Well, What Now?

Chapters

How It Began
The First Day
The Second Day
The Third Day
The Fourth Day
The Fifth Day
The Sixth Day
Epilogue: The Final Day

How It Began

Author's Note

This is my *rewritten* mess of an entry into Twisted Spectrum's transformation/ body swap contest
EDIT: Sorry for the inconvenience, there was just too much that I didn't like about the original. Please give this one a chance as well.

Criticism and likes are appreciated.

How It Began

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“No, Rainbow, I won’t turn you into a dragon,or a griffon, and that's final!”

“Commoooonnn, why not?” Dash begs as she hovered just above Twilight's head. Currently the six mares are traveling back to Ponyville after escorting the breezies back home.

“Because, it serves no purpose other than your own amusement. That's not what this spell is for.”

“Pfft, you use your magic for entertainment all the time.”

“Yes, darling, remember the time you made your book characters come to life to act out the chapter they were in?”

Twilight’s face blushed a deeper shade of purple as she almost tripped over her own hooves. “That…... was for... uh….. educational purposes. Visual Learning, yes!”

“Then when I’m a griffon, I’ll tell you what it’s like.”

“I very much doubt that you would actually take notes about being a griffon. Why do you want to change anyway, I thought you loved being a pegasus?”

“If I'm a dragon or a griffon, then I’ll get bigger wings, right? Then I'll be able to fly fast enough to do a doub-NO, a triple rainboom!” she exclaimed as she did a small loop in the air.

“Rainbow Dash, it doesn't work like that! It's your inner magic, and innate-"

“NEEERRRRRDDDD!!!!”

"I wanna be a pegasus pony!” a bright pink mare piped up, hopping in along side them.

Twilight could only sigh at the pink mare's antics. "I just wanted to try that spell out once!" she muttered angrily. “Why?”

“If I had wings, then I could glide around the kitchen, cooking reeeeaaaalllyyy fast! Oh, I could have a white coat, and a blond mane, and purple eyes and-”

“No, Pinkie, the spell doesn't work like that!" Twilight interjected. “Plus, I’m not going to do that anyway, so stop asking!” With that, she teleported away, leaving the others to glare and lecture both Pinkie and Rainbow.

"Rainbow Dash," Rarity began, "we do not peer pressure our friends!"

"But Rarity, wouldn't you like to try out being a pegasus?"

"What did I just say, Pinkie? Nevertheless, I am quite fond of my race, and have no wishes to change it anytime soon."

"Applejack, how about you?"

Applejack actually seemed to give the idea some thought before quickly brushing it off. "Nahh, being an earth pony's probably best for bucking apples anyhow."

The girls quickly descended into a heated discussion on what race would be better for what, Rainbow, however ignored their words, and stared it where Twilight had been. “This isn't over,” she muttered, quiet enough so that the others wouldn't hear.

~Back in Ponyville~

Spike sighed as he stuffed the final book back in his spot. Making sure that everything on that row is fit and organized, he begrudgingly climbed down to floor level, and looked out of the nearby window. I guess Twilight and the rest went somewhere again, he thought somberly, I wonder where they went this time. Somewhere fun probably. Oh well, Twilight needs me to fix things while she's gone anyway. he finished proudly.

Even though he believed this to be true, he couldn't help the strange feeling that would creep up whenever he was left behind while the girls went somewhere fun. It didn't feel like loneliness, at least, he didn't think so. Whenever the feeling would arise, he would just do some mundane task to ignore it. It didn't help that each time the feeling would come back stronger.

Breaking his train of thought was the telltale popping sound of his friend teleporting in. She looked slightly frustrated though.

"Welcome Back, Twilight, where'd you go this time," he asked excitedly.

This knocked Twilight out of her funk as she looked over at him with eyes sparkling in excitement. "It was amazing Spike, we went to the Land of Breezies. You just wouldn't believe the amount of nature there. Although, I am a little upset that the portal closed before I could get a chance to study it further."

Spike mood faltered for a second before quickly recovering. "But, didn't you take, like, 30 pages of notes on them during the week?"

"Yes, but those were observational notes. Fluttershy wouldn't let me borrow one for further experimentation."

"That's because your experiments would have them strapped to a chair with needles poking them in the eyeballs. Honestly, I can’t tell what’s worse, that, or the hundreds of questions you would probably ask."

Twilight blushed slightly. "I-I don't have that many, and the needles go in the arm!" This response only served to raise Spike eyebrows in disbelief.

"How many do you have then?"

Twilight refused to make eye contact, suddenly finding that her hooves were more interesting than Spike. "203"

"What was that?"

"Ugh,” she groaned, turning around and heading for upstairs. “Go.... organize the fantasy section or something. I need to go analyze and organize the notes that I took."

Spike looked over at the clock hanging on the nearby wall. "It's almost 9 pm."

Twilight ignored him as she left for the upstairs sanctuary known as her room. "See ya in the morning then," she said eagerly, "I'm just too excited to wait!"

Spike, seeing that she was already gone moved over to the appointed bookshelf, and retreated back into his thoughts. I wonder what it was like. Beautiful probably. I wish that I coulda seen it. he sighed mentally. How did she get into breezie land anyway. His thoughts on the matter were interrupted once more by the sounds of hooves rapping on wood. Shrugging he went to go answer it, only to meet the view of the prismatic pegasus herself.

“Rainbow Dash?”

"Yo, Spike, I need your help."

~The next morning~

"Rainbow Dash?"

“Sup.”

“Why are you at my breakfast table so early in the morning?”

“Geez, Twilight, can't a friend wake up early to have breakfast with another friend?” she asked in mock offence.

Twilight used deadpan glare, but against mock offence, it wasn't very effective. “Not when that friend; a) rarely ever gets up before noon, b) breaks into my house, and c) eats my breakfast before I even get to it. Seriously, who does that!”

Dash waved her hoof dismissively. “Feathers, fetlocks, details don’t matter.”

“Don’t you mean potatoes, potahtos?

Dash stared on in confusion. “Da’ hay is a potahto?"

Twilight groaned, and being too tired to use her hooves, planted her face on the table. It was far too early for this, especially since she had been up all night organizing all the notes that she had taken on breezies. Luckily they were here long enough for Twilight to conduct some essential research. Breezies, being from another dimension, are generally harder to study. “Spike, could you please make me some coffee?”

“Already done, oh beloved sister of mine,” Spike said as he placed the coffee on the table, and tightly hugged his caretaker.

Twilight wasn't convinced. Spike was almost never this affectionate, especially not when others are around. Something was up, and she had a bad feeling. “What did you break, scratch, burn, and/or lose?” Twilight asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Spike gasped in mock surprise. “Why, I would never! I just wanted to let you know that I love you....andIwanttotrybeingaunicorn,” Spike beamed with his biggest fang filled smile.

Twilight wasn't amused, she heard him clear as day. This, in turn, turned her annoyed gaze into an irritated glare. First Rainbow, now Spike. “Why?”

“Ummm..." he hesitated, "I want to…... learn magic?”

“You want to try and hit on Rarity as a pony don’t you?” she deadpanned.

Spikes eyes widened as he leaned back in mock shock once again. “NONONONonnonononononooooooyes” he admitted, Dash quickly brought a hoof to her muzzle in an attempt to quell her laughter.

Twilight only sighed as she calmly took a big gulp of her seething hot coffee that had been heated by her friend's dragonfire. Thank the makers for her alicorn biology. Normal ponies would have scalded their face, but for her, it was merely lukewarm. She closed her eyes to savor the taste of the life giving brew. Opening them she had the privilege of seeing Equestria’s only domestic dragon, and the trotting ego, on their knees in front of her.

“Pleeeeeaaaasssseeeee!!!” the two begged.

“No.” Twilight answered before teleporting away, leaving the two alone in the kitchen.

In a flash of magenta light, Twilight appeared in her room upstairs. Sighing in relief, she calmly trotted over to her closet. “Since I have time, she began, “I should probably update some records.”

Opening the door, she used her magic to activate a secret compartment, flipping the wall to reveal a large number of shelves. On the shelves lie large stacks of papers, parchments, tape, quills, pencils, staples, a photocopier, and various other scholastic items. Twilight noticed something missing however. “Hmm I need to buy more paper clips.” Quickly she grabbed the large binder from a distinct shelf in the corner with her magic and closed the closet.

“I don’t know about you Spike, but I expected to see at least ONE issue of playcolt or something.”

Twilight froze in her tracks, and dropped the objects that she held aloft.

“Nahh, that’s in another compartment.”

Like a clock, Twilight slowly turned towards the pony/dragon duo, who were casually sitting on her bed, grinning like innocent children.

“Pleeeeeaaaasssseeeee!!!” went the two.

“No!” Twilight yelled before blinking off again.

She blinked up to her true sanctuary, a hidden room in the uppermost branches of her tree. It was a sort of safe house for emergencies. She had all of her most important books, food, supplies, a rarely used radio, and even some spare magazines for entertainment. She felt safe in the fact that her friends didn't know about it. That was, until she felt the hot breaths of said friends hit her cheeks.

Looking to her left and right, she saw her stalkers grinning at her from both sides.

“Pleeeeeaaaasssseeeee!!!”

“NO!” She screamed once more. Foregoing teleportation, she decided on impulse to just jump out of the tree and take flight. Looking back, she noticed that Spike and Dash were hot on her hooves, Spike riding atop her back waving a branch of the tree like a lance. He was probably having his fantasies again.

The chase lasted quite a while, Rainbow Dash was fast, agile, energetic, and worst of all, very observant. Each and every maneuver that Twilight had tried using to shake her, Rainbow saw coming from a mile away. Even the twitch of a feather signaled a movement that she would predict. 'This isn't good, even with Spike weighing her down, she's still faster than me! Hold on, that's it!

Thinking quickly, she swerved into an angled nosedive, straight towards Sugarcube Corner.

“If I can time this just right…..” she muttered. Looking over her shoulder, she could make out the whites in the hungry eyes of her so-called friends. “I hope I time this right…”

As the pastry shop drew ever closer, Twilight shifted her wings ever so slightly in preparation, knowing full well that Rainbow Dash probably noticed it. By this point she could see the inside of the store through the glass.

Now!

Pulling sharply to the right, Twilight managed to make a near perfect right angled turn away from the doorway at the last second, which was more than she could say for the ones who crashed into it instead. Twilight held no doubt that Rainbow would have normally made that turn perfectly in even worse conditions, but she must have failed to take into account Spikes extra weight, and her own overconfidence.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Twilight leisurely flew back to her trusty tree, determined to erect a force field immediately.

Landing right outside the doorway, she suddenly had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, pushing it off as the aftereffects from her chase, she quickly opened the double doors.

“SURPRISE!!” Three voices rang out.

Twilight's face fell. “Huhwahhh”

“Happy Librarian Day Twilight!” Pinkie declared. Twilight took a moment to recompose herself. One would think that with her kind of experience, she wouldn't be surprised by Pinkie anymore, but it was just something about that mare that no one could be prepared for.

“There is no such holiday, Pinkie. Never mind, how did you three get here, you two crashed!”

“We just told Pinkie that today was a fake holiday, so she brought us here to throw you a fake party.” Spike’s own face fell in what looked like terror. “Don’t ask how……”

Pinkie’s eyes began to generate huge tears. “Fake……. party? Wh-why would you do such a thing?”

“Don’t worry, Pinks, let me tell ya something.” Dash grabbed her head, pulled her in close, and stage whispered into her ear. “Today is Lyra’s birthday, but she won’t tell anypony. She’s out there by herself right now, sitting on the bench, eating a hayburger.”

Pinkie’s face grew three sizes as she beamed brightly and raced out the door. A few seconds later, Twilight could hear a distant voice rang out in despair.

“Oh sweet Luna’s flank! Who told her!!!”

“Now that that’s taken care of, back to business!” Dash exclaimed as she and Spike put on their familiar faces.

“Pleeeeeaaaa-”

“No!” Twilight deadpanned before changing tactics. She chose to teleport the both of them outside, and immediately erected the force field to keep them out.

Spike and Rainbow Dash found themselves finishing their please just outside the tree, unable to return due to the purple barrier. The two looked at one another and nodded.

“Plan B?”

“Oh yeah!”

“Finally,” Twilight sighed as finally relaxed from casting the spell her brother made her learn. “Maybe now I can…... what is this?”

Leaning down, she examined a still sealed scroll. “I wonder if Spike coughed it up,” she muttered before lifting the scroll and reading it aloud.

‘You brought this on yourself’

“What the hay does that mean?” She took a few second to reread the note, desperately trying to figure out what it meant. Eventually, she noticed that her house had started to fill with magical smoke. Panicking she began to teleport, but got interrupted as a scroll bopped her on the horn. Rubbing her head, she saw that it was a similar scroll to the last one, except this one wasn't sealed. That was when she put the pieces together. The smoke, the scroll, the magic.........

"SPIKE!"

~Meanwhile, outside the tree~

“Go!Go!Go!Go!Go!Go!Go!Go!Go!Go!” Dash cheered as she watched Spike incinerate large stacks of parchment and paper. The resulting smoke rose into the air and flew through the barrier, right into Twilight’s home.

~Back in the tree~

In a matter of seconds, the smoke began to pop into individual scrolls of paper and parchment, all saying the same thing. ‘Please’. Something in Twilight snapped. In a rage, she proceeded to teleport all of the paper to a random place in Ponyville, that she didn't care about-

~Somewhere Twilight doesn't care about.~

Meanwhile, Pinkie had caught Lyra, dragged her back to her home, and forcefully threw her a party. It was actually going pretty well….. until an avalanche of paper crashed down, crushing the two under its papery weight.

