The sound of knocking echoed throughout the mansion. Even without dragon hearing, Spike would have had no problem hearing it from his room on the second floor. Spike shifted around sleepily on his pile of gems he was currently using as a makeshift bed. As he lay there, he knew that he would have to answer the door. Everypony else was passed out from the night before. Whether it was in a club in Canterlot, or whether it was at the mansion she was renting out, Vinyl Scratch knew how to throw a wild party.

Spike got up from his pile of jewels and made his way out of his room and down the hallway. The knocking at the front door continued as he made his way down the grand staircase. Whoever was at the door of the mansion, wasn't going to go away any time soon.

"Relax, already..." he grumbled. "I'm coming..."

Finally making it to the door, Spike grabbed the handle and grunted as the door creaked open. He had to squint as the morning light flooded into the doorway. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed who was standing in front of him.

"Morning, Twilight," Spike greeted the alicorn standing on the top step of the mansion. Truthfully, he wasn't very surprised that she was there.

"Spike...where in Celestia's name have you been?" Twilight began.

"That's kind of a dumb question, Twilight," he replied. "I've been here since yesterday."

He contemplated for a moment. "Please tell me you haven't been going around to everypony's house this morning looking for me? At least you knocked this time, instead of just barging in like in the past."

Twilight went red with embarrassment. "That was a one time thing!" she chided him. "In any event, I've been worried about you since you didn't come back to the castle at all yesterday."

"Didn't you read the note I left for you?" he inquired. "When I came back to the castle I couldn't find you or Twist anywhere , so I left it in her office. You know...the office that I used to use?"

"I wasn't at the castle yesterday..." she replied somewhat indignantly. "I was meeting with the Mayor for most of the day. Twist doesn't usually come in on weekends so I didn't get your note."

"Well...since you're here and wondering, I'll tell you what I wrote." Spike began "I wrote you a note saying that I was going to be staying with Vinyl Scratch at Rich Mansion for a while."

"I see that..." Twilight indicated. "So where exactly are you sleeping, on the floor?"

"I'm using my personal stash of gems that I've been collecting over the years as a bed," he replied. "It worked for me when I was hibernating, so I figured it would do just fine in this instance."

"What about food?"

"I offered to help with the cooking if Vinyl and Octavia provided the food. It's not like I can't eat pony food, plus if I really have to, I can eat part of my bed to hold me over for the time being."

"It sounds like you've been planning this for a while..." she commented. "I would think that if you were planning on moving out you'd at least speak to me in person before you did so."

"So, now you're concerned about me?" he replied sarcastically. " Thanks, Mom. Where was this for the past week or so?"

"What in Tartarus is that supposed to mean?" she asked incredulously.

"It means since I came back a couple of weeks ago I haven't seen hide nor hair of you!" Spike snapped. "You're always spending time with your nose in a book in that library of yours! Even more than you used to when we had the treehouse!"

"I see..." Twilight replied somewhat coldly. "You think I've been purposely ignoring you since you've come back?"

"It seems that way doesn't it?" he retorted.

"Well..." she began. "Maybe if you'd stopped to consider the situation instead of jumping to conclusions like a draconic jerk, what I've been doing for the past while would make more sense."

Spike pinched the bridge of his nose for the second time in two days. "Why is it that everypony around here expects me to be a damn mind reader...?"

Judging from the blank expression on Twilight's face, he came to the conclusion that she had no idea what he was complaining about.

"Alright then..." he offered. "Tell me what you've been up to the past little while."

"Well...Spike. As you know, being a princess involves me having to do a lot of research to help me with my royal duties. This often involves long hours in the library gathering information on different treaties, political situations, and laws of Equestria and other countries. As an ambassador of Equestria, I have to use this information wisely when I'm dealing with the heads of state of other nations. I also have to make sure that I'm representing the interests of the ponies of my own country. This also involves consultations with the Two Sisters as they have final say on what Equestria's position is when we negotiate with other countries or how we will conduct ourselves at a state visit..."

Twilight stopped for a moment. "Spike? Are you even listening to me?"

