Greed consumes me
“You got to be bucking kidding me!” Spike exclaimed as he slapped his forehead with the palm of a claw, glaring at the disorganized mess that had been left in a corner of the castle, he swore he could hear Scootaloo and Peewee laughing their tails off at his expense as he felt the familiar, and lately calming, effects of rage in the pit of his stomach, it was becoming a problem and he had no way to deal with it.
“Scootaloo, Peewee!” He screeched into the echoing structure with all the air in his lungs, his tail waving to and fro in agitation, and his claws digging into his flesh that they would have easily pierced him had it not been for his scales. One prank that involved him was funny but this was Twilight’s private section reserved for more serious arts of studying, not to mention it held very dangerous spells in the very ancient and worn pages that he doubted even his mother would want her looking into.
How his adopted sister got her hooves on such dark magic, he didn’t know and he wasn’t sure he wanted to, more to the point, he wasn't going to rat Twilight out. She could get in real trouble for this and he knew merely by glancing at the melted lock that Peewee obviously for some reason or another helped Scootaloo with her plan as phoenix's were the only species in the world that could match the temperature of the sun, not even dragons or lava could do that and he had a feeling that the lock was enchanted with an extremely powerful and complicated spell.
With Sweetie Belle in Mareis on vacation with her family and Apple Bloom was studying more advanced potions and alchemy with Zecora in Zebrica for a month Spike knew Scootaloo’s friends didn’t help her with this stunt, he doubted any of the Mane Six, especially Twilight did this and he never told any but the two culprits in question about this secret area.
This wasn’t funny anymore, and he was going to give the two a piece of his mind.
Stomping out the nearly invisible portion of the ‘library’ Spike all, but ran out of the Castle Of Friendship. Intent on finding his friend and pet, and making sure to find a form of punishment for them though from what he saw they didn’t steal anything. What with Scootaloo being a pegasus and Peewee a phoenix, the books were useless, but in the wrong limbs they could spell disaster.
He searched everywhere from Town Square to Sweet Apple Acres until finally after an hour he found Scootaloo near the arcade machines, playing one of the video games with intense concentration, no saddle bags on her back and therefore no book in sight.
“Why did you break into Twilight’s private books?” He questioned as the young mare jumped in surprise, the character on the screen dying from an enemy attack as the words game over appeared on in bright white letters.
“Damn it Spike, I was so close to the boss battle and that was my last sliver bit, why in Tartarus did you do that?!” She spat turning to look at the drake who folded his arms over his chest and snorted black smoke from his nostrils.
“Why did you break into Twilight's private book storage?” He asked again, his eyes narrowing to mere slits as she scoffed before rolling her eyes and setting her forehooves on the ground before looking up at the one who now stood at the height of an alicorn.
“I didn’t, remember when you told me not to enter it unless it was an emergency? Besides even if I was somehow able to steal the key from you which I didn’t...I’m a pegasus, the spells would be useless and Equestria would no doubt be doomed, thanks for accusing me though, really needed to be labeled as a criminal by my best friend.” She sneered before trotting off towards the Hay Burger as he had no choice but to follow.
“Thanks to you, I lost my bet with Button Mash and now have to buy him lunch, which in turn means you’re buying us both lunch.” She called over her shoulder as he could only emit a dangerous growl from his throat making her chuckle.
“Scoots this is serious-”
“Of course it is, Scales, I was dying for a peanut butter and chocolate malt from that nerd but now because of you-”
“Scootaloo, I’m not messing around here!” He shouted before grabbing her shoulder and spinning her around to look at him right before she smashed her left forehoof into his jaw making him stumble back more in shock then in pain.
“And what the buck make you think I am?! Touch me like that again and dragon or not you’ll be six feet in the ground!” She yelled, angry that he would dare lay his claws on her in his rage, his temper was starting to get out of hoof.
Very, very slowly he breathed in from his mouth and out through his nose like his mother taught him with his eyes closed, dragons by nature were prone to anger a lot faster then other species, even more so ponies and he couldn't afford to snap and do something he’ll regret, especially to his best friend.
“Scoots...if any of those books land in the wrong hooves-”
“Then all of Equestria will go to Tartarus in a hoofbasket, I get it. Just because I’m not as smart as your sister does not mean I’m stupid, Spike! I don’t know who broke into Twilight’s book vault, but if you remember correctly, mister photographic memory, I don’t have the horn to perform any type of spell to break that lock and we both know Peewee would never go behind your back or Twilight’s and even if by some alternate universe miracle he did I doubt he knew what he would be looking for.” She stated bluntly, panting from all her talking as he looked down at the ground in shame.
“I’m sorry, Scoots. I didn’t mean-”
“Buck you, Spike. You know I would never do that to you even if I was a unicorn, well you should at least. You told me that only very high level unicorns could perform that spell, and last I checked, Trixie was on our side...I think. Tirek can only steal a pony’s magic, Chrysalis has not been seen in years, Sunset Shimmer is in another dimension, Starlight Glimmer is with Trixie somewhere and Sombra was blasted to pieces by the Crystal Heart years ago and is probably still in the Crystal Empire, if he’s even still alive.” She spoke slowly taking a deep breathe before she continued and ignored Spike as he was about to speak.
“So unless Trixie found the Alicorn Amulet again and is starting a new form of revenge which I doubt, or the Flim and Flam brothers suddenly got a whole lot smarter in which I would be laughing my ass off if you didn’t have such a serious expression on your face the only one who could possibly do such an action besides Nightmare Moon who's been reformed is…”
“A god.” Spike answered as he immediately turned in the direction that Fluttershy’s cottage was right before Scootaloo jumped in his way before he could start heading there, a hoof firmly on his chest and her eyes mirroring his own with a hint of fear he noticed.
“Spike if you’re really pissed off fight a manticore, a chimera, an ursa minor if you’re really that angry, by the gods go kill a tatzlwurm, griffin, bugbear or a cyclops even a full grown dragon if you want to die but do not go up against Discord. For one thing you have no proof, a broken lock is hardly enough evidence. For another Discord is only tolerating us because we’re his friends, in one hundred years or more he won’t have any ties to us and may still hold a grudge on you, mister I can live up to ten thousand years. Don’t piss off a god, Spike. I’m begging you.” Scootaloo practically pleaded before his eyes as he could only halt and look at her terrified face.
It wasn’t natural for Scootaloo to be scared, if anything she would have been boasting that she could take on a hoard of Timberwolves or the like, but seeing her expression Spike knew that challenging Discord would be nothing more than suicide, and last he checked, the king to be was not suicidal in the least, it worried him how he could have such rage in an instant, this type of emotion was getting out of claw, fast.
Calmly, Spike breathed slowly once more, then nodded and with a sincere apology and playful slap on her shoulder told Scootaloo to wait for him at the Hay Burger as he had a meal to buy his friends, making her laugh before racing to the destination.
It took a few minutes to find his pouch of bits he kept for when he wanted to buy something that he didn’t want his sister, or mother for the matter to buy for him themselves but once he found it and secured it firmly on his tail, he headed off to the restaurant, entering the establishment with a lone claw and seeing it was pretty busy for a Wednesday, most ponies getting off of work or hanging out with friends and loved ones as he saw many of his friends and other familiar faces.
“Yo, Spike!” A voice called out to him as he turned and saw Scootaloo, along with Button Mash, Archer, Scootaloo’s cousin, Snips, Snails, Silver Spoon, Berry Pinch, Rumble and Truffle seated at a large table; most with food or drinks before them as he waved with a smile before crossing over to them, giving claw bumps to all save Scootaloo and Button Mash who stood. Spike having no doubt Scootaloo already told Button Mash he was paying, as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
“Diamond Tiara is in piano class with Octavia, you know Pinkie Pie’s cousin?” Silver Spoon informed him as he nodded before she continued, “And Shady Daze, Twist, Featherweight and Pipsqueak all went to the movies without us, but they’ll catch that new movie, Slaughter, with us on Friday. I can’t wait to see it!” She exclaimed excitedly for the older, more grown up horror movie caused a buzz of chatter for the entire group and they started talking about it.
Spike couldn’t wait himself, he heard great things about it, now that he and the others were seventeen they were finally able to see rated R movies they couldn't normally see without adult supervision so it was a relief he and his friends could go without Rainbow Dash or any of the grown ups to hassle them.
With a subtle nod of his head, Spike called Scootaloo and Button Mash to him as they went towards the counter, intent on getting food causing Spike to be surprised that Dinky Doo, Derpy Hooves younger sister was watching and taking customer's orders.
