The sun slowly rose above the dunes, bathing the barren and windswept landscape with its rays. The light continued to march across the desert until it came upon the stone walls that stood strong against the encroaching desert sand. The walls may have been able to stop the sand from enveloping the city but they were no match for the power of the sun. Within minutes they yielded to the light, revealing a massive city barely awake. A few people walked the streets, but it would easily take another hour before commerce began once again. As the sun continued its slow march upward a small beam of its light found a window, aimed directly at a young man with a messy set of green hair.

He let out a displeased groan, weakly shifting on his bed to try and return to sleep, covering his head with a soft, velvety pillow. The sun didn’t relent in its assault on him, almost as if Celestia herself was purposefully casting the light on him to wake up. Finally, he sat up, frowning as he smacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and stretched, taking stock of the room he was in.

It was definitely a bigger one then what he had at Twilight’s palace, but then again that room was only meant for one person, this one was meant for two. With that fact in mind he looked over to his right, seeing the bed next to his still had one clearly passed out occupant, snoring in a very un-princesslike manner as the blankets that surrounded her rose and fell with her every breath.

Spike looked over at her with a lopsided grin, briefly watching the rise and fall of her chest like he was her caretaker. Finally, he stood, walking over to a small suitcase filled with clothes. Grabbing a pair of pants, he stepped into the bathroom and stripped, stepping into an extravagant shower.

Rarity must of been ecstatic at seeing this place, Spike thought, running a finger over the marble tub as the water trickled down onto his body. His thoughts turned to Amira. Perhaps another morning he would of thought of her dance, the fullness of her breasts, her developed hips, the softness of her skin. Those sights gave him more fuel to his fire than any video at home could ever provide. However, this morning, his thoughts were far more chaste. Spike thought of the low, near tenor of her voice, the haunting eyes that even now under the heat of the water caused his skin to break into gooseflesh. He thought of her words, sweet as honey and promising something… something more. Shutting his eyes, he leaned forward onto the marble wall the tub jutted up against.

He was a fool. He should of asked her to… Furrowing his brow, he sighed. He knew he wouldn’t want her to come with him. Not this sudden. That was simply his body wanting a release, that wasn’t what he really wanted here. As much as he wanted her—and every pore of his skin knew that was the truth—he longed for more than her touch. He wanted her heart. It didn’t matter what her age was. It didn’t matter her position here, be it whore or queen. The only thing that mattered to Spike right now was how she made him feel complete, even if their time spent together was a moment. It was more than lust.

Wasn’t it?

Spike sighed, giving a slow, unsure nod as the water trickled down his back. He had never really felt this way about someone. The closest that came to his mind was Rarity, and that was a one-sided longing, while this was…

Swallowing, he raised his hands up and let them fall against his sides with a wet smack. He liked to think that she wasn’t just speaking honey in his ears last night. She seemed far too sincere for that, but… it was a nagging thought all the same, one that stuck with him as he turned off the water and stepped out into the cold floor, the sudden temperature change making him clench his teeth in shock as his manhood shrank into his pelvis, scared into hiding.

Quickly toweling off, he left the room in his briefs, swiping his feet fruitlessly across the flooring in a bid to warm them.

“I don’t even know how it’d get that cold,” Spike muttered to himself, hunching over to don a pair of pants. “Magic in the flooring? Geez.”

Hoisting the waist up to his knees, he struggled for a moment against his clothing, a leg refusing to join its brother. He finally gave a heroic tug and stumbled backward from the pull, landing on the floor with a yelp, his pants still only half-on as he lay sprawled out on his back.

“Maybe I should of just slept in.”

“Spike?” Twilight yawned from the bedroom. “You’re… you’re already awake?”

“Yeah,” he answered, not bothering to rise. “Yeah, I am.”

“That’s a change of pace,” she said as the sound of her crawling out of bed echoed in Spike’s ears. “Usually I have to drag you out of bed, what’s the occasion?”

“National ‘they need heavier curtains’ day.” Rising, he finally fumbled and got his pants on. “And what about you?” he asked, throwing on his shirt and taking to buttoning it. “I mean, last night should of kept you down for a little longer.”

