Twilight trotted downstairs, first thing in the morning.

“Spike, you here?” Twilight asked.

“In the kitchen,” Spike said, Twilight then trotted into the kitchen and saw Spike making breakfast.

“Hey Spike, how are things?” Twilight said sitting down with a book.

“Fine… hey Twilight?” Spike asked.

“Yes Spike?” Twilight responded.

“Do you think me forcing Rarity to go on a date with me was… selfish?” Spike asked.

“Not at all Spike, Rarity owes you for all you’ve done for her, the least she could do is show you some appreciation,” Twilight said.

“Are you sure? I’m starting to wonder if I did the right thing,” Spike said.

“Look Spike, you're unsure about whether Rarity was leading you on or not, and while I hope she isn’t, you should still try to remain friends with her, otherwise who knows what will happen with her,” Twilight said.

“It kinda sounds like you got that off of a book,” Spike chuckled.

“Or maybe I give good advice once and a while,” Twilight chuckled as Spike brought her her cereal and fruit.

“Thanks,” Twilight said before eating some of her breakfast. “Has Rarity confirmed a date she’s open yet?” Twilight asked.

“No,” Spike said.

“Then why don’t you take today to go hang out with Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo? Maybe those three can help you out,” Twilight suggested.

Spike thought about it and decided that those three are good at helping ponies out of trouble as well as getting them into it “You know, maybe I should, thanks Twilight!” Spike said, before running off.

“And meanwhile I can set up that meeting with Pinkie,” Twilight said eagerly.

When Spike left the castle, he ran past a party being set up by the hyperactive apocalyptic pony Pinkie. She spotted him and smiled before hopping over to him. “Heya Spike, whereya going?” Pinkie asked.

Spike paused hearing the voice of Pinkie and he turned to her, “Oh hey Pinkie,” Spike greeted “I’m just going out to see what Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are doing, maybe see if they could help me with my problem,” Spike said.

“Oooh, a new adventure!” Pinkie cheered.

“What’s going on here? Who’s birthday is it?” Spike asked.

“Oh nopony’s, this is Rainbow’s glad you got better party!” Pinkie said.

“You got a party for everything don’t you Pinkie?” Spike asked

“Yeppers! Now hurry along, everypony needs to get ready,” Pinkie said.

“How do you know she’s coming today?” Spike asked.

“Really?” Pinkie raised a brow.

“Oh yeah…” Spike said feeling like he missed the obvious.

“Hey maybe I can give you a lift!” Pinkie said bringing out her cannon.

“No thank you Pink-” Spike was scooped up and shoved into the cannon and shot out.

“GL SPIKE!” Pinkie cheered.

“PINKIIIIIIIEEEEE!” Spike yelled as he flew across Ponyville.

“Alright, Crusaders! Today’s order of business is kite flying!” Apple Bloom said.

“Haven’t we already done that this week?” Scootaloo asked.

“But not with somepony as tha kite!” Bloom said enthusiastically.

“But neither of us can fly!” Sweetie technically lied.

“Ah know mah way around a kite design, so let’s grab some tools and get buildi-” Apple Bloom was cut off when Spike crashed through the roof of the clubhouse.

“AAAHHH!” The three fillies squealed as Spike laid there.

“Ugh, darn it Pinkie…” Spike said

Twilight flew through Ponyville and spotted the party Pinkie was setting up.

Twilight knew, where there was a party, Pinkie was there too.

Twilight teleported down there, only to jump when Pinkie was already facing her.

“Hey Twilight!” Pinkie cheered “Are you here to test out my new insta travel cannon like Spike did?” Pinkie asked.

“You shot Spike out of a cannon?! Pinkie what were you thinking?” Twilight asked.

“He needed to go somewhere so I helped him along,” Pinkie shrugged.

“Pinkie, that could have killed him,” Twilight said firmly.

“Ah he can handle it, he’s a dragon, besides, my Pinkie sense tells me he had a soft landing,” Pinkie said.

“Ugh… actually that’s what I came here for, Pinkie I was hoping to get some lessons about your past-”

“NOPE!” Pinkie said.

