The Herd

Chapter 6

Spike found walking arm in arm with princess Celestia through the royal quarters to be one of the more jarring moments of his life thus far. That he was actually tall enough to manage it was by itself giving him a surreal sense of disconnection with his past. Not even half an hour ago he had barely come up to the princess’s waist, and now he could look her right in the eye.

At least, he could have if he had been able to look at Celestia without worrying about where his own eyes might end up. He’d never really noticed before now, but the princess was a rather stunningly attractive example of the female form. How exactly he’d ever missed it was something he was having quite a bit of difficultly understanding, and his ability to use rational thought wasn’t being helped by the thin, nearly form fitting nightgown Celestia was wearing.

She’d always been beautiful to him, but in the manner of a sunset or the artful design of the palace. It was beauty worth seeing and enjoyable to look at but he’d never desired a sunset, nor wanted to grab the palace and hold it pressed tightly against…

“So Spike,” Celestia said suddenly, giving him a slight start of surprise as his train of thought violently derailed. “How are you feeling?”

“Uh, I uh,” Spike stammered, and fought down the urge to hug his tail out of nerves. “Uh…tall. Very tall.”

“Yes, I imagine your new body must offer you a new and interesting perspective,” She said pleasantly.

“It’s…different alright,” he agreed with an uncomfortable cough. “So…you think you know what’s going on?”

“Fairly certain, yes,” Celestia replied, looking briefly thoughtful as she prepared her words. “Well, to begin with you need to know a few things about dragons, most especially how their magic works.”

“Magic?” Spike asked blankly.

“Yes. Dragons are extremely magical creatures you know.”

“Uh…no, I didn’t know.”

“Really?” Celestia asked with an amused smile. “So what did you attribute being able to breath fire, fire that can perform feats of teleportation no less, and the ability to spontaneously alter your size, shape, and basic body structure to, if not magic?”

“Uh…” Spike managed as his brain turned those tidbits over. “I guess I never really thought about it before.”

“Well then, allow me to give you reason to think about it. As I said, dragons are extremely magical, among the most powerfully magical creatures in existence.”

“But, then why can’t I cast spells like unicorns can?”

“Because that isn’t how draconic magic works. It is not an external force, but an internal one.”

“…huh?” Spike replied blankly.

“Your magic works upon your body, not upon the world around you,” Celestia explained with calm patience. “It alters your form to give you the means to achieve your goals and desires.”

“…I’m not really following…”

“Okay, well let’s consider your previous growth spurt for an example.” Spike winced a little at the memories. “You were tempted by your greed, which I feel the need to point out is far more potent in dragons than most other creatures. A dragon’s greed can be even stronger than hunger and several dragons have indeed starved themselves to death rather than leave their horde unguarded to go hunt. Your rejection of your greed was a truly remarkable feat, especially after having been so swallowed by it.”

“I can’t say I really remember,” Spike said uncomfortably. “Things were pretty fuzzy near the end there.”

“Yes, that’s because your magic was trying to fulfill your desire for material gain.”

“…what?” Spike said, beginning to notice a pattern to the conversation.

“You were being driven by greed, by a desire to acquire and protect treasure and items, or anything else you could get your claws on. That is why you grew as large as you did, to better grant yourself the ability to collect and horde. Twilight Sparkle, through no fault of her own but simple ignorance of what she was dealing with, spurned much of your growth by attempting to stop you. This made her a threat to your greed’s desire, and so you grew larger and larger, until you possessed size and strength enough that there was very little she could do to interfere.”

“Okay, that makes sense, I guess…”

“Likewise, I believe your magic dulled your mind because of the threat you posed.”

“…lost me again.”

“Your conscience was an obstacle to your greed. You knew what you were doing was wrong, and I don’t think I’d be mistaken if I guessed that you did experience some pangs of guilt early on?”

Spike didn’t reply, but nodded slightly, running a hand uncomfortably over his spines.

