Spyro and The Legend of Friendship

Written By: Cloudline Dasher

Edited By: N/A

Chapter eight: Herding a Dragon

Letting out a soft sigh, Spyro closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. His mind riddled with what it would be like to be a pony. Would he be a unicorn, pegasus, earth pony, or an alicorn? However, the more he thought about his predicament, he found he didn't want to be a pony. He would rather be a dragon. It's all he had ever known, well... except while he had been raised by dragonflies. Despite his appearance and size differences, he honestly believed he was a dragonfly. It was hard enough finding out you were a different specie than your family, let alone to have to swap species altogether.

Abandoning his pretend sleep, Spyro lifted his head to notice the balloons altitude faltering. Rainbow Dash and Luna seemed drained, and both looked exhausted. Standing from his spot, Spyro made his way gently to the front of the balloon, where he could feel all the ponies watching him, “Luna! Rainbow Dash! Let's swap out!”

Without the proper means to really speak back or refuse, Luna gave Rainbow an affirming nod as they darted down for the ground. Upon landing, Applejack jumped from the basket to tie the rope to a nearby tree. Everypony poured out of the balloon as they groaned and stretched their limbs. Spyro stepped toward Luna, looking over to make sure Twilight was there too, “I have a question.”

“Yes Spyro?” Luna asked, a soft concern on her face, in which was shared with Twilight.

“Nothing against Ponies, but I really don't want to be one... I've worked hard to be a master of the elements, as well as my powers as a purple dragon. Is there any possible way of keeping me as a dragon?” Spyro asked, glancing in between the two mares.

A frown formed on Twilight's face as she replied, “Actually, I gave it some thought and I may have something...”

“Prithee Twilight, what is it?” Luna grinned, stepping closer to the purple mare.

“I'm not entirely sure about this, but the power crystals that you mentioned, Spyro. I figure that they are the source of Dragon magic. If the ring of fire shifted the dominant specie over to Ponies, and the result was the extinction of the power crystal. What if it was because the magic in the crystal was transferred over to ponies?” Twilight pondered, her hoof tapping her chin.

Spyro frowned, rubbing his temples in hopes of keeping the information in, “What does that mean for me? That doesn't really help...”

“Oh I think it does!” Twilight grinned, making Spyro look to her curiously, “A magic spell was used to hatch spike. What if I use that same spell on you?”

“Twilight...” Luna stepped forward, placing a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, “That infuses the hatchling with your DNA, you couldn't possibly do that with Spyro... He's already hatched.”

“Yes, but I could still grant him with my magic. As long as a unicorn filled his reserves with their magic, in theory it would be like him using power crystals.” Twilight beamed, glancing over to Spyro to gauge his reaction.

“What do I have to lose?” Spyro rhetorically asked, shrugging his shoulders. He sat down as to brace for impact, “Go ahead and try it.”

Closing her eyes, Twilight lit up her horn. Illuminating the area in a purple light. A small beam shot over to Spyro, making his eyes go wide and brighten with a purple haze. Spyro couldn't help but back up, his body flinching and his muscles convulsing. With a large flash of light, it was all over. Spyro looked over his claws, balling them into a fist and a soft grin formed on his face.

Worried, Luna stepped over, stopping herself from nuzzling his cheek, “How do you feel?”

“Better!” Spyro admitted with a chuckle, glancing over to Twilight.

“Eep~!” Twilight yelped as Spyro darted over, throwing his arms around the lavender mare.

A steady crimson crossed Twilight's face, a small warmth filling her chest. Her features softened as she tenderly wrapped her hooves around Spyro's scaly body. Taking in the texture of his leathery scales.

“Oh! Kiss! Kiss!” Pinkie called out, bouncing randomly amongst all the ponies.

Twilight's eyes went wide, instantly pulling away and shuffling her gaze between Spyro and Pinkie, “Pinkie!”

“What?” Pinkie smiled with a blank expression and coming to a stop, “We all know you want too! You looove him!”

