One Month Later

By the time Cloudsdale’s winter protocol began to take effect around Equestria, Twilight Sparkle was finally able to arrange for Spike to have a private discussion with Princess Celestia. In retrospect, it seemed a bit silly to have the drake go out and visit her now; but nevertheless, despite the fact that Twilight had grown to accept Spike for who he was, she would’ve felt guilty turning her mentor down after asking for her assistance so insistently a couple months earlier. Not to mention, neither Twilight or Spike seemed to mind the idea of him taking a much-needed break away from Ponyville for a weekend. Not only did it give the drake the chance to be in a region where his reputation was less well-known, but it also gave Twilight the chance to schedule a contractor and build Spike his own bedroom.

So as the snow began to drape over the Equestrian horizons, Canterlot looked absolutely stunning by the time Spike arrived in some sensibly warmer clothing. Despite how heavily the cobblestone streets were blanketed in powdery snow, Spike was surprised by how many ponies were out and about to enjoy the chilly weather. But what felt even more alien wasn’t the volume of ponies he walked past on his way to Canterlot Castle, but how invisible he felt as he treaded through the snow on his own. Granted, the dragon knew he didn’t look as tantalizing as he usually did while wearing a thick scarf and beanie (as well as some much-appreciated winter boots courtesy of Rarity), but it almost felt surreal that he was treated so similarly to how he was before that Dragon Migration.

Instead of noticing any curious stares from stallions who heard about his abilities, Spike was lucky to see any ponies acknowledging his presence at all. And given how he was literally one of the only dragons legally presiding in Equestria, the fact that he wasn’t more noted by Canterlot’s citizens felt almost insulting. Although, considering the reasons why he was given more attention back in Ponyville, the drake wasn’t surprised that Canterlot might be less watchful on the drake. Part of him wanted to appreciate not being ogled at like a sexual item for a change, but the cold reception he felt in his old hometown made him hopeful that Canterlot Castle would be more welcoming.

Fortunately for Spike, the warmth he felt from re-entering the castle wasn’t just limited to the palace’s tenacious heat-systems. Whether it was recognizing old Guards who greeted him like good acquaintances, or the deeply-missed scents of baked goods he could smell coming from the kitchen, the dragon felt an immense sense of nostalgia and comfort as he made his way towards Celestia’s quarters. He was lead down the spotless marble hallways with a unicorn Guard as his escort, and Spike didn’t object to having his winter clothing taken off of him by the stallion’s magic.

Spike also didn’t seem to object when he felt a distinct tug of the Guard’s magic aura gliding along the underside of his tail for a split-second. He wanted to assume that was an accidental slip-up, but the dragon couldn’t resist glancing back up at him after his clothing was removed. “So… how long have you been stationed here as a Guard, Mister…?”

The grey stallion looked back at Spike with a warm smile, and the faintest blush across his cheeks. “Ummm… My name is Ashy Step,” he replied as he nodded at Spike respectfully. “A-And… I’ve been one of Celestia’s personal Guards for about five months now.”

“Oh, congratulations!” chirped the drake with a sincerely happy tone. Given how difficult it was for Royal Guards to be stationed at Canterlot Castle at all, the fact that such a young stud was working alongside Celestia was downright impressive. But alas, Spike then huffed as he grew a cheekier smirk and said, “Well, it’s nice to see some new faces here. It’s so weird to think it’s been over a year since I left this place.”

“Yeah, I bet,” Ashy replied with another nod of his head, appearing quite casual with the drake despite donning so much heavy armor. As the two reached closer to Celestia’s quarters, the Guard began to blush a little more notably as he tried to continue their conversation. “Y-You know, I… I know I haven’t been here for a while, but… I have been trying to keep up with as many current events as I could while overseeing Princess Celestia.”

“Hopefully nothing confidential,” noted Spike with a warning tone of voice, but keeping a coyer-looking smirk to indicate he wasn’t taking that too seriously. Regardless of the matter, the stallion was quick to shake his head insistently.

“Oh no, absolutely not! I… I just meant, ummm…” Upon seeing how flustered Ashy was looking in his armor, Spike had to stifle a brief snicker from escaping his mouth. But alas, his knowing smile was still rather evident as he heard the pony say sheepishly, “I, uhhh… I did happen to hear about that… that Fund-Raiser thing you did on Nightmare Night?~”

Spike’s smile widened in mischievous pride as he giggled to that reminder. Given how much money he and Fizzle raised for the Ponyville Schoolhouse, the drake wasn’t ashamed at all by his absurdly lewd achievement. “Yeah, that’s me!~” he chirped quite happily while peering up at the blushing Guard. “Soooo… I’m willing to guess you were asking about that for a reason?~”

Ashy’s muzzle clenched shut in bashfulness, and he looked away from Spike briefly as he let out a nervous giggle. “Uhhhh… heh heh heh… W-Well, I… I didn’t want to just say anything while on duty. But, ummm... I was just wanting to say I’m impressed, that’s all…”

“Uh-Huh~” the drake remarked with a familiarly-pleased smirk, and his reptilian eyes narrowing on the Guard. Just before the two could round the last corner, Spike stopped in his tracks while motioning for Ashy Step to do the same. As soon as the Guard stopped, the cheeky dragon looked up at him with an enticed grin as he said, “Weeeelllll… if you’re really that impressed, you could tell me when your shift ends so we can discuss things further~”

Ashy’s eyes widened in an instant, and his face blushed sharply enough to make Spike assume his helmet would start steaming from the inside. Fortunately, all that the Guard needed was a second or two to look around before asking Spike, “R… R-Really? Like… it wouldn’t be an issue?”

Spike openly scoffed to that clarification, and eyed the Guard more suggestively as he replied, “Dude, you could bring over half of your platoon, and I wouldn’t consider it an issue! Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there~”

From the way Ashy sucked in a deep breath through his nostrils, Spike was certain the pony was contemplating a lot of titillating ideas in his head. And after an especially shaky exhale, the Guard made one last glance around the empty hallway before leaning in and whispering discreetly, “Ummm… I clock out at three today, and… I can leave the door to the Guard showers unlocked.”

“Deal~” Spike then leaned up towards the pony’s face, and gave him a teasingly innocent peck on the tip of his horn. Ashy jolted back with a profoundly overwhelmed blush, which just made the drake giggle before making his leave. “Alright, I know where Celestia’s room is, so you can head off for now. Thanks for your help!”

