Author's Note: Due to some mature stuff in this chapter, I have decided to up the rating of this story from Teen to Mature. Hopefully, this doesn't bother any of you. Enjoy this long awaited chapter in the meantime!

P.S., I decided to also choose a different cover for this story. I felt the one by dm29 wasn't that good compared to some of the others out there.

A whistle echoed across a large field as a train chugged along. Passengers were walking around chatting with each other or eating. Crew members were going around with trolleys to serve stuff to customers or run the train. In one of the passenger compartments, Ember ignored what was going on outside her room and was staring outside the window. She watched trees and a few hills go by. Slowly, the scenery changed to a few buildings and grew steadily.

A loud crackling noise emitted for an intercom near the door. “Good afternoon, everypony,” said a stallion in a weary voice. “We are five minutes out from Haytona Beach Station. We ask you all to start returning to your compartments and gather your items before leaving.” The crackle died out and silence filled the room again.

Ember let out a sigh and turned her head back to the window. She heard the door slide and looked back to see Matches grinning and holding a cone with strawberry ice cream in it.

“You look like you had fun,” she said with a small smile on her.

“We should’ve tried to be friends with ponies years ago,” said Matches. “You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff that this train offers. Ice cream, games, and the food is fantastic. I can see why ponies enjoy riding trains now.”

Ember shrugged. “Yeah.”

Matches’ grin faltered and he moved towards his friend. “Ember, I’m really worried about you,” he said in a concerned voice. “Ever since Twilight announced this trip, you’ve been acting strange. Stranger than how you acted after what happened at the academy.”

“I’m fine,” she said in a firm voice. “Just got a lot on my mind.”

“Ember, what did I say yesterday?” asked Matches in a more stern tone.

The dragoness sighed and rolled her eyes. “I know; not to shut you all out with my problems. I’m okay though, Matches. There’s just some stuff I’m thinking about.”

“Well I don’t want you to–whoa!”

Matches stumbled into the couch near him as the train slowed down and the screeching of the brakes could be heard. Ember looked out and saw various ponies walking around with luggage.

The intercom crackled to life again. “Fillies and gentlecolts, we have arrived at Haytona Beach Station. Please gather your belongings and start filling out the train. Thank you again for riding the Friendship Express.” The intercom crackled again and fell silent.

Matches got up and rubbed his arm. “I guess I’ll go out and get the luggage.”

“You do that,” said Ember.

Matches opened the door and looked back at Ember. “Remember what I said.”

Ember waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah. I’m telling you that I’m okay.”

Matches stared at her for a moment, and then turned around to walk out. As soon as he stepped out, he grunted as he felt somepony bump into him.

“Sorry about that,” he said.

“That’s okay,” the pony said in a low voice.

Matches looked at the pony to see a red pegasus with a wild yellow mane. He pushed Matches out of the way and walked on. Matches stared at the pony with a curious look on him as he walked down the corridor and disappeared in the crowd of ponies coming out of their rooms.

“Matches?”

He turned around to see Ember looking at him as she walked out.

“Is there something wrong?”

Matches looked back and the pony had disappeared. He slowly shook his head. “Nothing,” he replied. “I just thought I saw somepony who looked familiar.”

He stared for another moment, and then turned to walk down the corridor along with Ember and the crowd of ponies around them.

Ember and Matches looked around in awe as they walked down the boardwalk. They looked over to the right to see the sun glistened sand, a seemingly endless sea of clear blue water that ponies were swimming around in, or surfing on a few waves, and ponies walking around the beach or being buried in the sand. On the other side, they saw various buildings and vendors selling food, beach equipment, and little novelty items.

Twilight turned and faced the two dragons. “Welcome to Haytona Beach,” she said. “What do you think?”

Matches let out a loud whistle. “It’s like nothing we’ve seen before.”

Ember nodded in agreement. “We have beaches back in the Dragon Lands, but this place just looks so clean and beautiful. It’s like paradise here.”

Applejack smiled. “We’re just glad y’all like what you see. Now come on. We’re near the beach entrance.”

The group walked further along up the boardwalk. As they walked, Ember’s eyes fell upon Rarity's back head. She couldn’t help but smirk as she glanced at her brown bag.

Once Spike sees what I’ve got, there’s no way that bitch is going to keep him under her trance, she thought to herself.

The group reached an opening in the railings, and turned to walk down some stairs and onto the beach sand. Ember and Matches both shivered as they both stepped onto the beach and felt the hot, crisp sand along their feet.

Twilight turned around and said, “Okay, girls, the changing rooms are over there.” She pointed to a rather large wooden building with mares going in and out of it. “Spike, you and Matches can go change over there.” She pointed to a similar building to her right that had stallions and colts around it.

“Okay, Twilight,” said Spike.

“We’ll meet out here in ten minutes, okay?” offered Twilight.

The group nodded in agreement. Spike and Matches went off to the stallion’s changing area, while the others walked off to their mare’s changing area. While the others were chatting happily with each other about what to do, Rarity’s eyes darted constantly towards Ember. She patted her purple bag proudly and smirked.

I have no doubt Ember wanted to get her own swimsuit to seduce Spike with it, she thought. I won’t be beaten that easily. Just wait until she sees what I’ve got.

The mares soon reached the hut and entered it. They walked down the hall, passing several mares who were walking into tiny booths on the right or coming out of the showers on the left. Eventually, the girls found booths of their own and walked into them.

Ember shut the door to her booth and placed her bag on the tiny bench near her. She opened the bag and smiled as she pulled out her swimsuit. In the booth next to her’s, Rarity had a similar proud look on her as she pulled out her swimsuit.

Wait until Spike sees this, they both thought in unison. They both began undressing and putting their swimsuits on.

Twilight and the others waited outside the changing hut and all of them were looking at their own bikinis. Twilight’s was a dark purple tankini with her cutie mark on her left top. Applejack’s was light green bandeau with her cutie mark on her right top. Pinkie’s was a one piece swimsuit that was hot pink and had little lines that looked like sprinkles, with a frill that was magenta around her waist. Fluttershy blushed a little as she felt others stare at her pink and white dotted skirtini. Rainbow smirked and looked proud in her hot red bandeaukini. Starlight was wearing a teal one piece swimsuit that had a purple wavy line similar to her cutie mark going down the middle.

“Rarity really did a good job on these,” said Applejack.

“Maybe a little too good,” muttered Fluttershy as she saw a stallion and even a mare stare at her seductively.

Twilight looked around the beach. “Speaking of Rarity, where are her and Ember?”

“And what about Spike and Matches?” wondered Rainbow.

“Here we are!”

The others turned to see the two dragons run on up and each carrying their own bag. Matches was wearing a black swimsuit with little red flames along the legs. Spike had a dark purple swimsuit with a green flame on both his left and front legs.

Rainbow let out a whistle. “Looking good, Spike. Maybe even good enough for Ember.”

Spike blushed and looked down.

Applejack slapped Rainbow in the back of the head. “Cut that out!” she barked.

Twilight frowned. “Rainbow, we’re here to relax and I don’t think Spike wants to talk about that.”

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head and scowled. “Sheesh. Isn’t joking around part of relaxing too?”

“Not like that, partner,” said Applejack firmly.

The doors to the changing hut opened. “Hello, darlings!”

The group turned around and were a bit startled to see what Rarity was wearing. She was wearing a rather skimpy purple string bikini that seemed to really clench against her body. Spike stared as she walked and her hips swaying.

