But First!! Here are Some Doubts....

by Leslichu

Chapters

3!!! (Cool mane, but a stupid smile)
4!!! (Ooooo.....)
5!!! ("Happy For You")
6!!! (Weak Legs)
7!!! (Hero-time Applejack)
8!! (Not good enough!?)
9!! (When it's over)
10!!! (No really, was she joking?)
12!!! (Glass jawed Pegasi)
13!!! ("....just wasting time and space...")
14!!! (Parasprites in a Jar)
15!! (The Truth Seal)
16!!! (Caught!!)
17!!! ("It's just business....")
1!!!
2!!! (False Beginnings)
11!! ! (Ahem...friend of the family)

3!!! (Cool mane, but a stupid smile)

Chapter 3!!!!!

Read it!!!!!

Read before I end your miserable lives in the rack!!!

..........I'm just kidding, you're too sexy for the rack......................

Haha ok but seriously, here's the next chapter--

Two things hit Spike as he walked into Rarity's room that first night

He had never been within mare's bedroom alone before (excluding the space he shared with Twilight back at the library)
Not only was he in a mare's bedroom alone (which he was sure had some rule against it), but he was in RARITY's bedroom alone.

Slowly working the towel over his wet back scales, he allowing his eyes to scan over the room. Every part of the room seemed to follow a pattern from the color purple, the gentle lavender of the walls flowing down to the stronger, bluish violet color of the plush carpets. Draping his towel across his shoulders, the dragon slowly made his way further into the room. Every color in the room appeared to be very neutral and relaxing to eyes, no doubt this was intentional on Rarity's part (and not because the colors matched her mane).

The only vibrant color detectable in the room came from its centerpiece, the four post bed. Spike ran a claw over the finely polished wood as he took in the brighter, more pinkish purple of the comforter. An experienced mare would be able to tell you that this was a color pattern built for intimacy in the bedroom, with the vibrancy of the bed drawing a colt's attention to the mare laying atop it. But to Spike, this was simply the creativity of the most creative pony he knew at work.

"I hope everything is okay, it has been quite a bit messy in here lately."

Spike whirled around, suddenly very self-conscious of being in this most private part of Rarity's home. He hadn't heard her come in, for if he had he would have presented himself sitting in a chair across the room rather than right on the verge of sitting in her bed.

"This isn't messy at all, as a matter of fact I can't remember the last time I even saw a room this pretty," Spike said sincerely, his hands securely at his waist lest he unwittingly touch one of her knickknacks.

"Well that is very kind of you to say darling, but really I simply -must- make time to tidy up in here," Rarity made a face as she looked upon the rather organized "mess" that sat atop her desk.

Spike rubbed a claw along the back of his neck, worry gnawing at him. He couldn't help but feel that he was overstepping a boundary here. So finally, swallowing to make his voice firm, he voiced his concerns.

"Yeah well, Rarity about this.....are you sure I'm not overstaying my welcome just a bit? I mean I don't want you to have to sleep on your couch until Twilight gets back."

"Oh nonsense," Rarity began and she walked over to Spike, sweeping him up and placing him upon the bed, "You know that my home is your home, for obvious reasons. You are one of the kindest little dragons a mare can hope to meet."

With that said, she leaned in and gave him a peck on his cheek before turning to exit the room, his wet towel in tow.

"Now get some sleep dear, you don't want bags under your eyes do you?"

Spike sat there with his claw pressed over the cheek she kissed, warmth bubbling strongly in his stomach. For the second time that night, he watched Rarity's tail sway before it disappeared behind the closing door. Spike's stomach did an odd flip as soon as he heard the door click closed however, as his earlier realization suddenly hit him again. Now Spike was no snoop, but this was THE ONE. There were clues here, right here in this very room that could help him win her heart. But where to look, and where to draw the line?

The dragon bounced off of the bed, adrenaline suddenly rushing through him. He had of course been in this room a few times before, but never long enough to admire the work in it, let alone scan it's potentially private contents. Spike was no stranger to the idea of privacy, after all he respected that Twilight kept a journal and never once perused it's contents. And he would honor that again should he happen across a diary in Rarity's name. That was the line he refused to cross, as reading such a book would debunk any form of trust the mare could put in him, and that would be a heavy burden on his conscience. But everything below the diary-status was a potentially pivotal clue to the workings of Rarity's emotions. And Spike was determined to find at least one.

He his vision danced along the top of the desk Rarity had been inspecting earlier, it's contents mostly limited to multicolored spools of thread and off to the side her trusty sewing machine. Of course this was something Spike had been expecting, as he knew Rarity was very passionate about her job. Deciding it better not to snoop through the drawers of the desk, Spike turned his attention to the far corner of the room, where the lights reflected from the mirror on Rarity's vanity table.

This would probably provide more insight to his mare's emotions, rather than a worktable that reflected her business attitude. After all, judging by how splendid Rarity looked every time the little dragon saw her, he figured she spent a healthy amount of time sitting in front of this very mirror. Letting his claws run along the smooth wood, he took in the objects that were sitting in a pile atop it. Oddly enough, the myriad of brushes and makeup kits were severely disorganized, as if they had been dropped and quickly gathered up at some point.

The next ten minutes found Spike gingerly picking through the mess, neatly organizing each piece into a place he deemed appropriate. Makeup and eyeliner pencils went to one side, whilst her brushes and curlers sets went the other. Unfortunately the mess told him very little other than Rarity liked to keep herself enticing. Sighing deeply as he set the last brush in place, he noticed a photograph pressed in between the glass of mirror and it's wooden panel. Pulling it free, Spike backed up to hold the photograph in the light.

What stared back at him from the photo was a black furred pegasus stallion. He had a light blue mane, and a pair of piercing dark yellow eyes. Eyes like that griffon that had came to Ponyville a while back, Spike thought, eyes like a hawk. The stallion was leaning against the side of a table, a cocky smile on his mouth. Spike decided then and there that this was probably not a pony Spike would like to meet, let alone be friends with. He reminded him of Rainbow Dash, but figured he would have very little of her good traits. The dragon carefully placed the photograph back in its place on the mirror, letting his mind wander over who the stallion could be. A coltfriend? No, couldn't be.Rarity only liked fancy colts, as much as Spike hated to admit it. A brother perhaps? It was possible, but very unlikely. The fur was much too different from Rarity's.

If not a brother or a lover, perhaps a friend? Spike's mind played over the details of the photograph, trying to match the face to someone he knew was related to Rarity. However nothing came to mind and he jumped back onto the bed, a defeated sigh jumping from his mouth as his back hit the bed. He had learned nothing other than Rarity had friends he didn't know about.

He slowly stretched his arms above his head, a yawn escaping his lips. The little dragon usually began to settle down for the night around this time,

he could already begin to feel the exhaustion stinging the corners of his eyes. He let his arms settle above his head, not wanting to move them after such a good stretch. His hand, however, felt a strange lump under the comforter, something soft but large and wadded up. He sat up and pulled the bright blanket back, only to find a white and pink bathrobe lying forgotten underneath it.

Spike gently picked up the robe, handling it as if it were some thing alive and fragile. Slowly bringing it to his nose, he breathed in a scent of lilacs and.....something else he could not readily place. This was the way Rarity smelled when she leaned in to kiss his cheek, or when she would pull him into a hug. Suddenly feeling a warmth in is stomach that was all too familiar, yet new a d wonderful, Spike let himself fall back down onto the bad with the robe still pressed to his nose. He felt a relaxation like a glass of warm milk, or perhaps a fire warming his back. The little dragon let his eyes droop as he held the robe much like a security blanket, feeling a warmth his young mind had only experienced when Rarity would kiss him. Allowing this small comfort to hold him, Spike closed his eyes and pushed the black colt from his mind.

Yeah so this was a bit shorter than I had previously planned, but it felt right to leave it the way it was. Anyway, on to chapter 4.

"wish I knew what you were looking for,

Might have known what you would find,

and it's something quite peculiar,

something shimmering and white,

it leaves you here despite your destination,

under the milky way tonight"

4!!! (Ooooo.....)

Chapter 4

Gather round dear Bronys, for I have just stoked the fire and put a stew on.

Read this fresh new chapter while I get the crackers

The sun radiated through cracks in the blinds, falling upon still sleeping eyes. The mare mumbled something in her sleep, entertaining guests even in her dreams, as she rolled away from the offending lights. Hours earlier, Rarity had given in to the call of sleep and abandoned her broomstick for her couch. Sleep fell upon her in seconds as she flopped down on the soft red cushions. Her mane, as if sensing that the world would be still for those precious few hours, had relaxed it's curls and cascaded over the side of the couch.

Spike had to exercise every ounce of self control he had not to touch the violet waterfall, frozen for for an unseen camera while it's owner dreamed. The morning chill had awoken him that morning, the robe still clutched in his tiny claws. It had only taken a few seconds for excitement to wash over him as he recognized that he had not woken up in his basket back home, and that Rarity was somewhere downstairs hard at work.

However what his eyes took in as he raced down the stairs stopped him in his tracks, his excitement turning to admiration of the goddess sleeping in Celestia's rays. He willed his feet to be silent as he crept down the remaining stairs, afraid that he would disturb her sleep. His mind had thrown out all the ideas he had gathered up as he had raced down the hallway moments before, now perfectly content with thinking "She's gorgeous" on repeat.

And so Spike the Dragon spent the first half hour of his day laying on his back on Carousel Boutiques plush carpets, thinking how wonderful it would be to run a brush through all of that beautiful hair. Thoughts of combs and brushes danced around in his head until reason found it an appropriate time to crash the party; he couldn't help but feel just a bit creepy.

After all, the dragon did snoop around in her room just last night, cuddled with her garments, and was now watching her sleep. Perhaps now was a good time to nip the serial killer act in the bud.

Spike stood up with a quiet sigh, knowing that his conscience wasn't steering him wrong and turned away from the fashionista. Now the dragon was never an overly-sensitive sort of chap, neither was he prone to whining. But today he sure felt small, and the reasoning stared back at him with bright green eyes behind the glass walls he just so happened to turn to look upon.

He tiptoed closer to the studio mirror, his figure becoming more clear and depressing with each step. Not even an inch had he grown since the night before. Not his spines, not his teeth, not even the claws on his toes. He put his claw over the reflections face and lowered his head, only to find yesterday's culprit curled at his feet. And no, that culprit -still- wouldn't be able to wrap around Rarity's tail.

He couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't be a big, strong pony like Big Macintosh. The apple farmer never said more than two words to him at a time but that didn't stop Spike from idolizing him. Being strong, being tall, - heck being handsome- all of these were things Spike wished he had. Or at least some biceps for pity's sake!

He'd definitely have to ask Twilight if he could have a weight set in the library basement.

After a few moments of inspecting his muscles (or the lack of them) in the studio mirror, Spike gave a frustrated sigh and made a resolution to do at least thirty pushups before he went to sleep again. He let his arms drop and turned around, nearly jumping out of his skin upon seeing Rarity sitting up and staring at him.

"Well well, trying to build some muscles are we?" Rarity asked with a cheeky grin, a lock of her mane covering a side of her face.

"I should be, I mean some of the books Twilight has are huge. And don't get me started on how many times I reshelve them in a single day," Spike replied, the memory pushing away his embarrassment with annoyance.

"Yes, I suppose she can be a bit......mm...," Rarity bit her lip, looking for a polite word, "....I suppose over-enthusiastic might be right. She sighed as she stood up, stretching out her sore legs.

"I take it the couch wasn't all that comfortable," The dragon felt an apology bubbling up in his mind, knowing the unicorn probably would be feeling the aches for the rest of day. However, Rarity just waved a hoof at him and walked across the room to the stairs, hearing her vanity mirror call to her.

"Oh nonsense darling, I just need a second to warm up is all. Be a dear and see if Derpy left me anything in the mailbox while I go freshen up, we'll get breakfast over at Applejack's,"

"O-kay!" Spike yelled enthusiastically, feeling excited that he would get to see AJ and Big Mac soon. And perhaps Big Mac could tell him how he got so tall if he asked politely.

The dragon watched the unicorn's tail disappear over the last step before he turned on his heels and marched to the door. What awaited him beyond the door would have surprised anypony had they never lived in Ponyville. And sure enough surprise was not the first thing that registered in Spike's head upon seeing a grey mare wave at him from inside Rarity's mailbox.

"Oh jeez, Derpy are you okay?" Spike asked as he ran to the side of the mailbox that her head was poking through.

"Nope!" the mare ironically gave him a bright smile, one eye focusing on Spike and another watching the blue sky overhead.

Spike closed his mouth and took a moment to take in Derpy's answer and smile, logic telling him that the resident mail-mare was anything BUT logical. So instead of asking her how she had ended up in Rarity's mailbox that day, Spike walked around her taking in the damage.

Judging by the bent support beam, and her neat compaction inside the box, she had probably flown straight into it. Her flank hung out the front of the mailbox, her legs kicking playfully. The damage to the box itself was bad but the mare -seemed- to be fine.

"Does anything hurt, like your wings or anything?" Spike asked, circling back to face her.

She brought a hoof to her chin, her tongue poking out as she wiggled her limbs.

"Everything's okay!" she answered a moment later, saluting with a smile.

"But you just said you weren't okay," Spike said, confusion working its way into his head.

"Yeah, because I'm late on my rounds, and I have two special deliveries I've still got," she held out her hoofs, worry crumbling her earlier smile, "and I'm supposed to help the Doctor find the kelpies later!"

"Wait wha-," Spike cut himself off, waving the claw that wasn't pinching the corners of his eyes' " nevermind, did you have anything for Rarity today?"

"Oh!" Excitement sprang back onto Derpy's face as she pointed at a tan bag lying on the ground, "could you hand me that please?"

Spike bent down her handed her the requested item, noting its weight--she probably had a few more houses to go. He watched her rummage through the bag, both eyes now focused as she searched. She picked through the letters for a few more seconds before producing a single, rose tinted envelope and handed it to Spike.

"Okeedoke, that's makes only 16 more stops," she said cheerfully as she scribbled something down on a clipboard she had pulled from the bag. Spike looked at her, then back at the envelope, then back at the mail-mare. He sighed deeply as she smiled back at him, completely oblivious to her own situation once again.

Turning in the direction of Carrot Top's garden, he called "Hey Carrot top, would you mind calling Water Drop....," he pointed over his shoulder with a thumb at the waving mare still caught in the mailbox.

The orange maned pony's jaw went slack, dropping her hose to the ground before she turned and sprinted down the road. Spike yelled out his thanks and bid Derpy a polite goodbye, making his way back to the door.

He looked down at the envelope in his claw, turning it over and over. He noted that there wasn't a return address, and the writing directing it to Carousel Boutique was printed with bold quill-strokes. But the oddest thing was the scent the envelope was giving off, as if someone had sprayed a perfume across it. Spike ran it under his nose as he stood in the doorway of the boutique, noting that it was definitely not a scent a mare would use. As a matter of fact........it smelled like a brand of cologne he might consider using.

He closed the door of the boutique, completely oblivious to the fact that Derpy had just made another delivery to a very confused pony on his way to the market.

Rarity sighed happily as she wrapped up her wet mane in a towel. A good half hour in the shower loosened her aching neck, which was GREATLY needed. She'd really have to consider buying a new couch if it insisted on being so uncomfortable. After all, nothing's more inhospitable than a couch you would regret falling asleep on.

The mare continued pondering the fate of the red sofa in the silence of her bedroom, where she was currently checking her features in the vanity mirror. 'Oh lovely, another wrinkle,' she thought bitterly as her eyes locked on to the perpetrator, 'I'll fix you all right'. Her hoof rummaged blindly for a cream upon her table, her eyes never leaving the blemish lest she lose sight of it. Upon finding the desired tube, Rarity only managed to get the cap off before she noticed what was wrong.

Why wasn't her stuff in that horrible pile from yesterday?

Her eyes widened upon inspecting the table. Not only was everything neat, but each product was organized into groups on each side of the table. If this was Spike's idea of being babysat, perhaps she should have offered a long time ago.

The unicorn sat back in her chair, a smile forming on her lips as one item checked itself off of her mental to-do list; there would be no cleaning of one's own room today! She stood up, scanning around the room for anything that might make her have to backtrack on that last note, and sure enough she found one. An ear of the comforter stood askew from its place on the bad, tickling her perfectionist instinct into pushing it back down. However, as she ran her hoof along the bed to smooth out the wrinkles, she felt an odd lump bunched up against the pillow under the comforter. Curiosity getting the better of her, she pulled the comforter back out and rummaged under the pillows for the lump.

What she fished out from the bed turned out to be her bathrobe (the very bathrobe she had been looking for about ten minutes ago). Apparently she had missed hanging it up and left it crumpled in her bed from two nights ago. And Spike had not moved it. In fact......it would seem that the little dragon had slept right next to it.

"Well if that's not the most darling thing, I simply don't know what is," the unicorn said aloud. How could she have made Spike sleep all by his lonesome in this dark unfamiliar room? Spikey-Wikey had obviously gotten frightened in the middle of the night, and being the little dear he was he hadn't woken her up. He had probably found the robe in the bed and clung to it like a security blanket. Oh the poor dear, he and Twilight SHARED a room, so he had probably never had to fall asleep alone.

The mare was nearly half way across the room, intent on asking Spike if he'd like Rarity to make a pallet for him in the living room with her, when a knock from the bedroom door stopped her in her tracks.

"u-uh, Rarity? I heard the water stop a few minutes ago and I figured you'd want your mail now."

She opened the door to the little dragon holding out a pinkish letter for her to take. Fighting the urge to scoop him up into a hug, she politely accepted the letter and invited him in. She walked back to her vanity set while Spike took his place on the edge of the bed.

The mare turned the envelope over in her hoof as she sat down in her chair. Oddly enough, the sender had forgotten to put his or her return address on the front. She stared at the bold, blocky handwriting, wondering who it could possibly be when the scent hit her. The envelope smelled of expensive champagne. Thunderlane.

Her stomach filled with butterflies as she tore open the flap of the envelope, being careful not to harm the note inside. Whatever it might say, she knew it would be romantic. Goodness that colt was sweet when he set his mind to it.

The note fell open upon her desk, the writing in cursive this time rather than the blocky print of the envelope.

Dearest Rarity,

I can't stop thinking about you. Your mane, your

eyes, your smile. All of these things have been

making me want to hold you in my arms, and

I can't keep away any longer. I wanna take

you out on a date tonight, I'll show up around

this afternoon. The reason I'm springing

this on you so suddenly is because I need

you. Right now. And if you're too busy to go

anywhere then I'll be content with just seeing

you from the doorstep.

Love, your loving coltfriend,

Thunderlane

Rarity squealed, pulling the letter flush against her chest. Spike jumped a bit in fright, as he had been just about dozing by the time Rarity had finally finished reading.....and smelling.....the letter. He bounced to her side wondering if she had won the lottery or something similar.

"I take it another singer wants you to make her a dress."

"Oh uh....well that would be lovely of course dear.....but no, it's Thunderlane!" Rarity jumped as she said his name.

Spike cocked his head to the side and asked "Isn't that the electric watermill thing in Canterlot?"

"No no no darling, he's a stallion! My coltfriend!"

*Why yes, that is does in fact suck for our #1 dragon.

As always, keep me updated on any grammar errors and constructive criticisms (I am, after all, writing on an IPad and it's got a pretty notorious reputation for word processing...)

5!!! ("Happy For You")

Chapter 5

Alright men, here we go.

Now...we can do this one at a time......*beats chest*.....OR ALL AT ONCE!!

Spike sat down hard on the bed, his eyes never leaving Rarity's smiling face.

'What did she just say?'

The mare turned to prop the letter open on her vanity table, her humming shielding her from the awkward silence coming from Spike.

'I'm hearing things, that colt was just a friend or something right?'

Spike steeled the last bit of his courage to form a question, ignoring the horribly cold flames lapping at the inside of his stomach.

"Like coltfriend as in, a special somepony?" As Spike spoke those words, for a second, he could have swore that time had stopped. As if the world had taken pity on the little dragon for just a second, giving him one last moment to look at the unicorn in front of him as someone he could come home to one day. And in that gifted moment, the only thing that processed in the mind of the baby dragon was 'She's gorgeous when she smiles'.

"Actually, I was hoping to keep it a secret for just a bit longer," Rarity squealed and flopped down onto the bed next to Spike, staring at her ceiling like it was a fireworks show.

"It just kind of happened, it was like magic Spike," Rarity spread her hooves out, painting an imaginary scene that the dragon couldn't seem to turn his mind from.

"I was coming home from a party Pinkie threw for Twilights indoctrination into Celestia's library," Rarity paused to look at Spike, to see if he remembered. However, Spike was quick to react and cast his eyes away to Opal, who was napping in the corner.

" How could I forget, Twilight kept me up that whole night talking about it," Spike said with a forced chuckle. He prayed that Rarity would buy the act. And of course she did.

"Well anyway I was walking home and I swear I heard singing. So I followed the sound all the way to a clearing just by the Everfree Forest--

Rarity adjusted her scarf tighter around her neck, doing her best to block out the chill of the night. Her ears had led her just outside the forest, where no trees stood to block the wind. For a second she entertained the thought that perhaps it was Fluttershy running about in the dark. That was a silly thought of course, no matter how close her house was to the forest. After all, she was too scared to leave her house at night let alone find something to sing about in such a context.

A soothing crescendo shook her from her thoughts and pulled her gaze down to a patch of strange flowers. They were impossibly proportioned, with skinny stems and large petal bulbs that glowed gently in the moonlight. Perhaps the oddest thing about these flowers were the fact that they seemed to sing just when the breeze picked up. She was nearly touching one of the bulbs with her nose when a voice behind her made her jump back to her feet.