Spike was leaning lazily against the door frame staring off into the distance. "For your information, Miss Exposition...yes, I was listening. But I know that you like to ramble on so I was waiting for you to get to the point."

"My point is that I can negotiate a treaty with the Griffon Empire, I can keep the Dragon Kingdom from terrorizing the ponies living on it's borders, and I'm more than capable of displaying excellent protocol when the Ambassador from Germaney decides to drop by Canterlot unannounced!"

Spike found himself slightly amused at Twilight's assertion of her abilities. The lavender alicorn, however, didn't notice or care that he found this amusing.

"Sometimes though...there are subjects that even I have trouble researching..."

"Whoa...stop the presses!" he exclaimed. "Twilight Sparkle has trouble understanding everything? It means you're a normal mare like everypony else Twi..."

"I guess this answers the question whether dragon's become bigger flankholes as they age..." she replied sarcastically.

"I don't need this right now..." Spike snorted. He turned to go back inside the mansion.

"Wait..." Twilight called back. "I'll tell you the real reason why I've been preoccupied lately."

He paused. "Alright then...enlighten me."

"Etiquette."

Spike stared at her for a long moment.

"That doesn't make any sense!" he finally answered. "You just told me you knew all about etiquette!"

"I know all about diplomatic etiquette,"" she replied. "But this is a different kind of etiquette..."

Twilight paused awkwardly. "It's the kind of etiquette you need when you're on a date..."

Spike's eyes went wide with surprise. "You're going on a date?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Yes, Spike. I'm going on a date. Well...technically I'm going to the Summer Sun Celebration Ball with a date. That's why I've had my nose in a book all this time. I've been reading up on how a princess should behave at a royal ball with an escort."

Twilight paused expectantly. She didn't know how Spike would react to this piece of information. She hadn't told anypony, even her friends, about the recent events in her personal life.

It was a shock then, when Spike suddenly burst out laughing. For his part, Spike couldn't take it anymore. Part of him was really annoyed that Twilight had been, in his mind at least, ignoring him for most of the time he'd been back in order to obsessively research how to act on a date with a stallion. At the same time, this was so like the Twilight he'd grown up with, that he couldn't stop himself from laughing hysterically at her behavior. He wasn't trying to be a jerk, he just couldn't help himself.

Unfortunately, that was how he was currently being regarded by his former roommate. When he finally stopped laughing he was greeted by a rage contorted face that he hadn't seen since the time he'd decided to have a "small" party at the treehouse, which had turned into a wild bash with most of Ponyville in attendance, while Twilight had been away for a couple of days. Suddenly, purple magic shot out of her horn followed by the heavy door being slammed on his tail.

"Yeow!!!" he shouted as pain shot through his body. "What the hay was that for?!"

"That was for being a complete draconic flankhole!" she shouted back. "How could you laugh at me after what I told you?!"

"I don't know..." he retorted. "I thought it was funny at the time! Because it's totally something you would do. I know you better than anypony, remember?"

He grimaced as he picked up his tail which had been wedged in the front door.

"Damn, Twilight...I can't believe you slammed a heavy door on my tail! I may be a dragon, but that still hurt!"

"Well...you deserved it!" Twilight scowled at Spike.

"Look...In all seriousness," Spike asked as he rubbed his tail. "Who's the lucky guy that gets to go to a ball with the Princess of Friendship?"

"You actually know who he is," she stated. "He was in the Crystal Empire while you were there. But now, he's moved to Canterlot to help train the Royal Guard."

Spike racked his brain to try and figure out who she was talking about. It wasn't easy considering his thoughts kept being interrupted by the pain shooting through his tail. Suddenly, the image of an orange pegasus popped into his head.

"No way!" he exclaimed. "Really? You're going to the ball with him?"

"Do you have a problem with me going with him?" Twilight shot him an accusing look.

"Not really..." he replied. "He was asking about you while I was in the Crystal Empire though."

"Really?" Twilight arched her eyebrow. "He was asking about me? How long ago?"

"Since before I had my three month sleep. I suggested that he write to you but I guess he went a step further if he's in Canterlot now."

