“One Nasty Prank”
Written by Wayward Pony
Commissioned by Reind33rViking
Part 1

1
	This was freedom. High up in the air… the sky above, the ground below. So far above even the bushes and trees appeared to just meld together in to an earthy texture. This change Spike had gone through, so many years before, it had been worth it. All the embarrassment, the feelings of fear and uncertainty… washed over with this purity that just seemed right – to fly, to soar, without limits. Plus being able to approach the Equestrian landscape, from just about any angle he wanted… like Rainbow Dash, like Smolder, like Dragon Lord Ember…. just seemed awesome. All these ponies and dragons he looked up to at one time, suddenly, before he knew it, he felt on par with. Well, not quite equal to the Dragon Lord, not by far, but certainly just as cool… in his own way, of course.
	Smolder was with him, too, just not quite as high. There was a time where she could fly higher and faster, and looked bigger than him, but not any longer… and he knew he would grow bigger still. This game they were playing, between meetings and classes, much like tag... was a game that was once quite one-sided, just in the other direction. Smolder had always won, but not so much anymore. Spike had tagged her from the start, on the rump, and she could not keep up with him... and her wings just couldn't get her as high anymore. He was effectively unbeatable to her, and he knew it. She had been chasing him for almost half an hour.
	“Alright, alright!” Smolder shouted below Spike. “I'm starting to get hungry!”
	“What's that?” Spike responded, a sly smile forming on his face as he turned around to fly backwards... still a bit too fast and graceful for Smolder. This had gotten easy. “What are you trying to say?”
	“Come on, Spike... you know what I mean.” She began to pant. “I don't think I need to spell it out for you.”
	“Oh, I think you do!” He merely glided at this point, on the Eastern jet stream... knowing full well at this time of the day the sun would be in Smolder's eyes if she stared up at him. “Tell me what you really mean!”
	“I yield! Okay? You win!”
	Spike stopped and, almost in sync, Smolder stopped, too. He began to drift downwards.
	“That's just what I wanted to hear.”
	Smolder rolled her eyes.
	“I know.”
	The two were now face-to-face.
	“Tell you what, Smolder...” Spike rubbed his claws against his chest. “Since I'm officially Champion of the Universe at flying, how 'bout I buy lunch like you used to? Does that sound like a fair trade?”
	“My dignity for your right to gloat? Sure, just don't let it go to your head.”
	“That's exactly what I'm going to do!”
	“I figured.”
	With a shrug and smile from the purple drake, the pair descended towards Ponyville, together.

2
	Smolder had finally gotten her air back after the two touched down. She couldn't believe where Spike was leading her, on foot of all things.
	The Hay Burger... the Hay Burger? Really? Surely Spike could think of a better pony place to eat than this. This was where Smolder would have gone without Spike. At least the Sugar Cube Corner, that's where she would have taken him for a treat, but maybe once a month. Still, it was free... not that being free was enough to keep Smolder from sitting on the grass with her arms crossed after they had ordered and gotten their food. She knew how to keep quiet.
	Yes, it was all free... except for the fact that Spike had gotten bigger and stronger than her. That cost something. Something extra Spike's bits couldn't quite cover at a place like this. After all, she still had expectations of how to make it up to her.
	It wasn't that Spike was a guy. That did not make him stronger or faster. That's not how dragons worked, though he was growing into a bigger dragon. Her growth hadn't stopped, but he was growing faster, which meant he would end up much bigger. That would be enough, in the Dragon Lands, to have lesser dragons thinking of knocking him down a peg.
	Spike looked in his paper bag.
	“I can't believe they forgot the ketchup.” He looked up at Smolder. “Plenty of Mustard, though.” He tossed her the extra packets. “Too bad I don't like it. Please tell me you got the extra ketchup and there was some mix-up? It's just not the same without that red, tomatoey goodness.”
	Smolder looked inside her bag. She didn't especially like ketchup, but she saw two packets. She couldn't help nodding at a thought, a tiny grin spreading its way across her face. She could at least inconvenience him a little.
	“Pretty standard stuff here,” the orange dragoness replied, pushing away the extra packages of mustard so they fell on the grass. “You know I like mustard, but I don't like it that much. And I don't mind ketchup!” She opened up her bag, set everything out on it, and tore open both packages of ketchup along with her mustard, looking up at the purple drake, as she spread them both around her fries. “Guess you'll just have to go without, huh?”
	Spike scowled, but then shook his head.
	“Yeah, well I guess it's not fair to ask for your ketchup, anyway.” He took a breath. “I'll be right back.”
	Spike flew away, just as Smolder was picking up her hay burger. She looked up at the flying drake, then down at her... edible hay burger, and shrugged, eating it in two bites. Then she looked down at Spike's food and thought a moment.
	Taking his food would be wrong, but... maybe a prank would be more what the Doctor ordered. After all, real dragons didn't trust other dragons alone with their food for this reason. She needed to remind Spike he wasn't that awesome, and there was a time when she was much cooler, and much faster. Plus this was the next to last day before Spring Break. They could laugh about it over the entire week-long holiday.
	She thought a moment.
	He ordered a diet cola with extra ice... I've got a roll of candy here in my knapsack. If I put one in it just right, on top of the ice... as it melts in his warm hands the candy will come in contact with the cola, get submerged as he drinks, and cause a soda explosion, getting it all over the place! “Mwha-hahaha!” It was the perfect plan.
	She blinked twice, realizing... he had a knapsack, too, right by his food. She certainly didn't want to ruin the papers in his bag. That didn't seem the right thing to do to get back at him. It would be funny, though, but Twilight would probably get mad, and it wouldn't be that hard to trace something like candy in a soda to the dragon he was eating with.
	She continued to think.
	I could just hide in the bushes, then when he comes out, jump out and scare him! … “I hear he gets the hiccups,” she thought aloud, pursing her lips. That could get really annoying, though... plus a prank like that is so standard it's boring. “Come on, Smolder, you know you're more clever than this!” Why don't I offer him a reward? … yeah, but have it backfire? “Like give a potion that so he's half-sized for couple of days? Yeah, that could work... but I don't have any of that stuff here on me.”
	Suddenly, Smolder realized she was being watched. She turned towards the eyes she felt burning a hold into the side of her brain to see a dark, teenaged earth pony colt wearing a beanie.
	“Hey, what're you looking at?” she asked him, shaking a fist. “You looking for trouble or something? Ah, you're hardly worth it. Beat it, before I spin that propeller so fast you fly away!”
	The colt shook his head, but then walked off… making sure not to let his back face her until he was far enough away where he could run off.
	“Heh, typical pony. Afraid of a slightly raised voice. How did they ever survive for so long?”
	She looked over to see Spike emerging from the Hay Burger, a victorious look on his face. He flew towards her.
	“I got the extra ketchup,” he proclaimed.  “They swore up and down they gave me extra ketchup and not mustard, but were happy to give me more once I asked nicely... and assertively.”
	“Good for you,” the orange dragoness replied, with a grin. “Say, Spike... eating alone with me, on the grass like this away from everypony, I have to wonder...” She paused a moment. Time to disarm him. “Are you trying to date me or something?”
	“Date you?!” Spike put his hand behind his head, swallowing. “W-what'd ya mean? I'm already seeing Gabby...” He chuckled nervously, adding,” ...and still having occasional thoughts of being with Rarity. A guy can dream, after all, right?”
	“Hey, look at you, stud,” Smolder clicked her tongue. “Date or not, you still won fair and square, and have been quite some time now, plus you're treating me to lunch. I gotta give you something in return.” Suddenly Smolder got hit by an idea, it seemed like inspiration, but maybe it had something to do with the pony she had just been yelling at. Normally, she wouldn't share a treasure like this, as she had been saving it for the end of the year, but this situation was different. “Tell you what, Spike... I've got a little dragon food hidden back in the dorm, if you wanna try some. Not a whole lot, but I don't mind sharing. Just a bit before the end classes start in a couple hours.”
	“Um... what kind of dragon food do you mean?”
	Smolder looked to her left, then to her right, then leaned in close for a whisper... grinning:
	“Mutton, out from the Dragon Lands. Raw.” She leaned back. “How 'bout it, Spike?”
	His eyes went wide.
	“M-mutton? Isn't that, like... barely legal?”
	She nodded.
	“Just like you are, my fine boy... just barely. Now, I noticed you never answered my question.” She stretched. “Are you going to be a bad dragon, like me... or would you rather just continue to eat bland pony food, you have to put red condiments on to pretend its blood? I guarantee you this wouldn't be the same with ketchup.”
	“Well...” Spike thought for a moment. There wasn't anything wrong with trying some mutton, especially since Applejack didn't have any sheep missing. This would be a first... he couldn't think of a reason not to. The sheep was already dead, after all, and if it was killed outside of pony domain... “O… okay.”
	“Great!” she began eating her fries, ketchup and all, instantly reminded of how how ketchup didn't do anything, just tasting mildly bitter at best. Still it was red, and red was the color of victory... back when Dragons didn't fight with words, but with claws and clever traps. Just as she was doing now.
	She already had him licked, just like she was licking her claws of the leftover condiments. She grinned. This Hay Burger meal tasted better than they usually did.