"Gorgeous aren't they?"

Rarity spun around to face the speaker, expecting to see something out of a ghost story. Instead what she saw was a colt who nearly blended into the dark, with the exception of his blue mane and golden eyes. She took a step back, ready to run if she needed to. The colt paid her no mind and pulled a pail of water back up from the ground, which he had no doubt put down to speak to her.

The colt stepped beside her and gently poured the contents into the grass around the flowers, leaving the pail at his feet as he finished. Upon second glance, Rarity couldn't help but notice the powerful wings that were folded at his side. His fur had blended so well with the dark that she had completely missed the fact that he was a Pegasus, and a very handsome one at that.

" W-why are they making that sound?" Rarity managed to blurt out, realizing her silence was most unladylike.

The black colt, looked at her for a second before turning his attention back to the flowers.

"I actually don't know. See, my little brother was the one who found them when he snuck out to play one night. He said the moon was full when he found them, and well.....," the black colt held out a hoof to the orb resting in the night sky. Luna had outdone herself tonight.

"So they make music when the moon is full?" the mare asked, her ears cocked towards the flowers expectantly.

"And when there's a breeze blowing thought their petals. Me and Rumble just call them Singing Pinwheels. Name's Thunderlane by the way," the black colt had turned back to look at her, his hoof outstretched.

Rarity blushed a bit as the colt took her hoof in his. "Charmed, my name is Rarity."

"Well Rarity, what's a pretty mare like you doing all alone out here at night?"

The fashionista stumbled over her next words, suddenly realizing the danger she could have put herself into.

"I-I just wanted to see who was making music I suppose. And just what are you doing out her hmm?" Rarity recovered like a champion, batting her eyelashes at the handsome stallion. "Surely you're not here to simply water a few flowers?"

The black colt chuckled and ran a hoof through his mane.

"Promise you won't laugh?"

Rarity sat back on her haunches and gave the colt a smirk, before giving him a playful "ok".

"Well Rumble, uh..that's my little brother..., he said that the flower wasn't in any of the textbooks in Miss Sparkle's library and that maybe it was a new species or something." The colt paused and brought a hoof to the back of his neck. "And he kinda made this plan to get one of the flowers to Canterlot."

Rarity crossed her hooves in front of her, intrigued by the tale so far and wondering if she had perhaps seen the little colt Rumble in town before.

"See he got this crush on the princess last Nightmare Night, and he said she might be his marefriend if he gave her a flower that would sing to her when she raised a full moon," the colt smiled bashfully at the mare, who had put a hoof to her mouth to stifle a giggle. "And well, he tried to give me all his hoofball cards so I'd promise to take care of them for him until he found a way to ship a potted plant to the Royal Castle. And uh....he seemed so set on it that I agreed to help him out for free."

Rarity let out a giggle at the blushing colt, suddenly pleased that she had followed the flowers' music.

"Well I must admit your little brother sounds like quite the charmer. I'm sure Princess Luna would be absolutely smitten with him." she laughed again as she got back up to her hooves.

The colt smiled again as he picked up his pail and put it on his back, his wings stretching out to support the watering can as he turned to leave.

"Well uh...miss Rarity, I don't mean to cut and run but I gotta get back home soon. Got work in the morning with the weather team," he paused to clear his throat before continuing, "would you like me to walk you back home? I-I mean it's kind of dark and well...yunno..."

Rarity stepped up beside the stallion, brushing out her mane with a hoof.

"That's quite alright dear, I'm actually about to head back to my friend's house. I'd like to ask her to have her assistant mail a potted plant directly to Princess Celestia to give to Luna." Rarity stopped to watch the the stallions mouth drop.

"You mean Miss Sparkle's assistant? The dragon who sends those letters with that magic fire thing he does? You can get him to do that for me?"

"Why of course, Spikey-Wikey is the most dependable little dragon you'll ever meet."

Thunderlane's eyes widened as he took in the dragon's name.

"Oh gosh miss Rarity are you sure, I mean if it's not too much trouble for uh...is Spikey his name?"

Rarity shushed the stallion with a wave of her hoof and smiled, walking back int the direction of the library.

"Don't worry dear, I'll have a word with Twilight about how exactly Spike's flames work. And if he can get a plant through, I'll ask him when Rumble feels the time is right to present the Princess with a flower."

Rarity walked on, hearing the black colt turn and walk in the opposite direction.

"Oh and by the way," Rarity stopped to look back at the stallion, who had turned around as well, "stop by the Carousel Boutique sometime. We can talk about the shipping arrangements over some tea."

The stallion smiled and nodded his head, bidding her a goodnight before he disappeared into the darkness. And with that the mare left the clearing, intent on telling Twilight about a brand new species of flower and a simply charming little colt's crush on a princess.

"Of course it didn't exactly work out the way I planned," Rarity said with a giggle, "she told me your fire can't move living things so we decided to look elsewhere."

"Is that why I haven't met him yet?" Spike gave her a faux-stern, trying to hide the fact that his heart felt like it was in pieces.

"Oh darling he was just a friend at the time. But after I told him the bad news he insisted that I let him take me to dinner and...well.....," She looked at Spike with a sheepish smile, "I mean he's definitely not the type of colt I figured I would want to have anything intimate with but...he's kind of cute," she fidgeted with her hooves as she said the last bit.

Spike just gave her a fake smile and turned away from her to get up off the bed, desperate for a distraction before he let his emotions get the best of him. He let out a fake yawn and stretched a stretch he didn't need, just to keep up his act.

"Hey um--didn't you say we were gonna head over to AJ's house for breakfast?" Spike asked, facing away and pretending to be suddenly by interested in his claws. Rarity blinked at the question and hopped off of the bed, giving Spike an apology as she raced out of the room.

"Oh dear me, you're absolutely right. We'll be late at this rate. Just give me a moment dear, we'll leave in just a moment."

As Spike heard the door close he felt his walls crumble. The little dragon crumpled to the floor and covered his face in his claws, feeling the hot tears run between his fingers. The inevitable truth bounced around in his head like a million bricks hitting him all at once.

'Rarity needs a stallion. A real stallion. Not a dragon.'

*Doesn't it just suck when you're crush's boyfriend turns out to be a really nice guy? What do you do then? What will our little hero do? Find out next time on But First!!.....Here are Some Doubts.

"it was the sweetness of your skin

it was the hope of all we might have been

that fills me with the hope to wish

impossible things"

6!!! (Weak Legs)

Chapter 6

Spike's foot had been hurting quite a bit at this point, as he walked side by side with Rarity to Sweet Apple Acres. Along with the occasional small talk, he had mostly kept his eyes to the ground. He kept up the act by pretending to be utterly fascinated with kicking a rock along the path. Each crash of his foot against the hard stone numbed his toes with pain, but he paid it no mind as he wound his leg backwards for another kick.

This time however, his foot sent the little rock spiraling off into the grass beyond the road. He watched the stone bounce out of sight before dropping his eyes back to the ground, intent on finding another before his brain could make his mouth start moving again. Unfortunately, the little dragon found no rocks in time to help him.

"So uh...," he sheepishly began, "how DID you end up getting that flower to Luna?"

Rarity fell back into reality as she heard the question. For almost half an hour the dragon had been quiet, and an uncomfortable fear had been bubbling up in her stomach.

"Oh well I ended up asking around the post office," Rarity cleared her throat as she observed Spike's eyes still trailing the ground. "As it turns out, the mail carriers have to ship all special deliveries with a Pegasus team about twice a month. Of course that includes anything that could remotely be considered erm.....'alive'--I suppose."

"Oh, I wish I could do that. I would have sent Owlysius to the Princess to keep llllooooonnnnggg ago," Spike let out a laugh he didn't truly feel, letting his vision lock with Rarity's for good measure.

The unicorn smiled at the dragon's humor and tried to squash the gnawing cold in the pit of her stomach. It was already an awkward thought to think, that Spike just might have feelings for her. And now that he was upset about Thunderlane....

Rarity bit her lip and turned away from the dragon as nonchalantly as she could. She just didn't know how this was supposed to be handled, how to tell a child that his feelings weren't shared. How was she to assume that his little crush would actually stick?

The mare nearly let out a sigh of relief as the fences of Sweet Apple Acres came into view. Perhaps he would just forget about this nonsense after an hour or so playing. After all the day was gorgeous and the red delicious' looked ready for eating. It was the ideal play day.

Rarity cleared her throat to get Spike's attention.

"I actually have a bit of work to do here today while we're eating. Granny Smith apparently has a rare stock of baby blue sapphires under the barn. She was kind enough to offer them to me at a fair price if I advertised for Sweet Apple Acres in the shop," she turned to look at Spike, pleased to see he was looking back intently at the mention of the delicacies that were baby blues.

"How did Granny Smith get her hooves on a bunch of gems like that?" Spike asked, energy slipping back into his voice.

"Courtship gift. Apparently the stallions in her days were keen on extravagant gifts. There isn't enough of that nowadays I'm afraid." she ended with a sigh.

Spike looked down at his claw, scanning over the digits.

"Did she marry that stallion?" he asked, hoping there was a happy ending to the conveniently familiar tale.

"Uh...no. She had already met Applejack's grandfather at that point, but the stallion was such a gentlecolt he let her keep the gems. I suppose that's why she would be willing to part with such a rare variety of gem."

Spike closed his claw. 'of course,' he thought bitterly.

"How much does she want for them?" He asked, letting no weakness betray his voice.

"It depends on their size really. But I'd say...mmm..." the unicorn paused to think, pursing her lips and wiggling her nose as she played with her mental calculator, "about.....well I can't imagine the price going above 20 bits a gem."

"Well that's not so bad...," The dragon replied, staring down at the path ahead. It simply hurt too much to look at the mare, and the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres was only a few meters away, thank Celestia.

"Applejack!! Spike n' Rarity are here!"

A young filly bounced excitedly around the front yard of the Apple Family home. Her large red bow hung on for dear life as she tore across the yard to the front porch, her impossibly loud voice echoing in the nearby orchard.

"A-aaaplejack!! We got comp'nee!

"I HERD YA THE FIRST TIME!!"

An orange mare with a Stetson hat set upon her head kicked open the screen door. She didn't look too pleased with the filly who sat in front of her on the porch.

"Just what in TAR-nation are ya screamin' like that for?" the orange mare bent down to lock eyes with the filly, who looked up with large innocent eyes.

"I thought ya might still be in the bathroom, what with all that old cake you ate....HEY!"

The orange mare smiled nervously as she shoved the filly through the doorway with her back hoof, while her front hoof tipped her hat politely toward the two in her yard.

"Morning' Spike, Rarity! I take it you're here about those ol' blue whatsits in the cellar?" Applejack smiled politely at the two, descending the porch steps to meet them in the yard.

"Baby Blue -sapphires- darling, and yes I'm here for the deal proposed by Granny Smith," Rarity corrected with a smile.

"Uh-huh..., and I'm suppooooooosin' this little fella's here cause he's hungry," Applejack turned her attention to Spike before the fashionista had a chance to agitate her. The orange mare accentuated her words with a poke to Spike's round belly. The dragon couldn't help but giggle as he felt the hoof tickle his sensitive stomach scales.

"Aw come on AJ," he whined through giggles, "you know I hate that!"

"Is that right? Well come on them, Big Mac just put the pancakes on the table," the mare motioned for Rarity to follow her back into the house right after she had flopped Spike onto her back with her head.

The Apple family mealtimes where, in short, pleasantly surprising to the unicorn who sat next to Spike. She had often entertained the idea that the farmer family was as loud and unruly as AJ was in her circle of friends. Not only did she find that the family had decent table manners for Earth Ponies (albeit odd conversations), Big Macintosh was turning out to be quite the skilled cook. He wasn't exactly a French culinary artist, but his homemade apple cinnamon syrup was to die for.

The fashionista held out her plate as the stallion silently stacked (bam, tongue twisted) a few more pancakes onto her plate. She was going to hate herself later, but the poison was MAGNIFICIENT. The little dragon sitting next to her sure seemed to think so, his mouth full from his fifth pancake in a row. Where he put all that food, the mare had no clue.

"AJ guess what?" Applebloom said suddenly as she slammed her fork down on the table, leaning forward in her chair.

"Yeah?" Applejack said between chews.

"Miss Cheerilee said that Nurse Redhart works in tha hospital deliverin' babies! And I was thinkin' that maybe me and the crusaders could go and help out tomorrow. Cause I was thinking' that a bunch of baby ponies is an awful bit heavy for one bird to carry all by himself, and it must be twice as hard for Nurse Redhart to get em' all into the rooms with their mommies. So maybe there's a cutie mark for deliverin' babies from the stork at the hospital! Can I go tamarraw with the girls to the hospital, huh huh can I can I?" The filly had abandoned her chair to hop excitedly next to Applejack, who had seemed a bit preoccupied with her food during the filly's rambling.

"Sounds mmmmiiiiiiighty fun there Applebloom," she said with a practiced smile as dunked syrup on a fresh pancake.

"Oooo thankyouthankyouthankyou, I'm gonna go get Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and tell em' the news!" the little filly became a blur of yellow and red as she raced out the screen door.

The table became quiet once again as each pony (and dragon) were too preoccupied to have paid any attention to the filly's intention. Except Big Macintosh, or so it seemed. He stopped chewing a few minutes after the filly had left, and his eyes grew wide for a few moments before he placed his fork down on the table and stood up.

"I'll be back AJ, gotta find Applebloom," the stallion excused himself as he walked through the door the filly had left through not five minutes ago.

"Hmm? Oh uh yeah, that.....gotta.....get that done," Applejack said before immediately diving back into her plate with gusto.

"Well now isn't that just like Macintosh, always eager to get back to work. Ifin his pa could only see him now," Granny Smith piped up from her end of the table, where she had been quietly working her dentures through a stack of pancakes of her own.

"He'd say he needs to take longer breaks, that colt was up before the roosters were crowin'," Applejack said, adding under her breath, "no doubt ta goof around with that Eiffel feller in the evenin's..."

Granny Smith nodded sagely, although she had missed the last comment completely. "Fine colt to take over when I'm gone."

"Now Granny don't talk like that! What would any of us do if somethin' was ta happen to you?" Applejack put her fork down for the first time that morning to face Granny Smith.

"Oh fiddlesticks!" Granny Smith shooed Applejack back to her pancakes with a wave of her hoof, "Macintosh and yourself would do right by that filly, she's loves the two of ya moren' Celestia herself." The elderly mare shook a napkin from her lap as she stood on shaky legs.

"Now miss Rarity, I'm supposing' you'd like to see those old Sapphires in the cellar?"

"Oh yes ma'am!" Rarity sprang up in her chair before looking back down at her plate, where her remaining two pancakes sat. She hastily swept them into Spike's plate saying "Spike be a dear and finish these up for me? I'll be back in a bit."

Spike nodded at the unicorn and watched as she walked out of the room behind Granny Smith. The glacier in his stomach had been melted down by the company at breakfast, but the chunks at the bottom were still there. He waited until the unicorn's tail had disappeared beyond the doorway before he set his utensils down and pushed the plate slowly away from him.

Applejack was the only other pony left in the room with him, and he was grateful that she wasted no time in killing the silence.

"So whatchall' doin' at Rarity's house?" she asked between chews.

"Mm...Twilight said I needed a babysitter," Spike frowned at the memory of the argument him and Twilight had only two days ago. "I told her I'd be fine but she didn't listen."

"Aren't you by yourself when you go to Canterlot for Twilight?" Applejack asked in return, confusion etched in her face.

"Well not really, Princess Celestia escorts me around."

Applejack placed her fork down, disbelief replacing the confusion.

"You mean ta tell me thatn' the Royal Princess of Equestria is your caretaker on them fancy business trips?"

"Well.....yeah....I mean its no big de--"

"No big deal!? You get ta stay in the Royal Castle at no charge and it's no big deal? Rarity would keel over!"

"Yeah...," Spike let his eyes drop at the mention of the mare's name. This abrupt change in behavior didn't go unnoticed though, as Applejack immediately dropped the subject of the castle. Instead she began to make questions back at his stay at Rarity's, figuring she was onto something strange.

"So is uh.....Rarity feedin' ya right?"

Spike nodded, "I actually bought her dinner last night, and she bought mine."

"Sounds mighty romantic, how'd it go?" she asked, wiggling her brow at the hidden context.

"Oh you know, she's just too preoccupied to notice." Spike gulped back the answer that had tried to force its way out of his mouth.

"Too preoccupied? Too preoccupied fer the only one that's got patience fer all that fancy frou-frou mumbo-jumbo," Applejack asked fussing as she gathered the dishes from around the table.

"I'd say it'd take one mighty fine colt ta get that mare to stop gawkin' at Princes and whatnot," she continued as she tried to balance the dishes in one hoof. "Uhm....Spike you mind givin' me a hoof with this?"

Spike gulped and wordlessly took the plates from Applejack, making his way slowly to the sink. Word desperately clawed at the inside of his skull, words he should have asked Rarity. But they turned their attention to Applejack instead as they forced his jaw open.

"What do you think the perfect colt for Rarity would be like."

Applejack smiled widely at the little dragon, completely happy to give the little guy's ego a good polish.

"Well letseee.......he'd have ta be down ta Earth, but still innerested in her hobbies. He'd be willin' to help others, but not be snobby bout it. He'd want to be friends with her friends.....Hmmm.......," Applejack tapped her chin with her hoof, oblivious to the droop of Spike's shoulders. "Well I'd say he'd be a lot like you champ." She smiled at his back, completely unready for the question that followed.

"But he'd be a stallion right?"

Applejack's smile faltered and she had to ask, "come again?"

Still the dragon did not face her. He only asked again in a cracking voice.

"He'd be a pony right?"

"Now sugarcube, I don't think that matter none..." Applejack moved to touch his shoulder, but stopped as Spike whirled around and thrust his face into her chest fur.

"Oh! Uh...hey now Sugarcube what's.......," she stopped as she felt warmth dripping down her coat, and for once not knowing how to proceed. "S-spike? Sweetheart? Just calm down and tell me what happened? Sugarcube?"

She followed him to the ground as he dropped away from her legs and sat heavily upon the kitchen floor, his face in his claws. A thick silence fell over the kitchen, save for the muted sobs coming from under Spike's arms. For a good five minutes, nothing was said. Applejack just sat watching, unsure of how to proceed until Spike finally spoke up.

"She found a stallion who's all that." He said, as his breathing finally calmed down.

***Hoo boy, things have been wacky here at school. Shits piling up and my writing is suffering because of it. But fear not good readers, for those of us who have been waiting for the Leslichu to update his damn story, here is an early piece of the next chapter.

Go!!

"Now I hate to ask, but these are genuine correct? They're so rare it's hard to tell what is fake and what is real."

Granny Smith licked her lips as she reached into her mental vault for a memory spanning nearly 65 years ago.

"Now lessee.....Monty told me he got these here sapphires from a dragon looking fer Canterlot. Said something bout her wantin' to donate eggs to a fancy smancy Unicorn IQ test or something' or other. Said he drew her a map. And she gave him a bag of sapphires in return."

"Oh? I didn't know dragons donated their eggs to Unicorns.

"Well most don't missy, but thisun here said she was a-runnin' from the law and couldn't bring her babies into such a world."

"How terrible, I can see why she wouldn't want to keep her eggs. But the Unicorns didn't harm them did they?"

"I'm supposin' not with Princess Celestia in charge. We heard word through the traders that she gave the hatchlings to her best students."

Rarity made a mental note to ask Twilight a few questions when she got back into Ponyville, as she counted out her bits. Each one had ended up costing her a different price, as the sizes of the sapphires had turned out to be largely random. One was small enough to be a raindrop, while many others were about the size of an apple. However each one shone just as brilliantly as the other in the dim light of the cellar. The perfect sheen and brilliance almost made her forget that there was dirt and dust literally everywhere. Almost.

A few minutes later found the fashionista happily bouncing up the cellar stairs with a bag of jewels jingling merrily on her back. Granny Smith followed suite, the bits safely tucked away in her shawl. The half hour they had spent negotiating in the cellar had certainly yielded great results, but the time spent was a little more than the unicorn had originally planned.

"Well now, I should probably go and collect Spike, there is much work to be done back at the Boutique."

The old mare reached the last stair before she giggled, "always so quick to run off these young uns', at least be sure to send the little un' over tomorrow. We'll be startin' to test on the this harvest's cider, and I could have Applejack give him a wagon with our first keg."

****Aaaand stop! Time for my night class guys: Statistics.

Cause there are lies, damned lied, and then there are statistics. So therefore a class dedicated to damned lies wouldn't be useful right? Sssooooo it's cool if I just go to sleep right?

I wrote this on my iPad so if anything is wonky, be sure to let me know!

7!!! (Hero-time Applejack)

Chapter 7

Ok guys! Got some time to work on this so here we go

Applejack sighed as she stirred the whiskey in her cider mug. It was a well known fact on the farm that Applejack did not approve of drinking, but the bottle practically sang to her from it's resting place above the refrigerator. And yet it did little besides sit heavily in her stomach for a couple of minutes.

The day had passed in a blur since Spike and Rarity had left. She had bucked apples until Macintosh came back, Applebloom in tow. Then she listened for about an hour about "cutie marks" and "itsnotfair!" and "I'd be a good baby deliverer". Soon the crusader tuckered herself out and she promised not to visit the hospital anytime soon, much to the relief of Macintosh. The entire fight, however, Applejack barely said anything more than "no way, no how."

The rest of the day passed on, the routine as normal as ever. And yet not once did Applejack's mind rest. Not once did she not see those eyes watering. Not once did she not wonder what she had let Spike walk right back into when he left with Rarity that day. And not once did she not wonder why she didn't put Rarity in a headlock.

