“You got any gemstones?” Spike asked all of a sudden.

“Beg your pardon?” Dusty questioned, “Why would you want gemstones?” he asked.

“Well, I’m a dragon, and we usually eat gems.” Spike explained.

“Oh, well it just so happens that I do, won some award and they gave me a bag of star rubies, they’re in the cupboard right there,” he pointed at the cupboard with his hind leg, “Just please don’t eat all of them.” Dusty hoped that Spike heard that last sentence but Spike was already digging in, he grabbed a hand full of gems, shoved the bag back in the cupboard and shut it. Dusty turned back to the meal he was cooking for the three of them, but since Spike occupied himself with gems, it was probably just going to be him and Twilight, unless Spike was somehow still hungry.

After a few minutes Twilight walked into the kitchen, “What is that wonderful smell?” she chirped.

“My favorite food as a kid, tomato soup with red peppers.” Dusty answered.

“It smells delicious!” she said.

“It smells better then it tastes, trust me.” Dusty smirked, “Hey Twilight,” Dusty began, “How come you decided to stay at my house?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” Twilight responded.

“I mean, you have friends who you’ve known for such a long time, yet instead of going to one of them, you decide to come to me, it just doesn’t seem right in my head.” Dusty replied.

The question really seemed to stump Twilight, “I’m not sure, I guess I felt more comfortable around you.” Twilight reckoned.

“I’m no different from your friends though.” Dusty reminded.

“You’re more different then you realize, Dusk.” Dusty was surprised when she called him by his real name no one ever did that since…that day when every pony found out his secret, “There’s something about you that gives me comfort.” Twilight blushed when she said that.

“And that is?” Dusty questioned, their conversation was cut short when his timer went off, “Oh, it’s done!” he said all of a sudden, “This can wait, it’s chow time!” he cheered, Dusty could swear he saw Twilight wipe her forehead in the corner of his eye.

A few minutes later, Dusty came out of the kitchen with a tray that he carried with magic, “Spike, would you like some?” Dusty asked, Spike took a quick whiff and nodded quickly, so Dusty gave a bowl of soup to each of them, “Enjoy.” Dusty said as he dropped the tray on a coffee table, “Careful, by the way, it’s still hot.” He warned, as he sat down next to Twilight, “I can’t remember the last time I made this stuff.” Dusty said, hoping to start a conversation.

“Why is that?” Twilight asked between bites.

“I don’t really know, to be honest.” Dusty replied, “I guess it’s because I ran away from home when I was little.”

Twilight stopped for a second, “Is that why you’re usually so…self-centered?” Twilight asked.

Self-centered? Dusty thought to himself, he chuckled, “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” He joked, at least that made Twilight laugh.

“Well, that’s one thing that is so special about you.” Twilight broke in.

Dusty turned toward Twilight, “Pardon?” he questioned.

“You’re able to make any pony laugh, even Fluttershy, kind of like Pinkie does.” Twilight responded, “But you know the right time to do it unlike she does.”

Dusty never thought about it but, Twilight was right, he was quite a funny pony, but he just ditched it off as dumb luck, “My father was a comedian.” Dusty blurted.

“I guess that explains it.” Twilight chuckled, and pretty soon Dusty was too, Spike just looked like he was going to vomit.

“Get a room, you two…” Spike muttered, Dusty laughed but Twilight didn’t.

“Oh, you were being serious.” Dusty stammered.

“Yeah, I was.” Spike retaliated.

“You have to put up with this your entire life?” he asked Twilight.

“Yes, why?” she gave him a dirty look.

“Because it doesn’t seem that bad when you get to know him.” Dusty smiled, the rest of the evening was spent with laughter and socializing, and a little bit of heart to heart conversations.

Author's Note

If any one is wondering, Dusty never told anyone that he wasn't a mare, in fact, he never talked at all so that just left people guessing.