Hearts & Hooves - Sweetie shall go to the ball!

Twilight was amazed. She had made sure to include a fair amount of time in the afternoon schedule for Spike to get ready for the ball.

What she hadn’t counted on was that Spike would actually take a bath without her forcing him to. But then she realised that maybe her little dragon assistant was growing up Perhaps it’s time to stop treating him like a baby, and then he won’t act like it so much...I’ll still have to keep an eye on his ice cream intake though.

Twilight was very interested in how Spike as he had already been in their for over an hour, a long time for a simple soak. However, instead of the obviousness of just sitting outside, she sat in their shared living room and started reading the latest trade agreement she had to co-sign.

After about a further ten minutes, she heard the bathroom door open and the familiar click of Spike’s feet walking down the crystalline hallway. Spike entered the room and the alicorn looked up as the dragon stood in the doorway, practically shining in the early evening light.

“Wow!” is what Twilight could only say in response..

“Yeah.” Spike replied “ I used the stuff Luna, I mean Princess Luna, sent to me for Hearths Warming. It really makes my scales shine!”

Twilight smiled at this. Everypony wanted to get Spike presents, but due to issues with hoarding, it had decided that presents had to be temporary or expendable, like food or vouchers etc. Luna had instead come up with the idea of getting the growing dragon some specialist cleaning products, something until now the dragon was less than impressed with. Whilst Spike may have alway been clean in dragon standards, right now he was clean to Pony standards. Perhaps even Rarity’s standards Twilight thought to herself.

“It seems a waste really when half of me is going to be covered by the tux” Spike looked himself over in the light.

“Well, that is true, but you sure do look nice. Mind if I touch?”

Spike shrugged his shoulders to indicate he wasn't too bothered, and Twilight ran a hoof over his spines which were even softer and shinier than normal. She then ran the hoof across his scales, causing a slight squeak as the hoof slid across the buffed surface, causing them both to laugh. Spike then proceeded to go and get changed into his old tux from the gala and the wedding, which still fit him.

A few minutes later and Spike was ready to go and pick up Sweetie Belle. Twilight walked with him to the door, the dragon grinding to the halt outside.

“No way?” he exclaimed

“Yes way!” Twilight laughed back at the dragons response at seeing her royal carriage waiting.

“I...I can’t, it doesn't seem right!” Spike gushed.

“Spike, it’s my carriage, I can do what I want with it. And as my long term companion, you have as much as a right to it as I do!” Twilight turned and gave her dragon a hug “Now, go and have a good time, and just try to be home by midnight!”

“Aren’t you going to come to see me inside? I mean, most of the parents are…” the dragon fell away

“I can if you want, but I think you’ll make a better impression on your own” Twilight winked, causing “Besides, I know you can handle yourself unlike some of the students in school.”

“Thanks Twilight!” the dragon almost shed a tear as he climbed into the carriage, and with a final smile to the pony that raised him, the carriage set off towards town. Leaving behind a pony who was so proud of the growing dragon she helped raise.

The afternoon in Carousel Boutique was slightly more hectic. Rarity had made sure all the parents had come to collect the dresses and suits for their children by four o’clock, and managed to get them all fitted and finalised in time. This left a little over two hours before Sweetie Belle was due to be picked up, bearly enough time for the full makeover planned.

After a bath, Sweetie Belle stood on the platform whilst Rarity worked on her tail until it was it’s usual bouncy self. Rarity then got the dress off the ponyquin and helped the filly into it. It wasn’t too dissimilar from the dress she wore to the Royal Wedding as a flower filly, but instead of being white it was cream with light purple and pink accents to match her mane.

Once the dress was on, Rarity started work on the mane. Whilst Sweetie Belle prefered her mane to hang naturally with a few curls, she had let her sister try to put it up and to put a few accessories in it. It wasn't going to be as overtop as the Crystal Headdress, but as it came together the filly was amazed on how much more grown up it made her look.

Last of all was the makeup. Sweetie Belle’s own magic wasn't fine enough to do this, and Rarity gently applied a little mascara, blush and eyeshadow to gently bring out her sisters best features Not too much Rarity, she is still only a filly. Once complete, Rarity took a step back.

“My my, Sweetie Belle, you do look lovely!”

Sweetie Belle turned around in the showroom mirror so she could see the whole ensemble “Thanks Rarity, you are the best sister ever!”

“Impossible, because you are the best sister in the whole world!” They shared a gentle hug, making sure not to muck up the makeup or creese the dress.

As Sweetie Belle continued to twirl around in the mirror, there was a loud knock on the front door, and looking over to the clock they noticed it was around the time Spike said he was going to arrive.

“He’s here!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, galloping towards the door before the nerves kicked in, making her pause. She was about to go on the first date, or whatever this was, in her life. After taking a deep breath, she opened the door, Rarity keeping a suitable distance back but within view of what was about to happen.

The younger unicorn opened the door and the two youngsters eye both widened in surprise as they looked at each other.

“Hello Sweetie Belle, you look lovely”

The young filly shirked away a little bit “Thanks, you do too!”

“This is for you” Spike presented the corsage to the filly, causing a little squeal of delight from her. Spike gently lifted the filly front left hoof and place the flower round her cannon. “Shall we go, my lady?”

Sweetie Belle nodded but as he looked behind the slightly bowing dragon, she let out a gasp, her sister doing the same behind her. “Is that a royal carriage?” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

Spike sort of giggled nervously “I couldn't afford a carriage but apparently I’m unofficially part of Equestrian Royalty so I get to use this for free.”

Sweetie Belle giggled with laughter in response, wiggling around slightly on her hooves until she calmed down enough to remember her manners. The pair walked side by side to the carriage, and Spike opened the door and helped Sweetie inside. As the carriage set off Rarity had a big smile on her face The royal carriage, Spike certainly does know how to make a pony feel special!

The journey to the town hall was only a few minutes away by carriage, but it was a few minutes Sweetie Belle would never forget. The filly just couldn't believe she was riding in a Princess's carriage, whilst Spike just felt happy at seeing Sweetie Belle’s smile on the journey.

Outside the town, many of the parents were milling around and chatting to each other, including Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Most had walked their precious children to the ball, although some such as Mr Rich had got a carriage. But Spike, thanks to Twilight, had them all topped. They all looked on in disbelief as the golden carriage, pulled by two fine examples of Stallion Royal Guards, came to a halt outside.

The stallions unhooked themselves from the front, and come round the side to open the door and help the lady out.

“Thank you kind sir!” Sweetie Belle turned and nodded to the guard.

“It is my honour, Ms Belle” the Guard bowed and Spike mentally congratulated himself at the impression they were making. It may have been a bit over the top, but the smile and a wink he noted from Applejack told him that he was right on the mark - A end of term ball should be a special event for a young filly, and the dragon was delivering so far.

Inside the hall, most of the school children had arrived. Pinkie Pie, having helped set up the party, was introducing the couples as they arrived in an attempt to make the whole thing a little more grand - it was a ball rather than a party afterall. Pinkie saw her friends siblings (or whatever Spike was) walk towards the halls entrance. Of course, not knowing what had just happened outside, the announcement seemed even more apt as pinkie cleared her throat:

“Ms Sweetie Belle and the Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious.”