull, but couldn’t. He tried, but her grip on his cock was too tight. That must’ve been too much for Spike as well.

“S-starlight, I’m—!”

His grip on her body grew stronger, holding her firmly in place as another roar filled the room and he came inside her. As the first spurts of his seed made contact, Starlight could’ve sworn she’d come again.

It was all so hot. His sperm was hot, her insides were hot, his cock was hot, he was so hot, and she felt hot herself just because she got to fuck the hottest dragon in Equestria.

Her muscles tensed as she reached her peak. She buried her face in his chest, her arms and legs wrapping him in a tight hug that didn’t let him move as freely as before. Undeterred, he started grinding his hips against her, his cocks rubbing her insides and squeezing her clitoris and sending her over the edge.

“Spike!” she yelled, her tone wavering, and soon both of their voices mixed into one single cacophonous cry of pleasure. All at once, she arched her back as her contracted body released all energy. She felt Spike roar and his dicks twitch as he released his sperm in her. At the same time, her vaginal walls contracted as a torrent of juices poured out of her on Spike and her bed. Her mind clouded and felt an overwhelming wave of pleasure wash over her, getting rid of all that was wrong in the world, leaving just them.

After however long their orgasms lasted, she felt herself returning to reality. She was back in her dark room, with the moonlight coming through the window, her handsome drakefriend over—and still inside—her, his beautiful shimmering eyes, and the burning heat in her, born out of the searing dragon seed inside her and the love overflowing from her heart.

They stared into each other’s eyes, entire poems being silently exchanged. Then, after a few more seconds, Starlight closed her eyes and pursed her lips, and not long passed before Spike kissed her. If their earlier tryst had been a tidal wave sweeping everything in its path, this kiss was akin to the calm ripples of a pond hitting the edge of the water. Calming, refreshing, soothing.

Their lips danced with each other, the sound of their satisfied groans and moans serving as the background music. At some point, Spike’s grip on her had softened, and now he was gently caressing the back of her head while still holding her by the waist, keeping her close to him.

And, she realised, still inside of her.

She didn't want him to pull out, and not just because she was a bit sensitive. It felt… comfortable. Although, as comfortable as it felt, she knew the night was far from over. Peeking down, she saw Spike’s other cock, still nestled between their bodies, still hard, still eager. Starlight couldn’t fight back a smirk.

Laying back on the mattress, she fluttered her eyelashes at him. She hoped she’d managed to calm down enough to pull that off, otherwise she’d probably look like she was having a stroke. Nevertheless, it seemed to have the desired effect on Spike.

“Star?”

“Hey, Spike…” she trailed off, slowly dragging her hoof over the spines on the back of his neck. “Are you ready for round two? Because I think we still have to deal with another cock.”

He may have still been a bit dazed after their ordeal, but there was no doubt he was a hundred percent alert after hearing her.

“I… are you sure?”

She let out a little laugh. “Spike… I appreciate you worrying so much to make sure I’m comfortable.” She leaned forward and whispered into his ear, “But if a mare tells you to fuck her, you fuck her.”

Under different circumstances, Starlight would’ve appreciated the way Spike’s face lit up. The still-unquenched fire in her loins, though, prevented her from doing that.

With both her magic and her free hoof, she caressed the cock snuggling between them. As much as she wanted to put it in her and keep going, she wanted to make sure she wasn’t pressuring Spike. She felt his dick give a little twitch at her touch, but she still waited for him to say something.

The quick bout of nervousness passed over Spike and soon the eagerness returned. “Well… how could I turn down such a tempting offer?” He let out a long sigh as his features softened. “I want to keep fucking you, Starlight.”

Starlight’s smile widened to the point her cheeks started to protest. Time for round two, then!

It wouldn’t be fair to make him do all the work this time, though.

With somewhat trembling moves, Starlight turned around, pushing Spike’s chest with a hoof, rolling her body over his. He seemed caught off guard, but soon got the hint and went along with her motions. With the aid of her magic, she managed to make him lay on his back. His cock made a moist, sloppy sound as it popped out of her, and the way his texture gave her entrance a small massage as he slipped out made her shudder. She was rather sensitive after their first bout, but she trusted she could keep it up. She’d just have to be more careful to not overexert herself.

Those were thoughts for later, though. Now there was sex to be had! She’d have to go slowly, but that was perfectly fine by her. Raising her leg over him, she straddled his stomach and watched with delight how his lips stretched into a knowing smile.

“Heh… what are you doing, Star?”

The smirk returned to her face. “Do you trust me, Spike?”

Without missing a beat, he replied, “If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.”

“Good answer.”

She pressed her front hooves on his chest, taking the chance to feel his hard pecs, and lifted her hips. Spike’s eyes traced every movement she made, following every curve of her waist, hips, and legs as she carefully aligned his fresh cock with her entrance.

She shuddered as his tip teased her lips, and gave a small gasp as his other tip slid across her puckered anus. She bit her lip as she lamented how she hadn’t had the time to prepare herself either physically or mentally for… that.

She twisted her hips a bit and slowly lowered herself. The dick entering her gently spread her pussy while the other one slid safely between her buttcheeks. She kept going, her hips getting lower and lower, taking more of his cock bit by bit. She couldn’t help but shiver every time her already-sensitive lips were spread a little bit more by his thickening cock.

Spike let out a deep, manly growl, but Starlight barely noticed, enthralled as she was by the sensation of his dick going deeper into her. She… may have been wrong on her earlier assessment. His cocks were not so equal. As she passed the midway point and those heavenly bumps pushed and poked at her insides, she noticed this one was slightly thicker. She hadn’t noticed while going down on him, but this one was definitely the girthier of the two. Now she knew which one not to use when she finally tried anal.

Starlight paused her movements. Though her own fluids were dripping down Spike’s cock, bathing it in the fruits of her arousal and making it slick enough that she could probably take it all in one go, she ran the risk of climaxing right away if she did that. No, she wanted both of them to enjoy this, and knocking herself out before the first thrust didn’t seem the way to accomplish that.

“Ah… Starlight…” Spike said, taking her mind away from the exquisite cock currently filling her, even if just for a second.

“H-how… how are y-you liking it, Spike?” Her voice was trembling, though neither seemed to care much.

“Yes!” he cried out as he jerked his hips and buried the last third of his cock in her.

She gasped at the sudden but not unwelcome sensation of being so very full. Perhaps was the different position with her being on top, but she felt Spike’s cock pushing against every single sensitive place in her. Every last bump and ridge found a crevice inside of her to stimulate, making her vagina tighten around him, hungrily holding onto his cock.

Though she missed the way his other cock had been rubbing against her clitoris earlier, this way she could focus on feeling Spike coming in and out of her. She lifted her hips, getting only the base of his dick out before coming back down. She didn’t want to pull back too much, she felt so deliciously full she didn’t want to stop feeling that way, as if she’d been carrying a void in her for too long that only now was satiated.

She made sure to take her time pulling back so she could feel every detail of his cock rubbing against her insides. “So… good…”

The subdued chuckle Spike let out was not lost on her ears. Looking up, she saw her beautiful, handsome, and extremely aroused drakefriend staring back at her with a dazed expression.

“Glad you… like it…” he said with a throaty voice.

Starlight smiled. Just like Trixie had said, Spike didn’t seem all that used to receiving compliments. At least, not this kind.

