Simplified

My eyes open to see the rays of the sun shining brightly in them. I open them to see a quiet room filled with a silence that ushers me to question what time it was in the day. I didn't instinctively reach out to my nightstand for my phone, as I didn't have one anymore. And I haven't had one for the better part of a week, not since Twilight and I accidentally bumped into each other virtually.

Even now, I shudder at the thought that she had seen all of me so overtly exposed.

Looking back, I suppose there should've been some cues and hints I could've really put together. A 'crush' who used to overpower her, a thing for light snacking while reading a good book, the awkward and dry manner of how she described herself, the fact that she was new to virtual dating, all of it summed up who I was dealing with. And yet, I was so focused on letting the wine run that I didn't realize what or even who I was about to pop the cork to.

I'm sure she felt weird about it too, seeing her figurative little brother ready to give her some dragon-style meat. I knew from the moment she barged in the room, she was going to have to deal with that thought from every encounter onward. I'm sure it put a damper on her night, especially since she was looking to have some sexy fun time of her own. And unlike her, I'm not naïve to the topic of everyone else around her possibly wanting to relieve some pent-up stress. In fact, it's because I managed to see it happen a few times... Especially with the one I wanted the most for years.

Even if I'd known that moment would've changed my sexual hunger for the worse, I'd live it all over again.

Years ago, I watched as Rarity grew physically infatuated with one of our otherworldly visitors. It was crazy to see her work so hard for a creature that was unlike her. But I didn't care too much for her crush, I was actually pretty pissed off about it because he was weaving around both her and Twilight at the time. I've seen how it usually ends, how Rarity would just be upset, eat a gallon of ice cream, cry in the midst of her thoughts, and retire to her room. But that's really where it really began.

Because she felt like she had a better chance of being with this guy, she didn't do the previous steps nearly as much. Instead, she stewed on the thought of what could be established between the both of them. And she fought back, hard. I don't think I've ever seen such quiet animosity between Twilight and Rarity as I did in those days, but I surely didn't think I'd seen the aspiring fashion mogul dive in her bed for that moment of putting her imagination to work.

One night, she wrapped herself in her sheets, slid her hoof underneath, and panted the night away. I was twelve when I first saw her yearn for the touch of another being so badly. I couldn't help but to watch, I wanted to see what she looked like. I got greedy in those moments, so much that I began to grow out of both spite and lust.

I won't lie and admit that I had ambitions of being the ruffian that could somehow force myself into Rarity's heart, much less the physical things I wanted to force her into. But the better version of me won out in the end, and I learned to do what was right, even if it meant that she got what she wanted in the short-run, and as the both of them got nothing in the long end of things.

I didn't get much either, just fantasies of a mare who picked up and traveled the world while I had to be stuck doing diplomatic endeavors. And as those endeavors picked up, so did the tension whenever I saw her between those long period of absences. She grew to stop caring for relationships after a few years, focusing on her business exclusively, but I can't say that I did the same. Every time her picture shows up in the magazine, I'm reminded of a secret favor Sweetie Belle pulled for me shortly after I hit fifteen. Since she had close access to her sister's doing all while teaching, she managed to capture some candid photos of her sister during a sister's retreat in Manehattan.

Those photos, I wore them out the moment I saw them.

Each time I saw her, I remembered those photos and felt myself growing timid around her, mainly to hide the fact that I was about to poke past my scales. And it was like that for years until recently. Now, I'm just depressed, sad that I can't even get close to her like I could way back when. I had become too aware of the lust I have, and I do what I can to work past it.

But as the years went, it started affecting every part of my day. There are at least two incidents where I'm ready to forego my oath for sexual favors. I do what I can to suppress it, but it's hard when you're eighteen and you've aready been so busy that you can't even masturbate in peace, much less find a hookup to quench the thirst.

Yeah, fun to run around all of Equestria with so many packages walking by you with their tails swaying, revealing all kinds of goodies of varying shapes and flavors. I'd just about trade my job to get a moment where I can finally break this drought over my life.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

The sound of a guard at my door alerted me back to the present. "Sir Spike, Princess Twilight has ordered you to come for your breakfast immediately."

That's about right, no time for myself anymore.

When I got to breakfast, I could see a lovely secretary helping out Twilight as she went about planning out her day. As I sat in my seat, Twilight briefly addressed me without looking my way. "Spike, your day is going to be busy." As per usual. "I have issued you to take care of a few things down in Appleloosa. It seems that there's a social dispute between the bison and the locals again. You'll need to finish your breakfast and leave for the town immediately. This matter is paramount, so there will be no time for breaks. I'm sorry."