“Dammit, Dash……” Lyra muttered.

~~~

-bucked open the door, and magically dragged the two offenders through the shield, and back into the tree.

“Ok, listen,” Twilight said through barely veiled anger. “Here’s what’s going to happen now. I'll turn you into a dragon," she said, pointing a frustrated hoof at Rainbow, "and you into a pony, Spike, but don’t you even think about coming back to me complaining about it. Got that!”

The two nodded enthusiastically.

“This spell will probably last for a week or so, but you're both have to pinkie promise that you won't come bothering me!” she commanded as her horn grew bright.

“But, where will I sleep?”

Unfortunately Spike's question wound go unanswered as Twilight activated the spell. Dash could feel herself changing, weird appendages began to jut out from equally weird places. She could feel her entire body change as it convulsed and shrank. Having done this before, she knew that she would feel no pain from this transformation. Spike, having not done this before, expected some pain, and cringed instinctively as he felt his bones and anatomy physically alter themselves to it's new shape. Unlike Rainbow, he could feel his appendages leaving him. He could feel his claws retract into his palm, creating normally shaped hooves. He shuddered at the strange feeling of hair growing from his scalp, forming into a flowing mane. He felt a slight tingling sensation as well as something else left his form.

When all was said and done, Twilight wasted no time in blinking them out of the house, proceeding to quickly double the strength of the shield. Not even caring to see if the spell had succeeded.

They both took a few seconds to get used to their new anatomy. Spike noticed that he had a cutie mark of a burning scroll resting on his flank. His colors were roughly the same as his normal body, but more than that, he had wings. I thought that I told her that I wanted to be a unicorn. Oh well, wings are cooler than a horn anyway.

Dash however, had bolted over to the fountain to get a look at herself as soon as she noticed the height difference. It was just as she feared. Not only was she around Spikes age, but even worse was her lack of wings. Without them, she was effectively grounded.

“Sure, Twilight, real funny!” Turning her head, she noticed pony-spike staring at her with a shocked expression.

“What?”

“Y...your voice….”

Dash’s eyes shrank at her sudden revelation. Listening closely and making a few grunts, realized that her normally scratchy voice had become a low, coltish voice. She pointed towards purple pony. “Your voice is weird too!!”

Spike sang the first few scales, but stopped as a realization hit both of them simultaneously, and simultaneously, they angled their head to look between their legs, before jolting their heads back and screaming in horror. Once again, simultaneously.

“IM A MARE/COLT!!!!

"TWILIIIIIGGGHHHTTT!!!”

The First Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ugghhh” Rainbow Dragon Dash groaned in his new voice that, he realized, sounded a bit like Spike's.

The mare, however, took the time to look herself over. “I guess this is payback, she did, technically, do what we asked… but all she did was switch our forms with each other,” Purple Spike pony sighed as she sat on her newly formed haunches “I wanna be a unicorn”

The wingless Rainbow jumped into the air in a futile attempt to go airborne. As expected, he promptly fell back on his tail in pain. “No, she didn't,” she groaned, “I wanted to be a huge fire breathing dragon! Or at least a griffin with huge wings! Not a lame baby dragon who can’t even fly!” he cried out, stomping his feet in anger.

“........Ow…..,” SpikeDash muttered as tears began to fall from her eyes.

DashSpike quickly realized his mistake, and waddled over to apologize. “Hey…. uh sorry, I’m just frustrated is all. I just miss my wings, and being this small is kinda weird for me.”

Spikerella quickly wiped her eyes and responded. “It’s ok, I get it, baby dragons suck!” she cried as her tears burst out. "I'm sorry that we're so lame!!” she cried, although completely unsure why.

He could only stare in disbelief. ‘Was I like this as a mare?” he muttered. “Nah, I was too awesome to be emotional, but still, wow.”

After a few seconds, Spikina managed to get her feelings under control, and spoke calmly. “So what now? I can’t date Rarity as a mare,…….. can I?” She put a hoof to her muzzle in thought.

“Don’t even think about it, she’s not into mares.”

Spines narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “How do you know?”

“I've been in her room. The only kind of stuff that she has are playcolt magazines, and pictures of Canterlot colts. You would not believe the stuff she has on Fancy Pants and-oof”

Before he could finish, the fanmare quickly hoisted the rainbow colored dragon up, face to muzzle, gazing at him with crazed eyes. “What kinds of magazines? Anything about dragons!”

Rainbow smirked. “Well you’re not a dragon right now, so does it matter?”

She gave a smirk in return. “Well, this is probably the highest that you’ll get off of the ground, does that matter?"

Before he could respond, the baby dragon's cheeks bulged out in alarm. Recognizing the signs all to well, Spike immediately turned his face away from herself, just in time for him to belch out a gout of flame that quickly condensed into a small scroll that rolled onto the ground.

The cyan dragon fell to the ground groaning. “Ohhhhh, is that what that's like? That felt worse than vomiting…”

Spikia gave a smirk, and went over to get the scroll. “Meh, you get used to it, and by that I mean you lose feeling in your throat after a while.” She leaned over the scroll, and prepared to pick it up, only to realize that she didn't have thumbs or claws anymore. Her first few attempts only worked to elicit a weak chuckle from the one still holding his stomach.

“Pick it up with your mouth dude…” He groaned out.

The purple mare made a slightly disgusted face when she looked down at the scroll. Her first few attempts at lifting it had only resulted in driving it deeper into the dirt. “Weeeeelllll it probably wasn't that important anyway,” she said as she kicked some dirt over to hide it, trotting innocently back over to the groaning rainbow.

“You ok, Dash?”

“Yeah, I’ll live.”

“So, Twilight didn't answer me, but where are we going to sleep? Your place?”

“Can dragons walk on clouds.”

Spike deadpanned. “I don’t know….. you guys left me behind when you all went to Cloudsdale.”

“Next time, don’t take a seven hour bubble bath with the music blaring,” he glared back. “You probably don’t know how to fly either.”

Spidash gave some experimental flaps, each wing completely out of sync with the other.

“Yeeaaahhh, I don’t wanna pull a Rarity, so let’s go with no. Wanna try her pla-”

“NO! Not like this, it’ll be like, incredibly awkward if I talk to her as her like this. We can't stay at her place!” she panicked while Dash rolled around on the ground laughing. “What about Applejack?”

Dash ceased laughing and sat back up. “No! She'll start saying stuff like; 'that’s what you get', or 'you shouldn't have pressured her intoblah blahblahhhh,” he mimicked while using his claws as a mouth. He realized what he was doing, and stared at his claws for a second before giggling. “That was pretty fun, I can see why you do it behind pony's backs all the time.”

“I know right. How about Fluttershy?”

“Nah, her place is too small for all of us.”

“Fine then, that leaves Pinkie’s place?”

“What leaves my place?”

The switched pony dragon duo jumped at the sudden appearance of the bubblegum earth pony. “Ohhh, I've never seen you two before, but you look familiar, are you new?” she asked in her excited high pitched voice.

“No, Pinkie,” BoyDash began” it’s us, Rainbow Dash and Spike. Twilight switched our bodies-”

“Forms,” MareSpike corrected”

“Whatever. Anyway, Twi got mad, and switched our forms around.”

“Why was Twilight mad at you?-" she gave a huge gasp "-Was it because of the fake party!!?”

The two began to fidget around nervously, occasionally glancing at one another.

“Rainbow Started it!” Spike blurted out.

“What!”

“You told me about it!”

“You joined in!”

“You chased her”

“You told me where she was!”

“You flew after her!”

“You burned the scrolls!”

“You...you….YOU CLOP TO HUMAN FANFICTION!!!”

“I WHAT???”

“I DON'T KNOW, I RAN OUT OF THINGS TO BLAME YOU FOR!!" she cried out.

“Girls, girls, you’re both to blame,” Pinkie stepped in. “So, what you’re saying is, Spike has Rainbows body, and Rainbow has Spikes body?”

Spike-mare rolled her eyes. “More or less”

Pinkie Pie beamed, and shook Spike's slender hoof furiously. “Congratulations Spike! You’re the new Element of Loyalty!!”

“Awesome, I always thought that I deserved it more than her!” she smirked.

Dash could only rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Pinkie, can we stay at your place for a week? I think that's how long Twilight said this would last.”

“Sure, the Cakes and the twins are gone to a family reunion, so I’m all alone for the week.” She grabbed both of them, and bolted towards her place. “Common, let's go to my house!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“......so then we had to burn down the house to escape. Lyra said that it was the best party ever, but Bon Bon was soooo mad,” Pinkie finished as she hopped down the path to Sugarcube Corner.

“Yeaaa sorry about that, Pinks,” DragonDash muttered.

“Don’t apologize, Dashie." She paused for a second before continuing. "Say, you're a boy dragon now, right?”

“Don’t remind me,” the inner pegasus groaned.

“How does it feel? You getting any weird urges? How would you feel if I showed you a picture of Rarity?” Pinkie hopped in excitement.

Spike's green eyes shrank into dots in surprise.

Dash only shrugged. “Nothing really, I just feel short, and kinda frustrated…. and a little hungry actually.”

“Didn't I make you breakfast?”

“Didn't we chase after Twilight for like, an hour?”

“Here try this!” Pinkie said as she reached into her mane, and pulled out a small ruby. “You’re a dragon now, so you can eat these now, right?” she said, tossing the jewel to him.

Dash gazed at it for a second, not sure if he could even eat it. Looking up, he noticed Spike gazing at his palm with hungry eyes. Dash decided to eat it, just to tease her. He popped it into his mouth, and chewed it like it was a normal gumball.

It.

Was.

Orgasmic.

It felt like a cherry bomb had exploded in his mouth, over and over again. It was crunchy at first, but it tasted like it was full of juice, because the flavor never seemed to end, not that he never wanted it to. Eventually, he swallowed the remains, and began to like his claws furiously. “More....” he drooled.

“Sorry, Spike….oops, hehe, I mean, Rainbow, I only had the one."

Dash began to stare blankly into space, thinking back on what he just ate. That was amazing,” he said, mesmerized.

Spike The Pony stared down in jealousy, knowing full well that, as a pony, she couldn't eat gems like that anymore. ‘Sweet Celestia, I’m gonna miss that…..’ she thought.

~Sugarcube Corner~

“Welcome!! To the Cupcake Castle of Equestria!!!” Pinkie exclaimed, standing on her hind legs, forelegs spread to encompass the room.

Dash The Dragon rolled his eyes. “Yes, Pinkie, I've been in your room before.”

“Oh yeah,” Pinkie giggled. “By the way, what were you looking for that one time.”

“Oh… uh.. nothing.” Dash leaned over and motioned for Spike to lean down, so he could whisper in her ear. “Not. A. Single. Piece. In. Here.”

“No way!?” She whispered in disbelief.

“No seriously, I turned the place inside out. I swear she’s asexual……… or gay for cupcakes.”

“Probably,” Spike chucked. “So do you invade everypony’s house, and go through their stuff?”

“Yea, I've seen your stash too,” he jabbed.

“What!?”

Pinkie popped up in between them, “Whatcha talkin bout~” She sing songed.

Both backed away in an attempt to regain some personal space. “Nothing!” they both answered, neither looking her in the eye.

“So, uh where do we sleep?” Spike asked, changing the subject.

“Weeeeellllll” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin in thought. "The cakes forbaded….. forbidid…… told me not to go into their room, for any reason, and not to look in their closet,-”

If one looked closely, they could see a slight spark of mischievity in Dash's draconic eyes.

“-so of course I HAD to look, but they must have put some kind of deadlock on the door or something, ‘cuz it’s bolted shut.”

The spark died.

“So, you guys can stay in the twin’s room, but don’t be alarmed if it smells weird in there though,” she finished.

“Alright then,” Dash said, currently making mental plans to get into the locked room.

“Wait, who’s sleeping in that room, 'cuz I've heard Rainbow snore before, and since she’s a dragon now…..well lets just say that I’m not fireproof as a pony."

“Hey, I’m not that loud..” He muttered.

“Oh, well, ok, Spiky you can sleep in here with me then. It’ll be like a sleepover!”

“I am not doing any of that girly stuff, even if I am a mare,” Spikerella exclaimed in defiance.

~10 min Later~

“This isn't that bad actually,” Spikanina admitted as she lie back in a chair, while Pinkie covered her face in greenish colored mud, her eyes covered with slices of cucumbers. “Rarity uses this too right?"

“Yup. She told me alllllllll about the sleepover she had with Twilight and Applejack. She even told me about how Twilight made them act out the scenes in her fanfiction too.”

“Pinkie Pie, Twilight told me about that, and I don’t think that’s what happened."

Pinkie giggled lightly. “Oh right, that was the dream that I had about it that night.”

At this point, the still small, still rainbow colored dragon came back in, holding a burnt lock in his claws. “Well, I had to burn several locks, and solve a puzzle, but I managed to get in the- are you wearing mud?” he asked in surprise.

“Ohhhhhh," Pinkie squealed. "I always wondered what they kept in their room. What’s in there? Super party stuff, birthday presents, aprons, baby stuff? A coffee machine?!”

Dash looked confused at that last one. “Coffee machine?”

“Well, the cakes got really really nervous for some reason when I came home with a brand new coffee machine for the store. So they took it, hid it in their room, and told me that I wasn't allowed to have any coffee, and not to ever drink any either. They even made me pinkie promise!”

“No arguments here,” Spike mumbled to herself as she took off one of the slices covering her eyes.

“So, what’s in there??” Pinkie exclaimed.

“A whole crate full of weird stuff! Its like-” He paused when he stared at Spike sitting behind Pinkie, frantically moving her hoof across her neck, shaking her head in a universal ‘don't say it’ gesture. Pinkie stood there with innocent eyes, sparkling in anticipation.

“Uhhh…. a crate full of coffee beans, and…. uh…... aprons,” he finished halfheartedly, at least it wasn't a total lie.

Pinkie pumped a hoof in victory. “I knew it!” she exclaimed. Behind her, Spikabella heaved a quiet sigh of relief.

“It’s getting late, we should get to sleep,” Spike suggested, eating the slices that were previously covering her eyes.

“Fine, but just a little bit of advice, don’t sleep on your stomach. Makes it really awkward when you wake up in the morning,” Dash said as she went back into the other room.

Pinkie and Spike gave a confusing look at one another for a brief second before shrugging it off. Pinkie pulled out her guest bed, and uttered good nights, before dozing off peacefully. At some point, they began to hear Dash snoring, and the sound of fire billowing out. Pinkie assured her that, after the first time she babysat the twins, she both magic and fireproofed the entire room.

~The next day~

“Rainbow Dash! Wake up!"

Dash bolted woke up instantly when he felt himself being shaken furiously by the green maned mare. “Waaaahahahahahaaaat”

“I woke up this morning, and my wings were sticking up….. now they won't go down!” Spike exclaimed with a large blush covering her face, her bed head a clear sign that she had just woken up.

Dash smirked and laughed in her face.

“Told you to sleep on your back.”

Author's Note

Funny thing: That argument that spike and dash had was a similar one to one that I had with my friend, it ended roughly the exact same way too. With me blurting out something random crud that he doesn't actually do,(I think) and my third friend ending it by calling us ladies. Btw yes, in my canon Dash is a pervert, I don't know why I wrote her like that, but I did, I thought it was funny. I can't change it now, but if you guys don't like it, then you have no sense of humor.

Criticism and Likes are greatly......something or other.

The Second Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neither Spike, nor Rainbow Dash would admit that it took almost two hours for them get up and come downstairs. Two hours of laughter, embarrassment, and awkward showers. Though eventually, they managed to make it through the first part of the morning only slightly mentally scarred.

Currently, they were stuck at the entrance to the kitchen, stunned into silence trying to comprehend exactly what they were watching. They shared identical slack jawed expressions as they observed the pink mare zoom back and forth at impossible speeds, somehow working four stoves simultaneously while also placing finished foods on tables. Dash briefly wondered if she got back into the Mirror pool when he swore that there were at least 4 of her running around.

They stood there, watching her until she began finally began to slow down. Eventually, they could only see three of her, then two, and by the time that she had completely stopped, the duo found themselves sitting at the table, staring at the feast before them.

Their eyes glazed over as they took in the sight of three full tables, each one filled to the brim with dozens of pancakes, waffles, pastries, and pieces of hay bacon sided with mounds of toast, alongside assorted vegetables, jams and syrups. On separate tables, sat gallons of milk(chocolate of course) and water, ready for drinking.

“Don’t just sit there, eat with me!” exclaimed Pinkie.

No further words were needed, as all Tartarus broke loose when all three of them literally dove into the food. The waffles, pancakes, pop tarts, and assorted other breakfast foods were no match for the hungry stomachs of two ponies and a dragon. Foods went flying and faces were stuffed, as they fought like animals over who ate what, completely forgetting that there was more than enough to eat between them…... probably.

Things got really extreme when DragonDash caught sight of the gems that Pinkie had set aside for him, he nearly flipped the entire table over in his rush to have them. At one point, MareSpike hesitantly reached for a gem, only to get a hiss and a swipe from the hoardy dragon in response.

Eventually, the food ran out, and the three of them hit the ground on their backs, nursing their full bellies.

“Oh my -” BURP “-Celestia….that was delicious.”

“Why did you, HIC, make so much?”

Pinkie let out the largest belch of all before she giggled and answered. “Well, I woke up this morning, and I gasped, just like this, -” Pinkie let out a huge gasp, even larger than the one she gave Twilight when they first met. “-when I realized that last night was my very first sleepover EVER! So, I just knew that I needed to do something super special. So I made us all a super special breakfast.” Pinkie paused for a second before looking slightly downcast. “Did I go too far?”

“No!” they both answered simultaneously.

“Oh, good” Pinkie beamed. She looked up, and took in the sight of the knocked over tables, broken dishes, and all of the foods covering the walls that was most likely due to the food fight that she and Spike had gotten into at one point. “Wow, the Cakes are going to be reeeeaaally mad if we don’t clean that all up.”

Dash burped once more before answering. “They’re gonna be mad no matter what, but sure, we’ll help ya clean, Pinks”

After a few minutes of trying, the three finally managed to stand back up, and move around some. Dash chose to move the furniture back into place, and Spike chose to wash the dishes.

At some point, Dash turned around when he heard the telltale sounds of dishes crashing to the floor. He watched Spike clumsily try to wash dishes, only to drop them to the ground. Dash faceclawed as he waddled over to trade places with the derpy hooved mare. Spike sheepishly complied as she went to pick up knocked over chairs and flipped over tables, which she found to be only marginally easier than cleaning plates.

Pinkie herself paid no attention to the two while she chose the ‘fun’ task, of cleaning the food off of the walls and ceiling, mostly by eating it.

Through their combined efforts, they successfully managed to clean the entire kitchen in a matter of minutes. Afterwards, Pinkie reminded them that she had to open the store, and asked if they would like to help. They declined when they reminded her that Spike couldn't use hooves to cook, and Dash was too small to reach the stove. So, they went their separate ways, Pinkie, to the front of the store to open it, and the switched duo, back upstairs to stay out of sight.

“So, what do ya wanna do now?” asked Spike after they entered Pinkie’s room.

Dash paused as he put a claw to his chin in thought. “Hey, Spike, do you remember when you got all greedy and got, like, really big?”

“Yeeaaaah,” she replied nervously.

“Oh, I remember that! Spike got a bunch of stuff for his birthday, then he started stealing things like a big meanie pants.” Pinkie began to count on her hoof, dangling from the ceiling by her hindlegs. “He stole my cupcakes, Applejack’s apples, Rarity, Twilight’s books, globe, wall, sink, and shelves. Fluttershy’s virginity, Rainbow’s Dash, Sweetie Drops’ house, Cheerilee’s hat, the Ponyville water tower-”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Dash interrupted, “Well, here me out here but what if I-”

“No!”

“But, It would be fun.”

“No!”

“Rarity would be distracted.”

“No.”

“Well, how about we-”

“No!”

“But-”

“I said no! I’m not letting you get greedy just to rampage around as a gigantic dragon.”

“Whyyyy noooooot” he whined.

Spike held up a hoof, only to realize that he didn't have claws anymore. “Three reasons; First, If you do, then the royal guard might actually show up this time.”

“Phhpppt, I doubt that, those guys are pretty useless when you need them.”

Spike giggled a little at this. “Secondly, it’s not fair that you get to have your wish, but I don’t.”

Dash only scoffed, “Well, you did want to be a pony, you should’ve been more specific when you asked Twilight.”

“Lastly, if you do then Twilight will never do you a favor ever again.” Spike glared.

Dash’s eyes burst open, widened, then shrank in realization. He groaned in defeat, and threw her arms into the air. “Ok fine, I won’t go steal a bunch of stuff just to turn into a wicked awesome dragon that would crush the town and all my enemies.”

“You have enemies?”

“No……. but If I did, then I could crush them under the increased weight of my awesomeness,” Dash grumbled in annoyance.

“It’s ok, Dashie, If you want, you can sit on my head to feel taller,” Pinkie said with a wide smile, causing Spike to burst into laughter, and knock over the chairs that she had just picked up.

Rainbow honestly couldn't tell whether or not she was teasing him, but either way, he decided that he had enough, it was time to use his trump card. “Ya’ know, Spike, Rarity might actually want to see you like this, she does like meeting new ponies.”

“New pony! Where?” Pinkie said excitedly.

“It’s us, Pinks.”

“Awww.”

Spike instantly paused in her laughter and bolted upright, eyes sparkling in excitement. “Really!? Wait, no, she can’t see me in this form,” she said, slightly downcast.

“You never know, she might like you better like this.”

“I didn't know Rarity liked mares,” said Pinkie. Continuing to defy gravity, she plopped her rump up on the ceiling, and stared downwards toward the ground in thought. “Wow, you think you know a gal”

Spike could only roll her eyes. “No, Pinkie, Rarity isn't into mares, so it would be awkward, and weird if I did go meet her.”

“So, you should deal with it and go talk to her.”

“Did you not just hear what I said!?”

“I heard it loud and clear, you don’t want to go see your friends ‘cuz you’re scared.”

“Wait, that is not what I-”

“Pinkie!” he called, in less than a second Pinkie dropped down from the ceiling, and landed right beside the small rainbow dragon.

“Yes, Dashie?”

“Spike’s being-” Dash narrowed his eyes, “-antisocial!”

Pinkie let out a gasp to end all gasps, causing everyone in the room to feel slightly light headed afterwards due to the sudden lack of available air.

Instantly, Spike felt a rush of wind, blank, and found herself sitting outside, right in the middle of town, next to her, sat an equally dazed Rainbow Dash. A few yards behind them came the voice of a pony they knew all too well.

“Stop being anti-social party poopers!” Pinkie called out as she closed the door to the shop.

“That wasn't exactly what I had planned,” he said, groggily getting to his feet.

“So, we’re outside, now what, party pooper,” grumbled Spike as they walked through the town.

Dash shrugged. “Ahdunno, I just didn't want to be inside anymore. Do you know how confining it is for a pegasus to be stuck in one place?”

“So what, is it like claustrophobia or something?” she asked, not quite understanding the second part.

“Clamidia-what now?”

“It means fear of being in closed spaces.”

“Egghead, no, all pegasi love the sky, we love being out in the open flying through the air and hate being confined to any one place, even if it’s big.”

“That sounds like claustrophobia without the phobia.”

“Whatever, I’m usually in the air, napping, training or working. I can’t do any of that at the moment, so what do you do for fun?”

This caused Spike to stop in her tracks. “I….. I don’t know, I’m usually helping Twilight right now.”

“Wow, dude, do you ever have time off?”

“Yes!” replied Spike, looking offended.

Dash gave her a suspicious glance. “Ok, what do you do when you do get time to yourself, smell your feet?”

Spike blushed through his purple coat. “NO! I read comics to pass the time.”

Dash raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And, what?”

“Is that it?”

“Ummmm, I also…….uh” Spike trailed off. “I guess, I really don’t have any kinds of hobbies like you do.” she muttered sadly.

“Uhuh, thought so. You need to learn how to have more fun when you’re on your own. Everypony has something awesome that they like to do. You know what? I’m gonna teach you how to be awesome.”

Spike glanced over in confusion. “What?”

“First step to being awesome! Learn to fly.”

“Oh yeah, I was gonna ask you to teach me about that, I always wanted to fly.”

“Yeah, what kind of dragon doesn't have any wings?” said The Flightless Rainbow as he glanced at his back, “I mean, what’s up with…..” Dash trailed off as he looked back, and saw Spike tearing up at his words. Dash began to panic and tried to apologize.. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding! I didn't mean it. Wingless dragons are awesome!”

Spike raised a hoof to wipe her eyes before responding. “It’s cool, I always wanted wings anyway.”

Dash heaved a silent sigh of relief. “Well, you’ve got them now, so lets use them.”

Spike immediately brightened up. “Alright!”

So the duo made their way over to a large hill where Dash often practiced her own flight skills. They stood at it’s apex and began their training.

“Okay, first thing-”

“I have a question!” interrupted Spike.

“What? We haven't even started, what is it?”

“Since we’re doing flight lessons, shouldn't Scootaloo be here as well?”

Dash briefly thought about it before waving it off with a claw. “Nah, then we’d have to waste time explaining why a wingless, rainbow colored dragon, is teaching a fully grown pegasus how to fly. I don’t feel like explaining all of that.”

“Yea, but-”

“Do you wanna learn to fly now or not?” asked an irritated Dash.

“I do!” pleaded Spike.

“Right, so lets get started.”

