Spike sighed as he looked up at the moon, its sight filling him with a number of conflicting and strange emotions. Several weeks had passed since his reawakening, and yet he was still struggling to come to grips with the strange new world he found himself in. The time at which he woke up and went to sleep were the most obvious changes, but they weren't the ones that bothered him. After all, he had always been a night owl, and with his draconic heritage seeing in the dark was easy for him.

Rather it was all the smaller details that continued to plague him, leaving him feeling uneasy and strangely lonely in a way. Everyone he talked to liked different books, had experienced a different childhood, and had a largely alien culture. Sure, there were some passing similarities, such as the fact that this was still Ponyville, but those resemblances served as a reminder that this wasn't his Ponyville.

The dragon sighed again, his arms hanging limp about his sides as he looked around the street, observing the many different people who filled the town even at such an early, or late hour. He was still finding it difficult to the proper vernacular, as it was both early, yet the sun had just gone down. Shaking his head and dismissing the odd train of thought, Spike continued to stroll down the street, watching the various inhabitants he passed by.

The first thing he noticed were a pair of minotaurs who stood at the entrance to their tall, stone home with smiles on their faces. They both kept a close eye on a third, much younger minotaur who was trotting nervously to the edge of their property. He was young, probably no older than ten or twelve, if Spike’s reference books were anything to go by. He also seemed to be ready to go to school, as he wore a backpack and what looked like a simple uniform.

Did they even have the kind of schools Spike had heard so much about? Spike himself had never gone to one, but the fact that they may not have the same kind of education system as the one he knew left him feeling strange. What else was different here?

Spike silently ruminated on this question as he passed the child and his parents by.

As he walked, Spike slowly left the more residential area of town behind with stands, stalls, and shops suddenly popping up after he crossed into the town’s center. Here the changes were the most obvious and most numerous as strange sights, sounds, and smells assaulted the dragon’s senses. Where before he would have smelt fresh produce, heard the sweet sound of common Equish mixed with music, and seen many pastel-colored ponies, now things were different.

Much different.

For one, the familiar smells were gone, replaced by strange aromas of open air food wagons selling exotic meals which Spike had never even heard of before. Sure, the general scent of the market was still there, but it was too different, as there was very little of that he recognized. Applejack’s stand was curiously absent, though the mushroom vendor and the mineral salesman which flanked her usual spot were still there. The sight of them made Spike sigh and turn away, the dragon quickly maneuvering his way through the crowd in the direction of a small park.

It was all too much to take in, and though he had left the house with the intention to better familiarize himself with the town, he felt as though he had already failed. It was just so overwhelming to the dragon, who only saw what had used to be, rather than what now stood in its place. Like the stone tower, an aptly named building that now housed the mason’s guild, but which used to be the location of Spike’s favorite restaurant, The Gourmet.

There were other, smaller things like how his favorite bookstore now served as a multifamily dwelling with several entrances sprouting from the now ancient stone structure. Or how the town hall had been destroyed and rebuilt into a much boxier, more utilitarian structure at some point.

Spike frowned, wondering how Twilight handled it all, only to instantly remember that this wasn't his Twilight, no matter how much they had in common. Dusk was a different pony, one that had spent her life cloistered and away from society, meaning that this wasn't such a large change to her. Indeed, it seemed almost freeing to the undead pony, who was merely happy that she was no longer looked at in fear.

Sure, there were still a few of those who viewed her with apprehension or suspicion, but to most of the town she was simply another oddity. Yet another strange being who had washed up on their chaotic shores looking for salvation and a place to call home. And they had accepted her, as they had accepted Spike, though the dragon found it difficult to accept them in turn.

As he thought about it, Spike couldn't help but wish that he had lost his memories, as maybe then this would be easier on him. The dragon quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought with a vehement conviction. To forget would mean abandoning Twilight, to let her memory pass on and to forget all that she had taught him. As much as it pained the dragon to remember, and to feel those memories clash with his current reality, he would simply have to deal with it.

Looking around, Spike found that he had inadvertently wandered to his destination which lay just north of the market. The green space wasn't the biggest, but it was dense, with bushes, trees, and flowers filling most of the space. Though chaotic upon first glance, there was an underlying order to the park that Spike had come to appreciate, one that soothed his nerves whenever he trod its well-maintained path.

