A Winter Romance

A Winter Blunderland

"Welcome to Coltorado!" Twilight heard the conductor bellow. "The elevation is five thousand feet. The weather is clear and a balmy twenty nine degrees."

Twilight grumbled at the conductor's cheerfulness as she shuffled out of the door onto the loading platform. After a day's worth of train travel, a mattress that felt as hard as a cutting board, cramped train cabins that seemed to have gotten smaller as the hours went on, and the memory of her fight with Spike still fresh in her mind, Twilight felt out of sorts and cranky, but she still felt grateful to finally be stepping hoof into the outdoors. She shivered against the brisk cold as Spike bounded out next to her. The young dragon craned his neck and looked about here and there, seemingly eager to find something. Twilight glanced down at Spike, rolling her eyes a bit in annoyance at his anxiety.

"What's gotten you so antsy?" Twilight asked as he darted around her legs.

"Where's Rarity?!"

Twilight wrinkled her nose. "Would you relax? She'll show up. I have to talk to her as well. She's probably still on the train retrieving her cart. Look. There she is now."

Spike followed Twilight's gaze down the length of the train, and they spotted a white unicorn exiting one of the utility cars, her large baggage cart in tow. Spike left Twilight behind, scampering up to Rarity as Twilight walked instead.

"Hey, Rarity! Do you need help with that?"

Rarity turned to smile at Spike but was interrupted by Sky Sparks stepping in between the two of them.

"Stay out of the way, you little squirt!" Sky Sparks bellowed.

Rarity's jaw dropped in a gasp, and her eyes went wide as she looked at Sky Sparks.

"Sky Sparks! Really. Be nice to my little Spikey Wikey. He is only trying to help."

Spike's eyes narrowed as the cocky stallion rudely patted him on his head spines.

"I mean... We've got this, little dragon," Sky Sparks said, a plastic smile on his face. "In fact, I will pull the cart the rest of the way."

Sky Sparks flashed a toothy smile at Rarity as he levitated two rectangular boxes and a sack out from the baggage cart and placed them into the cart. Rarity lowered her eyes and blushed as she returned her own smile, one that was a bit sheepish. Spike smirked at the flirtatious display while Twilight finally approached.

"Say Twilight? Did you see what Sky Sparks...?" Spike started.

"Oh Twilight!" Rarity exclaimed as she stepped out of the harness of her cart. "I know you've already packed your own things, but honestly I felt so bad about standing you up that I couldn't help but do something nice for you and Spike. Here you go."

"Oh you don't have to do that Rarity, but I need to..."

"Tut tut," Rarity said, holding up a hoof as she levitated several articles of clothing out from her cart. "It's frightfully cold out here, and I might as well make you warm and fabulous at the same time."

As Sky Sparks hooked himself up to the cart, Spike watched as a red and white plush ensemble similar to the outfit Rarity wore levitated over to Twilight. Twilight raised an eyebrow in skepticism as she watched the outfit make its way closer to her.

"Honestly, Rarity. I'm not sure I can accept a gift like this," Twilight stated.

"Oh please, Twilight?" Rarity pleaded. "It's very warm, and we'd both look so cute in matching outfits. The only thing that's missing is..." Rarity looked at her backside. "Well I still haven't come up with a name for it, yet." She then returned her gaze back at Twilight. "Please step into it. Oh Sky Sparks! Don't leave yet!"

Twilight glanced from Rarity to her dark-haired companion, who was starting to pull the cart away from the train platform.

"Oh don't worry, Miss Rarity! I'll get your things to the resort! I know the way, and I'm a bit of a legend there!" Sky Sparks exclaimed with another flash of a smile.

Spike had been mesmerized when Rarity drew attention towards her behind again, but his spell broke when he noticed Sky Sparks flirting with her. He wrinkled his nose.

"Oh my! Is that so?" Rarity squealed with delight. "Well thank you very much!"

As Sky Sparks rolled away with the cart, Rarity turned back towards Twilight.

"Now. Let's get back to getting you into this darling outfit," she cooed to Twilight.

Twilight took a couple quick steps backward as the fashionista brought the red and white sweater and skirt ensemble closer. Before Twilight knew what happened to her, she found herself enveloped in a bright flash of blue light. Rarity cast her quick change spell, and as Twilight blinked away the dancing sparks of light, she found herself wearing the outfit. Twilight looked herself over and then glanced up at the goofy hat atop her head, becoming particularly perturbed by the funny ball of fuzz that hung at the end of the hat and dangled just outside of her vision. She tossed her head back and flipped the fuzzy ball towards the backside of her head, which proved more satisfactory to her. With a bead of sweat on her forehead and a crooked smile, Twilight looked at Rarity and nodded her reluctant acceptance.

Even though Rarity had made Twilight's skirt longer than her own miniskirt, Spike's jaw still dropped in awe. He quickly tamed confused feelings of arousal and interest, bringing them down to a manageable admiration of how Rarity's work somehow complimented Twilight's natural shape and beauty. He set his jaw back against his upper set of teeth before Twilight saw, but he reluctantly admitted to himself that Twilight did look adorable, even ravishing.

Rarity smiled at her accomplishment and then turned her attention towards Spike. "Now for you, Spike..." She levitated a crocheted woolen poncho over to the smiling dragon and slipped the head circle around his neck. "I know I prepared something extra special for you, and I know you're probably excited to receive your gift, but I made this little thing for you to wear in the meantime because I couldn't bear the thought of you walking around in the cold with nothing to protect these darling arms and shoulders of yours."

Spike looked down at the article of clothing on his body, his face all smiles. It draped around his trunk like a parachute, a little red heart with his name in cursive on the front. His head and neck fit through a circle in the middle of the poncho while his arms peeked out from tiny sleeves on either side. Crocheted with soft wool, the poncho warmed his body, but he also felt his heart warming with gladness. The bitter feeling of the fight with Twilight the day before seemed more and more like a distant memory.

Rarity's face, however, didn't seem anywhere near as ecstatic.

She tilted her head from one side to the next as she watched Spike show off the poncho before pulling her lips into a contemplative pucker.

"Is something wrong with the poncho, Rarity?" Spike said.

Rarity looked up at Spike and then showed him a broad smile. "Oh no! Not at all, Spikey Wikey! It's just that... I know it's nowhere near as fabulous as the gift I got you," Rarity exclaimed.

Spike glance up at Twilight before looking back towards Rarity, an eager glimmer in his eyes. "Can I get your gift now, Rarity?" he asked excitedly.

Rarity giggled demurely, but Twilight's eyes went wide as she gulped. She then shrank away the next second, pulling her head in close to her shoulders and feeling not too unlike a wad of chewing gum stuck underneath the park bench. She had actually forgotten all about Rarity's gift.

"Where did I put that thing?" Twilight mumbled low to herself.

"You will have to show a little patience, Spike," Rarity said. "I plan on giving it to you for a special occasion."

"Oh boy!" Spike exclaimed. By then the young dragon was bursting with such unbridled happiness that he bounced up and down with giddy energy. "I just know I'm going to love it, and I love this poncho too, Rarity. Thank you so much!"

Spike rushed forward, arms outstretched to embrace Rarity in a hug, but Twilight quickly seized him in a magic bubble and pulled him backwards.

"Cool your heels there, Romeo," Twilight said. She unceremoniously dumped the young dragon in a snow pile on the platform behind her, drawing out a volley of grumbles and complaints. "Rarity," Twilight said, turning back towards her glamorous young friend. "I really wish you wouldn't spoil Spike like this."