Rarity noticed the shocked look on the drake’s face and giggled. “What do you think? Do you all like it?”

Applejack rubbed the back of her head and looked a little unsure. “It’s certainly nothing I’d expect from you.”

“What do you think, Spikey?” Rarity inquired. “You have a sense for fashion too with how much you help me out.”

Spike could feel the heat building up in his cheeks and could feel something growing in his trunks. He gasped and looked down. “I...I...ur….” His train of thought was derailed as he tried to desperately lower his tent.

“I take it you do like it,” said Rarity. “There’s no need to be shy about it. It’s certainly one of my best swimsuits if I may say.”

“So where’s Ember?” asked Twilight. “Did you see her?”

Rarity shook her head. “Probably still changing. She may not have found a good swimsuit to buy and must be embarrassed.”

The hut door opened up again. “Um...I’m ready now,” said Ember in a rather quiet voice.

Rarity turned around. “Well it’s about time, darling. Let’s see what you haAAAAA!” She stumbled back and into Applejack and Fluttershy.

The group gasped as Ember walked out. The dragoness was blushing profusely as she was wearing a skimpy string bikini similar to Rarity’s. The only major difference was that it was yellow instead. Matches’ jaw dropped and Spike was shaking violently as he stared at both her and Rarity.

Ember could feel the stares piercing her and she looked away trying to look tough. “S–stop staring,” she huffed as her cheeks turned red. “I was told by the pony who sold me this that t–this is what mares usually wear on the beach.”

Matches broke out of his trance and shook his head. “Ember, what’s going on?”

“I’m just wearing what ponies usually wear at the beach,” replied Ember. “I asked the salespony when I showed it to her, and she insisted that it was perfect.”

Matches raised an eyebrow. “By wearing something like that?”

Ember crossed her arms and huffed. “I don’t see what the problem is, Matches. I saw some mares wearing some swimsuits like this and you didn’t say anything.”

While Ember and Matches argued, Spike looked directly at Ember and could see how tight the bikini was on her. Her bosom was barely being held back by the yellow top on her. He could’ve sworn her nipples were pushing against it as well. He then looked over at a shocked Rarity and noticed how tight her top was over her breasts and how it was almost about to pop. The images of both her and Ember made Spike pant and his eye twitch wildly.

“I’m just saying that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” argued Matches. “You should be glad your dad isn’t here to see this. He’d be furious to see the Dragon Lord dressed like this.”

Ember scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I don’t see what the problem is. Spike probably doesn’t have a problem with it. Right, Spike?”

Spike let out a moan.

Ember looked over. “Spike?” She gasped as she saw Spike had fainted and was twitching a little.

Applejack and Twilight ran over to help Spike up.

“Are you okay, sugarcube?” asked the farmer pony. “You look like Rainbow after she overdosed on cider.”

“Applejack!” shouted Rainbow as her face turned red with embarrassment.

Twilight helped Spike stand and looked at him. “What happened?” she asked in a concerned voice.

Spike’s head tilted around and his breathing became more steady. He looked over at Twilight with a bewildered look. “What did you just say?” he asked.

“I asked what happened. You just suddenly passed out.”

Spike panicked as he could feel Ember and Rarity both staring at him with puzzled looks. His eyes darted around until he looked up and was temporarily blinded by the sun. An idea suddenly popped in his head.

“Um...must be the heat,” he said nervously. “I’m just not used to it.”

“We’re dragons though,” said Matches. “Heat normally doesn’t bother us.”

Spike gulped and he frantically tried to think of something. “It must be me then I guess,” he said. “He looked at Twilight. “I’m okay. Really I am.”

Twilight looked at Spike with an unsure look for a minute. The drake smiled sheepishly backed at her.

She sighed and let him go. “Alright, but try to take it easy, Spike,” she warned. “Drink some water too.”

Applejack leaned over and picked up Spike’s bag. “Come on, everypony. Let’s go find a place to set up.”

Ember looked over and saw the livid expression on Rarity. She glared and looked over at the others. “I’ll be right with you all. I just need to take care of something.”

“Same here,” said Rarity in an icy tone.

Twilight had a doubtful look on her as she heard Rarity’s tone, but nodded anyway. “Okay, but try not to be too long.”

They all turned to walk away. As soon as the group were a good distance away, they both looked at each other with flames in their eyes and cold glares.

Rarity looked at Ember and opened her mouth, but before she could Ember barked out, “What in Tartarus do you think you’re doing!?”

“I could ask you the same thing!” shouted Rarity. “Wearing something like that to try and seduce Spike?”

“Excuse me!? You’re wearing something like I am! Where do you get off calling me out on this!?”

“I would have made you a nice swimsuit if you let me!” argued Rarity.

Ember scoffed. “Yeah right! You would’ve made me some embarrassing swimsuit that would’ve made me a laughingstock! I know what you were going to do!”

Rarity gasped. “How dare you!? Thinking I would purposely put ponies in horrible clothes! I have standards you know!”

“I wouldn’t put it passed you to do something like that!”

Rarity got in Ember’s face and huffed. “You’ve crossed a line you shouldn’t have,” she threatened. “Perhaps it’s time I teach you a few manners.”

Ember pushed back. “Yeah!? I think it’s time I finally knock you from that pedestal of yours!”

They both stared at each other intensely. Rarity’s hand balled into a fist and she gritted her teeth. Ember had smoke billowing from her nostrils and she was shaking a little.

“Ember! Rarity!”

The dragoness and unicorn broke off and looked over to see Spike running up to them.

“What’s taking you two so long?” he wondered. “We’ve found a good spot.”

Rarity and Ember said nothing and glanced at each other for a moment.

“Am I interrupting something?” he wondered.

Rarity sighed and shook her head. “No, Spikey Wikey,” she tensely said. “We were just...talking is all.”

“Yeah,” said Ember through gritted teeth. “Just a nice talk.”

Spike waved a hand. “Well come on. I don’t want you all to spend the day talking to each other instead of resting and relaxing.”

Ember crossed her arms. “Fair enough.”

Spike turned to walk down the beach, with Ember and Rarity following behind him. They both shot glares at one another every couple of seconds.

“I’m watching you,” whispered Rarity.

Ember looked at Rarity’s back and smirked as an idea clicked in her head. “Yeah, but you better watch something else.”

“What’s that?”

“This.”

Rarity felt a tug and her top came undone. She gasped and screamed a little as she covered herself.

Spike turned around. “What ha–urk!” He froze as he saw Rarity’s arm covering her exposed breasts and felt his cheeks turn red again.

Rarity scrambled to bend over to pick up her top. She could hear some stallions whistling at her, which only made her feel more embarrassed. She grabbed the bikini top and quickly ran behind a nearby palm tree.

Ember chuckled and said, “Better make sure that top is secured, darling.”

Rarity growled and her free hand clenched the tree hard.

Ember took Spike’s arm and started leading him away. “Come on, Spike, let’s let her have time to properly dress herself.”

“But what about Rarity?” he asked.

Ember scoffed. “She’ll be alright. Why don’t you show me what ponies normally do on beaches?”

While Ember and Spike walked off, Rarity quickly put her top back on. She heard some laughter and saw a stallion gawking at her. She quickly slugged him in the snout and the stallion groaned and fell to the ground unconscious. Rarity looked in the direction of Ember and shook her fist.

“I promise you, Ember,” she vowed. “You’ve made your last mistake.”

While Rarity walked back onto the beach and followed the two dragons, a red pegasus peaked from the stallions’ changing room and smiled smugly to himself.