3
	Smolder kept Spike excited as they took off, knowing this was one of many dragon things he had never actually tried.
	The meat was in the back of the dorm refrigerator, the only danger to it being Gallus or maybe Silver Stream, but that would be only if they knew what to look for – this was in a zip-locked bag, frozen solid behind the ice trays. It felt secure leaving it there, plus she would smell it if any creature ever tried to cook it. That could easily take over an hour.
	On top of the mutton Smolder also had a few potions in the back of her dresser she had “borrowed” from some of her brother's friends. Stuff with hand-written labels, in various vials and flasks, all for pranking. She had used one on a cupcake Professor Pinkie Pie was eating that made it so she could barely talk above a whisper for two days... and yet she still managed to be heard in the back row. Some ponies just had that type of voice, just like some days Smolder just had a hangover from trying to drink Occellus under the table. How was she supposed to know alcohol had no effect on Changelings? Her winning was their little secret, though... so was the team effort of giving that brew to Pinkie Pie. This, however... this would have to be all her. That excited her.
	The two made it to the School of Friendship, then up to the dorm. This was something Spike and Smolder did sometimes, it didn't look strange since she was the only other dragon who actually lived in Ponyville. Well, for now, anyway. She was not about to stay forever, like Spike.
	They were now in private. The door closed... Smolder looked around, just to make sure some creature wasn't around to see what they were up to – no yak, no pony, griffin, or changeling pretending to be the carpet. She then approached the fridge by the door.
	“It's in there?” Spike asked, wringing his hands nervously. “Isn't that, um... kind of obvious?”
	“Hey, it has to be kept cold,” she said, opening up the freezer compartment. “But it's not out in the open. You'll see.”
	She reached far back, bearing the cold... all for that piece of meat. She'd be on vacation soon enough; she could get more meat for later if she worked for it over the break. She was going to take the whole thing this time, she'd decided, whether she entirely liked it or not... cows and sheep were becoming rare in the Dragon Lands, but this would be worth it.
	“There!” She had a firm grasp on the bone and pulled. The zip-lock was in was stuck to the back of the freezer, but she could feel only partially so. A few tugs and it would be free meat -- moist, white, frigid, and stiff. She'd warm it up fast. Within those few tugs, it came loose and she pulled it out. Both were looking at the raw, frozen mutton chop in her hand. “I've had this a while. Was saving it for the end of the year... but this, I think, is a special occasion.” She looked up at Spike, smiling, enjoying the moment. Maybe she wouldn't prank him after all. She waited for him to speak.
	“That I beat you?” the drake finally asked.
	Smolder narrowed her eyes.
	“Um, your first chance to try actual, bonified meat?”
	“Bonified?” Spike blinked twice. “That's not cow, is it? I don't think I can eat cow... I’ve known too many.”
	Smolder smacked her forehead.
	“I learned that word from Twilight. It means genuine. Duh.”
	“Oh... I guess that makes sense.”
	“Here!” Smolder handed the bag to him. “Don't eat it, just hold it.” She turned towards her dresser, taking a few steps, then opening the top shelf.
	“You're not mad are you?” He asked her.
	“What? That you're dense?” She chuckled. “Of course not!”
	“No, that I beat you... “
	“Naw...” She found the collection of bottles. “A pony-raised dragon like you has to be good at something.”
	“What're you getting?”
	“A little seasoning.” She found the bottles labeled changing. There were only a few.
	“Good!” Spike chuckled. “Um, I thought you were gonna say it's 'cause I'm a guy I beat you.”
	The dragoness's face went blank.
	“Really?”
	“Yeah...” Spike rubbed his claws against his chest. “It does make sense, after all.”
	Smolder whipped her head around, scowling.
	“Really?
	“Yeah.”
	Okay, Spike... She thought.  You asked for it.
	She had only three potions that could change something, and the potion she grabbed – a potion she snagged from her brother Garble's friend Fizzle – would certainly do just that. This would be too perfect: a prank that would make a point. She closed the drawer.
	“Didn't you make fun of me earlier for wanting to eat with condiments?”
	“Yeah, but this is different, and you only need to put a little bit on to it. Just a drop.” She held out her free claw and motioned. “Now... give me that meat already!”
	He passed her  the bag, nervously rocking on his hind claws.

4
	In moments, Smolder had the meat out of the bag and was holding it up by the bone. She took a deep breath and let it out: fire.  In moments that frozen leg of mutton was engulfed and cooked fully, mildly charcoaled on the outside, rare on the inside. This wasn't her first time, she knew the perfect way to get her meat ripe for the eating.
	“Wow.” Spike stared at it in awe, mouth watering. “All for me?”
	Smolder broke the bone over her knee and ripped the meat in two. “”Half, Spike. Come on!”
	She took the bottle of potion, opened it, then put a couple drops on both pieces of meat.
	“This is something I'm never going to forget!”
	“Yeah. You can say that again.” Smolder passed the meat and half bone to Spike. “Enjoy.”
	She took a chunk out of the meat – it was tough, as mutton should be. Dragons liked tough meat with a hard bone. She then took the small tip of the bone in her mouth, looking at Spike who was just standing there... staring at the meat.
	“Well?” she asked. “I gave you half my meat, I'm going to have to spend a couple days doing all sorts of things for the dragons to get some more... or I can just get my own in the wild, but dragons have hunted the heck out of these things. Either way, it means some work.”
	“It's just...” He looked down at the meat and up at her. “This used to be a living thing.”
	“Yeah.” She took another bite. “Used to be. It isn't anymore, long dead. Now eat up, before I start to regret this.”
	Spike took a bite, ripping it from the bit in his hands, and began to chew. What he got was mostly fat, but the flavor... he'd never tasted anything quite like it.
	Smolder smiled, watching his pupils grow big.
	It felt natural. Like having a gem... just warm, soft and perfect. He chewed the food, but he found himself wanting to swallow despite wanting to savor it in his mouth.
	“Finish your meat... I've got something more to tell you about it after.”
	Spike was too busy eating to care what Smolder had to say. By this point his eyes were closed and he was chewing on the bone... the bone that was in splinters in his mouth after moments, being ground into dust. It was better than the best candy he'd ever eaten.
	“Easy now, killer,” she said, taking another bite. Her meat was almost gone. “Don't start looking at Twilight and her friends as food, now.”
	He looked at her, smiling.
	“This is amazing... every single taste bud tastes like it's... well, alive!”
	“Yeah, I know.” Meat gone, she found herself with nothing left, except to gnaw on the rest of the bone. “Glad you like it.”
	In moments Spike's meat was gone and he was taking a deep breath with his eyes closed.
	“Good, huh?”
	“Yeah...” He opened his eyes and looked up at her. “Hey, you look bigger... is that normal for a dragon who's eaten meat a lot?”
	“It is normal...” Smolder replied, grinning. “But I'm surprised there's this much of a difference this fast.”
	Spike cocked his head.
	“What do you mean?”
	“Remember that thing I put on the meat? Yeah, that was a potion...” Spike started breathing heavy. “Don't worry, it won't hurt and the effects aren't permanent.”
	Spike found himself stepping forward, eyes wide, putting his hands on her barrel. It would have been her shoulders but he had shrunk that much already.
	“What did you do?!”
	Smolder smiled.
	“Initially I was just going to shrink you, not even half a meter... but then you made that stupid sexist comment, and I got kinda mad.”
	“What sexist comment?”
	“You don't remember? Look down at your chest and maybe what's going on will jog your memory.”
	“Look down at my... wha~?”
	What Spike saw wouldn't have been perceptible at first to any creature except another dragon. In a few moments, though, it would become more clear. His chest cage had shrunk, but his chest mass had remained the same. He appeared to be overbuilt at first in the chest, but then, slowly before his eyes his chest pulled tightly upwards, his muscles turning soft and round, hanging downward... his nipples growing in width, stretching, sticking outwards at their tip.
	He looked up at Smolder, who continued to smirk at him, then down again at his chest, which sure enough... a sizable amount of his pectoral muscles were quickly turning into fatty tissue for breasts. It didn't stop there, though.
	“I think you know what's next,” she said, pointing down lower.
	Spike's pupils shrank. What he knew Smolder meant by that he dare not look, but in a way he felt... it felt similar to those moments after release -- where everything that was once big and hard, feels relaxed, soft and slightly tickly, only to begin to pull in close to the body.
	Tugging his new breasts in either direction he looked down to see his endowment was about half the size it had been when he got up that morning and was shrinking at an alarming rate. He watched as the two orbs beneath it seemed to suddenly disappear and shuttered as he felt them travel up into his body. From the momentary discomfort he felt, much like that of a shifting stomach ache, he could only guess they both ended up on either side of his hips. It felt like they had left a deep hole… but he was far too disturbed to dwell on any one thing just yet.
	“My pee-pee!” the drake exclaimed, watching it disappear, more rapidly by the moment. He fell to his backside, which felt noticeably wider than it had the last time he had fallen on his rump, and his eyes did not move from between his legs until what he had been watching had completely vanished, leaving a tiny, drawn in nub at the top of a tight slit where his orbs had once been. He looked up at Smolder. “What did you do to me?”
	Both hands covered Spike's mouth. His voice was slightly higher than it was when he was a baby dragon, and this had happened very suddenly.
	“The potion I gave you turned you into a female.” Smolder offered a clawed hand to the new, downed dragoness, which Spike took. The two were face-to-face, Smolder realizing they had become about the same height, causing her to smile. “Your comment about beating me because you're a guy made me think 'hey, I'll show him it's really not that different'.” Spike looked down again at the new body, then at Smolder. Spike froze “There's a mirror over here. And hey, don't worry... it's only going to last five days. You'll wake up as a drake again after that.”
	“Five days!” Spike rushed to the mirror, staring into the new, feminine body. The once drake still couldn't entirely process that he was now a she, but she shook her head and stared until a scowl came to her face. “I can't wait five days I have places I need to be!”
	“Where?” Smolder asked, approaching. “Rarity's? Guess you caught a cold and won't be able to make it... unless you want to show up looking like this.”
	Spike continued to stare at the new body.
	Hey, you're actually hawter than me,” Smolder said, giggling. “No fair! You've got slightly wider hips and bigger boobs!”
	Spike elbowed the orange dragoness in the stomach.
	“No, I don't have to be with Rarity, Smolder,” Spike sneered. “I have to attend meetings with dignitaries – Yaks, Changelings, ponies, and even other dragons! I can't go there like this... it's distracting to me, and I'm sure it will be distracting to them, too. I'm...” Spike looked in the mirror again. “I'm hawt! Sweet Celestia. What made you think this was an okay thing to do?”
	Smolder shrugged.
	“I didn't think it was okay, I was mad. You know how we're going to have parties in the rest of our classes today? At worst maybe in the back of my head I was thinking you might just want to lay low for a couple days and miss out some.”
	“Couple days?” Spike clenched both fists. “Change me back right now!”
	Smolder shrugged.
	“I can't. You have to wait the five days.”
	“Well, I can't do that! No pony can find out about this, I won't be able to look at them again!”
	“I know,” Smolder put both claws to her mouth, holding back the laughter. “That makes this all the more hilarious...”
	Spike had had enough. He turned to her in a rage.
	“HEY! YOU CREATED THIS PROBLEM!”
	Smolder took a deep breath.
	“Well, there is one thing we can do... but it's going to involve taking vacation a little earlier than expected if you want to get it today.”
	Spike's anger deflated, but only slightly. He was waiting for the catch.
	“I do! What is it?”
	“I'll tell you... heck, I'll even help you get it, but it's not going to be easy...”