Even though he was supposed to accompany Spike to Celestia entirely, Ashy Step wasn’t exactly in the best state to go against the drake’s assurance while standing in a flustered stupor. Just before Spike left the stallion’s line of sight, he paused briefly enough to give a teasing flick of his tail, and said with his brows perked high, “In the meantime, you could always… have a chat with a few friends if you wanna~”

Ashy bit his lip as he shuddered involuntarily, and gave a weak nod of his head. “Umm… Y-Yes, Sir!” he blurted as he gave a hasty salute, and then rushed off in an instant. Spike giggled from the pony’s exuberance, and felt a lot better to have that kind of skill outside of Ponyville.

“Alright then,” he said to himself as he walked down the hallway on his own, and noted a nearby clock he went past. “I’ll chat with Celestia for a couple hours, and then I’ll have myself a little fun~”

Unlike his impromptu solicitation with that Royal Guard, Spike made sure to be on his best behavior the instant he walked into Celestia’s private quarters. Not only was it common knowledge for the drake to be polite in front of Royalty, but the history he and Twilight had with Celestia gave him far too much respect for her to contemplate endangering it. Fortunately for him, the Alicorn proved to be just as friendly and polite for the dragon as soon as he entered her abode. In preparation for his arrival, Celestia even arranged a pleasant setup of high-quality tea, and an impressive array of gems for Spike to enjoy while they caught up.

Due to Twilight’s letters to Celestia over the months regarding Spike’s lifestyle, the drake didn’t see much reason to be hesitant about being open about how things have changed since he returned from the Dragon Lands. He may have remained polite enough to not go into any graphic details, or even using any inappropriate terms, but he still treated the Princess with enough maturity to keep from speaking dishonestly on the matter. If Celestia was willing to acknowledge and respect his interests, then Spike was willing to respect how well she was handling such a controversial change in his life.

Spike wasn’t sure just how long he and Celestia talked about all that transpired since the Dragon Migration, but most of the multicolored gems from his bowl were gone by the time the dragon was able to discuss his more recent events. As for the Princess herself, Celestia remained surprisingly civil as she listened to Spike’s exploits, and only interrupted him to ask for brief clarifications. Even though he didn’t go over every event that occurred (specifically, he refrained from mentioning what happened with his therapist, as well as his inductions of Rarity and Rainbow Dash), Spike managed to explain more than enough to show just how well things have adjusted for him.

“... so by the time Fizzle and I got everything cleaned up,” said the drake as he reached the end of his recollection of Nightmare Night, “I ended up crashing at his hotel room right after. I mean, I kinda feel bad for doing that, since Twilight was gonna have breakfast ready for us at the library. But man! As soon as we laid down on that bed, both of us were out like a light! Even when she tried to check up on us, we weren’t able to wake up until the next day!”

“Wow, really?” asked Celestia with both of her brows raised, and a slight smirk across her muzzle. “How long were you two out for?”

“Uhhh… I think about... twenty-two hours or something?” Spike guessed as he shrugged his shoulders unconfidently. “I’m not a hundred percent sure. All I know was that Twilight wasn’t too mad about it, which I’m really happy about. She managed to count up all the bits we raised while we were asleep, so I don’t think she could blame us for being so wiped out.”

Celestia gave a brief chuckle while shrugging her head to that response. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t blame you or Fizzle either,” she said in a warm and understanding tone of voice. She then lit up her horn, and floated over a newspaper towards Spike as she added, “Considering how large of a check you two provided to Miss Cheerilee, it really is outstanding how successful your fundraiser really was!”

When she used her magic to float out the newspaper and open it in front of Spike, Celestia’s smile was just as wide and prideful as Twilight Sparkle’s in the headline photograph. Of course, the unicorn herself was near the side of the stage in that photo, while Spike and Fizzle were right in the middle and holding an oversized check. Due to its size, the check was seen to be clearly labeled for the Ponyville Schoolhouse, with a staggering Twenty-Thousand bit total noted underneath. Fizzle was standing to the left of the check, while Miss Cheerilee and Filthy Rich stood next to the dragon with cheerful smiles. Spike was holding the check on the right side, with Mayor Mare and Twilight Sparkle looking just as prideful beside him.

Above that photograph, the headline for the Foal Free Press read in bold letters, ‘Ponyville Schoolhouse Receives $20K Donation By Two Generous Dragons.’

Spike may have marveled at that photograph numerous times since receiving a first-press of the newspaper, and even had it framed to be hung proudly in the library. However, the little drake still had to cover his trembling smile with a claw as he saw Celestia herself holding that newspaper with great admiration. While Spike blushed and tried not to get too emotional about his achievement, Celestia looked at the headline herself and chuckled a little “I have to say, even in the centuries I’ve spent as the Princess of these lands, I can only think of a few instances where someone managed to amass such an impressive amount for charity in the span of one night.”

Spike didn’t want to grow too bashful about the amount of cash he and Fizzle whored themselves out for, but it was hard for him not to squirm from the pride he felt from hearing the Alicorn’s praise. “W-Well, ummm… to be fair,” he noted in a more sheepish tone of voice while he scratched the back of his neck, and tried not to stare directly back at Celestia, “We, ummm… Fizzle and I actually received a really big donation from Filthy Rich after that fundraiser. That’s a big reason why he’s in the photo too.”

“Really?” she asked as she floated the newspaper around towards her, and tried to re-read the article below the photograph. “I don’t recall him being listed as a contributor.”

Spike shrugged with a sympathetic look as he replied with, “Well… given how Fizzle and I made the bits we collected, it… may be a little controversial for a married CEO to openly admit he added money to the fund.”

“Hmmm… fair enough,” she noted with a small nod, even though his presence in the photo itself would’ve contradicted that point. However, she kept that opinion to herself as she put the paper down and asked, “So, how much did you and Fizzle raise on Nightmare Night?”

“Uhhhh…” Spike had to tap his chin with a claw for a moment in thought, and then gave an uneasy shrug as he guessed, “About… Sixteen thousand, two hundred something? I mean, Twilight was the one who counted up all the bits, so I think she would give you the exact amount. But anyway, as soon as we went back to the library, Filthy Rich was actually waiting there with a check in hoof! And as soon as Twilight told him the amount we raised, he just looked at us and said…”

Spike had to clear his throat, and continued his recounting as he tried to mimic Filthy Rich’s deep Southern tone, “Ahem… he said, ‘Boys, if there’s one thing I learned from donations, it’s that the best ones have clear and even numbers!’ He then wrote out his check, and handed it to us as he said, ‘Here, that’ll make it an even twenty!’ And… Oh, man! Fizzle almost fainted when he heard that! Of course, I almost did too. Heh heh~”

Celestia giggled alongside the dragon, and shrugged her shoulders in understanding to Spike’s explanation. “Honestly, I’m not too surprised he would do such a thing. I’ve met Filthy Rich at a few charity events, and he’s been known to make big donations on occasion. I remember he once matched the amount donated for a cancer awareness fundraiser, so I know how generous he can be. Not to mention, it seems only appropriate he would help out for the sake of his daughter’s school.”

