A Winter Romance

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

A Winter Romance

Rated: MA

by pmcollectorboy

aka Mario Rodgers

Make Up and a Dragon Tail

Twilight Sparkle cursed the hardwood as her chin met the stairs several times in rapid succession. In one final, teeth-jarring cacophonous collision, the bookworm landed in a heap at the bottom step, her right hind leg stretched out at an awkward and painful angle and her square, purple tail cascading down the end of her flank and resting on the top of her head.

As the room spun, she suddenly regretted her haste.

She risked a cautious peek and blinked away dancing sparks of light and twirling stars and objects that appeared to divide and merge at odd angles. She could only barely grasp the orientation of the room with her inner ears ringing like an incessant alarm clock. As her mind returned to her, the muted colors and fuzzy edges that peppered her vision sharpened and gained cohesion with the mud finally clearing away. However with her senses back, pain was the next sensation to come. It hit her like a willow switch in the back of her neck.

"Ow." Twilight slowly crawled her way forward as she reached with an outstretched hoof. "Spike, I... overslept! Forgot to..."

A familiar purple face with reptilian scales, chubby cheeks and rounded green spines appeared around the corner of the study room, looking somewhat alarmed. However at first Twilight didn't even notice the concern on the dragon's face, for she couldn't even be sure just how familiar the face was to her. The features resembled that of her dragon friend Spike, but they somehow seemed a little more elongated. She also noticed that the face appeared slightly higher off the ground than what she expected. However the voice that left the dragon's mouth she most certainly recognized.

"Are you okay, Twilight?"

The unicorn slowly forced herself to stand up through the pain and stiffness in her neck. Then, content that she could at least move without doubling over again, she walked over to the purple dragon in the next room, staring intently at him and giving him the occasional pat on the head with a hoof. A gnawing sensation in the back of her skull coerced her to grab some level of certainty. Another part of her wished she was still asleep. After some time, the dragon finally got fed up with the poking and the prodding and batted away Twilight's hooves.

"Twilight! What's gotten into you? Why did you fall down the stairs?"

Twilight took a step back, blinking in confusion a few times before gaining her presence of mind. "I overslept again," she stated, low and subdued at first. Then her tone suddenly became more agitated. "Gnnnnngh! I tried so hard to finish that spell Princess Celestia asked me to figure out. She was expecting the written portion by early this morning, but I stayed up so late working on it that I must've fallen asleep and now the deadline is past. She must be sitting there waiting and thinking the worst things about me because I'm tardy!"

The harried unicorn trotted in place, bouncing up and down on each leg as she tended to do when aggravated.

Spike didn't seem impressed, and he quietly walked away, apparently back towards whatever he had been doing inside the kitchen. "Are you hurt?" he added flatly as he slid a couple blueberry and daisy pancakes from a frying pan and into a plate.

The invitation of breakfast calmed the frantic unicorn down. Twilight trotted closer and inhaled, savoring the aroma that tantalized her stomach with its delicate balance of the sweetness of the blueberries and the light earthiness of the daisies. As she watched Spike tip the frying pan and the pancakes slide off its metal surface, her mouth watered when she spotted the tiny, delectable fruit speckling the cooked batter and the white of the flower petals peeking out to tease her taste buds. Suddenly she remembered that Spike had asked her a question.

"Um. I'm fine, Spike," she said as she gave him a glance. "Is... Is there something you want to tell me?" She paused and gave a hard swallow. "Have you been hoarding again?"

Spike looked up from the plate and blinked, the empty frying pan dangling by his side in his right hand. He then turned around and carefully placed the pan into the sink. "Are you talking about my new size? No, Twilight. I haven't. I think I just went through a growth spurt." The dragon faced her and pointed at the plate. "I made that for you. I noticed that you've been losing sleep lately and was worried that you might be burning out, so I thought you would like the pancakes."

Twilight couldn't help but become touched by the gesture. Her hunger made itself apparent with an audible growl, and she took a couple steps forward, her mouth hanging open as she allowed a small string of drool to collect in the corner. Realizing she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday's lunch, she eagerly fell forward into the stack of pancakes, devouring them with energetic glee.

