Spike woke up and rolled over, sitting on the edge of his bed. As he watched the rise and fall of Twilight’s chest, he decided on a course of action.Grinning, he walked over to her. The boy leaned down and quickly covered her mouth and pinched her nose shut.

A few seconds passed, but soon enough the flailing began. Pillows and bedsheets flew in every direction as the boy began to laugh, a laugh that was silenced by a pink hue surrounding his torso. Moments later, Spike found himself on his back, magic slamming him into the floor so hard his head swam. He tried to escape from his bonds, but as soon as he started to free himself a second crushing force slammed onto his chest, this time effectively knocking the wind out of him. A loud gasp escaped his lungs, but within an instant he was suffocated once again by a combination of hair and hands.

Moments later, the two things that denied him breath suddenly lifted off of him, revealing a toppless young woman on top of him, her arm raised and pulsing in pink arcane magic as her eyes glowed with a fever.

“M-morning,” he choked out.

“S-Spike?!” Twilight yelped out, the magic pulsating from her eyes fading. returning her pupils to their normal state, “What in Celestia’s name were you doing?”

“Waking you up,” he answered. “Want to get off of me?”

Twilight blinked a few times in confusion before looking down to their rather precarious position. Her cheeks flushed red. “I’m so sorry Spike,” she said quickly, trying to get off of him without making the situation any more awkward, “but you should know by now what I do when people do that.”

“Not since last time I did it to you,” he replied, rubbing his neck. “And no need to look so embarrassed about it. Not like that’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to me.”

“Well the last time you actually pitched a tent,” Twilight reminded, “and yes I will concede that it’s not the worst thing I’ve done to you, especially when I was on that ‘must learn more about draconic anatomy’ stent about a year ago.”

“I thought I told you that… that happened because I was dreaming,” he answered, blushing, then shook his head. “And I said there was nothing really different about me, uh, there. That only changes if the dragonblood in question lets their… impulses take over. Like that one birthday I had.”

“Well there is that minor difference in the genetal area,” Twilight said, placing her finger on her chin in thought. “You have five distinct ribs on your—”

“I’m sorry I don’t spend my time comparing my junk with normal peoples. Geez.” he huffed out quickly, throwing his hands in the air.

“Well I don’t normally either,” Twilight said, extending her hand toward him. “Looking back on it, I’m still surprised you let me take such an intimate look at how your body works.”

“That’s how a lot of you guys are, though,” he answered thoughtfully. “I mean…” he gestured over to Twilight’s bare breasts. “Equestrians, it doesn’t matter much when it comes to that sort of thing, if it’s family. And I’m not that different from everybody. I don’t think.”

“Spike, you’re more unique than the six of us put together,” Twilight said, folding her arms across her chest. “The only dragonkin raised by Equestrians on record, that fact alone makes you special, and then there’s your personality.” Twilight’s smile grew warm and she spun around slowly, letting her hair flip as she did so. “There’s no one quite like you.”

“Sometimes I wish I wasn’t a dragonkin,” he admitted hesitantly. “Just be like you guys. Maybe things could of…” The boy shook his head. “No, nevermind.”

“Spike, you just need to be happy with who you are, and remember that we love you no matter what,” Twilight said, taking a few steps away. “And if my eyes didn’t deceive me, someone yesterday really likes you for being yourself.”

“I hope so. She’s something else, Twilight.” He pursed his lips in thought as he sat on the edge of the bed. “I mean, I know why I like her. I’m still trying to figure out why she likes me, though. At least, I hope she does. But at the same time, don’t women like that usually like the confident, stylish types? Winning personality only gets you so far,” Spike weakly joked.

“You’re saying women go for style when Rarity’s with AJ?” Twilight asked, cocking her brow. “As for confidence, it’s there, the only one who really hasn’t seen it is you.”

“Well, AJ’s sty—alright, point taken there,” he bluntly replied. “And I’ve been trying to get better. It just feels like everytime I do, I fall flat on my ass again.”

“Fall seven times,” Twilight said knowingly, walking into the bathroom.

“Stand up eight,” he finished, nodding. “I know.”