“Didn’t know you worked here, Dinks.” Scootaloo chuckled at the light gray coated unicorn who smiled and nodded.
“Bubbles has been getting cut on her hours at work so I’m doing whatever I can to help, and that obviously means getting a part time job, so what can I get for you three?” She responded as three pairs of eyes glanced at the menu, Spike assuring them before claw that money was no object to which they had large grins on their faces making him smirk.
“Hmmm...let me get a large order of horseshoe hay fries, a large chocolate and peanut butter shake, and a double decker dandelion sandwich with extra mayonnaise, please.” Scootaloo listed causally causing Dinky to lift an eyebrow in surprise at the amount of food but did her job before turning to look at her other friends.
“I’ll just take five orders of horseshoe hay fries, extra crispy please and a large strawberry milkshake.” Spike said with a nod as they all looked at him as though he was insane before Dinky rolled her eyes with a chuckle and typed in his order then looked at Button Mash who bit his bottom lip as though overwhelmed with the selection.
“Uh….hmmm...I’ll have a...tomato and celery wrap with extra ranch, a medium size of horseshoe hay fries and a wheat shake please.” He finally decided with small, embarrassed smile causing Dinky to giggle before typing in his order and ringing up the amount.
“That will be twenty nine bits, please.” She declared with a small shake of her head as Spike effortlessly gave her the required bits and waved off the receipt hoofed to him.
“You still coming with us to see Slaughter, Dinky?” Spike asked as the young mare frowned with a sigh.
“I would love to, you know I would but I got to work on Friday and still have a magical test from Twilight I have yet to finish, added on top of the class project due next week, I just don’t think I’ll be able to make it.” She responded sadly, her ears lowered making the small group groan in unison.
Ever since she turned thirteen, Twilight had been training both Sweetie Belle and Dinky Doo in the arts of magic, with Twilight it always went more than a little overboard, often making her forget that the two had more of a life to them than just studying and magic and causing more than one heated dispute with both Rarity and Derpy Hooves over how exhausted their sisters came home at night, once making Rarity so upset she almost pulled Sweetie Belle from Twilight’s study sessions.
But the young alicorn informed them that this was necessary for them to enter into Celestia’s school for unicorns at their age and that they were extremely behind in their studies in comparison to others.
In hindsight, Spike could have easily asked his mother if the two could be accepted into the school, but he knew that it would defeat the purpose of all the hard work his friends were putting into their studies. Robbing Twilight of the nearly unlimited knowledge she wanted to share with her students and make it seem as though he favored the two unicorns above so many others, which just wouldn’t be fair to those he didn’t know.
Even still… the school was very expensive to those not born. or rather hatched, into royalty like himself and Twilight’s recommendation was probably more then enough anyway when she saw fit to release them into more professional hooves.
Spike just hoped the two never had to learn or be taught dark magic, even though he was not a unicorn he knew just from Sombra that such an abuse in magic was no joke and could lead to very dangerous or even lethal results.
Snapping out of his train of thought by a hoof smacking him upside the head, from Scootaloo no less, he prayed to the gods that Twilight didn’t go into dark magic, even though his friends would be fully grown adults in one year as he turned and saw that his food was already prepared for him, forcing him to take his tray and shake as Scootaloo and Button Mash followed to sit with their friends saying goodbye to Dinky who waved with a smile.
Joining in on jokes, talks of school which Spike attended when he was thirteen even though he had photographic memory and was ahead of his class, mainly there for companionship on both Twilight’s and his mother’s request and having just a great time with his friends, Button Mash thanking him more than once for buying the food and allowing him to keep his hard earned bits as the drake laughed and slapped his back with chuckle, paying his words of thanks over and over no mind as he took another fry and popped it into his mouth.
Spike knew from just talking with them that Ruby Pinch, Berry Punch’s daughter, who was a unicorn, Snips, Snails, Sun Glimmer, Pearly Whites, and Firelock just didn’t have the time or patience with being trained intensely under Twilight, not that he could blame them, and Pumpkin Cake was still a few years away from learning real magic, though he knew she and her brother, Pound were doing well in school and the shop their parents worked at.
“Has anyone seen Carrot Crunch, Lily Longsocks or Lickety Split this week?” Rumble asked causing the others to think of the last time they saw their other friends.
“Lickety had to move to Baltimare to help his father with financial troubles, Lily is in Canterlot with her sisters for the week and Carrot is working part time at Sugarcube Corner, remember?” Spike responded as the others looked at him in surprise that he remembered all that information making him chuckle with a blush.
“I hope Lickey and his dad are ok.” Truffles commented sadly as Silver Spoon scoffed.
“I heard his parents were getting a divorce, I honestly don’t think he’s coming back to Ponyville.” She responded making more than one pair of eyes glare at her from their seat, Spike had to keep himself from slapping himself in the face with a claw.
Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara, had come a long way from the fillies they used to be, but every once in the while their old nature came back. A little cruel, but Spike knew it wasn’t completely their fault, after all if he was raised by any royal pony but Celestia, he had no doubt he would have turned out the same, or even worse.
“Hey guys, so glad to see you all in one place.” A hyper and excited voice spoke behind Spike as he turned and saw their old pegasus friend, Zipporwhill who quickly adjusted the glasses sliding down her face as all but Truffle who blushed upon noticing her and Scootaloo who was busy draining the rest of her milkshake responded in kind.
“Hey Zip, thought you went to Manehatten with your dad for a month?” Spike spoke confused at her sudden appearance as the pegasus nodded and took a seat from an empty table sliding it over to seat between Truffle and Ruby Pinch, the former’s face so red those who noticed were half surprised he did not just pass out.
“We were able to come home early, what with my dad’s bosses being satisfied with his plans and ideas for the company, wow do I have a lot of homework to catch up on. What’s been going on with everypony and dragon since I was gone?” She asked glancing at Spike with a smile before looking towards the others who told her all that she missed as Spike only half listened while finishing his milkshake before he caught a familiar figure out the corner of his left eye, shocked to see Discord, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash setting at a far table laughing together and enjoying each others company, how he completely missed them was far beyond him.
But the mere thought of what the god could have done to his sister’s private, heavily reinforced bookcase sent a surge of anger through him, and before he even known what he had done, shards of glass were curled in a fist. All of his friends and those around him jumped and turned to the noise on instinct, Spike not even feeling any pain from the action and didn’t snap out of it until Discord and the others had turned to look in his direction.
Dropping the glass onto the table, Spike suddenly lost his appetite, embarrassed at causing a scene and a bit amazed that he wasn’t bleeding from the action. Dragon scales must have been thicker than he had originally suspected.
Sliding the rest of his food over to his friends who ignored it to look in worry at the lone dragon who quietly got up from the table, saying goodbye and that he would see them on Friday, Spike walked out of the restaurant before he caused even more damage as Scootaloo didn’t even speak before she rushed after him, but not before finishing her milkshake. Unknown to all of them, even those who sat before him, Discord cracked a dark grin.
Leaving in an angered huff was the last thing Spike wanted to do today, the doors nearly shattering on impact after he opened them with his strength but he completely ignored it and walked on, the direction and location didn’t matter to him at the moment.
“Hey, Fire Face. Wait up!” Spike heard Scootaloo scream and stopped out of kindness more than anything else as Scootaloo was running so fast she didn’t expect the sudden stop and slammed into his back, dropping to the ground and rubbing her nose, hoping she wasn’t bleeding.
She looked up, about to tell the dragon off when she noticed just how...furious he looked, his claws curled into his palms so tight they should have left indents which were only protected by his scales. Spike started to look….intimidating to her, scary even. The sight before her was unlike anything she ever normally witnessed from her friend and the sad part was she didn’t know what to do.
She wasn’t good with heart to heart talks, with serious conversation, hell she couldn’t even convince Rarity’s cat to take a bath even with a bribe.
But she knew she had to try, something about his attitude, his manners, even his body language was...dangerous. She could have gotten a professional like Twilight or even one of the Princesses, but they were family, and even family was biased when it came to protecting their own.
Spike needed real help, someone who would shut their mouth and listen to what he had to say, or what he was thinking, if he didn’t...Scootaloo worried what the future would bring for the lone reptile.
Being a dragon, even a blind stallion could see that Spike was going to do something he would regret if he didn’t learn to control his temper, he wasn't a pony, he didn’t have a horn to perform magic, or wings to fly away from his problems or even hooves to smash into the ground.
He had claws to easily pierce and tear into flesh, fangs to slice open his enemies and a tail as hard as steel to break open objects ponies could not unless they poured all their strength into it.
