Spike

“It’s party time!” Pinkie shouted from the center of the room. Everypony was gathering at the sweet’s shop, eagerly awaiting the coming party. Spike sat on the left side of the room, watching as ponies trotted in happily, bringing umbrellas with them in case they were caught outside in the rain unexpectedly. Ponies walked up to him now and again to welcome him back to Ponyville, which he thanked them for gratefully.

Other than Pinkie, his best friends had yet to make an appearance. Spike waited patiently of course, knowing that if they were late, it was not on purpose. The Cutie-Mark Crusaders showed up and asked all sorts of questions about his time in Canterlot, about how his wings developed and what quests Princess Celestia had sent him on. They showed him their cutie-marks and explained how the new crusader training was going well, to which Spike said that he was truly impressed.

He waved at Bon-Bon as she trotted over to the treats table, and chatted casually with Cheerilee about his time in Canterlot, when Rarity and Twilight walked in. Spike saw Pinkie whip over to them, from a table of celebrating ponies, to greet them warmly. In the light of Luna’s moon, the white unicorn looked radiant, even more so than she usually did. The purple dragon hadn’t seen her in years, but he would never forget how beautiful Rarity looked, or how talented she was.

“Hi Spike, how’s the party going so far?” Twilight asked as she and Rarity neared. Truth be told, Spike never really inspected the interior of the store. At least not since Pinkie began decorating. It had started to look great. The Pinkie Pie standard for celebrations held true, but something he remembered from long ago had begun to bother him again. ‘It is too precious to me to give to a greedy old beast like you!’ Those painful words had dissipated after a while of staring into space as the party pony worked, but seeing Rarity in her usual splendour drew the words to the surface once again.

Spike flinched slightly as he recalled how he acted, but neither Twilight nor Rarity seemed to notice, something he was grateful for. “It’s great so far. Four years away hasn’t taken anything off of a good Pinkie party; in fact, with all of the fancy Canterlot parties I’ve had to go to has made this even more enjoyable.”

The two mares giggled at his response. “I know how you feel,” Rarity said, taking a seat at the table near Spike. “Even though I knew about such parties and went to several when in Canterlot, they did seem to drag along at the end. I enjoy the elegance and sophistication of a high class soiree, but sometimes it is good to unwind with a party such as this.”

“I knew it!” Pinkie screamed, seeming to materialise from under the table. Spike was sure she saw her on the other side of the room just a few moments ago, but the foreign ambasssador knew better than to argue that impossibility with Pinkie Pie. “You do like my parties!”

Spike smiled at the look of shock on Rarity’s face, but she quickly recovered. She chuckled nervously, a light blush gracing the seamstress’ cheeks. “Why, of course, darling. What would make you believe I did not like your parties?”

Pinkie shrugged. “Mmm, I dunno, just a hunch.” Spike watched her hop away, off to meet new guests or take somepony’s order, Spike assumed. He turned back to the two at the table.

“What was that about?” Spike asked, the remnants of his grin still present. Rarity shifted uncomfortably, but the purple dragon saw her regain her composure. She didn’t seem too worried about his question, just startled at first by Pinkie’s appearance.

“Well, since you left Ponyville, Pinkie and I have been spending more time together. We have little get togethers where either I teach her to sew or she teaches me to…um…unwind, for lack of a better word. Simply put, she shows me how to have fun in her way: throwing parties, hanging streamers, baking at times too.”

“So you do what each other enjoys so you can know one another better?”

“Why yes, exactly right.” She smiled at him. “We found after a while of spending a day together that we really didn’t know much about the other. We never truly spent time with each other outside of our circle of friends, and I suppose we thought that should change.” The fashionista paused to chuckle and placed a hoof over her mouth. “The first thing she did actually was force me to read a comic book. After about an hour or so of denying her, I conceded…and truth be told, I rather enjoyed it. Though Maniac is not my type of pony, the Power Ponies have yet to allow her to give everypony in Maretropolis obscene hairdos.”

“You really read a comic book?” asked Spike, incredulous over this new information. Rarity reading a comic book? The purple dragon thought. That’s awesome!

Rarity chuckled again in that beautifully innocent way she did. “Oh yes. Quite a few, if I am to be honest. I remember you rather like them too, being the one to show them to her. Anyway, we’ve picked up on many of our mannerisms and tells over the years; I suppose she thought I liked her parties secretly, because I never told her straight out.” She turned to see Pinkie spinning around the room, carrying plates full of sweets to the customers. “She may not still fully understand how I enjoy parties though. We will always be rather different in that regard, but there’s nothing truly wrong with that.”

