Beauties and the Beast

It was another beautiful day in Equestria. Every pony and creatures are all happy to enjoy this new day Princess Celestia has blessed upon them, with her light.

However, the same cannot be said for one troubled dragon, who now sits before a huge mirror, looking at his own reflection, within the halls of Canterlot Castle. He wasn't there to check himself in the mirror, or anything. Something more troublesome was on his mind.

It all started a few days ago.....when he came to Ponyville.

Past

It all started with Spike presenting his gift to Smolder, when a great ball of fire fell out of the sky and crashed in the middle of Ponyville. The ball of fire turns out to be a chubby green adult dragon who calls himself Sludge.

The older dragon was in bad shape, courtesy of his crash landing in the middle of Ponyville. Though reluctant at first, he gladly accepted the hospitality of Twilight, Spike, and their friends to help him get recuperate. However, on the day when he was expected to leave, he stopped suddenly to talk to Spike.

"I didn't come to Ponyville without a reason," Sludge confessed. "I was looking for you. Spike....I am your father."

Present

"....I am your father." The words repeated, hauntingly in the little dragon's head.

Spike clenched his fist, baring his fangs together into a snarl, "Some father you were!" Spike hissed angrily. "I can't believe I was so stupid to believe you liked that!!" With a roar, Spike threw his fist out into a punch, striking a wall nearby, with little effect.

Tears welled up from the young dragon's eyes, as he remembered the final words of his "father."

"I am not your father!" Sludge finally confessed. "I just said that to live a luxurious life."

Spike was of course, heartbroken upon hearing the revelation, "So...you pretended to be my daddy?"

"Don't look at me like that!" Sludge grumbled. "I did just what every dragon would have done."

"No. That's not true." Smolder countered.

"Hey! I saw an opportunity and I seized it. That's what we dragons do!"

"No, we don't!" Smolder continued.

"Well, I'm leaving," Sludge frowned as he took his leave. "Have fun in pony town..." He glowered mockingly.

From that day on, Spike was left unsettled, for the last he wanted was another dragon who would have the gall to pass himself off as the young dragon's father, or mother. And if that wasn't unsettling enough, then it would probably be some talks he's had with Twilight.

Past

"......I can't believe I forgot such a simple detail as feathers!" Twilight ranted, after a failure in their early attempts to further strengthen Spike's flying abilities. "No wonder it didn't go so well."

Spike didn't reply. But he did listened to every words Twilight had said. He couldn't find himself to interrupt her as he continues to let her speak her mind.

"I wish there were more dragon knowledge I could've given you," Twilight continued, before she asked, "Do you think it affects you in many ways that you were raised by ponies?" Spike didn't answer, which prompted Twilight to ask, "Spike?"

Finally, Spike answered, "Did you say something Twilight?" He turned his head towards the lavender alicorn. "Sorry, I am making a thank you pillow to Smolder. I'm in a different world when I'm sewing."

In response, Twilight chuckled nervously as Spike resumed his work.

However, had Twilight known, then she would've known that Spike was just as troubled as she was.

'I don't blame you Twilight,' Spike mentally replied. 'Given to the shared histories of ponies and dragons, I can understand why you couldn't give me more dragon knowledge. But it's no use. I've been raised by you and your parents. I've been taught how to live like a pony. My mom's an alicorn princess. That's all I've ever known to live like. A pony! And when I tried to live like a dragon, I just....I just couldn't embrace it.....because I don't have a mother or a father to teach me.'

Present

"Twilight..." Spike cried. "Forgive me."

Sludge was another creature who actually managed to drive a wedge between Spike and Twilight. Especially during one of their talks, where Spike harshly spoke to Twilight, "Maybe you don't like it now that I have a real parent."

What Spike said that day was a low blow, for the sound of Twilight's heartbreak was barely heard.

Spike hugged himself closer, digging his claws into his skin, as he continues to berate himself, "How could I be so...so blind? So stupid?" He said. "I've known Twilight since the very beginning. She hatched me.....she and mom raised me....they've always been there for me.....they taught me how to use my fire for good...how to actually do some good....and I was so quick to turn them away like that? BECAUSE OF SOME LIAR WHO PASSED HIMSELF OFF AS MY FATHER?!!!!! WWHHHHHHYYYYYY?!!!!!"

Spike collapsed to the floor and cried his heart out, in front of the mirror.

His depression didn't go unheard or unnoticed, when Princess Celestia was passing by and stopped to see the young dragon crying.