“Your growth was to prevent others from stopping you. The degradation of your mind was to prevent you from stopping yourself. A rather unfortunate combination, great strength and size, coupled with a diminished capacity for reason and empathy. In the end though you found something, realized something, that meant more to you than mere wealth…” Celestia trailed off, giving him a knowing look.

“Uh, yeah, I did…” Spike hedged.

“And that something, or someone…” she smirked as Spike fidgeted. “…is most likely the catalyst for this new change.”

“How do you mean?” he asked, trying to keep his voice level.

“Well Spike, not to be too blunt about it but your new form is very nearly the ideal image of masculine attractiveness.” Celestia took in the uncomprehending look on the dragon’s face and sighed. “Your transformation has made you very handsome…and sexually appealing.”

Spike blinked. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn the princess looked…bashful?

“And I think I would be right to assume you are finding your friends somewhat more appealing than before?” Celestia pushed on in a slight rush.

“Well…yeah…maybe…” Spike allowed, starting to become annoyed with himself over his own awkwardness. “It’s weird,” he forced himself to say in an effort to contribute more than embarrassed sounds and brief acknowledgements to the conversation. “No one really looks any different to me now, but…there’s this, I don’t even know what to call it…new emotion involved…”

“Lust, Spike,” Celestia stated simply. “Or desire, yearning, longing, whatever you feel comfortable thinking of it as. Your viewpoint for what makes women attractive to you has altered to better match Equestrian standards. Your new feelings would probably not be so alien to you if there had been some female dragons in your life before. As there were none however you never had the proper stimulation to bring forth such feelings until now.”

“Okay…” Spike said slowly as he thought his way through everything the princess was telling him. “So…my magic is acting on my desire to be…what, closer to one of my friends?”

“Just so,” Celestia confirmed.

“And to accomplish this, it changed me to be both better looking and to make me find my friends better looking?”

“Exactly, nicely summarized.”

“But then…”

“Yes?”

“Well if I had a dragon’s viewpoint of what makes a girl look good, why was I so attracted to Rarity in my old form?”

“Well,” Celestia started, only to pause with her mouth half open as her eyes widened slightly. Her gaze snapped sideways at him and her wings half unfolded. “I’m sorry, did you say Rarity?”

“Uh…yeah…” Spike replied uncertainly. Celestia looked positively thunderstruck.

“Rarity? Not Twilight?”

“Twilight?” Spike repeated, his turn to be surprised.

“Well, yes,” Celestia said, visibly pulling her composure back together. She tucked her wings down tightly against her back and ran a hand through her gravity defying mane. “I had believed this transformation of yours to be the result of the obvious emotional bond you and Twilight Sparkle share. That this was your magic providing a means by which to further your relationship by allowing you both to find the other attractive.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “Spike, may I ask you a few personal questions?”

“Uh…yeah, okay,” Spike allowed hesitantly.

“How do you feel about Twilight?”

“Uh…oh…” Spike hesitated. “She’s…swell?”

“Spike,” Celestia sighed. “Please, this could be important.”

“Well,” Spike paused to gather his thoughts, and his resolve. He’d never really talked to anyone about this kind of stuff before, let alone someone like the princess. “She’s…she’s like a big sister to me I guess. I like…” He sighed and hoped his face wasn’t as red as it felt. “…I love her. She is special to me and I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“But you don’t desire her.”

“No.”

“Not even now, with this new body and viewpoint?”

“I…I’m not sure. I mean I really haven’t really had much time…”

“I understand,” Celestia said, smoothly cutting in to relieve him of the need to continue further on an obviously uncomfortable topic. “So then, Rarity. When did you first…notice your attraction to her?”

“Pretty much the first time I laid eyes on her,” Spike admitted, and had to steady the princess as she half stumbled in shock.

“But that’s impo…” Celestia shut her mouth forcefully. She took a deep breath, and then started over. “That should not have been possible.”

