“It’s so nice to finally meet up with you guys again! I feel like we haven’t hung out in like, forever!” Spike said, walking along the rocky path between Ember and Thorax.

“Mmhm, usually we meet up in Ponyville, but this is a nice change of pace! It’s good to be home!” Ember nodded, taking in the ever-growing smell of brimstone.

“Yeah, m-maybe we can…meet in the Changeling Kingdom next time?” Thorax’s breathing was heavy, his body’s natural walking sway had a very noticeable stagger to it.

“Are…you doing alright, Thorax?” Ember asked.

Spike turned his head to see Thorax sweating buckets. “Yeah, dude, you’re not looking so hot…”

“No, I’m not hot!” Thorax immediately deflected. “I, I mean I am hot, but not like…I-I’m fine, really!”

The sweat that dripped off Thorax’s face immediately started to sizzle and evaporate the moment it hit the rocks beneath them.

“Look, the Dragon Lands aren’t suited for everyone. You don’t have to play tough for us,” Ember spoke with a genuine concern and seriousness in her voice. “If it’s too hot to handle, then just say so.”

“Or, y’know, just…transform into a dragon so you can take the heat?”

Thorax dismissively waved his hoof. “It’s fiiiine! I’m fiiiine…!” he said, his voice getting lighter and dizzier by the second.

“Alright, well, we’re here!” Ember gestured to the majesty that was her homeland: smoky clouds, and spires of rocks as far as the eye could see. But most importantly, the river and pools of lava that now flowed everywhere.

“O-Oh! Wow, that’s a…lot of lava…” Thorax let out a shaky laugh as a defense mechanism.

“Yep! Finest lava pools around!” Ember dragged her foot against the rocks, revving her legs up before sprinting towards the lava, leaping in with a cannonball.

Not wanting to be left behind, Spike ran towards the pool, gracefully swan-diving into the pool.

“Eeep!” Thorax scrambled backwards to avoid the inevitable splashing as Ember and Spike resurfaced.

Ember swam to the edge of the pool, “You coming in, Thorax? The lava’s great!”

Thorax took a cautious step towards the dragons, immediately flinching upon nearly stepping on a stray drop of lava. “Y-Yeah, I think I’m gonna change into something more comfortable first…”

Ember rolled her eyes. “Finally.”

A flash of green flame rose up and surrounded Thorax’s body. The fire disappeared as fast as it showed up, and Thorax the changeling was gone. In his place, was a tall, somewhat lanky dragon, with purple scales, a lavender underbelly and horns, and aquamarine spikes lining his head, back, and tail. “Is this better?”

“Ah fuck, he’s cute…” Ember and Spike quietly cursed in unison.

Thorax cautiously walked towards the edge of the pool, wincing the entire time as he gingerly dipped his toe into the lava. He immediately recoiled upon first contact, but as he tried again, he was relieved his new scales weren’t immediately getting singed by the lava.

His eyes widened, the scorching lava actually felt pleasant now. He slowly slipped into “Aaah…Oooh, this is nice…”

“Better than a hot tub?” Ember teased.

“Mmm, I dunno about that…”

“Well, we have all day to change your mind.”

Spike swam to the edge, leaning against the rocky wall, putting Thorax in between the two dragons. “So, what’s new with you two? Any good gossip?”

Ember leaned her head back in thought. “Well, Smolder’s still pretty bummed that she can’t do her rivalry with Ocellus.”

“Yeah, well, Ocellus said she wanted a break this year,” Thorax nodded.

“I mean, I get it, but it’s kind of a shame. Smolder really seemed to like competing with her… That, or she just wanted a rematch.”

“If she wants to go against a changeling, there’s still two she could go up against,” Spike pointed out.

Ember curled her lip, genuinely considering the idea for a second. “Ehhh, it’s not the same, really. The rivalry between her and Ocellus was something special, you know? She can’t suddenly go and declare a new rival just like that!”

“Speaking of dragons and changelings, have you seen Mina around lately?” Thorax could barely keep the smile from growing on his face.

“Actually, yeah. I’ve been seeing her in the Dragon Lands a lot lately. Usually she comes to me asking for dating advice,” Ember briefly scoffed. “As if I have any sort of knowledge on that stuff.”

“Well at least she’s calling it dating!” Thorax said, almost breaking out into laughter.

Spike immediately caught on. “Why? What’s Pharynx calling it?”

