The King came to attention more, shifting his body and resting his scepter in his lap. “Bring him forward,” he ordered sternly, his worn and wrinkled face doing nothing to detract from his sharp and intelligent brown eyes or still-imposing muscles, hinted at from the deep and open neckline showcasing his chest.

“He’s not the delegate,” Twilight said, only stepping slightly forward, just so she could stand by Spike. “I am.”

“Of course you are, Twilight Sparkle,” he replied, rising and resting his scepter on top of his chair. “Unlike most of Celestia’s allies, I’m quite fond of reading the letters she sends.” He walked down the stairs slowly, meeting each of their eyes in time. “Let me see if I have the names right…” He looked first at Spike. “Celestia says she’s watched you grow for years now, ever since your parents where killed on an emissary mission to Equestria and she took you into her care, then subsequently, Twilight’s care. Spike of the Sparkle family.”

Spike blinked, unsure how to respond to the man. “Y-yes sir.”

The king smiled, stepping forward to him and giving him a quick embrace, kissing him on the cheek. “I see Twilight has given you manners. It’s good seeing a civilized dragonblood in this day.”

He moved over, setting his sights on Rainbow Dash. Or, rather, her multichromatic hair. “I can guess your name, Rainbow Dash. Celestia has spoke highly of your loyalty to her crown, and, more importantly, to your friends.” He held his hand out, looking at her palm expectantly.

“Well, I guess my reputation for awesomeness proceeds me,” she said smugly, grabbing his hand and shaking it firmly.

“An attitude matching my firstborn,” the king commented. “Keep it, it can hold a passionate light during a dark night.”

“Uh, okay…” Rainbow said, slightly confused. “you’re the boss.”

“The people are the boss, child. And it’s the duty of my bloodline to serve them.” He moved on to Pinkie Pie.

“Your leader speaks highly of you as well, both as a jester, and a source of inspiration to those that have succumbed to sorrows.” He held out his hand to her; Pinkie instead hopped forward, giving him a hug.

“Yepparoni!” she called out, bouncing as she gripped the man. “It’s all about making people smile!” Breaking free of her embrace, she grinned wildly at the man. “Life’s too short to be a downey clowney! Especially when there’s so much neat stuff everywhere! Like here! I was sad that we had to were those cloth thingies, but there was a lot of neat stuff all over the place! So I just started to enjoy the neat stuff more than the bad stuff and it got me in a good mood again!” she said in one breath.

The king laughed, reaching forward to rub the top of the girl’s head. “I see you show no fear expressing yourself either. You’ll make a fine addition to a husband one day. A smiling, open marriage is a lasting marriage.”

His next stop came to Fluttershy, he gently held his hand out to her own. “Is it… Rarity?”

“Um, no,” she replied, shrinking into herself. “But you can call me that, I guess… if you want to.”

Tilting his head, he glanced to Twilight for clarification. “This is the quiet one, I am to assume?”

“She is, sir.” Twilight sighed. “Her name is Fluttershy.”

“Ah! Of course, of course.” He sank to a knee for a moment. “I ask your pardon for forgetting your name. Celestia spoke of your skill with beasts, alongside your tender heart.”

“T-thank you,” Fluttershy replied, letting a petite smile come to her face. “You’re far too kind.”

“Perhaps for these lands, I am,” he admitted, his expression dying for a brief moment, before returning once more. Reaching to grasp her palm, he offered a large smile. “If you have an interest in animals, my child, you must accompany me and my wife to the royal zoo some time during your stay. We have beasts from across the world residing there.”

“That would be wonderful.” Fluttershy nodded with a rare show of confidence around strangers. “I would love to.”

“Then we shall! Your wish is my command.” He moved over once more, pausing at Applejack. He brought his hand to the top of his pulled back hair, then brought it forward, whistling as he cleared her by only a scant inch or two. “Much like the trees you grow, lady Applejack. Strong and tall.” He bowed, offering his hand to her. “Though you are much more pleasing to the eye than any mere tree.”

“Well, ya don’t have ta be like that, sir,” Applejack tilted her hat as she shook his hand. “If ya’ll really wanna see a big guy, ya should take a gander at my brother. Hell, he’s probably taller than ol’ Al’Kair.”