"By the way, I was just wondering..." Twilight said in between gulps. "Did you carry me into bed?"

Spike nodded swiftly, almost as if the answer made him uncomfortable. "Well you know. You're not heavy or anything and I couldn't have very well left you sleeping on your desk and drooling on it," he said as he shifted about on his heels.

Twilight's response was to touch the corner of her lips. Then, feeling embarrassed at the idea of her drooling on her work desk, she promptly decided a suitable distraction was to fall forward and chomp on another bite.

"Rarity stopped by earlier," Spike said as he watched Twilight enjoy her meal. "I told her you were still sleeping."

Twilight polished off one pancake just as Spike finished his sentence. She looked up and gently wiped away a few crumbs. "Oh? What did she want? And how did she take seeing you, uh, a little more grown up?"

The dragon nervously rubbed the spines on the back of his head as he chuckled slightly. "She took it pretty well, but I had to explain to her several times that it was me. And she came over to tell you that she had won a few extra tickets to a prestigious winter resort. She wanted to know if we wanted to come along as guests. I was actually in the middle of writing out ideas for gifts to give her, but I'm nowhere near as good as Rarity in picking out things."

"Hmm." She gave her chin a few quick taps. After a few moments, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Spike. We'll be much too busy. She'll have to find some other pony to go as guests."

"Aww." Spike's cheerful demeanor immediately melted into a disappointed frown as he turned back around to wash dishes in the sink. "I've never been to a winter resort," he mumbled under his breath as he worked a rag back and forth across the pan.

Twilight finished the second pancake as Spike did the dishes. As she gulped down the final piece of pancake, she levitated her plate over to the sink and then walked over to give Spike a gentle hug from behind.

"Thank you, Spike. That pancake was just what I needed."

Spike felt a warm blush briefly come to his cheeks. Feeling a bit awkward, he then shrugged her off his shoulders before bringing the dishes out of the sink to dry and place in their proper spots. As he did so, Twilight left the kitchen to head back towards her study room. Situated near one of her front windows and across from a bookshelf was her study desk. She blinked a couple times when she spotted what was on its slightly slanted oak surface, which was absolutely nothing save for a coating of dust and the twin wells, one for the ink and one for the midnight candle. Last night then finally registered in her brain, and she gave a slight gasp.

"Spike!" she exclaimed as she turned back towards the kitchen. "What did you do with my research?! My papers and books! They're not here!"

The young dragon peeked his head out of the kitchen doorway one more time. He then took a couple steps past the door frame and put a claw to his chin. "Um... Well the books should be shelved, but your papers... I think I put them in the drawer."

Twilight yanked open the drawers of her study desk with her mouth and breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted a stack of papers inside. "Did you read them?" she called back to Spike over her shoulder.

"No, Twilight. You know I'm not like that, but..."

Her head snapped up, and she swallowed. "But?"

"I did kinda sorta maybe possibly use some of your blank paper to jot down gift ideas."

"Guh! Spike! That's almost all the paper I have! Why did you do that?"

She wheeled around to face Spike, and the young dragon took a couple steps back, withering under her stern gaze and avoiding any prolonged eye contact. He shuffled a foot a couple times before opening his mouth to speak.

"Well, uh... I mean if I had used the parchment paper then you would've..."

"Nevermind, Spike." She lowered her head as her tone softened. "Just bear with me if I seem a bit short, Spike. I'm just so tired. I was nowhere near close to finishing it, and now my time has run out. I will just have to write a letter to Princess Celestia explaining why I'm tardy."

Another short, sorrowful sigh escaped Twilight's lips.

"Would you like another pancake?"

Twilight opened her eyes and lifted her head towards her young dragon friend. She smiled as she felt a warmth surround her heart, brought on by Spike's naive concern for her. He looked her in the eyes this time, his smile tiny and shy, his hand back on the door frame to the kitchen as if he would readily go back inside to cook for her once more.

"No thank you, Spike. Just help me take that letter."

"I got you covered."

Spike's feet went pitter-pat across the floor of the library as he went to fetch a scroll of parchment from one of the many drawers that Twilight used as storage for supplies. It wasn't long before he returned to Twilight, presenting a fresh parchment and bringing a quill to its surface.