“What?” Twilight said sounding surprised.

“Sorry, that’s confidential, don’t speak of history lest it be repeated,” Pinkie said.

“That’s not how the saying goes,” Twilight sighed “Pinkie, your knowledge of the past could clear so much hearsay, I need-” Twilight said.

“I can’t…” Pinkie said.

“Huh?” Twilight said, confused.

“You see, things happened, bad things, being immortal isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you like me,” Pinkie said somberly.

“Pinkie…” Twilight said.

“Anywho, I got a party to set up, so sorry but no,” Pinkie said.

“Okay,” Twilight said sounding upset, but accepting that Pinkie didn’t want to talk about it.

“Well Spike? Can we help ya?” Apple Bloom asked as she patched up the hole in the ceiling with 2x4’s.

“Sorry again, Pinkie shot me out of a cannon and I couldn’t stop her, anyways, I was hoping you three could… help me with a small problem I have,” Spike asked.

“What kind of problem?” Scootaloo asked.

“I have… a date coming up,” Spike said even though it was the wrong thing to say…

Wood hit the floor and attention snapped to Spike.

“Uh-” Spike was cut off when the three fillies began asking questions.

“Oh! Who’s it with? Lyra? Rarity? Octavia?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Wow, knew you had it in you,” Scootaloo said.

“Do ya need help with makeovers? Outfits? Advice?” Apple Bloom said.

“Girls calm yourselves!” Spike said getting them to stop “Let’s just say…uh… she’s someone I have admired for a long time and-”

“Rarity,” The three girls said to eachother instantly.

“NO! I-I uh, her name is… Specialty!” Spike said blushing.

“Specialty?...” Scootaloo said unconvinced.

“Y-yeah! And um… Specialty is a-... has a secret and i think she may have been… using me in some way, and we’re going on a date soon to clear that up, problem is, I don’t know if how I went about it was selfish or not,” Spike said.

Deciding to play along the girls sat near Spike.

“What’s the secret?” Scootaloo said.

“W-we shouldn’t pry,” Sweetie said knowing what it is.

“Yeah, it’s top secret, can’t tell a soul,” Spike said.

“Understood,” Apple Bloom said.

“Really?” Spike asked

“Yeah, we take secrets seriously, so you passed the test,” Apple Bloom said.

“Ah, I see,” Spike said.

“So this ‘Specialty’ you claim she might be using you,” Scootaloo said.

“Which I personally think is jumping to conclusions,” Sweetie interrupted.

“-So how is she using you?” Scootaloo asked

“Well…” Spike hesitated, knowing he had to be very careful with his words, Sweetie giving him an expectant look said that much.

“She seemed to gain something out of being the object of my affection, and she hasn’t acknowledged my feelings until recently, a part of me feels like she was just stringing me along for benefit, and not because I actually mean anything to her,” Spike said.

“Maybe you need to understand her circumstances and why she needs your affection,” Sweetie blurted out, before realizing what she said and seeing the other two glancing at her.

“Uh… just a suggestion,” Sweetie said.

“Well. personally ah’d talk to her during this date and ask specific questions on various subjects, read her expressions and examine her facial features. Don’t let one twitch of the eye escape ya!” Apple Bloom said.

“And be sure to watch her body language, mares are creatures of emotion and want to be understood by their dates, otherwise they feel ignored,” Scootaloo said.

“Wow… you three are more knowledgeable than I expected,” Spike said.

“We… may have read a few of Rarities books on dating etiquette, for future purposes,” Sweetie said.

“But what if she confirms my fears?” Spike asked.

“Then it wasn’t meant ta be, politely cut things off,” Apple Bloom said.

“B-but consider the circumstances first and foremost, you never know, maybe she-”

“Sweetie, yer speaking as if you know something about what’s happening here,” Apple Bloom said.

“Uh… hey we read the same books remember?” Sweetie shrugged.

“...” The two other fillies glanced at eachother before turning back to Spike.

“But what if I make her mad and she sucks me dry of my love?” Spike asked before stiffening and realizing what he said.

