Spike led the two princesses and their four guards to Rarity’s house. He knocked on the door and pretended to wait impatiently, harumphing loudly. “I thought I told them we’d meet here.”

“It looks like Pinkie’s light is on.” Twilight pointed towards Sugarcube Corner. “Maybe they’re meeting there.”

Spike craned his neck around, looking to Sugarcube Corner. ‘Oh Twilight, you’re making this easy on me.’ Out loud he answered, “Yeah, maybe Pinkie knows where they are. This way, ladies.”

Of course the storefront was dark. Spike called out to Pinkie’s window. “Hey Pinkie, you there?”

Pinkie Pie leaned out of her window. “Hey Spike! Oh, Twilight! And Princess Luna! Come in, I’ll be right down.”

Spike opened the door to allow Twilight and Luna through, though neither stepped forward.

“Twilight, why doth Spike grin like a cat with a saucer of cream?” Luna asked.

“Oh, that’s because the girls have organised a surprise party for me, and they made Spike responsible for keeping it a secret. And he is a terrible actor.”

“Oh, come on!” Rainbow yelled from inside.

“What? Wait… how?” Spike stammered.

“Girls. Luna and I have to deal with the machinations of Canterlot nobles every day. If we couldn’t see through a ruse like this, Equestria would be in a whole lot of trouble.” Twilight stepped through the doorway as the lights turned on. “And you made the lynchpin of the plan the very same dragon who tried to frame Owlowiscious with a stuffed toy mouse and tomato ketchup.”

“Awww,” Pinkie moaned, as the other laughed.

“Stout, Tower. There is a bakers entrance to the rear of the building. Can you stand guard there? Luna, could your guards cover this entrance?”

“Of course,” Luna nodded to her two guards. “Gentlecolts, you have your orders.”

“Yes ma’am,” the four guards saluted and took their positions.

Spike looked around the room. They’d hastily rolled up the banner, and he noticed a subtle change in the colors of decorations. Where before there were mostly violets and deep purples, now there were added streamers in differing tones of blue. Spike marvelled at Pinkie’s ability to adapt at such short notice.

Pinkie Pie rushed forward to hug Twilight. Spike was glad that the overly protective guards were out of sight; from his experience they tended to tackle first, question later.

“Twilight it’s so good to see you even if you ruined the surprise!” Pinkie squealed. “And Princess Luna too oh it’s so good to see you too.”

Applejack helped Fluttershy wobble over to the two guests. Twilight moved towards them, so that Fluttershy wouldn’t have to walk as far. Rarity greeted Princess Luna, and Dash went to rag on Spike.

“Wow, Fluttershy!” Twilight smiled. “You’re so big now! When is the baby due?”

Fluttershy hid behind her mane. “Umm, the babies are due in six weeks. We’re having twins.”

“Fluttershy! That’s amazing!” Twilight pulled her into a gentle hug. "Big Mac must be so proud!

She turned to Applejack. “Oh AJ, I missed you too. How is Caramel and Ginger Gold?”

“Ginger’s growing up real strong like his Ma!” Applejack laughed. “Caramel can barely keep up with him. He’ll be buckin’ apples with us in no time!”

“You done with all that mushy family junk?” Rainbow laughed as she stood next to Twilight. “Some other ponies would love to say ‘hi’ to the Egghead here.”

“That’s Princess Egghead, thank you very much Dash.” Twilight giggled. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Eh,” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Spitfire’s just got me training rookies. Leaves my weekends relatively free.”

Spike turned to Luna. “This might take awhile, Princess. Are you hungry? Pinkie is an amazing cook.” Spike lead the Princess to the food table. “Everything is good, except the green and purple frosted cupcakes. Unless of course you enjoy chipped emerald. Just a warning, the punch on the left is alcoholic, the one on the right is non-alcoholic. Can I get you something?”

“We think we would very much like to try the punch on the left.” Luna smiled as Spike poured two glasses of the punch and passed hers over.

“Good to see royalty isn’t afraid to party, Princess.” Spike winked as he took a sip of his own drink.

“Please, Spike. We are going to be wed to your sister. Call us Luna, we’re going to be family soon.”