"Dear Princess Celestia..." Twilight began.

She heard the scritching of the quill as Spike wrote. She then paused and furrowed her brows, and the writing stopped. Spike gave Twilight a glance, and that was when the pacing started. Twilight, burdened by her thoughts, walked from one end of the room to the another, lines of worry forming on her brow as she seemingly pondered her words. It didn't take long for Spike to realize that Twilight was lost to him when he saw her lips working up and down, as if she had something to say, but with no words coming out. After several painfully long seconds of nothing but muttering and the sound of her hooves clip clopping on the library's hardwood floor, Spike ventured to interrupt her.

"Twilight. You're wearing a hole in the floor. Again."

The purple unicorn looked down and found the floor had somehow risen up to the level of her pasterns. She hung her head momentarily. "I'm sorry, Spike. I just can't do it. I can't find any words that won't disappoint Princess Celestia."

Spike brought the quill and paper down to his side as he looked at his friend with a sorrowful gaze. "Did she say that she needed it now? As in NOW now? Wasn't this just for extra credit?"

"Yes, Spike. I realize that. But Princess Celestia entrusted me to complete this assignment and I'd hate to let her down."

"Well..." Spike began, raising the quill back to the paper. "I mean what is it that's causing the hang up? Maybe if you explained to Princess Celestia what the delay is she might give you more time?"

Twilight gave Spike a bit of a sour gaze and a pout. "It's a bit complicated, Spike. It's also not as simple as just asking Princess Celestia for more time. For one thing..."

A dull commotion just outside Twilight's front door distracted her from her conversation. She heard a pony make a fuss and a couple whines as several muffled thuds could be heard. Twilight exchanged a glance with Spike, who raised an eyebrow, before a teeth-jarring crash rattled every major bone in both their bodies and briefly sent the two of them several inches into the air. Predictably, a cascade of books fell from every shelf in the study. In a fit of aggravation, Spike forcibly applied the palm of his right hand to his forehead.

"That sounds like Rarity," Twilight said as she turned towards her front door. Before she could open it, however, she turned her head back towards Spike. "Could you clean up these books while I go check to see if Rarity is okay?"

A groan escaped Spike's lips as Twilight walked through the door and closed it soundly. He heard the sounds of conversation outside, but the words were muffled by the library's walls and the distance between himself and outside. He then glanced at the parchment still clutched in his hands, the words "Dear Princess Celestia" still the only thing written on it, the letters scrawled in a flowing and elegant cursive. He then gave the books scattered on the floor a look and wrinkled his nose. It was another thankless effort that had been casually ruined.

"Meh," came his disinterested reply.

He then made his way over to the window. Rarity stood in the walkway, looking somewhat upset and rather frazzled, with her normally vibrant indigo hair no longer smoothly coiffed. Scattered about her feet were some of her possessions, including, oddly enough, a rather large chest. Spike mused that this object must've been what had caused the large crash he and Twilight had heard. Behind her was a cart, loaded to the railing with the largest collection of her items he had ever seen. The white unicorn had stepped out of the harness to watch Twilight do her magic. It was then that Spike realized just how tired Twilight was. She squinted to focus her concentration as she wrapped her levitation field around all of Rarity's items that had spilled on the ground. Try as she could, however, Twilight could only lift middle-sized objects and only one at a time. The chest proved to be the most difficult to lift. Spike knew that Twilight should've been able to easily lift it on a normal day, but that moment saw her struggling to clear several inches.

"Darling. You seem to be having some difficulty. Are those bags under your eyes? Gracious you look horrible," he could hear Rarity say through the window glass.

Rarity approached Twilight and started inspecting her all around, finally settling on her face as she checked around the eyes and starting pulling and prodding at Twilight in different places in much the same way Twilight had done to Spike. Twilight's reaction was just about the same as his, as well. She lowered the large chest to the ground to bat away Rarity's hooves.

"Rarity! Cut that out!" Twilight then lowered her head slightly to catch her breath. "I'm fine. Besides you're the one to talk. Your mane is a royal mess."