Spike didn’t know what to say to that, and just shrugged.

“How could you have found her attractive?” Celestia asked, her tone suggesting she didn’t really expect an answer. “I mean she is certainly a beautiful woman, but her appeal should not have matched up to a draconic viewpoint. Spike, before your change did you ever find anyone else attractive as you did Rarity?”

“Hmmm…nope.” Spike answered after a moment’s thought.

“Not even…” She hesitated, and there was no missing it this time. The slightest color came to the princess’s cheeks, and her wings shifted in a self-conscious manner . “What about myself? Not to be boastful, but I am aware of my own…appeal, in relation to most people.”

Spike fidgeted, and did a rather passible impression of Fluttershy.

“Spike, loud enough for me to hear please,” Celestia said. “You won’t hurt my feelings. I would not really expect you to have been able to view me in such a way.”

“…no,” Spike forced out. “You were lovely, but not in a way that…you know…”

“I understand. Though that does leave the question, what does Rarity possess that would have crossed the species barrier between you two?”

“I have no idea.”

“Nor do I,” Celestia admitted.

They walked on for a while, each lost in their own thoughts, before Spike hesitated a moment in his steps.

“Spike?” Celestia prompted, and he shook his head.

“Sorry,” he said, regaining his stride. “I was just…so does this mean you think I actually have a chance with Rarity?”

Celestia gave him a brief look, then had to cover her mouth as a stream of giggled came pouring out.

“Oh Spike,” she said warmly, tugging on his arm to pull him closer. He shivered as the feathery touch of a wing brushed against him. “I rather think you have an excellent chance with Rarity.”

“Really?”

“Oh my yes,” Celestia told him. “Looking as you do, I’m not sure I’d turn you down if you asked.” Spike somehow managed to trip himself up with his own tail in surprised response to that, stumbling awkwardly. The princess was careful to smirk only on the side he couldn’t see.

“There you are!” Twilight exclaimed as she finally managed to track Rarity down. Or more accurately, randomly check down halls and open doors until she found Rarity.

“Twilight!” Rarity gave a little start of surprise at the sudden outburst. She put a hand over her heart. “Darling please, no need to make such a fuss.”

“Sorry,” Twilight said in that tone of voice that suggested she really wasn’t and had merely apologized due to social reflex. “But you kind of vanished on us there.” She took a second to take in their surroundings. The door had lead out onto a small, by palace standards, balcony that overlooked the royal gardens. It had a rather intimate feel to it. “What are you doing out here?”

“Oh I was just…getting some fresh air,” Rarity replied in a not quite lofty manner. She turned back to lean against the balcony railing and stare out over the garden. “I was just feeling a bit cooped up with everyone crowded in that room, that’s all.”

“Uh huh,” Twilight said, the disbelief plainly evident in her tone. She joined Rarity at the railing, though she only gave the view a brief glance before turning her gaze on her friend.

“…yes?” Rarity asked after a long moment.

“What’s going on?” Twilight demanded, a bit rudely perhaps but she just wasn’t in a mood to slowly pry the truth out bit by bit.

“Whatever do you mean dear?”

“Rarity,” Twilight said shortly. “Something is bothering you.”

“Nonsense,” Rarity said dismissively.

“What is it?” Twilight pressed.

“Nothing.”

“What is it?”

“Darling, really…”

“Tell me.”

“It’s really none of your…”

“Ah ha! So there is something!”

“I didn’t say…”

“You didn’t have to!” Twilight said, jabbing a finger at Rarity. “You were going to say it was none of my business, which means there is something, otherwise there would be nothing to not be my business!”

Rarity blinked at her, and then let out a long sigh.

“Sooooo…” Twilight prompted.

“I…don’t think you would be the right person to discuss it with,” Rarity said after a pause.

“…oh,” Twilight said, stung. “I see…”

“Oh no no no,” Rarity quickly spoke up as she took in her friend’s tone and expression. “It’s not like that darling, it’s just…”

“Just what?” Twilight asked defensively.

