"All right. Mental note: I am NEVER coming back here by myself!" Spike groused once he finally caught his breath after Cadence and Shining got him away from his 'admirers. He was too busy panting to hear what she said after teleporting in between him and them, but it was enough to get them to back off.

Leaving, though, was probably going to be a different story.

Shining Armor snickered, "Yeah, heh, probably should've warned you about that; there's also a fanclub or two that've popped up as well."

"Fun.." Spike muttered.

"Well, luckily they're mostly just foals and adolescent fillies, so I think you'll be all right. Anyhow, I've already got everything set up to cast, so we can start as soon as you're ready."

"Thanks, Cadence," He replied, "Um, before we do...can I ask you two something?"

"Sure. Something wrong?" Shining asked, letting Cadence scooch in beside him.

"No, its-well..." He sighed, "I probably should start from the beginning. Last week I'd gotten up the nerve to go and tell Rarity how I felt......well, that's how I thought it would go at first......"

-----------Back in Ponyville-----------

Twilight stretched in relief as she finally got the last kinks out of her back following a Pinkie Pie-class hug. "Shouldn't be surprised." She told herself.

Pinkie had been quite upfront in her feelings pertaining to Spike when she had heard he wasn't after Rarity anymore and the way she lit up at the word 'herd' was rather adorable in a way, though she did have to talk her out of planning a 'We're-making-a-herd' party.

For the time being, at least.

Twilight had admitted she didn't know if there was a spark between them, but she still considered Pinkie as one of her closest friends, same as Dash. The hug was the end result of giving her the ok to ask him out, provided she told him exactly how she felt.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Huh? Come in." She called out, wondering who'd be knocking since it was still the library's opening hours. In stepped a familiar young mare.

"Oh, hey Scoot." She said, smiling.

"Hi, Twilight." Scootaloo replied, "Um, Sweetie Belle said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yeah. Come on and sit down." She motioned to the chair across from her, "I probably should get straight to the point; Spike told me you asked him out. Now, I'm not angry or anything, but I do want to ask you something."

"Oh. Uh, what?"

"Given how he said you reacted to him saying yes, it's obvious you really wanted to go out with him. And from what Spike said, you seemed interested in joining?"

"Y-yeah." She replied, her cheeks pinking heavily.

"Well, she definitely looks like she wants to join." Twilight thought to herself, "Ok, Scootaloo, now the real question is why exactly are you interested? In Spike, to be exact."

"I..well, it's kinda two reasons, actually. He's pretty much the only one who really encouraged me to go after my dream."

"Spike? But what about Bloom and Sweetie, or Rainbow dash?" Twilight cut in in confusion.

Scootaloo sighed, "I look up to Rainbow, that's true. And Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are my best friends, they...were never really there for that pick-me-up I needed sometimes. They'd tell me good luck and stuff, but...they never really hung around much when I practiced, when I really felt like I needed someone cheering me on to keep at it, you know?" She gave a laugh, "The first time he found me practicing, I was getting ready to try a supermane."

"That's when you take your hooves off the scooter and stretch out like you're flying, but still have hold of the handlebars, right?"

"Right. Anyway...it didn't go like I hoped. Coming off the ramp, I went one way, but my scooter when the other. Needless to say I was scared stiff, thinking I was gonna land hard." She scratched the back of her neck, cheeks pinking, "He actually managed to catch me."

"Well, that's good, you didn't get hurt at least."

"Yeah. Though, once we'd both calmed down, I was half expecting him to act like most of the ponies in town and tell me I was living a pipe dream and be more realistic. But, he didn't. He said it was one of the cooler things he'd seen, at least before it went wrong. Since then he'd be hanging around to watch when he had the time. Even those times when I almost told myself to give up, like from a trick I couldn't get down or some of my worst crashes, he'd just say he believed I could do it and cheer me on."

"Hmm, by any chance would he have brought a first aid kit with him?" Twilight asked, remembering Spike coming home with one he had purchased one time.

