-----------At Zecora's House-----------

"...So that's the situation, Zecora. That spell's pretty draining for Twilight, Ponyville isn't really the kinda place to have a store like that, and I'd really prefer Celestia not finding out just yet." Spike said, sitting on a nearby stump as he finished his story. He doubted she'd want details, so he just gave a straightforward account "And given that Twi wants me to keep dating around...well, you get the idea."

"So you seek to ensure you do not unknowingly sire a foal, and you hope I can help you with this goal." She grinned

"Well, yeah. I mean, our first time WAS in the heat of the moment, but I don't wanna get her or possibly another mare pregnant before they want to. I sure know I'M not prepped to be a dad just yet."

Zecora's grin widened to a smile, "The answer I had hoped for, my dragon friend. Come inside, I'll see if I have something to that end."

Following her in, Spike found himself staring around at her collection of herbs, bottles, masks and various other knickknacks she had acquired over the years. The light clink of glass brought his attention back over to her; rifling through the pages of one of her formula books.

"I must admit, although I did not foresee your change towards Miss Rarity, I am glad you have finally seen clarity." She spoke up, setting a small cauldron on her workbench, "Granted, you provided her with much utility; but I am afraid winning her heart was an exercise in futility."

"Tell me about it." Spike chuckled ruefully. "But, on the other hand, if I hadn't given up, I probably would've never seen what was in front of my mug." By the time he finished talking, though, he realized he was staring at Zecora's body the whole time.

And she was now facing him with a brow raised.

'Oh! S-sorry, Zecora! I-I.." He stammered. He hadn't meant to stare at her like that! Though, in all honesty, she WAS really attractive. Twilight and Dash were beautiful, no questions asked; but with her striped coat and dark cyan eyes, Zecora was more in the exotic side of the spectrum. It didn't hurt that the hip-hugger shorts and tank top she had on accentuated a toned, athletic body time in the Everfree had rewarded her with.

"Actually, Spike, I think you've earned a bit of thanks." She smirked and cocked a hip towards him, "It's not often one admires these saggy flanks."

"Are you kidding? You've probably got one of the firmest plots in Ponyville!" He retorted, only to flush red and shut his mouth with an audible 'click', "Ooh, Celestia's fetlocks; WHY did I say that!?" He stood stock for a moment before giggling hit him.

"I'm sorry, it was fun to watch you have that fit." She poured a bottle of viscous, orange liquid and herbs into the cauldron just before. winking at him, "Though I do appreciate the compliment."

"Oh, heh." He said, letting a few chuckles out himself as he calmed back down.

Her bit of fun over, Zecora resumed her work, putting what looked like a stick of silver chalk in her mortar and pestle, "This compound will be ready fast, though I must warn you it will not last. You'll get the solution you seek, but it will only hold a week."

"A week? Well, I can work with that. I'll just have to divvy it up over time then, right?"

"Unfortunately, you cannot; it must all be downed in one shot. The potion also has a vast flaw and I will use no quips, it can be used constantly but will weaken each time it passes your lips. To get by this trouble, each time the amount must double"

"So at best it'd two or three weeks before you'd have to start chugging it?" He scratched the back of his neck, "Well, it'll buy a little time to find something else."

After steeping a gnarled root in the concoction, Zecora strained it into a glass and handed it to him. It looked a little like orange soda...at least until he got a whiff.

"Whoa!" He cringed and held the glass away, his nostrils burning slightly. It reminded him of the time he went to the Canterlot Mall with Twilight to help her pick out a Father's Day present and he'd gotten sprayed with some nasty-ass cologne by one of the counter workers; like a chicken coop that hadn't been cleaned in a month.

"Yes, the smell does make one blink." Zecora coughed slightly, waving a hand over her nose, " I recommend closing your eyes and just drink."

"Ok...here goes." Taking a deep breath, he held it and downed the foul-smelling drink as fast as he could. Thankfully, aside from a slight tartness it was fairly bland.

"Thanks, Zecora" Spike smiled before hugging her, "I owe you one."

"S-simply helping a friend." She replied, a little surprised at the gesture, "Something I'm happy to lend."

He held it for a second before letting go, "Guess I better be getting back or Twilight might start thinking I took a wrong turn somewhere in the woods."

Zecora nodded as he headed out, "May your walk back be sound. It should take full effect by the time you reach town."

-----------A Couple of Hours Later-----------

"Twi? I'm back." Spike called out once he was back inside Golden oaks.

Said mare immediately poked her head out from the large arm chair they had, a smile on her face, "Spike! Did Zecora have a solution?"

"Well, I have good news, bad news, and unexpected new. The good news is she had something, so..well" He turned red, "I'm...I'm now currently shooting blanks."

"Oh, Spike." Twilight stepped over and hugged him, "We both know it's not permanent."

"Well, speaking of that; the bad news is it only lasts a week."

"A week?? That..that's not really a lot of time."

"She said I can take more doses." He replied, "But I'd have to take double the amount each time."

"Not really what I had hoped." She frowned, though it quickly turned back into the smile, "But, thankfully I have a contingency plan!"