5
	Smolder explained, and Spike sat on the bed. After a while, anger did actually begin to fade... Spike was learning something new, after all.
	The potion had been created by dragons and was allowed freely around the Dragon Lands. They all took the potion as a way of mitigating the ratio of males to females... outside of tricks, like what Smolder had done to Spike, there were two common ways a male dragon would take the potion. The first was most common – in the presence of too few females for every male, he would draw straws with those in his horde. The dragon with the shortest straw would take the potion, become female, and the remaining males would mate with the new dragoness during mating season. It was rare, but in the case of pregnancy the potion would sometimes not wear off until the egg was laid. Good thing dragon gestation periods were only one month long. The second way a male dragon would take the potion is if he was ordered by the Dragon Lord, who had become bored with the selection of females. Once a year this sometimes happened, as tradition, but not since Lord Ember had taken charge... though that could change.
	She went on to describe how the dragon she had taken the potion from was her brother Garble's friend. How this friend was known on occasion to take the potion voluntarily and submit to her brother, and all their friends, as a way to pass the time...
	“Either that or he likes it. I'm not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me. I swear at least once after every relationship Garble's been through, I'd have to pretend not to see the two boning in the corner.”
	“Which one of Garble's friends is he?”
	“I won't tell you.” She smiled. “I lifted the potion from him, poked fun at him just now, and that's enough. Do a dragon too much ill will, even when he's not around, and you'll pay for it.”
	“Noted,” Spike said, looking down at the new body.
	“The way to get the cure to this potion and get back to normal by tonight is to break into the Dragon Lord's home and take it. Dragon Lord Torch liked to keep stocked up on everything, I'm sure Ember still has all his same supplies. I'm fairly certain we can just ask her for it, in which case I'd go myself... but if we have to steal it it's going to be a two-dragon job and it would take me a day to get back, at least...”
	“Oh...” Spike looked at the floor. “Guess I'd better come along then, just in case.”
	“Probably a good idea.” Smolder got up from the bed, stretching. “I do feel kinda bad now that I'm no longer angry... but you do make a surprisingly good-looking dragoness!”
	“Bite me,” replied the former purple drake, putting both claws to her mouth. “I'm going to have trouble getting used to this voice.”
	“It'll happen sooner that you'd expect. And as for biting you… well, I like the way you look, but not that much.”

“One Nasty Prank”
Written by Wayward Pony
Commissioned by Reind33rViking
Part 2

1
	Dragons have an interesting way of showing remorse. It is nothing like with ponies – a hug and tears, telling the other creature “I know how you feel” then making it up to whoever was wronged… Dragons go straight to the action. Smolder felt remorse, and went straight to Applejack and Pinkie Pie, who were both throwing the predicted party and looking for their dragon assistant. If she could fib to them both, then she knew she could fib to Twilight easy-peasy:
	“Spike’s been working hard for you six,” she said, directly. “Most dragons wouldn’t tolerate the amount of stuff you’ve put him through.”
“Most ponies wouldn’t,” joked Applejack. “He’s made of pretty stern stuff.”
“Even more stern than the Pinata I made us all to enjoy!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, gesturing towards the back of the room where, just above the door in an alcove, rested said pinata. All tied up, ready for Pinkie to pull a string by the blinds and send it down. “Where is he, anyway? He’s going to miss it!”
“Sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun…” Smolder cleared her throat. “But I was thinking of taking him hiking and fishing this afternoon… Considering all he’s done around here, do you think Twilight would mind if I surprised him and just stole him away for a few hours?”
Applejack put a hoof behind her head. “Twilight really isn’t one for surprises…” She thought a moment. “But she knows full well what she puts Spike through, and if you wanna steal him away for the day… I think she’ll understand.”
	Smolder looked over at Pinkie, who still seemed lost in her pinata. Finally, she noticed Smolder staring and shrugged, nodding.
	“Oh, Oh! I think Twilight would be understanding, too!”
“Awesome, I’ll try it. Thanks!” Smolder laughed, turning towards the door, looking up the pinata she hadn’t seen coming in and nodded. She looked back. “This’ll definitely surprise the class. Thanks again!” Making finger guns, she added “! I knew I could rely on you two to shoot straight with me.”
	Smolder then left for Twilight’s office. She passed all the familiar ponies, nodding here and there, practically automatically, as she had grown accustomed to do over the years… just happy for a moment by herself, on auto-pilot. Sure, she felt bad for what had happened, but Spike had asked for it and working to undo this would at least get her outside doing something other than attending another stupid pony get-together. She knocked when she got there.
	“Come in!” she heard Twilight say through the door. She did just that.
	Smolder walked in casually, like she always did. She noticed Guidance Councilor Starlight by the front of Twilight’s desk and paused.
	“If I’m interrupting anything, I can come back,” she said, eyes shifting towards the door.
	Twilight and Starlight looked at each other, then back at her.
	“Nonsense, Smolder!” Twilight exclaimed, with a smile. “What’s on your mind?”
	Having the two of them here might actually work better, Smolder thought.
	Looking at Starlight first, then Twilight… she explained, just as she had to Applejack and Pinkie Pie. She watched Starlight’s reaction to what she was saying. At first it was unreadable… maybe she didn’t believe her? Starlight did have one heck of a poker face when times called for it, but then Twilight continued smiling and she turned to look to see Twilight’s reaction, and smiled, too. In this case, it was just a matter of deference.
	Gotcha.
	“I think that sounds wonderful,” said Starlight.
	“I have absolutely no problem with you stealing Spike away for as long as he wants. Stay out all night and sleep under the stars! I only ask that you don’t return him with a hangover and make sure he goes to bed before one o’clock… or else he tends to get cranky.”
	“I can do that,” replied the dragoness, clicking her tongue and pointing. “But we really are going to disappear for a while. It makes sense I should at least ask you before trying something like that.”
	Twilight looked at Starlight, who nodded, then spoke.
	“Spike’s a big boy. He has to be able to take care of himself now. If he wants to go with you then by all means, he’s more than earned it.”
	Starlight smiled, then Twilight smiled at her. Smolder grinned.
	“Then I guess it’s settled!” Smolder exclaimed, turning towards the door and beginning to fly off. “We’ll be off in no time.” She turned back briefly. “He was nervous you might say no, but I told him I could convince ya. He’ll have one heck of a story to tell you when we get back.”
	“I’ll be looking forward to it!” Twilight exclaimed, as Smolder slammed the door.
	Twilight could be very smart… but she could also be very dense. This was one of those finer points that fell right in the middle. This is what a dragon lived to do and sucking more ponies into the lie made it all the better.

2
	Spike was exactly as Smolder had left her – curled up on the top bunk. Smolder had only been away for, at most, thirty minutes. When she left Spike was rocking back and forth, covered in a white blanket, looking like some type of old-timey Solar Monk. When she came back Spike was still rocking, and still covered in the same blanket.
 	“We’re clear to go,” she said, opening the window. “I don’t know about you, but I feel like getting some air.”
	Spike turned towards her, a scowl peering under the blanket shadowing the newly shaped feminine face.
	“Exactly how’s that going to-“ Smolder opened her wings and smiled, extending a clawed hand. “Oh.” Spike threw off the blanket, set clawed feet on the floor and looked at Smolder. “Can we really get it by the end of the day?”
	“Heck, I can keep you out until tomorrow if you want. By morning, if all goes according to plan… this’ll all be a thing of the past. Trust me.”
	“H-how do I know I can trust you after what you did to me?”
	Smolder took the clawed hand in her own, then shrugged.
	“You don’t… but I’d be dead meat if I came back from a trip I asked to take you on and you didn’t. I don’t exactly think I’d be given sanctuary in the Dragon Lands, either, seeing how Dragon Lord Ember and the Princesses are friends now.”
	Spike paused, thinking… retracting the claw.
	“You know, you could always try-“
	“No.” Smolder stopped. “I don’t feel like testing any theories here! Look, Spike… I feel a little bad for what I put you through. Come with me or stay here and deal with things, it’s up to you. I don’t care what you decide, they can kick me out, but I’m not going on this trip alone, and I don’t think you should either. This is the best I can offer you, and if you decide to just go tell Twilight, well… then you have to live with everypony at least catching wind of what happened here.”
	Spike took a deep breath.
“Okay. I’ll come… but if you’re going to trick me again, you’d better hope I don’t come back as I’m going to tell Twilight everything.”
	Smolder stood up tall, held her right claw out to her face, then spit in it.
	“Spike, I swear that potion’s going to be the last trick I’m going to play on you, until we’re back for at least a day and everything’s back as it was.”
	Spike took her claw in his right and grasped it tightly.
	“Okay then.”
	Smolder turned back towards her friend.
	“I will suggest, however, that you maybe consider picking up a pseudonym. At least for now.”
	Spike blinked.
	“A what?”
	The former drake felt Smolder’s clawed hand tugging along.
	“It means a fake name… unless you want Princess Ember asking why a nervous dragoness who looks just like Spike and is named Spike came wandering in asking questions about the gender—changing antidote.”
	“I thought we were just going to ask direct-“
	“And what? Have it come back to Twilight that you came there asking about that?” Smolder pulled hard towards the window, then through it, and both were outside. Their wings spread instinctively… climbing higher by the second. “Suit yourself, Spike! I’ll leave it up to you.”
	The two were soon soaring fast above the school, then above the parapets of the nearby Castle of Friendship. Smolder noticed Spike was still climbing higher and faster than she was.
Yeah, she’s shrunk almost half a meter, but that seems to have just made her new body more attractive. And lighter. She grinned, watching Spike ascend. She does have a fine, thick rump even I can appreciate. “Nice tail, too.” 
Again, the former drake was moving faster and smoother than her dragoness friend... not that Smolder was about to complain. How this speed and grace had happened over the years, when she was the one to first teach him how to fly (after already having done so for ten years), was beyond her. Spike was still slightly bigger than her, too. She could be mad, but at least they were off.

3
Traveling with wings was always so much easier than traveling by foot. They flew quickly over thick forests, plains and plateaus, as well as snowy mountains,with black goats peppering their sides. All things Spike had seen before from the ground-level on his first trip. In any other situation this would have been quite the adventure, and they probably would have been exchanging memories the whole flight. As it was, however, Spike was meters ahead of Smolder, and had no plans to slow down any time soon to chat.
Given time to think, away from places where she could be seen by those that she knew… Spike was assessing her new body. Dysphoria over having swapped gender was still of chief concern, naturally, but no longer sole focus for the new dragoness. Friction – while flying through the air -- had gotten her attention, and it certainly felt… different. Kind of nice, in an aerodynamic way… sleek, and certainly appealing. Somewhat tight on the chest. Not to mention flying with that additional weight made a difference in how she had to keep balance, with a bit more effort being put towards keeping her shoulders back and head up. It took no time to adjust to all these things, however, and in the end her wings were still just as strong as they had been before, causing her to fly even quicker than normal.
Occasional glances were thrown back at Smolder, who seemed to be watching the new dragoness the whole way. The distance was to be expected -- even thinking about Smolder caused Spike to see flashes of red. To say she didn’t want to dive bomb the lifelong dragoness and pummel her senseless would have been a lie. Maybe that’s why she was being watched so closely? Smolder’s eyes did not seem to move from Spike’s new frame. The new dragoness sighed, looking away, and only calmed down after a stretch of just feeling just the cool air. She thought about one of the last things Smolder had said – if Spike had another name during this part, after all, it would be like he was never there.
	The sky began to turn yellow, the landscape more and more rocky. They approached the amber and orange lava-covered peaks and Spike finally slowed down.
	“Ah, that barely took an hour!” exclaimed Smolder. “See? We’ll be back in no time!”
	Spike looked back.
	“Yeah…” she gracefully flew above Smolder, then behind. “You’re leading for this part, though!”
	Smolder glanced back.
	“Still don’t trust me?”
	“It’s not that,” Spike replied, clenching her claws. “You know where to go and what to say, and to who! That’s way more than I do.”
	Smolder nodded.
	“Makes sense. I’ll get you there and back in one piece…”
	“Oh, and one more thing, Smolder…”
	The dragoness rotated her body and began flying backwards, looking directly at Spike.
	“Yeah…?”
	“Call me Barb while we’re there. Okay?”
	Smolder grinned.
	“Barb, huh? Okay… that works.” She turned back around. “Already got a story in my head to get my claws on the potion…”
	“Really?”
	Smolder glanced back one final time.
	“Yeah. I think quick. A dragon who thinks quick stays on top of things.”
	Spike focused on the approaching landscape.
	“Duly noted.”