“I didn’t drink that much,” Twilight replied, stretching herself out, exposing her bare back to him. “I left with Rarity and Applejack, thought Fluttershy could handle you and Rainbow just fine.”

“I was the one handling Fluttershy.” He glanced away from Twilight, giving her at least a hair of privacy as she began her own morning routine.

“Really?” she asked looking back to him with a cocked eyebrow. “Did Rainbow put something in her drink again?”

“Yeah. A five-oh-five, or a one-one-five, or something like that. You know I don’t know those sort of things.” Yet, he mentally added.

Twilight froze in place, her eyes wide open as a single bead of sweat formed on her temple. “You mean one-fifty-one?” she asked slowly turning to face him.

“Sure, I guess.” He glanced at her, her nude body, much like Fluttershy’s, not phasing him in the slightest, their years of being family breaking any sort of lust he could potentially have for her.

Twilight sat down on the bed and took a huge breath in before placing a hand on her bare chest, exhaling as if she just had a brush with death. “Thank the Goddesses nothing happened,” she sighed, using her other hand to wipe away the sweat from her brow. “Her libido completely takes control when she’s on that stuff… literally everyone's a target.” Her gaze quickly fell back to Spike once more. “I’m surprised she didn’t try coming onto you.”

“Well, she’s known me since I was a kid. Plus I didn’t think she was into… you know.” He gave an implied roll of his wrist.

“Trust me, she is…” Twilight said. “Don’t even get me started on the first night the girls and I went out on the town.”

“Was that the night I found her asleep on your bedroom floor?” he replied. “Or am I thinking of a different night?”

Twilight’s pupils shrank into pinpricks and she glanced away, trying to think of a good answer for his question. “I should get in the shower,” she said, quickly walking past him, but not before giving him a quick kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be a little while, you check up on the rest of the girls, okay?”

“Alright.” He nodded and headed toward the door. Pausing, he turned, cupping a hand to his mouth to call across to the shut bathroom door. “Hope those diagrams you have in your room back home help you two out.”

“Now, Spike!” Twilight yelled from inside the the bathroom, the sound of water splashing against marble drowning out any other noise.

Laughing to himself, Spike turned the handle and walked out of the room.

The hallway was pristine, grand, and open, with windows that formed a checkerboard pattern and lined the golden archways that towered overhead. Spike walked down the hallway, passing by a guard standing next to a door leading to another bedroom.

“Who’s here?” Spike questioned the man.

“That is not my place to say, dragonkin,” the guard replied after a close examination of his eyes. “But she is the sole survivor of her house. I have been tasked to insure her safety within these halls.”

He measured the guard for a moment, before nodding. “Can you point me to lady Applejack’s room?”

“Gladly,” the guard answered, pointing down the hall. “Pay mind to her rest, according to the previous guard she had a suitor last night.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He gave a nod and was off, turning, then going down a little farther along the hall until he came to a door. He knocked, crossing his arms and waiting for a response.

Muffled sounds came from the other side of the door as well as a pair of voices he recognized all too well. The sound of heavier than usual footsteps soon followed, ending with the latch that kept the door coming undone. As the door opened Spike was greeted with an odd combination of cleavage and flannel, instantly telling him who answered the door.

“Mornin’ sugar,” Applejack yawned, trying her best to rub the sleep from her eyes. “What can I do ya for? And what time is it anyway?”

“Eight or so.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Honestly, I’m used to you being up earlier. You just getting around?”

“Pretty much.” Applejack stretched, coming dangerously close to exposing herself in the unbuttoned shirt she wore. “Rarity kinda convinced me that this was a vacation anyway.”

“Well, you both deserve it. I can’t think of anyone as hard of a worker as you guys.” He smiled. After a moment, he had a thought come to him. “Can I talk with you for a few? I could use some advice.”

“Sure thing, bucko.” She smiled, looking down to pat him on the head, then realized her current state of dress, or undress, to be more accurate. “Sorry Spike,” she said as she fumbled with the buttons on her top. “Didn’t mean fer ya ta see that.”