“Yeah, no doubt!” chirped Spike with a nod of his head. “I think he was actually gonna make a donation for Cheerilee before we did, but uhhhh… Well, given how things turned out, I think he just decided to chip in that way.”

“Well, it’s still an amazing testament to your work, as well as your positive effect in the Ponyville community,” Celestia said while giving a warm and nurturing smile to the drake, “so believe me when I say that you and Fizzle have my highest respects.”

Even though he knew that the Princess was being sincere with that statement, Spike still had to bite his bottom lip to keep his jaw from dropping in front of her. Given all that he had to overcome since his return from the Dragon Lands, he never would’ve thought that someone as powerful and regal as Celestia would show him so much respect for his work. Although, considering how she was one of the few ponies to give him no judgements about his new lifestyle following his return, he knew better than to expect anything less from her. So after taking a deep breath to overcome his overwhelmed state, Spike bowed his head and replied in a shaky tone, “Th… Thank you so much, your Highness…”

“Oh, it’s quite alright, Spike…” Celestia’s smile and tone of voice were downright maternal as she leaned in towards Spike, and gave him a one-hoofed hug while her chin rested on top of his head. After she pulled away, Spike took a split-second to wipe his eyes with his claw to make sure they were still dry. Celestia didn’t say anything about that, but couldn’t help smiling a little wider from his reaction. After making a quick sigh, the Princess decided to ask, “Soooo… speaking of which, I was meaning to ask how Fizzle’s apprenticeship is going. Is he still in Ponyville?”

“Oh, ummm… actually, he went back to the Dragon Lands last week,” said Spike with a shrug of his shoulders, as well as a notable blush on his cheeks. “Heh heh… I was actually a little worried that we would get too emotional and stuff, you know? Like… given all that I was able to teach him, and how confident he became after the fundraiser, I was a little worried he wouldn’t want to leave. But, ummm… surprisingly enough, he was actually really excited to go back to the Dragon Lands! Like, he wanted to prove himself back there, and make a name for himself to help out his fellow dragons.”

Celestia nodded her head respectfully, and replied with, “Well, considering how essential your… practices seem to be for the sake of dragon safety, I can’t say I blame him for wanting to help his brethren. I know that my knowledge of dragons isn’t the best, but I wouldn’t have figured that escorts would be so necessary to keep them civil.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal out there,” Spike noted with a more optimistic expression. “I mean, given how often they do things out of pent-up aggression, it’s nice to know that dragons like us have a means to counteract that without being violent.”

Celestia smiled with a shrug of her head and said, “That is indeed a valuable asset to possess. And hopefully with your teachings, Fizzle could assist other dragons to be apprentices under him.”

“That’s actually the plan!” chirped the drake with a more optimistic smile. “Fizzle’s really hoping to find an apprentice by the time Spring comes, since that’s usually mating season for dragons. He also promised to write to me if his clan ever gets close to Equestrian borders again, since I kinda wanted to mend things between me and Garble.”

“You mean the one who triggered your Dragon Greed in the first place?” asked Celestia in clarification.

“Yeah! That’s the one,” he said with a nod, before he gave a more apprehensive shug due to the slight awkwardness of his mention. In retrospect, the drake was willing to admit that Garble wasn’t the most subtle when it came to using Spike’s Greed for his own benefit; however, considering how helpful Garble became after that moment, and how significantly he helped Spike discover himself, the dragon felt no remorse about his mention as he kept speaking. “I mean, I… I know things didn’t start out the best between me and Garble, but he really did help me out after my Dragon Greed went down. And if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have followed the path I’m in now! So, ummm… yeah, considering how I wasn’t able to apologize for Twilight’s blast, or even say goodbye before I left the Dragon Lands, I really wanted to make amends with him sometime soon.”

Despite her own feelings about that specific dragon, Celestia respected Spike’s wishes enough to merely nod her head. Considering how comprehensive Spike’s therapy following his trip had been, she knew just as well as Twilight that he was still a well-adjusted drake overall. And if he was willing to show that level of maturity regarding Garble, the Princess didn’t hesitate to respond with a supportive, “Well, if you do receive a letter from Fizzle regarding that fact, I’ll be sure to clear your schedule myself so you can visit him. Given how much money you raised for your community, it’s only fair to allow you that sort of privilege.”

“W-Wait, really?!” he asked excitedly, with his smile beaming as brightly as his rosy blush. After only a second of hesitation, Spike gave the Princess another bow and said, “Th-Thank you, Princess! I promise I’ll give you a head’s up if that happens.”

“Thank you,” she said with a grateful nod in sincerity. She then waited for Spike to pull his head back up before she asked, “Now, considering how Fizzle is back in the Dragon Lands again, how have things been going for you since Nightmare Night?”

Spike tried his hardest not to openly scoff at the Princess while smirking. “Are you kidding me?” he asked rhetorically, before his smile grew even wider in contentment. “Things have been great for me since that night! Like, I know that I was pretty popular before that fund-raiser, but now I can barely go out of the house without getting hoof-bumps from every other pony I walk by! Heck, even Raspberry Mousse said I did a good job! Although, uhhh… it’s pretty clear she only said that to me to be polite, since she came by the library to return some books.”

“That’s still a positive change in comparison to before,” Celestia said optimistically. “I remember when Twilight wrote to me about her, she was downright furious! I’m almost surprised I didn’t have to go down to Ponyville myself to settle any assault charges.”

Spike covered his mouth and tried not to snicker at that thought. Even though he knew how serious that outcome would’ve been for both Twilight and himself, he doubted he would have been too upset considering Raspberry’s remarks about him. But alas, since that moment happened months ago without any recurrences, Spike was happy to respond to Celestia’s point by saying, “Hey, I’m just glad I was able to stop her and the others without getting physical myself!”

Celestia nodded to that point with an affirming smile of her own, but she wasn’t above adding with a cheeky roll of her eyes, “Well, holding out a piece of molten metal in front of their faces probably didn’t hurt your chances either~”

Despite how truthful that point may have been, Spike’s smile still lessened a bit as he looked away from her. Fortunately, Celestia was quick to add apologetically, “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be offensive. It may have not been a method I would’ve preferred from one of my Royal assistants, but I’m not judging you for how you handled that moment, Spike. I know that you were trapped in that situation, and I do commend you for finding a... semi-nonviolent solution. However, I do wish that you don’t have to resort to such a means if it ever happens again.”

“Hey, I’m right with you there,” assured Spike with his claws raised in sincerity. “Although to be fair, that was literally the only time I could think of where I was cornered like that. I mean, unless you count how I protected the Phoenix egg from Garble and his friends. But, uhhh… I couldn’t exactly solve the Raspberry Mousse thing the same way I had with them.”

