Through the Cavern

"Twilight, are you absolutely 100% sure that Spike isn't angry with what me?" Ricky said anxiously, glancing up at the stairs. He was sitting in the living room of the castle, sipping coffee with Twilight.

"Positive. He's a little nervous about finally meeting you, but when I told him that dragons were big and scary in your world, he seemed to cheer up." Twilight replied, glancing at the clock "Again, I think he's going to enjoy spending the day with you."

"Are you sure we should? I mean, I barely know the guy. And we didn't exactly get off on the right foot."

"Oh, trust me. Once you two find something you both like, he becomes your best friend." Twilight turned and yelled "SPIKE!! It's 8:30!!!"

A door slammed, and Ricky heard light footsteps. Spike the dragon came waddling down the stairs, yawning as he did so.

"I don't see why you're so anxious to wake me up all of a sudden..." he groaned "You didn't exactly make a big deal out of it the other day when that human knocked me out!"

Twilight sighed "First of all, you were knocked out because you FAINTED. Ricky had nothing to do with it. Besides, I LET you sleep because I was concerned for YOUR health!"

"Ok, ok. Look, I don't even know why I fainted because of some dumb human. I mean, being a dragon, I..." Spike trailed off as he stared at Ricky "Oh...I didn't mean to..."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I don't get insulted very easily. How's your head today?" Ricky leaned forward and stuck out a hand. Spike paused a moment before slowly taking it.

"Better..."

"Look, I'm sorry for scaring you like that the other day. I felt real bad about it, so I thought I would come by and see if I could make it up to you somehow." Ricky took a sip of coffee and set his mug down.

"Oh! Well...that sounds fun and all, but don't you want to, I don't know, settle in a bit more?" Spike glanced at Twilight, who fixed him with a stern glare.

"No, actually I need to get out for a few hours anyhow, seeing as my roommate currently has a major hangover. So, what do you say? You could show me some of your favorite things about Ponyville." Ricky winked at Twilight "I mean, things must be FASCINATING from a dragon's perspective."

That seemed to catch Spike's attention "Really? You really want to know how fun a dragon can be?" he said excitedly "I'd be happy to show you!"

Spike ran back upstairs, and Twilight stared at Ricky in amazement "Wow...I can't believe that you were able to convince Spike so easily!" she said, genuinely impressed "I mean, he has such a hard time making friends and all..."

"It wasn't that hard. I hung out with some real idiots back home, and with them it only took a few well placed words." Ricky shrugged. Spike entered the room wearing a backpack with what looked like a superhero logo emblazoned on it.

"Spike, I'm so glad that you've decided to do this. I mean, it's good for you to get out and socialize, instead of being cooped up all the time reading comic books and dreaming about Rar-" Twilight said, but Spike cut her off.

"Ok, Ricky doesn't need to hear any of this, Twilight!" Spike said quickly, grabbing Ricky's hand and pulling him to the main doors.

"I don't?" Ricky was a tad confused.

"I'll tell you outside..." Spike whispered, which only peaked Ricky's curiosity more.

"Oh! Spike, would you do me a favor and stop by the stationary store? I'm running out of ink." Twilight asked, levitating a moneybag over to the little dragon.

"Happy to. Bye now!" Spike grabbed the bag and shoved Ricky out the door, leaving a perplexed Twilight behind.

"Phew...that was close." Spike said, placing the moneybag in his backpack "She almost gave my secret away."

"What, reading comics, or fantasizing about Rarity?" Ricky asked innocently, pulling out a joint and lighting up "Because there's no need to be ashamed about reading comics...unless you're a fan of Archie."

"Who's Archie? Is he some kind of...wait, how do you know about Rarity?!" Spike squealed, jumping in shock. Ricky rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Dude, Twilight already let the cat out of the bag back there. No point in you trying to cover that up. The only question is, aren't you a tad young to be worrying about this kind of stuff? I mean, she's gotta be at LEAST 15 years older than you, for one." Ricky puffed away.

"Well, yeah, she is, but...I don't know, she's the sweetest, most giving person I have ever met. I mean, she would bend over backwards to make somebody happy."

"I knew a girl who would do that, but you had to get her good and drunk first." Ricky snorted at his own joke, while Spike stared at him in bewilderment.

"Sorry. Adult humor." Ricky took a toke again, and put it for later "I'm gonna have to ask Applejack where to find this stuff later."

"What?"

"Never mind. So, does Rarity know how you feel?" Ricky asked, and Spike sighed "Yeah, she knows, alright. But she treats it like it's a schoolyard crush, you know?"

"Yeah. I was never really one for relationships, myself. I'd date a girl here and there, but it usually got stale pretty fast. Conflicting ideas and whatnot. But, you should go for it."

"How do you mean?" Spike asked "I mean, I can't just walk up to her and outright tell her that I love her. Then it would be extremely awkward, Pinkie Pie would find out and tell everypony and then I would look like a big idiot and never be able to show my face in Ponyville again!" Dejectedly, he sat down on the stoop of a nearby shop.

Ricky was stunned "Uh...I was gonna say ask her to that Gala thing. Princess Celestia hooked us all up with tickets last night." He sat down beside Spike.

"Oh..." Spike momentarily blushed, but shook it off "Hey...that's a great idea! She'll be too busy having fun to want to bother with something like that."

"I know that. I can read people like a book. You're gonna do fine, buddy." Ricky smiled, then glanced at the sign above the shop "Wait a minute...you have a comic book store here?!"

"Yep! I've been waiting for the latest issue of Power Ponies to come out for ages." Spike said excitedly "So humans have comic books too, then?"

"That's an understatement..." Ricky said, growing more interested every second "I gotta see this."

Without another word, Ricky nearly ran into the shop. Spike laughed at this, and then he remembered something.

"Hey! Wait! You never told me who Archie was!" Spike ran after his new friend.