“Well first, he says it’s ‘none of my damn business’ like I don’t already know.” Thorax rolled his eyes. “But he insists on leaving the hive so that he can gather intel on weaponry and defenses from ‘trusted sources’.” he said with exaggerated air quotes.

“So he’s going off to read comic books in Fillydelphia,” Spike translated.

Thorax nodded. “I’ve been humoring him, but honestly, I kinda wish he’d just say the word ‘date’ at this point. It’s like he’s afraid of admitting it.”

“Who knows? Maybe denying his feelings is what Mina likes about him,” Ember thought out loud.

“Doesn’t that sound familiar…?” Spike whispered to Thorax, nudging his side with his elbow as the two guys quietly snickered.

Ember briefly puffed some smoke out of her nostrils. “Well, what about you, Spike? What’s going on in Ponyville?”

“Oh, you know, the usual,” Spike shrugged. “Twilight’s excited for the whole month. Though she’s kinda squicked out considering her mom’s joining in this year.”

“Mmm, I’m sure you can relate,” Ember nodded solemnly.

Spike scoffed as he leaned down into the lava. “Tch, what do you mean? It’s not like I ever knew my mom, and I don’t really see Twilight as my mom…anymore.”

“Maybe not, but Twilight’s mom was raising her when she was young, she was probably raising you, too.” Ember noted. “So Twilight’s mom would kinda be like your mom, too.”

Spike went silent, sinking lower into the lava until only the top half of his head showed. As the lava heated up his scales, Ember’s logic started to echo in his mind. He started thinking of his memories of Twilight Velvet, and how gentle and caring and motherly-

“...OH SHIT YOU’RE RIGHT.” Spike immediately popped up, clutching his head. “Ohhh why is it suddenly so weird now!?”

Ember softly chuckled to herself. And while she was at it… “And Thorax, while you may not like her, Chrysalis did hatch you and raise you while you were young. Technically it’s like your mom’s in, too.”

Thorax joined Spike in grabbing his own head, trying to block the intrusive thoughts. “Aaagh! Don’t make this weird for me, too! Oh NO, is that why she keeps coming back to the hive to lecture me?!”

Even during November, the western desert town of Appleloosa was harsh and hot. But depending on what you were after, whether it be the juicy apples from the orchard, the roaring buckball games, or the colorful locals, it was worth taking the heat.

“Alright, you got this…”

Feather Bangs wiped the sweat from his forehead as he looked around. There were ponies everywhere, wearing different hats to shade them from the sun. Though the ponies weren’t what he was looking for…

Among the sea of ten-gallon hats, a pair of feathers stuck out. And upon seeing the odd hat out, Feather Bangs started to move.

The feathered headband was being worn by a buffalo, walking the streets of Appleloosa by herself, until she heard a galloping behind her. She turned around to see an earth pony stallion with frosted tips stopping for her.

“Oh, uh…hi!” Little Strongheart awkwardly waved. She tilted her head and pursed her lips. The stallion looked familiar, but she was certain he wasn’t an Appleloosian. “Do I know you? I swear I recognize you from somewhere.”

Feather Bangs flipped his mane and cleared his throat. “Well, we’ve seen each other before, but it’d be my pleasure to be able to meet you.” He stuck his hoof out. “I’m Feather Bangs. We’re part of the No Clop November challenge that Princess Cadence is hosting.”

Strongheart’s eyes lit up with recognition. “Ohh!” She happily shook Feather Bangs’s hoof. “I’m Little Strongheart. It’s nice to meet you, Feather Bangs!”

Feather Bangs let out a soft chuckle, running a hoof through his mane. “Little Strongheart, huh? Well, with a name like that, it’s no wonder ponies say good things come in small packages.”

Strongheart immediately went into a bashful giggle. “Ehehehe…w-well, what brings you all the way to Appleloosa, Feather Bangs?”

“I thought it might be nice to get to know the participants,” Feather Bangs explained. “Would make the orgy real special if it wasn’t just Feather banging a bunch of strangers. And well, I wanna know more about you, Little Strongheart. What tickles your fancy?” he said, his hoof brushing against the feathers in her headband.

“Oh, really? Well, I’d be happy to spend time with you!”

“That’s great! I’d love to get close with ya,” Mentally, Feather Bangs was pumping his hooves in the air as Little Strongheart started to walk and talk with him.

Strongheart’s nervous smile got a bit wider and genuinely happier in relief. Her daunting task of trying to get to know everyone was made a little easier if they were all just coming to her first.

Author's Note

I really gotta find a different setup for dragon characters other than hot tub...