"Contingency?"

"After you left, I kinda started to wonder if we should have another plan, just in case, I mean"

"In other words, you went into Worrywart Mode." Spike smirked.

"Spike! I am NOT a worrywart!" She retorted indignantly.

"Twi, I know you." He grinned.

Twilight glared at him, though it faltered rapidly, "Ok, ok; I started worrying that she might not have something, or if she did that something might go wrong. So, I started thinking about who I might be able to ask."

"And..?"

"And Owlowiscious is now currently on his way to the Crystal Kingdom with a letter to Cadence."

"Cadence?" Spike cocked an eye, "You think she might be able to help?"

She grinned and kissed him, "Well, in a way this is a matter of love; and who else to ask than the Love Princess herself?"

"Heh, true." He started to slip his arms around her, but stopped.

"Spike?"

"That kinda brings up the unexpected news: Scootaloo asked me out a little while ago."

Twilight wasn't expecting this. Well, she did expect it, just the who kinda surprised her a little. The young Pegasus had never really expressed visible interest in him. Then again, neither her or Spike knew about ANY of the other mares liking him until after he stopped chasing Rarity, "Hm, I...didn't really expect her to be honest."

Spike just chuckled and shrugged somewhat, "Me either. I had just gotten back into town and was passing Sugar Cube Corner..."

A week...granted it was a window to work with, but it wasn't much. There had to be a more effective solution; plus he didn't want to bother Zecora every week to make bigger and bigger batches...

"Spike?"

He was drawn out of his thoughts by a familiar voice. Looking over, his gaze settled on Scootaloo, standing not too far away and dressed in her usual shorts and t-shirt with the Wonderbolt jacket Rainbow Dash had gotten her, "Oh, hey, guys, what's up?" He smiled, noticing Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle not far off who were, for some reason, making shooing gestures when she looked back at them.

In a rather uncharacteristic action, she looked down, scratching the tip of her hoof on the ground, "Um...can I talk to you about something? Just the two of us?"

"What? Is something wrong?"

"No, no, it's just...can we go in Sugar Cube? Can at least sit down in there."

Spike tilted his head slightly. This was unlike her, "Uh, sure." He followed her in to a corner table. The place was quiet this time of day, so there wasn't anyone to bother them.

"Ok," He said, sitting down across from her, "What'd you want to talk about?"

"W-well, it's kinda-sorta-related to the dates you had with Rose and Tough Break."

"Yeah?"

"Um," Spike couldn't help but notice the rather shy tone she was using, as well as the fact the other two were looking in from the nearby window, trying (and failing) to discreetly gesture to her, "Were...were you planning to go out with anypony else?"

"Well, considering Twi wants...well, to start up a herd with me, it speaks for itself kinda." He chuckled slightly, "In all honestly, I never took her as wanting to share with other gals."

Scootaloo stared, " Herd? Twilight? As in Twilight Sparkle? You two are together??"

" Heh, It's a long story...but, yeah."

"A-and you're really going to get a herd going?" For a moment, he could have sworn he saw the corners of her mouth tilt upward and a hint of pink on her cheeks.

"Me and Twilight are. As I told her, I'm not going to bring any other mare in without talking to her about it first. But, aside from that, it's just a matter of who and when, I guess."

She glanced toward the window were they both began giving 'thumbs-up' and pushing motions, "W-well...would... would you be willing to consider somepony..?" She asked, looking down at the table.

"Scoot..?" Alarm bells were going off in Spike's head. She couldn't be leading to what he thought she was...could she.

Her hand slipped into her pocket and took out a pair of tickets, "Thunderlane won a couple of tickets to the E-Games this weekend, but he and Rumble have a family reunion they have to go to then, so he let me have them." Her eyes then rose up to meet his. This time a blush was noticeable, "I..I was wondering if you'd want to go with me...?"

Spike could only stare. Him? Scootaloo was asking him out? They were friends, that much was true; but, the fact that she thought of him that way...Considering the way she asked, there was no way this was something that had come up recently. Had..had she really been harboring feelings for him this long?

He was forced out of his contemplations when he saw the nervous building on her face from how long he was taking to answer. She was definitely worried about how he'd reply.

Her concerns were quickly dispersed when he smile, "I'll go with you, Scoot."

The way her face lit up and borderline squeal told him he'd made the right choice, though it was hard not to chuckle when she covered her mouth at the squeal and tried to nonchalantly play it off.

"C-cool."

"I mean, she looked almost scared that I'd say no, Twi."

"I know, Spike. I know." Twilight responded, hugging him, "And I'm happy you did say yes.. Hm, if she wants to go with him, then could...? I really need to talk to the others then, and soon. I hope Owlowiscious gets back with a response."

-----------At the Crystal Palace-----------

"Hoo!"

"Shining, isn't that Twilight's owl?"

"Yeah. What're you doing out this way, Owlowiscious?"

"Hoo!"

"He's got a message from Twilight with him."

"Hm, what would she.....Oh come on! You gotta be kidding me!"

"YES! I KNEW IT!"

Author's Note

And now the story continues.