It was a beautiful day in Equestria. A lone purple dragon was flying through the sky, while carrying a large box that was almost as big as him. This dragon is none other but Spike, with wings.
After about an hour of flying, Spike finally arrived at the city of Canterlot. It wasn't long before the city's majestic castle soon came into view.
"Phew," Spike panted, taking a breather on the roof of a building, while holding onto the special gift he was bringing for someone very special he was visiting, on Mother's Day.
This wasn't the first time he's ever had to visit her, secretly though.
Spike's Side-Story: Sweet and Elite
It was when Rarity was visiting Canterlot. While everyone knew that Twilight requested Princess Celestia to accommodate Rarity by giving her a guest room in the castle, it was Spike who secretly gave her the idea.
Later, when it was Twilight's birthday, Rarity had written a letter to Twilight and the other girls that her cat Opal was "sick" and the fashionista unicorn was "unable" to return to Ponyville, both the girls and Spike hitched the next train to Canterlot, where they moved Twilight's birthday party into the castle ballroom so that Rarity wouldn't have to miss it.
However, while the girls were having a blast at the party and getting acquainted with Rarity's new friend, Fancy Pants, Spike managed to quietly sneak away to meet with Princess Celestia herself.
"I think they're gone," Spike whispered, when both he and Celestia walked into the empty ball room the alicorn princess had lent to Pinkie Pie for Twilight's birthday party.
"Well in that case, we've got this whole room to ourselves," Celestia smiled as she walked over to a bowl of chocolate pudding and dipped an apple within, before she levitated the fruit out and took a bite of its crunchy, juicy texture, coated in sweet, dark chocolate. "Mmmm. Chocolate."
Looking back at the little purple dragon, Celestia noted the look of content on his face, as he watched Rarity and her friends getting acquainted with Fancy Pants, despite their rather, charmingly rustic, persona.
Turning to his mother, Spike smirked, "Be honest. It wasn't a coincidence you gave the whole castle ball room, close to the Canterlot's Garden Party. Was it?"
Celestia giggled, "You know me too well Spike," She confirmed. "I thought the Garden Party was just as dull as the Grand Galloping Gala. So I thought Twilight and others could help liven things up a bit. That, and I thought it would teach Rarity an important lesson. And I was right," She then looked down at Spike, and smiled, "Now it's your turn to be honest with me Spike."
"What?"
"I know there's more to Twilight's request when she sent me that letter, asking me if I could accommodate Rarity," Princess Celestia smiled slyly. "You wouldn't have anything to do with that. Now would you?"
Knowing he can't lie to her, Spike sighed, "Yeah, I may have given the idea to Twilight," He admitted. "And as expected, Twilight did go off on an endless rant of how we can't just ask you to accommodate one of us, because 'you're the princess of Equestria!'" He said, while doing a voice impression of Twilight, much to Celestia's amusement. "It took longer than I thought, but I managed to get through to Twilight."
"Is that so?" Celestia asked. "And pray tell, what compelled you to go through such trouble to provide Rarity such luxury on her visit here?"
"Nothing much," Spike scratched the book of his head, while drawing circles with one of his foot. "Just wanted for Rarity to have the best time of her life in Canterlot. That's all."
"Aw, you're such a sweetie, my little sunshine," Celestia smiled, nuzzling close to him.
Spike quickly broke away, "Whoa, whoa! Princess!" He exclaimed. "Someone could hear!"
"Relax Spike," Celestia assured. "It's just the two of us. So I see no need for formality." Spike still looked hesitant, "C'mon, Spike. Let me hear it."
Blushing a shade or red from embarrassment, and the pressure the princess was exerting on him, Spike finally caved in, "Yes, mother."
Celestia smiled as she playfully pinched Spike's cheeks with her magics, 'Y'know, maybe Rarity was right about your cheeks,' She thought sweetly.
"Mom! Cut it out!" Spike groaned from his mother's painful loving affection.
Present
"Phew, I'm glad that was over," Princess Celestia breathed a sigh of relief as she collapsed on her bed, after her recent meeting with General Seaspray of Seaquestria/Hippogriffia she had attended. "Now I have this entire evening to myself," She sighed in content, as she kicked her shoes off, while levitating her crown and collar off, before she collapsed in bed, and was out like a bulb in an instant.