“Ha! They’re about to tear each other apart!” he laughed. “All I need to do is make one last push and just watch the fireworks.”

He followed behind closely and had a smirk on his face the entire time.

Spike and Ember walked along the beach, and said nothing. They both glanced at one another, but not for long. They took in the sound of water crashing along the shore, some ponies cheering as they surfed along the waves, and the distant sound of ponies laughing and talking.

Spike pointed and said, “There’s our spot.”

In the middle of the sand were three large red umbrellas planted in the sand. Underneath them were several towels lying along the sand, a few small coolers, sunscreen, and some sandals. Lying on one of the towels was Starlight, who was rubbing some of the sunscreen on herself. Next to her was Matches sitting on his towel and taking a sip from a bottle.

Starlight looked up and smiled at Spike and the others. “There you are,” she said. “The others have gone ahead to set up a game of volleyball.”

“That’s fine,” said Spike.

Matches raised an eyebrow as he looked at the two dragons. “Where’s Rarity at? I thought she was with you, Ember.”

Ember did her best to suppress the smirk on her face. “She just had a little ‘accident’ with her swimsuit. She’ll be right over.”

Matches frowned. “Yikes. I hope nopony saw her.”

Ember scoffed. “She’ll be fine.” She looked over at Starlight. “So what do we do?”

“I was going to join Twilight and Rainbow to play volleyball against Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie. You want to come?”

Ember shook her head. “I’m good.”

“No thanks,” said Spike.

“Maybe later,” said Matches.

Starlight shrugged and got up. “Alright, see you all later.” She walked off and headed towards a clearing where Twilight and the others were waiting for.

Ember waited until Starlight was near the volleyball court before looking over to Spike. “So what do we do now?”

Spike shrugged. “Well, we could do swimming if you want.”

“No thanks,” said Ember. “I’m not much of a swimmer. That and deep water kind of makes me a little nervous since...well...you know.”

Spike thought for a moment and then a memory rushed through his head of him swimming down through some murky water. “Oh! Um...sorry to make you remember that,” he said in a quiet voice.

Ember chuckled weakly and rubbed the back of her head. “Don’t worry about it,” she assured. “I’m grateful you were there to save my life.”

He’s a runt, but yet risked it all just to save me. He’s either brave or foolish.

“Something wrong, Ember?” wondered Spike.

The dragoness broke out of her thoughts and shook her head. “No. Just don’t think that saving me like that means anything is all.”

Spike frowned slightly. “Um...right.”

“Ahem!”

The three dragons turned around to see an irate Rarity crossing her arms and had a glare on her face.

Ember couldn’t help but smirk. “No other wardrobe problems, Rarity?”

“No, darling,” answered Rarity through gritted teeth. “I made sure of that.”

“Heh. We’ll see about that.”

Rarity clenched her fist and used every bit of her willpower to not jump at the dragoness. Her eyes wandered down and she saw a bottle of suntan lotion lying near one of the blankets. An idea suddenly popped in her head and felt all her anger turn to happiness.

She used her magic to levitate the bottle. “Oh, Spikey Wikey,” she said in a singing voice.

“Yes?” he replied.

Rarity hovered the bottle over to the drake. “Could you be a dear and rub some lotion on my back please?”

Spike’s eyes widened. “What?” he asked quietly.

Rarity laid down on her purple blanket, and used her magic to undo the knot around her bikini top. She looked over at Spike and winked at him seductively.

“Care to help me out?” she asked innocently.

Spike gulped and was shaking nervously. “Um…”

“Wonderful!” said Rarity joyfully. She levitated the bottle over to the drake. “Go ahead and rub some on me.”

“What are you doing?” demanded Ember in a threatening tone.

Rarity rolled her eyes and said, “Spikey Poo is going to apply some suntan lotion on me. I’m not sure about dragons, but ponies do need it to protect themselves from getting sunburn.”

Ember looked at Spike who was shaking a little, and narrowed her eyes. So this is your plan huh? Two can play at this game then!

Ember laid down on her green towel and quickly undo her bikini top. She looked at Spike and said, “Do me first. I think I could use some.”

Matches raised an eyebrow. “Ember, we’re dragons remember? Heat doesn’t–”

“Just ignore him, Spike,” interrupted Ember and waving a hand. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Back home, we barely see the sun from all the volcanic ash, so maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have you rub some of that stuff on me.”

Matches crossed his arms and huffed.

Spike’s grip on the bottle tightened causing it to spurt some white lotion out. He looked at Ember’s back and then at Rarity’s. He noticed that both ladies were looking at him with smiles on their faces. His mind raced with both thoughts of rubbing his hands around both their bodies, but also of worry as he frantically looked at both his friends.

“Come on now, Spikey Wikey,” said Rarity.

“Help me out first,” suggested Ember. “Isn’t that what friends are for?”

Um...maybe I should do Rarity first, thought Spike. No! Ember doesn’t see the sun a whole lot at home and could burn easily!

But don’t you want to feel Rarity’s body in your claws? You’ve dreamt about something like this.

That was different! I didn’t have two ladies on me then!

So? The more the merrier.

I don’t even know if I want to do something like that! They’re my friends only!

Are you sure about that?

....

Spike felt a claw firmly grasp his shoulder, and he was broken out of his inner thoughts. He looked over to see Matches staring at him and looking a bit worried

“Are you okay?” he wondered. “You’ve been just sitting like that for a minute.”

“Erm...yeah,” said Spike, nervously. “I’m just thinking to myself is all.”

Matches snatched the bottle of suntan lotion from Spike’s hand and squirted some into his palm. “Since you can’t make a decision, I will then. Spike, you get Rarity and I’ll rub some of this stuff on Ember.”

Ember looked over at Matches with a glare. “What!? No! I want Spike to–”

“It’s obvious he can’t make up his mind,” stated Matches. “Besides, if you really want to do this, Ember, I’ll gladly help you.”

“But I–”

Ember felt Matches put both hands on her and forced her to lie back down.

“Just stay still and I’ll make you comfortable,” he said.

Ember growled slightly as she felt the cool white lotion be rubbed into her back and shoulders.

“Go on, Spike,” said Matches. “Help Rarity out.”

The drake nodded slowly. “Yeah...I’ll do that.”

Ember watched Spike as he squirted some lotion into his hands and rubbed it into Rarity’s shoulders and back. She felt a surge of anger course through her as she watched.

“Oh, that’s so good, Spike,” said Rarity loudly. “You’re so good at this, darling. Those hands of yours are simply divine!”

Ember gripped her towel tightly. She’s doing this on purpose. I know she is!

Matches raised an eyebrow. “Ember, you’re really tense,” he stated. “Try and relax. That’s what we’re here for.”

“Yes, darling,” said Rarity. “Do try and relax.” She smirked at Ember.

The dragoness scowled and looked away as she laid helplessly on her towel. This isn’t over, you skank! Not by a long shot!

Hot Streak watched Rarity, Spike, Ember, and Matches from the boardwalk and grumbled as he lowered his binoculars. He tapped his foot impatiently and glared.

“Come on, do something already!” he groaned in frustration. “How can I make those two ladies tear each other apart if they aren’t doing anything!?”

He rubbed his chin and scowled. “I can’t just go up to them or something. I get this feeling they’re getting onto me. I can’t just do another note like before. What can I do?”

“That won’t do,” said a male voice. He sighed and said, “Not this story either.”