"He definitely wrote to me, and I wrote him back." Twilight smiled. "When I found out he was in Canterlot I used the excuse of being there on royal business to go see him. We spent some time together and before I left to come back to Ponyville he asked me if he could escort me to the ball."

A small blush came over Twilight's face. "Officially, he's there as part of my 'protection detail.' But since it's him and only him, and he asked to be with me, I've come to the conclusion that it's a date."

"Now that you've explained it that way, I'm inclined to agree," Spike acknowledged. "Good for Flash. It's nice to know somepony takes my advice once in a while."

"Do you see now why I was spending most of my time studying?" she asked. "I always get like that when I'm caught up in something that's really important to me."

"Makes sense now that I think about it," he pondered. "Obviously this is a big deal for you."

"It is," she agreed. "It's a double big deal now that I'm royalty."

"For what it's worth, I wish you luck then."

"Thank you, Spike." she acknowledged with a genuine smile. "Back to the original subject... you still haven't told me why you decided to suddenly leave the castle and stay with Vinyl Scratch and Octavia."

Spike's expression went serious.

"Did something happen in Canterlot?" Twilight sensed there was something he wasn't telling her. "It's alright, Spike. You can tell me if something's wrong..."

Spike scowled at the thoughts of his experience in Canterlot. "I'd rather not talk about what happened there, Twilight, but you're on the right track as to why I left."

"Well...if you ever need to talk to me I'll make sure I make the time for you, ok?" she offered.

"By the way..." Twilight asked offhand. Did you end up going to see Rarity? You've been planning to spend time with her ever since you got back."

A look of disgust came over Spike's face, surprising Twilight.

"Why don't you go ask her yourself?" he stated abruptly. "I'm going back to sleep...thanks for the conversation."

Spike turned and went inside the mansion, shutting the door fairly hard. All the while leaving a confused Twilight Sparkle standing on the front steps.

Heeding Spike's advice, Twilight found herself on the way to the Ponyville Spa the next morning. Twilight wasn't a regular customer of the spa, but she was going there that morning to meet Fluttershy and Rarity. The day before, on a hunch, Twilight had found Rarity at Fluttershy's cottage. However, the yellow Pegasus stopped Twilight from talking to her, explaining that Rarity had come there the evening before extremely distraught. Her and Fluttershy had spent most of the night talking, and Rarity was exhausted and was still sleeping at the time of Twilight's visit. Twilight did manage to fill her pink maned friend in as to where Spike was currently residing. It was therefore suggested by Fluttershy that the three of them meet at the spa the next day, since Rarity and Fluttershy hadn't been there in quite some time. Twilight could then hopefully get some answers as to what had happened between Spike and Rarity.

As she entered the establishment, the two owners, Aloe and Lotus Blossom, greeted her excitedly. It wasn't everyday that they had the Princess of Friendship as a client, and they wanted to make sure that Twilight was given service fit for royalty. They ushered her into the ladies change room, and then when Twilight emerged wearing a robe they directed her to the steam room. It was there that she found Fluttershy and Rarity relaxing before they were to begin their spa treatments.

Only, Fluttershy seemed to be the only one trying to relax. Rarity, on the other hoof, was quite agitated.

"I still can't for the life of me, understand why he'd say such things..."

"Well...he must have been very upset. It's just not like Spike to say what he said without a good reason...at least...I think he wouldn't..."

"You see, Fluttershy?" Rarity pointed out. "You don't know what he was thinking either. How are we to know that he isn't acting like this because of his recent growth? Dragon's have a terrible reputation for being horrible brutes when they grow up."

"I understand what you're saying, but I'm having a hard time believing that Spike said all those things to you out of malice."

"Really...Fluttershy? Have you forgotten what happened on his birthday a number of years ago?"

"You did manage to talk him out of his greed rampage, though..."

"That was a different time! He was my cute little Spikey Wikey then! Now, I'm not sure who he is anymore..."

"Hey, girls!" Twilight interrupted. "I'm sorry I didn't make it sooner. I'm running a bit behind today."

"Ah, Twilight," Rarity greeted the alicorn. "Thank goodness you're finally here! Perhaps you could shed some light on what that assistant of yours was thinking when he came to visit me yesterday."