The mare sighed as she pushed her stetson off her head and onto the table. Locks of blonde hair fell across her face, now unrestrained by the old beloved hat. She blew the stray hairs out of her eyes as she cast a look out at the setting sun over the orchard. Was that "stallion" at the Boutique right now? Was Spike being forced to hear them...fool around?

She slammed her mug down on the table, anger filling her stomach with more heat than the whiskey could produce. That damn snob and her princes and fancy-smancy celebrity boyfriends! The nerve of that unicorn to not even try to cushion the blow to the poor dragon's heart!

Applejack snatched her hat up off of the table and yanked it firmly back into place atop her head. She then downed the rest of her mug in one last chug, then casually flung it into the sink where it shattered in the basin. The orange mare had made it nearly to the end of the porch before a deep voice and a wide chest stopped her in her tracks.

"Jes what's gotten inta you?"

The orange mare rubbed her snout where she had collided with the stallion before her.

"Git outta my way Macintosh"

The orange mare tried to march past the large stallion, but was stopped by a casual lean. Not even bothering to look Macintosh in the eye, she attempted to push by the other way but to no avail. The quiet stallion simply stood there, an impassable wall between her and the Carousel Boutique.

"Didja not hear me? I said git outta the way," she yelled, looking at Macintosh's face finally.

"Nope. Yer off to do somethin' silly ain't ya?"

"T'ain't none o' your business,"

"It is if'n I'm gonna have to dig inta the savin's to bail you outta jail,"

"It would be worth it this time, now I'm warnin' you Macintosh Apple-- if I gotta buck your jaw outta socket I will! Now move!"

Still the red stallion sat unmoving, his eyes calm and unblinking. He simply shifted his wheat stalk in his lips and gave a sigh.

"Will ya at least tell me what you're 'bout to do?"

Applejack sat down hard on the porch boards, her hooves crossed and her eyes locked with Macintosh.

"That hussy Rarity done fooled around for the last time. She's knows good n' well that little feller Spike's got eyes for her, and she ain't got 'nymore respect for him that a spit bin."

"Ain't she always been like that though?" Macintosh questioned, his brow raised.

"It's different this time," the mare yelled back and she slammed into Macintosh again, trying to edge her way past him down the porch steps.

Macintosh, seemingly not noticing Applejack's shoving, simply asked "How so?."

Applejack stopped struggling and let out a huff of frustration, her hat sagged down past her eyes. She looked away from Macintosh as she adjusted it back it place, taking her time so as to plan her words carefully. However, once her Stetson sat firmly affixed in place no proper words had formed in her head. So with a heavy sigh she sat back on her rump and looked up at Macintosh's face.

"She's got some new coltfriend an' done told Spike all about him."

"So she can't have no colts around sides' Spike?" Macintosh returned, unfazed.

"That's her choice, but she don't know how bad she just hurt em'. I'm gonna go an' bring him back to the farm, he don't need to be around when this colt comes lookin' for a good time."

"How hurt could he be? Ms. Rarity ain't ever started nothing with him, did she?"

"How's leading him on for ya? The poor feller bawled his eyes out right on our kitchen floor for Celestia's kitchen!" Applejack threw back, but Macintosh followed with the obvious argument.

"But AJ, they ain't even the same species or age now-"

Applejack pushed her face into Macintosh's as far as it would go and locked eyes with him.

"That ain't got nothin' to do with nothin'. He knows darn well what he feels, and that's enough to make it right!"

Ferocity practically pored from the mare's mouth as she said her final piece. She stared into Macintosh's eyes as hard as she could, intent on drilling holes into his very souls. And oddly enough, it seemed to work--a flicker of sympathy passed over Macintosh's features as he moved off to the side of the staircase, allowing Applejack to pass by. She fixed him with another stern glare as she trotted past him, her steps eventually turning into a gallop and then to a full on sprint.

Macintosh watched as Applejack disappeared into the night, the breeze playing with the wheat stalk sticking out of his frowning mouth. There were a number of things that Applejack did that Big Macintosh simply couldn't agree with. The mare also had many opinions her older brother did not think were wise, and made no attempt to hide them. But that night, Applejack's last words made him question his place as the "mature" one.

The red stallion silently ran a hoof through his mane and down his neck. He kept his eyes on the ground as he crept quietly into the house, hoping not to wake Applebloom or Granny if Applejack had not already.

***Kind of short, but I felt this was a bit important. As always, if something is weird or inconsistent let me know! I might have missed something when I was copying the text from my iPad.

8!! (Not good enough!?)

Yes yes, this is late I know. School, yadayada. It blows, yadayada. Here's chapter 8, enjoy!

There was only one light on at the Carousel Boutique, a weak hint at a candle flame behind a deep purple curtain in the first floor window. Applejack galloped long and hard until she reached the oddly busted mailbox in front of the store. She paused to calm her breathing as she watched the light dance on the curtain, expecting to see the silhouette of a colt at any second.

As soon as the mare could breath again, she edged close to the door and shoved her ear against the wood. Holding her breath in, the mare closed her eyes and listened. There were definitely sounds coming from inside, with heavy contrast in octave. They had to be voices.

Before she knew what she was doing, Applejack was sneaking around the back of the Boutique. There had to be a window open or something. Not to break into, just to listen. Or so she told herself.

Sure enough there was a window ever so slightly cracked open by the kitchen. Thanking Luna for her darkened skies, she eased up the window and crawled through as quietly as she possibly could.

Dishes rattled as her hoof struck the side of a drainer hanging over the sink. She froze in place and sucked in her breath, praying that a certain unicorn and her guest had not heard her enter. For nearly a minute the mare stayed stretched over sink, her front hoof just barely touching the linoleum below. As reassurance crested of her, she allowed said hoof to fully descend to the floor, and made certain that there was nothing directly ahead of her to trip on. Thankfully the only light in the kitchen was pouring in through the window, so if she made anymore noise at least she'd have a second to hide herself.

Applejack took another minute crossing the kitchen, scooting her hooves slowly and carefully. Just as she edged to the doorway she heard a voice, Rarity's voice--

"-well I'm sure they are quite bothersome dear, just let me get some refreshments,"

Applejack dove behind the door just in time for it to swing open, the thick wood nearly colliding with her face as she pressed herself against the wall. The lights clicked on and Rarity's figure came into view, clad in an elegant black dress. Applejack concentration couldn't smolder the disgust she felt for the unicorn, but it was enough to get her to catch the door and sneak out into the darkened hallway beside the living room.

From what she could tell from where she was standing, there was a colt sitting in the loveseat in the living room. His silhouette stretched over the back of the chair, guided by the light from the fireplace.

'Yeah real romantic missy' Applejack thought bitterly as she crawled across the floor and up the first row of stairs, hiding herself behind the bars of the staircase. Intruding or not, she wanted to see just how far the unicorn was going to take the night--and to see who that darn stallion was.

"Care for some champagne dear?" Rarity walked back into the room with a bottle and two glasses bouncing behind her. Applejack could have sworn the unicorn was overemphasizing the sway of her hips.

The colt jumped a bit, as if he were paying attention to the dancing flames in front of him. Applejack heard him chuckle nervously and accept the glass.

"Never had wine before,"

The unicorn sat herself beside him and took a dainty sip of her own glass.

"I thought you said you liked social gathering and the like,"

Applejack saw the colts ears flop down for a second, as if in misunderstanding. The he answered--

"Well I usually drink at parties, but um.....never had wine. So uhh tell me about those sapphires you got,"

"Oh you wouldn't be interested in all that now, would you?"

The fashionista leaned in and touched noses with the stallion-

"Perfect ain't he?"

Applejack stifled her gasp in a hoof as she heard the voice beside her. Spike sat next to her, his claws folded over each other and his eyes half lidded. He stared out at the scene in the living room, unmoving and his gaze never faltering.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered, his gaze never leaving Rarity, who had now gone silent in a lip-lock with the shadowed stallion.

Applejack slowly stood and pulled Spike to his feet, motioning him to follow her up the stairs. They both crept up silently, careful not to disturb the two, now silent, lovers. As they reached the what she presumed to be Rarity's bedroom, Applejack ushered Spike in and closed the door behind them.

"Now sweetheart you go on and pack your stuff up, you don't need to be 'round this now,"

Spike turned and Applejack had to fight herself not to scoop the little guy up into her arms there and then. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy, clear indicators of where his emotions had been for the past few hours.

"Why not? He's her coltfriend, and she's just my babysitter," he replied in a brave voice.

"But.....gosh darn it, look at what she's doin' to ya!" the mare reasoned.

The dragon padded slowly across the room and sat down on the plush bed.

"It's not her fault," he replied, kicking his legs slowly underneath. The baby dragon kept his eyes down, to the dressers, the curtains, anywhere that he didn't have to meet the gaze of the earth pony in front of him.

Applejack stopped herself before she yelled, nearly forgetting that she had in fact broken into Rarity's shop. The mare allowed herself a deep breath before she crossed the room and took his face in her hooves, forcing him to look at her.

"Sweetheart she ain't worth it. Lookit them colts she brings home, what do they got over you?"

Spike struggled to find something to focus on, anything not to look at the mare in front of him. With a slight shake to his voice he answered "I'm not her type-"

Applejack shook him by his shoulders suddenly bringing her face close to his, her voice rising in anger at the fashionista.

"What is her type huh? Trashy princes and smooth talkin' playboys! Ain't none of have a lick of respect for her!"

The mare completely disregarded the volume of her voice as her rant continued, her anger in full flare.

"You're the only feller here that don't treat her like a piece o' meat! Like she's more than a nice piece of flank! Now you tell me why she can't give you a chance! You tell me why you ain't worth her damn time!"

The dragon lost himself as he answered, his eyes flooding like cracked dams, and his claws clutching at the hooves on his face as if they would cushion the blow of his own words.

"Because I'm a dragon, I'm not a stallion!! I'd never make her happy, I'd just get big and mean again and....," the dragon dropped his head and sobbed, "they'd make her happier."

Applejack fell silent, staring at the shaking ball of scales in front of her. For awhile after the Discord attack, Applejack had grown to care about the fashionista thinking that perhaps she had grown less arrogant. But in a matter of seconds, the anger she had felt for the snobbish unicorn had all rushed back into a pulsing ball in her stomach. She dropped her hooves from the dragon and stood silent for a moment. And then, in a speed only an earth pony would possess on solid ground, she found herself kicking down the bedroom door and racing down the darkened hall.

***Ok guys, I've got the next chapter fairly well planned out so be expecting it soon. As always, make sure to tell me if there is some sort of hang up with the wording of the story (iPad yunno...). Night everypony!!

9!! (When it's over)

Applejack vaguely heard a choked shout as the door flew off it's hinges, but instinct deafened her to all things than her own pulse. She barely registered Rarity's scream as she jumped down the flight of stairs. The orange mare stood breathing for a second, taking in the scene before her. On the couch lay the colt, a black pegasus, with his wings lazily flopped over the cushions. One hoof was secured firmly on the unicorn mare's flank, clearly visible under the black dress. Rarity herself looked back at the Earth-pony with wide eyes, her hair disheveled and her hoofs pressed down on the colt's stomach and chest. Caught just before things had gotten good, or so said the rational side of AJ's mind.

"Applejack what is the meaning of this!?" the unicorn stood, hastily pulling the colt's hoof out from under her dress.

"You git your no good, lying flank up those stairs right now Rarity!" Applejack positioned her self lower to the ground, fully prepared to tackle the unicorn should she try to run.

It was at this point that the colt attempted to calm down the irate Earth- Pony, hastily positioning himself between Rarity and Applejack.

"Hey now, whatever this is I'm sure we ca-" his words were cut off swiftly as he was thrown backwards. Clearly Applejack was the much stronger of the two, the natural strength of the Earth Pony breed shining brilliantly in a near whiplash inducing shoulder ram. The Pegasus' wings flapped helplessly as he collided with a coffee table, the speed of the collision sending him flailing over the side of it straight to his back.

"You best be gitttin' home flyboy, date's over," Applejack didn't even spare him the courtesy to look at him while she spoke, her eyes never leaving the unicorn rushing to his side.

"J-just go dear, I'll see you tomorrow. Element of Harmony business you know." The fashionista gave the colt a brave grin and helped him to his feet.

"Are you sure, I could.....you know..." the black colt kept tensed as he rose to his feet, obviously readying himself for another attack from Applejack.

"No really dear it's all right, I'll see you tomorrow." The unicorn responded curtly and pushed him towards the door.

Applejack stood still as she watched the other mare push the Pegasus out of her door, refusing multiple offers of help and protection. Once the door was finally closed the unicorn stood silent for a second, breathing deeply before turning to the Earth-Pony before her.

"What in Equestria do you think you are doing!?" the fashionista's courage flared as she briskly crossed the room and shoved her snout onto AJ's.

"Don't you play all innocent with me!" Applejack shoved the unicorn backward with her head, her Stetson flying off in the process. "You got that little dragon crazy bout ya, then ya go and do somethin' like this!?"

Rarity looked back at AJ with a look as if she had swallowed something sour.

"Spike? This is absurd, I'm free to see whomever I please," the fashionista threw back as she stood as tall as she could. In the process she exposed her neck, where the light from the fireplace caught a golden glint.

"Oh you're jes pathetic ain't ya!?" Applejack shoved the fashionista to the ground before she ripped the fire ruby necklace from around her neck, eliciting a scream from the unicorn. "What else you used him fer huh?! What else didja git outta him Rarity!?" AJ's voice reached a monstrous crescendo as she flung the fire ruby across the room, where it shattered through a glass cabinet.

The unicorn cowered before the Earth pony, her hooves shielding her face. "Applejack he's just a child!!" she screamed, fear working its way into her voice.

The rational side of Applejack remained quiet for the first time in her life, presenting no reason for the mare to not snatch the unicorn up by her mane.

"What's age matter when you're talkin' bout a dragon!?" the irate mare screamed over the unicorn's strangled cries as she threw her towards the stairs. It was at this point that Spike, being the brave little dragon he was, pitterpattered down the stairs, tears streaming down his face as he shielded the unicorn from AJ.

"Applejack don't! She...she can't help it!" the dragon locked eyes with the Earth pony, never looking away as his eyes welled up.

"Can't help what? Buildin' your hopes up and then flirtin' with every rich boy around!?" Applejack locked eyes with the dragon, her ferocious gaze frightening the dragon all the more.

"She doesn't owe me anything!" Spike pleaded, not noticing Rarity perking her head up to stare at his back. The dragon held his arms out, trying to cover the unicorn as much as possible from the Earth Pony's anger.

"Oh yeah? How bout an explanation?" Applejack craned her head over Spike to shout down at Rarity. "So how bout? What's so great bout this new one Sugarcube? He got more connections? More money?" AJ's voice practically oozed with disdain and disgust as she stared down at the fashionista.

"He's not rich and he doesn't have connections," the mare shouted defiantly, "He's just a well-to-do gentlecolt!"

Applejack felt Spike grab onto her legs as she lurched forward.

"Oh really!? Do tell! How much does he do for ya, huh? Does he help ya dig diamonds too!?"

Rarity's eyes welled up as the similarities between Spike and Thunderlane surfaced in her mind.

"Well no but...."

"Whadabout gettin' his tail whipped for ya? I'm sure this feller would fight a few o' them for ya too right!?"

"He can't fight....."

Applejack broke free of Spike's claws and shoved her face into Rarity's.

"Then what's so special bout him?"

Rarity's voice caught in her throat. Her eyes flickered between Applejack's face and Spike, who had been clutching her tail from behind. Even to this point, still trying to protect the unicorn against a much larger and ferocious opponent. It made her next words all the more harder to say. With her eyes flooding over and her voice cracking, she sobbed out

"I want a family."

All at once the anger disappeared from Applejack, leaving behind a cold, acidic lump in her stomach. She stepped back from the fashionista and lowered her eyes to the ground. Spike watched her as she marched across the room and retrieved her hat, his hands losing their strength when he heard Rarity's confession. His whole body seemed to shut down for a second, his willpower finally cracking and leaking out through his claws.

The Earth Pony pulled the Stetson over her eyes as she turned towards the doorway. "Spike, go get your things Sugarcube."

Spike complied but did not answer, creeping away slowly back towards the stairs.

Rarity lay in the corner she was left in for a good twenty minutes after Applejack marched out of her shop. Had Spike always had her best interests at heart? Did Thunderlane? Why did this even matter to her in the end, wasn't Spike just a foolish dragon with a foolish dream?

Wasn't she being the responsible one?

While she was pondering this, she didn't even notice the dragon standing before her until she heard the clink of metal. He stared down at her with half-lidded eyes, his spines sagged low. In his claws outstretched before her rested the Fire Ruby pendant, the chain now broken but the ruby still perfectly intact.

She stared at the gift in the dragons claws, unsure of how to proceed. What would it mean to accept it? What would it mean to him?

After early a minute of staring at the ruby, the unicorn took another long look at Spike, then placed her hoof on the fire ruby and pushed it away.

"I'll tell Twilight where you are when she gets back dear,"

****Remember guys, comment, criticize, like, or just point out where my autocorrect jacked up! All is appreciated!

10!!! (No really, was she joking?)

The dragon felt his eyes begin to droop. The slight sway in Applejack's step was beginning to rock him to sleep, a much welcome comfort to the cold sweeping his insides. He was nearly asleep too, his face covered by the Earth Pony's mane, when Applejack spoke softly to him.

"Ya might wanna send Twilight a letter tomorra mornin', don't lemme forget now,"

Spike gave a small "mhmm" in approval, repositioning himself on the mare's back. He remained quiet, feeling the mare's steady heartbeat with his clawtips.

"I'm sorry I overreacted Sugarcube, I jes......it wasn't right gosh darn it," Applejack sighed and trailed off, unable to fight off the awkwardness of her situation.

"I know," Spike answered in a small voice.

Applejack held her breath, listening for anything else the dragon might have whispered. But nothing audible came from the dragon, save for a single solitary sniff.

"Yunno Spike, I jes don't get it,"

She felt Spike perk up on her back.

"Ya bust yer hump for that mare every which way, and she just keeps givin' ya the runaround. Why do ya keep goin' back to her?"

The dragon pulled the mare's mane over his face, feeling shame at his own actions. He catered to the every whim of the fashionista since he came to Ponyville, whether she asked or not. Perhaps maybe she had never wanted his affections, or his help for that matter. And yet there he was, pushing the envelope like it was the natural thing to do. Yeah natural, as natural as a pony and a dragon could be together.

"I wanted to make her happy," was all the dragon could come up with.

"Wonder when that stopped bein' enough fer mares nowadays...," Applejack couldn't hide the notes of disgust in her voice, thinking back to the long line of snobby, prissy colts Rarity had crushed on over the years.

"Do you think I was just wasting her time?"

"What makes ya think she wasn't wastin' yours?" Applejack replied.

"Well.....she doesn't want to have babies with me...."

Applejack stumbled a bit, taken aback by the dragon's ignorance of the genetic impossibility of it all. Not that it mattered much in the end, an adoption would have given Rarity her family in the end.

"Uh....well...Spike, now I don't much think you an' Rarity could have babies of yer own but yunno there's little foals all over that'd give anythin' to be adopted."

For a while nothing was said, perhaps because Applejack's words were sinking in. As the silence passed on, the mare questioned whether or not it had been wise to imply such a thing to the emotionally distraught dragon; perhaps she should have let him believe he could naturally give Rarity her foals one day.

The silence ebbed on, save for the chirping of crickets in the growth beyond the dirt path. The Princess's moon was only half full tonight, bright enough to make out objects in the shadows but dim enough for them to be easily missed. Perhaps it was this calming light that finally pulled the initial snores from the dragon on Applejack's back. She breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling alone with her thoughts.

"What's Twilight gonna think bout all this hogwash?"

"Prolly just that--hogwash," said a voice in her head.

"That mare needed her hindquarters kicked, been that way since the first time I met er',"

"An' that makes it okay to break inta another Pony's house and kidnap a dragon?"

Applejack looked back at the snoozing ball of scales, fast asleep between the saddlebags on her hips.

"Yes. It darn sure does,"

She made a mental note to smack Macintosh on the arm when she got back. The giant red pony was always making her question herself, even when he wasn't there at all.

Big Macintosh sat on the porch of the family home, picking at a half eaten cherry pie. Normally he would have wolfed down such a treat in seconds, being that cherries were a rare delicacy on an apple ranch. But there were many things on the stallions mind, and to be honest his hoof was starting to bother him. A mug had shattered somehow in the kitchen sink, and before he had known what it was that his hoof had touched, he had a nice gash going across the side.

The stallion readjusted the bandage wrapped around the hoof, the bleeding just starting to subside. The dull red stains in the bandage were just barely visible in the dim light, something Macintosh was quite thankful for. The sight of blood always made him a bit squeamish, which made him feel better about not becoming the doctor his mother had wished him to be.

"Yeah right," he thought, a smile on his face from picturing himself squeezing into a lab coat, "Got enough ta worry about with their daughter..."

Macintosh heaved a great sigh and rested his head on his good hoof. His eyelids began to feel heavy as he passed on into what must have been an hour waiting for AJ to return. Another hour and he'd have to go looking, an idea he dreaded. Applejack's friends were a much too social bunch, and talking to them was a chore in itself. The pink one scared him at times.

"You ought to be in bed you know,"

A voice roused Big Mac from his thoughts, but did not startle him.

"Waitin' fer AJ to get back," he calmly replied to the voice. From out of the house's shadow stepped a blue Earth Pony colt, his fur brilliantly camouflaging him in the dim glow of the moon.

"At this time of night? Where'd she go?"