"Again?" I groaned as I rolled my eyes. "So can I get you to tell me how many hours of my day this will be?"

"Likely all day." She answered as she continued to go through her paperwork.

I shook my head and pleaded with my longtime faux sibling. "Twilight, can we just delegate this to a smaller-level negotiator and let me handle some larger disputes? This is probably another watering hole debate."

"Spike, I have you in this position to do what is necessary, not to do what's probably the easiest outcome that has a greater chance of going wrong. If you go there, nothing will go wrong. That is why I trust you with this assignment." Again, she doesn't even look at me.

"But Twilight─"

"That's an order." She barked as she looked into her papers again.

I groaned and tapped my claws on the table as I realize that there was no way I could argue against it once she said those three words. I took my breakfast to go and immediately settled off to the hangar. I was afforded a hot air balloon, which got me to wherever I needed to go, albeit at a relatively slower pace than that of the airship. But I'm sure it would be a gross misuse of budget to take the airship to someplace like Appleloosa that doesn't even accommodate such a vehicle. So balloon was my only option.

I bet five bits this is probably going to be something easily resolved in the matter of minutes.

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by two arguing factions trying to decide on what day should be the founder's day of Appleloosa. Just like I guessed it would be, it's a small bit of indecision that had to be talked through in order to make it work. I wanted to be done with this within the hour, and by Celestia it was going to be done within the hour.

"What are you saying? You're saying that our customs ain't good enough for you?"

"All I'm trying to say is that we should acknowledge the ones who were here to begin with!"

Many who watched the two city officials, both Sheriff Silverstar and Chief Thunderhooves, quietly watched with disinterest. I knew from their expressions that this was such a stupid argument that this had to be something that was probably already resolved, these two just haven't caught on yet. I interceded with a moment's notice. "Gentlecreatures, what's the matter?"

Both the figures bowed their heads at me, recognizing my status. "Sir Spike, I didn't think the princess would endeavor you with something so small as a tin-can shoot." Sheriff said with a respectful tone.

"With all due respect, this is merely a debate." The bison chief agreed. "There's no hostility to be had."

I just rolled my eyes and pretended that this issue was to be taken seriously. "Okay, so Chief is saying that the founder's day should be observed as the day the buffalo tribes came to these lands, correct."

"It's really just a debate subject, but that's my view of it." He said quite proudly.

"And Sheriff is saying that Appleloosa the town proper was not established until after ponies came to name the town."

"Seriously. My family's been keeping portraits and photographs of the town since the first settlers came. This might have been occupied before, but there was no established residence, nan the first." He pointed out while holding up a historical record.

I once more played the part of mediator throughout the course of this so-called conflict. "Right, but you two were saying that this was more of a debate than anything else?"

"Yes." Answered Sheriff.

"Indeed." Chief cosigned.

I rubbed the back of my neck and shrugged. "Well I guess that's that then. If it's merely a simple political debate with no ramifications on the citizenry, then I guess I can take my leave─"

"Oh no you don't!" A voice called out from the crowd.

As her voice parted the crowd for her to step through, I was greeted by the face of a buffalo female I hadn't seen in ages of time. She stood proud with her native headdress, donning many more feathers in her brightly-colored band around her head. She easily dwarfed the other ponies around her. I greeted the young bison lady. "Little Strongheart, is that you?"

"I am. It is good to see you again, Prime Minister Spike. And you're looking more of the dragon I never thought I'd see you become." She said as she approached the clearing to stand alongside her father. "However, 'Little' no longer exist in my name. I bear the title of Chieftess of the Nursing Herd, and soon to be leader of the entire tribe. So Chieftess Strongheart will do."

"Well it's an honor to meet you again after so long." I exchanged with her.

Her response was not as casual. "Likewise, Prime Minister. However, my father has not told you that this so-called 'simple squabble' is merely a reflection of the issues brought upon him by our tribe elders. The only reason why he downplays the topic is because he wants to promote peace between the ponies who live here and the bison who has done the same for ages. While our historical account is told more through drawing and fireside story, the stars above can testify our existence. Those matters aside, my father has actively and frequently issued the debate on this topic, but arrives home angry and frustrated that the same consensus remains in place despite the calls from our elders."

