The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Chapter 36 - Trust and Tears

Twilight used her magic to fix the couch and then she tenderly stretched a out a hoof to call the stallion over. "It's okay, you haven't done anything wrong Rayne. You are inside the castle here at the Crystal Empire. You were found unconscious outside and frozen to the bone. Since you're friends with all of us we brought you inside instead of leaving you to wake up alone at the hospital. Can you tell us how you ended up like that?"

Everyone seemed worried as his eyes still looked a bit panicked. But realizing he was making a scene Rayne quickly cleared his throat and stepped forward in front of Twilight. "I'm sorry, I honestly have no idea what happened to me last night. All I remember was being so very cold. And then I was here. I walked around the Crystal Empire for awhile but it was late so everything was closed. I couldn't find an inn or anything of the sort and I think maybe I got a little lost. The Crystal Heart was easy enough to locate though. I had never seen it before in person so I decided to take a look. But I only remember shivering as I got close to it and then I woke up here. I'm sorry for my behavior just now. I saw the guards and thought maybe I was under suspicion of being a burglar or something."

After his impromptu excuse he saw Cadence walk up to him with a warm and inviting smile. "As the ruler of this kingdom let me assure you that could not be further from the truth. Your friends here have told me a bit about you and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Not wanting to be rude Rayne walked up and gently shook Cadence by her hoof. "The pleasure is mine Princess. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and looking after me in my time of need." Rayne made an effort to be charming as he adopted one of his more diplomatic tones. However, he made a point to try avoiding eye contact with Celestia whose presence was making his spine clench with anxiety. He could see that she intended to step up to him next but it was actually Flurry Heart who then came to his rescue.

"Ooof!" Rayne coughed out as the little foal flew out from Shining's arms and half hugged half tackled Rayne right in the chest. With instinct taking over he quickly reached out to catch her so that she wouldn't fall, forgetting entirely that she was already a proficient flier on her own. "Oh well hello there little one. My, aren't you just the cutest thing... You're bigger than I expected. Aww, what? Do you like my hair?" He asked, baby talking her as she pulled on his dark mane. He bounced the little girl in his arms a bit as she nommed on his wavy locks and he smiled adoringly at her while she giggled as if he didn't have a care in the world.

It wasn't until a few moments later that Rayne looked up realizing that a silence had fallen over the room. "Uh... what?" He asked, seeing that everypony was staring at him.

There were many giggling faces and snickering at his expense as Pinkie whispered out, "Awwwwww! Rayne you had one of the most genuine smiles that I have ever seen while you were playing with Flurry Heart! It was... it was beautiful!" She choked out while wiping a tear from her eye.

Rolling his eyes now Rayne just chuckled realizing everyone was laughing at him for looking a little less than manly but he knew it wasn't in a bad way. "Okay, alright. Har, har. So you've found my secret. I have a soft spot for kids."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash had to cover their faces while looking like they were about to crack up. Although Twilight and Celestia were giving him warm expressions. Cadence stepped up and placed a hoof on Flurry's back while saying, "Well I think that it is wonderful seeing her take such a liking to you."

Rayne just nodded back still with a smile on his face. But that didn't stop him from being the first one to notice when another Crystal Guard hurriedly rushed in through the door. He tapped Shining Armor on the shoulder before whispering something that quickly made the white stallion's eyes go wide. "Um excuse me, I hate to break up this tender moment but we have some more trouble to deal with. It seems that there is a problem with the envoy that was supposed to travel to the Dragon Lands."

Cadence clearly became annoyed but then she tossed her hair back to resume her princess duties which she knew had to take priority. "Very well. We will deal with that in a moment. But first, let's move ourselves out of this room. I would very much appreciate a change of scenery. Shining and I can travel to the guard station to deal with whatever the current trouble is and then maybe we can meet everypony down by the Crystal Heart?" She asked with a hopeful tone.

"I wouldn't mind a nice walk outside with my friends." Celestia commented.

Pinkie was next to add in, "And I have a hopping challenge with Rainbow Dash!"

"You better believe it!" The pegasus cheered back excitedly.

That was when Cadence returned a gentle smile back to Rayne. "You know, since my husband and I have some business to tend to, I can think of no pony better to look after Flurry Heart than a pleasure pony." He balked in surprise but she just winked at him. "You are supposed to be able to do anything, right? I'm sure that a little foalsitting for an hour or two wouldn't be too much for you."