“Well it’s…” Rarity hunched in on herself a bit. “It’s about Spike, and with you two being so close, you might be…somewhat biased.”

“Me? Biased?” Twilight said indignantly. “When have I ever!”

“Pinkie Sense,” Rarity said simply.

“I…that…you can’t…ahhh!,” Twilight growled, earning a small smile out of Rarity. “Okay fine, so maybe I wasn’t being completely fair and totally open minded about the whole Pinkie Sense thing…”

“The way Pinkie tells it…”

“Alright alright!” Twilight exclaimed. “I had made up my mind before hand and was ignoring evidence I didn’t want to see!”

“Well, that is very mature of you to be able to admit,” Rarity said approvingly.

“Yeah well…oh wait a minute, I see what you’re doing...”

“Me?”

“You’re trying to distract me by changing the topic.”

“My, but you are going to be insistent about this, aren’t you?”

“Rarity, you’re my friend,” Twilight said, a bit less belligerently. “And so is Spike. So if something is bothering you, especially if it involves Spike, I want to help.”

“You promise not to just take his side?” Rarity asked after a long silence.

“Of course,” Twilight replied immediately.

“And you can’t tell anyone else about this.”

“Not a problem.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Pinkie Promise?”

“Oh come on Rarity…”

“Pinkie Promise,” Rarity pressed, and Twilight gave a sigh of reluctance.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly…” she said dully, half-heartily pantomiming. “…stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Hmmmm…” Rarity mused doubtfully. “I can’t say your lack of enthusiasm speaks well for your sincerity.” She held up a hand as Twilight made to protest. “However you made the promise…so if you dare break it I’ll be sure to let Pinkie know.”

Twilight’s memories of Pinkie’s reaction to such a slight crawled out from some dark corner of her mind.

“YOU PINKIE PROMISED!”

She shivered.

“Glad to see we have an understanding,” Rarity said satisfactorily.

“Yeah,” Twilight agreed. “So, Spike…”

“Yes, Spike…” Rarity sighed. “Well…you…do you know how he feels about me?”

“Uh, yeah,” Twilight said. “He’s not exactly the most subtle guy in Equestria.”

“Perhaps not,” Rarity agreed. “He is quite the sweet-heart though.”

“Eh, he has his moments I guess,” Twilight allowed.

“More than mere moments love,” Rarity countered. “He’s always been so helpful and kind and constantly complimenting my looks and designs and…”

“And I’m supposed to be the biased one here?” Twilight broke in.

“Ah, yes…well…” Rarity coughed. “My point is, he’s always been wonderful to me. Selfless even. When those horrible diamond dogs made it clear they were going to kidnap me, Spike didn’t even hesitate to throw himself at the largest of them to try and buy me time to run…”

“Wait, Spike did what?” Twilight asked in amazement, but Rarity was too caught up in her monolog to listen.

“…and he’s constantly helping me with my business when I get in over my head, oh and there was that time he turned into a monster and it was the thought of me, me! That made him realize what he had become and…”

“Rarity!” Twilight interrupted. “What. Is. Your. Point?”

“My point,” Rarity said in a miffed tone. “Is that he has been just about everything I could have wanted in man. Except…”

“Except…” Twilight prompted impatiently.

“Well…I…” Rarity hesitated, looking deeply uncomfortable. “…except I never found him…attractive.”

“And?” Twilight asked.

“Well…now I do…” Rarity admitted.

“ …and?” Twilight repeated.

“Twilight!” Rarity snapped. “Where is your moral outrage?”

“What am I supposed to be outraged about?” Twilight asked defensively.