Big Macintosh slowly rose to his hooves, stretching out his back as he did so.

"Mmm.....*pop*.....hopefully anywhere but the jailhouse." Macintosh gestured the colt to follow him as he collected his pie tin and made his way through the screen door to the house.

Big Mac placed the half eaten pie on the kitchen table and pulled open the refrigerator with his teeth. He didn't even bother to look up to see if the colt had followed him as he pulled out a milk bottle, he knew the colt had.

"Forget to eat dinner again?" Macintosh heard the scrape of a chair being pulled out from under the table.

"Nope," Macintosh calmly replied through teeth clenched around the milk bottle, the liquid pouring into a readied mug.

"Mind if I finish this off then?"

"Nope," the red stallion replied as he heard the fork being picked up from the aluminum tin. He downed half of his milk, and waited for the colt to speak again. But the colt made no noise other than soft chewing, and finally Macintosh turned to face him.

"Eiffel I don't think this is gonna work,"

The blue colt looked up from the now cleaned pie tin with his mouth still full.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice muffled by the cherries and crust.

"Somepony's gonna guess what we bin up to, Applejack keeps talkin' like we're connected at the hip,"

Eiffel swallowed and gave the stallion a sly smile.

"Aren't we though?"

Big Mac sighed and sat down, his hoof tapping at his brow.

"That's the kinda thing that's gonna get us caught,"

The blue stallion leaned back in his chair depositing the pie tin in a nearby trashcan as he did so.

"Nobody is gonna care Mac, I keep telling ya," upon returning the chair to its proper position the colt noticed Big Macintosh's bandaged hoof. Wordlessly he reached across the table and gently picked it up, lifting the soiled bandages.

"What did this?" he asked, unraveling the rest of the bandage from the hoof.

Macintosh chose to ignore the question, but did not take his hoof away. He trusted Eiffel not to jar the wound.

"Granny would care. If'n Pa could see me he'd be ashamed right now."

The blue colt simply sighed and set to work wrapping a fresh cloth (Granny's good cloth napkins no less) around the hoof. He kept quiet until he was finished with the wrap. Placing his hoof over the much larger male's, he spoke up.

"So you haven't told anybody?"

Macintosh drew his hoof back and settled it in his lap.

"I don't wanna tell no one, I'll never hear the end of it," Big Macintosh stood back up, pushing the chair back under the table with his back hoof as he turned toward the hallway stairs.

"So would you rather us not talk anymore?"

"Now I didn't say all tha-," Big Mac stopped mid-sentence as he saw his sister's Stetson bob into view on the porch. Eiffel raised his brow, oblivious to Applejack's arrival until Macintosh signaled him a frantic "shushing" motion with his hoof over his lips. The blue colt understood clearly as he heard the the screen door's spring stretch open overhead.

"You sneaking back from a party or somethin?" Eiffel said in a loud dramatic whisper, one hoof cupped over the side of his mouth. Applejack smiled as she wiped her hooves on the welcome mat.

"Might as well been, sure was rough enough. Brought ya back a party favor," Applejack said in a soft voice as she motioned to the sleeping dragon on her back. Eiffel nearly fell as he lost balance of his lean in the chair.

"I take it Rarity's fine with all this?" Big Macintosh strolled back into the kitchen, his plow collar no longer hanging from his neck.

"Ooo ya shoulda seen er' Mac, had that colt's hooves plum near allover er'!" Applejack's voice dropped again when she remembered the sleeping dragon on her back. "I'm taking him upstairs with me fer the night, gonna send Twilight a letter tomorra'."

"Ooo is the little guy gonna get some action?" Eiffel gave AJ his best winning smile as she turned around mid-stride to glare back at him.

"Shoot I might as well, show him that there's still some mares who care about sensitivity an whatnot,"

Applejack trotted up the stairs, dragon in tow as Macintosh followed her with his eyes, shaking his head as he did so.

"She being serious? Sounds kinda kinky...,"

Macintosh glared back at the still smiling blue colt.

"Go home Eiffel, I'll see you tomorra," Big Macintosh was halfway up the stairs before Eiffel called back.

"No kiss goodnight? No hug? Okeedokee...."

Big Mac waited on the stairs until he heard the door creak open and close. He stood for ten more seconds before he sighed and trotted back down the stairs and out through the kitchen.

The blue stallion was just barely visible in the darkness as Macintosh caught up. Eiffel smiled as he turned around, halfway expecting that goodnight kiss.

"Gonna walk ya home at least," Big Mac returned a soft smile to the colt. Eiffel snorted and bumped Macintosh on the hip with his rear.

*****Notice anything inconsistent or just grammatically incorrect? Be sure to report it to me, iPod user here!

12!!! (Glass jawed Pegasi)

Hey guys look! A new chapter! I guess Leslichu isn't a lazy bastard after all right?

Nah I'm still a lazy bastard. A sexy lazy bastard. Enjoy.

*WHUMP*

Twilight groaned as she released her hold on the books and dropped them down onto a chair. Not having Spike around was already taking it's toll on her back, how was he so capable? She groaned as she reached a hoof behind her and rubbed at the soreness around her spine. Clearly Unicorns were not made for strenuous labor, and unfortunately she couldn't spare any magic power at the moment to lift the heavy volumes as she was focusing it on making her tea in the kitchen.

Come to think of it, the kitchen was kind of Spike's property. Considering she barely went into the room at all, she had probably just levitated a teapot into the refrigerator. Nice.

She couldn't take anymore of this, she decided. She simply could not study under such conditions, especially considering that she had yet to eat anything! Blowing out the candles, Twilight was nearly out the door when she halted and peered through the crack. Down the road trotted a blue stallion with Spike on his back, the two laughing quite audibly to say the least. The second stallion behind them was Big Macintosh, easily recognizable due to his sheer size and slower pace he was traveling at.

Sighing, she closed the door and magically lit the lights again. She gently proceeded to kick a path through the books, making way to the couches so the boys would have a place to rest their hooves.

"...and then I said 'that(s a pretty big word for an eight-year old'!" an unknown voice was met with a hysterical fit of giggles from her dragon assistant. Oh great, just the influence she needed for the growing dragon.

The blue stallion and Spike's voices hushed as the dragon gently pushed open the door to the library, calling out to the mare he was sure to find inside.

"Twilight are you home? I wanted to check in with you," the dragon peered around the door, apparently expecting an angry slew of words from the mare. Twilight simply sighed and propped a book onto her shelf with the glow of her magic.

"Staying at AJ's again tonight?" she asked with an unenthusiastic voice, not looking at the dragon as she sat down with a huff on one of the couches.

"Uhm...yeah?" Spike drummed his claws on his belly, wondering if the unicorn was going to be cross with him.

"Ugh, Spike! Do you know how hard it's be-" the unicorn was cut off as the blue stallion from before kicked the door open.

"Say no more ma'am, Eiffel is on the case!" the blue stallion stood in a mock heroic pose in the doorway. For a second, the pose actually looked convincing due to the setting sun casting him in shadow, soft light cascading around his naturally broad shoulders.

Considering that Ponyville was one of the weirdest places a mare could find herself in, the bold nature of the stallion neither shocked nor concerned her. Not when she had friends like Discord and Pinkie Pie. Nope.

"So...," Twilight paused to take a sip of a 5-hour old cold cup of coffee, "who's your friend?"

Spike's spines positively jumped as he beamed up at the blue stallion.

"This is Eiffel, he's me and Big Mac's friend from town!" Said stallion took a second rest his hoof under his chin and give an exaggerated thinking face, as if he were modeling.

Big Macintosh calmly stepped up behind the odd stallion and pushed him further into the library with the bridge of his nose.

"T'aint supposed ta be loud in a library Eiffel," the large pony said softly, adjusting the wheat stalk in his mouth. The blue stallion turned about quickly and shoved his nose against the much larger stallions in mock anger.

"I was going to ask if she needed some quick help around the place, before someone so rudely interrupted," with that Eiffel spun about and faced the librarian, "So how bout it, need some muscle round the place real quick?"

The purple mare just looked at Spike and gave him a bewildered look.

"Uhm sure?" As soon as the words left the colts lips, he was next to Twilight polishing his hoof against his chest fur, a nonchalant look on his face.

"Well my services don't happen to come cheap. But I'll tell ya what, I'll cut ya deal," using his hooves to accentuate his words the colt continued, "I'll put these books back all proper-like, heck I'll alphabetize them while I'm at it. All I need in return is permission for my little buddy to hang out back at the farm for another night." The colt ended by pointing at Spike, who smiled widely.

Twilight couldn't help but grin back at the little dragon. Regardless of the irks she had at not having her assistant around, the little dragon was making a good situation out of a bad one by making friends, something she herself knew was a great way to solve one's problems. Even if one of his new friends was a loud-mouthed weirdo.

"If it's okay with Big Macintosh and AJ, then I suppose another night wouldn't hurt." (Well besides my back). Across the room, Big Macintosh gave her a nod and walked over to sit across from her.

The blue colt gave a whinny and raced to a corner of the room, getting started on making alphabetic stacks of each novel, volume and tomb.

"I'd offer you boys something to drink if I wasn't so sure my teapot was in the toilet," Twilight Sparkle said, earning her a raised brow from the large red stallion across from her.

"Thank ya ma'am but ah'm under the impression we'll be gettin' some ice cream here soon," Macintosh smiled down at Spike, who grinned excitedly.

"Eiffel offered to take us out for ice cream after we cleared the orchard," Spike said, looking at the pleasantly surprised Unicorn.

"So you've actually been helping out around the farm? That's very nice of you Spike," Twilight instantly felt a mother-like flush of pride for the little dragon sitting across from her. It was getting harder and harder to think that Spike had been the center of such grief and trouble in what felt like only hours ago.

"Well why don't you go help with the books while I have a word with Macintosh," Twilight shooed the dragon off, who took the cue that she wanted to talk about AJ and Rarity. He DID NOT want to talk about Rarity just yet.

As Spike scurried off, Twilight leaned in signaling Big Macintosh to get closer as well.

"AJ hasn't seen Rarity today right?"

"Nope," the large colt slowly shook his head.

"You've been watching her though right?"

"Eeyup," The large stallion had made sure that Applejack had a full workload that day, asking her to sort the bad apples out of each barrel he and Spike brought in that day.

"Okay good, because from what I understand Rarity seems to think AJ threatened her. And well, you know how dramatic she can be,"

The large colt simply sighed and gave his usual "eeyup", and leaned back slowly in his chair. It was a right hornets nest his sister had stirred up, and it would have to be dealt with eventually. Macintosh said a silent prayer for his personal savings.

"AAaaaand done. All books in perfect A to Z order as promised," the blue stallion said, his teeth flashing brightly at the mare. Twilight was about to scoff as she turned to view the colt's work, but of course everything was in order.

'Don't eeeeeeven question it Twilight, just smile. And nod.'

"Well I suppose a deal is a deal," Twilight turned to Spike and gave him a tired smile, "Just don't make too much trouble for Mr. Macintosh here,"

Spike nodded and ran over to hug Twilight's front leg, a gesture he hadn't done in months she noted.

"Ok so if we're gonna do this we're gonna have get double scoops of everything, Ooo and with those waffle cone things too," Eiffel mused as he walked through the door, feeling the baby dragon's stomach rumble on his back. Late night ice-cream bars were a gift from Celestia itself so it seemed. The blue stallion turned to look back at Macintosh, who betrayed no emotion on his face.

"So Mac, what should I order for you?" Eiffel gave him a small smile, his old shyness about the larger stallion surfacing in his stomach again.

"Just a regular ol' scoop of strawberry would be nice," Macintosh returned the smile, albeit a bit less enthusiastically.

"Three scoops of strawberry, with sprinkles and a waffle cone. Got it!" The blue colt galloped off to the register before Macintosh could protest. The large red colt just sighed and turned to find a booth for the three of them to sit in. The Milky Way was apparently owned by a reclusive mare from Trottingham, which was a shame because she was never around to see how much the citizens of Ponyville enjoyed her shop.

The building was decorated in baby blue and light pink paintjobs, with white vinyl seats and strangely intimate candlelights. All-in-all, the perfect place to bring a date noted the stallion. He uneasily looked back at the colt ordering at the register, feeling suddenly very nervous. The colt had no discipline when it came to public shows of affection. As Macintosh settled into a seat, the vinyl squeaking under his weight, he thought back to multiple times the two had nearly been caught. Many ponies aren't as oblivious as Eiffel thought, his affectionate nuzzles and touches were going to be noticed at some point. The very thought made Macintosh's insides cold, and he quickly glanced about the room for any ponies that might recognize him.

Thankfully, there was only one mare whom he recognized, and she just so happened to be cross-eyed to the point where he was sure she wouldn't see him. Derpy, the town mailmare as he recognized her to be, appeared to be on a date with a brown stallion he had only seen a few times. Each time said stallion appeared to be in a great hurry, sprinting like his life depended on it with what appeared to be a piece of metal sticking out of his mouth. Strange fellow, although apparently he was pretty handy at fixing clocks for some reason.

Macintosh settled back into the booth and waited for the blue colt and his dragon friend to return. After about five minutes, the two came back with the cones, Spike carrying his and Macintosh's in his versatile claws. The two sat down, Eiffel smiling widely at the red stallion. Macintosh gave him a half-hearted smile of his own, his heart and his nerves in a tug-of-war. Spike handed him his abnormally large ice cream cone, and he said a silent thank-you to blue colt across from him. Never one to sit quietly, Eiffel struck up a conversation.

"So you're a single, good lookin' bachelor. What you got your sights set on now huh?" Eiffel asked Spike, who blinked at him a few times and thought about the question.

"Well...I suppose I could try my luck with other mares." Spike said hopefully.

"That's the spirit!" Eiffel reached across and gave him a light jab in the arm. "So what you looking for in a girl huh? A pretty mane? Smarts? A nice flank?" He accentuated the last one with a wiggle of his brow. Macintosh chuckled to himself silently.

"Uh well, I mean I haven't really thought about many girls. Mmmaybe I could talk to Fluttershy? She's pretty and smart...and I think she has a nice flank. I've actually never looked before," Spike picked at his cone, trying to remember the specific shape of Fluttershy's hindquarters.

"Nice nice, but uh..." The blue colt's eyes flicked over to Big Mac for a second before settling back on Spike. "You know you've technically already been invited into AJ's room ssssooo you know," Eiffel gave the dragon a very toothy grin, Macintosh just rolled his eyes.

Spike's face turned a bit red and stole a glance at Big Mac before he opened his mouth.

"I just think she's looking out for me. I mean uh-" he looked back at Macintosh, who nodded and smiled at him to continue, "She's really pretty and all but she probably would want a stallion right?"

"Wha- AJ? NNnnnaaahh," Eiffel leaned back and took an exaggerated bite out of his ice cream. "If she can ignore the charm of a stallion like ME well...," he chuckled before finishing, "You just might be her last hope if you know what I mean,"

Spike raised his brow and was about to question the colt, before he felt Macintosh kick one of the colts legs from under the table.

"YOWCH!! What? I was just sayin' that she's picky!" Eiffel rubbed at his leg, while Macintosh just rolled his eyes again. Spike smiled and nearly laughed before he noticed something else. His short stature kept him eye level with the table, so that he could easily peek under the table unnoticed. Pretending to be preoccupied with the cone in front of him, he spotted movement from Macintosh's side. Apparently he must have felt guilty or something because the large red stallion was gently rubbing at Eiffel's leg with one of his own, presumably where the blow had landed earlier. Rubbing perhaps wasn't the right word though, the touch seemed oddly...affectionate. And not just in the friendly sense, friendly rubs didn't go in small, slow circles.

But whatever, he thought, Macintosh was a pretty nice guy after all. He was probably just worried that Eiffel would take the strike to heart. No biggie.

The three finished their ice cream with casual talk (well Eiffel and Spike, Macintosh kept his usual "eeyup" or "nope"), with no interruptions. Derpy and her date apparently had finished and left, but she noticed Macintosh and gave him a cheery wave, which he returned with a friendly smile.

The three were nearly about to ask for the bill, when someone Spike really did not want to see just so happened to walk through the door.

Rarity's voice was unmistakable to the dragon, as he turned to see her walking a few isles down from them. She was dressed in a simple elegant light blue scarf and her hair was styled down in light curls. She didn't notice the three at the table, as she was turned talking to (who else) Thunderlane, who looked as casual as ever. Spike spun around and signaled at Macintosh and Eiffel, who took and cue and ducked their heads.

"Guys I gotta get out of here, I can't let her see me!" Spike said hurredly, in a harsh whisper.

"Ok gotcha, she doesn't know me so I'll go around the front and pretend to slip, make a distraction. Then you two get out okeedoke?" Eiffel was nearly out of the booth when Macintosh stopped him.

"This is silly, let's jes leave, they won't pay us no mind," Macintosh suggested.

Spike leaned back over the side of the seat to peek at the two ponies, who where thankfully still ordering their cones. He nearly made it back down into his crouch before a loud squeaky voice stopped him.

"Oh hey Spike!!" He had missed Sweetie Belle following the two into the store completely.

"Who are you here with?" She asked obliviously as Spike silently begged her to keep quiet. "I came with Rarity and her coltfriend, did you bring your marefriend? Oh wait, hi Big Macintosh!!"

Macintosh waved nervously to the little filly, noticing in the corner of his eye Rarity had just seen them. And her face wore a horrified expression. Macintosh tapped Spike on the shoulder and pointed out Rarity. The fashionista's eyes met the dragons for a few seconds before her date, Thunderlane, shouted something that didn't register in the dragon's mind. He mouthed 'sorry' to Big Macintosh and jumped from the booth, sprinting to the door as fast as his small legs would carry him.

Upon seeing the dragon flee, Thunderlane decided once again to try and play the hero to his marefriend and galloped after the dragon. Eiffel saw this and had nearly jumped across the table before Macintosh calmly put a hoof out to stop him. The red stallion slowly stood up, and followed the two outside.

"You might as well stop running you little prick, I already got you!" a harsh voice called to Spike from behind. Glancing behind him he saw the black stallion sprinting after him, Rarity trailing behind screaming something he couldn't distinguish.

Spike silently cursed his size, realizing that if he was caught he would surely be trampled to death. But he knew that he would be caught eventually, his legs in no state to outmatch that of the stallions. He came to a halt at the end of the dirt road and turned slowly, watching as the black colt barreled toward him.

"You let that crazy mare into the house and knock Rarity around!" the stallion slammed into Spike, forcing his face down to the ground with his forehead. "She told me what that apple farmer did, and there's only one pony who could have let her in!"

Panic bubbled into Spike's stomach as his felt the immense weight of the stallion bearing down harshly on his temple. His mind raced for something, anything he could do as he heard Rarity's cries for help only a few feet away. The stallion lifted his head only to bring it crashed back down onto Spike's, this time the point of impact being the center of his forehead.

Blinking his tears away, Spike locked eyes with the colt trying to crush his face. There was no pity, nor concern in those yellow eyes. Only contempt as he imagined why on earth he would be trying to hurt.

'Probably because Rarity told him what a jerk I am. That I'm a creepy little dragon that likes mares.'

The dragon felt a fire light in his gut, the fashionista who was probably the cause of this only a few feet from him. He felt that fire burn hotter and hotter, until he locked his gaze with the stallions and let out a ferocious roar he didn't know he had in him. Only this roar didn't make any sound. The only thing erupting from Spike's mouth was a plume of emerald green fire.

Thunderlane instantly shot back, the fur on his face ignited in several places. Rarity shrieked in fear as he flailed about, flinging himself face down into the dirt in order to douse the flames. Panicked, the stallion put his hooves onto his face, fearing that it had been scarred by the flames. He stumbled about for a second, his legs wobbly from the attack. Spinning and sprinting forward without thinking-

*CRACK*

The black stallion flew backwards a few feet, landing in a heap at Spike's feet completely unconscious. A headbutt from Big Macintosh was apparently fearsome enough to not only knock out a full grown stallion, but also shock hysterical mares into silence.

Big Macintosh craned his neck to the side and was rewarded with an audible cracking noise. Giving a small sigh of satisfaction, he switched the wheat stalk to the other side of his mouth.

"Damn featherheads. Always pickin' at folks."

Eiffel and Sweetie Belle had watched the whole thing go down from the booth window. The blue colt nodded as if he had just seen a nicely executed hoofball play, and had another bite from his leftover ice cream. He turned to Sweetie Belle, who had only been staring confused at the entire mess.

"So. You're a filly. What's that like?"

Sweetie Belle turned to face the colt with one eyebrow raised.

"Huh?"

**As always, be sure to list any grammar errors you notice in the comments section. I'm uploading with my phone so some stuff might look funny.

I'll be expecting some Smokey .gif's by the way...

13!!! ("....just wasting time and space...")

Another Chapter!!!???

Yes another chapter. DON’T ACT SO GODDAMN SURPRISED!!!

I’m just feeling extra saucy lately…..

“JEE-z Rarity! Easy with tha-THAT HURTS DAMMIT!!”

Rarity gave a squeak of surprise as the cold wet washcloth was slapped from her hoof. Thunderlane growled and shot up from the couch, walking the pain off towards the window. He rested his front hoof against the sill and sighed, closing his watering eyes. The fashionista behind him silently picked up the washcloth and set it on her coffee table. True the headbutt had been ferocious, but thankfully the pegasus’ skull was still in one piece. It was the burns from the little dragon’s magic flames that had taken the visible toll. Several patches of fur were seared from the colt’s face, but thankfully the flames had been extinguished before they had done any serious damage to the flesh beneath. Still, neither pony had any idea if the fur would actually grow back.

The pegasus slammed his hoof against the windowsill harshly, whirling around at the fashionista.