4
	The dragonesses made their descent quietly, both noticing there was hardly a dragon around once they touched down. Smolder recognized a few faces off in the distance, but they all seemed to be interested in what was going on just behind the hills ahead, nearer the tallest peak… towards the heart of the Dragon Land. The quickest way to Dragon Lord Ember would be by those dragons and to the peak, but if Smolder played her cards right not so close as to be seen. If they flew, they would definitely be noticed. “Hoofing it” as Spike and the ponies would say, might be best.
	“In and out, like I promised, Spike,” she said, taking the new dragoness by the clawed hand.
	“That’s Barb!” exclaimed Spike, following Smolder closely.
	“Shhh…”
	They passed a few pools of lava. Spike noticed, in one of the larger pools, two eyes staring at them both as they passed… orange, reflective, seeming almost to grin at the pair. The lava seemed to churn rhythmically, almost jumping and parting about halfway down the form’s body. The two continued on, however, unphased by being watched and possibly enjoyed.
	Over a couple small hills, in a valley, they finally saw what the big hubbub was about: two male dragons, one Smolder barely knew and another she did not, wrestling at the bottom of a valley a good six meters from their destination. The two dragonesses looked at each other, Smolder smiled and shrugged, motioning with her head towards the top of the peak. Every dragon was so focused, they ascended to the top of the mountain feeling almost invisible. Spike stumbled on a teeny rock on his way up, which fell down, down, down… until it hit the rock floor not even a meter from where a large, fat dragon green was sitting. That dragon looked up, but by that time they we up beyond his sight and inside.
	“We made it,” Smolder said, glancing out at the spectacle one final time, noticing Garble seemed to have a front row seat to the action at the edge of the valley. “That figures.”
	“What figures?” Spike asked.
	Smolder just shrugged her shoulders and motioned on.
	“Never mind. Let’s go get this thing over with.”
	The two descended a long, winding passage, which opened up into more honey-comb shaped chambers. Spike had walked these corridors only a few times, Smolder had the lower levels memorized. There was, of course, no security… respect and admiration of the Dragon Lord was enough to quell thoughts of insurrection. That and being incinerated through magically enhanced flames of wrath for an unending afterlife of torment in said eternal scorching fire. The Dragon Lord knew it as an honor that his or her subjects knew exactly where to find the Dragon Lord and all splendor at rest. That was power. The only secret was where the Dragon Lord’s Scepter was kept when he or she was not around.
	From above Spike heard some rocks shift and felt something drop from the ceiling, but by the time she looked up both dragonesses were separated by the weight of another dragon slamming into them. Spike hit the wall, Smolder belly flopped, and the third figure did a somersault on the rocky floor, to then leap in the air and pin Smolder’s arm behind her shoulder.
	“Ow! Hey!” Smolder wriggled on the ground. “Cut that out!”
	Spike was shaking the start from her eyes, but still turned to see a compact blue figure towering above Smolder.
	“Do you give?” a familiar voice asked. “Just say Uncle and I'll let you go!”
	Spike’s eyes focused to see Ember was on top of Smolder, wrenching her arm behind her back. Smolder was, in turn, pounding on the ground… which brought a smile to Ember’s face. Spike’s face, too.
	“Ow! Ow! Ow!” exclaimed the orange dragoness. “Stop!”
	“You know what to do!”
	“Okay, okay!” Smolder laughed through the pain. “I give up! Uncle! Uncle!”
	In seconds, moving much more gracefully than even Spike could, Ember was off Smolder. With erect posture and both hands on her hips, she gave the defeated dragoness a moment to get up and look at her.
	“So…” Ember finally said. “Smolder, Smolder, Smolder… shouldn’t you be in class?”
	“We got let out early,” replied the defeated dragoness, rotating her shoulder until it cracked. “Ow. Thought we’d come see you and say hi.”
	“I see.” Ember turned to Spike. “You just want to say hi, huh?”
	“Yeah… thought I’d show my friend Barb here around. She’s new.”
	The Dragon Lord laughed.
	“That’s rich, and the first place you brought her was my kingdom? There’s a wrestling match going on outside. Isn’t that much more interesting? You could actually meet dragons out there.”
	“We thought about it.” Smolder looked at Spike, then back at Ember. “It really isn’t Barb’s thing.”
	“I think Barb can speak for herself, Smolder.” The Dragon Lord took a step towards Spike. “Tell me Barb… I’ve never seen you around here. What do you like?”
	“Um…” Spike thought for a moment. “Magic… caves… jewels… potions… and mystery?”
	Both dragonesses facing Spike smiled.
	“Then I think I got you covered,” replied Ember. “I’ve got all that! You’d better not take any of it without asking first, though.”
	“Noted.”
	Ember looked at Smolder, then at Spike… shook her head, then laughed. “Come on then! I’ll take you on the grand tour.”
	Spike looked to Smolder, who shrugged and said:
	“Told ya she was cool. Now, come on... you can trust us.”
	In seconds they were off, down deeper into the catacombs.

5
	The tour was something Spike had never actually been on. She knew of the Dragon Lord’s palace, of course, but had only seen select rooms with Twilight. Maybe there was something about the mystery of not knowing too much about the dragons that made them seem more majestic… after all Spike didn’t entirely like most of the dragons she had met and she wanted to continue to like Ember. Had she seen a room full of animal bones and skins, or a torture chamber for lost puppies and kittens, she probably would still be having nightmares… even after tasting that sweet, wonderful mutton.
	Many rooms were everything Spike had dreamed, and every worst thought she had ever had. In vast rooms beside regal mountains of gold and gems, there were also old, dented suits of armor from long dead pony and hippogriff societies. Then were rooms full of cattle bones, pig bones, sheep bones, and… Spike didn’t want to look too closely, but it’s possible there was a pony skull or two in there as well.
	“Dragons like to keep the skulls of what they kill,” Ember said, proudly. “And sometimes a femur or rib if it was exceptionally tough. To kill, of course. Not to eat. Eating's the easy part.”
	Spike laughed nervously, before entering a torture chamber. The new dragoness turned white. With both claws against her mouth, Smolder almost couldn’t contain a laugh that even she would have found sick. There was a pair of actual pony skins on the wall, faded, but complete with Cutie Marks. The rack in the corner was also decorated with several jewel-encrusted griffin skulls and a yak pelt.
	“Not to worry,” said Ember, reassuringly. “We haven’t used this room in thousands of years! We’re dragons, not monsters. It stands as a reminder of what we used to be – cruel, conniving, blood-thirsty. Not anymore. Well, maybe a little conniving at times, but not evil.”
	“Noted.” Spike said, yet again. “Disturbingly well-preserved skins there.”
	“Yeah, isn’t it something?” Smolder elbowed Spike in the sternum. “Come on, the tour’s getting on to something that I’m sure will really excite you.”
	“Potions?” asked Spike.
	“Potions,” Ember answered. “Just a few more doors.”
	“Neat,” Spike said, quickly exiting the room.
	There were rooms to see before they got to the potions. Beside two stockpile closets, the doors propped open revealing them to be filled of gems, was the room of the retired Dragon Lord. Also wide open for all to see.
	“My pops,” said Ember, gesturing.
	Spike looked inside, to see the older dragon laying on his side by the outside opening of the cave, looking down on his former kingdom. He wore a dark bathrobe and appeared to have some type of chalice or goblet in his claw. He glanced back and raised his arm disinterestedly to partially wave, before going back to looking out at the Dragon Lands.
	“How’s the wrestling match going, dad?” asked Ember.
	“Wonderful…” replied Torch, in a gruff, bored voice. “I believe I know who is going to win this one already, though I am curiously watching to see how it pans out in the end.”
	“You always figure it out,” said Ember. “And you’re always right. Still sharp, as ever, Dad.”
	Torch let out a low growl, then nodded.
	They walked past Torch’s door, down the hall to a door at the very end.
	“All Dragon potions and recipes are behind this door.” Ember pushed open the door. “Come inside and see.”
	Together, Spike and Smolder did just that.
	As the door closed, Spike looked around to see vials, flasks, bottles, and carafes all organized in various sizes and colors, with contents of pitch black all the way to matching the marshmallow hue of any pony that walked in Equestria. Everything was clearly labeled... some ingredients, some potions.
	“Wow,” the new dragoness said, beneath her breath.
	“Impressive, yeah?” Ember stretched. “Look, but don’t touch… those potions are valuable, powerful, and can do things to you you can’t possibly imagine.”
	“Oh, I can imagine some of those things,” said Barb, glancing back at Smolder.
	“It is quite resplendent,” said Smolder. “Heck, your whole kingdom is! Any chance we could learn one of the recipes? I’ve got a prank in mind to play.”
	Dragon Lord Ember’s smile, which had been small, grew wide.
	“I thought you two might want something,” she said, leaning against the door. “Okay, I’ll bite… what’re you two planning?”
	“Well,” Smolder looked at Spike. “Outside of Ponyville we’ve both been having some issues with rather… aggressive rogue male dragons. I was going to get some of them together and give those gullible few some mutton or something seasoned with a little gender-changing spice. Having the rest of your friends hit on you like that, when they discover you’ve got the opposite-genders bits… well, I think they’ll think twice before they bother us lone females again. Here’s the thing… they’re not all bad dragons, you know? Knowing them as well as I do they’re liable to invite an okay dragon or two along because weaklings make the strong seem more powerful. I figure there’s gotta be a way to undo the potion for those who few aren’t really deserving of it.”
	“And you want one of the potions reserved solely for the Dragon Lord to help clear your conscience?”
	“Yeah.”
	Ember shook her head.
	“Okay, I bet you know them all really well. Tell me, Smolder… what’re some of their names?”
	“Um…” Smolder thought a moment. “Well, one’s name is Mica. The other’s name is Igneous, then there’s Dolomite and then there’s, um...”
	“One more and that will make four. Lemme guess, uh… Tetrahedrite?”
	“Huh?”
	Ember stretched.
	“Yeah, I spent time around that pony, too. I only even remember what she looks like because of that stupid frock. To be honest I’d rather watch paint dry then spend five minutes with her, but apparently the rock names interested you enough, too.” She turned to face Spike. “So, what do you make of all this Spike?”
	“She’s telling you the truth!”
	Smolder smacked her forehead.
	“Is that so, Spike? Why do you think that?”
	“Because I’m really having trouble with-“ the new dragoness put both claws to her mouth. “Oh. Oh, criminy…”
“Sweet Celestia...,” Smolder said, rolling her eyes. “You blew it.”
	Ember smirked, gently rubbing the side of her mouth… her mouth quivered, slowly grew to a smile, and then a full blown laugh. The two dragonesses looked at her, then to themselves. It took almost a full minute for Ember to finally stop laughing.
	“Oh, this is too much,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye which sizzled on the cave wall. “I knew it practically the whole time! Well, to be fair I suspected it at first. Now, tell me, Spike, Smolder… what’s really going on?”
	“Okay,” said Spike, looking to Smolder, who nodded. “We’ll tell you everything…”

