Of Dragons and Mortals

Chapter 6: Honesty is the Best Policy

On a cloud floating high above Ponyville, Rainbow Dash wrestled the dragon who was glued to her lips. She managed to push Spike onto his back, and fell down with him, never breaking the lip-lock. She briefly compared kissing to flying, and decided that she was happy she could have both. Then she tried to deepen the kiss, teasing Spike’s lips with her tongue.

He pulled away from the sudden new sensation.

“Hey, what gives?” Dash all but demanded, before catching the surprised look on his face.

“That… That was new,” Spike gasped, breathless from the kiss.

“Oh, is that all?” she asked rhetorically. She immediately dived back in, kissing him again with reckless abandon. This time, she was pleased to discover that Spike didn’t pull away when she deepened the kiss. He welcomed her tongue, adding his own in a fumbling but enthusiastic attempt to return her fervor. It was electric, and it sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

Spike was just trying to hang on as the athlete on top of him continued to push him into unknown territory. But he was loving it.

Instinctively, Spike reached up with his left hand and placed it at the back of her neck, pulling her deeper into the kiss to her vocal --if muffled-- consent. Rainbow grabbed his right hand and trailed it down her back until he was cupping her butt. Too drunk on lust to think straight, or at all, Spike grabbed that tight rump firmly, pushing her lower body into his.

Rainbow Dash felt something hard poking against her hip, and she had to break the kiss. Thankfully, when she tried to pull away, Spike took the hint and let her up.

“Okay. You’re talented,” she said, grinning like a fool. “You’ll get even better with practice. Buuut, I think we’re going to have to do that later.”

Rainbow Dash illustrated her point by grinding her hips gently into Spike’s. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t a little turned on herself, but letting things get hot and heavy on a cloud flying over the village in the middle of the day was not a good idea.

Spike, on the other hand, felt a massive wave of embarrassment. He turned his head away, wishing he could bury his face in the cloud he was lying on.

“Hey, don’t worry,” he heard Rainbow Dash say. “Right now, all this means is that you like me. How could I blame you for that?”

Spike’s eyes met Rainbow’s, and he managed to smile. She smiled back, then bent down and placed a quick kiss on his lips. She briefly pulled away, lowered herself down a bit, and nuzzled into the hollow of his throat. Spike felt warmth blossom in his chest, and his smile grew wider.

“You know, I really like you too,” Rainbow mumbled into his chest. “Maybe if you keep being such a great guy, this could go somewhere.”

Spike’s arms tightened around her, and the two stayed in each other’s embrace for a while longer before Rainbow slowly pulled away. If she had read the air currents right, they should be over the marketplace now.

“Okay, wait here for a bit. I’m gonna see if AJ’s working in the market today.” She waited for Spike to nod before she left.

Rainbow’s flight served the dual purpose of accomplishing her mission and allowing her to cool down. She didn’t even set down on the ground; she just confirmed that Big Mac was, in fact, the pony selling Apple family products today. She absently noted that he was manning the place alone, and she took the scenic route back towards the cloud.

Spike took the opportunity to close his eyes and try to work through the emotional roller-coaster he had been on since he woke up. It was funny. He had only spent half a day as a proper adult, and he had gotten so far with the mares he loved… In a weird way, it was humbling. He didn’t know if he really deserved this, and it scared him a bit. More than a bit.

“If they choose me…” he muttered, vocalizing the thoughts running through his mind, “then I need to be worthy of their love. I will probably try for the rest of our lives… But it will be worth it.”

No one was around to hear him. Rainbow Dash returned shortly thereafter. However, having both cooled off after what they had shared, there was an awkward tension in the air around them, like neither knew what to say.

Wordlessly, Rainbow pushed the cloud towards Sweet Apple Acres, looking up occasionally to meet Spike’s eyes and smile.

Sweet Apple Acres was quiet, which suited Applejack just fine. Her chores were done for the moment, and she was enjoying the calm while Granny Smith was putting the final touches on lunch. Somewhat distantly, she could hear the soothing sound of Apple Bloom’s and Granny’s voices as they talked in the house behind her. All in all, there was a calm, almost sleepy atmosphere around the Acres that Applejack was truly enjoying. So when she spotted a cloud heading for the Acres, followed by a familiar rainbow contrail, she sighed. It looked like her peace was about to be disrupted.

But a visit from one of her closest friends was always something to be treasured, so Applejack had no problem managing a smile when Rainbow Dash parked the cloud near the ground and landed in front of her.

“Howdy, Rainbow!” she said cheerfully. “What brings you out… Rainbow, are you alright?”

Rainbow was smiling. And not in the “somepony told me a good joke” way, but more like “I drank too much cider.” Also, she was blushing faintly.

Frankly, she looked a little drunk.