Spike was in a sort of trance from hearing that Rarity, the most elegant pony he knew, had read not just one, but several comic books he had given to Pinkie. He managed to focus his attention back to the two mares before he made a fool of himself, snapping out of his daze.
“So, Spike, I trust you had a good time with Pinkie Pie today?” Twilight asked.

“Oh yeah, we had tons of fun,” Spike said enthusiastically. It had been a long day, the party pony actually having all sorts of ideas on what they could do, despite saying that she hadn’t planned anything out. After they had finished playing with the twins, the filly and colt being put down for a nap, Pinkie suggested that they should pull some pranks.

Spike had been most pleased that his hope had been met, seeing what fun she had had with Rainbow Dash years ago and wanting to join in. Together, the two of them pulled fun-filled pranks all over Ponyville. Buckets were placed over slightly opened windows, itching powder in clothing. Spike and Pinkie pretended to be statues until unknowing ponies came by. The two had painted each other silver to further blend in with the other sculptures, and when somepony ventured too close, the two made faces or jumped out at the pony. The stallion or mare was startled at first, but when he or she picked up on the prank, they laughed along with the two friends.

The emerald-eyed dignitary was still surprised at how easily the paint washed off in the shower, but Pinkie Pie had reassured him ahead of time that the paint was water-soluble. The two ponies at the table nodded for him to continue. “After we told everypony about the party at the marketplace, we went to see the Cake’s twins.”

“Oh, yes, they sure have grown since you last saw them haven’t they? How are the little darlings?”

“Yeah, they have changed since then. They look really happy though, really energetic too. I still can’t believe they recognise me.” The unicorn and alicorn smiled at him. “I mean, look at me. I’m so different. I’d just like to say thank you Twilight, and Rarity if you had a part in that. Pinkie Pie told me about your idea to help the twins to remember me.”

“Well, we didn’t think it would be fair if they knew all of us, but not you Spike,” said Twilight. “I’m glad it worked out well.”

“Rainbow Dash is here, yay!” Spike flinched at the loud shout from Pinkie. She sped off from behind the counter to the door, where the pegasus now stood. She waited at the entrance for the inevitable hug from the pink pony; it seemed to Spike that four years longer had only added to the wonderful friendship between the two ponies. He grinned as the mares embraced and saw Applejack coming up behind them.

“Howdy everypony! Ah hope ah’m not too late,” the orange pony said as Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash broke apart to let her in.

A rumbling sound echoed throughout the store as Rainbow made her way over to sit with the group. “Nope! In fact, I think you’re just in time.” Twilight smiled happily. Spike was grateful that they made it in time. He wouldn’t want ponies out in the cold and wet storm on his account. “Have a seat Rainbow, Applejack.”

“Hey guys, what’s up?” the cyan pony asked coolly, taking a seat between Rarity and Twilight.

“We were just discussing Pumpkin and Pound Cake,” Rarity replied. “It seems our plan worked.”

“Oh great, so the little guys remember you?” Rainbow Dash asked, nodding to the eight foot-long dragon. She chuckled. “Awesome. Hey, where’s Fluttershy?” Rainbow glanced round the room looking for the timid pegasus.

“The storm is about to start and she’s still not here,” the white unicorn said, with concern in her eyes. “Oh, the poor dear. She could yet be out there, we have to do something.” Rarity stood up on her hooves, making for the door to peer outside.

“Hang on everypony, I’ll scan the area for any pony-sized heat sources out in the rain.” Twilight explained, asking that everypony remain calm. She had teleported to the front of the shop to be heard by everypony better. Her horn lit up with a purple glow, as she closed her eyes in concentration. Spike watched her work, seated in front of her.

The others had gathered round her as well, but the purple dragon wasn’t worried. He knew she would locate her before it was too late; she had never given him reason to suspect otherwise. Just then, there came the pitter patter of rain on the roof of the sweet’s shop. “Oh my, hurry Twilight. She could freeze out there in this kind of weather.” Rarity called, turning away from the window to stand beside Spike.

The alicorn’s expression became strained, but her eyes remained closed. “Almost…aha! She’s a few feet out from the front, north. Let’s go!”