6
	Spike and Smolder took turns telling Dragon Lord Ember exactly what happened. She listened, silently, patiently, respectfully… nodding to show she heard and understood what she was being told. In all the story took about six minutes to share and Ember took in every word.
	“So, let me get this straight, Smolder… following Spike’s heckling, you spiked his meat with the gender-changing potion and now he’s got to take the antidote or he’s going to be utterly humiliated and unable to attend his meetings?”
	“Yes, exactly!”
	“And you did this in a momentary fit of anger?”
	“That's right! You get it! Please, help me set this straight.”
	Ember put up a finger. “Let me think…” She pondered a moment, eyes drifting to the cave walls. Her eyes fell back to the two dragons looking at her and she lowered her hand. “I think the way to set this right, actually… is to be honest with Twilight. Stop lying to the ponies, it’s too easy. Once you fess up to Twilight, even if you have to do it in private… then I’ll step in.”
	Smolder blinked.
	“But then she’ll know I lied to her.”
	“That's right.”
	“And she’ll punish me even more for it!”
	“Probably.”
	Smolder blinked again.
	“How’s that fair? I’m doing everything I can to protect Spike’s privacy and not tell anypony. It’s all for him!”
	Spike spoke up.
	“If even one pony finds out I won’t be able to look them in the eyes anymore! Even Twilight!”
	Ember nodded, and then sighed.
	“I get that, but… not even the pony who’s been like your own mother? Think about it, Spike… she’s like a big sister and a mother rolled into one. If you can’t tell her everything, where’s it going to get you? Desperate, away from home, in a strange land that’s not really your own.”
	Spike’s eyes drifted to the floor.
	“Noted…” She looked back up. “Look, I’m not going to risk getting Smolder in trouble because she got mad and I said I was okay with her lying for me!”
	“And I’m not going to embarrass Spike, even if it does involve doing the right thing.”
	Ember shook her head.
	“You guys have pretty flimsy reasons for wanting to keep up this ruse, but I admire them.” She laughed. “Oh, and Smolder? You’re soooo not doing this all for Spike, and you know it. What do you think? I was born yesterday?”
	Smolder lowered her eyes.
	“You’re right…” She looked up. “But does this mean you’ll help?”
	“You know my condition for helping, “Ember coolly replied. “And I’m going to stand by it. Go tell Twilight the truth and I’ll hand-deliver the potion to you in Ponyville tomorrow morning. Of course, I’ll have a chat with her and the guidance counselor pony first to make sure... and to be sure I have the right ponies.”
	Smolder looked to Spike. Spike’s face remained unblinking, focused on Ember…
	“I think you know how we'd rather do things.”
	Smolder nodded.
	“Please, Ember.”
	“Yeah? Well, it’s not happening that way. I’m the Dragon Lord… I make the rules, and I decided  you both are being silly!”
	The two looked at each other. This was possibly going to call for something a bit more drastic than first planned...

7
	Smolder clenched both her clawed hands while Spike stamped her feet. It was time for a tantrum.
	“Come on!” pleaded Smolder. “We’ll just tell Twilight afterwards.”
	“We’ll even tell her together!”
	Ember shook her head.
	“You two really are something else.” She popped her neck and began to rotate her shoulders back. “You can leave now, come back tomorrow with some news or send a note… or I can throw you out myself. The choice is yours.”
	“Yeah?” Smolder popped her knuckles. “well, I don’t think you can take both of u-“
	Before she could finish that sentence, Smolder felt a tug at her side.
	“I’m going,” Spike said, stepping to the side of Ember, who backed away from the door. “Come on, Smolder.”
	The orange dragoness looked at her purple friend.
	“What? Really? We're right here!”
	“She’s bigger than you, she's stronger than you, faster… plus she can shoot scary red lightening everywhere if she gets mad enough.”
	Ember rubbed her claws against her barrel.
	“She’s right.”
	“Spike, she doesn't have the scepter. I can take her!” Smolder threw a straight punch in the direction of Ember, who promptly stepped out of the way. It connected with the cave wall just below a stack of pots. “Ow! Son of a-“
	Lurching forward, Ember threw out both claws and opened her wings. In a flash she had Smolder pinned against the wall, her shoulder practically locked against her neck. 
	STOP!” The blue dragoness growled. Smolder froze, mid struggle. “Remember where you are. If you continue to fight me I’m going to have to actually hurt you. This might come as a surprise... but I don’t actually want to... but don’t think I won’t. After all, I'm trying to usher in a new era of loyalty, kindness, and honesty.  ….and you’re making that really tough right now.”
	“You could always try being more generous.”
	Ember released Smolder and she fell to her knees, rubbing her shoulder.
	“And you could always try not to make me laugh. At this point , though, that would probably take more magic than all the ponies combined.”
	Spike reached down and Smolder took her hand. The former drake got her to her feet.
	“You win, Ember…  you're tough. But let me and Spike talk about this first, okay?”
	Ember stepped away from the door and opened it up.
	“Take as long as you need.”
	Spike was already pulling Smolder towards the winding hallway. The orange dragoness stopped in the door, turned around with a finger up, saying, “Don’t worry. We will.”
	Ember laughed in response.
	The two were off... limping down the corridors, through the catacombs. Dragon Lord Ember followed them closely the whole way, hovering, arms crossed... ready to kick Smolder in the rump if she so much as whispered to Spike while looking back. Fortunately for Smolder, she was smart enough not to do that.
	 Before the pair knew it they found themselves  at the top of the peak once more... feeling Ember's firm touch at their backs.
	“See ya!” said Ember, patting them both hard enough to be heard from the ground. “It was fun showing you both around!”
	“Yeah, sure! You too.” Smolder looked back, then started down the side of the cliff. Once they hit the ground, where the wrestling match was still taking place, she whispered, “Spike... I think it's time we though up a plan B.”
	Spike's eyes went wide.
	“Oh, no...” She shook her head. “So far your ideas have brought nothing but pain.”
	“Hey, I got you out here... didn't I?”
 	Spike nodded. “Fine. You get one more chance. But then I'll just tell Twilight.”
	Smolder grinned.
	“That's the spirit!”
	On the way from the cliff side, Spike looked back at the summit to see Dragon Lord Ember still watching them both closely. She had every reason to watch them like a hawk now, but even Spike knew a thing or two about dragon determination... this was not over yet.

“One Nasty Prank”
Written by Wayward Pony
Commissioned by Reind33rViking
Part 3

1
	Smolder lowered herself gently into a pool of lava, relaxing on her rump once it hit the soft, molten bottom.
	“Ahhh.... that hits the spot.”
	Spike followed suit, on the opposite end. They were away from those leering eyes they had seen earlier in a pool not far off, a hill obscuring the Dragon Lord's tower, but still able to see the wrestling match from a respectable distance and talk in peace. Neither fully liked the drake in that way... but both could appreciate a good sport. The sound of dragons cheering would at least cover their voices for the time being.
	“So, now what?” Spike asked, her bottom hitting the soft floor.
	“Now, we rest a bit,” Smolder replied. “Just chill... Okay?”
	Spike rolled her eyes.
	“You gotta have some ideas we can talk about.”
	Smolder smirked, stretching her arms up.
	“We need to resort to theft, obviously,” she replied, putting both hands behind her head. “Probably under the cover of darkness would work best.”
	“And you know what this thing we're looking for even looks like?”
	Smolder picked her legs up, allowing her body to slip forward. Soon lava was covering her head, and all that remained visible was two outstretched claws. She pulled herself back up quickly, shaking ember and fire from her spines and horns.
	“Live a little, Spike,” she replied. “Just calm down.”
	“That's BARB!” Spike snapped.
	Criminy. “We're still doing that, huh?” The dragoness exhaled. “Okay, Barb, rule one of being a dragon in a situation like this is... you have to relax. Put yourself in a tension-free state for a while. We can't do anything right now, so try not to think about it.”
	“I can't help thinking about it, I AM very tense right now! This whole thing feels... wrong... and it's just getting weirder all the time.”
	Smolder motioned for Spike, who pulled herself in near. She patted her purple friend on the shoulder once she got there and sighed.
	“That's a problem, Barb. It's a problem things keep popping up, of course, but it's also a problem that you're feeling stressed. When you're all stressed you can't think clearly and you can't move smoothly. If we get caught because of that... well, we're not going to get killed, I'm pretty sure of that, but you're going to go limping back to Twilight,  the gender that you are now, and we're probably not going to get any help from Ember. I'll also likely be expelled, which, to be honest... won't be of any great loss to me.”
	Spike exhaled.
	“Okay, Barb... tension-free then... gotta focus.” She shut her eyes and leaned back. “Doing my best.”
	“Empty your mind... just feel the hot lava flowing over you, burning away all the old, dead scales and gross germs. What's left? Just you. And that's all that matters, 'cause that's who's going to help me get this done.”
	A smile slowly crept across Spike's face. She put her head under the lava for a moment and all sounds went away. Smolder grinned watching this, and Spike pulled her head up and opened her eyes to face the orange dragoness. The former drake spoke:
	“You know Smolder, I'd be sad if you got expelled. You know that, right? So would all your friends.”
	The dragoness placed a clawed hand behind her head in response, rubbing the base of her skull.
	“Yeah... well, I've a place to go that isn't so bad. It's nice to know, though.”
	Spike smiled again, popping her neck.
	“I'd say I'm feeling relaxed now, at least.”
	“I can tell...” The dragoness stretched again. “To answer your question, which you've shown me... a lot more patience than I was expecting you to: yeah, I know what the bottle looks like. Everything's categorized, I've gotten one myself before for Garble's friends, back when it was kept in a different room. Layout's the same, though. I don't know what everything does in there, but there's little chance of me making off with the wrong bottle.”
	Spike narrowed her eyes.
	“How little?”
	“I'd say... about two-percent.” The orange dragoness laughed. “Just like the milk!”
	Spike took a breath.
	“So, what's the worst that could happen?”
	Smolder shrugged.
	“Feel like being turned into a dog, a whale, or a chinchilla for five days?”
	“Well, I've been a dog before for a lot longer than that, like a month, and I guess as long as you could get me to water or bring it to me, I'd be okay with being a whale for a while... as for a pinchilla, I don't know what the heck that is, but I'm picturing something like a porcupine crossed with a quesadilla.”
	“It's chinchilla, and they look more like a squirrel, and are tasty... As for being a dog for an extended period of time, I don't want to know.”
	“Fair enough. So, possible random animal transformation then?”
	“I'd have to really mess up and grab the wrong thing, but yeah. Celestia help you if you get turned into something big and aquatic, though.”
	Spike shrugged.
	“That's a chance I'm willing to take. I just want everything to go back to normal.”
	“Fair enough.”
	The two relaxed a moment, allowing the noise, interspersed with occasional silence, to wash over them. Eventually they both shut their eyes for a good, long while and all tension faded.