“Saw worse before. Don’t worry about it,” Spike replied, then paused. “Is Rarity dressed enough for me to come in?”

“I’ll ask,” Applejack said turning her head back into the room. “Hey Rare! Ya decent yet?”

“In the shower, darling!” the sing-song call of Rarity replied.

“That’ll be another hour then.” Applejack sighed, shaking her head. “Wanna talk somewhere else?”

“Your call. I’m the one getting in your hair,” Spike quickly answered.

“Be safer elsewhere,” Applejack said scratching her head. “Ya know how she gets when people she ain’t expecting sees her in anything other than one of them fancy outfits she has.”

“Yeah, I can’t even count the amount of times I went to the boutique and she freaked out because she was wearing a torn shirt or something.”

“And how.” Applejack laughed. “Ya think that bar’ll be open at this hour? That’d be a nice place ta talk.”

“I’d guess so. The people here seem to have no problem drinking any time they get a moment.”

“Mac would love it here then.” Applejack smiled. “Alright, let’s get goin’.”

A walk later, they came to the casbah and tossed open the doors. Already, the women were in the midst of their sultry dances. Spike stared for a few lingering moments, before averting his eyes.

“Early, but want a drink?” he quickly stammered out to Applejack, hiding his flushed face.

“I’d normally oblige ta the kindness Spike.” Applejack gave a knowing chuckle on noticing his reaction. “But it’s just too early fer that, even fer me.”

“R-right, yeah. I understand.”

“So,” she began, taking a seat at the closest table, kicking her feet up and patting at the chair beside her, “what ya wanna talk about?”

Spike sat next to her, kneading his fingers together. “I trust you a lot, you know? I trust all of you guys, but you and Twilight I think I trust the most.”

“I think I know where this is goin’...” Applejack said with a hint of concern, removing her feet from the table and placing an arm on Spike’s shoulder. “What do ya wanna know?”

“How’d you and Rarity decide to get together?” he asked. “I mean, were you the one who made the first move? How could you tell she was interested? I…” Swallowing, he decided to tip his cards a little, so it didn’t look like a question out of the blue. “There was this… person last night and...” Spike spared a glance her way. “And I want to make sure I’m not being stupid about it, I guess.” He glanced down to her ring. “I just thought you might be the woman for the job on this.”

Applejack slightly jumped back in her seat, caught completely off guard by both the questions and revelations that Spike had chose to confide in her. Bringing a hand to the back of her neck she looked to the open sky before casting her eyes back to him.

“That’s… that’s a whole lot ta take in sugar,” she finally said, to which she received a downtrodden sigh as a reply. “But don’t get me wrong, I’m honored that ya think I’m the right person fer this it’s just… unexpected, that’s all.”

“Sorry,” he answered, looking down at the table. “I, I just don’t have any sort of you know, experience on this, and I want to make sure I’m not being stupid about it.”

“I completely understand Spike,” Applejack said patting him on the back, “but if I could tell ya anything, stuff like that ya learn as ya go.”

“I’m not the best at that,” Spike answered. “I think if I screw up, I won’t have a second chance. You didn’t see her last night, she’s…” He struggled, unable to think of a word. “Otherworldly,” he decided.

“Spike…” Applejack said sternly, grabbing his face so he would look her in the eyes, “Let me tell ya a little somethin’ ‘bout me.” Applejack let his face go, but the two’s eyes remained connected by an unbreakable tether. “When I was a bit younger, I was a whole lot like you, in terms of relationships that is.”

“You were?” he questioned, amazed at the fact.

“Damn straight.” She nodded. “I was so scared of messin’ things up with someone that I didn’t even bother tryin’... ya wanna know what that lead to?”

Spike stared at her, waiting for her to continue.

“It lead ta cold, long nights, cursin’ myself fer bein’ a damn coward,” she elaborated, “but the worst part was that I was alone, and that I knew I could do something about it.”

Spike wryly smiled. “That advice is so like you.”

