“Why are you sending me away? I promise not to disturb you that much.”

Twilight skimmed through her bookshelf, pulling out several books. “You’re acting as if I’m sending you away for good. You’re only going to be there for a couple of days, Spike.”

“But what if you need help around the library?” Spike asked. “I mean, you could need some help dusting, or reorganizing your books! You also need someone to help you fix your meals, right?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. She walked towards the living room table. When she reached it, she dropped her load of books onto the table. “Spike, I am perfectly capable of doing those things myself. Think of this as a little vacation while I try to find information on the Tree of Harmony.”

Spike continued to follow Twilight, thinking of more excuses. “But you never know! Something could turn up! What if you actually need something from me?”

“Then I’ll send you a letter to inform you,” Twilight said, opening one of the books. “Although, I seriously doubt that something dire will come up by reading books.”

“You don’t know that! For all we know, Celestia could be in a dire situation, and thinking that I’m still in Ponyville, she sends me the letter and it doesn’t get to you in time! What will happen if she—”

Suddenly, Spike’s mouth was completely zipped shut by Twilight’s magic. Only strained muffles escaped him as he tried to unhinge his mouth.

“Spike, nothing is going to happen that I can’t handle without you. I know you really want to help, and I appreciate that, but the best way you can help me is by doing as I ask and staying with Cadance and Shining Armor for a bit.”

Spike plopped on the floor, folding his arms. “Why can’t I just stay here in Ponyville? I could just stay with Pinkie, or Applejack, or…” Spike began to swoon with his next statement. “Rarity?”

Twilight shook her head, giggling at Spike’s dopey expression. “Because last time I asked you to take the day off, you almost drove Applejack crazy, forcing me to drop my studies to help her.”

“Oh, yeah.” Spike blushed and looked towards the ground, grabbing his tail. “I forgot about that…”

“And besides, you haven’t seen Cadance and Shining Armor for quite some time. Don’t you think it would be nice to spend some time with your other family?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Spike said, standing back up. “But still, I don’t know…”

“Spike, this is not up for discussion.” Twilight lifted Spike’s ticket with her magic and put it in his claws. “Your train leaves in about ten minutes. Make sure you get something to eat before you go. Oh, and also make sure that you grab your toiletries before you go. Have fun!”

Twilight smiled and waved at Spike, immediately focusing her attention on her books. Spike groaned as he went upstairs to gather his things. He didn’t need much: Just a toothbrush, his toothpaste and the picture of the most beautiful pony in the world that he had hidden from Twilight. He went back downstairs, walking toward the refrigerator and making himself a sandwich.

“No, that can’t possibly be it…” Twilight muttered.

Spike mumbled to himself, hearing Twilight talk aloud.

I could be some help, but no, Spike thought. He didn’t have too much time to spare. With only a few minutes left, he opened the door, looking back at Twilight one last time.

“See ya, Twilight,” he said, waving. “Don’t forget to send me a letter when you need me!”

“Mmm-hmm.” Twilight smiled and nodded at him before returning her focus to her studies. With nothing else to do and a train about to leave, Spike left for the train station, moping and mumbling along the way.

Spike stared out the window, watching the mountains go by. The sounds of the train rushing over the tracks helped him to relax. Still, his anxiety got the best of him for the most part. He twiddled his fingers, staring through the back of the seat in front of him.

“I should have insisted on staying instead of going so quickly,” Spike said to himself. “She could really need me.”

The ride to the Crystal Empire was a lengthy one. There was nothing on the train to keep Spike preoccupied, so he was left with his thoughts, his concerns, and the restless need to be around Twilight to assist.

“Maybe I can ask the conductor to turn back,” Spike said, tapping his claw against his chin. After much thought and with the temptation passing, he sat down and sighed. “No. If Twilight says she doesn’t need me right now, then she doesn’t need me. It’s only for a few days. I just need to calm down for a bit.”

