A Peace of Spike

Chapters

One of You
Secret Secrets
Found Out!
Task One Complete
Out to Market
The Hayburger
Down For a Nap
Solutions
Cupcake Water
My #1 Son

One of You

"Spike this has got to stop," the purple Alicorn used her magic to lift the sheets out of Spike's basket. "We'll run out of sheets before long if this keeps up."

The baby dragon was dejected. His emerald green eyes regarded the floor and his claw placed itself absentmindedly in his mouth.

He couldn't explain it. This night was the same as any other night. Breakfast to start the day, morning chores, daily friendship tasks, royal duties, it was all the same. Maybe he did drink too much water before bed. But he wouldn't have had to if Pinkie's habanero frosted cupcakes weren't for dessert that evening!

The sound of Spike's wet sheets hitting the laundry hamper broke Spike from his daze.

"Spike?" Twilight looked to see that her baby dragon hadn't moved an inch and was shaking, probably shivering from the cold breeze blowing by his urine stained scales. "Spike? Come on, let's get you cleaned up and then we can go back to bed." She floated him up in the air with a levitation spell and began to head towards the washroom. Spike still looked towards the ground, unsure of what to say. A single tear had begun to form in the corner of his eye.

Twilight felt bad for Spike on nights such as this. She asked a whole lot of such a tiny dragon. She often forgot that he's still just a baby. Still with infantile needs on occasion.

Moments earlier she awoke to the sound of Spike's soft sobs echoing down the hallway from his room. He would never tell her directly that he wet the bed. Instead he would try to clean up his mess on his own. Eventually Twilight pieced two and two together when she noticed how poorly the laundry was done. She was of course very understanding when she found out about Spike's little accidents. She remembers her brother, Shining Armor, having similar "problems" when they were younger and growing up in the same house. But boy was Shining ever secretive about it! To this day he's made her swear to never tell anypony else about it. He even taught her the Canterlot Royal Guard Oath of Secrecy just to commit her more legitimately to the act.

Amusingly enough all of Twilight's friends, including Princess Cadence know about his accidents now. (He just doesn't know they know.)

"Are you mad at me?" Spike was floated over their wooden drum of a bathtub.

Twilight was so shocked at that question she almost dropped Spike preemptively from her levitation spell!

"Twilight?"

Twilight has never been impatient with Spike on things he couldn't control. She always tried to show him compassion when things didn't go his way. She's never raised her voice in anger unnecessarily at him, or shamed him unfairly. Why does he feel this time is any different? Why would he think she was upset with him at all?

"Oh Spike..." Twilight offered her most sincerest of smiles, "of course I'm not mad at you. You just had an accident was all. It's just a phase I'm sure. And you'll grow out of it eventually." Twilight started running some warm bath water from a valve in the adjacent wall. It was two in the morning and it seemed like they were the only two souls awake. The running bath water broke the night's silence. "Almost everypony wets the bed when they're little. You can't help it, Spike."

"Oh," Spike began rubbing the tears out of his eyes. "Ok, Twilight. If you say so."

Twilight giggled at her baby. "Spike I know so. I've read tons of books on child care. Bed wetting in foals is more common than you think."

Spike didn't doubt she was telling the truth. She's read so many books. Who's to say some of them weren't on raising children?

Spike was definitely starting to feel better. He still had one thing on his mind however:

"I just worry that sometimes I'm too much of a hooffull for you is all."

Twilight was using a wash cloth to scrub Spike's scales clean with an all organic herbal bath solution Fluttershy had given her.

"Though it's true taking care of you was hard while I was studying at Celestia's school," Twilight began. She wasn't going to lie to Spike. "I had help. Mom and Dad helped me raise you as though you were one of their own."

Spike grabbed on to Twilight's hoof for the added balance while she kept wiping him.

"Night Light and Twilight Velvet?" Spike looked right at Twilight. "They consider me one of you?"

One of you? Twilight was a tad perplexed by Spike's phrasing. "Absolutely. We all feel that way about you Spike. Cadence, too." Twilight was starting to wonder what was going on in her baby dragon's head. Was he having another identity crisis? She always dreaded having the talk about his real parents, and she'd prefer it if he was a little older before they delve too much further into the "where did I come from" interrogative. "They both enjoyed spending time with you when you were just a hatchling. Shining Armor always looked at you kind of like his little brother to play with."

"Really?" Spike asked enthralled. Spike always looked up to Shining Armor. One of his fondest and earliest memories is of Shining Armor letting Spike ride him around the house.

Twilight lifted Spike out of the bath tub, this time with her hooves. She floated a warm, fluffy towel with Twilight's cutie mark sewn on to it from under the sink. "Spike I don't know why this is news to you, but..." Twilight blinded him in the supple towel while she held him still in her hooves. When she was satisfied that he was dry she exposed him in a mute game of peek-a-boo while she completed her thought, "...we've always loved you, silly." Twilight booped Spike on his nose which caused him to go cross-eyed for a second.

"I love you too, Twilight!" Spike reached up and threw his arms around Twilight's neck.

Twilight couldn't help but smile at his embrace. She returned his loving hug and everything was still for a moment.

"Alright Casanova. Let's go back to bed," Twilight opened the drain of the tub to let the dirty water out. "We need to get some sleep for the big day we have tomorrow. I can't have my number one assistant too cranky to keep me on schedule."

Spike yawned in agreement.

And with that Twilight carried Spike back to her bedroom. Owlicious was perched on the bed's cornice and staring out at the night sky. He turned his head to see his companions come in.

Twilight tucked Spike in first before getting into the bed herself. She stilled her bedside candle and wrapped a wing over Spike. She watched him closely and smiled.

Spike used to miss cuddling like this with Twilight when he was still a hatchling. Her presence always invited sleep so willingly for him. Spike tried remembering what it was like to live again in those moments. He listened intently to the familiar breath of his caretaker while lying there. His eyes were now starting to completely close themselves as sleep overtook them. He instinctively stuck his claw back in his mouth and dreamed himself a cozy little dream where he and Twilight could cuddle like this forever.

"Well, that was fast." Twilight said under her breath. "Goodnight, Spike." She kissed him on his head next to his spines. "See you in the morning my number one assistant."

Twilight closed her eyes soon thereafter and joined Spike in dreamland.

Author's Note

I've been brainstorming this idea between Spike and Twilight for a long time. I personally have likened these two's relationship to that of a mother and her son although I know this is a subject up for much deliberation. All I'll say on the matter is if you respect my belief to write them the way that I do then of course I'll respect yours. I truly believe that when Twilight was thrust into the role of Spike's caretaker she took on the responsibilities of a mother. Spike grew up seeing her in this way so I think it's only natural that he views Twilight as his adoptive mother. Twilight was the very first living thing Spike laid his eyes on upon hatching after all.

Please try to enjoy my attempt at writing something for them!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, and logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Secret Secrets

Celestia's sun beckoned the baby dragon's eyelids open. And that's when he became rudely aware of the blank space in bed next to him. Spike pulled his claw out of his mouth and sat up.

"Twilight?" he rubbed his eyes. He could hear some sort of commotion near the foyer so he hopped out of Twilight's bed and began curiously walking towards it.

The smell of gemstone pancakes hit his nostrils immediately.

"Good morning sleepy head!" called Twilight.

"Hey, what time is it? Did I oversleep?" Spike took a seat at the crystal counter top directly across from where Twilight was cooking breakfast.

"You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you," Twilight flipped the batter over to the lesser cooked side. "Besides you wake up and cook me breakfast all the time. I thought it'd be a nice change of pace for me to cook for you again."

Spike actually didn't mind cooking for Twilight. Even if he did Spike would never complain to Twilight about that. He just wasn't much of a complainer in general. The way he saw it, Twilight gave him life. And that's about the highest praise he could give anypony in Equestria. He reminded himself of that daily.

"Thanks, Twilight!" Spike stuck his long slender tongue out to ready his lips for the gem filled cakes Twilight had just set in front of him.

"Eat up. We have a big day ahead of us," the Princess of Friendship set some maple syrup and butter in front of her dragon as well as a glass of milk. She stared intently at her assistant as he sloppily devoured his pancake breakfast.

She spoke again: "I thought we could restock the ink wells, and buy new quills on our way to completing our daily friendship checklist."

"The checklist!"

The purple baby dragon almost spat his mouth full all over Twilight. He was about to perform a daring jump off of the back of the chair he was eating at.

"It's ok, Spike. I have it right here," Twilight unfurled the scroll revealing that item number one "Eat breakfast" had already been ticked off.

"Oh..." Spike silently admitted to himself that he liked to be the one to check the items off the list.

Shortly soon thereafter Spike finished his breakfast and took to washing the fine royalware carefully in the sink like always. He was never completely satisfied until he could see each individual scale in the reflection of the plate. He wanted to say "looking good Spike, looking real good!" but knew that Twilight was watching so he just set it on the dry rack.

He did the same thing for Twilight's plate and royalware after she finished eating.

When he was finished he turned to ask Twilight something. Something that was still on his mind from last night.

Twilight could sense her baby dragon was apprehensive. She would always notice whenever Spike was thinking about something. And barely anything got past her.

This time was no different.

"Is something wrong?" Twilight asked.

Spike opened his mouth. He was embarrassed by what was about to come out of it.

"Twilight about last night...", Spike trailed off. "Do you think you could keep my, well you know- a secret?" Spike took off his gloves and apron and set them meticulously down next to the sink he had just been working at.

"Spike, nopony has to know about your accidents except for me," Twilight was careful with how she handled this request. Because unbeknownst to Spike it had already been denied! The only other pony who knew about Spike's bed wetting was Fluttershy. Still she bit her lower lip and looked away before Spike could catch on to the fact that perhaps other ponies knew.

Twilight began to recall the event in her head:

...

"How long has this been going on?" Fluttershy calmly asked in her sing song voice.

"It's been going on two weeks now, at least two to three nights during," Twilight sounded exasperated. "I'm sorry to inconvenience you with these questions Fluttershy. It's just- you're good with kids right?"

Fluttershy didn't like to brag but she smiled in approval of Twilight's assertion.

"I just didn't know who else to turn to. And poor Spike he's so sensitive about all of this- if he found out I told anypony else about his accidents it would mortify him!" Twilight didn't like not having all the answers, but she knew better than to deny herself counsel when she needed it. And she knew she could always rely on her friends. She couldn't keep routinely washing Spike's sheets time and time again. She needed a real solution.

"Awwww, don't worry Twilight," Fluttershy put one of her hooves on Twilight's shoulder. "Spike's secret is safe with me," Fluttershy assured.

The yellow pegasus pony continued: "Bed wetting is nothing to get worked up about. Most children go through phases where they simply can't hold it while they sleep. I imagine baby dragon's are no different. It's just a phase and I'm sure it will soon pass." Fluttershy offered her friend a warm smile. "If you'd like I could lend you some child rearing books that talk about nocturnal enuresis at some length, and-"

"That would be wonderful!" Twilight cut her friend off seemingly on impulse at the mention of the word 'books'.

Fluttershy, undeniably a bit jumpy after Twilight's outburst, regained her stamina to walk over past some of her animal friends to where her book shelf was.

"Excuse me, friends," Fluttershy squeezed carefully past a group of squirrels that were chatting at the base of her book shelf.