Spike’s species by nature were, for all intent and purposes, monsters...very few ponies knew much about them. Even from the dragon migration, none had ever befriended one, at least none that Scootaloo knew of, the fact of the matter was that Spike was going to be king to an entire nation of herbivores, plus a few other non-ponies in four years and he still didn’t have a clue on how to control his darker impulses, it would usher in an age of...she didn’t want to think about it.
Point was, Spike needed those actually willing to listen to his plight, even if Discord had broken into Twilight’s dark spell bookcase they knew nopony could stop him, he did shit like this almost every week, if he ever did get serious enough to want his kingdom back, Equestria would be bucked.
It wasn’t about the dusty, old books...it was about pushing Spike to a point of no return, and the god of chaos knew exactly how to do that, if something was not done soon...Scootaloo didn’t know what would happen, but she would be damned if she let her friend suffer alone...she hasn’t even been able to tell him that she liked him yet.
Shaking her head firmly, Scootaloo marched up and stood in front of her friend, stood as high as her hooves would allow and promptly slapped him hard in the face, naturally breaking him out of his daze and self woe to a chain reaction she would have expected in hindsight.
By mere instinct Spike had Scootaloo’s neck wrapped tight in his tail and had her as high in the air as it would allow, his maw having licks of flames on the edge and his eyes narrowed to slits, literally about to roast her alive before he saw what was happening, and dropped her abruptly.
In seconds his ear fins had dropped, his enraged expression filled with horror and his tail so far away from his claws it could have been used for a ruler, before he dropped to the dirt, head in his claws and wept.
“What’s wrong with me?” He croaked softly, as tears ran down his face.
The pegasus didn’t answer in words, instead she did the only thing she could think of and wrapped him in a sincere hug, Spike so broken down he couldn't even return it or utter a word of incoherent thought, soon nightfall came and he fell asleep.
With the help of her friends, Rainbow Dash and Twilight they all got the dragon, who weighed nearly a ton for his age, into his bed before her friends went home and the adults questioned Scootaloo on what happened as she ignored them, vowing to herself… that she would help Spike as much as she could.
~X~
She sighed, her hoof coming to rub the space between her eyes, for the nth time that hour. A small groan escaped her, as she turned to look at the clock in the far corner of her study.
If she was reading it correctly, it was currently two a.m.
“Twilight?”
Hearing her name called, the alicorn smiled tiredly at the entering Scootaloo, who was currently carrying a tray with a cup of tea, and a biscuit, on it.
Scootaloo looked around for a moment, taking in the cream colored crystal walls, and wooden bookcases. Arranged in the Princess of Friendship’s study space, were several couches, one of which was a “drama” couch for Rarity, another that had a fold out bed for when Twilight pulled her all-nighters. And the other two being normal three-seaters.
In one of those normal ones was Rainbow Dash, her form strung across the cushions, as a blanket lay haphazardly over her form, slipping to the floor. Chuckling at this, she brought over the tray to the lone royalty in the room, who nodded her thanks, and took a sip before snacking on the biscuit.
“Hahhh… Thank you Scootaloo, I appreciate it. Especially the tea.” The “flightless” Crusader grinned, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof.
“Nah, it’s nothing. I’ve watched Spike do this so many times, I’ve pretty much memorized where everything is, by this point.” She said, waving a hoof..
Twilight smiled, as she took in the young pegasus, thinking about how far she’d come over the years. Especially when it came to the friendship she shared with both the rest of the Crusaders, and Spike.
“Really, I am grateful. Not just for this,” she spoke the next part quickly, stopping Scootaloo from retorting. “I appreciate that you don’t hold what happened earlier against him.”
Knowing who she was talking about, Scootaloo huffed slightly, as her eyes shifted to the right a bit, tray under wing. She eyed the books by the desk for a moment, before she coughed.
“Y-yeah, I don’t really like what happened, but I know Spike didn’t mean it. He’s too much of a nice guy to have wanted to do that.” She started, but her expression dropped. “... But it DID still happen, and I’m just wondering if you’ve found out anything yet.”
Seeing the expectant look on her face, Twilight sighed, as she looked to a particular scroll on her desk.
“I hope so. Psychology books, teenaged angst, novels, hormone imbalances and some anatomy books, I’ve been searching through a lot of these, and I’ve been corresponding with Dragon Lady Ember, as well.” The princess explained, lifting the scroll on her desk with her magic, to show Scootaloo.
Seeing the “Dear Dragon Lady Ember”” at the top of the scroll, caused a small twisting feeling in her chest.
Back then, give or take four or five years ago, when Spike had introduced them to the idea of the leader of the dragons, it had been pretty cool.
He told them all about Ember, and the trials they faced, when he’d gone to the Dragonlands. She remembered them all, ‘all’ being the Crusaders and some of the school kids, had been pretty super amazed.
Furthermore, they’d been even further surprised, when he told them of him getting the scepter. Some even questioning if he was a King to the Dragon's, back then, before he told them the rest of the story.
They were more than shocked to know he gave up the title of “Dragon Lord” to this Ember dragoness, before he explained how he didn’t want to leave behind what he’d had here in Ponyville.
She’d remember how awesome she’d thought he was for basically giving up on being royalty, just to stay with them.
Perhaps that was when her interest started growing in him? Wasn’t impossible.
That said, a year later they’d gotten to meet Ember, and Scootaloo remembered how buddy-buddy the two acted with one another, even if Ember acted as if they weren’t that close.
It had seemed so much easier at the time, to just write them off as friends, but as her own feelings grew, she started seeing Ember in a different light.
A not so friendly one, at that.
So yeah, hearing about Ember was one thing. Reading further down the letter she felt conflicted.
Ember was coming over, and she did NOT know how to deal with that.
On the one hoof, Ember was the target of her conflictive “not-friendly” feelings.
On the other hoof, Ember might have had some idea of what was going on with Spike. It was more likely than not, a dragon problem that they couldn’t really help with.
“Oh… That’s great~?” She wasn’t even sure how her voice came out!
Twilight sent her a curious look, raised eyebrow and all. Scootaloo sighed, shoulders slumping.
“No, I mean it. That’s great.” She said it more confidently, this time. If she thought of this in the context of Spike’s health, she felt the concern outway the hostility.
Twilight stared at her a moment longer, gaze narrowing slightly.
“Scootaloo, if something's wrong you can tell me. I might be able to help.” The former-librarian stated, getting a conflicted look from Scootaloo.
Thinking about it, she shook her head in the negative.
“It’s nothing, really. Thanks Twilight, but I’m just… thinking about the movie this Friday.” She said, before she mentally cursed.
Dammit, if that didn’t sound insensitive.
Twilight looked at her, unconvinced, before she decided to allow her this excuse.
“Well, hopefully Spike will be over… whatever this is, so you guys can go on your date Friday.” She said with a smile, causing Scootaloo to nod, before she froze, the pegasus’s cheeks burning.
She barely restrained her response to a normal volume.
“What?! No! Nonononono, it is not a d-date! Okay! It isn’t, can’t be- everypony else is going to be there!” Each response was accompanied with a flap of her unoccupied wing.
Twilight smiled at her,
“Of course, of course, my bad. Now go along, I’m sure you could use some sleep.” The Princess of Friendship said, almost TOO easily, leaving the flustered pegasus to exit the room in a hurry.
Ten seconds after she left, a certain pegasus’s head rose from the couch, with half-lidded eyes.
“She’s got it, bad.” Her piece said, Rainbow fell back to her slumber.
Twilight stared at her friend for a moment, before she shook her in disbelief.
These ponies.
~X~
She stalked her way back to her room, leaving the kitchen.
She shook her head, as she stared down at the crystal flooring, face still red from earlier.
‘Stupid, stupid, stupid.’
She couldn’t help it, she’d been caught off-guard by Twilight’s comment from earlier, which in turn lead to her thinking FAR too much of what was supposed to be an outing with friends.
‘It’s not a date, obviously. Not with everypony else. N-not that I would m-mind.’ Her thoughts weren’t exactly rebelling against the idea.
They’d personally been planning to see this movie for a while. It HAD originally been just the two of them, but then they’d heard of the others going to see it, and it became a class-wide extravaganza.
‘... Dammit.’ She thought, before she looked up and stopped. Head moving around a bit, she blinked.
Where was she again?
“...Ugh! Fantastic.” Scootaloo muttered, as she sat on her haunches for a moment. She rubbed her eyes with a hoof, as she fought off both the annoyance, and the weariness.
“Now where am I?” She asked herself, as she stood up, shook herself awake and began to pace. She remembered walking straight from the kitchen, but she’d been paying little attention at the time.