Little did she know, a certain young dragon just appeared on her balcony, with the aid of his newfound wings. He was carrying the big box in his arms, as he slowly floated down for a landing, when he took note of her tired, but content form.
Spike smiled at how peaceful she looked, as he sets down his present on a nearby desk, before he walks over and draped a blanket over Princess Celestia. After that task was done, he lied down on the bed next to Celestia, while being extra careful, so as to not disturb her awake.
Feeling content, Celestia smiled in her sleep, before she wrapped a wing around Spike and held him close.
'Whoa, still as soft as they were before,' Spike thought about the soft feathers of his mother's wings. 'I forgot how much I liked to sleep under her wings. They're even softer than Twilight's too,' Spike thought, before he felt himself being consumed by the softness of the feathers, the soothing warmth radiating from Celestia’s body as he too began to feel the spell of sleep taking over.
Nuzzling deeper into the softness of her wings, Spike cuddled his mother up close, enjoying the warmth and comfort her body provide.
It was only about half an hour, when Celestia began to stir awake. Looking up, she could see that her sun had lowered itself to illuminate the sky in a brilliant and beautiful display of red and orange hue. It wasn't long before she felt a small lump beneath one of her wings.
"Oh, what's this?" Celestia asked herself, before she lifted her wing up, seeing the little purple and green bundle. "Spike? What's he doing here?" Celestia exclaimed in bewilderment, before she melted at the sight of the sleeping baby dragon. "Not that I mind that is. He always did look cute this way," She cooed, playfully nuzzling the dragon's sleeping form, when she noticed something new about him. "No...." She gasped at the sight of his recently sprouted wings. “Can it truly be?”
A groan escaped from Spike's mouth, before he blinked his eyes open, and he looked up to see his mother looking lovingly at him, "Oh, hi mom!" Spike smiled. "How did you sleep?"
"I slept well dear," Celestia smiled. "In fact, better than I've ever felt in a long while, now that I got to hold you this close again!"
Spike chuckled sheepishly, "Like I'd ever miss out on being with you on Mother's Day?" Spike asked rhetorically. Getting up on his feet, Spike walked over to the desk and picked up the present he was carrying with him. "I got you a little something for this day," Unfolding the box, Spike revealed to his mom a large chocolate cake of three layers - each with a flavor of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and vanilla from bottom to top respectively. "Happy Mother's Day, mom."
Princess Celestia placed a hoof over chest, touched by the loving gesture, "Oh Spike, you shouldn't have," She smiled, getting up from her bed, levitating the cake, and rubbed her nose with Spike's.
Then, she broke away, as she looked at Spike, "So tell me, Spike," She began. "When did you sprout your wings?"
Spike chuckled, as he turned to see the wings that were on his back, "Oh, not too long ago. Back when I was helping Twilight and the girls run the school," He replied. 'That and I was still recovering from nearly getting eaten by a giant bird,' He thought secretly, before he decided to change the topic. "So what do you think?" He asked, spreading his little wings for her to see.
"I think you have beautiful wings Spike," Celestia replied. "Just like the dragon they belonged to," She then thought sadly, 'A tearful sign that says you're growing up.'
Later, the two were in the kitchen, cutting up the cake and eating every slices of it, savoring the soft and delicious textures of the cake, but not as much as Celestia, obviously.
"Mmmm, this is delicious~" She purred, enjoying the cake. "Oh yes, that tastes good!" She gasped.
"Wow mom," Spike began, looking at his adopted mother in shock, mixed with slight embarrassment. "And you taught me a lot of lessons about table manners?"
Celestia chuckled, "And haven't I taught you how to lighten up once in awhile?" She asked. "Besides, I haven't had cakes in weeks. So it's great to savor this moment!" She downed another slice with one quick gulp.
Spike shook his head, rolling his eyes, while looking playfully at his mom, "It's the least I can do for an amazing mom, like you," Spike smiled. "I still don't know why you would consider adopting someone like me. Especially since I'm a dragon and you're an all powerful alicorn princess."
Celestia instantly stopped her feasting, looking at her adopted son with wide eyes, "Spike. You're more than who you are," She began, maternally. "You're special, more ways than one."
"Even for a dragon?" Spike asked.
"Especially for a dragon," Celestia confirmed.
