Chapter 17

Dining Hall, The Royal Palace

White hot fury radiated from Celestia’s eyes. The intensity of her glare was so great that Spike felt a prickling heat wash over his entire body. In fact, due to her powerful connection with the sun, he believed that his mother was, in all likelihood, entirely capable of immolating someone just by staring at them. He chugged down half a glass of water in an attempt to relieve the sudden dryness in his throat, but it didn’t help much.

“Did you just refer to them as your mates?”

Delmira nodded and slid her arms around their shoulders. “Yep, that’s right.”

“Given the fact that my son is now a Dragon Lord, it isn’t my place to tell him how many partners he may take. However, I can’t sit idly by and ignore your self-proclaimed inclusion into their relationship. Do they have any idea what you really are?”

Delmira’s expression soured. “What sort of villain do you take me for, Celestia? I’ll admit that can be impish at times, but I would never be so irresponsible! I revealed my true form to Spike once he completed the Gauntlet of Fire and was christened the new Dragon Lord. As for Ember, I told her about it shortly thereafter.

“Tell me: is it really so farfetched for a goddess to desire love? I’m not talking about all the usual adoration and worship but intimate, personal love. Indeed, beings such as ourselves must constantly maintain a visage of power and control… but aren’t there times when just you want to be treated like a woman?”

The princess of the sun took a deep breath as she reflected upon Delmira’s words. If she were being completely honest, there were countless times that she yearned to be an ordinary woman. Particularly during the first century of her sister’s banishment, she had occasionally donned the guise of Sunny Days in order to mingle with the common folk.

Celestia’s flaxen-haired, barmaid persona helped take her mind off of the crippling sorrow, loneliness, and anger she felt from Luna’s protracted absence. She would dance, shamelessly flirt with patrons, chug down tankards of ale, and occasionally invite willing partners (sometimes more than one) to her bedchamber for some late night fun. The trysts were often wild and passionate but they seldom lasted more than a day or two.

Unfortunately, the burden of ruling as the sole monarch of Equestria consumed nearly all of her being as the years marched ever onward. As a result, her alter-ego antics became less and less frequent until they stopped entirely. Loathe as she was to admit, approximately nine hundred years ago was, in fact, the last time anyone had warmed her bed.

As Celestia took a moment to observe her son and his partners, she felt a tremendous pang of guilt grip her chest. There was no denying it. The serene, affectionate smile spread upon Delmira’s lips made it plainly obvious that she cared for her partners without hesitation or condition. It made Celestia realize, despite her misgivings, that she was being unfairly harsh in her judgement.

“I’m afraid I know all too well what that is like.”

Delmira gently grasped Celestia’s hand. “I swear to you, upon my pride as a goddess, that I love Spike and Ember with all of my heart. Mortals though they may be, they’re more precious to me than all the gold in Brimstone. If it is within my power, I will protect and cherish them for as long as I draw breath.”

“Your declaration has done much to ease my mind, Delmira. However, it still concerns me how the dynamics of your shared relationship will progress from this point forward.”

“I don’t imagine that’ll be a problem,” The dragon goddess mused, “Ember and I have unanimously agreed that Spike is our alpha. And while the three of us have yet to consummate our relationship together, I’m quite confident his stamina is up to the task~”

Celestia’s cheeks reddened when she subconsciously shifted her attention towards Spike’s lap. “My apologies, but I’m going to have to stop the conversation there. I have no desire to discuss my son’s sexual prowess any further.”

The Dragon Lord rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, that’s definitely not something my mom needs to know about…”

“Spike, my dear, I do believe it’s a little too late for that.”

Cadence’s melodious giggles filled the room after she heard Celestia’s sharp retort. Ember and Spike suddenly found the floor to be most fascinating thing in the room while their faces erupted in a crimson blush once more. Completely unaware as to what was going on, Delmira blinked owlishly in confusion.

“Did I… miss something?”