What corridor was she in? Looking up at the hallways, she spotted a emerald gemstone, in the shape of an arrow pointing downward.
Wait, now that she thought about it, that arrow looked familiar.
“Scootaloo?”
She froze, as she heard the voice. Her mind catching up, as she slowly turned to her right, where a door had opened.
~X~
Looking at her with confusion, Spike blinked, as he saw the pony who’d been pacing a hole in front of his door.
He was surprised, honestly. He was expecting it to be Twilight, and it couldn’t have been Starlight because she wasn’t in the castle today, nor would she for the rest of the week,
He was not expecting it to be Scootaloo.
Staring at her, he looked back into his room, at the clock, and saw it was half past two. Turning back to her, he frowned.
She’d been staring at him the whole time,before she shook herself out of her daze.
“W-wha?” She stuttered, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
“Uh… Hey Scoots, why are you outside my door?”
“Oh, that… I kind of got lost. Now I’m not though!” She quickly appended. “Since I’m in your hallway, that means my room is in the opposite corridor, one flight down. All I… gotta do is,” she was interrupted by her own yawn, blinking her eyes slowly.
Seeing her, and thinking about the trek she was about to make, he made a decision.
Scratching the back of his neck, he sent her a concerned look.
“You can crash here, if you want.” He said, causing her to look at him with a dazed expression.
She didn’t look like she was all there, but she slowly nodded before yawning again. He took that as enough confirmation, and waved her into the room, before closing the door behind them.
Mid-way through her stride into Spike’s room, Scootaloo’s mind decided that now she was ready to understand what she’d just done.
Blinking rapidly for a moment, she stared at the familiar looking king-sized bed. She’d read more Power-Ponies comics on that bed, than she could count (she thinks there were about one hundred and forty two issues, maybe.), and that caused her to freeze.
Looking at the nightside table, with a wicked green lava lamp on it, cinched it.
She was in Spike’s room.
Her mind-freezing realization caused her to let out a squeak, which was ignored by the drowsy drake, as he went to his closet, retrieved some sheets and walked back over to her.
“You can take the bed,” he paused to yawn, even as he took one of his pillows from said place of rest. “I’ll just take the floor.” His piece said, he quickly began to arrange his quarters on the rug of the room.
“Wait, Spike, hold on!” She whispered, in a slightly loud tone.
“Hm?” He continued setting up, but the uplifting of his earfin told he was listening.
“You know I don’t need t- heck, I usually sleep on the floor.”
She wasn’t wrong here. Whenever she did come over to hang out, and they had sleepover every now and then, she’d easily take the floor. Sure he offered the bed, almost every time, but she wasn’t some filly-filly, who couldn’t handle a floor.
She was no glass figurine, but a grown, by her standards, mare who could handle whatever came her way.
Looking at her, he shrugged before continuing to set himself up on the floor. She narrowed her eyes at him,
“Spike I’m seri-”
“Yeah, and so am I. Just take the bed, Scootaloo.” He cut her off, before quickly setting into his sheets.
Staring at the unmoving drake, she snorted once, before turning to the bed.
Her eyes narrowed.
~X~
He turned over, ending their conversation, as he tried to get back to sleep.
Hearing the sounds of rustling sheets, he tried to return back to the land of sleep, only to be disturbed by the sound of thumping hooves.
He wanted to wish he was hearing things, but the moment, he felt the floor next to him vibrate, he let out a sigh, as he also heard sheets.
Tired green eyes stared into unbending magenta.
“Seriously, Scoots?” He said, tone belaying defeat, as she rose an eyebrow at him.
“Okay, now I know something’s up. Spike, you know I have no problem sleeping on the floor. It’s a FLOOR, it’s not planning on hurting me.” She said, her eyes narrowed at his own.
“... Just go to sleep Scootaloo.”
“Does this have anything to do with what happened today?”
“...”
She noted that he didn’t answer, before letting out an aggravated sigh.
“You know I don’t hold it against you, right?”
“...”
“Spike!” He grunted.
“What happened today, wasn’t okay Scoots.” He gave up trying to ignore her; it was easier on both of them, this way.
She stared him for a few moments, before cuffing him on the earfin.
He let out a yelp, as he rubbed a claw to it, before glaring at Scootaloo, who glared back.
“What,” he began to growl out, before he reigned himself in. Scootaloo spoke, without even giving the dragon a chance.
“What’s done is done! Of course we know that what happened yesterday wasn’t okay. Duh! But you moping about this, isn’t going to make anypony feel better.” She whispered, eyes narrowing in on his own.
“Dammit Scootaloo! This isn’t a game! You don’t know anything about what what could have gone down earlier!” He glared, eyes alight in the dark. The pegasus actually froze for a moment, as she laid bound by his gaze.
She barely could speak up.
“Y-you don’t- I’m tough, Spike.” What came out of her mouth wasn’t confident. His eye display causing her to shrink back, as he encroached upon her form, his blankets abandoned.
“No you’re not.” He said, towering over her on all fours, as she found herself on her back, luckily having the blankets to cushion her stiff wings. Seeing her frightened gaze, he felt a mix of both accomplishment, and shame.
He stared at her for a few moments longer, before he sighed. His tired eyes catching hers.
“You’re not, Scoots. Not to a manticore, and not to me.” He lifted a claw up, the dangerous appendage gleaming in what slight moonlight there was in the room, before removed himself from over her, and moved past his bed, to his balcony.
The balcony had been a welcome addition to his new room space, a few years back. Sure he couldn’t use it to take off, no wings for that, but he enjoyed the view.
Plus, it helped when he was feeling introspective.
Opening the glass doors allowed himself some peace, in the warm night. Moonlight fell down over the sight of Ponyville after dark, and he simply allowed his eyes to stay on the town.
Scootaloo, heart finally calming down from the frightful display from earlier, sat up. She looked over to where Spike was, the drake sitting on his haunches in the rays from outside, casting a dark shadow over his lowered head.
She found herself at a crossroad.
Clearly, Spike wanted to sulk in his guilt. He didn’t want the words spewing from her mouth, nor her comments.
Thinking back on what happened earlier, she found herself shivering, as she realized a small bold truth in what had transpired.
Spike was changing.
Whether he, she or whoever wanted it, he was changing. Changing in ways she, as much as she hated to admit it, did not understand.
This might have been a dragon othing, a male thing or both, but the fact was she didn’t fully get what was going on with him.
The sane thing to do, was to just leave him alone. He’d snuffed her attempts, right? He deserved to be alone for a bit after that. That’s what any sane pony would do.
“...”
Turning her head slightly to the right, her eyes caught something.
~X~
Looking over the visage of Ponyville, he felt, not at peace, but better at least.
Spike was many things, a scholar in some ways, a teenager, a soon-to-be Prince (Or King, he wasn’t sure how that even worked here.)
But above all else, he was a dragon…
And a terrible friend.
He sighed, as he heard the shuffling of cloth behind him, probably Scootaloo taking a hint and going to sleep, before he perked.
The sounds of hooves approaching from his back, caused him to hold his breath.
‘Why?’ He had wonder, as he turned his head slightly to find Scootaloo slowly making her way to him.
She froze from his stare alone, and he felt his guilt multiply aa few notches, before she seemed to power through and make her way to his side.
She found her place a couple of feet to his left, and sat down, as he did.
They didn’t speak, merely allowing the nighttime sounds to fill the space between them.
Both dragon, and pegasus, kept their faces forward. Ever still, they knew that neither wanted to broach the subject of what happened, a few moments earlier.
Spike knew he didn’t deserve her being anywhere near him, and he was sure she knew too, so why she’d come out here alluded him.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Seconds past with neither saying a thing, and it felt like it’d remain that way.
Both of them turned as one, as the light above them seemed to intensify. The moon seemed particularly glowy, and intense, in comparison to a few moments ago.
Both blinked.
Spike’s visage twisted, and Scootaloo’s lips tilted into a grimace, before both sighed.
“You’re right.”
“Huh?”
Spike turned to the orange pegasus, whose eyes were facing forward, lips dipping downward. His expression settled into narrow-eyed confusion, as she seemed to think over her words.
Turning towards him, resigned amethysts met slowly widening garnets, and Spike flinched.
“You’re right, I don’t understand. I don’t understand what you’re going through. I’m not boy, a dragon and especially not a boy dragon. I’m a pegasus, who can’t fly. A filly, who’s trying to figure out some way to help her best male friend, and can’t. Somepony who’s feeling pretty useless, right now.” She said, each word causing the dragon at her side to dip his head lower, and lower.