He glanced past the plaque which marked this as the former site of the solar guard’s barracks and also told of the battle which had occurred here. One that had apparently seen the deaths of several innocents, as well as soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Even just thinking about this apparently ancient event left Spike feeling even more uneasy, as he was still processing the fact that an entire war had been fought right here in Ponyville.

Extending a hand, Spike caressed the soft leaves of a thorny bush that had red leaves, a small smile coming to his face. The forest may be different, but it was still beautiful, even if it was a little wild for Spike’s tastes. Pulling his hand back, he glanced over to the small, open area that served as his favorite thinking spot. Around it was a wall of wood and undergrowth, obscuring those who sat upon the small bench within it from all, save for anyone who flew directly overhead.

It was supposedly called a moon door, the foliage specifically cut in a manner to allow the moonlight to shine down upon those who sat on the bench. Spike didn't care for the spiritual or political implications, it was just really nice, and was out of the way from most foot traffic. Unfortunately for him, it was occupied this time around.

“Derpy? What are you doing here?” Spike asked.

The strange old bat pony was staring up at the moon, her void-filled eyes gazing unblinking upon the lunar surface. She didn't seem to notice him at first, but after a moment she nodded as if confirming something the moon had said and turned to Spike.

“Ahh, young Spike. How are you this fine evening?” she whispered, her voice echoing slightly despite the fact that such a thing should be impossible.

Spike shrugged. “Not bad, I suppose. What are you doing out here on your own?”

“Just telling a story,” Derpy replied with a smile, her black eyes flickering with an odd intensity.

“Oh? And how is that going for you?” Spike replied.

This time it was Derpy’s chance to shrug, and the aged bat pony turned back up to the sky, an oddly pensive expression crossing her face. “Strangely. I fear that things are going slightly off course for the moment, but I’m sure it won't be long until my tale is righted once more,” she replied.

Spike nodded slowly. “Well, don't take too long. I doubt Luna has a lot of patience for a long-winded tale.”

The bat pony chuckled. “Oh Spike. This tale will take my entire life to tell properly, and she is not the one who's listening. You are.”

The dragon gave the pony an odd look. “Err, I won't keep you too long then. Have fun with your story.”

Derpy smiled, her attention never wavering from the moon above her. “Don't worry, young Spike. Telling stories is my most treasured joy in this life.”

Spike frowned briefly before continuing down the path, leaving the strange, starry-eyed mare to look up at the moon and return to whispering to the celestial object. The dragon was tempted to contemplate the strange pony and her odd fascination with talking to the moon, but brushed that thought aside as well. After all, he had experience in having a friend who defied logical explanation, and by now he knew well not to think too long on the subject.

Maybe he’d ask Dusk about it once she returned from the undertower and completed her self-imposed mission to help Applejack’s family.

“I wonder what Sweetie Belle is up to…” Spike mused, his loneliness driving his thoughts towards an idea he considered more and more as time went on.

With his thinking spot occupied, and the library containing too many memories, there wasn't a place for him. Except of course, by Sweetie Belle’s side.

The arachne always seemed to calm the dragon, and despite her strange appearance, she was pleasant to talk to, and Spike considered her a good friend. The dragon felt his heart begin to flutter in his chest and his cheeks grow hot just thinking about her. Banishing such strange thoughts weren't easy, as despite her strangeness, some part of Spike still yearned to be with her.

“She probably doesn't even like you,” Spike muttered to himself. “She's part spider and part pony, two things you are not.”

The argument felt sound in the dragon’s head, but once it left his lips, it sounded hollow and the longer he thought about it the more confused he got. Her appearance unnerved him and also excited him, the exotic nature of it all making him more than a little curious. It was a strange, and conflicting mess of emotions, and they only grew more distracting the longer he thought about her.

He knew better than to judge based on appearance, but that didn't get rid of the feeling of repulsion that flared within him. Spike sighed as he turned a corner, passing by a trio of chatting changelings who gave him a sidelong glance, which the dragon didn't notice. Breathing deeply, Spike nodded confidently, having made up his mind while he had walked across town.

“She's a good friend, and that's okay,” Spike whispered to himself.

It still rang a little hollow to him, but it was better, and it at least put his conflicting thoughts to rest, for the moment anyway.