“Good.” Twilight nodded, sliding behind the door. “After I’m done in here be sure to take a quick shower yourself, I need a book from the library before delegations begin.”

“I can get it for you real quick,” Spike answered.

“Sounds great, but unless you want to shower with me like we used to you’ll have to wait,” she smiled, slowly closing the door, “until then, try cleaning the mess you made when you decided to be funny.”

He almost agreed to join her out of spite. It’d be awkward as hell for him, but at least it’d be awkward for her too. Instead, he glanced at the scattered papers on the ground left in the wake of Twilight’s magic. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll get it taken care of.”

“Thank you~.” Twilight cooed, closing the door behind her, leaving Spike to himself in the messy room.

“I bet Apple Bloom never has this problem with Applejack,” he complained to himself, kneeling down and starting the chore.

Some ten minutes later Spike had managed to make the room neater than it was when he started. The moment he placed Twilight’s pillow back at the head of the bed, the shower stopped. He let out a deep sigh as he turned his attention to the bathroom. Steam hissed out the door’s edges before it opened wider, revealing a feminine figure in the steam, wrapped in a towel and dripping in moisture.

“Okay Spike,” Twilight said, stepping out, “You’re up.”

“About time,” the boy remarked, already digging through what he packed for another pair of briefs and a towel. “Any longer and you would of become a prune.”

“It was only ten minutes,” Twilight replied, rolling her eyes as she threw her towel on her bed. “Now please hurry up, there’s about an hour and fifteen minutes before the delegates need to be in the throne room.”

He nodded, heading towards the bathroom. “Plenty of time. Don’t worry about it.” Spike shut the door behind him and stripped, hopping in the lavish shower. Spike blew through it quick, giving a brisk rub to his scalp and chest, before stepping out, throwing his underwear on and walking back into the bedroom, still rubbing his hair dry.

“Well, that was quick,” Twilight said, still trying to strap her bra on manually.

“I wanna get on with the funner stuff today,” he answered. After a pause, he sighed. “You need a hand with that thing, or…?”

“It’s more fun Spike,” Twilight corrected, rather frustrated before snapping her fingers to secure the straps. “I will always admire those without magical abilities… I couldn’t imagine living without it.”

“Well, the others seem alright without it.” He shrugged. “Though I guess Dash would feel the same about flying.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Twilight said, grabbing a fresh set of clothes. “Now hurry up, we’ve got an hour and ten minutes now.”

He looked plainly at her, grabbing his clothes and slowly pulling one pant leg up, then, at a speed to make sloths envious, put his other leg into his pants. Not breaking his expression, he reached down and began a lazy climb up his legs.

“I’m getting ready. At my own pace,” he replied. “I didn’t rush your shower, did I?”

Twilight’s hand began to glow it’s magical, pinkish hue, and Spike’s choice of clothing for the day began to float around him, all the while the expression on Twilight’s face remained steadfast. “Ten, nine, eight…”

“Allright. Geez,” Spike muttered out, pulling his pants all the way up and throwing on his shirt.

“Glad you see things my way,” Twilight victoriously said as her top floated over her head. “Now let’s move, both of us are rather pressed for time at the moment.”

“I’m pressed for time?” he questioned. “I think I could just chill here all day, if I wanted.” Letting his better nature take over, he rose, finishing up the button on his shirt. “But what kind of book you needing from the study? I’ll go play fetch.”

“I’m going to need one on Saddle Arabian military logistics,” she replied, magically slipping into her pants, “today we’ll more than likely be going over troop training, equipment, and exchange.”

He cocked a brow, heading to the door regardless. “What kind of exchange?”

“Saddle Arabia is a powerful military ally,” Twilight explained, “they’ve pretty much been the only reason Calemou hasn’t tried to attack us for the past forty-five years.” She paused, looking to Spike for a few moments. “But they’re not as advanced as our military. Many of their generals don’t even have a proper firearm. People like this could always need more resilient weapons and even a handful of Celestia’s men to help enforce their border in the south could be a lifesaver.”

“Well, if you need it, I’ll get it.”