The other unicorn wrinkled her nose and narrowed her eyes. She then turned to the side and dove into her cart, her back legs swinging back and forth as she pushed objects aside and rummaged around. "Just a minute, Twilight. I simply will NOT leave you in that dreadful state. I have my compact in one of these bags here. I just have to find it and then I'll fix you right up so that you look good as new. Now where is it? Ah ha!"

Rarity pulled out a fuscia handbag and then grabbed Twilight by the neck, pulling her along on a mad dash towards the door. Spike hurriedly backed away from the window, dropping his quill and parchment on the study desk, before frantically dashing towards the books in an attempt to look busy. He made it to a book just in time to hear the door fly open. It then slammed shut a second later as a white unicorn hurried by, dragging a purple unicorn by the neck on the way to the stairs.

"Hello there, Spikey Wikey. I'll be just a minute," Rarity cooed.

"Hmph. Gurk. Not so rough, Rarity!" Twilight exclaimed as Rarity dragged her along. "Spike! Take the... Ack!" Twilight disappeared upstairs as her friend vigorously pulled her into the bathroom.

The young dragon heard the door slam shut and the sounds of movement and conversation upstairs.

"Take the... Take the what?" Spike asked himself, bringing a claw up to his chin. He cast his gaze across the room and spotted the rolled up parchment still on the desk. "Take the letter? Does she want me to write the letter myself?" Spike strolled over to the desk and snatched it up, along with his quill. He then headed upstairs before cautiously opening the bathroom door. "Say Twilight? What exactly did you mean with... Whoa!"

Spike took a step backwards when he saw what had become of Twilight.

"Don't say another word, Spike."

Twilight's eyes had narrowed slightly from disinterest as Rarity fussed with her. Spike could smell the faint chemical aroma of blush and powder, and he coughed as the peppery particles tickled his nostrils. However, it was how Twilight looked that gave Spike a mixture of slight amusement and shock.

A small, clam-shaped compact kit hovered in a bubble of blue light next to Rarity as she stood across from Twilight, who sat on top of a small stool near the sink. Tiny test spots of different colors dotted Twilight's face, giving her the appearance of a cheetah. Rarity squinted as she stared into the compact, seemingly mulling over choices. Spike could see a big well for foundation and several smaller spots for cover up and eye shadow.

"I can't seem to find a color in here that goes well with the hue of your coat, but I simply can not leave you in that state with those dreadful bags under your eyes," Rarity moaned as she glanced from one color to the other in her kit.

"Rarity! Just mix pink and blue! That should give you something close to lavender! Spike! Take the letter before I lose all sense of identity!"

Rarity glanced up and looked back, immediately smiling when she spotted the young dragon. "Oh speaking of mixing and pink and blue," she continued as she looked back in Twilight's direction, lifting up a couple applicators and other tools from her compact as she spoke. "I can't wait to 'mix it up' as it were with all the stylish and athletic ponies at the very fashionable, very chic, very fun, and very romantic winter resort tomorrow. Plus I have a couple gifts for all of us waiting in the cart, all color coordinated and all very darling. The one I have for Spike is what I'm most proud of, especially since I had to adjust at the last minute for his sudden new size. I think he's going to love it! And I was mindful of his feelings this time. It isn't too frilly, and it's very gender appropriate, but oh... is it ever so cute. I... oh dear."

"Spike! The letter!" Twilight snapped growing more frustrated with each passing second as Rarity continued to use her as a canvas.

Spike wasted no moment bringing the quill to the surface of the parchment.

"Dear Princess Celestia. I know you were expecting my written portion hours ago, but I'm afraid that I must disappoint you, and I am to inform you that I was nowhere near coming to a satisfactory conclusion. In my endeavors to discern a spell capable of divining the nature of the constellations, starting with the one you specifically requested, I ran into a bit of a snag concerning..."

Rarity backed away from Twilight's face, bringing a hoof up to her mouth as her eyes widened. "I... I can fix this."

Twilight gave a slight pause. Her own eyes widened, and she turned slightly to face Rarity. "Fix this? Fix what? What did you do?"

The white unicorn took another step away from her friend, the red on her face growing deeper. "Well it would seem that I had been distracted by my going on about Spike's gift while trying to apply make up on your face and... So Spike! Are you both going to the winter resort with me?"