"Let's see..." Fluttershy began scanning her shelves. "Nope... nope... nope, definitely nope." The purple alicorn watched with anticipation. "Ah here we are!" Fluttershy flew up to a shelf that housed a book titled 'Nocturnal Enuresis: Stages, Development, and Treatment'.

"Oh and you might want to look at these two, also."

Twilight floated two books in front of her with her magic: 'The Magic of Child Rearing' and another one titled 'Foals, Fillies, and Colts'.

"I hope those help." Fluttershy was worried that just maybe she wasn't being helpful enough. She flew back down to where Twilight was gladly placing new books in her bag.

"Oh, Fluttershy I can't thank you enough. These are very helpful thank you!"

"Don't mention it Twilight. I'm happy to help," Fluttershy glanced out of her cottage's front window and looked to see Spike playing with her chickens. Fluttershy giggled at the sight of Spike and Elizabeak playing tag. "Though you might need to add 'give a baby dragon a bath' to your list," Fluttershy, noticing the piece of parchment she recognized as Twilight and Spike's list protruding from her backpack, pointed a hoof at Spike playing in her front yard covered in mud.

"Well," Twilight put a hoof up to her mouth. "I guess we should be leaving then. Thanks again, Fluttershy. I'll have these back to you as soon as I'm done reading them."

"Just remember to try to be as supportive as you can. There's tons of troubleshooting ideas in those books." Fluttershy wanted to offer some more advice of her own. "And don't worry, my lips are sealed. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Fluttershy went through the motions.

The two elements of harmony had themselves a nice hug and Fluttershy waved her friends a goodbye from outside her front door. The sun was just about to go down.

"Bye Fluttershy!" Twilight called out to her after lifting Spike from Fluttershy's chicken pen.

"Bye Twilight! Bye Spike!" Fluttershy giggled at how dirty Spike looked.

"Bye Fluttershy! Bye Elizabeak!" Spike smiled as he waved back.

The chicken clucked a farewell.

Twilight placed her assistant on the ground next to her. He was far too dirty to ride her on the way home.

"So did you get what you needed from Fluttershy's?" the purple dragon tried to wipe the mud off of his face while he spoke.

"Oh, yes..." Twilight didn't like to do anything without Spike's knowing but this time was for his own good. "These new books on rare Equestrian species should prove useful in helping with our understanding of animalian magic," Twilight lied.

"Good. I can't wait to see what cool new spells you create!" Spike loved watching Twilight do what she does better than any other pony he knew.

"Alright. But first we have to give a certain somepony a much needed bath," Twilight hinted.

Spike pouted on their walk home that particular summer evening. The gradient of the sunset sky silhouetted their bodies as they walked.

...

Twilight bit her hoof, subtly.

"Thanks Twilight," Spike said, "for not telling anypony I mean." He hugged her leg in thanks. Then he looked at her inquisitively. "You ready to go? Second item on the list says we need to drop off Owlicious for his monthly preening at Fluttershy's." Spike professionally rolled the scroll up in his claws.

"Oh, erm, yeah Spike," Twilight forgot about having to go to Fluttershy's this morning!

"Let me just brush my mane, and grab Owlicious."

Twilight teleported herself to her room where she quickly stuffed her bag with a hairbrush, Owlicious' treats, and three carefully hidden books about child rearing...

Author's Note

Oooooooh! I'm telling Spike on you Twilight. :3

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Found Out!

Twilight made sure that the three embarrassing books were tucked away in her saddle bags nice and neat. That way no wondering dragon eyes would catch a glimpse of their titles. She then perched Owlicious on her back. The owl was in the middle of taking his mid-morning nap. He was perfectly content to go on a little ride. She teleported herself and her owl back to her castle's main door in an instant. The resulting flash startled her companion.

"Gah!" Spike yelled. "Man, it still scares me when you do that." Spike headed out the door with a scroll in his hand.

Twilight stifled a giggle. "Sorry, Spike."

It was another warm sunny day in Ponyville. The morning air was brisk and refreshing. Ponies could be seen galloping here and there, to various locations around the town square most definitely fulfilling their individual daily to-do lists. Birds sang new songs to their young in the tree tops and critters scurried here and there. Ponyville was alive and seizing the day in its proverbial hooves. Why, it was barely even 9 in the morning and the streets were crowded full of business. Thankfully Fluttershy's cottage could be commuted to apart from all the traffic. Spike and Twilight idly enjoyed their stroll to Fluttershy's as the quake of ponies resounded in the distance. Twilight couldn't help but notice the absence of even just one cloud. The sky was completely barren of the fluffy white matter. She pranced delighted at how amazing the weather team was that cleared the sky. She wondered what her friend Rainbow Dash was up to.

But as she was ruminating- "Twilight look out!"

*Crash!*

Twilight smacked right into a passing unicorn. A very familiar one at that.

"WHO." Owlicious hovered above the incident unscathed.

"Oh my, I'm terribly sorry," the white unicorn began clamoring to gather her things. "I wasn't looking where I was going. I was just noticing how the sky was the most dapper shade of blue and- Twilight?"

Rarity, upon dusting herself off, noticed her princess friend a bit incapacitated on the path below her. "Oh my, your things!" Rarity began encircling Twilight's belongings in a cloud of magic. Unfortunately for Spike this included the books. Twilight was still recovering from being blindsided and wasn't yet aware that the books were in plain sight for all to see.

Rarity read the title of the book aloud "Nocturnal Enuresis: Stages, Development, and Treatment?" She seemed worried.

Why? Why that one? Why could it not have been either of the other two? Twilight thought as she desperately regained her stamina to put a hoof up to Rarity's muzzle.

But it was too late. Spike was already in ear shot of the pretty unicorn probably as a force of habit. And now the little dragon just had himself the start of a terrible day.

"Twilight darling why ever do you have this book?" Rarity placed it in Twilight's bag with the hair brush and owl snacks. "And these two?" Rarity read their titles quietly to herself for fear of causing another panic attack from her friend.

Spike was standing there frozen, unsure if what he was witnessing and hearing was real or not. Was he still dreaming a nightmare asleep in the castle? No, couldn't be. The taste of gemstone pancakes in his mouth told him this was indeed a terrible reality.

Twilight saw no point in lying to her friend. She collected herself, and her things, and knew just what she had to say.

"Well-" she began. "You see Spike's been having some problems keeping his bed dry at night and I asked Fluttershy for some help in solving the problem." Rarity's eyes shot up. "In addition to taking Owlicious in for his monthly preening I was going to deliver these books back to Fluttershy's seeing as how I'm done reading them."

Spike couldn't believe what he was hearing.

She lied to me? But when? Why would she tell somepony even after I told her not too!? Spike started getting emotional again. He didn't want to be seen. His boyhood crush was standing right in front of him painfully aware of his "nocturnal enuresis" and there was nothing he could do except stand there. The tears began flowing and Spike felt his knees grow weak. The torment overcame him effortlessly.

Twilight could sense Spike's discomfort. She turned to him after addressing Rarity and nuzzled his cheek. "Spike, I'm so so sorry. I never meant for anypony else to find out, honest." She tried to wipe the tears out of his eyes but they just kept flowing. "I only did it because I have no idea how to solve your problem and I thought Fluttershy might be able to help." Spike understood. But that didn't make it any less painful to hear.

Rarity chimed up. "Spike, darling, let me just say that you have nothing to be embarrassed about." Twilight withdrew from Spike to let him listen in to her more closely. "You're still a baby dragon and these things happen. You have nothing to feel ashamed about. It's not your fault and it's nothing you can help." Rarity offered Spike a sincere warm smile and put a hoof up to his cheek to make sure that he was looking into her eyes.

"Just because sometimes you wet the bed at night," Spike cringed from the words 'wet' 'the' 'bed'. "It doesn't make you any less of a pony. Twilight was right to ask for help you know. These things happen in phases and take time to overcome. It isn't something you can just wish away with magic. Believe me." Rarity felt like maybe she was about to say too much.

Spike sniffed and wiped his eyes. It made him feel a little better to hear Rarity say that. But he still was feeling downright miserable.

"How can you be so sure?" Spike asked.

"Because..." Rarity reached for the back of her neck. "Because I knew somepony who wet the bed when they were younger too. It's really quite common." Rarity would never tell a soul.

"That's what Twilight says," Spike wiped his nose on his arm, disgustingly. Then he turned to look directly at Twilight. "I asked you not to tell anypony Twilight. So why?" Spike wanted to know.

Twilight and Rarity both exchanged looks of sympathy.

"Spike you needn't fault Twilight for looking out for you. She did the right thing by asking Fluttershy for advice. She's only trying to help you. You'll see." It really tugged at Rarity's heart strings to see her Spikey-Wikey so upset.

"Thanks Rarity but I think I got it from here." Owlicious rested back down on her back between her tucked wings. "I'll see you later?" Twilight put her saddle bags back on.

"Oh I don't suppose so. I was just dropping Opalescence off at Fluttershy's for her weekly grooming but I barely have time to pick her back up this afternoon. This big, big order from Manehattan arrived and I have to fill 2 large carts full of hemmed tuxedos and matching bride's maids dresses for this hoity-toity wedding by the end of the week. It was really quite last minute."

There was a pause.

"Oh, it's quite alright Spike. I don't need your help or-" But Rarity cut herself off from completing her unprovoked statement. Usually Spike would offer his services upon hearing of Rarity's work load. No such luck given what had just happened to him. Rarity felt bad for Spike. "Oh, Spike. I'm so sorry. Please don't beat yourself up about this. It's really not so bad darling."

Not so bad? Not so bad!? Spike mused to himself as he looked at the ground to hide his tear stained cheeks. You're not the one whose crush found out they wet the bed!

"Well erm- I must be off. Those orders aren't going to fill themselves!" Rarity let out a nervous laugh. Something she did when she didn't quite know what to say.

Spike slowly took to walking ahead towards Fluttershy's cottage while Twilight and Rarity both exchanged another look of sympathy. Rarity motioned for Twilight to go after him.

"Spike? Spike? Come on don't be like that!" Twilight called after him.

But Spike wasn't stopping.

Oh, the poor dear... Rarity thought before turning around and walking in the opposite direction.

Author's Note

Poor Spike. :,(

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Task One Complete

Spike reached the front door of Fluttershy's cottage before Twilight could catch up. He rapped slowly on it before wiping his eyes clear again.

"Coming!"

Spike heard a familiar soft voice coming from inside the cottage. A series of angered meows followed her sing song voice. Opal must be getting on with her least favorite part of the grooming experience: her bath.

Fluttershy opened the front door with a greeting smile. "Hey Spike!" She patted Spike on the head.

Spike just stood there arms crossed and looking sad. Fluttershy was aware of Spike's recent problem. She hoped he wasn't down or feeling upset because of a little accident. She knew just how emotionally painful and mentally upsetting a problem like bed wetting can cause on fillies and colts. She read all about it in her books.

The teasing and name calling can be relentless! Oh the poor dear...

"Spike? Is anything the matter?" But before Spike could even answer, Twilight galloped up from behind them. So Fluttershy turned her attention to Twilight instead for the moment.

"Oh hey Twilight!" Fluttershy wondered what the rush was for. "You look like you're in a hurry." The shy yellow pegasus took notice of Owlicious clenched to Twilight's back. "Why hello there Owlicious! My, you're such a pretty bird!" Owlicious blushed at the compliment.