The lavender mare opened her mouth to say something, but her mouth snapped shut as Luna stomped the ground, cracking the earth with its vibrations. Luna stepped toward the pink mare, anger apparent on her face, “Halt thou tongue!”

Pinkie froze in terror. Giggling at ghostlys was one thing, but when a friend was angry, it was the only thing that could make the pink mare freeze in terror. Pinkie shrunk back as Luna towered over her, almost resembling Nightmaremoon as she yelled, “Even if Twilight hath feelings for Twilight, why doth thou think that Spyro returns her affections?! I loveth Spryo, he is besotted with me!”

Luna froze in terror at the trembling pink pony by her hooves, her eyes going wide and stepping back a few steps. Her eyes gazed upon everypony, seeing the confusion in their eyes. Throwing her nose downcast, she darted from the clearing in her embarrassing admittance of her emotion, as well as scaring the poor Element of Laughter.

“Wait!” Spyro called out, chasing after Luna, but everypony else remained still.

“Darling, should you go too?” Rarity stated in a low tone, placing a delicate hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

“W-why?” Twilight asked dishearteningly, her head lowered.

“I can see you have feelings for him, Twilight. However, you are rather close to Luna as well. You should go see if you and Spyro can cheer her up!” Rarity tried to meet Twilight's gaze, but only managed when Twilight looked up to her.

Without another word, Twilight slowly got up, stepping toward the direction Luna and Spyro had went.

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Snoring could be heard emanating from the small dragon, but as Spitfire's hooves collided with the ground, he snapped to attention. Almost falling from Spitfire's back, Spike was gently caught in a bright luminescent yellow aura, and gently guided to his own feet. Glancing up, Spike smiled in relief at whom he saw, “Celestia!”

Smiling down to the young dragon, Celestia then turned her attention to Spitfire, and then Soarin that was following behind carrying a group of animals, “Very good job Spitfire, Soarin. However.., I fear your comrades were not so lucky...”

Lowering their head, Spitfire placed her hoof over her heart, “It is my fault... I underestimated Sombra's persuasion...”

“Verily well...” Celestia softly spoke, nodding to the two young wonderbolts, “They are not lost forever. Once Sombra is defeated, they will be released from his dark persuasions. Our top priority, however, is Spike. We mustn't allow Sombra to sway him to the side of evil.”

Bowing out of respect, Spitfire stepped closer to the Princess, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but what is our plan now?”

“Spitfire, Soarin, I have one more task to ask of the two of you.” Celestia nodded, motioning with a hoof for Spitfire to stand up.

Obeying the gesture, Spitfire glanced up to the Princess, “Anything!”

“Take these animals and head for Trottingham. Tell Cadence I will not be returning. I know of only one safe place for Spike, and I must hurry.” Celestia stated, picking Spike up in her aura and placing him gently upon her back.

Spike blushed from the 'royal' ride he would be having, but dismissed it as Spitfire voiced her concern, “But... your highness... Is it right for you to be left alone? You are the leader of Equestria after all, if anything were to happen...”

A soft grin formed on Celestia's lips, nodding, “Duly noted, but there is a reason I am as large as I am. I contain vast magic that I have stored over a thousand years. Trust me, It will be a cold day in Tartarus before any kind of pony nor beast can defeat me.”

Staring at the princess, mainly out of concern, Spitfire just nodded, “Of course your highness...”

And with that, Spitfire helped Soarin with some of the animals, and they were off toward Trottingham.

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Slowly coming to a stop, Luna plopped down, disturbing the foot tall grass. Many grasshoppers could be seen retreating, but soon she was left with silence. The only source of light was her very own moon up above, as well as many lightning bugs that flickered their light occasionally around her.

“I've fought so very hard to contain any remnants of Nightmaremoon, yet I still manage to snap.” Splaying her hoof over her nose bashfully, she acts as if she had to hide the growing red on her cheeks, “And to think... with all my lessons... I still break out into archaic speech like that...”

“I don't mind, you know?” Spyro asked, slowing his pace.