“Now that would be a sight to see! Al’Kair has been known as the ‘Ox of Arabia’ ever since he was a youth. Imagining one stronger than him intrigues me.” He glanced down at the ring on her finger and gave a knowing smile, putting a hand on her shoulder. “As much your husband must be, lady Apple.”

“Uh…” Applejack hesitated, looking anywhere but in the king’s eyes. “I ain’t got a husband per se…”

He seemed confused for a beat, before it dawned on him. “Oh.” Taking a moment, he nodded, once more cupping her shoulder. “Practices such as that here are not met with open arms by the people. But your world is a far different one than my own. I wish you and your spouse well, and through other means, may the sound of small feet still one day grace your home.”

“T-thank you yer majesty…” Applejack stuttered, blown away by the reaction of a man who ruled over a nation that wouldn’t even allow her to hold her partner’s hand in public. “That means a lot commin’ from ya…”

“This land, for better or worse, is steeped in my peoples traditions and history. As the people’s servant, I’m expected to fulfill their wants. One day they may want change, but until then, it’s my duty to grant them stability.”

“I suppose so,” Applejack said, looking over to Rarity before back to the king. “That’s still very kind of ya.”

He nodded, moving last to Rarity. “Your princess has told me of your beauty, both without and within. And I can see her words were honest, if underwhelming to you in person.” He held out a hand and knelt deeply. “Like a flower a-bloom in a field of clover.”

She blushed, holding out her hand to the king and tittering nervously. “Oh my, stop! You’re embarrassing me, your majesty. I’m simply a humble tailor, no need to flatter me.”

He smiled, looking up at her face and kissing the back of her hand, then noticing the woman’s ring. “Truly, the one you have given yourself to is blessed.”

“No,” she replied, giving a meaningful look over to Applejack. “I’m the blessed one.”

“I think I’m going to be sick at all this sappy stuff,” Rainbow Dash said to herself, crossing her arms.

The king caught the glance and rose. He took another moment, then said, “I can offer no protection outside of these halls, but as long as you keep it discreet within, live as you do back at your homestead.”

Rarity nodded excitedly. “Of course your majesty. Your benevolence knows no bounds.”

“I simply know the pain of being separated from a love. During my war campaigns, my thoughts turned to my beautiful Abla nightly.”

He moved back to Twilight and gave her a small peck on the cheek. “Now that I’ve met you all, I must introduce myself. I am Adil Amal, and it is my great pleasure to accept your most learned and just princesses’ servants to my court.” He gave a gesture behind him, instantly the woman with greying hair appeared at his side, a tray with drinks at the ready. “While my children are engaged in their scholarly pursuits with their teachers, allow me to introduce my Abla, my most loyal servant and sovereign of my heart.”

She offered a meek smile, bowing in greeting and wordlessly offering everyone a drink.

“You’ve been very generous to us, King Adil.” Twilight bowed, accepting a drink from the tray. “I assume that we’ll be getting to business here shortly?”

“Indeed we shall,” he agreed, taking a drink himself from the tray and letting his eyes flicker over to Abla for a moment, before returning his attention to Twilight. “We have much to discuss, Celestia’s protege.”

As soon as the last drop of liquid was consumed, Adil and Twilight, along with the other elements of harmony, and Abla retreated into a smaller room to the left, leaving Al’Kair and Spike alone in the throne room, save for the handful of guards that still stood at rigid attention. A few silent minutes passed by, the only thing really accomplished being Spike’s endlessly twiddling thumbs until he stopped and looked up to the giant beside him.

“Maybe I shouldn’t of drank that wine,” he admitted. “I mean, I’m not technically supposed to do that yet…”

“In our culture it is one of the rights to truly become a man,” Al’Kair replied, patting Spike’s back. “Now all that is needed for you now is a sword, land, and a wife.”

Spike stumbled forward at the powerful man’s pat and frowned, looking to the guard. “So, are you married then, Al’Kair?”

The large man’s smile slowly turned to a blank, making Spike wonder if he should have even asked in the first place. “A time ago yes,” he answered, looking to the ceiling. “Cala was the most beautiful women I’d ever met.”