“Me!” Rarity half shouted, stamping a foot. “Me me me me me! That’s all I’ve cared about, isn’t it? Me! Spike has given and given and given, and what do I do? Take advantage, that’s what! I take and take and take, and tell him ‘oh thank you Spike, you’re such a nice friend’. Friend, just a friend, and still he gave and gave and gave and I took and took and took, and I doled out my little compliments to him and he was happy to get them. And now he’s suddenly handsome, suddenly amazingly, incredibly handsome. And only now, now! Do I find him appealing.” She slammed a hand down violently on the railing. “How can you stand me Twilight? I can’t even stand myself right now! I am a horrible, shallow person!”

“Rarity…” Twilight said, her tone a mix of panic and sympathy as she tried desperately to think of just how to reply to such an outburst.

“What am I going to do Twilight?” Rarity asked, her voice threatening to break. “I don’t think I can trust myself around him now. He’s just about everything I want in a guy, and everything I don’t deserve for how I’ve treated him. But how could I possibly say no and live with myself? How can I say yes and not hate myself?”

“Wow,” Twilight said, racking her brain for answers to questions so far outside her fields of expertise she would need astronomical units to measure the distance. Science and magic she could explain in her sleep, relationship advice however…

“So stick with what you know,” Twilight said to herself as an idea struck, and she forced her mind to consider the problem from a more familiar perspective.

“Pardon?” Rarity asked.

“Okay, let’s just take a step back and look at this objectively,” Twilight said. “Starting with the facts.”

“Umm, what?”

“Fact one: Spike is a dragon,” Twilight continued, her mind racing down lines of thought to try and figure out where she was going with this. “And you are not. Thus, there is no logical reason that you should find him physically attractive. Or at least, there wasn’t until he transformed. His prior physical form was so far outside the Equestrian standards for male beauty that it would be illogical to even try to apply them to him. Or would have been, beforehand. Uh so…in conclusion, you have absolutely nothing to feel ashamed about in regards to your previous lack of feelings of attraction towards Spike.”

“I’m not sure…” Rarity tried to speak up, but Twilight was on a roll and wasn’t about to let herself be interrupted.

“Fact two: You are the element of Generosity,” She paused, certain that there was something important about that. She just needed to find the right words. “This is not just some silly title or personality quirk. The Elements of Harmony are fundamental components of the very fabric of reality, the physical representation of forces that are important, nay, vital to the universe existing in the form that it does.”

“I…I don’t understa…”

“You!” Twilight kept going, thrusting a finger at Rarity again. “Are the physical incarnation of Generosity. You give selflessly to others, not just because of who you are, but what you are. You. Are. Generosity. So to have someone give to you, to be generous to generosity…well it throws you out of balance,” Twilight’s voice rose in mounting excitement as she became more and more certain she was onto something important. “It doesn’t add up, magically speaking, because such an act runs contrary to the very definition of what you are; you’re the giver, not the givee. Spike’s constant generosity towards you has upset your equilibrium, thrown your viewpoint out of focus, and it’s screwing with your sense of self. You’re so bothered by what you perceive as an imbalance of give and take between the two of you because you’re used to a far more skewed ratio, in which you give far more than you take.”

“So…what do I do?” Rarity asked after a bewildered silence.

“Well…get over it,” Twilight concluded bluntly.

“Oh, just like that?” Rarity replied tartly, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

“Yes. Acknowledge and accept that your measure for selfishness to selflessness is skewed and requires recalibration.”

“But…Spike really has…” Rarity tried to say.

“Been very good to you, I know,” Twilight broke in with a sigh. “But he’s done so much for you because he wants you to be happy. How do you think he’d feel if he found out all his efforts have just made you feel horribly guilty?”

Rarity didn’t answer, but she did shift rather uncomfortably.

“If you want to give him something, give him the satisfaction of knowing his generosity was appreciated and that his hard work was worth it.”

“I suppose I can manage that,” Rarity allowed slowly. “It would make him happy…but that doesn’t do anything for my shallowness.”

“Rarity, if you were really a shallow person, you would have stuck with prince charmless,” Twilight shot off, indulging a hunch.

