Exposure Therapy

"Ok, the coast is clear. Come on." Twilight said, looking around the corner. After all her friend had been through, she felt it was best to get him back to the dorm so he could let his nerves settle. She'd admit the route she'd picked was a bit on the long side, but it would go through areas the other students didn't normally go in. "Spike, let's go!"

"I..I don't think I can take more of this, Twi..." Spike's voice sounded dead. She looked behind her to see him slumped against the wall, looking like he was at his breaking point. "It hasn't been a full day and I've been charged at by...by...I don't know how many g-girls!"

"Oh, Spike..." She quickly went over, giving him what she hoped was a comforting hug.

"I don't think I'm going to survive this place..."

"Spike, I promise you it'll be ok. Most of the girls here don't get to see boys around for months, but give them a day or two and I'm sure they'll start seeing you as just another student. I know you'll be able to hold out until then. You...I..." She chuckled weakly. "God, I'm awful at pep talks...look, Spike, I know this place hasn't made the best first impression, but I promise, I'm here for you. And Sunset's here too, and you aren't afraid of her, so that's someone else to help watch your back."

"Well, I have to admit, this is the first time a student managed to try and help alleviate the situation before I arrived." Luna said, appearing a short ways off in a haze of blue light.

"D-Dean Luna!" Twilight said, feeling Spike tense up. "How..how'd you know we were here?"

"Actually, I've looking for Spike for the last few minutes. Celestia managed to spot him coming out of the emergency exit like a bat outta hell. In all honesty, it was pretty damn impressive. That was a quarter inch thick steel door, and you took it clean off its hinges!" She laughed a little. "Not to mention the fact I think you broke the sound barrier getting away from the girls, felt our office window rattle a little."

She took a breath to clear things, her expression becoming a tad more solemn. "Spike, as Co-Dean of the Canterlot Girls Academy, it's my duty to personally apologize for what you've been through so far." She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Looking back, Celestia and I really should have informed the student body of the situation ahead of time. And your parents should have...."

She was about to say 'should have told you about the school', but then her mind drifted back to the ruined emergency door and footprint embedded in the running track. She then began picturing what could've happened if he'd known about the nature of the school before arriving...and paled slightly. 'On the other hand...' "Um...they should've let you know that this wasn't a standard boarding school."

Spike slowly got back to his feet. "Well, I...I appreciate the apology...I just...I don't know..."

"Here, we still have to get you your class schedule, those tend to take a day or two to sort out, so you have till then to let yourself get at least a little situated. And, like Twilight said, Miss Shimmer is looking out for you as well. So, I'll leave you two to get back to your dorms...while Celestia and I call about a new door." She started to teleport off, but stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot! Spike, it's standard procedure here for new students to get a checkup. Mostly so we can be aware of any allergies, medical conditions, things like that." She noticed the apprehension growing on his face. "Don't worry, Nurse Redheart is a happily married woman. The most you'll have to worry from her is a cold stethoscope. Now, you better get going."

Meanwhile, Sunset was busy explaining things fully to the others.

"Wait, you trying to tell us that green-haired studmuffin is an old friend of Egghead's?!" Rainbow looked on in disbelief. "That lucky little...."

"Yes, Dash, but that's beside the point." Sunset cut in. "The main thing is, Spike is terrified of girls."

"Bull! If he's scared of girls then why's he friends with Four-eyes!? OW!" Lightning yelped when Applejack swatted the back of her head for the insult. "What was that for!? You didn't hit Dash for using 'egghead'!"

"'Cause when Dash calls Twilight 'Egghead', she uses a tone that ain't insultin'." The taller girl gave her a glare.

"As I was saying, Miting Thrust (Lightning Dust!), Spike didn't even realize Twilight was a girl for a while, and by then, his phobia didn't react. And apparently, because I'm not a 'local', it didn't react to me either, which confused the hell out of him."

"So he wasn't shy, just scared?" Pinkie asked, letting out a sheepish giggle. "Eheh...whoopsie?"

"I don't think he ever really learned about anything like that. Me and Twilight got into a...'disagreement' about something earlier today and he saw us both topless, but all he gave 'huh'." She scratched her head. "I mean, he didn't even know why his body was reacting like it did!"