“I’m weak…” She sighed out, before her eyes steeled with unrelenting resolve, that caused his heart to pound.
“That doesn’t mean, I’m going to stop trying. Just because I couldn’t fly, didn’t mean I gave up everything. No pony truly understood, but I kept going, because I had others who cared. Others who accepted me as I am.” She started, capturing him with her own gaze. “Because I know that when you don’t feel like anypony understands, THAT is when you need others to help you.” That said, she moved her wing, to reveal something.
Spike’s eyes widened, as he stared at his honorary CMC badge, the center symbols replaced by both a rolled-up scroll, and a flame.
He remembered when he’d been given this from them. It had been some time ago, possibly a month, or so, after that Gabby Griffin girl had come, and gone.
They’d given it to him, both as a symbol of their friendship and because, just like them, he’d done his best to help out everypony.
Setting down the badges, she pushed them further towards him.
His claw reached out for one, stopping slightly, before he’d picked it up and looked at it.
Numerous scratches, a few chips, but it was his. HIS badge.
“I know it may not mean as much to you, but I’m your friend, and I take that seriously. When one of my friends is hurt, I don’t feel good at all Spike. I’m not Twilight, but I hold Friendship as something sacred.” Her piece said, she turned back towards Ponyville.
She wasn’t sure what kind of response she was expecting, to be honest. He might just go back inside to think about this. He might have been overwhelmed by her awesome speech, or he could continue being a stubborn ass.
“You’re wrong about a few things Scootaloo.” The drake spoke up, causing her to tilt her head, but not turn to him. She did her best to keep her serious visage, even if she was sweating internally on what he might say.
“...” Like she did before, he seemed to think carefully on what he wanted to say, before opening his mouth.
“You’re not my friend.” She felt her head snap in his direction, mouth agape at him.
He opens his mouth, and that’s what comes out of it?!
Seeing her expression, he snickered, before settling into a smirk.
“You’re my BEST friend. Even more so than Sweetie, Apple Bloom or even Rumble. That’s one thing to correct you on, well besides your homework.” Her mouth dropped again, and he laughed outloud.
“Not just that, but many things. You’re not weak Scootaloo, at least, not where it counts.”
“Huh?” She tilted her head at him, and he rolled his eyes.
“I may be strong, willing to take a fight to anybody, but that means nothing in the long run.” He stared at her, and she felt her chest tighten, her wings slightly flutter and her cheeks brightening. “It was something mom always told me, and I thought I truly understood.”
“One who rules, does not do so only through strength of the body, but also of heart.” He recited, the words resonating with both of them.
“One can rule by strength of character, powerful intuition or powerful wisdom. Each makes a ruler, but they need the others, or at least some of them, to make a great one. It’s why even if he seems kind of… brutish, Torch ruled the dragons. Even if the trials seem to all be about strength, they do make sure that the one who wins, is willing to continue on, and push forward to a goal. Good or bad, it doesn’t really matter.” He spoke from experience, remembering Garble meeting him and Ember during the Gauntlet of Fire.
“Hmm.” She hummed, and he got back on track.
“Anyway, I thought I knew that, but today proves that I’m definitely not ready yet. When I shut you out, it proved I wasn’t ready. No one is infallible, but everyone needs help from those around them.” He turned towards Ponyville.
“I want to thank you for that. You’re not a dragon, but you’re a pegasus who works to help others. Not just ponies, but all races.” He grinned.
“That makes you pretty amazing, if you ask me.”
Had she flubbed pulling a trick off at the X-games, she didn’t think her cheeks would reach as red as they did now.
Sweet Celestia, Spike knew how to lay it on thick! Not that she was complaining.
“Ah, umm, geez.” She scratched at the back of her head, thoroughly embarrassed. “Well, I’m glad that you think so highly of me.”
“Oh make no mistake, I do.”
Damn him and his smooth talking skills! Stop making her head so light!
“Well, I think you’re pretty cool too. I mean, you’re able to remember ANYTHING, if you put your mind to it. That totally demolishes school work, plus I bet it will help with ruling and stuff.” She started, gaining ground. “You know, while it’s not everything, I do think being strong does mean something. It’s like, uh… leading by example, yeah! Everypony is going to look up to you, and I doubt they would, if you were a gut dragon, instead of a strong one.”
They both laughed at that, having gotten closer, somehow, while they were talking.
“As for character and intuition, I think you’ll do fine. You seem to understand when you’re in the wrong, even if you’re a butt when knowing so,” he look offended, causing her to roll her eyes this time. “Oh please, you know you were being an ass, get over it.” He was such a drama queen.
Spike looked at her, before he snorted. Taking that as a go ahead, she continued.
“As for wisdom…” They looked to one another, and both shook their heads. “Yeah, neither of us have got that one, so I guess you know what to work with.”
“Well that’s why I have everypony else with me. They help keep me thinking right.” He said, before looking up at the clouds. “Especially with this whole thing going on with me.”
Her eyes widening, Scootaloo spoke.
“Ah! Oh geez, I totally forgot.” Her rambling caught the royal dragon’s attention. “Ya see, Ember’s supposed to be coming tomorrow. To help you with this whole… whatever this is.” She rolled her hoof.
Spike blinked, before a smile came to his lips. Said expression caused her chest to twist in a painful fashion.
“Ember’s coming? That’s, that’ll… I don’t know what it’ll be, but it’ll be great to see her again.” He got out, as he thought about his dragoness friend. Scootaloo, seeing this, huffed. Her feathers ruffling, as she mumbled in heated whispers.
Spike paid her little heed, mind on the fact that hopefully the Dragon Lady would be able to help him. Looking up at the moon once more, he blinked.
Turning around, he walked back into the room, badge in claw, speaking over his shoulder.
“Come on Scoots, I think it’s time we actually hit the hay.” He said, giving her pause in her heated mumbles. Turning to look at him, she saw him quirk an eyebrow in her direction, before the orange pegasus found herself blushing.
“O-oh! Um, yeah, time to get to sleep.”
Making their ways over to the abandon sheets on the floor, they began to wrap them around themselves.
Snuggling into her sheets, she closed her eyes, the last thing she saw was Spike peering out from his own cloth cocoon.
~X~
Checking to see if she finally fell asleep, Spike removed himself from his sheets.
Walking himself over to the slumbering pegasus, he picked her up with as much care as he could, and brought her over to the bed.
Looking down at her, as she moved slightly, before rest more against the bed itself.
His eyes softened, as he looked at her once more.
“Thanks Scootaloo, I mean it.”
“You couldn’t just leave it, huh?” She spoke out, surprising him. His eyes meeting her tired ones, before he smirked. Even though she probably couldn’t see it.
“Well, you know me.” He shrugged.
Scootaloo could only stared at him blearily, latching on to the only real visible portion of him, that she could: His eyes.
Those slightly glowing green orbs, that looked at her with amusement.
Huh, they weren’t so scary anymore, but they still caused her heart to pound, just a bit faster nonetheless.
“I’ll get you back, you know.”
“Right,” Spike snorted. “Go to sleep, Scootaloo.”
Her eyes following his command this time, she slipped into the world of dreams.
He made sure to wait for her to snore loudly, before going back, and curling into his sheets.
In his claws, he held his badge close to his chest, as he followed his friend into the dreaming realm.
~X~
The following morning had come with a few pleasant surprises for Twilight, and company.
Spike being more receptive to them was the first, Scootaloo’s more positive attitude was another and Ember’s quick arrival was the last.
As they spoke, Ember was currently speaking with Spike, in a sectioned off room.
The dragoness had made some rather strange requests though, beforehoof.
One: A room large enough to fit a couple carriages.
Two: It had to be spacious, and empty.
Three: No others in the room, besides her and Spike.
Four: A silence spell.
The dragoness had even brought with her a bag, full of something that clinked and jingled. Taking it into the room, before asking for Spike to enter.
That had been maybe close to half an hour ago.
Outside the room, the pair of Twilight, and Scootaloo, had laid in wait. Each of the two sitting on either side of the door leading into the room.
Scootaloo with a set of Spike’s comics on hoof, and Twilight with a large amount of scrolls.
The princess was looking over a scroll, at the same time she quickly swiveled her head at the flash of light coming from underneath the door. She could see Scootaloo blatantly ignoring the comics in her possession, to eye the door.
The whole of Ember’s visit had been some sort of trial to the young pegasus, strangely. It was weird when it was just Scootaloo, but she noted that Ember seemed to also be in on it and she seemed to allow Scootaloo to do as she pleased.