Rarity waved a hoof. "Oh pish posh. You are both my friends, and it is completely my pleasure. The gift is still safe in your possession, is it not, Twilight? Shall I take it back from you?"

"No!" Twilight abruptly exclaimed. "I mean yes," she added, a bit more softly. "I mean..." She scuffed the ground nervously. "Yes it is still in my possession. I actually still want to hold onto it for the time being, if that is okay by you."

Rarity was speechless for a few moments, but then after a while, she slowly nodded. "Well okay, Twilight. If that is what you wish, then I will leave it with you."

"Perfect!" Twilight said, suddenly chipper.

At that moment, Spike managed to extricate himself from the snow pile. "Feh!" he exclaimed, sounding a bit incredulous.

He then pulled on his tail, bringing it towards his mouth before blowing a jet of fire onto the tip to warm it up. Twilight gave Spike a stony gaze before turning back towards Rarity.

"Well Rarity, now that we're here, there is something that I need to ask you."

"Well what a coincidence," Rarity squeaked. "There is something I need to tell you as well, but I think that we should get going so that we can catch up with Sky Sparks. We will need to walk to the resort from here, but I have our vacation packets, so don't you worry."

"Then we can talk on the way," Twilight affirmed. "Coming Spike?"

Spike nodded and drew the poncho closer to his body before picking up the backpack that Twilight had given him. He walked beside Twilight as they all stepped away from the train platform, but Rarity took the lead, walking just slightly ahead of the two of them as they made their way through town.

Coltorado was a picturesque place, with it being half again as big as Ponyville but nowhere near as large as Manehatten or Canterlot. It lay nestled among the Gold Saddle Mountains, where the wondrous aspen trees bathed the town in the glow of their yellow leaves. At almost a mile above sea level, it also received the first winter snow from the pegasi far earlier than Ponyville.

As the three friends made their way through town, they could see that most of the ponies who lived here were big, muscular and very athletic, with many of the stallions sporting long and coarse fetlocks. Twilight pondered that the ponies here must've grown longer fur and extra muscle mass to guard against the cold, but Rarity remarked that the coarser, shaggier look of the ponies were "a fright" and "uncouth".

"Have they never heard of salons over here?" Rarity asked with a sniff of her nose. "Long hair or not, there is no excuse for unsightly hygiene."

"And they're also missing out on the joys of seven hour bubble baths," Spike added. "I mean have they even heard of hot water?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure they have hot water here, Spike."

"Mmm! Speaking of hot water!" exclaimed Spike as he put his nose in the air. "I think I smell cocoa, and..." He continued smelling the air. "Is that the smell of cookies?"

"It's probably just coming from a house somewhere," Twilight said.

Spike shook his head. "No it's not. There!"

Twilight and Rarity followed Spike's pointed claw and spotted a quaint little shop at the end of the street. An inviting electric open sign glowed in the window with a warm red and yellow light.

"Oh how charming!" Rarity squeaked. "And it does smell nice, too. I think I smell cinnamon. And ginger bread. Sugar plum. Spiced maple, too."

As Rarity listed off all the different aromas she smelled, Spike rubbed his belly.

"Rarity. You're starting to make me hungry. I wonder if that's a sweet shop like Sugar Cube Corner." Spike then gave Twilight a look. "Can we go inside for a bit, please Twilight?" he pleaded.

Twilight shook her head. "I don't think that would be a good idea, Spike. We have to check into our lodges, and Rarity has to catch up with that stallion."

"Awww," Spike wailed. "Really?"

"Isn't that right, Rarity?" Twilight asked, sounding a bit insistent.

"Well I..."

Spike looked at Rarity with big doe eyes, clasping his claws together in a pleading manner. The effect was immediate. Rarity smiled in that mushy, sentimental way she got when she saw something cute or endearing.

"Oh!" Rarity cooed, bringing a hoof up to her chest. "Well I suppose we can stop for a little bit."

Twilight wrinkled her nose and gave Spike a hard glare. She then softened her expression a bit as she looked back at Rarity. "Rarity, please! I think I can feel another headache coming on. I just want to check into our lodges and, I don't know, read or something."

"Well perfect!" Rarity exclaimed. "If you're getting a headache, then there's nothing better than a hot cup of cocoa! Coming, Spike?"

Rarity turned and winked at the young dragon before heading towards the shop. Spike followed close behind, unable to resist her siren call. They left behind their sputtering and exasperated friend.

"I never agreed to this!" Twilight shouted, giving the snow a sound stomp as she strained her neck to bring forth more volume. She then saw her friends near the shop door and trudged after them in a huff. "Ugh!"

The door chime jingled as Rarity and Spike entered, smiling and enjoying the inviting warmth. They heard a gruff voice to their right deliver a sales pitch.

"Welcome to creature comforts, where we sell comforts to feed the mind and the body! How may I help you?"

An earth pony stallion with a coat the color of an eggplant stood behind a counter with a cash register. Situated to the left of the register was a large bowl.

"Well, mister..." Rarity began, putting on the cautious smile she typically reserved for strangers she deemed unattractive.

The stallion nodded. "Call me Taffy," he exclaimed heartily.

"Mister Taffy," Rarity reiterated.

"Do you have any cookies?" Spike interrupted, staring up at the gruff shop owner with hungry eyes.

"Spike!" the dragon heard the voice of Twilight call from behind him.

Spike and Rarity glanced over their shoulders and saw their bookworm friend at the door, kicking snow from her feet. Spike then looked back at the counter and eyeballed the bowl. It had been filled to the brim with strange square wrappers.

"Hey what's in the bowl?"

Immediately Spike felt himself being pulled backwards and dumped on a chair.

"Sit down and don't touch anything, and you and I are going to have a little talk when we get to our lodges, mister," Twilight said, a searing frown on her face.

"Whoa! Sounds like somepony needs one of our relaxation treatments!" went the shop owner.

Twilight looked up and smirked when she saw the shop keeper standing behind the point of sale, shaking his head and chuckling rather smugly.

"Say what IS in this bowl?" Rarity asked, levitating one of the wrappers up to get a better look.

The wrapper was perfectly square but small, about the size of two bits placed end to end. She spotted perforations on either side, as if the wrapper were meant to be torn off from others like it. The plastic of the wrapper was opaque, but Rarity could still make out a raised circular ridge from the object inside. A graphic was on the surface of one side. The image was of two hearts linked together.

"What? You kids have never seen a bowl of condoms before?" said the Mister Taffy with a wry smile. "Only five per customer," he added in a more serious tone.

Immediately, Twilight and Rarity launched into protests.

"Ew! Ick!"

"My stars!"

Rarity brought a hoof to her forehead as she almost swooned.

"What kind of operation are you running here? You're not a sweet shop?" Twilight queried.

Mister Taffy laughed and slapped the counter surface. "Well we do sell candies, but they're the fancy kind, they only come in boxes, and they're a bit expensive."

"Well then what was the source of those delightful aromas we detected outside a bit earlier?" Rarity added. She still looked a bit uneasy to her stomach but no longer seemed off balance.

"Oh! Well you probably smelled our selection of lotions and essential oils!" said the shop owner, making a sweeping motion with his front hoof. "If you had glanced at our shelves instead of gawking at my bowl of willy wrappers, you would've known that."

Rarity's jaw dropped as she glanced up from the counter and looked around. What she spotted took her breath away. Up and down the walls and stacked in shelves and arranged on floor displays were rows of some her fondest indulgences. There were scented lotions and bath oils and even candles and creams and "sensual rubs". Some of these things did indeed smell like what she thought were bakery goodies outside. Curiously, on one side of the store, she spotted glass cases with various edible treats, such as exotic chocolates and the candies the store owner mentioned. As she looked around, the smile on her face became broader and broader with each new delight that she spotted.