“Oh, we just caught the two of them having a bit of early morning nookie in the throne room. Auntie Celestia got pretty upset over it, but I thought it was romantic.” Cadence explained.

“We had a giant, luxurious bed to fool around in and the two you decided to sneak off and have fun without me?!!”

Ember nervously rubbed her feet together. “I got up early to practice and Spike somehow managed to find me in the training room. The other guards were making me feel really uncomfortable; s-so I asked him to… show them that I was his mate.”

“Oh ho~ Pray tell, how exactly did he show them?”

“You know, like kissing and stuff.” Ember mumbled.

“Indeed, men can be rather slow on the uptake at times. Details, Ember. Don’t forget the details!”

“F-fine! There might have been some fondling involved too. You have to understand: I sometimes get… a little excited after a good workout. Don’t ask me to explain it! I just do, ok!”

Delmira chuckled. “Ah, that certainly explains why Celestia was so mortified. She caught the both of you right in the middle of the act, didn’t she? Such a pity. I would have loved to have seen that.”

“Sorry, I-I couldn’t help myself. One thing just sort of… led to another.”

“Not to worry, Ember. I wasn’t being serious. However, I may just consider accompanying the both of you during your training sessions from now on.”

“Huh?”

Delmira playfully nibbled on the edge of her ear. “You know how the old saying goes: When you’re hot and sweaty, you’re nice and ready~”

Ember’s face became an even darker shad of red, yet she made no attempt to resist the goddess or the ongoing ear nibbles. Thus encouraged, Delmira crawled atop Ember’s lap, cupped her cheeks, and then slid her tongue into the surprised tomboy’s mouth. After what seemed like an eternity, Delmira eventually broke away with a lecherous grin and smacked her lips in satisfaction.

“You know what I think,” Delmira whispered while fondling Ember’s breast, “The three of us should spend an entire day doing nothing but making love at our leisure. Mark my words, Ember: it shall happen. For the time being though, I think we ought to behave ourselves.”

Spike coughed abruptly, trying desperately to ignore what was going on beside him. “So… Cadence, I’ve been curious about something. How’s come you’re in Canerlot?”

“Well, I get a lot of good press coverage whenever I come here to personally endorse trade agreements… even though they’re mostly a formality at this point. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to visit the rest of my friends and family. A win/win situation for all involved, wouldn’t you say?”

“Sure, I can understand that. But where’s everybody else?”

“Shiny had to stay behind and supervise training for the Imperial Guard. I think he mentioned that it had something to do with new equipment? As for Flurry, she’s still not very fond of long train rides. She—ah—tends to vaporize things whenever she gets cranky.”

“Is she really that dangerous?”

Cadence nodded sadly. “I’m afraid so. But at least we have Sunburst to help control the surges and teach her basic spell-casting skills. Otherwise, things would be a lot worse. You know, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure she gets most of her raw magical power from Shiny’s side of the family.”

“Ha, tell me about it! One time, Twi accidentally blew up a jar of pickles just because she couldn’t open it with her fingers. She’s crazy strong with magic… but I still think she needs to get out and exercise more. I mean, come on, twisting off a lid isn’t that difficult.”

Cadence rubbed her chin in thought. “I think you might be onto something. Maybe all Twilight needs is a little extra motivation to get her exercise regimen started. Do you think a nice, handsome soldier would do the trick?”

“I’m probably not the best person to ask that….”

“Don’t be silly,” Cadence admonished, “Look at how much muscle you’ve put on in the last few months. Seriously, Spike. You look great! I think it just goes to show that with the right trainer, anyone can get in shape!”

“Thanks. But most of credit goes to Ember. Without her help, I never would have gotten this far.”

Cadence grinned like a Cheshire cat, but responded telepathically with her magic. “Are you sure that getting an eyeful of Ember’s rockin’ hot naked body every day was, in no way, part of your motivation?”