~~~

“Okay! So what have we learned?” Dash commanded as he paced back and forth.

“Oh u..um,” Spike stuttered “lot’s of control and endurance.”

“Yes.”

“Screaming and hollering...”

“Right, wait… no...... well, yes but only if you’re falling I guess.”

“...and passion.”

“For flying, yes, but did you listen to anything I said about aerodynamics and cloud safety?”

“Umm…. yes,” she lied. In honesty, Spike had began to daydream about 2 minutes in, mostly about random things like huge keys and ice cream, only to snap back to attention when Dash asked her what she had learned.

“Alright then,” he glared suspiciously. “Try to fly, right now, flap your wings.”

“A..alright then,” stammered Spike. Hesitantly, she unfolded her wings, and slowly began to flap them. At first each beat was out of sync, but eventually she began to get the hang of it, flapping them both at the same time like a normal pegasus would. Looking back, she caught sight of Dash’s disbelieving look.

She decided that she was as ready as she ever would, and gave a strong flap, only to rocket into the air uncontrollably, the resulting wind from her takeoff knocked Dash back on his tail. Dash’s lessons came in handy as Spike did infact start screaming and hollering as soon as her hooves left the ground. Flipping, flailing, and flapping wildly, she flew through the sky in random loops and corkscrews, screaming the entire time.

Dash eventually got back to his feet and stared up in concern. He tried to yell up at her, to give her instructions on control and direction, only to realize three things. One: Spike hasn't crashed yet, which was odd for a first time flier. Even Twilight crashed the first few times when she first tried to fly. Secondly, the patterns that Spike flew in slowly began to resemble some moves that Dash herself had developed, and finally, Spikes screams of fear began to sound more and more like screams of joy and excitement.

“Wow….. guess he was listening,” muttered Dash as he watched her slowly gain control over her flight path.

“Rainbow, this is awesome!!” screamed Spike as she flew across the sky, effortlessly pulling off random tricks that she had seen Dash do herself. For some reason, Rainbow began to get really nervous.

“That’s great, but you should probably come back down before something happens,” he yelled back up.

“What? You think I’m gonna fall? No way!”

Deciding that Spike looked more or less fine, Dash decided to get started on one of her more favorite hobbies, napping the day away. Climbing up a nearby tree he got comfortable in one of the larger branches, and drifted off silently.

~In the air~

“Oh my Celestia this is awesome!” Spike yelled as he flew through the air, Deciding that she wanted to go as high as possible, she flew directly upwards, reaching higher and higher into the vast blue openness until she finally felt the need to look downward. What she saw as a result caused her eyes to widen in awe from sight. From her vantage, she could see the almost the entirety of Equestria, boarder to boarder from Ponyville to the Badlands.

‘It’s so huge,’ she thought, “but where’s Ponyville, I can’t- oh wait, there it is. That’s where I live, but it’s so small I can barely see it from here. Rainbow Dash said the she didn't like being confined to one place, I think I understand what she meant now.’ Spike thought. It was strange, up there, in the sky, he felt a strange sense of freedom, it wasn't like the freedom he felt at home, where he was free to roam town or do whatever. Right now it felt like he could go anywhere in the world right now. Spike began to gaze out on all the different places in the land ‘I wonder what it’s like, to travel and see all of these places, the girls do it all the time so maybe if I ask, they’ll take me with them next time.

Suddenly, Spike’s mental rant came to an abrupt halt as she began to feel slightly light headed, her vision began to blur as something that Dash had said began to echo in her mind.

‘Don’t go too high in the air, because the air gets thin at that altitude. Basically, you pass out’

“Crap” she muttered before she passed out, and plummeted to the ground below. During her freefall she passed through a particularly moist cloud, the resulting splash to the face caused her to regain consciousness. Eyes widening at the rapidly approaching ground she quickly extended her wings to slow her fall, eventually leveling out into a nice glide.

A glide that ended up in her crashing right into the tree right where Dash was sleeping. branches broke and limbs became tangled as she barreled through the foliage and crashed both her and Rainbow Dash onto the grass below. They tumbled some distance before coming to rest at the edge of the hill. Completely covered in tree sap

“That. Was. Awesome!” exclaimed Spike, “Having wings is awesome!”

“Yea…. I know right,” replied the groggy dragon, currently disentangling himself from the limbs of his friend and removing branches and tree sap from uncomfortable places.”Geez, is this how the Crusaders feel?”

After getting all cleaned up, Dash looked into the sky and saw that the sun had already began to set. “Wow, how long have we been out here.”

Spike could only shrugged. “I don’t know, I was flying, so I didn't notice the sun go down.”

“Then we should get back to-”

“Rainbow Dash, is that you?”

Both of them froze in place as a third, feminine voice rang out. Spike knew that voice anywhere, and prayed that she wouldn't recognize them in these forms.

Dash was the first to turn around and watch purple mare trot up the hill to meet them.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was just taking a small stroll through Ponyville, when I saw a pegasus doing a few delightful tricks up here, then I saw you crash, so I just assumed.” said Rarity as she reached them.

“N..no, it’s ok I was j...just p..practicing here.” stuttered Spike as he slowly backed up, only to be stopped by Dash and his mischievous smirk.

“I saw, It was marvelous, it reminded me of my pegasus friend, but enough about her. You two look new here, am I right? I only know of one other baby dragon in Ponyville.”

Spike could only glance around nervously trying to remember which direction Sugarcube Corner was in. Seeing that her lips had frozen Dash roller his eyes and decided to take the lead.

“Yep, you’re right, we just got here. My name’s Razer and she’s...uhhh, Emerald,” Dash began, ignoring Spike’s shocked expression. “You must be Rarity, right.”

Rarity looked surprised that they knew her name but quickly shook it off as she flipped her expertly styled mane. “Why yes, however did you know.”

“My friend here is a really big fan of yours.”

Rarity’s eyes literally sparkled as she ran up and nearly pressed snouts against the green haired mare.

“Is that so? Well then, we should certainly get together and talk at my place tomorrow. I would love to style your mane sometime. I must admit, that I am not usually fond of the color green, but it looks simply amazing on you, it compliments your coat beautifully.”

Spike blushed furiously when he realized how close his crush was to her. Sputtering nonsense, she quickly flew off in the opposite direction without warning.

Rarity blinked in confusion before looking back to the small dragon next to her, currently laughing his tail off.

“Well that was odd..... she must be shy, the poor dear.”

Dash only laughed harder.

“Well, when you see her could you please tell her that I do extend an invitation for us to meet sometime.”

Dash only laughed some more as he held out a thumbs up, and began to walk back to Sugarcube corner, leaving Rarity by herself.

“What an odd pair, though they do seem vaguely familiar.” she muttered to herself as she too trotted back to her boutique.

~Later~

“How could you do that!” screeched Spike as she hoisted the young dragon into the air, glaring at him with all the rage in the world.

“Yea, how could you!” repeated Pinkie as she joined in on the screeching. “What did she do?”

“Oh, so now you learn to use your hooves.” Dash snarked. “What? I set you up on a date with her. Why are you mad.”

“Date with who?”

“You got me friendzoned! She doesn't like mares, remember, and she doesn't know that I’m Spike, because you gave her a fake name!” screamed Spike as she began to shake him back and forth.

“Who doesn't like mares?”

“Wehelehelehell nowowowow youou can find ououot whahahaht sheeeee liiikkkeesss
inaaa draaaagon.” warbled Rainbow as Spike shook him around like a rag doll.

Pinkie gave up on asking questions, and resigned herself to simply eating popcorn as
she watched the show before her.

Spike’s eyes went wide as she dropped the dragon to the floor and froze in place.

“And there go the hooves,” Dash muttered to himself. “ Look, I don’t do it, but I’ve heard that mares like to talk about what kinds of stallions they like when they hang out. You can talk to Rarity and get the inside scoop.”

“That’s brilliant,” muttered Spike.

“Also, I wanted to screw with you,” admitted Dash.

At that, Spike lept into action, attacking Dash in what could only be described as a tumble of cartoonish proportions. Especially when Pinkie threw her popcorn away and jumped in. For hours the two ponies and dragon would tumble through the room, wrestling and playing around having fun.

Eventually Dash and Spike ran out of energy, leaving Pinkie to maintain the tumble by herself until she realized that no one was tumbling with her. Through majority vote, Pinkie being the odd one out, they decided to go to bed in the same manner as last night. With Pinkie and Spike together, and Dash by herself in the fireproof room.

They all said their goodnights and retreated to their individual beds to drift off. Spike thought about what happened today, and why, now that she was back in Ponyville, she suddenly felt somewhat confined. She found that she missed the freedom of flight. A side of her wondered what it would be like to see new places, but that was interrupted by her wings springing up once more, breaking her train of thought. Grumbling in annoyance, she decided to attempt to go back to sleep, messing with her wings all the while.

Author's Note

More new heavily edited chapters! chapters!! HAZZAH!

The Third Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning actually went down almost identically the same as the day before, right down to the food fight and subsequent near passing out of three food fighters.