Twilight then stepped forward with mouth open in panic as if she were having the opportunity taken away from her specifically. It was Shining who spoke up first though saying, "Darling, are you sure about this? We hardly know this pony after all."

"Oh I'm sure it will be fine. I'm a good judge of character. I fell for you when you were just a poindexter back in school, remember?" She chuckled as Shining Armor blushed seeing everypony else look at him curiously. "And besides, I'm sure that Rayne here will do all he can to treat our little one well. At the very least he can't do any worse than our guards." Now the two soldiers by the door turned away and blushed.

"I would be happy to." Rayne said as Flurry Heart flew out of his arms and started fluttering around him in circles.

"Well then, I guess that's that then." Cadence said and pulled a stuttering Shining Armor from the room. Turning to the now three guards which were crowding the doorway she commanded, "Please escort us to the guard house. We will talk about the current situation there." Immediately they saluted and turned to begin walking out the door.

Celestia was the first to follow saying, "We will meet you downstairs." Right after her was a bouncing Pinkie followed by Fluttershy casually walking behind.

That was when Rayne saw Twilight walk up to him twitching nervously as if about to have a complete melt down right in front of his face. "Okay so Rayne, if you are going to take care of Flurry Heart for any amount of time then there are a few things you need to know. First of all, even though she's an alicorn and she's powerful remember to be gentle with her because she's still a baby. She likes to teleport away to make you chase her if you don't hold her attention. Oh! Most important!" Suddenly she teleported away before teleporting back again with a stuffed snail in her hooves. "Here, this is her Whammy. She loves it! In fact, maybe you should just have all of her toys just in case!" Teleporting away again the purple alicorn returned with a small army of stuffed animals and plushie figurines.

But before she could even open her mouth again an orange set of hooves wrapped around her shoulders to pull her towards the door. "Now Twilight, don't you go bombarding poor Rayne here like that. We aren't gonna be gone all that long and I'm sure that he has everything under control." Applejack held on tight as Twilight struggled to stay in the room.

Very quickly Dash zoomed in to help while adding, "Look Twilight, we all know that you want to stay to play with Flurry Heart too. But for now let's just go outside with the others. Getting some fresh air will do us some good."

Rayne raised an eyebrow feeling confused as Twilight crossed her hooves and pouted while saying, "I am getting really tired of having my friends drag me away from places."

However once they were gone Rayne looked over to Flurry Heart who was now diving into and out of her pile of stuffed animals. "Well, alright then. I guess it's just us now."

Flapping her wings she landed down onto of her Whammy as if it were a beanbag chair and then just looked up to him curiously. "Aaabu- bfffft?"

"Right." He chuckled to himself as she just stared up at him expectantly. "Hmm, let's see. What to do?" He looked around the room levitating a few of the plushies onto the chairs and tables to get a better view of what he had to work with.

""Aa-aaah." She gave a whimper, seeing him pacing as he looked her toys over.

"Oh don't cry baby. It's going to be o-" But suddenly Rayne paused as an idea came to him. "Oh no. Haha oh ho no. It's too perfect." He grinned. "Aww come on... it's practically setup for me! I don't even see how I could resist... I gotta." He said aloud to himself as he placed a hoof over his face. He hadn't even done anything yet and already he was feeling embarrassed by what he was thinking.

"Auuuh?" Flurry looked to him wondering what was making him smile so wide.

Rayne knelt down and picked up a little plush unicorn and a little stuffed cow. "Hi there Flurry Heart. Do you like music? Would you like to hear a song?" He asked while mimicking little voices with the dolls.

"Abbibibub tfffffffpt!" She babbled excitedly.

"Well that's good enough for me." He said as he then stood up. Suddenly his horn began to shimmer as he looked over to the plushies on the table. Slowly they each started to move. Then he looked over to a pile on the ground and they also started to all wave at Flurry Heart. "I'm glad that I just got a magic boost or else I probably wouldn't be able to animate so many of these little guys at once." After that he tossed his hair back and clapped his hooves to get the foals attention. "Alright now Flurry Heart, let's dance. Come one baby, you like seeing others dance, right? Look at all of your little friends here dancing about."