"Hey, Fluttershy," Twilight was panting from the exhaustion. Ever since receiving her wings she hasn't needed to gallop nearly as much. She wasn't out of shape by any means. It was just that her stamina was untested on the ground. Twilight allowed some time for her lungs to recover.

Fluttershy turned her attention back to Spike. "Spike are you sure you're alright?" Just then Fluttershy noticed the tear marks on his cheeks. "Oh my! Have you been crying?"

Spike tried looking away quickly. But it was too late.

Fluttershy had a keen eye for emotional distress given that she was the living embodiment of kindness and empathy. Wherever there was a pony in need of consolation she could sense it and was always quick to provide a shoulder to lean on. Spike had balled his eyes out just moments prior when Rarity found out his secret. Needless to say it wasn't exactly easy for him to disguise the fact that his face was flush with sadness and his tear ducts were glistening with liquid emotion.

"Well," Twilight awkwardly began seeing as how Spike wasn't in the mood to engage in conversation with anypony. "We were on our way to drop Owlicious off for his monthly preening..."

"Oh my," Fluttershy pretended like she was overwhelmed. "That's today?"

"Yes, and while we were on our way here we bumped into Rarity." Twilight took notice of the soaked cat taking malicious swipes at Angel Bunny behind Fluttershy. "Literally I bumped into her causing everything I was carrying to fall."

"HOO." Owlicious objected.

"Sorry. Everything and everyowl to almost fall."

"Hoo."

"Including these." Twilight floated the books onto Fluttershy's back. Fluttershy had a raised eyebrow and craned to read the titles to herself.

She remembered now! Twilight borrowed these books some amount of moons ago so that she could more appropriately diagnose Spike's bed wetting. The timid pegasus was starting to put two and two together.

She gasped. "Oh my!" She put a hoof up to her mouth. "Rarity saw these?" Fluttershy looked back at Spike who just stood there feeling mortified for a second time this morning. Fluttershy knew how upsetting that must be for Spike. It was no secret to her or her friends that Spike had a juvenile crush on the unicorn. She couldn't imagine how embarrassed he must feel.

"I don't care." Spike spoke for the first time during their conversation. Albeit a lie. But he spoke nonetheless.

Twilight reached into her saddle bags and pulled out the Owl treats. She set them on the ground to Fluttershy's left. "Owlicious are you ready? Fluttershy is going to give you her very special owl spa treatment."

"HOO! HOO!" The owl gleefully flew over and perched himself between Fluttershy's ears which had sympathetically fallen over at the mention of Spike's plight.

"I'll have him over to you before the end of the day," Fluttershy promised.

"Thanks Fluttershy. We know we can count on you," Twilight closed her bags back up. "Spike what do you say?"

"Thanks for grooming our pet owl, Fluttershy." Spike's eyes regarded the earth. He then muttered just loud enough for Twilight to hear "And thanks for not lying to me and going behind my back to embarrass me."

Twilight let Spike take the jab at her. She had it coming she supposed.

Twilight felt terrible. Yes, she did deliberately go against Spike's wishes. But her heart was in the right place. What's a pony to do?

Fluttershy didn't know what to say. She thought and thought about it. She wanted to offer Spike some bit of comfort any way she knew how.

"You know Spike," Fluttershy began with an owl perched on top of her head. "Twilight told me to never tell a soul about your problem. I even Pinkie promised never to tell." Spike listened in closely to what Fluttershy was about to say. "Twilight was so worried about your feelings that she asked me over and over not to tell anypony. I swore not to. We both, Twilight and I, and Rarity for that matter too I'm sure, we all care about you. We don't think you have any reason to feel embarrassed around us. We all know how hard this is for you and we want to support and help you through it. Twilight was going to read those books in secrecy while she looked for answers to your problem. I'm sure she didn't mean for Rarity to find out." Spike knew she had a point there. "And I'm sure Rarity knows to keep your secret to herself as well."

Spike thought about it for a minute.

Really the only ponies who know about my bedwetting are Twilight of course, Owlicious, Fluttershy, and now Rarity. Maybe that wasn't so bad?

Rarity did tend to gossip but only about things that didn't matter. When it came to her friends' emotions and trust she was as loyal as Rainbow Dash in that regard.

Now it was Twilight's turn to speak. "Spike please don't worry anymore about it. Fluttershy's right. You have no reason to be embarrassed around us. We're your friends and we want to help you."

Spike was far from feeling good, but at least now his emotions seemed under better control.

"Yeah, yeah," Spike was starting to wise up to the situation. He still had doubts about it all. But he wasn't going to hold a grudge against Twilight anymore. "You're right, Twilight."

Spike perked up. Fluttershy's ears did too. "Thank you for your kindness Fluttershy." Spike reached up to hug the yellow pegasus' neck.

"Awww, Spike. Don't mention it." Fluttershy loved to see her friends happy. Her and Pinkie Pie shared that commonality.

"Will you be alright, Fluttershy?" Twilight, now satisfied, started to turn back towards town.

"Who? Me?" The pegasus was uncharacteristically confident. "I got this."

Fluttershy turned away with a determined look on her face. She grabbed the owl treats and started on back for Opal who had Angel cornered at the far side of the living space. Fluttershy was only over confident when it came to animals. And rightfully so. They were her super special talent after all. She could definitely handle two extra critters today. No problem.

Twilight wondered how such a timid pony could be so proficient with creatures of all types, shapes, and sizes. She recalled seeing Fluttershy back rub a grizzly bear and even tame a manticore!

Some ponies are just naturally gifted, she supposed.

"So Spike," Twilight felt her and her companion were back on speaking terms now. "What's next?"

Spike, scroll in hand, read aloud: "Buy some tea from Zecora's".

Twilight flew her baby dragon assistant onto her back with her magic.

"Whoa, what are you doing? Don't you want to walk?"

"How about a ride there?" The purple alicorn looked to see if Spike was alright. She wanted to do something nice for him seeing as how he's had such a rough morning insofar.

"Yeah ok but no tricks," Spike reprimanded. "I almost hurled the last time you tried the corkscrew with me."

Twilight remembered and giggled to herself. "Deal. Hold on tight." Twilight took off from Fluttershy's path towards the Everfree Forest.

Author's Note

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Out to Market

"Thanks again, Zecora!" Twilight put the pouch of tea leaves and buds into her bag and waved the Zebra a goodbye.

"Take care you two! Maybe next time it is I who shall seek something from you?"

Spike closed Zecora's mysteriously shaped door behind them. "I'm always amazed that she's able to speak in rhymes all the time. I didn't even know that was possible." Spike was beside himself for the moment. "Like how does she do it? Not once did she ever act like she didn't know what she was going to say next. She's like a perpetual rhyming machine."

Spike looked for some sign of encouragement from his caretaker and friend. "Right Twilight?"

"Oh yes. Zecora's speech patterns are quite impressive," Twilight slowed her pace. "So what's next, Spike?"

"Uh," Spike's claws opened the scroll in haste. "Buy a pound of mulch from Roseluck's. That shouldn't be too hard."

"Perfect! Roseluck's is right next to Sofas and Quills," Twilight exclaimed. "I remembered I need to buy some new quills and refill the ink containers. I should probably pick up some more scrolls too," Twilight added.

Just then a low rumbling noise sounded while they were standing on the path in the middle of the Everfree Forest.

Spike jumped. "Ah! Timber Wolves!" The sound grew louder.

Twilight was amused. She knew there was no danger. She recognized the sound tiny dragon bellies made when they were hungry. "Oh silly, that's not a timber wolf," Twilight lifted her companion up from underneath her forelegs. "The noise came from here." Twilight gave Spike's tummy a playful little pat.

"Huh," Spike pretended not to be embarrassed about his overreaction. "I guess I am a little hungry."

"Why don't I give you enough bits to buy the mulch and you go to Roseluck's while I'm at Sofa and Quills restocking the library utensils? Then we'll reconvene at the Hayburger for some lunch?"

"Sounds good to me!" Spike tucked the scroll away and the two began their leg of the journey back towards Ponyville's town centre.

When they got there the market was still stirring with transactions. Ponies everywhere were buying, selling, trading, bartering, and galloping to their next endeavor. The crowd consumed all semblance of quietness.

Spike and Twilight were used to the hustle and bustle of the market square by now. They had no problems finding where they needed to go and getting there in two separate pieces.

"Ok Spike," Twilight Sparkle rifled through her saddle bags for some loose change. "Here are five bits. That should cover it. Tell Roseluck I said 'hello', will 'ya?"

"Can do, Princess," Spike held his hand out to receive the bits. He went on his way and left Twilight to go inside the big building that sold sofas and quills. Sofas and Quills... Spike thought. Remind me to browse their sofa selection some time.

Roseluck's gardening stand was just around the corner on the opposite side of the street. Spike had to somehow navigate his way through all the hoof traffic.

Spike didn't care to admit it but he knew this would be much easier with Twilight to ride on. But he was on his own this time.

Ok, it's just like hoofball. Don't get tackled, Spike. A game of hoofball that Spike really couldn't afford to lose.

He put a leg out to cross the street when a pair of large, burly stallions almost flattened him where he stood.

That was close!

Spike made a dash for it. He couldn't see through the crowd but he knew what general direction he needed to go so he just went for it.

"Excuse me", "Oops! Sorry.", "Oh hey I like your hat."

After a series of social faux pas Spike reached the other side. He kissed the path beneath his feet.

"Spike? Is that you?"

Spike recognized the voice as belonging to Rainbow Dash.

"What are you doing kissing the ground?" Rainbow was holding back a laugh.

"Oh, no special reason," Spike fought for what little dignity he had at the moment.

Rainbow Dash was quick to realize the absence of Twilight. You rarely saw one without the other. "Where's Twilight? Why does she have you out here trying to cross the street by yourself?"

So she did know? Then why'd she even ask?

"Twilight's buying some supplies for the castle at Sofas and Quills and she sent me to buy some mulch for our crystal flower bed back home." Spike remembered what he was doing once he said it aloud and began looking for Roseluck's stand.

"Oh, you mind if I tag along? Weather patterns were a breeze today. I'm already done and it's not even lunch yet. I was just on my way to the hayburger to grab a bite." Dash had an air of coolness that always surrounded her when she spoke. Spike was envious of her confidence.

"Sure I don't see why not. Twilight and I were about to meet up at the Hayburger after I bought the mulch." Spike spotted Roseluck's just a few hundred paces in front of him out of Dashie's view.

"You want a ride?" Rainbow Dash suggested.

"Oh, that's not re-"

But before Spike could answer Rainbow Dash scooped him up and onto her back and took off in a blaze of speed that had Spike at the "Lucky Gardening Grove" faster than he could say "necessary".

Spike's scales were pushed back against his head. "You know you could really hurt somepony?"

"Pfffft. Yeah, hurt somepony all the way onto a Whinnies box!"

"What?"

Just then Roseluck came out from behind the staff door to greet the two shoppers. "Hello Spike! Hello Rainbow Dash! What brings you by today?"

"I need to buy a pound of mulch please," Spike cut to the chase.

