Thank you so much for the reviews, follows, and favorites! I hope this next chapter lives up to your expectations. I'm really trying, but, this genre is a little new to me. :3 Please let me know what you think!

Spike lounged on Twilight's back, watching as the Apple family's cheery barn peeked into view. The pony yawned loudly, still tired after the five hour long game she'd played with Spike last night, something she proceeded to tease him about as he'd mostly prolonged the game with chatter about how great school would be.

"What? I'm excited!" The little dragon defended, grinning.

Twilight glanced at him, arching her eyebrow. "Need I remind you that you don't join school for nearly a week?" She teased lightly, trying not to yawn again. "Anyway, it can't be helped now; we're nearly at Sweet Apple Acres."

Spike stretched as he watched the peaceful scene, folding his hands comfortably behind his head as the broad apple trees swayed merrily in the summer breeze. The brawny figure, Big Macintosh, labored in the distant fields. He gave them a polite wave, and then returned to his work.

Spike didn't pay very much attention, too caught up in his own thoughts. 'I wonder if I'll make any new friends at school?'

"Howdy do, Twilight!" Applejack's jaunty voice startled Spike back into the present, disrupting his balance. Despite windmilling his arms, he failed to regain it and with a comical squeal, ended up plummeting to the dirt. Applejack and Twilight laughed openly.

"You alright, Spike?" Twilight asked, giggling.

Spike's scales burned with an awkward blush, but he plastered a sheepish smile across his face and scratched the back of his neck. "I'm fine, absolutely dandy!"

"Hey, Spike!" Applebloom's cheery voice interrupted the scene, Scootaloo at her side. Spike whirled around, hoping they hadn't seen his little episode.

"Hi Applebloom, Scootaloo!" He smiled and nodded to both of them. "What's up?"

Scootaloo answered, ruffling her mane; "We were just about to go to the clubhouse. Want to come?"

Spike grinned and nodded, Twilight calling out from behind him as she headed for the barn. "I'm going to go and help Applejack organize her barn now. Have fun!"

Spike resumed the conversation, waving Twilight away. "So, is Sweetie Belle coming today?"

Applebloom shrugged, giving him a fleeting look he couldn't identify. The little group started walking automatically towards the clubhouse. "We don't know. It depends on if Rarity decides to come help out with the barn or not."

Scootaloo chortled, imitating Rarity's voice; "Oh! I couldn't bear to get my hooves dirty. Little Spikey Wikey, you'll do it for me, won't you?"

Spike blushed as the two ponies laughed. "You guys know I don't like Rarity anymore. At least, not like that." He insisted.

"Suuure, you don't." Scootaloo answered, giving him a big wink as he rolled his eyes playfully.

"Whatever…"

"So, we heard yer gonna join our school?" Spike was grateful to hear Applebloom change the subject.

"Yeah! It's gonna be great!" He beamed.

"That's excitin', Spike! We can't wait to see ya there!" Grinning for her friend, Applebloom added, "Hey, maybe ya can even join our club!"

Scootaloo nodded excitedly, chiming in; "Yeah! We can make you an official uniform and everything! I mean, you won't get a cutie mark, obviously. But, I'm sure we could find something for you to do." She paused thoughtfully for a moment. "Hey, maybe you could be like our mascot or something!"

Applebloom giggled while Spike nodded absently. He was certain that Scootaloo had been trying to be nice, but something in her words had stung a little. He put it to the back of his mind however as Scootaloo announced they'd reached the treehouse. Hastening their pace, they climbed into the quaintly decorated wooden fort, glancing around at the various posters, hoof-drawn maps, and checklists.

After arranging themselves around the rug comfortably, Scootaloo asked; "Sooo….what do you guys want to do?"

"Would you guys mind telling me a bit about school? I don't really know anything about it." Spike suggested, both girls replying eagerly.

"Sure!"

Applebloom straightened her lopsided bow; "Our teacher is Miss Cheerilee. She's really pretty an' super nice! You'll like her. Plus she's really, really smart!"

"And sometimes at school you get to enter competitions like the talent show." Scootaloo piped up, only for Spike to interrupt.

"Are there any other boys in our class?"

Scootaloo and Applebloom nodded, listing off names. "Well, there's Snips and Snails…"

"And Featherweight!"

"And Pipsqueak. I think that's all."

"I've never met most of them." Spike said thoughtfully. Four boys sounded pretty cool, hopefully he'd be able to make some friends.

"Yeah... we haven't talked to 'em much," Applebloom admitted, tugging at a loose strand of rug, "Snips an' Snails seem kinda rude, an' Featherweight hangs out with Diamond Tiara an' Silver Spoon more than us. I don't really know much about Pipsqueak."

There was a lull in the conversation and Spike's eyes wandered around the room, glancing over the wooden floorboards that were tinted a pleasant green and beginning to trace over the wooden grooves with a claw.

"What're you guys doing?" A confused voice startled Spike back into reality, causing him to glance up. Rarity's younger sister, Sweetie Belle, stood in the doorway, with her head tilted and a crease in her brow. "Doesn't look very exciting…"

Glad for the opportunity of more conversation, Scootaloo jumped on it. "Hey, Sweetie! Did you hear that Spike's coming to school? We were just talking about it!" Smirking, she added pointedly; "And Spike, I guess Rarity did come after all," Although the comment flew straight over Sweetie Belle's head.

Quickly, Scootaloo filled her friend in about the little dragon's school endeavors as she plopped down on the ground near Spike.

"So you're coming to Ponyville's school? That'll be fun, Spike! I'm sure you'll really like it there!" Sweetie Belle assured him before asking, "You guys wanna get somethin' to eat? I'm hungry and Rarity said they probably won't be done with the barn for a while."

"So, they're really going to clear out that whole barn?" Spike marvelled, Applebloom nodding in response.

"Yeah, they're gonna sort through it an' paint it an' everything! I'm guessing Applejack's got some sort of reunion or party planned."

Scootaloo scrambled to her feet; "Well let's go get some grub!"

The group sat loosely arranged around the Apple Family's kitchen table, gorging themselves on the sandwiches Granny Smith had made.

"So, why are you going to school, Spike?" Sweetie Belle asked bluntly, causing Spike to hastily swallow the bite of sandwich he had been chewing and explain.

"Twi's not gonna have time to school me and stuff, now that she's got princess duties" He nibbled at his dish thoughtfully, chuckling to himself. "Actually, she wanted to send me to Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. Can you imagine how awkward that would've been?"

The ponies giggled, Sweetie Belle commenting; "I can picture you with a horn taped to your head, just strolling through the halls."

Scootaloo snorted, choking on her milkshake, until Applebloom thumped her on the back. With pained tears of laughter on her face, Scootaloo choked out; "And you'd probably be the teacher's pet, running errands for them and everything!" Thinking it over a moment, she added with a laugh; "And that fake horn idea is golden! I'll have to make you one of those."

As Spike joined in the laughter, he bit his lip, wondering if he would do well in school. I sure hope so.

Thanks again for reading! Also, a special thanks to my beta reader, Saani, for making my writing the best it can be. :)