Spike bolted before the others could follow. He ran on all fours out the door and headed north, spotting the yellow pegasus just where Twilight had said. She was huddled under a balcony, but didn’t seem too soaked to him. Good, he thought. at least she made it to safety in time. “Fluttershy!” He shouted as he neared the frightened pony.

She glanced up and her eyes widened. “Spike! What are you doing out in this?”

“I’m here to bring you to Sugarcube Corner. Come on under my wing. You’ll be alright.” He extended his wing and allowed the pegasus to walk abreast with him.

“But what about you, aren’t you cold?” Fluttershy asked as they made their way to the other ponies.

“Nah. My chest is a natural furnace. There isn’t anything in Equestria that can chill my bones.”

The rest of the journey proceeded in silence, the little pony remained warm and cozy beneath Spike’s leathery wing. When the two of them returned to the building, Fluttershy stepping within first, the ponies praised Spike for his heroics.

Pinkie already had hot chocolate prepared for their return, which they both welcomed openly. With everypony finally present and accounted for, the pink pony declared Spike’s ‘Welcome back to Ponyville’ party officially begun.

“Wow, you were going super-fast,” Rainbow Dash said with a chuckle. “Not as fast as me of course, but still whoa. It’ll be a fun race tomorrow, if you keep that up.”

Spike laughed softly, rubbing his clawed hand across the scales of his neck. “Ah, it was nothing. I didn’t want anypony to be caught out in that rain because of me.”

“Well that was very noble of you, Spike.” Rarity placed a hoof on his arm and smiled at him. “I’m very proud of you.”

Spike was at a loss for words. His eyes locked with the unicorn’s as he thought about how good it felt to have her attention. “Alright everypony, we’ve gotta get back on track here. We have a lot of party to have after all.” Pinkie took a party popper out of nowhere and faced it toward the ceiling. Spike watched as she pulled the party device and saw the confetti and streamers burst forth; colours ranging from yellow to red and green to purple cascading down on the guests.

The group of ponies giggled and laughed as the paper fell all around them, “Pinkie’s right.” Rainbow declared, flapping her wings and taking to the air. “Time’s a wasting.”

“Well what are we waitin’ for?” Applejack asked, turning this way and that to see the collectively excited faces on the ponies. She brought a fore leg over her little sister as she looked to Pinkie. “Whaddya have in mind fer us first, Pinkie Pie?”

“Come on! I have tons of games we can play.” Pinkie spun around and began to bound up the steps, the others following quickly after.

While the others ran off to select their games, Spike remained behind. His smile was still present from looking into Rarity’s flawless sapphire-coloured eyes, but he didn’t feel happy anymore. It didn’t even register that he was smiling, being consumed in another, darker thought.

“Spike?” Rarity said, standing in front of the seated dragon. Spike’s ears pricked up at hearing her voice, but he didn’t turn his head from the varnished wood floor. “Are you alright?”

‘A beast like you!’ Once again those words came unbidden to his mind and he again flinched. It felt like he was back in that moment, hearing it all too clear through the giant dragon’s ears; he wished he were deaf. “No I’m fine, Rarity.” He tried to answer with a level tone, but his voice broke into a much higher pitch as he spoke. Spike stood up abruptly, trying to avoid the unicorn’s worried gaze, but she moved to intercept him.

“Spike, you’re a terrible liar. If something is wrong…I’m here to help.” She tried to place a hoof on his claw, but Spike stepped back on reflex. He immediately regretted that frightened impulse. The look of hurt and confusion written on Rarity’s face broke his heart.

“Really, I’m okay,” he stated again. “Come on, if we don’t meet up with Pinkie soon she’ll come looking for us.”

He began to walk, sidestepping passed the white pony. She made no effort to block him this time, but now he felt awful for dodging her; the mare of his dreams. How could he not tell her about this? Because she’s part of it. Spike was ascending the staircase to the upper floor of the sweet’s store when he heard Rarity say, “Of course, how silly of me. Right behind you, Spike.”

Her voice lacked any grace and happiness he usually heard from her; it was shaky and forced. It made Spike want to spin around and confess to what was bothering him right now, but he didn’t. Instead, he kept moving up to the upper level, hearing Rarity trailing behind him. When the two finally entered the designated games room, Pinkie bounded over to them and gave them both a party hat and party favour.

In that moment, Spike realised that he had climbed the steps without them breaking. Also, to his relief, he noticed that Pinkie had chosen the open area to have the party, an area that had wide doorways that would fit him. He had forgotten about this place.