"Aaaaahhehehe eeeeeehhhaa!" The little alicorn was laughing hysterically seeing so many of her plushies doing silly movements all over the place.

Rayne grit his teeth and sighed. "Alright well here goes. I'm glad there's no pony else around to see this." He chuckled. Then he walked up to a dancing stuffed pig and pointed at it with his hoof as he made it, and others, sing back and forth with him.

https://youtu.be/ZvyNOg4jSRg

"You remind me of the babe.
(What babe?)
The babe with the power.
(What power?)
The power of voodoo.
(Who do?)
You do.
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe!

I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry!
What could I do?
My baby's love had gone.
And left my baby blue!
Nobody knew!"

Not wanting to do a classic any injustice Rayne was really singing his heart out trying to sound as authentic to the song as he could. Rayne looked back to Flurry Heart to see that she was staring at him with a fascinated expression on her face. As soon as she saw him look toward her she gave a happy kick with her hooves. "Oh thank goodness, she likes it. Heh, well alright then."

"What kind of magic spell to use?
(Slime and snails.)
(Or puppy dog tails?)
(Thunder or lightning.)
Then baby said..."

Rayne pointed Flurry as all of the stuffed animals froze. "Ah-heeehha haa!"

"Dance magic, dance!
(Dance magic, dance.)
Dance magic, dance!
(Dance magic, dance.)
Put that baby's spell on me!"

Rayne was now making all of the plushies sing along with him like a background choir and for the animals who didn't have sewn in mouths he had them humming the tune or clattering objects for the music. What Rayne didn't realize though was that Flurry Heart was no longer his only audience.

"Jump magic, jump!
(Jump magic, jump.)
Jump magic, jump!
(Jump magic, jump.)
Put that magic jump on me!
Shake that baby, make her free.

I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try.
What could I do?
My baby's fun had gone,
And left my baby blue.
Nobody knew!
What kind of magic spell to use?
(Slime and snails.)
(Or puppy dogs tails.)
(Thunder or lightning.)
Then baby said..."

"Baaabarrnnnnmmm!"

"Dance magic, dance!
(Dance magic, dance.)
Dance magic, dance!
(Dance magic, dance.)
Put that baby's spell on me!
(Ooh!)
Jump magic, jump!
(Jump magic, jump.)
Jump magic, jump!
(Jump magic, jump.)
Put that magic jump on me!
(Ooh!)
Shake that baby, make her free.

As Rayne continued to sing and dance, clearly losing himself in the moment, additional eyes popped back in from the doorway. First two, then six, then ponies were cramming together shoulder to shoulder trying to get a better view as the stallion sang and gyrated his hips about.

You remind me of the babe.
(What babe?)
The babe with the power.
(What power?)
The power of voodoo.
(Who do?)
You do.
(Do what?)
Remind me of the babe!

Dance magic, dance, ooh, ooh, ooh
Dance magic!

"What kind of... oh..." Suddenly the music fell away as all of the plushies fell limp to the ground. Rayne trailed off until he stood there silently staring at the doorway. Standing all crowded around together he saw the completely stunned looking faces of three princesses, four of the mane six, four of the guard now, and lastly a rather bitter looking Shinning Armor.

At first guard captain thought it had been only Celestia who was blushing amorously at Rayne from behind a hoof. But after noticing how both his wife and even his little sister were also staring at him, mouths open and breathing softly, he pushed forward forcing his way through the crowd. "Hey, hey! Let me through!" Rayne was completely frozen, too embarrassed to do a thing. But that was only until he saw Shining Armor step over and pick up Flurry Heart into his arms. "That will be enough of that mister fancy magic dance! Come on, you're coming along with the rest of the group!" Then to the disappointed cried from all of the mares in the group, they watched as Shining broke up the scene by carrying Flurry Heart back out of the room and handing her over to one of the guards.

- Flying Over the Badlands -

"Really? Our kingdoms were that upset?" Starlight asked in disbelief. Her and Sunburst leaned against the front end of the sky cart informing one another of the different events they had missed.

"Yes, it's true. Equestria really was preparing to go to war with the dragons if everything didn't turn out well." Sunburst replied. Pushing his glasses up over his face he was quick to add in, "Although they were definitely hoping for the best. They wanted to avoid things coming to that if it could be helped."