Spike nearly choked on his own spit when he heard Cadence’s voice echo within his mind. To the untrained, telepathy would seem like a fairly simple spell to cast and maintain. However, the Dragon Lord knew from personal experience that it was anything but.

Twilight had learned to do it, of course, but that was only because she had studied and practiced the technique extensively for several years. And even though Cadence was a powerful spell-caster in her own right, Spike was legitimately surprised and impressed that she could utilize it so fluidly.

“Hold on. You think… Ember’s hot?”

Cadence snickered. “Spike, I’m the Princess of Love. You should know by now that I don’t judge sexiness based solely on gender. But sweet Faust! She’s got one seriously toned tushie! I can only imagine how wonderful it must feel to give those perky little buns a good squeeze.”

“Well—umm—that’s to be expected!”

“I’m so proud of you, Spike! You’ve come such a long way since your days as a bachelor in Ponyville. You know, there are a lot of men out there who’d be intimidated by Ember’s brawn. But it’s great to see that you’re the type of guy who genuinely appreciates her physique. Don’t worry; I feel the same way about Shiny’s hiney.”

Spike groaned mentally. “That’s… not exactly what I meant, but you’re right. I love the both of them exactly how they are and wouldn’t change a thing.”

Delmira daintily crossed her legs and took sip from her coffee cup. “Do the two of you intend to keep conversing telepathically, or are the rest of us going to be included at some point?”

Before Cadence or Spike could so much as sputter out an apology, Princess Luna stormed into the room. Her heavy footfalls caused the jackboots she was wearing to echo loudly against the marble floor. After grunting in a very un-princess like manner, she summoned a mug full of steaming hot coffee into her hand and chugged it down as if it were water.

As soon as she finished her first cup, Luna plopped next to her sister and started chewing on a bagel, not caring in the least that her lips were getting smeared with cream cheese. It was obvious to everyone sitting at the table that she was very tired, if the dark circles under her eyes were any indication. Even so, the Preußen blue admiral’s uniform she typically donned during Night Court and martial functions was still presentable.

Celestia gently rubbed Luna’s shoulder in an effort to calm her. “Lulu, what’s wrong?”

“Be at peace, sister mine. I am… simply exhausted from a situation that arose last night,” Luna’s bloodshot eyes widened in surprise when she finally looked across the table, “My apologies! In my sleep-deprived stupor, I’m afraid that I neglected to notice the presence of our most esteemed guests.”

“Don’t sweat it, Aunt Luna. It’s great to finally see you again.”

Luna gently patted his arm. “You as well, Spike. It seems that you have decided to take full advantage of my decree, hmm? Most excellent! The people of Equestria need to broaden their cultural horizons every so often, lest they become narrow-minded bigots.”

“I’ll admit that adjusting to Wyvertii customs was pretty difficult in the beginning. But once I got used to living like they did, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. And if I’m being honest, this the first time I’ve ever felt so comfortable in my own skin. So, I don’t imagine I’ll be going back to wearing clothes. Especially with those two around…”

Luna smiled. “Tis heartening to see how well you’ve taken to your people’s way of life. Although, I suspect that your companions may need to assert their claims on you during your travels.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“Oh Spike, it never ceases to amaze me how adorably naïve you can be sometimes! Have you looked upon your own reflection in the mirror lately?”

Spike scratched his head. “Just about as often as anyone, I guess. What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal, as you put it, is that you’re a handsome young Dragon Lord in peak physical condition, who unabashedly bares his body for all to see. My advice is thus: be prepared for lingering gazes and constant flirtation in your future, my dear nephew.”

Spike’s face began to flush. “I—umm—hadn’t even taken that into consideration. Sure, I’m proud of all the hard work I put into my training… but do I really look that good?”

Luna simply gestured towards the two women beside him. Both of them eagerly nodded their heads in agreement without a moment’s hesitation. When they noticed that Spike was blushing even harder from their earnest praise, Ember and Delmira leaned over together and planted an affectionate kiss on both of sides of his cheeks.