Ah, so it's a passive-aggressive kind of deal. I always hate dealing with these passive-aggressive situations. "So, with that being the case, why not issue a day where each can be celebrated?"

"Because the town only has budget for one major celebration." Sheriff added. "We're an agricultural town, there isn't much money floating around here, so we make do with the taxes we collect and hold it to a budget. And if we split that down the middle, then we're better off not having a day to commemorate at all."

A budget issue?

"We care not for budgets and that likeness─" Chief began before being interrupted by his daughter.

"Oh, there's a lot of concern there!" She debated. "Meaning that we're nomads doesn't mean that we're all content with just roaming the countryside without any kind of finances to our name. Don't forget, we're Equestrian citizens too, we aspire to tour larger cities and partake in the country's economy, but our own business can't start with the share-and-care approach we've been used to doing for some years now. As regrettable as it may be saying it, our tribe deserves more than a page in a history book."

I now see that she's the main driving force of the engagement. She's speaking up for her tribe, at least the portion she controls over. It's only fair to listen to her side as opposed to taking Chief's word at face value. "So you'd wish to establish an economic base that your tribe may be able to profit from?"

"Not just that, but proper recognition instead of some ceremonial thank you and a yearly certificate. Why can we not have access to a grand celebration that our young can truly participate in with pride for who they are?"

I began to notice that her words come across like a mom concerned for what environment her young grows up in, the stigma that's to come after. She really did some growing up since the last time we met. I turn to Sheriff and question him. "So what is the yearly budget for this town?"

"Basically an income of 80 million bits, but most of that gets put into infrastructure and irrigation, so we don't see much in surplus except maybe a few hundred thousand."

In other words, the town is struggling economically, it's barely keeping heads above water. I'm starting to see why this was labeled as an all-day situation. And since it's economic, this might be an all-week thing too. Damn, Twilight really wants me to stay busy, huh? "Do you not accept any of the royal budget allocations, the municipal stipends we send out every October?"

"This is a farming town!" Sheriff argued strongly. "If there's anything we want, we want to be able to prove our success through our hard work and effort."

"Have you ever held it to a vote?" I asked him.

"Well, not really, but the sentiment is felt through a lot of the citizenry." He answered.

I turn to the crowd and clear my throat to address them. "Now I know this isn't an official ballot, but I wish to hold a vote. Anyone who wants to accept the royal stipend sent to the town, raise your hoof, claw, or other appendage that you have to confirm yes."

I watched as almost every hoof rose to the air. It seems that the town is happy with the work it's done to be able to prove to itself that it can sustain on it's own power, but I'm sure they don't feel as rewarded with their effort when everything almost zeroes out. I think a boost of that budget can do more than allow for the bison population to thrive here, but the citizens in the town can enjoy some spending privileges, improved infrastructure, and probably the same amenities that are offered in Ponyville, which is an agriculture-founded town also. "So can we all agree that the stipend from years past shall be paid in full to the town?"

The entire town cheers in agreement. Sheriff blushes in embarrassment. "Oh. I guess I should've taken that more into consideration as opposed to carrying a traditional mindset."

A pony walked from out of the crowd. "We're proud that all our hard work kept the town going, but we could do for a buckball arena!"

"Maybe a nice shopping outlet or two." A mare called out.

"Or even a swimming pool!" One stallion called out, even the bison shouted in agreement to that one.

"Eh, I suppose a spa wouldn't hurt." Strongheart murmured. "Being a nomad takes a toll on the legs."

The chief showed his disagreement with his daughter. "Strongheart, are we seriously going to throw away years of tradition for the sake of some appeasement?"

"You can keep traditions and want new things for yourself and all the others who you'll never get to see. Why not give more of that instead of constantly keeping strict to traditions? The younger generations will want to keep our heritage strong, but they deserve the things that others have as well."

She's really grown into her own since the last time we kept in touch. I keep saying that, but it's pretty awesome to see her step up like this so frequently. I guess I could put something together for her. "I need all bison of the town to hold their vote to this one. If you wish to have a dedicated budget and more amenities, please raise your hoof."

Almost two-thirds of the bison population raised their hooves, a majority of the males kept their hooves down, but the younger ones had theirs raised. The females of the bison population overwhelmingly showed support of the idea, along with Strongheart herself.