Instinct kicked in as Celestia walked into the room and gently whispered, "Spike?"

Spike ceased the water work as he looked up to see the princess he secretly referred to as "mom."

"Sweetie? What's wrong?" Celestia asked, receiving a quick tackle to her leg from the little dragon as an answer.

"Please! Turn me to stone! Lock me away! Send me somewhere far away from Equestria!" Spike begged as he continues to sob. "I don't deserve to live!! I can't show my face to Twilight or the girls ever again!!!"

"W-What? What are you talking about?" Celestia asked, troubled even further at what the young dragon was saying. The only response she could get from Spike was more blubbering and sobbing, until finally, the sun alicorn wrapped her majestic wings around the young dragon and held him in for a loving hug.

"Shhhhh, there, there little one," Celestia shushed in her natural motherly tone, stroking her feathers along Spike's back, calming him. "That's it little sunshine. Just let it all out sweetie......shhhhh. It's okay."

Spike felt himself at ease as he melted to the soft touch of Celestia's feathers, 'One good thing about wings with feathers,' Spike thought. 'They're really soft to the feel.'

Sensing that Spike has finally calmed himself, Celestia gently asked, "Feeling better?"

"Uh huh," Spike nodded, sniffling a bit.

"Now tell me, sweetie," Celestia began as she sat herself down on the floor to his level. "What's wrong?" After a few deep breaths, Spike eventually told Celestia everything that's happened with him, Sludge, and most of all, Twilight.

"And that's how it's been with me lately..." Spike frowned. "I realized how stupid I was to trade you, Twilight, and everyone else away for some great, big, fat JERK who PASSED HIMSELF OFF AS MY FATHER!! AND I HATE IT!! I HATE MYSELF!! I'll never be able to live it down, and I'll never be able to live with myself!! NOT AFTER WHAT I JUST DID!!!" With that, Spike broke down crying as he turns away from Celestia. "I'm sorry....your majesty......I shouldn't even be here...." Picking himself up, Spike was about to see himself out. "I'll go now.....forever."

"Spike, no!" Celestia cried, a golden aura surrounding her horn as she stopped him in his track. "No, Spike. Don't be like that. You are but a child. And you are still growing. It's only natural that you would hope his words were true. It is the nature of a good heart. And you have a good heart, Spike."

Spike sighed, as he wiped a tear away, "Still...I feel so ashamed for turning you and every pony away like that....please forgive me, Princess Celestia."

Princess Celestia placed a feather beneath his chin, as she directed his reddened eyes to look at her warm motherly violet eyes, "There's nothing to forgive, my son," She smiled. "Of course, as an apology, all you have to do is refer to me as 'mom' again."

Spike smiled, as he wrapped his arms around her neck, "Okay....mom," He cried happily, as Celestia wrapped her wings and hooves around him.

The two stayed that way for what felt like hours, "Hehe, I don't want to let go," Spike chuckled, which Celestia returned.

"Me neither," Celestia replied.

At last, mother and son released their grip from each other, allowing Spike to look back at the mirror in front of him.

"I take it that Sludge wasn't the only thing that troubles you, my son?" Celestia asked.

Spike sighed as he placed a claw in front of the mirror, "I'll admit. Right now, I was just wondering what it would've been like to have a real father," He admitted. "Someone who loves you and loves me," Turning his head to Celestia, Spike asked, "Would King Sombra make a great dad for me? Or would I be a good son to him?"

Celestia smiled as she walked up to Spike, "Of course he would, sweetie," She said, putting a reassuring hoof on his shoulder. "If you can make me happy, then Sombra would be delighted to have you for a son." Celestia blushed when she whispered, "He once let it slipped that he would love to have kids. Unicorn, alicorn, it doesn't matter to him. He'll even accept a little dragon like you."

Spike couldn't help but smile, "Hey mom?" He began, looking up at Celestia's warm violet eyes. "Would it be okay if I call King Sombra.....dad from now on?"

A tear welled up in Celestia's eyes which she wiped it away with the tip of her wings, "Of course sweetie!" She smiled tearfully. "He would love that!"

Spike hugged his mother's leg even tighter, "Then I'm more than happy to at least have a real father," He smiled, with Celestia returning the embrace with a nuzzle of her cheek, and a stroke of her wing.

Celestia smiled, nuzzling Spike close, looking up to see a reflection of good King Sombra from the alternate universe of Equestria, standing on the opposite side, wrapping his hoof around Spike.

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