Spike took a deep breath, leaning back in his seat. “Besides, I could use a break. Just a few days to get out and do something different. I mean, I haven’t seen Cadance and Shining in a while.” Spike’s head became clearer. He started to relax, closing his eyes. “Maybe Twi was right. She can take care of herself for a while. It will be nice to see the other family.”

Spike let his mind drift, swiftly falling into slumber.

His sleep was interrupted by the blare of the train’s whistle. His eyes slowly pried open, trying to adjust to the new setting. Snow billowed against the window with intense force. The outside was barely visible as flurries of snowflakes clouded Spike’s view of the outside.

“Attention, passengers. We are will arrive at the Crystal Empire in approximately five minutes. Please retrieve your luggage before leaving. Thank you for joining us and we hope you had a lovely journey.”

Spike returned his attention to the window. The outside was completely blanketed by snow, making it impossible to see through. Eventually, the entire window was covered in white.

Once the snow cleared, the scenery took a pleasant change. The bright sun warmed the train, melting the flakes from the window. As Spike looked out the window, the empire became more visible. The crystal arched building came into his view. It wouldn’t be too long before Spike reached his destination.

Once the train came to a halt, all of the passengers departed and stepped onto the platform. Some of their loved ones greeted them. Others had nopony to greet them, so they just headed off towards wherever they were going.

Spike stretched his arms sleepily before leaping up from his seat. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he grabbed his small suitcase and got off the train. Turning around, he watched the train pull away from the station.

The empire was as lively as ever. The crystal ponies roamed the streets. Foals were playing and the mares and stallions were chatting as they walked. It was a pleasant scene; a lot more peaceful than Spike’s first encounter. Unfortunately, due to the lessened stress of helping the empire, they also looked more… enticing.

Spike’s eyes shimmered, mouth salivating and tongue hanging out. The crystal ponies all shined and glistened, causing Spike to salivate with anticipation.

“Mmm, crystals…” Spike shook his head violently, smaking his face with his claw. “No! They aren’t food—they’re ponies. You can’t eat ponies.”

Spike felt his stomach grumble. He gripped it with his claw, groaning slightly. “I haven’t eaten since the train ride. Maybe Cadance and Shining will have something I can eat.”

Spike lifted his bag from the ground and walked towards the palace’s doorsteps, anticipation rising. He hummed to himself as he headed towards the castle. With an empty stomach and food on the brain, he was looking forward to more than a happy reunion. It took him no time at all to reach the castle steps. Two crystal guards stood stoically by the large double door, holding their diamond-tipped spears.

As Spike walked towards the door, the guards blocked Spike’s path with their spears.

“Halt! No one enters the castle without permission!” the left guard said firmly.

“Permission?” Spike asked, throwing his arms in the air. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious,” the right guard replied. “Nopony gets in unless they are specifically summoned by the Royal Family.”

“Um, I know the Royal Family personally,” Spike said. Upon hearing this, the crystal guards stifled a chuckle, making Spike more annoyed with them. “I’m serious!”

“Really?” The two guards looked down condescendingly at Spike. “And who exactly are you?”

“Well, I’m Spike,” he said. “Spike the dragon.”

The guards glared at him.

“I helped save the Crystal Empire. Nearly died because of it.”

The guards continued to stare at him.

“I have a big, glass window dedicated to me in the Canterlot Castle. It’s pretty noticeable.”

The guards only raised their eyebrows at this. Spike sighed, slapping his claw against his face.

“I’m the assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Instantly, the guards’ eyes widened. “Well, why didn’t you say so, earlier? We’re always happy to have such an esteemed member of the Royal Family!” The guards opened the double doors, inviting him in with their hooves. “Please, enjoy your visit.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Spike snorted smoke from his nostrils and walked through the doors. The building was just as beautiful as he remembered. The diamond interior shined and glistened. It took every mental restraint for Spike not to drool and lick the floor. However, his stomach needed something to fill it. The temptation was becoming too strong.

“I need to get something to eat pretty soon,” Spike said to himself, rubbing his stomach. “This castle is starting to look like a giant lunchbox!”

