Spike was laying on her belly on the bed, smiling as she read volume seventeen of Snowflake Silvers Mystery Files. Around her, the room was filled with the hustle of life as all of her girls enjoyed their day in their own way, Autumn had challenged Blue to a game of Chess and Ashe was watching over them with the intent to play winner. Smoke and Summer were drinking in the corner with Solar as they all got to know each other, and Red was resting with her back to the bed reading a book that had no visible title but had a picture resembling Spike's head from when she had been a Dragon.

Spike finished her comic and held it up, the comic was engulfed in green flames and was quickly replaced with volume eighteen, without skipping a beat Spike instantly went back to reading, humming a soft mindless tune as she read.

"Oh don't worry," Smoke said with a laugh as Solar finished explaining how she had accidentally drawn Spike's attention, "That's almost exactly how Red and Blue got pulled into this beautiful mess, Only it was actually Spike who cat-called them, they took it as an invitation and Spike was happy to pretend it had been one,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Spike cut in "It was an invitation, I just forgot who I was for a moment and didn't think it would work is all,"

a light tap on the door interrupted Smoke from giving a retort and both Red and Blue hurriedly made sure everyone was decent before answering the door on Spike's behalf.

"Hello," Both Red and Blue Greeted formally as the knocker was revealed to be Cadance, "How may we help you today Ma'am?"

"I'm just here for a head count," Cadance assured the maids "Gotta make sure there's enough room for all of Spike's new 'friends' on the train,"

"oh yeah," Spike chuckled "The Empire is one of my stops, suppose it makes sense to go visit with a royal escort, how long utile you and Shining depart?"

"No worries," Cadance assured Spike "Take all the time you need to get ready, I don't have anything going on that can't be handed off to Sunburst,"

"Alright," Spike got up and quickly patted herself down "You heard the lady girls pack your bags, if you need bags to pack I'm sure Rainshine will be happy to help, Solar since you have no belongings to pack you'll be my personal guard until Shining makes you go back to work,"

"Actually," Cadance cut in "Due to an ongoing attempt at a peace treaty between Ponies and Kirins, effective immediately Solar you have been reassigned as the Goddess of Fertility's personal Guards mare, your to follow her wherever she may go and make sure she is kept safe," Solar gave a salute before turning and bowing to Spike.

"What are your orders, my lady?" She asked in a serious tone.

"Uh, keep me safe," Spike replied after a moment "Yeah that sounds about right, go on girl and get packing, I'll go give Rainshine the news," Red and Blue bowed in response and, once Cadance moved aside, headed down to the hall to their work lockers to grab their personal belonging before heading home to pack up. Smoke and Ashe headed out in a second group to go retrieve their belongings from their room at the church, Ending the crusade were Autumn and Summer, who showed off happily that they already had their bags packed up and ready.

"We figured you'd wanna leave with the train," Summer noted.

"You know me better than I do," Spike chuckled, having not thought of using the train to leave for even a moment, "Alright for being so prepared you two are in charge of making sure everyone brings the essentials, toothbrushes, toothpaste, at least a weeks worth of clothes, hygiene products, and everyone has to bring at least 1,000 pages worth of book. one big book, a bunch of small books, just need enough to keep them entertained since this trip is mostly just gonna be me informing my family and friends about the new me. I can't promise I'll have a lot of time for the more 'entertaining' parts of our usual nights,"

"You can count on us," Summer assured Spike while Autumn began writing down Spike's checklist. Knowing Autumn and Summer would take care of things, Spike and Solar left the room and joined Cadance in walking to Rainshines' room.

"So," Cadance leaned in with a smile "What was it like being with a Pegasus for the first time?"

"Exotic," Spike replied instantly "Can't wait to preen her wings," Solar stumbled for a moment at Spike's remark and hurriedly corrected herself, attempting to look like she was taking her role as Spike's personal Guard with the utmost seriousness.

"Ain't she adorably," Spike added in a teasing tone as she pinched one of Solar's cheeks, look how gruff and tuff she looks, Solar managed to keep her expression unchanged but failed to keep her face from glowing red as she attempted to shift the subject of conversation away from herself.

"Ma'am, I've heard many different names used for you, could you explain the Kirin of the Garden to me?"

"Oh I can make Plants burst to life, and make barren soil fertile," Spike replied simply "I can also make mares who lack the ability to reproduce Fertil, making the Goddess of Fertility the more accurate out of all the names I can be addressed as,"

"I'm just gonna call you Spike," Cadance said with a thoughtful look "So you can just make plants appear out of nothing?"