“I’m sorry,” Spike answered reflexively, already guessing where the story would likely end.

“There is no need to be,” Al’Kair said. “That was probably before even madam Twilight was born.”

“But…” The boy shook his head. “It must be hard. I didn’t even lose the woman I wanted. We’ll never be…” Spike glanced to the floor. “But she’s still one of the closest friends I have, and it still…”

“Time heals all wounds, Spike,” Al’Kair said. “The scar remains, but one should let it serve as a memory of the time spent with them, not a testament to the pain you felt with the loss.”

“I think I understand,” he answered with a slow nod. “I mean, I should know that, I guess. But it’s still good hearing it.”

“You speak the truth dragonkin,” Al’Kair said, placing his hand on Spike’s head. “Now I’m sure they’ll be busy for quite some time, and I’m positive that you don’t want to stay here while agreements are being met.”

“Not if I can help it,” he agreed.

“Follow along then,” Al’Kair said, stepping off. “The casbah has all manner of ways to allow you to pass the time.”

“Lead the way.”

With a quick bow Al’Kair made his way across the room, Spike trailing not too far behind. A handful of minutes later, they found themselves in a rather bustling part of the castle, full of off-duty guards and women in alluring, sensual clothes. “Here we are,” Al’Kair said, stopping in front of a wide open doorway with sunlight beaming through it. “Spike, I welcome you to the royal casbah.”

“This is a change from the streets outside,” he commented, doing his best to look away from the women as they slowly swayed across a stage they stood upon and swearing internally every time his eyes shifted away from his companion to gaze at them.

“Inside the palace walls are very different Spike,” Al’Kair said looking around the room, seeing both guard and women alike mengling as if nothing were wrong. “This is a place of privilege and loosening of rules, so you need not fight your urge to stare.”

“They are beautiful,” Spike freely admitted. “I doubt we have such talented dancers in Equestria.”

“The art of belly dancing is very seductive and complicated indeed,” Al’Kair nodded, “but with all the years these women practiced, it comes as easy and breathing.”

“That’s what it is, an art,” he agreed, staring. “And it’s important to, uh, look at art with a keen eye. That’s all I’m doing.”

A deep laugh came from Al’Kair before slapping Spike’s back so hard it nearly made him fall down the stairs in front of them. “If it helps you sleep at night, young dragonkin,” he said between breaths. “Now don’t let me inhibit you, I have business elsewhere and you are young, enjoy yourself.”

“Oh. Uh, alright,” he said, distracted as he watched the women perform their act. “I’ll catch up.”

“Indeed you will.” Al’Kair nodded, walking back down the halls, “just be mindful: it wouldn’t be good if you were to fall into trouble without me or your friends by your side.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior,” he answered, finally breaking his gaze away from the dancers. “Promise.”

With a quick wave Al’Kair was gone, leaving Spike, a young man who stuck out like a sore thumb, among nothing but beautiful women, husky guards and alcohol. He took a loud gulp of air before taking the first step down the stairs, only to trip over himself and fall head first onto the floor below. The commotion abruptly stopped, all eyes trained on the young dragonkin that lay face flat on the floor, mumbling words too quietly to hear. Moments later he rose his head to see that he still had everyone’s undivided attention. His face flushed red, not knowing what exactly to do or say to rectify the situation.

He shot to his feet, dusting himself off as best and and trying to hide the sheer embarrassment in his face from everyone still looking at him. “T-there are stairs right there,” his voice cracked at the worst possible moment, sending another wave of humiliation through his body.

Squinting his eyes shut, he made his way over to a bar, where a wiry man stood polishing a glass. Spike sat down at the end, kneading his fingers together and staring down at them.

“Could I have a… um…” he started to speak to the barkeep, but paused, realizing he didn’t have an idea on drink names. “A beer, I guess.”

“Are you sure you are of age?” the bartender asked, cocking his eyebrow in a serious manner.

“In your country I think I am,” he said. “I drank a glass of wine with the king earlier.”

“I jest Dragonkin!” the bartender laughed, placing a beer on the table. “Don’t fret about payment either, all drinks are courtesy of the king himself.”