Spike walked towards the castle steps, heading up the arching stairway. He continued to observe the interior. Flags of the united nations of Equestria hung proudly on the walls. The workers and assistants of the castle continued about their business. Even the janitors and servants had pleasant demeanor about them.

However, the scenery wasn’t enough to wane Spike’s hunger. In fact, all it did was intensify it. He continued up the stairs swiftly, trying to keep his mind off the walking food around him.

“Okay, think about something else,” Spike said as his stomach growled. “Think about Twilight. No, that won’t help. That’s the last pony that I’m supposed to be thinking about. Maybe, Pinkie Pie and her amazing parties that… have a lot of food. Hmm… there’s always… Rarity.” A dopey grin formed on his face at the thought of his crush. “No. That’s not that much better, even if it is such a pleasant thought. Maybe I should think about...”

Spike brought a claw to his mouth in thought. Once he looked up, he saw a pink alicorn walking down the hallway.

“Cadance!”

Spike ran up to the princess, smiling widely. Cadance smiled as Spike ran up to her for a hug.

“Well, hi there, Spike,” Cadance said, embracing him with a forehoof. “This is a pleasant surprise. I can assume that Twilight joined you?”

Spike shook his head and sighed. “Nah. She sent me over here by myself. She needed a little space, apparently.”

“Oh?” Cadance raised an eyebrow. “She’s busy?”

“Yeah.” Spike kicked at the crystal-clear floor. “She needed to fully concentrate on her studies. She’s trying to find out the secrets of the Tree of Harmony. So, because I’m a ‘distraction’, she sent me here for a few days.”

Spike pouted, folding his arms. “It sucks.”

“Well, she means nothing by it, Spike,” Cadance said, patting his head. “She’s just taking her role as a princess seriously. She still thinks you’re a good assistant.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Spike looked up at Cadance, who smiled softly at him and rubbed his head. “So, where are you going? You look like you have something planned.”

Cadance sighed. “That I do. Much like Twilight, I have duties I need to take care of myself. With the Equestria Games coming soon, I have to manage some of the events the crystal ponies have planned. It’s an involving task, and I’ve been busy with it for nearly a week.”

“Wow.” Spike tapped his claw against his chin, a small smile forming on his face. “Well, I can help. I’m really good with organizing events and such!”

Cadance brought her hoof to her mouth and giggled. “That’s okay, Spike. As much as I appreciate it, you didn’t exactly come here to work. I’m not going to burden you with needless busywork.”

“It wouldn’t be a bother!” Spike insisted. “I’m used to this kind of stuff. I could be really help!” Once again, his stomach rumbled loudly, causing him to blush slightly.

“Not on an empty stomach, you can’t.” Cadance smiled warmly. “You were sent here to relax and take a breather, so you do just that. Go get something to eat. My Shining Armor will find you something.”

“Yeah, sure.” Spike sighed, stomach still tormenting him.

“Our room is just three doors down. Shining Armor should be lounging around, so ask him if we have anything to eat. I should be going now. Have fun, Spike!”

Cadance waved her hoof, walking down the stairs. Spike waved at her, watching her leave the castle from the second floor. With her gone, he decided there was nothing else to do but go see Shining. He slowly walked towards their living quarters, then knocked on the door.

“It’s open!” Shining’s called through the door. Without a second thought, Spike turned the knob and opened the door.

The interior of Cadance and Shining Armor’s room was nice. A finely constructed crystal table and countertop sparkled and glistened. There was a small, red sofa resting against the wall, accompanied by a bookshelf. Spike admired how welcoming the room looked. There was a chandelier hanging over the table as well.

Spike heard Shining Armor humming from the other room. He walked towards the bedroom door and peeked inside. Shining Armor was straightening out his mane with a comb, whistling and humming as he looked at the mirror. He grabbed the shaving cream, levitating it towards his face and spreading it on his chin. Spike stood and watched his older brother groom himself, chuckling a little at Shining’s poor attempts to sing.