“Thank you, Spike.” Twilight smiled, snapping her fingers once more to bring her still wet towel to her. “Just don’t be too long okay?”

“I’ll be back before you miss me.”

He shut the door behind him and headed down the hall, noting once more as he walked the door blocked by a single guard. This time he ignored his curiosity and pressed forward without hesitation, taking a few twists and turns before ending up at the study. Smugly grinning at his newfound sense of direction, he approached a ledger listing all the books in the study and found what he was looking for. A quick pull and he was back out through the hallway.

He traveled down, giving a small tap at the book in his hands as he thought about everything he could do today. There was always the casbah, of course, but…

But Amira would sate him more than a drink ever could.

He nodded. Spike still didn’t know exactly where she could be, but he’d hunt for her today and, if he could get a break from his rotten chain of luck, he’d find her and…

Well, whatever they did, Spike had a feeling he’d like it. A woman like that could think of some things for them to do, that’s for sure.

Smiling a grin almost devious, Spike vaguely recognized where he was and grabbed the nearby bedroom door, pulling it open and stepping inside.

“Got it, Twi,” he announced, not even taking stock of the room as he fell down onto his bed, letting the book flop down next to him.

“Well I’m sure that’s a wonderful thing,” a voice he knew for sure wasn’t Twilight’s replied, sending chills down his spine.

Spike suddenly shot up, his eyes slowly and uneasily turning to face the voice. There Amira stood, wrapped in a sinfully small bath towel and leaning up against her bathroom door frame, one hand resting on her hip while the other stretched high above her head. “But I think she would appreciate the news even more if you told her yourself.”

The boy stared at her, uncomprehending why she was here in his room. And, more importantly, why she was clad in nothing but a bath towel. He regained his sensibilities finally and snapped around, rising to a sit on the bed he lay on and looking at the opposite wall from her, his face crimson fire. “Amira! I-I’m sorry! I didn’t, I mean, why are you? What?” he babbled, refusing to turn to face her.

“You must have mistook my room for Madam Twilight’s.” She shrugged, coming off the wall, “not that I mind though, I rarely ever get visitors because of the guards.”

“You live in the palace?” he asked, that question the first one to rise from the depths of his mind, the rest still violently swimming around and refusing to be caught.

“In a sense yes,” she replied, walking towards him slowly, “this is the room that my house resides in when we come.”

“‘We’?” he repeated, then once more remembered the situation he was in. “And I, uh, sorry. I-I didn’t mean to come in. But you have to be just a door or two down from me.” It struck him like a lightning bolt, he actually twitched a hair at the realization. “You’re the room the guard was by earlier! Why is he by a different one now? That’s what threw me off!” He swallowed. “I’m ranting. I should go,” Spike briskly said, rising, not looking behind him.

“Why do you need to leave?” Amira asked, taking a seat on the bed he once sat on, “I see no rush.”

“You’re not dressed properly,” he answered, his eyes involuntarily flicking to her, before he willed them back.

“I can remedy that quite quickly,” Amira assured, unwrapping her towel, “and with you here I’m sure I can do it even faster.”

He froze, his mouth open as he stood like a statue, staring at the wall, almost sweating at what could be behind him. “W-well, I mean, yeah, I, uh, guess, b-but…” He shut his eyes, taking a moment to actually breath. “J-just let me know when you’re decent, Amira.”

“I’ll require your assistance to do that Spike,” she replied rubbing the towel that once surrounded her body against her hair, “my garb for the day in in the wardrobe, right next to the mirror.”

“On it,” he agreed, feeling his way across the edge of the room, palming a countertop, the mirror, then, right next to the mirror, her wardrobe directly by it. He leaned down, resting his hand at the top of the mirror as a brace, only for the top to flip over, the base of the mirror rising up and cracking him square on the chin.

“Fuck!” he hollered, clutching his jaw and sinking down to his knees. He opened his eyes, looking over his palms for blood. Remembering the company by him, he grimaced. “I mean, ‘shoot,’” he weakly corrected.

“Did you say something Spike?” Amira asked, oblivious to her counterpart’s blunder. “Perhaps it would be easier if you actually opened your eyes.”