Luna suddenly jumped, her face flaring to life in a crimson hue, averting her gaze, “P-prithee... leave us be...”

“Us? But it's only you here...” Spryo questioned, tilting his head.

Her embarrassment become a tad bit too unbearable, Luna strained to prevent herself from darting away again, “A-Archaic... speech again...”

Nodding, his mouth forming into an 'o', Spryo just merely chuckled, “Ignitus used to speak like that when he got angry with the other guardians.”

A soft grin formed on Luna's face, her blush fading, but not totally, “That pleases us, that I speak as father does...”

“Luna?” Spyro questioned, stepping closer until he was right in front of her, and he sat down.

Turning to face the dragon, Luna's eyes locked with Spyro's. She looked over him, noticing the only thing she could really see was his outline, and his shinning eyes through the darkness, “Yes?”

“Did you mean what you said back there? I mean... about being in love with me?” Spyro asked, looking to Luna with seriousness.

“I...” Luna opened her mouth to answer, but then her eyes focused to a ruffling just beyond Spyro, “Twilight?”

Stepping into the clearing, Twilight neared the two, but sat down at least a few yards away, “She did mean it Spyro... She loves you...” They both could hear the disappointment in the small unicorn's voice.

Averting her gaze once more, Luna fell silent, “I'm sorry Twilight... I am not dense, I can see you have feelings for him too. I just became... defensive that I had competition. I truly love Spyro, and it just seals the deal that he has longevity as I do. I could have a long lasting love with Spyro.”

“I... I could propose we start... a herd together?” Twilight stuttered, biting her lower lip.

Glancing down to her hooves, Luna muttered in a low tone, but loud enough so both could hear, “That... that could work, but I haven't been in a herd for a thousand years.”

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Spyro threw his claws up, waving them randomly in the air, “Hold on now... Do I even get a say in this?”

Both the mares turned their noses down in embarrassment, forgetting to get Spyro's opinion, or even if he loved either of them. Luna scratched at the grass below her hooves, “Sorry, you probably don't even like either of us. It was unfair to you to speak like this in front of you.”

“Besides...” Twilight frowned, mimicking Luna by scratching at the grass below her hooves, “Who would be lead mare? Usually a relationship starts and then the third joins later, automatically setting up the first mare as the lead mare.”

Stepping a couple steps back so Spyro could more easily see both mares, he just glanced in between the two of them, “Okay, somepony explain to me. What are you talking about... herds?”

Clearing her voice, Twilight took a lecturer tone, “Among Ponies, mares outnumber stallions. In which they create a relationship, which consists of multiple partners called a herd. Most herds usually start off from a monogamous relationship, but later a third is introduced. While the original relationship is still there, the first mare is the lead mare, while the others are essentially in a relationship with both the first occupants. However, this is not always followed. Nowadays, ponies wish that no lead mare is chosen, and all ponies are equals in the relationship. Making sure that none are neglected, or hold authority over the others. It's more democratic, than having one mare have power over the rest.”

Once again Spyro rubbed his temples, trying to keep the information inside, but ultimately just sighed, “Look, I really like you both, but a herd? I've never even been with a dragon, let alone a pony... I don't even know if it could be done...”

Glancing over to Luna, she had a faint red on her cheeks as she slowly spoke, “It's quite easy.”

“Huh?” Spyro questioned, raising his brow in confusion.

A giggle escaped Twilight, which their attentions turned over to her. She shuffled under their gazes, but held firm, “I've read plenty of books on the subject. Dragon anatomy isn't far off from ponies. It's just that most dragons are far too big, but the ponies like Spike that succeed in containing their emotions, take on a form much like yours, Spyro. They become Dragon ponies, and without the aid of Power crystals, you may also turn into one.”

“D-dragon pony?” Now the purple dragon was more confused than ever. Ultimately he let out a sigh, frowning, “I uh... I want to stay a dragon, not a dragon... pony...”