“Thank you,” he said, staring at the long necked bottle, before grasping it in his hands and taking a sip. He grimaced at its bitterness, smacking his tongue against the roof of his mouth to try and grow accustomed to the taste.

“Looks like someone can’t handle their alcohol,” a rather hulking, and obviously drunk, guard said from his side. “But I should have figured, given his size I doubt he could handle a woman either!”

The rush of laughter from the rest of the casbah seemed to only pour salt in the already painful wound in his pride. Spike’s face turned crimson at the insult, but he did his best to ignore the man, staring forward and doggedly taking another sip at his beer.

“Aw look at that: he’s trying to prove me wrong.” The guard laughed. “Don’t even try kid, I’m never wrong.”

“Nobody’s perfect,” Spike answered. He took another drink, grimacing. “So I guess you’re a nobody. So why should I bother talking with you?”

“You seriously just say that to me, kid?” the guard hissed, rising from his seat. “Got some sort of death wish?”

“For me just being a kid, I sure did piss you off quick,” Spike answered, finally sparing a glance towards him. “Maybe you need some thicker skin.” He stared at him, taking another drink.

The drunken guard’s hands wrapped around Spike’s shirt, pulling him off the stool and letting him dangle nearly half a foot in the air. “I think someone needs to be taught some manners!” he growled, bringing Spike closer to his face.

Every part of him was screaming not to, but Spike stared up at him and felt along the table for his drink. His heart raced and his teeth nearly chattered in fear, but he grinned despite himself.

“Yeah,” Spike said, finally grasping the bottle in his hand. “You.” He swung the bottle as hard as he could, striking the guard across the temple and shattering the glass.

The guard’s grip on Spike’s shirt suddenly loosened as the rest of his body fell limp to the floor. The crowd gasped, not believing what they had just seen, and truthfully Spike could hardly believe it himself. Before he could bask in his victory, he remembered that there were at least thirty other men in the room with him, each as big or bigger, and the worst part of it was he’d just knocked out one of their friends.

“Well shit,” he said under his breath. After a moment, he pointed at the downed man and spoke up to the crowd. “What are you waiting for, guards? Arrest him. He assaulted me.”

The other guards looked to one another in confusion before looking back to Spike. Tense moments passed, leaving a time for Spike to pray to anyone that’d listen. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the other guards turned their attention back to their drinks and women.

He stared at everyone for a moment, unbelieving, before taking a few slow, wary steps back to the bartender. “S-sorry about the mess,” he said, reaching into his pocket, producing a worn and beaten wallet. “I, uh, got… eight equestrian bits.” He dumped them out, sliding them across the counter. “Hope that helps.”

“Guess you didn’t hear me the first time,” the bartender said, using his head to point behind Spike. He turned around to see that some of the guards had already gathered their incapacitated friend and set him up at a table as far away from Spike as possible. “Everything’s on the house.”

Spike nodded after a moment, scooping the bits back into his pocket. “Twilight’s gonna kill me,” he said under his breath. He gave a small wave to the barkeep. “I think I’ll quit testing my luck,” Spike said, already heading back towards the stairs.

Not wasting much time, Spike almost jumped the entire set of stairs before coming to the entrance. He took one last look at the casbah before letting a little smile grace his face.

“First beer,” he said to himself, proceeding down the hall.

He wandered the palace grounds, not honestly sure what he was looking for, but looking all the same. It was lonely, in a sense. There were all these people, but none he knew. It made him feel weak, but walking like this just gave a painful reminder to him how little he really did without them. Aside from a handful of boys he knew back home, the women he traveled with were the only real collection of friends he could trust, and they were moving on, bit by bit. Rarity and Applejack wouldn’t want a dumb kid like him around when they got officially together—even if they’d never say it to his face—Rainbow Dash would one day leave town to pursue her dreams, Fluttershy, as much as he loved her, they didn’t have much common ground, Pinkie… was a handful. A loyal, fantastic friend, but a handful. And Twilight? There wasn’t any doubt in Spike’s mind she’d move on one day, find a wife or a husband, and take to perhaps rising up to Celestia’s level and rule the land.