“Oooh… I love it, Spike,” she replied, her voice turning into a drawl by the end. She reinforced that thought by thrusting her hips downwards, taking him in a single go.

“Heh… believe me, I love—Ah!”

The surprised cry cut off the rest of his words. Starlight had started grinding her hips against him, twisting them ever so slightly to make sure Spike felt how hard she was gripping his cock while also giving his other cock a gentle rub with her buttcheeks. Spike’s blush intensified, just as the smile on Starlight’s face did the same.

“Your cock feels so good, Spike.” She pressed her hooves on his chest giving her some support to increase the force with which she moved her hips. “Best I’ve—Ugh!—best I’ve had.”

Spike didn’t reply, but he didn’t have to. His expression said everything. What’s more, he started moving his hips a bit, trying to match her rhythm. Off to a good start.

“I love you Spike, I love you so much and I love how fucking hot you are,” she said, keeping eye contact while her hips bounced on him, sinking his cock into her depths before pulling back, sucking him as she did, as if she didn’t really want to let go. His thrusting sped up, getting faster as he grew more confident and she could certainly feel the difference. Each thrust hit her in just the right way, adding fuel to the blazing fire in her core. It felt amazing, but she wanted more… and she knew how to get it.

“Yes, just like that,” she said, tapping into her unquenched lust to imbue her voice with a seductive tone. “Fuck me, Spike. Fuck me until I pass out.”

At the rate they were going, it was possible he might end up doing just that, since her words seemed to have the desired effect. His claws shot towards her body, grabbing her thighs, squeezing her, his fingers sinking into her flesh. Starlight stared into his eyes, a flame of desire shining in them that told her she was about to get the fucking she craved.

Spike started thrusting upwards, barely pulling out before he went back in, stimulating her inner walls to the point of saturation. There was little she could do to avoid losing consciousness right there and there.

However, Starlight Glimmer wasn’t a quitter, and she was going to make sure Spike got to feel at least half as good as she felt at that moment.

Pressing her hooves against his hard chest, Starlight focused on the way his cock moved in and waited for him to stay in her for just long enough to—

“Ah!”

—give him a good squeeze.

Spike’s surprised yelp soon morphed into a quivering sigh the harder she held onto him. In turn, her smile grew wider with the pleasure derived from his thrusting and the way she was making him feel. The smile may have had an evil edge to it, but she didn’t let that bother her.

Almost fighting with his grip, Starlight twisted her hips, gyrating around his cock. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. His dick pressed all the right spots at the same time, overloading her brain with pleasure.

Spike let out a satisfied coo after she squeezed him extra hard. His grip on her thighs becoming so strong she couldn’t raise her hips anymore. Undeterred, she started grinding back and forth, stirring her insides with the dragon cock lodged in her.

“Mmmmf~Fuck! Spi~iiiiiiiiiiike!”

Starlight was sure she’d heard him say her name too, but it was hard to make out any clear words amidst his roaring. Especially since she started moaning as well.

It was too much for her already-sensitive vagina. If anything, she was surprised she’d managed to last this long. Once she started to near her second climax of the night, it became hard to stay focused on keeping a steady rhythm. She moved her hips with reckless abandon, moving sideways, forwards, backwards, up and down. She let her instincts take over as pure pleasure enveloped her mind and assaulted her senses. A familiar pressure started building up inside her, clouding her vision and making her already tense muscles contract in expectation of her imminent release.

Just as one of Spike’s claws left her thigh and shot towards her buttcheek, giving it a not-so-gentle squeeze, the other one grabbed her by the neck and pulled her for a kiss. The moment their lips made contact, Spike gave a powerful thrust that finally pushed her over the edge.

“Haaah… Ahhh!”

Starting from her back, her whole body began to tremble, down her spine, through her hips, and her legs hanging on the sides of Spike’s body. Her arms coiled around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss as her climax kept escalating, building upon itself and driving her mind closer to Elysium.

Not long passed before Spike reached his limit, too. He buried himself into her as much as he physically could and exploded in her once more. The maddening, delightful heat returned, hitting her just as her orgasm reached its peak, prolonging the fireworks going off inside her skull. She barely registered the slight swelling of her uterus as she got filled beyond capacity by the second load of precious dragon sperm, focused as she was on even trying to remember her own name.

After a while, the soft rise of Spike’s chest—which she was using as an impromptu bed—slowly brought her back to reality. Her limbs hung from the sides of Spike’s body, the tips of her hooves resting on the mattress, her head resting just above his heart, and Spike’s cock still buried in her.

In that moment, Starlight knew joy.

After a while of laying together in silence, she felt Spike putting his claw on her head, and gently scratched her scalp, making her purr softly. Weary, Starlight turned enough to face Spike. She wasn’t sure which was more alluring: his satisfied smile, the burning blush on his cheeks, or the glimmer in his eyes.

Heh…

Whichever the case, she knew she loved all of it. All of him. And deep down she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved her just as much.

“How did you like that, Spike?”

“Yes.”

Much to her distress, a nasal sound between a snort and a laugh escaped her. They stared at each other for a second spent in embarrassment before they both burst out into—thankfully normal—laughs.

Starlight’s laughter was cut short by a pained moan as her body spasmed. Spike eyed her with worry, but she was quick to ease his concerns.

“It’s alright, Spike. I’m just a bit sensitive after all of that.” She marked her words with a roll of her eyes. “And, well… our friend is still inside of me.”

Spike blinked. He tilted his head and noticed that, indeed, he still had his cock in Starlight.

“O-oh…!” he said, surprised. “Sorry, I didn’t even notice. Let me—”

Starlight quickly silenced him with a kiss. She liked how efficient this technique was.

“Don’t,” she whispered once their lips parted. “Don’t move, just… give me a minute, okay?”

Spike smiled and kissed her again. “Of course. As long as you need.”

“Oh, shut it…” Starlight said, returning the kiss.

“Please.” He gave her another kiss. “I know you love me like this.”

“You got me there.”

After that, they descended into a series of short kisses. Nothing too adventurous, just small assertions of their love. Maybe a playful lick here and there. Maybe it had been a minute, maybe it had been ten, but Spike’s happy friend calmed down enough to slip out on its own.

Starlight felt Spike’s hot sperm oozing out of her, trickling down her lips and onto his crotch. She should probably do something to avoid the mattress getting stained, she thought, but she was too busy to care about that at the moment.

Suddenly, Spike chuckled. “Heh… sorry I couldn’t live up to your expectations, Starlight.”

“What?” she asked, completely bewildered, “Spike, you were wonderful, this was one of the best experiences of my life, what are you talking about?”

Despite the crimson shade of his face, Spike managed to keep a smug look. “I’m just saying, you seem perfectly capable of speaking right now.”

Starlight blinked as she felt herself blushing, though definitely not in embarrassment.

“Well…” she replied, memories of her little proclamation back at the kitchen coming back to her. “Nobody’s perfect.”

Once more, both laughed. Perhaps it was due to the rush of endorphins coursing through their bodies, but laughing felt like the right thing to do. Starlight ended the laugh with another quick kiss and gave Spike the most sincere smile she could muster.

“Honestly, though. I’ve been waiting so long for this… it ended up being everything I ever wanted and more.” Starlight rested her hooves on Spike’s shoulders and brought herself closer to him, giving him her best attempt at a sultry gaze. “And the best part is that it’s going to keep happening in the future, so you’ll get plenty of chances to leave me speechless, stud.”