Hot Streak turned around to see a gray stallion in a brown business suit and fedora leaning against the boardwalk’s railing and his eyes darting around a notepad. He flipped one of the pages and shook his head in dismay.

“None of these stories will be good for the paper,” he said. “Who the buck wants to read a story about some new kind of shop? I’d get laughed out of the office by everypony.”

Hot Streak smirked as an idea came together in his mind. He slowly walked up to the pony and said, “Excuse me.”

“Go away,” said the stallion without looking at the pegasus.

Hot Streak held back his urge to grab the pony by the neck and forced a smile. “I couldn’t help but hear you didn’t have a story for your paper.”

The stallion looked at Hot with a raised eyebrow. “What do you know about a story? I’ve combed this city and found nothing juicy at all.”

“Oh? Well I have something really big for you.”

“I’ve heard that one before.”

“Just come with me and you’ll see,” said Hot Streak forcefully.

The stallion rolled his eyes and sighed. “Alright if it’ll make you happy.”

It will make me happy, thought Hot Streak.

Hot walked across the boardwalk and headed towards the town. He walked along with the stallion following suit to a nearby alleyway.

“Hey where are you taking me anyway?” asked the reporter.

“Your big scoop of course,” said Hot.

“In an alley? What am I going to find there?”

“This.”

The pegasus turned and decked the reporter squarely in the chin. He groaned and fell over to the ground. The reporter looked up slowly, but the last thing he saw was a foot coming towards his head. With another grunt, he fell unconscious and Hot Streak stood over him with a triumphant look on him.

“Here’s your headline, stupid pony,” he said. “Gullible reporter falls for the oldest trick in the book.”

Hot Streak leaned over and began unbuttoning the pony’s suit jacket. “Mind if I borrow this?”

The reporter laid motionless.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He went back to undressing the unconscious stallion.

Hot Streak poked his head out of the alleyway and saw nopony around him. He stepped out slowly and grunted uncomfortably.

“Of all the disguises I had to use, why did I get a stupid Earth pony’s clothes?”

He felt his wings strain against the back of the suit in a desperate attempt to free themselves, but Hot Streak relaxed them against his back.

Slowly, he began walking towards the beach and grinned sinisterly. “Get ready for some breaking news, Ember.”

Ember laid on her towel and grimaced as she tried to block out Rarity’s voice.

“You should have seen when Spike lead the rest of my friends to rescue me from those horrible Diamond Dogs,” she said to Matches. “It was truly one of his shining moments. Right, Spikey Poo?”

The drake blushed and nodded. “Yeah, but we all know what really happened.”

Rarity waved a hand. “Oh, but I do appreciate your efforts, Spike. You risked a lot to come and save me from those ruffians.”

Matches playfully punched Spike on the shoulder. “Sounds like you’ve made quite an impression on her.”

“Heh, heh, thanks,” said Spike, bashfully.

Ember turned her head around when she suddenly felt a shadow creep over her.

“Excuse me,” said a haughty voice.

Ember opened her eyes and saw a red stallion in a gray business suit smiling at her.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Are you by chance Dragon Lord Ember?”

“Who wants to know?” demanded Matches as his eyes narrowed.

“Oh, sorry about that,” the pony said with a bow. “I am ace reporter um...Front Page, a reporter for the Haytona Star newspaper!”

“Newspaper reporter?” wondered Matches with a raised eyebrow. “What exactly do you want?”

“I heard a rumor that there was a Dragon Lord visiting our fair city, so I was thinking of interviewing her about what she thinks of this place, and how she’s liking Equestria so far.”

Ember sat up and looked at Matches for a moment, and then back at the reporter. “One moment,” she said.

She pulled Matches in and leaned into his ear. “What do you think?” she wondered.

Matches glanced at Front Page and glared. The reporter smiled innocently back at him. He looked back at Ember. “I don’t know about this,” he said in a skeptical voice. “There’s something about him that just doesn’t seem right.”

“What is it?” wondered Ember.

Matches shook his head. “That’s just it; I don’t know. I feel like I’ve seen this pony before, but can’t tell where. It’s almost like he’s been following us for a while.”

Ember smirked. “Maybe dragons do get affected by the heat after a while,” she joked.

Matches frowned and sighed. “I suppose this couldn’t hurt. I think this would be a good time to show the rest of Equestria what we hope to accomplish and strengthen our alliance with them.”

Ember nodded. “Then I guess it’s settled.” She looked over at Front Page and said, “Alright, but only for a–”

“Wonderful, you gul...I mean, your highness,” he said. “Shall we head for a more suitable place for an interview?”

Ember frowned as she turned to Spike. “I wouldn’t mind staying here to be honest. I want to be with my friends.”

“We won’t go far,” said Front Page.

“I insist we stay,” said Ember in a stern tone.

“We’ll be near the beach, okay? Stop being so st...erm, worried and just come with me.”

Ember opened her mouth to argue again.

“Go with him, Ember,” said Matches.

She looked at Matches with a glare on her. “Who asked you?”

“I’m just saying to not ruin this chance,” he said. “You know how the media is. They’ll try to make a big deal out of anything negative you do, and it could lead to some big trouble.”

Ember rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Fine,” she said in defeat. “But only for a very quick interview. I’m here to relax after all.”

“No problem, Lord Ember,” said Front Page.

“Just call me Ember,” she said.

“That’s fine with me,” the reporter said. Because I hear that more than enough back home, you pony loving traitor!

Front Page held a hand out towards the boardwalk. “Shall we?”

Ember rolled her eyes. “Okay, but remember this is just a short interview.”

“Of course,” he said.

Ember got up and walked off with Front Page to the boardwalk. Rarity’s eyes followed the two and smiled as the dragoness walked until she was merely a dot amongst the crowd of ponies on the boardwalk.

Rarity got up and said, “I think I’ll go for a nice walk around the beach.” She looked over and smiled. “Spikey, would you like to join me?”

Spike frowned and looked away. “I don’t know, Rarity,” he said hesitantly. “I want to see if Ember wants to do anything after her interview.”

“She’ll be gone for a while,” said Rarity. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if we took a walk along the beach.”

“Well, what about our stuff?”

“I’ll watch it,” said Matches. He let out a yawn and stretched. “I want to catch some sun anyway. You two go on for your walk.”

Spike rubbed his chin and looked down. I want to wait for Ember to come back, but at the same time I want to talk to Rarity. Maybe I can finally ask her what she really thinks about me. But what happens if she likes me back? How will that affect Ember?

He shook his head. Wait...I really like Rarity though. She’s the only mare for me….right?

“Spikey?”

He looked up to a concerned Rarity. “Are you alright?” she asked.

Spike nodded. “Yeah. I’ll go with you, Rarity.”

The unicorn smiled. “Thank you, darling.” She held a hand out to him. “Shall we?”

Spike gulped a little and hesitantly reached out to grab it. To his shock though, Rarity reached out and grabbed his. He looked up and saw her smiling warmly at him.

“Something wrong, Spikey Poo? You look like you expect me to bite you or something?”

The drake blushed and looked down. “Erm, must be the heat again I guess. I’m ready to go though.”

“So am I,” she said. And Ember won’t get in the way making it all the better.

Together, the two of them walked away from their spot, and down the beach.

Rarity and Spike walked along the beach. The crowd noise could no longer be heard, and was replaced by the sound of waves crashing, or the creatures stirring near the dense forest. Rarity looked down at Spike and could notice he was looking somewhat uncomfortable. She frowned a bit and pulled him in closer.

“You seem a little anxious, Spikey Poo,” she said. “Is there something wrong?”