“I ain’t done yet Spike,” Applejack retorted with a smile. “Like I said, I was always alone, but when the gal I liked my senior year of high school went off with someone I knew was no good fer ‘em I decided that enough was enough. I’d lost out too many times on love, and I wasn’t gonna lose no more.”

“But why Rarity?” Spike questioned. “How did you know to ask her? How did you know it’d work?”

“I was gettin’ ta that,” Applejack replied, rubbing Spike’s hair. “Now let me finish alright?”

He nodded, staring up at her.

“Anyway, as I was sayin’,” Applejack continued, bringing the hand that was once on his head to her chin. “I pretty much just started taken chances with folks, if I liked ‘em I’d ask, some say yes some say no, some would last one date, some would last a coupla months.”

“So you didn’t have a… I dunno, a gut feeling about her?” Spike asked.

“Well, given all the years we’d been friends, I don’t think it was one of those ‘love at first sight’ kinda deals,” Applejack pondered, rubbing her chin once more, “but after realizin’ that I’d been lookin’ at her more often than not I decided that I might as well just give it a shot. ‘Cause ya really don’t know if it’ll become anything unless ya give it a go.”

“So like you to just take a plunge,” Spike said. “I wish I had half your guts sometimes.”

“Took a lot more guts fer Rarity,” Applejack nodded, “given the way she was raised and all, she was scared ta say yes ta a second date.”

“Rarity’s always been brave,” Spike agreed. “Brave, kind, and willing to go all-in when it was important to people that matter to her.” He gave a small shove to Applejack’s shoulder. “At least you two have that in common.”

“I reckon we do.” Applejack shrugged, “but I guess what the main thing I’m trying ta tell ya is that it’s better ta have loved and lost than ta never love at all… or somethin’ like that, Rarity said it, not me.”

“Actually, Alfred Lord Tennyson said it,” Spike corrected. “Twilight had me sort his works at the library a few years back.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Applejack laughed, giving Spike a hearty slap on the shoulder. “But ya still get what I’m sayin’ right?”

“I do. And it helps.” He rubbed where AJ had slapped him, for sure it was going to bruise. “See? This is why Twilight still asks for your advice, even though she’s a protegee for the princess.”

“Twilight’s more of a book knowledge kinda girl,” Applejack admitted. “I’m a tad bit more practical than her.”

“And speaking of practical advice…” The boy rose, offering his hand to her, even though she was close to eye-level with him while sitting. “This, uh, lady… she’s sort of classy too, like Rarity. What kind of presents should I be looking for?”

“Lavender scented soap,” Applejack said without hesitation. “Or some kinda fancy jewels, but ya gotta remember, sometimes the only gift they want is yer company.”

“Well, I’m too poor for jewels, but I’ll remember that bit about company.” He smiled, the expression healthier than it was before he talked with her. “You ever think about a self-help book?”

“Me? Write?” Applejack chuckled. “Ya remember who yer talkin’ ta right?”

“Have Rarity write. She’s got a flare for the dramatic. You can dictate.” He laughed a little. “But I do mean it. Thanks, AJ.”

“Don’t mention it, sug,” Applejack said, standing up. “I should probably be headed back right now, Rarity actually might be done in the shower by now.”

“Just in time for her to be trying on her fifth blouse, because the others didn’t work in the lighting,” Spike prophesied, years of working under Rarity’s meticulous eye giving him an uncanny sense on what she was thinking.

“Yer probably right,” Applejack said, shaking her head, “but given the time ya woke me up it’s got me wonderin’ if the other girls are movin’ yet?”

“If Dash and Fluttershy are, they’re not going to be happy about it,” he said. “I had to haul them to their rooms.”

“Wow,” Applejack said, tipping her hat. “RD spiked Shy’s drinks agai,n didn’t she?”

“Of course. And then you know how Fluttershy gets…”

“Woe ta those within arms reach of ‘Drunkershy’,” Applejack said in a mocking tone, giving a wave of her fingers. “Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t take a go at you.”