Sitting down on a bench at the palace garden, Spike realized something that had been obvious: The future scared the hell out of him. Especially if he couldn’t figure out a way to stay with the people that mattered most to him.

“I thought I left you at the casbah,” a deep and very familiar voice said from behind him. “Figured you’d be down there for the rest of your stay actually, given how you were looking at the women.”

Spike shook his head, acknowledging Al’Kair’s presence. “No… got tired of looking, I guess.”

“Something troubling you, Spike?” Al’Kair asked, taking a seat next to him, rattling the bench itself with his weight. “You don’t seem to be the same as I left you.”

“Just thinking, and, I guess, feeling sorry for myself,” he admitted, leaning back on the bench.

“Worried about what tomorrow might bring, then?” Al’Kiar gave him a curious look. “You seem rather young to be having those thoughts.”

“Maybe. But it’s still something that gets to me.” He swallowed. “I wish things could stay the same, sometimes.”

“An interesting choice of words coming from you, Spike,” Al’Kair noted, “but you know that everything changes, and the harder you fight it the more painful it feels when it comes to pass.”

“I guess. I just wish… everyone’s changing, and I’m not sure if I’m changing fast enough to keep up.”

“Are you sure that they’re changing too fast Spike? Perhaps the problem doesn't lie in them, at least not directly.”

“I don’t get it.”

“The truth is that they are changing yes, but perhaps your plight is self-inflicted as well,” Al’Kair explained. “Perhaps you refuse to change because you like the way things were.”

“Maybe,” Spike answered with a frustrated sigh. “Don’t know. That’s as good of an answer as any.”

Al’Kair sighed as he looked to sun as it began its descent behind the palace wall. “I don’t think the delegations will be lasting much longer,” he said, turning his attention back to Spike. “Perhaps we should return to the throne room?”

“Alright,” Spike agreed. “Might as well.”

Spike and Al’Kair rose to their feet and slowly made their way back to the throne room in silence, the young dragonblood absorbed in his thoughts. He didn’t get much more time to dwell on the matters at hand, however, because just as the walked into the throne room, the doors to the delegation room opened as if on cue.

“That was a very productive session,” Twilight said, a huge smile on her face. “Maybe this trip didn’t have to be a week after all.”

“That good, huh?” Spike asked. “Guess it makes sense, the king seemed reasonable.”

“Reasonable is in insult,” Twilight replied, “he proposed exchanges that would benefit both countries tenfold.”

“We mostly were there for decoration,” Rarity admitted. “Twilight really stole the show.” She reached over and wrapped her arm gently around Twilight’s neck. “Why… I’d say she’s got as good of a silver tongue as myself at this point.”

“Oh stop it Rarity,” Twilight blushed, passively waving her hand at Rarity, “I just did what Celestia said I should do, but enough about that.” The violet-haired woman walked over to Spike and wrapped him up in her arms. “What did you do while we were negotiating?”

“Looked around, mostly,” he said, deflecting the question away. “The garden’s nice out there.”

“I wouldn’t mind going to the garden,” Fluttershy perked up, “I think it would look awfully nice at this—”

“Hey, wait up,” Rainbow interrupted, pointing at Spike’s shirt, “what happened there?”

“What?” he asked, looking down at his clothes.

“That,” Rainbow said, pressing her finger into a small red bloch a few inches away from his collar. “You spill something on yourself?”

“It’s…” He knew they could read him like an open book. Lying was pointless. “It’s blood. Someone tried to fight me at the casbah. I got a lucky hit in.”

Twilight’s pupils shrank into pinpricks before she bent slightly over to examine him further. “A fight?!” she exclaimed, grabbing his face and turning it violently in every direction. “By all that is holy are you hurt? Cuts? Bruises? Breaks? Anything?!”

“No. I’m fine, I’m fine. Just got a little shaken up, that’s all,” Spike said, putting a reassuring hand to her shoulder.

“Oh thank the Goddesses…” Twilight sighed, bringing him face first into her chest, “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you got—wait…” Twilight’s concern suddenly became questioning as she pushed him an arm’s distance away, while keeping her hands firmly on his shoulders. “Did you say… casbah?”