"Sure thing, babe," he shot back with a sly grin.

They laughed again. They hugged again. They kissed again.

They basked in the aftermath of their love, neither wanting to move, though they eventually started to take notice of the mix of several body fluids on them, and decided to take a bath before going to bed. Starlight groaned as she got off Spike, and once more when she tried standing up.

“Woah…” Starlight said as she tried and failed to stand up. Her legs were too wobbly and she had to lean on the bed to get used to the feeling. Who would’ve thought that taking two dragon cocks one after another after years without sex would’ve left her this tired?

“Are you okay, Star?” Before she could say anything, Spike was by her side, helping her.

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m still tired after all of that.” Then, she smirked. “You know, even if I’m still capable of speaking, you did fuck me until I walked funny, so there’s that.”

At that, Spike let out a loud laugh. “Well, in that case I better take responsibility for my actions, don’t you think?”

Before Starlight could object, Spike grabbed her barrel and lifted her. She let out a surprised squeal before she found herself carried by Spike. She looked up to see him smiling down at her in a way that made her heart beat much faster than before. Maybe she should’ve asked him to carry her to her room like this, but such is hindsight.

Spike slowly walked toward her bathroom. Once inside he opened the faucet with his tail and waited for the bathtub to fill. During all of this, he never broke eye contact with her.

Once the bathtub was halfway full, he carefully stepped inside, lowering his body until both of them were submerged in the water, and even though it overflowed, they just laughed it off.

The hot water soaked her coat, relieving her of the unpleasant sensation of sweat and much else clinging to her fur, and she basked in that feeling for a few moments before she felt Spike scrubbing her mane with a clawful of shampoo. She opened her eyes to see him deep in concentration, scratching her scalp and running his claws through her wet mane.

“Giving the whole service, huh?” she said, sounding tired even to her own ears.

“What can I say, I’m just that good.”

Starlight giggled, but she had to agree. He was the best. Lighting up her horn, she brought forth one of her sponges, put some soap in it and started rubbing it against his scales.

As she laid on top of Spike in the warm bathtub, still basking in the post-coital bliss, Starlight couldn’t help but think about how happy she felt. How content and satisfied. Just from a little under a week ago her life had improved in so many ways. She saw Spike and her sitting at the kitchen’s table, sharing a late night snack. She saw them watching movies until way past midnight. She saw them dancing across the main hall of the castle. She saw them running in the rain. She saw them cooking together. She saw themselves only a few minutes ago, having sex. Even in spite of all the setbacks she’d had, it all seemed so perfect now that she looked back on it.

After achieving acceptable levels of cleanliness—and staying in the bathtub in silence until the water started to get cold—they got out and dried each other’s bodies. Maybe it was due to them having sex just now, but Starlight no longer felt self-conscious when Spike dried her flanks and butt. Perhaps even a bit giddy instead.

Nevertheless, they went back to her bed. Starlight pulled the sheets aside and they laid on the hopefully cleaner fitted sheet. Spike’s body was hot enough to stave off the cold of the night, anyway.

They had to wiggle around to make sure they were both comfortable laying next to each other, but soon settled in a comfortable position with Spike on his back and Starlight next to him, his arm wrapped around her. The moment they stopped moving, Starlight felt a sense of calmness fall over her, feeling more secure, content, and right than she remembered feeling. Soon enough, she also felt herself falling asleep, bringing the perfect day to a close. In her half-conscious state, she whispered an “I love you” to him.

“I… love you too… Starlight,” Spike said.

She looked up to see sleep had already overtaken him. His eyes were closed, and he gave a long, slow breath through his nose, and the blush was still present on his cheeks.

Smiling, she set her head on his chest, the soft beating of his heart serving as a lullaby. As she lay there, absolutely exhausted, a bit sore, and happier than she’d felt in a long time, she closed her eyes and let the weariness of the day wash over her and finally succumb to sleep, happy to be the luckiest mare in Equestria, and because she was sure she wasn’t forgetting anything important at all.

Chapter 15

View Online

A night as wonderful and as intimate as the one Spike and Starlight had shared should only be followed by an equally calm morning. Whoever woke up first would lay in silence until the other woke up. Then they’d spend the first moments of the morning smiling at each other, exchanging pleasantries and making charged comments about last night, all in good humour, but with that underlying sense of love and lust that lingered in their minds. They’d probably stay like that for a good while before they finally got up and started their day.

So, of course that’s not what happened.

Starlight regained consciousness as a shake from Spike’s body violently pulled her from sleep. Any remnants of sleep were chased away and replaced by a mortifying mix of fear and worry. Before she could voice any of the dozens of concerns swirling in her mind, Spike convulsed again and let out a green flame out, materialising a small piece of parchment that floated down to the space between them.

They stared at it in silence for a few seconds before realisation hit them harder than a bull.

Today was Friday.

Twilight was arriving on Friday morning.

They overslept.

Oh, dear…

“Wh—” Starlight cleared her throat, hoping to ease the knot in it. “What time is it?”

“I don’t know. Though definitely way past the time Twilight’s train would’ve arrived,” he replied, his voice sounding strained.

Perhaps it was the apprehension, but they remained immobile. They knew they had to act fast, but the weight of their situation had frozen them in place. Starlight wondered what the chances were that the train had been delayed and Twilight wouldn’t make it in time, but if that had happened, she would’ve let them know sooner. And any leftover hope of that being the case were dashed once she looked up.

“Spike…”

“Y-yes?” he stammered as he picked up the piece of paper.

“We left the door open last night, didn’t we?”

“I think so, why do you—Oh.” Silence followed his words. She supposed he must’ve noticed the very much closed bedroom door. “That would explain this.”

Turning around, Starlight saw him flip the note towards her, and read the two words hastily scribbled on it.

Kitchen. Now.

That certainly didn’t leave much room for doubt, but there was enough left for overwhelming dread to settle.

Starlight could already picture how the morning’s events had unfolded. If Twilight’s train had arrived on time, she would’ve wondered why they weren’t there to greet her. She probably wondered why nopony had come to see her, and then she would’ve just made her way to the castle. Once there, she would’ve looked around, probably calling out their names, but they were too asleep to listen. And then, she would’ve seen Spike’s door open, walked in, and found them lying on top of each other. They might have cleaned themselves up after last night’s vigorous love-making session, but Starlight was sure the room still carried the lewd scent of sex which would’ve let Twilight know exactly what had happened.

Still, she hadn’t incinerated them or brought down the castle in a flurry of anger, so perhaps their situation wasn’t as bad as she imagined. Then again, the two hastily scribbled words on the note were proof enough that Twilight wasn’t entirely happy at the moment, and it would be wise not to make her wait more than what she already had.

“We have to go down, now,” Starlight said, forcing as much firmness in her voice so it would mask the mass of nervousness welling inside of her.

“What are we going to tell her?”

They shared a blank look for a couple of seconds before Starlight managed to calm herself down enough to speak again. “The truth.”

Spike ventured a smile at that. If they were honest, everything would be fine. Probably. Either way, there was no time to think. They had to see Twilight immediately.

Perhaps the little surge of confidence in her would’ve lasted longer if her legs hadn’t quivered the second she tried to get off the bed.

