Hot Blood

The day after passed a bit too easily.

Twilight didn't see them together, thankfully, as Spike had gotten up to get ready for his party.

Yesterday was his birthday, true, but, unbelievably, Pinkie Pie couldn't host, nor could Vinyl Scratch be the DJ.

Now, he sat at a table at the party itself, the sun still high. The many presents he was given were an assortment of food, clothes, and even a few bits, a few gold trinkets to wear. The day was mostly empty of anything fun in his case. His friends had shown up, even invited him to join the game of volleyball everyone was playing, but Spike wasn't up for it.

He had something else on his mind. Fluttershy especially, since she hadn't been seen at the party, and Rarity. If anything developed between him and Fluttershy, then he'd have to confess to Rarity. They weren't exactly together though.

They just weren't. Granted a date here and there, but never often, nothing else. A small relationship, to be exact. Though, Spike found himself tiring of just one mare. He could hook up with Fluttershy for a while, maybe go back to Rarity, or just...stay with Fluttershy for good.

"Spike!", Rarity's voice broke him from thought.

It relieved him. He didn't know why but every time Spike heard Rarity's voice, it soothed his stressful thoughts.

Turning to the mare, he flashed a smile, only for it to quickly fade.

"Rarity."

"Oh, good to see you again. After Celestia helped me advertise my dresses, I've been in Canterlot, running my business ever since. It's a wonder I could even get away from the shackles that held me in my office.", she joked.

"Well, it's good to see you too."

He didn't smile.

"Spike, are you feeling fine? You're always happy to see me."

"I know. It's always soothing to just hear your voice. But right now, I have a few things on my mind. I'm just worried about something else is all."

"Oh? What is it, dear? I could probably help."

"You couldn't, that's the thing. It's just, I'm trying to figure out what to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

Spike was about to speak, but let the breath go, sitting down.

"Fluttershy, as you know her a pony, is now a dragon. One of Twilight's spells went wrong. I'm not even sure if she can fix it, or if Fluttershy wishes to even be a pony again."

"Are you...are you saying that you're leaving me for my...best pony?"

"No! No. It's just...I guess I'll jsut say it. But, please don't tell anyone else. I have enough to think of already."

"Fine, I guess I can keep my mouth shut for you, but I'm still waiting for an answer."

"Female dragons go into heat randomly sometimes. And, last night, Fluttershy went into heat. I woke up from her rummaging through the kitchen and went to check on her...it's easy to figure out what went on afterwards."

"So you had an affair? That's even worse.", Rarity said with an agitated tone.

"Not exactly. More of a mistake."

"A mistake is right. I think you shouldn't speak to me for a while."

"Rarity I-"

"No. No. Don't bother trying to apologize.", Rarity turned from Spike, trotting off with her nose turned up.

Spike sighed and rubbed his forehead in thought.

The party ended, the sun set, and Spike went home. Fluttershy didn't show up. So, instead of staying till the end of his own party, late at night, he walked home.

Walking into the library, Spike ducked under the doorway to avoid hitting his head. Twilight was busy with plenty of books, several levitating around her as she read, reading one book, rotating, reading another, each, bit by bit.

"Twilight?", Spike asked.

"Yes, Spike?"

She didn't lift her head, didn't stop reading.

"What are you doing this time?"

"Researching everything on black magic that I have in this library. And so far I have found good bit of fitting info to what happened to Fluttershy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, basically, she was turned into a dragon because you are a dragon, and you live here."

"So...Never conjure where you carve?"

"Exactly.", Twilight closed all books at once, stacking them neatly besides her.

"Twilight, have you seen Fluttershy today?"

"No, why?"

"Just checking. I told her that if she was craving metal, to tell me immediately."

"Why? Is it a dragon thing?"

"Females only, yes. Random times, no."

"Oh, so it signals, "that time?""

"Uh, you could say that."

"Well, in that case, no. Hey, did you meet Rarity? She didn't answer me when I asked of you from her."

"Oh...We broke up."

Twilight went wide eyed, "What?"

"Yes, it's true. She broke up with me though."

"How could you have done something so bad to her that it would make her break up with you?"

"A mistake."

"Spike, what are you not telling me?"

"Something happeed between me and fluttershy..."

"Spike, tell me you didn't..."

"I did."

Twilight gasped.

"I guess I have no excuse. She was in heat, and the pheromones can drive a male to mate with the sickest of females, it's happened before.", Spike confessed.

"But Spike, this is Fluttershy! What if she gets pregnant?"

"That's why I told her to tell me if she was craving metal, so we could take care of it."

"Spike, she's your friend, though, she was a pony!"

"I know, but that's not what I meant. I was hoping to, fix everythign magically, and when she found out that the baby died, I'd tell her that it does happen sometimes..."

"Spike, you're speaking of forcing an abortion! Why would you do that?! Above that, why would you ever think of it, much less, do that to Fluttershy without telling her, then lie to her face when she is weeping, having lost something as wonderful as a child!"

"Twilight, calm down..."

"No, I get it, you're just not ready, you're afraid, it's all obvious!"

"No!", Spike yelled, "It's just that...I can't, not with Fluttershy. What if you figure out how to change her back, and doing so would cause me to lose interest, and I leave her because she isn't a dragon anymore?"

"Is that all you care about, her as a dragon? Is that the only reason why you even have stronger feelings for her?"

"...Yes...I am horrible for admitting it, but yes. Before, I only saw her as a friend, now I want to get closer, and it will just cause problems, both emotionally and physically..."

Twilight couldn't argue anymore. He was right, all of it was true. He wasn't a dumb dragon.

"...But...", Twiligth started, "What if she chose to stay a dragon, or I can't figure out how to change her back?"

"Then it would be different. Twilight, don't give up figuring out how to change her back just because it would fix everything. I don't like living in lies. If she choses not too, just to make us both happy, just because of me, I'll talk to her..."

Twiligth was completely defeated.

"I understand. But you've lost Rarity, who would you look for, if not Fluttershy?"

"I'd find a female passing by during migration, or go on my own, look for one...", Spike said, a bit sad.

"I'll continue looking for a way to change her back.", Twilight returned to her studies, this time, reading one book at a time.

Spike felt terrible. He had told nothing but the truth, just to make a point, and it is only causing problems. All because of the mistake he made.