"Yeah, Kind of like with Discord, only with plants instead of chaotic anything," Spike explained simply before out her hand and whistling, roots burst forth onto her palm and after a moment her arm was covered in long roots with a small Bonsai Tree resting on her shoulder. "Not what I was trying to do," Spike noted with a tinge of disappointment "Not even in the same genus as what I was trying to make, But hey it's still something," Spike poked at her new shoulder tree with a chuckle and it, in turn, leaned away from her as though it was alive. Solar watched the tree shake around at Spike's touch with interest while Cadance took the lead.

Upon arriving at Rainshines room the Tree had unraveled its roots and was now walking next to Spike like some sort of dog.

"I'm gonna name it Chauncy," Spike decided proudly as she watched her little tree baby run circles around her, using its roots like dozens of tendrils to move upon. Solar was visibly put off by the sentient shrub and took a step back whenever it got too close to her. Cadance knocked on the door and it immediately swung open, Rainshine ignored Cadance and rushed to Spike, who was scooped into a hug instantly.

"You can't leave," She whined immediately, "I'm not ready,"

"Oh Rainshine," Spike sighed with a shake of her head "you've been spying haven't you?"

"Just a tiny bit," Rainshine assured "Making sure no one tries to enter your room forcefully, you know how it goes sometimes, fans who are too into you could end up hurting you in their blind devotion,"

"Kind of like keeping me locked up in the groove?" Spike shot back, earning a pout from Rainshine "Alright too far, I'm free to go when I please, but still, I can't delay any longer, fun as it's been it's time to hit the road, first stop the Crystal Empire, next stop who knows honestly," Rainshine looked like she wanted to cry but after a moment took a deep breath.

"Alright, But I want you to send me letters at least once a week, If I don't get an update I'll mobilize the infantry to find you,"

"Noted," Spike replied with a chuckle "You need anything else?"

"No, that should do for now," Rainshine assured her "Should only be two weeks at most, so long as nothing gets in either of our ways,"

"Well then," Cadance cut in "Seeing how I'm going to be taking your Goddess into my care for a while, I'm guessing you'll be wanting assurance that her safety is my top priority,"

"In writing, if you don't mind," Rainshine nodded back "It's not that I don't trust you, but your husband and his sister aren't even on the list of people I would consider trusting,"

"Seeing how my sister-in-law acted that's fair," Cadance walked into Rainshine's room and Spike followed, with Solar in hot pursuit. Rainshine motioned Cadance to her writing desk to draw up a draft of promises for Spike's care while Spike chose to sit on Rainshines bed.

"What a pleasant dull evening," Spike decided with a smile as she watched Chauncy the Bonsai Tree crawl onto the ceiling.

"How so ma'am?" Solar asked, failing to see how any part of the day had been dull.

"Well after my time with you I've had No Orgys, no drama, no one's tried to kidnap me, I haven't been hurt in any way, I don't have to reshelve and clean an entire library, it's just me and my girls enjoying our days the way we want to," Spike let out a sigh as she lay back on the bed "all-around a pleasant evening, just being able to relax without having to cram a week worth of work into half a day,"

"First I'm hearing of this," Rainshine noted as she left Cadance to work on her draft and sat next to Spike. "What's all this about a week of work in a day?"

"Oh I'm just being dramatic," Spike chuckled "Castle cleaning by myself used to be a nightmare, but in Canterlot there were more staff members so it was way easier,"

"Makes sense," Solar nodded "The great hero Spike the Dragon would have the tenacity and skill to clean an entire castle in a day, but to have to do it regularly, that can't be healthy, mentally at least,"

"How should I know I'm not a Doctor," Spike shrugged "I probably should look into becoming a botanist though," Spike looked up and found her new pet Tree had vanished "Ah, my sentient Bonsai has run off to find a place to take root, fare well dear Chauncy, I hardly knew the,"

"Well don't worry," Rainshine said, giving Spike a shoulder massage as she spoke "I'd have to fire a few maids if a reason ever arose where you needed to clean up anything for any reason my dear,"

"Oh, that's sweet," Spike chuckled nervously, "I think,"

"Pony Guard," Rainshine said, turning to Solar "Give her a good rub will you, were ever she might need one,"

"Alright let's be calm, my sister-in-law is sitting right over there,"

"By all means go back to your room," Cadance called back "Far be it for me to stand between some good old-fashioned pleasure-filled fun," Spike flopped back on the bed and Solar got behind her lifting her up and leaning her against her chest before humming a calming tune and going to work on her shoulders.

"This is pleasing," Spike countered.

"There," Rainshind said pulling up a seat next to Cadance "With my dear no longer sitting to the side alone let us get to work on this written promise for her protection while she travels to your lands,"

Author's Note

Chauncy the Bonsai, Random character added for lawls, or being used to set up for something later?