Celestia chuckled with an understanding shrug upon hearing that point, but didn’t try to say anything regarding it. Meanwhile, Spike took a moment to breathe more calmly, and say in a grateful tone, “Honestly, I… I’m also really glad that Twilight was there to help me out too. Like, given how we had that big argument back at the store, I really didn’t expect her to be there like that. But at the same time, that moment was a big reason why she’s so accepting of my work now.”

The Princess smiled with affirmation and said, “Yes, I remember her writing to me about your discussions after that. It really seemed that she was getting the hang of things by that point.”

“She really did! Although, uhhh…” During that pause, Spike tried not to appear too hesitant as he averted his eyes from Celestia’s gaze. “... even though I’m pretty sure she isn’t a hundred-percent okay with me being an Escort, she… she really has been trying recently, and that really means a lot to me…”

Despite how sheepishly Spike may have said that second part, Celestia was able to see the genuine smile he had when he said that last sentence. However, the Alicorn still felt compelled to ask the drake, “So, just to be clear, Twilight isn’t sabotaging your nights off anymore?”

“Oh, no way!” he said assuredly with a wave of his claw. “Trust me, that bookshelf-tipping thing was a one-time thing. As soon as you wrote to her about it, she was quick to promise me that.”

Celestia giggled a little from how quickly the drake made that insistent claim. “Well, I certainly hope so!” she said with a thankful nod of her head. “Considering how quickly she sent me that apology letter, I’d hate to think it was all for show.”

Spike leaned back in his seat and laughed more openly upon remembering that moment. Even though he could recall how rightfully pissed he felt towards Twilight that night, he couldn’t deny how guiltily satisfying it was to see her face pale up the instant he blew out his letter to Celestia. He knew that response was a bit overkill in retrospect, but it was likely the only way he would’ve been able to continue with his work without her interfering again.

“Oh, man!” exclaimed Spike as he wiped the tears from his eyes, and let out an exasperated sigh after his laughter died down. “I’m not gonna lie, I would’ve never expected her to write out that letter herself by hoof! I mean, I know she was probably freaked out and all, but it was kinda weird seeing her do the writing instead of me for a change.”

“I can understand you feeling that way,” admitted the Princess with a shrug. “Although, I feel like you should give Twilight a little more credit for her abilities. You might write the majority of her letters, but she’s written quite a lot of insightful things to me over the years…”

Celestia’s smile then turned warmer as she re-lit her horn, and floated out a specific scroll that she had nearby for this occasion. “... And given how significantly your relationship with her had matured in recent months, I really think you should read one of her most recent letters that she personally sent me.”

Spike’s brows raised in surprise, clearly not expecting the Alicorn to have something like that prepared for him. As he took the scroll, the labeling at the top of the rolled parchment made him realize which letter it was. He recalled that shortly after Fizzle arrived in Ponyville to seek his help, Twilight asked him to send off a letter she made for Celestia. He didn’t read it since it was already closed-up and ready for delivery, but he recalled how peculiar the moment felt since she usually had him overlook her letters first. Spike didn’t want to think it was regarding him, but that seemed like that case as he unrolled the scroll in front of the Princess. “So, ummm… did she write a lot of letters about me?”

“Spike,” she retorted in a respectful, but still slightly blunt tone, “Twilight raised you your entire life. Are you really surprised she would write to me personally after your lifestyle change?”

That question shut the dragon right up, with only a pert, “Touchè” in response while shrugging in understanding. It may have been a while since he visited that therapist, but he remembered how overwhelmed she acted during that first month back home. Of course, he also understood her worries completely, and couldn’t blame her for seeking solace from others without his aid. Even though those tense and uncomfortable moments were long behind them, Spike was hopeful that she wasn’t still too hung-up about the decisions he made for himself.

Fortunately, as soon as that scroll was fully unrolled, the drake was able to read exactly how she felt as of recently. While Spike narrowed his eyes on the written parchment, Celestia sat back in silence and waited for him to read through the letter in its entirety.

Dear Princess Celestia,

First of all, I want to express my deepest thanks for all that you’ve done for both myself and Spike since he returned to Equestria. I’m sure that the events in recent months have been just as surprising for you as they have been for me, but I couldn’t be more grateful for how well you managed to assist us throughout this progression. I know that I haven’t acted my best in certain circumstances -- and in retrospect, I know that there are more than a few actions and statements I regret nowadays. But through your maturity, as well as Spike’s, I can safely say that the worries I used to have are no longer prevalent in my mind.

Much like Spike, who is currently out of the library as I write this letter to you, I’m able to better understand things with a more mature point of view (well, not that kind of mature). Before his journey out to the Dragon Lands, I would’ve likely been absolutely terrified at the thought of him being outside without any knowledge of where he was. But as I’m writing to you now, that very thing is happening. Since Spike completed all of his chores and daily tasks, he’s currently out doing his own personal errands. But even though I have no idea where he is, or how long he might be out, I can’t say I feel the slightest hint of worry about how he’s doing. And that’s not because I don’t care, because I sincerely do, and I always will; but instead, the reason I feel confident about his absence is due to something I should have had in him a long time ago: Trust.

I’m sure that you can understand why it may have taken me a long time to accept things as they are; but at the same time, I know that isn’t a valid excuse for how I may have acted in the past. Since Spike is a legal adult, I should have known better than to disregard his decisions -- especially after he finished his therapy and proved he was alright. But since then, I’m happy to say that I learned a lot from what I’ve seen in him. Not only have I learned from my mistakes, but I’ve also been able to see just how confident, patient, thoughtful, and understanding Spike has become.

When he first started his new… ‘hobby’ (I know that’s not the best term to use, but I’d rather not be too vulgar in my writings to you), my biggest worry was how badly the consequences of his actions could affect him. Aside from the obvious physical risks, I wasn’t sure if Spike pursuing such a lifestyle would impact him negatively in the psychological sense. Adult or not, I was worried that his background under my care wasn’t enough for him to be ready for such a controversial path. I was also scared that his decisions would lead him to get hurt, or even taken advantage of. But much to my surprise and relief, I can safely say that I couldn’t be happier to be proven wrong.

Instead of being hurt, abused, or even ridiculed for his actions, Spike managed to make a name for himself in the most positive means I could’ve imagined. Not only has he been able to gain an unusual amount of respect through his efforts, but he also helped a significant amount of ponies in his community. Whether it be by helping ponies who had their hearts broken, offering to rebuild somepony’s confidence, lending his services to benefit others, or even teaching them to those who could use them in a positive manner; Spike may be a fairly small dragon on the outside, but he showed me just how big his heart is on the inside.