He groaned, rubbing his aching jaw. “Well, I can look now,” he said, gazing at the wardrobe and opening the chest-high drawers, rows of neat-folded clothes in the shelves. “Which garb?”

“Whichever pleases you the most Spike,” she answered, “but be sure to remember that it requires a shred of decency~.”

“‘Decency,’ she says,” Spike muttered under her breath. “And she’s changing in front of me like she’s one of the girls.” He thumbed through the clothes, each one alluring and beautiful in its own right. He finally pulled out a brown shirt with a plunging neckline and loose, frilly arms, then a pair of conservative off-white pants that had a low crouch and belled out towards the ankles. He was pretty sure they were called ‘harem pants,’ but would have to check with Twilight, his own personal encyclopedia, to be sure.

“Will—” his voice cracked and he cleared his throat, holding the clothes out behind him. “Will these work?”

Amira turned to see Spike’s selection. “I’m impressed,” she nodded, rising and walking his way in her nude glory, “men are usually not so fashionable.” she reached out to him, placing a still slightly damp hand on his before gathering what Spike had gotten for her and walking back. “Perhaps I could borrow you from Madam Twilight when I come to Equestria next.”

“I’d like that,” Spike agreed, swallowing, trying his best to live up to Applejack’s advice. “B-because I think you’re an interesting person.”

“Your words flatter me Spike,” Amira smiled, in spite the fact that Spike didn’t see her do it, “but there is something that has recently come to my attention.”

“What? What is it?” he asked.

“You forgot undergarments,” she replied.

“Undergarments,” Spike repeated, just shy of a heart attack. “Y-you want me to do that too, huh?”

“If it’s not too much to ask of you Spike,” Amira answered, the sound of her footsteps becoming louder once more, “but I can gather them myself if you’re uncomfortable with my request.”

“N-no. I’ll… you asked me to, so I’ll…” He reached to another drawer, swallowing. “Can you tell me what you want, at least?”

“Something that won’t expose me so easily Spike,” she replied, “despite my highborn blood, I’m rather simple in that aspect.”

“Highborn blood? Oh, you mean because you’re a noble?” the boy asked, doing his best to start up a conversation to distract him from her underwear.

“Indeed I am Spike,” the woman answered, “my father was the right hand of the king for close to fifteen years before his passing, and my mother was Alba’s midwife when their last two children came to this world.”

“Wow,” he simply answered. “That’s neat.” He fished around, pulling out a dark-brown bra that he thought would complement the rest of her clothes. It seemed respectable enough, so he put it on top of the wardrobe and looked for panties. “I don’t know what my parents did. I guess I was so young that it never occured for me to ask. And now that I’m older,” pausing, he glanced down at the underwear in his hand. “I think it’d just be strange to ask about. I hope they were good people, though.” He weakly laughed after a moment. “Though, I’ve heard enough about my kind that they probably weren’t. They probably gave in to their greed and were full dragons, I bet anything.”

“Spike,” Amira said in the wise yet oddly seductive tone Spike had seemed to fall in love with, “you must never judge, much less assume, the nature of those who bore you.” The sound of footsteps approached again, but stopped a moment later. The sudden feeling of a hand on Spike’s shoulder was almost enough to make him jump, but he somehow managed to steel himself so he wouldn’t look as foolish in front of her. “Yes, it is true that you were raised Equestrian, but the blood that flows through your veins isn’t, it is the blood of those that bore you, and even if you never knew them, hints of their own nature reside inside you.”

“I don’t want their nature, Amira,” Spike said, turning to look at the woman and only remembering at the last moment her state of undress. He impotently remained staring down at her underwear, a handful of her bottoms in his clenched palms. “When you have my blood, it’s hard doing things that other people would just do without thinking. But I can’t. I have to keep a lot of things in me unless I want to turn into this beast. And you can’t understand how much I have to hold back around you. Do you get what I mean?”

Amira removed her hand from Spike’s shoulder, looking to him with a slight amount of hurt in her eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry Spike,” she said lowering her head, “ but you are correct, I have no way of comprehending what you feel, and my last wish is to harm you, but I don’t believe you understood what I tried to say.”