2

	After a while there was a long period of silence. Smolder opened her eyes, looked towards the wrestling match and began to study it. 
	Competing was a thickset green dragon, the one Smolder half-knew, versus an almost mustard colored leaner one, she had never met. The leaner one had the green one on his back, pinned, legs splayed in the air, and judging by how the dragon's hooping and hollering had all but died down, Smolder could only summarize one thing,  “I'm surprised the match turned out this way.”
	It grew even quieter. Noticing the sudden silence, along with Smolder's comment, Spike opened her eyes and looked out, only partially interested in a match she would have otherwise otherwise been glued.
	“Yeah, that is surprising.”
	Spike looked to Smolder, who merely smirked and remained silent.
	“It is, isn't it?” A voice behind them said. “Loser's the horde's dragoness for the next few days.”
	Spike and Smolder both jumped, then turned back to see who it was.
	Standing behind them was the rotund green dragon Spike had almost been discovered by earlier while climbing the cliff. He looked at them both with a small, thin grin, and held the mutilated, half-eaten carcass of a headless doe.
	“Fresh kill.” He said, taking a bite. “Raw... flavorful.” He peered up at them both. “Either of you interested in a little venison? You can cook it where you sit, if you don't like it raw.”
	Spike reached out a claw and, seeing that, Smolder smacked her hand.
	“Ow.” She shook her hand. What gives, Smolder?”
	Quickly Smolder grabbed Spike's hand in her own and held it up high, scowling, first at Spike then at the stranger.
	“She's taken!” The dragoness proclaimed. “She only likes to give, and I only like to receive... and if my face doesn't make it clear to you I've had about enough of what you've got to offer. So beat it!”
	The dragon put up both claws and, with the deer still in grasp, began backing away slowly.
	“Okay, okay... cool it!” He smiled. “I can take a hint, you ladies don't swing that way. Just hoping to get a little fun that isn't going to be squirming or swarmed by a bunch of eager dragons in the next minute.” He continued backing away. “I'm gentle! … I'd be gentle. Believe me. I can wait my turn, now, though. I'm going to have to.”
	“Good bye!” Smolder pointed him off in the direction of the defeated dragon, then turned to Spike. “What'd you say we fly the coop before we get overheard or propositioned again?”
	Before Spike could answer, he was cut off by a very loud, familiar gravely voice:
	“WINNER!!!” the voice seemed to thunder, from above and all around. Dragons gathered closer as the pair then heard the manically laughter of former Dragon Lord Torch. “SPLENDID MATCH! TO THE VICTOR GOES TWO THOUSAND GEMS AND FIRST RIGHTS TO THE SPOILS!”
	Spike pointed off to the green dragon, who had been held down for almost half a minute, and was being approached by another, older-looking dragon with a small, familiar vial in hand. He seemed to struggle, focusing on the vial... eyes growing wider the closer it got.
	“What's going to happen to him?”
	Smolder got up, Spike's hand still in grasp. As a result the former drake got up, too.
	“A very sudden introduction to being the opposite sex, but before he can adjust to that... I'd say, judging by the victor's aggressive body language, she'll be putting that mouth to good use while the other dragons watch. After he's been satisfied, probably multiple times, spit roasting a few hours. There'll likely be some extended rest while the dragons recuperate. Lather, rinse, repeat for the nest five days. She'll be well-fed in between, at least, as she likely won't be able to walk after the first round.”
	“Sweet Celestia.”
	“Yeah...” Smolder spread her wings. “I personally don't mind, as I've seen it before, though I'll admit not after a wrestling match. That's new. You probably don't want to see this, though, like... ever.”
	Spike nodded her head.
	“Yeah...”
	“Then I think we should jet.” She looked over at the dragons, who were gathering around the valley the match had just concluded in. “Now.”
	Spike spread her wings, too, then together the pair took off, flying higher by the second, their destination the nearby peaks of a place where they could think and not be bothered. Both looked back to see events playing out just as Smolder had predicted – the green, thickset dragon, suddenly with curvy hips and a bust, sat on her knees with the mustard dragon standing proudly in front of her... her lowered head blocking view of his pelvis and what the two could only assume was a proud erection, both clawed hands on new feminine shoulders. A sea of easily twenty drakes all around, watching.
	Spike had one question before they got there.
	“Was that weird, friendly dragon really trying to...?”
	“If you'd have taken that meat, you'd be having a life experience right now probably along the same lines of what we're leaving. It would just be with him, though. Take it you probably don't want to know what going to bed with a drake feels like... even as a dragoness.”
	“I'd prefer to avoid it, to be honest.”
	“Yeah. He'd have taken you right there in front of me, without batting an eye.” They disappeared over the peaks, but then flew a bit further... until they were just out of the dragon lands, where they finally started to slow down. “To be fair, though, it doesn't feel at all unpleasant... but between you and me, I much prefer dragonesses.” Smolder looked down, and motioned towards a cave. “This looks like a good place.”
	Both changed their direction fast, and were landing in front of said cave at the top of a grassy hill.
	“Ever consider being with a pony?” Spike asked. “I'm sure if you asked Rainbow Dash, she could hook you up-”
	Smolder put up a clawed hand, shaking her head.
	“I only like 'em cold-blooded. Like me.”
	“Fair enough.”
	The two entered the cave quickly.

3
	The cave was empty, quiet, and cool... fairly large as well. Large enough for a rogue dragon to live, with a bit of treasure to sleep on.
	“Ah...” Smolder eyed the floor. “Perfect! It's not stone.” In the middle of the cave she crouched down, drawing a plan in the dirt with her claw. Spike watched, quietly.  “I think,” Smolder began. “I think, if things turn sour, this cave's going to be a good place to come back to. It's just far enough away we probably wouldn't be seen entering it if we play our cards correctly.”
	“Rendezvous at the cave,” Spike said. “Got it.”
	Smolder looked up for a moment, and smiled, before going back to drawing.
	“I also think if we're going to do this, we'd be best waiting until after midnight, when most of the dragons are passed out. It should be fairly easy for us to enter through Torch's window, provided none of them are looking directly at the peak. If he's not asleep this whole thing will be a bust, but that seems the best way to avoid Ember.” She looked up at Spike. “Don't think she won't mess you up as bad as she would me even for a second.”
	Spike bit her lip. “Once we have the potion we come back here?”
	“Exactly. You can take it here, then we can either rest here or fly out for a bit and rest a little closer to Ponyville. Your choice.”
	“The potion'll work... just as quickly as the one that made me a girl?”
	“Yup. Faster... you'll be reverting before you fully swallow the first gulp. Promise.”
	“Good.” Spike studied Smolder's drawing more closely. “If I remember right, after we exit Torch's room, the potion room is on the right... correct?”
	“Yup! Just down the hall.”
	They had a plan. Provided Torch was asleep and his door was not deliberately designed to make a lot of noise or be very difficult to open, the two would make off quickly and without a hitch. Dragons seldom, if ever, actually locked doors... after all, a dragon's breath would make short work of any lock. But making a door difficult or noisy to open? Yeah, dragons loved to do that.
	That would all have to wait... it was, of course, several hours to sundown. Smolder would have to do little preparing. Before that time, however, they would of course have to eat dinner. Smolder left to get that and came back a half hour later with just a mass of raw meat.
	“Don't ask what it is,” she said, handing half of it to Spike. “You won't want to eat it if you knew.”
	Nonetheless, Spike examined it closely... entrails and most of the bones removed, it was well cleaned, except for one, small white paw. The bones were tiny and brittle.
	It's a rabbit... Spike thought to herself, opening up her mouth and thinking about the only rabbit she knew. Down the hatch it went and like that it was gone. “Wow, Angel would taste pretty good.”
	Smolder put a claw to her mouth, chuckling.
	“You got this meat-eating thing down quick.”
	Spike glanced up at her.
	“Yeah, well it got my attention... things that get my attention I wanna learn all about.”
	“Noted, Spike. Noted.”