“I think this goes without saying but your companions shall, in all likelihood, be viewed as exotic specimens of the female form no matter where you travel. And loathe as I am to admit it, their state of undress will undoubtedly garner attention as well. You must be prepared to defend their honor and dignity from unsavory characters whenever necessary.”

Spike grinned sheepishly. “Ember already ran into that problem with some guards earlier this morning. But it really isn’t a big deal! Everything turned out alright in the end.”

“That honestly does not surprise me. However, I would caution you not injure any offenders too severely, even if you feel justified in doing so.”

Celestia let out a theatrical sigh. “Alas, the same cannot be said for how my poor, defenseless Saddle Arabian sofa was treated!”

“I beg your pardon, Tia?”

Celestia waved her hand dismissively. “Pay it no mind, Lulu. It’s just a little inside joke between my son and I. Now, what’s this I hear about you having a situation?”

“Ah, foul business that is. According to the latest reports, a rouge passel of Buloke Boars have been prowling the outskirts of Ponyville for the past few days. Trying to ensure the safety of the local populace has been quite... taxing.”

An icy-cold knot of fear formed in the pit of Spike’s stomach as soon as Princess Luna finished speaking. Not a single citizen of Equestria doubted the capability of the Element Bearers during dangerous situations, but that didn’t stop him from worrying about them or the others he cared about in his home town.

“Is everyone ok?!” Spike blurted.

“While I shall admit that it is quite unusual for them to be seen outside of the Everfree, rest assured that no harm has befallen any who reside in Ponyville.”

The Dragon Lord’s anxiety was significantly lessened by the news, yet he couldn’t help but wonder why the creatures were foraging so close to Ponyville. Buloke Boars behaved like wild animals but are actually composed of magically infused wooden material. However, unlike Timber Wolves, the bark that sheathed their bodies matched the strength and resiliency of tempered steel.

While they weren’t a usually direct threat to people, the boars were highly aggressive when provoked, territorial, and notoriously difficult to kill with any implement, be it firearms or magic. Especially the Alpha Boars that accumulated decade’s worth of layers to their thick hides. It was actually quite similar to the rings of a tree.

“I’m happy that everyone’s safe and all, but why are they so close to town? Don’t Buloke Boars typically live deep inside the Everfee?”

Luna nodded solemnly. “Indeed. Hopefully, this was just a one-time occurrence but if there truly is something disturbing the denizens of the forest, I fear that we may need to send in some rangers to investigate.”

“Ember and I are used to trekking through dense forests and dealing with dangerous wildlife on a pretty regular basis. We’d be more than happy to help—”

Luna slammed her palm against the table. “Nay, Spike! It is my sovereign duty, as commander and chief of the armed forces, to protect the well-being of Equestria’s citizenry.”

Noticing her son’s stricken expression, Celestia gently squeezed Luna’s shoulder, signaling to the co-monarch that it was in her best interest to remain silent. Since Celestia technically had a thousand years more experience with ruling a country, she was unquestionably more skilled at diplomacy than her martially minded little sister.

“What Luna meant to say is: we sincerely appreciate your offer but as the de jure Dragon Lord, your primary citizenship status is that of a leader from a foreign nation. I’m afraid that if we officially accepted your assistance, it would give our neighbors the impression that Equestria cannot handle its own domestic issues competently.”

“Am I not an Equestrian citizen anymore?” Spike asked.

“Of course you are, sweetheart! It’s just—look, I realize that what I’m saying might sound completely ridiculous, but I assure you that it is simply the nature of modern politics. The three of you should focus on enjoying your time here instead. Let Luna and I worry about protecting Equestria, ok?”

Spike huffed in frustration. “I guess it can’t be helped then. But we won’t hesitate to help out ‘unofficially’ if things start to get dicey. Mom, you have to understand that I consider Ponyville to be just as much my home as Brimstone now. And I’ll be damned if I allow something as stupid as politics to stop me from protecting everyone I care about.”