"Then it's settled. We'll work out a day where we can acknowledge native culture as widely as we can celebrate the first stone planted for the town saloon." I said to Chief before turning to Sheriff. "And you'll get all the funding you need for the town to be able to accommodate for all of that which was not issued out to you. Agreed?"

The two parties smiled and shook hooves, Strongheart chuckled as she expressed great pride. "More than!"

It took the entire day to write up an economic package and draft a few measures to give to Twilight for consideration. Once I arrived back in town, I gave her the papers and slithered back to my room, laying in my bed once more to think about the long day I had.

I remember some conversations, namely between me and Strongheart. I hadn't caught up with her in years, so I took the opportunity as I was working to inquire about her doings and dealings. We kept it mostly professional for the majority of the day until the closing hours of my work, where we exchanged personal developments. She asked me about my wings, saying that I looked so different in having them. I asked her how she was placed over the nursing portion of the heard, and she went into detail about her own experiences. She also has a daughter, who appropriately took the 'Little' title from her.

I hadn't seen her in so many years. She was always bigger than me back then, but now she's bigger than me in mass more than in height, where I easily overlook her. I can't believe she has a kid already, and I'm still trying to break the seal for my first experience. I wonder what it was like for her to be able to conceive a kid, who did it, did she enjoy it, did she finish?

The lucky guy, I wonder how he must've felt mounting her. I bet it felt really good.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Ugh, fuck's sake!

I toss the covers off of myself and barge towards the door, angry that I couldn't even stir a thought without so much of an interruption. "Who is it?" The frustration in my voice couldn't be any more apparent.

"Spike, it's me." Twilight sounded through the door. "I just came to talk to you."

My claws patter impatiently against my waist as I ask her. "What for?"

"I just wanted to check in with you. You said you spoke with Little Strongheart, right?"

"Trust me, little is the last thing she is now. She's got a kid and everything." I replied.

"Really? That's exciting to hear. So tell me more about what happened earlier today."

"Did you not get my written report?" I ask her, wanting to get back to my bed.

"Spike, I know things are awkward between us, but since when have we had a real conversation? I just want to know what all was said today so that I can know what I'm going to put on the floor for a vote tomorrow."

"It's in my report, Twilight." I urge once more.

"Well I'm tired of reading today, so spill." She demands.

"Well I'm just plain tired, okay?" I say as I start walking away from the door. "I'll talk more on it tomorrow."

"Spike."

"Goodnight!" I holler back to her before getting back in my bed, throwing the pillow over my face so I can't hear a word she shouts out after. I keep the pillow pinned over my head before I start to get comfortable.

The entire night passes without so much of another word thought or spoken.

When I started to wake, my eyes were already getting a healthy dose of sunlight cascading past my curtains. Bright beams alerted me, warming the lids of my eyes and prompting me to rise. I rose from the cocoon of sheets I wrapped myself in and stretched my limbs to get ready for my first venture towards the bathroom. I did my usual morning routine, including staring at the awkward outstanding reminder that I was still a male fresh from his sleep.

After undergoing some hygienics, I walked over to the dining hall and was served my breakfast. Twilight had come in a little later, and just as eager to finish off on what we were talking about last night. "Morning, Spike."

"Hey." I deadpan, not really wanting to speak with her at the moment.

"How'd you sleep? You seem pretty tired and frustrated from yesterday."

That last part earned a pointed glare towards the purple princess. "Yeah, frustrated. I wonder why that's even a thing."

She sits herself before me at the end of the table and continue. "I can understand the physical aspect of your frustration, you are a growing dragon after all."

It's almost like she's rubbing it in. "Yeah, so glad you could see that."

She knows I'm frustrated from not having my phone, for obvious reasons of course. But she still put aside those thoughts as she speak. "You know, it's not that I do what I do to keep you busy just for the fun of it, Spike. I just want to protect you from making a huge mistake in putting yourself out there. If you sent what you sent to me to another pony, who's to say that pony won't put you out there themselves? It's happened before, we both know this."

"And yet you're on the same dating app." I bluntly point out.

"But do you know what I haven't sent you? Pictures of myself, because I respect you enough to know that any part of me going out there would bring shame and embarrassment to you. I couldn't let you keep your phone if I knew you were going to go this route."

"But it's my body, I can choose who sees it." I argue.