The drake bit his lip and tried to avoid eye contact.

“Spike?”

“I’m alright,” he responded. “I just have a lot on my mind is all.”

“Such as?”

Spike stopped in his tracks and looked down. “Well...it’s not easy to talk about.”

“You know you can always tell me anything that’s bothering you, Spike,” assured Rarity.

“I know that, Rarity,” he said. “But this is really something hard to say.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. I think I know what it is. “Is it about Ember by any chance?”

Spike froze and his eyes widened.

“I seem to be correct,” said Rarity. “This thing with Ember; it wouldn’t happen to be about a certain incident at the Wonderbolts’ Academy, would it?”

Spike felt like somepony dropped a bucket of ice into his stomach, and he was shaking slightly.

“Looks like I’m right again,” said Rarity. “Spike, do you want to talk about it?”

The drake looked away and grunted uncomfortably. “I...I don’t know,” he muttered in a quiet voice that could rival Fluttershy’s.”

Rarity frowned and pulled Spike in for a hug. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, Spikey Wikey,” she said in a soothing voice. “I’m just worried about you is all. You haven’t been yourself since that day.”

“I just don’t know what to do,” said Spike. “I’m so sick of it all.”

“Sick of what?”

“I’m sick of just feeling so conflicted about her,” said Spike. “Things were so much easier before I met Ember.”

“Whatever do you mean, darling?” wondered Rarity. “I thought that you wanted to help ponies and dragons become friends.”

“I do of course,” said Spike. “But this is really hard to explain.”

“Try me,” offered Rarity. “Whatever is making you so worried, Spike, I’m sure I can help.”

Spike looked down and rubbed his chin. This could be my only chance to find out. Maybe, just maybe, if I play it right I’ll see what Rarity really thinks of me.

He took a deep breath. “It’s about another dragon I met in the Lands, Rarity.”

The unicorn quirked an eyebrow. “Another dragon you met? What’s their name?”

“Sp...um, Spines,” said Spike hesitantly. “He told me before we left the Dragon Lands that he had a problem.”

“What was it?”

“He’s been interested in this other dragoness for a long time, and he’s never been able confess how he feels to her. But he said now there’s another dragoness that’s trying to win his heart.”

“So I take it he doesn’t know who to choose?” wondered Rarity.

“Yeah,” said Spike. “He still loves the one dragoness he’s been chasing, but now isn’t sure what to do about the other.”

Rarity smirked. Ah, I know what you're trying to do, Spike. I commend you for trying to not hurt mine or Ember’s feelings, but I know what you want to know, and I’ll finally put it to rest.

“Spikey, your ‘friend’ should try to see what his first crush thinks about him,” she said.

Spike looked up with a perplexed look on him. “You mean confess?”

Rarity nodded. “Yes. This dragoness your friend is after may or may not like him, but he hasn’t asked her yet. If he doesn’t say anything now, who knows what could happen? He may never know if he accidentally broke the heart of a lady and hurt her.”

Spike winced and said, “I don’t want...um, my friend to have to go through that.”

“Then you should tell ‘Spines’ that he should let his first crush know about his feelings before it’s too late.”

Spike nodded. Maybe Rarity has a point after all. If I don’t say something now to her, who knows what will happen? Maybe she’ll be upset and won’t be my friend. All I have to do is tell her how I feel. Just how hard can it be?

He looked up at Rarity and gulped as the sun shined on her giving her a radiant glow to go with the warm smile she was giving him.

Maybe this will be a little hard. But I can’t back down now!

“Rarity,” he said. “There’s something I want to tell you.”

Rarity hid her smile. I think he’s finally ready to tell me the truth, she thought. “What is it, Spikey Poo?”

“I’ve been wanting to say this for a while now, but haven’t gotten the courage to until now.”

“Yes?” asked Rarity as a smile grew on her face.

“D...do you…” Spike felt his breathing get heavy and his heart was racing. Focus, Spike!

“Go on,” urged Rarity.

“Do you...do you…” Spike was shaking nervously and could feel his stomach doing flips.

“Yes?” Rarity leaned in and was grinning like a filly on Hearth’s Warming Day.

Spike took a deep breath. “Do you....do you want to go swimming?” he asked.

Rarity’s smile faltered a little. “W–what?” she asked in a small voice.

Spike, still shaking, forced a smile and said, “You um, want to go swimming? I’ve been wanting to get in the water for a while now and thought you could join me.”

Rarity smiled sadly and shook her head. “N–no, Spikey, you go ahead without me. I’ll just watch from here.”

Spike chuckled weakly. “Um, alright then. I’ll just go then by myself.”

“Have fun, darling,” said Rarity.

Spike slowly turned away from Rarity and walked into the water. The cold water made him shiver slightly, but didn’t distract him from the thoughts going on through his head.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! he scolded himself. I’m such an idiot for what I did! I was so close and I chickened out at the end! Ugh! Rarity must think I’m an idiot or something for what I did to her!

Spike kept walking until the water was up to his chest and he was forced to start floating. He just floated around and let out a depressed sigh. “Way to go, Spike. You’ve made yourself look like a fool in front of Rarity. I bet she’s thinking how foolish I was acting.”

Rarity frowned as she looked at Spike. Oh, dear. I think I may have scared him or something, she thought to herself. Perhaps I was too forward, or maybe I didn’t do enough to convince him to come clean! Oh, Rarity, you’ve messed up big time!

She looked at Spike with a frown on her. “I just hope I get enough time to try and coax Spike to confess his feelings about me before Ember comes back.”

“And what exactly do you like so far here in Equestria?”

Ember rolled her eyes. “You already asked me that,” she said irritably. “That’s the third time you’ve asked me that actually. What kind of reporter are you?”

Front Page shrugged. “Just the kind of dr...um, pony to get their facts straight. It doesn’t hurt to ask anyway.”

“You’ve been asking me a lot of weird questions,” said Ember. “First about how I like it here, where I’m residing while staying here, and even about my favorite food. Are all you pony reporters like this?”

“Hey, I’m the one asking the questions here,” argued Front Page. “I’m not the one being interviewed; you are.”

Ember scoffed. “I think I’ve had enough of this. I think I should get back to my friends before–”

The dragoness gasped and abruptly stopped talking. A thought suddenly crossed her mind that made her feel cold.

“Excuse me,” she said.

Front Page smirked as he watched Ember run off. It’s okay; I think I’m about to get a more important story.

Ember ran across to the boardwalk and eyed a nearby souvenir stand. She saw several pairs of binoculars hanging on a stick and ran over to them. She snatched one off, which caught the attention of the blue unicorn manning the stand.

“Hey!” he yelled. “Give those back!”

Ember ignored him and raised the binoculars up to her eyes. She looked around and quickly found the area where her friends set up camp. She saw Matches lying on the blanket, but there was nopony else. A surge of anger rose in Ember and her hands were shaking.

That bitch! She did not do what I think she did! Ember thought.

“Pay up now, lady!” demanded the stand clerk. “You use them, you buy them!”

Ember threw the binoculars back to the clerk and leaped over the railing. The clerk yelled at her to come back, but she ignored him. Her eyes narrowed and she clenched her fists.

Rarity, you slut! You better not have done it!

Ember ran up to where Matches was resting. “Where is she!?” she demanded.

Matches flinched as he was suddenly awakened by Ember’s yelling. He looked up at the furious dragoness. “Where’s who?” he wondered.

“Rarity and Spike!” she answered. “Where did they go!?”