As he walked, Spike didn't pay his surroundings much attention, his gaze fixed firmly on what lay ahead of him. The many strange and wondrous sights he had witnessed since his reawakening were little more than flickers in his periphery. The dragon was on a mission, one that may not require his full attention, but was going to get it regardless.

Upon seeing the boutique in the distance, Spike began to walk slightly faster, his heart beating a little quicker. He scampered up to the door and slipped inside, hastily looking around for any sign of Sweetie Belle. He did not find the beautiful arachne, though he did notice a rather large female griffon who was standing across the counter to Rarity, a bag of gems in one hand and a dress in the other.

Not wanting to interrupt what sounded like a heated discussion, Spike distracted himself by looking over the interior of the boutique, something he hadn't done much of before. The dragon was surprised to find that there were clothes for all sorts of creatures, both large, small, common, and exotic. Various sizes of draconic clothing could even be found, though that particular section was small, likely given the fact that most dragons would need something custom made given their wide variety of proportions.

Still, it was enough to make Spike wonder if he should get some sort of shirt or something similar made for him. He tugged at the backpack he had thrown over his shoulder an hour ago, silently wondering if it made him look young. His more rounded features already did that, and the dragon was keenly aware of the fact that most ponies thought he was a child when in fact he was almost an adult.

Maybe a coat of some kind, Spike thought to himself. At least that would have some pockets so I could keep my bits, err, gems in without having to worry about losing them.

The sound of footsteps alerted him to the fact that Rarity was done with her transaction, and the dragon turned and walked up to the rather exasperated-looking arachne. “I hope she didn't give you a hard time,” Spike greeted, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

Rarity sighed and shook her head. “That girl always tries to get a discount for the silliest reasons. I know that bartering isn't exactly frowned upon, but I’m not about to let something go for half off just because she doesn't like the smell of it.”

“People really do that?” Spike asked.

“I hate to generalize, but it's usually griffons who are so blatant,” Rarity muttered before clearing her throat. “But where are my manners? How can I help you today, young Spike?”

“Well, I was thinking about maybe getting a vest or a coat maybe? I want something a little more mature-looking than a backpack,” Spike replied, jostling his bag in emphasis.

“A vest certainly would suit you, perhaps one that was a deep, vibrant green.” Rarity tapped her chin, as she stared intently at the dragon’s chest. “Yes. Now that I think about it, a vest would be perfect for you.”

“Also, I was wondering if Sweetie Belle was busy?” Spike inquired nervously.

The arachne’s contemplative expression vanished, and was replaced by one that was far more inquisitive, Rarity’s eyes boring into Spike. “Why? What did you have in mind?” Rarity asked pointedly.

Spike looked down and swung his arms anxiously. “Oh, I was hoping to talk to her about some stuff. That's all.”

“Like what kind of stuff?” Rarity pressed, the arachne leaning forward and peering down on the short dragon.

Who gulped. “I was hoping if she could tell me more about the town and its history.”

The spider pony glared down at the increasingly nervous dragon for several seconds before nodding slowly, her ears twitching. “She will be down in a moment. Don't leave town and have her back before dinner. Understood?”

Spike nodded eagerly. “Yes ma’am.”

Rarity waved a dismissive hoof. “And please don't call me ma’am. It makes me feel old.”

“Oh, and what about the vest? What do I owe you?” Spike asked.

“Show her a good time and treat her well, and I’ll consider your debt paid in full,” Rarity declared.

Spike nodded again. “Don't worry, Rarity. I will!”

“See to it that you do,” Rarity warned.

The sound of insectoid limbs skittering down the stairs turned their attention to the landing, where Sweetie Belle now stood, a frown on her face. “Rarity, you aren't intimidating anymore of my friends, are you?” she questioned, jabbing a hoof at the other arachne.

“I am not,” Rarity declared. “I was just talking business with our associate here. Isn't that right, Spike?”

Spike gulped, the dragon quickly finding himself drawn between the silently glowering Rarity and the inquisitive young Sweetie Belle. “Err yeah. I was gonna get a vest, so I don't have to carry around this ugly backpack whenever I want to buy something,” he replied, donning an awkward and all together unconvincing grin.

Sweetie Belle glared up at her sister, her eyes narrowing for a second before Sweetie Belle sighed. “Fine. But if I hear you were being mean to another one of my friends, I’m gonna be so mad.”