"You can choose that, until they choose to make a quick buck with the tabloids. Then you can choose which manner of damage control you can execute on." She rebutted as she summoned her phone. "Do you know why I don't often put any of myself out there nowadays? Do you not remember the time I put a copy of our friendship journal out there, how visceral it was and how everyone reacted? That took place over the matter of a week. Now imagine all of that taking place in fifteen minutes, in every region, with unfiltered access. And what you sent to me would be dangerous to me, to you, to everyone you know and love. You even showed your face, in the most compromising position I could ever see you take."

"So it took you a week to even talk to me about this?" I ask her.

"YES!" She confirms as her ears and cheeks redden. "I couldn't look at you, much less speak to you because of that! I raised you from the moment I hatched your egg, We've been like brother and sister since then, and then you show me that side of you! Am I supposed to be able to confront you in that moment and tell you all of this when that image is still fresh on my feed? I couldn't even look at you normally. I couldn't do that, not when I had expectations of my own and then that happens! I had to purify my mind and get my spirit right before we had this conversation. I wanted to have it with you last night, but obviously you were frustrated then. So I left it be."

"You know, you could've written a letter and had someone drop it off at my door." I suggest, still feeling upset towards her.

"I tried. I went through scrolls not trying to instinctively retell what I saw from you." She responds as she summons a bunch of crumpled letters. "This is just a tenth of the ones I drafted over the past week. But now I'm comfortable enough to finally have this one-on-one with you. I'm sorry it took me so long, I just needed to keep you busy so that you wouldn't go out there and make critical mistakes like I would way back when."

I grumble as I fold my arms. "I get it. Your ex-fiancée didn't really leave you with a lot of clues to go by in terms of moving on from him. Long story, blah-blah-blah."

"Spike, my concern is that you find the time to operate outside the scope of what you're supposed to do, with the intent to possibly damage your friendships out of rushing your own personal development. I was nearly nineteen when I finally crossed that threshold of my life, but I rushed myself to do it because I felt like I was going to lose out. Can you guess how that ended?"

I grumble a response yet again. "Are you still blaming yourself for that?"

She lifts my head to look at her, utilizing the magenta presence her magic gave. "I'm saying that had I not compromised my situation so early on, we might still be together. I rushed it out of the petty fear of not being the first for him, knowing the consequences of my actions. And then when he displayed regrets for the consequences, I grew petty and selfish. I said a lot of things I shouldn't have said because I wanted to be angry, I did things to push him away, and then I let my fear of the worst talk me into ending it. I couldn't handle relationship pressure as well as I thought I could, that's what happened."

"So we're gonna ignore the ugly shadow thing that was the setup to destroy your relationship?" I point out.

"Why? I gave power to it." She proclaims adamantly. "Spike, I can either lie and learn to make a hundred excuses for why it didn't work, or look at myself and tell you where I messed up. One end will have no weight on our conversation right now, the other will have the weight of experience. I choose the latter."

I sigh and rise from my seat. "Whatever."

She holds me in place, despite my efforts to leave the room. "Spike, focus on yourself, don't try to dedicate everything for something that's so fleeting."

As she releases me, I comment back to her. "Sure, and I'll take that bit of advice from the same one who's anonymous on a dating app. Makes all the sense in the world to me."

Sometime later, I took up an assignment in Ponyville, mainly to check in with the school Twilight established some years ago. It seemed to be well on it's way to getting way bigger than the old school that Ms. Cheerilee ran. The staff also happens to be graduated students of the institution, With Smolder, Ocellus, Silverstream still holding serve there, it's easy to communicate with those three and get some insight of how things are going. I could always go directly to Starlight and Sunburst, but the last time I did that, I walked in on some 'recreational assessments', if you know what I mean. It was material to feed my imagination, but I don't need to be stewing on that while walking around campus. I'm sure that would get me arrested.

Smolder and I were especially close friends, she taught me most of everything I needed to know about being a dragon, especially since she was in the immediate proximity to do so. And as a result, I felt that she had become the closest thing I had to a counselor. And since there were some things Twilight didn't know that she did, I tended to confide in her more often throughout the years, even with some tough advice that I may have needed to suck up and accept.

"She's right, you know" This situation was no different. She remains all the more blunt with me.

"Why did I have a feeling you'd say that?"

"So what, you expected me to tell you otherwise?"

"I just thought you'd see some part of where I am right now."

Smolder and I are sitting in an empty classroom, staring down at the young students playing in the courtyard below. She's sitting on top of her desk, crossing her legs as she lays back casually. Sometimes I glance at her to take in the shape of her maturing figure. Ideas creep through my mind as we speak. "Spike, I'm just a teacher of a school in a sprawling suburbanopolis. You're effectively the Prime Minister of Equestria. How can I even relate to you?"