“BURP!....... We can’t keep doing this,” groaned Dash as he lie on his back, nursing his full stomach.

“Well, this IS a bakery, so they probably have, like, tons of food in the freezer, or something,” groaned Spike.

“Actually, I don’t know where all the food comes from. Mr, and Mrs. Cake always fill out some forms, and food just shows up downstairs,” giggled Pinkie.

“Well, we should probably clean this up, groaned Spike as she feebly tried to get up.

Rainbow also stood up, “Yeah, same as yesterday. Don’t break anything this time.”

Spike waved him off as she went over to pick up the fallen chairs. “Yeah, yeah. I’m getting much better at this hoof stuff anyway.”

“Oh really? Then, do you wanna help me in the kitchen today!?” exclaimed Pinkie, already cleaning the ceiling with her mouth, via plunger shoes.

“Nahh, maybe tomorrow though,” answered Rainbow Dash.

Everything went the same as yesterday, Pinkie Pie licked up the food from the ceiling, while the others cleaned at ground level. Eventually, after convincing Pinkie Pie that they weren't being antisocial party pooping ponies, the switched pair decided to stay in the shop for the day.

“Wanna go see what else the Cakes have hidden in their room? There really was a coffee machine in there, ya know,” asked Rainbow.

Spike thought for a second before shaking her head. “Nahh, not interested.”

"Do you want to go flying again?"

Spike thought back to what she felt when flying yesterday. So free, so fast, so much falling, and so wet. "N-no I'm good, I would rather not crash into a tree again. let's go upstairs or something."

~Upstairs~

Spike looked around the pink room of their host. Balloons and cheery pieces of furniture littered the area, eventually her eyes wandered over to a corner of the room, and spotted a mountain of games. “Wanna play a game? She has, like, a ton.”

Dash shrugged. “Sure, nothin' else to do.”

“Aggghh, I’m so bored!” groaned Dash.

“Calm down, it’s only been 30 minutes. We haven't even finished our first game of Monopony yet.”

“This is boring, and I don’t want to do this anymore!”

“You’re just saying that because you’re losing.”

“Who gets both Park Place, and Boardwalk on their first turn!?”

Spike chuckled a little. “Well, I asked if you wanted to go all the way around the board first.”

“Whatever, that rule was stupid, you’re stupid, and this game is stupid. Let’s do something else. Why can’t we go outside again?”

“Because, I don’t want to run into Rarity again while I'm like this! If she sees me, then I know that I’m gonna hit on her, and it’s gonna be weird!”

Dash started to snicker, only stopping when Spike sent him a glare. “Well, what if we don’t run into her?”

“Why wouldn't we?”

“Well, it’s still early, maybe she’s still working on some dress in her shop.”

“Hmm, I guess that could be true, but what if she’s not.”

“You know her schedule better than I do, ya stalker.”

“At least I don’t break into ponies rooms, and look for weird stuff!”

“True…... so can we go outside now?”

“No, we're staying in here today.”

Dash groaned in annoyance and tuned to lie on his back. "Fine, then what do we do?"

Spike thought for a few moments. What could we do then, Rainbow Dash doesn't want to play any more games, and I don’t want to go outside. We could just talk, but Dash wouldn't want to talk about anything that she's not remotely interested in. Daring Do? Nahh, I wouldn't want to start an argument. I mean, that's so stupid, it's obvious that Ahrizotle is Daring's cursed brother. It's been hinted at since book one, why else would Daring go on all these adventures but not turn a profit, she's looking for a cure. Why can't she just see that!

Wait, what was I thinking about?

Oh right, I need a topic. Let's see, what do I know about Rainbow Dash; she’s headstrong, a tomcolt, loves her some Applejack, loves to fly, is kinda stupid, crashes a lot........ no respect for others privacy.... paranoid about spies….

Well I guess that settles that "Hey, Rainbow Dash," she called out.

"What?"

"Do you want to just, talk?"

Rainbow Dash turned to look at her as if he had never heard the word before. "Talk? About what? We already know everything about each other."

"See, no, that's the thing, I just thought about it, and the only thing I know about you is that you like the Wonderbolts and flying. How about this, why do you like the Wonderbolts so much?"

Rainbow considered this topic, it was better than nothing, and he did like talking about himself. "Fine, it all started when I was like, 4. My dad said that I flew around the house a lot. Sometimes, so in order to keep me still while he was handling something important, he would chain me to the ground. Of course, I was a filly who couldn't be held down for long, I kept breaking out. But the thing was, no matter what, he always kept me in the house, like If I left, I would die or something. Of course I understand now, why he did it.

So, when I was 5 and stupid, I decided to leave the house on my own, while he was still asleep. I just got up, and flew right out of the house. When I got out of there, I saw the most incredible things. I saw Ponyville for the first time, I saw Fillydelphia, I saw Canterlot, and Ponysburg."

With every word spoken Spike became more and more interested in the story, though, behind her excitement, she began to feel something that she instantly recognized as jealousy, though she couldn't possibly understand why she was.

"I was so engrossed in what I was seeing that I didn't realize that my little wings were giving out," she continued. "So, one second I was flying above what’s now called Applaloosa, the next I was plummeting through the air. My wings were cramped, hurting, and wouldn't flap. I thought that I was a goner. Then,” he began gesture with his claws, “out of nowhere, I was caught by a passing group of wonderbolts. They asked me why I was out so far away from Cloudsdale. When I told them that I wanted to see the outside world, they understood and agreed to take me home."

"So, you want to be one because they saved you?"

"Nahh, that’s lame. No, what happened next was why I want to be one. During the time they flew me back, they did the most amazing tricks ever! Even my Sonic Rainboom wouldn't be a match for what they did, and I was on their backs experiencing the whole thing. It was like I got my own show put on just for me. Honestly, it was inspiring. I wanted to do that, I wanted to be like them. The way they moved, their speed and formations, it was just so. Awesome! For the first time, I knew what I wanted to do with my life, and it's been like that ever since.

I still remember the best move they did, too. Even though the one I rode on didn't join them, they pulled it off perfectly. First, 3 of them grabbed several lightning clouds and charged them. The other 2 grabbed rain clouds. Then they combined the rain and lightning into storm clouds and set them off.

Here's the best bit, all 5 of them flew around the clouds in a perfect sphere, rain and lightning bouncing around the inside from the special magic in their suits. They basically made a giant ball of lightning in the sky, I was blown away!” he almost yelled, by now he was jumping in place at the excitement generated from the memory. “They just flew faster and faster and faster, until you could barely see them anymore. Until finally, the lightning exploded outwards, lighting up the whole sky. I thought I was blinded, but when I opened my eyes, the entire sky was filled with the most beautiful things better than any rainboom. Colors lit up the sky, and stretched on forever. They told me that it was a new move that combined pegasus magic, unicorn magic, speed and coordination to create an artificial aurora. Now, I've seen an actual aurora, it looked nowhere near as cool as that.

"What's an aurora?"

"I'm not an egghead, so I can't really explain it. Let's just say that it's a bunch of magic lights in the sky. So, anyway, they asked me what I thought. I played it cool of course, and told them that it was pretty awesome. They were apparently still developing it at the time. Afterwards, they dropped me off at home just in time for me to get yelled at by my dad, and put in the punishment box, it was horrible, I couldn't fly for a week after that.

About a year later, I ran into one of the bolts at a show. When I asked him why they didn't do the Aurora, he told me that Celestia thought that it was too dangerous to pull off in a crowd, and prohibited even practicing it. That meant that I had been the only non-bolt to have seen the move. From then on, it's been my goal to join the wonderbolts, become captain, slap Celestia's snout and bring back the best flying move in the world. That, Spike, is how I got my dream." she finished, standing proudly on Pinkie Pie's bed.

Spike could only stare, wide-eyed in awe at the story. "That, was amazing." Spike suddenly got the feeling that he would love to see an aurora, even if it’s not as cool as the one Dash saw. She remembered reading about one in a book once, something about northern lights.

"It should be, I just made it all up anyway."

Spike's face made an audible crack as it broke down into the most deadpan glare imaginable. "What?"

"Yea, no I made all of that up, just wanted to waste some time. The real reason is that I'm chasing after a colt named Soarin, but he probably won't date me until I become a bolt. Simple as that."

"........what?"

Dash couldn't take it anymore, he fell out laughing so hard that he rolled right off the bed and onto the hardwood floor. I would take a full 5 minutes before he would stop slamming his fist on the ground.

~5 minutes later~

"........what?"

"Hahahaaaa, I was just messing with you! Celestia, you should see your face."

"Wait? then which story's true?"

"I'll let you figure that one out, this is too fun. Anymore questions about me?"

Spike resolved to get the truth later. "I guess, but only if you promise not to do that again, I just want the truth please."

"Fine," he huffed, "killjoy."

Spike and Rainbow Dash spent the next few hours just talking and laughing. Dash mostly talked about the misadventures that she would get into as a filly. She got into stuff so messed up that the if the CMC heard any of it, Ponyville would probably literally end up in the sky. Every once in a while, Pinkie would also show up to drop the occasional joke bomb and even tell a silly story from her own fillyhood. Even though she was enjoying herself, Spike couldn't help but feel extremely left out due the fact that he had spent most of his life helping in a library or around the castle. She realized that she had never really gone out and explored on her own, not nearly as much as these two anyway.

Time passed, and night descended while the three friends gabbed on and on about life, friends and fun but some point, through majority vote, Pinkie being the odd one out, they decided to go to bed in the same manner as last night. With Pinkie and Spike together, and Dash by himself in the fireproof room. While the rest of them quickly descended into peaceful slumber, one purple pegasus remained fully awake and alive. Dash's words echoed through her head. Even if there was a possibility that the story had been made up, Spike found that, inside, he truly envied Rainbow Dash's reasons for wanting to be a bolt. She has a goal that she wants to meet in life. That's more than he could say for himself at least.

What was it that Spike the Dragon wanted most out of life, where did he want to go? what would he like to do? What were his dreams? These thoughts circled around furiously in her head until she figured that enough was enough. Leaving the room she walked out into the darkness of Ponyville alone to clear her head of the thoughts that she both didn't have an answer to, nor could fully understand.

Author's Note

Question: Do you guys think I use the word 'as' too much?

Criticisms, Likes, Faves, and Follows are fully welcomed.

The Fourth Day

Author's Note

I've finally climbed myself back in the saddle for this story. Thanks to those who commented some ideas in my recent blog post, they really helped me get my head together, breaking down the wall blocking some better ideas.Thanks to them, I should be able get some more chapters out very soon.

Criticism, likes, faves, and opinions are welcome.

The Fourth Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Outside~

It's so quiet at night, but I guess that's to be expected when everypony's asleep right now. I wonder why I'm not asleep, what am I even doing with my life. I help Twilight, I read some books or comics, and then I go to sleep. I wake up the next day, and Twilight's gone off to fight an ancient evil while I do the exact same thing as the day before. I love it, it's what I've always done....... so why do I feel so-

"Emerald, is that you?"

Knocking Spike out of his thoughts entered the voice of the gorgeous white coated mare named Rarity. Turning, Spike watched her come up to her with a bright smile on her face.

"Darling, I didn't know that you enjoy early morning walks as well."

"Uh, ehhh, yeahh."

"Emerald, you look down, what's wrong?"

“It’s nothing,”

“It’s not nothing, here come with me. I know of a nice eatery that’s open this early.”

“Reluctantly, Spike followed Rarity into a nearby restaurant with a few outside tables. Looking up she read the name of the place. “The Straight and Narrow, well that’s just great. I don’t know why, but I suddenly have the urge to kill Rainbow……. with a spoon.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“Well alright, here come sit over here with me.”

Spike obliged and sat at the same table as his crush. Normally she would feel extremely excited to be here with her. But for some reason that she just couldn't quite understand, the feeling wasn't there.

“So, tell me, what’s on your mind.”

“I-It’s nothing.”

“It doesn't look like nothing.”

“Seriously, I’m fine.”

Rarity could easily tell that something was bothering the poor dear, obviously something serious. But she was a good friend, and she wouldn't force it out of her, maybe she could lure it out through conversation. “Well alright then. How about this, where are are you from.”

“Cloudsdale,” said Spike without a second thought.

Rarity noticeably frowned for a split second at a recent memory before quickly recovering. “Yes, Cloudsdale. Nice place, love the…. manes, and the…. white.”

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing just some……. unsavory memories.”

Feeling a little daring, Spike decided tackle the subject head on. “Um...do you want to talk about what happened.”

Rarity mentally smirked. “Well, I sort of………. fell from the sky. Like the mighty pegasus Icarus, I flew too close to the sun, and fell from the heavens!” she said dramatically raising a hoof to her forehead.

“You WHAT!?”

Please, darling, no need to yell. As you can see,” she said as she expertly flipped her mane, “I am alright. My pegasus friend Rainbow Dash caught me just in time. She broke through sound itself to rescue me!”

Spike breathed a small sigh of relief. Ok maybe not with a spoon then, wait, hold on.’ he thought briefly. “You said that you flew from the sky? You’re a unicorn, how were you even in Cloudsdale?”

“Hmm, oh yes, I understand the confusion. Well, my friend Twilight is a magnificent magician. So she used her magic to give me gorgeous butterfly wings made from gossamer, and morning dew. I flew too close to the sun, and they burst into beautiful flames.”

Spike could only sit there in a stew of her own feelings. There was resentment that she hadn't been there, and that Twilight hadn't even told him anything. Sorrow that Rarity could've died, and curiosity when she thought about how she would look with wings. All of this equaled up to a fairly neutral expression.

“But, enough about me, I want to know more about you, what do you like to do?”

This question hit Spike like a friendship train to the nads, stopping all previous thoughts. “Wh-what do I...like to do?”

“Yes, darling, what are your hobbies. I myself love to create wonderful clothes to bring out the beauty in others.”

“I- I really don’t have any hobbies, or goals in life.” she said sadly

‘Ahh, there it is’ Rarity mentally hoof pumped at her victory.

“Whatever do you mean.”

“I mean, that I used to be content with doing the same thing everyday like I used to, but after becoming- but lately I’ve started to question that, but I don’t know why.”

“Well don’t you have any goals that you’ve set for yourself? Doing the same thing is fine, but usually only if it’ll help you toward your dream. I make dresses every day to improve my skills. With every outfit that I make, I grow that much closer to becoming a famous designer. What do you want to do?”

“I like….. I mean I want to,” Spike began, unable to answer. She thought back to all the times that he had been left home alone, while Twilight had gone out to save Equestria, or hang out with others. Then he remembered all the places that he had seen while in the sky, and how small Ponyville was in comparison.

“I want to travel,” she began hesitantly, “I want to go places that I haven't been. Trottingham, Dodge Junction, Canterlot, Los Pegasus, Appeloosa, or even Manehatten again,” she said with complete conviction.

“Ohh, how adventurous, although now that I think about it. I’ve been to almost all of those places.”

“Were they fun?”

“Well, yes and no,” she said dejectedly, “most of them ended up in me getting chased, hit with food, swindled, or deserted. Now don’t get me wrong, I had fun with my friends, but sometimes, I just wish that I could just take a vacation, go somewhere, and not end up in a tough spot.”

"Something clicked in Rarity’s mind as well. “How about this, let’s go to Manehatten together.

“What?”

“I shall take a few days off from work, and you shall come with me, and we’ll go someplace fun.”

“Wha, b-but I can’t just up and leave I need to help Tw-”

“Just take a few minutes to think about it, I’ll wait.” she interrupted.

Spike took took the chance, and thought about it. “I could, but what about Twilight and Rainbow Dash. Twilight said that the spell would last for a week, and it’s been about three or four days I think, so that leaves the other half of the week. Rainbow also did something similar and got in trouble. I really don’t want to get put back in the punishment box I couldn't eat for a week. But, if Rarity goes with me, does that count as running away? What would Twilight think? Spike continued on this train of thought for a few more minutes before finally nodding in agreement deciding that if she goes with a friend then it’s different than what Rainbow had done.

