“Twilight, I… I’ve found someone,” Spike said.

He scuffed a foot over the floor and blushed as much as a dragon could. But that little tremor in his voice. The poor guy.

“That’s wonderful!” Twilight said. She tackled him with a hug—well, what used to tackle him, but even standing on her hind legs, she barely came up to his chest. He was lucky he could even squeeze through the library’s front door anymore.

“Who is she?” Twilight said, adjusting her bifocals and stepping back far enough to see his face.

“Her… her name’s Blaze,” he answered. He had his claws clasped behind his back.

“And how long were you going to keep this from me?” Twilight tried to force her most disapproving look, but she couldn’t keep from grinning.

“I dunno.” In some ways, he was still the kid she’d always known.

“How long have you two been dating, then?” He only stopped by to visit once a month or so these days. He easily could have kept it secret for some time now.

“Almost two years. We want to…” He blushed even darker. “We want to share a hoard. Somewhere near here.”

For a long minute, Twilight stared back. The longer she did, the more he fidgeted and wrinkled his brow. It wasn’t fair to make him nervous like that, but she simply couldn’t form the words…

“I’m so happy for you, Spike!” And his smile returned. “In fact, just recently—”

“I thought—”

They both let out a self-conscious giggle in the sudden lull in their conversation. And then Twilight took the initiative. “You first.”

“Well…” Spike started. “You know I used to have a crush on Rarity.”

“Yes.” Twilight nodded. “I remember how mature you were about it when she finally had to put a stop to it.”

“Yeah, but…” He scratched the back of his neck. “I…” He slumped to his haunches and let out a muttered “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.”

She would have taken his chin and turned his head back toward her, but she couldn’t reach that high. He’d never had trouble speaking to her before. Best to make as relaxed an atmosphere as she could. She pulled up an overstuffed chair and leaned back in it. “C’mon. Just like old times. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“I… Twilight, I once had a crush on you, too. Not serious, but… I don’t know. You were always like a big sister, a mom, a teacher.” His eyes stayed fixed on the floorboards. “Seems odd to have a crush on someone like that. Well, maybe not a teacher, but the other two.”

She gave a very controlled nod. No way she’d let on how cute she found that. “That’s normal, Spike.”

“I mean, it never got to what I’d call romantic thoughts—just sweet on you. Wait, that’s normal?” He finally looked at her, but he frowned a bit at her chuckling.

“Do you know how many colts say they’ll marry their mommies when they grow up? It happens all the time. Don’t worry, Spike—I don’t see it as any more than that.” She watched his shoulders relax and his smile return.

“I-I don’t even know why I wanted to tell you that,” he said, twiddling his thumbs. “Seemed important somehow.”

“Anyway,” she replied. Not to discount his sentiment—she gave him a quick pat on the arm to dispel that possibility. No, this moment would be one she treasured, like her first day in Ponyville, her first time meeting Princess Celestia. It would be one she treasured for years, for… “Interesting this all came up now, because I’ve discussed something with Princess Celestia lately.”

---

“Luna and I didn’t have a choice,” Celestia said. “But Cadence did, and so did a number of others. They all made the same decision.”

“I know,” Twilight replied. “I’ve had many discussions with Cadence over the years.”

“You’d see them all grow old. And you would see them die. But you’d also see what Equestria becomes.”

“Yes. But your one mistake is assuming I’d see that the same way everypony else does.” Twilight smiled softly back at Celestia.

“Twilight, dragons are long-lived, but even he will die,” Celestia replied, her lips pursed despite the gleam in her eye.

“Yes. But I’ll get to tell his children all about him, and then their children, and…”

Celestia broke into a wide grin and leaned over to nuzzle her. “Twilight Sparkle, I will enjoy spending eternity with you.”