Oh, right. I got fucked silly last night. Who would’ve thought I’d still be feeling it in the morning?

She tried to steady herself, but before she noticed it, Spike had moved across the bed and extended a claw to help her stand.

“Are you okay, Star?”

The playful retort never left her lips. She had to focus. “Yes… I’m just a bit tired after last night.”

Spike let out a soft hum. With slow and measured movements, he got off the bed as well. Getting on all fours, he brought her closer with his wing, pressing her body against his. Not too much, just enough to support her. At that, she smiled. He’d always been by her side when she needed it, and she needed it now more than ever.

“Let’s get going.”

Without another word exchanged, they walked out of the room. Their tired bodies carried the weight of the intense workout of the previous night, resulting in heavy, weary steps. She was sure if anypony looked at her from behind, they’d see her walking slightly bow-legged.

After going two rounds with Spike’s bad boys, I’m amazed I can walk at all.

In contrast, Spike didn’t seem much worse for wear… as long as you didn’t notice the way he arched his back to walk. It wasn’t just because he was walking on all fours, no. Starlight had seen him walk like that a few days ago, and he wasn’t walking like that. He must have done quite a number on himself last night as well. Perhaps they should make sure to stretch before their next bedroom tryst.

If they survived Twilight, of course.

As quickly as their sore bodies would allow, they made their way to the kitchen. Part of Starlight found it curious that things led back to the kitchen where it all had started less than a week ago. The rest of her felt worried at the implications of that other thought. Before the pessimism could spread to the rest of her mind, they arrived at the main hall.

Once the double doors came to view, they slowed their pace until they stopped in front of them. She felt herself becoming short of breath when she tried to use her magic to open the doors. Her state must have been quite apparent, seeing how Spike was quick to rest his claw on the handle. Starlight turned to look at him and was caught off guard by a quick peck on her lips.

“Hey. It’s going to be okay,” he said, smiling, and she found that she believed him.

With one last look of mutual assurance, they pushed the doors open, and walked into the kitchen.

They stopped when they saw Twilight had her back to them. She was facing the stove, keeping something obscured with her body, but somehow the small alicorn’s presence was enough to fill the entire room, making her feel like a little filly trying to sneak a cookie out of the jar without her parents finding out. Not that inaccurate of a comparison, if she really—

“Please come in and take a seat,” Twilight said, her clear voice cutting through her thoughts. In saying this, Twilight didn’t move. She didn’t turn to face them. She kept her back to them, and did whatever it was she was doing on the stove.

Slowly, as though trudging through a minefield—but still trying to keep an even pace so Twilight wouldn’t see how she was walking—Starlight approached the small kitchen table with Spike helping her. As she walked, she never pulled her eyes away from Twilight.

Twilight’s presence was overpowering. The way she remained immobile instilled in Starlight a sense of awe and mild dread. She was sure it was mostly her own mind working against herself, but that didn’t make the unwelcome feelings any less real. They sat opposite Twilight, side by side, and waited.

The wait wasn’t long. Tilting her head, Twilight spoke, “It’s been almost a week since I left. Isn’t it curious how time flies?” Without waiting for a reply, she kept going. “Just look at Flurry Heart. She’s going to be six soon! Isn’t that incredible?”

Starlight ventured a glance at Spike and saw no sign of him wanting to intervene. Well, if he wasn’t going to say anything, neither would she. She was pretty sure Twilight didn’t really want an answer, anyway.

“I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it. I suppose part of me still looked at her as my baby niece, even after all these years,” she continued. “But she’s not a baby anymore. She’s growing filly.”

Starlight had expected Twilight to sound wistful or melancholic while talking about her niece, perhaps even seething in barely repressed anger at the thought of her little brother being defiled by her, but the flat tone the alicorn used only unnerved her even more.

“That’s why I extended my visit. I was hit by this realisation that my niece was growing older, and I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her…”

She shifted in her seat, and not just because of her sore hindquarters.

How did you expect you’d feel after taking dragon dick all night long?

Starlight grimaced. She’d hoped she would’ve stopped hearing voices after finally having sex with Spike, but go figure, it seemed getting laid did not fix her mental issues.

Oh, please. You need this. How else would you drown out Twilight’s babble?

A chill ran down her spine as she realised Twilight was still talking. Damn it, Starlight!

“Cadance said Flurry reminds her of me when I was little. Shining said the same thing. A little filly who kept growing, getting more curious about the world, and wanting to learn more about magic. Of course, I wasn’t an alicorn back then, but… Well, I suppose you get the idea.”

Starlight had a faint idea. However, she was more preoccupied with trying to figure out just how much Twilight knew and how she’d react to it. Keeping her eyes on the back of Twilight’s head, she turned a bit towards Spike. With subdued motions, she locked eyes with the dragon and nodded towards Twilight as she gave a quick rise and slump of her shoulders.

Spike’s lips formed a thin line as he waved a claw in the air. Darn. If he couldn’t get a read on Twilight, then what hope did she have? Better to keep on listening and—Oh, right. Twilight was speaking. Focus!

She whipped her head back towards Twilight, and tried to pick up on whatever Twilight had been talking about.

“It feels like it all happened so fast… I can still remember when she was a baby and now she’s a little filly. If I’m not careful, she’s going to be a grown mare before I notice.” Twilight’s words hung in the air, cut off as if she couldn’t bring herself to say them. After staying silent for a moment, she extended her right wing and examined the layers of feathers. “Sometimes it’s odd to think back to how much things have changed in just a few years… and how much they’ll continue to change.”

What little she could see of Twilight’s face showed an expression she wasn’t used to seeing on her mentor. She looked so… tired.

“I was talking with Cadance one night. She’s gotten a bit taller recently, and I wondered how long it’ll be until her hair turns ethereal…” She tucked her wing back to her body and looked at the stove once more. “I wonder how long it’ll be until I start changing, too.”

There was something about Twilight’s tone that made Starlight forget, if only for a moment, about her predicament. She was starting to form a picture about what Twilight was trying to say, but she wasn’t crazy enough to hurry her. Glancing to her side, she saw how—much like herself—Spike’s discomfort had seemed to change into worry. His body was still upright and tense, but his eyes showed genuine concern and curiosity.

“Change… the world is always changing. Ponies are always changing. Friendships are always changing…” Twilight let out a dry scoff. “Maybe it was silly of me to think that I could come back to Ponyville for some normalcy. Can you imagine? Ponyville and normal? The trip must have done a number on my brain, so maybe I shouldn't have been surprised when I arrived and found that nobody was there to receive me at the train station.”

Starlight had always thought that one’s blood “running cold” was just a silly saying, but the way she felt ice going through her veins proved that the saying was a hundred percent true. After everything that happened through most of the week she had completely forgotten about Twilight.

Not that I can say that aloud…

“Do you know what was more surprising? Coming across Trixie of all ponies!”

Suddenly, a whistling sound slowly filled the room. It was most likely the sound of a kettle about to reach its boiling point, but with the amount of alarms and blaring in Starlight’s mind, it was hard for her not to interpret it as one more.

Despite her best efforts, Starlight failed to keep her breathing in check. She felt her chest moving quickly, though if it was just due to her hyperventilating or because of her heart hammering as if a group of yaks had started partying inside, she didn’t know.