Matches raised his hands up and scooted back a little. “Whoa! Slow down, Ember! If you really want to know, they just went for a walk on the beach.”

Ember leaned over and snorted. “Which way?” she asked in an icy tone.

Matches slowly raised his hand and pointed to the left. “T–that way,” he said in a shaky voice. “Why?”

Ember didn’t reply and instead stomped off. Matches watched as the dragoness walked off towards where Rarity and Spike were, and gulped.

“I got a very bad feeling about this,” he said.

Matches got up and started running towards where Twilight and the others were playing volleyball.

“Something is going to happen; I know it,” he told himself. “I got to warn the others before it’s too late.”

Rarity watched Spike as he floated around in the ocean and let out a sigh. “Spikey was so close,” she said sorrowfully. “I was certain that my words would have convinced him to confess to me. Maybe I can still find a way to get him to do so.”

Spike bobbed around the water and looked up at the sky. “You’ve done it now, Spike. You had Rarity right there, the moment was perfect, and yet you blew it in the end.”

He turned around to face the beach. He noticed the sad look on Rarity’s face, which only made him feel worse. “Even Rarity seems upset about what I did. I made an idiot out of myself. I got to make it up to her.”

An idea clicked in Spike’s head that made him smile softly. “Yeah, and then maybe once I explain myself to Rarity, maybe I can work up the courage to ask her how she feels about me. It’ll be perfect!”

A small wave splashed onto Spike and he looked around. He noticed the water was up to his neck and looked back at the beach to see Rarity was a bit hard to see.

“I guess I floated around aimlessly for too long,” he said to himself. “I better head back.”

Spike raised his arms out and started to move them back and forth as he swam back towards the beach. He kicked his legs moderately fast to help propel him back to the shore faster.

Just you wait, Rarity, he thought to himself. This time I’m going to ask you something a lot better than swimming with me.

Spike kept on swimming but suddenly, a painful cramp in his back surged through him.

“Gah!” he cried out.

The drake was suddenly splashed by a large wave that overtake him and threw him off. He rose out of the water and gasped, but the pain still surged in his back and was moving slowly. Another wave crashed into him, which made Spike gasp again and some water accidentally went into his mouth.

Spike started to panic as he thrashed around and tried to desperately stay afloat. He coughed violently as he tried to swim back, but another large wave overtook him and he was sent into the depths again.

Rarity gasped as she watched. “Spikey Wikey!” she cried out in horror.

Spike popped out of the water again and waved a hand frantically. “Rarity, help me!” he cried out. Another wave hit him and was forced underwater.

The unicorn kicked off her purple sandals and ran into the water. As it got deeper, Rarity dove into the water and swam frantically towards Spike. She didn’t care if her mane was being ruined or if something like a crab or seaweed stuck to her.

Hold on, Spike, I’m coming!

Soon enough, she came across Spike floating in the water. Her eyes widened in horror as he didn’t move and his eyes were barely open. Quickly, she grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him up to her chest.

No time to swim back to the shore! I’ll just teleport!

Rarity’s horn lit up in the water, and both her and Spike disappeared from the depths of the sea. They both reappeared back on the shore of the beach, and Rarity was catching her breath. She slowly looked over to Spike, who wasn’t breathing at all.

“Spike!” she cried out again.

Rarity got up and put her hands on his chest. She started compressions on him. She forced open his mouth and was about to give him some air, but suddenly stopped as a thought crossed her mind.

I...I’m about to basically kiss Spike, she thought to herself. Is it really kissing though if you’re giving CPR? Or is it an indirect kiss? Rarity shook her head and narrowed her eyes. What am I thinking? This isn’t the time for stuff like this! Spike needs me!

She lowered herself and opened her mouth. She leaned into Spike’s open mouth and blew some air into it. Rarity tried again with the compressions and hoped for the best.

“Come on. Come on,” she said.

Spike suddenly flinched and coughed violently as water escaped from his mouth. He gasped as he leaned over to spit the water out and catch his breath. Rarity let out a sigh of relief and smiled as her panic subsided. She held Spike closely to make sure he didn’t choke.

After a few minutes of coughing and wheezing, Spike rolled onto his back and was breathing slowly. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at Rarity with a small smile on him.

“Thank you, Rarity,” he sad in a raspy voice.

The unicorn blushed slightly and smiled at him. “You’re welcome, darling. I just couldn’t bear losing you like that. Not when you mean so much to me.”

Spike’s heart skipped a beat, and a thought popped in his head. Wait...does this mean what I think it means?

“Rarity?” he asked.

“Yes?”

“Um...I have something I want to tell you. Something much more important than asking you to swim with me.”

“Go on,” she urged. Could he be actually confessing?

Spike took a deep breath. “I–I lo–”

“YOU!” boomed a furious voice.

Rarity gasped and looked up to see an infuriated Ember huffing and her left eye twitching wildly. The glare the dragoness gave Rarity sent shivers through her, and made her feel small.

“So this is your so called idea of a ‘walk on the beach’ huh!?” barked Ember. “Did you really think you could just get away with tricking me like that!?”

“Ember, this is not the time for–” Rarity tried to explain.

“SHUT UP!” she demanded.

Spike and Rarity gasped at the sudden outburst from the Dragon Lord.

“For once you’re going to listen to me, you skanky bimbo!” yelled Ember. “I should have known you were going to do something like this! Lure Spike away from me, and then seduce him with your so called charm to win him over! And you had the damn nerve to claim I was the one seducing him!?”

Rarity felt the anger in her grow again. She let go of Spike and got up. “Now hold it right there!” she ordered. “Spike was in trouble, and I saved him! And as for these claims I was seducing him, that is not true at all!”

“Spare me the lies, you jerk!” barked Ember. “You know that you were trying to win him without me noticing!”

“That’s not the–”

“You know that your tricks and charm that you used on Spike to make him do your dirty work no longer work! So you decided to come up with this to win him over for good! Face it! You just can’t accept that he has found some other dragon he likes far more than your ugly, no good, holier than thou, stuck up bitch face!”

Rarity felt something snap in her. Something that made any restraint and calm she had in her turn into burning hatred and anger. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists so tightly, it could possibly bend a steel pole.

“How dare you?” she asked in an icy tone.

“What was that?” asked Ember.

“HOW DARE YOU!?” boomed Rarity. She stomped over and got up into Ember’s face. “You dare to think that I trick my precious Spikey Wikey into doing ‘dirty work’ like he was some slave! I don’t ever treat any of my friends like that; especially Spike!”

“The way he’s told me some of the stuff he’s done for you, it does sound like as if you’re his slave master!” argued Ember. “You use him for your own gains!”

“Excuse me!?” asked Rarity, incredulously. “What about you? Don’t you use him too!? You’ve wanted him to help you around Equestria after all ever since you’ve arrived. And need I remind you of that so called ‘suntan lotion’ you wanted Spike to rub on you?”

Ember growled and leaned into Rarity’s face. “You know what? Maybe it’s time I show you what dragons are capable of, and what happens when you piss one off!”

“Do your worse, you jealous hag!” demanded Rarity. “You’ll see what happens when you piss me off.”

Spike, who had been watching everything unfold in horror, slowly tried to get up. “Girls, stop!” he cried hoarsely. “Please stop now! There’s no need to fight!”

They both turned towards the drake and shouted in unison, “Not now, Spike!”

The two ladies looked back at each other. The tension in the air built up. The wind blew harder than before. The water in the ocean started to get violent. Some clouds moved over the sky, blocking out the sun. Thunder started to rumble as Rarity and Ember stared at each other with pure hatred in their eyes.

