Author's Note

Another chapter down! This one was way hard to write, and it didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped. But it is what it is, and I've made my peace with it.

Special thanks to Yosh-E-O and DGJabberwocky for your awesome comments. You guys really make it worthwhile to keep going with this fic. I appreciate you!

Thank all of you guys for all the favorites and comments! It really makes my day.

Yet again I thank you, Josh for your insight into this chapter and letting me bounce ideas off of you. I could say a lot here, and you know I do. But thank you sort of covers it- at least a little.

Enjoy this chapter!

Play

Spike still had his head buried in Twilight’s neck when she said those words. It made him blush further. For about half a second, there was quiet in the room, and the tension in Spike shot up faster than Rainbow Dash when she performed a sonic rainboom. For just that fraction of a moment, his shame threatened to tear him apart. And then he heard it.

“Awww!” It was a collective statement from everypony. It made him peek out his head a little to look at the mares before him.

“D’awww! Wittle Spikey-Wikey, you’re so adorable! I just want to hug you and never let go!” Said Pinkie, giving him a gentle squeeze.

“Spike, you’re perfect. I knew you were a baby dragon when I met you, and this proved it! I’m so excited to get to know you!” Fluttershy babbled.

“I can’t believe it, I would have never expected this, but it makes me glad for you.” Applejack said.

“You look just perfect, Spikey-Pooh! Absolutely fabulous!” Rarity gushed.

“Spike, you’re awesome, and nothing changes that. Not even this. We’ll always be here for you.” Said Rainbow Dash.

He looked at them each one by one. “Really?” He asked, hope beginning to shine in his eyes. They all nodded. He smiled, a slow, bright smile, and hugged them all. They were happy to reciprocate.

When the hug broke, Twilight spoke up. “Why don’t we show you around?” She said. They all nodded and she took them into the nursery.

They all saw the white crib that was in one corner, and a rocking chair in the opposite one. A tiny bookshelf was next to that, filled with books, Adjacent to that was a changing table. Then, there was a closet on the back wall, and finally, a dresser next to the crib. The ceiling was painted a sky blue, with clouds and a sun, and on each wall was a different mural. One was of Ponyville, the next was of Canterlot, the one after was of a cave full of multicolored gems, and finally, the one he could see when he was in his crib, was a mural of Twilight holding him.

They hadn’t been a part of the original design of the nursery, but after spending more and more time there, Twilight had decided that she wanted to make it more personal. With a few simple spells, she had been able to transfigure her memories and turn them into art. When she had shown him the day it was finally done, he had been elated. He had hugged her so tightly that she hadn’t been able to breathe. When he pulled away, slightly embarrassed, she had laughed and laughed.

“It’s beautiful, darling. Simply breathtaking. The love that has gone into this is just heartwarming.” Said Rarity. Everypony else murmured in agreement.

There was a beat or two of quiet as everypony adjusted themselves to the new environment. Then, of course, Pinkie Pie popped up.

“Hey Spike, Wanna play?” She asked.

“Sure!” He said.

She pulled out a bag of lollipops and put one into her mouth. Spike had gone over to a paint set. That Caught Twilight’s attention. He loved to paint, but he tended to get it everywhere. Instantly his claw was in the blue paint and smearing it all over the paper. Twilight watched him vigilantly, knowing that he might get paint all over the house. When Pinkie saw Spike absently trying to put his paint-covered claw in his mouth, she ran over to him and gently pulled his arm down.

"Woah there munchkin, let's keep those fingers out of there for now. We don't want you getting lead poisoning now, do we?”

Spike gave her a miffed look.

"Alright, alright. You need something to suck on. I get it." Then, an idea struck her. She took the lollipop from her mouth and popped it into Spike’s. After a few seconds of sucking, Spike was smiling. Pinkie grinned.

"Pretty good, huh? Just don't tell your mommy I gave you sugar. She might be mad at me. Okay?” Pinkie stage whispered. Spike responded by smearing paint all over Pinkie's face. Pinkie burst out laughing. “Hey! I’m not an easel!” But there was no trace of anger in her voice, just mirth. Spike and everyone else were laughing out loud, despite Twilight rolling her eyes.

“Spike, you know you’re not supposed to have sugar this early in the morning!” She chastised. The dragon pouted.

“Please Mama?” He asked, eyes large and pleading.

Twilight took in a breath. “Alright. Just this once.”

Spike’s eyes lit up. “Thank you!” He said, giving her a hug. Then, he turned to Pinkie as he went back to the paint set. “Thanks Auntie Pinkie Pie!” He said.

Pinkie’s smile grew so wide that it looked like it might break her face. She hugged Spike, even though it got paint all over her. “Best. Day. Ever!” She cheered, while her friends looked on with a smile. Twilight was grinning like mad. She knew that her friends would be an invaluable part of this journey that she was taking, and that moment had proved it.

Meanwhile, Spike played. He was more content than he had ever been. Being treated like a hatchling had always been a secret fantasy of his. From the moment he knew how to walk, to write, he had been Twilight’s faithful assistant. He had never really had the chance to be a child. Responsibility had always continuously been heaped upon him. Of course he’d had his time to himself, but his overshadowing duties had always come first. There had been no time for play. In the time just after his moving to Ponyville, he had begun to think about what it would be like to be a hatchling again. To just be taken care of, and not take care of anything else. But the fantasy had been kept a well-buried secret. That fantasy had come true in the best and most unexpected of ways.

Now, with his Mommy and all of his aunties here, he finally had the childhood of his dreams.