"Oh well of course. That goes without saying." Starlight chuckled. However she couldn't help notice as one of the pegasi helping to pull the cart looked back at those who were riding along. Behind her Spike and Rarity were rolling around on their backs, lips locked together, and were passionately expressing their appreciation for still being alive. Starlight resisted the urge to roll her eyes as they bumped into her back hooves for the sixth time and instead she just focused on the conversation she was having with Sunburst.

Seeming to be much less aware of his surroundings Sunbrst chuckled before saying, "Honestly, what I can't believe is how you stood up to all of those dragons to defend Spike and Rarity like that. You could have put yourself in real danger. I'm just glad that it turned out okay. If I had been in your place I don't know if I would have had the courage to do something so brave." He definitely looked uneasy as he contemplated the thought.

Starlight just gave him a flirty smirk in response and said, "Oh I don't know about that. I didn't really have any choice at the time so it was easy for me. But you are the one who did something truly amazing. Did you really incapacitate the unicorn who was supposed to go on the rescue mission? What if you get into trouble for that? You didn't hurt him did you? Why would you do such a thing?"

"Well..." he mumbled. "You're important to me Starlight. It would have taken time for me to find different spells and explain them to somepony else. I knew it would have been faster for me to just grab my books and figure it out on the way. And besides... having to wait to find out if you were okay would have driven me crazy."

"Sunburst..." Starlight whispered softly, staring into his eyes with a small rosey hue to her cheeks. "I..." Before she could speak further she was distracted by noticing as the pegasi pulling on both sides of the sky cart were now staring back. She watched as their eyes drifted from the couple making out in the back to where she was standing with Sunburst. "I-, ... I'm sorry Sunburst but can you hold that thought for a minute?"

Not more than a second later, "Ooww! Starlight that hurts!" Rarity cried as the unicorn suddenly grabbed her by the mane and used it to pull her lips away from Spike's. Rarity looked up angrily but then quickly recoiled at the even angrier expression that was on her friend's face.

Starlight growled through her teeth trying her best to whisper so that the stallions in the front would not hear. "Will you two cut it out?! I don't mind the sight of you kissing. It doesn't bother me. But I would appreciate it if you'd remember that we aren't alone! Those pegasi up there came to the Dragon Lands amped up and ready for a fight! But since they didn't get one they probably have a lot of pent up steam to burn off and they have been watching you two carry on like you're in a honeymoon suite. But that makes ME the only other single mare around! I've already caught them trying to look my way twice and I don't need you two putting any more ideas into their heads! So will you just stop it before I end up being held down and put into a pegasi guard sandwhich?!"

Rarity's eyes immediately went wide as she gently separated herself from Spike's arms. "Oh my dear, I'm so sorry. I, I didn't realize-... Well not to worry. We certainly don't want that to happen. Spike and I will save the rest of our, err, celebrating for when we are behind closed doors." She smiled seeing the sigh of relief on Starlight's face. But now whispering even softer Rarity asked, "But really? They were trying to look back at you? Are-"

"They're doing it right now actually." Spike interjected as the two mares looked to the front of the cart. Sunburst had sat down to lose himself in a book after Starlight had turned away from him. Flash Sentry was still flying with eyes forward to lead the cart. But the other two pegasi were now indisputably looking right up Starlight's hind end as she stood with her back to them.

Starlight screamed and pulled her tail between her legs, dropping her bottom to the floor and scooting as far back against the inside of the cart as she could. "Huh? Huh? What's- what's the matter Starlight?" Sunburst asked as he almost threw his book over the edge of the cart when she screamed.

"Oh, nothing..." She whimpered, just wanting every stallion to stop paying attention to her now.

However that was when they all heard Flash Sentry's voice call out. "Alright everypony. We're landing down for a bit. We've passed the Badlands and will now be looking for a suitable place to stop. We apologize for the delay but you are all safe and our stamina is not endless. After a short break we'll continue on our way to the Crystal Empire."

When the two other pegasi looked to Flash thankfully and then clapped hooves with each other, Rarity had to hold Starlight as she suddenly looked like she was about to jump out from the cart in the middle of the air. "No, no, no! Let me go! Oh my gosh, they're landing! They're going to mount me! No Rarity, let me go! They're going to mount me!"