Strange, indeed. She’d have to see what she could skim from this, at a later date.
There was another flash, this one being brighter than the previous ones, before it died down again.
Another fifteen minutes passed, before there was a sound, causing both ponies to shoot up as Ember exited the door.
The dragoness had changed just as much, if not slightly less, as Spike had over the years.
Taller, more muscular, but still lean enough to have a feminine shape, Ember had matured well into her own dragon puberty. Her wings being larger to support her shape, her horns having gained a darker tint over the years and her whole face gaining more rough, but smooth, edges. She even wore armor, not unlike her father before her, mostly just a golden chest plate. Finishing it off, was the Bloodstone Scepter in her claw.
She was far more fetching than she was when they’d first met, Twilight was willing to admit.
The Dragon Lady turned to Twilight, and Scootaloo, her face impassive before it turned into a small smile, easing their worries some.
“Ember? Did you help Spike figure out his problem? Was it something severe?! Did something irreversible happen?! Oh Celestia! I knew I shou-!” Twilight’s panicking was brought to a halt, as the blue dragoness held up a claw, her eyes narrowed slightly.
Twilight let out an embarrassed chuckle, as she scuffed the floor slightly. Ember’s eyes softened, her smile remaining.
Scootaloo locked eyes with the dragon leader, who simply nodded her head.
“It’s fine. Spike’s fine, well, he will be. Actually that’s something I need to talk to you about.” Ember explained before her expression shifted, lips going straight, as she crossed her arms.
The two ponies felt something cold settle into their stomachs.
“What?”
“Twilight…. Why hasn’t Spike been hoarding?” Ember asked, causing both pegasus, and alicorn, to blink.
“Hoarding?” Scootaloo seeked out, in thought, as Ember nodded.
“Yes, hoarding. Something every dragon needs to do.” Here Twilight frowned, as she looked to Ember for an explanation.
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s kind of like this. You guys, ponies, you guys deal with all that “friendship is magic” stuff. That’s your core principle, sort of. I bet you’ve noticed what’s happened to lots of your kind when they haven’t either: embrace, accepted or at least acknowledge it, in their lives.” The dragon female began, getting a further confused look from the princess.
“I can sort of understand what you’re getting at.” She mumbled, leaving Scootaloo to look between the two. Seeing her expression, Ember explained.
“For Spike, for dragons in general, greed is a part of us. Just as much as friendship is a part of you guys. Think of the changelings, King Thorax himself, they thrive off love. They don’t steal it anymore, but it’s still a large part of their lives. Greed is a large part of OUR lives.” Embered pressed a claw to her chestplate, giving emphasis to her words.
“Wait, so Spike acted like that because… he needed to be greedy?” Scootaloo couldn’t really wrap her head around the concept of it.
He needed to start being greedy, to not be aggressive? That sounded more than just a little messed up.
“Right now, I have him doing some greed exercises?” Ember sounded unsure, as she scratched the side of her horn. “I’ve never really done that before, heck, NO DRAGON has ever had this problem before. None have ever just…ignored their heritage like this, so I’m more than a little out of my depth.”
“... Can I go in, and see him?” Scootaloo asked, getting Ember’s attention. The two female teens, well Scootaloo was, Ember was about to hit her twentieth birthday soon, stared at one another for a moment.
Ember seemed to be searching for something, before a glint entered her eyes, and she nodded her head.
~X~
He looked at the small pile of gem, coins and gold, and squinted his eyes at them, before sighing.
He allowed himself to fall backwards into the pile, the jingling of displaced coins greeting him, and closed his eyes.
___________________________________________
“I’ve never really done this, before. Just, just… try and focus on being greedy.”
___________________________________________
‘That’s a lot easier said, than done.’
“Uh…” He flinched at the voice, eyes snapping wide open, to stare at Scootaloo. Said pegasus was looking at him with a confused expression.
“Am I interrupting something? Like some weird dragon meditation ritual?” She asked, as she made her way over to his pile of things.
Quickly relaxing back into the gold, he snorted out a cloud of black smoke.
“I wish, I didn’t think being a dragon would be something I found HARD.” He grunted out, as she climbed up the small incline material splendor, before depositing her rump on the pile.
“So how’s it going?”
“Bad. To cut a long story short, my outburst was due to not being greedy.”
“Yeah, she kind of gave us a break down on that. It’s so weird.” Spike chuckled at her reply.
“That doesn’t cover even half of it. She said to just think of what makes me feel greedy, but that doesn’t really do it for me.” His stomach rumbled. “It just makes me hungry. We’ve had a couple moments of progress, but so far nothing really sticks. I’m better than I was before, at least, so things are looking up.” He stated, but she threw him a worried look.
“But…”
“.... Haa, but I do need to get this greed thing handled, if we don’t want a relapse.” The drake admitted, closing his eyes again.
Scootaloo allowed herself to rest back next to him, being careful to adjust her wings into the crevice of a golden goblet, before she closed her own eyes.
Thinking on it, for a moment, she spoke out.
“Well, what DO you want so much you’d be greedy for it?”
His own eyes closed, he responded.
“I, I’m not sure.” He admitted. “That’s just the thing, I don’t really WANT anything. I love my life as is.”
“Don’t you want to do anything in the future?”
“Nothing that I think of tops literally being KING. Prince, King-Prince? I don’t know, but it’s like this. I’m not exactly looking to have money, I only really want is maybe food, which I can make myself.”
“Well, what’s something you DON’T have?”
“Didn’t I just-”
“Think HARD, Spike. Don’t worry about anything else. Think of what greed is like, and try to apply it to something you want.”
His eyes closed ever still, his brows narrowed at the statement, but did as he was told.
“Ya following me?”
“Right, right. Okay, I’m thinking about greed, it’s-”
“Uh uh uh, no telling. Remember GREEDY. If you’re greedy, you don’t want others to know what it is. Now, think of ONE thing.”
He thought about it, and tried to rationale something he didn’t have, or would receive easily in the future.
He kept cycling through some things, before he’d settled on one thing.
“Okay, I got something.” He muttered.
“Good, now simply expand on that thing, SLOWLY. Like, what about it, makes you want it. Make sure to REALLY spend time thinking on it.”
He did, something coming into his mind’s eye.
Pools, one within the other. White, purple and then black. Circular, and he felt like he could fall into them and never want to leave.
He wasn’t sure why that kind of imagery came to mind, but he rolled with it.
Slowly that imagery spaced slightly, with a burst of orange between, and around, it.
Soft was the first thought, then tough, but a different kind of “tough”. Not like rough material, but a more spiritual quality.
The further he went with this thought, the more his eyebrows rose, before his eyes snapped open, the greens that were his irises, glowing with a lusting flame.
~X~
They’d walked, as they talked, leading them a couple paces away from the room so they wouldn’t disturb Spike’s concentration.
Which Twilight found weird, because Ember let Scootaloo into the room, just fine.
Twilight listened to Ember, as they quickly broke down a list of things that could reasonably be done to help Spike, before the feel of large vibrations hit them.
The next moment found them dashing towards Spike, and Scootaloo.
Entering the room in a hurry, they stopped short, as all they found was a blushing pegasus, a couple large footprints and a curled up Spike in a pile of gold.
Seeing the two adults, Scootaloo felt her face get a little bit more red, before she noticed the two entering the room.
With an embarrassed grin, she chuckled.
“Um, I think we made progress?”
~X~
“So this “movie” thing. That’s the one with those moving pictures, you showed before, right Spike?”
“Yeah, though what we’re going to do is go to a movie theatre, to watch them this time. Think of it like a big stadium, where you watch movies with other ponies, or dragons.”
“...”
The previous day’s circumstances had passed. It was finally Friday evening, and it was time to watch a scary movie!
Ember’s presence wasn’t an unpleasant one, at least not to Spike. He was glad his dragoness friend was able to hang with them, considering he barely got to see her outside of “business” business.
He was surprised to find that Scootaloo had been the one to invite her, all things considered, she’d seemed like she had beef with Ember the past day.
Perhaps he was just imagining things.
Peering ahead to the Grand Ball Movies, he could already see the large group of their friends waiting outside of the theatre.
“Huh? Hey Spike!” Rumble’s head sprouted from the crowd of teens, catching the trio’s attention.
Coming out of the moving bodies, Rumble trotted on over, getting a hoofbump from Scootaloo, and Spike’s equivalent. Turning to the third attendee, Rumble stared for a moment.
Ember merely stood by Spike’s side, feeling slightly uncomfortable. She waved slightly, causing Rumble to wave back a bit as well, in uncertainty.