“Okay, Luna. That would be nice. I don’t really like the titles amongst friends. So when will the wedding be held? I hope nopony invited Chrysalis this time.”

This elicited a laugh from Luna. “While there will likely be dignitaries from other nations, we shall not invite that one, no.”

“And the public announcement is tomorrow?” Spike chuckled. “You know you two are going to break the hearts of many a young colt. And I dare say a few mares too.”

“They shall just have to pine after Tia, she could do with a few more suitors.” Luna chuckled. “Mayhaps thou wouldst be interested? We could marry the last of the Sparkle family to royalty.”

Spike choked on the punch he had been drinking. Luna laughed over his coughing and spluttering.

“Oooh, oooh! Did Princess Luna tell a funny joke?” Pinkie Pie appeared between them. “Was it the one about the griffin, the pony and the zebra that walked into a bar?”

“We were just discussing with Spike how Equestria might improve its standing with the Draconic nations,” Luna grinned mischievously.

Pinkie Pie cocked her head to the side in confusion. “I don’t get it.”

“Nevermind,” Spike blushed. “Can I get you a drink, Pinkie?” He grabbed another glass before Pinkie could answer, and poured her some punch.

“Thanks Spikey!” Pinkie downed the drink in one gulp, and yelled, “Let’s get this party… started!”

After some drinks were shared, Twilight called for everypony’s attention. Pinkie Pie lifted the needle from gramophone, then sat back next to Spike and Luna. She was sitting so close to him, he could feel her positively twitching and shaking with excitement. He mused that she must have been waiting for this since his cryptic letter.

“Girls, I wanted to share with you some wonderful news,” Twilight smiled as everypony turned towards them. Spike turned to Pinkie, who was now bouncing up and down on her rump. “I unfortunately won’t be staying in Ponyville anymore. I’m moving back to Canterlot permanently. Because…”

Twilight paused for effect. “Girls, I’m getting married.”

Luna stood with the others, as Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy went to congratulate Twilight. Spike turned to the pink mare beside him, worried. She hadn’t moved to join the others, and was now vibrating at a frequency, which if Spike was able to guess, should be superheating the air surrounding her. He prayed that she wasn’t about to go critical from the excitement.

“So who’s the lucky stallion Twi?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, when are you going to introduce us?” Rarity was positively beaming. “Oh, another royal wedding, how romantic.”

“Actually,” Twilight chuckled as Luna stood next to her. “You’ve already all met my fiancé.” Luna draped her wing over the shorter alicorn.

An explosion sounded behind them all, and everypony in the room was covered with streamers and confetti. Sitting next to Spike was a madly grinning Pinkie Pie with the largest party cannon anypony had ever seen.

In the midst of a stunned silence, Spike looked up at the now open banner. “Pinkie, how did you kn-”

She was no longer next to him, but had the two princesses locked in an epic hug. “Oh I am so happy for you.”

Above the confused group hung the open banner.

Congratulations Twilight Sparkle and Luna on your engagement.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had arrived late, and upon hearing the news, Sweetie Belle performed a ballad for the happy couple. Everypony cheered when the two princesses stood up to dance with each other as Sweetie Belle sang.

“How did you change the banner so quickly?” Spike could not quash his curiosity.

“Oh I changed it before everypony got here.” Pinkie giggled, thoroughly inebriated at this point. “Before the party, I got a twitchy tail, itchy eye, gurgly belly and a tickle in my fetlocks. Which meant one of my friends was getting married to Princess Luna. And then I got your letter, I knew it wasn’t you, me, or Dashie.”

Spike was thankful for the punch he’d consumed. It helped dull the edge of her Pinkie-logic. “Really? You have a Pinkie sense specifically for somepony marrying Luna?” he asked incredulously.

Pinkie rocked back on her haunches, bursting out with laughter. “I have no idea!” Spike looked at the smiling, very rosy face of his friend. She had obviously consumed a fair amount of punch, given the copious giggling. But then with Pinkie, it was hard to tell.

“Spikey-wikey,” Pinkie Pie pouted. “Why are you sitting here in the corner? Why aren’t you dancing?”

