Author's Note

I know this story has sex tagged as one of the content buttons, but that's not gonna happen for quite some time friends! Sorry to disappoint guys but this really isn't that kind of story. To those of you with smut expectations I apologize, but at least now you're aware

~^*This chapter is told from Belle's perspective!*^~

Chapter 1 - Getting Familiar with the Scales

The Crusaders made their mark on the world. While there was never a moment in life where I felt more alive, that was four long years ago. Since then Apple Bloom had spawned the beginnings of her own amazing renovations company, and Scootaloo was becoming a rugged BMX and X Games goddess across Equestria, but what was I doing with my life? Oh Sweetie Belle you're as pretty as your sister. It's so cute when you get all spacey. You are the sweetest pony in all of Equestria. Stay innocent, it keeps you young. Well I don't want to be naive, sweet Spacey Belle, I want to be a somepony like my friends. If only I could be brave enough to find my calling like my awesome somepony friends.

"Sweetie Belle?" That sweet yet sassy country twang would be recognizable anywhere in Equestria. As much as I needed alone time, it was good to hear Apple Bloom coming to my rescue.

"What the hay are ya doing broodin' in the meadow?" She asked.

"Nopony was brooding," I said, "Just taking a little brain break."

"Well get yer brain back here in Ponyville," she said as she nudged me up onto my hooves, "Twilight needs us for another cutie mark crash course."

Reluctantly, I pulled myself together and began to trot with my dutiful friend.

"Do we have to get Scoots?" I wondered aloud.

"Nah, she's already there with the Cakes' twins since she dropped 'em off," she explained.

Right, not only were Apple Bloom and Scootaloo amazing mares, foals absolutely loved them, which made them world class foalsitters. I on the other hand would be lucky to have a halfway decent day with Opal. I love foals and it would be wonderful to have my own someday, but they didn't seem to feel the same way. This was a fact every pony in town appeared to be aware of, so why my participation in weekly cutie mark education classes seemed to be mandatory was beyond me. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were the only ones who ever got questions anyway. But I had to remind myself that I was going to help my friend Twilight educate young minds, I could bottle up my little remaining self-confidence for such a noble cause.

The cutie mark classes weren't all bad though. Most likely because it was only a basic understanding type of class catered toward preschool aged foals, but more importantly due to the fact that Spike was always around to brighten the day. Snacks, stories, jokes, anything to keep Twilight from droning on and on, he always knew the perfect time for a diversion. I'm sure she didn't realize but Twilight owed the fun parts of her class to him, and we were all grateful for a bit of comic relief, Spike style.

Spike was also an expert at sensing negative vibes, and he was even better at extinguishing them. He may be the only soul alive that knows that I feel inferior to my friends, and I haven't even directly told him. Still, he always knows exactly what to say or do in order to turn my mood around. He has a gift, I've told him several times but he always denies it. He claims that he just like to see his friends smile. He's such an honorary Crusader, I have no idea why we've never made that official, I think he'd love it. Regardless of his Crusader status, I enjoy our little unspoken bond. It's like a secret exchange where he cheers me up and I sing him to sleep while Twi's out of town.

He's one of my rare I'll sing for you exceptions. As long as he's been around, I know he wouldn't hesitate to tease me if he thought I was bad, let alone request for me to sing for him, so I humor him. It relaxes us both and once he's out for the night, I make sure he's cozy and head home with snacks he's made during the day. We're oddballs but we enjoy what we do.

I was so absorbed in reminiscing that it took a nudge from Scootaloo to help me realize that not only had Twilight been talking a whole half hour, but the littlest alicorn in Equestria had just asked me a question. Princess Flurry Heart, Equestria's youngest demigodess just asked me the first cutie mark question I had ever directly received.

This was my time to leave my mark in her impressionable young mind. Imagine me, Sweetie Belle creating one of the most memorable moments in this tiny, magnificent being's brain. I was going to make this count if it was the last good thing I'd ever do.

"Did you have a question baby?" I asked.

"What does the star and music note in your cutie mark stand for Ms. Belle?" Flurry asked with those giant inquisitive eyes.

"Oh, well the middle bit represents my love of music."

"Like the piano?" A second question, this time from precious little Pumpkin Cake. I turned my attention to her with a gentle smile on my face.

"In a way sweetheart. I love instruments, they're often very crucial to any good song, but more than anything I love to sing," I responded.

"You can sing?" Pound Cake questioned, "You never sing for us."

"We like music too," Pumpkin said with a rather pitiful pout.

"Could you please sing for us Ms. Belle?" Flurry asked with pleading eyes, and soon all three foals were please-ing in unison with those giant eyes.

My eyes went wide and my mouth dried out as it gaped, I felt like the air had been taken from my lungs. Through the intensity of the pleas from the littles, I could feel Scoots and Bloom directing their concerned gazes toward me. They knew what I suffered from wasn't necessarily stage fright, but something more similar to... fear of disappointing an audience. I don't know where it spurred from but it tended to cripple any desire I had to perform. After all, who was I supposed to be if I was something other than what ponies thought I was?

The little trio was still looking up at me expectantly. I had to say something, anything. This was my first time getting attention during a class and I was completely wasting it.

"I-I," I began. Thankfully, a familiar reptilian voice interrupted my own.

"If you stop to listen to her sing then you'll miss the baking break," Spike reminded them with the most enthusiastic of grins.

All three of them gasped and scrambled to their hooves in excitement as they followed Spike to the kitchen. The scaled savior had struck again and as he sent a subtle wink my way for reassurance, I couldn't help but chuckle. Following everyone else for the baking break, I began to wonder when I became so transparent to him. He almost knew me as well as I did, but I never exactly took notice of when it all started. Had he always had such a gift with everypony or were there exceptions?

Regardless of what this peculiar connection we had signified, I was more than happy to have him looking out for me. You can never have too many friends, and it's nice to have friends that you can let your guard down with and just be your true self. I had that with Spike, as much fun as he was, he knew how to listen and he never judged me, and in return I gave him the same consideration. Because of Spike, I knew dragons weren't as bad as everypony else believed. He was different, which made me believe other dragons could be too. Besides, who could possibly be afraid of a big, scary dragon in an apron and a chef's hat making mini quiches? Yes, Spike is truly a one of a kind dragon.