Rarity smiled and gently pulled the younger arachne into a brief hug, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Don't you worry about that, dear sister. Now go have fun,” she urged.

Sweetie Belle blushed slightly and quickly skittered out from under her sister’s grasp. “How long can I stay out for?”

“Just be back for dinner and don't go far, okay?” Rarity replied.

The younger arachne nodded and turned to Spike. “So, what did you have planned? Did you want to hang out with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo again?”

Spike glanced up to Rarity before quickly looking away. “Err maybe. I was hoping we could just talk for a bit. Maybe go for a walk.”

“O-oh,” Sweetie Belle muttered, a blush coming to her cheeks. “Could we get some snacks while on our walk?”

Spike nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. Let's just get outside first.”

Sweetie Belle glanced over to her sister, who was organizing her counter and doing her best to look busy. “Good thinking,” Sweetie Belle remarked.

Together the pair trotted out of the store and into the street, wherein they both immediately relaxed. “Your sister is scary,” Spike whispered, a shudder running down his spine.

Sweetie Belle sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry about that. She’s just… protective, is all. So, what did you want to talk about?”

Spike had enough tact to ignore the rather blatant attempt to switch the subject, and began walking, Sweetie Belle at his side. “Oh, just the town, ya know? It feels like only yesterday everything was different, and now… it’s like a whole new world,” Spike exclaimed.

The arachne glanced down at her slightly shorter friend curiously. “Why don't you talk to Twi--I mean Dusk, if you wanted to know more about the town? I overheard her and Rarity talking about history just a few nights ago.”

“It's still weird between us,” Spike admitted while looking down at the road, unable to meet his friend's gaze. “She looks and talks too much like my Twilight.”

Sweetie Belle winced. “Oh right. Sorry, I should have thought of that.”

“It's okay. It's just weird and well, I need to get out of the library more often, you know?” Spike offered.

The arachne nodded as they passed by a group of female trolls who were all gathered around a stroller wherein a much younger troll lay sleeping. “I know what you mean. Rarity has good intentions, but sometimes it can get a little stuffy in the boutique,” Sweetie Belle admitted.

“Dusk can be a little like that too sometimes, but she always gets awkward whenever she worries about me,” Spike added.

“This is depressing. Can we talk about something fun instead?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Spike nodded eagerly. “Yes please. Anything is better than moping.”

“How about… Oh, I know! What kind of snacks do you like?” Sweetie Belle offered.

“Anything sweet, but rubies are my favorite.” Spike rubbed his belly. “They taste a lot like strawberries, only even sweeter and with a hint of cinnamon.”

“Woah, that sounds pretty good,” Sweetie Belle remarked. “I wish I could eat gems.”

“Hey maybe I could make you something that tastes similar to it,” Spike exclaimed with a grin. “I am a pretty good cook, you know.”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle asked, her eyes sparkling. “How did you get good at cooking? What's your secret?”

Spike blinked, temporarily taken aback by the sudden intensity of his friend’s question, nearly walking into a changeling who was busy peering into the window of a nearby bookstore. “Well, my Twilight wasn't very good at cooking, so when I was really young I decided I would help her by taking over for her,” Spike replied, a wistful expression crossing his face. “We almost always ate out because she would start cooking, only to get distracted and end up burning everything.”

Sweetie Belle’s blush grew slightly larger. “O-oh. Really?”

“Yeah, it was really bad,” Spike continued. “One time she managed to burn a milkshake. She said she was trying to use a spell to make it taste better.”

The arachne’s cheeks slowly grew redder still. “What a weird coincidence that I’m sure no one else has ever done before or after,” she muttered half under her breath.

Spike nodded, not noticing his friend’s sudden discomfort. “Totally. I doubt anyone could be as bad a cook as her. Still, it wasn't all terrible. It helped me find a hobby I enjoy.”

“Well that's good. Oh look, there's an ice cream place. We should grab something from there,” Sweetie Belle pointed out, the arachne already moving before Spike could answer.

“Oh uh sure. Ice cream sounds great,” Spike muttered, the dragon scampering after his friend.

The two beings ate their ice cream in relative silence, each one trodding the same ill-used path which went around the very edge of Ponyville. Spike enjoyed his vanila ruby blast, while Sweetie Belle relished her chocolate cockroach crunch. Spike eyed his friend a little cautiously as she bit down on a rather large concentration of roaches and shuddered in delight.

