Pound My Pumpkin

1. Guy Talk

Pound sat on the floor in the main room of Sugarcube Corner, hidden behind the front counter. He had decided he shouldn't chase after Pumpkin when she'd run out like that. All things considered, he thought it would likely be the wrong thing to do, or at the very least present the wrong impression. He had thought she would return soon enough and he could explain himself a bit more, and if she took too long he could go out and look for her. But she was 16, nearly a mare, and could take care of herself, right? And how long was too long to go after her, and how soon was too soon? Thus, here he was, his red , frantic eyes blinking in the mid-morning light of the sun, looking rather unkempt and frentic, not unlike Twilight Sparkle that one time she was late sending a Friendship Report to Celestia...complete with eye twitch.

He hadn't touched the sign on the front door, meaning it still read closed. So when the bell at the front door rang, he shot to his hooves and stuck his head around the counter to see who it was.

A purple drake with green spines walked in slowly, choosing to walk on all fours to fit building dimensions designed for quadrapedal ponies. His wings were folded tightly to his back as he approached. "Pound?" Spike asked, worry in his voice. "You okay?"

Pound blinked for a bit. "Spike? What are you doing here?"

"Twilight and the others asked me to check on you after we found Pumpkin under the bridge, crying her eyes out. What's this all about, anyway?"

Pound sank down to the floor. "Is...is she okay?"

"She's at the library just now. If she needs anything, Twilight will see to it."

Pound let out a sigh of relief. "That...that's good." He lay down on the floor, letting his body relax. "I was really worried about her." His mane settled, returning to its normal configuration.

Spike sat down next to him. Although the adolescent-seeming dragon was approximately the size of an adult pony, his long neck meant he could easily tower over others if he wanted...and sometimes, even if he didn't want to. He looked down at Pound, concern in his eyes and voice. "Pound, what's this all about?"

Pound sighed. "It's...complicated." That's probably the understatement of the year, Pound thought to himself.

Spike smiled. "Want to talk about it? I'm told I'm a good listener."

Pound looked up at Spike. If there was anyone he could talk to about this... "Spike, remember when you first started courting Rarity?"

Spike chuckled. "You weren't even born yet, kid."

Pound shook his head. "No, I mean when you first started getting serious about it, when it became obvious to everypony it was more than a child's crush."

Spike blinked for a bit. "Yeah, I remember. Not exactly the...happiest time of my life."

"Can you tell me about it?"

Spike raised an eyebrow. "How does this relate to whatever's going on with you and Pumpkin?" he asked, suspicion in his voice.

"Tangentialy," Pound relied.

Spike nodded. "Gotcha." He leaned back in thought. "Well, everypony knew I at least had a crush on Rarity...but a few years after Twilight ascended to Alicorn, I asked Rarity to stop looking at me as a child and see me for who I wanted to be for her...to give me a chance to show her how happy I could make her. Then I asked her out." Spike smiled. "She was rather shocked, needless to say, and asked for some time to think about it. It took a few days, but she did say yes. I then focused on doing what I could to show her that, while by dragon standards I was still an infant, I had the capacity and willingness to be grown up for her. She enjoyed our date, and readily agreed to future ones."

Pound smiled. "Were there...any problems?"

Spike sighed. "Yeah. While everypony in Ponyville was used to my pursuing her, not all of them were pleased at the idea of it actually getting anywhere. Apparently, the idea of a dragon and a pony as a couple struck a few as...unnatural. And beyond Ponyville, things were even worse." Spike looked down. "A few cities and towns across Equestria actually actively shunned Rarity for choosing to be with me. It was her own personal Tartarus for a while as ponies she sought to do business with denied her because of her lifestyle, an obstacle all her talent and connections could not overcome. And to me, it seemed it was all my fault."

Pound nodded. He remembered his Aunt Pinkie telling him this story when it happened, and the rage that had followed when she excused herself to the basement to vent. "Then what happened?"

"I went to break up with her, thinking that if she was free of me, she could pursue her dreams and be happy. She...didn't take it well." Spike chuckled nervously. "I swear, her tirade was probably audible in Appleoosa. At first, she called me all sorts of names for betraying her like that, leaving her alone at the worst time in her life, and when I interrupted to say I was doing it for her..."

"Is that when the boutique did the triple axle double somersault in the air to the sound of a shouted 'what'?"