“Why didn’t you tell me that was the crazy apple-farmer’s brother!?”

Rarity opened her mouth but no words came out, she had never had a colt yell at her before. And honestly, over the last half hour Thunderlane had begun to scare her. Said colt marched forward, his nose only inches away from hers.

“The guy nearly takes my head off, AND YOU DIDN’T SAY A WORD TO STOP HIM!!”

Rarity closed her eyes, the colt shouting hard enough to flick saliva onto her face.

“What was I supposed to do? He wouldn’t have listened to me!” she cried, looking away from the furious stallion in front of her.

The colt backed away and slumped back down onto the couch, running his hoof up and down his face. Rarity simply backed away, taking his place near the window. She cast a glance out the window, thinking back to the events that had transpired almost an hour ago.

Poor little Spike, struggling in place as he was held down in the dirt. And she did absolutely nothing to stop the colt. Her colt.

“Look we gotta talk about the kind of people you hang out with,” Thunderlane sighed and dropped his hoof, his anger gone but replaced with annoyance, “I’m not mad I’m just…..worried.”

Rarity lowered her eyes and stepped forward, knowing what was coming.

“I don’t want to get my clock cleaned everyday over this nonsense. That mare was crazy and now I know her brother is crazy too.”

He stood and walked slowly toward her. The colt brought Rarity’s face to eye-level with his hoof, pressing his nose against hers.

“You don’t need to go making friends with ponies like that. Not that mare, not that stallion, and especially not that dragon. They’re no good for you.” The colt’s eyelids drooped a bit as his mouth inched closer to hers. “They’re no good for us.”

Rarity leaned into the kiss, feeling the stallion’s mouth caress hers hungrily. Usually these powerful kisses of his made her melt, and cleared her mind of all things but the colt in front of her. But when she opened her eyes to meet his, all she could see was the large green orbs of a certain dragon. She remembered the way they looked well, each one welled up with tears as her colt crushed his face into the pavement. She remember the way they looked because she could have sworn he looked right into hers before he set Thunderlane’s face ablaze.

*SLAM*

Applejack nearly jumped from her seat, at first thinking that for whatever reason her oven had just exploded and the pie within had just bit the dust. She glared at Eiffel who walked through the door, his voice (as always) obnoxiously loud.

“Dude you have to tell me how you did that! I mean you just set that loser’s face on fire!! Too bad JuiceDrop wasn’t around,” He stopped to grab a leftover cupcake from the kitchen table and took a healthy bite, “the guy had a Cutie Mark for dunking ponies heads in toilets,”

Macintosh sighed and followed Eiffel through the doorway.

“Juicedrop was friends withn’ that colt, Thunderwhatsit,”

Eiffel made a face and looked back at Macintosh .

“Ew really? Suddenly Featherface just popped up six points higher on the jerkwad pyramid. Oh hey AJ, were you gonna eat that?”

The mare simply pushed the other cupcake toward Eiffel with her hoof, her eyes not leaving Macintosh.

“Come again? Who’s noggin’ got set on fire?”

Macintosh didn’t answer the mare, only nodded behind him to Spike who had been attempting to sneak past the stallion to the stairs. The little dragon sighed and stepped forward.

“I got into a fight with Rarity’s coltfriend. Aaaaannd I might have set his face on fire.”

Eiffel sputtered and sent bits of cupcake flying from his mouth.

“Fight nothin’, the guy just jumped him! Ya should have seen him, acting all big and bad,” The colt suddenly went quiet and made a face like he was about to say something deep, “betcha ten bits he was doing it to get laid.”

“What in tarnation!? Macintosh Apple-,” she paused to rush across the room, holding Spike’s face in her front hooves.

“L-look at this, how in the hay did you let that durn featherhead do this to him?” She slugged the lower portion of Macintosh’s leg, eliciting a groan from the large stallion.

“Oh he took care of it alright—,” Eiffel chuckled and picked at his teeth with a hoof. He wiggled his brow at Macintosh who had turned to glare at him.

“Well next time git there before the sucker manhandles him. Ooohh what’m I gonna tell Twilight?” AJ ran a hoof down her face as Spike pretended to be suddenly very interested in his feet.

“OOOoooo what is Twilight gonna do? She’s that unicorn with the mind bullets right?” Eiffel rubbed his hooves together as he spoke. “I sure hope Mac killed him when he hit him,”

Applejack raised her brow in acknowledgement. Sure Twilight would probably fry flyboy, but what about Rarity? As much as AJ didn’t want to admit it, nobody deserved to get on Twilight Sparkle’s bad side. Especially not a prissy, never-been-in-a-fight unicorn like Rarity.

She grabbed Spike by claw and led him up into the darkness of the second floor, leaving Macintosh and Eiffel alone in the kitchen. The large red stallion sighed and pulled back a chair to sit down. Slipping the yoke from around his neck, he set it down next to the table. When he leaned back up he found him face to face with the blue colt.

“What’r you doin’?”

Eiffel simply pulled a face and leaned in closer, one of his hoofs brushing the larger stallions bangs away from his forehead.

“Did it hurt?” Genuine concern was etched into the voice of the usually jovial colt as he circled a hoof around the bruise that had begun to form on the stallion’s forehead.

“Prolly not as much as it hurt him,” the red stallion said quietly, looking away.

Eiffel frowned and was about to address the stallion further, but Macintosh was bought time by the buzzing of the oven AJ had left unattended. Eiffel sighed and dropped his hoof away from the stallion’s forehead and reached behind him for the oven door.

“Jes look at this, why I outta go down to the damn boutique and finish the job myself,” AJ said darkly as she gently pressed an icepack down onto the dragon’s temple.

“He was probably just trying to stick up for her, I mean I would probab-,” he was silenced by a glare from the mare.

“You ain’t like that varmint. Pickin’ on fellers littler than him, and that Rarity just egging it on,” she closed her eyes in disgust as she slipped her hat off onto the edge of the bed.

“She was scared Applejack, she didn’t even know what was going on until he was on top of me.” Spike said sincerely, locking eyes with the apple farmer. Applejack gave a sad sigh and let the dragon hold the icepack. She stood up and walked to her mirror.

“Still stickin’ up for her, even after her colt beats ya up, “ she turned to give Spike an amused look, “You’re some piece of work alright.” The mare chuckled as she turned back to her mirror. How was it that Rarity was so lucky?

She pulled her hair tie from her mane, letting her blond hair cascade freely over her shoulders.

“What are ya gonna tell Twilight?” she asked in a soft voice.

Spike pulled the icepack away from his face, watching as the mare ran a hoof through her hair.

“I’m not going to,”

The mare looked at Spike’s reflection in the glass, watching his eyes as they traveled over her.

“An’ why’s that?”

“Because I don’t want to Twilight to hurt her,”

The mare smiled slowly, casting her eyes away from the dragon in the mirror. After all this, the dragon still cared about the snooty fashionista.

“Why is it that Rarity gets all the nice colts?”

Spike looked up from the spot on the floor he had let his eyes drop. Applejack was looking right at him.

“Here she had a colt who worked fer her, gave her jewels, took a beatin’ for her, and watched her walk away with some pegasus from down the road.” She turned and walked to the bedside, closing the distance between her and Spike. “An’ all I get is dumb-as-a-brick ponies knocking on my door,”

She pushed her nose in to touch Spike’s, the dragon paralyzed as the mare closed the distance. He could have counted every freckle on her face, had he not been staring into her eyes. The mare kept their gazes locked before she moved her mouth next to one of his spines she assumed was an ‘ear’.

“Why can’t I have a colt like you?” She leaned back a bit to lower her mouth down to his, feeling his warm breath against her lips.

Macintosh humored the colt and opened his mouth, accepting the spoonful of apple pie. The blue colt in front of him was apparently enjoying himself, as a soft smile was present on his face. Macintosh chewed slowly and looked back into the colt’s blue eyes. They’d be beautiful if they didn’t make him so damn nervous.

“Yunno, I was thinkin’….” Macintosh said after he swallowed the bite he had in his mouth.

“That’d I’d look great in AJ’s gala dress? Yeah, I thought so too,” Eiffel sucked his teeth audibly and smiled jokingly. Macintosh simply rolled his eyes, as was usual with the blue colt’s humor.

“I was actually thinkin’ maybe I’m gonna stay home a few day. Buck a few more trees afore’ the weekends,” Macintosh looked away from the colt’s accusing eyes. Eiffel sighed and put the spoon down.

“Look if you don’t want to do this anymore just tell me,” Eiffel reached forward and tilted Macintosh’s face toward his, “I’m not gonna be mad, I understand what’s expected of you here,” he finished quietly, giving the stallion a soft smile.

Macintosh let his eyes trail away as he nodded, hoping that he wouldn’t have to say aloud what was on his mind. Apparently the blue colt took the hint though, as Macintosh heard him sigh and scoot back in his chair.

“I guess I’ll just see you later then?” Eiffel looked at Macintosh one last time, watching the large red pony nod again but not return the look. The blue colt cleared his throat and excused himself, brushing his hoof on Macintosh’s shoulder as he passed by to walk through the door.

The next few moments were like déjà vu for the stallion. He knew what was going to happen, as it happened every time he tried to push the colt away.

‘Macintosh Apple, don’t you move a damn muscle. Don’t you do this again’

His father spoke loudly in a far corner of his mind, plain as the day he left him, AJ, and Applebloom for good. He didn’t notice his hoof on the spoon Eiffel had left behind, nor did he notice that he had been forcing it deep into the wood of the table. Keeping his eyes closed and his head pointed at the ground, Macintosh listened to his father yell and curse at him, hoping it would be enough to keep him from following the colt this time. Enough for him to get his life back the way it was supposed to be.

But then he saw his mother smile. And Macintosh nearly turned the table over as he, once again, crashed through the door of his family’s home.

Eiffel was nearly to the end of the Sweet Apple Acres gates before he heard the stomp of hooves running behind him. He had barely turned around before Macintosh grabbed his mane with both hooves and forced him into one of those magical, deep kisses only his stallion could produce. The smaller colt wrapped his hooves invitingly around the larger stallion’s shoulders, as he felt his mind melt away once again. Macintosh shoved the blue colt against the gate of Sweet Apple Acres, forcing his body upright and leaning into him. Slipping his hooves down he gripped Eiffel by his flanks and lifted him easily against the gate, holding him in place as he let his instincts run wild.

He knew he would question himself in the morning. Dread the eyes of his sisters and grandmother as he went about work. But for now, the blue ones staring into his were all that mattered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzfQufaaYA

**Grammar corrections are always welcome!

14!!! (Parasprites in a Jar)

*Knock knock~*

“Oh dear, Angel could you get that? I think Gumdrop flooded the bathroom again…..”

The little white rabbit sighed and folded his newspaper under his arm. Taking a second to ready himself, he hopped down from the wooden chair where he was perched. The rabbit set his newspaper against the front leg and bounded toward the door, hoping that the visitor had not left yet (his owner could use the distraction from her new river otter’s horseplay…)

Angel jumped for the door handle and yanked it down, unlatched the door and pulling it open for the mare just outside. He squinted as the bright morning light flooded across Rarity’s mane and through the entrance of the house. Now in a rabbit’s mind, mares aren’t usually the height of beauty. But Angel quickly smiled up at the mare and ushered her in, eager to bring her treats and refreshments.

He might have been a rabbit and she a pony, but he was still a male right? Right.

“Oh thank-you Angel dear, I must say you are quite the little gentlecolt. Now um….where might Fluttershy be?”

Angel frowned and made an exaggerated signal to the left before he pulled his ears down over his eyes. Rarity simply cocked an eyebrow up at the little rabbit’s method of communication, but nonetheless followed Angel’s directions as she made her way down the hall. She perked her ears at what sounded like running water and what she could only describe as a feral grunt. The sounds reached a crescendo as she neared Fluttershy’s bathroom door, where beyond she could hear the mare politely asking somepony to dry themselves off.

“N-now Gumdrop, I know you need to train for your grudge match but I have company right now…..and well I’m sure she’d appreciate it if she could use the bathroom while she was here.”

She heard a rapid chitter and the sound of water splashing in the porcelain tub. There was a motion and the clicking of a cabinet before the door she had pressed her ear to swung inward. She giggled sheepishly and stepped back, watching as an otter wrapped in a towel gave her a polite nod before it sauntered off further down the hallway. Fluttershy followed just behind him, smiling at Rarity behind a soaked mane.

“Um good morning Fluttershy, getting your pets all bathed I assume?”

“Oh no,” Fluttershy led the fashionista back through the hall to her living room, brushing her wet mane out of her eyes as she went. “Gumdrop was just getting his training in and I forgot to tell him we’d be having guests,”

“Training? Whatever could an otter be training for?” Rarity sat down into one of the worn but cozy sofas near the door.

“Oh he has a wrestling match coming up, and he’s been getting me to help. He says he’s fighting for gold and glory, but mostly girls,” Fluttershy smiled at Rarity, not catching the confused look that Rarity gave before she cleared her throat.

“Oh, well I suppose those are very important things to an otter indeed. But what about you dear? I haven’t seen you in weeks, how are things?” Rarity ran a hoof down her leg, rubbing at her hooves.

“Well nothing really, oh I mean…well nothing since we stopped going to the spa. I run into the other girls every now and again, but….I think everypony has just been busy.” Fluttershy spaced her words out, watching Rarity’s face and hoping she didn’t make her feel guilty. The shy pegasus knew what the problem was, she just wouldn’t say it aloud.

“Fluttershy dear, I do apologize. I’ve just been very busy lately dividing my time between work and spending time with my coltfriend,”

Fluttershy nodded and listened to the fashionista tell her of the dress orders she had that week and the dates Thunderlane had taken her on. The pegasus had heard the whole story from Applejack three weeks ago, the real reason not a single one of her friends had seen Rarity for nearly a month and a half.

Rarity continued on with her story of a particularly snobby-sounding colt from Trottingham’s order on a coat, while Fluttershy silently looked over her features. The fashionista was good at hiding her troubles with make-up, the pegasus had to give her that. But she could still see the tell-tale signs of bags under the mare’s eyes, and the slight hunch in her shoulders. The mare was depressed, this much Fluttershy could tell.

“Have you talked to AJ at all?” Fluttershy uncharacteristically interrupted the fashionista, who blinked her eyes wide and stared back at her. She sat silent for a few seconds before she blinked her gaze away from Fluttershy’s.

“I thought about it….but it’s just a mistake waiting to happen. Both her and her brother have made it very clear how they feel about my love-life, so if they can’t be happy for me I have no reason to talk to them.”

“B-but Rarity, aren’t you worried about poor Spike?” Fluttershy felt her throat catch as she thought of what happened to the poor dragon, and the bruises she had seen on his face only a few days after his “incident”.

“I admit—Thunderlane was being a bit overprotective and acted rashly but…..well,” Rarity sighed and bit a part of her hoof, knowing that there was nothing that she could say that would excuse her coltfriend’s actions against the much smaller and vulnerable dragon.

“I suppose it would be nice if he’d just, oh I don’t know,” Rarity dropped her hoof from her mouth harshly and leaned back into her chair, “dropped by at least? Maybe I could try to apologize….get him to understand.” The mare kept her eyes low, feeling the guilt bubbling inside of her again.

“Why not go to the library today? I-I mean he’s usually there right?” Fluttershy suggested, flicking back a piece of her drying mane.

The fashionista scoffed and stared out of the living room window.

“Ah yes, so I can tell Twilight what a great baby-sitter I am?”

“I-I guess that’s not such a great idea after all….” Fluttershy began, but was cut off by Rarity jumping from the couch.

“That would be twice something has happened under my watch, and I’d rather Twilight not have a reason to stop talking to me altogether.” Rarity sighed and paced about the room, not noticing Angel balancing a bowl of salad on his head. She nearly knocked the rabbit over as he stumbled to the coffee table where he set the bowl down as gently as he could on his tiptoes.

“I don’t suppose it would matter anyway, Thunderlane would be cross with me if I even set hoof in that library,” The white mare fiddled with a chew toy left upon Fluttershy’s carpet, oblivious to the dried saliva coating one end of the rubber bone.

“Did Twilight beat Thunderlane up too?” Fluttershy asked innocently, once again missing a certain look upon Rarity’s features.

“N-no dear, he just thinks it best to cut ties with anyone that could usher more problems-,”

“B-but Twilight’s our friend! You can’t just stop seeing her! The same with AJ!,” Fluttershy sputtered out, nearly jumping from her seat as she shouted (rather quietly) at Rarity.

“I know! I-I…..,” Rarity exhaled and closed her eyes, motioning for Fluttershy to give her a second to collect herself with her hoof. “I do miss them- I do, it’s just that Thunderlane is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t want him to leave me,” the mare’s voice grew gradually more and more silent before she shook her head and trotted over to Fluttershy. Placing an unsure hug about the pegasus’s shoulders and giving another short sigh, the fashionista trotted back to the door and let herself out.

Fluttershy watched the mare leave with a sinking feeling in her stomach, knowing that it would be some time indeed before she saw the unicorn again. Her mane drooped back down, covering up the disappointed look on Angel’s face.

“Sorry sweetie, you heard her. She has a coltfriend.”

“Oh don’t look at me like that. You gotta go, and you know it,” Spike said as he peered into the glass jar.

“Besides this is better than what AJ would do if she found you,” the little blue parasprite stared blankly back at him, obviously wondering why a dragon of all things would be doing in an apple orchard.

“Oh AJ? She’s my marefriend,” Spike answered proudly to a question that wasn’t asked. His chest swelled with pride as the words left his lips, the honor of having his first marefriend still fresh in his mind. Again the small parasprite just stared, buzzing in place inside the jar.

“I mean we haven’t really told anyone, but I got a kiss. That’s important right?” Spike pressed his face against the glass as he walked onward to the Everfree Forest, imagining that his new friend was surprised and proud of him. But the parasprite just bounced off the side of the glass, wondering why there was a wall where there was what looked like nothing.

The dragon sighed and pushed the jar back under his arm, deciding the parasprite wasn’t the most pleasant of company. He had been walking for roughly twenty minutes before Fluttershy’s house came into view, the beautiful cottage simply glowing in the morning light. Perhaps Fluttershy’s bear friend would be kind enough to accompany him through the forest (timberwolves had recently taken the place of boogeymen in his mind).

Quickening his pace to a trot, he crossed the field and jumped the stream just outside Fluttershy’s house. A quick visit wouldn’t have hurt would it? He hadn’t seen the poor mare in weeks, and he was sure his parasprite friend would give her a giggle or two before he released it back into the wild. The dragon had nearly made it to the door before he saw a frighteningly familiar purple mane emerge from behind the door. Jumping behind Fluttershy’s prized rose bushes, the dragon watched as the mare closed the door behind her.

She leaned back against the door, her eyes closed and her chest holding a deep breath. The fashionista exhaled softly before she ran a hoof through her mane, feeling the telltale signs of a headache on its way. Deciding it best to return home and try to get some work done, she made her way down the rock path back to Ponyville. She had nearly made it past the mailbox before a small voice very nearly froze the blood in her viens.

“Rarity, is everything ok?” Spike had emerged from one of Fluttershy’s bushes, what appeared to be a parasprite held in a jar tucked safely under his arm.

At first the mare simply stared back at the dragon with her mouth open, trying desperately to form words in her mouth. All at once she saw the dragon holding the fire ruby out to her and the tears welling in his eyes as he was held to the ground. Spike took a step forward, to which Rarity answered with a step backward. The mare just nodded and offered a small smile before her nerve fled her completely. Spike watched her trot hurriedly away, his body flexed to pursue her. But knowing full well what set her off, the dragon lowered the claw he had extended and let her go.

Spike lifted the jar back to his face and watched the parasprite for a second before deciding that perhaps know wasn’t such a good time to visit Fluttershy. He turned on his heels and stepped into the forest with his parasprite in tow, unaware than a second had just sprung from the body of the first.

‘Such a nice job you did back there dear! Do you think you could have seemed anymore broken up?’ Rarity thought bitterly to herself. She fought the urge to kick at a stone, knowing full well it would have ruined the hooficure she had just had. The fashionista had been thinking for weeks of what to say to the dragon had she seen him again. She was sure she had an apology or two prepared, and for sure a multitude of them on Thunderlane’s behalf.

But just seeing him had proven too shameful to herself. She had fled like a true coward.

Rarity finally caved into her instincts and gave a rock at solid, satisfying kick. The little rock bounced up and down the path toward the bridge just beyond Town Hall, where it flew down into the stream below.

‘Well at least he didn’t seem angry at me, what would I have done then?’ Rarity’s mind tried to piece together what she would have assumed the dragon would be like had he been angry. The sad part was that she couldn’t picture the dragon angry with her, only disappointed.

The mare lowered her head and walked on, completely missing the group of pegasus mares standing in the distance beside a lightpost. The trio whispered excitedly to each other as Rarity came into view, and one had to stifle giggles behind her hooves. The tallest of the trio shushed the giggling mare and ushered them into the sky, where all three finally broke down and laughed uproariously at the sad unicorn below. They flew off to Sugarcube Corner, with a new and particularly juicy bit of gossip to share about a certain snob's "perfect" coltfriend.

15!! (The Truth Seal)

**Jeez this is late huh? Well guys I’ve been doing a lot of stuff lately. Life stuff. But also some pony stuff—I’ve been getting involved in the musical side of the Brony community. I wrote a track about Sparity shipping in general, focusing on an internal monologue I imagined Spike having:

https://pony.fm/tracks/295-fashionista-paleowriter-version

The track uses a reading from a simply breathtaking fiction from our own paleowriter which you can find here (used with permission of course!):

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/6810/how-to-woo-your-lady-in-nine-easy-steps

So there ya go! A fansong written about a fanfiction. Damn I’m good. Oh and if you haven’t read paleowriter’s fanfiction……WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?? GO READ IT!! It’s probably the best Sparity fiction in existence. READ IT. NOW.