"Starlight! Will you get ahold of yourself?!" Nopony is mounting anybody as long as I'm around. Okay?" Rarity declared and after a brief hesitation Starlight looked to her and nodded. After that, Rarity turned back toward the four stallions and called aloud, "Um, excuse me? Boys? I'm afraid that I have to apologize to everypony for the behavior of Spike and I during our trip here. We may have allowed our excitement to still be alive to get the better of us. As such, we seem to have put dear Starlight off from feeling well with our open displays of affection. Now, I certainly understand why you hard working soldier ponies would need a break. You poor dears, thank you ever so much for saving us. But it might be for the best if we make our own way back to the Crystal Empire from here."

Now there were many confused faces as Flash Sentry spoke up. "I'm sorry but we have our orders to look out for you. That includes your safe return to the princesses."

"Not to worry for I have a plan. You see, Starlight in her condition simply cannot wait. She is in dire need of some quiet time away from Spike and I's amorous stares toward one another. Now Sunburst, may I ask if you prepared any long distance teleportation spells as a possible means for a quick escape?"

Sunburst nodded, pushing his glasses up once again. "Well yes I did but I wasn't able to build up enough magical energy to get it to work just right. There are just too many ponies for me to teleport all at once."

Quickly Rarity chimed in again, "Oh why that's perfect Sunburst. You can teleport just the four of us back to the empire, or at least as close as you can get. Then we can leave these handsome rescuers to rest. I'm sure that it would also make their flight back much easier without all of us loaded behind in this heavy old cart." Her talent for manipulating the stallions into what she wanted seemed extraordinary to Spike and he began to wonder if she had ever done that to him.

To Rarity's suggestion Sunburst now leaned over looking to Flash Sentry. "Well I suppose I might be able to manage that. As long as no one else disagrees?"

"Eh, it's against protocol but go ahead. You're all safe now and if it gets you home any faster then that will be less time spent worrying for those that are waiting for you."

From right behind, Rarity felt a grateful set of hooves hug around her. "Rarity, if Spike eats it then I will buy you the replacement ring myself! Thank you so much for this!" Starlight whispered.

"Oh will you let that go?!" Rarity shouted angrily, throwing Starlight's hooves off of her just before Sunburst teleported them all away.

Remaining behind the three pegasi now looked to each other as they detached themselves from the sky cart. "Uh, does that mean we can take it easy now?" One of them asked.

Rolling his eyes Flash responded, "Yes, yes, it does." Then the other two instantly collapsed to the ground, groaning loudly while trying to massage their sore wings.

- Back in the Crystal Empire -

"Wait, what?! Dragons kidnapped Spike?! Why?!" Rayne shouted in disbelief. Quickly Twilight and her friends shushed him before stepping aside to catch him up on what had happened.

Meanwhile Cadence stood next to Shining Armor while holding Flurry Heart in her hooves. "I just can't believe that Sunburst would do such a thing."

Standing before her, several guard ponies were gathered around the unicorn who was originally selected for the rescue mission. "Indeed. I never saw it coming. One moment he was ranting about torches the size of mountains and then he was spewing incantations at me which were complete jibberish. The next thing I knew he had slipped a spell binding ring on my horn and then I was tied up in a broom closet!"

With a heavy sigh Shining Armor said, "Torch is the name of the previous leader for the dragons. And he is rumored to be very large indeed." But that was when he noticed that his wife was giggling to herself.

"Well with all due respect dear, maybe it was for the best. If Sunburst who usually isn't as adept at casting spells himself could get the drop on our guard pony here then I can't think of anyone else who would have been better suited for the task."

Just then a chariot horn was blown from down on the ground floor which made Shining speak up saying, "Well maybe you're right. Could that be them back already?" Looking out over the guard station balcony they all saw that an open carriage was quickly being pulled right down the main street. As everypony rushed over to see, Twilight had broken off her conversation with Rayne to zoom straight to the railing.

- Down Below in the Carriage -

Two members of the Crystal Guard now pulled the carriage as fast as their hooves could carry them. Riding along Rarity and Spike sat together in the front seat while Starlight sat in the back beside Sunburst. "Alright everypony, we're almost there! I know that your friends will be happy to see you." He told them excitedly. The couple in the front grinned happily and waved to the surprised townsfolk who knew nothing of their recent disappearance. Just then one of the Crystal Guard pulled out a flugelhorn to signal to the castle that important passengers were arriving.