Spike blinked. "That bad, huh? Yeah, that was the moment. Anyway, the tirade she gave me then doesn't bear repeating...or remembering, to be honest." Spike chickled fondly. "After that, nothing would tear us apart. And I learned something then. A lot of people - ponies and otherwise - have certain ideas about how love can be 'right' or 'wrong', and that only the 'right' kind of love should exist. That's a load of horse apples. When a bond like that is found, when you know there's only one being with whom you want to be there with forever, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. The only opinions that should matter are your own and that of your special someone."

Pound smiled. "Thanks, Spike. That...that helps, somewhat."

Spike blinked, then grinned. "Oho! Is that what this is about? Someone's gone and caught your eye, Pound? And Pumpkin didn't take it well?" Pound nodded. "Well, maybe I can help you out there and figure out how to fix this."

Pound blinked in thought. "...promise you won't tell anypony?"

Spike smiled. "Cross my heart," he began, making the motions, "hope to-"

"No," Pound interrupted. "Not a Pinkie Promise. Just...a promise."

Spike blinked. "Umm...okay. Why?"

Pound swallowed. "Because this is really serious...and I'm not sure I have the experience to know how to handle the situation correctly on my own. So, while I want you to keep it secret...I want you to have a way to act to salvage the situation if it looks like I'm going to screw something up royally, even if that means not keeping the secret."

Spike looked at Pound seriously for a time, then rested one clawed hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Well, you've taken the first step to handling this situation - whatever it is - the right way. I don't know if I'm the best one to confide in or help, but I'll do what I can...and I'll keep the secret, and only tell if I have to. Alright?"

Pound looked up at Spike with a smile. "Thanks."

Spike smiled back. "So, who is it that's caught your eye and caused this whole mess, huh?"

"Pumpkin."

Spike blinked, his smile fading. "Uh, I think I need to be a bit more specific."

"I have lustful feelings for my sister." Pound looked down, guessing this wouldn't go over well.

Spike returned his claw to the floor, staring at Pound for a while. At long last, he spoke. "Well...buck."

Pound chuckled. "I know. That...more or less sums up my life since the day I got my Cutie Mark."

Spike blinked. "That long?" Pound nodded. "And you've never let on to anyone?"

Pound nodded. "Kept it to myself...except for regular prayers to Celestia and Luna at sunrise and sunset. ...do you think they hear prayers?"

Spike shrugged. "I don't know if Celestia can hear prayers, but I know Luna can, just like she can visit a pony's dreams to help them with issues they can't handle on their own."

Pound sighed. "That explains more than it doesn't," he mumbled under his breath. "Like why nothing I tried would help me let go of this...attraction."

Spike looked at Pound for a time. "So...what exactly happened last night?" he asked calmly.

Pound winced. "Pumpkin managed to force the truth out of me."

Spike blinked. "Which led to her running away from you and home to spend the rest of the night under the bridge crying her eyes out?"

"Apparently."

Spike settled backwards. "Huh," he said at last, watching Pound carefully. "Well, you've made a right mess of things."

"You noticed," Pound snapped back acerbically.

"Hey! I'm trying to help here!" Spike glowered at Pound.

Pound lowered his head. "Sorry."

Spike exhaled. "As I was saying...you've made a mess of things, but I think you can still make things right. Pumpkin's probably going to try and talk to one or more of the girls about this, and try to figure out her own head and heart on the matter. ...you need to do the same."

Pound looked up. "Huh?"

"You described these feelings as attraction, lust. If that's all it is, you need to suppress it or erase it as best you can. However, if it's love, but just maturing into the desire for physical intimacy...then you need to decide exactly what to do about it. But if it is love, then she has to come first when it comes to the answers."

Pound blinked, feeling rather shocked. "Wait...are you saying you actually approve of this?"

Spike stared Pound right in the eyes. "It's not my place to approve or disapprove. Nor is it my place to pass judgement or decide your life for you. Only you can do that, and you have to do it on your own. Just remember...if it really is love, true love...then the only pony's opinions who should matter are hers...and yours."

Pound stared for a time, then nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Spike."

Spike nodded then turned to go. "One more thing," he called over his shoulder. "No matter what else happens, always be sure your actions are guided by your heart, not your loins. Even if it is true love, if you let lust control you, it will destroy you. ...I nearly learned that lesson too late."

Pound lowered his head. "I understand."

Spike smiled, though Pound couldn't see it. "You're a good colt, Pound. I'm sure you'll do the right thing. Think about everything I said, alright?" He shook himself off. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel the need to spend time with my own beloved."

Pound smiled. "Bye, Spike."

As the young dragon left, Pound headed for the kitchen. He wasn't sure what to think yet, but he was pretty sure breakfast would help.