The Gauntlet of Fire had been a terrifying experience, but it had also been thrilling for Spike. To face challenges that other larger, stronger dragons struggled with and win his way through had flooded his body with adrenaline. It had helped that Twilight and Rarity had been with him every step of the way, cheering him on. There presence had been a real comfort when it had come to facing the various monsters and traps that had made up the gauntlet inside the Flamecano. But perhaps more than their cheers, it had been Princess Ember being there by his side that had filled him with a rush of gratitude and a sense of comradery.
This had been Spike's first time ever really working together amicably with another dragon. Not like the horrible tests and trials that Garble and his friends had put him through during the last of the Great Dragon Migrations. No, Ember was different. Though she acted cool and aloof, it was clear that she really cared about others. There was something about her that just made Spike smile. That was why, after he had claimed the Bloodstone Scepter, it had been easy to relinquish it to her. She had tried to help him and his friends before the contest was even truly under way. She would make a magnificent Dragon Lord. He just knew it.
The adrenaline of the moment and this rush of positive feelings had seized Spike at that moment, and he embraced Princess Ember tightly. "What are you doing?" Princess Ember had asked, somewhat uncomfortably but more perplexed.
"It's called a hug!" Spike answered back enthusiastically, squeezing Ember all the tighter.
"Oh...I don't know if I like it," she replied guardedly, before she visibly relaxed, "But...okay." She blushed slightly and patted Spike's spines affectionately. That was about the time that she heard a soft 'ping' against her leg armor. "What was that?"
Spike hurriedly broke the embrace and turned away from Ember, "N-nothing!" he said quickly, his own face awash with a crimson blush of it's own now. All of his happy nervous energy had seemed to have dissolved in a flash. Now he was just...awkwardly trying to edge his way away from Ember. "We should really get back to your dad, I mean former Dragon Lord Torch now, huh?"
That was when he heard the gasp from Twilight. "Oh no, Spike, not again!" In his rush to conceal his shame from Ember, he'd completely forgotten that Twilight and Rarity were there. Curse those camouflage outfits Rarity had made! The ponies pair of stalagmite outfits fell away now, and they both had a good look at Spike's... little problem.
Rarity, for her part, couldn't suppress a smile. "Does little Spikey-Wikey have a little chubby-wubby?" she cooed in talk only suitable for small animals and babies.
"What!? No!" Spike frantically denied, though it was obvious his hands were trying to conceal something bellow his round belly.
"Chubby...wubby?" Princess Ember asked, confused, while Spike actually felt his ear frills start to burn with shame.
"I'm so sorry Princess Ember," apologized Twilight, the Princess of Friendship, bowing deeply. "Er, that is, Dragon Lord Ember. Spike is a growing dragon and I'm afraid he has... inappropriate moments sometimes. We can fix it in just one moment, you should go on ahead and announce your victory."
Ember's eye slits narrowed as she sniffed the air and moved closer to Spike, looming over him. "I don't follow. What's wrong with him? Why are his scales so red?"
Rarity giggled, "Well, normally I confess that I may be the one to blame. Spike is a dragon of excellent taste and he knows true beauty when he sees it. The poor scamp can't help but get a little excited at his age. It's rather flattering, really... although" Here Rarity paused to give Ember a wink. "It appears you may be the cause this time."
"Me!?" Ember asked, shocked, clearly somewhat offended. "I have done nothing! I mean... yes we have helped one another and we have engaged in the act of 'hugs', but I do not see how such actions could illicit such a response as this!"
Spike for his part had been trying to edge away from the three females, only to be caught by Twilight's magic and drug back from the freedom and safety of the caverns entrance. "I'm afraid it doesn't take much." Her magic tugged Spike's hands away, revealing exactly what had caused all this fuss to begin with. It throbbed slightly, now that it was revealed, and Ember's eyes widened as she gazed down. "Seriously Ember, this won't take long. Go on ahead. We'll be right behind you."
Magical light radiated down the length of Spike's body and began to move rhythmically between his legs. Spike squirmed and groaned in protest, his eyes clenched shut, but there was nothing he could do either to break away from the magic that gripped him, or the magic that held him in it's grip. Between pants he was only able to let loose one pathetic plea, "Please, don't look at me!"