“Twilight, no one could have stuck with that…that…”

“Of course they could have. He’s rich, royal, and good looking. He might have the personality of a rug and the manners of a snake, but hooking up with him would bring you fame, fortune, and just about anything else you might want. Except for a partner you could respect and enjoy the company of. You threw away a potential life of luxury on principle Rarity, because you deemed the material gains, incredible though they would be, insufficient compensation for having to deal with such a jerk . How does that make you shallow?”

“…I did, didn’t I?” Rarity said slowly, mulling it over. “But, Spike…”

“Is a totally different situation. You like Spike for being Spike, not because he’s good looking. The looks are just…well it’s like your relationship with him is a chemical reaction that’s just been waiting for the right catalyst to get started. And Spike’s new looks are that catalyst, and now he fits all your desired criteria.”

“So what, I should go ahead and throw myself at him now that he meets my romantic checklist?”

“I would suggest a bit less dramatic of wording, but yeah. I mean isn’t that what people do when they’re looking for a partner? They analyze, evaluate, and judge the other person for the traits they desire, and decide whether or not said person meets enough of the right traits to make a relationship feasible.”

“I would suggest a bit less analytical of wording, but I suppose you have a point,” Rarity grudging agreed. “But how can I trust that I’m accepting him for the right reasons when I have such doubts about myself?”

“By trusting me when I say that you are a good person, and that I think you and Spike could make each other very happy.”

“I don’t know Twilight,” Rarity sighed. “I just don’t want to hurt him.”

“Turning him down isn’t exactly going to be kind to his feelings.”

“That’s hardly fair Twilight.”

“Yeah well that’s life sometimes. I’m not saying you have to hook up with him to spare his feelings, but if you’re seriously considering this…”

“…I am,” Rarity admitted softly.

“Then it’s only right to take everything into consideration. Leaving something out because it’s not fair isn’t scientifically sound.”

“Love is not a science dear.”

“Yeah, no kidding. Science makes way more sense.”

“Heh, maybe to you darling,” Rarity chuckled. She rested her elbows on the railing and stared out over the garden. “How do you think I should approach this?”

“Beats me,” Twilight said wearily. “I am officially exhausted of relationship advise.”

“Pity, you were doing quite well,” Rarity told her.

“You think so? I was just winging it,” Twilight admitted.

“You are the Rainbow Dash of winging relationship advise dear.”

“Uh…thanks?” Twilight said uncertainly, and Rarity giggled. Which in turn made Twilight giggle. Soon the both of them were laughing at how much the other was laughing, and at how good it felt to indulge in such mindless mirth.

“Oh my, I think we just missed something quite amusing,” a velvety smooth voice cut in through the laughter. Both unicorns turned in surprise to find Celestia and Spike standing in the doorway. The princess was smiling cheerfully, though there was something in the expression that was more pleased than merely amused. Spike meanwhile was trying much too hard not to stare nervously at Rarity to even fake a smile.

“Princess,” Twilight said once the shock passed. “I hope it’s okay that we’re out here…”

“Why wouldn’t it be Twilight?” Celestia asked kindly as she approached. She looked out over the balcony, and gave her number one student a private smile. “You know, it is such a lovely evening. I feel like taking a flight around the palace grounds. Would you care to join me Twilight?”

“Me?” Twilight blurted. “Uh I, well…yeah but I don’t have any…”

“A situation I believe you can rectify,” Celestia told her.

“…oh, duh! Right!” Twilight exclaimed, remembering the flight spell she had once used to give Rarity a set of gossamer wings. Wings that had combusted and nearly dropped their owner to her death. ‘Don’t be silly,’ Twilight thought to herself. ‘It’s night, you’ll be fine. Focus: more personal time with the princess…oh and giving Rarity and Spike some alone time.’

She glanced over at the pair, both of whom seemed to be very much aware of the fact that they were about to be left with only the other for company. Both of whom looked rather uncertain and nervous about the prospect as well.