Then it hit her that she just agreed to go on a cross city date with Rarity, which caused her to set off a Pinkie Pie class party in her head.

“Oh, but one thing first,” she said, interrupting said party. “We simply must do something with that mess of a mane of yours, darling. I love the color for once, but the spiky style is something that I’ve wanted to fix since yesterday.”

“Ughhgghhhhhh,” groaned Spike.

Rarity got up and began to levitate Spike along while she excitedly trotted back to her boutique, Spike groaning the entire way. “Don’t be like that darling. I swear, you sound just like Rainbow Dash right now.”

~Later that morning~

“So, let me git this straight,” Applejack began, standing at the front counter at Sugarcube Corner.

“Fine,” grumbled a distraught Rainbow Dragon. Applejack instantly saw through Rainbow’s lies about being a new dragon as soon as she stepped inside. There really was no fooling the element of honesty.

“Even though we told you not to go botherin’’ Twilight, you did it anyway?”

“Yeah.”

“Not only that, but you dragged poor Spike into it as well.”

“He’s a grown mare now, she can make his own decisions.”

Applejack glared fiercely before calming down and continuing. “So now, yall are all form switched, and you just sent him……. her….. Spike, on a ‘date’ with Rarity, who don’t know who Spike really is.”

“That’s the gist of it, yes.”

Applejack could only facehoof at her friends actions. “Anythin’ else I missed?”

"Hmmmm, I don’t think so, Spike’s probably stuck in Rarity’s store getting a make up or something.”

“Well, ahm gonna go then. Ah don’t wanna get all mixed up in your punishment.”

“Wait, take me with you! I’m….. so…… bored! No one has come in today, like, at all.”

That’s when Pinkie Pie piped her pink head up from past the porter. “That’s not true, Time Turner came, and so did Colgate! They ordered a large sundae remember?”

“Ok fine, so like two ponies, but that’s it!”

"Your point?” said Applejack, doing her little eyebrow raise that she had started to do. Secretly it pissed Rainbow off, but so far she had decided not to say anything about it. “Can I go with you?”

"And do what?”

“I don't know, I just don’t wanna stay here all day doing nothing.”

“But Dashie, you love doing nothing,” Pinkie called out from the kitchen.

“I like doing other stuff!” she yelled back.

“Ain't you supposed to be here workin in case somepony swings by?”

Dash cupped a claw around his snout and yelled out behind him, “Pinkie I’m going to take my break now.”

“You get 30min, but no more!” she screamed with mock authority, before bursting into a fit of giggles. “I always wanted to sound like a boss. You can have as long as you like as long as you bring Spike back with you.”

“Done, ok Applejack, let’s go.” Applejack nodded as they both left out the shoppe, and started down the street.

“ So, what are you out doing.”

“Ah was actually on a break of mah own, so ah guess that I’ll head to Sweet Apple Acres. You commin?”