“Well, I guess Dash looked enough like a young boy that I wasn’t on her radar,” Spike replied with a smirk. “That, or maybe I don’t look grown enough yet.” He gave a deprecating laugh, but didn’t seem all that depressed about it. “You’re the farmer, you know you can’t harvest before a crop’s ready.”

“That ya can’t Spike, that ya can’t.” Applejack nodded, patting him on the head, “but I’m sure I was just a quick stop on a mission ta check on all the girls, ya should probably wake the rest of ‘em up if they ain’t awake yet, them delegations are bound ta start sometime soon.”

“I’m on the case,” he said, giving a smart salute.

“Then go beat feet!”

He shot off, leaving AJ in the dust and bolting around a corner, down another large, expansive hallway, where silk curtains blew a soothing air across his skin, and then to a large room filled with books. Pausing, he stood for a moment, scratching his head.

“Uh… I think I took a wrong turn,” he muttered under his breath, glancing around at the unfamiliar faces. He turned, ready to march back down the hall.

He quickly left, turning, taking another turn, then wandering through a hallway that angled away from another, before going down another large, expansive hallway, where silk curtains blew a soothing air across his skin, and then to a large room filled with books.

He tilted his head. “How in the hell,” he flatly stated, rather than questioned.

“Lost?” a very deep voice said from behind him as the thumping of heavy metal boots approached him. “It is rather easy for someone to misplace themselves here if they aren’t careful.”

He looked behind him and spotted Al’Kair. “Yeah,” he agreed. “I might of taken a wrong turn. Or two…”

“If your goal was the other madam’s rooms you took about five.” He smiled, closing the book he was holding. “I assume you would appreciate my assistance in relocating them?”

“Yeah…” He sighed, defeated. “If you’re not busy.”

“Not currently,” he replied, putting the book on a random shelf. “but perhaps I shall be soon.” Al’Kair’s voice seemed to change at the tail end of his statement, turning from a kind and fatherly tone to something darker, but changing back quick enough. “Shall we be off?”

“Uh, sure,” he answered, blinking. “Lead the way.”

With a quick nod Al’Kair silently motioned Spike to follow him. The two walked through corridor after corridor, each one revealing something Spike hadn’t seen in his brief time at the palace. One lead to a room full of weapons of all types, another to one full of blankets and pillows, even one full of the purest gold and finest gems. He had to be especially careful with that one, for though he did have incredible control over his primal, bred-in desires that room whispered sweet nothings into his ears, hard enough that his skin for a brief moment became unnaturally tough and leathery. Finally after minutes of twists and turns Al’Kair had lead Spike to a hallway he actually recognized.

“Here we are,” he said, pointing to a door about thirty feet to their right. “Madam Dash and Madam Fluttershy’s room is just down there.”

Spike rubbed at his mouth, glancing behind them. “I was watching that whole time and still have no idea how we got here,” he admitted. “But thanks.”

“When one lives in a place long enough.” Al’Kair smiled turning back around. “Best wishes for the day Spike.”

“Wait,” Spike called out. “How’d you know I was looking for Dash and Fluttershy?”

“The Princess is already up and about,” Al’Kair answered, turning his head towards the boy. “And I walked into Madam Jack as she made her way back to her room.”

“Oh.” Another pause. “Hey, Al’Kair… you wouldn’t happen to know if they maybe sell scented soaps or something at market.”

“Scented soaps?” Al’Kair asked, this time turning to face him completely.

“Yeah,” he said with a nonchalant sniff, trying to look relaxed. “Lavender, maybe. Something a girl might like.”

“Ah, in that case, yes they do.” Al’Kair nodded with a proud smile. “I wish you the best of luck with whoever it is that has caught your eye.”

“Thanks.” Spike blushed a bit at the attention, but his smile soon came out too. “I’m gonna need the luck. She’s something else.”

“I can assume.” He moved back to the boy, placing his hand on Spike’s shoulder before walking off again. “Delegation begins in an hour, so please insure they are expedient.”

“I will,” he agreed, turning to the door. He raised a hand and gave a brisk knock, standing at attention as he waited for an answer.