“Y-yeah.” He offered a nervous grin. “To be fair, I had no idea what that was until I got there.”

“Why would you go there in the first place?!” Twilight shouted, shaking the poor dragonkin violently. “You aren’t even old enough to drink legally!”

“I don’t know,” Spike dryly snapped back. “Maybe it’s because everyone left me to fend for myself. As per usual. And I’m old enough here to drink. Apparently.”

Twilight’s shaking suddenly stopped and silence fell upon the group.

“Spike. You… you really think I would do that to you? Just fend for yourself?”

“I…” He stopped. “It’s just something that seems like happens too often lately. Like I’m a third wheel.”

“Like a seventh actually,” Rainbow said, shrugging her shoulders, “but don’t—OW!”

Applejack’s hand slaped hard into Rainbow’s shoulder. Dash caught on what Jack was doing and rubbed the back of her head.

“So. Uh. Anybody wanna go to that casbah, then?” Dash offered with a shrug.

“It sounds sort of rough, Dash,” Rarity pointed out. “Considering our Spikie was accosted by a ruffian while he was there.”

“I believe I may have a solution,” Al’Kair chimed in after a long vocal absence. “There is another casbah, it’s just a bit more of a walk than the one he was previously at. And it’s farther from the guard’s barracks, so the chances of running into drunken fools is far less likely.”

“It is still on palace grounds, correct?” Rarity questioned.

“I wouldn’t suggest it if it wasn’t, ma’am,” Al’Kair nodded.

“Then I have no qualms.”

“I’m game,” Rainbow nodded with a smile. “I really need to unwind after all that political crap.”

“Party hearty!” Pinkie called out, jumping into the air.

“I suppose I could…” Fluttershy said meekly, “I’ll just have to watch my drinking.”

“I guess it’s unanimous,” Applejack said, running a thumb across her nose before looking at Twilight and Spike. “Ya’ll comin’’ too?”

Spike looked up at her, obediently waiting for her answer.

“Why not?” Twilight answered, pulling him in for a one armed hug. “At least you’ll be around us.”

Spike smiled up at her and nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

“Then follow me,” Al’Kair halfway bowed before turning around, “and given the hour, there should be plenty of people to converse with.”

“Oh I just love meeting new people!” Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing up and down. “This is gonna be super-duper-uber-mega fun!”

“And who knows? Maybe if I’m lucky, I won’t have anyone try to beat the crap out of me in this one,” Spike dryly said.

Twilight stared at Spike blankly while everyone else including Al’Kair had a good laugh at the boy’s sarcasm. After they all calmed down they turned their attention to their giant guard, who motioned them to follow along. A small cheer burst from a select few of them as their journey began, but their enthusiasm, minus Pinkie’s of course, died down after ten minutes of walking.

“Ugh, are we there yet?” Rainbow grunted, “I just wanted to get a buzz! Is that too much to ask?”

“This has to be bigger than Canterlot castle,” Spike said.

“Jack,” Rarity complained. “Would you carry me? My feet hurt.”

“Sure thing, darlin’,” Applejack replied, easily throwing Rarity onto her back piggyback style. “Unless this ain’t discret.” As she finished her statement she turned her attention to Al’Kair, who hadn’t even bothered to look back.

“I see one friend carrying another,” he replied, still moving forward. “Nothing more.”

“I’m surprised she’s being such a nice friend,” Spike remarked. “Normally you’d tell her to walk it off. You must be in a good mood.”

“Every dog has its day,” Applejack said. “But, seriously, Al’Kair, when are we gonna get there?”

“Now,” Al’Kair said, standing to the side so they could get a good look through the archway leading towards a transparent curtain that housed the entrance. “And welcome.”

The group’s eyes were treated to a beautifully sunlit balcony, decorated and adorned with the finest chairs and tables they had seen thus far. People in clothing probably more expensive than their combined wardrobes sat and stood around tables, chatting and laughing with one another. Last, but certainly not least, the bar stood at the far end of the balcony and, though it was some distance away, they could all tell that it was fully stocked.

“Ladies and Spike…” Rainbow grinned, bringing them into a simi-hubble, “let’s get blitzed!”