“Yea sure.”

~~~

“Dreadful, simply dreadful….” Rarity began, pacing around Spike like a deadly hipster shark.

“Is that a leaf, oh sweet Celestia, is that a twig!?”

“Darling, have you even heard of conditioner?”

“Eww what is this sticky white stuff.”

“Hmm, tastes like chocolate, that’s unexpected.”

“Ok then,” said Rarity, finally finishing her inspection of Spike’s mane stopping her death circle right in front of her. “first off; you’re mane’s a train wreck, like it’s never seen a day of care in it’s like.”

“I-is my mane alive?”

“Of course, darling, all manes are living creatures. They must be tenderly loved and cared for like one’s own foal.”

“Rarity, can I have something to eat now?” asked a Sweetie bell from upstairs.

“NO! NOW GET BACK IN THE PUNISHMENT BOX!” she screeched.

“Alright...” said Sweetie dejectedly.

Turning back to Spike Rarity noticed the look adorning her features. “Don’t look at me like that, she went into my room without my permission, and found some of my….. material.”

Hearing this made Spike slightly nervous, she didn't want to believe it, but there was only one way to find out. “You wouldn't have anything on Fancy Pants, would you.”

Rarity looked extremely stunned, and more than a little embarrassed at this query. “W-why yes, I do,” she answered while looking back and forth. She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially Would you like to borrow it?”

Spike swiftly shook her head, mentally cursing Dash and feeling sorry for Sweetie Belle.

“Well alright then, your loss. Now, as for your mane, dear, it needs some serious work, but with a friend like me, you’re mane will live on yet. I’ll make sure of it,” she said, lifting a hoof dramatically. “Now what we’re going to do first is retrieve my high quality shears to cut out any-”

Everything from that point on faded to into obscurity, as Spike neither heard nor cared about what Rarity had been saying. Her mind had gone into stasis, racing thoughts focusing on many different topics. One part of her contemplated hurting Dash after this, another part had his eyes focusing on Rarity and how beautiful she looked as she rambled on. A third part wondered why ponies cared so much about their manes. As a dragon, all he had to do was shower to be able to leave presentable. A small part was still worried about what Twilight would think about him running off to Manehatten without notice. The final part, the part that had currently taken up at least 98% of his thoughts, was a simple question.

“Did Rarity just ask to elope with me!!??” she thought. Unfortunately this one thought got stuck on repeat, playing over and over without getting an answer.

“Emerald!” Rarity’s voice knocked her out of her own thoughts instantly, suddenly realizing that Rarity’s face had sat only inches from her own. “Were you listening to anything I said!”

Spike looked at her blankly, a blush creeping over her features. “Her face is so close…”] was her only thought.

Rarity sighed. “Well, I guess not. I’ve finished your mane, tell me what you think, and be honest!” she said excitedly, swirling Spike around to face herself in the mirror.

Spike stared closely at her reflection, taking in every detail that he could, she was absolutely stunned at the sight. Eventually she began to voice her wavering response. “I-it, looks… I look,” she began.

“Yes,” she urged, “beautiful, amazing, gorgeous, astounding, stunning, any of the above would be nice?”

“The same, I look exactly the same…”

If one listened closely they could hear Rarity’s excitement crack and break like a cheap mirror beaten by an expensive slipper. “What?” she screamed, looking from Spike, to the mirror and back. “No, dear you look completely different! Check again!”

So she did, Spike once again took in every detail. The only visible difference was that her face looked slightly shinier, and the bags that were under her eyes from her wings and thoughts keeping her up all night, were gone. But otherwise, exactly the same. “Nnnnope, pretty much the same. My mane’s still spiky,-”

“I thought that you would like that, so I kept it roughly the same.”

“It’s still the same shade of green.”

“No, before it was an icky dark moss green, now it’s a brighter shade of grassy green. I also straightened your mane, got everything out of it. It’s now at least 4marelimeters shorter. I washed and shampooed it, 3 times. The number of points have been increased to give of a more natural appearance. I curled your eyelashes, and I added just a touch of eyeshadow to bring attention your your eyes.” explained Rarity, point out every non-visible thing that she had done.

Nevertheless, Spike couldn't make out any of the supposed changes other than the fact that her mane was slightly damp, but she supposed that she should just go with what Rarity said she did.

“If you say so,” she said, earning an unamused expression from Rarity.

Spikes eyes drifted lazily around her mirrored figure before something caught her attention by the window. “What time is it?”

“Hmm, judging from the scenery, I would assume around midnight?” she guessed, “My we have been here for a while. Well, all in the name of fashion, yes?”

Spike jumped up and began to panic. “Oh no, she’s going to kill me, I got to get back.”

“Nonsense, It’s far too dangerous for mares such as ourselves to go out at this time of night. I must insist that you stay here with me. Ohh, We could have a sleepover and plan out where we could go tomorrow.”

“Alright… I guess..” she said hesitantly. “Wait, WHAT!?”

"A sleepover, haven't you ever had one?"

"I have a room mate, does that count?"

"Heavens no, a sleepover is something that you do with your friends that you don't already live with."

"Well, most of my friends are the opposite gender, so-"

"My, my, you lucky mare you," she teased, giggling slightly.

"No, it's not like that! They're really my roommates friends that I hang out with. I actually have a crush on one of them," she admitted. Spike momentarily wondered why she was saying all this, in the end she just guessed that she just felt like venting a bit, and this was the perfect chance.

"Well, they are your friends too right?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed before drawing herself back. "At least, I think so, sometimes, I feel like they're really more her friends then mine."

Rarity saw the conflicting emotions in her new friends eyes. She was clearly still holding something back, some set of thoughts and feelings that she probably couldn't understand. Well Rarity wouldn't let this slide, she knew what she had to do. "Emerald, darling?"

Spike perked his head up in response.

"Come over here, we need to talk about a few more things."

~Some other part of Ponyville~

“Ohhhh,” groaned Dash as he and AJ trotted down the path to Sugarcube corner. “My arms feel like they’re broken.”

“Oh, stop yer belly achin, you’re the one who wanted to help so bad, and it was only a few hundred bucket fulls, you’re lucky that it was a slow day today.”

“I thought that I would at least have super dragon strength or something.”

Applejack smirked. “Well, ah hope that challenging Big Mac, and getting yer tail handed to ya, proved otherwise.”

“Shut up, I beat you didnt I?”

"You threw an apple in my face!”

“Still counts though,” he smirked

“Then you refused to have a rematch.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said, waving her off. “Jeez, it’s late”

"Well then why’d you pass out in front of Granny Smith’s room?”

Dash shivered at the memory of the green mare’s room. “No wonder she’s lived so long.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing! Oh, look we’re here,” said Dash as he ran up to the door, but just as he reached for the handle a voice rang out from beyond it.

“-TTER, KNEE TWITCH!” Then the doors burst open, crushing Dash against the wall. Pinkie stood at the door, fully armored in police gear complete with, a construction workers hat with flashlight, kevlar vest, night vision goggles, a noise maker (for distractions) spy suit, a mustache, (for disguises) and a dog on a leash. Spotting AJ, she removed her goggles, and rushed over to her, grabbing her and shaking her in a panic.

"Applejack, I’m so glad that I found you, Spike and Rainbow Dash haven't come home, so I got worried and gathered up all of my search gear. I was about to go find you guys to help me look for them look for them. Do you know where they are?”

"Well If ya stop shaking me then I’ll tell ya!” Pinkie obliged, releasing her from her grip. AJ shook herself free of her dizzy spell when her eyes found themselves looking at the familiar dog. “Is that Winona? I told you not to steal her again! Please at least, tell me that you didn't give her any more of your special cupcakes. She’ll be up howling all night again!”

Pinkie backed away sheepishly, “Well, they were low sugar cupcakes this time.”

“Oh yeah, how much is in ‘em”

“Only 54 cups this time…” said a nervous, shrinking Pinkie Pie.

“Gosh dangit Pinkie….” groaned a facehoofing Applejack.

“Ugghhhh,” groaned Dash from the doorway, reminding everyone of his presence. Pinkie quickly rushed over, removed the offending obstacle and quickly took sight the seemingly deceased dragon.

“Oh, thank goodness! I thought you might be hurt, also, I still haven't given you your pay for today’s work. Mr. and Mrs. Cake always say to give credit where credit is due, so here ya go!” she exclaimed, gently placing a small bag of bits on Rainbow Dash’s limp form.

“Shouldn't you be taking Rainbow inside?”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie proceeded to pick him up and dash herself back into the shop, leaving a slightly confused Applejack to trot home alone, never to be seen in this story again.

The Fifth Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dash groggily woke up the next morning with a killer headache, mentally, he cursed Applejack's name for all the cider she probably paid him with, while also thanking her for the disturbing images that it must have erased.

Personally, he would be more than happy just laying in bed for most of the day, maybe to be able to regain some sense of his pegasus laziness by doing so. Luckily, the smell of food was enough to get him to wake up, and drag himself downstairs. Seating himself at the table, he began eating, not even bothering to notice anything different about his surroundings, much less the earth pony that had been slightly glaring at him……. that was, until Pinkie Pie cruelly snatched his food away.

“Why?” Dash asked simply.

“You had one job yesterday,” she said simply.

“Was that job to get a hangover, cuz’ I think I have one. Seriously, what happened last night?”

“Don’t you try and change the subject here, mister!”

“Then tell me what it was then, mom.” he said mockingly.

“You know what this is!”

“If I did, then I would know what we’re talking about then, right?”

“You would If you knew, but you’re just acting like you don’t so you don’t get in trouble,” said Pinkie, flexing her logic muscles.

“But, I really don’t, that’s the problem.”

“So you don’t really know?”

“I don’t really know?”

Pinkie Pie glared, a childish glare, but still a glare. She pointed an accusatory hoof at the confused offender “You didn't bring Spike home, like I told you!”

This knocked Dash out of his confusion as he instantly turned his head at the empty third seat. Quickly, his head conjured up some image of pinkie yelling something about bringing the other dragon swapped pony back with him.

“S-spike’s probably still with Rarity, it was pretty late so she probably had him stay the night.” said Dash, quickly making up a valid excuse. Or at least one that sounded valid.

Pinkie, leaned in closer, her narrow gaze viciously scrutinizing Dash, causing him to nearly fall from his chair. Dash arched his head to the side and noted that Pinkie had somehow managed to stretch herself clean across the table.

“Okie Dokie Lokie,” she beamed, snapping back to her proper place. “But we should really find Spike though.”

“You’re being…… awfully responsible about all this.” said Dash, attempting to choose his words carefully.

Pinkie immediately found herself stretched across the table, her wide, sparkling eyes staring straight into Dash own draconic ones. “Really?” she squealed, “because ever since the cakes started letting me babysit the twins, I’ve been trying suuuuuuper hard to be more responsible. Then you two came over and needed help, so I figured that a suuuuuuper responsible pony would make sure that her friends were safe and sound, but since Spikes not here, I’m starting to feel like a failure, and that I’m really not responsible, and that the cakes won’t trust me to babysit anymore. So we really really really need to find Spike like right now!” Pinkie, who’s rant started out full of energy and excitement, had, at some point, dwindled down to fear and desperation. Her eyes barely holding back a few tears.

“Hey, hey. It’s ok,” he soothed, regretting his word choice, “I know where he is, and I’ll get him right now. Ok?” said Dash, softly patting her mane.

“O-Sniff-ok” said Pinkie, slowly retracting back to her seat for the second time.

“…”

sniff

“Pinkie?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I finish my breakfast first?”

Pinkie immediately brightened up as she pushed his breakfast back over. “Oh, sure, breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all.”

Dash, now fully awake, greedily dove back into the lofty realm of waffled cereal and toasted juice. It wasn't as good as the chimicherrychangas that Pinkie whipped out yesterday, but it was at least better than Sweetie belle’s version.

“So,” Dash began, gulping down a section of his plate, “gonna work the shop again today? I hope it’s busier than yesterday, I was soooo boraaaghh!” Dash looked up and saw the face of Pinkie Pie, once more, stretched over the table, and in his face. “W-what now?”

“Pinkie seemed to realize what she was doing, and quickly backed off. “Oh sorry,” she smiled, “Well, the store, usually opens around noon today, and I don't have any, Ohh, can I come with you to go see Rarity, I need to get something back from her.”

“Oh, really, what was it?”

“Just a few books that were laying around my room, I wasn't using them, and Rarity needed them for something. So I said that she could use them.”

“Huh, why aren't you the element of generosity again?”

“Silly, Dashie, I can’t be two elements, then what would Applejack be?”

“Umm, honesty?”

“Wait, really? I thought she was loyalty this whole time,” exclaimed Pinkie, leaning back in her chain in realization. “Wow, you think you know all about a pony and then BAM this happens.”

“Wait? Then what element did you think I was?”

“Umm, honesty?” Pinkie shrugged. Rainbow Deadpanned.

“Pinkie?”

“Yes?”
“You’re just being weird. Come on, I’m done with breakfast. Let’s clean up, and go get Spike.”

“Okie dokie lokie!”

~Later o-“Wait, hold on a second!”

“What is it?” asked Dash, hopping out of his chair.

“All this talk about work reminds me, don’t you have a job too, Dashie?”

“One problem at a time, Pinks. Plus, I have my top mare on it as we speak.”

~Elsewhere~

“Psst, Cloud?” said Blossomforth, knocking her friend out of her sexy daydreams.

“What’s up?”

“Does the Captain look…… different to you?” said Blossomforth, gesturing over to the off blue pony currently handing out orders.

Cloud Kicker looked at her Captain seriously for what must have been the first time that wasn't just ogling. Slowly, she began to take in all the small details, such as the taped on rainbow lightning paper cutie mark. The sky blue coat, slowly dripping away to reveal a gray one underneath, and even the rainbow mane wig with strands of gold sticking out.

“She must have rushed this morning,” Cloud Kicker surmised. She turned back to her fellow weathermate and whispered “her mane and coat are dyed, you know, not natural. Just act normally, like you don’t notice anything odd ok? Ok.”

“But, she wants us to make it rain muffins!”

“Why do you say it like it’s a bad thing?” said Cloud Kicker, clearly offended.

“What? Do you have a problem with how I run things?” said ‘Rainbow Dash’, now directly in front of Blossomforth.

She stiffened immediately, not daring to look the Captain directly in her skewed golden eyes. “No, ma’am not at all, muffin rain’s a great idea!” she babbled nervously.

“That’s better! You will respect your Captain, that's me, who is Rainbow Dash…… who is also me.” said ‘Rainbow Dash’, strutting away proudly, her snoot high in the air.

“Oh, Captain, you’re cutie mark fell off again!” said one of the other weather team members.

“Oopsie,” she said, dropping the act. She hurriedly picked up, and re-tapped the picture to her side. “Thanks!”

“No, problem, Derpy! Keep at it, you’re very convincing!” she exclaimed, causing the mare to squeal in excitement, and Blossomforth to glare at her troll of a friend.

~Back at Sugarcube Corner~

“Yup, everything's fine, that mare’s practically a changeling when it comes to disguises.” Dash said proudly.

“Oh, okay then!” said Pinkie, hopping over to the sink to begin to wash the dishes.

~Later on~

Knock Knock Knock

“Rarity!”

……..

Knock Knock Knock

“RARITY!”

…………

BAM BAM BAM

“RARITY!”

Still silence.

“Ughhh,” Dash groaned as he tossed his claws into the air, “this is why I hate doors. If I was a pegasus, then I could just go in through the window like normal. Hmmm, maybe as a dragon, I could burn the door down. What do you think, Pinks.”

Dash turned around as noted the lack of random party ponies behind her. He was about to comment and search around, but a random thought passed through his head just then. Wordlessly, he turned back to the door, took a breath, and knocked once more.

Knock Knock Knock

“Pinkie Pie!” Dash called, only for the door to immediately open to reveal the pastry pony herself.

“Yes? Oh, hi, Dashie, whatcha doin out there, the window’s wide open?”

Dash only deadpanned and walked inside. “I’m not even mad” he muttered. Pinkie Pie shrugged and followed the irate dragon inside, stopping next to him as he briefly scanned the interior of the shop.

“Looks, like they aren't home right now, maybe out shopping?”

“Nahhhh, I checked the fridge. Rarity actually has a lot of sweets, it’s like a mini Sugarcube Corner in there!” said Pinkie, excitedly hopping up and down.

“How does that tell you that she’s not here?”

“Well duuhhhh, her kitchen already has all the food she needs, why would she go buy more?”

“Pinkie, you know that there's more to food than cupcakes and candy, right?”

Pinkie instantly backed into the nearest wall, pointing a shaking hoof at the confused dragon. “BLASPHEMY!!!! Thou Speaketh the Words of Tirek!”

“Oooooookaaaayyy,” Dash said, nervously backing toward the stairs. Due to his sensitive dragon ears, he fairly heard the soft sounds of quiet munching from upstairs. “Hey, come here,” he whispered, causing Pinkie to cease speaking the princesses english, and quickly trot over. ”I hear something.”

Pinkie let out a large gasp, quietly though. “But, Rarity isn't here, is she being….. robbed!?”

“I don’t know, but lets go find out.”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie said menacingly, pulling out an frying pan that she had stolen from the kitchen.

The two creeped up the stairs, and Dash tracked the sound to a room on the far corner of the hallway. Dash quickly slapped Pinkie, quietly told her to stop bouncing, and the pair quietly sneaked up on the door. Dash counted down on 3 talons before bursting through the door. Pinkie rose up to her hind legs, and held the pan in a pseudo ninja pose. Trying his best to look threatening, Dash tried to look as big as possible while showing as many sharp teeth as he could.

Overall they looked hilarious, Pinkie ended up standing on one leg with the other bent in the air. One of her front hooves covered the bottom of her face like a ninja mast and the other held out the pan backwards in front of her. Dash looked like he had on a smile far too large for his face to hold. He stood up on his toes with his arms raised above his head.

Sitting in a corner of the room in a cardboard box was Sweetie Belle, simply staring at the two weirdos that burst into her room while she was enjoying the first meal that she had in at least 2 days. Both Pinkie and Dash relaxed at the sight of the solitary Cutie Mark Crusader.

“It’s not a robber. It’s just a pony in a box!” Pinkie observed.

Sweetie bell promptly spat out what was currently in her mouth to properly address the unwelcome guests. “Excuse me, I’m trying to eat here!”

“Dashie, I know that you said that there's more to life than cupcakes, but does cardboard count?”

“No, it does not”

“This isn't cardboard! This is the finest in Egyptian cuisine!”

"Oh really!” exclaimed Pinkie as she began to hop toward her. “I wanna try some!”

“It’s cardboard,” Dash deadpanned, holding Pinkie back by the tail, “You’re eating the box that you’re sitting in” Dash finished.

Sweetie Belle looked at her surroundings, and noted the various bite marks that decorated her prison. She sheepishly giggled as she spit out bits and pieces of cardboard that were still in her mouth. “Oh, hehee, right.”

“Sweetie Belle, why are you in a box anyway” asked Pinkie.

“Rarity put me in here for absolutely NO reason!”

“You don’t get in trouble for no reason, silly filly,” giggled Pinkie.

“No, seriously, she burst in here, demanded to know why I went through her stuff, and put me in this box. I didn't even go into her room, she’s got all sorts of locks on it and stuff!”

“Well, you shouldn't have broken in anyway, that’s just not cool,” Dash stated simply.

“BUT I DIDNT-”

“Anyway, we’re looking for Rarity and Spike, have you seen them?”

Sweetie Belle grumbled angrily for a bit before answering properly. “I don’t know about Spike, but my sister did bring home a strange mare yesterday. They talked practically all night. I think they said something about going out, just the two of them.

“What!” they both said simultaneously.

“Yeah, now that I think about it. They left a few hours ago. She also said that I could have some…….. of……. the pastries….. downstairs……..” Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened in realization that she could have eaten at any time. She violently burst out of the box and pushed past the two, toward the stairs. “OUT OF MY WAY! FOOD!!” she cried.

The dragon and the party mare stood together, both in shock at this recent development. Dash, slowly glanced over to Pinkie Pie, whose eyes had already began to water up. Her lips were quivering and she was shaking like a leaf. Her mane began to flatten out little by little.

~In the Library~

Gently placing down the book in front of her, Twilight yawned and stretched as she sat up from her couch. The feeling of the bones in her back cracking into place caused moans of relief to escape from her mouth. She looked up the clock to check the time.

“Only noon?” she murmured, looking around, she hopped off the couch and headed for the nearest magic calendar. “I could’ve sworn that I was reading longer than-” her eyes grew wide at the sight in front of her. “This can’t be right? I know that I was reading for a while but it couldn't have been more than a day or so.”

Looking at the calendar, she realized that she had been reading for almost 5 straight days. That fact alone had stunned her.

“YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!” she cheered, hopping in circles all the while. “I beat my record! I don’t know how but I finally beat my record for straight reading! Maybe it has something to do with being an alicorn….. would that be considered cheating?” Twilight abruptly ceased her hopping in order to give that notion some serious thought, before almost immediately brushing it off, and hopping over to the stairs.