"Oh Twilight! I think I've died and gone to Elysium! Come! Come look at this stuff!"

Twilight groaned as she walked over to where Rarity moved from one shelf to the next with pure glee.

"Is that really necessary? I can see these things just fine from where I was sitting. And for crying out loud. Would you stand still? You're making my headache even worse."

Rarity turned around and vigorously grabbed Twilight by the shoulders. "Help me choose!" she exclaimed. She then glanced back up at the shelves. "Or maybe I should just one of everything."

Twilight's eyes went wide at the thought of Rarity's shopping tenacity. "One of everything?!" Twilight gasped.

The shop owner's ears perked up, and an eager gleam entered his eyes. With a smile on his face, he walked over to where Rarity and Twilight were.

"Perhaps I can be of some assistance!" he bellowed.

"Oh no. That's quite all right. We are perfectly fine," Rarity said sweetly.

Taffy took a step backwards, giving Rarity and Twilight some space, and tilted his head a tiny bit as he regarded them. "Are you sure? I can make some good recommendations."

"Yes, we were just about to leave anyway!" Twilight barked.

Rarity brought a hoof up to her chest and stared at Twilight, looking decidedly wounded. "Leave? Really, Twilight. You need to learn to relax." She placed her hooves tenderly on either side of Twilight's body, giving her a gentle shake as if to loosen her up.

"How can I relax?" Twilight exclaimed, pulling slightly away from her friend. "We haven't checked into our lodges, yet. I can't stop thinking about my homework. On top of that, I still don't see any cocoa!"

As Taffy was suitably distracted with trying to work his salesponyship on Rarity and Twilight, Spike took that opportunity to investigate the bowl of wrappers further. It didn't seem to Spike that there was any candy inside each of the wrappers, as they were a bit on the flat side and didn't smell of sugar, but he wondered about the reactions they gave Twilight and Rarity. His curiosity getting the better of him, he reached out and grabbed a few before stuffing them into his backpack. One he kept out, however, holding it between his thumb claw and index claw and flipping it from one side to the next as he investigated it. Then, after a quick glance back at Twilight and Rarity to see if they were still distracted by the shop keeper, he tore open the wrapper and pulled out its contents. Out popped a strange balloon-like thing, its sides seemingly rolled up so that at the open end was a ring. Opposite the open end, the balloon thingy terminated in a tiny rounded tip.

"Well that's definitely not candy, but it..." He put the object to his nose. "Smells like fruit. It's not fruit, but it's not candy. Is it edible?"

Spike didn't wait long to put the question to bed. He opened up his mouth and promptly popped the strange object in. He found it chewy, almost remarkably resilient in its composition. A flood of strawberries entered his nasal cavaties, followed by the sensation of his tongue becoming coated with a slick, lubricating feeling.

After about ten seconds of chewing, he became convinced it would never break down in his mouth, so he gave it a swallow and smacked his upper palate a few times afterwards. He blinked a few times as he felt it work down his short throat, tumbling towards his stomach like a tiny loop-the-hoop. As he pondered his experience, he still wasn't sure if it was candy or even candy. However, he concluded that he had enjoyed it, at least where flavor was concerned.

"Oh! Cocoa? Well why didn't you say so?!" Spike heard Taffy exclaim from the other side of the room. "What's a comfort shop without the number one comfort drink in all of Equestria?"

Spike jumped a little at the sound of Taffy's voice and made a beeline back towards his chair.

"So what is your pleasure?" went the shop owner. "We've got peppermint, cinnamon, nutmeg, and of course, good old cocoa with marshmallows."

Twilight glanced once at Spike, who twiddled his thumbs and played innocent. She then turned back towards Taffy. "I'll take a cinnamon. Thank you."

Rarity looked over from where she had been taking a delicate sniff of a ball of bath aromas. "This smells delightful," she remarked.

"Would you like a cup of cocoa?" quipped Taffy.

"Oh! Oh sure! I'll take a peppermint!" Rarity replied, a twinkle of delight in her eyes.

"Spike?" Twilight said, turning her head towards her young dragon friend. "Would you like some cocoa?"

Spike quickly zipped up his backpack and looked at Twilight, smiling sheepishly.

"What were you looking at in there?" went Twilight.

"Nothing!" he replied abruptly, giving a quick, stilted chuckle. "I'll take a peppermint as well. Same as Rarity."

"Oh and Mister Taffy!" went Rarity. "I've made up my mind! I would like four of these gingerbread scented candles, this lavender massage oil, this vanilla bath ball, two of these boxes of chocolate, one for me and one for my good friend Twilight here, and um..."

Twilight stood with her mouth agape, staring at Rarity in bewilderment. Once again, Twilight found herself on the receiving end of Rarity's generosity, and Twilight found herself simultaneously touched by her giving and doubtful over whether she could be receptive to such an extravagant gift.

"Rarity," Twilight started as she craned her neck to try and get a glimpse of the chocolate box's price. "I don't want to seem ungrateful, but you really don't have to..."

Rarity blocked Twilight's view of the box of treats and immediately pulled it off the shelf, along with similar box just for herself. "Tut tut!" Rarity chastised. "You've been uptight, lately. You deserve to treat yourself. I won't take no for an answer."

"Excellent!" Mister Taffy exclaimed. He then made his way over to where another set of counters were located, pressing a button on a strange machine and bringing a couple tins of cocoa forward from the back of the counter. "Hey why don't you bring those items to the point of sale while I make those drinks for you? Was there anything else you wanted? Anything at all? I could've sworn I heard a little doubt in the pretty white lady's voice. Are any of you seeing anypony? Perhaps you were looking for one of our his and hers sensual lotions but were just too embarrassed to admit it? Or hers and hers if you're into that sort of thing."

Twilight scoffed indignantly as the store owner worked with the appliance, a machine that crackled and sputtered loudly before shooting a stream of milk into the cups, hissing all the while.

"I assure you that we are all single, some of us moreso than others," Twilight said with an irritation in her voice.

Spike wrinkled his nose at Twilight, but Rarity could only blush a deep red.

The shop owner must've seen Rarity acting embarrassed, for he gave a hearty, from-the-belly kind of laugh. "Well then. I will give the three of you one sample size pack each and fifteen willy wrappers to boot. You know. Just in case." He turned around and dumped a heaping spoonful of cocoa into each of the mugs, giving them quick stirs to mix them well before continuing the conversation. "Oh and about those chocolates. Some of them are rumored to be aphrodisiacs. My wife makes them, so I wouldn't know. Honestly, I'm not even sure which is which. Anyway! Enjoy!"

* * *

The three friends drank well at the shop. Twilight tried her best to resist the soothing warmth, but eventually she allowed herself to succumb to a little bit of euphoria, acknowledging that the silkiness of the warm cocoa sliding its way into her belly chased away her dark moods. The happy feeling was not to last, however. When they departed the shop, Rarity somehow encouraged Spike to carry the merchandise she bought at the store. It proved to be a struggle for Twilight not to interject. She didn't want to hurt Rarity's feelings, but on the other hoof, Twilight wasn't too keen on how Rarity took advantage of Spike's affections for her. As if that wasn't enough, when they finally arrived at the resort, Rarity asked if she could borrow Spike for a bit to assist in taking her things to her cabin.

"Rarity! I'm tired!" Twilight whined.