Spike looked away, while walking out to the window, "I wish I can believe that," He replied sadly. "I know you, Twilight, and the others see me as a family, and a friend. And I'm thankful for that, because you are all my family. The only family I have," He said solemnly at the last part. "But sometimes, even everyday, I'm always being seen as a menace or a nuisance by every other ponies and creatures. I'm even reminded of the mistakes I've made in the past, and the troubles I've caused that nearly hurt the lives of everyone else, even my friends," He thought sadly, remembering the time when the young dragon was consumed by greed, when he unintentionally turned Rarity evil with a magic spell book of forbidden magic, and then some. "And that got me thinking, maybe I'm better off by myself."
Celestia could hardly believe what she was hearing. It doesn't surprise her that some ponies continue to give some dragons like Spike the cold shoulder, and others like Chancellor Neighsayer have a very negative perspective on the idea of dragons living with ponies, let alone being treated as equals. All the more reason why their mother and son relationship was kept a secret for the time being. However, the thought of her son leaving for the good of Equestria was something she didn't like to think about.
Getting up from her seat, Celestia walked over, placing a gentle wing on Spike's shoulder, "Spike, look at me," She whispered motherly, with the other wing tucking a feather beneath his chin, guiding him to look up at her warm, loving violet eyes. "Don't ever think that way about yourself," She said. "You do not need to be afraid of what you will become, and neither will we. You have done wonderful things when I first set you on the path to your destiny with Twilight. Big or small, we've all made mistakes in our lives. But in the end, we learn from them. You can't just keep running from them," She said, while reflecting on the mistakes she too have made in the past, specifically the ones when she and Luna were in their adolescent years and how she would often mock her little sister for her slow mastery of the magic arts, followed by her inability to save Luna from the darkness of Nightmare Moon, and recent ones she's had with Luna, Sunset Shimmer, and even Twilight.
Feeling the love and sincerity from his adopted mother, Spike nodded before he walked over and embraced his mother's leg, "I'll try mom," He said. "I just hope I can be a better dragon, for you and everyone in Equestria."
"I know you will, Spike," Celestia whispered. "I know."
Then, Spike remembered something very important, "Hey mom?" Spike began. "Can I ask you something? It's been bugging me for awhile now."
"Of course sweetie," Celestia replied. "What is it?"
Spike swallowed a lump, before taking a deep breath, relieving his anxiety for a moment before he asked, "If you knew about the dragons' custom from the Dragon homeland, that when I grew my wings, would you kick me out? Or even disown me?" He asked, while showing her his newfound wings.
Celestia's eyes widened, as she looked at Spike with a look of shock, "Of course not!" She quickly answered. "Where did you get an idea like that?"
"Well, Smolder told me about how when dragons begin their molting, then their families will kick them out to live on their own," Spike answered as he recalled how he reacted, following that revelation. "And since then, I was avoiding Twilight and the others, trying not to be discovered and risk the chance of getting kicked out."
Celestia looked at the little dragon with concerns, "And did they do that?" She asked.
Spike recalled how Twilight discovered his newfound wings, and what she said otherwise, "No. She didn't," Spike replied.
"And why's that?"
"Because she said that this is Equestria, it's not the Dragon Land. So here, I won’t get kicked out."
"Exactly," Princess Celestia smiled. "I would never kick you out, my little sunshine. You are more than just a little dragon. You are a friend to the ponies of Equestria. You are a friend to all creatures in our world. And most of all, you are my son."
"But just say that we live in the Dragon Land. Then would you still have to kick me out?" Spike asked, even more anxious.
In response, Celestia shook her head, "The Dragon Land, or not, I would never do such a thing," She replied in her natural, loving, maternal tone. "If I did, then I wouldn't be any better than when I was forced to banish Luna to the moon for a thousand years. And what's more, I wouldn't call myself a mother if I ever disowned you for accomplishing something all by yourself," Looking back at Spike, Princess Celestia added, "I'm proud of you, Spike, because you are my son."
Spike's eyes welled up, before he walked over and wrapped his arm around Princess Celestia's neck, which she welcomed with a hug from her wings, "And I'm happy that you're my mom," Spike sobbed happily. "Can you ever forgive me for doubting you?"