Another giggle escaped, but this time from Luna, “Spyro, you could already be considered a dragon pony. It just means you wouldn't become any larger.”

A little light flickered on in his mind, “Oh! I see what you mean now. I was worried because dragons get really large, we wouldn't be able to have a p-phys--” Spyro fell silent, the idea of sex making him awkward.

“Physical relationship?” Twilight finished for him, earning her a nod from the dragon.

Glancing up to the moon, Luna frowned, “This really leaves the question we all want to know...”

As the Alicorn lowered her gaze, all three looked in between one another, ultimately looking over to Spyro. Spyro blinked as his face heated up, “I... I don't know! It's so much to take in!”

Turning her nose downcast, Twilight murmured, “You need time, don't you?”

“Please...” Spyro nervously grinned, eying the purple unicorn.

“Very well.” Luna nodded, and without any other word, she stepped from the clearing and back toward the direction of the balloon.

Twilight and Spyro shared a glance, before they followed the dark Princess.

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It was so quiet that Celestia upon several occasions had to make sure the small dragon was still awake. Not that it really mattered, but she was worried for the small dragon. She could only imagine what Sombra's whispering persuasions had tormented the baby dragon.

“C-Celestia?” The dragon softly spoke, but the sound of her name eagerly turned her attention to him.

Keeping up her walking, Celestia replied, “Yes, Spike?”

“You came to save me, because I'm the purple dragon didn't you?”

This made Celestia stop dead in her tracks, glancing back to the little dragon, “While I admit that I must prevent your powers to be used by darkness, I also refuse to allow anything to happen to you. Twilight would be mortified if you were killed.”

Spike's eyes fell, a frown forming, “Oh...”

This raised many questions in Celestia's mind, but she decided with, “What's wrong with that? Twilight loves you very much.”

Drawing little circles on Celestia's back, Spike chose his words carefully, “I know they aren't true, but I have to wonder about some of the things Malefor said.”

Sitting down under a tree, Celestia used her magic to pull the dragon from her back, placing him gently by her side, “And what, may I ask, did he say?”

“Well, I don't really have friends of my own. You are Twilight's teacher, Shining Armor is Twilight's brother, Twilight's parents are hers, not mine. Her friends are there because of the Elements of Harmony. I don't really fit in with Twilight.” Spike frowned, fumbling his claws against one another.

Closing her eyes gently, the white Alicorn giggled, earning a curious glance from the dragon, “Don't you see it? Twilight loves you with all her heart. While she focuses on her studies, she relies on you for everything. She trusts you with her life. Even at the Crystal Empire, she trusted you with the crystal heart. Why would anypony trust somepony without some emotional attachment behind it? It doesn't matter how much somepony is trustworthy, if they haven't earned your trust, all previous actions mean nothing.”

Spike fell silent, guilt setting in for even questioning her purple friend. Craning her neck around, Celestia softly smiled as she nuzzled Spike's forehead with her nose, “As for me, I've always seen both you and Twilight as my own children. I would gladly give my life to protect you.”

“Yeah, but you're the Princess, you would do that for any of your subjects.” Spike glanced up, knowing he caught her on that one.

Celestia just blinked at the small dragon, but slowly smiled, letting loose a small giggle, “You have me there, but that doesn't change the fact that I love both of you. When I took Twilight under my wing, I pretty much took you under my wing as well.”

“T-that... means a lot to me.” Spike admitted, but his exhaustion getting the better of himself. He wanted to stay awake, but with the warmth of the large Alicorn's fur up against him, he soon drifted to sleep.

“Good night, my son.” Celestia grinned, wrapping her wing over the small dragon.

Author's Note

Okay, okay, no ponification lmao. I was tempted to do it, but I hadn't planned on it. If he had been turned into a pony, that would have ruined what I have planned for the story. However, now he is forever shackled to ponykind, if he wishes to remain himself. Without magic, he would need to become either a pony, or become a vicious hundred foot, dragon.

Anyway, I hope everypony enjoyed this chapter, and hope to have more out for you.