When Shining Armor turned around, he saw who it was and immediately loosened up, grinning toothily.

“Spike!” Shining exclaimed, swiping the shaving cream from his face. “What’s up, little dude?”

“Ah, nothing much,” Spike said, walking towards Shining Armor. “Just, you know, visiting for a few days.”

“Ah. Well, welcome, Lil’ Bro!” Shining Armor extended a hoof out towards Spike, who in turn balled his claw into a fist and bumped it against Shining’s hoof. Shining Armor looked up. “So, what about Twiley? Where is she hiding?”

Spike sighed, shaking his head. “Probably still nose-deep in her books now, as the life of an overworking egghead tends to be. So, she sent me here so I could be out of the way.”

Shining Armor chuckled and patted Spike on the back. “Yeah. Sounds just like my little sis.”

Spike folded his arms once again, poking his lips out. “I just don’t understand why she couldn’t just let me stay in Ponyville. I wouldn’t cause that much trouble! Only reason she made me come here is because of that incident with the timberwolf.”

“Ah. Still treats you like a kid, huh?”

Spike sat down, growling in frustration. “She doesn’t think I can fend for myself, so she sends me off to a foalsitter when she doesn’t need me.”

“That’s rough, dude,” Shining Armor said, continuing to pat Spike on the back. “Well, as long as you’re here, we won’t treat you like one.”

Spike smiled at Shining Armor. “Thanks, Big Bro.” His stomach growled, causing Shining Armor to chuckle lightly.

“I see that you’re hungry,” Shining Armor said.

“I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast.” Spike chuckled nervously, scratching his forehead.

“Well, our home is your home. We don’t have our cooks bring us food until the night, so we usually keep food in our fridge for the time being. Go ahead and see if there’s anything that you would like to eat.”

“Thanks, Bro.”

“Ah, don’t mention it. Help yourself.”

Spike didn’t have to be told twice. He ran out of the bedroom and back into the main living room. A small refrigerator was close to the small kitchen. Spike walked towards it and opened it up, poking around inside. His eager grin degressed into a disgruntled frown. All that Spike could see was a small container of yogurt and half a sandwich, which he assumed belonged to Shining Armor.

“Hey, Big Bro, there’s nothing to eat in here!”

“Really?” Shining asked. “Did you check in the freezer compartment?”

Spike pulled open the freezer door. Same result.

“Nothing.” Spike’s stomach continued to grumble. He moaned and clutched his stomach again. “I’m so hungry.”

Shining Armor finished straightening his mane and walked into the living room with Spike. “Hey, don’t get too down about it. We’ll get you something to eat, little dude.” Shining Armor noticed the sad sulking of a hungry Spike and frowned a little. “Tell you what. I have the day off today. I didn’t really have anything planned for the day, but since we don’t have any food, I’ll go out and get some. Don’t need my little bro starving to death.”

Shining Armor chuckled, rubbing Spike’s scaley head. Spike smiled briefly, then frowned.

“Um, Shining Armor?”

“Yeah?”

“I um…” Spike sighed, looking down. “Nevermind. You just go. I’ll wait here.” Spike looked up, raising his eyebrows as Shining Armor chuckled. “What’s so funny?”

“You thought I was gonna leave you here by yourself?” Shining Armor’s chuckles continued to grow into a fit of laughter, confusing Spike. “I won’t leave you here by yourself, little dude! Nothing to do at this castle by yourself, so you might as well hang out with me for a while.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Shining Armor nodded. “In fact, why don’t we just hang out for the rest of the day? Have a little bro time, for old time’s sake since neither of us are busy. Sound good to you?”

Spike’s eyes glistened in excitement. His claws curled up close to his face. “YES!” After realizing he sounded overzealous, he coughed into his fist and composed himself. “Um, yeah, sure! Nothing like a little bro time, right?”

Shining Armor grinned and walked towards the door. “Well then, why are we still standing here shooting the breeze? Let’s get something to eat.”

Spike and Shining Armor walked out of the room, ready to fill their bellies.