"What are you doing to him!?" Ember roared, enraged.
"Calm yourself darling, we're not hurting him," assured Rarity. "This is simply the fastest and most...hygienic way of providing Spike-Wikey with a little relief."
Ember's nostrils flared. So many strange things had happened today, but clearly, for her, this was the strangest. Emotions she had never felt before, thoughts she had never experienced, flooded her mind. Even as Spike continued to squirm, Ember banged the Bloodstone Scepter on the cavern floor, "STOP!" she roared, her voice echoing with power that even the ponies couldn't resist. Spike cringed, certain that he had just lost a friend thanks to his willful body and the good if misguided attentions of the pair of ponies by his side. "I will not allow this to continue! Spike may be a small dragon, but he is full of courage! He helped me to become the Dragon Lord and looked out for me when no one else ever had! As such..." here she paused and knelt before Spike, placing one clawed hand upon his tiny shoulder as she blushed deeply. "As such it's only fitting that I should be the one to help him now."
Before Spike could really process what was happening, he felt something warm and wet slide down the length of his throbbing member. Spike knew from experience how versatile and flexible a dragons long forked reptile tongue could be. Though he had thought about what Ember was doing a time or two in the wee hours before Celestia raised the sun, he had always thought it would be something he would have to try doing to himself. He never thought a dragon as beautiful and strong as Princess Ember would be on all fours with her head rocking gently back and forth between his legs. The soft slurping sounds alone were enough to bring Spike close. His mind filled with a warm soft fog and the world seemed to fade away around him. He had never felt this good before. While he appreciated what Twilight did for him, and occasionally Rarity if Twilight wasn't around, it was always cold and somewhat clinical. Just a little problem that had a simple solution, but a problem none the less. This didn't feel the same at all.
Spike found his claws gripping the horns on either side of Ember's head. What she was doing to him with her mouth was so awesome. He could feel the sharp ridges of her teeth, but that didn't bother him. If anything, that excited him further. Perhaps that's why he tugged on her horns, eliciting indignant moans of protest from Ember, that were quickly drowned in shock. Ember pulled away, sputtering and coughing, thick liquid dribbling from her maw as she spat on the cavern floor. She coughed again, "For such a little dragon that was a big load!" she protested, before smiling, showing her sharp teeth. "Feeling any better?"
"Uh...yeah, heheh." replied Spike, embarrassed by how he had reacted but still awash in the pleasure it had brought him. His relationship with Ember was shaping up to be one that was very unique among his friends.
"Oh, tish-tosh. Is now really the time to hold back Spike?" grumbled Rarity, her own features awash with a crimson blush at what she had just witnessed.
Rosy cheeked in kind, Twilight agreed, "You know that once is never really enough to fix things Spike. See, if anything the problem has only gotten... larger." she finished with a polite cough.
"Oh but I couldn't," protested Spike. "Ember has already done so much for us and well, here I am causing problems for everyone."
"It's no problem," he heard Ember reply as she unclasped several buckles on her armor. The sound of the heavy metal falling to the floor with a crash sent a tingle down Spike's spine. "I mean, if I can't handle one little dragon, i'm not going to make much of a Dragon Lord am I?" she asked with a saucy smile. Spike's pupils dilated wider than when he had first laid hands upon the Bloodstone Scepter as Ember settled onto all fours in front of him. Her tail lifted high, allowing a scent to flood the cavern that Spike realized had only just been on the edge of his senses the entire time.
"Well, remarked Twilight as she pulled out her book and quill, writing furiously, "We were wanting to learn more about dragons and their society. Might as well start with mating."
"What? Really?" asked Spike, turning back to his pony friends as if he were seeking their permission.
"Don't you know it's rude to keep a lady waiting Spike?" chided Rarity. "Twilight raised you better than that. Go on!"
Just like that, all Spike's friends were there!
"You can do it Spike!" cheered Rainbow Dash.
"Yay Spike!" cheered Fluttershy.
"Our little guys growin' up!" said Applejack as she cried on the inside.
"Get in there and Par-tay!" screamed Pinkie Pie raucously.