“I’m great, AJ,” she replied, still sporting a goofy little smirk. “But I need to talk to you for a bit. Can we go inside?”

Applejack was about to reply when she saw someone jump down from the cloud. It took her several seconds before she recognized him.

“Is that Spike?” she whispered. Her eyes locked with Spike’s, and she couldn’t look away.

“Yeah. That’s what I wanna talk about.” Rainbow turned back to Spike. “Just wait here one second, okay? Mare talk.”

“Uh, sure,” Spike replied distractedly, still seemingly unable to look away from AJ. Who, Rainbow noted, was beginning to blush.

Rainbow gave her friends a few seconds to keep up the mutual staring, then physically dragged Applejack into the Apple house. Once inside, she turned to her friend and smiled widely.

“Wow, right?” Rainbow said.

“Yeah, Ah’d say…” Applejack replied. “When did this happen?”

“Just this morning.”

Before anything else could be said, Apple Bloom walked briskly past the two.

“Hi Sis! Hi Dash! Bye Sis! Bye Dash!” the young mare said as she brushed past them, a partly eaten sandwich clutched in her hands. Before Rainbow or AJ could respond, she was out the door.

Rainbow gave said door a conflicted glance, then turned back to Applejack.

“Okay, so as I understand, last night…”

Spike stood outside. He did not have long alone with his thoughts, as the door almost immediately opened again, and Apple Bloom walked out.

She took one look at him and froze, eyes wide.

“Spike?” she asked in a tone that implied she wasn’t sure if she should whisper or scream. Suddenly, she smiled, and she walked up to him with a small saunter in her step. “Well howdy there!”

“Hey, Apple Bloom,” Spike replied with a friendly smile. “Where are you off to?”

Spike gestured at the sandwich still clutched in her hand. She hid it behind her back and smiled a little awkwardly.

“Yeah. Ah’m meetin’ with the girls,” she answered. She walked in a small circle around Spike while looking him up and down, making no effort to hide the fact that she was appraising him. “Wow, look at you! What’s up with this?”

“Uh… I grew up,” he answered, giving a quick, yet truthful, answer. “Worked through a mental block that was keeping me small…” He trailed off when Apple Bloom stopped in front of him and leaned in close.

“Well, you’re looking mighty fine, Ah must say....” she half-whispered, her lips a few inches from his. But she pulled back, a teasing smile on her lips. “Ah gotta go, Ah’m already late. But Ah think me and the girls’ll see you later.”

With that teasing smile still on her face, Apple Bloom danced away from Spike, turned, and skipped down the path towards Ponyville, digging into her sandwich as she went. Spike couldn’t help but smile to himself.

“You’re looking good too…” he muttered, but Apple Bloom was already too far away to hear him.

Thus free from distraction, pleasant though it may have been, Spike resumed his silent wait.

“Okay…” Applejack said for perhaps the fifteenth time during Rainbow’s explanation. She was listening; she just didn’t know what to say. Rainbow had told her all of the events she had witnessed and experienced. Even what Spike had said to her on the cloud. And what they had done.

“So, we need to talk about this. All of us, I mean.”

“Yeah. That we do.”

It was odd. When she woke up this morning, Applejack had no idea her world was going to be shaken like this, but there it was: Spike was all grown up and already charming her friends.

Applejack closed her eyes to think. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash stayed quiet as she did so. She tried to sort out her feelings… and found herself smiling. Spike might have moments of weakness, but so did they all. He was hardworking, dedicated, kind, and a true gentledrake. Overall, her memories of him were very positive.

“So, when and where?” she finally asked her friend.

“I was thinking after dinner at… Pinkie’s?” Rainbow answered. “If we can’t be at her place, then the library. I’m gonna try to find the others and get the meeting set up. Sounds good?”

“Yeah. And Ah’ll take care of Spike for a bit.”

"I was hoping you'd say that. He's drawing a lot of attention right now. A lot of mares are giving him bedroom eyes."

That thought made Applejack feel inexplicably annoyed.

“Won’tcha stay for lunch?” came an elderly voice from right beside them, causing both mares to all but jump out of their skins.

“Granny!” Applejack managed as she recovered from the scare. “How long’ve you been standin’ there?”

“Long enough,” Granny replied, a mysterious smile playing on the corners of her mouth. “Are ya stayin’ for lunch, Rainbow Dash?”

“Tempting… but I have things to do. Sorry.”

“That’s okay, dear! I’ll just set the table for Spike. Apple Bloom’s meetin’ her friends, and Big Mac’s hard at work. It’ll be nice to have some more faces around the table.” Granny Smith paused and grinned. “Can’t wait to see what sweet little Spike looks like now.”

With that statement, Granny disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving two mildly disturbed mares behind.