Luna loudly cleared her throat in an attempt to break the awkward silence. “Pray tell, are the three of you interested in traveling to Ponyville in style?”

“How we get there doesn’t really matter that much to me. I’d be fine with just taking a train.”

Luna clapped her hands. “Then it is settled! I shall make the necessary arrangements for the Royal Auto-Carriage to transport you there.”

Auto-carriages were a relatively recent invention in Equestria. They achieved locomotion through a sophisticated steam compression engine that ran entirely without the aid of magic. Due to the complexity of the technology and lack of trained mechanics, the vehicles were quite expensive to repair and maintain. All of the models currently available on the market were therefore only purchased by the more affluent tiers of Equestrian society.

Driving around in a luxury model was tantamount to having a giant sign plastered over your head that screamed: “Look at how insanely rich I am!” Son of the princess or not, Spike wasn’t too keen on openly flaunting his wealth and status, even though many of Equestria’s Elite enjoyed doing so as if it were a national sport. In his opinion, such behavior only served to perpetuate an endless cycle of envy, jealousy, and reckless expenditure.

Spike bit his lip. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but isn’t going around in the Royal Auto-Carriage a little much? We’d be fine with just taking the Equestrian Expre—”

“Spike, this is something that Luna and I have to insist upon,” Celestia explained, “We need to let everyone in Equestria know how serious we are about establishing friendly relations with the Wyvertii. Over the years, I’ve found that the best way to demonstrate your sincerity to the general public is with a bit of carefully crafted showmanship.”

The young Dragon Lord couldn’t help but feel slightly uncomfortable while he observed the two women currently occupying the backseat of the Royal Auto-Carriage along with him. Both of them had openly gawked at the vehicle when it pulled up to the courtyard. Their reaction was entirely reasonable given the circumstances.

After all, who wouldn’t be taken aback by the sheer opulence of something that was bedecked in a glittering coat of mother of pearl and gold stenciling? Granted, Spike understood that neither of them had seen anything like an auto-carriage before but what the two of them were currently doing was, quite frankly, a little embarrassing to watch.

Delmira lay sprawled out along the seat cushion, giggling madly while she squirmed about. Apparently, she felt that the sensation of velvet rubbing up against her bare skin was simply the cat’s meow. The goddess’s jovial, fang-filled grin only served to make Spike question whether she was a more of a divine feline rather than a dragon. Her behavior was fairly amusing at first… until she started commenting on how stiff her nipples had become.

Ember, on the other hand, seemed particularly fascinated with all the modern amenities that came included with a deluxe package auto-carriage. In particular, she took great pleasure in playing with the retractable ash tray that was built into the center of the armrest. Spike wasn’t sure if she understood why the tray was there in the first place or if the Wyvertii even knew what cigarettes were.

During his entire time in Brimstone he couldn’t recall seeing anyone using pipes or even chewing tobacco. Maybe it was some kind of cultural taboo? Before Spike could contemplate the matter any further, he noticed that Ember’s face had become deathly pale.

“I don’t *urk* feel so good…”

“What’s wrong?”

Ember grimaced and cupped her hand over her mouth. “Ngghhh… something doesn’t seem to be agreeing with my stom—”

Because he happened to be sitting next to her, Spike was spared the indignity of being sprayed by the half-digested remnants of this morning’s breakfast. However, Delmira was not quite so lucky. She looked down at herself, utterly disgusted by the vomit that now coated her body. While she was genuinely concerned for mate’s wellbeing, the goddess couldn’t help but feel rather annoyed by the situation.

“Ember, why did have to wolf down so much damned bacon?! You know how sensitive your tummy is when it comes to greasy foods. Bah! I hope it won’t take too much longer to reach Princess Twilight’s castle because I’m in serious need of a bath.”

Spike gently rubbed Ember’s back. “Don’t worry; we’ve just arrived at the front gate. I’ll show you guys where the nearest bathroom is once we get inside. It’s pretty easy to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going. Heck, I still managed to get lost sometimes and I’m the one who’s lived there for a couple of years…”

“I’m really sorry that I puked all over you, Winny. I swear that I’ll make it up to you later.” Ember muttered.