"Yeah, he started bringing one after when he almost didn't catch one of my spills. Said he wanted to be ready for when he wasn't able to get there in time." Scootoaloo smiled, "Kinda sweet in weird way. Also brings up the other reason." She stretched her wings a little. They had gotten noticeably bigger over the years, but were still rather small compared to others.

"O-oh?" It was no secret that Scootaloo's wings had always a rather sore subject for the mare. Cloudkicker learned that the hard way a few years back after making an offhand joke about them without thinking.

It took both Soarin and Thunderlane to pull the angry filly off her.

"Well, the doctor said they'll finally be strong enough for me to really fly with them in a couple more years. I'll keep up with Fluttershy, but I'll never be able to fly like Rainbow Dash. "

"Oh, Scoot.." Twilight whispered, "I...I'm sorry..."

"It's ok, Twi. That's pretty much the reason I got into extreme sports. Even if I won't get to fly like that, I can still get that rush, you know. Anyway, the other reason...it's probably silly in retrospect, but he never looked down on me for having skimpy wings like some." She blushed again, "He actually called them cute a couple times."

Twilight giggled at that. "Yeah, that's something Spike would do."

"Yeah. I guess to put it bluntly, he's kinda been a rock for me...and, well...." She sighed, trying to think up the right to say it.

Luckily Twilight caught on, "It's ok, Scoot. I believe I know." She looked at the younger mare for a moment, "In that case, I believe there's only one thing to say...." A grin slowly formed on her face, "If you do decide you want a little private time with him, don't be surprised if he want's to go slow, all right? Then we'll see how it goes from there."

"Oh sure, no pro....wait, you're ok with it?" She lit up at the following nod, "YES! Don't worry, Twi. I'll be a perfect lady....er,, well, as close as I can be." She giggled sheepishly before returing to her excited mode, "I probably should tell Sweetie and Bloom now."

"To help you decide on an outfit?"

"That and so they'll be ready for when they ask him...and I just said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Wait, waitwaitwait...what do you mean 'when THEY ask him'??" Twilight stared.

"Uh..hehe.."

-----------Back at the Crystal Palace-----------

"...And that's pretty much the whole thing. Zecora's remedy is still good for the week, but I'll have to keep doubling the dose every time to keep it going, and that spell Cadence taught has its down sides too." Spike finished his tale. Through out the whole thing the couple had their own reactions. Mentioning how his last attempt with Rarity fell flat had him wrapped up in a princess-class hug courtesy of the pink alicorn.

And a thumbs-up from Shining and giggle from Cadence during his date with Roseluck.

When he reached the so-called 'double-date', however, they both only had one thing to say:

Shining simply looked at him, "Spike, next time you find him, save me a piece."

"Both of you can wait your turn." Cadence's voice was icy enough to them both pause, "IF there's anything left after I get hold of him.."

Thankfully, the mood brightened some when he brought up the herd talk he and Twilight had:

"Seriously!?" Shining wiggled a finger in his ear, "Twilight Sparkle...my little sister...talked you into getting a herd?"

"Oh my!" Cadence piped up, "Well, from what you said, she gave a compelling argument."

"Yeah, though that's the main thing I wanted to ask you. I mean, starting a herd's a big thing; I just don't wanna do something that might wreck it." Spike said.

"Hm..well, in all honesty, Spike, I think the best thing I can say is if you feel like you might be edging towards something like that, don't be afraid to talk to Twilight and the others that join." Cadence said, "A herd is a group effort, after all."

"Granted, Cadence and I considered trying for one a couple of years back." Shining admitted, "But as you can see, it didn't quite pan out.

"Heh. Well, you got a point there. Part of me is still kinda nervous about it."

"Show me a herd-bound stallion that's not, and I'll show you a guy that's not ready for one." Cadence replied, standing up. "Well, we better go and get this spell done. I'll go get set up. Show him where to stand, would you, Shiny?" She asked before trotting off.

Spike snickered, "No matter how many times I hear her call that..."

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, dragon boy." Shining retorted as they followed her, "Be happy the only thing I'm still bummed about in all this the fact I don't get to use my 'BBWS''?

"Your what?"

"Big Brother Warning Speech. Had one all set up for when she did start dating." He pouted a bit.