“You remember the last time I danced?” Spike laughed. “AJ chased me all the way from Sweet Apple Acres back into town after I gave Caramel a concussion.”

Pinkie grabbed him by the claw, and led him towards where the others were dancing. “Make way, the Great and Powerful Spikey has come to dance. Those in the front may get a little bumped.”

Spike managed to keep the injuries to a minimum on the dance floor. He could not let loose as much as Pinkie and Twilight had. He was aware that if he flailed his claws out like they flailed their hooves there would be several friends, as well as half of Equestrian royalty, in the Ponyville hospital with severe lacerations.

And he didn’t particularly fancy another tussle with the fine gents of the Royal Guard.

He did suffer a few laughs at his and Pinkie’s expense. She had bumped him with her flank, and he had returned the gesture by bumping back, though that only succeeded in sending her skidding across the floor.

“Did anypony get the number of that pegasus?” Pinkie sprawled across the floor. Then she burst out laughing.

“Pinkie, I am so sorry,” he held out a claw to help her back to her hooves.

When the dancing had finally finished, ponies had collected in groups again. Spike could overhear Apple Bloom talking with Twilight about Sweet Apple Acres newest cider press, hoof-designed by Apple Bloom herself. They were both getting bogged down in technical details, while Applejack and Fluttershy listened with pride, even if their expressions told how little of it they understood.

Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle and Luna were arguing about music. From what Spike could overhear, Sweetie Belle and Luna shared a passion for the old crooners, both being particularly fond of Blue Eyes; whilst Rarity expounded on the value of classical music. Rainbow Dash was pulling faces behind the indigo-maned unicorn.

Spike had heard Rainbow’s ‘music’ and highly doubted anypony there would agree with the superiority of her tastes. If Spike wanted to hear ponies screaming frantic at the top of their lungs, he’d just tell Twilight she’d forgotten to file a friendship report.

Pinkie Pie sat next to him, very mellow, and from the glazed look in her eye, very drunk. Spike appreciated the company, he’d always felt a little left out when he was younger. But not many older sisters invited their little brothers along to parties, so even considering their unique circumstances, it wasn’t too odd.

But at the time he didn’t really have friends his own age beyond the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Twilight’s studies always kept him too busy for that.

He missed his sister, he really did. But since her ascension to royalty, he’d actually felt able to come into his own. He had his own job, his own home (even if the two were really by royal appointment). He had his own friends, and while they did overlap with Twilight’s, he’d come to enjoy spending time with Big Mac and Caramel. Cheerilee visited often, and he’d befriended Written Script and his wife, through their mutual love of books.

He had become his own pony, or his own dragon, not just second hat to his big sister.

“What’s got you all mopey, dopey?” Pinkie giggled next to him.

“Just thinking about how much has changed. How I am not the little dragon I once was. It’s been difficult, and a little lonely, but I think it’s for the best.” Spike let himself smile. “And look at Twilight. She’s so happy.”

“That’s what happens when you have somepony you love!”

That paused Spike’s thoughts. He looked at everypony there. Applejack and Fluttershy had somepony in their lives, and they were definitely happier for it. Rarity was with Fancy Pants, and she definitely seemed happier lately. And if the rumors about Rainbow Dash and Soarin were true, he could definitely see she was much happier; though honestly just being in the Wonderbolts was probably enough.

And now Twilight and Luna were going to be wed. And Twilight willingly moving to Canterlot to be with her was proof enough of how happy she was with her fiancé.

‘And Pinkie.’ Spike thought. ‘Well, actually, I don’t know if she’s got somepony in her life. She has always been pretty private about that. But then she’s always happy, so she probably does.’

‘Will I ever find that?’

“Hey Mr Dragonpants!” Pinkie Pie pouted, pulling Spike out of his pensive pondering. “Turn that frown upside-down. Only smiles are allowed at a Pinkie Pie party!”

“You’re right!” Spike stood. “Let’s join the others.”

Pinkie got to her hooves, and wobbled. “Oopsie, I think I had a little too much punch.” She snorted out a laugh, and leaned on Spike. “Help me get there, I think Discord’s done something to the floor.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 4 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 20 Minutes