“If you won’t let him find true happiness and continue to use him as some slave, then so be it,” said Ember in an icy tone. Her tail moved slowly up and she smirked.

“Let’s see what you got, whore!” Ember swung her tail and hit Rarity in the legs.

“Ahh!” Rarity cried. She stumbled a little, but she regained her balance quickly.

With a furious scream, she tackled into Ember hard and both were sent to the ground. The dragoness tried to get up, but Rarity pinned her down. She raised an arm up and punched Ember in the face. The dragoness countered with a punch of her own to Rarity’s chest that loosened her grip. Ember took the opening to her advantage and lifted Rarity up. She pushed her off and Rarity landed to the side.

Rarity groaned as she tried to get up, but gasped as Ember held her down and headbutted her. The two of them struggled and threw one punch after another at each other. They both rolled around the ground as each one tried to get on top of the other. They rolled over into a mud pit near the forest. They both stopped for a moment and panted, but neither Ember nor Rarity’s anger simmered down.

Rarity’s horn lit up, and she shot a beam of magic at Ember. The dragoness dodged the magical energy, but failed to miss the punch that followed after that. Ember fell to the side and rubbed her cheek. She tried to crawl away from the mud pit and get onto dry land, but her tail was suddenly pulled violently. She turned around to see Rarity, covered in mud, grinning wickedly at her.

“What’s the matter, darling?” she wondered in a mocking voice. “Afraid to get dirty!?”

Rarity got up and gripped Ember’s tail tightly. The dragoness cried out in pain as Rarity twisted her tail around like a piece of dough. Suddenly, Rarity started pulling the tail again, but Ember noticed she wasn’t being pulled back; she was being pulled around.

“How about we go for a spin?” asked Rarity.

Ember was lifted into the air as she was suddenly spinning around. The world around her became a blur as Rarity spun her around rather fast. Ember tried to grab the ground, but all she grabbed was mud and her grip slipped. Ember screamed as the spinning got faster and faster and the world became nothing but a big blur of colors.

“So long, Ember!” Rarity yelled. She let go of Ember’s tail and sent her flying rather far. Ember yelled as she floated around. She then fell and hit the ground harshly. She grunted as she rolled around the ground and bounced a little. As she rolled around, her top became undone and landed on the beach; exposing her bossom. She soon came a stop in the sand and groaned in pain.

Rarity got up and walked slowly towards Ember. Her smile widened with each step she took towards the dragoness.

Spike’s eyes went wide with horror and shock. “No…” he whispered.

“Had enough, darling?” asked Rarity.

Ember slowly got on her legs and was shaking. “Oh...I’ve had enough alright.”

Rarity smirked in triumph.

Ember suddenly whirled around and her eyes had flames in them. “I’ve had enough of you!”

She flapped her wings and flew towards Rarity. Before the unicorn could react, Ember tackled her and both were sent crashing into the mud pit. Ember raised her arm to punch Rarity again, but the latter rolled to the side in time to avoid it. Rarity’s top came undone in the struggle, but she didn’t care at all. She jumped on top of Ember and placed both her hands under Ember’s chin. Ember cried out in pain and Rarity pulled her head up violently. The two grunted and struggled as they glared daggers at one another.

“He’s mine, lizard bitch!” barked Rarity.

“No, he’s mine!” argued Ember in a strained voice. “He deserves better than you, you stuck up slut!”

“Jealous hag!”

“Slave driver!”

“Insecure whore!”

“Stuck up pony!”

“Ratchet dragon!”

“Manipulative bimbo!”

“Stupid dragon!”

“Stupid pony!”

Rarity and Ember grunted as one tried to overpower another, and deliver another blow.

“STOP!” a voice cried out. “STOP IT RIGHT NOW!”

The two ladies instantly recognized the voice. They looked over, and were shocked to see Spike on his knees and was looking down. Tears were steadily falling down his face and onto the sand. He slowly raised his head up and looked at Rarity and Ember with a somber look on his face.

“Look what you two have done!” he cried out. “What were you two thinking!?”

“Spike, you don’t understand,” said Ember. “I’m saving you from Rarity’s evil grasp on you. She’s been using you long enough for menial labor.”

“Don’t listen to her, Spikey Poo,” argued Rarity. “Ember just can’t appreciate how close you and I are, and is spreading lies. I’m merely showing her that she can’t have you.”

Spike shook his head and his jaw dropped. “You...you can’t be serious!” he said in disbelief. “I mean look at yourselves!”

Ember and Rarity looked at their own bodies. They were covered in mud, sand, grass, and had a few bruises here and there from the punches they landed.

“You know why I was so happy to have you here, Ember?” wondered Spike. “It’s because I was really hoping that dragons and ponies could become permanent friends. And now...now look what you two have done. You’ve ruined everything!”

Rarity frowned sympathetically. “Spike, it’s not like–”

“Rarity, I expected so much better from you!” barked Spike. “You taught me so much about generosity and kindness towards others! But now you’ve hurt Ember and you acted so selfish and heartless!”

The unicorn gasped and trembled in shock and sadness.

“And Ember, what happened to you!?” Spike berated. “I thought you were serious about friendship, and ponies and dragons getting along. But here you are starting fights with my friends like this! How can you do this after I showed you so much!?”

Ember felt the guilt overtake her and looked away in shame.

“It...It wasn’t like that, Spike,” she said in a small voice.

“Then what was I just seeing!?” demanded Spike. “Tell me what I just saw you doing right now!”

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air and both girls looked down in shame.

“Please hold on a minute, Spikey Wikey,” pleaded Rarity. “It’s not–”

“Don’t call me Spikey Wikey!” bellowed Spike. “I am not your ‘Spikey Wikey’ anymore!”

Rarity gasped and a cold feeling washed over her.

“Spike, hold on,” said Ember. “You have to understand that there’s something you need to know.”

“Save it, Ember! After what I saw and how you two acted, I don’t want to hear anything else! You and Rarity ruined everything I worked so hard to do! I don’t even know what to even think about you girls anymore!”

“Spike!” Rarity and Spike cried out in unison.

“Shut up!” demanded Spike. “I...I can’t stand you two right now! I can’t even look at you without feeling disgusted!”

He looked at both Rarity and Ember angrily, but tears were steadily falling down his face.

“I hate both of you!” he bellowed.

Rarity and Ember gasped as the words echoed through the beach and the air. Both ladies felt like they had been stabbed in the heart, and a deep chill coursed through their bodies. Rarity nearly fainted from hearing Spike’s outburst. Ember trembled in shock and sorrow. Both felt paralyzed and didn’t move at all. Not even after Spike got up and began walking away from them.

“What’s going on here!?”

Matches, Twilight, and the others ran up towards Spike. All of them looked worried as they saw the disheartened drake just stand there and stared at the ground.

Matches went up to Spike and put both hands on his shoulders. “What happened here, Spike?” he demanded. “What’s wrong?”

Spike sniffled a little, and just pointed over to Ember and Rarity. “Ask them,” he replied in a broken voice. “I don’t want to even look at them right now.” He pushed Matches’ hands off him and slowly walked back to the crowded beach.

“Spike,” said Twilight in a sympathetic voice.

“What did he mean ask Rarity and Ember?” wondered Fluttershy.

Rainbow gasp and pointed at them. “Look!”

The group looked at the dragoness and unicorn lying in the mud pit. Rarity was still sitting on top of Ember, but she no longer held the grip she had on her. Ember looked down at the ground to try to hide the anguished look on her face.