"Certainly." The pastel white earth pony grabbed the appropriately sized bag of mulch with her mouth and set it on the counter up above where Spike was too short to see. "That'll be three bits please. How's the garden doing? Did Princess Twilight take my advice?"

"Well the crystal-eyed Susans are coming in slower than we'd like but all of the annuals we planted seem to have taken a liking to their new home." Spike stopped. "And yes talking to them definitely does seem to be doing the trick." Spike reached up with his tippy-toes and set three bits on the counter.

"Just remember flowers and plants need lots of love and attention to grow healthy and strong. If they think they're being ignored they'll be sad and not grow as fast."

"You know they're just plants right?" Rainbow chimed in.

Roseluck appeared sullen. "Just plants?"

Spike was ashamed. He had to admit the idea of talking to flowers to help them grow sounded just as ludicrous as Dash made it out to be. He didn't think of them as living things with feelings at first. Just as pretty things to look at and smell. He felt a little annoyed at himself for being so insensitive.

Just because you can't see life doesn't mean it isn't there...

"Princess Twilight says 'hi' by the way," Spike ignored Rainbow's rude remark who was poking a hoof at a Venus Fly trap beside them on the counter. "She would have came here herself, but she had to pick up a few things at Sofas and Quills and we thought it might be faster and more convenient if we split up."

"Oh that's alright! Tell the princess not to over water the susans. Their roots tend not to need as much water. And they're very easy to over water. Oh but I'm happy to hear your bed of annuals is doing well!"

Roseluck was such a sweetheart. She'd been in business in Ponyville market square for far longer than Spike's even been alive.

"Here take these," Roseluck gave Rainbow Dash and Spike 3 salted caramels. "Please won't you take that to Twilight for me? The other two you two can enjoy!"

Rainbow Dash tossed the tiny bonbon in her mouth and yummed. "Thanks!" she said.

Spike gathered the remaining two in his hand and grabbed the bag of mulch with the other. "I appreciate that Roseluck. It was good to chat with you. Have a nice rest of your day!" Spike smiled at Roseluck. He was always polite when he needed to be. Twilight was strict with him when it came to socializing and behaving in public. Spike supposed that it was because Twilight's parents were the same way.

"Bye Roseluck." Dash turned to follow the baby dragon.

"Goodbye Rainbow Dash! Goodbye baby Spikey!" Roseluck called out right in front of her next customer. The customer snickered into his hoof at the sound of "baby Spikey".

"Man, who told her to call me that?" Spike mumbled under his breath.

"Hey 'baby' Spikey the Hayburger is this way," Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof up to Spike's right.

"Oh yeah, right." That meant Spike unfortunately had to muscle his way through the crowd of ponies that flooded the street in front of him. He was noticeably perturbed.

"Here," Dash extended her hoof out to him. She knew it was hard for him and she wasn't about to tease something he couldn't help, even if he was a wimp. "Climb on."

Spike never turned down a free ride when he was offered. His chubby little legs and short stature made crowd surfing and walking with Twilight's friends hard in and of itself.

"Thanks." Spike still had the caramels and the bits and the mulch in his hands so climbing onto her back was only made easier by stepping onto her wing first.

"Ouch! Hey, careful. These wings aren't doormats you know?"

"Oops. Sorry, Rainbow." Spike clamored on by using a free claw to grip his companion's mane.

"That's better." Rainbow trotted through the market with a baby dragon on her back.

"Excuse me", "Pardon me", "Pegasus coming through", "Future Wonderbolt sensation trying to trot here". Rainbow kind of loved attention. What more convenient way to grab it then scurrying through a market place full of ponies?

Just as the mismatched pair reached the other side they could see the Hayburger and all of its glory. It smelled fantastic.

"The Hayburger!" both ponies said in unison.

Rainbow Dash wasted no time in sprinting to the front entrance.

"Wait Dashie- hold on!" Spike pulled her ears back as if they were reins. "I don't want to start eating until Twilight gets here."

"Well who knows how long that'll be?" Rainbow was determined to sink her teeth into a juicy hayburger. "It's not like we're talking about Spitfire, or Fleetfoot, or Soarin, this is Twilight. It could be a whole 'nother 5 minutes before she gets here!"

Just then:

"Why hello there Rainbow Dash!"

Both Spike and Rainbow Dash turned around to see the Princess of Friendship standing right behind them.

"Did you get the mulch, Spike?"

Spike shot Rainbow Dash a smug glance. "Yup!" Spike allowed the smelly bag of mulch to be floated into Twilight's saddle bags. "Oh and here's your change." Twilight curiously floated the two bits up to her face.

"Spike what would I do without you?"

"Aw it was no big deal Twilight," Spike was modest.

"No big deal? When I found him he was barely able to cross the street and kissing the ground on the other side." Rainbow Dash had a laugh much to Spike's chagrin. "It was good that I found him when I did or he may not be standing in front of us right now." Rainbow Dash snickered.

Twilight worried. "Oh Spike you didn't get hurt did you?" She examined him for any scrapes or bruises. "Oh I knew it was too busy a time of day to make you wander the market alone. Next time we'll go together and we can hold hooves, ok?" Spike's cheeks turned a bright shade of red.

"Bahahahahaha!" Rainbow cackled at this image.

Both Spike and Twilight looked at her confused. Spike a little more annoyed.

"I'm sorry it's just so funny the thought of Spike holding your hoof. It's like you're his mother or something! A pony and her baby dragon!" Rainbow wiped away the start of tears that had formed in her eyes from laughing.

"Well..." Twilight didn't know what to say. She always actually considered herself to be like a mother figure to Spike. Whoever Spike's real parents were obviously aren't here for him now. When Princess Celestia tasked her to watch him she and the baby hatchling developed an immediate and unbreakable bond that certainly felt familial enough to her.

Spike cut her off, "Hahahaha yeah! A mother pony and baby dragon! That's too rich." Spike egged the rainbow maned pony on in self-defense. He too considered Twilight to resemble his mother since he didn't have any other ponies in his life lining up to fill the spot.

"So," Spike tried to change the subject. "Did you find everything at Sofas and Quills?"

"Oh yes," Twilight began towards the front of the restaurant causing her company to follow close behind. She floated the new quills, ink sacs, and parchment paper in front of them in a careful and tantalizing manner as they walked. "No problems." Twilight, upon putting the items back in her saddle bags, opened the door for them with her magic as well. "How was Roseluck? Did she offer any advice as to why the crystal-eyed Susans are such slow growers?"

"Actually she did," Spike was the first to walk inside the restaurant. He ignored the overpowering smell of goodness to politely keep the conversation he was having with Twilight alive. "She said that you might be over watering them. She also suggested that we continue to talk to them."

Rainbow Dash snickered again.

"Well she hasn't let me down before. Did you tell her I said hello?" Twilight felt bad about not exchanging gardening tips with her face-to-face.

"Yes, and she said hi back. Oh!" Spike remembered he had something in his hand. "This is for you from Roseluck." Spike put the salted caramel candy in Twilight's hoof. "Maybe we want to save them for dessert?"

"Good thinking Spike. That was so sweet of her." Twilight loved doing stuff for her friends. She sometimes forgets how good it feels to get stuff from her friends too.

"Ugh, guys can we cut the mushy-gushy chatter? I'm starving!" Rainbow Dash was only interested in one thing.

"Alright silly filly, simmer down. Let's find a seat." Twilight scanned the restaurant for a vacant section. "Over here you two! This looks like a nice table to eat lunch at." The table was a booth located in the far corner of the room surrounded by patrons on both sides.

Just as they were about to take their seats and start looking at the menu a familiar cowpony called out to them, "Howdy y'all!"

Author's Note

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

The Hayburger

"Well hello there Applejack! Hiya Pinkie Pie! Would you two care to join us? We were just about to have lunch." Twilight invited.

"Sure!" The bouncy, pink party pony vaulted over Rainbow Dash in a perfect aerial flip and grinned next to her upon landing. Rainbow Dash would never admit when she was impressed but Pinkie Pie was a special case.

Rainbow Dash offered a smile at her strangely athletic friend.

"So what's up with you two?" Rainbow Dash asked. Applejack took a seat next to Rainbow Dash as well, therefore sandwiching her between two earth ponies.

"I've been helping Pinkie Pie here bake up quite a spread for a huge catering event this afternoon. We worked up a mighty fine sweat baking them tasty treats. We decided it best to stop and take a break. I mentioned the Hayburger and well-"

Pinkie Pie interrupted her friend with one of her patented gasps. "The Hayburger is like the bestest place ever! Well aside from Sugar Cube Corner that is. Ok, so maybe it's only one of my most favoritest places ever. It would have made the number one spot if the burgers here weren't so rude. No matter how many times I order a hayburger with extra hay the burgers never say 'hey' back! Why is that?" Pinkie Pie joked.

Spike laughed harmlessly in the corner he was sitting in next to Twilight. "Good one, Pinkie Pie!" He laughed. "Burgers that talk!"

The server showed up just then with everypony's waters. She was a beige unicorn pony with a notepad cutiemark. "Why hello there everypony! How are y'all doin' today? My name is Saty and I'll be taking care of you four ponies," she paused to emphasize Spike. "And this cute little dragon over here, too." Spike's cheeks turned red when everypony looked at him and smiled. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Do you ponies have cider products?" Rainbow questioned.

"Rainbow!" Applejack interjected. "It ain't even high noon yet."

"Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere!"

Twilight covered Spike's ears so he wouldn't pick up any unhealthy catchphrases.

"We get cider from pretty much every county this side of Equestria. Which distributor would you like, hun?" The server had her notepad held in front of her with her magic.

"How about my favorite cider recipe of all time from Sweet Apple Acres?" Rainbow Dash asked in a way she was sure to compliment her friend's farm.

"Uh huh. That's one cider, anypony else care for one?"

"Ah what the hay make that two please if 'ya wouldn't mind." Applejack gave in. She was pretty partial to the creature as well.

"And for you?" The server gestured at the pink pony.

"The biggest glass of chocolate milk you ponies have please!" Pinkie Pie licked her lips in anticipation. She was nuts for chocolate milk. Ok, she was nuts for a lot of things but put chocolate milk on the list.

"Oh oh oh! Me too! Me too!" Spike jumped up in his seat.

"Spike wait your turn. It isn't polite to yell out like that," Twilight calmly reprimanded her baby dragon.

"Sorry..."

"Alright so that's two chocolate milks, two ciders, and what can I get you to drink, er-" just then the server, Saty, noticed that the pony in front of her was an alicorn. "Oh my stars, you're the princess of friendship Princess Twilight Sparkle! I recognize you from the coronation!" Twilight was all too familiar with this scenario. Her friends were used to it now too.

"Yup, I eat here at the Hayburger just like everypony else," Twilight was bashful in situations like this.

"It's an honor to be serving you your highness," Saty bowed her head in a dignified manner.

"Please just call me Twilight." She waved her hoof at her in a sort of 'that's-not-really-necessary' gesture.

"Well what can I get for you to drink, Twilight?"

"Oh just water is fine. But could you make Spike's drink here a small? He sometimes has a hard time grabbing the large glasses."

"Oh certainly!" Saty and Twilight both smiled at the color of Spike's cheeks. Spike just sat there and pretended not to care. He knew better than to pout in front of Twilight.