4
	The sky was dark and cloudy, the moon a crescent, waning. The dragonesses flew silently, looking down over the Dragon Lands where they had been. The peaks and magma glowed faintly, giving everything a faint but highly visible hue from above. As expected, all dragons appeared to be asleep, except those few that were out were front and center, almost amassed around the new green dragoness by the valley, but not on top of her.
	At least she can breath, Smolder thought. 
	This time Smolder was at the front, and Spike was following her closely... every move she made, Spike made. They found themselves gliding towards the peak, stopping right in front of Torch's window almost halfway down. They held on to the ledge, Smolder gradually pulling herself up so she could see inside. She could hear, but not see, Dragon Lord Torch, so she sat on the edge, looking down at Spike and putting a clawed finger to her mouth.
	Her eyes scanned the room. In the corner she finally located Torch, his body laying on its back... snoring. Still wrapped in that bathrobe, he was on a surprisingly pony-looking mattress and blankets complete with edging that appeared to be white satin, gold glinting faintly all around.
	“Nice,” she whispered, reaching down and pulling Spike up. When the two were sitting beside each other, she pointed at Torch. “Quiet.” She then looked for the door. To their left was Torch, but to the right more towards the center of the room... was what they were looking for. She pointed again. “There.”
	The two silently crept towards the door, Smolder looking around. Neither could see clearly and that was a problem, but Spike stepped everywhere Smolder did. Slow quiet steps would avoid skittering an unseen bauble across the room.  Squinting, Smolder could just barely make out their destination.
	Fortunately Torch's snoring was not exactly quiet. Every snore they crept a little bit further, then a little bit more. Finally, Smolder touched the cave wall around the door, stood up on her hind legs, and... while Torch exhaled, she turned the knob.
	As predicted, the door was difficult to open... but it was a pull, Smolder could brace herself against the frame and put her weight into it without having to lean against it. Former Dragon Lord Torch was a lot stronger than she was, but seeing and hearing her barely audible distress, Spike helped pry the door open and soon it was just wide enough for the two of them to slip through. Without so much as a full grunt or a creak, they were inside.
	The two stood up tall and walked the hall slowly, their footsteps reverberating through the air. It was not a far trip, the only hazard being the gem closets, but after stepping on a gem, Smolder let out a bit of fire and both could see clearly how far they had to jump to clear the danger. One jump, a few steps, and they were there.
	“Here we go,” said Smolder, grabbing for the door handle. “Slowly...”
	Fortunately, this door was much easier to open than Torch's, though it was a push. If anything was behind it, hiding (unlikely as that was ), Smolder just had trust her instincts and bolt.
	The door pushed open, all the way to the wall, and Smolder scanned the room. It appeared empty. Outside of a couple ports the size of a fist near the ceiling for airflow, the room had no windows, but the rocks glowed brightly on the walls where the potions were furthest from... glowing, hot rock; the closets thing to pony candles dragons had, just eternally bright in the darkness. It was enough to work with and that was the idea.
	Slinking inside, quick and loose, Smolder knew the exact location of what she wanted. In a few giant, soundless steps, she was there. She reached into a rock rack holding up various vials – four down, two over, like she remembered – and snatched one of the potions for Spike. She held it up for Spike to see, and even in the faint light she could see her eye glowing brightly in response.
	“YES!” Spike whispered.
	Smolder nodded, taking a few steps.
	“Now, we leave...” she said, quietly, motioning towards the exit.
	Spike walked out, then Smolder slowly pulled closed the door behind herself...
	CCRRREEEEEEEEEAK!!!
	The sound echoed throughout the entire catacombs.
	She managed to shut the door, sighing.
	“Crud.” She looked at Spike, taking slow steps back with her. “I shouldn't have pushed it all the way open... from it was a trap. You hear a sound coming, it's probably Ember. You bolt through Torch's window. We need to crawl down the mountain and then run. Don't fly away, you'll probably be spotted.”
	“Understood.”
	Slowly they made their way back to Torch's bedroom, being aware of the gems. The door was still half a meter open, just enough for their comparatively slimmer frames to slip through.
	Smolder began slinking slowly, back towards the window. Spike was just entering the room when she realized, something doesn't feel right... It was very quiet. She looked back:
	“Run,” she said, loud enough to be heard, but not too loud.
	On all fours she made her way to the window, Spike just behind her.
	“AH HA!” she heard the familiar voice of Torch exclaim. “THERE!”
	“Come on, come on, come on, come on...”
	Over the window she went, slipping down the cliff side. Down, down she slid, and when she glanced back she realized Spike was not with her. Looking up at the window, all appeared still.
	Biting her lip, Smolder intially had one thing to say for herself. “Crud.” She sighed. “Well... better Spike than me, I guess.”

5

	Spike was being held by her tail.
	“What have we here?” Suddenly she was lifted off the floor, held by two muscular arms in close. “Looking for secrets, are we?”
	Spike looked up. Though she could hardly see, she could make out the very large head and face of what she knew to be the former Dragon Lord. With her still in his grasp, he spun, then blew a quick gust of flame to the side, lighting a very high candelabra to the side. Spike's eyes were wide, staring at it for a moment before turning back to Torch.
	“A gift from Canterlot. You like?” He asked, squeezing her, hand moving to her chest and gently massaging the new mound of flesh. “Ah, you're female! I thought you might be from the smell. Forgive me, I've slight allergies this time of year, you see.”
	“What're you going to do to me?”
	Torch smiled. “You're in no position to ask questions,” he replied. “But, answer me this, and I might let you go... what were you up to?”
	“I wanted a potion.”
	“I see. That's a very naughty thing to try to steal. Almost as naughty as stealing one of my toys.”
	Torch looked into Spike's eyes. Spike looked away. Both were silent for a moment.
	“Dad?” a voice came from behind Torch. “I heard voices. Is everything alright?”
	Torch whipped around, holding Spike behind his back like one might hold a puppy or kitten preferred to remain unseen.
	“Oh, Ember!” he replied, his voice booming with fake joy. “I've merely had a poor night's sleep, and went to get a potion for indigestion. I lost my balance and threw the door wide, tripping over one of my own gems that must've gotten kicked that way. Deepest apologies, if the sound of my shutting it concerned you.”
	“It's fine, dad, but... why is your door almost open?”
	“Hoping to get some airflow going. Seems to not be night for it, however.” Torch rolled his shoulders back. “Though my foot still aches, my stomach is settling fast now, my dear. Please do not let either concern you. As you know I am tough.”
	“Okay, dad... want me to shut your door?”
	Torch nodded.
	“That would be most kind of you.”
	“Okay...”
	Slowly the door closed, the knob clicked, and Torch pulled Spike from behind his back, cradling her like a baby again.
	“Shhh...” he said, putting a claw to Spike's lips. He put a foot on his bed, causing the springs to jostle, while yawning loudly. “Oh, that's much better!” he exclaimed, pushing again on the mattress. He then stood in silence, keeping a claw to Spike's lips.
	After about thirty seconds they heard the sound of footsteps slowly fading.
	“Wait...” Torch whispered. “Not yet.” He stood in silence a moment, listening. “Ember's flown back on me before.” He looked down at Spike. “We can talk now. For which potion did you come searching?”
	“I... I can't tell you.”
	Torch grinned.
	“You can''t, can you?” He adjusted Spike's weight in his arms, legs draped over his arm and back cradled in his forearm. “There is a reason I did not tattle on you to Ember... curiosity, of course, but there yet one more reason. Now... there are but three ways you can get out of here: we can tell Ember, of course, or you can tell me what potion it is you were seeking.”
	He looked into Spike's eyes, Spike looked back, biting her lip.
	“Well?”
	“W-what's the third way?”
	In response Torch merely smiled. His hand went back to Spike's chest, massaging her bosom again. She attempted to push it away, but was not strong enough by far, and Torch merely cupped over them both in response. She then felt another sensation further down on her body, and looked to see Torch's thumb moving back and forth, almost flicking... gently between her legs.
	“I think you know what way that is.” Before Spike could answer, Torch's tongue shot from his mouth and retracted much like lightening, in a fraction of a second it had made its way inside the new space and back out. “Well?”
	“GAH!” Taken aback by the new, strange and overpowering sensation, Spike's body went ridged. “AAHHH! AHH! Ahhh...”
	“You're very tight and very squirmy, but I do grow weary of this game... you have one final chance to confess to me.”
	Catching her breath, Spike looked into Torch's eyes.
	“No, I can't...,” the new dragoness said. “And I won't! You can't scare me. You're just the ex-Dragon Lord! A big bully who's used to getting what he wants!”
	In response Torch raised an eyebrow and let out a chuckle.
	“For a dragoness I've never seen before, you're very brave,” he said, turning away from the window. “You're, to be completely frank, one of two dragonesses her in the Dragon Lands I've yet to take to bed. We shall fix that, then you may leave.”
	Before Spike could answer, the former Dragon Lord let her fall. Pompf! The new dragoness hit the mattress, almost biting her tongue. She gulped, watching Torch open his bathrobe.
	“W-...who's the other...?”
	Torch's facial expression went blank.
	“My daughter, of course.”
	Seeing as Torch was as wide as almost three Spikes and bearing down on her, the new dragoness was not going anywhere... and both of them knew it.

6
	Smolder knew if Spike was not getting passed on to Ember first thing what former Dragon Lord Torch was probably going to end up doing to her.  Seeing how she was a grown dragoness from the Dragon Lands she had already had that honor. It was not an unpleasant experience, but she had been hoping (in vain) the New Dragon Lord was as into dragonesses as she was. She had no time to worry about any of this, however...
	After she made it to the rock floor, she kept to all fours, moving quick by the valley and towards the exit. Once she made it through the valley and around just a few mountains, she could fly away. She would wait all night in that cave it she had to, come back in the morning and beg Ember to release Spike... at this point that was the least she could do. She just had to get away for the time being.
	“Hey there,” a familiar voice said, grabbing Smolder by the tail. She turned around to see that same fat green dragon from earlier laying on the rock floor. “Remember me?”
	“Let go,” Smolder said, pulling on her tail. “I'm warning you!”
	“Hey, hey...” He chuckled, sitting up. “You'll wake everybody up. I just want to talk.”
	Smolder stopped, turning towards him, and lunging. He fell right over and she was on top of him, his mouth a gape. She held the vial over his head.
	“I don't know what you want, but if you don't let me go right now, this is going right down your throat or in your ear hole!”
	He smiled.
	“What is it? Water?”
	“You really wanna find out? Wanna be a dragoness alongside your pal? If you don't let me go right now I'll wake up every dragon here and tell 'em you're another gift from Torch... they won't find out the truth 'til morning, and that's if they want to.”
	He looked at the potion, then her.
	“I don't believe you. And I could say the same of you, anyway.”
	Smolder gritted her teeth, opening the vial.
	“Then you're going to have a life experience alongside me...”
	“Okay!” He put his arms back. “Go... I won't follow you.”
	Without a word or a sound, she closed the stopper and got off of him, bolting.
	The dragon got up slowly, dusting himself off.
	“I would have been gentle, though...” He sighed, kicking the dirt. “Why is it so hard to find a mate here?”
	Smolder was outside of sight by that time, away from any sleeping dragon bodies. She weaved around a few hills, then a few more to be safe, a couple glowing mountains, then she spread her wings and took off.

