Molt Down: TLC Timeline

Rarity takes a walk with me and Spike behind her so that she can find phoenix feathers for a new dress. Spike inclined because… come on. Actually, I nearly forgot he still had a crush on Rarity. But Spike did come with her so that he can look for Peewee. I remember Spike had a baby phoenix back in the day. After seven years, I’m pretty sure Peewee is all grown up by now.

Now, what about me? Well, I haven’t spent any time with Rarity myself this month. I figured a walk to the phoenix nests would be a good opportunity to do that.

“Spike, AIta, thank you two so much for accompanying me. And I do appreciate you Spike for showing me the way to the phoenix nests.”

When Rarity and I look at Spike, he is resting his arm on his right cheek.

“Anything for you, Rarity. Besides, I’ve been meaning to visit Peewee.”

I raise my hoof some. “Uh, Spike? Are you okay? What are you doing?”

“Um, nothing?”

I point to what Spike is doing. “Why are you holding your cheek like that?”

“Is there something wrong with your face?” adds Rarity, prompting Spike to sigh.

“It’s a stone scale. It isn’t magical or anything like the call of the Dragon Lord. It’s just red, ‘n itchy- ugh, and embarrassing.”

Spike starts itching what looks like a pimple on the cheek, then slumps his arm. That stone scale also looks like it’s throbbing a little bit.

Rarity and I cringe, Rarity harder then me. “Ooh, precious pants, that does look uncomfortable.”

“If only Tim were here right now. He’d relate pretty hard with this situation. It’s nothing to be embarrassed by though. Twilight taught me these tend to come from too much oil gathering in one spot.”

Rarity, Spike and I continue our walk when she gets a small idea. “You could pay Zecora a visit. She makes a creme that works wonders…”

“Just don’t get the memory broth,” I add, referring to the visit Twilight and I paid where Zecora cleared the cloned save data on the DS carts.

The three of us look up and see two phoenixes. Spike points to them.

“There’s Peewee’s parents! …but I don’t see Peewee.”

“Oh, maybe he moved out,” Rarity speculates. “Everypony has to leave the nest at some point.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see one more phoenix from behind, swooping down and headed for us. I hunch us down on the ground to avoid any close contact with his wings.

“Peewee!!!” Spike breaks free of my magic and comes over to see Peewee, who is arriving at the nest when he hears him. Peewee lands on the ground and hugs Spike. Just as the two touch heads, Peewee’s beak accidentally touches the stone scale, causing Spike to jump in pain. “Ouch!”

As Peewee jumps back and soars to his nest, he sheds a couple of feathers that Rarity floats into her bag, Spke itching the stone scale.

“Perhaps you should pay Zecora a visit sooner rather than later.”

Spike groans at Rarity’s suggestion. “I don’t want anypony else to see this. Besides, I’m sure it’ll clear up after a good night’s sleep.”

Yesterday, Aita told me about Spike’s situation when they got home. Today, it’s just Starlight and me awake in the castle. Aita’s at school and Spike is still asleep. Sleeping this late means only one thing. Something’s up with Spike. So, I decide to head to his room.

I levitate the door and curtains open and walk in. “I can’t believe you’re still asleep.”

“Ugh, just five more minutes.”

“It’s nearly noon. Aita experienced bradycardia last time this happened. What’s going on?”

“Noon? Whoa! I slept like a rock! Which reminds me. All that sleep probably cleared up my stone scale.”

I gasp when he faces me. “Um, on second thought, you can go back to sleep if you want.”

Spike is left confused until he sees himself in the mirror. He lets out a panicked scream.

He then rushes to close the curtains and curl under his blanket.

“Spike, what are you doing?!?”

“Hiding… from my hideous face.”

“I’m sure it feels terrible. But it’s just a breakout; it’s not the end of the world.”

Spike reveals his face from under the cover. “That’s easy for you to say. Your face isn’t covered in itchy red spots.” He then goes on an itching spree.

“I used to get terrible breakouts, any time I had a final exam with Celestia, who probably never had a blemish her whole life.”

“Well, I’m not in magic school.”

“No, but these things can be stress related, and you did spend yesterday with Aita and Rarity.”

Spike clings his claws to the blanket and laughs nervously. “What could possibly be stressful about that?”

“Ugh… you could try Zecora. You could try a creme that-”

“-works wonders. I’ve heard.” Spike approaches the mirror again. “But I’m not leaving the castle until my face is back to its adorable self.” Is he… trying to pop one of those stone scales? That looks painful.

I light my horn to record a brief excerpt of me and Spike’s conversation. “Fine. Why don’t I go for you. I’ll only be a little bit before I leave.”

“Really? You’d do- hm!”

Spike suddenly prepares a burp just long enough so that I can duck. A green flame billows forward from his mouth to the opposite side of the room.

“Whoa… what was that?!?”

“I dunno! I just had a sudden case of- hm!”

Spike gets interrupted, about to burp out another large flame. I teleport out just in time and grab a wooden extinguisher teleporting back in, which I spray onto Spike.

“...indigestion. I’m so sorry.”

“No need. You didn’t do anything. Maybe head into the throne room for safety. I got as much as I need anyway. Just be glad Aita’s at school. I should be back before him.”

Spike sighs and takes his leave out of the bedroom.