“So, the guards gave you that much of a hard time?”

The two walked down the streets of the Crystal Empire. They mostly discussed what was going on in their respectives lives, both laughing at how bossy their princesses tended to be. The conversations did tend to shift a bit throughout, one point being Spike’s rude encounter with the Royal Guards.

“Yeah! I had to give them a full description of who I was before they let me in!” Spike complained, folding his arms. “They didn’t even recognize me until I said I was Twilight’s assistant!”

“Hmm, odd,” Shining Armor said. “I could have sworn Cadance and I told them about all of you. Wouldn’t think it would be that hard to remember a dragon.”

Spike huffed. “It’s not fair. All the others get some kind of cool recognition. Elements of Harmony, princesses, Captain of the Guards, and what do I get? Lowly assistant!”

“That’s rough, Spike. But I assure you that the guards meant nothing by it. We’ve had to up our security since the recent burglaries around here.”

“Burglaries?”

Shining Armor nodded. “Somepony has been running around at night, breaking into ponies’ shops, homes, and, one time, even our very own castle. Most of his crimes have been the usual for a thief: stealing bits, swiping a few valuables, the usual stuff you’d expect from a thief. However, our concerns rose when he attempted to break into the castle.”

“Whoa!” Spike’s eyes widened. “What did he steal?”

“Well, the guy wasn’t really good at it. We caught him running out of the castle with only a few bags after tripping over himself. He actually ended up running away empty-hooved because he ripped a hole in his bag, dropping all the gems he stole on the ground.”

Spike couldn’t contain his laughter, holding his stomach in elated chuckles. “Man, what a night that must have been!”

“You can say that again!” Shining Armor chuckled. “But enough about work. I took a day off to not have to worry about stuff like that. Just a stroke of luck my little bro ended up coming here as well.”

Spike smirked. “What can I say? I’m good with timing.” He frowned when his stomach rumbled. “Unlike my stupid stomach. Its timing is terrible.”

“I hear you on that,” Shining Armor said. “Fortunately, we’re heading towards one of my favorite eateries, so we’ll get you something to eat in no time.”

“Sweet!”

As the two continued on, Spike diverted his gaze from the crystal ponies to prevent his hunger from growing, which proved to be a more demanding task than he had originally thought. He closed his eyes. He walked blindly for several moments.

“Hey, Spike, why do you have your eyes closed?” Shining Armor laughed.

“It’s so I don’t think about eating too much,” Spike explained. “If you haven’t noticed, you kind of rule over what I consider food.”

“Oh right! I forgot that you actually eat crystals and such. Well then, there’s no point in getting you lunch where I originally planned then. Might as well stop here!”

“Here?”

Shining Armor held out a hoof and stopped Spike in his tracks. “You’re not going to know unless you open your eyes, Spike.”

Spike opened his eyes and his pupils widened when he saw where they were. He couldn’t control his salivation. Fine-cut gems, necklaces, and even rings were showcased in the booth in front of them.

“Uh, is he alright?” the merchant asked. Spike noticed that his tongue was completely hanging out of his mouth. He swiftly slurped it back in, chuckling nervously.

“Yeah, he’s just a bit hungry, that’s all,” Shining Armor said. “This is kind of an unusual request, but we’re stopping by here for lunch.”

“Really?” Spike and the merchant said in unison.

Shining Armor turned towards Spike and grinned. “Of course, Spike. You do like gems, correct?”

“More than anything!” Spike exclaimed.

“Then it’s settled.” Shining Armor opened his satchel, pulling a hefty bag of bits out of it. “Pick out what you want. It’s all on me.”

“Wow!” Spike ran up towards the counter, pressing his face against the glass. “Thanks, Big Bro!”

His eyes scanned the bounty of jewelry. His drool ran down the glass as he browsed for his lunch. He scrunched his eyebrows, humming as he thought about what he could ask for Shining to buy.