“Don’t worry; it’s nothing a nice, long soak can’t fix. Just try to take it easy on the bacon next time, ok? And before you even think about arguing, I must insist that you hold onto my arm while we head to the bathroom. I don’t want you to fall down and crack open your skull just because you wouldn’t tell anyone how weak you were feeling.”

“Yeah, it’s probably not a very good idea for me to be walking around by myself right now.” Ember hesitantly admitted.

After a curt nod, Delmira helped Ember out of the auto-carriage and led her towards the doorway. The Castle of Friendship boasted at least half a dozen different luxury bathrooms throughout, so Spike had little trouble showing his mates where the nearest one was located. Before they set off on their own, Spike gave them a quick crash course on how modern plumbing worked.

The last thing anyone needed to deal with right now was a flooded bathroom. He already felt guilty enough about having to inform the driver about how Ember lost her cookies all over the expensive upholstery. His mother probably wouldn’t be too happy about it, but at least this was a genuine accident and a seat cover was something that could be replaced with relative ease.

With nothing better to do but wait until the girls were finished, Spike headed to the kitchen in order to fix himself something to drink. Princess Twilight was a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado, so she kept her pantry stocked with the finest varieties of beans available. The Dragon Lord himself had brewed the magical caffeinated elixir for his sister enough times that his skills were comparable to some of most seasoned baristas in Equestria.

In no time at all, Spike was enjoying a steaming hot cup of Zebrican café au late. Before he could begin to savor the peace and quiet of the kitchen, the young man heard someone yawn quite loudly while they shuffled their feet across the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Trixie hobbling her way over to the coffee pot. Presumably, she too was there to enjoy a cup as well.

Her silvery-white hair was slightly disheveled and the only thing she was currently wearing was a thin, powder blue nightie and a pair of matching fuzzy slippers. The garment must have been made of silk because it left very little to the imagination while it hugged her petite form. Spike took a long, contemplative swig from his cup. The bombastic magician was often a pain in the ass to deal with personality wise, so Spike rarely brought up the topic of how pretty he thought she was. It would have only caused her to tease him and inflate her already larger than life ego.

After gulping down half of her cup, Trixie’s eyes gravitated towards Spike. “Trixie was unaware that an exotic entertainer was hired for her birthday celebration. You even went to the trouble of making her favorite coffee. What a pleasant surprise indeed! Although, Trixie must admit that it is a tad unorthodox for an entertainer to be nude upon arrival but she has absolutely no objections to this. Especially when you have such a scrumptious body ~”

“Uhh… Trixie, don’t you recognize me?”

Trixie sauntered over to Spike and ran her fingers along his abs. “Oooooh what fabulous muscles you have! And your scent is so… intoxicating~ Trixie doesn’t often say this, but you are one fine specimen of the male physique.”

“Look, I-I think you’re misunderstanding the situation here. I’m not a—”

Trixie silenced Spike with a kiss to the lips while she pressed herself against his chest. If he wasn’t certain of it before, it was glaringly obvious at this point that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath her nightie. Trixie then slid her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes so that she could get close to his ear.

“Would you, perhaps, be interested in having a little late morning fun?” Trixie whispered suggestively.

“TRIXIE, WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME ARE YOU DOING?!!”

Luckily for Spike, Starlight Glimmer arrived at the opportune moment to save him from Trixie’s antics. The Dragon Lord let out a quiet sigh of relief because he honestly wasn’t sure that he could have resisted Trixie’s offer had things gone on any longer.

“If you must know, Trixie is simply making the most of her birthday present.”

Starlight’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“It is against Trixie’s code of ethics to have sex with an unwilling partner. However, as you can so plainly see, his prodigious girth stands erect with desire due to the unparalleled beauty and womanly charm of the Great and Powerful Trrrrixe!”

