"Wow!" exclaimed Redheart as she looked around the empire. "I've never actually been here before. This place is amazing!"

"Really?" Shining Armor asked.

Redheart, Cheerilee, and Carrot Top—who were carrying an unconscious Spike and Berry Punch—found Shining Armor and an armed escort waiting for them outside the train. The train station was located outside of the barrier protecting the Crystal Empire, leaving it covered in knee-deep snow. The three mares weren’t too thrilled with having to walk through the frigid landscape while carrying their fiancées. But their attitude changed once Shining Armor escorted them through the barrier.

The real reason why Princess Cadance hadn’t simply teleported them to the castle was because she was throwing a surprise parade in their honor. Shining had led the girls up to small float made especially for them. Now, the group was in the middle of the parade, gradually making their way towards the castle.

"Why would you all go through the trouble of doing this for us?" Carrot Top asked, "I mean, now that I know who his mother is, I get that Spike's royalty. But he's never said anything about it before or flaunted it about. I honestly thought he was Twilight's butler."

"Oh, that’s because Spike's a hero here," Shining responded.

"Spike's a hero?" Cheerilee asked. "I didn't know that. You know, I hate how slow this place is on sharing their history! I ordered some books on the Empire's history several months ago to teach it to my class, but by the time I get them, I'll be teaching the next generation!" she grumbled angrily.

"So what exactly did Spike do?" Carrot Top asked as she grabbed Spike’s tail and threw it over her shoulder.

"You know," Redheart said, "you can put him down now. We already set Berry down and..."

"You’re right. I can put him down. I just don't wanna," Carrot Top replied as she snuggled into Spike’s side.

Shining Armor thought it would be too embarrassing for Spike if the entire empire saw him being carried over a mare’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes. So Carrot switched to carrying him on her back, piggy-back style. The slumbering dragon mumbled in his sleep and licked her face.

Cheerilee giggled. "I can see why." She looked around at all the crystal ponies waving at them and taking pictures. "So...I don't suppose you could tell us why Spike is a hero here?"

"Oh, well..." Shining said.

-10 minutes later-

The parade came to an end once all the floats reached the castle. Shining and the mares disembarked from their float and made their way towards the entrance. On the way, they stopped to gaze at a giant, crystalline statue of a familiar dragon whelp holding a large heart.

"Is that Spike?" Carrot Top asked, looking up at the statue. "He looks a little...overweight."

"Yeah. That’s him back when he was still considered a baby dragon," Shining responded. "It was baby fat."

"He did all that shit as a baby?!" marveled a slack-jawed Cheerilee.

"Dragon growth is weird....don't quote me on that. From what Twily told me, dragons age a lot slower than other races—except alicorns—resulting in their longer lifespans. However, since Spike was raised around ponies, his mental age far outstripped his physical age. So at the time, he physically a baby in “dragon years,” and mentally a pre-teen in “pony years.”"

Shining motioned towards the castle entrance. "Anyways, let’s go inside. We already have a room set aside for you five that should be ready. You can drop Spike off there while my wife takes you three, and your sleeping friend, to get fitted for your wedding gowns."

Shining Armor led the group into the castle, taking them up several flights of stairs and through several halls until they arrived at their room. Once inside, the trio of mares took a quick look around. It was fairly large, enough so to fit five people, at least. But something seemed to be missing.

"Why are there no window's in here?" Redheart asked, looking at the bare, crystalline walls.

"Because I had this room redesigned to look this way," answered Princess Cadence as she walked out from behind the open door. "That way, nothing will interrupt you five during your wedding night."

"I was promised a blue sex potion," Carrot Top stated, earning a laugh from Cadence.

"You’re very forward. I like that," she chirped. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get it right before I lock you five in here," she smiled. "Now, if you'd please place Spike on the bed, we can get going."

Carrot top frowned. "I can just carry him around with us, it's no problem."

Cadence frowned, but patted Carrot Top's back understandingly. "I'm sorry, but Spike is needed for something else, and besides, he'll probably be waking up in about another 20 minutes anyways. It's for the best if we leave him here."

Carrot Top grumbled, but she reluctantly carried Spike over to the bed. Redheart let go of Berry and Shining stepped in to take her place, propping up Berry’s side so that Cheerliee wouldn't drop the sleeping mare. Redheart moved over to the bed and pulled back the sheets before Carrot Top laid Spike down. The two quietly worked together to comfortably tuck the slumbering dragon in, then placed a pillow beneath his head. Spike turned onto his side, softly mumbling gibberish.

"See you soon, Spike," whispered Redheart.

She gently kissed his forehead before rejoining the others, whom had already begun leaving. With her arms now free, Carrot Top took over carrying Berry Punch to save the others the trouble. Redheart took one last look at her sleeping fiancée, then pushed open the door and left. As the door swung in, however, a hoof stood in the way just before it closed.

Princess Cadance led the group down a flight of stairs and down more hallways. Partway through their journey, Shining Armor separated from the group as he had other tasks to take care of. His wife waved him goodbye as she led the remaining mares away.

"Have fun!" he called after them as he waved his hand. "I need to check on the food and...Oh! I almost forgot! Girls, what kind of cake do...?!"

"I want a carrot cake!" Carrot top instantly replied.

"Can I get a red velvet cake?!" asked Cheerilee.

"I'd like a coconut cake, if you can get me one!" answered Redheart.

The sound of low moaning followed by brief shuffling drew the mares’ attention towards Berry Punch. The mare had slightly woken up and started squirming in Carrot Top’s embrace.

"I...I wanna....a B-Bourbon Pum...Pumpkin Ch-...Cheesecake," she muttered drowsily.

"Just give Spike one of those, too!" Redheart added. "Otherwise, he'll just steal from her, then she'll complain, then they'll get drunk and start singing drinking songs!"

Shining looked at her in silence. "I think I'm gonna start inviting Spike over for drinks," he muttered, making his way down the stairs. "You four have fun!"

The four mares followed the princess down a hall and into a room off to the side full of maids. "Ok," Cadence said, "we need to take your measurements for your dresses. But you’re going to have to strip down to your underwear for this part. So if any of you are..."

"We can live with it," Carrot Top replied, "Just show us where to go and where to put our clothes."

-Meanwhile-

"How should we go about waking him up?" a voice said. Spike groaned and pulled his pillow over his head to block out the noise.

"I think he heard ya," another voice replied.

"Oh for the love of..." The pillow was ripped off Spike’s head, followed by a resounding smack. Spike jumped up, fully awake.

"WHAT?! WHAT?!" he cried, rubbing a hand-shaped mark on his cheek. Looking around, he found four familiar mares looking down at him. "Oh...hey guys," he said, feeling a mixture of guilt and joy. "On one hand, it's so nice to see you, on the other, I feel like I have some explaining to do." He smiled guiltily Twilight Sparkle glared down at him.

"Oh, you better fucking believe you have some explaining to do, mister!" she fumed.

Author's Note

Oooooooooooo! Spike is in Trouble.