"I understand that, Twilight. Really I do," Rarity said. "I won't be too long. I just need some assistance." She then looked as if a new thought crossed her mind. "Oh by the way! Earlier you said you wanted to ask me something. What was it?"

Twilight heard a dull, almost plastic-like click next to her. She turned her head and saw that a small key card had been placed on the desk before her. The three friends had made their way to the guest relations building and were currently checking in to receive their cabins. On the other side of the desk stood a well groomed, pearlescent and cream colored young mare, who greeted them with a broad and cheerful smile.

"There you go. Your cabin number is 125. I do hope you enjoy your stay!" the desk clerk said with great pride in her voice.

Twilight retrieved her key and then nodded at the clerk before turning back towards Rarity. Twilight rubbed the end of her nose and furrowed her brow for a second or two before realization found its way to her.

"Oh! I've just been meaning to ask you what you knew about this resort so that I can form an itinerary for Spike and me, but now that we're all here, there doesn't seem to be any point. I could always just look at the map and grab some of the information pamphlets."

The broadening smile on Rarity's face suggested that something had struck her funny bone. "Twilight Twilight Twilight..."

The clerk then gave Rarity her key, and Rarity quickly snatched this up and nodded appreciatively before continuing with Twilight.

"As always, ever the stoic and organized Twilight Sparkle. You're on a vacation! You should relax! Be spontaneous! Enough with the planning! If you want to do something, just go out and do it!"

Out of the corner of Twilight's eye, she spotted Spike approach the desk and moved to head him off. "Oh miss? This little dragon is with me. Is there any way he can room in my cabin and just get an extra copy of my key?"

Rarity reached out and gave Twilight a gentle shove on the shoulder, causing her to stumble back from the desk. "See? This is another thing I've been meaning to talk to you about! Enough with this 'Spike and me, little brother' routine. Spike is a growing dragon. Give him a little independence. Maybe he doesn't want to do everything that you do. Let him be free to make his own choices."

Twilight furiously stomped the floor with her right front hoof. "I DO give him independence!" Twilight exclaimed. "I'll let him do the things that he wants to do!"

Rarity narrowed her eyes and cast a sideways glance at her. "Is that so? Please, pray tell, in what way? You just said so yourself that you were planning on constructing an itinerary for the both of you."

"Look, Rarity! I appreciate you showing concern for Spike, but there really is no need. Stop concerning yourself with my affairs and start worrying about your own affairs, like figuring out how to find that stallion whom you let take off with your cart of things."

Rarity circled her head upward and then to the side, like an exaggerated eye roll. "Oh my. How silly of me," she muttered. "I've almost forgotten." With a quick smile, Rarity turned back towards the desk clerk, whom Spike couldn't help but notice seemed completely enamored with Rarity. "Excuse me, miss," Rarity said with a honey-dipped voice. "I don't know if you are allowed to give out information concerning other guests, but I am looking for a friend of mine. Perhaps you could tell me if he checked in. His name is Sky Sparks."

In a flash, the languid look in the clerk's eyes vanished before Rarity could see, and she straightened up, putting on a more appropriate and business-like demeanor.

"Are you miss Rarity?" the desk clerk said, an irrepressible bubbliness in her voice that made Spike feel like somepony had poured champagne down his ear flap, which made him all the more cautious. "Sky Sparks left a message for you. I believe he said your, ah, your cart was with him. He left you a note on how to find him, and... Oh hold on!"

The clerk briefly disappeared behind the counter and came back up a few moments later with an envelope between her teeth. She dropped this on the counter and pushed it forward towards Rarity.

"There you go. I believe this is an invitation for you to join him in a small soiree at his luxury cabin."

Rarity snatched up the envelope in her levitation field. "Oh how wonderful," she said.

The desk clerk wrinkled her nose. "Well maybe you see something in him that I don't. He seemed like a bit of a cad to me."

Rarity didn't hear the clerk. She busied herself with investigating the invitation. Rarity noted to herself how garish it looked. The envelope was a bright red, not delicately colored like something she expected a gentlecolt would give to a lady. A silhouette of what looked like a set of skis crossed themselves in one corner of the envelope. From them stemmed an orange racing stripe, which zig-zagged to the other corner. The harsh musk of a strong, masculine cologne hit her nose, slightly irritating her delicate sense of smell. She coughed a little as she broke the glue on the flap and retrieved what was inside. She pulled out a letter and opened it up. To her disappointment, she found no flowery or romantic prose written therein.

"You are invited," Rarity read. "Please come to my luxury suite at cabin 800." After flipping the letter back and forth a few times, she folded it up and tucked it back into the envelope. "Well that was a bit drab," she uttered while putting her invitation inside her saddle bags. Rarity then glanced up at Twilight and Spike. "Well it seems I've been invited to some kind of party."

A frown came to Spike's face. "Aww!" he whined. "Do you really have to?"

Rarity pursed her lips upon seeing Spike's sad eyes. She affectionately rubbed his head spine. "I DO want to go, Spike, and he still has my cart."

"Well then I will go to his cabin and take the cart back for you!" the young dragon said gallantly.

"Oh Spike," Rarity sighed.

She couldn't help but smile in amusement at how devoted Spike was. Twilight, however, seemed to bristle at the idea.

"I'm afraid that is simply not possible, Spike. But don't you worry your pretty little head," Rarity soothed, giving the little dragon's head spine another stroke. "I still need your assistance in taking the things I bought from the store back to my cabin."

This seemed to cheer up Spike tremendously, for he wagged his tail up and down like a faithful dog.

"I will serve you well!" he remarked.

Twilight deflated her anger and sighed. "Fine," she said flatly. "I will just head to my cabin, then. Try not to keep him out too late."

Rarity reached into one of the shopping bags held within Spike's claws and levitated out one of the boxes of chocolate. "Don't forget this!" Rarity said as she passed the sweets off to Twilight.

Twilight balked a little as she looked at the candy, a bead of sweat pooling along her brow. She then looked up at Rarity, who was smiling broadly and sincerely. The familiar sting of a little bit of guilt found its way into her heart as she looked back at the chocolate. With a cautious smile and a slow nod, she took ownership of the chocolate box and wrapped it in her own levitation field.

"Thank you, Rarity. I still don't think this is necessary. But thank you anyway."

"Oh you are quite welcome, darling! I know that I myself have a hard time resisting a good box of rich, creamy, decadent chocolate. Of course I always remember my limit. I have a figure to keep."

Spike felt like his heart could melt much like a piece of chocolate. Once again, Rarity talked in that sing song, romantic way that set the young dragon's heart aflame. Sometimes he felt like he could hang on every word she said, every delicate and unique intonation that felt like a song to him, no matter what she said or how she said it. His daydream didn't last long, however, for he soon saw both Twilight and Rarity walking away from him and heading towards the door.

"Are you coming, Spike?" Rarity called. "Why does it seem like you are in a faraway land?"

"Because you send me there," Spike whispered, his mind still in a haze. Then, realizing Rarity was still staring at him, he shook his head and continued in a more conversational manner. "I mean, um, yes I'm coming!"

* * *

Rarity wasn't sure what to make of how stiff he was.

If Spike hadn't been wearing a smile, she would've confused him for a scarecrow. The young dragon stood stiff-legged in the middle of the living room, his arms spread out like a tee as shopping bags and dresses hung from them.

"Goodness, Spike! You didn't have to try and take on all my things at once!" Rarity exclaimed.

Rarity had just come back from using the little filly's room and from undressing out of her plush ensemble to find Spike had gathered up almost every single one of her things in an attempt to please her. He stood there quite happily, seemingly waiting for some command or suggestion on what goes where.