Close to a minute passed and there was still no answer, making him wonder if the two of them were still passed out drunk in their beds where he had left them. He knocked on the door again, meeting the same response. Growing slightly frustrated he rose his fist to prepare for the mother of all knocks, but before his fist slammed into the door a small crease appeared in the door along with a very quiet and tired voice.

“H-hello?” Fluttershy mumbled, keeping the door slightly closed. “Who’s there?”

“Good morning,” Spike said. “Did you sleep ok?”

“Spike?” she said pushing the door open a little farther to take a better look at him. “You’re awake before Twilight?”

“She’s up. Was just getting ready while I checked on everyone. Considering some of us had a rough night.”

“Oh, right...” she said, opening the door a little further, just so Spike could see her face. “Sorry about that. I hope I didn’t come onto you.”

“You never do,” Spike replied, raising a brow. “And everyone’s been asking me why this morning. I think I deserve an answer some time.”

“I can be a bit unlike myself when I have too much,” Fluttershy said, sinking her head lower. “I’ve had more than one night that I haven’t exactly been proud of myself in the morning.”

“Still doesn’t explain why everyone but me has to bat you away,” he grumbled, seeming to pout like a child. “I mean, I’ve heard—and seen—some of the stories Twilight’s told me, and I saw you and Dash last night.”

“I honestly don’t know Spike.” Fluttershy sighed. “Maybe I just see you too much as my baby brother or son or something… Wait… did you say D-Dash?”

“Yeah,” he agreed, tossing his arms up in exasperation. “And I mean, I have a better figure than her! Come on!”

A small smile came to Fluttershy’s lips as she fought back a laugh, the action seemed to convince her to fully open the door, granting Spike a look at what most men his age would commit mass murder for. She wore a transparent, light blue night gown, with matching panties adorned with a daisy embroidery. The fact that her bare breasts nearly burst out of it made it clear that it was about two cup sizes too small, and it still perplexed him as to how she managed to fit them both into the thing without having it tear.

Spike was readily able to admit she was beautiful. Every one of his friends were beautiful in their own way, but, Rarity being the exception, by the time he grew up enough to realize what he liked on a body, he considered them family, and the years of closeness they all shared had left all of them less than self-conscious around one-another. Spike knew if anyone else had entered the room but him or one of the girls, Fluttershy would immediately run to the bathroom to hide in embarrassment.

“Dash still down for the count?” he asked, sparing Fluttershy and her ensemble only a glance as he entered, and nearly tripping over Pinkie, who lay sprawled out on the floor, her mouth open and tongue hanging loosely out the side as she slept like a corpse.

“She’s still three sheets to the wind as they say,” Fluttershy said, closing the door behind her, “but I’m pretty sure we can wake them up with the right amount of coaxing.”

“As long as your coaxing isn’t like last night,” he replied easily. “Dash is small enough that I’m sure you could of broke bones.”

Fluttershy’s face turned a shade of red as her hand traveled up to her mouth. “O-oh my.”

“I don’t even want to know what happened after I left the room last night,” he said briskly. “Anyway, let’s get her and Pinkie up.”

“Waaaay ahead of you!” a chipper voice called out from the floor. Pinkie scuttled across the ground in her pink pajamas like a cockroach and rose in one fluid wave of her body, jumping up into the air. “Good morning, Spike!” She turned to Fluttershy, grinning despite the spittle covering her mouth from her slumber, and the unkempt way her hair lay, one side holding its traditional poof, and the other flatly pressing against her skull. “Good morning, Fluttershy!” She moved past them with a skip, going to Dash, who lay sprawled out on a bed, dead to the world. “Good morning, Dashie!” With that accomplished, she bounced back, going to the door and leaving out for the hallway. They both heard a loud, “Good morning, guard!” from outside, and then all was silent.

“Wha?” Rainbow groaned raising quickly, “What the hel-ow… my head…”

“Good. Consider it karma for last night,” Spike scolded, crossing his arms. “You owe me big.”

“Luna above, you don’t have to yell!” Rainbow winced, pressing her index fingers into her ears as the rest of her hand pressed into her temples. “How much?”

“You said two hundred bits.”