Swallowing his mouthful of vanilla and ruby goodness, Spike looked up to his friend. “Is that actually good?” he asked.

“Sho goob,” Sweetie Belle replied before swallowing. “It's super crunchy, sweet and juicy. Here, try some.”

Spike recoiled in disgust as the cockroach-filled cone of ice cream was pushed into his face. “No, thank you.”

“Aww, come on, try it. I promise you’ll like it,” Sweetie Belle pressed.

Spike winced and looked from his friend’s pleading face and then back down to the partially eaten ice cream cone which had insect legs poking out of it. “I guess a little bite couldn't hurt,” he muttered.

Leaning forward, the dragon slowly took a bite of the ice cream cone, immediately chomping down on a chunk of roach which flooded his mouth with its insides. Yet he wasn't completely repulsed by it and was only a little weirded out, as the flavour itself wasn't totally disgusting. Chewing quickly, the dragon swallowed it down, finding that other than the texture, it was fairly good.

“See, I told you so,” Sweetie Belle replied, the arachne eagerly returning to her ice cream cone as the pair resumed their walk once more, with Spike stuck contemplating what other assumptions of his may be wrong.

To their left the raw, untamed wilderness of the forest proper rose like a wall of green, while on their right, the town sprawled out into the distance. Beneath their feet was a small but well-worn path, one that occasionally had garbage cans and picnic tables along it. The contrast between the complete chaos of the forest and the relatively ordered chaos of the town was endlessly fascinating to Spike and was the main reason the dragon liked the path so much.

That and few other creatures cared to walk it, allowing Spike to be alone with the arachne and his conflicting feelings.

“So. I was curious about your people’s history,” Spike suddenly began. “Dusk mentioned that there was a time when arachne were unicorns, but she quickly got distracted on some tangent before she could explain what happened.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “You’d have to ask Rarity for the whole story, but from what I remember a bunch of unicorns went underground to try and find some gem that supposedly made whoever touched it immortal.”

“It's always after some quest for immortality… Wait a second. How did they even know about this gem in the first place, if it was deep underground?” Spike inquired before taking a bite of his ice cream.

The arachne shrugged. “Supposedly it was after the mistress told them, but I don't know if that's true. Either way a bunch of families got together in secret before descending down into this super deep cave. Then they set up camp in this huge cavern place and began sending out teams into the tunnels.”

“How big was this cavern anyway?” Spike pressed.

“I dunno. It must have been really big though, a few hundred ponies were supposedly all down there and they still had room to grow stuff and build houses,” Sweetie Belle replied.

“Woah, it must have been really huge,” Spike murmured.

The arachne nodded. “It was big enough to have a small lake, and they could even farm mushrooms and stuff down there. Oh yeah, and there was only one way out. They called it the throat, and it was super long and narrow.” Sweetie Belle winced. “I probably should have started with that.”

“Okay, so a bunch of ponies were in this cavern with only one exit. Then what?” Spike continued.

“They got trapped,” Sweetie Belle replied. “The throat collapsed, and with their only exit now completely destroyed, there was nothing they could do.”

“That musta sucked,” Spike muttered.

Sweetie Belle nodded as she bit off a chunk of her cone and chewed before swallowing. “There was like, a whole bunch of them down there, but with no way out they were kinda stuck. I think there was some guy who was in charge of the whole place, and he kept everyone together, but I can't remember.” She shrugged. “Either way, they had to rely on what they could find and what they could grow down there.”

“Which probably wasn't much,” Spike pointed out.

“Yeah. They couldn't farm much more than mushrooms, and they were still ponies, so they didn't eat meat or even bugs,” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “So anyway, there wasn't enough to eat, and if they wanted to survive, they were going to have to find more food. There were also plenty of bugs and stuff, ‘cause apparently there were deep, but super thin tunnels that went all the way to the surface. So a ton of beetles and stuff apparently went down there to lay their eggs before climbing back up.”

“So they started eating bugs and turned into spider ponies?” Spike asked.

“Sort of,” Sweetie Belle replied, the arachne chomping down on the last of her ice cream cone and swallowing noisily. “In their dreams they talked to the night mistress and through her they learned that because of just how much damage had been done to the throat, it would be years before they could dig them out. So the mistress offered them an alternative, one that would ensure they lived.”