“Where were you two?” the pink pony asked. “It was nearly two whole minutes since I saw you last.”

Rarity chuckled good-naturedly, standing next to the dragon. “My apologies, Pinkie Pie. It was nothing.” The lie seemed to come from her mouth so easily, and Spike would have believed it, if he had not been the cause of the lie.

“Okie dokey lokie! Well, we still have plenty of space for pin-the-tail-on-the-pony and all sorts of card games and board games. Come on!” Without waiting for a reply, Pinkie trotted off in the direction of the card tables.

Spike and Rarity looked to one another, and shared a laugh at the pony’s excitable nature. The two followed after her and soon were busying themselves with playing go-fish, crazy eights and snap. The purple dragon was surprised at how well the unicorn played these games; she had a very strategic mind, it seemed. She didn’t always win, but Rarity sure had a talent for blocking ponies from winning at sevens.

Throughout the afternoon, and as the rain continued to fall, Spike and Rarity switched between games and activities or just plain relaxed in a chair or on a cushion. Ponies were having a great time and often came up to speak with Spike about his many journeys. He was happy to share a tale or two and others would gather round to hear. Rarity was never far away at those times.

The Cutie-Mark Crusaders had asked Spike over to one side of the room with Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash to say how much they appreciated all of the lessons they were taught by them. Rarity was the first to give her little sister a hug, and soon after Applejack gave Applebloom a noogie. The pink mare was bouncing up and down around the group happily, while Fluttershy and Twilight smiled warmly. The rainbow-maned pegasus wrapped a fore leg over Scootaloo’s back and posed heroically, eliciting laughter from everypony. Spike merely sat and watched the display, amazed and glad that the three younger ponies had matured so much over four years.

It turned out to be a great party, but after a while, ponies began to notice the sun setting and decided to call it a day. As they left, they said how good it was to have him back, if only for a little while. Still ponies remained, some deciding to spend more time unwinding. Spike had since stopped playing games, simply sitting and watching the fun being had. Most of his friends had moved back downstairs to enjoy some hot chocolate, so for the most part, it was quiet.

Fluttershy periodically came to check up on him, but he always told her that he was fine. His voice was steady, to which he was thankful for, so she could only nod and smile. A monster, Spike heard in his left ear, gazing absentmindedly at the pin-the-tail-on-the-pony board on the wall. By then all of the ponies were downstairs or nestled in their own homes, the rain had since ceased and the moon was quickly rising over the clouds.

“Spike?” His ears perked up, his composure faltering slightly; even so, Spike had nowhere to go, so he turned his head to acknowledge the violet-maned unicorn. “Are you alright up here? Why don’t you come downstairs?”

The eight foot-long dragon didn’t have a reply for that. His mouth felt dry. Rarity walked closer to Spike and took a seat a few feet in front of him, not seeming to dare venture nearer. He didn’t enjoy that, but he supposed that she was worried he would do the same thing he had downstairs. Idiot, he thought.

“Spike, I don’t know what you’re going through, but bottling it up isn’t helping it any.” She reached out a hoof to comfort him, but stopped halfway. Spike swallowed hard and made up the distance. He placed his forehead under her hoof. Rarity looked taken aback by the gesture, but she quickly recovered. “Please talk to me.”

Seeing the expression of concern on her face, Spike knew she was right. I’m only hurting her by not talking about this. He nodded at her wordlessly.

Rarity waited patiently for the dragon to work up the courage to speak. He sighed and stared into her eyes for support. They shimmered in the light of the moon, shining through the windows. Even in this tense situation, he still managed to lose himself in those dreamy blue circles of hers. A beautiful colour for a beautiful mare. “I have been…having problems dealing with what I’ve become. It’s been difficult in Canterlot; most ponies only see a ferocious looking dragon and nothing else. It’s…much the same for griffins and zebras and…buffalo. The looks on their frightened faces were just an awful reminder to me. I remember back to the day when I turned into a rampaging dragon. The look you gave me, I mean- that monster…I remember what you said before I was me again.”

Rarity appeared to tense up, hearing this, but she only moved closer. “What…did I say?” She was worried. She must have been afraid of how much he had heard when he wasn’t in control. Spike didn’t want to continue any longer, he wanted to fly away now, find somewhere to hide and never be seen again, but he knew that was impossible. He had to tell her. He had broken her heart once.