Spike” she called, “could you bake a cake please? I want to celebrate this moment!”

“Spike, are you asleep? It’s already noon.”

“Spike?" she said, becoming slightly concerned, usually he would be home, lazing around the house, cleaning, or going through her stuff.

Still receiving no answer, Twilight finally decided to go up there herself. As she trotted into their room, she noted that someone had, indeed, gone through her stuff. But other than that, Spike was no where to be seen. Twilight began to march around angrily, horn alight as she fixed up her room.

“Who went through my stuff!? Couldn't have been Spike, he’s more discreet than this, must have been Rainbow Dash again, the windows open too.” Twilight instantly paused as a brief memory flashed through her mind. The memory of being chased by a certain pegasus.

“That’s weird, why was Rainbow chasing me again,” she wondered briefly, “and why was Spike riding on her back waving a stick around?” Taking another look around, another few memories came back to her. This time of both Rainbow and Spike sitting on her bed.

“AHAH, I knew it was Rainbow Dash….. wait, why was she with Spike in my room, this is really weird. What happened a few days ago?” Twilight took one last look around until her eyes stopped on one particular object. Lifting it closer she recognized it as an ancient spell book that she had borrowed from the library in the castle of the royal pony sisters.

“Oh, this is the book that gave me the spell to turn us into breezies………. wait…. hold on.” Instantly, every memory from 4 days ago flooded back into her head. Rainbow had bothered her relentlessly about turning into a different race. Spike joined in. They had an awesome high speed chase through town. They flooded her house. Twilight gave up, then she cast the spell. As Twilight struggled to re-absorb all that she had already knew, one thing stuck out the most in her mind.

“I told them, that they had a week,” she whispered, “Oh no, ohno ohno. This is bad this is very bad!” she began to panic, her body moving despite not knowing what to do. Quickly securing the book in her magic, She swiftly ran down stairs.

“I have to get to them before it’s too late!” she exclaimed as she ran out of the house, “Ok, think, where would they go? Not Rainbow Dash’s place, that’s obvious. Fluttershy’s? No too cramped, how about-” She was rudely interrupted by the sound of an explosion. Looking around she found herself staring in the direction of the Carousel boutique, and what looked like a geyser of water spilling forth from every conceivable entrance.

“Well, that's a good place as any to start, I just hope that they’re together,” she mumbled as she took off in the boutiques direction.

~Back at the Boutique~

“Now, Pinkie…… just calm down,” said Dash to the sniffing time bomb that was currently named Pinkie Pie. Every moment, her hair grew more and more limp, and every moment, Dash would grow more and more frightened.

“B-sniff-but I-I-I,” she stammered, “w-w-w-we d-dont even…..”

“We can find him, you haven't failed anyone…… yet.”

Just as Dash had feared, the moment it became completely flat, everything went white. The only thing he would remember, were wails, salty waters, and he swore that their was a tuba somewhere in all of it.

Waking up some time later, Rainbow groggily took in his surroundings. He quickly found out that he was outside the boutique, lying in a small puddle, with Sweetie Belle next to him, face planted on the ground, surrounded in wet foodstuffs. Looking back, he saw water still pouring out of a few windows,and puddling outside the store.

“My head, actually feels better then when I woke up this morning,” he said, struggling to get up and make his way back into the store. Sniffling in a pile of her own tears, lie the flat maned, dull pink pony. Gibbering nonsense about being un-trustworthy.

“Pinkie? You ok?” he asked hesitantly.

“How could I be! I lost my friends and now the cakes won’t let me babysit the twins annnyyymmmoooorrreeee!”

“Ok, not sure how that one fits together, but don’t worry we’ll find Spike, and the Cakes will trust you again. I promise.”

“D-sniff-do you Pinkie promise?” she said, turning her head slightly to face him.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a something something somewhere,” he said, making the motions but not really putting much effort into the rhyme. Obviously, it was enough, because Pinkie’s mane immediately poofed back to life as she squeezed the life out of her dragon friend. This went on for a few more seconds before she released him, and jumped into the air.

“Then let’s saddle up, and find our dragon….. err I mean, Spike!” said Pinkie as she swiftly dashed out of the boutique and into town.

“Give it a second,” he said to himself, still gasping for air.

“Hay Rainbow?” she said, circling back to him.

“Yeah?”

“Where did they go again?”

“I think Sweetie Belle knows, she said something about it before you exploded.”

“Oh…… so, where is she?”

“Outside, someone’s massive bawling knocked her unconscious.” he said, sending a glare toward the mare in front of her.

“Wow, Dashie, I didn't know you were such a crybaby. I’m learning new things about all of my friends today!” Pinkie exclaimed, cheerfully hopping out the door.

“I-but-you, cry,ugh?” Dash babbled as he frustrated facepalmed.

“WEEEEEEE!” Sweetie belle cheered as she made her way through lush green fields, the candy grass tickled her hooves and the fruity tasting wind felt good in her mouth. The birds sang and she sang with them. Off to the side, she could see her entire family, their friends and the other CMC enjoying a bright picnic. Everything was perfect right now.

This perceived perfection only became enhanced when she looked back at the one chasing her through these fields. A young earth pony colt with a brown coat and light brown mane dashed in a playful attempt to catch her. His adorable propeller beanie swirling in the wind.

“Sweetie Belle!” he called out, “Wait up!”

“You have to catch me first,” she called back. Instantly, she felt herself being pushed forward from behind. He must have pounced on her, because, before she knew it, they had rolled a few feet, landing with him standing directly above her. He looked down at her with that playful smile that he always had, and she blushed furiously.

“Sweetie Belle, waite up!” he exclaimed, much to her confusion.

“But, you already caught me. Now are you going to help me up?”

The colt gently lifted Sweetie Belle back to her hooves, but kept his forehooves on her shoulders. “Sweetie Belle, he said as he slowly began to shake her back and forth. “Waie up!”

“Wha-ah-ah-aht?” she screamed as he had began shaking her more and more ferociously. “I d-o-o-ont understa-a-and!”

“Sweetie Belle,” he screamed, his voice becoming more and more shrill and girly than usual. “Wake up!

“Sweetie Belle recognized that voice immediately. Her eyes snapped open, and she realized that the one shaking her, wasn't her crush, but some random pink mare.

“Sweetie, I can’t understand what you’re saying, speak up!

“Pinkie?”

“Yes, Dashie?” she answered, still nonchalantly shaking the young filly.

“She’s awake, put her down?” he suggested.

“Riiiggghhttttt.” Doing as she was told, she calmly sat the still bobbing filly back down to the grass, where she promptly plopped headfirst into the ground.

“Um, Sweetie? Are you ok?”

Waiting for an answer, all they got in return was the sound of chewing, and a sigh, before Sweetie lifted her head back up and glared at her sisters friends. Looking around, her eyes widened at the sinful sight of wet and wasted food. Stiffly, she crawled over to a small slice of bread, and picked it up.

Tears almost fell from her mouth as the bread went limp in her grip.”Do you know what you’ve done!?” she cried out, smoke emanating from her horn.

“Ummmm, no?” Pinkie answered hesitantly.

“You’ve wasted the precious!” she cried as she turned back to them. Angril, and with her horn glowing intensely, she stomped forward. “All food is sacred and precious, but now it’s wasted. What do you have to say for yourselves!” she yelled, her voice now echoing deeply.

Pinkie opener her mouth to reply when something managed to beat her.

` “There you are!” said a voice from behind them.

“All three turned to see Twilight approach them with a worried look. Sweetie turned back, and made her way over to Twilight.

“No! I’m not done with them! They must pay for their transgressions! The pumpernickel WILL! BE! AVENGED!!” she screamed, her horn’s aura glowing a bright green as her eyes began to turn white hot in intensity.

Twilight didn't bat an eyelid as she strode right past Sweetie Belle. Without missing a beat, she dropped a bag full of bits in front of her as she made her way over to the other two. “Sweetie, go eat a cupcake from Sugarcube Corner, you’re not you when you’re hungry.”

Sweetie looked at the bag for a few seconds, before immediately grabbing it, and bolting toward the local pastry shoppe, all traces of vengeance gone in the blink of an eye.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie just stood in awe at what just happened. First, Sweetie was about to kill them, but then she just runs off because of Twilight and some bits.

Twilight noticed the look that they were giving her, and decided to knock that one out as soon as possible. “Unicorns get weird if they go without eating for a long while. In fact, I develop ADHD when I go without-” Twilight stopped as she looked around the place. “What the hay happened here?”

Both of the beings in front her were slightly taken aback by her sudden change of topic. Fortunately, Pinkie was a fast recovered, and eagerly told Twilight what really happened. “Well when Rainbow found out that Spike had left with Rarity, she exploded with tears and sadness and-” Pinkie paused as Dash pinched her muzzle shut, and prepared to rectify Pinkie’s false statement, when Twilight interjected first.

“Wait, Spike did WHAT!?”

“He left Ponyville with Rarity!”

“Man, Sweetie Belle was right, look at all this wasted food. It is a sin to do this.”

“Twilight,” Dash called by snapping his claws and getting her attention back, ”focus, you looked worried, what’s wrong?”

“Rainbow, do that again…..”

“What? This?” he asked, snapping a second time as per request.

Twilight began to look even more worried. “Oh no, this is really really not good. It’s already happening.”

“What’s happening!”

“Pinkie, how do you get your mane to defy gravity like that?”

“What’s gravity?”

“TWILIGHT!”

“Oh,” she said, snapping out of it. “This is bad, the spell is beginning to stick to you.”

“What does that mean?”

Twilight brought the book over to her, and gently sat it down on a patch of dry ground. “Basically, it means that your body, is getting used to it’s new form. Because you’ve only had it for a short time. For example, you shouldn't yet have developed the unconscious muscle control to snap without thinking like that.”

“I’m still, confused” said Dash, scratching his head in bewilderment.

“Same here,” said Pinkie, mimicking the gesture.

Twilight groaned into the air, she hated simplifying things. “It means, that in less than a day, you’re bodies will have adapted so well to the ones you have now, I won’t be able to change you guys back to normal. For example, Rainbow Dash, tell me what it’s like to fly. How does it feel?”

“Easy, it’s the best thing ever! It’s just like when… you..” Dash trailed off, the cocky smile that he wore soon dropped into a confused frown as he desperately tried to remember the feeling of soaring through the air. “Like, the wind, goes through your mane and…… it feels….. good, I guess?”

“See, you can’t even remember what your old body felt when you flew. That’s something that you should easily remember! The book recommended that I turn you guys back within 4 days maximum.”

“Then why did you give us an entire week!?” exclaimed Rainbow, finally realizing the consequences.

“I don’t know! I was stressed, and I threw out a number without thinking!”

“Personally, I’m just glad that she remembered it today, or we might have been in some serious chocolate fudge.” Pinkie piped up, attempting to break the tension.

“Well, it’s still her fault for changing us!”

“Mine! You guys begged me to!”

"Girls?”

“You could’ve done a better job resisting!”

“Well, maybe if somepony had not flooded my house with letters after I did, maybe I wouldn't have so many paper cuts in so many weird places!”

“GIRLS!” Pinkie screamed into a bullhorn, instantly knocking the wind out of both of them. “We have to find Spike quickly right? Then we shouldn't fight each other.”

Both Twilight and Rainbow were slightly taken aback by Pinkie’s uncharacteristic ability to be the voice of reason. But reluctantly, they both agreed by nodding.

Swiftly pulling out her detective hat and pipe, Pinkie began to pace around friends, quickly trying to solve some sort of mystery. “Now, we have to find out where Spike and Rarity went, to do this we need to find somepony who knows. Somepony that can tell us what we want to know. Perhaps somepony who stayed in the same house with them that night.” She turned to look at her friends, only to see that they had long since began to run off in search of Sweetie Belle.

Some time was lost briefly as Rainbow Dash had occasionally stop Twilight from examining the effect that salty water was having on the exposed foods and flowers in their path.

~Elsewhere~

“Ohhh, this is so exciting. I feel so bad, just up and leaving like this!” said Rarity as they trotted down the streets of Manhatten. “I didn’t even tell any of my friends this time, I hope that they aren't worried or anything.”

“It’s fine, everything’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” said Spike absentmindedly, clearly ignoring the fact that she didn't tell her friends either, and that they were probably worried about her, and that she may have left some of the food out at Rarity’s place, and that her stomach was feeling a little funny. But screw all of that, she was with Rarity and they were eloping, well not exactly eloping, but it was close enough in her mind, and it was the best day ever.

At least, that's what she wanted to think, lately, it just didn't seem to be as important as it was supposed to be. Spike knew that Rarity was with her, and that was awesome. They were going traveling, and that it was her idea, but it just wasn't the only thing that was on her mind. Ever since Rainbow Dash pointed out that she essentially had no goals in life, and Rarity inadvertently made her think that she had no friends of her own. She'd been feeling empty, confined, and even slightly depressed now. The worse part was that she still couldn't understand why.

Eventually, Spikes thoughts turned back to the conversation that she had with Rarity last night. They talked about a few things, mostly about Spikes real feelings about herself, and the ponies around her. Last night she realized, after a particularly uncomfortable conversation, that this surprising need to talk about these things, stemmed from him now being a mare. Apparently it made him more open to her feelings, or something. Rarity had a lot of magazines on this topic. Truthfully, Spike ended up falling asleep even more confused than before. She hated being a pony right now.

“Emerald?”

Spike snapped back to reality, instantly realizing that Rarity had been calling her psudo name. “Y-yes?”

"Is something wrong?" said Rarity, she was quickly learning that when her friend stared off like that, something was bothering her.

“N-no,”

“Darling, I don't like it when ponies hide things from me. If something's wrong, then let me know."

"W-well," she began hesitantly, "It's just, I'm quickly realizing that I don't really have anything of my own ya know. My friends are friends by association. My hobbies are almost nonexistent, I don't even know anything about myself or my goals in life. You, you’re interesting, you know everything about yourself and what you want to do. I’m just so confused right now.”

“Darling, it's obvious you're having some sort of identity crisis, it's fine, everyone has one as some point. From what I can tell, this has been bothering you for a while correct?"

"No, that's the thing, I only just started feeling this way recently. I think, but looking back, I guess that I’ve been feeling like this for a while.”

"Emerald, I want you to go on this trip, but I want you to go alone. I want you to go on what's called a journey of self discovery. It means that you have to go out, have adventures and discover new things about yourself that you didnt know before. I can tell that, no matter how much you wish to deny it and stay at home, you’re done doing the same thing everyday, you want something new and exciting in your life.”

"I don't think that my roommate would let me do that."

"Oh, I'm sure that Twilight will understand, you just have to ask."

"Do you really think so?" Suddenly Rarity's words kicked in. "Wait, how did you know her name, does that mean-"

"Yes, I know who you are Spike?"

"How did you know?"

"Pah-leeze. I may be gorgeous, but I'm not blind. Besides, when we talked about what kinds of colts we liked last night, you basically described me in a nutshell."

"If you knew then why did you keep asking me? Why'd you make me wear all those dresses and clothes?" she blushed.

"It was funny to see you flustered and embarrassed like that." she teased.

Spike deadpanned at the grinning mare. "Anyway, do you really think that'll work?"

"I do, you've been cooped up in little old Ponyville too long. You need to leave this town and stretch your wings, figuratively of course."

"How would that help?"

"Being on your own would give you a chance to make your own decisions and make new friends, none of which have anything to do with any of us. You'll have all the time in the world to find the answers about who you are, Spike and what you wish to do with your life. Ponyville's too small for a young dragon, and this can't be all that there is for you.”

~Back in Ponyville~

During their search Spike, Pinkie, and Twilight all decided to split up and search independently. Pinkie checked Sugarcube Corner, only to find that the door was locked and nothing was missing.

Twilight checked the CMC Clubhouse, only to get distracted by the question of why it seemed to be larger on the inside.

Rainbow Dash checked all of the candy and sweet shops around the town, hoping that he would run into them on the way.

Eventually after a few hours of searching, the ended up back at the center of town.

“Did you find her?” Dash began.

“Nope!”

“No, but I finally understand the physics behind the clubhouse, it’s all situated in the altered perception of-”

“Not important we have to hurry and find her, Sweetie Belle is the only pony who knows where Rarity went.”

“Rarity went to Manhattan.”

All three angled their heads to spy not one, but all three Cutie Mark Crusaders, calmly trotting up to them eating, admittedly, delicious looking muffins.

“We’ve been looking everywhere for you! Where did you go.”

“Well Sugarcube Corner was closed and no other place in town sells cupcakes. So I found my friends and we all went to Ditzy Doo’s house for muffins!”

“Really, are they that good?” asked Twilight.

“Are you kidding,” exclaimed Scootaloo, “they’re like the best muffins I’ve ever tasted!”

“That’s so true!” said Pinkie, excitedly hopping in agreement.

“Guys, we have to get to Manehatten before it’s too late!”

“Rainbow Dash, it’s already too late, the last train’s gone already, we have to wait until tomorrow, although that might be cutting it a bit close.”

“Why can’t you teleport us?”

“Do you want to go looking for two ponies in Manehatten at night? Also, Rainbow Dash, I can barely focus on the task at hoof. If I try to teleport us like this, we could very well end up in Canterlot because I wanted to see what they did with Discords old statue spot.” The instant she finished her sentence her eyes burst wide open as she began to gaze toward Canterlot mountain.

“Twilight?” asked Pinkie, slightly worried.

“J-just….. I’ll meet you guys tomorrow at the train station. I need to check this out, I also need some sleep, and maybe some food.” With that, she blinked off, leaving a very frustrated Rainbow Dash, and an extremely worried Pinkie Pie.

Before he could go off on a tangent, and waste more time, Pinkie decided that it would be in everypony’s best interests to just lift him onto her back, and left toward home “Don’t worry, I know what it’s like, Twilight may have her priorities mixed up right now, but I have faith in the fact that she won't abandon her friends. She is the element of loyalty after all.

“Pinkie,” he deadpanned.

“Yes?”

“Nevermind.” she groaned.

“Okie dokie lokie,” she chirped, giggling all the while.

Author's Note

I regret NOTHING!

The Sixth Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re late!” Twilight all but yelled.

“It wasn't our fault!” rebutted Dash

“Then why were you late?”

“Pinkie made breakfast.”

“It was very good, if I do say so myself. And I do!”

“And then we passed out. Spike wasn't there to help us eat, and it was the last day of the sleepover.”

Pinkie began to excitedly hop in place. “I finally mastered the secret Pink art of ChimiCherryChangas. Do you want one?” she asked holding out a steaming hot changa.”

Twilight facehoofed, not a normal facehoof, mind you, this was a princess facehoof. “No, Pinkie, we have to hurry. Rainbow, do you even want your body back, you could've eaten after we got back.” she pleaded.

Pinkie gave a large gasp at this suggestion. “Twilight, one you don’t just ‘skip’ breakfast. It’s like the most important meal of the day! Duh!”

“Come on, you two, the train’s here. Lets go before I’m tempted to go back to Canterlot to grab some. In fact, let me have that chimichanga.” said Twilight as she, and the other two, boarded the train. “You know,” she said in between bites, “I’m pretty excited, nomI get to see what the full extent of this spell does.”

“Wait, you didn't know what all of the side effects were?”

“Well, [i[gulpno. I had a few hypotheses. Like you guys would slowly adopt each others personalities. This is really good.”

Pinkie beamed at the compliment.

“But, from what I’ve seen you aren't acting like Spike, but you are more boyish than you were before. nom nom nom”

“What?”

“Really? How can you tell, she still acts the same to me?” asked Pinkie, staring closely at the subject at hoof.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, there are plenty of signs, from how she talks to how she acts. It’s all more boyish than usual.”

Pinkie stared ever closer, scrutinizing every inch of Rainbow. “I still can’t tell. Hey, Twilight, did you find out what they did with Discord’s spot?” Pinkie said cheerfully.

“Yea, they moved all of the statues and put in a banana grove,” she said, clearly annoyed with the decision. “Something about Celestia liking them, or them being cool or whatever.”

“Ohh” she oohh’ed, “I like bananas! Bananas are good, especially on chocolate frosting caramel sundaes. Or banana cream pie! That’s always good.”

“Ehh,” she ehh’ed, “I’m more of an orange sherbet kind of pony, or maybe strawberry.”

“Strawberry’s my favorite!”

“What’s your favorite, Rainbow?”

“Chocolate,” he said, completely disinterested.

While the two eccentric ponies continued to blather on about random topics, the bored Dragon decided to retreat to a separate car to catch some extra Zs. He did manage to fall asleep the night before, but from the morning on all he could worry about was whether or not he would still be able to fly when this was all over.