“So, I’m gonna go…” Rainbow said.

“Yeah.”

Applejack walked her friend out. When they exited the house, Spike was still standing there nonchalantly. He quickly noticed them and waved, his casual air melting away to reveal a certain appropriately Spike-like awkwardness that instantly put AJ at ease.

Rainbow dashed forwards and nuzzled Spike’s cheek briefly before she took to the air and flew off towards Ponyville.

Applejack’s eyes met Spike’s, and an uncomfortable silence descended. She wanted to say something, and she could tell by his expression that he wanted to as well, but he looked away, probably trying to gather up some nerve. Applejack took the opportunity to check him out, running her eyes down Spike’s body. She had to admit, he was attractive in an exotic way.

“Hey AJ,” Spike finally said, which caused her eyes to snap back up to his. He was smiling softly. “You look great.”

At that, she looked down at herself. She was wearing her usual cut-off jeans and plaid shirt. She was not dolled up in the slightest, and her mane was a bit matted with sweat.

“You’re looking mighty fine yourself,” she replied. She continued in a teasing voice, “Are you fishin’ for compliments or somethin’?”

“Maybe,” Spike said, his smile becoming more genuine as he visibly began to relax. “It’s nice to be appreciated. And this is still very new to me, so it’s nice to hear that the new me is appreciated. Not like you; I imagine you can’t go a day without somepony telling you how beautiful you are.”

That caught Applejack off guard.

The casual way he threw the statement out there somehow made it impact much more than if he had screamed it from the rooftops. He stated it like it was a fact. A law of nature.

“That, Ah…” Applejack stuttered. “No, that… Doesn’t happen.”

“You’re kidding me.”

Again with that infuriatingly genuine tone of voice, as if she had suggested something impossible.

Applejack was desperate at this point, however, and grasped at the only straw she could see to hopefully come back on top of the conversation.

“You suggestin’ I’m bein’ dishonest?”

“No! No…” Spike trailed off. He met her eyes. “I just don’t understand how anyone could miss it. I mean… look at you. Your beautiful eyes, your strong, athletic body, your disarming smile…” His eyes drifted down her body for a moment before snapping back up to hers. “Sorry. But trust me, you are beautiful.”

Applejack blushed. She could sense no dishonesty in his voice, which only rammed home the simple thought.

He thinks I’m beautiful. He really does.

It was not something Applejack was used to being called, nor, to be honest, something she aspired to be. But the genuine feeling behind the compliment caused a pleasant warmth to spread through her chest. She kept looking into his eyes for any hint that it was some sort of cruel joke, but she found nothing but honesty in those eyes.

And, after a few moments, embarrassment at her staring.

Before anything else could be said, Granny Smith appeared in the door behind AJ and suddenly spoke up.

“Lunch is gettin’ cold! Move yer caboose!”

Before Spike could react, Granny Smith moved up behind him and repeatedly poked him in the back with her cane, herding him through the door.

Apparently, he was invited to lunch. Not that he was complaining.

The lunch, excellent as always, proceeded quietly. Granny Smith was openly examining Spike, Applejack was trying to look like she wasn’t doing the same, and Spike was wolfing down his lunch with gusto. He was hungry, after all.

Once the food was gone, Applejack picked up the dishes and left the room. Granny Smith instantly turned to Spike.

“Son, we need ta talk for a bit.”

Spike tried to read the ancient mare’s mood, but found her to have an excellent poker face. He had no idea what she was thinking, and the atmosphere in the room became deadly serious.

“Okay, Mrs. Smith,” he answered meekly.

“Ah ain’t gonna be no gosh-darn puritan and try to say ya can’t pursue mah kin ‘cause ya ain’t a pony,” Granny said. Spike’s heart felt a little bit lighter. “Yer a sweet boy, and ya’ve done right by the princesses, Ponyville, and the Apples.” She paused and took several gulps of her drink.

“Thank you, Mrs--”

“Ah ain’t finished, young’un,” Granny interrupted. “Ah only have one problem: Ah wanna see great grand-children before it’s mah time. And Ah also know that Applejack’ll want to be a mother someday. Ah’m not one to stand in the way of romance, but if ya can’t give mah kin children, Ah will have to stand in yer way.”

That was an intimidating prospect for Spike. The Apples were a tight-knit family, and Granny Smith’s disapproval would be a significant blow to any relationship he might want to develop with her granddaughters.

“Ah know very few things are impossible when magic’s involved, and yer real close with the princesses, so Ah reckon there may be a way.” Granny sighed deeply. “Ah’m not unreasonable. But it’d be real sweet of ya if ya could soothe mah mind sooner rather than later.”

It was an intimidating prospect, but Spike already had the answer.

“I did my research last year,” he proclaimed.