“What?!” she exclaimed, practically shooting out of bed, her sports bra and gym shorts keeping her decent. “That’s enough to hire someone for a blowjob!”

Spike paused. “R-really? How do you know the rates?”

“Uh…” Rainbow began, her eyes shifting around the room. “I knew a girl, but forget I said that, like, right now… and never talk about it again.” The three sat there in silence, all just waiting for the awkwardness to settle, until finally Rainbow decided to speak up again. “Anyway, I don’t have that kind of coin, at least not on me.”

“Then you’ll do me a favor to pay me back.” He nodded, pleased with himself.

“Name it little man,” Rainbow replied with a hint of malice in her voice, knowing that Spike would probably have her do some over the top feat to get even.

“I need you to fly into town—don’t forget your burqa—and pick up something for me.”

“B-but…” Rainbow whined, “but that thing’s itchy!”

“And considering you owe me big, you’ll just have to put up with the itch,” Spike replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a meager handful of bits. “Soap. Lavender soap. There’s got to be a stand for it somewhere at the market square.”

Rainbow sat on her bed for a few seconds staring back and forth between the handful of bits and Spike’s victorious grin. “Fine,” she answered in a pouting tone, standing up and taking the bits from his hands. “Only because I owe you.”

“Damn right you do.” He looked between them. “And you guys are up to be delegates in about an hour, so get dressed.”

“I call shower first!” Rainbow blurted out before disappearing into the bathroom, but not before ‘accidentally’ throwing her sports bra and gym shorts in Spike’s face.

Spike winced, blinking as they landed on the ground. He turned his head, glancing at Fluttershy. “Next time you drink, she’s all yours,” he grumbled.

“I-I don’t think I’ll let that happen again,” Fluttershy blushed, looking away, “but thank you… I guess?”

“You’re welcome. And it was one-one-five or something she put in your glass, right?”

Fluttershy’s eyes went wide, even wider than Twilight’s when he explained it to her. “O-one-fifty-one?” she asked, but before Spike could answer she continued. “S-She knows how I get when I have that in me… why would she?”

“Because she’s an idiot and wanted you to cause a scene, I guess.”

“Well…” Fluttershy said bringing a hand to her chin before donning an adorable smile. “I guess that backfired on her didn’t it?”

“Thank the gods that everyone was drunk. That could of really been bad,” Spike replied.

“I wouldn’t doubt it.” She grimaced, “after what we went through getting here, I don’t want to think about what would happen if it took place anywhere else.”

“Well, it’s in the past now, I guess. No use in dwelling on it. But you really need to learn how to control how you… get. I’ll bail you out as often as I can, but there might be a day I’m not around to do that.”

“Oh trust me Spike, I can control it now,” Fluttershy nodded, placing her hand on his shoulder. “It’s just when someone decides to... you my drinks.”

“Alright. Just… be careful, I guess. Then again, I don’t have to tell you that.”

“I won’t be accepting drinks from anyone for anytime soon.” Fluttershy smiled, bringing his face into her generous bosom for an embrace. “Funny, it feels like yesterday that I was looking out for you, oh how you’ve grown.”

He blushed, not at the contact with her chest, that came with the territory of being as short as he was, but rather at her words. “Well… I’m older now. It’s time I repay the favor a bit. We’ll look out for each other.” He held out his pinkie to her hand.

“Deal,” Fluttershy agreed, wrapping her pinkie around his as the sound of the shower suddenly stopped.

“Hey Fluttershy!” Rainbow called from the bathroom. “Hate to tell ya, but we ran out of hot water! Looks like you’ll be taking a cold one!”

Fluttershy’s smile fell flat as she looked to the bathroom door and then back to Spike. “Of course…” she sighed, lowering her head.

“A cold shower will give you plenty of time to think of a way to get back at her,” Spike offered, turning to head to the door.

“Oh, I’m not really one to take revenge,” Fluttershy said, watching a still dripping Rainbow stroll out of the bathroom. “But this time... I actually might consider it.”

“You just let me know when. I’ll want a front row seat,” Spike answered with a sly grin.