Get out. Teleport away. First out of the castle and then keep going. Maybe Ember will take you in as a political refugee. Spike can meet you in the Dragon Lands.

“She had quite a lot of things to say.”

Before leaving, make a quick stop to murder Trixie. Her wagon can help you escape.

Starlight’s reply to her subconscious—whether in admonishment or agreement—was cut short when Twilight turned around, giving them a completely flat look. Much to her growing distress, Starlight noticed Twilight’s horn was lit… and that the stove wasn’t on. Twilight was making the water boil with just her magic.

Murder Trixie in every possible way.

Teacups and saucers came out as Twilight brought them out and set them on the table. A small container flew towards her, she then pulled a bunch of tea leaves out of it and roughly stuffed them in a teapot before pouring the boiling water in it.

“W-would you like some help, Twilight?” Starlight asked. Of course she didn’t need help, but it’d do good to try and keep things friendly.

That is, had Starlight been able to use her magic.

With horror, Starlight realised no matter how much energy she poured into her horn, no magic came out. What was—

Twilight was now staring straight at her with those cold, unmoving eyes. Starlight would probably feel less terrified if Twilight was angry or yelling at her. As it was, the alicorn looked… unnerving.

“Tell me everything,” she said with finality.

After hearing Twilight speak in such a firm tone, Starlight found she couldn’t get the words out no matter how many times she opened and closed her mouth. Before she could devolve into a twitching, silent mess, Spike spoke up.

“We’re together,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a hot knife on butter. “Like, romantically.”

Starlight turned to look at Spike, his eyes set on Twilight and his facial features firm. He must’ve been quite the sight, even more so when compared to herself and how she kept exuding insecurity. That wouldn’t do! She was proud of being his marefriend, and she was going to show it!

“So I’ve heard,” Twilight replied, still speaking in that monotone. Starlight thought there may have been a flicker of… something in her eyes, but she wasn’t going to dwell on that for long.

“Don’t think this is us fooling around, we’re serious,” Starlight interjected. Perhaps she felt emboldened by Spike’s resolve. Whichever the case, she held his claw with her hoof and set both on the table. She exchanged another quick look with him and turned towards Twilight. “I really love him. And he loves me.”

The look on Twilight’s face was inscrutable. A perfect mask that hid whatever was going through her mind. Part of Starlight felt intimidated, but she did not shy away. She would bare it all and take whatever came as a result.

It wasn’t as if she didn’t understand why Twilight would be angry. Much to her dismay, Rainbow Dash’s words came back to her, and felt she should address the issue before the tension could keep escalating.

“I know this doesn’t necessarily look all that good,” Starlight continued, speaking slowly and stretching every word as if to lessen its impact. Twilight arched an eyebrow in response while Spike not so gently squeezed her hoof. “I don’t know how I’d react if I had a little brother and my student hooked up with him behind my back as soon as I left—especially since he’s barely of age, so add that to the pile—so I can only imagine how… you must…“

The constant squeezing of her hoof finally made her lose her train of thought. Spike was looking at her wide eyed and with his mouth twisted into an odd squiggle. She’d started to get lost in her own words and didn’t pay attention to the way Twilight was looking at her.

Under different circumstances she would’ve taken the time to admire how Twilight was capable of mixing shock, embarrassment, and what she hoped wasn’t anger into a single expression. As it was, she was too busy giving herself a mental slap.

Great job, idiot.

“W-what I mean is, this isn’t how we would’ve liked to break the news to you… but, since the cat is out of the bag, well… we’re a couple.”

The blush on Twilight’s face faded a bit, though the look on her eyes was still as cold as before. “How long has this been going on?” There was a squeak at the end of that question, but Starlight didn’t dwell on it.

“Since last Sunday.” She bit her tongue so she wouldn’t add a ‘night’ at the end there.

She felt Twilight’s stare drilling into her mind. The alicorn’s eyes then moved to Spike, regarding him with that same inquisitive look.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.

A few seconds passed before Twilight let out a long sigh, blowing away a bit of the tension in the room. Immediately, she grabbed the teacup with her magic and downed its piping hot contents in a single gulp. Starlight tried—and failed—not to wince as Twilight swallowed.

“Twilight,” Spike said. The alicorn didn’t acknowledge him right away, but eventually dragged her gaze upwards to meet his. “We’re serious. I’m serious. I love Starlight, and I want to make her as happy as she makes me feel.”

If not for the imposing and oppressing presence of Twilight Sparkle in the kitchen, Starlight would’ve swooned.

“I love you too, Spike,” she replied. She knew she should be making her case to Twilight, but her mind had taken the back seat and her heart was in charge of the talking.

“I never knew I could be this happy. Even with how dumb I’ve been about some things, this week has been one of the best of my life.” She almost looked away, but she forced herself to keep her gaze locked on him. “I can’t remember the last time I was loved so much, and I don’t want it to stop anytime soon.”

With every word, Spike’s features softened, morphing into a relaxed expression. He smiled at her, and at that moment Starlight knew everything would be alright.

“You’re great, Spike,” she said.

“And you have great taste,” he replied.

Starlight stifled a laugh—as well as a snappy comeback—when she heard the last thing she expected. A sniffing sound filled the kitchen, and turning around she saw Twilight and the lone tear running down her cheek.

“Twilight?”

“I knew this was going to happen… it was bound to happen someday. The girls told me it would happen, Cadance told me it would happen, even my parents did. Though that may just have been their way of egging me on…” she waved a hoof on the air, as if trying to physically chase away those thoughts. “I guess I just imagined it would take longer. I… I didn’t want you to grow up so fast.”

As Twilight looked down and sighed, Starlight couldn’t help but be weirded out by her mentor’s sudden change in demeanour, though she had to admit she understood some of Twilight’s plight now. Looking to her side, she caught sight of a speechless Spike. He resembled a fish in the way his mouth opened and closed, but she wouldn’t dare say anything at the moment.

“I mean… even with your growth spurt, I still thought of you as my number one assistant, and my little brother. With how things have been going lately, I guess I wanted to hold on to that…” Twilight trailed off, wiping another tear with a wingtip, but another one started coming out soon after that.

With swift motions, Spike leaned forwards, grabbed Twilight’s chin with his finger and lifted it so they were facing each other.

“Come on, don’t say that. You know that’s not… I’ll never stop being your number one assistant,” he said, his voice laced with kindness.

“I know that, but things will still change.”

There was something odd about the way Twilight spoke. It wasn’t quite sadness, but more of a sense of resignation and perhaps even defeat, though Starlight hoped she was wrong about that last one. Once more she found herself at a loss for words, though she wondered if there was anything at all she could say.

“Twilight, you’re right.” At that, the alicorn met his gaze, but remained silent and let him speak. “Things will change now that I have a marefriend. I’m going to spend time with her, going on dates and all those things couples do.”

Damn right we—

Silence!

Spike let go of Twilight’s chin and just smiled at her with that radiant smile of his that made everything feel better.

“But if you think I won’t help you with your research and carry you to your bedroom after you fell asleep on top of a book, then I’m afraid to say your age is getting to you.”

Starlight wasn’t able to hold back the small snort caused by Spike’s words, but thankfully Twilight’s laugh masked it.

“Thanks, Spike,” Twilight said. Leaning forward and crossing necks with Spike, her hoof resting on his left shoulder while her head rested on his right.

