Si Lupis Est

Spike hummed in a merry tune, it's origins forgotten but fondly sang on such good days as this one. His hand wrapped around a scroll, having talked Twilight into splitting the chores up.

Thankfully, his chores were quite simple; he had to buy some cider from Applejack, place an order for a cake at Sugarcube Corner, check in on Fluttershy and get some medicine for Owlowiscious, then head out to Zecora's home to pick up potions for Twilight.

Spike nodded to himself, commiting it to memory. He looked around the marketplace, trying to find the blonde haired earth woman, his tail waving to and fro. He scanned the audience, before walking over, spotting the signature stetson she wore.

He made to run over, only to stop when he saw Rainbow Dash talking to Applejack, the latter giggling when the former flexed in a joking way. He sighed softly, his heart aching at the sight. Even though he was happy for them, being around the two made him sad and lonely.

It was then that Applejack spotted Spike and waved him over, smiling at him. Spikes thoughts were waved away, making Spike smile as he walked over. "Well, howdy Spike! What can I do for ya?"

"Hey AJ, RD, how are you two doing?" Spike asked, walking up to the stand.

"Oh, pretty good little dude. Doing some shopping for Twi?"

"Yeah, I need a barrel of cider delivered to the castle." Spike said as he read the list, his emerald eyes scanning over it. "And...a apple fritter for your favorite dragon."

Applejack chuckled, before humming softly, rubbing her chin, before looking down at her stand. "Well, I could get Bic Mac to deliver the cider later today, but I'm afraid we're out of apple fritters at the moment."

Spike sighed, before grasping the bag of bits, the young dragon blood mumbling something about ponies and their sweets. He put quite a bit more than the required amount on the table, ignoring the look from the couple. Applejack opened her mouth, before Spike gave her a look, making her shut her mouth and sigh.

Rainbow Dash then looked at Spike, giving a smile, "Hey, Spike, you got any idea when your wings come in?"

"You'll be the first to know, Dashie. Anyway, I got more stuff to do, good luck!"

Applejack watched Spike walk off, making Rainbow Dash sigh. "Ya know, ya could help me sell apples instead of flirtin wit me."

"Where's the fun in that?"

Spike hummed softly, walking down the road, peering at the list again and again, as if the contents would change. He peered up at Sugarcube Corner, seeing ponies mingle about outside and in. His tail waved to and fro, flashing a fanged smile at a few pony bloods he recognized, though quickly grew self conscious about them when a younger boy pointed at them.

He walked inside, sliding his long tongue across his teeth. Why couldn't he have normal teeth? That was the fourth time this week someone pointed it out. Perhaps he should shave them down? No, no, the others said it added to his looks...but still, canine teeth are fangs, some people would be...unnerved.

He recognized the chubby mom working at the counter, flashing her another fanged smile, his self conscious thoughts being brushed away. "Hey, Mrs. Cake! I thought Pinkie was working the counter today."

"Oh, Spike! Hello deary! I'm afraid Pinkie has the cold, so I'm up front." Mrs. Cake replied, giving the dragon blood a warm smile. "What can I do for ya, sweetie?"

"Well, Twilight wants to order a cake for Rarity's birthday, said she placed an order a few days ago."

"Rarity's cake?" Mrs. Cake mumbled to herself, peering back at the kitchen, rubbing her chin. She walked into the kitchen, humming softly.

Spike tapped his strong fingers on the desk, careful not to crack the glass with his fingers. Fun fact about dragon bloods, their bones and skins are insanely hardened and can withstand extreme temperatures. It is said that dragon bloods can swim in lava with no issues and suffer no ill effects. It also helps with digging, having hardened bones and skin.

Spikes fingers tapped the counter, only for his eyes to wander. He saw couples of different sizes, shapes, ages...his heart ached with loneliness. He sighs softly, lifting at his hand and staring at his palm, slowly bringing his other hand up and rubbing his palm with his thumb.

The door opened, disrupting his thought process, making Spike smile at the distraction. Mrs. Cake walked out, a box in her hands, Spike adjusting on his feet, his boots tapping on the ground. "Here ya go dear!"

Spike grasped onto the cake, giving her some gems in return. Of course, she opened her mouth to argue about the payment, but Spike shrugged. "A tip for good service."

Mrs. Cake only shook her head, but kept the gems, sighing softly. "Well...thank you."

"Of course!" Spike grasped onto the box, being careful with the contents. "It's no problem."