Spike sighed once more. “I…I keep hearing the words whenever you’re around. I can’t help it. I know if you had known it was me at the time, you never would have said those things, any of it, but you were right. I am a beast.”

“Spike, that’s not true!” Rarity shouted in an instant. She hugged him, standing up from her seated position to console him. “You are a wonderful creature; one of the most generous and giving friends I know.” Spike rested his head on her shoulder gently. He didn’t reply, too scared that he might choke on his words should he try.

He couldn’t see her face as she held him, so he couldn’t tell if she was crying or not, or if she was holding in some different emotion. Spike just wished she wasn’t suffering on his account, because of what he couldn’t forget. “I still have that fire-ruby you gave me.”

“Y-you do?” he managed to squeak out of surprise and disbelief. He felt her nod into their tender hug.

“I could never part with such a heartfelt gift, Spike. In fact I…I have…a bit of a confession to make as well,” she whispered, pulling away from the hug and returning to her seat. “Spike, I…I’m sorry. For everything.”

“Rarity? What’s wrong?” The strain on her facial features was almost too much for Spike to bear. If she was holding something of equal guilt and sorrow on her shoulders, that just meant another mistake he had made by leaving her. And all he could do was wait with a furrowed brow and a tense jaw for her to continue.

She took a deep breath, glancing off somewhere beyond him, anywhere but meeting Spike’s eyes. “I told Twilight why I had left so abruptly yesterday. And…” She finally turned to stare at him. “why you left…four years ago.”

Spike’s jaw slackened. He looked away. “Oh.”

“I’m so sorry, Spike. I couldn’t keep hiding what happened. For four years I kept quiet over this. I heard about it all the time; ponies wondering why you left, making guesses as to what happened, when I knew it was I who had caused you to leave.” She placed a hoof on her chest and winced.

“It’s okay, Rarity.” Can’t I do anything right? “It’s not your fault.” He wanted to hit himself for all that she said; all that he had done to her. His throat was dry and the air around the room was stifling. Spike heard the occasional laugh from downstairs, but other than that he was alone with the wonderful unicorn he had come to respect over the years, and all he had done in that time was alienate her from him.

Rarity shook her head like she had not heard him. “I regretted that decision right after I heard what you were doing. If I had said yes, then…”

Spike gulped, hearing only those words and truly wishing she hadn’t said them. He didn’t want her to be sad for him, for anypony at all. He needed her to be happy. “I’m glad you didn’t though.” The purple dragon forced a smile. Rarity stared at him breathlessly. “It wouldn’t have been real, and I wouldn’t want to put you through that. I’m sorry I left though; either way I still hurt you.” Spike closed his eyes to stem the tears.

“Spike,” Rarity whispered with a shaky breath, as she placed a hoof over his claw tenderly. “We’re both suffering from this, aren’t we?”

“Yeah.”

“Well I for one do not wish for this party to go to waste, nor for this time together to be missed. Would you care to dance, my dear?”

Spike’s face flushed, but he didn’t lower his gaze from the gorgeous pony in front of him. He smiled and said, “Yes, I would. My lady?” Rarity gave him a bright smile as well, bowing low and giving the dragon a hoof. Before they began to dance, a sudden impulse overtook him. “May I?” Spike asked, holding out his other claw.

Rarity gave him an odd look, but nodded and placed her other hoof in his empty extended claw. He brought her hooves up and rested one on each of his shoulders as he sat up. “Is this okay? Y-you can just lean on me, if you think you’ll fall.” He watched her for a moment, as they stood on their hind legs, though he was too embarrassed to make eye contact. Perhaps that was too forward of him. Would she see that and say no? Spike wouldn’t blame her if she did.

“It’s fine, dear,” the white unicorn replied, finding his emerald-green eyes and catching them in her own sapphire-blue ones. He found himself grinning back, feeling his spirits lift under her gaze. His face reddened and he felt butterflies in his stomach. Spike looked down quickly, realising that he hadn’t thought about where to put his claws. “Is something the matter, Spike?”

She sounded worried, and when Spike focused back on her, Rarity’s expression confirmed that thought. Her head was off to the side a little with her luxurious mane swaying back and forth from the sudden shift. “No, I uh…just don’t know- I mean, m-may I put my claws on your back?”

Rarity appeared startled for a moment, her blue eyes widening in what he assumed was panic. Panic over what, he didn’t want to think about. Spike’s heart sank into his stomach as the silence continued; now he’d done it. Maybe that’s a little too far. M-maybe, I shouldn’t be doing this; she still doesn’t like me.