"I'm sorry, Rarity! I'm just so excited to be here with you and to help you out!" Spike said.

"Oh that's very sweet of you, Spikey Wikey, but if you don't relax pretty soon and unlock your knees, you're likely to pass out and fall over where you stand."

"Oh pshaw!" Spike returned jokingly. "Just tell me where everything will go!"

"How about this?" Rarity calmly asked. She levitated the shopping bags off of Spike's arms. "I will put away the chocolate and these other items while you see if you can find a place for my dresses in that wardrobe over there."

Spike's eyes went wide, and he started breathing faster, almost looking like he would hyperventilate. "You really mean it?!" he squealed. "I get to help you? As in actually really help you?"

Rarity briefly laughed as she headed towards the bedroom. "But of course, darling! What did you think I meant?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity swore that she saw Spike practically skip for joy on his way to the wardrobe. Once inside the bedroom, Rarity busied herself with finding places to put the merchandise she bought. The chocolate she decided to put on the nightstand next to the bed. With the bath aroma and the massage oil, Rarity felt that it would've been best to keep them in the bathroom. Finally she got to the condoms and the sensual lotion, and upon seeing them inside the shopping bag, she started blushing like crazy. Despite feeling a little scandalous at the idea of owning such risque items, she didn't feel the desire to get rid of them. They found a place inside the drawer of the nightstand.

A knock on the door slightly startled her just as she was closing the nightstand to keep these items out of sight. She quickly cleared her throat and checked the vanity mirror opposite the bed to see if her face was still crimson. Satisfied that she looked presentable, Rarity turned to address the door.

"What is it, Spike?" Rarity called.

"I found your makeup thing in one of the pockets of your saddle bags," Spike answered on the other side of the bedroom door.

"It's called a compact, darling. Thank you for getting it. Could you bring it to me? I need to brighten up my face a bit."

There was a brief moment of silence before the dragon on the other side spoke again.

"So you're letting me come into your room?" Spike asked.

Rarity grew touched at how considerate Spike was. "Oh what a gentlecolt you are, Spike. Yes, I am letting you come in."

Rarity heard the door handle turn and the creaking of hinges. A young dragon's head slowly peered around the edge of the door before it opened wide all the way and revealed the rest of the dragon, who smiled and took a couple steps forward with his arms outstretched and palms face up. Rarity saw her compact nestled within Spike's upturned claws, and she levitated it towards her. Spike lowered his arms as he was relieved of the item and stuck his chest out proudly.

"I think I did a good job putting away your dresses, Rarity," he crowed.

Rarity took the compact over to the vanity mirror and flipped a switch to shine some light on her face.

"I'm absolutely sure you did, darling, but if you could be so dear, I need another favor from you."

Spike gave a low bow. "Anything for you," he said.

Rarity looked away from the mirror momentarily to address Spike. "Could you be kind enough to pick out a dress for me to wear to the party? I'm very very sorry to put you through all this trouble of stowing away my dresses only to ask this of you. Oh but don't pick out the long, sleek evening dress with sequins. It's a bit showy, and it's not the right time for that one. Thank you, darling."

She went back to facing the mirror to start on her makeup, so she never saw Spike's face fall into a disappointed frown. However, she heard his heavy sigh.

"You're really going to that party at Sky Sparks' cabin, huh?"

"Why yes, Spike. I've already said that before. Are you feeling okay?"

Spike never doubted the sincerity of Rarity's concern for him, but the fact that she never took her eyes off the mirror while addressing his feelings somehow stung a bit. The young dragon hung his head low.

"Yes. Yes I'm feeling okay. I'll pick out a dress for you now."

Spike glumly headed back to the wardrobe and left Rarity to her makeup. He slid the doors of the wardrobe open and glanced around, looking for something suitable for Rarity to wear. He smirked when he saw all the dresses. Even though Rarity packed light by her standards, more than likely leaving the rest of her outfits with her cart of things, there were still quite a few to choose from, with each dress just as elegant as the one next to it.

As he thought about a gorgeous mare such as Rarity being anywhere near a scoundrel like Sky Sparks, Spike had a brief moment of selfishness in which he actually wished Rarity had an ugly dress.

"I wonder which of these dresses is drab and plain," Spike muttered to himself as he looked at each dress in turn. He then shook his head and chastised himself. "Why are you thinking that? Rarity deserves to look her best, even if it's for somepony else."

Spike picked out a classy, sleeveless blue dress which shimmered in the light. It didn't have too many frills or unnecessary accents, and its knee length skirt provided just enough coverage. It seemed beautiful but sensible.

"This matches Rarity's eyes," Spike said as he pulled the dress down from its hanger.

With dress in claw, he made his way back to Rarity in the bedroom. She still seemed busy applying her makeup.

"I picked out a dress for you, Rarity," Spike called, sounding especially pleased with himself.

Rarity waved a hoof at him but never took her eyes off the mirror. "That's fine, darling. You can just lay it on the bed."

Spike approached the bed but stopped midway to give Rarity a look. He raised his eyebrow at the sight of her lifting what appeared to be a pencil and aiming the sharp point straight at her eyeballs. It was such a worrisome sight that were Spike to possess hair, he was sure they would be standing on end. He couldn't stand to watch her put herself through such a dangerous ritual without speaking up.

"Rarity? What...?" the dragon started.

"Not another word, Spike. I need the utmost concentration while doing this. I can't afford a distraction while I'm applying my eyeliner. I'm liable to poke my eyes out."

"Well we can't have that. Your eyes are the best part about you."

Rarity blushed and all but completely dropped her eyeliner pen. "Th-thank you, Spike." Rarity cleared her throat and then aimed her eyeliner again. "Well get to it, then. Then when you've laid my dress down, could you please excuse yourself for a bit and close the bedroom door on the way out?"

Spike felt his spirits start to fall again. "Oh. Oh okay, Rarity."

With a sigh and an encumbered heart, Spike placed the blue dress on Rarity's bed, headed towards the door, and briefly turned around to give a quick bow which Rarity never saw. He held his bow as he slowly backed across the door threshold. Once on the other side, he reached up and pulled on the handle.

Each passing second of silence on the other side of the door seemed to become heavier than the last for Spike. The more he waited for Rarity to get done getting ready, the more restless he became. After about a minute of waiting, Spike decided to look for a way to keep himself occupied. His attention turned towards his backpack laying on the couch. Making his way over to the furniture, he grabbed his backpack and sat down, his legs swinging back and forth freely but grown just long enough to barely scrape the floor. He worked on a dry spot in his mouth with his tongue as he undid the buckles of the flap. The spot only became drier still when he saw his prize inside. He reached in and pulled it out.

"This is that book I took from Rarity back on the train," he muttered to himself as he looked at the cover. "Why do I even have this?" He hopped off the couch and turned towards the bedroom door, holding the book out at arm's length. "I should return this to her. No. I should confess to what I did," he said as he took a couple steps towards the bedroom. Then he paused, and after a beat, he sat back down. "Right after I read this chapter!"

Spike turned to where he last left the story before departing the train. The last chapter tugged at his heart, leaving him to the point where he almost cried in front of Rarity. It had been lucky for him that she only took the briefest notice of his tears and didn't pry into what had caused his crying. It would've been most certainly awkward had Rarity discovered Spike had been reading her book. In addition to the sad parts that had made him cry, there were also a few parts that made him feel kind of funny and gave him the same strange heat he felt around Rarity at the restaurant. Spike discovered words that confounded him and defied his ability to define them. He read scenes that gave him an odd tickle and strange urges. He couldn't figure out why he had been feeling these tumultuous emotions as he read the book. They frustrated him just as much as they amused him. The more he thought about the book, the deeper his shame felt over taking it and keeping it a secret from Rarity.