But if you already have, give me a listen on Pony.fm! And of course read on dear Bronies!!

****

Rarity cleared her throat and sipped down a bit of her wine, effectively stifling a cough tickling her throat. She had felt very self-conscious for the last fifteen minutes in the restaurant.

Not because she wasn’t dressed for the occasion, good heavens no! (can’t go wrong with a daring dash of red now can you?)

No, the reason she felt self-conscious was the colt in front of her. He had been rubbing a hoof down the side of her leg and giving her little smirks that she caught even in the dim light of the candle on the table. Normally such a casual display of affection might have offended her in public, but well…..that tuxedo did look rather dashing on him.

She giggled as his hoof gently hooked and lifted up her skirt, feeling it travel along her inner thigh. The fashionista allowed herself a second to wonder exactly how the night would end, a blush spreading lightly on her cheeks before a waiter set her dinner in front of her. She pushed Thunderlane’s hoof away despite the long tablecloth covering their play and thanked the waiter, who bowed and turned to another table.

“You really must stop doing that in public dear,” Rarity smiled as she cut a dainty portion of her cake.

“You know I can’t help it, your dresses just make you so pretty….and they’re easy to get into,” Thunderlane added with a waggle of his brow. Rarity gave a mock-irritated look and lightly kicked his hoof with hers under the table before stifling a laugh behind her front hoof.

“Anyway,” Rarity began, fighting back laughter so she could take another bite, “How was work today?”

Thunderlane gave an exaggerated moan and rolled his eyes.

“Rainbow Dash was being a royal pain to everyone today, I mean it’s not bad enough she has us doing mandatory flight exercises but now she scheduled a storm for two days in a row? It’s like she gets off on running us raw,” Thunderlane rested his head on his hoof and fiddled with a cherry on his plate.

Rarity huffed and looked back down at her dinner.

“I don’t think she realizes that not everyone is a perfectionist…,” the fashionista said while she poked at a corner of frosting on the cake. She waited for Thunderlane to say something but she was met with only silence. Looking up she found him staring at him with a smile on his lips, threatening to tear open into a laugh.

“What?” Rarity cocked her head to the side, feeling her earrings jingle a bit.

“Oh nothing,” Thunderlane smiled wider and averted his gaze back to his own plate, laughing internally at the irony.

The two passed an hour making more small talk, talking about work, chatting about their hobbies, and of course gossiping about their irks. But not once did Rarity bring up her friends, and neither did Thunderlane. The night was as it every other night: romantic, intimate, and cheery. And Rarity believed it would carry the two back to her home, back to her bed where her silk sheets and pillows waited for the two. Unfortunately for her, a certain pink blur raced across Ponyville’s outskirts just as she and Thunderlane were receiving their bill. The blur in question was none other than Pinkie Pie, a pony currently being fueled by the intricate magic only she could understand: the life-binding force of a Pinkie Pie Swear.

“Oh my gosh you gotta be kidding me!!” Pinkie Pie shouted out loud, turning a few heads in the crowded bakery. Cloudchaser waved the frenzied pink mare down before anyone heard their conversation.

“It’s the truth! Feathermay says she saw him walking Blossomforth home the other night, and she totally kissed him,” Cloudchaser stifled a giggle behind her hoof, and peered about to make sure nobody was listening into the foursome’s conversation.

The pink mare charged onward, skillfully dodging past another mare she knew as Carrot Top carrying a paper lantern in her mouth.

“Yeah and the same night he apparently stopped by Rarity’s house for a little somethin-somethin,” Flitter wiggled her eyebrows at Pinkie, who gasped and covered her mouth with her hooves. Thunderlane was always buying Rarity cupcakes! This couldn’t be the same colt!

‘Oh but it was’, a voice in her head whispered. The evidence was clear.

“She saw his cutie mark plain as day, face it: that Thunderlane is playing your friend. Been doing it for a few months now, huh girls?” Flitter turned to her friends Flitter and Cloudkicker for support.

“He’s always sitting by her during the weather team briefings. Honestly I’m kind of surprised Rainbow Dash hasn’t noticed anything yet, the way they’re always touching each other. Talk about PDA!” Cloudkicker crossed her hooves and wrinkled her nose.

‘Maybe there was some mistake. I could just turn around, go back to the bakery, get some sleep, and—‘, Pinkie had nearly convinced herself to stop when she remembered that there could be no mistake.

“And you’re absolutely-positively sure it was him?” Pinkie wrung her hooves together, desperately searching for a way to avoid telling Rarity such horrible horrible news. Pinkie’s jaw slowly dropped as Cloudchaser mimed her signature “Pinkie Pie Swear”, knowing the sheer amount of honesty one must possess in order to perform the moves correctly.

Pinkie Pie stopped just at the end of the road, where La Jument Facile loomed overhead. Miles from Ponyville and nestled in the cliffs leading to the path to Canterlot. Definitely a place to woo a mare into bed.

Pinkie swallowed roughly, the cold night air harsh on her throat but not on her sugar and magic from the couples making their way down in their carts.

“Oh-haha-stop it! That tickles!” Rarity squealed as she pushed the colt back into his own seat. Both had a fine buzz from the red wine they had drank over their little date, and the mare was honestly every bit as giddy as the colt to get back home and into bed. Not that they particularly made a habit of making love often, just every now and again when the mare felt particularly energetic. And of course each time she happened to enjoy herself immensely.

“You sshtop it,” Thunerlane slurred out, giggling a bit before diving back at the lovely white mare and peppering her with kisses on the neck. The colt barely registered the knock on the door from the colts pulling the coach, and only on the second knock did he open the door.

Said colt pulled the cap from his head and looked politely away as the door was swung open.

“Sorry sir, I just needed to know if you are ready to leave back for Ponyville?” The colt kept his eyes averted as the stallion in front of his laced his legs about the mare in the seat with him.

“Oh yes, I do apologize dear, we are ready to depart now,” Rarity smiled at the colt, shoving Thunderlane’s face behind her in an effort to preserve dignity. The alcohol, albeit light, had done nothing to slow his “enthusiasm”.

As the door closed Rarity reached behind her and pulled Thunderlane back on top of her.

“Now where were we?” she asked with a half lidded gaze, her lower leg trailing lightly up the stallion’s flank to his back.

The stallion smirked in response and lowered his head back down to Rarity’s neck, where he resumed trailing kisses down her throat. The unicorn moaned softly, trying to keep the stallions pulling their coach from hearing anything too degrading. But dignity aside, there was nothing stopping her instincts now from hazing over her mind. The bed was just too far away at the moment.

*BANG*

Thunderlane stopped abruptly and squinted at the door that had just nearly caved in. Rarity held loosely to the back of his neck, praying the noise wasn’t a disgruntled coach puller ready to kick them out onto the road. The silence continued until Thunderlane shrugged and lowered his head again—

*Knock-Knock*

“Rarity are you in there!? I think I put a dent into the door!”

“Ugh, Pinkie what on earth are you doing here!?” Rarity called out from behind the door and she pushed Thunderlane back into his chair. The unicorn reached over and brushed the door handle open, revealing a winded pink mare.

Pinkie nearly blurted out her reasons for nearly knocking the cart off the road with her head, until her eyes landed on the colt opposite her friend. She felt a wave of fear wash over her, knowing full well her next words could drive him to attack her.

“Um…..Rarity could you come out here for a minute? It’s really really important!!”

“Dear its freezing outside, come in here and sit down,” Rarity offered the seat next to her, not catching the huff that had passed Thunderlane’s lops.

“No please Rarity, it’s really…..really important,” Pinkie Pie’s eyes welled up, feeling the magic of the Pinkie Pie Swear shove words out of her throat. Words that she knew were about to hurt her friend greatly.

Rarity blinked and got to her hooves, stepping daintily out onto path below. Smoothing down her skirt first, she reached behind her to close the door before Thunderlane poked his nose out.

“Hey what’s so important I can’t hea-“

“IT’STHATTIMEOFTHEMONTH!!” Pinkie screamed out. Thunderlane barely managed to utter a grunt of disgust before Pinkie slammed the door closed in his face.

The pink mare held her hooves against the door, trying desperately to stall the truth for as long as she could. She breathed in slowly with her head lowered and her eyes closed. Ten seconds of silence passed before she whirled around and grabbed Rarity by the hoof, pulling her off the path and into the grass.

“Honestly Pinkie, what could be so important that it just has to get my dress dirty,” the fashionista busied herself with the hem of her skirt that had caught onto a prickly weed. She pulled but for a second the dress before the pink mare lifted her face to meet hers.

“Rarity, Thunderlane is cheating on you.”

For a few seconds Rarity simply blinked back at the pink mare. The claim had been so bold that she had barely registered it as anything more important that the party pony’s usual outbursts. But slowly the weight of the words sunk in and her eyes narrowed along with them.

“That’s preposterous!” Rarity roughly shoved the mare’s hooves from her face. “Thunderlane is a gentlecolt and he would never leave me for anypony!”

“Rarity I’m not playing around, he-“

“You don’t even know him Pinkamina Diane Pie! He is an upstanding colt even by Canterlot standards and a respectful bachelor in Cloudsdale-“

“He’s seeing another pegasus in Cloudsdale Rarity,” Pinkie sat back on her haunches, knowing what she was going to have to do.

“Utter lies Pinkie. I understand you girls don’t approve but he didn’t—“ Rarity’s voice caught in her throat as she watched Pinkie’s hoof move. Those movements spelled only one thing, the truth. Whatever magic was at work with them, or wherever Pinkie had learned them, she knew the incantation was a dreadfully powerful truth spell.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Pinkie Pie’s hoof lightly touched her eye, her open one watching Rarity’s brow rise and her mouth drop open. She let her hoof settle back down into the dirt and looked away, hearing Rarity’s breath quicken.

“Her name is Blossomforth,” Pinkie Pie bit her lip and forced herself to look back up at the unicorn who’s eyes were welling up into confused tears. “Don’t go home with him Rarity.”

With that the pink mare backed away from the unicorn, signaling that she had said everything she needed to say. Said unicorn remained silent and turned back to her carriage, her eyes never leaving the ground.

“So why did the baker need ‘monthly’ advice?” Thunderlane asked as Rarity slowly climbed back into the carriage. He raised a brow as she sat down, keeping her eyes low.

“Hey, you ok? I was just asking,” Thunderlane sat down beside her, brushing a hoof over her thigh. He was about to run a hoof along the inside of her thigh when she pushed it away with hers.

“Pregnancy scare, nothing to worry about,” the fashionista said in what she hoped was a convincing voice. Thunderlane groaned, knowing full well the effects such scare tactics had on mares and sat back in his own seat.

The rest of the trip back Rarity feigned drowsiness, keeping her head low to keep her eyes hidden in her hair. She prayed for the trip to quicken its pace, feeling her despair grow by the minute. Not once did she remove her hooves from between her legs.

16!!! (Caught!!)

*WHAM*

The colt's hoof hammered against the door again, threatening to pierce through to the mare holding her back desperately against the frame.

"What, are you just never going to talk to me again? I told you it's not true!"

Helpless tears cascaded down the mare's face as she held her head in her hooves. Anguish was mixing well with the newfound fear of the colt's violent side. The mare did not know him to be this aggressive.

"You're a filthy liar Thunderlane!!" she cried shrilly, doing her best to sound more angry than afraid.

"You're just going to sit there and take some dumb mare's word over mine? Open this door!"

Rarity cried out as another kick to the door rocked her forward. She was dully aware of the taste of her running mascara in her mouth.

"Just go away!" The fashionista braced herself against the frame, praying somepony would help. But she knew, even in broad daylight, none would choose to become involved in a couples quarrel. For it was not the risk of the colt holding her down and forcing compliance that scared her, it was the knowledge that she would have to lie to herself to believe his words.

The Pinkie Swear had seen to it that her blissful ignorance was shattered.

"She was just a mare I knew from practice! She's too clingy for her own good!"

The colt kicked the door again, his pleas picking up a desperate tone.

"Too clingy for you not to cheat on me with!!"

"I never touched her!" Thunderlane's voice boomed from the crack in the door, his snout shoved in between the knob and the frame so the unicorn could hear every syllable.

Rarity contemplated screaming at him, but knew he would just pushharder. Instead, in one swift motion fueled halfway by anger and halfway by fear, she unlocked the door and bucked it right into the stallion's face. The door jolted back slightly against her hooves as it made contact with the colt's nose, a nauseating thud rewarding the mare's efforts. She quickly pulled the knob back and latched the door back into place, resuming her seat at the bottom of the frame.

For a good three minutes nothing was heard beyond the door. Fearing that perhaps she might have somehow killed the stallion, Rarity was halfway to unlocking and opening the front door before a weight hefted itself back against the doorframe.

"Rarity just let me in," Thunderlane's voice sounded wet and raspy. Something had obviously been broken.

"Go back to Blossomforth," she said, her voice cold and hard. Thunderlane'swet, labored breathing was heard for a while as he stood with his snout pressed back against the door. Rarity listened to the blood lightly whistling in his broken nose for roughly ten more minutes that day before the stallion said his last words to her.

"Blossomforth is a better mare than you ever could be,"

**Earlier that day**

"Guys breakfast is ready!" Spike called over his shoulder as he adjusted the strings of his apron. Behind him, Applejack chewed happily through a plate of fried eggs he had prepared for her that morning. Finishing her last bite while Spike busied himself with washing the skillet he had used, she wiped her mouth politely and snuck up behind him.

She grabbed the dragon gently from behind, taking care not to knock him from the stool he had boosted himself upon.

"Now jes' who in the world taught you ta cook so good?" She said, nuzzling the crook of his shoulder. The dragon leaned in to rest his head on hers.

"Somebody's gotta cook at the library right?" He answered, smiling as he thought of the lavender mare back home probably still asleep from a late night of studying.

"Never had a mare cook fer ya before? Why dontcha let me treat you once in a while?" Applejack finished her question by leaning in and asking the question over Spike's neck. The heat of her breath left a tickle in a lower part of the dragons body, but his inexperience left him guessing as to what the feeling was. Nevertheless he bit his lip and reached a claw back to give the mare a nice rub behind her ear.

"Well, I best be off, make sure them two ain't sleepin' in." Applejack kissed her dragon lightly on his neck and made for the door. Said dragon let his claw rest over the kissed scales, the tickle now almost enough to make his legs shake. Hearing the screen door slam shut tugged him out of his daze though, and he shut off the water and hopped down from his stool.

"Hey that tickles,"

"Oh gee, the irony," Eiffel answered back, his head resting on Macintosh's stomach. Both stallions were curled up in Big Macintosh's bed, a simple design of hay and pillows in the style of a loft. The farm pony had awoken that morning to a weight on his chest, which turned out to be a certain stallion in a rather "playful" mood.

Touching the other stallion became easier and easier each time. The fur, just as rough as his own, felt more and more natural and the kisses, each one tasting sweeter than the last.

Lately though, fur and kisses took a much lower place on the priority list. A rather explosive experience that had only happened once before with the colt had bloomed once again under a blanket earlier in the night. With a thirst he did not know he had quenched, the large stallion slept peacefully with his colt wrapped in his forehooves.

"You know what I hate about mornings?" Eiffel rolled over to look up at the farm pony.

"Hangovers?" Macintosh gave the colt a cocky smirk.

"Smartass," Eiffel lightly punched the stallion's ribcage, but made sure to smooth the fur back down gently.

"I was gonna suggest something a little more 'you-and-me' but oh well!" Eiffel shot up from Macintosh's stomach and smoothed back his mane. "A little coffee, maybe some cream and sugar and a cigarette would be just as nice wouldn't you think?"

The farm pony pulled the colt back down, smiling lightly down at him. Eiffel wiggled his brow back taking the unspoken hint. Pushing himself down further to Macintosh's lap he trailed kisses up and down the stallion's thighs, effectively teasing the farm pony into a powerful arousal.

Big Mac propped his head up to watch the colt play his game. He managed to get through the first five minutes before Eiffel decided to play for keeps. The powerful waves of pleasure pushed the stallions head back against his pillows and forced his eyes shut. A low moan resonated from his lips as he rubbed his hoof gently through the colts mane, stopping only to rub an ear every now and again.

For what felt like an eternity the large stallion was in utter bliss. Enough so that he completely missed the tell-tale squeak of a door being opened. So much so that he didn't hear a small pair of claws click against the ladder leading to his loft. So much so that he only noticed the presence when Eiffel suddenly stopped servicing the stallion.

Macintosh looked down at the colt in confusion and noticed that his eyes were not looking back at his, but rather something just beyond Mac's right shoulder. The farm pony's stomach went cold, understanding that this was the look of a stallion who might have been caught with a knife in his hoof and a corpse on his shoulder.

Slowly.

Ever so slowly.

Macintosh looked behind him.

Meeting his gaze was a pair of bright green eyes, both practically shouting

their bewilderment.

17!!! ("It's just business....")

"Spike?"

The dragon did not budge nor speak, instead he simply kept his eyes locked on Macintosh. Said stallion stared back, suddenly very worried that he had just traumatized the poor dragon. Noticing that Eiffel's hoof still held onto his "lower organ", the farm pony gave him a light kick as a signal to release his grip.

Upon feeling the hoof release him, Macintosh attempted to turn on his stomach. The movement must have startled the dragon out of his daze.

"Breakfastisready," he cried out in a rushed voice before jumping back down the ladder. Macintosh, feeling fresh, sickening panic surge through him, jumped from the loft and landed on his rump near the door. Using his back hooves he kicked the door to his room closed whilst hiding his still aroused anatomy in his front hooves.

Spike skidded to a halt in front of Macintosh, his hopes of escaping the

eminent confusion and scolding dashed. He turned to look over his shoulder at Eiffel, hoping the colt would somehow save him. However, the blue colt's expression was unreadable as he descended the ladder slowly.

"S-spike you weren't supposed ta see that," Macintosh trailed off, his words failing him. He had planned out an excuse for the chance that Granny or the girls had caught them. But Spike?

"W-what ah mean is....um...." Macintosh's voice failed him again, a voice in the corner of his mind reminding him that his "proud soldier" had yet to retreat. The poor dragon must be disgusted on top of terrified.

"Nonono," the dragon shouted a little louder than he planned, waving his claws dismissively in front of him, "I just came to get you for breakfast ssssooo....."

The dragon made a gesture with his fingers and a mimed stepping motion toward the door. Macintosh frowned and looked up to Eiffel hoping the colt would know what to do.

"What he meant was that there is something you should maybe know," Eiffel sat back on his haunches, keeping his eyes level with Spike's. The dragon cocked his head to the side and was about to form a question before Macintosh blurted out a request.

"Don't tell AJ and Granny. Please." The farm pony had a pleading look on his face, an expression the dragon had never seen on the usually stoic stallion. He gulped and made a X motion across his heart, to which Macintosh breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

"Look, me and Macintosh just....well you know...see we woke up and noticed we were laying on each other and...locker room stuff..." Eiffel scrambled about in his brain looking for a convincing story. Thankfully (or perhaps unfortunately) Macintosh beat him to it.

"Me and Eiffel are a couple,"

Spike's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as the words registered in his head. He turned to look at the stallion who had spoken them. Macintosh held his head low and his eyes closed, a seeming look of pain on his facial features as he forced the words out.

"I was keepin' it a secret cause I didn't know how far it'd go,"

Eiffel let his head drop, knowing full well that a part of Macintosh was ashamed of him. Ashamed of himself.

"But....why?" Spike's mind blistered over attempting to form a good question. Why would two colts be ok with not having mares of their own?

"I'm happy this way," Eiffel's ears perked and he looked up to see Big Macintosh staring down into Spike's wide eyes.

"And if two ponies love each other.....," Thankfully the dragon could not see the blush on the farm pony's face through his already red fur.

Spike looked down at his fidgeting claws, remembering the "special part" Eiffel was servicing. Whenever Applejack had kissed him he had felt something in a similar area. He also remembered (with some disdain) that Rarity had provoked a similar reaction in Thunderlane all those nights ago.

"So...it's ok as long as somepony loves you?" Spike looked up at Macintosh, a long forgotten hope swirling back into his mind.

Eiffel placed a hoof on the dragon's shoulder, his best guess was that the dragon was thinking about the unicorn in town.

"I hope," he said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice, looking down at Spike.

"I'm assuming you're thinking about you and AJ right?" Eiffel asked, hoping to maybe get the dragon's mind back on track. "She coming onto you yet?"

Spike's mouth went dry at the bold question. It was simply "bro talk" in a sense of the phrase, but that didn't stop the heat from rising to his cheeks. Thankfully, Macintosh took notice of the light tinges of red spreading across the dragon's face.

"gardless'," Macintosh waved a hoof dismissively despite the annoyed look on his face, "these things only happen if'n you have a special somepony. And it don't matter none who they are as long as ya love em',"

Spike looked down at his feet, wondering how Macintosh could make it sound so simple; the formula that could have convinced Rarity sounded so natural coming from the stallion's mouth. He wondered why such an issue never occurred to AJ.

'Perhaps Applejack was meant to be your special somepony all along' a voice in his head whispered.

"You still wanna hang out with us right?" Eiffel asked from behind the dragon, worry at the thought of losing his little friend made his ears droop considerably.

"You won't tell nopony will ya?" Macintosh asked a split-second later.

"You're the only guy friends I have to hang out with, and I wouldn't want to lose you," the dragon smiled lightly.

"But I have a question....see I've heard jokes about this before..." Spike twiddled his fingers looking for the right words. He again felt his mouth go dry, his thoughts of Rarity and AJ shoved swiftly to the side in favor of natural curiousity.