"Just give me but a minute and I'll be right back with yer drinks." The beige unicorn was all too elated that she had seated royalty. Everypony else was amused by her reaction. Well everypony except Spike at the moment. He was feeling embarrassed.

Well the others joked and gossiped around him Spike ruminated to himself and stared out the window quietly. He didn't like that he was so dependent on Twilight all the time. He couldn't cross the street without her, couldn't order food the right way. He can't even manage to keep his bed dry at night!

How does Twilight put up with me? I'm such a burden on her.

While Spike was quietly thinking to himself Pinkie Pie was reenacting one of Applejack's crazy pie dough kneading routines and she knocked Spike's water down all over his scales. He was completely soaked.

"Oops! Awww, Spike you're all wet!" Pinkie Pie instantly felt bad. She started grabbing napkins to dry him off.

"What? No I didn't!" Spike shouted before he snapped back from his daydream.

Everypony looked confused at Spike for a moment.

"Heh, it's ok Pinkie Pie. Here, let me." Twilight summoned about four or five napkins with the help of her magic and dabbed them against Spike. Spike was still acting suspiciously defensive about the whole scenario.

"I meant 'no I'm not'," Spike tried to cover his mistake.

"Uh, yeah?" Applejack and the two other ponies on her side of the booth looked at each other perplexed.

"There we go! All nice and dry, sweetie." Twilight cheered.

"Twiiiiliiight..."

"Oh, sorry Spike. I don't mean to embarrass you," Twilight appealed. "It's just you're my sweet assistant and I want to treat you sweetly." Twilight balled the napkins up and placed them in front of her.

Saty came back with the drinks. "Here we are: two ciders," they came in wooden mugs. "One large chocolate milk," she placed it neatly in front of Pinkie Pie who immediately started going to town on it through the straw. "And one kid's chocolate milk." She set a tiny plastic cup in front of the baby dragon. The cup had all sorts of childish imagery on it and was capped by a lid and twisty straw.

Spike groaned to himself.

"Oh excuse me but could we please get one more water? This one had an accident." Twilight floated the glass full of wet napkins to the server, Saty.

But not before Spike jumped up and started to say, "no I did-", he promptly cut himself off. He almost just dug himself a deeper hole. He sat back down quickly, ashamed at himself for being so self-conscious.

Pinkie Pie finished what she thought Spike may have been about to say. "Yeah I was doing an impression of Applejack making one of her amazing apple pies and I knocked the water all over him." Spike was glad to hear Pinkie speak up for him.

"Well I'll be right back with a new one for you, dear. In the mean time have y'all decided what you want to eat?"

All four ponies replied in unison: "HAYBURGER PLEASE!" they all grinned at each other. The restaurant stilled. Saty twisted the pen she was using in her ear to stop the ringing.

"Whoa, hey are y'all sure?" Saty teased. "What about the little guy?"

Spike opened his mouth to say something but Twilight spoke for him. "He'll have a junior hayburger meal please." Twilight placed a hoof on his back and hugged him close. "Right Spike? I don't want you to get a tummy ache and we have so many leftovers at home as it is."

Spike mumbled. "Yeah, I guess so..."

I just wish you'd let me order for myself, he thought.

"Certainly! 4 Hayburger meals and a junior plate coming right up," she trotted off in the direction of the kitchen.

"Spike are you feeling ok, sugar cube? You don't seem like yourself today. Is something wrong?" Applejack took a swig of her cider.

"Yeah you've been jumpier than me when somepony says the word 'part-"

Rainbow Dash instinctively put a hoof up to Pinkie's mouth and held her still before she could say the word that would always cause her to erupt in an explosion of confetti.

"Yeah I feel fine," Spike spared his friends his feelings. "I must just be a little tired is all. Twilight and I have been running all across Ponyville this morning."

Twilight knew in her head what was really was going on. But she vouched for Spike.

"We went to Fluttershy's to drop off Owlicious," Spike didn't like where this was going. He nervously took a sip from his tiny cup of chocolate liquid. "We ran into Rarity on the way-"

"Ouch! That must've hurt her!" Pinkie almost spat out her chocolate milk. "Did you apologize?" She sounded sad.

"Wait what? But how'd- no, no, no." Twilight was caught off guard by Pinkie Pie's logic for a second. "Not like that Pinkie."

"She means passed by her, dopey." Rainbow Dash playfully bopped Pinkie on the muzzle. Pinkie smiled and resumed her drink.

"Exactly. Then we ran to Zecora's and got some of my favorite tea," Twilight kicked her saddle bags with her hooves to make sure they were still sitting under the table. Her compulsiveness to locate everything was astounding. "When we came back here to Ponyville market to buy study supplies and mulch that's when Spike met up with Rainbow Dash and we came here."

"Sounds like you two were busy then," Applejack slammed some more of her cider. "I reckon you'll probably need to take your nap soon Spike."

Spike who had been yawning was caught off guard again. He didn't like the sound of that.

"Oh yes after we eat here we're going to add 'give a baby dragon his nap' to the list and head home." Twilight approved.

Rainbow Dash snickered every time Spike was referred to as a baby. Rainbow wasn't doing it to make fun of him or hurt him. She honestly just thought it was funny how Spike was still a baby and still did things like a baby is used to doing things like, well, a baby.

Meanwhile in Spike's head he was beginning to get suspicious.

Do they know?

Spike didn't like thinking that Twilight would do something to intentionally harm him. In fact, he didn't believe it. He refused to believe it. He realizes Twilight made a mistake with Fluttershy earlier today but he didn't hold that against her. If anypony knew his secret he was glad it was Fluttershy. She was so quiet. She was a natural at keeping secrets safe. Not to mention she was the living embodiment of kindness and would never want to hurt Spike. He was still a little shaken up from Rarity finding out however. That was the real reason he was acting this strange at lunch. Twilight and he both knew it.

But did they? He wondered.

"Foods up!" The beige unicorn with the notepad cutie mark floated a gigantic disk next to their booth. It had steamy, smelly plates of fries and burgers on it.

"Wow, that was fast!" Twilight said.

"Meh," replied Pinkie.

She got to Spike last. "And for the little guy," she set the junior burger and fries in front of him in addition to placing a kid's cup of water strategically next to it. This time the cup of water had the same embellishments as his chocolate milk. Clearly the server placed the blame at least in part on baby dragon claws. Lastly, she floated a bib next to Twilight's plate so that she might put it on her messy eater. Spike didn't notice, but Twilight quietly acknowledged it.

"You guys are all set. Please let me know if you need anything else. Enjoy!"

Twilight, Applejack, and Spike all replied with a "thank you". Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash already had their mouths full.

Just as Spike was about to grab a hand full of fries he felt a shadow come over him. It was the bib.

Spike objected on impulse. "But Twilight! I can eat without a bib," He looked like he was about to cry.

Twilight didn't want to cause a scene. She figured Spike's dignity had probably suffered enough today because of her. She let this one slide.

"Alright Spike. You're right. I'm not going to make you wear it," Twilight took notice of how sloppily Pinkie Pie was eating and that maybe she should put it on her instead.

Spike was relieved. It was a good thing too. Before Twilight folded the brightly colored bib back up she read it to herself: Mommy's Little Piggy in bright yellow letters.

That surely would have embarrassed him! Twilight thought.

Their meal resumed and Twilight looked at Spike who still appeared sullen for some reason. He was portioning the amount of ketchup to put on his fries and trying to do it very carefully. As he pounded the bottom of the bottle he was growing more and more impatient. Nothing was coming out. Just as Spike was about to give up he gave the bottle one last shake and as he did ketchup went everywhere! It sprayed the wall he was sitting next to, it hit Twilight in the side of the face, it fell in Spike's lap, it got on the table. The only place the ketchup didn't land was on Spike's plate.

"Oh, Spike..."

Spike just wanted today to be over. He wanted today to be over so so bad.

Author's Note

Oh Spike... it's not your fault. I just suck at writing.

I'm sure some ponies must be getting frustrated by how inept I've made Spike out to be in this story. Let's pretend that the events unfolding in this fic happen somewhere in the middle of season 1. Does that work? Please forgive. :(

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Down For a Nap

The four mares all finished eating and payed for their tab. There was a lot of used napkins on the table covered in ketchup for some reason.

"Huh," supposed Saty. "I guess that baby dragon is quite the hoofful." She took to busing the table.

Outside Spike was mortified. Not only did he cause a huge mess at lunch this afternoon but he was pretty convinced his friends, especially Pinkie Pie, knew about his little secret.

"Bye everypony!" Twilight called out to her friends.

"See 'ya Twilight! Bye Spike!" waved Applejack.

"Baiiiiiiii you two!" bellowed Pinkie Pie somersaulting into a cloud of confetti.

"Later guys," Rainbow Dash took to the sky.

With that Twilight Sparkle turned to her assistant who was having a pretty bad day insofar and task managed him further. "What do you say we head on back home, Spike? We need to drop off a couple of things there anyways."

Twilight looked curiously at her baby dragon. It seemed like he wasn't even paying attention.

"Huh? What's that? Oh, home. Yeah," Spike let out a yawn. "Let's do that."

"Spike are you sure you're feeling alright? You must be pretty tired after all those fries you ate." Twilight laughed to herself at the ketchup incident.

"No way, Twilight. I'm not even tired honest. I could work well on through the rest of the afternoon." Spike rallied behind some feigned confidence.

"Are you sure?" Twilight started heading towards the castle. She took notice of Spike rubbing his eyes, a sign that meant they were getting harder to keep open and that he needed a nap. "Why don't we put you down for a nice nap once we get home?"

"A nap?," Spike sounded almost offended. Spike tried to scurry up to his caretaker but his little legs just didn't have the energy left in them. "Come on Twilight I don't need a-"

*Flomp*

Just as Spike was about to finish his rebuttal he fell over dead tired right there in the middle of the market square. Ponies passing by saw him lying there and snickered into their hooves.

Awwwwww, somepony's tired..., they thought.

Spike was out cold. And can you blame him? He had a busy, mentally exhausting morning.

Twilight smiled and picked him up off the ground, not with her magic but with her mouth. She did so by biting him above the back of his neck just like her mother used to do for her when she was Spike's size. Twilight placed him carefully on her back and took the scroll out from under his claw. His claw was now free to be sucked and Spike certainly didn't waste any time in doing so. Twilight could hear tiny suckling sounds coming from him as he went to town on his favorite claw.

"Oh Spike," Twilight delighted at her peacefully sleeping assistant. "How do you stay so cute?"

She gave the list a once over and resumed her walk to the castle. She was careful in her stride so as not to disturb Spike. But she also knew that Spike could sleep through just about anything.

She started humming a tune to herself to pass the time along. Twilight always wondered how it was birds were able to hold tunes so easily. Twilight supposed it was a characteristic of their ability to communicate with others of their own kind. She reminded herself to research some ornithology later. Or better yet ask her animal expert friend Fluttershy.

Twilight opened her large castle doors with a spell of her magic and immediately the inside illuminated in a crystal hue of brilliance. Twilight walked over to Spike's room where she placed him in his basket. The basket has since been giving fresh sheets and Spike's favorite baby blue blanket had been freshly fabric softened. Spike curled up into a ball of warmth underneath his familiar blanket. Twilight floated his favorite plush of Rarity next to him and he instinctively latched onto it. Spike thinks that Twilight originally sewed Rarity together for him but only she knows the truth that it was Fluttershy who did the deed in secrecy. With one of his hands on his plush friend and his other hand dutifully sucking its claw Spike dreamed his little dreams. Twilight took a motherly moment to stare down in admiration at her adorable baby dragon snuggling in his basket with a plush sewn of her friend. She kissed him sweetly on his head just beneath his spines.

