Rarity and Smolder were currently sitting at a table across from Twilight in Golden Oaks Library while Spike was off fetching scrolls and quills for the purple unicorn.

"You want Spike to what?!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Spike needs to start a hoard of some kind. The sooner he does the better." Smolder said.

"Why does he need a hoard?" Twilight asked.

"Smolder's sixth birthday, a lot of townsfolk gave her presents and she started going out of control. I got her under control thanks to the remains of her egg." Rarity said.

"After which point, Rarity let me start hanging onto old, worn-out toys. Since then, I've been hording toys of all sorts, but I do share the toys that can still be played with with Sweetie Belle." Smolder started. "It's harder for a Dragon to ignore being greedy if they aren't already hoarding something. But with an existing hoard, it's been admittedly easier for me to not become overbearingly greedy." She explained. "Given how open and friendly Ponyville is, if Spike gets it in his head to start going around on his birthday to random ponies telling them that it's his birthday..." The Orange Dragoness trailed off on purpose.

"...Your worried that if he isn't already hoarding something at that point, it'll trigger a greed rampage." Twilight finished.

"Exactly." Smolder said. "I'm only trying to help a fellow dragon out is all." She added. I think she'll buy that. The orange dragoness thought to herself.

"Well...okay. But I want Spike to have a choice in what he hoards. I will talk with him shortly after he comes back home." Twilight said. Suddenly Pinkie Pie came out of nowhere and grabbed the two unicorns plus dragoness and took them to Sugarcube corner...somehow.

"What the...how does she keep doing that?" Smolder asked.

"I think it's best we stop questioning Pinkie Pie, darling." Rarity said.

"Eh...good point." Smolder said.

"Oh hey Smolder." Spike said from right nearby. "Let me guess, Pinkie Pie dragged you all the way here too?" He asked.

"That's an easy yes. You should at least make your questions harder for me~" Smolder teased.

"I'll keep that in mind~" Spike teased back.

He's learning. Good. Smolder thought to herself. "So, any idea what the party is about?" She asked.

"Pinkie Pie wants to throw Gilda one of her patented 'Welcome to Ponyville' parties." Spike said.

"That griffon that's Rainbow Dash's friend? She better be appreciative of it then when she gets here~" Smolder said, teasing a little.

"Smolder darling, do behave." Rarity said.

Later, after Gilda basically stormed out of the party venue, the rest of Ponyville enjoyed the rest of the party at Sugarcube Corner. Spike joined Smolder after sending Twilight's latest friendship report to Celestia.

"So, Twilight said you suggested I start a hoard." The purple dragon said.

"Trust me, the sooner you start one, the better." Smolder said.

"Well, I have a good idea for what I want to hoard in that case." Spike said.

"Oh? If you tell me what it is, then maybe I can help you out a little. Both as your friend, and as a fellow dragon~" Smolder said teasingly.

"Nope. I refuse to tell you what it'll be. All I'll say about it, is it's something special." Spike said.

He's still learning. Smolder thought to herself. "Your such a tease~" She said, before hugging Spike. The purple dragon then proceeded to pass out in a collection of hearts. "Your as silly as ever~" Smolder teased.

It was the day after Trixie went away. Due to the two dragons being there, Trixie actually tried her best to fight off the Ursa Minor that came to town, but was unable to; making Twilight have to be the one to calm the Ursa Minor down.

"Poor Trixie, getting injured like she did. At least the town pitched in to help her rebuild her wagon after it got destroyed." Spike said. He and Smolder were in the Golden Oaks Library together.

"Yeah. Trixie is going to make it though. And she even said she might come back at some point." Smolder said.

"Well she may be a showpony, but Twilight showed her that she can be a better magic user." Spike said.

"So while we're waiting on Twilight to get back, maybe you can show me where your keeping that hoard of yours?" Smolder asked.

"Smolder, I like you, but I would prefer to keep my hoard private for the time being. I'll show you my hoard when I'm ready to, okay?" Spike asked.

Yep. He's still learning. Smolder thought to herself. "Fair enough. I just hope it's not anything embarrasing." She said.

"It might be a little embarrasing." Spike said. Suddenly a nearby bookcase fell down, revealing a small stack of comic books.

"...You've...been hording comic books?" Smolder asked.

"Go ahead...laugh it up now..." Spike said, a bit dejected.

"Actually, I think comic books are awesome." Smolder said.

"Really? You do? That's good. I got a little worried you wouldn't like them." Spike said.

"Even if I didn't, you certainly like them a lot. Still, I do like a good comic book from time to time. But I do have to ask: Why don't you want me helping you?" Smolder asked.

"I want to add to my hoard on my own terms." Spike said.

"Still, I'm sure I have a few I can give to you. Consider them an early birthday present from me to you, considering we were obviously both born on the same day." Smolder said. "Besides, I'd rather give you something else for your birthday." She added.

"Really? What would that be?" Spike asked.

"I'm not telling you~" Smolder said before hugging the purple dragon who then proceeded to pass out into a collection of hearts. "Your still as silly as ever~" Smolder teased just before Twilight came home.

"Um...did Spike just become love-struck again?" Twilight asked the orange dragoness.

"Yes he did." Smolder said.

"I see...I should've expected this when you volunteered to come over here while I was gone." Twilight said. "This will also mean my latest friendship report to Princess Celestia will have to wait to be sent." She added.

"I'm sure the Princess won't mind waiting just a bit~" Smolder said teasingly.

Realized part way through the beginning parts where I was doing background noise for "Griffon the Brush Off" that Rarity was not saying her signature "darling" catchphrase like at all. So, that's going to be fixed.

Also yeah, I basically round-about prevented "Magic Duel" in this chapter. But honestly, that is another one of my least favorite episodes. It's not as bad as "Best Night Ever" or "Pinkie Pride" but I still don't like it. I did, however, make Spike's hoard be in character as much as possible hence the hoard of comic books.