"Well, what was your speech gonna be?

"Mostly the usual; she's my little sister and I'm trusting the guy-or gal, if she decided to swing that way-with her safety, happiness and well being. That I respect her choice and if they did anything to hurt her, I'd remove their face and genitals with a wood chisel."

Spike blanched slightly at that, "Effective. Slightly disturbing, but effective."

"Just didn't expect her to hook up with a guy I really knew I could trust with her, much less you. No offense."

"Didn't really expect myself either until then." He replied. Once they caught up with Cadence, he noticed she was sitting on one of those little doctor's stools by a dressing screen, "Uh..."

"I'm letting you explain this, Cady." Shining said, "I'm gonna go down a couple energy drinks 'cause I know what's gonna happen afterwards." He walked off without another word.

"Huh? What's he talking about?"

"That's something I probably should've put in the letter, but I didn't know how to phrase it in an innocent manner." Cadence laughed slightly, slipping on doctor gloves, "You see, Spike, the spell I have, The Potency Neutralizer, requires direct application to the...appendage in question when it's primed."

"It wha??" His pupils shrank to points, "You saying I gotta be....?" He straightened a finger out.

"Yes. But don't worry, I've cast this spell of several other stallions who want to wait to be fathers, my husband included. I simply tell them to imagine it's their lovers' hand and I pretend it's Shining's willy I've got. Of course, I drag him to the couch or bedroom afterwards." She finished with quite possibly the most innocent smile he'd ever seen and pointed up to a diploma on the wall, "I even took a medical course to ensure there'd be no side-effects and that it works regardless of species."

"Oh..um, ok." He gulped, "Um...do..do you have cast it on both of them?"

Cadence look at him, "Both?"

"Yeah..I have two. All male dragons do, near as I've read. Or at least the ones that didn't lose one in an accident or something."

This time it was her turn to get shrunk pupils, "Oh. I..I didn't know that. uh, y-yeah, yes. Well, I probably should, in case that's a biological loophole." She cleared her throat to try and alleviate a bit of tension, "So, just step behind the screen and let me know when you're erect. A quick motion down the length and we'll be done."

"Ok..this may take a minute." He stepped behind the screen and took a shuddering breath, All right, Spike. This is for Twilight and the other to be named girls in the herd. Ok, sexy thoughts, think sexy thoughts....Twilight in a t-shirt and nothing else...Rainbow on the table..."

Cadence hummed to herself as she waited on him to get ready. It took a couple of minutes before he spoke back up.

"A-all right. Their ready...jus-just hurry!" His voice was slightly squeaky, apparently from what she guessed was embarrassment.

"Don't worry, Spiky." She chirped, "I'll be done faster than-n-nN-N-HOLY SHIT!" She yelled, jumping back when she saw both Spike Jr.s, "You really DO have two!" Her voice came out in a squeak at the end, "Wow..I know dragons are supposed to be kinda big, but..."

"Cadence! Hurry up!" He squawked, his whole head redder than big Mac's fur, "This is awkward enough!"

"Huh?" She stared in slight fascination at the duo before his yell snapped her out of it, "Oh! Yes! Right, right, sorry! Ok, like I said, just pretend it's Twily's hand." She said, reaching out to them, hand and horn glowing.

-----------Back at Golden Oaks-----------

Twilight's mind was racing; Scootaloo had admitted that the rest of the former CMC had feelings for him!

"If that's the case, then is it just them...?" She scratched her chin in concentration and confusion, "Just how many....? Who?" With a grunt, she hopped to her hooves and made a beeline to her desk.

-----------Back to Crystal Palace-----------

"S-see? That wasn't so bad." Cadence said, throwing away the gloves, though her cheeks were several shades darker at the moment.

Spike looked out from around the screen, pants closed and his face still bright red, "Easy for you to say..." He muttered.

"All right," She said breathily, "I believe that's everything. You feel any tingling?"

"A..a little."