~ later ~

"Ok, girls," Pinkie began, "we need to fan out and cover every inch until we find Spike. Rainbow, you check inside the Statue of Lipony."

"Pinkie-"

"Twilight, you check the The Golden Gaite Bridge.”

“Pinkie Pie-”

“I’ll check the Leaning Tower of Pizza, I need to see what kind of cheese they use so that I can make my own someday.”

“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight called out.

“Yes, Twilight?”

“I’ll explain to you everything wrong with that plan later, but first of all, Rarity is right there!”

Pinkie turned in the direction of Twilight’s pointing hoof to see the white mare in question, happily trotting up to them alongside a purple pegasus.

“Rarity,” Twilight called as she ran to meet them halfway, “have you seen Spike, we need to turn him back to normal as soon as possible.”

“Twilight, that is Spike.” she answered, gesturing to the pony next to her.

Twilight looked the pony up and down, examining her closely.”

“Ehh, no. I know that I turned him into a mare as a joke, but that can’t be her.”

“Why can’t I be me?” he said.

“Because, there’s no way that Spike, as a mare, would be cuter than me. Not to sound arrogant or anything.”

Spike deadpanned, and without changing her expression, began to speak. “When you were 8, you accidentally walked into Celestia’s secret closet, and without knowing what it was, you played with her-” Spike couldn't finish because Twilight had magically removed her mouth in a particularly Trixie-esque move.

“IGETITYOURSPIKEJUSTSTOPTALKING!” she blurted, desperately trying to ignore the round of muffled snickers and giggle from several of the ponies around her, and full out laughter from Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. As well as her now beet red face and fully erect wings.

“Wow, Twilight,” said Rainbow, currently rolling on the ground, bathing in his own laughter.

“I didn't know what they were! I swear! I was 6, and they were weird and stretchy! I thought they were toys, alright!” she panicked.

Her sentence only served to cause everypony that had, previously, been at least trying to hold in their laughter, join Rainbow Dash in his fit that had only increased in ferocity. Even Rarity herself had fallen to her knees, occasionally letting loose the undignified snort of laughter.

“Ugh,” she grunted, “just get over here so that I can fix you!” Angrily grabbing both Rainbow Dash and Spike, she slammed them together first to shut them up, then quickly cast the reversing spell to cure them. The resulting light show quickly did it’s secondary job of clearing away the excess amount of laughing ponies surrounding them. It lasted for a few more second before the light faded, and two figures fell limply to the ground.

Rarity walked over and stood next to Twilight, both looking down at the two still smoking figures. They more or less looked the same, the only difference was that their colors and mane styles had returned to normal. “Are they alright? Did it work?”

“Yes, I think so, but we won’t know for sure until they wake up, It should only take a few seconds.”

“In that case, I’ve been wondering; when we turned in to breezies, you also shot the spell at them, but you didn't do that here, why is that.”

Twilight turned away from the two subjects that she had been inspecting to answer Rarity’s question. “Oh, well what that was was me, analyzing what it was like to be a breezie, from the breezies themselves.”

“What it’s like?”

“You know, how it feels to be who you are, how it feels to fly, to walk, to live, and to eat, but as a breezie. Most ponies can’t really express it through words, but they all have an underlying sense of self. That’s why it’s bad to have the spell on for too long. In order to turn Spike and Rainbow back, I had to have them remember what it was like to be them, but the longer that they remained in those forms, the more about themselves they forgot.
Hopefully, Rainbow Dash remembers enough about what it’s like to fly or she’ll lose all of her flight skill, or possibly the power to fly entirely.”

Instantly, Rainbow Dash’s eye popped open, and in a flash, she was high in the air, whooping, cheering and hollering all the way. She completed dozens of flips, loops, and acrobatic tricks though the air as she celebrated the return of awesome.

“Well, I guess we don’t have to worry about that,” commented Rarity. Her eyes left Dash as they found themselves observing Spike as he groaned and pushed himself off the ground.

“Woah, that never gets any less weird,” he said as he wobbly stood on two legs, he looked around and reacquainted himself with height difference that he had known for so long. “The one thing that I’ll miss, is being tall……. and my tail, I liked the tail.”

“I will miss styling that mane of yours,” commented Rarity as she made her way over to him, “but now that all is said and done, I think that you have a question to ask.”

Spike nodded and hesitantly walked over to Twilight. He looked her in the eye and began nervously. “Umm, Twilight?”

“Yes, Spike?” she said, noticing that the young dragon looked troubled.

“C-can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” she said gently, “you can ask me anything, you know that.”

“A-am I free?”

Twilight had prepared for many types of questions, ranging from helpful advice, to birds and bees type discussions. She, literally, had hundreds of speeches memorized for numerous occasions, but this one question actually managed to throw her for a loop.

“What are you talking about? Of course you’re free, why would you think that you aren't.”

“Because, over the past few days I’ve done some thinking. I realized that I don’t have any real hobbies, interests, goals, or anything.”

“Yes you do, you like….. organizing, cooking, and reading, and you like hanging around with your friends, and Rarity.”

“No, those are all things that you like to do, I’m just around you while you do them. I don’t have any hobbies that I do by myself besides helping other ponies, and even then I sometimes screw that up. I don’t even really have any friends that I know who aren't tied to you or the others,” he admitted sadly.

Twilight began to get nervous, she didn't like where this was headed. “You could make friends with some of the other ponies in Ponyville that I don’t know.”

“I would, but even if we don’t know them, everypony knows that I’m the assistant to the princess, they would feel pressured to either be nice to me, or use me to get to you. Like with the crusaders, remember?”

Twilight did in fact remember the time where the crusaders used their connection with her to become popular. She begrudgingly had to agree with his point. “So, what, do you want to get a job somewhere in Ponyville? See what kinds of things you like to do?”

“No, I want to travel across Equestria. Rarity told me about something called ‘a journey of self discovery. I want to go on one of those!” he said resolutely.

“What? Are you crazy, you’re only a baby dragon, and it’s dangerous out there. If you want to make friends, or find a hobby , you can do that here in Ponyville! Also didn't you already try to find out what it means to be a dragon?”

“This isn't like when I wanted to learn what it means to be a dragon and It's not just about friends or hobbies!” he yelled “I've realized that I want to do most, is learn more about the world around me, I want to see what’s out there Twilight, and I can’t do that in a confined space like Ponyville. Every week, you all go off on some adventure, you see so many great places, and most of the time you guys leave me behind. This world just feels so small to me right now.”

Twilight just stood back, stunned at the determination emanating from him, this really wasn't like the dragon migration.

“That’s not true,” she shot back, “you’ve been to Manehatten, Canterlot, and the Crystal Empire!”

“But you all went to more exciting places, like Fillydelphia, and Cloudsdale. Twilight, you’ve even been to Tartarus and the Land of Breezies. While I’ve been stuck here, counting books,” he countered. “Plus, the one time I tried to go out on my own, you guys followed me the entire way.”

“I’m not saying that I want to go away forever, I’m just saying that Ponyville can’t be all that there is in my world, that I want to go and see more of it. I want to see what’s beyond Canterlot mountain, what’s past Ghastly Gorge. I want to go and meet new ponies that don’t know that I know the princess, and I want to go out and make new friends, just like you did, Twilight. I want to learn what it means to be me.

Twilight looked at Spike, he sounded so mature, and he looked to sure that this is what he truly wanted to do with his life. With every point he made she could feel her resolve weakening. She wanted to end this here and now, but there was just something she had to know.

“How long have you felt this way?” she asked hesitantly.

“I don’t know, I’ve only now realized it, but I think that I’ve felt this way for awhile, probably even since before the migration. I guess that I’m so thick headed that it took turning me into a mare for me to figure it out.” he chuckled sadly.

Twilight felt more and more terrible as she realized that he must have felt so neglected all this time, so chained up as if he were bound to her side his whole life. She remembered the time that she went through the mirror with Spike following her through. He ended up as a dog, a pet, a follower. That must be how he felt, but now, he wants to be something more, he wants to feel like he’s truly free. She quickly realized that saying no would only make it worse.

Twilight looked closely at Spike. He sounded so mature, so sure that this was what he wanted, what kind of friend would she be, to deny something that he desired so badly. She looked over to where Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity sat. Rainbow was too busy kissing her wings to notice this life changing decision, Pinkie Pie yelled something about a ‘got-your-body-back party, and Rarity was looking at her with pleading eyes, almost imperceptibly nodding her head.

Twilight took a large breath, and release it with a larger sigh. Calmly, she looked over to her faithful assistant, her closest friend, and her youngest brother. Without knowing, she began speaking in the tone Princess Celestia would often use, a tone that one would use when making extremely important decisions. Although, a bit of hesitation could be found within her, otherwise, regal tone.

“F-fine, you can go on your journey. You have proved yourself to be somewhat responsible when…… when left alone,” she paused briefly when she realized how often he had in fact been left home alone, which only made her feel worse, “and you have learned the same lessons about friendship that I have, so hopefully, you, won’t make the same bad decisions that I made.” Before Spike could jump in joy and celebration, Twilight held out a hoof to stop him. “But-”

‘Oh sweet Celestia, not the but’ Spike quickly thought.

“There will be some conditions, I’ll make an official list later, but for now, I want you to remember these rules, because these are the most important ones.”

“I’m listening.”

“One, you are NOT allowed to go anywhere near the Badlands! Do you hear me. Two, you will keep in constant contact with me, or one of the other Princesses with your flame. Three, you will promise me that if some weirdo comes up to you and offers you a potion, you run away. Four, don’t ever-”

“-ever, ever trust a pony wearing red socks or boots. And finally, number fifty, please, whatever you do, no matter what happens, come home safe, okay?” she finished by pulling Spike into a hug. At some point during her rant, Twilight had began to cry genuine tears as the realization that her best friend was leaving her to see the world. She imagined how lonely it would be in the library without him. She would miss the food that he would make. She would even miss his sarcastic and smart alic responses. She didn't want to, but she knew that it had to be done.

Spike had just begun to doze off when she came in for the hug, Rarity had fallen asleep, the train back to Ponyville had arrived, Dash had taken off, determined to fly all the way home, and somewhere off in the distance, a party was being thrown for the confused ponies of Manehatten. Spike could feel her tears streaming down his back, and comforted her accordingly with a few pats to her back. “Twi, it’s ok, I’ll come back. I promise!”

“I know, but still…….”

They sat there for a few more minutes as Twilight let her tears flow. There wasn't much, as she quickly broke the hug and took a few steps back. “Ok, I feel better, let’s go back to Ponyville. Looking at Spike’s confused expression she elaborated further. “What? You don’t think that I’ll let you out there unprepared do you,” she said as she took Spike onto her back, and trotted over to Rarity and the recently arrived train. “You, mister, have some serious planning to do! It’ll probably take a few days to get everything, but when I’m done, you’ll be prepared for almost every possibility-” Twilight went on with that all the way into the train. Her voice echoed through it as she began to list off the things that Spike would need.

Spike ended up hanging back to talk to his crush some more.

“Well, shall I go home then?”

“Yes please, and Rarity?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Thank you, for everything.”

"Well, thank you for opening up to me. I don’t like it when ponies hide things. Especially things like being turned into a mare,” she said as she began to stride forward.

Spike only laughed nervously before running to catch up to her.

“But still, thank you, it’s because of you and Rainbow that I realized that I feel this way.”

“Well, I’m glad that you learned something from this experience. Just remember, don’t ever be afraid of your true feelings, and be honest to those around you.”

“I got it, but you know, I learned something else too.”

“And, what may that be?”

“Flying may be awesome, but I wouldn't trade the taste of gems for all of the magic or wings in the world!”

Author's Note

I won't lie.............the cake is real.
:rainbowlaugh: ahm just kidding. I felt really playful and silly when I wrote this. Obviously it shows, so I can't complain.
Here's to hoping that I finish this before the deadline, I tend to drag things out when I write and procrastinate when I don't :twilightblush:

Likes, faves, follows, and comments are fully welcome.

Epilogue: The Final Day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey there…… I mean what’s up…. jeez it’s weird talking to a book, well it’s better than talking to Owluicious, I guess.

Whatever, my name’s Spike, this is my first official entry into what I call, Spike’s Epic Dragon Journal of Awesomeness. Rainbow Dash calls it a diary though, but forget what she says. I say that it’s an Epic Journal.

As part of Twilight's conditions for me going on this journey, she made me promise to write down a record of everything that happens to me. She even gave me a copy of the friendship journal that she has, and she wants me to document each and every experience, both the good, and the not so good. So basically I’m pulling a Daring Do, and documenting my life from this point on. Personally, I think that this is a bit much, but its the price I have to pay for true freedom. She also gave me several sets of rules to abide by as she packed my things for me. By the time she was done, the mere thought of lifting that bag gave me back pains

I think what made it really painful though, was watching her hold back her own sadness as she packed it…..

Hey, Epic Journal, did you know that Twilight gave me over two hundred different conditions and rules?

And that it took up two full rolls of parchment?

And that I had to write them all down!?

She was also somehow able to fold the whole thing, into a tiny square. Just a secret between us, I’m really, really afraid to open it. Not only because I’m afraid that it’ll be impossible to refold, but also because some of the stuff that she wrote on here was really messed up!

There was one that said, ‘Don’t go kissing any mares.’ Like I would ever cheat on my beloved Rarity. There’s another that says ‘Don’t eat too many sweets, you may need to work out a bit more.’

What does that even mean, I’m not fat, and look at Pinkie Pie, she eats her weight in food during breakfast.

There’s also some stuff that I don’t even understand. Like ‘Always pack some rubber.’

Rubber what? Why should I pack it, what’s it for? I need to go ask Rainbow Dash again, she seems to know this stuff. We’ve gotten along much better since we switched back to our normal selves. She flies more often though, but when she’s not we hang out more.

That actually makes me a little bit sad, due to the fact that I’m leaving tomorrow. She asked if she could go too, but I turned her down. I have to go alone, or else what’s the point.

Back to Twilight’s rules though, basically, they’re nuts. I mean, some of these are fine. But again, some are just plain weird. I really do understand why she’s concerned, but just between us, Epic Journal, I really don’t plan on following all of them, only the one’s that make complete sense or sound helpful. I do remember a few rules that I think may help me. In fact, Twilight also included all the friendship letters and entries that both she, and all of the girls learned, so that I could use them on my trip. That was really nice of them, even if it added a second roll of paper to the package.

Anyway, Pinkie Pie’s throwing me a going away party, so I have to go, I may or may not come back to write about it.

Oh, my, Celestia, that party was so amazing, but it was also very sad. I’ll focus on the amazing part first.

Pinkie Pie went all out on this thing. She made hundreds of foods, got almost the entire town to show up, and even hired DJ_Pon3 to play for me. It was like it was my birthday or something. I should leave town more often.

Everypony danced and partied and had so much fun, me included. But when it was time for it to end, which I wish that it didn't, everypony formed a line, and gave me something that they thought would help me. Lyra gave me one of her old lyres. “Music doth soothes the savage beasties!” she told me in a funny accent. I tried it out, and it's apparently enchanted to automatically play whatever melody that I'm thinking. So, awesome!

Bon Bon gave me the recipe for one of her special candies. “Eat them whenever you feel down. They can be made anywhere”

Zecora gave me an array of colorful potions. “To the dragon following the same path both rocky and loose, I pray that these potions may be of some use. Tread wisely young one, for a sense of self is not so easily donned, take it from one, who has already gone.” I swear her and her riddles confuse the hay outta me, but I think that I get this one.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders came up together, and gave me a set of capes, they made me promise to help any blank flanks that I come across, and to tell them of the cutie mark crusaders mission. Apparently, I’m an unofficial member. yay…….

Rainbow Dash gave me one of her Daring Do books. “So you don’t get bored alright.”

Rarity gave me a magically enchanted gem. She called the spell a deuw-something. It’s supposed to help me out when I’m in trouble.

Applejack gave me a hoof written note. “Iffin ya ever need a place to stay, just find the nearest Apple family, and give ‘em that note.”

Fluttershy gave me her phoenix feather, the one she got from Philomena. “It’s good luck, and it’s magical. The aura alone is enough to ward off many dangerous animals. That way you don’t have to hurt them by defending yourself.”

Pinkie Pie gave me…… something. “It’s a bag of wind!” she called it. She wouldn't tell me what it was for, she only said to NEVER open it indoors.

Even DJ_Pon3, or Vinyl as she wanted me to call her, gave me some cool shades, and her autograph. “If you’re ever low on cash, just sell one of these and you’ll be good to go bro.” She’s so awesome!

It went on like that, everypony would give me something useful or fun. Derpy gave me a bottle of bubbles, Raindrops would give me a cloud in a bottle that makes water. Button Mash even gave me his JoyBoy. Everypony gave something to me, out of either concern or respect, except Berry Punch and Cloud Kicker. For some reason, Twilight took their gifts away.

Even so, I learned not to be greedy, I learned to turn some gifts away, gifts that I couldn't feel that I would find a use for, like Roseluck’s flowers or Snowflakes weights. Although, I remembered to thank each and every one of them for their feelings and thoughts alone.

But, there was one pony who gave me more than just a gift, he also gave me advice that I feel will never leave my heart, and I barely even knew him.

Time Turner was the last pony in line. First, he gave me a cool watch and a blue backpack. “I almost never give advice, but I might just say this to you; always search for the truth. Now, go forward, find your beliefs, and remember, courage isn't about not being afraid, it’s about being afraid but doing what you have to do anyway, just as you are now.” he told me.

I’m not sure what he meant, or why it had such an effect on me, but I have a feeling that I will find out soon.

A few minutes ago, I tried putting a few things in the backpack he gave me. By the time I realized it, I had put everything in there! Seriously, every gift, food, or book that I had, it all just fit, like the insides bigger or something. I have to admit it, that’s a pretty awesome thing to have, I really hope that I don't get robbed.

In the end, Twilight just stared at me, watching me, as if she was looking for some sort of reaction. I realized that everypony was staring at me. It wasn't until I asked them what they were looking at, that they erupted in cheers.

Twilight walked up to me, and gave me a huge hug. Apparently, this was a test to see if I could control my greed. She said that if I couldn't control my own dragon greed, and hoarding tendencies, then I wasn't ready to go out on my own. Apparently, I passed. She looked me right in the eye, and said that I was ready, then everypony bum-rushed me, all at once saying their goodbyes and farewells.

By the end of it, I was crying along with everypony else. I have to leave tomorrow, so I should get some rest. I’ll come back, Epic Journal, and I’ll tell you everything that happens from here on in.

I know this can’t be all.....

Author's Note

Well this is both the end, and the beginning, sorry if that sounds cliche. It is the end of the transformations arc. I decided to take my entry for the transformations contest and turned into something bigger. Hopefully, this will still count and Green won't disqualify me on the grounds of this being more of a to be continued, and not a real ending.

I managed to get my inspiration back for real this time, and I don't plan to lose it again. Thank you to those who gave me some suggestions for the story, and thank you to everyone who's followed me to the end of this part. I hope that you'll all join me when I begin the next chapter of Spikes life.

BTW, I'm pretty sure that you all realize this by now, but if you haven't, yes the inspiration for this particular turn of events is due to Black Gryph0n's song: Quest
Seriously, go check that out, it's a friggin baws song.

But, yeah, tell me what you all think, it's you all that got me to improve so drastically. I'm still not perfect, but I'm better.
EDIT! Almost forgot, what do you think my chances are for winning the contest? Be honest!
As always, likes/faves/follows/ and criticisms are appreciated.