Rarity had turned away from Twilight towards Spike. A bead of sweat had formed at the edge of her brow, but she tried her best to appear happy and unaffected by her indiscretion. Spike, remarkably enough, kept writing.

"No he's not. I mean WE'RE not," Twilight exclaimed, motioning with a hoof in an attempt to bring Rarity's attention back to her. "Quit changing the subject. What do I look like?"

Twilight moved to turn around in her seat and glance at the mirror, but Rarity reached out and vigorously grabbed her by the cheeks, keeping her from swiveling around.

"Oh never mind about that. You said you weren't coming with me to the winter resort. Why not?!"

Twilight's teeth vibrated painfully as the rising tone of Rarity's whine played havok on her ear drums. She swiftly batted Rarity's hooves away and then completed her attempt to face the mirror. All Twilight saw was a sea of the most hideous shade of orange she had ever seen anywhere, let alone on her eyelids. It reminded her of the color of a strange snack she once saw Pinkie Pie eating called "Cheddar Squares", and the color was all over her eyes. She turned around and glared at Rarity, who shrank away, biting her lip in a gesture of shame.

"Just... Just let me..."

"Rarity! What have you done?!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing at her eyes with her hooves. "I've got cheetah spots on my face, and my eyes look like the color of a Martian sunrise!"

Rarity curled one corner of her mouth downward and briefly averted her gaze from Twilight, tapping the floor with a front hoof in a fit of awkwardness. "I, uh... You seem awfully stressed. Don't you think you deserve a vacation with me and Spike at this winter resort?"

She chanced a gaze back at Twilight and flashed a nervous half smile.

Something inside Twilight seemed to snap, and she lowered her head slightly before hopping off the stool and edging close to Rarity's face, almost coming nose to nose. Rarity, unsurprisingly, flinched at the sudden movement of Twilight's face into her personal space.

"Yes of course I'm stressed! I'm running low on sleep and even lower on patience! Princess Celestia had given me this strange assignment, and I wanted to make a good impression, but I've come nowhere near close to finishing it, and the deadline has already passed, and so now I've got to write a letter explaining my failure and risk disappointing her, and on top of which, you keep pressuring me about this winter resort, to which I've already told you no because I'm kind of busy, AND...!" Twilight got even closer to Rarity. "You made my face look like an industrial accident! I mean could this day possibly get any worse?"

Rarity's lips quivered ever so slightly, and her eyes started to mist. She didn't sniffle, but her words came out quiet and subdued. "Well I can see you're upset so if you'll just let me fix your make up..."

Twilight shoved away Rarity's hooves. "I think you've done enough. I'll just use magic to match the color."

She suddenly found herself with her hooves a bit full, entangled as they were by her friend as she threw herself prostrate before Twilight and glanced up at her with the piercing, ice blue eyes Twilight knew so well. Tears streamed from the white unicorn's eyes as she blubbered and pleaded.

"Oh please, Twilight. Please let me fix it. I don't think I could live with myself if I let such a tragic mistake of fashion go uncorrected by my own hooves. Oh please, Twilight. I beg of you."

Spike finally looked up from where he had been scrawling on the parchment and noticed the awful state Rarity was in. Seeing her bawling her eyes out, with tiny rivers of tears ruining her mascara, tugged at his heart and triggered some sense of chivalry inside, some deep need to do something to help her and comfort her.

"Aww come on, Twilight. Look at her. You know she can fix the make up. Give her a chance."

Twilight felt her coat start to get damp around her left front hoof and realized she was getting soaked by Rarity's tears. Slightly unnerved, Twilight lifted her hoof and gave it a slight shake before backing up slightly to extricate herself from Rarity's grip. She then gave Rarity a nervous smile.

"Sheesh, Rarity. Don't cry. I'm sorry, all right? I didn't mean to upset you. You can try again."

Rarity sniffled and silenced a sob before wiping her eyes. She gazed up into Twilight's eyes as her own dried out. Twilight's expression seemed apologetic. A more open smile parted her lips, and she had a hoof extended, offering help to allow Rarity to stand on her feet.

She accepted Twilight's hoof and stood up, smiling as she prepared her compact again. As the compact levitated to Rarity's side once more, Twilight examined Rarity more closely before pulling back to stifle a snicker.