"Sleep well, Spike. I'll be in in an hour to check on you."

Twilight carefully navigated her hooves around all of Spike's toys which were always everywhere on the floor. Twilight made a mental note to tell Spike to pick his room up one of these days. She got to his door and made sure to half close it. That way if Spike needed anything at all she'd hear him.

Twilight went to the kitchen to unload her saddle bags. She took out the ink wells, parchment paper, fresh quills, mulch, and tea.

"Well I suppose I have some time before Fluttershy gets here," Twilight said to herself while setting her favorite tea on the counter. "Maybe I even have time to start a cup of brew?" Twilight brought out the tea kettle and her favorite sweet golden honey. She poured water into the kettle and heated it up rapidly with some kind of incineration spell. Once the water came to a boil she strained the tea leaves and buds through it and stirred it with just the right amount of honey.

"Ah," Twilight took a sip. "Always worth the trip."

Twilight took to making sure the other items her and her assistant gathered were put in their proper places. She deposited the study utensils into the library and was sure to make sure everything down to the parchment paper was placed in the correct spot. In her mind there was no such thing as too organized. Satisfied, Twilight cruised back to the kitchen where she had set the mulch and proceeded to head on up to her crystal garden. It was up a long flight of stairs that spiraled around her bedroom. Having just become mid-afternoon, the sun was high in the sky and shining beautifully through all the glass that was strategically placed over her flower beds and gardens. It was a sanctuary up there. Another one anyways in addition to that of her library.

Twilight opened the smelly bag of mulch and was instantly reminded of her early days with Spike when she had to change his diapers. Then again the mulch wasn't quite that bad.

"Here you go," Twilight sing songed at her crystal eyed susans. "Nothing like some fresh nutrient rich soil to get you going!" She scattered it around her flower beds not just where the trouble spots were but everywhere. She wanted to ration it well because she wasn't sure how well it would work or even how much they needed. She was just happy to be up there in the glass enclosure where the sun beamed on her mane and the room smelled just like the fields beyond Sweet Apple Acres.

Twilight was putting the finishing touches on some sunflowers when she thought she heard a soft rap at her front door. She tied the bag of mulch back up and placed it in the corner of the greenhouse next to her other gardening supplies.

"Bye everyflower! I'll see you tomorrow!" Twilight knew to try and be more vocal with her plants just like Fluttershy and Roseluck. If it worked for them there's no reason it shouldn't work for her.

The flowers and garden specimens quietly thanked her for the attention.

Twilight paced slowly down the steps where her suspicions were confirmed. There was indeed a visitor here to see her. The same soft knock could be heard coming from her castle's main door.

"I wonder who that could be." Twilight wiped her hooves off with a rag as she passed by the kitchen counter to her main hall and entrance. "It couldn't be Fluttershy with Owlicious already, could it?"

She stepped into the foyer and opened the door to reveal her pet owl and a timid yellow pegasus.

"HOO." The owl was smiling atop Fluttershy's head.

"Hey, Twilight. We're not too early are we?"

I know she's good with animals but wow! That was fast!, thought Twilight.

Author's Note

I just realized that after importing my body's text into the fimfiction template all of my italicized words got deleted. Zephyr Breeze and I are a lot alike in that we're both very lazy ponies. So I'm going to continue to just leave it to the reader's ability to determine what sections represent a character's thoughts. I know I know.... I'm awful.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Solutions

"Fluttershy!" The purple alicorn was surprised to see her animal caretaker friend back so soon with her pet owl. "Come in! Come in!"

"Hoo, hoo!" Owlicious hovered right above Twilight so that he could show off his feathers.

"Oh my Fluttershy, you did a fantastic job with Owlicious. He looks even better than I expected! I don't know what to say!" The owl donned feathers of the most beautiful hues of brown, autumn, and tan. The owl would be blushing if all those beautiful feathers weren't covering up the flesh on his cheeks.

"Thank you so much Twilight. But it was nothing, honest. I just love helping out a friend," Fluttershy lifted her hoof for Owlicious to temporarily perch on while she admired him. "Especially if that friend has a cute, beautiful, handsome owl like this one." Fluttershy offered the owl a warm smile who returned it with a noise of gratitude. Owlicious then took off to pursue other owly matters.

"So," Fluttershy was interested in something else. "How's Spike holding up? He seemed pretty upset earlier." Fluttershy remembered just how sad Spike looked standing at her threshold only but several hours earlier. His embarrassing secret was just found out by quite arguably the only pony in Ponyville who he didn't want it discovered by. And he wasn't taking it so well then. "I know we talked a little bit and that seemed to cheer him up," Fluttershy paused. "But I worry about him. I hope he's still not feeling embarrassed by it all." The timid yellow pegasus pony rubbed her foreleg and regarded the castle floor.

"Oh he's doing better, don't worry!" Twilight stated. "We've since had lunch with Rainbow, Pinkie, and Applejack at the Hayburger while you were busying your hooves with Owlicious. He was acting a little strange but nothing too serious."

"Oh, that sounds lovely! I just love their oil fried oats," Fluttershy cutely bucked her forelegs as a sign of approval.

"Yeah, the poor little guy was so tired after running all of those errands with me that he fell over tired from needing his nap before we were out of the street."

"The poor dear..." Fluttershy above all ponies knew how important it was for young ones to be given intermittent sleep throughout their daily schedules. Even well trained baby dragon assistants like Spike!

"Which reminds me: it's about time I ought to check on Mr. Sleepyscales. Won't you come with me?" Twilight asked her friend.

"Sure Twilight!" Fluttershy found it hard to contain her elation. She always thought Spike was so cute. Even from the first day she met him.

Twilight led the way bounding for Spike's chamber down the long narrow hallway her very own room was located in. Twilight and Spike's rooms were very nearly situated for the obvious convenience. Sometimes Spike would tiptoe through this narrow stretch of hallway in the middle of the night if he was having an especially bad dream. He'd crawl into bed with the only pony in Equestria who could make him feel safe. Other times it would be Twilight who would carry him off to bed after lulling him to sleep. The rooms being close by was useful to say the least.

Twilight approached the magenta painted door and slowly creaked it open. Fluttershy could read on the wooden door frame in big block letters "Spike's Little Home". She smiled at the charming atmosphere.

Sunlight shone through the teal curtains on the adjacent window. The light from Celestia's sun came close to landing right on the basket where both ponies could still see a peacefully sleeping baby dragon clutching his favorite doll deep in slumber. Twilight who was an expert on navigating around all of Spike's thoroughly used toys walked carefully up to his basket. Fluttershy however, being overwhelmed by the chaos, flew up to hover just slightly and silently above the floor with the calming flap of her wings.

"Awww, he still likes his doll I made for him I see." Fluttershy whispered.

"Some nights I can't get him to sleep without it," Twilight reached for Spike.

"Spike?" Twilight pulled back the covers of Spike's baby blue blanket. "Spike it's time to get up. Don't you want to get up go outside and play? It'a a beautiful day. Much too beautiful to waste it all napping."

Spike slowly opened his eyes, pulled his claw out of his mouth, sat up and yawned. He tried to get the little bit of "sand" out of his eyes. That sandpony was always putting sand in them.

"Oh hey Twilight," Spike let out another yawn before regaining the acuity in his other senses, still yet to notice Fluttershy. "Yeah, sure. Just give me a moment." Spike got up out of bed and set his Rarity plush back in his basket. He resumed his post-nap ritual of tossing his blanket back in the rightful place.

"Spike you're so cute when you're sleeping you know that?" Fluttershy landed softly down next to Spike so that she could sweetly pat him on the head.

"Gah! Fluttershy?" Spike grabbed his chest.

"Oh my, did I startle you? I'm so sorry!"

"No, not at all. It's not that..." Spike rubbed his eyes unsure of what to say or do next.

Fluttershy moved to help Spike straighten his bed sheet out. The baby dragon was taken back by that a bit. He only remembers eating at the Hayburger say but an hour ago. He wasn't expecting Fluttershy to join Twilight in rousing him awake.

Fluttershy pulled Spike's blanket taught over the other side of his basket. "There! All done! And you managed to keep your basket nice and dry too!" She offered her most sincerest praise.

Spike turned red for a second but pretended not to notice she said that. "Thanks for your help, Fluttershy," Spike gave another post-nap yawn. "Yeah, I almost forgot you were coming this afternoon to drop off Owlicious was all." Spike turned to smile up at the yellow mare. He wouldn't admit it to her but he still wasn't used to anypony else knowing about his problem. Especially Rarity.

Twilight spoke up now. "Spike do you need to go to the bathroom? After drinking all of that chocolate milk at the Hayburger..."

Almost impulsively Spike took off running for the bathroom. He zoomed in a flash out of his room whence the two ponies came.

"Yesssssss!" was all Fluttershy and Twilight heard.

The two ponies exchanged a look of amusement and had themselves a good laugh. They trotted out of Spike's room and Fluttershy carefully shut the door after them. They convened in the main room and Fluttershy and Twilight sat in their respective thrones.

"You know," Twilight's voice echoed in the castle's big boisterous room, sound waves bouncing all over the crystal walls. "Those books had some interesting ideas on ways to help Spike." Twilight hovered over some of the tea she had brewed earlier to the center table and poured some for Shy. "Honey?"

"Oh yes please!" Fluttershy and the princess shared a mutual love for tea from Zecora's. Fluttershy grabbed the honey delicately out of Twilight's magical aura and stirred it in her brew. She sipped it quietly much the same way she speaks.

"The one book all about Nocturnal Enuresis you let me borrow talks about trigger warnings. In it, it describes types of triggers psychological triggers, physical triggers, and environmental triggers." Twilight sipped a little bit of her own tea. "Fillies and Colts are susceptible to an astounding number of triggers or combination of triggers which could for any reason cause them to lose control of their ability to 'hold it' at night. It's the parent's job," Twilight gestured to herself which Fluttershy found adorable, "to identify these triggers and isolate them effectively."

Fluttershy, a bit concerned now, asked "Well have you any idea what kind of triggers Sp- I mean 'he' could be suffering from? He seemed to nap fine just now. So maybe you could deduce something from that?" Fluttershy, afraid Spike might be listening in on them especially in such a noisy section of the castle, decided not to name drop the drake.

"That's just it. Nothing is consistent. In all of my observations Spike's wetting seems to be completely random! Sometimes it's 6 or 7 days out of the week. Other times it happens but once. The triggers seem to be completely arbitrary."

"What triggers? What's wrong, Twilight?" Spike climbed up to sit on his throne next to Twilight's.

"Oh, it's nothing Spike. Hey," Twilight was suspicious of him. "Did you remember to wash your hooves?"

Spike turned his hands over to reveal that they had been shined by soap and water.

"Very good Spike!" Twilight applauded. "You know since you were such a good #1 assistant today by helping to keep me on track and being an angel at the Hayburger..."

Spike liked where this was going.