"Wait...he saw your tits, got a boner, and didn't know WHY!?" Lightning scoffed. "What is he? Some kinda bumpkin?"

*WHAM!*

*THUD!*

"Ouch..."

The girls looked at Lightning, who was now faceplanted in the ground, a grown knot on the back of her head.

"Ah HATE that word." Applejack hissed, flexing her fist.

"Right..." Sunset looked at her county friend warily. "Anyway, Twilight said she was gonna take him back to the dorm when she found him so he could calm down. Thinking maybe we should meet them there so we can all get this cleared up."

"Um..m-maybe we should go...one at a time?" Fluttershy spoke up. "So we don't overwhelm him, I mean..."

"That would probably work best. Last thing we need is another gym repeat." Rarity agreed. "That door had to be expensive."

"Ok, then it's settled. Let's get going, we can decide who goes first on the way." Sunset said. "Later, Spiting Crust."

"Eht's Dighting Wust..." Came the garble response as they walked off. "Eyyy...hate you all..."

It took a bit longer than planned, but the two finally managed to get back to the dorm room. The moment they were in, Twilight slumped onto the couch beside Spike. "Whew. Made it!"

"Yeah...." Spike sighed. "I just hope this isn't going to be setting the bar for the future..."

"Hey. " She said, curling up beside him. "Remember what I said. I'm here for you." She fought the urge to blush when he put an arm around her.

"Thanks, Twi."

She was sorely tempted to just snuggle down in her spot, but knew he needed something to take his mind off it. "I know, how about I help you unpack?"

"Um, ok. Don't really have much, though." He replied, getting up and heading to his bags. "Um, where do I sleep?"

"Um..." She looked around. While comfortable, the dorm room itself was pretty much the size of a motel room with a half bathroom off it. It was then she realized that, aside from a couch, they only had the two twin beds she and Sunset used. 'Uh-oh...where IS he gonna sleep??'

Before she could really start worrying about, the door opened again, revealing Sunset. "Figured you might've gotten back."

"Sunset." Twilight craned her neck to look out the door. "W-where are the others?"

"They're out in the hall." She swallowed briefly. "Listen, Spike. I know your first meeting with the girls wasn't exactly the best, but they aren't all that bad. They want to meet you; I mean honestly meet you. If me and Twi are with you, and they agree to keep their distance, think you can handle them one at a time?"

"I...I guess." He said, failing to hide the uncertainty in his tone.

"Trust me, it'll be fine." Her horn glowed as she telekinetically pulled a nearby chair over to her. "Just take a seat, and i'll be back in a minute." She headed back out.

As the faint sound of chatter came from the hall, Spike sighed and slumped back down on the couch, Twilight quickly taking a spot beside him.

Fluttershy

"....."

Spike looked nervously at the pinkette, who just whimpered in the chair as she hid behind her wings. "Is she ok?" He whispered to Sunset.

"Yeah, she's just kinda shy around new people." She made a 'go ahead' motion to her.

He looked back to the girl, seeing her peek out through her feathers with a bright red face. "Um...h-hi?"

"*Squeak!*" She quickly hid again.

Applejack

"So, yer parents enrolled ya to an all girls' school?" The farmgirl asked, giving him an appraising look. "Name's Applejack, but ya'll can call me AJ."

"H-hey..." Spike said hesitantly.

"Well, this definitely makes the list fer some of the odder things Ah've seen 'round here. 'Specially after yer lil demonstration back the gym. Ah have a feelin' yer gonna fit in ok 'round here."

Twilight raised an eyebrow when she spied a tinge of pink on the blonde's cheeks. 'Is she...blushing??'

Rarity

"Well, I must say, having a gentleman on campus is certainly out of the ordinary, but..." She gave him a look similar to Applejack's. "I believe I can get accustomed to the idea."

"Th-thanks...?" He said, still not real sure what else he should say.

"Quite. Oh! Where are my manners...? My name is Rarity, and I really should apologize for my friend's rather...exuberant first impression. Not to disparage her, but Pinkie can be a bit like a puppy around newcomers. She means well, just...well, you saw yourself.

