Overcoming Oceans

The warm mid-morning sun flows over the vivid green leaves covering Golden Oaks Library. A light breeze carries the scent of summer - dry soil, pine trees and veggie barbeques - up and down the homely Ponyville streets. A few ponies are dotted here and there, some making their way to whichever destination they’re needed, others stopping for a brief chat with one another. A bright purple unicorn, well known throughout the town as the local librarian, stands just outside the doorway of her home. A lightly-packed saddle bag is strapped securely over her back.

Joining her in conversation, a small dragon nonchalantly stands just outside the library’s door, arms folded, with a chilled look on his face. Spike knows that portraying oneself as laid back as possible gives the impression that there’s nothing to worry about. An impression that he’s still trying to drill into the horned head of his anxious friend, Twilight Sparkle.

“Are you sure you’re all set for this, Spike?” the unicorn asks for the fourth (and hopefully final) time that hour, “Will you remember to dust the bookshelves? Stock up on spare gems in case you‘re peckish? Oh! And make sure the mail-mare delivers that book from the Crystal Empire…”

“Ah, chill out Twilight,” the dragon waves away his lifelong friend’s worries, “I’ll be fine! Your number one assistant has everything covered! Besides…” Spike pauses to lift a clawed hand. As if on cue, a stoic nocturnal bird flaps through an open window from the library and adeptly lands on the dragon’s arm, “I have Owlowiscious to help me out if I need it.”

The owl in question hoots in acknowledgement. One wouldn’t need to learn the owl’s language to recognise his hoot as one of reassurance.

Twilight Sparkle breathes a sigh of composure; this is her faithful assistant she’s talking to, after all! “Okay, I believe you Spike,” she gives a goodbye nuzzle to her oldest friend. “Have fun, keep the place clean while I‘m gone!”

“You know I will,” the dragon rolls his green eyes as the unicorn readjusts her saddle bag one last time before departing. “Say hi to Shining Armor and Cadance for me! Oh, and say hi to you-know-who as well. What do you call him nowadays?”

That last statement turns the normally purple pony a shade of bright red. “I, er, don’t wanna say it. Not in public.”

With a smarmy grin, the dragon teasingly leans forward, “C’mon, what‘s his lover-name?”

“I’m not saying it, Spike.”

Spike playfully cups a green ear with his claw, as if pretending to be hard of hearing, “Who is he, again? Something about lakes..?”

“No, not here…”

“Who?”

“I- I don’t wanna be late for my train-”

“Who?”

“No, I’m not-”

“Hoo!”

“Oh not you too, Owlowiscious!”

“C’mon, just this once and we‘ll let you go!”

“Ugh, fine!” the unicorn, now scarlet-faced, lowers her voice considerably. “He’s my handsome lake-loving cuddle-fish.”

“Pfft- gahahahah!”

“ForCelestia’ssakegrowupSpike!”