Spike munched on the last of his own ice cream cone. “So then they got turned into spider ponies?” he asked.

Sweetie Belle nodded. “Apparently the night mistress had a connection with the forest, and was able to convince it to change them. They weren't very happy about this at first, but they would survive, and in time they came to accept what had happened to them. They were also super thankful for what the night mistress did, as she apparently kept a close eye on their dreams, helping them a lot.”

“Woah, that's intense. I wonder if this happened while Twilight was her student.” Spike paused. “If it was, then she certainly didn't tell me about all this.”

Sweetie Belle shrugged. “I don't know when it was. Noone really bothers to keep track of that kind of thing.”

A vein bulged on Spike’s forehead. “Okay. Now I think I understand why Dusk was so annoyed with this place when she first got here.”

“I don't understand what the big deal is. Who cares when it happens?” Sweetie Belle replied.

“I suppose.” Spike sighed. “Okay, so then what happened? I presume they got out after some time.”

“The night mistress personally dug them out and helped them get adjusted to how much things had changed while they had been trapped,” Sweetie Belle continued, her gaze lingering over a particularly bright bunch of flowers which lay next to the path. “They were really grateful and ended up helping Luna out when she went crazy.”

“You mean Celestia?” Spike asked.

Sweetie Belle shot the dragon a harsh, but brief glare. “Don't say that name around here, Spike. It's rude.”

“Oh, uh okay,” Spike muttered. “Sorry, I didn't know.”

“It's fine, just be wary of who you say that around. Some people get really angry about that kind of thing,” Sweetie Belle warned.

“Thanks for the warning,” Spike replied.

Together the pair walked in silence for a little while, both locked in their own thoughts. Sweetie Belle seemed relaxed for the most part and was just enjoying the scenery, while Spike was busy pondering what he had learned. It was an interesting story, but ultimately it didn't occupy his thoughts for too long as he had something much more important to ponder.

Namely, a particularly intriguing arachne, and his own conflicting feelings for her.

“So…” Spike began nervously. “What's Rarity like? Dusk doesn't talk about her friends too much, and I only really see Rarity when I want to hang out with you.”

“She's the best big sister I could ask for,” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, only to frown. “Even if she is a little overprotective sometimes.”

“I guess that's understandable, given what happened.” Spike winced. “Sorry, that sounded better in my head.”

“It's okay,” Sweetie Belle replied quickly, her hoof touching Spike’s shoulder. “I was really young when they passed away, so I don't even really remember them. Rarity’s been more like my mom than my real mom.”

Spike smiled, his mind conjuring images of his Twilight Sparkle and all the happy times they had shared together. “I know what you mean. I was raised as Twilight’s brother for a little bit, but she got so protective of me when I was little that I ended up calling her mom all the time.”

Sweetie Belle blushed. “R-really? What did she say?”

Spike blushed as well, looking away while gripping the straps of his backpack. “She was nervous at first, but she talked to her and then Twilight just kind of accepted it and treated me like I was her own.”

“Hey uh, Spike, do you mind if I ask you a question? And you have to be honest,” Sweetie Belle asked suddenly.

Spike nodded. “Of course.”

“Do you think it's weird if I think of Rarity like that?” Sweetie Belle all but whispered, the arachne pressing her hooves together nervously. “I know she's my sister, but she’s taken care of me ever since I was really young, and sometimes I even think of her like… well, my mom.”

The dragon looked up at the vulnerable girl and couldn't help but feel for her. Despite how different they were, this was something they had in common, a problem that Spike had gone through and had come out the other side stronger for it. As he thought about it, something clicked in the dragon’s mind, though he wouldn't understand even what that decision was until later.

“I don't think it's weird at all,” Spike declared. “It may not be normal, but I mean, we’re all kinda strange, right?”

“Spiiike, that's not helping. I know I’m weird,” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with a pout.

“I meant that we are all different. So what if your sister acts more like your mom than your sister? It's definitely not a bad thing, so who cares?” Spike explained.

Sweetie Belle frowned and looked away, her gaze becoming more pensive. “I guess so. Maybe I should talk with her later.”

Spike nodded. “Be honest and open with your feelings, and I’m sure it will all work out in the end.”

