"Have I ever told you thank you?" Spike asked Rachel as they danced on the deck. Going to a slow sway to the melody of the song.

Rachel hummed. "I think a few times since we left Ironstone." She smiled.

"I have many things to be thankful to you. I'm honored that you're giving me this chance. I hope to be the dragon you saw in me before."

Rachel removed a hand from his shoulder and gently cupped his face. "You are that dragon I see in you. You're not an evil being, yeah you made mistakes, but it doesn't make you bad. You are good."

Spike removed his hand from her waist and placed it on top of hers. His eyes closed as he felt her warm touch.

Rachel then let go of his hand and placed hers on his chest. Over his heart. Feeling his heartbeat beating mighty against her palm. “I once heard that a hero’s strength isn’t measured by his physical prowess or his mind. A hero’s strength is measured by his heart. Spike, I fell in love with you for your heart. You just have to see it yourself.”

Spike placed his other hand on her’s.

As the song began to speed up, Spike held them as he spun her around, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Held her close in an embrace.

"I still feel it, that thing I became when I grew, inside of my mind. When I look in the mirror, I see it staring back at me." Spike admits. "I used to see that hero stuff when I was little."

"You still are. The Crystal Empire has not forgotten about the mighty dragon who saved the Crystal Heart, and helped defeat Sombra before. Who even showed that a changeling can change and be good." Rachel said, turning her head to the side to try and look at him. "Yeah, Thorax has always been a cinnamon roll since he hatched, the points are the same; The Empire stands with you. Canterlot, Ponyville, every pony knows the truth."

The two continued to dance. Spike was feeling a bit more adventurous in his moves, seeing how she was able to keep up with him.

"We'll see." He said before dipping her back. His teeth and lips grazed across her neck, hands caressing Rachel's back as he held her gently. Hearing her making a soft sound. "I'm amazed, you still see me as such after everything." He whispered, as he pulled her up right.

"You'll see soon," Rachel said.

The two pressed their foreheads one another, feeling the closeness they shared.

As Spike went to kiss her, wanting to express more of his gratitude towards his lovely mate, their moment was interrupted by a loud crunching sound.

They stopped and turned to see Capper standing not far from them, eating a bowl of snacks and watching them.

"Oh, don't mind me. This is better than any playnovela I've seen. Continue." Capper said, his tail flickering mischievously. Though his eyes watched with interest.

And that moment was gone.

"Uh, how long have you been standing there?" Rachel asked, looking at the cat.

"Since you two started dancing. I am a bit of a romantic. So please, continue, pretend I'm not here." Capper purred and he munched on.

Spike gave Capper a look before he felt a familiar growl rumbling in his stomach. A feeling he hasn't felt since he was captured.

"Oh no." He moans, covering his snout before moving away from his mate.

In rapid bursts of gold fire and sparkles, scrolls and letters belch out of the dragon's maw. The deck was soon littered with many letters, majority addressed to him, some were written by Celestia, Twilight, just about everything they had tried to send out to get him to come home over the months was coming in at once.

“Ooof." Capper winced and looked mildly disgusted at the inflow of letters. "Talk about being backed up."

By the time it was done, Spike was slumped to the ground, back against the railing looking more green around the gills and a very upset stomach. "That was not cool." He groans. His eyes were in a daze.

Rachel walked over to him, wading through the mountain piles of letters all addressed to him. She placed a comfort hand on Spike's shoulders.

"There, there," she did as he slumped up against her legs.

He suddenly belches out another letter and groans. This letter fell at Rachel's hooves.

She noticed that the letter was addressed to her.

Rachel rubbed Spike's shoulder before she bent down and picked it up.

She opened it and instantly her face fell. "Seriously???"

"What?" Capper asked. Spike wasn't paying attention as he was too focused not to up chuck his dinner all over his mate.

"It seems that we're not going straight home as planned, I'm being summoned to a War Meeting with the Princesses in Canterlot." Rachel said, shaking her head. "Why couldn't they just call?"