"Ok...I...I just...I panicked..."

"Either way, I have a feeling your presence is going to making things interesting around her." She winked.

Rainbow Dash

"So, what brings you out here, big boy?" Rainbow grinned, giving him what she probably thought were bedroom eyes, but they made her look sleepy instead.

"Dash, I told you already." Sunset replied, noticing Spike seemed a tad weirded out by the pegasusblood.

"Yeah, yeah." She waved it off. "So, name's Rainbow Dash, the coolest and fastest gal here at Canterlot Acadamy. or, second fastest after seeing your handiwork." Her grin widened, wings slowly extending. "Gotta hand to you, never seen anyone speed off like that, especially with that footprint you left on the track."

"Rainbow, turn it down." Twilight warned, glaring at her wings.

"Um, s-sorry about that?" He said.

"You kidding!? That was the hottest thing I've seen since checking myself out in the mirror this morning! Heh, maybe you can I can, ah...go out for a 'jog' later tonight?" She waggled her eyebrows.

"Rainbow Dash...!" Twilight hissed, feeling Spike tense up.

Pinkie Pie

"Hi, I'm Pinkemena Diane Pie, but everyone calls me Pinkie! Heh, sorry about getting 'forward' as Rarity calls it. " She scratched the back of her head, sticking her tongue out playfully. "So, you have any hobbies?"

"Well...a couple." Spike shrugged, still anxious from that Dash girl. "I play piano, lift weights, cook..."

"Ooh, I LOVE cooking!" Pinkie squealed, suddenly in his lap. "Especially baking! Have you tried doing a Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness!?" She sighed. "Just one bite..."

"PINKIE!" Twilight and Sunset yelled, snatching her up with their magic. "GET OFF HIM!

Unfortunately, the sudden loss of proximity, a strange girl in his lap, and the slightly manic grin she had was too much and Spike reacted the only way he felt possible.

He screamed.

By the time the two girls had managed to get Spike to calm back down - and out from under Sunset's bed - the sun had already set.

"i'm really sorry, Spike!" Sunset said for the ninth time once they'd coaxed him out. "I forgot to remind Pinkie about 'personal space'!"

"You mean she's always like that...?" He whimpered.

"Well, not always, but she can get rather...touchy-feely when she gets excited. But I'll have a talk with her about it tomorrow."

"Key word: tomorrow." Twilight yawned. "I think we could all use a good night's sleep...uh-oh." She said, looking at Spike. I'd forgotten about that when the others came!' "We gotta find you a place to sleep!"

"Why doesn't he just sleep with one of us?" Sunset said, heading to her dresser to change. "Should be enough room."

"Sleep....t-together??" Twilight squeaked, her face flushing. "I..I..."

"I don't mind." Spike commented, surprising them both. "It'll be kinda like how we used to, Twi."

"True, but we were just eight back then...at the oldest!" She replied.

Spike shrugged. "Shouldn't be that much different."

"But...but the beds....they aren't built for two people." She started, before hearing the tinkle of magic used and spun around
to catch Sunset putting the beds together. "There." She grinned. "Now we have a bed that's plenty big enough and we all sleep together, with him right between us to help him feel safe."

"That works." Spike grinned a little, while Twilight's glasses fogged up a little at the thought.

Once they changed to sleepwear (and Twilight told Sunset she couldn't sleep nude that night) the three of them were soon curled up on the makeshift king bed, each girl curling up with Spike in the middle and his arms around them. It wasn't long before all three were sound asleep.

Later That Night

"Twilight?" Sunset whispered, poking her female roommate with her magic "Twilight...!"

"Zznnf...whoza...huh?" Twilight cracked an eye open towards the clock. "Sunset, it's Two A.M. and I'm comfy...!"

"I know, I know, but, um, does Spike seem a little...bigger to you now?"

Twilight sat up a little. "What are you talking about?"

Sunset pointed. "His feet are sticking out."

Twilight groaned. "Some people like to sleep with their feet uncovered, Sunset." She curled back up against the slumbering boy's side, eager to get back to sleep herself.

"Yeah, but...with their feet sticking a foot off the end?"