"Unfortunately, I don't think I can be of much help," Twilight admitted. " I did manage to track him down though. He's staying at Rich Mansion with Vinyl Scratch and her friends."

"You mean to say that he's left your castle and is staying with a bunch of party ponies?" Rarity asked incredulously.

"That's what he told me by note and in person yesterday," Twilight responded.

"So...what you're saying then is he's decided to shirk his responsibilities to you and your kingdom and instead spend his time engaged in debauchery?" Rarity inquired pointedly.

"That sounds an awful lot like you're own opinion, Rarity," Twilight countered. "But, to answer your question...he said that I should ask you the reason why he left."

"Hmm...he said that, did he now?" Rarity's voice went icy.

"Maybe you should tell your story to Twilight now that she's here, Rarity..." Fluttershy interrupted the white unicorn. "I'm sure she'd like to hear about what transpired, isn't that right Twilight?" Fluttershy flashed a nervous smile at her lavender friend.

"Very well..." Rarity began. "I will tell Twilight all about how her former co-habitant acted like an uncouth cad in my presence. But first...let us get out of this steam room, ladies! Our spa treatments await us!"

With her usual flair, Rarity hopped down off the bench and exited the steam room. Fluttershy and Twilight followed her.

After all the treatments were finished, Twilight wished that she made trips to the spa more often. She felt cleaner than ever before from the scrub down, the hot stone massage was divine, and her coat sparkled from the seaweed wrap. It was a great way to spend a morning. As she lay in the hot tub, soaking away her tension, her thoughts turned to Rarity's story of what happened between her and Spike. Twilight had listen to the whole story without judgement. She wished that Spike had told her his side of the story, since Rarity had painted a somewhat one-sided account of their encounter.

In Twilight's mind, the solution was actually simple. It involved both Spike and Rarity sitting down together and working out their differences. Getting both of them in the same room, however, would be the hard part. But Twilight trusted her ability as a princess and ambassador to get both her friends to put an end to this silly feud.

"Say, Rarity," Twilight addressed the unicorn. "In light of what you just told me, I may have a potential solution to this situation."

Rarity stirred from the state of relaxation she was currently experiencing. "Whatever do you mean, Twilight?"

Twilight took a breath. "I think the best course of action here is to have you and Spike sit down face to face and work out this disagreement, as you called it."

Rarity stared at Twilight for what felt like an eternity.

"Twilight...you're a dear for wanting to help," Rarity finally addressed the alicorn. "But I'm not sure that sitting down with him is the best course of action right now."

"I think Twilight's right though, Rarity..." Fluttershy had been quiet most of the spa session but now interjected herself into the conversation. "I think you and Spike need to work through your issues together."

"But Fluttershy...do you think that Spike would even show up to a face to face meeting?" Rarity inquired.

"I think I can convince him to show up," Twilight pronounced. "Remember, I know him better than anypony in Equestria."

Rarity considered Twilight's proposition for a period of time.

"Very well," she finally stated. "I'll go along with your plan. However...I want both of you there."

"You've got it, Rarity." Twilight smiled at her friend.

"I just want everypony to get along..." Fluttershy stated meekly.

With nothing else to talk about, the three ponies exited the bath and made their way back to the change room. After paying for her treatment, Rarity bade both her friends farewell and left the spa to go back to her boutique home. Twilight and Fluttershy stayed behind to finish paying for their respective treatments.

With their accounts settled, both mares exited the spa and found a beautiful day awaiting them. Celestia's sun was almost at it's highest point, and Twilight realized that going to the spa made her hungry. She needed to get home and make some lunch.

"Well..." Twilight addressed Fluttershy before she was about to leave. "I had a wonderful morning. We should do this again sometime."

But Fluttershy was lost in thought. When she finally acknowledged Twilight's words, it was with a concerned demeanour.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Twilight..."

There was an awkward silence between the two ponies.

"I hope so too..."

Author's Note

Apologies for the more than three month hiatus...

Thank you to everyone who has liked, commented, and in general paid attention to this story! In the end, it's your support that has kept me motivated to continue writing.

P.S. Please don't hate me too much for putting hints of FlashLight in this chapter :)