Sweetie Belle smirked and glanced down at her friend. “When did you become so wise? This isn't Chitterax playing another prank, is it?”

Spike snorted, causing a short puff of smoke to shoot from his nostrils. “I can be smart sometimes, you know. Plus I’d like to see a changeling eat gems.”

“I know, Spike. I’m just teasing you,” Sweetie Belle replied with a smile, the arachne squeezing her friend’s shoulder lightly.

Desperate to change the subject, Spike looked around for a conversation starter, only to notice a small, fairly new-looking trail which branched off of the one they walked, and went into the forest. “Woah, I wonder where that goes,” Spike muttered, pointing to the path.

“Someone even left flowers behind,” Sweetie Belle remarked, pointing down to the bright red flowers which were spaced evenly all down the path. “Wanna check it out?”

“What do you think the flowers mean?” Spike asked as he picked up one of them and noted that it was a rather pristine rose.

“I don't know. They are pretty though,” Sweetie Belle replied.

Spike turned and handed the flower to his friend. “H-here.”

Sweetie Belle blushed and gently took the flower from him and placed it in her hair. “What do you think?”

Spike smiled. “I think you look radiant.”

Sweetie Belle blushed profusely while looking down. “I don't think anyone has ever called me that before…It's kind of nice.”

The dragon cleared his throat and extended a hand towards the path. “Shall we?”

Sweetie Belle nodded, the arachne walking a little closer to the dragon as they passed between a pair of trees which grew over the path, creating an arch.

The path beneath their feet was soft and new, but had evidently been created by a careful hand as the various nearby plants had all been cut back to better allow someone to pass between them with ease. Spike occasionally reached down, and plucked another rose from the ground, until he had amassed a small bouquet of them. The thorns couldn't pierce his tough, scaley exterior, and he made a note to put them in water once he reached the boutique.

“Who do you think did all this?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“I don't know. But I hope we didn't wreck someone’s romantic date,” Spike replied.

“That would be terrible,” Sweetie Belle admitted, the arachne glancing over her shoulder. “Should we go back?”

“Lets just see what's around the corner. Maybe someone left it behind,” Spike offered.

Sweetie Belle smiled and stepped a little closer to Spike. “Sounds good,” she declared.

Together the two trod the last bit of the path, turning right at the end and emerging into a small, private grove. Above them the trees parted, allowing them to see the moon in all of its beauty. Around them, the trees and shrubs had been pruned back, leaving just enough space for them to enjoy a little privacy without feeling claustrophobic. Below them were numerous rose petals which had been spread all over the grove, and a small blanket, which lay at the very center.

“Woah. This is really cool,” Sweetie Belle muttered as she looked around.

“It is kinda nice.” Spike admitted, the dragon glancing down to the simple white blanket which had seemingly been left behind just for them. “I hope we aren't ruining someone’s surprise.”

“I’m sure they’d understand. Besides, you can see the moon and the stars perfectly from here.” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, her hoof pointing up to the hole in the canopy. “Hey look, it’s Rockhoof’s belt.”

“Would you look at that,” Spike muttered. “I guess it couldn't hurt if we hung around for a little while.”

Sweetie Belle sat upon the blanket, her legs tucking out of the way and leaving enough room for Spike to sit close beside her. Something he awkwardly did, noting that the blanket was only just big enough for the both of them and forcing him to sit very close to the arachne. Something Sweetie Belle didn't seem to notice, as the girl was too busy staring up at the sky with wide, wonder-filled eyes.

“It's not usually this clear out,” Spike pointed out.

“This is perfect,” Sweetie Belle muttered.

The dragon smiled as he looked up at the night sky as well, his many astronomy lessons returning to mind as he studied the stars. Together the pair sat in silence, slowly leaning against one another as they gazed upon the majesty of the clear night. Time passed slowly for the pair, who both simply sat there in wonder, the many bright stars twinkling high above them.

“Thanks, by the way,” Spike whispered.

“For what?” Sweetie Belle asked, turning to the dragon.

“For hanging out with me. You and your friends have really helped me get used to all this change.” Spike blushed. “Though I guess it's mostly you doing the helping.”

“It's been nice having someone I can talk to about that kind of thing. Scootaloo isn't the best when it comes to serious stuff, and Apple Bloom has had a lot on her plate recently,” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with a small, shy smile.