It doesn't take me long to come up with a number of examples. "We both helped to save the world."

"Okay, that's one thing we have in common."

"We're dragons."

"That's an easy one."

"And neither of us know our parents very well." That one is especially true. Dragons lay their eggs and often times expect them to come up on their own. Siblings often live in with one another until the molt, and it's separation from there. It's the reason why affection isn't as common amongst them. Both Smolder and Ember made that very apparent to me. And it also explains why Ember looked at me like I'm weird whenever I pet her. Dragons can show friendliness and comradery, however, mainly through common interests and surmounted feats of improbability. The only dragon to really know their offspring was former Dragon Lord Torch, Ember's father. And even he was shunned out often by his own daughter thanks to her apathetic nature.

Just a fun fact, but back to where we are now.

"Yeah, that's another thing we dragons run into often." Smolder shrugs.

I start to walk towards her. "We like home-economics."

"Now you're just reaching.

"You like it when I wear the pink apron with the heart on it."

She chuckles to herself. "Well that's because it's cute on you. Just don't tell anyone I said that."

"We're like the best of friends because we relate to each other so damn much." I point out, stopping before her as she sits up on her desk.

"And here I was thinking that you were just drawn to me because I was the first of your kind you've had in close proximity of Ponyville."

"Well, yeah. You taught me a lot about myself."

She hops off the desk, fluttering her wings to hover in the air as she meanders towards the window. "I taught a lot of kids nowadays. You're just one of the others I've seen graduate throughout life."

"I guess." I mutter quietly.

"But yeah, Princess Twilight's not wrong about what she said to you."

Even if its right, I still argue against the method. "She still didn't have to take my phone away like I'm some sort of kid. I'm eighteen, I'm of age."

"You sent her a full-body pic." She says, tilting her head at me.

"I didn't know it was her." I stress emphatically.

Smolder turns to me, pointing at me as she makes her argument. "Okay, so let's say it was someone like Diamond Tiara. Do you think she would let you live it down?"

That scenario doesn't have me thinking for long. "Ugh, not without some political favors."

"Yeah, you'd be blackmailed. Now imagine if you had gotten in touch with a scammer. They'd do the same, just for money. Either way you cut it, that's the gem you're left with."

While I could no longer put together a feasible argument against her logic, I concede the argument and express my personal frustration to her. "Augh! All I wanna do is get my dick wet for fifteen minutes. Is that so hard to do?"

"Considering your status, everything matters. So yeah, it's going to be hard... No pun intended."

I caught her sly joke and chuckle with a not-so-subtle suggestion. "So you think I should just get it in with a friend?" I ask with her in mind.

"No!" She crosses her forearms in an x, indicating her disapproval. "That's the worst thing you could do."

"You just said that I had to be selective. So why not do it with a friend I know I can trust instead of taking a risk?"

"You ARE taking a risk, dumbass. You risk destroying your friendship at the cost of five minutes of what could be some of the most awkward sex you'll ever have."

I continue to vent my frustration. "So what do I do then!? It's not like I can just keep dealing with this!"

Smolder looks me up and down and quirks a brow before a sudden epiphany comes to her. "Ah! Sounds to me like you have the usual case of dragon lust. Only thing you can think of is putting Tab-A into Slot-B."

"Oh, so it is a dragon problem." Why am I not too surprised?

"Most other species equate it to puberty, but that's just a misconception. It's not as annoying as the molt, but it is pretty bad. Plus it's not as specific to a growing period as it would be in puberty. It more so happens when you just don't get any."

In other words, I'm down atrocious. "Okay, so you're a dragon, how do you deal with it?"

"Well usually we get that out of our system shortly after molting. Personally, I find the nearest male and wrestle them into submission so that they aren't as wild with me, and I'm not as wild with them. The release of extra testosterone beforehand makes the sex after really great."

I have to admit, hearing Smolder talk about her experiences makes me wanna wrestle with her a little more often, just to see. "Well, does it help that I once fought off a roc?"

She smirks and folds her arms. "That's one of the qualifications, so who did you get lucky with after?"

"I... didn't." I confess, earning her bewildered expression. "To be honest, I just went to the firing range to disperse a few loads... Sorry for the graphic imagery."