“Of course,” Fluttershy said, patting him lightly on the head as a plotting grin formed on her face. “But right now I need a shower, you go back to Twilight and tell her we’ll be a few minutes, alright sweetie?”

“I’ll go there right now,” he answered, opening the door and stepping out. He strolled down the way towards his room, and gave another glance at the guard standing at attention by a bedroom door. Shaking away the curiosity from his mind, he pressed on and tossed open the door.

“Alright,” he announced, shutting the door behind him and plopping down on the nearby bed and shutting his eyes, not even bothering to look for Twilight before speaking. “Everyone’s up at at ‘em.”

“You’re awesome Spike,” Twilight called out, poking her head out of the bathroom just enough for him to notice the enormous towel wrapped around her head, “anyone give you trouble at all? I know Rarity and Dash can be a bit of a hassle when you try to wake them up.”

“Rarity was already in the shower by the time I got to her and Applejack’s room. Dash…” Spike gave a bounce of his head. “I’ve seen her wake up worse, at least.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry it took me so long to get back, got lost.”

“That’s okay Spike,” Twilight replied, walking out of the steaming room, clad only in a towel, “just don’t be out too late at night, I’ve been told that some highly unfavorable individuals skalk around Ridedh at night.”

“I won’t be,” he replied. “At most I might hit the casbah again and call it a night.”

“Well you’ll have to wait for about ten hours for that to happen,” Twilight laughed, flinging the towel off her body as she began to look for an outfit to make herself decent once more.

“I meant later tonight,” he replied with an embarrassed blush at his words. “Today, well… I don’t know.”

“Well, delegations aren’t going to be very long today, given that we nearly got two days worth of politics taken care of yesterday.” Twilight shrugged, slipping a pink bra and matching panties on, “but before we left the casbah I remember Dash saying something about Fluttershy and the palace Zoo, I think she wanted you to come along with them.”

“That might be fun,” Spike agreed with a smile. “I mean, I’m sure Fluttershy’ll have a blast.” He paused. “Are you not coming?”

“Are you kidding?” Twilight asked, buttoning up a white blouse that by the grace of the gods allowed her bra to show underneath, “I heard some of the guards talking about the library yesterday when we got finished, from what I heard it rivals Canterlot’s!”

“Yeah. That’s actually where I got lost to,” Spike answered. He shrugged. “Seems like a good amount of the palace is educated, compared to outside the halls. I even saw Al’Kair nose-deep in a book in the study. He’s how I found my way back.”

“He reads too?” Twilight asked, slightly enamored by the prospect. “Al’Kair seems to be full of surprises.”

“If you say so,” Spike replied, looking at her with a raised brow. Something caught his eye and he walked over to her, sighing. He gave a tug at the tail of the uneven shirt, one corner obviously lower than the other side. “You missed a button,” he remarked, undoing her shirt, then buttoning his way up, giving a tap at her collar when he finished the job. “If you wouldn’t even wear your braces around the other diplomats, I can’t imagine what’d happen if you went in there with your shirt wrong.”

Twilight let out a happy sigh, tilting her head as she began to smile. “What would I do without you?” She asked, running her fingers through his hair.

He gave a grumpy glance as she ruffled his hair up, but smiled anyway, then held up his hand, counting on his fingers. “Well… you’d probably starve. Would never be on time anywhere, could of never handled all the reracking when we had the library, don’t get me started on the laundry, and—”

“Okay, okay…” Twilight grinned, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. “I get it, now let me get ready, we only have twenty minutes to be in the throne room.”

“Alright, alright, your majesty,” he said, his tone as playful as her punch. “Tell Dash I’m in on the zoo trip. I’ll meet them… uh, I guess I’ll hunt around for the entrance and meet ‘em there.”

“Oh don’t worry about that,” Twilight reassured, passively waving her hand at him. “Rainbow’ll get you, and from what I heard it’ll be a trip to remember.”

Author's Notes:

Gdocs sucks for importing. Messed up twice on me doing this. I'd appreciate y'all mentioning in the comments if something seems off.