"Why don't you take these two shiny bits and see what gemcakes Pinkie Pie has at Sugar Cube Corner?" Twilight suggested.

"You mean it?" Spike clenched his fists and pointed them triumphantly at the ceiling. The ceiling which held the roots of their old library: the Golden Oaks Library. "Alright!"

Fluttershy was enjoying this little moment the two of them were having.

You didn't need to tell Spike twice. He knew exactly what he was going to get too. That little dragon was up and out of the front door almost before he could say: "Thank you Twilight!"

"You're welcome!" Twilight tried calling back out to him before the door closed behind his shadowy figure.

"Oh he's such a sweetheart," Fluttershy replied upon taking yet another sip of Zecora's home brew tea.

"As I was saying," Twilight started again. "I just can't narrow it down. His accidents are entirely random."

"Well these things do come in phases. Sometimes the answer is as simple as letting him grow out of it."

Twilight shook her head. "That's not good enough for me. I want to help him now if there's any way at all that I can. There's got to be."

"Well have you tried talking to him more about his problem? Maybe it'd be easier to figure out why it happens if you find out something's been on his mind?" Fluttershy inquired.

"Hmmm, that's true, and I can't say I have tried to talk things over with him yet. It's just so hard to get a sign out of him. Every time it happens he's just so bogged down by emotion I'm afraid to even talk to him about it," Twilight looked sad. "It's like his eyes are telling me he just wants it all to be over and go away. That's not a conversation I ever feel good about striking up."

"But Spike needs you to prod him a little don't you think? You don't have to make things uncomfortable for him, sure. And I absolutely think it's great that you're so sensitive as to always consider his feelings. But suppose his trigger is psychological? An underlying cause that can only be uncovered by talking it out with him." Fluttershy had a point.

"You know I've never considered that..." Twilight didn't care to admit that she's missed anything. Ever since Princess Celestia tasked her to take care of Spike she's always prided herself on her ability to handle the baby dragon on her own. "Fluttershy what would I do without you, really?"

"Well, like I said Twilight I'm glad to be of even the slightest bit of assistance. I understand how unpredictable and stressful child rearing can be. It is by no means an easy task." Fluttershy reassured her friend.

"Thanks. You know what? I'll try talking to him about it tonight before bed."

"Oh I think that sounds like a wonderful idea!" Fluttershy sat up and her wings shot out in enthusiasm.

Twilight and Fluttershy both continued to drink their tea in unison at the large rotund table until it was time for Fluttershy to head back to her cottage.

Author's Note

The element of kindness, kindly upholds her secret, preens Owlicious, and offers her friend advice on "nocturnal enuresis". In case you can't tell by how biased I am Fluttershy is my favorite pony and I think she just works extremely well alongside anypony. I am an introvert and therefore I identify a lot with Flutters. Look for something from me with Fluttershy in the spotlight for the future!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

Cupcake Water

It was getting late now. Fluttershy had left for her cottage well over an hour ago and still no Spike.

What could that baby dragon be doing? thought Twilight.

Twilight was getting worried. She decided she was going to simply trot on over to Sugarcube Corner and see if she could find him herself.

But just as she was about to exit through the front of her castle the door flung wide open.

"...Time to buy a new fence!" Pinkie Pie delivered the punch line of a joke she was in the middle of telling Spike.

"I don't get it. How can it be 'timetobuyanewfence' o'clock?" Spike asked from on top of Pinkie Pie's back with cupcake frosting all over his mouth and claws.

Pinkie snorted. "You silly filly! The elephant breaks the fence when he sits on it so the time it is when an elephant sits on a fence is time to get a new one!"

Spike was gently bucked off Pinkie's back and he slid down her tail which had somehow contorted to form a slide. Spike reached the bottom of the "slide" with a step of his feet.

"Ohhhh... hahahahahaha!" Spike laughed. "I get it now! Elephants are too big to sit on fences."

"What are you two talking about?" Twilight interrupted their little moment.

"Oh hey, Twilight," Spike waved his frosting covered claws at his pony companion. "Pinkie Pie was just telling me another one of her jokes while she walked me back from Sugarcube corner."

"The one about elephants?"

"You mean you've heard it before?" Spike shot Pinkie a disapproving glance.

"Not just about elephants Twilight. Elephants that sit on fences. And elephants who can tell precisely what time it is." Pinkie gasped. "Oh my gosh! And do you know what time it is?"

"It's precisely ha-"

Pinkie Pie vaulted in front of Twilight with a party canon acquired from mallet space. "Time to get a new fence!" The canon exploded with a white picket fence. Pinkie Pie held it proudly in her hooves.

"I can only guess how many cupcakes you both ate." Twilight took notice of the frosting all over Spike's mouth and claws.

"Well actually-" Spike began.

"No, Twilight. You can know how many cupcakes we both ate because I'll tell you." Pinkie paused for dramatic emphasis, looked at the two of them standing in the castle to see if they were intently listening. Satisfied: "Two."

"Just two?" Twilight sounded confused.

"Well you did give me 2 bits Twilight. That's a bit-a-cake." Spike reminded Twilight.

"No. This is a bit of cake!" Pinkie Pie holding a plate of chocolate cake suddenly "pied" it into Spike's face. Spike licked his face with his long slender tongue and fell on the floor holding his sides.

"Good one Pinkie Pie!" Spike had tears of laughter in his eyes.

Twilight sighed. "Thanks for bringing Spike home Pinkie Pie. I was beginning to wonder when he was coming back."

"Awww, it was nothing Twilight. Spike is a great audience. He even has a couple jokes of his own." Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Oh?" Twilight looked over at Spike who was trying to dislodge a stray tear from his jovial eyes. "Well I'll be happy to hear some of them while I'm giving him his bath."

Spike sank.

"Well I should get out of your mane then. I need to go back and keep my eyes on the cakes anyway. You never know what kind of cake mongering ponies roam these streets in the evening," Pinkie said looking out the facade's window. "I feel 'em out there. I can just feel them, Twilight."

"Uh huh," Twilight was half listening and half keeping her eye on Spike who was all too predictably trying to tip-toe away after the mention of the word "bath".

"You hear me cake thieves? I WILL FIND YOU!" Pinkie screamed out from the top of the castle suddenly appearing there for an instant in a flash.

Pinkie Pie teleported back down in front of the purple dragon and mare.

"I'll help you find them," Spike attempted a rudimentary diversion.

But Twilight was much too aware. "Oh, no you don't Iron Pony." Twilight encased Spike in a bubble of magic. "You're not going anywhere."

Spike knew there'd be no resisting her. He folded his arms and glared at nothing while he was gently placed on her back.

"Well thanks again Pinkie and good luck erm, uh finding those cake nappers."

"Thanks Twilight," Pinkie Pie had a determined, focused look of energy on her face. "But luck has nothing to do with it. I'll stand guard all night if I have to. The only thing I ask in return is to be rewarded with cake. Lots and lots of cakes..." Pinkie started ruminating to herself and looking in front of her forelegs as she walked out Twilight's door.

"Goodnight Pinkie Pie!" Twilight called out from next to the door.

"...Big cakes too. And small ones of course. But also big ones."

Spike and Twilight exchanged mutually perplexed looks. Spike thought he'd try calling out next: "Goodnight!"

But Pinkie Pie stayed fixed in her cake dreams. Spike and Twilight both shrugged as they closed the door behind the pink one.

Suddenly they heard a cry of realization: "I'M THE CAKE THIEF!?"

Twilight briefly glanced back at the door. Spike chuckled to himself thinking just how random Pinkie Pie could be sometimes.

Now that that was over it was time to deal with a certain dirty dragon.

"Do I have to take a bath? Look I was able to get most of the frosting off by myself!" Spike held up his claws in front of Twilight's face. He had no mirror and therefore couldn't see just how messy his face was.

"Yes. Bath. Now mister." Twilight marched Spike up the steps to the bathroom.

The bathroom had a blue and magenta tiled floor, matching towels, and a shower curtain that showed all of Twilight and Spike's favorite constellations on it. In the corner of the bathroom was the large wooden tub they used for Spike's bubble baths. Twilight grabbed some bubbles and ran the warm water just right. The sound of the rushing water irked Spike but he still knew better than to fight with Twilight. Besides the bubble he was trapped in was a pretty strong deterrent from any unwillingness on his part.

Twilight poured the bubble solution in the tub underneath the running water so that it foamed up nice for Spike.

"Aw, don't pout Spike. It'll all be over quick," Twilight hovered the bubble of magic her assistant was held in right over the water and set him down in it. The water fell just above Spike's midsection. Spike had to admit the warm water did feel alright on his scales, even if he had been saving the frosting between his claws for later.

"If you say so."

Twilight didn't waste any time. She grabbed a pink wash cloth from a nearby drawer and scrubbed everywhere!

"Ah! Hey! Twilight! It tickles! Stop!" Spike had very sensitive skin under his arms, beneath his feet, and on his tummy. Twilight knew this and smiled all the while. To speed things up she had multiple rags scrubbing between Spike's toes and his claws, as well as under his arms. Spike was laughing so loudly from it that Rarity could probably hear him from the Carousel Boutique. Twilight continued to hold Spike in her magic just over the water while he was turned, flipped, and scrubbed soundly front to back, top to bottom, side to side.

"This little pony went to market," Twilight pinched one of Spike's large toes. "This little pony stayed home." She moved to the next. "This little pony had cinnamon sapphire cupcakes."

Spike prepared himself for the loudest part.

"But this little pony had none." Twilight grinned widely. Spike knew what was coming next. Twilight pinched Spike's littlest dragon toe in her hoof and said, "and this little pony cried 'wee, wee, wee!' all the way home!"

"AHAHAHAHAAAAAHA- HAHAH!!!!" Spike was uncontrollable with laughter. He didn't even have his eyes open. He was shaking all around as Twilight ran her hooves all over Spike's body like she did whenever she got to the "wee" part of the nursery rhyme.

"Twilight stop! Please! Please stop! I can't take it anymore!"

Twilight lifted her baby dragon out of the tub who had been thoroughly tickled beyond composure. Twilight just smiled as she always did when Spike laughed like that.

She placed him in a warm fluffy towel monogrammed with her cutie mark (the towels were sewn by Rarity as a house warming gift for Twilight's new castle). As she was drying him off he started to calm down.

"There! All nice and dry Spike! And look at that! No more frosting." Twilight pulled the plug on the bath's drain.

"Yeah, yeah that was all very cute. Are we done now?" Spike would never admit to liking the "this little pony" game she played with him during bath time.

"Almost Spike. Now all you have to do is brush and floss your teeth and wash your hands afterwards."

Spike groaned. He didn't mind brushing. It was the flossing that he detested. Fluttershy had somehow put it in Twilight's head that flossing was absolutely necessary to do at least once a day. Twilight trusted her animal caretaker friend of course and that was all she needed to hear to form a solid opinion of her own on the manner. Research or not. Her dragon assistant number 1 was not going to develop gum disease if she had anything to do with it.

Spike hopped up on his stepping stool by the sink and got to work.

"When you're done go to your room and pick out a story you want me to read you for bed time. I'd say you earned it. Today was long and you were the perfect assistant all day." Twilight gladdened.

Even after I dropped the ball... Twilight mused.

Spike already had his favorite book picked out almost immediately upon Twilight mentioning story time.