“I think I know what I want!” Spike leaned back, pointing towards the items he wanted. “I’ll take that ruby necklace encased in gold, and that topaz ring, and a few of those loose amethysts, emeralds, and that big, juicy sapphire.”

Shining Armor whistled. “Man, you have an expensive taste. Then again, being a dragon, I wouldn’t expect you to be cheap with your diet.” Shining Armor set the bag on the counter. “How much in total for this?”

The merchant put the items in a bag, adding up the cost. “Prince Shining Armor, this cost around four hundred bits.”

Shining Armor pulled out the bits, plopping them on the counter. “Well, it’s not as expensive as I thought it would be. Though I wonder how you manage to live with your eating habits.”

“Oh, I have my ways.” Spike chuckled and held his claws out to grab the bag. The merchant dropped it in his palm, causing Spike’s eyes to widen and glisten. He opened the bag, practically slobbering over them. His happiness died down when Shining Armor’s magic levitated the bag away from him.

“Hey!” Spike jumped for the bag, causing Shining Armor to chuckle. “I thought you said it was mine!”

“It is, but be a little patient, Spike,” Shining Armor said. “You don’t mind waiting until I get my lunch, do you?”

Spike stopped jumping, calming down briefly. “Sure, no problem,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “Sorry about that. I get, kinda antsy when I’m—”

“No need to explain, Spike,” Shining Armor said. “We don’t always think straight with an empty stomach, so no harm done.”

Spike nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I suppose.”

“Well, no point in standing here and making you hungrier than you need to be. Let’s get going.”

Spike trailed behind Shining Armor. The two continued towards their designated course, Spike closing his eyes once more to stave off his hunger.

Shining Armor guided Spike towards the open, lush fields of the Crystal Empire. Spike kept his eyes covered, refusing to remove his claws until they were where they needed to be. This made Shining Armor chuckle throughout their trip.

“Alright, Spike, there aren’t any more walking, talking, lunches around here. You can open your eyes. This is where we stop.”

Spike uncovered his eyes, slowly opening them. His eyes needed time to adjust to the brightness, but they quickly settled. Shining Armor set himself on the ground, levitating both of their bagged lunches in front of him. With a smirk, Shining Armor handed Spike’s food to him, much to the dragon’s delight.

“Well, eat up, Spike! You’ve waited long enough.”

Spike had already started to dig through the bag, burying his face into his gems. When he emerged, his mouth was stuffed with the jewels, grinning widely.

Shining Armor burst out laughing, tapping a forehoof on the ground. “I didn’t have to tell you twice, did I?”

Spike mumbled through the gems stuffed in his mouth. He slowly chewed his mouthful of jewels. Shining Armor unbagged his lunch, which contained a salad with tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and ceasar dressing. He licked his lips. Taking the plastic fork out of the paper wrapping, he jabbed his salad and shoved a forkful into his mouth.

The two sat together, enjoying their meals. Spike hastily chowed down on his lunch, crunching loudly on the gems. While eating his salad, Shining Armor watched the giddy Spike continue messily eating his meal. Little shards of sapphire, emeralds, and amethyst were spread across his face. He smiled with delight, humming in satisfaction.

Spike swallowed his entire mouthful. “That was tasty!” Spike licked his lips and claws. “Some of the best I’ve ever tasted!”

“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed them, Spike,” Shining Armor said, continuing to eat his salad. “It’s pretty easy to find good gems around the Crystal Empire for obvious reasons.”

Spike chuckled. “Yeah! Still, no offense to you, Big Bro, but the ones I get back in Ponyville are slightly better.”

“Really?”

Spike nodded. “It’s because of…” Spike paused, a blush spreading across his cheeks. “No, you’d think it’s stupid.”

“Not likely, little dude,” Shining Armor said. “You can tell me.”

Spike sighed, fumbling his fingers together. “Well, you see... Back in Ponyville, I go gem hunting with a mare named Rarity. She keeps most of the gems, but a lot of the time, she gives me a few for my hard work. She’s really amazing.” Spike began swooning, his face becoming redder as his imagination wandered.