He delved deeper into the next chapter. It seemed to building up towards even more of the kinds of scenes which gave him the funny feelings. Spike liked the main hero of the story, a young stallion named Nightshade. He identified with this shy but powerful pony who had a hard time expressing his feelings to his true love.

"Okay, so in the last chapter," Spike recounted to himself as he flipped through the pages of the book. "Our hero Nightshade had been kidnapped and locked away in a tower, kept away from his true love by order of his step sister, who is a powerful enchantress." He flatly added, "Boy does THAT sound familiar." Then, he continued with, "She may keep him away from the one he was meant to be with, but I hope true love wins out in this chapter."

Spike read a few paragraphs and then pumped his fist.

"Yes! It looks like he escaped the tower through a clever ploy and some heroic fighting! Now all he has to do is make it back to the love of his life."

Spike read more and more to himself, getting caught up in the exploits of the book's hero. Finally he came to a scene where it seemed like the hero had finally found his mare.

Nightshade gave Meadowlark a long and loving embrace.

"Oh my dear Nightshade, I thought I would never see you again."

"I've traveled hundreds of miles just to be in your loving presence."

Meadolowlark turned away from Nightshade and raised a hoof up to her forehead as she became overcome by her emotions. "Oh Nightshade. All those years we've known each other, and you've never told me your honest and true feelings. You keep on dropping hints, but I desire more than that!"

Nightshade fell forward to his knees, ignoring the sores that covered them. "Oh my dear Meadowlark. Forgive me! I was afraid you would reject me, and my stubborn pride kept me from telling you. But no more! I want you to be with me for the rest of our lives. My only regret is that I am a broken shadow of my former self. I have nothing to give you to make you my wife!"

Spike pulled his head away from the pages and pursed his lips, a feeling of uncertainty coming over him. "Sheesh. I can't tell if this is the good part. This is actually getting kind of corny. So why can't I stop reading?"

Meadowlark whirled back around to face Nightshade, her face a mask of raw emotion, tears streaming from her eyes. "You are the only thing I need in this world! But there is something you can give me."

"Name it!"

Meadowlark gave her love a long and passionate kiss, feverishly letting her lips and the softness of her tongue relay her desire to him. She then playfully brushed a hoof against the tufts on his chest before leaning forward and whispering in his ear, "Make love to me, Nightshade. I want to be the mother of your children."

"But... But we're not..."

Another loving kiss silenced him, and Nightshade was all but lost to Meadowlark's affections and her sweet perfume.

"Tradition can hang," Meadowlark replied.

She reached out and grabbed him by his broad shoulders with her front hooves and started walking backwards, gently guiding him towards her canopy bed. When they reached their destination, Meadowlark fell backwards until both were nestled within the mattress's softness. Joy filled their hearts, and they each gave a gleeful laugh. Gentle play was not Meadowlark's desire, however. When the giddy feeling had subsided, she nuzzled Nightshade with the tip of her nose, gazing into his eyes with her own eyes half closed in a smoldering, seductive manner.

She gave Nightshade one prolonged kiss after another as she sought out her prize with her right hoof. Giving him more guidance, she used her left hoof to coax him to lie on his back. It didn't take her long to find the button to press down below. The reaction was instantaneous. Nightshade rolled his head back against the sheets and grunted. Out came his member, standing fully ready to start some action. He arched his back as his darling got to work on his shaft, applying pressure up and down the length with both of her front hooves. As she did this, she kissed his chest and made her way up until her lips found his lips once more. When a sticky liquid poured from the end of his stallionhood, she knew that he was ready.

Spike felt the familiar heat building up inside him again as he read the sultry chapter. He read several paragraphs of steamy romance and foreplay, of kissing and nuzzling and caressing of different body parts. The deeper he read into the scene, the more he got into it. The more he got into it, the worse the teasing and annoying but wonderful heat got. Absent-mindedly, his right hand drifted downward, and he continued reading the book held in only the other. He became vaguely aware that his own member had grown stiff as well.

"Unh. Oh no. Not here," Spike panted. But he didn't stop. He continued reading the scene and feeding his arousal. "Meadowlark lay down on her belly and exposed her backside to Nightshade. She lifted her tail to entice him. 'I am wet, Nightshade,' Meadowlark said. 'See how it drips from me. I beg of you. Please mount me. Make love to me and give me your baby.'"

Spike gasped as the stiffness of his little boy dragon part grew even harder and the buzzing of hormones flooded his brain, almost keeping him from reading even further.

"Nightshade placed his two front hooves firmly on his lover's hindquarters as he positioned himself. His member stood fully erect, and his heart beat faster at the thought of the intimate activity they were about to undertake and of the obligation to her he would most likely fulfill. His arousal reached a feverish high when he inhaled and took in the scent of her sex. Meadowlark bit her lower lip and prepared herself as she felt his tip press up against her. The wetness of her made the entrance easy, but a brief pain came when she felt her maidenhead give way with the first thrust. 'Keep going, Nightshade. The pain is nothing,' Meadowlark cried. Nightshade did as he was co... commanded and... kept thrusting against... against her... slow at first, almost tenderly as he... kissed... UNH! Her neck at the same time! Then.... he..."

Spike dropped the book to the floor and glanced down as his confusing and terrifying but wonderful state of being he wasn't even sure what to call. He oozed a clear liquid, and worried he might stain the couch, he grabbed the end and tried covering it up. He saw that he wasn't succeeding in stopping it from dripping, so he lowered his head and closed his eyes as tears streamed from them, some from the guilt but some from the intense sensitivity and the electrifying feeling throughout all of his body.

"Rarity!" Spike wept.

"Spikey!" came a chipper voice from the bedroom. "Could you come here, please? I need help with something!"

Spike quickly rubbed his face to dry his eyes but managed to smear some of the sticky liquid on his face. "Um... Okay, Rarity! I'm coming!"

He took a deep breath, got up from the couch and approached the bedroom. His penis was still out of its sheath and standing erect, seemingly not wanting to go down any time soon.

He gently braced his shoulder against the door and placed a quivering claw on the handle before pausing in anticipation of what would come upon opening it.

Spike felt terrified. He respected Rarity as a friend and as a dignified, cultured lady. Yet everything about Rarity drove Spike crazy and sometimes caused his body to reach strange new feelings and sensations against his bidding. He just couldn't bear to sully her refined gentility, but there he was, standing in a shameful way and in no state to show himself to her. However, he also couldn't just stand there. Rarity had called him to come. He also didn't feel like staying in the living room would've done any good. If she didn't need him inside the bedroom, she likely would've walked out and discovered him sitting on the couch, either dripping fluids or covering up his awkward body part.

So he turned the handle and then he looked down.

His little boy dragon part was still out and still stiff.

He completed the turn of the handle and opened the door a tiny bit. He then stuck his head in a tiny bit, hoping for the slim chance that Rarity didn't turn to look at him. It seemed that he caught a bit of luck, as Rarity had her back turned towards him, her eyes still on the vanity mirror.

The young dragon started sneaking inside, his body turned slightly away from her and his palms cupped desperately over his crotch area.

Rarity looked over her mirror image intently, scouting for any imperfections in her makeup. She had checked her finish for color blemishes and made sure that her eye shadow was nice and even and not too thick. Finally, she checked to see if her false eyelashes had alignment problems. They didn't.