Sweetie’s eyes widened and her waving her hooves frantically gave a hint that he said the wrong thing.

“Uuuhhh… what do you mean by that?” Scootaloo asked.

“Is she a Changling? Are ya in trouble Spike?” Apple Bloom said getting serious.

“Uuuuhhh….” Spike’s mind raced a mile a second before he got an idea. “Oh Nononono I meant my love for her, what if I make her made her mad and she and I get into a fight, she’d suck the love off of me doing that,” Spike said hoping they buy it.

Both fillies seemed barely convinced but they sat back down.

“Don’t scare us like that, Spike,” Apple Bloom said.

“If you get into a fight on a first date, then it’s definitely time to cut contact,” Scootaloo said.

“Hear her side and avoid the argument altogether if possible, find a middle ground and she’ll do the same, if at least until a better solution can be found,” Sweetie said.

“Th-thanks girls,” Spike said

“Well Spike, this was an interestin start to the day, but we got plans already, so why don’t ya mosey on and think about our advice,” Apple Bloom said.

“Yeah, thanks girls,” Spike said before getting up and leaving. As Spike made it to the bottom of the stairs and walked away, he heard hooves approaching his position and he turned to see Sweetie Belle.

“Sweetie?” Spike said.

“You really almost blew our cover back there Spike, be more careful,” Sweetie said seriously.

“Sorry, It just came out,” Spike said.

“Look Spike,” Sweetie said “I understand you may be hurting because of what she… could have said but you need to patch things up, she could have a lifestyle and business that could be in jeopardy if things went badly, think of us, we could be forced out of Ponyville if ponies found out,” Sweetie said seriously.

“I know… it wouldn’t be right of me to sit idly by while you and your sister suffer… but… I want to hear the reasons that I'm not just a battery from Rarity herself before I can forgive,” Spike said.

“Spike, that’s being a little selfish, if she doesn’t will you just abandon us?” Sweetie asked seriously.

“No… but, I will help you both find alternate sources, I don’t want to be used,” Spike said before leaving.

“Spike…” Sweetie said, tempted to just smack him upside the head.

Sweetie turned to head back but she sensed something and glanced out into the forest, she flicked her tongue… no love or emotion… she should get to the others and bring them away from here.

There’s only one creature that gives off that kind of scent…

Changelings…

The train arrived and RD got off, she was wearing a surgical mask and looked like she’d rather not wear it.

“Whew, finally out of that tent,” RD said “I was getting sick of all the orange juice, but I gotta admit, it did wonders,” RD stretched out before moving on.

She didn’t get five steps from the train before a Pink blur tried to snatch her, while others wouldn’t be able to react in time. RD isn't just anypony.

She sprang into the air avoiding being swiped.

“HEY!” RD yelled and she saw Pinkie standing there.

“HIIII!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

“Pinkie, still trying to catch me off-guard and drag me to a party?” RD joked.

“I’ll get ya one day!” Pinkie said, “What’s with the mask?” Pinkie asked.

“Celestia said I have to wear it for a few days, it’s enchanted to prevent coughing, she’s being extra cautious about the spread of the plague I suppose,” RD said lowering herself to the ground.

“Aw… that means you can eat any of the food I prepared for your Glad your better party…” Pinkie sighed.

“Don’t worry Pinkie, we can do the party afterwards,” RD said.

“Good!” Pinkie said cheering up.

“Meanwhile I gotta get to my house, doctors orders, bedrest and all,” RD said.

“Okay, have fun then!” Pinkie said before bouncing away.

Rainbow Dash then flew off to her home and arrived at her cloud house.

What she saw on the front door made her snort in frustration, another notice that her artificial cloud payments are overdue.

“Great… Thunderstrikes at it again…. I’ll deal with it tomorrow, no need to burden others with this…” Rainbow said trotting inside and up her stairs before climbing into bed and drifting off to sleep, but not before tossing the paper in a waste receptacle with the other notices.

Author's Note

What do you guys think? Is Spike being selfish here?

And what's going on with RD's cloud home payments?

Don't worry, Pinkie's history will be explored at a later date.

All in all, Happy Mother's day everybody!