At that moment, Twilight looked… calm. The mask of stoicism was gone and she let herself enjoy the warmth and reassurance of her little brother. Starlight wished she could have some of that calmness right about now.

Change… She’d been terrified of change once upon a time, so she understood where Twilight was coming from. She’d probably been going through a small crisis, just as she had over the week. So many things changed so quickly… and now Starlight had unknowingly taken some of the last bits of normalcy left to Twilight.

Knowing that, the best she could do was be as supportive as possible.

After a moment, Spike and Twilight broke their embrace. Wiping an errant tear, Twilight turned to face her. Time seemed to stop as they made eye contact. There was so much in the way Twilight looked at her… a bit of apprehension, confusion, expectancy, and so much more Starlight couldn’t discern, though she could make an educated guess.

Twilight and her had a pretty close relationship. Former rival, mentor and pupil, colleagues, housemates, friends. Hopefully that meant they could get together as kind of sisters-in-law.

Does this count as a first meeting with the in-laws, then? You'll see their parents at Hearth’s Warming, but that’s still a couple of months away… unless Velvet decides to drop by and meet the mare who ensnared her little boy. No, no. One panic per family member, Starlight. Just focus on Twilight for the mo—

“So, Starlight,” Twilight said, breaking her free from her reveries. “How long have you felt this way?”

She almost froze. Not that she didn’t expect this, but she should’ve imagined Twilight would cut to the chase. Starlight took a deep breath and—after giving Spike a quick glance for support—steadied her gaze on Twilight.

“I can’t say for sure when it all started. I know I’ve been fond of Spike since I came to Ponyville. You and him were my first real friends in a long time, so I naturally gravitated to you as I started to come out of my shell. Maybe it happened over the course of the last five years as I got more comfortable and embraced friendship.” Starlight paused and turned to look at Spike, who had an encouraging smile she eagerly returned. “Maybe one day I just realised I was living with a beautiful, kind, and loveable dragon, and just wanted more than friendship.”

Was Spike getting used to her flattery? Just a few days ago, he would freeze up when she threw a compliment at him. Right now though, he just kept smiling at her, letting her talk, and just seeing him next to her, feeling his strong grip on her hoof, was enough to renew her strength and determination. There was still a bit of goofiness on his expression, though, and she loved it.

“I know I’m far from perfect”—she laughed—”I’m probably a bit of a mess on a good day. I know… I know I’m often going to fuck up.” She turned around just in time to see Twilight cringe a bit at her use of profanity, but kept going. ”But there’s nothing that matters to me more than making Spike as happy as he makes me. Ever since I’ve come to Ponyville I’ve received so much from all of you. I think I feel like giving back in my own way.”

Twilight remained immobile, probably going over her words several times in her mind in search of any hidden intention or double meaning. For her part, Starlight’s face now sported a relaxed smile, and she didn’t have to make an effort to stay that way.

After a while, Starlight felt her magic come back to her. She was going to have to ask Twilight how she did that. Speaking of Twilight, the alicorn closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. “Honestly, I want to feel happy for you two, but I’m still a bit shocked.”

Spike and Starlight exchanged a quick glance. His eyes were filled with both worry and hope, and she assumed so were hers. A surge of cautious happiness coursed through her at Twilight's apparent acceptance.

“Does… does that mean you’re okay with us dating?”

Twilight’s eyes went from Starlight to Spike and then she just looked upwards. “I mean, it’s not like I can forbid you to date each other. I just…” Twilight waved her hoof in the air a couple of times, letting her sentence hang unfinished in the air.

Things felt… less tense at the moment. At least the hairs on Starlight’s coat had stopped bristling. Perhaps she could take advantage of the relaxed mood.

“What, you thought I’d put him under a mind control spell, or something?” she asked, trying to sound playful.

Much to her joy and relief, Twilight’s eyes widened as her cheeks turned a bright red. “No! I—I mean, no, that’s not what I—” Her words got more jumbled the longer she went, until she just let out an exasperated grunt.

“I don’t know, I think I may just be under a spell, after all,” Spike said, imbuing his words with a seductive drawl.

“Oh-ho-ho-ho~, you flatterer, you~” Starlight replied, giving Spike a gentle poke on his arm.

Twilight let out an annoyed grunt, and Starlight knew to drop it.

“And here I thought I wouldn’t have to put up with corny flirting after moving out of my parents’ house…”

Spike’s laughter filled the room. As it died down, he extended a wing and brought Starlight closer to his body. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Twilight simply rolled her eyes, but neither the faint blush of her cheeks, nor the slight upturn of the corner of her mouth was lost on Starlight.

“So… are you okay with this?” Starlight asked, trying—and failing!—not to look too comfortable in Spike’s embrace.

Once more, Twilight’s eyes danced between the two of them. What she said a moment ago was true, she couldn’t really forbid them from being together. However, Twilight was an important part of their lives. If she didn’t approve of this… well, it would certainly hurt, at the very least.

“I may not be Cadance, but I can tell that you’re in love.” Twilight straightened her back and ruffled her wings. “As blindsided by this as I may have been, I wouldn’t try to meddle with your relationship. After all, love is another form of friendship, right?”

Starlight felt her heart soar with happiness. She didn’t know if she should turn and kiss Spike, or tackle Twilight in a hug. Fortunately, she didn’t have to choose, as Twilight spoke again.

“However,” she said, speaking with such severity Starlight momentarily forgot all about her earlier relief. “I’d really appreciate it if you were more, uh, discreet with the more physical aspects of your relationship.”

Starlight felt a rush of blood go to her cheeks. Burning with embarrassment, Starlight sank more into Spike’s wing. If his rising body heat was any indication, he was getting flustered, as well.

“Uh… sure, we—” Starlight started, but was quickly cut off.

“Just make sure to close the doors. I’d rather not have to stumble upon you in any compromising situation, if that’s alright with you,” Twilight said, averting her eyes. “And perhaps a sound-proofing spell, just to make sure. It took me a while to come to terms with Shining and Cadance having sex. It’s not going to be easy to accept my little brother has a sex life, as well.”

There was something in Twilight’s voice she couldn’t quite pinpoint. It was an odd kind of sadness. She tried really hard not to make assumptions about what that said about Twilight’s sex life.

“We’ll keep that in mind, Twilight. Don’t worry,” Starlight said.

“For the sake of my mental health, I hope you do,” Twilight replied. She looked up and took a deep breath. She stayed like that for a couple of seconds before she lowered her head and was now sporting a faint smile. “So… you’re a couple now, huh?”

“Yup. We even went on a date yesterday that she—”Spike poked Starlight’s head with a finger”—planned all on her own in just a day.”

“Really? That seems quite the feat to pull off, Starlight,” Twilight said. “How about you tell me more over breakfast? Just a cup of tea is definitely not enough.”

Starlight smiled and gave Spike a sidelong glance. “What do you say, big guy? Want to whip something up?”

“I’m in if you are,” Spike replied.

“I’ve been gone for a week, how is it that you already have in-jokes?”

“It’s been an eventful week,” Starlight said, leaving the cosiness of Spike’s embrace with no small amount of reluctance, “but nothing all that interesting, I assure you.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that. Just give me the family friendly version while we eat,” Twilight said.