Another second, and Rarity was back to smiling at him, if at all a bit uneasily. “Not to worry, Spike,” she said. “There’s no need to ask.”

The purple dragon swallowed hard. “Are you sure?” A quick, practiced nod was her answer. He carefully placed the palms of his clawed hands on her back, making sure that his claws didn’t scratch her. Spike directed them to the center of the room. Having nopony else around to worry about, he allowed his tail more freedom to move as it flicked back and forth.

The two danced around the room slowly, Rarity leaning against Spike gently as he led her in the embrace. His blush threatened to cover his entire face as his heart thrummed in his chest. After four years away he was finally back with the mare he loved, and she still seemed to have some interest in him. Spike took solace in knowing that she at least didn’t hate him for leaving. Their dance continued unabated, until they heard some shuffling of hooves.

Spike glanced over at the staircase and found his friends cheering them on, none so enthusiastic as Pinkie Pie. The two creatures locked in the dance glanced at one another and blushed. Spike came to a halt and helped to lower Rarity’s front legs back to the floor; after the cheering died down, everypony and dragon made their way downstairs, where they spent the remainder of the night quietly talking to each other. Eventually, the party came to an end, and everypony except Pinkie Pie left the sweet’s shop.

As the dragon walked home with Twilight, the studious alicorn spoke of the major feats of Starswirl the Bearded. She told him she had been wrapped up in explaining the unicorn’s exploits throughout history to a few interested ponies at the party, and now her attention fell solely on telling him about it.

He listened with one ear and smiled occasionally when a comment warranted involvement on his part. Spike was still upset about his unwelcome memories of when he foalnapped Rarity, though speaking to her about it had helped.
“Spike?”

Spike blinked, resurfacing from his thoughts, and turned his head. “Hmm?”

“I asked if you were having a good time so far and if you were excited for tomorrow.”

“Oh, of course.” Spike shuffled his wings about awkwardly, trying to think of a way out of this without needing to explain to Twilight as well. “Sorry, I guess I dozed off there for a second.”

The alicorn placed a hoof on his shoulder, turning him slightly toward her. He closed his eyes and sighed, pausing just before the Ponyville bridge. “Are you alright, Spike? You were acting oddly at the party.”

“I’m alright. I spoke to Rarity about it and I feel much better.” Spike climbed the cobblestone bridge. Twilight gave him a worried look as their walk resumed, so he continued. “I was remembering certain…things that Rarity said to me when I lost control on my birthday four years ago. I heard her call me a beast.”

“Oh Spike, she didn’t mean to. She didn’t know it was you.”

“I know.” His teeth clenched tightly as he heard it again. “I still thought she was right, for a time. It was hard not to with so many ponies in Canterlot seeing an eight foot-long dragon wandering through the city streets, or up above if I flew overhead. I know now that she doesn’t blame me for what I did. She never did, so…I’ll be fine.”

“So…are you excited for tomorrow? You have a big fun filled day ahead of you.” Her attempt to change the subject was blatant and obvious, but Spike was thankful that she didn’t press the uncomfortable matter. He managed a weak smile.

“Yeah. I’m a bit nervous about what Applejack and Rainbow Dash have in mind, but I’m sure it’ll be alright. Then I can relax with Fluttershy.” Spike chuckled.

He heard Twilight laugh beside him as well. “True. They can become a bit carried away with the competitions. Fluttershy will be a great relief after.”

The two shared a laugh as they neared the treehouse. Twilight magicked the door open, and stepped in, followed by Spike. They ate dinner in relative silence; all that they wanted to say having been said already.

After, Twilight stayed on the first level to talk with Spike about all the weird things that had happened during his ‘Welcome back’ party. When it was time for bed, the alicorn brought out some blankets and pillows and slept on the floor with him. Spike had told her he was fine on his own, but Twilight insisted. Spike had learned years ago not to argue with her if she was firmly set on something. They smiled at one another one last time before the eight foot-long dragon rested his head on his crossed arms and began to dream.

Author's Notes:

And here is chapter 8. I loved writing this chapter as I recall. If I were to divide the story into arcs like comics, this would probably the beginning of a new one.

The interactions between Rarity and Spike here were terrific, and I loved putting in that Rarity actually read several comics. I can see her doing that, if it's agreed upon for her teaching Pinkie Pie how to sew.

I could say more, but I must continue posting further chapters. Ta ta! ^^