I’ve also seen how often he had to face obstacles placed before him (including my own), only to overcome them in ways that proved just how mature and intelligent he really was. After he came back from the Dragon Lands, he was actually the one to suggest going to therapy to prove he was mentally sound. After he was approved by Doctor Time Turner and yourself, he still agreed to fulfill his tasks as a Royal Assistant first and foremost. And even when he was confronted by Raspberry Mousse and several others, he kept himself from retaliating violently; instead, I saw first-hoof just how eloquently he handled himself without my assistance, and acted in a way that I couldn’t be prouder of. If my friend Rainbow Dash were present during that event, she likely would’ve referred to Spike’s well-detailed and articulate speech to those girls as being (and I apologize in advance for saying this), “Bad-Ass.” And in my defense, I probably would’ve agreed with her.

After that day, I was able to better accept, and even understand why he chose the path he took on his own. Much like myself and the other Elements of Harmony, Spike saw a way to put the skills he learned he had to proper use, and implement them in a way to better impact his community. I remember him saying to Pinkie Pie how he felt his abilities were somewhat similar to hers; both of them seek to help others and make them feel better (albeit in very different ways), and neither of them feel any shame in letting others see them for who they are. But as of now, as I’m writing to you, I honestly feel like Spike learned from all six of us when it comes to how he’s living his life now.

Much like Pinkie Pie, Spike knows just what to do to help ponies feel better about themselves, and leave smiles on their faces that last throughout the whole day. He also helps ponies with the same caliber of generosity as Rarity, and is willing to do whatever it takes to place other ponies’ feelings and satisfaction before his own. He’s carried a level of confidence and pride in his craft that I would’ve expected from Rainbow Dash, and doesn’t let the stigma of his taboo actions bring him down in the slightest. But at the same time, Spike also shows a tremendous amount of respect for ponies’ boundaries, and takes even the most blunt rejections with the same amount of kindness as Fluttershy would. And alongside the pride he carries in his work, Spike’s honesty about what he does -- as well as the obvious nights of hard work I’ve seen from him afterward -- carry the same level of tenacity and dedication that Applejack has in her farmwork.

And in retrospect, upon thinking back to everything I’ve seen from him in the past few months, I couldn’t be more grateful to see just how much he’s grown as an independent adult. Just like how far I’ve come since leaving Canterlot, Spike has been able to prove himself to be just as capable, perseverant, thoughtful, and self-reflective of his decisions as I have myself. He’s made outstanding strides to not only better himself, but also to help myself and others without asking for anything in return. Just like how I learned how significant my abilities could be from defeating foes like Nightmare Moon and Discord, Spike learned how to use his own abilities in a way that can benefit others in our community. And he did it through a means that I doubt any of us would’ve even contemplated, which helped to show me just how important and essential his work could really be.

I know that I’m saying a lot here, and I apologize if my thoughts are rambling a bit too much as I write them on this parchment. But given everything I’ve been able to see and experience, I hope you’ll be able to understand how important this letter about Spike is to me. I just wanted to let you know that despite my feelings in the past, as well as how controversial Spike’s lifestyle may be seen by others, I currently have no qualms about how he’s living his life. Not only is Spike a wonderful companion, a diligent assistant, and an important figure who helped shape my life in more ways than I can imagine -- but he’s also one of the most mature, sincere, and dedicated friends I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.

Spike might be an Escort, but I can’t imagine loving him any less now than I have before he made that life-changing trip to the Dragon Lands. Not only am I proud to call him my assistant and friend, but I’m also grateful to have him by my side as someone I would call my son. And no matter what may come of him in the future, I can only hope that he stays in my life just as he is now.

I love him more than I would’ve ever known, and nothing will ever change that. And I can’t thank you enough for giving me the time to realize how important that fact will always be.

With the deepest respect and gratitude I could possibly give,

Twilight Sparkle

Throughout the time that was spent for Spike to read over Twilight’s passionately-crafted words, Princess Celestia kept herself silent while sitting across from him. She tried to refrain from showing much emotion to distract the drake, but it was hard for her not to appear too overwhelmed when she saw how Spike’s face began to look near the end of that letter. His lips started off bitten together in concentration, but began to tremble by the time he was halfway through that scroll. And no matter how many times he tried to blink his eyes, tears were already beading at the corners after the first couple of paragraphs.

When he finally finished reading what his Guardian had to say about him, Spike had to cover his mouth with a claw while struggling not to sob in front of the Princess. Tears were freely rolling down his scaled cheeks, and his face was deeply blushed from how emotional that letter turned out to be. Even though he wasn’t crying for any negative reasons, Spike couldn’t bear to look back at Celestia while trying to keep his sniffling breaths silent. Meanwhile, Celestia carried a warm and trembling smile of her own, and looked at Spike with a kind and sympathetic expression.

She had to take a breath before speaking, but her voice still came out slightly cracked while her eyes were close to tearing up. “S-Spike? Do… Do you need a hug?”

Spike’s eyes clenched tightly shut as he kept his face turned away from her, but all that he needed was a brief exhale before he quickly nodded his head.

Princess Celestia lit up her horn to pick up Spike with her magic, and pulled him into her chest to give him a warm and passionate hug. As soon as his face pressed into the Alicorn’s tremendously soft chest floof, Spike couldn’t hold it in anymore. His claws gripped Celestia’s back, and he began to openly sob against her while tears of joy matted her pristine coat. The Princess hugged him back with just as much love and devotion as he was giving her, and let a few tears of her own stream down while she smiled from the moment they were able to share.

Spike wasn’t sure how long he and Celestia spent in each other’s embrace, but it was long enough for him to allow his tears to dry up and his breaths to settle down. Celestia looked equally as spent when the two finally pulled apart, and looked down at the drake to ask, “So, are you going to be alright, Spike? I know that was a lot to process.”

Spike gave a brief and affirming nod of his head, and wiped his cheeks with a claw while his eyes were still slightly reddened. “Y-Yeah, I… I’m good, it’s just… W-Wow, that was a lot!~”

Spike tried to chuckle following that last exclamation, but it was obvious his voice was a little too weak to muster the appropriate tone. As for Celestia, she couldn’t resist giving the dragon a coy little smirk as she replied cheekily, “Heh~ Why do I have the feeling you’ve said that before?~”

Spike stared up at Celestia for a couple seconds wide-eyed, not expecting a pony of Royalty to make such a joke. But after that bout of stunned silence passed, Spike couldn’t keep himself from laughing quite heartily in response. Celestia covered her muzzle with a hoof as she giggled as well, happy that she was able to cheer him up so quickly. After his laughter died down, Spike wiped his eyes and said up to her, “What the… Where did that joke come from?!”