"Price for being a warlord, meetings are part of the deal." Capper said as he finished his snack. "I'll tell The Captain to set course to Canterlot." He said as he turned around to relay the message.

Days quickly passed as the gang finally arrived in Canterlot. Parking the party yacht in the sky docks and they got off.

"So Fizz, have you experienced the joys of this city after Storm King's defeat?" Capper asked Tempest as they left.

"Not really, not really my type of scene.” Tempest said.

“Shame, I know good places here, lemme show you around a bit.” He urges the unicorn as the two dragons step out of the yacht.

Spike gazed at the white castle and its gold and purple trimmings. A brief memory casted in his mind, moments of himself destroying it. He felt the palm of his hands clammy and his heart started to race, being back here.

Even though he would have to eventually come back here, Spike had hoped that it wouldn’t be this soon.

Rachel sighed, as she stood next to him, stretching her arms. “It's going to be okay, Spike. I promise, the ponies here know the truth.”

“I know, I know. Just… I didn’t think I’d be back.” He muttered.

Rachel rubs a small part of his back. “As soon as this meeting is over, we’ll be with our son. Look forward to that.”

“Been looking forward to it since you told me.” He gave her a soft smile.

She smiles back before the two set off to the castle.

As they approached, the few guards that were standing guard near the entrance. They took notice of the familiar face showing up. They glanced at each other but didn’t say anything as they entered.

Just as they enter the threshold, a friendly face greets them.

“Spike!” Twilight called out. She ran up to him and gave him a big hug.

Spike jumped but quickly wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m so so so glad you’re here! I love you Spike.” Twilight said.

“I love you, Twi,” Spike said with a soft chuckle, holding his sister again.

“Oi! Don’t forget about us, dweeb!”

Spike looked up to just catch Rainbow Dash rushing up to him and hugged him in a mad dash.

Pinkie Pie zooms in second, followed by Fluttershy, Applejack and Starlight Glimmer. All of the girls launched themselves onto Spike, giving him the biggest group hug he had ever received by these mares.

“Don’t leave us again!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“We missed you Spike.” Fluttershy chimed.

“We all did.” Applejack said.

“Welcome home.” Starlight said.

Overcoming with emotion, Spike wrapped his arms around all the girls as he could and embraced them. The girls he had grown up with, his friends, part of his family.

“I missed you guys too.” He said. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for what happened.”

“We know it’s not your fault,” Starlight said.

“We’re just glad you’re okay.” Applejack said.

They pulled away, Spike noticed some distinct difference with some of the girls now. Twilight’s dragon wing now he can fully see the details, Rainbow Dash had a torn ear and a scar over her left eye and her hair shortened, Pinkie Pie was wearing a long dress with a very noticeable belly.

"Whoa, whoa, pregnant pink pony!" Spike yelped. He could smell the unborn's scent.

Pinkie Pie cackled, rubbing her stomach. "Going on six months. Been taking in too much cheese if ya know what I'm sayin'." She nudged him with her elbow playfully.

Rachel chuckled, seeing his reaction as he gets reacquainted with the girls.

Twilight turned to look at Rachel. "We can take care of Spike, Princess Celestia and others are waiting for you in the War Room." She informed her.

Rachel sighed and nodded. "Please watch him."

"We got him," Fluttershy said as she continued to hug him. He noticed that she didn't have her ring on.

Spike looked at Rachel and gave her a nod. "I'll be fine."

He wouldn't know what to do if he's there. Spike wouldn't know how to respond to seeing the War Meeting. Though he knows he'll be joining them, just not right now.

Rachel gave him a soft look before walking over and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back." She said before she headed down to the War Room.

"Oooh! Let's go, let's go, let's go! We have a lot of catching up to do!" Pinkie Pie grabs him by the arm, as pregnant she was, she was still hyperactive and her unnatural strength seemed to have increased, easily pulling him down a hall with the others in tow.

Author's Note

Spot ze references!