“What did you mean, then?” he asked.

“You are an amazing testament to the good in your race,” she explained, “that alone could not be achieved by an Equestrian upbringing, the blood of your fathers had to have played a role in how you became the way you did.”

He shuffled on his feet, exhaling. “Do you really think they were?” Spike quietly asked, her words moving him and he wasn’t even sure why. He never even knew them, but...

“Without a question,” Amira nodded, placing her hand on his shoulder once again, “and beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

“Amira…” he choked out, leaning his head forward on the wardrobe. He stared down at the top of the wardrobe for a long, long moment, hiding his face from her. Finally, he sniffed. “I don’t know how you do that,” the boy admitted, blinking and wiping at his eyes with the back of a hand.

Amira slowly slid her hand from Spike’s shoulder, stopping only when her arm could simply go no further, her other arm soon followed, until both hands dangled just under his chest. Seconds later she pulled him into her as close as physically possible, softly placing the side of her face to his. “I had an amazing teacher,” she whispered before planting a soft kiss on his cheek, “as you have had several.”

His embarrassment was once more pushed to the wayside as he shuddered at her presence directly behind him. He reached a hand and placed it on hers, and leaned his head back to the comfort of her collarbone.

“I don’t know what you see in me,” he admitted. “I’m nothing compared to someone like you. And I’m… in your time, there had to have been someone better than…” he let the sentence drop, squeezing her hand.

“In my time I have never seen one quite like you Spike,” she said softly, looking down to him, “and what I see in you is something you will have to find for yourself.”

“Someone braver than me said that you don’t know something until you give it a go. And I want to give you a go.” Pausing, Spike thought about the sentence, and a bit of his confidence faded. “I-I mean—”

“It’s alright Spike,” Amira laughed, using her unclutched hand to rub his chest, “I understand what you mean.”

“I don’t know why I feel like I do about you,” he admitted, staring down at her hand in thought. “Something like this so, uh, fast, shouldn’t happen. What I feel about you. Any time Twilight read a book where this played out, she’d roll her eyes and say it was unrealistic.” He let out a single laugh. “I don’t know what could be realer right now.” Swallowing, he ran a thumb over her palm. “I wanted to say that, even if you didn’t feel the same.” At her silence, he stared at the wall. “Sorry if it came out sudden.”

Amira didn’t say a word, she only rested her chin on his scalp, softly pressing him closer as she did so. “There are things that one can never explain Spike, we just have to find out for ourselves whether it’s right or wrong.”

“And I want to find out. Will you let me?” he asked, letting his eyelids slide down as he relaxed in her comforting embrace.

“I see no need to—”

A sudden hefty knock came to the door. Much to Spike’s dismay, Amira released him, turning her attention to whoever was at the door. He watched silently as one arm kept the towel wrapped around her chest while the other reached for the doorknob. With a slight push it creaked open, revealing someone he didn’t think in a million years would be there.

“Amira.” Al’Kair nodded, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Father!” Amira exclaimed happily, jumping up to wrap her arms around his neck as best as she could, almost sacrificing her decency in the process “You came to visit!”

“You don’t have to call me that anymore,” he replied, wrapping one arm around her, “you and I both know that stopped close to ten years ago.”

Spike froze, paralyzed by the man’s voice. He was her father? he thought in a blind panic. That explains the cryptic advice they both love giving. He paused once more, looking down at the panties in his hand and quickly tossing them all into the drawer, save for one pair, which he tossed next to her bra. On noticing it was the exact opposite of modest, with a narrow, paper-thin back, he swore inwardly, hoping she wouldn’t mind something like that.

“How is your homeland?” Al’Kair asked, setting her back on the ground. By some miracle he had yet to notice Spike, but given the boy’s run of luck he was about to be turned into a spit-roast. “I know it’s been rough in the province as of late.”

“It still stands, father,” Amira replied, looking to him with the widest and most beautiful smile she could manage. “And before you ask, there are still no sons to carry the name.”