“Um, Ember, right?” She blinked. “Yeah, we might not have met, but Spike’s told us about you. Nice ta meetcha, I’m Rumble. The next best weatherpony, known to pegasus kind!” He introduced, moving back onto his hind hooves, for a two legged salute.
Seeing Ember’s flustered expression, Spike chuckled, before he blew a small burst of flame in Rumble’s direction. The pegasus’s eyes widened, before he hopped backwards, right into the crowd of the other teens.
“Hey Spike, wh- whoa, whoa! Watch out!”
Watching the spectacle of a pony dogpile, Spike and Scootaloo laughed.
“Hehe. Okay, I guess I should go and help Rumble, before Silver Spoon tears him a new one.” With that the male dragon walked off to perform damage control. He could already hear Rumble’s screams of terror, as he was backing away from a certain silver maned mare.
Left to the sidelines, Ember could only look on, as Spike negotiated between the two ponies. His words calming the enraged one, and causing the blue-grey pegasus to let out a sigh of relief.
“He’s really good at this.” She mumbled to herself.
“He really is, huh?” Said Scootaloo, from her side. Looking at the orange pegasus for a moment, she turned her head back to the chaos.
“Shouldn’t you also be over there? They are your friends, right?”
“What would you do then? I have a feeling, you don’t really know anypony but me and Spike.” Scootaloo refuted, causing Ember to flush slightly.
“Well, I’d… Uh…” The non-flying pegasus nodded her head.
“Exactly. I’m not going to leave you out in the lurch. I mean, we are friends, right?” Here Ember chuckled, scratching the bridge of her snout.
“I honestly wasn’t sure. All of yesterday morning, I’d thought I’d done something to get on your bad side.” Scootaloo let out a small whine, before frowning.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I honestly didn’t mean it, seriously. I was just dealing with some things at the time.” The dragon leader stared at her, before she chuckled.
“I’m not going to take him away from you, you know.” The CMC leader froze, face catching aflame, as she stuttered.
“Wha-what? I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Ember wasn’t convinced.
“Scootaloo, you don’t have to hide it from me. I’ve known for a while now, actually.”
She gaped at the dragon princess, who snorted slightly. The background noise of Rumble shouting at Spike for “Setting him up”, and Snails commentary about thanking Rumble for paying for his ticket, ignored.
Scootaloo looked like she was about to say something, thought better of it, and deflated while Ember nodded.
“Yeah, but like I said, I’m not getting in your way. If anything, you just need the right push to get him to notice.” Blinking away the embarrassed flare across her snout, she had to ask.
“I don’t get it.” The blue dragoness raised an eyebrow. “I thought you totally had a thing for Spike. Is this one of those “misinterpreting” things?” She asked, before she saw the line of red across Ember’s own visage, as she crossed her own limbs.
“I-it’s not like I d-don’t like him.” She got, only confusing Scootaloo more.
“So why?” Thinking it over, blush still on her face, she explained.
“Scootaloo, obviously you know I’m a dragon.” The CMC founder nodded. “I think it should be pretty obvious.” Scootaloo still frowned, not getting it.
“... Nah, you’re gonna have to spell it out for me. I’ve been doing enough cryptic thinking these past few days. I’d honestly like a straight answer.” The orange mare stated, getting a roll of the eyes from the dragoness.
“Spike and I have something most of you ponies don’t have.”
“Scales? Fire breath? Weird tongue allergies?”
“What? No! Time, Scootaloo, time.”
“Oh.” The dragoness nodded, the both of them could see the crowd of teens’ noises dying down. Time to wrap this up.
“I, I DO like Spike. A lot.” Here she cast her gaze in his direction, blues softening with a familiar quality to Scootaloo. “Spike’s amazing to me. He’s done more than I have, and he’s YOUNGER than I am. He tells me of all the adventures he goes on, and it makes me feel…I don’t know, like I need to do better. BE better, before I can pop the question.”
“Ember…” Scootaloo couldn’t really believe what she was hearing. “You know he thinks you’re amazing, don’t you? You were the first dragon to show him that not all of them were big jerks! No offense.”
“None taken, we kind of are.”
“Right, so as I was saying, Spike doesn’t care, ya know. He thinks you’re awesome.” Ember rubbed her arm, feeling the heat in her cheeks. “Yeah, so don’t think you have to be anything other than yourself. Spike wouldn’t care, he only cares about what’s inside.” Here Scootaloo made a complicated expression, before it cleared away to show a resolute look.
“And, well, if you REALLY do like Spike… There’s this thing called herds. It’s kind of like a multiple pony relationship thing.” Ember shot her a weird look. “Hey don’t look at me like that! Like I said, it’s a pony thing. While I’m not SUPER excited about it… You’re pretty cool. So I wouldn’t mind it.” She was conflicted about this, but Ember had been straight up about it, once she pushed a little.
Scootaloo could admire somepony who could step aside for their chance, just to give others a shot. It was actually really cool of her, the more she thought about it. Maybe this wouldn’t be so-
“Nah.”
Wait what?
“Huh?!” She was confused!
Seeing Scootaloo’s shock, Ember chuckled, as she saw Spike and the others waving them over.
“Scootaloo, I appreciate the offer, really. It’s just not me though. While I’m sure Spike could definitely love us both equally, I honestly don’t feel it’s for me. Besides I’ve still gotta get this whole ruling thing down, so I’ll have little time for relationships.”
“But I thought-”
“Oh make no mistake, I’m going to get my due.” She walked forward towards Spike, before looking back at the pegasus.
Scootaloo couldn’t help but notice how bright Ember’s eyes could shine in the darkening evening of the sunset’s shadows. An azure flame threatening to engulf everything in its path, to claim and hold onto for as long as it burned.
And that path currently had Spike, in its sights.
“Dragons are greedy, after all.”
~X~
Making the way to their seats, they each found themselves a chair, with Spike being caught on both sides by Scootaloo and Ember.
The drake could see Rumble two seats down, glaring up at him, as Silver Spoon sat to his left. To his right was Snails.
Spike waved at him, cheekily.
In that moment, there was a lack of light, as the movie began.
“Hey Spike?” The purple drake turned to his left, as Ember stared at the movie screen.
“Yeah?”
“What’s this movie even about?” Spike, and Scootaloo’s, eyes went wide.
“Oh, oh no.” The pegasus muttered, as realized they’d just walked in here, paid for Ember’s ticket, and acted like nothing was wrong.
Seeing their gazes, Ember blinked.
“What?”
“Well… How are you with scary stuff?” Scootaloo asked, a wary undertone attached.
“I’d think pretty good.” She responded, causing both to ease a little.
“Oh, okay. Good.” Spike said, relaxing a bit.
Scootaloo did as well, but right as they did, they saw the movie begin.
~X~
‘Why did I think this movie was a good idea?!’
‘Oh gosh, oh gosh!’ A squelch sounded out. ‘Ahhhhhhhh!’
‘Whoa… That was so wicked! Do it again!’
The three varying thoughts of the trio, described how the were feeling quite adequately.
Scootaloo’s eyes seemed to be stuck to the screen. The flightless pegasus’s chest heaving up and down, as she shook in her seat.
Spike fared no better, as his claws crushed the tip of the seat he sat on, his face going green at the sound of whirling blades going through flesh.
Ember’s eyes seemed to dance in delight, as she watched the gory horror play on screen.
The next moment, there was the roar of a chainsaw that had the audience shitting their collective, non-existent pants.
“AAAAAHHHH!!!”
Many let out terror filled screams, as adult, and teen alike, screamed their lungs hoarse.
Rumble jumped so high, he might as well have been attached to the ceiling, as Silver Spoon fainted on the spot. Snails was surprisingly still, his face frozen in his usual expression. Were one to try and catch his attention, they’d find that he’d be unresponsive as Snips nearly punched himself in the face trying to shield his eyes from the nightmares he would no doubt have for weeks.
Archer spat out her drink both in horror and disgust, unfortunately it was aimed at both Truffle and Shady Daze below her who shouted in rage, as she had to keep from apologizing due to there being dialogue being heard and she actually liked the movie, hoping her cousin was not being a wimp.
While Featherweight and Pipsqueak both had to keep themselves from soiling their tails, Zipporwhill was nearly crushing Truffle’s hoof in her own to which he would have loved this moment if he wasn’t in so much pain and covered in soda.
Diamond Teria nearly fainted in her seat from the horror on the screen while next to her Button Mash’s eyes lit up in excitement, as he thought the terror was similar to a video game he loved, while Ruby Pinch and Twist’s face were as white as a ghost and Carrot Crunch had to keep from vomiting on the floor, wishing Dinky Doo was here since knowing she was a fan of horror.