Once Twilight was back downstairs Spike hurried to spit out the gross tooth paste and grabbed a hoof full of floss. It was tricky for him to do by himself at first. It wasn't until Twilight showed him the right amount to use and how to get in between the teeth towards the back of his mouth that he was able to do it on his own. Spike had a lot of sharp baby teeth to clean between though!

He washed his hands one more time tonight and hopped on down to descend the stairs towards his room. "That wasn't so bad." Spike said aloud to himself.

What book should I pick? Goodnight Firebreather? Or something else? What's Twilight's favorite book? Maybe we can read that one this time?

Spike was just about to his room with the door that read "Spike's Little Home" when he heard Twilight pacing back and forth from behind it.

"Twilight? Is everything alright?"

Twilight, already holding Spike's favorite book "Goodnight Firebreather" under her wing, stopped pacing upon Spike's entrance.

Twilight looked directly at Spike and said "Spike I need to talk to you about something right now. Can we read Firebreather in just a minute?"

Whoa! Whatever Twilight wants to talk about, Spike thought. It must be important. Twilight never puts off reading anything!

Author's Note

Getting close now! Only one more chapter to go.

If you're one of the select few who made it this far I thank you for your time.^^

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO.

My #1 Son

Spike didn't like where this was going. "About what, Twilight?"

Spike noticed Twilight had already grabbed his favorite book. Twilight placed it gently down on the folds of his bed basket.

"About your accidents."

Spike really didn't like where this was going. Spike froze at the mere word alone and Twilight could see this unnerved him.

"Spike I've noticed that this whole situation has really been putting a lot of stress on you. Stress on you while we're out doing errands, stress on you when we're at home, stress on you when we're out with friends," Twilight paused. "I never even imagined being with friends was something capable of stressing somepony out!"

Spike stood there at his bedroom door still frozen and unsure of what was to come next.

"I just don't like seeing you so stressed Spike. I want to try helping you and sure I admit I sort of went about it the wrong way at first what with going behind your back to ask Fluttershy for information. But I'm here to make it up now."

Twilight Sparkle paced around the room in front of Spike while she spoke.

"The truth is Spike these things are sometimes psychological, mostly physical," she supposed. "But psychological nonetheless. And you acting out while we're among friends really frightens me that there's something more really going on here Spike. Why don't you trust our friends?"

Spike was still recovering from being emotionally ambushed. He was unaware that Twilight had asked him something directly and was awaiting his answer.

"Spike? Why do you think our friends would ever hurt you or make fun of you?" Twilight was right in front of Spike now directing his attention to her face. "Over something you can't control no less?"

Spike stonewalled his tear ducts. "It's not that. It's not like that at all."

"Oh? So tell me. Why then?"

Spike balled his fists at his sides and mustered every ounce of courage to be honest. He knew he could never look Applejack in the eye again if he lied to his caregiver outright. He sighed and let the words flow out.

"Twilight, when I was just little more than a hatchling you took me in and cared for me. You used your magic to make me happy and stayed up with me when I was scared. You sacrificed a large part of your time for me before you even knew me or what I was. And I was such an inconvenience on you from the very beginning."

"Spike you know that's not true. Princess Celestia did task me with caring for you and you were technically my entrance exam to her school, but our bond was unbreakable from day one. I don't see what that has to do with our friends. They like you and care for you, Spike. Just like I do."

Spike countered, "But you always talk about how hard those times were for you, not to me, but I hear it when we're out with old friends and new friends. 'Magic school was very stressful and very challenging at first'," Spike did the finger quotation marks with his claws. "Am I to believe that I was making things easier for you? I barely remember any of it during those days but even I know that that can't be true!" Spike started to feel the tears well up. "I don't need them thinking that you're only with me because you have to be!"

Twilight was panged by this realization. She had no idea Spike felt this way.

Does Spike think I resent him then?

"I just wish I could have shaped up earlier for you," Spike sobbed. "But I couldn't. I don't know how. I'll never be truly independent without you."

Spike fell down on the floor, collapsing from the weight of lifting all of this emotion out from within him.

"There's no way for me to play that scenario out in my head that we were both happy."

So this is why? Twilight supposed Fluttershy was some sort of child care wizard.

"How will I ever truly know you won't disown me? All of those moons you wasted on me at Celestia's school, I was no good for you, Twilight. No good for a hard working, smart, talented unicorn attending the best magic school in all of Equestria!" Spike was crying loudly now. He was shielding his eyes with his hands. "I gave you nothing then! I could offer you nothing in return except gas, long loud nights, an insatiable appetite, and dirty diapers! And now..."

Twilight reached out to her son, "Spike..."

"And now many moons later, even after you've read me countless stories, made sure the boogie pony isn't waiting for you to leave so he can eat me, making me hot cocoa just the way I like it scalding hot, after all of these moments the only things I can give you are checklists, messages, and an occasional book or two. Add to the list my inability to cross the street by myself, messing eating habits, and well- you know..." Spike undoubtedly referencing his ongoing problem.

"Let's face it, Twilight. I'm always going to need you more than you need me..."

Twilight was holding back her own tears now. She wouldn't let Spike see it though.

"I'm scared, Twilight. Scared that you'll soon realize this and leave me and I'll be all alone again like when I was found."

Spike stopped there, a mess curled up on the floor beneath a flood of tears. Twilight had heard it all. Any pressure she put on Spike to be independent was completely missed by her. None of what Spike had said had ever crossed her mind as a possible sensation. She quickly internalized it and empathized for Spike. Night Light and Twilight Velvet had very high expectations of her and Shining from an early age. She didn't like thinking that somehow she vicariously raised Spike through them.

Spike was hunched over in a pool of his own sobs. "Don't go Twilight... Please don't go." Spike wailed. "I promise not to drink anymore water before bed. Honest! Just don't leave me alone! Please..."

Twilight was not prepared for this. But she had instinct. So she acted on it.

"Spike," Twilight lifted him up in her hooves and tried to get him to stare into her eyes.

"When I made you my assistant do you want to know why?"

"Wha- Why?" Spike rubbed his eyes.

"Classes like the History of Magic in Equestria, Science and Potions, and Magic Philosophy were easier for me because they all involved lots of reading. But in Professor Inkwell's Spell Writing and Incantations class I had no choice but to demonstrate learning hands on."

Spike looked intently up at Twilight from within her grasp. He was intrigued.

"You despised that class when I had to bring you in there with me. Professor Inkwell's face used to scare you," Twilight laughed remembering such an occasion. "When it was time to group up and practice our magic in our lab groups nopony wanted to work with me. I guess they thought I wouldn't have time or that I'd be too distracted or maybe that you were too loud."

"I don't see how this is helping any, Twilight," Spike said from under Twilight's cradling arms.

"Just a moment. Just as it seemed that I wasn't going anywhere in the class an idea occurred to me. I didn't need my classmates to form a lab group! I had the best magic assistant in all of Equestria."

"HOO."

"Oh hey, Owlicious." The owl came in to Spike's room and perched himself right above them so that he could listen in on Twilight's story.

"Who'd you find to be your lab assistant, Twilight?"

"You!" Twilight booped Spike playfully on the nose. "I told you that you were going to be my assistant and it was your job to test spells with me. You agreed more or less. Well, you put your foot in your mouth and said 'gah', but same thing, really."

Spike looked surprised.

"We tried all sorts of spells before we got the class prompts right. I think I turned you into a fire breathing mouse at one point by mistake? Those were some of the fondest memories I had at magic school. I no longer worried about my classmates or how I'd understand the lesson material because I had you, my number one assistant." Twilight placed Spike on his bed and sat down next to him so she was at eye level with him as he laid in his bed.

"But you taught me something else too. Something that no textbook, professor, lab group, test tube or pedagogical utensil could ever teach me."

"What's that, Twilight?"

"Spike, you taught me how to love."

Spike sat up confused. "Love? Like Mr. and Mrs. Cake?"

"Well kind of. Love, Spike, is something everypony feels at some point in their life. It may help you to imagine love as that feeling you get when Rarity looks at you and says hello." Twilight winked.

Spike sunk down in her arms a little, succumbing to the daydream Twilight just induced.

I love love then..., Spike drooled in thought.

Twilight floated a cloth she had handy down onto Spike's face to clean the drool.

She continued: "At that point before I met you I was so bogged down by trying to be the best at magic that love was completely foreign to me. Friends were of the littlest importance to me in my life. Success was of the highest value. I had no time to stop and share love with friends."

"I don't see what this has to do with me."

"When I watched you grow and I saw you interact with me in the most innocent of ways I was constantly reminded that it's ok to make mistakes. And that it's ok to not always know the answer to everything." Twilight wiped a stray tear away from Spike's eye.

"Spike, don't you see? You took so much pressure off of me and you offered me so much love seemingly entirely by accident. Here I had this little dragon who, prior to having met me, was sitting inside of an unhatched egg blissfully unaware that the nest they were in wasn't being sat on by their real mother. And I didn't know a thing about dragons! Let alone baby dragons!"

She paused.

"But I soon learned," Twilight giggled into her hoof. "Spike you gave me so much without realizing it. You still do. You taught me how to care and how to love. All by yourself in your own way."

"I wish I could remember those moments..." Spike sniffed.

Twilight recalled flipping through her family's photo album with Spike where her Dad Night Light took countless photos of the two of them. Spike always had such a hard time recognizing himself so small.

"You say that you were an inconvenience on me Spike but that couldn't be further from the truth."

"Really?"

"Spike I love you. And I always will. I may not have realized it at first when you were given to me. But truly you taught me more than I'll ever be able to teach you. You may not see it that way. But just know that if I'd ever left you, it'd only be in your very worst dreams. I need you just as much as you think you need me, Spike. And I'll always always always love you bunches and bunches in the whole wide world of Equestria." Twilight kissed Spike on the head again. "Please don't ever think I'd leave you. There's no way I'd ever repay you like that."

Spike took a second to digest all the information that Twilight just laid out on him.

"So I'll always be your number one assistant then? You'll never leave me?" Spike was enticed.

"Oh Spike," Princess Twilight lifted the sheets to cover her dragon in his tiny basket. "You were never really my assistant."

Spike frowned.

"Spike," Twilight began but paused because she wanted to put this delicately. "Spike, you've always been my baby dragon first and a number one assistant second. Don't you ever doubt that."

Satisfied with her answer Spike settled under his covers next to his adoptive mother.

Twilight, confident in her ability to soothe her baby dragon, finally reached for Spike's favorite book: Goodnight Firebreather.

"Shall we? It's getting late and I don't want my number one assistant too tired to help me complete our checklist tomorrow." Twilight started to open the cover of the novel.

"Yes, mommy."

Twilight smiled down at Spike and began: "Chapter 1: Scales in Armor."

And just as soon as Twilight began reading Spike was already drifting off to sleep. He had the most tremendous smile on his face.

Twilight read on aloud anyways, leaving the two of them and an owl to enjoy each other's company just a little bit longer that night.

Twilight supposed the bed wetting might just fix itself...

Author's Note

You did it.

Please let me know what I can work on and any and all advice/feedback/criticism you give me I will greatly appreciate!

Thank you so much for reading!
-Jake

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all related characters, ideas, logos are trademarked and copyrighted by HASBRO. The only thing that's mine is "A Peace of Spike".