“Of course not.” Al’Kair laughed, putting a paternal hand on her shoulder. “Most suitors run when they find that ‘The Gem of Arabia’ was raised by its ‘Ox’.”

Spike bit at his fingernails, briefly shifting first on one foot, then the other as he tried to think of what to do. He could try diving to the side to her bed and hide under it. Maybe hide in the bathroom. Or the more daring approach: talk to him. Nothing seemed like it’d work so he stood, biting a knuckle indecisively.

“I… I was just walking around,” Al’Kair said, looking behind himself. “Just thought I’d stop by, see how you’ve been doing.”

“I’ve been doing quite well father,” Amira replied, her eyes still directly on the big man. “And you?”

“It’s been very serene here,” he replied. “but the drums may soon sound once more.”

“There’s something troubling you father,” Amira said, her voice oozing concern, “what is it?”

“I fear for you Amira,” Al’Kair replied, coming to his knee, “you’re all I have left… the thought of losing you, it is far too much to bear.”

Amira placed her hands in the man’s strong, rigged jawline, giving him a comforting smile. “You need not worry so much father,” she said, resting her forehead on his, “As long as your blade is in your hand, no harm shall come to me.”

Al’Kair put on of his hands over hers, completely enveloping it with his size. “You’re no longer the little girl I once knew, Amira,” he smiled, with his eyes turning misty, “you’ve become so much like your mother. One day, you will bear amazing children with the finest of men, I just know you will.”

“You speak great kindness, father,” Amira replied, her cheeks becoming slightly flush, “but I must finish dressing, I will find you when I’m done.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” Al’Kair said, bringing his hand under her chin before he rose to his feet. “I eagerly await our next encounter.” He turned back into the hallway, looking back to her before he stepped off. “Farewell Amira.”

“For now, father.” she nodded, smiling warmly as she waved. “Only for now.” With that Al’Kair excused himself, closing the door behind him as he did so.

Spike slumped to his knees, exhaling. He glanced at the door and shook his head. “Al’Kair’s your...?”

“Father? As much as Twilight is your sister,” Amira answered, turning to face Spike again. “Not biologically, but he raised me as his own after the war took my parents, his wife, and his sons.”

“That must of been hard for him.” He rubbed at the back of his head in thought. “I can’t imagine what I’d do if I lost Twilight…”

“Al’Kair has always been called an Ox for his physical strength.” Amira looked to the door behind her, “but I could never think of any beast that could match the strength of his spirit.” She paused, taking a deep breath as she looked to the stone around her neck. “Even after what he had lost, he took me in and did everything he could to ensure I was happy and safe, never once did I see him cry or wallow in pity. His focus was solely on me.”

“I’m sure he was a good dad,” he replied, giving a small, understanding smile. “I can see the resemblance.”

“In what manner do you speak?” Amira asked, “I look nothing like him.”

“You both know a lot and know how to say it.” Spike gave a small shrug of his shoulders. “But I think you’re the prettier of the two.”

Amira gave a quick laugh before gathering herself once more. “He taught me about many things,” she nodded, “life, family, love…” she paused for a second, smiling at a fond memory known only to her, “despite all his raw power, he always said that true strength came from wisdom and the heart, that was the one lesson he ensured that I learned before I came of age.”

“You learned it well,” Spike said. “You’re strong. Stronger than I could ever be.” He stepped towards her and hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s another thing I like about you.”

“There is strength in you yet Spike,” Amira replied, placing her hand on his, “but that strength can only be found by the one it resides in.”

He looked at her, smiling warmly, before taking another step closer to her. He wrapped her in a hug around her waist, feeling the roughness of the towel against his palm and shutting his eyes. “I’ll try to be strong for you. I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” she replied, returning the embrace. The two stayed there for a few seconds before finally Amira let him go, “I think Madam Twilight will be worried about you by now, Spike,” she said, gesturing towards the door with a tilt of her head, “perhaps you should inform her that you are indeed still well.”

“I guess,” he said, disappointed. He looked down at her hand, then back up to her face. “Tonight. Would you… would you be free?”