"Who's supposed to be the mare?"

"U-...That's...u-uh, hey Eiffel why dontcha go ahead n' eat with Spike? I'll be down inna sec," Macintosh shoved the blue colt by his shoulders towards the door, making sure to keep a halfway convincing smile on his face.

"Yeah, gotta work on not getting caught with my mouth full huh?" Eiffel smiled back at the stallion only to have the door slammed in his face.

An hour later found Spike jogging down the path to Ponyville. On both sides of the road he was met frequently with the groggy but smiling faces of the many inhabitants of Ponyville. Once or twice he swore he saw Derpy sailing about in the skies, no doubt on her morning mail route. Aside from the unbelievable revelation that morning (it still hadn't completely sunk into the dragon's mind yet) Ponyville seemed at peace.

The mood of that morning held well until he just had his claw hovering over the door latch to the library; before he could close his claws around the latch, the door swung outward jamming his smallest one backward. The dragon stifled the cry of pain and popped the digit into his mouth, hoping the light suckling would ebb the pain away.

"Oh I'm terribly sorry dear, I-I have many things i need to take care of," Rarity hovered over the dragon for a second then bolted away, her tail slapping lightly against his face. Spike nearly answered back, the pain in his claw now forgotten, only to have his voice catch in his throat. The awkward tension was still too great of a weight on his tongue, and his conscience begged him to ignore her.

Still, it wasn't like Rarity to wear such dark makeup, especially in uneven amounts. From the single second Spike had to look into her face, he knew that there was no way the fashionista would have even used an eye shadow that dark or that thick. As a matter of fact, it happened to look more like a bruise.

Pushing the door open with his back with his claw in his mouth, Spike took notice of the lights that were still off. He fumbled about for the switch with his good claw until he found his mark, illuminating several small mountains of books on the floor that had no doubt been read several times over. He sighed heavily and set about picking them up and realphabetizing them, each one just so happening to be at least 800 pages thick with matching weight. Cursing his small stature, Spike hefted each one back into its proper place on the shelves and made his way to the counter, where just underneath sat a broom he had become well acquainted with.

As he approached he spotted a group of books he had missed sitting neatly on top of one another. Before another sigh managed to escape his lips he noticed that he had not seen these particular books in the library before. Eccentricities in her reading habits aside, Twilight would have never let such a book be seen in her possession. And he would know, Twilight had a certain series of novels right under her bed. The poor unicorn was terrible at hiding things.

Tilting his head to the side the young dragon's eyes hovered over the stallion on the cover. His body was thick with muscles, a regal horn atop his head peeking out though the jungle of wild golden hair. In his forehooves he held a mare in a swooning position, her mane covering much of her face except for one bright green eye. Of course, the setting looked about right for the characters; the two sat upon a large bed, red satin sheets billowing about for some unknown reason.

Definitely something Rarity had specifically ordered, no wonder she had been at the library.

Sure enough, inside the covers of the first two books lay long overdue return cards, Twilights hoofmade logo for the Ponyville library penned out at the bottom. Luckily, Twilight had magically copied the logo to each book in the library herself for safety precautions. Fake returns or not, Spike would have rather not had to have made each one himself.

"Guess I can overlook the late fees....," the dragon mumbled under his breath as he crumpled the overdue cards in his claws. As he reached for the expiration card in the last of the cheap, paperback novels he noticed there was no logo under the cover. Frowning, he turned the book on its back to inspect the cover.

The book depicted another equally built stallion, this time with his fur soaking wet staring of into the distance. He appeared to be bathing under what looked like a waterfall, obviously a setting intended for some romantic date scene in the book.

Cheesey. But surprisingly more believable than the Twilight's vampire pony books. Hopefully the female lead wasn't a self insert.

Sighing, Spike gathered the novel under his arm and jumped down from the stool he had boosted himself upon. Hustling as quietly as he could up the stairs, he nudged open his and Twilight's bedroom door. Inside he could just make out the mare, her head poking out of her blankets and resting on an open book. The page would no doubt be stuck to her face when she awoke.

Closing the door again, Spike crept carefully back down the stairs and stood just in front of the front door. Sighing heavily, the dragon steeled himself for the meeting he knew was fast approaching. As much as he wanted to ignore it, the book under his arm did not belong to the library. And with the simple logic he had learned in few years, he reasoned that not returning it would make him a thief.

Spike stepped out into the bright morning sunlight and made his way to the Carousel just down the street.

1!!!

Ssssooooo………I wanna try this thing. Now bear with me:

There is high ratio of females to every male in Ponyville right? Right.

And which male character is most often thought of when you think “the guy sweetheart”?

It’s Spike right? Well most of us probably think that. Others might think Big Macintosh or Braeburn, but we’ll get to that.

I wanted to show some appreciation to everyone’s favorite “nice guy” in the fandom by getting him some action with a few of the Elements of Harmony.

So far I’m planning one with Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and probably Applejack too. I would have included Rainbow, but I just can’t see it happening in my head. Not with Spike at least.

The goal here is write a believable, fluffy short story without changing Spike’s age from the show.

This is the Sparity fic by the way.

Okeedoke, 3….2…1….GO!

Rain beat down fiercely outside the boutique, the glass windows bravely holding against sheets of water flung from the darkened skies. Tonight was, perhaps, frightening to the residents of Ponyville. Perhaps frightening to the creatures of the Everfree Forest as well. However the owner of Carousel Boutique was in a much different world than the one currently in motion outside the walls of her home.

Yes, one could say Rarity had much too large a load on her mind to pay attention to the power and beauty of the Pegasus ponies latest work. If one was so bold as to address such a pretty mare in such a way, he or she might say that the fashionista looked quite troubled at the moment. Thankfully, the sleeping dragon curled up at her side had missed this completely.

Rarity reached for her coffee mug, slowly as to not disturb her sleeping companion, and slid it across her plush carpet into a safe reaching distance. Staring down into the contents of the mug, she noted that the dark liquid inside looked a bit low. Turning her head back towards her kitchen she focused her magic on the object she knew was inside. Sure enough a blue glow penetrated the darkness, happily floating a teapot towards its owner and her small sleeping friend. The teapot tipped its contents slowly into the mare’s mug, the warm liquid making a light splashing sound as it filled to the fashionista’s liking. It’s job now done, the happy glowing teapot floated back to the kitchen and Rarity, taking a sip of her drink, turned her eyes back to crackling fireplace.

“Oh Spikey-Wikey, whatever am I going to do?” she thought as said dragon let out a small sigh in his sleep.

“What would I say to you?” she thought, “What would I say to the others?”

Looking down as she swallowed, Rarity watched the rise and fall of the dragon’s stomach. Some part of the mare’s troubled mind had convinced her in that moment that the baby dragon could hear her thoughts. Silly of course, but the recent events were more than likely to lead to much more silliness on her part.

Twilight had left for Canterlot, invited to help her brother and new Sister-in-law move into their luxurious new home. Apparently being a Royal Guard captain paid well, as did being the princess of……..something. So Shining Armor arranged for a private Pegasus-drawn coach to pick up Twilight from her home. Now apparently, Shining Armor had never truly had much contact with his sister’s assistant, Spike the dragon. Twilight was always quick to assure that Shining Armor was quite friendly with Spike, the two just didn’t know each other well enough for them to bond. So it came to no surprise that the day before the studious mare left, Rarity found her knocking on the door of her Boutique.

“Twilight dear, this is a store by day, there really is no need to knock,” Rarity said as she answered, motioning for Twilight to come in.

Twilight offered a sheepish smile and accepted the gesture, neatly wiping her hooves on the welcome mat.

“Well I’m not exactly here for business today,” Twilight said as she rubbed at the back of her neck, “but I’d be more than happy to pay you nonetheless.”

“I’m listening dear, please come into the kitchen will you?” Rarity sent a wave of magic to her kitchen, teacups springing to life and dancing around a tea kettle that was being heated. “It would be very unlady-like to not offer you a refreshment now wouldn’t it?”

As Twilight settled into a chair at the dining room table, Rarity’s teaset kindly provided her drink. The said fashionista busied herself in the cupboard, pulling out a bag of sugar.

“Now dear, what exactly did you want to talk about?” Rarity asked as she wordlessly offered Twilight sugar for her tea, which she accepted and stirred into her drink with a spoon.

“Well I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind watching Spike for a few days.”

Rarity levitated the sugar back to its place in the cupboard and sat down across from Twilight. “You needn’t even of asked dear, that little gentlecolt is always welcome in my home.”

Twilight let out a sigh of relief and took a small sip of her tea, pausing to swallow before she continued “You have no idea how grateful I am, this takes so much work off my back.”

Rarity cocked her head to side, confusion lacing her words. “Would it have been difficult to find a babysitter for Spike had I not been available?”

“Well yes and no,” Twilight paused as Rarity took one of her hooves and levitated a file from her vanity set in the back of the store. The fashionista grinned and nodded for her friend to continue.

“Uh...Thanks, I suppose I’ve been a little overdue for a hooficure. Anyway, like I was saying, yes and no.” Twilight took another sip from her teacup before she continued.

“See, Spike has never really slept over at anybody’s house before. Unless he was with me of course.” Twilight grinned and continued with “But let’s face it, I don’t do that sort of thing too often.”

“And I’m sure Fluttershy or Applejack would have been more than happy to keep an eye on Spike for me. It’s just that if he needs something in particular from the library, Fluttershy’s cottage and Applejack’s farm are on the other side of Ponyville. And well….” Twilight trailed off and splayed her free hoof across the dining room. “Your house is only a hop and a skip from mine. Spike could grab whatever he needed and be back in minutes.”

Rarity nodded in agreement as she gently blew on Twilights freshly filed hoof, “I’m sure he’ll find that all his needs will be met here dear.”

“Well there is one other reason I asked you…” Twilight cast a worried look as she offered Rarity her other hoof. “You see, I don’t know if Spike is the type to get homesick or not. The fact that your house is so close to mine would probably put him at ease, but he also seems to like you the most out of all our friends.”

Rarity giggled as she busied herself with the other hoof. “Yes I must say, I’m quite fond of the little dear as well.”

“Well you see why you’d be my first choice then. Spike loves hanging out with you so much that I’m sure he won’t even notice that I’ve left.”

Rarity smiled and paused to take a sip of her tea, before continuing on with Twilight’s hoof. “I suppose I’ll take the day off tomorrow then, what time should I expect my handsome little dragon?”

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading up to Canterlot to help Shining Armor with a permanent shielding spell for that new house he got with Cadence.” Twilight flicked a stray hair from her eyes with a huff. “I swear that colt gets more paranoid by the day. I keep telling him that the changeling attack at his wedding wasn’t a personal attack on him, changelings will feed on ANYONE’S feelings!” She waved her hoof for effect before she settled it underneath her chin with a scowl. “But does he listen? Nope.”

“Well you know how those military types are dear, nothing is too extreme whenever safety is involved.” Rarity gave one final blow on Twilights hoof before she set her file down. “There we go, all done.”

Twilight leaned back in her chair and lifted he hooves before her eyes.

“Hey, not bad Rarity. You’re pretty talented with that file.”

Rarity swallowed her last bit of tea before setting the teacup back neatly in its saucer. “But of course,” she said with a small grin.

Rarity awoke to the strange sensation of soft flesh pushing against her face. In a panic, she managed to shove the offender away from her face, earning a high-pitched yowl and a thump for her efforts. The mare kicked off her blankets and slid off her night mask, realizing who she had just thrown across the room. She blinked her eyes a bit to adjust them to the light pouring from between her curtains, rubbing the sleep from one with the edge of her hoof.

“Oh I am dreadfully sorry Opal dear, you mustn’t scare mama like that.”

The white kitten huffily stood herself back up, offering Rarity a low growl as she nodded her head at the grandfather clock in the corner.

“Oh yes! Twilight should be bringing little Spikey-Whikey in the next hour or so!”

Rarity jumped from her bed and gave a long stretch to her legs, feeling a pleasant pop in the joints as she did so. Sighing contently, the mare walked to her vanity table across the room and sat down to view the damage. Disheveled mane, check. No makeup, check. Fur sticking up in odd places, check.

Apparently, a good nights sleep came at a high price indeed.

Still, it was nothing the fashionista wasn’t prepared for. Clicking on the lights set into the panel underneath her mirror, Rarity set to work on what was to be the most important task of the day. Getting her mane just right.

A knock at the door was what finally pulled Rarity from her mirrors that morning. The mare shouted out “Coming” in the best sing-song voice she could muster. In truth she was actually a bit nervous, half an hour was simply not enough time for her to get spruced up! Nontheless, a lady simply did not leave guests waiting at her door.

Carefully trotting down her stairs, Rarity bought more time by calling out a shaky “Just a minute!”. Dear Celestia, she had forgotten breakfast! That dear sweet dragon would no doubt be hungry, and gems alone simply would not do. Focusing her magic on the kitchen-

“CRAAASSSHHH”

Still flinching, Rarity peered behind her. She had forgotten that her makeup accessories and brushes had loyally (and magically) followed downstairs, only to be forgotten for breakfast items.

“Well good morning Rarity!” Twilight Sparkle beamed as Rarity eased open her front door, the store bell ringing softly for once.

“Yes, good morning dear. Do come in,” Rarity opened her door fully and stepped aside to let Twilight in.

“Don’t mind the mess dear, I had a bit of a magical mishap,” the fashionista gave her studious friend a nervous smile. “I’m still trying to get the hang of the new spell you showed me.”

The librarian unicorn had apparently missed the broken powder boxes and lipstick tubes entirely, giving Rarity a wide smile instead as she stepped across the threshold into the boutique.

“Oh Starswirl’s ‘Come to Life’ spell? The trick is to just let the objects do their jobs without paying any attention to the spell itself.” Twilight paused to let her eyes wander over the dresses on display, letting each design sink in before turning back to Rarity. “Princess Celestia once described it as making an inanimate object part of your own body, letting an object perform a duty without paying attention to it like it was organ inside your body.”

Rarity carefully levitated the mess into one big glowing heap, sending it floating back upstairs. “Yes, but I’m afraid that I had forgotten that I was doing magic at all before I noticed.”

“You’ll get it, it’s just one of those weird little spells that work in a way completely opposite of conventional magic.” Twilight finished her sentence just a she sat her saddlebags down on the floor. Rarity hadn’t even noticed she was carrying it, and it didn’t take long for her to figure out who the contents were for.

“Twilight dear, did Spike not come with you?”

Twilight’s head popped back out of the open flap of her saddleback with a book in your mouth. Setting said book down, she answered with “He’s just going over a checklist to make sure I didn’t forget anything.”

“Ah yes, well then…..” Rarity turned to walk into her kitchen, deciding not to question the librarian’s obsession with checklists. “Would you like some breakfast before you go dear?”

Twilight sat down the last of Spike’s books from her saddlebag as she responded.

“Afraid not, my brother send out his two best fliers to pick me up. And apparently there’s a pattern with good fliers: the better they are, the more impatient they are.”

Twilight let out a sigh and walked back toward the door before continuing on.

“But anyway Rarity, I need to go. Spike should be set for the three days I’ll be in Canterlot, but if he needs anything I left his house key on a chain in the left saddlebag.”

Twilight nearly made it back out of the boutique before she hesitantly turned back to Rarity. She bit her lip for a second before she said what she had intended.

“If something comes up, just get Spike to send the Princess a letter and I’ll come straight home. Ok?”

Rarity rested a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder as she led her through the door. “I assure you, Spike will be well taken care of. Now send him along, you don’t want to your ride getting impatient.”

Twilight smiled and nodded, trotting back out into Celestia’s morning sun.

The shop bell rang just as Rarity put the finishing touches on a batch of eggs she had cooked up. At the risk of another “accident”, she settled for just levitating the skillet off the burner. Wiping her hooves daintily on the towel hanging from her oven handle, she trotted out into the shop where a small purple dragon stood.

Upon seeing the beautiful unicorn, Spike cast his eyes to the ground and scratched at the back of his neck.

“I’m awful sorry about this Rarity,” he said, not taking his eyes off the ground. “I told Twilight I was old enough to take care of myself, and I’m sure you were busy and-“

“Oh nonsense dear!” Rarity cut in, waving a hoof as she trotted over to levitate Spike’s belongings. “I had free time anyway, and you know how I love your little visits!”

Spike raised a claw, about to say something else before Rarity beat him to it.

“And yes dear, I agree. You are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but you know what Twilight is like when she’s worried.”

Spike lifted his head and met Rarity’s eyes. Instantly his guilt washed away, with excitement in its wake. He watched her levitate his books up the stairs and into some random room in her house before she turned back to the kitchen.

“Would you happen to be hungry dear?”

Spike followed the unicorn into her dining room, where she offered him a chair at the table.

“Well me and Twilight had breakfast earlier, I’ll be alright.”

Rarity turned and gave a fake pout, as plate of scrambled eggs floated into the room from behind her. Both watched as a blue cloud floated through the opposite door and rained down what looked like dyed hail onto the eggs on the plate.

“Oh woe is me, whatever shall I do with all these eggs and sapphires?”

Rarity put a sultry edge to the word, watching as it took the desired effect. The little dragon’s pupils widened as he blindly felt for the fork that had been left on the table for him.

“You know, now that you mention it, I could go for that!”

Rarity gave a toothy grin and turned back to the kitchen, leaving the dragon to his meal. She decided to give her new spell one more try as she focused her magic in her horn. No doubt, this latest spell Twilight taught her was a strange one. It took a lot of concentration to put it in gear, but once it began practically no concentration was needed besides keeping the magic flow light and steady from her horn. And of course, the effects were quite convenient.

In barely ten seconds, Rarity had the sponges dancing around the skillet in the sink. Soap bubbles blew lazily around the room as she busied herself with putting away the butter and pepper. It wasn’t long at all before the sponges were still again and Rarity was munching happily at an apple.

Spike just finished his last bite as his host walked back into the room.

“My my, someone had a large appetite today,” she said with a half-lidded gaze.

“Well I can’t help it when the food is so good,” Spike replied as he politely wiped his mouth with a folded napkin. “And besides, its nice having somebody cook for you for a change.”

Rarity giggled as she levitated Spike’s plate and utensils back to the kitchen. “Yes I suppose culinary arts isn’t exactly one of Twilight’s strong points.”

Spike hopped down from his chair, following the mare back out into the shop.

“So uh…,” Spike began, suddenly very interested in an “itch” on his left shoulder. “Is there any work I could help you with today?”

Rarity stopped and brought a hoof to her chin.

“Well not exactly dear, I did close until Monday. Bbbuuuttt…..”

Spike leaned forward on his toes, eager to please the unicorn (and keep himself from feeling like a burden).

“…..I suppose I could restock the gem supply,” Rarity turned back to Spike before continuing. “That is if you don’t mind digging them up for me?”

Spike snapped his body to attention and gave a firm salute and a confident smile.

“Yes ma’am!”

The next few hours weren’t exactly eventful, save for a few jokes and the occasional “jackpot” as Spike might call it. The setting sun found the two with a wagon full of vibrant jewels of every color, each piece almost vulgarly perfect in shape and size. All in all, a pretty nice haul.

The two chatted energetically all throughout the work, topics ranging from Rarity’s recent commissions to Twilight’s research presentations in Canterlot. The dialogue got especially juicy when Spike mentioned a colt that had been seen going to and from Sweet Apple Acres lately, but sure enough the conversation toned down as Celestia’s sun made way for Luna’s latest masterpiece. It was at this point that the little dragon felt a surge of bravery as he looked upon the setting sun; surely the atmosphere would be perfect to score some points with the mare of his dreams.

“Yunno Rarity…uhh…,” Spike nearly panicked, his courage wilting as her eyes met his.

“Yes dear?”

“Maybe, I mean if you aren’t busy,” Spike took a firmer grip on the wagon handle, desperately trying to find a way to make his words seem casual.

“Well erm…I did take off you know,” Rarity cocked her head to the side, seeing the dragon nearly trip as he pulled the wagon beside her.

“Oh hehe yeah, I mean of course you aren’t,” Spike rested a claw on the back of his neck, suddenly feeling very foolish. He decided to just drop the act.

“Look that came out wrong, I just don’t want this to sound creepy or anything,” Spike cast his eyes to the ground, kicking a stone as he walked.

“I just wanted to know, since you taking the time to watch me and all,” the dragon quickly looked at the mare, making sure that Rarity could see his intentions were honest. “if you wouldn’t mind letting me treat you to dinner?”

Spike’s valiant resolve finally gave way as he said these last words, breaking eye contact and subconsciously flinching away from the mare. Which was highly unnecessary, he found, as the mare pulled him into a deep hug.

“Oh Spikey-Wikey, what a gentlecolt you’re being today!” The adorableness proved itself much too strong for the fashionista to control herself. She nuzzled the little dragon affectionately as she released her grip from his shoulders.

“As sweet as that it dear, you don’t need to spend all your hard earned cash on me. Besides I was planning on taking us out to eat anyway.”

Spike felt his confidence return as he jogged a few steps to catch up with Rarity, who had continued walking.

“No really, I’ve got a lot saved up from my allowances. I was probably just gonna end up spending it on sweets anyway.”

Looking down and the seeing the excitement in the little dragon’s face, Rarity’s heart melted.

“Alright dear, how about this: when we get to the restaurant I’ll buy your plate and you buy mine,” Rarity gave Spike her most winning smile, “Sound good?”

“That sound great!” Rarity could have sworn the dragon did a backflip while she was turning back around, but upon looking back he was still dragging her wagon, albeit with a lot more energy than before.