“And let me guess, you have a crush on her, don’t you?” Shining assumed, snickering a little.

Spike immediately snapped out of his daze, looking somberly at Shining. “Is it that obvious?”

“No.” Shining Armor scrunched his face. “Well, maybe a little.”

“Well, you probably think it’s stupid,” Spike said, kicking at the ground. “I mean, seeing how I am a dragon and she’s a… you know.”

Spike looked down at the ground, plucking at the loose pieces of grass. Shining Armor frowned, patting Spike on the back.

“It’s not stupid at all, Spike. Trust me—we all fall for them pretty hard. It’s only natural, especially if they’re attractive.”

Spike raised an eyebrow, staring up at Shining Armor. “Really?”

Shining nodded. “You know, I don’t tell anypony this, but I used to have a big crush on Cadance back when I was a little colt.”

Spike stared at Shining Armor blankly. “Well, that’s not really unknown, Shining. I mean, you are married to her.”

“True!” Shining Armor chuckled, patting Spike on the head. “But what most don’t know is that when I was young, I was… kind of obsessed with following her around like a lovesick puppy!” Shining Armor sighed dreamily. “I remember those years. Flustered trying to talk to her. It took me several years just for her to notice me, even longer for her to actually start talking to me!”

Spike gasped lightly. “Really? I could have sworn that you two hit it off well from the start.”

Shining Armor couldn’t contain his laughter. “Hit it off well? The first words I said to her were ‘I REALLY LIKE YOU!’ I was yelling at the top of my lungs. I’m surprised I didn’t scare her away when I did that.”

Spike shared a laugh with Shining Armor, who wrapped his hoof around Spike’s scaley back.

“But yeah, we all have our crazy crushes when we’re younger. Sometimes they even grow into genuine feelings.”

“Yeah.” Spike grabbed the last ruby out of his bag. “Still, I’m not sure if she will ever like me, though.”

“No point in giving up,” Shining Armor continued. “Give it some time, dude. You're a good dragon, and you’ve got a nice shot at getting that special somepony you want.”

“You think so?”

Shining Armor nodded. “I’m positive.”

Shining Armor finished the last of his salad and watched Spike down his final gems. The dragon sighed as he flopped onto his back and rubbed his belly. He let out a puff of flames, sighing in relief.

“So, now that your stomach is full, I’m assuming you won’t try to eat any of the crystal ponies, will you?” Shining Armor teased as he tapped Spike’s stomach and winked. “‘Cause if you ever tried, I’d have to arrest you.”

Spike chuckled. “Nah, I wouldn’t eat the ponies here. I couldn’t even hurt a fly! Even if I’m hungry, I’ll find a way to deal with it until food comes.”

“Heh! Good to know.”

Shining Armor lifted himself from the ground, opening up his satchel. Spike leaned up curiously.

“You interested in a little game of catch?” Shining asked.

“Sure! Not a problem. But, we don’t have a—”

“Ball?” Shining Armor levitated a soft, foam ball out of his satchel. “Yeah, I was hoping that, since you were out here, we could get a few tosses in before we decided to go grocery shopping.”

Spike stood up and smiled. “Sounds good to me!”

“Alright then!” Shining Armor dropped the ball into Spike’s claws. “How about you make the first throw?”

Shining Armor stepped back, waiting for Spike to toss the ball towards him. Spike licked his lips, winding his arms for the big throw.

Once he released the ball, it only went inches away from him. Spike looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

“That… was a nice effort, Spike,” Shining Armor encouraged, lifting the ball back up with his magic, “but winding your arms isn’t going to do anything but weaken your throw.” Shining Armor turned his head, tossing the ball towards Spike. It landed perfectly in Spike’s claws. “Don’t tense up. Just ease up, lean back, and let go of the ball. Don’t put all your energy into throwing it, otherwise you’ll get another throw like your previous one.”

“Yeah, I think I gotcha.” Spike focused, aiming at Shining’s horn. He leaned his arm back and let go of his grip. The ball arched and flew towards Shining’s horn. Shining Armor surrounded the ball with his aura, levitating it in the air.