"Sheesh, were you so hung up on Rarity that you didn't think to seek a mate?" She asks with some concern.

"Who was I gonna go after? Rarity was the one I saved, that's who I wanted to give it to, and she wasn't interested in me like that. What was I supposed to do, mate with her against her will!?"

She tilts her head and comes out with the main question on her mind. "Spike, have you ever gotten laid?"

"No." I admit in a low drone.

Her eyes bulge in thought. "Yikes, now I see why it's so bad."

"Yeah. So would you be able to help me or not?"

She picks up on my intent, but also looks at her own self before giving me her answer. "I would do you a solid, but I'm out of season. I'd probably just beat the shit out of you if you'd try."

Well that's a rejection if I ever heard one. "Let me guess, another thing dragons do?"

"Yup. If you're not in season and someone else is trying to get it in with you, you beat the shit out of them until they give up completely. That's just the rule of thumb."

While I can accept the logic of the response, my mind begins to delve into a rather unfortunate hypothetical. "What happens if you don't win?"

"I don't lose. Ask everyone in the dragon lands about me, even Ember knows I'm not the one to be played with." She sternly replies as she just as quickly writes off her threatening statement. "Spike, dragon sex doesn't feel good unless it's in season. And mating with another species when you have that going on is far too dangerous to them. This is a kind of lust that only dragons can deal with, hence the name. Cause when it gets rough, the claws come out."

"That bad, huh?"

She almost dismissively shrugs her shoulders. "It could be worse."

I sit down and question her. "So what do you think I should do?"

"Just like Twilight says to do, sit tight and focus on you. You're already raised around ponies, so some of that acquired instinct should let you maintain some self-control. I mean, you've shown it for all the years you've been here, why not a few more days?"

I begin to feel nervous about what she means by showing self-control. If she's implying that I might somehow lose my ability to act rationally, then this might be worth some digging into. I had to know more about it, and I definitely need to know about the bad, and just how bad it can get. "What if it all comes to worst?"

"It won't." She answers as she takes out a piece of parchment, starting to write something down. It appeared to be a form of some sort, I don't get a chance to look too deep into it as she rolls it up and blows her breath on it, sending it off to wherever and whoever.

"A report you sent out via flame?" I ask her.

She smiles confidently, proud of the ability that she learned to utilize from me. "You'd be surprised how quickly dragons can communicate without phones."

"So you sent it to a dragon?" I ask curiously.

She looks to me in silence for a moment. "...Spike, why don't you head back to Canterlot for a while."

Shortly after our conversation, I came back to Canterlot to handle some more local business before finally settling in for the evening. I was back on my bed, working my way through a fairly sensual romance novel to pass the time, maybe seeing if I could run into any spicy bits while I'm at it. Without a phone, I can't just pop on a video or livestream to get me over, I'll have to use the words on this page to further feed my imagination.

Dragon lust... if only I had a phone to look that one up.

Just how dangerous would I be if I didn't have self control? Do the claws really come out? Smolder said that the sex after a tense fight is when it's at it's best, so does that mean she'd fight me tooth and nail just to put it on me? I'm not gonna lie, with her, I'd probably accept the idea. She said that she never lost, so that means she always took charge. So if she took charge, does that mean that I'm the one who's on bottom?

I can imagine it already, the smoothness of her scales, the otherwise cool core of her being, her sapphire blue eyes gazing down on me as she pronounces her victory, what words does she hide behind her lips? I remember the sight of her laid out on that desk, the way her legs cascade down it's side as we exchange ideas and thoughts.

If only fighting wasn't a prerequisite, I would've laid her to that desk until she was flat against it. She's been around ponies long enough to know what it feels like to be sensual, to be more in touch with her emotions. So it's fair to say that she'd appreciate a little foreplay here and there. I wonder how soft her voice can get in trying to be quiet, all while I flex my fingers inside of her. I file my claws down so they don't hurt, I know she'd appreciate that. Can I imagine what it would feel like to put her leg on my shoulder as I guide myself within her? Does she giggle, moan, sigh with eager acceptance, pull me in, wrap her tail around my leg, place her claws on my chest as she tells me if it's too much?

Oh Smolder... Smolder.

"Spike!"

My claw stops wandering south as I'm startled by Twilight's voice. "What?"

"You have a letter." She loudly announces.

"From who?" I ask.

"Dragon Lord Ember."