"Good, that means it's taking effect, it should stop in an hour or so. Once you and your girls decided the time is right, just head back and I can undo the spell. Till then, have fun! Now, you can hang around the palace for a while if you want, but..." Her breathing getting slightly shallow as she looked in the direction her husband had gone, "I'm afraid Shining and I will be...indisposed for the rest of the day."

"Right." He watched her walk surprisingly quickly toward the door way. "Um, so.."

"So how'd it...EEP!" That was Shining, or at least it was at the start.

"I'll just, uh...I'll..."

"You. Me. BED. NOW! You're rutting me till I'm cross-eyed, mister!" That was DEFINITELY Cadence.

"Yeah, I'll...I'll just go ahead and let my...self..." He trailed off at the sight of her dress and Shining's pants flying past the doorway, "I'll just go now...um...later." He said, hurrying to the door when the squeals came.

----------------Later That Day.----------------

Deciding pragmatism was the better choice, Spike did the first logical thing he could think of and took off like a bat out of Tartarus towards the first transport heading back to Ponyville the moment he stepped out of the palace's main gates.

Luckily for him, he managed to hop onto a carriage heading that way before his 'fans' could catch him out in the open. And now he was wheeling his way back home.

The trip would be a couple of hours, so he just sat back and mused of all that had happened to him in recent days, "Still amazed all this is happening." He laughed to himself about how his life was changing; going from another victim of sort-of unrequited love to having a mare who honestly loved him...along with the knowledge that there were others who felt the same as well, "Wonder how many that is. For that matter, just how big could this herd get?"

-----------Various Places Around Ponyville-----------

Fluttershy smiled as she finished feeding her birds, "There you go." She said happily in response to the excited chirping. She started to get something for the ferrets when she suddenly giggled. "Oh, my. That...that was strange." She said, looking around to see what the cause was.

Rainbow Dash muttered to herself, pacing around in her house. "Hey, Spike, you know how I feel....no! That sounds stupid! Um....Spike, I talked to Twilight and....no, that won't work either!" She whined, "Why is this so hard!?'

Pinkie Pie bounced around her room cheering excitedly, "Yes!IgetadatewithSpikey! Ooh! This means I get to finally wear that!" She squealed and then cannonballed into her closet with a loud giggle.

"Come on, where'd those shorts go?" Scootaloo muttered while digging through her dresser, tossing out various pieces of clothing and undergarments, "Need to look rocking for this!"

"AJ? You still in there?" Big Mac waved a hand in her face.

"Huh?! Wh-whahuh-who?" Applejack blurted out, shaking the cobwebs out, "W-what happened?"

"Ah could ask you the same thing. Ya jus' kinda froze there fer a moment with this weird lil' smile on yer face."

"Ah...Ah dunno, just kind got a good feeling fer some reason."

"Must be pretty darn good, 'cause yer tail's still waggin' like Winona when she gets a new toy." Apple Bloom smirked nearby.

"The hay??" Applejack muttered, glaring at the offending body part.

"Ya mean like how yer's is right now, Bloom?" Mac added.

"Huh?" Bloom blushed slightly when she realized it.

"Ow!" Rarity shook her finger where the needle had prodded her.

Watching her, Sweetie Belle sighed, "First aid kit?"

"I'm fine, Sweetie. These needles are simply-ow!- Simply defective! I knew I should have ordered from my usual supplier!"

Sweetie sighed, "Maybe if you stopped twitching your eye..."

"My eye is NOT 'twitching', thank you very much! I am just trying to focus on my wor-OW!"

"Fine. Your fingers, Sis." She said, "Anyway, I need to go see Scootaloo. Promised I'd help her pick out an outfit for her date this weekend."

"Really?" Rarity's head bounced up from her work, "Who?"

"Just a guy she's been crushing on for a while. Finally got her chance to ask him out."

"There we go!" Twilight looked at her work in satisfaction: her formally clear desk was now covered with paper and posterboard: probability graphs, charts, lists of names and locations, and sticky notes with additions dotting them all, "It's not complete, but it's a start at least!" Her eyes settled on the title of the center graph...

'Operation: Dragon's Harem'

Author's Note

And thus ends Sea of Amore.

But don't worry: DragonPony and I will be working on the sequel/continuation soon!