Scootaloo quickly wondered what Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom would think of this if they were here as the thought was instantly erased out of her mind from the sight of a masked Griffin tearing apart a filly limb by limb as the mother screamed out loud and in tears that the gods saved her baby and Scootaloo was forced to grip Spike’s claw in her hoof as the Griffin tore off his mask and gave a dark, terrifying smile.
Ember let out a cheer, as Spike seemed to teleport into Scootaloo’s forelegs, both pegasus and dragon latching onto one another, before they fell forward.
They fumbled with themselves a little, as the movie screen seemed to go dark, making their situation even harder,
Once some form of light had returned, they found themselves in quite the interesting predicament.
Spike stared upwards, as Scootaloo stared back. The pegasus’s left foreleg to his right, as her left lay against his scaly chest.
Scootaloo felt her chest thumping, both from the earlier scare and her current situation. The young drake’s arm had been used to prop himself up some, but that only made the presence of her hoof on his chest more blatant.
Not only that, but with his slight elevation from said arm, their faces found themselves EXTREMELY, close. Enough so, that both could see the red on each other’s face, regardless of the dark area.
Their hearts beating against their chests, matching in rhythm, as they felt themselves lock in place.
Spike looked at Scootaloo’s eyes, those shining spheres that seemed to pull him in. The same eyes which coincidentally lead to this reversal of position yesterday.
The large dragonic form stared down at the lone pegasus. His body easily dwarfing her own, as he curled slightly over, large claws bracing himself around her.
Scootaloo stared up at Spike’s, now larger than life, form.
Emerald eyes that seemed to focus solely on her, with a glimmering flame behind them, nearly made her heart burst from her chest.
Feeling the rush of heat spread to her face, she tried to understand what this could possibly mean.
She thought back to everything she’d told Spike.
Think of something, and slowly expand on it.
Something you didn’t have, and all the features that made it more and more appealing to you.
The further she went, the redder her face seemed to get.
She let out a yelp, as she stared up at the far more mature looking Spike, as he leaned down to her, face coming to her own’ height.
The way he looked at her… the way he wanted HER.
She let out a little squeak.
“Spike?”
Like that, his trance was broken. Blinking twice, he stared at her as if just recognizing her, before his own face flushed.
He shot back, hitting the floor, before the once larger dragon was replaced by one she remembered.
He stared at her, and she him, their faces both aflame.
He dived into the pile of wealth, to hide his embarrassment.
~X~
The more they probably thought about it, the more obvious what such a cliche occurrence such as this, called for.
Too bad both of them were kind of too chicken to go through with it.
Ember had no problem being that push though.
Having been watching the two out of the corner of her eye, she rolled her ocular pair in annoyance, before lifting up her drink and bring it down on Scootaloo’s head.
~X~
Both of their eyes widened in shock.
The feeling of their lips making contact, sent a burst of excitement throughout them, even as they quickly separated.
Looking at Spike, Scootaloo couldn’t help but to chuckle, confusing the dragon on the floor.
The next moment, she went back in, and silenced his confusion with a kiss.
They’d kind of forgotten about the movie though.
The screams of a stallion was silenced, by both a large fleshing thumping sound and the screams of the audience.
Plus Ember’s cheering.
~X~
Princess Celestia had to keep her hooves away from her face for as long as she could, while Luna tried her absolute hardest not to laugh at the scene before her and the medium blue glowing scrying ball before them in their throne room as Discord was lightly throwing up the very book that started all of this.
“Was it really necessary to make Spike this angry?” Celestia questioned the god before her, her right eyebrow twitching in annoyance as the draconequus could only cast a large grin her way, so large his mouth popped off his face as he rolled his eyes and grabbed it before it could hop away.
Making sure it stayed on he answered by opening the book of dangerous spells and looking through them, right before it was shut by Celestia’s magic and brought close to her causing him to roll his eyes with a grunt.
“The deal was that I find a way to bring your son closer to the one he loves, and I get to take over a portion of your country for an entire day, well technically it’s my country but details, details...you never specified how I was to go about it. Plus, he’s adorable when he’s angry, now I’m thinking I might go cause some chaos in Las Pegasus, I feel in a gambling mood, of course where I always win.” He replied with smirk, annoyed as his mouth suddenly sprouted wings and attempted to fly off as he chased it, making Luna finally stop her snickering at both her nephew and the immortal before her as she roll her eyes, already tired of his antics.
Celestia tried very, very hard to keep her teeth from grinding against each other before she let out a loud sigh and with a wave of magic from her horn, erased Discord’s scrying spell, ignoring as he groaned that it was just getting to the best part in which she had to keep from dry heaving in disgust.
“My son is not a toy, god of chaos. He is the future ruler of Equestria being groomed for all matters of regulations, laws and customs for his coming days when he turns eighteen and I would appreciate it if you bothered to show some form of discreet the next time you see him or any of the Elements, the gods know that Twilight will have so many questions.” She responded finally lifting a hoof to rub her forehead with a loud sigh, avoiding her horn by merely a few inches.
“Oh come now, Tia. I am able to keep some secrets to myself, in fact it would take about a hundred years to explain everything your little book never covered on my rule alone, she’s got the right idea.” He responded glancing to Luna as the Alicorn of the moon shivered in horror of the dark memories that happened during those centuries, so...much...chocolate.
For a few seconds Celestia pondered just how much would be loss if Discord was trapped in stone again for the third time, sure Fluttershy would be devastated as she ignored the fact that the pegasus in question was needed to even perform the extremely powerful spell and Luna would be disappointed what with how well the two got along even if his personality got on their nerves faster than they would like to admit.
Also was the fact that a god was useful when taking down old enemies, as she knew for a fact that Discord only allowed himself to be captured by Tirek because he was ashamed he betrayed Fluttershy and that Chrysalis's throne was nearly as old as he was, even if the queen in question was nowhere near his age, knowing with a sigh of relief that there were still a few artifacts that could keep Discord in check if necessary, also there was the added bonus of the fact that the immortal would not be able to harass Spike during his reign for many, many centuries to come.
She let out a loud groan of annoyance as she was forced to think of the positives though, such as one if not a few more Elements being genuinely happy to be around Discord or at least able to tolerate him, her sister and even herself able to enjoy his company for a time because he was actually funny when he wasn't clamoring for attention, not to mention that he was extremely useful when taking down magical threats, if guilt and very ancient artifacts didn’t stand in his way.
As much as she hated to admit it Discord could, perhaps be very useful and supportable to Spike in the coming milleniums, as long as he didn’t try anything which she had no doubt he eventually would, she just had to make sure Spike was prepared in some way if that ever came to pass.
With another loud sigh of all the added work she had to burden her son with in the coming years she decided that maybe Discord wasn’t that bad, all things considered as Celestia turned her head to see Discord tell Luna a joke as she actually laughed this time around making the Alicorn of the sun give a small smile.
With a shake of her head Celestia wondered where her life had gone wrong to actually come to the point of finding the god of chaos….fun.
Smiling at the thought of Spike and Scootaloo finally, if a bit manipulatively were together after quite a long time of being to nervous or oblivious of their feelings towards each other, if Spike ever found out she would have no doubt he would be hurt or angry, but as long as she explained that it was for his benefit and that everything worked out in the end then he should be fine...she hoped.
Performing a small scrying spell in her hooves with her horn, she was glad to see that she would not have to turn away in disgust of Spike and Scootaloo kissing and that they were walking out of the movie, the Dragon Lady Ember laughing alongside Scootaloo while a few of their friends teased Spike and threw popcorn making him laugh and punch one of them lightly in the shoulder, as she smiled.
Celestia had no doubt, that despite everything, it was all worth it and she couldn't be more proud of the two...now she just hoped Twilight would not send her thousands of letters in the coming years and had to make sure to find a proper punishment for the spells the young Alicorn somehow had in her possession, these spells were indeed much too dangerous for even an Alicorn to have in her hooves as she shook her head once more.
For now, one day at a time. She had a feeling the two would get along swimmingly, and couldn't help but be excited that maybe even one day she could hear wedding bells in the future.
Well, if Scootaloo didn’t kill him first she noted with a smirk as the pegasus currently had her hooves wrapped around his neck in anger as he was was repeating something again and again. Their friends crowded around them, cheering them on and, she had no doubt, were encouraging the fight. Even Ember, she was surprised to see. Celestia snorted, making the spell once again vanished.
They’ll be perfectly fine...she hoped.