“Much better, Spike!” Shining Armor stepped back even further. “Each successful throw, I’m going to step back a little!”

Spike scratched the top of his head. “Shining, I don’t know if I can throw that far!”

“Sure you can!” Shining Armor threw the ball back at Spike. He fumbled clumsily with the ball before catching it. “Just throw it with enough force that it can reach me.”

The distance made Spike feel a little unsure. He looked at the ball and back at Shining Armor. “Alright. If you say so.” Spike stopped mid-throw, a look of confusion on his face.

“Is there something wrong, Spike?” Shining asked, scratching his head.

“Yeah, I’m alright. It’s just… why is there a royal guard running towards you?”

“What?” Shining Armor turned around. There wasn’t anypony running towards him. Shining’s eyes widened when he heard a soft plop near him. Turning back towards Spike, he noticed that the ball was at his hooves. Spike rocked back and forth, whistling.

"Spike, you didn't throw that," Shining Armor said.

"What are you talking about? Of course I threw it!"

"No you didn't."

"Yes I did!"

"I'm pretty sure you didn't."

Spike folded his arms and huffed. "I don't have to explain myself! If you don't believe me, then fine."

"We can fix that easily." Shining Armor grinned and threw the ball at Spike. "How about you do it again? And this time, I'll be watching.

Spiked gulped. "Um, I don't know if this is really necessary."

Shining's grin grew wider. "What's wrong, Spike? You said you threw the last one. Surely you could do it again."

Spike's claws began to shake. He sighed and leaned his arm back, tossing the ball as hard as he could. The ball went a nice distance, but didn't quite reach Shining Armor. He brought his hoof against his mouth to muffle his laughter.

"Okay, fine! I didn't throw the ball!" Spike growled, glaring at Shining Armor. "I used my breath to send it towards you! You don't have to laugh at me."

Shining Armor wiped a stray tear from his eye and smiled at the dragon. "I'm not laughing at you, little dude. I just find it funny that you tried to cheat."

Spike frowned and pouted. "Well, I can't throw well. I already told you that. I just didn't want to embarrass myself."

"And that didn't really work well, now, did it?"

Spike kicked at the ground with his arms behind his back. "No."

"Look, Spike, I don't care if you aren't good at throwing. I'm out here to enjoy myself, not make a competitive sport out of it. If you want me to help you get better at it, we can work on that."

Shining Armor tossed the ball back at Spike. This time, Spike didn't catch it, instead letting it roll towards his toes.

"So, Spike, what do you want to do?"

Spike leaned down and picked the ball up. Looking at it briefly, he refocused his attention on Shining Armor and grinned widely

"Okay. Let's give it another shot!"

The two continued tossing the ball around for the next several hours. Spike’s throw began to improve with each toss. Slowly but surely, they made progress, and the game itself became less frustrating as a result. The two made up different games. Sometimes they would play tag, tackling each other when the caught up. Sometimes Shining would throw the ball as far as he could to see if Spike could catch it in time. Still, a lot of their time was used to improve Spike’s throwing arm.

After three hours of playing around, Spike’s throw began to get weaker. The ball didn’t get but a few inches away from his legs. Spike was also swaying a little. Shining Armor walked up to Spike.

“Spike, you feeling alright?” Shining Armor asked.

“Oh, um, yeah, I’m just…” Spike nearly tripped over himself, moving closer to the ball. “I’m just getting the ball. Go long.”

Shining Armor grinned. Spike could barely keep his eyes open. Before Spike could lean over to pick up the ball, Shining Armor lifted him up with his magic and placed him on his back.

“Poor kid. You wore yourself out.”

“Hey… who are you calling a ki—” Spike’s words slurred until he eventually flopped down on Shining Armor’s back, snoring soundly. Shining Armor adjusted Spike to a more comfortable position and trotted out of the field, chuckling.

“Well, so much for having a helping hoof with the groceries.”