"We start from the beginning," Rarity squeaked as she raised up a puff. Then she tilted her head when she noticed Twilight's guilty grin. "What's with the smirk?"

"Well now I don't feel so bad about my face. You could use some touching up yourself."

Rarity blinked and then turned her head, giving the mirror a look. Dark streaks, like oily rivers, ran from her eyes and mixed with the purple of her eye shadow, staining her lovely white fur with splotches that were the color of bruises. Despite her unkempt appearance, she couldn't help but smile herself. She had to admit to herself that she was a hideous cryer.

"It would appear that you're right," Rarity said with a laugh. "I'll just fix up myself at the same time I'm doing you."

"Fair enough. Spike? Would you please read back the letter to me before I have it sent out?"

"Okey dokey!" He cleared his throat and then held the letter up to the light. Then upon seeing his words, he balked. "Whoa." Then he blanched. "Uh oh."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Uh oh? Uh oh what?"

"Powder!"

Twilight felt something soft, almost feathery hit her face. This was followed by a chalk-like dust which flew up everywhere and irritated her nose. It seemed to irritate Spike as well, for he sniffled, tilted his head back, wrinkled his nose and promptly sneezed onto the letter, vaporizing it into a cloud of green dragon magic.

"Oh no," Spike moaned as he watched the letter turn into sparkling mist head out the window.

* * *

Spike walked behind Rarity and Twilight as they exited the library, looking better with fresh make up. Rarity was all smiles and had a bounce in her step, but Twilight looked grim. Spike could feel her disappointment from the look in her eyes, and he had his arms outstretched as he followed her.

"Aww come on, Twilight. I said I was sorry. I was in the zone. I didn't know I would write down everything that went on between you and Rarity."

Twilight turned her head and gave Spike a grimace and a wrinkling of her nose. "And you sent it out! Who knows what kind of reaction Princess Celestia would have reading that mess? You probably made me look like a fool!"

"I sent it out by accident! I didn't mean for it to happen! You've got to believe me!" the young dragon wailed, a tear coming to one of his eyes.

"Oh Twilight," Rarity chirped, halting and turning around to grab Spike by the neck and playfully rubbing his head spines. "Go easy on my little Spikey Wikey. Well... he's not so little anymore." When she saw the dragon blush, she released him and turned towards Twilight. "I really wish you'd reconsider not coming with me to the winter resort. It's such a shame to waste all that hard work on my creation. Ah well." Rarity sighed when she approached her cart and noticed her things were still on the ground. "Oh dear. There's still the matter of my things on the ground, especially that large chest."

Twilight nodded. "Yes. You're right. I'd help you with some of the smaller items, but I still don't know if I have enough energy to tackle that big chest. I'm sorry, Rari..."

She was interrupted by a sudden rush of wind and a purple blur that rushed past her. When she looked again, Spike had made his way over to the cart, diligently picking up Rarity's items and placing them in the cart. He picked up clothes and gifts and catalogs and bolts of fabric. They were all stacked neatly into Rarity's wagon. Finally he tackled the chest. Twilight mused the young dragon must've been feeling extra strong with his new slightly larger size. Even still, she gave one her hooves a nervous bite, worried that her no-longer-quite-a-baby dragon would over-exert himself.

Spike leaned forward slightly across the breadth of the chest, his trunk draped across the curvature of the lid as he reached around with his claws to grab the corners at opposite ends. He then flexed his legs to give himself some leverage. That was when Twilight heard Rarity give a muffled yelp. Twilight turned her head towards Rarity and saw that the white unicorn had her head cocked slightly to the side. Her cheeks were fully flushed and her mouth had dropped just slightly open, her tongue occasionally touching the roof of her mouth. She also gave a couple hard swallows. Twilight followed Rarity's gaze to figure out what had gotten her so flustered and noticed Spike's tail, which was longer and more sinuous since he had gained his new size, was being held straight up in the air as Spike worked himself around the chest. It then dawned on Twilight that Rarity had found herself fascinated by a view of Spike's backside. She immediately stepped in between Rarity and Spike, breaking the fashion pony's trance.

