It was a seemingly normal day when Fluttershy discovered a winged creature. But Smolder couldn't help but notice that Pinkie Pie seemed to know what the creatures were.

"Hey Spike, let's go talk with Zecora." Smolder said before grabbing one of the creatures.

"Uh...okay sure thing Smolder." Spike said.

The pair of dragons came to Zecora's place in the Everfree Forest.

"Great, we came here with one, now there's three of the things. What even are these?" Smolder said. "Since you know everything Zecora, maybe you know something?" She asked.

"What is this before my eyes; are these Parasprites I spy?" Zecora asked.

"So you do know about them. Fluttershy found them outside the forest, and they keep multiplying. Pinkie Pie ran off for some reason, but I was hoping you'd know what they are. So, they're called Parasprites huh?" Smolder said.

"Tales of crops and harvests consumed; if these creatures are in Ponyville, I'd hate to say it but your doomed." Zecora said.

"Wait, so are you saying you don't know how to deal with them?" Spike asked.

"Sadly that much is true as much as I'd hate to say; because to my own knowledge, there is no one that knows the way." Zecora said.

"Pinke Pie said something about getting a Tuba. Maybe has some idea." Smolder said.

The two dragons found Pinkie Pie gathering up quite a few instruments.

"Pinkie Pie, do you know something about these Parasprites?" Smolder asked.

"You can bet your tough as nails dragon scales I do!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Her tough as nails dragon scales?" Spike asked said.

"Pinkie Pie, that is the most random--" Smolder was saying before suddenly Pinkie Pie threw a bowling ball at her.

"SMOLDER!" Spike said. But Smolder just stood there as the bowling ball broke apart on contact. "...Wait what?" Spike asked.

"See, tough as nails!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Seriously Pinkie Pie? How do you know about my super hard scales?" Smolder asked. "Wait a second...it's you I'm talking about. Never mind." She quickly added. Not going to lie though, Spike's concern for me when he didn't know otherwise was both Nobel and really sweet of him.

"Holy gwackamoly!" Spike said in surprise.

"Anyways, can you help me get some intruments? I need them if I'm going to stop these Parasprites!" Pinkie Pie said.

"...I have no idea what your plan is, but considering it's you..." Smolder said.

The next day, suddenly Pinkie Pie had managed to get the Parasprites to leave before they devored too much of the crops with the instruments she had collected.

"Huh...didn't think Pinkie Pie was onto something." Twilight said.

"It's Pinkie Pie. If there's one thing I've come to learn about her in this town, it's that you don't question her methods." Smolder said.

"Huh...guess I should've remembered that..." Rarity said.

"It's okay sis. Your lucky I did. And what do you know, there's still time to get the stuff that was lost with Princess Celestia's catering before she gets here." Smolder said.

"Wait, Celestia's already coming." Spike noted.

"Princess, is something wrong?" Twilight asked her mentor when she landed.

"I know I promised to come visit today my dearest student, but something has come up. Manehatten seems to be in trouble. Something about an infestation." Celestia said.

"Infestation? I wonder what kind..." Spike said.

"Pinkie, don't." Smolder said.

"...I only wanted to offer to help." Pinkie Pie said. "You know, just in case it was more Parasprites." She added.

"Para-what now?" Celestia asked.

"Don't ask. Actually come to think of it, I do have some kind of friendship report to make." Twilight said.

The very next week though, there was a moment where things got even more stressful for Rarity, but thankfully Smolder reigned in the Unicorn and helped things out. In fact...

"Look, my sis is really good at making dresses. And she has this uncanny ability to make things look really good. I know you all might have your own tastes, but I trust my sis and her abilities. So why don't you instead not criticize what she's going to be making. I know my sis well." Smolder said.

"Not going to lie, the tux she made for me was something else." Spike said.

"Wait she already gave it to you? And I didn't even get to see you in it before the gala? Gah..." Smolder said.

"Sorry Smolder, looks like you'll have to keep it together until the gala." Twilight said.

"Well either way...you should still trust in my sister. I know I sure do. Spike can attest to that." Smolder said.

"He can?" Rainbow Dash asked confused.

"I can?" Spike asked equally confused. "Wait...is this about your dresses?" He asked.

"...Smolder has dresses?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"And I'm not afraid of the fact that I like wearing them!" Smolder said. "I own up to liking how much of a princess they make me feel like. It's...a bit of a personal quirk. I'm sure we all have them." She added. "...Some more than others." The orange dragoness added, noting how much Pinkie Pie was vibrating before she suddenly squeed.

"I was wondering when you'd reveal the fact you like wearing dresses so much! Phew, now I can stop hiding the fact that I knew." Pinkie Pie said.

"...Pinkie Pie you are SO random..." Rainbow Dash said.

"I'm not afraid to admit that I like wearing dresses. In fact, Rarity even custom made some very special dresses." Smolder said.

"So then...Rarity is the one that made those dresses that were outright Princess themed?" Spike asked.

"Bingo." Smolder said.

"Huh...in that case then, yeah, you girls should totally trust what Rarity makes for you." Spike said.

"You've seen those?" Applejack asked.

"Yep. When the storm hit and I got trapped there with Smolder, she showed off her Princess Dress collection. And I thought she looked good in dresses already but those...all I can say is woof." Spike said.

"You're not a dog Spike." Pinkie Pie said.

"...She doesn't get it, does she?" Smolder asked Rainbow Dash.

"Doesn't seem like it..." Rainbow Dash noted.

The next day, Rarity had the dresses made with Smolder's help, and the rest of the Main Six liked the way they looked on them.

"Wow, I guess Smolder was right. Even if I won't wear this much, I got to admit, this dress just screams awesome." Rainbow Dash said.

"Ah don't know about awesome, but it most certainly fits you RD, and ah can certainly say the same for me." Applejack said.

"Told you my sister knows what she's doing." Smolder said. "In fact, in a couple of days, she's hoping that you all would participate in a bit of a show off with them for Hotty Trotty." She added.

"Sure, why not? It's the least we can do to pay her back for these." Twilight noted.

"Not going to lie, Twilight may have some trouble keeping nobles off her at the Gala." Spike said.

"Guess you'll have to be her knight then~" Smolder said before hugging Spike who proceeded to faint in a collection of hearts.

"...Why does that keep happening?" Fluttershy asked.

"...I still can only speculate right now..." Twilight admitted.

Spike may still be a doofus, but he's most certainly a knight under those scales. Smolder thought to herself.

Author's Note

I didn't include the friendship lesson of "Swarm of the Centry" because it would just be word for word from the show.