Mrs. Cake then grasped Spikes shoulder, giving him a soft look, Spike giving a confused look in return. "Are...you sure you don't want to talk about the whole...Rarity situation?"

Spikes heart was jammed with an ice cold pick, the boys eyes dimming a bit at her words. "There...is nothing to talk about. She is happy with someone else...and I should be happy for her."

"You should be...but are you?"

Spike stared right through Mrs. Cake, who decided that she really shouldn't have brought it up. She opened her mouth, only for Spike to turn, a cold feeling going through Mrs. Cake as he started walking away.

"See you later, Cup Cake." He spoke, making Mrs. Cake sigh and rub the bridge of her nose.

She shouldn't have brought it up. She knew she shouldn't have brought it up, but she did, and now look at what she did. Carrot Cake (or Mr. Cake) walked out and noticed the sad expression on his wife, turning his head to see Spike open the door with his tail and close it shut behind him.

"He isn't taking it well." Mr. Cake remarked, Mrs. Cake nodding in agreement. "Do...you think he'll be okay?"

"I don't know, hun...he is hurting. He just needs space right now."

After dropping the cake off at the castle (and avoiding multiple ponies), he walked over to Fluttershy's house. It would take maybe an hour if one was walking normally. However, it took a bit longer, due to Spikes troubled mind, and to be honest, it did nothing but help his loneliness manifest itself further into his heart.

Of course, he was a dragon blood in a town of pony bloods and griffon bloods. He always felt lonely around the others...and today, it really pushed down onto him. He stared at the path, frowning at the boots.

The only shoes he had ever worn that didn't break from his feet. He sighs, a plume of smoke erupting out of his nostrils. He looked up, seeing Fluttershy's cabin, walking up to her door. He held a hand out, raising a hand up to knock on the door.

He faltered, doubts racing in his mind, before he heard soft humming from inside. The doubts and self hatred were brushed from his mind, making him smile. He knocked on the door, hearing the hum stop, the door opening a crack for Fluttershy's blue eye to peer out.

She smiled and opened the door, her tan skin, oversized yellow sweater, beautiful pink hair, and soft smile being revealed to the world. "Oh, hello Spike!" She said, her soft voice making Spike smile.

You see, even at her lowest volume, Spike was able to hear her. Another up of being a dragon blood, sensitive hearing. "Hey Fluttershy. How are you today?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Angel refuses to eat his carrots though." Fluttershy looked back at the bunny in question. Spikes eyes narrowed at the little bunny and a growl, inaudible to Fluttershy, poured out of his throat. Angel gave Spike a look and scampered off, Spike returned to Fluttershy, who gave him a smile.

"I thought carrots are bad for rabbits." Spike mumbled out, giving her a confused look. "Something about...really high in sugar?"

"Oh...that would explain it." Fluttershy's eyes returned to Spike, studying him for a moment. "Are...you okay?"

Spike opened his mouth for a moment, before clamping it shut. He was about to lie to her. She would not push it. She would just walk away and get the medicine, and would never bring it up. But...his heart felt heavy, he needed to vent.

"Is...it okay if I come in?"

"Of course, Spike. I'll make some tea."

Spike was ushered in, avoiding being smacked by Fluttershy's wings as she walked in. Spike closed the door behind him, then sat down on her very comfortable couch. She started boiling the water in the kettle, sparing a glance towards Spike. He clutched his own hands, staring into them, his tail curling around himself.

She could tell he had something heavy on his mind. She opened her mouth, before giving him another look, giving him soft eyes. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she watched him, his beautiful eyes seeming so dim, that green hair, the few scars her had gotten from his adventures nothing more than small, white marks on his tanned skin. Sure, he looked young for his age, as the older he got, the slower he would age. She didn't quite understand the explanation Twilight gave her for that, but by the time he was a hundred, he would barely look past twenty years old.

He was definitely handsome, which made Fluttershy blush. He seemed so young at heart, but he would surprise them with how old his soul seemed. He was a very caring person, often worrying over friends, helping out those in need, and was generous to a fault.

Sure, at times he could be greedy and sometimes hurt others feelings without realizing it. And the one time he destroyed half of the town when he turned into an actual dragon...she shivered at that memory. He had helped the town rebuild, and they figured out what had caused the "Greed Growth", but some people still looked at him with fear.

