After learning how to drink, you do a bit too much of it, for you mostly do it alone.

Pain built from guilt is reduced by punishment.

There are many ways to deal with the pain from the punishment that comes from a drink. One can squeeze their eyes and clench their claws and shake through the shudders of alcoholic intensity. Or one exhales the punishment as it comes up, concentrating it out.

And that trick applies to more than just drinking.

You see a message sent ten minutes ago from someone who has not been online for the last ten months.

You are Spike, and that message is from Rarity.

This story is a sequel to Please Love Me?

Decades change within a blink. The banishment of a sister, the loss of a student, has caused Princess Celestia to be distant when it comes to family. However, a baby dragon burns through her defence... but her past failures cause her to let go.

Spike has survived the strain of daily life to find himself empty inside. Proven a worker, a friend, and a proper dragon—that search for 'something' never ends. Finally, on being led by a feeling, he winds up before Princess Celestia without a reason.

Greatness is a desire created by fantasies. Rarity has always wanted to be the greatest fashionista, and Spike the greatest hero. Yet when they get what they want, they find themselves empty instead. The two then enjoy a weekend together.

Starlight Glimmer!

The village fears the filly who turned the mayor's son into a broom!

Left by her family, banished by a princess, all for beating Twilight Sparkle.

Thankfully, on her dubious, evil trek, a dying, enamoured dragon, vows to assist her. Quiet and competent, Spike is everything she needs. However, all his calm, electrifying quips about her and her body are enough to deck him through a wall!

And Starlight can't tell who she hates more: him, or the world!

The days are the same and the nights are like any other. In the kitchen for her evening wine, a mare shares a glass with a time-travelling dragon, who can barely say more than the word 'Yes.'

[Cover by Theretroart88]

You already know who this story is dedicated to.

Dragons are terrifying for none can hear the words inside the roars. Fluttershy, the only pony to understand them, is silent and terrified for a different reason. The girls are attacked by a foul group, but are saved by a silent, purple dragon.

Canterlot has sent a witchhunt for dragons in the surrounding area. There are knocks at the door. Fluttershy answers to find her saviour—bleeding, quiet, and on the run. Saving him means more than stopping the bleeding.

The guards are still looking. Friends harbour pains and prejudice against all of his kind. Mobs gather in fear of the unknown. And Fluttershy, deeply knowing dragons, fears them for a different reason. Yet she's the only one that will be able to understand what this kind dragon has to say.

Will she be able to save him? Will this one be different from the rest? How did Fluttershy acquire this ability? Why does Twilight regard all dragons with scorn?

The clock is ticking; the witch hunt is on.

3 AM is a tough time to be awake. Thankfully for Spike and Rarity, though, they don't have to be alone as well. They write each other letters. Rambles from them both. Whatever it takes to get through the night.

Then the letters stopped.

[Cover by Theretroart88]

Dedicated to the greatest soul-sister a brother could ask for, RarityEQM.

This story was more for me than it was for you and I'm sorry for it. Give me some time and, when I'm better, I'll write a story that better reflects you. I miss you, soul-sister. And I love you. Could use your guidance on what I should do about you.

One of these damn days, I'll stop being so selfish, and find a better way to pay tribute.

Rainbow becomes a giant and pounces on a house; Twilight is scared of that previous clause.

Chapter is taken from an anthology written long ago.