‘It’ll be good for them,’ she told herself, and brought the spell into focus in her mind. It wasn’t quite a difficult as she remembered it being, though still it was a power hungry thing and required her to really work to feed the effect enough energy. Especially as she felt the spell taking hold of her, threatening her focus as a spreading warmth just shy of uncomfortable flowed across her back.

That she was casting the spell right in front of the princess however did wonders for her concentration. There was absolutely no way she was about to let herself screw up magically with Celestia watching. She’s sooner throw herself off the balcony wingless than face that embarrassment.

Fortunately such extreme measures proved unnecessary. The spell went off without a hitch, and Twilight found herself the proud owner of a set of silver and violet wings that were only slightly less fragile and delicate than they looked.

“Very nicely done,” Celestia complimented, and Twilight tried not to blush too noticeably. The princess turned to Spike and Rarity, who were still busy casting furtive glances at each other. “Sorry to steal Twilight from you Rarity. I’ll lend you Spike in her place though.”

“Wha?” Rarity replied, obviously caught off guard at being addressed. “Oh uh, right…”

“Shall we Twilight?” Celestia asked, her words tinted with a suppressed giggle. She hopped easily up onto the railing, her own majestic wings spreading open gracefully.

“Yes,” Twilight agreed eagerly…right until she glanced over the edge of the balcony and took in just how far down it was. “…coming…” she added a bit nervously.

“Don’t think about the ground,” Celestia advised through a smile. “Trust your wings, and they’ll take care of you.” She pushed off the railing and out into open space. The princess fell into a graceful arching dive, her wings spread wide to soar on the nightly air currents like an eagle.

“Twilight!” Rarity hissed from just behind her as the newly winged unicorn made to clamber over the balcony.

“What?” Twilight asked, pausing with one foot on the railing.

“I…are you sure…I mean…” Rarity whispered, visibly restraining herself from glancing back at Spike.

“Trust yourself,” Twilight told her as she awkwardly shifted around until she was sitting with her legs dangling, the garden grounds far below. “You’ll do the right thing.”

“But…” Rarity whined.

“Twilight!” Celestia called, soaring back by the balcony. “Coming?”

“Yes!” Twilight called back, taking a nervous peek down. She took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself.

“But Twilight!” Rarity said in a low, desperate voice. “I’m still not sure how I feel. I need more time!”

“Sorry, but I can’t keep the princess waiting,” Twilight told her with a not quite apologetic smile. She slowly took her hands off the railing.

“But…” Rarity said, grabbing Twilight suddenly by the arm. The bewinged unicorn gave a start of surprise, and slipped sideways off the balcony. “…oh dear…”

“Rarity!” Twilight shrieked as she tumbled out into empty air, spinning in a rather stomach unfriendly manner. “Wings…wings…wings wings wings wingswingswings how do these stupid things work!”

There was a sharp jerk somewhere in the middle of her back that made Twilight feel like she had just bounced, and the sensation of falling faded away.

“Very nice Twilight,” Celestia said mirthfully as she flew by at an odd angle. “They even work upside down.”

“Huh?” Twilight replied. She took a moment to look around her, and realized she was tilted nearly on her head. Her wings however didn’t seem to care, and were beating in a steady rhythm that allowed her to hover in place. “Oh yeah…neat.”

“Come on,” Celestia prompted. “I have something I think you’d like to see.”

“Right uh…” Twilight squirmed, trying to figure out the right wing motions. The spell luckily took care of such considerations, and once she stopped trying to micromanage her wing beats, Twilight found flying to be almost disappointingly easy. She flipped herself upright and zipped off after the princess, climbing higher and higher into the night sky.

Twilight gave one final glance back at the palace, and could just make out the tiny figures of Spike and Rarity, both of them standing at the railing of the balcony. She smiled, and let herself feel hopeful. They really could be good for each other.

Then she remembered that Pinkie was intending to ask Rarity to join their herd. “Oh…oh son-of-a…”