“They’re covered in mud,” said Pinkie.

“They have sand and grass on them,” stated Applejack.

“And I can see what looks to be bruises I think,” said Twilight.

The group gasped as a realization hit them.

“You don’t think they did that right?” asked Applejack.

“Did they?” wondered Fluttershy.

“It can’t be,” said Rainbow in disbelief.

“...Ember...no,” stated Matches in horror. “You didn’t...fight did you?”

Rarity and Ember both looked at the group with somber looks on them. They said nothing at all. The others knew that there was nothing else to say. They all stared with disappointment on them at Rarity and Ember.

“I think it’s time we head home,” suggested Applejack. She picked up Rarity’s yellow bikini top and tossed it to her. “At least make yourself decent first.”

Twilight nodded and noticed a flash coming from somewhere. “I think we should hurry too,” she said. “It seems a lightning storm is headed this way.” She walked over to Rarity and waved a hand towards the others. “Help me get her up.”

“On it, Twi,” said Applejack. She ran over and helped lift Rarity and walk her away.

“He...he hates me...he hates me...he hates me,” Rarity kept mumbling in a low voice.

Ember, still on her knees and looking down, felt a shadow loom over her. She slowly looked up to see Matches glaring at her and crossed his arms.

“I think it’s time we had a talk,” he said in a stern, cold voice. He tossed her the bikini top that fell off her earlier.

Ember didn’t bother to argue with him. She slowly nodded and got up, putting the top back on. Matches took her arm and marched her away, much to her shame.

As the group all walked away, a red pegasus popped up from the bushes nearby. As soon as they were a good distance away he started laughing hysterically to himself.

“That was too easy,” said Hot Streak in between laughs. “They actually fell for it like the lovestruck morons they truly are!”

He patted his camera gleefully and smirked deviously. “I may have gone a little overboard, but I got what I wanted on this at last. Soon this whole alliance will be gone in a flash like my camera.” Hot Streak chuckled to himself as he walked out of the bushes and onto the beach casually.

Matches was pacing around the train compartment, with smoke billowing from his nostrils. Ember sat on the couch and looked down to try and hide the shame on her face. Neither dragon said anything as the train rolled along and its whistle blew every few minutes. The room was deathly silent save for Matches’ footsteps. Ember glanced a quick look at Matches, and saw the furious look on him.

I hate both of you!

The words yelled by Spike echoed in Ember’s head and she clutched her chest tightly.

Matches turned towards her and put both of his hands on her shoulders. “Ember, what in Tartarus were you thinking!?” he barked. “Attacking Rarity like that and jeopardizing what we came here to do!? Do you have any idea what this means!?”

Ember shifted around uncomfortably. “I...I…” she spoke in a hollow voice and was shaking violently.

“What happened out there!?” he demanded. “You and Rarity have been silent this whole damn time, and I want the truth!”

Ember gripped her arms tightly and felt like her tongue was twisted.

“Ember, I want answers now!”

“...It...It was…”

Matches grabbed Ember by the shoulders and shook her violently. “It was what!? The sooner you tell me, the faster we can fix this and make things right again!”

“It was Spike!” she cried out.

Matches paused and the room fell silent. He shook his head in disbelief and groaned. “Are you kidding me!?” he exploded. “Are you honestly bucking kidding me!?”

Ember shook violently and could feel her heart racing.

“Ember, this is a disaster! How does Spike tie into what you did to Rarity?”

“She was...well...s–she was u–using him!” she stuttered. “You don’t understand! I’ve seen what she’s done with him!”

“Ember, I don’t care what your personal opinions are about Rarity and Spike’s relationship, and I don’t want to hear excuses!” barked Matches. “Attacking her has really set everything back for us! What am I supposed to report to the Council!?”

“W–we’ll just hide it!” suggested Ember.

Matches shook his head. “That won’t work and you know it! They would find out sooner or later about it! This isn’t just something we can pretend didn’t happen!”

Ember looked down and quivered with fear. “What do we do then?” she wondered in a small voice.

Matches took a deep breath and sat down on the seat across from Ember. He looked down and rubbed his head. “I don’t know,” he said in a small voice. “I really don’t know. This is bad, Ember; really bad.”

The dragoness nodded. “I know,” she said glummly.

Silence fell upon the room, with the only noise being the whistle blowing and the train rolling along.

Ember looked up and said, “Have you tried talking to Twilight?”

Matches nodded. “Yeah, but she said it’s best if we just stay away from each other for the time being.”

Ember felt a shiver run down her. “What about Spike?”

“I haven’t seen him at all,” said Matches. “Whatever happened between you, him, and Rarity must have really devestated him.

I hate both of you!

Ember felt tears building up in her eyes as those words echoed in her again. She shook her head and wiped them away quickly.

Matches sighed and got up. “Ember, whatever happened out there, whatever your reasons were, I just hope you understand about what you’ve done. You may be Dragon Lord, but I think you got some thinking to do about your own actions.”

He walked over to the door and opened it. “I’m going to try and think about what to do now elsewhere. For your sake, Ember, just stay in here please and don’t go see Rarity or the others.” He walked out the door and closed it, leaving Ember to her own thoughts.

A single tear rolled down her and fell to the floor. I know of what I’ve done, Matches. You don’t understand how much I hate myself right now, and how much I wish I could take back.

She looked back out the window and whispered one word, “Spike…”

In the dark sky of the Dragon Lands, Garble flew through it and looked like had just won the lottery. Through the thick ash spewing from the volcanoes and some fog, he soon saw a large stone castle coming up. He picked up the speed and landed in front of the large castle metal gate. Almost instantly, two dragons in silver metal armor flew down and held their spears up.

“Hold it right there,” one ordered. “Who are you and what is your business at the castle?”

Garble casually raised a hand and pushed the spear down. “Relax will you?” he said. “I need to speak to Master Ash and the Dragon Council at once.”

“For what reason?”

“It’s in regards to our beloved Dragon Lord Ember,” answered Garble. “This is something that the Council must see at once.”

The two guards looked at each other with puzzled expressions on their faces.

“If you just show me to where the Council is having their meeting, you’ll all understand what I have to say.” Garble raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “They are having their nightly meeting right now, aren’t they?”

The guard nodded. “Y–yeah, they are. But they should be getting ready to finish it very soon.”

“Then let’s hurry up before it’s too late then,” urged Garble.

The two guards looked at each other, and then back at Garble. After a minute, they looked back at each other again and nodded.

“Very well, but this better be worth the Council’s time.”

“Oh, trust me,” said Garble as he took off his backpack and patted it. “They’ll really love what I got to show them.” He flashed a sinister smile as the two guards escorted him into the castle.

Wait until the old man sees this.

Author's Notes:

It would be a mistake to think I would abandon this story without saying a word as to why. Let me tell you all, this was so much longer than it needed to be. So much went wrong in the months I've been trying to write and get this chapter out. Work related stuff swamped me, attempting to get some stuff straightened out, and other things have been going on. It has truly been a nightmare.

I've been thinking long and hard about how the inevitable explosion Rarity and Ember would have with each other. If anybody out there who read this can guess what pic this is based on, you win a gold star! The fight itself wasn't what slowed me down, it was how to build up to it and how it would go down.

I'm not going to say when the next chapter will be. Whenever I say something about how long it'll be, I somehow curse myself to take an eternity and a half on it. But I hope those who were patient enough to wait are happy with this.