Frayed Feathers and Scales

When the day reached the highest point in the sky, the first dark clouds blotted out the sun for a few moments, allowing those in the open a few, brief moments of cold. Spike trudged on, ignoring the sudden breeze, slamming his tail into another tree, the apples falling into the buckets. He felt two pairs of eyes on him, only to look, seeing Gilda resting under a tree, and Applejack kicking another, sending apples into the buckets.

"Spike!" A voice called out, causing Spike to freeze in his steps, and Applejack to groan. "Spike, come on, over here!"

"Friends of yours?" Gilda asked, taking a swig of her water bottle.

"He wishes..." Applejack said, snickering quietly as Spike shot her a death glare.

Three young women started to walk up, causing Spike to let out a strained smile. The three young women were known to be the former Cutie Mark Crusaders; having found their passions, they still decided to help those who had not gotten their marks. The three had become inseparable friends, and often caused hijinks around town, such as trying to get Big Macintosh to date their teacher.

Gilda looked at the three, and found them to be the odd group of friends. First, there was Scootaloo, who was the daredevil of the group. She was the unofficial sister of Rainbow Dash, and Gilda recognized the young lady immediately. Having dark red-purple hair, she was often seen riding across town on her scooter, doing tricks and stunts.

Sweetie Belle, rising singer and instrumental player, and sister of the former Element of Generosity, was the easiest to spot. Light in complexion and having a mixture of purple and pink hair, Sweetie Belle had a high pitched voice perfect for music. Often hired by big shots, she started her first concert only a few months ago, and was a well known name already. She, however, loved staying at Ponyville and spending time with her fashion designer sister, Rarity.

Last one up was Applebloom, sister to the farm girl that stood not ten feet away from the three youngsters, keeping a careful eye on them. Having a bow in her red hair, Applebloom was the tallest and strongest of the group, often helping her siblings and Spike in the fields. Although being a farm girl at heart, she was quite good at carpentry, creating buildings and fixing up houses around the town.

"Heya sis, hey Spike!" Applebloom greeted, before eyeing Gilda warily, almost as if examining her for a possible threat. "Ya'll seen Big Mac anywhere?"

"No. Why?"

Gilda tuned them out, only focusing on the trio, noticing their subtle movements. Scootaloo seemed to be looking Spike up at down, almost admiring his half naked body, not that Gilda could blame her, he did look hot without a shirt on. She shook that thought from her head. As she looked up at Sweetie, and chuckled, seeing the young woman drooling at the shirtless boy.

Applebloom was the only one look Spike in the eyes, and Gilda was impressed. Even Applejack was having trouble looking the youth in the eyes.

"Spike, Ah thought ya were gonna help us crusadin'!" Applebloom said, staring at the shorter boy.

Gilda tuned the conversation on, opting to stare at the young man. She knew dragon bloods, though looked human, could swim in lava and drink it, as if a normal man or woman to water. This fact, however, did not stop the beads of sweat rolling down his back, outlining his hidden muscles and making him glisten in the midday sun. Gilda had to stop herself from pouncing on the poor boy and crushing him.

She came back when Scootaloo approached her, a challenging look in her eyes. "Hey Gilda."

Gilda looked at Spike, who was speaking to both Applejack and Applebloom, while Sweetie Belle stood a foot away from the group, eyeing Spike like he was a sugary confectionery.

"Hey Scoots. No hanging with Dash today?"

Scootaloo gained a look of total fangirl, before shaking her head, the challenging look appearing in her eyes. She ignored Gilda's question and asked her own, "ARE you dating Spike?"

Gilda had, unfortunately, taken a swig of her water bottle, and was completely unprepared for such a question. She put her hand over her mouth to stop her from spitting all of her water out, Scootaloo letting out a breathy snort. Gilda swallowed her water, before coughing a few times, trying to calm herself down. Scootaloo tapped her foot impatiently, clearing her throat.

"Are you dating him or not?"

"No." Gilda answered, taking a swig of her water, before continuing, "I'm just...keeping an eye on him for Twilight."

The statement was half true, so far she loved to watch him work. Although a bit skinny, it was obvious he was strong. Not to mention that body most older men would kill to have again, his personality was fit for someone much older. Not to mention that thing he was packing under those pants. She could definitely see herself enjoying th-

Gilda grunted as she got up, another large cloud blotting out the sun for a few minutes. "Why you asking, Scoots? Playing match maker for Dash already?"

The younger woman sputtered out an insult, turning red of embarrassment. She growled, before stomping back to the group and whispering to Sweetie Belle, ignoring the glance from Applebloom. Gilda chuckled, before walking over to listen in on the conversation.

"Spike, ya 'ave ya shirt off again."

"So?"

"Ya'll know what happened last time someone spotted ya shirtless." Applebloom said, causing Spike to put a hand to his chin, then smiled uneasily. "Big Mac still has to walk around tha farm to check fer one of your lady friends."

"Okay, one, it gets hot out here, I can take my shirt off when I am sweaty. And two, you and I both know the likelihood of anyone spotting me out here is extremely low." Spike said, raising a finger on each point. Just then, the sound of a camera clicking caught everyone's attention.

"Got one!" Rainbow Dash said, lying on of it the branches of the tree, her phone out and pointed at Spike.

Applebloom gave Spike and unimpressed look, the young dragon blood smiling nervously. "Guess Dash kinda screws those numbers."

"Not only that, but ya smell like smoke." Applebloom said, her nose scrounging up when the boy raised his armpit and sniffed it. "Applejack, take mah side on this one."

"He smells fine ta me."

"Ha! See?"

"How are you even affected by the heat anyway?" Scootaloo asked, causing Spike to glance at the woman.

"You see, the sun is like, millions upon millions of miles away. It's heat is not like that of lava, it's more radioactive in nature." Spike explained, only to gain confused looks all around. He sighed, then said, "If I cannot touch it, I still feel it."

"Oh."

Spike looked up at the sky, before saying, "Hey, Gilda, we better head home." He looked back at Applejack and said, "The storm is going to stop us for at least a few weeks."

"Don't ya worry your pretty little head none." Applejack said, before leaning down and kissing his forehead, causing Applebloom to hold a raging Sweetie Belle back. "Just get home safe, ya hear?"