However that was when a thought occured to Rairty which led her to pull Spike in close. "Darling, come here. I need to talk to you about something and quickly before we arrive back to our friends."

Spike nodded and bent down so he could hear Rarity better over the roar of the carriage wheels. "Sure, what is it?"

"Now I know I promised that we could pick up our romancing just as soon as we had gotten back. But it occurs to me that there might be somepony else who needs your attention much, much more right now." Rarity spoke softly while giving him a deep and serious stare. "I'm yours now Spike, that isn't going to change. So there is no need to for us to rush. But I'd imagine that Twilight has been worring about you quite a bit. I think it would be best if you didn't hurry from her side just to return back to me. Can you understand what I'm trying to say?"

Spike reached down underneath Rarity and hugged his arms around her tightly. He held on and gave her a lasting squeeze as he said, "You really are the pony of generosity, you know that? Yes I understand because I am looking forward to seeing Twilight too. I know better than anyone how much she can worry."

"Awwww you guys!" Starlight cheered while looking at them and becoming teary eyed.

- Back Up on the Balcony -

Several ponies gasped as Twilight had darted right to the edge. "Is it them?! Are they back?! Do they have Spike?!" She yelled in a frantic daze.

"Now just hold on a minute there sugar cube. They ain't even to the castle yet. Jus'-"

"No, there's no time!" She yelled, interrupting Applejack who had tried to calm her down. "Wait a minute, why aren't they returning via the sky cart that was sent?! AND WHY THERE AREN'T SEVEN OF THEM!? Where are the pegasi that were sent on the rescue mission?!"

"WHAT?!" Cadence and Shining both yelled in unison. They had been hanging back, content on waiting for the carriage to arrive. But now Flurry Heart was handed over to a guard while both of them along with Celestia rushed over to take a look.

Twilight was in frenzy as her ranting cotinued, "Oh, no! OH NO! Why are the pegasi missing?! Did something go wrong? Did we take losses?!"

Celestia was next to speak as she squinted to look down into the carriage. "I do believe that I see Rarity, Starlight and, yes that is Sunburst with them."

"WHAT?!" Twilight screamed. "Where is Spike?!" Quickly she peered down trying to get a better look. But then her voice filled with dread as she whispered, "Wait, why does Starlight look like she's crying? And Rarity... Rarity has her head hanging down in the seat... I, I don't see Spike. He... he isn't with them!" She screeched and everyone looked to her with concern as Twilight took three paces back away from the ledge.

"Now Twilight," Fluttershy began, "we don't know anything yet. Let's just wait for-"

But she stopped as tears began to stream down Twilight's eyes. "I've lost him..." Everyone's heart sank and not a soul knew what to say anymore. "I... my Spike. I helped to raise him... I lived with him. He wasn't just a friend, he was like a little brother to me... I- I didn't protect him when he needed it and now I've lost him!" Instantly Twilight collapsed making every pony rush to her side. She couldn't speak anymore. She could hardly breathe as she held onto a myriad of multi colored hooves that she cried into with heavy, heaving wails.

Author's Notes:

So first of all, a major credit to David Bowie for his beautiful rendition of the song Magic Dance as it was portrayed in the movie The Labyrinth. All credit goes to him, the producers, as well as the original song writers. Rayne had a blast here and the girls watching him definitely enjoyed seeing a stallion shake his hips like they had never seen before, haha.

Okay but going back to a bit before that, I'm sure many of you have been waiting to see Rayne get knocked off of his over confident behind. Previously Mayor Mare had made him uncomfortable but he had time to prepare then. Getting caught in front of Celestia as well as the others definitely threw Rayne off his game. He lucked out in getting to avoid a full confrontation with Celestia even though she has no reason to distrust him.

Okay so about Starlight and the pegasi, I'll admit that I used that scene as a McGuffin. Some readers might have been excited about a potential sex assault scene while others may be turned off at the thought. But I never intended to allow it to happen. I leave it to interpretation of the reader to decide if Starlight had been overreacting or if she was correct in her fears.

Lastly, who liked the timing of the carriage scene? Rarity and Spike bending down to whisper for Twilight's benefit, only to unknowingly make it look to Twilight as if Spike weren't in the cart. Haha well in any case, I hope you enjoyed it. And as always, thank you for reading!