7
After forty-five minutes of fun in the claws of a big, strong dragon...
	Torch lay beside Spike taking in deep breaths, the dragoness's head resting on his arm. Spike's eyes were wide, her body motionless, muscles like jelly in places she had previously not had, much less considered. She had been treated in ways that... otherwise she did not think were possible that evening.
	“Give me a moment,” Torch said, panting deeply. “I want to talk to you... then you may go. That was, most exquisite.” He looked over. “The best I have had in generations.”
	Gently, Spike quaked. Torch kissed her cheek and sat up on the bed.
	“Can- … can I go?” Spike finally asked.
	“You may prepare to leave,” Torch got up, stretching. “You are brave, I must say...” He looked back. “You have my respect.”
	Spike looked at him, rising to the front of the bed.
	“Uh... thanks.” She looked down at her sticky nethers. “Um...”
	“Here.” Torch reached inside of his pocket and threw Spike a red cloth. “A gift from the hippogriffs, a hankey that never runs out of capacity. Good for cleaning out boats taking on water, I'm told, though one must be careful... as its weight can then sink them.”
	“Um... thank you.”
	Torch laughed.
	“You could have been Dragon Lord, standing up to me as you did... but having met all the dragons who competed, I don't recognize you.”
	“I... was just passing through. I'm a rogue.”
	“I see.” Torch laughed. “Hopefully the present I gave you for visiting was more than  exquisite.”
	Spike looked at the hankey, then at Torch.
	“Yeah, it's very nice. Thanks again.”
	“I do rather enjoy your sense of humor.” He approached, rubbing her shoulders. “Physically you remind me of another dragon I met that lives in Ponyville, a dragon by the name of Spike. He was orphaned, raised by the Princess of Friendship, you see... it's been years since I've seen him. I hold him in the highest esteem, as he conceded the scepter to my Ember. If you are his relative, knowingly or not, I consider this an honor.”
	Spike looked into Torch's eyes again. He saw a smile, much like Twilight gave him regularly.
	“Well, thanks.”
	“Spike was very clever, even as a young whipper snapper he made one command of a very cantankerous subject of mine I still find most amusing.”
	“W-what was that?”
	Torch's loving smile turned to a grin.
	“He made my subject Garble, having lost the scepter, hug all dragons that made eye-contact with him as he made the journey home. If they asked him why he was hugging them, however, particularly the males... Spike commanded him to drop to his knees and please them. I hear Garble made a few friend this way.”
	Spike blinked. This was something even she didn't know she had done.
	“Whoa.”
	“Yes... whoa, indeed.”
	Having been cleaned, Spike held out the hankey.
	“I'll be going now.”
	“Keep it,” Torch said. “It's a gift... a memento, if you will.”
	Spike looked at it, then back at Torch.
	“Are you sure?”
	The former Dragon Lord nodded.
	“Alright.” Spike wrapped the hankey around his hand, turning towards the window, wings spread. “I guess see ya.”
	“Do not fly until you get passed the first stretch of peaks outside,” said Torch, firmly. “There's a reasonable chance Ember is watching after that noise and will consider you an intruder. She will, despite my requests... beat the ever-loving tar out of you.”
	“Oh!” Spike glanced back. “Um... thanks.”
	Torch waved.
	“As I hear the ponies frequently say... 'toodles!'”
	Spike turned around, approaching window, then jumped off.
	She slid down, down, down, gravel flying everywhere but hardly making a sound. Just like that, she was in silence and darkness. Once she hit the ground, she walked slowly towards the nearest set of peaks. It would not take long, at best a few minutes, for her to be home free and in the air. She just had to make sure not to disturb any sleeping dragons.
	“Hey there, little lady,” said a familiar voice to the right of Spike, one she definitely knew.
	Spike turned to see two dragons – Garble and the fat green dragon from earlier – getting up from laying on their sides.
	“I thought I'd seen the last of you...” said the green dragon.
	“Hear you're Smolder's new gurlfriend,” said Garble. “But there's no way she'd date a dragon like you... you look way too soft.”
	The green dragon looked at Garble.
	“What's ya say we convince her to try some real dragon?”
	“Wouldn't hurt,” said Garble, rubbing his chin. “You want something for your trouble? Name it.”
	Suddenly Spike looked up and grinned.
	“Oh, I suggest you leave me alone,” she said. “You don't want to pester me anymore, trust me.”
	“Why's that?” asked Garble. “I don't like being told what to do by dragons who're smaller than me.”
	“Then how about a dragon who's bigger?” asked former Dragon Lord Torch, standing right behind Garble. “And, trust me, I won't merely suggest.”
	Garble's posture went rigid, his eyes wide.
	“T-T-T... Torch? Is that really you?”
	“It isn't Pony Princess Luna,” Torch said, placing both clawed hands on Garble's shoulders. “Garble, my once faithful subject, I hear years back you acquired a taste for dragon seamen. Seeing how fellatio has a tendency to cure my insomnia and you are one of two awake, we are going to test that personally in my chamber.” He turned towards the green dragon. “As for you, my former subject, so lowly I cannot even recall your name, let this dragoness pass or I assure you I will know your name quite well... and much more about you by the end of the night, as I will Garble here.”
	A lone word escaped Garble, “Help.” before Torch disappeared up into the night with him, back to his chamber.
	Spike looked up, saying, “Whoa, he reloads fast!” before looking over at the green dragon, who put up both hands.
	“Just go...” he said, making room. “I won't bother you again.”
	“Alright...” Spike clicked her tongue, walking past. “What's your name, by the way? Have  to have something to remember you by, besides your huge gut and total desperation.”
	“Beryl Flame.  My name's Beryl Flame, okay!?”
	“Beryl Flame?” Spike repeated, blinking. “Beryl Flame? That's a really silly name, you know.” She laughed. “Eh, really can't pick them, though.”
	All the dragon could do place a clawed hand to the back of his head and look down at the glowing ground.
	“Just... please go already. This has been a total nightmare.”
	Spike nodded.
	“Will do. Will do.”
	With that Spike continued on, uninterrupted, until she made it to the peaks, where, after winding around a couple hills, spread her wings and took off.

8
	One hour. Smolder had been there for one hour, curled up in the corner, rocking... all by herself.
	“It's okay, Smolder,” she said, patting her shoulder. “You'll go there in the morning, get Spike, and everything will be fine.” She's not been turned into pet food or anything by now.
	Just then she heard the sound of gravel shifting right outside the cave.
	“Either that's Spike,” she began. “Or some other dragon's found our hiding sp-”
	Spike entered the cave, slowly... limping, grinning under feigned pain.
	“Spike!” the dragoness exclaimed, getting up. “You're okay!”
	“In a manner of speaking,” the dragoness replied. “I've had one heck of a night. Torch let me go, after he had his way with me... it was interesting, to say the least.”
	Smolder got up to her, stopping front and center. She gave the dragoness a hug.
	“I'm sorry, Spike,” she said, handing Spike the potion. “The vial is good for more than one use, like, eight, and... well, you can have it. You just need a drop for it to work.”
	Spike uncorked the bottle, turned the vial upside down over her open mouth, and a drop hit her tongue.
	Instantly, before even swallowing, Spike felt herself growing larger. She looked down to see the breasts shrinking and, witha swallow, they were gone. Spike looked between her legs to find, rapidly, something was growing back, then looked back up at Smolder once it came back.
	Letting out a sigh of relief, Spike was a he again.
	“I'm so glad that's over with,” Spike said, putting both clawed hands to his mouth. “Wow, after so little time this actually sounds really foreign to me.”
	“You'll get used to it fast,” Smolder said, smiling, motioning for the drake to come with her. “Spike, I'm so sorry all this happened. Take a moment to sit and recuperate. We can talk about what we need to do afterwards.”
	Spike followed her, corking the formula. The two sat beside each other in the corner. Smolder noticed the hankey and pointed at it.
	“Are you hurt?” she asked.
	“Oh, this?” Spike held up the hankey. “It's nothing... don't worry about it.”
	Smolder smiled.
	“You've grown a lot since this adventure started,” she said. “You would have whined before.”
	Spike shrugged.
	“Yeah, well, I think we probably should get a little further from the Dragon Lands, but right now I think we should rest a bit.”
	“Sounds like an idea.”
	Spike sighed, looking over at the dragoness.
	“I forgive you for all this... okay?”
	Smolder looked away.
	“Yeah... but I still feel bad.”
	“Well, think about how you can make it up to me. Um...” Spike thought for a moment. “Lunch for a year?”
	Smolder laughed, leaning back a bit and bringing her knees towards her chest.
	“Spike... I won't be offended if you say no or anything, but... I-I'm willing to do something to make this up to you, right here, if you want. It won't be the only thing, but it just makes sense after all you've been through. Hopefully it won't make things too weird or annoy you.”
	“Make it up to me now? What do you-” He looked over at her and noticed her posture, leaning back with legs a bit open. “Oh.” He looked at her. “You'd let me do... that with you?”
	“I only like the scalies, Spike,” she said proudly, laying back. “And I've known you a long  while. It's... you didn't ask for it, so I want to give it to you, if that makes sense.”
	“It does,” Spike said, pulling himself from the wall to face Smolder. “You sure? You're not just doing this to right some cosmic, dragon wrong?”
	“Well, I am doing it for that, of course... but I'm also doing it for you and because I want to. Okay?”
	“Okay... but after this, if I don't fall asleep, we have to fly right back to Ponyville, no stops. I want this all far behind us.”
	“Yeah, it's a deal.”

Coda
	Spike and Smolder went back to Ponyville that night, after a thirty minute rest, to sleep under the stars just as Twilight had envisioned them doing. They had no pony or dragon spies sent after them the whole time, they were both trusted and elusive. In the morning Smolder took Spike fishing, near Fluttershy's cottage, and the yellow pegasus was out and about feeding her animals, waving once she saw them. They waved back.
	Twilight had a myriad of questions for Spike when he got back. With Smolder still by his side, Spike responded with a question of his own:
	“Did you know dragons used to love to torture ponies thousands of years ago? Smolder laughed when I found that out. There's totally pony skins left over in the Dragon Lord's old torture chamber, to remind them of what they used to be. Griffin skulls and yak pelts, too. Glad we've moved past that and can be friends now. Glad to be home, also.” 
	In response, Twilight bit her lip.
	“Oh, um... I'll... leave you to your thoughts, Spike,” she said. “If you need anything, I'm right here for you.”
	Spike nodded.
	“Will do. Other than that, I had a great time.”
	“Good to know, Spike... good to know.” Twilight walked off, looking back. “Wow.”
	Once the two were out of the room and down the hall, Smolder turned to Spike and punched him in the arm.
	“You sly dog, you,” she said, chuckling. “Color me impressed! You dodged that like you've been doing this practically your whole life.”
	“Just... using what you taught me, Smolder, to be honest.”
	“You're a fast learner.”
	“Comes natural, I guess.”
	“Yeah, totally.”
	The two walked down the hall, a newfound respect for each other that they could share with no creature. This was the life of a dragon.

Six Months Later
	Spike and Gabby Griffin sat across a table from Occellus. The two held claws, looking at her intently. Both smiled, all three had coco in front of them. Not far off Sandbar was hanging stockings and Gallus was putting the star on the tree. None of them were focused on this, however...
	“You realize this is a very unorthodox request,” Occellus said. “I guess as a Changeling I'll try anything once, though. Especially if a little love's involved in the exchange.”
	“That's the spirit,” said Gabby, looking over at Spike. “I knew she'd be game.”
	“So... Spike... I'm kind of having trouble understanding what you want. Do you want me to be with Gabby and you watch. Gabby, do you want me to be with Spike?”
	“Yes, together!” Gabby said. “You get it!”
	“So, you want me to turn into a stallion and mount you? Is this is going to be a gay experience? Um... in that case I'll probably have to take Gabby first to avoid-”
	“No, you won't,” Spike set a red sack on the table. “Trust me.”
	Occellus cocked her head.
	“Is that a Hearths Warming gift?”
	“Yes, it is,” Spike said opening up the sack to reveal two bottles. “I got both of these from Smolder, at different times this past year. Had experience with both in the same day, though.” He looked up at Occellus, then back at Gabby, who giggled. “Roll with it, Occellus. You'll understand soon enough. Trust me.”
	“Okay.”
	“This is so exciting!” said Gabby. “ I get to try it all!”
	“Yes, you do, Gabby.” Spike gave her a kiss. “And so do I.”
	Occellus continued to look into the two vials, perplexed, until Spike put them away. That night, however, all would be made crystal clear.
The End