She clopped her hooves together with a smile; everything was to her satisfaction. She admitted to herself that she wouldn't accept anything less than making herself a regular stunner, radiating fabulosity like the sun radiated light.

As her eyes drifted to the side and focused on the mirror image of the room behind her, she spotted something that made her breath catch in her throat. Her little Spikey Wikey had entered the room.

He was sporting a raging erection.

Rarity quickly brought a hoof up to her chest and breathed out to compose herself. Part of her wanted to pry into why Spike was in such an unbecoming state, but she also remembered that she was a lady as well as his friend. She balked at the idea of hurting his feelings to get her answers. Faced with very little good options, she decided to start out playing coy and act like she hadn't seen him.

Rarity hummed a small tuned and swung her legs back and forth as she sat on the stool in front of the vanity, delicately touching her front hooves to her knees like a shy debutante. She then ruffled her skirt a bit and leaned closer to the mirror.

"Are you there, Spike?" Rarity called, pretending not to see the young dragon try to inch his way past her. "You can come in, now!"

Spike stopped in his tracks but kept his back turned towards her. He swallowed a raw lump and took a couple steps backwards, making his way towards Rarity tail end first, his shaky knees slightly tucked in to try and hide his embarrassing problem. He stood behind where Rarity sat, hoping that she wouldn't turn around and that her body would hide him from her view in the mirror. Fighting his nerves, he inhaled a ragged breath and opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm here Rarity," Spike muttered, his words coming out rather dryly. "You needed help with something?"

Rarity squealed with delight at the sound of Spike's voice. She glanced up in the mirror and spotted his adorable dragon tail peeking out from behind her body. She smiled and nodded. "Why yes, Spike. Could you be a dear and help me with that zipper in the back of my dress? It seems to be stuck. Oh but take your time, darling. I wanted to talk to you about something while you do that."

Spike gulped and turned his head to look at Rarity over his shoulders. He spotted the sensual curve of her spine peeking out through the zipper of her dress and the delicate nape of her neck behind the cascade of her coiled up locks of hair. The perfect, feminine and beguiling landscape of her back seemed alluring to him, with its every subtle curve and measure of symmetry. He felt a renewed rush of blood to different parts of his body, including his part down below.

He then chanced pulling his hands away from his throbbing little boy dragon part to take a look. The clear, sticky liquid coated his claws, and his boy part still leaked the strange stuff.

"Um... Are you sure you want that? I mean you are a unicorn."

"But I'm asking you, darling," Rarity cooed, still keeping her body facing the mirror. "You can sit on the bed if it's too high for you. I'll sit down next to you so you can help me."

Spike gave a small, high-pitched whine.

"Okay, Rarity," he replied.

In a fit of desperation, he grabbed a pillow from off the bed and used it to cover himself up. He then hopped up on the bed and awaited his fate.

'She's going to see me. I'm so busted,' Spike thought to himself.

To his surprise though, Rarity got up and started walking backwards towards the foot of the bed before finally sitting down on it. The springs creaked with the weight of her backside as she settled in. Spike blinked at Rarity's unusual behavior when he realized she had kept her back turned towards him the entire time. Clutching the pillow tightly to his crotch, he got up and walked across the top of the bed and kneeled down behind her.

He tried pulling on Rarity's zipper with one hand so that he could keep the pillow against his body with the other, but he found that he couldn't get leverage that way.

"Do you have it, Spike?" Rarity asked, turning her head slightly to the side to look at Spike out of the corner of her eye.

"I uh... Yeah I've got it," Spike replied.

He then took a deep breath and lifted his other hand, letting the pillow drop and exposing his dragonhood.

"So Spike," Rarity said as he got to work on the zipper. "I was wondering. How did you get so bi...? I mean, uh... I mean where did this new size come from?"

Spike wiggled the zipper a bit before stopping to ponder what to say. "Well... I'm not really sure."

"Well what led up to it?" Rarity asked.

He pulled his hand away from the zipper and brought it up to his chin, tapping it with an index claw as he thought a bit. "A few weeks before I hit my growth spurt," Spike began. "I had been having some strange dreams."

He then went back to fiddling with the zipper.

"Oh I see. Are they dreams about me?" Rarity added.

"Um... Well..."

Rarity swallowed a hard lump.

"I apologize. I'll rephrase the question," she interjected. "Did you start getting new feelings or new sensations?"

Spike blushed a deep red, which Rarity couldn't see, but there was enough hesitation in his voice that Rarity must've picked up on his awkwardness. Spike started to sputter out an answer, but Rarity interrupted him.

"Spike. I just want you to know that with whatever changes your body is going through, I'm sure that it is perfectly natural, and you have no reason to feel ashamed in talking about it. I promise you that I will not laugh or put you down."

"Why do you want to know so badly?" Spike added.

"Well because I care about you."

Spike stopped working on the zipper and dropped his arms to his sides. The admission was something he had longed to hear, but it still took him by surprise. He smiled but clasped his hands in front of his crotch, still feeling a little exposed and awkward but also cautiously optimistic.

"Really?" he asked.

"Well of course, Spikey!" Rarity exclaimed.

Spike's heart skipped a beat, and a pleasantly warm feeling grew in his chest. He felt his defenses slow slip away from him, and he took a couple steps closer to Rarity, stopping just before the tip of his member touched her back.

"You can't believe how glad I am to hear you say that!" Spike said, his voice bursting with the joy inside him.

"Well I'm glad to be saying it, Spike!" Rarity replied. Then after a pause, Rarity turned her head to the side again. "Would you like to talk about something else?"

Spike shook his head and then grabbed the zipper again. "No no. I'm fine, Rarity. I just want to get this zipper already."

Somehow, Rarity found humor in Spike's persistence over the zipper and laughed. Spike chuckled as well, delighting in Rarity's happiness. He then got a bit closer to get a better look at where it was snagged. As he did so, he heard Rarity gasp.

"What was that?" she asked.

Fearing the worst, Spike looked down and noticed that the tip of his thing was touching Rarity's back. He blushed and quickly backed up a few steps. He sputtered a bit as he struggled to find the words to say before thinking of an excuse that seemed somewhat plausible.

"It was... my knee?"

Somehow, Rarity kept her composure enough to keep her ruse up. She politely nodded and stayed silent, daring not to do anything to arouse his suspicion. Despite her efforts, though, she still felt a blush come to her cheeks. She quickly brought her front hooves up to cover the deepening redness.

"Please keep going, Spike," Rarity said, barely squeaking out her words.

Spike wiggled the zipper and finally managed to walk it up the teeth a few notches. He knew that Rarity was gifted with a trim and sleek figure, but the zipper was still snug against her back.

"Well yeah," he continued. "It feels kind of like a buzzing, I guess. It's also a bit like a tingly feeling, like electricity, but at the same time, it's also a warm feeling, like fire. Well I'm probably not making much sense."

He fell silent again, once again feeling too awkward to continue talking. He used that moment to wiggle the zipper again.

"Go ahead! What else?" Rarity urged.

Spike heard his heart pounding loudly in his ears, and his body felt hotter than ever. His anxiety fiercely returned, and the near accident with his little boy part made him feel even more self-conscious and shy.

"I... uh... Can I ask you some questions first?"

Rarity blinked, surprised by this new turn in the conversation. She felt unsure on how to proceed. She intended since the moment she sat down on the edge of the bed to be in full control of the flow of the conversation. She would entertain any questions he gave her, but with the topic at hoof and Spike's seeming defensiveness, she hoped that Spike would avoid certain kinds of questions pertaining to the sensitive nature of their discussion. She wasn't sure if she could find the heart to answer of these. Hesitantly, she turned her head to the side again so that Spike could see her nod.