Fluttershy wasn't one of them, she thought Spike was a wonderful boy...well, wonderful man. He wasn't a perfect person, and he didn't need to be. He was just...Spike.

A whistle echoed out, making Fluttershy panic for half a second. She shut off the stove and grasped two cups. "Your favorite tea?"

Spike was broken out of his thoughts and looked at the woman, "Oh...uh, green tea. Honey, please." She smiled, grasping the tea bags and setting them in the boiling water.

After a few minutes, the tea was ready, Fluttershy setting down the tea with a spoon for him. He started using the spoon to swirl around the tea, half heartedly mixing the honey into it. Fluttershy was sipping on some jazmine tea, with honey and a little bit of sugar herself. She lowered the cup and stared expectedly at Spike, who was staring into his cup.

"I...well, I just...I..." Spike struggled to find the words to properly express how he felt. How dark his thoughts were. His eyes stared into the cup, as if he was trying to find answers in the tea. How could he explain these feelings, these thoughts, without being judged?

"Spike." Spike looked up into Fluttershy's eyes, seeing nothing but love and understanding in her eyes. His dark thoughts were blown away as easily as they had settled into his mind.

"I...have...been having these thoughts lately. Feelings, really." He started, looking back down at the tea. He took a sip, the boiling hot liquid bringing peace to the dragons mind. "About myself."

He paused, waiting for Fluttershy to say something. He looked back up at her, seeing her take a sip, not saying anything. She was there to listen to a friend in need, not to judge.

Not that she would judge. She was far too kind to do anything like that.

He continued after another sip of his tea, "I...feel so alone in Ponyville. I am the only dragonblood here, I'm always stared at and thought of as a freak. I even destroyed the town once during a birthday because you guys gave me a lot of gifts! I eat rocks, I can take a bath in lava, I can breathe fire!" His mouth couldn't stop spilling his feelings. "I can do things that would get most ponybloods and griffinbloods killed! I was raised amongst them! They...they..." Spike finally stopped and slumped in his seat, setting the teacup on the plate.

Fluttershy patiently waited for him to continue, keeping her gaze. On the outside, she was calm and collected, her stare unflinching. On the inside, she was scrambling all over the place.

How long had Spike felt this way?! Did he not tell anyone before her?! What about Rarity or Twilight, surely they would have heard this from him! Oh my Celestia, he is so cute.

She blushed at that last thought, before she cleared her throat, seeing Spike collect himself. She sipped her tea and waiting, the hot brew calming down those thoughts.

"They look at me like I'm some sort of monster." Spike finished, staring at his lap. Fluttershy's gaze turned into a frown as she saw Spike's eyes watering.

Spike felt a weight shift onto the couch and looked up, tears brimming on his eyes. Fluttershy hugged him, burying the young dragonblood into her breasts. Spike blushed brightly, before closing his eyes and hugging her tight. He heard a soft humming sound as her nails gently scratched his scalp, his tail curling around them.

"It's okay, Spike." Fluttershy cooed into his ear, making him smile. "You don't need to worry about that sort of stuff. You have me..." Fluttershy then caught herself and quickly added, "And the girls, of course. I mean, we'll be with you, and you know we won't abandon you. We don't think of you as a monster, you're our friend, our Spike."

After she said that, Spike felt a warmth in his chest, hugging her tighter. She planted a soft kiss on Spikes forehead and smiled, her cheeks tomato red.

I can't believe I just did that!

Spike cleared his throat and Fluttershy let go of him, making him smile up at her. "Thank you, Flutters. I can always count on you to lift my spirits."

She only smiled, before standing up, Spike staring at her round, squishy rump for a moment, before he looked away, blushing brightly. "So, Twilight mentioned she needed medicine for her poor owl?"

Spike sipped his tea and nodded, wiping his eyes clear of any stray tears, before standing up. "Thank you, Flutters."

"Of course. I'm afraid that I am currently out of the herb, Zecora might have it. I'll need that herb to finish the medicine."

Spike nodded and got up, Fluttershy's back to him. She would have faced him, had she not been red faced the entire time, not believing she had kissed the dragonblooded youngster. "Well, I have to head to Zecoras to pick up some stuff for Twilight."

Spike walked towards the door, giving Angel a dirty glare as he passed by, his tail waving to and fro. Fluttershy turned, and, once Spike left, gave a loud sigh.

"Oh horsefeathers." Fluttershy mumbled to herself, sitting on the couch. "I kissed him."