Spike and Starlight stood up and walked towards the pantry. As Spike started offering different ideas for what to make, she noticed how… well she felt. After the short talk with Twilight, the last bit of dread and insecurity in her mind had disappeared. Right now she was just a happy mare with a loving drakefriend and the most understanding sister-in-law, about to have a normal breakfast, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“…or we could just throw all the leftover veggies in a pan and make an omelette,” Spike finished.

Lost in thought as she had been, Starlight hadn’t caught most of his suggestions. However, she had a perfect deflection ready.

“I think we should let the newly arrived decide,” she said and, putting on a beaming smile, turned to face Twilight.

“So, what’s it going to be?”

Epilogue

View Online

Starlight’s eyes were fixed on the crystal floor. Just on the edge of her vision, she could see the tips of Twilight’s front hooves. And what stern hooves they were. Cautiously, she lifted her gaze, trailing up the young alicorn’s body until she saw her face. Her stern looking face.

She gulped.

Twilight only moved her lips to speak, her jaw firmly in place. “Do you know how I feel, Starlight?” she asked.

Her stern eyes… her ears, flat against her head… that slight twitch of her hindlegs… it all emanated a strong aura of disappointment, with a smidgen of anger lacing it.

The debris all around them didn’t help matters.

Starlight tried looking up, but she quickly lowered her head when she met eyes with Twilight. “D-disa—”

“Dissatisfied, discontented, disgruntled, disillusioned, disappointed! Yes,” Twilight said, her tone leaving no doubt about the sincerity of her words. “Why do you think I feel that way?”

“Because of how I acted.”

“And what was wrong with the way you acted?”

Despite wanting really hard to grimace, Starlight did her best to keep her face relaxed. She hated when Twilight did that obvious question thing, because it always made her feel like a child.

Then again, she could hardly imagine even the most ill-behaved foal doing what she just did, so perhaps she should just suck it up and take it.

“It’s… it’s not okay to harm ponies,” Starlight replied, forcing out every word as if she was pulling thorns out of her flesh. “Either physically or emotionally, it's not… it’s not what a friend would do.”

Speaking of friends, she had to remember to thank Trixie for taking everypony home in her wagon. She also needed to remember to apologise to everypony afterwards. As soon as they were feeling okay. And if they even felt like seeing her, that is... Part of her wondered what caused them all to start twitching like that, but she had been too busy cackling maniacally at the time to really—

Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She almost flinched, but the tenderness with which Twilight touched her made her feel… well, not as scared as before.

Starlight looked up to fully meet Twilight’s gaze. The earlier sternness was gone from the alicorn’s eyes, replaced by a glint of kindness. She could see her lips were no longer strained into a thin line, but rather offered the barest of smiles.

“I’m glad you can see that, Starlight. Being able to recognise and accept our shortcomings is the first step to improving and believe me, you haven’t disappointed in that regard,” Twilight said, her words soft, but sincere. Starlight allowed herself to smile back at her mentor.

“That being said,” Twilight continued, removing her hoof from Starlight’s shoulder, “you did go overboard. So… I’m sorry. After this, the Risk set is going onto the top shelf and it’s staying there. I hope this helps you learn your lesson.”

With that, Twilight lit up her horn, grabbed the Risk box, turned around, and walked out of the dilapidated room.

She grimaced. Part of her thought Twilight was overreacting. The other part remembered Big Mac crying and realised how lucky she was to get away with just a light scolding.

Starlight sighed and took in her surroundings. The warning signs had been there when she took control of Saddle Arabia, but she supposed it was too late to stop it once the Crystal Empire was hers.

Her justified wallow in self-pity was interrupted by the sound of steps coming into the room.

“Uh… hey, Starlight.”

She looked over her shoulder and saw Spike coming towards her with a cautious smile.

“Hi, Spike…” Starlight mumbled, somewhat surprised by the gloom in her tone.

The little dragon shuffled towards her. Under different circumstances she would find it funny how his short legs made him wobble a bit when he tried to walk slowly. Right now, though, she didn’t feel like laughing.

Once he was standing next to her, he looked up at her, but didn’t say anything. She half-expected he would. Anything. A show of pity, a snide remark, an accusation, a confirmation of suspicion. She’d even take a “You suck, Glimmer!” if it meant the silence wouldn’t stretch for longer.

Her thoughts halted when she felt Spike tugging at her hoof. She looked down and saw him smiling.

“Come with me,” he said.

A denial was already on her lips when she saw the hopeful look he had. She didn’t really feel like going anywhere—not to mention Twilight probably expected her to clean up the game room, even if she hadn’t said it—but since there was nothing else she would rather do… there was no reason to turn him down. Silly Spike.

She noticed his smile was losing strength the longer she took to reply, so she didn’t make him wait anymore. “Sure.”

His smile turned wide again, and she tried to reciprocate.

A short and somewhat slow walk later, they got to the kitchen. The trek there was silent, with only the aura of her warranted self-loathing permeating the air around them, drowning every attempt at conversation that could’ve taken place. Not that Spike seemed to care. The little dragon walked with a spring to his step, still guiding her by the hoof through the still somewhat unfamiliar corridors of the castle.

Starlight found that she appreciated the gesture.

The pair walked into the kitchen, the last rays of sunlight bathed the room in a warm orange tint that nonetheless failed to thaw that uncomfortable chill nestled somewhere deep in her chest.

“What are we going to do in the kitchen, Spike?” she asked.

“Well, Pinkie Pie always says pastries make her feel happy, so I thought we could bake something to lift your spirits.” Spike spoke with such an earnest tone she didn’t have the heart to tell him she didn’t think that worked if you weren’t a pony composed of equal parts sugar and confetti. Before she could reply, however, Spike’s expression turned sheepish and he quickly started talking again, “Plus, I was the one who left the Ogres and Oubliettes material at Sweet Apple Acres, so I guess it’s my fault we ended up playing Risk.”

Starlight looked at Spike, the dragon was twiddling his thumbs over his belly, looking somewhat remorseful. He wasn’t seriously going to try and take some of the blame for what had just happened, was he?

Silly, silly Spike…

“Sure, why not?”

“Great!” Spike replied animatedly. “I’ll get the ingredients out, you find a mixing bowl, a spatula, and a whisk.”

With that, he turned around and headed for the pantry. Starlight blinked but quickly shook her head and started looking for the requested implements.

The whisk and spatula were quick to find, and in a flash, they were laying on the countertop. The metal bowl proved to be more temperamental. It was stuck between other pots and pans on the lowest shelf of the cabinet under the sink and Starlight was sure there was probably a smaller bowl inside of it, judging by the way it rattled when she tried to pull it free. Of course there was yet another pot further back that made all the pots and pans an bowls fit so tightly she couldn’t really take out the one she needed without pulling out half of everything else, and what was the point of having such a large kitchen if you were just going to have cabinets and drawers overflowing like a—

Starlight took a deep breath.

Calm down, Starlight. It’s just a dumb bowl, don’t let it get to you.

With far less enthusiasm than she had entered the kitchen—which was not much to begin with—Starlight sighed and teleported the bowl out and onto the countertop next to the whisk and spatula.

“Ah, great! We’re all set,” Spike said.

She turned around to see him walk towards her with wobbly steps. She couldn’t see his face behind the pile of ingredients he carried, but she could still hear his smile. She’d be lying if she said it wasn’t a bit contagious.