With Spike still seated on her lap, Celestia openly scoffed with a roll of her eyes and said, “Oh, please! Spike, I know I’m a Princess and all, but I’ve also lived a very long life! Did you really think that I’d be a prude about topics like that?~”

Considering how he and Celestia spent the past couple hours discussing his lewd exploits, Spike should’ve known better than to make such an assumption. But even with that fact in mind, the drake needed to give an apprehensive shrug before retorting with, “W-Well, ummm… Huh. I guess that’s not completely false.”

“Exactly,” noted Celestia in a more matter-of-fact tone. “Despite how I may present myself in public, I would never express any judgement towards those who pursue more taboo interests like yourself. And I have to say that Twilight summed it up perfectly: You discovered something about yourself that you’re not only exceptionally skilled at, but you had the confidence and pride to use to benefit yourself and others. And that’s something I would never be disappointed with.”

Spike knew that she was undoubtedly right, but he still blushed profusely as he looked away from her with a bashful smile. “Uhhhh… Heh heh heh… It… It’s really nice to know that you have my back.”

“Well, why shouldn’t I?” she asked with a more casual shrug. After making a quick glance around the room, she leaned in close to Spike’s ear to add in a more hushed tone, “Believe me, Spike. I know what it’s like~”

That statement threw Spike completely off-guard. As he sat on the Princess’ lap, the dragon stared off wide-eyed as he processed exactly what she said. Meanwhile, Celestia merely giggled to herself when she saw how stunned she left him with that secret detail. After a long moment of silence, Spike finally looked back at the Princess with an expression that bordered between utter shock and slight suspicion. “Wh… What?”

Celestia’s grin looked downright devious as she shrugged her head briefly, and said back down to the drake, “What?~ We all have our phases sometimes. And when you’re near-Immortal like myself, you tend to have a century or two that’s a bit too… inappropriate for most textbooks~”

The Alicorn shot Spike a sly and knowing wink, which practically made the drake’s brain short-circuit from the shocking realization. As his head reeled back from her, and he was able to see just how genuinely she was smiling following that remark, Spike had to blink a couple more times before he could speak again. “You… You mean that you… y-you used to…”

“Be as promiscuous as you are?~” she asked before he could finish his question. “Yes, I did. Of course, after almost two centuries straight of nightly orgies, ‘private’ Royal Summits, and volunteering to service Royal Guards in their barracks, even the most carnal thrills started to lose their appeal after a while. It wasn’t until I had to venture into more… obscure fetishes that I realized I needed a break, so I abstained from sex for a century or so to better focus on my Political career.”

Spike’s mouth was hung open while gawking up at the Princess, his left eye twitching from the sheer overload of information that was fraying his brain. Even though he wished Twilight was in the room just moments ago so he could hug her about that letter, now he was unbelievably grateful she wasn’t here to learn that fact about her Mentor. She may have been accepting of Spike being a slut, but he was sure she would’ve had an aneurysm if she learned that Celestia used to be a slut too.

“Oh, and by the way,” she added while using her hoof to prop Spike’s jaw back upward, “I know that you solicited my Guard Ashy Step for a session at three, so I won’t try to hold you up for too much longer. However, there is one last matter I need to discuss with you before we end this chat.”

Spike may have still been stunned to near-oblivion, but he was able to get his thoughts back in track while Celestia floated him back into his own seat. Before she could bring up the final topic she needed to discuss, Spike shook his head to undo his flustered state so he could ask, “W-Wait, you… you overheard that?”

“I have a lot of surveillance spells around this castle, of course I heard it,” she replied with a knowing smirk. “But don’t worry, I’m not mad at either of you. As long as it’s off his shift, I won’t get in the way. However…”

Celestia leaned back in her seat as she took a deep breath, and then looked at Spike with a firmer expression on her face. “... Despite what I may know of things that happen here, I know that there are a few things outside of my knowledge outside of Canterlot. But regardless, I feel that I should ask about something a bit more… personal regarding yourself.”

Spike was still a bit frazzled from the conflicting emotions he felt coming back and forth in the past few minutes. Nevertheless, the drake tried his hardest to remain serious as he nodded his head and asked, “Well, ummm… alright then. What were you needing to ask?”

“Well…” Celestia paused as she placed her hooves over her muzzle for a moment, and took a breath through her nostrils to adequately prepare her words. “While I do appreciate all that you’ve told me today, I can’t help but notice that you may be withholding something important…”

Spike’s eyes widened the tiniest bit, and his face gave the slightest twitch that the Alicorn was able to spot. For most ponies, they likely wouldn’t have caught such a subtle change in his facial expression. But for Celestia herself, she saw that was the incentive to put her hooves down and say, “Spike, I’m going to ask you a straightforward question. And I would very much appreciate that you give me a straightforward answer in response. So with that being said…”

Celestia leaned back forward in her seat, and looked Spike in the eyes as she asked, “... I already know that you apprenticed Fizzle, but I need to know if there were any ponies you inducted as well.”

Spike’s pupils shrunk to the thinnest slits in his emerald reptilian eyes, and his face paled the slightest bit upon hearing that question. He wasn’t sure what would happen if he replied truthfully, but he knew that there would be consequences if he were caught lying to the Alicorn. So despite how strongly his face scrunched in from his nervousness, Spike was able to close his eyes and take a deep breath before answering, “Ummm… y-yes…”

Celestia nodded her head respectfully, and waited until Spike took another breath as she asked another question. “Okay then… Now, I’m not going to ask who, and I don’t want you to tell me any names, but… Are any of the ponies that you assisted carriers of the Elements of Harmony?”

Even though he didn’t give an audible response, his sudden reel back from the Princess was as good as any “Yes.” But regardless, the wide-eyed drake stared back at her with an overwhelmingly worried expression. “W… What?”

“Spike, I know this is a big question for you to answer,” she said as she kept her voice stern, but also strangely comforting. “And again, I’m not going to ask who they may be. However, I need to know this for the sake of Equestria’s safety. Considering how essential the Elements of Harmony are to protect our nation from countless threats, it’s essential for me to know that the six bearers are closely-bonded. If even one of them has encountered a change in their life that affects their personality or lifestyle, it could greatly affect their bonds with the other Elements.”

Spike’s expression turned downright terrified when he heard that fact, and he looked like he just committed a horrifying crime for what he did. Even though he knew that making Rarity and Rainbow Dash into sluts was a controversial thing to do, he would’ve never fathomed that it could compromise their bonds with the other Elements. His head sunk downward to keep Celestia from see his mortified expression, and he had to keep his eyes closed to keep from tearing up in guilt.