Celestia smiled, as she tightened the hug, "There's nothing to forgive sweetie," She replied sweetly. “Never forget this," She began in a tearful voice. "You're mine, mine to me. No matter where you go, or what they may call you. You will always be my son."
Spike flapped his wings to look at Celestia directly in the eyes, seeing her lights reflecting off of her beautiful violet eyes. He nodded, as he held his arms out for her cheeks, before both he and Celestia touched their foreheads together, and embraced.
"You're the best mom a dragon could ever ask for," Spike said lovingly.
In response, Celestia chuckled lovingly, "I actually owed it all to another wonderful mother," Then, an idea came to Celestia, "Spike. Would you be interested in a story?" She asked.
"I guess," Spike looked up, with slight curiosity. "What is it about?"
"Oh, it's about one of my favorite legends," Celestia smiled in nostalgia. "It's the legend of Lung Mo - Mother of Dragons."
Spike's eyes quickly widened, as his ears perked up with newfound fascination, "Your favorite legend is a dragon?" He asked.
Celestia chuckled, "Oh no, Spike. She's not a dragon at all," She confirmed. "Believe it or not, Twilight and I aren't the first of ponies to have raised dragons."
Long ago, in the homeland of Mistmane and Sable Spirit, there lived a young unicorn mare named Wen Shi. Wen Shi was poor, and she had little food and money for herself and her family.
But soon, all of that changed when she went down to the river, to wash her clothes, when she happened to find a beautiful white stone that sparkled in the sun. She took the stone home, believing she can sell it for a hefty price for herself and her family.
Once she arrived home, Wen Shi casted a spell on the stone to make it more dazzling and clean. However, what she did on that fateful day, changed her life forever. The stone broke to reveal it was an egg. And out of the egg were six baby dragons.
Upon seeing Wen Shi, they immediately imprinted her as their mother. And while Wen Shi was frightened at first, in time she grew to love and feel pity for the baby dragons, whom she soon came to see as her children.
Wen Shi and her family were poor, but she always saved the best food for her little dragon children. The dragons were grateful, and as the years go by, they grew up strong and powerful, and they helped take care of Wen Shi, just as she did for them. They brought rain for a bountiful harvest. They helped find beautiful gems for Wen Shi and her families, while eating a few for themselves. They even helped to protect Wen Shi and her friends and family from dangers with their powerful magics and strength.
Because of her unbound motherly love for her dragons, and their love for her, the ponies named Wen Shi as Lung Mo, which means "Mother of Dragons" in their native tongues.
Since then, the story of Lung Mo and her dragons have spread all over the world, touching the hearts of motherhood upon hearing the filial devotion of the dragons and the parental love of Lung Mo.
Present
Spike's eyes were widened to hear such story, as Celestia concluded, "Even though the story was forgotten by many, including the dragons, I still held it dearly. Because it taught me, that no matter the species, or the blood relation, there will always be love for those who look for it."
"Wow," Spike gasped, before he smiled with newfound admiration, "Y'know. Hearing this story, I'd say Lung Mo is my favorite legend too!" He smiled, as he hugs Princess Celestia again, albeit tighter.
"I'm glad you think that way too," Celestia smiled. "And I know you'll grow up to be a wonderful dragon, just like Lung Mo's children were."
This made Spike even more relieved, as he continues to hug his adopted mother even closer, "Thanks mom," He said with content. "I love you, Momlestia."
"I love you too, my little sunshine," Celestia replied with equal love. She looked, before she noticed a bit of chocolate on his nose, "Aw look, you've got a bit of cake on your nose," She cooed, before she playfully kissed her son's face, getting the frostings off.
"Hey mom! Stop it!" Spike chuckled in protest. "That tickles!"
After they were done with their cake, both Princess Celestia and Spike walked out to a balcony where they took flight, into the night sky.
Though he continues to struggle with his new wings, Spike eventually got the hang of it, as he and Princess Celestia flew off together, playing among the clouds, under the stars, laughing and playing together, as mother and son.
Lucid Dream - Owl City
Thank You - Sarah Conner
Author's Note
The picture above is by dSana, and it's a panel from her comic: To Look After.
Dedicated to the spirit of motherhood, to the Chinese story of Lung Mo(龍母) - Dragon Mother or Mother of Dragons, and for mothers everywhere.