The Apple family house was solidly built, but there was at least one quirk that not too many outside the immediate family knew. The architecture of the kitchen and dining room was such that sound, especially conversation, travelled beautifully, so that someone standing in the kitchen could talk to someone standing in the dining room.

Applejack heard everything Granny and Spike talked about.

She rapidly went from frustrated and embarrassed to terrified. Granny first seemed to want to shut Spike down, then ignored all sense of tact and went straight to the heart of the matter, something that was way too soon to consider in their relationship: foals.

She wanted to storm in and interrupt them, possibly calling Granny out on her line of questioning, but she felt frozen in place. Having children was very important if she could ever consider a long term relationship.

Spike was too important a friend to her to have something short term with. If she was going to get involved with him, it would be something serious. And if she could never have children with him…

She shouldn’t be listening in. It was too soon to consider all of this. And yet she was still rooted. Another thought crossed her mind.

There’s no way in heck that Granny doesn’t know Ah’m listening… She wants me to hear this.

Granny’s voice drifted into the kitchen, as clear as though she was standing right next to AJ.

“Ya have, have ya?”

“Yes,” Spike replied. “A year ago… about a year ago, I realized… I realized that I… well, I started having these dreams…” He was speaking in a low voice, and AJ had to strain her ears a bit to hear him. “The mares I loved and I were living together. We were a family; we had foals. The dreams were…”

Spike paused, and AJ heard him sigh.

“The best dreams I’ve ever had,” he finally said, warmth filling his voice. “We were living together, and there were good times and bad. We argued, made up, tried to raise our kids as well as we could… I…”

“It’s okay, dearie,” came Granny’s voice. AJ heard a chair shift, and could imagine her sweet Granny placing a hand on Spike’s shoulder for support. She wanted to do the same, but she still couldn’t move.

“We had a lot of children, you know,” he managed to say after a while. “I remember Applejack and I sitting in front of a fireplace with three of our foals lying in our laps, napping. The love I felt then... I can’t… I know you’ve had children, so maybe you can understand… When I woke up to find it was just a dream… I nearly cried. I miss children who have never existed; it’s crazy!”

“No it ain’t,” Granny replied. “Ah understand.”

“I realized,” Spike continued, “that I wanted that. I wanted them. I wanted a family with the mares I loved. So I decided to check if it was possible, if I had a chance of making the dream come true.”

“What did ya find?” Granny asked, echoing AJ’s unspoken thoughts.

“I found that, while dragons and ponies can’t crossbreed, there is a rare but relatively simple spell that can transform my, um… ‘swimmers’ from dragon to pony.” Spike’s voice took on a much happier tone, and Applejack could easily imagine his smile. “So with just a little help, I can have foals just like any stallion. There is a chance I can make my dream come true.”

“That’s all Ah needed to hear, dearie,” Granny responded. “‘Far as Ah’m concerned, if mah kin chooses ya, Ah’ll be proud to accept ya.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Smith.”

“That’s ‘Granny’ to ya.”

AJ slumped to the floor. That was one of the most heartwarming things she had ever heard. What’s more, she had played an integral part in that dream. Taking a deep breath, she got back up on her hooves and walked out to the dining room, trying to look unaffected.

“Howdy, y’all,” she said, but didn’t manage to keep the emotion out of her voice. Spike didn’t seem to notice much, but Granny gave her a knowing glance. “Spike, how would you like to join me out in the fields for a bit?”

Spike noticed her voice quivering as she spoke and an intense look in her eyes. He nodded, unsure.

“Sure, I’d like that.”

“You youngsters go; Ah’ll finish up in here.”

Applejack walked up and pulled Spike from his seat. She physically, and wordlessly, dragged him out of the dining room, through the hallway, out the door and into the closest orchard.

When she turned to Spike, she bore the most intense expression he had ever seen. Her eyes were quivering, glistening with unshed tears.

Spike realized then and there that Applejack had heard most, if not all, of what he and Granny had been talking about. A silent agreement passed between them: they would pretend she hadn’t heard him spill his guts, and she would express her opinion of his proposed future.

With that, Applejack shoved Spike up against a tree and planted an enthusiastic kiss on his lips.

Author's Note

Edited by:
Feo Takahari
TheDaringExplorer
Shanenator
A million thanks to these guys, who make this story readable.
Edit: Also thanks to Pearly (not on this site)

And finally we have chapter 6. Hope you all enjoyed the ride!

Two things I want to say here: First, since dreams are mentioned, some of you are going "Was Luna involved? Did she make the dream and is playing matchmaker?" The answer is no. She may or may not have seen the dreams, but she did not create them.

And the second one: For those of you who are waiting for the smut, it's coming next chapter. How and with who? You'll have to wait and see.

And that's it from me for now.

Take care of yourselves!
Rakni