Celestia didn’t try to do anything to make Spike look back at her, but she placed a hoof on his shoulder before speaking more assuredly. “I swear to you by my crown, that I will not be upset if you have. It’s not the end of the world, and I won’t be disappointed in you. So Spike… Have you affected one of the Elements in that kind of way?”

Despite how genuinely Celestia made that promise to him, Spike couldn’t lift up his head to give his answer. Instead, the drake shamefully raised one of his claws, and brought up two digits in silence. It took Celestia a second to realize what that meant, but her brows raised quite a bit before she spoke. “... Oh. So… it was two of them?”

Spike let out a long and lingering sigh as he nodded weakly, not wanting to even look Celestia in the eye about what he did. After another moment of silence, Celestia leaned back in her chair to think that fact over. As she tapped her chin with a hoof and looked down at the table between them, she only needed a few seconds before shrugging her shoulders and saying, “Well… alright, that’s not as bad, I suppose.”

“Wait, what?” asked Spike when he whipped his head back up, and stared at the Princess with a befuddled look. “Wh… What do you mean?”

“Well, if only one of them had that kind of mindset, they might feel isolated from the others,” she said with clarification, as well as a tone of slight relief. “But if it’s more than one, that’s a little better in terms of keeping their friendships stable. Of course, it’s still a little tricky if the other four find out, and aren’t comfortable with it.”

Spike wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but he had a feeling he just opened up a can of worms he was not prepared to deal with. As his face carried a look of puzzlement and concern, he tried not to sound too worried when he asked the Alicorn, “Ummm… Sh… Should I try to stop them, or--”

“Pbbt!” Celestia scoffed in interruption and waved her hoof in dismissal. “Spike, don’t be ridiculous!” she said in a rather blunt tone. She then raised a brow at him and added, “I think you know just as well as I do that it isn’t something you can really stop.”

Even though that was just a split-second thought that he blurted out to suggest something, Spike still winced in realization of how stupid it was. If he wasn’t going to stop being a slut anytime soon, he was sure that neither of them would do so either. Fortunately, Celestia was quick to raise her hoof and say more assuredly, “However… this isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. It’s just a little… controversial, that’s all.”

Even with that claim, Spike more than a little wary about how much of a concern this really was. Considering how deeply he cared for his friends, the last thing he wanted to do was compromise their relationships, let alone their Elements. But at the same time, he wasn’t particularly sure what he could do to fix this issue, or even if it was an issue big enough to warrant fixing. But regardless, the drake tried to keep a serious expression on his face to mask his hesitance. “So, uhhh… is there anything that I should do?”

It seemed that Celestia had at least a couple ideas, judging by how studiously she looked while paused in thought. However, she still had to wait a moment before responding to Spike’s question. As the dragon sat across from her with an increasingly fretful expression, the Alicorn was leaned in with her hooves clasped together and braced under her chin. She then skewed her muzzle a little before huffing through her nostrils, and answering with, “Well… At the moment, I think we’ll be alright. The Elements are all on good terms with one another, and I doubt things will get too complicated if two of them developed that sort of mindset. It’s just something I need to know in case anything happens to the group.”

Spike nodded his head in understanding, but he could still be seen wincing from the Princess’ statement. After his encounter with Discord alongside Twilight and their friends, Spike knew first-claw just how significant the Elements were. He wasn’t sure if two of the Elements becoming sluts would create that large of a ripple to break their bonds, but he was wary about it being a possibility. And as he looked back at Celestia and her studious gaze, he had a feeling that she saw the concerns as well.

Nevertheless, Celestia seemed apprehensive for a second before her muzzle reopened once more. “Spike, I… I’m not going to ask you to do anything regarding this. At least, not right now. However… I do need to you to think over one last question before you leave...”

Spike was uncertain what else she could say in that moment, since he was already more than a little flustered by the ramifications of his actions. However, he still nodded back at her before hearing her continue. “Now then… First of all, I can’t help but feel compelled to give a sincere apology for what I’m about to ask, since this is a question I’m sure will be troubling for you. But with that being said…”

After closing her eyes to take an especially deep breath, Celestia asked the drake with a clear hint of wariness in her voice, “If… something were to occur that could possibly compromise their bonds… would it be possible to have all six of them on… equal terms?”

Spike froze in absolute shock, with his gawked expression looking notable enough to make Celestia wince briefly. Even if she didn’t say outright what she was asking of the drake, both of them knew exactly what she meant with that question. The chances of making Rarity or Dash un-promiscuous was basically unfeasible, and something that Spike would likely be against doing anyway. Because of that, the dragon knew there was only one other means which the Alicorn was asking about. It was a request that sounded absolutely insane, and more difficult to even comprehend, but it was also simple enough for the drake to understand instantly.

Celestia was asking if he could make all six of the Elements of Harmony into sluts.

Of course, due to the stunning realization of that question, Spike could only sit in silence while blinking repeatedly. Fortunately, Celestia was quick to raise a hoof to keep him from speaking at that moment, and added more sincerely, “Believe me, Spike. I know exactly how that question might sound, and I know how unfathomable it may seem given your bonds with them. And because of that, I’m not expecting you to give me an answer today. Heck, I wouldn’t hold it against you if you couldn’t give me a clear answer a month from now. I simply ask that you think it over when you have the free time, and try to determine from your past experiences, whether or not such a thing could be possible to implement. Do you understand what I’m saying here?”

Spike understood completely, and was quick to nod back at her silently to confirm that. However, it was hard for him to really do much else when his felt like his head was drowning in various thoughts. Celestia was able to see that, and only gave a small nod of her own. “If you want, I can let you leave a little early so you can think things over,” she said in a sincere and sympathetic tone of voice. “And no matter what answer you may have for me, I promise I won’t be upset with you. And if your answer turns out to be ‘No,’ I know we can work together to ensure the Elements of Harmony will remain secure in their care.”

Despite how weighted-down Spike felt from all he had to think about, Celestia’s promise to him was genuine enough for him to instantly understand. He nodded his head in agreement to her words, and was even able to smile a little to show he wasn’t too overwhelmed. Celestia smiled back at him after seeing that, and made sure to give him one last hug to better settle his nerves. “You’ll always have my support and respect, Spike. Just like Twilight Sparkle does as well. So before you leave, just remember to take things at your own pace. No matter when you come to your conclusion, we’ll all still be here in the end.”

Since there hasn’t been any major disasters in Equestria as of recently, Spike knew that Celestia wasn’t just saying that to make him feel better. So by the time their conversation finally concluded, and the two were able to give their goodbyes, Spike was in slightly higher spirits when he finally exited her private quarters. However, with each step he made on his own down the marble floors of the castle’s hallway, he already began to think about how feasible Celestia’s plan really was. Of course, he was sure if Rainbow Dash or Rarity were to learn what the Princess was asking from their friend, they would be equally as conflicted about inducting the other girls into promiscuity.