“Of course. I’ll wait for you in the casbah.”

“Amira.” He stood on his toes and gave her a small peck on her cheek. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“As will I,” she said, running her fingers through his hair.

Spike stepped to the door, putting a hand on the knob. “I’ll, uh, be going now. But you’ll be with me in my mind all day.” He chuckled a bit, giving a small shrug of his shoulders. “Sorry, couldn’t help but try a line like that.”

“Feel no regret Spike,” Amira giggled, “the feeling is likewise.”

“I like your laugh too.” The boy reluctantly turned the knob and opened the door. “I like it too,” he repeated, stepping out to the hallway and shutting the door behind him.

“You there!” A voice yelled, catching him off guard, “what were you doing in Lady Amira’s room?”

He turned, looking over to where he was called from. The guard that had watched over the door marched forward toward him, a stern scowl on his face.

“What were you doing guarding a different room?” Spike questioned, thinking on his feet. “Your negligence is what caused me to bother your Lady Amira. You’re fortunate that we are both benevolent enough to overlook the misstep.”

The Guard’s scowl quickly faded and he bent his knee. “One thousand pardons sir, you are correct,” The guard sank his head low, not bothering to look Spike in the face, “blessings to your kin and future sons for not informing Commander Al’Kair.”

“Rise with pride, guard,” Spike said, thinking quickly to something Luna would say to the knights at Canterlot to match the man’s comment. “And may the light of lights always shine upon your path.”

“Uh, thank you for the kindness,” The guard said, clearly confused by what Spike had said, “but I ask that you no longer enter Lady Amira’s chambers without permission from her or the Commander themselves.”

Briefly, his thoughts turned to Al’Kair and what the towering man would say if Spike told him about Amira. Spike pushed that thought quickly away, even though he would need to mention it to the man before things escalated. Spike looked at the guard. “Watch her door and I’ll be more than happy to avoid it, unless, of course, the Lady has need of me.”

Which I hope she does, he thought.

He turned and quickly hopped over to his room, throwing the door open and once more sprawling on the bed. “You’re actually here, right, Twilight?” he cautiously asked to the ceiling, realizing this was exactly how bumping into Amira played out.

“Not for much longer,” Twilight replied, rather irritated as she walked out of the bathroom. “the delegations start in ten…” Twilight’s thoughts trailed off upon realizing that the case of her annoyance was finally in her midst. “Where have you been and do you have my book?”

“I got lost,” he answered, keeping quiet about where, exactly, he got lost. It was for the most part the truth, which helped. “And yeah,” he said, giving it a small shake, then giving it a light, underhanded toss to her.

As much as Twilight was teasing him over Amira, if she knew it was a requited relationship, well, he wasn’t entirely sure she’d approve. At the moment, by how flustered she was, he wasn’t going to risk pissing her off more.

“You got lost for nearly an hour?” Twilight pondered, walking over to the desk to pick up a few papers, before looking back to him, “I mean, I could understand a few minutes maybe, but an hour?”

“I ended up on the wrong side of the palace—that study is kind of out of the way, after all. I had better luck finding the casbah than I did that.” He fished desperately for a distraction and found one. “So, uh, in the ledger at the study, I noticed they have a lot of books on astronomy. Do you know why?”

Twilight’s eyes lit up, the smile on her face childish as she took him in. “Really?!” she exclaimed, darting over towards him. “Really, really, really?!”

“Uh yeah, tons,” he said with a surprised smile, impressed his distraction actually worked.

Twilight beamed, her heart seemingly about to pound out of her chest. “I can’t wait to see what vast amounts of knowledge the Saddle Arabians have on the subject, you know that they practically invented astronomy right?”

“Really?” Spike questioned. “That’s pretty cool, Twilight. Seems like a good amount of the palace is educated, compared to outside the halls. Maybe you could tell me how they invented it sometime. I’m sure it’s fascinating.”

“Oh is it ever!” Twilight said with a slight twinkle in her eye, “we need to go there so I can tell you all about it!.”

“Then it’s a date,” Spike agreed, standing and offering his arm. “Now, let’s get you to that meeting.”