Starlight felt her cheeks redden when she directed her attention towards Spike’s waist to see what her friend was going on about. The young Dragon Lord blushed profusely in kind when he finally glanced down and became acutely aware of his excitement. Seeing little point in covering up, Spike let out an awkward chuckle and tried his best to act nonchalant about it.

“Trixie, no one hired any exotic entertainers for your birthday.”

The magician blinked owlishly. “They… didn’t?”

“NO! Don’t you recognize Spike? He’s been living with Twilight for years.”

Trixie rubbed her chin in thought. “Oh! You mean that lanky whelp of a manservant who followed Princess Twilight around all the time, doing her busy work?”

“C’mon, I wasn’t that bad…”

Starlight sighed. “That’s not a very polite way of remembering him, but essentially yes.”

“You must be mistaken, Glimmy. There’s no way in Tartarus that those two could possibly be the same person!”

Starlight rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s because he went off to the Lost Continent for a few months to reconnect with his people. Isn’t that right, Spike?”

“Yeah, most of the muscle I put on was from all the training I did in preparation for the Gauntlet of Fire. It’s essentially a contest that determines who becomes the next ruler of the Wyvertii. I managed to win the contest, so that makes me the new Dragon Lord.”

Trixie performed an elegant curtsy. “Lord Spike, Trixie sincerely apologizes for any disrespect she may have shown you earlier. She was simply unaware of your grand and noble status!”

“Seriously, don’t sweat it. I might be a ruler now, but you don’t need to go out of your way with the titles and all of that formal stuff. I prefer being treated like a regular guy.”

“Is that so,” Trixie mused before gesturing her hand towards his waist, “Well, Trixie is absolutely certain of one thing: she is more than willing to prostrate herself before your majesty and beg that she be thoroughly subjugated by your mighty specter. What say you, Milord?”

Unbeknownst to the trio residing in the kitchen, Ember and Delmira had just finished their bath and were in the process of drying themselves off when they happened to come upon the scene. Both of the girls immediately noticed their mate’s obvious erection but instead of assessing what was going on first, Ember reacted by angrily ripping her towel in half.

“What is he doing with that woman?! We leave him alone for twenty minutes and—”

“Now, now don’t go jumping conclusions just yet. I know what it looks like, but please try to give Spike the benefit of the doubt. Men at his age tend to have a difficult time controlling their arousal when they’re approached by an attractive female. You, of all people, should know that firsthand.”

“I know,” Ember huffed, “But I can’t help feeling pissed off! How’s come you aren’t upset about it?”

“Well, that’s simple. I’ve had thousands of years to practice dealing with my emotions.”

“Great. Are you implying that I need to control my temper too?”

Delmira put her arm around Ember’s shoulder. “Feeling jealous or angry over seeing someone you love cavorting with an attractive stranger is natural. Whether you allow those feelings to cloud your judgement is another matter entirely. Just take a deep breath, calm down, and see how things turn out. Then you can decide how to handle the situation.”

Ember inhaled deeply and let out a shuddering breath through her nose. “O-ok, I think that might have helped a little bit. Wait a second. It looks like he’s turning her down…”

“See, what did I tell you? I know it can be difficult at times, but you have to be willing to place your trust in Spike. We all have our flaws, Ember. But I sincerely believe that he’s trying his best to stay faithful to us. Although, I can’t say that I blame him for getting excited. She looks like she’d be quite the frisky little minx in bed~”

Ember rolled her eyes. “C’mon let’s go introduce ourselves.”

Author's Notes:

I apologize for the lengthy interval between chapters. It took me way longer than than expected to publish a version that I was satisfied with. I must have revised this at least half a dozen times before settling on a final draft. The next chapter will focus on Spike & the Girls meeting the denizens of Ponyville and maybe a little bit of adventure/action thrown in.

Just in case anyone was curious: here is what I imagine Luna's Uniform to look like.