But for Spike, it wasn’t just the taboo of such an idea that was reeling through his mind. He was also considering how the ultimate goal could be achieved in a feasible way. And along with that, who would be the easiest ones to convert through such a means. Which Elements would be okay with being a slut? Which ones wouldn’t?

Hmmmm… Pinkie Pie would probably be the easiest, he thought to himself while traversing down the hallway alone. She was super accepting of me as soon as I got cleared by Doctor Turner. And she likes making ponies happy anyway, so who knows? Maybe making ponies orgasm could be an easy step. Although… she’s also pretty innocent sometimes. I have to make sure she’d be comfortable with having sex without being too emotionally attached…

As he rounded the corner towards the Guards barracks, his mouth skewed to the thought of the next pony. Would Applejack be cool with that? I mean, she’s pretty conservative most of the time, and I don’t think she’d want to do anything her family wouldn’t approve of. Although… she was also the one to help Braeburn be accepted by the family, and was even cool with me. Plus, she’s comfortable with Big Mac fooling around with me nowadays, so she can’t be that much of a prude. If anything, I might need to ask Dash if there’s any info she might have on her. If she has a good enough kink for me to implement, it might just give me the edge to sway her in…

Fluttershy? Ho boy will that be an issue, he thought with a shake of his head, and a brief pause in his steps. Heck, I wouldn’t be shocked if she ended up being a virgin. Although, so was I, so that can’t be a complete deal-breaker. Hmmm… Maybe I could recommend some sex-toys first? Something to get her used to the idea without social interaction? Perhaps Rarity can help me figure something out with her. She knows a lot about her from their spa trips, so maybe she knows something the others don’t? After all, the quiet ones can be the freakiest sometimes...

Of course, as soon as the final pony came up, Spike fully stopped while beside a lone corner. He had to lean himself against the wall with a claw, and clench his eyes shut with a look of conflict clear as day on his face.

Twilight… Oh, Gods that won’t be easy… Honestly, that one might be the exception here. I know she’s alright with me, but I know that doesn’t mean anything about herself. And I know that she’s a virgin, so that’s even harder for me to contemplate. Ugh… Maybe Celestia should tell her about the idea herself? At least then she’d understand the gravity of the situation…

Although… would she be completely against it? He thought as his head perked up briefly. I mean… it’s clear that she trusts me a lot more nowadays, so maybe she wouldn’t completely dismiss it if I told her myself. And if I had the other girls help me out, she might be willing to at least try it once or twice. Actually… maybe that might be better for them and not me. I mean, she called me her son in that letter, and… ugh, that’s a bad thing to remember right now…

The drake groaned to himself as he pulled his head back, and tried to shake his head clear from all of his conflicting thoughts. He knew he needed a lot more time to fully process what to do, or how to even do it without failing. But at the same time, he knew that this wasn’t something he could do alone. And since Rainbow and Rarity were accepting enough to join him in such an intimate and taboo way, he was sure that they’d contribute if he told them the plan himself. It was a daunting prospect, and likely something that could get some possible blowback; however, if even just one of them was willing to give the idea a chance, the idea of actually getting all six of them sluttified wouldn’t just sound feasible…

It could be downright interesting~

But for now, Spike knew he couldn’t do anything about it until he got back to Ponyville, and actually talked with his two friends about what they could do. So instead of dwelling on the prospects any longer than necessary, Spike only needed one last breath before he placed those thoughts aside, and went back to walking by himself. Even though ideas regarding the four remaining Elements were still bubbling in the recesses of his subconscious, the little drake was able to think more about himself by the time he reached the Royal Guard barracks.

Since there were still fifteen minutes or so before Ashy Step was due to clock out, Spike looked around the outside of the barracks and huffed to himself. However, his body tensed up as soon as he felt a familiar churning in his gut, and knew exactly was about to happen. Spike could barely have any time to react before he let out an Earth-rumbling belch, and a plume of greenish-purple smoke bellowed from his mouth. That magic smoke then conjured out a Royal scroll, which happened to be attached to a small package.

When he caught the parcel in his claws, Spike quickly unrolled the scroll to read a small message Celestia left for him:

Spike,

Just so you know, I noticed Ashy Step talking with several stallions in one of my magic feeds. Since it seems like he’s gaining a lot of attention, so I decided to gift you these items to better prepare. Have fun~

-Sincerely, Princess Celestia

Spike had no idea what exactly the Princess sent him, but he was already grinning ear-to-ear before he even unwrapped the package. But as soon as he saw the suggestive items Celestia sent through her magic, a strong and giddy shudder swept across the dragon’s body to leave him antsy for what might happen next. After looking around the hall for a moment to make sure nopony saw him just yet, he quickly ran off to find a restroom so he could change.

“Ohhhhhh man,” he purred with a randy grin as he went to get himself prepared. “I hope more of my Royal meetings end up like this~”

Spike may have had a lot on his plate, and he knew just how tricky things could be as soon as he went back to Ponyville. But as for now, with a bunch of horny Guards in wait and his claws holding a lot of skimpy clothing, the drake knew that he had enough free-time to appreciate what he had now. Not only did he have an amazing circle of friends back home to show their support, as well as an entire community who fully respected him for who he was, but he also had something he knew he didn’t possess before that fateful trip to the Dragon Lands. He learned enough about himself to understand exactly what he wanted to do with his life, both in Equestria and beyond; and with that, he also carried the pride and acceptance necessary to feel absolutely no shame about it.

No matter what might happen next, and what might change in his life, Spike knew exactly what wasn’t going to change. He would always be there for Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements, as well as anypony else who chose to seek him out. And even if the Elements were to disperse, Spike would never stop carrying their qualities in his heart like a badge of pride. He would always make sure that he was just as loyal, kind, honest, generous, carefree, and dedicated to his friends as they have been throughout the years, both to others and himself. But most of all, Spike would never forget who he truly was, or what he was proud to be seen as.

Not just as a Slut. Not just as a Dragon. But as a Friend.

The End

Author's Note

I know this is a lot for me to have written before April -- especially since this has no sexual content. However, since the final season of MLP is drawing near, this chapter seemed like the best way to conclude this series as a whole. I'll still write SlutSpike whenever I can, but I hope you'll all appreciate this chapter as a sendoff to one of the most passionate projects I had the pleasure to write since Brushed Away. And with that, I wanna thank you all for all your support and praise for something so unusual, and also so popular on Fimfiction. I never would've continued this series without you guys -- let alone finished it -- so believe me when I say you guys made this possible. Thank you all so much for believing in me, and I hope you'll continue to do so for whatever projects I have planned in the future.