Even Starlight, Celestia, Luna, and Sunset were there, and all the girls from the human dimension, waving in support.
Spike wiped a tear from one eye as he turned to everyone and said "Thanks guys!" As he took a running leap towards Ember...
"H-how long has he been like this?" whispered Fluttershy nervously. Spike was sprawled out in the Cutie Map room, in the basket he liked to nap in. He had kicked his blanket off in his sleep and now lay with something unseemly bobbing gently in the air as he snored.
"Ever since we made it back from the Dragon Lands." replied Twilight in equally hushed tones so as not to wake Spike. "He's had... problems... in the past when he's slept but nothing like this."
"Boy Ah'll say," remarked Applejack,"Ah ain't seen wood stand that proud and supple since we left Bloomberg back in Appleloosa!" The other girls looked at her. "Whut? Ah'm just sayin'."
"Yes, that remarkably crude assessment aside," sneered Rarity, "What exactly are we going to do about this Twilight?"
"Yeah, I mean I know I'm not really one to talk, but I don't think I've ever done quiet as ridiculous as this when I've taken a nap!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash gesturing to the squirming dragon. "Why don't you just ask Princess Luna to do something about it?"
"Are you kidding Rainbow Dash? I can't just ask Luna to go into... whatever dream Spike is having!" hissed Twilight. "It's embarrassing enough for you girls to see him like this, and I can't imagine how Spike would react if Luna just interrupted what ever is going on in his head. I don't want either of the royal sisters to find out about this."
"Well, look on the bright side Twi!" chimed in Pinkie Pie, forgetting for the moment their need for volume control as she giggled. "At least we know Spike doesn't suffer from e-reptile dysfunction."
"Oh miss Pie, that joke is awful even for you!" chided Rarity.
"Who's joking? Ereptile dysfunction is a serious problem that will effect male reptiles at some point or another in their life in about seventy five percent of cases." Pinkie looked at her friends dumbfounded stares. "I have a pet baby alligator. You guys do remember that right? I know a lot about reptile disorders and diseases."
"Well, do ya know anything about how to handle this?" asked applejack matter-of-factly.
Before Pinkie could answer, Fluttershy interjected, "Uh, girls? Should it be... twitching, like that?"
"Oh no," Twilight said with a groan,"Hit the deck!" She had just enough time to say the warning before ducking behind her throne. The other girls reacted as quickly as they could, but weren't quite so lucky.
"Gross!" cried Rainbow Dash.
"Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew," said Rarity over and over as she pulled out a mirror and a handkerchief.
"Wow, that was a bigger mess than my party cannon makes!" marveled Pinkie Pie.
"Oh...my." muttered Fluttershy.
"Ah think some of it mighta gotten on the chandelier..." said Applejack as she looked up.
"Oh, I didn't know you all were here," came a Starlight Glimmer's voice as she trotted smiling into the chamber. "If I'd known you were all having a meeting today I would've made tea or..." before she could finish, something fell from the wooden chandelier over head hot and landed in her mane. It was hot and sticky. The expression on her face was one of shock, that was quickly overwhelmed by anger. Her eyes bulged and her jaw clenched as she reached one hoof up to the mane that Rarity had so painstakingly styled and pulled away a wad of goo. "Everytime. Everytime. Whether i'm in the room or not, somehow it ends up in my hair!"
Oblivious to everything, Spike laughed in his sleep and rolled over. "I'm so sorry Starlight!" apologized twilight, "We were just discussing what to do. Princess Ember told me I could write to her and ask anything I wanted to know about Dragon culture. I just didn't think the first thing I'd need to ask her about would be something so embarrassing as what to do when a baby dragon hits puberty."
The look of rage on Starlight's face intensified before fading to defeat. She gave a heavy sigh as she turned around and clopped out of the room. "I know where the janitorial supplies are kept. I'll get the mop. And some towels..."
Author's Note
I hope if you're reading this that you enjoyed this story. I don't usually write 'clop', but the joke title just got kind of stuck in my head and I thought the entire situation was just way too funny. (I will not likely write anything like this again in the future, so please don't ask, I'm actually a HUGE prude.) I hope you found this as funny as I did.