*So whatya think so far? Not too shabby huh? Who are you kiddin? You probably set this to your watch list huh? You’re probably thinking, “wow this Leslichu must be damn good-looking to be this talented!” Well you’d be right, I’m delicious.

But anyway, this first chapter lacked a beta-reader which means there are probably a few grammar mistakes. It just so happens that I’m in the mood for making a few friends, and if you like the story and wanna be a beta-reader just message me. I’ll need about two, so if you’re interested be sure to act fast. It’s first come first serve since I wanna get another chapter out to you fine folks as soon as possible.

2!!! (False Beginnings)

Chapter 2?

Oh right yes, Chapter 2.

Now to be completely honest, Ponyville wasn’t nearly fancy enough to ever have a five-star restaurant. Luckily, Sugarcube Corner was never short on taste, no matter what it lacked in atmosphere. And it just so happened to be the only sliver of a nightlife a quiet town like Ponyville could have. Long after the stalls, candy shops, and even the Cake’s bakery had turned out its lights, the diners and soda shops further down the street kept their doors open. This of course was a clever business decision on the owners’ behalf; colts were always willing to spend money for a romantic nighttime diner-date with their mares.

The night found Spike and Rarity walking along the light from the street lamps, the two only a short distance from the lights from Sugercube’s dining section.

“So Spike, what sounds good to you tonight?” Rarity watched the dragon from the corner of her eye as he fidgeted with something behind his back. No doubt something he took from his saddlebags when the two had dropped off the jewel-filled wagon back at the Boutique.

“1…2….3….Oh! Um,” Spike whirled back around at the sound of Rarity’s question, a claw tapping at his chin for effect. “It doesn’t matter really, why don’t you decide?”

“Well there is that charming little diner just at the end of the street, the one that has the postcards everywhere?” Rarity suggested, smiling widely at the thought of a nice flower salad.

“Oh yeah, I love their hay fries!” Spike had to resist the urge to run ahead, his gentleman side putting his urges in a headlock.

The continued in silence, listening to the few ponies left in the streets talk amongst each other. Most seemed to be couples, a few even had their tails wrapped around each other as they walked. Upon seeing a tall, burly colt wrapping his tail around a rather petite giggling mare’s, Spike began to feel a bit self-conscious. Allowing himself to drop back a step from his beautiful unicorn, Spike swung his tail around his waist and into his claws to inspect its length. Nothing was different than it had been this morning, still short and stubby. The little dragon willed his eyes to Rarity’s flank, watching her long beautiful tail bounce happily in the cool night air.

“Oh gee, I wonder if that’s a good sign,” Spike thought bitterly, dropping his tail behind him and letting out a sigh.

A sigh which Rarity heard.

Spike jumped as he heard the mare squeak and stumble off to the left of his vision.

“Oh my, Spike ! Whatever are you looking at?” Rarity looked at him with a questioning glare, a slight blush tinting her face pink.

Spike’s mouth dropped open before he had time to make words to fill it, “Uh…..w-well you see I was just, um….,” Spike bit his tongue, and thought of a good lie.

“I thought saw a piece of gum stuck in your tai—,”

Before Spike finished his sentence, Rarity had already snatched up her tail and was poring over it with a blue light emanating from her horn. Spike allowed himself a few deep breathes, desperately trying to slow his pulse that had skyrocketed when he heard Rarity’s squeak.

“I um…don’t see anything dear,” Rarity had let her tail drop back down as she walked back over to Spike.

Spike had to force himself to look the mare in the eye, trying to play it casually.

“Oh, I guess my eyes are playing tricks on me,” Spike offered a smile up at the unicorn.

“Yes well, just warn me next time darling,” Rarity let it slide, trying to keep herself from imagining Spike staring at her backside. Honestly, how could she think her little Spikey-Wikey would do something so…….rude. Other colts had done it before, sure. But she knew not to talk to such brutes, let alone humor their staring.

Of course, Spike was too young to even think of such things. Or so she told herself.

The glass door of the sandwich shop swung open as a small bell chimed overhead. Spike waved at a rather tall, elderly mare from behind a polished wooden counter. Receiving a kindly nod and smile, Spike took his cue to find a good booth for Rarity and himself to sit in.

Rarity on the other hand politely excused herself to go to the “Ladies Room”. This was, of course, just an excuse to take another look for the gum Spike had claimed to have seen in her tail. The dim yellow lights of the restroom didn’t reveal anything new in her tail however, no matter how many times the unicorn checked. Gum was just icky! Or so she told herself….

Now any other day, Rarity considered chewing gum one of the most threatening substances known to ponies. But she had doubts about it being the real culprit here. She allowed herself a moment to settle down and inspect herself in the restroom mirror, all the while reviewing Spike’s behavior in her head. Once again, the thought of Spike staring at her flank popped back into her mind. He wouldn’t do that, she thought, he’s much too young to think of that.

“And what if he was darling?”

Rarity gave her reflection a questioning look as the words left her mouth.

“No, no simply not. Spikey-Wikey is a gentlecolt, and that’s that,” Rarity shushed her thoughts as she hastily washed her hooves in the sink. Her little dragon just saw something clung to her tail, and that was, a she said, that.

Rarity returned a few minutes later, smiling at the dragon waving at her from the cushioned booth from across the room. Sitting herself across from him, she couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. She watched as he signaled at the mare waiting to take their orders.

The brown, elderly mare took a pencil out of her mane as she made her way to Spike and Rarity’s booth.

“What’ll you be having to drink tonight sweetheart?” the kindly old mare asked, her writing hoof poised to take down his order on a notepad.

“A sarsaparilla for me, and….” He turned his head toward Rarity, turning the mare’s attention to the unicorn.

“Oh unsweetened tea for me, thank you,” Rarity smiled up at the elderly Earth Pony, receiving a nod as the waitress flipped her notepad closed and wandered off to the kitchen behind the counter.

Spike stretched his claws, earning a few satisfying pops for his efforts and settled them behind his head as he leaning back in his seat. He gave a smile to the mare across the table, watching as she fidgeted into a comfortable position in her seat.

“You know we never get to hang out one on one like this,” Spike began, trying to keep his voice sounding nice and casual. Rarity on the other hand was starting to draw conclusions in her head.

“Yes, it is nice to sit down without work between us,” the mare pretended to look around the room at the numerous postcards adorning the walls, still uncomfortable that the little dragon mmmmight have been taking a peek at her from behind.

“Well just wait til you see what I’m gonna order for you, it’s to die for!” The little dragon picked up the menu resting under his elbows as he finished his sentence, Rarity’s heart melting at his words. She playfully nudged his foot with a hoof under the table and gave him a faux-stern look.

“Don’t order anything too lavish now, I’d hate for you to spend all your bits in one place,” Rarity picked up her menu as well, looking for something she felt would fill Spike’s stomach nicely.

The two put down their menus one after the other, Rarity had set on ordering a nice breakfast platter (knowing the dragon was a big fan of pancake houses). Spike had remained refused to tell Rarity what he had ordered for her, claiming that it was something made at personal request and as such, a surprise. Rarity just smiled and rolled her eyes at the dragon, amused as he whispered the order to the elderly mare who had returned to take their orders and deliver their drinks.

The next ten or fifteen minutes passed relatively fast, the two chatting and occasionally taking a sip of their drinks. Rarity had captured Spike’s attention by telling him how Rainbow Dash had come by the Boutique, asking what stallions liked when it came to the way mares looked.

“......so then I told her, ‘Darling your mane would look magnificent if you just grew it out a bit more’,” Rarity said with a hoof stretched out for effect.

Spike had been resting his head in his claws, his eyes growing wider with each word of the story.

“What did she say?”

Rarity scoffed and looked down to polish her hoof on her coat.

“She said, and I quote, ‘stallions don’t go for all that frou-frou stuff’,” Rarity put her hoofs on her hips and imitated a deep voice for effect. “’They only care if the mare isn’t fat’.”

“Wait….,” Rarity blinked her eyes a few times, realization hitting her like a truck. “Did…..Rainbow Dash call me fat? *GASP* Spike!!-“

Rarity launched across the table and seized Spike’s face in a panicked grip, her eyes wide as she looked down at him.

“Am I fat!? Should I be eating right now!?”

Spike blinked a few times at Rarity’s meltdown, trying to make the jump from the story to this. He raised up from his elbows and shook his head as well as he could in Rarity’s surprisingly strong grip.

“Not at all, you could eat what you want whenever you want.”

Rarity dropped the little dragons face and flung herself dramatically back against her seat, draping a hoof across her eyes. “You’re just saying that to be nice! I’ll never look at another fork or knife again!!”

It was right when she said this that the elderly mare had neatly placed the gargantuan salad in front of the distressed mare. Rarity looked up as she heard the light thud of her utensils being placed on a napkin beside the bowl. What met her eyes was a vibrant array of every vegetable imaginable, as well as an assortment of neatly sliced fruits all mixed uniformly within a fine, rather large china bowl. Her stomach betrayed her before any words had so much as left her mouth.

“Perhaps I’ll go on that diet after this one last dish,”

Two finished dinners later found Rarity and Spike making their way back to the Boutique. Rarity had stuck to her word, and allowed Spike to pay for her meal, as she did for his. However she did feel just a bit guilty about it, part of being a babysitter was catering only to the need of the child right?

Wait. Spike was a child right?

“He sure seemed quite grown up tonight,” thought the unicorn as she trotted side by side with the dragon, “and he must have saved up quite a bit.”

Rarity watched as the little dragon jogged up to the Boutique door, intent on opening the door for her. Surely Spike could have spent his money on sweets as soon as he had gotten it from Twilight. And yet he had more than enough to pay not only for her side of the bill, but left a tip as well. Well now.

“After you m’lady,” Spike said as he held open the door and bowed.

“Why thank darling,” Rarity replied, patting his head affectionately as she passed. “Now be a dear and go get washed up, don’t want to get my sheets dirty do you?”

“Oh am I gonna be in a guest room?” Spike asked as he turned to close and lock the door.

Rarity cast her magic on some stray fabrics and thread, gently levitating them back into a set of cupboards.

“Oh dear I’d be a terrible host if I made you sleep I that dusty old room, worse so if I made you take the couch,” Rarity paused, counting the spools of thread she had under her breath before continuing, “No no, I think you’ll find that my bed would accommodate you quite nicely.”

“Wait, I can’t kick you out of your room!” Spike protested, “I-I could just take the couch, you need your beauty rest.”

“Beauty rest that I’m sure I’ll find just as easily on my sofa, now do be a dear and go on,” Rarity nudged Spike forward with the bridge of her nose, meeting only a little resistance from the hesitant dragon. Spike complied and wandered up the stairs to the bathroom, while Rarity continued cleaning around the first floor.

The fashionista smiled as she heard running water, happy that Spike was nowhere near the trouble that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were. “Ugh,” she said aloud as she thought back to Sweetie Belle’s little surprise sleepovers she would throw at her sister’s expense. Thankfully, that was not the case this week.

She stopped as something caught on her hoof, nearly tripping her over a ponyquin stand base. Reaching down and picking up the object, she couldn’t help but give a small giggle. Thunderlane was always forgetting his things at the Boutique, and this time he had managed leave his cart harness from their last date. What a forgetful stallion he was turning out to be.

**AAAaaaaand that wraps it up for chapter 2 good people! Remember, constructive criticism is always appreciated, as are grammar corrections. Since this is my first story I’m striving for it to be a good one! But there are no worries there because...."you are always looking out for me because you are a radar detector, you are a radar detector"

haha sorry I'm just eating that song up right now!

Onward to writing Chapter 3!!

11!! ! (Ahem...friend of the family)

"Ok what in the name of Celestia happened!?"

Rarity's voice caught in her throat, her practiced excuses and explanations melting away as she frantically clawed through her mind for something witty to say.

"U-uhm.....tea darling?"

To say Rarity was ill prepared for Twilight's arrival would be to say the very least. And to think, there she was believing that'd she'd have just a bit longer to make a scarf or two, and perhaps mmmmmaaaaayyybbbee convince Applejack to bring Spike back to the shop before Twilight caught wind of the situation. But of course life couldn't ruin it's reputation and be fair for once, could it?

There she sat again, the same chair with the same unicorn in front of her. Just the same as she had a few days before. The only difference is that this time the purple unicorn did not drink her tea, and the fashionista dared not to offer any hooficures.

"Rarity I appreciate the hospitality, but I'd like to know why Spike isn't here. I thought you said you could handle it?"

'Ok good,' Rarity thought, 'she's not mad, just concerned.' She gave a small smile to the frowning librarian across the table, praying that "winging it" would prove to be effective.

"Oh he just um....well you see Thunderlane came over and well....I'm under the impression that he felt uncomfortable.....uh....and he left?" Rarity felt her stomach sink as her own words hit her ears. So much for winging it.

"Who in the hay is Thunderlane? Why does that even matter, Spike gets along with everypony," Twilight gently pushed the still full teacup away from her, her tone betraying the illusion that she was being patient.

Rarity bit her lip, reluctant to tell the parents that the babysitter was inviting her boyfriend over on the job. But of course, Spike was technically a guest in her house so...

"Thunderlane is my coltfriend dear, I've been dating him for a little while now," Rarity paused to take a sip of her tea, noting Twilight's body language with her peripheral vision as she bought another few seconds to plan her words, "I guess he felt like a third wheel an left for Applejack's house in the night."

"Aaaaand it didn't strike you that mmmmmaaaayyybbee you should have went looking for him?" Twilight crossed her forelegs in front of her, giving Rarity her best skeptical look.

"Ok fine, you wanna know the truth?" Rarity asked curtly, unintentionally slamming her glowing teacup down onto the table. "Applejack took him. Because apparently I'm not allowed to have a relationship around Spike, because that upsets him so,"

The unicorn felt the anger welling up her. The nerve of that mare, telling her she had to take the dragon's colthood crush seriously.

"I'm a healthy grown mare, but my biological clock is ticking! Do you see these wrinkles Twilight?" Rarity grabbed Twilight's shoulder in one hoof and yanked on a section of her face with another. "I'm getting older every day! I can't just sit around and be lonely now can I?"

"Well I understand that you don't return Spike's feelings. Heck I've told him more times than I can count not to get his hopes up, but I trusted you to not screw this up-" Twilight sighed and put her hoof over her eyes.

"Look I'm sorry, I've just had the worst time in Canterlot," the purple unicorn reached for the tea she had pushed away, hoping it might calm her nerves. "Shining Armor had me put up the most unnecessary barrier spell I've ever seen, and I just barely finished when a scroll popped up out of nowhere and set the stupid thing off. We spent two hours inside of a fire cloak barrier waiting for the Royal Guard to come and turn it off."

"A-and the letter?" Rarity asked.

Twilight gulped down a bit of the herbal tea, barely tasting it. She slid her hoof away from her eyes and massaged her temple.

"Applejack wrote it and had Spike send it. Between the scribble-scratch and the air igniting into magical flame, it was a bit hard to make out. But it had some pretty nasty stuff in it, and that was just the first few sentences."

"I suppose I should have expected that," Rarity stared down at her teacup as she pushed it around with her hoof tips. For a second she felt every bit as alone as the one little drop dancing about in the bottom of the cup, but her ego wouldn't let itself dull from an insult from the farm mare.

"But honestly darling she's always looking for some way to get under my skin, and Spike will get over this I'm sure. He and I will be right as rain once this blows over,"

"I sure hope thats soon Rarity, he took his basket to Applejack's." Rarity stumbled as she was following her levitating teacup back to the kitchen.

"Whatever for?"

Twilight called over her shoulder as she was trotting back towards the door of the Carousel Boutique.

"Probably so he doesn't risk running into you or Thunderlane,"

"Big Macintosh how do -you- get girls to like you?"

Macintosh paused in mid-buck as he was asked the question. He looked up at the dragon crawling about in the branches of the neighboring tree, his claws easily sticking to the trunk.

"Well um......," Big Mac paused in thought. How did he get girls to like him? It's not like he actually ever tried, nor did he ever care for that matter. A smile and a nod seemed to be all he ever needed when talking to the opposite sex.

"I suppose ya jes gotta be polite to em'," he paused to finish bucking a rather large apple from its branch, "ifin ya ain't a gentlecolt then ya ain't much of a stallion yunno?"

"Yeah," The little dragon inched forward on the tree branch, his tail archoring him lest he lose his exceptional grip. Only a few inches from him lay his prize, a heavy red delicious that would make anypony's mouth water. He reached out slowly with both claws, using one to hold the apple from the bottom and the other to slice the stem. From there he released the apple to drop into the basket a short distance below, hearing it knock into place amongst the other apples.

"Hey Big Macintosh?"

"*grunt* yeah?"

"What if that's not enough?" Spike laid down on the branch to watch Big Macintosh finish with his tree, the dragon having just finished his own.

"Well she's prolly inta somethin' stupid, *thunk*"

Rarity? Stupid?

"Like what?"

The red pony walked over to his baskets, each one practically overflowing with the Sweet Apple Acres produce. Sitting down amongst the baskets, he selected one and thought about how to answer.

"Well some mares like bad colts. Dunno why really, they don't do much sides' get inta trouble,"

Spike crawled down from the tree along the trunk, trying to make sense of what Big Macintosh had just said.

"What's so great about that?"

"It's supposed to be excitin', or some such hooey. Uncle Tart was like that. Yup, two years in the slammer cause he beat up some colt who was lookin' at his marefriend. Poor feller didn't know she taken. Said Uncle Tart was dancin' with some other mare that night." Macintosh paused to let out a chuckle. "Most ignorant stallion I ever met."

"Yeah sounds like a real charmer." Spike sat down across from the big red colt. Only a few hours ago he was nervous to ask him if he could help pick apples, but the large pony proved to be quite easy to talk to despite his usual silence.

"It's gettin' pretty late, dontcha think ya outta get back to Twilight?" Big Macintosh looked at Spike from the corner of his eyes, one side of his mouth packed with a bite from a granny smith apple.

"Mmm not really. I asked if I could just chill out here for a day or so, u-uh I mean if it's ok with you an everything," the dragon finished his sentence wildly waving his claws in front of his face and offering his best smile.

"Well-" Big Mac paused to motion at the four baskets Spike had managed to fill over the three hours he spent working that afternoon. "Ye seem to be earnin' your keep. Keep this up and we might just hafta keep ya,"

Spike beamed with pride from the wink Macintosh gave him. True the first hour was spent in relative silence and awkwardness, just going by what little instructions Applejack had given him. But when he cut down an apple that for whatever reason didn't want to be bucked, Big Macintosh opened up quick to the little dragon.

"So......I heard about what happened at Miss Rarity's home," Big Mac placed his wheat stalk back into the corner of his mouth, trying to seem as non-confrontational as possible.

"Oh......aw man, I was kind of hoping nobody else would know about that," Spike rested his head in his claws, shame burning hot in stomach.

"AJ told me she don't think much of ya," Spike avoided Big Macintosh's searching eyes, his own cast down to the ground.

"And I think that's mighty shameful,"

Spike perked up, chancing a glance at Big Macintosh.

"AJ said you jumped in front of her, like a real gentlecolt when that other un' flew the coop,"

Perhaps Applejack hadn't been entirely accurate with her retelling of Thunderlane's actions, but there was an interesting grain of truth to Macintosh's words. He had acted like a gentlecolt after all hadn't he? Maybe jumping in front of Rarity was just his internal panic switch being flipped on but....

"That's really nice of you Big Macintosh, but she doesn't want a gentlecolt. She just wants someone who isn't a dragon,"

"Nnnaaahhh!! That Thunderlane is just a smooth-talker, shelf life of a few months at most," Eiffel trotted right up beside Spike without him hearing or seeing, giving him the perfect opportunity to playfully shove him over.

"Nice way to ruin the moment," Big Macintosh said to Eiffel, shifting his wheat stalk in an annoyed manner.

"Eh what can I say? That feather brain only has one trick, and I getta kick out of it,"

Spike spit out a mouth full of dirt he very nearly consumed, and turned to stare at the new pony. How did he know what was going on!?

"Wait a second- Does all of Ponyville know about this??" Spike insides felt very cold for a second before the blue pony winked at him.

"Course not, I was here when AJ brought you home." As Eiffel finished his sentence he flopped down I the dirt in front of Spike, his face only inches away.

"So what's it like in Applejack's room? I nearly got in like twice, but she caught me and slapped me around both times,"

Spike opened his mouth but no words would come out. He turned to Big Macintosh hoping for some kind of support. The large red colt just kept staring into the distance, seemingly trying to ignore the blue colt, but gave Spike an answer nonetheless.

"Spike this is Eiffel, friend of the family,"

"Yeah and friend to the family dragon now too huh? You start sleepin' in AJ's room enough and she's bound to keep ya around huh?" Eiffel playfully poked Spike in the ribs, earning him a sigh from Macintosh.

"Eiffel ..."

"Aw come one Mac, I was just joshing the kid. Unless yunno he -is- the next heir to your farm," Eiffel giggled, getting a death glare from Macintosh. "But anyway you guys look just about done for the day, how bout I take you guys out for some ice cream on me?"

Spike wasted no time jumping on the new pony's back, his stomach easily bitchslapping his reeling mind to the back-burner.

"Yeah, I haven't had any rocky-road in forever!"

Eiffel reared back like a western superstar, whinnying for effect and took off full speed for Ponyville. Big Macintosh shifted his wheat stalk again and stood up slowly, following along at a much slower pace.

****Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to get this out but I decided to chill out over the Christmas break. And by chilling out I mean eating pizza and watching movies with all my friends pretty much every night. Pretty nice! But I'm making some time to write more, I've got a few ideas for the boys trip to the ice cream shop ......

As always, if anything seems out of place or misspelled let me know! I'll be quick to blame my iPod