“Don't mention it. I’m just happy to help.” Spike replied, only to gulp. “H-hey, Sweetie?”

The arachne blinked and looked down at the drake. “Yes, Spike?”

“Um, there was something I was meaning to ask you,” Spike continued, the dragon looking down as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Oh? Like what?” Sweetie Belle asked eagerly, her cheeks becoming bright red as her heart thumped in her chest.

“Well, it's just we’ve been having a lot of fun recently, and I really enjoy the time we spent together,” Spike murmured, his own blush growing hotter by the second.

“I feel the same way,” Sweetie Belle whispered, her hoof slowly reaching towards the dragon’s hand.

“And I heard about this big play thing happening in a month, and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me,” Spike exclaimed, his fear suddenly getting the better of him and making him change his mind at the last second. “As a friend.”

Sweetie Belle’s hoof stopped cold, and her heart sank. “Spike, I-” she began, only to be cut off by a sudden crash.

Small branches and dozens of leaves rained down around them, and a second later a tall, imposing black form landed before them. Though obviously a changeling, she was much taller than any Spike had seen before, and though her stump of a horn did much to diminish her visage, she was still quite imposing. She towered over both of the teenagers by a considerable amount, and her scarred form only added to her aura of intimidation.

“Wrong answer!” she shouted before jabbing a hoof at Spike. “You, tell her that you like her.”

Spike gulped and looked over to Sweetie Belle. “Uh, I like you?”

The changeling nodded before pointing to Sweetie Belle. “You, say it back.”

“Uh I like you?” Sweetie Belle nervously replied.

The changeling nodded before pointing to Spike once more. “And you want to ask her out on a date, not as friends.”

“Uh…” Spike turned to the other being and shrugged. “I want to take you out to that play thing, not as friends.”

“And what do you have to say to that?” the changeling asked, peering intently at the arachne.

“That would be nice,” Sweetie Belle muttered, blushing hard.

“Great. Now kiss,” demanded the changeling.

Both Spike and Sweetie Belle blushed even harder and looked at one another hesitantly, both silently wondering if they should risk the strange changeling’s wrath.

“I said kiss!” shouted the changeling.

Spike lurched forward and awkwardly planted his lips against Sweetie Belle’s before pulling back a second later, both teenagers blushing furiously. “S-sorry,” Spike stuttered.

The changeling sighed. “You are not supposed to apologize after your first kiss. You know what? Whatever. This was still a huge success.”

With that, she turned and began to walk away, her ratty black cloak billowing behind her.

“I don't know why Cadance always makes this matchmaking thing sound so difficult. It's super easy,” muttered the changeling. “Wait. Wasn't I supposed to be watching her? Whatever, I probably didn't miss anything important, she was only at that smelly farm.” The changeling paused and looked around, only now realizing that the two teenagers were still staring at her. “Oh uh, go about your night.”

“Oookay then,” Spike murmured as the changeling disappeared around the bend.

Together the teenagers sat in silence for several seconds before Sweetie Belle suddenly spoke up.

“Did you really mean that?” she asked nervously.

“Y-yeah,” Spike admitted. “I was just too scared to say anything until well… you know.”

“I really do want to go on that date,” Sweetie Belle added.

“Really?” Spike asked, looking up at the taller being with hope in his eyes.

“Totally,” Sweetie Belle replied.

Spike beamed, only to shrink slightly. “Oh, and sorry about that terrible kiss.”

“It's okay,” Sweetie Belle muttered, her hoof brushing against Spike’s hand. “Maybe we should forget that kiss even happened and try again.”

“You're not scared that she’ll come back?” Spike asked, his hand gripping Sweetie Belle’s hoof.

“She was weird. But I think she was harmless.” The arachne blushed. “Unless you don't want to try again.”

Spike quickly shook his head. “Oh no, I definitely do,” he declared hastily.

Sweetie Belle smiled and leaned towards him, allowing the dragon to kiss her again, this time far less awkwardly. The teenagers closed their eyes and held each other close, remaining there for several seconds before pulling back. They exchanged a brief and heated look before blushing and turning their gazes skyward once more.

“That was nice,” Sweetie Belle whispered.

“It was,” Spike agreed.

Maybe this new Ponyville wasn't so bad, Spike thought to himself.

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