“So…” she trailed off, eyeing the flour, eggs, and butter Spike deposited on the countertop. “What are we making?”

“Ohohoho~! Just wait and see, Starlight. I guarantee you’ll like it!” he replied, stepping back and snapping his claws and making finger guns at her.

She felt the corners of her lips tremble upwards. “Okay, then. Keep your secrets.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Spike said, turning around to organise the ingredients.

Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, some stuff in containers she couldn’t identify. It did seem like a cake, though, and she wouldn’t say no to it.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Crack two eggs and add another two egg yolks. Add three tablespoons of sugar and whisk. I’ll get started on the chocolate and butter.”

Starlight did as instructed. She was sure she’d heard that you weren’t supposed to hit the egg against the edge of the bowl. Not only could the pieces of the shell go inside the egg and crack the yolk, but you could get some of the residue from the shell itself into the bowl. There were some things you didn't want in your food, and eggs did come from the butt of a chicken, after all.

Once all eggs were in the bowl, she added the sugar and started whisking. It was a monotonous action, just swirling the whisk, making sure the yellow of the yolks turned into a more mellow, batter-like colour. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Spike letting out a thin green flame over a small ceramic container filled with butter and dark chocolate and started mixing it with the spatula.

“I’m done here. I think…” Starlight said.

“Great! We just have to mix these and then add the flour, a pinch of salt, and a dash of vanilla.” Spike grabbed the possibly still really hot container with his claws.

“With all the mystery around it, I don’t think these will be plain chocolate cakes, will they?”

“Of course not, Starlight, we’re making something special here.” Spike hummed as he used the spatula to pour all the butter chocolate mixture in the bigger bowl. “Can you sift some flour and cocoa powder? I already measured the amounts.”

Starlight nodded and got to work. It took her a moment to realise that, over the past five or so minutes, she’d started to feel calmer. Those odd feelings of guilt and shame were still there, but they felt like background noise rather than the overwhelming force it had been before.

She supposed the mechanical actions made it easy to engage on a basic level. It gave her something at which she could aim her attention. She’d hardly call it therapeutical, but perhaps it did give her focus. Focus. Perhaps… rather than just focusing on the bad things, she should focus on what she could do.

Her laughter surprised even herself. Who would have thought she could run out of self-contempt? Spike had a satisfied smirk on his face. He said he wanted to lift her spirits, and he had certainly made her feel better. If only a little bit.

“Alright, keep mixing. I’m going to butter the ramekins,” Spike said, stepping back and walking towards the cabinets at the other end of the kitchen.

“You'll do the what?”

Spike was now walking towards her with a large ceramic container and several smaller ones. “Ramekins!” he repeated.

“Yeah, that’s what I heard. What are those?”

He picked up one of the smaller cups, holding it between his thumb and index finger, and gave it a little twist. “It’s like a one-serving container.”

“What’s with the name?”

Spike shrugged as he filled the larger container with a bit of water. “I heard it comes from Prench. Something about a cheese dish made in a small mold and then baked, but even that one comes from old Germane warrior sheep’s cooking traditions, which I’m sure come from something else entirely.”

Starlight blinked. “Okay, then. Are you Twilight morphed into Spike?”

“Heh… nah, you’d be getting a lecture on the evolution of cooking traditions of Old Equestria if that was the case.”

They laughed again. Not a full belly laugh, but a small, almost demure smile. It was… comfortable.

“Okay, ramekins buttered. Pour some of the mix into them. I’ll heat the water.”

Starlight gave the dark brown batter one last swirl and used her magic to lift a portion large enough to fill the silly foreign ceramic thingie without risking it overflowing. As she filled them, she couldn’t help but feel curious about the cooking method. Why was Spike heating the water with his fire? What did the sheep use instead of a dragon? Wait, they came up with the container, not the recipe. This was just confusing. Curse that little dragon and his secrecy!

“Alright, all ready for the oven!” Spike exclaimed, taking the filled ramekins and submerging them in the lukewarm water. With that, he turned around and put it in the oven.

Starlight walked towards Spike and sat next to him, looking into the warm orange light. “Okay, I could only be more confused if we started playing music while the cakes baked, so spill. What did we just make?”

Spike shot her a grin and a sidelong glance. “Lava cakes!”

“You’re not going to pour molten gems in them, are you?” she asked.

“Nah, melting gems ruins the flavour. These are called lava cakes because the centre is still all gooey once it’s done cooking, that’s why you’re supposed to put them in water, it helps achieve that texture. It’s like a chocolate pudding surrounded by a layer of chocolate brownie.”

She was silent for a few seconds as she imagined the little cakes oozing chocolate from deep inside. A pleasant warmth sparked somewhere between her heart and stomach. Was this how Pinkie Pie felt all the time?

“You’re smiling,” Spike said. His voice was even and measured.

“Huh? Uh… I guess so,” she replied. At that, Spike’s mouth morphed into a huge grin. “What? Is my smile that contagious?”

He shrugged. “I’m just happy I could cheer you up.”

Starlight felt herself warm up in an instant. Wouldn’t the cakes burn if the oven was so hot? Then again, she figured Spike would know what he was doing.

Before she could think about what she was doing, Starlight rested her head on top of Spike’s. His spines brushed against her mane, but she didn’t pay it any mind. It was comfortable.

“Thanks, Spike.”

She heard him giggle and shuffle. She was about to ask if she was making him uncomfortable, but her thoughts were soon dissipated when she felt his arm go around her neck and his claw rest on her shoulder.

“No problem, pal.”

Her cheeks felt tingly. It’d been a while since she’d smiled this much. Not that her few months in Ponyville hadn’t been filled with joy, but… she wasn’t sure why it was. Maybe it had been the respite from the rather odd day. Maybe it was nice to do something different for a change. Maybe Spike was just damned good company.

She looked into the oven at the little masses of chocolate in the fancy foreign containers. She didn’t know how they’d turn out, but she’d had fun making them, and perhaps that was enough.

“Hey, would you lend me a hoof cleaning up the game room after we’re done?”

“Eh, I was planning to eat my lava cake and watch you clean.”

“Tch… jerk.”

Despite their ribbing, neither moved away. At that moment, Starlight felt happy.

And she realised that was all that mattered.

Author's Notes:

Chocolate lava cakes are so delicious, and relatively easy to make! Try it yourself! Also, apparently some people put a piece of chocolate inside a chocolate cake and call that a chocolate lava cake. Don't be like those people.

I can't believe I managed to finish Accismus. It's been so long and I lost hope some times, but it's amazing to finally complete it.

There are so many people I want to thank. The people of the WriteOff Association for offering feedback on the beta version of this story, all those years ago. The refined gentlemen of the FiMFiction threads over at /mlp/, who were never shy on calling me out for my nonsense. Aquel who was also working on a Sparlight story way back in the day and hopefully hasn't abandoned it.

And just the biggest of thanks to CarcinoGeneticist for being a pal during all the years it took me to finally wrap this up, pointing out all the little inconsistencies, faulty assumptions and general mistakes I made. And not even once lamenting the lack of Sparity! Please go check him out, read his stories, upvote, comment, and favourite all of them so he can hopefully get motivated to get back in the writing game.

And as cheesy as it is to say it, thanks to you for believing in the story, for reading along Starlight's constant bouts of self doubt, and for putting up with my very unprofessional schedule.

I hope you had fun.

See you in the future.