Frayed Feathers and Scales

To say the day was hot would have been an understatement. Celestia was really pouring down the heat, perhaps to make everyone happy before the eventual rain. Gilda would have been suffering, if not the cider she was drinking with Applejack. They were sitting under a rather large apple tree, producing nice shade from the sun's harmful heat. They paid no attention to that, instead watching the young, emerald green eyed boy who was in the kitchen window.

Thanks to the perfect view, they could see an old woman, Applejack's grandmother, Granny Smith, and Spike cooking. Spike had a pink, frilly apron on, with a cute heart in the middle. His mouth was etched in a happy smile, before erupting in laughter from Granny Smith, the old woman telling him stories. Gilda couldn't help but enjoy his laughter, the sound making her heart peaceful and calm her mind.

Applejack hummed softly, before saying, "Ah enjoy days like this. Reminds ya of the good life." Gilda couldn't help but nod.

Although the woman had the heart of a warrior, she couldn't help but imagine Spike cooking her breakfast, in that frilly apron, before the cute little patter of steps erupted from the upstairs of the home, sounds of giggling children music to her ears. Gilda shook her head, sipping the bubbly drink, soothing her dry throat. She had never considered starting a family with anyone, but this boy, who she had met only yesterday, had already wormed his way into her tough heart, and made her feel so happy.

Applejack glanced at Gilda, then at Spike, who was talking to Granny Smith, his apron covered in flour. He blew a small, emerald flame into the oven, lighting it up. Applejack gave a knowing smile, before taking a loud gulp, catching Gilda's attention. She look at the blonde woman, adjusting her Stetson, then looked back at the dragon blood, both of the older women eyeing the boy up and down.

"He'd make a great dad." Gilda suddenly said, Applejack's eyebrow raising, before nodding in agreement.

"Spike is great wit' tha kids. Always plays with my cousins when they come ta visit." Applejack admitted, before chuckling at Gilda. "Already thinkin' 'bout marryin' him?"

Gilda choked on her drink, then started to cough, Applejack barking out some laughter, before patting her back.

"And Ah told tha little whippersnapper that if Ah saw them again, Ah'd give 'em what fer!" Granny Smith recited, the old woman giving a chuckle at the thought. "Ya can bet yer tail they haven't stepped near that farm since!"

Spike couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Granny Smith was the one of the few people he could trust with his darkest secrets, the country woman having years worth of wisdom to back her up. Sure, he could talk to Applejack and his new, attractive friend Gilda, but Granny Smith was considered to be his grandma. She welcomed him into their family and treated him like a son...well, grandchild.

Not that he would ever admit it out loud, but he did consider himself part of the Apple family, just not one by blood. Applejack practically treated him like a little brother when she wasn't flirting or showing signs of attraction, Big Macintosh was quiet but seemed to help Spike out with the chores, and Applebloom looked up to Spike like she did Big Mac. His tail quietly grabbed the sugar, his hands busy with slicing the red apples in his hands.

Granny Smith paid him no mind, quietly finishing up an apple pie behind him. She threw a spice backwards, only for Spike to catch it without looking, quietly adding it to the Apple pie he was finishing up. He blew his emerald fire into the oven, before closing it, humming softly.

The old woman scanned Spike up at down, almost as if seeing something he could not. "Havin' women troubles, youngin'?"

Spike looked at Granny Smith and gave her a tired smile, nodding quietly. Granny Smith gave a low chuckle, then the kitchen was silent. Spike grabbed the pie out of the oven, with no gloves on. While any normal Human would have burned their hands, Spike barely felt it. He placed it on the counter, and smiled down at Granny Smith, who gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"Ya'll head out and help Jackie. Ah'll keep an eye out 'ere."

Spike nodded, and said, "Thanks, Granny." He took the apron off, then started to head outside, before Granny Smith stopped him with her cane. He looked at her, confused, before she pointed at him.

"Spike, everythin' will be fine. Jus' give it some time."

Applejack perked up once Spike came out of the house, she gave him a large smile. He nodded to her, before they started to walk off into the trees. Gilda followed, trying to keep out of their way while they worked. Gilda noticed some buckets under the tree, but said nothing, seeing Spike square it up, then hum softly. Applejack noticed Gilda's eyes travel below his back and to his rear.

Applejack felt a small spike of jealousy that stabbed out of her heart. She was eyeing up her dragon blood. She felt her blood begin to boil as she watched Gilda eye Spike up, like some sort of candy. However, the sound of a scale covered tail slamming into the tree caught their attention. Applejack felt a sort of pride well up in her chest, overcoming the jealousy that gripped her heart not a moment before.

A few apples fell into the buckets, only for one stray to land on Gilda's head, making her yelp in a mixture of pain and surprise. Applejack released a snicker, before Spike slammed his tail into the tree again, hitting down more apples.

"What the Tartarus, Spike?!" Gilda snarled out, making Spike freeze up.

"What did I do?" He asked, a bewildered look on his face.

Gilda opened her mouth, only for Applejack to kick the tree with both of her back legs, silencing the woman. Applejack stood up, apples falling into the buckets. Applejack pointed to another tree, Spike jogged over to it, before twirling around, slamming his tail into the tree, causing apples to fall. He smiled, before walking over to another tree, his tail hitting the tree.

This went on for several minutes, the silence unnerving Gilda somewhat. She cleared her throat, sitting there, causing Applejack to look her way.

"Ya can help out. Well place kick should hit down tha apples."

The sun beat down on them, forcing Applejack and Gilda to sit in the shade. Even then, it was incredibly hot in the shade. Spike, however, was in the light, therefore felt the most heat. While dragon bloods could handle lava, the sun was not a part of the world, such as magma. Things, such as heatwaves, still affected them. Spike thought, since it was going to rain that night, the day would be cool. He was sorely mistaken.

"Mom, I get it, but can you ease up a bit?" Spike asked, his shirt drenched with sweat. The sun did not respond, as expected, and seem to glow brighter, as if to challenge Spike. He snarled at the sun in response, his throat giving a low rumble, an animalistic sound. That caught the two ladies attention, a cold chill running down their spines. "Thanks, mom. Love you too."

His forked tongue slithered out of his mouth, before he gave a disgusted look. He looked down at his shirt, absolutely drenched. He started to pull off his shirt, before Gilda asked, "What are you doing, shorty?"

"This shirt is disgusting and I'd rather not smell like ash." Spike replied, before prying the shirt off. Both Gilda and Applejack couldn't help but stare at the you man, his muscles shifting in the sunlight. Small droplets of water dripped down his slim stomach and back, he running his hands through his drenched hair. Applejack used all of her will power not to jump the dragon blood right then and there, his purple tail quietly flicking some sweat off.

Spike looked behind him, turning around, giving a confused look. "What? Do I have something on me?" They said nothing, causing the boy to shrug, walking back to the house to let his shirt wash.

"Dibs." Gilda said, before she and Applejack erupted into laughter.