A letter from her, on today of all days? Great, that sounds like more work for tomorrow in a place I don't really like going to all too often. I look down to see myself appearing more than improper and request an alternative. "Just slide it under the door."

"Okay." She does so respectfully and leave.

I walk to the door, seeing the letter that was sent, still smelling of sulfur and ash with Ember's seal set on it. I pop the seal and review the contents of the letter. I read to myself the message it contains.

Dear Spike,

I am reaching out to you in regards to your recently-afflicted circumstances. Twilight has notified me of a situation where you appeared to put yourself at great social risk. She has also informed me of your own desires and wishes, all of which I suspect should be addressed in a manner only dragons may resolve. For your safety, you will be required to report to the dragon lands effective immediately. You have until midnight to get ready for your departure. An envoy will be sent to guide you away safely.

Do not panic, this is merely a precaution. As dragon lord, I will be forced to take accountability for any and all actions you may take, regardless of your mental/physical state. Henceforth, you will be reassigned to remedial─

*BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG*

The sudden barrage of banging at my door shake me so bad that I reflexively burn the letter I was holding. As the parchment became nothing more than soot in my claws, I groaned angrily and call out. "Who is that banging on my door!?" I am only met with even more banging. I forego my own appearance and yank open the door. "Who the hell do you think─" But before I can get loud, I am met with a set of eyes glowing with the intensity of molten metal. We don't exactly see eye to eye, she's smaller than me now. "Ember, what are you─"

However, her size do not match the strength she contains. There was a world's difference between us when it came to our physical attributes. I have my own abilities of managing heavy lifting, but she is damn near strength incarnate. So when her claws land on my shoulders, I can expect to get flung across the hallway. And that's exactly what she did. "You're being reassigned! No questions, just go!"

As I'm still laying on the ground head first as my body is tilted against the wall, I try to gather my bearings. "Wait, what's going on?"

She yank me off the ground harshly, flinging me further down the hall. "I SAID NO QUESTIONS! Dragon emergency!"

"Wait, what's going on!?" I ask her yet again.

"Spike, when I say 'no questions', don't even ask. Just push the shit out of your ass and run."

As the commotion continues on, Twilight runs back to see what it was that was causing it. She is just as surprised as I was by the dragon's sudden appearance. "Dragon Lord Ember, I didn't plan for a surprise visit."

"Not a visit, dragon emergency. Spike will be coming with me for the time being." She commands firmly before shouting at me one more time. "Do you have gems clogging your ears!? I said move!"

Twilight looks back at me and grows concerned. "Ember, what is going on─"

"You sent me a letter! Smolder sent me a letter! I'm dealing with a problem before it becomes one!" She answers as she drags me by the tip of my wing. "I'm getting you out of here before you become a harm to both yourself and someone else!"

My mind flashes back to the conversation Smolder and I had in Ponyville. "Wait, do you mean the dragon lust thing?"

Twilight's eyes expand dramatically. "DRAGON LUST!?" She looks back at me and immediately lowers her head in remorse. "Oh Spike, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were dealing with that kind of an issue. I thought you were just going through a phase."

"How long has he been here since the night of that incident!?" Ember questions.

"It might have been a week." Twilight answers.

"A week longer and we'll have an incident you don't want!" Ember insists as she drags me along. "You, move!"

"Wait, where are we going?"

"Did you not read the letter I sent today!?" She chides. I offer to answer her question, but she interrupts me before I can continue. "Whatever, you're being relocated to the dragon lands for a month!"

"A MONTH!?" I look to Twilight and plead for her to stop this. "Twilight, I can't be there for a month, you know I'm sensitive, you know that dragons don't like sensitive things! I can't stay there a week, much less a month!"

The high princess looks sternly towards Ember. "Spike has a point. If he goes there, he'll likely be bullied by other dragons. What are you going to do to protect him?"

"I'll do what I can to make sure he can protect himself. I'm sure you'll appreciate that also."

She looks back to me and smiles worriedly, trying to be reassuring. "Spike, I know it'll be a long time before you get back. But just be brave. Ember is going to take care of you. And if something happens, you can always write a letter."

"Yeah, yeah. Farewell and all that stuff, blah-blah-blah." Ember interrupts. "Spike, let's get moving."

As Ember pulls me by my wing down the hall, I question her. "Don't you think all of this is moving a tad too fast?"

She scowls at me and whispers in a low voice. "Spike, you need to find a mate, and you can't find one being as weak as you are now."

"Wait, I'm getting a mate!?"