Spike brought the pillow in close to his body again before continuing. "Well... What are your plans while you're staying at this resort? I mean besides going to this party with... him. Anything special?"

Rarity raised an eyebrow at the caustic way Spike said the word "him" but decided not play the possessiveness card. "Um... Anything special?" she replied in a stilted fashion. "Why no. Not really. I mean... I want to see the sights. Maybe just ride the cable cars or do some shopping."

"Yes! Shopping!" Spike exclaimed, almost a little too eagerly to Rarity's ears for something he had never previously shown interest in. "Can I do that with you? What are the kinds of things that you like?"

"Woah woah, Spike!" Rarity replied, growing a bit alarmed. "Slow down a bit. Why did this turn into twenty questions all of a sudden?"

Spike pulled the pillow in tight against his body, his lips downturned and quivering. "Well I just wanted to do things with you and maybe find something that I can get you for being so nice to me."

Rarity touched a hoof to her chest and softened her voice, moved by his sincere affections for her. "Oh Spike," she whispered. "The only thing that you can do for me is to just be your sweet and adorable self."

It was Spike's turn to blush, and he quickly covered up one flushed cheek with a hand, even though he still hid behind Rarity. "Well I still feel that it's right to get you something," he asserted. "After all, YOU gave me something, even though I haven't seen it yet."

He then grabbed the zipper tab and wiggled it again.

"Hmm," Rarity muttered, becoming lost in her thoughts. "Spike. About that gift. I want to be the one to give it to you, so please don't go asking Twilight about it."

"You got it, Rarity," Spike said with a nod.

Rarity quietly sighed. Spike seemed happy enough, but Rarity's heart felt heavy in her chest. She imagined herself to be much like her own squares of fabric while she split them in two with her scissors. So, too, was her mind just as torn between her adoration of the dragon and her uncertainties over the reciprocation of the proper feelings. She loved making him happy and giving him things, but occasionally, such as now, she wondered if she wasn't what he needed but only what he wanted and would only let him down.

She drew in a sharp, emotional inhale and steeled herself to continue the discussion. "Spike. I promise you that we will do something together before our time here at this resort is up, and we will have a wonderful time. But I want you to realize something..."

Spike finally managed to get the zipper all the way up and then withdrew back under the safety of the pillow. "Yeah yeah, I know," he said, sounding defeated. "What..." He paused to swallow again.

The words had never felt so raw. Except during the times when he had found himself caught in his infuation of her, he almost always found it easy to talk to her. He didn't much care for expressing his feelings, however, and at that moment, he couldn't recall when he felt so vulnerable.

"What am I compared to Sky Sparks? I mean... uh... You said you cared about me, earlier, but what does that mean exactly? I mean... nevermind."

'What the hay was that? Stupid stupid stupid,' Spike mentally berated himself.

The young dragon felt clumsy, tossing barely coherent words around and stumbling over his intended iterations like they were cacti. He couldn't even say the name of Rarity's new friend without effort. He had to drag the name out everytime in an almost scornful way. He figured he probably seemed like a jealous fool to Rarity at that moment.

Rarity reached back with a front hoof and touched the nape of her neck, feeling the secured zipper. She smiled.

"That's a bit of a complicated, Spike. However, I will try my best to say my thoughts on this if you tell me something."

Spike rocked on his tail, a habit that he found comforting. "Yes. What is it?"

"You were about to tell me about these new sensations and feelings that you've been getting since your growth spurt. I suppose to save time, I should just 'cut to the chase' as it were. You see I've been wondering, ever since I saw you've grown, I mean..." Rarity brought a hoof up to her lips, hoping that he didn't take her words the wrong way. "Spike just how much do you know about..."

The final word withered away on her tongue.

"About?" Spike urged.

Rarity lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling bashful. She then turned her body around. Spike drew the pillow in as tight as he could muster, but Rarity looked into Spike's eyes instead.

"How much do you know about sex?"

The question flustered Spike a bit. He remained silent for several beats, sitting there staring at Rarity and blinking in wonderment. He then came to realize that he didn't even know what she meant.

"I don't know anything about sex," he finally answered.

She pursed her lips and gave a small sigh. "Well that's disappointing to hear." Rarity started to wonder that perhaps there was no way to approach Spike about his little problem for the time being.

"What you mean? Does it have something to do with my body? Can you tell me what it is?"

Rarity shook her head and then drew the fringe of her dress lower across her knees. "I'm afraid not. Then to answer your other question, you are Spike, my dear friend and loyal gem hunting companion. Whether you are more than that, I honestly can't find the heart to say right now. You are..."

Her cheeks grew hot and flushed again. Something more came as well. She fought the tears working their way towards her eyes and successfully kept them from falling.

"Yes. You are attractive. You are very attractive. Ever since you've grown a bit, I couldn't help but admire your exquisite shine and exceptional curves. However, I can't handle that right now. It compounds my feelings. Sky Sparks is also attractive. But I don't want you to feel like you need to measure up to him or compare with him." She looked up and spotted the time by the clock on the vanity. "I must go now, but for the present, just think of this as a friendly get together and not worry about it. I..." She bit her lip. "Thank you for helping me with the zipper." She leaned forward and lovingly placed a kiss on his largest head spine.

Spike felt his dragonhood stiffen up once more.

"You are done here, now. You should go back to Twilight before she starts to worry," Rarity added as she got up from the bed.

He shook himself out of the stupor over being kissed and looked up to see her walking towards the bedroom door. "Ah? Oh!" He suddenly remembered the book he took from her was still out there. "Wait! Don't!" He quickly hopped off the bed and followed her, fearing the worst as he brought the pillow along to continue using as a cover. "Wait, Rarity!"

Rarity gathered up her saddle bags and then paused at the exit. "What is it, Spike?" she said as she turned around to look at him.

Spike stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the couch where he had been reading the book. He felt like he could start sweating bullets when he spotted the tiny, dark stains on the couch fabric, but the book was nowhere to be seen, so he felt a small reprieve and thought that maybe she didn't suspect anything yet.

"Spike, darling. You look a little silly holding onto that pillow like that."

Spike gave an audible gulp and turned to look back at Rarity. "I just want to hold onto it a bit," he replied, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.

"Oh is that so? Well are you going to take it with you back to Twilight's cabin?" she asked, a wry smile on her face.

Spike tipped his head up slightly. "Actually, can I stay here and wait for you to come back?"

Rarity gave a small smirk and fidgeted. "I don't know, Spike. Twilight asked me to send you back as soon as you were done helping me. I don't think she's going to like that very much."

"Oh please?!" the dragon whined.

Rarity felt her heartstring go twang. She looked at Spike and saw him with big, wet doe eyes. With his pleading and standing there while clutching onto the pillow like a child's safety blanket, she relented at one of the cuter and more endearing things she had ever seen. She figured that, at any rate, he wasn't in any shape to go walking out the door with his kind of problem.

"Oh okay," she muttered. "Perhaps if it's not too late when I come back, you can help me with my cart."

The young dragon's eyes shimmered with joy.

"Oh thank you!" he exclaimed.

Rarity started to turn the handle of the cabin door but then stopped halfway to look at Spike. She tilted her head slightly to the side. "I will try not to stay too late, but what will you do while you wait for me?"

Spike looked down at the pillow he held to the front of his body and blushed. "Oh, I can think of one or two things."

Rarity gave a quick and jovial laugh as she left.