Twilight frowned and wrinkled her nose at Rarity. "Rarity. What are you doing? This is Spike, our friend and little brother. Why are you staring at his butt?"

Rarity's jaw dropped once more, but this time from embarrassment. The flush in her cheeks disappeared, and she lowered her gaze to the ground. "Twilight. I'm sorry. I don't... I'm sorry," Rarity stammered.

"I got it!" came an exclamation from Spike.

Rarity glanced up, clearing her throat and trying her best to regain a sense of composure in front of the dragon, so that he wouldn't suspect her indiscretion. Twilight looked over as well, and the both of them saw that Spike had indeed managed to lift the chest and hoist it into the wagon. When Rarity saw that everything had been neatly stacked and returned to her cart, she squeaked with delight and rushed over to hug him.

"Oh thank you, Spike! I don't know what I'd do without you!" Rarity then levitated out a small box that had been wrapped in a purple, metallic wrapping paper and topped with a shiny gold bow. "For you, Spike. I should probably give this to you now, seeing as how you won't be able to come with me to the resort where I might give it to you."

The young dragon's eyes shimmered with emotion as he saw the carefully wrapped gift hovering there. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her neck, giving her his own hug. His display of affection lasted a good deal longer than Rarity's, and the white unicorn eventually had to wrap his arms in her magic and pry him away so that she could carry on with her business.

"Thank you, Rarity. It's just so wonderful how a pony as beautiful as you could be so kind and generous to a dragon like me," Spike said as he grabbed the gift. "I don't know what it looks like yet, but I'm sure I will cherish it."

Rarity's cheeks turned red again. "Oh Spike. Stop."

Twilight stepped in between Rarity and Spike and nudged the young dragon backwards to give Rarity some space. "Okay, Spike. That's quite enough." She then gave Rarity a glance. "I'm so very sorry that we couldn't take you up on your offer to go with you to the winter resort. You should probably find somepony else to go with you. Is everything okay with you and your cart?"

A small pout came to Rarity's lips as she nodded. She then sighed and made her way to the front of her cart, fastening the buckle after she had stepped into the harness. When she was satisfied that her cart was secured, she looked up at Twilight and Spike.

"Well if that's the way you feel, I guess there's no sense in forcing you to change your mind." Rarity muttered. She then brought a hoof up to her chin to think. "Now whom should I bring with me? Well I guess there's always... Oh no wait. She's making preparations for the first snowfall of winter. Well then perhaps..." Rarity then scrunched up her face, tossed her muzzle to the air and gave a long wail.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at Rarity's sudden outburst. When Rarity saw Twilight's rather perturbed expression, she gave a small cough before trying to set Twilight at ease with a smile.

"I'm having trouble coming up with somepony. Most of our friends are rather busy. But don't you worry! I'm sure it'll turn out all okay."

Twilight nodded and returned the smile, her eyes reflecting her reassurance. Spike stood near the open doorway and happily clutched at his gift, holding it tightly to his chest. The young dragon gave a small wave, to which Rarity cheerfully nodded. A twinkling came to her horn, and a flash of blue light surrounded a lavish velvet bag located in the cart behind her. The tiny silk twine keeping the bag cinched expanded outwards, and a small pamphlet levitated out.

"Oh Spikey!" Rarity exclaimed as she passed the pamphlet over to the dragon. "I almost forgot. Here is a pamphlet with some information about the winter resort, just in case either of you change your minds, but I've also written down the address of the winter resort and my cabin number on here. Could you please write me while I'm there? Maybe you could tell me how you like your gift!" Eagerness crept into her voice as she broached the subject of Spike and herself writing each other.

Twilight Sparkle jerked her head backwards slightly as she gave Spike a hard glare. She had been caught surprised by the sudden appearance of specks of light and color shaped suspiciously like hearts, and they fluttered around Spike's head like butterflies.

"I will write you every hour that I can spare it," Spike muttered, a dreamlike softness in his voice.

Twilight reached out with a hoof and swatted the hearts away. "Okay there, Romeo. Don't get too distracted from your duties, though." She tried her best to shove the slightly-more-grown dragon through the doorway. "We'll see you when you get back, Rarity."

Rarity waved as the two entered the library, the door closing behind them.